Jewel Shares ‘Ideas & Inspiration’ for the Holidays

Marking her first Christmas as a new mom, Jewel is taking time to help others find unique ways to brighten up their holiday season, through Hallmark's 'Ideas & Inspiration' Facebook page.

The singer has teamed with WE TV host David Tutera ('My Fair Wedding With David Tutera') and Jaden Hair, author of 'The Steamy Kitchen' cookbook, to share tips for turning what some consider holiday "chores" into fun activities for the entire family. Visitors to the Facebook page will be treated to video presentations of unique ideas from the trio on everything from tree decorating and special gift-giving to holiday baking, entertaining, organizing and more.

"It's really just about embracing traditions with your family, and learning to embrace the imperfect moments," Jewel tells The Boot. "Because sometimes those are your favorite memories when you look back on them."

Tim Sharp, Hallmark

Jewel says the ideas offered are designed to "help real people who have real lives and real jobs take the stress out of the holidays." Among her favorite traditions is crafting edible Christmas trees, donned with homemade cookies (she wisely keeps a spare box to replace the ones that get eaten!), a natural tree "made from all things outdoors," and a "cowboy-themed tree" for her husband, rodeo star Ty Murray, decked with mementos from his childhood.

The singer explains that she prefers "things you gather from your life" instead of filling the house with store-bought decorations. One thing she will have this year is a special keepsake ornament for son Kase's baby box, even if he's still too young to appreciate it.

"He's four months old, but I like to say he has the skills of a five-month-old," the proud mom jokes. "He coos and sort of sings, and he'll laugh. I don't know what we did for entertainment before he was born."

The Alaska native, who now lives with her husband and baby on their Texas ranch, where the 'Ideas and Inspiration' videos were filmed, says that along with making sweet memories, she likes to save certain recipes for particular holidays.

"Then it's one that the whole family looks forward to," she notes, adding, "I have a chocolate mascarpone cranberry tart. It's very easy to make and always seasonal." (The recipe is available on the Facebook page under the 'Entertaining' tab.)

Of course, the holidays wouldn't be the same without music, and the singer whose latest album is the family-friendly 'The Merry Goes 'Round,' has memories of her family "singing around the coal stove for heat. My family was from the German part of Switzerland and they spoke German. They would sing 'Silent Night' in German."

Jewel's favorite gift-giving tip: "Giving something that means something to you; that makes you feel closer to the family. Having a family, even before you have a child, having a relationship, a marriage, there are so many milestones you make it through. It's such beautiful work to be in a relationship and to have a child. Sometimes just writing a beautiful card or a letter means the most. Ty and I write a letter each Christmas looking back at the year. That's usually what I cherish the most. I have them all saved up in a little box. I would recommend that any husband and wife to do as a nice tradition. I don't think you need a lot of money to have a great holiday. Ty and I make each other our gifts instead of buying them."