Summer Fridays, Vol. 5.
I can’t believe we’re into week five of summer fridays! Here’s what’s on the agenda for the end of June.
EATING
There is no doubt that both the veggie burgers and smash burgers will be making an appearance on our weekend menu! I’d also suggest the hot bacon caprese salad and these grilled veggies with avocado whipped feta! And if you’ll be poolside? Here is my favorite pool party snack mix.
SIPPING
On this rosé sangria. It will probably always be my first choice! And for breakfast purposes, these iced raspberry lattes. Perfect.
BAKING
Or should I say… not baking? This red white and blue no-bake cheesecake star tart is super fun to make! Also: blueberry slab pie. Just do it.
SHARING
For our menu planning service Sweet Peas Meals, we’ve created our favorite summer essentials recipe guide! This is packed with THEEEE best (not so) basic recipes you need for your summer parties. From top to bottom! Nothing too wild – things that everyone will love. And it’s totally FREE! You can access it right here.
READING
So to follow up on last week, I did find The Last Mrs Parrish semi-interesting at the end. It got good and I stayed up until 2AM finishing it because it sucked me in. Overall though, I’d probably only give it two stars. I’m now into The Perfect Couple and… I hate to say this but I’m kind of finding it a little difficult to follow. That might be because by the time I get to it at night, it’s super late and I’m so tired. But I’m hoping to finish it this weekend and start Emily Giffin’s new one! What are you reading right now? If you need a refresher, here’s my 2018 summer reading list!
PARTYING
With the 4th of July falling on a Wednesday, when the heck are you celebrating?! This weekend? Next weekend? Are you being a rebel and actually celebrating on Wednesday even though it’s a #schoolnight? I feel like we’re in a weird place with traditions right now. Traditions are changing in my family and I don’t like it but I also love it. On top of that, I have some WEIRDO pressure about the 4th of July! I am never that person – I couldn’t care less about New Years or similar holidays, don’t ever build up expectations for the day, but next week for some reason, I have high expectations. We’ve always done really fun things on the 4th of July and I don’t want it to fall short. Aside from the universe ruining it since it’s on WEDNESDAY.
LISTENING
4th of July party playlist is HERE! I might be blasting it for the next ten days.
WEARING
Last year for Christmas, my brother got me a pink shep shirt from Vineyard Vines and it’s pretty much my most favorite thing ever. I then bought a blue one and every time I have one of them on on insta stories, you guys ask about them. I’m obsessed with this striped version that just so happens to be very red, white and blue friendly. Also want to put Emilia in this cute one piece!
SHOPPING
As we gear up for some time at the beach (my next Pretty Dish signing is at Rehoboth Beach on July 8!), I’ve got a question for you. What do you use for babies (think Emilia, not Max) to shield them from the sun and sand? I’m talking umbrella, tent or canopy. We had a tent with Max and there is no way Lacy and I can set it up in a few weeks while watching the kids, plus it just gets SO hot in the tent. The umbrella doesn’t seem like enough though. And the canopy seems way too complicated and large for us to manage with both kids. I realize this is leaving me with no solution… ha. But I’m hoping you have an answer!
CREATING
The perfect office set up. Now that I’m home from the majority of my book tour, I want to design a great home office and desperately need inspiration since I can’t even decide on a photo to hang on our wall four years after moving in. In need of the perfect space!
ORGANIZING
My life! Not joking when I say I’ve left suitcases on my bedroom floor since March of this year with all the travel. I have a long list of things to clean out (closets! pantry! food styling props! garage!) but also want to settle into a (slight) schedule. I say slight because it’s summer and I don’t want a strict schedule. But! I’m still using the Passion Planner this year and I love the set up sooo much.
Let’s eat all the guac we can this weekend.
30 Comments on “Summer Fridays, Vol. 5.”
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I just finished reading the “Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo.” I thought that it was ok, but for some reason it just felt SO LONG. I didn’t really feel like I connected with the characters and not sure I even really liked any of them (except maybe Harry). Next on my list is “Before We Were Yours.”
oh man!! that was my favorite so far. i did love harry!
LL Bean has a sun buster folding beach tent that we love! It’s not cheap but one person can put it up in like 2 minutes- I’m not coordinated (at all) and I can do it- just try it once or twice in your yard first so you can see how it goes. It has a nice big floor, it stakes down, and you can roll parts of the sides down to let the breeze through. Have fun at the beach this summer!
going to look into that!! thanks!
In Rehoboth, you can only have an umbrella on the beach. Canopies and tents are illegal and they will ask you to take it down. When my girls were babies, we used an umbrella and just put a blanket under it. I bought one of those put things and it got hot and they hated it.
So, I guess that makes the answer easy??
I am so sad we won’t be there that week to see you! (Even though we already saw you in Pittsburgh.) Your kids are going to love the book store!!
I am about to start Perfect Couple. Now i am nervous.
OMG! thank you so much for that info. that solves my problem then, haha! xoxoxo
Makes it easy!!! Don’t over think taking a baby to the beach too much, I think I used to get myself all worked up and then it’s really pretty easy, really.
Here are the deets on the rule: https://www.cityofrehoboth.com/news/general/city-rehoboth-beach-adopts-new-rules-tents-beach
Loving these playlists! Happy Friday!
Search Sport Brella on Amazon. I think BBB has it too. I’m in Canada so my Amazon.com link was a little wonky lol. Worked great! Generous size and sheltered but still had airflow
Just wondering if anyone else had a problen with the link to Nordstrom. I tried to connect for a few of the beauty items listed on your Beauty Favorites post and the item appears but then the screen blanks. I noticed the same issue for a link for Nordstrom on the Two Peas and Their Pod site. Is something up with the way Nordstrom links from blog sites or is it my computer doing something odd?? Any ideas??
Great book suggestions! I’m currently reading The Favorite Sister by Jessica Knoll. It’s very suspenseful!
I saw another commenter recommended SportBrella – which is what I was going to suggest. We got one last year and it’s great.
https://www.amazon.com/Sport-Brella-Super-Brella-Portable-All-Weather-Umbrella/dp/B002CLQ1Q2/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1530281442&sr=8-5&keywords=beach+sport+umbrella
Technically an umbrella, so maybe still ok at Rehoboth??
I have 3 little kids I take to the beach often and I highly recommend the Cool Cabana. It’s amazing and you can set it up by yourself.
Thank you for these Summer Friday posts! I gotta tell you that my summer with a 2.5 yo is (crazy and) lacking in inspiration and I look forward to this every Friday. Def making the snack mix and no-bake cheesecake for the 4th.
Much love, lady.
I love the pictures in this post! How did you take these? Also I listened to the Seven husbands of Evelyn Hugo and it was soooo good!
I go to that area every year in July. So bummed we go later in the month! Where are you staying – at a hotel that supplies chairs etc? Because the umbrellas they use are the thick heavy ones that are perfect for the kids. I would bring something the baby could sit or lay in under it or a blanket. If your bringing your own, look for one that is bigger and you will be fine. Bring a baby pool too. Put under the tent to leep them occupied and cool. I know that sounds crazy! But its so handy! Also if you ignore the timeline for each Perfect Couple chapter its easier to read :) once I stopped I wasn’t so confused trying to figure out where they hell they were. Emily’s book is fabulous and so relevant these days.
I really want to make the veggie burgers once I’m home from my MONTH LONG vacation.. we leave Sunday and I’m so excited but also so overwhelmed with packing. (I’m also still rolling my eyes at how many people complained it was vegan!)
I’m currently reading the Silent Wife and loving it… it’s just starting to pick up and I can’t put it down.
I grew up going to Bethany Beach (right down the road from Rehoboth) and while I don’t have kids I would think, besides the umbrella, to time your stay to limit sun exposure (go later either early morning and leave by lunch or late afternoon and leave around dinner)
I just finished “Song of A Captive Bird”. COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN! Haven’t found a book that sucked me in like that in months!
I have this – Wakeman Portable Canopy Umbrella Sun Shelter https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07DWSW4LF/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_OZMnBbDDAPA1E
It’s like an umbrella/canopy/tent hybrid! It’s super easy to setup and not too heavy to carry.
xl Sportbrella. should still be able to use it as it’s an umbrella!
I just finished The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo on your recommendation! I tore through it and really enjoyed it. Perfect beach read.
Right now I’m finishing The Identicals by Elin Hilderbrand (I’m a summer behind with her books. LOL!) I like it! Next I’m going to read When Life Gives You Lululemons. I love your playlist! Thank you! I also bought a bottle of rose to make the sangria. Finally! Thank you for sharing the Passion Planner and the Shep shirts. (All I could think of was Shep from Southern Charm!) Enjoy your 4th!!
I’m glad I’m not the only one who can’t hang pictures despite living in my house for years!
Followed your link to the Passion Planner and found a 2018 planner for $1! Now is the perfect time for me to try it and see if it works for my brain. If I don’t like it, it’s no big loss!
The woman in cabin 10 by Ruth Ware is really good if you like thrillers. It’s a little older, but I felt like it had an ending where I was stuck to my seat.
Looks like your question was answered about umbrella/tent/canopy for your upcoming trip, but if you have another beach stop elsewhere and need some baby shade, check this one out: https://www.amazon.com/Pacific-Breeze-Easy-Beach-Tent/dp/B00RQQRTSM/ref=sr_1_4?s=outdoor-recreation&ie=UTF8&qid=1530414328&sr=1-4&keywords=beach+tent
We used it on the Washington coast last summer with our 13 month old and it was SO WINDY and it totally survived and blocked the wind and the sun.
Thanks for the playlist!! Makes a Monday morning at work kind of festive.
Such a great webpage..!!!