Rum Day DC

I was unaware the DC had such a love of rum!  

Check out all of the details at www.RumDayDC.com

Follow all the action @RumDayDC 

#NATIONALRUMDAY #RUMDAYDC #ALLRUMEVERYTHING

Get Tickets!

Dia Tequila!

This evening I will be celebrating National Tequila Day 

with the always delish, Patron, slightly chilled.

In case straight up is not your style, here are two tequila cocktails 

that should be celebrated! Or at least sampled.

Tequila poured over lime sorbet in a salted rim glass - Instant Margaritas!

Source

Source

Now for those of you who prepared ahead of time with your chili infused tequila, like Martha, then you need to make this spicy summer treat!

Run a lime wedge around the edge of glass, and dip into a shallow dish filled with coarse salt to coat rim. Add tequila, triple sec, agave, lime juice, and orange juice to a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake well, and pour into prepared glass, and garnish with lime wedge.

Source, Source

¡Salud!

Shots & Shots

This July 4th I have decided to take a new and

 fresh approach to red, white & blue fun.

  

The Red:

Watermelon Basil Martini Jello Shots

Recommended Pan:  1-pound loaf pan (approximately 8” x 4”/20 x 10 cm)

1/2 cup water

5 tablespoons frozen limeaid concentrate (thawed)

2 envelopes Knox gelatin

2/3 cup vodka or Hendricks Gin

2/3 cup watermelon basil juice (recipe follows)

1 drop rosewater (if desired)

1/4 inch thick seedless watermelon slices, for garnish (if desired)

Pour water and limeaid concentrate into a small saucepan and sprinkle with the 2 envelopes of gelatin. Allow the gelatin to soak for a minute or two. Heat over very low heat until gelatin is dissolved, stirring constantly, about 5 minutes. Stir in the vodka or gin and watermelon juice. Add rosewater if desired. Pour mixture into loaf pan or molds. Place in refrigerator to cool, several hours or overnight. 

To serve, cut into desired shapes (or unmold).  Cut shapes out of the watermelon slices with a cookie cutter or a sharp knife.  Place one shot on each watermelon shape. Makes 18 to 24 jelly shots. 

Watermelon Basil Juice

1/2 pound seedless watermelon chunks (about 2 cups)

10 large fresh basil leaves (about 1/4 cup)

Food processor and strainer

Place watermelon and basil in the bowl of the food processor and process until very smooth.  Strain through fine mesh strainer to remove any solids.

Recipe & Image Source

The White & The Blue:

Blueberry Martini Jello Shots

Total time: 25 minutes, plus overnight chilling
Servings: About 20 Shots (more if you use 1/2 ounce molds instead of an ice tray)

10 1/2 ounces Stoli Blueberry vodka
2 ounces simple syrup* (add more if blueberries are sour)
3 1/2 (1/4 ounce) packets of gelatin powder

About 60 fresh blueberries (more if the blueberries are small)

1. Off heat, combine the vodka and simple syrup in a small saucepan. Add gelatin powder to the vodka mixture.

2. Heat the saucepan over low heat, stirring, until the gelatin is dissolved and incorporated into the vodka mixture, about 5 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat.

3. Place a few blueberries in the bottom of each individual ice cube mold, and carefully pour the vodka mixture into each. Refrigerate the ice cube tray until set, preferably overnight. These cocktails will keep, refrigerated, for as long as 2 days.

*To make simple syrup, combine equal parts sugar and water in a saucepan, and stir over medium heat until the sugar is dissolved.

Recipes & Image Source

Donut Day!

Also, follow +Dunkin' Donuts on Twitter today from 10am to 4pm for a sweet chance to win!

Memorial Day 2013 - Red, White & Blue

All images taken from email sent by my father. Original source unknown

Happy Mother's Day!

XOXO Mom!

With Love and Limes

"We wish you a happy 5th of May!

Celebrate with tequila and family and friends.

With love and limes

K & N

Tequila, Si

I enjoy a good summer tequila drink.  Many weekend afternoons are and will be spent sipping on tequila with a splash of orange juice and sparkling water.  Ratios really depend my mood.

Here are two variations that I hope to try found on Pinterest.

skinnytaste citris margarita spritzer Ingredients: 1 oz clear tequila 1/2 oz Contreau (or Grand Marnier) 1/4 cup fresh squeezed orange juice 1/2 lime (2 tbsp) fresh lime juice 1/4 cup club soda crushed ice Combine the tequila, orange liquor, fresh squeezed orange juice, and fresh squeezed lime juice. Pour into a glass with crushed ice and top with seltzer

AND

French Margarita (grand marnier, tequila, orange juice, lime juice, orange slices)

Margarita Francesa

• 1.5 oz Grand Marnier
• 1 oz Alma Tequila
• 1 oz Lime Juice
• 1/2 oz Orange Juice
• 1/2 oz Simple Syrup

Combine Grand Marnier, tequila, lime juice, orange juice and simple syrup in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Strain into a tall glass with ice and garnish with an orange wheel and lime wedge.

For more cocktail inspirations check out my Pinterest Cocktails Board.

Happy Administrative Professionals Day!!!

Puppy Love

While there is too much fun to show it all, the Wagging Registry was by far my favorite!!!

Score

Gettysburg Address - AutoRap

 Well done, Mr. President. 

Heart on Display

Source: jukavo.tumblr.com via Kathleen on Pinterest

My Valentine

My Valentine is someone who loves his facts and to honor him I have selected my favorite facts of the 61 lovely facts about Valentine's Day from Random History.com

5 - Groundhog Day was originally observed on February 14.^l

6 - The popular medieval folk belief that birds choose their mates on February 14 made doves a favorite symbol for Valentine cards. The dove was sacred to Venus and other love deities and was known for choosing a lifelong mate.^a

7 - Valentine’s Day was first introduced to Japan in 1936 and has become widely popular. However, because of a translation error made by a chocolate company, only women buy Valentine chocolates for their spouses, boyfriends, or friends. In fact, it is the only day of the year many single women will reveal their crush on a man by giving him chocolate. The men don’t return the favor until White Day, a type of “answer day” to Valentine’s Day, which is on March 14.^g

 ^{Image Source: Believe It or Not Blog}

14 - On Valentine’s Day 2010, 39,897 people in Mexico City broke the record for the world’s largest group kiss.^m

16 - The symbol of the ribbon, which often adorns modern-day Valentines, is rooted in the Middle Ages. When knights competed in tournaments, their sweethearts often gave them ribbons for good luck.^c

 Image Source

17 - Lace is often used on Valentine decorations. The word “lace” comes from the Latin laques, meaning “to snare or net,” as in to catch a person’s heart.^c

22 - Small pieces of mirror were sometimes used on the more expensive and elaborate Valentine cards produced during the golden ages of Valentines (1830s-1850s). “Mirror” comes from the same Latin verb as “admire”: mirari, “to wonder.”^c

24 - There is no one accepted explanation for the connection between St. Valentine and love. Etymologists report that the letters “v” and “g” were once interchangeable in common speech. The Norman word galantin, meaning a “lover of women,” was at one time both written and pronounced valanta or valentin, from which “Valentine” could have been derived.^c

29 - Famous people born on Valentine’s Day include John Barrymore (1882), Jimmy Hoffa (1913), Jack Benny (1894), Carl Bernstein (1944), Renée Fleming (1959), and Florence Henderson (1934).^e

30 - On Valentine’s Day, James Cook was kill by natives in Hawaii (1779), Oregon and Arizona were admitted to the Union (1859 and 1912, respectively), James Polk became the first president photographed while in office (1848), UPS (United Parcel Service) was formed (1919), the League of Women Voters was established (1920), Aretha Franklin recorded “Respect” (1967), Richard Nixon installed a secret taping system in the White House (1971), the U.S. performed a nuclear test at the Nevada Test Site (1976), and Voyager I took a picture of the entire solar system (1990).^e

34 - Richard Cadbury produced the first box of chocolates for Valentine’s Day in the late 1800s.^l 
35 - A kiss on Valentine’s Day is considered to bring good luck all year.^a

36 - Shakespeare mentions Valentine’s Day in A Midsummer Night’s Dream and in Hamlet.^a

40 - Both garters and gloves are traditionally popular Valentine tokens. The word “garter” comes from the Old French word garet, meaning “bend in the knee.” And “glove” is derived from the Old English word glof, meaning “palm of the hand.”^c

 ^{Image Source: Sunheal Blog}

50 - Each year 300,000 letters go through Loveland, Colorado, to get a special heart stamp cancellation for Valentine’s Day.^c 
57 - Over 100 years ago, the Chicago post office refused to deliver about 25,000 Valentine postcards because their messages were not nice. The caustic cards were called “vinegar Valentines.”^c

  
Maybe this isn't a typical Valentine, but anything that comes from the heart is the best gift. LOVE YOU BB!!!

Year of the Snake

Emerald Snake

To celebrate this new year I have collect examples of Chinese paper cutting (Jianzhi) a practice developed early on since paper was invented by the Chinese.  The oldest surviving paper cut out is a symmetrical circle from the 6th century found in Xinjiang, China.  The basics of this art form is similar to the way in which I make paper snow flakes.  Using a single sheet of paper and folding it over to make cuts, each design is often created using an even number of cuts and results in a symmetrical overall design.

Chinese Zodiac - Year of the Snake

Paper cuts are used primarily for decorating, anything from walls to mirrors to gifts (they are also given as gift).  Cut outs are sometimes referred to as 'chuang hua', meaning window flower, as they are used to door and window decorations. 

Pandas are a MIXED favorite.

Here is the process (according to Wiki):
There are two methods of manufacture: one use scissors, the other use knives. In the scissor method, several pieces of paper — up to eight — are fastened together. The motif is then cut with sharp, pointed scissors.  Knife cuttings are fashioned by putting several layers of paper on a relatively soft foundation consisting of a mixture of tallow and ashes. Following a pattern, the artist cuts the motif into the paper with a sharp knife which is usually held vertically. Skilled crafters can even cut out different drawings freely without stopping.




Photo Credit: funalliance.com
Informational Credit: Wiki - Chinese Paper Cutting

Groundhog Day - Potomac Phil

Each year on my birthday I look to Punxsutawney Phil to enlighten me about the nearness of springtime.  I never realized that I should be turning to his close relative, Potomac Phil, who also happens to carry the 'internal power of weather prediction', right in my back yard here in DC.

The DupontFestival.org had the following information that I felt it was my duty to share with the world.

 FEB 2, 2013 - GROUNDHOG DAY: Potomac Phil, the National Groundhog, will make an appearance and offer weather and political predictions. Phil will let us know whether to expect six more weeks of winter or an early spring. Live accordion music, polka dancers, local celebrities, VIP's and school children will participate. Dupont Circle, at the fountain. The event will begin promptly at 7:30AM, Potomac Phil will emerge at 8AM sharp on Saturday, FEB 2.  According to scientists at The George Washington University, Potomac Phil, is indeed a close relative of the country's iconic groundhog. Dr. Robin Bernstein of GW explains, "We checked Potomac Phil's Y chromosomes and found them to be an exact match with Punxsutawney Phil's. It's affirmative: they share an ancestral linage, and Potomac Phil seems to have also inherited the internal power of weather prediction." 

About Dupont Festival

The purpose of Dupont Festival is to organize and implement a wide range of outdoor and indoor activities in the greater Dupont Circle area throughout the year. For more information on how you can become involved in any of our upcoming events, please contact DupontFestival@gmail.com.

Happy New Year!!!

background image source: confetti systems

Pumpecapple

This year I heard and learned more about turnduckins then I ever cared to.

BUT

A Pumpercapple Piecake?

That is a whole other story.

You might ask:
What is a Piecake?  Well it is a pie that is baked inside a cake.

What is a Pumpecapple?
The Pumpecapple piecake consists of the following scratch pies, cake and icing from bottom to top (feel free to change the order):

Pumpkin Pie baked in a pumpkin spice cake
Filled with crème cheese icing

Pecan Pie (or chocolate pecan pie) baked in chocolate cake
Filled with crème cheese icing 

Apple pie baked in our spice cake
Iced all over with our crème cheese icing

Garnished with pecan pieces And topped with a generous drizzle of carmel.

And it is calorie free! Well, not maybe not.  A serving size is 2,000 calories...

Sadly this is not a local treat!  Check out http://3brothersbakery.com/
 

 Photo Credit: aa.comhttp://hub.aa.com/en/aw/three-brothers-bakery-ultimate-solution

Cherry Mistmas!

Tequila Christmas Cake

Ingredients:
1 cup of water
1 tsp baking soda
1 cup of sugar
1 tsp salt
1 cup of brown sugar
Lemon juice
4 large eggs
Nuts
1 bottle tequila
2 cups of dried fruit

Sample the tequila to check quality. Take a large bowl, check the tequila again. To be sure it is of the highest quality, pour one level cup and drink. Repeat. Turn on the electric mixer. Beat one cup of butter in a large fluffy bowl. Add one teaspoon of sugar. Beat again. At this point it's best to make sure the tequila is still OK. Try another cup...just in case. Turn off the mixerer thingy. Break 2 leggs and add to the bowl and chuck in the cup of dried fruit. Pick the frigging fruit up off floor. Mix on the turner. If the fried druit gets stuck in the beaterers just pry it loose with a drewscriver. Sample the tequila to check for tonsisticity. Next, sift two cups of salt. Or something. Check the tequila. Now shift the lemon juice and strain your nuts. Add one table. Add a spoon of sugar, or somefink. Whatever you can find. Greash the oven. Turn the cake tin 360 degrees and try not to fall over. Don't forget to beat off the turner. Finally, throw the bowl through the window. Finish the tequila and wipe counter with the cat.

CHERRY MISTMAS!!!

Holiday Party at the National Zoo

 Host your holiday party 

during ZooLights!

Dazzle your guests at your company’s annual holiday party with a sparkling new touch: ZooLights! Envision guests grabbing a warm mug of hot chocolate or mulled wine to sip as they walk through the very popular light features at the National Zoo before entering a transformed indoor exhibit. Enhance your holiday experience with the following:

• Experienced event planner dedicated to your holiday event
• Greet your guests with a candy cane martini or Bailey's hot chocolate
• Have Panda Claws stop by to say hi to your guests
• Ride our holiday trackless train

Indoor Venues

Amazonia Habitat Reception Capacity: 150 Details	Small Mammal House Reception Capacity: 200 Seated Capacity: 100 Details
Amazonia Science Gallery Reception Capacity: 200 Seated Capacity: 125 Details	Think Tank Reception Capacity: 150 Seated Capacity: 75 Details

 

ZooLights Dates

November: 23, 24, 25 and 30
December: 1, 2, 7, 8, 9, 14-23, 26-30
January: 1
Note: Check with your event planner on options for non-ZooLights evenings.

Planners

Kelsey Thompson	Amy Gaus	Ashley Chinnici
202.633.8307	202.633.3068	202.633.3063
Email	Email	Email

***I have personally worked with the Zoo Event Staff and

 they are amazing and the spaces are very cool and a lot fun.***

ZooLights!

ADMISSION IS FREE! 

5-9 P.M.

NOVEMBER 23-25, 30

DECEMBER 1-2, 7-9, 14-23, 26-30

JANUARY 1

ZooLights is brighter than ever! More than 500,000 environmentally-friendly LED lights transform the Zoo into a winter wonderland. Lit animal silhouettes, musical light displays, and a new garden scene light sculpture make for truly magical sights! 

For more information visit http://nationalzoo.si.edu/ActivitiesAndEvents/Celebrations/zoolights/