the scents of the holidays

November 20, 2012 separator Life

I love this picture for a whole lot of reasons. It was taken around Thanksgiving a couple years after college, and I was in D.C. visiting some wonderful friends who I don’t see nearly enough of anymore. I also think the look of uncertainty and apprehension on my face is a perfect summary of the whole thing. I’ve been vegetarian for years, yet I decided to help with the turkey. The turkey, of all things. We named him Hamilton (I told you I nickname everything…), and I hear he was delicious. It’s fun memories like this that make the holidays something to look forward to every year, not the last-minute shopping, gift-wrapping, and fighting traffic.
 We all know that scents and memories are tied together like nothing else. That’s why, even though I haven’t eaten the turkey at Thanksgiving in something like seven years now, I still love the smell of it roasting for hours as everyone gathers into a too-small kitchen to catch up over glasses of wine. 

Another scent that immediately evokes the holidays for me? Chai. When we were back in high school, I used to drive my brother and I to school in my baby blue station wagon. Yes, my station wagon. With a peace frog sticker on the back. I got an iced chai one morning, and I insisted he try it. He promptly chased it with something less ‘appalling’ and informed me that it tasted like Christmas, and not in a good way. Ever since then, I think of my brother – and Christmas – every time I drink anything with that spicy flavor, including pumpkin spice! 
Dunkin’ Donuts® packaged coffee is available at your local grocery store. The new seasonal varieties even have a cute gift tag on them so it’s easy to use them as stocking stuffers or hostess gifts, so stock up, and keep a wide variety on hand to share with guests and bring to last minute holiday parties. 
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* Disclosure – Thank you to Dunkin’ Donuts® packaged coffee at grocery for being a sponsor. I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective. All opinions expressed here are my own. See my disclosure statement for more information.

8 comments

  1. Oh man! We don’t have dunkin donuts here but i sure would love to try gingerbread cookie

  2. Oh man! We don’t have dunkin donuts here but i sure would love to try gingerbread cookie

  3. I don’t know how I feel about those coffee flavors. Any good? I’m not a mint girl, only in toothpaste. But I’m a little tempted to try the Gingerbread or Pumpkin Spice flavors.

    1. Stephanie, I’ve only tried the gingerbread, but it was actually really good. The flavor is subtle enough, and it makes the whole place smell so good, too!

  4. I love that you named the turkey Hamilton 🙂 I do that sometimes. I’m not a huge fan of coffee, but I’m kind of interested in the mocha mint!

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