My word of the year is Joy. Last year I became lost in the middle of the year. Business decisions I made confidently earlier in the year did not unfold as I anticipated. As a result the world felt unsafe and I began second guessing all my moves. I lost my vision for CHAR co and discouragement hit. I started falling into the trap of negative thinking. Thoughts such as…I am not capable, I do not have what it takes, and it is too hard. Those thoughts are a death spiral and I lost my joy in business. Thru this, I learned how much strength it takes to rise from a hard fall (check out Brenee Brown’s book Rising Strong.) In the journey, I had to make a choice to not let cynicism and distrust become the default and really, this decision is something I make on a daily basis. This year I am eager to allow joy to be present again. Joy rooted in contentment even tho the world is always changing. Joy in the little moments and day to day tasks; relishing the simple joys of sunshine, meaningful relationships, and a year that is a wide open canvas to paint on. Joy simply because I am alive and strong and recognizing what a gift each day is.

Do you have a word of the year? I would love to hear and why you chose the one you did!

Here in the studio, we are starting off 2016 with intentionality, hard work, and good drinks. One of our favorites, the HATCHERY team makes celebrating the everyday easy with their ingredients, all handcrafted by independent makers that are passionate about their product. Check out the marketplace to see all the incredible products. Everything is jam packed with flavor and so good. Invite some friends over, make great food, and kick off 2016 with good conversation. Make it extra special by sharing good drinks and your goals for the year.

To help you get started, we are sharing two drink recipes that will make any time spent with friends feel like a celebration.

The Lychee Margarita is so delicious using the Hibiscus sea salt and Lady Lychee cocktail blend. There are only two ingredients in the Hibiscus Sea Salt: sea salt and hibiscus—that’s it. The floral dimension lends itself well to both sweet and savory dishes, and since it’s so pretty, it’s perfect as a finishing salt. We used this tasty salt to rim the cocktail glass…phenomenal. The combination of lychees, strawberries, and pineapple juice is excellent in the Lady Lychee Cocktail Blend! It’s made with fresh, local to New York ingredients and finished off with a touch of cardamom. Add a little ice, a shot of spirits, and top with seltzer, and you are set.

For the Blackberry Thyme Old Fashioned, the cocktail mix-in Aromatic Bitters was perfect. This special ingredient has the sweetness of caramel and the pep of cloves. Add just a bit to iced tea for an special non-alcoholic beverage. The demerara Cocktail Sugar Cubes is a large-grained, pale amber sugar that’s got a warm toffee flavor, making them perfect for an Old fashioned to a hot cup of tea—and everything in between.

The Hatchery TASTING BOX makes such a great gift for those in your life that appreciate good food and new flavors. USE CODE CHARCO AT CHECK OUT ON HATCHERY.CO AND RECEIVE YOUR FIRST TASTING BOX FOR JUST $10.

BLACKBERRY THYME OLD FASHIONED
2 oz. bourbon
1 sugar cube
2 dashes of bitters
2 blackberries
1 orange wedge
1 thyme sprig
Splash of club soda

Garnish: thyme-blackberry (blackberry poked through with a thyme sprig)
Muddle brown sugar cube in the bottom of a glass with bitters, blackberries, orange wedge and thyme. Pour in bourbon, fill with ice cubes, and add a splash of club soda. Garnish with thyme-blackberry sprig and an orange wedge.

LYCHEE MARGARITA
1 1/2 oz lychee puree
1 oz fresh grapefruit juice
1 oz silver tequila
Splash of club soda
hibiscus salt

Rim glass with hibiscus salt. Shake puree, grapefruit juice and tequila. Pour over ice. add a spash of club soda.

Thanks to the Hatchery team for these delicious ingredients.

Here’s to a great start to 2016!