Tuesday, December 15, 2015

Cranberry Raspberry Lime Mocktails & DIY Monogram Wine Glass Charms

Disclosure: This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #WaterMadeExciting #CollectiveBias

With Christmas rapidly approaching, holiday party season is in full swing, and today I’m sharing a fun, festive post for those of you entertaining for the holidays. Not only am I going to share a yummy “mocktail” recipe that can easily be spiked and turned into a cocktail (assuming you are of age, of course!), but I’ll also show you a simple craft to go with it. I had a lot of fun playing around with my new SodaStream Power Automatic Sparkling Water Maker, and it’s perfect for holiday entertaining. It’s a super convenient way to carbonate water, and with its touch button activation and quick snap-lock bottle insertion, it’s extremely easy to use. It’s sleek and stylish too, so it blends in perfectly on the kitchen counter. (I have to admit, it’s fun to watch it in action too.) Plus, incorporating sparkling water into your diet is a great way to ditch the sugar-filled alternatives, increase water intake, and adopt a healthier lifestyle. You can also try some of the tasty SodaStream Sparkling Drink Mixes to add some flavor.

CRANBERRY RASPBERRY LIME MOCKTAIL

Ingredients:

Sparkling Water (I used my SodaStream Power to make it.)
SodaStream Waters Zeros Sparkling Drink Mix in Cranberry Raspberry (This contains the natural, plant-based sweetener, stevia, and zero calories.)
Sugared Cranberries (To make: boil 1/2 cup water & 1/2 cup sugar, mixing until sugar dissolves. Add fresh cranberries until fully coated — it just takes a minute or two. Allow to cool on a wire rack or parchment paper. You can roll them in more sugar after they dry if you want to.)
Lime

To make these yummy “mocktails,” first add the SodaStream Sparkling Drink Mix to your sparkling water and gently shake. Squeeze lime juice (to taste) and gently shake again. Pour into wine glasses with ice and garnish with a lime slice and sugared cranberries. The SodaStream Power has three fizz levels, and I used the highest level for this drink. (Side note: The SodaStream Power would’ve come in handy when I was pregnant with Jonah. In the beginning I constantly craved sparkling water with lime!)

This drink is so refreshing and delicious. Even my husband liked it, and he’s not a cocktail/mocktail drinker.

DIY MONOGRAM WINE GLASS CHARMS

You may have noticed these cute little stars attached to some of the wine glasses in the photos above. Easily identify which glass belongs to whom with these DIY Monogram Wine Glass Charms! Here’s what you’ll need to make them:

Bakeable Polymer Clay in your choice of color (You can paint it after you bake it if you’d like. )
Toothpick or wooden skewer
Gold Jewelry Wire
Wire Cutters
Pliers
Cookie sheet
Parchment Paper
Small Alphabet Rubber Stamps
Clay Roller or something cylindrical in shape that can be used to roll clay
Paper plate (Optional)
Clay cutters in shape of your choice (I chose a star.) Or you could use a bottle cap to make them round.

First, break off a small segment of clay and knead it with your fingers. When it softens a bit, roll it into a ball with your hands.

Use a small clay roller (or something cylindrical in shape) to roll the ball of clay out flat. Use your clay cutter or bottle cap to cut out your shape. Stamp your monogram letters on each charm, and then use a toothpick or wooden skewer to poke a hole in the top. Bake according to the directions on the clay package.

While your clay is baking, you can go ahead and make the metal ring. I used my clay roller as a guide, but anything cylindrical in shape that has a diameter of about an inch would work. Wrap your wire around it to form a circle shape, and cut it with your wire cutters. Then, use pliers to form little “hooks” on the ends so you can clasp it together.

After your clay has cooled, you can paint it if you’d like, or leave it as is. Slide it onto your metal ring, and it’s ready to clip onto your wine glass stem.

Visit SodaStream online to purchase a SodaStream Power or to find a retailer near you. Right now they’re offering free shipping on all orders over $50! What type of drink would you love to make with the SodaStream Power? Let me know in the comments!

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