Tag: Lifestyle

Mint Juleps According to The Kentucky Derby

Counting down to the annual race today? Invite a few friends over and concoct the perfect Mint Julep with this recipe right from the horses’ mouth! Ok, so it’s not exactly from a horse but it is from the good folks over at the Kentucky Derby.

 

The Old Forester Mint Julep Recipe

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the Kentucky derby mint julep

Make a simple syrup by boiling sugar and water together for five minutes.

Cool and place in a covered container with six or eight sprigs of fresh mint, then refrigerate overnight.

Make one julep at a time by filling a julep cup with crushed ice, adding one tablespoon mint syrup and two ounces of Old Forester Kentucky Bourbon.

Stir rapidly with a spoon to frost the outside of the cup. Garnish with a sprig of fresh mint.

2 cups sugar
2 cups water
Sprigs of fresh mint
Crushed ice
Old Forester Kentucky Bourbon
Silver Julep Cups

 

You can read up on the history of the Mint Julep all over the web so recipes may vary! Since I’m not in Kentucky to pick up any Old Forester Bourbon, I’m sure substituting with any of my (or your) favorite whiskey will do. A trick I learned to make Mint Juleps: use a pestle mortar to grind the mint and extract the flavor (saves on having to let anything sit overnight.)

Since you’re going to be drinking so early today, try to pace yourself…remember there is a fight to watch much later. Horse racing plus the Mayweather vs. Pacquiao fight, what better way to spend a sports-filled Saturday than drink mixing with friends?!

 

Have fun!

 

(this is not my recipe nor did I create it. simply sharing 🙂

Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays 2014

merry christmas and happy holidays

Just wanted to wish everyone out there a Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday!

 

I’m still recovering from surgery but that didn’t stop my Christmas cheer or my obsession with the holiday add-ons from Pixlr!!

 

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Everything should be back to normal once the new year comes around….fingers crossed! Til then, be safe and enjoy these festive times. If you need me for hugs….I’m always available!

Celebrate National Coffee Day (Night) with Sobieski Espresso Vodka

What better way to celebrate National Coffee Day than with National Coffee Night?!

Yes, our favorite drink is taking us from day to night with a java twist!

Sure there’s your regular cup of Joe but it’s a holiday so let’s spike it up a notch!

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 The kind folks over at Sobieski  Vodka, sent over a sample of their espresso flavored vodka and a great cocktail recipe!

The recipe includes…

  • 2 oz. Sobieski Espresso Vodka
  • 1 oz. Kerrygold Irish Cream
  • 1 oz. Chocolate liqueur
  • Add all liquid ingredients into a shaker with ice. Shake and strain into a martini glass.

With me being under the weather, I couldn’t fully enjoy this cocktail like I wanted to. Meaning, I couldn’t down the martini glass in two seconds then smash a beer can on my forehead. BUT. What I  could do, twist open the Sobieski bottle and enjoy the aroma of sweet coffee.

Sweet.

Rich.

Espresso.

2coffeecocktail

Once the irresistible scent of espresso came over me, there was no way I could resist taking a sip (or three) don’t tell my doctor!

Now, with me being the coffee lover that I am, this delicious vodka espresso flavored vodka will get a new twist….caramel! Can’t wait to try that mix!

Wedding Planning with Loverly: 3 Dream Day Styles Just For You!

Planning a wedding can be stressful.

I vow to never ever experience that stress on my dream day. With the help of sites like Lover.ly, planning a wedding can be just as fun as pinning a pin (but better)!

My dream wedding would be a destination wedding. Sun, sand and only 5-10 people at an intimate setting. Plus, we’ll already be on our honeymoon! Who can resist that?! Clearly my idea of wedding planning is on the quick and simple side but for those of you who are looking for a much more extravagant theme, these are for you.

Here are three different scenes as the backdrop for my ideal day.  Feel free to “steal” them if you’re in the planning stages yourself!  Don’t worry curvy girls, each theme has  wedding dresses that are available in our size!

Beach 

Beach Affair

Beach Wedding

 



 City Skyline

cityglam

City Wedding


Country Chic

RusticChic

Rustic Wedding
Lover.ly lets you plan your wedding right from the comfort of your laptop or smartphone! Search, save and share your favorite things for your dream day. Be warned…Lover.ly is HIGHLY addictive!

Holiday Shopping Survival Guide


Welcome to December stylish sweets!

There are officially 23 days left til Christmas, can you believe it?!

If you still have any shopping left to do, then this guide is for you!

Last year, we went over what to buy those special people in your life with the Gift Giving at Any Budget GuideThis year, I’m doing it little differently. The following tips and ideas are perfect for getting you through that quick mall trip that turns into a three-four hour event!

The most important thing: COMFORT! You do not want to wander around the mall for hours in heels, a dress, a skirt, a heavy coat, or even tight jeans for that matter (unless of course they’re stretch!)

The following outfit is great for doing everything you need to do.

Holiday Shopping Survival Guide: 1

A crossbody bag that’s big enough to hold your scarf and gloves but not too big that it gets in your way. Think “hands-free”.

Leggings, yes curvy girls, leggings! Don’t let anyone tell you you can’t wear leggings! These are the best thing to happen to the fashion world since….since….well, you get the idea! Make sure you’re wearing a top long enough so that it covers your butt. That’s very important, especially if you happen to have a pair of leggings that aren’t Lululemon proof.

Next, you want to have bobby pins….no brainer, right?!

Finally, the footwear. You want to be stylish but comfortable not stylish and in pain. A flat biker boot is the way to go.

I know you’re probably thinking…what about a coat?! Here’s the thing about coats…they’re hot, bulky, and cumbersome. If you wear a coat, you’re going to take it off eventually, then you’re stuck carrying it…you don’t want that. I say, try your best to get a close parking spot and make a run for the door! Or there’s always those mall lockers if they’re available at your location, definitely use one of those if a coat is a must!

Now, if you’re going to have a purse during your shopping adventure, make sure it’s a cross body bag. For the obvious reasons like hands free shopping, it’s a great safety measure. No matter what town, city or suburb you live in, thieves are right around the corner and it’s best to protect yourself any way you can.

By wearing a crossbody bag, a would be thief will have a harder time snatching it off your body. It’s also great because carrying a heavier tote or clutch…just isn’t a comfy idea.

 

Holiday Shopping Survival Guide: 2

So, what is mandatory for your shopping event?

Nothing that’ll weigh your shoulders or the bag down. Just make sure you have the essentials. For me, that includes a travel sized brush, hair ties, lotion & body spray, a long lasting colored lip gloss, a wallet, hand sanitizer, and sunglasses. Those are pretty much everyday items for me, I never ever ever leave home without them. You want to try to look as fresh leaving the mall than when you came in.

I’ve been that chick that leaves the mall looking haggered. I get home and people are asking me if I’m ok, are you feeling alright, do you need water?! You don’t want that. You’re tired, annoyed, hot and bothered and trust me, looking how you feel at that moment is the pits! You walked into the mall to get things done so feeling accomplished is the look you’re going for. A quick moisture spray and foundation touch-up somewhere between Macy’s and the Food Court mid-adventure should do the trick.

At that point, you’re halfway done or heading towards the door.

That means….

Once you’re done…you’re done!

 

Who’s Turning Down Free Coffee?


Most certainly not me! National Coffee Day is right around the corner…literally! Sunday, September 29th is the day you might wanna go out into the wild and grab a free cup of Joe. Several retailers will be participating in this holiday by offering free java or a BOGO (buy one get one) type of deal during the weekend.

 

Here’s the rundown on stores that have a free jolt:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Download their app and present it to get your free cup. They’ll also have discounts on their take home brews.

 

 

 

 

Offering one free cup on 9/29 ONLY!

 

 

 

 

If you remember last year, Starbucks didn’t do anything for National Coffee Day and received TONS of backlash! This year, they’re offering a sample of the new Ethiopian Blend

 

 

 

 

Free java on Sunday, Sept. 29th

 

 

 

 

 

Be a social butterfly by telling your barista “Happy National Coffee Day” for your cup of joe!

 

 

 

 

 

The donut company has taken the holiday one step further…several lucky patrons will win FREE COFFEE for a YEAR! <~~~ click to enter!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If any other coffee lovers find more deals, feel free to share those freebies below! Enjoy your National Coffee Day!

 

 

Let’s Go au naturale! #AllNaturalStyleSecrets


If you know me in the real world, you know that I rarely wear makeup everyday. Don’t get me wrong…I LOVE MAKEUP but showing a fresh face to the world is a thing of beauty. It shows confidence and your natural features. So when Lucky Mag and the Lucky Mag Community reached out to do a post featuring a new natural product, I jumped at the chance!

 

 

Disclosure: I received a free sample of this product from Lucky and Seventh Generation for use in connection with this blog.

 

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And here’s what I received! Seventh Generation Boosts: Firming

 

 

 

I’ve been using this product for 3 days and my skin feels ahh-mazing!

 

 

As my style is already fairly natural, I figured what way to show that off than in my “natural” habitat?! At home, relaxing on the couch while enjoying some tv! Natural is comfortable for me. A chambray shirt from Old Navy and curls are all I need for a relaxing evening. Keeping it simple is my secret to effortless style.

 

#AllNaturalStyleSecrets

 

 

Trust me, you’re going to love it!

Summer Treats: Sweet Edition

Welcome to August stylish sweets!

 There’s a problem we’re not discussing. That problem is my lack of self-control around sugary sweet treats! It’s like a never ending sweet tooth! Lately, I’ve been trying wholeheartedly to cut back my sugar intake and reach for healthier choices. With that said, I’m trying to get my hands to reach for more FRUIT!

Summer months tend to lend themselves to the tastiest fruits and it’s always during the summer, we’re looking for quick and easy snacks. Before going into the kitchen or even before going to the fruit market, be sure to check out this Fruits By The SeasonThis list will help you understand which fruits are currently in season and when to buy them. Now, let’s jump into a few quick, easy, sweet, and of course tasty treats!

Photos credited to Getty Images
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Getty Images

Strawberry Shortcake ~  The following recipe is from The Food Network Kitchens (Yes, I’ve made this and it’s very very easy!)

Personal Quick Tips: I substitute sugar on the berries & cream with honey. Just because it makes it easier to dissolve when you’re not using a heavy duty mixer. Also, any Brandy will do for tossing the strawberries, you only need two tablespoons so unless you plan on getting tipsy later…buying a bottle bigger than a shot isn’t necessary.

Fruit Parfait ~ Another easy sweet treat that’s perfect for the hot summer months. You can use any fruits you like…fresh or pureed (I prefer pureed.) Simply, make sweet cream yourself by using heavy cream and sugar with a mixer or go the even easier route and use Cool Whip! The crunch in this dessert comes from granola.

 

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Personal Tip: Use vanilla ice cream for your “creamy” layers if you’re really looking for a cool down. Also, toss the granola in honey if you want to skip the cream all together for a sweet treat.

Fruit Kabobs ~ What’s easier than fruit on a stick? I’m thinking, nothing! There’s no cooking or real prep work! Purchase wooden kabob sticks from a craft store like Michaels or even grab them from the market. Get your favorite fruits and place them on the skewers in any way you like.

Bonus Tip: If you’re outside or doing some grilling…throw the fruit kabobs on the grill! Just make sure you’re using “heat” friendly skewers not plastic ones. The warm fruit seriously melts in your mouth!

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Homemade Fruit Popsicles ~ I’ve been making these since I was kid, definitely nowhere near the level in which these are but very yummy nonetheless! As a kid, I’d take my mother’s ice trays and fill them with juice and freeze them! Genius! Now we have these exotic fruit popsicles and I’m not in the least bit mad about it! Real Simple has a great article featuring the 6 Recipes for Homemade Popsicles to try.

Now, I’ve gotta run to grab everything you see here! I’ll be sure to post pics of everything I make!

Enjoy your sweet (healthy), summer treats!

Dasani #Flavorfy Your Day!

I have to mention that this is a sponsored post, courtesy of the Lucky Mag Community and Dasani Drops!

 

Now head over and VOTE VOTE VOTE!

 

 

 

The challenge: Show Your Summer Color!

 

Challenge: Accepted!

 

I’m a tad late to the party but here to have fun nonetheless! During a day trip to Ann Arbor’s Gallup Park, I managed to squeeze in a little relief by dreaming of the tasty Dasani Drops! Trying to stay cool under the summer sun was a task but that dream kept me going! I chose two of my favorite flavors for inspiration…see for yourself!

 

These just happen to be two of my favorite colors too!

Thank you pure Michigan for these gorgeous views of the Huron River!

 

Summer Staycation

It’s summer and that usually means, it’s vacation time.

Well, if you’re like me……forever planning a trip but something tends to always pop up that prevents that trip from happening….yea, that’s me. It doesn’t happen that often but for some reason, summer 2013 has been vacation-less. So what happens when a chick that loves to travel gets stranded at home for most of the summer? She finds things to do around town! Below (or after the jump) are a few things I love to do.

Jump in…

I love sports but for anyone who doesn’t, a ballpark is a great place to meet new people and just enjoy the atmosphere. Plus, most ballparks have tons of other things to see and do besides watch the game. I took in a Detroit Tigers vs. Atlanta Braves baseball game earlier this summer and had a ball! Michigan: Detroit Tigers, Colleges and universities.


It’s not what you’re thinking! Ok, maybe it is but not exactly what you’re thinking…take a trip to a mall that’s further from home. Perhaps even plan a group outing to a local outlet mall (because what’s better than shopping? Discount shopping!) Malls are a great place to people watch, have lunch or just escape the heat of the summer. That last one is free so jump all over that one! Michigan: Twelve Oaks, Briarwood, Fairlane, Birchrun Prime Outlets.

 

This sounds really boring and lame, totally aware of that BUT hear/read me out. A good book by a great writer will have you so deep and involved with the characters that you’ll feel like you’re there! Now, if I head to the bookstore today, I won’t buy a book about clear water and white sand beaches…I’m not trying to be depressed here! I can say this…finding a book on a specific place you’d like to visit may be perfect. Michigan: Barnes & Noble, local libraries.

Every town, every city, and every state has some type of festival during the summer months. Find the one that speaks to your soul and have a go! There’s music, concerts, art festivals, garden festivals…literally, tons of festivals. Just take your pick. Michigan: VisitDetroit.com, Ann Arbor Art Fair.

It doesn’t matter if you’re young or young(er) there’s never a wrong time to learn something new! Check out your local community colleges for enrichment courses that focus on the topic you want to know more about. I’m almost positive you’ll find something you like. Whether it’s cooking, computers, dancing, or tennis, it’s out there waiting for you. Bonus, if you take a dance class or kickboxing class…that’s fun + a workout…so on point! Michigan: Schoolcraft.edu, YMCA.

Hmmm, maybe staying at home this summer isn’t such a bad idea! Hopefully these tips will give you a little inspiration for your “Summer Staycation.” Feel free to find me anywhere in the social media-sphere and share what you’re doing this summer!