Tag Archives: holidays

Ms. S&C’s holiday wish list–part 2

Posted on December 16, 2009 by msshoescocktails | 1 comment

The special occasion shoe. Ms. S&C can’t think of a better category of shoes to be on her wish list. The special occasion shoe is the polar opposite of Miss Mojito’s staple shoe, as these shoes are typically more unique, not so versatile, and not one where comfort is expected. And, they’re probably overpriced. Despite these underwhelming selling points, they are so much fun — and, usually worn at fun occasions, no?

Ms. S&C currently has an affection for gold shoes, especially when they’re contrasted with black tights (it can be quite a contrast, but a spectacular one). Here are a few of her personal faves for upcoming holiday parties, New Year’s Eve, or any festive event.

There’s a reason why the Kate Spade (left) special occasion sandal is named “Glamour.” This suede sandal, detailed with a patent trim and a gorgeous, grosgrain ribbon laced through the gold chain-link t-strap, is so feminine and so lovely.

Jessica Simpson (center) has a simple, yet eye-catching, cracked metallic d’Orsay pump with a mary jane strap. This is the most versatile pair of the three picks, and more importantly, the most affordable.

And finally, who could resist this other brilliant Kate Spade (right) peep-toe? The metallic sequins and the oversized, sculpted bow on the slingback make it sexy, glamorous, and almost fairy tale-esque.

Ms. S&C wants to know: what special occasion shoes will you wear for holiday festivities? Or, what shoes are on your holiday wish list? Share in the comments below!

posted by Ms. S&C

1 Comment

Posted in shoes

Tagged holidays, jessica simpson, kate spade, metallic, S&C wish list, slingbacks, special occasion shoes, t-straps

Getting Spoooooky

Posted on October 30, 2009 by missmojito | 1 comment

Ghosts, ghouls and goblins bring with them a host of exciting cocktail possibilities to usher in the spookiest of holidays. And with Halloween falling on a Saturday this year, those opportunities for celebrating are all the more plentiful.

Here are Miss Mojito’s thoughts on some festive cocktails that might help get you in the Halloween spirit.

Go Orange and Black: Mix orange curacao liqueur, white rum and lime; garnish with a licorice stick
Go Creepy: Take a nod from Yumsugar.com and mix up a terrifying batch of Eyeball Highballs.
Go Spooky: Mix espresso, orange vodka and coffee liqueur for a brooding, macabre and delicious martini.

Shoe-wise, I think something equally black and brooding is in order. Luckily, I came across these fantastic sandals at Nine West. The hardware toughens up the feminine shape. I’ve been eyeing this particular pair for a while now and am delighted to add them to my collection!

Posted by Miss Mojito.

1 Comment

Posted in cocktails, fall/winter cocktails, shoes, spirits, vodka, white rum

Tagged halloween, holidays, nine west

Green with envy

Posted on March 17, 2009 by msshoescocktails | 5 comments

Forget the parades, shamrocks, and leprechauns for your St. Patrick’s Day celebration. There are green shoes to be worn! And the variety is incredible — floral, t-strap, patent, snakeskin, flats, platforms, sneakers and rainboots. The strappy sandals are my personal faves. They are flirty and fun, and I can see them having a place in my spring wardrobe long after the Irish festivities are over. Quick reader quiz — who can spot the $1,000 pair and which are eco-friendly? Share your guess in the comments section.

lanvin

blue-floral

prada-sandal

patent-t-strap

rl-platform

slingback-sandal

sperry-top-sider eco-friendly-2 blowfish-sherbert

converse sigerson-morrison daisy-rainboot

As far as imbibing on this occasion, beer is traditionally the favorite. And, like shoes, there are more choices than you think.

1. Irish beer, such as Guinness or Harp

St. Patrick’s Day is the only day of the year when I’m tempted to drink a Guinness or a Harp or both. I like the half-and-half combo which yields a Black & Tan.

2. Green beer, as in beer that is the color green

Green beer, even on St. Patty’s Day, doesn’t really appeal to me, but I thoroughly enjoy that others consume it. In the event you ever want to mix up your own batch, Mix That Drink outlines, step-by-step, how to make this concoction.

3. Green beer, as in beer that is eco-friendly

Drinking beer is good for you and the environment. Well, not exactly. But it still sounds like a cause that many of us can get behind. The Sierra Club has a few recommendations for beers made by companies who are working to lighten their carbon footprint–Sierra Nevada and Brooklyn Brewery are included. This way you can drink green beer today and any other day.

Cheers!

posted by Ms. S&C

5 Comments

Posted in beer, shoes

Tagged environmentally-friendly, green shoes, holidays

Love is in the air

Posted on February 14, 2009 by msshoescocktails | 3 comments

Happy Valentine’s Day! The theme of love continues over here at S&C. Ms. S&C had two good friends marry a few weeks ago and thought now would be the time to share a few details.

Friends SB and LD were married in a courthouse ceremony, so they spent their wedding day with a small gathering of family and close friends — until an evening reception when many more of us joined them to celebrate. When I saw SB, she was stunning in a Tahari dress. The dress, knee length, had gorgeous silver detailing, a cut-out neckline, and was finished with a belted bow. I so wish there was a picture to share. It was very Jackie O/Audrey Hepburn-esque. SB said a courthouse wedding seemed a bit retro so she went with a vintage late 50s/early 60s look.

Naturally, I wanted to see what shoes she paired. And she really couldn’t have found a better match for the dress. The shoes were beautiful and elegant and had P-E-R-F-E-C-T bow detailing to compliment the belt on the dress. She picked up this ivory pair over at DSW, where there are more color choices. And with a price tag of $49.95, I’m very tempted to get the black ones.

wedding-shoes

SB’s perfect wedding shows with bow detail

Another fun retro-y detail — at the reception, instead of wedding cake, red velvet cupcakes were served. I’m not sure I’ve tasted a better cupcake. The baker has a blog where she shares the recipe, and she comments that “the intense red color of the cake has some sort of hypnotic effect, because people are always delighted just to lay eyes on the cake, and then absolutely smitten when they finally taste it.” Absolutely right, sista.

Delicious red velvet wedding cupcakes

To further celebrate this heart-filled holiday, here’s a romantic cocktail that fits the occasion. It was inspired by the Rose Royce Cocktail, courtesy of OVAL Vodka. One of the original ingredients in the recipe was rose syrup. I subbed St. Germain elderflower liqueur because it of its floral notes and because I already had it in my cabinet. I used grenadine instead of simple syrup so the drink would have a slight pink color. I also didn’t have any fresh thyme, but the rosemary in my garden has survived the winter (and it seemed a better fit, both in name and flavor). All in all, a lovely drink.

The Rose Cocktail
makes one drink

1 oz. Vodka (Oval recommended)
1/3 oz. St. Germain
1/3 oz. Grenadine
2/3 oz. Fresh Lime Juice
1 dash Angostura Bitters
½ glass Champagne

Shake all ingredients well over ice and pour into a flute half-filled with champagne. Garnish with a sprig of fresh rosemary.

3 Comments

Posted in cocktails, shoes, spirits, st germain, vodka

Tagged champagne goes with everything, holidays, winter white

Heart’s Inspiration

Posted on February 12, 2009 by missmojito | 2 comments

My mother and I whipped up a batch of Cranberry Margaritas as our Christmas Eve pre-dinner drink. We liked them so much that we repeated them again on Christmas day, and more recently for a Sunday evening get together. They’re tart and a tiny bit sweet, and they mix up quickly in a blender. Plus, they translate easily into a virgin-version for your pregnant sister-in-law (just add a bit more lime juice and a splash of OJ in place of the tequila and Cointreau)! Given their heart-toned hue, they make for a festive Valentine’s drink, too.

Cranberry Margarita
Recipe comes from cocktail.com

1 1/4 cup cranberry juice
1/2 cup sugar (Miss M recommends substantially less sugar – start with 1 Tbl and taste frequently)
1 1/2 cup fresh frozen cranberries, rinsed (freeze on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper)
3/4 cup fresh squeezed lime juice
3/4 cup tequila
1/2 cup Cointreau (orginal recipe calls for Grand Marnier, but Miss M recommends this substitute)
Ice

Mix together the first six ingredients. Pour half of mixture in the blender and fill rest with ice. Blend. Repeat with second half of mixture. Makes about two blender batches – which is enough to meet 4-6 people’s margarita desires, depending upon individual thirst levels.

For a romantic, flirtatious and Valentine’s inspired footwear choice, this floral suede pair by Bandolino is calling my name. And the coral patent sandals from Banana Republic bring a smile to my face.

My heart-toned picks might be a bit clichéd and traditional, but isn’t that the point of Valentine’s Day, anyways?

posted by Miss Mojito

2 Comments

Posted in cointreau, shoes, spirits, tequila

Tagged cranberry, holidays, margarita, sandals, slingbacks

Be mine

Posted on February 10, 2009 by msshoescocktails | 1 comment

Dear Mr. S&C,

Valentine’s Day is approaching — the day when lovers express their love with gifts of chocolates, flowers, homemade cards, and maybe even shoes? Ms. S&C tells me that you’ve been working like a madman over the past couple of months. I bet you haven’t had much time to think of a gift for your lovely wife? I seem to recall that last year you tried to order flowers on February 13, and the florist laughed at you? Perhaps I can help by offering a few recommendations?

These Giuseppe Zanotti floral pumps are pretty incredible — and a much better gift than a dozen roses. With the rounded toe and pleated detail — they are like a work of art. Another option is this Noah Love Birds clutch. Bright red and love birds! It practically has Perfect. Valentine’s Day. Gift. written all over it.

Yours truly,
A Concerned Friend

posted by Ms. S&C

1 Comment

Posted in shoes

Tagged floral print shoes, giuseppe zanotti, holidays, S&C wish list, valentines

Too much of a good thing

Posted on January 5, 2009 by msshoescocktails | 5 comments

Isn’t too much of a good thing what New Year’s Eve is all about? When Ms. S&C likes something, she kinda gets all consumed by it. Take Duffy’s Rockferry album for instance. Once she got it for her b-day, it was in heavy rotation on her Ipod for weeks. Everyday on the metro, she would listen to the whole album beginning to end (she’s usually a shuffle kind-of a girl). Now that the Duffy newness has worn off, she’s moved on to T.I’s Whatever You Like. Damn, that song is catchy. And, let me tell you — it made the metro ride to work today at least bearable. The first day back after the holidays is the pits. Absolute. Pits.

Ms. S&C’s obsession fascination with punch has lasted a lot longer (yes, it made the 2008 Year in Review list). When given the opportunity to make a holiday cocktail for LKO’s New Year’s Eve party, she could not resist. Taking cues from the autumn spiced punch and LC’s champagne punch, we came up with this delicious Shoes & Cocktails exclusive — a sparkling cherry punch! This drink’s bright, festive color make it a perfect holiday cocktail. It was a splendid way to start off the night!

angelas-nye-punch-003

After recently trying a Ritz Cocktail with maraschino liqueur, I knew I wanted to use cherry liquor in something, so I replaced the apricot brandy from the champagne punch. And, I feel like if you are going to go through the trouble of making simple syrup yourself, you might as well infuse it with something. I made this simple syrup with cranberries mainly because I had a leftover bag of them in the freezer, but also because I wanted something with the deep red color (I thought more cherries in the syrup may be an overload on cherry flavor). The frozen cherries were a delicious little surprise at the bottom of the cup, and they helped keep the punch cold.

Sparkling Cherry Punch

Ingredients:

4 bottles of champagne
2 bottles of white wine (I used Sauvignon Blanc)
8 oz. cranberry infused simple syrup (see ingredients and directions below)
8 oz. cherry brandy
1 bag of frozen pitted cherries

Directions:
Combine all ingredients in a punch bowl. Stir. Easy schmeasy!

Simple Syrup Ingredients:

1 cup sugar
1 cup water
1 bag frozen cranberries

Simple Syrup Directions:
It is recommended that you make the simple syrup a day in advance to maximize the cranberry flavor. Combine water, sugar, and cranberries in a saucepan. Bring to boil, reduce heat. Cover and simmer 10 minutes. Cover and chill for 12-24 hours. Strain bits of cranberry from the syrup.

S&C wants to know: What fun, festive drinks did you have to ring in the new year? Share your NYE drinks below!

5 Comments

Posted in cherry liqueur, cocktails, fall/winter cocktails, spirits, wine

Tagged champagne goes with everything, flavored ice cubes, holidays, infused simple syrup, punch, s&c exclusive

Holiday party cocktails

Posted on December 23, 2008 by msshoescocktails | 2 comments

Break out the punch bowls! S&C has two great holiday drinks for you. Our friends LC and CA hosted their annual gift exchange party over the weekend. LC served the delicious champagne punch she makes every year. I think it is a family recipe. It is bubbly and festive and everybody loves it. If you don’t make it for the Christmas holiday, it would be perfect for a New Year’s Eve bash.

LC’s Family Punch

champagne_punch

Ingredients:

2 bottles of champagne
1 bottle of white wine
8 oz. apricot brandy
8 oz. triple sec
1 liter club soda

Directions:
Combine all ingredients in a punch bowl. Add block of ice. For less potency, half the amounts of brandy and triple sec. (As the night goes on and you continue to refill the punch bowl, halving is not a bad idea.)

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After attending the Holiday Cocktails seminar, I was inspired to make homemade eggnog for LC’s party. Eggnog is quite easy, as long as you have an electric mixer. And by mixing the ingredients one by one, it ensures that they are well blended. This recipe is an adaptation of several I’ve seen. I didn’t add cognac or brandy (a spirit found in most recipes), mostly because I didn’t want it to be too boozy. I also added more vanilla extract and spices to make it more indulgent and dessert-like. I think the final product was a perfect accompaniment to chocolate pound cake and the other fine desserts served at the party. It is also a fine substitute for cream and sugar in your coffee.

Eggnog

Ingredients:

Dozen eggs
2 cups sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon clove
2 teaspoons nutmeg, plus extra for garnish
4 cups heavy whipping cream
5 cups milk
2 cups dark rum (I used Gosling’s Black Seal)

Directions:
In a large bowl, beat the eggs until frothy. Add sugar, continue beating. Add vanilla, clove, nutmeg, continue beating. Add heavy cream, little at a time, continue beating. Add milk, little at a time, continue beating. Chill for 1-2 hours. Before serving, add rum and mix well. Garnish with nutmeg. For less indulgence, substitute some of the heavy cream with milk.

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S&C Wishes You Happy Holidays and Best in 2009!

2 Comments

Posted in cocktails, dark rum, fall/winter cocktails, spirits, wine

Tagged champagne goes with everything, eggnog, holidays, punch

It’s the thought that counts

Posted on December 15, 2008 by msshoescocktails | 2 comments

Have friends and family that you still need to shop for? Don’t know what to buy for your work gift exchange? Gift-giving has gotten oddly competitive and so out of hand, it is now an exhausting chore to give gifts. You stress about spending too little, or too much, and then there’s the fear of your recipient going home saying, “What am I going to do with this?” Gifts do require some thought and some amount of time and/or money. But, Ms. S&C is here to help with some holiday gift ideas that should please a few and not bust your budget.

The eco-friendly — pick up some organic fair-trade coffee, a coffee mug (I like these whimsical ones from Anthroplogie), plus a bottle of Bailey’s Irish Crème for good measure.
The wine pairing — there are plenty of great things to accompany a good bottle of wine. (Don’t know what wine to choose? Go to a wine store and they’ll be happy to make recommendations – just point them in the direction of red, white, dry, etc.) Combine the wine with some fancy cheese, or another gourmet food item that compliments the flavors. (Cheesetique is my favorite local cheese shop, and they are always great about helping navigate their large selections.)
The guy’s night out — combine a six-pack of his favorite beer (Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale is a great choice this time of the year), a deck of cards, and a set of poker chips.
The straight-up boozer — you can find plenty of add-ons to go with his/her favorite spirit: fancy olives for the gin drinker, or a cigar for the gent that likes Scotch.
The pampering — there’s got to be a lady in your life that deserves some pampering. Pick up a spa gift certificate, (SpaFinder.com gift certificates are accepted at a ton of salons across the country), and make it a pedicure package with nail polish and some luxurious foot cream (I love any of the lavender stuff over at L’Occitane).