Juliet's Lingerie Shower + White Sangria Recipe / April 2017

Hello friends! I hope that you had a great weekend! Ours was packed with social activities, and it ended up being so fun. We had a bit of downtime on Sunday which was also nice!

The biggest part of my weekend was hosting (one of my best friends), Juliet's lingerie shower! She's getting married at the end of May, and since she lives in Taiwan... she can't have normal bridal showers (where would she put the stuff?!). Lingerie however, is traditionally very packable. ;) 

We had such a fun time, it was a small group of us, about half of her bridal party, and it was a great sized group!

Decor:

Tassels - DIY here. I got a HUGE package of tissue paper at TJMaxx for $2.99.
Balloons - Target Dollar Spot, y'all! ($5 each)
Milk Glass Vases + Flowering Culinary Sage - you can get milk glass at thrift stores and I keep this collection on the mantle in our new space! Culinary sage were the most wild looking flowers I could find in town, super pretty! Adding the flowers made my everyday vases look more festive!

Food:

Drinks - Strawberry Mint Margaritas, Gin/Blueberry Drink (SO STRONG! I recommend adding a bit more cranberry!), and White Sangria (recipe below).
Food - appetizers, crudite, and pretzels.
Desserts - spice cupcakes, blueberry pavlova (I changed the blueberry jam a bit), and Birthday Cake Popcorn.

White Wine Peach Sangria

1 bottle of white wine
1/2 cup peach vodka (any peach liquor will do)
2 peaches sliced (or 1 small bag of frozen sliced peaches)
1 orange, sliced
1 1/4 cups of orange juice
1/4 cup sugar (to taste, very optional!)
ginger ale/club soda to taste (1/2 liter)

1) Mix all ingredients aside from ginger ale/club soda. Let chill for at least one hour (I made it the night before).
2) Add ginger ale/club soda immediately before serving.

Games:

The Panty Game - each guest is instructed to bring a pair of panties, they should be unwrapped and put into a bag/box as guests arrive. Then, hang each pair of panties up, and have the bride guess which pair is from which guest. There are several versions to this game, in one nothing happens if you guess incorrectly, this time we played that you have to try on the pair that you guessed incorrectly and model for your guests (over your clothing ;). Would you guys like the PDF of the sign I made for the bag?

Marriage Advice Madlib - KC and I made a madlib (I didn't like any existing ones!) that was around the topic of marriage advice. I designed a PDF and printed them for the guests. Reading them was a blast, and they definitely got a little naughty. We all laughed so hard. Would you guys like this PDF?! 

Disney Love Song Guessing Game, get that printable, here. Some of them were pretty tough, and it got us all singing Disney songs. hehe :) 

Extras:

Our baking store went out of business last summer, so Jessica and I (figuring we'd be hosting something... ;) gathered up some cute party crown/hats, and matching cupcake liners with toothpick tassels. They were cute and fun little touches.

I always like to use white serving platters if I can. Ours are packed right now, but I think they really help! 

I used these carafes for our drinks. They are so handy, simple, cheap, and cute.

Lastly, we gave nail polish favors. I like to get Essie because they're nicer polish. I get mine at TJMaxx, because they're $3-4 cheaper each. :) I put a little tag on each that said, "to a lifetime of getting nailed!" - thanks, Pinterest!

Have you guys ever thrown a bridal shower or lingerie shower?

What is your go-to food to make for a crowd?

XO,

Alexandra

Pimm's Cup Recipe // A British Summer

Summer is not yet over, so let's savor the last of it with one of my favorite cocktails! :) 

When it comes to summer cocktails I love the freshness of a good Pimm's Cup. It reminds me of tea, and gardens, and warm weather. I had my first one on New Year's Eve, with just the bare minimum. While we were in New Orleans (the first time) I tried a few more interesting varieties. Since then I have been making them at home (occasionally... ), and now I find it an especially good cocktail for guests! Pimm's Cups are a big deal in Britain, so I say, let's all be British this summer!

Here is my recipe for this easy & unique summer cocktail:

Pimm's Cup
Makes 1 tall glass

1-1.5 oz of Pimm's Liqueur
lemon lime soda, ginger ale, or lemonade
a handful of ice
2-3 strawberries
2 cucumber slices

1) Take one cucumber slice and one or two strawberries, then cut or crush them a little, and put them in the bottom of the glass. Reserve the other strawberries and cucumber for garnish.
2) Measure out the Pimm's and put it into the glass, and then nearly fill to the top with the soda, ginger ale, or carbonated lemonade.
3) Add a handful of ice, give it a stir, garnish with a strawberry and cucumber slice.

Enjoy!

Notes:
-strawberries and cucumber slices are optional, but make a lovely addition to the cocktail. However, the drink is still tasty without them!
-I typically use 1 oz of Pimm's and lemon lime soda
-a striped straw is always a nice touch
-this makes a lovely, unique, and easy cocktail to share with guests
-for friends who don't partake, an iced herbal tea would yield a similar taste. :) 

Anyone else wondering why them Pimm's is always gone? ;)

What is your favorite summer cocktail? -or non-alcoholic beverage?

XO,

Alexandra

Peppermint 'Hotschnappslate' & Peppermint Hot Chocolate // A Christmas Tradition

Last Christmas we started making this recipe, and there is no going back. We served it at our 'Friendsmas' party and at a family Christmas later as well. 

But let's be honest, it would be good while trimming the tree, wrapping gifts, signing Christmas cards, watching Christmas movies...... 

It is so delicious, a little naughty, and very pretty. - the best part is that it is also easy!

Plus it is simple to make a non-alcoholic version for under-agers, non-imbibers, and those who are expecting as well!

To make a non-alcoholic version, just replace the peppermint Schnapps with a pump or two of peppermint flavored syrup. You can find these at grocery stores by the coffee or soda. World market has a very large selection of flavored syrups. 

You could also add marshmallows, holiday colored sprinkles, etc. - just have fun with it!

No matter how you top your minty hot chocolate I'm sure this treat will make your holiday season more festive.

What is your favorite way to dress up your hot cocoa?

XO,

Alexandra

8 Fall Recipes I Can't Wait to Try!

I recently posted about my 8 favorite fall recipes... but I'm always searching for more! Here are 8 fall recipes from Pinterest that I can't wait to try!

All titles link to the original recipe or pin page if the link was broken. All images are from the original recipes.

1. Pumpkin French Toast 

2. Pumpkin Oatmeal Muffins

3. Shepherd's Pie

4. Turkey Panini with Blue Cheese and Cranberry Apricot Chutney

5. Pumpkin Coffee Cake with Brown Sugar Glaze

6. Fall Champagne Sangria

7. Pumpkin Pie Smoothie

8. Mushroom Pasta Sauce

What are your favorite fall recipes and foods?

Thanks for reading!

Alexandra

Blueberry Bliss Smoothie {Recipe #100!}

With this post I vow to never forget to take a picture of a recipe again! Whew! This super easy recipe has taken me forever to make again. ... but now that I have, this blueberry bliss is all yours.

Blueberry Bliss Smoothie

Borrowed, Adapted and Enjoyed from the Little Black Book of Smoothies

Makes 1 tall smoothie or 2 juice glass sized ones {pictured}.

Ingredients

1 cup chilled white grape juice {no sugar added} 

1/2 cup low fat blueberry yogurt {Greek would be even better + a bit of honey!}

1/2 frozen banana*

1 cup frozen blueberries

1) Add liquid first, then yogurt, then frozen solids. Blend on high until smooth.

Enjoy!

You can change around the fruit, juice and yogurt to your tastes! This is the basic smoothie formula, so change it up! We sometimes add spinach leaves or ground flax seed to add extra fiber and vitamins! and NO you can't taste it! :) PROMISE! As it is, this recipe is super healthy for you, especially if you swap for the Greek yogurt!

*note* freeze your banana in chunks and peeled. It is super tricky to peel a frozen banana!

Also, if you love smoothies, invest in a good blender! We broke our first one.. but we got to buy this one to replace it! :)

What is your favorite smoothie recipe?

All for now,

Alexandra

Frozen Mango Mimosas {Recipe #96}

Mimosas are great. 

I like regular mimosas as long as they are 3/4 good* oj and 1/4 champagne... :)

But this recipe was really fantastic! {& easy}

We had a bottle of champagne leftover from our wedding that we opened on our anniversary and made this yummy recipe.

 Frozen Mango Mimosas

Recipe Borrowed, Adapted and Enjoyed from Glamour's Cookbook

Ingredients

Champagne

Frozen Sorbet or Sherbert 

{we used Ciao Bella's mango, but it comes in lots of flavors}

1) scoop sorbet into festive glasses.

2) pour champagne over sorbet.

3) stir until smooth.

Share & Enjoy!

What is your favorite way spice up champagne?

All for now,

Alexandra

*not from concentrate. I like Simply Orange best

Berry Delicious Game Night {recipes #63, 64 & 65}

A while ago, we had a game night with our good friends Emy and Matthew.

It was the first time we had really had people over to our apartment and we wanted to do something fun. We decided to play several games including Ticket to Ride (above). 

We also wanted to have some yummy food and drink available. This was over the summer so we decided to utilize a LOT of fresh berries. 

So here are recipes 64, 65 & 66:

Berry Sangria {+ simple syrup} & Mini Berry Trifles {whipped cream}

Berry Sangria

{Borrowed Adapated and Enjoyed from 101 Sangrias and Pitcher Drinks by Kim Haasarud}

Ingredients:

 3/4 cup of 3 of the following berries {strawberries (hulled and sliced), blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, boysenberries

3/4 cup simple syrup 

1 bottle of red wine

1/2 cup of triple sec

1/2 cup berry flavored vodka

1 cup orange juice

1) In a saucepan, combine all of your chosen berries {we used blueberries, strawberries and raspberries} with the simple syrup {recipe below} over low heat. Stir constantly until berries just begin to soften and discolor.

2) Combine the remaining ingredients in a large ceramic or glass container. Add the berry mixture {berries and liquid} and stir well. 

3) Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours. 

Serve in Pretty Glasses and Enjoy!

Simple Syrup

Ingredients:

1 cup sugar

1 cup hot water

1) In a bowl, glass or empty wine bottle mix the sugar and hot water. Stir or shake until completely dissolved. Let cool  completely before using. {this sangria recipe you cook the simple syrup with the berries, so it doesn't really require cooling!}

Mini Berry Trifles

This recipe really isn't that new to most people, its just store-bought pound cake, sugared berries and whipped cream. What makes it count as one of my recipes is just that I made the whipped cream from scratch, which I had never done! But it was VERY worth it!

Ingredients:

Pound Cake 

Sugared Berries of your choice {cleaned, sliced and hulled if necessary}

1 pint of heavy cream

1 T. powdered sugar

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1) Mix the berries with sugar to taste and set aside.

2) Slice, Tear or crumble the pound cake into small pieces.

3) Whip the heavy cream, powdered sugar and vanilla extract with a hand mixer until fluffy.

4) Set up the ingredients buffet style and let your guests build their own mini trifles by layering the ingredients to their liking!

 

Enjoy!

What is your favorite way to use berries?

All for now,

Alexandra