The holidays are here! And that means tons of family time. My family likes to cook and drink. So this year, I’m making a cocktail book for my dad. It’s chock full of holiday cocktails and embellishments from the Shabby Princess and Peppermint Creative. It’s also very personal as each spread is dedicated to a member in our family and their preferred drink.
If you’re looking for a fun holiday gift, this is a winner. And if you have a couple of people on your list that might like a holiday cocktail book, order your book before 12/13/11 and get one free with our BEHAPPY promotion. Here’s how the promo works: Buy any Classic Book and get a copy free. With this promotion, you can knock two people off your holiday list! This special applies to the following books: Classic Linen, Classic Leather, Classic Book Styles and both calendar sizes. Here’s more info.
Now, let’s get down to business. I’ve included a couple of spreads from my own book and six easy steps to help you create one.
The first spread is dedicated to my dad. After all, it is his book.I selected a “Retro Holiday” background from the Picaboo background library because it matches the button-down shirts my dad likes to wear. And I added some embellishments to make the pictures pop. I also included a recipe, just in case we forget how to make our favorite drinks!
My father likes Manhattans.And when he orders them, he always says: “Up.” When he says this, he sounds like the coolest man in the world. My father knows everything there is to know about Manhattans and he loves to tell the history of the drink as though he invented it himself. I’ve heard it so many times that when he begins the story, I focus on the sounds of the sweet vermouth swishing around the glass. This spread’s for you, Harv.
My mom is a white wine drinker. But come December, she gets festive. And her drinks take on the colors of the rainbow. Last year she was real keen on pumpkin. She put it in everything. The best creation was her Pumpkin Eggnog Martini. She decided it took about 20 minutes of whisking to get it just right. And when I say decided, there was a process to it. She kept a notepad on the counter and timed her whisking. Twenty minutes created the perfect concoction. When I took a stab at making one, she told me to whisk until I got tired. Then keep whisking. And when I felt I reached the Whisking Wall, to whisk more. Did you know there was such a thing as a Whisking Wall? This spread’s for her.
During the holidays, we take things nice and easy. I think that’s because we’re all so relaxed. Often, dinner takes longer to prepare than eat. Games of Scrabble can span the length of two movies and when it comes to making drinks, my husband is nothing but thorough. His drink is the Mistletoe Mojito. And he spends all day chopping up the mint and de-seeding the pomegranates. When he finally gets to drinking it, he takes off his shoes, puts his feet up and sips leisurely. It’s a religious experience.
As for me, I’m really not that picky. I could go for a light beer or a glass of red wine. So I included a couple of my favorite brands, just in case my father feels like stocking up next time I’m home. I also added a couple of alcohol-free drinks for the kiddos: A Chocolate Peppermint Milkshake and an Eggnog Hot Chocolate. I made the spreads as decadent as the drinks. I plan to present this book to my dad with a Manhattan. Up.
Want to make one for yourself or someone in your family? Here are six easy steps to creating the perfect holiday cocktail book.
1. Open Picaboo X and select “Photo Book” from the left sidebar.
2. Choose landscape or square orientation for your photo book. I picked square because it will fit better in our tiny bar shelf.
3. If you want to use our pre-designed holiday layout, choose “Holiday” for your theme. If you’d like to create a one-of-a-kind book from scratch, choose “No Theme” and you can create the layout of your book as you go.
4. Now it’s time to select your photos. You can import images from iPhoto, Previous projects, Facebook or Flickr. If you saved your images to a file on your desktop, now’s the time to import them. After your pictures are imported, select the images you want to use and then click Next.
5. You can choose “Auto Create” or “From Scratch.” Our “Auto Create” setting automatically places your pictures in a cookbook layout for you. Then you can edit and reorganize your images to your liking. If you chose “From Scratch,” your photo tray will hold all of your images, allowing you to drag and drop them on each page.
6. Remember to explore our many backgrounds. We’ve got over 20,00 and many are holiday themed. From ornaments to gingerbread men to color-themed, finding the perfect background is easy. Just type in what you’re looking for in the search box in the “Backgrounds” tab on the left sidebar.
And that’s it. It’s so easy. If you’re creating for someone on your gift list, take a look at our Holiday Shipping Guidelines to ensure your gift arrives in time!
What festive drink would you include in a cocktail book? Leave a drink suggestion below and we’ll randomly pick two people and award them $10 in Picabucks. Winner will be announced here tomorrow.
UPDATE: Congrats to Dolly and Suellen. You were randomly selected using Random.org. You will receive $10 in Picabucks! To everyone else that left a comment, thank you! Look for more fun chances to win Picabucks here on our blog.
Gin gimlet
Midori Sour. Nice and holiday green and one of my favs!
Thanks Picaboo!
A drink called Apple Fluff, is awesome and good for the holidays!!
I would put my Mom’s eggnog recipe in it. She puts like 5 different liquors in it
Definately would include a Mojito
Peppermint Punch-yum!
Would definitely include some virgin recipes since we don’t partake of alcohol. I think a rich and yummy cocoa from scratch recipe would be included!
I would include my husband’s family recipe: Apricot Brandy Slushies! Mmmmmmmm… You can make it up in advance and then keep it in the freezer to serve throughout the holidays. We just made our first batch last night!
Black Dream Martini
Apple Martini. Very festive!
Make sure to include a baileys mint hot chocolate
yum!
Russian Tea! Tang, instant lemon tea, instant tea, sugar, cloves, and cinnamon. Just add boiling water! Now I know it doesn’t include alcohol, but it’s warm and delicious and smells like the holidays and even kids can partake!
Have got to include my favorite drink of all time: a classic Margarita on the rocks!
Brandy Old Fashion
Hot chocolate with Peppermint Schnapps and a Candy Cane stirrir!
I am not a big drinker so i would prob include some sort of apple cider and hot chocolate that is made in the crock pot!! yummy!!!
Definitely a grasshopper! Minty and luscious! A treat during the holidays!
nice cold red bloody mary with a green stalk of celery! perfect!
I don’t drink alcohol so some great virgin drinks would be great. One of my family’s favorites is Apple Raspberry juice mixed with Ginger Ale. Cranberry Raspberry is good to. Use the froxen concentrate and use ginger ale as 1/3 of the water to dilute.
Homemade Hot cocoa
Red Angel
Alabama Slammer! Yum.
A virgin Shirley Temple.
Chocolate Candy Cane Martini, sooooo good!
I would select hot mulled cider in memory of my mother. She used to make this during the holidays, and it was always a special treat.
My kids are loving hot cider right now so I would have to include that!
Pomegranate Champagne Cocktail- so yummy and great for toasting!
a fuzzy navel…just because it’s my fav
Definitely a cup of nice steamy hot chocolate with fluffy marshmellows!
In Germany they have a drink called Gluhwein. Warm it up with a stick of cinnamon.
Home made hot cocoa
Bailey’s Hot Co-Co Bay
1 oz. Bailey’s Irish Cream
1 oz. Captain Morgan Parrot Bay Coconut Rum
Bailey’s Hot Co-Co Bay
1 oz. Bailey’s Irish Cream
1 oz. Captain Morgan Parrot Bay Coconut Rum
1 oz. hot chocolate
ENJOY the season!
Death by Chocoalate Martini using Godiva Chocolate Liquer.
I would include a pomegranate martini for my sisters, hot apple cider for my mom, and a baileys or peppermint schnapps hot cocoa for myself!
Rum and eggnog, a true holiday drink!
Homemade Cranberry Liqueur. I make it about a month in advance – fresh cranberries and sugar added to gin and vodka. Stir it every other day for at least three weeks. Serve it over ice. Or try it with lemon/lime soda or ginger ale. Yum!
Oatmeal cookies and some dirty lemonade!
I would definitely put a grasshopper recipe in there! My mom-in-law would make them after we all decorated the tree. Yum!
Sea breeze–anytime of year!
Cuba Libre – cola, lime & white rum
Spiked eggnog. YUMMY!
apple cidar and spiced rum….a good one to sip on a cold night.
Coquito! Puerto Rican Coconut Eggnog (with rum, of course!)
Mint Godiva Liqueur
A delicious addition would be the Kiss On The Lips! Drink it under some mistletoe to add to the holiday spirit!
Please include some virgin drinks as my family doesn’t drink alcohol. Some rich hot chocolate mixes would be great!
A Bloody Merry!
Since I don’t drink I would have to do a yummy egg nog or hot chocolate
Wassel!
candy cane martini
Wassail!
hot buttered rum….. mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
Bloody Mary breakfast of course!
Was so glad to see someone recommend virgin drinks! I’m married to someone who was a massive alcoholic for a number of years. I’ve never really had a desire for alcohol, so it’s not a big deal for me. However, I LOVE virgin pina colada & my absolute favorite drink is a virgin Sunset Passion Colada from Red Lobster. It’s mostly pina colada with a bit of strawberry daquiri, garnished with a fresh strawberry & a slice of fresh pineapple!
For an alcoholic beverage I would add a “sweet tart martini”. It’s a pretty shade of red and taste like candy!
And for the non-alcoholic beverage, I’d do a peppermint hot chocolate made from Nutella!
Sleigh Ride… hot cocoa with peppermint schnapps, york peppermint patti, whipped chream and stirred with a candy cane.. yummy!
Of course a Lemon Drop martini!!
An Italian margarita with a splash of Pom juice would be lovely…….
Swedish Berry Martini!!
Chocolate Mint Martini
LAX: 1 shot each of vodka, rum, tequila, gin and top off with midori. It is a strong drink, you only need one, but it is festively colored and tastes great!
a champagne cocktail!
Mocha Eggnog Punch
Mmmmmmm
Hot Cider Nog! Delicious!
Chocolate coffee with whipped cream
Toasted Almond made with French Vanilla Kahlua and Amaretto. Yum-Yum!
Congrats, Suellen! You were randomly picked and will receive $10 in Picabucks! Please send your email address to FBFan@picaboo.com. Thank you!
Peppermint Cocoa (Schnapps, of course)
I would include a hot cocoa with bailey’s and marshmallow vodka! Delicious!
lemondrop martini.
key lime pie martini
We like drinks the whole family can partake in, so I would start with a nice mulled apple cider. I can smell the spices now!
ooohh! my homemade :baileys’ recipe…yummy01
Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate!
Two things: 1) Becca, are you *really* a miniature cow? ’cause that’s kinda how your bio reads and I am reasonably sure you are not in the least bit bovine.
2) I would make a Pink Peppermint Cosmo with just a few drops of peppermint schnapps in addition to the wonderful ingredients that make the Cosmo so delish! I haven’t tried to make this yet but I am dedicated to perfecting it or achieving liver damage trying!!
Polar bear! It’s white and frosty and could be dressed up for the season. Now I would probably make ir virgin.
Wassail,
Can of OJ
Can of Lemonade,
Water
Sugar
Whole Cloves and
Cinnamon Sticks for flavoring
My all time favorite hot drink. YUMMY!
Hot apple cider and eggnog.
Hot apple cider and homemade eggnog
Congrats to Dolly! You were randomly selected and will receive $10 in Picabucks. Please send your contact info to FBFan@picaboo.com. Thanks!
A Dutch coffee to take the chill off. Vandermint liquor & coffee with dessert. Yum!
I’d include a hot apple cider with spices!
Ruby Tuesday’s Holiday Sangria. Mmmmmm
Pointsetta : Mix 1/2 grenadine and 1/2 (or more) champagne. Drop a few pomegrate seeds in glass.
Yellow bird – for the Caribbean Holidays!