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Stress Free Holidays & Aggressive Sugared Rims

 This episode is our attempt at a stress free holiday guide. We're talking all about ways we're hoping to reduce stress this season, including some go-to gift suggestions, all while sipping on this twist on a classic cocktail.

Clove-Scented Sidecar (adapted slightly from Shutterbean)

makes 2 drinks

  • 6 tablespoons sugar, divided
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1 lemon, cut into chunks
  • 1 orange
  • Ice
  • 3/4 cup whiskey

Mix 2 tbsp. sugar and ground cloves on a small plate. Rub one lemon chunk around the rims of two cocktail glasses. Turn rims in the clove sugar.

Cut orange into two slices about 1/4 in. thick; cut slices in half. Put lemon chunks, orange slices, and 4 tbsp. of the clove-sugar in a cocktail shaker. Using a wooden spoon, muddle together the fruit and sugar until fruit is broken up.

Add about 1 cup ice and whiskey to cocktail shaker. With lid securely fastened, shake vigorously to blend, then strain into the sugared glasses. 

CheersCloveSidecar

GIRL NEXT DOOR GIFT GUIDE

For babies: Peekaboo books, Indestructible books, object permanence toys, bath colors drops, bath crayons
 
For toddlers: IKEA easel giant sticker books, lacing beads, child-sized kitchen tools, child's apron, Hooray Mail subscription, High Five magazine, National Geographic kids magazine
 
For school-aged children: magna tiles, Snug as a Bug in a Rug board game, Press Here board game, Legos, stomp rocket, go fish game, subscription box like Little Passports, Tattly tattoos, Seeds for Birds game, Spot It
 
For husbands, dads and brothers:
Mack Weldon boxers, Lululemon athletic wear, Dollar Shave Club (definitely throw in their Shave Butter), digital gear burrito wrap, Schmidt's deodorant
 
For moms, sisters and girl friends:
Olive Yew jewelry (especially the tiny bar earrings), Lisa Leonard jewelry, personalized address stamp, Sephora gift card plus the promise to shop with her, a subscription to Remedy Quarterly, a gift of DIY gel nails kit plus a date to paint your nails together
 
For families:
a themed gift basket such as pancake mix, coffee and hot chocolate, a board game, gift box from Mouth Foods or Whimsy and Spice, or in lieu of a gift exchange how about hosting a beer + cookie exchange? 
 
For teachers and babysitters:
a heartfelt thank you card plus a gift card or something consumable/useful (lotion, edible something, etc.)
 
For co-workers:
Bake something to share with the group, ornament exchange paired with small gift card
 
On Kelsey's birthday & Christmas list:
new cocktail shaker and cocktail ice cube tray, new cocktail glasses, Clairisonic, Aeropress coffee maker, Standard Wax candles

 On Erica's birthday & Christmas list:

Leather handbag for hauling kid stuff (suggestions?), simple jewelry, Packer/Cardinal game tickets, Wusthof steak knives, Start Le Crueset collection

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5 responses to “Stress Free Holidays & Aggressive Sugared Rims”

  1. Rachel Cassinat Avatar
    Rachel Cassinat

    Such a fun episode! Also, if I may offer suggestions…
    Erica: Le Creuset is my love language. Such a great investment, lasts literally forever (my first piece was given to me by my mom and she bought her set when she was my age!). Glendale, AZ has an outlet mall (Tanger Outlets) and there is a Le Creuset outlet store. Rachael is the manager and she is magical (as are all Rachel’s, right??). They carry everything a Williams Sonoma or other fancy department store would offer, but great discounts and same quality. You can also find limited edition colors and styles there that didn’t sell in their season. It’s one of my favorite places to shop!
    Kelsey: Standard Wax candles are the best and if you’ve ever heard of the cute boutique store called Frances in downtown Phx, they hold fun classes and for the last two years in the fall have hosted a class with Standard Wax where you make YOUR OWN SCENT! This year it was in October but here’s the link to their future events calendar! http://francesvintage.com/events/
    Lastly, this scene from Larry Crowne, where a neighbor hosts a daily garage sale, is what I pictured when you said “perpetual garage sale”…
    http://www.traileraddict.com/larry-crowne/garage-sale

    Reply
  2. Kelsey Avatar
    Kelsey

    Oh my gosh, what a great tip about Le Creuset, now I want to start my collection! And I have heard of Frances but have never been and craft workshops ESPECIALLY making your own candle scent would be right tup my alley, bookmarking this and definitely snagging a standard wax candle soon. Haha, that movie trailer is spot on!

    Reply
  3. Kelsey Avatar
    Kelsey

    Oh my gosh, what a great tip about Le Creuset, now I want to start my collection! And I have heard of Frances but have never been and craft workshops ESPECIALLY making your own candle scent would be right tup my alley, bookmarking this and definitely snagging a standard wax candle soon. Haha, that movie trailer is spot on!

    Reply
  4. Hooray Mail Avatar
    Hooray Mail

    Thanks for the Hooray Mail mention. We loved the episode and hope your kiddo continues to love our cards! 🙂

    Reply
  5. Kelsey Avatar
    Kelsey

    You are so welcome, Dash just loves getting mail and it’s such a sweet way for his Bootsie and G Daddy to be included in his life.

    Reply

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