3 Sassy Sizzlin' Summer Cocktails

This winter has been awful. I spent most nights inside of my apartment trying to keep warm. Now it’s summer...kinda….hopefully, and that means it’s time to gather with friends and family for BBQs, Brunches, and Afternoons Of Leisure. Make sure all of your relaxation doesn’t make an appearance on your body. Here are 3 fun cocktails that are yummy and won’t show up the next time you slip on your bathing suit.

1. Watermelon Mojito

• 5 cups cubed seeded watermelon
• 1 cup sparkling water, chilled
• 3/4 cup white rum
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh mint
• 1 (6-ounce) can frozen limeade concentrate, undiluted
• Mint sprigs (optional)
• Lime slices (optional)

Preparation

1. Arrange watermelon in a single layer on a baking sheet; freeze 2 hours or until completely frozen.
2. Combine frozen watermelon, sparkling water, rum, mint, and limeade in a blender; process until smooth. Garnish with mint sprigs and lime slices, if desired. Serve immediately.
   
   

2.Light Lemonade

• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups fresh lemon juice (about 8 large lemons), 4 squeezed lemons reserved
• 4 cups chopped watermelon

Preparation

1. Bring 6 cups water, sugar and salt to a boil in a medium saucepan over high heat, stirring occasionally. Remove saucepan from heat, add reserved lemons, cover, and let stand for 10 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, puree chopped watermelon in a blender or food processor with 1 cup water.
3. Pour syrup and watermelon puree through a strainer into a pitcher. Stir in lemon juice. (Lemonade can be made up to 1 day ahead.) Serve over ice.

3. Pretty Pimms

• 2 oranges, cut into half-moons
• 2 lemons, cut into half-moons
• 1 Persian cucumber  or one 3-in.-long piece English cucumber, washed and sliced
• 2 cups Pimm's No. 1
• 4 cups Sprite or other lemon-lime soda
• 6 to 8 large sprigs mint, crushed gently, plus a few loose leaves

Preparation

1. Fill 2 pitchers 1/4 full with ice. To each, add a layer of orange slices, a few lemon slices, and a layer of cucumber slices. Repeat the layering. Pour in the Pimm's and Sprite, dividing between pitchers, and mix with a long-handled spoon. Poke mint sprigs and leaves down into drink. Divide drink among 8 tall glasses, with a few slices of fruit and cucumber in each glass, along with some mint leaves.
2. Notes: Persian cucumbers are small, thin-skinned, virtually seedless, and very tasty. They're sold at well-stocked grocery

How Rude!

When I am teaching a fitness class its pretty rare to have a student being outright rude to me as the teacher. Most people know that upsetting the instructor means that the penalty for such behavior will mean a harder class. Consequences can be severe that most students don't even think about trying it! Plus, most people are so respectful that behaving rudely isn’t even a thought. Occasionally I’ll have a student in class that makes my blood boil. Their everyday manner is nasty and their behavior is something my husband's mother would be ashamed of. When that happens in my class there is only so much I can do. I don’t believe everyone should be “punished” for one persons obnoxious remark but I also don’t believe in taking the lip I’m given. Just the other day I was teaching for FREE at an event that promoted a studio I work for and one woman kept acting high and mighty the entire class. She wouldn't do what I asked and when I spoke to her (privately) and asked if she wanted a modification or something else entirely she acted like I asked if I could punch her. Later during class she informed me that she knew more about the body than I. Loudly! That may be true but she had a terrible timing and a nasty way of telling me! She was so upsetting that I couldn’t figure out if she was trying to impress the other students, me or what was possessing her to behave like she was. More importantly, who cares? I should have kicked her out. It would have saved me the headache and the grief she has given me. But that’s not my game and I’m not a teacher that does such a thing. Though I am working on it.

I guess that’s the point of this post. Think before you act please.  Yes, taking a fitness class can be fun but there is no need to be a negative Nancy. No one likes that one bit.

Sassy Girl Swears By This Smoothie! +Giveaway

Part of leading a Sassy Girl lifestyle is finding the products that support fitness, health and well being. Because of the popularity of this blog from time to time I have been approached by companies to try out their products and then recommend them to my readers.

I have to admit it is pretty cool when some free stuff shows up in the mail. Some is good some is gross.  Somebody last week sent me a few bottles of liquid salad. It was grosser then it sounds. The flip side of that coin is that once in a while I tryout something that easily fits into the Sassy Girl way of life.

So today I want to tell you about Oatworks, a delicious oat powered smoothie. 

Check them out at facebook.com/oatworks.

Since initially discovering Oatworks, I have tried all three flavors, though the Strawberry Banana is my favorite. Regardless of which flavor I have chosen to drink, the end result is the same. A natural energy boost that is sustainable. I drink one of these prior to teaching my 3 nearly back to back barre classes. To date, oatworks hasn't failed me, I have the energy needed to get through all three classes without any sluggishness caused by overexertion.

I completely recommend all three flavors of oatworks smoothies pre and post-workout. Each provides a healthy energy boost from natural sources, thereby prevented any kind of energy crash. Last time that I bought some, I noticed that Fresh Direct had them on sale, 2 bottles for $5, which might make this an ideal time to stock up or just to try them out.

For me Oatworks is as much a part of my day as a Sassy Girl as my Sparkly headbands or a fitness class with you know who.

Try it Oatworks for Free

One Sassygirl reader will win six free bottles of Oatworks.

Click here for your chance to win.

Win 6 Free Oatworks Smoothies
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Don't have Facebook? No worries! Just send an email to be entered to win. Make sure to include your name and the best way to reach you. Also, put RAFFLE in the subject line.

Make sure to follow Oatworks on Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest @Oatworks


Disclaimer: I received Oatworks for product review. I was not compensated for this post nor was I required to write a positive review. All opinions are Sassy Girl Fitness' own.

If you would like Sassy Girl to review and endorse your product contact us here

Make Me Cringe

Wanna make a personal trainer or group exercise instructor cringe? Complain or voice concerns that are generic that make my eyes roll and internally puke. It doesn’t matter if you are young, old, fit, overweight, lazy or motivated – the complaints and concerns are all the same. 1. “I don’t want to use those weights, I build muscle really easily. I don’t want to get get bulky.”  – Oh, lucky you. You are so special you build muscle so easily while the rest of us have to work our asses off to attain some definition.  So let me address this one head on – YOU ARE NOT GOING TO TURN INTO A SHE-HULK. THE WOMEN YOU SEE IN THE MUSCLE MAGAZINES ARE TAKING SERIOUS DRUGS TO LOOK LIKE THAT. You would need to be doing a lot more than lifting the 5 lb dumbbell. Are you really challenging yourself with 5lbs while you do leg work. Probably not. It takes a tremendous amount of energy for your body to build muscle. This statement is important, so remember it: Females do not have enough testosterone (the main muscle-building hormone) to bulk up like that, nor do they tend to consume enough calories to PROMOTE that type of muscle growth. 2. “Can we just focus on my abs? I want to lose the weight there.” – The answer is NO. We are not going to spend an entire hour just doing ab work. You can not spot-reduce fat. It just doesn’t work that way. So when I make you do a HIIT workout or total-body free weights and you get mad at me because I’m not listening to you, just remember I know what I’m talking about (you, like, PAY me for this. I am the professional and you HIRED me). 3. “Why am I not losing weight?! I only eat Greek yogurt for my breakfast and I take laxatives daily” – When I hear comments like this, I don’t even usually need to see a food log; I already know part of your problem. If you are only eating Greek yogurt (or insert some ridiculous food that doesn’t quantify as a meal here), you’re not eating enough. Period. The idea of consuming MORE calories perplexes a ton of people, but I’m telling you. Eat more (of the RIGHT foods) and you’ll lose weight. If you don’t eat enough, your body goes into “starvation” mode and stores/holds onto fat for dear life, thinking it needs to protect itself for a future of not getting enough nutrients. You are doing far more harm than good here. To put it in perspective, I eat 5 to 6 meals a day (1 meal every 3-4hours). Do I look fat? No. 4. “I’m going on vacation in a few weeks and I want to lose 10 lbs.” - Ummm. Ok. Do you plan to live in the gym until then and do a complete overhaul of your diet?  Yeah, I didn’t think so. This is not a quick fix. If you starve yourself or do something drastic to lose the weight for an “event,” the second you start eating like normal, you’ll gain it all back, plus some. Trust me, I’ve seen it happen 1,000 times. The idea that the weight they’ve spent the past 15 years putting on should just melt off in 2 weeks is deluded. You shouldn’t be so concerned about what you’re going to look like in a bikini in 2 weeks; what you should be focused on is putting a priority on your HEALTH. I can’t beat that concept into your head (as much as I’d love to). I mean, I get it. I panic a little at the idea of “OMG, I’m going to be on a beach in a few weeks, in front of PEOPLE, and they’ll probably think I’m a beached whale laying there on my towel and roll me back into the water.” The best lessons I can teach you is to focus on your HEALTH and how your body preforms and feels. If you want me to ugly cry all you have to do is “get it” and FINALLY do it. This list could go on and on but I’ll spare you the long post. Think before you speak.