It’s never really that easy for me to ‘turn in’ or ‘clock out’ for the day. Since I work for myself and from home it seems like there are always never-ending things to do. As you all know, we moved here to NJ about 8 months ago and went through our first winter! It was so much fun for me to see the seasons change. Now that it’s summer, it feels like Florida here. It’s hot & humid and you start sweating the second you walk out your door. It always puts me in the mood for a nice cool drink, like a tropical punch kombucha! I took that feeling for granted and now I appreciate summer a whole lot more than I did back home when that was my every day 365 – 7 days-a-week weather.

We’re making it a point to get outside and do all the summery NYC things before fall! I’m trying to take more time off my phone and more time planning fun activities, trying out new restaurants, hanging out with friends – eating lobster rolls! Everyone here loves their lobster rolls. I guess because I lived my whole life somewhere that is known for fish, I didn’t realize how special it was. It totally signifies summer!

One of our favorite summer activities thus far has been either grilling out on our buildings deck area or having a picnic in Central Park. We pack up our cooler full of goods and head out! If you’ve never seen summer in NYC – it’s insane! EVERYONE is in bathing suits and throwing frisbees in Central Park like we’re at the beach. It’s so fun! They even allow dogs to run around! One of the summer essentials on my list is the new Health-Ade Tropical Punch Kombucha Flavor! It blends mango, pineapple, and orange and I think this might be my new number 1! It’s perfect for all of the summer things: cocktails, mocktails, popsicles, slushies, you name it! If you’re totally lost and wondering what kombucha even is or why it’s good for you – those links will help you out!

Even though summer seems like it’s whizzing by because we’re trying to fit in so many things, it’s my way of taking a slow down. Usually on the weekends, if I don’t have plans, I feel like I should be working and taking that time as an opportunity to get things done. However, this summer, I’m doing so many things I’ve always wanted to, or I’m creating new memories with my friends and Kevin and there’s honestly nothing more I could want out of this. As I write this – Kevin and I are planning a Central Park picnic for this weekend.

On the menu?

Health-Ade Tropical Punch Kombucha Flavor straight outta the bottle!

Homemade Lobster Rolls with Lemon Butter

Grilled Watermelon Salad with Mango Lime Dressing & Corn Bread Croutons (out of a cookbook!)

Some of my Healthier Peanut Butter Chocolate Chunk Pretzel Cookie Bars

Kevin is a finance guy but he’s surprisingly interested in & likes to come up with menus with me, which I obviously love. 90% of the time when we’re celebrating something or it’s a holiday, we prefer to plan a fancy menu and make it together. One year for valentine’s day we even had a little ‘chopped’ competition – it was so much fun! Homemade lobster rolls? His idea. I know, right? That’s why I keep him around! Just kidding. Honestly though, this Tropical Punch Kombucha flavor is genuinely one of the best I’ve had. I always say Pink Lady Apple is my favorite but I might have to move that one to number two!

Thank you so much to Health-Ade Kombucha for sponsoring this post and allowing me to share content with you guys for free!

I can’t wait for you all to try this flavor! Tell me when you do! Send me a message on IG!

Today's blog is written by our very own Daina Trout, MS, MPH

Daina is not just our Co-Founder, she is also a nutritionist that has spent her adult life dedicated to finding and sharing health and wellness through food. With 2 masters' degrees in nutritional biochemistry and public health, Daina has called upon her education often while leading the way at Health-Ade - from how we make every batch of kombucha, to how we talk about gut health to consumers, to even how healthy our employee workplace is! She even writes a few blogs here and there. Happy reading! :)