Elevate Your Cocktail Bar For Summer – Santa Margherita Wine

Elevate Your Cocktails: Rather than serving up traditional mimosas and bellinis, put a new spin on the classics by serving Santa Margherita Prosecco Superiore with seasonal fruit purees. Allow your guests to mix their own cocktails and set up a DIY cocktail bar with various purees, such as honeydew, nectarine, raspberries, watermelon and strawberry, which are seasonal and pair perfectly with Santa Margherita Prosecco Superiore. Provide options for garnishes, such as simple mint sprigs, raspberries and sliced strawberries. The additional fruits can make for great décor as well; cut a small groove into citrus fruit to hold place-cards for table if you are hosting a sit down meal at your party.

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Revamp Your Ice Cubes: Warmer weather is here, meaning your favorite cocktail won’t stay chilled for long anymore. To keep your glass chilled without diluting the cocktail and add an extra dash of flavor, fill your ice cube trays with seasonal fruits like strawberries and kiwi and top with Santa Margherita Prosecco Superiore.

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Go For Bold Garnishes: Upgrade your classic wine cocktail by rimming the glass in the juice or peel of your citrus of choice (e.g. lemon, lime, orange, grapefruit) and dip into citrus infused sugar. To make this, just grate your favorite citrus into granulated sugar and mix to combine. The same can be done with shaved coconut or minced fresh herbs. For a quick rimming trick, you can opt traditional sugar for gold or colored sugar for rimming your wine cocktail.

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Turn To Your Garden: Impress your guests with your garden’s summer harvest and appeal to the senses of smell and taste by pairing fresh herbs with Santa Margherita Prosecco Superiore. Adding fragrant herbs like springs of thyme and lavender or muddling some fresh mint leaves into the bottom of your wine glass will brighten up your traditional wine. You can even tie a small bundle of herbs around the stem of a wine glass and utensils for an added rustic flare – the aromatics also hit your nose as you’re drinking the wine!

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Easter Celebration – Simple Lifestyle Tips

Easter can be an exciting holiday for everyone.  It’s the ultimate symbol of the Spring season and a time of rebirth.  Although celebrating Easter can be a lot of fun, preparation for this joyous holiday can also be overwhelming!

As a new mom (many years ago) I wanted to attack the holiday from all angles.  My eagerness stemmed from the excitement of having my very own children.  Over the years, I’ve learned to focus on what really matters.   The small details will come together once you concentrate on the priority of the day.

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Easter Brunch 2015 – Flemings Prime Steakhouse
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Caesar Salad and Omelett
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National Aquarium with the boys

Easter Celebration Tips:

  1. Create your dinner menu – Decide whether your family will dine in or out.  Either option provides a good opportunity for quality fellowship.  Traditional Easter meals (if you’re cooking) include a honey glazed ham, roasted leg of lamb, baked salmon, green bean casserole, rice pilaf, scalloped potatoes, macaroni and cheese, or home-style dinner rolls.
  2. Coordinate Easter crafts with the kids – This particular tip can vary depending on your interest but the idea is to teach your family the meaning of Easter.  Quick holiday crafts include decorating eggs, planting a Spring garden, or designing Easter bookmarks.
  3. Consider taking Easter photos – Start thinking of the right location, lighting, and even the weather.  Also, we can’t forget to coordinate the perfect attire whether a traditional suit or casual spring outfit.
  4. Decorate, Decorate, Decorate – Nothing brings more excitement than putting out spring decorations.  Add a wreath to the front door, create a tablescape, or flower arrangement in the hallway.
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Easter Tablescape
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Pre-school Easter Celebration

Some of my favorite Easter traditions include Sunday morning worship, egg hunt, brunch, and spring photos.  What are some of your favorite Easter traditions, share them with us here?

Sparkling Ice – Award Season Inspired Cocktails

Celebrate the upcoming Oscars by hosting your own viewing party to watch your favorite celebrities strut their couture on the red carpet. No viewing party is complete without delicious cocktails and mocktails, so sip in style during the trendiest season with these Award Season inspired cocktail recipes featuring SPARKLING ICE and Coco Joy.

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Ingredients:

4 oz. Blueberry Pomegranate SPARKLING ICE
2 oz. Pomegranate Juice
Blueberries
Pomegranate Seeds
Add a splash of vodka or prosecco for a cocktail modification

Directions:

Fill a glass with Blueberry Pomegranate SPARKLING ICE
Add pomegranate juice
Top with 5-6 blueberries and a small handful of pomegranate seeds
Stir to combine
RED CARPET READY

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Ingredients:

4 cups apple cider, chilled
2 cups cranberry juice cocktail, chilled
2 cups SPARKLING ICE Crisp Apple, chilled
1 can (12oz.) frozen orange juice concentrate
Apple slices for garnish
Rosemary cranberry sprig for individual garnish, as shown in image, or float fresh or frozen cranberries in punch bowl
Add a splash of vodka or prosecco for a cocktail modification

Directions:

In a large bowl, mix all ingredients and let sit overnight
Serve chilled, garnish with rosemary cranberry sprig

BLACK CHERRY BOMBSHELL

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Ingredients:

Frozen black cherries
1½ oz. Kentucky bourbon
1 oz. SPARKLING ICE Black Raspberry
Directions:

Crush cherries into bottom of a glass
Pour bourbon then SPARKLING ICE over crushed cherries and ice
Add more cherry for garnish
CELEBRITY COLADA

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Ingredients

½ crushed pineapple
1 cup crushed ice
1 cup vodka
2 cups cold Coco Joy Water
2 limes
Directions

Combine pineapple, ice, vodka and Coco Joy Water in a blender and pulse until smooth
Garnish with limes

Coffee Station: How To Guide and Lifestyle Tip

I drink coffee and that’s a well-known fact.  The aroma of a delicious brew and warmth of a well made cup gives me an instant boost of energy.  My favorite flavor is Pumpkin Spice or when I need a “mommy boost” Cafe Mocha.

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I like to prepare coffee at my home because it’s easy access and affordable.  Honestly, I don’t always have the patience to wait in line, so I brew a cup while getting the boys dressed or cleaning my home.  With a constant search for cups, sugar, and grounds I decided to create a coffee station in my kitchen.

You may not drink coffee and like to sip tea but having a beverage station can save time and help with entertaining guests.  For example, your coworker stops by after work, why not offer a cup of tea?  Or you changed diapers all day but want a nice aroma in your home (before your bestie comes over) brew a cup of coffee!

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Creating a coffee station can be fun and based on your personal style.  Some people like to include baskets, special containers, straws, bottled water, and fruit.  Others keep it simple with a tray, creamer, sugar, and mugs.  I designed a station that’s a combination of all hot beverages for coffee, tea, and cocoa.

Below are “How To” tips for creating a Coffee Station:

*  Place a small scoop next to coffee grounds for accurate measurement

* Shop discount stores or thrift shops for unique inexpensive containers

*  Add a chalk board for notes with salt & pepper shakers to hold cinnamon or cocoa

*  Use a tray or basket to separate the space

* Don’t forget your coffee mugs, straws, spoons, and liners

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photos are from Pinterest.com

 

Quick Fall Decorating Tips and Photos via Pinterest.com

Fall has finally arrived which means that it’s time to put out our new decor. And this is actually my favorite time of the year, with warm memories of drinking pumpkin spice coffee, picking out Halloween costumes, visiting the local pumpkin patch, and enjoying my mother’s delicious Thanksgiving feast.

 

When deciding to decorate, a few quick tips can get our creative juices flowing and bring joy to our homes. For starters, one must decide on the look they’re trying to achieve and the area in their home they would like to showcase. Personally, I always like to accent my front door, dining table, and entertainment unit.

 

Beautiful Fall Decor
Beautiful Fall Decor
Beautiful Fall Decor
Beautiful Fall Decor

 

Below are Quick Tips for decorating your home with Fall decor in just 30 minutes or less:

 

1. Visit your local craft store, discount store or dollar store for items. Normally around this time of the year companies will share coupons or run sales on Fall products.
2. Decide on the theme for your home – whether you love pumpkins or leaves, using a theme can serve as a great guide.
3. Always start with a budget! And this can vary depending on your lifestyle but operating without a budget can yield poor results and over spending.
4. Use unconventional ideas to gather supplies. Items can be found in your backyard such as leaves, acorns, sticks, wood chips, and tree bark.
5. Spruce up an old wreath with a simple bow or (again) leaves from the landscaping. Don’t forget to use garland on the fireplace mantal. You can create look this with leaves or purchase from a craft store.
6. Additional Fall decorating tips are: purchase a new place setting and add to the look with a table runner and candles; find creative ways to decorate a pumpkin with sharpie pens or decoupage.

 

And if all else fails, look at the nature around you for inspiration…it’s our best teacher!

 

Additional Inspiration

Photos are from (click here) Pinterest.com

 

 

Sangria Sundays with [Yellow Tail] Wine – Simply Delicious

What better way to celebrate the new season than with a bottle of [Yellow Tail] Sangria.  Because it’s officially Spring, we can (now) say cheers to the warm sun by partaking in Sangria Sundays. The concept behind Sangria Sundays is for everyone to slow down, relax, and have a great glass of wine

I was super excited to receive my [Yellow Tail] Sangria package in the mail (by surprise) and eager to partake in a glass of wine. Aside from receiving a bottle of wine, the company also sent an official Yellow Tail candle, Sangria nail polish/decals, and a really cool booklet.

 

To make the experience worth while I chopped up a few apples and strawberries to put in my glass.  I also did a little “research” and found some delicious goodies to eat.

Overall, the [Yellow Tail] Sangria was delicious and I thoroughly enjoyed partaking in Sangria Sundays!  I’m looking forward to hosting a Girls Night In with a tasty glass of Sangria.

More ideas from Pinterest.com