Balls to the Walls

It is hard to believe 4th of July is less than 4 days away... that means most of you are road tripping somewhere come Friday for a weekend filled with family, friends and of course, flag cake. 

Bringing some fuel for those traffic filled car rides is a MUST. Enter: no bake energy balls. My younger (and wiser) sister brought these bad boys to my attention and I am now a strong ball-iever. The best part is that they take less than 15 minutes to make and are filled with protein. Try them for yourself!

No Bake (Gluten Free) Energy Balls
Ingredients (makes about 36 servings)
-1/2 cup of honey
-2 cups unsweeted coconut flakes
-1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
-1 cup smooth peanut butter or almond butter 
-2 cups gluten free rolled oats
-4 ounces minature chocolate chips
-1  cup flax seeds
-1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

Directions
- Combine and stir all ingredients together in medium bowl until thoroughly mixed. 
- Cover bowl and let chill in refrigerator for about 15 minutes
- Once chilled, roll into balls of about 1" in diameter on to a baking sheet with parchment paper
-Get snacking!

CHEERS

We are just one week away from the official first day of summer which means outdoor happy hour season is finally HERE! Below are a few of my favorite spots broken down by occasion/vibe. Now get planning that #treatyoself Tuesday. Cheers.

I'm On a Boat // Island Vibe

1. Pier A Harbor House- both inside and out, views of the Statue of Liberty, great menu.
2. Frying Pan- perfect way to spend a sunny Saturday, anticipate long lines, average age of the crowd is 22.
3. Grand Banks- great for date night, order the oysters, go during off times can be long line.
4. Gilligan's at the Soho Grand- island oasis, order the watermelon margs, perfect way to spend a Sunday.

Swanky As F

1. Loopy Doopy in the Conrad Hotel- go for the Prosecco & Ice Pop cocktail, good views of the Hudson River, expensive. 
2. Soho House Rooftop- think Miami in NYC, large pool on the top of the roof with lounge chairs and couches surrounding it, good people watching.
3. PH-D Rooftop Lounge- throwback to an 80's penthouse, clubby feel, skyline views from Meatpacking, expensive drinks. 

Hipsters Only

1. Hotel Hugo Azul Rooftop- Cuban decor, order the frozen drinks and tacos, expensive. 
2. Mulberry Project Back Yard Patio- walls covered in street art, made to order cocktails, good for date night.
3. Wythe Hotel Ides Rooftop- Refurbished factory on the Brooklyn waterfront, amazing views of Manhattan, go during off times can be long lines.
4. Mr. Purple Roof at the Hotel Indigo- new hot spot with a trendy crowd, small pool, great views of city, inside/outside options.

Big Group Gatherings

1. Brass Monkey Rooftop- 90 draft and bottled beers to choose from, TV on the roof for watching games, views of the Hudson, not expensive.
2. Freehold- grassy outdoor space with ping pong and cornhole, good way to spend a Saturday, open space. 
3. The Jeffery- backyard beer garden, sports on TV, good place for day drinking.

Co-Worker Hang

1. Roof at Park South- good central location for after work drinks, overlooks the Empire State Building, good apps. 
2. Perfect Pint- Irish pub in the heart of Time Square, top floor rooftop is perfect for after work drinks. 
3. La Birreria Eataly- beer garden above Eataly, good for a Friday summer lunch, great apps. 

Where I'm Eating

Happy Friday and more importantly, happy (almost) summer! Summer in NYC means weekend trips away, but in the case that your stuck in the city, below are four restaurants I consider a city "escape". Check them out and get your zen on. Enjoy! 

1. Palma: 28 Cornelia St. New York, NY - 212-691-2223
Rustic 35-seat dining room. Serving Italian classics crafted from organic ingredients. Set in a beautiful a garden. Perfect for date night. Order the sea bass, cauliflower salad, or gluten free pasta. 

2. Maman: 211 West Broadway New York, NY - 646-882-8682
Chic bakery and cafe in the front and restaurant in the back. Feels like a country home in the South of France. Great for brunch with Mom. Order the chocolate chunk cookie, stuffed calamari with raisins, or roasted potatoes. 

3. Two Hands Restaurant & Bar: 251 Church St. New York, NY - No phone, email churchst@twohandsnyc.com
Light and bright Tribeca oasis. Filled with plants and beautiful, friendly Australians. Order the smashed-avocado toast, pickled-chili scrambled eggs, and cauliflower couscous. 

4. Pizza Beach: 167 Orchard St. New York, NY - 646-852-6478
Cali meets Montauk. Gluten free pizza. Good for big groups and kids. Order the heirloom carrots, sweet potatoes and avocado, bacon egg and cheese pizza. 

Tequila? More like... Te-kill-ya!

Happy Cinco De Mayo everyone!!!! Any holiday that calls for margs, guac, and tacos is my kind of holiday. 

I am pretty picky when it comes to my margs because if they are not done correctly you can wake up with a head (and body) full of regrets. Which is why I try to stick with the “silver” varieties of tequila because the “gold” types are more likely to result in pain the next day. I have also found the mixing tequila with sugar mixers or other liquors is also a big time no-no. Lastly, I remove the salt because it makes my face feel a bit less “bloated” the next morning ;)

Below is a recipe for one of my favorite clean and skinny margarita. Try it for yourself!

Alexis’s Famous Skinny Marg:
Ingredients:
- 1 lime
- Silver Tequila (I like Patrón Silver)
- Agave

Directions:
- Squeeze 1 lime into a glass 
- Pour 1-2 shots (depending on how strong you want it) of SILVER tequila 
- Add 1 tablespoon Agave (or less if you want to make it more tart)
- Shake it all up for 10 seconds in cocktail shaker
- Pour over ice

THIS ROCKS!

Over the last four months I have had five good friends get engaged. Yes, FIVE. Love is in the AIR!

With all of these engagements comes the question of what is an appropriate engagement gift. While I don't always think an engagement gift is necessary, you can always get something small and fun to show the couple you are excited for their next step. Below are a few of my favorite picks.
xo

For the organized bride
- Gift Log
- Hellos & Goodbyes Notebook
- Ring Tray

For the new cook

- Newlywed Cookbook

- Blue Apron Subscription

- Serving Set

For the party animals

- Shake Cocktail Book

- Glassware
- Beverage Bucket

For the new roomies
- Homepolish Gift Card
- Cheese Board
- Howdy Doormat

Where I'm Eating

Living in New York City one of my favorite things to do is try new restaurants. Whether it be for date night, a birthday brunch or lunch with my parents I love to explore new places whenever I can. 

With that in mind, I decided that I am going to create a monthly post called "Where I'm Eating" to update you on some of my favorite food spots around the city. For this first post, I decided to focus on three of my favorite casual go-to spots that are great to add to your repertoire. Hope you find it helpful and bon appétit!

1. Mary's Fish Camp: 64 Charles St. New York, NY 10014 - 646-486-2185
West Village lunch time staple. Relaxed atmosphere. Sit at the counter and order the mussels and lobster roll. Kid friendly.

2. Joseph Leonard: 170 Waverly Pl. New York, NY 10014 - 646-429-8383
Great for brunch or date night. Trendy crowd. Rustic atmosphere. Long wait time. Order the bloody caesar, brussels sprouts, pork hock. 

3. Bubby's Tribeca: 120 Hudson St. New York, NY 10013 - 212-219-0666
Tribeca neighborhood staple. Family friendly. Bomb brunch. Order the market omelet, huevos rancheros, homemade pie, good & evil cocktail.

GROOVY

I am a big music gal. The only reason I look forward to Monday mornings is because I know I will have a new Case of the Monday's playlist in my inbox before 9am-- subscribe here if you haven't already. #headphonemondays

One of my goals for 2016 is to get out and see more live concerts. From Barclays to City Winery to Brooklyn Bowl to Manhattan Proper NYC is filled with opportunities to see live shows and explore new venues and I plan on doing that moving forward. Enter: SoFar Sounds.  

SoFar Sounds is a company that creates small concerts in intimate spaces around the world. Both the venue of the concert and acts performing are a surprise until the day before you go. Locations are usually private homes or businesses and nights typically feature three acts of equal importance. I went to my first show last week at Public Factory (which is a men's retail store during the day) and saw Gymnast Band, Lil Freckles, and Jagged-Edge perform. We had a great time and I highly recommend checking it out with a group of friends to change up your typical happy hour// dinner routine.
xo