Edition 20

1. Rudolph - You just know he has tea to spill about the other reindeer

2. Grinch - I could fix him

3. Mrs. Claus - She absolutely needs someone to vent to and I will be that person

4. Santa - Lower on the list because he seems the type to be constantly busy BUT would love to be on his good side

5. Frosty - He would immediately need to leave any bar that is too hot and that’s the kind of energy I appreciate

Now I loved my French Dip and watermelon vodka cocktail but something very important is missing from this photo. The Smoked Dip Duo. I was SO excited to go to The Rustic and get their signature appetizer, only to find out from our server that they were “out.” Huge bummer but we ordered the Wild Boar meatballs instead. After bringing the meatballs out our waiter informs us that The Smoked Dip Duo was back. Imagine our confusion considering it had not even been 10 minutes since the initial heartbreaking news but we said fuck it and ordered a second app! All of this for him to come back and say JK!! it is actually not back. Alright…. As if this heartbreak wasn’t enough we were sat right next to the kitchen and had to watch SEVERAL of the “out” Smoked Dip Duos be delivered to other tables. This appetizer is hard to miss as it is just as theatrical as fajitas. The meatballs were alright I guess though…

If you look up rotel dip there are a million different ways to make it. It used to be a staple in my house hold in my tween to teen years. The recipe I use is ridiculously simple. You brown the sausage, add the cream cheese until it is melted, and then add the Rotel. Have it with Tostitos scoops and chef’s kiss! I promise it is difficult to dislike this dip!

Cream Cheese (1-2 blocks; whatever your heart desires but I use 2)

Jimmy Dean Sausage (1 16oz roll)

1 can of Rotel

Sometimes we get in a nostalgic mood and need to transport to our 2017 music taste! Badlands!? Digital Druglord!? I cannot listen to those albums without transporting to my pre-21 year old mind. In the spirit of 2017 here were my top songs via Spotify Wrapped (I am so brave for sharing this):

1. Humble - Kendrick Lamar

2. Chill Bill - Rob $tone

3. Weak - AJR

4. Hard For - Kevin Gates

5. Bad Bitch (feat. Ty Dolla $ign) - Bebe Rexha

Top 10: Touch (Little Mix); The Other (Lauv); wish u the best (Blackbear); Most Girls (Hailee Steinfeld); Green Light (Lorde)

The yearly pop culture wrapped episode of Binchtopia dropped and hearing all the highlights from this year is truly insane. Gypsy Rose got divorced and engaged all in this year!? I feel like I have lived a million lives since Gypsy was out on the prowl. Some other pop culture highlights discussed that just do not feel like they happened in 2024 include: Four Season’s Orlando Baby; The JoJo Siwa of it all; The Willy Wonka Experience; Hawk Tua Girl; and of course “This is going to ruin the world tour.”

As I have been rewatching my absolute favorite comfort show with my friend.. I remembered that I did not finish the latest season of Criminal Minds: Evolution. There was nothing wrong with the show at all but I just miss Reid. Its hard for the reboot to have a fighting chance without my favorite character. My friend and I are only on season 2 and there is just so much LORE to come and episodes to look forward to. I will probably come back to the reboot season once I have rewatched this beautiful show for the third time.

Elf is the best Christmas movie and I will not be accepting any other opinions. It is the one movie I make sure to watch every year and the fact that the jokes still make me laugh twenty years later is why it is the best (I gagged while typing “twenty years later”). This movie went triple platinum for my cousins and I. There was a point where all of us could probably recite the movie from memory. I simply cannot pick a favorite scene but every scene with Buddy at the mall is amazing.

If you love a theme like myself, you will obviously love a Holiday themed bar! I was not there for the overpriced drinks but there for the cute decor and a switch up from the usual. We went to Julep and had one drink then moved on to a dive bar nearby but I loved this holiday moment. I had a spiked hot chocolate and was surprised that it tasted pretty good!

Truly this information has been forced upon me since I don’t listen to any Barstool content (and I would like to keep it that way) BUT I am a sucker for a best friend duo. I really was rooting for the both of them! Well this best friend duo is no longer and I am taking a side (Grace) so yes this take is biased. Of course I can never know 100% of the details but I have heard enough. There is far too much lore to discuss the entirety of the drama but all I needed to listen to was Bri’s “tell all” of their friendship breakup to be completely on Grace’s side. If any of my friends spoke about me how Bri did on that podcast… oh I’d be sick to my stomach.

One thing about me… is I’m going to recommend a craft night. Am I artistically talented? Absolutely not! But you simply do not have to be artistic to have a good and wholesome time. Yes, wine can be wholesome! My friend hosted and provided us with mugs and acrylic markers. I went for blue and silver stars. Simple yet effective!

Trader Joe’s snacks are often a win but do not always hit! The Dark Chocolate Orange Slices: a HIT. The Sweet & Salty Snack Mix… the vision was there but unfortunately it did not hit. I’m not sure if it was just my package but it was slightly stale. Not pictured and not a holiday item are the “Super Sour Scandinavian Swimmers.” I would die simply die for that Trader Joe’s treat.