fizzy drinks

I'll have a glass of sparkling water, please.
Since graduating from college I have cut back on drinking way, way, way much; to the extent where having a drink is a very rare occasion for me. There were a number of reasons that prompted me to cut back/eliminate drinking - no longer was I in a super social atmosphere, most of my weekend days and mornings were busy with work at the boutique, yoga, running groups and mass, and after awhile, when your tolerance goes way low, you just don't like it that much anymore (at least in my case).
If truth be told, indulging in cookies & cream ice cream is more up my alley than a glass of wine...but to each their own. 
One of my struggles (that I am still working on) with this 'no drinking,' is feeling a little lame when I go out for dinner or drinks because I just have a glass of water. I haven't had soda in years and am not a coffee nor tea drinker since caffeine makes me wired and tea is even worse than coffee in staining your teeth. While I was fine with drinking my H20, I wondered if it was just a tad boring.
This spring, my Grandpa cut back on drinking alcohol and has substituted with tonic water & lime or San Pellegrino. I have started doing the same -most of the times bars don't even charge you, especially when tonic or soda water on tap is all that's available in the sparkling beverage department. I have been ordering sparkling water with a citrus wedge -usually orange - and squeeze and stir in my fizzy drink and it's been divine! I am still figuring out the beverage thing, but for now my little sparking cocktail has been just grand.
While my Italian fizzy water combo is a good go-to for now, I think I'll always be okay with an excuse to click champagne glasses and sip the bubbly :)

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cocktail hour

The Seven Classic Cocktails Every Sophisticated Woman Should Know

The spring always puts me in a better mood and makes me think of sundresses and early evening cocktails on the patio. Everyone seems lighter, happier and more energized. Social engagements tend to be loads of fun with sunset cocktails continuing long after the moon rises, with twinkling lights and fire flies adding sparkle to the balmy air. While I can hardly tolerate the summer heat, I love those summer nights.

I don't drink even a fraction as much as I did in college - definitely a good thing in many regards - but I find, as such, that my cocktail list is far from sophisticated. My cocktails of choice include - and are limited to - white wine or a classic beer. When selecting wine, I often choose chardonnay (thanks to this wine personality quiz) and when I have a beer, I either choose Fat Tire or just a Bud Light. Fat Tire is my go-to when I am around craft brew drinkers.

When I saw this cocktail list on Veranda, it was just the perfect drink-spiration and I wanted to share with all of you. Maybe this will help you jazz up your summer cocktail order, whether or not you clink glasses weekly or just on those special nights out on the town!

Enjoy your weekend, toodles!

MOSCOW MULE

For those who always order: vodka sodas

What it's made with: vodka, ginger beer, lime juice

These drinks are what put vodka on the map here in the United States. Their bright taste - and the fact they're easy to drink - make the favorite for many, especially when they're served in their (correct) copper cup.

GIMLET

For those who always order: gin & tonics

What it's made with: gin, lime juice

Actually created for sailors as a way to prevent scurvy, the drink was later seen as an old person's cocktail - until its revitalization right about now. The drink is one part sweetened lime juice to four parts gin, so it's sweet but packs a punch. And if you're asking for limes in your G&T, consider this your new go-to. 

DAIQUIRI

For those who always order: rum & cokes

What it's made with: rum, simple syrup, lime juice

Contrary to popular belief, a true daiquiri isn't anything that comes out of a frozen slushy machine. A shaken cocktail made with rum, lime juice and simple syrup, the drink was often served in a frosted glass or over crushed ice. The more modern take is to serve it straight up in a cocktail glass. 

FRENCH 75

For those who always order: champagne

What it's made with: gin, sparkling wine/champagne, sugar/simple sugar, lemon (or other citrus)

This drink was made in 1915 in New York (happy 100th birthday!) and we really don't know what to say, other than look at the ingredients. Gin and champagne?! Be still our hearts. 

THE PALOMA

For those who always order: margaritas

What it's made with: tequila, grapefruit, club soda

Refreshing, tequila-based, and easy to make - this is the best alternative to ordering a margarita. Just don't ask if it comes in frozen. 

TOM COLLINS

For those who always order: gin and sodas

What it's made with: gin, lemon juice, sugar, soda

A Tom Collins is a reminiscent of spiking lemonade with gin - not that that is a bad thing. It's honestly the easiest way to add some interest to your gin & soda order...and all bartenders should learn how to make them; otherwise run far, far away. 

SIDECAR

For those who always order: whiskey gingers

What it's made with: cognac, orange liqueur (triple sec), lemon juice

The sidecar came to prominence in the 1950s, and while whiskeys and cognacs are completely different spirits, they both fermet in a barrel and both tend to be a bit smoky in flavor. That, mixed with the sweetness of the triple sec and lemon, makes for a good strong drink. 

(via Veranda Magazine)

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How to drink champagne like an expert

Tuesday toast!!

Here's how to drink your bubbly...dancing on tables is optional :)

(via)

From the editors of Town & Country Magazine, Winemaker and Champagne expert Elise Losfelt of Moët & Chandon shares 10 tips to drinking champagne like a bubbly enthusiast. 

1. The glass - The best way to enjoy champagne is in a white wine glass. A white wine glass's larger bowl enables the wine to open up in the glass, allowing you to better enjoy all the aromas and to savor the complexity of the champagne. Traditional champagne flutes are perfect for showcasing champagne's stream of bubbles, but their narrow share limits the drinker's experience of aromas and flavors. Coupe glasses, on the other hand, create the opposite experience; the glass's extra-wide mouth amply exposes the champagne in the air allowing the bubbles and aromas to escape quickly.

2. Best way to open - When opening your bottle, make sure you keep the cage on. The cage helps you control the cork so it doesn't fly out when it pops, and also gives you leverage to help separate the cork from the bottle. When removing the cork, hold the top of the cage with your thumb to keep the cork in place and untwist the wire six times. Then, hold the cage and cork together in one hand while using the other to twist the bottle's base in a circular direction away from the cork to slowly work out the cork out. Twisting the bottle instead of the cork allows you to more gently remove the cork and have more control.

3. Where to store - A common misconception when storing champagne is to leave it in the fridge. If you're planning to enjoy your bottle of champagne immediately (within three or four days after buying it) storing it in the refrigerator is fine. But if it sits there for a week or more the cork can dry out, as there is no humidity in refrigerators. As corks dry out, the seal between the bottle and the cork loosen up and the champagne will oxidize faster, changing its aromas. Instead, keep it in a cool place in your home, away from any light, and where the temperature is consistent.

4. The ideal temperature - Once you're ready to enjoy your champagne, the best way to chill your bottle is to fill an ice bucket with ice and one-third water and allow your bottle to cook from around 15-20 minutes.

5. Pouring - When pouring champagne, only fill your glass about one-third of the way full. If you over-pour, it will warm up too quickly.

6. Hold the stem - Remember to hold your glass by the stem and not by the bowl because your hands will warm the champagne up too quickly. And, holding the glass by the stem will make you look more sophisticated!

7. The stopper - In between pours, don't forget to use a good champagne stopper to preserve all the delicious bubbles! A stopper will keep your open bottle fresh for about one day - in case you don't finish in one sitting :)

8. Drink champagne with your dinner - Many people think they should only use champagne as an aperitif, but that is not the only way to drink it. Champagne pairs beautifully with foods like fish, meat, grilled vegetables, and risotto, and can bring out new flavors you've never tasted in these foods.

9. Best foods to pair with bubbly - Also, don't be afraid to experiment with food pairings. Oysters and caviar are fantastic with champagne, and more casual foods like truffle fries, fried chicken, and cheese are equally as delicious with champagne. Champagne loves oily, salty, and fatty foods, as they bring out the wine's frutiness and freshness, so foods like burgers, tacos, BBQ sauce, and lobster (who would have thought?!) are exciting new pairings to try that champagne connoisseurs have been enjoying for years.

10. Celebrate every day - If you have a bottle of champagne in your refrigerator, don't wait for a special occasion to enjoy it. You will see that by opening the bottle, the special occasion will come to you. Celebrate life everyday!

Write-up via Harper's Bazaar.

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christmas party

I threw a little Christmas party last night. It was a small gathering with friends, many who I haven't seen in a long time. Since graduating from college and entering the grown-up world, it has taken some adjustment to join the social world. To be blunt, sometimes I feel like it would be just wonderful to have a fraction of the social life I had in college! Although I am happy with this new phase of life, I miss the festive nature in gathering with friends, having parties, and attending other events that seemed effortless in school. I haven't been out too much in the Cincinnati scene, with working six days a week between the PR firm M-F and then the boutique on the weekend, sometimes all I want to do is relax at home. And, hangovers are 1000x worst when you're 22. Taylor Swift should have wrote about that in her song...

Anyways, I decided to start small with what I do best. Put on some tunes, pop the champagne, cue the lights, and let conversation, stories, and laughter flow. 

In true Christmas spirit, I was happy to let all of our holiday decorations steal the spotlight and be enjoyed by the company. As for food, I am not a culinary queen, by any stretch, so a quick stop at the grocery store to get crackers, cheese, summer sausage, humus, fruits, veggies, and cookies was sufficient. I offered white and red wine and made a signature cocktail which was a HIT for the evening. 

Here's the recipe for the most perfect holiday punch:

6 cups of cranberry juice

2 cups of freshly squeezed orange juice

1/2 cup of freshly squeezed lemon juice

2 bottles of champagne

Mix the juices together in a large punch bowl and add the champagne last. For a festive touch, cut up an orange to add the slices into the drink. The recipe serves 20. 

Of course, I had to give this outfit another go, and sported my most favorite holiday necklace EVER. Let me know if you have attended any fun holiday gatherings over the past few weeks. Do you have any favorite recipes, drinks, or outfits you'd like to share?

I hope you are all enjoying the holiday season because it truly is the most wonderful time of the year, merry, merry & toodles!

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fyi - the illustrations are by inslee, one of my favorite illustrators. 

AND, there are still a couple of days before Christmas...plenty of time for a party! See the playlist below for your perfect party tunes, in case this list didn't suffice earlier this month :) 

(via)

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One of those nights!

I see November as the kick-off to the holiday season. It's time for cocktails, party dresses, laughter, and celebration. I think this collection of images captures both the glamorous and playful side of entertaining so perfectly, because frankly no party is fun without without a fabulous outfit and delightful conversation. 

Here's to the party season, toddles!

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Tourist Tuesday

I have a collection of images which mildly reflect the weather this past week. Where it was absolutely stunning when I arrived, sun and warm weather...we fell back into a "winter rut". Nevertheless, there were still plenty of sites to see and pictures to take. 

It's hard to believe that this is my last week in Brossac...and I am almost half way through my travels.

 I am eager for my upcoming adventures. Next week, I will be posting about a weekend trip to Bordeaux & reconnecting with my dear friend Diane. 

Enjoy the images this week: Brossac, Chalais, and Aubeterre.

Brossac:

here is a view of brossac, i am staying just outside the city. the large building is the church, which you can see in a closer view below.

i take a walk down to the lake every afternoon 

Chalais:

 chalais is the closest town to brossac (aka: train station). it's about 12 km from the house and for some crazy reason...i decided to walk there and back this weekend!

Aubeterre:

the village has won several awards for being the most beautiful in all of france. the rainy weather (and my photo-taking ability) can't do it justice!

one of the oldest cathedrals in all france (and probably the world).

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