Is it time for ugly sweaters yet? National Vodka Day (Oct. 4) got me falling in love with Moscow Mules all over again, but then I remembered there's a fun little drink called the Yule Mule, a twist on the old classic with cranberry and lime juice. Now I can't stop thinking about making a giant punch bowl of this festive mix (all you have to do is add a bag of perky cranberries, garnish glasses with cinnamon sticks, and invite friends over for an epic seasonal soiree) Tip: Use local vodka from Re:FIND for a super smooth finish ... 'Tis the season to eat like a pig, but sometimes you need to balance all that bacon with a little clean eating inspo. Mint + Craft in downtown SLO is killing it with ready-to-go veg dishes, like their vegan Japanese eggplant salad with tofu (mintandcraft.com). Thank goodness it's easy, or you probably wouldn't be able to resist the alternatives. Δ

Hayley Thomas Cain does not take bribes, but she will accept unopened lipsticks in all pink shades. She can be reached at [email protected].