gin & pearls

Drink of the Month: Michelada

noreply@blogger.com (Tessa @ Gin & Pearls ) — Sun, 16 Oct 2016 20:42:00 +0000

With Summer winding-down I am moving on from the citrus cocktails of summer and into fall-spiced ones. But, Texas is still hot, so I can't help but crave Micheladas.

A Michelada is the product of a beer that married a bloody mary.....but so much better. With a small addition of bloody mary mix, lime juice, worcheshire, and hot sauce, it gives the beer a tang and a kick.

Served over ice, a Michelada is refreshing, spicy, and too easy to chug within two minutes of making it.

Michelada, serves one

12oz beer, preferably a Kolsch, Lager, or Mexican Lager
2oz Spicy Bloody Mary Mix
1oz lime juice
1/2 oz worcheshire
1/2 oz hot sauce
ice
garnish: lime wedge

Date Night Style: Lace & Zippers

noreply@blogger.com (Tessa @ Gin & Pearls ) — Sat, 17 Sep 2016 15:45:00 +0000

Let me start by saying, I have not loved an outfit this much in years...

Who doesn't love a good romper in the summer time? Especially when it is one as comfortable and cute as this one. I found this gem of a piece on one of my weekly trips to Target. I couldn't believe how lucky I was to find such an adorable, sexy piece for the price.

With the lace detail front, and the zipper back it's the perfect combination. Plus, it's navy blue, which is my favorite color to wear.

I love how high-up the lace neckline goes. With all the details, very little accessories were needed. I wore my new favorite jacket (two-in-one) earrings, and my navy blue and gold bracelet to match.

THESE SHOES!!! I found these perfect brown booties at Target as well, with zippers on both sides to match the romper. They are seriously one of the most comfortable pair of shoes I own. I will be wearing these all the time this fall.

Affordable (thank you Target),

cute,

sexy,

comfortable,

and

the perfect summer-to-fall transition outfit.

Lace Neck Romper $24.99, Target
DV Jameson Double Side Zip Booties $28.49, Target
Capri Convertible Jacket Earrings $32, Chloe & Isabel via Sunday Champagne
Positano Fringe Bracelet, $32, Chloe & Isabel via Sunday Champagne

Summer Festival Style

noreply@blogger.com (Tessa @ Gin & Pearls ) — Mon, 15 Aug 2016 21:00:00 +0000

Something always on our schedule is beer festivals, especially since we own a brewery. In the past I have worked our booth at festivals so I was always wearing a brewery shirt of some kind.

Ever since my little boy made his appearance I rarely get to festivals, but when I do, I am not working them; which means I get to wear whatever cute outfit I want. Hooray!

It's no surprise that Texas Summers are brutal and being outside can sometimes be excruciating. That is why I am loving rompers right now! I wore my first romper purchase of the summer back in May for UnTapped Fort Worth. This romper is so lightweight, you can barely feel that you are wearing anything. The drawstring around the waist gives you plenty of room to move around in, and it's easy to use the restroom (romper lovers you know what I mean).

I picked-up this little number at Old Navy (big surprise, my favorite store these days). I was timid to buy it wondering if I would wear it, but I am so glad I did. I have worn it just about once a week for the past two months. I paired it with my brown boho sandals (to match my sunglasses) for the perfect festival look.

You can never go wrong with a black and white romper; perfect for a summer heat wave.

Sandals, DSW (similar)
Romper, Sale for $15, Old Navy
Sunglasses, Chloe & Isabel

Drink of the Month: Tropical Red Sangria

noreply@blogger.com (Tessa @ Gin & Pearls ) — Thu, 07 Jul 2016 21:05:00 +0000

I love Sangria! Not the nasty stuff you find in a plastic bottled labeled, "Sangria," but real hand-made Sangria prepared with a good bottle of wine.

White Sangria has always been my Sangria of choice. I like Red Sangria, but I always found it to have a weird flavor that I just wasn't a fan of. I finally realized what the flavor was, it's Brandy. It seems like most Red Wine Sangrias call for Brandy, and I do not like the stuff. So I set-out to make one that didn't involve Brandy.

It took a couple years, and a few failed attempts that went down the drain, but I finally concocted the perfect Red Wine Sangria for me.

Most Sangrias are comprised of four main ingredients: wine, liquor, sugar, and fruit.
*Wine is the easy one, I prefer a dry-spanish wine in Sangria, but most any red wine will work.
*For the liquor component I used spiced rum instead of brandy.
*The sugar was no sugar at all, it was Simply Tropical by Simply.
*The fruit was slices of orange and lime (because it's what I had on hand at the time).

Finally, a Red Sangria that I can drink all Summer long.

Tropical Red Sangria

1/4 bottle Red Wine

1/4 cup Spiced Rum

1/4 cup Tropical Juice

1/4 cup Champagne

Sliced fruit, garnish

Mix together wine, rum, and tropical juice.

Pour over ice.

Top with champagne.

Drink!

Plain White Tee

noreply@blogger.com (Tessa @ Gin & Pearls ) — Sat, 25 Jun 2016 16:29:00 +0000

I have always been a fan of plain white t-shirts, but only if I can find one that doesn't get tattered and faded in the wash. A few months ago I picked-up this adorable slouchy one from Old Navy for just $12, and it has been my best friend ever since.

Not only do I love how it drapes, but the material is a thicker, more course one, so it isn't see-through or too delicate.

Lately, I have been wearing this tee with shorts and sandals, but my favorite way to wear it is with blue jeans and pointy-toe flats.

The jeans, a steal from H&M, have quickly become one of my favorite wardrobe items as well. (They stretch and have a higher waist, which is perfect for chasing a baby).

I added my Aventine Collar Necklace, Heirloom Crystal Bracelet, and a teal Kate Spade bag, and I was ready for a dinner date with my two favorite people.

*Dinner was Mexican, and somehow I managed not to get any salsa on the shirt. Outfit for the win!*

Woodland 'Onederland' Camping Birthday Party

noreply@blogger.com (Tessa @ Gin & Pearls ) — Thu, 16 Jun 2016 21:39:00 +0000

I am pretty sure I was pregnant just yesterday, but somehow my perfect little boy just turned one. All the sayings are true, you blink and time has passed you by. It wasn't a sad moment for me though, it was a happy one. Seeing how much my baby has changed and grown over the past year has been so much fun, and I can't wait to see how else he astonishes and amazes me in this coming year.

Of course being the party planner that I am, I went crazy planning his first birthday bash. It wasn't about him remembering the day (we all know he won't), it was about giving me the satisfaction of knowing I did what I could to make the day special; and for theme to really shine through. Plus, I had a lot of fun with it. I could go into so much detail about everything I did and how I did it, but i might bore some readers. If you have a question, ask it, and I will answer.

THE THEME

It started out as a Lumberjack party, but that seemed to not fit a May birthday; with the flannel and all. Then it changed into a Teepee party (since one of his gifts was a teepee from his mommy and daddy), but I felt like it needed to be more centered towards boy. His nursery is Woodland themed, so a Lumberjack-Teepee party morphed into Woodland Camping! It was perfect.

The backyard was scattered with hand-painted wood signs and arrows. We had blue and teal streamers were swinging in the trees, with camping signs all around. A "fire" was started to roast some melty marshmallows. And a wall of pallets greeted you as you entered the party.

We set-up our camping tent full of balloons for the kiddos to play in, had a 'ball and can' toss game, and a coloring station for younger ones. The theme was very obvious to say the least.

THE SMASH CAKE

Yes, I am one of those moms that doesn't want to feed their kid a sugar-filled cake on their birthday. That doesn't mean I won't let my boy have a sweet thing every once in a while, but I didn't feel that it was necessary for his cake to be that way.

After searching through dozens of recipes, I finally found one where I was mostly happy with the ingredients, so I took the recipe and changed it to my liking. A simple mixture of flour, baking soda, salt, egg, and coconut oil. To add the flavor; a bit of vanilla extract, pineapple pieces, banana, and cinnamon. Then for the icing: creme cheese whipped with 100% pineapple juice. The cake was actually quite yummy for no sugar-added. It took my little guy a few minutes to warm-up to it (probably because it was being stored int he fridge so it wouldn't melt in the heat), but once he started to pick it apart it kept him occupied for about twenty minutes.

THE BIRTHDAY BOY

I knew I wanted pictures of baby T scattered around the party to show how much he has grown and changed over the past year, so I decided to do "A Year of Tucker" from Day 1 to Day 365. I printed all the pictures in 4x4, attached them to string with clips (so I didn't ruin them), and strung them across a pallet.

I also put together a board of all of his monthly sticker pictures. Ah, a bittersweet image to see.

THE FOOD & DRINKS

You can't go camping without beer, and luckily we knew exactly where to get a keg of Mr. Green Pale Ale. I personally like to 'camp' with sangria though; a giant mason jar full of Sparkling White Berry Sangria.

We had your typical camping food: Smoked Hot Dogs, macaroni salad, and beans. We also had some snacks to appeal to all age groups: twigs, campfire flames, fish bait, bear poop, etc. Then we topped it all off with S'mores Cupcakes.

THE ATTIRE

This one was easy for me: jean shorts, HAPPY CAMPER t-shirt, and Chaco's. The hubby wore a camping themed shirt as well. Baby T had three different Camping/Woodland themed outfits for the day and pretty much ruined all of them. :)

THE GOODY-BAGS

So the party guests would, "Take a Hike," I made S'Mores trail mix. It was a delicious combination of Teddy Graham's, mini marshmallows, and chocolate chips. It was hard not to eat it all while stuffing the bags. (Note: The cereal and Teddy Graham's went stale really quick, so stuff the bags the day of the party and encourage guests to eat it that day as well).

Overall my baby boy had such a fun day and so did we. Hmmm, is it too soon to start planning birthday #2? I don't want him to be two yet, I just want to plan another party.

Overalls

noreply@blogger.com (Tessa @ Gin & Pearls ) — Wed, 25 May 2016 20:57:00 +0000

Yep, I said overalls. You know those things your parents made you wear when you were a kid that you needed help unclipping so you could use the restroom? Ahhh, memories.

The adult overall trend has been on the horizon for a little over a year now, and I have been wanting to get myself a pair since then. When I was pregnant I thought it would be so cute to sport a pair with a big ol' baby bump; but I didn't want to spend the money on them when I wouldn't be in them very long.

Lucky for me I found a kickass pair at Old Navy about six months after my little guy was born, so I immediately got them. They hung in my closet for a few months before I mustered-up the courage to wear them, but I am so glad I did because I seriously love them.

I've worn my overalls a few times with different colored tanks underneath; I think sleeves look goofy with overalls. On this particular occasion I paired them with a simple black tank, a colorful wrap bracelet, and some cute periwinkle slip-on sandals. We were walking around downtown for an arts festival, so comfort and minimalism was key.

I am definitely looking forward to wearing these again before it's too hot to do so.

Curious how others wear their overalls? Head on over to Fizz & Frosting to see how Lauren styled hers.

*I have to brag, I got these overalls for a STEAL. They were on sale for 30% off....and since they were apparently an on-line purchase return, I was given an extra 30% off the sale price. I had no idea Old Navy did that but I lucked out. So I only paid $12 for these! #shoppingvictory #bargainshopper

Drink of the Month: Blackberry-Lime-Tequila

noreply@blogger.com (Tessa @ Gin & Pearls ) — Mon, 23 May 2016 01:41:00 +0000

I am not a huge fan of Tequila. The whole, "One Tequila, Two Tequila, Three Tequila, Floor," thing is pretty accurate. However, I do enjoy a nice margarita on the rocks when I am chowing-down on delicious Mexican food here in Texas.

The problem with all the margaritas you find at restaurants is they are loaded with fake ingredients and tons of sugar. You can order a 'skinny' one, but they seem to give you a tiny drink with no more than five sips involved.

So, make yourself a margarita at home and you will not only be happier with the taste and flavor, but you will be happier with the calorie count as well.

Blackberries are in season right now and are plump and juicy, so when I bought a package at Sprout's I knew they were going to be used in my margarita.

Like all margaritas you have to start out with a nice silver tequila. We had Patron at the house, so that is what I went with.

Next you need limes, duh. Fresh-squeezed of course.

Then you need a sweet component. I like to use local honey or agave nectar in my drinks, and I just so happen to have some Spicy Honey on hand (a gift I received from a friend). Perfect!

Lastly, the blackberries. Blackberries have so many seeds so you will want to toss them in a blender and then strain them so you get all the seeds out.

Now you can combine all of your ingredients. The ratio of each is totally up to you. Do you like it more tart? Add more lime. More sweet? Add more honey. Fruiter? Add more blackberry puree. Or if you had a rough week at work, just add more tequila.

I personally like mine balanced with an equal amount of sweet and tart. I did go a little heavy handed on the blackberry puree though. :)

Cheers!

Date Night Stripes

noreply@blogger.com (Tessa @ Gin & Pearls ) — Sun, 17 Apr 2016 21:03:00 +0000

Hooray for date nights. This past Friday was just the fourth time in nearly eleven months that the husband and I were able to go out for a date. The weather was perfection, and there was a festival going-on downtown, so it was a wonderful night for walking around.

The evening started and ended at Fort Worth's only Prohibition Cocktail bar, Thompson's Bookstore, which opened while I was pregnant. Finally, a good cocktail bar in town.

For our casual, yet sophisticated night out, I wore a new striped tank-top. The mix of horizontal and vertical stripes with spaghetti-straps, and a v-back, was the perfect amount of cute, with a little skin showing.

My navy blue wedges tied-in the navy from the top, while my turquoise purse added a pop of color.

The neck-line on the tank-top was perfect for a collar necklace, so I wore my new favorite Howlite, Crystal, and Gold one.

A simple, cute outfit for a fun Friday on the town.

Necklace, Chloe and Isabel

Tank, BP by Nordstroms

Jeans, Loft

Shoes (similar), Target

Bracelet, J Crew

Purse (similar) Kate Spade

Baby, Mine :)

Decorating an Entryway on a Budget

noreply@blogger.com (Tessa @ Gin & Pearls ) — Sat, 02 Apr 2016 01:59:00 +0000

When we moved into our house we thought we would get it decorated and stocked with nice furniture within a few years. Well, seven years later, aside from some new paint on the walls, it looks exactly the same. No hardwood floors, no master bedroom set, no new kitchen table or couch, etc. Life happens, money happens, and before you know it, time has passed. We have recently hit a rut with our home and are ready to get the ball rolling on making it look how we always wanted it. But, we have to start small.

One of the smallest areas in our house is the one that drives me the most crazy. It is the first thing you see when you enter the house, the last thing you see when you leave, and well...you always see it. It's our entryway! A small space of ugly tile flooring with the front door and the garage door. I have always hated having the garage entrance there; it belongs in the kitchen. With two swinging doors we have one small space to actually decorate. Up until now this space either housed hand-me-down faux leather ottomans, or a small table. I have tried to change it up dozens of times with different pieces throughout the house, but I could never get it right.

When I set out to re-decorate this space, I knew I wanted three things:

1- a bench

2- a place for shoes

3- wall hooks

A few months ago as I was wandering Michael's looking for Valentine's decor, I found these wonderful metal baskets. They screamed Magnolia to me, and they were Buy 1 Get 1 Free. Of course I bought them. They sat on the floor in my entryway for nearly two months while I tried to decide how I was going to incorporate them into the space.

Finally, while strolling through Target one weekday with my baby, I went down the wrong aisle looking for closet organization and found this gem of a bench. I looked the mix of wood with wire, plus it was the perfect size for my space, holds shoes, AND within my budget.

A few more trips to Target and a month later; to return and exchange things as I tried to make the space look perfect, I was ready to decorate.

In the end I decided to use only one of the hanging baskets, with a family photo, and command center. I didn't exactly get a row of hooks; but who wants ugly jackets hanging there anyway?

The piece de la resistance; this beautiful rug. It ties in the grey from the walls, the teal from the door, and the coral and yellow touches from the rest of the house.

It's not perfect but it's a million times better than it was before.

Spring Showers

noreply@blogger.com (Tessa @ Gin & Pearls ) — Wed, 30 Mar 2016 12:51:00 +0000

It was this week last year that I was crazy pregnant enjoying the spring weather at my outdoor baby shower. Here we are a year later already, but now I am enjoying spring storms and showers.

Thankfully, instead of having a giant belly and penguin-walk like last year, I have an adorable 10 month old and am slowly working on getting my pre-baby body back. I gained a lot of weight during pregnancy, we are talking 50 pounds, but I am proud to say that I am just 8 pounds away from my pre-baby weight right now.

With that being said I don't dress like I used to. Adorable cute clothes are hard to find, especially since I am a larger size than I was once was. In a desperate attempt to add some clothes to my wearable collection, I gutted my closet to see what would still fit me from before baby. That is when I found this little polka-dot number.

This shirt has been in my collection for a few years; the ruffled bottom and zippered back attracted me to the shirt years ago, and seeing as how ruffles are huge right now, I knew it was perfect.

For a stormy Spring day I paired the top with my black skinny jeans and Hunter rain boots. I didn't feel like a lot of accessories were necessary with this ensemble, so I kept it simple with a pair of stud earrings.

Hopefully I will be back to my pre-baby weight by swimsuit season, but for now I am pretty proud of myself for how much weight I have lost so far. Now to prepare for today's predicted thunderstorms.

Want the look? Shirt (similar), Jeans, Hunter Boots, Stud Earrings

Drink of the Month: Champagne Cocktail

noreply@blogger.com (Tessa @ Gin & Pearls ) — Sun, 21 Feb 2016 02:31:00 +0000

As much as I love brunch we don't make it at home; it's typical scrambled eggs for breakfast daily around here. I decided to try to elevate our egg breakfast at Valentine's Day by making a brunch beverage...The Champagne Cocktail.

A Champagne Cocktail is one of those things that isn't a set recipe. There are dozens of ways to make a Champagne Cocktail, there is just one rule, it must have Champagne.

Step 1: Find the right Champagne. I went with a Cava, much more affordable than champagne, and easy to find. (I personally like a drier Champagne, not a sweet one).

Step 2: Add a splash of juice. I like grapefruit juice because it adds a nice tartness and pucker without the sweetness. But, you can use any juice you like.

Step 3: Add a raw sugar cube to the bottom of the glass. If you like your cocktail sweeter, you can stir it until is dissolves. If you are like me and prefer just a hint of sweetness, you can leave it on the bottom and let it dissolve just slightly.

Step 4: Top with a little more Champagne and a cute garnish.

Cheers!

DIY Valentine's Photo Shoot

noreply@blogger.com (Tessa @ Gin & Pearls ) — Fri, 12 Feb 2016 23:00:00 +0000

Since my baby is still in his first year of life, I want to capture every moment of it, especially his 'firsts.' I take a picture of every new food he eats, new face he makes, new outfit...everything. So of course, I wanted to capture his first Valentine's Day.

While doing my weekly scan of my Pinterest feed I found an adorable photo of a baby sitting on newspaper, butt-naked, wearing angel wings, with hearts hanging all around him. LOL. I immediately took inspiration from it.

The first thing I did was go on a newspaper hunt. We don't subscribe to the newspaper so the free local city paper had to be stretched to do the trick. With the help of my mother-in-law I covered a large piece of cardboard with newspaper and wedged it between the kitchen table and two chairs. Then I covered the tabletop with newspaper.

Next step was to string some hearts up. I enlisted the help of my MIL for this one; all of my hearts looked like butts. I attached the cut-out hearts to string, using clothespins, and strung it across the top of the newspapered-covered cardboard.

Finally, I put baby boy into his outfit, a clean diaper, and propped him up on the table. Don't worry, we watched him like a hawk. I kept one arm on his feet most of the time so I could catch him if he started to wobble. He isn't crawling yet, but he is a wobbly little one so I wanted to make sure he was safe and didn't bump his head.

He immediately grabbed the newspaper he was sitting on and started playing with it; hence the heart cut-out he 'eating' in all the photos.

It was so much fun taking pictures of my little guy. Hmmmm, what will I do for Easter?

Stripes & Chucks

noreply@blogger.com (Tessa @ Gin & Pearls ) — Tue, 02 Feb 2016 15:00:00 +0000

Once upon a time I wore cute skirts and dresses on a daily basis. Now, I am all about comfortable.

Having an eight month old requires me to be on my hands and knees on the floor most of the day, so skirts and dresses just aren't practical anymore. I live in stretchy jeans, slip-on shoes, and shirts that can take a little baby tugging and drool.

This particular day I wore my favorite stretchy-skinny jeans with my new Chucks. I have never owned a pair of Chucks before but when I saw their new slip-ons with suede laces I knew I had to get a pair. They were a little snug at first but I am slowly breaking them in. (I seriously love these shoes).

Paired with a comfortable striped shirt and fringe scarf, it's the most comfortable outfit that I have felt cute in for quite some time.

Stripes are a classic, and never go out of style. Plus, the slouchy fit is perfect for moving around in. The scarf has to be my favorite component; not only does it keep me warm while being the perfect accessory, but it gives my little one something to hold on to when I am holding him.

I know I have over-worn this outfit, but you can't have too much of a good thing right?

Casual Christmas

noreply@blogger.com (Tessa @ Gin & Pearls ) — Thu, 24 Dec 2015 19:12:00 +0000

I can't believe how hot it is this Christmas?!?! My car yesterday said it was 79 degrees outside and I don't think it was lying. Wearing a simple t-shirt, jeans, and flats I was sweating and had the AC blasted in my car.

Given the heat and the fact that I have a baby boy, this is not a boots and cute shirt kind of Christmas, it's a casual one.

What's the best way to dress casual for Christmas? T-shirts of course, but not just any t-shirts, Christmas ones; particularly those quoting Christmas movies.

Hands down Christmas Vacation is the greatest Christmas movie of all time.

Quiz time! Who said, "You Serious Clark?" in Christmas Vacation, and why was it asked?

Paired with my cutest pair of red pointy-toe flats and my Kate Spade bow earrings, this green holiday shirt is my absolute favorite.

Baby boy on the other hand went with an ugly sweater Home Alone onesie donning, "Merry Christmas You Filthy Animal." It was kind of perfect for him during this photo shoot because he was a tired little thing and not in the mood to smile.

Wherever you are this Christmas, and whatever weather you might be having, I hope it's a great one.

Drink of the Month : Drunken Mallow-Nog

noreply@blogger.com (Tessa @ Gin & Pearls ) — Sat, 19 Dec 2015 15:31:00 +0000

Once upon a time I did 'Drink of the Week.' But, then I got pregnant and had a cute little baby boy. Therefore, 'Drink of the Week' is now 'Drink of the Month.'

Oh Christmas, the most wonderful time of the year. I love everything about Christmas; the lights, the music, the movies, and of course the drinks.

We are an eggnog house from the time Thanksgiving rolls around until after the New Year. Sometimes we make homemade egg nog, but most of the time we buy good old grocery store nog. It's great as it right out of the fridge, but it doesn't hurt to spike it every once in a while. Afterall, 'tis the season.

Spiking eggnog is as simple as adding a shot of rum, whiskey, or bourbon. But why not spice things-up a little bit to make it seem more merry?

Start with a simple combination of your nog and booze of choice. I myself prefer very little alcohol in my nog because a little goes a long way; to each his own.

Most people stop there, but if you want to turn your simple drink into a beautiful one for guests, light it on fire....seriously!

Add a few marshmallows atop the nog (I used large mallows, but I think small would be better). Then grab your tiny kitchen torch and light it up. As you can see my mallows were a little too crisp, but it made for a great photo.

Once you get your mallows to the perfect melty goodness, grate some fresh nutmeg over the top and sprinkle with silver sugar.

That's it! You turn a simple boozy eggnog into a pretty cocktail on Christmas morning. If you want to make it even fancier, put it in a 'Christmas Vacation' Moose Mug. Ha!

Merry Christmas Ya'll!

A Distillery & Santa

noreply@blogger.com (Tessa @ Gin & Pearls ) — Wed, 16 Dec 2015 15:59:00 +0000

Booze and babies do go together!

On one of the rare days the hubby and I had together this month we decided we needed to spend it taking our little baby boy to visit Santa for the first time. Now, as all of you know, Santa is very well-traveled, and hops around from place to place in order to see as many children as possible. ;) Lucky for us, Santa just so happened to be visiting a distillery that particular day.

We loaded-up our little one in his cutest Carter's outfit- long-sleeve thermal and a soft plaid vest- and hit the road for Lewisville, Texas to Witherspoon Distillery.

Witherspoon has been around since 2011, but had recently opened a brand-new beautiful location in the heart of Old Town Lewisville. I myself had never been to a distillery before, so visiting Santa there seemed like the perfect idea.

With a mix of wood, brick, and industrial lighting, the facade of Witherspoon is beautiful. I was impressed with the place before setting foot in the door. The inside is beautiful as well. With a large bar that wraps-around the room and comfy couches to lounge on, it's very inviting.

First on the agenda...meet Santa Clause. We were so grateful to not have to wait to see Santa in a big long-line, AND we didn't have to pay to see Santa either. We easily walked-up, introduced our little man in red to the big man in red, and... baby immediately grabbed a hold of Santa's beard and didn't let go. Ha! His first time meeting Santa and he made sure that he was the real deal; Santa didn't mind though. Baby might not have been all smiles for St. Nicholas, but he didn't cry either. My smart little dude just studied him, told him what he wanted for Christmas telepathically, and went on his merry way.

After I went crazy with the picture taking of Santa and baby, we found a nice couch to set-up camp on, while daddy ordered adult beverages from the bar. Witherspoon has a great selection of Whiskey, Bourbon, and Rum. The best part? They had a huge cocktail menu so I didn't have to drink straight liquor. LOVE! We wanted to try half of the menu but settled on one cocktail each.

A little rum for me, whiskey for the hubby, and a bottle for baby.

It was the perfect way to spend a day together, and to visit Santa. I look forward to going to Witherspoon again, but next time without baby, so we can go on a tour and do a little tasting.

From My Family to Yours

noreply@blogger.com (Tessa @ Gin & Pearls ) — Wed, 25 Nov 2015 23:29:00 +0000

I can't believe it took nearly six months after my little butterball was born to get our family photos done. It was a gloomier day than I wanted it to be, but my baby boys smile and bright blue eyes were all the sunshine we needed.

I didn't realize how difficult it would be to coordinate outfits with a little one. The first thing I did was find his outfit. I knew I wanted something blue, to match his eyes, but finding something wasn't easy. When I finally found the blue plaid button-up with cords I knew it was the perfect choice.

From there I went on to find the hubby a shirt that would match baby. I myself decided to go with creme to be the neutral one; it was a great excuse to splurge on a lace shirt I had been lusting over from Anthropologie.

While the outfits weren't a perfect match, I loved how we all came together in these adorable photos.

I am so thankful for these two boys in my life, today and always.

Happy Thanksgiving...from my family to yours!

Magnolia at the Silos

noreply@blogger.com (Tessa @ Gin & Pearls ) — Wed, 11 Nov 2015 14:21:00 +0000

Do you watch HGTV? I do and I love it. It's such a great channel to have on in the background on a weekend afternoon when you are doing housework. Every show makes home remodeling seem like a breeze, while in reality that isn't possible for most homeowners. The channel always has me thinking back to my days as an interior design major in college. I miss the design world quite a lot, so HGTV is where I go to get my design fix.

I love two shows on HGTV, Property Brothers and Fixer Upper. I first got hooked on Fixer Upper because the couple intrigued me. The show is hosted by Chip & Joanna Gaines (and their adorable little family). They are a hilarious married couple who live on a farm in Waco, Texas and flip homes in the area. Aside from their fun personalities, I first found the show appealing because Waco is only an hour drive from where I live.

I love their decorating style, Modern Farmhouse. Antique farmhouse elements come together with modern touches and cool colors in nearly all of their projects. Every time I watch the show I find myself lusting over multiple design elements; if not the entire makeover.

When I found out that The Gaine's were opening a new design store, Magnolia at the Silos, I knew a mini road-trip was in my future. I set the date on my calendar for the grand opening and counted down.

The grand opening was a two day event. I planned on heading down the first day to snag all the good stuff before it was sold out. Unfortunately we had severe thunderstorms in the area with flooding that day so we did have to postpone our trip to the second day; we knew it would be crazy busy.

Bright and early on Saturday, October 31st I set out to Waco with my mother-in-law and sweet baby boy; it was his first mini road-trip.

After an hour and a half drive from Fort Worth we arrived at The Silos at the perfect time. We lucked out with a parking spot close-by and made it into the building before the rope went -up and a long line formed outside The Silos. The place was so crowded they had to control how many people were in the building at a given time.

At first sight we were surprised by the crowds, how were we going to get through the building with the stroller? Then we were slightly disappointed at how small the actual shop was. But, we found our groove and started strolling through the aisles. I loved everything in the store but of course I had to pick and choose what I could buy for my home.

In the end I walked away very happy with a framed chalkboard, magazine bin, milk jug centerpiece, white vase, and comfy t-shirt.

After a half-hour in line waiting to pay, we were excited to get our things dropped off at the car so we could go back to The Silos for the outdoor farmers market and food truck lunch. But, just as we were headed back there, it started to rain. Afraid that my little dude would get wet and cold we decided to not stay and didn't get to enjoy that part.

Magnolia at the Silos is a great shop for cozy home accessories at a great price and I can't wait to drive to Waco to shop again. Maybe they will have some new things before Christmas?!?!

Shop online here.

Missing in Action

noreply@blogger.com (Tessa @ Gin & Pearls ) — Sun, 08 Nov 2015 19:47:00 +0000

I'm back!

Where did I go?

Nowhere, I just had a baby and have been adjusting to my new lifestyle and schedule.

I have missed Gin & Pearls so much and have been eager to get back at it.

My baby is already five months old and we have gotten into a "swing of things" balancing my new job and taking care of his cuteness.

Hopefully I still have some readers out there and you didn't give up on me just yet. I have many posts on my mind that I plan on preparing for you all very soon to continue my adventures in life and style.

xoxo,

Gin & Pearls

The Collective Brewing Project: Your Craft Beer Hangout

noreply@blogger.com (Tessa @ Gin & Pearls ) — Thu, 21 May 2015 15:45:00 +0000

I have been awaiting this post for a very long time now. Aside from having a baby on the way, the husband and myself have been quite preoccupied the past few years with The Collective Brewing Project.

Back in 2012 the hubs, Ryan, and one of our best friends, Mike, decided to open a brewery. Three years later that idea is a reality; a brewery and taproom in the Near Southside district of Fort Worth known as The Collective Brewing Project.

It was a long process to go from an idea to an actual working facility, but we have officially been open over six months now and business is booming.

The Building

We didn't want just another warehouse brewery like most Texas breweries are; we wanted a unique space that was comfortable year-round (thank you air conditioning) with a fun vibe. Being a taproom in addition to a brewery we needed a space that was inviting, a place that you could bring the family to and enjoy a cold beer at.

After nearly a year of looking for the perfect space we found it in the Near Southside District of Fort Worth, just a few blocks South of downtown and North of Magnolia. The building was built in the 1920's, which we loved, and has a history of being a paper mill, a church, a tannery, and more.

The space had been sitting empty for a few decades so it was a mess when we found it. We spent the long hot summer of 2014 renovating the space by ourselves, which was not easy. We destroyed, built, and re-modeled the 4,700 square foot building.

The bar was meticulously built from the ground-up using a combination of steel, metal, and old ship-lap, that we re-purposed from a closet within the building. The exposed brick walls were cleaned-up and all the old broken windows were replaced.

As you enter the building you find yourself in the taproom; bar to the left and plenty of seating ranging from handmade high top tables to stained picnic tables. Edison bulbs hang from industrial cords wrapped around wooden beams, the taproom wall is covered in a selection of beers handwritten on chalkboards, and string lights lace in and out of the exposed ceiling beams and air ducts.

As you walk past the taproom you are greeted by the brew-house, where the magic happens. The walls are lined in beautiful stainless steel tanks and dozens of re-purposed barrels, housing fermenting beer (Please Don't Touch Our Bungholes). Complete with a puppy friendly patio out back, it is the perfect taproom/brewery for the neighborhood.

The Beer

The reason to have a brewery in the first place...the beer. My husband Ryan, the head brewer, makes some of the best beer I have ever had. No, I am not saying that because I am biased, I truly believe it. His beer is damn good!

We have three 'beer concepts' at The CBP, Standard Pours, Taproom Projects, and a Funkytown Series.

The Standard Pours are our everyday beers that started us off. We most always have our Mustache Rye'd Rye Porter, Tropic Thunder Green Tea Saison, and Pale Galaxy Session IPA. Other Standard Pours at times have been our Apes in Space Apricot IPA and Fantastikolsch.

As we move into the Taproom Projects we get a little bit more creative and selective. These are our experimental beers that are brewed for a one-time limited edition release, or brewed multiple times because of overwhelming demand. Our Brown IPA has made its way onto the projects board more than once. We have also offered beers such as the Citra Citrus Elderflower Wheat, Mr. Green Pale Ale, and What's the Angle of Your Galangal? Thai Spiced Wit.

The Funkytown Series is what we have made our mark on the town with. Making a name for Sour beer in the DFW Metroplex, the Funkytown Series is all about wild yeast, brettanomoyces, and barrel fermentation. Our Petite Golden Sour is our most popular beer; both at the taproom and in local beer watering holes around DFW. Our most recent 'baby' is our Sour Red aged in Cabernet Barrels, as well as our Farmhouse Belma Brett Saison Dry-Hopped with Belma. These beers are very limited and AMAZING.

Ryan and Mike (with a little bit of me) have been friends for over twenty years and share a love for craft beer. What they have created in the heart of Fort Worth is a craft beer experience like no other. They have put their blood, sweat, and tears into The Collective Brewing Project, and it does not go unnoticed the second you take a step into the taproom or a cold CBP beer touches your lips.

With the help of Ben, our cellarman, as well as an amazing taproom staff of friends, The Collective Brewing Project is a brewery that will long indulge craft beer lovers.

Come out to the taproom for a few beers with friends or family, or even by yourself, and enjoy the atmosphere. Whether you want to sit at the bar and strike-up a conversation with the bartenders about our Crowler machine, play a round of giant jenga with your best friend, or sit on the patio with a few half pints and a bag of kettle chips, The CBP is a great hangout.

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Follow The CBP on facebook, twitter, and instagram to stay up-to-date on the latest events including:

Trivia Night

Yoga & Beer

Live Music and Food Trucks

Festivals

Bikes- Beer- Donuts- Coffee

#funkytownbeer

Adventures in Pregnancy

noreply@blogger.com (Tessa @ Gin & Pearls ) — Thu, 07 May 2015 16:05:00 +0000

I am officially almost done being pregnant; with my due date in a mere 17 days the end is in sight. It has been a very long 9 1/2 months; in a sense I feel like my life has been put on hold since September. And of course being so close to the due date I am super uncomfortable, sleep terrible, and ready to meet our little man.

I have a lot to do in the next 17 days to prepare for baby boy Tucker's arrival, but the hubby and myself are so excited to see our baby boy for the first time and to bring him home.

A lot has happened in the past few months...

we painted the nursery, we had our baby showers, we spent a ton of money on baby stuff, we set-up the nursery, we decorated the nursery, we got an outside ultrasound done, I have been to tons of doctors appointments, attended birthing classes, have read some baby literature, pre-registered at the hospital, and much more.

We still have some organization to do to the house before his arrival, as well as a deep cleaning of the house, and a few more baby purchases, but we are mostly ready. Luckily I have the next couple of weeks to get it all done.

Our baby boy has been doing very well, he is measuring perfectly, head-down like he should be, and moves like crazy all the time. His favorite thing to do is move his little feet under my ribs so you can see his bony heels poking out of my belly- so cute. His daddy loves to talk to him and tell him how loved he is.

Our dog, Roxy, is definitely aware of his presence. She loves to follow me around the house, even to the bathroom; I have a new shadow that won't leave my side- haha. She also loves to go into Tucker's room and stare out the windows; we always find her there when we get home.

We find ourselves daydreaming about Tucker being here and all the fun we will have as a family. Our lives are about to change drastically, and while it can be a little scary to think about at times, we are looking forward to all the new adventures in front of us and can't wait to experience them all.

Drink of the Week #13: Green Moss

noreply@blogger.com (Tessa @ Gin & Pearls ) — Tue, 17 Mar 2015 22:59:00 +0000

Just in time for St. Patrick's Day I give you a delicious green drink. No, it's not green beer, or a margarita, or even a mojito, it's a healthy breakfast smoothie.

The hubs and I enjoy a little bit of moss every morning for breakfast. A refreshing blend of fruit, green vegetables, almond milk, and some heart-healthy seeds is a way to start the day feeling great.

The base for Green Moss is Spinach; we tried Kale a few times but it yields a grittier-vegetable character that we aren't a fan of in our moss. The addition of banana gives the moss a creamy character while the peaches, my favorite ingredient, give a vibrant acidity and fill-out the moss. Any fruit can be used of course, but after trying different variations of berries, pineapple, and more, peaches win everytime.

To add a boost of health to the moss we add flax seeds and chia seeds. Not only do the seeds add protein, fiber, and omega-3s to the drink, but they are also heart-healthy (just make sure you have a quality blender or the seeds won't breakdown).

The last component is some liquid. You could simply use water, but water takes away flavor, so we add almond milk and fresh-squeezed 100% orange juice. Any milk works, soy and cashew also add a great flavor component.

A quick, easy, deliciously healthy green breakfast, or even afternoon pick-me-up. Green Moss is my favorite green beverage hands-down.

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Green Moss
16oz serving

1 banana, sliced
1 cup fresh or frozen peach slices
1 large handful of fresh spinach
1 teaspoon flax seed
1 teaspoon chia seed
1 cup Almond Milk (no-sugar added)
1/2 cup 100% Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice

Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.
Pour into a glass and sip with a cute straw.

Baby Bumpdate

noreply@blogger.com (Tessa @ Gin & Pearls ) — Tue, 24 Feb 2015 00:27:00 +0000

We are officially entering the third trimester and have just 13 weeks to go before we meet our little boy. January was my best month by far; the only month where I did not experience terrible pregnancy symptoms. As I am entering my third trimester new symptoms are beginning to show and I am starting to become tired and out of breath much more. The most difficult part has been sleeping, I don't really do it. I am constantly uncomfortable and toss like a turtle on its back all night; plus the acid reflux forces me to sleep sitting-up some nights.

Symptoms aside we are getting very excited to meet our little man and have finally found the time to start planning for his arrival.

We officially completed our registries and have baby showers on the books. While the nursery is nowhere near ready, we at least can say, as of yesterday, that it has been started. My hubby and father-in-law built the crib and changing table yesterday, so I guess it is official now, we are having a baby. Haha.

We have so much more to do, like paint the walls, get more furniture, decorate, and actually prepare. I have a feeling a lot of it won't happen until April, but it is still plenty of time before our May due date.

The most exciting news by far is that our little man has a name...

Gender Reveal

noreply@blogger.com (Tessa @ Gin & Pearls ) — Mon, 26 Jan 2015 00:10:00 +0000

It feels like it took a century to find out the gender of our sweet baby, including having a sonogram to see what our baby actually LOOKS like. When we finally got to experience both we were blow-away to see toes, fingers, and the baby moving all around. It was worth the wait and the best way to start 2015.

We had an amazing sonogram tech for our gender reveal. Before she told us what we were having, she gave us a good 10 minutes to just watch the baby moving on the screen. It was such a wonderful experience for the hubby and myself.

When she finally told us the sex I screamed, accidentally, the baby is exactly what we thought it was, and what we were hoping it would be (besides being healthy of course).

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Immediately I wanted to get our gender reveal photos done. I wanted to do a series of photos holding two different bundles of balloons, one pink and one blue, and then slowly release one of the bundles into the air; to be left holding the balloons that would reveal the gender. They were going to be the cutest photos of the hubby and myself since our wedding day.

I set-out getting my hair done the morning of, stopped and bought two bundles of balloons, picked out outfits for the hubs and myself, enlisted the help of a friend to take our photos, and found a location to have the photo shoot. Everything was set-up to be perfect. Until....the photo shoot went terribly wrong...

It was INCREDIBLY windy everywhere we tried to go. The balloons were hitting us in the face and trying to fly away; not to mention my hair was attacking me. Our photographer had to be quick to take a shot whenever the wind would stop for a brief second, therefore not giving it enough time to adjust, so 95% of the photos were a blurry mess. Then, the hubby got excited thinking the photos were looking good and released the balloons before we were ready to release them. Typical luck right?

All that aside, we are beyond thrilled to announce that....

It's a BOY!

A cute, button-nosed, long-limbed, precious baby boy.

With nothing but the turquoise balloons in hand we had no choice but to move the photo shoot inside and change our photo plans.

We decided to take pictures inside our brewery. The place that we spend most of our days and nights, the place that we have devoted our lives to creating for nearly three years now, the place that our sweet baby boy will grow-up in, and the place that will hopefully one day provide us with the means to give our baby all the worldly experiences he deserves. While I was upset that my photo shoot plans did not go as planned, it seems meant to be that we took the photos where we did.

Your daddy and mommy love you baby boy!