BEDKNOBS & BAUBLES

Sipping: Strawberry-Infused Vodka

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Making infused vodka had been on our summer to-do list for over a year and I’m not really sure why we dawdled for so long. (Maybe I’m just too impatient for a cocktail?) It was incredibly easy and well worth the wait.

Here’s what you need to do:

  1. Fill a large Mason jar with your berry of choice (other fruits and peppers will also work). Make sure it’s ripe and take off any part of the fruit you wouldn’t normally eat (pits, stems, etc.).
  2. Add vodka (or gin or clear rum or whatever else your heart desires). We used Tito’s vodka.
  3. Seal it and stick it in the fridge for a couple of weeks. We shook ours every few days to mix it.
  4. Give it a taste. If you like the intensity, strain it and store in the fridge.
  5. Enjoy!

We kept it simple and mixed our concoction with 7Up. The lemon-lime soda added sweetness to the infused vodka without overshadowing the strawberry flavor. Next up: Blackberry vodka? Jalapeno tequila? Cherry rum?

Designer Desires

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About

I’m excited to introduce you to San Fransisco-based designer Sarah Greenberg and her jewelry line Sarah Swell. Her metalwork is heavily inspired by nature, creating organic shapes in easy-to-wear designs, like these coral fan earrings, fishbone necklace, or weathered diamond rings (my favorite).

The Beginning

Sarah started her line in 2008, after taking a silversmithing class on a whim. “While attending art school and concentrating on painting, I realized that I wanted to make wearable things instead of traditional artwork. I took a metalsmithing class and something just clicked. I spent several years honing my craft by immersing myself in the jewelry industry,” she explains.

Inspiration

“I’m most inspired by nature. I love taking a shape or a texture that I find and transforming it into a piece of jewelry that has a subtle nod to mother nature. I’m also drawn to things that are imperfect or edgy and this is reflected in the matte or black finishes that I often use in my work.” 

Desiring

  1. Sarah Swell Flotsam & Jetsam Earrings – “A striking, but lightweight earring really pulls and outfit together. This are my current go to pair.”
  2. Patterson J. Kincaid Summer Dress – “I’ve been searching high and low for a fun Summer maxi dress that is pretty, but not too feminine. This one has a flirty shape and fun bright pattern that almost feels floral, but upon closer inspection is more abstract.”
  3. Nars Lipstick in Heat Wave – ” I love wearing a bright lip and really no other make-up, it’s looks so fresh. Nars semi-matte lipsticks are the best, and this bright orange-red is next on my must have list.”
  4. Düller sketchbook – ” I always have a sketchbook with me for when inspiration strikes. I currently have my eye on this minimalistic Düller sketchbook to start fresh for summer.”
  5. Marais Sandal – “You can never have too many flat sandals! I adore this pair. They’re affordable, fun and look really comfortable.”

Need it Now

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Here’s what I’m craving now:

  1. Feminine bathing suit, Zimmerman, $128
  2. Bright pink flats, Madewell, $108
  3. Polka dot scarf, Sonia by Sonia Rykiel, $60
  4. Quirky notebook, Madewell, $10
  5. Clutch with a cute clasp, Kate Spade, $348
  6. Not-too-dainty earrings, Kendra Scott, $39.99
  7. Major statement necklace, Club Monaco, $149.50
  8. Pink elephants, Cocktail Buddies, $9.95/box

Postcards from Kentucky, Part 2

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Of all things to fall in love with, the grates around the trees were one of my favorite details in Louisville.

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The Louisville City Hall Annex was built in 1909 and includes statuary heads of animals that were important to the city’s agricultural history.

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A fleur-de-lis adorns each street sign. 

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Tickets for our Mammoth Cave tour. Word of advice: buy these online before your visit. All of the day’s tours were sold out by the time we arrived. Also, we were surprised that Mammoth Cave is on Central Time while Louisville is on Eastern. We had a lot of time to kill.

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But that gave us time to take photos of the scenery. That long-sleeve tee didn’t last long – it was 100 degrees.

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Thankfully, it was much cooler in the cave – after the 250-stair decent into Mammoth.

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Dinosaurs inhabit nearby Cave City at Dinosaur World, a fantastic roadside attraction.

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The beasts are full-size replicas with “informative” signs about the species. The general theme was “scientists think … but they’re not actually sure.”

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Seriously. Awesome.

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A more culturally appropriate stop was at the Buffalo Trace distillery. I didn’t expect the air to be thick with bourbon and I’m pretty sure you can get a contact buzz from the fumes. (They should really sell bourbon-scented candles in the gift shop.)

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Each of these barrels contains Pappy Van Winkle (aged for 23 years) and $10,000 in revenue.

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And, yes, there’s a buffalo on the property.

Bourbon was certainly a theme to our trip and we successfully completed the Urban Bourbon Trail. The mint juleps at the historic Brown Hotel were by far the best – and most expensive – we tasted.

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However, my Wisconsin roots are deep and I still prefer brandy in my Old Fashioned.