a very happy hour. [blueberry pomegranate drink & blackberry mojito]

This past weekend, I invited a few girlfriends over for the evening. Our original plan was to get drinks and appetizers for happy hour in Laguna Beach. But due to the time crunch and our disinclination to spend a boatload of money, we decided to create our own happy hour. We managed to do just that minus spending money on gas, meter parking and a tip.

We wanted to make refreshing and delicious drinks that were all-natural sans the alcohol. I have to give credit to my friend, Ellen, as she was the mastermind behind our two drink concoctions.

Once we finished making the drinks, we lounged in my backyard by the pool, sipping on our cocktails as the sun set. Talk about a perfect weekend night!

Purple Drank (Blueberry Pomegranate) recipe:

5 blueberries

Quarter of a lemon

1 1/2 oz. Grey Goose

4 oz. Pom Juice (concentrate)

Club soda

Directions:

Muddle blueberries and lemon in Grey Goose in a martini shaker. Add pomegranate juice. Shake vigorously with plenty of ice. Strain mixture into a glass and top off with club soda. Garnish with lemon slice or some floating blueberries.

Black Mamba (Blackberry Mojito) recipe:

3 mint leaves

Half of a lime

1 1/2 oz. Bacardi Rum

10 blackberries

1 cup sugar

1 cup water

Club soda

Directions:

Squeeze half a lime and leave in martini shaker. Add mint, Bacardi and blackberry simple syrup (recipe & directions below). Add plenty of ice and shake vigorously. Pour into a glass and top off with club soda. Pour back into shaker, then back into the glass to incorporate the club soda. Garnish with lime and mint.

Simple syrup recipe:

1 cup sugar

1 cup water

1 cup blackberries

Directions:

Pour water and sugar in pan over medium low to low heat. Once the sugar begins to dissolve, add blackberries and muddle them into the mixture. Heat until well blended, but do not boil. Let cool before adding to drinks.