Sweet Tea with Lychee

Ah, there's really nothing like enjoying a sweet tea on a warm summer day. Letting the sun heat your skin and then sipping the iced tea to cool down, giving the rays a chance to do it all over again. There's that, and also enjoying a fresh harvest of one of my favorite fruits, lychee. These strange looking fruit have a spiky outer shell that you have to peel away to get to the white flesh. I've grown up eating them and since they grow in warmer climates, we are able to enjoy them all summer long from our friends and family who grow them.

Over the weekend, my parents were able to bring them home by the truck load from a neighbor friend's tree. Since they were not yet ripe and a little tart, I figured they would be perfect to add to my sweet tea as a substitute for lemon. It was a yummy combination and one I'll have to continue making throughout the summer! I've seen a few other sweet tea recipes floating around the interwebz that I'll have to try as well.

What is your favorite summer drink?

I'm On A Boat

With the summer coming to an end, what better way of saying bye than a cruise around the bay? My family and I took advantage of the beautiful weather on Sunday and took the boat out. We flew past the boardwalk at Johns Pass, anchored the boat, took a dip in the ocean and hunted for sand dollars. Luckily we got enough swim time before the storm rolled in. Summer has been good this year, but I'm ready for the cooler weather, layering up and a change of color. Unfortunately, being in Florida, that doesn't happen for a few more months! 

Finding My Heart in Miami

Happy Friday and thank goodness for the long weekend!

How do you plan on spending the Labor Day weekend? I'll be heading to Miami today to see Joshua and explore the city! And what a better way of doing that than trying out new restaurants through Miami Spice. It features a fixed three course meal with signature dishes from some of the best restaurants in Miami. Sounds like a romantic date night to me. I can't wait! Exploring new places is our favorite thing to do together, and we have so many places to see in such a short amount of time.

** Speaking of food and travel, let's make this zucchini noodle bowl from Love and Lemons and spend a weekend here. Please?

Have a great weekend, all!

Images via 1 | 2 | 3 | 4

Poolside Engagement Party

This weekend I had the honor of attending my friend Stephanie's engagement party. Slowly the people around me are getting engaged and hitched. Which means, I have arrived to that stage in life when this is the norm. It's a very exciting time and there's so many couples to be happy for! But I digress, it was a fun party with good BBQ, games and 5 gallons of sangria.

Cheers to an everlasting love, Jason and Stephanie!

 Not sure if it was the sangria or just pure silliness that made this happen. But it did result in some knee-slapping and throw your head back kind of laughing. Such good times with these girls.

Officially Summer

Summer is officially upon us, even though it feels like it's been here for months already. I want to make the most of my summer in good company and try new things. So here are my 5 summer goals:

1. Find some R&R at the beach. 

2. Road trip with friends.

3. Host a backyard BBQ.

4.  Learn to make summer drinks. 

5. Summer love. 

I know I know... my number 5 is a little cheesy, but this long distance relationship thing makes it really hard! 

What are your exciting summer plans? Maybe I can add them to my list too! *smiles*

Images via 1,2,3,4