- $50 paid via PayPal
- Pusheen-icorn sleep mask
- Velvet throw blanket
- 100 Cookies book
- jade face roller
- bubble bath powder
- World of Flowers coloring book
- Harney & Sons tea sampler
- assorted treats
Monday, February 1, 2021
[CLOSED] The Soubrette Brunette's 8th Blogiversary Giveaway!
Friday, January 29, 2021
Friday Favorites #164: Valentine's Day Picks
Valentine's Day is in just a few weeks (can you believe it?)! And while I don't have any grandiose plans this year, I do *love* all of the sweetheart-themed decor and accessories! Here are just a few of my favorite pieces that are perfect for February 14.
Please note that this post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase after clicking on one of these links, I may receive a small commission (at no cost to you!) that helps to run my blog. Thank you for supporting The Soubrette Brunette!
Are you getting excited for Valentine's Day?
In case you missed it, I shared some virtual Valentine's Day ideas in yesterday's blog post!
Thursday, January 28, 2021
Virtual Valentine's Day Ideas For 2021
We all know that holidays look a lot different during the pandemic. And pretty soon, we'll be hitting that one-year mark...which is bananas to think about. Valentine's Day 2020 was actually the last major holiday most of us experienced B.C. (before COVID-19), which means you might be a little bummed about your limited options for Valentine's Day 2021.
But that doesn't mean your V-Day has to be boring. I'm a total introvert and homebody, so I may be biased, but I really enjoy coming up with creative ways to celebrate without ever leaving the house! Whether you're wondering how singles celebrate Valentine's Day during the pandemic or you're separated from your sweetie this February 14, I'm sharing some virtual Valentine's Day ideas that you're sure to love.
Host a Galentine's Zoom BrunchA Galentine's brunch invite is always exciting to receive. But while many eateries are open in some capacity, you may not feel comfortable gathering with your girls without masks and in close quarters. Fortunately, you can still enjoy some bottomless mimosas and waffles from afar. Set up a Zoom call for mid-morning on the 13th (a Saturday this year!) and make your favorite brunch food – or order from your favorite breakfast spot! – to savor with your besties. Plus, you can wear cute pajamas if you want.
Monday, December 28, 2020
Easy New Year's Eve Mocktails: Non-Alcoholic Libations to Ring In 2021
I can hardly believe it's almost New Year's Eve! While this isn't one of my all-time favorite holidays, I do love any excuse to eat festive food and dress up.
But for some people, NYE is mostly about the alcohol. That (along with the fact that I like to go to bed on the early side) is the main reason it's not on my list of top celebrations. For those who might not be aware, I don't drink – for a few different reasons. This does put me in the minority, but I'm glad that sober living is becoming more widely accepted. Still, I've gotten questions from well-intentioned folks about why I don't drink and have been at gatherings where there are next to no non-alcoholic options for guests. Plus, it's hard not to be surrounded by intoxicated people on New Year's Eve. And all of that tends to put a bit of a damper on things.
The one nice thing about staying home this year is that you might get a bit more control over your New Year's Eve. Whether you're in recovery, you're an expectant mom, you're on a new medication, you're preparing for Dry January, or you simply don't like the taste of alcohol, holiday celebrations don't have to be boring. There are plenty of Near Year's Eve mocktail recipes out there that you might end up liking way more than options that contain alcohol. And even if alcohol is still part of your life, it's nice to know there are alternatives that everyone can enjoy.
To be honest, I don't get all that fancy with my mocktail recipes. I tend to like sparkling fruit juices and non-caffeinated sodas on their own. (I highly recommend Trader Joe's Sugar Plum sparkling beverage, sparkling grape juice or apple cider, ginger beer, IZZE, or Belvoir Fruit Farms cordials for this!)
But I decided to try out a few non-alcoholic drinks that are *slightly* more complicated. I mean it when I say "slightly," as I'm not muddling fruit, making simple syrups, or using any specialty ingredients. Below, you'll find three different mocktails I tried out, along with a few others that are on my to-try list.
Holiday Mocktail: Cranberry Apple Spritzer
Non-Alcoholic Cocktail: Classic Shirley Temple
Simple Mocktail Idea: Grapefruit Lime Refresher
Friday, December 11, 2020
The Soubrette Brunette's 2020 Holiday Gift Guides
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Local Love: Rochester NY Gifts
For my local followers (or those who just want a piece of the Flower City for themselves), check out this local gift guide featuring Rochester NY gifts from upstate makers.
Black Owned Business Gift Guide
Show your support with these incredible gifts from Black owned businesses this year.
a. abstract woman art print by Nonily Studio
b. Black Lives Matter mug by ATOU
c. half-moon dangle earrings by Talk Unique Designs
d. read and grow bookmark by K Ligg Co.
e. ginger and sandalwood candle by Natural Annie Essentials
f. yoga pose sweatshirt by The Trini Gee
g. triple body butter by Charmed Bath and Body
h. "you will survive this" print from By Chenelle
i. fried egg earrings by Crafty Little Dreams
j. retro ladies face mask by ModMasks
k. "sounds of love" print by Lovely Earthlings
l. Black Lives Matter face mask by Bailey Ava Accessories
m. floral square scarf by Emma Make Studio
n. kitchen print by Godly Gorgeous
o. tomato leaf and basil candle by Paige's Candle Co.
Broadway Gifts and Disney Gift Guide
For the Broadway fanatic or Disney fiend in your life, refer to this gift guide for the musically-inclined and the young-at-heart.
3. curtain call Broadway costume poster
4. Waitress pie pin
5. Madame Leota earrings
6. Hamilton face mask
7. Geek Out Disney trivia game
8. Hamilton Minnie ears
9. Pirate's Revenge candle
10. Heathers enamel pin
11. Company welcome mat
12. Disneyland 65th anniversary backpack
13. The Disney Princess book
14. Broadway Theater District map print
15. "Let's Travel the World" face mask
2020 Quarantine Gift Ideas
This year has been a total dumpster fire... but at least these quarantine gift ideas, work from home gifts, and political gifts will help us end 2020 with a laugh (and a long-distance hug).
a. The Comfy
b. long-distance touch bracelet set
c. Cuomo Christmas ornament
d. social distancing mug
e. Working From Home With a Cat
f. good neighbor face mask
g. Zoom meeting ornament
h. faux fur slippers
i. Camp Quarantine sweatshirt
j. The Great British Baking Show: Love to Bake
k. 2020 review candle
l. hand sanitizer ornament
m. foldaway seat cushion
n. 44 and 46 button set
o. work from home survival kit
Did you find some gift inspiration for the holidays? Let me know what you'd like to see for future gift guides and happy shopping!
Thursday, December 10, 2020
I LIKE YOU A LATKE: Hadassah Cookbook Latke Recipe
Happy Chanukkah, friends! I'm quickly popping in to share my mom's amazing latke recipe with you (which actually comes from Rochester's Hadassah Cookbook). I may be biased, but I really do think her latkes are the best – and they really aren't all that difficult to make! I'm not a recipe blogger, so I stuck to the basics. Let me know if you make these or if you need clarification! (By the way, here's a link to my latke sweatshirt!)
Ingredients
6-8 red potatoes
1 medium white onion
2 Tbsp sour cream
1 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/4 cup flour
1/2 cup bread crumbs
Vegetable oil (corn oil)
Extra sour cream and applesauce for serving
Directions
Peel and grate your potatoes, either by hand or in a blender/food processor. Transfer your grated potatoes into a large bowl. You can drain or wring out the excess water, but (and this is a VERY controversial opinion) you don't necessarily need to. Add the sour cream to keep the potatoes from turning brown. Then, add eggs and mix together. Add onion, flour, salt, and pepper and mix well. Pour a generous amount of vegetable oil into a large skillet (or two) on medium-high heat. When the oil is heated, add your potato mixture in cookie-sized portions and fry. They do not need to be neat! If they're freeform, they'll get those crispy edges. Flip once the latkes are golden brown on one side (you may need to flip them a second time to get them extra crispy!). When the latkes are done frying, remove them from the skillet and place them on a paper towel. Repeat this process until all the potato mixture has been used (makes around 30 latkes). Serve with sour cream, applesauce, sugar and cinnamon, or toppings of your choice and enjoy!
Friday, December 4, 2020
[CLOSED] GIVEAWAY: Oh, Christmas Treats!
Now that December is here, it's time to start the holiday season festivities! Although our celebrations will look different this year, there's no reason why we can't enjoy treasured memories at home. I wanted to start off the season with something sweet – so I'm hosting a giveaway for a few holiday treats!
One (1) winner will receive the three prizes pictured above, which are:
- A cute Christmas mug
- Double chocolate hot cocoa mix
- Peppermint chocolate marshmallow dunkers
Giveaway Rules
Enter the giveaway using the Rafflecopter widget below. This giveaway is open to the USA only and will run from now until 11:59 PM EST on Tuesday, December 8, 2020. You must follow all entry requirements to be eligible. The winner will be chosen at random through the widget and contacted via email (so please make sure to include a valid email address and name so that I can match your blog post comment with your other entries). The winner must respond within 48 hours of being contacted to claim their prizes and coordinate receipt. If no response is received, a new winner will be chosen. Once confirmed, the winner will be announced via the widget. Best of luck and Happy Holidays!