The Best Apps: How To Celebrate When You Can't Be There

Do you have friends who live all over like me? Not all of my friends live in San Francisco and I can't always show them how much I love them over the phone or by texting. I love giving gifts and I have some apps that are my go-to's to send a little love to my gal pals. Whether it's a birthday present, a congrats on their engagement, or just an "I miss you" I love to send them a little somethin' somethin'. Here are my favorite apps that are easy to use and super cute.

BloomThat: I love sending fresh flowers with BloomThat. I have used them for years and they are super reliable and always fresh! Send for a birthday, a promotion, anniversary or even Valentine's Day! I also love that you can now send cute succulents for your friends who are starting a new job or just for those who don't love flowers. Use code thean70s16 for $10 off!

Farmgirl Flowers: Farm girl has the cutest little burlap wrapped flowers. I love love love how eclectic their arrangements are and buy these often! I also love how they started doing little gift bags if your friends don't love flowers. I just sent this birthday pack to my friend and she absolutely loved it.

Packed Party: Are your friends fun and quirky? Send them a fun care package from Packed Party! What I love about Packed Party is you can even send to your friend when they are having a not-so-good day or week, if they just had a breakup, for their birthday, or even if they're getting married. These cute packages will surely put a smile on your friends face.

Saucey: Are your friends celebrating something that you can't be there for? Why not send a bottle of wine, some beers or some nice champagne? Saucey is perfect for a birthday, engagement, or just to surprise a friend when they got a new job. I love using this app, especially when you're in a bind. They deliver late!

Birchbox: Is your friend a beauty queen? Does she always have a new lip color, fresh scent, or moisturizer? Then she will love Birchbox. Birchbox is a monthly subscription for beauty products. I got this as a gift 2 years ago for my birthday and it introduced me to so many fun products. I am obsessed, and have sent to a few friends! It makes for a great gift, promise!

Doughbies: YES! You can send cookies and brownies straight to your besties door with Doughbies! How amazing is this? Doughbies are seriously delicious and when someone sent it to me with this I almost started crying. It's so cute and delicious, perfect to send to your favorite people to show them how much you love them. Use this code for $10 off : qumwmnqt.

PopSugar Box: This PopSugar Box is a fashion & beauty box in one! Look at this months box to get an idea what your friend would be getting. If your friend is a fancy pants, this may be the box for her! Click this link to join: https://musthave.popsugar.com/p/must-have?utm_source=account-overview&utm_medium=account-page&utm_campaign=referral&utm_content=u:18301864  

 

Summer Travel: Skinny Drinks

Do you have a trip planned this summer? Vacation, work, or a weekend getaway?

I love enjoying some beverages when I travel, but I just can't do tons of sugary drinks. Over time I have figured out to enjoy my favorite drinks guilt free by modifying the recipes. Here are my favorites! 

Bananas for Bananas

Blend:

Banana

Coconut rum 

Soda water

Ice

Mango Mojito

Mango muddled with mint 

Coconut rum 

Soda water

Ice

Pineapple Cooler

Blend:

Pineapple

Rum

Soda water

Ice

Skinny Margarita:

Tequila

Lime juice (tons fresh squeezed) 

Soda water 

Splash of cranberry or agave 

Skinny Summer Sangria

Thea's Skinny St. Patty's Day Spritzer

Skinny St. Patty's Day Spritzer

It's time to party! You can definitely go out this St. Patrick's Day to have some drinks, and keep it low-cal. Why not have some people over and start it off by serving this delicious Skinny Spritzer. It is festive and delicious!

Ingredients:

• Green food coloring
• 1 chilled 750ml bottle of dry white wine $
• 1 liter chilled lime-flavored diet soda
• Fresh Lime 

Directions:

1. Bring out wine glasses.

3. Slice lime.

3. Pour lime flavored diet soda in to glass, fill half way.

4. Place 1 drop of green food coloring into each glass.

5. Divide 1 chilled 750ml bottle of dry white wine among glasses.

6. Add lime.

7. Serve! I liked to add some cute napkins to keep things extra Irish :)

Nutrition Facts:
TOTAL Calories: 605 Carbs: 20 Fat: 0 Sugar: 5 Fiber:0
Calories Per glass: 76 Carbs per glass: 2.5 Fat:0 Sugar:0.6 Fiber:0

The Inevitable Cheat Meals and Drinking

For all of you that wonder if it is really possible to eat healthy all the time, my answer for you is yes. If you were to ask me if that is normal, my answer would be NO! In my opinion, we are all human right? We want to have fun and enjoy life. Watching what you are eating all the time can definitely get in the way of your social life.
What I like to do in this case, is make room for cheat meals or nights out. Allow them, because if you don't then it may drive you a little crazy and could possibly result in a binge. I wouldn't advise you to have a cheat meal everyday, or sometimes even every week. BUT on certain special occasions allow yourself to indulge:) I try to hold off on drinking, unless ALL my girlfriends are getting together and going somewhere. I don't ALWAYS want to be the only one not drinking, but STILL don't drink massive amounts! Be classy, and sip on a lower calorie drink or glass of wine (what's the point in binge drinking anyway?).
I try to go as long as possible without "cheating" but when I do, it is PLANNED. Yes!! You heard it. If you plan your cheat meals beforehand ie. Holiday, Birthday, etc. than you won't feel guilty afterward. When you are working hard reward yourself for your hard work with other things besides food. NAILS, HAIR, CLOTHES, ETC. The special occasions you do go out, don't OVERINDULGE. Allow those few drinks, that restaurants dinner salmon, or my favorite YOGURTLAND! Don't go above and beyond though, because that's when the guilt kicks in. Don't get fries a burger a shake and then drink all night (it's not worth it). If you're at a party, you should STILL skip the chips and the junk food if you decide to have those drinks. Don't think that since it's your cheat meal you are going to eat everything in site, pick and choose.
Stay on track all week long, pack your meals on Sunday and don't allow room for slip-ups. If you do slip up THAT'S OK! IT'S NORMAL!!!!! But that doesn't make it ok to think "we'll I ruined it today, so I'll start eating healthy tomorrow". Once you eat bad, your next meal should be healthy, it will make you feel BETTER! Once your down, do yourself the favor pick yourself back up instead of continuing to kick yourself. These battles are NORMAL and we all go through them!