Morning Brew - ☕️ Light it up

TOGETHER WITH

Good evening, Sidekick readers. Today I woke up with a craving not for coffee, but for a cup of very chocolatey hot cocoa topped with marshmallows. Sometimes you can surprise yourself. Any hot chocolate secrets or homemade recipes out there?

— Rachel Cantor

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Hot Topic

Giphy

There are three days until Hanukkah, 18 days until Christmas, 19 days until Kwanzaa, and X days until the holiday of your choosing. Since this year feel-good movie nights and jigsaw puzzling have replaced holiday parties and trips to Christmas markets (sad about this one), here are a few ideas for spreading the holiday spirit into every cute lil spot in your home.

If you’re a proud owner of the infamous Home Depot Halloween skeleton, skip putting it in storage and instead dress it up in twinkle lights.
Deck the halls with this holiday trend that’s hiding in the produce section.
Fun-to-make winter wreaths: It’s fun, and it will brighten up your home.
Domino editors share their fave decorating ideas, including their holiday color palettes.
It’s not technically a decor idea, but I had to include these hot chocolate charcuterie boards.

Brain Food

Read

If your best friend’s book recs haven’t been up to snuff recently, NPR’s Book Concierge has eight years’ worth of suggestions.
You’ll definitely win your company’s virtual gingerbread house contest with these cookie patterns from Ikea.
All the answers to the question: Should you give your boss a holiday gift?

Listen

For the loyal Hallmark Channel Sirius XM radio listeners, I found a pretty solid Spotify Christmas playlist.
I’m a personal development podcast nerd, and my current obsession is Mel Robbins and her 5-Second Rule.

Watch

Confession: I snuck into my parents’ room, found Claire Saffitz’s cookbook, Dessert Person, knew it was my soon-to-be Hanukkah present, took it and ran. I haven’t baked anything from the book yet (will update), but until then, I can’t wait to watch her new baking series.
Click here for wholesome dad videos.
Dua Lipa’s Tiny Desk (Home) Concert just dropped, and she’s been slaying 2020.
This guy who just goes around New York reviewing sinks is my new hero.

Good Eats

haoliang / Getty Images

There’s something oddly soothing about watching Baby Yoda cup a bowl of warm soup. As an ode to last week’s Mandalorian episode, I’m channeling the little green goblin with this fewer-than-10-ingredient creamy cauliflower soup.

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Try It, Buy It

Try It

Bubbly: In preparation of ending 2020 with a resounding pop, here’s how to buy a good bottle of prosecco.
Caring: While you’re planning your holiday menu, consider one of these nine ways to help families struggling to put food on the table this winter.
Exploratory: We would’ve all aced junior year English with this handbook to writing well.
Wordy: Playing around with online fridge magnets may not be as challenging as your weekly Words with Friends game, but it’s more creative and a refreshing break.
Homey: A candlelit dinner hits differently nowadays, and so should your candles. Here’s how to make them at home.

Buy It

Be adventurous: I haven’t closed the Giving Broadly tab on my laptop since last week. It’s a collection of gourmet food products from women-owned brands, curated by the incredible Dana Cowin (former editor in chief of Food & Wine).
Be creative: Serendipity is wandering around a Florida mall only to stumble upon a book signing by one of your FAVORITE artists, Ashley Longshore. Ashley’s book is a celebration of her work, her sense of humor, and all the glitter and rhinestones the world has to offer.

Sidekick's 2020 Gift Guide

Will Varner

Quad monitors. Ergonomic mouse. Ring lights that’ll sear your eyeballs. The WFH Pro is extremely particular about their work setup, and you should be too, at least when it comes to buying them a holiday gift.

Check out our recs for the WFH Pro in our Sidekick Holiday Gift Guide.

P.S. In the extremely rare case that none of these gifts interests you (it won’t happen), email sidekick@morningbrew.com with some deets about your giftee, and I will hand-select a few gift options.

Eye Candy

VISBII Instagram

Amber Day’s Instagram, VISBII, reminds us of the simple pleasures in life: caffeine and carbs, apartment plants, and that go-to pair of Chuck Taylors that go with EVERYTHING. Also, check out her blog where she shares advice, such as the nine simple things she does daily to boost her creativity.

Hope you enjoyed today’s read, and as always, my inbox is open for feedback, questions, and suggestions. Catch you Thursday (the first day of Hanukkah).

Your internet Sidekick,
Rachel

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