Weekend Reads

Happy weekend! I can't wait to claim my extra hour of sleep tomorrow morning. This week was long but productive. I finally finished and mailed out the last of our wedding thank you cards, and we've slowly been making small changes to our apartment so that it's more like a home and less like a tight space where we just stack everything we own.  It's been an unbelievable relief to cross several things off of the to-do list, and not just because I love lists so very much.

Here are a few of my favorite links from the week if you're looking for some light reading.

• Between media coverage of horrific accidents, murder trials and Middle East war zones, it was heartwarming to read about these newlywed couples in Minnesota. Love is truly all you need.

• I'm in love with these hangers.

• These are the prettiest ice cubes that ever were.

• Kettle corn at home? Yes, please.

• Anthony and I watched Bill Cunningham New York and I'm convinced that if I ever saw Mr. Cunningham on the street in Manhattan taking photos, I would probably freak out in the best way possible.

• Later this week, I'm headed to the Berkshires for a short vacation with a friend. Any suggestions for us? Right now, I'm particularly excited about a visit to the Mount and stopping at the Furnace Brook Winery.

Have a wonderful weekend, dearies! xo

The Smushiness Factor

I'm not really on top of trends, food or otherwise, but every single day for the past two weeks, I have come across some awesome article or recipe for s'mores. Why is this makeshift camp dessert so popular right now? Since it's such a basic treat, it's pretty easy to throw in your own twists. No matter what, I think the real attraction is that melted chocolate with warm marshmallows always looks and tastes amazing.

For me, the smushiness of the s'more itself is really the essence of the dessert. The warm, gooey, slightly charred marshmallow enhances the flavors of both the graham crackers and milk chocolate.  Burnt sugar is truly the flavor of summer.

With no campfire in sight, I decided to make my own s'mores bars at home. I bravely turned on the oven in our hot apartment and had Anthony pick up a jar of Fluff. I'd never actually tasted Fluff before and it's much sweeter, and stickier, than I expected.  Our graham crackers were semi-stale but I crushed them up and used them anyway. The directions tell you to wait until completely cool to cut and eat, but seriously, how can you eat a cold s'more? That's a step to be ignored for sure.

The results weren't beautiful but these bars are still tasty.  I immediately thought that the pan looked like a Frankenstein dessert for some reason though. It reminded me of a cartoon mummy with the warm oozing Fluff popping through the cookie crust.  You can't tell me that you don't see it too.

However, this is the one variation that I keep coming back to:

Martha Stewart's Hazelnut S'mores recipe calls for grilled french bread as a base instead of cookies. It's like she has a window that looks straight into my heart.  And I bet the smushiness factor is off the charts. xo




Recipe adapted from Lovin' In the Oven; Hazelnut S'more recipe courtesy of Martha Stewart.

Your Nighttime Dose of Muppets

How can anyone look at these photos and not be happy? Muppets are so much like real people to me that I forget that there's actually a person crouching down with his arm up a furry puppet. And this, my dears, is your Tuesday night dose of Muppets. xo

Photos courtesy of Buzzfeed

Weekend Recap

This weekend was the antithesis of glamorous. We helped my grandfather in his garden, we got Dairy Queen, I cleaned and organized our kitchen cabinets. Anthony had a few friends over on Sunday so I went out to run errands solo. And for dinner, we grilled on our little balcony.  It was the calmest two days I think I've ever had.

I finally got my margarita, frozen and mango-flavored.

My grandfather has a killer garden this year.

There's actually an ear of corn in there, per my brother.

The jalapenos are spherical as they grow. I can't wait to taste them.

Below view of huge sunflowers.

Enjoying Dairy Queen on a hot summer night with the person that you love

 is what dreams are made of.

In case you were wondering, decent shish kabobs can be made on a mini camp grill.

Some of that zen carried over into today, although I'm sure the feeling will be fleeting. Also, I'm really craving s'mores and a round of mini golf. Let's try to do something about that soon. I hope you enjoyed your weekends. Happy Monday! xo

Weekend Reads

 

This week had that 'lazy summer' feel to it: long days, warm nights, an unquenchable thirst for slightly sour lemonade, and true lack of focus, at least for me.  

We don't have a pool or even a backyard, but as soon as summer hits, all I want to do is throw some kind of outdoor party. I want to make big bowls of fresh salsa and homemade guacamole and string up twinkle lights. Oh, and that blender we have but never use? I want that thing to be whizzing all night with slushy margaritas.

So my goal is to have a margarita this weekend, even if we don't make it ourselves. The rest of our plans include some furniture assembly, a little bit of grocery shopping and maybe a stop in my hometown at the annual Savin Rock Fest on the water. I also have this grand idea of making an official 'Summer' bulletin board list, although it might just be an excuse to use the blackboard paint I bought two years ago.  There's no shame in a healthy love of crafts.

I'm wishing lovely weekends for you all.  Here's a quick round-up of a few of my favorites reads from the week. Stay cool, dears! xo

• This fluffernutter ice cream actually makes me want to buy an ice cream machine.

•  While we're on the topic of ice cream, these Pop Tart ice cream sandwiches look incredible.

•  I love this Cup of Jo post all about cheese.

• Understated beauty is totally Woody Allen's thing. 

• This NPR story about Green Houses instead of nursing homes for the elderly really struck a chord in me.

• And finally, a new baby was born in England. Mazel mazel to William and Kate!

Beautiful photo above courtesy of Bits of Pretty blog

Daria, My Cartoon Hero

Do you remember the MTV show, Daria?  Nah nah nah nah naaaahhh...

I don't mind admitting that I watched way too much Daria while in high school and college. I still like to believe that if Daria was a real person, we'd be friends. I mean, I hate volleyball too, and I think Trent is ultra hot.  It's over a decade later and I'm still quoting the episode when they all go to the mega mall on a field trip (shrinkage and doodads, right?).

I just wish this trailer was real. A live-action movie of one of my favorite shows? Dream come true. In any event, Aubrey Plaza has mastered Daria's voice and it's super impressive. Now, excuse me. It's time for some Sick Sad World...

Via Bust 

Weekend Recap: Love and Marriage

I love weddings. Have I ever mentioned that? This weekend, Anthony and I attended our first wedding as a married couple and it was a lovely night of celebrating with friends, drinking champagne and dancing on a full dance floor.  The bride and groom were beautiful and just so in love.  I must say that it's so much easier to be carefree when it isn't your own wedding, and I know that from experience now.  I've never had such a wonderful time with my husband; I feel like I fall in love with him more and more every day, and Saturday night was no exception. 

And yes, I did cry. It's always the toasts that push me over.

The country club was sprawling; I had to resist the urge to walk around on the golf course. I also really wanted to lounge in one of these Adirondack chairs (did I mention it was hot outside?) but I thought it might be frowned upon since I was in a fancy dress at a very fancy place.  The men weren't even allowed to untuck their shirts, forget about undoing their ties. It was kind of a sweat fest.

But we totally rocked Table 12.  Oh, and we did a pretty good job at the sundae bar too. 

There's nothing better than a twirly, whirly summer wedding. xo