Summer Reading

Hello there!  What are you reading this summer?  As a faithful library-goer I have a looooong list of books in my queue, but as all library fans know, it's a crap shoot as to when your book will actually come in!  On my list there are some decent wait times but plenty of others where I'm like the 200th or even 1000th in line.  So, while I'm waiting around...I'd love hearing what you're reading this summer!

On my summer reading list:

+ The Female Persuasion by Meg Wollitzer (I enjoyed her other book, The Interestings)

+ Am American Marriage by Tayari Jones

+ The Summer Wives by Beatriz Williams

+ The Boat People by Sharon Bala

+ The Ensemble by Aja Gabel

+ Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

And here's a few I've recently read and enjoyed.  

+ The Queen of Hearts (reminiscent of Greys Anatomy)

+ Still Me (3rd in the Me Before You series)

+ I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter (YA novel)

+ Emergency Contact (YA novel)

What are you reading this summer? Please...do tell!!

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Quote of the Week

"Summer is always the best of what might be."

- Charles Bowden

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Salad Savvy: Peach and Roasted Vegetable Salad

Thanks Ashlee for this recipe hook up!  I made this recipe as a side to accompany this equally delicious entree for a few friends that came over for dinner last week.  I opted for quinoa as my grain of choice, but I could see this salad holding up a few more days with cous cous or farro or a sturdier grain.  The peach adds a sweet, summery kick that was delectable!

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School's Out For Summer!

Today is officially my first day of summer vacation…and it's wonderful!  The sun is shining, the sky is bright blue dotted with fluffy white clouds, and I get to spend all day with my baby (on repeat).  Cue the happy song!

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School's Out For Summer

Cue the music....SCHOOL'S OUT FOR SUMMER!!

SCHOOL'S OUT FOREVER! Well, not quite, but...a while!  Technically, school is out until JANUARY for me, thanks to maternity leave and FMLA!

It was strange packing up my classroom yesterday and today, thinking about the fact that I won't be starting the next school year with my class, instead I'll be picking up this new group mid-year.  At the same time, I'm incredibly excited for the opportunity to be home with our little girl comes at the end of summer. 

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One More Month

School is out in less than one month!  Phew, I feel like the summer snuck up on me.  With our Ireland trip on the horizon and the promise of long sunny days just a few weeks away, I'd say I'm pretty excited for summer!  

I'm a compulsive list maker, so with a new season about to dawn he's my summer to-do list.

+ break out my new sewing machine (and use it!)

+ try out some new hikes in the area

+ wine tasting 

+ outdoor movie night

+ start at least 1 DIY project I've pinned on pinterest

What's on your agenda for the summertime?  Any big goals, plans, projects you've got on the list?

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Beach Day

Weekend recap: Saturday was a gorgeous day in the neighborhood. Up until Saturday, the weather here in Seattle had been ho hum. It's been mostly overcast and a bit chilly, which normally isn't so bad... except when it's supposed to be SUMMER, and we know sunshine does bring lifted spirits!

But Saturday was AMAZING! It was 75-80 degrees, endless blue sky, and uninterrupted sunshine. Utter and total gloriousness! Since the weather was so generous, we decided to make the best of it. 10 friends, fiance, and I headed to the beach where we indulged in a lazy afternoon of magazine reading, cocktail sipping, cornhole playing, and just plain bathing in the sun. It was perfection!

After the sun started to lower in the sky, and the persnickety barbecue didn't want to stay lit due to the increasing wind, we decided to move our beach camp to our house since. It proved to be the perfect destination as we have a functioning grill and live just a short distance from the beach. Fiance and I headed home first in a vain attempt to "clean" house before everyone descended; bring all sorts of grilled goodness; roasted peppers, portabella mushrooms, lamb burgers, corn on the cob, all in all we had ourselves a little grill feast and had a time!

image/Katie Neal Photo / Stylists and Design: Sweet Emilia Jane & Sitting in a Tree

First Day of Summer!

Today is the first day of summer...are you out celebrating?

I awoke to gorgeous sunshine streaming through my windows and a perky 75-degree day. Always a great way to kick off my favorite season.

What are your summer plans?

Juneuary

Can you believe it's June already?? This year is flying by! Maybe it's because I'm planning in the midst of planning my wedding, or perhaps it's just part of getting older, but I cannot believe how incredibly fast 2011 is zooming by.

As the rain pitter-patters outside and the gray sky looms overhead, I find myself wishing our June in Seattle looked a little more June-like. I've even heard the term "Juneuary," thrown around because our June is awfully reminiscent of the gray, overcast cold of winter (alright, well not quite January cold, but still). I know I really shouldn't complain, I've just indulging the Seattle 365-days-of-rain stereotype, since that's all people ever seem to say about Seattle, but wishing for some consistent blue skies and sunshine to grace our emerald city soon...

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Sweet Summertime

I've been a total blog slacker this week. I always feel like I'm letting readers down when I take a day off posting, probably because I get texts from my fiance or mom like "why no blog today?!" I've been a busy little bee these past few days trying to get back up to speed after being sick most of last week.

Did you know there is only 1 month left of school?? My students are squirmy and wriggly, and eagerly awaiting their summer freedom - which means they've been incredibly focused all week...RIGHT... can you feel my sarcasm? As the school year is drawing to a close I'm trying to think about projects and goals for the summer.

Here goes...

• try paddleboarding (Nicole of La Mia Via has been posting about her adventures in paddleboarding, and I'm eager to try myself!)
• continue my Seattle restaurant challenge - especially scoping out new digs with balconies for those sweet sunny days!
• use all my groupons / living social deals before they expire!
• try and get a pre-wedding tan (my Irish/Czech skin is more prone to sunburn than anything else)
• learn how to make a lemon meringue pie from my grandma

What're you looking forward to this summer??

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Skewer du Jour

Don't these look delicious? I can't wait to make these myself - Raspberry, Mint, and Mozzerella skewers. The perfect summertime treat for a summer BBQ.

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via destinedtodesign

Watermelon Pie

The weather has been hot, Hot, HOT here in Seattle, and it's been amazing considering our chilly Spring. With the shift of warm weather, people are out and about, basking in the sunshine, pulling out the shades & sunscreen, and eating more ice cream. Doesn't this watermelon pie look like a fun warm weather dessert? A little creativity and a little sherbet can go a long way!

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Sorbet Pie

My Cooking Light came yesterday, packed with recipes for summer entertaining. On that popped out at me as being especially delightful and intriguing in the splendor of sorbet article was - sorbet pie. I'm a fool for ice cream of any sort; the real stuff, gelato, and of course, fresh fruit-laden sorbet. I searched endlessly for a photo but came up short. In lieu I'll include CL's how-to-make directions.

Make Sorbet Pies:
Spread slightly softened sorbet into a cookie-crumb or graham cracker piecrust; freeze until firm, then top with a thin layer of meringue or whipped topping. Fill a chocolate crust with strawberry sorbet, or use lemon sorbet in a gingersnap crust. Sprinkle the top with fresh berries or chocolate shavings.

I'm definitely going to try making one of these this summer!

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Summer Reading

I'm always on the prowl for a new book. While in Europe, I we had lots of down time for reading, mostly on train rides between destinations.

These are the books I read this summer on my trip that I'd recommend...The newest novel, Shanghai Girls by Lisa See (author of the bestseller Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, also good)

The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein
I LOVED this book, written from the perspective of a dog reflecting back on his years with a family, this book is heartfelt, and genuinely wonderful!

The Bastard of Istanbul by Elie Shafak
I'd never heard of this book before when I picked it up in a book shop in Rome, but was intrigued by the tag line "The Joy Luck Club of Turkey." An emotional, intricately woven book about a 2 families; a Turkish family from Istanbul and an Armenian family from San Francisco and the history that ties them together.

Life of Pi by Yann Martel
I can't believe it took me so long to read this fabulous book! Amazing journey of survival!

Twenties Girl by Sophie Kinsiella
One of my favorite "beach read" authors, also of the Shopaholic series.
This book was light and fun, everything I wanted for the flight home.

I also managed to reread Angels & Demons and pick up a mystery my dad recommended, Wicked Prey, but I'm still open for summer reading recommendations for the month of August before I head back to school... Anyone? Anyone?

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Summer Sniffles

While it's no fun to have the sniffles in the summer, Kleenex has got you covered. Unveiling their "Perfect Slice of Summer" series for Target, having a case of the common cold will never be the same again.
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Candy Colored

Love this print, the candy colored Ferris wheel is perfection. This reminds me of a summer day at the fair. Makes me feel like I should be nibbling cotton candy and an elephant ear simultaneously, while wearing cutoff shorts in line for the roller coaster.

Note to self - remember...summer is just around the corner!

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Party in the Middle Of...

NOWHERE! What a fabulous idea by thought of and executed by Jordan of O Happy Day. This unorthodox but inventive birthday idea is certainly memorable. I can't think of anything more lovely than a warm summer evening on a remote San Francisco beach, overlooking the sea, stars, and sky with good food and good company.

Now I need to find a location to replicate this fabulous idea in my neck of the woods...

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Summer Turn Fall

It appears that fall is settling in. With the nights are growing shorter, dusk is descending quicker by the day. This is supposedly our last Seattle "summer" day...let's hope otherwise. So make the most of it, get out, splash around, and make it count!

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Labor Day Come & Gone

Labor Day weekend has come and gone. While most of my long weekend was spent arduously setting up my classroom and preparing for my students, I did manage to get outta town on Friday. I hightailed it over the mountains to the Gorge in George, Washington. We camped, enjoyed the 95 degree sun, ate & drank plenty, played a few rousing rounds of Catchphrase, and journeyed over to the concert for an evening of Dave Matthews on the hill. All in all - the perfect Labor Day weekend getaway.

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Camping!

Going camping with friends this weekend. Getting excited for night swimming, s'mores, and sleeping under the stars! Have a good one!

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