Mothers and wives gather around — it is FINALLY your day of compensation! A whole entire year of lunch packing, knee bandaging, and college tuition paying has paid off, this Sunday is devoted to you, Mom! This day was created to honor all mothers nation wide, so children could express their undying gratitude for the special woman that brought them into the world. Mom, here’s to you! It all started in ancient Greece, a special day was dedicated to celebration of all maternal goddesses. The Greeks used the occasion to honor Rhea, wife of Cronus and the Mother of Greek mythology. Early Christians celebrated a Mother’s Day in honor of the Virgin Mary on the fourth Sunday of Lent. In England the holiday was expanded to include all mothers, where the name Mothering Sunday came about. On this occasion, servants and employees were encouraged to stay home from work and honor their Mother instead, children would do so by bearing gifts and food. Today Mother’s Day is celebrated in several countries including US, UK, India, Denmark, Finland, Italy, Turkey, Australia, Mexico, Canada, China, Japan and Belgium. It is an opportunity to thank mother’s for support and love throughout the years, as well as spend quality time with one another.

There is no telling that weddings and parties can be expensive…

do away with your pricey open bar and make your own signature drinks!

You can even name it yourself!

Luckily, we have combined delicious with sophisticated and put together a list of our favorite beautiful and tasty refreshments for your celebration!

credit : http://www.marthastewartweddings.com/230714/signature-drinks/@center/272429/diy-weddings#320405

ROSEMARY CITRUS PUNCH

Ingredients (makes 6 drinks)

Directions

1. Bring sugar and 1/2 cup water to a boil in a saucepan. Cook, stirring, until sugar dissolves. Remove from heat. Add rosemary sprig and let steep for 2 hours; remove sprig. Refrigerate simple syrup up to 2 weeks.
2. Combine lemon juice, gin, orange juice, and simple syrup in a punch bowl. Garnish bowl and glasses with orange slices and rosemary sprigs, if desired. Add ice cubes as needed to keep chilled.

 

 

WATERMELON MARGARITA

Ingredients (makes 4 drinks)

•                                         1/2 cup sugar
•                                         1/2 cup water
•                                         3 wide strips orange zest
•                                         12 ounces watermelon cubes (about 2 cups)
•                                         1/4 cup fresh lime juice
•                                         3/4 cup white or silver tequila
•                                         Lime wedges

Directions

1. In a small saucepan, bring sugar, water, and orange zest to a boil over high. Reduce to a simmer and cook until sugar dissolves, 3 minutes. Let syrup cool in a bowl. In a blender, puree watermelon cubes until smooth. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve, pressing on solids, into a pitcher (you should have about 1 cup juice). Stir in syrup, lime juice, and tequila. Fill salt-rimmed glasses with ice, then pour margarita mixture over top. Garnish with lime wedges.

** Note:

To create salted glasses for these watermelon margaritas, place 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice on a small plate, and 1/2 cup coarse salt on another. Dip rims of four glasses in lime juice, then in the salt to coat.

POMEGRANATE CAIPIROSKA

Ingredients (makes 8 drinks)

•                                         1 cup pomegranate seeds
•                                         1/4 cup superfine sugar
•                                         1 lime cut into 16 wedges
•                                         16 ounces vodka
•                                         8 ounces seltzer

Directions

1. Divide seeds, sugar, and lime among 8 glasses; muddle until sugar dissolves. Top with vodka, ice, and seltzer.

 

 

STARLIGHT ROYAL

Ingredients (makes 12 drinks)

•                                         2 1/4 cups freshly squeezed lime juice (or 1 1/2 ounces per shaker), plus more for rims
•                                         1 1/2 cups gin (or 2 ounces per shaker)
•                                         1/2 cup superfine sugar (or 2 teaspoons per shaker)
•                                         1 bottle brut Champagne or sparkling wine (or 4 ounces per shaker)
•                                         Fine sanding sugar, for rims
•                                         Grenadine

Directions

1. Mix lime juice, gin, and superfine sugar in a 2-quart pitcher; chill until ready to serve, several hours.
2. To serve, dip rims of glasses in lime juice, then sanding sugar, to coat with 1-inch-wide band. Measure 4 ounces Champagne into cocktail shaker filled with ice. Add 3 1/2 ounces lime juice-and-gin mixture, and shake; strain into 2 glasses, and add 2 to 3 drops of grenadine to each. Repeat.

** Note:

To make this drink on demand, use the amounts in parentheses, and mix two drinks at once in a cocktail shaker filled with ice, then pour into glasses, and add grenadine. For a crowd, follow the directions above.

Dip the rim in lime juice and fine sanding sugar for a 1-inch-wide band of sparkle.

 

 

LAVENDAR WHISKEY SOUR

Ingredients (makes 1 drink)

•                                         Ice cubes
•                                         2 ounces whiskey
•                                         1 tablespoon Lavender Sour Syrup (see directions below)
•                                         Fresh lavender sprig, for garnish

Directions

1. Fill an 8-ounce glass with ice; pour over whiskey. Fill with lavender sour syrup; stir to combine. Garnish with lavender sprig and serve immediately.

 

How to Make Lavender Sour Syrup –>

Ingredients (makes 2 cups)

•                                         2 cups sugar
•                                         1/2 cup dried lavender
•                                         Freshly squeezed lemon juice

Directions

1. Bring sugar and 2 cups water to a boil in a saucepan over medium heat, and cook, stirring, until sugar has dissolved. Reduce heat to low and add lavender. Cover and let steep 15 minutes.
2. Strain mixture through a fine mesh sieve into a large pitcher. Add lemon juice to taste. Keep refrigerated until ready to use.

 

 

ICED COFFEE FRAPPE WITH COTTON CANDY

Ingredients (makes 3 drinks)

•                                         1 cup plus 2 tablespoons skim milk
•                                         3 tablespoons instant-coffee frappe mix (such as Nescafe Classic)
•                                         3 tablespoons sugar
•                                         White cotton candy, for topping

Directions

1. Blend 3/4 cup milk, 3/4 cup cold water, the instant-coffee frappe mix, and sugar in a blender until combined, about 30 seconds. Divide among 3 tall glasses filled with ice. Pour 2 tablespoons milk into each glass. Serve immediately, topped with cotton candy.

 

CUCUMGER MINTO MOJITO

Ingredients

•                                         4 1/2 cups Cucumber Gin (or 2 oz.), how-to follows
•                                         2 1/4 cups fresh lime juice (or 1 oz.)
•                                         1 cup plus 2 tablespoons Mint  Simple Syrup (or  1/2 oz.), how-to follows
•                                         Cucumber peels, for garnish
•                                         Fresh mint sprigs, for garnish

• Cucumber Gin

  • Steep 2 1/2 cups diced,  peeled cucumber in 4 1/2 cups gin, covered  and chilled, 8 hours to 4 days (or   1/2 cup cucumber in 1 cup gin). Strain;  store indefinitely in the refrigerator.

• Mint Simple Syrup

  • Heat 1 cup sugar  and 1 cup water over medium-high  heat, stirring until dissolved. Add 1 cup  mint leaves; remove from heat. Cover;  steep 30 minutes to 1 hour. Strain; discard  mint. Refrigerate up to 2 months.

Directions

1. In a 2-quart pitcher, stir gin, lime juice, and syrup. Refrigerate. To serve, pour into a cocktail shaker filled with ice, shake vigorously, and divide among ice-filled 10-ounce glasses. (For a single drink, mix in a cocktail shaker filled with ice, and shake.) Garnish each with cumber peel and mint.

 

ROSE PUNCH

Ingredients (makes 9 drinks)

•                                         4 peaches, sliced
•                                         1 bottle (750 ml) rose wine, chilled
•                                         2 cups sparkling lemonade (we used Lorina lemonade), chilled
•                                         2 tablespoons black-raspberry liqueur (we used Chambord)
•                                         27 raspberries

Directions

1. Place half the peach slices in ice cube trays, one slice per compartment; add water, and freeze.
2. Mix wine, lemonade, and liqueur in punch bowl. Add peach slices and some of the peach ice cubes. To serve, place remaining peach ice cubes in cups, and ladle in the punch; garnish with raspberries.

 

 

BLACKBERRY GIN FIZZ

 

Ingredients (makes 6 drinks)

•                                         12 ounces blackberries, plus more for garnish
•                                         2 tablespoons superfine sugar
•                                         3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
•                                         6 ounces gin
•                                         15 mint leaves, torn, plus sprigs for garnish
•                                         1 1/2 cups seltzer

Directions

1. Puree berries and sugar in a food processor. Strain, and discard seeds.
2. Put 1/3 cup puree, 1 tablespoon lime juice, 2 ounces gin, and 1/3 of the torn mint leaves into a cocktail shaker filled with ice, and shake until cold. Pour into two 8-ounce glasses, and add 1/4 cup seltzer to each. Repeat twice. Garnish with berries and mint sprigs.

 

 

PEAR MELBA MARTINI

Ingredients (makes 2 drinks)

•                                         6 ounces fresh (or thawed frozen) raspberries
•                                         1/4 cup chilled sugar
•                                         2 teaspoons Chambord or other black-raspberry-flavored liqueur
•                                         3/4 cup pear nectar
•                                         3 ounces best-quality vodka

Directions

1. Puree raspberries and sugar in a food processor; strain into a bowl. Refrigerate until ready to use (up to 2 days; makes enough for 60 drinks). Pour nectar, Chambord, and vodka into a cocktail shaker filled with ice; shake to combine. Strain into 2 martini glasses. Pour 1/2 teaspoon raspberry puree into each glass.

 PEAR LEMON FIZZ

Ingredients (makes 1 1/8 cups)

•                                         1 cup water
•                                         1 cup sugar
•                                         1/2 cup fresh lemon verbena leaves

Directions

1. Bring water and sugar to a boil in a saucepan, stirring to dissolve sugar. Add lemon verbena. Reduce heat, and simmer 10 minutes. Let cool. Strain, discarding lemon verbena. Syrup can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 1 month.

Mother’s Day, a holiday where sons and daughters nationwide scramble to pick the best gift for their Mother. Do you want to really impress her this year? Our jewelry and style experts have compiled a few pieces that are trendy, beautiful, and at a reasonable price! Don’t wait until the last minute again, really dazzle her with a gift you know she will love! We have a huge selection offering variety and elegance… you can NEVER go wrong with jewelry on Mother’s Day!

Gifts Under $200

Outdoor weddings are of the most popular amongst young lovers, stunning in photos and a true enhancer of the romantic element. But what your wedding photos don’t show is all the small mishaps that occur during an outdoor wedding. Luckily, we have tips and tricks that could make all the difference on your day!

1. Depending on the season, prepare accordingly to keep your guests comfortable. If you are having a spring or summer wedding make sure to have a lot of cold water bottles. The sun will heat them up if they are sitting out, so either put them in a cooling case or have your servers switch them out hourly. To spice it up you could even get custom water bottle labels! Cute and refreshing! This will keep your guests hydrated, after all you don’t want anyone passing out at the reception!

2. You can never have too much backup! When planning for an outdoor wedding it never hurts to have another location for the celebration in case the weather is not ideal for that day. Include this backup location in the invitation. This way it is organized and your guests will not be frantic when they see rain the day of.

3. This factor is always overseen — WIND! It can ruin your decorations and your hair! Avoid very light paper decorations sitting on tables without something holding them down. Plan for a windy event and chose your bridesmaids’ dresses accordingly – especially if your wedding is at the beach! As for the hair, keep an on location hairstylist available (just in case) and inform them that you are having an outdoor wedding so they can plan appropriately.

4. Beach weddings are absolutely beautiful, but most people do not take into consideration the noise factor from the waves. The last thing you want is for the waves to be roaring while you are trying to deliver your vows. Keep a sound system near the wedding to avoid noise complications.

5. When it comes to your food, make sure to tell your caterer in advance that the wedding will take place in an outdoor location. You want to avoid any food getting spoiled and stinking up the place. A lot of foods will not taste good outside, so do your tasting in an outdoor setting.

6. Alcohol leaves the body dehydrated, keep plenty of other refreshments at the reception. For a summer or spring wedding, lemonade or tea is very festive! This will dress up your wedding and add color to the area while keeping your guests hydrated.

7. Outdoor wedding = outdoor creatures. Bugs can become a real issue during your reception. You want to avoid your guests constantly swatting the air. Simple fix… candles! Candles will keep the atmosphere bug free and smelling great!

8. The time of day you choose is crucial when it comes to outdoor weddings. You do not want it to be during the sun’s peek, but you want to enjoy the beauty it has to offer. The best way to get the best of both worlds is to exchange vows during sunset — romantic and beautiful. Plan for a nightime wedding ceremony and everyone is happy.

9. The worst thing that could possibly happen would be getting kicked out of your own wedding! Make sure if you are having your wedding in a public place to get permission from the city. Getting a permit is very important and the easiest way to ruin the whole day. Do not over see this tip!

A couple places that require permit:

> Crescent Bay Park — Laguna Beach, California

> Central Park — New York, New York

> All Beachs in Hawaii

> Hatteras Island — Outer Banks, North Carolina

Wedding planners have their hands FULL because the most romantic time of year is here! There is no question that the season of spring is the best time of year to get married. The rebirth of flowers, fresh new air, and talk of vacation has people of all walks of life in a lovey-dovey spirit! For your spring wedding, emphasize the season by using floral and pastel colors such as pink, lilac, mint, and light yellow. Stay away from dark colors such as deep red and navy — save that for winter or fall! Take advantage of the wonderful weather and throw a bash in a battanical garden full of assorted blooming flowers! For your wedding invitations, somehow find a way to incorporate flowers to get your guests in the spirit. But which flowers to use? Tulips are IN this season, so go wild, you can never have enough color! You can even  make your menu colorful and spring-esque. Serve beautiful fruity cocktails using assorted different colors like — strawberry martinis with colored sugar on the rim, or an orange fushion cocktail with lemon! This will really spruce up the appearance of the wedding and encourage your guests to try it! Don’t be shy when it comes to your wedding cake, top with crystallized fruit and plenty of colorful icing. Last but not least, the table arrangement! This section is the most fun and does the most justice for your wedding party. Assemble your table with beautiful assorted orchids in the center of your table. Start with a main color which is predominant in the group and then add a little bit of another color in which matches the plates on the table. You can even put a small bouquet on every seat by surprising your guests with a splash of color! Your tables refreshments can also be colored by adding cucumbers or lemons to the water, thirst quenching and beautiful!

What is better than a vacation with your closest friends and family, as well as a romantic getaway with your soon to be? Destination weddings are all the rage, giving you and all your guests an excuse to flee the known and enjoy a foreign place. Whether you enjoy the beaches of the Caribbean or the Alps of New Zealand, a destination wedding is for everyone! We have combined a list of all the hottest and most luxurious locations around the world, giving you variety and a glimpse at bliss. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the view!

Viceroy Anguilla - Meads Bay, Anguilla

This resort exceeds expectation with their slogan alone, “service without limits.” Choosing from many breathtaking locations from a private crystalline beach to a cliffside arrangement, your ceremony setting will not be anthing short of magnificant. The Viceroy Anguilla is located in the Caribean Sea, just left of heaven.

Castello di Vicarello - Cinigiano, Italy

This hidden castle truely grasps the essense of secluded, romantic, and magical. It sits beautifully on the top of a hill two hours outside Florence. If you are seeking that fairtale wedding, search no more. Be completely surronded by majestic views during ‘i do’.

Montelucia Resort & Spa – Scottsdale, Arizona

For all you desert lovers, you have came to the right place. Looking to get that foreign feel but don’t want to leave the country? The Montelucia Resort and Spa in Arizon is compiled of beautiful mountains in the background and a wonderful place to have a destination wedding, you don’t even need a passport!

The Oberoi Udaivilas - Udaipur, India

Step into the palace of all palaces. This resort’s uniqueness proves to be a perfect place for your destination wedding. If you are looking to really wow your guests, this is the place for you! AND your guests will arrive via boat, what is more fabulous than that!?

Alila Ubud Resort - Payangan, Bali

Last, but certainly not least, the Alila Ubud Resort in Payangan, Bali. This resort is the epitome of exotic. The Alila Ubud is the perfect place to wed if you want an orphic and enchanting experience. Retreat to a place surrounded by botanicals and tropical forests. But the scenery does not end at your cerenmony location. Rooms, restaurants, and spas capture the beauty that is embedded in the property. Enjoy your awakening by breakfast in bed while grasping the mountain you are literally in the middle of. This resort is a one way ticket to vacation heaven.

This spring and summer it’s all about color,color,color! The bigger and bolder the better! Runaways are gleeming with colorful pieces and really emphasizing that spring fever we all know and love. As winter is ending, what better way to celebrate the snow melting then with splashes of bright colors. Many of the hottest trends are 60′s inspired, so conquer your inner Tracy Turnblad and hop on the band wagon! Earrings are the newest statement piece which really accents the face with color pops. This spring you can’t go wrong with a mint satchel, wedge, or necklace. Color blocking is all the rage so don’t be afraid to pair colors together that wouldn’t normally be combined. Go with a nuetral outfit and an abundence of colorful accessories and jewelry to really compliment that spring essence! It is the season to be daring when it comes to your jewelry, go ahead, take that leep into accessory heaven!