Holiday Style: By the Light of the Tree

As we head into the Big Christmas Weekend, our little home will be scrambl- I mean, leisurely decking our final halls and baking our little hearts out.

Blessedly, we have nary a party or commitment this weekend. So I'm saving my sequins for Christmas Eve, I think, when we trim our tree, head to the early family service at church, then have a lovely dinner of crepes, which has become a family tradition.

We may or may not also be having a cocktail or two by the light of the Christmas tree as we wrap The Beans' presents.

May the joy and peace of the season find you and yours.

1940s tree strung with real silver tinsel; Artillery Punch, my new cocktail love, after friends served it at their rockin' Christmas party last weekend (this link takes you to Chow.com's recipe, but for my friend's practiced alterations, see below for recipe); amazing gilded cocktail glasses; I can't wait to pair a cozy, slouchy sweater with similarly-hued sequins (also, cheap!). Check out the rest of the boards these pieces are are on for more ways to decorate, drink, and dress over the holidays!

Artillery Punch

Adapted from the New York Times, which was adapted from David Wondrich

Time: 90 minutes

Makes about 25 drinks (hmmm...maybe I'll just make a batch sans bubbly this weekend, then add the bubbly as I need - ahem - want a drink)

14 lemons

1 pound superfine sugar

750-milliliter bottle Old Granddad 100 Proof Bourbon

750-milliliter bottle Courvoisier VSOP Cognac

750-milliliter bottle 10 Cane rum

3 bottles Champagne or other sparkling wine

Nutmeg

1. Squeeze and strain the lemons to make 16 ounces of juice. Peel the lemons and muddle the peels with the sugar. Let the peels and sugar sit for an hour, then muddle again. Add the lemon juice and stir until sugar has dissolved. Strain out the peels.

2. Fill a 2- to 3-gallon bucket or bowl with crushed ice or ice cubes. Add the lemon-sugar mixture and the bourbon, Cognac and rum. Stir and add the Champagne. Taste and adjust for sweetness. Grate nutmeg over the top and serve.

Yield: About 25 drinks



Stylish Sips: Customized Cocktail for the Bride

We all know the polite how-do-you-dos, group pictures of the bridesmaids, quiche, and heartfelt, tearful thank yous from the bride. That's a bridal shower. A few of us avoid them whenever we can. Especially the Opening of the Presents.

I and five other Lovlies (with a little help from mom - thanks mom!) and a lot of help from Chef Lisa, our "family caterer*," threw a heck of a Bridal Event for my Baby Sis. Family, friends, and family friends were there, all to celebrate and toast her.

And what did we toast her with, you ask?

Well, fortunately, I happen to know this wonderful resource. Her name is The Liquid Muse. Or at least her nom de (plume?) is. Natalie Bovis-Nelson, known to the world as a lovely liquids writer via her columns and her blog. What she doesn't tell folks online, though, is that she also is a Cocktail Consultant. Give The Muse your likes and dislikes, the mood you want to set, and oila! a Custom Cocktail, just for you. For example, I gave The Muse Baby Sis' details:

she's 26, nearly 27
we're from southeast PA, near philly/wilmington, DE - kennett square, PA, is the mushroom capital of the world (i kid you not)
she went to va tech
lived in philly after school
is in marketing for a tool company
lives in chicago now
loves cosmos, loves anything bubbly
wedding colors - pink & cream. but her shoes are bright pink/red (which i wholeheartedly support)

And out came the Sparkling Sis. A brilliant concoction with blood orange bitters, grapfruit juice, and bubbly. It's refreshing, light, but full - lots and lots of flavor.

And even better, it's easily translated into an alcohol-free cocktail, 'specially for me (ok, so it wasn't just for me, but I felt like it was). The Muse built a cocktail that was smartly substitutable, and I could wander around the shower, drink in hand, and not feel that I was missing out on anything that I normally would've loved (I'm a sucker for anything blood-orange). Because I loved the booze-free version. So did my aunts and grandmother, and all of the other non-boozing guests. Literally everyone from grandma to sorority sister happily guzzled the Sparkling Sis.

So thanks, Muse, for helping Baby Sis' 'Maids give her a lovely, lovely party. Cheers!

*Not nearly as chi-chi as we sound, but it does come in handy to have a chef in the family. Chef Lisa is my step-dad's ex-wife's now-husband's daughter. See? Family connection. She also happens to make a quiche that isn't for ladies who lunch - her lorraine is to die for. And perfect with the Sparkling Sis.