let out that big sigh of relief. we made it to friday. 

for most of us, it was back to the grind this week. and man was i feeling that grind. it was my first REALLY busy week as an instructor and i am more than ready for a two day break after my ten am class tomorrow. 

don't get me wrong, it was an awesome week. but i'm physically exhausted and ready for some r&r. 

and this weekend, i am a very lucky lady. my husband managed to actually get a sunday off (a real rarity when you manage a restaurant). so i'm planning a little sunday funday. and while summer may be all about sunday brunches out and about, sundays in january are all about football on the couch and irish coffees.

if that sell didn't convince you to try this warming cocktail, maybe the whipped cream on top will do the trick. 

irish coffee
serves: 1
prep time: 10 minutes (or however long your coffee brew method takes)
active time: 1 minute
total time: 11 minutes
ingredients: 1 cup coffee brewed how you like (wes and i either french press or use a pour over method, but do you boo boo). 1.5 oz irish whiskey (jameson is my go to). 1 oz irish cream. whipped cream to top. 

pour your hot coffee into your preferred mug. 

add in your whiskey. 

and then your irish cream. 

stir well to combine. 

top with whipped cream and enjoy hot. 

xo, a

irish coffee
serves: 1
prep time: 10 minutes (or however long your coffee brew method takes)
active time: 1 minute
total time: 11 minutes
ingredients: 1 cup coffee brewed how you like (wes and i either french press or use a pour over method, but do you boo boo). 1.5 oz irish whiskey (jameson is my go to). 1 oz irish cream. whipped cream to top.
pour your hot coffee into your preferred mug.
add in your whiskey.
and then your irish cream.
stir well to combine.
top with whipped cream and enjoy hot.

oh what a difference a year makes. 

this time last year i was driving down to dana point for our wedding rehearsal the day before our wedding. i was an energetic mess. so nervous, excited and STRESSED. it just felt like everything was crazy and new. because it was. 

currently i'm laying on my bed, with my cat at my feet watching an episode of parenthood and chilling. 

but the crazy part is all the stuff that happened in between. this year has been the most exciting, scary, challenging and full year of my life. it was an emotional roller coaster. i literally started my whole life over. we got married, i started MANY new jobs, wes and i started our business, we went to RIO for the olympics?! just those three weeks were a ball of emotions all on their own. i became a yoga instructor, a spin instructor and started teaching swim lessons again. we even had a feature on 100 layer cake. 

so much happened and it was all awesome. some of it really hard. but all amazing. 

but now, i'm tired. and i'm spending the next few days relaxing, celebrating with my husband and drinking some delicious champagne cocktails out of some stunning champagne glasses we got from our friends over at cherished rentals. 

pomegranate & st. germain sparkler
serves: 2 cocktails
prep time: 1 minute
active time: 1 minute
ingredients: 8 oz sparkling wine (champagne, cava, prosecco, whatever you have on hand). 1 oz pomegranate juice. 15ish pomegranate seeds & 2 rosemary sprigs for garnish.

start by pouring half the pomegranate juice in each glass. 

then divide the st. germain between the two glasses. 

top the glass with your sparkling wine of choice. 

garnish with pomegranate seeds. 

top off each with a rosemary sprig and serve. 

happy 2017! 

xo, a

pomegranate & st. germain sparkler
serves: 2 cocktails
prep time: 1 minute
active time: 1 minute
ingredients: 8 oz sparkling wine (champagne, cava, prosecco, whatever you have on hand). 1 oz pomegranate juice. 15ish pomegranate seeds & 2 rosemary sprigs for garnish.
start by pouring half the pomegranate juice in each glass.
then divide the st. germain between the two glasses.
top the glass with your sparkling wine of choice.
garnish with pomegranate seeds.
top off each with a rosemary sprig and serve.