it's friyay, but admittedly i've been in a pretty funky mood the last few days. i'm guessing my foul mood is due to a lack of yoga or post vacation blues, but regardless of the reason, i've been feeling pretty funky.

we catered our first ever wedding on tuesday, and come wednesday morning i was feeling pretty deflated. so i gave myself a couple days off to sulk around, but it's time to shed these funky feeling and move on to bigger and better things. 

and there is no better way to change a mood than the perfect cocktail. to me, the perfect cocktail is refreshing and vibrant, with just a hint of sweet and tang. this little sparkler nailed it. 

grape & sage sparkler
serves: 2 cocktails
prep time: 5 minutes (unless you have the grape juice on hand, then it takes about a minute)
active time: 5 minutes
total time: 10 minutes (unless you already have the grape juice on hand, then about 5 minutes) ingredients: 1.5 oz vodka. .25 cup grape juice (i don't like my grape juice with all the add ons so i made it myself. i popped 1 cup black grapes into the food processor till pulverized. then i strained the juice and flesh in a strainer pressing out all the juice. it took me less than 5 minutes to do). 1 oz lemon juice. 1 tsp fresh sage, roughly chopped. 1 tsp sugar. .25 cup club soda. lemon wedge for garnish. extra grapes for garnish. muddler. shaker. 3 cups of ice (two for serving, one for the shaker). 2 serving glasses of choice (tumbler or a collins glass would be great). 

in the base of your shaker, combine the lemon juice, sage and sugar.

muddle until the sage is well broken up and the oils have released into the lemon juice and sugar. thirty seconds to a minute. 

then add your grape juice and vodka to the shaker. 

add in one cup of ice and shake well till foamy. about 20-30 seconds. 

fill each glass with half of the remaining ice. pour half the liquid in the shaker into each glass. 

top each half the club soda. 

garnish with grapes and a lemon wedge. enjoy!

xo, a

grape & sage sparkler
serves: 2 cocktails
prep time: 5 minutes (unless you have the grape juice on hand, then it takes about a minute)
active time: 5 minutes
total time: 10 minutes (unless you already have the grape juice on hand, then about 5 minutes) ingredients: 1.5 oz vodka. .25 cup grape juice (i don't like my grape juice with all the add ons so i made it myself. i popped 1 cup black grapes into the food processor till pulverized. then i strained the juice and flesh in a strainer pressing out all the juice. it took me less than 5 minutes to do). 1 oz lemon juice. 1 tsp fresh sage, roughly chopped. 1 tsp sugar. .25 cup club soda. lemon wedge for garnish. extra grapes for garnish. muddler. shaker. 3 cups of ice (two for serving, one for the shaker). 2 serving glasses of choice (tumbler or a collins glass would be great).
in the base of your shaker, combine the lemon juice, sage and sugar.
muddle until the sage is well broken up and the oils have released into the lemon juice and sugar. thirty seconds to a minute.
then add your grape juice and vodka to the shaker.
add in one cup of ice and shake well till foamy. about 20-30 seconds.
fill each glass with half of the remaining ice. pour half the liquid in the shaker into each glass.
top each half the club soda. garnish with grapes and a lemon wedge. enjoy!

well this sangria was supposed to be posted for friyay, but then i started drinking at three. and you all know what happens when you day drink. 

we are up in tahoe with our good friends blake and morgan for the weekend celebrating the start to summer. this weekend is all about spending time relaxing by the lake enjoying good food, good company and good cocktails. 

i made this sangria a couple weeks ago for a ladies dinner party and i knew it was going to become my summer go to. it's hard to imagine, but it is even lighter than a standard sangria and the watermelon makes it so refreshing. be careful, this cocktail can be considered dangerous. basically it tastes like there isn't any booze in it. consider yourself warned.

watermelon sangria
serves: 12 cocktails
prep time: 15 minutes
active time: 5 minutes
total time: 20 minutes
ingredients: 4 cups watermelon. 1 bottle dry white wine of your choice. 8oz vodka. 4 oz triple sec. 4 oz lime fresh lime juice. 3 kiwis, cut into .5 inch cubes. 1 cup blackberries, halved. 10 lavender flower blossoms. 

start by juicing your watermelon. in a food processor, puree the watermelon till liquid. now you have a choice. if you like pulp and want the drink a bit junkier, you do not have to strain the liquid. if you like a smooth sangria, strain your watermelon juice. 

then, in a large pitcher, combine all the ingredients. 

stir well to combine. 

serve over ice. 

xo, a

watermelon sangria
serves: 12 cocktails
prep time: 15 minutes
active time: 5 minutes
total time: 20 minutes
ingredients: 4 cups watermelon. 1 bottle dry white wine of your choice. 8oz vodka. 4 oz triple sec. 4 oz lime fresh lime juice. 3 kiwis, cut into .5 inch cubes. 1 cup blackberries, halved. 10 lavender flower blossoms.
start by juicing your watermelon. in a food processor, puree the watermelon till liquid. now you have a choice. if you like pulp and want the drink a bit junkier, you do not have to strain the liquid. if you like a smooth sangria, strain your watermelon juice. then, in a large pitcher, combine all the ingredients. stir well to combine. serve over ice.