Sir Alistair Rai

Warm Days, Chilled Coffee. Yum!

Sir A — Thu, 17 May 2012 15:24:44 +0000

Our creative director has a long standing love affair with iced coffee. She is what we affectionately call a full blown iced-coffee-a-holic. To be fair, it’s not her fault; her mama makes some of the best iced coffee we’ve tasted. EVER.

Image courtesy of implusemagazine.com

Since that recipe is a closely guarded family secret, though, we’ve had to resort to looking elsewhere for the ultimate recipe. And thankfully, we found Dana…and her iced coffee step-by-step.

Behold…

The Bomb-Diggity Iced Coffee Drink You’ll Be Sipping All Summer!

(recipe courtesy of The Homesteading Housewife)

Step 1:

Iced Coffee Concentrate.

Ingredients-

1 gallon water (I buy a gallon of drinking water)
1 lb bag of your favorite rich coffee (course ground if ya can get it)
Coffee filters or several layers of cheesecloth
a fine mesh strainer.
a large bowl
pitcher (big enough to hold a gallon)

Directions-

Pour gallon of water into your large bowl.
Dump the entire bag of coffee into the water/bowl.
Stir to make sure all grounds are saturated with water.
Walk away, for 12 hours or overnight.
line a mesh strainer with a coffee filter or several layers of cheese-cloth, set the strainer on top of your pitcher.
Pour (or ladle) your coffee mixture into the strainer. (this part takes awhile… I often had to walk away while it filtered into the pitcher) If using coffee filters, you might have to replace them several times during the filtering process.
Once all the coffee concentrate has been filtered, stick it in the fridge (it will last for a month!)

Step 2:

Sweet Cream

Ingredients-

1 qty. of 12oz can of evaporated milk
1 qty. of 14oz can of sweetened condensed milk

Step 3:

Put in a clear pint glass over ice. Insert brightly colored straw. Sip…

And ahhhhhhhhh.

Quote of the Day: You need not sell your soul to buy bliss…

Sir A — Wed, 16 May 2012 14:19:29 +0000

Dear Mama, It’s Me…Moe

Sir A — Mon, 14 May 2012 11:14:36 +0000

Hi, Mama.

It’s me, Moe. I didn’t tell you this yesterday when we took a ride in the sunshine, and I forgot to tell you last night when you were scratching my belly. To be fair, when you scratch my belly, I pretty much forget my own name…

But back to the point. I know yesterday was Mother’s Day, and although I didn’t tell you this yesterday, I’m really happy we got some QT with each other. It’s not that I don’t enjoy coming to work with you and staring down your VP of Production, because I do. And it’s not that I don’t love my time with my brother, because let’s face it…he’s insane (in a good way). I just like when you’re around, and we drive, and everyone stops you and tells you how handsome I am.

I like when we come home and you read your books and I stare at you until I fall asleep. And I love when I wake up in the morning and you’re starting at me, telling me how handsome I am. (In case you haven’t noticed, I never get tired of hearing that.)

I hope you had a happy Mother’s Day, Mama. I know I did.

Love,

Moe

For our Mamas…

Sir A — Sat, 12 May 2012 13:24:14 +0000

Thanks, Mom…

…for kissing me goodnight, and making sure I brushed my teeth before heading out in the morning. For snuggling with me just because. For cheering me on. For hanging my artwork on the refrigerator. For bandaging my scrapes, for braiding my hair. For loving me even through my teenage years. For telling me I could, for reminding me when I shouldn’t. For teaching me kindness, and instilling in me good manners. For making me laugh, and for wiping my tears. For showing me that strength is sometimes quiet, and grace is a process. For your daily iced coffee with a post-it note of wisdom. For sending me care packages even as an adult. For the unconditional, for the no-holds-barred. For always showing up, even when no one else did.

Happy Mother’s Day, Mom.

xo,

Sir A

This is our stand.

Sir A — Thu, 10 May 2012 14:49:53 +0000

photo by Benjamin Sklar/Associated Press

As the battle over same sex marriage rages on, we continue to manifest that soon, all Americans will enjoy the same rights and civil liberties. The glimmer of hope we felt as President Obama came out in support of same-sex marriage reminds us that equal rights is a fight that begins with taking a stand.

Sir A supports respectful, loving relationships between consenting adults.

We believe that everyone should be able to love their partners without limitation.

This is our stand.

Quote of the Day: It’s never too late!

Sir A — Wed, 09 May 2012 16:47:28 +0000

Style Icon: Beyonce

Sir A — Mon, 07 May 2012 11:24:21 +0000

Is it that she’s lookin’ so crazy in love? Or that she just knows what works best on her killer curves?

Whatever the reason, we’re hailing Queen Bey as our latest style icon.

We first fell in love with Beyonce when she made us shake our booties to hits like “Get Me Bodied’ and ‘Crazy in Love’, but with each passing year and with every album dropped, it’s her style evolution that has us hooked.

Recently named “World’s Most Beautiful Woman” by People Magazine, Bey’s star continues to climb. No matter what the event, she manages to balance sex appeal with elegance, and the result? Well, it’s nothing short of stunning!

It may be a toss-up between Bey’s bling and her mega-watt smile that makes her shine like that, but whatever the reason, she wears it well. Now a proud mama to Blue Ivy, Beyonce’s showing her softer (though no less stylish) side.

And with a body like this and self confidence to match…why wouldn’t she be rockin’ this gorgeous black suit?

Classy. Sexy. Drop-dead-gorgeous.

Beyonce, you really DO run the world!

A margarita to kick up the heat on Cinco de Mayo!

Sir A — Fri, 04 May 2012 14:52:11 +0000

It’s Cinco de Mayo!

(Well, at least it will be tomorrow…)

And while the holiday actually holds little significance in Mexico, here in the U.S. it’s become a harbinger of Spring. Sitting outside with guac and chips, sipping a margarita (or Dos Equis XX) and listening to mariachi music…what’s not to love?

We’re obsessing about turning up the heat in our ice cold margs with a little of jalapeno. Take it from us: drinks, and life in general, are a little more exciting when they’re caliente!

photo & recipe courtesy of www.foodnetwork.com

Make a big batch of margaritas with a twist!

Pulse 1 thin slice jalapeno, a handful of celery leaves, 6 ounces fresh lime juice and a spoonful of confectioners’ sugar in a blender. Mix with 16 ounces tequila and 8 ounces orange liqueur in a pitcher; chill. Serve on the rocks in salt-rimmed glasses.

Clink your glasses together and enjoy your Cinco de Mayo!

xo,

Sir A

Quote of the Day: Some refreshing advice…

Sir A — Thu, 03 May 2012 16:12:10 +0000

Taurus: The Month Ahead

Sir A — Tue, 01 May 2012 10:24:58 +0000

Happy Birthday, Taurus!

Our dear Taurean friends are known for their stubborn streak, to be sure, but we love them for their unwavering loyalty, sharp wit, and their ability to love without reservation. Add to the mix that they’re often creative AND organized, and you’ve got a recipe for a pretty amazing person. We’re definitely part of the Taurus fan club!

*Patience and reliability are the two most important traits of the Taurus person. Taureans need a stable, secure and material background. Emotional and material security is necessary for this warm-hearted and loving individual. Common sense is one of their stronger characteristics compounded with a persistent and determined nature.

Taurus needs someone with whom they can share their lives. Emotional sanctuary is vital to them.

They open their lovely homes to others readily but just as readily want their homes back in order again without visitors. A strong family life and tradition is very important to the Taurean. They love comfortable, secure home lives.

(courtesy of dailyhoroscopes.com)

The Month Ahead…

*The stand outs here are the retrograde activity of VENUS which goes out of phase for 43 days in Gemini, the sign of indecision. While Venus is out of phase – DON’T get married!! It’s a really bad omen/time to get married while Venus is out of phase – especially in topsy/turvy Gemini, who can never ever make up their minds.

Mercury the communicator spends the majority of his time in Taurus in May. Being in such a stubborn sign it is paramount that you aren’t too stuck to your guns/stubborn. Be open to suggestions and ideas. Don’t say you’ll do something when you don’t want to do it. Mars the motivator remains in Virgo, so with Taurus and Virgo – both earth signs – once again – stubborn energy and difficulty in communication.

You get a chance to tie a bow in something and cross it off your to do or bucket list once and for all this weekend. A powerball Full Moon in your relationship zone May 6 brings tensions and issues with another to a satisfactory close. Taking the higher ground is cosmic policy for those of you who have been sulking in a corner somewhere. It’s time to realize that sometimes you are too stubborn for your own good. Did we mention you can be too prudish too?

Mercury the communicator transits your sign May 9–23, giving you a charming way with words. Favourable planetary alignments add an enthusiastic optimism that will help put you in touch with all sorts of people, some of whom you haven’t heard from in a very long time. Because you’re a fixed sign, you may find that you’re more stubborn than usual. Be conscious of loosening up and not being so quick to say “no” or dig in your cowboy boots!

Over the next six weeks, (May 15–June 27)your ruler Venus slumbers in retrograde mode in your cash and self–esteem zone. You may feel that you were overlooked for a promotion or pay rise and sulk in your cubicle in full view of your coworkers. Avoid doing this at all costs! You actually have great stars apart from Venus’s naughtiness and need to use Jupiter, the lucky one in your sign as he prepares to depart your sign early June.

(* courtesy of http://www.psychicguild.com/Monthly-Horoscope/Taurus)