With the cold nights drawing in and the holiday season just around the corner, there’s no better time to get creative with festive cocktails! Here are 10 of my favourite cocktail recipes for this magical time of year!

1. The Classic Eggnog

The ultimate festive treat, and you can’t fault a classic! 

You will need:

*Serves 12*

• 4 cups full-fat milk
• 4 cups light cream
• 12 egg yolks
• 2½ cups light rum
• 1½ cups caster sugar
• 3 Tsp high-quality vanilla extract
• 1 Tsp ground cinnamon
• ½ Tsp ground nutmeg
• 5 cloves

Step one: In a saucepan, combine the milk, half a teaspoon of vanilla extract, cinnamon, and cloves; heat for five minutes then bring to a rolling boil.

Step two: In a bowl, combine the egg yolks and sugar, then whisk until the mix has a ribbon consistency. Slowly add the hot mixture and gently whisk, then add this mix back into the saucepan.

Step three: Over a medium heat, warm the mixture through for 3 minutes, stirring continuously. Strain out the cloves and allow to cool for one hour.

Step four: Once the mixture is cool, add the rum, cream, nutmeg, and the remainder of the vanilla. Cool overnight in the refrigerator before serving.

2. Spiced Old Fashioned

A classic favorite with a festive twist! You can use a store-bought winter-spiced syrup or create your own using equal parts sugar and water (a 1:1 simple syrup) clove, cardamom, cinnamon, and nutmeg.

You will need:

*Serves 1*

• 2 oz bourbon
• ½ oz winter-spiced syrup
• 2 dashes each of aromatic and orange bitters
• Cinnamon stick
• Ice

Simply combine the liquid ingredients and serve over ice in a rocks glass. Garnish with the cinnamon stick.

3. Cranberry Mimosa

A pop of colour with a sharp cranberry flavour; it’s one of the perfect cocktail recipes for festive events!

You will need:

*Serves 4*

• 1 bottle of champagne or prosecco
• 1 cup of cranberry juice
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 lime, cut in half
• 8 cranberries
• 4 toothpicks

Step one: Take the lime and rub the rim of each champagne flute, then dip in the sugar. If you have any confectioner’s glitter, you can add a sprinkle to the sugar for extra sparkle!

Step two: Next, pour in ¼ cup of cranberry juice into each glass, then top with fizz. Take each toothpick and poke through two cranberries. Garnish each glass with cranberries and serve.

4. Gingerbread Eggnog

A tasty remix of a cherished classic for those who want something a little more special! To create it, use the classic recipe in number one, and add the following ingredients during step 1:

*Serves 12 – When added to the original recipe*

• ¼ Tsp allspice
• ½ Tsp ground ginger
• 1 tablespoon of dark molasses

You can even garnish with a miniature gingerbread man for extra festive fun!

5. Classic Mulled Wine

There’s no better antidote to a cold day than curling up with this iconic warming drink.

To create it, you will need:

*Serves 4*

• 1 bottle of red wine
• 1 large cinnamon stick
• 4 cloves
• 2 star anise
• The zest of ¼ lemon
• 4 tablespoons of caster sugar

Step one: Combine all of the ingredients in a large saucepan, then place on a low heat for 10 minutes.

Stir continuously.

Step two: Remove from the heat then allow the flavours to infuse for half an hour.

Step three: Gently reheat on a low setting, then serve in mugs or heat-safe wine glasses.

6. Spiced Hot Toddy

A soothing cocktail with a holiday twist!

You will need:

*Serves 1*

• 2 oz of whiskey or brandy – whichever you prefer!
• 1 tablespoon of the spiced simple syrup from our second recipe above
• 1 tablespoon of honey
• 1 tablespoon of fresh lemon juice
• 5 oz hot water

Step one: Combine all of the ingredients – aside from the water – in a mug or heat proof glass.

Step two: Slowly add the hot water and stir, ensuring that the honey has completely dissolved.

Optional: Grab a blanket, snuggle up, and enjoy!

7. Snowy Martini

A delicious winter treat that’s perfect when you’re snowed in – or wish that you were!

You will need:

*serves 2*

• 3 oz of white chocolate liqueur
• 2 oz of vanilla vodka
• 2 tablespoons of heavy cream
• Half a cup of ice

Grab your cocktail shaker and add all of your ingredients. Give it a good shake and serve in a sugar-rimmed cocktail glass.

8. Classic Irish Coffee

Quick and simple cocktail recipes will warm you up on cold days, and here’s one of them.

You will need:

*Serves 1*

• 1 cup of hot coffee
• 2 teaspoons of brown sugar
• 1 shot of Irish whiskey
• ¼ cup heavy cream, lightly whipped

Step one: In a heatproof handled glass, add the coffee, whiskey, and sugar, then stir until the sugar has dissolved.

Step two: Next, take the cream and slowly pour it – over the back of a teaspoon – into the coffee.

Serve immediately.

9. Pumpkin-Spiced Martini

The perfect treat for your Thanksgiving party!

You will need:

*Serves 1*

• 1½ oz vanilla-flavoured vodka
• 1½ oz pumpkin-spiced liqueur
• 1½ oz light cream
• A pinch each of cinnamon and nutmeg
• 1 cup of ice cubes

Step one: In a cocktail shaker, combine all of the liquid ingredients and the ice.

Step two: Serve in a cocktail glass and garnish with the cinnamon and nutmeg. Simple and tasty!

10. Christmas Magic Bellini

We all need a bit of sparkle, especially on Christmas Day! Enjoy this festive fizz as a pre-dinner aperitif. 

You will need:

*Serves 4*

• 1 bottle of champagne or prosecco
• 1 teaspoon cranberry puree per glass
• A splash of grenadine per glass
• Edible glitter

Step one: In a champagne flute, combine the cranberry puree and a splash of grenadine.

Step two: Top with champagne, then dust a sprinkle of edible glitter on top. The glitter will move through the bubbles, creating a gorgeous sparkle.

There you have it! Ten fabulous cocktail recipes to enjoy throughout the fall and winter. Enjoy!

When you’re running your own private practice, there are many parts of the business to manage. With so many systems and processes, it’s easy to get confused between them! Quickbooks & Electronic Health Records (EHR) are just two of the things that need to be clarified.

In speaking with practitioners, I’ve found that there is some confusion over what an Electronic Health Record (EHR) can do. While digital health records are extremely helpful in managing patient care efficiently, there are limits to their scope. For example, EHRs cannot generate invoices, nor can they manage financial records. EHRs are solely concerned with patient data. This is the main difference between Quickbooks and EHR.

So, let’s clear things up and take a look at what EHRs can do and the software you can use instead to coordinate your finances.

What Is an Electronic Health Record (EHR)?

An EHR is essentially the digital version of patient notes. It replicates electronically what was traditionally kept on paper. An EHR may be used to complement paper notes, or it can be a complete replacement and there are many benefits to using them.

Firstly, the data contained within each record is accurate in real time. All relevant information can be accessed in just a few clicks, and as soon as a practitioner has updated it, it’s available within the system to anyone with authorised access. This is particularly relevant when dealing with patients who are seeing other healthcare professionals so the standard of care is maintained.

EHRs are also more secure than paper records. There’s no need to worry about pages being torn out, lost, accessed without permission, or destroyed. Instead, digital records are kept within protected software that can only be seen by those with permission.

Using EHRs also helps you in the process of billing patients. You’ll be able to see exactly which therapies a patient has received and the dates of treatment. This is likely where the confusion surrounding EHRs and finance comes in. While having access to accurate records of treatment does help you to charge correctly, it doesn’t do the bookkeeping for you.

Does EHR Software Manage Bookkeeping?

Unfortunately not. EHR software will give you information about the services you’ve provided to patients, but it won’t generate invoices, allow you to keep financial data or give you the financial analytics needed for tax season or future forecasting. For those tasks, and general financial management, you’ll need separate software.

Which Software Can I Use for Finance?

There are several reputable brands of software used by freelance professionals to manage their bookkeeping. One of the most popular is QuickBooks Online, which is a cloud-based accounting system that helps you keep track of your expenses, issue invoices to patients or clients, pay your employees, and estimate taxes.

Like all cloud-based software, you don’t need to download anything to use QuickBooks Online; just log in to your account – anywhere in the world – and you’ll have the ability to take care of the most important financial tasks.

Keeping Sensitive Information Safe

Remember that it’s crucial to keep identifiable patient data separate from financial information for privacy reasons. QuickBooks Online is a secure system that meets industry requirements, but it is not compliant with HIPAA standards for privacy. So while an EHR will inform what you bill your patients or clients, the two sets of data should not interact in such a way that privacy is jeopardised.

I hope that this has made the differences between Quickbooks and EHR have become clear. If you need help or advice, contact me and I can let you know which bookkeeping software would suit your practice the best.

 

As a private practitioner, you devote your career to helping other people. But the nature of therapeutic work can make it physically and psychologically exhausting, which is why taking steps to maintain a positive work-life balance is so important!

If you’re looking at keeping the equilibrium between your professional and personal life, here are some tips so you can have energy in both, without feeling overwhelmed.

Create Your Own Work Day

It’s easy to feel like you have to work 9-5 even if you’re self-employed. But remember, you don’t have to work traditional hours. If you’re a night owl, start your day later and work later. Chances are, your clients would probably love the flexibility of getting appointments outside of their working hours.

Just make sure that you’re working to your best times, and the way you want to, so you’re less likely to have that ‘dragging’ feeling, which seeps into the rest of your day. Plus, it makes your work life more enjoyable when you’re doing what’s best for you.

Take a Break Between Clients

The intensity of your work, alongside a high volume of appointments, can make it difficult for you to take any kind of meaningful break. It’s therefore important to schedule breaks between sessions, allowing you to refresh your mind, recharge your energy, and prepare for the next client. Don’t fall into the trap of overbooking or using your spare time to catch up on more work; take 5 minutes before each client to centre yourself. You’ll be surprised how far five minutes can go in creating a positive work-life balance!

Practice Self-Care

Now, I know what you’re thinking, “I don’t have time for self-care,” but self-care isn’t all about taking a spa day or going on holiday. It’s the little things too. Your general wellness is crucial to sustaining professional success; after all, how do you expect to take care of others if you can’t take care of yourself?

The definition of self-care is actually much more broad and includes anything that promotes your well-being and doing something for you. This might be as simple as going for a walk, taking a long bath, or reading a good book in the sunshine.

Make sure you stick to this by setting an appointment for self-care in your calendar, like you would for any other client. And use this time for you, and you alone. When you’re not doing this, try to make sure you do at least one thing positive each day. This ‘thing’ can be work related too, but mindfulness is a deliberate way of improving mental health and striving toward the perfect work-life balance.

Use Your Support Network

The constant support of your friends, colleagues, and family members helps to alleviate the pressure of your work. We’re often reluctant to reach out to our networks for fear of being a burden, but rest assured that your team is always on your side and ready to lend a sympathetic ear when you need it.

Friends can be a welcomed break and sounding board which turns your day from work-related to fun. Helping you to achieve this balance.

Keep Your Home, Your Home

If you have an office, use it! Treat your home like a sanctuary and don’t let work in so that you can mentally switch off when you physically walk through the door. If however, like many others, you work from home, you can still adapt this by creating a dedicated work space in your home. Convert a bedroom or even have a desk area, and put up a divider. Don’t ‘live’ at your desk, and don’t work in the other areas of your home. This helps you keep the balance and it won’t feel so all-consuming all the time.

Create Systems to Help You

Who said you had to do everything by yourself? Look at your most time-sucking tasks and see if you can delegate, streamline, or get rid of them. For example, bookkeeping (obviously I’m bias, but…) can be a real drain on your time, and it’s got nothing to do with the work you love. So outsource it! Go through the rest of your job role, break it all down and see if you can do the same anywhere else. The work you do is important and demanding no matter which way you slice it; at least this way, it’s a little easier, and you can focus on the parts you love.

Maintain Outside Interests

It’s easy to become consumed by your work, especially when you’re passionate about it. In the interest of balance, it’s best to have interests unrelated to work that you can dive into in your free time. This helps you to take a step back, reduce stress, prevent burnout, and feel like there is more to your life than just your work.

Most importantly, remember that you have the right to downtime. Don’t think of it as detrimental to your business; rather, finding work-life balance helps you to thrive professionally. Good luck, and if you need help with bookkeeping, you know where I am!