I like to keep things simple, whether it’s summer entertaining a holiday gathering, or One of my favorite dips to make for any occasion is spinach dip. It’s easy to make, and you can lighten it up by using light or fat free ingredients if you’re trying to keep things on the healthy side. The dip will still be loaded with flavor.

This spinach dip recipe is easy to make ahead, and throw in the fridge, then pull it out when it’s time to entertain. I like to make the dip the night before, then assemble it in a bread bowl right before it’s time to serve. That way the flavors of the dip have time to meld together, and if you’re using a bread bowl it doesn’t have time to get soggy before you serve it.

You can also just tear up all the bread around a serving bowl on a serving platter or serve the dip with your favorite crackers.

Here’s one of my favorite quick and easy spinach dip recipes. Give it a try at your next party, and let me know what you think.

Spinach Dip

Ingredients:

• 1 box frozen spinach, thaw and drain before using
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 1 packet of your favorite onion soup mix (many use Knorr)

Mix all the ingredients together in a large bowl, then chill the mixture for several hours before serving to let the flavors blend together. You can even make this dip a day or two ahead of time and store it in a bowl in the refrigerator until you’re ready to serve it.

When you’re ready to serve your spinach dip, pull it out of the fridge and scoop it into a hollowed out bread bowl. Place the pieces of bread you removed around the bowl for guests to use for dipping.

You can use several different types of bread for the bowl, from pumpernickel, to sourdough, beer bread, or rye. Look in the deli or your local bakery, or bake your own.

Summer is the perfect time for a golf birthday party, so I thought it would be perfect timing to put together some golf birthday party ideas. You have to start with the supplies. Celebrate Express has some really cool golf party supplies. Check them out.

You can find them to order here:
Golf Deluxe Party Pack for 8

Here is a cute idea for a golf cake. It uses iridescent fondant to cover the cake and the golf ball on top can be made using the Wilton Sports Ball Pan Set.

Or if you want to keep things simpler you can use this Golf Cake Topper and make a classic sheet cake.

A couple other ideas for your golf theme party:

• Give the guests personalized golf balls or golf tees for party favors
• Plant small pots with green grass and stick a small golf flag in the center for table decorations
• Challenge your friends to a little golf in the pool.
• Make some golf flag decorations.
• Serve meatball subs, and call them golf ball sandwiches
• Tee Time Cupcakes

It doesn’t even have to be a birthday party! Golf would make the perfect theme for a summer bachelor party, retirement party, or birthday, and it might even work as a last minute theme for your Father’s Day celebration. If you have ideas to share for a golf party, please feel free to discuss them in the comment section.

Today I have some fun Cinco De Mayo cocktail recipes to share with you! Are you celebrating Cinco De Mayo this year? It falls on a Saturday , so there’s more of an opportunity to get together with some friends and have a good time. The best part is, most won’t have to work the next day!

Cinco Swagger

Ingredients:

• 2 oz Camarena Silver Tequila
• 1 oz Lemon Juice
• 1/2 oz Agave Nectar
• 2 Cucumber Wheels
• 2 Blackberries
• 2 oz Ginger Beer

Directions:

Muddle cucumber and blackberries in a mixing glass. Add tequila, lemon juice, agave nectar and ice. Shake and strain into a tall glass with ice. Top with ginger beer and stir. Garnish with cucumber wheel.

Camarena Chipotle Cooler

Ingredients:

• 2 oz Camarena Reposado Tequila
• 1 oz Pineapple Juice
• 1/2 oz Orange Liqueur
• 2 Pinches Chipotle Chili Pepper Spice
• 2 oz Lemonade
• Lemon Wheel Garnish

Directions:

Combine liquids and spice in cocktail shaker with ice. Shake to blend. Strain into tall glass over fresh ice. Garnish with lemon wheel.

Skinny Local

Ingredients:

• 2 oz Camarena Silver Tequila
• 1/2 of a Lemon, Quartered
• 8 Mint Leaves
• 1 tablespoon of Sugar Free Sweetener
• 3 oz Soda Water

Directions:

Muddle lemon, mint and sweetener in a mixing glass. Add tequila and ice. Shake and pour all contents of shaker into a tall glass. Top with soda water and stir gently. Garnish with a lemon wedge.

Camarena Silver Paloma

Ingredients:

• 2 oz Camarena Silver Tequila
• 1 tsp Agave Nectar
• 1/2 oz Lime Juice
• 4 oz Grapefruit Soda

Directions:

Combine tequila, agave nectar and lime juice in a highball glass. Mix well. Fill glass to brim with ice. Top with grapefruit soda and stir gently with a bar spoon. Garnish with a lime wheel.

Frozen Sangria Margarita

Ingredients:

• 2 oz Camarena Silver Tequila
• 1 oz Premium Orange Liqueur
• 3/4 oz Lime Juice
• 3/4 oz Lemon Juice
• 3/4 oz Agave Nectar
• 1 1/2 cup Crushed Ice
• 2 oz Chilled Bottled Sangria (i.e. Madria Sangria)
• Orange Wheel Garnish

Directions:

Place all ingredients except Sangria in blender. Blend until completely smooth. Place in freezer for 2 to 3 hours or overnight to firm. Shake container occasionally so mixture does not separate ingredients while freezing. When ready to serve: In wine goblet or decorative glass, alternately layer frozen tequila mixture with 1/4 to 1/2 measures of chilled Sangria. Garnish with orange wheel.

As always please drink responsibly, and don’t let friends drink and drive!

The first installation of the Hunger Games movie based off of the best-selling trilogy book series hits theaters this Friday, March 23. Get yourself and your friends in the spirit with these Hunger Games themed cocktails. Katniss and her crew would surely approve.

Nightlock’s Nemesis

Ingredients:

• 2 oz Camarena Silver Tequila
• 1 oz Lemon Juice
• 1/2 oz Agave Nectar
• 2 Cucumber Wheels
• 2 Blackberries
• 2 oz Ginger Beer

Directions:

Muddle cucumber and blackberries in a mixing glass. Add tequila, lemon juice, agave nectar and ice. Shake and strain into a tall glass with ice. Top with ginger beer and stir. Garnish with cucumber wheel.

Remembering Rue

Ingredients:

• 3 oz Fever-Tree Ginger Beer
• 1 oz Vodka
• 1/2 oz Fresh Lime Juice
• Edible Flower for Garnish

Directions:

Fill a highball glass with ice. Add vodka and fresh lime juice. Top off with Fever-Tree Ginger Beer. Garnish with lime wedges in the glass and an edible flower in remembrance of Rue, just as Katniss remembered the fallen Tribute with flowers.

Haymitch’s Hooch

Ingredients:

• 2 oz Camarena Silver Tequila
• 1/2 oz Blanc Vermouth
• 1/2 oz Sweet Vermouth
• 1/2 oz Fresh Lemon Juice
• 1/2 oz Italian Amaro
• 3 oz Ginger Ale
• Mint for Garnish

Directions:

Combine tequila, blanc vermouth, sweet vermouth, lemon juice and Italian Amaro in a highball glass. Mix well. Fill glass to brim with ice. Top with ginger ale and stir gently with a bar spoon. Garnish with mint.

Rooted in Survival

Ingredients:

• 2 oz Camarena Silver Tequila
• 1 oz Carrot Juice
• 1/2 oz Lemon Juice
• 1/2 oz Agave Nectar
• Heavy dash Peychaud’s Bitters
• Splash of Blood Orange Soda

Directions:

Add all ingredients in a tall Collins glass. Stir with a bar spoon and add ice. Garnish with a lemon twist.

Girl on Fire

Ingredients:

• 1 oz Camarena Reposado Tequila
• 1/2 oz Spiced Orange Syrup*
• 1/2 Lime Juice
• 2 dashes Classic Bitters
• 2 oz Brut Champagne

Directions:

Combine tequila, syrup, lime juice and bitters in cocktail shaker with ice. Shake to blend and chill. Strain into chilled champagne flute. Garnish with orange twist.

*Spiced Orange Syrup

Ingredients:

• Zest of 1 Orange
• 10 to 12 Whole Cloves
• 1 heaping tablespoon Whole Allspice
• 3/4 cup water
• 1 1/2 cup Cane Sugar

Directions:

Place all ingredients in saucepan over medium heat. Heat until sugar is completely dissolved (approximately 5 minutes). Strain. Discard zest and spices. Refrigerate syrup.

Katniss Everdeen’s Ever After

Ingredients:

• 4 oz Jalapeño-Infused Camarena Silver Tequila*
• 3 oz Fresh-Squeezed Blood Orange Juice
• 1 oz Fresh Lime Juice
• 2 oz Orange Liqueur

Directions:

In a cocktail shaker, combine jalapeño-infused Camarena Silver Tequila, blood orange juice, lime juice and Cointreau. Fill with ice, shake and strain into a rocks glass over ice. Garnish with a blood orange peel.

*Jalapeño-Infused Camarena Silver Tequila

To make jalapeño infusion, slice up a fresh jalapeño pepper and allow it to steep in 1 cup of Camarena Silver Tequila for 2 hours. Taste to check the heat level, and continue to steep if a stronger infusion is desired. Once infusing process is complete, remove the slices by pouring the mixture through a mess strainer.

These cocktail recipes are all courtesy of Camarena Silver Tequila.

As always please drink responsibly, and never drink and drive!

If you’re looking for a unique short prom dress idea, check out this adorable animal print prom dress by Jovani! I love the colors, and the shimmer!

This Sequin leopard animal print Prom dress is super cute!

It comes in sizes 0 to 14 and features strapless beading detail on the bust, sequin animal print throughout, an embellished floral applique at center of waist and ruching on bottom of the skirt.

Here’s the back!

It looks like a no fuss fun dress to dance the night away!

If you’re looking for animal print you should also check out the cute peacock prom dress I posted the other day!

Are you planning a little St. Patrick’s Day get together, or you’d just like to celebrate with a couple drinks with friends? Here are a few St. Patrick’s Day Cocktail recipes to help your party planning along. You can make one or make them all and have a little tasting party!

These green and not so green cocktails are all courtesy of Camarena Tequila and Blue Ice Vodka.

Camarena Shamrock Shaker
Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 oz Familia Camarena Reposado Tequila
• 1/2 oz Sour Apple Liqueur
• 1/4 oz Agave Nectar
• 2 oz Lime Juice

Directions:

Combine liquids in cocktail shaker with ice. Shake to blend and chill. Strain into chilled martini glass. Garnish with a fan of thinly sliced green apples.

Emerald Crush

Ingredients:

• 2 oz Blue Ice Organic Wheat Vodka
• 1/2 organic kiwi, peeled
• 1/2 organic lime, cut into quarters
• 1 teaspoon organic sugar

Directions:

Muddle fruit and sugar in a mixing glass until well crushed and juicy. Add ice and vodka and shake vigorously. Pour all contents over ice into a tall tumbler and drink with straws.

Señor Patrick’s Salud

Ingredients:

• 1/2 oz Camarena Reposado Tequila
• 1/2 oz Irish Whiskey
• 1 oz Apple Juice
• 1/2 teaspoon Honey
• 1 oz Ginger Beer
• Quarter Lime Wedge – Squeezed

Directions:

Combine liquids except ginger beer in cocktail shaker with ice. Shake to blend. Strain into rocks glass over fresh ice. Top with ginger beer. Garnish with lime wedge. (Lower Calorie Cocktail: Approximately 106.17 calories based upon 1 oz = 1 ounce)

Green With Envy

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 oz Blue Ice Vodka
• 1/2 oz Blue Curacao
• 2 1/2 oz Sweet & Sour
• 2 oz Orange Juice

Directions:

Blend ingredients together with crushed ice until slushy. Serve in a hurricane style glass. Garnish with an orange slice and a maraschino cherry arranged on a pick.

Mexican Shamrock Shooter

Ingredients:

• 1/3 oz Camarena Silver Tequila
• 1/3 oz Butterscotch Schnapps
• 1/3 oz Irish Cream

Directions:

Layer liquids by placing Butterscotch Schnapps in bottom of glass. Slowly pour Irish Cream over back of bar spoon on top of schnapps. Finish with layer of Camarena Silver Tequila poured over back of bar spoon on top of Irish Cream.

As always please remind your guests and yourself to drink responsibly!

If you’re looking for a short fun prom dress check out this stunning peacock metallic embroidery and beadwork peacock prom dress. It would make a wonderful formal dress for the big dance, or for a fun party. It comes in several festive colors. My favorite is this turquoise.

I love the details in the metallic embroidery, and the ruffles at the bottom! I also love the purple.

The Peacock party dress also comes in:

• Fuchsia
• Red
• Black
• White
• Royal Blue
• Yellow
• Orange

It’s available in several sizes from extra small to 2x large. They even have a size chart to help you determine what size you need to order.

You could pair it with some peacock feathers in the back of your hair, or some bright colored sassy shoes and you’re ready to go out and have a great time!

You can order the peacock prom dress and check out all the sizes and colors available here: Metallic Peacock Prom Dress

One of my favorite things to serve at a spring or summer party is a fresh fruit tray. I love fresh berries, pineapple, apple slices, melon, and whatever other in season fruit I can find.
I have a recipe for an easy fruit dip that combines cream cheese and marshmallow cream. It’s a simple, sweet, and creamy dip that works perfect with most fruits.

I don’t like the flavor of some of the pre packaged fruit dips at the store, so I have an easy recipe to make my own.

Cream Cheese Fruit Dip

• 1~ 8oz package of cream cheese
• 1~ 7 oz (small) jar of marshmallow cream
• 1-2 tablespoons of lemon (0ptional)

Let the cream cheese sit for a few minutes until it’s almost room temperature, then cream the marshmallow cream, cream cheese, and the lemon together with a hand mixer.

You can refrigerate the dip for later, or use it right away. The dip will keep for up to a week in the refrigerator if you use fresh ingredients.

This dip is also perfect to encourage your kids to eat more fresh fruit. Give them a little sweet with their healthy:-)

If you’re planning a winter luau party, or you’re getting ready for a pool side gathering next summer, I have an easy tropical party decoration or centerpiece to share with you today. All you need is some fruit, palm  or fern leaves, and some glass jars and you can make a spectacular tropical center piece for your next party or event. Check it out.

This would work great for weddings, prom, a birthday party, or even a baby or bridal shower. I can see this outside on a table by the pool in the summer. Here are the simple instructions to make your own.

Flowers and Citrus Vases

Simply place oranges, limes, or lemons in rectangle, or round clear glass vases. Fill the vase almost to the top with whole fruits, then add fresh water to surround the fruits. Add a few large colorful tropical blooms to the mix for a very bold and beautiful tropical centerpiece or table decoration.

Pineapple Palm Trees

Cut the bottoms out of, or completely core 5 pineapples, then stack them one on top of the other. Insert large palm or fern leaves into the top pineapple to make them look like palm trees.

Have fun!