Flavor Infused Water

I can't believe September is here! The weather is amazing! You can feel it in the air...the humidity is gone and Fall is coming (GOT fans??). Yes, we still have warm days ahead, but those are the beautiful, delightful, can't-stand-to-be-inside type of days! This is when our porch gets the most use. We make drinks and snacks, Ryan pulls out his golf club and practice balls, I open a book or magazine and we just sit outside enjoying the comfortable weather. The perfect thing for porch-sitting-September evenings is fresh flavored waters.

Flavored water is the perfect beverage for those "Ahh, this feels nice" kind of days. If you are feeling a little spunky, add some vodka too!

For our relaxing porch day this week, I made a large pitcher of refreshing cucumber and lime water (with maybe a bit of vodka in it...we were feeling spunky). We are obsessed with infused waters...it is the best way to hydrate, especially if you aren't a fan of boring water. I found this handy infuser tool a few years ago that allows you to easily infuse your water without having to fish out all the scraps. Here are a few of our favorite flavor combinations:

• Cucumber and lime
• Citrus - orange, lemon, lime
• Raspberry and mint
• Strawberry and basil
• Cucumber alone - feels like you are at the spa!

Infused water is my go-to healthy mixer for a vodka cocktail as well. You get fresh flavor with no calories or sugar. When Kendal (remember Trendy Kendie) and I were at the beach last year, we discovered a shared love for this type of cocktail and had a great time muddling fruit into our water to cool us off at the beach. I think we tried about 4 or 5 combinations in one afternoon...it got a bit wild :)

Porch sitting days remind me of family and I have to mention a special birthday today! Happy Birthday Desiree!!! You are possibly the best "Mother-in-Law" a girl could ever have. I think we have come to the point where we could just drop the "Mother-in-Law" tag though! Love you so much and hope you have a fantastic birthday....hopefully filled with porch-sitting drinks. :)

Infused Water

Yields: 1 pitcher / 4 glasses
Prep Time: 30 minutes

1 pitcher of filtered water

1 cup of fruit/citrus/vegetable of choice

Combine the ingredients and chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes before serving.

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Football season is here! Check back early next week for the best baby back rib recipe you will ever come across.