rosemary gin fizz

we just had our 4th annual friendsgiving. it was sensational + exceptionally delicious.

we each prepare 2 or 3 dishes with the challenge of trying to top last years. amongst the white truffle oil smashed red potatoes, pancetta sautéed brussel sprouts with maple glaze, roasted beet salad and sage + garlic stuffed turkey, we made a signature cocktail for the evening; rosemary infused gin fizz.



the recipe was a combination of a few that sounded easy and sweet, but after reading this recipe, i based mine off of that.



rosemary gin fizz

2 C. rosemary infused simple syrup (1 c. sugar + 1c. water + handful rosemary sprigs, brought to boil until sugar dissolves. remove sprigs)

2 1/4 C. gin

2/3 C. freshly squeezed lemon juice

2 C. club soda

1 bottle Prosecco 

mix in large pitcher or punch bowl and add fresh sprigs of rosemary to each glass. (we added a splash of prosecco to our finished cocktails to add a bit more *sparkling* )

i have some sweet and flavorful cardamom + clover simple syrup from williams sonoma and am curious to try that with the gin + prosecco too. i'll keep you posted once i try it. perhaps this weekend : )

birthday wishes

                            

i just celebrated my 31st birthday with great friends and delicious food. i never have really felt myself getting older or feared being in my 30's , however, i just went for a 4 1/2 mile run yesterday and my body afterwards was screaming at me to stretch. it never did that when i was 25. 

i'm back!

well, needless to say i'm seriously slacking and totally fell behind on this sweet, little blog. lots of things to update you on; our perfect little prince Cai, the house slowly coming along, current cravings, recent delicious recipes and couches we're pining for...

coming right up!

here is the main reason for my delay...

design update: dining room

our dining room is probably my favorite room in the house so far. maybe it's because it's the only one nearest completion.

i think it reflects our style really well. it has amazing natural light spilling in all day long. there is the amazing original character and modern light fixture that work together so well. and perhaps my favorite bargain/design/piece is our barn door conversion farm table. 

but this room has gone through quite the transition and is still in progress...

here are a few before pictures...

stuart deserves an award for his patience on this room. it was originally a dar maroon color and took over 6 coats of paint. 6 coats!

i love love love this cabinet. we took the curtain out and just have a few glassware pieces in there, but ideally it will just display wine + liquor. 

before we did the barn door table, we had our old, solid teak table, which was our awesome focal piece in our apartments but now looks so tiny in our new house

and here in the (almost) final product

close up of the really beautiful barn door table

and these really perfect + modern hairpin legs i found on etsy. 

for now, this room is just about done. i still have visions of doing the dipped chairs and having a bench along one side of the table. i would also LOVE upholstered french provincial chairs for the heads of the table. and i'm always on the hunt for a gorgeous hutch or cabinet to make a bar station along the back wall. 

holy hiatus!

so sorry for the lack of updates. there's been so much happening here in suburbia and feverishly trying to get the house ready for spring time visitors and the baby (due any day now!)

first up: dinning room update. stay tuned!