Tis’ the season…for holiday hijinks! Chicago cornerback Charles Tillman teamed up with Courtyard to surprise guests and spread some holiday cheer at a Courtyard by Marriott in Chicago, IL.

Posed as an eccentric Scrooge-like director that was hired to film a holiday video card for Courtyard, Tillman had unsuspecting guests sing “Jingle Bells” while wearing makeup and ridiculous props all while being captured by hidden cameras.

When the disguise came off, Charles Tillman revealed himself to be the same “nice guy” that NFL fans recognize.

For those of you who might be lucky enough to get some Crown Royal or Captain Morgan under the tree this Christmas I have three outstanding cocktails that you should try. All of them have holiday themes to them and could be a year round drink of choice. Just make sure you enjoy them responsibly.

CAPTAIN’S CANDY CANE

1 oz. CAPTAIN MORGAN® ORIGINAL SPICED RUM

0.5 oz. peppermint schnapps

5 oz. cola

Instructions: Coat rim of a Collins or rocks glass with crushed candy cane pieces. Fill the glass with ice. Add all of the ingredients and stir.

CAPTAIN KRINGLE

1 oz. CAPTAIN MORGAN® ORIGINAL SPICED RUM

0.25 oz. premium orange liqueur

0.25 oz. cinnamon schnapps

5 oz. cola

Instructions: Combine all of the ingredients in an ice-filled rocks glass and stir. Garnish with an orange twist.

CAPTAIN’S HOLIDAY COCKTAIL

1.25 oz. CAPTAIN MORGAN® ORIGINAL SPICED RUM

0.75 oz.  Fresh Lemon Juice

0.25 oz. Fernet Branca

0.5 oz. Simple Syrup

3 Pieces Blackberry

3 Dashes of bitters

2 oz. Cola

Instructions: In a shaker, combine all the ingredients but the cola. Shake and strain into a Collins glass with cola. Garnish with an orange peel, expressed and inserted.

Crownberry Apple

1.5 oz. Crown Royal Regal Apple Canadian Whisky

4 oz. Cranberry Juice

Instructions: Serve in a rocks glass over ice and garnish with apple wedge.

Are you hosting any parties this holiday season? If so maybe you should try and add something special to your party with these Courvoisier holiday cocktails‏. Below are three tremendous cocktail recipes that your guest will love to try out. Enjoy!

SPARKLING COGNAC

Ingredients:

1 part Courvoisier VSOP cognac

1 Demerara sugar cube

2 dashes of Angostura bitters

Top up with Champagne

Directions:

Soak a sugar cube in bitters and drop into a Champagne flute. Cover with Courvoisier VS Cognac and slowly top with Champagne.

HOLIDAY SLEIGH RIDE

Ingredients:

1¼ parts Courvoisier VSOP

¾ part cranberry juice

1½ parts fresh lemon sour

1 part fresh orange juice

Directions:

Shake all ingredients with ice and strain into a chilled cinnamon/sugar-rimmed cocktail glass. Garnish with an orange spiral twist.

HOT TODDY

Ingredients:

1.5 parts Courvoisier VSOP

1 half-moon slice of orange

1 wedge of lemon

3 whole cloves

1 part agave nectar

Hot water

Directions:

In an Irish coffee mug muddle the cloves, orange, and lemon. Add nectar and Courvoisier VSOP and top with steaming hot water. Stir and serve with a cinnamon stick.

Multi-platinum recording artists and two-time CMA Vocal Duo of the Year winners, Florida Georgia Line will join WWE Superstars and Divas to honor the United States Armed Forces with the 12th annual WWE holiday special Tribute to the Troops, which will air on USA Network as a part of ”WWE WEEK” on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 8/7 p.m. CT, and will re-air as a one-hour special on NBC on Saturday, Dec. 27, at 8/7 p.m. CT.

In the tradition of Bob Hope, WWE brings together the best of entertainment and pop culture with celebrity appearances and performances for our servicemen and women to celebrate their dedication and commitment to our country. The holiday program is considered one of television’s most patriotic and heartwarming shows. NBCUniversal joins WWE in saluting our troops with special messages from some of the networks’ biggest names such as Seth Meyers, The Kardashians, Andy Cohen, Giuliana Rancic, Katherine Heigl, Lester Holt, Padma Lakshmi, Mark Feuerstein, Tom Brokaw, Rachel Maddow and Carson Daly, as well as the coaches of “The Voice,” Pharrell Williams, Gwen Stefani, Adam Levine and Blake Shelton.

“For 12 consecutive years, WWE has been entertaining American military personnel both overseas and domestically as a way to thank them for their commitment to our country,” said WWE Chairman and CEO Vince McMahon. “Our servicemen and women work tirelessly for our freedom and we are proud to continue our Tribute to the Troops tradition.”

WWE Tribute to the Troops will chronicle WWE’s visit to United States Army post Fort Benning, where WWE Superstars and Divas will spend two days giving back to those who serve and their families with hospital visits, career workshops and Be a STAR anti-bullying rallies. Fort Benning supports more than 120,000 active-duty military, family members, reserve soldiers, retirees, and civilian employees and has been the home of the Infantry division since 1918.

The television special will also highlight WWE’s annual goodwill visit to our troops who are fighting for our freedom overseas. WWE Chairman and CEO Vince McMahon, WWE Superstars Big Show and R-Truth and WWE Divas Summer Rae and Alicia Fox will travel abroad to spread some holiday cheer to the men and women serving our country far from home during the holiday season.

WWE’s dedication to the military is a long-standing tradition that continues year-round, through programs that boost morale for soldiers, offer free tickets for active servicemen and women, and provide workforce assistance for veterans through a partnership with Hire Heroes USA.

Click here for more info on WWE Network

Christmas is fast approaching. You have made the decision to not give out the same old boring gifts like you did last year. Even though people did like getting a new jelly spread every month from you and it is the gift that keeps on giving all year round, you need a new idea. Why not give whiskey to your friends and family who are 21 years of age or older? They will appreciate that more than the apple apricot peppermint marmalade they received this past March.

If you need to know which whiskey to purchase here are few ideas that can help make holiday shopping a bit easier on you!

Jeremiah Weed Flavored Whiskies

Jeremiah Weed Flavored Whiskies are a trio of curiously delicious whiskies crafted to delight whiskey drinkers who have been craving more excitement. Gift just one or gift them all, either way he is sure to enjoy the spectacular show.

PIEHOLE Whiskies

These new whiskies are the perfect pairing with the rest of the season’s delicious holiday treats. A blend of Canadian Whiskey and pie-flavored liqueur, PIEHOLE whiskies are great for anyone who has a taste for whiskey but still needs to satisfy their sweet tooth.

Bulleit Bourbon

For the bourbon lover on your list, Bulleit Bourbon has a high rye content in its mash bill which makes it a smooth and spicy bourbon. It’s also incredibly versatile so it can be enjoyed neat or mixed in a cocktail.

George Dickel No. 12

As a member of the Dickel family, George Dickel No. 12 is a classic whisky to enjoy during the holidays. Perfect for the gentleman on your list who is known to stick to tried and true whiskies.

Orphan Barrel Rhetoric

Rhetoric Whiskey is progressively aged and will be released once per year – beginning with a 20-year-old whiskey. Gift this first release to a whiskey collector and you’ll have the perfect gift to give him every year after.

For the past few nights the Empire State Building has been celebrating the holiday season with the its first-ever holiday light-and-music show series choreographed to a mix of classic and modern holiday songs.

The shows will continue until tomorrow night where viewers will have the rare opportunity to help select ESB’s lights for the fifth and final show. The ESB Holiday Light Show Team will review YouTube views, Facebook comments, Tweets, and other social media comments to select the Christmas Eve performance.

Fans in New York and around the Tri-State area can tune into radio station 106.7 Lite FM to enjoy the synchronized soundtrack of holiday favorites in real-time during the light shows.

Here was the Light-and-Music Shows Recap:

Friday, December 20:  “Holly Jolly Christmas” (Burl Ives) and “Christmas Wrapping” (The Waitresses)

Saturday, December 21:  “Let It Snow” (Dean Martin) and “All Alone on Christmas” (Darlene Love)

Sunday, December 22:  “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” (Brenda Lee) and “Sleigh Ride” (Karmin)

Monday, December 23:  “Jingle Bell Rock” (Bobby Helms) and “Run Rudolph Run” (Keith Richards)

Tuesday, December 24:  Encore light show performance decided by social media sentiment

Recently in New York City “Top Chef” judge Hugh Acheson worked with Captain Morgan Spiced Rum to launch the rum’s charity program called Captain’s Table at City Grit. Chef Hugh prepared some phenomenal rum-infused food and cocktail recipes. He also was kind enough to share a few cooking tips that are perfect for this holiday season.

Hugh is not stopping there. He is looking to have others, who are 21 years and older to share recipes and entertaining tips. This all benefits the worthy cause called WhyHunger. This is a charity that seeks to end hunger by connecting people to nutritious, affordable food.

In the spirit of giving Captain Morgan will donate $1 to the charity WhyHunger to support their hunger relief efforts every time the hashtag #CaptainsTable is used on Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest. Donations will be made now through the beginning of February.  The cool part is that we all like share our latest dinner creations and holiday treats so why not help out those in need when you do so.

To get you started here are a few recipes that you can use for upcoming holiday parties.

Cape Corsair

Ingredients:

12 fresh whole cranberries

1 inch piece fresh ginger, thinly sliced

½ oz. simple syrup

2 dashes Orange Bitters

1 ¼ oz. Captain Morgan Black Spiced Rum

1 oz. cranberry juice

½ oz. lime juice

Lime peel to garnish

Directions:

In mixing glass muddle the cranberries, ginger, and simple syrup. Add the bitters and Captain Morgan® Black Spiced Rum, cranberry and limes juices and shake with ice. Pour into a double old-fashioned glass, ice and all, smash style. Garnish with an expressed lime peel.

Starboard Sour

Ingredients:

1 ½ oz. Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum

1 oz. apple cider syrup (recipe follows)

¾ oz. fresh lime juice

2 dashes Angostura bitters

2 pieces of star anise

Ice, enough to fill cocktail shaker with the above ingredients

Directions:

Combine the Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum, apple cider syrup, lime juice, bitters, and 1 piece of star anise in a cocktail shaker and shake vigorously. Strain the liquid into a cocktail glass. Garnish with the other piece of star anise.

Apple Cider Syrup (Makes 1 ¼ cups)

2 cups apple cider

2 cinnamon sticks

1 cup brown sugar

In a small saucepot over medium-high heat, cook the apple cider and cinnamon sticks until the cider is reduced to one cup, about 10 to 15 minutes. Add the brown sugar and remove the pot from heat. Stir the mixture until the sugar is dissolved.  Allow the syrup to cool before use.

Captain Morgan Toffee Pudding with Rum-Maple Sauce & Yogurt

Ingredients:

½ stick unsalted butter, room temperature, plus extra for greasing pan

1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour, sifted, plus extra for dusting pan

1 ½ cup Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum

1 ½ cups dried figs, cut into small pieces

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

1 cup sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 large eggs

1 ½ cups Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum-Maple Sauce (recipe follows)

8 tablespoons yogurt

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter and lightly flour a medium cast iron pan and set it aside. In a small saucepot set over medium-high heat, combine the Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum and dried figs and bring the liquid to a boil. Remove from heat, mix in the baking soda, and set the mixture aside to cool for later use. In a food processor, combine the flour, butter, baking powder, salt and sugar. Pulse the processor until all is incorporated.

Place the flour mixture into a mixing bowl and add the eggs, vanilla and the reserved fig mixture. Combine until all ingredients are well incorporated. This will be a fairly wet batter. Add the batter to the cast iron pan and bake for 35 minutes. While it’s cooking is a good time to make the sauce. Check the pudding with a cake tester to see that it comes out clean, and remove it from the oven. Flip the pudding in the cast iron pan and add ¾ of the sauce and then bake for an additional 10 minutes.

Let the pudding cool and absorb all of the sauce. Slice it into wedges and serve with the remaining sauce and 1 tablespoon of yogurt per serving.

Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum-Maple Sauce (Makes 1 ½ cups)

Ingredients:

1 cup maple syrup

1 cup heavy cream

½ cup Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum

¼ cup unsalted butter

3 bay leaves

½ teaspoon sea salt

Directions:

In a small saucepot over medium heat, combine the maple syrup, heavy cream, rum, bay leaves, and butter. Whisk often to prevent the sauce from bubbling over. Reduce the liquid to 1 ½ cups, about 15 minutes, and remove from heat. Remove the bay leaves before using.

It is that time of year where your friends and family ask you what you want for the holidays. For me this is always a tough question. It is not like back in the day when you were a kid and had a wish list a mile long. What seems like an easy and fun question to answer isn’t always the case. To help you out we are going to supply you with a list of some cool and unique items that you would love to unwrap this year.

V-MODA: M-100 Headphones

This version of V-MODA headphones was designed by a crowdsourced collective brain trust of audiophiles, editors, producers, and DJs brings to life the most versatile headphones ever. This latest M-Class is a masterpiece for the modern music aficionado features pure analog soundscape, exquisite style, exotic materials, military-grade durability and unrivaled utility.

The M-100 are exquisitely balanced and unique sound signature characterized by its addictive deep yet clean bass, vibrant mids, and ultra-extended clear and transparent highs. The combination of steel and metal materials lives up to the military-level standards of the MIL-STD-810G testing guidelines. The Boom Pro microphone instantly transforms the M-100 into the ideal headset for gamers, podcasters and broadcast professionals. You can even get laser engraving customization service with logos, artwork, text, numbers and multiple plate colors.

“Assisted: An Autobiography” by NBA Great John Stockton

John Stockton left the NBA after playing nineteen outstanding seasons with the Utah Jazz. He held and still holds a few NBA records, including the all-time assist career mark of 15,806. He also twice led the league in steals, with a career total of 3,265 and retired as the NBA’s all-time leader. During Stockton’s career with the Jazz the team never missed the playoffs.

The soft spoken NBA Hall of Famer tells us why he wrote his autobiography with one question “How did this wonderful life come to find me?” Stockton who has been blessed throughout his life felt the need to share his story with his family, friends and fans through his book.

Even if you are not a fan of the Utah Jazz this book is a must read for sports fans. Stockton is a humble guy. His partner in crime in Utah, Karl Malone said the following about his longtime teammate and dear friend.

“From the very first, I realized that what you see is what you get with John. He lined up without excuses. Stocks never wavered one iota from his beliefs. He never shared them publicly so people thought he didn’t have them. He did, and he stayed true to them.” – Karl Malone

The book is available anywhere books and ebooks are sold and is published through Shadow Mountain Publishing.

The PowerPot

The PowerPot is a lightweight thermoelectric generator that converts heat into DC electrical power. Simply add water to the pot and place it on a heat source appropriate for boiling water.  The PowerPot will immediately start powering up your mobile electronics.  The PowerPot comes equipped with a standard USB (5V) port, making it compatible with devices you already have. The cable has three feet of heavy-duty, flame-resistant wire.  The solid-state voltage regulator provides up to 5W of power to charge your high-tech devices.

The PowerPot® gives you the power to charge your electronics anytime, in any situation.  Use it in the backcountry or at home during a power outage.  The PowerPot will charge cell phones, GPS units, iPods, and lithium ion batteries or will also run speakers, lights, fans, or other low-power USB appliances.

booq: Mamba daypack

The Mamba daypack has an old school-style backpack constructed with water-resistant natural fiber, houses up to 15” Mac/PC, iPad, iPhone and all the accessories you need to power through your day. It is made from lightweight yet rugged water-resistant natural fiber, designed exclusively for booq’s Fibre Collection.

It has a padded notebook compartment lined with a lightweight nylon fabric is outfitted with pockets for iPad, iPhone and pens. The exterior zippered pocket provides protection and easy access for smaller items. It also is equipped with an integrated ergonomically contoured padded shoulder strap.

Wren Sound: Wren V5 Wireless Speaker System

The Wren V5 is elegantly designed wireless speaker connects to smart devices and tablets, filling any room with rich and superior sound. The speaker has sophisticated styling, rich finishes, subtle curves, and real rosewood or bamboo wood cabinet enhances any interior. There are two versions that easily connect to Apple or Android devices over Wi-Fi – Airplay (Apple iOS devices) / Play-Fi (Android devices). The silicone pad base stabilizes frame and absorbs cabinet vibration, so that speaker can play at high volume without vibrations.

The Wren V5 is powered by Intersil’s D2 50 watt DPS-controlled class D amplifier and has four-layer voice coils provide deeper bass and superior power handling. This wireless speaker streams music up to 150 feet from Wi-Fi router or access point and has a USB and AUX dock charge and connect additional devices.

Aio Wireless: No Contract Service Provider

Tired of your phone’s service contacts? Why not ask for the Aio wireless plan. Aio has reliable nationwide coverage with no annual contracts, simple plans, and straightforward pricing provides no hassle communication. It comes with unlimited talk with every plan and phone, including voicemail, call waiting and forwarding, as well as three-way calling. You also get unlimited messaging, no matter if it is text, picture, or video messages.

Aio has basic phones, latest smartphones, and tablets (ZTE Prelude & Overture, Nokia Lumia 620, Samsung Galaxy S4, Galaxy Express & Galaxy Amp, iPhone 5s & iPhone 5c). You can transfer your existing number from previous wireless carrier at no charge.

MeCam Wearable Hands-Free Video Camera

The MeCam is an inconspicuous and lightweight body-worn camera lets you capture the world as you see it from your point of view. The camera shoots 720p HD quality video and doubles as a 5 megapixel point and shoot camera. It has a built-in LED infrared technology works in picture or video mode, for nighttime or lowlight conditions.

There is a removable SD card and micro-USB port lets you charge, upload, and share footage/pictures as well as control buttons on upper-side let you power on and alternate between video and camera mode. It has 80 minutes of continuous battery life to capture all of your adventures.

ThinkGeek doesn’t like most socks.  It’s not opposed to getting them as gifts, but there are far more things out in the galaxy that get the attention of geeks.  Thankfully, if you’ve got a geek in your life or are one yourself, ThinkGeek has a handy list of everything you need to make the holidays great.

“Giving to geeks can be a challenge,” says Steve Zimmermann, spokesperson for Elf Operations at ThinkGeek.  “Our crack team of naughty and nice analysts put together a list of gifts that are sure to make everyone happy this year.”

Over $100

• Sphero Robotic Ball – A robotic ball that you can control with your phone while you play games with it…or chase the cat.

Under $75

• Travel Boy Carry On Luggage – Designed to fit the on-the-go needs of geeks and gamers, this is a perfect way to let other holiday travelers know you honor the old ways.

Under $50

• Tactical Chef Apron – No matter if it’s Thanksgiving or the first BBQ of the season, let the chef be properly prepared to deploy flavor with extreme prejudice.
• Tetris LED Lamp – Stack them in anyway you think looks best and don’t even worry about waiting for just the right piece to win the game, it’s a lamp!
• Charm bracelet and charms – Perfect for the geek girl, these are an elegant way of celebrating your fandom, whatever it may be.

Under $20

• Classic Video Game Controller Ornament Set – Inspired by favorite classic consoles, these are the perfect subtle hint that a gamer helped decorate the tree.
• Radioactive Elements Glowing Coaster Set – They light up and glow when you place your drink on them!
• Chocolate Zombie Santa – Why let the Chocolate Zombie Easter Bunny have all the fun?  Slip this into someone’s stocking and wait for the screams…they’ll be in delight or horror.

ThinkGeek has established a Holiday Gift Center populated with even more items that are guaranteed to make shopping for the geek in your life (or yourself, we don’t judge) a little easier this year.  To see all of the offerings, visit www.thinkgeek.com/gifts.