we are finally starting to feel the first bit of crisp fall air in socal. while the cooling temps and shorter days don't exactly get me revved up (i am an endless summer kind of girl), the appearance of colder weather produce in stores does.

i haven't bought an orange or grapefruit in months and i am more than ready for blood oranges and big fat ruby reds.

citrus juice is one of my favorite cocktail mixers because it basically completely neutralizes the harsh flavor elements of booze. mixing it with something floral and something herbaceous makes it the perfect drink to welcome those earlier sunsets with. 

five o'clock sun down is the perfect compliment to happy hour.

rosemary + hibiscus greyhound
serves: 1 cocktail prep time: 2 minutes active time: 2 minutes total time: 4 minutes ingredients: 4 oz grapefruit juice. 2 oz vodka. .5 oz hibiscus syrup. 1 tbs rosemary leaves. 1 cup ice. shaker. sprig of fresh or frosted rosemary for garnish. 

start by filling your shaker with a couple of ice cubes. take the rosemary leaves and smash them in your hands to release the oils and add them to the shaker. 

pour in the vodka, grapefruit juice and hibiscus syrup. shake well till everything is well combined. 

fill your serving glass with the remaining ice and pour the contents of the shaker over the ice. 

garnish with fresh or frosted rosemary and enjoy! 

xo, a

rosemary + hibiscus greyhound
serves: 1 cocktail
prep time: 2 minutes
active time: 2 minutes
total time: 4 minutes
ingredients: 4 oz grapefruit juice. 2 oz vodka. .5 oz hibiscus syrup. 1 tbs rosemary leaves. 1 cup ice. shaker. sprig of fresh or frosted rosemary for garnish.
start by filling your shaker with a couple of ice cubes. take the rosemary leaves andsmash them in your hands to release the oils and add them to the shaker. pour in the vodka, grapefruit juice and hibiscus syrup. shake well till everything is well combined. fill your serving glass with the remaining ice and pour the contents of the shaker over the ice. garnish with fresh or frosted rosemary and enjoy!

happy friyay my friends! we made it through another wild week. 

today, i was planning a reflective monologue about all the crazy fires and how lucky my family and friends are that we escaped harm. but it seems almost like gloating to even go there when so many up north are still fearing for their homes and their livelihoods. 

my fears feel so insignificant now. 

so many now are struggling with trying times thanks to an angry mother nature. each new disaster is overshadowing the one that rolled in before it. deciding how to help, who to help and where to send that help has me spinning. 

and then my uncle called.

his call was actually business related since we are helping him with food for an upcoming event.but after we chatted about sheet cakes and appetizers, he told me that i had recently said something that brought some change to his life. it was a very small comment i made in the midst of conversation, but it stuck with him.

suddenly, it became clear to me what i need to do to feel more "helpful."

i just have to keep being helpful. every day. every hour. every minute. not necessarily offering up money or things to people all day every day, that's not always possible. but by giving help when help is needed. whenever that opportunity presents itself to me.

whether it's food for the homeless man who passes by our door a couple times a week, a mom who needs a good stretch and some escape from her day in my yoga class, or simply telling a coworker who is a bit down how great they are, i am just going to try my best to help. 

now we all can't help the same way. we all have different gifts, strengths and means. i recommend you pour yourself a drink, relax and figure out how you can help. 

mango sunrise
serves: 1 cocktail
prep time: 5 minutes
active time: 1 minute
total time: 6 minutes
ingredients: 2 oz tequila. .25 cup chopped mango. 1 oz lime juice. 1 oz triple sec. 1 oz hibiscus syrup. 1 cup ice. shaker. food processor. line wedge for garnish.

start by combining the lime juice and mango in the base of a food processor.

 blend until the mango is completely puréed. you will need 2 oz of the purée. 

in your shaker, combine the tequila, mango and triple sec. shake till completely combined and a bit frothy. about 30 seconds. 

pour the hibiscus syrup in the bottom of your serving glass. 

pour all the shaker contents including the ice into the glass.

garnish with lime wedge and enjoy.

xo, a

mango sunrise 
serves: 1 cocktail 
prep time: 5 minutes 
active time: 1 minute 
total time: 6 minutes 
ingredients: 2 oz tequila. .25 cup chopped mango. 1 oz lime juice. 1 oz triple sec. 1 oz hibiscus syrup. 1 cup ice. shaker. food processor. line wedge for garnish. start by combining the lime juice and mango in the base of a food processor. blend until the mango is completely puréed. you will need 2 oz of the purée. in your shaker, combine the tequila, mango and triple sec. shake till completely combined and a bit frothy. about 30 seconds. pour the hibiscus syrup in the bottom of your serving glass. pour all the shaker contents including the ice into the glass. garnish with lime wedge and enjoy.