Memorial Day is this weekend!  Will you be barbecuing?  Our family, along with probably everyone else in my neighborhood, will be outside, grilling food and sipping cold drinks.  When the weather warms up, I like to try to find a new “go-to” drink.  Since this summer I will be vacationing where temperatures reach well over 100 degrees (which means I will be forced to wear a swimsuit), I need something that is delicious and refreshing but without a ton of calories or sugars.  Smirnoff sent me their new line of infused vodkas, Smirnoff Sorbet Light, to try and they are exactly what I was looking for.  They have only 78 calories per 1.5 ounce serving which makes them light so I don’t feel super guilty about having a cocktail.  The best part is they taste natural and do not have any sort of diet-y aftertaste.

I love to barbecue when the weather gets warmer but the menu can get pretty boring if you aren’t careful.  It is usually just steak and corn, or at least at my house it is.  I invited a few friends over for a little lunch barbecue to try out something a little different.  My amazing friend, Amy (who used to write the most delicious food blog) put together this awesome grilled lunch to show us how we can change-up our menu.  This grilled shrimp and hearts of romaine salad was insanely good and super easy since it was paired with a store-bought cilantro dressing.  And remember shrimp grill up super fast so you won’t be stuck over the hot grill for long.  Nothing is better than sweet grilled onions, am I right?  The grilled tomato skewers are a fun take on a caprese appetizer and are sweet and juicy.  And while I have never met a loaf of bread that I didn’t like, this grilled crostini is what dreams are made of.  I will be recreating this menu on Memorial Day for sure.

The Smirnoff Sorbet Light Vodkas come in three, perfect for summer flavors, Lemon, Raspberry Pomegranate and Mango Passion Fruit.

I’m an iced tea lover so this black tea based cocktail had to be tried:

Smirnoff Sorbet Light Lemon Tea

1.5 oz Lemon Smirnoff Sorbet Light

3 oz Unsweetened Black Tea

.5 oz Fresh Lemon Juice

.25 oz Agave Nectar

Mix well and serve over ice.

YUM!  And totally refreshing.

Hosting a barbecue is a good time to invite friends to try something new.  Most of us get stuck in a rut and it doesn’t take much to push us out of it again.  Set out some simple recipes and ingredients and have everyone pour their own cocktails.  Chances are, they will give something new a shot.  Or maybe they’ll just have a shot.  And that is when the party gets really fun. (Please drink responsibly).

I’m pretty sure I have the world’s biggest sweet tooth.  If you haven’t tried grilled pound cake yet you better get on it!  Amazing!  Like Tom Cruise jumping on Oprah’s couch amazing.  And just that quick grill on the bread adds a whole new depth of flavor to a simple berries and cream dessert.  I’d like to also note that this creme fraiche had honey in it which made me want to sing love songs to it.  So simple, but SO delightful.

Passion fruit is one of my favorite flavors ever so I really enjoyed the Mango Passion Fizz but the big winner was the Raspberry Lemon Punch.  Total crowd pleaser.

Smirnoff Sorbet Light Mango Passion Fizz

1.5 oz Mango Passion Fruit Smirnoff Sorbet Light

.75 oz Fresh Lemon Juice

.5 oz Agave Nectar

2 oz Club Soda

Shake up first 3 ingredients and top with Club Soda.

Smirnoff Sorbet Light Raspberry Lemon Punch

1.5 oz Raspberry Pomegranate Smirnoff Sorbet Light

4 oz Lemonade

4 raspberries muddled

Muddle 4 raspberries in a glass and add cold lemonade and Smirnoff Sorbet Light.

Huge thank you to Lauren and Amy for helping me out with my little lunch barbecue (Lauren did all my floral styling and Amy did all the food)  I know testing cocktails and eating delicious food can be such hard work.  Wink.  And thank you Smirnoff for introducing me to your delicious new product.  While this was a sponsored post by Smirnoff Sorbet Light all opinions are my own.

What are your favorite summer drink flavors?

In that vein, Lifetime asked me to share my tips for keeping a stylish, practical home while raising a family.  This post comes at a great time as we have only been in our new home 2 weeks.  So while my home is not in the finishing stages of decorating, I have been spending a lot of my time thinking about how to show my style in my home when there are two little boys running amok.

Tip 1:  LOVE everything in your home.  Or at least REALLY like it.

My new-found interest in home design started when I went through a personal style camp earlier this year.  It became clear to me that while my wardrobe should represent my design aesthetic, so should my home.  This move was the catalyst to actually make some changes.  And while nothing that I have purchased is expensive (a far cry from the homes these PWM’s – Pretty Wicked Mom’s, duh – live in…) it is the first time my style is showing through in my home.  A huge thing that just clicked for me is that you should love everything you surround yourself with.  Don’t settle.  While most of our budgets won’t allow a complete make-over, if there are things that you want, make a list and save up for them.  Change out items as you can until you love your space.

We got rid of a ton of items before we moved.  Things we had been hanging on to, just to hang on to.  But when we stripped ourselves of those things it really opened my mind to what I did want to surround myself with.  It is becoming clear that I’m a black and white stripe-aholic.  LOVE it.

Tip 2:  Take risks in the least risky places in your home.

Oh hey, more black and white stripes!  This is our master bathroom.  Pretend you don’t see the stacked moving boxes in the mirror there.  And I’d like to note that I didn’t set out to match the towels to my quilt but after much searching, I realized that nobody makes a great patterned towel except for Missoni, which are just a bit out of my price range.  While I would never have put any sort of light-colored rug in my house before with all the foot traffic and food spilling, I decided that this room was the most logical home for it.  It is probably the least used area of the house.  With my youngest child being 4 1/2, I felt like it was ok to start decorating less for the kids and more for myself.  BUT!  I’m not crazy.  This rug wouldn’t last two minutes in the front of the house.  Here I can still enjoy the rug and it’s lifespan will be significantly longer.

Tip 3:  Create kid-free zones

It is ok to create areas that are off-limits to the kids.  My walk in closet is one such area.  I am looking forward to adding some art to the wall behind my dresser and love that I can leave things out on a tray and they don’t go missing.  This is a space I can go when I need to take a breath, when I don’t want to see a toy and when I want to feel like a grown up.  The kids know they are not to be in here.  Except for sometimes when I am getting ready and my youngest puts on all my cocktail rings, calls them “finger shields”, and acts like a super hero with the world’s strongest fingers.  THAT is funny stuff.  Similarly, the kids aren’t free to roam around the kitchen.  I know that is an area that I can display “nicer” items without fear of them breaking in a flying Angry Bird deluge.

Tip 4:  Shop in all departments for the best selection

Previously, I had a black kitchen mat from the kitchen mat section of our local home goods store.  Boring.  Sure I was being practical but it didn’t add anything special to the decor.  For this house I spent some time online and checked out rugs from several stores.  I came across this one from Urban Outfitters (no longer on the site but this one is similar) and decided it was just what I was looking for.  It is super bright and busy so it should hide spills well and it makes being in the kitchen more fun.  It really does.  And since we are in a rental, there are certain things we just have to deal with, like the worn cupboards and old faucet.  The rug really makes a big statement and hopefully detracts a bit from the things that could use some improvement.  May I also suggest having your grout professionally cleaned once a year?  I just had someone out to do the house and it completely changed the look of the kitchen.  It cost about $100 for the square footage of tile we have and it was TOTALLY worth it!

Tip 5:  Add some green and some pops of color

I have never had the inclination to have plants in my home before.  I never wanted to have yet another thing that I had to worry about.  But I’m craving green in the house right now.  I think it will make it feel more finished without setting little knick knacks everywhere that will just collect dust.  And adding little pops of color around the house are a really fun way to add interest without making a huge commitment like you would buying a crazy rug or large piece of artwork.  I will have you note that this adorable little air plant by Bird and Feather is placed up on the window ledge in my front bathroom.  I just know that if it was any lower, my boys would use it as a baseball.  See practical and stylish.

Tip 6:  Set up your kids toys as a casual display

The kid’s rooms are pretty small.  And while I would prefer all the toys to be put away, it is just not practical.  I selected some toys that “go together” to create a little collection that is set out for display on top of the dresser.  Know that anything “out” will get played with and that it will not always looks this way.  Kid’s toys SHOULD be played with but they can also look styled at the end of the day.  Clean up is easy as you just have to put them back on the dresser.  Kid’s rooms should be playful and have kid’s items but can also be a place to share age appropriate art and collectibles (on high shelves).  You can also keep the room to your style standards by choosing some rad bedding and a great rug.

Ok – now here is the trailer for Pretty Wicked Moms!  You’re welcome.

Tune in to watch parenting like you’ve never seen before with the first episode of Pretty Wicked Moms on Tuesday, June 4, at 10:00 pm ET/PT on Lifetime.

FTC DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENT:  Cupcakes and Cutlery aims to provide unbiased editorials. However, I wish to disclose that from time to time I may receive free products or other compensation from companies for blogger reviews.

When you sign up via the Happy Family Movement website, you get eligibility for weekly giveaways and on the blog, you can read other family’s bucket lists to help inspire your own.  Participants are encouraged to share their experiences on social media (#happyfamilysummer) as well.  By sharing the cool things your family is doing, you can help other families add new items to their bucket lists.  You don’t want to be that bored family stuck at home all summer do you?  Hurry to sign up before the kick off day, May 20th!

Our summer bucket list has lots of cotton candy eating on it!  What’s on yours?

These wall clips pictured above, are awesome!  My kid’s create a lot of art work in school and these would be such an easy way to display it.  We are also talking about doing a gallery wall in our front room and these would be such a cool way to be able to change out a few pieces, from time to time, to keep things fresh.

I am in need of a cool, simple desk for my bedroom.  I am a big fan of this teak desk.  It would fit perfectly where our existing desk sits but I probably would totally bring this out when we entertain…I love the wood and metal together.  It has great lines and I want it.  (I’m stopping just short of stomping my feet with my hands in fists…).  I’m excited to check out all of their other furniture as well!

This kid’s indoor bocce ball set is such a great gift idea!  I love how bright the colors are.  My husband’s grand father was a great bocce player.  It would be cool for our kids to learn the game too.

The buyers for Land of Nod have impeccable taste.  Their eye for great graphic design is evident in everything from their bedding to their custom art prints to their curated selection of books.  This Doug Unplugged book is adorable and the perfect message for today’s kids.  Get off your devices and get outside.  My oldest son NEEDS this book!

My oldest son’s room is pretty small and I’m keeping his bedding really simple.  These robot pillows would be perfect for adding a little pizzaz.  And what kid doesn’t love a robot?

Currently, we do not have a light in our living room.  We get by with the light from the television and entry way light.  It is not ideal but until we find a light my husband and I can both agree upon, that will have to do.  I can’t wait to show him this green lamp!  It is such a fun pop of color and I love the industrial look of it.

Not in Orange County?  You can still shop the store online.  And don’t forget to follow them on Pinterest and Instagram.   This is one company that really knows how to work their social media.  I find their Pinterest and Instagram feeds SO inspiring!

I would love to hear your thoughts on the store after you visit!
This post is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group® and Land of Nod, but all my opinions are my own. #PMedia #NODinCA   http://cmp.ly/3/8vNxcO.

Let’s talk for a minute about why I love sponsored posts and will continue to do them.  There has been lots of talk recently about FTC guidelines and disclosing when you are compensated for a post.  And about how many of them that you should do so that your readers are not put off.  I have heard people say that they will not read a post if there is a disclosure at the beginning of the post but if they get to the bottom and see the disclosure they are ok with it as long as the content was authentic and didn’t seem sponsored.  As the FTC is requiring us to disclose sponsored posts at the beginning and end of the post, I wanted to share why I do sponsored posts and why I hope you will keep reading my blog.  To clarify, a sponsored post is a post in which you have been compensated in some way.  It might be in the form of money, product, services, etc.

I’ll be frank.  Sometimes I take a sponsored post because I know it will make my kid’s happy.  Talking about you, Cool Whip.

The opportunities that blogging has brought me are mind blowing.  From being able to make a little bit of money to put back in to my blog while still being a stay-at-home-mom to my kids, to behind the scenes experiences with well-known brands and products, blogging is the reason for all of that.  There are TONS of things that I want to share with my readers that are not sponsored but there are also some crazy cool things that are sponsored that I want to share too!  Like when I had my makeup done by celebrity makeup artist, Tia Dantzler?!  The coolest.  She’s done J Hud, The President and, you know, me.  Or that Italian food tour of Los Angeles that Bertolli took me on?  You KNOW you are going to hear every detail about that day.  There is no way that I could attend every event that comes my way due to simple scheduling but I want you to know that I keep you in mind when deciding what things to go to.  Please know that I thought of you during every bite of food at my 7 course tasting dinner at Five Crowns.

If you are a long time reader, you know I am a very creative person and I really enjoy a challenge.  I make it my goal to bring you authentic content for each and every post.  I also try to be as honest as possible.  In my post for Hellman’s Mayonnaise, I was up front about not liking mayo.  At first I didn’t want to do the project because of the fact that I don’t like mayo but there were a lot of positives about that campaign.  It prompted me to make a video, which I had been wanting to do but hadn’t really had a reason to yet.  It made me have a dinner party to share the recipes with friends (who doesn’t love doing that!) and it really made me figure out a way to connect with the message I was sharing.

But I am human and we all make mistakes.  Of course there are things that I wish I wouldn’t have posted about just because someone asked me to.  But it is important to remember that new bloggers learn as they go and make mistakes along the way.  We shouldn’t judge them but encourage them and help them to learn.  I would like to think that I make much better choices in terms of what sponsored posts to do at this point.  I have come a long way from my first sponsored post for a BBQ grill cleaner…and let me just remind you that when my blog started I only talked about parties.  It was a bit of a stretch.  And guess what?  We still use and love that BBQ grill cleaner!  I get super excited when I get to try out a product before it is launched and share my opinion.

I will never share something with you that I don’t love.  I have turned down SO many paid opportunities and product reviews that are just not a good fit.  But why should I turn down money for something that I would want to share with you anyway?  For instance, I’ve just applied to be part of a TV-based campaign.  While I feel like my month of May and June are full of compensated posts, I will not turn down the chance to share with you something that my youngest son has been totally in to for the past 2 months in real life, without knowing this campaign was coming up.  And I really hope I get it because it is a perfect fit.  You guys, this month I get to do so many amazing things that I can’t wait to share with you regardless of the fact that they are sponsored for instance, throw two parties (um, hello, you know that is where it all began), attend a cool multi-faceted All American event (I also find so much inspiration in a well produced event), support a new local store (that just happens to be a store I am in love with – please remember to read Friday’s post) and watch a new reality show and tell you all about it (WORD TO YOUR MOTHER).

So I hope you will keep reading to see my experiences, see what brands I am creating content for and of course my family and my favorite things.  While this started out as a creative outlet for me, it truly has turned in to something larger, for each and every one of you.