Homemade "Ultimate" Mudslide

I'm not much of a drinker.  I know ~ no fun.  I just have never been a girl who goes out for drinks, or just needs a drink at the end of a hard day, or gets good and liquored up at weddings and typical drinking holidays {New Years Eve, St. Patrick's Day, Fourth of July}.  So many types of alcohol are an "acquired" taste, and I've never felt like forcing myself to keep trying something I don't like again and again until I like it {like beer, for example...blech}.  Plus, drinks are just empty calories, and truth be told I'd much rather get my empty calories in the form of dessert ~ which probably explains why one drink I do like is TGI Friday's Ultimate Mudslide.

Like I said, I'm not a person who needs a drink after a long day ~ which is a good thing, right?  But I have had a somewhat difficult week {which included quitting one of my jobs, and my soon-to-be-former boss takes everything personally and is very moody.  I'm there until the end of the month, and I have a feeling these next few weeks are going to go sloooowwwly and include their fair share of drama}.  So last night, I didn't necessary need a drink, but I wanted one.  And what I wanted was an Ultimate Mudslide from Friday's ~ but I didn't really want to go to Friday's.  Having all the necessary mudslide ingredients on hand, I decided to just make it at home ~ and it. was. yummy!  I used Edy's Slow-Churned ice cream, which has fewer calories and fat than regular ice cream {hey, save calories where you can, right?}, and my measurements are approximate ~ there was a lot of adding a bit of this, and a little more of that, until I was satisfied.  Also, I don't really like the taste of vodka, so I went light on that ~ tweak it to make it your own Ultimate Mudslide!

Homemade Ultimate Mudslide

Ingredients
Vanilla ice cream {1 cup}
Milk {1/3-1/2 cup}
Kahlua coffee liquor {1/4 cup}
Bailey's Irish Cream liquor {1/4 cup}
Vodka {2 Tbsp}
Ice cubes {I used 3}
Chocolate syrup
Whipped cream
Mini chocolate chips

Directions
In a blender or Magic Bullet, combine ice cream, milk, Kahlua, Bailey's, vodka and ice cubes.  Use a spoon to taste and add more liquor or milk as necessary to achieve the taste and consistency you want.  Squeeze chocolate syrup around the inside of a glass {I used a pint glass}, top with whipped cream, and sprinkle with chocolate chips if desired.  Serve with a straw.


As my good friend Glory would say ~ cheers, my dears!

xoxo
Bean

{photo credits: sixthseal.com; caloriecount.com; kahlua.com; liquor.com; dooyoo.co.uk; mygofer.com}

A Great Discount Shopping Site for the Whole Family

So by now we're all familiar with Groupon, right?  Groupon offers daily deals, via email and their website, and if a predetermined number of people want to buy the deal, they all get to purchase said deal at a fantastic price.  Do you use some of the other "daily deal" websites, though?  There are a ton of "invitation-only" sites that offer hugely discounted deals daily, like Groupon ~ but unlike Groupon, you aren't depending on a group of strangers to want to buy the same deal before you can purchase it too.  With these sites, if a deal is up, it's yours to purchase ~ and they offer anything from women's and men's clothing and accessories to travel packages around the world.  My favorite of these 'discount' sites is Rue La La.

Signing up for a Rue La La account is free, and once you sign up you have access to all their ever-changing deals and discounts.  Every deal has an expiration date {it's usually a few days}, and when you're signed in on the site you can preview what deals are on deck for the next few days {so you know when to sign back in and buy something fab, natch!}.  Rue La La sets up their deals in "boutiques" ~ for example, a Calvin Klein boutique or a Pottery Barn boutique {neither of which are listed right now ~ just an example}.  Instead of offering a particular style of pants, or a certain lamp or end table, for sale, there are a number of items in each boutique to choose from.  Their boutiques showcase big-name designers; as such, sometimes the deals are still a bit pricey.  A lot of times, though, they're absolute steals!  {Affordable Christmas shopping for the whole family, anyone?  I think yes!}

Want some examples of what Rue La La has to offer?  No problem!  Here we go...


Women
From top:  Gemma Grey Python silk top for $49.90 {reg $135}; Hype "Lyn" jade dot print silk blouse for $59.90 {reg $132}; Casadei heels {on left ~ Satin Peep-Toe Pump for $329.90, reg $850}

 Men
From top:  Briggs & Riley "Verb" expandable rolling case for $159.90 {reg $329}; Cullen Black wool-cashmere crewneck sweater for $69.90 {reg $175}; Peter Millar Alpine vest for $49.90 {reg $149.50}.

Living
From top: Canvas to Art custom sepia canvas for $49.90 - $119.90 {reg $74 - $205}; Company C "Fairfield" duvet and sham for $39.90 - $119.90 (reg $80 - $425}; Vera Wang "Love Knots" wine glass for $19.90 {reg $42.50}; Bartholomew Park Winery 3-bottle mixed set for $69.90 {reg $108}.

Travel
Miraval Arizona Resort & Spa 3-night or 7-night packages for one or two people for $1,799 - $8,949 {reg $2,785 - $12,230}

Kids
LittleMissMatched pink and purple mod trench for $39.90 {reg $72}; Pickles "Mac" 3-piece dinner set for $19.90 {reg $34.99}

Whew!  And those were just some of the deals available right this minute on Rue La La.  Remember, new deals pop up daily and they're only available for a limited time, so the merchandise may be completely different when you get a chance to look them up.  As you can see though, they have a wide range of products available, in a very wide price range. 

Interested in checking out Rue La La or signing up?  Click here!


Have fun browsing, girls!

xoxo
Bean

{photo credits:  all ruelala.com}

Spiked & Toasted Root Beer -- Grown-Ups Only!

Just happened across this recipe on Betty Crocker's site for Spiked and Toasted Root Beer cocktails.  I like a regular old-fashioned root beer, but I have to admit ~ I'm a bit intrigued!  {Note:  Betty Crocker attributes this recipe to Inspired Taste, but after a glance at their cocktails section I couldn't find it to directly link it here.  Always like to give credit though!}

What You Need

1 cup spiced rum {or gold or dark rum, if desired}

4 cups root beer,  chilled

12 -16 large marshmallows


First ~ In each of four glasses, pour 1/4 cup rum.  Fill each with cold root beer.

Next ~ Garnish top of each glass with marshmallows.  Using a kitchen torch, lightly toast tops of marshmallows.  {Don't have a kitchen torch?  Instead, carefully toast the marshmallows separately {not in the glass} under a broiler for about 1 minute.  Be sure to watch closely as they will toast quickly!}

Serve with straws.


Cheers!

xoxo
Bean