Holiday Cocktail Recipes!

"It's the most wonderful time of the year..." The stockings are hung by the chimney with care...the tree is up and decorated...we have ALL the kids' presents to wrap...and it's time to get ready for all of those fabulous holiday parties with family & friends!  I just had to share my favorite new holiday cocktails...and trust me, as a mommy with a new baby and a very active and mischievous 2-year-old, I am gonna need a few of these! LOL

The Caramel Apple Martini

My husband and I had a version of these in "shot form" while on our honeymoon in Key West a few years ago...so, I turned them into my own holiday cocktail just for you! They are made very similar to a Cosmo...but need to add in these 2 key ingredients...a bottle of Butterscotch Schnapps (heaven in a bottle!) and Sour Apple Schapps (about $12 each). 

Mix per drink in shaker:

-1 part vodka

-1/2 part Butterscotch Schnapps

-1/2 part Sour Apple Schapps

-2 parts Cranberry Juice

-Shake it up with lots of ice

-Pour into a martini glass

-Add in a Splash of Seltzer

-Garnish with thin slice of green apple

-Sip...Ahhh...Perfection!

TIP: If having a large group of friends over, I like to make a big batch of drinks in a pitcher then pour into Martini glasses. It saves time and let's you enjoy the party!

The Buttery Bailey Cocktail (or Shot!)

Next, a decadently sweet cocktail for your favorite holiday gathering. This concoction can also be made in "shot form," as these are rather heavy, not a drink you would have 2 or 3 of (but hey, who's to judge?!). Rather, the Buttery Bailey a great after dinner drink...in place of dessert...or something to sip by the fire with your loved one. :)

Mix per drink in shaker (or for 4 shots):

-2 parts Bailey Irish Cream (or generic version works too!)

-1 part Butterscotch Schnapps

-Shake it up with lots of ice

-Pour into a martini glass (or shot glasses)

-Sip it (martini)..or Shoot it (shot)...YUM!

Enjoy!

Mel :)

It's Black Friday! Shop H&M for Holiday Style!

Hello fashionistas!
Today is "Black Friday" -- known to all budget-conscienscious shoppers across America as the biggest holiday shopping day of the year! It's a bit crazy, the thought of hitting the malls and big box stores with thousands of holiday shoppers looking for a bargain, but I can honestly say, I went last year and saved a bundle on Christmas gifts.  I'm not fanatical, so don't go out at midnight, or even 6 am... instead, I keep it sane and plan on hitting the stores around 8 or 9 in the morning (after a Vanilla Latte & bagel) and see what I can accomplish in one day. If I am lucky...I can finish my holiday shopping in 3 hours (dreaming big here!) and spend the rest of my holiday season enjoying evenings at home by the fire and out at fabulous parties with my family and friends, not worrying about shopping!

One word of advice... The key to "Black Friday" is having a Game Plan.Before I head out, I make sure I have all of my coupons and circulars, and visit the stores' websites to get a sense of what I want to buy for each person on my list. Otherwise, you get to the store and just feel overwhelmed & can really waste your time.  I find the best stores to hit are one-stop shopping stores like Macy's or Kohl's with their departments dedicated to housewares, bath, kitchen, men's, women's, kids and accessories. That way, if you hit your stride, you could complete your entire shopping list at one store! They other key to my game plan is trying to go to one mall or collection of stores...such as Legacy Place in Dedham, The Wrentham Outlets, or The Walpole Mall, then you only have to park your car once. Some of the stores that are really promoting their "Black Friday" specials are Target, Toys R Us, Old Navy, Barnes & Noble and H&M.

One of the stores I'm definitely going to hit on Black Friday is H&M, as they have unbeatable prices for their cutting edge fashion. I have a fashionable sister & sister-in-laws to shop for... not to mention, I have quite a few holiday parties that I need to "look cute for" myself! So, if you love to look stylish on a budget, then H&M is definitely the place for you! No matter your style, body type or age, there are great looks at H&M for everyone (even babies, kids, maternity & men).  I have found many basics like black t-shirts and cardigans, neutral A-line skirts and solid jersey dresses...whereas other times I've chosen to go more bold with a floral printed kimono-style blouse or wildly patterned tunic dress for that modern, edgy look (see image at left).

One of my favorite things about H&M is their accessories. Where else could you buy a chunky, gold "statement necklace," dangling tassel earrings or feather headband for under $8? They have great scarves, hats and sunglasses too. I always say, when you are looking jazz up your wardrobe for a holiday party or just a night out with the girls... go for some new, eye-catching accessories for just a few dollars...and they make great birthday or Christmas gifts! I have included some of my "Top Holiday Looks from H&M" below.

Have a wonderful Holiday Season! 'Tis the season to be safe, thankful, happy & enjoy this special time with your loved ones and friends. 

Peace & Joy,
Mel :)

Enjoy this fun video shot in Tokyo of Japanese model and DJ... Elli-Rose Van Cliffe. She's got a cool vibe & fashion sense..not to mention an awesome job! :)

KEY WEST is THE BEST! :)

After an amazing wedding... it's time to move on to the Honeymoon! My husband and I stayed at Andrew's Inn in Key West for our Honeymoon from Nov 16-24, 2009. The inn was beyond our expectations! Perfectly located off the quieter end of Duval Street, Andrew's Inn is a hidden gem, and the perfect place for a couple to go for a romantic getaway!

ANDREW'S INN, Key West:Tom & Nancy (the owners) and Jorge & Blanche (employees) are wonderful, amazing people who made our stay fantastic. The daily champagne breakfast and open bar happy hour each night are worth their weight in gold! It not only saves money, but time...as you have something to eat then head off to explore the island! By 4pm, we were ready to head back to inn for a cocktail, beer or glass of wine, and a dip in the warm pool. Also, these were great opportunities to chat with the other guests, mostly married couples who were visiting for their 2nd or 3rd+ time to Andrew's Inn! That is always a great sign when ppl come back year after year... We will definitely be back! The first and last nights of our stay, we were in the Main house (in the large Roma room off the side with our own private porch and the Venezia right by the pool). Roosters would wake us every morning, and kitty cats welcomed us throughout the day. (Key West is inhabited with roosters, chickens and cats...which definitely add to the kooky charm of the island). The majority of our stay was in the intimate Mango Hideaway in their other property just across the street in the Eyebrow House. As we were on our honeymoon, we loved the privacy of our own studio complete with huge private deck...and JACUZZI! Nearly every morning and night, we slipped into the hot tub for relaxation...AHHHHH. it was heaven!
Just so you know, we loved Key West and Andrew's Inn SO MUCH...we extended our stay by 3 nights! We were supposed to head up to Miami and West Palm Beach for a few nights and said, No way, we are staying here in the laid back, tropical paradise of Key West! We will see you soon! :)


HOT INSIDER TIPS:
1) Rent the bikes offered at the Inn! It's about $40-50 dollars for the week...and well worth it! We biked every day, all around the main downtown area of the island. We tended not to ride at night as it was more busy with crowds...and well, drinking and biking aren't our thing :)
2) Go to Fort Zachary Taylor Beach: It is the best beach on the island! You can swim, snorkel, eat lunch...full bathrooms and showers too. It is on the Naval base and cruise ship area...and you pay $2.50 pp at the gate. You can also drive or take a taxi...I won't walk it...the road is too long. It is popular with the cruise ship guests too. There is a great snack bar which we had lunch at 3 days...excellent sandwiches for a snack bar. And, best of all, you can rent umbrellas and lounge chairs... it's $30 to rent for the day, but it is totally worth it... you deserve it! You can also rent snorkels and fins. The sand is white, but there is a bit of rocky coral on the way to the water, so bring your swim shoes or tevas to swim. We snorkelled and swam at least 4-5 times each day... there are 2 little sections of rocks with lots of fish to see...and the pelicans happily watch over you to be sure you don't eat their fish!

3) Go out on a Catamaran! We did the sunset cruise with Sebago Water Sports...and got a great deal on the full day Snorkel & Kayak Trip from Tom the best damn salesman in Key West (he's like Jimmy Buffet meets The Dude). It was a total blast, met lots of awesome ppl (like Erin & Christian from Kansas City!), ate fresh food & drinks (sangria, beer, wine, margaritas), snorkelled and kayaked with a guide through the mangroves. Totally unique and cool experience. We even had a "dolphin show" on our way back...about 6 dolphins showed off for about 20 mins...it was great!

4) If you are daring, do the 2 hour KEY WEST JET SKI TOUR around the island! You ride 2 ppl per jet ski (my hubby and me) and go 28 miles around the whole island for 2 hours! It is exhilerating, exciting, wild, and the BEST thing we did on our honeymoon by far! We loved racing around at top speed and splashing through the waves! Our guide Gilbert was awesome...and they sent us over to the bar next door for 2 for one cocktails.

5) You must have Breakfast, Lunch and/or Dinner at BLUE HEAVEN: It is in Bahama Village on Petronia Street, right off Duval St...authentic carribean and local fare, rum cocktails, mimosas, laid back and the best place on the island by far. (we had "Breakfast with the Roosters" one morning - get there early, and dinner later that week...both were excellent.)

6) Have a romantic italian dinner at La Trattoria (Duval St): white table cloths, as elegant as any restaurant in Boston or NYC...delicious food, great service...and then catch the live blues & jazz in the back lounge called VERGILIO's... a great night out!

7) Get drinks, lunch and/or appetizers at SLOPPY JOE'S (Duval St): It's the quintessential Key West bar...an ode to Hemingway. We loved the vibrant atmosphere...great bar food... the Sloppy Joe smothered nachos or fries are to die for! Live music was great. Friendly bartenders too!

8) Eat at Conch Republic Seafood Company (on the marina) - great Spinach & Cheese Baked Oysters, Calamari, Steamed Shrimp, etc...and get drinks & cigars at Schooner Wharf. It's a fun tiki bar right on the marina with live music all day (not the best for food though).

9) Go to the Half Shell Raw Bar (old marina) for great Grouper and Shrimp Po Boys and Mojitos! Nice spot on the harbor looking at all the nice private yachts....and get drinks and go swimming in Dante's gigantic pool! A great mid-afternoon place to go.

10) Visit Hemingway House: It's beautiful, historical and fun. Nice to get away from the hot sun and Duval Street party scene. If you love architecture, history, Hemingway novels, kitty cats and lush gardens... it's a must see! It costs $12 to get in, includes wonderful tour with funny guides... We spent about 2 hours there, just walking around. They encourage ppl to relax, pet the cats and take photos. Nice gift shop too. We bought a watercolor print of the house and stuffed cat for our nephew. :)
SUMMARY:Key West is alive and kicking! If you want to relax by the ocean or a pool...take a romantic sunset cruise or an adventure catamaran trip...chill out... eat some amazing seafood and key lime pie... meet friendly people, tourists and staff... go wild (day or night!) ... and just be in a warm, tropical paradise away from it all... KEY WEST is for you!

I have many more places I can suggest and photos to post...feel free to contact me. But for now...have a blast and explore America's own little tropical paradise... We love Key West!
(NOTE: See my post also on TripAdvisor.com)

Holiday Fun in Boston (on a budget!)

Visit the CityofBoston.gov for details on brilliantly lighted Christmas Trees and Hanukkah Menorahs on display in the Boston Common, Copley Square, Columbus Park, as well as links for shopping coupons, events, and other holiday merriment around the city!

Go to the Top of the Hub - Take in the gorgeous view of Boston at night at the famous Top of the Hub. Visit the Skywalk Observatory ($11 adults/$7.50 children/$9 student), enjoy the restaurant’s Spicy Lobster Soup ($11), or stop in for a Pear Drop Martini ($13) and groove to the sounds of their nightly live jazz with late night dining menu ($24 minimum in lounge after 8pm).

Go Ice Skating at Frog Pond ! Visit America’s oldest public park’s ice skating rink. Have fun skating with your family and friends...and be sure pack a thermos of hot cider or hot chocolate (with or without Peppermint Schnapps!) Admission is $4 per person, and children under 13 are free. Skate rentals are $8 and $5 for children under 13.

Watch Sports at Game On! Fenway's Game On! is here to help with "Recession Session" Thursday nights (5-8 pm), featuring $4 appetizers and $100 gas card giveaways. Watch your favorite games on TV such as basketball, hockey, or even snow boarding…it’s all good! Enjoy great drinks and yummy apps such as buffalo chicken wings, nachos or hot spinach & artichoke dip! yum!

Go to Pajama Brunch @ Tremont 647. Enjoy this popular event every Sunday from 10:30 a.m. until 3 p.m. Wear your PJs, drink coffee and eat amazing food! I suggest Andy’s Huevos Rancheros, Gingerbread Pancakes, and Joanne’s Pop Tarts with house-made filling & colored sprinkles! Brunch entrees range from $8-16. (And check out Taco Tuesdays…only $2 each!)

(Source: Boston.com “25 things to do in Boston for under $25”)

Recipe: Cran-Razz Holiday Punch!

Thank you to my friend and fellow blogger Camper English for his amazing cocktails and spirits blog called Alcademics.com! He is a prolific writer and published author out of San Francisco and shares this article called "Punch Party" at CHOW.com with lots of yummy punch recipes. Thanks Camper! :)

Here is my recipe for Cran-Razz Holiday Punch:
2 Cups Vodka
4 Cups Cranberry-Raspberry Juice
1/4 Cup Rose's Lime Juice
1/2 Cup Pomegranate Liquer
2 Cups Lime Flavored Seltzer Water

Combine all ingredients in a large punch bowl. Add a large block of ice or molded ice ring to keep it cold. Garnish with sliced limes, oranges and frozen raspberry cubes. Serves about 20 people, or 10 very thirsty (and tipsy) party goers!

To make frozen raspberry cubes: The night before the party, take a few empty ice cube trays, put a raspberry in each cube, fill with cran-raspberry juice and freeze overnight.

OPTION: Instead of serving in a punch bowl, you can just pour into martini glasses! :)