Equally comforting over ice during a heatwave or neat during the winter while you’re wrapped in a blanket by the fire—I’m calling this my new exceptionally easy go-to.

Sometimes I think I try too hard, think too much—everything has to be thisclose to perfect or all the other good things will fall apart; if I post this, then this will happen, and all the other good things will fall apart. Hence why I haven’t done the things I love for this site. All in the name of being exceptional or bust.

This site may never reach global millions. It might. But more than likely it’s going to stay a digital shoebox of my favorite memories and pieces of life, shared with the people who want to read it (maybe 2, maybe 200, maybe millions). And that’s not perfect OR exceptional OR a bust.

It just is.

Last week I asked my best friend over a quick text if she would be into a little mezcal/aperol mash-up. I made this cocktail recipe for the two of us over the weekend. I photographed everything on Saturday and edited the photos on Sunday. I wrote this post on the way to the subway, wrote some more on the train out to work, added to it over lunch, and finalized it all on my computer at home.

Life comes together in pieces—I’m coming together in pieces—and for a long time I convinced myself that wasn’t okay, that it wasn’t a good representation of a woman who has her life together. Whatever the hell having it all together means. Maybe that’s this way? Maybe that’s this way for just me, but a lot of different other ways for everyone else. Regardless, I’ll just be here, drinking this cocktail and convincing myself I don’t need to think so much about it. Pretty sure you just want the recipe anyway ;).

Mezcal Aperol Gimlet with a Twist

Equally comforting over ice during a heatwave or neat during the winter while you’re wrapped in a blanket by the fire—I’m calling this my new exceptionally easy go-to. Make it once following the recipe, and twist it up to be yours the second time around. Do please tell me what you changed in the comments; I’d love to know. Enjoy!

Ingredients: