Natalie

Office Overhaul | Transforming a Room with Paint

April 18, 2018 by Natalie 6 Comments

I’m so excited for Week 3 of the One Room Challenge. Things are speeding along and yesterday we began transforming a room with paint. It is really crazy how much of a difference a fresh coat of paint really does! I have to thank Ethan for this week because he started painting the office for me on Tuesday while I was at work and that has really helped me stay on track with the Office Overhaul. Everyone say thanks, Ethan!

I bought the paint on Monday night and decided to go with Benjamin Moore Bold Yellow which is part of their Classic Color Collection. At first, I was a little nervous that this color would be too bright. Should I have tested it? Maybe. Once the color was on the walls I knew I made the right choice. It is exactly the color I was dreaming of! Bright, sunny, and invigorating. I already can’t wait to get some work done at my desk with a cup of coffee and some lemon essential oil diffusing.

Now that the hardest part (I think) is over, I really only have a few more things to do. This weekend I’m going to paint the desk. I chose another color by Benjamin Moore Razzle Dazzle. I checked the last item off my product ordering list today, yay! So far the items that have arrived are the rug, curtains, all the paint, and the Jonathan Adler goodies. On the way are the chair and the Gray Malin print. Next week I’m taking a trip to IKEA to grab the pendant lamp and the second part of the shelving. Then it all comes together!

I’m going to try to carve out some time to get a few DIYs in next weekend too. I’m thinking this Litter Box Cover DIY and this Ombre Pegboard Shelf. Also, I’m going to get a cheap faux sheepskin from IKEA and dye it so I can use it as a seat cover for the acrylic chair.

Bowie was my little helper today. He desperately needs a bath and some grooming but he’s still a cutie. Make sure you keep following my Office Overhaul board on Pinterest because I keep adding ideas and items as I find them. Cheers to success so far with the 2018 Spring One Room Challenge! Are you following any other room transformations participating in the One Room Challenge? Let me know your favorites below! xo

If you’re just chiming in, make sure to check out Week 1 and Week 2 of the Office Overhaul. Follow along on Instagram with #TheOfficeOverhaul.

Office Overhaul | Design Plan + Budget

April 11, 2018 by Natalie 3 Comments

It’s the second week of the One Room Challenge and I’m sharing my Design Plan + Budget with you all today for the Office Overhaul. I’ve been very proactive this time around and have placed orders for a lot of items in the design plan. I’ve learned the hard way from the last two One Room Challenges that I have participated in. Things get lost or don’t show up, so the earlier you get your orders placed the better. I’m trying to keep the stress minimal. I will not stay up late the night before a shoot panicking because I’m not prepared. You know, like not having enough wallpaper or DIYing plant hangers that didn’t get here on time (insert eye-roll here).

So let’s move on to my inspiration, design plan, and picks for the Office Overhaul.

Inspiration

As always, I’m forever drawing inspiration from Palm Springs. I basically designed this whole room around my love for The Parker Hotel. I’ve actually never stayed there, unfortunately, it’s a little out of my price range. One day I will though and it will be glorious! Whenever Ethan and I visit Palm Springs we always plan to have breakfast in The Parker at Norma’s for one of our morning meals. The food there is absolutely amazing (try the oatmeal brûlée) and I love to sit on the back patio. The hotel, designed by my favorite interior designer Jonathan Adler, is someone I’ve admired since design school. When I’m there it is so inspiring because you’re sitting in the perfect fantasy of what a Palm Springs house should be.

1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6 // 7 // 8 // 9 // 10 // 11 // 12 // 13

Design Plan

I decided to color block the walls instead of going with wallpaper. The upper part of the walls will remain white and the bottom half will be bright yellow. I picked a sunshiny yellow that reminded me of the yellow umbrellas on the back patio at Norma’s. For the carpet, I chose an orange one reminiscent of the orange rug on the floor at The Parker. The rug in the hallway of The Parker is actually the same rug in the movie The Shining, which totally freaks me out! I’d have nightmares so I didn’t choose that one, instead, I chose something with a little pink in it to complement the desk.

The desk was such a good find and I can’t wait to show you! I sold my original desk (before photos here) and actually found the desk of my dreams on the Facebook Marketplace. Crazy! It’s a vintage Hollywood Regency style desk with faux bamboo trim. I’ve linked to a similar desk above.

We drove all the way to Jackson Heights which is deep in Queens, NYC, and carried it down a four-story walk up. We almost died trying to get it into our house. Luckily a kind neighbor helped us carry it in. Anyways, it needs a little love and I’m giving it a makeover. I’m painting it a bright pink similar to the one pictured above. Did you really think I was going to design a room without any pink in it? To be fair, it is a different shade of pink than my usual pastel.

The larger IKEA bookshelf I already owned from my studio. I’m buying the smaller version to put beside it to increase shelving space. Since the new desk is much smaller, it opened up a lot of floor space for an additional piece of furniture. I’m going to swap out my current chair for a ghost chair. I love acrylic furniture because it’s useful but doesn’t take up any visual space because it’s clear. I’m going to DIY a seat cover for it based on a set of very expensive chairs I saw in a vintage shop in Palm Springs. Stay tuned for that!

Also from IKEA, I plan to get the rattan pendant lamp that I’ve wanted since it came out! Hopefully, there aren’t any problems with swapping out the light fixture like last time. Prayers and positive vibes everyone! It was really hard to find banana leaf curtains and these are actually old H&M that I snagged on eBay. Such a score because similar curtains are over $200 a panel. These only cost me $50 for 2 panels!

I’m having trouble with that desk lamp because the one I wanted from World Market is currently out of stock online. There’s a similar one on West Elm but it’s a little more expensive. I haven’t pulled the trigger yet. I’ll be adding plants (DUH!) in these cute wall planters from Target and hopefully a fiddle leaf fig in a seagrass basket. I have the basket already but I linked to the one pictured above.

The main star of it all will be this print by Gray Malin from his series At The Parker. I’ve wanted this print for so long and I bought it just a few days ago because he was having a free framing + shipping sale which saved me almost $200. This was the most expensive thing in the design plan but I really feel like this is the only photograph I want hanging above my desk in my Parker themed office. If Jonathan Adler is my favorite interior designer, Gray Malin is my favorite modern photographer. His work is fun and he has fused photography, interior design, and travel in a way that is full of adventure. When I look at his images I want to live in them.

Lastly, I couldn’t have a Parker Palm Springs-themed office without a gold banana vase from Jonathan Adler. For those of you that don’t know there’s a 7-foot giant banana sculpture on the lawn of The Parker. This one isn’t 7 feet but I needed a gold banana sculpture! 😉

Budget

As of now with the items listed above in the design plan, my budget is looking like $881 for this project. I’ve sold two items from my current office that raised $100 to put towards the budget which brings it down to $781. This will probably be adjusted as I go along and will depend on what lamp I decide to buy and if I use a few other things I already have.

I always aim to keep my design budget low and renter friendly because I am in fact a renter. I also believe that design and decor should be for everyone. That’s why I look for items and decor with approachable price points that can be accessible to a lot of peoples budgets. I already have the desk, large shelving, planters, and curtains. Orders for the Gray Malin print and rug have been placed, which I got both on sale! This week I’ll be placing the rest of my product orders and testing out some paints colors. Stay tuned to see what happens next!

Aloe Cucumber Cooler

April 10, 2018 by Natalie Leave a Comment

I’m so happy to be teaming up with Tadin Tea for this next post. Tea is something I’ve always incorporated into my recipe developing at home and behind the bar. This Aloe Cucumber Cooler is so refreshing and the perfect cocktail for the warm months ahead.

Usually, when I use tea in cocktails I gravitate towards the more floral and fruity teas. The selection of teas Tadin has available was so impressive. Tadin has been creating unique tea blends since 1982 that are all naturally good for you. Immediately I knew I wanted to use the aloe vera cactus tea in a cocktail. Drinking aloe has numerous health benefits such as extra hydration, aids in liver function, healthy skin, and digestion. I guess healthy cocktails are kind of my thing lately. 😉

Aloe Cucumber Cooler, serves 1

2 oz. Hendrick’s gin

1 oz. aloe vera juice

1/2 oz. lime juice

3/4 oz. tea syrup (using Tadin aloe vera with cactus tea)

cucumber slices and mint, for muddling

top with club soda

cucumber ribbons and mint sprigs for garnish

Making tea syrup is so easy and such a great way to add extra flavor to your drinks and simple syrup. First, brew the tea. I used 3 tea bags in 1 cup of boiling water. Let steep for 5 minutes and then discard the tea bags. While the tea is still hot, add the same amount of sugar to make a 1:1 tea simple syrup.

Regarding the aloe juice, I bought mine packaged. I wanted to juice it fresh but the day I was looking for it, of course, it was nowhere to be found. I’ve linked to the one I used above. If you can find that brand I suggest using it. It is 99.8% aloe. Make sure whatever aloe juice you’re buying has no added sugars, is made from 100% pure aloe, and is made from the inner gel fillet. So many of the aloe drinks on the market are flavored and have lots of additives and sugar.

Now you can build your cocktail. Add aloe vera juice, lime juice, tea syrup, cucumber, and mint to a cocktail shaker and muddle lightly. Next, add your gin then shake with ice and strain into a highball glass. Top with soda and garnish with a cucumber ribbon and mint sprig. To make cucumber ribbons I used a mandolin slicer.

This Aloe Cucumber Cooler turned out way better than I anticipated. It’s:

Cold

Refreshing

Fizzy

Earthy

Herbal

Hydrating

I was a little nervous how well the tea and actual aloe juice would work in a cocktail but the results are amazing. The tea is super herbal and earthy which goes so well with muddled mint and cucumber. Also, I decided to use Hendrick’s gin to add extra cucumber and floral notes to this drink. Feel free to use any gin or even vodka if that’s your preference. I will certainly be consuming a lot of these this Summer. Can we hydrate our livers and drink at the same time? I’m not sure but it’s worth a shot!

Also, make sure you head over to Instagram to enter the giveaway I’m hosting with Tadin Teas. One lucky winner will win Tadin Teas entire collection. That’s 33 different teas! I’d love to see you mix up your own Tadin Teas cocktails at home. Good luck everyone!

One Room Challenge | Introducing the Office Overhaul

April 4, 2018 by Natalie 6 Comments

Inspiration // BHG // Glitter Guide // Apartment Therapy // Style at Home

Hey everyone! I’m so excited to announce that I’m a guest participant in the Spring One Room Challenge once again. I hope you will follow my progress for the Office Overhaul over the next 6 weeks. This time I’m turning my office into my dream workspace. My hopes are to transform a somewhat sad space into a bright and inspiring one!

If you’ve been following the blog for awhile you know I did the Spring 2017 ORC last year in collaboration with Michelle Gage, who is (gasp) a featured designer this year. We made over my living room (the Palm Springs Project) together which turned out more amazing than I could have imagined. Check out our features here, here, here, and here. I also participated in the Fall 2017 ORC alone and made over a much-neglected space in my home, my hallway (the Hallway Refresh). I was featured on Apartment Therapy and have a print feature which I’m so excited to share with you all very soon.

Now let’s get down to business. Terrible and embarrassing before photos.

My main goal for the Office Overhaul is to take advantage of the great sunlight this room gets. I want to turn it into something colorful and a place where I will constantly be inspired to stay productive. Honestly, I work from other parts of my home before this one and that’s ridiculous because after all, it is my office. Right now I’m typing from the kitchen table, but a lot of the time I work in bed or on the couch. This leaves me open to SO much distraction. I’ll get sucked into a show or a movie and will fall behind on work. Also, I’d rather cuddle with my dog than pretty much anything else. Can you blame me?

I need a place that I WANT to be in and work in. Every morning I want to wake up and make a cup of coffee and say,

“I can’t wait to be in my office!”,

“Let’s get shit done!”,

“Get it, girl!”.

Okay, Okay. I think you get the picture. My other goal is to be organized, which is so hard for me. I’m one of those people that has an immaculately clean and beautiful home but underneath the beds, in the closets, and in every drawer is a complete and utter disaster. I’m a secret messy person. If no one can see it, it doesn’t exist, right? Wrong! This messy part of me gives me so much anxiety. Since the start of the new year, I have made it a point to keep drawers more organized and I even tackled a few closets.

I killed that yucca. Oops!

My solution to this is to add more open shelving which forces me to keep things organized and looking nice. I loved my current desk that was from IKEA. I bought it when I had a studio which was a pretty big open room. Once we moved into this house I dissolved my studio with the intentions of working from the kitchen (where I shoot) and my office.

My current desk is way too big for the size of this room though. I was holding onto it because I liked it so much but honestly, it wasn’t that functional. I loved how much surface area it had, but it had no storage which meant everything was out in the open. Which you think I would have kept neat and clean. In reality, I did but I have so much stuff it just looks like clutter. SO I found the desk of my dreams locally on craigslist and I’m going to give it a little makeover. I can not wait!

Lastly, I’m going to give the room a coat of fresh paint. Originally, I wanted to do wallpaper but then I decided I didn’t want to have wallpaper in every room. Also, I want to come up with a solution to the litterbox being in this room by disguising it somehow. These are all small changes but I think they will go a long way and make a huge impact.

Stay tuned for next week when I reveal all my picks for the Office Overhaul, order list, and budget. I hope you’ll tag along with me for this 6 week Office Overhaul ride. If you want to see some of my inspiration I have an Office Overhaul board going on Pinterest. I also have a Work Space Goals board that I’ve been pinning to for years. Hopefully, my office will be “pin-worthy” someday soon. Here’s to another successful One Room Challenge! Make sure to follow along on Instagram as well with #theofficeoverhaul

Bake This: Bourbon Banana Bread

April 2, 2018 by Natalie Leave a Comment

I have been trying to make Bourbon Banana Bread all Winter long. Even though technically it is now Spring, it did snow this morning to my dismay. Boozy baked goods are still acceptable if it’s snowing right? I promise that adding bourbon to this banana bread recipe won’t make you drunk before noon, but it does add so much delicious flavor to both the bread and glaze.

Another reason it took me so long to make this recipe is every time I went to the supermarket they were out of bananas. I know it sounds strange, but it must have been the banana shortage of 2018. I even took photos and sent them to Ethan of empty spaces in the stores where bananas use to be. Like Gwen Stefani said, “This shit is bananas, B-A-N-A-N-A-S!”.

Bourbon Banana Bread

1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened

1/2 cup dark brown sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla extract

3 ripe bananas, mashed

2 tablespoons bourbon (I used Few)

1/2 cup sour cream

1 3/4 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

1 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. baking soda

bourbon glaze

1 cup confectioner’s sugar

4 tbsp. bourbon

splash of milk to thin

Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease a loaf pan and line with parchment paper. In a large bowl of your electric stand mixer with the paddle attachment, cream together the butter and sugar together. Add in the eggs and beat until combined. Stir in vanilla, mashed bananas, bourbon, and sour cream.

In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and cinnamon. Gradually add dry ingredients to your wet ingredients and stir until just combined.

Pour batter into a greased loaf pan lined with parchment paper. I love to use parchment paper so that the bread is easily removable from the loaf pan. Bake for 1 hour or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Let bread cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then remove from pan and cool completely on rack.

Make the glaze while the bread is cooling. Stir together the sugar and bourbon, adding a touch of milk to thin to glaze consistency. Pour or spread the glaze on the cooled bread.

This is by far my favorite recipe for banana bread. Some recipes that I’ve tried in the past just don’t have enough banana in them. One or two just isn’t enough for me, I feel like adding a third is definitely the sweet spot. The other secret to making great banana bread is sour cream. Adding it produces a superior bread that is moist and delicious. Let’s talk about that bourbon glaze, which is so easy to make and delightfully boozy.

I’ll be making this Bourbon Banana Bread whenever I have too many bananas turning brown on my hands, which happens almost too often. Lately, I’ve been freezing them for smoothies too! I love the flavor the bourbon adds to this bread but you could also experiment with other spirits. Adding dark rum and coconut would be a great Summer variation. I guess maybe I have some experimenting to do. If you decide to make this Bourbon Banana Bread make sure you chime in on the comments below. I’d love to hear how it turns out. xo

Celebrate Easter Weekend with the Carrot Painkiller

March 30, 2018 by Natalie Leave a Comment

If you’re looking for the perfect Easter cocktail then look no further then the Carrot Painkiller. Did you really think I wasn’t going to give you something delicious to sip on this weekend? I’d never let you down and this Carrot Painkiller will surely not disappoint your taste buds.

If you’re not familiar with the classic Painkiller cocktail it is a riff on the Piña Colada. You know how much I love Piña Coladas and given a chance, I will basically turn anything into a Piña Colada. The original Painkiller was created in the 1970s by Daphne Henderson at the Soggy Dollar Bar on the Island of Jost Van Dyke in the British Virgin Islands. It is a blend of rum, pineapple juice, orange juice, and coconut. This cocktail is associated with tiki bars and tropical drinks, which as you all know, happen to be my favorite.

If you’re not aware I worked at a tiki bar in NYC called Painkiller (R.I.P). Pusser’s Rum has the Painkiller cocktail trademarked and we wound up having to change our name to PKNY to avoid a lawsuit. So while I love this cocktail, the Painkiller and I have a pretty tumultuous history. PKNY which was located on the Lower East Side of Manhattan shuttered in 2013 over the loss of our lease. A plague that struck a lot of bars in that neighborhood and in almost every neighborhood in NYC still to this day. Let’s just say, almost 5 years later, I still haven’t fully recovered from the closing of that bar.

Maybe that’s why I’m always developing variations on Piña Coladas. Homesick for a place that doesn’t exist anymore. Before I get sad let’s make drinks!

Carrot Painkiller, serves 1

2 oz. aged rum (preferably Pusser’s Rum)

1 1/2 oz. pineapple juice

1 oz. fresh carrot juice

1/2 oz. orange juice

3/4 oz. coconut cream

First, make your juices. I juiced my pineapple and carrot juice with my Hurom Slow Juicer. I highly recommend owning a slow juicer if you don’t already have one. It has made my life so much easier and healthy. They do not sponsor me (yet, one can dream) so this is 100% my own opinion and recommendation. For the coconut cream I use a 2:1 ratio of coconut cream to coconut milk. After that, this drink is easy peasy to make. Assemble all your ingredients in a cocktail shaker and dry shake. No dilution necessary because when you use crushed ice, dilution happens very quickly and immediately upon adding ice to the glass.

Dump your cocktail into your serving vessel. I used these cute clear tiki mugs from CB2 (now sold out). Then add crushed ice to your glass and garnish with a healthy dusting of nutmeg and a pineapple leaf or two.

Does anyone else adore making coconut themed things for Easter? I’m going to make this tart on Sunday for dessert. Coconut is one of my favorite ingredients to incorporate into this holiday. Also, I love carrots and so does the Easter bunny! I’m just so lucky that both of these ingredients are delicious together. If you’re looking for some other ideas, I also made this Carrot Orange Mimosa last year and shared some other Easter ideas. If you gave up drinking for lent, well then you’re crazy, but these will be such a treat to make and enjoy! Happy Easter everyone! xo

Easy Blackberry Basil White Port and Tonics

March 22, 2018 by Natalie 1 Comment

My go-to drink lately has been a port and tonic, especially when I’m cooking dinner. They’re so easy to make, are super refreshing, and bonus: they’re low ABV! The first time I had one was when Ethan’s mom made a recipe from The Kitchn over Christmas. I decided to take this drink a step further and made these Blackberry Basil White Port and Tonics.

Blackberry Basil White Port and Tonics, serves 1

2 oz. white port

1/2 oz. lemon juice

4 oz. good quality tonic (I used Fever Tree bitter lemon)

4 blackberries and a pinch of basil for muddling, extra for garnish

First, add the port and lemon juice to a cocktail shaker with the blackberries and basil. Give it a quick muddle, just until the port has been infused with the blackberries and basil. There’s no need to shake this, so just double strain the mixture into the serving vessel of your choice. In this case, I used a double rocks glass. Add ice and then top with tonic. Garnish with a sprig of basil and a blackberry.

If you’re not familiar, port wine is a Portuguese fortified wine that is produced exclusively in the Douro Valley in the northern provinces of Portugal. It is typically a sweet, red wine, often served as a dessert wine, though it also comes in dry, semi-dry, and white varieties. A white port has the sweetness of a ruby port but is much lighter and fresher, which makes it perfect for this Blackberry Basil White Port and Tonic.

Traditionally, white port and tonics are a Summer drink but I love to enjoy them all year round. They make the perfect aperitif before dinner because they are sweet, but not too sweet, and awaken the appetite. I added a splash of lemon juice to brighten and help incorporate the use of fruit and herbs. Blackberry Basil White Port and Tonics are definitely my new favorite drink and I can’t wait to come up with more flavor combinations. I’ve always wanted to take a trip to the colorful city of Lisbon, so let’s take a sip and pretend we’re there! xo

Frozen Irish Coffee

March 14, 2018 by Natalie 1 Comment

I love St. Patrick’s Day because it strangely reminds me of my favorite city, New Orleans. Although
I’ve never spent St. Paddy’s there, my favorite Irish bar, The Erin Rose, serves my favorite incarnation of the Frozen Irish Coffee. I’ve shared quite a few recipes for it over the years, and I might not know the exact recipe (it’s a secret), but every time I play around I feel like I get one step closer. Let’s just say if you’re taking the approach of making a milkshake then you’re on the right track.

Frozen Irish Coffee, serves 1

1 1/2 oz. Irish whiskey (I used Jameson)

1 1/2 oz. Irish cream (I used Kerry Gold Irish Cream)

1 1/2 oz. cold brew coffee (I used Stumptown)

1 scoop of coffee ice cream

cinnamon whipped cream, grated cinnamon, and grated coffee, for garnish

My favorite spec for a Piña Colada is equal parts and I really feel like it works super well for this Frozen Irish Coffee as well. Add all your ingredients to a blender pitcher with 1/2 cup of ice and blend on high until smooth. If you want a less thick consistency you can add a bit more coffee or even milk to thin it out. I drink my coffee VERY strong and that is why I used cold brew in this recipe. Using cold brew also makes the coffee flavor stand out more in the drink. If you aren’t looking to be super caffeinated you can use regular coffee, just make sure it’s cold and not hot. Adding hot coffee to a blended drink will make it too diluted.

Pour your Frozen Irish Coffee into your desired serving vessel, in this case, I used highballs and garnish with cinnamon whipped cream, grated cinnamon, and grated coffee. To make your cinnamon whipped cream add 1/2 cup heavy cream, 1/4 tsp. vanilla extract, and 1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon in the bowl of a stand mixer. Whip on high speed with the whisk attachment until thick peaks form. Spoon over the top of your drink and finish with grated cinnamon and coffee.

This Frozen Irish Coffee is not just perfect for St. Patrick’s Day but absolutely perfect to enjoy all Summer long. St. Paddy’s Day is the finish line of Winter for me. We’re SO close to Spring, it’s staying light out longer, and I can feel the brisk air finally starting to subside. If we can hold out a little bit longer, I promise there are sunny skies and warm days up ahead. You can bet I’ll be drinking quite a few of these Frozen Irish Coffees until next Fall. Hell, maybe I’ll even catch a flight down to NOLA to enjoy one at The Erin Rose. Cheers, Happy St. Patrick’s Day, and Happy ALMOST Spring everyone!! xo

Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with the Irish Colada

March 10, 2018 by Natalie 1 Comment

St. Patrick’s Day is hardly a celebration without a little imbibing. I wanted to come up with something green without being cheesy (no green beers please!) so I put together this Irish Colada, a spin on the classic Pina Colada but with Irish whiskey, matcha, and banana. This Irish Colada is perfect for celebrating the Emerald Isle and a cocktail I will be drinking long after St. Patrick’s Day comes and goes.

Irish Colada, serves 1

1 1/2 oz. Irish whiskey (I used Jameson)

1/2 oz. banana liqueur

1 1/2 oz. pineapple juice

1 1/2 oz. matcha coconut syrup

pineapple wedge, pineapple leaves, and toasted coconut, for garnish

First, make your matcha coconut syrup. I used equal parts (1 can each) of coconut cream and coconut milk. In a saucepan combine them with 2 teaspoons of matcha powder, whisking until combined over low-medium heat. I used a matcha whisk to help incorporate the matcha better. Let cool and store in a jar or bottle in the refrigerator for 1-2 weeks.

I decided to make this drink shaken instead of frozen to mimic more of an iced matcha latte feel. Additionally, shaking it also doesn’t sacrifice the gorgeous green hue of the drink. Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice, shake, and strain over cracked or crushed ice in a highball or serving vessel of your choice. These adorable flamingo glasses are from my friend Meg over at Love & Victory. Finally, garnish your drink with a pineapple wedge, pineapple leaves, and toasted coconut. I toasted some coconut flakes with my kitchen torch but you can also do it over the stove.

The thing I miss the most about working in a tiki bar is an elaborately garnished drink. Each drink that went out was like a little piece of art. We had dozens of different straws, stirrers, and even little pipe cleaner animals! These sparkly palm tree stirrers remind me of those days and are from the Palm Springs Style Shop. I picked them up at the store while I was in Palm Springs for Modernism Week but they are also available here online if you need some fun garnishes at home!

Overall I really love how this Irish Colada came together. Whiskey and coconut complement each other surprisingly well and it was fun incorporating Irish whiskey into a tropical cocktail. The banana liqueur adds a touch more fruitiness and it’s one of my favorite ingredients to use with coconut in cocktails. In addition to the vibrant color, using matcha also adds health benefits to this drink. It’s packed with antioxidants/vitamins and is known to boost metabolism, relax the mind, increase concentration, and enhance the mood among many other things! Sounds like the perfect ingredient to pair with mood enhancing alcohol, don’t you think 😉 ? Matcha also adds sweet, vegetal, grassy notes that complement the other ingredients in this Irish Colada perfectly.

Do you have any special St. Patrick’s Day traditions? My mother always used to make corned beef and cabbage. I think my new tradition will be enjoying a few of these Irish Coladas. They certainly make the perfect boozy dessert. If you decide to make them, be sure to chime in on the comments below and tag a pic on Instagram using #ALinmyglass so I can see. I’d love to hear about what you’re doing this St. Paddy’s Day. Cheers everyone! xo

Hibiscus Margarita

March 5, 2018 by Natalie 1 Comment

It was really hard to get back into the swing of things last week. Do you ever feel like you need a vacation after you take a vacation? I decided to keep the vacation vibes going by recreating one of my favorite drinks that I had while in Palm Springs at The Saguaro — a Hibiscus Margarita. If I see the word hibiscus on a cocktail description the drink is as good as sold. I love the floral, sweet, and tart flavor of hibiscus and who can object to the hue it adds to drinks? No one! Also, we’re talking about margaritas here which are very high up on my list of things I love drinking. Who am I kidding? I would have drunk any margarita but the fact that it was pink and delicious is obviously a huge plus.

Hibiscus Margarita, serves 1

1 1/2 oz. Blanco Tequila

1/2 oz. Cointreau

3/4 oz. lime juice

3/4 oz. hibiscus syrup*

1/4 oz. agave

salt for rimming glasses

*I used the same recipe for the hibiscus syrup that I made for my hibiscus sour on A Beautiful Mess. Mix 1 cup dried hibiscus flowers, 1 cup water, and 1 cup sugar. Add ingredients to a small/medium size saucepan over medium heat, stirring until sugar has dissolved and it comes to a boil. Remove from heat and let steep for 1 hour. Strain mixture. Syrup should keep for 1-2 weeks in a refrigerator.

First, salt your serving vessels. I served these down on the rocks, so I used double rocks glasses. You could also serve them up if you’d prefer that more. When it’s hot go ahead and throw this recipe in a blender. I crushed a few dried hibiscus flowers and mixed it in with the salt. I really like the texture it gives to the rim of the glass but it also adds some flavor too.

Add all your ingredients to a cocktail shaker, add ice and shake. Finally, strain into your salted rimmed glasses over ice and garnish with a lime wheel.

The best part about this cocktail is the color. Oh, my gosh, PINK! It’s sort of healthy too, right? We did use dried flowers in it. This Hibiscus Margarita is what dreams are made of which is why I consumed so many of them poolside. They also go great in the company of tacos and I’m guilty of enjoying quite a few of them in that circumstance too. Hi everyone! My name is Natalie and I love tacos, margs, and hot pink. You already knew that though!

I tweaked a standard margarita recipe (1 1/2 oz. tequila, 3/4 oz. lime, 1 oz. Cointreau) when developing this Hibiscus Margarita recipe. In addition to the hibiscus syrup, I added agave because I felt like it needed to be a touch sweeter. The hibiscus is more tart than sweet, so if you like very tart you can try it without the agave. Overall this Hibiscus Margarita is tart, perfectly sweet, floral, refreshing, and so delicious. Make them for friends this Summer alongside tacos and guacamole and I promise they will love you forever. Tequila has that effect on people! Happy Margarita Monday everyone! 😉

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