Well, the holidays are upon us, and I hope you’re prepared and ready to take some well-deserved time off from work, rest, and relax with family and friends.
Hopefully you’ve got a tall stack of books and magazine to read, video games to play, movies to watch, and recipes to try. In case you need some more inspiration, or you need some help spending those Amazon gift cards you’re going to receive, here are some recommendations.
(Note: while these are affiliate links, I’m only sending these ideas along because I’m excited to jump into them. They’re authors I follow, books that have been on my own wish lists, and generally stuff I’ve collected over the course of the year that I can’t wait to read!)
Presenting:
The official “What to Do After Christmas While You’re in A Food and Candy Coma List”
1. Practice your drink-making skills with Death & Co. – Classic Modern Cocktails.
I just stumbled across this book, but so far it seems like the perfect answer for my closet bartender status. I’ve always loved mixing (and trying!) drinks, but I’ve gotten sick of the newfangled mixers, fancy-schmancy stuff, and weirdly-colored (read: bright green) cocktails of the modern drinker.
This classy book brings things back to the fundamentals and basics of drink design, in an approachable and modernized way.
2. Read all of your favorite authors’ books with a new Kindle Paperwhite.
I’m a huge Paperwhite fan. The gently-backlit screen allows you choose exactly how “paper white” your Paperwhite is. It’s a very elegant way to read, and when I’m reading mine, it’s very similar to reading a real book.
Head over to Amazon to see the many options they have available, and don’t forget to pick up some of my latest fiction!
3. Take pictures of the memories you’re making with a handy Canon Powershot camera.
My wife has one of these, and she loves it. Even though she has an iPhone, and we have access to a Canon 70D, she loves whipping out this little bad boy and snapping some candids.
It’s got wireless WIFI access, point-and-shoot simplicity, and reduced number of bells and whistles compared to a fancier DSLR, but it has the brand name of the best cameras on the market. If you’re looking for a great, simple camera, this is your best bet!
4. Play a game: Small World, Merchants and Marauders, or Dominion.
My wife and I love board games, from Monopoly to Risk to Cranium. But there’s a whole different breed of board game that’s been sweeping the United States lately, called Euro games. They’re basically just nerdier, smarter, and (my opinion!) more fun.
Our current favorite is Merchants and Marauders (a beautifully designed Caribbean pirate conquest game), but I’m asking for my favorite card-based deck-building game, Dominion, for Christmas.
5. Cozy up with an amazing book.
This is probably my favorite part of the holidays, after the craziness and festivities have died down. I love to read, and I have a long list of book I’m wanting to get to. Consider, if you haven’t already, the work of Mr. Kevin Tumlinson (I recommend his Evergreen book first) for fiction, and Bill Bryson (A Short History of Nearly Everything is fantastic) for nonfiction.
What about you?
What are you up to these days? I’d love to hear from you about your family’s traditions! Just leave a comment and let us know!
Great ideas for after the Holidays when things calm down and suddenly get very quiet after all the grand kids go back home. I will be catching up on my reading (your books) and relaxing and enjoying some quiet time of my own. Merry Christmas and hope your year is happy, healthy and prosperous.
Great ideas for after the Holidays when things calm down and suddenly get very quiet after all the grand kids go back home. I will be catching up on my reading (your books) and relaxing and enjoying some quiet time of my own. Merry Christmas and hope your year is happy, healthy and prosperous.
Great, thank you!
Great, thank you!
I just celebrated my 74th birthday. I read a LOT, do a few beta proof reads, play some WOW with my wife of 50+ years.
Old age, disabilities, and COPD limit my activity, but I have a Desk Top setup with a 27″ monitor in from of my recliner.
Just finished re-reading “Death of a President”, William Manchester – Beta reading another book – need my review ready before for release a couple of days after Christmas. Am also re-reading Richare Belzer’s Hit List. (I have been studying the assassination of JFK for over 20 years). I am also expecting another beta book (mystery) to proof read shortly after Christmas.
With a limited income, I read a LOT of free e-books, and enjoy finding new authors.
Merry Christmas to all, and God Bless You!
I just celebrated my 74th birthday. I read a LOT, do a few beta proof reads, play some WOW with my wife of 50+ years.
Old age, disabilities, and COPD limit my activity, but I have a Desk Top setup with a 27″ monitor in from of my recliner.
Just finished re-reading “Death of a President”, William Manchester – Beta reading another book – need my review ready before for release a couple of days after Christmas. Am also re-reading Richare Belzer’s Hit List. (I have been studying the assassination of JFK for over 20 years). I am also expecting another beta book (mystery) to proof read shortly after Christmas.
With a limited income, I read a LOT of free e-books, and enjoy finding new authors.
Merry Christmas to all, and God Bless You!
I’ve heard that’s a great book — I’ll check it out. Enjoy the free time and reading!
I’ve heard that’s a great book — I’ll check it out. Enjoy the free time and reading!
It is now the 21st and everything has been bought and ready for the great day hope Santa brought me more books yours included. Xmas
for me is when boxing day comes when i can sit relax with a nice coffee and cognac and a rare cigar and of course a good book to read ahhhhh heaven……..
It is now the 21st and everything has been bought and ready for the great day hope Santa brought me more books yours included. Xmas
for me is when boxing day comes when i can sit relax with a nice coffee and cognac and a rare cigar and of course a good book to read ahhhhh heaven……..
Awesome! Enjoy those books, and of course the cigars!
Awesome! Enjoy those books, and of course the cigars!
Nice list Nick, handy in one place. I have one of your books in the queue and it is scheduled for a Christmas read. A cup of eggnog, a Nick Thacker novel and I am all set. Here’s wishing you and yours a very happy holiday and a book filled New Year.
Thanks for the kind words! Enjoy the book, and let me know what you think!
Thanks for the kind words! Enjoy the book, and let me know what you think!
Nice list Nick, handy in one place. I have one of your books in the queue and it is scheduled for a Christmas read. A cup of eggnog, a Nick Thacker novel and I am all set. Here’s wishing you and yours a very happy holiday and a book filled New Year.
Hi Nick, after all the hustle and bustle of the holidays I plan on hiding in my room and doing nothing but read without interruption. Haven’t decided what I’m going to start with because I have so many in line right now. But that would be the greatest thing for me to just hide and read. Merry Christmas to you and your family.
Hi Nick, after all the hustle and bustle of the holidays I plan on hiding in my room and doing nothing but read without interruption. Haven’t decided what I’m going to start with because I have so many in line right now. But that would be the greatest thing for me to just hide and read. Merry Christmas to you and your family.
I feel the EXACT same way! Good luck, and enjoy!
I feel the EXACT same way! Good luck, and enjoy!
Hi Nick,
Love all of the suggestions above. Personally, the reading is my favorite with playing Mystery Manor on Facebook. If I start another game, my husband will take my electronic “aids” away….lol (just kidding)
My plan is to read, read, oh yeah and read. I am always downloading and reading. My new saying is “Too many books and too little time to read them.” I am even cutting back on the game.
Happy holidays to all and many books read to all! Have a great year everyone!
Hi Nick,
Love all of the suggestions above. Personally, the reading is my favorite with playing Mystery Manor on Facebook. If I start another game, my husband will take my electronic “aids” away….lol (just kidding)
My plan is to read, read, oh yeah and read. I am always downloading and reading. My new saying is “Too many books and too little time to read them.” I am even cutting back on the game.
Happy holidays to all and many books read to all! Have a great year everyone!
Nice article, very well written. Thanks for sharing great information. 🙂 – Hanuman Chalisa