{Friday Cocktail} Skinny Southern Sweet Tea

Happy Friday from Little Rock, Arkansas! I am VERY happy to be back home in the south. Warm weather, some pool time, BBQ and real sweet tea. I am a true southerner that's for sure. 

With that in mind I wanted to tell you about my newest discovery. 

Skinny Firefly Sweet Tea Vodka.

Bam. 

You're welcome. 

I know. This is an amazing discovery, that I found via my new blogging idol Kelly. I may or may not mix my firefly with water and sip on it as if it was regular tea. Don't judge me. I love that stuff. Do you know what's even better than that? If you mix it with lemonade. Shut up, I know. 

Today let me tell you about the cocktail we are sipping on poolside today. Make it in a pitcher, because you'll want to share and sip on this for hours. 

• 1 cup Firefly Skinny Tea
• 1 cup low cal lemonade (aka crystal light)
• handful of mint, divided
• 1 Tbsp Brown Sugar
• 1/4 cup water
• Lemon slices

In the bottom of the pitcher muddle about half the mint with brown sugar and water. Let that stand for 5 minutes for the mint to release its flavor, why don't you mix up the lemonade while you wait. 

Add the Firefly and Lemonade. 

Serve over a glass full of ice. 

1 batch should serve 4-6 (depending on how big your glasses are)

I'm home for my sister's college graduation/Mother's day. On Monday we are off to Puerto Rico to celebrate my Mom's 60th birthday!

Have a great weekend lovelies. 

Thursday Randoms

• I am far too checked out to do a real blog post, so get ready for some blogging in bullet form.
• I'm hating how humid it's been here. My hair refuses to hold a curl. annoying.
• I'm loving my new app called Paper'd. It has some seriously awesome iPhone backgrounds (which are really fun to instagram)

• I'm excited for all the blogging that's going to happen here next week. 
• I'm so impressed with myself. I packed for 10 days. In two different climates. In one carry on. I know. Packing goddess right here.
• That or I'm woefully ill prepared. 
• I'm loving that Obama finally came out in support of gay marriage. You know he's supported it all along. I know it's a tricky subject as a politician, but it's time for the rest of the country to get on board. It's a civil rights issue. 
• I'm loving this tray, but I'm thinking about trying to DIY it. What do you think?

via 

• I'm excited to eat some real Arkansas BBQ here

via

• I really want to get this for myself

via

• Oh, update on the skinny girl margarita that I talked about here and here. I tried it again last night, mixed with a bit of club soda. I'm back on the Bethenny train. I'm really enjoying it. even if it is carcinogenic.
• Does anyone own a Soda Stream? I'm seriously thinking about getting one.

Okay. that's enough randoms. Hope y'all have a great weekend/week. I'm off to Arkansas and Puerto Rico!!!!

Yoga, Mind and Body ?

Do you do yoga? Do you practice religiously? or just every now and again?

I've been going to yoga classes for about 4 months now and I still have a really hard time. Downward Dog is a bitch on my arms,

back bends are no fun. Oh and warrior three? you kill me.

My hamstrings (among other things) are constantly sore. But the first time I correctly did pigeon pose, oh, I was sold on the amazing benefits on yoga.

Apparently I've never stretched my hips before, because MAN were they tight. Needless to say, I feel better about my life, now that I go to a yoga class once a week. I try to practice on my own, but I always seem to get bored, and can't really do much more than 30 minutes. I need the instructor there to push me. (PS if you are in DC go to Yoga District-- Bethany is AMAZING)

I started going more for fitness, more than a mental outlet, but I've quickly realized I need yoga for my mind even more than I need it for my body.

Last night I went to my usual class where my instructor announced we would be focusing on hips (yes!) As always we set an intention for this class, this time focusing on something we want to let go of. I don't really want to go into this now, but I picked a person I've been trying to let go of for a very long time. So, we get going in class, lots of sun salutations, warrior one, two and three. Then we went into a low lunge.

I was very focused on my breathing and deepening the hip stretch. THEN out of no where I got smacked with a wave of emotion and I started crying. I don't even know how to explain it. It wasn't a loud cry, I wasn't making noises, but tears were rolling down my face as if I were sobbing. I was baffled, but somehow I wasn't concerned. I just continued to focus on my breath and continuing my practice. My savasana was like none I've ever had before. I had this deep feeling of calm, and for once my mind was actually quiet.

I briefly spoke to my instructor afterwards about what had happened. She said she's seen it before, it's especially common with hip stretches as we store emotion in our hips. She was so excited for me, as this is the goal I've been working towards, moving beyond a physical release to an emotional one. I thanked her and left. I was still feeling a little upset, and quietly reflected on it the rest of the evening. I'm not really sure how I feel about it this morning. I've never really been one of those mind body hippy kind of people, but how can I ignore what happened? Maybe I'm turning into one?

I don't even know y'all. It was a strange class. Maybe it was my intention? maybe I was just letting go of all the stress from the last few weeks?

Has anything like this ever happened to you? I'm really intrigued by the whole thing. Please let me know!

Two Years Later

Two years ago today I officially became an alumna of The University of Georgia. It's hard to believe it's really been two whole years since I walked under the arch, rang the chapel bell and turned my tassel to have my two degrees (Political Science and Spanish) conferred upon me. In honor of this anniversary I wanted to share with you a few things I've learned about life and myself since my time as an undergrad.

• Life can really  kick you in the butt sometimes
• No matter what happens though, you'll get through it so keep smiling, because this too shall pass.
• I never thought I would get used to having to wake up before 8 am everyday.
• I never thought I would yearn to go back to class.
• When it rains, it has a tendency to pour.
• You can't pick who your family is
• You definitely can't pick who you love
• But you can pick who your friends are, so pick wisely. No point in spending time with people you don't enjoy your company and vice versa.
• I actually enjoy reading for fun (what a novel concept.) get it? ha-ha. it was too easy. sorry
• Creative outlets are necessary.
• Walking does wonders to help clear the head.
• Budgets are really important. You feel even better when you stick to one.
• You're really not as old and wise as you think. 

I know there are a million more, but my coffee refuses to kick in, and I actually need to go work. So. Have a lovely day ladies!