It’s time to go holiday shopping.  I’m a little late with this, but Spoonies tend to be late with a lot of things. I’m going to make up for it by offering a ton of great ideas for you to give — and some you may want to keep for yourself.   By kids, for charity… I love things created by children and this one is extra special because the kids are using their talent and ability to help others. They even have special socks for illnesses and organizations, such as autism and Big Brothers, Big Sisters. The kids in charge are Brandon and Sebastian Martinez. They are now 15 and 13 respectively, but they first started their company in 2014! It was first done for local fundraising and then they took it national. The socks are adorable and well made. They are also quite comfortable. As of now, Are You Kidding Socks has raised $350,000 for charity. Pick up some pairs for gifts and help them out at the same time. You can purchase on their website .   Gentle scents for th...

There was lots of frost on the pumpkin this Halloween, but that didn’t keep me from enjoying fall food and spirits. A little bit of spirit in my bread… I first tried Sugarland Distilling’s Pumpkin Spiced Latte Sipping Cream two years ago . I loved it and it was a huge hit with my friends.  I received a note from the company promoting it for the fall season. I asked them to send me another bottle, this time for cooking. I had a pretty good idea of what it would work in and I was right. You definitely want to try this recipe I created for Pumpkin Spiced Latte Cream Cheese Bread . Try this tequila selection… I didn’t know much about Alacran Tequila before I received a box to sample. I am a tequila lover and was impressed with their selection, as well as the product. My favorite of the bunch was the Autentico Tequila Cristal. This premium tequila will remain one of my favorites. It’s got the perfect mix of smooth and sweet that I wouldn’t waste mi...

It’s the start of the holiday season and I’ve been receiving some interesting spirits to enjoy during your celebrations. Eggnog Vodka? Worth a try… I was a bit leery when I heard about Eggnog Vodka from Three Olives, but I agreed to give it a try. As expected, it did nothing for me as a straight shot. I decided to bring it down to my clubhouse, where the bartender, Lionel, played around with it a bit. Lionel loves creative challenges when it comes to spirits. His first thought was a hot chocolate, with a bit of half and half and a shot of Three Olives Eggnog Vodka. It was quite delicious, but the big hit was this: Eggnog Vodka Martini: 2 ounces Three Olives Eggnog Vodka ½ ounce amaretto ½ ounce Whipped cream vodka Splash of half & half Sprinkle of nutmeg Pour ingredients into a mixing gup filled with ice. Strain into a martini glass. For another twist on Eggnog… shout out to Sugarland’s Distilling Company, who sent me another bottle of thei...