Boozy Berry Wine Pops and… My Thoughts on Alcohol

Summer isn’t over yet, my loves. 

Which is why these Boozy Berry Wine Pops are a very necessary adult treat to wrap up this late summer goodness and soak it all in. I know fall is right around the corner which means pumpkin everything is near… I don’t know whether to be excited or sad.. I also don’t know why I waited so long to add wine to homemade popsicles, but I’m sure glad I did. Healthified popsicles that give you a little buzz are a absolute ‘yes’ in my book.

They’re uniquely refreshing and will get your taste buds dancing, that’s for sure. Packed with sweet, juicy berries, smooth notes of merlot, a light touch of balsamic and a hint of fresh lime, these wine pops should be made this weekend for a cold, last summer hoorah. Mmmkay?

They are filled with yummy antioxidants too, if that makes them more appealing to the health-conscious 😉

Buy this old-fashioned popsicle mold that I’m obsessed with here.

 

I haven’t shared my views on alcohol here on the blog… until now!

I haven’t shared pictures from college, either.

No longer am I a crazy drinker or party girl because I got all that out during my 4 years at Purdue, which was filled with more frat parties and breakfast clubs than one can dream about. I never wanted to miss out (major FOMO) and most times would choose partying over studying (sorry Mom and Dad.. drinking was just way more fun, am I right). Thinking back, I honestly don’t know how my body survived. I guess we can call it youth.

I would arrive to a frat function with my sorority sisters (hello, my ZTA loves) and most of us would immediately take 4-5 shots of some awful flavored vodka with a chaser of cheap pop or concentrated juice. That’s just what we did… basically we got right to the point and didn’t mess around. Who knows how many shots we took by the end of the night, we didn’t care. This happened at least 3-4 times a week and hangovers were expected.. followed by late brunch at Triple XXX or Panera while still slightly intoxicated, but hangovers weren’t as bad as they can be now, years later.

Let me tell you, the amount of times I got sick while at school is frightening and most likely due to the shot glasses at the nasty-ass frats. Who knows how often frat boys clean/wash anything at all, let alone the shot glasses we drank out of. Germs were flying (especially when everyone got sick in the frigid Indiana winter months) we were sharing cups, glasses etc. and my poor immune system took a beating. We would trek around the bars in below zero degree weather in dresses and heels, usually without a coat, because that was a burden – who wants to worry about their coat at the end of the night?! Haha I seriously can’t believe some of the things we did. BUT, I have no regrets…. those 4 years gave me lifelong besties and unforgettable memories. Pure fun with not a care in the world. The hangovers were easy, for the most part. Can we go back? 

Aside from the fun college years, shots and all, my desire for hard alcohol has dwindled as I’m sure you can understand/relate. Living this very health conscious plant based life has influenced how I treat my body in all aspects of life. More often that not, I choose wine over liquor. I’m well aware that too many shots or cocktails will have me hungover for the next 3 days straight and I’d just rather not (this happened to me at a wedding this past weekend..). There is a time and place for letting go and getting wild. Vacations, weddings, special events – yes, I think it’s fine to enjoy yourself if that’s what you want to do, but you won’t find me boozing hard every weekend anymore. 

I hate the word ‘moderation’ but I think it rings true with alcohol. I allow myself a glass of red wine most nights, not going to lie. I enjoy a glass with dinner. Sometimes I’ll do without alcohol altogether while I’m doing the body balance cleanse or when I’m working more than usual, and there’s some weeks I’ll have 2-3 glasses. It all depends and you have to do what works for you. I always make sure to drink tons of water throughout the day to constantly stay hydrated. Sometimes I’ll make a mocktail too, in a special glass, if I’m feelin fancy but don’t want to drink. I’ll share a fun mocktail recipe here soon.

So I thought it was appropriate to share my views on alcohol while sharing my first recipe here on the blog, with wine as one of the main ingredients! I guess you can say it’s all about balance (isn’t this the new trendy word for moderation) and only you know what is smart for you and what you can handle, personally. 

Now, go reminisce on your old college pics like I did and call up your bestie when you find a super embarrassing one.

It will make your day, promise.