One of the projects I tackled during my time off over the holidays was sending out my 2nd annual “happy new year” cards. I mailed them out to folks I collaborated with over the course of the year, and some of my favorite ‘cheerleaders’ that have supported me as I’ve worked to grow my business. After a fun photo shoot with the Improper Bostonian, I knew the picture of my pink bar cart had to be involved in the mailer. I worked with Posh + Prep to design the cards and wanted to add in a few little treats, so Julie illustrated two of my favorite #domestikatedishes cocktail recipes — and I tucked festive drink stirrers into the envelope for some cocktail flair. I would love to send one of these cards to every single one of my readers, but since I can’t I thought I would do the next best thing: share the recipe cards here so you can download and use them at home. Hope you enjoy a festive cocktail after making it through your first day back at work after the holidays — cheers! 
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If you follow me on instagram, you may have seen my little brother graduated from high school this week (cue the tears!). He’s the baby in the family, and is lucky to have two big sisters and a mom that L-O-V-E -love throwing parties, so you better believe we’re going to be throwing the biggest and best graduation party for him to celebrate. He requested a taco bar which lead to an obvious theme of fiesta! — so I’ve been busy crafting up piñata-inspired details this week to make sure it’s a fiesta to remember. Using tissue paper, I cut 1.5 inch strips in different colors and used fringe scissors to create the piñata-like texture. Next, I used a glue-stick to coat the non-fringed edge, and began to wrap it around the party horn whistle (I got these at a party store and removed the paper wrappers that came on them). Keep wrapping until you get to the end and add a little extra glue to ensure it’s sealed, then repeat with additional colors layered on top. I replicated the same process for drink stirrers, just wrapping a bit tighter around a small skewer, and used a few extra tiny scraps to make some tooth-pick flags for garnishes; can’t wait to use these at the party this weekend!
I shared my brie and jam pinwheel bites last week from my friend Elizabeth‘s blogger holiday party, and realized I hadn’t yet shared the cocktail recipe we used for the event (brie and pastry dough are delicious, but they’re nothing without a tasty cocktail to wash them down with!). Elizabeth decorated stemless wine glasses with metallic gold dots that looked like sparkly little bubbles, so of course we had to fill them with something bubbly! We added to each glass about an ounce each of pomegranate juice and Grand Marnier signature collection liquor (it’s raspberry and peach flavored, holy yum.), and then filled the rest of the glasses with champagne — and of course, gave them a swirl with a tinsel-topped drink stirrer. I didn’t have a name picked out for this concoction just yet, and one of my fellow bloggers said, I think you should call it the Blogger Bellini! I’ll cheers to that.
I’m dying to share pictures of the wedding, but in the meantime, I thought I’d share a few of the details from our rehearsal dinner. My lovely in-laws hosted a dinner at a waterfront restaurant near our wedding venue, and it was a perfect evening filled with all of my favorite things: fragrant peonies, gold polka-dot details, and lots and lots of nautical anchor motifs! Plus an amazing view out into the shipyards where our tasty dinner was freshly caught! Oh and did I mention the world’s best family and bridal party? 
I’m guest posting today over on Shannon Darrough’s adorable blog, I Love Your Crazy, all about the entertaining pieces I keep on hand in my kitchen for playing hostess on the fly, be sure to click over and check it out!
