Martini Recipes

Channel your inner James Bond or Bond girl and raise a glass…

…it’s National Martini Day! So to celebrate, we are bringing you three of our favorite martini recipes! Toss aside your predispositions towards Martinis because these recipes are going to give you some new go-to drinks. Check them out below.

---

Mexican Martini

3 ounces Añejo Tequila
1 1/2 ounces Cointreau
1 1/2 ounces fresh lime juice
1/2 ounce green-olive brine from the jar
A splash of fresh orange juice
Lime wedges and olives

Agitate everything in an ice-filled shaker, then strain into a small, chilled coupe or martini glass rimmed with salt. Add a couple of olives and a lime wedge. Then pull out the chips and salsa, queso + quac and proceed to eat, drink + be merry all day long!

Photo By: Frugal Foodie Mama

---

cosmopolitan

1 ounce fresh lime juice
2 ounces cranberry juice
4 ounces vodka of choice
2 ounces triple sec
Olive juice *optional
Handful of ice cubes

Pour all of the above ingredients into a shaker, shake + pour! Like it extra dirty? Add a splash of olive juice!

Photo By: Garnish with Lemon

---

Cucumber martini

3 inches cucumber (skinned, seeded, and chopped into chunks)
2 Basil leaves (torn)
½ oz Simple Syrup
2 oz Vodka of choice
½ oz fresh lime juice
Ice

Add the cucumber, basil + simple syrup to the shaker and muddle. Add vodka, lime juice, and a handful of ice to cocktail shaker, cover with lid and shake vigorously. Pour into your martini glass and garnish with cucumber + basil. This martini is refreshing + good for the soul, so enjoy!

Photo By: Fox Valley Foodie

Grilled Corn on the Cob

It’s not a summertime backyard cookout without really great corn on the cob! We recently put together this really simple recipe that tastes fantastic and only has a few ingredients! So call a few friends, hit the grocery store, and host a fun cookout this season!

---

INGREDIENTS:

• Corn on the cob (we prefer corn in the husks but pre-packed corn on the cob works great too!)

• Unsalted, sweet cream butter

• Smoked paprika

• Pepper

• Garlic salt

• Fresh rosemary

• Foil

---

DIRECTIONS:

1. Cut a square of foil for each piece of corn, enough to wrap the entire husk

2. Lay the husk on the piece of foil

3. Butter the entire husk of corn, don’t be afraid to be drench it!

4. Generously season the entire buttered husk with the garlic salt, smoked paprika + pepper

5. Add a sprig of fresh rosemary on top of the corn

6. Fully wrap the entire piece of corn in the foil

7. Grill on direct medium-high heat for 20-25 minutes, turning the corn 2-3x

8. Serve and enjoy!

Fathers Day Gift Guide

If you’re anything like us, you looked down at your calendar and realized Fathers Day is THIS Sunday! It’s on days like today that we are forever grateful for Amazon Prime. Where would we be without it?? So check out our Fathers Day gift guide below…we have a gift for every budget.

Just click on the photo to purchase that gift on Amazon!

---

for the dad who cooks

Sous Vide precision cooker that mom AND dad will love.

Laser thermometer that is accurate + fun.

BBQ grill set that looks nice + gets the job done.

Non-stick Caphalon pans that make searing a breeze.

---

For the outdoorsy dad

YETI Rambler perfect for coffee, whiskey, wine + more!

Blow up kayak that won’t break the bank!

Flannel shirt that looks good + feels good.

Camping hammock-portable, comfortable, easy to set up!

---

for the dad who loves projects

A new power drill!

Bucket Boss for easily carrying all your tools.

A jig-saw for the dad who wants to master all his projects.

Real leather work gloves.

---

For the dad who games

Catan: If he’s not already playing this game, then he should be!

Exploding Kittens: A great game for a group of fun people.

Codenames: Teamwork, strategy + defeating the spies.

Secret Hitler: A fast-paced game of deception + betrayal.

Cheers! It's National Rosé Day!

It doesn’t feel like summer until the rosé has been poured! Whether it’s an evening sip with dinner or a glass on Saturday afternoon by the lake, rosé is the wine for the season. So today we are highlighting our 5 favorite, budget-friendly bottles of rosé all under $15! Check them out below.

---

Becker Vineyards

If you’re in Texas, you can’t skip over visiting Fredericksburg! Home to an assortment of wineries big and small - it’s a great place for bachelorette parties, date nights, getaway weekends, and more.

Becker Vineyards is a favorite of ours, we always trust their products! Coming in at just $11, this wine is incredibly affordable and worth every penny.

Dark Horse

At $8, this bottle of Dark Horse Rosé is our most affordable find but it is easily one of our favorites! We stumbled upon this bottle at Target (where wallets go to be emptied). But your wallet won’t be emptied buying this bottle! More into sparkling drinks? Dark Horse has a sparkling rosé too!

Kim Crawford

This bottle of Kim Crawford Rosé is our most expensive on the list at just $13! Seriously, how can you find better prices than these?? Soft and luscious, this refreshing Rosé is richly fruited with hints of watermelon and strawberry. This refreshing rosé pairs great with a summer salad!

Eufloria

We stumbled across this wine while antique shopping in Round Top, Texas. It brought a lot of refreshment on a hot, spring day. Eufloria also comes in a can so it’s easy to grab and have a single portion rather than opening an entire bottle.

Los Dos

$10 of delicious goodness! This is one of the first rosés that we came to know and love. It is both elegant and lively on the palate with flavors of fresh raspberry, lychee fruit, and white flowers. Fresh with a silky mouthfeel and a long, lasting finish.

DIY Pom Wreath

Get your boho on with this colorful pom wreath!

Today’s DIY wreath project is from Rachel Jacks of the Curbly Blog. The beauty of a wreath like this is that you can really make it your own. Choose colors that best fit the style you're going for and even play around with various sizes of poms. Have leftover yarn that you’ve been waiting to use? Now is the perfect time!

Check out the step-by-step instructions below.

---

Photo By: Rachel Jacks

MATERIALS

• Wreath form (similar one available on Amazon)

• Yarn in assorted colors

• Scissors

• Pom makers (available on Amazon)

• Lightweight fishing line

• Hot glue gun

---

Photo By: Rachel Jacks

Photo By: Rachel Jacks

STEP ONE

Step one is the longest step! It can take a while, so turn on Netflix and have a relaxing night of pom-making!

Make lots of poms, I mean ALL the poms! I’m talking way more than you think you’re going to need. The exact number will depend on the size of your poms and wreath, and how full you want it to be. This 16 inch wreath had about 56 poms.  You can purchase a pom maker or simply create the poms by wrapping the yarn around your finger or a fork, tying, and cutting! Check out this resource on various way to make poms.

Feel free to play around with different color combos + sizes, this wreath is all about making it your own!

TIP: Tie off the yarn with fishing line to make the poms tighter.

---

Photo By: Rachel Jacks

step two

Wrap the wreath form with a layer of yarn. Knot the yarn tightly, and tuck in the ends.

---

Photo By: Rachel Jacks

step three

Attach the poms to the yarn on the wreath form with hot glue. To get an idea of how you'll want to arrange them, it helps to lay out as many as you can on the wreath before you glue them down. Then watch your beautiful piece of work come to life!

Photo By: Rachel Jacks

Memorial Day Playlist

Happy Memorial Day! We hope you remember and honor our veterans today and every day, always celebrating our many freedoms! Whether you’re having a backyard BBQ, laying on the beach, or just hanging out at home, turn on this playlist and celebrate!

---

English Tea Garden Drink Recipe

Summer is approaching…

…let’s cool down with a drink! This recipe is a favorite of ours all year round, but especially in the summertime. If you’re a fan of fresh fruit + gin, this drink is for you! Not a fan of gin? Just switch it out with another liquor of choice…but we think you’re going to love this one just the way it is! Check out the recipe below.

---

In a shaker add the following:

• 2 parts gin

• 1 part strawberry infused Pimms (just cut up strawberries and let them soak in the Pimm’s for a few hours or more)

• 1/2 part lemon juice

• Splash of simple syrup (optional)

• Muddle thinly sliced cucumbers + mint leaves at bottom of shaker

• Shake + pour over ice

• Garnish with cucumber, strawberries + mint

Feeling inspired to make this drink? Take a photo and tag us on social media using #OSimpression!

End of Year Teacher Gifts

Show Your Teachers Some Love!

My mom, mother-in-law, and many of my friends are teachers, so I have a huge respect for all that they do and put up with during the school year. I couldn’t do it…so, bless you!!

With the end of the school year coming to a close, it’s time to start thinking about end of the year teacher gifts. A sussie for a teacher is a sweet way to say thank you. Thank you for investing in our kids for the last year, thank you for sacrificing sleep, thank you for working long hours, thank you for putting up with tantrums, and thank you for seeing a child’s potential even when they don’t see it themselves.

Teachers make a greater impact than they will ever know, so no matter how big or small of a gift you get, it’s important to show them some love! We have put together a fun basket and a few other options that says “You’ve done a great job! Now it’s time to enjoy your summer!”

These gifts range from $5-$25, so you can find the right one for that special teacher or school faculty member that has blessed you and your child this past year. What’s also great is that each of the items can be found at H-E-B, so you can pick them up on your next grocery trip. And for those of you who don’t have H-E-B…I’m sorry…I can’t imagine life without it. However, we have linked the items below so you can order online or similar items can be found at your local retailer.

---

First…

To get started, all you need is a bowl, basket, etc. that you can put all of the gift items in and some crinkled paper shreds to act as a filler. A lot of our products for this basket had teal accent colors so we thought this was the perfect bowl to compliment everything we purchased. We found the bowl on the cooking aisle at H-E-B and the crinkled paper in the gifts/cards department.

---

Second…

Fill your bucket with an accent item. We saw this adorable watermelon tumbler and could not resist! It is cute, fun, and a very practical gift for any teacher. This design comes in 3 different tumbler sizes and designs so you can definitely find one that works. Can’t find a fun patterned cup? Consider getting a decal made with their initials to stick on it to give it a solid colored cup a special pop!

---

Third…

Next, we added a larger item - a pink beach towel, the perfect accessory to head into summer! My mother-in-law always laughs that the reason teachers have summer is so that they can go to therapy. We think laying out by the pool is the best kind of therapy! We went with the pink one because it fit well with the watermelon theme, but HEB carries an assortment of beach towels, so you can choose the perfect color and type for your basket.

---

Fourth…

Choose a few smaller filler items. We continued our watermelon theme by choosing to add in watermelon sparkling water, watermelon gum, and lastly chapstick in a cute pink case!

---

Lastly…

Take your gift basket a little further by adding a handmade card. We made this card with construction paper, finger paint, glue/double-sided tape and a sharpie…easy peasy! You can actually use the bowl that you’ll place everything in to trace out the circular shape on the paper, then cut and paste. To finish off the card, I had my little guy add his finger prints with paint to act as the seeds…it’s a small, sweet touch! Then you can attach a notecard to the back with a personal note letting your teacher just how much you appreciate all that she has done!

You are SWEET like a watermelon & you SHINE like the sun!

We hope that your summer is RESTFUL & FUN!

---

school Faculty sussie

Looking to gift the administration or elective teachers but looking for a more affordable option? Try a smaller gift bundle! It comes out to around $5. We found these cute watermelon koozies at H-E-B and filled them with watermelon gum and added some ribbon to dress it up.

One Last Combo Option

Looking for an in-between gift around $15? Simply start with the tumbler, put some crinkled paper in the bottom, then add the gum + lip balm. Voilà!

---

Happy Mother's Day...or is it?

As I sit outside today, enjoying the beautiful sunshine after a week of rain, I can’t help but notice the grass growing in our front yard. It’s a lush, beautiful green because the Texas summer drought has not set in yet. I’m tempted to go lay down in a certain shady spot and go rest my eyes, but then they are distracted by the patch of grass that won’t seem to grow. My husband and I debate over whether it’s a fungus or if it just doesn’t get enough shade…if any one is a grass pro and wants to come take a look, you’re more than welcome. On top of that, all of the recent rain has caused the grass to quickly grow + some weeds have popped up, so I add yard mowing/maintenance to our list of things to do and it’s no longer a relaxing, happy thing to look at but a burden instead.

We all know the saying, “the grass is greener on the other side”, but I heard a response recently to that that made me laugh. “It’s not greener, it’s just grass.” On this Mother’s Day, I think this is something for all of us ladies to remember…whether you’re a mom or not, stick with me.

There are a lot of mixed emotions out there on Mother's Day. Obviously, there is joy and celebration. But for some, the day is a tough one because they are waiting for their own child, they've lost someone dear to them, or they do not have a good relationship with their mom. For others, they are about to be a new mom and might have uncertainties about what the next chapter will hold. And for those who are already mamas, they might be struggling with anxiety + doubt over whether they are a good enough mom.

So I thought I’d share scenarios from each of our lives so we have a window into what others may be going through when we think that their grass is a little greener. I recommend you to read these even if you’re not in any of these categories or if you’re a dad/son/brother/loved one so you can know how to encourage the women in your life.

Waiting

You just wish your mama would stop asking you “why aren’t you dating anyone?”. You graciously explain for the millionth time that you would if someone would ask. It seems like all your girlfriends are married off and popping out kids, and you just want a boyfriend. Everyone calls you Aunt (so-and-so), which brings you such joy and you don’t want to complain - but you still wish you could have a child of your own.

You can still remember where you were the moment you found out you were going to be a mom. You were so excited and came up with the cutest way to tell your husband that you were expecting. But then you also remember where you were when you lost that baby, and can still remember the pain both physically + emotionally. It’s tough for you to be with your friends that have babies around the same age your little one would be because you just picture what their little personality would be like.

Your friends look at your life and tell you how jealous they are that you and your husband can pick up and travel whenever you want! It does seem quite luxurious, but what you really long for is a weekend at home with your own little family, yet for some reason, you cannot get pregnant. You try every technique, diet, and supplement out there, but test after test comes back void. It’s emotionally, spiritually, and physically exhausting and you’re starting to wonder what’s wrong with you and why you can’t get pregnant.

You’ve decided to foster to adopt and are beyond ecstatic each time a child is placed with you wondering if this will be your forever son or daughter. It seems like this might really be the one, but suddenly a distant family member shows up and wants to take the child back. You are crushed because you feel that you would love that child more than this person they’ve never met, but they are taken from you and you have to start again from scratch.

“I shouldn’t be upset…I already have a child” you tell yourself when you find out you’ve miscarried again. You’re beyond thankful for the one you have, but want him/her to have siblings and you’re wondering now if that will ever happen.

Expecting

You were so excited to find out you are going to be a mom - this is what you’ve been waiting for! But about a month in you start getting sick and you’re still sick with only 10 weeks left. Motivation is at an all-time low and you don’t have the energy to “nest”.

You weren’t supposed to get pregnant. What will everyone say when they find out? You don’t agree with abortion because you don’t want to take the life of an innocent baby, but right now you feel like your life is over.

“I’m supposed to feel excited…but I’m not.” My husband and I want to have kids, but not now - it’s too soon. I really like my job + freedom and I don’t know what that will look like once the child comes.

You’re so excited to be a mom! This is what you’ve been waiting for. But now doubt and anxiousness are sneaking in. “Am I really ready for this?” You’ve read all the books, have baby proofed the house, and have your birthing plan…but is it all enough?

Mom-Ing

“My little one is a gift” is what you have to remind yourself as your child is screaming in your face. Why won’t he stop crying? Is it something I’m doing/not doing? The questioning overwhelms you more than the very loud noise that’s coming out of such a small child. “It will get better”, you tell yourself, but as the days pass on you just get more discouraged.

You swipe through the photos of your friends’ recent trip to Disney with their kids and wish you could take your kids, but you are barely getting by with this month’s bills. You look like you have it all together and try to maintain the same lifestyle as the others to “keep up with the Jones”, but you feel like you can’t wear that mask much longer because it’s starting to crack.

You work full-time, but are a mama too. You battle with yourself wondering if you are spending too much time doing one or the other.

You gave up working to be at home with your kiddo - which you love and are so thankful for the opportunity. However, you sometimes feel as though you no longer have an identity past “mom” and long for adult conversation during your day.

You’ve got the picture perfect family - loving husband and multiple kids. Yet, you still feel alone. You make it through your day carpooling and going from practice to practice. You occasionally get a date night here and there, but you really don’t feel like you know the man you pose so well next to in pictures.

The common thread?

We all have expectations and “our plan”. Typically, we conjure this plan from the hypothetical standard our culture has created. No matter what stage you are in (and so many are not listed here) the common thread is that we all at times feel discontent and this spawns from insecurity and loneliness. Know that I say this with the upmost sensitivity to each of you no matter which stage you’re in. However, you may feel stuck in one rut, but then once you’re life stage changes and you’re out of one rut you might quickly find yourself in another one. It’s easy to look at others and think “the grass is greener on the other side”, but it’s just grass. We all have something we’re struggling with.

As women we struggle with a lot of hurt, but instead of internalizing it we should give it over to Jesus who can carry that and find community to share our ups-and-downs with. Some of you may be rolling your eyes if you don’t want to hear me talk about God right now - because in your mind you might be thinking He’s the reason you’re in this spot in the first place. I get that…but He did not want us to live in a broken world. This is why He sent Jesus to save us from the pain that we would face. We will still go through it, but with the power of a God that knows our pain. He is the “man of sorrows” as seen in Isaiah 53:3, “He was despised and rejected— a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care.“

I recently listened to a podcast asking how I know if I’m a good mom. They quickly answered the question by saying that instead of striving to be a good mom, we should be striving to be more like Jesus. We will never be enough, but how freeing it is that we have someone who is enough!

He also created us to do life in community so we don’t have to face this hurt alone. We need women who can point us to the truth and love on us when we don’t believe it. I feel that Mother’s Day, no matter which stage of life you are in, should be a day to show love and support to each other.

Regardless of where you are in your journey, I hope you feel loved, blessed, and encouraged today!

Friday Faves - Garden Essentials!

"There are no gardening mistakes, only experiments."

Are you a plant mama or wannabe? We often hear of people having a green thumb, meaning anything they plant flourishes. For us, it's been a love/hate relationship over the years just to keep plants alive, but we've recently been inspired by this quote: "There are no gardening mistakes, only experiments."

Gardening can be therapeutic - getting your hands dirty and seeing tangibly how a seed can bloom into something great...there is nothing like it. It teaches you patience, but blesses you with joy and beauty when success does come! A garden is the opening statement to your home - even if it's just a potted plant outside your door! So, today we are talking about some of our favorite gardening accessories.

---

Watering Can

A good watering can is a necessity! When searching for a watering can, we went with a choice that was practical, budget-friendly and cute. This watering can was an Ikea find and although they don’t sell this particular one in store anymore, you can still find it on Amazon. Ikea has a ton of other cute and practical watering can options - check them out here.

It’s important to consider what kind of watering you will be doing when choosing the right can. If you’re watering a large garden outside, you’ll want a wide spout that can cover a lot at the same time. Versus, if you’re watering inside or a potted plant, you’ll want one with a more narrow spout so you can water specific plants.

---

Self-Watering Bulbs

Self-watering bulbs are great for the person who can’t keep track of when to water or is traveling and needs her plants watered while away. We found this cute bird-shaped bulb on Amazon in a 2 pack for just $11.99! This particular size is great for smaller plants…just fill with water, stick into the soil of the pot, and refill again when its emptied. So easy, so cute!

---

Gardening Gloves

Who said gardening gloves couldn’t double as a fun, fashion accessory? If you frequent Target as much as we do, then you’ve probably already fallen in love with the Opalhouse brand. They’ve expanded beyond home decor and are now also carrying gardening items! These gloves are not only beautiful but comfortable as well. Plus, they have a great grip on the palm-side. Check them out at a Target near you!

---

Bird House

Another Opalhouse find, this bird house is just $16.99 but we found it on sale! With the warmer weather and sunshine coming out to play, we find ourselves hanging out on the back porch a little more these days. Just fill this ceramic bird house with some local bird seed and watch as the little flocks swoop in to spend some time on the patio with you.

---

Trowel

A good trowel is definitely necessary for gardening. We found this one at our local Home Depot for just $5! You can also find these in a pack of 3 with other gardening accessories. With its steel head and durable wooden handle, you’ll be using this trowel for years to come!