 1 part Rum
|
 1 part Orange juice
|
 Peach
Mandarin
|
By the Editors of Kiplinger’s Personal Finance Magazine
We live in challenging times. Unemployment remains high, and the U.S. lead in technology and science is slipping as many foreign countries gain ground. But some U.S. cities, though slowed by the Great Recession, still thrive by lifting good old American innovation to new levels. And that will help put more Americans back to work and keep our international edge.
1. Austin, Texas
2. Seattle, Washington
3. Washington, D.C.
4. Boulder, Colorado
5. Salt Lake City, Utah
6. Rochester, Minnesota
7. Des Moines, Iowa
8. Burlington, Vermont
9. West Hartford, Connecticut
10. Topeka, Kansas
To see why these cities made the top ten and what they have to offer, read the full article here.
Soju has been enjoyed in Korea for many centuries, but has just recently made a splash in the world market. Soju can be used as a substitute for most types of alcohol in popular drinks such as Martinis. Most brands of modern soju are made in South Korea. Though traditionally made from rice, most major brands supplement or even replace the rice with other starches such as potato, wheat, barley, sweet potato, or tapioca. Soju is clear in color and typically varies in alcohol content from about 20% to about 45% alcohol by volume. Its taste is comparable to vodka, though often slightly sweeter because of the sugars added in the manufacturing process. It is widely consumed, in part, because of its relatively low price.
Many of us wish we could be Carrie Bradshaw dashing around the city from one glamourous event to the next in her Christian Louboutin heels. However, we are not all Carrie Bradshaws, at least I know I don’t have $700 to spend on a pair of heels! But good news ladies, there is hope for us single gals. There are numerous (non e-dating) ways to meet your Mr. Big. And on this fine Tuesday I’m going to give you the scoop on some hot events going on in SF! As the song goes, I left my heart in San Francisco. 
1. Attend a wine tasting
We all know wine is one of my life essentials, so I HAD to make this one my number one. You get to learn a little bit about wine and taste its deliciousness. (Plus I love toting out my “wine expertise” and big wino words!) UncorkedEvents.com has a great listing of classes going on in SF.
2. Signup for a cooking class
Would you rather have a stuffy, awkward first date dinner OR have a blast cooking up a storm and getting to know each other? I know I would choose the latter! I can just see it now… feeding each other finger food, a mini food fight maybe, maybe we’d cook an aphrodisiac food! 
You can find out more info and signup for classes at www.partiesthatcook.com.
3. Head to the Fort Mason Event Center
Fort Mason Center, an historic Port of Embarkation, is now a waterfront destination for thought provoking programs, events and organizations which support and reflect the evolving cultural fabric of the Bay Area. The 13 acre campus is a partner of the Golden Gate National Parks. For more info visit: http://www.fortmason.org/
4. Grab a pooch and go to a dog park
We all know that a dog is a man’s best friend, so why not head to where a man and his best friend will be?? Described as the mecca of dog parks and doggie heaven Fort Funston combines the best of grass, sand, dogs, beach, trees, sewer tubes (dry, of course), and trails! Click on the link for more reviews and directions.
5. Chow down at a sports bar
Guys love nothing more than a girl grubbin’ down a burger and a beer while cursing at the TV (well I might be able to think of one other thing but for now we’ll stick to this scenario). So throw on a jersey, make sure it’s for the right team/sport, and head to the nearest sports bar! Visit www.yelp.com for locations and reviews of sports bars near you.
It’s almost quittin’ time and I know I’ve been think about that 5 o’clock exlicir to celebrate the beginning of another glorious weekend. What will it be this Friday? Wine, Lemon Drop, Margarita? Hmm I just can’t decide so I looked to my friend the Webtender. The Webtender is a very useful site for everything from recipes to the history of popular drinks to bartending tips and tricks. This time I checked out the list of the Top 100 drinks of all time. So this week I’m paying my respects to el numero uno: El Mojito. For more recipes and info check out Webtender.com
Lightly muddle the mint and sugar with a splash of soda water in a mixing glass until the sugar dissolve and you smell the mint. Squeeze the lime into the glass, add rum and shake with ice. Strain over cracked ice in a highball glass. Top with soda water, garnish with mint sprig and serve
The weekend is almost here! Time to celebrate with those precious few days off. What will you do? Sleep, read, relax… How about throw a wine and cheese party!? A simple way to gather with friends and enjoy the decadent pairings of wine and cheese. And with these easy steps throwing a fabulous soiree will be effortless.
Step 1: Invite Your Guests
Six to 10 people is the ideal group for a tasting party: big enough to spark interesting conversation, but still small enough for everyone to sit around the table.
Step 2: Go Shopping
Buy three or four different wines and cheeses. You’ll need 12 to 20 ounces of each cheese and two or three bottles of each wine. Buy cheeses no more than a day in advance so they’ll be fresh and flavorful.
Chill sparkling wines overnight. Chill white wines two to three hours before the party (too cold kills the flavor), red wines about 30 minutes prior. Take cheese out of fridge one hour before the party.
Step 3: Arrange the Pairings
On a side table or counter, pair cheeses and wines in order from mildest to strongest. Group similar cheeses on one plate (soft cheeses, goat cheeses, etc.). “Don’t crowd all the cheese together,” warns Marguerite Thomas, a writer and editor for winereview online.com, “or the flavors will get murky.”
On folded index cards, list each cheese and its accompanying wine. On the dining table, put out palate cleansers (crackers, bread, water) for guests to nibble on or drink between selections, and notepaper and pens so guests can jot down their thoughts and impressions.
Pairing Suggestions
Sparkling wines go with mild, buttery triple-cream cheeses (St. Andre, Explorateur).
Simple, young wines (sauvignon blanc, Sancerre) go with soft, young cheeses (goat cheese).
Chardonnays and full cabernets go well with semisoft cheeses (Brie, Camembert).
Medium-bodied reds (pinot noir, Côtes du Rhone) go with hard, stronger-flavored cheeses (Parmesan, Gruyère, aged cheddar).
Sweet/dessert wines go with pungent blue cheeses. It may sound odd, but try it!
From: Redbook.com
I know, I know we all wish we had every Monday off! But sadly most of us do not, so therefore we must make the most of this upcoming three-day weekend. Let’s plan something to get you through the next two weeks! If you don’t have plans already pay attention because I rounded up some great escapes that are still available, whether you’re craving beach or mountains, culture, or calm…
Stefanie Michaels, known to legions of fans as “Adventure Girl,” has carved a unique niche in the world of travel and entertainment. Her website, AdventureGirl.com, has been utilized by millions looking for tips on exciting places to visit, be it sleeping in an Ice Hotel in Reykjavík, Iceland, swimming with dolphins in the Bahamas, or tapping into the chicest eco-friendly destinations in travel today.
Her top picks for Memorial Day Weekend:
1. Beaver Creek, Colorado- Experience the fresh mountain air and the largest mircro brew tasting in all of Colorado.
2. Santa Fe, NM- Music, arts, culture plus wine and cheese served nightly!
3. Lower Manhattan, NY- grab a friend and head to the big city for fun filled days of sightseeing!
For hotel suggestions and more info on these destinations read the full article here: http://adventuregirl.com/memorial-day-get-outta-town/
The weekend is finally here. Time to play. Ideally the definition of a weekend would be two days off from everything, but it usually ends up being two days of catching up on everything! So tonight I’m snagging my main squeeze and calling for a date night. I did not take this call lightly either. I came prepared. Armed with 10 sexy, silly, fun, random date night ideas, I will make sure this night will not end up a typical dinner, movie, bed night. Below I summarized my top ideas for a fabulous night!
1. Go see live entertainment, a band, comedy show, play. It’s always fun to get out and experience some real talent.
2. Grab a blanket and head out to a country field. Snuggle up and watch the stars. Don’t forget to make a wish on a shooting star!
3. Head to the drive-in for a good time movie. In the privacy of your own car, who knows what can happen!
4. Candles, champagne, bubble bath. Need I say more?
5. Some say oysters are an aphrodisiac, so why not head to a local seafood restaurant and set the mood.
6. Sing your heart out (and have a laugh or two) to your favorite karaoke songs! Find free ones at karaoke.com.
7. Grab your favorite fast food and serve it on your finest china.
8. Set up a fancy picnic in your living room.
9. Head to the nearest video arcade for some childish fun, and competition.
10. Try out the kissing challenge: 100 kisses in three hours.
Happy Friday! Cheers!
As I sip my morning coffee, I wonder how can I improve this delicious beverage. After last night’s Cinco de Mayo festivities–tequila shots, margaritas, dancing, and very minimal sleep– I need a little more than coffee to jump-start my day. Then it dawns on me, why yes a splash of Amaretto Almond liqueur would perk me right up! (what can I say, I’m a borracha!) So here’s your cocktail of the week: one shot of Amaretto Almond liqueur, a splash of dark creme de cacao and one steaming hot cuppa coffee. Top with whipped cream if you please and enjoy your Seis de Mayo!
The obesity epidemic is a major health problem in the United States. Alcohol consumption is a source of energy intake that may contribute to body weight gain and development of obesity. However, previous studies of this relationship have been limited, with inconsistent results.
To find some answers, Archives of Internal Medicine conducted a study on normal weight, healthy, middle-age women. They found that when compared with nondrinkers, initially normal-weight women who consumed a light to moderate amount of alcohol gained less weight and had a lower risk of becoming overweight and/or obese during 12.9 years of follow-up.
For all the rest of the science-y explanations and research, read the rest of the study here.
