Pawther's Day with Michelob ULTRA

June 10, 2018

This post is sponsored by Michelob Ultra but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.

We all know that living a life of balance isn’t easy. Balancing work, staying healthy, and spending quality time with the people we love is a major accomplishment in today’s society. Most of us fall short of achieving this balance, and often the many aspects of our busy lives supersede family time, especially with our dads. But there’s one time of year that we take time to give dads the appreciation they deserve: Father’s Day. Which is why this year I'm giving a major shoutout to my husband; the father to our dog, MaQ, who is just the best pawrent ever! Continue reading to see how we will be celebrating this year.

My father passed away in 2012 and though I have many 'father-figures' in my life that inspire me, no one comes in as the first runner-up other than my husband. He's not just my partner in business but is my best friend. He is the most loving, gentle father to our German shepherd, MaQ and definitely has stepped up with the pawrent duties since the blog has taken off. It's really difficult balancing everything in life, but with him by my side, there's nothing we can't do. I'm truly grateful for his love and support, through it all. And trust me, we've been through A LOT. The end of this month will be 12 years together! Maybe an anniversary post of getting to know us better is in the making? Stay tuned... :)

Whether it’s your brother, friend, co-worker or your own father, let’s toast to the #ULTRADAD who inspire us to live full lives and make better choices. And what better way to celebrate them than on the golf course, grilling in the backyard or just hanging with friends/fam with an ice cold Michelob ULTRA? All of these are simply better together – especially when both are shared with your dad and Michelob ULTRA. What are you doing to celebrate this Father’s Day/Pawther's Day? ✨

LOVE & XX'S,

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Summer Poetry with Three Olives Rosé Vodka

May 16, 2018

This post is sponsored by Three Olives Rosé Vodka but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.

Summer has literally jump kicked right in and there's just no spring here in New York City. I don't mind as any good weather will do - I love to read indoors, outdoors, anywhere really and with the warmer temps setting in, I've found a great new cocktail that has got two of my favorite drinks into one. It's Rosé Vodka! If you guys know anything about me I'm all about efficiency and making the most out of everything. This includes reading and drinking! Continue to learn more about Three Olives Rosé Vodka, some of my favorite poetry and a video as well. Did I mention there's also a quick and easy cocktail concoction on top?

The combination of flavors comes together in such an interesting and good way! I wanted to make it a bit more of a bubbly drink with the hot weather. And since I can finally bask in the glorious warm sun, I included champagne to celebrate. But why combine in the first place? Convenience, yes, but for the quality! Winning in my book :) And a bookworm such as myself only has so much time mixing drinks before she loses patience and just goes back to reading. So a splash of this, 1 part of that, and voila! Check out the recipe:

Rosé Royale

1 Part Three Olives Rosé Vodka

Splash of Chilled Champagne

Fresh Raspberries

Pour Three Olives Rosé Vodka in a champagne flute and top with champagne and fresh raspberries.

So if you're a vodka and rosé wine fan, this combined liquor is right up your alley. I'd recommended smashing up more raspberries into the drink if you want it to be a little sweeter, but I love berries in general and snacking on them while reading is such a treat! Perhaps a little-whipped cream if that's something you fancy. But the flavors between the rosé, vodka, champagne, and raspberries are just the right amount of everything when it comes to my taste buds.

Three Olives Rosé Vodka is perfect on its own over ice or with a splash of club soda, and extremely mixable in a variety of summer cocktails, from sangria to frosé and spritzers. So whether you like to stay in or go out, this drink is ready to kick into summer all day AND night! The new Three Olives Rosé Vodka is anything but basic. Head to ThreeOlives.com for recipe ideas and more. Got a question about something or just want to drop a line? Leave your comments down below!

LOVE & XX'S,

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White Christmas Margaritas

December 26, 2017

This post is brought to you by Código 1530 Rosa but all opinions are my own.

Merry Christmas, everyone! I hope your day was filled with much love & joy a person can hold in their heart. I'm not big on the holiday in particular, but I did enjoy some major quality time with the pup and even squeezed in an old tradition - going to the movies on Christmas Day. I saw The Shape of Water and let me tell you, one of the best films I have seen in years. I balled my eyes out because I'm a hopeless, die-hard romantic, but everything from the cinematography to the story was absolutely phenomenal. Truly inspiring - if you haven't seen it yet, you HAVE to check it out! Lots of Oscar buzz going around on this particular film, you'll be hearing a lot more about it! And even though it's the day after Christmas, I wanted to create a fun, festive cocktail drink in light of National Candy Cane Day! Get hooked on this coconutty- peppermint refreshment with an amazing new tequila I'm trying from Código 1530. Continue reading to get the recipe and to see more photos of this holiday cocktail.

DOWNLOAD RECIPE

White Christmas Margarita Recipe

Serves 2-4

Ingredients:

14oz coconut milk

12 oz Código 1530 Rosa Tequila

1/2 c lime juice

8oz peppermint schnapps

2c ice

Directions:

Crush hard peppermint candy or candy canes to rim to glasses.
In a blender, mix all ingredients until left with a smooth frozen brew. Garnish with candy canes.

There's not much to this quick and easy recipe. First, crush hard peppermint candy or candy canes to rim to glasses. I did it with a Ziploc bag and the side of a hammer. Very simple. Then in a blender, combine all ingredients blending until left with a smooth frozen brew. Garnish with candy canes and sprinkle a little bit of the crushed ones on top of the drinks. I think it gives it an extra dose of fun and playfulness. As for the Código 1530 Rosa, this particular tequila begins with the purity of their Blanco, then is rested for 1 month in uncharred Napa Cabernet French White Oak barrels. The result is a refined spirit with a natural color as beautiful as its taste. Their Rosa has rested just long enough in their fine Cabernet barrels to enrich the natural agave juice, without overpowering its delicate floral notes. I think it goes very well with the balances of the freshness of the peppermint along with the slight sweetness of the coconut milk. What do you guys think of this cocktail? Are you a fan of candy canes and what are your plans for #NationalCandyCaneDay?

LOVE & XX'S,

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Voveti Blackberry Rosemary Cocktails

November 27, 2017

Thank you VOVETI for sponsoring this post. Elevate your entertaining this season with VOVETI Prosecco

The other day I posted a cocktail recipe that included vodka and passionfruit. Many of you messaged me about a way to make the drink less rich in terms of liquor and also in sugar. So, in today's post, I've created a lighter recipe with VOVETI. VOVETI Prosecco is dry with hints of fruit on the palate, making it the perfect choice for an easy drinking aperitif, cocktail and to share with friends anytime. VOVETI has more bubbles than other Proseccos; the powerful pressure in each bottle creates millions of tiny bubbles, ensuring freshness and effervescence. VOVETI is a brut style DOC with tempered acidity and a fresh, graceful profile.The VOVETI bottle is sleek and modern with a unique shape that will bring chicness to any occasion. The name VOVETI is inspired by the Latin verb voveo, which means “to vow” or “to promise.” Signifying the vow are 2 orange rings, intertwined. The rings represent the harmonious marriage of classic Italian winemaking and modern luxurious taste.

With the hints of fruit in the prosecco, I wanted to stay within that category when it came to fresh ingredients. And I've always loved blackberries with prosecco. Or any berry, as a matter of fact.To keep it from being too sweet, I worked in some rosemary. Its tea-like aroma and piney flavor definitely complement well with the blackberry and prosecco. And I've always loved them as garnish, I'm all about that evergreen decor.

Download Recipe

Voveti Blackberry Rosemary Cocktails

Serves 2-4

Ingredients:

Voveti Prosecco

Some blackberries
Few sprigs of fresh rosemary

Directions:

Pour the Voveti Prosecco into champagne flutes, but don’t fill it up right to the top yet (leave some space).
Add a few blackberries to each glass and use a teaspoon to lightly crush them, releasing their purple juices.
Add a sprig of rosemary to easy glass and serve immediately.

And this recipe is easy-peasy. Just add a few berries into each flute glass and use a fork to gently crush them, releasing their purple juices for a touch of color. Then add the prosecco and rosemary garnish and you'll be good to go! What do you guys think of VOVETI and this blackberry rosemary cocktail? Don't forget to save this recipe for later and leave your comment down below!

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of CLEVER and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

LOVE & XX'S,

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Spiced Apple Margaritas

September 3, 2017

Happy Labor Day weekend! I'm staying in town relaxing and prepping for NYFW along with brainstorming and creating content for my favorite season, fall! There's no drink quite like the margarita- whether it's frozen or on the rocks, from delicious variants like Chipotle to strawberry and more. That's why Margaritas are the #1 cocktail in the U.S., with 70% of them made from scratch in our very own homes... But there's a well-kept secret that turns an ordinary home-made margarita into an extraordinary one--Agavero Orange. Which is why I've partnered with Agavero Orange Liqueur, a tequila based liqueur that is the perfect addition to any margarita recipe. It's Gran Centenario Tequila's perfect match, and it's your dance partner, party pleaser and top-secret ingredient.With summer coming to an end, I wanted to create a fall-inspired margarita cocktail. Enter: Spiced Apple Margaritas!

Spiced Apple Margaritas

Serves 2

Ingredients:

1.5 parts Gran Centenario Plata

.75 parts Agavero Orange Liqueur

1.5 to 2 ounces apple juice

1 oz fresh orange juice (about half an orange, juiced)

Dash all spice & cinnamon

Star anise, apple & orange zest for garnish

Cinnamon/sugar/salt rim blend and garnish

1 tsp sugar

1 tsp salt

½ tsp ground cinnamon

Directions:

On a small plate, use a fork to blend the sugar, salt and cinnamon. Run a wedge of orange around the top of each drinking glass, then turn the glass down at a 45-degree angle and roll the top of the glass through the cinnamon, sugar and salt blend. Fill the glasses with ice and set them aside.
Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Feel free to make 2 to 3 drinks at once. Pour in the tequilas, apple juice, orange juice, all spice, and cinnamon. Put on the lid and shake the cocktail for about 20 seconds. Strain the cocktail into the prepared glass(es) and add a star of anise if you’d like. Garnish with a slice of apple and orange zest. Cheers!

Agavero Orange Liqueur is a delicious blend of 100% agave tequila infused with orange and agave nectar. It is subtle enough for sipping, but also an ideal orange liqueur for the ultimate Margarita as it offers a robust tequila flavor coupled with the ripe citrus of Mexican oranges. So I paired the orange liqueur with Gran Centenario® Plata - it adds extra depth and character to crafted cocktails. The tequila is also delicious as a chilled shot. I paired the Tequila's with more orange and apple flavors, spicing it up with some ground all-spice and cinnamon. Lastly, I garnished the drinks with star anise, to not only enhance the flavor but to maintain a rustic sort of fall cocktail.

What do you guys think of these spiced apple margaritas? I definitely wanted to try something different using fall-inspired ingredients. I was even thinking of a pumpkin spiced margarita, but given the fact that I don't have a blender in my kitchen at the moment, I found it to be rather more challenging to mix those kinds of ingredients together. Which is why I opted for apple and orange, the perfect combination with the Agavero Orange Liqueur and Gran Centenario Tequila. Enjoy the rest of the long weekend!