Categories
Adulting Recipe

5 Delicious and Easy Cocktails to Make at Home

Who said you need to purchase your favorite cocktails when you can make them right in your kitchen? 

Whether you are a cocktail lover who wants to learn the art of making a refreshing mojito from the comfort of your home, or a newbie who is eager to have a go at homemade cocktail preparation, these special recipes are designed for you. 

With these tips, you can prepare the popular mojito, loved blueberry lavender, Tom Collins, Pina Colada, and Classic Negroni cocktail. The best part? We simplified the procedure for you! From how to make the correct Cocktail Garnish, to the ingredients you need, we have everything for you to make your favorite tipple from the comfort of your home.

Let’s begin with the first! 

*This post contains affiliate links*

Easy Cocktails

5 Delicious and Easy Cocktails to Make at Home

1.     Mojito 

Are you eager to excite your taste buds with an exceptional cocktail? Try mojito! 

Mojito is the perfect cocktail for summertime. To make one, mix white rum, lime juice, mint, and club soda. 

Don’t have club soda? Tonic water is another alternative. However, the latter will make your mojito taste different and a little bitter. 

All in all, making mojito is pretty easy. You can enjoy your self-made mojito with fresh and chunky salsa, homemade tacos, shrimp ceviche, or carnitas. 

2.     Blueberry Lavender Cocktail 

Looking for one of the best Lavender cocktails? The blueberry lavender cocktail is exactly what you need! 

First, you’ll need to make the syrup. To do that, mix a cup of water, sugar, and two tablespoons of dried lavender in a saucepan and boil before reducing the heat to a low simmer. Stir the mixture until the sugar is not obvious and the syrup has thickened. Remove from heat, cool, and strain. 

To make the cocktail, muddle frozen blueberries in a cocktail shaker to get their juices. Next, include vodka, the syrup you made, and elderflower liqueur and muddle the mixture. Later, throw ice into the mix and shake. Your cocktail is ready! 

3.     Tom Collins Easy Cocktails

Did you know that simple recipes make the best cocktails? 

Tom Collins, the idea—store cupboard cocktails—is a perfect example, and making one is easy. First, you’ll need to fill a Collins glass with one and a half cups of ice and store it in a freezer. Next, mix gin, lemon juice, and syrup in a cocktail shaker. 

Add one cup of ice, close, and jiggle until the contents have mixed properly. Finally, pour the content into the chilled Collins glass, then add club soda and a lemon wedge to add a little zing to the combination. 

4.     Pina Colada 

Ever tried a coconut and pineapple combination? 

If so, how was it? 

Delicious, right? 

That is exactly what the Pina Colada cocktail is made of. To make this delicious drink, get a cocktail shaker with ice. Add rum, cream of coconut and pineapple, and lime juices to the shaker and shake for some time (40-sec max). 

Sieve the content into a chilled glass over ice, removing any ingredient residue. For the best taste, add a pineapple wedge and pineapple lea. You can enjoy your classic cocktail while enjoying the soft evening breeze on your patio or basking in the beautiful sun rays in your yard. 

5.     Classic Negroni 

Classic negroni is the perfect example of a bittersweet cocktail. 

The best part? 

It can be made with three simple ingredients. But that’s not all! The process of making this beautifully classic negroni is as easy as pie. 

To start, you need gin, vermouth, and Campari. With these ingredients ready, mix the vermouth, Campari, and gin in a mixing glass or juice. Add ice and stir vigorously for some time. Next, filter the content into a tumbler and add ice to chill it. You can then garnish with an orange slice for better taste. 

Final Thoughts: Delicious and Easy Cocktails

Buying a cocktail from the grocery store is good. It’s the easiest way to enjoy your favorite cocktail. However, making your cocktails allow you to try out new things, and you can have fun doing it with friends. With your cocktail skills, you can even set up a business making what you love!  

Categories
Family Activities Gifts Toys and Games

An Honest Product Review: Deluxe Collector’s Edition Backgammon Set

This deluxe backgammon set is a collector’s edition and comes in a beautiful navy blue case that you can store all the pieces in. It’s perfect for travel as it folds together nicely and doesn’t take up much space. My family loves games and we never pass up on the opportunity to add a new one to our collection.

We played a few rounds and had so much fun. It quickly became a favorite. This backgammon game is an adult version, but I played it with my daughter six year old and she loved it.

**I received this item for free in exchange for a review, and the post contains affiliate links. However, everything in this post is my personal and honest opinion.**

What I Liked about the Backgammon Set

It’s Perfect For All Ages

With some patience, you can teach your kiddos to play backgammon. My six year old caught on quick and we had a great time together. Old and young can play, making it a family friendly game.

It Can Be a Teaching Tool

My favirotie thing about games is that my kids can learn from them. Of course there are games without a learning component, but I’m always excited to find a beneficial one.

Backgammon was perfect for that. We counted it as her math practice for the day since it involved counting and adding.

What I Didn’t Like

The Instructions Were Confusing

I haven’t played backgammon since I was a kid, so it was a learning experience for me. The directions were a little confusing, and I think the pictures could have been clearer.

However, after reading through them a couple of times (and referencing Google), we figured it out and got started. I had to reference the instructions a few times throughout the game, but I was comfortable by the end.

Collectors Addition Backgammon Set

This Backgammon set was so much fun, and I’m glad my daughter and I got to learn it together. It’s perfect for families, couples, and anyone looking to add a fun game to their collection.

Categories
Adulting Coffee Date Gifts

10 Reasons to Try Bean Box Award Winning Coffee

I love coffee and, like many people, begin my day with it every day. Mornings are sometimes hard for me, so I started switching up my coffee flavors to make it more exciting. Once I did that, I started looking forward to mornings and to waking up before the kids. Now, I am obsessed with trying new coffee and trying different brands. I found Bean Box, and when I tried their coffee, I was hooked. You will never get bored with their products, and they offer so many perks to their customers.

***This post contains affiliate links. It costs you nothing extra, but I may receive a small commission.***

Why You Should Try Bean Box Award Winning Coffee

1. It can be the Perfect Gift

Finding the perfect gift for someone you care about can be hard sometimes. With Bean Box, you can simplify the gift buying process by signing the receiver up for a coffee subscription box. You can also buy a gift box for them, instead. They offer many gift options including:

  • Coffee Sampler
  • Tea Tasting Gift Box
  • World Coffee Tour Box
  • Bean Box Single-Brew Cups
  • Chocolate Collection Gift Box
  • Coffee and Tea Gift Box

2. They Have Cold Brew

Need I say more? Sometimes you just need a cold coffee. Bean Box offers a cold brew that is delicious and refreshing.

3. They Have Dunk-able Biscotti

Their Italian-style biscotti are handmade and pair perfectly with coffee. They are dunk-able, so you can dip them into your coffee without them crumbling to pieces.

I’m excited to try their coffee & biscotti tasting box. It comes with yummy coffee and a variety of biscotti to try.

4. You Can Sign Up For a Subscription

I love a good subscription box, but Bean Box is the best yet. At the time of this blog post, all of the subscriptions ship for free, too. Some of the subscriptions you can choose from include:

  • Coffee of the Month Club

In the Coffee of the Month Club, each month you will receive 12 ounces (makes 24-36 cups) of whole bean coffee from roasters like Zoka, Seattle Coffee Works, Vita, and Fundamental. It also comes with tasting notes, brewing tips, and chocolate.

  • Coffee Bag Subscription

The Coffee Bag Subscription is a 12 ounce bag of coffee that can be delivered weekly, biweekly, or monthly. You can choose which roast you prefer and if you want whole bean or freshly ground coffee. This one is perfect for those that never want to run out of coffee.

  • Coffee Tasting Subscription

The Coffee Tasting Subscription is my favorite one because you get four different coffees each month. Each coffee comes in a 1.8-ounce bag, which will brew 4-6 cups of coffee. So, between all four flavors, you will get 16-24 total cups of coffee.

It’s fun because you can mix it up and try different coffee often. This makes it easy to find your favorite because you can try them all without ordering a large bag.

5. They Offer All Roasts

Bean Box has coffee for everyone because they offer light, medium, dark, decaf, and espresso roasts. They also allow you to choose a mix of medium & dark or a mix of light & medium. If you can’t decide, you can select all roasts and receive a variety of everything.

6. You Can Choose Which Type You Want

You can choose from whole bean and freshly ground coffee, ensuring you get what you need or prefer.

7. They Have Premium Tea

If you like tea, Bean Box has you covered for that, too. My favorite Bean Box tea so far is Cozy Nights Herbal Tea, which helps me fall asleep at night. They have so many flavors, though, so make sure you check them all out.

8. There are Coffee Perks

When you shop with Bean Box, they offer coffee perks that you’ll love. You can set up auto-ship on your favorite products so that you never run out or forget to order. Bean Box offers free shipping on many products and gives you 5% back in Bean Box credits that you can use on more products.

9. They Have so Many Unique and Exciting Flavors

I can’t get over how many flavors Bean Box has, and I want to try them all. I like dark roasts, so I’ll be trying all of those first.

There are a few I’m most excited about including Dark Side of the Moon, which has caramel, chocolate, and cocoa. Cloud City Blend has hints of graham cracker, marshmallow, and chocolate. Full City Espresso contains chocolate and cocoa powder.

10. Coffee is Life

The final reason you should try Bean Box is that coffee is life. As parents, we need it to function. You should make this part of your life exciting by switching it up and trying new things.

Try Bean Box Award Winning Coffee Today

I have an entire list of products that I want to try from Bean Box, and I’m slowly working through the list. The things I’ve tried already have been so good, and I can’t wait to try the rest!!

Check out their website ASAP so you can enjoy $5 off your first box. Which products sound the best to you?!

If you are interested in subscription boxes for kids, check out my post 4 Fun Monthly Subscription Boxes for Kids: Non-Toy Gifts for Kids.

Bean Box, Bean Box Coffee, Coffee Subscription Box, Gifts for Coffee Lovers, Subscription Box for Coffee, Auto-Ship Coffee, Coffee,
Categories
Michigan Things to Do Travel Travel Tuesday

4 Fun Things to Do In Battle Creek, Michigan

If you ever find yourself in or near Battle Creek, you should make it a point to spend some time there. There are so many fun things to do in Battle Creek, Michigan. Most people think that the only thing to do there is going to the casino, but that is just the tip of the ice burg.

My husband and I often stop at the Casino in Battle Creek when we are traveling without the kids since we pass right through it when we head toward Lake Michigan. This last time, we spent a day exploring the city and we had so much fun doing it. It was the perfect day date for us, and we truly had a blast.

Things to do in Battle Creek, Michigan

1. Handmap Brewing

Things to Do In Battle Creek, Handmap Brewing

We stopped at Handmap Brewing on a whim, and it quickly became one of my favorite breweries. They play great music and have different music themes each day. We went on a Saturday and reggae music was playing to give a vacation vibe.

The brewery is beautifully decorated and had a relaxing vibe. I could have spent the entire day there with a good book and yummy beer. Oh, and the beer was amazing because it was different than most places. They had choices for everyone, but I was especially impressed by the Black IPA they had called Black Squirrel.

I was lucky enough to meet the owner while we were there, and she was so nice! She took the time to talk with my husband and me, and the staff was just as friendly.

Things to Do In Battle Creek, Handmap Brewing, Black IPA, Black Squirrel
Handmap Brewing

2. Griffin Grill and Pub

The thing I like most about Griffin Grill and Pub is that they have an extensive menu for both food and beer. Our food was delicious, and they played fun Irish music, which I loved. The service was great, too, with our waiter coming by often and returning quickly when we needed something.

3. 32 Social Cafe

Things to Do In Battle Creek, 32 Social
Coffee in Battle Creek: 32 Social
Things to Do In Battle Creek, 32 Social
32 Social Cafe

If you’re looking for a coffee shop, 32 Social is the perfect place. Their coffee is delicious and the environment is perfect. It’s sunny inside and so chill, it just left me feeling positive and optimistic. They also have yummy treats like cupcakes, cookies, and other snacks.

Things to Do In Battle Creek, 32 Social
32 Social Cafe

4. FireKeepers Casino & Hotel

The casino is fun, of course, but you have to remember to limit yourself. My husband and I decide on an amount we want to spend ahead of time and then only take that amount with us. Once it’s gone, it’s gone, and we move on. Hence the reason we decided to explore the rest of Battle Creek.

If you decide to stay overnight, the FireKeepers hotel is really nice. They also have many restaurants to choose from, but our favorite is Dacey’s Taphouse.

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Things to do in Battle Creek, Michigan

I hadn’t realized it before, but there are so many fun things to do in Battle Creek, Michigan. There are only a handful of things discussed here, but there is still so much more for you to see. Make a day trip to check it out!

Have you ever been to Battle Creek? What did you do there? Leave a comment and let me know!