Happy Friday! Sorry for my spotty commenting/responding this week, it has been one of the busiest weeks I've had since I started here. I had planned on writing a blog post yesterday and then that didn't happen and then I thought I wouldn't even be able to post today but here I am! Ok, technically I'm cheating. I actually wrote this blog post for my work blog but I loved the cocktails I made so much that I just had to share them with you all! You all know how much I love my bubbly so if I had to choose I'd probably say the Apple Cider Mimosa is my favorite but I was really surprised at how yummy the others were as well. So without further adieu, here are the 5 fall cocktails you have to try!

Ingredients:

Directions: Add cinnamon and coarse sugar to a plate. Rim the edge of a glass with the cinnamon and sugar. Add a few apple slices to the bottom of the glass and top with ice. Add the Grand Mariner, gold tequila and apple cider to the glass and stir to mix. Garnish with an apple slice and a cinnamon stick.

2. Rosemary & Maple Bourbon Sour - This twist on a classic Bourbon Sour is really perfect for any time of year but the maple syrup gives it a fall feel.

Ingredients:

Directions: Add bourbon, lemon juice, maple syrup and rosemary simple syrup to a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Strain mixture into a rocks glass filled with fresh ice. Garnish with rosemary sprig.

3. Apple Spiced Mimosas - Looking to spice up your mimosa? This is a perfect refreshing twist on everyone's favorite bubbly brunch beverage.

Ingredients:

Directions: Mix apple cider, cinnamon and nutmeg together in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Strain contents into a champagne flute. Top with champagne. Garnish with apple slice.

4. Harvest Shandy - Prefer fall beer over fall cocktails? I've got you covered! Spiced apple cider and pumpkin beer are the perfect combo for this easy and delicious shandy.

Ingredients:

Directions: Combine brown sugar, sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg on a plate. Dip the rim on a pint glass in water and then carefully rim the glass in the spice mixture. Combine apple cider and pumpkin beer in glass and stir gently. Top with a dash of cinnamon (optional).

5. Autumn Spiced Rum Punch - Rum Punches are usually synonymous with summer but add a little apple and some spices and you've got yourself a perfectly fall cocktail!

Ingredients:

Directions: In a rocks glass filled with ice, combine spiced rum and apple cider and stir gently to mix. Top with hard cider and 2-3 dashes of lemon bitters. Add a dash of nutmeg and garnish with a cinnamon stick.

Happy Humpday! I'm switching things up a bit today on the blog so feel free to let me know whether you like it, don't like it, couldn't care either way; I just figured I'd try something new and share with you guys a little of what I'm doing when I'm out of the office for work, especially since it seems to be more and more frequently. I have to admit, I LOVE my job. I spent many years bored, unfulfilled and just downright unhappy at my previous job so it's such a refreshing change of pace to be challenged and get to participate in such an amazing company and fun projects. Before coming here I'd had never participated in a photo shoot and I wasn't really much of a mixologist but I've really gotten to step out of my comfort zone and do a lot in both of these aspects and I'm so happy I have! 

Last week when I was out for three days I got to work with a mixologist (and flare bartender) and learn how to make some tasty cocktails at home so today I'm sharing one of those cocktails with you. I know tomorrow is Cinco de Mayo so I should be sharing a margarita but a mojito is such a refreshing summer cocktail that I just had to share it! 

A mojito really is a fairly simple cocktail to make and has a wide variety of variations so it's easy to switch it up just slightly and have almost a whole new cocktail!

• 1 cup sugar*
• 1 cup water*
• 8 mint leaves plus a sprig to garnish
• 1-1/2 to 2 ounces of light rum
• ½ lime
• Splash of sparkling water or club soda

1. Add sugar and water to a small saucepan and bring to a simmer. Stir while cooking until sugar dissolves. Let cool.*
2. While the simple syrup is cooling, add mint and lime to a glass.
3. Muddle together.
4. Fill glass with ice.
5. Add cooled simple syrup and rum to the glass.
6. Top with sparkling water or club soda.
7. Enjoy!

* You can skip making your own simple syrup and use store bought simple syrup if you'd like.

Well I'm officially alive and back.... kinda! I'm kinda cheating right now; I'm writing this post in the car (for the second time actually because Blogger decided to not save my last post I wrote) on my way home from Key West since we left a lot later than originally planned! So if I seem tired and a little unlike myself it's because I've been sitting in a car for the past 6 hours and I wasted my fun post on the last one I wrote about an hour and a half ago. But don't worry, I took a ton of pictures with my DSLR and I can't wait to share them and my trip details with you guys as soon as I get a chance to look through them! For now... iPhone photos it is, so sorry for the lack of quality on these dolls!

So for anyone who doesn't know, me and a group of friends take a yearly vacation to Key West for 4th of July weekend. It's an amazing weekend filled with great memories, lots of inside jokes (hence the title of this post), LOTS of food and drinks (my liver is glad this weekend is over) and plenty of fun times! This is a really big deal for us, we start planning in September for next July! Not that there's TOO much planning involved since we stay at the same amazing place every year, but more on that later!

If you've never been to Key West before I highly recommend making a trip sometime! The water isn't quite as pretty as some of the other Keys but it's still such a fun and pretty place. This year we got to go out on a boat our first day which was so much fun until we all started to get really hungry but we were at the mercy of the driver so no food for us... But again, more on that later! 

However the boat did result in some fun pictures and amazing memories so I can't complain! 

One of the things I love about Key West is the vibe. It has such a laid back, relaxed vibe but still enough excitement to not be boring. Seeing someone out in heels is a rarity (I didn't even bring heels!) and the whole "no shirt, no shoes, no problem" saying couldn't be any more true here. You do a lot of walking so comfort is definitely a must. That's another thing... Can't finish your drink? No problem, just put it in a plastic cup and you're good to go (if you aren't driving of course)! And most bars don't care if you walk in with a drink you bought down the road.

It really is one of those places I feel like you have to visit at least once! If you don't have kids skip Disney World and hit up Key West instead. It's much more adult friendly! 

Me and my friend have already started planning next years trip (hey, it's a long drive with not much else to do) and spoiler alert, it involves an extra day next year since none of us were ready to leave yet this year. Be prepared for more Key West posts this week! Actually... Does anyone want to make a trip back! I'm ready to go! ;)

How can you not love this view?!? Key West... You are my happy place!