Category: Holiday

  • Honeymoon Travel

    Honeymoon Travel

    By: Roz Bokoff

    When planning your wedding, there are so many details to consider! There’s the guest list, the venue, the menu, the music, the dress!, the décor and photographer. Choosing professionals who work well with you and understand what you want from your wedding make it simpler and stress-free (as much as possible). Doing it yourself is not worth the hassle if you want to enjoy your day!

    Planning your Honeymoon

    The same is true when planning your honeymoon. Whether you want to leave as soon as the reception is over or you decide to wait a while, a professional travel advisor is your best bet to a stress-free honeymoon.

    Figuring you’ll just plan your honeymoon by yourself? Do you think it’s too expensive to use a travel advisor? Most travel professionals don’t charge a fee. They earn a commission, so your cost is the same OR LESS than what you’d pay on your own, since advisors often get access to special deals! And the service, advice and additional perks available through a travel advisor are benefits you’ll want to take advantage of.

    Where to Go? What to Do?

    While there are popular honeymoon destinations, the “best place to go” depends on what you like to do as a couple and (of course) what your budget allows. A travel professional will listen to you and help you narrow down the destinations and then work on planning a honeymoon you will never forget. (BTW – there’s such a thing as a honeymoon registry to encourage assistance in making your trip special!)

    A honeymoon is about celebrating your commitment and love, so you’ll want to incorporate romantic aspects to the trip. It’s fun to add special and unique experiences that you’ll always remember, too. Popular options include couple’s massages or other pampering, creative activities (art or cooking classes) and unique dining experiences.

    Around the World, Close to Home, or Somewhere in Between

    Some newlyweds opt for honeymoons far from home…taking advantage of their time alone in an exotic destination. For these trips, couples will need enough time to get to their destination and acclimate in order to really enjoy. The Maldives, the South Pacific, safaris in East and South Africa, and New Zealand are among the far-flung destinations that provide an unforgettable vacation. Consider an over-the-water bungalow in the South Pacific for an experience you’ll talk about forever.

    Bora Bora Loveboat Lagoon Cruise

    Others look for cultural experiences, visiting Europe or Asia, and checking off bucket lists. Exploring the world together is a great option for energetic couples who love to experience the world through history, art, music or food. Paris – as the motto goes – is for lovers, but Italy and Greece and Portugal and Spain and England and Israel and Egypt and Vietnam and Thailand and Japan and…all have a lot to offer, too! Shopping with a professional chef in the Tel Aviv market, then cooking your purchases for a perfect meal is fun and unforgettable!

    Israel Spice Market

    There are plenty of beach lovers who long for R&R and fun in the sun. The Caribbean and Mexico offer countless destinations that honeymooners can choose from, each with its own charm. All-inclusive resorts offer everything a guest could want…and some hotels offer amenities catering to honeymooners. Los Cabos (Mexico) is a super-popular and trending destination, the Caribbean is home to dozens of islands along with the east coast of Mexico, and the Florida Keys are another place to consider. Sunset Monalisa Restaurant in Cabo San Lucas provides an awesome experience with delicious food, live music, and a view that’s to die for…coupled with incredible service!

    Couscous and Tofu on the Sunset Monalisa

    Even those who have limited time and budgets can find fun ways to get away close to home…wherever that happens to be! New Englanders can escape to romantic inns and resorts throughout the region for a special honeymoon that doesn’t require an airplane. Finding a small vineyard or  hidden gems – restaurants, shops or nature trails – off the beaten track in quaint, small towns is a great way to create memories! You can even try Connecticut’s Sundae Drives for a delicious way to see the state.  

    Cruises are another choice to consider. Whether on ocean or river, large ship or small, close to home or in a far-off destination, cruises allow you to visit multiple places while unpacking only once – and there’s so much to do aboard and in ports that you’ll be as busy as you want to be.

    Celebrating Your Love – Together Alone

    Your wedding is the big event and your wedding planner and other professionals are going to make it as stress-free as possible.

    Your honeymoon should be stress-free, too. You won’t regret using a professional travel advisor. You’ll get tons of advice, get peace of mind about your journey, have someone to call for help if you need it, and get more for your money. Most important of all, you’ll create amazing memories of your honeymoon! 

  • Candy Cane Infused Cocktail

    Candy Cane Infused Cocktail

    I don’t drink. 

    That’s slightly a lie, I sometimes drink. Mostly I drink when I make these drinks for all of you out there, because I have to know what I’m making. Since we’re past Christmas now, but New Year’s is only a few days away, we’ve brought you a drink you can serve at your New Year’s Party… if you’re having one.

    It’s kind of a thrill to infuse your own vodka. Actually, infusing anything is a pretty good time. (I do it a lot and not just with alcohol). But don’t take my word for it, make it yourself here.

  • Finding a New Year’s Party

    Finding a New Year’s Party

    Well, 2018 has come and gone. If you’re like us, we like to ring the New Year in right. Finding a party might be a bit daunting though. Here’s three easy tips to have a great New Year’s!

    Look at Your Favorite Bar/Restaurant

    Most bars and restaurants host some sort of party on New Year’s Eve. These may be ticketed, or first-come-first-serve. This year, Eric’s favorite bar is closing on New Year’s Day. So that decision was easy. They’re having a prix fixe menu and seating is limited, requiring a reservation. This is certainly a great way to guarantee your drink/meal will be good. Check with your favorite place and see what they’re doing!

    Google It!

    If you don’t have a favorite place, or you like spontaneity, we recommend our friend Google! No matter the city, a quick search of “New Year’s Events” will yield some good results. Eventbrite is a great source of events as well. You may even be able to find some events on Groupon.

    Just Wing It!

    Some of the best parties we’ve attended were spontaneous. Often we’ll pick the city first, and then just wander around until we find something fun. Eric’s done this in Provincetown, MA; Portland, ME; and Worcester, MA. Most events will charge a cover. These can range from $20-$100. Be prepared to walk around in the cold and you may find a great new place to celebrate.

    No matter what you do, always have a good time. We like to have two common denominators to our New Year’s: Friends and Champagne!

    Tell us below what your New Year’s traditions are!

  • Peppermint Chocolate Ganache Bars Review

    Peppermint Chocolate Ganache Bars Review

    Zoe’s Take:

    7.5/10

    So I love chocolate, and ganache and, well, bars. What I am not a huge fan of is peppermint. I think having the peppermint extract and the peppermint on the top of the bars is too much for one cookie. Plus, the candycanes on top were a little bit chewy after sitting on top of the white sugary layer all night. The crust is good, the chocolate ganache layer is good and the cream cheese layer is good but there’s way too much peppermint in this. I think that just the peppermint extract is enough. If you’re really into candy canes though…this dessert is definitely for you.

    Eric’s Take:

    9/10

    These were delicious. I love “oreo” crust and chocolate ganache. The top is similar to a cheesecake. I thought there was just enough peppermint in these bars. But I like a lot of peppermint flavor. The problem with these are they don’t keep well and they are a bit messy. That might be due to me not pressing the cookie layer down enough. The shortcuts here were using a cookie bottom and folding in cool whip into the cream cheese layer.

  • Holiday Sangria

    Holiday Sangria

    Don’t know what to bring to your next holiday party? Try this Holiday Sangria! It’s sure to be a crowd pleaser. This drink is made with white wine. I chose a chardonnay as it has light citrus and oaky flavors. It also has a more velvety texture which will hold up to the fruit. Brandy is added to the sangria to round it out and give it some more body. Instead of a sweetener I used white cranberry juice. The orange and lime highlight the citrus and balance the spices. Apple and cranberry cuts the sweetness with a subtle sourness, and also adds some holiday flair.

    Try the recipe for yourself HERE!

  • Gingerbread People Review

    Gingerbread People Review

    Zoe’s Take:

    7/10

    I like gingerbread a lot, and these were no different. The biggest problem is that the recipe called for a cake mix that basically doesn’t exist, volume wise, which made the dough very wet. I remedied this by adding more flour. Another problem was because of the cake mix, the gingerbread expanded way more than if I had made the dough from scratch. The gingerbread was very good though, and very moist and chewy, exactly what I was looking for. I decorated each gingerbread person very simply, but they could very well be complex and done with royal icing. Definitely good, but definitely some issues.

    Eric’s Take

    8/10

    I enjoyed making this recipe. The shortcut for this cookie was a spice cake mix. Again, the recipe called for a size that didn’t exist anymore. I also added a tad extra flour and this helped a lot. This was my first time making gingerbread and I had fun doing it. I also decorated very simply. This recipe lost one point for the texture as it was chewy and less traditional. I also dropped it a point for taste. I didn’t overly love the flavor. It was a bit bland and needed some more sweetness. Overall I enjoyed the process and cookies. I gave these cookies away as gifts, and they received very good reviews. 

  • Peppermint Hot Chocolate

    Peppermint Hot Chocolate

    When I was young, we used to visit our family friends in Concord, Massachusetts. It would snow and be freezing and Patricia would take out the snowman mugs and the container of chocolate powder and tiny marshmallows, and make us delicious hot chocolate.

    I can also flash back to the many ski trips I had out west. The kids would be in ski school while the adults combed the mountain. On our many breaks out of the cold, there was always hot chocolate. I can just smell it by recalling the memory. But that hot chocolate is made from powder. This hot chocolate, it isn’t.

    Smooth dark chocolate, whole milk and maybe a touch of cream… maybe some non-traditional spices? Topped with whipped cream and candy cane crumble? Perfect for freezing cold night.

    Find the recipe here.

  • Cranberry Cereal Wreaths

    Cranberry Cereal Wreaths

    Zoe’s Take:

    5.5/10

    These looked really promising in the cookbook… however, I definitely had some doubts. First of all, it’s a whole lot of sugary sweetness in one cookie. White chocolate is very sweet, and paired with dried fruit (also very sweet), cornflakes, almonds and marshmallows, it was just way too much. Don’t get me wrong, I like sweet things. But these were just way too sweet for me. Then there’s the fact that actually making them is a very messy process. I used a very large mixing bowl, and ingredients still kept coming out while I was mixing it. Also, it’s a little bit impossible to mix cornflakes gently. Finally, actually shaping the wreaths was a PAIN. I was smart and used gloves, but I don’t think most home cooks keep gloves for cooking in their pantry. They didn’t want to stick together and making the hole in the center was even more frustrating. They took about 15 minutes to cool down and dry and THEN they stuck together pretty well. I do like that they are very good for decorating.

    Eric’s Take:

    6/10

    This was a disappointment for me. I felt the same way Zoe did. Everything started out well. The ingredients were easy to find and put together. Everything changed when it came time to form the wreathes. The batter was very sticky, but as I made the holes and formed the wreathes as instructed, they started to fall apart. I can give the recipe the benefit of the doubt though. For this recipe I believe timing is critical. Once the white chocolate begins to cool it’s more difficult for the mix to keep a shape. The ones that made it hardened and were easy to decorate and transfer to a plate, which I was worried about. They second major problem…again, much like Zoe I felt they were too sweet. I don’t like super sweet things, so these made me cringe a bit. I think they would be great paired with other treats though, and would make a lovely addition to a cookie plate.

  • Zoe Teaches How to Play Dreidel!

    For the last night of Hanukkah, Zoe teaches us how to play the game of Dreidel. 

  • Holiday Shopping Tips!

    Holiday Shopping Tips!

    Unless you’re like me and start shopping for holiday gifts right after Halloween, this is a good time to start! You have a LOT of options. From the mall, to flea markets and holiday markets to the vast internet, every present you could ever want is out there.

    While I can’t speak for all of you, I love to shop online. I have a knack for finding deals and coupons, and employ a variety of plug-ins on Google Chrome to find even more deals! I even use the app Paribus to get money back on Amazon purchases.

    https://paribus.co/ Get Paribus Here

    https://www.joinhoney.com/ Get Honey Here

    While these are all well and good, that doesn’t tell you where to go. Obviously, the favorite site is Amazon. If you don’t regularly buy Amazon Prime, here’s a little tip for you. You can get a month of free prime as a trial every year. I save mine for December so I can get all my purchases with free shipping. Would you like another Amazon tip? Order early in the month. Like, right now. The post office receives well over 5 million packages every year for delivery. Since Amazon has a contract with USPS, don’t over-burden your local post office at the end of the month by ordering everything last minute. Your postal carrier will definitely thank you for it.

    If you’re into unique items that you probably can’t find on Amazon, check out Etsy. Etsy is a maker’s site, and you can find all sorts of handmade, unique and one of a kind items there. I also know that supporting artists is incredibly important (I used to sell on Etsy). The prices range from low to extremely expensive. It’s definitely possible to find something for every price range and every person on Etsy.

    My secret favorite website is the last one I’ll tell you about. If you haven’t before, check out Wish. Most of what you can buy from Wish seems to be overstock. You can find incredible items for very little more, or free and all you pay is $2-4 in shipping. I buy a lot of my items off of Wish, but there is one big issue. Shipping isn’t really tracked, and it’s not very fast. So if you’re going to order off of Wish, do it NOW. I ordered all my Wish items at the beginning of November.

    I pride myself on being a fantastic gift giver. I’m a big fan of useful gifts, as in, gifts you can actively use or need. If you need any help with your gift choices, send us a message on here, or on any of our social media sites. We’ll find you an idea and a deal.

     

    *None of these sites have paid for promotion.

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