Mom knows best

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If you don’t know Mother’s Day is this weekend (Sunday), I can only assume you’ve been living under a rock, tucked far away from modern civilization for the past few weeks.  Everything I see in stores, on TV and online is promoting Mother’s Day (as it should, it’s a well-deserved holiday).  So, to jump on the Mother’s Day media band wagon, I figured I would share the most memorable pearls of wisdom I received from my mom over the years.

1.  Don’t talk on the phone or take a shower during a thunderstorm.

2.  One day you’ll find your very own prince charming.

3.  If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.

4.  Pick your battles.

5.  Money cannot buy happiness.

6.  Be nice to your sister, after your dad and I are gone, you’ll need each other.

7.  This too shall pass.

8.  The world is your oyster, you can be anything you want to be if you put your mind to it.

9.  Don’t buy it unless it’s on sale.

10.  Don’t put stinky food garbage in the kitchen garbage can, you’ll stink up the house, take it outside.

What are some of the best words of wisdom you’ve received from your mom?  Or, what do you tell your kids over and over again?

Finally, here’s a fantastic recipe from Bon Appétit  for Green Apple Sangria, perfect for brunch with mom this weekend.

GreenAppleSangria
Green Apple Sangria

Ingredients //
2 green apples, cored, cut into 3/4-inch pieces
Zest of 1 orange, removed in long strips with a vegetable peeler
3/4 cup fresh orange juice
2 cinnamon sticks
3/4 cup brandy
1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
1/3 cup sugar
1/4 cup Cointreau or other orange liqueur
1 750-ml bottle Spanish red wine
1 cup club soda
Orange slices

Directions //
Stir apples, orange zest and juice, cinnamon, brandy, lemon juice, sugar and Cointreau in a large pitcher to combine.  Let sit at room temperature for 1 hour.  Do Ahead: Sangria base can be made 1 day in advance.  Cover; chill.

Add wine to sangria base and stir to combine.  Pour sangria over ice, top off with club soda and garnish with orange slices.

Cheers to all you moms out there – especially my dear friend and favorite first-time momma, Jennie W!

 

It’s Friday…come on get happy (hour)

I’ll let you in on a little secret.  My husband and I have a Friday night happy hour ritual.  Not out at a trendy gastropub with lots of friends…but at a small bar in our basement (aka the “man cave”)!  It works for us.  The company is good and the drinks are cheap(er)!

I love happy hour about as much as I love Fridays.  It’s such a great, celebratory way to kick off the weekend.  The only problem is, I would never get home from work in time to participate.  That’s why about a year ago I decided to forego the mad dash to get to the bar on Friday before 7pm and start hosting happy hour at home.

Here are a few simple menu suggestions to create an at home happy hour that beats the bar!  P.S. The recipes are quick and easy too, because we all know that last thing you want to do after a grueling commute in rush hour traffic is slave away in the kitchen for an hour or two!

The Drinks:
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(Photos and recipes from Martha Stewart)

Find these easy recipes here:
Beer // Lemon Shandy
Whiskey // Whiskey Lemonade
Vodka // Blackberry Crush
Rum // Pineapple-Rum Cocktail
Apéritif // Campari and Orange

The Food:
BarFoodCollage
(Photos and recipes from Martha Stewart)

Find these easy recipes here:
All-American Buffalo Chicken Tenders
Artichoke Dip
Avocado Bar
Spicy-Sweet Pretzel Mix

What’s on your happy hour menu?