Thirsty Thursday: Reader Dana's Birthday

It's Thirsty Thursday on Reader Dana's Birthday so you know what that means...I feature her favorite drink!

Let's just say Reader Dana has a lot of favorite drinks. In fact, if I was drafting someone to be my drinking partner in a female pairs drinking competition, my #1 pick would be Dana. 

I asked Dana for her favorite drink of the moment and she said, "spicy jalapeño anything drinks."

Well, here you go. In honor of Dana's birthday - a Spicy Jalapeño Maragrita from Costal Living Magazine!

 Spicy Jalapeño Margarita

1 ½ oz Tanteo Jalepeño Tequila
½ oz Triple Sec
½ oz Simple Syrup
½ oz Lime Juice

1. Combine ingredients with ice into a shaker and shake.
2. Strain onto a rocks glass filled with fresh ice.
3. Garnish with Jalapeño Slice with Lime Spiked and Mint Top

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Five Shots for Friday

(source)

• First there was Birchbox, then there were 5,000 other kinds of box subscription sites.  But this one caught my eye – The Period Store. A special box filled with chocolate and meds right before your time of the month (via Small Girls

• What’s on my next birthday list? A “Whip” car from Kennywood for my living room…

•  If that sells out, a swan pedal boat. Wouldn’t that look fabulous sailing down the Mon?

• The latest internet photo meme: Koala-ing.

• A beer for Brady – who is a huge fan of The Pittsburgh Left. 

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Keeping it Cool

While enjoying lunch outside today, I received a text from the hubs that said "It's summer." If you call high 70's and a slight tan line from sitting outside for 30 minutes summer...well then, today it's summer in Pittsburgh!

As the temps rise, I’m really into a number of the beverage transportation items to keep drinks cold. These cooler totes are super cute and I think I may just snag one of these to keep my bottles looking cool and staying cool this summer.

·         Lilly Pulitzer Insulated Beach Cooler – this pretty pouch comes with a bottle opener! Heck yes!

·         Volcom – I know I don’t own a skateboard or BMX bike, but I wouldn’t mind owning this.

·         Kate Spade Wine Picnic Tote – uh huh. Want. 

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Brandi Does Bourbon: Maker's Mark Cupcakes

By now you know about my wine club. But what you may not know is that while I’m wine-ing, Brady is drinking bourbon with the boys. While the details of the affairs of the bourbon club are under lock and key, I do know that the guys take turns hosting. Last weekend was Brady’s turn, so I made a little treat in honor of the Kentucky Derby and my dad’s birthday – Maker’s Mark Bourbon Cupcakes.

These things are GOOD. They taste almost muffin-like with a thicker consistency than the usual cake. If I make these again (maybe in the fall), I’m thinking of adding in raisins.

Oh and this recipe calls for molasses. That stuff is no joke! It’s way stickier than honey and it’s not tasty by itself.

I’m not typically a fan of a cream cheese frosting, but I did enjoy this version that includes cinnamon. For the full recipe, visit the Maker’s Mark website here. 

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Bringing Online Instagram Photos Offline

Do you Instagram? If so, what do you do with your Instagram photos? Keep them in your online gallery and never print them like the majority of Instagram users?

If you are looking for a way to take your online Instagram photos and bring them to life, here are some ways you can do just that.

·         Prinstagram: This site allows you to turn your pictures into prints, posters, calendars, stickers and tiny books.

·         Stickygram: Make your photos into magnets!

·         CanvasPop: Print your photos on a canvas

·         ImageSnap: One of the more creative ideas I’ve seen, ImageSnap prints on tiles. How cool would it be to insert your photo tiles onto an at-home bar?!

·         Posterfuse: Another site that can turn your pics into a poster. This could be a cool high school graduation gift…turning the grad’s pics into a poster for their college dorm room. Oh and it’s only $22.

I actually started to digital scrapbook and used a number of my Instagram photos on the first and last pages of the book to highlight some of our travels and meals throughout the year!  

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