Sip yourself into the spirit of the season

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Proximity to New Orleans is one of my favorite perks of living on the Mississippi Coast. I’ll be adding a little NOLA spice to our festivities this year with a classic brandy milk punch instead of mimosas on Christmas morning. This holiday favorite is decadent, delicious, and might lead to a little debauchery…

Silky and smooth, this frothy punch can be enjoyed in your jammies or after you’ve gotten decked out for the day.Ben Elf added a little simple syrup to this recipe and used my hot toddy favorite, Dom B&B. Brandy or bourbon will suit this punch just fine so go with your favorite. Throw that crawfish pie in the oven, crank up the zydeco and stir the gumbo. Let me know how you like your punch and tag me on Instagram to share your favorite traditions. Cheers to a warm and merry holiday!

Best,

Sarah

Xoxo

New Orleans Brandy Milk Punch

Ingredients:

  • 2 ounces Brandy or Bourbon
  • 1 cup Whole Milk
  • 1 teaspoon Confectioner’s Sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
  • Crushed Ice
  • Nutmeg to garnish

Instructions:

  1. Fill cocktail shaker with ice and add brandy, milk, sugar and extract.
  2. Shake vigorously and strain into a glass over crushed ice.
  3. Sprinkle with nutmeg and enjoy!

Sunday should start with good gravy

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Nothing says Sunday morning like a yummy plate of biscuits and gravy. Flaky biscuits and spicy gravy will soothe your soul and set you up for a lazy day.

Growing up it was always a competition between my mom and dad to see who could make the best gravy. My family likes it on the thin side with plenty of spicy heat and served with a runny fried egg. Sawmill style.
Pick up some sage sausage and flaky refrigerated biscuits to keep on hand. When the lazy Sunday mood strikes it’ll be easy to whip up a pan of this simply delicious gravy.
Good Gravy Ingredients:

  • 1 pound Sage sausage
  • 2 tablespoons of butter
  • Half teaspoon ground sage
  • Half teaspoon white pepper
  • Half teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
  • Teaspoon of salt
  • Teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/4 cup flour
  • 3 cups of milk

Brown sausage in a pan over medium heat. Add sage and crushed red pepper while browning. Leave grease in the pan and add butter. Continue to stir until butter has melted. Add flour and remaining spices. Cook an additional 3-4 minutes while stirring. Add one cup of milk, allow to thicken and repeat with cup 2 and cup 3. Simmer on low about 10 minutes and enjoy over your favorite biscuits.

Leave me a comment and let me know how you like your gravy.

Best,

Sarah

Xoxo

5 tips to make your holidays brighter

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The holidays are here and it’s time to make the most of this splendid season. Here are 5 tips to reduce holiday stress and increase joy:

  1. Prioritize what means most to you during the holidays. Is it getting your home decked out with greenery, twinkling lights and decor? Is it celebrating with family, friends or co-workers? Do you get satisfaction from giving the perfect gift and getting your shopping done and wrapping taken care of early? Making your favorite recipes and holiday snacks? Or does giving back to your community and causes that you care about bring you the most joy? Decide now to prioritize whatever matters most to you, even if it’s getting cozy on the couch for a streaming marathon of your favorite holiday movies.
  2. Set healthy boundaries for the holidays and yourself by asking for what you want or need. Say no without guilt. We can not control others but we can choose how we feel. Say yes because you want to. Let go of trying to control what other people eat, wear, or do during the holidays. Even your kids.
  3. Get out and do something festive! One of my favorite holiday events on the Coast is the Gulfport Harbor Lights Festival. I love driving the beach highway when the lights are lit up. One of our new traditions is to wait for a colder day to bundle up and ride the Ferris wheel and take in all the decorated boats in the harbor. This year I’m making it a priority to check out the gingerbread house decorating workshop at our local children’s museum, Lynn Meadows Discovery Center. There will probably be more icing and candies in mouths than on houses given the age of my kids but I’m sure it will be a holiday event they’ll enjoy. Check out social media and your local mayor’s office page for free and inexpensive festivities to take part of in your town.
  4. Take time for yourself. It sounds cliche but the holidays can leave you scrambling to meet everyone’s needs but your own. Turn up your favorite tunes, light some candles and take a warm bath with a hot chocolate (or a hot toddy). Clear your calendar and get cozy so you can have a streaming fest in front of the fire and eat too many of those delicious Christmas Crack Pretzels you’ll want to make after I share the recipe in my next post. Treat yourself to something you’ve been wanting while sales are on. Whatever it is you like to do on your Me Time, make it happen over the holidays so you don’t lose yourself and your mind in the hustle and bustle of the season.
  5. Take a cue from the Kindness Elves and find a way to spread holiday cheer to others in need. Nothing makes a holiday brighter or makes you feel better than doing something that helps someone else. Good deeds can be as big as setting up a fundraising event or providing meals and as small as shoveling snow or wrapping gifts for a neighbor. All are meaningful. The holidays can be a hard time for many. And if you’re hurting during the holidays one of the best ways to feel better is to give back. A cup of coffee, a pair of gloves, toys for tots. So many great ways to pay it forward this season. I’d love to hear what you like to do or more ideas to spread joy in the comments on this post!

Thanks for taking the time to read and share my post. I hope you have a wonderful holiday season!

Best,

Sarah

Hey Y’all

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Welcome to One Coast Living! Please allow me to introduce myself. I’m Sarah aka One Coast Mama.

I’ve worn many hats over the past 20 years and now I’m trying my hand at blogging. I’ve been student of interior design, worked as a fitness instructor, massage therapist, bartender, realtor, house flipper and skincare consultant. I’m a wife and mom to rambunctious little boys and adopted fur babies. It’s a lot to take in, I know.   I love to search for new ideas and tips so I started this blog to share what I’ve found and experienced.

I’m writing about:

  • starting over in a new place
  • designing a dream home
  • yummy food
  • products
  • wellness
  • that experience we call life
  • raising pets and kids
  • travel and events
  • Buying/Selling

and so much more…

I love to connect with people who like to laugh, create, dress up and experience life while sharing different perspectives.

Thank you for joining me on this blogging adventure.

Best,

Sarah

Xoxo

🥂