December Edition
‘Tis the Season for some SWELL Living!
Inspirational Quote of the Month
“It seems like everything sleeps in winter, but it’s really a time of renewal and reflection.”
In December, the days are shorter, but there’s still plenty of fun things to do!
There’s also your sweatpants and Netflix…we don’t judge.
BUT if you did want to know all the possibilities December has to offer, then read on &
stay in the know with SWELL :)
This month’s edition of SWELL Living has:
Fun Fact: Holidays, holidays, holidays!
Indoor Air Quality Tips
SWELL Streaming
Exciting Area Events!
Holiday Houseplants
Eggnog, peppermint, and hot toddies, oh my!
Raffle: Discover how to win big!
Enchanted Airlie
This beloved Wilmington event is a light and plant-filled delight!
Stroll through Airlie Gardens and enjoy millions of festive lights, holiday flowers, and musical entertainment with the whole family.
November 27, 2021 - December 22, 2021
300 Airlie Road
Wilmington, NC 28403
Price: $30/car
The Nutcracker
Experience the classic Christmas ballet featuring unique elements including stilt walkers, high-tech digital imagery, and more!
The Wilson Center is proud to present the Wilmington Ballet Company for an enchanting holiday experience.
December 18, 2021 - December 19, 2021
703 N Third Street
Wilmington, NC 28401
Price: $25
It’s A Wonderful Life
Revel in the holiday glow from this worldwide Christmas Classic
in the grandeur of Thalian Hall.
This original movie, by famous director Frank Capra, has been digitally remastered for your Christmas enjoyment.
Here’s how our raffle works:
Subscribe to SWELL Living: your source for area events, interviews, gardening tips, & a whole lot more!
Once subscribed you will be automatically entered to win the next raffle.
You will also be entered to win every raffle going forward, pretty sweet!
So be sure to register using the form below:
December SWELL Prize List
~ Tickets to Enchanted Airlie Gardens
~ $30 to Cape Fear Rum Cake
~ 3 Gift Cards to the BEST Local Retail Stores for all your holiday shopping! (Details to come)
A $250 value!
Be sure to check your email to confirm your subscription!
Winter is Here!
Keep your house fresh, festive, and merry with these timeless holiday house plants.
Poinsettia
Let these big, bright, red blooms, fill your home with cheer!
Did you know? Poinsettias are native to Mexico and are actually tropical plants, which makes poinsettias the perfect houseplant candidate year-round.
Amaryllis
These are some of the most dramatic winter-blooming flowers available!
Native to Central and South America, these trumpet-like blooms can last 2 months or more in the right conditions.
Christmas Cactus
Despite being called ‘cactus’, this plant is actually native to the rainforest and thrives when watered well.
These make great hanging plants, and every stem has the potential for a vibrant pink, orange, or red bloom!
December Drinks!
Whether you need something delicious to take the edge off your holiday or impress your guests, we’ve got you covered!
The following recipe will serve 10 - 12 people!
Really Eggcellent Eggnog
5 egg whites
3/4 C. sugar
.5 tsp. vanilla extract
.5 tsp. ground nutmeg
1.5 C. whipping cream
1.5 C. whole milk
3/4 C. Brandy
3/4 C. Spiced Rum
In a stand mixer, whip the first 4 ingredients together. Slowly add whipping cream and whole milk. Stir in Brandy and Spiced Rum, and chill.
Garnish with cinnamon sticks or sprinkled cinnamon on top!
2. Chai, yes please!
3 TBsp. Chai Spice Mix (like this one)
8 oz. milk or milk substitute
2 oz. Dark Rum
.5 oz Frangelico
Garnish with anise, cinnamon sticks, or sprinkles
This drink can be served hot or cold, depending on your preference.
Combine all ingredients and enjoy!
3. Pepper-mint To Be
2 oz. Peppermint Vodka
.5 oz. Rumchata
.5 oz Creme de Cacao
1 oz. Cream
Chocolate Sauce
Candy Canes
Crush up candy canes to create a rim on a martini glass.
Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice and strain into the candied martini glass. Add whip cream :)
Now it’s time to sip and enjoy!
Did you know there are over 200 holidays to celebrate in December, besides Christmas?
What are our favorites, you ask?
Read on to find out!
~ Dec. 1 Eat a Red apple day
~ Dec. 2 Safety Razor Day
~ Dec. 3 Bartender Appreciation Day
~ Dec. 4 Cabernet Franc Day
~ Dec. 5 Bathtub Party Day
~ Dec. 6 National Gazpacho Day
~ Dec. 7 National Cotton Candy Day
~ Dec. 8 Pretend to be a Time Traveler Day
~ Dec. 9 National Llama Day
~ Dec. 10 Dewey Decimal System Day
~ Dec. 11 International Mountain Day
~ Dec. 12 National Gingerbread Day
~ Dec. 13 National Ice Cream Day
~ Dec. 14 Monkey Day!
~ Dec. 15 National Cat Herders Day
~ Dec. 16 National Chocolate Covered Anything Day
~ Dec. 17 National Ugly Sweater Day
~ Dec. 18 Answer the Telephone like Buddy the Elf
~ Dec. 19 National Oatmeal Muffin Day
~Dec. 20 National Sangria Day
~ Dec. 21 Winter Solstice
~ Dec. 22 Mathematics Day
~ Dec. 23 National Pfeffernusse Day
~ Dec. 24 National Eggnog Day
~ Dec. 25 Quaid-e-Azam Day
~ Dec. 26 National Thank-you note Day
~ Dec. 27 National Fruit Cake Day
~ Dec. 28 National Call a Friend Day
~ Dec. 29 National Tick Tock Day
~ Dec. 30 National Bacon Day
~Dec. 31 Make up Your Mind Day
I know it’s hard to believe but those are barely scratching the surface of just how many ways there are to celebrate in December.
For the full list of all the ways to party, click here :)
Selling a home doesn’t have to be hard.
We believe selling a home should be simple, easy, and even a little fun too.
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Home Owning In December
Tips, tricks, and things to be aware of, courtesy of:
SWELL home & living
It’s chilly out there and we’re all beginning to hibernate.
It’s important to know that the indoor air you’re breathing these days is as fresh as it can be!
If you are curious about your indoor air quality, then you’ll want to check out these gadgets!
Oh! And if you’re into plants (like we are!), check out our post on the best plants to improve indoor air quality.
Indoor Air Quality Tips
•Avoid Aerosols and Chemical Cleaners
It’s called Volatile Organic Compounds or VOCs for short (look it up!) And they’re an easily avoidable pollutant.
•Change Your Air Filter
If that sentence has you at all questioning what the date of your last air filter change was, then go right now…
We’ll wait ; )
•Go, Go, Gadget Time!
Once you’ve checked the practical items off and you still want to know more, here’s some really good homeowner tools to have!
The Temptop M10 Air Quality monitor is, by far, the best bang for your buck!
According to our founder and CEO of SWELL home & living, the incredible Ty Shaw, and according to this New York Times Article
The article also talks about an app on your phone that measures outdoor air quality. Which can often reflect a sampling of your indoor quality. Neat, huh?
• Invest in an Air Purifier
If you’re worried at all still, then there are some very low-profile excellent air purifiers. Also, for those who love a fuzzy monotone sound as they drift off to sleep - as this writer does - then it’s a win-win!
Levoit Air Purifier is my favorite.
Here’s some more so you can compare and contrast.
Happy Breathing!
Discover New TV, Movies, Music, & More
Ty covers the TV & Movie recommendations, here are his picks this month:
For an epic TV series: Outlander
This epic tale adapted from Diana Gabaldon's popular series of novels focuses on the drama of two time-crossed lovers. Claire Randall is on holiday in Scotland with her husband when she suddenly finds herself in another place. Well to be more accurate, another time. Will she make it back to her husband or find a new life hundreds of years in the past?
This show has a lot going on and going for it. There’s romance, epic battles, intrigue, and some steaminess too!
Starring: Caitriona Balfe, Sam Heughan, Tobias Menzies
Available on Netflix
For an intense mini-series: Nine Perfect Strangers
Based on The New York Times bestselling book by author Liane Moriarty, “Nine Perfect Strangers” takes place at a boutique health-and-wellness resort that promises healing and transformation as nine stressed city dwellers try to get on a path to a better way of living. Watching over them during this 10-day retreat is the resort's director, Masha, a woman on a mission to reinvigorate their tired minds and bodies. However, these nine “perfect” strangers have no idea what is about to hit them.
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Melissa McCarthy, Michael Shannon, Luke Evans, Bobby Cannavale
Available on Hulu
For a fun & hilarious action movie: Red Notice
FBI profiler John Hartley is pursuing the world's most wanted art thief Nolan Booth. The two reluctantly partner up to catch The Bishop, an elusive crook, who's always one step ahead.
This is a great date night movie, watch it with your friends, or even solo in sweatpants. You just can’t go wrong!
Starring: Dwayne Johnson, Ryan Reynolds, Gal Gadot
Available on Netflix
Music on Repeat: Anthony's Monthly Picks for Featured Tunes
Silk Sonic - An Evening With Silk Sonic - They teased us back in March with the single release of “Leave the Door Open,” and in November they finally blessed us with a full album of the audio version of velour robes, smoky incense, and candy necklaces (even if it’s just a scant 30-something minutes long). This release from super-duo Bruno Mars and Anderson Paak stays true to its dual nature of high-art and super-cheese with a boastful introduction from the big man of sexy sounds Bootsy Collins, which is a clear signal that this package is dripping with sex appeal. But this isn’t just an homage to sultry 70’s R&B: Mars and Paak went out of their way to record this album true to form, using instruments and recording equipment dug out of old basements to capture the truest Bootsy sounds they could muster. Stacked on top of “Leave the Door Open,” we get other bangers like “After Last Night” and “Smokin’ Out the Window” that are slathered in elevated professional technique along with plenty of smoldering cheese. If there are any “Motown Dorks” still swinging out there in the world, this album is specifically for you, and Bruno and Anderson want you in a robe with a glass of wine while you listen. Enjoy, baby…
Lana del Rey - Blue Banisters - This is the eighth (8th!) studio album from singer-songwriter Lana del Rey, and the second (2nd!) album released just this year. There is a sense of playfulness, unguardedness, and freedom to Blue Banisters. If its predecessor, Chemtrails Over the Country Club, was Lana’s most traditional singer-songwriter affair - a somewhat monochromatic collection of mid-tempo songs played on piano and acoustic guitar - then these 15 tracks share a more boundless vision. One of its highlights, the closing “Sweet Carolina,” pairs a stunning, delicate vocal performance with a set of lyrics possibly dedicated to her sister. And then, out of nowhere, there’s a verse that goes like this:
You name your babe Lilac Heaven
After your iPhone 11
‘Crypto forever,’ screams your stupid boyfriend
F**k you, Kevin
It’s funny and real, a reminder that the people we love most aren’t just the ones to whom we dedicate our earnest love songs—they’re often the recipients of our dumbest jokes. Like a lot of people who feel misunderstood, she is a chronic over-explainer, and Blue Banisters sprawls and elaborates past the point where we can place our own projections onto it. We know too much. But at its best, this music offers an even more rewarding thrill: It manages to entertain, enrapture, and even surprise because of how well we know Lana Del Rey—and how much there is still to learn.
For the love of Podcasts: Marisa’s favorite this month
This American Life is one of the cleverest forms of journalism out there!
Focusing on entirely true stories and told from an enticingly entertaining vantage point. It is a public radio podcast that has been on the air for more than 25 years…for good reason!
“When I’m trying to explain our program to someone who doesn’t know it, I stammer a bunch of words like ‘entertaining,’ ‘funny,’ ‘surprising plot twists,’ ‘true stories but not boring I swear’ … and then I just give them this list.”
— Ira Glass
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