In a household of boring old still water drinkers (one doesn't consume alcohol and one avoids sparkling waters), it can be a real challenge to come up with special drinks. Fancying up our ice water with simple add-ins goes over best, allowing us to stick to our plain water ways while getting a little wild (well, relatively speaking):
Here are a few add-ins that dress up summer's best hydrator: water.
• 1 Limes: Lemons are the norm, but limes are sublime. Simply add a few limes slices to your next pitcher of ice water, along with the freshly-squeezed juice of one lime.
• 2 Mint: Muddle a little mint in the bottom of your glass or pitcher before adding lots of ice and clear, fresh water.
• 3 Oranges and Basil: Sliced oranges and basil leaves make a light, citrus-and-herb infused drink. Add a few basil leaves for garnish on each glass for a nice touch.
• 4 Cucumber: That's it. Just sliced cucumber. They're crisp and cool as - well, you know - making the water seem even more cool and refreshing.
• 5 Strawberries and Kiwi: This favorite combination is sweeter than the citrus fruits mentioned above. Kiwi slices and strawberry halves make for a pretty drink, too.
Related: How Much Water Do You Drink Every Day?
(Images: Flickr members ktylerconk, anthonycramp, D Sharon Pruitt and saragoldsmith licensed for use under Creative Commons; Elizabeth Passarella/The Kitchn, Real Homemaking)
5 Things Paris Taught Me About Travel
Recipe: Ham, Cheddar & Chive Egg Bakes
Good Food to Share 
The Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces 
Apartment Therapy Presents 
The Eight-Step Home Cure 
Bacsac Bacsquare 04...
Dirty Little Secrets of Tidy Families
Emi & Nathan's Natural History
Mint and orange together.
I love mint and cucumber together, I seem to drink a lot more water that way. This combo is so refreshing!
Mmmm mint and cucumber sounds divine!
Meyer lemon, yum yum yum.
I was once served water from a pitcher with ice and granny smith slices. It was excellent! Haven't gotten around to trying it myself (why?).
I buy bottles of pure, unsweetened cranberry juice and add a splash to my glass of water to create a drink that is not quite water anymore but not a juice either.
Stawberries & Mint, and Orange & Rosemary.
OK, is someone at The Kitchn expecting?! :) I'm very early on and have just gotten to the blood orange juice-and-seltzer stage, and was thrilled nearly to (hormonal) tears to see three whole posts on fancy drinks I can still have. Orange and basil water in my near future. Thank you so so much!
I had some pandan infused ice water at Pok Pok in Portland. It was nutty and ricey and sooo delicious. I can't wait to try making it myself.
I work at a hotel and the employee lunch room serves water infused with strawberries and cucumber. It's quite refreshing and delicious.
I have excellent memories of mint water from a day of sacred harp singing. We were over a hundred people in a tiny rural church with no electricity on a 90 degree day. Every hour we took a break from singing, and under a tree outside there were two sports-team sized coolers full of well water and about a bushel of homegrown mint. I've never had anything more refreshing.
i'm thrilled to find this post! i'm an athlete and have a hard time getting in all the plain ol' water i need, but so many of these ideas sound wonderful. headed to the market to buy cukes and a mint plant asap....