Mango Key Lime Heaven

Today my sweet husband brought home a Mango Key Lime Pie. Run to Publix grocery store or whoever may have them near you, immediately for your own. Or make one if you must. You will thank me. I love Key Lime pie, I'm human, and I love mango. This was the first time I enjoyed this perfect combination of the two. Mango Key Lime pie-- run, don't walk.

Earlier I had been enjoying making pesto with my going crazy basil plant, but forgot all about that when this Mango Key Lime Pie became part of the afternoon.

Then I remembered my sisters and mom recently had Key Lime Margaritas, so I looked up a recipe for those to share. Why not make a mango version if you are a creative mixologist?

Key Lime Margaritas: Epicurious says 4 drinks, a reviewer says "let's be serious, it's 2."

• 1 Key lime (optional), quartered
• Kosher salt (optional) for rims of glasses
• 3/4 cup Cointreau or other orange-flavored liqueur
• 1/2 cup reposado tequila
• 1/2 cup fresh Key lime juice
• 2 teaspoons superfine granulated sugar (optional)
• graham crackers, crushed (optional but I think not)
  

Run a lime wedge (if using) around rim of each of 4 (6-to 8-ounces) glasses. Put salt (if using) on a small plate and dip glasses in salt to lightly coat rims. Otherwise, coat the rims in graham cracker crumbs.

Blend liqueur, tequila, juice, and sugar (if using) in a blender until combined.

Serve over ice (in coated glasses).

Music recommendations: Marley and Buffet

Happy Sunday, the last one of August--- enjoy it! Savor all the bliss.

Hope you've avoided Irene, and if not,
drink extra margaritas.

xo xo,
Danielle

Create Your Journey: Enjoying the Moments

Excerpts from our Book Giveaway Contest Writer:

"Being a match to your desires means moving your vibration, gradually, higher and higher, by thinking better thoughts, spending your time in more joyful ways, making peace with where you are and being grateful for what you have right now. In “How to Allow,” I call the place where we’re shooting for the Field of Appreciation. The emotion of Appreciation is equivalent to the feeling of pure love. It’s the highest vibration that exists. When you think about someone or something you really love, there is just nothing quite like it. And, if we could all stay focused on that quality of thought most of the time we would indeed be attracting everything we want into our lives...

I’d like to suggest that ramping up to a full-fledged feeling of Appreciation is where we’d ultimately like to be. Reaching a state of Appreciation is taking yourself up to that level where you feel a tingle of delight and pleasure and something very close to pure love, which is Who We Really Are.

So, everything in “How to Allow” is designed to take you through the emotional journey to where it becomes easier and easier to enter that field of pure Appreciation for: what you have, where you are, what will be and even what brought you here. That’s where miracles happen, where time collapses leading to a change in consciousness, which creates something better than what could have been from your lower vibration."

--by author of How to Allow, Susan Shearer Young, via here
Enter to win the book here. Contest ends Monday....

pic sources

Love in the Library: Savoring Summer Days...

Do you have a hard-wired urge for summer reading? I have an internal clock that sounds invariably within these months; the summer is not complete without at least one leisurely lingering in a beautiful library.

Have you heard Jimmy Buffet's gentle song, "Love in the Library"? An unusual one in his repertoire...love it all, of course--but it's a very sweet song if you haven't heard it yet. We've been enjoying his album, Fruitcakes, this summer.

The book at the top of the stack is The Swimming Pool, I began it and have almost finished... a beautiful first novel (2010) from Holly LeCraw. I'm trying to slow down the reading... just like the summer.

One book I picked that didn't make it into the top pic (because it was by the bed, already being perused) is Cowboys are My Weakness, by Pam Houston. I like her writing... looking forward to that one.

Have not read Wolitzer yet, but thanks to other bloggers who've recommended her I am excited to read her work.

Right now, as in, right now at this moment, Mr. Wonderful is reading Tourist Season by Hiaasen; I enjoyed that one a while back-- so glad he's doing some pleasure reading too!

Any "must reads" to pass on? Thanks! Enjoy your blissful reads.

One of my "must reads" is our current (and first) giveaway: How To Allow.... enter for your chance to win a copy here (2 winners!).

xo xo,
Miss Bliss

From Jimmy:

"And it seemed like the whole world was in forced retreat
I paid no attention, revolved through the door
Passed the newspaper rack on the worn marble floor
Near civil war history my heart skipped a beat
She was standing in fiction stretched high on bare feet

Love in the library, quiet and cool
Love in the library, there are no rules
Surrounded by stories surreal and sublime
I fell in love in the library once upon a time

I was the pirate and she was the queen
Sir Francis and Elizabeth the best there's ever been
Then she strolled past my table and stopped at the stairs
Then sent me a smile as she reached for Flaubert..."

Summer Treats: Savor the Bliss

1. via here

2. via here

3. via here

Are you craving a cold treat?

The Miami August heat explains why I'm finding
snowmen appealing,
...snowmen made of ice cream, chocolate,
and Oreo top hats!


Of course we are all creative so we can modify to our hearts' delights.

Summer will melt away as quick as Frosty...


Had to share the Nutella brownies
for all those Nutella fans out there...

What's your blissful treat this summer?

1.) "Snowmen Shooters"

2.) "Snowmen Cake pops"

3.) Peanut-butter frosted Nutella Brownies
(thanks for this find, Holly at For the Love of Life!)

xo xo,
Miss Bliss

Don't forget to enter for your chance to win my favorite new book... here.

Summering in Miami and the Keys

All pics by Miss Bliss. Have a blissful day :)

Best Avocado Recipe ever!

While summer's bounty is so lovely and fresh, try this recipe and enjoy! It's fabulous with blue corn tortilla chips, like Garden of Eatin'. :)

Well, Hello There! Summer update

I've missed you! Mr. Wonderful took me on a little road trip, one that involved bubbling in-room jacuzzis, and a visit to Greenville, SC, for the first time to visit family who just moved there.

The time since I last blogged has included:

1.) hosting a niece, nephew, and friend sleepover, (in our tiny beach apartment!)...it was their FIRST slumber party. They rocked out.

2.) floating in the ocean and getting more than my fair share of sun

3.) visiting family and hanging out on the back porch in South Carolina

4.) shopping at outlets along I-95

5.) losing one of our kitties :( it was Mr. Wonderful's "baby"... only 3 1/2. He spent several nights at the vet and was diagnosed with kidney problems and wasn't going to get better.

6.) having some serious drinks after that happened...

7.) then taking the road trip, which I thought was good to get our minds off what just happened instead of being in the newly changed house...

8.) seeing my step-dad fight neuropathy, and my mom taking amazing care of him...

9.) seeing my hubby and parents have the best visit ever since it was just the four of us for the first time since we got married... every other visit has been a major life event not really allowing a quality time kind of visit...

10.) riding along I-95 and listening to Mr. Wonderful sing along with the radio to songs such as "Come From a Long Line of Lovers..."

and I will leave you with those lyrics:

I bought a beautiful diamond ring I offered it to the sweetest thing I know
And she said she would take it
We started making some wedding plans she looked at me and she took my hand
And said are you sure we can make it
I said my grand dad's still in love with my grandma
I said my dad still thinks my moms the sweetest thing he ever saw

I come from a long line of love
When the times get hard we don't give up
Forever is in my heart and in me blood

You see I come from a long line of love

Years went by and we had a son now he thinks he found someone for him
And they're planning a wedding
He called me up on the phone today just to see what I had to say to him
Did I think he was ready?
I said what his grandfather used to say to me
Its been handed down for ages it runs in our family

You come from a long line of love
When the times get hard we don't give up

Forever is in your heart and in your blood
Son you come from a long line of love
We come from a long line of love

Happy Hour Bliss: Cocktail Picks

Watermelon Martini:

lime wedge squeeze
4 watermelon chunks
1 and a half measure of vodka
half measure of passion fruit liqueur
dash of cranberry juice
watermelon for garnish

shake over ice and pour into chilled glass
From 501 must taste cocktails

Duke: 2-3 mint leaves
2 oz gin
1/4 oz. lime juice
splash of agave syrup
top with Prosecco

shake over ice cubes and pour into martini glass

Sugar Hill:
1 1/2 oz. of Brazilian Rum
1/2 oz. of cointreau
1/2 oz. of apricot brandy
a splash of sugar syrup
1/4 oz. of lime juice

shake over ice cubes and pour into martini glass

source: Mojo NYC 185 ST. Nicholas Ave.

Patron Pomegranate (or Pineapple):
1 oz. Patron Silver
1/4 oz. Patron Citronge
Fresh Pomegranate Juice (or Pineapple Juice)
Lime squeeze

Pour Patrons over ice. Fill with juice and finish with lime squeeze.


Please Share your own tried and true Favorite!!! I need ideas... thanks... Miss Bliss

So you make my heart dance

Are you watching this show with the other millions of viewers?

I am really excited to watch the 100th episode tonight. Ellen has been cracking me up on the judge's panel: "I can do that, too..." she tells the dancers...(just like I can do what they are doing, too, ;)

These dancers are so amazing to see when they go further than they realized they could! Magical! I am just a little bit excited that 3 of them are from South Florida!!!

Who makes your own heart dance? The energy... the joy... the inspiration...the strength...They are all amazing!!! (click for top 8 pictures!)

Have you seen the amazing pictures taken in this SYTYCD slideshow? So behind the scenes from the Black-Eyed Peas performance recently! Beautiful still shots....

Summer Lovin'

"The world is so full of a number of things,

I'm sure we should all be as happy as kings."

---Robert Louis Stevenson

_

What are the "number of things" that make you as "happy as a king"?

As you can see, today I am enjoying:

anticipation,

care,

fully being-in-the-moment,

and

joy

_

in the split second right before a big watery splash!!!

Shhh!!! My secret swimming oasis...

This is where I swim from time to time, I'll show you more...

One of the many reasons I live in Miami!
Isn't the purple fabulous?
Orchids creep along this pool...
You can climb the waterfalls...
Nap in the shade....

This pool even has a beach...
One of my favorite spots in town!

Have a little lunch...
Mediterranean architecture waits for you...
Ready to get down here?
Just pack your suit; see you there... can you believe I moved to this town not knowing the first thing about it? Just came for school and wanted to be near the beach... little did I know, one delight after another was waiting! This pool is fresh spring water in a coral/ limestone quarry--lots of tourists stop to photograph, but you *really* need to spend the day.

Fresh Blues for your closet...

This last beauty is from Banana Republic; the others are Bluefly: Voom by Joy Han, Design History, BB Dakota, and Single.

I love all things soft, blue, and beautiful! Oceans and clothing can be both...I insist... :)

Where is your favorite place to find deals on great fashion?