Food – Miss Giselle

Daycation: Miami

Miami is the party capital of Florida and last weekend we explored it just a little bit more. I’ve never been big on birthdays but this weekend I wanted to celebrate a little extra for my birthday. Instead of completely going away for the weekend, which can get expensive, we decided to get a day pass to a resort in Miami Beach. I had never done this before but let me tell you it was amazing!

What is a day pass?

Pretty much you can do exactly what you would if you rented a room, but you’re only there until a certain time. You have access to the pool, hot tub, spa, etc. You can rent the cabanas, go in the pool, visit the bar, and at the end of the day you get to go home. The best is that you can get a day pass at a hotel you other wise wouldn’t be able to afford. I’m talking luxury hotels and beaches. It definitely a win in my book.

The Confidante

We stayed in Miami Beach for the day because we wanted something local. Personally I had never heard of the hotel but man is it beautiful. The service was amazing, the drinks were great, and the pool was awesome. It definitely isn’t a “party hotel” but if you wanna lay back and relax this is the place for you. It’snot huge, but definitely big enough. Anther thing I loved about it was the beach access. They offered complimentary towels, beach chairs, and umbrellas. They had a private beach access so it felt more exclusive and luxurious. Another plus for me was definitely the Adult Pool and Family Pool separation. There was no splashing, kids running around, etc. on the adult side and it made for a more relaxed experience. I love kids but when you’re trying to relax it helps a lot!

Food

The food was amazing! It was a little pricey and we did have to pay for that it wasn’t included of course. I had the shrimp tacos (pictured here) and my boyfriend had a hot dog. One thing that is definitely a must have is the waffle fries! In my opinion, they’re better than Chick-Fil-A (which says a lot lol). We didn’t have to wait too long for our food which was great. Overall, even with the price, the food was pretty good and it looked appealing which is a major plus!

Drinks

The first drink we had was a Painkiller (on the right) and boy was it strong. A painkiller consists of dark rum, cream of coconut, pineapple juice, orange juice, and cinnamon. It wasn’t bad if you like strong drinks, but if not stay clear of this one. They garnished it with a whole cinnamon stick which added a lot of cinnamon which I love! It almost made up for the intense alcohol taste.

The next drink we both had was your standard Pina Colada . It was really good! Not too strong but I could still taste the alcohol. It was pretty refreshing for a day at the pool. That was pretty much all I drank for the rest of the day but I was loving them!

Our experience at the bar was lovely. The bartender was so nice and all the waitresses were helpful and kept coming by to check up on us!

If you’re looking for a hotel in Miami Beach, I definitely recommend this place. Whether it be for a day pass or a whole weekend they will definitely accommodate all your needs! Next time I definitely want to check out that spa! I heard such great things about it from the employees and also from other guests staying on the property. We had a great time and will definitely be coming back!

How To: No Bake Energy Bites

Yes, you read that correctly. These recipes require absolutely NO BAKING. They harden in the fridge and boom ready to eat! As a society we’re always looking for ways to be just a little bit healthier. These protein bites are perfect for an afternoon snack, after the gym, or in the morning. They’re packed with fiber and lots of protein. I am going to show you guys two recipes for these Energy Bites. DISCLAIMER: I am by no means a dietitian I just enjoy finding relatively healthy snacks and sharing my recipes.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Bites

I absolutely love Reese’s Peanut Butter cups but those are definitely not healthy. As an alternative chocolate craving these are definitely a go to. These don’t break me out like chocolate but satisfy that craving. This one is so easy to make and you only need 5 ingredients!

This recipe makes about 21-23 Bites.

2/3 cups creamy peanut butter

1 cup old fashioned oats

1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

1/2 cup ground flax seeds

2 tablespoons honey

Blueberry Almond Bites

This one is my favorite bites for morning/ breakfast time. They have so many good and whole some ingredients and taste amazing. These might make you use the bathroom, because they’re packed with so much fiber. I don’t think of that as a bad thing and usually I’ll double up and drink some lemon water with them as an extra detox. Definitely must-try these easy to make snacks!

Makes about 25 bites.

1 cup old fashioned oats

1/2 cup dried bluberries

1/2 cup ground flax seeds

1/2 cup sliced almonds

4 tablespoons chia seeds

2 tablespoons coconut oil

2/3 cups almond butter

1/2 cup honey

Instructions:

Mix all ingredients in a large bowl until they are even spread out.
Use an ice cream scoop tool to make ball shape and then continue to roll with your hands.
Lay out on a cookie sheet or any flat pan and place in the fridge.
Enjoy!

NOTE:

If you want them to stay fresh longer you may put in the freezer and move over to fridge a few hours before eating.

June Goals

Happy June everyone! So I know we all set goals for the new year, and then they basically get put off and never happen. That’s okay! Personally what works for me is to go month by month and see what I need to change or make better. June is definitely my favorite month of the year. June is my birthday month which of course makes it extra special but I also absolutely LOVE summer time. Emotionally, this is the happiest time of the year for me. Everything feels more easy going, fun, and all around less stressful. This is the month where I try to make the most improvements to my emotional health. Whether it be something stressing me out the last couple of months, or just not feeling like myself. Summer always makes me feel just a little bit better.

This month I want to show you guys my “June Goals” or “June Intentions”. I picked this up about two months ago from a blogger named Lee From America. You guys should really check her out (after you finish this post of course LOL). I feel like this really helps me visualize my month, my goals, and where I am right now. Reflecting on this at least once a month has really calmed my anxiety and given me a more positive outlook. I hope you guys enjoy! (If you try this out for yourself let me know in the comments!)

1. More Matcha, Less Coffee.

This is definitely important as I am trying to focus more on my health journey lately. I personally feel almost addicted to coffee. Like I NEED it to start my day. Green tea is so much more beneficial and way less calories. I already talked about my favorite matcha recipe so if you wanna check that out just click this link (My Matcha Latte Recipe).

2. Let things go.

The past couple months have been very stressful for me and this month I want to focus on being positive. I want to let go of negative energy and bring happy well minded people around me. I will always be an over thinker. It’s just in my nature, but not every thing is important to stress over.

3. Make more meals at home.

I’ve literally been trying to do this forever. My boyfriend and I literally eat out EVERY DAY. Honestly, most of the time I just feel lazy and too tired but I want to push myself a little extra this month. I want to make easy, quick, but healthy meals.

4. Wake up earlier.

Recently I have started waking up before my alarm clock and on those days I feel 100x more productive. It puts an amazing start to my day and I need to start doing more of it. I can get work done, laundry, pretty much anything. I’ll even have plenty of time to make my matcha (; .

My Matcha Latte Recipe

Matcha has become the latest addition to my day. Typically coffee and I have a great bond, but since I’ve been trying to cut back on it, I’ve started switching over to matcha. At first, I thought it was just a fad or just “another green juice”, then after reading about so many health benefits I wanted to try it out. Who knows, maybe it is just another fad, but it’s definitely one I stand with!

Let’s start with the basics. What is matcha & why should you drink it? Matcha is a powder that comes from a whole green tea leaf. Usually, when you make green tea, you only use part of it. The whole leaf doubles the nutrients, caffeine, and overall health benefits. It gives the caffeine benefit without the “crash” hours later. It keeps you balanced and energized longer without letting you feel gross or tired. It also has high levels of L-theanine which help you avoid the crash, and gives the calm feeling of peace throughout your body.

I am fairly new to the fad but I really want to start making other drinks and treats out of matcha. If you have any recommendations please leave them in the comments below. Here’s my recipe;

Ingredients:

1 tsp Matcha Powder

1 tbs Water

3/4 Cup of Coconut/ Almond Milk

1 tsp Honey (to taste)

You start by putting the matcha powder into any cup or mug you would like. Add 1 tsp of hot water and begin to whisk in a “W” or “M” motion. Personally I bought the kit which included the bamboo whisk and the spoon. This kinda of whisk makes the matcha more frothy, which is typically what you would want in a latte. Keep whisking until it becomes a green paste with no lumps.

Of course, if you’re just beginning to drink matcha you do not need to go out and buy the kit. Any whisk & teaspoon will do. Please remember if not using bamboo whisk, it will be less frothy.

Next, I warm up 3/4 cup of Coconut milk on the stove. It doesn’t need to boil, just make sure it’s hot. Pour the milk into your cup of matcha & mix.

Finally, you can add any sweetener you choose. I like to add a little bit of honey and mix that in. Enjoy!

Cocktail Recipes: Girls Night In Style

This post is just for the girls, especially the ones who LOVE hosting girls nights. I feel like every woman in the world needs to have few girlfriends and go out for a night on the town. Realistically, the older you get it’s a lot harder to plan these kind of nights. I usually opt in for the more relaxed, stay in, movie or board games night. OH and throw in a face mask and some cocktails!

Throughout the years my best friend and I have tried to mess around in the kitchen and create some amazing cocktails. They don’t ALWAYS turn out great but here are a few of our staples!

Raspberry Lemonade Margaritas

These are the easiest drinks to make! Usually if i am hosting a girls night (or any kind of event really) i want something easy and simple that everyone will love. All you need for this recipe is Lemonade (any will work), Raspberries, Tequila, and Triple Sec. You can also throw in mint and lemon slices, or just the raspberries will do! Also, I personally prefer to use raspberry lemonade, but any will work. (For one glass, just change all of the cups to ounces). This recipe was taken from Crazy For Crust.

A pitcher:

6 Cups Lemonade

2 Cups Tequila

1 Cup Triple Sec

A cocktail shaker

Throw in some raspberries and lemon slices to garnish!

Image Link

White Wine Sangria

To say I am obsessed with wine, is an understatement. I also feel like it is a girl’s night staple. Wine is definitely my go to gift, dinner drink, and all around first choice when it comes to a night out. It’s a “classy” girl’s drink.

One particular night I wanted to spice up my wine. Make it a little extra special. I know guys, sangria isn’t some brand new drink or anything but I personally have never made it. Until now. Grab a bottle of wine, chop up some fruits, and get mixing!

A Pitcher:

1 bottle of white wine 1 orange

1 bottle of champagne 1 grapefruit

2 cups sparkling water 1 cup strawberries/ blueberries (your choice)

Tip: Chop up the fruits and throw them in the pitcher, THEN add all of the liquids on top. I let it sit about an hour in the fridge before serving.

Champagne Maragritas

As much as I love regular margaritas, sometimes I am looking for a twist. Champagne adds an extra something to an otherwise “okay” margarita. This can be done with or without the sugared rim. Personally, I think it adds a cute touch and makes the drink seem “fancier”.

1 Glass:

1 oz. Tequila

1 oz. Triple Sec

3 oz. Champagne

2 tsp. Sweet lime juic

1/2 T. Lime juice

A cocktail shaker

Ice

Tip: Use granulated sugar for the rims.

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