Girlfriends Happy Hour

Monica, Ashley & Melanie are together again in the Podcast Lounge enjoying Caramel Apple Cider Mimosas, preparing for all the Thanksgiving food and the upcoming holiday movie season. Melanie finally has Monica hooked on Hallmark movies, Ashley shares the rules for making a good Hallmark movie and Melanie tries to stump them by playing Guess the Fake Hallmark Movie by the plot synopsis. Monica discloses that she has a haunting in her home! This and much more! Cocktail of the Day: Caramel Apple Cider Mimosas - rim a champagne glass with caramel and dip in cinnamon sugar. Fill glass half and half with apple cider and champagne and CHEERS!

This week our frequent guest, Karyn, joins Monica and Melanie in the Podcast Lounge to chat about our recent trip to the theater to watch A Star is Born, we also play a game and the competition is on! Come on in and join us for some hilarious happy hour banter, we saved a seat at the bar for you! Cocktail of the day: Razz-Ma-Tazzy-Jazzy Cooler: fresh raspberries muddled in a tall cooler glass with fresh squeezed lime and a splash of concentrated cranberry juice, fill with ice and club soda - add raspberry vodka if you are not teaching dance or working out after.

An exciting happy hour in the Podcast Lounge this week as we welcome a couple of special guests! Jenn Carpenter is a local Author and Founder of her own true crime and paranormal touring company, Demented Mitten Tours! She shares frightening tales from her personal experiences, the local tours and her newest book, Haunted Lansing. We also have our good friend Dani with us as we sip cocktails and share spooky stories along with a lot of laughs!  Come on in and join us, we saved a seat at the bar for you! Cocktail of the day: Demented Mittentini  Muddle 6-8 raspberries in the bottom of a martini or highball glass with 1/2 lime squeeze, splash of triple sec and a dash of 100% pure cranberry juice. For martini, mix 2oz vodka, 4 oz raspberry lemonade, 2oz club soda in a shaker with ice and strain into glass. For highball, fill glass with ice and then add remaining ingredients and stir. Garnish with a lime wheel. BUY Haunted Lansing by Jenn Carpenter on Amazon HERE

We're sharing a mini happy hour today, covering topics such as our latest Netflix obsessions, sneaking out to t.p. the neighbors, Michigan lighthouse trivia and a lighthouse haunting, a crazy story from Disney World and more Girlfriend chat! Come on in and join us, we saved a seat at the bar for you! Cocktail of the day: Irish Coffee 2oz Jameson Irish Whiskey in 8oz fresh brewed hot or iced coffee

The girls are back in the (New) podcast lounge, kicking off season 2 with a few recaps on "The Road So Far". (nod to Melanie's fellow SPN fangirls!), some of our favorite episodes/themes and what to expect in the upcoming season! Come on in and join us, we saved a seat at the bar for you! Cocktail: Always Bring Your Own Sunshine 2oz white rum, 1 oz orange juice, 4 dashes cranberry bitters, splash fresh pineapple juice & club soda, lemon squeeze. Mix it up and pour over ice, garnish with a pineapple.

This week Ashley is out and Monica and Melanie are holding down the fort chatting about terrible neighbors in suburbia, Michigan living, vacations gone bad and so much more! Join us as we crack open some canned wine and dish in the lounge!

The Girlfriends have some sad news to share about a member of the GHH podcast lounge and then the conversation centers on discussion of Ashley & Melanie's favorite, Stephen King, and his great novel and film Pet Sematary. Don't know much about or care for Stephen King? Neither does Monica, you'll fit right in! Join us for Casamigos tequila on the rocks (because George Clooney makes us feel better!)  F*@k-it-all Tequila on the rocks: Fill a wine glass with ice, pour in tequila, squeeze a little lime and call it good!

Ashley's back in the lounge with Monica & Melanie, and our special guest, Renee! Cucumber mint martinis were flowing! Along with our usual happy hour fun, we're covering a story that hit close to home 35 years ago. On June 26th, 1983, 16 year old Erik Stirling Cross was murdered in Vicksburg, Michigan. The killers are known, no arrests have been made to this day. We want Justice for Erik Cross! (Story starts at 20:33)  Cucumber Mint Martinis Combine 2 slices cucumber, 5 mint leaves, 1/2 fresh squeezed lime and .25oz simple syrup in a shaker and crush with a muddler. Add 3oz vodka and fill with ice. Cover and shake, then strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with a cucumber slice. Multiply as needed.

Ashley is out filming her movie so Monica, Melanie and Karyn are drinking champagne in the Podcast Lounge re-capping the Royal Wedding, taking a Royal (pain-in-the-ass) quiz, Mother's Day chat, neighbor window peeping, the joys and pains of mothering (and teaching your kids to swear), food - of course, fangirling or not, Monica's facial reactions, we read an email from a Girlfriend listener and so much more! Just your usual happy hour chat! Come on in and join us, we saved a seat at the bar for you!

Ashley couldn't make it today, Monica and Melanie are back in the GHH Podcast Lounge doing a little Cinco de Mayo daydrinking & covering whatever topic comes out of the Chat Hat. Shake up a margarita and join in! Yep, Melanie forgot margaritas were the cocktail of the day last time too!  2oz Hornitos Plata Tequila 1oz Triple Sec 1 freshly squeezed lime Shake well over ice in a cocktail shaker, pour into a martini glass & enjoy (salted rim and lime garnish to your liking, duplicate as needed)

Ashley's back in the lounge and we're catching up on recent events! David Letterman's new Netflix show with George Clooney which was the inspiration for our cocktail of the day crafted with Casamigos Tequila, then on to what's motivating us at work, tattoos, The Catacombs, and we play a trivia game which leads into some interesting discussions. Come on in and join us, we saved a seat at the bar for you! Cocktail of the day: Hot n' Bothered Margarita Casamigos Blanco tequila, homemade honey syrup, fresh lime juice, jalapeno, squeeze of orange, chilled and served straight up with an orange twist.

This week Monica and Melanie are joined by their friend Karyn while Ashley is off filming and things get rowdy in the podcast lounge as the wine and conversation flow! We cover everything from camping, traveling and wineries to movies and celebrity sightings and so much more! Come on in and join us, we saved a folding chair in the driveway around the firepit for you!   Our wines today were both out of Napa Valley, California: Troublemaker red blend wine, Austin Hope Winery, Paso Robles Menage a Trois Decadence 2015 Cabernet Souvignon

This week the Girlfriends are chatting about a favorite podcast, Wine & Crime, and their recent tale of a tragic murder that hits close to home. They then discuss one of the most disturbing cases of child sexual assault in our nation's history, local former doctor and serial child molester Larry Nassar, his abuse and betrayal of trust. The discussion turns to those to be celebrated - the brave women who came forward and Judge Rosemarie Aquilina who presided over the case with authority and compassion for the survivors.  Cocktail of the day:  Vanilla Old Fashioned 1.5 oz Vanilla Crown Royal .25 oz Simple Syrup 2-3 dashes bitters Stir together with ice in a cocktail shaker, pour into rocks glasses filled with ice and garnish with an orange peel.

Yikes, it's episode 13 and we're sharing spooky stories in the podcast lounge! (We didn't even realize it was 13 until after recording!) We have a guest this week - Thomas is sharing his crazy Ouija story (seriously, Ouija session in a dark basement on Halloween?? What was he thinking?!) Thanks for joining us! Cocktail of the day: Fire Shock! 1oz vodka 1oz fire whiskey 3-4oz lemonade Pour over ice in a sugar rimmed glass with a lemon wheel garnish.

This week, Ashley is off filming so it's Monica & Melanie in the lounge chatting about the movie "Winchester" and the Winchester Mystery House that the movie is based on. They also share what they've been binge watching, their newest podcast obsession along with all the usual fun happy hour chatter. Cocktail of the day - the Winchester Fill a copper mug with ice, pour in 1 1/2 - 2oz vodka, squeeze in 1/2 a lime, fill with ginger beer, add a couple ounces of sparkling juice (your choice of flavor - we used pomegranate) and garnish with a lime wedge. 

The Girlfriends are back from hiatus and chatting about everything from proper Happy New Year etiquette to Ashley's latest movie project to the Golden Globes and pet adoptions. Join us, there's always a seat at the bar for you! Cocktail of the Day: Fresh Start Fill wine glass with crushed ice, mix together 2oz vodka, 2oz juice of choice (we used cran/raspberry), add champagne and top with orange zest.

This week we're talking about Netflix and Stranger Things!  The episode begins with a dunce corner moment and a shout out to some other fabulous female hosted podcasts, then a little Netflix trivia before diving in to our favorite things about the Stranger Things franchise.    Cocktail of the day: Pure Fuel Punch 1 1/2oz tequila  1 oz OJ 1/2 oz Triple Sec 1/2 fresh squeezed lime Dash of Prickly Pear syrup Splash of sparkling pomegranate juice Serve in sugar rim mason jar over ice (don't forget the green straw)

In this Thanksgiving quickie the Girlfriends enjoy mimosas while sharing their Thanksgiving (non)traditions and Melanie gets sappy with her Hallmark Christmas movie talk.  Ashley shares a new podcast Melanie should listen to (not watch!). Remember - take out your giblet bags, pizza places are not open on Thanksgiving, celebrate Drinksgiving, drive safely and pop some eggnog cherries this year! Happy Thanksgiving to all our listeners! Cocktail of the day: Mimosas - fill 3/4 glass w/champagne, add orange juice leaving enough room for a couple ounces of sparkling pomegranate juice and garnish with some cranberries for a festive look. 

This week the happy hour chat is all about movies, movies, movies! What we've been watching, what's already released and what we are looking forward to. Let us know what movies are on your must-see list! Send an email to girlfriendshappyhour@gmail.com.  Cocktail of the day: Spicy Pickletini Mix equal parts spicy pickle juice and vodka, shake well in a shaker filled with ice, pour into a martini glass and garnish with a spicy pickle spear.

This week the Girlfriends are talking Urban Legends! They start ​​with stories of tainted Halloween candy and the horrific true crime tale of The Man who Killed Halloween, aka The Candyman, from Pasadena, Texas. Next stop is Westfield, New Jersey and the creepy saga of The Watcher house. Then it's back home for the legend of the Michigan Dogman, a cryptozoological (yeah, you try pronouncing that!) creature allegedly roaming the forests in northern Michigan.   Cocktail of the Day: Pixie Stick 1 1/2oz Gin or Vodka (your choice) 1 1/2oz Midori Mix in a shaker, pour into a sugar rim martini glass and top off with Sprite or 7-Up. 

The Girlfriends keep it simple and screw open a couple bottles of red wine and learn about the history of Halloween traditions. Then Melanie's friend Brett shares his creepy Story From The Street about a restless spirit living in his home in this special Halloween mini-episode. 

(Subtitle: That is not normal thumbtack behavior!) The Girlfriends asked for stories and you provided!  This episode features Stories from the Street shared by friends and listeners.  First up, a few heartwarming tales of loved ones reaching out from beyond the grave. The ladies sip on Red Skull Mojitos while sharing a haunting tale of a Ouija board session gone awry. Ashley educates us on the spooky history of the Ouija board and also the scientific theory behind it (you decide!).  We hear another creepy tale about a spiritual cleansing and more tales to give you chills and make the hair on your neck stand up!   Cocktail of the day: Red Skull Mojito (Makes 3) 3/4 cup Crystal Head Vodka 6-9 raspberries muddled with 12 leaves fresh mint and a splash of Triple Sec 2 fresh squeezed limes 3/4 cup pomegranate/blueberry juice Shake thoroughly in a cocktail shaker, strain into martini glasses, top with a splash of sparkling citrus flavored soda and garnish with a lime wheel. (A sugar rim would be a great addition!)  

Part 2 of the Girlfriend's Halloween-time scary movie chat. They delve into some must-see scary films and played a little of the "I can't believe you haven't seen that movie!" game. Cocktail of the day: Bloody Scary Mary (makes 3 servings) 3 Cups Organic veggie juice (or tomato juice of your choice) 1/2 C. Ketel One (or vodka of choice) 2 TBS fresh squeezed lemon juice (about 1 lemon) 1 TBS Peri Peri sauce (we used medium) Wildtree lemon pepper seasoning (or seasoned salt and pepper) Rim the glass with lime juice (or extra vodka) and dip in seasoned salt (we used a store bought spicy lemon-lime bloody mary salt, or just use Lawry's seasoned salt) Garnish with a lime wedge, spicy pickle spear and vodka infused cherry/grape tomatoes and olives.

Part 1 of what was to be a Halloween theme conversation turned into Melanie sharing part of her breast cancer story (which is real life scary stuff!), Ashley shared her latest film projects and experiences as an extra on movie sets, Ashley and Melanie re-capped their backstage meet & greet with Karen and Georgia of MFM (which did not go exactly as either had planned!), the pros and cons of Adam Sandler and other various celebrities, chili cook-offs and more Girlfriend chat! Cocktail of the day: Red Devil (makes 3 servings) 6 oz. tequila (this week features Olmeca Altos Plata 100% agave) 3 oz. triple sec 2 1/2 fresh squeezed limes 1 1/2 TBS homemade mixed berry simple syrup 1 seeded and finely minced jalapeno Shake thoroughly over ice and pour into 3 martini glasses.   A few breast cancer statistics (this episode was edited to correct/include the proper statistics so as not to confuse anyone listening, as it is such an important topic): 1) Early detection is not a guarantee but can be easier to treat. 2) Young women can get breast cancer too - be your own advocate, if you feel that something is wrong insist on further testing. 3) LESS THAN 15% of women diagnosed with breast cancer have a family history of someone who has, or had, breast cancer. 4) About 12% of U.S. women will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of her lifetime. 5) Men can get breast cancer too, the odds are around 1/1000. 6) There is no "cure", you can be N.E.D. (no evidence of disease) but there is always the chance of recurrence.

The ladies serve up Whiskey Gingers and welcome special guest Girlfriend Joanna to chat all about true crime; their favorite true crime shows and podcasts, how excited they are for the upcoming My Favorite Murder Podcast live show, what inspired them to start their podcast and a few experiences with some very inappropriate and creepy men and how they thank MFM for encouraging them to stay sexy and fuck politeness. Whiskey Ginger recipe: 1.5oz Crown Royal 4oz Vernors (because, Detroit!) 1 lime wedge  

The ladies save a seat at the bar for you while they sip on cosmos and have their first inevitable beverage spillage.  They touch on The Shining and then things really get chilling when Ashley and Monica share some of their personal paranormal experiences. Cosmo Recipe: 1.5oz Ketel One vodka (or Absolute Citron) 1oz Grand Marnier (or Triple Sec / Cointreau) 1/2 of a fresh squeezed lime a splash of cranberry juice (about 1oz, to taste) garnish with a lemon twist  

Melanie presents gifts to Ashley and Monica which reveal the cocktail of the day (spoiler alert - it's shots) and what is their favorite tv show, chat about Stephen King and play a game called "Who's That Chris?"

In the premiere episode the Girlfriends celebrate with champagne and Monica schools Melanie on proper mic technique (which they definitely did not edit out!). There's plenty of hot 'n spicy cocktail and pickle talk, a stupid robber story (who the hell is Mayor McCheese anyway?), and discussion about the movies Kingsman: The Golden Circle, Mother! and Mama (bless their hearts). Cocktail of the day: Champagne - Korbel Brut Fun fact: Extra Dry champagne is, in fact, sweeter than Brut due to its higher sugar content.

Pour a cocktail, relax and prepare to laugh along with the women of Girlfriends Happy Hour!  Longtime friends, Ashley, Monica and Melanie invite you to join them in the Podcast Lounge.  Each episode features a different happy hour beverage and topic of conversation, including their favorite movies and tv shows, true crime and paranormal events, along with fun banter and advice to solve all the world's problems! Cheers!