I can’t believe Christmas is almost here already! If you still have some Christmas Eve and Christmas Day parties, dinners and holiday gatherings in the next couple days, I have a few more holiday cocktail recipes to share with you! If you have some home entertaining yet to do, check out these festive cocktail recipes from Camarena Tequila and Blue Ice American Vodka. I have recipes for cocktail hour, and some sweet cocktail treats you can enjoy after Christmas dinner.

Holiday Cocktail Hour Sippers

Spiced Silver Bell

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 oz Camarena Silver Tequila
• 1/2 oz Lime Juice
• 1/2 oz Cranberry Spice Syrup*
• 2 oz Ginger Beer
• Lime Wheel Garnish

Directions:

Combine liquids in large rocks glass. Add ice and stir. Garnish with lime wheel.

* Cranberry Spice Syrup

• 1 1/2 cup Brown Sugar
• 3/4 cup Water
• 4 Cinnamon Sticks
• 1 teaspoon Whole Allspice
• 1 teaspoon Whole Clove
• 1 tablespoon Orange Zest
• 1 cup Fresh Cranberries

Place all ingredients in saucepan over medium low heat. Stir continually until skins of cranberries begin to pop and they easily mash with back of spoon. Lightly mash cranberries, but not so much to create “sauce.” Remove from heat. Strain into heat proof container. Allow to cool. Refrigerate.

Mistletoe Margarita

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 oz Camarena Silver Tequila
• 1/4 oz New Amsterdam Gin
• 1 oz Lime Juice
• 1/2 oz Agave Nectar
• 8 Cranberries

Directions:

Muddle cranberries in a mixing glass. Add tequila, lime juice, agave nectar, gin and ice. Shake and strain into a bucket glass with ice. Garnish with a skewer of cranberries.

Holiday Rouge

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 oz Blue Ice Vodka
• 1/2 oz Orange Liqueur
• 1 oz Pomegranate Juice
• 1/2 oz Grapefruit Juice
• 1/4 oz Fresh Lime Juice

Directions:

Add ingredients to a cocktail mixer, shake well and strain. Garnish with a lime wheel and red cherry.

After Christmas Dinner Sweet Treat Cocktail Recipes

Camarena Frost

Ingredients:

• 1 oz Camarena Reposado Tequila
• 1/2 oz White Crème de Cacao
• 1/2 oz Hazelnut Liqueur
• 1 oz Heavy Whipping Cream
• Sprinkled Cinnamon Garnish

Directions:

Combine liquids in cocktail shaker with ice. Shake to blend and chill. Strain into chilled martini glass. Garnish with sprinkle of cinnamon.

La Posada

Ingredients:

• 1 oz Camarena Reposado Tequila
• 1/2 oz Dark Crème de Cacao
• 1/2 oz Coffee Liqueur
• 1/2 oz Hazelnut Liqueur
• 1 1/2 oz Heavy Cream
• Cinnamon Dust Garnish

Directions:

Combine liquids in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake until frothy. Strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with dusting of cinnamon powder.

Blue Ice Raspberry Truffle

Ingredients:

• 1 oz Blue Ice Vodka
• 3/4 oz Coffee Liqueur
• 3/4 oz Raspberry Liqueur
• Fresh Whipped Cream
• Semi-Sweet Chocolate Shavings for Garnish

Directions:

Shake with cubed ice and strain into champagne flute glass. Float lightly whipped fresh whipped cream on top. Top with Semi-sweet chocolate shavings.

As always please remind your friends and guests to drink responsibly.

I love holiday entertaining! The scents and flavors of the holiday season are so delicious, from cranberry to pumpkin and spices. Today I have some holiday cocktail recipes to share with you from Camarena and Blue Ice American Vodka. They’re great for toasting to the holidays, checking out a little football, or ringing in the new year.

Spiced Ginger Apple Tequini

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ oz Camarena Reposado Tequila
• 2 oz apple cider
• ½ oz Cointreau
•  ½ oz fresh lime juice
• 3 dashes of fresh ginger juice
• Thinly-sliced apple slices for garnish

Directions:

1. In a cocktail shaker, combine all of the ingredients
2. Fill with ice and give a generous shake
3. Double strain into a martini glass and garnish with a fan of thinly-sliced apple slices

Camarena Cranberry Margarita

Ingredients:

• 2 cups Camarena Silver Tequila
• 1 cup cranberry juice
• 1 cup Cointreau
• 1 cup fresh squeezed lime juice
• ½ cup fresh squeezed orange juice

Directions:

1. In a 48 oz pitcher, add all ingredients and stir well
2. Add ice to the pitcher, until filled to the brim and carefully stir
3. Serve in lowball glasses rimed with sugar

· Serves 6

Gingered Pear

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ oz Blue Ice Vodka
• ½ oz pear liqueur
• ¼ oz fresh lime juice
• 4 oz Ginger Beer
• Fresh pear, sliced

Directions:

1. Add vodka and pear liqueur and lime juice to a highball glass
2. Add ice, fill with ginger beer and mix with a swivel spoon
3.  Garnish with a fresh pear slice

Cinnamon Apple Martini

Ingredients:

• 4 oz Blue Ice American Vodka
• 1 oz apple liqueur
• Splash cinnamon schnapps
• Apple slice
• Red cherry
• Cinnamon stick

Directions:

1. Add ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice and shake well.
2. Strain into a martini glass and garnish with an apple slice, red cherry and a cinnamon stick

Pumpkin Pie Martini

Ingredients

• 4 oz Blue Ice American Vodka
• 1 oz DaVinci Pumpkin Pie Syrup
• Cinnamon Sugar
• Orange slice

Directions:

1. Add vodka and pumpkin pie syrup to a cocktail shaker
2. Shake well and strain into a martini glass rimmed with cinnamon sugar
3. Garnish with an orange slice

Jalisco Nights

Ingredients:

• 1 oz Camarena Reposado Tequila
• 5 oz hot coffee
• ½ oz Crème de Cacao
• ½ oz Green Chartreuse
• Whip Cream

Directions:

1. Build in wine glass or coffee cup
2. Top with whip cream

Enjoy! Always remind your guests to drink responsibly, and never drink and drive!

I’ve been looking around the last few days and I’ve found some yummy looking Christmas cocktail ideas on Pinterest! I always like to make one or two cocktails when I entertain and make them my signature drink for the event. If it’s a Christmas or holiday party you’re throwing, then it’s extra fun to give your signature drink a Christmas theme. All of these fabulous recipes do just that! Enjoy!

Just click on the links below the photo to get to the recipes and details about the cocktails!

Christmas Cranberry Mojitos from We Are Not Martha

The Grinch From It Thing

White Chocolate Marshmallow Peppermint Martini from Betty Crocker

Red Glitter Godiva Mudsling Martini from My Thirty Spot~ Love the festive colors!

Chocolate ‘Blitzen’ Martini by BHG

Gingerbread Martini by My Recipes

I’m all over the chocolate cocktails! I might have to try the mojitos too!

Please remember to drink responsibly, and never let your guests drink and drive!

If you can’t get to a tropical island this summer, why not bring the tropical island to you? Put together a tropical island beach party right in your back yard. It’s a great summer party theme for a birthday party, anniversary, graduation or shower.  I’ve put together a few tropical beach party ideas to get you started.

Set the mood with the invitations. Here are a couple fun tropical summer beach party invitations from InvitationConsultants.com.

Tropical Tiki Personalized Invitations / Announcements

Tropical Scene Personalized Invitations / Announcements

Some cool tropical party supplies from Celebrate Express will help you decorate and serve in a snap.

See them in complete detail here:
Tropical Vacation Deluxe Party Pack

Here are a couple tropical party centerpieces and decoration ideas from Martha Stewart.

Create a beach sea shell cake to fit the theme. Graham crackers make great sand, and chocolate can be molded into sea shells.

Image via Flickr cc Nicknbecka

Set up a tropical Tiki bar complete with tropical party decorations.

Here’s another tropical party decoration idea I saw. Love that it’s just made out of fruit.

Puts me in the mood for a tropical drink on the beach!

I was recently working on planning a birthday party for a ten year old boy, in other words, my son. Well, a soon to be ten year old boy.We considered several themes and ideas for his birthday party.

I tried to talk him into a creepy crawly bug party, with dirt cake, and gummy worms. He’s a huge Pokemon fan, so I thought maybe he might be into a Pokemon party, but he said no to both. I think he’s almost outgrowing the theme party ideas.

He did consider a LEGO party, or a skateboarding party, but vetoed them in the end and settled in on a guitar hero party or rock star party.

Some other great ideas for a boys 10 year old birthday party include:

• A bowling party
• Skating party
• Backyard water party~ The boys will have a blast throwing water balloons at each other, running through sprinklers, and shooting water guns.
• A movie party~ whatever their favorite movie is right now. My son loves anything action adventure.
• Sports party~ If the birthday boy is into any kind of sports, or a sports team, center the theme of his party around that sport.
• Video game party~ There are some great video game party themes out there, including
  Mario Kart Wii and Ratchet and Clank
• An Angry Birds party, or another favorite app could make a fun birthday party theme.

Image via istockphoto.com

Are you ready for Cars 2 to hit theaters June 24? I am! Cars 2 party supplies are out! So I thought I’d put together some Cars 2 party ideas to help celebrate! Kids love Lightning McQueen so I’m sure the long awaited sequel will be the children’s movie of the summer!

Celebrate Express has already released some really cool party supplies.

You can check out the Cars 2 party supplies in full detail by clicking here: Cars 2 Party Supplies

Looking for something customized check out these Cars 2 personalized party invitations, labels, and wrappers from eBay:

You can check out everything they have to offer by clicking here: Cars 2 Party Invitations and Favors

These cute Cars 2 Cupcake rings are sure to be a hit with the kids. The best part is, they’re simple to make and decorate! Much easier than a cake, and lower cost!

The Cars 2 Party Favor Box includes a sticker sheet, a notepad, 4 primary crayons, a disc launcher, a gold trophy and a wheel yo-yo.

A Lightning McQueen Standup makes a wonderful photo spot for individual or a group photo, it’s also a great party decoration. Oh, and the kids will love it!

Looking for more Cars 2 party ideas? Here you go!

• Set up your own “World Tour” by leaving clues around the house or yard for the kids next stop in the party. You can do cake in the dining room, play a game in the back yard, watch the original Cars movie in the living room, open presents in the garage, play Cars freeze tag in the front yard, or local park. Just give the kids clues to lead them to their next party destination.
• Build a small ramp and let the kids bring and race their own “Matchbox(tm)” size cars. You can make ramps from wood or cardboard and let the kids take turn racing against each other to see who’s car is the fastest.
• Let the kids paint their own race car like this one~Melissa & Doug Decorate-Your-Own Wooden Race Car
• Checkered flags make great party decorations.
• Craft idea~ Let the kids make and decorate their own license plates.

If you have any Cars 2 party ideas please feel free to share them below!

Adults like to have fun birthday parties too! Just because you’re not a little kid any more doesn’t mean you have to miss out on all the fun. Summer birthdays are the funnest! There so many things you can do during the summer to have a birthday party everyone will love. Here are a few of my favorites.

• Plan a pool party~ You don’t have to be a kid to have fun in the swimming pool with your friends. Get a game of water volleyball, or water basketball going and everyone will have a blast.
• Plan a beach party or luau~ Plan your party at the local beach, complete with sand volleyball, and a cookout. Give it a luau theme and hand out leis to guests as they arrive.
• Plan a golf party~ If the birthday man or woman enjoys golf or put put add it to your party theme. You can even take the party on location and play a game of putt putt, or head to the golf course for entertainment.
• Plan an ice cream party~ Complete with a make your own sundae bar. Yum!
• A backyard bbq or cookout with a few friends can make for a casual summer birthday idea.
• Head out to the local park for your birthday where friends can play games like volleyball, horseshoes, or Frisbee. Just bring the grill along, or have everyone bring their favorite dish.

I hope one of these ideas inspires you when you’re planning your summer adult birthday party! Have fun!

Image via sxc.hu

Potato salad is one of my all time summer favorites, so I’m always on the lookout for a new variation to try for spring and summer cookouts. This recipe is courtesy of the US Potato board, and I think it puts a great twist on the traditional potato salad recipe. I think I might have to give it a try at my next backyard bbq.

Baked Potato Salad
To save time, chop vegetables while potatoes are cooking. This salad may be served right away, but is best if refrigerated for at least 1 hour to allow flavors to blend.

Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 12 minutes
Start to finish: About 30 minutes total
Cost per serving: $1.47

• 1 1/2 lbs. red potatoes*
• 1 cup nonfat plain yogurt
• 1/3 cup minced red onion
• 1/3 cup thinly sliced celery
• 1/2 cup shredded reduced-fat Cheddar cheese
• 1/4 cup snipped fresh chives
• 3 tablespoons real bacon bits or pieces
• 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
• Freshly ground pepper to taste
• Chopped fresh parsley

1. Place whole potatoes (do not poke) into microwave-safe dish. Cover dish. (If covering dish with plastic wrap, poke small hole in plastic.)
2. Microwave on HIGH for 10 to 12 minutes depending on strength of microwave.
3. Use oven mitts to remove dish from microwave; carefully remove cover from dish due to steam build-up and let cool.
4. Cut potatoes into bite-size pieces and place in a large bowl with remaining ingredients; stir well to mix. Makes 4 servings.

*Russets, yellow or white potatoes can be substituted, but make sure to peel skins off potatoes after cooking and cooling, but before tossing with remaining ingredients

Nutritional analysis per serving with skins:
Calories: 240, Fat: 4g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Trans Fat: 0g, Cholesterol: 15mg, Sodium: 620mg, Potassium: 712mg, Carbohydrates: 41g, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 6g, Protein: 11g, Vitamin A: 15%, Vitamin C: 50%, Calcium: 30%, Iron: 4%

We planned a baby shower for my sister a couple weeks ago, and one of the games we played at her shower was called  Multi Tasking Mama. It’s a fairly simple baby shower game (until you’re actually playing the game and trying to multi task yourself), and you can use props you already have to set it up.

Start by hanging a couple clothes lines from one point to another. You can hang it from one side of the room to the other, or from one tree to another if it’s summer. If you already have a clothes line that’s even better.

The rules of the Multi Tasking Mama baby shower game are simple. Divide your guests up into two even teams. Each team gets a clothes basket with the same amount of clothes, clothes pins, a phone, or cell phone, and a baby doll.

One at a time the team members come up and either hang all the clothes on the line, or take them all off, while they’re holding the doll baby, and talking on the phone without dropping either one, or the clothes.

If they drop the baby or the phone they have to go to the end of the line and go again. The first group to have all their members successfully multi task is the winner.

It’s a really fun game to do, and to watch. You’ll find out who’s the multi tasking pro.

Images (c) L Gerlach

Dr. Seuss has been a childhood favorite forever! There’s a new baby shower party supply line based on the fun and colorful Dr. Suess books. I love the bright primary colors, they’re perfect for a new baby!

You can find the Baby Seuss party supplies in more detail or to buy here:

Baby Seuss Baby Shower Deluxe Party Pack

The Baby Seuss party supply pack includes 8 invitations and thank-you notes, dinner plates, dessert plates, cups, forks, spoons, knives, 16 napkins, Baby Seuss tablecover, centerpiece, foil balloon, 18 latex balloons in 3 colors, 3 colors of curling ribbon, and crepe paper rolls in 3 colors.

More Dr Seuss baby shower ideas:

• Have your guests each bring their favorite Dr. Seuss or other children’s book, to give to the new mom, and help the new baby get a head start on becoming a good reader.
• Have guests bring their favorite Dr. Seuss quote to add to a guest book or wall mural along with their signature for a shower keepsake for mom.
• Write quotes from Dr. Seuss and have guests figure out which book they’re from. Give a prize to the guest who gets the most right.
• Have a Dr. Seuss hat decorating contest, give a prize to the guest who brings the most outrageous Seuss hat.

Do you have a Dr Seuss baby shower idea? Please feel free to share it in the comment section.