Trader Joe's Spicy Margarita

 

Hi Friends!  Today I thought I would share a fun recipe with you.  I whipped this up on a whim on Friday night and really enjoyed it.  Thought you may too.  Knowing most of my readers are big Trader Joes fans like I am, this recipe may be for you!  

 

I am calling it the Trader Joes Spicy Margarita since it includes a TJs ingredient AND my suggested snack with this luscious cocktail is also from TJs!  FTW!

 

 

Ingredients

1 cup Trader Joe's Spicy Limeade

1 shot of Tequila of Your Choice

1/2 lime

Tajin for rimming your glass and extra sprinkle for flavor

Trader Joe's Mini (Almost) Everything Bagel Sandwich Crackers

 

 

Instructions

 

Rim your glass with lime

Dip the glass in Tajin

Fill your glass with ice

Add 1 cup of TJ's Spicy Limeade

Add 1 shot of Tequila of your choice

Stir and Enjoy!

Best snack to go with this is the TJ's crackers I mentioned above- so delish!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Poinsettia Mimosa

 

Hi Friends!  I thought I would share a Christmasy Cocktail with you today!  It is a great one for your Christmas Brunch or really any type of holiday get together.  I served this during our "Clara's Nutcracker Brunch."  You can read all about that HERE

 

 

It was such a hit that so much so, my mom is making them for Christmas and my friend Kate made them for a friend's get together last weekend...I just get so happy when people like what I make- yeah!

 

 Here is how you make this simple little gem...

Ingredients

1/4 cup Cranberry Juice
1/2 oz or 1 oz Triple Sec (your choice)
Fill the rest of a glass with Champagne (4-6 ounces) 
 
 
Instructions
Pour Cranberry Juice into a glass. Add Triple Sec. Fill the rest of the glass with cold Champagne.

 

 

Give it a shot!  It is beautiful, delish and oh so festive!

Quarantine Cocktails

Hi Friends....how are we doing?  How is working from home going?  How is remote learning going?

We are getting through it all here...I am not sure about you but I have more hope now that I have heard the president has a plan.... a gradual plan but safe plan and we will slowly get back to normal...that is the hope I need to push me forward...the hope I was lacking over the last 5 weeks....so yes I am more hopeful now...still sad...mourning the joyful events that have been cancelled for my girls...but focusing more on the joy.

I thought I would put a fun post together because who of us doesn't need a little fun right now?  My blogging friend Andrea started a YouTube channel called "The Yeti Bartender".  She kills me but I love watching her and she always has great recipes to share.

She got me thinking of some cocktails I have recently "pinned" and Rob and I thought they would be fun to make and try during this quarantine...so sharing a few with you today.  Please let me know if you try any of these...I would love feedback!

The first one will not be tried until we are "free" to get together again and I will be making this and serving it to my besties.....

Hippie Juice

Doesn't that sound like the perfect girlie drink?  Fruity and refreshing and perfect for summer!

 Next up

The Dirty Banana

This one sounds more like a dessert and oh so yummy...you can even make a "virgin" one for your kiddos and pour it into fancy glasses

Lastly, is Andrea's cocktail

The Peach Bellini Martini

I made these for Rob and myself on Friday night and they were absolute perfection!  Perfect spring cocktail- refreshing and just strong enough.  Side Note: If you can't find peaches or don't want to make your own puree, I found a totally easy hack.  I bought organic canned peaches at Whole Foods, drained the liquid and threw them in the blender and they provided the perfect puree to rim the glass AND add to the cocktail FTW!

There ya have it...just a nice little distraction when you are looking for something different to help you decompress after a crazy quarantine week!

Frozen Peach Margaritas

It's time to link up with Allie and share another one of my fun recipes!  See the linkup HERE

I decided to share a fun and perfect summer cocktail with you today!

How about Frozen Peach Margaritas?  Sound good?

If you are also looking for ways to use your mint from your garden, this is the perfect excuse ;)

Ingredients

• Coarse sea salt for rimming glass
• Simple syrup for rimming glass (can also use lime juice)
• 3 large peaches, peeled and chopped
• 2 Tbsp freshly squeezed lime juice
• 1 cup tequila
• ½ cup triple sec or Cointreau
• 3 Tbsp honey
• 3 cups ice
• Mint for garnish, if desired

Instructions

1. Place sea salt on a small plate and lightly brush simple syrup or lime juice around rims of glasses.
2. Dip rims on the plate of sea salt to coat.
3. Put peaches, lime juice, tequila, triple sec, honey, and ice in blender and blend on high until smooth.
4. Pour into glasses and garnish with mint, if desired. Enjoy! 

2016 Fourth of July Weekend!

My Favorite Time of the Year and we lived it up to the fullest!

Thursday night I took Diana and Sam for Fro Yo and then we headed to meet our friends at the Windham Fireworks- we always pack a picnic dinner; the kids have a ball running around, eating frozen slushies and the adults enjoy catching up with friends from town- it is one of my favorite nights all year

Friday night was my time to do all of the shopping for our big shindig on Saturday.  What a workout!  Ha ha!  It is okay because after I was done, I crashed!  Rob had a gig and once I put the baby down I  watched My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2- I didn't think it would even compare to the first and I have to say, it is just as good! Diana spent the day and night with my parents- they went to see finding Dory- they said it was fabulous so I am sure we will be taking her again so we can enjoy too!  

Saturday, I got my last training run in and then together with Rob, we worked to put together a great party/cookout.  We were very pleased with the outcome- I think it was one of our parties ever- everyone said they had an awesome time- so relaxing- many laughs and the kiddos had a crazy good time too!

 Red, White and Blue Pasta Salad!  Find the Recipe HERE

 

 Red, White and Blue Caprese Salad

Find the Recipe HERE

Watermelon Sangria (BIG hit- was glad- not sure it was going to be liked but it was LOVED!) Find the Recipe HERE

*Disclaimer- I added some shots of Watermelon Vodka and that truly made it "just strong enough" :) 

 

 and the prettiest little strawberry from my lovely Lea XO

Sunday was Family Day- After mass, Mimi and Papa came over and we cooked out- it was "burger bar day" and we had a ball

and Mimi made a delicous festive pie for the ocassion- Blueberry Raspberry- YUM!

On the 4th of July, I got up early, got my running outfit on and set out to run my first 5k since having kids.  I knew it would be tough.  My training only lead me to to 2.2 miles and I would have to complete 3.1.  The other challenge, I knew, would be the hills.  We trained on the flat Rail Trail in town and this time I would be running a course.  My friend Mary volunteered to do it with me.  She is an avid runner but she said she knew how tough it would be to go alone.  I had been training with friends but all had other plans for the 4th.  It was daunting to say the least, however, I wanted to do it after working so hard and you know what?  I did.
I ran the first 2.2 miles- stopped and walked and got water and then started running at the end again- all in all, I am calculating that I ran 2.5 out of the 3.1.  My best distance and time ever.  My next goal is to run the entire 5k.
Mary got us tutus which we got so many compliments on and Rob and the girls were waiting at the finish line- very emotional for me- tough stuff but so happy when it was over!

Group Picture of the GDTC that I was part of

   
After my race, it was time for my little family to have some alone time- we had what I would call the perfect day ever! We headed to Rockport (which a seacoast town in Mass) and we walked around, shopped, took pics and had an awesome lunch at 7th Wave- I have been craving steamers and we got not one but two orders.  Guess who also learned that she loved steamers?  Yep, Little Miss Diana!
It was a beautiful day to round up such an awesome 4th of July Weekend- blessed!

One of the most photographed structures in the U.S!

Diana and I even got to dip our toes in the ocean- pure bliss!

  and last night we wrapped up with watching Jaws- Diana wasn't even too scared- she asked a million questions of course but enjoyed it like we did!

Hope you all had a wonderful 4th!