Holiday Cheer Thursday Rundown

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We are mere single digit days away from Christmas! How are you doing with your holiday shopping? If you are anything like me, your time might be better spent on Amazon as opposed to Don’t Blink. Well, at least I can make it quick for you. Let’s get started with our five topics…

Christmas Cheer – Another holiday tradition our parents introduced to us was something they called “Christmas Cheer.” On a couple different random nights close to Christmas, my mom and dad would gather us around the tree in the living room and serve us hot chocolate. They would dim the lights and play Christmas carols from the boom box. It was always a relaxing, festive, and slightly magical experience. Sidney and I have introduced the tradition to Sloan and she is hooked. For the past several days since we first did it last Thursday night, she will come up to us and ask, “Can we have Christmas cheer again?”

My cup of hot chocolate from last Thursday’s Christmas Cheer session.

Favorite Christmas Movies – I know you are curious so I suppose I will give you what you want. I have five favorite Christmas movies and this is how I rank them…#5 – “A Christmas Vacation” (Clark is hilarious), #4 – “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer” (first Christmas movie I ever remember watching), #3 – “A Christmas Carol” (I love all versions), #2 – “Home Alone” (very underrated musical score), #1 – “Miracle on 34th List” (the old one). If you really want to pick my brain on these choices, I gave full analysis two years ago. Hope you watch a some of your favorite Christmas favorites this weekend!

Pull up your Santa chair and let’s watch some Christmas movies!

While on the Subject – A Twitter account I follow posted this rather intriguing question: Which movie’s version of The North Pole do you want to visit the most? (“Elf,” “Polar Express, “Fred Claus,” “The Santa Claus).  Although I thought it was a creative question, I didn’t think twice about my choice. THE POLAR EXPRESS! In my humble opinion, “The Polar Express” nailed it with both its depiction of the North Pole and Santa Claus. The movie really captures the magic of Christmas that many of us had as kids. 

Interesting but easy question.

Holiday Winner – Last week we had our WSU University Marketing and Communications virtual holiday party. The staff members in charge of the party did a superb job as they put together a Zoom gathering that was about as good as you can get. A scavenger hunt, holiday trivia, a recipe book, and a discussion about Christmas traditions all made the party engaging and fun. Another component of the morning was a costume contest. Yours truly pulled out the elf costume and won the award for “Most Festive.” The social media people always have the most fun!

I won “Most Festive” at our office virtual holiday party.

A New Special Ornament – You won’t find a school that does better arts and crafts than St. Mary. Sloan has brought home some really awesome projects over the past few months. On Tuesday she surprised us with our new favorite ornament. The two candy canes on the bulb form a heart and the card that came with it was beyond precious.

If you look closely you can see the reflection of Sloan and Sid!

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Okay, get back to Amazon now. If you need my address, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Have a great rest of your week. Don’t Blink.

My Recommended Gift for the 2020 Holiday Season

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For many years, my dad’s side of the family would participate in a unique Christmas Eve tradition. After we had all arrived at whatever house we were celebrating at, we would draw numbers. When we scooped out a slip of paper from the hat, we all crossed our fingers we would pick something low.

More than 20 (we had a BIG family) picture frames that we had decorated prior to our celebration were displayed on a table. Each one was adorned with “Reser Family Christmas ______” (insert year) and decorated with a seasonal theme. The person who drew #1 would take first pick of a frame. Then the person who drew #2 would go, followed by #3, and so on.

Once we had our frames, we would all get our pictures taken with a Polaroid camera. You could choose to take your photo wherever and with whoever you wanted. We would then place the photo in our frame, creating a precious keepsake from that holiday season for years to come.

One of our “Reser” frames from 1997.

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For the past two years, I have designated an inexpensive “Brent’s Gift of the Year” for my readers to consider. In 2018 I tabbed an LED cinema lightbox as my suggestion and last year I heralded a blanket. This year I am encouraging my readers to gift someone a framed photo.

Framed photos are thoughtful and timeless

I don’t think there is anything that looks so good relative to its actual price than a meaningful photo encapsulated in a nice frame. At just a few bucks for the print and a similar amount for the frame, you can give a loved one something that they will keep in their living room or on their dresser for a long time.

A picture conveys emotion and thought. The sentiment is amplified tenfold when placed in a frame. Ask someone whether they would prefer a material item or a cherished memory and take a guess on which way they will lean. In my opinion, not only is a framed photo a powerful and inexpensive gift, it is a very underrated one as well.

A framed photo is a sentimental gift.

What special moment would you like your family member or friend to relive every day? A tropical vacation? Wedding day? Birth of a child? Baptism? Sporting event? Take your pick and memorialize it. Trust me, the recipient will appreciate it.

Another classic Reser Family Christmas photo/frame–just with my parents. You can’t go wrong with a framed photo, just make sure that the orientation of both the photo and frame is aligned correctly.

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This holiday season, try to give at least one person a framed photo. Except for the hairstyles and wardrobes in the picture, this gift will never go out of style. Don’t Blink.

A TikTok-Inspired Holiday Video

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Click here to watch the 2020 #WSU Holiday Video

One December tradition that COVID couldn’t wipe away was the higher education institutional holiday video. You know, the videos where your favorite university wishes you season’s greetings in a sentimental/funny/ creative way?

During my time at Coastal Carolina University I had the pleasure of being involved with the annual holiday video whether it entailed me being in it, conceptualizing it, or just promoting it. It was always a fun project so I appreciated the opportunity to assist with Washington State University’s 2020 video.

“Illumination” was the theme of the 2020 WSU Holiday Video.

Although a pandemic couldn’t halt university holiday videos, it did limit what could be done (say goodbye to large festive group shots!). But could new limitations perhaps open new avenues for creativity? At WSU, the answer was yes.

We debuted our 2020 holiday video via our President’s Twitter account. Creativity played a big role this year.

In a year that many across the world might consider “dark,” we wanted to show how WSU was able to offer some light. We settled on the theme of illumination and decided to express it in a way that our student audience could relate to.

Our holiday video was successful because it appealed to all audiences. However, it especially resonated with students because it actually used students and it utilized a format popular with GenZ.

This is a bold claim as I have not watched an overabundance of other university holiday videos yet, but I think we might be the only ones to produce ours based off a TikTok theme. That’s right, the WSU 2020 holiday video is definitely TikTok-inspired…we even shot it vertically. Drawing motivation from the infamous Pass the Brush Challenge and other TikTok videos that pass objects off screen to other participants, we decided to go with something similar.

We had numerous students who appreciated our TikTok-inspired theme and who filmed clips to be included in the holiday video.

The basis of our video showcases WSU students dropping a holiday light from one screen to the next. The students catch a non-illuminated light, react to it, and then—magic—it illuminates! The light is then dropped to the next participant.

The video centers around people catching a holiday light, illuminating it, and passing it on.

The video kicks off with our mascot, Butch, illuminating the first light. It culminates with our First Lady catching the final light and passing it to the President. He then screws it into a string of lights and with a snap from the First Lady, the string and the state of Washington illuminates. Throughout the video, a voiceover from the President recognizes that it has been a difficult year but credits the WSU community for creating its own brightness.

Butch kicked off this year’s holiday video.

Our social team had a seat at the brainstorming table when developing the illumination theme. Our primary responsibility was to recruit holiday video participants by promoting the opportunity on social media. In just an hour or so after posting the callout we were inundated with willing Cougs. We sent out Christmas lights to the people (mostly students) who expressed interest along with directions on how to film their portion of the video. Our volunteers didn’t disappoint. Within a week we had received more than enough material to hand over to our video team.

Our video professionals did an incredible job piecing the video together and adding the illumination effect to each Christmas light. A talented staff member who writes for our magazine penned the President’s voiceover that really hit home. One of our designers built the video into an email to send out to the WSU family. It was a true team effort by our University Marketing and Communications department and it paid off.

The video all comes together at the end when President Schulz screws in a missing light and Dr. Noel Schulz, our First Lady, illuminates the string with a snap of the fingers.

The video was a major success. It was received extremely well because of its uniqueness and natural flow. As of Monday night, it has been viewed more than 40,000 times on social media and I am yet to see one negative comment on any platform. During an extremely tough year, it feels good that this project has given people a reason to smile. Don’t Blink.

Peanut Brittle Thursday Rundown

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Let me wish a pleasant December evening to everyone who has stumbled upon this random corner of the internet. I hope to feed your appetite with five random topics. Let’s get started…

Christmas Activity #11… – On Tuesday night, I shared with you 10 Christmas-related activities we have done with Sloan this month. Let me add one more. We have started to play a “Spot the Grinch” game when we are driving. This year there seems to be an overabundance of blow up Grinches in front yards. Since Sloan likes the Grinch movies and because she is learning to count to higher numbers, we will keep track of the green blow up characters we pass while out on the road. Sloan loves to spot them a 15 minute drive in Spokane will usually yield about 10 of them.

This blow up Grinch is actually right across the street from us so when we play the game, we immediately start off at 1.

Poster Rack – Something about this just gives me the feels. Before I would buy posters at college, I would browse them while at ShopKo. While my mom shopped I would curve my boredom by looking at WWF superstars, superheroes, and the occasional teeny bopper music star. I distinctly remember the anticipation of seeing who would be in the next laminated frame. Good times.

It was easy to pass the time here.

Sister and Brother – This was a totally nonstaged photo I took of Sloan and Beau early this morning. They both found their way to the Christmas tree and admired it together for a couple moments. How can you go wrong with a sister and brother soaking in the beauty of Yuletide lights?

Sloan and Beau sat together by the tree early this morning and I made sure to document it from my spot on the couch.

True Story – The below tweet from the U.S. Postal Service has been making the rounds since it was published yesterday. Sure it is cute, but it is also very true. I find sending out Christmas cards to be festive, fun, and therapeutic. But it is more about the recipient than the sender. Receiving a holiday card can make someone’s day. Imagine if you send out 20 cards—that would equate to a lot of positive energy. If you are on the fence about doing Christmas cards this year, I say go for it. Not only will you bring cheer to others but you will also be supporting a struggling USPS.

Send out Christmas cards this year.

Shoutout to Coastal Football – Last Saturday could not have been more perfect for my old colleagues at Coastal Carolina University. Everything aligned on a day that saw the campus host College Gameday and then pull off a major upset win over previously unbeaten BYU. Sports business analysts estimated the College Gameday exposure alone at $20 million. CCU is in line to play a major bowl game on New Year’s Day. For an institution that has had its bumps in the road in 2020, there couldn’t be a sweeter way to end the year.

The Coastal football team defeated BYU to improve to 10-0.

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That will wrap it up for this Thursday Rundown. These December weekends can be so much fun. Make the most of this upcoming one! Don’t Blink.

10 Fun and Easy Christmas Activities

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The holiday season is young but we have already packed a lot of Yuletide-fun into the first week of December. While trying to plant small seeds into Sloan’s heart about what this season is truly about, we are also finding lots of Christmas activities that 3-year-old girls really enjoy.

If you are looking for some easy and festive ways to get into the holiday spirit with your little ones (or big ones), here are 10 ideas that we have already done with Sloan this month.

Write Letter to Santa – We sat Sloan down at the table and helped her write a letter to Santa. She then decorated the paper and envelope with her markers and stickers. If the Big Guy writes back, I plan to devote a blog post to the whole process.

Sloan writing a letter to Santa.

Christmas Light Drive – Taking a page out of my parents’ holiday playbook, we packed Sloan and Beau into the car on Sunday night and looked at some of the best Christmas light displays in the Spokane Valley. Sloan had a great time yelling out “Look daddy! Look mommy!” when we would pass an especially magnificent house. The next day, Sloan asked us if we could go look at Christmas lights again.

One of the trees in a neighborhood we visited on our Christmas light drive was covered from the top to bottom in these beautiful lights.

Drive-thru Santa Experience – This past Saturday, Sloan and Beau met Santa…from a distance. A local charity organization in Spokane invited the public to its Santa drive-thru event. But it wasn’t just Santa – he brought one of his reindeer too! Sloan was ecstatic during the entire experience and thoroughly enjoyed the frosted Christmas cookie that the volunteers gave her prior to us driving away.

Over the weekend, Sloan met Santa and saw reindeer at a drive-thru event.

Chocolate Countdown Calendar – Thanks to her Aunt Miranda, this chocolate calendar has become something that Sloan looks forward to each morning. She locates the number that corresponds to the December date, punches out the door, and identifies the shape of the chocolate (i.e. Santa hat, ornament, present, etc.) before dropping it into her mouth.

Sloan is a big fan of her chocolate calendar.

Hot Cocoa Bar – Remember when I wrote about the hot chocolate bombs I got my hands on? As you can imagine, Sloan was just as excited about them as me. For good behavior during the day I have let her make her own cups of hot chocolate at night using one the bombs. I then let her add marshmallows and whipped cream (under close adult supervision).

Sloan has made hot cocoa out of these hot chocolate bombs and then added whipped cream and marshmallows.

Christmas Shows – With all our new streaming services, an extremely large vault of Christmas programming for kids has been opened up to us. Best of all, Sloan eats it up. From Blippi’s Snowflake Scavenger Hunt to the StoryBots Christmas special to the Grinch movies, the entertainment is non-stop for Sloan.

Sloan watching a Christmas Netflix show in our living room.

Thanking Sallie – Santa isn’t the only holiday figure that Sloan is writing to. Last night she sent her first correspondence to Sallie, the Elf on the Shelf who is assigned to our daughter for the month. Sloan thanked Sallie for the cheer she has already brought to our house and perhaps reinforced a couple of gift ideas to pass onto Santa.

Sloan wrote a letter to Sallie last night.

Library Crafts – We might not be able to go inside our county libraries, but their services are still available via curbside. The Spokane County Library District is offering a cinnamon spice ornament kit for anyone who wants to get a little crafty. We ordered the free kit via its website, picked it up, and Sid did the project with Sloan.

Sid and Sloan made these cinnamon ornaments today. They got the kit to make them, with all ingredients included, from the library.

Christmas Card Mail – We have started to receive Christmas cards in the mail. Although I personally love opening them, I have a little girl who enjoys doing the same thing just as much. I have to coach her not to tear the card itself when she rips open the envelope but it is a minor inconvenience for the satisfaction that she receives.

Pajamas Party – Go ahead, do a couple Christmas Eve rehearsals before the real deal! We let Sloan get in her Christmas pajamas and “wear them in” before the night of December 24 comes around. We are pretty sure Santa won’t mind.

Sloan slipped into her Christmas Eve pajamas the other day.

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With it only being December 8, I am sure I can drop a couple more activity lists before December 25. In the meantime, hopefully you can find some holiday joy with these 10 hacks. Don’t Blink.

Brent’s Top 5 Songs of 2020

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What has become a Don’t Blink tradition will continue once again tonight. For the seventh time in my blog’s history, I am pleased to present Brent’s Top 5 Songs of the Year.

This year’s countdown was tough. Not in the sense that the crop of songs was really bad or really outstanding, two conditions that have made past lists difficult to compile, but that I didn’t feel exactly qualified to make one.

You see, my consumption of music in 2020 was at an all-time low. I listen to music pretty much exclusively in the car. Obviously, for a guy like me, when you aren’t driving places because everything is locked down it cuts into your jam time. Furthermore, when I actually was driving in my car I was mostly listening to SiriusXM and expanding my horizons beyond top 40.

With that said, I did listen barely enough to mainstream radio and the TikTok videos my wife was watching to jot down the five tunes that I have enjoyed most in 2020.

Tonight I once count down my top five favorite songs from another year.

5. Dua Lipa – Don’t Start Now

I love myself some Dua Lipa. If you are looking for a consistent artist who puts out catchy track after catchy track, Dua is your girl. She delivered again with “Don’t Start Now.” I describe the song as a big disco. It is basically an ode to the 1970s/1980s with some 2020 influences mixed in for good measure.

Out of all the songs on this list, it might be the easiest to sing along too—but don’t think I would ever do anything like that.

4. Savage Love – Jason Derulo

If there was a song that provided any type of escape or comic relief from this unprecedented year, it was “Savage Love” by Jason Derulo. The carefree and goofy melody of the song helped many of us take a deep breath and laugh.

Easily one of the top songs of the summer, it reached epic popularity on TikTok and spilled over to the radio. Although some people claimed to despise the song, I stand by my opinion that we needed this song in 2020. And oh yeah, we definitely jumped on the trend.

3. Blinding Lights – The Weeknd

Retro. Fast-paced. Catchy. When I think of the The Weeknd’s smash hit “Blinding Lights” I think of all those adjectives. “Blinding Lights” is what I would categorize as the best driving song on this list. By that I mean if I was driving through downtown or even the wheat fields on a road trip, this is the track I would want turned up and on repeat.

The song has a cool 1980s vibe and a great beat to go with it. Although I usually find some type of lyrical connection with songs that are ranked this high in my countdown, I can’t claim one with “Blinding Lights.” Perhaps that makes it even better?

Called the song of the year by many, I can’t deny the critical acclaim of “Blinding Lights.” However, although a solid choice, it isn’t my #1.

2. Wonder – Shawn Mendes

This is one of those songs that catches you with the intro. The opening of “Wonder” is powerful, almost mesmerizing to a degree. It kind of swallows you and at that point you can’t do anything but listen to the rest of the song. Lucky for us, the rest isn’t that bad.

The song’s tempo will keep you engaged and relaxed at the same time. It is easy listening but at the same time it feels kind of like a maze as well. Right at the moment when you don’t know exactly what to think the music from the intro returns, swallowing you once again.

I like the unique sound of “Wonder” and I think some of the lyrics are profound. Yes, it is a love song, but Mendes also asks honest questions of himself and society. I look forward to listening to this song well into 2021 as it is still pretty new.

1. The Bones – Maren Morris

If the song is going to serve as an overarching metaphor for your wedding anniversary blog post, it must be decent, right? The versatility of Maren Morris was once again demonstrated in “The Bones,” a song that tells the story of the prevailing nature of true love.

Listening to “The Bones” will allow you to get lost in thoughts and pleasantly think about the most important relationship you have. Morris provides some excellent imagery of the resilience of love and the character needed from the two people who must make it work.

The conviction with which she sings each lyric is powerful and authentic. I think this song would be perfect for the ending of a movie, starting at the conclusion of the final scene and extending through the first part of the credits. If not that, it is good enough for the ending of this countdown right at the coveted #1 spot.

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Man, what will music be like in 2021? Whatever form it takes, I hope I have the chance to listen to it a little bit more than what I did in 2020. What do you think of this year’s countdown? Please don’t hesitate to let me know. Don’t Blink.

Brent’s Top 5 Best Songs of 2019
Brent’s Top 5 Best Songs of 2018
Brent’s Top 5 Best Songs of 2017
Brent’s Top 5 Best Songs of 2016
Brent’s Top 5 Best Songs of 2015
Brent’s Top 5 Best Songs of 2012

Spectacular Thursday Rundown

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After a week hiatus due to Thanksgiving, the Thursday Rundown is back. Thanks for returning to Don’t Blink and I hope you enjoy tonight’s five topics…

Favorite New Ornament – An ornament on our tree that I added this year is one I purchased right before I left South Carolina. At a certain tourist attraction in Myrtle Beach there is an all-year Christmas store that sells more ornaments than you can imagine. Knowing that our tree would be set up in an entirely different state on the other side of the country, I wanted to get something to honor the place that means so much to us. I think this sunbathing depiction of Santa does a good job of catching the essence of Myrtle Beach.

This is my favorite new ornament on our tree.

Photo of the Week – Sloan recently spent some time with grandma and papa…and Muffin. This photo was taken of the granddaughter and cat catching some zzz’s together.

How precious is this?

Donuts Donuts Donuts – There is no better place to share a photo of donuts than on a Thursday Rundown blog post. For the first time, I had the opportunity to try Hello Sugar. What makes Hello Sugar different from competitors is that it serves all mini donuts. Although you wouldn’t know it by looking at photos on Instagram, the product is definitely miniature-sized! Our family had a holiday photoshoot last weekend and our photographer, Alicia Hauff, gave us our first Hello Sugar dozen. Don’t they look pretty?

You wouldn’t know these Hello Sugar donuts were miniature-sized if I didn’t tell you.

Spokane Chick-fil-A Opens – Honestly, you would think these people had never seen a Chick-fil-A before. Wait, many of them haven’t. The Spokane Chick-fil-A opened on Tuesday and the drive-thru line stretched for two miles. In fact, traffic control personnel had to eventually create three different lines that sprawled the north Spokane streets to accommodate the hundreds of cars that showed up. For someone like my sister, who has never visited a Chick-fil-A restaurant before, the excitement of the chain’s arrival is real. Even for someone like me who ate way too many spicy chicken sandwiches during my time down South, I think the restaurant’s opening is pretty cool…and much anticipated.

The Spokane Chick-fil-A opening day line stretched out of the frame of this aerial shot by the Spokesman-Review.

She’s Back – For the second consecutive holiday season, Sallie has returned…much earlier this time around. Sloan’s “Elf on the Shelf” made her triumphant appearance on Tuesday (you can watch Sloan’s reaction) and has started her nightly reports to Santa. This morning Sallie had Sloan follow wrapping paper shreds to a special gift. I can only imagine the other adventures that will take place over the next three weeks.

This is where we found Sallie this morning. She left a note and a prize for Sloan.

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Getting back into a routine can be tough after a holiday weekend. By now I hope you are up to speed just in time for a new weekend to arrive. Enjoy your Friday! Don’t Blink.

Preparing for Christmas

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Now that Thanksgiving has passed and Advent has arrived, I can start to look forward to Christmas. I absolutely adore December and the magic that surrounds it. This year, I think that magic will shine just a little brighter as we enjoy the month in a place that at times can actually look and feel like the North Pole.

We are now in Advent season.

December this year is special because not only will it be Beau’s first Christmas but Sloan has reached the age where she is truly cognizant of the holidays. She loves Santa, Elf on the Shelf, and presents. You know, the stuff that all 3 ½-year-olds should be excited about?

Sloan has the Christmas spirit….and a chocolate calendar that counts down the days until December 25.

With that said, her newly developed consciousness of Christmas comes with it the responsibility of Sid and I to ensure that in addition to Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and new toys that some perspective is also introduced. How far do you go down that road with a little person who hasn’t even turned 4 yet? I would say not that far. However, introducing the basics about whose birthday is celebrated and the true reason for the season are important concepts that will help lay necessary groundwork for the future.

May everyone have a meaningful and blessed holiday.

For us adults, I think we can all make a more concerted effort to prepare for the birth of Christ. With so many distractions and expectations, it is easy to lose focus on why December 25 is so important. This Advent season I am going to try to do better in my own personal preparation. Let’s see how it goes. Don’t Blink.

Exceeding all Expectations

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– When I worked in the athletic department at the University of Montana, our football team played a college I had never heard of called Coastal Carolina University during the 2013 FCS Playoffs. I thought they were a team like many of the others that would play the Griz in an early postseason game and then fade into obscurity.

In 2013, I worked a blistering cold game (as a UM employee) in which Coastal Carolina University upset the University of Montana in the FCS Playoffs. (photo courtesy of the Montana Kaimin)

– As fate would have it, I started working for that college I had never heard of not too long after they eliminated the Grizzlies from the playoffs. As I started to watch the CCU football team make a name for itself on a normal grass field in the FCS, I didn’t really think they would compete beyond the level formerly known as Division I-AA.

When I arrived at CCU and worked the football games in 10,000-seat Brooks Stadium, I didn’t exactly think that the Coastal football team would one day join the FBS and host College Gameday.

– Working the press conference in which CCU announced it would make the jump to the FBS, I thought it would take several seasons to become respectable in the Sun Belt Conference.

In 2015 when CCU announced it was moving to the FBS, I didn’t think a half decade later it would be hosting College Gameday.

– While observing the Chanticleers struggle on the “Surf Turf” during their first couple seasons as full-fledged FBS members, I thought I might have finally made a correct prediction about CCU football.

Teal turf was installed and Brooks Stadium was expanded, all signs of a program on the rise. However, I thought that the “rise” might take several years. The Coastal football team struggled its first couple years in the FBS (photo courtesy of CCU).

– Now back on the opposite side of the country, I watched as the CCU football team posted convincing victory after convincing victory on the ESPN networks. As Coastal’s undefeated record stayed intact as the weeks rolled by and the fanbase started to mention a certain college football pregame show on social media, I thought no way.

I have watched Coastal Carolina football from the opposite coast during the 2020 season.

Yesterday, this happened…

College Gameday is going to Coastal Carolina University.

Tonight I want to congratulate the Chanticleer football program for attracting the most prestigious sports pregame show to its campus while proving all the doubters (including myself) wrong. Most programs will never receive a visit from College Gameday—CCU is doing it in only its third season as a bowl eligible FBS school. Well done to the student-athletes and coaches…truly amazing work.

I also want to congratulate Coastal Carolina University in general. Unfortunately, the institution has experienced some tough times as of late but the success story of the football team is a boost that CCU needs and deserves. It couldn’t have happened at a better time. I know my former colleagues are loving this ride right now!

Enjoy this, CCU!

It will be exciting to see College Gameday set up shop on the campus I spent almost six years on. I look forward to the broadcast and to seeing social media posts from my CCU friends. Just like with its College World Series victory in 2016, I know #TEALnation will savor this moment in the national spotlight. Don’t Blink.

The Latest Hot Chocolate Fad

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For the past few months I have seen them regularly on TikTok and Instagram. Giddy social media users would flaunt perfectly-decorated chocolate spheres. They would grab one, place it in a mug, and pour hot milk over it…then magic. As a hot chocolate fan, I couldn’t deny their appeal. I needed one.

In addition to milk and apple juice, I love hot chocolate!!

Last week I finally got my hands on some hot chocolate bombs. It wasn’t an easy search. After calling around, I finally found a small business called the Garland Mercantile located in Spokane’s historic northside neighborhood. In addition to a hodgepodge of items such as soaps, hot sauces, and candy, the store had what I was looking for.

The Garland Mercantile offered hot chocolate bombs made by a bakery called the Lucky Crumb, another Spokane small business getting a lift from one of its own. The bombs came in small variety boxes of four and sold for $12 per box. Despite the spendy price, I bought a box—I wasn’t going on a Saturday night goose chase only to return empty-handed.

The hot chocolate bombs I bought at the Garland Mercantile.

As the Garland Mercantile employee rang us up, she told me the flavors of the four hot chocolate bombs—pumpkin spice, milk chocolate, dark chocolate, and peppermint. Although I would have settled for just traditional chocolate flavors, as I already mentioned, I was just happy to finally find this treat. She concluded the purchased by telling me not to use them in the bathtub and passed me the below slip of paper.

The directions (and common sense) I received with my hot chocolate bombs.

My first hot chocolate bomb experience came the next day. After coming home from church I gave the milk chocolate flavor a try. I followed the directions exactly, and, believe it or not, everything went according to plan. The moment the hot milk made contact with the outer chocolate shell it disintegrated, leaving the contents of the inner chocolate ball to jibe with the milk. After watching the reaction occur I used a spoon to make sure everything was mixed thoroughly (watch me prepare my first hot chocolate bomb!).

The moment when I poured the hot milk on the hot chocolate bomb.

To be honest, I was a tad bit disappointed once I took a few sips. It didn’t taste like a rich, gourmet hot chocolate. Although I tend to enjoy a milder hot cocoa, I did expect a hot chocolate bomb to deliver a more flavorful experience. Based on my experience, it tasted just like it came from a tub of Swiss Miss. Which, to be fair, should be expected as a hot chocolate bomb is really just a glorified vessel that carries—you guessed it—a powdered hot chocolate mix.

Hot chocolate bombs are 100% about the experience. They are fun and put on a good 30-second show. If you are looking to impress a non-hot chocolate connoisseur, you can’t go wrong with these. But if you are supplying hot cocoa to someone who is serious about the drink, you should look for a fancy recipe on Pinterest that doesn’t come in bomb form. However, if you do opt for this newest hot chocolate fad, just remember not to put them in the bathtub. Don’t Blink.