I sometimes wonder, why is this day full of things that don’t go well? Where is my flow and the positive vibe? Most times things don’t work out when I am too busy trying to do too many things at a time. So I decided to take it step by step and no longer worry about time. If something slows me down, I accept that and let the burden work for me anyways. And of course there are the moments I look forward to, for example an aperitivo during the blue hour or entertaining my friends at home. I thought of some ideas to take advantage of the disadvantage, stay optimistic and enjoy a sip of Aperol either classically as a Spritz or as different cocktails. Let me tell you.
1. FRIENDS DECIDED TO POP IN AND STAY FOR DINNER
Of course you can call any kind of food delivering service, there are so many today, but being a perfect hostess can be so easy. Have some simple things always in your kitchen and indulge your friends so that they will be impressed.
ALL YOU NEED: Some large Sicilian lemons, fine spaghetti, salt & pepper, peperoncino, olive oil, one clove of garlic and 2 tablespoons of Aperol
HOW TO DO IT: Cook the spaghetti al dente. At the same time put 3 tablespoons of olive oil in a saucepan with the peeled garlic clove and the very finely chopped peperoncino. Then chop off the lemon peel and cut it also in tiny little pieces. Put the peel in the saucepan and season with salt & pepper. Finish with the Aperol for extra tasty bitterness and mix the spaghetti into the sugo. Let it soak a moment before enjoying the lemon pasta with a perfect mix of a glass of Aperol Spritz.
IRMA’S TIP: If you have a glass of fresh, young Italian olives in the fridge you can cut them into slices and sprinkle on top of the pasta. It looks great and adds a delicious flavour.
2. WHEN YOU ARE RUNNING OUT OF TIME
Being organized is the key to success in our busy lives. But even the best to do lists don’t help when at the end of the day you only manage to get half of the important things done. Thank God for smart apps! Take Carrot, for example, which is more of a getting things done app than a simple to-do list app. The basics are simple: Swipe down to add a new item, swipe right to remove it, swipe left to access the settings and options. It’s also a kind of a game: As you complete tasks, you win points, so working off your to do lists and getting stuff done becomes a fun game. Plus: The app’s time manager sends you reminders to complete a task in time.
3. WHEN YOU ARE STANDING IN LINE BUT HAVE A MILLION OF OTHER THINGS TO DO
No worries, we all have our office with us and thanks to our iPhone you can not only enjoy the time and looking at Instagram or Pinterest for new inspiration but you can answer your business e-mails thanks to the built-in “intelligent assistant” Siri by simply dictating them. Organize your personal photos or just sample your own music on Spotify.
4. STUCK IN TRAFFIC ON YOUR WAY BACK HOME
Use this time and do some weight lifting in your car. Yes, arm crunches are possible, breathing exercises will calm your mind at the same time, and abdominal squeezes (3 series of 20 each) can easily be done while sitting in your car seat. Twist your arm wrists into different directions (change sides after 20 each) and do the same with your feet. You will arrive at your destination well toned and happy.
5. WHEN YOUR ENERGY IS LOW IN THE MORNING
Yes, walk or bike to your office and have a healthy breakfast in a jar (The Aperol Jar) when you arrive. You will be awarded with a glow on your face and the brainfood will fuel your body with tons of energy.
6. IRMA’s Aperol Jar recipe for a healthy breakfast
Cook 1 cup of Quinoa in 2 cups of water for 20 minutes. Rinse off all water and season with cinnamon and some fresh lemon. Put finely cut fresh seasonal fruits on top and add your favourite nuts and some coconut flakes on top. Close the jar and shake well. Enjoy!
Of course you can call any kind of food delivering service, there are so many today, but being a perfect hostess can be so easy. Have some simple things always in your kitchen and indulge your friends so that they will be impressed.
If you want to find out about all the cocktails you could mix with Aperol, I suggest to download the app The Liquor Cabinet for everything you need to know to entertain your guests.
SUMMER CHALLENGE
Tell IRMA how you get back to the sunny side of life and you can win one of two bottles of Aperol and one of two table barrels.
This post was made possible with the kind support of Aperol.