I don’t know about anyone else, but for me, I like to think of Memorial Day weekend as the kickoff to Summer. It’s usually when the PNW rain starts to say its goodbyes and the warm weather and sunshine makes its grand arrival. Here in Portland, this weekend is supposed to be a total scorcher (for PNW standards, anyways). One of my favorite things to do when the weather heats up is to relax outside with an ice cold drink in my hands. (either alcoholic or not, really depends on my mood) I thought I would round up some refreshing drink recipes for you all to try on this wonderful long weekend!

number one Pineapple Moscow Mule

Standard Moscow Mule’s take the cake for being one of my favorite drinks of all time, regardless of the season. I thought that this was a fun, Summery twist on a classic drink!

number two Mint Citrus Water

This is seriously THE EASIEST thing ever. If you’re tired and bored of just drinking regular water, spruce it up a bit by throwing in some lemon, lime, cucumbers and mint. Adding these ingredients not only makes your water taste better and more refreshing, but there are also a ton of added health benefits such as boosting metabolism and flushing toxins from the body.

number three Watermelon Margarita

Okay, when I think Summer, my brain automatically pairs that with watermelon. I truly can’t think of a more satisfying fruit for when it’s unbearably hot, so why not couple that up with some tequila, too? This is such a simple recipe and would be perfect to drink poolside.

number four Coconut Lavender Lemonade (non-alcoholic)

If there’s ever some sort of beverage that has lavender in it, SIGN ME UP. I’m a huge fan of lavender lattes, lavender soda and lavender tea. So when I saw this recipe for coconut lavender LEMONADE, I knew it was right up my alley.

number five White Sangria Sparkler

I think that one of the best parts about sangria is the process of making it. It’s so fun to chop up the fruit and just toss it in the pitcher (or glass). While I am typically a fan of traditional red sangria, white is definitely more tasty in warm weather. I love this recipe because it calls for sparkling water to make it bubbly.