Queen of Style

5 Cocktails to Kick Off Summer!

Whether you crave vodka, tequila or Crave Liqueur, check out these  Margarita, Mojito + more  cocktail recipes.

 -PJ Gach

 

Today’s the start of the Memorial Day holiday weekend.  You may be at work counting the hours until you can hit the road, or you may home lolling about, or you may be in a tizzy cleaning before guests appear.

 

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Whether you’re having a few guests over or a horde, entertain them with these tasty cocktails.

Sauza® Mint Margito

 

Ingredients:
1 cup Sauza® Blue Silver 100% Agave Tequila
2 cups Club Soda
1/4 cup Fresh Lime Juice
1 bunch of Fresh Mint
3 tbsp. Sugar
Ice
 
Directions:
In a small pitcher, muddle together the mint leaves, sugar and lime juice until they start to melt together. Add your Sauza® Blue Silver. Fill 4 glasses with ice and pour cocktail mixture 3/4 of the way to the top of each glass. Fill each glass with club soda and garnish with a lime and an extra sprig of mint. (Serves 4)

Crave Paloma

 

Ingredients:

1 part JDK&Sons™ Crave Chocolate Chili Liqueur
2 parts Sauza™ Blue Silver 100% Agave Tequila
Grapefruit Soda
 
Directions:

Build ingredients in order with ice in a highball glass.
Garnish with a slice of fresh pink grapefruit.

 Icy Mint Freeze

 

Ingredients:

1 part JDK&Sons™ Crave Chocolate Mint Liqueur
1 part DeKuyper® Strawberry Patch Liqueur
1 part DeKuyper® Blue Curacao

Directions:
Mound fine crushed ice in a cocktail glass using a large ice cream scoop.  Pour each ingredient, one by one, in stripes to create a horizontal layering of the ingredients over the crushed ice.  Serve with a demitasse spoon.

EFFEN® Fire Cracker

 

Ingredients:
1 1/2 parts EFFEN® Vodka
3/4 part JDK & Sons™ O3 Premium Orange Liqueur*
3/4 part Pomegranate Juice
3/4 part Lime Juice
3/4 part Simple Syrup
1 dash Bitters

Directions:

Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker over ice and shake.  Strain into a cocktail glass.  Garnish with a lime wheel folded in half with a red cherry, held together by an American flag toothpick.

EFFEN® Sparkling Black Cherry Cooler

Ingredients:

2 parts EFFEN® Vodka
2 parts Fresh Lemon Sour
1 part Cranberry Juice
2 Maraschino Cherries
3 parts Seltzer
 
Directions:

Combine ingredients, except for seltzer, in a tall glass and stir very well.  Pour over ice and top with seltzer- then stir again.

Frozen Cherry Lime Sauza®-Rita

Ingredients:

1 can Sauza® Blue Silver 100% Agave Tequila
1 bottle Light Beer
1 bottle Cherry Soda
1 can Limeade
3 cups Ice
 
Directions:
Pour limeade, beer and cherry soda into blender filled with ice. Fill limeade can with Sauza® Blue Silver Tequila and add to blender.  Blend until smooth and enjoy.

 

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4 Vodka Cocktails to Kick Off Memorial Day Weekend!

4 Vodka Cocktails to Kick Off Memorial Day Weekend!

Vikingfjord Vodka has four, yes'm, four tasty cocktail recipes for you to try.

-PJ Gach

Oh the joy of a three day weekend. Some of us have a four day weekend, some of us, just have the weekend. Either way, it's Memorial Day and it's time to celebrate. Vikingfjord Vodka's come up with refreshing cocktails for you to sip and enjoy.

3 Healthy + Delicious Recipes for Memorial Day

Summer Fizz

 

Ingredients:

2 oz. Vikingfjord Vodka

2 oz. Blood Orange Juice

1 oz. Champagne / Dry Prosecco

.5 oz. Aperol

Directions:

Press two blood orange slices into bottom of wine glass. Add 1/3 full of crushed ice. Add blood orange juice, Aperol and Vikingfjord vodka. Fill another 1/3 with crushed ice. Add champagne. Top with crushed ice, add straw.

Refreshing Cider

Ingredients:

1.5 oz. Vikingfjord Vodka

.5 oz. Allspice Dram

.5 oz. Lemon Juice

1.5 oz. Apple Cider

Dash of Baked Apple Bitters

Directions: 

Combine ingredients into a cocktail shaker, shake with ice and strain into a rocks glass with fresh ice. Add a red apple slice for garnish.

Memorial Tonic

Ingredients:

2 oz. Vikingfjord Vodka

2 Dashes of Bitter Truth Celery Bitters

Cucumber Spruce

Fever Tree Tonic Water

Directions:

Pour in two ounces of Vikingfjord vodka and top with tonic water. Add two dashes of celery bitters. Fill glass with ice. Squeeze in one lime wedge and discard. Garnish with cucumber spruce.

Pineapple Escape

Ingredients:

 1.5 oz. Vikingfjord Vodka

.5 oz. Coconut Liqueur

.5 oz. Lime Juice

1. oz. Pineapple Juice

Barspoon of Sugar Cane Syrup

Directions:

Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker and add ice. Shake and strain into a coupe glass. Garnish with pineapple wedge.

 

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National Wine Day is May 25th--Get Your Wine Glass Ready for Fun!

National Wine Day is May 25th. Here are some fabulous low-cal drinks courtesy of SkinnyGirl and tasty food pairings to go with them.

-PJ Gach

Don't you love holidays, especially ones that celebrate wine! Saturday is National Wine Day! To celebrate this tasty holiday, here are some wonderful Skinnygirl wine and food pairings for you to try on National Wine Day, Memorial Day and, well, basically all summer long. You won't feel guilty with these low calorie treats.

Moscato pairing

Skinnygirl Moscato

Ingredients:
5 parts Skinnygirl Moscato

Optional pear or mango for garnish

Directions:

Pour chilled Skinnygirl Moscato into your favorite white wine glass or flute. Garnish with fresh pear or mango to accent the natural fruit flavors.

 Minty Mango Salsa

Ingredients:

1 large ripe mango, peeled and diced

1 medium sweet red pepper, diced

1 (4 oz) can chopped green chilis

1/4 cup chopped green onions

1 tbsp. lime juice

2 tsp. minced fresh mint leaves

1/4 tsp. ground ginger

Tortilla chips (optional)

Directions:

In a small bowl, combine the mango, pepper, chilis, onion, juice, mint leaves and ginger.  Cover and refrigerate for at least 8 hours.  Serve with tortilla chips or alongside your meal with chilled Skinnygirl Moscato

White Pairing

 

Skinnygirl White Wine Slush

Ingredients:

5 parts glass of Skinnygirl California White wine

2 parts frozen lemonade

1 part soda water

Lemon peel twist for garnish

Directions:

Blend ingredients with crushed ice and pour into a flute glass. Finish with soda water and garnish with a twist of lemon.

Blueberry Almond Crostinis

Ingredients:

1/4 cup light ricotta cheese

1 tbsp. honey

1/2 tsp. lemon zest

3/4 cup blueberries

4 slices low-calorie whole grain bread, toasted

2 tbsp. sliced almonds, toasted

Directions: 

In a small bowl, combine ricotta cheese, honey and lemon zest.  Slowly fold in blueberries.  Cut each toasted bread slice diagonally into four equal pieces, and divide blueberry mixture among bread pieces.  Sprinkle with toasted almonds and serve with a Skinnygirl White Wine Slush or a glass of Skinnygirl California White.

Rosé Pairing

 

Skinnygirl California Rosé

Ingredients:

5 parts Skinnygirl California Rosé

Directions:

Pour Rosé into a wine glass and enjoy!

Recipe: The Lazy Person’s Shrimp Alfredo
Green Goddess Dip with Vegetable Crudites

Ingredients:

1 cup fat free sour cream

1/2 cup goat cheese 

1/4 cup fresh tarragon, finely chopped

1/4 cup fresh mint, finely chopped

1/3 cup green onions, chopped

1 tablespoon white wine vinegar

Salt and ground pepper to taste

Pinch of sugar

Directions:

Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl and use a fork to whisk together until smooth. Add salt and pepper to taste. Serve with raw vegetables and enjoy with a glass ofSkinnygirl California Rosé. 

 Red Pairing

 

Skinnygirl California Red Wine

Ingredients:

5 parts Skinnygirl California Red

Directions:

Pour into a wine glass and sip away!

Balsamic Caprese Skewers 

Ingredients:

Cherry tomatoes

Mozzarella balls, patted dry with a paper towel

Basil leaves

Pepper

Balsamic vinegar

Directions: 

Using 6-inch bamboo skewers, first place a cherry tomato, then a large basil leaf followed by a mozzarella ball.  Continue these steps until you have the amount of skewers you desire. Arrange them on a platter and sprinkle with a bit of pepper.  Serve with balsamic vinegar or drizzle over top, just remember to drizzle right before serving so that your basil leaves don't wilt. Serve with Skinnygirl California Red.

Change it up: Cut up green, orange, red or yellow peppers into square pieces to add a burst of color.

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Get Milla Jovovich's Cannes Red Carpet Beauty

Milla Jovovich took over the red carpet for the premiere of 'Blood Ties' at Cannes. Here's how to get her look.

-PJ Gach

Cannes red carpet and premieres are still going strong. The sun's been out and the stars are looking amazing. For the premiere of Blood Ties, Milla Jovovich wore a floral print Chanel Couture gown, Swarovski jewelry and makeup by L'Oreal Paris.

Here's how to get that same look at home.

To even out Milla's skin tone, they used L'Oreal Paris Lumi Healthy Luminous foundation  in Nude Beige, MSRP $12.95, (stores nationwide). L'Oreal Paris Visible Lift Colour Lift blush  in Pink Lift, MSPR $10.95 (stores nationwide) was applied on the apples of her cheeks.

Covergirl Cosmetics + The Hunger Games: Catching Fire!

To create Milla's smoky eye, they used L'Oreal Paris Colour Riche Eye Shadow Quad in Cookies N Cream, MSRP $7.95. Her eyes were rimmed with L'Oreal Paris The Super Slim Liner by Infallible in Black, MSRP $8.95 and finished off with L'Oreal Paris Voluminous Power Volume 24H  Black Smoke Mascara, MSRP $7.95.

For lips, L'Oreal Paris Colour Caresse Wet Shine Stain in Pink Resistance, MSRP $9.99 was used to balance out her dark eyes.

Photos 1, 2

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3 Healthy + Delicious Recipes for Memorial Day

Love Fish Tacos or potato salad? Check out nutrionist Franci Cohen’s healthy recipes for these summer treats.

-PJ Gach

 

Memorial Day—the start of summer is just around the corner. Whether you’re planning a cookout or are just looking for healthy recipes to try this summer, check out these three healthy and delicious updates on summer classics: Healthy Mediterranean Potato Salad, Fish Tacos and Colorful Fiesta Veggie Salad.

 

Recipe: The Lazy Person’s Shrimp Alfredo

 

All three were created by Franci Cohen. Franci is a certified nutritionist, personal trainer and exercise physiologist and creator of SPIDERBANDS®, a total-body cardio resistance workout that leverages gravity and your bodyweight with other intense exercise modules such as rebounding, kickboxing and indoor cycling. 

Healthy Mediterranean Potato Salad

 

Ingredients:

2 dozen small red potatoes (approx. 1 1/2 pounds)

4 T finely chopped dill

1 bunch finely chopped scallions

1 red onion, diced small

2-3 tsp cumin

juice & zest of 46 large fresh lemons (approx. 1/3 cup juice)

3 T Kosher salt

2-3 T extra virgin olive oil

Directions:

Boil potatoes in covered saucepan filled with water and 1 T kosher salt, and bring to a simmer. Cook until potatoes are forktender but not too soft (about 10 minutes). Remove potatoes from saucepan and put into a bowl of ice water, to shock potatoes and stop the cooking process. Remove potatoes from ice water bath, and chop into big 2" cubes. Place cubed potatoes into large bowl. To create the dressing, mix remaining ingredients together and whisk to incorporate all. Pour dressing over potatoes. Mix well and serve .

Colorful Fiesta Veggie Salad:

 

Salad ingredients:

1 can black beans, rinsed and drained

4 ears fresh corn on the cob, cooked and shucked

1 red onion, diced

2 Jalapeño peppers, seeded & finely chopped

2 Hass avocado, cubed

1 red bell pepper, finely diced

1 yellow bell pepper, finely diced 

1/2 cup Cilantro, finely chopped

 2 cups Mesculin greens

Dressing ingredients:

1/4 cup low fat mayonnaise 

1/4 cup water

2 T Dijon mustard

2 T balsamic vinegar

1 T finely minced thyme 

  salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

Mix all salad ingredients together. Whisk dressing ingredients together until well incorporated. Pour dressing on salad and serve on a bed of Mesculin greens.

Yummy Fish Tacos with Slaw Salad:

Ingredients for Tacos:

 1 pound Mahi Mahi or Tilapia (this is more common and much cheaper), cut in quarters 

  1/4 cup canola oil

  1 lime, juiced and zested

  1 tablespoons ancho chili powder

  1 Jalapeno, seeded and finely chopped

  1/4 cup finely chopped fresh Cilantro 

   8 6" flour tortillas 
Ingredients for Slaw Salad:

1 cup shredded red cabbage.               

1 cup shredded white cabbage.          

1 Jalapeno pepper, seeded and diced 

2 carrots, grated                                 

2 T fresh Cilantro, finely chopped.         

Juice and zest of 3 limes.                     

2 T red wine vinegar

Ingredients for Chipotle Cream Sauce:

 1/2 cup plain nonfat yogurt or sour cream (strained in mesh cloth)

 2 tablespoons low fat mayonnaise

2 teaspoons Chipotle pepper, in Adobo sauce

Directions:

Whisk together oil, lime juice and zest, ancho chili powder, & jalapeño to create fish marinade. Arrange fish in single layer in a Pyrex.Pour fish marinade over fish, and let marinate for about 10 minutes. Remove the fish from the marinade, and place onto a hot grill. Grill the fish for 4 minutes on the first side, and then flip for 30 seconds and remove. Let rest for 5 minutes then flake the fish with a fork. Place the tortillas on the grill, and grill for 1020 seconds on each side. Divide the fish among the tortillas and garnish with slaw and chipotle sauce.

To learn more about Franci Cohen, please visit her Facebook page.  You can find Franci at Fuel Fitness, a specialty fitness center in Brooklyn, New York. She teaches group fitness classes, trains clients and more.

 Photo Credits-Google Images via KMRPR

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Old Navy Kicks Off Summer With a Concert by Colbie Caillat at Camp Old Navy in NYC

Head on over to Hudson River Park's Pier 63 for an afternoon filled with music, fun, giveaways and more from Old Navy!

-PJ Gach

Tomorrow play hookey and let your inner kid have a blast at Old Navy's Camp Old Navy at the Hudson River Park Pier 63 in New York City. Starting at 4 pm (so, all you have to do is leave work a tad early) and ending at 8 pm, the afternoon event has everything from kite-flying, tug-0f-war, Frisbee catch and more right on the water!

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Feeling peckish at Camp Old Navy? There'll be brisket sliders, s'mores, lemonade and trail mix-- courtesy of Old Navy. As the sun begins to set, stay for the concert. Indie band CATNAPS and singer/songwriter Colbie Caillat will start the music off at 7 pm.

The event's free and everyone's welcome!

Camp Old Navy

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Hudson River Park Pier 63 at West 23rd Street

4pm - 8 pm

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Looking for Eco-Friendly Fashion + Home Goods? Check Out Rodale's New Store

Rodale magazines have expanded their empire to include an online store with tons of eco-friendly items for you, your man, babies and even your pet.

-PJ Gach

Whether you're buying a baby gift, a housewarming present or something for yourself, you'd like to know that what you're giving has a small carbon footprint: That it's eco-friendly, kind to the environment and will last a long time. Rodale's has carefully curated goods to not only fit every gift list you can think of, it's got great products you can use every day.

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Brands include Gabrielle Sanchez jewelry, Stewart+Brown apparel, Vapour Organic Beauty,  Reiss enamelware, Eileen Fisher apparel, Intelligent Nutrients beauty, Silk Roads Teas, John Masters Organics and more.

Products are eco-friendly and have certifications such as USDA Organic, NATRUE, Natural Products Association, GOTS, Oeko-Tex^®, Fair Trade Certified™and more. Prices are reasonable, ranging from lip balms for $5, seed bombs for $7,  to skinny jeans for $199 and 360 thread count organic sheets for $216.

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Boden Fall Fashion Preview: Color! Sexy Shoes! Sexy Dresses & More

UK’s Boden fashion is oh so chic, affordable, and yes, you’ll want fall to come sooner so you can wear their stuff.

-PJ Gach

I recently got a chance to preview Boden’s fall fashion and accessories offerings. All I can say is that I want everything. If you want to channel Kate Middleton or Pippa Middleton’s style, or you’re looking for wearable, sexy, yet comfortable on-trend fashion, then you Boden is for you.

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They have clothing for women, men, teens and tots. I gravitated towards the women’s fashions. The first thing that caught my eye was a navy blue dress with patterned rhinestones all over it. It was like looking at a starry evening sky.

 There was a hot pink coat (also came in yellow) that would look perfect to wear during a dreary winter’s day. 

What I like about Boden is that they combine classic tailoring with vivid colors. The colors make you smile and lift up your spirits--isn't that what you need in winter, something to remind you of spring? Yup.

Nina Dobrev's Ombre Jeans are Under $100!

Look at the accessories!

 

Look at the shoes! Even the flats are sexy!

Now doesn't this make you want the leaves to change!

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Celebrity Stylist Eric Daman Is Century 21 Department Stores Newest Brand Ambassador

Emmy Award winning stylist and costume designer, Eric Daman shares summer fashion tips.

-PJ Gach

 

If you’ve watched Gossip Girl or The Carrie Diaries, you’ve seen Eric Daman’s work in action. He’s a top notch stylist and costume designer who has made actresses look phenomenal on screen. Eric has also collaborated with top brands like Swarovski, DKNY and Charlotte Russe--creating coveted limited edition collections that have flown out of stores.

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Now Eric Daman’s been selected to be Century 21 Department store’s latest brand ambassador, lending his expertise on what to buy and how to wear this summer’s hottest styles. I got a chance to meet Eric at the newly expanded Century 21 flagship store. He was dressed in a pale blue blazer and looked like the epitome of spring. When I asked him out of all the trends that are big this season, which one was his favorite, he replied, “The graphic trend. It’s easy for everyone to wear, and when you pair it with bright accessories, it looks fresh and chic.”

  

Here are a few of Eric's picks for this summer.

Talking about fashion, I asked him what would be the biggest splurge for this season. Eric stated that a bag is the best item to splurge on. That if you are going to spend money on just on big ticket item, buy a luxury “IT” bag as it will last you for years and years.

If you’re nervous about trying one of the new trends, Eric suggested that you pick out items in and out of your comfort zone, and spend a lot of time in the dressing room trying them on. He said, “Leave your husband at home, and spend time looking at all the racks and in the fitting room to really see how things fit and look on you. You should take your time, not rush yourself and explore the new trends.”

If you follow his advice, I suggest you check out the newly expanded Century 21 flagship store in New York City. They now have a Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf Café (perfect for a quick recharge) and a new MAC Cosmetics store on their ground floor.

Century 21 has long been the destination for NYC shoppers in the know, and tourists from around the world. Trust me, you’ll find crazy bargains on every rack and floor. The week before I went to the event to meet Eric Daman, I walked in there with a yen for a green bag. I walked out with two designer bags, spent only $60 for both. Had I gone anywhere else, I would have spent over $300 for just one of the bags. Century 21 Department stores have clothing for men, women and children, accessories and even things for your home at prices you will not believe.

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Steal Alessandra Ambrosio’s Cool Cali Style for Less

Alessandra Ambrosio rocks the bright color trend with flair.

-PJ Gach

Every time I see Alessandra Ambrosio, I want to raid her closet. She’s got a knack for creating on-trend outfits that are adorb, wearable and comfy. I mean, look at her carrying her little one. She looks amazeballs and the outfit’s kid-friendly.

Get Juliane Moore + Freida Pinto's Glam Cannes Beauty!

Alessandra paired Black Orchid jeans with a RD Style sweater (on sale!) with jeweled flat sandals. Here’s the look for less.

 

 Cruiser Aviators in silver, $18, ShopSosie, Button fly jeans, $21.99, AMI Clubwear, RD Style Citron scoop neck sweater, $47.20, Bluefly, JCP long sleeve crew neck tee, $6, JC Penney, Simply sophisticated watch in gold, $27.50, ShopLately, Cyrill light gold sandal, $39.99, Jellypop

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