alcohol, Arnold Palmer, beach, Beach Flip, beach mode, Beachfront Bargain Hunt, beachy, break, chill, chillax, chillaxation, Cocktail, Cocktails, dissertation, fruit, fruits, getaway, heart, heart & soul, heart 'n' soul, heart and soul, HGTV, in the zone, island, Island Hunters, melon, melon liquor, Midori, Midori melon liqueur, mini vacay getaway, mix, mixed drink, mixed drinks, mixer, Mixer Monday, paper, R and R, R&R, recreation, relax, relaxation, research, rest, rest and recreation, rest and relaxation, scholar, Scholar Mode, soul, spike, spiked, spiked Arnold Palmer, spirit, spirits, statistics, stats, staycation, study, vacation, vacay, work, zone
In ♥ & Soul, Community, De-Stress Saturday, Health, Higher Ed, Home Sweet Home, Mixer Monday, Pro-DiSPO, Public Interest, Relationships, Study Saturday, Sunday Fun Day, Technology, Travel, Weekly Wonders, What's Hot, Yours Truly on 08/03/2015 at 08:45
Once I kicked👟 my dissertation📖 work into high gear transitioning from July into August, I’ve actually resisted turning away from my work💼 after several-hours⌚️ worth of “shifts” lately!
🎓Scholar Mode = In-the-Zone🌟
But to prevent myself from 🍳frying⚡️ my 💡brain💭 from dozens of hours⏰ in front of my 💻computer ~ executing💥 my challenges while exercising my 💪🏽strengths:
I had to ❤️break💔 away for a bit …
Especially since last night offered my 🌼summer🌻 📺shows!
Complete combo with this 🚢Captain’s⚓️ 🍹cocktail🍸

Beachy Scene: I call this bad boy my Myrtle Beach Iced Tea (as opposed to Long Island) that calls for Arnold Palmer (tea & lemonade named for the golfer) spiked w/your spirit(s) of choice ~ mine was Midori for melon flavor and green color ~ + a cherry on top … Or to sink this ship! 🌊🌴🍹🍋🍈🍒⚓️🚢
That can be served ❄️chilled🍧 and 🍉chunky🍌

Peachy Keen: Other fruit to add to the mix (sweet if they swim in the drink while you sip): peaches * pineapple * strawberries 🍑🍍🍓🍒🍹
🍺Cheers🍻 to this 😅chillaxation😜 session! Staycation –> 😲Vacay😵 😴Getaway💤
For those of you who have enough budgeted💸 ⌛️time⏳ and 💸💰money, try my Top 5 🌞Summer🌅 🌊Vacation🌴 ideas!
alcohol, American football, Anderson Silva, appetite, avocado, bake, baked, beef, Big Game, black bean, black bean chili, black beans, boil, boiled, Bowl, bread, breakfast, broil, broiled, brunch, carrot, carrots, celery, cheese, chili, chip, chip dip, chips, Chocolate, chocolate dip, chocolate fundue, clean diet, clean eating, Cocktail, Cocktails, coffee, Context Media Health, cook, cooked, Cookie & Cocoa Swirl, Cookie Butter, croissant, deli sandwiches, delicious, Diet, dinner, dip, dips, dressing, dressings, drink, drinks, eat, eat clean, eat lean, eats, EVOO, extra virgin olive oil, family, family style, Fight Night, Food, foodie, Foodie Friday, Football, friends, fruit, fruit bowl, game, Game Day, game food, game grub, green, green drink, green shake, green smoothie, ground beef, ground meat, ground turkey, health tip, health tips, healthy, honey mustard, kale, kale chips, lean, lean ground beef, lean ground meat, lean ground turkey, lean meat, liqueur, liquor, Little Caesar's, Little Caesar's Pretzel Pizza, lunch, meal, meals, meat, meatball, meatballs, Midori, Midori melon liqueur, mixed drinks, mouthwatering, mushroom, NFL, no-bake, noodles, Nutella, nutritious, pasta, pepperoni, Philadelphia Cream Cheese, Philly, Pizza, Pizza Hut, Pizza! Pizza!, plate, portion, portion control, portions, pretzel pizza, Ramen, Ranch, Ranch dip, Ranch dressing, rice noodles, sandwich, sandwiches, sauce, sauces, Seahawks, Seattle, Seattle Seahawks, serving, servings, soup, soups, southwestern chili, Super Bowl, Super Bowl 2015, Super Bowl 49, Super Bowl XLIX, Superbowl, supper, supreme, supreme pizza, table, The Hut, tip, tips, tomato, treat, treats, turkey, UFC, vegan chili, vegetable, vegetable chili, vegetable plate, vegetables, vegetarian chili, veggie chili, veggie plate, whip up, working up my appetite, YOLO, You Only Eat Once, yummy
In ♥ & Soul, Community, Foodie Friday, Health, Home Sweet Home, Public Interest, Relationships, Sports, Weekly Wonders, What's Hot, Yours Truly on 02/06/2015 at 11:45
With last weekend being full of festivities, we were in great food and company! My LMT girl Lisa and her hubby hosted Fight Night (UFC main event: Anderson Silva post-2013 leg injury) on Super Bowl Sunday Eve! Then I watched the Big Game with my Papa Jun!
The commonalities between both meals were:
- pizza (Little Caesar’s & Pizza Hut)
- dip (Ranch & Nutella)
- oodles of noodles (post-fight & pre-game)
- veggies (fresh & roasted)

Fight Night Feast: {clockwise from top L} Little Caesar’s Pretzel Pizza from yours truly * fruit w/chocolate fondue made by yours truly (Nutella & Philadelphia Cream Cheese) * veggies w/Ranch dressing * slider sandwiches w/Dijon mustard, turkey & cheese (either Swiss or Munster)

Portion control: Lisa sliced the pizza into smaller pieces, so more could be up for grabs!

These slider sandwiches were a hit! Hands down: they scored a touchdown @ this table!

Fun fact: Did you know that you burn more calories than you consume when you munch on celery due to the crunch? Challenge accepted!

After the fruit was gone, a fellow cat mama & I turned to the carrots to dip into the chocolate!

Post-Fight: Rice Noodles w/meatballs ~ looks like this yummy bowl is Lisa‘s version of Pho!

Pre-Game: My Ramen w/Salsa + P.I. Cheese on Toast

Yes’sir, I AM the Ranch B*tch: from my salad to pizza (Supreme from the Hut)

Almond Joy Pie: filled w/Nutella but bittersweet due to the Seahawks’ SB loss

My Nanay satisfied my chili craving with this Super Bowl Southwestern-Style Chili Bowl! Maraming Salamat Po, Mommy Aya! Ma sarap!

Add cheese to the mix!

Dallop of Daisy: Add sour cream to the mix!

Add avocado to the mix!

Spoon ready to scoop ~ so ladle it on to lick!

Let’s double-dip those chips!

My mom went happy on kale, both in the chili & in these chips baked in EVOO + in this green drink complete con más avocado!

Again, Context Media Health has been on point, as if it’s been reading my mind ~ this time, about Black Beans & Avocados!
Big Game, championship, Cocktail, Cocktails, drink, drinks, Football, game, green, green drink, Midori, Mixer Monday, NFL, Seahawks, Seattle, Seattle Seahawks, Super Bowl, Super Bowl 2015, Super Bowl 49, Super Bowl XLIX, Superbowl
In ♥ & Soul, Community, Health, Home Sweet Home, Mixer Monday, Public Interest, Relationships, Sports, Weekly Wonders, What's Hot, Yours Truly on 02/02/2015 at 10:00
Happy Super Bowl XLIX Monday & Groundhog Day!!!

BEFORE: ♪& I like Piña Coladas♫ {Escape song}
So, the Seattle Seahawks didn’t win, but all last week and this past weekend long, I repped them with my green drinks!

AFTER: & as in Seattle ♫gettin’ caught in the rain♪ … + I score more than before w/green in this mix!
Midori made its way into my rocks glasses and mason jars!

Fight Night Concoction: Crystal Lite Lemonade & Sprite Zero + Smirnoff Vodka + Midori Melon Liqueur = Healthy Vodka 7 Sweet ‘n’ Sour Victory Heaven
Go ♣Green♣
Cheers, Dallas Cowboys, HOLYday spirit, HOLYday spirits, liquor, Manic Monday, Midori, Mixer Monday, NFL, playoffs, red and green, spirits, team spirit, Virgil's Zero-Calorie Red Cherry Cream Soda, virgin beer
In ♥ & Soul, Community, Health, Home Sweet Home, Manic Monday, Mixer Monday, Public Interest, Relationships, Sports, Weekly Wonders, What's Hot, Yours Truly on 01/05/2015 at 16:15
Oh yes, victory is sweet…

Toasting to a #Cowboys 🌠 #TD! 🏉 Finally making it red & green Edwin! 🍹 C’mon #DallasCowboys 🎆 to pull a win! 🎇 #Midori 🍸 + #VirginBeer 🍻 = #Cheer 📢 #HOLYdaySpirits 🎅 #HOLYdaySpirit 🎄 #TeamSpirit 📢 #DeMarcoMurray 🏈 #HipHipHooray 🌟 #DISPObustAFlow 🎤 #DISPOsAlwaysFly 👊
CHEERS to the *Dallas Cowboys* for advancing in the NFL playoffs!
Here’s to you, Stuart Scott! R.I.P. ✌️
Cocktail, Cocktails, cranberry, Cranberry Sprite, holiday, holiday season, Holidays, Midori, mixed drink, mixed drinks, Mixer Monday, Sprite, Sweet and Sour
In ♥ & Soul, Community, Health, Home Sweet Home, Mixer Monday, Public Interest, Relationships, Travel, Weekly Wonders, What's Hot, Yours Truly on 12/29/2014 at 19:45
HOLYday eats, including sweets, pair well with …

I ♣lucked♣ out with the last bottle of Midori from H&H ~ who awards discount$ to ca$h-paying cu$tomer$
… drinkable CHRISTmas treats to make the festive beat complete …

Add skinny Skimpy Sweet & Sour to the mix for less calories + Cranberry Sprite for HOLYday spirits!
… As I dodge the sleet …

Bring on the rocks glasses for CHRISTmas galore …
… & stay toasty off the road.

… Stirred, not shaken, as I pour!
I went Beast Mode to load …

CHEERS to the CHRISTmas Birthday Boy who provided the original Midori Sour recipe!
… So I might as well reward with this award!
alcohol, beer, Cocktails, drink, drinks, holiday cocktails, liquor, Midori, mixed drinks, mixer, Mixer Monday, wine
In ♥ & Soul, Community, Health, Home Sweet Home, Mixer Monday, Public Interest, Relationships, Weekly Wonders, Yours Truly on 12/15/2014 at 16:15
Disclaimer: DON’T mix different alcohol, and ONLY drink in moderation … Plus DON’T drink and drive or text and drive.
In EP this past weekend, I enjoyed beverages of choice at the end of busy days, just from the safety of my friends’ homes.

Fine Wine pairs well with baking!

Wrap up 1 Midori bottle!

Chile con Cucumber vodka!
Thanks to my buddy Edwin (my Church bestie Evie‘s bro), we can enjoy his recipe when he visits for CHRISTmas/his birthday.
I’ll call it The Ed-winner!
1 part Midori
1 part whiskey sour mix
2 parts Sprite