Rosemary Satsuma Holiday Martini

Although we just got home from New Orleans- the land of famous cocktails- yesterday, we are serving up a drink that we were introduced to at a holiday "cocktail exchange" party a few weeks ago. This martini-style cocktail is simple and festive without being overly sweet. Super-juicy fresh satsuma oranges and sprigs of rosemary make this drink smell as pretty as it looks, an easy crowd pleaser at your holiday party this season. Enjoy!

Ingredients (makes one)

Juice from 1 satsuma orange

1 tsp honey

3 oz. citrus flavored vodka

Squeeze of lemon

Rosemary sprig

To Make:

In a shaker, combine honey, orange, vodka, and lemon juice 'til honey is dissolved. Add ice and rosemary sprig, shake to chill thoroughly. Pour into chilled glass, serve with a rosemary garnish.

Be merry & bright!

Hailey

The Process of Living: A Teeny Tiny Art Inspired Apartment

We've all heard of the "tiny house movement" (basically any house smaller than 400 square feet), but tiny apartments have been around as long as cities. At first glance, I never would have believed that this color, texture, and artwork-packed apartment was the size of most master bedrooms. At just 250 square feet, it feels clean, chic, and cozy. A few large paintings, an entire wall of books, and a giant handpainted fan seem like they would be design "no-no's" as they take up almost all of the wall space but instead of competing for focal points, their scale compliments each other and the small space they share.

I absolutely love the stacks of art books on every surface, even the floor- another "no-no" that is becoming a chic trend. By keeping all of the walls, furniture, and shelving in the room white, the colors, patterns, and textures in the decor can shine. What I love most about tiny spaces is that you have to be extremely deliberate about each design choice- if it doesn't quite fit or work in the space, out it goes. Our 2-bedroom house is considered "small" (less than 1,000 square feet) but I could easily see us downsizing a bit, though with a husband, three pets, and a small studio space, I don't foresee a clean, white, feminine downtown studio happening in the future so I'll just drool over this one. 

This tour originally appeared on Domino.com

Netflix... and Chili Jalapeno Margaritas

Aside from a whole month of Christmas music, one of the best parts about December is getting to binge watch all of our favorite holiday movies. Growing up, A Christmas Story and National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation were an annual tradition in my household, but over the years, my list of faves has expanded to include Home Alone, The Grinch, Elf, You've Got Mail, Just Friends, and a few others. The best part is that most of these movies are just a click of a remote away, so plan a night to order delivery, mix up a few of these tasty chili jalapeno margaritas, and just chill, this season! 

Ingredients (makes one)

2 oz. tequila

1 oz. citrus liqueur (citronage, triple sec)

Juice from: 1 lime, 1/2 orange, 1/2 a lemon

Dash of cayenne pepper, plus more for rim

1 tbsp coarse salt

Optional: fresh jalapeno slices (seeded) and serrano chili (whole) to garnish

To Make:

In a shaker, combine tequila, citrus liqueur, juice, dash of cayenne with ice. Mix a pinch of cayenne pepper into salt for rim. Rim glasses with lime juice and salt. Add liquid, then jalapeno slices, fill with ice, garnish with whole serrano chili. 

Be Merry & Bright!

Hailey