fridays with oscar | cocktail hour

if it’s friday then it’s time to unwind and relax. of course, our favorite german shepherd will be on hand to usher in the weekend. and if you’re like me, you’ll be waiting for the cocktail hour to arrive. then again, it’s five o’clock somewhere in the world. that saying was a favorite of my mother whose drink du jour was a vodka tonic. not the most exciting cocktail in the world but she knew what she liked, and that was that. for me, there are so many cocktails to concoct and so little time. this summer, my go-to is a jalapeno margarita.

recently, mr. style and i were bumming around Barnes & Noble. it’s a favorite excursion of ours that started years ago when our kiddos were small. an afternoon or evening is dedicated to roaming up and down the aisles checking out the latest books fresh from the press then inhaling the ink. there is something special about the printed word. a coffee break is always factored into the agenda and mr. style likes to sneak in a dessert or two…

on our last outing to the bookstore, i picked up The New Cocktail Hour. it’s a fun little book written by a brother and sister that claim, “they’re not bartenders – they’re lushes.” there’s loads of information packed inside this book about the cocktail hour, recipes, quotes, facts and tips on how to pair your cocktail with food. there’s even a section on how Ernest Hemingway set up his bar.

many of you know i’ve slowly been putting our living room together that includes a bar. it’s really just a bookcase converted into a cocktail hub. but it’s a bar nonetheless. the knobs and handles were replaced, and a mirror was added. minor details that make a big impact. there’s loads of shelf space for glasses and bar accessories. recently we purchased a new cocktail shaker and bar tools from Pottery Barn to match the new knobs. isn’t it dangerous when you make one tiny design change? all of a sudden the entire house needs to be updated… so i splurged on a new set of santino glasses. thank goodness our martini glasses are up to snuff and the margarita glasses too. let’s not forget the irish coffee mugs. after all, i’m half irish. and of course, every bar needs a set of beer glasses just in case pizza is on the dinner menu.

here’s the bar reveal. stay tuned for the living room reveal. there are still a few pieces to the puzzle that remain like flooring – tile or carpet? the light fixtures are waiting to be installed. but we finally have furniture. hip, hip, hooray!

a cocktail recipe from The New Cocktail Hour.

chinos | similar sweater | similar belt | similar sandals

as you can see the djalali family takes friday seriously. there’s lot’s of loafing around while we patiently wait for the cocktail hour to commence. okay, ollie and oscar get treats and i’ll be slurping down a tasty tequila sunrise. on that happy note, oscar, ollie, and i wish each of you a very lovely weekend.

Beth Djalali

is the Founder and CEO of Style at a Certain Age. She writes Sundays-Fridays on all topics ranging from fashion, health, wellness, home design and more.

She’s 65, 5’8, and size 8.

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