Backyard BBQ:

Serve your guests a Sake Champagne Mojito at your next barbecue!

• 1 bottle Sake
• 1 bottle Extra Dry Champagne
• 1 large bunch mint leaves
• juice of 3-4 limes
• 6-10 droppers full of Liquid Stevia (more or less to taste)

First, tear the mint leaves off the stem. In a large pitcher, use the back of a wooden spoon to muddle the mint leaves, stevia, and lime juice. Then add the entire bottle of Sake and entire bottle of Champagne. Stir the mixture and serve over lots of ice in rocks glasses or mason jars. And for a non-alcoholic version substitute sparkling mineral water for the Sake and Champagne!

Late Night Pool Party:

These Frozen Pink Grapefruit Margaritas are perfect for a Pool Party on a hot day. 

• 1 cup ruby red grapefruit juice
• 1/2 cup fresh squeezed lime juice (about 4 limes)
• 1 cup triple sec orange liqueur
• 3 cups ice
• 1 cup silver tequila
• 1 lime cut in wedges, optional Kosher salt.

If you prefer to rim the glasses take a lime wedge and rim, then dip in salt, if you do not like a salted rim sprinkle a touch of salt in each glass, the salt really brings out the flavor.

Combine the grapefruit juice, lime juice, triple sec and ice in a blender. Pour into a large pitcher (or just keep it in the blender) and pour in the tequila, stir.

Makes 4 drinks.

Cottage:

Next time you head to the cottage, try this Raspberry Beer Cocktail. 

• 3/4 cup frozen raspberries
• 3 1/2 (12-oz.) bottles beer, chilled
• 1 (12-oz.) container frozen raspberry lemonade concentrate, thawed
• 1/2 cup vodka
• Garnish: lemon and lime slices

Stir together first 4 ingredients. Serve over ice. Garnish, if desired.

*Fresh raspberries may be substituted.

Note: To make ahead, stir together lemonade concentrate and vodka in a large container. Chill up to 3 days. Stir in raspberries and beer just before serving. Garnish, if desired.

Picnic:

For a picnic with the family, why not put a twist on your iced tea and try out this Strawberry Iced Tea?

Executive Vice-President, Lake & Associates Canada

Rashmi Biswas is the Executive Vice-President, Lake and Associates Canada Inc., an Ontario based consulting firm focused upon Business Planning, Human Resource Policy and People Development. An accomplished business leader with experience in the travel, gaming, retail, and car rental industries, Rashmi has worked in corporate and academic arenas in Canada, the US, and the UK. Rashmi is a skilled trainer, exceptional facilitator and an engaging event speaker. Rashmi holds a Masters degree in Human Resource Management, a Postgraduate Certificate in Adult Education, Facilitation and Training, and is a certified Myers-Briggs© practitioner. Rashmi is Vice-President, Board of Directors, for the Canadian Mental Health Association, Niagara and has recently published her first book "Rash Decisions: Accept where you are, and then...Be Amazing."

You can also find this information at www.toronto.ca/housing under the ‘Quick Links’ list.

Today on the set of Georgian Bay Life I spoke of Vision boards and achieving goals. Having the opportunity to be the resident life coach for the viewers of the show has been a really exciting experience for me. It has taught me to stretch, to grow, to move beyond my limits and try new things and that is always a good thing.

Which leads me to my point. This Saturday I will strike off the last goal I had on my vision board from 5 years ago. That goal was to be a guest on the Oprah Winfrey show. You may know the show has changed in format and there is now a Canadian version. Yay!

I was invited to be a guest on a new show they are running in Canada called the Truth Project? The shoot is in Toronto in two days.

That’s the thing about dreams, they shift, they change, they become clearer as you move closer to them becoming reality. You have to work at it, you have to hold onto the vision at all times, you have to believe when everybody else gives up: especially then!

Close your eyes, get very quiet, listen. Can you feel it? Can you see it? Can you hear it? That’s your dream calling you. Are you ready to answer?