We’ve been receiving panicked reports from friends and families in the Midwest and Northeast–of 6-foot snow piles, buried cars, closed roads and freezing temperatures.  While we sympathize with everyone hassled by this record-breaking blizzard, we didn’t want to miss an opportunity to share a fitting martini recipe:

Sparkly white.

Snow Storm Martini

Ingredients:

• 2 oz. Vodka
• 1 oz. Godiva White Chocolate Liqueur
• 1 oz. White creme de cacao
• Crushed ice

Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass. Add ice, stir to chill and strain into a martini glass filled with crushed ice. Enjoy!

When it’s cold, there’s no better way to enjoy the great indoors than curling up and reading a good book. If you’re not reading anything right now, hopefully we can inspire you with some of our suggestions.

Here are our answers to: “What are you reading right now?”

“I just finished The 4-Hour Workweek by Timothy Ferriss.  I am obsessed with it, which is evident from the photocopies that I made of certain sections to hand out to our team.  While I can’t imagine ever wanting to work only 4 hours a week, I learned so much and it’s changed the way I view my work priorities and actions.” – Alexandra Gibson

“I’m reading Freedom by Jonathan Franzen, and The Girl Who Played with Fire (Stieg Larsson).” – Christina West

“I’ve been enjoying my new Kobo eReader. The next book to read on it is The 4-Hour Workweek since Alexandra can’t stop raving about it.” – Amanda Butterworth

“I’m revisiting an old favorite: Light in August by Faulkner, and I just started Blink by Malcolm Gladwell.” – Jessye Aibel

After a fun Halloween last weekend, the GDM team wanted to share a few pictures:

Who was who?

1. Amanda as Brittany from the TV show Glee – with Santana and Rachel.
2. Alexandra as Mayhem, from the Allstate commercials.
3. Amanda again, this time as Sandy from Grease!
4. Martha’s grandson Coleman as ”a scawy piwate.”
5. Martha’s granddaughter Savanna as “the best witch, no pointy hat.”
6. Martha’s grandson Jackson as “a vampire wif teef!”

What did YOU dress up as for Halloween? We’d love to hear about your costume or see your photos over at our Facebook page!

Jam-packed with events and fun holidays, autumn is our favorite season to be outside and enjoy the color inspiration, fall fashion and crisp air.

Here are a few of our favorite things to do:

“The Fall is my absolute FAVORITE season.  In addition to the usual pumpkin carving and Halloween costume party traditions, one of my absolute favorite things to do every October is visit Markoff’s Haunted Forest with my friends.  This particular Haunted Forest beats ANY Haunted house/tour/forest/etc I have ever been to.  My friends and I love to go out each year, clutching to each other as we frantically make it through the terrifying forest.  Even their website is scary!“ – Amanda Butterworth, Senior Director, Creative Services

“It would have to be our annual drive into the Colorado Rockies to view the changing aspen trees – the colors are just delicious!  This year we drove over Boreas Pass which takes the route of an old rail bed from Como to the south and drops down into Breckenridge.  Breathtaking!” – Martha Kirkpatrick, Director, Member Services

Martha's photo of some gorgeous Colorado foliage!

“My favorite fall activity is college football.  As many of you know, I am a HUGE Boise State football fan (as an Idahoan) and greatly enjoy watching them trounce the competition on our controversial blue field.  In Charlottesville, it’s nice to get out, tailgate, and watch UVA try to hold it together in the ACC.” – Alexandra Gibson, President and CEO

Alexandra (in the hat), with Katherine and Martha Jane (both GDM Advisory Board members) on each end, and Bevin (GDM fan always, new Broncos fan)

“My favorite part of fall is throwing on my favorite fleece and watching football. Go tigers! (Hampden-Sydney).” – Lolly Rush, Project Manager

“I love visiting Martha’s Vineyard on fall weekends – eating clam chowder, checking out that famous New England foliage, and bundling up to take my dog for a walk on the beach.” – Jessye Aibel, Associate, Social Media & Online PR

This martini was featured in our December e-newsletter, The Gibson.  If you don’t receive The Gibson, click here to sign up!

Many of the Christmas and holiday martinis that I found sounded very sweet and thick.  This one, however, is a perfect marriage of class and elegance to add to a holiday night.

Ingredients:

• 1 (1.5 fluid ounce) jigger vodka (top shelf)
• 1/4 ounce Grand Marnier
• 1-1/2 ounces fresh lime juice
• 1 tsp cinnamon water (boiled water with cinnamon and sugar)
• 1 ounce blood orange juice
• 1 fig slice garnish

Preparation:

1. Place liquid ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice.
2. Shake to blend and chill.
   
3. Strain into a chilled martini glass, and garnish with a fig slice.
4. Enjoy!