The Bloody Mary Experience

      Lets be honest, if you are like me, nothing beats a delicious Bloody Mary with all the fixins' for weekend brunch. 

 

Exhibit A: Last weekend.

 

 

I prefer to put everything, but the kitchen sink in my Bloody to the point that it is a complete well balanced meal. 

 

I'm always super disappointed when I go out for brunch and order a bloody and it is just vodka and Bloody Mary mix, it is just not the same....rookie mistake.

 

  In my next life, I would love to open a Bloody Mary bar that would allow customers to make their own bloodys, with a wide variety of options, the possibilities are literally endless.

 

 

I think I learned my Bloody Mary talents from my Dad, who is the resident Bloody Mary maker at our  house. 

 

In my opinion a Bloody Mary is not complete without the following

 

1. Spicy Bloody Mary Mix

2. Vodka

3. LOTS of horseradish

4. Worshchestire Sauce

5. Pickle Juice

6. Lemon Juice

7. Olives

8. A healthy stalk of celery

9. Pepper

 

The best part about a Bloody Mary is so many random condiments and spices can go in it to give it different flavors.  Some of my favorite specialty ingredients I like to add are:

 

1. Bleu cheese crumbles

2. Old Bay Rim

3. Shrimp on the rim

4. Clam juice

5. Guinness

6. Steak Sauce

 

You really can't go wrong, no matter what you do. 

 

 

The more horseradish and the thicker the Bloody Mary the better.

 

 

 I am off to the beach for the long weekend, and I look forward to enjoying a delicious bloody. 

See you on Tuesday!

 

 

What I'm Loving Wednesday!

Happy Wednesday!  Hope you are having a fabulous week, only three more days until the long weekend, thank goodness!  I could use it. 
  I am linking up this week with Jamie for What I'm Loving Wednesday, and here is what I am loving right now. 

 

I am loving these hair ties.  I love the sparkles and tie dye, and love that they don't crease my hair, plus, I am that girl that always has a hair tie on my wrist, and these fun ties look so much cuter than my usual black hair band. 

 

 

 

The only problem is they are hard to find up north, the only store I have found them in is Anthro, and they are more expensive and don't have the same color choices... does anyone in the Pittsburgh area  know anywhere else to purchase these?

 

 

I am loving that DFH and I are headed to LBI for the long weekend to see my family and get a last chance tan.  

 

 

Nothing beats the beach being with family and delicious seafood dinners.

 

 

I am loving the TV show,  Here Comes Honey Boo Boo on TLC.  It is absolutely ridiculous and entertaining, everything thing about the show makes me laugh.  

 

 

 

Lastly, I am loving these needlepoint loafers from The Pink Monogram.  I love how many great prints and colors they come in, perfect for a fall day with skinnies. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What Are You Loving?

 

A Very Abby Lee Miller Dance Recital and a TV Appearance

     For those of you that don't already know, I love the Lifetime show Dance Moms!  I'm not sure what it is about the show that got me addicted, maybe it was growing up dancing as a child or that it is filmed in Pittsburgh, but I am an avid watcher. 

   Lucky for me, my friend LES and I got the opportunity to attend the Abby Lee Dance Company dance recital right in our very own town in Pittsburgh.  

  All of the girls and moms were in attendance, and the girls are seriously amazing dancers, and have so much talent for such a young age. 

  LES and I started taking ballet classes again ( inspired by our love for Dance Moms), I secretly hope I can one day look like Maddie and Chloe...hahaha.

  Unfortunately I didn't get any good pictures, but it was so neat to see the girls and moms in person ( I seriously felt like a 13 year old teeny bopper seeing a celebrity hahah)

The episode aired last week, and low and behold LES and I had a couple TV appearances:

 

LES and I making a TV appearance  with Cathy from Candy Apples. hahaa

 

 

 

It may not be a speaking part, but we'll get there :)

 

  Do you Watch Dance Moms??

Also, I wanted to wish LES a very Happy Birthday!!

 

 



A Week in OBX

  I am finally just getting around to blogging about my vacation in OBX.

Only about a month late...oops! 

Better Late Then Never Right?!

We had such a fabulous week in OBX.  A group of DFH and my high school friends have been renting a house in OBX the last few years.  In previous years I have always had other obligations, so this was the first year I was able to go, and it was my first trip to OBX.

 

The house we rented was right across from the beach and had great views of the Ocean, which was perfect and made it easy to run back and forth from the beach to the house during the day, for lunch and or cold bevs.

  
  

 

Some of the guys show showing off their football skills

 

 

LH and AK made shirts and tie-dyed them for everyone, I love the way they came out.

 JM and I showing off our stripes. 

 

Posing with DFH and his VayCay Hat.

Boys being Boys.

 

The view from our house was gorgeous, especially around sunset time.

 

 

Posing, before enjoying a delicious seafood dinner.  Nothing beats, fresh seafood at the beach.

 

 

The sunset in Nags Heads, near the dunes and kites.

 

DFH and BB before dinner, so happy to be reunited.
  Most of our highschool friends live in NJ where we grew up, so it was so great to be able to enjoy a full week with everyone, who we rarely get to see.

 

 

We lucked out and had beautiful beach weather.

 

 



Enjoying our new neon shades...so rad.

 

 

 

JM and AK catching some rays.

 

 

 

The house had a pool in the backyard, which was a great escape when the beach got too hot.

 

This is my favorite picture from the whole week.  I think it looks like a band photo hahah.  Posing in our neon shades before a round of mini golf.

The mini golf crew.

On the last night LH and AK cooked us a delicious seafood feast.

 

The only benefit to getting up super early to miss the traffic leaving OBX, the gorgeous sunrise.

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Monogram Wants.

As a monogram lover I am always on the look out for new fun monogrammed items.  I stumbled across these monogram cuff bracelets and think they are so cute.  They come in so many different fonts, colors, and designs.  I love that you customize so many parts of the bracelet.  I think they could really add some pop to an outfit. 

VIA

VIA

These t-shirts are similar to The Frat Collection t-shirts I have been eyeing up all summer, but monogrammed.  Even better. 

How fabulous are these Nike Monogram shorts?  They even make me excited to work out....Not really.  But I would, just so that I could wear these shorts.

VIA

I have always wanted to get a monogram  decal sticker for my car.  Not a large one, but just a small sticker that I could add to the side window. 

Lately, I've also seen so many great DIY craft products using these stickers, that I am tempted to buy a few of them.



VIA



I love the way the decal sticker looks on this bucket and adds some color.   Perfect to store magazines or mail.

VIA

VIA

I also love the way the decal looks on the mirror, such a creative way to decorate an old mirror. 

I have also seen people add the decals to water bottles and planners.  Such a great, cheap way to personalize items.



  

As my favorite girl Reese says, My rule is if it's not moving- Monogram It!

So...Monogram away.

Homemade Mac and Cheese...This is Gouda!

Sorry, I know the title is cheesy, but I couldn't help myself. 

This weekend I made DFH and I some homemade Smoked Gouda and Cheddar Broccoli Mac and Cheese, and I have to admit it was pretty fabulous. 

Mac & Cheese is one of my favorite comfort foods, and perfect for our lazy Sunday.  One of the things that is so great about making Mac and Cheese is you can get as creative as you want with the recipe, and add in different cheeses, veggies, and proteins.  

Below is the base Paula Deen recipe I used, but I switched out the tomatoes for a head of broccoli and added smoked Gouda to the recipe, which added a great smokey taste to the meal. 



Paula's Mac & Cheese

• Nonstick cooking spray
• 1 pound elbow macaroni
• 1 cup panko (Japanese breadcrumbs)
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 4 cups milk
• 3 cups shredded sharp Cheddar
• 1 1/2 cups grape tomatoes, halved
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
• 1 teaspoon salt

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Spray a 13-by-9-inch baking dish with cooking spray.

Cook the pasta until tender. Drain.

In a small bowl, combine the panko and parsley. Set aside.

In a large saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the flour, stirring constantly with a whisk. Gradually add the milk, stirring constantly until smooth. Add the cheese, stirring constantly until thick and creamy. Add the macaroni, tomatoes, basil and salt. Spoon into the prepared baking dish. Top with the reserved panko mixture. Bake until golden and bubbly, about 25 minutes.

ENJOY!



Weekend Happenings Through Pictures

Right after work on Friday ALV and I hopped in the car to go the Luke Bryan and Jason Aldean concert, which we had been looking forward to all summer.  The venue was about twenty miles outside of Pittsburgh, but it took us almost THREE hours to get there due to all the concert traffic.  We literally crawled the last five miles, and we ended up missing ALL of Luke Brian.   We were not happy. 

Luckily, we made it before Jason Aldean went on stage.

ALV happy now that were out of the car and with a drink in her hand.

The concert was awesome, and definitely worth the three hour car ride. 

On Saturday ALV, LES and I hit up "The Strip," for some shopping and food.  The Strip is a great area in Pittsburgh that has amazing markets and fresh produce on Saturday morning. 

LES and I accidentally showed up in the same dress hahha. 

We got so many comments from strangers, talking about our matching outfits.

Great minds think alike?!

LES and ALV enjoying Saturday morning Bloodies.

Saturday night DFH headed downtown to enjoy some of the new restaurant and bars that have popped up.  I wish I would have taken more pictures, (but I guess we were having too much fun.)

Perle, a Champagne bar had recently opened, and I had been dying to check it out as I am huge champagne fan.  ( who isn't?)  It certainly did not disappoint.  DFH and I both started with some Champagne Pimms Royal Cups and a Charcuterie tapas which featured a herb  Foie Gras, Duck Salami, and Sea Salt Crostini.    YUM! It was one of the best appetizers I have ever had, which says a lot.  

Local Pittsburgh readers, I highly recommend it if you have not been. 

A great overall weekend, let the week begin.