The 4th & Summer

We had a low-key 4th weekend here - a few cocktails (yay for fresh mint mojitos and juleps), grilling out, fireworks and a whole lot of humid weather! I bought 2 of those pre-made pizza crusts (so easy) and Friday night sauteed fresh shrimp and had a garlic/shrimp/basil pizza. Oh yum! Then Sunday, I made pesto and layered it with a few chopped tomatoes and mozz - again yum. I love being able to just throw on some toppings, bake and dinner is prepared!

Onto fun summer reading & tv-watching!

I read "Savannah Breeze" a few weeks ago and loved it, and I was excited to read her latest. The basic premise is a contest between two Food Network wannabe cooks, Southern style. I loved her descriptions of Southern cooking and the places. The relationships were cute. Just an overall fun read!
Ok, short story here. When Emily Giffin's first book, "Something Borrowed" came out, myself, my husband (then boyfriend), his sister and her friend were ALL riding together (in my car) to the Cape. And 18hr/2 day trip. God bless his heart (looking back now) for driving us through New Jersey and New York City (where we were all screaming at him and the traffic half the time). Anyway, sister thought it would be a great idea to read outloud from Giffin's book. Well, we all LOVED it. (Except for patient boyfriend, he would just get annoyed with the characters). I thought she articulated relationships and got inside the character's head. At the end of that trip, by the way, Husband decreed no mention of Sex and the City, cute or shopping in the car.

All that to say, this book does it again. And, I won't spoil it, but I was surprised by the ending, in a good way. She does a fantastic job of relating marriage and changing/learning who you become. Check plus, in my book!



Shoe Addicts is just a good old beach read - cute, funny and realistic characters. They have a great female relationship and you want to rally for each of them. Easy, fun read. Take it to the beach!
Summer Viewing. People, I have gotten hooked on QUITE a few shows this summer.

Speaking of - Bachelorette - did anyone guess she would pick Jesse???? I totally did not, but I guess opposites attract?? What did you think?

Next Food Network Star - I love cooking, love the food network and I love watching this show (I was addicted to it last summer - along with Top Chef!) My favorite front runner now is, crap, I can't think of her name but Katie Holmes Bob girl. I love her style and I've spotted her wearing a few J.Crew things!

Ok, this is my new, complete tv trash show - Tori and Dean. I can't help it! I like them! I feel for them and I think their baby is cute! (can't condone how they got together, leaving their marriages and all) But I feel like they are in the zone of semi-normal!



I'm also watching:

So You Think You Can Dance

and I CANNOT wait for Real Housewives of ATL and the new Project Runway.

Well, there you have my intellectual stimulation for the summer!

Have a good one!