For the last Saturday Meanderings of 2023, I am including two weeks of good things to chat about. With every intention to post last Saturday, well, you know how life goes the week before and after Christmas. Happily with a house full of family and guests, I never finished my post and here it is, a week later and there is more to add. So grab a cup of coffee or tea, and let’s chat about all good things over the last two weeks.

Before Christmas

What a week! On Saturday, December 16th we made the 6 hour drive to Newport Beach, California where we celebrated my husband’s birthday.

Newport Beach

With the average house price in Newport Beach being nearly $4mm, it is obviously a place we cannot buy, but we certainly love to visit. We always stay at Marriott Newport Coast Villas, which overlooks the Pacific Ocean and is situation right on the Pacific Coast Highway. This location is just perfect for our family and after coming here every summer when the children were younger, it feels a bit like a home away from home.

Four days of chock-a-block activities with the whole family (and significant others), from Disneyland to our favorite beach, the time is filled with lots of laughter and new memories. This Marriott property is so well maintained with beautiful landscaping too.

One of the highlights of blogging is meeting some truly wonderful people. During my September trip to Newport Beach, I learn that Wendy, from WM Design House lives in the area. So on this trip, we schedule time to meet for lunch and immediately, we become fast friends.

I love scheduling 4 to 5 days before Christmas to do something extra special with our family. Not only do we focus on my husband’s birthday (which can get lost in the holiday crunch), but hotel prices are still reasonable and accommodations available. Plus it’s a nice break from the holiday frenzy.

The Loofa (or luffa) is Ready!

This loofa plant has been the highlight of the garden this year. The vine is slowly dying off and I am picking dried loofa from the vine. If you recall, here is how it looks over the summer. At this point, this vegetable is very edible. Surprisingly, it did very well in our exceptionally hot summer.

As it matures, the fruit lightens in color and loses water weight. The shell hardens and starts to separate from interior fibers. Here is what the loofa looks like now.

The dried skin easily peels off and the seeds shake out from the inside. I find this plant so interesting! If you would like to grow this in your garden, here is a link to luffa seeds. I haven’t used it yet as a body scrubber but will keep you posted!

Annual Holiday Competition

My son, Benjamin has long-time friends (Emily, Max and Jeffrey) who gather each Christmas and compete in a food/drink cookoff. To date, the competition has included BLTs, stuffing, and hamburgers. This year they decide to do a cocktail one with categories of stirred, blended, shaken and shooters.

With a cleared kitchen island, each friend has a prep station. Official descriptions and judging sheets are provided to us and our friends, Rick and Janie. Not only are the drinks innovative and delicious, but it is so joyful to see the camaraderie between these incredible friends. Judging scores includes presentation, taste and innovation.

From tropical pinã coladas to snowball Negronis, this group did not disappoint. Operating as skilled mixologist, each and every drink is delicious.

Cocktails are rated with a numbering system and judged with a blind tasting. It’s always hard to pick one winner because such effort and attention is done by all three participants.

Christmas Day and After

Christmas morning is a very casual and relaxing affair here at Bella Terra. After the traditional breakfast of Eggs a la Goldenrod (see the recipe here), smoked salmon (made by my husband), bagels, and fresh squeezed orange juice for mimosas, we open our presents in the living room. It is possible there are more dog than people presents!

A late afternoon dinner is served in the dining room. What is fun about this year’s meal is that it was thrown together without a lot of forethought. The menu includes a smoked pork loin, a salad made from fresh garden greens and sweet potatoes, prepared in the most delicious way (recipe to come soon), cornbread muffins and a previously homemade (and frozen) pumpkin pie.

The table centerpiece is simply created with bottlebrush trees gathered from other parts of the house. Though our dining room is small and can only accommodate 10 people, it is very conducive to lively conversation and ambiance.

Celebrating the 12 Days of Christmas

I know many people are already dismantling their Christmas decorations, but not here at Bella Terra. This year, I decide to truly celebrate the 12 Days of Christmas (from Christmas Day to January 6, the Epiphany). My mother kept all decorations up until January 6th, a tradition we continue here.

What I love about this time between those two dates is the unique period of tranquility. I can fully enjoy the quiet beauty of the winter wonderland of our home without the stresses of the holiday bustle. In this sense of peace and stillness, I will slowly read and enjoy all the Christmas cards and letters we’ve received. Daily, I am watching a Christmas movie.

Even though Valentine’s Day merchandise is in the stores, I plan to be present and enjoy the peace and quiet of these 12 days. I invite you to join me in using this time for quiet reflection, to connect with nature’s stillness, spend quality time with loved ones, embrace deliberately slowing down, and savor your traditions and rituals.

When do you take down your decorations? Do you celebrate the 12 Days of Christmas?

As we say goodbye to 2023, I send you the biggest hugs and best wishes for a healthy, happy and exciting 2024. Keep those you love close to you and always extend a hand to those less fortunate. That’s what life is all about. See you in the New Year!

There something special about serving a custom cocktail during the holidays. Every time I entertain, I like to seek seasonal ingredients and create a unique drink to start the party. Generally, I make enough for 2 servings per guest, then you can serve whatever you want after the initial cocktail~be it wine, beer, standard mixed drinks or non-alcoholic beverages. I hope this extra effort makes my company feel special and that our time together will reflect that. Here are some of my favorite specialty cocktails for the holidays.

2023 Christmas Cocktail

Inspired by a cocktail we had last Christmas at Lon’s at the Hermosa Inn, I want to make this one very festive, fun and interactive. At Michaels, I purchase 20 clear plastic ornaments and use these as a vessel to serve this delicious Cranberry Orange Margarita. The recipe is from Half Baked Harvest but I tweak it a bit to make it my own (see Note below).

Here is a link for 20 8 cm plastic ornaments (approx. 3″) for only $15.48. The recipe can be made in bulk. What’s nice about this cocktail, is you can make the drink ahead of time, use a funnel to fill the ornaments and then refrigerate them until your guests arrive.

Serve in a pretty coupe glass with a fresh sprig of rosemary and sugared cranberries. Not only is this a very colorful and festive drink, it tastes delicious too. These coupe glasses are on sale at Crate and Barrel for an incredibly low price. You can find them here.

Note: I use agave syrup instead of granulated sugar in the recipe. Also, I tie on a gingham ribbon on the top of the ornament so I don’t lose it after the drink is poured. The plastic ornaments can be washed and reused.

Taking Advantage of Citrus Season

As we are entering the best time of year for oranges, grapefruits, tangerines and lemons, it make sense to utilize these fruits. Plus we all could use a little more Vitamin C! Using fresh herbs and pretty garnishes, raises the bar on taste. Some of the recipes are for one cocktail, and others provide a pitcher size quantity.

Ruby Red Greyhounds with Rosemary Simple Syrup

The key to this drink is to get good ruby red grapefruit. Texas Ruby Reds are juicy and sweet as are the ones we are growing in our orchard. With rosemary-infused simple syrup, fresh grapefruit juice and vodka, this cocktail is bright, tart and refreshing while easy to make. You can find the recipe from A Farmgirl’s Dabbles here. I have made this many times and it’s a winner.

Tangerine Sidecar

We have the most amazing tangerine tree that seems to bear fruit every other year. Well, this year, the branches are laden with so many tangerines. Our neighbors love this drink. I don’t know what type of tangerine tree we have, but mandarins will work wonderfully as well. Between the sweet tangerine juice, bourbon, and ginger simple syrup, it’s the perfect winter drink. You can find the recipe here.

Clementine Thyme Margaritas

You have seen this cocktail a few times on previous posts. We recently served it at our Halloween Dinner party and again, a fan favorite. Silver tequila and thyme infused simple syrup make this a tasty cocktail. Can’t find clementines? I use Cuties as a substitute. Recipe is found here.

Birds and Bees

I first made this back when I was the recipient of the Traveling Teacup (see post here). A syrup made with honey and chamomile tea mellows the fresh lemon juice in this gin cocktail from Juan Coronado of South Beach restaurant, The Bazaar. Here is the recipe. 

White Christmas Mojitos

These creamy white coconut mojitos are so festive for the snowy, winter months bringing a bit of tropical flavor to the season. If you are a fan of Half Baked Harvest, you will enjoy these. Garnish with mint and cranberries or pomegranate arils for a true holiday drink. Click here for the recipe.

Cranberry Bourbon Sours

Here’s another festive cocktail from Half Baked Harvest with a deep ruby color. Ingredients include cranberry and lemon juice, bourbon and a cranberry honey syrup. Plus it is easy to whip up for a crowd. I love cranberries this time of year so why not take advantage of all the good benefits of this tiny red fruit. Cranberry Bourbon Sour recipe is here.

Jungle Bird

A few Thanksgivings ago, my son made this tropical drink with Campari, pineapple and lime juice and dark rum. Usually reserved for dry dinner drinks like the Negroni, Campari, is a bitter aperitif that works surprisingly well in this mix. The fruits help smooth out its bitterness while the dark rum and simple syrup bring in a touch of sweetness that draws it all together beautifully.

You can see the recipe from The Spruce Eats here.

Simple and Easy

If making cocktails with any complexity is not your thing, a good Prosecco or bubbly champagne will work. To make it a bit more festive, you can add a bit of edible glitter, hibiscus flower or an Amareno cherry.

Our friend and neighbor, Tevia, always brings the most clever gifts when we entertain. She is responsible for the hibiscus flowers and edible glitter, which can be found on Amazon. Amareno cherries are grown in 2 cities in Italy and tend to be seasonal. Trader Joes may have them but they sell out quickly. I just found this jar on Amazon.

Non-Alcoholic Options

There are many festive non-alcoholic or dealcoholized beverages available too. This sparkling dealcoholized vegan rosé is quite nice for special occasions (or just because). It has almost half the sugar content of other non-alcoholic sparkling.You can find it here.

Another great resource for low and non-alcoholic beverages is Lyre’s Spirits. Want a Negroni? They have the ingredients to do so without the alcohol. And their bottles are very attractive. Check out their website here.

Do you have a favorite cocktail? Please do share as we are always looking for new ones to create. Wishing you a happy Tuesday!

If you enjoy this post, please share on Pinterest.

As an Amazon affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. My blog may contain other affiliate links but not all links have affiliations. I truly love to share products that I have personally tried and highly recommend.

What a busy and fulfilling week! I cannot believe it is the Saturday before Thanksgiving week! It’s that time again for Saturday Meanderings where we chat about all good things this week.

Veterans Day Parade in Phoenix

I think this is the very first time I attended the Veterans Day parade here in town. It’s walking distance from our home and my friend and neighbor, Tevia and I decide to check it out. What an impressive show of participation and patriotism. A big salute to all our veterans who bravely serve and have served our country. On the walk home, I felt buoyant with national pride.

If you live in Phoenix and haven’t been to the annual Veterans Day parade, I highly recommend it!

An Early Thanksgiving

My three children are no longer living at home and are scattered out of town-some further than others. However, everyone came together this weekend and the house and my soul are full to the brim. We had a delicious sit-down dinner on Sunday, an early version of Thanksgiving.

All those years of raising children hold some of my happiest memories. The adjustment to empty nesting is different for everyone, but I really miss the noise, confusion, laughter, family chaos and messy kitchen. Having a little bit of that back this weekend is so joyful.

Since we will not be together collectively for Thanksgiving, I’m still not sure how that holiday will unfold. Will you be with family for Thanksgiving?

Favorite Beverages

As the weather gets cooler, I am looking for a warm beverage to have in the afternoon. Sometimes it is a cup of tea, but lately my go to is Clevr Blends London Fog Latte. Clevr Blends products are fashioned after coffee shop favorites but they skip the sugar and dairy, and add brain-boosting, mood-lifting ingredients.

This is gluten free and vegan, has 1000 mg adaptogens, heat resistant probiotics, and less than 35 mg of caffeine. Only 80 calories per serving. Just add hot water and mix (or blend or froth).

Every night my husband and I have our soothing nightcap of Sleeptime Superlatte. This drink has sleep-supportive botanicals to help you de-stress and rest (caffeine free). Not only is it a pre-bed ritual, but it tastes good too!

Clevr Blends has other flavors but these two are my favorite. Here you can find the ClevrBlends link.

Mary’s Must Haves

~Cashmere Protection Pouch~

During my daily routine, I note a product(s) that I appreciate as it makes my life a bit better. Here is this week’s 4 products:

I love pulling out sweaters this time of year and nothing is more disappointing than to find moth holes! How do those insects make their way into our closet? The perfect solution is to use a Cashmere Protection Pouch. Initially I purchased the X-Large one, but added the Standard size one to protect not only my cashmere sweaters (scarves, etc), but the wool ones too.

These bags protect your sweaters while allowing the natural fibers to breathe. Surprisingly these bags hold quite a few sweaters. Currently 7% off on Amazon here.

~Yoga Toes or Toe Separators~

Going from summer sandals to wearing fall/winter shoes, may be hard on your feet. I find that using these toe separators are so helpful to foot health. In 2022, I experienced a painful Morton’s neuroma in my left foot. Instead of getting a cortisone shot, I began wearing these Naboso toe separators at night in bed. Information from the manufacturer:

• Our toe separators gently correct and restore the natural shape of toes and feet 
• Pain Relief: Gel straighteners offer relief from bunions and relax tense muscles in your toes 
• Activewear Design: Comfortably wear these gel toe spreaders as you walk or lounge around 
• For Everyone: Podiatrist recommended toe correctors designed for men and women to reverse toe damage 
• High Quality: Easy to clean BPA free foot care products made from 100% medical grade gel

If your feet are feeling the effects of aging, new shoes or they are just plain tired, you may want to try these.

~Ambient Weather Station~

I check this Ambient weather station display several times per day. The sensor which monitors wind speed, rainfall, temperature, humidity, UV and solar radiation is on a pole and located in the corner of my garden. It transmits data to the small display on my kitchen counter. I love this weather station and a day doesn’t go by without me looking at it. If you are seeking the perfect Christmas or birthday gift, I highly recommend this.

With over 11,000 positive ratings on Amazon, you can either pay full price ($189.00) or can make 4 payments of $47.50 every two weeks for 4 weeks with 0% APR.

~Microplane Zester~

Whether you are zesting lemons, grating nutmeg or shaving chocolate on top of a cup of hot cocoa, you will love this microplane. This one has a black handle and if you prefer a colored one, the price is slightly higher. With the holiday meal prep heading our way, this is a useful tool to have in your kitchen.

Advent Calendars

There are so many different types of Advent calendars~from those you can make to ones that are filled with chocolate, beauty products, wine, coffee, you name it. I recently bought this Advent Calendar for my friend, Christine who LOVES puzzles. It has 42 pieces per day in the numbered boxes for an overall total of 1008 piece jigsaw puzzle.

If you want to learn more about Advent Calendars from its history to how to make one, Elizabeth from Pinecones & Acorns has a wonderful, informative post you can see here.

With Advent starting December 1 (only 2 weeks away), now is the time to make or buy one.

From Around the Internet

Lately, I am all about gingerbread. Gingerbread will be the decorating theme in the kitchen this year. Plus what smells better than gingerbread baking in the oven. Heidi, from Eleanor Rose Home makes these adorable gingerbread tree ornaments. I don’t own a wooden cookie mold but I think I may need to splurge. You can see her great tutorial here.

Crozier Cooks

My very talented son (smart, handsome and he cooks!) just started a new Instagram account, crozier_cooks. If you love pictures and videos of beautiful food, please follow him! Let’s send a little Bella Terra love his way.

Heather Chadduck Interiors

I love finding a designer who isn’t trendy and outrageous, but traditional and tasteful. Check out this gorgeous lakeside guest cottage. What a dreamy place to stay!

Here are more photos of her work:

I am drooling over all the gorgeous interiors on her website. See it here.

This Week’s Post

I hope you had a chance to check out this week’s post, Pumpkin-Shaped Delights: Bread, Brie and Dinner Rolls Recipes. The brie is the perfect (and easy) appetizer to make for Thanksgiving. It will impress your guests and they don’t need to know how simple it is to make.

That is an absolute wrap! Are you traveling for Thanksgiving next week? Wishing you a wonderful, fun-filled, relaxing weekend.

As an Amazon affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. My blog may contain other affiliate links but not all links have affiliations. I truly love to share products that I have personally tried and highly recommend.

Is anyone else in awe that is it already November? Actually this week went by so quickly~so much so that I thought it was Tuesday when in actuality it was Friday. I feel like I want to slam on the brakes of life. You, too? My goal this week is to breathe deeply, go for daily walks and take some time for myself. It’s that time again for Saturday Meanderings, where we chat about all good things this week.

Spontaneity

Last Friday afternoon, on a whim, I decide to drive up to the mountains with our cat, Donovan, to meet up with my husband. Donovan does not like to be in the car and finally settles down after an hour of yowling. But he loves exploring the cabin and has free rein of the place other than our bedroom.

Even though I was born and raised in Connecticut, I am no longer used to cold weather. Boy, it was so cold both inside and outside our cabin (at least for me). However, how fun to wear warm sweaters and coats again!

It is so quiet in the mountains this time of year and it truly feels like the end of fall and the beginning of winter. I am able to do a fun little cocktail photo shoot among the turning leaves in the forest. Later, my husband and I sit there with a drink for just a few minutes, but scampered inside because it was so cold and windy! But what a gift to be there for a few days keeping warm by the fire.

Halloween

Did you have a fun Halloween? So many Halloween events took place over the weekend so I’m not even sure how many children celebrated Halloween on the actual date? Since we live on a busy road that is not well-lit, we try not to encourage children to cross the street to our home (no sidewalks on our side).

So trick or treaters are few and far between. For quite a few years now, we tend to host a rather elaborate Halloween dinner party. But after being away for the weekend, last minute invites go out on Monday for a very spontaneous Halloween cocktail party on our back terrace on Tuesday.

Fortunately we have a group of friends who always respond to our last minute events! A few hors d’oeuvres and fun cocktails make for a fun evening. What a blessing to have such nice friends and neighbors.

Getting Candle Wax off of Linens

I did write a post about this (you can see it here), but after our impromptu Halloween gathering, there is residual candle wax on my table runner. This week I posted an Instagram reel on how to remove it. This technique really works. With the holidays coming there will be more opportunities for candle wax to mar your table linens so check it out. Also if you are on Instagram, would love for you to follow me @lifeatbellaterra.

Inspiration from the Internet

I know very little about interior designers but I am intrigued by Sean Symington. He seems rather young (don’t they all?) and even though he started his interior design firm in 2019, it appears he is very successful.

However, I do like his classic yet refreshed approach. If you love traditional style, pretty fabrics, and gorgeous wallpaper, check him out here.

Adorable Cottage

Though I am not ready for Christmas decor, it is a treat to see my friend’s (Kim from Shiplap and Shells) waterfront cottage.

Kim shares 21 Quick and Simple Cottage Christmas Decor Ideas to Try. This may be the inspiration I need to decorate the guest cottage this Christmas….

Thanksgiving Desserts

Rachel from The Ponds Farmhouse is sharing all sorts of ideas for Thanksgiving desserts. In her post, she has 6 Mouthwatering Thanksgiving Pie Recipes (plus much, much more). Rachel is a dynamo and I am always so impressed at how much great information she shares.

Need Help with Interior Design?

My friend, Andrea from Design Morsels provides a WEALTH of information on interior design tips and tricks. Not sure what size chandelier to put over your dining room table? Need help choosing a color palette? Ask Andrea.

For those of you who remember Hints from Heloise, Andrea is just that but all things interior design. She is my go to when I am feeling overwhelmed or not sure what design direction to take. Bookmark her website or better yet, follow Andrea!

Mary’s Must Haves

During the week, these items come to mind as ones I appreciate (use often) and highly recommend.

These interior night lights illuminate and provide a safe path around the house after dark. Recently, after taking a pretty good spill outside, in the dark, I am hyper aware of not wanting to fall again. Eufy night lights are low profile, attractive, turn on automatically and provide a nice, warm light. Once the sun is up, the lights turn off.

For outside your home, especially during the darker winter months, these JackonLux Dusk to Dawn Outdoor Automatic light bulbs work very well. We have installed them on the guest cottage and pool house and it’s nice to know they go on and off automatically with sunrise and sunset.

I am not a fan of those harsh blue/white LED lights. These provide a nice warm white light for illumination. Well priced at $16.99 for 4 bulbs.

Colorscience Brush-on Sunscreen Mineral Powder

Protecting our skin from the sun is a smart thing to do in both the summer and winter. However, I am not a fan of greasy sunscreen, especially on my face. I’ve tried products made for the face, but for some reason putting on that extra layer of lotion escapes me.

This powdered sunscreen mineral powder with an SPF 50, I use every single day because it acts like my foundation powder. I also keep one in my purse that I apply when I go on longer driving trips to protect the left side of my face. To pay $69.00 for a sunscreen seems a bit much, but the last time I bought one was in January 2023 and I am still using it. Say it lasts a full year, that’s less than $6.00 per month and approximately $0.19 a day. Well worth the price to protect your skin from damaging sun rays. See it here.

For All your Hot Beverages

With the colder weather setting in, I am drinking more hot beverages~from tea to mushroom coffee to my super sleep time lattes. This electric glass kettle boils water SO quickly, faster than the stove or microwave. It has numerous safety issues such as a stay-cool handle and auto-shutoff. If you are a tea drinker, there is a bonus infuser. Great price with a 1-year warranty at $34.99. Find it here.

This Coming Week…

Sunday is Daylight Savings Time so remember to change your clocks (except if you live here in Arizona where we never change time). Tuesday is Election Day~please remember your duty To VOTE. On Thursday, my son and his girlfriend are coming to town for a wedding. Our entire family will be getting together for dinner, which is very exciting! Saturday, November 11th is Veterans Day~please take time to pray and honor those veterans of the armed services who lost their lives in our country’s wars.

That’s a wrap for this Saturday’s Meanderings. Wishing you a wonderful week ahead.

My husband, Scott announces he wants to make limoncello. Not sure where that ambitious notion comes from but I love this lemony liqueur so I am in full support. We were first introduced to limoncello when we traveled to one of my favorite places, Ravello on the Amalfi coast of Italy. Our very first bottle looks very similar to this one and brings back wonderful memories of that charming Italian village.

What is Limoncello?

Limoncello is a popular Italian liqueur known for its vibrant lemon flavor and sweet, citrusy aroma. It is typically made in southern Italy using Femminello St. Teresa (or Sorrento) lemons. If not enjoying it as an after-dinner digestif, you can use it in various cocktails. See Kim from Insanely Good’s 13 Best Limoncello Cocktails here.

The Recipe

Scott uses Martha Stewart’s limoncello recipe (see below).  Limoncello is made primarily from lemon zest, alcohol, water, and sugar. The zest of lemon, which contains the flavorful oils, steeps in alcohol to extract the lemon essence. Then sweetened the mixture with a simple syrup made from water and sugar. There are four simple ingredients~~lemons, 160-proof vodka or grain alcohol, sugar and boiling water.

The Process

He begins by peeling strips of zest from the lemons using a vegetable peeler, trying to minimize the bitter white part of the lemon. If you don’t have a good peeler, invest in professional quality citrus peeler as the goal is to have little to no pith. This one is on sale at Amazon (23% off) and is a great value at under $9.00.

Remember to peel away from you so you don’t injure your fingers! Use leftover lemons for another recipe, like lemon curd, lemon meringue pie, even lemonade!

Put the zest and vodka in an airtight container and let it sit at room temperature for 3 days (at least 2 days or up to 1 week). Since the recipe makes 2 quarts (64 ounces) , make sure you have the right size container on hand. Or you can divide the recipe in half and place in 32 ounces containers.

Next he makes simple syrup and adds it to the vodka mixture, then refrigerates it in an airtight container for 1 day.

Pour the mixture through a large sieve into a large measuring cup. With the help of a funnel, transfer the limoncello into a decanter; and discard the zest.

Our son Benjamin lends a helping hand so this becomes a memorable father/son effort!

How to serve

Serve limoncello chilled, either straight from the freezer or over ice. The cold temperature enhances the flavor and makes it a refreshing option, especially during warmer months. Enjoy it as a palate cleanser or a post-meal digestive aid.

Pouring your tasty and colorful limoncello into a pretty cordial glass will make it taste even better!

This homemade limoncello passes the test from our son, Benjamin, who is quite the connoisseur in both food and beverage!

Limoncello can be stored in the freezer in an airtight container up to 3 months.  So if you make this in the fall, decant it in an attractive bottle, design your own label, it will be ready as holiday gifts for your family and friends. Or in the meantime, just enjoy your very own homemade limoncello!

Delizioso~Enjoy!

If you enjoy this post, please share on Pinterest.