Foodie Swellness: #GrowYourSummer with Growers Pear Cider GIVEAWAY

*THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED. The winners have been randomly selected — scroll down to see if you’ve won!

With summer officially here (hooray!), I’m regularly stocking up on bevvies for hot nights and weekend BBQs.

One of my favourite new ways to cool off: sipping the new Growers Pear Cider. It’s juicy and refreshing, and let’s get real: some days you don’t want to fuss with a shaker to make a cocktail (or am I the only lazy one when it comes to making drinks!?. Popping open a can of Growers Pear gives you more time to laze around on the dock and laugh with your friends.

And because I want you to be able to get in on this delicious Growers Pear action, too, I’ve partnered with them to hold a giveaway (it’s open only to Ontario residents, sorry, non-Ontarians!). The summer essentials prize is valued at $100 and includes a $50 prepaid Mastercard giftcard, sunglasses, a trucker hat, a bottle opener and more, and I’ve got a total of three of these prize packs to give away.

Remember, this giveaway is open to Ontario residents, and you can enter once in each of the four entry methods:

1. Email: Write me at healthandswellness@gmail.com with your name and mailing address (it just makes it quicker for us to send you the prize  if you provide me with your address off the bat). Please put “Growers Pear” in the email’s subject line.
2. Twitter: Follow me @healthswellness and @growerscider on Twitter, and then tweet:

I want to #growmysummer with Growers Pear Cider. Here’s how you can enter this @healthswellness #giveaway! http://bit.ly/29kid5h

3. Instagram: Follow @healthandswellness  and @growerscider on Instagram; like my Instagram post for this giveaway (it’s an Instagram of me on the dock enjoying a Growers Pear Cider) and tag a friend in the comments who you’d like to share a Growers Pear Cider with.
4. Facebook: Like the Health and Swellness page on Facebook (at the top of the page), and then leave a comment on the photo of this Growers giveaway — tell me where you’d like to be enjoying a Growers Pear Cider this summer.

Each prize is valued at $100 and the giveaway will close at 11:59 p.m. EST, Thursday, July 14. 2016. Please note that this giveaway is open to Ontario residents only. The three winners will be chosen at random. If I cannot reach the winner within five days, another winner will be selected. The three winners names will be announced on the blog here on this post once confirmed.

Can’t wait to see if you win this giveaway to try Growers Pear yourself? It can be found in the LCBO and Wine Rack aisles.

The two winners of this Growers giveaway are Laurie S. and Christina D., congrats!

(This blog post was sponsored by Growers Cider but the opinions are all my own.)

Leave a Comment July 7, 2016

Parched, even just a little? You’re paying for it

As someone who’s in a constant state of dehydration (I know I don’t drink enough water or eat enough quenching foods — except for this week when I’ve had boatloads of chicken soup, tea and OJ in my efforts to get rid of a cold — achoo!), this study’s findings caught my eye (and maybe will get me to sip a little more):

Even a state of mild dehydration (defined as 1.5 percent loss of  normal water volume in the body) can affect your mood, energy and clear-thinking abilities. The women who took part in the study experienced headaches, fatigue and difficulty concentrating when mildly dehydrated, and they perceived tasks as more difficult.

Fatigue? Check. Concentration issues? Check. My new resolution: drink more water. Starting by adding one cup a day…

(Water bottles, Bobble)

Leave a Comment February 21, 2012

Refresh obsessed

The forecast for the weekend: hot and humid. My plans? Stay cool and refreshed–and one way I’m going to do that is to whip up a batch of this incredible cucumber ginger elixir that I discovered in Napa at Trefethen Vineyards. 

Post-5k race at this lovely winery, the gracious Trefethen family hosted us runners, serving both some of their incredible wine and this delicious elixir (courtesy of chef Chris Aiken).

Making ginger syrup may seem a bit tedious, but the results are soo worth it!

CUCUMBER GINGER ELIXIR

1/2 cup cucumber juice

1 Tbsp ginger syrup

1 Tbsp lime juice

1 cup ginger ale

2 mint leaves, torn

For the cucumber juice: Peel and puree or blend 2 English cucumbers.

For the ginger syrup: Place equal parts sugar and water in a saucepan. Add 1 Tbsp of peeled and roughly cut ginger. Warm until sugar is dissolved. Let steep for 10 minutes. Remove ginger chunks. Cool

Assembly: In a mixing bowl or medium-sized pitcher, combine all of the ingredients. Whisk or stir until well incorporated. Serve over ice and garnish with a slice of cucumber, mint leaf, or lime, if desired. 

Makes 4 pint-sized servings.

3 Comments June 18, 2010