Hasta Luego!

And we're off! John and I are leaving our laptops at home, shutting off our future phones and diving into the Gulf of Mexico, not to mention a few good books! I'll see you after the 4th of July fireworks, darlings!

Image by Inslee Haynes.

Magnificent

This pair of architectural beauties is stunning; Christian Louboutin hits it out of the park every time, don't you agree? And when you pair shoes like that with Jose Villa's lens, you elevate the shoe photo to pure art.

Photo by Jose Villa.

Wanderlust

After a wonderful weekend of performing and tasting (John and I gave a concert at a winery in Geyserville), the trip I've been dreaming about for months is finally here! We leave on Wednesday and if my endless packing lists are any indication, I need this vacation.

With our visit to Sonoma's gorgeous vineyards behind us and our beach vacation ahead, I started to wonder what you thought the very dreamiest holiday or honeymoon would be. Do you fantasize about museums, cafés and croissants in European capitals? Scuba diving and sunbathing in the tropics? Summer skiing in the Andes, or safaris and South African Shiraz?

Tell me, what's your very favorite vacation destination?

Photo by Erin Hearts Court.

Watermelon Frosty

Let's get right to it, shall we?


Watermelon Frosty
serves 2

4 oz of tequila
2 1/4 cups watermelon cubes
3/4 oz of freshly squeezed lime juice
1/2 oz of agave nectar
1/2 banana
ice

Combine ingredients in a blender; blend until desired consistency is achieved. Pour into highball glasses and garnish with a watermelon wedge.
Notes: I've modified this recipe a bit from Happy. Healthy. Life's original; I just don't love maple syrup in my cocktails, and I think lime suits the watermelon and tequila better than lemon.

This frosty treat is as delicious "virgin" as it is with the addition of tequila, and you can drink far more of them that way! Simply substitute the alcohol for a little water, to help achieve the right consistency. Cheers, darlings!


Recipe inspired by Happy. Healthy. Life.

Perfect Papers

Kathleen's blog, Twig and Thistle, is totally irresistible; it's no surprise then, that the invitations she crafted for her youngest sister's bridal shower were absolutely gorgeous! Since it would be a lingerie shower with just her closest friends and plenty of sweets, Kathleen chose shades of pink, gold and white. The darling little envelope on the front of the invitation held an accordion card with all the party details-isn't it charming?

What kind of shower celebration is your favorite? I'm always amazed by how many different kinds of showers people throw for brides-to-be!

Abigail and James

When I was hunting for a perfect wedding for a week of watermelon shades, I knew this adorable Colorado celebration photographed by Leah McCormick was the only one that would do!

The couple got engaged just days before moving from the Big Apple to Colorado, and decided to share their new home with their friends and family when they tied the knot at the Keystone Resort. A western theme lent an air of whimsy to the proceedings, with wagon rides, cowboy cookouts and high altitude care packages, since the wedding was being held at 12,000 feet. James, the groom, is a photographer and created the couple's adorable video invitation; it ranks high on my list of "cutest things ever". The couple designed the flags, guestbook, invitations, menus and tablecloths, too!

Wearing a Vera Wang gown, Badgley Mischka sandals and a sash she made herself, Abigail rode up the ski resort's gondola to meet her groom, wearing a Michael Kors suit and Allen Edmonds shoes, for their first look. Bridesmaids were given a color and asked to buy or make a dress to match, and the ladies carried lush bouquets featuring those dreamy shades designed by Thorn Creek Flowers.

The couple was married by James' best friend's father in a personal and intimate service. Their playful and colorful reception followed, and guests were charmed by all the adorable details Abigail and James had created. A cake by Ned Archibald was the reception's stunning centerpiece, topped only by the newlywed's joyful exit down the mountain's gondola!

Photographs by Leah McCormick, Spotted on Style Me Pretty.

Delicious

There's something irresistible about a matched pair of shoes and socks, don't you agree? I think these sparkling Louboutin peep toes and watermelon-colored socks are simply divine, but I'm itching to run barefoot in that grass, too!

Photo by Jose Villa.

Sail Away

With our little vacation just over a week away, I have to sit on my hands to avoid obsessively Googling "Hotel Secreto", where we'll be celebrating a very special anniversary! Pretty dreamy, right? What have you been up to this weekend?

In honor of all the fantasizing I've been doing about tropical vacations, a lush shade of watermelon will be all over La Petite Coquin this week; get ready for some seriously delicious inspiration, including a watermelon cocktail I'm already dreaming about!

Photo by Jose Villa.

The Cocktail Bar, Part IV

Photo by Tom Blachford.

In the final installment of our cocktail series, we'll talk about arguably the most fun bottles of all: the non-essentials for your favorite cocktails!

Let's start with the crèmes: cassis, menthe, cacao, framboise, pêche, violette and plenty others. If you adore your Kir Royales (and really, who doesn't?), make sure to pick up a bottle of crème de cassis. If you love the Aviation cocktail, you'll want a bottle of violette. And if grasshoppers sound delicious on a Friday night, don't forget the crème de menthe!

Luxardo is a classic cocktail ingredient; a maraschino liquor, it adds a cherry-almond flavor and a dash of cocktail pedigree. Be sure to pick up the bottle wrapped in straw-it's the best tasting, and looks terrific on your shelf! Similarly, kirsch, a cherry brandy, can be a good addition to your cocktail cabinet.

Chartreuse, both green and yellow, is a French liquor made by Carthusian monks in the Grande Chartreuse monastery; 130 herbal extracts combine to make something truly delicious, and impossible to describe. While there are inexpensive versions of this cocktail gem, Chartreuse VEP is worth the high price tag. And you can take comfort in the fact that you'll probably never need to replace the bottle.

Poire Williams, or pear brandy, makes the list for the wonderful autumnal cocktails you can whip up. Even just a dash of champagne and a bit of pear puree makes for a sensational cocktail, if you like all things pear.

Canton, a ginger liquor, and St. Germain, an elderflower spirit, are both popular. I will confess to never having tried either, but if you love your elderflower cocktails or bucks, pick up a bottle of these singular spirits!

So which ones do you chose? Start by taking stock of your favorite drinks; what ingredients do they feature that you don't already have? This is just a small list of a few of my picks to really round out your bar, but remember to pick up the things you like to sip on best! The truth is that even the essentials aren't bottles you simply must have; if you hate tequila, don't bother buying it! You won't miss what you don't drink, and your guests will understand that this is your home, not a full-service cocktail bar.

Cheers, darling!

Pearls

There's something about a pearl choker and a birdcage veil that I find completely irresistible. Are you a sucker for the classics, or do you go wild for nontraditional accessories paired with bridal gowns?

Gorgeous image by Paper and Lace.

Jung and Chris

There's something truly magical about seeing a wedding or reception in a place you know well, and this San Francisco City Hall celebration pulled at my heart strings in a way few other wedding ever could.

Jung and Chris had been friends for years, but once they started dating, they very quickly decided to spend their lives together-their first date was just one year before this beautiful wedding! Invitations from Wedding Paper Divas invited guests to the 4th floor of San Francisco City Hall on a Monday morning in April; they had just three months to plan their celebration, and as a result, the bride says she was able to focus on only what was most important.

Jung wore a tea length dress by Melissa Sweet and a pair of Vivienne Westwood peep toe pumps, topped off with a birdcage veil that she made herself; she carried a bouquet of lavender roses that she arranged. Chris wore a classic J.Crew suit and a pair of Allen Edmonds Fairfax lace ups.

After their City Hall ceremony, the newlyweds and their guests headed just a few blocks to Absinthe for a private luncheon. A vanilla cake topped with raspberries by The Cake Maker was a sweet end to a beautiful day shared with their families and closest friends.

Beautiful photos by Jessamyn Harris, first spotted on Ruffled.