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. 

it's been another productive week over here at newfoodtuesdayz. lot's of teaching and cooking and just getting shit done. if you have some time, check out our new collaboration page to find out how to work with the newfoodtuesdayz team (me and wes). 

this weekend, i am having a little pop up bake sale at one of the studios i teach at. if you live in orange county and are looking to support local businesses and small artisans, please come check out the craft fair at kaya yoga remedy in huntington beach, this saturday from 1-4.
after testing plenty of full flavor, gluten free and vegan treats, i'm spending all #friyay baking. and drinking. duh. 

when you are your only real employee, you get to drink on the job. 

today i wanted something fun and bright to pick me up as i work well into the evening. plus, with all the germs roaming around right now, i need to pump up my vitamin c intake. 

i had these really cool sweet limes i found at my local produce store (there is a bunch of really cool citrus in season at the produce markets right now). they had the sweetness of an orange, but the flavor of a lime. and because the lime is so sweet, much less sugar is necessary to sweeten this tasty cocktail. 

casco bay sparkling limeade
serves: 1 cocktail
prep time: 2 minutes
active time: 1 minute
total time: 3 minutes
ingredients: 2 oz citron vodka. 1 oz sweet lime juice. 1 oz lemon juice. 1 oz simple syrup. splash of cranberry juice. .25 cup club soda. 2 cups ice, divided. channel knife to make lime peal garnish. collins or tulip glass. 

using the channel knife, hook it into the lime peal and gently slide it the diameter of the lime to create your curls. 

in a pint glass with half the ice, combine the vodka, juices and simple syrup. 

strain into a glass with the remaining ice.

top with desired amount of club soda. 

garnish with lime twist and enjoy. 

xo, a 

casco bay sparkling limeade
serves: 1 cocktail
prep time: 2 minutes
active time: 1 minute
total time: 3 minutes
ingredients: 2 oz citron vodka. 1 oz sweet lime juice. 1 oz lemon juice. 1 oz simple syrup. splash of cranberry juice. .25 cup club soda. 2 cups ice, divided. channel knife to make lime peal garnish. collins or tulip glass.
using the channel knife, hook it into the lime peal and gently slide it the diameter of the lime to create your curls.
in a pint glass with half the ice, combine the vodka, juices and simple syrup.
strain into a glass with the remaining ice.
top with desired amount of club soda.
garnish with lime twist and enjoy.