The Detox Blackberry Charcoal Mocktail To Sip Between Drinks

We like our drinks functional -- whether cocktail, mocktail, latte or smoothie. So when we stumbled upon this genius mocktail idea, we were thrilled.

We've whipped up a couple of clean cocktail recipes made with sparkling versions of Hint Water flavors we love -- and created this blackberry charcoal mocktail while shaking everything up. After unpacking a case of the flavored fizz water (blackberry fizz is hand's down the team favorite!), we decided to throw a shot of charcoal straight into the (non-GMO, sugar-free, preservative-free) sparkling blackberry water and -- bingo, an ideal post-cocktail mocktail was born.

Flavored sparkling water is the quickest way to create good cocktail recipes at home without a million ingredients and without the added sugar that simple syrup or concentrated juices can add. If your friends are a healthy bunch, keep a case stocked at all times for quick and easy drinks.

Charcoal is the perfect ingredient for that glass of water between cocktails - and our version will help you linger longer between drinks. Scared of activated charcoal? Don't be. As long as charcoal is mixed with plenty of liquid and taken in moderation, the benefits are safe and high-impact, especially while drinking.

Keep these four simple ingredients hanging around on your next party's mini-bar or stir up a pitcher and keep it on hand for guests who want to hydrate and stay healthy after a couple of cocktails! [olists num=1]

This post is brought to you in partnership with Hint Water.

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Eat Happy: Spiced Halloumi + Chickpeas with Black Quinoa Tabbouleh

Melissa Hemsley is the kind of foodie you'd want as your best friend. The British cookbook author, cafe owner and holistic wellness advocate specializes in beautiful, carefree dishes that just make you feel good. Her latest cookbook, Eat Happy, is filled with quick recipes like the below, made with beautiful ingredients that are as fun to prep as they are to eat... 

A one-pan dish packed with crunch, freshness and spice. Quinoa is protein-rich and the black version, if you can get it, looks beautiful set against the herbs and salad leaves. Regular quinoa is just as good – but it needs 2 minutes less cooking time – or you could use red quinoa instead and cook for the same length of time as the black quinoa. The combination of spiced salty-sweet fried halloumi and chickpeas is unbeatable – you’ll be wanting to use this pairing with everything. This makes a bit extra and any leftovers make a great packed lunch. [olists num=1]

Check out Hemsley's fridge inside her new East London abode
-- learn what we discovered here!

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Fizzy Hint Water Cocktails with Probiotics, Berries + Green Tea

When we're mixing drinks at home, we're looking for something that's easy, elegant and without fake ingredients. While that should be easy to achieve, we often just end up popping open a bottle of rosé instead. Been there?

Last week, our team received three giant cases of Hint Water's sparkling flavors to the office. The afternoon picnic that followed was one for the books. Thanks to the two flavors we're obsessed with - cherry fizz and blackberry fizz - our healthy home bar issues are totally solved. We're sharing the recipes - a probiotic blackberry twist and a cherry and green tea fizz - and restyling them here for killer photos like you knew we would.

We were familiar with Hint Water's still water, but the fizzy stuff was a revelation. Everything from Hint Water is non-GMO, preservative-free and doesn't contain any sugar. We made our two low-maintenance, but totally sexy cocktails with the sparkling versions and think they could hold their own against any of our favorite L.A. libations! The key, of course, is that these recipes are healthier (hello, probiotics!), easier to make, and far more affordable than two cocktails out on the town.

For an effortless party bar that still feels special, stock up on cases of sparkling Hint Water (get our exclusive offer) and display the produce we've included - mint, blackberries, citrus fruit - in excess around the bar. Any good bottle of vodka works here. Let us know what you think! And try our genius mocktail recipe here too.

A note on cocktail benefits + ice: We like our cocktails without ice whenever possible. Why? Both ayurveda and traditional Chinese medicine advise that women take it easy with icy drinks. Extremely cold foods can negatively effect hormones, mood and digestion. If you really love icy drinks, go with your gut and do what you think is best. For us, keeping the Hint Water and the vodka both chilled before serving is a good balance!

+ Blackberries are loaded with vitamin C, fiber and antioxidants.
+ Probiotics can support skin and gut health.
+ Green tea can support blood sugar balance, weight management and brain health.
+ Mint is soothing for digestion.
+ Citrus is mineralizing and alkalizing for the blood.

[olists num=1][olists num=2]This story is brought to you in partnership with Hint Water.
Stock up on 3 cases of your favorite flavors for a healthy, hydrated season! 

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Summer in a Jar: How to Make Sun Tea (Before Fall Happens)

Tea. Water. Pitcher. Sun. That's all you need to make sun tea -- summer's liquid soulmate.

Learning how to make sun tea is a sweet way to spend a lazy afternoon outdoors with friends. Minimal effort is required, but the thrill we get from making the stuff comes in just beneath the childhood magic of mud pies and flower crowns.

Make a few jars of sun tea before yoga and lunch or before brunch and the beach. Then spend a little time connecting with a friend and hydrating with naturally nourishing ingredients right from the sun-warmed jars. Summer's most low-tech beverage is also the perfect way to avoid a hot kitchen - set things up outdoors and avoid more time over a steaming teapot or stove.

How To Make Sun Tea

Choose your tea: To make classic sun tea, gather a few bags of your favorite black or green tea -- you'll need one per every cup of water used. For extra nutrients and flavor, try adding a handful of fresh mint, slices of lemon, thinly sliced ginger, or dried flowers like chamomile, jasmine and rose. To make a caffeine-free, functionality-focused version, try using an herbal infusion instead of tea bags. We use loose herbs for this and strain them out. Learn which herbal infusion is right for you and more about why we love them here.

Fill 'er up: You'll need a glass container with a lid that holds at least one gallon of water. Make sure to clean it thoroughly with hot water before you begin! Once washed, add 8 tea bags to the container (or more if you like your tea strong). Fill the container with eight cups of water (about halfway) and secure the lid tightly.

Get outdoors: Place your sun tea jar where the sunlight can strike the container for about 3 to 5 hours. Direct sunlight is ideal for making sun tea. Move the container around if necessary to keep it in the sun.

Taste + Adjust: When your sun tea starts taking on a nice, rich color after a few hours, taste and decide if you want to steep your tea for longer or if it's ready to drink. If it's too strong, you can add more water or balance out the intensity with a few drops of liquid stevia, a bit of honey or another natural sweetener. When you're done sunning, transfer your sun tea to the fridge (you might want to pour it into a smaller vessel first). Serve over ice and enjoy!

Can't wait to share your sun tea?  Serve it up in one of these chic pitchers or carafes.

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Magnesium + The Mini-Bar: 6 Gut Health Tips For Travel Happiness

You planned. You packed. You counted down and couldn't be more excited about your vacay. The truth is, though you may plan on splurging your way through Mallorca or Tulum, a great trip depends on good gut health. There's no getting around it.

Robyn Youkilis is an authority on intuitive gut health and we asked her to take us along on a recent trip to share her best gut health tips for travel. Here's what Robyn packs, supplements and survives in the food desert that is the international airport terminal...  6 Gut Health Tips For Travel

bring your Routine. Stick with your non-negotiables as best you can! Whatever makes you feel your best in your regular life is just as essential when you are on vacay. Are you a morning journaler? Bring your notebook along! Is running something you know makes you feel your best? Don’t forget to pack your sneakers. I actually usually work out MORE on vacation because I have more free time.

Stock up on Hydration. Stay super hydrated before, during and after travel. Traveling, especially flying, is super dehydrating, so it’s especially important to drink up. Water, water and more water. Buy yourself a few big bottles right when you get to your destination and then keep your mini fridge stocked. Dehydration is the cause of so many issues: constipation, sluggish metabolism, low energy, headaches, irritability, sugar cravings, trouble sleeping, muscle cramps and fatigue… I definitely don’t want ANY of those making an appearance during my vacation if I can help it.

Pack Probiotics. Keep on-the-go probiotics in your travel bag.  Probiotics are great for keeping digestion regular, especially when you’re on the move. It’s easy for things to get uncomfortable when traveling: You often have limited food options, it can be hard to remember to hydrate enough, sometimes you’re feeling stressed about getting where you’re going. In order to stay regular, once through security, opt for a drinkable probiotic, such as kombucha. If you’d rather something a little more solid, pop a yogurt into your carry-on after going through security.

Supplement Strategically. I encourage travelers to get creative with snack and beverage options when heading into the sky. Chia seeds, hot water with lemon, lots of water, chlorophyll tablets, and magnesium powder are always part of my travel kit. They help keep things moving down there and that ensures that I can feel my best wherever I am.

Plan your diet. When planning your travel diet, keep things simple. Opt for dark leafy greens (like kale chips) and fruits (like dried fruit). Pack a snack bag ahead of time to avoid airport and airplane food: you want to keep your distance from anything processed, sugary, or sodium-heavy. I'm known for packing up full meals for me and my hubby for travel days: cooked greens like kale, some leftover roasted veggies, a protein like salmon or tempeh, plus some healthy fat (avocado and raw goat’s cheddar are two favorites of ours).

Practice post-plane yoga. Be sure to stretch frequently. Staying limber is important for your ligaments and your muscles, but also for the movement within your stomach and gut, too. Consider getting a travel yoga mat to bring wherever you go.

Check out Robyn's latest book,
Thin From Within - The Go with Your Gut Way to Lose Weight 

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In My Fridge: Foodie Kat Odell on Japanese Condiments + Vintage Champagne

You can always identify a girl who has traveled the world by the state of her pantry and fridge -- and no, we don't mean empty, be mean cultured. Food writer and cookbook author, Kat Odell is constantly hopping from city to city, and her kitchen is a reflection of her experience. Like little souvenirs, her fridge is full of jars packed with ferments from Japan, Blueberries from Michigan, and all the fixings for her Czech grandmother's soup recipe.

Kat is our go-to girl for finding healthy (and always beautiful) haunts in her home city of NYC -- check them all out here. We get a little giddy when she sends us something like this poke bowl from Costa Rica or this unique Indian brunch spot. Kat has a way of seeing (and tasting) her way around the world in a way that reflects our approach to wellness: intentional, informed and always excited to discover more.

When she's not sitting down at a multiple Michelin-starred spot, Kat keeps things balanced with plenty of plants and other whole food ingredients. Her upcoming cookbook, Unicorn Foods, comes out September 5th and features a slew of stunning yet wholesome recipes with a wellness slant. While we wait for the book to drop, explore some of Kat's most delicious adventures on her Instagram, then dive into her personal pantry and fridge with our favorite series on the site, In My Fridge...

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Makeup Artist Katey Denno Answers All Your Q’s On Summer Beauty Woes

Have you ever wished you could sit down with a green beauty guru and just ask her all the things?

For example, how to maintain your summer glow without drenching your skin in a self-tanner that's full of chemicals? Or maybe you're good on glow, but frazzled over your dry and frizzy end-of-summer hair.

We asked our fave celebrity makeup artist Katey Denno to take to Instagram and let our followers ask her anything. They did -- and we're sharing our fave reader Q's below...

"How can I go green and clean without being overwhelmed?"
The number one product you should switch out is whatever is covering the largest surface area on your body: your lotions and your oils. Secondly, let's look at whatever you're using on your lip -  let's make it clean. Whether that's balm or a bold color, there are some amazing natural options out there.

"I'm on the prowl for a green beauty self-tanner that works! Any suggestions?"
Of all the sunless tanners on the market, my very favorite clean one is from Suntegrity. It's the only one I will put on me an not have an odd color, not have any streaks, not have a bad smell... I love it!

"Whats the best product for healing sun damage?"
My favorite products that actually help to repair and treat damaged skin are all from True Botanicals. It's their antioxidant powder mixed with their cellular repair serum. I also love their vitamin C powder for lessening the effect of sun damage.

"Which products do you recommend for summer hair recovery?"

Weleda makes a wonderful rosemary hair oil, and since we know rosemary is really nourishing for hair, I like to use this on dry ends as an overnight leave in or used sparingly as a frizz tamer to add shine. I also love the conditioning treatment from Canadian clean beauty brand World.ca to use as a five-minute treatment for thinner hair and an overnight treatment for thicker more unruly hair. Using apple cider vinegar as a rinse is also a great treatment to infuse shine after days of swimming around in the ocean or pools.

Got more questions for celeb makeup artist Katey Denno?
Share in the comments below!

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