Happy Hour

"Take life with a pinch of salt, a shot of tequila and a wedge of lime, do nothing at all, but take your time." - John Walter Bratton

As you all know, wine is one of my favorite things to drink. But, when I'm not drinking a nice glass of wine, I'll occasionally indulge in Casamigos Tequila. I'm a huge fan of the Blanco Tequila - which is the typically known as Silver. For me, it's much more smooth and very enjoyable.

Today, I'm sharing a cocktail that I have been making for years. It is super easy to make and so delicious.

What you'll need:

• Your favorite Tequila, mine is Casamigo's
• Simply Limeade
• Prosecco or Champagne
• Lime
• Salt (optional)

Step 1: Pop open that champagne or prosecco! I prefer a more dry champs with this cocktail. Pour 1/3 of the bubbly into the flute.

Step 2: Pour 1/3 of fresh squeezed lime juice or limeade into your glass! I use the Simply Limeade, it is so delicious, also it's much faster than squeezing limes!

Step 3: Finish off the glass with a shot of tequila into your cocktail!

Step 4: Enjoy!

I hope you love this wonderful summer cocktail!

XO, Analise

What's Cookin'?

“Food is symbolic of love when words are inadequate.” - Alan D. Wolfelt

Cooking can be hard, but it doesn't have to be! I got my love for cooking from my Mom. My Mama is an amazing cook, and everything I learned in the kitchen she taught me. She has made our family the most amazing meals for years, and still continues today.

When I lived on my own for over three years, I rarely cooked, there was simply no need. Yet, once G proposed my Mom started teaching me some of our secret family recipes, and made sure I knew the fundamentals of cooking. Now, I really enjoy cooking and making simple, and delicious meals at home.

Today, I am sharing some of the wisdom my Mom taught me, a few lessons I personally learned along the way, as well as some of my favorite kitchen items.

• Prepare ahead of time. This is a huge one! I go to the grocery store at least once a week. When I head to the store, I make a list ahead of time to make sure I stay on track and on budget. This helps me with meal prepping and ensuring we are covered for the week. I find that when I'm prepared ahead of time, we eat out less and our meals are much more healthy. Also, G and I have Meal Prep Sundays, we outline what meals will be made for the week. G loves helping me out, and we learn new dishes together!
• Keep your kitchen clean and organized. Knowing what is in your kitchen is essential to the meal prep process. Keeping your utensils, pots, and pans clean as well as in good condition will help in the preparation of a dish.
• Read recipes in advance. Practice makes perfect, and I got quite a few recipe books to learn how to create amazing meals at home. I review recipes ahead of time to ensure I have the proper ingredients as well as right utensils. I'm a big advocate of not wasting time, and this preparation tip helps me the most when making dishes for the first time.
• Use quality and fresh ingredients. Now that I'm approaching 30, it is super important that I use quality ingredients. Fresh fruits and veggies really elevate the dish! Also, a lot of the proteins I purchase are organic and farm raised. G and I no longer purchase items that have a lot of hormones in them. We see a significant improvement in our health, and feel so much better!
• Have the proper kitchen tools. It is important to have the right knives, pans, and several other kitchen utensils to make your meal. This will ensure your meals will turn out absolutely amazing. Kitchen items can get super pricey, so we are always on the hunt for good deals.
• Be flexible and have fun. Cooking is something I really enjoy, and even though it can be a daunting task, it's so much fun. Practice makes perfect, and it certainly takes time to learn how to make a great dish! We have gone to several cooking classes, and learned new techniques. Also, it's great to test out our new recipes on our families, it brings us so much joy to share our food with others.

Happy cooking y'all!

XO, Analise

Full Bloom

"A flower cannot blossom without sunshine, and man cannot live without love." - Max Muller

Flowers are one of many things that make me happy! I love keeping a fresh bouquet of flowers in our home - they totally brighten up any space. Also, in the beginning of spring G & I love having potted plants on our front porch. 

Today, I am sharing some of my tips for caring for a few of my favorite blooms.

A gorgeous bouquet of red roses.

Roses

I absolutely adore roses, and mine typically last almost two weeks in a vase! Below, are my tips for long lasting roses.

• Change your water often. like to put new water in every 2-3 days, this eliminates any bacteria in the water. Also, adding bleach into your water aids in removing any bacteria!
• Use the flower food provided with the roses. This is important as the roses need proper food to bloom. If your flowers don't come with food, dissolve 3 tablespoons sugar and 2 tablespoons white vinegar. 
• Properly cut your stems. Cutting your stems allow the roses to drink the water and food easily.
• Ice, ice, baby. Putting a few ice cubes in your vase once the roses are cut, help the roses bloom very nicely. My grandmother taught me this trick, and it works like a charm!
• Remove the extra foliage. Getting rid of the extra leaves before placing the roses into the water in essential. Removing them prevents rotting and elimintaes extra bacteria getting into the water.

Potted hibiscus in full bloom.

Hibiscus

G & I go all out in setting up our patio for Spring. When the weather stays consistently warm, we go to Home Depot, and pick out our flowers for the season. This is our second year having hibiscus plants, and they are the best! Below, are my tips for keeping your hibiscus blooming all summer long.

• Water, water, and more water. When these beauties are blooming, they need a lot of water! Also, the hotter it gets, the more water they'll need. These plants drink up a lot of water, so always check the soil, and if it's dry to the touch, you'll need to pour up.
• Choose the right pot and potting soil. Selecting the proper soil is essential to getting these flowers blooming. Also, ensure that the pot you choose has one or more holes at the bottom - this helps for your plant to properly drain. Keep in mind, the bigger the pot, the more soil you'll need. 
• Soak up the sun. It is super important to have your plants in a spot where they are facing the sun. This will help these gorgeous flowers bloom quickly!
• Pruning. Make sure you prune your plants regularly. It's very normal, and also exciting when your plants to get larger. It is important to prune them to ensure that they have the right amount of space to grow.

Happy gardening!

XO, Analise

Date Night Look Details

"I enjoy getting gussied up for an event or date night." - Olivia Wilde

I love picking out the perfect look for date night! G and I take this special time very seriously, and really make it a high priority to spend quality time together. We will spend time at home, and cook a meal together, but some of our favorite moments are going out and doing something super fun! One of the greatest advice we received during our engagement was, "Never stop dating each other." So, with those words of wisdom, we plan a few date nights each week, and make it an effort to consistently communicate.

Today, I am sharing my date night look details, and some of my favorite items to wear.

The Dress

I'm a sucker for a little black dress (LBD). I think it's the absolute perfect item for a woman to wear. Also, I like to dress it up with bold accessories!

The Fragrance

As you guys know, I love perfume! Picking out my date night scent is so much fun. I will wear certain fragrances on special events, and switch it up sometimes.

The Accessories

For date night, I typically go with a smaller bag - just enough to hold my phone, lip gloss, and card case. Also, the shoes are key, and heels are my go-to for a nice dinner out. I love dressing up my look with hoop earrings and a dainty bracelet or necklace - these pieces really pull the outfit together.

The Look

I am a minimalist when it comes to makeup and hardly ever wear it. Yet, I do love a great lip color and it's a perfect compliment to this look. Also, I love find a bold nail color, and typically gravitate towards reds or soft pinks for a little pop!

What are some ways you dress up your date night look?

Enjoy!

XO, Analise