3-2-1 Frozen Margarita Recipe

We have been making so much vegetarian food lately, and the majority of it has been Mexican food. So since we had a few limes in the fridge, we invited our friend Chris over to create his favorite cocktail for us. He styled it really well and it tasted awesome. I loved the lighter flavor, and this recipe is amazing because it will give you a substitution for traditional margarita mix that is so high in acid and calories that I avoid it all together! 

Here is a delicious and traditional 3-2-1 Margarita, which I hope you enjoy! When you read through the ingredients, you will see that it's 3 parts tequila to 2 parts triple sec, to 1 part lime juice. Because this is a higher gravity margarita than if you were using a store bought mixer, it's best blended with ice to tone it down a bit (but that's totally up to you!).

Ingredients (serves 1, or serves a pitcher if scaled up)

• 3 parts tequila (6 ounces for example)
• 2 parts orange liqueur triple sec, Grand Marnier or Cointreau (4 ounces for example)
• 1 part fresh lime juice (2 ounces for example)
• Simple syrup or agave nectar to taste (4 Tablespoons)
• Kosher salt for rims of glasses
• Fresh lime slices (keep as circular slice) for garnish
• Optional: zest of lime, and cilantro for final garnish
• ice: add 3-4 cups, optional

Instructions

• In your blender, add ice, tequila, triple sec, lime juice, and agave nectar. Blend thoroughly until all ice pieces are fully blended. 

• Use spent lime to apply lime juice around rim of glass. Dip into bowl full of salt to apply to rim.

• Fill glasses with 3-2-1 Margarita. Use a spoon to help serve from blender.

• Garnish with lime slice and optional cilantro and enjoy! 

Sparkling Peach Lemonade Recipe

Trying to squeeze the last few drops out of Summer, and I wanted to share a recipe we shot a couple of months ago. My little garden was so great this year, and I was thrilled to have fresh greenery to add to recipes and photos. I have seen a few delicious peaches around still, s grab some fruit and let's get started! 

(Found via Southern Lady Magazine, here)

6 peaches, peeled, pitted, and sliced

2 cups sugar

1 cup water

1 (33-ounce) bottle sparkling water*

2 cups fresh lemon juice

2 sprigs fresh mint

Garnish: fresh mint sprigs

1.) In a medium saucepan, bring peaches, sugar, and 1 cup water to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to low, and simmer for 5 minutes. Let cool slightly. Transfer peach mixture to the container of a blender; purée until smooth. I also added a tiny bit of coconut milk to get that pretty, pastel color!

2.) In a large pitcher, stir together peach purée, sparkling water, lemon juice, and mint. Top with ice. Garnish with mint sprigs, if desired.

Notes:

We used San Pellegrino.
Kitchen Tip: Frozen peach slices may be substituted for ice cubes.

Shake up your night with 7UP® from Hy-Vee® and enter a Pinterest contest! (With Two Recipes)

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of 7UP ®. The opinions and text are all mine. #7UPGRADE #Contest

Remember that sherbet punch you had at ever party of your childhood? It's so tasty, so I was inspired to make an adult version, inspired by good times and 7UP®, available at Hy-Vee®! Three simple ingredients and a little bit of adorable garnish make these drinks adorable and perfect for a special occasion, a get together, social night with friends, or even Valentine's Day and Galentine's Day Festivities! What is your favorite festive drink for the holiday? 

I took these goblets (plastic or glass works great), and dipped them in melted white chocolate. Before that cools and hardens, dip them in red sprinkles. I mixed colored sugar with other red, ball-shaped sprinkles for a neat mixed texture. This added SO much to my pretty drinks!

After you have your glasses looking pretty, simply scoop a few spoonfulls spoonful of raspberry or rainbow sherbet into each glass. Simply add in some 7UP and optional vodka, and you have yourself a delicious, fun drink recipe! This tasted SO GOOD that I almost finished both glasses, haha! Garnishing them with flowers made them so cute!

o   You must be 21 years of age or older to enter

o   Runs from 2/12/17 - 3/11/17 (bloggers are eligible for entry as well!)

o   Open to residents of IA, IL, KS, MN, MO, MS, NE, SD, WI

o   Create a Pin Board titled, "#MY7UPUPGRADE"

o   Pin at least 10 inspirational images or articles that you'd like to use for your next social night. At least 5 of those pins must include 7UP in the image or article.

o   All pins must include #MY7UPUPGRADE #Contest in the text

o   Register your board at www.7UP.com/Hy-Vee

o   You'll be entered to win a $1,000 Hy-Vee gift card to host your next social night!

o   All qualified entrants will be evaluated by a panel of judges based on creativity and best aligning with the 7UP brand.

Click Here for additional inspiration, Pinterest contest details and Hy-Vee coupon savings.

Coupon details: (Buy any TWO 6-pack 7.5 oz. cans or 8-pack 12 oz. bottles and get the third FREE (offer valid 2/12/17-3/11/17)

HERE IS THE SECOND RECIPE:

All you need is a few simple ingredients for these tasty Adult Snow Cones!

1-2 Cans each of 7UP and Cherry 7UP

Boiling Water

1 Large Box Each of 2 Colors of flavored gelatin (we used strawberry and lime)

1 Bottle Vanilla Vodka

{That's it!}

1.) Boil 2 Cups water

2.) In 2 separate containers (1 for each color), add 1 C. boiling water to one container, and 1 C. boiling water to the other. 

3.) Add 2 Cups original 7UP to one container, and 2 C. Cherry 7 UP to the other.

4.) Mix in 3oz. Lime flavored gelatin to the container with the original flavor 7UP, and add 3 oz Strawberry flavored gelatin to the container with the Cherry 7UP. 

5.) Add 1 C. Vanilla Vodka to each container, and stir each color until fully combined and not "gritty" anymore.

5.) Freeze overnight (or for at least 4 hours). Once frozen, scoop into cute glasses with a large spoon, and top with whipped cream and a maraschino cherry for added garnish. Enjoy!

After you are sure they're frozen, top with whipped cream, and serve in a cute glass. Enjoy!

Share Your Passions + A Watermelon Keg Drink Recipe With Rémy Martin Cognac

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. The following content is intended for readers who are 21 or older.

#passiondefinedremyrefined #CollectiveBias #StLouisSweepstakes

I listen to music every single day. I much prefer music to television, and because I work from home I include music in my daily life. I am always looking for new music to love, or I will play something from one of my many favorite musicians. I love listening as I am crafting, which is one of my many talents. Recently, I have been creating beautiful dreamcatchers as party items for entertaining. Listening to music and combining my talents of crafting make for a relaxing and productive day. I created a fun and inspiring Girly Boho Summer Festival Themed Party décor item, which is a dreamcatcher. I created this while listening to my favorite tunes. You can see later in this post how to create these for yourself.

In honor of music festival season, and tons of great concerts happening in the St. Louis area, I also created a delightfully refreshing Watermelon Cognac Summer Sip Recipe - and then served it out of a watermelon keg! Everything turned out so well, so I hope you get a chance to try this drink recipe with friends while listening to good music.

Also going on this summer, you can enter to win a mentor for a YEAR (!!!), or meet Jhené Aiko! Read along to find out more. And, check out updates on Twitter.

Learn more about this amazing opportunity on Twitter

Or visit their website!

First, I wanted to start off by telling you a bit more about the mentorship that Rémy Martin Cognac is offering up.

To enter the sweepstakes, the Entrant must log on to his/her Twitter account and (i) follow @RemyRefined (if he/she does not already), and (ii) Tweet an image of Entrant showing their life passion and including the hashtags #RemyRefined and either #ChicagoSweepstakes, #DetroitSweepstakes, or #StLouisSweepstakes, depending on Entrant’s state of residence.

○      Grand Prize (1): The grand prize winner will receive a mentor for one (1) year to help winner live out his/her passion and a check for $5,000 (“Grand Prize”).

○      First Prize (15 [five (5) per location]): Each first prize winner will receive two (2) tickets to a Jhené Aiko concert on either August 12, 2016 for Michigan winners, August 16, 2016 for Illinois winners, or August 17, 2016 for Missouri winners, a meet and greet with Jhené Aiko, and a Rémy Martin gift bag (“First Prize”).

○      Second Prize (30 [ten (10) per location]): Each second prize winner will receive two (2) tickets to a Jhené Aiko concert on either August 12, 2016 for Michigan winners, August 16, 2016 for Illinois winners, or August 17, 2016 for Missouri winners (“Second Prize’).

No Purch. Nec. Ends 8/31/16. 21+, IL, MI, MO only, Rules: RemyRefined.com

DREAMCATCHER INSTRUCTIONS:

MATERIALS:

Lace Fabric

Wooden Embroidery Hoop (I used a smaller one)

Ribbon, Beads, Feathers, and Embroidery Floss

Hot Glue & Hot Glue Gun

INSTRUCTIONS:

1.) Heat up your glue gun and let’s get started!

Cut a long strip of lace, which will be wrapped around the outer circle part of the embroidery hoop.

Glue one short side of the strip to the inside of the circle, then wrap the lace around the entire circle, glueing whenever you see fit.

2.) Now, cut a circle of lace a little bit bigger than the interior circle, and stretch the lace around the inner circle, glueing on one side, then glue straight across, then evenly stretch out the rest of the lace on the circle. (See Figure 2)

3.) Now, we will add the pretty decorations. Cut lengths of ribbon, and glue them inside the outer circle. Then, double over your embroidery floss, and tie it to the circle. Glue everything in place.

4.) I used a big needle on the embroidery floss to get the beads onto the string. I also glued marabou feathers to the ends of the string, then wrapped and glued more ribbon around it.

5.) I also tied embroidery floss around the glasses (tapered glasses would have been way easier), then added elephant charms and more beads. I love how everything turned out!

Read on to see how I made the watermelon keg and to get the drink recipe!!!

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DRINK RECIPE / WATERMELON KEG INSTRUCTIONS:

MATERIALS:

2 Watermelons

Rémy Martin 1738 or Rémy Martin VSOP

Blender or food processor for watermelon

Large spoon to scoop out watermelon

knife to cut watermelon

Mint (optional)

Large Mason Jars (to mix drink)

Watermelon Keg Tapper

For The Keg Stand:

Cake Stand

Bowl To Hold Watermelo

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INSTRUCTIONS:

1.) Cut a couple of inches off the top of your watermelon. I used painters tape to try and get a straighter cut.

2.) Scoop out insides of watermelon and blend the insides until it’s juice. Transfer to several mason jars (or other large container with a lid).

3.) For every quart of watermelon juice, add 2-3 shots of Rémy Martin.

4.) You can also add some mint and lime, if that’s your style! And to add even more summer flavor, this would be so tasty!

5.) MAKE THE KEG - Open your watermelon keg tapping kit, and follow instructions to create the keg.

6.) Set your new watermelon creation into the bowl, and set it all onto the cake stand.

7.) Fill the watermelon with your drink recipe, turn on some good tunes, and sample your new drink! Enjoy!

PRODUCT INFORMATION

Rémy Martin 1738

Rémy Martin 1738® Accord Royal is the signature blend from the luxury House of Rémy Martin. Made from the most sought after grapes of Fine Champagne Cognac, 1738® is a tribute to almost 300 years of passionate commitment to time, tradition and respect of the land.

1738 Accord Royal is aged up to 20 years in French toasted oak casks to reveal a rich range of aromas and exceptionally round texture.

Rémy Martin VSOP

The world’s first and favorite Fine Champagne cognac

#1 V.S.O.P in the US

The art of blending hundreds of eaux-de-vie to renew the same taste every year and reveal the same signature style since it’s creation in 1927

Dominant notes of vanilla thanks to aging in large grain oak barrels. Fruity notes of ripe apricots, baked apple and elegant floral notes.

Nature Hills Nursery - A Special Plant Delivery, and an IZZE Cocktail Recipe!

Over the holidays, Nature Hills Nursery sent me the most adorable mini Christmas tree ever. Now, they surprised me with something much larger! This gorgeous philodendron arrived at my doorstep and I absolutely love it. It's on sale for over half off right now, Find It Here! These plants are gorgeous, and arrive at your doorstep super quickly. 

*VALENTINE'S DAY GIFT IDEA*

I think larger, more mature plants would make an amazing Valentine's Day gift! Send one to your loved one's office, or home, and brighten their day! Every time they see this gorgeous plant (it will last for years, believe me...), they will think of your love :)

Tropical Charm for Inside or Out

Split Leaf Philodendron, Philodendron selloum, is one of many varieties of Philodendron plants with tropical allure and a hardy nature. Place one of these indoors where it will have space to climb and you can enjoy watching its progress.

Split Leaf Philodendron has been a favorite of gardeners for years—as a garden plant, but also as a lovely, indoor houseplant. The heart-shaped leaves are huge (almost 3-feet long), with an appearance reminiscent of something you’d see in a rainforest.

It’s like bringing a bit of the tropics into your home! Split Leaf’s delightful green leaves are deeply-lobed with a glossy finish that easily catches the light and presents a vibrant appearance wherever it’s planted.

In optimal conditions, your Split Leaf Philodendron will reach 12 feet with a 15-foot spread. Split Leaf Philodendron is a vigorous grower and easy to care for. It prefers humidity, but will tolerate some dry conditions. There are no pest or disease concerns and Split Leaf is quite hardy.

Split Leaf Philodendron’s positive features make it easy to see why it’s so often the choice of homeowners for both inside and out. Even if your climate isn’t appropriate for a Philodendron to live outside, why not bring one indoors this year. You’ll soon view it as one of the best houseplants you’ve ever owned!

*Evergreen
*Cold hardy
*Great for containers
*Grow Inside or Out

I also thought that this fun IZZE Cocktail would look superb along side of the philodendron. 

INGREDIENTS:

IZZE Sparkling Raspberry, Frozen Blackberries, Vodka or Tequila (Optional), Cute Glasses

INSTRUCTIONS: 

Fill glasses half way with ice, pour in 1 shot of alcohol (Optional), add IZZE Sparkling Blackberry (love the fizziness of this drink!), and garnish with 2 frozen blackberries!

Note: This drink is not incredible sweet, which is nice. But, you could add a tiny bit of Agave if you want! Enjoy!