FALL-tastic Margarita

Fall is HERE and that means it's time for pumpkin spice everything, apple picking and fires! To kick things off right, I figured a themed cocktail was necessary. And, a spiced cider margarita seemed quite fitting. You're welcome!

Cocktail Ingredients:
5 ounces spiced apple cider
1/2 teaspoon lemon juice
.5 ounces Grand Marnier
1.5 ounces tequila (you can use mescal if you want a smoky taste)

For Garnish:
2 tablespoons raw sugar
1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Cinnamon sticks
Apple slices

In a small bowl, combine sugar and cinnamon. Wet the rim of your cocktail glass with water or lemon and dip the glass in the cinnamon sugar mixture.

Pour all of the cocktail ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake and bake, baby.

Add ice to your rimmed cocktail glasses and your cocktail concoction.

Feeling fancy? Garnish your cocktail with a cinnamon stick, apple slice and sprinkled cinnamon.

 

Party in Style

If you haven't noticed already, I'm kind of obsessed with pretty much anything agate. How can you not be?! Agate slices make for the perfect coasters, hot plates and NAPKIN RINGS. I'm all about the tablescape and these gems are total showstoppers!  

This DIY will literally take you under 10 minutes to make and all of the supplies are super inexpensive. I'm flabbergasted that people pay over $100 for a set of 4, when you can make a set for around $20. If you are stylishly thrifty or just want to up your entertaining game, give this DIY a spin. Material details below. 

What you need:

2-3" agate slices - I got mine on Etsy

Acrylic napkin rings

Super glue

The Hunt is Over

The wedding festivities have begun and I am so excited to share some of my favorite photos from our engagement session in Georgetown. Tyler and I decided to do our photos in Georgetown since that is where he proposed to me! BEST. DAY. EVER. Camille Catherine was our photographer and she is absolutely amazing. Not only is she a gem to work with, given her bubbly and easy-going personality, but she is soooooooo talented. All of her photos have a bright, light and airy feel, which is right up my alley. If you are getting married in the DC-metro area, you have to check her out! We fell in love with her over a glass of wine and a 2 hour "interview," which honestly felt like cocktails with an old friend.

Dress details: Katie Kime - aka my design/fashion idol who I have been obsessed with for 3+ years. I love her designs so much that she is making custom dresses for my bridesmaids, which will be absolutely stunning!

Vintage Picnic

A vintage 1950's suitcase + Katie Kime fabric + TLC = BEST PICNIC TRUNK EVER. My mom and I found this gem at an antique store awhile back and I instantly knew what I wanted to do with it. If you have a couple of hours, grab an old suitcase and your favorite fabric. You will be popping bubbly and picnicking in no time. 

• Remove the old lining. 
• Clean the suitcase to get rid of any dirt and/or smell. I used Clorox and Windex. 
• Use the removed lining as a template and trace around it on flat pieces of cardboard. 
• Cut the cardboard with a razor. 
• Cut a piece of fabric for each piece of cardboard that is about a half inch larger on all sides. You want to make sure that there is a little extra so that you can fold it over the back to secure with glue.
• Glue the fabric to the cardboard and clamp until dry. 
• Decide on what picnic items you want to create an elastic holder for and measure/cut your elastic accordingly. 
• Poke holes into each side of the elastic and push a gold brad through. 
• Measure and mark the area for where you want to attach the elastic to the fabric covered cardboard. Use a drill to make your holes. 
• Insert the brads into each hole and fold back the legs to secure the elastic to the board. 
• Adhere each cardboard piece to the interior of the suitcase with tacky glue and clamp. Allow for adequate dry time. 

Time to picnic!!!