Luxury Towels for Luxury Apartment Living at The Retreat at Mountain Brook in Birmingham, Alabama
Special Finds For Your Home at Three Sheets & Alabama Goods in Homewood Time for new towels? Maybe you’re moving into your luxurious apartment home in Birmingham, Alabama, at the Retreat at Mountain Brook and need to stock up, or maybe you’re just ready to replace the ones you received as a gift from your Aunt Susan a few years ago. Either way, the Retreat at Mountain Brook Idea Specialists ™ have got you covered. In high-quality Turkish cotton, of course. Bath Towel Basics First let’s talk about what bath towels are made of—and maybe answer that pressing question of why the ones we get at spas and hotels often seem so much nicer than what we have at home. The folks over at the HGTV website put together a list of 12 bath towels for different budgets and styles, and included some important information about what makes a towel “good.” Namely, it’s GSM, or grams per square meter (kind of like the thread count of sheets). The baseline is 400, they say; anything less than that and you’ll be drying off with a scratchy towel that doesn’t do a very good job of absorbing water. If you get up to the 620-900 range, then you’re into the world of super-plush spa and hotel luxury linens. The next factor to consider is material. While some towels are made of bamboo or modal, most are cotton. If you’re looking for super-soft, look for Egyptian or Turkish cotton with their long fibers. (Be a smart shopper and don’t get taken in by “Turkish-style” in the name—it’s not the same!) Located in the heart of Homewood, Three Sheets (a linen shop) is a convenient place to go and feel the lushness that is an Abyss & Habidecor Egyptian cotton bath towel for yourself. If you’re looking for something a little more mainstream, you can’t go wrong with the Wamsutta Classic Turkish in white, usually easily available from Bed, Bath & Beyond. Clean & Pretty No matter what kind of towels you have, the Retreat at Mountain Brook Idea Specialists™ have some tips on how to make them a pleasant part of your bathroom décor. You’ve got towels that feel good; it’s important to make sure they smell good, too. Learning how to launder your linens is one key to achieving that “hotel towel experience.” Most resorts provide all-white towel sets, sometimes monogrammed. The standard color scheme means less sorting in the laundry, and white towels look crisp and clean when stacked neatly on the vanity or in the shower, or in a favorite basket or hamper. The experts say less is more when it comes to detergent and towels, and instead of using bleach and fabric softener, use baking soda and vinegar for stain treatment and softness. Many hotels use HTD Heavy Duty Detergent, which is sold in bulk. If you’re not up for buying a 25 lb. pail of washing machine soap from Worldwide Janitor, though, other pleasant-smelling heavy-duty options available at the grocery store or on Amazon are Persil ProClean, Gain, and, of course, that classic: Tide Original. Color & Convenience Consider adding a pop of whimsy and color to your bathroom with one of custom-designed hand towels available from Alabama Goods in Homewood. You also can make sure your guests don’t have to fret about using “the good towels” after they wash their hands by offering them the convenient option of cloth-like paper hand towels, which come in so many colors and patterns, and can be personalized with your initials and more. You can find some steals at the Tuesday Morning on Montclair Road, and are guaranteed good quality if you go the online route with PaperStyle. Seasonal Sales It’s always a good idea to keep your eyes out for seasonal sales, not just the traditional January white sale. As summer winds down, beach towels of all sizes, shapes, and materials are on the offer. We’re particular fans of the Linum Home Personalized Alara Turkish Pestemal now marked down at Macy’s. The Strategist has put together a list of the best beach towels on Amazon “According to Hyperenthusiastic Reviewers,” if you’re looking for other ideas. Out With The Old Now that you’ve got your new towels nicely displayed in your powder room, what to do with the old ones? If you’re in the mood for some simple arts and crafts, you can always cut your old towels into strips, braid them together, tie knots on each end, then pull the ends together and tie an overhead knot in the center: Voila! Homemade dog toy! Or use your old towels to wipe down your precious pup after y’all have been out to play at the Retreat at Mountain Brook’s pet-friendly park. Don’t have a fuzzy friend of your own? You can always donate your old towels to the Greater Birmingham Humane Society.
Keeping Your Cool in the Dog Days of Summer
The Retreat at Mountain Brook in Birmingham, Alabama, is definitely a pet-friend luxury apartment community, but even we get tired of the “dog” days of summer—all they fetch is more heat and humidity! Not to worry, though: Our Retreat at Mountain Brook Idea Specialists™ have some ideas on how we can keep our cool during this stretch of sweltering weather, which, according to The Old Farmer’s Almanac, “coincides with the year’s heliacal (meaning ‘at sunrise’) rising of Sirius, the Dog Star. Sirius is part of the constellation Canis Majoris—the ‘Greater Dog’—which is where Sirius gets its canine nickname, as well as its official name, Alpha Canis Majoris.” Of course their first suggestion is to cool down with a dip in one of the community’s three beautifully landscaped saltwater pools. Yes, please! And after that you can meet up with friends in one of the two on-site clubhouses in air-conditioned comfort. Read on for more recommendations! I Scream, You Scream…. Yep, that’s right, we all scream for ice cream! And according to Food & Wine, you can find the best in the entire state of Alabama right here in Birmingham at Big Spoon Creamery. Check out the coverage on this summer’s fun food story at Bham Now, an online-only news site dedicated to covering “the good in Birmingham.” We’re not sure if we’re gonna have a cone of sweet basil or a few scoops of the watermelon-margarita sorbet. Can’t go wrong either way, right? Oh, Those Summer Nights The Retreat at Mountain Brook Idea Specialists™ know all too well what it’s like to not be able to get a good night’s sleep because it’s so hot outside. Even if your home is pleasantly cool, your body and your mind are still impacted by the day’s thermometer reading. That’s why they’ve invested in cooling mattress toppers. We’re going to follow their lead by purchasing one from Cozy Earth, which this review from CNET says is, “Ideal for those of us who sleep hot, or have bedrooms stuck in the most insufferable of humid environments.” Can’t Stomach The Heat? If you can’t stomach idea of turning on your oven when it’s 98 degrees in the shade, then look no further for inspiration for cold dinners than Mashed, with its suggestions of salad classics like Cobb and Waldorf, and its version of aguachile, ceviche’s bright green cousin from Mazatlan, in the Mexican state of Sinaloa. Tiny Bubbles Whatever you have for supper, these days you have more choices than ever when it comes to selecting a sparkling water to accompany your meal. From the ubiquitous La Croix Pure to Bubly Bounce Caffeinated in triple berry, there’s something fizzy out there for every set of tastebuds. Advanced Mixology “scoured the market” to come up with its list of the 12 Best Sparkling Water Brands of 2021. Maybe what you’re after, though, is just the right cold beverage for a late-morning pick-me-up or an afternoon treat. In that case, a field trip to conveniently located YoYo Donuts in Homewood for some of their bubble (or “boba”) tea is most certainly in order! Not familiar with this sweet and chewy drink that’s long been wildly popular in Asia, Taiwan in particular? Eater does a great job of guiding us novices through what turns out to be a delicious world of bubble-related options. Let’s Go To The Movies Order your snacks ahead of time and have them waiting on you when you escape from the blinding sunshine into one of the cool, darkened theatres at the AMC Summit 16. With, well, 16 movies to choose from, you can spend many an entertaining hour out of the heat before you’re ready to head back home to The Retreat at Mountain Brook.
Fire Up the Grill for Father’s Day
Whether you’re gearing up to grill for the summer or planning a special Father’s Day feast, The Retreat at Mountain Brook Idea Specialists™ in Birmingham, Alabama, have you covered with recipes, tips, and techniques, as well as ideas for the perfect gift for dear old dad, puppy papas, and first-time fathers! Safety First! Before you light a fire at one of The Retreat at Mountain Brook’s outdoor grilling stations, make sure you’ve invested in some heat-resistant gloves. Business Insider named the Steven Raichlen Extra Long Suede Grill Gloves as their No. 1 pick of 2021, saying they’re “essentially oversized and reinforced welding gloves, and the most protective ones we’re tried.” And, if you’re planning a nighttime cookout, you’ll want to get a GrillLight Stainless LED Tongs & Spatula set from The Cook Store of Mountain Brook so you won’t have to worry about losing sight of your shish kabob in the dark. Owner Wesley Lassen says it’s one of the things that flies off the shelf this time of year, along with a wooden grill cleaner that won’t shed fibers or chemicals that can contaminate your food. Grill All The Things Sure, we like the basics as well as anybody else. Hamburgers and hot dogs, sausages and steaks, chicken and fish – when you think about a poolside party, you probably start with “the meats.” After having some grilled Romaine lettuce and a fab grilled peach salad at one gathering a few years ago, our Idea Specialists™ basically tried to figure out what they could _not_ grill. The answer? If you invest in a good grill pan or basket, _not_ much! Check out the selection at Little Hardware in English Village’s Grill Shop when you get the chance. This season, our mouths are watering for Southern Living’s updated version of a cookout classic: potato salad. Their version? Charred Okra-Potato Salad, seasoned with a hint of fresh thyme and tossed in a lemon-scallion vinaigrette. Yummy. Subtle Salts & Other Seasoning We’ve started following FoodFireFriends on Pinterest. Whether you’re a novice or a seasoned pro, there’s sure to be something there for you, from grilling guides to equipment reviews, and, of course, recipes. We like their guidance on Himalayan Salt Block Grilling; what could be easier than setting a nice cut of beef down on a sanitary rectangle and having it do the salting for you? Because such salt is unrefined, the inclusion of multiple minerals and trace elements gives complexity and subtlety of flavor to foods cooked on a solid block of it. If the dad in your life likes a little bolder taste, look no further than Penzeys on 18th Street South in Homewood. Their various gift boxes contain some of their most popular meat, poultry, and fish seasonings, and there’s a salt-free option, as well. We just love the cute little minis contained in the Grill & Broil Red. And the store is still offering touch-free curbside pickup. Pet Papas The Retreat at Mountain Brook gets high marks from its residents for how truly pet-friendly this upscale apartment community is. So of course our Idea Specialists™ are going to have some Father’s Day gift ideas for all of those dedicated daddies of fuzzy babies. For dogs, the Snuffle Nosework Dog Mat recommended by the editors of The Strategist tops the list, and if CrossFit is a part of the family, too, then of course your good boy needs his own kettlebell! For the kitty daddy, a gift certificate to Sheppard’s Pet Supply on Fourth Avenue South will do nicely. Owner Will Sheppard loves it when folks bring their pets in to visit the store, which he opened in October 2015, and which features high-end toys and treats in addition to raw and holistic foods (for dogs, too). New Daddies One of the most-asked-for gifts on Baby List’s registries right now is the Inglesina Fast Table Chair—perfect for when the first-time father wants to take his new little family out to eat instead of staying home to grill. The attachable chair’s padded seat is washable (a must!), and cleverly tucked in at the bottom is an integrated carrying bag. More Ideas Check out this list of 124 Best Father’s Day Gift Ideas in 2021 at Groovy Guy Gifts. Somebody we know is getting an engraved minimalist wallet this year, just saying…. For more good grilling ideas, go to Delish to learn about “29 Awesome Ways to Cook Steak.”
Happy National Pet Month!
As far as we’re concerned, every day is pet day at The Retreat at Mountain Brook in Birmingham, Alabama, so of course we’re excited about May being National Pet Month in the United States! According to the Humane Society of the United States, pets live in two-thirds of American homes, and 72 percent of the people who rent their homes have pets. We know how important it is for a luxury apartment community to be pet-friendly, and that’s why our Retreat at Mountain Brook Idea Specialists™ made sure we incorporated a dog park into our landscaping plans from the very beginning. Because, barks and recreation, right? And, we celebrate our fuzzy friends all the time online in social media posts and in a gallery at our website. Nothing brings a smile to our faces like seeing sweet kitties and good doggies! Do Dah Day Birmingham has a tradition of having fun at Do Dah Day for National Pet Month—this year, the gathering will be held Saturday, May 15, at Cahaba Brewing Company, complete with a “reverse parade” on 3rd Avenue South and live music at the venue. The 2021 beneficiaries of Do Dah Day are the Greater Birmingham Humane Society and Friends of Cats and Dogs Foundation. Tickets are $5; learn more at: https://www.dodahday.org/faq Treats! If you haven’t tried any of the monthly subscription boxes for cats and dogs, maybe this month is when to check out meowbox with fun toys and fine treats for finicky felines (plus, hey—the box itself!), and BarkBox with its themed collections that the company calls “month-long dog parties.” BarkBox partners with thousands of rescues and shelters across the United States and Canada through its Rescue and Shelter Affiliate Program, and meowbox donates a portion of each box sold to shelters and rescues. Prices start at about $23 a month for both. Critical Care You probably already have a favorite vet, but it never hurts to have the number of an emergency care provider on hand. The compassionate and highly skilled multi-specialty staff members at Veterinary Specialists of Birmingham on Resource Parkway off U.S. Highway 280 are just who you want on your side when your good boy decides to eat a bottle of shampoo _and_ entire bath towel at 2 o’clock on the morning, and their ICU facility is state of the art. Pamper, Play & Stay Is it time for somebody to get his coat cut for the upcoming summer? Does the kitty not do well by herself when you decide to head to the beach for a spur-of-the moment weekend trip? Not to worry—Birmingham has many excellent pet boarding and grooming facilities. Our Retreat at Mountain Brook Idea Specialists™ have been hearing good things about a few in particular lately: Dog Days of Birmingham, Howlin Hollows Farm, and My Spoiled Pet Resort & Spa. Howlin Hollows (conveniently located off Highway 280, I-459, and near The Summit and Colonnade) features several acres of land with plenty of open space for running and playing, water misters, and even a canine swimming pool! What a great place for your best four-legged friend to get some exercise and burn off a little energy We love the fact that the owners of Dog Days live above the kennel on Birmingham’s 18th Street North. Sue and Jimmy provide your puppies with a truly cage-free environment during the day, supervised, of course. Come the evening, they’re happily worn out and ready for bed. The dogs, we mean! And who doesn’t love a spa day? My Spoiled Pet, down 280 near Inverness Corners, features bath packages for cats and dogs of all sizes, including blowouts and brushouts, and provides boarding for dogs, cats, and small pets. And they offer military discounts. Share photos of your fur-babies!
Let the Spring Games Begin!
It isn’t just Earth Day we’ll celebrate April 22, 2021! Spring has sprung at The Retreat at Mountain Brook in Birmingham, Alabama, and with it the chance to get outside and play! Group games are such a fun way to spend time with friends and get to know new young professionals in our upscale apartment community. Maybe you want to organize some friendly cornhole competitions, or do something a little more casual, like spend time throwing horseshoes while you’re at one of our grilling stations. Options abound! We asked the Retreat at Mountain Brook Idea Specialists™ what their go-tos are on the gaming front. Along with cornhole and horseshoes, they are fans of some other classics—bocce ball and ladder toss. Any of those pair well with a cold craft beer or glass of fresh lemonade, soft or hard—or you can try your hand at some of this season’s popular cocktails like a Cherry Blossom or Griffith Park Swizzle. Visit R&R Wine & Liquor in Crestline Village to get just what you need. Think about taking some indoor clubhouse favorites outside. There’s a giant version of almost everything these days, from yard Yahtzee and ginormous Jenga to checkers and tic-tac-toe on a blanket. Once it gets just a _little_ bit warmer, you may want to start socializing on the sundecks. When things heat up, you can take your volleyball game into one of The Retreat at Mountain Brook’s three salt-water pools. Or, play the water-based version of cornhole. Of course, we can’t leave our furry friends out of the gaming fun; one of the reasons our residents recommend us to friends is because we’re such an animal-friendly community. Doggie Frisbee is fun for everyone to watch and gets you and your good boy or girl some great exercise! Our pet park is the perfect place for that, and Homewood Toy & Hobby is the perfect place to buy an Aerobie Dogobie Flying Disc, which is both puncture-resistant and gentle on your pet’s mouth. If sitting inside the clubhouse out of the sun is more your speed, board games are the way to bring people around the table. Again, our Retreat at Mountain Brook Idea Specialists™ are fans of the classics: Scrabble, Monopoly, and chess (“The Queen’s Gambit,” anyone?). For multi-player fun that doesn’t last as long, they suggest Articulate!, a fast-paced team game for up to 20 players. The concept is that taking turns, each member of a team has only 30 seconds to describe as many words from a category as they can. The catch? No saying what the word rhymes with or sounds like. Check out the array of games nearby Smith’s Variety Toy & Gift Shoppe in Mountain Brook Village has to offer. You’ll be glad you did! Fun!
Your Place at the Table
Isn’t it funny how a chore we all tried to get out of when we were growing up is now almost a hobby? From basic place settings to trendy tableware, our Idea Specialists™ at The Retreat at Mountain Brook in Birmingham, Alabama, are here with recommendations on how to set your table for spring! HARMONIOUS WHITES There’s no better way to start than with a set of strong white dishes—the potential for mixing and matching them with other elements of your table settings is almost limitless. An always reliable go-to is the Gibson brand, and its Noble Court timeless rim shape 12-piece set is a value buy at Target. If you’re in the mood for something a little more funky, check out Mikasa’s Coronado Pearl 4-piece place setting (part of its Portugal Dinnerware Collection) offered by Macy’s. Unique shapes and rich pearlescence turn everyday soup bowls and salad plates into works of art in their own right. For serving pieces, pop over to Lamb’s Ears in Crestline Village, or visit them online. From elegant Montes Doggett pieces to the whimsical Bow Wow Platter, there’s something for almost every bunny in their stylistically wide range of offerings. GLAMOROUS GLASSWARES Pair your new dishes with a mix of goblets and glasses in all hues of the rainbow. We could (and do!) spend a lot of time looking at Lulu and Georgia’s Insta, so it just makes sense that we would be drawn to their Estelle Stemware, which comes in a variety of colors. We’re partial to smoke as we head into spring. But if you’re already ready for brighter and lighter, Pottery Barn’s Happy Hour Goblets might be just the ticket! FUN WITH FLATWARE We will always be a fan of Oneida and its classic Louisiana flatware, even if we do live in Alabama. What’s not to love about the luster and the details, not to mention the balance of the pieces? Plus, it’s always easy to find, just in case you accidentally get the butter knife caught in the disposal. Not that we’re saying we did that, you understand. A 45-piece set now available online at Bed Bath & Beyond includes dinner forks and knives, salad forks, dinner spoons, teaspoons, and more. For something a little more casual, there’s the West Elm Color Pop Caddy—four place settings in Easter egg colors stored in a clever handled carrier, which means it’s easy to take back and forth from the dining table to the porch if you want to dine al fresco! For steak knives, The Retreat at Mountain Brook Idea Specialists™ recommend shopping locally at Table Matters in Mountain Brook Village. We like the Vagabond House set with shed stag horn handles, adorned with pewter crown and accent ferrule; it mixes elements of elegant and rustic for useful and striking implements. GET IT TOGETHER Whether you’re serving a serious Sunday dinner or just enjoy seeing your table nicely set, a table runner is a little piece of magic you can use to draw everything together. No matter your style, from contemporary to Victorian with Southwestern and Scandinavian in between, the Houzz collection features almost any option you can imagine, and at almost that many price points! We decided on the Metallic Glam one in rose for our first one. Placemats are another way to coordinate, and it’s really hard to have too many. From holiday happies to patterns and solids, again, options abound—it’s all about what makes you happy. The Spruce featured SHACOS round braided placemats as one of its 14 Best of 2021, and we can see why: They’re easy to wipe clean and come in everything from canary yellow to plain ol’ beige. We can work with that!
The Healing Power of Plants
The Retreat at Mountain Brook, takes pride in its plants. Not only is the upscale apartment community—located just minutes from downtown Birmingham, Alabama—and nestled against the City of Mountain Brook, Alabama, with mature trees and naturally wooded topography, it’s also known for its popular community garden. The Retreat’s residents enjoy and appreciate easy opportunity to step outside and enjoy some of the benefits and beauty that nature brings. Their homes’ balconies, sunrooms and bright and open interiors are just the right spaces for the pleasant and practical placement of even more plants. And plants are more than pretty. There’s a healing power to them, both for body and soul: lavender to help you relax and get to sleep, a lush pot of variegated arrowhead vine to round out a corner and serve as an organic air purifier, and that reliable stalwart, aloe vera—it’s not just for sunburns anymore. Ready to step into the spirit of spring by bringing some greenery into your home? The Retreat at Mountain Brook’s Idea Specialists ™ say it’s hard to go wrong with these popular and hardy indoor specimens: Aloe Vera Snake Plants Philodendron Lavender Spider Plants Note: When deciding which types of plants to have in your home, do your research. Know which plants are best if you share your abode with pets: Plants and Pets. They also can’t say enough good about Oak Street Garden Shop and Local Market. Located just a few minutes away from The Retreat at Mountain Brook in the heart of Crestline Village, it’s the perfect place for a Saturday morning outing, with a funny and fabulous staff who, among other things, specialize in container gardening. Just imagine one of their Southern Living Magazine-worthy plant collections beside your large living room window! And of course, The Home Depot is right around the corner on Crestwood Boulevard, with everything from decorative containers to dirt and fertilizer and, yes, the plants themselves. One-stop shopping! No time for that sort of field trip? Another easy way to get started is to buy fresh herb plants when you’re making your regular run to the Montclair Place Publix. If you’re looking for a fun project, you can make yourself a hanging herb garden with their guidance. You also can find all manner of indoor garden starter kits on Amazon, including this cute and low-maintenance mason jar set of hydroponic rosemary, lavender, and oregano. (Remember, lavender has been shown to help with anxiety and insomnia. And, speaking of science, check out this study conducted with Texas A&M that showed that being around plants helps with memory retention and concentration!) Whether you’re new to the greatness of greenery or just feel like you need a little refresher course on care and feeding, a reliable source for guidance is MarthaStewart.com. Martha always offers up great tips and techniques to help navigate plants, both the indoor and outdoor types. And some aloe vera. Because in addition to being a safe and effective treatment for minor burns? Its anti-inflammatory properties make it a great vitamin-rich and decidedly wallet- and eco-friendly skin serum. So, with spring right around the corner, March 20, to be exact, plan now to bring the outdoors inside your apartment home at The Retreat at Mountain Brook and enjoy all the benefits plants have to offer!
Kick 2020 to the Curb with Mood Boosting Apartment Décor at The Retreat at Mountain Brook – Birmingham
Adios, au revoir, sayonara, and so long—no matter how you say it, we are kicking 2020 to the curb! And what better way to refocus our lives in 2021 than by starting with our home and surroundings? Because for many of us, The Retreat at Mountain Brook has become the place where not only do we live, now we work here, too. We want and need both function and comfort, an enhanced style, and multi-functional rooms and areas that fit this new lifestyle. We want our surroundings to make us smile. What makes you happy? SUNLIGHT Sunlight – we all need it. So, let it in! Replace those opaque window coverings with sheer fabric for optimal light that can transform a room. You can’t beat white sheers for a clean, romantic look and feel, but don’t be afraid to experiment with other neutrals, a print, or a jewel tone to cast the light and set the mood. If it makes you happy, do it! Check out these sheers at Amazon for just $4.50 (yes, you read it right), with approval of an Amazon Visa. Or, here’s a no-strings-attached sheer option at Wayfair available in white, silver gray, and teal. PERSONAL WALL GALLERY Say NO to bare walls. Make them meaningful with a family photo gallery or collection of your favorite art. Don’t be afraid to mix mediums and/or shapes and sizes. Perplexed as to how to arrange things? Read designer Kathy Kuo’s guide for hanging and grouping wall art. NATURAL TEXTURES Rattan is making a comeback as a way to showcase natural palettes and textures. Bring it into the bedroom with a headboard like this one from South Shore Furniture. Or, pick up a rattan room divider to create definition between your living area and your “new” home office! We love the modern lines of this one from Beachcrest Home, available at Wayfair. PLANTS Whether it’s a decorative pot of rosemary in the kitchen or a grouping of various greeneries in your office, plants help clean the air and have a huge impact on our mood and well-being. Give your spirits an extra lift by using a favorite coffee cup to hold your herbs, or by giving an old planter a fresh coat of paint in a fun spray-on color.
Celebrate National Eggnog Day at The Retreat at Mountain Brook
You will only see it once a year. It makes its debut around Thanksgiving, and then, poof! it’s gone – just like Santa, until this time next year. You’ll find it at your local grocery store in the dairy section, wedged between buttermilk and other milk. Its sweet, ultra-creamy….and maybe a little high in calories. But it’s Christmas, so who cares about that, right? Right. And it has its very own day – December 24 is National Eggnog Day! Eggnog is one of the most popular beverages served during the holiday season. The traditional recipe for Eggnog is milk, cream (told you so), sugar, beaten eggs like cinnamon and nutmeg, and sometimes alcohol. Americans drink it with rum or bourbon, while Peruvians use pomace brandy and Germans use beer. There are a few theories about how eggnog got its name. One story claims that eggnog was first called “egg n’ grog,” which was eventually shortened to “eggnog.” According to other sources, the name comes from the Old English word for strong ale, “nog.” This theory suggests that combining the words “egg” and “nog” refers to any drink that contains both eggs and strong alcohol. We sincerely try not to think about drinking eggs, especially with rum, but we must admit that eggnog is rather tasty at least once a year. Regardless of how eggnog got its name, it has been a favorite holiday beverage for centuries! Make some today to toast the holidays and celebrate the holidays and National Eggnog Day! Want to make Eggnog at home? Here’s a great recipe from tastesbetterfromscratch.com. Homemade Eggnog 6 large egg yolks 1/2 cup granulated sugar 1 cup heavy whipping cream 2 cups milk 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg pinch of salt 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract ground cinnamon for topping Instructions Whisk the egg yolks and sugar together in a medium bowl until light and creamy. In a saucepan over medium-high heat, combine the cream, milk, nutmeg and salt. Stir often until mixture reaches a bare simmer. Add a big spoonful of the hot milk to the egg mixture, whisking vigorously. Repeat, adding a big spoonful at a time, to temper the eggs. Once most of the hot milk has been added to the eggs, pour the mixture back into the saucepan on the stove. Whisk constantly for just a few minutes, until the mixture is just slightly thickened (or until it reaches about 160 degrees F on a thermometer). It will thicken more as it cools. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla. Pour the eggnog into a pitcher or other container and cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate until chilled. It will thicken as it cools. If you want a thinner, completely smooth consistency, you can add the entire mixture to a blender with 1 or 2 tablespoons of milk and blend until smooth. Serve with a sprinkle of cinnamon, and fresh whipped cream, if desired. Store homemade eggnog in the fridge for up to one week. Cheers to all and to all Happy Eggnog Day!
Let Us Give Thanks
Thanksgiving is a time when many of us gather together to reflect on the things for which we are—well—thankful! ☺ Here at The Retreat at Mountain Brook, what we are most thankful for is our residents, and the sense of community we all share. It is in that spirit of gratefulness that we offer you a little bit of lightheartedness and some suggestions on how to create new traditions and make good memories this Thanksgiving holiday. Some years it’s easy to get all excited about Thanksgiving, isn’t it? You brought out your World Market Cider & Clove Potpourri Jar November 1, you’ve already ordered your new Thirtystone Harvest Collection turkey and pumpkin wine bottle stoppers for in-store pickup at the Macy’s at Brookwood Village, and that much-anticipated Galley and Garden Thanksgiving Brunch with family and friends is never really far from your mind. But other years things are a little harder, aren’t they? You never know what the weather will be like. Sometimes you have to travel when you’d much rather stay home. And this year we’ve got the Covid-19 pandemic thrown into the mix. Dealing with the virus has upended people’s lives in many ways, most of them a lot more serious than having to go to our Aunt Ruthie’s and eat her “special” green bean casserole again. Whether your family and friends will be gathering in person or online later this month, or not at all, we are fortunate to have a wide variety of ways to make this holiday special. One fun one is to wear Thanksgiving-decorated face masks. If you don’t have the time to make your own, Better Homes & Gardens has curated a list of Etsy options that’s worth checking out. We’re thinking about getting our brother-in-law David one that says “Will Remove For Pie.” An easy way to bring some joy into people’s lives is to order them a beautiful seasonal bouquet from Dorothy McDaniel’s Flower Market or Wildflower Designs. If you’re Zooming, think about getting each household that will be on the call, including yours, arrangements that complement each other—a great suggestion from our resident lifestyle professionals, the Idea Specialists™. You also could go to one of Birmingham’s amazing wine stores—R&R Wine & Liquor in Crestline and Classic Wine Company in Homewood, to name just two—and get several bottles of the same wine for your family and friends, whether you’ll be gathering together or not. What wonderful traditions to begin! Of course you also can find some really good wines at area grocery stores, whether you are shopping The Pig in Crestline or The Publix on Montclair. And, Publix is offering a complete Thanksgiving dinner you can order online and pick up in the store or have delivered via your favorite service. That way you can spend more time in the den watching football, or bingeing on your favorite series, or entertaining yourself with a Thanksgiving movie. What? You don’t _have_ a favorite Thanksgiving movie? Well, maybe check out the classic Alice’s Restaurant, converted from the Arlo Guthrie song of the same name. Talk about a real oldie but a goodie. . . Need to laugh? Watch Free Birds, with Reggie the Pardoned Turkey and his cohort Jake, a fanatic turkey who also happens to be a time traveler. That should do the trick. On the other hand, maybe you want to do a little bit, or a lot, of the cooking yourself. Life is short, so let’s start with dessert first: Pick up your gorgeous and delicious cornucopia cake from Edgar’s at The Colonnade, then go across to The Summit to Trader Joe’s for its seasonal specialties, which include a vegetarian turkey-less stuffed roast with gravy, a brined bone-in turkey breast that’s just the right amount for two people, corn pudding, and a flock of milk chocolate turkeys. OK, well, maybe flock is overstating things just a little bit. But there are several in the package, and they are so cute! In a turkey sort of way, of course. While you’re in the area, head over to Williams-Sonoma and pick up a jar of their apple-orange cranberry relish and a new carving set. Then download one or two of their fun Thanksgiving photo vignette Zoom backdrops. Everyone will be _so_ impressed with what you’ve done with your place! Now, for many of us, Thanksgiving Day wouldn’t be Thanksgiving Day without a Turkey Trot or the like. For the rest of us, Thanksgiving Day wouldn’t be Thanksgiving Day if we didn’t have to go stand out in the cold and cheer you on in a Turkey Trot or the like. A Birmingham favorite is the Sam Lapidus Montclair Run, named in honor of the young man who died of Ewing’s sarcoma, a form of childhood cancer. This will be the 44th annual run organized by the Levite Jewish Community and the Alabama Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders, and this year it’s with a twist: Like so many events impacted by the pandemic, it will be virtual. You can run it any time between November 14 and November 29. We, on the other hand, will be right over here, nice and warm in our leggings and Thomasa Turtleneck Sweatshirt from Anthropologie—the one in limeade, so you can see us better when we wave at you as you go by. Whenever you run it. Maybe you don’t want to run, but you do want to be outside in what we hope will be pretty weather. You could take a hike at Ruffner Mountain, or get Ashley Mac’s Turkey Bundles and take yourself and your family on a picnic in Railroad Park. Or on your sister-in-law’s back patio. Or your best friend’s driveway. Anywhere you can enjoy yourself while keeping social distance in mind. If you would like to include faith and fellowship in your holiday plans, consider attending The Five Points Community Interfaith Thanksgiving Service Tuesday, November 26, at noon at South Highland Presbyterian Church; lunch will be served
