Tanya McQueen's Hollywood Life

Thirsty Thursday: Cherry Mojitos

Thu, 23 May 2013 18:27:00 GMT

It's the time of year when bing cherries go on sale, and I immediately think of making a big batch of this amazing cherry mojito drink and throwing a party. Either make your own simple syrup (by boiling water and sugar) or use the pre-made kind, then stir in lime juice and bing cherries for a DELICIOUS summery tasting simple syrup. Add syrup to a glass with sparkling water and cherry vodka, and you have an amazing mojito on your hands! (Mint is optional - I like the taste well enough, but I add it to the glass mostly to make it look more impressive). If you've got kids or teens on your hands, sub the vodka for some Sprite or 7-Up and add a few maraschino cherries for the novelty factor. Cherry-lime goodness for the whole family! Cheers!

Bing Cherry Mojito recipe from Martha Stewart, cherry mojito photo from Liquid Living Magazine

Decorating Your Home Bar

Wed, 22 May 2013 18:53:00 GMT

For anyone who likes to entertain (like me), a home bar area is definitely a necessity. Whether it's just a cart or a full blown section of your kitchen, having a bar with all the good stuff ready lets your guests take over getting themselves situated with drinks while you're free to prep dinner or make the rounds if it's a large party. Making a bar area look like you put some work into decorating it isn't as hard as you might think - I love the picture above with all the various things that go together to make it look like it was hard work. Paper straws, champagne on ice, a random pineapple (or really any other fruit you like), and vintage bottles always seem to do the trick. Every time you finish a bottle of booze that you like the look of, wash it out and keep a few on your bar for a VERY easy decorating trick. Put some dried flowers in there and earn an A++ for your minimal effort decorating skills. Cheers!! xoxo

Bar photo from This is Glamorous

Diy Chalkboard Walls

Tue, 21 May 2013 07:00:00 GMT

Chalkboard walls are just so darn creative. I love the idea. I think they would be perfect if you're always running late or forgetting things - if it's written on the wall, it's a lot harder to miss than in a calendar somewhere! Or if you have creative kids, a chalkboard wall would give them a larger-than-life canvas that you can easily erase if you don't want a wonky portrait of SpongeBob Squarepants on your wall forever. When they get distracted by the next exciting thing, just erase and start over with a blank canvas. It's actually pretty genius. Chalkboard walls definitely don't require the skills of a professional - walk yourself down to your local Home Depot, grab a pint of chalkboard paint, and give it a whirl. And if you decide you hate it in 6 months?? Just paint over it. No use crying over spilled chalk! (And speaking of spilling... chalk is MUCH more spill-proof than paint, and much less permanent than markers or crayons, too).

Chalkboard list from Edison Avenue, Chalkboard bathroom from Houzz

Target Does it Again

Mon, 20 May 2013 19:56:00 GMT

Damn do I LOVE Target. It's the perfect place to buy those cheap summer clothes that I'm going to get sandy, dirty, or stained with BBQ sauce before the summer is out. Target clothes are actually pretty darn cute though; they really know how to treat a lady! One of my favorite new blogs is the Target Does it Again girls, Jen and Laura. They totally get me. The entire blog is devoted to amazing things they find for a good deal at Target. You'd be surprised... there definitely is enough to devote an entire blog to Target deals!

Click to view/purchase (all from Target): Merona Striped Tote ($34.99), Sam & Libby Sonia Sliver Wedge Sandal ($34.99), Merona Shirt Dress - Indigo ($24.99), Xhilaration Fedora with Band ($12), Xhilaration 2 Piece Ikat Swimsuit ($28)

My Week in Pictures: May 10-16

Fri, 17 May 2013 16:27:00 GMT

Another fabulous week in the life of this Texas / LA transplant. Had an amazing Mama's Day last week; my kids are all amazing; they treat their mama well!!

Thirsty Thursday: Strawberry Super Smoothie

Fri, 17 May 2013 02:19:00 GMT

Well I've certainly been having my cake and eating it too the last few weeks, between all the traveling and vacationing I'm been doing I think it might be time to pull back the reins and kickstart the old "diet" that I like to try and fail at a few (dozen) times a year. Since it's Thirsty Thursday, I'm going to make an organic, LA style super smoothie with strawberries, bananas, spinach, apple juice, flax & chia seeds (because apparently they're amazingly good for you, not sure what I think about that, but I have a few friends that would talk your ear off about it), acai powder (which apparently you can buy at Whole Foods and I'm sure no other store ever), and some ginger for a bit of a kick. It's actually damn pretty delicious... I won't mind drinking these for a few days. Cheers! xo

Photo and recipe for the Strawberry Superfood Smoothie from Let's Talk Fitness

Pops of Orange

Wed, 15 May 2013 23:46:00 GMT

This week I'm loving pops of orange in neutral interiors. I've been scouring Pinterest for some new interior inspiration, and I keep coming back to these tiny pops of orange that make a space more interesting without doing anything very complicated. Orange isn't necessarily my favorite color (or really a color I would ever choose for anything really...), but for this I think it actually works. Here are my picks (below) for surprising, yet satisfying pops of orange. Cheers!

Top photos: Jonathan Adler Lamp, Hive pillow from Room & Board ($129), Orange bedroom photo from Pinterest, Hanging lights from This is Glamorous

Bottom photos from top to bottom, left to right: Purple couch photo, Orange living room photo from WSJ, Orange book photo from The Bene Blog, Orange outdoor pillows from Birch & Lily, Orange roses from BDG Style, Orange kitchen chairs from One Kings Lane

Lazy Pool Day in LA

Tue, 14 May 2013 22:31:00 GMT

Perfect weather for a lazy magazine day in my backyard. It's days like these that I absolutely love, love my backyard. For how much it's a pain in the ass sometimes (trying to get the damn grass to grow back here without being eaten by nasty, grass eating varmint!!), I really really do absolutely love it to pieces. I'm a damn lucky woman to have such a wonderful little piece of paradise right in my own backyard. I've got my swimsuit, a floppy hat, sandals, a glass of vino, and plenty of magazines. I'll be out here for a while...

Click to view/purchase: Oversized Floppy Hat from Target ($14.99), Mara Hoffman Frida V Wire Bikini ($194), Missoni Flip Flops ($511)

Chili Lime Corn on the Cob

Mon, 13 May 2013 21:03:00 GMT

I'm back from my island vacation getaway, and now it's time to get back to the real world! It's getting HOT outside, and I'm ready for some summer Texas style cooking. One of my favorite things in the summer is grilled corn on the cob - easy, delicious, and you can do it about a hundred different ways. One of my all time favorites is putting spicy chili lime butter on top of those delicious ears: it's easy, deliciously spicy, and tastes so much like summertime. I mix lime juice, chopped cilantro, jalepeno, garlic, salt, pepper, and chili powder into some butter and let it marinade in the fridge (really for as long as you like - make a big batch and use it later on, it stays good for a long time!) Grill up your corn with some S&P, then slather it with butter and some more lime juice when it cools down enough to devour it. Trust me, you'll be going back for more, and more, and more...

Corn on the cob photo from Vineet Kaur

My Week in Pictures: May 3-9

Fri, 10 May 2013 17:07:00 GMT

Y'all already know what I've been up to the last week... having an AMAZING time with family on the island of Mustique. It kills me to get back to the real world... but I guess it had to happen sooner or later. I'll be dreaming about the sun, sand, and drinks in my hand for at least another week or two... have a fabulous weekend, everyone!! xo

Thirsty Thursday: Caribbean Rum Punch

Thu, 09 May 2013 07:00:00 GMT

One of my absolute favorite things about Mustique is the signature rum punch. It's so amazing that I absolutely MUST have it every time I come; no trip could possibly be complete without it. When I'm feeling nostalgic, I like to mix some up at home, sit outside in the sun with my eyes closed, and pretend I'm there. Los Angeles doesn't smell nearly as good as the Caribbean... but you get the idea. Last March I posted a recipe for my Mustique rum punch (click to read the post and make it yourself!), and this year I'm drinking these bad boys again, and loving every second of it. Cheers from the Caribbean!!

Off to Canouan

Wed, 08 May 2013 21:59:00 GMT

Getting ready to visit the island of Canouan and couldn't be more excited!! Canouan is just about 10 miles southwest of Mustique, and it's just as tiny. I'll be laying on the white sandy beach and soaking up all the beauty the island has to offer before jetting off back to Mustique to finish out this vacation, which has so far been unbelievable. Signing OFF - with love from the Grenadines!

Photos from my Instagram and First Class Holidays

Sunrise House Mustique

Tue, 07 May 2013 22:56:00 GMT

During our much needed Mustique vacation, we're staying at Sunrise House - and let me tell you, this place is UNBELIEVABLE. There's sun, sand, beachy, airy rooms, amazing service, a pool and outdoor hot tub to knock your socks off - I swear if I didn't have to get back to real life, I think I might stay here forever. Soon we're off to Canouan for some more island hopping adventures. Today I'm just loving life and working on my best bronze.

All photos from the Sunrise House website

Tom is 40

Mon, 06 May 2013 18:26:00 GMT

This weekend my wonderful, amazing, obnoxious, and handsome husband Tom turned the big 4-0. Three plane rides later, we're celebrating big on the island of Mustique with plenty of sun, sand, and food. This really is the life and I wouldn't want to spend it any other way. Happy birthday Tom!!! xoxo

My Week in Pictures: April 26 - May 2

Fri, 03 May 2013 18:59:00 GMT

Another amazing week in the life of this crazy Texan. One fabulous photo shoot means a LOT of new goodies coming for the blog. In the meantime, tonight I'm heading off to.... MUSTIQUE! Hello, bronze goddess, here I come!