They had me at $5 margarita. Oh, but did I walk away with so much more.
It was our first night in Del Mar, California just a few weeks back, and the hubs knew of a quaint spot for dinner called Americana that prided itself on fresh, local ingredients and sweeping sunset views over the ocean.
He thought it was “my kind of place” that had a vintage flea market – meets – 50’s diner kind of feel, with a food and drink menu that spoke my language: margarita specials from the bar, and sautéed kale and farro risotto from the kitchen.
But the WOW factor for me was when the waitress brought out my specially-priced margarita on the rocks – in a Ball® Heritage Collection blue pint-size mason jar.
After immediately Instagramming this gloriousness that I was about to imbibe, I inquired about the quirky little glass.
“It’s the 100 year anniversary of the Ball® mason jar apparently,” the server explained. “They made these cute little blue ones to commemorate. They’re fun, aren’t they?”
Fun, indeed! And über-functional those little centenarian jars that they are.
My dear friend, Adriana, and her family have been using mason jars for years to preserve tomatoes at harvest time during late summer.
And how many of you have ever received a cookie mix perfectly layered in a mason jar as a gift at a holiday or celebration?
I know of a few health clubs that serve their “green juices” in mason jars, and there’s no shortage of ways to use them for storage.
Over the summer, I attended a products show for the media in NYC, and had the chance to preview Cool Gear’s take on a sip bottle in the form of – you guessed it: a vintage blue mason jar.
There’s something kinda retro cool about the jar and the myriad of uses for it is endless. Caught up in the nostalgia, I even picked up a six-pack of Ball’s® Limited Edition Vintage Style Jars at my local Target. The iconic shrink-wrapped package advertises the “Perfect Mason 100th Anniversary”, that the jars are MADE in USA and can be used for all of my Preserving needs.
I can assure you that my Preserving needs are nill. The only need that I had was to have these super cool jars. And maybe have a nice little cocktail out of them once in a while.
Eh, I’ll figure out what exactly I’ll use them for once I poke around Pinterest a bit.
But in the meantime, let’s raise a mason jar margarita to 100 years of perfection!
{Giveaway Alert: To commemorate the 100 year anniversary of the Perfect Mason jar, mom a la mode is giving away a Cool Gear Mason Jar Sip Bottle!
To enter to win, simply comment below with either the coolest way you’ve seen a Mason Jar being used, or what you’ve Preserved in one yourself.
Winner will be selected from random.org. Promo ends Tuesday, September 10th at 11:59pm EST. Maximum amount of entries per person is (3).}
oxox
-mom a la mode
{I was not compensated in any way for this post. I did receive a complimentary Cool Gear Mason Jar sip bottle for review purposes. All opinions expressed here are solely mine.}
{Giveaway Fine Print:
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. A PURCHASE DOES NOT IMPROVE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
1. Promotion Description: The ‘COOL GEAR’ (“Sweepstakes”) begins on 09/08/2013 at 07:30 PM (Eastern Time (US & Canada)) and ends on 09/10/2013 at 11:59 PM (Eastern Time (US & Canada)) (the “Promotion Period”). By participating in the Sweepstakes, each entrant unconditionally accepts and agrees to comply with and abide by these Official Rules and the decisions of COOL GEAR (“Sponsor”), which shall be final and binding in all respects. Sponsor is responsible for the collection, submission or processing of Entries and the overall administration of the giveaway. Entrants should look solely to Sponsor with any questions, comments or problems related to the Sweepstakes.
2. Eligibility: Open to legal residents of USA who are 18 or older. Void where prohibited or restricted by law. Sponsor and their respective parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, distributors, retailers, sales representatives, advertising and promotion agencies and each of their respective officers, directors and employees (collectively, the “Promotion Entities”), and members of their immediate families and/or persons living in the same household as such persons, are ineligible to enter the Sweepstakes or win a prize.
3. Winner Selection: The winner of the Sweepstakes will be selected in a random drawing from among all eligible Entries received throughout the Promotion Period. The random drawing will be conducted within 24 hrs by Sponsor or its designated representatives, whose decisions are final. Odds of winning will vary depending on the number of eligible Entries received. Winner will be notified by email at the email address provided in the Entry Information on or about 24 hours after the random drawing. Potential winner must accept a prize by email as directed by Sponsor within 24 hours of notification. Any winner notification not responded to or returned as undeliverable may result in prize forfeiture. The potential prize winner may be required to sign and return an affidavit of eligibility and release of liability, and a Publicity Release (collectively “the Prize Claim Documents”). No substitution or transfer of a prize is permitted except by Sponsor.
4. Prizes:
1 (#) winner(s) will receive [ 1 COOL GEAR sip bottle] (approximate retail value or “ARV”: $9.99)
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9. Winner’s List: To obtain a copy of any legally required winners list or a copy of the Official Rules, send the applicable request and a self-addresses, stamped, #10 envelope to Groupe a la mode, LLC 143 E. Ridgewood Avenue, #493 Ridgewood, NJ 07450. Request must be received no later than 48 hours + 6 MONTHS for the name of the winner and, by the end of the promotion, for a copy of the rules.
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Mike says
Sweet, that means it’s safe for the kids!
mom a la mode says
All great ideas! Just a note that the prize mason jar sip bottle is plastic. I’ll post on my Facebook page, too, so everyone is aware.
Christine says
A very hipster iced tea.
Christine Danza says
Recently made homemade peach jam and stored it in mason jars. 🙂
Mike says
As a kid, I used to love Classico pasta sauces because they come in a mason jar 🙂
Toni larusso says
I will use mine for tea while I wait at the bus stop to pick my little one up on chilly days. We both love tea with honey 🙂
Julianne Palumbo says
Made cookie in a jar favors for a baby shower!
Alexandra Garcia says
I have not preserved anything in them but I have been having my cocktails out of them all summer. 🙂
mom a la mode says
That cocktail sounds delightful! I don’t think I’ve ever had grape rum.
Thanks for your comment!! ox
Jennifer V says
I’m somewhat obsessed with mason jars and Bill and I will often make our cocktails in mason jars. My recent favorite has been grape rum mixed with white grape juice – it tastes like grape bubble yum! – served with a bendy straw.
Also, the thing I might be most looking forward to when we move next month is having the space to store all the things I’m teaching myself how to preserve!