From visions of sugar plum fairies, shop till you drop savings, chocolate and après-ski activities, get into the spirit of the holiday season with our top 11 ways to tell us the festive holiday season is here! Indulge in guilt-free desserts, treats and snacks with preservative, artificial flavor and color free, organic or all natural options that are sure to help you keep calories under control on this food driven time of the year and stay a fit with holiday activities for a fun and joyous holiday season that will help you stay in harmonious stress free balance!

1. Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

We consider this timeless tradition as the official kick off to the holiday season. Whether you line the streets of the parade route, watch from a window reminiscent of Miracle on 34th Street or gather friends to view on TV, you'll be enthralled by giant balloons, colorful costumes and wondrous performances not to be missed at this epic event.

2. Black Friday

Ready, set, shop! There is nothing more classic than enjoying Thanksgiving with family and friends followed by a pre-Christmas round of power shopping. Shop til you drop with savings, deals and steals for the perfect way to check everyone off your list. Come prepared with snacks, lists and a great pair of comfortable walking shoes and take a break to warm up at a chocolate boutique to take in this time honored shopping tradition.

3. Victoria's Secret Fashion Show

It wouldn't be the holidays without a visit from the Victoria's Secret Angels. Plan a fun girl's night with chocolate desserts, cake and ice cream and get ready for a fun night of music, fashion and glamour. Try organic and all natural treats to cut down on calories, artificial colors, flavors and preservatives to indulge in guilt-free fun!

4. The Nutcracker Ballet

Sugar plum fairies, ballet slippers, Nutcracker Prince and Land of Sweets, it wouldn't be the holiday season without the traditional production of the Nutcracker Ballet. Bring family, friends or that special someone year after year to this holiday production sure to put you in the festive spirit and share the upcoming holidays to share this timeless gift with others.

5. Rockefeller Christmas Tree Lighting

Get into the holiday spirit with this iconic symbol representing the holiday season! Nothing says Christmas like this impossibly tall tree full of colorful lights, trumpeting angels and festive star-filled performances that are a holiday must if your in NYC or gather friends and family to watch on TV. This traditional tree lighting know around the world will fill you with holiday joy and will get you in the spirit of the season not to be missed.

6. Holiday Movies

From family classics to romantic comedies or timeless old fashioned films, holiday movies are the perfect way to get into the holiday spirit full of family fun, traditional dinners, holiday antics and the festive season, holiday movies will get you into the holiday spirit full of love, heart warming stories, happiness and joy throughout the season.

7. Advent Calendars

Whether you buy already prepared calendars or start your own DIY traditions, fill endless styles of bags, boxes or socks with traditional chocolates, toys or other chic gifts to give family, friends or that special someone thoughtful, deck the halls with fun gifts your loved ones will be sure to enjoy.

8. Holiday Parties

From company to friends and family, the holiday season would not be complete without party invitations, food shopping and looking for that perfect outfit. Get party ready, host the perfect party or bring the most wonderful hostess gift to enjoy the spirit of giving throughout the season.

9. Outdoor Skating Rinks

Enjoy piping hot chocolate, starlight late nights and countless turns around the rink at an outdoor rink that will truly tell you the holidays are almost here. Take in the experience you can only have on just cleaned ice, bundle up and 'tis the season with others or on your own for perfect blend of fitness and fun only this time of the year can bring.

10. Christmas Carolers

Whether they break out in song on the subway, you find them in the lobby of the mall, on a street corner or door-to-door, you'll know Christmas is right around the corner when you hear the joyous sounds of holiday music you'll want to hear again and again to take in the joy of the season!

11. Ski Vacation Getaway

You'll know Christmas is fast approaching when you start planning your holiday winter ski vacation. Whether you plan to enjoy the time away with family, friends or a special someone, the anticipation of ski days, après-ski s'mores by the fire, relaxing at the spa, hot chocolate and shopping. say happy holidays with a ski trip that will have you taking in all the best the winter holiday has to offer.

Deck the halls with these inspired chocolate boutiques and chocolates for the perfect way to warm up your holiday season, share the joy and indulge in the festive cheer of the season. With a variety of high quality gourmet chocolate and gifts you can bring home these decadent treats that will please the smallest of hands to the most selective of tastes you won't leave anyone off your list and will leave them dreaming of sugar plum fairies well into the new year!

1. MoRoCo Chocolat

From sipping chocolate to fondue to s'mores and a host of delectable afternoon and high tea options, this delightful chocolate boutique has everything you need to indulge in sweet treats made from the highest quality chocolate.

Along with their decadent desserts, dining options, beautiful wine pairings and cocktails perfect for an exclusive office party, Toronto's MoRoCo Chocolat offers a variety of gifts for the hostess with the mostess at your next holiday party or stocking stuffers for the chocolate lover on your list from their boutique and online, its the perfect way to warm up your holiday season with a delicious, Parisian inspired taste of chocolat.

2. Hammond's Candies

Hammond's not only offers a wide variety of festive holiday candy canes that are the perfect accent to any holiday tree and an inspired way to enjoy a flavored hot chocolate, they have a gourmet selection of chocolate bars that will keep you in the holiday spirit with every delectable bite.

Add them as stocking stuffers or the perfect addition to a holiday gift and you'll share in the joy of some of their all natural selections so you can have your chocolate and eat it too!

3. Marich Chocolate

Wrap up some of these gorgeous array of chocolates from Marich prefect for your holiday hostess or sharing at an office party.

Stock your candy bar with a selection of these natural fruit flavored options or add them to a holiday gift basket, they're a great way to share the festive season of joy and light up the winter nights with holiday cheer.

4. Hagensborg Chocolates

These decadent chocolate piggies are a fun sweet way feast on some of the finest chocolate.

Boasting a variety of mini fare perfect for your candy bowls and small hands alike, along with their special selection of inspired nostalgic truffle chocolate bars from dark mint chocolate chip to white bubble gum or their handmade Parisian selection in their Vancouver shop, Hagensborg will inspire you to travel the world of inspired chocolates to suit even the most discerning palette.

5. Green & Blacks

Let your senses take yo away from spicy chili to classic white, hazelnut currant to toffee, Green & Black's offers a variety of chocolate and drinking chocolate perfect for any occasion. Serve in a chocolate dessert bar or melt them into the perfect recipe, they'll tantalize your taste buds with their stunning range of ice cream perfect a la mode.

Check out gorgeous recipes and delight with others while you share in the joy only Green & Black's can bring.

6. Vosges Haut Chocolat

With Boutiques in Chicago, New York, Las Vegas and trendy Beverly Hills, Vosges Haut Chocolat promises not to disappoint with exotic truffles and home grown bacon and chocolate, you'll find their tasting salon perfect for discovering new and creative confections. From salt to champagne, this purple house boutique will warm you up with delectable drinking chocolates and give you not only unique ingredients but a chocolate experience to remember.

Share the joy of the discovery with truffles and bars for that anytime snack or that sweet moment to treat another to the array of flavors and new found experiences their chocolate is sure to evoke.

7. Serendipity 3

Famed for its frrrozen hot chocolate treat, Serendipity 3 in New York City, Las Vegas and Miami is the perfect chocolate boutique to indulge in the opulence of a golden sundae or warm up with a variety of traditional decadent hot chocolate or frrrozen options sure to delight the scenes and offer a sweet time out from the excitement of holiday shopping and festive activities.

Take home some of their delectable fare and find gifts perfect for your hostess or sharing the joy of the holidays any time you want.

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The Most Wonderful Time of the Year: 11 Things That Tell Us The Holidays Are Here

For the Love of Chocolate: 7 Must Try Chocolate Boutiques & Chocolates

Carat & Roses