I think I nailed it with this one! The perfect poolside/sun-is-shining beverage! The amounts listed below will make one mocktail, you could easily make 2 by doubling the recipe. I put all the ingredients in a cocktail shaker with a cup of ice and had a salted-rimmed glass ready to go! Another option is to pour cocktails over ice which is just as nice.
A form of therapy for me is early mornings on Casey Key shark tooth hunting. The surroundings may have a lot to do with it; from the aqua color of the gulf to the perfect little shells, and pelicans diving for a fresh catch, and of course the dolphins I find great solitude and peace in these moments. This paint palette comes from my most recent outing on the key. I plopped myself down on the sand and just looked around at all the natural tones surrounding me and thought how glorious is nature! I hope these colors inspire you!
I’m down for a delicious cocktail, but being pregnant means a mocktail! The sad truth was every time I’ve ordered a mocktail at a restaurant it has been beyond horrible. I thought this could not be that hard…so with help from my loving husband, we succeeded in making a delicious mocktail! It also didn’t hurt that we handpicked our grapefruit from a local grove here in Sarasota!
4 oz per glass of freshly squeezed grapefruit – store-bought no added sugar grapefruit juice will work as well.
1 Lime (cut into 1/4 wedges)
TBS simple syrup per glass
2 crushed cups of ice (1 cup per glass)
good salt (you could kick it up a notch by adding chipotle to the salt)
First, lime the edge of the glasses then coat the lime-juiced rim in salt, and squeeze what remains of those 2 wedges of lime into the glasses. Add a cup of crushed ice per glass. Pour Ritual Tequila and grapefruit juice over ice. Finally, add the simple syrup and one more wedge of fresh lime to each glass. Stir and enjoy!
Sarasota Living is a whole lot better with this restaurant in town! All I can say is Tumeric Fried Chicken Sandwich! Of course, there are other delicious eats on the menu including the sweet corn hummus, fried brussel sprouts, and house salad (the dressing is amazing). The vibe is super chill and there’s a cute area for kids to play!
So happy Bread Bandits are here in Sarasota! There’s nothing better than the perfect croissant, sourdough baguet, or delicious quiche! Hadley and Maisie give the chocolate chip cookies 2 thumbs up!
So if you’re in town or on one of the keys make it a point to stop!
We returned from Summer Vacation with a little souvenir! Let us call it a BIG surprise…shocking! Four Palms is getting a 5th palm, baby boy is arriving in Spring 2024. I’m not going to lie when I say Tom and I were happy and content with our two girls and had no plans of adding to our family, but the Universe had other plans. After 2 months of horrible morning sickness and anxiety, I have faith that everything will be OK.
With the new addition comes new challenges with our current space. Moving is non-negotiable as we love our neighborhood. Adding space is the only logical way forward. Tom works from home so a dedicated office is a must, along with a 4th bedroom. we’re in the very beginning phases of this new design adventure and I can’t wait to bring you along with us!
Design Consulting is my absolute favorite! It can be as simple as taking a tired home to the next level via paint, flooring, and lighting all very simple projects one can tackle on your own or with a little help.
The new black and white marble floor is timeless and our paint selection is for a deep foresty green. I pushing for clients to paint walls and trim the same color! Let’s see if they go for it!
Progress!
BEFOREIN PROGRESSAFTERFOYER INSPOMY PICKS IS CHIMICHURRI
With our life-changing news of baby #3, we decided to stay home this Christmas just the 4 of us and enjoy a quiet time together. The house was cozy, and we ate a lot! I baked for weeks leading up to the big day mostly cookies (and I’m by no means a baker) total sugar cravings! The kids have enjoyed my slight sugar addiction, especially frozen cocoa!
We visited some of our favorite spots like Palma Coffee, Florence & the Spice Boys, and Wild Child (St. Pete) over break. Along with trying some new places like Tzeva located in Art Ovation and PigFish at Calusa Brewing their Fish Sandwich only served on Wednesday was out of this world paired with a side of malt vinegar and sea salt potatoes! If you follow me on Instagram you know my love for food and lots of stories of it!
So all in all though Christmas Vacation in Florida looked very different than our loud, crazy days back in NJ we made the best of this year and Facetime helps!
My mom always made candy cane cookies, can’t break tradition!
We have an odd room in our home that could act as a dining room, however with all the outdoor space we now have for dining we thought a lounge/playroom was more desirable for us at this stage. First, we had to add multifunctional storage. No more bins or baskets! Second, a concealed wine refrigerator, which let’s be honest houses more cases of IPAs than wine. So I designed this piece and let Tom in on picking the wood finish. I wanted to go a tad lighter, but we settled and I’m glad because it’s a different finish than seen lately in most homes! A beautiful honed leather-finished marble counter that I purchased sight unseen out of Tampa, but knew right away it was exactly what I wanted!
The beauty of this piece is that if the next owners want to make it a formal dining room this piece acts as the perfect sideboard with so much storage!
Still working on finishing touches, but so far so good!
We travel to Savannah every year for its beautiful architecture, delicious food, lovely strolls, and history. Hadley and Maisie would also add their annual trip to The Paris Market for a new Maileg Mouse. There’s something about Savannah that draws me, it could be my love for architecture and design or the fascinating stories from the past.
When debating on where to stay I highly recommend The Perry Lane Hotel. The staff, design, location, and restaurant all fit the bill not to mention the complimentary lobby champagne!
Where to eat: For a casual quick yet filling lunch I recommend Zunzi’s. I guarantee you’ve never had a sandwich like what they’re whipping up. For brunch or dinner Husk is a nice option. Located in the Historic District with a beautiful porch for dining and an elevated interior it’s worth it. Husk offers a unique take on southern favorites and we’ve never had a bad meal. Lastly, how can you not visit The Olde Pink House? The history and ghost stories alone are worth the stop. I recommend a nightcap at Planters Tavern located underneath The Olde Pink House, it’s moody, romantic, and sophisticated.
