YDAD: You Deserve a Drink...or Three

Somehow, despite being an avid MDK and Daily Grace fan, I've only recently discovered the JOY that is Mamrie Hart of "You Deserve a Drink." So when Megan suggested we recipe-test some of the contenders in her wedding reception cocktail line up, I was like "Megan, isn't it ironic that you're known for your freckles and bangs, and I'm known for getting heckled and banged?!? *crosses eyes*"...You just...gotta watch it.

We ended up testing three cocktails:

1. Pear Rosemary Martini

{We made our own pear nectar by pureeing pears, water, lemon juice, and a little sugar, because that shit is hard to find, y'all!}

2. Lavender Collins

{Megan's friend from work Matt brought fresh lavender from his garden for the drinks!}

{By far the prettiest drink we made!}

3. Cucumber Mint Martini (made with vodka, not gin)

 

{Me playing bartender. I LOVE MUDDLING!}

Megan was fairly certain the pear rosemary martini would be her favorite, but in the end, we all favored the cucumber mint martini. That said, the lavender collins was a close second. Matt's beautiful boyfriend Tony was also on hand to taste test.

 Right after I took this picture of him he said "Okay, one more." We're now best friends.

And of course, we couldn't swig trios of libations without a little something to soak up all the sin juice, so we did what came natural and ate a huge feast of shrimp tacos, cilantro rice, guacamole, and chips.

 AND summer fruit fondue!!! Ya know, my nickname in college was fondue--cus I was fun to do!

I just can't quit you and your puns, Mamrie.

I'm guessing you all deserve a drink too...which one is at the top of your list??

Paleo Bacon Pancakes

Paleo pancakes are as much an oxymoron as monokinis, cool summer night, or "tasteful wallpaper", and yet, they are one of the most popular paleo dishes. It seems like anyone new to the paleo diet kicks off their new lifestyle with one of the millions of recipes for pancakes (yours truly is author of two, here and here), so I almost feel bad sharing this recipe with you, except for the fact that they ARE DELICIOUS AND EASY AND HAVE BACONOMG! IN THEM!!!!!! 

The two variations on paleo pancakes I've made in the past weren't particularly difficult, but they did require a little patience. This recipe, however, that Megan and I created when I visited her in Roanoke this weekend (more to come from that trip!), requires little to no skill to put together, which was integral considering we consumed like, 5 liquor drinks the night before as part of her wedding reception cocktail tasting.

I mean, whether you eat paleo or not, you're probably gonna eat bacon with your pancakes anyway--why not just throw them in the batter to begin with?? Listen, you've got a lot going on...you don't have time to pick up bacon and chew it and then pick up your knife and fork and eat a bite of pancake separately! Be good to yourself and just put your bacon in your pancake from the get-go. You deserve it.

If you don't like bacon are a crazy person, you could leave the bacon out, but like, just don't. That said, we just put strips down the middle of them, but you could always dice the bacon and toss it into the batter that way, too, but then you're adding the extra step of, ya know, dicing.

Even Rocky needed in on the bacon/pancake action. Megan ultimately threw him a bone (i.e., strip of bacon).

Paleo Bacon Pancakes

Makes 4 large pancakes

• 2 ripe bananas
• 3 eggs
• 3 Tbsp. coconut flour
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/4 tsp baking soda
• pinch of salt
• dash of cinnamon
• 2 strips of bacon, cut in half (or 4 whole slices if you're in beast mode)

1. In a pan over medium heat, cook bacon until crispy. Do not drain the fat.

2. While bacon cooks, put bananas in food processor; pulse until pureed completely.

3. Add eggs, flour, vanilla extract, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon to bananas and continue to pulse until everything is pureed and smooth.

4. Using a spoon or ladle, pour batter on top of bacon strip. Cook until the pancake set enough on the bottom to flip--about 4-8 minutes depending on your stovetop. Then, like, cook on the other side. Obviously.

5. Serve warm, with quality maple syrup if you like.

DC Blogger Champagne Brunch Recap

Who's been to an unlimited champagne brunch? Chances are, if you're a female of legal drinking age in an even half-way civilized town, you've been more times that you can remember (thanks to the blackout that inevitably followed). So when Megan told me and Whitney that she'd be coming up from Charlottesville for the weekend, we did what any BBFs would do--we got fancy and "well-hydrated" at the all-you-can-drink champagne brunch at Chadwick's in Georgetown.

{Megan, Me, and Whitney}

{Thanks for the pics, Megan!}

I ordered a paleo-friendly meal of a ham, onion, and cheese omelet, but then I realized I was getting jammer-timed off mimosas and threw all dietary caution to the wind and stuffed the potatoes into my mouth.

In addition to Whitney and Megan, we were joined by the likes of fellow DC blogger and sometimes member of our weekly Bachelor viewing party, Erica...

...and Jackie, who was visiting from New York, but she got to be part of the DC crew for a morning of debauchery.

Shortly after this picture, I stumbled my way to H&M, where I'm still questioning how security didn't throw out the inebriated red-head who kept picking up clothes, carrying them around the store, and then setting them where they didn't belong until her really sweet boyfriend came to take her home, where she immediately passed out.

He also took my jewelry off and laid it on the pretty tray I picked up this weekend in a very neat fashion; completely opposite the hot mess of a girlfriend he put to bed at 6 pm.

What's your favorite brunchtime adult beverage? Can I ever show my face in H&M again??

Bloggin' Bout Bloggers

{Me with Jenna from The Paleo Project, duh}

Typically, my Sunday nights involve yoga pants, glasses, and zero make-up, dreading another work week and watching "Once Upon a Time." P.S. Am I the only person watching this?? OMG, anyone who's watching it will you please let me know so we can talk about it so much??? 

So when Jenna told me about the Blogger Blitz event in DC (held Sunday night), I was hesitant to not only meet new people, but to also be taken away from my usual Sunday routine that could easily be mistaken for that of an anti-depressant-addicted, mild-aged divorcee with three too many cats.

Color me pleasantly surprised when we ended up not only having a great time meeting other DC-area bloggers, but looking amazing whilst doing it! 

{Zara sweater, H&M leggings, Sam Edelman pumps, Michael Kors watch}

{Jenna made this sweet ass gif, which I promptly stole}

And that concludes the "detail shots of my top" portion of our evening.

But interestingly, the evening wasn't only about the clothes. It was about meeting other bloggers. And not just the one who flew in from Boston to stay with me (more on that later this week). It was here I met Whitney of Cheerios and Beer, a hilarious read and my new blog-turned-real-life-friend. We're getting dinner tomorrow, NBD.

{Jenna and Whitney--but then, you already knew that from the nametags, didn't you?}

And I also met Megan, who bears an uncanny resemblance to Zooey Deschanel. We may or may not have sung an inappropriate amount of "Who's that girrrrrrrrl's?"

{Me and who's-that-girl-it's-Megan...of Freckled Italian}

And then there was Ashlyn who is cute as a button and just as sweet as can be.

{Jenna and Ashlyn}

And then there was Alison, who put the whole incredible event together. 

{Jenna and Alison}

There was a whole room of other bloggers I didn't get to spend as much/any time with, but I don't think I'm out of line when I say the whole thing was something of a success and we'll all likely reconvene another time.

And now for the obligatory CupcakesOMG! and Paleo Project shots:

 

What does YOUR Sunday routine consist of?? Do you watch "Once Upon a Time"? Do you even know what it is???