phew. we made it. i feel like i say this every friyay, but this week was a doozy. my schedule has really been picking up with the addition of some yoga classes and swim lessons. summer (my busy season) is in full swing and it has me driving a giant daily triangle all over orange county. and while i am TRILLED that my businesses are picking up and i welcome the hustle and bustle, i was VERY ready for friyay this week.

since it's summer and heating up in my neck of the woods, i needed a cooling cocktail today. something to make me feel like i'm on vacation even though i really only have a few hours to rest before i'm off again. bam. enter the mango mojito. it was so good, that it only lasted about 5 minutes and wes was bummed i only made one and we had to share. if you can't come by some beautiful fresh mango, you can always sub some mango juice (mango nectar) for the flavor with out the hassle. 

mango mojito
serves: 1 cocktail
prep time: 5 minutes
active time: 3 minutes
total time: 8 minutes
ingredients: 1 mango (or 3 oz mango nectar). 3 oz light rum. 8 mint leaves + a sprig of mint for garnish. 1 lime, halved. 1 tbs sugar. 6 oz club soda. muddler. shaker. food processor. 1 cup ice. 

start by slicing a wedge out of your mango to reserve for garnish. then remove the rest of the flesh from your mango and puree the mango. you need about .25 cup of mango puree. reserve any extra you have for another use. 

into the shaker, squeeze the juice form both sides of the lime and throw the lime halves in as well. rip up your mint and add it to the shaker with the sugar. muddle it all together until the mint is very broken up and your sugar is dissolved. about a minutes. 

add a couple ice cubes, the rum and the mango puree to the shaker. shake well to combine. 

fill your serving glass with the remaining ice and garnish your glass with the mango slice and the sprig of mint. 

strain your mojito over ice. 

pour in your club soda to take the mojito to the brim of the glass.

serve and enjoy! 

xo, a

mango mojito
serves: 1 cocktail
prep time: 5 minutes
active time: 3 minutes
total time: 8 minutes
ingredients: 1 mango (or 3 oz mango nectar). 3 oz light rum. 8 mint leaves + a sprig of mint for garnish. 1 lime, halved. 1 tbs sugar. 6 oz club soda. muddler. shaker. food processor. 1 cup ice. start by slicing a wedge out of your mango to reserve for garnish. then remove the rest of the flesh from your mango and puree the mango. you need about .25 cup of mango puree. reserve any extra you have for another use. into the shaker, squeeze the juice form both sides of the lime and throw the lime halves in as well. rip up your mint and add it to the shaker with the sugar. muddle it all together until the mint is very broken up and your sugar is dissolved. about a minutes. add a couple ice cubes, the rum and the mango puree to the shaker. shake well to combine. fill your serving glass with the remaining ice and garnish your glass with the mango slice and the sprig of mint. strain your mojito over ice. pour in your club soda to take the mojito to the brim of the glass. serve and enjoy!

things are looking bright, shiny and new as i welcome in another year of life. yesterday was my thirty-first birthday and i spent the day working at things i love, surrounded by people i love. and in my opinion, that is a pretty perfect birthday. i was able to teach spin, yoga and swim lessons and i shared my heart with my students the best way i know how, with lots of cake. 

early may has always been been a special time. it is not only my birthday on the fourth, but some of my closest friends and family have birthdays within days of mine. and yesterday, the early may days got a little more special. on may third just hours from my own birthday, on the other side of the world, my soul sister jeanelle gave birth to a beautiful, healthy, vibrant girl named elena, making me an auntie to another beautiful baby girl. 

so i will be celebrating baby girl and her sweet momma all weekend long. even though we can't be together for these special days, i know we are both celebrating our special moments together. sunday, i'll be toasting all the special birthdays with this agua fresca. wes and i are having close friends and family over and we are serving up this tasty watermelon beverage. it is great on it's own, or with a little nip of vodka or rum. 

watermelon agua fresca
serves: 2 cups agua fresca
prep time: 10 minutes
active time: 2 minutes
total time: 12 minutes ingredients: 2 cups chopped watermelon (the juicier the better). 1 tbs lime juice + 1 lime wedge for garnish. 5 mint leaves + mint sprig for garnish. 1 tbs sugar. stainer. food processor or blender. 

start by combining your mint leaves and watermelon in the bowl of a food processor or blender. blend until completely pureed. 

train the liquid over a large bowl or cup. press out all the juices of the water melon and discard the solids. 

stir in lime juice and sugar till well combined. 

pour over ice (add alcohol if you like), garnish with mint sprig + a lime wedge and serve. 

xo, a

watermelon agua fresca
serves: 2 cups agua fresca
prep time: 10 minutes
active time: 2 minutes
total time: 12 minutes ingredients: 2 cups chopped watermelon (the juicier the better). 1 tbs lime juice + 1 lime wedge for garnish. 5 mint leaves + mint sprig for garnish. 1 tbs sugar. stainer. food processor or blender. start by combining your mint leaves and watermelon in the bowl of a food processor or blender. blend until completely pureed. strain the liquid over a large bowl or cup. press out all the juices of the water melon and discard the solids. stir in lime juice and sugar till well combined. pour over ice (add alcohol if you like), garnish with mint sprig + a lime wedge and serve.