And the winner is…

The “Local It Girl” by Ashlee Gadd!

Here’s her year’s supply of Go Girl winning recipe :)

• 4 oz of Original Sugar Free Go Girl
• 5 farmer’s market fresh strawberries, plus 1 for garnishing
• 1 small white peach
• 3 oz of Veeve Acai spirit
• A splash of fresh grapefruit juice
• Basil to also serve as a garnish

*Puree the strawberries and the peach, then combine all ingredients and pour over ice. Top the drink with a fresh strawberry slice and few basil leaves. Please drink responsibly :)

(On August 20th, we revealed the first review from our expert bloggers. If you missed part one of our series make sure to catch up!)

Following a close first round of judging, our second round features the work of Irvin Lin from the exquisite food blog, “Eat the Love.”

The “Very Berry Blaster” by Kristy Karpaty

Taste: 6 out of 10

Creativity: 4 out of 5

Appearance: 4 out of 5

Total: 14 points

“The strawberry simple syrup and the bright pink color look fantastic in the glass, but the sugary sweet drink tasted one note sweet because of the syrup. A great concept and a fun drink for those with a sweet tooth.”

The “Glojito” by Love Joley

Taste: 7 out of 10

Creativity: 4 out of 5

Appearance: 4 out of 5

Total: 15 points

“Smoky spiced rum and muddled mint really add a nice dimension to this drink with slight tropical notes. Dark spirits always have a nice depth and the Pomegranate Star Fruit Go Girl adds a refreshing touch, which the mint really accentuates.”

The “Local It Girl” by Ashlee Gadd

Taste: 9 out of 10

Creativity: 5 out of 5

Appearance: 4 out of 5

Total: 18 points

“A tropical smoothie with a kick - this was my favorite drink with it’s peach and strawberry base. Fruity and refreshing, the basil sprig was a nice touch to the presentation.”

The “California Mermaid” by Christin Jean Foster & Nikki Ferris

Taste: 6 out of 10

Creativity: 5 out of 5

Appearance: 5 out of 5

Total: 16 points

“Easy to make and gorgeous to look at, the ‘California Mermaid’ was probably the most fun drink to serve up to friends. The individual beverages in this drink are very specific, so make sure your friends like the ingredients involved as you drink them one by one.”

The “Summer Bliss Martini” by Crystal Alford

Taste: 9 out of 10

Creativity: 4 out of 5

Appearance: 3 out of 5

Total: 16 points

“Fruity and refreshing, this martini definitely benefitted by being shaken not stirred. Flakes of ice crystals float in the martini glass, making this drink a great one to sip by the pool on a hot day.”

To learn more about the ingredients used in each recipe visit our primer. 

After receiving so many amazing cocktail recipe submissions, we decided to ask some of our favorite bloggers for help choosing a winner.

The following reviews were written by Chris Carroll from the wonderful blog, “Two Classy Chics.” It’s a must read!

Plus, visit our finalists’ primer to find out what ingredients each recipe uses!

“The Very Berry Blaster” by Kristy Karpaty

Taste: 8 out of 10

• Liked the strawberry and gin flavor, but the sugar free taste distracted a bit from the overall flavor

Creativity: 4 out of 5

• Simple ingredients and readily available

Appearance: 4 out of 5

• Loved the color and the drunken strawberries at the bottom.

Total: 16 points

“The Glojito” by Lovely Joley

Taste: 7.5 out of 10

• Loved the spiced rum, but, the mint distracted a bit from the flavor

Creativity: 3.5 out of 5

• Easy to make quickly

Appearance: 4 out of 5

Total: 15 points

“The Local It Girl” by Ashlee Gadd

Taste: 8.5 out of 10

• Love the fruit blend flavors, very refreshing

Creativity: 4.5 out of 5

• Reminded me of a daiquiri slightly

Appearance: 4.5 out of 5

• Beautiful and inviting

Total: 17.5 points

“California Mermaid” by Christin Jean Foster & Nikki Ferris

Taste: 9 out of 10

• Love the different flavors that came through - the apple mixed beautifully with the others

Creativity: 4.5 out of 5

• Great job

Appearance: 5 out of 5

• Loved the layering that made it very appealing to want to drink!

Total: 18.5 points

“Summer Bliss Maritini” by Crystal Alford

Taste: 8 out of 10

• Loved fruit flavors, very refreshing

Creativity: 4 out of 5

• Easy to blend and quick to make

Appearance: 4 out of 5

• Beautiful colors make it inviting to drink

Total: 16 points

The Go Girls have been poured. The liquor has been mixed, and recipes submitted.

Meet the finalists for the “Search for Perfect Summer Cocktail,” contest!

The aptly-named, “Summer Bliss Martini,” by Crystal Alford

The “Glojito” by Love Joley

Ingredients: Spiced Rum, Go Girl Pomegranate Star Fruit, Mint, and ice

• 1 part spiced rum
• 3 parts Go Girl Pomegranate Star Fruit

The “Local It Girl” by Ashlee Gadd

Ingredients: Original Sugar Free Go Girl, strawberries, white peach, Veev Acai Spirit, fresh grapefruit juice, and basil

• 4 oz Original Sugar Free Go Girl
• 5 farmer’s market strawberries
• 1 small white peach
• 3 oz Veev Acai spirit
• Splash of fresh grapefruit juice
• Basil for garnish

The “Very Berry Blaster” by Kristy Karpaty

Ingredients: gin, lemon juice, strawberry simple syrup, sugar, crushed strawberries, and Original Sugar Free Go Girl

• 1 1/2 oz gin
• 1/2 oz lemon juice
• 1/2 oz strawberry simple syrup

The “California Mermaid” by Nikki Ferris

Ingredients: Ice, Hpnotiq, sour apple pucker, pineapple juice, Go Girl Pomegranate Star Fruit, fresh mango, kiwi, and pineapple

• 12 oz glass of ice
• 3 oz Hpnotiq
• 1 oz sour apple pucker (slow pour)
• 1 oz pineapple juice (slow pour)
• 3 oz Go Girl Pomegranate Star Fruit afloat (slow pour)
• Garnish w/fresh mango, kiwi, and pineapple on a toothpick
• Mix well :)

Peach Tea White Sangria

Content provided by Irvin Lin who writes the award-winning Eat The Love blog.

This easy and refreshing summertime cocktail is perfect for a picnic or mid-afternoon pick-me up drink. Just remember to let the fruit sit in the cocktail for a little bit, to let them infuse fully.

-2 cans (23 oz) Go Girl Peach Tea Energy Drink

-2 cups white wine (preferably crisp and fruity)

-2 medium peaches

-4 to 5 large strawberries

-3 medium tangerines or clementines

-2 cups seltzer or club soda

-Ice

1. Add the Go Girl Peach Tea and white wine to a pitcher.

2. Slice up the peaches into eight pieces each and add them to the pitcher with any juice on the cutting board. Quarter the strawberries and add them as well. Slice the tangerines into four or five slices, about 1/4 inch thick and add them as well, along with any accumulated juice.

3. Stir and let sit in the refrigerator, anywhere from 1 to 4 hours. Add the seltzer water before serving over a glass full of ice

Want more of Irvin’s recipes? Visit his blog Eat the Love today!

Bringing Sexy Back

Content provided for Go Girl Energy Drink by Face It Salon, Spa, & Boutique

There is nothing sexier than a backless dress, and this trend is coming back with a huge following. Our prediction is that you will see this trend throughout the city, day and night from Spring through Summer.

Now that you’ve done your rows and planks (right?) slipping into a backless dress will give you confidence and elegance. It’s suggestive and sexy, yet mysterious and subtle. Wearing a backless dress allows you to strike a unique balance between showing a lot of skin while keeping things classy.

What makes this dress amazing is not only do you have the comfort of the simple tank-top style and the backless feature, but also the killer cinch detail.

This detail allows you to pull tight, creating a more bunched look to accentuate your backside (if you catch our drift) or leave it loose, which drops the v-cut down very low.

If you are less interested in strutting your stuff and are looking for a boho feel - something comfortable, yet sexy - then you may prefer a style similar to one of our favorites.

This Sante Fe v-cut backless dress is priced at $68 and has two features sure to show off your legs and back. With a v-neck back as well as the deep v-cut sides, you’ll be sure to keep feeling flirtatious!

Like the dresses you’ve seen? Visit Face It Salon, Spa, & Boutique on 19th St. Downtown Sacramento, Facebook, or Twitter :)

Washboard Abs

Side Plank #1

Target: Strengthen your waist muscles to create a stable core for lateral and rotational activities

Added Benefit: Strengthens shoulder stabilizers

Action: Keeps your spine in a neutral position with your ears, shoulders, and hips in alignment. Make sure your elbow is lined up directly under your shoulder. Hold the pose for 10-20 seconds, and complete 3 sets on each side.

Variation: You can use your bottom knee to support your body weight

Side Plank #2

Target: Strengthen you waist muscles to create a stable core for lateral and rotational ativities

Added Benefit: Strengthens shoulder stabilizers

Action: Keep your spine in a neutral position with your ears, shoulders, and hips in alignment. Make sure your elbow is lined up directly beneath your shoulder.

Variation: Two elevated legs will increase the workload of your waist muscles

Elbow Plank

Target: Strengthen your abdominal muscles and lower back muscles to help create a stable core for spine flexing and extending

Added Benefit: Strengthens shoulder stabilizers

Action: Keep your spine in a neutral position with your ears, shoulders, and hips in alignment. Make sure your elbows are lined up directly under you shoulders. Hold the pose for 10-20 seconds for 3 sets with equal rest time between each set.

Variation: Spread your feet apart, just beyond your shoulders’ width, for greater stability. Keep your feet close together to challenge yourself

Mountain Climbers

Target: Strengthens abdominal muscles and lower back muscles to create a stable core for spinal flexing and extending

Added Benefit: Strengthens shoulder stabilizers and triceps, primarily the rotator cuff and muscles on the backside of the arms

Action: Start in a straight elbow plank, or push-up position. Keep your spine in a neutral position with your ears, shoulders, and hips in alignment. Make sure your elbows and wrists are lined up directly beneath your shoulders. Bring your left knee towards your chest without letting your toes touch the ground. Return to the starting position, then repeat the process with your right knee. Perform 3 sets for 20 seconds each.

Variation: Add speed and increase time to 30 seconds for greater challenge

Hanging Knee Raises

Target: Strengthens abdominal muscles to create a powerful and stable core for spinal flexing

Added Benefit: Strengthens shoulder stabilizers, primarily the serratus anterior and latissimus dorsi

Action: Depress your elbows and arms into the sling in order to activate your serratus anterior and latissimus dorsi for proper posture. Bring your knees to your chest while keeping your elbows pointing forward and your uppper arm parallel to the ground. Return to your starting position. Perform 10 repetitions for 3 sets each.

Windshield Wipers

Target: Strengthen your waist muscles to create a stable and powerful core for lateral and rotational activities

Action: Start on your back with your knees to your chest. Keep your pelvis in a slight tilt (hip bones toward your ribcage), rotate both of your knees toward your right elbow, return to center, then rotate both knees to the left side and return to center position. Perform 10 repetitions to each side for 3 sets.

Variation: Straighten your knees and extend your toes toward the ceiling (directly above the belly button) and lower your feet ward your right hand, return to center, then rotate both toward your left hand and return to center position. Perform 10 repetitions to each side for 3 sets.

For more information about Sandra, her workouts, and her Fitness Rehab gym make sure to visit her website!