HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS

Seasonal Sips

Get into the holiday spirit with festive holiday cocktail recipes

By Kamala Kirk

If you’re hosting for the holidays, get your guests into the festive spirit by creating custom cocktails such as a Spiced Espresso Martini or a Winter Highball. Hotel Casa del Mar in Santa Monica shares four holiday cocktail recipes that are easy to whip up and guaranteed to

PHOTOS COURTESY HOTEL CASA DEL MAR

Spiced Espresso Martini

2 oz Tito’s 2 oz Espresso .5 oz Kahlua Pumpkin Splash Caramel and Chocolate Syrup Garnish winter seasoning on half of glass

Lemon Meringue Martini

2 oz Limoncello .75 oz Kettle Citron 1.25 oz Lemonade 1 oz Heavy Cream or Half and Half Garnish bay leaf and/or lemon wheel impress others, perfect for your seasonal celebrations.

Hotel Casa del Mar

1910 Ocean Way, Santa Monica 310-581-5533 hotelcasadelmar.com

Seasonal Sour

1 oz Makers Mark 1 oz Lemon Juice .5 oz Simple Syrup Float Pessimist Wine Garnish luxardo and apple slice

Winter Highball

2 oz Tito’s 2 oz Ginger Beer 2 oz Cranberry Garnish powdered sugar thyme with dried fruit wheel Highball/Collins glass

Make creativity for your child a top New Year’s resolution! Husband-wife team David and Emberli Pridham co-authored the new hit book series If Not You, Then Who? that introduces children to one of the most creative endeavors mankind has ever experienced – the world of invention. Using their imagination, siblings – and their entire family – join together to create inventions that brighten up their every day – and inspire your child along the way! The set of four books is available for the holidays for only $49.95. (www.ifnotyoubooks.com).

Festive Décor

Celebrity designer Francesca Grace shares tips for adding holiday cheer to your home

By Kamala Kirk

The holidays are right around the corner, and while decorating your home can be an overwhelming task, there are several simple things you can do to make it look and feel extra special this season. Celebrity designer and HGTV star Francesca Grace recently partnered with One Coast, California’s premier coastal residential enclave developed by etco Homes on the bluffs of Pacific Palisades, to bring some of the residences to life with holiday cheer for their Holiday Homes Tour & Bazaar on Dec. 11. “There is nothing cozier than ringing in the holiday spirit with festive décor that enhances the home,” Grace said. “Unpredictable designs, blended with festive trends, is the perfect way to encompass the holiday spirit and add a little twinkle to your space.” Grace shares her top holiday décor tips for enhancing your home this season:

PHOTOS COURTESY OF ETCO HOMES

• Playing with colors. Beyond the traditional red and green, 2021 is the year to express yourself by playing with different bold colors. This can help make pieces stand out in your home. For example: nutcrackers, wreaths and tablescapes in abstract colors and highsaturated hues. •Natural textures. Leaning into a more organic palette would be ideal for those who don’t want an overdone holiday home. Grace suggests using a mix of neutrals and earth tones like sage green and soft blues that weave in elements of nature. For example, ornaments and other decorations that incorporate wood or natural fibers. • Whimsical shapes. Embracing maximalism after a long year with funky shaped furniture, multiple Christmas trees in different sizes and oversized holiday art.

Francesca Grace

francescagrace.com

One Coast

liveonecoast.com

Etco Homes

etcohomes.com