Easter Perfect Punch: BeautyFrosting’s Blackberry Patch Punch

Posted on March 28, 2013 by BeautyFrosting

Yet again, it’s time for my favorite holiday!! EASTER!!!

Last year, my Blackberry Patch Punch was a HIT!!

BF & Blackberry Patch Punch - Easter 2012!

When I was preparing the menu for my Classic, Southern Easter dinner, I thought it would be so nice to have the perfect Easter punch. I looked online but there were no fitting recipes. See, when I think Easter, I think purple.
So I thought of blackberries and mint and, ta-dah, a new recipe was born.

Since I had adults, non-drinkers and children at my dinner, I kept it unspirited but added mixing options on the side. If you want a spirited version, I highly recommend making it a Bourbon Blackberry Patch Punch! Delish!

Tanya sipping her Blackberry Patch Punch

Try it and, as always, let me knw your results and thoughts!

xoxo,

BeautyFrosting’s Blackberry Patch Punch

64 oz. Trader Joes’ Blackberry Crush Juice

1 bottle Cost Plus World Market Blackberry Pomegranate Soda

1/2 gallon Limeade

2 – 2 Liter Ginger Ale

2 tbsp. Vanilla Extract

Blackberries & Mint Sprigs to garnish

Combine all in a punch bowl/pitcher/server.

Garnish mixed punch with mint and blackberries. Set aside some to garnish glasses.

Serve each glass with mint and blackberry

And, if a cocktail is desired, add a bottle of bourbon to the mix. Or, if entertaining all ages, put the bourbon, as an add-in, on the side.

Super easy, super lovely and super tasty in no time at all!

Thirsty Thursday: BeautyFrosting’s Blackberry Patch Punch

Posted on August 30, 2012 by BeautyFrosting

: BeautyFrosting’s Blackberry Patch Punch

When I was thinking of the loveliest punch for Labor Day I immediately thought this! I originally tried it back at my Classic Southern Easter dinner and it was a huge hit!

Try it and, as always, let me knw your results and thoughts!

xoxo,

: BeautyFrosting’s Blackberry Patch Punch

BeautyFrosting’s Blackberry Patch Punch

64 oz. Trader Joes’ Blackberry Crush Juice

1 bottle Cost Plus World Market Blackberry Pomegranate Soda

1/2 gallon Limeade

2 – 2 Liter Ginger Ale

2 tbsp. Vanilla Extract

Blackberries & Mint Sprigs to garnish

Combine all in a punch bowl/pitcher/server.

Garnish mixed punch with mint and blackberries. Set aside some to garnish glasses.

Serve each glass with mint and blackberry

And, if a cocktail is desired, add a bottle of bourbon to the mix. Or, if entertaining all ages, put the bourbon, as an add-in, on the side.

: Tanya sipping BF’s Blackberry Patch Punch

Super easy, super lovely and super tasty in no time at all! Happy Labor Day weekend!
Stay safe and take care out there, lovely friends!

xoxo,
BF

Thirsty Thursdays: BeautyFrosting Dreamsicle Party Punch

Posted on July 19, 2012 by BeautyFrosting

Who doesn’t love a good party punch?

I mean, really.

Punches were huge in the 50s and 60s, big in our college years (memories of Everclear & Koolaid just flashed through my mind and made me cringe) and then, after a few showers and weddings, they sadly disappear for most of us.

Well, in the world of BeautyFrosting, my world, punches are well and alive…and thrive.

There are some things that never should have gone by the wayside and punch is one of them.

And I have many-a-punch-recipe for you.
If you have an event coming up and need a suggestion, just drop me a note and I will give you some tasty options.

Here is my super-easy, super-loved creamy, dreamy party punch.

Perfect as a spirited or non-alcoholic beverage option, you absolutely cannot go wrong with this. This recipe can be made as nonalcoholic (for kiddos and family-friendly parties), with rum (for spirited affairs) or with rum on the side to pour in (to suit both occasions). Enjoy, beauties!

Enjoy (And please drink responsibly if adding spirits)!

BeautyFrosting Dreamsicle Party Punch

BF Dreamsicle Party Punch’s Littlest Fans!

2 Liters Lemon Lime soda

64 oz. Pineapple Juice

1 pint Vanilla Ice Cream

1 pint Orange Sherbet

*1/2 gallon Rum (optional)

Maraschino Cherries for garnish
I pour it all into my punch/beverage dispenser and drop a cherry and 2 cubes of ice in my guest’s glass and we’re golden.

BF Asks: What’s your favorite party punch?

Darphin 8-Flower Nectar: A BeautyFrosting Hall of Fame product

Posted on April 26, 2012 by BeautyFrosting

Darphin 8-flower nectar is a princess among princes.

I love Darphin. I think it’s extremely underrated and underused. Especially for the quality of product they’re offering and (!!!) the fact that it comes dressed in Tiffany-ready boxed bliss.

Daprhin 8-Flower Nectar

This little beauty is not cheap ($150 for .5 ozs that should last you about 2-3 months) but, let me tell you, its results are worth every penny.

As we have covered before, beauties, I looooove oil. I think it’s the most important ingredient in your skincare recipe. Have you added it to yours yet?

If not, meet the creme de la creme of beauty oils.

This is not the oil you start with. This is the oil you arrive at. The Bentley of oils.

This is oil for skin in serious need of renewal, replenishment and rehydration.

(If you need a lighter or more pocket-friendly oil, see here or let me know, and we’ll fix you up). But I couldn’t go another day without telling you about one of my all-time favorite products!

There are lots of oils around the same price point as this little Darphin luxury.

But I have yet to meet an oil as rich, moisturizing, age-defying and youth-blossoming as this one. Darphin’s 8-Flower Nectar is a perfect cocktail of essential vitamins, omega 3 and 6, iris extract, avocado oil and jasmine. It smells buttery and floral (just like my Nanny’s garden did) and is the perfect nightcap to your beauty routine.

I apply it right after my bath, following patting my face dry. It’s my first step on most nights (except those on which I’m exfoliating or using an anti-aging serum). Then it’s on to eye cream and moisturizer.

As you can see here, I’m running low on mine. And this makes me very, very sad.

Darphin 8-Flower Nectar

So what can you expect with this little Darphin gem? Well, there have been times I woke up the next morning, after applying it, and swore I looked 5 years younger. Here are some other words that come up when asking me, my clients and friends about the 8-Flower Nectar:

Magical. Glowing. Clarity. Luxury. Detoxifying. Moisturized. Youthful. Fine line-fighter. Dewy. Beauty potion. Secret weapon. Reverses aging.

It does ALL that. Yes, really.

I also like applying a drop in the morning (after rubbing between my fingertips) to my face – starting under the eye area and on my cheekbones. It’s beautiful for dry skin in need of a boost under makeup!

Try it and let me know what you think.

Beauty and a little renewed youth are but a click away.

xoxo,

BF Asks: Have you added an oil to your beauty recipe yet?

Thirsty Thursday for Nora: Sick-Day Cocktail

Posted on April 26, 2012 by BeautyFrosting

This post is dedicated to Nora – my sweet 5-year-old little neighbor-friend who is sick with strep throat for the second time in a month. Bless her heart! You might remember her. She’s kind of a celebrity here on BF; after all, she did pick our winner for our My Week With Marilyn Gorgeous Giveaway!

Nora - my sweet neighbor-friend

It got me thinking about what used to spritz up my spirits when I was sick and small.

Before I had my tonsils taken out, I got serious sore throats. A LOT.

I finally had my tonsils taken out in the July prior to my senior year of high school. Let me tell you: the summer before your senior year of high school is NOT the time you want to be in bed, eating sherbet, fielding phone calls from your friends, waiting until your tonsils heal. You want to be out going to parties, cruising the toll road with Jenny, Suzanne and Allison and crushing on boys. Well, that was me, at least.

My favorite Sick-Day cocktail has always been, and always will be:

Orange Juice & Sprite.
Yep, it’s that simple. That’s no recipe, you scoff!

Well, then, how come so many moms don’t know about this magic potion?
I may not have any kids yet… but I sure think like ’em.

So here’s your (and your little one’s)
SICK DAY COCKTAIL (it’s a magical potion, I tell you!)

BeautyFrosting's Sick Day Cocktail: Orange Juice & Sprite

Fill a glass 2/3 full with Sprite (or fave lemon lime soda or Ginger Ale)

Top off with a splash of orange juice (about 1/3 glass)

Wanna see a smile in the midst of sickness?
Add a cherry and a straw.

Or…better yet… add a small scoop of orange sherbet and a cherry. You’ll be as beloved as the tooth fairy, herself.

Y’know, on second thought, looking back – eating sherbet in bed, just resting, being tended to by my sweet Mom was exactly what I needed the summer before my senior year.

Life would never be the same after that year. It was but a brief respite from the grown-up years to come.

Feel better soon, Nora! But don’t rush it. Enjoy every moment of being in bed, being loved on and being spoiled. You never forget those times when you’re loved so much.

xoxo,
BF

BF Asks: What is YOUR “Sick Day Cocktail”?

Thirsty Thursday: BeautyFrosting’s Ginger Tea Punch

Posted on April 19, 2012 by BeautyFrosting

BeautyFrosting's Ginger Tea Punch

If you want a punch that’s perfect for all ages, women AND men and isn’t overly-candy-sweet, this is your go-to punch. I love the stuff! And I always end up giving the recipe to my guests.
I made this last batch last weekend at my good neighbor-friends’ “Reveal the Baby Sex” party. It was a hit! And the party was a ball! But more of that on Saturday Social Hour!

Here’s the tasty tea punch recipe that will be one of your favorites too!
BeautyFrosting’s GINGER TEA PUNCH
Makes 1 gallon. I usually double for my 2 gallon punchbowl.

3 Tbl. Instant Tea (the “powdered” kind, plain, no sugar, no lemon)
1 ½ cups Granulated Sugar
6 cups warm Water
2 cups diluted Orange Juice
6 ounce can frozen Limeade, defrosted and undiluted
2 liters Ginger Ale (or enough to make 1 gallon)

Combine the instant tea, sugar and water. Stir well to ensure the sugar
is dissolved. Add the orange juice and Limeade. Refrigerate until ready
to serve.

Just before serving, add enough Ginger Ale to make 1 gallon of liquid.

Garnish with orange slices and mint sprigs. Depending on “theme”, I have also garnished with limes and lemons.

Garnish with orange slices - BeautyFrosting's Ginger Tea Punch

Beautiful for a wedding shower, baby shower, ladies lunch, brunch, party or holiday!

As always, if you try it, please take pics and tell me how it worked for you!

xoxo,
BF

Thirsty Thursday: The Mothership’s Spiced Tea (Neiman Marcus Spiced Tea) Recipe

Posted on March 22, 2012 by BeautyFrosting

Neiman Marcus Spiced Tea

Growing up, Neiman Marcus was my 2nd home. I even call it “The Mothership” to this day, hence the name of the recipe. My mother and I would often lunch at The Mermaid Bar at Neiman Marcus Northpark and split the Mermaid Sampler.

I have so many lovely memories of open-hearted conversations taking place over their signature spiced tea. And later, when I worked at Neiman Marcus at the Trish McEvoy counter in college, I had one every day!

Sure, the recipe might not be a secret.

But it will always be this magical Texan tea cocktail to me.
And nothing goes better with my Texan tuna salad (it’s all about the pecans, beauties!)!!

To this day, I have to have a spiced tea whenever I am shopping at Neiman’s.

Here’s the recipe, as I understand it, for us all to enjoy while conversing with loved ones:

Neiman Marcus Spiced Tea

6 1/2 c. Water

3 sticks Cinnamon

1/4 tsp. Nutmeg

3 Cloves (whole)

4 English Breakfast Tea Bags

1/4 c. Tang (powdered orange drink mix)

1/4 tsp. Almond Extract

Place the cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg in a large saucepan, filled with the 6 1/2 c. water.

Bring mixture to boil, then reduce to low heat and let simmer for 5 minutes.

Remove the pan from the stove and add teabags.

Steep teabags for 3-5 minutes.

Strain the mixture into a clean saucepan and stir in Almond Extract and Tang.

Cool to room temperature and then place in fridge.

When serving, be like Neiman’s and garnish the glass with an orange slice.

Or pull a BeautyFrosting and add a sprig of mint to that orange slice.

Mmmmm….Refreeeeeeshing!