OBT Holiday Countdown, Week One

If you’ve been following along on Facebook, you’ll see that OBT blogger Claire Willett, the company’s resident holiday geek, is sharing a countdown to Hanukkah and Christmas with daily tidbits to get you ready for the holiday season, from recipes and stress-busters to holiday songs and videos. If you’re not on Facebook or you want to share the fun with friends and family, we’ll be posting a Friday roundup of all the week’s posts for you to enjoy!

MONDAY

23 Days to Hanukkah, 28 Days to Christmas

We’re kicking off our Holiday Countdown with this irresistibly catchy tune by pop musician Lenka (and it even comes with a totally delightful stop-action video). I’m putting this on all my holiday party mix CDs this year. It’s the perfect antidote to the Monday-morning-after-a-long-holiday-weekend blues.

TUESDAY

22 Days to Hanukkah, 27 Days to Christmas

If the weather outside is frightful, you want a warm beverage to take off the chill! Here are my two favorite super-easy hot cocktails that will impress your guests with virtually no effort. To make a “Cherry Pie,” add a splash of amaretto to a cup of hot cranberry juice. I swear, it tastes just like a cherry pie. To make a “Voodoo Lady,” add dark rum to a cup of hot chai concentrate. Top with whipped cream and a sprinkle of nutmeg if you’re feeling fancy.

WEDNESDAY

21 Days to Hanukkah, 26 Days to Christmas

A note to my fellow Gentiles: if the only Hanukkah tune you know is by Adam Sandler, you are MISSING OUT. Here are five fabulous songs this shiksa will be putting on all my holiday mix CDs this year:

THURSDAY

20 Days to Hanukkah, 25 Days to Christmas

Holiday Stress-Buster: MAKE HOMEMADE GIFTS. I’ve got a gallon of chocolate-chili vodka and four giant Zip-Loc bags of bath salts infusing away in my kitchen, and it took maybe 10 minutes of prep work for what will be about 20 gifts. I’ll get some glass bottles and sachet bags, and I’m done! And you don’t have to be Martha Stewart to whip up holiday mix CDs, seasonal quickbreads, homemade cookie kits, coasters and trivets, personalized calendars or family recipe books. Start tackling the list this week, and you’ll be relaxing on your couch with a glass of wine while the rest of America is hunting for a parking space at the mall.

FRIDAY

19 Days to Hanukkah, 24 Days to Christmas

If you have to shop, shop local. There are scores of local crafters, artisans and designers in Portland selling fantastic, unique gifts for everyone on your list, from grandparents to neighbors to pets. Here are a few sales and events that OBT staff will be hitting up to do our shopping.

WINTER FROLIC ON ALBERTA

TONIGHT!