My darling sister-in-law gave me this package of adorable mini, canned sparkling wines for Christmas. The packaging is so classy and feminine – it’s a perfect treat for Valentine’s Day or really any day.

Here’s the description: The Sofia Blanc de Blancs bursts with rich pear, honeysuckle, and exotic passion fruit aromas. Crisp apple, melon, and juicy tangerine flavors fill the palate, with notes of bright lemon and honey evident on the refreshing, mouth-tingling finish.

You may be thinking – canned wine? Drinking through a straw? Classy? But, seriously! It is so cute.

While it’s not technically pink champagne, that’s how I like to think of it as I sip the effervescent goodness, and then I start singing the “I’ve got a lot of living to do” song from Bye Bye, Birdie. You know? The part where Ann Margret’s like “Daddy, dear, you won’t know your daughter!” If you don’t know what I’m talking about, maybe it’s for the best.

Anyway, this is a great gift or even a pretty little treat for yourself.

Buy it here or learn more here!

Have a fizzy Friday,

Look at that adorable cookie sandwich!

Why do I even have to write a post about this blog? Isn’t the cookie enough to convince you that you should go there?

Fine, I’ll say a few things.

eat make read is the coolest. I discovered it while blog hopping a few weeks ago. The photos are gorgeous, the recipes so doable, and the author, Kelly, writes about sophisticated food and drink without a hint of pretension! I love that. It’s rare.

Cruise around the archives for a while. You’ll find gems like this spiked cider. Mmmm…don’t judge. It’s still bitterly cold here.

Or these amazing green beans with yogurt and shallots. Oh baby.

And I can almost taste summer with this happy hour feature: the watermelon martini:

Feast your eyes on her foccacia….it’s art, people. Art.

I have to stop typing now so I can go eat something. Or photograph something. That’s what this site does to me.

Happy Tuesday, my darlings,

Answer: Oh, Darjeeling!

Hahahahahahahaa. Ha. Eh. Hmm…

As a follow-up to K’s post about everyone’s favorite, coffee, I thought I should give some props to its ancient and adored relative: tea. Maybe coffee/espresso is all the rage, but tea has always had its place and isn’t losing steam. (wow – sorry).

Anyway – every morning at work, I boot up the ol’ laptop, go away for ten minutes (it’s an old laptop, okay?) and make myself some tea. It’s calming, smells good, and warms me up in my cold little cubicle.

Generally, I have cheap simple tastes. I love this guy:

I have also ventured into the variety packs of herbal tea – but I hate it when I use up all the good ones and get stuck with the gross flavors (lemon zinger anyone? really?).

In addition to tasting smooth and delicious (as long as you don’t steep it too long; I tend toward “less is more” with steeping), tea can make a classy gift. I’ve always loved the packaging of tea forte teas:

Also, sidenote: while they smell so good and seem more sophisticated, I’m still sort of weirded out by the loose-leaf variety:

Seriously – how does it work? I have no shame in admitting I don’t really know how to use this stuff. Is there some sort of infuser? Or do you just sip and pray that you don’t end up eating a leaf? Sip and pray, that’s probably it.

Any tea drinkers wanna come out of the woodwork? What’s your favorite? Do you have a cutesy little tea set like mine from the top of the post (thanks, honey!)? Have you accidentally eaten tea leaves?

Steep dreams,

Anyway. Recently I have decided to make the transition from my beloved Diet Coke (with a shot of Cherry Coke. Glory.) to coffee. Why would I do such a thing? Well, I believe that coffee is probably healthier. I know there are better things for you than coffee, but I NEED caffeine. And tea tastes like grass in water (sorry, but it is a fact).  So, coffee it is.

Here is my dilemma question – what kind should I buy? I started with Archer Farms hazelnut, but now I have run out. I liked it, but I am ready to try something new. I think I prefer strong, flavored coffee. I need it to be already ground, because I am NOT that motivated. What do you drink?

I miss my Diet Coke. But coffee is not without its benefits – it makes our house smell GREAT in the morning and it’s nice to drink something warm as the weather turns colder. Plus, coffee comes with WAY better accessories. I bought a cute, hot-pink travel mug that is impossible to spill from (bonus). But I love this chalkboard mug

So, help a girl out – what kind of coffee do you drink?

Bottoms up!

Here my mother holds her beautiful creation:

Fresh Peach Margaritas

• 3 or 4 small peaches, sliced and pitted. No need to peel – the skins get blended up and you’d never know it! (For the strawberry version, use 8 large strawberries. For a raspberry variety, 15-18 raspberries will do the trick.)
• 2 cups ice
• 2/3 cup sour mixer or margarita mix
• 2 tsp sweetened lime juice
• 1/4 cup tequila
• 2 tbs triple sec
• 1/4 cup sugar

Blend all ingredients until slushy and splendid. Add more ice if needed. Garnish with a peach slice and slurp it up.

About twenty seconds later, it will look like this:

Drink Responsibly, and preferably with fresh fruit,