New Year's Eve

Happy last day of 2012 lovebugs. This year has been a solid one for me. Some friends have moved away but sometimes big things happen to good people and you have to be happy for them. As for the ones who have stuck around DC? I've been lucky enough to keep them close and I've even made some new ones through blogging. The Bf and Norman and I were lucky enough to be able to stay in our apartment for another year. All in all I can't complain.

Tonight I hope you spend your night in sparkles or in sweatpants and ring in the new year full of hope and joy.

Thanks for being fabulous this year.

Friday Foodday

Happy Friday lovebugs! Today's post will be for New Year's cocktails!

The Rickey (the official cocktail of Washington, DC)
c/o Delish

Ingredients

• 1 1/4 ounce(s) Tanqueray London Dry Gin
• 1/4 ounce(s) lime juice
• 1 ounce(s) soda water

Directions

1. Stir together Tanqueray London Dry Gin and lime juice.
2. Serve over ice in highball glass.
3. Top with soda water.

French 75

c/o Bon Appetit

Ingredients

1 cup gin

1/2 cup No-Cook Simple Syrup (see below)

1/2 cup fresh lemon juice

Champagne

Lemon twists (for garnish)

Directions

To make our No-Cook Simple Syrup, combine 2 cups each superfine sugar and water in an airtight container. Cover and shake until sugar dissolves. Makes 3 cups.

Stir gin, No-Cook Simple Syrup, and fresh lemon juice with ice in a medium pitcher for 10 seconds. Strain into Champagne flutes or coupe glasses.

Top with chilled Champagne (Prosecco or other sparkling wine works in a pinch). Garnish with lemon twists.

Cranberry Prosecco Cocktail

c/o Makezine

Ingredients

1 cup frozen cranberries, thawed
1/4 cup sugar
1 bottle (750 milliliters) prosecco, chilled 

Directions

Place the cranberries and sugar in a bowl and macerate for at least 1 hour, or up to 6 hours. Stir the berries occasionally, lightly mashing them. Place 1 tablespoon of macerated berries in each of six champagne flutes. Fill the flutes with prosecco and serve.

Resolutions

Since I would never take away Friday Foodday, I wanted to use today to talk a little bit about resolutions. 

res·o·lu·tion
[rez-uh-loo-shuh n]
1. A resolve or determination.

Resolutions are a decision to make a change. An act, a thought, or an admission that you will do something differently moving forward. New Years is often referred to as a time to get a fresh start, but I truly believe that you can't understand what you want to change until you've reflected on where you've been and what you've done.

Given the recent tragedy in Connecticut, as well as the constant stresses we are bombarded with on a day to day basis, what better time to really take a moment, or an hour, or whatever you feel comfortable with to just sit. Sit with your thoughts, your emotions and attempt to channel how you can improve. How can you make yourself a little bit better this year?

I would love to hear what your resolutions are for the new year. Share them or get inspiration by reading someone else's below. 

What is mine you ask? Well, I'm going to be writing down one thing I'm thankful for each day in a journal. Now they don't have to be earth shattering, sometimes it's ok to be thankful for Spanx, or How I Met Your Mother, but I want to write it down, I want to take that moment each day and reflect and record it. 

Thanks for taking a moment to share your resolutions.

Be fabulous today!

Don't Count Out the Little Guy

Welcome back lovebugs!
I hope if you celebrated Christmas it was just wonderful. Now we get to enjoy the loot and prep for the New Year.

Today I thought we'd look at some clutches. Beaded clutches to be exact. I think they're a great accessory for NYE or just to add some detail to and everyday outfit.

Etsy, Black Beaded Lace Overlay on Ivory with Pearls, $65

This is a stunner for a black tie event. Such a beautiful mix of textures.

Banana Republic, Beaded Crossbody, $98

Ok hear me out, I know this tiny bag is $98, but you can wear this with a dress, with jeans, with whatever you can imagine. I absolutely love it.

Club Monaco, Lucy Beaded Clutch, $99

Wow. Look at the detail on this bag. Just a beautiful accessory that would match just about any color.

Urban Outfitters, Ecote Arts of Ruin Clutch, $49

A little more casual, but the price tag reflects that. I love the different sized beads.

Beaded clutches are a fabulous accessory that will never go out of style. Dress them up or down, but they'll always pack a punch.

Be fabulous today!