Holiday Gift Idea | Apple Cider Syrup

Happy December!  I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving.  Ours was filled with so much food & wine, family, ankle-deep snow, and coziness by the fire.

There is a shorter time between Thanksgiving and Christmas this year, so it's time to get in the full swing of the holidays!  And to get in the spirit, I have some homemade gift ideas that are great on a budget.  First up - apple cider syrup! 

I brought a half gallon of minimally processed cider to a boil on the stove then let it simmer down for about 3-4 hours until it got nice and thick.  The half gallon yielded exactly this one small jar.  To make it extra special, I added a drink recipe that uses the syrup as an ingredient.  This makes for the perfect holiday host gift.  Enjoy!

S's Birthday Lust List

It is so fun to have sister birthdays so close to one another.  We have always shared parties, enjoyed joint dinner celebrations, and talked over birthday wish lists together.  L just posted her birthday wishes, so I thought I would join her birthday fun and add my own.  Here are some birthday lusts!

Girls on DVD- I don't have a TV or cable, but I do have a computer! I love watching TV shows on my laptop.  I have been dying to see Girls since I saw the pilot, and would love to get into a new show.

Paris- Anyone with me? I'm planning on leisurely afternoons in the D'Orsay, baguette, cheese, and champagne picnics sitting outside, pretty Parisian styling, and plenty of cafe au lait with croissants.

I love simply spending time with those I love on special occasions.  Dinner (anything! could be fancy, could be simply bread, cheese and olives) paired with a bottle of champagne is sure to be a huge birthday success.

A Massage- I have been craving a massage for months.  A birthday is the perfect time to coax someone else into gifting a massage, right?

Dainty Jewelry- Remember the jewelry lust list I made last week? I'm still eyeing those gorgeous pieces, especially the arrow necklace, ampersand ring, and teeny tiny rose gold bands.

New Chambray- My sister gifted me a chambray shirt last year, and I have worn it to pieces.  Literally- there are gaping holes in each arm, and not in the fun distressed sort of way.  I wear them so much that a new shirt would definitely get plenty of attention.

Book of Mormon- A pre-birthday gift that is actually happening! Tomorrow I am seeing the Book of Mormon with my parents and some close family friends, preceded by a fun dinner.  I can't wait- what a fun way to celebrate with friends and family.

Last Minute Valentine's Day DIY

Happy Valentine's Day! Do you have fun plans for the day, whether it is dinner with your sweetheart, a night in with your very best Valentine (yourself!), wine and Titanic, or a crazy night on the town with your most fun single friends? 

In case you are looking for some special ways to show your loved ones how much they mean to you this Valentine's day, here are some Merrimint favorites.  We love these DIY, quick, and super sweet ideas to spread the love.

1.  On a deck of cards, use a sharpie to write a reason why you love your Valentine on each card.

2.  Cut out construction paper hearts and write reasons your Valentine is special on each.  Sprinkle them through your house, car, etc.

3.  Cut out figures, words, or pictures that remind you of your Valentine from magazines and newspapers, and attach them to a poster to put on the door, fridge, prominent wall, etc. for a fun and lighthearted way to show them you are constantly reminded of how great they are.

4.  Heart shaped pancakes :) 

5.  Write fun love notes on a million post-its, and post them in unexpected places (cupboards, inside the car, on the toothpaste...).

6.  Compile a package of low-cost and frivolous heart-themed items: ice molds, heart-shaped measuring cups, romantic phrase linens, chocolate, anything you can find at the dollar store (or the $1 section at Target!).  Pack it in a box full of pink/red tissue and give it- or send it!- to your Valentine.

7.  Create an original crossword puzzle with reasons your Valentine is special.

8.  Wrap red or pink yarn all over your house, starting where your Valentine will find it and ending with a special treat (see #6).

9.  Of course, a punny card will always do the trick.

We hope you enjoy your day and dedicate it to telling those you love that they are wonderful to have in your life.  We are so happy you are here to celebrate with us- will YOU be our Valentine?

Negroni, Merrimint Style

One of my New Year's Resolutions this year was to learn to make a few key cocktails that I can whip up when people come over.  My goal was to learn a few solid before dinner drinks, or aperitivo in Italian.  These drinks tend to be on the bitter side and not very alcoholic to rev the appetite and prepare your taste for the flavors of dinner.

I decided to make a twist on the classic Negroni to serve for my first aperitivo gatherings in my new apartment.  Here's how...

What you need: Gin, Campari, Sweet Vermouth, orange peel, and sparkling wine (optional)

Pour equal parts of gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth into a short old fashioned glass.  I used 1 ounce of each, which yielded the perfect sized cocktail for before dinner.  Stir to combine.

Peel a strip of orange rind, twist over the drink to release aromatic oils.  I like to rub the peel around the rim of the glass as well to make the orange flavor really stand out (don't forget to wash your orange well before peeling it though!).  Add ice, and stir until well combined.

If you like, you can top off the drink with a few ounces of prosecco or sparkling wine- I love how this adds nuanced flavors and a bit of sparkle to the drink!  You can also use Aperol instead of Campari to take the bitterness down a notch, and make it a touch more sweet.

This drink would be the perfect way to start a Valentine's Day dinner with your significant other, family, friends, or even by yourself :) Just add a few heart shaped ice cubes to bring the loveliness of this drink over-the-top!

Say It Right: Valentine's Day Cards

I am not a huge Valentine's Day celebration fanatic.  I don't expect flowers or being showered with poetry.  To me, the day serves as a nice small reminder to tell those who are close to you how you feel. I love celebrating the day quietly, making dinner with my significant other and making phone calls to my friends and family.

I have begun a bit of a tradition, though, to remind my beau how I feel and how special he is.  I love giving fun, light hearted cards.  I have used cards from Etsy, and made some by hand too.  The key: a great pun, funny image, or nod to an inside joke, just making sure to keep the card from being too serious.  This keeps the vibe happy and light while giving the right message.

Here are a few cards from Etsy that are perfect for your Valentine:

(Did you know that "media anaranja" in Spanish means "other half"? Isn't this sweet?)

Find them here: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5

Merry Christmas

Wishing you the most perfect holiday season, the brightest Christmas, and the happiest New Year!

There Are No Rules at Tea

The best way to kick off the holiday season?  Afternoon tea with the girls, of course.

The menu: Raspberry champagne and our choice of teas, miniature sandwiches, dreamy cranberry orange and cinnamon raisin scones, and many desserts (gingerbread, blueberry buckle bread, chocolate-dipped cheesecake...)

Home Again

SLR is coming home!

S arrived last night in time for dinner and wine, and L will be on her way tonight.  We can't wait to celebrate the holidays together! There is a ton on the schedule- afternoon teas and dinner parties, gift swaps and cookie making, and definitely plenty of Christmas tunes and gift wrapping (L is the most amazing gift wrapper).

Can't wait to have you home L!

Christmas Playlist 2012

Are you counting down the days to Christmas?  I can't believe it's less than a week away!  Here's our Christmas Playlist on Grooveshark to help you celebrate my favorite holiday! 

SLR's Merry Christmas Playlist 2012

Gift Guide: CIY (Cook It Yourself)

For those of us on tight budgets, but still looking for meaningful and useful gifts for our loved ones, how about giving them a homemade something? DIY crafty items are great, but who doesn't love to get special food/beverages this time of year? Here are SLR's favorite CIY (cook it yourself) gifts for this time of year...

Granola:  It is good for a long time, so you can gift it without worrying whether it will be consumed before going bad.  Plus, it is a wholesome and healthy way to start the day this time of year- we all know that there are plenty of sweets and treats to derail anyone's attempt to be healthy around the holidays... at least you can start your day off right!

Bitters:  Everyone loves a good cocktail (well, excluding L that is. weirdo.).  The key to a good cocktail? Bitters! They provide extra depth of flavor to any drink.  Making your own bitters is a fantastic way to create a unique blend of spices and flavors to mix the perfect drink.  Do you know a favorite drink of your gift receiver? Craft the bitters to make a slightly more interesting twist on the drink.

Fig Compote:  This compote is made of dried figs (available almost anywhere, any time of the year), and provides a deep, sophisticated flavor to put on toast, serve with pork, or (my favorite) spread on crostini along side a stinky aged cheese.  Besides, anything "fig" just sounds impressive.

Vanilla Extract:  A homemade specialty that only gets better with age.  It hardly takes any effort on your part- mix the ingredients together and let them age together.  The smell is intoxicating, and the end product can elevate almost anything it is used in (I'm dreaming of homemade vanilla gelato).

Fancy Candy:  These salted maple walnut and vanilla bean chocolate cups make me hungry every time I look at them.  Besides, they are made with real food ingredients- no chemically altered syrups or miscellaneous powders.  They make for a jaw-dropping gift, sure to impress any chocolate lover on your gift list.

Body Scrub:  Not an item to eat, but it is made of all natural ingredients, so it is technically safe enough if you really wanted to.  The salt exfoliates while the oil moisturizes.  It smells amazing too, full of citrus zest and almond oil.

Infused Vodka:  Another simple gift with a big wow-factor.  Add some fruits/herbs/spices to vodka, jar it up in a cute mason jar, and give it to the hostess of your next holiday party for extra-festive cocktails. I'm envisioning a pomegranate drink- pomegranate infused vodka, simple syrup, some spiced bitters (see above), topped off with some bubbly.

Gift Guide: Your Sweet 13-year-old Cousin

Surprise... the gift guide has been extended! We received a few gift guidance requests, so will be continuing on with some fun gift ideas here and there through the week.  Today's gift guide is focused on the new teenager, still in middle school but who wants to start receiving some more "grown up" gifts.

I remember at age 13 I was all about getting new decor pieces to decorate my room how I wanted.  I also loved getting fresh new clothes to wear to school.  Here are some of SLR's favorite ideas:

Operation Beautiful: A wonderful set of books based on one woman's mission to spread positive thinking and healthy body image talk by putting sticky notes with messages anywhere someone might find it.  The newest book will be released Dec 27th, and is filled with notes people have left for others.  A great book with a wonderful, positive outlook that is perfect for a young girl transitioning into teenagedom.

Funky Sheets:  A non-permanent way for her to spice up her room decor.

Bath and Body Works Set: What 13-year old girl wouldn't love a set of smelly bath items? Just make sure to choose a sent you can stand, because you will be smelling it a lot.

Manicure Outing: Schedule a manicure, just you and her, and give her a certificate on Christmas telling her when it will be.  Have lunch, get your nails done, read magazines- she will feel like a princess getting some special one-on-one time, and will feel mature and special having a manicure.

Lava Lamp: Again, an easy and funky decor piece she can put in her room to instantly up the cool factor.  I got one when I was 13, and adored it for more years than I should have...

Sparkly Shoes: All girls love shoes! These ones from Target are especially cute- the sparkle is just the right touch.

A New Dress: At 13, clothes start to become a welcomed and cool gift.  How about a new dress for her to pair with a waist belt, leggings, and her new sparkly shoes to wear back to school in January?

Hair Clip: This is the age where hair/makeup/general grooming become super important and fun.  Hair accessories are so fun to receive, and easy on the budget to buy.  You can even fill a small box (or stocking) with clips, headbands, new brushes, etc. for a whole "hair care kit." She will love it.