Recently in Food and Drink Category

In the typically overscheduled and hectic lives we lead, it’s important to take the time and allow ourselves small indulgences throughout the day. Whether it’s a piece of dark chocolate after lunch, an hour of hot yoga after work, or some extra hugs from a loved one, these are the little things that give us pleasure and help keep us balanced and sane. One of my favorite indulgences is the half hour I give myself each morning to sit in a quiet room with a cup of coffee to read the day’s news and gossip before the insanity of daily life begins. On the rare occasion that my schedule won’t allow for my morning “me” time and I have to grab my coffee on the run, I really feel a difference in my mood throughout the day — I feel a little off-center and a bit more stressed.

One of the essential ingredients of my morning indulgence is my cup of coffee. I know I’m not alone in how much I look forward to this ritual. My Keurig coffee maker brings me so much pleasure, I’m almost embarrassed to admit how happy it makes me after all these years. I even have a special coffee cup reserved just for me (my husband knows to keep his hands off my cup!) and for some reason, coffee just tastes better in my cup.

Green Mountain coffees have been a favorite of mine for years, with Nantucket Blend, Breakfast Blend and Hazelnut in constant rotation. Their new collection of Café Escapes varieties has just been added to my coffee favorites. With coffee shop-inspired blends like Café Caramel, Mocha, Chai Latte, and even Dark Chocolate Hot Cocoa, they’ve managed to take my morning (and often afternoon) indulgence to a sweet new level.

How do you indulge anytime? Share a moment of relaxation with Green Mountain and enter for a chance to win a gift basket or spa weekend getaway on Facebook!

Café Escapes is the brand of hot, flavored indulgent beverages that provide you an everyday treat and a chance to relax and savor a moment of your day, whether at home or at work.

From hostess and coworker gifts to manicurist and mailman thank yous, the holidays bring endless gift-giving occasions, so it’s important to have a sure-bet gift up your sleeve. We like to stock up on Lindt Lindor Truffles , a deliciously decadent chocolate treat with a hard shell and smooth chocolate center. Given alone, it’s a gift that is sure to please just about everyone on your list, but paired with something that will last long ofter the last truffle has been enjoyed, it becomes a truly memorable gift.

For a hostess gift, fill up a candy dish, vase, or even glass pitcher with Lindt Lindor Truffles; for your hair stylist, a monogrammed mug; and for your coworker, a decorative box that doubles as a desktop organizer. Trust us, it’s a decadent gift that wins every time.

Mini Glass Candy Jar $19 - Williams-Sonoma

Elle decor bone decorative box $24 - Kohl’s

JONATHAN ADLER Elephant Bowl $88 - Lord & Taylor

Monogrammed Mugs $6 - Anthropologie

Nothing tastes quite like the Lindor Truffle. Created only by Lindt’s Master Chocolatiers, it’s exquisite chocolate filled with a smooth chocolate center. When the irresistible center starts to melt…so will you. Smooth. Flowing. Luscious. Chocolate like no other.

Lemonade, iced tea, iced coffee… ahhh, the drinks of summer. Well, there’s a new drink in town and it’s seriously delicious: Seattle’s Best Coffee Iced Lattes. Available in 3 flavors — Vanilla Latte, Iced Mocha and Iced Latte — they are cold, yummy, and best of all, convenient. No need to brew your own and wait for it to chill, these Iced Lattes come in a can, available at all major grocery and convenience stores. Even better, they’re just 130 calories each and at $1.49, they cost far less than an iced latte at your favorite coffee shop — the perfect guilt-free indulgence!

So next time you’re headed to the beach, the pool, a road trip, or a day of shopping, add a Seattle’s Best Coffee Iced Latte to your cooler for a delicious on-the-go treat.

Seattle’s Best Coffee Iced Lattes are convenient, cold, and ready for wherever life takes you. With three deliciously bring-along-able options, a great latte is always within reach.

Like us on Facebook to receive a $1.50 coupon on a 4-pack.

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Triad Media for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Summer has officially started this week, and along with it comes shorts, swimsuits, and sleeveless dresses. Somehow the season always seems to sneak up on me, and despite promises to myself to work out daily and eat fewer carbs, I’m often too busy to squeeze in an hour at the gym or plan a day’s worth of healthy meals and snacks. The result? I’m feeling a little less than swimsuit-ready.

Thankfully, I’ve discovered the Slim-Fast 3-2-1 Plan. It’s clinically proven and incredibly easy to fit into my busy day. The plan is to pick 3 nourishing snacks a day (a Slim-Fast 100-calorie snack bar, nuts, fruits, or veggies), 2 Slim-Fast shakes, and 1 500-calorie balanced meal.

Replacing my usual breakfast and lunch with a ready-made Slim-Fast shake is beyond easy. And with seriously delicious flavors like Milk Chocolate and Cappuccino Delight, I actually look forward to drinking my shakes. With the 3 snacks, I still get to indulge in my favorite fruit and the occasional frozen yogurt, and the 500-calorie dinner gives me the flexibility to eat with my family or go out for dinner, so I never feel deprived.

Who knew it would be this easy to be swimsuit-ready in no time?

Is there any drink that conjures up images of relaxing on a beach in the tropics more than a daiquiri? And with good reason! The now-classic cocktail was reportedly first created in Daiquiri, a beach near Santiago, Cuba by an American mining engineer named Jennings Cox around 1905. While entertaining guests, Cox reportedly ran out of gin and used rum instead, mixed with lime juice and sugar — two ingredients that are abundant in Cuba.

Originally, the drink was served with cracked ice in a tall glass. A teaspoon of sugar was poured over the ice and the juice of one or two limes was squeezed over the sugar, followed by two or three ounces of rum. The glass was then frosted by stirring with a long-handled spoon. Eventually, the Daiquirí evolved to be mixed in a shaker using the same ingredients but with shaved ice.

A favorite drink of Ernest Hemingway and John F. Kennedy, the daiquiri has evolved over the years, spawning variations including the frozen daiquiri and Hemingway daiquiri which includes grapefruit juice and maraschino liqueur into the usual run and lime mix.

I suppose we can thank Cox’s shortage of gin over 100 years ago for the invention of the iconic summery cocktail: the hand-shaken daiquiri. This summer, it’s time to rediscover the daiquiri, and as always, drink responsibly.

This summer, rediscover the daiquiri. Bacardi Hand Shaken Daiquiri is the perfect addition to any summer get-together — fun, delicious, and ready to pour. Bacardi Hand Shaken Daiquiri is made with Bacardi Superior Rum, tangy lime and sugar. It is a perfectly balanced cocktail that is not too sour and not too sweet. bacardidaiquiri.glam.com