Do you have a family tradition you love to do each Christmas?
We create-big and messy! Our “day-after Thanksgiving” tradition is candle-making where together we have made upwards of 100 soy-based candles each year to give as gifts. We also fit in cooking together on the holidays, often choosing ridiculous recipes that require chopping and sautéing just for the fun of doing it together, and of course eating it together. Our most complex project (and mess) is assembling and decorating gingerbread houses, every year adding new creative elements. Last year it was a pond and stained glass windows! All so fun. Crazy together time.
What have you asked Santa for this year?
I wish I could say “no more lives torn apart, etc” were the only things I asked for, but I reallllllllly need a shiny new laptop! Mine has that spinny rainbow thing going all of the time now, poor thing…
What was a popular gift that most children wanted when you were growing up? Did you have one?
Gosh, I think an Easy Bake Oven, and yes indeed I did! I can still taste those flat, crispy, burned brownies!!
Do you have a favorite Christmas Movie?
White Christmas-I love, love, love the sappy nostalgia-the dances, the costumes, the songs! In fact, the video we filmed for our upcoming single release on January 10 has some creative roots in the “Love, You Didn’t Do Right By Me” scene. You will have to check it out and see where we went with it!
What about a favorite Christmas food? Do you cook a big Christmas dinner?
Yeah we cook! Christmas dinner is usually a rosemary and garlic encrusted tenderloin, a spinach-berry salad with this delicious “Lowell Inn” dressing, and a creamy mashed potato bake that is sort of like eating the inside of a twice baked potato. Breakfast is a cheesy egg bake (we are from Wisconsin…must have cheese…) and homemade caramel rolls and of course orange slush drinks…virgin or not!
What is your favorite Christmas song/album?
Hmmm… There is a gentle album called “A Door County Christmas” recorded by two friends, guitar duo Doc Heide and Eric Lewis, at the studio where I first recorded in Sturgeon Bay. WI. It is so peaceful when I want chill. But then there is always the “Partridge Family Christmas Album…” when I want to rock around the Christmas tree with the fam, candle-mics in hand! Talk about opposites! But so much fun.
My favorite songs all seem to go with snow, and I think the honors have to go to “White Christmas.” The song captures so much about the magic of the holiday for me. Peace and goodwill and love.
Name three things you are thankful for this year?
1. Medical miracles-in specific a drug in a class of TKI inhibitors that treats a form of leukemia that 20 years ago had a horrible prognosis. My son was diagnosed with leukemia just about a year ago, and is being treated right now. I am infinitely grateful that these drugs exist and for the ambitious individuals in medical research who continue to search for a cure!
2. Family and friends-where would I be without them? It has been a rough year with injury and illness in my family, laced with emotional challenges like our Indiegogo funding campaign-those are exhausting! Through this, I have experienced such unbelievable support. I am so lucky in that regard!
3. Music-I have made many of the above friends through music, and feel inspired and creatively fed working with the incredible people that I have met through music locally and internationally. It’s my constant companion, always playing in my heart and my head.
What have been the highlights for you from 2019?
Professionally: I did my theater debut playing “Donna” in “Mamma Mia” in a regional theater. What a blast!! We released “Lone Wolf,” the first track and video from co-writer & producer Aaron Zinsmeister and my upcoming album release to great reviews. We released “Grown-Up Christmas List” as a quiet change and have had fantastic feedback on it as well! And we successfully funded our Indiegogo campaign to finish “Intuition!”
-Personally: two of my three kids moved back into the area! YAY!! I love having my chicks near the nest.
Any New Year's resolutions?
To try to get a handle on overthinking, over-working, over-committing…To be kinder to myself in general. I bet I am not alone in that. We should be our own best friends, giving a kick when needed but always there with a hug as well. I pretty much go with the kicks, and I deserve better from myself.
What is 2020 going to look like for you?
Oooo exciting! We have a granddaughter due in January! YES!
Professionally, I have a rigorous release schedule ahead:
1/10/20-release the title track and video “Intuition.”
1/31/20-release another track from “Intuition” (it’s a secret… well actually we haven’t decided which one…)
2/20/20-release the album “Intuition.”
I hope to shoot another video or two, and in June I am taking on the role of “Donna” again in a reprise run of "Mamma Mia!”
The holiday season brings the best parties and time together with friends and family. What is your signature cocktail recipe that you will be drinking/serving?
Oh boy-another decision? How about this one?
Thin Mintini:
1 1/2 oz vodka (I use Tito’s)
1 1/2 oz white creme de cacao
1/4 oz green creme de menthe (a splash)
Shake over crushed ice and pour!
You can use vanilla or chocolate flavored vodka too for some variety, though I thought the vanilla flavor was too strong-made it taste like Scope! Some people add an oz. of cream for richness, or add an equal part rumchata! I actually love this drink without the creme de menthe as well! A plain ol’ chocotini! Enjoy with Love, Rändi
