The Leftovers

   

I haven't been to a Christmas party since I quit my glamorous job at Starbucks.

I know it's news right, that I don't really leave my house much to attend raging parties.

But last night I went out. To a Christmas party. With other people. Hosted by the ever fabulous Anty T.

She's probably been to more recent Christmas parties. Or any other party for that matter.

Here's some lessons to live by from my evening out . . . to a party, with other people.

• Eat dinner before you go to a cocktail party with people you don't know well. You may be shaking hands with lots of people, right after you ate salami and bread. Those people now think I always smell like salami.
• When attending a cocktail party with people who go out way more than you, the said time of party is really not the actual time. You will be infinitely early even if you show up 15 minutes later than what the Evite says. 
• It's ok to be early so you can help out Anty T light votives so she can put on cute shoes.
• Tights from 2 years ago don't stay up too well. Rather, they don't stay up at all. By the time you knock on the door the crotch of your tights will be to your knees.
• There is no pretty and discreet way to pull up old tights. You just have to grin and bear it and hope they aren't sagging around your ankles by the time you leave.

                        

• Those drunken gummy bears you may have seen floating around the interwebs pack a wallop of booze.  Perhaps practice eating one by yourself instead of nearly choking in front of people who don't know you.
• You were the first to arrive, so you're probably not hip enough to be the last to leave. Your coat and purse will be underneath everyones. Maybe in a dark room where you can't find a light switch. Don't worry. It's there. 
• Now take your saggy tights home, throw them away, and make a cocktail for you and your husband - the sitter. It's Christmas after all, and you just survived a party.

Christmas Cocktail From Thanksgiving Leftovers

2 cups leftover cranberry relish or sauce

4 cups vodka

Steep the leftover cranberry goodness in vodka for about 3-4 days. Strain through a fine mesh sieve then again with a coffee filter in the sieve.  Store in the freezer until you are ready to make a drink or give this away as a gift.

For each drink:

3/4 cup sparkling cranberry juice or regular cranberry juice

2 oz of cranberry vodka

splash of cointreau or any other citrus liqueur

quarter of a lime, on the rim, squeeze before drinking

ice

Fill each glass with ice and add the juice, vodka, liqueur and finish with a lime. Enjoy the season!