is there a greater feeling than the friday freedom of a long summer weekend? no way.

even though i ditched the traditional nine to five lifestyle and i have to teach this holiday, i still feel that excitement knowing a long summer weekend is ahead. summer weekends combine all the things i love. swimming, sun, barbecues, fireworks and friends and family. 

and this holiday, i'm stepping up my patriotic game. i ordered these dried butterfly pea flowers for another project, but when i saw the tray of star ice the other day, a lightbulb went off. and after little effort and a couple hours in the freezer, i'm going cocktails on ice all weekend long. starting with this tropical boozy punch that started my weekend off right. 

blue butterfly ice
ingredients: 2 cups boiling water. 10 butterfly pea flowers that you can purchase HERE. regular ice trays or silicon star molds that you can purchase HERE. add the dried flowers to the boiling water and allow them to sit until the water turns blue. 5-10 minutes. now, you have a choice before you pour your water into your ice tray. if you want ice that will not melt and release flowers into whatever you are drinking, remove the flowers (my husbands camp). if you aren't that worried about it and don't mind dried flowers in your beverage, leave them in when you pour your ice (my camp). pop your ice in the freezer and let them freeze for 5 hours or overnight. use as desired. 

tropical independence day punch
serves: 1 cocktail
prep time: 5 minutes
active time: 3 minutes
total time: 8 minutes ingredients: 5 oz prosecco (or other sparkling wine) 3 oz coconut water. .5 oz triple sec. .5 oz lime juice. 1 strawberry, top removed. 1 cup ice (blue star ice directions above). blender or food processor.

start by pureeing your strawberry. then, fill the bottom of your glass with the strawberry puree.

add your ice to the glass. in a glass, combine the coconut water, triple sec and lime juice. 

pour the prosecco over the ice and strawberry puree, slowly so not to bubble over. 

trying to pour over the ice and not directly into the prosecco, pour in the coconut water mix and enjoy.

xo, a

blue butterfly ice
ingredients: 2 cups boiling water. 10 butterfly pea flowers that you can purchase HERE. regular ice trays or silicon star molds that you can purchase HERE. add the dried flowers to the boiling water and allow them to sit until the water turns blue. 5-10 minutes. now, you have a choice before you pour your water into your ice tray. if you want ice that will not melt and release flowers into whatever you are drinking, remove the flowers (my husbands camp). if you aren't that worried about it and don't mind dried flowers in your beverage, leave them in when you pour your ice (my camp). pop your ice in the freezer and let them freeze for 5 hours or overnight. use as desired.

tropical independence day punch
serves: 1 cocktail
prep time: 5 minutes
active time: 3 minutes
total time: 8 minutes ingredients: 5 oz prosecco (or other sparkling wine) 3 oz coconut water. .5 oz triple sec. .5 oz lime juice. 1 strawberry, top removed. 1 cup ice (blue star ice directions above). blender or food processor. start by pureeing your strawberry. then, fill the bottom of your glass with the strawberry puree. add your ice to the glass. in a glass, combine the coconut water, triple sec and lime juice. pour the prosecco over the ice and strawberry puree, slowly so not to bubble over. trying to pour over the ice and not directly into the prosecco, pour in the coconut water mix and enjoy.

it has been a very interesting week. and i'm sure just like me, you are ready for a cocktail. 

autumn is upon us and in the spirit of the change of the seasons, i decided to mix up my life a bit. i've gotten it in my head that not only is it a good idea to pick up some classes as an indoor cycling instructor, but those classes are at 6am. 

yes, you read that correctly. 6. in the morning. like, before the sun is up. i foolishly thought this early hour was behind me when i stopped swimming competitively, but i guess i thought wrong. 

i'm a little bit nervous. i'm really excited for the new challenge and for how fit i'm going to be. but mostly, i just want to have a tasty libation as i scour music and build playlists. 

summer might be over, but i'm still dreaming of rio and my passion fruit ripened at the perfect moment. while this drink is traditionally made with brazilian cachaca, but it can also be made with a light rum or vodka. if you haven't yet noticed, i don't often differ from my vodka cocktail so that is what i used.

passion fruit caipirinha
serves: 1 cocktail
prep time: 5 minutes
total time: 5 minutes
ingredients: 2.5 oz cachaca, vodka or light rum. .5 lime, sliced in half. pulp from .5 passion fruit. 1 tsp white sugar. 1 cup crushed ice (if you don't have crushed on hand, you can crush yours in a plastic bag with a muddler or rolling pin. 

in the glass you are serving in, muddle together the ice, sugar, lime and passion fruit. when the ingredients are well muddled and the sugar appears to have dissolved.

pour the liquor in, stir well and serve.

xo, a

passion fruit caipirinha
serves: 1 cocktail
prep time: 5 minutes
total time: 5 minutes
ingredients: 2.5 oz cachaca, vodka or light rum. .5 lime, sliced in half. pulp from .5 passion fruit. 1 tsp white sugar. 1 cup crushed ice (if you don't have crushed on hand, you can crush yours in a plastic bag with a muddler or rolling pin.
in the glass you are serving in, muddle together the ice, sugar, lime and passion fruit. when the ingredients are well muddled and the sugar appears to have dissolved.
pour the liquor in, stir well and serve.