Maybe you’ve noticed this old blog has a new look! It’s only been a year in the making…a dear friend of mine, Abbey Bentley, did the design for me over a year ago, but it’s taken that long for Sean and I to get it implemented on this site. Between his full time job, growing and preparing for a baby, and moving across the country, it just kind of fell to the wayside.
But, now it’s finally up and running and I am super excited! The illustrations are by the talented Kate Worum and were inspired by images from photographs I took from archived blog posts…which makes them feel even that much more special. Definitely click around, check it out, and please let me know if you run into any glitches and we will get them remedied ASAP.
Anyway, I am super excited that Hungry Girl por Vida has a fresh, new look and what better way to celebrate than a cocktail?!
Obviously, I am not partaking in cocktails for at least another month or so, but that doesn’t mean I’m not concocting them in my brain. I made this bourbon smash for Sean this weekend since he’s such a great dude by helping me keep this blog running, whilst working his full time job, and for making me laugh on pretty much a daily basis even when I’m super grouchy, uncomfortable, and can’t reach my feet anymore. Basically, I’m a lucky gal.
This cocktail includes ripe strawberries, lots of fresh mint (my fave!), a bit of St. Germaine, bourbon (duh), a few dashes of bitters, a teensy bit of sugar, and some soda water to make it bubbly. It’s refreshing, a little sweet, a bit floral, and perfect for any celebration–including the upcoming 4th of July here in the USA.
So, CHEERS! to celebrations of all sorts, good dudes, talented ladies, amazing readers (YOU!), and fancy new blog designs!
Strawberry Mint Bourbon Smash
Makes 1 cocktail.
For pregnant people (like myself), those that don’t drink, or aren’t of age, you can easily make this into a refreshing soda by ditching the booze and adding 1/2 extra teaspoon of sugar to the mix. If you want the floral-citrus notes of elder flower that St. Germaine lends to the cocktail in your non-alcoholic version of this drink, you can use elder flower syrup (which can totally be found at Ikea!).
2 ripe strawberries, cut into pieces
4-5 fresh mint leaves
1/2 teaspoon sugar
a few dashes of aromatic bitters
1/2 ounce of St. Germaine
1 ounce bourbon
ice
soda water
In a cocktail glass, muddle the strawberries, mint, sugar, and bitters together until the berries and mint are well smashed and fragrant. Add the St. Germaine and bourbon, followed by lots of ice and top it all off with soda water. Give it a stir and drink up!
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Rachel
Oh my goodness! The redesign and especially the header are fanTASTIC. Your previous design was cool by me, but this is out of this world wonderful. Thank you for gracing the internet with this space.
Maggie @ A Bitchin' Kitchen
Looooove your new design! It’s so pretty and unique. This cocktail sounds amazing – anytime I see a drink with St. Germain on a cocktail menu I immediately order it!
cindy
thanks, Maggie!! It was inspired by a bourbon-st.germaine drink my husband recently ordered.
Tieghan
I love, love, love the new site! It’s so cute! The designs are so unique, fun and so you!!
Also, this drink. Yes, love that too!
cindy
Thank you, Tieghan!
Adrian @ The Food Gays
What a pretty looking cocktail! Loving the look of the new theme too – congrats on the switch!
cindy
Thank you, Adrian!!
Annie @ Annie's City Kitchen
I LOVE the new design!! It’s so adorable. There’s a beauty blogger I follow (Essiebutton) who has a similar design. Very sketchy and cute. It’s perfect!
cindy
Thank you, Annie! Essiebuttons blog is so cute1
Nicole
Yay Cindy and Sean! It looks so great! I love the nail polish brush at the end of vida, so you 🙂 This cocktail is so beautiful and looks ready for its close-up in a magazine, for real. Happy 4th!
cindy
Thanks, Nicole! I hope you and Mark have the best 4th!
Sara @ Cake Over Steak
This sounds awesome! Good luck with the little baby in your tummy, and I hope you can enjoy one of these (with alcohol) very soon. 🙂
cindy
Thank you, Sara!! Soon!
Erika
CINDY!!! I love these design so much!! and the nail polish.. hello..adorbs…
St. Germaine and Bourbon.. “Let the church say Amen”
cindy
AMEN!
Adrianna
AHH! So cute! I love the new design. So fresh and clean and cute. And this cocktail! YES!
cindy
Thanks, Adrianna!!!
Averie @ Averie Cooks
What a gorgeous drink! Pinned! And I’d love a couple right now 🙂
cindy
Awesome!
Amy | Club Narwhal
Cindy, the new design is GORGEOUS! I love the illustrations. You and Sean are such an amazing team 🙂 Definitely worth cheers-ing to with this tasty drink!
cindy
Thanks, Amy! The illustrations are my fave 🙂
Rachael | Spache the Spatula.com
Whoah! Totally LOVE the redesign! It’s so fun and colorful!
Also, this cocktail looks FAB! Totally my kinda drink 😉
cindy
Thanks, Rachael!
Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar
Eeeeee!!!! I love the new design!!! So much, actually. It adds so much of your personality to the actual look of the site (hope that’s not too creepy)….ANYWAY! This smash is one fantastic looking drink. I’ll take two!
cindy
Not creepy at all! Thanks, Katrina!
dana
LOVE this recipe, and LOVE the new look!!
cindy
Thanks, Dana!!
stephanie
LOVE the new design Cindy!! and that bourbon smash…it’s smashing 😛
i love crushed ice 🙂
cindy
Thank you, Stephanie! Crushed ice is my fave.
Leah Davis
wow – this sounds like a delicious combo!! Love strawberry and mint with the sweetness of bourbon. Pinning this for sure! Congrats on the new look!! 🙂
cindy
Thanks, Leah!
Danguole
The blog is looking FLY, Cindy! And I think Sean is plenty lucky too–I mean, look at that drank right there!
cindy
Oh, he’s definitely a lucky guy 😉
Sarah | The Sugar Hit
HOLY EFFING ESS, your new design is amazing! I LOVE IT. I want it for my own. Those illustrations? Killer. So killer.
cindy
THANK YOU!!!!!
Eileen
I love the new design! And also this cocktail 🙂 So refreshing on a hot day.
cindy
Thanks, Eileen!
DessertForTwo
Cheers back to you and Sean! The site looks awesome, as does this drink. Bourbon is kinda my favorite thing ever 🙂
cindy
I mean, it’s really the best. Thanks, Christina!
ana @fit, fun & delish!
LOVE LOVE LOVE your new blog! Very clean layout and I’m glad you kept your vibrant happy colors! Congrats!
cindy
Thank you, Ana!!
Elizabeth @ SugarHero.com
Cindy, your site looks awesome! The header is so fun and it’s so clean and gorgeous! I have been “working” on my redesign for the last 6 months, and dang, is it a lot of work. I hate everything about the process, but the end result is always so worth it. Congrats and nicely done!
cindy
Thank you, Elizabeth! It really does take a lot of work, I’m so glad I had so much help!
Bri | Bites of Bri
I love the look of the new site! And, I love these cocktails. I’m such a sucker for anything with St. Germain!
cindy
Thanks, Bri! St. Germaine is the best!
Amanda - A Cookie Named Desire
I LOVE this new look! And this cocktail is so delicious looking, I can’t stand it!
Erika
Oh my gosh YES LOVE YOUR NEW LOOK!! I loved your old site, but this new header is ADORABLE. And this drank? Need.
cindy
Thank you, Erika!!
ashley - baker by nature
The new site!!!! Gah. I am in love!!! And this smash is just dreamy.
ami@naivecookcooks
I need this drink for weekend!!
thenik
1. Your site looks so great. Yay! 2. I need to make this drink over the long weekend. Only maybe with 2 ounces of bourbon. Heh. 😉
cindy
Thank you! You could definitely make it a double 🙂
Lyndsay // Coco Cake Land
the blog looks fantastic! so bright and fun, love the header! i don’t drink much but DANG it these photos make me want to slam (or sip??) one of those refreshing looking smashes! xo
cindy
Thank you, Lyndsay! I don’t drink that often either, but when I do I like to make it count 🙂
Becky Winkler
Wow, I love your new blog design! The header is gorgeous, I love all the colors, and once you start scrolling down, the clean layout really makes your photos pop.
I have been making a blackberry smash frequently over the past couple of months and JUST finished making a batch of blackberry syrup for tomorrow, but wish I had seen this first! It sounds delicious, and believe it or not, I don’t think I’ve ever tried St. Germain.
cindy
Thank you! I really wanted to maintain a bright/colorful header, but still have a pretty clean layout otherwise. Blackberry smashes are equally delicious!
Mariana @The Candid Kitchen
I love your new look! I am a big fan of illustration and your header looks awesome.
Liz @ Floating Kitchen
Site looks FAB! Love the header. And I need one of these cocktails NOW!
Todd
Such an awesome header. LOVE IT!! If it makes you feel any better, I’ve never been able to touch my feet :p
cindy
Haha! Thanks, Todd…that does make me feel better!
acefire_23@yahoo.com
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Stephanie
The site looks beautiful! I really need to get around to updating mine, but it’s such a big scary decision!
Love the photos of this drink, stunning set
cindy
It’s definitely scary! But totally worth it! Good luck, Stephanie 🙂
Kate @¡Hola! Jalapeño
The site is drop dead gorgeous—you deserve a pretty cocktail!
Elizabeth
This drink looks great! I love anything with st. Germaine and/or mint! Also love those glasses! Looking for some diamond cut lowball glasses, mind sharing where they are from??
cindy
the glasses are from ikea.
Megin
Yum ~ this is Lovely, Cindy! I found you on Pinterest today (pinned).
I’m hosting a Series in June “30 Days of Summer” and I ‘d love to include you!
To participate, please email me your post (with an introduction and link back to your site) at vmg206 at gmail.
~ Megin of VMG206
cindy
Hi Megin,
Thanks! Unfortunately, I won’t have my computer for the ne t week (it’s in for repairs).
Eden Passante
Wow! What a gorgeous cocktail! Love the combination of strawberry and mint too!