the christmas countdown is on. less than ten days till the madness and then we can all let out a big sigh of relief till next year.

it's funny. until you are an "adult" with lots of work to do before the big day, christmas is what you LIVE for. basically as a child, the whole year is spent counting down till this one day. and as an adult, we spend most of the year working for the day and then feel a huge weight lifted when it is all over.

and since it is likely that most, if not all of my readers are "adults" i have a little something to help us all get through the next week and a half. a pretty little cocktail that hits the spot, wows your guests and takes minimal effort. just what santa ordered.

blackberry + sage gin fizz
serves: 1
prep time: 2 minutes
active time: 1 minute
total time: 3 minutes
ingredients: 2 oz gin. 1 oz simple syrup. 1 oz lemon juice. .5 cup club soda. 4 sage leaves. 2 blackberries. 1 toothpick. 2 cups ice.

start by separating your ice. half in your serving glass and half in whatever glass you will be mixing your drink in.

finely chop one of your sage leaves. 

stack your remaining 3 sage leaves and run your toothpick threw them. 

skewer your two blackberries with the toothpick and reserve. 

in your mixing glass, combine the chopped sage leaf, gin, simple syrup and lemon juice. 

shake or stir well and strain the mixture over ice in your serving glass. 

top off your cocktail with club soda to taste. 

garnish with blackberry and sage skewer and serve. 

xo, a

blackberry + sage gin fizz
serves: 1
prep time: 2 minutes
active time: 1 minute
total time: 3 minutes
ingredients: 2 oz gin. 1 oz simple syrup. 1 oz lemon juice. .5 cup club soda. 4 sage leaves. 2 blackberries. 1 toothpick. 2 cups ice.
start by separating your ice. half in your serving glass and half in whatever glass you will be mixing your drink in.
finely chop one of your sage leaves.
stack your remaining 3 sage leaves and run your toothpick threw them. skewer your two blackberries with the toothpick and reserve.
in your mixing glass, combine the chopped sage leaf, gin, simple syrup and lemon juice.
shake or stir well and strain the mixture over ice in your serving glass.
top off your cocktail with club soda to taste.
garnish with blackberry and sage skewer and serve. 

with all the exciting happenings over here at nft'z, i've had to be really regimented in my schedule this week. the week was full of meal deliveries, photo shoot prep, an amazing photo shoot (photos to come) and is about to reach it's pinnacle with tomorrow's snack stand at one of my studios and our nephew spending the night to celebrate his birthday. 

whew, i'm winded just thinking about it. but this is what i wanted. to be BUSY. that means things are HAPPENING. i don't totally know what it all means yet, but i feel this buzzing around me getting louder and louder. i knew the words will all be clear soon and the plan will become more clear. but in the mean time, i'm just going to sip this delicious sangria i made for thursdays shoot. it is the perfect make ahead cocktail and is a beautiful crowd pleaser for your holiday parties. 

winter sangria
serves: 12 cocktails
prep time: 20 minutes
inactive time: 1-24 hours
total time: 1:20-24:20 depending on how long you want it to soak
ingredients: 2 limes, one sliced, one wedged for garnish. 1 apple (i used macintosh), diced. 1 blood orange, sliced. 1 cup pomegranate seeds. 1.5 liters cabernet sauvignon. 1 cup rye whiskey or brandy. .25 cup sugar. 5 cloves.

in a large bowl, combine all of the ingredients and stir well to combine. cover and set in the fridge for as little as 1 hour and up to 24 hours making it a great make in advance option. 

serve from a large beverage dispenser or from carafe.

garnish with a lime wedge.

xo, a

winter sangria
serves: 12 cocktails
prep time: 20 minutes
inactive time: 1-24 hours
total time: 1:20-24:20 depending on how long you want it to soak
ingredients: 2 limes, one sliced, one wedged for garnish. 1 apple (i used macintosh), diced. 1 blood orange, sliced. 1 cup pomegranate seeds. 1.5 liters cabernet sauvignon. 1 cup rye whiskey or brandy. .25 cup sugar. 5 cloves.
in a large bowl, combine all of the ingredients and stir well to combine. cover and set in the fridge for as little as 1 hour and up to 24 hours making it a great make in advance option.
serve from a large beverage dispenser or from carafe. garnish with a lime wedge.