{Recipe} Summer Cocktails

Yay, it looks like summer weather is here to stay!

I'm not sure about your neck of the woods but here in Northern Virginia, we've had bouts of cold and rain so this weeks sunshine has been a welcomed change.

All this beautiful weather gets me in the mood for a summer cocktail party...especially before the Virginia humidity hits!

Here are a couple of go to cocktail recipes I want to share:

Photo: Driscolls

Spiked Blueberry Lemonade

1 cup fresh blueberries & additional for garnish

1 cup water

1 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice

1 cup simple syrup*

1/2 cup blueberry vodka

1 cup ice

mint leaves & lemon slices for garnish

Place fresh blueberries in a pitcher with a couple of torn mint leaves.  Muddle them together slightly just to break a few blueberries and to release the oils of the mint.  Add the water, lemon juice, cooled simple syrup and the vodka.  Stir until well combined, add in ice cubes.

Serve garnished with additional blueberries, mint springs and lemon slices.

*simple syrup: 1/2 c. water & 1/2 c. sugar in a saucepan until sugar has dissolved.

These next two recipes are not only delicious but also 'skinny cocktails' from everydayhealth.com.  So you can enjoy a yummy summer cocktail and still look cute in your swimsuit.



Photo: Everyday Health

Skinny Strawberry Mojito - 80 calories

8 ounces club soda
1 ounce white rum
10 mint leaves
4 sliced strawberries
4 lime slices (1/2 of lime)
ice

In a sturdy glass, muddle mint leaves, strawberries, and lime slices by gently pressing on and twisting the mint leaves and lime. Muddling doesn’t mean grinding them to a pulp — just twist until you smell mint. The end of a rolling pin will work if you don’t own a muddler. Next, add 1 cup crushed ice, the club soda, and rum. Stir gently and garnish with a mint sprig and a lime wedge before serving.

Photo: Everyday Health

Cinco de Mayo Mango Margarita - 180 calories

3/4 cup frozen mango cubes
1 ounce tequila
1 ounce lemon juice
1 teaspoon triple sec

Blend all ingredients in a blender until you reach a slushy consistency. Garnish with lime wedge for a splash of color.

Enjoy!!



Carter's Run for Dandy-Walker

I just signed up to walk in Carter's Run for Dandy Walker!
If you're local, come out to walk or run and support this cause and adorable little guy!  If you're not local, you can still show your support and raise awareness by making a donation or spreading the word. Read more about Dandy-Walker and Dandy-Walker Variant here.

Kitty 'Treats'

This order was for a friend of mine, whose daughter Ella turned 2 a month before Jack. I love that Ella's party theme was designed after her favorite stuffed kitty.

Kitty on a ball of yarn cake

A special thanks to my mother for holding the cake in the car on the way to deliver it!! The 'ball of yarn' would have rolled all over the back seat if not for her...xoxo!

Kitty cupcakes

 

Kitty cake pop favors

{Real Parties} Jack's Vintage Train Party...and semi Thomas the Tank Engine

So it's official, my baby is 2 years old!  I can't believe how time flies!

Let me start by saying, I've never been a fan of throwing 'character' parties for my kids, but since Jack is into all things Thomas the tank engine, it was the likely choice of themes.  I tried to keep the decor more vintage train but I had to throw in some Thomas for the birthday boy.

I saw this via Pinterest and had my husband
make'tracks' on our walkway. Apparently,
I should have used black electrical tape instead
because most of the guests avoided the walkway
thinking we were having work done on it!
 

My vision was for the kids all be seated at the table eating their
boxed lunches, wearing their bandannas and hats (girls hats with
the rosette) I forgot that kids aren't big fans of sitting...
but there were a few that sat and enjoyed their lunches

place setting at the kids table

I saw a great chili bar on celebrations at home
that I fell in love with so when I was trying
to figure out what to serve the adults that was
still fun and rustic, I opted for this chili bar

chili bar decor

I love chili fritos! All you do is open up a single serve bag of fritos,
fill it with chili and top it with your favorite toppings and
eat it with a spoon...yummy!

drink station

I have to admit there was a little drama while I was making the cake.
I have a hard time saying no to taking on work from clients,
so knowing that I was throwing a party for my son, I still took on 4
other orders and so there I was in the kitchen at 3am crying to my husband
that my kids always get the short end of the stick.
I equate that little tantrum to, well, the fact that is was 3am
and I was just not happy with the way it turned out.
In reality, he could care less, all he wanted to eat is
the fondant sign...of course.

 my dad made the railroad crossing signs for me and the trunk
that the train whistles are displayed in was my grandmother's train case.
I love that I have been able to use it for both of Jack's parties,
it makes me feel like she was there, especially because she never got to
meet him. Last year I used it for props for the photo booth.

the kids went home with engineer hats, bandannas, a piece of coal
filled with Thomas the train gummies and a train whistle

Jack in the Thomas shirt having a blast with all his buddies!

 

{Real Parties} Darth Vader

This party is from July of 2011 and I am just now getting around to posting it.

What I loved about this party is that the birthday boy, Jack, has never seen any of the star wars movies (which is really refreshing) so when his mom and I were discussing party details, we had to work with what he did know.

The party was held at Jumping Jack Sports.  If you live in the northern Virgina area, I highly recommend checking it out for your kids parties or even for summer camps. The staff is very hands on and friendly and they really go out of the way to make sure the kids have a great time!

Darth Vader cake

 

Initially I wanted to make 'death star' cake pops but since

Jack wouldn't really be able to relate to them, we opted for the lightsaber pops.

The pops served as centerpieces as well as favors.

 

the lightsaber napkin--get the printable here

homemade lightsabers--red for the boys and pink for the girls

The adorable birthday boy!

{Real Parties} Ninja Party

I had to share this party with you.  Not just because I participated in making some of the items for the party, but because my neighbor Simran did an amazing job!  As you will see, her attention to detail really shines throughout this party.  It's hard to pinpoint a favorite but... if you twist my arm, I'd say my favorite part of the decor is the happy birthday 'scroll' type banner that Simran hand made using a plastic table cloth, streamers and Japanese style lettering.  So creative!!

Ninja Zee - the birthday boy

Simran with her handmade 'scroll' banner

still in keeping with the theme, Samurai dumplings

pancit noodles... made by my Filipino mom

dessert sushi:

rice krispies wrapped in fruit by the foot, with a Swedish fish center

Ninja balloons

chopstick-marshmallow relay game

Favors

Ninja Cake

Ninja cake pop favors

Happy 5th Birthday Ninja Zee!!

A New Year's Blessing

Happy 2012!

I am looking forward to an exciting year.  Like most of us, I added getting healthy to my list of resolutions but I also resolve to NOT neglect my blog no matter how busy I get.  I was truly blessed with more business than I could have imagined in 2011...the power of prayer!

With that said, I wanted to share a snippet of a new year's blessing that was sent to me that I fell in love with:

May the coming year be one of increased riches of grace - hearing His voice more clearly, knowing His heart more deeply, resting in His love more fully, trusting His care more completely, walking His pathway more peacefully, knowing His presence more intimately, blessed by His goodness more abundantly.

Thank you to all that stood by me and supported me in 2011.  I couldn't have done it without you!