Cool Me Down

It is a hot day in Ft Lauderdale. Ok, it is usually a hot day here in Florida! For me, I need to get use to this heat year round but for the rest of you the

heat is just beginning to rise for the Summer months. I am still unpacking and organizing during the day but I have managed to find breaks in the day for a little time by the pool.

I have been craving a nice fruity summer drink to cool me off!

{Cucumber Water}

Non Alcoholic but SO refreshing to keep a pitcher in the fridge. I also love a pitcher of Lemon Mint Water!

{Mexican Summer Smash }

Just the name of this sounds good! Smash together Basil leaves, Strawberries, Blueberries, Raspberries, Lime and Agave Nectar. Shake with Tequila and serve with a splash of Club Soda.

{Patio Lemonade}

Pink Lemonade, Chambord and Vodka

{Sparkling Sangria}

We all know that I LOVE a little bubbly! Adding a little bubble to sangria sounds delightful. I like to throw in any Summer fruit I have on hand. The more fruit the more the merrier. You can nibble on the Sangria soaked fruit as a dessert.

{The Skinny Mojito}

I think I will try out this low cal Mojito since I am trying to watch my "Florida Figure" for the bathing suit months ahead! Shake one up and tell me what you think.

1 oz. light rum

1 T lime juice

1 packet Splenda

1/2 cup club soda

1/2 cup ice

SHAKE and garnish with fresh mint and lime.

Find some other great refreshing recipes here:

Prevention

Elle Decor

Cooking Light

Enjoy! xoxo~Becca

Lemon Tarts

This year I wasn't able to make it home to my parents ho

use for Easter. Today my bestie from 2nd grade Besse invited me out on her boat for an Easter Sunday trip around the Cherry Blossoms. My assignment....dessert. I browsed through many cookbooks and ended up on my old staple, Martha.

{Start out with Martha's lemon tart recipe but use the mini tartlet instructions.}

{I decided to make lemon tartlets. A pretty apron is a must in the kitchen. My apron flairs out like a little dress. You feel cute baking!}

{Start out making the Pate Brisse recipe. Aren't these the cutest measuring cups! I love this set from Nigella Lawson. Thanks Bran!}

{The mini tarts ready to go in the oven. Watch them closely, about 10 minutes and they are done.}

{While the tarts are cooling whip up homemade Lemon Curd. Yum Yum Yum. Eggs, Lemon Juice, Sugar, Butter, beat beat beat. Once the Lemon Curd begins to get thick, remove it from the heat and let it cool.}

{I could eat this whole bowl of lemon yumminess. Doesn't it look pretty in my Gramie's old bowl.}

{Pour the batter into the shells. Bake for 10 minutes and top with a raspberry. Here is my finished product. We enjoyed them on the boat. There was not a crumb left.}

{A beautiful view from the boat of pink cherry blossoms galore. A beautiful day.}

xoxo~Becca

snow days

I woke up yesterday to a winter wonderland outside of my apartment. I loved it! Snow Snow Snow! The streets in DC were empty, peaceful and white. I decided to spend my day locked up in my apartment enjoying some much needed rest. After cleaning my apartment from top to bottom, reading my piles of magazines and catching up on much needed DVR, I ventured outside to the store.

I grew up with a lot of snow days off from school. WV had a lot of snow in the mountains. I had the desire to run and jump through the snow on the way to the grocery store...and I did. There is something about the snowy weather that made me feel like a kid again.

What else is better then having some champagne, Christmas Tree lit and inviting a good girlfriend over for dinner and a movie. I made Cerys and I Christmas cocktails (St. Germaine, Cranberry Juice and Prosecco). We dined on yummy comforting Chicken Noodle Soup and watched UP (what a cute movie!).

Chicken Noodle Soup, so easy. I created my own recipe by sauteing garlic, onions, carrots, tomatoes, celery, fresh thyme, salt and pepper and olive oil. I went the easier route and used boxed vegetable broth and sliced chicken breasts. My apartment smelled delightful and it was warming and perfect for a nice winter day.

It was a wonderful snow day! Today the sun is out, the snow looks like a white snowy delight. I love it! Snow, winter, the holidays! Happy Winter!

xoxo

Sunday Soirees - Back to School

Wow! I have already seen kids in the morning with their backpacks on, walking to school. College campuses are full, high school cafeterias are full and every store around is packed with back to school necessities. I know I do not have class to attend, but it would be so fun to throw a Back to School Party! Reminisce about your days of packing lunch, decorating your locker, homecoming dance dress shopping.

Invitations would be sent out on Lined Paper looking invites. I would pass out gift bags with a cute pencil case (French of course!) A Red Tube of Lipstick Pen, because you must write in style, a pretty pink journal, for to-do lists

The table would be set looking like a chalkboard and name cards would be red apples. Instead of the usual schoolroom map, I would have a fun US map set up to learn your capitals on.

Passed Hors D'oeuvres would be mini tea sandwiches in shapes of kid characters (um, Hello Kitty!). These make me think of open up your lunch box and having a note from mom and a neatly made sandwich for the first day of school. For dinner I would serve an adult cafeteria style dinner: Parmesan Tater Tots, Chicken Fingers, Crudite of Haricot Vert Heirloom Tomatoes and Truffled Ranch Dressing and for dessert there would be ice cream. Remember the fun sundae cups that kids would bring into class for parties? There were chocolate and vanilla or strawberry and vanilla and they were served with a little wooden spoon. I would serve an updated ice cream like salted caramel, in a cute paper cup with a personalized spoon.

Oh how I wish I was packing up my backpack tonight for school. Making sure I had a new box of crayons, new notebook, new pencils, everything was so new! Happy back to school shopping! Maybe I should go get a new "backpack" for school? ;)

xoxo

Al Fresco Dining

I'm so excited that it's that time of the year again to begin dining outside! Last night I went over to my friend Mariana's fabulous apartment rooftop for dinner and drinks. I always LOVE dining outside in the summer. As most of you know, when I decide to have a get together or am invited over, its usually not simple...I LOVE to entertain! Yesterday when I was searching for recipes to make for the night I dreamed of having my own get together outside. Definitely something I get excited about being in Florida is the fact that almost all year round I will be able to do this. I better get shopping with my ideas, because I know my beau might say, do I really need more stuff?!?!? Oh you can never have too much to play hostess with! I dream of being the professional hostess with the mostess:) I am dying to serve the cocktail in the above picture while wearing this cute yellow dress! 

Tonight I think I will settle on to my couch and finish the last bit of blueberry crisp from last night. However, I will dream of my get together outside finished with this yummy looking coconut treat and a Royalty Cocktail.   

 

Dreaming of our next get together! xoxo