All posts by Beth Dotolo

Must-Try Cocktail: Brandy Alexander

My husband and I (especially my husband) are big John Lennon fans. Each year on his birthday we make Lennon’s favorite drink, the Brandy Alexander, and listen to John Lennon together. This Friday, October 9th, marks what would have been Lennon’s 75th birthday. And, since I can’t resist a celebration, I’m sharing this classic recipe with you in hopes you’ll celebrate right along with me…

I am he as you are he as you are me
and we are all together.

– john lennon

Must-try Cocktail: Brandy Alexander Ingredients

Ingredients:

1 oz Brandy | 1 oz Creme De Cacao | 1 oz Half and Half

Equipment:

coupe glass |  jigger  | cocktail shaker

Instructions:

Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker. Add ice. Shake until cocktail shaker is frosty on the outside. Strain into a chilled coupe or martini glass. Enjoy!

Must-try Cocktail: Brandy Alexander

It’s a decadence for sure. But, hey- we’re celebrating Lennon. Cheers!

Photography by Kevin Dotolo

how to take the perfect bath - pulpdesignstudios.com/blog

How to Take the Perfect Bath

interior by Pulp Design Studios

I am a huge fan of the bath. I used to think I was too busy or too antsy to sit in a pool of water, and instead opted for showers for most of my adult life. That is, until about 5 years ago when my busy life made the slow-down a necessity.

Now, my body and my mind craves a daily soak to wind down, clear my head, and catch up on my favorite book- getting a bit of an escape from the kids doesn’t hurt either. 

Try taking the perfect bath for yourself…

Beth’s tips for the perfect bath:

  1. Set the mood. Get the lighting right, light some amazing candles, gather all your bathing essentials in one spot, make sure your towel and robe are nearby, and start running your bath.
  2. Make sure the temperature is right. Test with the inside of your wrist. I like the water hot enough that it stings just a little getting in so that it will stay warm for the duration of my bath.
  3. Detoxify. I typically skip all the bubble baths and fancy products and opt for epsom salt. If you’re soaking regularly this will save you a ton of money and actually give your body some detoxifying and healing benefits. Add 2 cups to hot water.
  4. Supplement your soak. Depending on your needs, add in some additional supplements to your bath. I add in a couple drops of essential oils depending on how I’m feeling. If I need to relax and sleep, I add lavender essential oils. If I need a little pep in my step, I add lemon essential oil. And, if my skin needs hydration, I add in a coconut milk bath soak on top of my epsom salt.
  5. Always double fist. It’s super important to stay hydrated. I force myself to drink an entire glass of water in the tub since you’ll be prone to sweating out toxins. But, I also keep a little mood setting drink nearby. If I’m feeling sick or trying to stay healthy, I’ll drink tea. But, most nights it’s wine or whiskey.
  6. The right read. Whatever you do, stay unplugged. But, make sure you’ve got a book or magazine that makes you happy or helps you relax.
  7. Mask yourself. Once a week, I take my bath time as an opportunity to add in a beauty treatment. I either do a face mask or a hair mask that can stay on for more than 30 minutes- this is usually a hydrating treatment.
  8. End on a good note. Make sure you take that relaxation with you when you leave the bathroom. Lather yourself up with a great moisturizer after getting out of the bath and wrap up in a cozy robe.

How to take the perfect bath - pulpdesignstudios.com

interior by Pulp Design Studios

Beth’s essentials for a perfect bath:

 

how to take the perfect bath

  1. Epsom Salt 3 lb, $8 |  2. White Tahiti Candles, $62 |  3. Teak Bathtub Caddy, $40 |  4. Coconut Soak, $44  |  5. Cozy Robe, $132 | 6. Dermalogica Skin Hydrating Masque, $41 | 7. dōTERRA Lavender Essential Oil, $23

 

Howard Wang Testimonial

The experience with Pulp Design Studios was amazing.  So much knowledge in the field and everything from design to architectural structure was done to precision!  We still reflect back and look at how beautiful the decor is. We have worked with other interior designers and bar none this was the best experience.  Carolina and Beth did such a a wonderful job.  We completely trusted them with this process and would definitely recommend them to anyone trying to design a restaurant!

Corinne & Clay Testimonial

Pulp Design Studios is always respectful of our budgets and our ideas, and they chose great pieces that are unique but practical. They were wonderful at mixing lower-end pieces with some fantastic high-end, splurge pieces. They create vibrant, unique, sophisticated spaces that are also livable and practical for a family. We just adore the Pulp team and would highly recommend them to anyone.

Kathleen Testimonial

I needed help with ideas and the expertise of a designer for the final details of my home. I wanted to hire a professional that had access to trade sources so I could get the look I wanted. I loved working with Carolina and felt confident she would stay on top of things. When I first saw my newly completed space it was terrific and exactly what we wanted and needed. Everything is still the way Pulp left it and we are still enjoying it! Pulp really gave our home that finishing touch.

Phoebe Testimonial

Pulp Design Studios is AWESOME! I have worked with them for a year and a half to consult on the finishes, paint, lighting, furniture, bedding and window treatments for my new-build home. The planning was phenomenal! I wanted to kiss them for their lighting selections! The furniture is out of this world and I was able to start receiving my new furniture for my new home one day after moving in! There is no way I could have done this and this would not have been as well planned out if we went with designers from a high end furniture store. If you cannot tell, I love them and if I had to choose all over again, I would choose Pulp Design Studios. They were amazing to work with!

Must-Try Cocktail: The Aviation

Aviation Cocktail Pulp Design Studios I’ve been drinking a lot of Aviation Cocktails lately (and posting about it on my personal Instagram, way too regularly)! It is such a beautiful cocktail, with a gorgeous purple hue, so it’s perfect for entertaining to create that wow factor. The Aviation Cocktail is a perfect drink to transition you into the Fall season while it’s not quite cold and not quite hot. There are a few iterations of this classic cocktail, but I’ve found that this is my winning balance. Try it for yourself:  

Serves 2  

 

4 oz Gin (preferred brand: Big Gin)

1 oz Maraschino Liqueur (preferred brand: Luxardo)

.5 oz Creme de Violette Liqueur

1 oz Fresh Squeezed Lemon Juice

4 Maraschino Cherries (preferred brand: Toschi)  

Add liquors and lemon juice into a cocktail shaker. Add ice to the top of the shaker. Shake until the outside of the shaker is frosty. Double Strain into a chilled coupe glass (this is where you pour the cocktail into your glass over a fine mesh strainer to make sure you don’t get a ton of pulp in your cocktail). Garnish with 2 maraschino cherries per glass and serve.  

Cheers!  Aviation Cocktail by Pulp  Aviation Cocktail Pulp Design Studios   Photography by Kevin Dotolo

Behind-The-Scenes: A Pulp Summer 2015

pulp summer 2015

We’ve been crazy busy this summer wrapping up Pulp Design Studios projects and preparing something really exciting (launching at the end of this month)! Watch a little video below of us and our amazing team, finalizing projects, doing photo and video shoots, and all the shenanigans in between… We are so excited to share the results of this summer’s hard work with all of you in the coming weeks!

 

BIG NEWS: We’re sharing the very first teaser of our big news next week in our newsletter: Pulp Design Studios Newsletter. We send out exclusive news, info, and tips that we don’t share here on the blog! Big design things are coming- Sign up so you don’t miss a thing.

 

 

pulp design studios, beth dotolo, carolina v gentry