These are not actual cocktails that I’m having at the moment, and I would not actually have two at once, to be clear, but were I traveling near a beach I might be tempted to indulge. In truth, I only drink wine these days and it’s been years since I’ve had a colorful cocktail like these. It’s been so long, in fact, that I couldn’t even guess what would be in them to make those bright colors. The one on the right might be something like a Cosmopolitan, a drink I had in the late 90’s when a show called Sex In The City made it popular. I’ve no idea what the blue drink would be, but edible blue things are always a fun curiosity since that color doesn’t exist naturally in food. And a cocktail is the one time I don’t even have to bother with worrying about what’s in it and if it’s actually healthy. That’s a line I’ve already happily crossed, so anything goes really. These do make me wish I were next to a beach, sipping away in the middle of the afternoon with no cares at all, instead of having to return to work tomorrow morning. So it’s a wonderful way to indulge, even if, as ever, it’s simply in my imagination.
Years ago, I was on a business trip in Miami and we stayed in a boutique hotel in South Beach. It overlooked the Versace Mansion, but was itself rather less opulent. It was actually on this trip that I had my first mango mojito and quickly discovered I was quite allergic to mango. But beyond the brief moments before Benadryl when my lips looked like a Hollywood celebrity’s fresh out of plastic surgery, the trip was actually quite fun. I don’t travel as much for work these days, but back then it was an all too regular thing. While it was fun to see new places, the constant social interactions were a little overwhelming for my inner introvert, so a cocktail felt like a reward of sorts for surviving it all. Only once did I have one too many and I’ve still no idea what I said in that client dinner meeting. But, we ended up doubling the size of the account, so it must have been brilliant. Even with that dubious success, it was not enough to propel me to try again. These days, I’m happiest with my simple little glass of wine and no evening meetings at all to endure.
But if I did have the luxury of spending a glorious day on the beach, and no particular schedule to adhere to, I would definitely try one of these again. One would be plenty to remind me of all those previous little adventures of my youth. And that’s the fun bit about vacations. All of the daily grind and rules we have to adhere to each and every regular day are torn to bits as we simply experience whatever is happening in the moment. It’s a wonderful feeling of pure celebration that makes every moment so much more enjoyable. I love that sense of losing time and place and just being somewhere fun and soaking up every little new sight and sound that’s around me. There’s always those wonderful moments of reflection, where I’m reminded that life is pretty awesome and the world we live in is rather amazing. I feel that much of the time, but it’s rather heightened when you get a chance to break from the norm and experience life outside a daily routine. And this is an act, that I highly encourage, that never actually requires alcohol. Just take a step outside your normal routine and try something brand new. That, in the end, is the real definition of cocktail break!
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About the DoodlewashDa Vinci Paint Co.: Nickel Azo Yellow, Opus (Vivid Pink), Leaf Green, Quinacridone Red, Cobalt Turquoise, Terra Cotta, and Ultramarine Blue. Lamy Al-Star Safari Fountain Pen with sepia ink in an A5 Hahnemühle Watercolour Book. Want to purchase a print of this doodlewash? Send me a note with a link to this post, and I’ll add it to my shop! |
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Since I no longer drink except to indulge in a bit of holiday champagne, I must admit that I miss Harvey Wallbangers, and other drinks with fun names that I no longer get to say.
hehe… those names are the best, Lisa! 😃💕Although I’m quite sure there are new ones that I have no idea about since I too don’t drink these anymore. But yay for holiday champagne!
Oh, that blue drink has to have blue curacao, so I’ll definitely give it a pass, even though you’ve painted it so purty! Not much for cocktails myself. I don’t drink often but when I do it’s most likely to be a good stout beer.
Thanks, Sandra! 😃💕 Yeah, it’s surely blue curacao, which I think I’ve only had once in my life. lol Love a god stout beer though!
Wah kya Bate hene .lo love colour and texture.
Love the story lieo. thanks.
Thanks so much, Snehlata! 😃💕Glad you enjoyed this one!
Some day I am going to paint a glass. I am always fascinated by how people get them to look like real glass. Great job on these!
Thanks so much!! 😃💕 You should totally paint glass… it’s so much fun!! Just takes a bit of adding in shapes you don’t think should really be there and lots of high contrast. 😉
Thanks for the tips! I’ll just copy yours..;)
hehe! Awesome!! 👍🏻😃
The colors remind me of colors used in making snowballs. An ocassional wine for me too. Not a drinker but always amazed at how good they look. Just like these, pretty and refreshing.
Thanks so much, June! 😃💕 hehe.. yeah, the prettier the drink, though, the less likely I’ll want it. I just like my little boring glass of wine.
Beautiful cocktails and their reflections! I love your definition of a cocktail break – a new experience is much better than alcohol.
Thanks so much, Sharon! 😃💕 hehe… yeah, I think any new experience should count as a cocktail break!
Your youth sounds very interesting! As always, loved both the painting and the blog:)
Thanks so much, Zertab! 😃💕 I had a really fun youth, but I’m rather happy to be older and wiser now. hehe
This is lovely Charlie. I am a huge fan of Sex and the City, a couple of years ago I was on holiday in Melbourne and decided to try a Cosmopolitan, it was awful, I don’t like the taste of alcohol, totally wasted on me, so my friend enjoyed it instead.
Thanks, Michelle! 😃💕 hehe… yeah, actually Cosmopolitans are like the name… all look and no real substance. LOL It was fun to try, but I’m not a fan.
only tried one it was not for me ,but I did have the cherry from it
Hehe… the cherry was probably the best part then! 😃💕 I don’t care for these drinks, but they are super pretty!
Wonderful definition of a cocktail break. It is so easy to get into a routine that even a single day doing something out of the norm can feel like having a cocktail at the beach.
Thanks, Mary! 😃💕 Yeah, I think that cocktails are better simply teaching us that doing things outside the usual is usually the best thing of all!
wow..this is amazing and i am going to try this painting for sure !
It is beautiful Cocktail Break!
Thanks so much, Mitali! 😃💕 You should totally try this! Painting glass in watercolor is SO much fun!
Yes Charlie, you are right…but i fear i would end up with a mat finish glass instead of a glossy one….i need to give it a try though ! 🙂
Just remember to push the contrast as much as you can. If there’s very little contrast it can look too matte… needs a lot to get it to appear shiny! 😉
I love how colorful you made this!
Thanks so much, Delores! 😃💕
Yeah I definitely love the color! 😀
It’s pretty to look at!
Thanks so much! 😃💕