Skinny Drink

Here's a different take on ice tea that combines the health benefits of green tea with the sweet tang of lemonade. Even better, it's extremely easy to make.

Green Tea Lemonade

Ingredients:

Green Tea Bags
Fresh Lemonade
Water
Ice
Mint (optional)

Directions:

Pour 1 cup brewed green tea over a glass of ice. Add a splash of fresh lemonade, and garnish with a mint sprig (optional).

Each serving only has 14 calories, plus it's loaded with antioxidants.

Drink up!

Fresh Cut Grass

It's definitely spring time here in South Carolina. The past two weeks everything has been covered in yellow. It's been terrible for all for all of us especially allergy sufferers. The pollen is so bad just walking to your car your shoes turn yellow! Every car you pass is yellow, door knobs, sidewalks, and roads are all yellow, it's crazy! Even though allergy season is in full swing, I am really enjoying the scent of this candle and there is no sneezing or watery eyes involved! Aunt Sadie's Fresh Cut Grass candle smelling so fresh and clean, just like Spring without all the allergy mess that goes along with it! In my opinion there is nothing better than a crisp fresh smelling house.

What candle are you currently burning?

What I'm Reading

I made a Target run over the weekend and picked up my latest read, Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen. It was a terribly cold and rainy weekend here in South Carolina which in my mind is no better time to read. I started reading Water for Elephants Saturday and have already read three quarters of it in three days. I am really enjoying the book even though I had no idea some of the scenes in the novel would be so descriptive and graphic. The novel is very well written and I was interested in reading it after so reading so many rave reviews not to mention the movie is coming out soon. Have you read Water for Elephants? If so, what did you think?

What are you currently reading? At this rate, I'll be needing a new book by the end of the week!

I'm trying to decide which of these books to read next:

1.) The Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes by Diane Chamberlain

2.) The Pioneer Woman: Black Heels to Tractor Wheels--A Love Story by Ree Drummond

3.) William & Kate: A Royal Love Story by Christopher Andersen

Please help me decide!

Gummies

Have you tried or heard of VitaFusion gummy vitamins? I came across these vitamins not too long ago and read several reviews, one of which was from a newly pregnant mom who just raved about how tasty vitafusion gummy prenatal vitamins are without leaving an after taste in your mouth. That being said, I just new I had to give them a try! My first thoughts were if these are tasty to a pregnant woman who tend to be sensitive to begin with, these vitamins must really be good. I purchased the VitaFusion multi-vites and have been taking them for a week now. If the Multi Vites don't give you enough of a certain vitamin that you need, VitaFusion offers several additional individual vitamin supplements. I would highly recommend trying these vitamins especially if you have trouble swallowing vitamins, the horse pill vitamins upset your stomach or stay with you all day, I promise these will solve your problems! Give them a try and let me know what you think! Happy Monday!

Addy's Hummus Dip

Addy, one of Thomas' roommates, made the most delicious hummus dip for our Superbowl party and I just knew it would become one of my favorite dips to take to parties. I am a hummus freak, I absolutely love it, so much so I think I could just eat it by the spoonful. Just call me Crazy!

Addy's Hummus Dip

Ingredients:

(1) container of Sabra Garlic Hummus

(1) seedless cucumber, cut in to quarters

(1) container grape tomatoes, cut in to quarters

(1) container feta cheese

Olive Oil

Pita Chips

Directions:

Open container of Sabra hummus and stir contents until well mixed. Cut cucumber and tomatoes in to quarters. Add container of feta cheese to the bowl of chopped cucumber and tomatoes. Drizzle olive oil over the cucumber, tomatoes, and cheese, tossing gently. Line the bottom of your serving dish with the entire container of well mixed hummus. Spread the mixture of cucumbers, tomatoes, and cheese on top of the hummus and serve with pita chips.

ENJOY!

How easy? I know it doesn't sound like anything special, but it sure is delicious and there has never been any left when I've taken it to parties!

I'm Back...

I don't know where to begin other than apologizing for my two week long absence which was completely unplanned! I will be back to regular posting starting tomorrow. Even though I have been gone, I've still been keeping up with all of your blogs and have been enjoying them tremendously!

On another note, I gave up "sweets" for Lent, which I thought was going to be a huge sacrifice for me because I have tried other years and failed miserably. In past years, I would go through such terrible withdrawals that I got the shakes and just couldn't stand it any longer.

I don't know what it making the difference this year because I am pretty sure I was more addicted to "sweets" at this point in my life than when I last made this promise and failed, but what I have found half way through Lent is I feel fantastic with out all that sugar in my diet. Don't get me wrong I'm not forgoing "sweets" forever I just plan to tone it down once Lent is over, but in the meantime that groggy feeling is gone!

I am excited to be back and on track starting tomorrow!

Gaga for Gaga

Baby I was born this way, baby I was born this way, baby I was born this wayyyy! Ask Thomas and he will tell you I've lost it! I am absolutely gaga for Lady Gaga's first single "Born this Way" off her latest album that is out May 23rd! I've always been a huge Lady Gaga fan and I am really kicking myself for not going to see her in concert this past fall when she was in Charlotte, NC, but at $110 per ticket, I talked myself out of it. Why????

My sweet girlfriends, well maybe just one girlfriend, promised that she will book a private Lady Gaga concert for me for my bachelorette party! I didn't know my friends were millionaires and holding out on me, but hey a private Lady Gaga concert with my best friends, I'll take it! Good thing I don't have a ring on my finger so they have plenty of time to save up!

Are you gaga for Gaga??? I think of her as our modern day Madonna and I lovvve old school Madonna, who doesn't?

Gasp!

Enough said, agreed?

Life.

I read this everyday and I just thought I would share it with y'all. I read it because it reminds me that this is my life and I'm the only one that can create my destiny. You only live once, so live your life with purpose and meaning doing what you love.

Happy Monday!

Heaven in a Ball

I've been dying to share this recipe with y'all this week after one of my girlfriends made this for a bridal shower we had last week. Christi I hope you don't mind I am posting this recipe, but I'm giving you all the credit! I had absolutely nothing to do with finding this recipe or making it, I simply just enjoyed the heck out of it on Saturday night. Here's my analogy to describe how delicious this recipe is: If heaven was a chocolate chip cheese ball this would be it!

Chocolate Chip Cheese Ball

Ingredients

1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup butter, softened

3/4 cup confectioners' sugar

2 tablespoons brown sugar

1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

3/4 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips

3/4 cup finely chopped pecans

Directions

In a medium bowl, beat together cream cheese and butter until smooth. Mix in confectioners' sugar, brown sugar and vanilla. Stir in chocolate chips. Cover, and chill in the refrigerator for 2 hours.
Shape chilled cream cheese mixture into a ball. Wrap with plastic, and chill in the refrigerator for 1 hour. Roll the cheese ball in finely chopped pecans before serving.

Christi served this with Wheat Thins and it was delicious!

ENJOY!!!

Style

I'm interested in finding a style book or two that not only I will enjoy reading but is also very helpful. I briefly paged through Lauren Conrad's style book while at Target a few weeks ago, but I wasn't sure this book was what I was looking for. Any suggestions or recommendations? I don't want a elementary style book filled with basic information, I want a very detailed yet informative book.

Below are some other style books I have seen, but know nothing about.

I desperately need your help and expertise!