Arsenic Lace

Gin Cocktails

Rosemary Gin and Tonics with Infused Ice

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Hey there everyone! I’ve been working my little behind off and I’m getting ready to host my first Thanksgiving. Let’s talk about STRESSED. Luckily I’ve teamed up with Zevia to bring you some cocktail recipes with their non-alcoholic mixers. First up are these Rosemary Gin and Tonics with Infused Ice.

Zevia is a line of zero calorie, refreshing and delicious beverages. Zevia is sweetened with the plant-based sweetener stevia, which means no artificial sweeteners, and no sugar. It is also Non-GMO Project Verified, gluten-free, Kosher, vegan and free of caramel color. Zevias mixers are simple, delicious, and the perfect compliment to any cocktail. I wanted to make something that was no fuss because that equals no stress! These Rosemary Gin & Tonics with infused ice are the perfect answer to easy entertaining this Thanksgiving.

Rosemary Gin and Tonic

2 oz. rosemary infused gin

1 can of Zevia tonic water

rosemary and cranberry infused ice cubes

Infusing the gin is easy. Simply add your desired amount of gin to a container with a few sprigs of rosemary. Infuse for 1 hour or until the desired level of taste is achieved.

To make your ice cubes add cranberries and rosemary to a large ice cube tray and fill with filtered water. Freeze for 5-6 hours but overnight is always best.

To make your cocktail place your infused ice in a glass, pour the gin and then add Zevia tonic water.

I love using infused ice in drinks. It’s a really simple detail that will certainly wow your guests. The great part about infusing ice is that you can make a bunch ahead and simply pop them out of the freezer when needed. Same thing goes for infusing the gin. Infuse as much as you need in advance and you have a delicious 2 ingredient cocktail with the most beautiful garnish. Easy peasy. There’s so much to do when you’re entertaining so I hope these Rosemary Gin and Tonics with Infused Ice will take a little work out of making cocktails. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Easy Negroni Floats

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I bet everyone is ready for Valentine’s Day…I know I sure am! Whether you’re spending the weekend with you gal pals or getting ready for a romantic night out, a cocktail is always in order. That’s why I’m here! I’ve whipped up these super easy Negroni Floats that are perfect for your Galentine’s Day party or a romantic evening spent at home. They’re boozy, but with the addition of freshly whipped cream, they become a delicious alcoholic creamsicle. Now who doesn’t want one of those?


Easy Negroni Floats (makes one serving)

1 oz. Gin

1 oz. Sweet Vermouth

1 oz. Campari

Add all your ingredients to a mixing glass, add ice, and stir. If you’re making multiple drinks, double up or consider building in a pitcher. Strain into a coupe glass.


For the cream:

Add 4 ounces of heavy cream to a tin with two sugar cubes and a very small piece of ice. Shake, shake, shake! You want to shake it till the sugar has dissolved and the cream is slighly thick but not pie topping thick. You want it to slide right over the top of the drink. I do this at work all the time with no trouble, with these the cream started to sink at a pretty fast rate. No problem! Just give it a little stir, it will only enhance the creamsicle effect. Garnish with a little zest of orange on top. Enjoy! Happy Valentine’s Day!

Everything’s Coming Up Rosé with Jord Wood Watches

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Looking for Valentine’s Day ideas already? I hate to admit it, but it’s one of my favorite holidays, even if it’s kind of made up! Anything that has to do with eating, drinking, chocolate, flowers and pink, I’m all about. Pink and red is one of my favorite color combos and this is the only time of year I can buy pretty much anything in that color scheme. You feel the same way, don’t you?

If you’re looking for a tasty cocktail and a gift for her or him, look no further! I’ve teamed up with Jord Wood Watches to shake you up a delicious treat this Valentine’s Day. Jord makes beautiful wood timepieces that are very modern, stunning and completely unique. They offer many beautiful wood finishes and color options, and make both women’s watches and men’s watches. Moments are bigger than minutes and your watch should tell more than time. This Valentine’s Day is the perfect opportunity to show your loved one that your time, is and will always belong to them. There’s a contest going on to win a $100 to use on the Jord site. All you have to do is go here, and fill out of entry form. Contest closes 2/12. Good luck everyone!

I have matched my drink to my watch with the Cora Zebrawood & Rosé. It has a beautiful light blush face that accents the wild and natural grain of the Zebrawood. I’m shaking up my Everything’s coming up Rosé cocktail that has Gin, Lillet Rosé, lemon, blood orange, and a hibiscus/passion fruit tea syrup. It’s sweet, floral, fruity, and slightly lower ABV, so you can have a few. Oh, and it’s this beautiful deep pink color. Perfect!

Like Lillet Blanc, which you may be more familiar with, Lillet Rose is a wine-based aperitif, made from the Grand Cru Bordeaux grapes used for Lillet’s white and red versions, and then combined with fruit liqueurs. As a result it’s bright and fruit-forward but not overly sweet — a pleasure to sip on its own, or in cocktails. Since this cocktail is slightly lower ABV, if you want to kick it up a notch top it with Champagne. This would be a good batched drink for a punch bowl at your Galentine’s Day party as well. I used TAZO Passion for the tea syrup, I love using it in cocktails and it’s very easy to find. It is a blend of hibiscus, orange peel, rose hips, and passion fruit. Very fruity, herbal and compliments the other flavors in this drink wonderfully.


Everything’s Coming Up Rosé

1 oz. Gin (I used Brooklyn)

1 oz. Lillet Rose

3/4 oz. Blood Orange Juice (if those aren’t available regular oranges work)

1/2 oz. Lemon Juice

3/4 oz. Hibiscus Tea Syrup

Combine all ingredients in tin, shake with ice, and strain into a coupe glass. If you want to dry this cocktail out a little and also add more ABV top with champagne. It will be delicious. For the tea syrup brew a cup of tea (8 oz.) and then add the same amount of sugar. If you’re making a larger batch you will have to add more tea bags.

Sparkling Apple Cider Punch

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I hope everyone is off to a good New Year! This week has been a little bit more mellow and I’m not going to lie, I’m enjoying it. I love the holidays but theres also stress and pressure that goes along with them. I’m excited to get back to normal life and a brand new year. I know its cliche to set all of these goals once the calender flips to January 1st, I know its not a clean slate, but it is a good time to get youself motivated to accomplish the things that maybe you’ve been putting off or didn’t have enough time for in the previous year. I did set a lot of goals for myself in 2016 and I am very proud of how far I’ve come, but there’s still work to be done!

Is there anything special that you’re setting some extra time aside for this year? Work goals? Relationship goals? Health goals? I’m looking forward to continuing the blog, I started running this week (I can only make it a 1/2 mile before dying), and I have some major home goals. I’ve been looking around at buying, but real estate is insane here in the NY/NJ area. If I can’t accomplish buying a house or condo in the new year, I’m going to do a major overhaul in the little rent controlled railroad apartment that I’ve been living in for the past 8 years. I’m going to be 30 in 49 days and I moved in when I was 21. THAT’S CRAZY!! The apartment has always been a work in progress but I have changed a lot and so have my tastes. I have been trying to slowly incorporate new things in over the past year but I’m getting a little overwhelmed. Someone please help me.

The most recent photo of my bedroom, which I hope to repaint and do some simple decor updates to. I painted the wardrobe myself and changed the hardware. Inside the drawers are ombre from light blue to navy. Salvation Army purchase along with that mid-century sideboard. The most recent photo of my bedroom, which I hope to repaint and do some simple decor updates to. I painted the wardrobe myself and changed the hardware. Inside the drawers are ombre from light blue to navy. Salvation Army purchase along with that mid-century sideboard.

Anyways, since I got way off track, I’ve teamed up with The Hair Room here in Jersey City to bring you delicious drinks (my Sparkling Apple Cider Punch) for the Golden Globes tomorrow. If you’re local swing by for a cocktail, pajama attire is recommended! If not, I’m posting the recipe here for your at home enjoyment. This punch is yummy! Its resfreshing, super fragrant and fruity. Comment below to let me know what you think. Either about all of my random thoughts, the cocktail or your favorite red carpet looks. I’d love to hear from you. Cheers to all of you from snowy New Jersey!


Sparkling Apple Cider Punch

1 1/2 oz. Gin (I used Fifty Pound)

3/4 oz. Elderflower Liqueur (Giffard or St. Germain work)

1 oz. Apple Cider

1/4 oz. Lemon Juice

Top Champagne or a Sparkling Wine, Club Soda also works in a pinch for something lower ABV.

You can make a batch of this cocktail by simply multiplying each ingredient by how many people you will be making drinks for. You can put it in a pitcher, build in a punch bowl or make to order. If you’re making to order add all ingredients besides sparkling wine to a tin, shake, strain into your desired glassware like a coupe or flute, and top with champagne/sparkling. Garnish with an apple slice. Cheers and enjoy!