Neighborhood Happy Hour "How To"

My 2019 Goal is "Don't Waste". 

 2019 Goals - Blog Post 

It encompasses many things like money, time, and food. You get the picture. I love to hang out with my friends and have a good time. That can get expensive going out for drinks or dinner. So one way to cut down on the cost of going out for dinner and drinks is to have my own Happy Hour. 


Now that my kids are older I don't spend as much time running them to events or hanging out at school outings like I did when they were in elementary school. Part of my new journey is to simplify my life. One way is saying no to volunteering for events which used to fill my calendar. That means I don't see my neighborhood friends like I used to. 

I love to throw a party and hang out with friends to catch up. So I decided to remedy this by hosting my own Monthly Happy Hours this winter. Which also helps with my "Don't Waste" goal. 

Since going to bartenders school I have become fascinated with mixology. Having a monthly Happy Hour gives me the chance to try out new cocktails and shooters. My neighborhood friends are lucky (or unlucky) as they are my guinea pigs. 



Throwing a party doesn't have to be complicated nor expensive, especially if you host monthly Happy Hours which I hope you will join me this winter and throw your own Happy Hour Parties. 

Top 5 Steps

to Throwing at Home

Monthly Happy Hours

- Plan 2 featured cocktails and 1 or 2 shooters around your theme. 

Holiday Happy Hour Drinks 
Recipes Below 

Candy Cane Shooter
Nutcracker Shooter
North Pole Chill 
Jingle Jangle Punch
Cranberry Margarita
Sangria





- Invite your friends & neighbors ask them to bring appetizers and the booze (which you can use for the upcoming Happy Hours) You provide the mixers.

- The day of the party pre-make your drinks in pitchers, punch bowls, and shooter glasses. 

- I offered 5 small inexpensive gifts for a drawing for anyone who brought an appetizer. 






I am planning more Happy Hours this winter with a Beach Theme, Mexican Fiesta Theme, and a Millenial Martini Theme. 


Set up your own neighborhood Happy Hour! Share you pictures and add the hashtags

#happyhour

#NeighborhoodHappyHour

#WinterBlahsPrevention

Candy Cane Shooter
Rim shooter glass with crushed candy canes
Mix equal parts, shake with ice & strain 
Peppermint Schnapps
Kahlua
Baileys
Vodka

Nutcracker Shooter
Mix equal parts & shake with ice & strain
Peppermint Schnapps
Baileys
Hazelnut Liqueur 

North Pole Chill 
Mix equal parts, shake & strain over ice 
Rumchata
Hazelnut Liqueur
Peppermint Schnapps

Jingle Jangle Punch
Mix and stir well with ice
1.5 cups Raspberry Vodka
3/4 cup Grand Marnier or Triple Sec
1 cup Lemon Juice
1.5 cups simple syrup

Then with a shaker add 7 to 8 berries (raspberries, blue berries, blackberries) and some of the mixed liquid and shake vigorously and strain into a punch bowl. Do this until all the liquid is shaken.

Right before serving add more berries and 3/4 bottle of a sparkling dry wine

Cranberry Margarita

Mix in 1 1/4 c cranberry juice
1/2 cup frozen cranberries
3/4 cup lime juice
3/4 cup tequila
1/2 cup Grand Marnier or Triple Sec 

pour over ice

Last Minute Red Sangria

Muddle 3/4 sliced orange & lemon
Add 
1/2 cup Blackberry Brandy
1/2 cup Orange Juice
Muddle then add ice
Add 1 Bottle (750ml) bottle Pinot Noir
Add slice orange, lemon & apple chunks