Natalie

Chill Out with these Iced Coffee Recipes for Summer

June 19, 2018 by Natalie 1 Comment

Happy Tuesday everyone! Who needs a coffee? Definitely me! Is anyone else addicted to iced coffee in the Summer? Luckily I’m working with Nespresso for this next post and sharing two delicious iced coffee recipes. This Summer Nespresso is releasing a new line of iced espressos for their Vertuo System. The limited edition espressos are more concentrated and have been specifically designed to be poured over ice to deliver a refreshing beverage.

Mint + Vanilla Cafè Shakerato, makes 1 serving

1 Inspirazione Shakerato capsule

4 Nespresso ice cubes

1 tsp. mint/vanilla syrup*

*First, make your mint/vanilla syrup. Add 1 cup of water, 1 cup of sugar, 1 big bunch of mint, and 1 vanilla bean (scrape the inside) to a saucepan. Heat over medium heat, whisking constantly until the sugar dissolves. Simmer for about 10 minutes and then remove from heat and let completely cool. Strain out the mint and vanilla bean and store in a jar or bottle.

Extract 1.35 oz. coffee into a 12 0z. glass over Nespresso ice cubes. Add 1 tsp. (or more if desired) of mint vanilla syrup and shake or stir the drink. Garnish with a mint sprig. Adding Irish whiskey to this iced coffee is perfect for a summery Irish Coffee variation.

I was inspired by a classic Irish Coffee for the Mint + Vanilla Cafè Shakerato. Incorporating mint into this iced coffee by making a mint syrup turned out delicious and super refreshing. The vanilla adds a hint of sweetness and flavor that compliments the coffee perfectly. Making coffee cubes is easy. Just brew some coffee, pour it into an ice cube mold, and send it to the freezer. Coffee ice cubes keep your iced coffee cold and add more coffee instead of watering it down!

Island Coffee, makes 1 serving

1 Inspirazione Salentina capsule

4 Nespresso ice cubes

1 oz. dark rum

1 oz. coffee liqueur

2 tbsp. condensed coconut milk

Add Nespresso ice cubes to a glass and pour in the dark rum and coffee liqueur. Extract 1.35 oz. coffee on top. Next, add your condensed coconut cream and stir until incorporated. Garnish with coconut flakes and freshly grated nutmeg. For a booze-free version omit the rum and coffee liqueur.

Have you ever had a Vietnamese Iced Coffee before? They are delicious and are kind of my guilty pleasure. Usually, I’m strictly a black coffee drinker but adding condensed milk to iced coffee is so tasty! Instead of using regular sweetened condensed milk I bought condensed coconut milk. Using condensed coconut milk is the perfect way to add sweetness and a tropical element that makes this iced coffee super Summery. Bonus that it is also dairy-free which makes this iced coffee vegan as well!

The Vertuo System makes mornings so much easier when you can brew a cup for a quick fix. Before the VertuoPlus, I was making pour-over coffee — which I love — but it requires a lot of effort and time. Sometimes in the morning, I need a fast cup of coffee that still taste good so I can start tackling my emails and get to work! I’m honestly so impressed with the quality and flavor of the coffee and how this system brews. The possibilities are endless and it keeps stress levels low (which I need).

I love iced coffee and I’m so happy to be able to make it at home now. The great thing about both of these recipes is you can serve them with or without booze. That makes them appropriate for morning and if you need a pick me up at happy hour or after dinner, then add some spirit! I hope you will give both of these recipes a try and don’t forget to check out the VertuoLine system and you can purchase all your espressos here. Happy brewing!

This post is sponsored by Nespresso. All opinions expressed in the post are my own and not those of Nespresso. Thank you for reading the sponsored content that makes Arsenic-Lace possible!

Mango Kombucha Margarita + Bistec Mango Tacos

June 15, 2018 by Natalie 4 Comments

Did you think I would get sick of margaritas and tacos after my trip to Mexico? NEVER! Honestly, as a result of my trip, it’s all I want to eat and drink! I’m so happy to be teaming up with Exotico Tequila for this next post. I’m sharing recipes for my Mango Kombucha Margarita + Bistec Mango Tacos. After all, what is a margarita without a taco? It’s certainly my favorite cocktail and food pairing in this whole wide world!

Mango Kombucha Margarita, serves 1

2 oz. Exotico Blanco Tequila

3/4 oz. fresh lime juice

1/2 oz. agave

4-5 pieces fresh mango, muddled

top with mango kombucha (I used GT’s)

First, add mango, lime juice, and agave to your cocktail shaker and then muddle. Fill your cocktail shaker with ice, shake, and strain into a salt-rimmed glass. Finally, top with mango kombucha and garnish with a lime wheel and cilantro.

Bistec Mango Tacos, makes 6 tacos

1 lb. chuck steak, sliced into 1-inch strips

2 tbsp. olive oil

salt

tequila cayenne sauce

mango salsa

cilantro

corn tortillas

For the tequila cayenne sauce:

1/3 cup Exotico Tequila

2 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce

1 tbsp. cayenne pepper

1 tbsp. pickled jalapeño juice

1 tbsp. brown sugar

salt

For the mango salsa:

1 whole mango

1/4 cup white onion

1 tomato

1 tbsp. pickles jalapeño

salt

pepper

lime juice

Slice the steak into 1-inch strips and then cook in a pan with olive oil and salt. To make the tequila cayenne sauce combine all ingredients in a saucepan and heat until slightly boiling. Then prepare the mango salsa by chopping mango, onion, and tomato. Next, put your chopped ingredients in a bowl, then add remaining ingredients and toss. Finally to assemble tacos place your steak in a corn tortilla, drizzle with tequila cayenne sauce, top with mango salsa and a sprinkle of cilantro.

Exotico Tequila is handcrafted with tradition by the Gonzalez Distillery which is a family distillery spanning three generations and one of Mexico’s most respected makers of tequila. The tequila is made from 100% Blue Weber agave grown in the Highlands of Jalisco. The red clay soil in Jalisco produces a larger, sweeter agave heart thus gives Exotico its floral, well-rounded taste. The Exotico Blanco has notes of roasted agave and pepper which make it delightful to sip on its own but also perfect for mixing in drinks like the margarita!

I was inspired by a Tommy’s Margarita (tequila, lime, agave) when developing this Mango Kombucha Margarita. A few months back I made Kombucha Sangria on A Beautiful Mess and instantly fell in love with this ingredient in cocktails. It adds flavor, tang, and effervescence to drinks that yields such flavorful and interesting results. Once I knew what margarita I wanted to make, I based my taco recipe around it using similar ingredients.

I hope you will try my Mango Kombucha Margarita + Mango Bistec Tacos this Summer! They go absolutely perfect together and not to mention, are a winning combination. I love that both the margarita and tacos are savory but are also sweet and summery from using fresh mango. I think planning a taco night is in order!

Celebrate Negroni Week with the Rosita

June 4, 2018 by Natalie 2 Comments

Well hello there. I’m popping in to say Happy Negroni Week everyone! I’m celebrating with one of my favorite variations on the classic Negroni — The Rosita. The Rosita cocktail is basically a tequila Negroni and I’ve picked it to kick off Negroni Week because I’m currently on a plane to Mexico. That’s right, MEXICO!

A last-minute trip to Hacienda Patron came my way and there was no way I was letting that opportunity pass me by. Going to Mexico, especially Jalisco — where a majority of tequila is made, has always been a dream of mine. And you know me… always checking those dreams right off my list. Can you blame me? YOLO.

Anyways, back to The Rosita cocktail. I had to do some investigating about the spec of this drink because there are a few recipes and the origins of this cocktail are somewhat non-existent. The problem I was having is that some recipes call for Angostura Bitters and some do not. To ango or not to ango? That is the question!

My boss and friend, Richard Boccato, helped me by reaching out to Robert Hess who helped popularize this drink. Hess got The Rosita recipe from an article by Terry Sullivan in the August 1999 issue of GQ Magazine. Sullivan got it from Gary Regan’s Bartender’s Bible. And Regan got it from Mr. Boston’s 1979 edition. I’m not sure if I really got my question answered because again, each of those recipes is different, but I’m deciding to ango!

The Rosita, serves 1 drink

1 1/2 oz. reposado tequila

1/2 oz. Campari

1/2 oz. dry vermouth

1/2 oz. sweet vermouth

1-2 dash Angostura Bitters

lemon twist, for garnish

First, add all your ingredients to a double rocks glass. Add ice, I used a large format cube, and stir. Garnish with a lemon twist by pressing the peel gently and expressing the oils on top of the drink. Wipe the rim of the glass with the peel and then place in the drink. Alternatively, this drink can also be served up if you prefer. You will need to add all ingredients to a mixing glass with ice, stir, and then strain into a coupe glass. Same rules apply for the lemon twist.

The Rosita might just be my favorite Negroni variation. I love tequila so much, and this is a much drier and complex spin on the classic. Using the ango adds a lot of depth, slight spice, bitterness and I can see why it is needed. A Negroni is equal parts making it a much more bitter drink because of the amount of Campari in it. The Rosita only has a 1/2 oz. of Campari so the dashes of Angostura really help the bitter element of this drink stand out.

If you’re not familiar with Negroni Week (June 4-10), Imbibe Magazine and Campari presents it in efforts to raise money for charities around the world. Participating bars donate a portion of their Negroni sales to a charity of their choice. So find a local bar near you that are celebrating and order a Negroni or whatever variation they’re serving up. The only thing better than drinking is drinking with a cause!

I hope you’ll give the Rosita a try as well. If you’re looking for some other fun ideas to celebrate Negroni Week with I have these Negroni Tarts, a Frozen Strawberry Negroni, Negroni Mini Cupcakes, and these Strawberry Negroni Popsicles. Make sure you keep an eye on my stories over on Instagram to see what I’m up to in Mexico and I will be updating the blog when I get back! Cheers and Happy Negroni Week!

A Spring Classic: Sensation Cocktail

May 21, 2018 by Natalie Leave a Comment

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.

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. 😉

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

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!

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.

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 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!

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!

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

One Room Challenge | Reveal of the Office Overhaul

May 10, 2018 by Natalie 13 Comments

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!

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.

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”.

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!

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. 😉

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.

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.

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.

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

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

The Office Overhaul | Week 5 Disaster

May 3, 2018 by Natalie 5 Comments

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.

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.

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.

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).

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!!!

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!

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

3 Ways to Celebrate Memorial Day Weekend

May 1, 2018 by Natalie

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.

DIY Balloon Arch

Supplies:

helium tank

balloon decorating strip

various balloons in different colors and sizes

glue dots

balloon string

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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!

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Food + Wine Pairing for Spring Entertaining

April 30, 2018 by Natalie 17 Comments

I’m so excited to be teaming up with Santa Margherita Wines this year to show you how I enjoy drinking their wines at home. Spring is such a busy time for entertaining. The weather is getting nicer and Mother’s Day, plus many holiday weekends are fast approaching. Having some ideas of what food to serve and what kind of drinks to pair it with is so important.

For as much as I love cocktails, I also love to enjoy a glass of wine. Wine is also so much easier to have on hand and serve especially when you’re entertaining. I’ve put together two easy dishes and paired them with Santa Margherita Sparkling Rosé.

Spring Pea Salad with Strawberries, serves 4

Ingredients

8 cups mixed salad greens

1 cup snow peas or snap peas, trimmed

3/4 cup strawberries, sliced

1/2 cup fresh peas

1/4 cup feta cheese, crumbled

1/4 cup fresh mint, chopped

For the dressing

3 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil

2 tbsp. champagne vinegar

1 tsp. honey

1/4 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. ground pepper

Arrange greens, mint, snow/snap peas, strawberries, peas, and feta on a serving platter. Whisk oil, vinegar, honey, salt, and pepper in a small bowl and drizzle over the salad.

Cantaloupe & Proscuitto Skewers

Ingredients

3 oz. package of prosciutto

1 cantaloupe

basil leaves

fresh black pepper

Cut the cantaloupe into bite-sized pieces. cut each piece of prosciutto in half and roll individually. Place a toothpick into each piece of prosciutto and then into the cantaloupe. Sprinkle with sliced basil and fresh black pepper.

These recipes were so easy and they took minutes to whip up. Talk about some super easy peasy entertaining ideas! I love using fresh fruit in salads and appetizers in the Spring/Summer and it really brings out the fruity notes in the wine. Santa Margherita Sparkling Rosé has a full bouquet of pleasing floral aromas with hints of red berry and crafted with a blend of white wine made from Chardonnay and Glera grapes and a red varietal of Malbec. It is delicate in flavor but also vibrant and well rounded which makes it a deliciously easy drinking wine. This pale bubbly pink wine is tasty, aromatic, and a great companion to savory appetizers, salads, and seafood dishes. I absolutely adore how it complemented the spring pea salad and prosciutto skewers.

What’s your favorite food and wine pairing? I hope you will consider these options next time you’re entertaining!

Office Overhaul | Week 4 and a Sneak Peek

April 26, 2018 by Natalie 3 Comments

By now I should be freaking out because it’s week 4 of the One Room Challenge. Maybe the third time really is a charm though, because I have So. Much. Done.

Last week for the Office Overhaul I painted the desk, painted the room, and received all of the product. I had a ton of wallpaper left over from my first One Room Challenge because last minute we had to switch walls. I decided to use the wallpaper on the sides of the desk drawers. It goes so well with the color of the desk and adds an extra splash of fun. Because where there is too much color and pattern, Natalie, decides to add more color and pattern. Are you surprised? A big plus that it cost no extra money since I already had the wallpaper. I still have to spray paint the hardware and put it back on. Also: Did you peep that rug? SWOON!

Monday I took a trip to IKEA and purchased the pendant lamp, which will hopefully go up over this weekend, and the second part of the shelving. While I was at work Ethan put the shelf together (he’s such a doll) and today we hung the curtains. I really won’t elaborate too much because I don’t want to give the whole reveal away. The least I can say is SH*T looks good.

After the light fixture goes in I’m going to DIY some last minute things and do the fun part, which is all the styling.

I unboxed the Gray Malin print, which looks amazing. It’s such a fun print and I can’t wait to hang it! I’m shooting the reveal next Wednesday so make sure you tune into my Instagram stories to see some behind the scenes. I’m beyond excited to team up with another local female photographer, Keren, of Finally Home JC.

One million glass clinks to a very successful week 4 of the One Room Challenge. I can not wait to show you what I’ve done with my office. I keep catching myself standing in the hallway peering into my office completely in love with it already. Mission accomplished.

Make sure you’re following along on Instagram with #TheOfficeOverhaul + checking in on my stories and my Office Overhaul board on Pinterest. Catch up on the progress of this room with Week 1, Week 2, and Week 3.

Cara Cara Mezcal Sour

April 25, 2018 by Natalie 3 Comments

I’m gearing up to celebrate Cinco de Mayo with one of my favorite Mexican spirits, Mezcal. I’ve used this smokey agave spirit in a bright and refreshing Cara Cara Mezcal Sour that is perfect for the occasion. If you’re not familiar with mezcal or how it differs from traditional tequilas — I’m giving you the rundown on the blog today. My palate has transformed over the years and I think I’m ready to come out and say that mezcal has definitely become one of my favorite spirits.

Tequila is a type of mezcal, much like how scotch and bourbon are types of whiskey. The definition of mezcal is any agave-based liquor. This includes tequila, which is made in specific regions of Mexico and is made from only blue agave. Mezcal can be made from more than 30 varieties of agave. The most common varieties of agave used for mezcal are tobalá, tobaziche, tepeztate, arroqueño and espadín, which is the most common agave and accounts for up to 90% of mezcal.

While there is some geographical overlap, tequila and mezcal primarily come from different regions of Mexico. Tequila is produced in five places: Michoacán, Guanajuato, Nayarit, Tamaulipas and Jalisco, which is where the actual town of Tequila is located. Conversely, mezcal is produced in nine different areas of Mexico. They include Durango, Guanajuato, Guerrero, San Luis Potosi, Tamaulipas, Zacatecas, Michoacán, Puebla and Oaxaca. Which is where 85 percent of all mezcal is made.

Both tequila and mezcal are made from harvesting the core of the agave plant, otherwise known as the “piña.” However, that’s where the similarities in production end. Tequila is typically produced by steaming the agave inside industrial ovens before being distilled two or three times in copper pots. Mezcal, on the other hand, is cooked inside earthen pits that are lined with lava rocks and filled with wood and charcoal before being distilled in clay pots. While some large-scale mezcal producers have adopted modern methods, artisanal mezcal makers continue to use this more traditional method, which is the source of the smokiness commonly associated with mezcal.

Are we ready to make some drinks now? All this talk about mezcal has got me feeling thirsty!

Cara Cara Mezcal Sour, serves 1

2 oz. mezcal

1 oz. cara cara orange juice

1/2 oz. lemon

1/4 oz. agave

1 egg white

1 orange wheel for garnish, I used a candied orange

When I’m making sour cocktails I like to use a two-sided shaker. First, crack your egg and separate, only adding the white of the egg to the larger side of your shaker. I do this to keep the egg white separate from the rest of my ingredients until I’m ready to shake. Add the rest of the ingredients to the smaller side of your shaker. When you’re ready, pour the smaller side of your shaker into the larger side and dry shake. Open, add ice, and shake again. Shake as hard as you can! Strain into a coupe glass and garnish with an orange wheel.

I recently made a delicious no-bake mimosa tart for Palm Springs Style that I topped with candied oranges. I had a few extras so I garnished this drink with a candied orange. You can use a fresh slice or check out that post to see how I made the candied oranges. It was so easy and they turned out oh so delicious. You should probably just make that mimosa tart while you’re at it. You’ll thank me!

I think this Cara Cara Mezcal Sour is my favorite sour ever! Cara Cara oranges have a distinct pinkish-red and orange flesh. It’s not just their beautiful color that makes them stand out — they have a remarkable taste that goes right along with it. Compared to traditional navels, Cara Caras are sweeter, slightly tangy, and less acidic, with a hint of red fruit, like cranberry or blackberry. Using Cara Cara in this drink made it so bright, fruity, and refreshing. Plus I love that peachy hue it has!

I loved garnishing it with an orange wheel because the egg white foam kinda puffed up around it. It was seriously stunning! I hope you have some fun plans for Cinco de Mayo. I’ll be sipping on mezcal, most likely in the company of tacos. That’s not too far off from everyday life though. 😉 Stay tuned for some more drink ideas for Cinco de Mayo. I have some delicious drinks going up on Palm Springs Style and A Beautiful Mess because there can never be too much tequila!

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