{labor day weekend photos}

This weekend was truly amazing from start to finish- there really is nothing better than a 3 day weekend.  I felt like I crossed a million things off my to do and got to spend time with all my favorite people.  Here are some shots from the weekend:

 {trader joe's lemon bars that I sprinkled with home-made lavender sugar for game night at our place}

 {strawberry pesto crostini appetizers, recipe here}

 {new candle purchase from Nordstrom, available here}

 {sunset sky in downtown los angeles}

 {veggies portabella burgers with sweet potato fries}

 

{forcing muji to cuddle with me}

{cocktail blogs}

Rather than bring you a cocktail recipe this Friday, I thought I would show you where I go to get cocktail inspiration whether it is for a recipe for a party, a simple weekend night in or for the Friday posts on here.  Here are some of my favorite cocktail blogs:

Fashionably Bombed is written by two fashion and cocktail obsessed sisters in New York City.  The recipes can be a bit over the top sometimes, but are always inspiring, especially the super girly ones like the Cupcake Champagne Cocktail.

 

Eat Make Read is another blogger located in New York, who is a graphic designer that blogs about food, diy projects and does a weekly cocktail recipe on Friday just likes yours truly.  I rarely am not interested in making the weekly recipe she has come up with, most are simple twists on classics like the Pluot Fizz.

I have blogged about 12 Bottle Bar before, but it truly is a source of inspiration as well as information.  Every cocktail recipe on this site is joined by extensive background or research, plus they has a great navigation bar on the side of their site which lets you search by spirit type.

 

Mrs. Lillien's blog mostly centers around her prop styling, but she is releasing a cocktail book in the near future and has been blogging some of the classic recipes in the fun styled out form above.

Cheers!

{all images via the respective blog mentioned}

{etsy favorites}

Here is another little round up of some of my current favorites on Etsy:

 {metallic clutch}

Carolina Benoit's Etsy shop is mostly filled with little party dresses and jewelry, but my choice would be this chic metallic gold and navy envelope clutch. 

 {vintage household labels}

 Sugar B Supplies' Etsy shop sells a lot of items similar to the online shop I posted about the other day called Romantic Pink including fun Washi tape, treat/favor bags and multi-purpose stickers.  These vintage household labels caught my eye, I think they would be perfect on organization bins in a closet or even used as a gift tag on a bottle of wine for a hostess gift.

 

 {his & hers trays}

 I wish my bathroom countertop was anywhere near big enough to fit even just one of these!!!  Pretty Smitten's shop is most well known for her customizable monogram iphone cases (here), but these trays steal the show for me.  So many different color options- I don't know how I would ever make a decision.

 

 {gift card sized envelopes}

How cute are these little gift card sized envelopes from Suzie's Cards Etsy Shop?!?  They would be perfect to have on hand for when you want to give a gift card as a gift, but would prefer to take it out of the tacky packaging the stores usually put them in!

 

{printable save the date pdf}

I am a big supporter of printing your own paper goods, but I am not the best at graphic design.  Which is why affordable and custom printable pdfs like this one from Young Wanderlust's Etsy shop are perfect to keep down the cost of invites.