SkinnyTinis

February 12, 2009 4 O’clock Friday SkinnyTini Recipe

2010-02-12T17:08:00.000-08:00

Inspired by last night’s fiasco…todays SkinnyTini Recipe is an existing recipe, with a small twist. The Samsonite SkinnyTini is aptly named after my handsome, solid white cat, Samson. Well, last night he had a run in with a candle and the tip of his fluffy white tail went up in flames. He wasn’t injured at all; he just has a slightly burnt and crispy tail, reminiscent of a roasted marshmallow. It was quite a riot and not the calm way to end the day has I had originally intended. But thanks to a good friend Megan, she pointed out it would make a good basis for a cocktail.

I do know that the Samsonite SkinnyTini is absolutely delicious! It’s an excellent desert style cocktail, perfect to serve for your sweetie this romantic weekend. I haven’t actually tried to light it on fire, but based on some research, I’m pretty sure this should work. Unfortunately, I don’t have Everclear as part of my standard SkinnyBar set up, but we will test this out this evening and I’ll update tomorrow any interesting findings!
So here you have it, enjoy!

Flaming Samsonite
2oz Vanilla Vodka
2oz Nonfat Milk
½ oz Light Coconut Milk
½ oz Sugar Free Coconut Syrup
Toper of Everlear 151 Grain Alcohol
150 Calories

Directions: add vodka, milk, coconut milk and syrup to a cocktail shaker with ice and shake for 5-10 seconds. Strain into a classic martini glass and float a toper of Everclear. Light the Everclear on fire for fun flaming effect while serving. Blow flame out quickly to keep the milk from curdling and enjoy.

Friday, January 22, 2010 4 O’clock Friday Recipe

2010-01-22T16:49:00.000-08:00

I had a cocktail very similar to this in New Orleans this week. It seemed just perfect for this winter weather. It’s simple, celebratory and delicious! It was made with Peach Schnapps, so a simply replacement with peach syrup will ensure we have a delicious peachy flavor with zero extra calories!

Skinny Sparkling Pear
1 oz Pear Vodka
½ oz Sugar Free Peach Syrup
3 ½ oz Sparkling Wine or Champagne
143 Calories

Directions: Add vodka and syrup to a cocktail shaker with ice and shake for 5-10 seconds. Strain into a champagne flute and top with sparkling wine or champagne. Garnish with fresh pear for fun affect.

Cheers!

New Lower Price for SkinnyTinis on Amazon!!

2010-01-15T17:35:00.000-08:00

Wow - SkinnyTinis has dropped from $12.26 on Amazon to $10.99. It's now 39% off the retail price! Not sure if it's long term or for a short period of time so stock up!

I'm proud to say SkinnyTinis has a 5 Star rating on Amazon! Here are some great reviews from readers:

"Such a wonderfully put together book. I have been in the weight loss field since 1993 and never have I come across a solution for anyone who would like to have a drink for minimal calories and still feel good about weight loss or maintaining their weight. Definitely worth getting this book for yourself or as a gift!"

"Love this book - every bar (or kitchen cabinet) must have one. Finally, a reasonable solution for those of us that exercise, eat right and try to stay in those "skinny jeans" without blowing it in one night out with the girls. Love the vanilla chaitini... yum, and how about the skinny cosmo? It's about time. Sex and the City girls will need this for the next movie! This book is easy to use - and a reason in itself to have a get together. A must have..... "

If you have a copy, don't hesitate to grab more for gifts or post a review! I'd love to hear your feedback. Cheers!

Friday January 15th 4 O'clock Friday Hip tips

2010-01-15T16:27:00.000-08:00

Football Playoffs Are Here!

I’m not sure if everybody is as excited about the playoffs this weekend as some of us San Diegans are, but non-the-less, I’m sure many of you will be watching them throughout the day Saturday and Sunday. You may have noticed that whether you are at a house party or a sports bar, sticking to a healthy eating/drinking plan is particularly tricky. Hopefully these tips give you a little direction :)

Drinks: I don’t know why sports and drinking are such a notorious combination, but they just are! Below are some great options if you are going to be participating in the festivities. Don’t forget to sneak in a non-alcoholic drink or water in between cocktails to stave off dehydration and keep you from wasting too many empty alcohol calories.

5oz Bloody Mary – 116 calories
5oz Mimosa – 92 calories
5oz Skinny Mimosa – 72 calories
12oz Coors Light– 104 calories
12oz Bud Light – 110 calories
12oz Bud Select – 99 calories
12oz Amstel Light – 95 calories
12oz Non-Alcoholic Beer – 60 calories
9oz SkinnyTini Bolt (formerly known as the “don’t knock it ‘till you try it”). Equal parts light beer, white wine and diet sprite – 85 calories

Best Bar Food Bets: Bar food is tough because it’s so yummy! Then you have a few drinks in you and all of a sudden you just don’t care. So the first trick here is to eat healthy at home before you go. Not being hungry is the easiest way to avoid temptation. But if you have to have a snack or so, try these:

Grilled Fish Tacos (1 taco) – 165 calories (no avocado or sauce)
Rice & Beans (1/2 cup each) - 265 calories
Chips & Salsa (10 chips, 1/4 cup salsa) - 100 calories
Cheese Pizza (1 thin crust slice) - 190 calories
Turkey Chili (1 cup) - 220 calories
French Fries (2.5 oz) – 230 calories
Mini Beef Slider (1 burger) - 250 calories
Chicken Strips (1 piece) – 140 calories
Buffalo Wings (1 wingy) – 90 calories

Last Tip – makes sure you beef up your regular Sunday exercise to make room for these extra calories. Games don’t start until 10am on the west coast so you have plenty of time in the morning to get in 60 min of cardio and burn 450-600 calories! Using that hour wisely means you could enjoy 2 guilt free light beers, 2 fish tacos and chips and salsa, what deal!

Cheers and go Charges!!

San Antonio Express - Sunday January 10th

2010-01-11T16:48:00.000-08:00

January 8, 2010 - 4 O’clock Friday Hip Tip

2010-01-08T18:08:00.000-08:00

Did you resolve to hit the gym more in 2010 to become your perfect 10? Well you’re not alone. According to Fitness magazine, 45% of people said losing weight was their top goal this year. So how can you slim down 21 lbs (the average desired weight loss?) and still enjoy a cocktail once in a while? Here’s a little guide on the quickest ways to burn 150 calories (all SkinnyTinis have less than 150 calories) when you’re in the gym!

For a 130-pound person, doing these exercises will burn about 150 calories, a great start to getting into shape:

10 minutes of running up stairs
15 minutes of jumping rope
15 minutes of swimming (vigorous)
15 minutes of biking fast (15 mph)
15 minutes of running (6 mph)
20 minutes of circuit training
20 minutes of playing basketball
25 minutes of aerobics
25 minutes on stair machine
40 minutes of yoga (hatha)
40 minutes of water aerobics
45 minutes of walking (3 mph)
50 minutes weight lifting (moderate effort)

Mind gym etiquette while you’re there, the same Fitness magazine, quoted these as reader’s largest pet peeves while sweat’n it out at the gym:

52% talking on their cell phone while working out (guess what, you don’t get as good a workout either)
18% holding a spot for your friend in a packed class (I think this is only rude if your friend fails to make an appearance. Otherwise, the buddy system is great!)
17% hogging the treadmill during peak hours (I don’t really agree with this either, if’ you’re getting a sweat on, stick with it. Join a bigger gym or go at different hours if you have an issue getting on a machine.)

Happy New Year!

Cheers!

January 1st, 2010 4 O'clock Friday SkinnyTini Recipe

2010-01-01T14:49:00.000-08:00

On freezing cold winter nights, this tasty alternative to plain red wine hits the spot and has the added benefit of being packed with resveratrol, an antioxidant that has shown promise in fighting heart disease, Alzheimer's, and cancer.

Skinny Mulled Wine
1 bottle dry red wine (750 ml)
2 oz brandy
1 cup low sugar apple juice
¼ cup water
½ cup light orange juice
4 orange slices
1 teaspoon whole cloves
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon nutmeg
Makes 6, 6oz servings with 116 calories

Directions: Combine all ingredients in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil and then let simmer on low heat for about 15 minutes. If you'd like it a bit sweeter, add a bit of sugar, stevia, or Splenda. Serve in 6 oz mugs garnished with orange or lemon zest and an extra cinnamon stick.

Happy New Year!

Cheers!

Calling All Thin Women!

2009-12-27T12:42:00.000-08:00

Sally Shields, Speaker, Radio Personality and International Media Specialist is working on a project; “Naturally Thin, or Discipline? Insider Secrets of the Super-Slim.” She is looking for 100 thin women to provide their stories of a fun, cute book that will be a great resource for women everywhere.

As a SkinnyTini fan, it’s likely you can help! If you want to be a part of this project, please respond directly to Sally at sally@theDILRules.com with the following information:

Are you considered thin by society’s standards?
Are you willing to answer questions about your diet and exercise routines and provide a picture?
Anything else you`d like to add?

Please provide Sally with the following contact information:

First and Last Name:
Job Title:
Company:
City:State/ Province:
Country:
Phone1:
Email:
Website:

Cheers!

-Teresa Marie

Friday December 11th 4 O'clock Friday SkinnyTini Recipe

2009-12-11T16:04:00.001-08:00

Here is a delicious treat for the holidays! Skip the candy and have the SkinnyTini instead…it’s a fantastic desert style cocktail to serve at your next holiday event to add the perfect seemingly indulgent affect :)

Peppermint Pattie SkinnyTini
1½ oz Vanilla Vodka
½ oz Peppermint Schnapps
½ oz White Chocolate Sugar Free Syrup
1 oz Nonfat Milk
146 Calories

Add all ingredients to a blender and blend on high for 10-15 seconds until full smooth. Poor into a 5oz martini glass and garnish with a mini candy cane or peppermint for a fun affect!

Happy Holidays!!

Friday November 27, 2009 4 O'clock Friday SkinnyTini Recipe

2009-11-27T15:19:00.001-08:00

It’s possible many of you might find this annoying that I’m posting this recipe the day AFTER thanksgiving, and in hindsight, perhaps I could have made a Wednesday exception in this case but too late now! Hopefully you still have plenty of pumpkin in your pantry and this is a wonderful fall/winter desert style SkinnyTini to serve in lieu of a more traditional desert. Enjoy!

Pumpkin Pie SkinnyTini
2 oz Vanilla Vodka
1 oz Non Fat Milk
½ oz Brown Sugar Cinnamon Sugar Free Syrup
2T Pumpkin Puree
½ cup Ice
142 Calories

Add all ingredients to a blender and mix for 10-15 seconds or until ice is fully blended and fluffy. Poor into a martini glass, garnish with a pinch of cinnamon and serve! You could even rim the glass with graham cracker crumbs if you really felt like delivering the full pumpkin pie experience!

Friday, November 20, 2009 SkinnyTini Hip Tip!

2009-11-20T16:47:00.000-08:00

Well, with this being the week before Thanksgiving, I think it’s almost safe to say the Holidays are officially here! My calendar is already filling up with holiday parties and treats and tinis will be on the menu nightly! So whether you’re hosting or toasting, don’t forget EVERYBODY will appreciate saving 50% of the calories with their cocktails!

Share SkinnyTinis at all your holiday events and use these fun party tips to ensure yours goes off without a hitch!

Hosting: As a party hostess, you’ll find these quick tips very helpful!
1. Offer a variety of drinks, a cocktail, martini and always have a non-alcoholic option available. It’s also fun to serve a delicious desert style martini that feels like a real treat instead of a traditional desert. Try the Coconut Clouds, Vanilla Chai Tini, Almond Bliss or Strawberry Cheesecake.

2. Ever wonder how much you’re going to need? Check out eVites very sophisticated drink calculator to see just how much beer, wine and liquor you will need based on your party’s duration, what you’re serving as well as your guests’ estimated liquor appetite! http://www.evite.com/pages/party/drink-calculator.jsp

3. Pre-mix all your mixers for your SkinnyTinis. This way you just add the mixer to the shaker with the liquor and TA-DA! Hostess with the Mostess and no math!

Toasting: As a party guest, you’ll be your hostess’s favorite if you follow these tips!
1. Check with the hostess to see what the theme of the party is and ensure the SkinnyTini you are going to bring along fits in with her vision for her party and won’t be redundant or outshine any of her stellar party plans.

2. Bring everything you are going to need to make your drink. The hostess will be busy with her guests and details, so it’s just easier to come prepared so you can get right to work on serving up your cocktail and won’t have to wait for her attention for a small knife to cut up your limes. And DON"T FORGET to bring a SkinnyTini book as a hostess gift!

3. Pick an easy SkinnyTini that requires only 2-3 total ingredients. The AppletTini and Pink Panther are great options. This way you can make a few, show a few how to prepare and you won’t be suffocated behind the bar the entire night.

Either way, be sure to take pictures! It’s so so so hard to get a group of folks together during the busy holiday season. Make sure you document your party and post your pictures on the SkinnyTini fan page!!

Welcome to the holiday season and cheers!

Friday, November 13th, 2009 SkinnyTini Recipe

2009-11-13T16:10:00.001-08:00

As the weather definitely set in a chill this past week this soothing SkinnyTini seems to be the perfect fit! Plus, it’s a little fun to prepare with fresh fruit simmering on the stove top…should give your kitchen a timely comforting aroma! Enjoy!

Apple Cider SkinnyTini
3 oz Skinny Cider Mix
2 oz Apple Vodka
147 Calories

To prepare the Skinny Cider mix poor the desired amount of low sugar apple juice into a small sauce pan. Chop an apple into relatively large pieces and add to the juice. Add 2T of cloves, a dash of cinnamon and nutmeg. Simmer on low heat until the apples are tender. Strain the mixture and cool it before adding to the cocktail shaker. Then add apple vodka with ice, shake 10-15 seconds and serve!

Cheers!

Friday, November 06, 2009 SkinnyTini Tips from Barbados!!

2009-11-06T16:06:00.000-08:00

Five of us gals have been in Barbados for the week and we have combined our efforts to deliver the top 10 tips for making a girl’s trip not just a blast, but safe, happy, affordable and best of all Skinny!

Tip #1 – Take advantage of Duty Free
We had each girl pick up a different bottle of flavored vodka at duty free before boarding the plane to the island. Then you just need soda water and some local fruit and you are set for the week with a variety of unique and tasty SkinnyTinis!

Tip #2 – Pack oatmeal and fiber bars
Grab apples from the front desk and you’ll have easy lunch and/or breakfast that is low cal, free and high in fiber so you’ll stay fuller longer and more apt to avoid the pricy, fried treats at the pool bar.

Tip #3 – Water
I say it every week, but it’s so important to stay hydrated to avoid over heating, eating and drinking! Always have 2 water bottles so you keep one in the fridge while you drink the other. When you’re out at night, as always, rotate water and cocktails.

Tip #4 – Rock the Skinny Fanny Pack
I know this is goofy, but the convenience of not having to carry a purse when you’re out on the town is awesome! We can make this cool again.

Tip #5 – Exercise
Even if you drank too much the night before, get up in the morning and commit to at least 15 minutes to start the day off right and sweat out any toxins. It will make you feel human again.

Tip #6 – Leverage your friend’s strengths
Make sure everybody has job. Personally, I think a group of girls can solve the world’s problems. We are all good at something so put those skills to work! On this trip Megan is our CEO/CFO and has negotiated all our deals for us and managed group funds. Connie CTO/CPO - Chief Transportation and Photo officer. She drove a car on the other side of the road and mastered the round abouts on our island tour! Jenny is our CCO - Chief Costume Officer. She brought the fanny pack! Whitney is our CSO - Chief Sunshine Officer. She gets us to the beach and brought the best sun block. And of course I’m just the bartender J

Tip #7 – Stick Together
It’s always safest to stay together, but in the event someone goes home separate, make sure you get all the taxi guy’s info. Take a picture of his face and license plate just in case she doesn’t get where she’s supposed to go.

Tip #8 – Avoid colorful shots
Shots are never a part of a SkinnyTini girls plan…and especially NOT little ones that come in a plastic cup and are bright pink. You’ll never know what’s in it and it will only hurt your head in the morning.

Tip #9 – Music Lists
Make sure at least one girl has an iPod and travel speakers. Also, some hotel clocks have an AUX hookup you can plug into and play out of. It never hurts to pack a mix CD also, especially if you plan to rent a car. Thank you Tansy for the Halloween 09 CD that we rocked all the way around the island today!

Tip #10 – Do whatever makes you happy
On vacation and especially in a group, remember to do what makes you happy. It’s ok to park it on the beach while others go sight seeing. Or take charge and rent a car even if you don’t know if anybody is going to come along.

Halloween SkinnyTini Party!

2009-11-01T18:05:00.000-08:00

Black Cat SkinnyTinis and SkinnyAppletinis were a hit!

Friday October 30, 2009 4 O’clock Friday SkinnyTini Hip Tip

2009-10-30T16:56:00.000-07:00

Happy Halloween Weekend everybody!!

You already have 3 delicious Spooky SkinnyTinis to taste this weekend, so no need for more recipes. So how about just a few tips to make this a safe, happy and hilarious Halloween Weekend!

Tip # 1 – Stay the F away from those MINI CANDY BARS! You might think that because it’s “mini” maybe the calories don’t count? Not the case! You may say to yourself, “how much damage could 1 fun size Butterfinger, 1snack size Almond Joy, 2 mini Snickers bar and 1 mini Hershey bar can do?” You could eat these 5 pieces of candy in 5 minutes flat, and it would cost you 312 calories! I’d much rather have two SkinnyTinis than 5 idy bidy pieces of candy!

Tip #2 – Get your BOOGY ON! Dancing is a GREAT way to burn off the extra calories from your cocktails! It takes a 130lb gal 19 minutes of hard core ass shak’n to burn 100 calories. So in an hour’s time, you can burn off those two additional SkinnyTinis! See page 136 in SkinnyTinis for charts on other great easy ways to burn off excess calories while your out and about.

Tip #3 – Stay HYDRATED! Alcohol by nature is dehydrating, so the more you drink, in theory, the thirstier you will be. This could cause you to consume way too many unnecessary alcohol calories and cause you to act sillier than you really need to. So be sure to slip in a glass of water between every cocktail to save you money, calories and potentially some embarrassment.

Hope you found these helpful – everybody have a Happy and Hilarious Halloween!!

Cheers!

October 23, 2009 4 O’clock Friday SkinnyTini Recipe

2009-10-23T16:17:00.001-07:00

Here is the third and final Spooky SkinnyTini! What’s hilarious is that it’s not Halloween this weekend. He he. So next Friday you’ll be fully equipped with all three recipes AND an excellent tip to survive the weekend! Cheers!

Purple Passion Potion
1½ oz Vodka
½ oz Blue Curacao
2 oz Light Cranberry Juice
1 oz Diet Ginger Ale
150 Calories

Directions: Add juice and liquor to shaker with ice and shake for 5 - 10 seconds to chill and mix. Strain into a 5 oz martini glass, top off with ginger ale for a fizzy, fun affect and serve!

Added Info – yes, Blue Curacao is NOT a skinny liquor! It actually has 95 calories per ounce and is only 35% liquor. But it’s such a fun, fruity liquor that when balanced with the ultra low calorie cranberry and diet ginger ale, it still fits into the SkinnyTini parameter. You could substitute blue Gatorade and have a similar aesthetic affect, but the flavor will be slightly different, however your total calorie count would be only 105 calories! You might have to play with the proportions a bit to get the color right, but it is a great lower calorie alternative.

Happy Pre-Halloween Weekend everybody!

Enjoy and be safe!!

Friday October 16, 2009 4 O’clock Friday SkinnyTini Recipe

2009-10-16T16:06:00.000-07:00

As promised, here is your second of three Halloween Themed SkinnyTinis and I LOVE this one! Black vodka tastes just like regular vodka, but it is a dark, charcoal color. Mix it with a deep red cranberry juice, and it maintains it’s mysterious dark color, perfect for Spooky Halloween events!

Look for Black Vodka at the liquor store, but beware of the alcohol content. Absolute makes a 100 version that is black, it is also 50% alcohol so it’s stiffer, but packs a mightier caloric punch as well with 83 calories per ounce instead of just 64.

Black Cat SkinnyTini
2 oz Black Vodka
3 oz Light Cranberry Juice
Pipe Cleaner Whisker Garnish
139 Calories

Cheers!

October 9th 4 O’clock Friday Recipe!

2009-10-09T16:07:00.000-07:00

Happy Halloween SkinnyTinis!

Did you know Halloween falls on a Saturday night this year? You know what that means, don't you? Drinks will be on the menu and temptations will be on the rise! Fight the urge for sugary sweet treats with an ultra low calorie SkinnyTini!

Here is the first of three SpookieTinis you will receive before Halloween hits this year – enjoy!

Candy Corn SkinnyTini
2 oz Vanilla Vodka
2 oz Orange Cranberry Tangerine Skinny Water
1 oz Diet Ginger Ale
Candy Corn Garnish
133 Calories

Cheers!

ps - easy on the candy corn, each one has 11 calories!

September 25th 4 O’clock Friday Recipe and Tip!

2009-09-25T11:59:00.001-07:00

Is Happy Hour on your schedule tonight? Are you looking for a fun, new, fresh and easy to find cocktail to try that is ultra low in calories? Flavored vodkas with club soda and some fresh fruit are excellent ways to get in variety, flavor and still keep the calories super low. Try this out next time you are out and you want something cool and refreshing:

Blueberry Bubbles
1 ½ oz Blueberry Vodka
3 ½ oz Club Soda
Extra Lemon Wedges
Sweetener (only if you think it needs it)

Depending on the brand of vodka, this drink can range from 96-120 calories! Flavored vodkas range in calorie level based on how it is sweetened and what the alcohol potency is. Ask the bartender if it’s 35% or 40% alcohol and know that the 40% versions will back a mightier alcohol punch, but will have more calories as well.

Enjoy this fresh new variation tonight and have an EXCELLENT weekend!

Cheers!!

Friday September 18th 4 O'clock Friday Hip Tip AND Recipe!

2009-09-18T16:22:00.000-07:00

This might sound counter intuitive, but did you realize that blended drinks can have less calories? Typically they don’t because of the creamy stuff they are being blended up with. But through all my research and development of SkinnyTinis, I found that it was far simpler to make a blended recipe come in at the lower calorie level, simply because you need less liquid. 3.5 oz of your liquor and mixer, blended with ½ -1 cup of ice will give you a 5 oz cocktail. The ice adds 30% of the volume of the cocktail, chills it perfectly and adds ZERO calories. Can’t beat that!

So try it this weekend. Take 1 ½ -2 oz of your favorite liquor, add 1½ - 2 oz of anything else (sometimes I like to use fresh fruit here too. Depending on the fruit, ¼ cup can usually give you 1oz of volume) , add ½ - 1 cup crushed ice (depending on how frothy you want your drink) and blend for 10-15 seconds. Try this one out as a good example, this concoction will be a different twist on a very traditional cocktail:

Blended Skinny Madras
1½ oz Vodka
1 oz Light Orange Juice
½ oz Light Cranberry Juice
½ -1 cup of Ice
103 calories

Add all ingredients to a blender and start on low for 5 seconds then up to the highest measure for an additional 5-10 seconds. Poor into a chilled martini glass, garnish with an orange wheel and serve!

The original Skinny Madras featured on page 77 of SkinnyTinis has 115 total calories. By using more ice, we are able to eliminate an additional 10% of the calories. If you were out at a bar, you could really irritate a bartender and ask him or her to blend one for you. Using the full sugar juices that are in a regular madras gives you 147 calories. But if you eliminate 1½ oz of them and replaced with ice by blending, you would save 22 calories, or 15%. Clever little trick I’d say ;-)

Have a great weekend everybody!

Cheers!

September 11th, 2009 4 O’clock Friday SkinnyTini Recipe

2009-09-11T15:34:00.000-07:00

So I’ve got fun girlfriends coming over tonight and I SO wanted to make my Fresh Blueberry SkinnyTini for them from August. However, when I went to the grocery store, I noticed that a very small basket of fresh blueberries as $3.99 and a very large basket of fresh strawberries was $0.99. So guess what? This week’s recipe is a Fresh Strawberry SkinnyTini! Just sub out fresh strawberries and get some zero calorie strawberry flavored water and you’re all set for a delicious and refreshing SkinnyTini that is low in calorie and delicious!

In terms of nutrition, because we use fresh strawberries instead of a strawberry liquor, this SkinnyTini has an entire gram of fiber and also contains vitamin C, manganese, iodine, potassium, folate, riboflavin, vitamin B5, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin B6, vitamin K, magnesium, and copper. What other martini can offer that and have less than 140 calories?

Yay!

Fresh Strawberry SkinnyTini
2 oz Citrus Vodka
7 small Fresh Strawberries
1 oz Strawberry Flavored Water
1 cup Crushed Ice
Juice of ½ Fresh Lime
4-6 drops of Stevia
138 Calories

Directions: Add all ingredient to the blender and mix on low for 30 seconds then increase speed to the highest your machine will go for an additional 60 seconds. Strain the mixture through a strainer to remove ice chunks and strawberry seeds into a 5 oz martini glass. This leaves you with a potent, fresh and quite frankly delicious mixture that I feel not only adds to the social pleasure of your life but potentially your general health! Garnish with a strawberry or fresh lime wedge and serve!

Cheers!

Friday September 4th 4 O’clock Friday SkinnyTini Tip

2009-09-04T16:45:00.000-07:00

We’ve got a holiday weekend upon us and hallelujah, who the heck doesn’t need it?! So whether you weekend is jam packed or wide open, the following three tips will ensure you have a fit and fab-o Labor Day and send summer off on a great note!

1. Drink LOTS of Water – depending on where you are in the country, it is likely very HOT! Dehydration occurs when you don’t even know it! What do you do when you’re dehydrated? Drink fluid. Just make sure that half the fluid you are consuming is water. This is always important, but even more so during these warm (or Freakishly Warm if you’re in So Cal) days.

2. Prioritize on MOVING – Who wouldn’t love to go kayaking, swimming or fishing this weekend? And then why not earn a few extra calories while you’re at it! Again, this is always important! But with an extra day off this weekend, think of the fun things you can do and all the calories you will burn with it? Revisit the August 14th entry for all kinds of fun ways to spend time and move your body at the same time.

3. PACE Yourself – Cherish each of these days you have off this weekend because once they’re gone, you don’t get them back. Pace your cocktail consumption, they average person can have one drink per hour and stay at a relatively decent state of “giddy.” Also, stay hydrated and pass time by slipping in a glass of water in between cocktails. Don’t waste one of these days sick and hung over! There are too few of them and make sure you get to enjoy every minute!

Have a wonderful long holiday weekend everyone!

Cheers!

Note to anybody who knows me…you know how tempted I was to put in an “EFF-IT” Tini today but figured I’d stick with the holiday spirit! But trust I will follow my own advice this weekend and take it easy!

Friday August 28, 2009 4 O’clock Friday SkinnyTini!

2009-08-28T15:55:00.000-07:00

This is perfect timing because I’m about to hop in the shower and then onto an airplane to fly up to San Francisco to celebrate one of my best friend’s EVER bachelorette party! Of course we are having a SkinnyTini and it’s themed after her wedding color theme of burgundy (it’s a fall wedding). So here it is, it’s delicious, loaded with anti-oxidants, low in calorie and super celebratory!

Suzanne’s Skinny B-Party Tini
1 oz Vodka
3 oz Champagne
½ oz Acai Pomegranate Juice
½ oz Sugar Free Peach Syrup
138 Calories

Add juice, syrup and vodka to a shaker with ice and shake 10-15 seconds to cool and mix. Strain into a 5 oz Martini glass, top off with champagne and serve!

She even gets a special bachelorette martini glass that has been fitted wiht a very nice skirt and glitter! I'll be sure to post pictures next week!

Have a great weekend everybody!!

Cheers!

Friday, August 21, 2009 SkinnyTini Hip Tip

2009-08-21T19:18:00.001-07:00

So this one is really quick…Miller 64 is really pumping up their advertising and I feel like I’ve seen their “here’s your Miller 64 beer and your 64 calories of Chardonnay” ad like a zillion times this week. While I appreciate their efforts to spread the word and create a calorie efficient beverage, I do feel compelled to point out that a 12 oz Miller 64 is only 2.8% alcohol where your standard light beer that ranges from 100-110 calories will be 4.1-4.2% alcohol. And a typical 5 oz glass of white wine will also run you 100-115 calories and range from 12-15% alcohol. Depending on your social objectives, Miller 64 may be a perfect option, but be aware you will have to consume twice as much to take your Friday afternoon edge off.

Cheers!

Friday August 14, 2009, SkinnyTini Hip Tip!

2009-08-14T16:00:00.000-07:00

It feels like I’ve been working on recipes quite a bit lately so I think it’s time for a tip. This one is a MUST DO for anybody to win the war of the fab figure without giving up all the fun in your social life! If you are trying to lose weight, you’ve probably noticed that 1200-1400 (the most common weight loss calorie levels for women of most sizes) is NOT a lot of food. Now, if you’re trying to fit in 1-2++ SkinnyTinis in there, that can be 10-20% of your total calories for the day. I would NEVER suggest skipping out on nutrition to make room for a cocktail, so if this is the boat you are in, you will need to create room for your social indulgences by burning extra calories.

Have you realized we only have four weekends remaining? And that includes Labor Day weekend. Knowing this, it seems timely to show you all the fun extra ways you can burn calories and enjoy these precious few remaining weekends we have in the summer of 2009!

So call some fun friends, get up from your chair, go outside your front door and make this weekend an active one! Sunday night you will go to sleep feeling proud of yourself because you earned your party, you are guilt free, and you had a BLAST doing it!

Fun ways to burn calories on summer weekends:

Activity Calories Burned per Hour*

Mountain Bike - 502

Rock Climbing - 473
Tennis - 413

Soccer - 413
Dancing - 384

Swimming - 355
Water Ski - 355

Hiking - 355
Easy Bike - 355

Mow Lawn - 355
Wash Car - 266

Rake Lawn - 254
Golf (no cart) - 266

Brisk Walk - 225
Frisbee - 177

Fishing - 177
Volleyball - 177

*For Average 130lb person. For more ideas and weight ranges, click on the cool calculator at the top of this blog!

Friday August 7, 2009 4 O’clock Friday SkinnyTini Recipe (s)

2009-08-07T14:42:00.000-07:00

Inspired by last week’s visit to the farmers market…I spent all week messing around with blueberries. And while I loved the blueberry mojito concept…it’s a cocktail that I like to drink through a straw and the muddled blueberries didn’t quite cut it. So, as most cocktails do…it evolved. I went on the daiquiri trip…blended it and yes, I like it. But then it went one step further for the slightly too time consuming for many and derived the Fresh Blueberry Martini. I just LOVED it, but understand the time intensity involved so I respect those who opt for the drop it in the blender, pour and serve folks as well! But if you’re going to have one or maybe just two rounds of drinks for a few close friends, the martini is worth the extra time, I promise!

Fresh Blueberry Skinny Daiquiri
2 oz White Rum
¼ cup Fresh Blueberries
2 cups Crushed Ice
Juice of ½ Fresh Lime
6 drops of Stevia
154 Calories

Note: this is a 12 oz cocktail!

Add all ingredient to the blender and mix on low for 30 seconds then increase speed to the highest your machine will go for an additional 60 seconds. Pour into a 12 oz martini or daiquiri glass, garnish with a fresh lime wedge and serve!

Fresh Blueberry SkinnyTini
2 oz Citrus Vodka
¼ cup Fresh Blueberries
1 oz Grape Blueberry SkinnyWater
1 cup Crushed Ice
Juice of ½ Fresh Lime
4-6 drops of Stevia
140 Calories

Add all ingredient to the blender and mix on low for 30 seconds then increase speed to the highest your machine will go for an additional 60 seconds. Strain the mixture through a strainer to remove ice chunks and blueberry skins into a 5 oz martini glass. This leaves you with a potent, fresh and quite frankly delicious mixture that I feel not only adds to the social pleasure of your life but potentially your general health as well. Garnish with a fresh lime wedge and serve!

Cheers!

Farmers market through the eyes of a cocktailer…

2009-08-02T13:52:00.000-07:00

This morning I woke up late with my handsome boyfriend and a mild hangover and brushed myself off so I could catch the tail end of our local farmers market. I have a new habit of making sure I invest $6 in a beautiful bouquet of local flowers to last the entire week. A small price to pay I think…but as I grazed the market I caught myself intrigued by the fruit stands. My original mission with SkinnyTinis was to simply create (and recreate) delicious martinis with fewer calories. But recently, I’ve had more fun trying to incorporate fresher ingredients, which I’m sure many will argue my point, but I feel add a nutritional component to my recipes.

There is already a ton of research that shows over and over again that those who enjoy alcohol in moderation live longer, healthier and my satisfying lives than those who abstain or abuse it. I’ve created over a hundred wonderful low calorie martinis, but I feel like I’m ready to launch a new series – my Farmers MarketTinis…HealthyTinis…NutriTinis…I’m not sure about the name yet but I think I want to try this. I kind of started the concept with the Watermelon Margarita which used ½ cup of fresh watermelon and brought all the health benefits of nitric oxide with it. Today I picked up blueberries and the research on their health benefits is lengthy!

Blueberries have stronger antioxidative properties than many other fresh fruits and vegetables. They test higher in their ability to subdue free radicals, which can damage cell membranes and DNA through oxidative stress. This stress is blamed for many of the dysfunctions and diseases associated with aging. This means they have shown to slow age related loss of mental capacity as well as improve human motor skills. They also promote a healthy urinary tract by balancing bacteria. There is tons of research to show that the anthocyanin and proanthocyanidins lend to a multitude of health related benefits. An entire cup of fresh blueberries has only 83 calories and over 3 grams of fiber. Yay!

So stay tuned…I’m sure this Friday’s 4 O’clock SkinnyTini Recipe will be something with blueberries…whether it be a variation of a mojito, margarita or daiquiri…I promise it will not only be low calorie and delicious, it might also improve your general health!

Cheers!

Friday July 31, 2009 - 4 O’clock Friday SkinnyTini Hip Tip

2009-07-31T16:59:00.001-07:00

A Bubble Happy Hour!

Yikes, happy hour can be a waistline saboteur of the worst kind! Chicken Fingers, margaritas, cheese sticks, fruity cocktails…all at half price?! This is a dieting dilemma for any gal! So how do we manage? Well, we could start a short novel on how to sveltely scour the happy hour menu, but this is just one quick tip to try out to save a few calories!

Try a champagne cocktail…champagne has less calories than liquor (20 calories per ounce vs. 64) and conversely less alcohol…but it still has all the fun flavor and flair! Order a glass of champagne with a splash of cranberry juice. It will have just 95 calories vs. 149 if you had ordered with vodka!

Cheers!

Stars Sippin' On SkinnyTinis!

2009-07-25T17:28:00.000-07:00

SKINNY SEEN AT MERCEDES-BENZ FASHION WEEK SCENE MIAMI…
The Dish on Who’s Seen Sipping SkinnyWater SkinnyTini’s…and the recipes to create SkinnyTinis at home!

WHAT: SkinnyWater signature “SkinnyTinis” spotted at L*SPACE by Monica Wise 2010 collection fashion show post party during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim

WHERE: L*Space Fashion Show After Party at Louis at the Gansevoort South, Miami Beach

WHEN: Friday night, July 17, 2009

SPOTTED: The stars agree! Skinny is where it’s at…. stars seen sipping on signature SkinnyTinis at the L*Space After Party:
- Whitney Port (MTV’s The Hills, The City) with BFF
- Gilles Marini (Dancing with the Stars, Sex & The City) with wife, Carole
- Kelly Bensimon (Real Housewives of New York) with friends
- Adam Gregory (90210) & Jason Kennedy (E!)
- Catt Sadler (E! Entertainment’s The Daily Ten)

- Cast of Miami Social
- Saleisha Stowers (America’s Next Top Model Winner, Season 10)

THE SKINNY: Make these new SkinnyTini Fashion Week Signature Drinks at home – SkinnyTinis are this summer’s most refreshing and low calorie-cocktails. Created by acclaimed mixologist Teresa Howes (http://www.skinnytinis.com/), SkinnyTinis are made with Raspberry Pomegranate SkinnyWater and vodka, along with fresh fruit and garnishes…these easy-to-infuse cocktails are instant crowd pleasers and are so easy to do at home.

RECIPE: Pomegranate SkinnyTini

1½ oz Vodka

2 oz Raspberry Pomegranate SkinnyWater

1 oz Pomegranate JuiceJuice

1/8 Fresh Pink Grapefruit

Lime Wedge for Garnish

Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice. Cut the grapefruit in to 1/8 wedges and squeeze the juice into the shaker with the rest of the ingredients. Shake for 10-15 Seconds and strain into a 5 oz Martini glass. Garnish with a lime wedge and serve!

RECIPE: Watermelon Madness

1½ oz Vodka

2 oz Raspberry Pomegranate Skinny Water

¼ cup diced fresh watermelon

1 oz Fresh Tangerine Juice

Lime Wedge

Add watermelon, vodka, and lime to a glass and muddle together. Add ice and top with tangerine juice and SkinnyWater. Garnish with another lime wedge, stir and serve!

ABOUT SKINNYWATER:
Skinny Water® is $1.49 per bottle and is available at all TARGET stores and other national retailers. For a complete list or to purchase online go to: http://www.skinnywater.com/. Other Skinny Water fans include Robert Buckley, Fergie, Kristen Bell, and Rachel Bilson.

Friday July 24, 2009, 4 O’clock SkinnyTini Recipe

2009-07-24T16:00:00.000-07:00

I had this drink at a happy hour last weekend and almost fell out of my chair! Why hadn’t I thought of the clever mint/pomegranate combo? It was delicious! However, I’ve become so accustom to SkinnyTinis, that I did find it to be a little overwhelmingly sweet, so I think you’ll enjoy the skinny version even more!

Skinny Pomegranate Mojito
1 ½ oz White Run
2 ½ oz Club Soda
1 oz Pomegranate Juice
5 drops Stevia
Lime wedge
Fresh mint sprigs
122 Calories

Add the sweetener, lime, and mint springs to a highball or other cocktail glass and muddle (mash up) the ingredients to pull out the flavors. Add ice and top with rum, pomegranate juice and club soda.

Tip: if you have found a fresh pomegranate, than use the seeds as a part of your muddling. It will add more flavor, texture and additional health benefits to your summer skinny cocktail!! An entire pomegranate fruit has just over 100 calories, so you can imagine that a few tablespoons of seeds adds only a negligible amount of calories!

Friday July 17, 2009 4 O’clock Friday SkinnyTini Recipe

2009-07-17T15:59:00.000-07:00

I recently developed non-alcoholic SkinnyTinis for a morning news show. Most of them were virgin versions of some of my favorite SkinnyTinis, except this one is an original! So while it is designed to be a “mocktail” it’s super easy to spice it up with your favorite liquor. I’d use white rum or vodka, but if you have a different favorite – have at it! As long as it’s 40% alcohol, a standard shot (1.5 oz) will add 96 calories to the calorie count.

San Diego Sunset
2½ oz Light Orange Juice
2 oz Light Pink Grapefruit
½ oz Pomegranate Juice
1 Cup Crushed Ice
35 Calories

Garnish: Orange Wheel
Glass: Double Old Fashion

Directions: Fill the glass with crushed ice. Add orange juice, slowly poor on pink grapefruit juice then top with the pomegranate juice. The drink will swirl together like a beautiful summer sunset. Garnish with an orange wheel and enjoy!

Have a great weekend!!

Cheers!

Friday, July 10, 2009 4 O’clock Friday Hip Tip

2009-07-10T08:01:00.001-07:00

Sorry for the ultra early am post today, but again my schedule simply won’t allow for a post work posting today, so enjoy this before work as you plan out your fun weekend plans!

It’s summer time!! With the warmer weather at hand, it’s more important than ever that your SkinnyTinis stay chilled! This summer, try something a little different to spice up your everyday favorite cocktails.

Instead of using regular ice, try freezing your favorite fruit juice and using the flavored cubes with vodka and soda! Try freezing cranberry juice and dropping the cubes in with vodka and soda for a in interesting twist on a traditional vodka cranberry.

Also, most fruits are over 70% water, freeze them! Use cubes of frozen watermelon, peaches or mangos to add variety, flavor, color and a little extra health benefit to your drinks this summer!!

Enjoy your chilled cocktails this weekend!!

Cheers!

July 3rd 4 O'clock Friday Skinny Recipe

2009-07-03T15:41:00.000-07:00

This is the PERFECT SkinnyTini for the holiday weekend and all your fun BBQs this summer!! It was inspired by a high calorie counterpart I had at a popular restaurant chain the other night. With just a few modifications to the ingredients, we’ve got a 100% natural, delicious and innovative twist on your traditional margarita. Garnished with skewered blueberries, it’s the perfect recipe for the 4th of July!

Fresh Watermelon Margarita
1 ½ oz Tequila
½ cup Diced Watermelon
1 tsp Fresh Lime Juice (~ ¼ lime)
3 drops of Stevia
1 cup Crushed Ice
125 Calories

Add all ingredients to a blender and mix on high until smooth and frothy. Poor into a margarita glass and garnish with fresh lime or skewered watermelon or blueberries.

Not only is this SkinnyTini super low in calories, it touts all the benefits from the fresh watermelon. I was reading in my Oxygen magazine this morning on the step mil and here is what they had to say about the health benefits of Watermelon: “A slice can help you lose weight an keep your muscles tight, thanks to nitric oxide. Like tomatoes, watermelon is an excellent source of lycopene. But it also contains significant amounts of the amino acid citrulline, which is converted in the body to arginine, in turn is converted into nitric oxide – shown to decrease fat storage while maintaining lean muscle mass.”

Now how much fun is that? This SkinnyTini truly has it all!!

Happy 4th of July weekend Everybody!!

Cheers!

Friday June 26, 2009 – 4 O’clock Friday Hip Tip!

2009-06-26T16:29:00.000-07:00

We finally have a warm sunny weekend headed our way here in San Diego!! As the weather heats up, you need to drink more water!! Today’s tip is aimed at keeping you hydrated, healthy and happy!

By nature, alcohol is dehydrating – so the more cocktails you drink, the thirstier you may become. Ironic right? It’s never a good idea to drink too much liquor. It costs you more than calories – it can be expensive and you lose so much time lying in bed wishing you just hadn’t done it.

So take my advice!

To combat the urge to over consume and over spend, be sure to sneak in a glass of water between cocktails, especially in this heat! Try these tips:

1. You can make a glass of water just as much fun as a martini if you order it “up” with a twist of lemon or lime wedge. And truth be told, you’ll look as if you’re drinking a hard core vodka martini!

2. If you select a clear cocktail with clear liquor to begin with like vodka soda or a gin and tonic, it’s simply to rotate in a virgin version. Nobody will even notice – likely yourself included!!

3. If you simply don’t like drinking water, there are plenty of products on the market today that come in all kinds of tasty flavors and have zero calories! My favorite is SkinnyWater, as it totes its additional functional properties, but you can also find generic flavored waters at any grocery store.

Enjoy this beautiful weekend on the way!!

Cheers!

Friday June 19th, 4 O'clock Friday Recipe

2009-06-19T15:47:00.000-07:00

Summer is here this weekend along with Father’s day! This recipe is featured in SkinnyTinis – All the Fun for Half the Calories. It is innovative, yummy and 100% natural! Sure to impress friends and dads at this weekend’s celebrations!

Mexican Mojito
1½ ounces white tequila
3½ ounces club soda
¼ ounce agave nectar
1 lime wedge
Fresh mint sprigs
128 Calories

Add the agave nectar, lime wedge, and mint springs to a cocktail glass and muddle (mash up) the ingredients to pull out the flavors and pull the mint flavor into the liquid. Add ice and top with the tequila and club soda.

Enjoy!

SkinnyTini Slide Show

2009-06-18T18:33:00.001-07:00

Launch Party at Confidential

Friday, June 12, 4 O’clock Friday SkinnyTini Recipe!

2009-06-12T13:55:00.001-07:00

We served this drink at the release party last night at it was a hit! Garnish with a blackberry for a beautiful affect!

Acai Premier - Brand New SkinnyTini with functional properties!

2 oz Citrus Vodka
2 oz Diet Ginger ale
½ oz Acai-Pomegranate Juice
½ oz Light Orange Juice
Splash of Lime Juice

127 Calories

Tip: Careful when you select Acai Juice. Try to find one that has a Pomegranate blend, as it is much more aesthetically pleasing. We accidentally bought pure Acai once, and the result still tasted nice, but looked a bit like a muddy swamp!

Stay tuned for pictures, video montage and more details about the June 11th release party at Confidential in San Diego!!

Cheers!

Friday June 5th 4 O’clock SkinnyTini Hip Tip

2009-06-05T06:40:00.000-07:00

Going out this weekend and getting tired of your “vodka soda” or “rum and diet coke?” Try this out to mix up your flavors and add some color and variety to your cocktails without sabotaging your calorie conscious ways!

Try ordering a Vodka-Soda with a splash of Wild Cherry, Black Raspberry or Mango Liqueur.

Liqueurs are high in calories and relatively lower in alcohol percentage. Depending on brand and flavor they can typically run you 90-120 calories per ounce for 17-27% alcohol. To bring some relevance to that, typical spirits (rum, vodka, tequila, gin) are all 96 calories per ounce and 40% liquor. But when ordered as a “splash,” it can’t add much more than 25-50 calories at most. It’s also possible the bartender will short you some regular spirit so your net increase may be null or as few as 25 calories. A small price to pay considering it will significantly spice up the color and flavor of a very traditional low calorie cocktail! Ask for it to be served “up” and it will come in a sophisticated martini glass. You’ll have it all, glamour, sophistication and intoxication all for well under 150 calories!

If you try it out, let me know what you think!

Cheers!

The best part about SkinnyTinis

2009-05-31T18:36:00.000-07:00

My dad had a SkinnyTini part last weekend! So I love that I've had as much fun testing recipes over the past 2 years. SkinnyTini parties are the best and I love playing bartender, trying out little twists to make drinks even more perfect. My friends have certainly appreciated the lessons, giving input and getting toasty at the same time. Now the thought of other people having this same experience because of my book, well that’s just more than I could have asked for!

Here are the pictures from my dad's party. I thought they were so cute I had to share. Not to mention, it's clear my dad has a strong artistic sense and I think the pictures are quite nice :)

The first one is the Mellon Fizz, followed by the Pina Colada and lastly the Skinny Appletini.

Cheers!!

Friday, May 29, 2009 4 O’clock Friday Hip Tip

2009-05-29T15:55:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I know there are beer drinkers out there who are signed up for SkinnyTinis and you will all appreciate this week’s hip tip. After last week’s post, I did a little research on the amount of calories in each “light beer” and I found it fascinating to know that the brands labeled “light” ranged from 64 – 116 calories with 2.8-4.3% alcohol. With just the regular beers, the popular brands I looked at topped out at 175 calories per 12 oz serving and 5.8% alcohol.

This is a pretty vast range if you imagine it’s pretty easy to put down 5 beers in an evening. That could be anywhere from a mere 320 calories (~30 minutes on the treadmill) all the way to a whopping 875 (that is almost an hour MORE time spent running to burn off the excess calories) Yikes!

Like always, when I find something facinitating, I feel compelled to share! Below is a list of 20 popular beers with their total number of calories per 12 oz serving and the relative alcohol potency. Use the chart as a guide to make a decision that works best for your budget, lifestyle and waistline!

"Light" Beers
Miller Genuine Draft "64" - 64 Calories and 2.80% Alcohol
O'Doul's - "non-alcoholic" - 70 Calories and 0.40% Alcohol
Michelob Ultra - 95 Calories and 4.10% Alcohol
Budweiser Select - 99 Calories and 4.30% Alcohol
Coors Light - 104 Calories and 4.15% Alcohol
Bud Light - 110 Calories and 4.20% Alcohol
Miller Genuine Draft Light - 110 Calories and 4.20% Alcohol
Michelob Light - 113 Calories and 4.30% Alcohol
Bud Light Lime - 116 Calories and 4.20% Alcohol

Regular Beers
Guinness - 120 Calories and 4.00% Alcohol
Rolling Rock Premium Beer - 120 Calories and 4.50% Alcohol
Miller Genuine Draft - 143 Calories and 4.70% Alcohol
Budweiser - 145 Calories and 5.00% Alcohol
Coors - 149 Calories and 4.91% Alcohol
Anchor Steam - 153 Calories and 4.90% Alcohol
Michelob Beer - 155 Calories and 5.00% Alcohol
Sam Adams Boston Lager - 160 Calories and 4.75% Alcohol
Blue Moon - 171 Calories and 5.40% Alcohol
Sierra Nevada Pale Ale - 175 Calories and 5.60% Alcohol

Cheers!

Friday, May 22, 2009 4 O’clock Friday SkinnyTini Recipe

2009-05-22T13:17:00.000-07:00

This SkinnyTini is perfect for a long weekend in the sunshine for Memorial Day Weekend!! It’s super low in calories, so you can have more than one. It has easy to find ingredients that you can pick up at any quick-e mart or grocery store. It’s light and refreshing and sure to be a crowd pleaser. This is a re-make of a recipe we found at a Spanish Tapas bar in San Diego. It’s versatile enough to be served in a beer mug, deep red wine glass or in a sophisticated champagne flute.

Don’t Knock It ‘Till You Try It SkinnyTini!
2 oz White Wine
2 oz Light Beer
1 oz Diet Sprite
56 Calories

Simply add all ingredients to your glass of choice and serve! Be sure all ingredients are chilled prior to mixing. You don’t want to shake this cocktail with ice as it is all carbonated and you don’t want to serve over ice, as it’s primarily beer and wine - but the choice is yours.

Cheers!

2009-05-21T16:16:00.000-07:00

Ta-da! Another wonderful SkinnyTini party this week was a success! We were able to narrow recipes and pick three beautiful and delicious SkinnyTinis to be featured at the release party at Confidential in downtown San Diego on June 11th! The winners were the Creamsicle (Vanilla Vodka, Orange Juice and Peach), Bay of Bengal (Vodka, Cranberry and Mango), and a brand new Acai SkinnyTini called Acai Premier (Citrus Vodka, Ginger ale, Acai/Pomegranate Juice, Orange Juice). They were all made with the sponsoring Svedka label and did not disappoint!! Things are coming together nicely for the "official launch party" and I couldn't be happier!

Friday, May 15th, SkinnyTini Recipe

2009-05-15T16:24:00.000-07:00

T.G.I.F.F. SkinnyTini!

Nope, that’s not a typo with the extra F in the title. For those of you who have had a rough, tiring or what seems to be an extremely long week, you know what the extra F is for, and it’s well deserved! This SkinnyTini breaks two traditional “SkinnyTini” rules. First off, it’s over 150 calories. Sorry. Second, it’s only 3 oz. Again, sorry. But for those of you who really need a stiff cocktail to ease the pain of the week past and celebrate the weekend to come, it’s exactly what you need. It’s the Dirty SkinnyTini and it can turn even the most dismal of days.

T.G.I.F.F SkinnyTini
2.5 oz High Quality Vodka (or Gin)*
.5 oz Olive Juice
2 Olives
170 Calories

*Grey Goose was my original favorite, but after a holiday gift from a co-worker and a LONG week of jury duty, Kettle one took the lead! This debate goes on and on, just be sure to pick one you know you love, all 80-proof, unflavored vodkas have the same amount of calories.

Add vodka and olive juice to a cocktail shaker with ice and shake 10-15 seconds. Strain into a martini glass, garnish with skewered olives, relax and serve!

Cheers!

The Countdown is Over!

2009-05-09T20:15:00.001-07:00

My long anticipated is over. I actually get to see my book on a Barnes and Noble shelf...for real. It's actually bizarre to see it. It's funny when you think waaaay back when you just have an idea. For all the friends and family who always said "that's great, you should write a book about it..." I just can't quite believe I did. I'm so proud of the concept, love each of my recipes like little mini works of art and couldn't be more impressed with how beautiful my publisher put it all together. In addition to being a really fun book, I hope in some way it might inspire others to put their "great ideas" into action as well.

It's funny because part of me wants to feel like it's "done." I'm realizing as I go that merely getting the book into print may have been the easy part...now I just need to put my heart into making it sell! Thank you for joining me in this effort...I know there are millions of folks out there who will love this book, live by this book and wonder how they ever partied without it...our mission now is to just point them in the SkinnyTini direction!

Cheers!!

Friday May 8th 4 O’clock Friday Recipe!

2009-05-08T16:21:00.000-07:00

If you have a habit of or are thinking of taking mom out for afternoon tea this Sunday for Mother’s day you’ll love this ultra cool variation! Try something a little edgier this year with these tea themed martinis!

Lemon Zinger
2 oz Citrus Vodka
3 oz Lemon Tea
5-10 drops of sweetener
Splash of Lemon Juice
Lemon Wedge for Garnish
114 Calories

Vanilla ChaiTini (Featured in SkinnyTinis)
2 oz Vanilla Vodka
2 oz Vanilla Chai Tea
1 oz Fat Free Coffee Creamer
Tea bag for Garnish
130 Calor

SweetTeani (for those of you who love Sweet Tea)
2 oz Vodka
3 oz Brewed Herb Tea
1 packet of Preferred Sweetener
Splash of Lemon Juice
Lemon Wedge for Garnish
130 Calories

Directions: Brew the tea with a 3:1 ratio over the instructions to ensure it's strong enough. Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice and shake. Keep in mind the level of sweetness is very subjective, you may need more or less.

Cheers!

Friday May 1, 2009 SkinnyTini Hip Tip!

2009-05-01T16:28:00.000-07:00

Are you struggling to find ways to fit cocktails into your diet? It’s actually not that hard to do with proper planning and preparation!

First, make sure you’re ordering only SkinnyTinis (cocktails and martinis with less than 150 total calories). Most cocktails only have 96 calories from liquor (1.5 oz) and depending on what you opt to mix it with, it’s very reasonable to assume a tasty 5 oz cocktail will run you 120 calories. Now, martinis earn their stellar image based on their powerful punch. So, any dignified martini will have a minimum of 2 oz of liquor, or 128 calories. This is why all SkinnyTinis have less than 150 calories.

So how do you fit these into your daily menu plan without blowing your calorie budget? Well depending on your social objective, it can be as easy as swapping out one SkinnyTini in lieu of a snack throughout the day. If you plan to have in excess of 1 cocktail, then just plan for it! Engage in extra activity throughout the day so you can relax with a guilt free SkinnyTini (or three!) at the end of the night!

For example, let’s use an average of 125 calories per cocktail and let’s say you know you’re going out with the girls and you want to have three…so you need to get rid of 375 calories throughout the day and viola – you’ve done it! For the average 130lb woman, this would look like:

1. Light jog in the morning (30 min)– 237 calories
2. Brisk walk at lunch (20 min) – 75 calories
3. Vacuum your house when you get home from work (15 min) – 67 calories
Total Calories Burned = 379 or 3 WELL DESERVED SKINNYTINIS!

AOL health has a great calorie calculator so you can use it to create your own perfect plan! http://www.aolhealth.com/tools/calories-burned.

Cheers!

Friday April 24th SkinnyTini Hip Tip!

2009-04-24T15:10:00.000-07:00

“SkinnyTinis – All the Fun for Half the Calories" is OUT! It is available on Amazon now and will follow on store shelves soon (details to follow shortly)! It would be an injustice to my book if I didn’t use it as a Hip Tip this week!

So instead of going OUT for your next celebration, order SkinnyTinis and have a GIRLS NIGHT IN! You won’t have to deal with people bumping into you, cutting in line at the bar or graciously evade any scary men. And truly the best perks - you’ll save hundreds of calories and dollars by staying IN with your girls! Below are some tips that can make your night IN the next perfect event!

Preselect three recipes from the book. A martini, a cocktail and make sure you do a delicious martini that feels like a real treat. Try the Coconut Clouds, Vanilla Chai Tini, Almond Bliss or Strawberry Cheesecake.

Pre-mix all your mixers for your SkinnyTinis. This way you just add the mixer to the shaker with the liquor and TA-DA! Hostess with the Mostess and no math!

Put out food. Don’t forget this. You can put out a simple bowl of pretzels if you have to and the girls will them. It’s not just polite; food helps slow the absorption of liquor into your tummy. This may keep your gals from getting too wiley in your home.

Make a hilarious mixed CD with all your favorites from college and high school. Never underestimate the power of music to influence the mood of your party.

Make sure you have water and non-alcoholic options available. This I often forget and realize shortly after guests arrive. Having a bottled water handy is the easiest (and healthiest) for everyone.

Be sure to take pictures! It’s so so so hard to get a group of grown women to coordinate their schedules so they can all be together! Make sure you document your party and post your pictures on the SkinnyTini fan page!!

Cheers!

SkinnyTinis is #1 on Amazon!

2009-04-20T19:40:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited!! I don't know how many books are in the "bartending" category on Amazon.com or how often they update the rankings, but I gotta tell you it feels good to see #1 ANYTHING next to my book (if even for mere minutes!)! It made it to Amazon today so order up and cheers!!

Friday, April 17, 2009 SkinnyTini HIP TIP!

2009-04-17T13:57:00.000-07:00

Ok - something is in the air these days! I’ve got what feels like more than half a dozen friends expecting right now and it’s bad enough to not be able to have a SkinnyTini for 9 months, but then to have to hear about it from me weekly…UG. Sorry ladies!! So this one’s for you!!

This is also a great drink to serve to your designated drivers or for yourself if you’re looking to save a few extra calories on Girls’ Night In. Depending on your situation, a non-alcoholic cocktail can be exactly what the Doctor (or you waistline) ordered! The simple combination of a brilliantly colored elixir in a fine martini glass with a beautiful garnish can give you the same aesthetics as a true martini with a fraction of the calories.

Mom-to-be-SkinnyTini!
3oz Cranberry Juice
2oz Ginger Ale
Splash of Lime Juice
Garnish with an orange wheel or lime wedge
66 Calories

Add juice and ginger ale to a shaker with ice. Shake (gently) for 15 seconds and strain into a 5 oz martini glass. Garnish with beautiful fresh fruit and serve!

If you’re not a mom-to be, or you just don’t care about artificial sweeteners, then use “light Cranberry Juice” and Diet Ginger Ale for a total calorie count of just 15 calories!! And for those of you not expecting and want to give this one a kick, try adding citrus vodka (Smirnoff) for just 54 calories per ounce.

Cheers!

Friday April 10, 2009 4 O'clock Friday Recipe

2009-04-10T15:08:00.000-07:00

TGIF and Happy Easter Weekend to Everybody!! With the holiday in mind, this week’s SkinnyTini Recipe will be as cute as an Easter basket and sure to please your guests just as much! You can turn your bar into and Easter basket buffet of beautifully colored cocktails that will certainly please and impress your friends and family!!

Easter Egg SkinnyTinis!
(all variations of the popular BeliniTini which typically has 200-250 calories per cocktail)

Pink Easter Egg SkinnyTini
1oz Vodka
2oz Champagne
2oz Light Ruby Red Grapefruit Juice
116 Calories

Peach Easter Egg SkinnyTini
1oz Vodka
2oz Champagne
2oz Peach Juice
130 Calories

Yellow Easter Egg SkinnyTini
1oz Vodka
2oz Champagne
2oz Light Orange Juice
118 Calories

Orange Easter Egg SkinnyTini
1oz Vodka
2oz Champagne
2oz Mango Juice
136 Calories

Simply pour vodka, champagne and juice into 5 oz champagne flute. Garnish with fresh fruit and serve! You can also make these a variation of mimosas by simply eliminating the vodka and using an extra ounce of champagne. This will light the recipe’s potency and also the calories by 43 per cocktail!

Have a happy and safe weekend!

Cheers!

SkinnyTinis 4 O'clock Friday Hip Tip!

2009-04-03T16:11:00.000-07:00

Friday recipes seem to be getting a little tired here and I'm not even sure anybody is digging them. So tell you what...I promise to always give a 4'Oclock Friday post, but only half or so will be recipes. The others will be tips to help you stay trim and tipsy over the weekend ;)

Hip tip: Use diet soda whenever possible. This combo (liquor with diet soda) is becoming known as a "SkinnyBitch" across the country, so it's always fun to order! If you can't stomach the diet taste, try club soda with your favorite flavored vodka. Simply selecting a zero calorie mixer could save a moderate drinker (1-2 drinks per day) nearly 25,000 calories or more than 7 lbs per year!

It's been a long week, you earned it - Cheers!!

2009-03-27T15:24:00.000-07:00

Become a SkinnyTini fan on Facebook and get more connected!

Let's build a fun SkinnyTini community!! Use the fan club to participate in periodic quizzes, post your party pictures, get insight on how to create your very own SkinnyTini!

Share it with your friends to help build the SkinnyTinis community!

2009-03-27T15:22:00.000-07:00

Friday March 27, 2009 4 O'clock Friday Recipe

I still don't understand, and likely never will why some weeks just seem longer an harder than others. None-the-less...T.G.I.F.F.!!

Try this SkinnyTini to lift your Friday afternoon spirits even more!! It's a tasty one and also the winner in the FB Fan Poll that was posted several weeks ago. Sugar Free syrups can be tricky to find. I get mine at Cost Plus World Market but I think BevMo caries them too. Or you can also order them online. You can make 50 SkinnyTinis per bottle - so it's definitely worth the investment and the hunt to find :)

Sweet and Sour Berry
2 oz Vodka
1 oz Grapefruit Juice
1 oz Club Soda
1/2 oz Cranberry Juice
1/2 oz Peach or Mango SF Syrup
147 Calories

Add all the ingredients to the shaker with ice and shake (gently, club soda can be messy and explosive). Strain into a 5 oz Martini glass, garnish with a lime wedge - it's a beautiful SkinnyTini!

Cheers!!

2009-03-20T17:32:00.000-07:00

Friday March 20, 2009 4 O'clock Friday Recipe

Sorry, running a little late today! This SkinnyTini is a remix on a drink I found at a tropical restaurant in Palm Desert. I think it's nice for today...when we can't tell which way the weather is going to go - it's a nice middle of the road cocktail :)

Rant and Rave
2 oz Vodka
2 oz Grapefruit Juice
1 oz Club Soda
Fresh Basil Leaves

Add the vodka and basil leaves to a cocktail shaker and muddle the ingredients to pull out the flavors. Add ice, grapefruit juice, club soda and shake (gently, club soda can be messy and explosive). Strain into a 5 oz Martini glass, garnish with more fresh basil and serve.

Cheers!!

Friday March 13, 2009 4 O'clock Friday Recipe

2009-03-13T15:24:00.000-07:00

This is a great St. Patty's day cocktail because the Red Bull when mixed with the Blue Curacao turns a beautiful shade of green. So you can make these at home and impress your party guests, or order it while you at a bar! Most places are carrying the sugar free version now so just be sure to order "sugar free Red Bull with vodka and a splash of Blue Curacao served up." Asking for it to be served "up" or "straight up" implies the ingredients are to be added to a cocktail shaker, chilled and strained into a martini glass.

Lucky Girl
1½ oz Vodka
½ oz Blue Curacao
3 oz Sugar Free Red Bull
147 Calories

Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice and shake gently (Red Bull can get messy). Strain into a 5oz martini glass and serve!

Cheers!

Advanced Copy of the Book!

2009-03-12T20:27:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited - my editor just sent me an advanced copy of my book and I just can't believe it. It turned out even cuter than I would have thought and I'm just so thrilled I don't even know what to say. I got it in the middle of a crazy day and was frozen as I looked through it. I'm fairly certain I even cried. I just can't believe I wrote a frigg'n book and it's published! Yeah!! Great cause to celebrate this weekend! In case you're wondering, the book is scheduled to be in warehouses on April 20 and on shelves the first few weeks of May. It is also available for presale on Amazon now :)

Cheers!!

Friday March 6, 2009 4 O'clock Friday Recipe

2009-03-06T07:37:00.000-08:00

So this week's is a little early but it's a travel day for me and I certainly didn't want to miss a posting! So here is a recipe that I made with some friends last weekend...pretty tasty :)

Peachy PomaPassion SkinnyTini
2 oz Peach Vodka
1/2 oz Pomegranate Juice
2 1/2 oz Club Soda
148 Calories

Add ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice and shake (gently, club soda can be messy and explosive). Strain into a 5 oz Martini glass, garnish with a lime wedge and serve.

Cheers!

Friday, February 27, 2009 4 O'clock Friday SkinnyTini Recipe!

2009-02-27T14:59:00.000-08:00

Ok, so it turns out I don't wake up blatantly optimistic and happy EVERY Friday, but I still feel strongly that a drink at 4pm is a great remedy for any mood! So today's SkinnyTini is one I have tested many times and should be very familiar to most of you. It's simply a Mojito, but made with sweetener instead of sugar and served up in a martini glass for a fun elegant touch. I love this drink. I believe you will too. Enjoy!

Skinny Mojito Martini
2 oz White Rum
3 oz Club Soda
4 Mint Leaves
2 Lime Wedges
4 Drops of Stevia
133 Calories

Add the stevia, lime, rum and mint springs to a cocktail shaker and muddle the ingredients to pull out the flavors. Add ice, club soda and shake (gently, club soda can be messy and explosive). Strain into a 5 oz Martini glass, garnish with more fresh mint and limes and serve. You can also use liquid NutraSweet, but use 20 drops instead. Both are equal to 2 tsp of real sugar and save you 32 calories.

Cheers!

4 O'Clock Fridays are ON!

2009-02-20T14:00:00.000-08:00

I wake up happy on Fridays! Every Friday...happy! I think it's because I know it's the end of a long week and the beginning of a 2.5 day stretch of rewarding myself for all my hard work! The Reward starts precisely at 4 O’clock with a fun cocktail. One of my favorite things ever is a 9am text message from a girl friend confirming where we are meeting for happy hour. This is why I see it as totally fitting to add a 4 O’clock Friday recipe on a weekly basis! So sign yourself up and join me in a SkinnyTini to relieve the pressures the week brought and cheers to celebration the start of yet a another fantastic weekend!

I've been thinking about today’s SkinnyTini since (dare I admit it) early this morning...or more likely even yesterday. I've been inspired by the bag of fresh limes and oranges from my boyfriend's, grandparent's garden and the beautiful sunny day we have here in San Diego (sorry if you are in Chicago - I hear there is some gnarly snow). So try this on for size, it's yet another creative twist on a traditional margarita:

Skinny MargiMartini
2 oz White Tequila
1 oz Fresh Squeezed Lime Juice
1 oz Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice
1 oz Club Soda
Liquid Sweetener to taste
1 Jalapeno Pepper
Rock Salt for Rim
150 Calories

Pre-pare the glass by cutting the jalapeno in half, squeeze to release the juice and run over the rim of a 5 oz martini glass. Dip the glass in rock salt to cover the entire rim. Squeeze the juice of the limes and oranges through a strainer into a martini shaker filled with ice. Add tequila and club soda. Shake (gently, club soda can be explosive and messy) for 10-15 seconds and poor into prepared glass. Garnish with a fresh lime wedge and enjoy!

2009-01-30T11:13:00.000-08:00

Check SkinnyTinis out in the Jan/Feb issue of Riviera magazine that just hit the shelves this week! This photo was shot by John Dole at one of my favorite bars downtown, Confidential. This is also the same establishment I are working with to get the very first SkinnyTini on a menu so you could enjoy while you were out and about! Soon we hope you will see something as delicious as a "Sweet and Sour Berry," "Lucky Girl," "Mojito Martini," or even a "Rant and Rave" featured on their menu! If there is a different, delicious concoction you would like to taste or an interesting establishment you would like to see feature a SkinnyTini, let us know!! e-mail teresa@skinnytinis.com

Wiley Winter/Spring Catalog

2009-01-28T16:35:00.000-08:00

Here is the front cover of Wiley's winter/spring culinary catalog! Book release is scheduled for May 4, 2009 still, just 13 weeks away! It's also available for pre-sale on amazon right now!

Be sure you register as a SkinnyTini insider if you want to be included in all communications about releases and other fun details!

-Cheers!!

2009-01-26T16:52:00.000-08:00

It's here! The first ever InsiderWire went out last week to all registered SkinnyTini Insiders! Packed full with information, recipe of the month, short quiz and all kinds of good stuff. Newsletters will come out monthly and always be useful tools that will help anyone balance the complicated quandary of cocktails and weight loss! Register today if you're not already an Insider!

Morning News was Fun!

2008-12-31T19:11:00.000-08:00

So it turns out the morning news on Fox turned out to be so much fun! We covered 4 different drinks and shy of offending one of the anchors, it was a perfect success! Check it out...I'm not sure how long fox will keep it posted. I plan to have it moved to the media section of the main site, but this is certainly good enough for now! http://www.fox5sandiego.com/pages/morning_news

Don't know what to Drink on New Year's Eve?

2008-12-28T10:13:00.001-08:00

Then local San Diegans be sure to tune into Fox News in the morning at 8am on Wednesday, December 31st! My PR genius of a friend got me a spot where we'll talk about how to save calories on New Year's Eve!!

Figuring out Facebook...

2008-12-03T09:12:00.001-08:00

Between real life, real job and figuring out Facebook, I've had little time to update the SkinnyTini blog :( Not to worry, plenty of good things are still happening and moving forward. It looks like Rivera will feature SkinnyTinis in their Jan/Feb double issue - yeah! Also have promises from Netfinity (the web folks) that the site should be all fixed, pretty and ready for launch on Friday! And if you ever wondered more about me, I now have a Facebook profile and it's under my real name (Teresa Marie Howes), not SkinnyTinis. More updates to come!

2008-11-12T10:28:00.000-08:00

The website is coming!! http://www.skinnytinis.com/ is so cute and I promise will be worth the wait! Think of how fun it will be to know exactly how many calories are in your favorite cocktail. Being able to search for recipes based on the number of calories and posting your very own signature SkinnyTini to have it reviewed and rated by the community! It will be here soon, the web company has promised. So stay patient and stay tuned!!

SkinnyTini Classes!

2008-10-29T13:24:00.000-07:00

SkinnyTinis taught its first class! A good friend of mine hosted a bridal shower for a girlfriend. Instead of the traditional bridal games, she thought it would be fun to have the group learn about how to make low calorie cocktails and taste a few along the way. It was a great idea, and the course was born! Not only was it fun and social, the information was valuable and everybody walked away with something new--not just the bride! If you want to add a fun flair to your next girly event, host a SkinnyTini class! Here is a cute pic from the shower last month.

SkinnyTinis plunges forward!

2008-10-17T18:20:00.001-07:00

SkinnyTinis had a big week! We got sample photo covers, sample internal pages and a final copy edited manuscript from the publisher AND the photo shoot was done and all images are amazing. To prove it, to the left is a picture of the Pink Panther! It's amazing with how fast it seems like Wiley is able to pull the book together that it still won't be out on the shelves until May 11, 2009 :( But it is all The book is looking fantastic! The web site is coming together as well. 14 months of consistent effort and things are starting to come together now. Very fun!

Stay tuned for more updates. The progress of the development of this company is almost as interesting as the concept itself!

Welcome to SkinnyTinis

2008-10-02T18:00:00.001-07:00

This is so EXCITING! Welcome to SkinnyTinis.com and the blog that will keep you up to speed on how to continue to enjoy a social life that is fun and fabulous - but helps you manage your waistline as well! While SkinnyTinis.com is the hub of tons of great information about alcohol and weight management, this is where you'll be able to get current, spur of the moment information on latest research, company updates, new products and relevant fun facts! Stay tuned, your social life and your diet are about to unite!