Hello hello, and welcome to Episode 93 of Life On the Brink!
Like no other season, summer just screams fun! There’s a universal expectation to enjoy, be it the weather, the produce, or the surplus of time, and I’m here for it. Let’s lean into that summer fun a little and talk favorites. Today I’m simply sharing some items from my closet, pantry, home and routines that have really shone this summer!
What’s in my teacup? An iced cold brew with almond milk
MY CURRENT SUMMER FAVORITES
1. KITCHEN:
Homemade frozen treats.
I’ve found that using a food processor, rather than a blender, allows me to get a soft-serve consistency out of frozen fruit. My favorite combos this summer are:
-frozen honeydew + chilled green tea
-frozen bananas and cherries + 1 tbsp cocoa powder + almond milk
-frozen pineapple and banana + almond milk, topped with shredded coconut and honey
Also, this summer my sister Sarah has developed a delicious frozen watermelon cocktail. It’s not a strict recipe, but she gave me the basic outline. These ratios would make 3-4 drinks (depending on how big you want it!). Seriously, something about the watermelon makes the texture so similar to the frozen slushy margaritas from mexican restaurants that I love so much.
-a lot of frozen watermelon cubes (about ⅔ to ¾ of the blender)
-juice of 4 limes
-4 shots of tequila
-Diet Ocean Spray cranpineapple (until desired consistency)
-sweeter, to taste
Crunchy snacks.
Savory, crunch things have been my go-to, either with dip or solo. Usually from Trader Joe’s. I’ve been enjoying freeze-dried peas and okra, seaweed strips, and don’t even get me started on plantain chips.
Sparkling water.
Josh has discovered a great love for sparkling water, so we’ve been tasting around over the summer. My favorite so far has to be La Croix Limoncello (it tastes like lemon cake and I LOVE adding a little bit of pineapple juice).
Homemade iced lattes.
Namely cold brew and matcha lattes made with almond milk. It’s that time of year when I have the potential to spend a lot of money at Starbucks, so instead I’ve been making simple iced lattes at home. Frothing the milk takes it to the next level!
2. PERSONAL
Crochet accents.
I’ve found that big-time crocheting is more of a cold-weather activity for me, but these little summery projects are quick and adorable.
-bandanna (I made mine with white cotton yarn)
-market bag (I take him to the store at least every week)
-heart bookmark (makes a cute quick gift too!)
A simple, versatile button-down. I love layers, and in the summer a simple button-down is a cool alternative to a cardigan. I have one in navy and one in white and wear them either buttoned up with jeans, as a cooler alternative to a cardigan, or as a swimsuit coverup.
One piece outfits. I love the time of year when I can wear only one piece of clothing. Just a dress or a romper and THAT’S IT. This year I added this jumpsuit into my summer wardrobe and I wear it all the time. It’s loose and flowy, but still stylish and flattering to my frame.
Summer scents.
-Personally, this has been in the form of the fragrance “At the Beach” by Bath and Body Works. I have one of the fine fragrance mists in this scent and will lightly mist all over when I get out of the shower. An added bonus: when Josh and I went to Hawaii in 2021 our hotel had bath products in this fragrance, so now I have a bit of a tropical scent memory every time I use it!
-I've also been loving St. Ives body wash in Tea Tree and Lemongrass. To me it smells like fresh basil.
3. HOME/ROUTINE
Slow mornings. So much of my daily structure has gone out the window this summer, but I'm leaning into it a little bit. Some months of the year are so packed and stressful, so I'm letting June and July be very slow and go-with-the-flow. I've been enjoying both reading in the morning (in bed, what a luxury!), and hanging out with friends or family during the early morning. It's a definite change of pace, but one that has brought much joy for this summer season.
Patio Love. The back deck and yard are a large part of why I fell in love with this house, so I have been making the most of that space this summer. I invested in a small outdoor dining set for 4 (for dining al fresco, so lovely), as well as a patio umbrella and rug. That and a blooming sunflower plant have made it quite the outdoor oasis (when it's not 100 degrees). I encourage you to just give a little love to whatever outdoor space you may have.
Harvesting from the garden.
-I have achieved the level of "lady who has tomatoes lined up on her windowsill," and I’ve made bruschetta several times already with fresh tomatoes, garlic, basil and olive oil.
-I love harvesting and cooking with fresh herbs, and am about to get into my herb-drying routine for winter.
-Coming up this week: I'll be making fresh habanero margaritas!
This Week’s Little Joy: I spend the 4th of July with Josh's family in Virginia Beach, and it was wonderful. We actually spent the previous night there, so we awoke on the 4th to a family breakfast before heading to a nearby Coast Guard base to head out on the boat. I'm officially a boat girlie now, and so enjoyed exploring local landmarks that I know so well, but from the water! I spent most of my time with my feet up in the back of the boat and had a glorious time.
What I’m Listening To: This album is pure FUN. It's “El Rey Bravo” by Tito Puente, the Puerto Rican composer of Latin jazz and mambo. Track 2 is by far the most recognizable, but every single track is great for when you need to get up and move!
Thank you so much for listening! Feel free to leave a comment, or head to Apple Podcasts to leave a star rating or review. If you have any suggestions for future episodes, send an email in the contact form on this site. I’d love to hear from you, and I'll be back in two weeks!