• Cocktail of the Week,  Cocktails / Food

    Strawberry Rosé Cocktail

    Saturday is National Rosé Day, so I’m posting a simple Rosé cocktail.

    Use your favorite Rosé (still or sparkling) or buy one from this list of The 25 Best Rosé Wines of 2018.

    Make your ice cubes and strawberry simple syrup on Thursday or Friday, so all you have to do on Saturday is combine.

    Strawberry Ice cubes

    Slice 2 – 3 strawberries and place in an empty ice cube tray. Fill with water and freeze.

    Strawberry Simple Syrup

    Combine 1 cup of sliced strawberries, 1 cup white sugar and 1 cup water in a saucepan. Bring to a low simmer and stir until all the sugar is dissolved, simmer for 10 more minutes to extract the strawberries juices. Turn off the stove and let cool. Pour the simple syrup through a fine mesh strainer, (the left over strawberries don’t look great, but they taste delicious. Add them to a smoothie, or on top of oatmeal or ice cream.) Refrigerate the strawberry simple syrup for up to 1 week.

    Cocktail

    Fill a goblet with strawberry ice cubes.

    Fill 3/4 of the glass with Rosé and 1 ounce (or a splash, if you don’t want to measure) of strawberry simple syrup. Stir.

    Garnish with a fresh strawberry.

    Cheers!

    If you have any strawberry simple syrup left over, add a splash to a glass of fresh lemonade.

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  • Cocktail of the Week,  Cocktails / Food

    Gin and Orange Blossom Tonic

    I discovered a new spin on the traditional gin and tonic to help quench my thirst this summer. Both the Dampfwerk Barreled Gin and the Spruce Soda Co. Spruce Soda Co TonicOrange Blossom Tonic are made in the state of Minnesota. I really like supporting locally made products and when they taste this good, it’s easy. If you live in Minnesota, click on the links above to find out where to buy. If you live in another state, find out if you have local distilleries worth a taste or come to Minnesota and visit our many craft distilleries and local breweries.

    2 oz. Dampfwerk Barreled Gin

    5 oz. Spruce Soda Co. Orange Blossom Tonic

    Lime wedge

    Combine ingredients in a glass filled with ice and stir.

    Cheers!

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  • Journal,  Lifestyle

    Could I Take An Unplanned Trip?

    As you may have picked up from my travel posts, I’m a little bit of a planner – ok, maybe the word obsessive is more appropriate.

    I was telling my Mom that our nephew on my husband’s side took an amazing trip where he flew into Barcelona, Spain and three weeks later had a flight out of Athens, Greece. He had no specific plans on how he was getting from Barcelona to Athens, he just knew he had to be there in time to make his flight. I told her he was posting updates and photos regularly on Facebook and his trip sounded amazing – just going with the flow and really living in the moment. My Mom’s exact words were “You could never do that. You’re too much of a planner.” Hmmmm…. Don’t ever tell the oldest child they can’t do something… My gut response was “Challenge accepted!” and “I’ll prove you wrong!”

    This fall, my neighbor, who will be sending her seventh and final child off to college, is embarking on the 500-mile walk Camino de Santiago de Compostela (a.k.a. the Way of St. James.) She is flying into Paris and will take up to 40 days to complete her walk, eventually ending her quest in Finisterre, Spain. And she’s going alone. She wants to spend time reflecting and planning for the next chapter of her life. I’m intrigued and envious of this introspective, completely off the radar adventure.

    During a walk with my husband, I shared what my had Mom said about me being unable to take an unplanned trip and he agreed with her. Of course, he did! They are two peas-in-a-pod with very similar personalities. Now, I have two people (maybe more) to prove wrong. The real question is, am I up for the challenge?

    Just watch me.

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  • Cocktail of the Week,  Cocktails / Food

    Grapefruit Margarita

    Such a dilemma this week on what cocktail to post… a Margarita for Cinco de Mayo or a Mint Julep for the Kentucky Derby.

    Just kidding. It wasn’t that big of a dilemma… I love margaritas and I don’t like whiskey.

    casamigos blanco

    1 1/2 parts Casamigos Blanco

    1 fresh jalapeño

    1/2 part Cointreau

    1/2 part fresh grapefruit juice

    1/4 part fresh lime juice

    3 shakes of Grapefruit bitters per cocktail

    Simple syrup to taste. If pink grapefruit is in season, you probably won’t need any simple syrup.

    Quarter and seed the jalapeño. Place into the bottle of tequila for several hours (or overnight.) If you forget to do this, or you don’t want to spice up your entire bottle of tequila, just muddle a slice or two of seeded jalapeño with your tequila before adding any ice.

    Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake well. Strain into a salted-rim glass filled with ice.

    Garnish with lime and a slice of jalapeño.

    Salud!

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  • Journal,  Lifestyle

    Bringing our Daughter Home

    NyhavnNext week, John and I will be traveling to Copenhagen, Denmark. Our daughter, Kaitlyn, has been studying abroad there since January; so we’re going to visit her and the place she has called home for the past several months. Kaitlyn has been living in a flat with five other girls, but she also requested a host family to interact with during her time there. We are excited to meet her flat mates and her adorable host family who we have heard so much about.

    fjords

    Kaitlyn has taken many trips while studying abroad so I suggested the three of us travel a little before returning home. After packing up Kaitlyn’s possessions, we will travel to Stockholm, Sweden and Amsterdam, Netherlands. Kaitlyn is in charge of this trip, except for airfare and accommodations – although we did pick the condos on airbnb together. I’ve made lists of things we may like to do but I’m putting a lot of the planning and decision making into her very capable hands.

    It’s so rewarding to watch your children become strong, confident adults – and I think living on your own in a foreign county for several months creates some serious adult life skills. However, for this summer anyway, I am thrilled to have both of our adult children living under our roof. I know these days are numbered and I’m going to enjoy every minute.

     

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  • Cocktail of the Week,  Cocktails / Food

    Vodka Sour

    I’ve been trying to cut out refined sugar so I did some experimenting with this cocktail. I tried three different sweeteners. The first one was organic coconut sugar, the second was organic cane sugar and the third was raw honey. I made simple syrups with the sugars using a 1:1 ratio with water. (Heat and stir until the sugar crystals completely dissolve.) The coconut sugar made a gross brown simple syrup that turned me off, but the awful taste sealed the deal. That one was out. The cane sugar simple syrup and honey were actually very similar in taste, so whichever you have on hand or prefer to use will work. Note that I did use less honey than simple syrup.

    2 oz vodka

    3/4 oz fresh squeezed lemon juice

    3/4 oz organic cane sugar simple syrup OR 1/2 oz raw honey

    Lemon twist

    If you use honey, stir or shake your liquids well before adding ice or the honey will firm up and be more difficult to incorprate.

    Add ingredients to a cocktail shaker filled with ice, shake well. Strain into a rocks glass over a large ice cube. Garnish with a lemon twist.

    Cheers!

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  • Favorites,  Lifestyle

    Things I Love – #6

    Our daughter has been studying abroad in Copenhagen, Denmark this spring semester. In a couple weeks, John, my husband, and I leave for Copenhagen to see where she’s been living and to meet her host family. Then, we will travel with her to Stockholm, Sweden and Amsterdam, Netherlands before bringing her home. As you can see by my list below, I’m already thinking about what I’ll wear and pack for this trip.

    Click on the photos for more details or to order.

    Tag Heuer Aquaracer: John bought me this watch in Bermuda last year. I love the combination of black and silver.  

     

    Mer Sea wrap: I love this wrap for travel. It doesn’t wrinkle and it looks just as good over a dress as it does over a t-shirt and blue jeans. Mine is the lighter acrylic but they also make cashmere blends for the colder months.
    Lululemon Align crop yoga pants: these are so comfortable. I love the capri length for long flights. They’re good for working out, too. 🙂
    J Crew denim shirt: this shirt dresses up my yoga pants (and covers my bottom) enough to wear them on the plane or run errands.
     

    Nike Women’s Free RN: these do not have enough support for me to run in, but they are great for traveling and site-seeing.

     

    Bosom Buddy Bag: I found an adorable  basket purse on a girl’s trip in Charleston. (Mine has a black ribbon.) Straw basket bags are very popular this year and you can custom order your bag with a specific color ribbon and bauble. straw bag
    Away Luggage: I bought this luggage for our daughter before her semester abroad and I have luggage envy. Soon I’ll purchase some for myself. Note: if you buy a set of two, you get a better price than buying one piece at a time.
    Archipelago Botanicals: the Charleston scent has notes of hyacinth, white jasmine and tuberose. Archipelago candle
    Lubin Epidor Eau de Parfum: I discovered this at a small shop in Charleston. I love the scents of violet, jasmin and orange blossom mixed with vanilla, almond and sandalwood. (Of course, I found it on Amazon when I needed to replenish.)
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  • Favorites,  Travel

    Charleston, South Carolina

    Charleston is great for a couple’s trip or a girl’s trip. It’s the perfect place for foodies, historians, golfers and shoppers.

    Best Hotels

    • CharlestonThe Wyndham Mill House: Great location, a very nice / old hotel (photo of their courtyard at right) with great public bathrooms on the main floor for when you’re out exploring, nice restaurant on-site, across from Husk and Poogan’s Porch http://www.millshouse.com/
    • Belmond Hotel: The best (and most expensive) hotel in Charleston, it also has a nice spa but you don’t need to stay here to book spa services. http://www.belmond.com/charleston-place/
    • Market Pavilion: great location near the waterfront, nice rooftop bar and pool http://www.marketpavilion.com/
    • Kings Courtyard Inn: on King Street / great location, no restaurant but your rate includes a continental breakfast delivered to your room or in one of their courtyards, a wine and cheese reception from 5 – 6 and sherry after dinner https://www.kingscourtyardinn.com/ Book  a Parlor Suite (pictured below) to get a King bedroom including a separate living room with TV, desk, fireplace and lots of windows.

    Charleston

    Charleston

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Things to Do

    • Two Sisters walking tour – 2 hours and 15 minutes, $20 / person cash only, (many things listed below will be covered on this tour) I highly recommend doing this on your first full day to get a feel for the city. http://www.twosisterstours.com/about.php
    • Carriage ride through the historic district
    • King Street – huge shopping street
    • Battery & White Point Garden – the Southern tip on Charleston peninsula, lots of history here
    • Waterfront Park (the East side of Charleston)
    • Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist
    • Michael’s Church – George Washington sat in pew #43, original organ, Tiffany stained glass, a must see
    • Nathaniel Russell House – recommended over the Heyword tour, knowledgeable tour guides, great history of Charleston
    • Edmondston-Alston House – must see, best views of the waterfront
    • Heyword Washington House
    • Aiken-Rhett House – can buy a tour combo with Nathaniel Russell House
    • Joseph Manigault House
    • Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon – great tour, worth a visit
    • Historic Charleston City Market – on Market Street, shops with farmers market style items (jewelry, crafts, local art, food) http://www.thecharlestoncitymarket.com/
    • College of Charleston – stroll through the campus, beautiful old buildings
    • Old Jail – walk by, lots of ghost sitings here. There is also a ghost tour here that could be worth taking https://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/charleston/old.htm
    • Rainbow Row – beautiful, pastel painted homes along the waterfront

    Charleston

    Plantations (rent a car for the day) Avis, Budget and Enterprise are a 5 minute Uber from the hotels – they are all in the same building. It is walkable but if you’re going to a Plantation, you’ll already be walking a lot. Take note that many plantation owners also had homes in the city of Charleston. I highly recommend visiting both a home in Charleston and a plantation home.Charleston

    Restaurants

    There is no shortage of amazing restaurants in Charleston. Check TripAdvisor, Yelp, OpenTable, etc. and make reservations for dinner. The best restaurants are booked out months in advance.

    Lunch / Cocktails

    • Caviar & Bananas: great gourmet market and café (think Dean & Deluca), near Charleston College (also in the Charleston airport)
    • Callie’s Biscuits: 188 Meeting Street or 476 ½ King Street (get breakfast here one day – there will be a line on the weekends, so yummy!)
    • Pavilion Bar: rooftop bar with amazing views, great lunch spot, 10 minute walk from 80 Broad http://www.marketpavilion.com/pavilionbar.cfm
    • The Watch Rooftop (The Restoration Hotel): great views, good lunch and appetizer menus http://www.therestorationhotel.com/the-watch/menu
    • The Palmetto Café (The Belmond Hotel): best lunch in Charleston, elegant, great crab and avocado salad http://belmondcdn.azureedge.net/pdfs//PalmettoCafeLunch_Spring17.pdf
    • Fleet Landing Restaurant & Bar: seafood restaurant on the pier, don’t go here if there’s a cruise ship in port http://fleetlanding.net/
    • Bin 152: King Street wine bar with cheese and charcuterie
    • Eli’s Table: upscale spot for Southern bites, great shrimp & grits, courtyard, would work for lunch or dinner
    • Kitchen 208: brunch and lunch place (closes at 3 PM)

    Dinner / Cocktails

    Tips

    Look at a map of Charleston and take note of a few streets to familiarize yourself with the layout.

    • Broad Street runs East and West and neighborhoods are referred to as South of Broad or North of Broad, most of the homes South of Broad are very historic and beautiful, a great area to explore during morning walks.
    • King Street runs North and South parallel to Meeting Street, this is a one-way street with lots of shopping & restaurants, this area is called the Business District.
    • Market Street runs East and West and also has many shops and restaurants.
    • Meeting Street runs North and South and the area to the East is called the French Quarter.
    • Bay Street runs North / South in the French Quarter and is close to or along the water (depending how far South you are), there are many restaurants North of Broad.

    Bring comfortable walking shoes for morning walks and shopping; there are many cobblestone streets  and alleys. If you bring heels for dinner I’d suggest a chunky short heel or a wedge due to the uneven sidewalks and cobblestone.

     

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  • Cocktail of the Week,  Cocktails / Food

    Raspberry Bellini

    This is a great brunch cocktail.

    12 oz raspberries, frozen

    1 peach, sliced and frozen

    2 cups peach puree, chilled

    1.5L bottle of Prosecco, chilled

    Slice peach and freeze. Wash raspberries and freeze. (If peaches and raspberries aren’t in season, buy frozen.) Combine all ingredients in a pitcher or punch bowl. If you don’t have peaches, make ice cubes from additional peach puree and add to the pitcher or punch bowl to keep the Bellinis chilled.

    Cheers! (and Happy 23rd Birthday, Nathan!)

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  • Journal,  Lifestyle

    Coming Back Home

    Well, our two months in Arizona were over like a flash and we’re back in Saint Paul in the middle of a freak, record-breaking snow storm. We really enjoyed our time in Scottsdale and it wasn’t just the weather.  First, I was shocked at how many people we knew in Phoenix. In addition to my parents, I have a lot of extended family who winter or live in the Phoenix area and I have now learned that many of John’s golf friends spend part of their winter there. Although we really enjoyed our time alone, there was no shortage of golf or dinner companions.

    Second, I felt very relaxed there and I attribute a lot of my reduced stress to renting a house. (These millennials might be on to something.) I had no lists of things to have updated or repaired. I didn’t need to coordinate or oversee the people who did the yard work, filled the propane tank or cleaned the pool. When there was an issue with the pool or sprinkler system, it wasn’t my problem to fix. My daily chores consisted of cooking, dishes, laundry and walking the dog. The extent of my decorating was buying candles and flowers – you know, the fun stuff. It was nice to pour a cup of coffee in the morning and sit at my computer for hours working on my blog or other projects without worrying about all of the other things I should be planning, organizing or repairing.

    I know buying a home in a warm weather location is our long-term plan and even though I’m excited to decorate another home and live there with all of my own things; as the person who oversees the household, I am in no rush to have another To Do list.

    I must admit, I did enjoy the view of the pool from my desk in Arizona more than this view of snow from my desk in Saint Paul.