Dinner Party At Home

[ Featured on Style Me Pretty Living ]

I had my talented photographer friend, Bryce Covey, come over to take a few photographs of a recent dinner party I threw with my mom at my parent's beautiful home.  We were celebrating my boyfriend's graduation with our two families - we kept the decor simple and natural so that the focus stayed on the food, drinks and, most importantly, the company.

Agave Margarita

Ingredients:

Kosher salt

2 lime slices or wedges

1/4 cup tequila blanco

2 tablespoons agave syrup

2 tablespoons fresh lime juice

Recipe:

1. Pour some kosher salt into a small dish.  Rub 1 lime slice over half the rim of an Old Fashioned glass.  Dip the rim into salt.

2. Combine tequila, agave syrup, and juice in a cocktail shaker; fill with ice and shake well.

3. Strain into prepared glass and garnish with lime slice.  

Enjoy!

recipe via 

Wedding Wednesday ::

What a gorgeous tuscan inspired wedding.  I love the herbal palette of soft peonies and garden roses, lavender, artichokes, and herbs.  

Just one of these simple centerpieces makes for a stunning table.

via 

All that Glitters is Gold

1 | 2 | 3

4 | 5 | 6 | 7 

8 | 9 | 10 | 11

Lately ::

lavender & perfume

roses in a bud vase for my desk

Salad: quinoa + spinach + green onion + fresh peaches

Dressing: olive oil + pomegranate vinegar + honey + salt + pepper

chalkboard menu

Dessert tasting for C's wedding! Tough bridesmaid duties...

Sweet & Saucy

dark chocolate + caramel + sea salt

lace + textured linen

engagement cheers!

A Black & White Affair ::

bridesmaids bouquets | bride & groom | striped tent

striped ribbon | bridesmaids | invitation suite

black wedding dress | cake | martini

Happy Hour :: Lemon-Thyme Cocktail

Lemon-Thyme Cocktail 

Lemon-Thyme Simple Syrup:

1 1/2 cups water

1 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar

3/4 ounce lemon thyme sprigs

3/4 cup fresh lemon juice

In a medium saucepan, combine the water and sugar and bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve the sugar.   Add the thyme, cover and let stand for at least 2 hours.  Add the lemon juice and strain the syrup.

To make the cocktail:

1 tablespoon sugar

Ice

3 lemon wedges

1/4 cup lemon-thyme syrup (above)

1/4 cup vodka

splash of club soda

1 thyme sprig

Spread the sugar in a shallow dish.  Moisten the rim of a glass and dip the rim into the sugar to coat.  Fill the glass with ice.  In a cocktail shaker, muddle lemon wedges with the lemon-thyme syrup.  

Add 1 cup of ice and the vodka - shake well.  Strain the vodka mixture into the glass and 

top with club soda.  Garnish with thyme sprigs and enjoy!

image via (a tequila version) // recipe via 

Lavender Details ::

I love lavender for an outdoor, french inspired wedding.  It is so soft and feminine and
adds the perfect touch of color to an otherwise white and green color palette.  

1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5

Happy Birthday...

to me!

via

Happy Hour ::

The Country Sidecar

50ml Cognac (or brandy)

25ml Chambord (Cassis, or creme de mure will work equally well)

25ml Lime juice

Blackberries

Add the brandy, Chambord and lime to a shaker

Drop a handfull of blackberries in with them and muddle with a rolling pin

Add a handful of ice cubes

Shake for 10-15 seconds

Strain into a coupe or cocktail glass

Garnish with a cocktail stick full of blackberries.

via 

Mexican Dinner Party ::

Some photos from a mexican themed dinner I had this weekend...

Cocktail Hour :: Summertime in Paris

Summertime in Paris

1 1/2 oz. citrus vodka

Rosemary sprig

1/2 oz. meyer lemon juice

1/2 oz. lemongrass simple syrup (recipe here)

Dash of soda water

Muddle rosemary with lemon juice and simple syrup in a shaker. 
Add ice and citrus vodka - shake. 
Strain over fresh ice in a rocks glass and top with soda. 
Garnish with fresh rosemary sprig and serve.

Makes 1 serving

recipe via