DIY: MASON JAR COCKTAILS

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With Christmas less than two weeks away, the holiday rush is officially in full swing! If you’re like me, your gift-giving list is a mix of family members, friends, co-workers, and Secret Santa’s; a group of wonderful people all with varying tastes. So, when I stumbled across this mason jar gift idea on Pinterest, I knew it would be perfect for my entire list! The cocktail combinations are endless, making it an easy gift to personalize for everyone.

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To get started, I wrote a fun message on each mason jar using a chalkboard marker. *If you can’t find a mason jar with writable space, you can add gift tag with a fun saying of your own, or the recipient’s name.

Next, cut a piece of twine approximately 24″ long. Wrap and double knot the twine around the rim of the mason jar. Place a straw up against the knot that you’ve tied, and secure it in place by using an additional double knot.

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Choose your bottle of liquor and place it up against the straw. Using the same twine, tie a double knot around the neck of the bottle, under the cap (this will keep the bottle from sliding off).

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Choose your soft drink and drop it (gently) down into the mason jar.

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All the recipients have to do is add some ice and enjoy, and you can relax knowing that your Christmas gift list has been taken care of!

Which cocktail combination would you make? Let me know in the comments below!

Shop this post: Mason Jars – Dollarama | Twine – Dollarama | Santa Straws – Party City | Mini Liquor Bottles – LCBO | Chalkboard Marker – Michaels | Soft Drinks – Metro

*Please drink responsibly. Only consume alcohol if you meet the legal age requirements in your country.

FROM THE KITCHEN: NUTS & BOLTS

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A few weeks ago, I was approached by the lovely Victoria of Floral + Teacups to work on a holiday collaboration. We connected via the interweb after the Spark Sessions conference last month, and have been busy tweeting and cooking up a storm ever since.

With Christmas just a few weeks away, we thought it would be fun to do a holiday recipe swap with a twist. We traded family recipes that were special to us during the Christmas season; recipes that our mom’s have been making for years. Victoria shared her family’s Nuts & Bolts – a homemade take on Bits & Bites, which I used to love eating as a child. It was a cinch to make, and the batch that I cooked up has already been consumed by anybody who could get their hands on it (it was that good). Here’s how to make it:

Ingredients

  • 8 cups Crispex (I used Life cereal)
  • 8 cups plain Cheerios
  • 16oz pretzels
  • 3oz Bugles
  • 1/2 lb peanuts
  • 1/2 lb sunflower seeds
  • 1-1 1/2 cups butter
  • 1/4 cup worcestshire sauce
  • 1 tbsp celery salt
  • 1 tbsp garlic powder
  • 1 tbsp onion powder

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Step 1: Combine dry ingredients.

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Step 2: Melt butter. Add to the dry ingredients, along with the spices and worcestshire sauce.

Step 3: Bake at 275° covered for 1 hour and then uncovered for 1 hour. Stir every 15 minutes. Enjoy!

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If you head over to Victoria’s blog, you’ll see the recipe I shared with her: Christmas Snowballs. These tasty treats have been my mom’s cookie exchange go-to for 20+ years, and it doesn’t feel like Christmas until we’ve eaten a few (handfuls) of them.

A big thanks to Victoria for collaborating with me on this project. It was the perfect way to kick off the holiday season! If you’re interested in collaborating with me, feel free to get in touch via social media or via email.

IPSY’S NOVEMBER GLAM BAG

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“Your November Glam Bag is a universe of brilliant beauties. Twinkle, twinkle, darling. It’s time to light up the sky.”

This month’s “Beauty Blast” ipsy Glam Bag is out of this world! I mean, just look at this rad galaxy print – who wouldn’t love the watercolour-esque purples of this bag?!

Below you will find all of this month’s products along with my reviews. Did you receive a glam bag this month? Be sure to leave me a comment and let me know what your favourite product was!

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Jessie’s Girl Cosmetics: Eye Shadow Primer
I find that my eye shadows tend to crease by the end of the day, but I’ve never thought to invest in an eye shadow primer. That’s going to have to change now that I’ve tried this Jessie’s Girl Eye Shadow Primer. It goes on silky smooth, not adding any extra weight to my lids, and my shadow looked great all day long!

Crown Brush: Deluxe Pointed Crease Brush
I’m always happy to add a new makeup brush to my collection, especially one as soft as this one. The Deluxe Pointed Crease Brush by Crown Brush makes applying my eye shadow a cinch, and it blended the colour with ease.

Beaute Basics: Gel Eyeliner with Eyeliner Brush
I don’t often use coloured eyeliners (black is my go-to), but I was excited to try this navy liner for some of my holiday looks. This gel eyeliner went on with ease, giving me a smooth, even, winged look. My only caution is to let this liner dry before you move on to your next step – it does not dry instantly, and it’s easy to smudge.

LeeAnnie Eco: Go Away Gloomy Day Serum
This serum helps to soothe and hydrate tired skin, using natural honey, aloe, and vitamin E. I’ve started to add it to my morning skin care routine, and have noticed that, despite the colder weather, my skin has remained soft and happy.

Smashbox Cosmetics: Full Exposure Mascara
I have fairly long eyelashes, so finding a mascara that gives my lashes them “oomph” I like is not easy. Although the Full Exposure Mascara doesn’t deliver a dramatic look, I love that their no clumps, no flakes formula leaves my lashes with a clean, polished look.

For more information on these products, or where to buy, visit the links above.
To start receiving a monthly ipsy glam bag of your own, click here.