About Me
Hi, I’m Monica Muehsam
and I like to drink.
That may sound like an admission uttered in another, perhaps depressing, setting, but let me assure you, this is different. I like to drink, but I also like to write, work hard and enjoy my family- so drinking and creating cocktails are hobbies, not problems. Way back during my college years I was a bartender and waitress, and ever since then, crafting delicious cocktails has been a passion of mine. Of course there were many years when I was a bar-hopping fool and didn’t do much drinking at home. But when I got hitched and had my first child, all within one year, it suddenly became easier and more practical (and oh so imperative) to drink at home.
My husband and I were not big on babysitters and all of our family was back East, so we adjusted and started enjoying our cocktails on our patio in Chatsworth, California. As much as we craved nights out alone or with friends, more often than not we found ourselves knee-deep in diapers and sippy cups. We had (and still have) an active social life, and our friends liked coming to our barbeques, I’d like to think in part due to my delicious adult beverages. AND we’ve managed to save scads of money thanks to drinking at home- bonus!
Besides being a former bartender and working in the legal field, I somehow also found time to do a little writing over the years. I wrote a column for my local paper called Planet Parenthood, and wrote about parenting and family issues for the Philadelphia Inquirer, Chester County Life and Through Your Doors magazines. I’ve also penned a few articles for Legal Assistant Today magazine.
I started the Thirsty Gals blog when I realized that I know lots of people who would love to enjoy well-crafted cocktails at home, but since they don’t know where to start, end up drinking wine instead. They then order their mojitos and martinis when they go out and pay WAY too much for them. The recipes in my book and blog are free of fancy ingredients like strawberry shrubs or lavender syrup. I’m assuming you don’t have the time to search for drink supplies all over town or make complicated cocktail ingredients. My recipes are easy to follow and most contain five ingredients or less. Thirsty Gals offers an easy and entertaining way to help you craft delicious, refreshing cocktails for any number of occasions.
