January is time for new beginnings, self-improvement, resolutions, and a fabulous time to focus in on your burlesque business. What’s the number one representation of you and your business? Your website! Here are the basics to developing an effective DIY website in five manageable steps:
1. Step One: Realize that you need an actual website. Facebook, Twitter, Google Plus, and whoever else does not count as a website! As a producer I do not want to have to log in, friend you, or sift through a ton of crap I don’t need (your birthday party photos) just to find the information I do need. I want to learn about you as effectively and efficiently as possible- and that’s certainly not a social networking site. Social networking is incredibly important- but does not replace an actual website. MORE
2. Step Two: Buy a domain name. This is super cheap- less than $20 a year.
A. There are a million arguments about this and you can research the pros and cons on your own, but a .com address far beats out any other address you can have (.org, .co, etc) Why? Because everyone has been conditioned to type .com after everything.
B. What if your burlesque name- Jane Doe isn’t available? Try JaneDoeBurlesque.com or JaneBurlesque.com or any one of a number of combinations that fit your name, persona, profession, and location or some well-thought out combination of the previously mentioned items.
3. Step Three: Buy hosting. In short, without hosting, no one can view your site. I like cheap, reliable, and good customer service. For that reason I like GoDaddy- but there are hundreds to choose from. Either online or by phone, let them know you now own JaneDoe.com and would like to host it. For around $49 a year you will have JaneDoe.com live on the internet. Usually there is a “this website is parked” page until you actually upload content.
4. Step Four: Pick your poison. If you are determined to do it yourself, and have zero desire to learn html, the easiest and fastest solution is a template. There are a million to choose from, ranging from free to $100 a year and up. You can choose Weebly, Wordpress, Squarespace, or anyone of a wide range of options. Depending on your choice the options will be as follows:
A. You will set up a redirect. For this option you will choice a template and upload all of your information and design your site. When you have it to your liking, you may be stuck with a long address like www.janedoe.weebly.com – no one will remember that & it’s too damn long for a business card. A redirect is your solution. Inform GoDaddy (or whoever your host is) that you would like JaneDoe.com to redirect to www.janedoe.weebly.com This means that the user will type in JaneDoe.com and be magically taken to the new longer address without them doing anything else- brilliant!
B. The second option is that you have downloaded a template, plugged in your information, and now have to upload it appropriately. If you selected a good hosting company, they will walk you through the process (the process is different for every company) either online or by phone, and you will have your new site up and running!
5. Step Five: Content. So what does every effective burlesque website need? [Pin-Up Models have different needs. Click HERE for more for models.] As a producer, there are six simple things I want to know:
A. Who are you? I want a bio and a professional photo. MORE ON SUCCESSFUL PHOTOS I don’t want some fairy tale type bio about how you were raised by wolves, or magically appeared on a seahorse (both examples are actually taken from burlesque bios) I want where are you from, what is your style, what is your signature number, where have your performed, how much experience do you have. A successful bio can be anyway from one to three paragraphs. Be concise, informative, and let your personality shine through. Are you a comedian? Then your bio should be funny.
B. Videos. I am amazed at how many performers don’t have videos on their site. I need videos! I want to know how good you are, what’s your range, and if you have any numbers in your arsenal that fit what I am looking for. If I’m a fan- I want to watch my favorite performances over and over. What do I not want to do? Search through countless craptastic videos on YouTube looking for a decent performance of yours. Think about it- every schmuck who’s ever filmed you with a camera phone anywhere you’ve ever been has tagged you in their video on You Tube. I don’t want to have to watch all of that to get to the one acceptable video of you. Post the videos you want me to watch on your site, so I don’t judge you by the crappy ones.
C. Performance Menu. What are the numbers you are known for? Do you have something that fits the show I’m currently booking? What’s your arsenal or performance resume? Provide a photo, description, and video (of possible) of each number.
D. Gallery. I want photos of you, both live performance shots and studio shots. Of course, low res photos are plentiful and pleasing to the fan, but as a producer- you can save yourself a whole lot of time, if you have high res photos available for download on your site. Jonny Porkpie does this really well EXAMPLE Here I can download images that I know are ok to use in promotions (posters, media, flyers, etc) and I don’t have to bug him at all- simply choose the ones I want and grab ‘em. More on high res
E. Contact Info. I want to know every way to get a hold of you as quickly and obviously placed as possible. If media should go one place, and bookings go one place, and fan mail another- I want to know all of that.
F. Past Media Coverage. Is there a fabulous quote about you floating in the media or a previous interview? I want to know that so I can use it in my press release. Is there a hilarious tagline someone in the press gave you, or a particularly informative interview? Post links so I can read it and pull from it.
**Keep ‘em coming back!: So you have your website and you’re super proud of it- good job! Now how do you keep people coming back again and again? There are a few keys to this, the first being a blog. Having a blog embedded in your site (Wordpress has good options for this, as do countless others) gives fans a reason to keep coming back again and again, while giving producers a good feel for who you are. The second most important tool is new and fresh photos. Keep adding to your low res gallery, while losing the stuff that is old or outdated. This keeps things fresh and makes you appear on top of your game. MORE
Schlep Sisters. Photo: Don Spiro
THE SCHLEP SISTERS HANUKKAH CRAFT CORNER
Menorah Merkin/Hanukkah Hairpiece
Depending on what Hanukkah party you’re going to, you’ll want some holiday bling to stand out in the crowd! If it’s a family gathering your hairpiece will be the most festive fascinator at the party. If you’re planning a sexy date or a holiday burlesque act your merkin will remind your sweetheart or audience where to find the miracle of light!
SUPPLIES:
- Buckram (hat-making material; you can substitute with card stock or cardboard)
- Silver and/or gold fabric
- Red, orange, yellow and black tulle (optional)
- White, red, orange, yellow and blue sequins or crystals (it’s your choice, get creative!)
- Hot glue gun and extra glue sticks
- Beacon Gem-Tac (The Schlep Sisters preferred decorating glue)
- Menorah stencil (see attached photo, print out according to your sizing needs.)
- Hair comb (optional)
In honor of the eight days of Hanukkah, here are eight easy steps to making this interchangeable miraculous merkin/festive fascinator!
1. Print out your Menorah Stencil
Make this any size you want, you know how big your head/merkin area is!
2. Turn on your hot glue gun
It will take 1-5 minutes to heat up depending on your glue gun. Put the glue gun on top of a piece of cardboard covered in tin foil to prevent any mess on your table.
3. Prepping the base of the merkin/hairpiece
Print and cut out the stencil and trace it on to a piece of buckram. Cut the buckram and, voilà! You have a buckram menorah!
4. Glue and sew the comb to your buckram menorah (optional, you can also just pin your fascinator on with bobby pins):
Sew the comb to the buckram and reinforce with hot glue.
5. Glue buckrum to fabric
Using the hot glue gun, glue the buckram menorah to silver or gold fabric and trim off excess fabric. Let it cool to a warm (not hot) temperature. Then place and form it on your head/merkin area.
6. Decorate!
Use Beacon Gem-Tac to decorate your merkin/fascinator with sequins/crystals. It takes about 24 hours to dry, but it dries clear! Our preferred design is white for the candles, and red, orange and yellow for the flames. Blue to line the Menorah. Optional: add tulle to the flames to create a flowing fire/smoke look!
7. Wear it!
Wearing it as a merkin? Apply double-sided carpet tape to your merkin, remove the backing and apply to an (ideally) hairless merkin area. Please advise, we’re not advocating for a hairless bush. We just want to prepare you for the potential ouchies of taking off a merkin.
8. Werk it!
Wearing at as a fascinator? Style your hair or wig to showcase your beautiful locks. Attach your Hanukkah Hairpiece with bobby pins if you didn’t glue on a comb. You’ll be the shining light of the party!!
More Hannukah Fun with the Schlep Sisters
Customs By Cora – D.I.Y. Sewing and Crafting
Anyone who knows me knows I have a costuming compulsion…sickness…ok, possibly a serious problem. Thanks to Pin Curl Magazine, I now have an opportunity to share some of my madness with you. I hope that I can give you some ideas and information that will help you find new and fun ways to express yourself and make the world a more beautiful (or crazy) place…Enjoy!
Here’s Looking At You…The Googly Eye Series.
We all know that shoes covered in rhinestones are amazing. But, what about another material? In the middle of creating some new costumes for our yearly Zombielesqe show, one of my dancers sent me a picture of shoes that had goggly eyes on them. WHAT??? Googly eyes? This must happen!
I should say at this point that you can apply this whole column to rhinestones as well, but for this project, I was using goggly eyes.
Step 1- Grab a pair of shoes. Anyone who knows me, knows I have an entire room filled with costumes I have made and an embarrassing stock of materials I think I “might” use someday. Patent leather shoes are always my shoe of choice for these kinds of projects. With patent leather, I have had the best luck with glue adhering to both the shoe and the rhinestone. Plus, they are really affordable.
Step 2 – Make sure the surface of the shoe is really clean. I use Clorox Wipes, but then I use them for just about everything including taking makeup off my face (Insert horrified look here).
Step 3 – Once your surface is clean and dry, grab your supplies. In this case, eyeballs, a wax stick and glue. I used goggly eyes from Joann but I am sure you can get them just about anywhere and they are surprisingly cheap. My glue of choice for ANYTHING on a shoe or flexible surface is E-6000. E-6000 can be found in most craft stores. Warning: use E-6000 in a well ventilated room. The vapors can be pretty toxic, but, I have found nothing that works better. I use a wax ended stick from www.hotfixqueen.com to place the rhinestones/googly eyes. I understand that beeswax, museum wax and crayons also work. I’ll have to try that someday. But for now, I am sticking with what I have.
Step 4 – Pour out your goggly eyes into a small tray with sides. Anything will work, but I like a flat lid or something that will allow me to shake out the eyes/stones when they are not right side up. This flips them over rather than having to do it one at a time. I find this step saves me a lot of time.
Step 5 – Apply small dots of E-6000 wherever you want to put your embellishments. I do multiple dots at a time. Just make sure that you do it fast enough that the glue doesn’t dry before you get to it. Touch the top of the eyeball (yuck) with the waxy end of the stick and it will pick it up. Then gently press the bottom of the eyeball down into the glue. Try to get just the right amount of glue so it just barely comes out the sides. This will make the strongest bond.
Step 6 – Pour yourself a glass of wine and settle in. This is going to take a while…
Step 7 – Make sure when you are finished you give the glue at least 24 hours to cure and you will have an amazingly crazy pair of shoes!
But, I had leftovers….so…
An eyeball bra!! I took a bra (again from that room of craziness) and got to work. Note: a hard cup bra works best for gluing on any embellishments. I used the same application process and a few hours (and glasses of wine) later, I had eyes down where we always say they aren’t. Get it?
Another warning: the early feedback I have gotten is that men are freaked out by boobs staring back at them. So proceed with caution…and awesomeness.
Until next time…xoxo Cora Vette www.coravette.com
Congrats to Silver Kitsune of Charlotte, North Carolina, who won First Place in our recent DIY contest with this Fascinator Project!
How to make a professional looking fascinator:
The word “fascinator” has recently come into the public consciousness due to certain royal hijinks revolving around horse races and weddings. Worn instead of a hat, the modern fashion world has taken to reviving the idea of feathery, flowery and bedazzled headpieces with a will. Increasingly brides are choosing to wear fascinators because of the endless customization options available.
Those of us in the burlesque/pin-up world are left wondering what the fuss is all about, because we’ve been using them for years! Anyone in the burlesque world will tell you that any good costume includes a headpiece. It adds the perfect amount of sophistication and, with an endless array of choices, it provides the artist with a quick way to change up their look during a show without having to completely redo their entire ‘do. With most of the women that I work with operating on a tight budget, I am often astonished at how much a performer will be willing to pay for a simple flower-and-feather clip. The favorable comments about my first few fascinators at shows lead me into making them professionally and I’ve put together a tutorial to help out my fellow ladies make an elaborate (and cost effective!) fascinator for their very own. All supplies could be easily found at a local craft store!
Materials:
I’ve listed exactly the “ingredients” that I used for the fascinator in the pictures, but you could use a mix of materials based on this basic pattern to create a one-of-a-kind fascinator!
-large faux rose (red)
-one large ostrich feather (black)
-goose feather biots* (red)
-pheasant feathers* (red)
-coque feathers* (red)
-stiff black felt
-one large hair clip (I recommend alligator-style clips, I’ve had the best luck with these)
-scissors
-hot glue gun and glue cartridges
-large needle
-rhinestones (basic crystal)
-glue (I recommend GemTac, it dries clear and is easy to use)
-beaded string or ribbon
*Most feathers can be found in mixed bunches in the same area of a craft store as the faux flowers, it’s a good way to get a pile of different feathers without having to buy them all individually, all they require is a bit of disassembly.
Step 1:
Begin by breaking down your materials. You’ll need to remove the rose from its’ stem, cutting as close to the base of the flower as you can. Next you’ll need to disassemble the feather clusters to get at the individual parts. Set these aside in piles so that they’ll be ready at hand and easy to get to.
Remember: a neat workspace saves you time, hassle and possible big, sticky messes if you’re a haphazard hot-gluer like me!
Step 2:
Take the black felt and cut it into a rounded teardrop shape. You will then need to take your clip and secure it to the felt base, using hot glue. Make sure that you coat all but the very end of the clip with glue so that you will have the most secure base possible. The levering end of the clip should be aligned with the narrowest end of the felt, with the clip’s opening pointing towards the widest part. Leave a bit of the end sticking out past the felt, this will make it easier to put the clip on later.
Step 3:
Take your ostrich feather and coat the base with hot glue, you will need to apply enough glue so that the feather is secured along the entire length of the felt base. Align your feather in a way that maximizes the beauty of the ostrich feather, any overhang at the tip can be trimmed away.
Step 4:
Take a look at your pheasant feathers. In this piece, I’m using three of them, but feathers are like snowflakes and no two are alike. Take a moment to decide where and how you’ll want to place your feathers to best minimize any imperfections. I’ve decided to layer mine in unequal lengths, which will add depth and texture to the fascinator.
Now secure your pheasant feather in the same way that you secured your ostrich feather. Use hot glue at the base of each feather and wait until each is fully attached before adding the next one. Make sure your glue extends to the end of the felt base and be careful of your fingers, hot glue is just that: hot! Once again make sure that you trim the ends of your feathers, doing this as you go is much easier than trying to do it once you’re done.
Step 5:
Now you can move on to the coque feathers. I’ve added four of these to the base of the pheasant feathers in a fan shape. Secure these in the same way as you did the ostrich and the pheasant feathers. These feathers will be a little more tricky because they are a little more “fuzzy” than the others, just be patient!
Step 6:
Using goose feather biots can be tricky, but they add a real professional look to any hair piece. Deceptively delicate looking, they can be manipulated into almost any shape. For this piece, you’ll need to first secure one end of the biot to the base of your clip, wait a few moments and then glue down the other end. Viola! You now have an fascinating looking feathered loop added to your fascinator! Keep adding biots in this manner until you’ve got a large fan of loops, making sure that you don’t clump the bases all in one place. Your base is cut to make sure that you have plenty of room to spread out your glue.
Step 7:
Next, take your beaded ribbon and cut a few different lengths, you can then glue these in loops to the end of your base to provide a nice cascade of beads to give your fascinator a more elaborate look. I’ve found that this is a nice touch, but also one that can be easily left off according to personal preference.
Step 8:
Now comes the easiest step! Put a nice big dollop of hot glue on the bottom of your rose and attach it to your base. Make sure you check your positioning BEFORE you attach the rose, since this is the point of no return! Attach the rose in such a way that it covers up all the little ends of feathers and beaded stands. No one wants to see a messy base!
Step 9:
Because of the way a faux flower is shaped, you will usually be able to see underneath the where some of your messy ends are. This may not seem like a big deal, since you are viewing your fascinator from above, but it can easily be seen from the front when worn. So simply place a dab of glue on one of the bottom petals and press it closed over the base, that way all anyone will be able to see from the front is a beautiful flower!
Step 10:
Now for embellishment! The first thing one usually notices about a burlesque costume is the sparkle, so we’re going to add a bit of sparkle to our fascinator. I like to use GemTac or a similar product for this, using hot glue is too bulky and messy and using superglue will leave your crystals with a film that robs them of all luster.
a) Squeeze out a bit of glue onto a plate or a spare piece of felt. Use your needle to dab a line of glue down the shaft of one of your pheasant feathers. Following the natural line of the feather is the easiest way to figure out where to add rhinestones.
b) Now just place your crystals along the line of glue, tap down with your needle and wait for the glue to dry!
Now you can wear your very own handmade fascinator however you like! Use them for shows, costumes, photo-shoots, parties, weddings or even make a few small ones for everyday wear. The possibilities are literally endless. You are only limited by what sorts of materials you can find! The total cost of this project was less than $20 starting from scratch and almost all of us have a collection of supplies we use in costume making, so if you look around your craft space, you probably have most of the supplies already on hand!
Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is one of the most unique holidays in the world. Originating in Mexico, it is a celebration of the lives of those who have passed, and an invitation for them to return to visit for a day. More recently, it has become an American pop culture obsession. Want to join in on the celebration? Enjoy this handy DIY make-up tutorial on calavera, or skull, make-up applications.
We found this amazing video on ThreadBanger on making a hat block (or mold) to use to make an amazing custom hat on the cheap! Whether you are looking for a classic Fedora, Bowler, or Pork Pie- this video will show you how!
Don’t see video above? Click HERE
Want to make a FEZ instead?
Things You’ll Need
• 5-inch-square piece of felt
• 7-inch-high rectangle of felt of a length that is 1/2 inch more than your head’s circumference
• Scissors
• Needle
• Thread
• Small tassel
Instructions
Step 1: Cut the top of the hat from a 5-inch-square piece of felt. The top should be a circle. Although head sizes differ, a 4-inch diameter is usually sufficient for the top of the hat.
Step 2: Cut the body of the hat from a rectangle of felt. You want to end up with a curved rectangle of felt. Make sure one part of the curve is the circumference of the circle you made in Step 1. The sides of the curved rectangle should be about 4 inches, the height of the fez.
Step 3:
Wrap the curved rectangle of felt around your head to make sure it fits. Pin the loose sides together so that the fez sits securely on your head.
Step 4:
Sew the loose sides of the fez together using a needle and thread. Leave a 1/4-inch portion not sewn at the top. You will use this 1/4 inch to attach the body of the fez to its top.
Step 5:
Turn the body of the fez inside-out, and pin the remaining 1/4-inch portion to the circle that will be the top of the fez. You might need to snip the top 1/4 inch in a few places, so that you can sew it smoothly to the circle. Sew the two pieces together.
Step 6:
Sew the tassel to the center of the circular top of the fez.
Originally Published HERE
DIY: Saving the Taste of Summer (for Cocktails!)
by: Shoshana
Though it may not seem like it now, considering the record heat wave, soon summer will be over and with it goes all of the fabulous flavors of the season: fruits, berries, peppers, and herbs. Here are a few simple and clever ways to enjoy your favorite summer flavors, long after the sunshine is gone!
Herb Infused Ice Cubes
You can have great mojitos in the winter, by simply preserving your mint in ice cube trays.
Process: Strips leaves of of fresh mint sprigs, and chop leaves evenly. Portion so that each pile is one teaspoon of herb. Place each portion in separate compartment of ice cube tray, cover with water and freeze.
To use: Thaw and strain.
(This method also works well with just about any fresh herb.)
Herbed Simple Syrups
You can put a twist on a simple syrup, simply by infusing with herbs. (Simple syrup is equal parts white processed sugar and water, heated until sugar melts.)
Lemon Verbena Simple Syrup
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup fresh lemon verbena leaves
1/2 cup water
Chop and bruise the lemon verbena. Put sugar in a small saucepan with 1/2 cup water and stir to dissolve as it comes to a simmer over low heat. Let it simmer for just a couple minutes.
Stir in the lemon verbena and take off the heat. Let steep for fifteen minutes, and then put in the refrigerator to cool completely.
Fruit Infused Vodka
You will need:
A generous handful of washed & bruised fruit such as lemons, oranges, peaches, or berries. You can also use summer peppers for a spicy kick.
750ml Good Quality Vodka
Large Glass Jar
Steps:
1. Fill your jar halfway with fruit, then add enough vodka to fill to rim and cover with
tight-fitting lid.
2. Place jar in cool dark place (like pantry) for three days to a week. How will you
know when it’s ready? Taste it!
3. Once you have the flavor you want, strain it. Keep the fruit- it’s yummy but
powerful!
4. Store your infused vodka in the freezer to enjoy when summer is gone!
| To prop or not to prop… That is the question…
by: Vivienne Vermuth  Kitten Deville by Derek Jackson Photography There’s nothing like watching stagehands bring out a huge oversized prop or set piece before an act is performed… It sets the mood for the performance and gets the crowd buzzing about what to anticipate! On the other end of that scale however, it’s just as big a letdown to see that huge prop dismissed or not utilized to its scintillating potential. Or is it? Burlesque is all about the tease, the show, and the glam; whether it be in sparkling costumes, glittery makeup, or over the top sets and props. More and more performers are seen with big stage production pieces, with performers like Dita Von Teese leading the way in large-scale glittering props, such as her signature martini glass and her makeup compact. However… the question that is commonly asked… are big props necessary? In order to answer this, one must first make a checklist. First up- venue restrictions. Each time I choreograph a number, first thing I check is venue restrictions. Where is the most likely of places I am to perform this piece? If you live in a city setting like New York City, Jonny Porkpie had this to say -”I don’t have any numbers that require a large prop, but that’s probably partially because I live in New York, where the backstage can be small, the taxis very expensive, and the subways have a lot of stars.” Lugging around props is a major make or break point… If you own a big truck and don’t mind the extra show load, fabulous! If not, you may be finding yourself borrowing or scrounging to find suitable transport. Lastly- Do you interact with your prop, is it well thought out, and does the prop serve as an essential part of the performance? Props are tools, and they are only as good as the performer using them. As Penny Starr Jr. of California puts it, “I may remember the prop, but I rarely remember the act surrounding it. The prop should serve the act; the prop should not out-shine the performance.”
 Midnite Martini by Derek Jackson If you are going to use a prop, make sure it is sturdy (so that it will not fall apart on stage), is stage worthy (please don’t bring me you crudely hand-drawn sign), and it big enough to be seen by the back row (How am I supposed to read the title of that paperback from 100 feet away?). Some of my favorite big props – Midnite Martini of Colorado uses an aerial hoop to perform beautiful striptease, Viva la Muerte of Chicago uses a coffin in her tribute to Creepshow, and Lexa Lusty of Dallas uses multiple boxes and suitcases to contort in and out of before being stuffed into a suitcase and wheeled offstage. I highly suggest searching these folks and others (Angi B Lovely, Lula Hoop Garou, Roxi D’Lite, Catherine D’Lish, Lola Van Ella, etc.) and check out how they make use of their props. Jonny Porkpie teaches a great class called the Arc of the Tease, in which he talks about the best use of props being using them at least twice- the first to introduce it, then coming back to it at the end as part of the reveal so that the audience can understand its function as it’s related to you. One of our burlesque legends Big Fannie Annie says it best, “Props have always been done, and I think it adds [to the performance] if it is done well and with good taste!” If you choose to use props, large or small, keep it simple, use them to best advantage, and enlist the help of fellow performers to ensure you don’t go prop-overboard! Also, use YouTube, vimeo, and other resources such as burlesque hall.com, burlesque411.com, 21stcenturyburlesque.com and other sites to keep current and get inspired by other performers with amazing props! |
Courtney Crave by DallasPinUp.com
Congrats to Courtney Crave, who was just crowned Texas Pin-Up Model of the Year at Hot Rods and Heels last month!
Mini Lemonade Pies
It’s June. For those of us in Texas, we’ve been dealing with summer for a while now. For those of you not in Texas, welcome to summer! For me, summer desserts are supposed to be refreshing and cooling to save our tummies (and sanity) from the oppressive heat. Mini lemonade pies are the perfect hot weather treat for those who don’t like to share. I don’t know about you but when I get my dessert I want it for myself. So while everyone else is melting, you can keep chilly with your own oasis of zingy creamy coolness.
Ingredients
- 1 – 2 packages of 6 pre-made mini graham cracker pie crusts (I use Keebler Ready Crust brand)
- 1 14oz. can sweetened condensed milk, keep chilled
- 1 12oz. container of whipped topping, keep thawed
- 1 6 fl. oz. can of frozen lemonade concentrate, keep frozen*
- Optional garnish: graham cracker crumbs or candied lemon pie
*Note: different types of frozen lemonade concentrate can create different pie flavors. For traditional lemon pie use lemonade concentrate, for a sweeter lemon pie use pink lemonade concentrate (my favorite!), or for a key lime pie use frozen limeade concentrate.
Directions
- Pour the chilled sweetened condensed milk into a medium sized bowl. Gently fold in the thawed whipped topping. Slowly add the frozen lemonade concentrate and continue folding gently until well mixed, but don’t let the mixture get soupy. You may not need to use the whole can of frozen lemonade, I usually add to taste. For a stronger lemon punch use more, for a milder creamier flavor use less. Ladle the mixture into the mini pie crusts and keep them in the freezer overnight. Before serving garnish them with some graham cracker crumbs or candied lemon peel.
White Sangria
White sangria has to be one of my favorite summer drinks. I proved this once by drinking an entire punch bowl of it on my own at a pool party (not recommended, do not drink and swim). It’s really that good, so you want to make a lot. The sweet fruit flavors go great with the mini lemonade pies, except this time you should probably share.
Ingredients
- 1 bottle sparkling pear cider
- 1 cup white brandy (or more, to taste)
- 2 bottles white wine, such as Sauvignon Blanc or a Spanish wine
- 2 cups fresh blueberries
- 2 cups green grapes, cut in half
- 2 fresh peaches, cubed (no canned fruit!)
*Note: the amount of fruit you incorporate depends on how much fruit you like to have in your sangria. I prefer a lot, it adds more flavor and you get to eat it.
Directions
- Get a giant pitcher or punch bowl. Mix all the ingredients together, minus the sparkling pear juice. Let the fruit soak in the mixture for a few hours to bring out the flavors. Before serving, add the sparkling pear juice, if you add this too early it will go flat.
Are you a gal looking to rock a pompadour? Check out this neat little video tutorial:
Embedded version doesn’t work? Click HERE
