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Archives for May 2018

A Spring Classic: Sensation Cocktail

May 21, 2018 by Natalie Leave a Comment

A Spring Classic: Sensation Cocktail

A less known but delicious classic is the Sensation Cocktail. It’s a cousin of the more popular Aviation cocktail but replaces the Creme de Violette for mint. If I’m being honest, I tend to love the Sensation Cocktail more so. Creme de Violette can be a little too floral for my preference and the Sensation Cocktail is dry, more tart, and super refreshing! It first appeared in a book by Robert Vermeire in 1922, Cocktails: How to Mix Them, and the recipe is credited to James Berkelmans, Paris.

A Spring Classic: Sensation Cocktail

There has been so much going on behind the scenes that it’s been a struggle to update the blog over the last week or so. I have a ton in the works that I can’t wait to share with you soon. On top of a crazy workload, right after finishing the One Room Challenge, I jumped into repainting the kitchen and starting on the bathroom. These lemons you see as my backdrop is actually a new accent wall. As soon as I shoot it I’m going to do a kitchen tour post. Oh — I’m also fostering 4 adorable 4-week old kittens. Make sure to keep an eye on my Instagram stories, and starting today I’m officially using the hashtag #cocktailsandkittens. If you want to find out why keep reading. 😉

A Spring Classic: Sensation Cocktail

Sensation Cocktail, serves 1

2 oz. gin

3/4 oz. lemon juice

3/4 oz. maraschino liqueur

small handful of mint

mint sprig and lemon twist, for garnish

A Spring Classic: Sensation Cocktail

Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker, fill completely with ice and shake. Strain into a coupe glass. Garnishing this drink with a brandied maraschino cherry is perfectly acceptable but I love to roll up a lemon twist and stick a mint sprig in it. It looks beautiful and adds so many aromatics. You can also double strain this drink if you don’t want mint in it. I prefer little mint floaters because I think it looks nice and adds texture but some people like a clean strain. To each their own!

A Spring Classic: Sensation Cocktail

A Spring Classic: Sensation Cocktail

I love making classics at home because, for the most part, they are fairly simple (3-4 ingredients). The Sensation Cocktail is one of my favorites to drink this time of year, especially on a warm day. It’s crisp, refreshing, and quenches my thirst immediately. Maraschino liqueur makes this drink sharp and dry. If you tend to like slightly sweeter drinks you can add 1/4 – 1/2 oz of simple syrup to this recipe to sweeten it up.

A Spring Classic: Sensation Cocktail

Okay, now it’s time to meet the kittens. Meet Elsie, Murray, Gertie, and Ethel! They were not cooperating very much on set so I will have to keep practicing. I had to hold them to get some shots of them. They. Are. So. Tiny.

A Spring Classic: Sensation Cocktail

A Spring Classic: Sensation Cocktail

A few years back I frequently fostered with a local rescue, Jersey Cats. For about 2 years my old apartment was a kitten hotel. I’d get kittens, keep them for a few weeks or months, they would get adopted, and then I’d get new kittens. My life was definitely full of sweet, cute, cuddly moments — but fostering is hard. It’s a lot of work and sometimes you get attached to cats. The number one question I always get about fostering is how do you not keep all the kittens? It’s REALLY HARD but I like to remind myself of the bigger picture. The more cats or animals I have the harder it is for me to help others. There will be more kittens, and they will all be cute. I just want to save the world one kitten at a time!

A Spring Classic: Sensation Cocktail

So why am I fostering again? I originally stopped when I adopted my Chinese Crested dog, David Bowie. Having a dog was much more work, my apartment was tiny, and it was just too much. After my cat Phil died in October there has been a void. Now that I have more space I thought it might be fun to start at it again and Jersey Cats needed a foster. So happy to help again!

A Spring Classic: Sensation Cocktail

I hope you guys like kittens because I’m hoping to include them in some of my posts until they find their forever homes. If you’re local please check out Jersey Cats to stay updated. I hope you enjoyed my silly kitten and cocktail photos and I hope you will try the Sensation Cocktail this Spring/Summer. As always, I would love to hear from you, so chime in on the comments below. Either about the cocktail or these sensational kittens! xo

Filed Under: Classic Cocktails, Cocktails, Gin, Gin Cocktails, Spring Cocktails Tagged With: classic cocktails, cocktails, craft cocktails, gin cocktails, kittens and cocktails, mint, spring cocktails, summer cocktails

One Room Challenge | Reveal of the Office Overhaul

May 10, 2018 by Natalie 13 Comments

Reveal of the Office Overhaul

The reveal of the Office Overhaul is finally here. This is my third time being at week six of the One Room Challenge and let me tell you it’s not easy. Even when you say you’re not going to get stressed, even when you plan ahead, something inevitably goes terribly wrong. Yet somehow I always get to the finish line even if it’s amidst a nervous breakdown and completely exhausted.

As I write to you from my newly finished office, I am so happy to show you the reveal of the Office Overhaul! I couldn’t have done it without Greg Pallante who came to the rescue and photographed the room on Monday. He did such a great job and is a photographer I’ve been wanting to work with for awhile and finally, the stars aligned. Maybe everything does happen for a reason.

Now for some Before + Afters. Drum roll, please!

Reveal of the Office Overhaul

Reveal of the Office Overhaul

Reveal of the Office Overhaul

Although this room wasn’t giant and just needed some small updates I think the end result has a huge impact. It just goes to show you that using paint and updating decor goes A LONG WAY. My design plan and inspiration from week 2 goes over everything but I was heavily inspired by The Parker Hotel in Palm Springs for my color and pattern choices. I decided to give the room a fresh coat of white paint and then color block the walls almost half way up with the color Bold Yellow by Benjamin Moore. Swapping out my giant desk for a smaller vintage one that I also painted was important. I actually found it on the Facebook marketplace in pretty rough shape for $75, sanded it down, and then repainted it with Razzle Dazzle by Benjamin Moore in a semigloss.

Having a smaller desk opened up the room a lot and allowed me to extend the shelving for storage. In the end, I decided not to make a seat cover for the acrylic chair because I love how it disappears into the room. It takes up no visual real estate, which also makes the room look more spacious. Another thing I added was the banana leaf curtains which are old H&M that I found on eBay. They draw your eye upwards, also giving the appearance of a larger room. I swapped out the outdated light fixture for this inexpensive rattan pendant light from IKEA that I’ve had my eye on forever.

Reveal of the Office Overhaul

Reveal of the Office Overhaul

Here are the full shots of the room so you can get a good idea of what I accomplished with my design plan. This room is narrow and therefore a challenge to shoot but I think Greg nailed it. I love how all the colors play off each other and the rug from RugsUSA ties it all together. As far as I’m concerned there can never be enough plants. I love brining the outdoors in and decorating with greenery. I think my office is now officially “The Jungle Room”.

Reveal of the Office Overhaul

I love that my new desk has drawers so that I have a place to store all my paperwork and files. This DIY ombré bookshelf that I made comes in handy to store and display cute notepads, my planner, and whatever books and magazines I’m currently reading. It is right next to the desk so I can grab something when I need it without having it clutter on top of the desk. I had the pegboard already and used paint leftover from the stairs to do the ombré. Then I purchased elastic cord and got the wood cut at Home Depot. Easiest DIY ever!

Reveal of the Office Overhaul

Reveal of the Office Overhaul

Reveal of the Office Overhaul

Reveal of the Office Overhaul

Reveal of the Office Overhaul

Reveal of the Office Overhaul

Reveal of the Office Overhaul

Here are some close-up shots of the shelves. I’m using the bottom shelves to store office related things in the baskets. On the higher shelves, I’m displaying a lot of plants (duh) and barware that I have collected over the years. I’m so happy to have my tiki mug collection out of storage finally. I have some super rare ones and I love that I can look at them now instead of them being in a box in the closet. The rattan tray from the Opalhouse Collection for Target houses all my special booze. Bottles that were gifted to me, limited runs of things, or brands that I’m currently working with. There is booze all over the house but I wanted to display the important stuff here. I may need to periodically taste some when I’m having a hard day. 😉

Reveal of the Office OverhaulReveal of the Office OverhaulReveal of the Office Overhaul

The desk will be more functional for everyday use but I really wanted to make my pink Royal typewriter the showpiece. I always wanted one and would search Etsy and flea markets nonstop but they were always super expensive. Then one day as I was strolling down the sidewalk on my way to work and she was sitting in the window of my local pawn shop at an amazing price. I even haggled the price down a little and then I walked out the door with her.

Reveal of the Office Overhaul

Reveal of the Office Overhaul

My Gray Malin print looks perfect above the desk and I offset it with planters from Project 62 and the hey neon sign from Oh Joy both from Target. I actually had the planters and the hey neon sign so this didn’t add to my budget. The dinosaur planter is from Homegoods and was in the living room so I moved it to the office where I think it will stay. The task lamp and swan pool float snow globe are from West Elm. Catchalls on top of the books are vintage and the gold banana vase is Jonathan Adler.

Reveal of the Office Overhaul

Reveal of the Office Overhaul

The string of pearls plant and wall hanging were last-minute additions. If I shot the reveal of the Office Overhaul last Wednesday they wouldn’t be in the reveal photos. So the plus side to not shooting last week was that I had a few days to put some finishing touches on the room. The wall hanging is by a friend who is local Margaret Margaret Gabriella that I purchased at Kanibal Home.

I’ve been searching for a string of pearls plant for years and my local garden center never gets them in. I went there over the weekend and boom! There it was in all its glory! I DIYed the same twine plant hanger that I did for the Hallway Refresh and also made that curtain tie back out of twine too using a pom pom maker. I love the texture that the wall hanging and twine adds to the room.

Reveal of the Office Overhaul

Reveal of the Office Overhaul

Reveal of the Office Overhaul

Participating in the One Room Challenge is fun but it’s never easy. I love that this challenge motivates you to finish a room in only six weeks. Which means you get to enjoy your room and your design sooner but it’s hard work! Not sure how many of you are slow decorators but I am guilty of taking my sweet, sweet time. That’s why I’ve been a guest participant for the last three One Room Challenges. Not only does it motivate you to finish a room but it also encourages you to connect and support other designers and bloggers which I think is the most important part. We’re all in this together and we’re all just trying to get to the same place.

I’m so happy with the reveal of the Office Overhaul. I can’t wait to spend many days and nights in here growing my business and staying inspired. Thank you for following along and make sure you check out all the other featured designers and guest participants rooms on the One Room Challenge site. I’ll be updating my Office Overhaul board on Pinterest with the additional product that I added to the room. I’ve also linked to past weeks below in case you missed any of my progress over the last six weeks. Cheers to another successful One Room Challenge everyone! Let me know what you think of the Reveal of the Office Overhaul in the comments below. I always love to hear what you guys think!

Week 1 // Week 2 // Week 3 // Week 4 // Week 5

 

Design by Natalie Jacob // Photography by Greg Pallante

One Room Challenge

Decor Sources:

Desk- Vintage

Chair- Flash Furniture Ghost Chair – Hayneedle

Shelving- VITTSJÖ, VITTSJÖ – IKEA

Rug- Adileh rug in orange – RugsUSA

Elephant Photography Print- Gray Malin Always Welcome at the Parker

Wall Planters- Succulent Wall Geometric Hanging White/Gold – Project 62 Target

Hey sign- HEY LED sign lamp– Oh Joy – Target – Sold Out

Banana Vase- Jonathan Adler Banana Bud Vase

Dinosaur Planter- HomeGoods (similar)

Table Lamp- Scoop Table Lamp – West Elm

Snow Globe- Swan Pool Float Snow Globe – West Elm

Wall hanging- Margaret Margaret Gabriella – Kanibal Home

Curtains – Banana Leaf Curtains – H&M – Sold Out

Catchalls- Vintage

Ombre Bookshelf- DIY

Rattan Pendant Lamp- SINNERLIG – IKEA

Uppers Canister- Jonathan Adler

Rattan Tray- Opalhouse – Target

Flamingo Canister- Flamingo Cookie Jar – World Market

Flamingo Mirror- Vintage

Yay Vase- YAY 3 letter vase – Oh Joy – Target

House Plants Print- Home is Where my Plants are – WildHartPaper

Elephant Basket – Opalhouse – Target

Filed Under: Design, DIY, Home Decor, Room Tour Tagged With: at home, design, DIY, Home Decor, interior design, office overhaul, one room challenge

The Office Overhaul | Week 5 Disaster

May 3, 2018 by Natalie 5 Comments

The Office Overhaul | One Room Challenge Week 5 Disaster

It wouldn’t be the One Room Challenge unless something went terribly wrong, right? The Office Overhaul Week 5 has been quite the disaster.

While doing the Spring 2017 ORC the day I was having the wallpaper installed we realized we didn’t have enough wallpaper. Last minute we had to switch walls, which actually turned out for the better. THANK GOD! For the Fall 2017 ORC I had a lighting nightmare that almost made me not finish on time but then we were luckily granted a week extension. Phew! This time around I knew exactly what to do ahead of time to ensure that this project was smooth sailing. Sometimes things are completely out of your hands though.

I had The Office Overhaul finished ahead of time.

I need to stop for a second and pat myself on the back before I tell you that I drowned myself in many Aperol Spritzes last night. This room was completed ahead of schedule and is so glorious I exceeded all of my own expectations for it. I was suppose to shoot yesterday, Wednesday May 2, but the photographer flaked last minute leaving me in a lurch. Everyone is saying I should just shoot it myself but I dont have the correct lens and I wanted these photos to be 100%.

This is a huge setback as I need photos for the reveal next Wednesday. It’s already such a tight timeline to have photos taken and get edited product back in 7 days but in a few days depending on when I get them taken? I could be cutting this REAL close. There was a breakdown, then there were some tears, then there was a cheese danish (if you watched my IG stories), and then there were drinks. Can you blame me? Also the drinks are defintely to fault for me getting this post up late.

I took some quick pics yesterday just to show you what I got done last week. It’s a small room so I don’t want to show you the desk or shelves styled. I need to leave something if the final reveal ever happens.

The Office Overhaul | One Room Challenge Week 5 Disaster

Last minute I decided not to make a seat cover. I love the way the chair disappears into the room and because it’s a small room I like how it takes up now visual real estate making the room appear larger in a way. If I decided I want something removable I can always make it at a later time.

The Office Overhaul | One Room Challenge Week 5 Disaster

I DIYed this pegboard book shelf. It was SO easy. I used leftover paint from my hallway stairs to create the ombre effect, got wood cut at home depot, and used elastic cord to hold the books up. Pretty neat, huh? I already had the pegboard from my studio so I just repurposed it. So much of that stuff would be sitting all over the desk and now I have somewhere pretty to stash books and notepads that are easily grabable when I need them.

The Office Overhaul | One Room Challenge Week 5 Disaster

I’m sure you’ve seen these baskets everywhere, and for sale online for a lot of money. I snagged the baskets at IKEA for $12.99 and made my own pom poms using supplies I already had (pom pom maker and yarn).

The Office Overhaul | One Room Challenge Week 5 Disaster

There are lots of plants. Ethan has been calling it “the jungle room”. I’m not mad about it. I bought that plastic flamingo at Target for $1!!!

The Office Overhaul | One Room Challenge Week 5 Disaster

Erik approves of the room transformation. It also wouldnt be The One Room Challenge without one of my pets photobombing my images. How is he even comfortable lying there like that? lol. Wish me luck in my hopes to track down another photographer and get this room shot on time. Stay tuned for the reveal (hopefully) next week!

One Room Challenge

Images edited with Amethyst from Glow using the A Color Story app on Iphone

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: at home, design, DIY, Home Decor, interior design, office overhaul, one room challenge

3 Ways to Celebrate Memorial Day Weekend

May 1, 2018 by Natalie

3 Ways to Celebrate Memorial Day Weekend

I’m so excited to be teaming up with Bai for this next post! Memorial Day Weekend is just over a month away and is the official kick-off to Summer. I’ve put together 3 fun ways for you to celebrate Memorial Day Weekend this year. Whether you’re staying home, entertaining, or going to a friends party, it’s always a good idea to have a few tricks up your sleeves.

3 Ways to Celebrate Memorial Day Weekend

DIY Balloon Arch

Supplies:

helium tank

balloon decorating strip

various balloons in different colors and sizes

glue dots

balloon string

3 Ways to Celebrate Memorial Day Weekend

I’ve never blown up balloons with helium before this project. Honestly, it was so easy and I got this Balloon Time tank that is available at Party City. They’re so easy to use and can easily be recycled when empty. To use all you have to do is twist the nozzle, press down to fill the balloons, and then tie the ends up. You can blow up all your balloons and then attach them or attach them as you go which is what I ended up doing. If you blow them all up at once, make sure you can reach them, or put them in garbage bags so they don’t float up.

3 Ways to Celebrate Memorial Day Weekend

Next, you can attach them to the balloon decorating strip. Slip the knot of a balloon through the hole of the decorating strip. Skip a few holes and place another balloon facing the opposite direction. Keep alternating balloon colors and sides until you have a balloon strip as long as you need your arch to be. If your balloon arch is looking scarce you can add a few more balloons where needed, but don’t go too crazy. We’re going to add little balloons to fill in the holes too.

3 Ways to Celebrate Memorial Day Weekend

Once all your main balloons are on the strip as long as you need it to be, you can cut the strip on either side where the balloons end. You can use balloon string to tie your arch to the table or piece of furniture your using. I tied mine to strings that went to the floor and then used balloon weights to hold it down. Use glue dots to stick mini balloons into the holes and crevices until you have an arch that’s completely full.

3 Ways to Celebrate Memorial Day Weekend

Jalapeño Watermelon Paloma

Ingredients:

2 oz Jalapeño infused Tequila

2 oz. Bai Kula Watermelon

1/2 oz. fresh lime juice

4 chunks watermelon

salt, for rimming

top with Bai Bubbles Gimbi Pink Grapefruit

3 Ways to Celebrate Memorial Day Weekend

First, infuse your tequila. Slice jalapeño and add it to a jar with the tequila. Depending on the intensity of your pepper this may infuse fairly quickly. With this in mind, I’d say infuse it for 10 minutes or 20 minutes MAX. I have a very high tolerance for spice, however, if you don’t straw test it every few minutes until it’s at your desired spiciness. Once your tequila has infused you can build your drink.

3 Ways to Celebrate Memorial Day Weekend

3 Ways to Celebrate Memorial Day Weekend

Now, rim your glass with salt. Add watermelon together with lime and Bai Kula Watermelon to a shaker and muddle. Next, add the jalapeño tequila and shake with ice. Strain into your desired serving vessel that’s been rimmed with salt and top with Bai Gimbi Pink Grapefruit. Finally, garnish with a lime wheel. This Jalapeno Watermelon Paloma is spicy, fruity, refreshing, and not to mention delightfully fizzy, which makes it perfect for a hot day. I found that using just the Bai Kula Watermelon made this drink sweet enough so no added sugar or syrups necessary.

3 Ways to Celebrate Memorial Day Weekend

Additionally, you can also make this Jalapeño Watermelon Paloma a large format style drink too. To serve 10 people add 20 oz. jalapeño infused tequila, 2 bottles Bai Kula Watermelon, 8 oz. lime juice, 2 cups watermelon, 2 sliced grapefruits, and 2 cans of Bai Bubbles Gimbi Pink Grapefruit to a punch bowl or drink dispenser with ice. It’s such a perfect beverage for your Memorial Day Weekend festivities!

3 Ways to Celebrate Memorial Day Weekend

Hot Dogs 4 Ways

It wouldn’t be Memorial Day Weekend without some hot dogs! Pick out your favorite type of dog and cook it your favorite way. These are my 4 suggested ways to dress up your dog this holiday weekend.

3 Ways to Celebrate Memorial Day Weekend

Mexican Dog

Ingredients:

avocado, sliced

jalapeño, sliced

1/4 cup white onion, diced

1 tomato, diced

kiwi, diced

1 cup pineapple, diced

pinch of salt

pinch of pepper

4-6 dashes hot sauce of your choice

juice of 1 lime

To make the pineapple kiwi salsa simply toss onion, tomato, kiwi, pineapple, salt, pepper, hot sauce, and lime juice in a bowl. To assemble your Mexican Dog top with the salsa, freshly sliced avocado, and freshly sliced jalapeño.

3 Ways to Celebrate Memorial Day Weekend

Chicago Dog

Ingredients:

white onion, diced

tomato, sliced

pickle spears

yellow mustard

sweet relish

pickled sport peppers (we used serranos)*

celery salt

Cut the tomato into half-moon slices and line your hot dog bun with the tomato slices. Add your dog and then top with a pickle spear, sweet relish, sport peppers, mustard, a sprinkle of onion and celery salt. *sport peppers are regional and if you can’t find them where you live use serrano peppers

3 Ways to Celebrate Memorial Day Weekend

Caprese Dog

Ingredients:

tomato, sliced

whole basil leaves

fresh mozzarella

balsamic vinegar

Cut tomatoes into half-moon slices. In your hot dog bun line one side with tomatoes and one side with fresh basil leaves. Top with fresh mozzarella, I used mozzarella pearls, and then drizzle with balsamic vinegar.

3 Ways to Celebrate Memorial Day Weekend

Greek Dog

Ingredients:

cucumber, sliced

tomato, sliced

greek yogurt

cheese, crumbled

Cut cucumber as well as the tomatoes into slices and line your hot dog bun with them. Add your hot dog to the bun and then top with greek yogurt and a sprinkle of feta cheese.

3 Ways to Celebrate Memorial Day Weekend

3 Ways to Celebrate Memorial Day Weekend

3 Ways to Celebrate Memorial Day Weekend

3 Ways to Celebrate Memorial Day Weekend

I had so much fun putting this all together with Bai for Memorial Day Weekend. You can use one of these ideas or all of them, it’s totally up to you! I love the idea of doing a hot dog bar with the DIY balloon arch, and serving your favorite kind of dog coupled with a large format drink, like the jalapeno watermelon Paloma, to go along with it. I’d love to hear what your planning for your Memorial Day Weekend especially if you decide to try any of these ideas. Make sure you chime in on the comments below and let me know what you think!

Thank you for reading this sponsored post that makes Arsenic Lace possible.

Filed Under: DIY, Entertaining, Fizzy, Food, Healthy Cocktails, Home Entertaining, Party Ideas, Recipes, Spicy, Sponsored, Summer Cocktails, Tequila Tagged With: bai, balloon arch, celebrate, DIY, easy entertaining, entertaining, food, grapefruit, home entertaining, hot dogs, jalapeno, memorial day weekend, paloma, recipes, summer, summer cocktails, watermelon

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My name is Natalie Jacob and I'm a bartender, author and beverage + creative consultant drinking, honky tonkin and making a home in Nashville, TN. Learn more ->

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