coconut treats + piña colada!

I’ve loved the smell of coconut since the moment I experienced tropical sunscreen as a wee sun lover on the warm sand of Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. In the winter, I love to recreate this bliss with a few of my favorite tropical products. When I can’t have hot weather, this is my go-to cure for the winter blues to bring to mind sunny beaches and summer heat. I’ve also included a piña colada recipe for you for a total tropical experience!

part 1 ♥ scrumptious coconut treats!

This super decadent shampoo will transport you to the islands immediately. It’s rich and nourishing and perfect for my super thick, color treated hair. The smell is so delish you might be tempted to have a taste. Find it here. [Sign up for the email when prompted – they often send out lovely free shipping, samples + bonuses.] Also now sold at Sephora.

This salt scrub has a subtle coconut scent and is absolutely perfect for exfoliating the skin in prep for sunless tanning. It leaves my skin super soft and I love that it’s oil free so the floor of the shower doesn’t get slippery. Find it here.

This is my favorite foot creme ever. It’s a super thick scrumptious gel that is bursting with a fresh coconut scent. I love to apply this on my dry winter feet and cover with socks and let it sink in for a couple hours or overnight. It’s also perfect when you’re running out with strappy heels in the summer and you need a super quick burst of moisture on toes or any dry skin. Find it here or at your local drugstore.

This is literally crème brûlée for the bod. It’s rich, decadent, and has the most amazing tropical scent you will ever experience. And it’s whipped. And … it makes your skin glow. Seriously. You will die of joy. Find it here.

♥ ♥ ♥

part 2 ♥ piña colada!

Complete your tropical winter paradise with a frothy piña colada! I found this classic recipe and altered it a bit. I am not a fan of super icy drinks, so I used frozen pineapple chunks in place of the ice. It turned out like a thick piña colada milkshake. It was delish. I also love the addition of dark rum to sass it up a bit. [The pineapple garnish in the photo is actually a vodka-soaked pineapple, so it may look funny. Will revisit this tidbit hopefully later in 2012!]

thick + delish piña colada milkshake:
♥ 1 ounce malibu coconut rum
♥ 1 ounce myer’s dark rum
♥ 3 ounces cream of coconut
♥ 1/2 cup frozen pineapple chunks
♥ slice of pineapple for garnish

Add all to blender and puree until smooth. Pour into a glass and garnish with pineapple. Enjoy!

Variations:
♥ Add 3-4 oz orange, mango or pineapple juice for a slightly less milkshakey consistency.
♥ Substitute half of the pineapple chunks for 1/3 cup crushed ice + add a few oz of fruit juice.
♥ Use all white rum for a milder flavor. [The dark rum I used contributed to the slightly cream color of the cocktail above, but gives it an extra flavor punch!]

Have a fabulous + tropical winter weekend!