a kinder summer {guest post}

Hello to all who look into Cailen's world! My name is Kristin, and I have the privilege of swapping blogs with your lovely host for the day. My blog is called Kinder Words, and it is a place of learning and release for me. Cailen and I were paired on 20SB, to talk with each other's followers a bit about our summer.

{Summer morning's still begin early when you're a mom} I think that summer time is just like being in your 20's. It is full of life and color. There are days {and nights} full to the brim of activity. Then there are the lazy, introspective days, where you just lie on the beach and try to care less about what tomorrow brings.

This summer has been the latter of the two for me. There has been less bikini presence and volleyball, more building sandcastles and teaching the tadpoles how to swim.

There has been less shopping, and vacations and parties; more intimate barbeques, and time spent in the craft room, or at the park, or the free aviation museum.

It has been a quiet sort of summer. With lessons learned, friendships strengthened, and flowers smelt. And, as hard as I try, I can't seem to keep these sweet lazy days from slipping by.

I have enjoyed blogging this year more than ever.
I love jotting down my life lessons, and sharing little artsy tips and recipes. I have even been able to put together a few tutorials. I'm a bit of an artist, and crafting makes me giddy. It is a bad addiction, y'all.

I hope everyone will be able to keep a bit of summer love in their pockets through the winter this year. The part that makes you slow down, reflect, and feel sunshine all over. Come visit me at Kinder Words!

 where is cailen?  over at kinder words, of course!  check out her post {here}.

muttinis {guest post}

Hello, Mavens!

My name is Alice, and when Cailen announced that she was looking for cocktail-themed guest posts, she had me at the word “cocktail.”  I don’t have a blog of my own (yet), but Cailen was gracious enough to let me try my hand at blogging on hers. So here we go…
 

How to Make a Muttini (moo-tini)

One of my favorite summertime drinks is a nice cold Muttini: a simple cocktail that’s really easy to make but tastes delicious and looks pretty (it’s pink)!

So…what the heck is a Muttini, you ask?

Muttinis were my maternal grandmother’s signature cocktail. My grandparents didn’t drink often, but when they were served a variation of this drink at a church friend’s party (back in the late 60’s / early 70’s when “sours” were the libation of choice), my grandmother liked them so much she asked for the recipe. She started to serve these cocktails at her own gatherings, and (here comes your “a-ha” moment) since my family calls my grandmother “Muttie,” the drinks soon became known as “Muttinis”.

Isn’t this a great picture of my grandparents? Those lovebirds were married for 67 years!

To make a Muttini, all you need is a can of frozen lemonade (pink or regular) and scotch. (I know - I was a little wary myself, but trust me, it’s delicious)!

All you do is pour the can of lemonade into a blender, then use the can to add 1 can of scotch and 1 can of water, add some ice and let the blender do its job. (Or if your blender is broken like mine, you can mix everything in a pitcher, but be sure to add a lot of ice or it might taste too sweet). Serve over ice, add a cherry to make it fancy and voila! You have a Muttini.

I served my Muttini in a super-classy martini glass.

My Mom tells me that because Muttie rarely drank liquor, she was very sensitive to it. Whenever she drank Muttinis she would get a silly grin on her face and say, “I can feel it in my fingers” – and that’s when you knew she was happy-happy.

This is one of the original glasses Muttie always used to serve Muttinis in – it has etchings all around the inside of the silver band.

Muttie was a loving, happy and humorous lady – she loved to laugh and tell us silly stories, and she made everything fun. Unfortunately by the time I was of age to enjoy a Muttini with her, Alzheimer’s had taken away her vibrant personality, and she passed away last year.

When my family and I came home after Muttie’s funeral, my dad made a batch of Muttinis as we sat in the living room. After a long weekend of tears and goodbyes, it was nice to just relax, enjoy each other's company, tell silly Muttie stories and share a lot of laughs - just like Muttie would have wanted.

Let’s all make a batch of Muttinis and celebrate the wonderful women in our lives – past & present.

Cheers!

Alice

Special thanks to my Mom, Aunt & Uncles for sharing their Muttini knowledge. (You can check out my Aunt’s blog).

lovin' alice's muttini?  you can follow her on twitter @alicewhitney

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mojito {guest post}

limes, drink

hi there! it's jillian from cornflake dreams and i love summery drinks and treats. my signature drink is the classic mojito (the real reason i had my fiance add mint to our herb garden this year!) i love this simple recipe from the food network:: classic mojito. the mojito is fantastic because you can get creative with ingredients (pineapple, strawberry, raspberry, and blackberry all make tasty additions).

what's your favorite drink?

xo,
jillian.

al fresco vs. picnic {guest post}

Before beginning, I’d like to say thanks to my sweet daughter, Cailen, for being so kind as to actually ask me to write every so often.   I must admit that I enjoy it, but I find her a hard act to follow!  Thank you, Cai.  Many of the images here are as pretty as they are because of your helping hands!  xo  Mom

We are a family of foodies.  We appreciate the nuances of fabulous fine dining, but we also relish a quiet evening at home with soup by the fire.  Happily, this time of year offers up countless possibilities for another kind of ‘dining experience’.  To this, I give you….

Picnic  - A meal eaten outdoors, as on an excursion (could involve a hike) an occasion when you take a meal with you to eat outside in an informal way, or the food itself

our picnic in beaune, france

Al fresco  -  Implies the presence of some nearby structure (one does not hike al fresco) out-of-doors; in the open air: to dine alfresco.

I’m sure you see where we’re going here, either way you’re eating outdoors.  And this generally conjures up just a bit, however small, of a festive atmosphere.  We’ve just finished May and June is upon us.  It’s a good time of year to enjoy some fresh air while enjoying your meal!

concert under the stars (craig, mom, me, dad)

We’re fortunate to have a large wrap-around porch with an old table that seats 4-6.  We take our meals out to enjoy the breezes and birds in the morning hours, the sounds of farm tractors or mowers in the afternoon, and the stars, crickets and candlelight in the evenings.  

But a porch doesn’t have to be the setting, al fresco is wonderful and memorable on a tiny deck, a patio that needs some work (candlelight glow makes all things prettier!), or on a level patch of lawn under a tree – or use a beach umbrella if you don’t have a tree!  Think about outdoor cafés…there’s a great energy about them that makes a meal more like a little event.  And most of us tend to feel relaxed and pleased about eating that tuna on rye outside. 

me (cailen) & cate

Keep your al fresco meals simple, and your picnics simpler yet.  This is not necessarily the time to try an elaborate recipe.  Assemble some of your favorites, relying on dishes that will be fine without immediate refrigeration.   A side pasta dish with olive oil is a much better choice than one with mayo.  Simple is good, yes, but with just a bit of pizzazz if possible.  A great roasted shrimp and polenta meal makes for a special night of al fresco dining, and a shrimp po’boy is quite a special picnic.

Al fresco should, in my mind, be nicely elevated to include dishes, flatware and glasses.  Not that you’re setting the table for four courses, but just that you use tableware that is non-disposable.  Just plate up your meal inside if that works best (no platters or side bowls to wash later) and carry out your yummy repast with your favorite beverage.  If you feel more inclined, and there are more than just a couple of people, platter up and take everything out.  You’ll have more to do in cleanup, but it’s nice to have your food on the table when you have guests.   And, don’t forget the candles.

my aunt, erin (my cousin) & my uncle

Picnics seem to often involve the proverbial picnic table or blanket, or both.  Finding the best table under the trees, or the comfiest looking spot in the grass becomes a hunt in earnest.  Goodies, hand-held and otherwise, are tucked away in backpacks, wicker baskets and plastic coolers.  Break out the cold bevs/brews and then begin the job of setup.  Hopefully, if you’re organized, it won’t become theatrical.  And, disposable is a good thing here.  The less you have to carry back - after eating, playing ball, drinking, flying a kite (some people still do this), eating some more and then sitting around talking and laughing - is just a gift to yourself.  And, don’t forget the ‘organic/natural’ bug spray.

picnic in beaune, france

So think about an easy meal to prepare, and get creative with your al fresco set up or your picnic accompaniments.  A vintage or retro tablecloth will make your salads look magazine worthy - and a great chutney will just make that hotdog sing!

Bon Appetit! and my best to all, Janet.