finally, a moment to breath. i have been missing in blog actions for two weeks now, for good reasons. first of which was my birthday. a week ago, i turned thirty-two. and i have a REALLY good feeling about my thirty-third year. for two and a half years, i've been grinding along, exerting oodles of energy to try and get all my businesses off the ground. and i can feel it in my bones that things are changing for the good. even my horoscope is leading me to believe positivity is coming in one way or another. 

but age is just at number. more importantly, i had a couple of very exciting events. last weekend, i had my first large wedding cake. six tiers. and the delivery required a two-hour drive on a 102 degree f day. what started out as a mellow delivery, turned into a stressful cake moment since the venue was so remote and the day so warm. my skills were put to the test, but if anything, the day showed me how far i have come and that i truly am a cake professional now. the bride and her family were over the moon, and while i ran myself into the ground physically to deliver, it was worth every painful moment for the pay off. 

the MOST EXCITING part of all the craziness was last nights B.SOCIAL, a live and styled event i threw with my good friend alicia and betsy from the delicious b. toffee. i know... what the hell does that mean? 

basically, we got a bunch of event creatives, wholesalers and business owners together to network and celebrate one another. it was a HUGE success and a BLAST. i was so lucky to have an amazing vendor team of old and new friends come together to make a truly magical night for all. 

here are a couple of sneak pictures from the B.SOCIAL. we had stunning blooms from seven stems, a s'mores bar from mallow mallow, table top rentals from cherished rentals and one time use, adorable plates and forks from l'entramise, just to name a few of the amazing vendors. more photos and recap to come! 

and of course, the recipe for the cocktail i served at the GORGEOUS bar provided by jake duke studios, with tito's vodka provided by hi-time wine cellars. 

lavender + citrus cooler

serves: 1 cocktail

prep time: 2 minutes

active time: 1 minutes

total time: 3 minutes

ingredients: 2 oz tito's vodka. 1 oz orange juice. 1 oz grapefruit juice. .5 oz triple sec. .25 oz creme de violette. .25 oz lavender simple syrup. 3 oz club soda. 1 cup ice. shaker. 

fill your shaker with ice. pour in the vodka, juice, simple syrup, triple sec, creme de violette and lavender simple syrup. shake well till a bit frothy. about 30 seconds.

pour all the contents of the shaker into your serving glass.

top off with club soda.

serve and enjoy. 

xo, a

lavender + citrus cooler

serves: 1 cocktail

prep time: 2 minutes

active time: 1 minutes

total time: 3 minutes

ingredients: 2 oz tito's vodka. 1 oz orange juice. 1 oz grapefruit juice. .5 oz triple sec. .25 oz creme de violette. .25 oz lavender simple syrup. 3 oz club soda. 1 cup ice. shaker. 

fill your shaker with ice. pour in the vodka, juice, simple syrup, triple sec, creme de violette and lavender simple syrup. shake well till a bit frothy. about 30 seconds. pour all the contents of the shaker into your serving glass. top off with club soda. serve and enjoy. 

i just spent the last twenty minutes musing about all that has gone on in the last few weeks. 

and then i stopped, realized it's friday, and deleted the whole thing. 

for weeks, my life has been nothing but running, stress, negotiations and LOTS of food. but f*ck it. it's the first friday in december and we should just be focusing on the drinking. i can bore you with my monologue another time. 

let's focus on a delicious cocktail instead. this drink is pretty much a christmas party in a glass. bright, boozy and smelling like an evergreen, this vodka cocktail is sure to wow at your holiday party or your friyay night braless couch session. 

winter citrus punch
serves: 1 cocktail
prep time: 2 minutes
active time: 1 minute
total time: 3 minutes
ingredients: 2 oz vodka. 2 oz blood orange juice. 1 oz lime juice. 1 oz lime juice. 1 oz hibiscus syrup (you can purchase it HERE). 1 cup ice. 1 sprig rosemary (bottom two inches of leaves removed). 2 blackberries. shaker. tumbler or old fashioned glass for serving. 

start by making your rosemary & blackberry garnish. skewer the blackberries up to the edge of the rosemary leaves and set it aside. add your ice to the shaker. pour the remaining ingredients into the shaker. shake will to combine. 

pour all the contents of the shaker including the ice into your serving glass. 

garnish with the rosemary & blackberry skewer and serve. 

xo, a

winter citrus punch
serves: 1 cocktail
prep time: 2 minutes
active time: 1 minute
total time: 3 minutes
ingredients: 2 oz vodka. 2 oz blood orange juice. 1 oz lime juice. 1 oz lime juice. 1 oz hibiscus syrup (you can purchase it HERE). 1 cup ice. 1 sprig rosemary (bottom two inches of leaves removed). 2 blackberries. shaker. tumbler or old fashioned glass for serving.
tart by making your rosemary & blackberry garnish. skewer the blackberries up to the edge of the rosemary leaves and set it aside. add your ice to the shaker. pour the remaining ingredients into the shaker. shake will to combine. pour all the contents of the shaker including the ice into your serving glass. garnish with the rosemary & blackberry skewer and serve.