August 2015 archive

Lemon Basil Gimlet

Last week’s recipe post was for Chili Lime Cashews (link here) that I brought to a friend’s cabin, along with a specialty cocktail. I had a few people ask for the cocktail that I referenced paring with the spicy sweet snack – so here it is! This is from my good friend that is pretty much amazing when it comes to choosing (and making) the perfect drink, and she assured me this was a favorite of all her guests. When asked to bring a specialty cocktail to a dinner (or a weekend outing), picking a cocktail that incorporates a flavored simple syrup is a nice way to bring a drink that is a bit more special than the traditional summer vodka lemonade, yet doesn’t involve a lot of fuss when mixing, since the “work” can be done ahead of time. I also like a recipe that is conducive to preparing a pitcher of the drink, so I don’t have to measure each time. See below for recipe and a few preparation notes.
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Maximum Maxi

I spend pretty much the whole summer in dresses – shift styles at the office, comfy tee shirt dresses for the evenings, and cover-ups on the weekends at the lake. I think it has something to do with living in Minnesota, and knowing that for a solid 8 months of the year my legs will be covered. The maxi is the style I wear the least, but when I find a great one I end up wearing it quite a bit. There are plenty of situations where full leg coverage in a dress is more comfortable – travel days come to mind, as do the many times with kids’ activities (somehow I always end up sitting on the grass at soccer while Ella takes the lawn chair). To be honest, I wasn’t sure about this dress when it first arrived as there is SO much fabric, but I really like the overall look as well as the details on the neckline and back.
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Anthropologie dress | Tiffany & Co. sunglasses | J Crew shoes | Tory Burch clutch | Michael Kors watch | Madewell bracelets (here and here) | Kate Spade necklaces
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In Between

I wouldn’t go so far as to say that I hate winter in Minnesota, but I definitely do start to fret when the air starts turning cooler in the early mornings and evenings, daylight dwindles on both ends of the day, and I find myself with a chill when in the air conditioning of the office and house. It’s the time when I start looking for clothes that can transition well between warmer and cooler weather – in style, print and fabric. This poncho is a nice option for those in between times, when you’re not sure what to throw on in the morning.
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Anthropologie sweater (sold out, but similar here and non-poncho style here) | Banana Republic pants (old, similar here and here) | Lilly Pulitzer shoes | Chloe handbag | Michael Kors watch | Hermes bracelet | Madewell bracelet | Kate Spade earrings

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