Maker's Mark Bourbon Balls
Classic holiday dessert made with Maker’s Mark bourbon!
Maker’s Mark Bourbon Balls are my family’s favorite holiday tradition. I make at least one batch every Christmas season! This recipe was been passed down from my great-aunt Marie. While I’m all for exploring your bourbon palate most of the year, I’m pretty adamant that this must be made with Maker’s Mark! The sweet wheated bourbon is just perfect with the tart semisweet chocolate! Besides, who am I to question a 50 year-old family recipe??
I know the Christmas holiday is a few weeks off, but I wanted to share my Maker’s Mark Bourbon Balls recipe with y’all so you can plan to include it in your holiday dessert plan!
I’ve teamed up with some great Kentucky-based bloggers to share holiday dessert recipes. Just click the photos to read the recipe! I hope y’all enjoy them all!
Maker's Mark Give Cozy, #GetCozy Holiday Tour
Help others stay warm with Maker's Mark's #GetCozy Holiday Tour.
I hope y'all are having a great holiday season!
The truth is, by this point, most of us have had a little too much to eat, and have received more presents than we possibly can use. And, we're all probably looking for a little more closet space to hang that new coat or jacket that we just love.
The fabulous folks at Maker's Mark can help y'all out! Throughout December, a Maker's Mark truck has traveled across the country on the “Give Cozy, #GetCozy” mobile coat drive. The Maker’s Mark Give Cozy, #GetCozy truck is a donation site for lightly used or spare jackets and coats, all of which will go toOne Warm Coat, a non-profit organization which provides those in need with a warm coat free of charge. The Give Cozy, #GetCozy truck will have some treats for you, including hot chocolate and Maker’s Mark inspired gingerbread cookies. I hear there might even be some Maker's swag on board as well!
Louisville is the final stop in the Give Cozy, #GetCozy Holiday Tour. You can find the Maker's Mark truck at restaurants, bars, and Liquor Barn locations all this week.
Check out the Maker's Mark Give Cozy, #GetCozy Tour at these stops here in Louisville this week:
• 28-Dec 2:00pm – 7:00pm Liquor Barn Springhurst, 4301 Towne Center Dr.
• 28-Dec 8:00pm – 9:30pm Hilltop Tavern, 1800 Frankfort Ave.
• 29-Dec 12:00pm – 5:00pm Liquor Barn Hurstbourne, 1850 S Hurstbourne Pkwy.
• 29-Dec 6:00pm – 8:00pm Garage Bar, 700 E Market St.
• 30-Dec 12:00pm – 2:00pm Liquor Barn Hurstbourne, 1850 S Hurstbourne Pkwy.
• 30-Dec 6:00pm – 7:30pm Drake's, 3921 Summit Plaza Dr.
• 30-Dec 7:30pm – 9:00pm Martini’s Italian Bistro, 4021 Summit Plaza Dr.
For folks who do not have a coat on-hand, but would like to Give Cozy to #GetCozy, One Warm Coat® will offer a text-to-donate option in which every dollar raised translates into two warm coats for those in need. To make a donation, text "COAT" to 80100 to donate $5 to One Warm Coat. (Standard data and messaging rates may apply. For additional information please visit mobilegiving.org or onewarmcoat.org/privacy.)*
Maker’s Mark will also be working with select retail liquor stores to place coat donation bins on-site for those looking to drop off a coat.
Follow Maker’s Mark on Twitter @MakersMark or MakersMark.com/Holiday-Truck-Tour page to stay up to date on the Give Cozy, #GetCozy truck stops and please make sure to visit OneWarmCoat.org to learn more on how to #warmamillion people with new and gently worn coats.
The Best Christmas Pajamas!
In 1823, Clement Clarke Moore first published his poem A Visit from St. Nicholas with the legendary verses,
And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap.
And, basically, ever since, we've associated Christmas with snuggly pajamas that are perfect for late evenings by the fire and early mornings, opening presents. In fact, my goal this week is to wear Christmas pajamas as frequently as possible.
This year, I'm rocking these snow globe flannels from Nick and Nora at Target.
I've picked a few more favorites for y'all below!
6 Holiday Decoration Tips When You're Short on Time
Lexington, KY Interior Designer Liz Toombs shares tips for quick, fun, and stunning holiday decorations.
This time of year is crazy for everyone. It seems like there are more commitments every single year, and less time for holiday cheer. Don't get your tinsel in a tangle, Lexington-based interior decorator Liz Toombs of Polka Dots & Rosebuds Interiors has five tips that will make your holiday decorating fast and fun!
Trust me, Liz knows what she's doing. She and her team from Polka Dots & Rosebuds decorated the entire Alltech arena for the Junior League of Lexington's Holly Day Market in short order. Since I assume that your home is smaller than the arena, you can get your decorations up in a day or two, too! Here are Liz's five tricks for those of you who can't find more than a free hour to deck the halls:
- Hang a wreath on your front door. Toombs suggests, “Beautiful wreaths can be purchased pre-made. Even if the inside of your home is still decorated for July 4th, a wreath makes it appear to the outside world that you are in the holiday spirit!”
- Let your light shine with candles. Whether pillars, candelabras, or battery-operated, candles set a festive, warm mood. Plus, they make your home smell like the holidays too.
- Use what you find at the grocery. “You will have to be at the grocery anyway, so use it as a time to pick up decorations. Pine cones look festive in a bowl. Sprigs of fresh greenery bring a nice touch and scent when placed throughout your home. And, pomegranates and cranberries floating in water look nice in a tall vase that holds fresh flowers,” Liz adds.
- Try a tabletop tree. “I decorated several tabletop trees this year for clients,” Liz says. “Just because a tree is going on a table does not mean it has to be small. Depending on your space, full-size trees can be very impactful on a tabletop. Plus, if you live in a cramped apartment, a tabletop tree frees up valuable floor area.”
- Throw a decorating party. This option is a win-win; you catch up with friends that you may have been neglecting due to your schedule and they can help you decorate. “Turn a girls’ night out into a girls’ night in! Decorate trees, make wreaths, bake cookies, have some holiday cheer - your friends will want to make this party a tradition,” Liz suggests.
- Pick a hot spot. Choose one room, or even one area of a room for focus. A mantel, chandelier, staircase or dining area can pack a lot of punch. Once you’ve chosen your hot spot, go all out!
Thanks so much to Liz Toombs for this awesome holiday advice, and check back tomorrow for her advice for holiday decorations when you're short on time. Liz's award-winning firm, Polka Dots & Rosebuds Interiors, offers complete design services for homes, offices and Greek housing.
{Photos courtesy Liz Toombs.}
5 Holiday Decoration Tips to Add Kentucky Flair and Heirloom Charm to Your Home
Lexington, KY interior designer Liz Toombs shares whimsical Christmas decoration ideas.
For most of us here in the Bluegrass State, it's second nature to throw in a few Kentucky-themed items in our home décor. Whether your tastes reflect a passion for bourbon, equestrian pursuits, team pride, or family heritage, you probably have more than a few items lying around the house. Of course, it’s easy to go overboard on the Kentucky love, so I asked Liz Toombs, a Certified Interior Decorator and owner of Polka Dots & Rosebuds Interiors in Lexington, for some holiday decoration advice. Liz was kind enough to share five tidbits about embracing your own personal Kentucky style:
1. Choose decorations that mimic the Kentucky countryside. Whether your style is rustic or luxe, there's a way to adapt the colors of the Bluegrass State to decorate your Old Kentucky Home. “As Kentuckians, we can easily use many of the fabrics and symbols that represent our state in our holiday decorations. Classic burlap and plaid fabrics convey Kentucky country homes, while shades of purple and green reflect the shades of Kentucky bluegrass,” advises Liz, who plans clients’ holiday décor months in advance.
2. Try a flocked tree. Liz loves the trend of trees that look like they were just plucked from a snowy field, noting that pairing these trees with warm textures bring the vibe of a Kentucky winter into your home. Flocked trees are beautiful on their own, and require minimal decoration to provide a significant impact. She notes that you can find reasonably priced flocked trees at stores like At Home and Lowe’s. Add Maker’s Mark and Louisville Stoneware ornaments for a Bluegrass touch.
3. Work with collections. Have a collection of Christopher Radko or vintage ornaments? Liz suggests that you pair them with new pieces: “Vintage crystal ornaments look beautiful when paired with old-world beaded garland. I love mercury glass! I’m so glad that it’s popular again; it pairs well with newer decorations.” She also suggests tucking magnolia stems and long pine needles/sprigs into trees, mantles, and wreaths for a classic, Southern look.
4. Use those heirlooms! Most of us have statement heirloom pieces that may just be collecting dust in a china cabinet. Use the holidays as an excuse to let them shine! Liz suggests that you set your tables with your very best pieces: “It’s so Southern to place pretty heirloom pieces such as silver platters, soup tureens and punch bowls on your buffet or dining table. They look festive filled with ornaments or floral arrangements,” Liz suggests. “Depending on their size, you can arrange some heirlooms, such as flatware or china tea cups, in a tree by twisting the branches to hold them.”
5. Re-purpose well-worn heirlooms! Those pieces that have been passed down for generations often start to show signs of love – and wear! If, say, you have a collection of stockings that your great-grandmother hand-stitched that are too worn for display, but too special to be tossed, Liz suggests draping them over the side of an heirloom bowl or vase for an unexpected look or arranging them at the base of your Christmas tree for an unexpected alternative to a tree skirt.
Thanks so much to Liz Toombs for this awesome holiday advice, and check back tomorrow for her advice for holiday decorations when you're short on time. Liz's award-winning firm, Polka Dots & Rosebuds Interiors, offers complete design services for homes, offices and Greek housing.
{Photos courtesy Liz Toombs.}
Dressing up for the Holidays
If you're like me, you've been adding to your wardrobe whilst holiday shopping for others. I just love seeing the joy on their faces when they see my perfectly polished holiday haute couture...um, I mean their well-thought-out presents.
All kidding aside, I LOVE dressing up for the holidays. I always strive for festive, yet not over the top and I like to find pieces that I can mix and match with what I already have in my closet. If you haven't updated your holiday wardrobe in a while, there's still a few days left before the big day. I say it's time to treat yourself, whether you've been naughty or nice!
Add a pop of red or green underneath your blazer for a festive holiday look.
You can pick up this bowtie beauty at Target.
For a more casual look, try a red tartan plaid button down with black skinny jeans.
This fun shirt can be found at Old Navy.
Prance your prancer in a metallic skirt. I just love this with a cashmere twin set!
You can pick up this fancy skirt at New York and Co.
Channel your inner Sugar Plum Fairy with this dreamy tutu. I am pairing mine with a black turtle neck!
Shabby Apple makes this fluffy confection.
If you're feeling extra festive and merry, feel free to don your favorite ugly Christmas sweater!
