Root Beer Floats {and a birthday tradition}

Root Beer.

I asked a simple question to the other B in my life earlier this week.  I wasn’t quite expecting her response.  “How do you feel about Root Beer?”  Hands to the face, audible OMGosh, I LOOOVE Root Beer…YES! omg, omg, omg.

Check!  This girl is crazy for root beer.  I had a plan of how to celebrate my dear friend’s birthday.  Until that moment.

It’s fairly well documented that Bethany and I are ‘eating right and exercising.’  We are NOT on a diet.  Bad word.  My work B-ff.  My Healthy Choices buddy.  My #2015in2015 partner.

My, my, my.  It feels like it’s all about me, but I’m not finished.  She’s my voice of reason/devil’s advocate at the office.  My reason to rally when she needs support.  My go-to pep talk girl.  My I’ll eat cake if you will.  My, I’m climbing the mountain, are you in kind of friend.  She’ll call me out ever so gently (go to the doctor….I’ll make the appointment) and she’ll stand quietly by my side when needed.  I can only hope I’ve been half of the friend she’s been to me.

Over the years I’ve made some special treats to share with her on her birthday.

There was the year I made her favorite, Sweet Tamale Corn Cakes {Cheesecake Factory inspired} and presented them at the office on her birthday.  She gave me a great big hug of approval. A sentimental delivery.

Then came the year I delivered Chocolate Dipped Peanut Butter Cup Stuffed Oreos as her birthday cake.  She was quite okay with that.  Hee!!

I can’t recall the exact moment, but sometime earlier last year, undoubtedly while discussing food, out of the blue she said “Hummingbird Cake.”  Can you make me a Hummingbird Cake?  I had never heard of Hummingbird Cake, but wrote it on a piece of paper and filed it in my ‘recipes to try’ folder.  Didn’t think of it again until the week before her birthday.

Presenting Hummingbird Cake.  Aren’t we glad to have discovered this classic recipe.

Over the years, we’ve clearly established some birthday traditions.  Over the past few weeks, she and I have been drooling over Pinterest extreme chocolate peanut butter s’mores bars, coconut (think Almond Joy) brownies, decadent cookies….  Yet, thanks to our WW spiritual leader Sissy….we pulled back and rationalized.

Instead of decadent over the top, today I presented Root Beer two ways.

I asked the initial “Root Beer” question because See’s Lollypops are her favorite and they come in lots of flavors.  I quickly learned that these aren’t your everyday Lollypops.  See’s lollypops hail from LA and have a bit of an exclusive persona. Yep, not available in retail stores in Georgia, at least not on September 18th (they make holiday appearances in malls).

I did a bit of internet research in an effort to procure enough pops to create a Lollypop Tree.  Because who doesn’t want a Lollypop Tree, color coordinated with their office, sitting on their desk, on their birthday?!!

What a fun gift this was to make and present.  I spray painted an inexpensive clay flower pot and Styrofoam ball.  Then pushed the pops through squares of tissue paper and into the Styrofoam ball.  A little ribbon and voila!!

I had one more Root Beer surprise for B.  In lieu of a traditional birthday cake (or even non-traditional cake) we celebrated with Root Beer Floats all-around.  We had a sugar free (2 WW Pts+) and a regular option.  They were deliciously fun!!

~ Root Beer Floats ~

1 bottle favorite Root Beer, diet or regular
1/2 cup or more vanilla ice cream, sugar free or regular

Add ice cream to chilled mugs.
Pour in root beer and be prepared for a foamy overflow.
Sip with straw, eat with spoon.
Enjoy!!

Happy Birthday Bethany!!  Hope your day was as beautiful as you are.
xo Libby