happy hour: ring in the new year

happy (almost) new year!  every new year's eve, my family hosts a party to ring in the new year.  fancy cocktail attire required.  it's always so much fun to get dressed up and celebrate with family & friends.  and another "must" at our party is a signature drink.



credit {here}

signature drinks are a fun & festive way to get guests in the celebratory spirit...with a celebratory spirit : )  they are simple to create and a great option if you don't want to set up a full bar or just offer wine & beer.

champagne is sort of a given for new year's, but i like to add a little twist to make it extra special.  this year, i'm offering up the "countdown cocktail" for you to enjoy with your loved ones this new year's eve.  the tart sweetness of limoncello paired with the smooth cut of vanilla vodka is sure to leave your guests feeling mighty festive.

countdown cocktail

champagne
limoncello
vanilla vodka
lemon twist

1. fill a flute 2/3 full with champagne
2. add a splash of limoncello & a splash of vodka
3. garnish with a lemon twist

credit {here}

i like to set out all the ingredients and create a recipe card so that guests can make their own.  that way, they can control how big of a "splash" they would enjoy.

cheers!

happy hour: christmas cheers

our little sock monkey ornament

well, can you believe it?  christmas is just 2 days away!  every year it surprises me just how quickly the holiday season goes...and it always goes faster than i remember or expect.  in honor of this very special time of year, i've collected a few recipes to "cheers" over just in time for christmas.

peppermint hot chocolate (picture credit here)

i found this awesome recipe on two tarts for peppermint hot chocolate.  it's the perfect wintry treat to warm up with on a snowy morning : )

me & olive on the tree farm

mulled wine (picture credit here)

mulled wine is easy to make and tastes like christmas-in-a-glass.  check out this super simple recipe {here} that will delight all your holiday guests.

our tree : )

christmas cocktail (picture credit here)

and, if you're really looking for some holiday cheer, check out the 12 cocktails of christmas - guaranteed to impress.

my mermaid ornament

wishing you a very merry christmas from our home to yours!

happy hour: holiday punch

any holiday party you attend at my parents' house, you will undoubtedly find this holiday punch residing in the antique punch bowl that belonged to my maternal grandmother (she received it as a wedding present).  it's as simple as it is refreshing, and your guests will love the thoughtful, festive touch!

party punch - credit {here}

1 2-liter bottle of cranberry ginger ale
1 bottle of cranberry-apple juice
1 orange
small handful of whole cloves

1) pour ginger ale and juice into your punch bowl or a large pitcher.
2) slice the orange into coins and pierce with cloves to create decorative patterns on the slices.
3) float the orange slices with clove atop the punch!

looking for a punch with a kick?  chill a bottle of vodka or captain morgan's spiced rum and set it out alongside the punch so that guests can add a splash of their "punch" of choice to their glass.

happy hour: super chocolaty hot cocoa

today is finally feeling like december here.  there's frost on the fields and a chill in the air.  i love it!  since it's finally cold enough to enjoy a steaming cup of cocoa, i wanted to share my hot chocolate recipe that i make every year.  i always improvise this recipe, but below is the general formula i follow (feel free to get creative with it if the mood strikes you : )

credit {here}

2 cups eggnog

3 cups milk

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

3/4 cup cocoa mix (ghirardelli's mix is great!)

2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa

marshmallows

chocolate chips

1. place dry ingredients (cocoa mix, unsweetened cocoa, nutmeg, cinnamon) in a medium pot and pour eggnog over. whisk until combined over medium heat.  the liquid should be velvety smooth.

2. add milk slowly while whisking continuously. allow hot chocolate to come to desired temperature.

3. place a few chocolate chips in the bottom of each mug and pour hot chocolate over top. garnish with marshmallows.

credit {here}

option: stir with a candy cane for mint hot cocoa!

this hot cocoa is best if enjoyed fireside while watching white christmas with bing crosby.

happy hour: mint tea in marrakech

view of our riad's interior from rooftop terrace

mid-honeymoon, craig and i spent a long weekend in marrakech, morocco.  it was another world.  i had never been to africa before, so venturing across the mediterranean from sevilla, where we had been staying, was a thrill in and of itself.  there was a moment during our hour-long plane ride over when you could see europe, the mediterranean islands and africa all at once.  it was unreal.

our meal at the food stalls

yes, we went on a camel excursion : )

lantern souk

moroccan breakfast

in marrakech the streets are narrow, the squares are crowded and the smells (both good and bad) are overpowering.  we stayed in a great riad (i.e. small hotel) not to far from the spice market and the main square.  the majority of our time was spent shopping in the souks - small artisan shops.  and when we weren't shopping, we were drinking mint tea.

me with monkey

mint tea and "pancakes" with honey

olive tree on our riad's rooftop terrace

rug souk (where we bought a little moraccan carpet!)

their green tea & fresh mint infusion was so refreshing and deliciously sweet, and our riad - riad charlott' - offered it as a complimentary treat along with sesame seed biscotti whenever your heart desired.  needless to say, craig and i enjoyed several pots of mint tea during our 3 day stay : )



spice shop in the spice market near our riad

spa where we enjoyed a tradition scrub (and massage)



 sunset in marrakech

though we experienced a bit of culture shock, we both completely enjoyed our weekend in morocco.  and...we left with a rug, 2 punched-copper lanterns, several pairs of leather slipper shoes, countless scarves and a small ceramic bowl.  all of which survived the ride home!

happy hour: what to drink with thanksgiving leftovers

thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays.  i love how cozy my parents' house feels with fires in both fireplaces, the smell of turkey and other thanksgiving goodies wafting from the kitchen and family and friends all around.

and, if your family is anything like mine, we are sure to make plenty of extra so that we can enjoy thanksgiving leftovers all weekend long.

below you'll find my wine suggestions to pair with your bird & stuffing today...or tomorrow : )

whether you like red or white, you're in luck - both go great with thanksgiving food.  if you generally lean toward reds, try rex goliath free range red.  this friendly, approachable red isn't too heavy and drinks nicely with a hearty meal.  (bonus: this wine's a steal - only $7 per bottle!)

if you prefer white, try ménage à  trois white.  as you may have guessed, it's a blend of 3 grapes (hence "trois").  it's crisp without being sharp and has a full-bodied flavor, which again, works well with your thanksgiving spread.  (you'll find it for $12 per bottle.)

and remember the 20 minute rule for serving wines.  keep whites in the fridge and remove 20 minutes prior to drinking to let the temperature settle a bit.  for reds, keep them room temp and put in the fridge for 20 min prior to serving to drop the temperature ever so slightly.  simple and effective.

cheers!  here's to enjoying your leftovers every bit as much as you did the meal.

happy hour: snack time {guest post}

hi there, lovely readers of lifestyle maven! my name is erica and i blog about my life and adventures in washington, dc - all with 'boyfriend' - over at pocket full of chuckles. i've been following cailen's blog for quite some time. she was one of the first people i found on the blogosphere and i was instantly smitten (i mean, who wouldn't be!). so when she asked me to guest post while she's off marrying her best friend (!!!) i squealed with excitement. and then when she asked me to write about a fun recipe, i did my happy dance. because boyfriend and i love to cook. and our favorite thing to make is guacamole. it's always our go-to dish for parties and it was such a hit at this year's halloween party!

you will need the following:

(note: this recipe feeds a large group of people, so feel free to cut ingredients in half) 

dry cilantro (1 tbsp)

orange juice (a splash)

lime juice (2 limes)

red onion (1)

ripe avocados (8)

jalapenos (4)

roma tomatoes (4)

garlic cloves (6)

salt & pepper

1. slice avocados in half and remove pits. score with knife and squeeze in large mixing bowl.

2. chop onion and add to bowl.

3. finely chop jalapenos and garlic cloves. toss in bowl.

4. dice tomatoes. and you guessed it. toss in bowl.

don't mix just yet...

5. slice limes in half and squeeze juice in bowl.

6. add a splash of orange juice.

7. add your cilantro, salt and pepper.

8. now you can stir :)

so it looks like this!

or this..

enjoy :)

xo erica

happy hour: i do

so, mavens!  it's finally here - WEDDING WEEKEND!!!  as you read this, i'm on my way into philly to enjoy a lovely day of final prep and pampering before our rehearsal & rehearsal dinner tonight.

tomorrow, you'll find me and my girls at a quaint french cafe for breakfast, readying ourselves (and enjoying lunch...and champagne) in my sister's suite before heading to our 4pm ceremony where i'll become a mrs.

girls' breakfast. credit {here}

 following the ceremony, our guests will enjoy a fabulous cocktail hour - replete with a live jazz and a spectacular philadelphia skyline view - while craig and i snap some photos.

the reception will begin at 6pm and continue to 10pm (and we've got a few surprises up our sleeves for our guests to enjoy).

credit {here}

and after the reception, guests have a quick 1/2 hour to change before our after-party kicks-off at a great local tavern.

needless to say, craig and i (and our families) are super excited.  and, in true celebratory form, i think it's only appropriate to crack open a bottle of bubbly!

so, while you're enjoying this first weekend of november, sit back with a bellevue bubbly and celebrate your inner maven.

bellevue bubbly - our signature wedding cocktail

champagne . splash of st. germain . splash of vodka . garnish with lemon twist
watch me make this drink {here}

credit {here}

cheers!

alright, mavens - i'll see you in two weeks!  i've lined up lots of awesome guest bloggers to delight you while we're enjoying our honeymoon in seville, spain & marrakesh, morocco : )

happy hour: halloween cocktails

in case you didn't realize, we're suddenly at the end of october...and you know what that means.  halloween time!  in honor of that spooky holiday, i've rounded up some yummy (yet sinister) cocktails to enjoy with your candy.

credit {here}

sundown cocktail

3 ounces orange juice

1 1/2 ounces light rum

3/4 ounce grenadine

combine o.j. and rum in a hi-ball glass filled with ice. drizzle with grenadine. serve.

this cocktail is two-toned when first poured.  after it sits, the ingredients start to mix together into an intense orange color.  (adapted from {this} recipe.)

credit {here}

bloody cider punch 

2 cups brandy

1/2 cup black currant schnapps

1/8 cup superfine sugar

4 cups apple cider

1 1/2 cups seltzer

pour all the ingredients into a punch bowl and stir well until all the sugar is dissolved - this works best if the liquids are at room temp.  refrigerate until  cold and then, if you really want to add some creepy-goodness, drop in a block of dry ice to create some spooky fog!  (adapted from {this} recipe.)

cheers to a creepy halloween!

happy hour: creamy caramel apple martini

credit {here}

i'm not usually one for martinis with a cream base, but this one jumped out at me as a delicious after-dinner cocktail for fall.  the sweet creaminess of the caramel baileys paired with the tart apple vodka would make for the perfect autumnal treat : )

credit {here}

1 ounce(s) baileys caramel irish cream

1/2 ounce(s) smirnoff green apple vodka

1 slice apple

1 teaspoon caramel

credit {here}

1. in a shaker, add baileys & vodka.

2. shake with ice and pour into a martini glass.

3. garnish with an apple slice and a drizzle of caramel.

cheers!

original recipe {here}

happy hour: cran-spice martini

last night, for thirsty thursday, i decided craig and i would enjoy some fireside cocktails.  inspired by fall, i wanted something spicy with autumnal ingredients - like cranberry.

so, i came up with the cran-spice martini...and it was pretty darn good, too!

1 shot captain morgan's spiced rum
1 shot vodka
2 shots cranberry juice
squeeze of fresh orange
seltzer (or ginger ale)

1. in a shaker with ice add the rum, vodka, juice and fresh orange.  shake.

2. pour concoction into a martini glass and top off with seltzer (or ginger ale).

3. garnish with a wedge of orange.

the captain morgan's adds a spicy vanilla quality to this drink, and the cranberry juice adds just the right amount of sweetness.  the fresh orange brightens the flavor a bit, which is just lovely.  (if you're looking for a lower calorie option, go with the seltzer.  if you're looking for something sweeter, add the ginger ale instead.)

cheers, mavens!  happy friday : )

happy hour: fall sangria

i saw this recipe the other day and have been dying to try it.  in the fall, i always (want to) like mulled wine, but sometimes hot, spicey wine just doesn't cut it.  i think is autumnal take on a classic sangria might just do the trick!

credit {here}

fall sangria

3 apples

3 pears

3 clementines

2-3 cinnamon sticks
2 tbsp honey or agave syrup
6 oz triple sec or cointreau
2 bottles of red wine (something fruity works best)
optional: fresh cherries

1. core and cube all fruit and put into a pitcher or carafe

2. add 2-3 cinnamon sticks & 2 honey, stir

3. add liquor and wine, stir and let sit.

it's best if you make this drink a few hours or even a day in advnace and let the flavors mariante in the fridge.  garish with fresh, ripe cherries : )

cheers & happy weekend!

happy hour: champagne cider cocktail

in honor of october (i honestly can't believe tomorrow is october, by the way), i've crafted an autumnal cocktail that captures one of my favorite flavors/ingredients of the season.  apples.

growing up, my sister and i loved sparkling cider.  not only was it delicious, but we felt oh-so-grown-up sipping our fizzy cider out of elegant champagne flutes.  with that memory in mind, i thought a champagne & cider cocktail would be a lovely, celebratory drink this time of year.  bonus, this drink is super simple to make and guests will adore it!

credit {here}

champagne cider cocktail

1 part apple cider
3 parts champagne
garnish options: cranberries, cinnamon stick or an orange wedge

in a champagne flute add in cider, then top with champagne and your garnish of choice.  if you want to make it super festive you could rim the glass with sugar in the raw.

sugar rim: run an orange slice around the lip of the glass to coat it, invert the glass into a shallow dish of sugar in the raw to coat it.  now craft your fall cocktail.

credit {here}

hope you enjoy the first weekend of october!  i know craig and i will - our wedding shower is tomorrow!!!

happy hour: three's a crowd?

i have been all about multi-grape wines lately.  though i love my go-to sauvignon blanc, i'm totally digging the supple, hearty reds and surprising whites that emerge when winemakers mix & mash different varietals.

drink me.

my favorite combo-wine maker is ménage à trois.  i know, i know, good name, right?  they have red, white and rosé 3-grape wines, and they are all good.  all their wines are a mixture of (you guessed it) three different grapes and consequently all have a uniquely pleasing quality that delights many different palates.  and at approximately $10/bottle, you really can't go wrong...

also, these mixtures are a great place to start if you're unsure of a certain type of grape.  look for a combo wine that includes that varietal and ease your way in.

sooo goood.

so, in my humble opinion, three is definitely not a crowd.  three is just getting the party started ; )

so, mavens, drink any good wines lately?  cheers!