I always wanted to build a cedar hot tub. The vision of a long soak in a hot tub under the starry skies on a clear, crisp night in Santa Fe is quite compelling. Doing it in a natural tub constructed from cedar made the thought seem even better. As an experienced DIYer, I was taken by the idea that I could design and build a classic, red cedar hot tub myself. And I could save several thousand dollars over the cost of a kit from an established hot tub supplier. After all, how hard could it be? I built my own home in 2014. A cedar hot tub is a far simpler and much smaller project. This is the basic hot tub I envisioned: Research I spent several weeks scouring websites of commercial suppliers and DIY builders for ideas about wooden hot tubs. In my search, I discovered three things: How to Build a Cedar Hot Tub: The Design After my research was finished, I began the design phase. The tub would be circular, five feet in diameter and about 40 inches deep. I would use … [Read more...] about How to Build a Cedar Hot Tub
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Festive Holiday Drinks for Fabulous Celebrations
There’s nothing like festive holiday drinks to make holiday parties come alive. It's no wonder that cold weather makes us want to snuggle and keep warm, and hot beverages certainly help. So, I've taken some favorite recipes and changed them up a bit to delight your guests. (It's also perfectly acceptable for you to enjoy these festive holiday drinks during an intimate evening with your special loved one.) I have also included my favorite eggnog recipe for when you want a cold and refreshing holiday beverage. Enjoy! Grand Marnier Hot Chocolate (Serves 8-10) Delicious hot chocolate might be the queen of all festive holiday drinks. This hot chocolate gets its kick from Grand Marnier. But if you want a non-alcoholic drink, leave out the liqueur and instead add 4 strips of orange peel (½ inch wide) to the liquid as it is heating. Ingredients 2/3 cup natural, unsweetened cocoa powder, Dutch-process cocoa powder or dark cocoa powder such as Droste, Ghiradelli or … [Read more...] about Festive Holiday Drinks for Fabulous Celebrations
