happy hour: bachelorette cocktails

this weekend is my bachelorette party!  i received a gorgeous invite that my sister created with a (vague) outline of the events.  she and my bridesmaids have been planning for months, and i am certain they've cooked up something spectacular : )

in honor of the girly weekend that lies ahead, i thought i'd highlight some bachelorette party cocktail favorites.

cosmo (you knew this was coming)

1 oz vodka
1/2 oz triple sec
1/2 oz rose's lime juice
1/2 oz cranberry juice
squeeze of fresh lime

pour all ingredients in shaker over ice and shake.  strain into a martini glass and garnish with lime wedge.

sex on the beach (anything with "sex" in the title is always popular at a bachelorette party...)

1 1/2 oz vodka
1/2 oz peach schnapps

2 oz cranberry juice

2 oz orange juice

pour vodka and schnapps into a highball glass over ice.  top with cranberry juice & o.j. and stir.

champagne!!!

uncork
pour
sip

i'll be certain to fill you all in next week about my fabulous weekend in philly with my girls!  enjoy your weekend : )
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happy hour: low-cal cocktail formula

{this post is just a taste of vegetables & vodka, my FREE e-cookbook!  download it below!}

cocktail 101

…the easiest low-cal creation in cocktail land…

we all love our cocktails.  but, we don’t always love (or need) the calories that lurk in their liquidy goodness.  whether you’re at home, at a friend’s party or at your local watering hole,  here is a simply fabulous cocktail formula that will keep you smiling while sipping.

1 shot liquor (vodka, rum, gin) in a glass over ice

splash of juice or liqueur (cranberry juice, triple sec, orange juice, amaretto, cassis, etc.)

top off with club soda

garnish with citrus (lime, lemon or orange wedge)

this simply fabulous combo is utter low-calorie perfection, clocking in at a mere 125 calories per serving.  the hint of juice or sweet liqueur is just enough to infuse a bit of festiveness while the club keeps it super low-cal and fizzy.  the final squeeze of fresh citrus brightens the flavors. 

no shot glass handy?  count to 4 while pouring to approximate a shot’s worth of liquor.

happy friday!  enjoy your weekend - and your(low-cal) cocktails!

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cranberry fizz cocktail

you know that i love champagne cocktails.  they are my all time favorite.  any time i see a champagne cocktail on a drink menu i have to try it.  there's just something about its bubbly goodness that makes any drink more festive and more delicious (in my humble opinion).

credit {here}

i love champagne cocktails all year round, but the lightness of champagne with its subtle fizz is beautifully suited for summer.  here's a little drink i came up with - hope you like it!

cranberry fizz cocktail

1 oz vodka
1 oz cranberry
4 oz champagne
garnish with lemon twist

credit {here}

the great thing about this simple recipe is that you can multiply it for a crowd to create a lovely champagne punch!

cheers!.

arnold palmer

no, i am not writing a post about a pro golfer.  this post is about the drink.

over memorial day, craig and i spent a lovely day poolside with my sister, my cousin and her husband.  throughout the afternoon we were sipping (spiked) arnold palmers.  they were so delicious...a little too good, if you know what i mean : )

this simple summer sip is super easy to make and will surely delight all drinkers.  the traditional drink is 1/2 lemonade and 1/2 iced tea.  to create our cocktail version, we used sweet tea vodka and crystal light lemonade.

pink lemonade or traditional?  your pick.  credit {here}

recipe for one (though this drink is a crowd pleaser...)

1 shot sweet tea vodka
4-6 oz lemonade (depending on how strong you like it)
serve over ice
garnish with lemon wedge

so, there you have it.  it's simply fabulous, if you ask me. 

the only thing i do not like about this drink is that it's a bit of a tongue-twister.  try saying "arnold palmer" five times, fast!  i think i may turn to calling them "arnys"..