Sips and Sounds, Volume 3

Vol. 3

The Sip: Winter Lady

The Sound: Songs Of Leonard Cohen

Inspired by a cocktail from a local restaurant, this is one of the yummiest drinks I've had in a long time! Coupled with the soothing, poetic sounds of Leonard Cohen, it made for an exceedingly pleasant evening. 

INGREDIENTS

Fresh Ruby Red Grapefruit

Rum

Cinnamon Simple Syrup

Bitters

Lime

INSTRUCTIONS

In a shaker, combine 2 oz of fresh-squeezed grapefruit juice (about half of a grapefruit), 1.5 oz rum, .5 oz cinnamon simple syrup, a few dashes of bitters and a generous squeeze of lime. Shake with ice, pour and enjoy! 

To make the simple, combine equal parts sugar and boiling water in glass measuring cup. Add a generous dash of cinnamon and stir until well combined.

Holly Jolly

Though I've been trying to keep shopping for myself to a minimum lately, this look is comprised almost entirely of new items! No regrets here, though. This combination had me feeling ever-so-festive, and I know I will continue to wear and love each of these pieces. I must gush especially about the boots. After one wear, they are already favorites. Again, quality makes all the difference when it comes to shoes. These look and feel so rich, and they're super comfortable to boot. Pun absolutely intended. Hope your weekend is merry and bright!

Sweater: TJMaxx
Shirt: Old Navy
Jeans: H&M
Boots: Courtesy of Trask
Necklace: Courtesy of Julie Vos

Sips and Sounds, Volume 2

Vol. 2

The Sip: Spiked Mexican Chocolate Egg Nog

The Sound: A Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector

Christmastime is here, so I channeled those festive vibes for a holiday-themed Sips and Sounds! Phil Spector is a questionable character to say the least, but the Wall of Sound is one of my favorite musical production techniques of all time, and this is easily my favorite Christmas album. To accompany the cheery tunes, I put a different spin on a holiday classic. Recipe below!

INGREDIENTS

Egg Nog

Whiskey

Cocoa Powder

Cayenne Pepper

Cinnamon

Nutmeg

INSTRUCTIONS

In a saucepan, combine 6 oz egg nog, 1.5 oz whiskey, about a teaspoon of cocoa powder, a pinch of cayenne and a dash of cinnamon. Stir on low heat until all ingredients are combined and the mixture is nice and warm. Pour into a mug, sprinkle with cocoa powder and nutmeg and enjoy! 

A few notes: I know some people are weirded out by warm egg nog, but think of this as a variation on hot cocoa. I have yet to try making egg nog from scratch, but store-bought works fine for this recipe. Be careful with that cayenne! It can heat up quickly, so start with the tiniest amount. You can always add more. The result is sweet, rich and festive with a spicy kick!

Mele Kalikimaka

This vintage dress is one of my favorite thrift store finds of all time. Between the length, pattern and color palette, it's both timeless and seasonless but completely unique. I wore it for an event a couple of months back and had a magical photo shoot beforehand. Everything fell into place perfectly -- the lighting, the backdrop, my bubbly mood. It was until the next day that I realized, to my horror, that the memory card hadn't been in the camera! That little mishap made me eager to don the dress again. It's on my list as a potential holiday party get-up. The colors are ideal for the season, while the tropical flowers keep it from being an obvious choice. Hawaiian Christmas, anyone?

Dress: Vintage
Necklace: Anthropologie

Bee-autiful

I squealed with delight when this enormous bee popped up in front Union Station. As you may know, bees are pretty much my favorite thing in the world. My excitement escalated even further when I realized she moves! Oh, and she wore a giant bejeweled crown during the World Series. So, even though the lighting wasn't ideal, I just had to get my picture taken with this buzzing beauty (while wearing my buggy sweatshirt, naturally).   

Sweatshirt: H&M
Jeans: Delia's
Shoes: Converse