Thirsty Thursday: The BeautyFrosting Sugared Peach Bellini

You saw it yesterday and you asked for the recipe…now you got it.
The perfect bottomless brunch beverage when a merry mimosa just seems mundane.

It will leave all of your brunch guests saying to you, “Well, now, aren’t YOU a peach!”

The BeautyFrosting Sugared Peach Bellini

The BeautyFrosting Sugared Peach Bellini 

2 oz Powell & Mahoney Bellini Cocktail Mixer ($7.99)

3 oz Chilled champagne or prosecco

1 sliced yellow peach

Mint sprigs, washed and dried

Pour the bellini mixer into the glass and top with champagne. Take peach slices and wet with water. Roll peaches in granulated sugar. Top bellini with a sliced, sugared peach on the rim of the glass and a mint sprig in the glass.

Bottomless bellinis, anyone?

xoxo,
BF

BF Asks: What’s your favorite brunch beverage? 

Easy Like Sunday Morning: Vanessa’s Ladies’ Long Beach Brunch


Easy like Sunday morning…in Long Beach

Upon graduating from college and announcing my move to Los Angeles, my mom had one piece of advice for me when it came to entertaining. “Entertain at home as often as you can. When we were young, we all did potluck dinners at each other’s houses and they’re some of my favorite memories to date.” I only wish I’d taken that to heart back then, when I was going into debt with bars and clubs and (ugh) parking in LA.

But better late than never, right? Lately, there’s been a huge surge in my social calendar of entertaining at home at friends’ houses – in backyards, at pool parties, porch parties and more. It’s truly a gift to me because when I’ve been asked what I like to do for fun, I always say that I forego the clubs and love doing dinners, happy hours and game nights at friends’ homes. It’s cheaper, warmer, cozier and just plain more fun.

This past Sunday, my former roomie (2002-2004), Vanessa hosted an impromptu ladies’ brunch at her beautiful mid-century home in Long Beach. Her husband was out of town and she just thought that a girls day was in order! And boy was it!

The best part? She taught me that a brunch doesn’t have to be extravagant or over-the-top to be a success.

Orange, Blue and White: Simple. Stylish. Sophisticated.

It can be simple, stylish and sophisticated with one focal dish and a few side dishes.

Brunch and Bellinis - a very happy partnership

I brought the Bellini fixins’, thanks to Powell and Mahoney Bellini Cocktail Mixer. (More on that recipe tomorrow)

Bellinis are the best!

Vanessa cooked a delicious egg casserole – and may I say that it was cooked perrrrfectly – and it was her first time making the recipe, to boot! As for the sides, she did like I do and combined homemade items with store or bakery bought items, which lends itself to ease and grace.

The pièce de résistance? CRONUTS. Yes, I ate 2. Don’t judge.

Cronuts. Enough said.

It was a day of laughter and libations, new friends and old friends and good old fashioned eating and entertaining in one of my best friend’s backyards.

More of that please, 2015.

Blissful brunch dress by Free People

Dawn Do? To keep your leftover champagne all bubbly, place a teaspoon in the bottle. In my experience, my champagne has stayed deliciously bubbly for between 2-5 days.Yes, really. It doesn’t matter the metal of the spoon, although I have had the best luck with silver or stainless shell. p.s. People say this is a myth, but all I know is it works.

Dawn Do? To keep champagne fresh, put a spoon in it!

xoxo,
BF

BF Asks: How do you brunch all “Easy Like Sunday Morning?”

Cocktail Corner: The Moët Sunset Starlet Golden Globes Cocktail

Toast the Golden Globes this Sunday with a #SunsetStarlet Moët Rosé Imperial cocktail created by the fashion-foodie – and our new fabulous & fun friend – Elettra Wiedemann of Impatient Foodie. Made from a blend of Lillet, dry Curacao, orange bitters and topped with Moët Rosé Imperial, the Sunset Starlet is a citrusy and spicy refreshing companion to the glamour of the Golden Globes!

The Sunset Starlet *Photo ℅ Elettra Wiedemann of Impatient Foodie

Moët Sunset Starlet

by Elettra Wiedemann

– Makes 1-

 

INGREDIENTS

• ¾ ounce Lillet

• ½ ounces Dry Curacao

• ¾ teaspoon honey

  • Note that this is only measurement in a teaspoon, not ounces!

• ¼ ounce lemon juice

• 2 dash orange bitters

• Spritz of fresh clementine + twist

• Moet Rose Imperial

Combine Lillet, Dry Curacao, honey, lemon juice and orange bitters in a cocktail shaker. Shake vigorously. Pour over ice into a white wine glass, and top with Moët & Chandon Rosé Impérial to taste (we like about 2:1 ratio, cocktail base: Moet Rose). Garnish with a fresh clementine peel or orange peel.

The Sunset Starlet and friend


Travel Essentials: LAX to DFW

What are my in-flight travel essentials?
Well, they change from flight to flight, depending on what my destination is.
Here’s what my tray table looked like yesterday on Virgin America en route to Dallas from Los Angeles.

My LAX-DFW Virgin America tray table

xoxo,

BF

BF Asks: What are your in-flight essentials? 

Treat Yourself Tuesday: Blissed Out at my Bliss Hollywood Spa Day

When Bliss Spa named itself, they knew EXACTLY what they were doing.

Blissing out at Bliss Hollywood

I had the enchanted pleasure of getting all blissed out last weekend at the Bliss Spa at the W Hollywood.

Bliss Hollywood

Thanks to the sweet folks at Bliss, I felt spoiled sweet, starting with the champagne upon my arrival and then by my therapist Michael. Michael gave me a full day of relaxation & detox with the Elermis Exotic Lime & Ginger salt glow ($130/60-minute treatment), a 105-minute Blissage massage ($225/105-minute massage), Phyto Hair Dew hair conditioning treatment ($40), Hot Paraffin Pack foot treatment ($20), Parafango detox back treatment ($45) and Jet Out aromatherapy ($20).

Let the relaxation commence! (Thanks, Michael, at Bliss Hollywood)

After my treatments, I sat in the sauna, took a steam shower, downed some water and then enjoyed another glass of champagne – and a few bites of their famous brownies – as I sat and read my book and wrote a bit in my journal. It was HEAVEN.

Brownies and bubbly? Well, don't mind if I do!

I can’t thank y’all enough. Best Labor Day weekend treat ever.

I left feeling blissed out…and that was exactly what I needed after a busy summer.

And I took home some blissfully delicious products to boot!

They just screamed, "Take me home!" Some blissfully delicious products at Bliss

*To schedule your “Blissed Out” day, schedule your appointments here! Scheduling online is just a breeze.
https://bliss.vipguestservice.com/default.aspx

xoxo,
BF

BF Asks: How do you “bliss out”?

I’M LOVING…Sand Cloud Beach Towels

I'M LOVING…Sand Could Beach Towels

People email and ask if they can send me stuff to try every day. Literally, every day. And if I accepted everything that people wanted to send, my house would look like a very “special” Neiman Marcus-sponsored episode of Hoarders. So I’m pretty picky about what I decide to receive.

So I ask myself, “Does it appeal to my aesthetic? Do I think my readers, listeners and followers would love it? Is it something I haven’t featured before?”

Well, this experience was a first. The fine folks at Sand Cloud wrote me in the middle of last week and told me they wanted to share their product. Cynical me was, well, a little cynical. The world’s most COMFORTABLE beach towel? That’s cute. We’ll see how this goes.

Well, um, being cynical never works for me and it certainly didn’t in this case. I fell utterly in love with Sand Cloud. I was sent an orange and a blue and realized that it couldn’t be more perfect timing! My friend, Lindsey, and I had received passes to Cinespia at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery for an all-night movie marathon slumber party. These would be perfect! Why so perfect? Because they feel like Turkish blankets, look like Morocco, have a flair of Los Feliz and have a removable pillow for total comfort. (No location for that last one – that’s just pure comfort)

They ended up inspiring our whole spread. I laid down the towels, used my Crate & Barrel picnic basket as a table, brought along some sunflowers to liven up the joint (get it? it’s a CEMETARY) and carved out a sunny, little piece of home to spend the next 10 hours.

Sand Cloud & BeautyFrosting - brightening that cemetery right up! Breathing some LIFE into it, if you will. Tee-hee.

Y’all, I am not exaggerating when I say that every single one of our neighbors asked who made these towels. People kept walking by and complimenting our spread. They said it was so romantic – to which I replied, “Thank you. I’ll try to replicate it when I’m on a date,” and then offered them some cheese. It turned a casual evening into a bit of an exotic affair, actually. And the cheese and wine didn’t hurt, either.

Sand Cloud (35″ x 60″) is a unique, high quality Turkish beach towel that is much lighter (and better looking) than their average, bulky terry cloth ancestor. It’s easy to stick in your purse or carry in one hand, incorporates a lightweight and comfortable PILLOW  (to avoid using a shirt or purse under your head) and doubles as a sarong, thank you very much. A good part? It’s machine washable – getting softer with each wash. And that’s true!! I already washed mine once. Best yet? I love that 10% of proceeds are donated to charity to preserve our ocean and beaches. 

Right now, Sand Cloud has launched a Kickstarter campaign so please head over to Sand Cloud and contribute to the campaign and get some towels for yourself. I have 2 already and I’m doing just that simply because these need to be in the world! p.s. That’s a first! I’ve never told people to contribute to a Kickstarter campaign before on the blog.

It speaks volumes that in the 4 days in which I’ve had these said beach towels, I have used them twice…and I HAVEN’T EVEN BEEN TO THE BEACH WITH THEM, YET!

Whether it be an all-night cemetery slumber party screening of The NeverEnding Story, Legend and Labyrinth (yes, we are nerds) …

At Cinespia with Linds - 2 cozy coquettes…in a cemetery

a day to soak up the sun in Malibu, a rooftop pool meeting (yep, they happen) or just sipping champagne in the front yard with friends (which is what I found myself doing yesterday afternoon),

Just a summer day with my believed Sand Cloud beach towels and some Moët.

I am finding these guys to be invaluable.

And, may I say, quite inspirational.

 

xoxo,
BF

BF Asks: Which Sand Cloud color will you choose? I want one of every color…even the Kickstarter pink. There, I said it. 

Which Sand Cloud color will you choose?

 

Thirsty Thursday: Pampelonne Rosé Lime

Thirsty Thursday: Pampelonne Rosé Lime

Well, I’m getting into the spirit of Palm Springs because I’m headed there TWICE in the next three weeks!
I was sent some Pampelonne Rosé Lime ($4.99/can) to try a while ago and just broke it out today because I thought it would be the ultimate spring cocktail…especially on this – the hottest of spring days.

Inspired by the spirit and sophistication of the French Riviera, this sparkling wine beverage is perfect for quenching your thirst while making you feel as bubbly as it is. A super-light Muscadet blend with notes of key lime, grapefruit and passion fruit, it’s refreshing as you sip poolside, enjoy after a long bike ride on the beach or enjoy on a romantic picnic for two. BF tip? Be sure to pair with a pretty paper straw. The cocktail becomes even cuter.

 

xoxo,
BF

BF Asks: What’s your choice of a cool beverage on a hot summer day? 

Thirsty Thursday: ONEHOPE Wine Mimosa Bar Set – DIY Mimosa Bar

Brunch is the best. Brunch with bubbly is better. But brunch with bubbly that benefits kids in need? Well, there’s nothin’ better than that. That’s why I’m proud to support ONEHOPE Wine as they promote their new Mimosa Bar Set ($139). Did you know that with every case of sparkling that ONEHOPE Wine sells, 25 meals are connected to children in need via the World Food Programme? Gives sippin’ mimosas a whole new meaning.

Do good by poppin' some bubbly with the ONEHOPE Mimosa Bar Set

So how can you help? By drinking mimosas. Yep, it really is that simple. The ONEHOPE Wine Mimosa Bar is the perfect addition to any brunch, shower or party. Just serve it up with your favorite juices and fruit and encourage some DIY magic by instructing your guests to mix and muddle their mimosas while mingling with friends.

A Happy Easter, indeed with the ONEHOPE Wine Mimosa Bar Set ($139)

So how did I customize my own ONEHOPE Mimosa Bar Set at my 3rd Annual Classic Southern Easter Dinner?

MY 3rd Annual Classic Southern Easter Dinner was a garden party theme. Know what pairs beautifully with a garden party theme? A DIY Mimosa bar!! Say whaaaa?!

Well, I supplied my guests with the following juice options:

The juice is loose!

  • Orange
  • Grapefruit
  • Pineapple
  • Cranberry
  • Pink Lemonade

And the following muddling ingredients:

  • Mint
  • Blackberries
  • Raspberries
What was my favorite mimosa recipe, you ask?
ONEHOPE Sparkling Wine + Cranberry Juice + Mint + Blackberries = Perfect Easter Mimosa
BF’s Fave Mimosa Combo: Cranberry-Mint-Blackberry-Bubbly
Also, I must say, I didn’t know if my gentlemen guests would be into it but I would venture to say that they loved it more than the ladies, even. And the ladies looooovedit! We even had to bring the mimosa makins’ outside because we enjoyed refilling our glasses so much!

Don't even ask what's on Jose's phone. It's just about the carafes, folks. Focus on the carafes.

The ONEHOPEWINE Mimosa Bar Set really made the afternoon even more enjoyable than it would have been – and it truly was an integral part of the most magical, memorable day.

Mimosas make the meal even more enjoyable...even the bunnies seem happy!

Each Mimosa Bar Set (right now, only $139) includes:

  • 3 bottles of ONEHOPE Brut Sparkling
  • 5 carafes
  • 4 fruit bowls
  • 1 muddler
  • 1 muddling/rimming sugar tray
  • 25 straws
  • 10 juice carafe tags
  • 8 fruit cards
For more info on the World Food Programme:
Twitter: @WFP
Instagram: @wfpusa
xoxo,
BF
BF Asks: What mimosa recipe are you most excited to concoct?

High-Low 4/22/14: Easter & Ouch

Yet again, it’s time for the most popular column on BeautyFrosting – my High-Low. *So what exactly is a High-Low, you ask? High-Low is the BEST & WORST part of your day, week, month, etc. I started this tradition with friends & family after I discovered it through a movie decades ago. Not only is it useful for the sake of reflection but it is also an excellent way to communicate with your spouse, kids or friends over the dinner table. By introducing this tradition to folks, parents have told me that their kids have opened up more and friends have told me that their spouses have become more communicative. Try it for yourself and let me know what your experience is…

***

HIGH-LOW 4/22/14

Easter? Yay!!! Face burns? No bueno.

This week was a doozy (aren’t they all?) as it contained my favorite holiday – for which I hosted a garden party – and my not-so-fave as, well, my face got burned! And it all happened in one day. See? Doozy.

As my old boss used to say, Oy vey.

Up first? The high, of course. Here we go, here we go, here we go.

HIGH: My 3rd Annual Classic Southern Easter Dinner

My Easter table surrounded by friends. My cup runneth over...both literally and figuratively

I love having a houseful of people. To be honest, I feel most alive and happy when I am hosting a soiree at my house – surrounded by friends, indulging in delicious, homemade food and drinking wine and laughing. Add in some board games and I’m having the time of my life. All of that just does my heart good. And it definitely does my heart good to look around me and see the folks I hold so dear looking plumb happy.

Which is why I ignored a friend’s advice when he told me to skip hosting my annual classic southern Easter dinner this year (although he’s usually quite wise). With all I have going on, it just didn’t seem like the smartest thing to do. But I am so glad I did it!

There were old friends, new friends and enough food, wine and spirited conversation to go around. And I really appreciate that my guests who have attended each year said that they so look forward to it and it’s one of their most beloved events of the year. It might be a hefty task to take on when things are busy and bustling but anything that makes me feel so good simply can’t be a bad thing.

The theme this year? Ricky Nelson-Garden Party style. In the backyard with the tasel garlands, puffs on trees, birds and the bees. Oh, you know what I mean...

The reason I love this tradition so much is because it marries the best of the old traditions precious to my family – which reminds me of my younger days – with the new traditions that I’m creating on my own with my friends and surrogate family out here in LA. It is such a beautiful thing – and isn’t that what life’s all about?

As with everything, it’s all in the delicate details – and the delicate details are what delight me. I used my Nanny’s silver, made her Jello lime salad in her vintage jello mold and served the salad on her white and gold cake stand. I always feel connected to her when I bake but when I actually use precious family treasures that she owned for years, I feel especially connected to her.

Marrying the old traditions with the new ones. Pictured here is my Nanny's silver and my favorite new washable linen napkins from Haute Hostess (Left) and Jessie Steele (right)

We started out the day with a DIY Mimosa bar from One Hope Wine that was a hit! Guests could custom-make their own mimosas featuring One Hope Sparkling wine and select from a bevy of juices, fruits and mint to muddle, mix and design to their heart’s content. More on the Mimosa Bar (and how you can order the One Hope Wine Mimosa Bar Set) on Thirsty Thursday this week!

DIY Mimosa Bar featuring One Hope Wine Mimosa Bar Set - this was a HIT!

 

What else was served for dinner? Well, we always have a HoneyBaked ham, my Cowboy Corn Casserole, my Paris, Texas Green Bean Casserole, my Southern Pea Salad, Matt Marr’s Prized Deviled Eggs, mac & Cheese, turkey, salads and SO much more!

 

The Spread: southern fare galore!

 

As for the best part? Dessert, of course! I baked my annual Easter Bunny Coconut Cake (this year her name was Bedelia – yes, seriously), my Chocolate Cream pie, my Blackberry Cream pie and my Nanny’s ‘Nana Pudding. Holy goodness, it was all delicious!

But even more delicious than the food was the company. Thank you to each and every one of you who came and celebrated a beautiful spring day in my backyard. The memories will live on long after the food is gone – and the memories were downright magical.

The memories will live on long after the food is gone...

LOW: Ouch!

LOW: Ouch! Too many irons in the fire and something might catch ON fire! (p.s. That white stuff on my face? It's Silver Sufudiazine which helps burns)

 

I’ll keep this short. I burned myself. While busily setting the table, cooking, baking and decorating for Easter dinner, I spotted a Diptyque candle on fire in my living room. Nope. Not stressful at all. A fire extinguisher would’ve made a mess for such a small fire so I (dumbly?) decided to blow it out. Well, the hot wax splashed up and hit my face. It actually didn’t really hurt – probably because I was so focused on putting out the fire!

I’m fine  – and it could have been much worse but I did receive 4 small burns on my face – one second degree that’s requiring a bit of attention so as to prevent scarring. But thanks to my dermatologist, I’ll be right as rain in no time. And, again, even though I’m calling it a low, I know that there is much, much worse than having a few burns on your face. A good reminder to yes, keep all those irons in the fire but to keep your eye out for things catching on fire with all we have going on every day.

xoxo,
BF

BF Asks: What was your High-Low this week?

 

 

Valentine’s Faves 2014

Ahhhh, Valentine’s Day. For me, it always recalls homemade valentines at the kitchen table, sweetheart candies and…crushes on boys.

Some things never change.

But then, some things do.
This year, I decided to host a little shoot over here at The Cupcake Palace to capture all of my Valentine’s faves this year. Those of you who follow me on Instagram (@beautyfrosting) have already seen these but of course I wanted to include some pics for those readers who haven’t seen them yet.
Hope you enjoy these little Valentine’s daily delights as much as I enjoyed shooting them!

A love letter to all of you: You are enough. You are beautiful. You are loved. SO loved. Xoxo, Me (*hydrangea ℅ Rendez-Vous Florist on 3rd Street)  *coffee cup by Sur La Table and *Love Note stationery from Anthropologie

 

B. as in Be Mine. *Baseball cap ℅ J.Crew * heart champagne flutes by World Market *pink sequined apron backdrop from Haute Hostess Aprons

 

These are a few of my favorite things… Beginning with a heart charm necklace and heart cutout ring by FleaMarket Girl

My most beloved Valentines gifts this year? A ruby red glittering bottle of Pinot Noir from Hope At Home & One Hope Wine & a V-day hued Kate Spade New York iPhone case. Add in that Anthropologie "Hello Gorgeous" valentine's card and I'm smitten.

 

More of my Valentine faves? A cream puff of pink thanks to Tarte Cosmetics Lipsurgence and cheek stain in Fearless , Jouer Cosmetics lip gloss in Peony , Haute Hostess pink chiffon apron , James Serra Cristallio rosé champagne, cake pops from SweetXO and a another sweet valentine card from Anthropologie. Pink perfection.

 

Really boys, you shouldn't have. In a floral paradise or being bombarded with bouquets by boys? Only you can decide...

And I hope you had a very, very SWEET Valentine’s day with the ones who steal your heart away.

 

xoxo,

BF