The 4th of July. No work, no worries, and a full day dedicated to barbequing and relaxing. I can think of no better way to celebrate independence from our current best ally than sitting on a back porch (or fire escape, whichever suits your needs) and drinking a nice cool glass of something alcoholic.

Have I got the perfect girly cocktail for those 4th of July needs. It’s chilled, fruity, and when served with blueberries and a hint of whipped cream, it’s patriotic.

Watermelon Mellow

• 8 cups diced watermelon (about 1/2 of a small watermelon, plus slices for garnish)

• 8 ounces lemon vodka (make sure it’s chilled)

• 7 ounces simple syrup*

• 1 can coconut juice

• 1 lemon

Put your diced watermelon in the freezer for 30 minutes. Afterwards, put all the ingredients in a blender and mix until smooth. Read More »

It’s officially summer, and this means you’ll be doing two things: going to parties and trying to fit into that swimsuit. Everyone knows Jello is a low fat snack, and vodka has zero carbs. Put those together and what do you have?

The perfect Jello shot.

There’s not a big science to making these squiggly alcoholic snacks, but it is possible to screw them up. A few miserable attempts in college taught me the no-fail ratios, and if you follow them, you’re guaranteed to have the ideal consistency.

Perfect Jello Shots

• 6 oz. flavored Jello (or one large packet)

• 16 oz. boiling water

• 6 oz. cold water

• 10 oz. vodka

Once your 16 oz. of water is boiling, pour the jello packet in and stir until it’s completely dissolved. Shut off the stove and add the cold water and alcohol. Pour the mixture into small paper cups and place the cups in your refrigerator for about two hours.

…And remember, just because they taste like candy, doesn’t mean there’s nothing inside. Jello shots are absorbed slower than liquid alcohol, so don’t overdue it! No one wants to make out with the plastered chick who’s got jello all over her face.