July 2018 - The Blonde Side

Mighty Swell Spritzers – Perfect Drink of Summer

Summer is here and if you’re in Texas, you know finding any sort of refreshment (a pool, a vibrant and fresh drink, a car with properly working air-conditioning, etc.) is an absolute must.

I always love sharing my favorite drinks (y’all already know I’m a big fan of rosé), but this summer I have fallen in love with Mighty Swell, a “naturally fun spritzer” that tastes exactly like summer should (I also love the fact the spritzer was born and bred in Austin and we already know some amazing things come out of Austin!).

The bubbly and fruity cans are refreshing and only 120 calories and 4g of sugar, so it’s already more fit-friendly than some of my other drink choices. Oh, and for those wondering, it’s also gluten-free and 5% ABV.

I’m a big fan of the variety packs (mostly because I have a hard time making decisions) that come with all four of their vibrant and bold flavors: Grapefruit, Mango, Peach and Watermelon Mint. Although I’m usually a big fan of grapefruit seltzer/sparkling water mixed with my cocktails, the PEACH is my go-to Mighty Swell flavor.

Might Swell Spritzers: born & bred in Austin, TX

The Peach is definitely the most sparkling and refreshing flavor in my opinion, with a fruit forward taste and light citrus and orange blossom notes. I honestly like all the flavors, but the peach is surprisingly my favorite.

Although each flavor tastes perfect as is, I have tried a few different recipes to help add a new taste to them. Check out their recipe page– my favorites are the Swell Peach Fizz and the Groovy Greyhound (most of their recipes just include the spritzer mixed with one liquor, so it’s super easy to make and they go GREAT in a pitcher at the pool!).

I’ve also been traveling with these on a few recent road trips from Houston to refrigerate in the hotel room for cocktails while we’re getting ready. Some call me a genius, others call me a baller on a budget – I’ll take either!

*This was a sponsored post, but all thoughts and opinions here are my own, keeping it real like always!

Reasons I Love the Limelight Hotel in Aspen

I love Aspen and how it makes me feel unlike any other city I’ve visited over my years as a travel writer. And yet, no matter how many times I visit Aspen, I fall more in love each time.

Though I’ve always heard good things, I hadn’t ever stayed at the Limelight in Aspen until this most recent trip, and of course, I fell in love all over again. This downtown Aspen location has everything a 4 star luxury hotel should have, withoutall the stuffiness that many expect with such hotel standards (especially in Aspen, which I think gets a too-stuffy wrap sometimes).

A few reasons to love the Limelight in Aspen

The Limelight has complimentary bikes for hotel guests, a fun pool environment (another great thing about not being a super stuffy Aspen hotel is that the guests are usually fun to chat up and share a beer with), a great location to everything you need in the small town, spacious rooms, and a free breakfast every morning (that is well beyond your standard continental breakfast).

This modern, luxury hotel also offers a complimentary shuttle service to and from the hotel (it’s usually the only time you’ll need a car while in Aspen), it’s pet-friendly and they also offer free SUP’ing for hotel guests if that’s more your speed than a cruiser bike (most of you know I don’t do bikes of any sort!).

I also love The Lounge, which was my first introduction to Limelight many

Summer Adventures in Aspen, CO

years ago. Whether you’re a hotel guest or just hanging out, The Lounge at the Limelight is a great place to grab a drink before heading out, or right before you head off to bed. The atmosphere is always inviting and the prices aren’t nearly as high as other hotel lobbies (trust me, I’ve tried them all!).

Hiking in Aspen

Aspen was the city where I fell in love with hiking, thanks to my friend Sarah, when we first visited a number of years ago. I cannot go to Aspen without spending 75% of my time outdoors because of the absolute beauty and hiking is one of the best ways to enjoy it.

My best advice before hiking in Aspen is to ask a local (or the concierge at the Limelight), because you never know what is going on with the trails (for instance, this last trip I heard The Ute had a lot of bear sightings – no thank you, and sometimes trails don’t open as early in the season because of weather). Some of my favorite trails are The Rim Trail, The Rio Grande Tail (taking it all the way to Woody Creek Tavern) and Hunter Creek Trail, or check this out for some of the best Aspen hiking trails.

Food (and Shopping!) in Aspen

Aspen has a unique culinary scene, which is rare for a mountain town (the chicken sandwich at White House Tavern is well worth the two-hour wait, in my opinion), as well as amazing places to shop (the Gucci store there has the best customer service – ask for Robyn!) and lots of fun people to chat with at the bars and on the streets, but that’s not even the best part. The best part about Aspen is being able to disconnect and enjoy nature and the mountains – something this Texas-girl doesn’t get to do at home. Actually, the best part is being able to disconnect and enjoy the beautiful mountains, and then heading back to your hotel for a quick shower followed by an evening at one of the great restaurants and bars Aspen is known for. It’s the town that literally has it all.

Have you ever been to Aspen? I’ve been during the winter and summer and I have to admit the summer is by far my favorite!

Here’s another piece to check out: 8 Things to Know Before You Go to Aspen, I wrote for The Points Guy earlier this year.

A Mighty Swell Texas Summer

Reasons to Love The Limelight Hotel in Aspen