Getting older, not wiser.

How is it that the reminder of getting older somehow makes me act more childish? I party like I'm 21, eat like I'm 13, and have grandiose notions about the whole event like a 16 year old teenager brainwashed by romantic comedies.

Surely this behavior is followed by: debilitating hangovers, tummy aches and disappointment. Will I ever learn my lesson?

Here's a delicious creamy martini that tastes just like birthday cake! Yummmmm!!

Piece of Cake

•1.5 oz Vanilla Vodka (Stoli if you can)

•.5 oz Amaretto

•1 oz 2% milk (half & half cream if you're feeling skinny)

•Lemon zest

-Shake all ingredients together in a shaker full of ice, strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with a birthday candle and some great friends!!

Here's to getting older but never growing up!

Case of the Mondays...

It may be the gloomy, chilly wheather, the full moon, or the heaps of homework stealing any remaining back to school novelty, but I have got a serious case of the Mondays....

How quickly the excitement of back to school can turn into reality: late nights at school; neverending 'to-do' lists; no sleep, money, time or social life.

Oh well, at least I get to wear my favorite scarves and boots again. Hardly seems like any consolation.
Temperatures are dropping, so heat things up with a spicy Caesar! Anything that doubles as a cocktail and a meal works for all us starving students out there

This fantastic Canadian cocktail can be made with various spices and garnishes, but my this recipe is the best I've tried thanks to the secret ingredient:

•Use Montreal steak spice instead of celery salt to rim the glass!

G's Ceasar

1 tbsp olive juice

1 tbsp pickle juice

2 oz vodka

2 squirts worcheshire

2 squirts tobasco

Clamato juice

-Mix all ingredients in a Montreal steak spice rimmed glass full of ice. Stir. Garnish with a mini pickle and mini olive.

Am I Funny??

I have always believed that I am a funny individual. This week I had my first Comedy Writing class, a second year elective in the Creative Communications program, and was shown the harsh reality that being funny ain't easy, and maybe I am not nearly as hilarious as I think I am. We were assigned a joke journal, in the form of a daily tweet, and all of a sudden, I became very afraid. Tweet something funny once a day? The concept seemed impossible! Until I went to work at my serving job that night. The place is a goldmine for questionable social behavior and idiotic questions ('do you make your mojitos with mint here?")

If you are on twitter, be sure to follow me @RachelleLTaylor and get out the #jokejournal hashtag to see my progress... Unless I've served you, then it's probably best not to.

And just to clarify, mojitos are always made with mint!

Classic Mojito
•4 lime wedges
•5-7 mint leaves
•Simple syrup (substitute white sugar if you don't have)
•Amber rum (Flor de Cana or Ron Zacapa are my favourites)
•Soda water

Muddle the mint, sugar and lime wedges until the mint is nice and smooshed, add ice, rum and top with soda. Stir and enjoy...

Sky High Cocktails

Friends, cocktails and stunning views of a majestic city came together to create a truly incredible experience in Toronto. The holiday was much needed after what has turned out to be a cruel, cruel summer spent working way too much.

It was my final "hoorah" before it's back to class and I made sure to enjoy every last minute of my summer vacation with some delicious cocktails of course: Italian wine and lost memories savoured with an ex-lover over pizza and pasta in Little Italy; berry margaritas and mojitos at a sunny happy hour in the Financial District with my bestie; kiwi caipirinhas and spiked lemonades sipped poolside on the rooftop of the city's trendiest hotel. And, of course, a slew of cocktails were consumed whilst enjoying the city's nightlife at patios and bars all around town (thanks to the Zip-Zang-Zing! Theory)

The highlight of the trip was the pairing of Procecco, room service, and chick flicks in a king sized bed with my two favourite ladies; it was a grown up slumber party full of teenage-girl giggles!

The weekend of over-indulgence ended with a gastronomic sky-high treat: a three course lunch in the restaurant at the top of the CN tower! Breathtaking views, incredible company and mojitos (made with real sugar cane and with vodka substituted for rum) made it a perfect send-off after an incredible vacation.

Back to school, routine and reality today... Cheers to that!

Kiwi Caipirinha

- 2 oz cachaca*

- 4 lime wedges

-Super-fine sugar

- 1/4 of a ripe kiwi, diced

-Soda water

•In a shaker, muddle the limes, kiwi and sugar, add cachaca and ice. Shake it up real good! Empty the shakers' contents into a rocks glass, top with fresh ice and soda. Garnish with kiwi slice.

*Cachaca is a Brazilian liquor that has a similar flavour to tequila and is available at most liquor stores

I'm A Slave 4 U

This weekend, I had the rare opportunity (as a person working in the hospitality industry) to enjoy a long weekend at the lake, or at least part thereof. It was fantastic. Up until my white Black Berry was accidentally run over. For those who know me well, this is no surprise. Stuff like this always happens to me.

While mourning the loss of my "white berry" that I had become so attached to over the years, I have been living sans-phone. Although extremely frustrating for the first 36 hours, I have now have grown a liking to being out of touch.

Here are my top reasons for loving life without a smart phone (only for the moment, of course!)

The Art of Conversation: Remember the good ol' days before lol, wtf, and bff?? When you actually had to make a phone call (and know their number) to find out how someone was doing and to make plans?? With no smart phone facilitating communication through text and fb, I am learning numbers by heart, making phone calls, and in a 5 minute conversation, actually getting caught up with someone rather than hours of back and fourth messaging.

No constant checking of your phone or ghost-rings: You swear you just felt your phone vibrate, when in fact no messages are waiting for you once you finally dig your phone from the depths of your bag. No phone=no disappointment.

No texting those you shouldn't be: After seeing an Icon preform songs that bring you back to a more promiscuous time, temptation to send an "innocent" text to an ex arises. Without your precious phone harbouring his number at bay, contact becomes impossible. It's a God-send, really.

-Getting lost in a good book: With no "be-beep"s breaking your concentration, you'd be surprised how easy it is to get caught up in a great book. Since the incident, I have finished two AMAZING books: Lies That Chelsea Handler Told Me (Chelsea Handler) & Bossy Pants (Tina Fey.) I definitely recommend turning your smart phone off for an afternoon and sink your teeth into either of these book by incredibly hilarious women.

-Lastly, you're FREE!! I am sorry to my friends that I am a hard person to get a hold of at the moment. But, I cannot be tracked down, and once I am out, I am over and out! There is something so freeing about knowing that no one can get a hold of you. It feels like a simpler time. That being said, it may prove difficult to make plans or find each other when we get separated at a busy bar. But, when you are with me you will have my full and undivided attention. Without being a slave for technology, I am all yours!

Blackberry, I am A Slave to you no more!!

Of course, without the distraction of a smart phone, I need to keep things interesting. That's where cocktails come in. Give this killer white sangria recipe a try and shake things up a bit. Even if you aren't going to get rid of that damned smart phone!

Triple B Sangria (Makes 1 Pitcher)

•1 Bottle fruity white wine (Pinot Grigio or Riesling)

•2 cups white cranberry juice (regular, peach, or strawberry)

•Juice from 1 lime

•1 cup of fruit: Strawberries, peaches, and/or blueberries (fresh or frozen)

Combine all liquids into a pitcher half full with ice and stir. Pour servings into wine glasses with ice and add fruit. Cheers to summer time!!

Hoping summer tunes and summer drinks will bring summer weather!

C'mon summer!!!

Yes, I know the forecast is calling for snow today in beautiful Winnipeg, but I thought I'd give you, my wonderful bloggers, a musical treat that I forecast to be a big big hit this summer.

Not only do you get a killer summer song, but a fantastic summer cocktail. I saw Anthony Bourdain trying a Terremotto in Santiago Chile, and I had to try at home, and believe me, it is mind-blowing how good this simple drink is.

Cheers! Happy Friday!

Terremoto

(English translation: earthquake)

-1 1/2 cups white wine

-1 scoop pineapple ice cream

-This Chilean cocktail is simple, add a scoop of pineapple ice cream to white wine, stir and enjoy. For an extra kick, add a shot of vodka to the mix!

So so soooooo good and true to its name.

Outspoken

This week, I raised my voice in a class discussion about an issue I believed to be unfair. Some of my classmates, who were on the benefitting end of my perceived injustice, weren't too happy with me and my big mouth.

Thing is, I was raised to speak my mind...

When I was ten years old, our softball team played in a Provincial tournament. Three games into the tourney, we were undefeated and looking at a playoff spot. Two of the girls had to other engagements (probably a dance recital), so we were left with only eight players. No biggie, we still could play: we'd just have to take an automatic-out every time that ninth batter would have gone up to bat.

The umpire made the call, and decided that she wouldn't let us play with only eight players, and called the game. We were heartbroken, how could she not let us play when there was a clear and fair alternative that would allow us to?? My dad, coach Taylor, a high-school football star, got the team into a huddle,

"do you think this is unfair? do you girls want to play?"

he asked, to which we all answered, in our high pitched voices, "Of course we want to play, we're undefeated in this tournament, this is SOOOOO unfair!"

Coach Taylor taught us a very important lesson that day, "when you think something isn't right or is unfair, you can stand up for yourselves. That is what we are going to do today: we will not leave the field until they let us play, who's with me?"

We all were, and the team protested the umpire's call. We sat on the pitchers mound, eight girls in baseball uniforms and my dad, refusing to move until we got to play. It took 20 minutes, when the head umpire of the tournament realized we were serious, and we were allowed to play.

I don't remember the specifics, like whether we won the tournament, or even the game, but I will never forget what Coach Taylor taught us...

To those who felt attacked by my speaking up, I apologize, I hope this helps you understand why I couldn't possibly keep my mouth shut.

Outspoken Orange Creamsicle

-2oz Vanilla Vodka

-Orange Crush

-Milk

-Orange slice

•In a glass full of ice, pour in vodka, and fill the glass halfway with Orange Crush, fill the remainder with milk, stir and garnish with an orange slice. Taste just like those long summer days as a kid, only spiked!