Summer Mocktail: Mermaid Lemonade

Summer is quickly approaching and that means it’s time for the perfect lemonade. I love an ice-cold beverage on a hot summer day and this Mermaid Lemonade has done the drink. It’s super easy to make and takes less than 5 minutes, even the kids will enjoy it!

Ingredients

Blue Drink Mix

Water

Sparkling Water

Calypso Island Wave Lemondade

Ice cube tray

Lemons

Steps

1. Make the blue drink - preferably blue raspberry ahead of time and freeze into an ice cube tray 

2. After thoroughly frozen, add ice to the glass

3. Pour in Calypso Island Wave Lemonade

4. Top with sparkling water

5. Garnish with slices - optional

6. Enjoy

You can check out my how-to video here. 

If you would like to make this an adult cocktail substitute the sparkling water for champagne or sparkling wine and enjoy! 

If you try this out, let me know how you like it! 

10 Date Night Ideas

Going on regular date nights can keep the spark alive in any relationship. It doesn’t matter if you’ve been together for two weeks or 20 years, making time for each other is always a good idea.

If you’re stuck in a rut and need some new date night ideas, we’ve got you covered. Here are ten fun ideas to try:

1. Go stargazing

Grab a blanket and some snacks, and head outside to look at the stars. It’s a romantic way to spend an evening, and you might even learn something new about astronomy. This way, you can both learn about something new together.

2. Have a picnic

Picnics are a classic date for a reason. They’re simple, cheap, and you can do them anywhere. Pack up your favorite foods and head to a nearby park for a relaxing afternoon together.

3. Visit a museum

Many museums offer free or discounted admission on certain days or evenings. This can be a great way to spend some time together while also learning something new.

4. Go for a hike

Get some fresh air and exercise while spending time together on a hike. There are plenty of easy trails suitable for any level of fitness. And, if you’re lucky, you might get to see some amazing views.

5. Take a dance class

Dancing is a great way to get out of your comfort zone and have some fun. It’s also a good workout. You can find classes for any type of dance, from salsa to ballroom.

6. Go to the theater or opera house

Check out what’s playing at your local theater and enjoy a night out together. You might even get dressed up for the occasion, and remember you can order dresses and buy tuxedos online. Opera houses often offer free or discounted tickets, so this can be a great option if you’re on a budget.

7. Volunteer together

Giving back is a great way to feel good about yourselves while also spending time together. There are plenty of opportunities to volunteer, whether it’s at a local soup kitchen or animal shelter.

8. Have a game night

This is a great option if you want to stay in and relax. You can play your favorite board games or try something new. It’s also a great way to spend some time together if you have kids.

9. Go to a wine tasting

Wine tastings are a great way to sample different wines and learn about the process of making them. Many wineries offer tours and tastings for a reasonable price. If you don’t drink alcohol, you can try a non-alcoholic wine tasting.

10. Take a cooking class

If you love food, taking a cooking class is a great way to spend some quality time together. You’ll learn how to make new dishes and maybe even pick up some tips and tricks for the kitchen.

The Bottom Line

There are plenty of great date night ideas out there, so don’t be afraid to try something new. The most important thing is that you’re spending time together and having fun!

4 Ways You Can Invest In Yourself This Summer

Self-care is something that more and more people are starting to believe in, and without it you’re going to have a hard time leading a fulfilling life. It’s the best way to make sure that you can reach your goals and feel good about yourself, as you can’t always rely on others to help you. 

Self-care isn’t just about getting enough sleep and eating the right foods, it’s about treating yourself right and knowing what you’re capable of. It’s about learning to be good company for yourself and make the decisions that will give you a better future.

Setting goals

If you’re going to start putting together a nicer life for yourself, you’re going to need to set yourself some goals. Even if you know what you want, it would be helpful to have some way of tracking your progress in a way that keeps you motivated. Try to realistically estimate what you’re capable of, and don’t try to ask too much of yourself. Taking small steps is okay, and if you can reach the starting goals, you can start to work on the next best step for yourself.

Start your workout

There’s no better time to start working out than in the summer, and you can get started whenever you’re ready. Working out isn’t always about working up a sweat and making your muscles sore, it’s more about challenging yourself physically. Start out slow, and do something simple like taking a walk one day. Then the next day you can do the same, but walk a little further. If you’re going into it with a strong attitude, then you should at least make sure that you’re not pushing yourself too hard, or else you’ll cause yourself harm.

Invest in your home

One of the best ways to invest in yourself is to invest in your living space. Trying to make your home more comfortable can improve your quality of life quite a bit. Home renovations can be expensive, but if you can get your home to a point where you feel content, comfortable, and safe while you’re at home - you can enjoy that on a daily basis. Not everyone enjoys their home, and that’s something that should be worked on. Start small by getting simple repairs done by The Patch Boys, and start to look into ways your home could be more welcoming.

Take a look at your bad habits

We’ve all got bad habits, and they’re not always picked up for bad reasons. Sometimes bad habits come from overindulging in the things that we enjoy or looking for a better way to cope with our feelings. It’s normal to have these habits, but the best thing to do with them is to look for a way out of them. If you feel you overeat, work on that in your own time. Eat a little less week by week until you’re happy with the results. Try to spend less time on social media and see how it makes you feel. The sooner you work on them, the sooner you’ll be rid of them.

How To Stop Wedding Stress From Wrecking Your Relationship

Weddings should be a celebration of love but all too often they can actually worsen the relationship. I know this first hand - I almost called off our wedding because the stress was really getting to me and affecting our relationship negatively. That’s because, in their modern incarnation, they’ve become major events and tremendously difficult to organize. There are so many expectations and things that you need to do.

The good news is that there are now a bunch of tried-and-test techniques out there that couples can use to bust wedding stress and just have a great day. Here’s what to do:

Prioritize What Matters

Before you begin planning your wedding, prioritize what matters to you, and what doesn’t. Ask yourselves whether you’re going to nitpick every detail or just have a basic wedding. If you set expectations early on, it helps to set the tone for the rest of the process. 

Some couples split wedding tasks into “must-have” and “nice to have.” This way, they have a better understanding of what is truly important to them, and what doesn’t quite matter as much.

Communicate More Effectively

According to research, lack of communication is the main issue driving wedding stress (and, interestingly, not just a lack of communication between the partners). In many cases, failure to communicate with the parents and other siblings drives conflict. 

According to wedding planning experts, communication is everything. Family arguments can easily erupt when people don’t effectively communicate with each other. Even small things can hurt their feelings, causing tensions and even fighting between the couple themselves. 

Offload Some Of The Responsibility To Vendors

Many couples believe that they need to be CEOs of their own weddings, planning everything out with military precision. However, those that experience the least stress always delegate. 

For instance, you don’t have to micromanage your photographer. As Matt Birchall Photography points out, professionals can simply follow your brief and implement it throughout the day. They don’t require constant oversight. 

If you're struggling to cope with the sheer number of people involved in your wedding, then you might want to hire a wedding manager. These professionals take responsibility by liaising with all relevant parties on your behalf, freeing you up to simply enjoy the day. 

Have A Plan B

Unsplash - CC0 Licence

Weddings can be super stressful if you only have a plan A. That’s because there is no guarantee that things will work out how you intend. For example, it’s common for outdoor weddings to get rained off, even in the summer. If you have nowhere else to go, the entire event could be a washout. 

Spend Time On Self-Care

Unsplash - CC0 Licence

In the run-up to the wedding, you can lose track of self-care. There’s just so much to do and think about that it becomes almost impossible to find time and space to focus on just you. 

Spending time on self-care, though, is essential. If you don’t, it can result in reduced libido, headaches, and even a reduction in your appetite. Some people even lose their hair over wedding stress: not a good look for the big day. 

Therefore, spend some time unwinding every day. Don’t allow wedding planning to dominate all your thoughts.