New Wines to Try

I stopped at one of my favorite local shops to pick up done Michigan-based gifts. I found a few red wines to try.

I often purchase extra wine to gift but this year I need to restock the wine rack.

Friday Holiday Funnies

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I swear the creator of Maxine knows my mom.

Mom has the same wit.
I never know what she's going to say next!
But I'm certainly on my way to needing therapy.

 

 

#Thursday13 - Holiday Date Night Ideas

Christmas doesn’t have to just be for kids, but it can also be a time to relight that fire with your honey. This year makes getting together with friends and family difficult. There won't be the big holiday parties to attend. However, this simply means more QUALITY time with your honey.

Here are a few ideas to add some romance to your holiday.

1. Take a walk in the park
2. Go ice skating
3. Sip hot chocolate (or something a little stronger) by the fire
4. Rent a cabin in the woods for a weekend getaway
5. Share a dessert by candlelight
6. Cook a meal together
7. Have a leisurely breakfast in bed
8. Spend the evening "at the theatre". Get dressed up and pop in a drama or theatrical video. 
9. Take a drive to "nowhere in particular" and stop whenever inspired to enjoy the scenery
10. Park in a secluded spot (be sure to have lots of blankets) and gaze at the stars.

11. Watch a Christmas themed movie together. Enjoy popcorn and warm spiced cider.

12. Order take-out from a restaurant you've never been to.

13. Go to a local tree farm. Cut down a fresh tree. If you use an artificial tree, see if you can collect fresh greens and make an outdoor arrangement for your porch

Romance & Peppermint Choco Martinis

So many parties won't be happening this year. 

That doesn't mean you can't have a little "party" with your honey. 

Even if you have kids, a "party night" would be fun. Schedule a night for a "party". Everybody can dressed up in party clothes, play some music, nibble on a meat and cheese plate. 

Enjoy playing a party game of some sort.

Make a non-alcohol punch for kids and make a special adults-only drink for you and your honey.

Have fun making a party drink to share. 

Here's one of my favorites.

INGREDIENTS
1 1/2 parts KAHLÚA PEPPERMINT MOCHA
1/2 part vodka
 1/4 part half and half
 1/4 part chocolate milk
Garnish with whipped cream and small candy cane

Give A Sexy Gift

You've already picked up a practical gift for your honey, now it's time to pick up a little something, something to add some heat to your winter nights.

 

I often recommend my beloved Lover's Lane shop where the ladies know my name and tell me I'm their favorite author. They certainly know how to schmooz me.  But in all reality, the ladies certainly take good care of me. They have ordered in research material, answered my millions of questions, helped me select special prizes for giveaways, and fitted me for personal lovelies. The women are trained to measure your figure while helping you feel at ease with your own body as you select a soft little number that makes you feel amazing. They also will help you find products to support physical limitations or allergies.

Attending or hosting a Pure Romance holiday party is a great way to have some sexy fun with gal pals, win free stuff, and pick up some awesome tips. Products include a wide range of oils, scents, bath & beauty products as well as fabulous toys.

Have the best holiday with gifts that keep giving.

Random Positive Thoughts

Flying With A Little Love

 Flyboy has flown away but takes a bit of romance with him. He'll be gone for two weeks but I've hidden fun little love notes in his bag. As he unpacks throughout his trip, he'll find them. 

I picked up a booklet from Cary Ann's Hallmark that has easy tear-out pages. They are small enough to fit in luggage or lunch boxes but big enough to not be lost. A great way to keep romance alive. 

The book with the tear-our love notes is featured in lower left corner.
Available at your local Hallmark shop.

Find Couple Time During Holidays

During the month of December, there will be many demands on your time. 

Stress levels may rise. At the end of the day, exhaustion sets in. 

Even Santa and Mrs. Claus make time for alone time.

Here a few tips to "keep it together" during the holiday season.

* Try not to schedule to many things to do right after each other. Give yourself time between each one.

* Take time to sit with your honey and make a list of things you enjoy the most about the holiday. This will not only give you quality time together, but also help keep you in the Christmas spirit.

*Schedule certain things from your list to do together. Yes... write it down! Make a date of it.

*Speak with family members in advance. Schedule family face time or Zoom gathering with those you won't be able to be with in person.

* Plan meals in advance. Do meal prep with your honey.

*  Fight gifting stress. Limit gift giving, promote thoughtful giving. Take a day for you and your honey to visit local shops. Grab an adult beverage or hot cocoa and sit together to do online shopping. 

*Help each other. Spending time together and taking care of a "chore" at the same time.

*As a couple, think of a new family tradition you can create this year.

Give Me Some Sexy Cinnamon

I love Cinnamon. 

Did you know it is not only warming, comforting and healthy, but also SEXY?

Cinnamon is a scent commonly known to seduce with it's aphrodisiac qualities.

It is said that the Queen of Sheba used cinnamon to mesmerize King Solomon. 

So it has power. 

Gram cooked with cinnamon often and would always say, "The way to a man's heart is through is stomach." Maybe that old saying holds more truth than we thought.

Bread Pudding is a popular item at my house.

However, this delightful treat can be a sexy food.

Try serving this as breakfast for your lover but expect to spend the day in bed.

Prepare this bread pudding ahead of time so that in the morning, 

all you have to do is turn on the oven. 

Cinnamon-Swirl Breakfast Bread Pudding

4 eggs
1½ cups milk
3 tablespoons brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon cinnamon
½ loaf day-old bread, cut into cubes
¼ cup pecans, chopped
Nonstick cooking spray
Maple syrup

In a large bowl, whisk eggs and milk. Add the brown sugar, vanilla extract, and cinnamon, and whisk until all the ingredients are completely incorporated. Stir the bread and pecans into the egg mixture. Coat an 8-inch-by-8-inch baking pan with nonstick cooking spray. Pour in the bread pudding, and cover with foil. Let sit in the refrigerator at least one hour and up to overnight. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bake the bread pudding, covered, for 30 minutes. Remove the foil, and bake an additional 10 minutes, until the pudding is browned. Serve hot with maple syrup.

 

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My favorite cinnamon is Vietnamese Cinnamon. It's a bit stronger with an amazing flavor. (Rumor is... it's the same cinnamon used in the famous Cinnabon rolls.) AKA Cassia Cinnamon. Quality cinnamons are available per ounce online. However, some health food or natural food stores will bottle it. I pick mine up from Those Nature People. I visit the Frankenmuth location of Those Nature People for my bottle. 

They also make a Cinnamon Roll Blend that is suburb!

Make that list, check it twice

Now that Thanksgiving is over and the turkey is gone, the focus is turned towards preparing for Christmas. You might feel a bit pressured as you organize, decorate, bake, and shop. After all this season may be a little more stressful than other years because it is sooooo different. 

 Here's a simple little holiday checklist for the first week of December that might help. 

 * Arrange for babysitters. 

* Compile holiday playlist 

* Stock up on frozen meals. Great for those times when you're too busy. 

* Buy toilet paper and not just because it's Covid, running out during the season is a real bummer. 

* Create guest baskets. Arrange sample sized beauty or body care items in a little basket.

* Bake goodies with a long shelf life or can be frozen. Take a variety of goodies, Box, bag or tin them and deliver to friends and family.

* Check all your electronics. Charge digital cameras, purchase batteries, find important cords, etc.