The holidays are about eating and drinking and being Merry, right? I’m feeling pretty sluggish these last few days of 2011, and I can probably show you exactly why. Dad’s Famous Chocolate Chip Cookies Ms. Susan’s Famous Double Chocolate Brownies … Continue reading
What type of wine pairs nicely with nearly every food? I’m talking Rib Eye Steak, Sushi, Thanksgiving Turkey, Chocolate, Soup, Pancakes, Fruit, Cheese Plates of any kind… I’ve even drunk it with Cheez-Its, I’m sure. Bubbles. That’s right. I’m a … Continue reading
It’s the end of December. It’s cold. (Ok there is a low of 44 degree today in Santa Monica, but I’m cold) This is the time of year when I crave heavier foods and drinks to pack on a few … Continue reading
Just like all of you who are hosting holidays parties or just want to drink festively, I’ve been on the hunt for fantastic holiday cocktails recently. See the R+D Reindeer. The R+D Reindeer sold out in a few hours. We sold … Continue reading
Ok, so it wasn’t Mixology Monday, but last night we were feeling festive. Suzi and I brought in our cranberry citrus infused vodka and whipped up our version of a Moscow Mule.
Super easy, super delicious. I even sold a few to dudes that drank them really quickly so they weren’t seen with such a girly holiday martini – and then asked for another, but on the rocks this time. This drink may look sweet and fruity, but it is refreshing and crisp. A perfect holiday cocktail!
Want One?
2 oz Cranberry Infused Vodka (we did the OJ for water substitute)
**If you don’t have the time or the patience, I’m sure you can use regular vodka with a SMALL splash of cranberry juice**
4 mint leaves
2 lime wedges
1.5 oz Gingerbeer
Sugar-rimmed martini glass
Combine the vodka, mint leaves, and squeezed lime wedges over ice and shake until cold.
Strain into martini glass and top with Ginger Beer. A few mint specks are fine, they are green and festive!
We garnished our Reindeer with a few frozen cranberries, but you could add a mint leaf if you want for that perfect holiday color combo.
It looks like Santa’s hat and it tastes delicious!
Oh, and this is all I have left this morning…
I’d call it a success.
It actually happened that this past weekend started off just about perfect. Brad and I met Suzi for breakfast at Huckleberry, where we ate about a million incredible pastries and hung out with Moo, our friend Kristin’s dog who Suzi watches on Fridays. Moo and Gibson met, and although they definitely weren’t instant friends, Gibson was interested enough to go on a pretty decent walk.
Gibson hates walks. Win #1 of the weekend.
So afterwards, Gibson was tired and Brad and I decided it was time to get our Christmas tree. We walked to two tree lots where we discovered Santa Monica trees are ridiculously expensive, and then drive to two more lots before just giving in and buying one from a lot that Brad says was run by “a bunch of ex-cons.” They were really, really friendly and nice ex-cons, though, and profits from our tree went towards their continued education. So it was worth the $90.
Ugh. $90. Serious. This was the most reasonable price we could find. Other than Home Depot but we were NOT getting our Christmas Tree from Home Depot. Ex-Cons are way more holiday appropriate.
Anyway, got home. Decorated the tree. Christmas has begun!! And we even got to hang our “First Christmas” ornament from Pat & Ed. Our first married Christmas! Win #2 of the weekend!!
Nap time, then off to downtown for the soft opening of “Artisan House”, which is a restaurant that Brad’s friend is the executive chef at and was trying for months to get Brad to be his sous chef. Incredible dinner. Awesome place. Most definitely win #3.
See? Pretty much perfect.
Fast forward to the AM. Like, 2AM. Brad’s pancreatitis starts acting up. Fast forward again to 11AM. He is still doubled over in pain. I am completely freaked out, Brad is really hurting. We have slept about 2 hours all night. We head to the ER.
By about 4PM on Saturday we are home and Brad is on some nice drugs. I am trying to figure out how we can get our new insurance (that goes into effect Wednesday… arrrgh) to cover what is sure to be a crazy hospital bill and Brad is sleeping.
At one point the apartment was totally quiet and I went in to check on him…
Win #4. Brad is home, resting and Gibson is sleeping at his feet, keeping him company. That is true puppy love. My heart melted a little.
And then after all that, the next morning I forced Gibson to get out of the house with me and get a little exercise. We walked all around the neighborhood. Her tail didn’t wag once and it wasn’t the most normal dog-walking experience in the world, but for Gibson it was amazing.
She was especially interested in all the palm branches that were down from the Santa Ana wind storm last week…
Taking Gibs on an actual walk and having her be super tired afterward? Win #5.
Oh, AND that silly “Bark-Off” contraption that I bought to get Gibson to stop barking at everyone who walks by is actually working. Win #6.
Looks like Gibson and I are starting to get each other. Am I on the way to having a normal dog?
So its been a terribly long weekend and I was still so nervous about Brad as he went back to work this morning, but overall I am still a very lucky girl with a lot of wins on my score card. I am so blessed and grateful to have a husband who is on the mend, a crazy but lovable dog, and a health insurance plan that starts this week so we can get Brad in to a doctor and get him looked at without another crazy bill on the way…
As my mom has told me many times before, just keep breathing.
xoxo
THE KEY OF KELS 