Adult Trick-or-Treating...

As the Halloween Holiday quickly approaches, I wanted to share with you some of my favorite 'themed' cocktails!  Adults seem to love Halloween (quite possibly equally as much as kids) due to the fact that it's one holiday that they can dress up like whores & have an excuse for it  indulge in sweet things in character with good friends & family.  If you're planning a Halloween party, be sure to try these fun Adult drinks on your spooky day...

Yummy Autumn Themed Cocktails:

• Pumpkin Pie

– features Kahlua, Malibu Rum, Milk, Cinnamon, and Pumpkin Pie Filling 

{recipe via cocktailtimes.com }


• Gingersnap cocktail 

– features spiced rum, ginger brandy, eggnog, and a gingersnap cookie! 

{recipe via thebar.com}


• Pumpkin Divine martini 

– features Grey Goose La Poire flavored vodka, pumpkin butter (!), Triple Sec, clove, and nutmeg – amongst other things 

{recipe via cocktailtimes.com}


• Spiced Apple mixer from Stirrings 

– a blend of real apples, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Make life easy – just add vodka and serve!

The Smore's Martini:

1 oz. chocolate vodka

1 oz. Baily's Irish Cream

1 oz. chocolate liquor

1 oz. Cream de Cacao

1 oz. vanilla vodka

2 oz. heavy cream

Toasted marshmallows, graham crackers (crushed), chocolate syrup, bamboo Martini skewers.

Dip the rim of glasses into the chocolate syrup, then into the crushed crackers. Chill glasses in freezer.  Pour all remaining ingredients, except marshmallows, into a Martini shaker filled with ice, and shake until well blended.  Pour into really nice glasses.  Skewer the toasted marshmallows on the bamboo skewers, place across the rim and serve..for about 2 servings.

The Dark & Spooky:

Black decorating sugar, for the glass

Juice of 1 lime, plus 1 lime wedg

1/4 cup dark rum

 1/4 cup ginger beer or all-natural ginger ale

1 black gummy spider

Spread out the black sugar on a small plate. Rub the lime wedge around the rim of a rocks glass; dip the glass in the black sugar, then fill with ice.  Combine the rum & lime juice in a cocktail shaker. Fill with ice and shake well. Carefully strain into the glass, minding the sugar on the rim.  Top the drink with ginger beer and add the gummy spider!

The Candy Corn Cocktail:

2.oz Skyy Infusions Pineapple Vodka

1.5oz. Orange Sherbet (softened)

1oz. Pineapple Juice

1oz. Milk

1oz. Simple Syrup

Combine SKYY Infusions Pineapple and pineapple juice in cocktail shaker with ice. Strain over fresh ice into a clear Collins glass. Combine softened orange sherbet and ice in a cocktail shaker and shake vigorously. Strain, and pour over bar spoon to layer in the rocks glass. Then, combine simple syrup and milk in cocktail shaker and shake vigorously. Layer milk mixture on top of sorbet mixture.

Dracula's Bite Martini:

1 Part Liqueur, Maraschino

3 Parts Vanilla Vodka

1 Part Grenadine

Red Sugar Crystals

Rim glass with red sugar crystals. Shake Vodka. Layer in Grenadine & Liqueur!

Here are a few of my other favorite deco ideas for when you throw your Halloween Themed Adult Cocktail Party...

Enjoy the Holiday Responsibly :)

Color Pops of Plum...

I LOVE all shades within the purple family- especially Plum! Perfect for those that love pops of color in the typical bland fall color palette...

What do you guys think?  Is Plum a nice color for your Fall Wardrobe?

Back to Black on Black...

Pretty much the only time of year that you can get away with this look, is now & for the next couple months...

Black on Black is great for the fall season- especially perfect for those who are sick of the bold summer colors...

Although some see black as a dull & monotonous color, this season it is all about layers of extreme shades of ebony...

One thing that I think women often forget is that you do *not* need to match you blacks!  Keep them all within the charcoal family & you cannot go wrong...

Chic, comfy, & sassy- this look is perfect as the upcoming 'tights-boots-& leggings' season, quickly approaches us...

Here are a few of my favorite drool worthy black on black interior features...

That woman cave is phenomenal...

Black matte wallpaper for an office= so chic...

Black tufts of leather mixed with fur throws= cozy & sultry...

Here is a perfect example of using items all in the charcoal family...

Happy Monday! Have a Lovely Week!!

Street Style: Fall Addition...

Happy Friday!! Enjoy the weekend :)   It is supposed to a beautiful autumn weekend here in MN.  Here is some inspiration for you to go galavant the streets in this weekend...

Much Love, kl

Fall Gift Ideas on a Budget...

While the autumn season quickly approaches, each year I find myself last minute gift shopping for all the birthdays that I have this season.  Simple gifts-intricate gifts- quick gifts- big gifts... you name it!  I find it much easier to put together a birthday gift for a friend, in bright colors (i.e.. summer & spring) then in in the fall or winter.

Here are a few quick ideas for a girl on a budget looking to put together a few untraditional birthday gifts this season...

I am obsessed with Volupsa Candles & they are surprisingly affordable, yet oh so chic.  Find a nice warm scent full of spices for the season.  Then, I always like to add a personal touch to a gift- for this gift I would make a homemade recipe card of a favorite after-dinner drink & then supply the ingredients.  Whiskey Stones are an all time favorite gift of mine, people love them! They keep your drink cold without watering it down & are perfect for the whiskey drinker.  A smooth after dinner drink recipe + ingredients + a cozy candle = the perfect birthday night "in..."

Sometimes I like to buy friends something that they typically wouldn't spend their own money on, but truly adore.  There is nothing better than giving a gift & seeing your friend/family use or wear it in the future.  Anthropologie has the cutest aprons & non-traditional cookbooks- I think they make the perfect gift for any lady that is often in the kitchen during the upcoming holiday season! Attach one of your favorite family recipes to keep the gift personal & you have yourself a perfect fall gift...

For those quick, affordable, on the go gifts, sometimes gift cards make the most sense.  Except, I hate just handing over a gift card because it feels unthought out.  To spice up your gift card giving, make it fun by adding free/cheap features to bring light to the gift.  I saw this & thought it was such a great idea! When you purchase your gift card at Starbucks, as for an empty frappe cup & fill the insides with colored tissue paper.  Place the gift card inside the cup & tie a bow around the straw! Easy + Affordable + Though Out = Perfect Gift Card Gift!

Emmy Recap: Best-Worst-Bore...

If you watched the 2011 Emmy's on Sunday, you know clearly that hands down- Gwyneth was the BEST DRESSED!! Looking flawless per usual, her daring mid-drift baring Pucci dress was a perfectly fresh style on the red carpet...

Some other favorites of mine were of Cat Deeley in Monique Lhullier.  Although I thought the clutch was a bit much for the whimsical dress- she looked fabulous...

... & of course, the saying is true, sometimes a break up does the body good!  Minka Kelly, who recently went her separate ways from Yankee's Derek Jeter, looked chic in navy lace- perfect for the autumn season! This Christian Dior gown looks immaculate on Minka & was definitely in my top 3 faves...

Now- on the Worst Dressed.. & unfortunately, there were too many in this category :-/  To be honest, I am always a bit confused by Claire Danes' choices in fashion?  This Oscar De La Renta gown does absolutely nothing for the shape of her body & frankly, the design is distracting & look similar to a prom dress...

If you watched the pre-show (fyi the best part) then you saw Ryan Seacrest interview & put Padma Lakshmi on the 'glam cam'... talk about borrring!  They began to show clips of other stars on the red carpet because her tone was so lethargic & frankly her gown was lifeless too.  The fabric on this Armani Prive dress, did not do her body any justice & I am beyond confused about that seam right down the middle of her body!?

Yikes! Jane Krakowski in Silver- literally silver!  Some adored this look & others like myself- ehh not so much.  First of all, it does not look age appropriate.  Second, if you are going to do something that extreme of a shade of silver, you  cannot be bronzed like a pumpkin!  The overall look is extreme- bleach blonde hair, orange skin, & a silver sheer gown look trashy, rather than classy...

I decided to add a little section of Pure Boredom.  I didn't love, nor hate these gowns, I was just simply bored by the overall look of them.  I typically adore Kate Winslet & her modern, sophisticated, womanly style.  But Kate wore a red Elie Saab & just. looked. tired.  She looked exhausted, she didn't carry herself the way she normally does & the dress itself could not hold the reins...

Katie Holmes wore classic Calvin Klein & I am still torn on this look because I don't love it, but I definitely do not hate it either?  I just wish sometimes she would take a little more risk in her style instead of being so vanilla all the time.  She is, without a doubt, a very classy & beautiful woman, but the high-tousled-pony tail-bun.. was not enough of a risk for me...

And of course, a favorite of many, Sofia Vergara in Vera Wang.. blahhh.  She constantly does this look!  We get it, you are curvy & voluptuous, try something new!  She does this rouged look virtually every time she walks the red carpet to emphasize disguise her curves & it is just getting old now...

{Photos via Harpers Bazaar}

Who were your favorites of the 2011 Emmys?!

Outdoor Autumn Wedding Inspiration...

Here in MN, our outdoor color palette is dramatically changing, which provides beautiful new shades for the upcoming wedding season...

A great way to adjust to the change would be to incorporate outdoor features.  Below are some of my favorite ideas for bringing attributes from the Fall season- into your wedding...