Hey gal pals!

I hope your day is off to a splendid start!

Today’s post is double the fun because it includes my friends Emily & Barbara, the two fab ladies behind the blog Fortuitous Foodies!  As you may have noticed in this previous post, I have a penchant for picnics these days.  Nothing is more fun than hitting up the park, wicker basket in hand, and picnicking the day away!  And there’s no better way to picnic than with fun friends that bring deliciously healthy eats…they are foodies, after all!

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What made this picnic even more of a party, was Stephanie Drenka joining in on the fun!  I wish her pretty face would have made it into the pics, but her talented-self was behind the camera!  Side note: She brought the most divine avocado chicken salad made with shredded chicken, avocados, and plain yogurt.  This healthy combo is totally a new quick lunch option that I plan on whipping up from time to time. Absolutely scrumptious.

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As you know, I’m all about the frills.  So naturally, no get-together is complete without some beautiful blooms. The easiest way to add a little panache to a picnic is with pretty yellow petals and some citrus wine spritzers, see my recipe below!  And, of course, my most favorite picnic basket is an essential.  Since it’s fully stocked with plates, glasses, cutlery & a built-in cooler, to boot – you’re set no matter what you forget!

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No picnic in the park is complete without the most perfect summertime print…gingham, of course! This gingham top will be a go-to of mine for both summer and fall (hello, transitional wardrobe!) and I love the idea of mixing 3 different prints in the same blue hue. This striped blue skirt paired perfectly with the checks in the top and the polkadots up top!  Unfortunately, this particular hat is sold out, but I’ve included some alternate options below (like this or this!) that would look absolutely impeccable!  And since mixing 3 blue prints brings plenty of pizzaz to the party, I kept jewelry to a minimum with simple pearl studs and a dainty gold necklace.

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When someone says picnic you might think juice boxes and lemonade, but since this was a grown-up soiree of sorts, I decided to stir up my favorite low-sugar champagne spritzers! They’re a sensationally simple refreshment that are perfect for sunny day sipping!

Low Sugar Citrus-Berry Champagne Spritzers

Ingredients:

    Brut Nature Champagne (Read more about why I choose this low-sugar option in this previous post.)

    Grapefruit Citrus Zevia (My favorite stevia-sweetened soda alternative!)

    Frozen Blackberries, Raspberries & Blueberries (The most delicious way to keep your spritzer cool in the heat!)

Preparation:

    Mix Brut Nature Champagne and Grapefruit Citrus Zevia together.  Wing the ratios – some summer days call for more bubbly than others!

    Pour mixture into these classy, glass carafes (that happen to be amazingly affordable!)

    Add frozen assorted berries into carafe to keep your spritzers cool in the summer sun 🙂

And, that’s all folks! Easy as pie! The stevia-sweetened Zevia provides the perfect amount of sugar-free sweetness to the Brut Nature bubbles!  You won’t miss the sugar, I promise!

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Be sure to check out Fortuitous Foodies for more delish picnic recipes like Watermelon Salad & Chocolate-Filled Strawberries (Yum!)

Cheers to summer days, sugar-free spritzers & sweet friends!

Low Sugar Champagne Popsicle Recipe + The Perfect Top To Rock The Pom Trend – first choice foods

Happy FriYAY, friend!

Thanks so much for stopping by the blog!  I’m super excited about this sweet, summertime post because…

1.  Popsicles. (Champagne is included – it’s the weekend, after all!)

2.  Poms. (I’ve found the most perfect top to help you rock the trend!)

Let’s start from the top and discuss these amazingly delish low-sugar pops!

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As a Texas native, I’ve experienced my fair share of sky high temps!  As I write this post (in a cool, air conditioned apartment, no doubt) it’s currently 102 degrees outside! SO if you need a tan, come to Texas! We have plenty of sun to go around.  In my opinion, nothing beats the heat better than a poolside popsicle.  Unfortunately, their sugary goodness has a carb count that isn’t so pretty!  So what’s a low-sugar, popsicle lovin’ girl to do?  She revamps a sugar-filled champagne pop, the low-sugar way! Get excited, it’s absolutely divine!

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Low-Sugar Strawberry Champagne Popsicle Recipe

(adapted from this recipe)

Ingredients:

-1/4 cup water

-1/4 cup Swerve Sweetener*

*my go-to for sugar-free, all-natural desserts!

-2 tablespoons lemon juice

– 1 pound Fresh Strawberries

-1 cup Brut Nature Champagne*

*you can use any champagne variation, I suggest using Brut Nature because of it’s low sugar content, you can read more about it HERE.

Instructions:

1.  Combine water, sugar & lemon juice in a small sauce pot.

2. Bring to a slight boil.  Boil for about 5 minutes, or until Swerve Sweetener dissolves.  Set aside to let cool.

3.  Cut the green stems off of your strawberries and slice them in half.

4.  Put strawberries in food processor and puree just a bit — make sure there are still chunks of strawberry.

5. Turn your strawberry puree into a bowl and combine with the cup of champagne and the Swerve Sweetener syrup that you created in step 2.

6.  Pour into popsicle molds and freeze for 6 hours at minimum.  Best if frozen over night.

7.  Enjoy your refreshing, low-sugar pop and all it’s icy goodness!

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Now that you’ve got your champagne pop in hand, let’s talk poms!

What’s not to love? Colorful, fluffy, and cute…pom poms are having a MAJ moment this summer.  I’m pretty sure we owe this trend to Libertine, Trina Turk & Marc Jacobs, who all added a lil’ pom pom flair to their spring 2014 & 2015 collections. Isn’t this Pitusa off-the-shoulder top, pom-wonderful?  It doesn’t get any better than rocking two trends with one top!  It also comes in a super cute white variation that totally screams summer!  I chose black so that it could easily transition into fall, because according to fall 2015 runways, this trend isn’t winding down any time soon. 🙂 Shop my look, as well as a few other pom-tastic items below!