Better Than Green Beer

March 17, 2014

As much as I pride myself on being a beer girl, I am just NOT a green beer girl. It seems so processed and food color-y to me. Anyone else feel that way?! We received a request at work from Inspired By This to craft a St. Patrick’s Day drink alternative to green beer and I jumped on it. I envisioned the adult version of a Shamrock Shake (who doesn’t like Shamrock Shakes?!) and decided to tweak a classic Sgroppino recipe to make it as green, delicious and fabulous as possible. Check out the recipe here, as well as some outtakes from my shoot below:

ONEHOPE Pistachio Gelato Sparkling Cocktail
Prep: 10 minutes
Total time: 10 minutes
Serves: 2

Ingredients
1 (750ml) bottle of ONEHOPE Sparkling Wine
1 ounce vodka (optional)
3 large scoops pistachio gelato
1 cup crushed ice

Directions
1) In a mixer, combine all ingredients and 1/4 bottle of Sparkling Wine.
2) Blend until frothy and serve in your favorite glassware. Cheers!

My Work on Style Me Pretty Living

November 29, 2013

Happy Thanksgiving Weekend!!! Following a grueling drive from LA to SF on Wednesday, Jake and I were so happy to have arrived in one piece in time for a wonderful Thanksgiving with family and friends. It has truly been a tremendous year that has flown by, but aside from feeling a little ~~huge~~ over-indulged at the moment, my heart is full knowing that those around us (as well as ourselves) are healthy, happy and on their way to big things. On the business side, I could not be more grateful to Style Me Pretty Living for featuring a cocktail I created for work this fall. It was one of my favorites that we did and is something light and refreshing to enjoy this weekend… a little change of pace following the holiday yet it’s still bursting with fall flavor and won’t disappoint 🙂 If someone told me 6 years ago as an International Relations major in Michigan itching for some ounce of creativity in my life, that I would be designing, styling and photographing fun spreads for a living, I never would have believed them. Seeing this feature was definitely a pinch me moment of gratitude. Here’s to a wonderful weekend filled with thanks and reflection. Cheers!

Pear and Sparkling Cider Cocktail

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total: 10
Serves: 8

Ingredients

2 cups chilled pear nectar
2 cups apple cider
2 cups ONEHOPE Sparkling Wine
4 ounces bourbon whiskey (I used Knob Creek)
1 pear, unpeeled and cored cut into thin slices lengthwise
2/3 cup sugar, 1/3 cup cinnamon mixed for rimming

Directions

Rim champagne coups with cinnamon and sugar mixture.
Combine pear nectar, apple cider, Sparkling wine and whiskey in a pitcher and serve immediately.
Garnish with sliced pear.

*Recipe adapted from here.

Photo Shoot Friday

October 18, 2013

Since arriving back to scorching hot LA after the most amazing autumn week in New York, I’ve been gripping onto anything fall related with all my might – Pumpkin Spice Lattes galore, “Leaves” scented candles everywhere… I’m a little crazy about this season. Today I’m headed to the office to shoot all of our fall cocktail looks and can’t wait to start whipping up some delicious liquid libations! The creative side of my job is my absolute favorite and there are few things I love more than styling gorgeous shoots to share on blogs and across the interwebs 🙂 We were searching for inspiration yesterday and stumbled across this amazing food blog, Verses From My Kitchen. Everything is so perfectly styled and I love every last shot. We’re attempting to make a variation of this recipe today and can’t wait to share! Stay tuned and have a lovely fall weekend!!

All (gorgeous!) images via

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