M lifeandstyle@theotherpress.ca v EN -W-lOM(o(-t- Mich mB cela ee Natural deodorant (¥ Magic: The Gathering’s new parody set is one of their best yet (¥ Beauty on a budget: Mariposa Matte Lip Stain And more! The benefits of doing Christmas shopping early > Why you, too, should just get it over with in November Duncan Fingarson Senior Columnist he holiday season is upon us once again, sweeping in with overly- cheery music and depositing fake snow on all the storefronts. The season brings with it joy, finals, family gatherings, and gift shopping, which all combine to turn the most wonderful time of the year into a big old ball of stress- inducing events, especially if you happen to be on the introverted side of things. Wouldn't it be nice if you could get a few things out of the way early on? Here are a few of the reasons that shopping early is a good idea. You won't be rushed Being halfway through December—or worse, a week before Christmas— without having any shopping done sucks. I’ve been there, and it’s not a great place to be. You still have to find things for everyone, but now you're not able to take the time to find really good things. Shopping early means you can put more thought into your gifts. There are no crowds The majority of people, in my experience, tend to put off their shopping until later. This means that when I’m walking through malls in November, there’s almost nobody around. Just another day for the fine folks in retail. It’s a far cry from the packed stores of December, which means you have get to deal with the smallest possible number of other shoppers. You can order online with confidence December is the busiest month of the year for the postal service, hands down. The sheer volume of packages the workers have to get through sorting can cause significant delays in shipping. If you're the sort of person that likes to shop online and skip the crowds that way, you still need to leave time for delivery. Many places will list the date you need to order by to guarantee your package gets to you before Christmas. Ordering before that day means you don’t have to worry about being left empty handed. All the sales start early This is something of a con for the season, but it can work to your advantage. Lots of stores send out their Christmas flyers and start their sales in November. Shopping in November means you still get a good deal, and you don’t arrive at the store to find the best stuff sold out. Photo by Analyn Cuarto Peace of mind With all the shopping over and done with, you can focus on other things. Finals are coming, and it’s nice to be able to go into them without worrying what to buy your mom this year. Even if you've got a short list of people to buy for, knowing you don't need to worry about it anymore is great. Sparkle with these bubbly cocktails! > Four festive refreshments to make your season bright Sophie Isbister Columnist s the season to drink and be merry—but with temperatures at unseasonable highs, perhaps your taste buds are seeking something lighter and cooler than the typical holiday mulled wine. Since the holidays and the end of semester are approaching, it’s time to celebrate! So why not sparkle and shine with some of these classic sparkling wine cocktails, with a holiday twist. They're delicious, make a statement, and best of all, are very easy to make. Holidaze Mimosa So you've had a mimosa, but have you had a festive mimosa? This tart and sweet beverage is ruby red, refreshing, and the citrus makes it appropriate for breakfast. Go for a sweeter sparkling wine to offset the cranberry juice. ] recommend Lamarca Prosecco ($17.99 BC Liquor). Fill champagne flutes half full with cranberry cocktail Top with an off-dry prosecco Garnish with an orange twist Santa’s French 75 A French 75 is a classic French champagne cocktail. It is typically made with gin, lemon juice, and champagne— for a holiday-friendly twist, try this version with orange and brandy, and for a budget friendly-twist, use prosecco instead of champagne. Pick a sweeter or less sweet prosecco, depending on your taste. Add ice, 2 0z cognac, 2 tsp sugar, and 2 tbsp fresh-squeezed orange juice to a shaker. Shake for 15 seconds Add to champagne flutes and top with sparkling wine Stir gently and garnish with an orange twist “Naughty List” Kir Royale A Kir Royale is a deliciously simple and simply delicious sparkling wine drink, usually enjoyed in the summer. However, I think they should be enjoyed year-round. I recommend buying a dry cava for this beverage. Cava is a type of sparkling wine from Spain—a popular brand is Freixenet ($15.49 BC Liquor). Add 1 tablespoon of cassis (black current liqueur) to a champagne flute Top with cava Garnish with fresh cranberries for a holiday look! Festive Pimm’s Fizz Pimm’s No. 1 Cup ($24.79 BC Liquor) is a gin-based spirit from the U.K. whose true ingredients remain a mystery (or just the company’s trademark). It is bittersweet and citrusy, with a definite gin flavour. The great thing about Pimm’s is that you can make it ina single cocktail or into a punch bowl for the whole party to share. You can Ee also mix up whatever fruit you put in it. I’ve given the recipe in parts, so you can scale it up or down for however much Pimm’s Fizz you want to make! Mix 2 parts Pimm’s ina punch bowl or glass Add 3 parts lemonade Add 1 part sparkling wine dei =e) > 2 Add sliced oranges and fresh cranberries, or whatever fruit you want! I hope you and your guests enjoy these delicious sparkling wine cocktails! Mixing drinks is a fun way to be the highlight of a party, so don’t be afraid to modify these recipes and get creative.