Fun & Famous
SURVIVAL GUIDE FOR CHRISTMAS
Christmas causes the biggest error in my daily routine. Christmas Eve feels like Friday night, the first Christmas day like Saturday, and the second one resembles an average Sunday. So I've been driving family and friends crazy for weeks with my mixed-up days. They then stammer, ‘b-but Christmas Eve is Saturday, right?’ Ooooh yes, my mistake, thanks. They don't like that. Is Christmas a bit early for you too? Then I have a survival guide for you. With six easy-peasy tips for Christmas as it should be, but then in the easiest and most fun way, of course.
How to: last-minute Christmas shopping
Shop as late as you can, but with just enough minutes on the clock to have everything in on time. You stand a chance of finding great deals just before closing time. And ask all your loved ones and family for a useful wishlist, with notes in the margins, dimensions, kilograms, and the whole shebang. Spending money on bad gifts is your biggest Christmas nightmare. You might end up both with a pout under the tree. Research is the magic word, online shopping is too, by the way.
How to: win at Monopoly
Oh how nice, a game of Monopoly. Well, let's just say a game of Monopoly, because statistics show that all your family members will take their turn about thirty times (yes, those statistics exist). Did you know that we should be able to win this in theory? It's important that you spend your money as quickly as possible at the beginning. Ha, piece of cake. You can only collect when you spend, finally a logical thought process. Make sure you have complete monopolies on one color or snatch your opponent's favorite away (not nice or in line with the Christmas spirit, but advantageous). And build, build like there's no tomorrow. The number of houses is limited, so what’s on your land cannot go to the competition. Tip: the third house brings in the euros. And remember, it's just a game (haha, just kidding).
P.S.: You can find some dirty tricks online to win, but cheating is of course out of the question. Make sure you are the bank.
How to: Christmas up your outfit
Almost every look is already Christmas-proof, but it lacks a bit of magic. Lilian explains to you here how to transform that daily outfit into a Christmas dinner-worthy outfit. You won't need to shop anymore, but you can of course if you want to.
How to: make gifts in ten minutes
‘So nice that you’re coming, sweetheart. Let’s go to grandma right away.’ If this pops up on your screen after closing time, don’t panic. With a mason jar from the kitchen drawer, some cookies or chocolate, candy, and a sprinkle of powdered sugar, you can make a lovely DIY gift for grandma. Tie a ribbon around the snowy scene and you're done. Is your granny into the strong stuff? Then go for a homemade liqueur. Take 250 milliliters of whisky, 250 milliliters of cream, a can of condensed milk, a teaspoon of instant coffee, a teaspoon of vanilla extract, a teaspoon of cocoa powder, and a teaspoon of grated nutmeg. Once you’ve measured everything out, stir the cream and teaspoons of coffee, vanilla, and cocoa powder together in a bowl. Then gradually add the whisky . And finally, the condensed milk and nutmeg. Put it in a nice bottle and grandma will enjoy her drink for two weeks (make sure to keep it in the fridge).. En tot slot de gecondenseerde melk en nootmuskaat. In een mooi flessie en oma heeft twee weken lang plezier van haar neut (wel in de koelkast bewaren).
Happy holidays, dear readers!
How to: keep your family happy
Give them a break every now and then. Christmas movie or carpool karaoke on, take a stroll past an old elementary school, check Instagram in the bathroom, that kind of thing. And once you’ve wrung all their money and houses out of them in Monopoly, placing a bet afterward is genius. Preferably choose a good-natured uncle or cheeky cousin as your target. Then have the uncle or cousin sit on the floor. Cross the right leg over the left leg and turn the right foot clockwise. Now you close the bet (something about a dish or winning your Christmas gifts) by saying that you can turn that foot without touching it. To win, ask them to draw the number six in the air with their right hand. Almost everyone automatically turns the foot in question while drawing in the air. You win, piece of cake for that monster dish. To get them back in the Christmas mood, you then organize a Christmas karaoke (can I come too, because that sounds awesome?).
How to: eating for professionals
There's a good chance I'll get in trouble with our Simone now. But whatever you do, don’t stop eating. You start on Christmas Eve, eat your way through the Christmas night mass, brunch like crazy with the family, join in for dinner 2.0, and just repeat that the day after. Stop? Then you’ll get a sugar crash to the max and suddenly your stomach will be fully booked. And that’s a disaster just before that roast in truffle gravy. So keep that sugar level high and keep eating, that’s the motto.
Happy holidays, dear readers!
