Nashville Wife

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Freedom From Quarantine

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One of my loyal readers posed a great discussion question this morning, so I thought I would share: What are the first things you will do when quarantine is over?

Federal, state, and local governments are working tirelessly to come up with detailed plans to open up up the economy without jeopardizing the safety of citizens. It will likely be a slow process, but I am definitely looking forward to having some semblance of normal life back.

Below is a list of a few things that I am excited about doing when quarantine is lifted. I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments section.

-Going out to coffee

-Hanging out with friends (Little Buddy and I really miss our playgroup)

-Attending church

-Going thrift store shopping

-Taking a vacation (likely still a few months away, but a girl can dream, can’t she?)

Coffee-Free Pumpkin Spice Latte Recipe

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‘Tis the season for pumpkin flavored everything! Have you ever tried a pumpkin spice latte from Starbucks? They’re all the rage and quite delicious, but I’m not a fan of the high sugar content, so I decided to make my own version a couple evenings ago. Caffeine any later than about 4pm tends to keep me awake at night, so I came up with a pumpkin spice latte recipe (posted below) that doesn’t contain coffee. I know that means that it’s technically not a latte, but “pumpkin spice beverage” just didn’t sound right. I plan to post one with coffee very soon….

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Gift Ideas Galore

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Christmas is the most wonderful time of year, but finding gifts for all the folks on your list can be a challenge. To make it easier on myself, I keep a running list on my phone of gift ideas for family and friends. As I think of things throughout the year that a particular person would need or want, or as people mention items they would like to have, I write them down. It makes holiday gift giving so much easier! Here are a few of my best suggestions:

Something Homemade

Every year, Mr. Handsome and I make small, homemade gifts for our family members and close friends, often in addition to larger presents. Ideas that we have done in the past include: homemade BBQ sauce (from my Buffalo Wild Wings Style Wings recipe), jars of apple butter–using our recipe, homemade scarves, paintings, and Christmas wreaths (tutorial coming soon).

Something Practical

One way to come up with winning gift ideas is to think of what the people in your life really need. Maybe it’s a digital compass because they recently bought a car that doesn’t have one and have discovered they can’t live without it (my mother-in-law). Or perhaps all the fry pans in their kitchen are hand-me-downs from your husband’s bachelor days, and every time you visit their house, you feel bad for passing down peeling Teflon pans (my brother-in-law). And how about that person who is missing half their measuring cups, or doesn’t have a non-rusted cheese grater, or minces garlic by hand because they haven’t yet discovered a garlic press? The possibilities are endless, but if you can think of something that someone desperately needs, you’ll be a gift-giving hero!

Give the Gift of Safety

Last year, my brother and his wife gave everyone vehicle emergency kits. What a great idea! You can purchase them at your local auto parts store. Some of the must-have items include a first-aid kit, a tire gauge, jumper cables, a flashlight and extra batteries, and a combo seatbelt cutter and window breaker–which should be kept within reach of the driver’s seat.

Coffee

Any coffee lovers out there? Several weeks ago, I was perusing the home goods aisles at TJ Maxx and came across a section of coffee. The smell was divine! It just so happens that Mr. Handsome’s grandmother is a huge coffee drinker. Her favorite quote is, “Why drink water when you can drink coffee?” So I chose a bag of beans for her Christmas gift. One thing to remember is that some people don’t have a coffee grinder. When in doubt, err on the side of caution, and buy pre-ground coffee.

Can you think of any gift ideas that I haven’t mentioned? Go ahead and share them as a comment, as I’m sure we could all use more suggestions.