By Jamie Dougherty

The holidays are a fantastic time of year filled with friends, family, and the nostalgic foods that bring us together. It can also be a stressful time for the same reasons… too many friends, too much family, and most notably, too much food! By the time January rolls around we are tired, lethargic, and usually in a complete food coma. But not this year, ladies.  Enter the Jamie Living 5-Part Holiday Survival Guide! The next month and half is all about how YOU can both savor and survive the holidays while simultaneously saving your waistline.  Ah, yeah!

Step #1 – Get your water buffer on!

Simply put, being at a party means having a drink in your hand.  There is no way around it as the second you arrive the host asks, “So, what can I get you?” and you certainly don’t want to be the party-pooper who meekly says, “Oh, nothing.”  The key to losing weight by accident during the holidays (yes, it is possible) is to buffer each alcoholic drink with water.  Enjoy a glass of wine or cocktail, then have a sparkling water with lime.  (It actually looks just like a vodka tonic so no one will know the difference.)  If you get sick of that, mix it up and go for a cup of hot tea or sparkling water with a splash of cranberry.  The goal is to make you feel both included in the party without drinking too much, then eating too much and waking up the next morning feeling lousy, tired and totally guilt-ridden.

Sounds good, right?  Just FYI, each step of The Holiday Survival guide builds upon the next and the water buffer is truly the gateway to staying on track with each upcoming recommendation.  Master this one and you will be set, no joke!

In the comments let me know your tricks for not getting too tipsy during the holidays.  Come on ladies, sharing is caring! (And it feels good too.)

Jamie G. Dougherty, founder of JamieLiving.com, gives women the secrets to feel amazing in their bodies and create the balance they crave between their busy schedules and eating well. Jamie believes that though kale and brown rice are good foods to put on your plate, until we truly learn HOW to eat rather than just WHAT to eat we will continue to be carb-craving, super-frazzled, stress-out ladies. If you ever feel hungry, stuck and unsatisfied with your food be sure to visit Jamie’s website to get her FREE 5-Step Guide to Fabulous.  Seriously ladies, get ready for Jamie to rock your world!

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The Little Luxury: Voli Light Vodka

Relationship Status: We shared our first passionate sip at the Spa Week #SIGNOFF Retreat, and despite often being on the rocks, things have been fantastic ever since.

The Steamy Details: As one of the first low-calorie vodkas on the market, Voli is essential for those of us bored with the club soda diet. Voli Light Vodkas contain 25%-40% less calories than leading brands. The ingredients are natural, mixed with fruits and distilled Vodka from superior French wheat and pure spring water. So go ahead and have another.

Skip the Hangover: When you’re sick, the doctor says to drink Gatorade for electrolytes, right? The same theory lies behind Voli, which is the first vodka packed with electrolytes. Instead of waking of sick, you’ll feel hydrated and ready to run a marathon! Maybe.

The Variety: The cool beverage (for adults only, kiddies) comes in six different flavors: lyte, expresso vanilla fusion, raspberry cocoa fusion, pear vanilla fusion, orange vanilla fusion, and lemon flavored.

The Dieter’s Dilemma: Less calorie remorse = more likely to drink more than you should…?

Shaken or Stirred: Volispirits.com has some great cocktail recipe ideas including ones that look like this–>

Where to get Voli: Check to see where Voli is served and available for purchase in your area. They’re spreading fast, so if it’s not in a bar near you yet, keep asking the bartender! They’ll get the point eventually.

Hot Stone Scale: 6 out of 6

This Little Luxury Report was brought to you by: Michelle

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Picture yourself on a quiet beach in the tropics. Toes in the sand, waves gently caressing the shoreline just feet from your chair, orange sun hanging in the clear blue afternoon sky. Theres a drink in your hand–it’s a coconut full of fresh, cold milky coconut water, and it was fetched and carved by one of the island natives from the palm tree located just outside your beach front estate.

Now picture you were in this blissful paradise setting every day, for 6 months straight… only without the whole tropical paradise scenario. The next best thing: A 6 month supply of ZICO pure premium coconut water, fresh from your refrigerator! The refreshing taste will bring your mind, if not your body, to a place a paradise as wholesome as the beverage in your hand.

WIN IT:

A 6-month supply of ZICO pure premium coconut water.

For more than 4,000 years, coconut water has been revered as a natural source of nutrition, wellness, beauty and hydration. In times of famine and war, coconut water has been used as an intravenous fluid and saved many lives. It’s the only natural substance that can be safely injected into the human blood stream. Now modern science has validated its effectiveness, especially as a natural sports drink.

ZICO contains the five essential electrolytes that gives your body everything it needs to stay hydrated and perform at your best. One ZICO has more potassium than a banana – 15 times more than most sports drinks – to prevent cramping. Drink ZICO before or during a workout for the natural energy you need for optimal performance. After a workout, ZICO replenishes and re-hydrates you to speed recovery.

HAPPY HOUR INSPIRATION:

This week we’re celebrating Happy Hour at the Spa, so we asked a couple mixologists what kind of cocktails they’d make with ZICO. After all, if you win, you’re going to need some options.

Dee from CocktailDeeva.com‘s ZICO cocktail of choice, and how to prepare:

Fresh Blue Breeze Colada

1 1/2 oz Organic Vodka
2oz naturally sweetened Blueberry Juice
2oz ZICO Natural Coconut Water
1oz fresh squeezed orange juice
1 pineapple slice
fresh mint
Muddle together pineapple slice, mint and vodka until pineapple is well mashed. Add all
ingredients to shaker and shake well with ice. Strain and serve over ice in a tall glass.
This drink can also be blended with ice if preferred. Garnish with a mint sprig or orange
slice and enjoy.

Tamara of ThePerfectMixx.com gave 2 interesting recipes:

Coconut Cubed

ZICO Coconut Water Ice Cubes (prepare in advance)
2oz Bacardi Gold Rum
1oz Pineapple Juice
Garnish with a lemon

Coco-Citrus Punch

4oz ZICO Coconut Water
2oz Absolut Citron Vodka
1oz Pineapple Juice
1oz Orange Juice
1oz Peach Schnapps
Splash of grenadine
Garnish with Limes and Cherries

HOW TO ENTER:

What is your favorite ingredient that you can find both in a cocktail AND in a spa treatment? Give an example of the cocktail and the spa treatment.

Write it in the comments below.

Winner will be chosen based upon how delicious both your cocktail and your spa treatment sound. Note: Your cocktail does not need to include ZICO coconut water. Be creative! Must be based on a real ingredient that works, but you can make up the details of your cocktail/spa treatment. Feel free to use our Happy Hour Spa Treatment Guide for inspiration.

If you’re on Twitter, tweet: I entered to win a 6 month supply of @zicococowater from @SPAWEEK –> http://ow.ly/2afLO

Enter by Sunday, July 18th, 11:59 EDT. Please link your comment to a valid email address.Must be a US Resident within the 48 states to win.

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