Shoes & Cocktails

S&C for baby

Posted on February 17, 2010 by msshoescocktails | 2 comments

Ms. S&C has a dear co-worker/friend who recently delivered what-looks-to-be (because I haven’t met him yet!) a precious baby boy. I recall when shopping for a baby gift, I struggled a bit. I wanted something that matched his mom’s impeccable style. From the day we met, I knew we would be fast friends — we were wearing the same Nine West paisley peep-toe pumps! She’s been a constant fashion inspiration since.

I finally settled on Converse All Star’s — because even little ones could use a pair of Chuck Taylor’s. I found them over at Nordstrom at a reasonable price (not sure why baby shoes tend to be so pricey).

Shoes for baby, because even little ones need their own Chucks.

Before the little guy arrived, our office hosted a baby shower and Ms. S&C happily served on the punch-making committee. I found this work-and-pregnant-lady-friendly recipe at Allrecipes.com. It’s called chilled Christmas punch, but it can be enjoyed year-round. New S&C name is:

Spiced Mocktail Punch
(serves a dozen or more)

Ingredients:

• 2 cups water

• 3/4 cup sugar

• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

• 1 (46 ounce) can pineapple juice, chilled

• 4 cups cranberry-apple juice, chilled

• 1 liter ginger ale, chilled

Directions:

In a saucepan, bring the water, sugar and cinnamon to a boil; stir until sugar is dissolved. Chill (preferably overnight). Just before serving, combine the syrup mixture, juices and ginger ale in a punch bowl or large pitcher. Serve over ice, or use an ice block to chill.

posted by Ms. S&C

2 Comments

Posted in cocktails, shoes

Tagged baby shoes, converse, mocktails, punch

Dear Valentine

Posted on February 12, 2010 by msshoescocktails | Leave a comment

Dear Valentine,

Of course there isn’t anything I want more than you (and, to not to wear snow boots for awhile). But, if you’re in need of gift-giving ideas for the woman you love on Valentine’s Day, here are a few suggestions.

The Kate Spade Gillian shoe is about the prettiest shoe I’ve come across in a long time. The ribbon detail and big bow at the top of a striking satin platform — they are so, so lovely. And, if you’re feeling extra generous, I’m pretty much in love with this flower clutch also. The bursting silk and chiffon petal blossoms are delicate, but would last a lot longer than real flowers. No need for chocolates and roses, I kinda have a V-day shoe-handbag-combo theme going on.

Lots of love,
Ms. S&C

Snowden

Posted on February 10, 2010 by msshoescocktails | 2 comments

At the bar where Mr. and Mrs. S&C worked while in college, we came across the word “snowden” etched in one of the wood tables. We had fun discussing (and still do) whether the table defacer was referencing a literal “snow den,” giving a literary nod to the character Snowden from Catch-22, or my personal fave — phonetically spelling “snowed in.”

As DC’s snowmageddon approached (and the second one now in full force), Ms. S&C reached out to her Facebook friends for ideas on a snowstorm cocktail. She was amazed at the response and creativity. Read on.

Ms. S&C it has been suggested that I come up with a snowstorm cocktail. Ideas?
February 5 at 3:50pm

MB likes this.

RSB You have to include snow in the glass instead of ice.
February 5 at 4:06pm

JW It should contain milk and toilet paper.
February 5 at 4:07pm

ETD Oooh…intriguing. I like this already.
February 5 at 4:18pm

KKS Use snow around the rim of the glass!
February 5 at 4:58pm

BG Strong whiskey and ice!
February 5 4:59pm

WHW How about a snow cream martini?
February 5 at 5:17pm

NB Hot Chocolate! (with Booze) Sounds gross but maybe there’s a way to make it tasty.
February 5 at 5:31pm

SLC I like WHW’s idea for the name!
February 5 at 5:33pm

NDB A little powdered sugar might give you a fluffy “snowlike” effect.
February 5 at 5:37pm

CT bloody marys!
February 5 at 5:59pm

Ms. S&C The best I could come up with is sloestorm — already had sloe gin in the house. Terrible pun, I know.
February 5 at 10:18pm

JO’L something with milk!
February 5 at 10:39pm

GS coconut martini with a liberal sprinkling of sugared coconut on top… mmmmm….
February 5 at 11:20pm

JTM I would go in two directions… something with a frosted glass… vodka… with bits of rock candy or something… Or i would do something with this Godiva chocolat liquer i have or cream… let me know what you create!
February 6 at 12:42am

JP Think fresh snow, sweetened fruit syrup of your choice, more sugar, rum, and copious quantities. You can survive the storm.
February 6 at 8:19am

SS I agree with JW – definitely needs to include milk and TP. Maybe a white Russian in a martini glass with an empty roll of TP on the stem of the martini glass?
February 6 at 10:59am

JW Having spent all day shoveling, I’m changing my suggestion to the Drivewaytini: two belts of scotch and a prescription painkiller chaser.
February 6 at 9:39pm

An article in today’s Washington Post says that making snow cream couldn’t be simpler: mix together fresh snow, milk, (or cream, or condensed milk), sugar and vanilla. Add a creamy liqueur (your choice of Godiva White Chocolate, Bailey’s Irish Cream, or maybe something coffee flavored), top with a garnish of toasted coconut, and I think you’ve got a winning snow-inspired cocktail! One could also try the classic snowball cocktail, but I’m no fan of creme de menthe, nor the number of ingredients.

Ms. S&C wants to know: What do you drink when you’re “snowden?”

posted by Ms. S&C

2 Comments

Posted in cocktails, fall/winter cocktails

Tagged dessert cocktail, snow cream

Super Bowl party planning

Posted on February 1, 2010 by msshoescocktails | 1 comment

Ms. S&C is party planning for her annual Super Bowl party (it will be number eight). When party-planning for any occasion, it is important to pick a theme, or have a focus for the event. This year’s Super Bowl is in Miami, the city simultaneous with Cuban cuisine and Latino culture. Bobby Flay, the new monthly food columnist for Parade magazine, suggests using this as your party theme so you can cook items like adobo-seasoned chicken wings and Cuban sandwich crostinis. And mojitos would be perfect. You could also go the New Orleans, hurricane-fueled Mardi Gras, route. Gumbo, jambalaya, and po-boys all work as football food. And no other city has quite the same legendary cocktails.

The S&C’s are unapologetically hosting an one-sided
Super Bowl Party this year.

Both of these themes are likely better than the S&C’s Blue & White Party. But, the S&C family are Colts fans. Big time. And, we’re in the golden age of Colts football. Peyton Manning is arguably the best quarterback ever, and Bill Polian is a a genius of his own. So, we’ll rejoice in this. We’ll celebrate this. And this is how.

Theme – The Blue & White Party, for the Indianapolis Colts, whose team colors are blue and white.
Food – Traditional football fare will be served: pigs n’ blanket, spinach dip (with blue corn chips), and whatever else guests bring. The featured item will be chocolate cupcakes with white icing and blue horseshoes, special-made from Buzz Bakery.
Beverages – It’s not a party without punch. A version of our favorite sparkling punch will be made with blueberries, and we’ll have plenty of craft beer from Indiana (probably Three Floyds).
Entertainment – Aside from the game, we’ll have football squares, Super Bowl bingo, Colts player-position match game. Prizes will be awarded to winners (maybe another dinner with the S&C’s?).
Décor – Over the years, we’ve accumulated a collection of football-serving plates, glasses, and other Colts paraphernalia. We’ve also got a football piñata, and we’ll buy blue and white paper product items, balloons, and even streamers this year.
Wardrobe – Mr. S&C owns an Addai jersey. Ms. S&C has a number of apparel items ranging from an Alyssa Milano touch t-shirt to a vintage Baltimore Colts majorette vest. Team colors all the way.

No matter how much planning is involved, inevitably the success of the party is tied to the outcome of the game. Go Colts!

posted by Ms. S&C

1 Comment

Posted in cocktail-related

Tagged party planning

An Outfit Fit for a Potato

Posted on January 28, 2010 by missmojito | Leave a comment

It seems like the folks at Project Runway should have come up with the theme of episode 2 ages ago. The challenge: turn a potato sack into a dress suitable for their models to wear to an upscale “industry event.” And boy, did the designers live up to the task! The vast majority of the bunch showed fabulous mixes of innovation and taste on last week’s runway.

Miss Mojito has a confession to make. When I was just a tiny mojito, dreaming of what I wanted to be when I grew up, I spent several months convinced that I was destined to be a fashion designer. I’d sketch out designs of intricate, multi-layered dresses. Inevitably, one of those layers was always burlap. A particular favorite design when I was nine years old was a three-layer gown: a floor-length, satin, 0ne-shouldered dress, layered under a knee-length burlap dress layered under a burgundy velvet mini-dress. It might sound like a confusing nightmare now, but to my nine-year-old mind it was fashion heaven.

Needless to say I was delighted to see burlap make its way into the equation for this Project Runway episode. And I was pretty floored by the results! Here are some highlights and lowlights.

Several designers dyed their burlap with fantastic results. This is a technique we don’t get to see too often on PR, so it was fun to see the results.
I was surprised at how burlap can be at once fluid and structured. The runner-up winner, Amy, showcased an impressive mix of both, in an outfit that played up the organic side of the fabric. I love the burned look of the hemline.
The episodes are always more satisfying to me when there’s an actual client to please, not just the judges. A client with demands and preferences adds a small touch of reality to the challenges.
Lauren Hutton is a sophisticated treat of a judge. What an icon!

Designer Jay Nicolas is the winner, and you could have seen it coming from a mile away. While his design isn’t necessarily innovative in terms of color or silhouette, it’s a supremely chic creation that looks much more expensive than it actually is.

For a shoe pairing, I’d play up the mini-nature of the dress with a pair of sky-high heels. And since this design is a safe black, it might be fun to play with some color in the shoes.

These electric yellow suede platform pumps by Elizabeth and James (a brand of the Olsen twin fame) would be my first choice.

But, $350 not being in the mojito shoe budget, a vibrant blue in a more reasonable price range would be an excellent alternative. I like these Steve Madden’s with floral detail.

Posted by Miss Mojito.

A Little Leggy

Posted on January 22, 2010 by missmojito | 3 comments

Miss Mojito would be lost without a wide and varied collection of tights and leggings to get her through the winter months. Some tights are perfect for work and some are better suited for fun; some leggings pair well with heels and some are perfect for boots. And believe me, it’s taken loads of trial and error to identify my personal faves.

Basic Black: I’ve been circulating two pairs of my Asset brand black opaque footed tights for over two seasons now without so much as a snag or tear. These are the frugal girl’s version of Spanx, available at Target for $14. They’re heavy weight, totally opaque and do a great job at smoothing and shaping.

For footless leggings, I’m partial to a pair from Express. They’re a great length and weight.

Fun with Colors: For on-trend, jewel-toned tights, Hue is my go-to brand. They’re available at a few local stores here in Richmond (Need Supply is where I buy mine), and also online. I love the way the vibrant colors pop against a great pair of shoes, like this turquoise-purple combination I tried out.

Shades of Ombre: Sister Mojito and I both flipped when we spotted this pair of ombre shaded tights. They start as black at the waist band and fade to a pale gray at the toe. Perfect when you want to insert a bit of drama in your leg-wear!

80s Flashback: I bought my black velvet stirrup leggings from American Apparel with a very specific purpose in mind. I was looking for a warm, heavy weight legging—something a bit sturdier than footless cotton spandex leggings—that would tuck smoothly into ankle and mid-calf boots. The stirrup seemed to be the perfect option, and somehow American Apparel convinced me that a velvet finish was the way to go. I’ve had tons of fun pairing these leggings with black lace-up boots and floaty dresses.

In Search of Some Texture: I love textured tights paired with an above-the-knee skirt and suede boots. The combo of different shades and textures can be so striking. My favorite mixes include a loden green, textured diamond tight partnered with a slouchy, beige suede wedge boot, and a pair of charcoal, chevron patterned tights with some pointy-toed, rust-toned boots.

Time for Bed: Due to a drafty old apartment, I often rely on my polartec fleece leggings to keep me warm at night. I highly recommend investing in a pair! My version came from JCrew in the mid-90s, but a quick tour of Google should point you in the right direction.

Miss Mojito wants to know: What role do tights and leggings play in your cold-weather wardrobe? And PS – if anyone has recommendations on how to take photos of your own feet without contorting your body most uncomfortably, Miss Mojito is all ears!

Posted by Miss Mojito.

3 Comments

Posted in shoes

Tagged leggings, tights

Project Runway is back home

Posted on January 20, 2010 by msshoescocktails | Leave a comment

Season seven of Project Runway has begun, and the show is back in New York, where it belongs. That concrete jungle where dreams are made of. The place where there’s nothing you can’t do. The streets will make you feel brand new. Big lights will inspire you. Let’s hear it for New York (and Jay-Z and Alicia Keys).

Project Runway is back, and so is the S&C recap and shoe pairing series.

Project Runway’s first episode takes the designers to Central Park where they choose fabrics for a creation that expresses them as a designer. This challenge means that they have the freedom to make whatever they want. Everyone should nail this, unless they can’t really sew (that means you, Christiane).

Things to mention, but not spend a lot of time on — new this season is a gimmicky digital sketch book (guess there’s a new sponsor). Guest judge for this round is Nicole Richie (though she’s more L.A. than New York). Michael Kors and Nina Garcia are still in classic form, describing Jesus’ so-called glamorous gown, “a crocodile trunk that exploded on an evening gown,” and something that “looks like a Hershey chocolate bar.” God love ’em.

Emilo wins the first challenge with a fine, flirty, full-skirted dress with lots of texture. It was my personal favorite, but I think Seth Aaron‘s youthful punk dress, and Ping‘s wacky layered look do a better job of representing them as designers.

For the shoe pairing, I really like the style Emilo chose for his dress. They’re a bit of a surprise. The cut-out bootie sandal adds another textured element, and the greenish color is a refreshing choice. I found a pair of cut-out slingbacks, from Lanvin over at Barney’s. The wooden platform sandal matches the fun flirtiness of the dress, and the bright green color is perfect for warmer weather. They could be yours for a jaw-dropping $1,005.00. That’s Paris luxury for you.

posted by Ms. S&C

S&C Dinner Party: Nouveau Southwestern

Posted on January 17, 2010 by msshoescocktails | 1 comment

The S&C family enjoy a good dinner party. We also enjoy cocktail parties, holiday parties, a supper club, a book club, happy hours — pretty much any occasion when friends gather for a drink.

Sharing our so-called Nouveau Southwestern-style dinner party is actually long overdo. But, having fixed a batch of agave nectar margaritas over the weekend, Ms. S&C resurrected the blog post.

The Occasion: At last year’s Super Bowl party, friends LC (also known as Sister Mojito) & CA were the recipients of a door prize — Dinner with the S&C’s. Funny enough, this lucky couple also won the prize the year before.

The Menu: Typically, there is one ingredient or item that Ms. S&C likes to build a menu around. For this meal, pork belly was the inspiration. We called it nouveau because we used pork belly, agave, and because it sounds fancy. Southwestern because of accompanying ingredients of roasted corn, black beans and poblanos.

First course: Bacon wrapped shrimp with crispy basil
Wrap bacon around shrimp, drop in a deep-fryer. Fry whole pieces of basil for a few seconds. Serve all on a plate garnished lightly with Sriracha hot chili sauce.
Second course: Southwestern-inspired chopped salad
Prepare a salad of mixed greens, roasted corn, black beans, tomatoes, red onion, jalapeno. Serve with a simple vinaigrette.
Main course: Pork belly, stuffed poblanos, refried black beans
Pork belly cooked for hours, poblanos stuffed with all kinds of good southwestern ingredients, served atop refried beans.
Dessert course: Fried ice cream
Cinnamon ice cream served alongside cinnamon and sugar-dusted deep-fried tortillas.

The Drink: Eager to get a handle on a much-talked about ingredient, agave nectar, Ms. S&C decided margaritas would be the featured cocktail.

margarita

Similar to honey, agave nectar is becoming the preferred sweetener of the health conscious and natural food cooks. Extracted from the blue agave plant, the nectar has a lower glycemic index than sugar but still the same sweetness. Glycemic index relates to that “sugar rush” you hear about, and foods with a high glycemic index raises blood sugar quickly. And why do you need to know this? Well, you may not, but Ms. S&C has loved ones with diabetes, so she tries to pay attention to these things. More on the health benefits of agave nectar.

Agave Nectar Margaritas

Margaritas are one of Ms. S&C’s favorite drinks. Both tart and sweet, they are super easy to make, require only a few ingredients, and the proportions are easy to remember. Because Ms. S&C has tried a few variations using agave nectar, she strongly recommends the following: 1. use tequila blanco (the white, silver, unaged tequila), 2. do not use salt in this version, 3. as always, use only fresh juice.

Ingredients (serves one):

1 and 1/2 oz tequila blanco
1 oz lime juice (approximately the juice of one lime)
1/2 oz agave nectar
1/2 oz water
crushed ice
lime wedge

Directions:

Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker and shake vigorously. Pour into a glass filled with ice (crushed ice works best). Garnish with lime wedge.

posted by Ms. S&C

1 Comment

Posted in cocktails, spirits, tequila

Tagged agave nectar, margarita, S&C dinner party, to your health

Cocktails Savoy!

Posted on January 15, 2010 by missmojito | 2 comments

“Herein after learn all that is known about COCKTAILS.” And so starts Harry Craddock’s 1930 compilation of “cocktails, rickeys, daisies, slings, shrubs, smashes, fizzes, juleps, cobblers, fixes and other drinks.” As head barman at the famous Savoy Hotel in London in the 1920s and 1930s, Mr. Craddock translated his expertise into a true treasure trove for today’s cocktail connoisseur. And Miss Mojito couldn’t have been happier to be gifted with this beautifully illustrated book from a good pal with a similar penchant for all-things-cocktail.

The book contains upwards of 750 recipes presented in a simple style. In most recipes, the ingredients are listed in proportions (1/2 of this to 1/2 of that), although you will find scattered about a few vague references (add “a glass” of gin, for example). In addition to cocktail recipes, the reader also receives a brief education in wine and wine drinking.

Mr. Craddock’s collection is not all business, as witnessed by the quips and remarks found throughout the recipes. The Rattlesnake Cocktail (whiskey, egg shite, sweetened lemon juice and absinthe) is so named, he writes, “because it will either cure rattlesnake bite, or kill rattlesnakes, or make you see them.” And the Jabberwock Cocktail (orange bitters, gin, sherry, caperitif), he warns, is sure to make you “gyre and gimble in the wabe until brillig all right, all right.” The man’s a hoot!

But humor certainly takes second place to usefulness in this guide. I certainly appreciate “A Few Hints for the Young Mixer,” namely:

Ice is nearly always an absolute essential for any Cocktail.
Never use the same ice twice. (I’m totally guilty of this cocktail sin.)
Remember that ingredients mix better in a shaker rather larger than is necessary to contain them. (I learned this one the hard way.)
Shake the shaker as hard as you can: don’t just rock it: you are trying to wake it up, not send it to sleep!
If possible, ice your glasses before using them.
Drink your Cocktail as soon as possible. Henry Craddock was once asked what was the best way to drink a Cocktail: “Quickly,” replied that great man, “while it’s laughing at you!”

Here are just a couple examples of Savoy cocktails that Miss Mojito is eager to try. I’ll be reporting back after I’ve done a bit more experimentation and exploration!

Mississippi Mule Cocktail

2/3 dry gin
1/6 lemon juice
1/6 Creme de Cassis

Shake well and strain into cocktail glass.

Mr. Manhattan Cocktail

One lump sugar
1 dash lemon juice
4 dashes orange juice
1 glass gin
4 mint leaves

Crush the lump of sugar in a little water. Then crush four leaves of green mint, and add remaining ingredients. Shake well and strain into cocktail glass.

Posted by Miss Mojito.

2 Comments

Posted in cocktails, gin, spirits

Tagged I'm funnier when I drink, mississippi mule, mr. manhattan, savoy cocktail book