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?

 

 

Recipe Box: BeautyFrosting’s Cucumber Dill Cream Cheese Finger Sandwiches

Oh, how I love a tea party! And for me, no tea party is complete without tea sandwiches  – or finger sandwiches – as they used to be called in Dallas from which I hail.

So when I hosted a “sprinkle” tea party for a good friend a few weeks ago, I simply had to include a few dozen of my Cucumber Dill Cream Cheese Finger Sandwiches.

Recipe Box: BeautyFrosting's Cucumber Dill Cream Cheese Finger Sandwiches

Now, here’s the recipe so you can whip some up for your next tea party! And remember a tea party doesn’t have to be a formal affair! It can be as simple as inviting over a friend you haven’t caught up with in a while and sipping a cup of cream tea and enjoying a sandwich. You know me…life’s all about those daily delights

 

BeautyFrosting’s Cucumber Dill Cream Cheese Finger Sandwiches

Ingredients
8 ounces cream cheese, softened at room temperature

4 tablespoons freshly chopped dill

2 tbsp lemon juice

1 tsp garlic salt

Dash of salt

Dash of pepper

Approx. 1 cucumber, thinly sliced (with skin or without)

12 slices white sandwich bread (or preferred white bread)

In a bowl, combine cream cheese, lemon juice, dill, garlic salt, salt and pepper.

Prepare a sandwich work station by laying out two long strips of wax paper. I usually cover my stainless steel bar to do this. Lay out 12 slices of bread. Coat each slice of bread with the cream cheese mixture. Cover 6 slices of bread with your thinly sliced cucumbers. Top with the remaining bread. Cut off crusts and cut into quarters. I prefer triangles or rectangles depending on the shape of the other sandwiches I’m making. Serve immediately or chill until ready to serve. *BF Tip: If you have to wait to serve, layer damp, wrung-out paper towels between each layer of cut sandwiches. These will keep the sandwiches moist.

Prep work...

Enjoy with your favorite cup of tea! Personally, I prefer a cream tea with sugar cubes!

xoxo,
BF

 

BF Asks: What’s your favorite finger sandwich or tea sandwich to have at a tea party?

Thirsty Thursday: Hope’s Watermelon & Mint Infused Water

Happy Thirsty Thursday!
What is more satiating than a refreshing, fresh, fruit-infused water on a hot summer day?Not much.

Hope's Watermelon & Mint-Infused Water

That’s why I’m delighted that my sweet and creative good friend and neighbor, Hope, is sharing her Watermelon Mint-infused water today on BeautyFrosting.
She made a gallon of this healthy and refreshing thirst quencher this past Saturday for her sweet friend, Ruby’s, baby shower.

Hope's Watermelon & Mint Infused Water at Ruby's Baby Shower

 

It was deeeeeelicious!

Perfect for a baby shower, wedding shower, post workout beverage, kids’ water option or just a daily delight!
So here it is for you and yours to enjoy!

Hope’s Watermelon & Mint Infused Water

Watermelon Chunks (approx. 1 1/2 cups)

Mint Sprigs (approx. 1/2 cup)

Water (enough to fill your pitcher or punchbowl)

 

Cut up fresh watermelon into chunks. Add mint sprigs. Fill up your pitcher or punchbowl with enough water to cover. Let set for at least an hour.
Serve chilled with love.

 

 

xoxo,
BF

 

BF Asks: What’s your favorite fruit-infused water?