Cucumber-Mint Green Tea Sangria

This Cucumber-Mint Green Tea Sangria is a refreshing & minty twist on a summer cocktail classic...

Does anyone else feel like Labor Day weekend is the last hurrah of summer?

It is usually the last big BBQ of the summer.  The last weekend that the public swimming pools and water parks are open. The last three day weekend with warm temps and summer sunshine.

Well if you are planning a little get-together or a huge cookout for the long holiday weekend, I have the perfect pitcher of deliciousness to serve up- this Cucumber-Mint Green Tea Sangria! 

It is refreshing & packed with all kinds of good stuff from the fresh mint, cucumber slices, and green tea.  I mean, I am not trying to tout this as a "healthy" cocktail.  But it is WAY better for you then some of those other summer cocktails out there. ;)

Plus, it is just so easy to make! You can start infusing the green tea with the mint and cucumber the morning of your BBQ, and then simply add the chilled Moscato about 30 minutes before serving...

14 Bikini-Approved Cocktails

Get your drink on with less guilt with this collection of tasty low-calorie cocktails...

Looking to sip on something refreshing with a kick to cool off with this summer, but not really wanting to wreck all the hard work you have put into getting swimsuit ready in the matter of a weekend?  

Never fear because I have gathered up 14 tasty cocktails that your bikini would be happy to approve of! ;)

Almost all of these tasty mixed concoctions contain fresh, juicy fruit and are low in calories and sugar.  So, move aside tasteless low-calorie and low carb beers! 

These colorful, summer perfect cocktails can take it from here ... ;)

3 Simple Steps for Creating Summer "Me Time"

It is easy to create quality time for yourself with these 3 Simple Steps for Creating Summer "Me Time"...

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of PEOPLE®, Real Simple®, and Southern Living®. The opinions and text are all mine.

While I definitely look forward to the kiddos' summer break each year, it also means that I have to be more creative with sneaking in little moments of "me time" each week. During the school year, I get at least 6 hours of full blown "me time" at least four days a week. But summers get trickier with my youngest being at home with me 24/7 every day but one day out of the week.

Giving up my "me time" during the summer months is definitely not an option. We all need to create a little time for ourselves each week to get re-centered, focused, & motivated. It's essential to my sanity and to my role as a mother, wife, homemaker, and full time food & travel blogger that also happens to work at home. It can be difficult to "get away" and recharge when you are always "clocked in" mentally. 

So how do I find quality "me time" during the non-stop busyness of the summer months? It doesn't have to be elaborate or time consuming or require hiring a sitter. I keep it easy with these 3 simple steps...

Frozen Berry Sangria Floats

These Frozen Berry Sangria Floats only get better as they thaw, making them the perfect cocktail for those warm end-of-summer days and nights...

Summer might be winding down for most of us (hello, my oldest starts back to school today), but I am not giving up the outdoor entertaining just yet. The days are still warm and the evenings long, so we are going to sit back and soak up these last few weekends of summer before it becomes football & pumpkin everything. ;) 

For my summertime entertaining, I love coming up with easy, fuss-free, and crowd pleasing recipes and cocktails that will leave me raising a glass with my friends and family on a summer evening instead of in the kitchen handing out yet another glass to one of my guests. These fruity and frosty Frozen Berry Sangria Floats definitely fit that bill...

Watermelon Mint Gin Fizz

Your favorite gin comes together perfectly with fresh watermelon, sweet mint, & some bubbly club soda to make this simple & refreshing Watermelon Mint Gin Fizz...

This post may contain affiliate links. Purchasing through them helps support this website.

So I made a shocking revelation the other day as I browsing through some of my recipes on my blog looking for watermelon recipes for a collection that a food blogger friend of mine was working on- I didn't have a single recipe using watermelon on my blog! In my 5 years or so of blogging, I have never once posted a watermelon recipe?? 

Immediately my brain said WHAT?!?! I mean, how could that be? I love, love, love watermelon- especially during the summer months. 

I set out right away to remedy this food blogging injustice I had inadvertently committed and got to brainstorming. The result? A refreshing, tasty cocktail perfect for summertime! :)

My newest liquor obsession for summer has been gin. I had never really considered myself much of a gin drinker before, but there is just something about it's clean, crisp flavor that lends itself well to refreshing cocktails that are perfect for beating the heat. 

I paired my favorite gin with fresh watermelon, sweet mint, and some bubbly club soda to make these simple, yet gorgeous Watermelon Mint Gin Fizzes...

14 Berry Patriotic Sweet Treats

Celebrate our nation's independence all summer long with these 14 Berry Patriotic Sweet Treats...

Just so you all know, we are just under a week until the 4th of the July. Like 6 days, to be exact.

 

We are keeping things pretty low key this year. Since my parents will be out of town on vacation next week, it will just be us. We are going to spend the day together as family, grill out, break out the corn hole & sparklers, and then catch the fireworks from the lake on a blanket from our front yard. 

My daughter has been really looking forward to "American Day" pretty much since summer vacation started over a month ago (yes, that is what she calls it ;) ). 

While we won't be hosting & entertaining our usual holiday crowd for the 4th, I am still planning on whipping up a little red, white, & blue sweet treat for the four of us to enjoy. 

When perusing some of my favorite food blogs for patriotic dessert recipes ideas, I started noticing a theme going on- summer berries lend themselves very well to the 4th of July color scheme. 

Iced Arnold Palmer Teagaritas

Ever since we finished our back deck makeover and my husband built our new fire pit, we have been celebrating summer almost every weekend by hosting friends and family over.  Often these little celebrations start with some delicious grilling accompanied by refreshing (often adult) beverages, and then followed by long hours sitting around the fire, talking, making s'mores, and drinking a few more adults only beverages. ;)

Last Friday was no exception as we hosted my parents and my sister and her boyfriend over for the 4th of July.  

Typically I am the designated bartender for such gatherings- muddling mojiotos, stirring sangria, and shaking up cocktails.  And while I am not complaining about these duties (I would much rather be mixing drinks than manning the hot grill ;) ), I do find myself spending more time getting everyone drinks than actually spending time with and enjoying my guests. 

But not for this most recent celebratory summer gathering... ;)

Because I was armed with Jose Cuervo's ready-to-serve Iced Teagarita.  Jose Cuervo Iced Teagarita is a perfectly tasty blend of classic lime margarita, Jose Cuervo tequila and premium orange liqueur, and of course, iced tea! 

But you all know I couldn't leave well enough alone (although this Iced Teagarita is delicious simply served over ice).

I had to go and add a little Arnold Palmer action to our 4th of July Iced Teagaritas.  For those of you know not familiar with this simple drink concoction made popular by a famous professional golfer, it is basically half lemonade and half iced tea...

12 Tasty Mojito Recipes for Summertime

The classic mojito is taken to a whole other level of deliciousness with the addition of sweet summer berries & fruits in these 12 Tasty Mojito Recipes for Summertime...

This post may contain affiliate links. Purchasing through them helps support this website.

When it comes to summertime sipping, my cocktail of choice is a refreshing & fruity mojito.

We have an amazing mint plant in our backyard that comes back summer after summer, so I always have an endless supply of free fresh mint on hand during the hot summer months. I walk outside, snip off a few sprigs, and come back to the house and muddle up a couple of bubbly mojitos for my husband & I to sip on while sitting on the back deck.  

For those of you not familiar with this perfect for summertime cocktail, the mojito has it's roots in Cuba. It is a refreshing concoction of muddled lime & mint with a little simple syrup & a shot (or two) of light rum, all topped off with bubbly club soda. 

The beauty of a classic mojito recipe is that it lends itself very well to other flavors, especially summer fruits & berries.

While I can always go for a traditional mojito, we often like to change it up and add strawberries or blueberries to the mix. And sometimes we swap out the light rum for a spiced rum, like Captain Morgan. 

In my never ending quest to always have a variety of delicious mojito recipes on hand, I decided to browse some of my favorite cocktail bloggers' sites to gather up the very best. 

Each of these 12 Tasty Mojito Recipes for Summertime that I am sharing with you all today take the classic mojito to a whole other level of deliciousness with the addition of the sweet flavors of summer...

Watermelon Mojito Ice Pops

Inspired by a favorite summertime cocktail, these Watermelon Mojito Ice Pops will make the perfect adults-only poolside treat or a refreshing ending to a backyard BBQ...

Who says popsicles are just for the kiddos? ;) Not this mama! In fact, one of my favorite adults only treats to make during the hot summer months are boozy ice pops. It is so much fun to transform a favorite fruity cocktail into a frosty treat perfect for beating the heat with.

Some of you all may remember my Peach Shinesicles from a couple of summers ago. Those ice pops combined juicy peaches with my favorite peach flavored liqueur. These refreshing Watermelon Mojito Ice Pops happen to be inspired by one of my all-time favorite summertime cocktails- mojitos! 

I combined fresh watermelon with mint, tart lime, & rum to make these mojito inspired popsicles. They will make the perfect poolside treat or a refreshing ending to a backyard BBQ...

Strawberry-Pineapple Sansgria

This fruity & bubbly Strawberry-Pineapple "Sans"gria is the perfect kid friendly drink to serve for a spring brunch or summer BBQ! Adults can add a splash of white wine or rum... ;)

I don't know about you all, but I can feel swimsuit season looming ahead.  Don't get me wrong- I am anxious for the warmer weather, the sunshine, the beach vacation just calling my name...

But like everyone else, I have goals and aspirations to look fabulous in my bathing suit & to confidently pull off leg baring flirty summer dresses.

I know I need to work out more.

I know I need to eat healthier & cut down on the sweet treats and the higher calories drinks.

But I am horrible at trying to make and maintain huge, sudden changes in my diet or workouts.  

For me, baby steps are the most successful way for me to make those healthier changes in time for bathing suit season...

Like swapping out the afternoon cookie for a granola bar. 

Or adding a 30 minute workout at home a couple of times a week to my usual gym workouts.

And dropping the high calorie beverages for my new favorite line of low calorie beverages that I discovered at my local Walmart- Four TEN sodas from the Dr. Pepper Snapple Group. 

Sparkling Limon-Lime Margarita

I have to confess- I am not usually a margarita on the rocks kind of gal.

If you find me ordering a margarita at a restaurant, it is highly likely that it will be something fun, fruity, and very frozen... with a sugar rim.

But even I have to admit that those are overly sweet and probably not worth the crazy amount of calories I am slurping down. 

There has only been one restaurant that has served me a margarita on the rocks that I have come back for over and over. And that is the Margarita Tapatia from Cuco's Taqueria in Columbus, Ohio.  THE MOST AMAZING margarita on the rocks I have ever had... hands down. (Seriously. If you are ever in the Columbus area, look up Cuco's.  It is in a little strip mall so it doesn't look like much, but sometimes those are just the best places. ;) )

15 Creative Zucchini Recipes That are NOT Bread

From moist muffins to flavorful & fresh dinner ideas to pies & tarts, put that overabundance of garden zucchini to good use with these 15 Creative Zucchini Recipes That are NOT Bread...

I don't know about you all, but my Facebook feed has been filled with friends & family posting pics of their very generous bounties from their home gardens lately. And these homegrown bounties almost always include a ridiculous amount of zucchini with an offer that they also happen to be free to good homes. ;) Now I like a good, garden grown zucchini as much as the next girl, but you can only bake so many loaves of zucchini bread in a month- am I right?

That is why I made it my mission to go out & search for some of the most creative zucchini recipes out there from a few of my favorite food bloggers. My only requirement? No bread recipes. In fact, I went looking for zucchini recipes that were anything but bread recipes.

I gathered up 15 of the most unique & creative zucchini recipes I could find. Everything from moist muffins to flavorful & fresh dinner ideas to pies & tarts. 

So forget the zucchini bread this week, and try one of these tasty zucchini recipes instead...

Spiced Pear Planter's Punch

Sweet fresh pears and spiced rum come together in this perfect for fall Spiced Pear Planter's Punch...

I know that pumpkin and apples tend to reign supreme when fall rolls around, but I really think that pears should get a little more of the autumn spotlight. They become plentiful this time of the year and are begging to be made into delicious, fall inspired recipes. 

While doing a little cocktail research online, I came across a recipe for planter's punch and was instantly intrigued. A traditional planter's punch usually is a mix of dark rum and fruit juices making it the perfect libation for summer. 

But I thought why not give this rum cocktail a spicy fall makeover?

I infused a homemade simple syrup with fresh pear and shook that together with spiced rum and sparkling apple juice. The result? A perfect for fall cocktail that you will want to serve around a fire pit on a cool autumn night or as an adult treat with dessert after Thanksgiving dinner.

I do encourage you all to save the slices of pear that you use to infuse the simple syrup with to toss into your cocktail or to simply snack on and enjoy later (or right then ;) ). 

Something unexpected happened when I tried one of these syrup-soaked pieces of pear- I was instantly transported back to my childhood when my grandmother used to can pears from the tree in her backyard. 

She always jarred them in a simple syrup, and I remember them being such a special sweet treat for us kids. This Spiced Pear Planter's Punch is an adult version of that childhood fall treat...

Guesthouse Lost River- A Mountain Getaway

Gorgeous views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, a chance to unplug and unwind, and nearby access to the great outdoors makes the Guesthouse Lost River the perfect weekend getaway...

The Guesthouse Lost River graciously hosted my husband & I for a weekend getaway. All opinions & thoughts expressed below are 100% my own.

Nestled in the mountains of West Virginia just south of the eastern panhandle lies a tranquil & picturesque getaway from everyday life. Though the Guesthouse Lost River has been welcoming guests since 1982, innkeepers Gary Robinson & Jesse Halpern have been taking this bed & breakfast to a whole other level of relaxation & sophistication since 2012. They have expanded the original 6 room inn into a 16 room lodge with 3 separate cottages, as well as opened Lost River Valley's first fine dining restaurant within the main building.

When my husband and I were offered a chance to stay at the Guesthouse for a weekend getaway, we jumped at the chance. We had not visited the quaint mountain town of Lost River before, but found ourselves intrigued as we were browsing the Guesthouse's website. Gorgeous views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, a chance to unplug and unwind, and nearby access to the great outdoors were more than enough to convince us to make the 2 1/2 hour drive.

5 Unique Things to Do In & Around Harpers Ferry

Get off the beaten path and do something a little different during your visit with these 5 Unique Things to Do In & Around Harpers Ferry.  And bonus? Most of these are free to do!

The first time I visited Harpers Ferry, West Virginia was in May 2011. My husband & I had just got married, and we decided that a weekend getaway to this quaint, historical town would make the perfect little honeymoon. 

From our very first visit there almost 5 years ago, I think it is safe to say that I fell in love with the town, the breathtaking scenery, and the historical charm of Harpers Ferry. I have been back three times since, and I have two more trips to the area planned for this coming summer. 

Harpers Ferry is located at the confluence of the Potomac & Shenandoah Rivers making for breathtaking views and scenery from just about any viewpoint in the town. It is also conveniently located within walking/driving distance of three different states- Virginia, Maryland, & of course, West Virginia. 

The town is rich in American history serving as the site of the infamous John Brown's Raid in 1859 and playing a key role in the Civil War, changing hands between the Union & Confederate forces 8 times in 4 years.

If you have never been to Harpers Ferry before and are planning a visit soon, here are a few things you need to know about the town ahead of time: