{friday cocktail: a trio of sugar rimmed recipes}

At first when Fresh Origins offered to send me over a pack of their crystal cocktail rimmers I didn't exactly jump at the idea since sugared glasses remind me of bad cocktail bars, but then when I took closer look at the intriguing flavor line-up they have I couldn't resist!  I enjoy the chance to add flavor elements to otherwise simple cocktails through the use of bitters and I figured these herbal/floral sugar crystals in flavors like fennel and cilantro could serve a similar purpose.  

For this Friday's cocktail post, I whipped up three different drinks using the rose petal, fennel and basil crystals.  Of course I love how all of these turned out, but the refreshing Garden Tonic using the basil crystals was by far my favorite.  You could easily substitute champagne in the place of the tonic for this one if you wanna get a bit more fancy with it.

Cheers!

{friday cocktail: ginger 75}

The holiday season is all about celebrating- whether it’s being reunited with family or friends, hosting a holiday party or ringing in the New Year.  With all these gatherings, you need a good arsenal of champagne cocktails in your back pocket to be ready to toast at any time (and by now you might have exhausted all the good ones you already know of!).  This cocktail recipe uses a crisp mix of ginger liqueur, gin and lemon topped with sparkling wine or champagne.  The sugar sprinkle rim and candied ginger garnish makes the cocktail feel a bit more festive for those special occasions like New Years Eve! 

Cheers!

{friday cocktail: the fog cutter}

Well temperatures hit less than 40 degrees on more than few days this week in Chicago and that just doesn't really work for me. At all.  So we tried to drink the weather away with a tropical tiki cocktail recipe complete with pink paper umbrella garnish.  The high temperature this weekend is going to be in the 50s so I think it worked...

Most tiki cocktails are pretty sweet, but this one is a big exception to that.  It still delivers on tiki flavor from the orgeat syrup (famously used in a Mai Tai) and the mixture of brandy/rum, but it doesn't give you a sugar headache after.  

Cheers!

{friday cocktail: classic mai tai}

I doubt there is a more tropical classic cocktail than a Mai Tai- even when it isn't sporting a cocktail umbrella this recipe just tastes like sitting on a beach.  That's why this cocktail is the perfect signature cocktail for Ben & Terra's wedding today as Ben is an avid surfer and the couple currently lives just steps from the sand in Venice Beach.  You can be sure I will be drinking my fair share of these during the cocktail hour tonight!

{kentucky derby jersey stirrers}

Who's ready to watch the fastest two minutes in sports this weekend otherwise known as the Kentucky Derby?!?! Well you will be most prepared if you download and print these drink stirrers that will allow your guests to mark their pick for winner by showcasing it in their mint julep!  The stirrers showcase each of the horses that will be vying for that awesome rose wreath this weekend.  As of now, I think my money's on "Fear The Kitten" because well...that's about the best name for a pony that I have ever heard (who cares that he is placed at 50 to 1 odds!).

Click here or on the image below to download the 2-page PDF printable of the drink stirrers!

{the bachelor finale free printables}

I watch way more reality television than I care to admit.  It's pretty much the ultimate guilty pleasure and I find the time I spend watching it to be entirely relaxing since it requires little to no thought or engagement on my part.  One big time reality TV show that I somehow never watched up until this season was the Bachelor, but all that changed when I found a fun group of girls to get together for weekly viewing party of sorts.  All reality television is better when watched in groups because it allows you to commiserate with others about the ridiculousness on screen.

With the finale of 17th season of the Bachelor on tonight, I thought it would be fun to make some cute printables for those hosting little viewing parties of their own.  There are drink flags (because if you aren't drinking cocktails during a viewing party then you aren't doing it right) and team stickers for each of the lady finalists- pick a side and own it. Links to the free downloads at the end of the post!

{he loves it. so. much}

 {as you can tell in the photos above versus this preview image- my printer wasn't really feeling the hot pink as I had originally intended.  For the drink flags simply cut out each flag and use hot glue or double sided tape to attach each flag around a drink stirrer}

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD DRINK FLAG PRINTABLE

{for the "team" stickers, I printed mine on a sheet of sticker paper so that you can easily attach the label to clothing, but cardstock and a simple safety pin would be a fine substitute}

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD TEAM STICKER PRINTABLE

{friday cocktail: the 49er}

This Friday's cocktail is named in honor of Sunday's Super Bowl winners (see what I did there?).  I will admit that I am definitely not a big sports person let alone a avid football follower/fan.  Plus my time living in Los Angeles didnt even give me a default team to root for, but I did live in San Francisco for 3 and half years so the 49ers are basically my football team if there ever was one.  This cocktail is inspired by one of my top five favorite cocktails, Blood Sugar Sex Magic, except this one substitutes Domaine de Canton's ginger liqueur in place of basil and swaps out the whiskey for a dark rum.  It packs a little heat and a lot of flavor just like the original recipe, but with some added sweetness from the liqueur.  I'll definitely be enjoying one of these on game day while sporting my favorite football sweater (yes I do have the Bears version as well- I never said I was loyal I simply said that the 49ers were my chosen team).

{let's talk about those little gold stars real quick...aren't they cute? clearly very pinterest worthy as evidenced here, but just be warned they taste absolutely horrible and they melt into little yellow blobs after about 3 minutes in liquid.  I learned this the hard way back on this drink and I'm just trying to save you the disappointment.  The good news is- they work wonderfully on the icing on cupcakes so don't completely write them off!}

Cheers!

{quick and easy hostess gift}

I was always told not to show up empty handed when someone invites you over for dinner; and like most people, our go-to hostess gift is usually a bottle of wine or an interesting whiskey.   It's certainly a hostess gift we don't mind receiving ourselves, but sometimes you want to do a little bit extra for those inviting you into their home.  I picked up these drink stirrers the other day as a simple addition to our bar and it occurred to me that given a little effort they could make a great hostess gift!

Drink stirrers have quickly become one of those things that is almost mandatory at weddings and parties.  Usually made with just a simple bamboo skewer, cut to length and adorned with a colorful flag of sorts.  While you could create this gift for someone using the regular bamboo skewers, I feel that these unique cocktail sticks elevate the stirrer to something a little more special- plus they have a sort of awesome preppy vibe.  I quickly typed up "cheers" in a few of my favorite fonts and then hot glued the cardstock flags onto the colorful array of sticks.  Topped off with a simple gift tag and these will make for a cute hostess gift your friends wont forget.

Click here to download the file I used to create these flags.  These flags are also now available for purchase in my Etsy shop right here!

Another option if you are really pressed for time, is to make the flags blank so that they can be used as-is or written on as drink markers.

{my bridal shower}

 
This past weekend, my bridesmaids and mother-in-law threw me the most amazing bridal shower I could have ever asked for.  The only things I requested up front were that the theme be girly (since we arent going very girly with the wedding decor) and that champagne cocktails be present.  I got exactly what I asked for multiplied by about a million.

I cannot take even one ounce of credit for any of this beautiful event; the overall theme and all of the beautiful DIY decorations including the tablescapes, garlands and dessert table was created by my very talented bridesmaid, Kay Lee.  While the various desserts, florals and mimosa bar was done by Heather of Bourbon & Bleu.  My mother in law, Maria, hosted the shower in their wonderful back yard and provided the delicious brunch spread.

Today, I just have a ton of lovely images from the entire shower and next week I will have Heather and Kay guest blogging in more detail about the diy decorations, paper goods, florals and desserts so be sure to check back!

 {mimosa bar}

{image via Sarah Roach Photography}

{image via Sarah Roach Photography}

 {braided garland}

{image via Sarah Roach Photography}

 {placecards}

 {brunch spread, image via Sarah Roach Photography}

 {festive balloon}

 {dessert table, image via Sarah Roach Photography}

 {opening gifts, image via Sarah Roach Photography}

 {trophy "bowl" I registered for from Z Gallerie, image via Sarah Roach Photography}

 {my beautiful mother}

 {thank you favors provided by my mother.  Bottles of Rose Sparkling Wine from Kenwood Winery. This is the same sparkling wine we will be toasting with at the wedding next month}

{my bridesmaids that made the whole thing possible}