How to Celebrate the Holidays at Home this Year:
Here in SoCal, we're under some of the strictest lock-downs and restrictions we've been under since the coronavirus pandemic reached America - and at this point, we all know just how important it is to stay positive and get creative with the current situation. But if you're running low on new ideas for safe ways to celebrate, we totally understand, and that's why we've put together this list.
So you can't go visit your friends and family in person, but that doesn't mean you can't have a great holiday season and embrace the energy of celebration and good cheer!
Truly this time of year is about being thankful for our abundance, connecting to those we love, and restoring our souls before we begin the new year. So we've collected the best ways to celebrate (safely) with your loved ones if you're living in Long Beach or OC - because that's what we're doing - let's end this year right!
Ways to Celebrate with Loved Ones (That Don't Include the Obvious Secret Santa Gift Exchanges or Video Chat Options):
Enjoy One of the Most Beautiful (and Visible) Star-Gazing Opportunities of Our Lives on December 21
So it's not actually stars, but 2 planets you'll be able to see quite visibly on the evening of Dec. 21st - Saturn and Jupiter. But that's a really good thing since our skies are full of so much light pollution, which often means stars aren't visible in the skies above the LA Metro. And not only will this be bright enough to see, but it will also occur early in the evening- visible just a few hours after sundown (from around 4:30 pm to 7:30 pm)- so everybody will be able to enjoy this event. This rare event won't occur again until 2080 and is being called a "Christmas Star" because of the date (the winter equinox and traditional day of Yule) and the close proximity in our line of sight of these planets (along with a few stars, too) which may mean that they may appear as 1 to the naked eye.
Make it a Special Event by Adding:
Fire Pit, Outdoor Heaters, and/or Wrap yourselves in cozy blankets - bonus points for making s'mores
Add a Sneaky T 2.0 (the perfect spiced whiskey drink to sip fireside - try a splash of eggnog to make it extra festive!) or a Ginger Old Fashioned - order before 3pm on Saturday the 19th to ensure delivery before the big event.
Tour the Lights from Your Car
Christmas lights are a must-have for a true holiday experience - and touring them from within your car allows you to maintain social distancing (and also to get out of the house for a few hours, which I think we can all appreciate).
Everyone's heard of Candy Cane Lane in LA, but there are lots of SoCal Light displays and Orange County light displays that will light fill your heart with the Holiday Spirit (and help you skip the traffic and crowds).
Make it a Special Event by Adding:
Turn it into a Bingo or Scavenger Hunt game - OR go old school and play the "eye spy alphabet" road trip game
Grab takeout dinner or dessert from a local restaurant to enjoy under the warm glow of the lights
Watch Cheesy Christmas Movies, Curled UP on Your Couch, Lit Only with the Warm Glow of Christmas Lights
Everyone loves a good Christmas movie - and we all have our favorites - but with streaming replacing Cable, it seems harder than ever to figure out where to watch them. An unexpected winner for streaming in recent months at our house has been IMDB (yes, that IMDB, now offers free video streaming - and the ads are somehow magically muted on Amazon TVs? It's a Christmas miracle 😉).
Make it a Special Event by Adding:
Turn up the holiday scent with 1 of these options: Use orange slices, cloves, and cinnamon to create a fragrant stew of sorts on your cooktop, or light a pine-scented candle
Curl up with a cocktail, blanket, and your loved ones - we suggest the Socialite, our holiday season cocktail that will pair nicely with the scents and sounds of the season!
Light a fire - if you're lucky enough to have a fireplace - or turn on the Christmas Tree lights for a soft, warm glow.
Get Creative with a Themed Holiday Celebration
How about a Victorian Christmas? Or a Game of Thrones Hanakuh? This is certainly a year for new traditions, and this is such a fun and versatile idea that you can enjoy for many years to come.
Make it a Special Event by Adding:
Historically or theme-appropriate food and drink and/or gift exchange
Wearing costumes and/or decorating your home (or tree) to match the theme
Creating a home video documenting your themed party each year - what better home videos can you think of than this?!
Bake Holiday Cookies - And Make a Cookie Spread Worthy of Celebration!
Okay, I think we can all agree we may have overdone it with the snacks and sweets this year, but suspend your judgment for a few minutes, and just consider: baking all of your favorites and creating a cookie version of a charcuterie spread, complete with paired drinks.
Hopefully, this is our last year spent locked in at home - don't you want a fun story to tell when the kiddos ask "what did you do during quarantine?" I'm sure nothing will ever top your story of the cookie spread you made (and enjoyed) with your family on this unique year.
Make it a Special Event by Adding:
Add Night Moves by Sasha, a drink that captures fall's flavors of apple and spice, to match with your cookies - or message us on Instagram to help you create a custom pairing!
Make it a full charcuterie-esque dessert spread by adding: Trader Joe's Apple Spread (it's apple pie flavor without the crust or baking), brie cheese, candied walnuts or pecans, and dried cranberries.
Host a Virtual Game Night - No, Not on Zoom
We all know we can Zoom with our family and friends - but if you're looking for a festive and different way to spend some quality time with loved ones, we suggest giving these a try:
Play Catan with for Free Online (either through phone app or in browser on your computer) - because the Chess servers keep crashing, and Catan's seriously one of the best games ever, and because there's a bot in this one that nudges people when it's their turn to make a move, so things actually move along quickly and at an enjoyable pace.
PlayStation and Xbox actually have really enjoyable party-line systems, and that's one of my favorite ways we catch up with family and friends in different time zones at my house. Even when you don't have much news to share, a few rounds of a favorite game can help keep your loved ones close and connected. Red Dead Redemption 2 is a game with a campfire scene that has gained a bit of a cult following as a place to host a virtual meetup that feels fun and social.
Make it a Special Event by Adding:
Send your (adult) loved ones a cup of good cheer to enjoy while you play together! These easy cocktails are delivered to their door - all they have to add is ice (and honestly even that is optional)!
Escape to Mexico (in Your Mind) and Plan Your Next Vacation as the Ultimate Holiday Gift
Okay, hear me out on this one - it's not going to be as depressing as you think - instead of focusing on the basics, really spend some time asking yourself what life-long memories do you want to build on your next vacation? Do you want to zipline through the forests of Costa Rica? Do you want to have tea with a Geisha in Japan? I know I've been eyeing this river cruise in Cambodia since lock-down started - it's just the kind of once-in-a-lifetime experience I'm eager for right now.
Make it a Special Event by Adding:
Could you make this the gift you give to your family this year? You don't have to pay for it right now - in fact, you probably don't want to book any trips right this moment (just to save yourself any potential rescheduling headaches) - but maybe this is the year you decide not to buy sweaters or gadgets, and instead invest in that trip you've always wanted to take.
Themed cocktails can help get your creative (and fearless) juices flowing. Let down your inhibitions and dream a little - where would you go and what would you do if you weren't afraid of anything? We recommend Pina for those planning a Caribbean or beach vacation, the Black Manhattan for those dreaming of Europe, Cabo for those planning a Mexican adventure, and OG Margarita for those thinking of exploring South America next.
What Did We Miss?
Do you have a fun and creative celebration planned? Let us know in the comments below - or tag us on your Instagram posts @JustAddIceCocktails .