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| Having a cocktail cart is classy. Having a cocktail cart with geode topped bottles? Très chic times 10! And Emily from Cupcakes and Cashmere came up with a fabulous idea: Use craft glue to attach geodes bought from a craft store to inexpensive bottle stoppers. Voila: budget friendly glam look! |
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| Nothing screams summer like watermelon (well, except maybe pool parties and cuties in swim trunks, but if we're going to keep it PG rated, we'll stick to watermelon as our focus)! But this time, we're amping up the fruit factor into a cool, refreshing adult treat. Called the French Watermelon, this vodka slush is sure to put a smile on your face that rivals even those you get from checking out tanned hotties poolside! |
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It’s all things mom this week, and we’re so happy to share this absolutely perfect and oh-so-pretty Mother’s Day cocktail. Whether you’re perhaps planning a Mother’s Day brunch at home or even just want to get together with the most important woman in your life for a nice afternoon of those signature hours-long chats mothers and daughters are known for, she’ll no doubt be delighted when you serve her this stunning concoction. And if you’re lucky, she’ll get liquored up enough to admit that maybe, just maybe, she’s not always right! (Okay, that’s just a pipe dream, we know. Mom’s are always right. But we can dream, can’t we?) {ingredients} 1 1/2 oz. vodka 1 oz. white crème de cacao 1/4 oz. rosewater small pieces of turkish delight or rose petals to garnish 1 drop rose food color 1. fill half of a cocktail shaker with ice 2. add liquids 3. shake 4. pour 5. garnish 6. love Photos and recipe: citified.blogspot.com |
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| Hello darlings! I was flipping through a recent food magazine and came across these unique bottle openers from World Market. Aren't they the most charming things you've ever seen?! Not only do they look vintage and beautiful, they're a steal at under $10 a piece. I'm definitely getting a collection for my kitchen. And to make them feel a little more French, use one to pop open a bottle of Kronenbourg beer. I'm obviously more inclined to suggest a less common, fancier brew, but most of the nicer bottles in the French region have cork tops. Cheers! Chelle |
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| Hello darlings! I promised you I would post a few photos from the Oscar party I threw last year, and here they are! I wanted things to be simple yet elegant, so I kept the menu to a couple stunning hors d'oeuvres, some beautiful champagne cocktails and a fun popcorn bar featuring a variety of flavors of the classic movie snack. Everyone is still raving about the lamb stuffed cucumbers (an idea I actually borrowed from a cocktail party I attended at the Beverly Center in Los Angeles), so I'm including the recipe — which I completely made up based on what I tasted at the cocktail party — below. Enjoy! |
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| Curried Lamb with Cucumber, Crème and Orange Ingredients: 4 to 5 good sized English (seedless) cucumbers 1 orange, zested 1 small container of crème fraiche (which is the French version of sour cream. If you can't find it in the specialty cheese case of your grocery store, you can substitute regular sour cream) 1 pound of ground lamb (you could also use ground chicken, turkey or beef) curry powder ground cumin salt and pepper Directions: Slice each cucumber into into one-inch rounds. Using a spoon, gently hollow out each round to make small cups. Meanwhile, brown the ground lamb in a skillet. Season with the salt and pepper, curry powder and cumin (use as much or as little as you'd like. I love these flavors, so I used about one tbsp of curry powder and 2 tbsp of cumin). When the meat is done cooking, spoon a little into each cucumber cup. Top with a dallop of crème fraiche and garnish with orange zest. |
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| Using a photo frame to display your menu is a quick and easy way to elegantly let your guests know what treats are in store for the evening! |
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| Garnishing each champagne flute with a thinly sliced star fruit gives your drinks added pizazz and reminds your guests why they're gathering: to honor the stars, of course! |
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| Sadly, this is the final installment of the monochromatic Christmas special. And it's not because I didn't love doing it, but because the holiday season is fast approaching its end already! Though I haven't had quite as much time this year to do Christmassy things, I've been so in the holiday spirit, it seems kind of sad that there are only a couple more days of festivities to look forward to! Anyway, please enjoy these photos of the most classic Christmas decor color, and merry holidays, lovelies! May you all get everything you wished for and then some! oxox, Chelle |
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| Holiday Glogg 12 oz. SKYY vodka 1 bottle (750 ml) dry red wine 1.5 tbsp. mulling spices 1 tsp. fresh orange zest 2 tbsp. sugar 2 tbsp. blanched almonds 4 tbsp. raisins Wrap mulling spices in cheesecloth. In a large saucepan, combine the wine, SKYY vodka, cheesecloth with mulling spices, orange zest, and sugar. Allow to very lightly simmer over medium heat for at least 30 minutes (do not boil). Discard the mulling spices. Drop a few raisins and almonds at the bottom of each mug and top with the hot liquid. |
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| Wanna make your friends green with envy? Then use the color for your holiday hue, which sets a striking and yet earthy feeling that will have them falling all over themselves in their attempts to compliment you! And it also sends a subtle message that going green really is the way to go, even during Christmas. |
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| French Charmed is about all things girly, so of course we're in love with the idea of having an all-pink Christmas! Now if only all you girls out there can convince the men in your life to go along with this chic and feminine holiday look! We're crossing our fingers... xoxo |
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| The Pama Kiss 1 1/2 oz. PAMA Pomegranate Liqueur 3/4 oz. sour apple vodka 1/2 oz. cranberry juice Mix ingredients in martini shaker. Shake well. Serve on the rocks. Garnish with sugar-dusted raspberries. |
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| If blue isn't necessarily your favorite holiday color of choice, how about trying a nice, classic white? You can't go wrong with this look, and it stands out as simply stunning amidst the usual mix of reds and greens that traditionally go along with Christmas. |
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| Ginger Cosmopolitan 2 oz infused vodka Squeeze fresh lime juice 1 oz triple sec 2 oz white cranberry juice |
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| I know there’s something nostalgic about multi-colored, flashing and in-your-face Christmas décor, but despite the memories associated with the look, I’ve always preferred a more peaceful, monochromatic holiday feel myself. I’ve done several different one or two-pallate trees over the years (I’d post photos, but most of them were taken far before I got a digital camera, and I’m sure you’ve guessed by now that I’m the type who has boxes and boxes full of undeveloped film rolls)! Anyway, for some reason, I’m finding myself very attracted and pulled toward blue Christmas décor this year. Maybe it’s because I’ve been quite a stress-basket for months, and there’s something simple, clean and soothing about this look? Nonetheless, I’m hoping to find the time to decorate this year, and if I do, you can bet I’ll be taking my cue from these photos. If you’re not feeling the blue look, don’t fret: I’ll be posting several different monochromatic looks organized by color over the next several days. And I’ll include an idea in each color for your tree, wreath, stockings, table setting, gift wrap, decorations and even a party drink recipe to match! Just call it an early holiday present from me to you! xoxo |
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| Tinsel Bellini 2 oz. HPNOTIQ 1 oz. limoncello 1 oz. Champagne Splash of lime juice Rim the Champagne flute with a light coat of sugar. Pour chilled HPNOTIQ, limoncello, and Champagne into the champagne flute. Add a splash of lime juice. |
| Photo Credits from Top to Bottom: SouthernLiving.com, CountryLiving.com, AGiftWrappedLife.com, CountryLiving.com, TheArtfulLifestyle.blogspot.com, MyHomeIdeas.com, MarieClaire.com | ||||||||||||||||||
