happy hour: mint tea in marrakech

view of our riad's interior from rooftop terrace

mid-honeymoon, craig and i spent a long weekend in marrakech, morocco.  it was another world.  i had never been to africa before, so venturing across the mediterranean from sevilla, where we had been staying, was a thrill in and of itself.  there was a moment during our hour-long plane ride over when you could see europe, the mediterranean islands and africa all at once.  it was unreal.

our meal at the food stalls

yes, we went on a camel excursion : )

lantern souk

moroccan breakfast

in marrakech the streets are narrow, the squares are crowded and the smells (both good and bad) are overpowering.  we stayed in a great riad (i.e. small hotel) not to far from the spice market and the main square.  the majority of our time was spent shopping in the souks - small artisan shops.  and when we weren't shopping, we were drinking mint tea.

me with monkey

mint tea and "pancakes" with honey

olive tree on our riad's rooftop terrace

rug souk (where we bought a little moraccan carpet!)

their green tea & fresh mint infusion was so refreshing and deliciously sweet, and our riad - riad charlott' - offered it as a complimentary treat along with sesame seed biscotti whenever your heart desired.  needless to say, craig and i enjoyed several pots of mint tea during our 3 day stay : )



spice shop in the spice market near our riad

spa where we enjoyed a tradition scrub (and massage)   sunset in marrakech

though we experienced a bit of culture shock, we both completely enjoyed our weekend in morocco.  and...we left with a rug, 2 punched-copper lanterns, several pairs of leather slipper shoes, countless scarves and a small ceramic bowl.  all of which survived the ride home!

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happy hour: what to drink with thanksgiving leftovers

thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays.  i love how cozy my parents' house feels with fires in both fireplaces, the smell of turkey and other thanksgiving goodies wafting from the kitchen and family and friends all around.

and, if your family is anything like mine, we are sure to make plenty of extra so that we can enjoy thanksgiving leftovers all weekend long.

below you'll find my wine suggestions to pair with your bird & stuffing today...or tomorrow : )

whether you like red or white, you're in luck - both go great with thanksgiving food.  if you generally lean toward reds, try rex goliath free range red.  this friendly, approachable red isn't too heavy and drinks nicely with a hearty meal.  (bonus: this wine's a steal - only $7 per bottle!)

if you prefer white, try ménage à  trois white.  as you may have guessed, it's a blend of 3 grapes (hence "trois").  it's crisp without being sharp and has a full-bodied flavor, which again, works well with your thanksgiving spread.  (you'll find it for $12 per bottle.)

and remember the 20 minute rule for serving wines.  keep whites in the fridge and remove 20 minutes prior to drinking to let the temperature settle a bit.  for reds, keep them room temp and put in the fridge for 20 min prior to serving to drop the temperature ever so slightly.  simple and effective.

cheers!  here's to enjoying your leftovers every bit as much as you did the meal.

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happy hour: snack time {guest post}

hi there, lovely readers of lifestyle maven! my name is erica and i blog about my life and adventures in washington, dc - all with 'boyfriend' - over at pocket full of chuckles. i've been following cailen's blog for quite some time. she was one of the first people i found on the blogosphere and i was instantly smitten (i mean, who wouldn't be!). so when she asked me to guest post while she's off marrying her best friend (!!!) i squealed with excitement. and then when she asked me to write about a fun recipe, i did my happy dance. because boyfriend and i love to cook. and our favorite thing to make is guacamole. it's always our go-to dish for parties and it was such a hit at this year's halloween party!

you will need the following:

(note: this recipe feeds a large group of people, so feel free to cut ingredients in half) 

dry cilantro (1 tbsp)

orange juice (a splash)

lime juice (2 limes)

red onion (1)

ripe avocados (8)

jalapenos (4)

roma tomatoes (4)

garlic cloves (6)

salt & pepper

1. slice avocados in half and remove pits. score with knife and squeeze in large mixing bowl.

2. chop onion and add to bowl.

3. finely chop jalapenos and garlic cloves. toss in bowl.

4. dice tomatoes. and you guessed it. toss in bowl.

don't mix just yet...

5. slice limes in half and squeeze juice in bowl.

6. add a splash of orange juice.

7. add your cilantro, salt and pepper.

8. now you can stir :)

so it looks like this!

or this..

enjoy :)

xo erica

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happy hour: i do

so, mavens!  it's finally here - WEDDING WEEKEND!!!  as you read this, i'm on my way into philly to enjoy a lovely day of final prep and pampering before our rehearsal & rehearsal dinner tonight.

tomorrow, you'll find me and my girls at a quaint french cafe for breakfast, readying ourselves (and enjoying lunch...and champagne) in my sister's suite before heading to our 4pm ceremony where i'll become a mrs.

girls' breakfast. credit {here}

 following the ceremony, our guests will enjoy a fabulous cocktail hour - replete with a live jazz and a spectacular philadelphia skyline view - while craig and i snap some photos.

the reception will begin at 6pm and continue to 10pm (and we've got a few surprises up our sleeves for our guests to enjoy).

credit {here}

and after the reception, guests have a quick 1/2 hour to change before our after-party kicks-off at a great local tavern.

needless to say, craig and i (and our families) are super excited.  and, in true celebratory form, i think it's only appropriate to crack open a bottle of bubbly!

so, while you're enjoying this first weekend of november, sit back with a bellevue bubbly and celebrate your inner maven.

bellevue bubbly - our signature wedding cocktail

champagne . splash of st. germain . splash of vodka . garnish with lemon twist
watch me make this drink {here}

credit {here}

cheers!

alright, mavens - i'll see you in two weeks!  i've lined up lots of awesome guest bloggers to delight you while we're enjoying our honeymoon in seville, spain & marrakesh, morocco : )

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