Have you all been enjoying Father’s Day week thus far?  The week began with a fab gift guide for even the most deserving of fathers as well as a stellar giveaway!  Have you entered to win yet?!  For this week’s Cocktail Hour, we knew we wanted it to be something guys and gals alike could sip and enjoy.  We’ve already done Manhattans which are a little obvious so we begged our lovely Cocktail Hour photographer, Melissa, for her family’s Mojito … +more

This weekend I was expressing my love for Cinco de Mayo to Aaron when we both discovered a pattern.  Apparently I have a soft spot for holidays celebrating independence and named for the date they fall on.  My affinity for Cinco de Mayo is second only to my love for the 4th of July.  They’re both easy, low-maintenance holidays characterized by yummy food, delicious beverages, and warm weather– three things that I strongly believe in!

Lately it seems you can’t … +more

Happy Monday and welcome to Spring Break Week here at The Effortless Chic!  There are few things in this world that I love more than exploring new cities, trying new foods, and wearing resort wear, so it seemed perfectly acceptable to spend a week celebrating just that!  Since we can’t always be on vacation, I love having a neighborhood spot that makes us feel like we are on vacation.  Bow & Truss was one of the first local dinner … +more

Happy Monday, friends!  How were your weekends?  I’ve been wanting to bring back our Cocktail Hour ever series since it took a hiatus a few months ago.  When the weather started to cool off in the fall and we were no longer spending so much time outdoors enjoying drinks with friends, I sort of lost my cocktail creating mojo.  (Gasp!)  Then Valentine’s Day began to approach.  There’s nothing like a fun, girly holiday to make you want to mix up … +more

{Raspberry Lemon Drop}

If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em right?  That is my new motto as our summer continues to soldier on into October.  Yesterday, we went to the farmers market in Studio City and took advantage of all of the late summer produce– the sweetest strawberries and avocados the size of a grapefruit!  Then, last night I took our farmers market raspberries and giant lemons drooping from the tree and made these Raspberry Lemon Drops.  We grilled dinner … +more

While we have covered everything from a cult-fruit margarita to specialty-infused mojitos, sometimes you just can’t beat a classic.  Not to mention, I love a co-ed party as much as the next gal and I’ve never met a man dying to sip something that looks this in a public setting.  (However, get him alone and I bet he will admit to how delicious it tastes!)  Men, just for you (and in honor of my dad’s birthday today– happy birthday, dad… +more

Have you ever put together an entire outfit based on a small detail, say a pair of earrings?  If so, then you will appreciate that this entire cocktail and tabletop was inspired by these gold animal stir sticks!  A gilded alligator floating above some sweet fruity bubbly, what could be better?  The sweet fruity bubbly is something I have dubbed the Cherry Temple or The Grown-Up Shirley Temple and is a lovely combination of extra dry champagne, fresh cherries, … +more

{Tangerine Pomegranate Cooler or The Uptown Screwdriver}

After spending the better part of last week in white linen and bikinis on the beach, I found myself craving a silky dress and a cocktail with the husband this weekend.  Rather than go out, we invited a couple of friends over for a quiet and low-key backyard fete.  The dress part of the equation was a no-brainer– this little Diane von Furstenberg number is my first fall purchase and, while … +more