Sipping on a fun cocktail is one of the pleasures of summertime; my personal favorite is a well-made margarita with a smooth tequila and plenty of fresh lime juice, yummm!  However there are times that I don’t want the alcohol (yes it happens) but I do want the fun drink, so I decided to play around a bit and create a few non-alcoholic alternatives: “Mocktails!”  I’ve had a great time experimenting and today I’m sharing my top 3 favorites from the past month.

Things that matter:

• Fresh ingredients are always best and do make a difference in the final product.
• Unflavored seltzer is a great component to have on hand and livens up many different drinks.  It can also be one of the fastest and freshest mocktails all on its own when you combine it with any citrus juice and a little stevia.
• Use stevia whenever possible to reduce the amount of sweetener used.  Even if you’re not usually a stevia fan you may be surprised at how well it works with sour and citrusy flavors.
• Presentation: Choosing a glass that is fun to drink out of is key!  I love the feel of martini glasses and since I don’t drink martinis I use them for lots of other things, and same goes for champagne, wine, and old fashioned glasses.  Decide what strikes your mood and will add to your pleasure.
• Garnish:  This technically could also go under presentation but makes a significant difference to the final look so deserves to be highlighted by itself.  There are many ways to garnish your drink; consider everything from a simple slice of lime, lemon, or orange to making mini fruit kabobs to balance on the rim.  You can also use fresh herbs, frozen fruit in place of ice cubes, little umbrellas, and fancy straws…let your imagination play!
• Awesome flavors to consider using when inventing your own drinks: ginger, mint, basil, rosemary, citrus zest, cucumber, chia seeds, jalapeno, coconut water, fennel….Add your favorite inspirations in the comments below!

                   The Recipes

Watermelon Spritzer

Serves 1
½ cup watermelon juice
2 T fresh lime juice
2-3 mint leaves
½ cup chilled seltzer (use more or less to taste)
2 frozen strawberries, sliced in half lengthwise
Optional: crushed ice for serving

• To make watermelon juice, place seedless chunks in blender or run through a juicer, (strain if you want your juice completely smooth).
• Using the back of a spoon gently crush the mint leaves in the bottom of the glass.
• Add the watermelon and lime juice to the glass (I like margarita glasses for this drink).  If you plan ahead it’s wonderful to let the juices and mint leaves marinate together in the fridge for at least 30 minutes…I’m not usually that patient.
• Top with seltzer and garnish with the frozen sliced strawberries and a few whole mint leaves.

Peach Basil ‘Sangria’

Serves 1
½ peach, diced (peel first if desired)
2 T fresh lemon juice
4 basil leaves
2 drops stevia
½ tsp honey
1 cup (or more) chilled seltzer to fill glass

• Place peaches, basil, and lemon juice in glass of choice and gently crush with the back of a fork.
• Add stevia and honey then top with seltzer.
• Garnish with lemon slice and whole basil leaves.

Strawberry Da-Da-Daiquiri

Serves 1
3 T lime juice
1 cup semi-frozen strawberries
½ cup fresh orange juice
2-4 drops stevia (start with less and add one drop at a time until you have desired sweetness).
2-3 ice cubes

• Place all ingredients in blender and blend well.  If too thick add a little water or more orange juice.
• Serve in a wine glass or classic daiquiri glass, garnish with a mini umbrella for a tropical vacation touch.

So here’s the thing...

Our words have tremendous power.  Have you ever noticed how they are the building blocks to your reality? Now let me ask: Are there things that you want but they always seem just out of reach and you can’t figure out why?  Let's take a minute to explore the language you use in connection to your desire.  Let’s say it’s a trip to France--are you saying: "When I get to France, seeing the Eiffel Tower is at the top of my list!" or are you saying things like: "I wish I could go to France but there’s never enough time or money."  I can guarantee if you’re using the latter statement it will take you much, much longer to get to France.

One of the statements I’ve been known to make over the years is: "I’m not a runner," and here’s why I decided to take a closer look at that…

A few months ago I found myself racing through the Chicago airport desperately trying not to miss my connection.  I was on my way to Tucson and I really, really wanted to be there.  I was looking forward to being in the sun, exploring a new place, and having some downtime with friends before our training started the next day.  My plane had been a little late and the connection was tight to begin with which left me with minutes to make it to the other side of a huge airport, so I grabbed my bags and ran…as fast as I could. 

Here’s what I learned:

• Despite regular yoga classes and daily walks with my dog my aerobic stamina was basically nonexistent.
• Running with bags is a bad idea.
• All of my years of saying "I’m not a runner" were catching up to me and creating my reality of feeling like I was about to fall over and die from lack of oxygen.

The good news… I made it to my plane (by the skin of my teeth)!  The bad news was that my lungs were destroyed, I was wheezing and gasping for air, and I must have looked like a crazy person with a respiratory infection because the guy next to me looked a little panicked to be stuck sitting with me. 

What evolved from that moment was that I wanted to be able to handle at least a basic amount of aerobic challenge and the statement "I’m not a runner" was going to have to go.  As long as I kept using it there would be no room for me to begin, or even attempt, a running routine.

Here’s what I did:

1. I started with the thought "I can run short distances."
2. I focused on the fun parts…being outside, time with my teenage daughter who’s kind enough to slow down so that I can keep up with her, moving my body in a new way, getting stronger and taking pleasure in the little improvements I see every time I go out.
3.  I stay connected to what I want:  being able to run short distances without dying.
   

I don’t want to give you the wrong idea.  I don’t see any marathons, or even 5K’s, in my future.  However by making a few simple shifts in language and attitude I’m now proudly able to say I can run a solid mile!
                __________________________

Even a subtle shift in how you use words can make a huge difference.  Check out THIS GUY'S STORY on how changing his password, changed his life.

Now it’s your turn.
What would you like more of in your life?  Are your words supporting your success or keeping you from reaching it?  I’d love to hear what you discover; be sure to add your comments below!