Meet My Fancy New Laptop / It's Cocktail Time!

Okay, to you it all looks the same, but to me, I feel like I have finally stepped into the modern age.  It was actually quite funny.  The day after I purchased my laptop, my neighbour, came back from the store all beaming.  She proudly announced, "I just bought my first laptop!".  I told her that I had just bought my first too.  I also suggested we start a club ;)

This week has been good so far.  I decided that I wanted to drink a fancy cocktail for Oscar night.  No beer or wine for this little lady.  I mentioned my plan to my mom while we were out having lunch and said that I would love to try a Cosmopolitan or something similar.  Sure enough when we arrived back at her house, she poured me one.  Going to my parent's house is like going to Southfork in the 70's & 80's; I'm just waiting for JR Ewing to come in and pour himself a drink.  They have a crazy full bar.  I have nothing....one day I will tell my story of my shenanigans of wanting to make a Long Island Ice Tea in the summer, until I realised that it would cost me $100 in alcohol to get all of the ingredients!  Not so at my mom's house.  She. Has. Everything....and then some.

Instead of mixing a drink, she had a bottle of pre-mixed Cosmos made by Smirnoff.

I have to admit it was quite tasty.  Apparently, we had bought her the bottle a couple of years ago for Christmas, though both hubby and I cannot remember doing so.  

You see in theory, having a nice cocktail is lovely, but when you're starting from scratch, there are a few things you definitely need to get.  First stop, Stokes, where I picked up two nice martini glasses.  I looked at the cocktail shaker, but wasn't yet sure if I wanted to buy the pre-made drink or if I wanted to simply buy the ingredients and make my own drink.

Second I went to the liquor store.  Nothing like looking like what you don't know what you're doing there.  A very nice worker did her very best to help.  She must have noticed the look of confusion on my face.  Unfortunately, no matter how many times I said that I wanted Cosmopolitans, she would try to sell me margaritas or strawberry daiquiris.  Bless her heart.

I was almost up to the cash with the pre-mixed stuff, when much to my hubby's confusion, I decided that I wanted to mix them myself.  So, I bought some Smirnoff Citrus Vodka (I feel like I'm endorsing Smirnoff in this post) and a bottle of Cointreau.

When I got home, I washed my new glasses and put them in the freezer to chill, and made sure that I had ice cubes made (you would be surprised at how many times the ice cube tray gets put back in the freezer empty or with only one cube).  I researched Cosmo recipes and decided this one http://www.cointreau.com/cocktails/creative-cocktails/cosmopolitan-261.html. Unfortunately, I didn't have the lime juice, so I sent out my husband for some when he was going to the gym.  He took WAY too long, so I mixed my first one without the lime juice.  I'm a wimp and found it too alcohol-y, so I added a splash more cranberry juice and then it was perfect.  I also noticed that their conversion from oz. to mL is wrong.  20mL is not 1 ounce - 30mL is!

It was so yummy.  I painted my nails while sipping my cocktail, then felt weird drinking alone, so I waited for Mr. Slowpoke to return home.  Now, I cannot blame him at all because I just sent him out for lime juice, as the recipe said, but when I made it with the lime juice he bought, it just didn't taste right.  I did my research and discovered that it apparently had to be Rose's Lime Juice, which is actually a sweetened lime cordial.

The next day, I went out and bought my cocktail shaker, which came as a set with a double jigger and strainer.  I looked for Rose's Lime Juice to no avail. Then, on Sunday, I found some while I was grocery shopping.  I was giddy that I had found it!

I spent the afternoon preparing hors d'oeuvres for Oscar night. Hors d'oeuvres that were never actually eaten because everyone was still full from the supper I had made!  So, the kiddies and I had some for an after school snack yesterday!  I swear next year I am having an Oscar party!  Kiki and I dressed up (not ball gown dressed up, but dressy for a Sunday night of tv watching) and I did my hair and make-up.  Then I spent my night tweeting and sipping my cocktails while my husband slept on and off.  Did I mention I am having an Oscar party next year??!!??

I find that this is a pattern in my life.  I put so much prep work into events that only include my family, which in this case consisted of a half-asleep husband and children that had to go to bed at 8:30, so it was pretty much just Kiki and myself.  Guess I need to get more social.  I'm vowing to entertain more once the basement finally gets finished.  Then, all of the children's toys and stuff can be out of my living room and dining room!  Of course, it costs money to entertain, so that could be a problem too.  Still, I really would like to do it.  I love having parties, even if it brings out my OCD tendencies to do so!