Tag Archives: brunch

Jul10

Brunch Babe OOTD

Posted on by
Standard
Brunch Babe OOTD

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new OOTD here on lifewithlilred! I had a highly successful shopping trip at TJMaxx this past month with my mom and have been so excited to break out all of my new clothes! I had just the occasion to do so this past weekend because Johnny and I enjoyed a lovely birthaversary celebration brunch with my aunt and uncle. We went to First Watch and ate like kings and I did so VERY carefully to avoid a spill on this fabulous, flowery, flowy number. Check it out:

Who? What? Wear?

Embroidered Top: Caroline Constas, TJMaxx

Bubble Skirt: A New Day, Target

Kitten Heels: A New Day, Target

Skull Earrings: Sirius Woods, these were a birthday gift from my BFF!

The piece de resistance of my TJs haul was truly the flower embroidered top by Caroline Constas. I literally clutched my pearls when I saw it and knew in an instant that it was coming home with me. I had been dying to wear it and thought it was just perfect for the weekend brunch we had planned. It’s bright, quirky, and fun and it sounds weird but it just felt like the top to wear to sip mimosas in a trendy restaurant. This top offers so much delightful movement with the huge bell sleeves and I knew I needed a skirt to match that energy. Luckily, I had exactly what I needed compliments of my Valentine’s Day date with Johnny!

In the skirt department, I chose my beloved bubble skirt from Target. I have wanted one for forever and was so happy to have finally found one! This skirt provided the volume and movement that I required to form a cohesive silhouette with the top. I wanted a bold shape and I got it in spades! The high waist meshed well with the fairly close fit of the top’s bodice and then both pieces branched out into flouncy fabulousness. It was so hard not to twirl my way through the streets with this combination!

Last but not least, was shoes and accessories. I went for a darling pair of kitten heels that were also a part of my V-Day ensemble and feature an adorable heart on the toe. These were ideal for the outfit as the slingback strap gave an unbroken leg line. This helped add length to the look by accentuating my legs as the base was quite fabric heavy. I didn’t want to go overboard with jewelry because the shapes of the clothing were eye catching enough. To keep things simple, I chose the gorgeous pair of dangly pearl skull earrings from my bestie and was ready to get my brunch on!

I absolutely love my Brunch Babe OOTD and wearing my Caroline Constas top for the first time was everything I wanted it to be and SO much more! ❤

What is your favorite brunch spot? Who is your go to brunch date? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May29

Elton John Brunch

Posted on by
Standard
Elton John Brunch

Hello!! This past Sunday, Johnny and I enjoyed a highly entertaining day at an Elton John Brunch with his mom for a belated Mother’s Day gift. This event took place at the Music Box Supper Club, which is located in The Flats in Cleveland. While the venue hosts regular bands from time to time, they are known for having tribute performances and it is an absolute blast. We haven’t been to the Music Box Supper Club since seeing a Bruce Springsteen tribute band called Swamps of Jersey years ago. That was a total hoot so we all knew we were in for some fun at our brunch outing. Check it out:

image_50738689(5)image_6487327(41)image_6487327(40)image_6487327(39)IMG_8253IMG_8260IMG_8258

I think myself, Johnny, and my beloved mother-in-law will say that the brunch portion of our time at the Music Box Supper Club left a lot to be desired. However, the mimosas were A-okay and our Elton John for the afternoon was spectacular. Tommy Lee Thompson from Akron (Represent!) was a brilliant combination of old and new Elton and he had the entire audience singing, dancing, laughing, and smiling from ear to ear. He had cheeky quips, could tickle the keyboard keys like nobody’s business, and the unmistakable Elton John voice to match. We were seated facing his back during the show, but this was actually a good thing. We could see everything he was doing on the keyboard perfectly and it was mind blowing!

For the hour and a half performance, Tommy Lee Thompson performed several classic Elton John hits. He also spent some time playing Billy Joel, The Monkees, and Carole King. Although these songs were good, I think we were all happy when he went back to Elton John. It was the Elton John Brunch, after all! Johnny and I were elated that he opened the show with The Bitch Is Back because it is our jam. And, as always, we got very sentimental when he performed Your Song. Our sweet niece did her flower girl thing to Your Song when we got married and it holds the most special place in our hearts. You could tell that everyone in the audience had some time of connection to the songs being played and it was so nice to be part of a crowd full of people having the literal best Sunday ever. ❤

We had a banner time celebrating Johnny’s mom at the Elton John Brunch and have grand plans for more visits to the Music Box Supper Club this summer. They have a stellar tribute band lineup and we are SO there for it!

What is the best tribute band you have seen? What is your favorite Elton John song? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan14

Hosting The Perfect Brunch Party

Posted on by
Standard
Hosting The Perfect Brunch Party

Brunch parties are an excellent way to bring your friends together for any type of social event, whether it is a bachelorette party, baby shower, or just a general get together. When it comes to brunch, you do not have to plan an elaborate setup for a fun gathering because it’s a much more laid back event. Here, we look at how to host the perfect brunch party:

Think about who you are inviting and your budget:

It is important to work out the kinks in the plan before inviting everyone to your brunch of the century via group text. Decide how many people you can comfortably seat and go from there because this will help you plan your budget accordingly. Figuring out the amount of money you intend to spend on food for a brunch is your next task. Having a rough idea of your spending limit in advance will help you plan a menu with a reasonable budget.

Plan your menu:

It is time to start thinking about brunch menus after you have a guest list and a ballpark budget in mind. In order to please everyone in attendance, it is critical to include a variety of foods, both sweet and savory, on your menu. Creating your meal can be accomplished in many different ways including:

  • The first alternative is to prepare a number of little plates, similar to those served at a tapas restaurant. This allows you to experiment with all of the recipes you have saved on Instagram and Pinterest throughout the years.
  • Traditional meals can also be served with just one main dish and a few side dishes. With this method, you do not need as many components, which saves time and money.
  • In order to make a brunch truly memorable, you will want to serve dishes that highlight your culinary prowess and leave your guests clamoring for the recipe, such as this shrimp and grits recipe.

Don’t forget the cocktails:

Brunch drinks like mimosas, Bloody Marys, and sangria go well with the meal. Offering a selection of alcoholic beverages will help your guests relax and unwind. The longer a drink like sangria sits, the better it tastes. You do not have to worry about being a bartender because you can make them a few days ahead of time.

Nonalcoholic components can still be mixed in advance if you are making bubbly drinks like mimosas. All you will need to do is pour the champagne and mix it well before guests arrive. Make sure you have a selection of virgin mocktails for guests who would like a nonalcoholic option.

Lay the table the night before:

If you are hosting a brunch for a large group, it is a good idea to set up the table the night before. Putting out food and decorations may not seem like a big deal, but if you are a perfectionist, you could spend hours nitpicking. Take your time and create the party layout you have envisioned. The mood can be ruined if you are not thrilled with your setting because you had to rush.

Good food, yummy drinks, and great company will make your next brunch get together the best ever!

Featured Image By: Unsplash

 

Jun5

Brunch Babes

Posted on by
Standard
Brunch Babes

Hello!! Johnny enjoyed a three day weekend for Memorial Day and we had the most fabulous date day on Sunday. Any time with my beau is my favorite but it is especially wonderful to go out and about together after over a year stuck in our apartment. Now that we are both fully vaccinated, we feel much more comfortable with seeing friends, outdoor dining, and small outings. So we spent Saturday afternoon hanging out in Lakewood with our two friends, Jeff and Jeff, and had the best brunch with the best company.

Lakewood is a very cool area and I actually used to figure skate at the rink a few minutes away from where we brunched pre-pandemic. While I was in school, I would also make the small trek up there from campus to have dinner with friends. There is amazing shopping, bars, and unique restaurants and although it is only about forty-five minutes from me and Johnny, our afternoon felt like a mini day trip.

For brunch, the Jeffs, Johnny, and I went to the Buckeye Beer Engine and had a delicious meal. The garden quesadilla I ordered was the perfect vegetarian option that included eggs, peppers, onions, and mushrooms in a spinach tortilla topped with sour cream and pico de gallo. The food was awesome but, I have to say, the mimosas were even better!

The Buckeye Beer Engine had so many mimosa flavors to choose from and I went with Peach and Blood Orange while Johnny had a Pineapple and a Cranberry drink. They were the first mimosas we have had since before the pandemic when we would have breakfast dates and it was nice to reminisce on that as we clinked our glasses in celebration with the Jeffs. The weather was ideal for an outdoor meal and it is definitely true what they say… Brunch is always a good idea.

Once we returned home from our time in Lakewood, we were visited by our friend Corey for a quick video game session. While Johnny and Corey are both incredibly skilled in Mario Kart and Super Smash Bros., I am pleased to say that I kicked their butts! The video game extravaganza continued long after Corey left and Johnny and I spent hours playing Mario Party, Mario Tennis, Pod Racing, and Medal Of Honor. We also just had to pepper in a few episodes of our latest obsession: Family Matters lol.

No matter what Johnny and I do together, we are sure to have a blast and it feels so good to finally be more active in the community with him again. In fact, it kind of feels like going on first dates all over again because of how long it has been since we could do anything even close to having brunch with friends. Getting all dressed up to go out with my fiance on Sunday was simply the best and I can’t wait for a lifetime of dates with him! ❤

What is your favorite meal of the day? What is your preferred brunch drink? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar8

Brunch Warriors ASSEMBLE!

Posted on by
Standard
Brunch Warriors ASSEMBLE!

Hi! If you’re anything like me, then you never say no to a good brunch. Despite almost always being slightly hungover, I revel in a boozy Sunday brunch complete with hearty breakfast food and fifteen mimosas. Well… more like two mimosas but I definitely think I could polish off fifteen of the most delicious mimosa mash up I’ve ever heard of…

Allow me to introduce you to the Lemonade Mimosa. Yes, you heard it correctly. A mouthwatering sweet/tart combination that I just had to read on about when someone posted the recipe on Facebook. And, let me be the first to tell you, the following recipe that can be found on Delish.com sounds… Delish! Take a look and be sure to visit Delish for more food and drink inspiration to spice up your meals!

Ingredients:

  • 2 tsp. lemon zest
  • 1/2 c. sugar
  • 1 lemon, thinly sliced, plus a wedge for rimming
  • 1 bottle champagne
  • 2 c. lemonade or pink lemonade

Directions:

  1. In a shallow dish, mix lemon zest and sugar.
  2. Rim champagne flutes with a lemon wedge and dip in sugar mixture.
  3. Place one slice of lemon inside each champagne flute, bending if needed.
  4. Fill flute halfway with champagne and top with lemonade. Serve.

 

When the weather begins warming up, I need a drink that is crisp and refreshing which is why I usually favor the Moscow Mule. So, what could possibly be better than ice cold lemonade and champagne during a muggy summer morning? The answer is nothing, of course!

Treat your friends to a Sunday morning summer brunch, follow more simple and tasty recipes by Lena Abraham, and you’ll be the hostess with the mostess by the time the second round of Lemonade Mimosas starts being poured!

What is your favorite mimosa flavor? (I love mango!) How do you do Sunday brunch? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct10

Blue Door Cafe

Posted on by
Standard
Blue Door Cafe

If you’re ever in the Akron, Ohio area, I cant recommend going to the Blue Door Cafe enough. It’s located in Cuyahoga Falls, which is lucky for me because it’s right down the street from my house! The Blue Door is probably one of the best hole in the wall food establishments I’ve ever dined at. Their menu changes frequently, and a lot of their options accommodate to dietary considerations such as vegetarian (which is great for me!), vegan, gluten free, and dairy free. Whenever I go for brunch or lunch with my best friend Kate, I always order the exact same thing – their grilled cheese sandwich! It’s hands down the best grilled cheese I’ve ever had. The changes they made to the sandwich for their fall menu was delicious – it included thick pieces of cheddar cheese and diced apples in the middle to add the perfect amount of seasonal flare. The meal also includes a bowl of their tomato soup which was especially tasty when I went yesterday. There were hints of what tasted like red wine for a unique touch. You also get the option to pick between fresh fruit, greens, or home baked potato chips to accompany your meal. I always pick the fresh fruit. The medley of pineapple, strawberries, blue and black berries, and grapes was just gorgeous yesterday. The colors were vibrant and they tasted as sweet as sugar. The Blue Door Cafe also boasts a lovely bakery where the pastries and breads used in each meal are made daily. You can also purchase their bakery items there as well. My grilled cheese sandwich was made with thick slices of freshly baked Challah bread. Delicious! Kate usually opts for the Tartine when we go to the Blue Door. I’ve gotten it once before and it’s great! The Tartine is a dark chocolate filled croissant with three dipping sauces on your plate – blackbery jam, melted white chocolate, and melted milk chocolate. This treat also comes with fresh fruit. Yum!! The croissant is to die for – it’s the perfect balance of crisp and soft with a sweet butter glaze to top it all off. I’m getting hungry just thinking about it.

Not only is the food at the Blue Door Cafe incredible, but the service there is fantastic too. The servers and chefs are so great at what they do. One of the managers, Wes, is just the sweetest guy in the whole world. He usually takes care of me and Kate – we’re his favorites! Especially me. Yesterday when he brought me my coffee, he also returned with a flower he made out of parchment paper.

IMG_0863[1]

So. Sweet. My heart absolutely melted! Swoon!

If you’d like to learn more about the Blue Door Cafe, here is their website: http://bluedoorcafebakery.com/ . Make sure you check it out!

What’s your favorite hole in the wall establishment to eat at? What do you like to order there? Leave me a comment and let’s chat! Happy Friday! -Sarah