Mojito Mojito Mojito

Summer = hot = need for refreshing drink. There's soda, water, and fruit juice, but sometimes you just need something exotic and different. Mojito is the answer! I tried this drink, while attending an engagement dinner party at an LA restaurant called Ciudad and got hooked on it. Considering that it's got rum in it, though, I decided to search the web for a virgin mojito recipe. So far, these three came up and because they might not be around after a while, I've pasted them below. I haven't tried them, but I surely will:

1) The Recipe from Splenda's website:
http://www.splenda.co.uk/recipes/virgin_mojita.html

Virgin Mojito

This tangy non-alcoholic lime and mint drink is really refreshing on a hot day.

Serves: 2

Preparation time: 5 minutes

Ingredients:
2 limes, juiced
4 tsp SPLENDA® Granulated
8 mint leaves, torn
1 tray or bag of ice cubes
300ml (½pt) soda water

Method:
1 Mix together the lime juice, SPLENDA® Granulated and mint leaves, stirring well.
2 Drop the ice cubes into 2 glasses, pour over the lime mixture and top up with tonic or soda water.
3 Serve immediately with a sprig of mint to decorate.

2) The Recipe from Boston.com's website:
http://www.boston.com/dining/recipes/v/virgin_mojito.html

Serves 1. This is a nonalcoholic version of the Cuban classic. It's a great way to use up the jungle of fresh mint that takes over your garden.

1/2 cup fresh mint leaves
2 to 3 teaspoons sugar
8 ounces club soda
Ice (for serving)

1. In a 2-cup glass measuring cup, combine the mint leaves, sugar, and a splash of the club soda. Crush them with a spoon or a muddler (a rod with a flattened end), mashing them to release the minty flavor.

2. Add the remaining club soda.

3. Fill a glass with ice cubes, strain in the mint mixture, and add enough of the remaining soda water to fill the glass. Serve at once.

3) The Recipe from Food and Wine's website:
http://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/virgin-mojito

Serves one

Ingredients

* 15 mint leaves
* 1 teaspoon raw sugar
* 1 ounce fresh lime juice
* 1/2 ounce Simple Syrup
* Ice
* 4 ounces chilled ginger ale


Directions

1. In a cocktail shaker, muddle the mint, sugar, lime juice and Simple Syrup. Add ice, shake well and pour into a highball glass. Top with the ginger ale.

Place your wedding bets?

Place your bets here. No, I'm not talking about horse racing or boxing matches, but marriages to be exact. At Weddingbetting.com, you can decide on how long a couple's marriage is expected to last. While making your wedding announcement online, be careful because your picture may end up as part of a wager. Some make take this website as an offensive play, but if you take things all in good humor, then maybe it's not so bad.

A Beauty Tip for Every Bride and non-Bride

For the past 6 months, I’ve been battling acne. Acne happens in your 30s? Yes, it does. I guess it’s payback time for all those years in high school and college when acne wasn’t a problem. Whether it’s a hormonal or stress thing, I’ve decided to win the war on acne by using two products. They’ve worked for me like a miracle and I hope they work for you as well:



“Neutrogena Transparent Facial Bar, Dry Skin Formula Soap”. This soap worked miracles for me. Costs about $2 bucks at your local drugstore. I’d try the travel size first to test it on your skin. Be sure to test test on your skin first. Try it on your wrist or ankle for any reactions. There is also a regular formula available if you're not prone to dry skin.



The second product that I’ve used in conjunction with the soap is the “Neutrogena Clear Pore Oil-Controlling Astringent, Salicylic Acid Acne Medication.” Costs about $4-5 bucks. It may come across a little strong so be sure to test this oil astringent on your wrist or ankle first. Use only a small amount because it is a little on the strong side because of the salicylic acid content of 2%. After washing your face with the soap, get a cotton ball and wipe some on your face, but avoid your eye area, since the solution is strong. It has a smell like alcohol, but you get used to it.

I’m not a beauty queen and don’t ever think I’ll be one, but there is always beauty inside everyone one of us – no matter what size, shape, or race. Ultimately, we all want to be one, though on our wedding day!

Food Network TV Wedding Show

Seems like this summer... I just can't get enough of wedding shows. The latest one from the Food Network called "Food Network Caters Your Vegas Wedding" is an all out fun to watch program. Coupled with the fact that there is a wedding cake contest (a definite must-see), superb online videos covering everything from planning a shower to selecting favors, and menu ideas, it's definitely one of the more practical shows out there. The nice thing about this program is the site makes it possible for couples to apply.

HGTV At-home weddings

Admittedly, I'm not crafty. Never was and I don't think I'll be crowned at Michael's anytime soon. Nevertheless, there's always room for inspiration especially when planning your wedding. And if you're planning a wedding at home, which is not uncommon, HGTV has a great program on at planning at-home weddings on their Wedding Design on a Dime show. Be sure to checkout their friendly checklist featuring key questions to explore when starting the planning process. There are also some really nice photos of real weddings from a charming lakeside location to a beautiful backyard reception. If you have the luxury of time, their online videos of DIY projects are pretty easy to follow. I especially like the one on making wedding bouquets. Ironically, I also learned that a wedding at home can sometimes cost much more than a wedding set in a location, so one must plan carefully.

A Wedding Trousseau for Modern Times

During the Victorian Times, a woman of society that was preparing to get married would often have a bridal trousseau assembled before her wedding day. It would contain an array of bridal accessories made with fancy lace and embroidery, jewelry, and elegant embroidered linens for the home to name a few items. While not everyone can afford to hire a professional seamstress adept in the fine art of embroidery and lace, it is still a wonderful experience to put together a bridal trousseau - even in modern times. For example, a set of monogrammed towels, hankies, table napkins, and a beautifully embroidered shawl or bag can make up a wonderful trousseau, which are also items that can be given as bridal shower gifts.

Pocket Watches - Revived

There is a sense of classic coolness that comes with owning a pocket watch - be it in sterling silver, gold, or platinum (i.e., 95% platinum). While not as popular and certainly not as trendy as a wrist watch, pocket watches are the perfect gifts for that bestman with an affinity for anything vintage. It is also ideal for the man in your life who may seem to have it all. And of course, don't forget, Dad - it's a great Father's Day gift, too!

Platinum on the cheap - the new platinum?

That platinum engagement or wedding ring may not be all what it's cut out to be. It appears that a new platinum alloy called 585 platinum has caused quite a stir in the jewelry industry. You could call it a battle of pure vs. chemically engineered alloy as jewelry makers and sellers alike are mixed as to what can now be branded and labeled as being platinum. Considering that 585 platinum jewelry consists of 58.5% platinum and traditional platinum is said to have 95% platinum metal, I guess you just have to start approaching the same way as gold as in 24K, 18K, 14K, or 12K. In the end, it is really an oxymoronic label (i.e., 585 platinum). How about mass luxury? Do you see the semblance? What do you think?

Get your wedding stamps

Nowadays it seems like email has replaced the age old tradition of letter writing through snail mail. While the convenience of email is certainly invaluable, you have to appreciate a lovely hand written every once in a while. Whether it's on a beautiful greeting card, monogrammed stationery, or on a homemade cut-out card, a letter written without the help of a word processor always lends itself to realizing thoughts and words more sincerely and deeply. For this, a couple of real nice stamps have come out from US Postal called "wedding stamps." Elegant and simple - these nice stamps would make any philatelist bride and groom happy! At $0.39 each, what a fab find.

Bridezillas

I wish we had access to the WE channel. They have an ongoing program called Bridezillas featuring an account of a real-life brides and their quest to have the perfect wedding. It's always fun from an outsider's perspective to see how brides cope with the challenges of making their special day truly unforgettable. Makes you just want to head out to Vegas and say "I do."

Can u say Tiramisu - Wedding Cake?

Everybody has different tastes and preferences when it comes to wedding cakes, but what do you do if the groom wants chocolate and the bride wants vanilla? If you're like me, you probably want to have both chocolate and vanilla on the cake, right? But what if you just cannot decide? The answer: a tiramisu cake. You can get the richness of chocolate and creaminess of vanilla. Check out this unique tiramisu wedding cake recipe from epicurious.com. It looks so yummy! I want one!

Crowing Glory - Wedding Tiaras

While not everyone has ties to the royalty, the next best thing to "feeling" like one is on your wedding day. More specificially, I'm taking about having a diamond encrusted tiara and being the envy of all your bridesmaids. If money were no object (i.e., Daddy's footin' the bill), or you're a bride with a big pocketbook and of course, a rich fiance, then a visit to the Victoria and Albert Museum's tiara exhibition in the UK might be worth it. And for the rest of us, perhaps an online visit might provide some inspiration for finding a copycat or at least an "inspired" version.

Flip flops - the new craze?

Summer is here and everyone is going nuts over flip flops. Funny that they've been around since the 60s. But, of course, anything old has a strange way of making it back in a "new" way. Take these flips flops with pink rhinestones, or if you want your slippers personalized, then you may want to try them out! As for something plain, I recommend just going barefoot!

"Brides gone wild" - they say?

In the "Personal Journal" section of the Wall Street Journal, an article called Brides Gone Wild covering wedding photography seemed entirely mundane up until I started reading it in more detail. As it seems, some brides are now having their special day captured in a more risque style. I'm not talking full blown nudity, but to be photographed in a bustier and heels, hours before your wedding is a bit too much for me. When you're old and gray, I guess looking at how sexy one was on their wedding day is a form of twisted vanity.

My shoe shopping trip #1 - a review

A little bit of shoe shopping can just turn me nuts. While at Nordstrom's, I saw the funniest design for a shoe - a bridal shoe to be exact. For $89.95, you can get the following:

- 4 inch heel
- A Leather upper/synthetic lining/rubber sole.
- Braided leather straps
- Step-in style
- Comes in either black, silver, or white





But, if you are like me and prefer something simple and subtle, you would probably be happier with this satin sling back shoe for a little more money - about $94. It has:

- a satin finish
- A rhinestone strap
- about 2" heel

Do people still wear cufflinks?

Hmm. I'm not sure if these are very popular even for weddings nowadays, but I thought these were the cutest ones around - shaped like little bow ties.