Gifted - Happy Hour in a Box

When it comes to bringing a gift to someones home as a thank you to the hostess or a housewarming for a new homeowner, I always like to get a little creative with my gift giving. While summer may be over {insert sad face}, margaritas are still on my mind. I thought I would make a little boxed gift with all the ingredients and recipe card of my favorite cocktail. It's a happy hour in a box, cheers!

card // box // filler // jars {sold out online but on sale in store}

want more cocktail accoutrement? Check out some cute bar goodies from my favorite shop!

Thirsty Thursday - Spirited Shirley

As a kid there was really nothing better then ordering a shirley temple when out to dinner with the family and when the bartender dressed the drink with extra cherries, I thought I had won the lottery.  The super sweet cocktail was always a treat for me and to this day I find myself stealing sips from my nieces as they order the same drink when we are dining out. So I thought it would be fun to take the classic drink and turn it into a cocktail, I know, I know, I am not reinventing the wheel here, this has been done time and time again calling it the "dirty shirley" - which is a name I absolutely loathe. So I bought some premium ingredients and added a ounce of vodka to my cocktail and created what I am going to call a "spirited shirley". Since I hate when my cherries sink to the bottom of my glass I thought I would braid the stems to keep them afloat for indulging while sipping. Cheers!

Ingredients

3 ounces ginger ale

dask grenadine

1 oz premium vodka

3 maraschino cherries

Preperation

pour soda into a tall glass with ice

add dash of grenadine 

stir & garnish with cherries 

Fun Favors

One of my favorite elements of party planning has to be putting together a little keepsake for the guests to bring home at the end of the evening. So last night when we celebrated my dear friend Kate's birthday last at a new to me Boston eatery I was quick to offer my assistance with creating a little treat for everyone. Since we were dining on Italian cuisine I went with that as our theme. I decided to make homemade limoncello and adorn the mini bottles with the phrase "salute" instead of cheers. The limoncello was made from this recipe but instead of using plain simple syrup I used the juice of the many lemons I had peeled and created a lemon simple syrup to give it a richer and sweeter lemon flavor. The results were pretty delicious and strong but something I would definitely make again!

Other examples of favors I have created are here, here, here & here. 

tags // twine // bottle

Cucumber Margarita

I am a bad blogger and couldn't get my act together to post this in time for yesterday's "thirsty thursday" series. So instead I am sharing it today...just in time for the weekend and cinco de mayo on Monday. As of late my favorite cocktail is the super refreshing cucumber margarita. I have long loved the margarita but usually only splurge on the caloric drink on special occasions. That all changed when I came across this tasty cocktail. I knew I wanted to try to make this at home so I could make a big ole batch for my best friends visit this weekend. I plan on filling this cute acrylic drink dispenser with lots of fresh sliced cucumbers and limes and drinking all day with my college besties!

Ingredients
{makes four strong cocktails}

1 seedless cucumber {I kept the skin on mine so my juice was darker}
Juice of 6 limes
4 oz silver tequila
4 oz orange liquor
3 oz simple syrup

Instructions

I used my juicer to get the liquid out of the limes and cucumbers but you could use a food processor for the cucumber and sift out the juice from the skin and or the limes by hand {excellent arm work out}. In a pitcher or drink shaker mix all the liquid till evenly distributed. Pour over ice & garnish with cucumber or lime.

dish towel // glasses // drink stirrers 

thirsty thursday - s'mores two ways

S'mores are one of those treats that instantly bring you back to your childhood. It doesn't get much better then sitting around a fire on a summers evening roasting marshmallows with friends. The simple joy of getting your marshmallow perfectly crisp without falling into the fire and creating the perfect bite as you sandwhich the melty goodness between two graham crackers {with lots of chocolate of course}. Since we dont have a fire pit out on Shelter Island I decided to make a much neater version of this famous dessert for my nieces while they watched a movie. It was the perfect blend of all the classic s'mores flavors with less of a mess. Since it was a hit  I decided to share that recipe along with a cocktail version {obviously}. Hope you enjoy!

{towel // bowl}

Ingredients

2 cups Kettle Corn 

1 cup Cocoa Puffs

1 cup Cinnamon Toast Crunch 

1 cup mini marshmallows

{tip - cinnamon cheerios & chocolate cheerios can be substituted for a less sugary cereal}

Ingredients

1 ounce vanilla vodka

1 ounce chocolate liquor {I used Godiva}

2 ounces heavy cream

1 graham cracker crushed for rimming of glass {I crushed in food processor}

4 mini marshmallows roasted for garnish {I roasted with mini torch}

2 ounces chocolate syrup for rimming glass {adheres the graham cracker crust}

{tip - dont want to commit to a full bottle of flavored vodka, buy the nips for tasting}

Still prefer the old fashioned s'mores treats??? Check out all the adorable ways you can package up this nostalgic dessert. The individual packaging makes this perfect for entertaining at home to make your guests feel special or makes a fabulous favor for a party!

free printable & image via Bloom Designs

image via Creature Comfort

s'mores kits via Twig & Thistle 

Thirsty Thursday - Rock Lobster

If you were a fan of the show Friends like me then you likely remember "she's your lobster" episode. When I saw this last week on our Nantucket vacation, I was inspired to have a lobster cookout, something that certainly isn't easily executed in the city. A traditional boiled lobster is definitely one of those meals I have always enjoyed eating at home allowing myself to get as messy as I wish. However this little luxury of a meal can also be very stylish when entertaining. Just check out all the chic lobster goodies you can put together to host a fabulous lobster bake in your home. So in light of my usual cocktail concoctions I usually share, I thought I would keep it simple with a simple glass of chilled champagne for an inspired lobster dinner.

Whether you are on the water or not this nautical champagne is the perfect accompaniment to a seaside dining experience and a little lobster cocktail adornment never hurt anybody. A fun "how to eat a lobster" print adds some fun decor. A lobster pot is a necessity for cooking numerous lobsters at a time, while a roll of kraft paper is easy clean up for the messy meal. Bowls for the discarded shells and butter are a must as well is a tray for serving the lobsters. Seafood tools like a cracker for the shell, a long fork to help get out the hard to reach bits and a bib help make the meal more fun and of course you will need lots of lemon to clean off the smell of the sea and chic napkins for drying your hands.

Check out more nautical inspired dining like the images below here.

Thirsty Thursday - Cranberry Cocktail Spritzer

Nantucket is known for many things, beautiful shingle style homes, hydrangea covered lawns, cobblestone streets, whaling and cranberries to just name a few. Naturally this weeks cocktail had to be   inspired by these things as we are at the tail end of our vacation. What I love about this one is that the cranberry vodka has such great flavor by itself that the cocktail only needs a splash of cranberry juice for color and a little added flavor. It is a light, refreshing and all the ingredients are from New England, definitely my favorite cocktail when on this magical little island.  

Ingredients

1 oz Nantucket Triple 8 Cranberry Vodka

Splash of Nantucket Nectars Big Cranberry Juice

1/2 cup Poland Springs Lime Seltzer

Fresh Lime Wedge for garnish

Directions

Stir & Serve over ice

Cheers!

Inspired by the preppy playground that is Nantucket, I thought I would put together some fun nautical accoutrement for your bar cart or home cocktail area that ooze summer and happy times!

gold cocktail shaker //anchor stacking cocktail ring // fish bottle opener // rope ice bucket // iikat tray with nautical inserts // dot cocktail napkins // bottoms up tote // striped glasses // custom swizzle sticks

Thirsty Thursday - Mimosa Punch

A few weeks ago I made a mimosa punch to bring to a friends house for an early afternoon lunch and it was a big hit which made me think it was worth sharing with you! It's pretty much the easiest cocktail to make and affordable which is an added bonus when entertaining. You can make it in a giant punch bowl, a chic drink dispenser or a small pitcher as I did below for a party of two. Of course I had to have a little garnish, mostly because the drink needs color and I like having a little fruit in all my cocktails. Check out all the delicious details below. 

Ingredients

{makes 4 cocktails}

3 cups orange juice 

{I used orange mango} 

1 12 oz bottle of ginger ale

1 half bottle of prosecco

1 nip of cointreau

garnish with strawberries, oranges or rasberries

to make for a punch bowl bump of the portions to the following

2 quarts orange juice 

1 2 liter bottle of ginger ale2

1 bottle of prosecco

1/2 cup cointreau

garnish with fresh fruit 

Directions

Mix all the ingredients, stir & serve over ice

Bottoms Up!

Bubbly Bar

Last night I had the pleasure of hosting another evening with the fabulous ladies from my book club. I always get a bit nervous about entertaining in our apartment due to the size but I have to remind myself that its possible to entertain in small spaces by keeping the menu and the drinks simple. Since our book didn't provide me with a fun theme to play off of, I decided to cook a few easy but delicious pasta dishes along with a prosecco bar as the cocktail of the evening. After-all who doesn't love some bubbly with fresh mixers and garnish. It had me thinking what an ideal bubbly bar would look like for a more sophisticated occasion which made me put together the little set up below.

drink stirrers // pitchers // rifle paper company place cards // "why limit happy to an hour" cocktail napkins // rifle paper company floral coasters // society social bar cart // bubbly glitter banner // gold rim glasses // lock bottle opener // ice bucket // shaker // berry dish 

my inspiration from the other night

Thirsty Thursday - Spiked Arnold Palmer

I have never met anyone who doesn't love a refreshing Arnold Palmer on a warm day. I especially love them when they are spiked with some delicious tea flavored vodka. I have tried a few and I always find myself coming back to what was formerly known as "Absolut Boston" {#bostonstrong} and now is called Absolut Wild Tea, it's seriously the best out there! I mix this magic in a bottle with a little diet iced tea and some fresh lemon juice and that my friends is one hell of a cocktail  I however must warn you, they go down quick and before you know it you may be streaking through the quad a la 

Frank The Tank.

Ingredients

{per drink}

1 ounce Absolut Wild Tea

1/2 cup Iced Tea

2 Tablespoons Fresh Lemon Juice

Directions

Mix ingredients & pour over ice, garnish with lemon

Cheers!

Thirsty Thursday - Pineapple Cocktail

I cannot take credit for this weeks recipe as I knew I wanted to use Morris Kitchen Ginger Syrup that I purchased at Boston's south end boutique Olives & Grace.  The vintage apothecary style bottle has been sitting pretty on my bar cart begging to be mixed into something delicious. My first idea of a "dark and stormy" wasn't going to work since it was my husband was away and it was his  favorite drink making him the ultimate taste tester. Instead I decided to go with something refreshing like their pineapple cocktail. It was delicious and quite possibly the easiest cocktail ever. Cheers!

Ingredients

3/4 oz Ginger Syrup 

2 oz Aged Rum 

1 1/2 oz Pineapple Juice

Instructions

Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice, strain and pour drink over ice cube and garnish with pineapple.

decorative skewer

Thirsty Thursday - Strawberry Basil Cocktail

I have been on a serious summer cocktail kick lately! I just love adding some fresh ingredients to drinks to make them more refreshing and tasty. This week I was inspired with what we already had in the house. Leftover basil from red sauce I made earlier in the week, some fresh strawberries that I was snacking on along with limes which we always have for pellegrino. I decided to put these together and created a new to me cocktail that I know I will be making an appearance on our summer outings over and over again this summer. Cheers!

Strawberry Basil Cocktail

10 Ripe Strawberries, Chopped

10 Basil Leaves, Chopped

2 Teaspoons Fresh Lime Juice

2 Ounces Simple Syrup 

2 Ounces Good Vodka {I used Grey Goose}

Directions

Muddle strawberries & basil till well blende & add all the ingredients to a cocktail shaker

Add in fresh lime juice, simple syrup & vodka 

pour over ice & enjoy

Thirsty Thursday - Blueberry Vodka & Meyer Lemonade Spritzer

As long as I can remember, I have favored sweet and fruity cocktails like pomegranate prosecco punch or grapefruit margaritas which explains a lot of the inspiration for my recipes on this new Thirsty Thursday weekly series. So while I dont like to discriminate against any delicious cocktail I want to invest in recipes that I find appealing and believe are crowd pleasers. So without further adieu -  enter todays tasty beverage; Meyer Lemonade and Blueberry Vodka Spritzer.  Blueberry's and lemons flavors compliment each other so well its often used in a plethora of recipes why not take this fab pair and create a delicious cocktail??? I know I know,  it's not summer yet or even above 50 degrees here in Boston but this cocktail is heaven in a cute mason jar and I know you will love it! I chose meyer lemons for their sweetness instead of the traditional tart lemon and used simple syrup instead of sugar for the lemonade because in my opinion it distributes more evenly throughout the cocktail without having the sugar sink to the bottom of your glass. A special fun twist I did for this feature was the blueberry ice cubes - the night before I froze some fresh blueberries in cute bendable ice trays for garnish. Check out all the details below to recreate this cocktail in your home. 

Meyer Lemonade

1 cup simple syrup 

1 cup fresh squeezed meyer lemon juice 

{about 6 lemons}

3 cups cold water 

Blueberry Vodka & Meyer Lemonade Spritzer Cocktail

1 oz blueberry vodka {I used Stolichnaya Blueberi}

1 oz meyer lemonade

4 oz club soda

4 blueberry ice cubes

Enjoy!

Thirsty Thursday - Passionfruit Sangria

Earlier last week I mentioned the delicious passion fruit sangria I had on my birthday dinner at Spice Market in NYC. I knew the second I sipped that heavenly concoction I had to make a version of it for the blog. After some research I found the recipe used by the restaurant but it seemed a bit complicated so I created my own version to share with you all and once again, I was thrilled my mixology skills didn't disappoint.

Thirsty Much

It's no secret that I love a good cocktail! I also love how drinks can be packaged. I seriously swoon every time I see a cute drink display at a wedding or back yard bash that it had me thinking I am in need of  stylish drink dispenser for this seasons drinking festivities. I selected a few of my favorites and just don't know which one will become part of our home. The cork topped bubble dispenser is winning right now but I think any dispenser on a stand is more sensible so no delicious drinks get spilled while pouring. The white tin bucket is adorable when your drink may not be the prettiest of colors (where was this for the mystery punch at college parties???). The apothecary jars are simply beautiful for a wedding or any summer soiree. I would get a trio of them and fill with fresh fruit and drinks that are refreshing and pretty to look at!

Go Shopping

Juliska Berry and Thread Beverage Dispenser Set
$295 - bloomingdales.com

Godinger Drink Dispenser, Monticello
$100 - macys.com

glass beverage dispenser
$50 - cb2.com

Apothecary Beverage Dispenser | Z Gallerie
$50 - zgallerie.com

Polycarbonate Beverage Dispenser
$42 - target.com

Large Drink Dispenser with Stand
$109 - remodelista.com

Three Tier Drink Dispenser
$110 - Horchow

Pedestaled Ice Chamber Beverage Dispenser
$75 - homewetbar.com