Happy Memorial Day! :)

(If you’re looking for something patriotic, I will direct you to the Skinny Berry Pies or the Red, White & Blue Kabobs!)

Last week I worked my first full 40-hour week. It included three days with 4:30am wake up calls for morning workouts, evenings at the gym and a Friday night full of chores. My point: this three-day weekend is much-appreciated.

How are you spending your holiday weekend?! It seems like we have been eating, working out, eating, working out, eating and working out. In a fun way, I promise ;) We’ve taken advantage of extra time to make colorful and elaborate breakfasts, lunches & dinners. We spent nearly four hours on a nine mile walk/hike, just taking our time to explore and leisurely enjoy the quiet Sunday morning. We squeezed in a couple of HIIT circuits, fueled mainly by guilt from our late-night frozen yogurt excursion. There was a cardio carnival at the gym and a couple rounds of Alexa Jean Fitness Sore to the Core workouts.

But I mainly soaked up the extra hours spent cozily inside, with a new book and some coffee. My brain and my body wanted a rest.

The phrase “Skinny” cocktails is like saying a “short” marathon… It is a bit of an oxymoron because alcoholic beverages don’t offer much in the way of nutritional value. However I believe a healthy lifestyle includes moderate indulgences like ice cream, sushi, and the occasional cosmo. Personally, I like to save cocktails for the special occasion or social event because they are often “empty calories” and can have negative effects on my fitness goals. When I am splurging…I love me a good mojito :)

Since turning 21, I have become the bartender on holidays. (Remember the Thanksgiving Fire Jolly Rancher?) Memorial Day is no exception, and I tried my hand at an easy Skinny Girl Mojito concoction:

To be perfectly honest with you, I eliminated the rum from my jar…which leaves a sparkling lime and mint water. Still wonderfully refreshing and feel free to do the same if you are looking for a non-alcoholic party drink!

Skinny Girl Mojito:

• Bottle of Skinny Girl Mojito (32 calories per 1.5 fl. oz.)
• 1 lime, cut in wedges
• handful of mint leaves
• ice cubes
• Sparkling lime water (I used Perrier but several other sparkling water brands now have lime flavors)
• Extra lime wedge for garnish
• Pretty straws if you’re feeling festive

This recipe eliminates sugar, and substitutes Bethany Frankel’s line of Skinny Girl bottles for straight rum to reduce the calorie and sugar content.

1.) Put 5-6 mint leaves, 1 lime wedge and the juice of 1 lime wedge in the bottom of your glass. I used little mason jars with handles. “Muddle” the mint with a long utensil, crushing the lime and mint leaves.

2.) Put a handful of ice cubes over the mint mixture.

3.) Pour in 2 ounces of the SG Mojito; then pour in 6 ounces of lime-flavored sparkling water.

4.) Stir with a straw, add a lime wedge to the rim, and enjoy!

Easy, right?! This drink is so refreshing because it’s not too sweet but the mint and the lime are very flavorful. It’s also just a pretty drink.

After we sipped our cocktails and mocktails, we started planning some summer adventures….

It’s gonna be a good one & I can’t wait to share!

Enjoy your weekend and don’t forget that today is about remembering our nation’s fallen heroes. <3