Young Grasshopper's Top 5 in 2012!

Remember me?  I am alive. Things just got so crazy over the last couple months I had to make some tough prioritizing choices and alas blogging took the hit {which even David said was a bad thing as blogging really made me a happier person}.  I'm hoping the New Year will afford me more blogging time as the holidays end, the company departs and "normalcy" resumes. 

Reflecting on 2012 it was a rough one in Chez Webb.... I lost my Mom in January, My Great Aunt {107 years old!} in September and my Father-in-Law in October.  It was a lot of sadness not only for me but all I love.  My kids lost 2 grandparents.... my Dad, a wife, my husband, a Dad and my most awesome Mother-in-Law lost the love of her life.  The sadness was potentially all consuming.

It can be hard to notice the positives when there's a lot of sad but noteworthy in 2012 is that the kids continue to shine in every aspect of their youth, David & I were lucky enough to have the opportunity of the Kress Building fall into our laps, we are all healthy and have the best support system in our extended family and friends.  And yes, we have each other.

Good & Bad I'm so very excited to kick this year out the door and ring in a glorious new year.... HELLO 2013!  I'm starting if off by running from Miami to Key West with my BFF and our 9 Ragnar teammates and then relaxing with MaryAnn & David for a couple days in glorious Key West.  I vow to truly relax and I'm hoping I will return renewed and ready to kick some ass in 2013!

To end on a blogging note and since I've been so MIA
I thought I would close out the year with a
 Featured 5 celebrating my Top 5 posts of 2012....
I always love those radio count downs.... 
You won't be surprised to find they are all cocktails....

Cheers to you all.....
 

#5 the Classic Whisky Sour

 
 



#4.... The St~Germain Cocktail....



 



#3 was a guest post by the
fabulous Messy Baker!
who served up a
Grilled Peach Bourbon
Old Fashioned!



#2 The Dark & Stormy 



& drum roll please.......


#1 My Champagne Mojito

 Happy New Year Everyone!

Hope to see a lot more of you in 2013 ;)

Happy Thanksgiving!

I am thankful.
Just generally.
Hope you are too.
Enjoy your day.
Lots of love and laughs.
XXOO

p.s. great recipe on my Facebook page for a Cranberry Mojito...

Simply Fall {Mini Acorn Treats}

These are 2 things..... ridiculously easy & ridiculously CUTE.

What you'll need
chocolate frosting
mini vanilla wafers
chocolate kisses
pretzel sticks

What You Do:
For each, use chocolate frosting to attach a mini vanilla wafer to a chocolate kiss.  Snap a 1/4-inch section from a pretzel stick for a stem and use more frosting to attach it to the wafer. Let the frosting set for 20 minutes before serving.

Seriously, that's it.  They take 10 minutes to make a really cute display and if you are even a little artier than me they be even CUTER!

Dark & Stormy Death Punch....

 

Dark & Stormy Death Punch

I made this for my Halloween soiree last year and EVERYONE loved it, both men & women.  It's a loose rendition of the Dark & Stormy but much more affordable when providing for a gaggle of 'weeners.

WHAT YOU NEED:
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup fresh lime juice
750 ml bottle dark or spiced rum
2 liter bottles ginger ale




Dark & Stormy Death Punch

WHAT YOU DO:
In a pitcher, stir the sugar into the lime juice until dissolved; add the rum and refrigerate until chilled, about 1 hour.

In your vat, pour in the lime-rum mixture; add the ginger ale, stir gently and serve in ice-filled glasses.

If you want to get really ghoulish.... get a can of Lychees, I had to go to a Chinese grocery for them last year, and stuff the lychees with maraschino cherries and freeze them... great eye ball ice cubes!

Happy Halloween!!!

NOTE:  the top picture is with Captain Morgan, very tasty but not nearly as creepy as the Myers Rum version I did last year in the vat..... I will be using Myer's for Halloween!


 

HAPPY GOOD & PLENTY DAY & a Guest Post :)

Anyone remember Choo-choo Charlie?  I sure do.... [sorry about sticking THAT tune in your heads but I could not resist!]

My point? Well, CJ over at Food Stories asked if I'd like to Guest Post while she recouperated I said "ABSOLUTELY! What are my holiday choices oh Queen of Food Holidays?" When I saw Good & Plenty as a choice I thought HOW FUN! 

So, I set off to come up with a cocktail.... I know SHOCKING.  Head on over to Food Stories to check out what these beauties are!


 

& CHEERS CHOO CHOO CHARLIE!