Here I sit, feeling neglectful.  The holidays are in full swing and finding the time to pen posts isn’t the easiest of tasks.  “What?” You exclaim, “I’m penning blogs while juggling a full time job, a family and numerous volunteer activities. What’s your excuse, Rivera?!?” You ponder.  No excuse, I just embraced the fact that I’m not wonder woman a long time ago…and I’m good with that.  

We’ve been packing a fair amount of fun into the season.  Tony and his band had a Christmas concert this past weekend.  While that’s meant a lot of rehearsals for the band, I’ve been spending time with the ‘band aids’ — the band members’ significant others; all good friends with whom I enjoy breaking bread and sipping wine with. 

I didn’t properly plan today’s missive so I offer you some of the musings I’ve had over the past few days: 

Give Me Their Budget:  I need Maker’s Mark’s marketing budget.  Actually what I experience is  only a small percentage of that budget falling into the CRM — customer relationship management — category.  Years ago I signed up to be a Maker’s Mark Ambassador.  Every Christmas they send fabulous gifts to their Ambassadors.  One year it was ear mufflers, another year a sweater for my Maker’s bottle, and one year bourbon ball ice cube trays.  This year’s gift…ta da:  Socks!  Absolutely #Fun! 

La Tienda:  Above and beyond the my husband’s jeep catalog, I’m the person who receives catalogs in the family which I always enjoy thumbing through (am I aging myself?).  A few days ago, Tony received a catalog from La Tienda, a company that’s celebrating ’22 Years of the Best of Spain” which piqued my interest.  With an great assortment of  foodstuff  — from meats and cheeses to tapas offerings and custom gift boxes — I’m envisioning a few gifties for the big guy, specifically a Paella Pan, their smoked Pimenton de la Vera Paprika, a goat or sheep cheese item — the Spaniards make seriously good cheese — and perhaps a ring or two of Chorizo.  If you’re looking for a unique gift for the Spanish epicurean in your life or, your friendly neighborhood meat and cheese lover, check them out. 

Living Coral:  Pantone, the color folks, has come out with their color of the year.  They’ve been doing this for the past 20 years and every year, I’m fascinated by their choice.  For 2019 the Pantone Color Institute has designated Living Coral as the color of the year (PANTONE 16-1546).  They state, “Living Coral emits the desired, familiar, and energizing aspects of color found in nature. In its glorious, yet unfortunately more elusive, display beneath the sea, this vivifying and effervescent color mesmerizes the eye and mind. Lying at the center of our naturally vivid and chromatic ecosystem, Pantone Living Coral is evocative of how coral reefs provide shelter to a diverse kaleidoscope of color.”

With that colorful tidbit, I’m wishing all my readers safe travels, smooth sailings and, of course, bon appetite!