Tag: Christmas

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Blog Family Fun

Sip into the Season: Festive Cocktail and Mocktail Recipes!

The holiday season is, without a doubt, the most delicious time of the year, and when it comes to drinks, the possibilities are nearly endless. From sour to sweet, tart to zesty, consider trying out these cocktail and mocktail holiday libations to put an extra bit of jolly in your step. 

 

Cocktails

 

Cranberry Mimosas – Nicknamed the Poinsettia cocktail after the holiday flower, this libation is perfect for a Christmas morning brunch. The cranberries add a tartness that compliments the champagne perfectly with just a hint of sweetness. 

 

  • 1 lime, halved
  • 2 Tbsp. sugar
  • 8 ounces of sweetened cranberry juice
  • 1 bottle champagne
  • 12 fresh cranberries
  • 4 small sprigs fresh rosemary

 

Sugar Plum Fairy Cocktail – If you’re looking to put a little holiday magic in your cup, this Nutcracker-themed martini should do the trick. It’s perfect for a holiday party with some glitz that’s refined but still fun. 

 

  • 2 ounces gin
  • 1 ounce plum simple syrup
  • 1/2 ounce lemon or grapefruit juice
  • 1 egg white 

 

Spiced Apple Cider Mule – Moscow Mules are a classic cocktail, but the vodka-based drink easily adapts to a holiday beverage that is perfect for sipping in front of a roaring fire on a chilly December night. 

 

  • 4 ounces warm apple cider
  • ½ ounce simple syrup
  • 1 ounce lime juice1 
  • 2 ounces vodka
  • 4 ounces of ginger beer
  • cinnamon stick for garnish

 

Mocktails

 

Holiday Berry Fizz – Perfect for the kiddos or anybody who simply wants to skip on the booze, this sweet sip makes an ideal after-dinner seasonal treat. 

 

  • 1 10-ounce bag sliced frozen strawberries, defrosted
  • 2 Tbsp of honey
  • 1 8-ounce bag of frozen blueberries, defrosted
  • 4 ounces of ginger beer
  • 1 bottle of sparkling white grape juice

 

Gingerbread Mocktail – Now, if you’re in need of a dessert in a glass, this soon-to-be classic mocktail takes the iconic holiday gingerbread house and adapts it into a drink that taps into holiday memories of Christmas past. 

 

  • 2 Tbsp orange juice
  • 1 tsp molasses 
  • ¼ tsp cinnamon
  • ¼ tsp ginger
  • pinch nutmeg
  • pinch of cloves
  • 1 tsp maple syrup
  • 4 ounces of ginger beer

 

Citrus Sparkler – This crisp beverage is perfect for laying around the house after the kiddos have opened presents and you need a little bit of vitamin C to balance out that second cup of coffee.

 

  • 2 Tbsp orange zest
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 cup hot water
  • (Let sit overnight to make orange simple syrup)
  • 1/2 cup orange juice
  • 1/2 cup tangerine juice
  • ½ club soda
  • lime slice for garnish

Whether it’s entertaining for a holiday happy hour or making mocktails for your crew at breakfast, nothing beats spending the holidays in a home you love. If you’d like to learn more about the available inventory in the Crosswinds community, reach out to our team today.

Categories
Blog Family Fun

Jingle All the Way: Tips For Hosting a Virtual Holiday Gathering

Nothing beats getting together with friends and family to celebrate the holiday season, but gathering together in person isn’t always possible due to work schedules, distance, or any number of factors. 

 

Thanks to the wonders of technology, virtual gatherings allow people on entirely different continents to spend time together. 

 

Here are a few tips for hosting a virtual holiday gathering that won’t have you saying “bah humbug.”

 

Set a Date

 

Like any get-together, the success of a virtual holiday gathering is dependent, first and foremost, on an agreed time and date. The host of the party should pick a party date and send out a Zoom link to all invited, preferably a few days in advance. 

 

Okay, now that the mandatory stuff is out of the way, it’s time to focus on the fun part of the party planning!

 

Make it Fun

 

A Zoom meet-up over the holidays should never be boring. From bingo to ugly sweaters and cookie decorating, creating some virtual Christmas magic just requires a little creativity. 

 

Ugly Sweater Party – People like to dress up during the holidays, even if that means putting on a sweater they wouldn’t normally be caught dead in. This classic holiday party works fantastic on a virtual level, as there’s a level of anticipation that builds with each new person who logs in. 

 

Take things up a notch and challenge your guests to contend for the ugliest holiday sweater, with a secret prize going to the winner. 

 

Keep Things Crafty – Put together a holiday craft kit ahead of time that you can send out to each invited party guest. (If you have a large number of guests or a tight budget, then you may want to send out a list of supplies your guests can purchase themselves ahead of time.)

 

You’ll want to keep the craft ideas relatively simple for those guests who haven’t used a bottle of glue since elementary school. This idea not only allows guests to get a little creative, but gives them a keepsake to cherish as well. 

 

Holiday Games – Games and holiday parties go together like Santa and cookies. A classic game is Christmas bingo. You’ll want to distribute a bingo card to each guest with their invite. Players then check off the various boxes as the virtual holiday party progresses. 

 

If your crew is more of a trivia bunch, then games like “Name That Christmas Tune” could be a hit. Have one party guest act as the DJ playing a holiday song, with party guests chiming in to see who can name the song the quickest. 

 

Cook Something Up – Food is a must for any party, especially around the holidays. A cookie decorating party is great fun, as everyone loves the smell of freshly baked cookies. If you know your guests are regular bakers, then supply everyone with a recipe ahead of time they can bake together. 

 

If not everyone is a baking champion in training, then going the slice-and-bake route with a few cans of frosting and sprinkles is still a winning recipe for a delicious time. 

Whether hosting a party in-person or virtually, sharing a home you love with others is always a blessing. If you’d like to learn more about the available inventory of homes in the Crosswinds community, contact us today.

Categories
Events Family Fun Kyle

Holiday Events in Kyle

The Christmas season is truly a magical time of year in Kyle, TX. The city is known to go all out with 25 days of celebration from December 1 all the way through Christmas Day, and this year is no different.

 

From sightings of the jolly elf in red to twinkling holiday lights and live musical performances, here’s everything you need to know about 25 Days of Christmas in Kyle.

 

December 1 Kickoff

 

Go ahead and get out your December calendar because you’re definitely going to want to make note of everything that’s happening throughout the month. The merry fun begins on Thursday, December 1st when the city hosts a welcome party for St. Nick at Mary Kyle Hartson Park (101 S. Burleson Street). 

 

Santa Clause has been visiting Kyle here during Christmas time since 1999 and will make a return this year on Thursday, December 1st from 4 to 9 PM. During the celebration, children will have a chance to take a photo with the man himself and share any special items they may have on their wish list. 

 

The event will also include a tree lighting ceremony at 5:45 and there will be food, drinks, and holiday craft vendors. Throughout the event, area elementary school choirs will perform a medley of Christmas songs to keep the festive mood going. The event concludes when Santa makes his return to the North Pole (for a few days) at around 9 PM, but as we mentioned, Christmas cheer does not end there.

 

Weekly Holiday Events You Won’t Want to Miss

 

Families can enjoy a free photo with Santa on the first two Mondays (December 5th and 12th) from 5 to 9 PM, and the city will be collecting toys for children in need on the first three Tuesdays of the month. Both events will take place at Mary Kyle Hartson Park (101 S Burleson St.).

 

If you can’t make it to the park for a photo with Santa, don’t worry, Santa will come to you! On December 13-15 (Tuesday to Thursday) from 6 to 9 PM Santa will be riding through the streets of Kyle. While Santa won’t be able to ride down every street in the city—he does have to get back to work at his toy shop at some point—families will have the opportunity to wave to him along a designated route. You can even track where he’ll be via the Santa tracker. 

 

A holiday market will also be open each day at Mary Kyle Park so residents will have plenty of opportunities to shop for a special gift from local vendors. Each Saturday prior to Christmas Eve, there will also be live holiday music performances happening in the park to spread a little extra seasonal cheer. You can view more details of each day’s festivities on the City of Kyle’s website. 

 

The Christmas season is one of the best times of the year in Kyle and the 25 Days of Christmas celebration is just one of the many fun events happening in the city throughout the year. If you’d like to find a home near all the fun in Kyle, contact the Crosswinds team today!

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