Love actually is all around

People who hate Christmas music are overrated. We get it. You think you are above it all, that your hyper cynical personality makes you too cool to like Mariah Carey. Well guess what? I’ve got news for you holiday haters. Christmas music is here to stay. It’s time to stop pretending like you don’t feel a damn thing when you hear the holly jolly classics on the radio. I know you secretly like it! And I’ve been blasting Christmas music at my house since Veterans’ Day! Okay, I know not everyone goes as hard as me around the holidays, but dang it, don’t you dare steal my joy.

Christmas is my favorite time of year, and for me the holiday season wouldn’t be complete without those classic songs and beloved holiday movies. One of the many movies I watch annually is “Love Actually”, whose very first character you meet is a rock star recording a Christmas hit.

“Love Actually” blends together nine different stories set in London during the weeks leading up to Christmas. Bill Nighy plays the aged rock and roll star trying to promote his Christmas single. Hugh Grant plays the Prime Minister who falls for one of his staff members Natalie (Martine McCutcheon). Emma Thompson and Alan Rickman play an older couple struggling with the monotony of married life and the stress of raising children. Liam Neeson plays a newly widowed step father. Keira Knightley plays a young newly wed trying to get her husband's best friend to like her. Colin Firth is a writer dealing with a fresh break up after his girlfriend cheats on him with his brother. Laura Linney plays a woman hopelessly in love with her coworker but too afraid to ask him out. Martin Freeman and Joanna Page are movie body doubles who meet on set. Kris Marshall is a socially awkward young man determined to make it to America where he’s certain he’ll get laid. Each of the stories connects and overlaps in some way or another telling the tales of nine couples falling in or out of love.

"I realized that Christmas is the time to be with the people you love." - Billy Mack

This film has become a Christmas tradition for our family. It's funny, heartbreaking, and romantic. It's like a better written version of a cheesy Hallmark Christmas movie. Also it has the iconic dancing Hugh Grant scene, so if you haven’t seen this movie yet what are you even doing right now? Put on your Christmas jumper and turn on “Love Actually” you old Scrooge.

Our cocktail Plumpy gets its name from the nickname Natalie's parents call her, much to her embarrassment, in front of the Prime Minister. For this Christmas drink we made a sugar plum syrup, using a recipe from Food Network that is linked below. What better time to drink brandy than on a cold Christmas night, combined with sweet vermouth, cranberry bitters, and the sugar plum syrup, Plumpy is sure to make your season bright. Happy Christmas!

Plumpy

Ingredients:

2 oz Brandy

.5 oz Sweet Vermouth

.25 oz sugar plum syrup

2 dashes cranberry bitters

Rosemary and sugared cranberries for garnish

Instructions:

1. In a cocktail shaker add all ingredients with ice and shake for 15 seconds.

2. Strain into a chilled coupe.

3. For garnish: Thaw frozen cranberries and roll them in sugar. Spear the rosemary through the sugared cranberries and place on the glass.