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.

phew. we made it. i feel like i say this every friyay, but this week was a doozy. my schedule has really been picking up with the addition of some yoga classes and swim lessons. summer (my busy season) is in full swing and it has me driving a giant daily triangle all over orange county. and while i am TRILLED that my businesses are picking up and i welcome the hustle and bustle, i was VERY ready for friyay this week.

since it's summer and heating up in my neck of the woods, i needed a cooling cocktail today. something to make me feel like i'm on vacation even though i really only have a few hours to rest before i'm off again. bam. enter the mango mojito. it was so good, that it only lasted about 5 minutes and wes was bummed i only made one and we had to share. if you can't come by some beautiful fresh mango, you can always sub some mango juice (mango nectar) for the flavor with out the hassle. 

mango mojito
serves: 1 cocktail
prep time: 5 minutes
active time: 3 minutes
total time: 8 minutes
ingredients: 1 mango (or 3 oz mango nectar). 3 oz light rum. 8 mint leaves + a sprig of mint for garnish. 1 lime, halved. 1 tbs sugar. 6 oz club soda. muddler. shaker. food processor. 1 cup ice. 

start by slicing a wedge out of your mango to reserve for garnish. then remove the rest of the flesh from your mango and puree the mango. you need about .25 cup of mango puree. reserve any extra you have for another use. 

into the shaker, squeeze the juice form both sides of the lime and throw the lime halves in as well. rip up your mint and add it to the shaker with the sugar. muddle it all together until the mint is very broken up and your sugar is dissolved. about a minutes. 

add a couple ice cubes, the rum and the mango puree to the shaker. shake well to combine. 

fill your serving glass with the remaining ice and garnish your glass with the mango slice and the sprig of mint. 

strain your mojito over ice. 

pour in your club soda to take the mojito to the brim of the glass.

serve and enjoy! 

xo, a

mango mojito
serves: 1 cocktail
prep time: 5 minutes
active time: 3 minutes
total time: 8 minutes
ingredients: 1 mango (or 3 oz mango nectar). 3 oz light rum. 8 mint leaves + a sprig of mint for garnish. 1 lime, halved. 1 tbs sugar. 6 oz club soda. muddler. shaker. food processor. 1 cup ice. start by slicing a wedge out of your mango to reserve for garnish. then remove the rest of the flesh from your mango and puree the mango. you need about .25 cup of mango puree. reserve any extra you have for another use. into the shaker, squeeze the juice form both sides of the lime and throw the lime halves in as well. rip up your mint and add it to the shaker with the sugar. muddle it all together until the mint is very broken up and your sugar is dissolved. about a minutes. add a couple ice cubes, the rum and the mango puree to the shaker. shake well to combine. fill your serving glass with the remaining ice and garnish your glass with the mango slice and the sprig of mint. strain your mojito over ice. pour in your club soda to take the mojito to the brim of the glass. serve and enjoy!