Veev:  An excellent substitute for vodka, Veev is actually manufactured from acai berries which are packed with antioxidants and anthocyanins.  What makes this drink even better, however, is the company’s commitment to the environment.  Veev donates $1 towards the Brazilian rainforest for every bottle sold, preserving their sustainable acai supply.  Veev is also the first carbon-neutral liquor company, powering all of their distillers through renewable energy.  Pass up the Smirnoff  and throw one of these back with friends (but don’t forget to toast to the Brazilian rainforest first!).

OneHope Sauvignon Blanc: I bought this baby on a whim at BevMo (5 cent sale, anyone?) and felt an instant karma boost.  With every bottle sold, OneHope donates 50% of the profits to the American Forest, a charity aimed at protecting, restoring, and enhancing our native trees and forests.  If you’re not a sauvignon blanc fan, there are several other wines to choose from, each with their own cause.  Drink chardonnay for breast cancer, merlot for AIDS, or zinfandel for our troops overseas.  Whichever you choose, you can bet you’ll feel a little buzz of goodness with every glass.

New Belgium beer:  This brewery from Fort Collins, Colorado has a long list of environmental actions and achievements.  I am not going to go through the whole list here because, well, I’m lazy.  Here are the most notable ones of the bunch:
* Decreased energy usage in their brewing and in the facility itself due to efficient lighting, sustainable building materials, and efficient brew kettles.
* Wind power and waste water are used to produce renewable energy for the factory.
* Encouragement of bike transportation by hosting an annual bike festival and giving every employee a free bike after 1 year of employment.
* Member of 1% For the Planet, meaning that they give 1% of their revenue to environmental non-profits.

ModMix organic mixers:  The name says it all – ModMix creates a line of fully organic mixers for your favorite cocktails.  This means no chemicals, no synthetic pesticides, and no harmful substances.  You can use ModMix for pretty much any drink you could imagine.  Their products include mixes for citrus margaritas, French martinis, lavender lemon drops, mojitos, pomegranate cosmos, and wasabi bloody marys.  Just be sure to mix these babies with a sustainable alcohol such as Papagayo organic rums, 4Copas tequila, or TruVodka.

Who doesn’t love having a few shots of tequila? This writer doesn’t.  I can usually manage with the lime and salt included, but still; there are tons of things I’d rather experience than the burn of tequila as it runs down my throat followed immediately by my stomach trying to send it back.

BUT, it is National Tequila Day, so the Goose (or the cheap Burnetts vodka that I normally drink) is gonna have to wait until tomorrow night. I can’t let a momentous day like this pass me by without partaking in some “festivities.” And by festivities, I clearly mean a little one tequila, two tequila, three tequila…. well, you know the ending.

And I don’t even have to do it in shot form, because there are some mighty fine lookin’ tequila cocktails out there. These badboys give you all the tequila goodness without the pain/regurgitation.

I’ll drink (tequila) to that!

I’m not good at much – just ask my IM volleyball team – but if there is one thing I’ve mastered in my lifetime, it’s the art of drinking. It’s not like it came naturally; I’ve devoted much of my adult life to hitting the bottle. It’s been a lot of hard work, dry heaves and hairs of the dogs that bit me, but I am finally a boozing master.

And being that I am a self-proclaimed expert in the subject, I think it is imperative that I share some of my hard earned knowledge with the world. You see, drinking is a difficult task and there are many things to know in order to truly be good at it. Namely: the things that don’t mix well with alcohol.

You may feel the need to go out and try these combos for yourself, but just trust me on this one and stay far, far away from the following mixers:

1. Cereal: Lucky Charms and Baileys sounds like a delicious combo, but it is not. Especially before a long day of classes.

2. Automobiles: Obviously, everyone (well, everyone besides those morons in Hollywood) knows that driving drunk is dumb. But so is riding in the back of a cab. With a window that doesn’t work. You never know how far vomit can splash until you are in that situation.

3. Going commando: There is something about the combination of alcohol and the desire to constantly lift one’s skirt that just doesn’t quite work.

4. Serious talks: If you need to have it out with someone you know, doing it while drunk is not a good idea. Unless, of course, you like screaming/crying/punching/hugging in the middle of a busy street.

5. Cameras: Dropping it and watching the screen shatter while doing the worm in the middle of a dance floor is the least of your problems. In fact, after realizing the sh*tshow that is documented on that memory card, it may just be the solution.

6. Bunk Beds: Top or bottom, you will get injured.

7. Fine Dining: You may think a fine meal isn’t complete without a (few) bottle(s) of wine, but I’m sure the bus boy who has to wipe up your vomit from under the table would disagree.

8. Tights: They look totally hot with that mini, but aren’t so wonderful after you break the seal and have to pee every 10-12 minutes for the rest of the night.

9. Fire: No explanation needed.

10. Slides: “OMGEEE IT WOULD BE SO FUN TO SLIDE DOWN THAT RIGHT NOW…FACE FIRST,” says the girl who now is missing the skin from the right side of her face.

True story. All of them. Just heed my advice and be careful out there.

Hi and welcome to the dead zone of summer. After partying it up on the fourth, the festiveness dies down and your party schedule is wiiiiide open. There are, of course, the random parties and local events to keep you entertained, but for the most part the excitement is dead and the big stuff is over.

With nothing going on, why not bring the party to your place? Cocktails, sun, friends and your bed within reach? What could be better?

Of course, entertaining requires a little prep, but it is a lot easier (and cheaper!) than you think. Below is a handy dandy guide on how to turn your humble abode into the summer hot spot. And all for less than $150. Let’s get started.

What You Need:

A blender. It’s summer, which mean frozen bevy’s are in order. Your blender doesn’t have to be top of the line, but it does have to work. You can get one for under $20 at Wal-Mart, Target or whatever your cheap-stuff store of choice is.

A whisky tot. One half measures a shot, the other half a shot and half. When you’re pouring on a budget, you want to conserve that booze as much as possible. Know exactly how much you’re pouring out.

Some sort of mixing guide. Impress your friends with your perfect Cosmopolitan and a wide range of sophisticated cocktails. You can find a ton of resources on the web, which equals free (!!).

Bar Essentials

Alright something to note here. Do NOT buy cheap liquor. That’s just asking for a nasty hangover. You don’t have to go top of the line, but don’t go bare minimum just to save a few bucks. Seriously, unless you want all your friends to think they’re drinking gasoline cocktails, don’t do it. Most stores run specials on common drinks all the time and have substitutes that are just as good as the more “name brand” products. Just ask; a clerk would be happy to help you.

Vodka. This is the most common. You’re going to be using a lot of it, so think about buying double.

Rum. White and dark. Trust me, it’s in more things than just the ole’ Rum and Coke.

Whisky. This one is actually kind of optional for the summer, but guys love to drink it on the rocks when trying to impress a lady. It is definitely a must-have for your winter bar.

Tequilla. I wouldn’t drink it straight after that situation last weekend, but mixed it’s my friend. Buy clear for mixing in everything from a Sunrise to a Pomegrantite Margarita.

Gin. Short and sweet. Perfect for martini shakin’

What’s your favorite? You should always have a bottle of what you like on hand because it’s your bar. Don’t worry about Rob and Cathy’s favorite drink because they’re not going to be at every gathering. And if they want it tell them to contribute a bottle. People should always bring gifts anyway. ; )

Mixers

Triple Sec. You’re going to need this. Really you are. This goes into all your favorite cocktails.

Coke. It’s simple and classic.

Juice. Orange and pineapple.

Ice. It’s amazing how often people forget ice.

Other staples to consider: Tonic, Soda Water, fun Margarita/Pina Colada/Martini mixers

Alright dears, that should be enough to get you started. This is just a starter kit so don’t go overboard. As time goes on add a bottle of things here and there. Brandy, Irish Crème, some sort of Coffee Liquor. Your total for this trip should be spiraling the drain at $130-$150 depending on what brands you decide to buy. Good luck and happy summer!