Happy Friday!

I'd serve your Sangria in this pitcher if I were you-gorg!

It’s Friday and the first weekend of summer so to me that means partake in a summery beverage of your choice. On the menu this weekend…Sangria.

I’ve tried many different recipes (yes, I’m a 39 year old wino-and proud-don’t judge;). The one that I prefer is the one without the added alcohol, so you can actually taste the wine. I love this one below, simple, refreshing and you can still cook (or tend to children) if you have a glass. I was in line at the market a few years ago and a cute little old lady a la Mrs. Roper was behind me. She simply stated “Oh honey-are you making Sangria with all that fruit and wine?” I said yes and she gave me the absolute best tip ever. Instead of adding any club soda or sparkling water and ice cubes…make your ice cubes out of sparkling grape juice and add those to your pitcher. Not only does your Sangria not water down…you don’t need too much sugar...love it.

4 Tbls. Sugar (to your liking)

1 cup water

1 bottle red wine (since we’re not adding all the hard stuff to it…make it a decent bottle…nothing too fancy-just something that is tasty to begin with) I love this one

1 orange thinly sliced

1 lime thinly sliced

Any other fruit you wish & however much you want-strawberries, pears, pineapple, etc…

Dissolve sugar in water in large pitcher. Add wine, fruit, & grape juice cubes. Stir until cold. Pour into glasses making sure everyone gets their fruit serving for the day;)

Happy Summer!

Salud!

From the Desk of A.J. - BHLDN

When I got married, scratch that, when I got engaged, one of the very first things I started dreaming about was the “theme” I wanted to take down the aisle.

Yes…I admit, I got little nuts (no not Bridezilla at all…just detail oriented-honest) when it came down to my “dream” wedding.

My first thought was…I wanted to get married in the middle of an Anthropologie. Seriously, it’s what I thought. I lurve that store like a big bowl of ice cream and the thought of a sort of bohemian, romantic vintag-ie, wedding was all I could dream about when I started to plan that year long plan of one day nuptials.

I wanted the perfect terra cotta pots to be distressed and cracked just enough. I wanted my seating chart to look like a family tree (yep…the first of many family trees I have weaved into my life), my guest book to look like an old photo album that had been found in an attic somewhere…or in AnthropologieJ

Behold. Anthro has launched BHLDN (uhm…that’s beholden, I felt like I was trying to read the back of a license plate), their venture into the wedding biz. Dresses (amazing dresses!), bridesmaids (soooo sweet!), and little odds and ends. Launched on Valentine’s day…awwww

This screams Pinky Swear…we loves us a good wedding online catalog to drool and plan our renewal vows…if we can’t get the Hubsters on board, we may have to vow to each other to just throw a big celebration…in a bohemian, romantic, vintage-ie sort of way;)

Find BHLDN here.