Cocktails Anyone?

Cocktails are just fun, the names of cocktails are fun, the fancy glasses and garnishes used to serve them are fun and usually once you've had one or two you are having fun. Maybe you have a standard cocktail of choice, or maybe your are influenced by your mood, the season, your company, or setting and change up your drink of choice accordingly.

I personally tend to prefer salty to sweet and recently decided that this is a rule of thumb that I should not stray too far from in spite of the season or setting. I was desperately wanting a Mai-Tie on a little vacation I took to a Key Largo resort. I ordered it and took it back to my lounge chair and was immediately disappointed upon the first sip, I should have known by all the sugary juices that went into creating it at the bar. It was the stereotypical drink for the setting I was in, but I would have been much happier with a Bloody Mary.

Lesson learned, but to continue, cocktails are so much fun they even have their own accessory, the cocktail ring. Slip on a huge ring that takes up half of your finger (which any true Zingida would own) and holding your cocktail becomes the perfect display for this statement piece of jewelry. So chin chin, and soak in the fun at the next cocktail hour that comes your way.

Maria, Maria

Last week we visited a family friend, Maria. She is in her 70s, but she is still a spry little thing who is absolutely hilarious. She speaks to me in Spanish even though she knows I can't understand everything, she is taking it upon herself to teach me. She is usually cooking when we visit her and last week was no exception. She whips around the kitchen, frequently getting the pockets of her apron caught on drawer handles, throwing her already somewhat wobbly balance off. It is too funny to witness.

The Jewels

Zingida

If you are wondering if "Zingida" has a meaning...it does. According to urbandictionary.com it is an Italian word akin to gypsy meaning a girl who wears too much jewelry, too much makeup, or too short of skirts. In my family (on the Italian side) the word is used a lot in reference to the "too much jewelry" meaning.

The number one Zingida is my Grandma Dolores. She used to run a consignment shop and she has countless vintage treasures. She puts them to good use - she always has the perfect accessory to any outfit. Occasionally she has let my cousin and I look through her vast collection, allowing herself to  part with a piece or two and giving us some Zingida flair. Although, she is not shy to respond, "Oh, well I still wear that one sometimes", if she is not yet ready to part with a piece we are admiring.

A story that has been told time and time again of my Grandma's run at the consignment shop is that one day a man tried to rob the shop. My Grandmother just looked at him and said, "You don't really want to do this", and the man decided not to go through with the robbery after all....adventures of one brave Zingida.