Drinks

Dirty Diet Coke Gift Basket with Free Printable Gift Tag

9 · Mar 18, 2016 ·

+ This Dirty Diet Coke post brought to you by the lovely folks at International Delights +

I’m a simple girl and I love simple things.

Spring rain showers, snuggles with my kiddos, date night with my sweetheart, clean white sheets after a long hot shower, tulips, foggy mornings, fireworks, reading a good book, driving with the windows down, being silly with my teenagers, binge watching great TV shows AND DIRTY DIET COKES!!

jar, lid & leather cuff by + the mason bar company

Yep, just a simple girl… It’s amazing how the simple things can bring such joy.

I remember the first time I introduced the famous Dirty Diet Coke to some friends here in Nebraska, far away from the Swig universe. Their eyes just lit-up with pure joy the minute the first taste past their lips.

YEP, that scrumptious!

With something that good, I thought it would be a great gift to take to friends or family for all kinds of reasons; birthdays, feeling blue, get well soon, girls night out, new baby, just because I LOVE you!

Many, many fabulous reasons.

That’s why I worked up this Dirty Diet Coke gift Basket with some simple printables to help make your gift extra special.

No need for fancy tools. Just print and cut out the tags with your scissors. Tie them onto your basket with ribbon, twine or wire. I used copper wire that matches the basket I found at Michaels.

Now all you have to do is gather your Dirty Diet Coke supplies…

Dirty Diet Coke Supply List

Diet Coke

Coconut Syrup

Lime

International Delight Cold Stone Creamery™ Sweet Cream

Those are the basics… If you are putting together a gift basket you may want to include a bottle opener if you have traditional soda bottles, a small cutting board and knife if you’re going to be away from the kitchen and cups as well.

Make sure to include the recipe card so they know how to mix-up this sweet treat.

You can download the Dirty Diet Coke Printable HERE

To me the REAL MAGIC happens when you add the International Delight Cold Stone Creamery™ Sweet Cream…

That creamy twist on the Dirty Diet Coke is just divine! It’s like the best part of a float with all kinds of flavor goodness from the lime and coconut syrup working in harmony with the Diet Coke… It’s aaaamazing!

A perfect treat for any occasion!

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of International Delight. The opinions and text are all mine.

Learning to RELAX

0 · Feb 2, 2016 ·

I don’t know about you, but I have forgotten how to just sit back and RELAX.

Especially during the mad rush that is September thru December.

It seems like school starts and the race is on through the holidays. Toss in two businesses in my case and a girl can get a little worn out.

I found myself this year, the day after Christmas, with a tank on EMPTY.

I had been running 10-12 hours straight every single day with a to-do list a mile long and I felt rotten!

My family was suffering, I was suffering and I knew that something had to give. I needed some mental clarity, I needed to find balance.

For years, I have felt that if I just worked hard enough, all of my dreams would come true. I would have the perfect home, the perfect family, the perfect lifestyle that I had been dreaming of my whole life. And truly yes, to achieve great success you do need to work hard BUT what I had forgotten was…

No matter what kind of success you achieve, if you have forgotten how to slow down and have some down time, you will NEVER be able to appreciate what you have accomplished. You will miss those tender years when your kiddos are young, you will miss that precious time with your spouse that keeps that fragile connection between the two of you strong, you will miss those simple moments of just being present. You know those times when you are physically THERE, but your mind is running through 50 different to-do items, 50 more ideas to take your work to the next level. You are THERE, but you aren’t PRESENT.

For me, this all came to a head the day after Christmas. I had worked my tail-off for months and then felt pressure to create a magical holiday for my family and I was plum tuckered out…

Funny enough I was really struggling mentally and my first thought was, I’m going to run to Home Goods and just wander to see if I can calm my mind. Isn’t it crazy how we women think some times… Let’s run shopping to solve all of my problems. The crazy thing is, this simple shopping trip helped me find a little clarity.

I found this mug as I was wondering through the store…

And crazy as it sounds, it was the AH, HA moment I truly needed. I realized I had forgotten how to RELAX.

I had forgotten how to calm my mind and take some simple time to myself. Time to relax and recharge. Time to be in the moment with my kids and NOT think about the 50 things on my to-do list. Time to just be with my sweet husband where I focus on HIM and not constantly think about what I should be doing in the back of my mind.

It all started with this mug AND I taught myself to knit…

I vowed to take some simple time each morning to have a cup of Choffy (I’m not a coffee drinker, but I LOVE Choffy, it’s brewed Chocolate) with a dash of my favorite International Delights Sweet Cream creamer.

Then I sit and listen to something that fills my soul, sip my Sweet Cream Choffy and KNIT!

I can’t even tell you how grateful I am to that mug…

I feel so much more balanced and connected to those I love AND…

I can make pretty things…

How do you find peace and clarity in a busy world? How do you RELAX? Does your morning coffee or Choffy play a little role in that? It sure does for me with a little ID Sweet Cream for sure!

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of International Delight. The opinions and text are all mine.

Airheads Drink Gems

0 · Nov 13, 2015 · Leave a Comment

+ This Airheads Drink Gems post brought to you by Airheads. All thoughts, ideas and opinions are my very own. +

Picture this scene… You have a house full of 10 and 11 year old girls. They are looking for something fun to do.

You are scrambling to find something “cool” to do that won’t embarrass your daughter and force your family to enter the Middle School Protection Program and relocate the entire family to Cleveland (sorry friends in Cleveland… I’m sure it’s a lovely city! I just needed to pick a place.) They are hungry and thirsty and things are starting to escalate… Your “cool” factor is dropping dramatically.

You’ve never been there? Boy, I have! I have three girls and the last one just started Middle School this year and the fun has started all over again. Take it from and experienced tween Mom… You need to stock-up on Airheads so that you can up your “cool” factor higher than you can even imagine!

If you have a room full of restless kiddos, pull out your Airheads, some cutting boards, rolling pins and some small cookie cutters or cupcake decorating tips and let them go to town.

You’ll be the coolest Mom in town if you teach them how to make Airhead Drink Gems. They will LOVE it, plus it will kill some time before you have to come-up with some other non-cringe worthy activity.

Here’s how you can look like a rockstar…

I used a fondant rolling pin, but any kind will work. Unwrap 3-4 Airheads of the same color, place them in a microwave safe bowl. Microwave for 5-8 seconds to soften them up. Kneed them in your hand to work them together. Lay them on a cutting board and then use small cookie cutters or a large cupcake decorating tip to cut out your shapes.

All you need to do is gather some clear class cups or jars and then affix them to the side of the glass.

They are easy to affix… All you need to do is slightly dampen a paper towel. Just like you would dampen a stamp, lightly r ub one side of your shape on the paper towel, slightly dampening it. Place it on the side of the glass and voilá, you’ve created your first Airhead Drink Gem!

Let them go to town designing their own glasses, they’ll love it!

Once they are finished you can add some clear soda or seltzer water to the glass and watch the dr ink take on the color of the gems. This is RIGHT DOWN THEIR ALLEY! You’re officially a ROCK STAR!

If you want to be extra cool… You can help them make their own Airheads Straw as well.

You can make all kinds of stuff with Airheads! For more fun ideas on how to craft with Airheads visit and follow them on Pinterest. To learn more about Airheads candy visit their website and follow them on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube!

Yes, even YOU can be a cool mom with Airheads!

Disclaimer // This post is sponsored by Airheads. All thoughts, ideas & opinions are my very own.

The Secret to Perfect Hot Chocolate

2 · Nov 12, 2015 ·

+ This Perfect Hot Chocolate post is brought to you by International Delights +

Ohhhhh, Hot Chocolate…

Need I say more?

I spent my younger years searching for THE PERFECT HOT CHOCOLATE. The minute the weather would turn chilly I would be on the hunt. I’ve tried all kinds… Powder packets, chocolate syrup in milk, actually melting chocolate in milk.

I’ve tried it all.

In my searching, I discovered that I loved to have some extra spice in my chocolatey drink. I’ve added all kinds of spices trying to find the perfect one. For some reason… The Holidays just couldn’t be the Holidays without a nice warm cup of Hot Chocolate. That little treat just seemed to usher in the season.

We’ve hit the jackpot this year… International Delights has introduced a yummy heat & serve Hot Chocolate that you can find in the dairy case. YEP… It’s rich and creamy and so convenient!

I decided I wanted to warm mine up with a little cinnamon spice. I made a cinnamon whipped cream and them rimmed the mugs with a cinnamon sugar mixture. Here’s what you need for this Holiday treat.

Cinnamon Whipped Cream for the Perfect Hot Chocolate

1 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream

2 table spoons powdered sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 tablespoon cinnamon

For the rim of the mug

3 tablespoons cinnamon Turbinado sugar

(What is Turbinado Sugar? Turbinado sugar is raw sugar that has been steam-cleaned. The coarse Turbinado crystals are blond colored and have a delicate molasses flavor. If you can’t find cinnamon Turbinado Sugar, just add a 1/4 teaspoon to the 3 tablespoons of sugar.)

Instructions for Cinnamon Whipped Cream

In a chilled mixing bowl, add cream and using the whisk attachment whip at medium to high speed. Let mix for 1 minute or until the cream starts to thicken. Add powdered sugar, vanilla and cinnamon and continue to mix on high until the mixture thickens into whipped cream.

Next, use the cinnamon Turbinado sugar to rim the mugs. Put a few (2-3) tablespoons of water onto a plate or shallow bowl and place your mug, rim side down onto the plate.

Then, place your sugar onto a 2nd plate and place your mug, rim side down onto the plate, like so…

Now, you’re ready to heat your International Delights Hot Chocolate according to package directions. Pour your Hot Chocolate into your mugs, top with Cinnamon Whipped Cream and garnish with a cinnamon stick. Serve immediately.

Ummmmm, YES… It’s as good as it sounds!

What brings the spirit into the Holidays for you? Is it the sights and sounds of the season or is there a specific flavor that brings them to life for you? Visit the folks at International Delights to learn how you can win a $5000 Holiday Brunch just by sharing your story!

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of International Delight. The opinions and text are all mine.

Drinks

Dirty Diet Coke Supply List

You can download the Dirty Diet Coke Printable HERE

Cinnamon Whipped Cream for the Perfect Hot Chocolate

Instructions for Cinnamon Whipped Cream

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