Happy New Year!

Happy 2017! I know many of you are happy to have 2016 in the rear view mirror. While there were events in 2016 I could have done without (and that's putting it mildly), it wasn't a bad year for me personally. We took many trips on behalf of the show, signed with a multi-channel network and had some amazing experiences. However, I'm ready for a clean slate! I'm not one for resolutions per se, but I do like to set goals at the beginning of the year. One of mine is incredibly ambitious, which is to get our YouTube channel to 10,000 subscribers this year, without paying for them. If you're reading this, could you please do us a personal favor and subscribe to our channel if you haven't already? And please ask your booze-loving friends - word of mouth is everything with a show like this. You have no idea how much we appreciate it. In fact, to let you know how much we DO appreciate it, feel free to let us know that you subscribed and we'll create a cocktail for you! If many of you do this (which I hope you will), it may take a few weeks, but we'll make sure everyone is served a lovely libation of their choice! Thank you!! Here's the link to our channel - look for the red "subscribe" button: Velveteen Lounge Kitsch-en on YouTube

In other news, 45 of our 47 Christmas trees have been put away for the next 10 1/2 months or so, but the Elvis tree will stay up through his January 8 birthday and our "classic TV" tree has been converted into a Valentine's Day tree through February 14. We need something to brighten these gray January days!

Happy 2017!

Late December Cocktail

Our fundraising campaign for Feeding America is still underway and we have a cozy, year-end cocktail for another fabulous donor! This one is perfect for curling up with on a snowy weekend (or enjoying by the pool, if you're lucky enough to be in warm weather)!

Late December Cocktail

Late December (created for Ann Renee)

1 oz vodka

1/2 oz orange liqueur (I used Gran Gala)

4 dashes of Angostura bitters

Merlot

Combine all ingredients in a wine glass and stir. For a lower alcohol version, omit the vodka.

Thank you, Ann Renee! Your generosity is deeply appreciated! Happy New Year!

Silo Distillery

Don't you just love sampling liquor? Our Christmas Eve was made even merrier by a visit to Silo Distillery, located in Windsor, Vermont. We dropped into their tasting room after lunch at the Harpoon Brewery, which is, conveniently, just across the parking lot, and tasted pretty much everything they had available, all of which were fabulous! I highly recommend dropping by if you're in the area. Their spirits are only available in the northeast at this point, but keep your eyes peeled if you're liquor shopping in that part of the world. You'll be glad you did!

Oh, Spinning Tree!

Here's our "big" tree, the catch-all tree with everything from ornaments that my parents bought before I was born to reclaimed trash. If you can stick it in or hang it from the tree, we consider it fair game! Merry Christmas to all who celebrate! We're so grateful for your support of the "Velveteen Lounge Kitsch-en!" Click here to watch the tree spin!

Oh, Various Trees!

You didn't think I was done sharing our Christmas trees, did you? Here is the vintage aluminum tree we inherited from Paul's grandmother, by way of his sister, along with a few other trees with tropical and under-the-sea ornaments. Christmas in the tropics sounds great to me right now, stuck as I am in the freezing northwest!

I'm obsessed with Grumpy Cat

That portrait is Paul, painted by his mother many years ago.

Christmas in the Tropics

That peacock is a vintage package decoration I found among my aunt's things - I save everything Christmas!

Oh, Nautical and Horror Tree!

More of our Christmas trees, this time from the Blue Grotto, a.k.a. my office/sewing room/vanity/guest room (It's a very versatile room!). Here we have the nautical tree and the horror tree. The nautical tree is very sentimental, as many of the ornaments predate me or were picked up on our travels, and many more were made by friends, some of whom are no longer with us. Many of the ornaments on the horror tree were made by yours truly, since, go figure, it's just not that easy to find a Jan in the Pan ornament! I've got a laminator and I'm not afraid to use it!

Nautical Tree

Under the Nautical Tree

Tree of Horror

I'm a laminating fool at Christmastime!

More trees soon!

Oh, Glendora and TV Tree!

Here are two more of our 47 Christmas trees, this time Glendora's tree and the TV tree. As with most of our trees, the ornaments tend to be homemade or gifts. In both cases they make me sentimental!

Glendora's Tree and the TV Tree

Glendora pays tribute to a few of her favorite things

TV Tree

This one plays the entire "Laverne & Shirley" theme

Even more trees coming soon!