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!

it is starting to look a lot like summer. kids are getting out of school, the heat in socal is rising and the longest day of the year is less than a week away. and few things feel more like summer than pineapple. 

the problem is, pineapple drinks tend to be much to sweet. i like a cooling, floral cocktail with a hint of fruitiness. and this cocktail delivers. watch out, it's hard to have just one. 

pineapple sunrise
serves: 1 cocktail
prep time: 3 minutes
active time: 2 minutes
total time: 5 minutes
ingredients: 4 oz pineapple juice. 2 oz vodka. .5 oz campari. 2-4 oz club soda (to taste). tumbler glass filled with ice. toothpick, lime wedge and pineapple slice for garnish. 

start by combining your pineapple juice and vodka. stir well to combine. 

pour the vodka and pineapple juice into you glass. 

top with the campari (let it settle to the bottom to create that really pretty layer of color). 

top off your cocktail with club soda to taste. use your toothpick to skewer the lime and pineapple piece. 

garnish your drink with the lime and pineapple skewer. enjoy! 

xo, a

pineapple sunrise
serves: 1 cocktail
prep time: 3 minutes
active time: 2 minutes
total time: 5 minutes
ingredients: 4 oz pineapple juice. 2 oz vodka. .5 oz campari. 2-4 oz club soda (to taste). tumbler glass filled with ice. toothpick, lime wedge and pineapple slice for garnish. start by combining your pineapple juice and vodka. stir well to combine. pour the vodka and pineapple juice into you glass. top with the campari (let it settle to the bottom to create that really pretty layer of color). top off your cocktail with club soda to taste. use your toothpick to skewer the lime and pineapple piece. garnish your drink with the lime and pineapple skewer. enjoy!