#Blogmas Day 18: Cocktail Hour - Boozy Egg Nog

You guys, it feels so amazing to be back at it again on this blog. And since I've been feeling so great, I thought it only fitting to bring back what is arguable my MOST POPULAR (and certainly most-pinned about) segment of all time: Friday Cocktail Hour!

And since I'm in a festive sort of mood, I thought I'd raise a glass of boozy egg nog to all of you! Now, a few thoughts on eggnog for the holiday season: I realize this drink is not for everyone. Some of you may find it mildly disgusting. But I must admit, as I've gotten older, eggnog has certainly grown on me. And the way I like it best (sorry bourbon-lovers) is with a nice, dark rum. I think the sweetness of the rum works beautifully with this sugary, frothy confection of a cocktail! And alcohol is key in preserving this drink since it does contain raw eggs. But still, it should really be consumed the same day you make it, or at the very least, the next day. As always, drink responsibly! Cheers to the weekend!

Directions:

Step 1: Separate the egg whites and yolks, and pop whites in the fridge for later.

Step 1: Start whisking your yolks up, and slowly add in the cup of sugar little by little until it's smooth and blended.

Step 3: Add in your milk, cream, and rum and whisk it all together.

Step 4: In a separate bold, whisk up your egg whites until they've stiffened up, and then fold them into your eggnog to give it that yummy frothy texture.

Step 5: Top each glass with a pinch of ground nutmeg. Serve and enjoy! Note: this recipe will be enough for 5-6 cups so feel free to double if you're making enough for a party!

#Blogmas Day 11: Holiday Wish List - 2016 Planners

It's that time of year where you really start to wrap your head around the fact that it's about to be a new year. Whether you start getting your resolutions ready, or you at least try to get your affairs in order, a new year totally feels like a new beginning. And sometimes even just the feeling of a new beginning is important for keeping things in a busy, overwhelming life feel fresh, new, and fun. This also happens to be the perfect time to start the new year right with a planner. In the digital age, I know my phone and computer calendars keep track of my appointments and office obligations, but there's just something so charming and fun about keeping personal plans, birthdays, and other fun fetes in a beautiful agenda book. And why stop there? There are meal planners, diet planners, grocery planners, even content planners for bloggers and vloggers and people who work from home. I put together a few planners that I either have and am currently using, or have had my eye on for a while now. They would make excellent holiday gifts for someone special who's looking to grab 2016 by the horns and live their best-ever life!

1  Kate Spade 2016 Planners  I'm currently using the gold polka-dotted planner and it makes me so happy to look at it every day.

2  Skinnytaste Meal Planner I've blogged about this before, and I'm loving using it to plan out my meals (and grocery shopping/cooking schedule) for the week.

3  The Erin Condren LifePlanner This planner has a huge cult following on the internet. People create products specifically for it, they blog and vlog about it in Plan With Me videos on YouTube – it is kind of like the Rolls Royce of agendas.

4  Ban.do 2016 Agenda  These are so cute, and the design is flawless. I love the look of these planners, and they come with super cute stickers. This would be an amazing gift for someone in high school or college, but hurry because they are selling out fast!

Cocktail Couture: Middle West Hot Apple Toddy

This week's installment of our Cocktail Couture features a fall favorite, a classic apple Hot Toddy with a delicious Middle West twist! Using local Ohio honey and whiskey from Columbus' very own Middle West Spirits gives you an opportunity to present your upcoming holiday guests with a taste of Ohio's bounty. Once again, Catherine Murray of Photo Kitchen and the blog Freshly Baked has styled these sultry-looking evening cocktails with some baubles and bangles directly from my own person jewelry armoir! Although I am sad to say that fabulous crushed onyx locket is her own piece... I am really coveting that right now! Anyway, I hope you all get a chance to work this delicious recipe into your upcoming Thanksgiving feasts. I happen to guarantee this will go perfectly with that piece of pumpkin pie. Cheers!

All photography in the series by Catherine Murray of Photo Kitchen

And in case you need a refresher on Cocktail Couture, read our description below:

"Haute Couture refers to the creation of exclusive custom-fitted clothing, usually made from high-quality expensive fabric and sewn with extreme attention to detail, often using time-consuming, hand-executed techniques...The hand-crafted (local) alcohol is created by those dedicated to their craft, making award-winning bottles of gin, vodka, whiskey, wine, and Tessora." 

Catherine and I both believe that the handiwork and detail that goes into the brewing and distilling of our local-to-Columbus spirits are nothing short of couture themselves, especially when paired with fun jewelry and accessories...and you all know I am a firm believer that the cocktail you sip is as much a part of the statement you are making as anything else on your body! So let's get creative!

First there was the fantastic Watershed Gin Pumpkin Drop featuring Columbus' own Watershed gin, and next the Tessora Lemon Capuccini made with Tessora Limone! See the recipes below:

Cocktail Hour: Dirty Shirley

This adults-only spin on a childhood classic is so much fun. It tastes great, looks cute, and who doesn't love maraschino cherries? I was inspired by a favorite Columbus restaurant, Surly Girl Saloon, Wednesday night when I ordered their variation called the Surley Temple. It uses Faygo Red Pop instead of grenadine! My recipe is the old classic, but with a vodka kick. Cheers!

You can purchase those adorable red and white striped straws right here. They would be perfect for making any party or event extra festive.

Looking for a Bloody Mary or Berry Kiss (bramble) recipe? Check out my other Cocktail Hour posts!


Got an idea for a cocktail that would be perfect for spring? Feel free to post suggestions here! 

Cocktail Hour: Bloody Mary

It's Friday, now let's have a good time! In honor of the weekend approaching in just a few short hours, I have decided to feature a new cocktail recipe each Friday. I thought I'd begin with a hearty favorite that is surprisingly low(er) in calories. Cheers!

Green Ribbon Tablescape

Here is an adorable tablescape idea for an event or wedding using woven ribbons and a crisp, clean color palette to kick your party or event up to the next level. It was featured on Martha Stewart Weddings with the green color palette ideas, and I think this would be a super easy and affordable way to make an impact.

Images via Martha Stewart Weddings

That's a Wrap!

Today is National Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day (it was invented 51 years ago today) and the Ohio Union is taking it pretty seriously... Every banister is lined with the stuff. Every table in the building has some on it. They are giving away cans of pop, and popcorn, and even using a bubble machine to fill the place with bubbles. People are walking through the building, clearly trying to resist popping the Bubble Wrap, but it's just impossible! What is with this stuff? It just makes you happier. I read that the Sealed Air company, the manufacturers of Bubble Wrap, even has "stress-relief boxes" filled with it in their corporate offices for their employees to pop. The verdict: people love Bubble Wrap. And I can't think of a better way to beat those winter blues than popping some.

Yikes! Stripes!

These striped, paper straws are at every chic/hip party on every blog ever. Basically. Now, sharing a bottle of white wine with a pretty label on it is still the height of sophistication while entertaining at my apartment, but I can't wait for a day when my parties look like these. At 4 dollars a pack, these straws will, in fact, be present.

Papersnitch

Oh Happy Day

Bakerella

100 Layer Cake

Vegetable Chic

This fruit and vegetable table from Amy Atlas Events is truly awe-inspiring. I have never seen anything so classically chic in my life.

{Photos via Amy Atlas Blog}

Tricks or Treats?

The cookies featured this year on Martha Stewart's website are incredible. Take a look at some of my favorites? Would you make any of these scary sweets for your trick-or-treaters? 

 Brownie Bits Recipe       Candy-Corn Cookies Recipe

Almond Brownie Coffins      Halloween Blondies 

Halloween Frosted Brownies       Halloween Whoopie Pies

{All photos via Martha Stewart}

Someone Stole My Wedding

Seriously! I know my own nuptials are farther away than even an Oracle can see, but if I were to get married, I'm fairly positive it would look like this wedding featured on Green Wedding Shoes. It would have these colors, use these flowers, and quite possible contain subtle references to what a board game freak I am...It's kind of eerie, to be honest, but I applaud their excellent taste!

{Photos via Green Wedding Shoes}

Halle-Boo-ia!

These kid-friendly Halloween treats featured on One Charming Party are to-DIE-for. Mwah, ha, ha...okay, don't judge. I'm finally getting into the Halloween spirit, here!

{Photos via One Charming Party}

Halloween Amnesia

Okay folks, I admit it. I was way more excited about All Hallow's Eve in 2009...But I haven't completely forgotten that it's just around the corner! Here are some things I've been bookmarking this October to get myself in the Trick or Treat spirit. Enjoy!

Country Living I Martha Stewart

Martha Stewart I Martha Stewart

Martha Stewart I Martha Stewart

Mad Men Wedding

I have been insanely busy! I still haven't unpacked my apartment. But I've decided to break the week of Jenna Sais Quois radio silence, because what I found today was just that good. There are simply no words to describe how perfect this 1960's Mad Men themed wedding is. It was featured on The Wedding Chicks today. See for yourself, dear readers.

{Photos from The Wedding Chicks}

We already know I'm obsessed with this color palette, but I kind of died when I saw her dress. That silhouette, with all of those fabric flowers giving it a modern texture...In. Love. Forever. This bride is probably my wedding planning soulmate.

Happy Campers

I fell in love with this Camp-themed birthday bash featured over at Socially Circled. I think coming up with stylish ideas for boy's birthday parties (that girls can equally enjoy) is a huge challenge, and this party nailed it! The kids wore "Camp Four" t-shirts, munched on trail mix and ants-on-a-log, and decorated bird houses at the Arts & Crafts table. Favors included hobo sticks with magnifying glasses and bug catching nets. Genius ideas, and the theme transcended actual camp and made for a fantastically activity-packed party!

{Images from Socially Circled: here, here and here}

Cute Library Wedding

For the bookworms out there, you should definitely check out this Library-themed wedding photographed by the incredibly talented Jessica Claire. The full set of photos are located here on her blog! I especially love the florals, with the red and white ribbon! And who wouldn't want to get married around all of their favorite books?

{Photos by Jessica Claire}