So as I’m writing this, it is a weekend evening and I’m seriously considering going to bed at 8:45 p.m.! College me would be horrified. 🙂 29-year-old me, however, is pretty cool with it. Tonight we are chilling at home. Dave’s playing some video games, I’m blogging and reading a book. I think we’ll probably get to an episode or two of Silicon Valley before the night is out! If I don’t fall alseep, that is 🙂

The reason I’m so tired is because this time of year is SO festive, there’s something fun to go to every night! We’ve had a very busy week. We have barely had any dinners at home. I’m starting to feel it, but we are still more than a week from Christmas!

Here’s something I’ve learned: From hosting your own party, to bringing something to share at someone else’s, you’re going to need to have a couple of good cocktail recipes in your back pocket.

Even if there’s not anything official going on – for example, today I spent a couple hours with my girl Bee making soy candles for holiday gifts – you probably want to have a little something to sip So that’s what I’ve got for you today – a couple recipes you can bust out anytime. Just make sure you have some IZZE in the fridge. 🙂

As my regular readers will know, I’ve been working with IZZE on all kinds of fun projects over the course of 2015. I *love* enjoying a sparkling beverage that skips all of the terrible ingredients that accompany many sodas. And I love flavoring my drinks with fruit! Having a great quality sparkling juice on hand makes that easy.

Here’s two ways I suggest using IZZE sparkling juice in your cocktails this holiday season:

IZZE Cherry Lime Bourbon Smash
1.5 oz. Bourbon
1/2 lime, cut into wedges
2 dashes Angostura bitters
IZZE Cherry Lime juice
Lime wedge for garnish

In a rocks glass, muddle the 1/2 lime. Top with ice, bourbon and angostura. Finally, fill the rest of the glass with IZZE cherry lime juice and garnish with a lime wedge.

IZZE Grapefruit Smoky Paloma*
*Note: If you want the cocktail to NOT be smoky, simply use tequila instead of mezcal.

1 oz. mezcal
1/2 lime, cut into wedges
1/2 oz. maraschino liqueur, such as Luxardo or Maraska
IZZE grapefruit sparking juice
cocktail cherry for garnish

In a rocks glass, muddle the 1/2 lime. Top with the ice, mezcal and maraschino liqueur. Finish with IZZE grapefruit sparkling juice and garnish with a cocktail cherry (or two! If you are like me and love to eat them like candy 🙂 ).

Oh yeah, and the disclaimer! This post is sponsored by IZZE. However, all creative work is mine and so are my opinions. I wouldn’t accept a sponsored post from a brand I don’t actually use in my home.