july 2014 instagrammed

How can July already be over? This past month was filled with SO many fun things, I'm sad it's ending so soon!

From top left:
1-3: The first weekend of July was triple special! Fourth of July, my friend Hayley's bachelorette party, & my first trip to Austin all rolled into one. Bar hopping, pool time & exploring the city were just a small part of what made the weekend so spectacular!
4: I've been meaning to go for a while, but I finally got some new tattoos. Just little ones- I love them ♥
5: This month was also filled with so many birthdays & I'm glad I was able to celebrate with so many of my summer-baby friends! I especially loved baking them cupcakes & crafting them silly toppers
6: My first tomato! My garden really started to bloom this month & I'm loving it!
7-9: This last weekend of July was UMS one of my FAVORITE weekends of the year! Great people, beautiful weather, interesting venues, and all kinds of music. On the bottom left is Covenhoven and the right, Shawn James & the Shapeshifters. Two very different bands, but both REALLY great shows!

I can't believe the summer is going by so fast- I hope you enjoyed your July too :)

minty fresh summer sipper

Hot, summer days call for cool, crisp cocktails on happy hour patios. We had these drinks last weekend for one of my best friend's birthdays, & they were so fresh & tasty, I had to share!

Ingredients:

• 1 handful fresh mint leaves
• 1 oz. simple syrup
• 4-ish oz. vodka

• juice from 1/2 lime
• ice cubes
• soda water

1. Place the mint and simple syrup into a cocktail shaker & muddle the ingredients together
2. Fill the cocktail shaker with ice cubes & then pour in the vodka & lime juice
3. Shake it up!
4. Place ice cubes in 4 glasses and pour equal amounts of the minty vodka into each glass
5. Top with soda water, give it a little stir, head to the patio & drink up!

** If you like your cocktails a little sweeter, add more simple syrup to the shaker, or swap out the soda water for tonic or ginger beer :)