Tag Archives: Air Fryer

If I Had $500

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For Mother’s Day, Mrs. Sip treated herself to a luxury item. I joked that maybe I should get to do the same for Father’s Day. While I won’t, I thought it would be a fun exercise to come up with some ideas if I did. So, in the vein of ‘If I Had a Million Dollars’ by the Barenaked Ladies, here’s the Sip Advisor’s ‘If I Had $500’:

Get Something for the Sipplings

Mrs. Sip and I are always looking to give the kids the best childhood possible. Therefore, an item like the new Nintendo Switch 2 does pique my curiosity. That said, this list is about treating myself and not others. Sure, I would likely play various games with the Sipplings, but I doubt I’d be able to dedicate much time to any video game system to justify buying one primarily for myself.

Do Something Practical

Our vehicle needs new tires, we are still making some upgrades and settling into our new place, investing/saving is always a good idea, etc. None of these are very much fun and I’m disappointed in myself that I even brought them up.

Cocktail Maker/Soda Machine

While one of these machines would be neat to have, I actually prefer building a cocktail from scratch myself and I’m not sure how much use I’d get out of a soda system.

Beer Fridge

Among the items on my long list of future acquisitions for our home is a second, smaller fridge, set up either outside or in our rec room, saving us time from having to go inside/upstairs to get beverages and snacks. Right now, though, a second fridge is lower on the totem pole than other necessities, so there it shall remain.

Air Hockey/Pinball Machine/Arcade Unit/Pool Table

I like these ideas, but space is limited in our place, at least until the kids grow up and share a similar interest in such items. One day, we will have a movie/games room, but today is not that day. Also, it would be hard to settle on just one of these games and an entire games collection would likely be necessary.

Driving Lessons for Mrs. Sip

Do you know what Mrs. Sip and I fight about more than any other element of our relationship? That’s right, her lack of driving ability. I’m basically Morgan Freeman in Driving Miss Sip – minus any racism. It is my dream to one day attend a friend’s party and be the one who doesn’t have to limit myself to one or two beverages. It is my dream to one day not have to pack up the whole household to run errands Mrs. Sip needs done. It is my dream… I think you get the point.

Sauce Shopping Spree

In the Barenaked Ladies song I referenced above, they joke about getting fancy sauces for all the Kraft Dinner (macaroni and cheese) the band would buy. Whenever I go down a condiments aisle at grocery stores, I marvel at all the different options. Some can be a little pricey, so picking a few options – or at least what I can fit in our fridge – is actually a legit contender for how I’d spend my money.

Fancy Potato Chips

Similarly, I could see myself wasting a small fortune on obscure potato chips. We’re talking unique flavours from around the world, as well as expensive releases found domestically. Then I’d throw them all into a small pool and pull off a sweet Scrooge McDuckian dive into the snacks below.

Expensive Cocktails

An epic night could be spent trying some of the best mixology I can access. I already have a few locations in mind, should I do such a crafty crawl. Let’s put this idea in the maybe pile.

Exercise Equipment

Lol, nope!

A Pet

Part of my reasoning to get a pet would be to prank Mrs. Sip. That said, there’s only one pet I would ever consider bringing into our home and that’s a honey badger. Seriously, it would be a cat and given I’d probably end up doing most of the work, a pet doesn’t seem like much of a treat at all.

A Kayak

The one weekend I went kayaking, I really enjoyed it. More than a decade later, I have yet to sit my ass down in one of those weird looking watercrafts again. Let’s be honest, the device would simply be a garage filler and rarely used, so why bother.

Second Air Fryer

My theory is one air fryer is a godsend, so two air fryers would be… two godsends!? Sometimes, particularly when guests are over, I curse the fact I only have one of these amazing machines. Given they can be found for reasonable prices, I could have a whole army of air fryers at my disposal!

Clothing Essentials

The Sip Advisor hates shopping, so I often put off buying even the most basic of clothing items. Sure, I have a list of items I need/desire, but that doesn’t mean I’m actually going to go out and achieve said shopping.

Meal Kit Subscription

We’ve all seen the memes about not realizing adulthood meant figuring out what to eat for the rest of your life. I’m chief cook at the Sip Advisor headquarters and it can be exhausting planning and preparing dinner in perpetuity. A meal kit helps, but you still have to pick your dishes and then make them.

Tickets to an Event

Despite the logistical headaches (travel, finding babysitters, etc.) that going to events nowadays holds, I still enjoy the occasional night out. Sporting events, concerts, evening on the town all sound like a great way to blow this windfall, but it would have to be just the right event to do so.

Tattoo

The Sip Advisor has long had a tattoo in mind, but I’ve just never got around to actually getting the ink done. Cost is definitely a bit of a deterrent for me, but now I have five hundy in hand!

Charity

The only charitable organization I’m willing to donate to is the Church of Sip. Then I’ll embezzle those funds for my own enjoyment!

The Maestro

  • 1.5 oz Patron Tequila
  • 1 oz Lillet Blanc
  • Dash of Angostura Bitters
  • Garnish with Edible Glitter

The most expensive cocktail in the world today is The Maestro, created by iconic mixologist Salvatore Calabrese at the Dubai cocktail bar Nahaté. Using rare bottles and even rarer glassware, the drink comes in at whopping $41,160 US. My version uses similar, but more common ingredients, so I’d probably sell it for 0.0001% of the price.

So, what should the Sip Advisor spend his theoretical fun money on? In all likelihood, I’ll probably just treat myself to some bottles of booze that fall well below what Mrs. Sip spent. Happy Father’s Day, y’all!

Cocktail Corner – The Sip

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One of Girl Sip’s school projects this year was making a Me Museum, filled with items that exemplified who she is. That got me thinking – don’t worry, it doesn’t happen often – about what would comprise a gallery constructed about me. Here are the artifacts that would be included in my Me Museum:

Jewelry

I don’t wear many pieces of jewelry, but those I do don are very important to me. The watch Mrs. Sip gave me for my first birthday we celebrated as a couple also came right before she left for England for a year of school. As a teenager, the gift meant to me that she saw a future in our relationship, which was about to become long distance, otherwise she wouldn’t buy me an expensive watch right before leaving. I have worn this watch for 20-plus years now, through countless battery changes and other repairs. My wedding ring would also go into the museum for obvious reasons. Lastly, the chain Ma and Pa Sip gave me for Christmas many years ago would finish the exhibit, an item I feel represents my bonds with family.

Dating Mementos

For a time, I collected all the tickets from movies, shows and events Mrs. Sip and I went to. Perhaps most important among all those pieces of history was the stub to the movie Panic Room, which we saw on our first ever date. Afterwards, we went out for dessert and I kept the spoon from that occasion. Just kidding… that would be kind of creepy!

First Date

Collection of Best Articles

At one time, the Sip Advisor pursued a career in journalism and did a pretty good job, if I say so myself. Some of my more memorable articles would include my first paid piece, stories for major chains/websites and articles featuring famous folks, such as professional wrestling legend Bret ‘The Hitman’ Hart. Basically all the items I would have highlighted in my portfolio, had I continued to chase the writing for a living dream.

Sip Advisor Business Card

In the very early Sip Advisor site days, Mrs. Sip and I decided a business card was needed to promote my site and work when we attended various events. We crafted a neat card and had a bunch of copies professionally printed. Then, I quickly learned I wasn’t very good at self-promotion, preferring others to laud my work than myself. So, many of these cards still sit in our liquor cabinet. That will make it easy to pull one out for the Me Museum.

Canucks Paraphernalia

For better or worse, I’ve been a lifelong Vancouver Canucks fan. This is exemplified in jerseys I owned as a youngster and adult. As a youngster, I was gifted a Cliff Ronning jersey, as the player was of diminutive size, like myself. I even attended Ronning’s local hockey school in back-to-back summers while he played with his hometown NHL club. Years later, Mrs. Sip presented me with a Trevor Linden jersey, the Canucks icon becoming one of my favourites for the way he played the game.

Business Card

Air Fryer

I use my air fryer daily, if not multiple times throughout the day. It has become a close family member and I cherish it more than my wife and kids. Okay, maybe not to that level, but I definitely hug and kiss it more often. The only sadness I’d experience while loaning the device to my Me Museum would be the fact that I’d now be without an air fryer.

Disneyland Annual Passes

I first purchased a Disneyland annual pass on the trip when I met Mrs. Sip and asked her out. Many other annual passes would follow, as the resort became a popular vacation spot for us, especially given its connection to our relationship. Disney in general has played a large role in our lives, before and after meeting, something we have since passed down to the Sipplings, who are also now enthusiastic Disney and Disneyland fans.

Passports

As Mrs. Sip turned me into a world traveler, my passports quickly filled up with stamps and a few entry visas from around the world. Thanks to her inspiration, I’ve visited over 50 countries and counting. These would be great to show off in the Me Museum, perhaps along with countless photos from the Mrs. Sip Collection of all our adventures.

Air Fryer

Hole-in-One Golf Ball

A good golfer, I am not. However, I did score an ace on hole 15 at Sunshine Woods Golf Club at only 14 years old. Peaking in golf at such a young age, I practically gave up the game after that. The round was crazy, as someone else in our foursome achieved the same hole-in-one feat earlier in our round. As for my own triumphant tee shot, I thought it had skittered across the green and into the rough behind. As I searched for the little white ball, I was informed it was actually in the hole, perhaps having hit the flag pole and dropped.

Liquor Bottles

No museum for a dedicated liquor man would be complete without a collection of some of their favourite bottles. My preferred selections would include my Jameson Distillery Reserve from when Mrs. Sip and I visited the company’s facilities in Midleton, Ireland; my 1.75L bottle of Sailor Jerry’s Spiced Rum; and the Lagavulin 16 Mrs. Sip bought me for a Father’s Day gift. You could also include my preferred jigger and the flask from my wedding (I got each groomsman and usher a custom engraved one) in the liquor wing of the Me Museum.

Kids Birth Announcements

The good times of my and Mrs. Sip’s child-free days had to come to an end eventually. While we aren’t as carefree as we once were, we’ve managed to continue having fun… just a different type of fun. As a way to honour the Sipplings, I would include each of their birth announcements, which we mailed out to friends and family across the globe.

Birth Announcement

Princess Cruises Cards/Medallions

A big part of my and Mrs. Sip’s travelling life has been taking cruises. Princess Cruises is our preferred line and we have many room cards and medallions to show for our efforts. Another cruise souvenir that means a lot to me is the little trophy I received for winning Cartoon Theme Song Trivia. It was a tense experience, with me and another contestant going to a five-question overtime round, after tying with identical 39/40 scores. In that bonus round, I went five-for-five, while my competitor slipped on one question, earning me the win and admiration of absolutely nobody… seriously, not even Mrs. Sip was proud of my achievement, but I acted like I’d won the Stanley Cup!

Wedding Same-Day Edit

Every museum needs an audio-visual component and I think my and Mrs. Sip’s same-day edit video from our wedding would be perfect to project. Set to the U2 song ‘Beautiful Day’, the video captures many of the memorable moments from our nuptials.

Cocktail Corner: The Sip

The Sip

  • 1.5 oz Spiced Rum
  • Top with Dr. Pepper
  • Garnish with a Lime Slice

I have no doubt I didn’t create this cocktail, but I have been making it for myself since at least the start of this project in 2013 and perhaps even longer. It has since become the go-to beverage for me and a best friend whenever we get together, as well as been shared with others I meet along this winding road of life. Therefore, it is a perfect choice for inclusion with my Me Museum. I recommend the Me Museum exercise to all. Mrs. Sip and I spent a fun night on our balcony discussing what we’d include in each of ours. What would you include in yours?