Road Tripping Essentials with Southern Breeze Sweet Tea

This post is sponsored by Southern Breeze Sweet Tea. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

As you guys know, we've been attempting to stay on the Keto diet for a few weeks now, and I'm happy to say, we've had great success with it! However, this past weekend, we took a road trip to the beach, and I was more than a little nervous about how to keep my carbs and calories down with tons of temptations along the way. After all, road trips are usually synonymous with junk food, amiright? 

To keep things on track, I was determined to set myself up for success. I knew a few fast food and gas station stops would be happening, so I made sure to pack a few items that would help keep me excited about the trip as well as maintaining my healthy ways.

Snacks like nuts and cheese were a given, but when the idea to pack a few mason jars and some packets of Southern Breeze Sweet Tea struck me, I have to be honest, I was pretty proud of myself. It's never occurred to me before to pack my own beverages. I always just stick to water when we travel. Of course it helps with hydration, but it also is readily available at every stop. However, I also know myself well-enough to know that I would definitely feel a little less strict about my sugar, carb, and calorie intake on vacation, and may or may not be tempted by a soda or two. After all, vacation is an excuse to let loose a little in every sense of the word. 

Before hitting the road, I rounded up a few mason jars. I kept them empty on the trip, but had a little plan in mind. Each time we hit a fast food chain for breakfast or lunch, I'd ask for a cup of ice and a bottle of water (a cup of water would work too!). Then, I'd add my Southern Breeze Sweet Tea cold brew tea bag to the mason jar, fill it with ice and pour water to the top. The tea would steep as we were getting back on the interstate, and once I got all of the food squared away with my chauffeur (aka husband, the driver), I would return to my tea, stick a straw in, give it a stir, and enjoy!

I've shared with you before my love for Southern Breeze Sweet Tea. Over the past few years (I was first introduced to them in 2015!), I've gone from liking their products to absolutely LOVING them. And that is in large part due to their Half and Half cold brew flavor. This tastes exactly like the Southern sweet tea you grew up enjoying, but it's better for a few reasons. One, it's single serving which means if you're in the mood for tea, you can make just one glass! Two, it's zero calories and zero carbs making it a healthy alternative. (Note: if you're doing Keto like me, be sure to make decisions for yourself about which sweeteners you want to incorporate into your diet. Since I drink 95% water, I don't mind treating myself to different sweeteners from time to time. Southern Breeze is made with just 4 ingredients: Black Tea, Natural Flavor, Citric Acid, and Sucralose (sweetener).) Three, it's cold brew, so no boiling water required which is perfect for road-tripping! 

Once I was done, I'd simply put the lid back on and move it to a different cup holder. I didn't have to worry about it spilling or immediately removing the jar at the next stop. Reusable cups FTW!

In addition to this little travel hack, I also packed a few things to keep myself occupied. I always make sure to have a good read, and even after having this Emily Giffin book for a few years, I still had not read it, so it came along for the ride. I also grabbed a few old issues of Southern Living that I wanted to read. I packed my good headphones that go over my ears for catching up on the latest podcasts, too. I don't know about you guys, but the tiny earbuds aren't comfortable for me, so these are a must when I know I'll have them in/on for a while.

Other road trip essentials that are a must have for me are cute but comfortable clothes. We started our weekend with a stop along the way for me for work, so I couldn't arrive in my usual Lululemon attire. I chose a stretchy pair of white jeans from Old Navy, a cute striped tie front shirt from J.Crew Factory, and some thrifted espadrilles I picked up a few years ago. Note: if you take a look at the top online, it says that it's red, but I definitely think it reads pink which in my opinion, is way more fun for spring. 

If you're heading on your own spring road trip this season and want to avoid those sugary beverages found at every fast food joint or roadside stand along the way, consider incorporating my mason jar/Southern Breeze hack. If you're curious about trying the half and half flavor (or any other kind for that matter!), I have good news! First time purchasers can can use the code APRILSHIPFREE for  free shipping now through April 30, 2018.

And finally, Southern Breeze is having a pretty spectacular spring picnic giveaway that you can enter, too! Click the graphic below to be taken to the page to enter.

Any other road tripping essentials that I'm missing? Or vacation diet hacks I should know about? Let me know in the comments! 

A little facelift and feeling fancy free

after - living room & fireplace

before - living room and fireplace

Every now and then, I catch myself forgetting that our home is different than it used to be. In fact, in my mind, I think I still picture it as the little blue house with very little curb appeal (but a whole lot of potential). Even though we have so much more space now, almost every nook of the house has been touched in some way whether through a complete transformation, like our living room, or just a little paint to bring it up to speed, like our kitchen. 

The truth is, we loved our little cottage before it was renovated. We didn't have a ton of extra space (and we definitely needed another bathroom), but it was quaint, cozy, and charming. As we've wrapped up construction and started focusing on furniture placement and other decor, I really wanted to maintain that same feeling. After all, at its core, our home is still the same home it was before. It just got rebranded. 

Think about it like this: rebranding is something that happens through the years for many businesses. If you've noticed, many of the chain restaurants of our childhood look totally different (and way cooler?) now. Other brands have done the same. Recently, Southern Breeze Sweet Tea got a little facelift of their own. They updated their packaging, swapped some colors, and even created a new tagline. Like our home, Southern Breeze is still the same awesome, zero calorie, guilt-free sweet tea it was before. It simply got a little exterior update. Like a new manicure or a new pair of earrings, sometimes, you just need a little update to feel more like yourself.

For our own living room makeover, we really focused on making our fireplace the star of the show. It took us a loooong time to choose the pretty pink brick that we finally settled on. I think we must have looked at at least 30 samples of brick! My favorite part of construction was choosing our lighting fixtures. The sconces above our mantle by Hudson Valley flank one of our largest piece of art in our collection, a landscape by Atlanta-based artist, Winston Wiant. Our bookshelves hold our electronics like our t.v. (don't worry, we're getting a bigger one eventually), and our record player and speakers. We've love having the record player when we have friends over for afternoon chats (with sweet tea & snacks, of course) or on Friday night happy hours. Ultimately, we'll trade our sectional for a sofa with two swivel gliders, but for now, I'm enjoying our cozy space. 

Stay tuned to my Instagram for more house updates and sneak peeks of all of the changes and facelifts we're doing around here. Our living room is only the beginning! 

Thanks to Southern Breeze Sweet Tea for sponsoring this post. All opinions are my own. 

Cherry Bourbon Sweet Tea Floats

With Christmas this weekend (!!!!), I wanted to take my annual blog break with a little holiday treat perfect for your Christmas or New Years Eve parties: Cherry Bourbon Sweet Tea Floats. Want the scoop on this boozy treat? I'm so glad you asked. 

I have to admit it: I am usually not a bourbon/whiskey drinker, but we always have it in the house because my husband loves Manhattans. I'm also regularly jealous of the gourmet cherries he gets in his cocktails when we go out to dinner. When I was dreaming-up the perfect Southern cocktail for the week's festivities, I immediately thought of combining the South's best elixirs: bourbon and sweet tea. 

This cocktail calls for my favorite sweet tea, Southern Breeze Sweet Tea, whatever bourbon (or whiskey) you have on hand, and a few scoops of cherry vanilla ice cream. Put these cocktails in fun mason jars or pretty them up in your favorite cocktail glasses. Don't forget to add a sparkly drink stirrer and give your guests a straw, too. These are a little too thick to sip strawless. 

What I love about this cocktail is that it's perfect for all tastebuds, and you can easily leave out the bourbon for kids or other non-drinkers. Like I say, a family that sips together, stays together. Have an absolutely wonderful Christmas and New Years! I'll see you in 2017! Cheers!  

Cherry Bourbon Sweet Tea Floats

serves 1

You will need:

- 3 scoops cherry vanilla ice cream, softened (I used Haagen Dazs) 

- .75 oz of bourbon (use a full shot for someone who likes a stiff drink)

- 4 oz Southern Breeze Sweet Tea, original

Directions:

Add three scoops of cherry vanilla ice cream to an empty mason jar. Add bourbon and top with sweet tea. Serve with a festive drink stirrer and a straw. Enjoy! 

This post is sponsored by Southern Breeze Sweet tea. All opinions & recipes are my own. 

Treat Yourself for Under $40!

I'm a sucker for a good deal, but I'm also a sucker for a versatile piece I can wear again and again. I stumbled upon the Sibley necklace from Swell Caroline, and I knew I had to share it with you! Double strands of big, beautiful beads? Done and done.

Sibley Necklace

The necklace comes in five fabulous colors, and falls just under $40. Sounds like a wonderful way to treat yourself (and myself) on this Wednesday. Cheers to the midweek, friends!

 

Press Together Juices

Detoxing and juicing are all the rage right now. While I definitely haven't taken the juice diet plunge, I am absolutely smitten by green juices. But not just any green juice will do; I crave the Greengo juice by local Atlanta juice company, Press Together. I discovered Press Together a few weeks ago at my Pure Barre studio, and I've been hooked on their Greengo juice ever since. Made with greens but flavored with citrus and jalapeno, this juice acts like a snack and a reboot all at the same time. 

Press Together's juices run the gamut ranging from Yellow for Immune Boosting to Milk & Honey for Hydration (ie. hang-over helper). Aptly named simply by colors, these juices are available at locations in both Kennesaw & Buckhead, and one day I hope to give them all a try. 

Do you juice? Tell me your favorite kind!

  

Natural Beauty Brands

This week I am bringing you a few of my most recent health kicks. While I do try to watch what I eat, workout, and generally take care of myself, I rarely chat about it on the blog, so this week, I am making an effort to tell you a bit about my recent changes. Excited?!

I am definitely not a health nut, but with my work with Julie Bee's as well as my desire to maintain a healthy lifestyle, I've recently started to get more "into" ecofriendly and organic products. There are tons of natural beauty products on the market, all of which I am eager to try. However, recently I've developed a few favorites that I want to share with you today (all thanks to my friends at Fig & Flower). 

Up first: One Love Organics

There are several things that I adore about this brand. For one, they are from right here in Georgia; St. Simons to be exact. For another, their packaging is simple & chic. And finally, I'm absolutely in love with their products. Right now I am using their Chia Whip as my face soap along with the trendy (and awesome) konjac cleansing sponge. My skin has never felt softer or cleaner!

Next: RMS Beauty Coconut Cream

Confession: I've never been one to actually remove my make up before going to bed because I am just too lazy, but this takes off my make-up in one fail swoop. This little pot of heaven smells like the beach and removes make-up like a champ. It's 100% pure coconut oil, and it's worth every affordable penny. I'm sold.

Finally: Holly Beth Organics

I had the pleasure to spend time with Holly Beth this weekend, and she walked me through each of her products. It was such a treat to spend time with her to see just how passionate she is about her work. Her excitement literally radiates from her, but that may be in part due to her glowing skin as a result of her fabulous products. I picked up her Grits & Honey scrub which even the hubby has started to love, and I have been using her Camellia Sunflower Elixir religiously as my moisturizer. Holly Beth's products are made by her hands in Atlanta, and I cannot wait to see the big big things in store for her brand.

As I delve more and more into the organic beauty product realm, I am quickly discovering just how healthy it is for your skin to make the switch. These are just a few of the products that I've tried, but I am itching to give products by Tata Harper (especially this) & others a try too. 

Tell me: Do you have any natural beauty brands that you're loving?

 

Bird Nest Box

A few weeks ago, my favorite southern boutique, Deja Vu, sent me one of their Bird Nest Boxes to review. The Bird Nest Box is Southern Fashion House's answer to a subscription box, and it does not disappoint. With their box, every month subscribers receive a jewelry item, a few hair ties, a coupon for Deja Vu, and an extra surprise, all for $25. 

I have to admit that while I enjoyed getting the jewelry item, my favorite piece by far was the coupon included in the box. It's for 40% off of the store which means that I can grab one of the Judith March dresses I've been eying for a fraction of the price.

Subscription boxes are so addicting, but I adore the happiness they bring each time I open my mail box. There are tons of options for boxes out there, but this one has been one of my favorites to receive. Give it a try, and let me know what you think! 

   

I was gifted a subscription box to try for this post, but all opinions are my own. 

Friday's Fancies: Kentucky Derby

I can say, without an ounce of doubt, that the two best sporting events I ever attended were the Masters & the Kentucky Derby. Granted, when I went to the derby, we had tickets in the infield which meant wall to wall people and lots of sweat...oh, and no fancy hats. And when I saw all of the people sitting in the shaded grandstands sipping their mint juleps and relishing in a good round of betting, I knew that I was destined for grand stand life. 

Unfortunately, I have yet to make it back to Churchill Downs, but when I do, I know I'll be donning the cutest dress with the prettiest shoes and the widest brimmed hat I can find! 

TORY BURCH kaylin dress / J.CREW havana clutch / SHINOLA birdy watch / CHANEL vintage earrings / JULIE BEE'S charleston wedge

Three cheers for the weekend, y'all! Enjoy it!

Moore Fiesta with Kate Aspen

A few weekends ago I headed to Charleston with a few of my very best girls to celebrate our friend, Lindsay. We spent the entire weekend sipping on margaritas, tossing back corn chips, and having a belly-laughing good time. We even took an Aerial Yoga class, and if you're in the Charleston area, I highly recommend it; we had a blast! 

The weekend would not have been complete without a stellar place to stay. We rented condos in Folly Beach, and the decor was definitely on par for our fiesta theme, don't you think? Poms & tissue paper flowers set the tone while a weekend hashtag was displayed just about everywhere (you know, in case someone forgot it).

Kate Aspen provided us with some chic votive candles for the table as well as adorable swing top bottles for favors. As a last little touch, I filled each bottle with margarita flavored jelly belly's for a parting gift. It was muy cute ;)

Masters Week: Caps

Y'all know there's more to the Masters than just pimento cheese, right? There's tradition, legend, and even style. It's hard to dress for the weather while also keeping cool in the heat, but in the spirit of the tournament, I've rounded up a few of my favorite caps fit for a golf outing. A hat is absolutely necessary when attending Augusta National to keep your skin protected and your head cool after hours in the sun. I love these options; so much better than the traditional yellow and green (which let's be honest, isn't the prettiest combination). 

image via

Friday's Fancies: Charleston Style

Today months of preparation and planning take shape, and I'm off to Charleston for my BFF's bachelorette party. We're staying on Folly Beach, indulging in a lot of good food, and taking in the sights of one of the South's greatest city's. Today's look is a little something I tossed together inspired by Charleston's famous Rainbow Row.

The pastel homes sit on the waterfront and are an iconic Charleston image. While it's probably not quite time to bust out shorts, a breezy look like this would be right at home in South Carolina. 

J.CREW linen cardigan / J.CREW floral foulard shorts / SOLE SOCIETY bethanie flat / BAUBLE BAR FOR NORDSTROM opal galactic earrings / SOLE SOCIETY priscilla bag /

I hope you all have a marvelous weekend, and to my fellow teachers, enjoy spring break!

 

Lettermade

When it comes to cocktails and entertaining, we southern women do not mess around. In fact, we're known for our hospitality, so anything less than sweet, charming, and scrumptious is simply not acceptable. Luckily for all of us, there are places like Lettermade that help make our cocktail parties and afternoon teas that much more special. 

Lettermade is an online retail shop specializing in embroidered linen cocktail napkins, and when I stumbled upon Malia's unique designs, I knew immediately that I wanted to share them with you. Malia is one of those girls who I just know I would be friends with if state lines didn't separate us. Her gumption and kindess is exactly the kind of thing that southern women stand for, and her shop is no different. 

Today, I have a couple of treats for you! First, a delicious cocktail fit for a fantastic set of monogrammed linens, and then a full interview with the cocktail napkin queen herself! 

Berry Fizz: 

1 cup of frozen or fresh berries

squeeze of lemon juice

2 oz gin

top with club soda 

Blend or muddle berries. Add lemon juice to help add a bit of liquid to the mixture. Fill cocktail shaker with ice & add blended berries and gin. Shake well. Strain into a cocktail glass & top it off with club soda & a lemon garnish. Serve with your favorite Lettermade napkins & a few other sweet treats!

Want to hear more about Malia's Lettermade venture? Read the full interview after the jump!

Lauren James T-Shirts & Shorties

Sometimes, a girl just needs a few good t-shirts in her drawers, but unfortunately as you get older, the tried and true sorority & college tees tend to get a little faded, a little pilly, and let's face it, a little snug. Luckily, there are ladies like Lauren Stokes designing comfy clothes for those of us a bit past the college years who still like to look cute while comfy. Lauren's company, Lauren James, provides adorable tee-shirts fit for any southern peach. 

southern charm / girl's best friend / the south

I'm especially smitten by The South tee (bottom), but I totally agree that puppies really are a girl's best friend. Lauren James also sells sweet seersucker running shorts (called shorties) in a variety of colors.  Which of these tees or shorts might find their way into your closet?

P.S. A very happy birthday to my friend, Erin! A St. Patrick's baby through and through!