a beautiful mess

Blended Watermelon Mojitos + Weekday Weekend Giveaway

July 28, 2018 by Natalie 3 Comments

Happy weekend everyone! I’m sharing a recipe for Blended Watermelon Mojitos from A Beautiful Mess’s cookbook Weekday Weekend. If you haven’t picked up a copy of this book yet, I urge you to! As someone who has struggled with an on again off again vegetarian diet, this book has really helped me stay on track with healthy eating habits.

The whole idea behind this book and the Weekday Weekend concept is simple. For 5 days a week, you eat according to 5 rules.

eat a variety of foods
no refined or artificial sugars or sweeteners
no refined white flour or white rice
no dairy
no alcohol

Then on the weekend, there are no rules! At first, it was a little hard, especially the no alcohol part. But these rules, or diet if you want to call it that, is totally sustainable. You eat healthy all week and then there’s still time to indulge in all the sweets and cocktails your heart desires. In moderation of course! 😉

This weekend I’m indulging in these Blended Watermelon Mojitos plus I will be giving away copies of Weekday Weekend to 3 lucky readers over on Instagram. So head here and check out the rules for entering. I will be announcing winners on my IG stories on Monday. I’m so happy to be able to share this book with you because it has really helped me with my own healthy eating struggles and I hope it will help you too!

Blended Watermelon Mojitos, serves two

2 cups cubed seedless watermelon

4 oz. light rum (I used Plantation)

1/4 cup simple syrup (1:1)

juice and zest of 1 lime

12 fresh mint leaves plus more for garnish

2 cups ice cubes

First, make your simple syrup. Combine 1 cup of sugar and 1 cup of water in a saucepan. Place on medium heat and stir to help dissolve the sugar. Do not boil. Let cool and store in a bottle in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.

To make your blended watermelon mojitos combine all the ingredients in a blender and process on high until smooth. Divide between 2 glasses or serve in a half of a small hollowed out watermelon. Garnish with mint sprigs, lime, and anything else fun that your heart desires.

I love eating healthy all week because I know that I’m doing something good for myself and my body. Eating healthy does not mean you have to sacrifice flavor. Weekday Weekend will show you how to become more aware of your eating habits and learn more easy options for improving them. There are so many delicious recipe ideas for breakfast, meals, snacks & sweets, and of course drinks. Sweets and cocktails are my favorite so I’m usually counting down the days until Saturday. These Blended Watermelon Mojitos are so easy to make and the perfect weekend treat.

I hope you will enter the giveaway over on Instagram and give Weekday Weekend a read and try!

Sunday Kind of Love

February 4, 2018 by Natalie Leave a Comment

I think I need to set more attainable goals when it comes to my Sunday Kind of Love posts. For some reason, I just can’t seem to keep up. One day they will become weekly again but for now, I will pop in when I can — OK? Above is your Monday motivation.

I fell off the January Cure a little but am continuing it into February. Everything is almost done but I’m waiting for some things from the container store to get here so I can organize the closets. I can’t wait to have organized and functional closets. Are there people out there that have those? I still need to order my wallpaper for the bedroom but I keep stalling because it’s kind of pricey. We are signing on for another year in our apartment so there will be plenty of time. My goal is to finish the bedroom and my office by Spring. Fingers crossed I can hold myself to it!
While I was on Pinterest this week I spotted a photo of my Hallway Refresh for the One Room Challenge. I figured someone had pinned it from my reveal post BUT it was actually from Apartment Therapy. It was in a before + after feature that was posted back in December and I somehow missed it! If you want to check it out head over to Apartment Therapy.
Two posts went up on A Beautiful Mess and Palm Springs Style last week. I shared Tips for Mixing Healthier Cocktails plus three fresh vegetable juice cocktails and a Spicy Beet Bloody Mary. I’ve been on a fresh juice/healthy cocktail kick since I got my Hurom slow juicer. No regrets, I’m still totally in love with this juicer. Worth every single penny! Go check out the recipes and let me know what you think.
I’ve been feeling down lately. Not sure if it’s the workload, the weather, or my San Pedro Cactus dying. Yes, I’ve officially stripped myself of my plant lady title until further notice. Anyways, today I came across A Month of Self-Love that Glitter Guide is doing and I think I’m going to join in. I need to start taking better care of myself and making self-love a priority. Hopefully, these tasks will help me make it a part of my daily routine again. My life is busy but I need to have a healthy mind and body so I can stay motivated.
One thing I have to look forward to… I booked a trip to Palm Springs for Modernism Week at the end of this month! Last years trip to Palm Springs pretty much changed my life forever and I can’t wait to get back to the place that inspires me every day. I really need this trip to relax and I think it will be good for my soul to get back to the desert. I’m not going to lie, one day I might just go there and never come back.

Happy Sunday everyone! xo

My 2017 Highlights

January 5, 2018 by Natalie 2 Comments

Happy New Year everyone! This year is off to a crazy start with the blizzard we just had here in the Northeast. I’m snowed in and have had a lot of time to reflect so I thought I’d do a post on my 2017 highlights. 2017 was a difficult year overall for our country and the world in general but I was determined to make it one of my best. I have grown so much over the last year both personally and professionally. I traveled to so many places I only ever dreamed of seeing, collaborated with so many talented people, and moved into my dream home. 2017 was pretty much the best year of my life and honestly, I was sad to see it go. Here are some of my 2017 highlights!

Bowie and I started the year off as models for Gypsy Warrior. I always joke around that I should start him his own Instagram account. What do you guys think?

Ever since I studied design and architecture in college I have always been obsessed with Palm Springs, CA. 2017 was the year I made my dream come true and finally visited this magical city in the desert. I definitely found my spirit animal city and the place where I belong. Can’t wait to go back this year and I’d love to do a travel guide on the blog. The first photo is from our trip to Moorten’s Botanical Garden. If you’re ever in Palm Springs going there is a must. Admission is just $5 and looking at all the amazing desert plants and cacti is breathtaking.

I started contributing to A Beautiful Mess in 2017 which was a huge deal for me. I have long looked up to Elsie and Emma and am a long time reader of the blog. I’m so honored to be a contributor and am happy that I can bring my recipes to their readers. If you want to see all the recipes I did for A Beautiful Mess you can check them out here.

I collaborated with Michelle Gage for the Spring One Room Challenge and it was a complete success! My living room was (of course) Palm Springs-themed and I’m so happy with the results. It got a lot of features including ones on Domino, The Every Girl, Houzz, and Apartment Therapy. It was even named by Domino as one of their Most-Loved Living Rooms of 2017 and Wallpapered Rooms That Made Us Embrace Pattern in 2017. Does this mean my living room is so 2017? I still love it!

I traveled to Spain with Cardenal Mendoza which was a whirlwind. We did four cities (Madrid, Sevilla, Cadiz, and the winery/distillery in Jerez) in four days and I fell completely in love with Spain. There was so much brandy and sherry consumed on that trip and I was heaven. I have to edit the hundreds of photos I took while I was there and get them up on the blog. Keeping up with regular content is overwhelming enough that the thought of editing travel photos was daunting to me. Definitely going to try to be better this year with sharing travel on the blog.

I started contributing to Palm Springs Style as well which was so exciting. I’m such a fan of everything Katy does especially her Door Tour for Modernism Week. Can’t wait to go back this year and have people to connect with.

A huge dream come true and the biggest of my 2017 highlights was getting to finally travel to France. This has been a dream of mine ever since I was an Audrey Hepburn movie obsessed little girl so it was a really big deal for me. I got to travel with one of my favorite spirit brands Pierre Ferrand and Plantation Rum. We spent time in Paris checking out all the cocktail bars and also took a trip to Cognac to visit Chateau Bonbonnet and the distillery where Pierre Ferrand Cognac is made and where all the Plantation Rums are aged in barrels. Citadelle Gin is also made there among other spirits in their portfolio.

I stayed behind for a few days by myself and got to explore Paris alone. Something I wish I did in Spain. If you get the chance to travel, stay as long as you possibly can because you never know when you’ll be there again! I need to edit more photos from France and get them up on the blog as well.

As you know I was nominated for Best Drinks Blog by SAVEUR Magazine and traveled to Charleston, SC for the ceremony. Even though I didn’t win, it was a great trip and inspiring experience. I met so many bloggers IRL that I’ve been following for years and got to connect with new ones as well. It was great to be surrounded by so many like-minded individuals that are all trying to accomplish similar goals. Hopefully, in 2018 I can take the trip again!

After all that traveling in September and October, I came home and jumped right into the Fall One Room Challenge. I decided to do this challenge alone to motivate me to get another room done in the house. So happy with how the hallway and stairs came out. Still makes me happy every time I walk up and down them!

Ethan and I had to go to Texas for a family wedding. We were in Grapevine mostly but got to spend a night in Dallas. I visited my friends Christy and Chad’s cocktail bar Midnight Rambler. Can’t wait to go back to Texas and explore a little more. That trip was too quick!

The only bad part of my year was when I lost my best friend and kitty Phil the day before Halloween. He was so young and got sick suddenly so I was completely unprepared and totally devastated when he passed away. I still think about him every day and I know he would have loved the pink Christmas tree as much as Erik did. Erik sleeps under it almost every night. I don’t want to take it down!

My last trip of the year was going on a quick trip to Disney World in Orlando, FL to spend time with my mom, sister, brother-in-law, niece, and nephew. It was fun but I was excited to come home and spend some time here before the holidays. It was the first year I decorated for Christmas as an adult and I think I just wanted to enjoy it.

Thanks to each and every one of you for your continued support. Hope you enjoyed my 2017 highlights and I’m so glad I have all of you to share them with. I’m looking forward to accomplishing more and seeing what 2018 brings. Let’s kick some butt this year! Happy New Year one last time! xo

Sunday Kind of Love

August 27, 2017 by Natalie Leave a Comment

I hope everyone had a good week. I can’t believe we’re approaching the last week of August. I really don’t know where the time is going. Someone stop the clock please! Not a whole lot happened this week except the usual tons of work thing that I always seem to be struggling with. There is light at the end of the tunnel though.

I'm going to Paris and Cognac in September with Pierre Ferrand to tour the distillery and spend some time in France. I'm so thankful for the opportunity to travel with them. France and especially Paris has always been on the top of my list of places to go to but somehow I've made it 30 years without getting the chance to travel there. I'm staying behind for a few days after the trip so I booked my hotel this week. After searching for a few hours I found this really awesome hotel, The Henriette, that was very afforable and just look how adorable it is. I know what you're thinking…how did you find a Palm Springs looking hotel in the Paris? Let's just say the universe found it for me. This trip has seemed so far for months and now it's just around the corner. What am I going to pack? Did I just find the hotel that every blogger is going to stay at now when they go to Paris? Can you spot a photo of my favorite hotel in Palm Springs framed above one of those beds? Click the photos to see the slideshow.

Meet the Finalists went up on SAVEUR this week. Check it out here and read about their favorite drink blogs of 2017 and learn more about each blog/blogger that has been nominated in the SAVEUR Blog Awards. You have until 9/6 to vote for Arsenic Lace for Best Drinks Blog, so keep voting! EVERY DAY!

Did you see my Chamomile Elderflower Tom Collins on A Beautiful Mess? It’s a delicious and refreshing variation on the classic Tom Collins with elderflower liqueur and chamomile flower infused honey syrup. This drink was so good and I had a blast making it and shooting it. I’m really happy with how the photos turned out.

I have a fun post and giveaway that goes live tomorrow on the blog. Keep your eyes peeled for that email in your inbox in the morning. You have to be following me on Instagram to enter, so if you’re not already, what are you waiting for? 😉

I need a new camera bag because I want to travel with my camera, especially for this France trip. A Beautiful Mess did a collaboration with Kelly Moore and ever since they launched them I’ve been dying to buy one. It seems like there’s enough space for my camera body, a few lenses, but most importantly my laptop. I want to be able to blog while I’m on that trip so having a bag that can accomodate all of my needs is really important. I like this one because it can be a shoulder bag or backpack which is super useful. My current camera bag is a little small and when I put all of my stuff in it, it’s very heavy and hurts my shoulders. This bag is obviously ridiculously good looking as well. My biggest problem? Should I get pink or gold? Obviously my mind goes directly to pink but keep in mind everything I own is pink, including jackets and my hair. What do you guys think?

If you have ever been to Paris and have any recommendations on places I should go and see, please tell me in the comments section below. Museums? Favorite restaurants? Cocktail bars? Colorful walls? I want to know about it. Enjoy your Sunday. I’m hoping to get a little time to relax myself. Cheers. xo

Sunday Kind of Love

August 13, 2017 by Natalie 2 Comments

Happy Sunday! I hope these blooms brighten up your day. I did some flower arranging yesterday for a collaboration I’m doing with Bloomia, so stay tuned. Making bouquets is much harder than you think. Florists have earned so much more of my respect!

What a crazy week it has been and today I am most definitely giving myself a much deserved day off. I’ve been working a lot lately and honestly, I’ve been pretty stressed and spread a little thin. Between regular bar work, a consulting project, keeping up with the blog and social clients, my plate is very full at the moment. There is never a dull moment and who wants to be bored anyways? How do you guys unwind/relax? Do you have good tips on combating burn out? Send them my way! One day I will have this whole life/work balance thing figured out.

I’m sure you’ve seen by now that Arsenic Lace has been nominated for Best Drinks Blog by SAVEUR Magazine for their Blog Awards. You have until September 6th to vote as many times as you want so I’m going to be reminding you A LOT to place your votes. I’m up against a lot of really great talent, some I’m happy to call friends, so no matter what happens I’m honored to be a finalist. Head here to place your vote.

Wide Open Eats featured me and 15 of my drinks on their lifestyle section and said my Instagram is the happiest thing they’ve seen! “The Florida-meets-Palm-Springs flair of Arsenic Lace’s cocktails will inspire you to imbibe beachside or build a backyard tiki bar yourself.” I stumbled upon this while searching for another article I was featured in and it was quite a happy find! It feels nice to know that others find joy in the content I’m putting out there. This is exactly why I started doing this in the first place. Check it out here.

Did you see my delicious Mango Mai Tai go up on A Beautiful Mess this week? There’s an orgeat how-to as well which is a crucial syrup for making tiki drinks at home. Go read fun facts about the history of the Mai Tai and maybe try to make my summertime version for yourself! Recipe here.

Yesterday my Hibiscus Frosé was on Palm Springs Style. I’m so happy with the way this recipe turned out. I’ve been trying to figure out an easy way to make frosé at home that didn’t require freezing it in a sheet pan or adding ice to blend and I finally figured it out. The hibiscus syrup really took this drink to the next level by adding floral, tart, fruity notes that complimented the wine – plus the color is stunning!

That’s all for this Sunday. Hope you’re all relaxing with something frosty and boozy in hand. Did you make anything tasty this weekend? Let me know in the comments below. Cheers everyone. xo

a beautiful mess

Blended Watermelon Mojitos, serves two

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