Inspiration + Weekend Reads

It’s been a whirlwind week, travel, projects and dress shopping!  I’m capping the week off with an exciting trip to Louisville for the Kentucky Derby.  I’m so excited to attend this stellar event and hopefully I will come back with some prize money  As I leave you this weekend,  I thought it would be fitting to bring you some Saturday inspiration in the form a classic  Derby cocktail recipe and some great links.  Enjoy!

Mint Julep

2 cups water

2 cups white sugar

1/2 cup roughly chopped fresh mint leaves

32 oz. Kentucky bourbon

8 sprigs of fresh mint leaves for garnish

 

Directions:

 Combine water, sugar and chopped mint leaves in a small saucepan.  Bring to a boil over high heat until the sugar is completely dissolved.  Allow syrup to cool, approximately 1 hour.  Pour syrup through a strainer to remove mint leaves

Fill eight cups or frozen goblets with crushed ice and pour 4 ounces of bourbon and 1/4 cup mint syrup in each.  (Proportions can be adjusted depending on each person’s sweet tooth).  Top each cup with a mint sprig and a straw.  Trim straws to just barely protrude from the top of the cups.  Serve juleps on a silver platter.

Weekend reads…..

I think this is a pretty fun way to decorate your front door for a party and think it would be even more fabulous at Christmas with a holiday banner, twinkle lights and evergreen garland.

Cocktails Anyone

So much inspiration in this one space

Have you ever thought about what it takes to be successful?

Simple tips to make your Facebook page stand out.

Cheers to a fabulous weekend!

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The Makings of a Cocktail Party

Cocktail parties unlike a full-blown dinner party can be pulled together with just a few essential items. 

Cocktail Glasses

Cocktail Napkins

Appetizer Plates

Serving Trays

Candleholders

Leopard Ice Bucket  $44.00

Gold Foil Candleholders  $12.95-$ 14.95

Marrakech Barware $11.97 set of 3

Spice Piazza Appetizer Plates  $11.98 set  of  2

Beaded Napkins  $3.96 ea

Faux Croc Serving Tray $24.95

For serving those cocktails, how about a stylish bar cart!

Mid Century Modern Bar Cart via Etsy  $99.00

Libations Bar Cart from Crate and Barrel $599.00

{ I just used this piece as an accent table for a client, so it works for that purpose too}

The Mrs. Linen Bar Cart from Society Social  $550.00

Zuo White Serving Cart from JC Penney  $325.00

And to get the party started, a fun cocktail!

Peach Champagne Cocktails

Adapted from Frozen Peach Champagne Cocktails by Rachael Ray

Prep Time: 5 minutes    Blender Time: 1 minutes    Level: So Easy a Caveman Could Do It    Servings: 4-6

Regular (non-slushy consistency)

1/4 cup sugar, to rim glasses

1 pint peach sorbet

1  1/2 shots Triple Sec

1/2 shot cognac, such as Courvoisier

Chilled champagne or sparkling wine, to fill blender, 2/3 bottle

Raspberries and 4 springs mint, optional garnish

Dip the glass rims in water and then the sugar. In a blender, combine all above ingredients and pulse till smooth.

Pour and enjoy, garnishing with mint and/or raspberries if desired.

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Getting my DIY On

Remember when I told you last Friday that I’d be sharing my first DIY projects of the year with you AND do you recall that saying that ‘things always take longer than expected’?  Well, my projects fell victim to the time it takes for paint to dry in a super cold garage.  But alas, the paint is dry and it’s time to share my first project with you.

Last year (in early spring) I purchased this metal cart for $8.00 at a one of my favorite flea markets.

My plans were to paint it and turn it into a chic little bar cart.  Things started out great and I got the cart primed and ready for painting in late May and then life, work and daily obligations got in the way.  The bar cart sat for months (7 to be exact) until just a few days ago when I decided it was time!

So here is my finished bar cart, all dressed up and ready to party!

I decided to paint the cart gold using two different gold finished.  The base is Krylon Metallic Gold Spray Paint,

and to add a little style to the top of the cart I added a striped pattern using  Rustoleum Brilliant Gold Metallic spray paint in a shiner gold finish.

 ScotchBlue Painters Tape with Edge Lock allowed me to achieve crisp clean edges for my stripes and made the job easy!  I love the how my bar cart turned out!

I still want to add glass handles on each side of the cart to make it easier to move around but haven’t found the right ones yet.  Until I do, I’m going to celebrate my first DIY Project of 2013 with a cocktail!  Who wants to join me?

I’ll be back tomorrow with the second project I completed.  I think you’re going to love it!

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Holiday Gift Guide: Cocktail Hour

1, 2, 3. 4, 5, 6,

And, if you’re wondering what my favorite holiday cocktail is…

Pink Grapefruit Martini

Ingredients: 

1 pink grapefruit

2 cups gin

2 cups pink grapefruit juice

2 tablespoons plus 2 tsp. dry vermouth

ice

                   Using a peeler, cut 8 twists from grapefruit skin; reserve for garnish. Slice off remaining peel and white pith; discard. Slice fruit into segments. In cocktail shaker, muddle 1 grapefruit segment. Add 1/4 cup gin, 1/4 cup grapefruit juice and 1 tsp. vermouth. Fill with ice; shake until very cold. Strain into chilled martini glass; garnish with grapefruit twist. Repeat with remaining ingredients.

For more holiday cocktail concoctions, Mr. Boston’s Holiday Cocktail book is a great one to add to your wet bar.

Top photo source

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A Project Leading to Happy Hour

I’ve been quite obsessed with barcarts of late and have had one on my shopping list for a while.  I was all about purchasing a cart but then I saw this on one of my thrifting adventures…..

 and the DIY bug hit me.  This lovely vintage metal cart was a steal at only $8.00 and has the most darling wood casters.

The current state of this cart shows a little staining and wear and tear, but I have visions of something sleek and beautiful. 

 

Something maybe along these lines…

 High gloss black with a little detail trim???

 

Or, maybe a shiny gold???

 

Or, how about a silver sensation????

I could always go for bright and bold.   Maybe yellow, red, orange or white???

 

My schedule is pretty full over the next month but I hope to have my thrift store barcart transformed by months end and will celebrate with a cocktail!

So, what color would you choose???

 

 

To see even more barcart inspiration and fab cocktail recipes, check out my Cocktail Hour board on Pinterest!

 

 barcart images via pinterest

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