Watermelon Mint Spritzer

Here’s to the perfect refreshing cocktail!

Just follow the easy steps below + you’ll be ready for the any hang out.

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INGREDIENTS (yields one drink):

1.5 ounces of Tito's Vodka (or your choice)
1/2 ounce St. Germain *optional
1 ounce of watermelon puree
3-4 mint leaves
1 can of Waterloo Watermelon Sparkling Water
1 lime

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Take a freshly cut watermelon and make sure to remove all the seeds. Place the cubes in a blender and pulse gently to puree.

2. In an old-fashioned or rocks glass, place the mint leaves, Tito's vodka, St. Germain, and watermelon puree and muddle together, making sure to crush the mint leaves well.

3. Fill a shaker full with ice and our the vodka mixture in and shake well. Pour over ice.

4. Fill the remainder of the glass with sparkling water (optional: unflavored or flavor of your choice)

5. Squeeze the juice of one lime on the top.

6. Garnish with additional mint or lime.

7. Sip + enjoy!

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All Things Succulents!

When it comes to houseplants, succulents are everyone’s go-to as there is a rumor that they are hard to kill. But if you’ve dealt in the world of succulents, you know that this is a nasty rumor! All plants need special care to thrive. So today we are giving you our top tips to keep succulents alive indoors!

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1. Keep your succulents by a window that receives at least 6 hours of sunlight a day. Succulents need a lot of bright light to survive but avoid harsh, direct sunlight that may burn the plant.

2. Only water when the soil has been fully dry for a few days. Most people overwater their succulents causing them to rot and fall off.

3. Use quick-draining soil in a pot with drainage holes so that the water does not sit in the pot too long. You can even place pebbles below the soil to help increase drainage + they provide stability to the roots.

4. Succulents thrive in warmer climates, so keep the temperature of the room between 70-85 degrees. Do not put your succulents in front of a cold draft.

5. Avoid using spray bottles to water the succulent. Use a device that allows you to water the soil directly.

Martini Recipes

Channel your inner James Bond or Bond girl and raise a glass…

…it’s National Martini Day! So to celebrate, we are bringing you three of our favorite martini recipes! Toss aside your predispositions towards Martinis because these recipes are going to give you some new go-to drinks. Check them out below.

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Mexican Martini

3 ounces Añejo Tequila
1 1/2 ounces Cointreau
1 1/2 ounces fresh lime juice
1/2 ounce green-olive brine from the jar
A splash of fresh orange juice
Lime wedges and olives

Agitate everything in an ice-filled shaker, then strain into a small, chilled coupe or martini glass rimmed with salt. Add a couple of olives and a lime wedge. Then pull out the chips and salsa, queso + quac and proceed to eat, drink + be merry all day long!

Photo By: Frugal Foodie Mama

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cosmopolitan

1 ounce fresh lime juice
2 ounces cranberry juice
4 ounces vodka of choice
2 ounces triple sec
Olive juice *optional
Handful of ice cubes

Pour all of the above ingredients into a shaker, shake + pour! Like it extra dirty? Add a splash of olive juice!

Photo By: Garnish with Lemon

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Cucumber martini

3 inches cucumber (skinned, seeded, and chopped into chunks)
2 Basil leaves (torn)
½ oz Simple Syrup
2 oz Vodka of choice
½ oz fresh lime juice
Ice

Add the cucumber, basil + simple syrup to the shaker and muddle. Add vodka, lime juice, and a handful of ice to cocktail shaker, cover with lid and shake vigorously. Pour into your martini glass and garnish with cucumber + basil. This martini is refreshing + good for the soul, so enjoy!

Photo By: Fox Valley Foodie

Grilled Corn on the Cob

It’s not a summertime backyard cookout without really great corn on the cob! We recently put together this really simple recipe that tastes fantastic and only has a few ingredients! So call a few friends, hit the grocery store, and host a fun cookout this season!

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INGREDIENTS:

• Corn on the cob (we prefer corn in the husks but pre-packed corn on the cob works great too!)

• Unsalted, sweet cream butter

• Smoked paprika

• Pepper

• Garlic salt

• Fresh rosemary

• Foil

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DIRECTIONS:

1. Cut a square of foil for each piece of corn, enough to wrap the entire husk

2. Lay the husk on the piece of foil

3. Butter the entire husk of corn, don’t be afraid to be drench it!

4. Generously season the entire buttered husk with the garlic salt, smoked paprika + pepper

5. Add a sprig of fresh rosemary on top of the corn

6. Fully wrap the entire piece of corn in the foil

7. Grill on direct medium-high heat for 20-25 minutes, turning the corn 2-3x

8. Serve and enjoy!

Fathers Day Gift Guide

If you’re anything like us, you looked down at your calendar and realized Fathers Day is THIS Sunday! It’s on days like today that we are forever grateful for Amazon Prime. Where would we be without it?? So check out our Fathers Day gift guide below…we have a gift for every budget.

Just click on the photo to purchase that gift on Amazon!

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for the dad who cooks

Sous Vide precision cooker that mom AND dad will love.

Laser thermometer that is accurate + fun.

BBQ grill set that looks nice + gets the job done.

Non-stick Caphalon pans that make searing a breeze.

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For the outdoorsy dad

YETI Rambler perfect for coffee, whiskey, wine + more!

Blow up kayak that won’t break the bank!

Flannel shirt that looks good + feels good.

Camping hammock-portable, comfortable, easy to set up!

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for the dad who loves projects

A new power drill!

Bucket Boss for easily carrying all your tools.

A jig-saw for the dad who wants to master all his projects.

Real leather work gloves.

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For the dad who games

Catan: If he’s not already playing this game, then he should be!

Exploding Kittens: A great game for a group of fun people.

Codenames: Teamwork, strategy + defeating the spies.

Secret Hitler: A fast-paced game of deception + betrayal.

Cheers! Rosé on a Budget

It doesn’t feel like summer until the rosé has been poured! Whether it’s an evening sip with dinner or a glass on Saturday afternoon by the lake, rosé is the wine for the season. So today we are highlighting our 5 favorite, budget-friendly bottles of rosé all under $15! Check them out below.

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Becker Vineyards

If you’re in Texas, you can’t skip over visiting Fredericksburg! Home to an assortment of wineries big and small - it’s a great place for bachelorette parties, date nights, getaway weekends, and more.

Becker Vineyards is a favorite of ours, we always trust their products! Coming in at just $11, this wine is incredibly affordable and worth every penny.

Dark Horse

At $8, this bottle of Dark Horse Rosé is our most affordable find but it is easily one of our favorites! We stumbled upon this bottle at Target (where wallets go to be emptied). But your wallet won’t be emptied buying this bottle! More into sparkling drinks? Dark Horse has a sparkling rosé too!

Kim Crawford

This bottle of Kim Crawford Rosé is our most expensive on the list at just $13! Seriously, how can you find better prices than these?? Soft and luscious, this refreshing Rosé is richly fruited with hints of watermelon and strawberry. This refreshing rosé pairs great with a summer salad!

Eufloria

We stumbled across this wine while antique shopping in Round Top, Texas. It brought a lot of refreshment on a hot, spring day. Eufloria also comes in a can so it’s easy to grab and have a single portion rather than opening an entire bottle.

Los Dos

$10 of delicious goodness! This is one of the first rosés that we came to know and love. It is both elegant and lively on the palate with flavors of fresh raspberry, lychee fruit, and white flowers. Fresh with a silky mouthfeel and a long, lasting finish.

DIY Pom Wreath

Get your boho on with this colorful pom wreath!

Today’s DIY wreath project is from Rachel Jacks of the Curbly Blog. The beauty of a wreath like this is that you can really make it your own. Choose colors that best fit the style you're going for and even play around with various sizes of poms. Have leftover yarn that you’ve been waiting to use? Now is the perfect time!

Check out the step-by-step instructions below.

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Photo By: Rachel Jacks

MATERIALS

• Wreath form (similar one available on Amazon)

• Yarn in assorted colors

• Scissors

• Pom makers (available on Amazon)

• Lightweight fishing line

• Hot glue gun

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Photo By: Rachel Jacks

Photo By: Rachel Jacks

STEP ONE

Step one is the longest step! It can take a while, so turn on Netflix and have a relaxing night of pom-making!

Make lots of poms, I mean ALL the poms! I’m talking way more than you think you’re going to need. The exact number will depend on the size of your poms and wreath, and how full you want it to be. This 16 inch wreath had about 56 poms.  You can purchase a pom maker or simply create the poms by wrapping the yarn around your finger or a fork, tying, and cutting! Check out this resource on various way to make poms.

Feel free to play around with different color combos + sizes, this wreath is all about making it your own!

TIP: Tie off the yarn with fishing line to make the poms tighter.

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Photo By: Rachel Jacks

step two

Wrap the wreath form with a layer of yarn. Knot the yarn tightly, and tuck in the ends.

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Photo By: Rachel Jacks

step three

Attach the poms to the yarn on the wreath form with hot glue. To get an idea of how you'll want to arrange them, it helps to lay out as many as you can on the wreath before you glue them down. Then watch your beautiful piece of work come to life!

Photo By: Rachel Jacks

Memorial Day Playlist

Happy Memorial Day! We hope you remember and honor our veterans today and every day, always celebrating our many freedoms! Whether you’re having a backyard BBQ, laying on the beach, or just hanging out at home, turn on this playlist and celebrate!

Your go-to playlist for Memorial Day or July 4th!

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English Tea Garden Drink Recipe

Summer is approaching…

…let’s cool down with a drink! This recipe is a favorite of ours all year round, but especially in the summertime. If you’re a fan of fresh fruit + gin, this drink is for you! Not a fan of gin? Just switch it out with another liquor of choice…but we think you’re going to love this one just the way it is! Check out the recipe below.

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In a shaker add the following:

• 2 parts gin

• 1 part strawberry infused Pimms (just cut up strawberries and let them soak in the Pimm’s for a few hours or more)

• 1/2 part lemon juice

• Splash of simple syrup (optional)

• Muddle thinly sliced cucumbers + mint leaves at bottom of shaker

• Shake + pour over ice

• Garnish with cucumber, strawberries + mint

Feeling inspired to make this drink? Take a photo and tag us on social media using #OSimpression!

End of Year Teacher Gifts

Show Your Teachers Some Love!

My mom, mother-in-law, and many of my friends are teachers, so I have a huge respect for all that they do and put up with during the school year. I couldn’t do it…so, bless you!!

With the end of the school year coming to a close, it’s time to start thinking about end of the year teacher gifts. A sussie for a teacher is a sweet way to say thank you. Thank you for investing in our kids for the last year, thank you for sacrificing sleep, thank you for working long hours, thank you for putting up with tantrums, and thank you for seeing a child’s potential even when they don’t see it themselves.

Teachers make a greater impact than they will ever know, so no matter how big or small of a gift you get, it’s important to show them some love! We have put together a fun basket and a few other options that says “You’ve done a great job! Now it’s time to enjoy your summer!”

These gifts range from $5-$25, so you can find the right one for that special teacher or school faculty member that has blessed you and your child this past year. What’s also great is that each of the items can be found at H-E-B, so you can pick them up on your next grocery trip. And for those of you who don’t have H-E-B…I’m sorry…I can’t imagine life without it. However, we have linked the items below so you can order online or similar items can be found at your local retailer.

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First…

To get started, all you need is a bowl, basket, etc. that you can put all of the gift items in and some crinkled paper shreds to act as a filler. A lot of our products for this basket had teal accent colors so we thought this was the perfect bowl to compliment everything we purchased. We found the bowl on the cooking aisle at H-E-B and the crinkled paper in the gifts/cards department.

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Second…

Fill your bucket with an accent item. We saw this adorable watermelon tumbler and could not resist! It is cute, fun, and a very practical gift for any teacher. This design comes in 3 different tumbler sizes and designs so you can definitely find one that works. Can’t find a fun patterned cup? Consider getting a decal made with their initials to stick on it to give it a solid colored cup a special pop!

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Third…

Next, we added a larger item - a pink beach towel, the perfect accessory to head into summer! My mother-in-law always laughs that the reason teachers have summer is so that they can go to therapy. We think laying out by the pool is the best kind of therapy! We went with the pink one because it fit well with the watermelon theme, but HEB carries an assortment of beach towels, so you can choose the perfect color and type for your basket.

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Fourth…

Choose a few smaller filler items. We continued our watermelon theme by choosing to add in watermelon sparkling water, watermelon gum, and lastly chapstick in a cute pink case!

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Lastly…

Take your gift basket a little further by adding a handmade card. We made this card with construction paper, finger paint, glue/double-sided tape and a sharpie…easy peasy! You can actually use the bowl that you’ll place everything in to trace out the circular shape on the paper, then cut and paste. To finish off the card, I had my little guy add his finger prints with paint to act as the seeds…it’s a small, sweet touch! Then you can attach a notecard to the back with a personal note letting your teacher just how much you appreciate all that she has done!

You are SWEET like a watermelon & you SHINE like the sun!

We hope that your summer is RESTFUL & FUN!

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school Faculty sussie

Looking to gift the administration or elective teachers but looking for a more affordable option? Try a smaller gift bundle! It comes out to around $5. We found these cute watermelon koozies at H-E-B and filled them with watermelon gum and added some ribbon to dress it up.

One Last Combo Option

Looking for an in-between gift around $15? Simply start with the tumbler, put some crinkled paper in the bottom, then add the gum + lip balm. Voilà!

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