December 2021

Minneapolis Cat Cafe to Expand

Cafe Meow is such a hit in Minneapolis that the cafe is expanding with a bigger cafe in New Hope this spring. Cafe Meow has been in operation since 2018 and its model of a coffee shop adjacent to a cat adoption center is working out splendidly. Folks love to come get a drink or bite and visit the cats next door, and cats get adopted from loving coffee and tea lovers in the process.

Black Sangria Recipes

Sangria is one of my favorite drinks, even though I once embarrassingly asked for a glass of "sangre" in a Spanish restaurant once! Red is usually my go-to but black sangria is so good if you can get your hands on it--or if you can make it yourself. This recipe for black sangria has everything that's fantastic about the drink, including all black fruits and a good dark wine that's also affordable to use.

Man & Witch to Pay Homage to 80s Fantasies

While Man & Witch doesn't have a release date yet, and we barely know anything about the film, it's probably the movie I'm most excited about in 2022. According to IMDB, the synopsis is as follows: "A heartwarming homage to the lo-fi fantasy films of the 80s and a comic adventure that both fulfills and subverts the expectations of what a fantasy universe can be." This frankly sounds incredible, but that's also because of the cast.

Chocolate-Covered Bacon

As some folks consider cutting back on some types of foods in the New Year, others are making resolutions to cook more and try more things. Either is good! Do what makes you feel good. If you're looking for something new to try, how does chocolate-covered bacon sound? It's simple enough to make, and you can alter it to your tastes and preferences easily.

Call Us What We Carry

Back when we fell in love with Amanda Gorman's "The Hill We Climb" on Inauguration Day, many of us wanted more of her words to mull over. The young poet's writing speaks to many Americans, her powerful words igniting so many hearts with hope and action. Today while we long for so much more action toward progress, health and stability, Gorman has gifted us with a collection of her works.

Grateful Dead Merch Sales

Now that all of the end-of-the-year sales are upon us, it's time to find all of the great bargains on Grateful Dead merchandise. The big department stores are great sources for deals on shirts, blankets and general items, but sometimes you can find good sales from smaller shops and family-owned stores, too.

End-of-the-Year Sales

Every year it seems like the end-of-year sales after Christmas rival the pre-Christmas sales, if they don't shadow them completely. It's hard to beat 50 to 75% off items that you almost bought--or that you did purchase!--prior to the holidays, and right now it's the time to stock up on everything from drink mixes and coats to bath and body items and candles. It's a good idea to make a note of these sales for yourself each year because it's super easy to forget they're coming during the holiday hustle.

Jack's BBQ

Seattle may not be the city that comes to mind when one mentions barbecue like Memphis or Kansas City might be, but it's still home to some mouth-watering barbecue. Case in point: Jack's BBQ, where you'll find sandwiches, Frito pie, tender ribs, hardwood-smoked ribs and all of your favorites.

Spontuneous

For the holidays, my sister bought everyone a board game, prefacing the reveal with the statement, "These are for everyone, really!" Indeed, we all benefit from game-buying, and I can't wait to try the game she gave me, Spon

Raising Monarchs Can Be Harmful to the Species

Knowing how threatened the Monarch butterfly is, many people are tempted to hatch their own caterpillars and nurture the butterflies from home, releasing them into the wild once they're fully grown. While this sounds like a great idea in theory, the reality isn't as helpful as we might think. For starters, there's no data supporting that raising Monarchs from home is beneficial at all.

Joann's Holiday Clearance Sale is Here

Post-holiday sales are some of the best of the year, and Joann's massive clearance sale is one of the biggest. The store sells holiday merchandise up to 75% off, giving all of us crafters plenty of reasons to shop and make some fun things for the New Year! And no, it's NOT too late to make Christmas or holiday crafts, especially if you haven't put decorations away yet. You still have room in that tote for whatever you make this weekend!

An Elevator to Space

To save costs on sending things to space, some scientists are working on an elevator to take people off the planet. It would hold 30 people at once and is supposed to cost 100 times less than the cost of a rocket. Multiple nations are considering building a space elevator at this time. Previously a fantasy story, the space elevator is something we may see in our lifetimes.

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