Posts Tagged ‘Polka Dot Bride’

In the spirit and the wake of what some believe to be that hallowed Hallmark holiday, Valentines Day, I am heartened that some people, particularly, Polka Dot Bride, gets the true meaning of V-day, Charlie Brown. Valentine’s Day is for every day, not just that box of chocolates that you and your derriere can do without. It’s the tiny acts of kindness and understanding that matter, not pandering to the altar of consumerism. In the theater of love and romance, Ms. Polka Dot sets us straight. Lights please!

Carolyn Gerin

Valentine's Day is for every day says Ms. Polka Dot.

Love is supposed to provide a haven from the stresses of life, the real or imagined sleights, the difficult day.

How do we best show another person that we love them deeply and sincerely without thought as to what we might get out of it ourselves? Is it in the ‘grand gesture’ – the $200 bunch of red roses on Valentine’s Day, or the perfect diamond bracelet?

Or is it in the little things – the foot rub while watching TV, the load of washing that is done, hung out and put away without asking, or the surprise ‘picnic’ on the lounge room floor after the kids have been put to bed?

We all have our own ‘love’ styles. Some express their love for another by being bold and ebullient in their ‘love’ gestures, some are reserved and only show love in private moments, and some – well – you have to search high and low and suddenly when you least expect it – a loving touch or a look!

I once overheard a conversation where a woman stated that her husband was always buying her things – whatever she asked for and some she didn’t.  At first I thought – wow – that would be nice! Then I started thinking about it. Love for me is not to be ‘bought’. It is in the compliments given only occasionally, but when they are given, they are heartfelt and sincere. It is in the non – judgemental ear and a shoulder to cry on.  The look that passes between you, the unexpected touch of the hand – yes, the really simple things. Yet it is these things that are often so hard to give, as we get caught up in our own inner lives.

Sometimes to add sparkle to your relationship, step outside your comfort zone and do something you would not normally do for the person you love. Not necessarily the diamond bracelet (but that would be REALLY nice!), but a warm and heartfelt gesture that is worth a thousand diamond bracelets.

About Polka Dot Bride

Polka Dot Bride is Australia’s premier wedding blog and is read by thousands of brides worldwide. Polka Dot Bride is ranked within the top 20 Australian Women Bloggers and #53 out of the Top 100 Australian Bloggers as of June 2009. Polka Dot Bride has a passion to provide information on the latest trends in weddings, and inspirational and creative ideas for the Australian bride.
Ms Polka Dot’s aim is to create a fun, informative, and stylish blog that is engaged with, and inclusive of, its readers. She writes a daily feature on the blog that includes new ideas, real weddings, fabulous finds and the beautiful and the inspirational. Polka Dot Bride readers are stylish and savvy; they want to make their wedding stand out from the crowd. Ms. Polka Dot’s aim is to inspire brides and grooms to create the wedding of their dreams.

Say I Do to the Pegu

The day before Christmas while reveling in the sparkle of Christmas lights and the anticipation of good times to come, I shared our love of Christmas cocktails with Carolyn.

Christmas in Australia is somewhat of a mish-mashed affair. With many cultures living here, there is everything from a traditional turkey feast, to a buffet of fresh seafood. There is plum pudding, but it’s often a travesty to not have a meringue pavlova with fresh passion fruit drizzled over it.

I suppose in some ways it is very much the same with all of our entertaining – we love traditional touches but we embrace the weather, the produce and the deliciousness of our own melded culture.

Are signature cocktails passe? Not in Australia. Here we’re still embracing the love of a good drink and for us, there‘s no better excuse to toast than Christmas, New Year or even a wedding. So in the spirit of sharing, here are a few of our favourite cocktail recipes that are perfect for summer.

Lychee Caprioska

1 shot of vodka

1 shot of lychee liqueur

1 shot of cranberry juice

2 lychees

1 lime

sugar syrup and lychee juice to taste.

Lychees are easiest from the can, especially at Christmas time, plus the oozy sweet juice makes an otherwise strong cocktail a little easier for the oldies to handle. We always have lemons but limes are a little harder to come by, so a dash of lemon is used. As we want quick drinks fast, we make this in a jug, putting all the ingredients in, muddling with a rolling pin and using a shot glass for measurements. Eager we are, accurate we’re not. Taste test before serving over ice!

Original recipe from RecipeZaar http://www.recipezaar.com/Lychee-Caprioska-244201

Lychee Mule

6 large lychees

2 limes cut into wedges

Handful of fresh mint sprigs

1 cup vodka

1 litre chilled ginger beer

We love to make jugs of cocktails in our household, it’s easy and a great way to have everyone help themselves. This recipe is great for taking to the beach (as they recommend) with the ingredients muddled and thrown into a sealable container and adding ginger beer at the last minute (use a good ginger beer, we use Australian Bundaberg ginger beer because it actually tastes like ginger).  Again we use canned lychees and make use of the juice!

Originally from Real Living Magazine January 2010

Pomegrante Caprioska

½ lime cut into wedges

50ml, vodka

30 ml Pomegranate Juice

1sp sugar or sugar syrup

Place two wedges of lime in a cocktail shaker with vodka, pomegranate juice and sugar on top. Muddle the ingredients together and then add plenty of ice and shake well. Strain into a lowball glass filled with crushed ice. Garnish with the remaining two lime wedges.

Pomegranate is traditionally cold weather fruit. But like most Australian Christmas traditions, we don’t seem to care! Pomegranate juice has a brilliant tart flavour, which cuts through the strength of the vodka.

Our approach to Christmas cocktails is relaxed- we add a little bit here and add as little bit there because if it’s paired with fine cheese, amazing food and good company, it’s simply a case of toasting to moments to come.

Originally from Gourmet Traveller December 2007

About Polka Dot Bride

Polka Dot Bride is Australia’s premier wedding blog and is read by thousands of brides worldwide. Polka Dot Bride is ranked within the top 20 Australian Women Bloggers and #53 out of the Top 100 Australian Bloggers as of June 2009. Polka Dot Bride has a passion to provide information on the latest trends in weddings, and inspirational and creative ideas for the Australian bride.
Ms Polka Dot’s aim is to create a fun, informative, and stylish blog that is engaged with, and inclusive of, its readers. She writes a daily feature on the blog that includes new ideas, real weddings, fabulous finds and the beautiful and the inspirational. Polka Dot Bride readers are stylish and savvy; they want to make their wedding stand out from the crowd. Ms. Polka Dot’s aim is to inspire brides and grooms to create the wedding of their dreams.

Photo by Barbloke: Stuart Webster