Summer Berry Sangria & Taking Ten with SunRype Slim
Hello friends and happy Monday! Today I want to talk a bit about self-care…. Now, while I don’t believe that self care is just about bubble baths and getting a manicure, I believe that in the ‘balance’ of living a life where you take care of yourself in addition to your responsibilities, taking a few minutes for yourself every day is very important. Which is why I was thrilled when my friends at SunRype reached out to partner on this post to talk about taking time for yourself because that is what self-care is all about, even if it’s just taking ten minutes a day to do something for you!
If you’ve been reading this blog or following along for awhile then chances are you’ve heard me talk about my own journey and struggles with self-care and slowing down. I think that one of the biggest realizations for me in my self-care journey is that it really is the small things that add up and make a big difference. For so long I was trying to make major changes to my life that were just not realistic but what is realistic, manageable and so important is finding small moments every day to take time just for you!
So now, rather than setting self-care goals that are unrealistic, ie: my past goals that I was going to ‘meditate every day for 30 minutes, go to yoga twice a week and journal twice a week’ which was just setting myself up to fail, here’s what self-care looks like for me now…
Getting Outside
I have learned that for me, getting outside in the fresh air and going for a walk is one of the best things I can do to instantly de-stress, relax and feel better about whatever is going on in my life that’s stressing me out. In a perfect world I love to walk the 8km loop in the river valley close to my house but when I don’t have enough time, I’ve learned that even a 10 minute walk around the block helps to instantly calm me down and help me feel more grounded. Rather than setting a goal to ‘get outside X number of times per week’ my focus is now on finding small ways every day to get outdoors even for a few minutes and I find I feel so much better for it.
Working on Myself
So you know how I mentioned that self-care isn’t all bubble baths and manicures? Well, that’s because self-care comes from within and really, we can put a bandaid solution on our problems but if we don’t get to the root of them, they’ll keep coming back. This is the harder self work that we all benefit from doing over time. I’ve personally found that going to therapy about once a month has helped majorly in shifting my perspective, feeling more positive and I find I’m better able to deal with problems as they arise now.
I know that therapy can be cost/time prohibitive for many people so I’m very grateful that I can fit this into my life. If it’s out of reach for you for any reason, fortunately there are great affordable online options and so many free resources out there to help us de-stress and take care of ourselves. Sometimes even finding a good article online that addresses what you’re going through can be helpful. A great resource is this RESET X REFRESH Guide that has lots of great articles and information on how to live a happier, more balanced life and ways to ‘Take 10’ for yourself and find small moments to enjoy. Check out this article about how to set the tone for your day or this one about how to make sure you’re not sabotaging your happiness.
Spending Time with Friends and Family
This is a very big one that’s so important. Find people who ‘fill your cup’ (pun intended) and hold them close. In my adult life I’ve learned to get better at noticing who makes me feel good when I spend time with them. Our time is our most valuable resource so it’s important to spend our time with people who lift us up, make us laugh and feel good! Life is too short to surround yourself with people who bring you down. I find if I’m in need of a pick me up, a visit with one of my besties or a girls night out instantly lifts my mood and helps me feel great!
And if I do say so myself, the sangria recipe I’m sharing below using SunRype Slim Blueberry Burst would make for the perfect girls night cocktail! ;) *Keep reading below for the recipe!*
Reading a Book or Magazine
Last but certainly not least, I’ve learned that picking up a physical book or magazine is a simple and easy way to instantly boost my mood and make me feel better. I love to listen to podcasts and audiobooks but there’s something about picking up something physical that feels more grounding and relaxing. Even just ten or fifteen minutes to sit down, have a drink (my favourite choice is the SunRype Slim Tropical Mango or the new Pink Grapefruit flavour!) and escape into another world is sometimes all I need to feel better going into the rest of my day.
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So there you have it, small, simple changes that for me, have really made a big difference as I’ve been working towards living a healthier (mentally and emotionally), happier and more balanced life!
Now, one of the other ways I like to ‘Take 10’ and do something for myself is to whip up a batch of sangria! In the summer, James and I love to put our phones away, sit outside and enjoy a glass (or two…maybe even three! haha) of sangria and I was excited to try a batch using SunRype Slim Blueberry Burst.
What I like about the SunRype Slim beverages is that they’re sweetened with Erythritol which I first discovered last year after reading ‘How Not To Die’. In this book, Dr Michael Greger recommends Erythritol as the best sugar alternative for your health plus, you don’t get any of the aspartame-y aftertaste which means that they not only taste amazing but they also have only 10 calories per 250ml serving! Plus, they’re made with no artificial colours or flavours - can I get a heck yes for that?!
Anyways, let’s chat about this sangria… It’s easy, delicious and can sit in the fridge for a few days so it’s the perfect ‘make ahead’ cocktail. I like to make a batch the night before or in morning of the day I want to drink it. The recipe itself takes less than 10 minutes to pull together and I usually nix the hard alcohol out of simplicity’s sake so that when it’s paired with SunRype Slim Blueberry Burst it’s a lower calorie version of sangria as well. Here’s what you need…
1 bottle of your favourite red wine
2-3 cups of SunRype Slim Blueberry Burst beverage
1 orange, sliced
An assortment of berries for added flavour - I used blueberries, strawberries, blackberries and raspberries
Sparkling water or a diet lemon/lime pop to add when serving
1 large pitcher to serve in
To make the sangria begin by pouring the bottle of wine and the SunRype Blueberry Burst into the pitcher. Next, add in the sliced oranges and the berries and give them a stir/muddle using a large wooden spoon. Give the mixture a taste and if you like a sweeter sangria, add a bit more of the Sunrype Blueberry Burst. Set in the fridge for a few hours or overnight.
Once you’re ready to serve. pour the sangria into a glass but leave enough room at the top to add your sparkling water or diet lemon/lime soda for a bit of carbonation. Spoon in a bit of the muddled fruit and you’re set!
What’s your favourite way to Take 10 for yourself? Let me know in the comments below!
