Five on Friday: Summer Cocktails

Happy Friday! Since the weekend is finally here, and it looks like it is going to be a beautiful one here in Ohio, I thought it was only appropriate to share some fun summer cocktails. I have actually tried 4 out of the 5 of these multiple times, and they are awesome! So I highly encourage you to try at least one of them this weekend!

1. Firefly Sparklers

When I think of summer, I think of sitting on the porch drinking sweet tea. So when I found out about vodka that tasted like sweet tea, I just had to find a way to use it! This recipe is great because it is like an Arnold Palmer, with a little kick, and is perfect for front-porch sippin (or back-deck in my case).

Ingredients:

• 2 oz of Sweet Tea Vodka
• 6 oz of lemonaid (any kind will do, but I tried Crystal Light Raspberry Lemonaid, and it was very tasty)
• 4 oz of 7-up or any kind of fizzy water

Directions:

Mix ingredients in a cute summery tumbler with ice. Add a fun straw and then enjoy!

2. Skinny Sunrise Cocktail (Recipe from Iowa Girl Eats)

This fun cocktail is great because it is super tasty and low in calories. It is great for a hot summer day on the patio, or also for brunch! The strawberry simple syrup will stay good in the fridge for about a week, so you can use it for other cocktails as well and it was really good with a little citrus vodka and some club soda...just sayin! :)

Ingredients:

• 2 Tablespoons (1oz) rum (could use any other type of liquor)
• 1 Tablespoon (.5oz) strawberry simple syrup
• 3 Tablespoons (1.5oz) orange juice (about 1/2 navel orange)
• 3 Tablespoons (1.5oz) pineapple juice
• 1/4 cup (2oz) club soda
• ice

For the strawberry simple syrup (makes ~1 cup syrup):

• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup water
• 3 large strawberries

Directions:

1. For the strawberry simple syrup: Combine sugar, water, and strawberries into a small saucepan over high heat. Mash strawberries as the mixture comes to a boil. Boil for 30 seconds, then turn off the heat and allow syrup to cool completely. Transfer syrup to a food processor or blender, process until smooth, then strain through a fine mesh sieve to remove the strawberry seeds (optional.) Chill in the fridge.

2. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice, then add rum, strawberry simple syrup, orange juice, and pineapple juice. Shake until very cold. Pour into a glass, including the ice, then top with club soda.

3. Skinnygirl Mojito (Image and Recipe from Bethenny Frankle)
I've made this a couple of times when I've had friends over, and it is a very light and refershing drink. But be warned, it has a very strong rum flavor. I have heard Bethenny's recipes tend to have a stronger liquor flavor.

Ingredients:

-- 2 tbsp. fresh mint
-- 1/2 lime cut into 6 wedges
-- 1 cup ice
-- 1 1/2 tbsp. lime juice
-- 1/2 tsp. gently warmed honey
-- 2 oz. clear rum
-- 4 oz. club soda (I used diet 7-up)
-- mint and lime for garnish

Directions:

In a martini shaker, use a long spoon to muddle the fresh mint (tear into smaller pieces first to release the flavor) and the 1/2 lime cut into 6 wedges. Add 1 cup ice and 1 1/2 tbsp. lime juice. Combine 1/2 tsp. gently warmed honey, 2 oz. clear rum and 4 oz. club soda. Add this combination to muddled mixture. Stir until well chilled. Strain into a rocks glass filled with ice. Garnish with mint and lime.

4. Blueberry Sangria Lemonade (Image and Recipe from Sandra Lee)
This is another favorite that I like to serve at parties. You can make a couple of pitchers of this, and it is a great way to serve a crowd without feeling like your stuck being a bartender at your party.

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups frozen blueberries
• 1 (12-ounce) can frozen concentrated pink lemonade
• 1 bottle (750ml) Chardonnay
• 3 cups lemon lime soda (recommended: Sprite)
• 1/2 cup Cognac

Directions:

 

In a large pitcher, combine all ingredients and stir. Refrigerate for 1 hour to meld flavors. Serve chilled in iced tea glasses.

5. Spiced Pineapple (Image and Recipe from Martha Stewart)

I have not tried this yet, but it is on my list of cocktails to try this summer. I LOVE pineapple, and the idea of spicing it up with chili powder sounds interesting.

Ingredients:

• 1/3 cup fresh lime juice (from about 3 limes), plus wedges for serving
• 3 tablespoons agave nectar or honey
• 1 cup pineapple juice
• 2 cups fresh or frozen pineapple cubes
• 1/4 cup triple sec
• 1/3 cup tequila
• 2 cups ice
• 1 1/2 teaspoons chili powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon coarse salt

Directions:

Stir together lime juice and agave nectar; add to a blender, along with pineapple juice, pineapple, triple sec, tequila, and ice. Blend until smooth and frothy.

In a small shallow bowl or saucer, combine chili powder, sugar, and salt. Rub a lime wedge around the rims of four glasses, then dip glasses in spice mix to coat. Divide drink among glasses and serve with lime wedges.

Hope you have an amazing weekend, and please share if you do end up trying one of this! I promise you they are totally worth it!

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I've Come to Realize...

Last week Holly from Hey Hollywood had a post titled “I’ve come to realize”. It was fun post because she answered a survey around 4 years ago about things she has come to realize, and then compared them to how she felt today. It was fun to see how her answers had changed in only a few years.

I started to think about all the things I’ve come to realize in my 30-something years, and thought it would be fun to share. So here it goes!

What I’ve come to realize between then and now:

-- That Mom was always right (just don’t tell her I said so). And at some point in time, you will become your mother.

-- That a cup of hot tea (or wine) and a bubble bath can solve many problems. And if that doesn’t work, a good night’s sleep will at least clear your head so you can solve said problem in the morning. (BTW: I learned this from my Mother...see point above).

-- That life sometimes gets in the way of any good plan, especially if your plan doesn't match up with God’s plan.

-- That everything happens for a reason. And 10 years later it will hit you like a frying pan to the head…oh that’s why that happened.

-- That working hard (and having a college degree…sadly) won’t mean you will automatically get ahead. Chances are you will have to toot your own horn, network like crazy, and kiss a few butts.

-- That people come in and out of our lives for a reason.

-- That the people you meet before meeting your soul mate will make you a better person for when you meet “the one.”

-- That every once in a while you need to splurge on a decadent dessert and a good pair of designer shoes.

-- That man's best friend sometimes has 4 legs, a fuzzy coat and a wet nose.

And to end my words of wisdom on a lighter note, I’ve come to realize this is what a 6-year old looks like playing baseball:

On Saturday we got to watch my nephew's last baseball game of the season. It was so fun to watch him play, but I'll admit, the game was a little boring. There was a lot of this...

and some of this...

{ My bro was playing catcher...doesn't he look 6 here! }

Oh, but Jack did hit the ball and made it to first base.

{ He had just hit the ball here, and was probably like...what do I do now? }

It was a fun time though, and glad that I got to see him play!

On another note, did everyone in the Illinois, Indiana, Ohio area survive the Derecho storm last night. I had not idea what a Derecho was, but apparently we had one last year that knocked the power out in some areas for over a week. Let's just say everyone was a little nervous and we did do a little bit to get prepared (had extra ice in the freezer, brought in the plants/patio stuff so they wouldn't fly away). Thankfully our power stayed on, no trees that I saw had been blown over, and it sounded like just a bunch of hard rain. 

I do have to admit we survived the storm thanks to Napoleon. He barked and growled every single time it thundered (and this happened at 1:30 in the morning mind you). He my only be 14 pounds, but he was determined to save us from this big bad storm. Abby on the other hand (who is almost 30 pounds), slept on my chest, shaking the whole time, like a big ol baby! Gotta love our pups!

Linking up today with Hey Hollywood for a I've Come to Realize linkup.

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Life Lately + Favorite Outfits

Happy Hump Day everyone! This is the first week where I actually had to work a straight 5 days in a row for a while. I'm not sure I like it :(

But I guess we all got to work to pay the bills right? That's what I tell the puppies every morning when they give me their sad little puppy dog eyes as I am walking out the door. I say "someone has to work in order to afford all of your treats and toys." And then they bark "give me a treat woman!" And then once they have their treat they hop on up into our bed which is where they spend the next 9 hours. Oh the life of a dog.

Anyway, let's get on to the life of the humans. Lots of stuff going on, so I thought I would share it all with iPhone pictures (I know you are so excited you can't contain yourself!).

First up are two outfits that I have been loving lately.

Outfit #1: I posted about this seahorse t-shirt on Friday and finally found some shorts that I didn't feel were too short and inappropriate. T-shirt: J Crew; Shorts: J Crew; Tank: Victoria Secret Pink (old); Shoes: Tory Burch.

Outfit #2: I finally broke down and purchased a chambray shirt. Rick keeps telling me it's just a denim shirt. He apparently doesn't know fashion right...ha! Shirt: J Crew; Capris: Loft; Shoes: Tory Burch; Necklace: Bridier Baubles.

1. I broke down and purchased some cute shorts to go with my seahorse shirt that I posted about on Friday. These are only 4", but they sit lower on my hips, so they don't see as short as some of the others I tried on.

2. I also got my hair did on Friday. It doesn't look too different other than I now don't have 3" roots. Oh and she straightened it, but due to the humidity, there was already some wave coming back. I swear I can never get my hair straight in the summer...even a professional can't! I guess it's a good thing I don't live in the South or I would deal with frizz year round.

3. This is my new favorite spot. Out on the back deck, enjoying the birds and other wildlife (beagles included).

4. We moved my brother back home on Saturday. He lived about 3 hours away, so my Mom and I had to drive down there so one of us could drive his car back. This is our little caravan. My brother drove the moving truck, my Mom drove his car and I drove my car. All 3 vehicles were stuffed full of stuff. It was a fun ride back home, not being able to look out the back or side windows...not! But so glad he and the kiddos are moving back home, and hopefully I get to see them more often.

5. & 6. Before we headed back on Saturday, we got to watch Jack's last baseball game. He and Izzie had to show off his medal at lunch. Such good kids! Izzie was so cute and stole Jack's hat during lunch, put it on her head and said, "now I am a boy!" And then of course she put his hat on my head and said "Aunt Jenny, now you are a boy!" Who knew that is all it took to become a boy!

7., 8. & 9. Rick was gone all last week in Florida for training. I was jealous at first until I learned about the tropical storm and that it rained almost all last week. Of course it was in the 60's here last week...isn't it June!! Anyway, the pups were kind of sad he was gone, so I texted him pics all week of them being all sad. Napoleon in the middle doesn't look too sad, but I loved they way he was laying with his legs out like a T.

10. I am just loving how my table looks right now. I got a new table runner from World Market, and some of the new blue Ball jars, which I put some fresh flowers in. Such a fun summery table!

11. I am also loving my new music wreath, which I shared last week in my Saw It. Pinned It. Did It. post. Check it out to see how you can make your own.

12. I am obsessed with making s'mores lately. I found some great gluten free graham crackers, so now I can enjoy this fun tasty treat. I got them at Meijer's if anyone is GF and wants to try them out!

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What's For Dinner (Lately)

I had great intentions of documenting our meal plans each week, but life tends to get in the way and meal planning doesn't always happen (keepin it real y'all). Add in the fact that sometimes I try awesome new recipes, and sometimes we end up having yet another rotisserie chicken from the grocery store...not very exciting, but still delish!

 

So I thought it might be best to just group some of my favorites into one post and share every couple of weeks. It's less stress for me to have to constantly come up with unique recipes to share, and less boring posts for you who don't care that we had yet another rotisserie chicken for the 120th week in a row (yep, had one last night...yum!). These recipes though, you definitely need to try!

 

 

 

Buffalo Chicken Enchiladas

 

I came across this recipe and thought it was a unique take on a Mexican favorite. It's also a time saver because you can cook the chicken in the crockpot, then just shred, add to your favorite tortillas (I used white corn because they are gluten free), pour some pre-made enchilada sauce and cheese on top, throw in the oven, and dinner is done! I made this a few weeks ago when my brother was visiting, and Rick and my brother just loved them.  

 

 

Spaghetti Squash with Marinara and Ground Turkey

 

This is a recipe that I guess you can say I kind of made up. It's not complicated, so I can't take too much credit for it...ha! But every couple of weeks I make a spaghetti squash in the oven, and then on the stove top brown some ground turkey, add some jarred marinara sauce, some Italian spices and sometimes some red pepper flakes, and it's like a healthy version of spaghetti with meat sauce.

 

If you have never made spaghetti squash, it's super easy. Just pierce the squash in a few places with a sharp knife. Then put in the microwave for about 7 mins. This will help soften the squash so you can cut it in half. Once you have cut it in half, remove the seeds. Keep most of the flesh in-tact as this will become your spaghetti. Then place on a baking sheet, cut side up, and bake on 375 for about 45 mins. Remove from the oven and scrape with a fork. This will make your spaghetti noodles. Then just pour your favorite meat/sauce on top and booya you have dinner!

 

 

PF Chang's Lettuce Wraps

 

This is one of my favorite Iowa Girl Eats recipes. I'll admit I have never had the lettuce wraps at PF Chang's, but I did make this for a few friends one time and they claimed they were just as good. It's a very simple easy recipe that you can serve as an appetizer or just have it for dinner like I did. The only thing I would recommend is getting a good buttery lettuce. I just used a plain head of lettuce, and the leaves didn't tear off as nice. Plus the lettuce was kind of plain. Learn from my mistakes and yours will be awesome!!

 

 

Potato and Leek Pizza

 

This is one of my favorite Pioneer Woman recipes. This is from one of her cookbooks and isn't on her website. But I did find it from another website so I could share here. Another mistake I made on this recipe was forgetting the leeks the last time I made it (so not pictured above). They make a huge difference, so try and find them at the store and use them. Totally worth it. My store was out of them this last week, and I forgot to go back and get them. The pizza was still very good, but the leeks really add another level of flavor.

 

 

Steak and Lemon Risotto

 

This lemon risotto is just amazing! My friends have actually requested I make this on numerous occasions. It's kind of a pain in the bum as you have to basically stir it for 20 mins straight, but after it's finished and I am eating it, I remember that it was totally worth the time, and the sore arm muscles. It's so creamy and cheesy. I try and stay away from cheese (hurts my tummy), but this is one meal that I do splurge on every once in a while. I would highly recommend making with steak, one of my favorite splurge meals.

 

 

Honey Chicken with Snow Peas

 

This is a really simple stir fry recipe, and you can really add any veggie of your choice. My favorite is snap peas, but broccoli or peppers are just as good. It's a great recipe because the sauce consists of only 3 ingredients: garlic, honey and soy sauce. It's one of those recipes that you can really make with what you have on hand, and it takes only maybe 20 mins to pull together.

 

 

Ham and Cheese Quinoa Cups

 

Ok so this picture is not pretty at all. A total fail on my part, but this was so very delish! We had these for dinner, but I thought they would make an awesome brunch dish. I made them in muffin cups and it was so simple to pull together. You just make the quinoa ahead of time, and then mix in some pre-cooked cubed ham, cheese, zucchini (which I chopped up in the food processor), and some eggs. Mix all together, spoon into muffin cups and bake. You could make this in a casserole dish as well and serve it that way. I thought they were just as good the next day for lunch. Maybe a little squishy, but still very tasty.

 

And there you have it. Some of my favorite meals over the past few weeks. I have some more fun meals planned and on my list to try, so I'll check in soon with some more favorites!

 

What have you been eating that I totally need to try. Please share!

 

 

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Five on Friday

Happy Friday! Congrats we made it through another week. This was a tough one, and I only worked 4 days...oops :( 

Today I wanted to share some things I am loving, that I think you will too!

1. Cocktail of the Week: Barefoot Refresh Crisp White. This is one of Barefoot's new sparkling wines, and it is so crisp and refreshing. I love some good "champs" (as Heather Dubrow calls it) and sparkling wine, and this one is not too dry and not too sweet. I would say it's perfect for a hot summer evening. According to this article, it's a Riesling blended with Chenin Blanc. I say it's awesome, especially since it was only $6.99 (at Giant Eagle).

{ Source }

2. Purchase of the week: J Crew Seahorse T-Shirt. I have been eying this shirt for about a month, and after hearing about J. Crew's sale (30% off with your J. Crew card, 25% off w/out card, still going on now) I just had to snag it. Now I just need to find a cute pair of seafoam green or turquoise shorts to go with it, that aren't so short they show my bum. I know that I am a slim girl, but as I get older, I just feel more comfortable with a little more coverage. If you have any suggestions, I would love to find something that is 6" in length, that's not horribly expensive.

{ Source }

3. Fav Nail Polish: OPI Charged Up Cherry. I love this color, and have actually gotten a couple of compliments on it. This week I'm wearing it on my toes (those are not my nails above, they never look that nice...ha!).

{ Source & Source }

4. New Books I'm Excited About. I am so excited that two of my favorite author's have released new books this week, and I can't wait to start reading them.

5. Song of the week. And if you haven't watched this video yet, do it right now. Remember this little girl who sang the Nicki Minag song on Ellen a year or so ago? I am so impressed as she is only 10 years old, and LOVE this song. I might have already downloaded it from iTunes.

Enjoy your weekend!

Linking up today with Darci, April, Natasha and Christina.

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