Dyed Coconut "Feather" Cups

A couple of weekends ago, Kirstin threw the world's best Angry Birds Birthday Party.

Seriously, everything was made into an angry bird (though, I've come to realize that most anything, given eyes, furrowed brows, and a beak can become and angry bird), but she did such a great job with it!

Here's the birthday boy making his angriest bird face...

When I asked to help, she gave me the drink table. I guess I should say this lightly, since she already had several ideas she wanted to do, so I just added to it, and helped execute.

My biggest contribution: "Feathered" cups for the Orange Juice  "Bird Nectar.

They were really fun to make, and added just a bit of excitement to an otherwise ordinary breakfast drink. 

Want to see how we made them?

Here's what you need:

shredded coconut

food coloring

a plastic bag that seals (one for each color you make)

plastic cups

white icing

plates for rimming

Here's how to do it:

First, we wanted the feathers to be different colors, since actual Angry Birds aren't just white. So pour some shredded coconut into a baggie.

Next add a couple drops of food coloring (you really don't need much, I just did two or three drops)

Shake. Shake. Shake.

Do this for all the different colors you need.

Next, pour each color coconut onto a plate, one for each color. 

Then scoop out a bit of icing. Try to put in about the diameter of your cups.

Dab the rim of your plastic cup into the icing, coating the whole thing.

Next, dab the now iced rim of the cup into the color coconut you wish. Coat completely.

Repeat this enough times so each guest has a rimmed cup and set them up on display before everyone arrives!

Cute, right? Who knew you could dye coconut? It's perfect for a bird themed party, or a bachelorette party, or any party where you want to add some coconut. 

Seriously, the combo of orange juice with vanilla and coconut was just delicious. I might start rimming my juice glass every morning... would that be ridiculous? 

Can you think of another use for coconut rimmed glasses? 

Sip Your Way Skinny: Day 7- A Skinny Pina Colada

I would firmly place pina coladas on my top 5 favorite drinks list. 

But a lot of people would never know that. Want to know why?

 Because they're so bad for you that I usually just don't even bother.

It's a sad situation, actually. But I'm almost positive that I'm not alone in this. Right?

This Sip Your Way Skinny series gave me a great excuse to find a pina colada that transported me to a white, sandy beach (AND still left me bikini ready) with each sip.

Ready to show the pina colada some love again?

Here's what you need:

5 oz coconut water (read about it's health benefits here)

2 oz pineapple juice

2 oz coconut rum (you really should use coconut rum, the regular stuff doesn't quite cut it)

**Optional: add extra ice if you want a blended one instead

Here's how to do it:

Combine the ingredients in a shaker. 

Shake it up.

Pour over ice in your favorite glass, or serve chilled.

Throw on your grass skirt and coconut bra

Sip away.

ahhhhh....can't you just smell the ocean?

"Sip Your Way Skinny": Day 1-Coconut Water

Hope you guys had a great holiday season! We did, but we're glad to be back, we missed you. 

Anyway, it's January 9th, which means we're now 9 days into our 2012 New Year Resolutions. And, if you're like most of America, "getting fit" or "losing weight" made it onto your Resolution list this year.
(but let's be honest, isn't it on there almost every year?)

  

We're right there with you, so we decided the entire month of January should be dedicated to

healthy drinks and "skinny" drink options.

Because most of us are consuming too many liquid calories

 and there are plenty of great alternatives.

 We are calling it Sip Your Way Skinny

and guess what, it starts today! Woo!

Sip Your Way Skinny:

Day 1- Coconut Water

Image via

Have you noticed Coconut Water is all the rage? You probably have seen pictures like the ones above on the cover of US Weekly, or People, in line at the store (or in your weekly subcription if your like me...I'm a sucker for these magazines) and might be wondering what the hype is all about.

We did the research for you to see if its just trendy, or if it's really as great as they say,

 here's what we found:

Health Benefits

(these are just some we've highlighted because they're so many,

if you want to read more, there's lots of info out there, but this is the site we used):

-helps re-hydrate you

-better for you than sports drinks (less sodium and sugar, but more potassium)

-helps boost your immune system and fight viruses

-helps raise your metabolism

 -can reduce risk of cancer

-helps control diabetes 

 After reading all of that good news, we came to the conclusion that it is worth trying.

So we did, and loved it.

Coconut water can be little sour if you're not used to it,

so try adding just a splash of orange juice like what's shown above.

 (don't do too much or it will off set the low sugar/low carb benefits)

mmm...delicious.