Happy Friday! In honor of my reoccurring sweet tooth cravings, I have a delicious dessert treat that is simply delightful. Watch how thrilled your guests will be when you offer after-dinner dessert cocktails rather than the average store-bought pie. Enjoy!

Ingredients:

~1 1/2 shots of vanilla vodka

~Heavy splash of sweet n’ sour

~Lemon wedge

~Zest from half of a lemon

~Small splash of pineapple juice

~Small splash of half & half

~Whipped cream

~Crumbled graham cracker

*Prepare your martini glass by rubbing the lemon wedge around the rim and dip in crumbled graham cracker crumbs. In a martini shaker, add vodka, lemon wedge (squeeze first), sour, pineapple juice, and half & half over ice. Give a good shake and poor in rimmed glass. Add whipped cream and garnish with a pinch of lemon zest and another lemon wedge.

Can you believe this incredible weather we’ve been having?! I am overjoyed with excitement because today commences my birthday weekend and I can’t remember ever being able to sit outside with friends and enjoy cocktails under the sun (it is January after all).  This cocktail is super delicious and offers a fun spin on a classic favorite…I will definitely be mixing up some of these bad boys this weekend. Enjoy!

Ingredients:

~1 shot of vodka

~3/4 shot of peach schnapps

~Pomegranate juice

~Pineapple juice

*Add vodka, schnapps, and fill the rest of the glass with equal parts pomegranate and pineapple juice. Serve on the rocks.

-XOXO Melissa

TGIF! I look forward to this post every week because it just reminds me that it’s Friday and I will be able to enjoy a delicious cocktail in the near future . This is a libation for all of you whiskey drinkers out there that is pretty darn tasty…Kelly was a big fan. Enjoy!

Ingredients:

~1 1/2 shots of your favorite whiskey

~Fresh lemon wedge

~Fresh mint leaves

~Heavy splash of homemade sweet n’ sour (directions below)

~Small splash of soda

*Muddle mint and lemon wedge (extract the oils from the rind). Add whiskey, sweet n’ sour, and splash of soda. Serve over ice.

Homemade sweet n’ sour

Ingredients:

~Equal parts simple syrup and lemon juice (bottled works great!) 

*Add ingredients together and refrigerate

-XOXO Melissa

It’s Friday and the perfect excuse to have a tasty cocktail after a hard week (who needs an excuse though…honestly). This brightly-colored treat is very simple and offers wonderful fruity flavors without having to buy or chop actual fruit. Enjoy!

Ingredients:

~ 1 shot of Peach flavored vodka

~ 1/2 shot of Peach Schnapps

~ Heavy splash of peach juice (I use the canned stuff)

~ Small splash of pineapple juice

~ Grenadine (for color)

~ Champagne

*Add vodka, peach schnapps, peach juice, pineapple juice, and grenadine and shake with ice. Serve in martini glass and top with a champagne float.

-XOXO Melissa

One of my favorite places in the world, is a little orchard that has been serving tea and scones to Cambridge students since 1897…

We sat under the trees eating scones with clotted cream and jam…  And the words by Rupert Brooke, who wrote about this idyllic spot, still hang in the air, “And is there honey still for tea?” (The Old Vicarage, Granchester).

Happy 2012 SB Chic readers! It’s hard to believe that we’re in the month of January with this unbelievable weather we’ve been having. Today I have a drink for you that is so easy and so incredibly delicious that you’ll try and think of any occasion to make it for guests. I mean…who doesn’t love a good ol’ root beer float?!

Ingredients:

~1 1/2 of vanilla vodka

~Vanilla bean ice cream

~Root beer (buy the good stuff…trust me, it makes a difference)

*Add vodka, ice cream, and top with the root beer — the vodka should naturally mix well if it is at the bottom of the glass. Stir with a spoon if needed. Enjoy!

-XOXO Melissa

I can hardly believe 2011 is drawing to a close! Its been a busy year full of changes and some really fun design projects. And speaking of changes… Santa Barbara Chic will be looking very different here soon, I’m working away getting everything ready and I’m hoping it will be done in the next few months.

And as I look back at 2011, I’m particularly proud of getting my home featured on Design*Sponge and a 5 page spread in You & Your Wedding Day magazine. But mostly, I was so honored to design my sweet sister’s wedding in London… I hope to show photos soon…

Here’s to a busy and bright 2012!

It’s been chilly here in Santa Barbara and I’m always trying to find different ways to create spiked, hot concoctions. This particular delight is a classic with an added twist and is sure to make you feel all warm and cozy inside. Cheers!

Ingredients:

   ~1 1/2 shots whiskey

~1 tsp honey

~Large lemon wedge

~Hot apple cider

~Cinnamon stick

*Add all ingredients and serve hot with a cinnamon stick to stir. (personally, I like to add a little extra lemon)

XOXO-Melissa

Sometimes you just need a pretty pink cocktail…I love traditional greyhounds and order them often in the bars, but this version gives it a little extra “umph” (and it’s just so darn cute). TGIF!

Ingredients:

   ~1 1/2 shots of vodka

~A few drops of grenadine (for color)

~Lime wedge

~Ruby red grapefruit juice

~Kosher salted rim

*Add vodka, grenadine, juice from large lime wedge, and fill with grapefruit juice. If you’re a traditionalist, you can use regular canned grapefruit juice (it won’t be as sweet or pink…)

XOXO-Melissa

Hello again to all of you SB Chic fans! After taking a brief hiatus, I’ve been concocting another slew of tasty treats to enjoy this winter. Today is one of my absolute favorites of the batch. With the Christmas parade tonight…I plan to be sipping on one of these bad boys throughout the night. Enjoy!

Ingredients:

~1 1/2 shot of Peppermint Schnapps

~1 cup of steamed milk

~1 scoop of unsweetened cocoa powder

~Sugar (to taste)

*Steam milk, add cocoa powder and sugar (Go easy on the sugar because the Peppermint Schnapps is pretty sweet), add Schnapps and garnish with whipped cream and marshmallows. If you’re in a pinch, a packet of hot chocolate mix will work just fine.

XOXO-Melissa

Photo by the great Tim Halberg and jewelry provided by 33 Jewels.

Raspberry and mint cocktails, perfectly refreshing and perfect for the upcoming holiday season or to celebrate these lovely features on Style Unveiled… Amanda & Roy’s wedding is featured here and a sweet post about my work is here. Thank you Style Unveiled for the kind words!

It’s definitely fall in Santa Barbara and I’ ready to curl up with a good cappucino and finally read that tall stack of unread magazines…

I’m so excited for my favorite holiday of the year… There will be cocktails galore, a dance party and some candy too. What are your plans for Halloween?

I love appetizers, and this rare roast beef on jicama is no exception. Created by Duo Events here in Santa Barbara, its as delicious as it looks.

It’s hard to believe that it’s almost October and fall is here (maybe because our season-less Santa Barbara weather is still sunny and beautiful. My ”On The Rocks” column will be taking a brief hiatus as I am currently thinking up new fall-winter recipes to share with all of you (Being, ahem…professionals, Kelly and I first need to “test out” the products…wink wink). Today I thought it was fitting to share with you one of my favorite warm-weather cocktails….the raspberry mojito. Not only is it such a pretty drink, it is sooo delicious. Enjoy!

Ingredients:

   ~3/4 shot of Bicardi Razz Rum

~3/4 shot of Bicardi Superior Rum

~Small splash of simple syrup

~Small handful of fresh raspberries

~Mint leaves

~Lime Wedge

~Splash of sprite

~Soda

*In a tall collins glass, muddle mint, raspberries, lime wedge (extract oils from rind), and simple syrup. Add rum, fill with soda and a small splash of sprite. Shake and serve on the rocks.

Note: the secret to a great mojito is plenty of booze (obviously), not too much simple syrup, and tons of fresh lime juice

-XOXO Melissa

Photo by the talented Tim Halberg