How to start the new year off on a thankful note, good reads, premium liqueur and more in this week's edition of OnMilwaukee.com Recommends.

"Good things" jar – I got this idea from multiple Facebook friends and so far, it's been a big hit with my family. The concept is simple: get a clean jar (we used a pickle jar) and, if you want, write or type a "good things in 2013" sign and tape it to the jar. Then, put it somewhere accessible with a little stack of paper and a pen and every time something "good" happens in 2013, write it down and put it in the jar. (My meta 9-year-old was the first to put a message in the jar. He wrote: "Jan 5, 2013: My mom introduced me to the good things jar.") At the end of 2013, perhaps on New Year's Eve, read all of the "good things" messages to reflect on the pleasing aspects of the past year. Seems like a positive way to ring in 2014. –Molly Snyder

Luxardo Amaretto liqueur - I'm not a big drinker anymore. In my early years I did enough damage to last a couple of lifetimes. My drink of choice back then, and still, is Wild Turkey. I always thought it was a drink for real men, and since I considered myself a bulletproof, invisible, genius real man when I drank it, we made a great pair. But I'm done with those days and rarely drink anything when I'm out. But the other night I had something that knocked my socks off. I wanted something to drink before a play and asked for an Amaretto on the rocks. Normally you get Disarono, and it's not bad. But this time my server asked if I wanted to try Luxardo. I said sure and was very pleasantly surprised. It wasn't as sweet or syrupy as others I've had and it had a complex taste of almonds and vanilla. I'd hate to make a night of drinking Amaretto, but if you're having one, Luxardo is a brand you ought to try. –Dave Begel