We’re going to tackle three different types of cocktails to make to impress – a super simple classic cocktail, a unique drink everyone will be talking about, and a showstopper. Let’s start with our easy peasy classic, the Aperol Spritz.
This simple drink has grown in popularity. Before traveling to Italy, we did some research on the food and drinks to see what are the must haves while visiting. An Aperol Spritz was top of the list to try when arriving. Leading up to the trip we started to notice Aperol Spritz on every menu in America. We clearly were late in the game on this trend but patiently waited to have our first spritz in Italy then compared it to an American version. They’re exactly the same but you know a spritz will always be better on vacation overlooking the Amalfi Coast.
So here’s the easy peasy recipe. No tools required besides a glass. It’s vibrant orange color will make it instagramable and everyone will think you were a professional bartender in your past life.
We started this blog to share the hottest spots in Austin, TX and NYC and even some amazing places around the world. Considering our current situation, the hottest spot right now are our own homes.
Maybe venturing from room to room all day is getting redundant. You’re feeling confided and limited. We’re starting to see that quarantine has some people going stir crazy already. Maybe some realize they don’t have a hobby besides going out and spending money. Things that are rather iffy right now.
So, we’re switching gears and focusing the blog on developing a hobby. We’re going to dabble on every topic and interest. All the DIY’s and activities we know. Infact, it’s a new series of posts on how to be good at everything.
This is about learning a new skill or task seemingly without effort. It’s not about being a know-it-all or a bottomless wealth of knowledge, knowing every bit of information about everything to take on every hobby. It’s about being versatile and maybe you can find your new, one passion.
We will gather everything we have learned on our adventures and post what we’ve taken from every experience.
If you’ve ever wanted to perfect your cooking skills, have a go to dish people request at party’s, masterfully craft a cocktail, learn a unique sport, arrange a beautiful charcuterie board, pick up a language, learn how to pair wine, improve your fashion, be crafty and actually nail a Pinterest project, start interior design, learn how to sew, or just learn how to be a badass at something…. we’ll cover that!
A lot of you have a lot of free time right now so there’s no excuse. Let’s learn a few new things while we’re cooped up and bored.
Going vegan these days is pretty darn easy. There are so many options everywhere and legitimate ones too. Attempting a vegan diet/lifestyle 10 years ago was a miserable task. The options were ordering food at restaurants without all the fun stuff on them like cheeseless pizza or just having some steamed veggies or make something yourself at home which was basically the same options.
Oddly enough in a city famously known for its BBQ and where everything has meat on it, it has the best vegan restaurant. The Beer Plant is all vegan and you wouldn’t know it if you weren’t told. Yea, it’s that spot on. Their brunch menu was something to look forward to every weekend. They have continued service with take out during quarantine and as an added bonus – brunch menu everyday all day!
The Beer Plant has been featured on the food networks list of best vegan restaurants in the country and we would say it’s one of the best restaurants overall and not just for being vegan.
The creamiest and fluffiest lotion ever. SO worth it to make your own. It’s super hydrating and better than store bought – who knows what’s in that stuff. Making your own anything avoids unnecessary ingredients. Although, store bought always seems to appear better, in the long run there are so many chemicals in their products that do more damage in the long run. Skip the harsh chemicals and enjoy a little DIY during quarantine.
Let’s discuss ingredients and how to customize your body butter to your needs.
Start with your base – Shea Butter and Coconut Oil. Now let’s build from here. You can add any additional butters, lotions, oils, and scents desired. I suggest cocoa butter, jojoba oil, almond oil and a mix of essential oils. Some great essential oils that are beneficial to the skin are tea tree oil and frankincense. I also suggest adding an essential oil for a preferable scent which just adds more benefits to this lotion. You are literally creating a topical superfood for your skin. Go to the health section in your grocery store where the lotions are and scope out what’s available.
Some essentials oils that smell great are lavender, lemongrass or grapefruit. These essential oils provide many benefits for your skin as well as your health. If you put your lotion on before bed, go with lavender as it is a calming aid for sleep. Lemongrass is a powerful anti inflammatory and has an amazing scent. Grapefruit is sweet smelling and proven when applied topically to help with thyroid issues. Frankincense oil is not the best smelling but has anti-inflammatory, immune-boosting, and pain-relieving properties. The same with tea tree oil, it’s not the most pleasant scent but has long been known to be great for the skin and fights acne.
Butters and Oils – Shea butter and coconut oil have so many vitamins and health properties that these are a must and provide the best base for your lotion. For the coconut oil, you can choose a hardened one from the cooking aisle but more preferable is the liquid coconut oil as it only makes the body butter more luxurious in texture. Other great options to add are cocoa butter, avocado oil, apricot oil, almond oil or jojoba oil which only compliment it.
INGREDIENTS:
1 container of Shea Butter
1/4 cup Liquid Coconut Oil
4 TBSP of Any Additional Oil (almond, avocado, jojoba, etc. or can be a mixture of all)
7 drops of Any Essential Oil for Scent (lavender, grapefruit, etc.)
DIRECTIONS:
Now let’s get started:
Step 1.) Use a glass bowl to melt all the shea butter in the container and add about 1/4 cup of coconut oil in a double boiler. Let ingredients completely liquify and combine naturally. It’s not necessary to stir during the melting process.
Step 2.) After completely melted, immediately remove from the heat and let sit on the counter top to harden. I do not recommend refrigerating because it gets too hard to be able to whip. If you are getting impatient then place in the refrigerator but just for a short time. Remove soon as it becomes an opaque white color.
Step 3.) When the mixture becomes opaque use a hand mixer to whip the oils for a minimum of 10 mins. After about 2 minutes it will look and feel so luscious and soft like icing but trust me, you need to whip it for at least 10 minutes. The longer you mix, the better. You cannot over mix this. After about 2-5 minutes of whipping and the excitement ensues, you can add all your additional oils and continue to mix.
Step 4.) You’re not exactly done. Most recipes tell you to whip for 10 minute, jar it and voilá you’re done. The one necessary additional step that I have is to let the lotion sit overnight in the glass bowl on the countertop and mix a second time the next day. You will notice after it sits overnight it’s not as soft and fluffy. This is why you NEED to mix it again for another 10+ minutes.
Step 5.) Now you can jar it. I recommend using a new large glass jar with a lid (can be bought at Michael’s) because the lotion will increase in size and be too much to put back in the shea butter container.
With the current shortage of hand sanitizer, here is a recipe to make your own with items you already have in your house.
If making hand sanitizer at home, adhere to these tips:
Be sure to work in a clean environment – wiping down and disinfecting your work space.
Wash hands thoroughly.
Use clean utensils, bowls and a sterilized bottle.
Double check the quality and purity of your ingredients.
Do not touch the mixture with your hands until it is ready for use.
Ingredients:
Isopropyl or Rubbing Alcohol (99 percent alcohol volume)
Aloe Vera Gel
Essential Oil – such as Tea Tree, Lavender or Lemon Juice will work.
NOTES: The key to making an effective, germ-busting hand sanitizer is to stick to a 2:1 proportion of alcohol to aloe vera. This keeps the alcohol content around 60 percent. This is the minimum amount needed to kill most germs.
Directions:
Measure out desired alcohol and aloe vera gel – Recommended amount is 3/4 cup alcohol and 1/4 cup aloe vera. Add 10 drops of desired essential oil.
Combine all ingredients and whisk until incorporated.
I can’t eat enough of this stuff. I want to buy it by the vat full to eat but they don’t sell it. They only have teeny tiny containers of their sauce served with their chicken meals. So we did a little investigating on the web and knew someone would have leaked a recipe of their famous dipping sauce. We found several recipes and tried a bunch. Here’s what was successful as the closest to the original. Plus we made an organic, vegan version and it was still delicious! So imagine how good it is. Here’s the recipe to share.
Add all ingredients in one bowl and whisk together.
We found it tastes best eaten fresh rather than letting sit overnight.
Visiting London? Make sure to visit the cutest, pinkest, girliest tea and pastry shop. Chef and cake designer, Peggy Porschen opened a cake boutique in London. Famously known for its pink exterior and beautifully decorated desserts where you can enjoy lunch or high tea.
Visiting NYC during the Holiday season? Be sure to stop by Rolf’s, a German restaurant and bar decorated to make you feel like you’re inside the Rockefeller Christmas tree. This little restaurant gives new meaning to “Deck the Halls.”
If you want to enjoy a German feast for dinner make sure to have a reservation as this is the busy season for ROLF’s and it can get very crowded. If you’ve been eating your way through NYC and just want to check out the decorations, find a seat at the bar and enjoy an amazing holiday themed cocktail.
Just beyond the rocks is an oasis you couldn’t imagine. This geothermal spa located in a lava field near Grindavík on the Reykjanes Peninsula is a must visit. It’s a relaxing experience like no other with unbelievable scenery.
TIPS: Most claim this is a tourist trap but it is NOT to be missed. What is costly is the restaurant and gift shop. There are other geothermal pools in Iceland but none as spectacular as this.
The Pineapple Life 