Tag Archives: summer

Tuesday Shoesday – Flats or Sandals?

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Flats are storming spring and summer by rage this year and I have to say – I am loving this trend.  As the summer months get hotter, it may be tough motivation to slip your sweaty soles into a less than breezy flat.  No need to fuss though, Dolce Vita has compromised for you.

DV by Dolce Vita 'Zen' Sandal

DV by Dolce Vita ‘Zen’ Sandal can be found at Nordstrom.com – currently on sale for $52.89

The “Zen” sandal-flat will be super cute all summer long and will give your toes the fresh air they crave.  Available in Black, Cognac, Sea Blue and White.  I went for the Cognac to be sure they will go with almost anything, but I’m tempted to dive in with the Sea Blue as well…

xoxo

-S

Homemade Ice Cream Sandwiches

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Last week S and I were tasked with providing dessert for a “Meet New Baby” party. We started brainstorming ideas and decided on homemade ice cream sandwiches. Given the temperatures last week in this area (90 plus) transportation was a little difficult for these babies, so if it is going to be hot I would suggest serving these for a party that does not require moving them from freezer to freezer.  Melting and re-freezing aside, I loved them. We made 3 types all in mini form: chocolate chip cookie/coffee ice cream, funfetti cookie/vanilla ice cream, and pineapple cookie/pineapple coconut ice cream. I missed my chance to snap a photo of the pineapple ones but I did manage to capture the other two flavors.

I used this recipe for the Funfetti Cookies, and they turned out fantastic. Once the cookies cool, place a small scoop of ice cream and sandwich, we rolled the edge in sprinkles like a tire for a bit more detail.

I consulted All Recipes for the Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe, and swapped mini chips for normal ones since we were shrinking the size, I also skipped the nuts.

Other flavors we considered making – peanut butter cookie/strawberry ice cream, ginger cookie/peach ice cream, sugar cookie/lemon sorbet. My mouth is watering thinking of the endless possibilities. Summer isn’t over yet!

xx

-h

Lavender Mint Lemon Bars

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Lemon bars are by far my favorite dessert ever. My mom received this recipe from her grandmother, Ri, who was an excellent cook. The interesting part about these is that because you use 4 eggs in the lemon part, they develop a custard like crust that has this amazing flaky texture to it. Although this recipe needs no adaptations I decided to incorporate the lavender that is blooming like crazy in my yard right now and because when I passed the lavender, I saw the mint, I added that in too.

Lavender Mint Lemon Bars

Mix 2 cups flour, 1/2 cup confectioners sugar together and cut in 1 cup butter. Press into 9×13 pan and bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes. I usually do about 17.

While that is baking:

In a food processor or blender – 2 cups granulated sugar, 3-4 teaspoons lavender buds, and 5-6 sprigs of mint. Let ‘er rip until the lavender buds have broken apart. It will smell glorious.

Mix 4 beaten eggs, the sugar you just processed, 1/3 cup lemon juice, 1/4 cup flour and 1/2 teaspoon baking powder using an electric mixer.

Pour this over the baked crust and cook for an additional 25 minutes at 350. Sprinkle with powdered sugar before serving if you like. I usually find that unnecessary though.

Enjoy!

xx

-h

Bucket List

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This past weekend was “Back 2 Bellingham” or alumni weekend at Western.  With the sun shining and activities going on all over campus I started feeling pretty sentimental about graduating.  Okay…I’ve been feeling sentimental all quarter, but having the count to graduation slowly shift from months to weeks to days has really given me a shake.  The anxiety and concern that I didn’t do everything I should have before leaving college is increasing, so I have decided to create a bucket list to be completed before June 9th graduation.  So far it is rather short, but I’m looking for help.

1. Swim in the Red Square fountain

2. Climb Oyster Dome

3. Run Lake Padden

4. Watch the sunrise

I am asking Western or Non-Western students and graduates: What should I do before leaving?  What did you wish you would have done before leaving?

xoxo

-S

Oh wonderful Caprese Salad….

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If there is anything I am more obsessed with right now then stripes (I’ve been trying to tone it down, but ever since I was introduced to Pinterest, I had to make a whole stripes board) it is the caprese salad!  The caprese is the perfect summer snack or meal.

So let’s talk… tomato, we’re at the tail end of regular tomato season here in Utah.  It is short lived in these parts, first they come from the southern part of the state, and then from the northern part, and then they are done.  That is…until it’s heirloom tomato time!!! So, for your caprese, take your thick tomato slice, OR if you want to do a cute app, your plump little cherry tomato.

So you have your tomato, and then you take some mozzerella… big thick slices OR your ball of cheese.

Then you take your basil, mmm basil, and top it on your big think slices OR skewer it with your cherry tomato and ball of cheese.

Drizzle with a little olive oil, a little balsamic, a little salt and pepper…as S would say “muy deliciouso!”

Via Pinterest - http://terristable.blogspot.com/

Via Pinterest - http://terristable.blogspot.com/

But don’t stop at eating this for just an appetizer, I like to pair it with an over-medium egg for breakfast. (Is there anything better then an ooey-gooey egg yolk?)

photo: hh

Or for lunch or dinner, throw it onto some Italian bread and make it a sandwich or panini!  Anyway, hit up your local farmer’s market, grab some tomatoes and basil and if they have it mozzerella, and commit to a wonderfully delicious, fresh, and local appetizer or meal on these hot August days.

-h

Embracing the pale

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What is going to be extra wonderful this summer? Being pale.  I’ll admit, I looove the sun, I could lay out for hours reading a book, listening to music, or watching the kids run around at the pool.  It’s been engraved into our heads that the dangers of skin cancer are accessible to everyone.  Even more accessible when you live at 7,000 feet in the high desert.  And, I will fully admit that I’ve spent my fair share of time in the tanning bed and days in a row on the lake wearing nothing but my swimmie and SPF 8.  (awww lake!)

photo: hh

But, this summer, when I am laying out, I will be wearing SPF 30, or maybe even 50!  The wrinkles that I’m seeing develop not only on my face, but also on my hands will come.  I understand this.  However, if I can take steps to slow those wrinkles from arriving, by golly miss molly, I will.  If you aren’t ready to embrace the wonderful pale, I also understand this.  In the mean time, I’ll be slathering up with Neutrogena’s Ultra Sheer sunscreen in at least 30 on my face and hands or Banana Boat’s Ultra Defense on the rest of my bikini bod.

photo: Neutrogena

photo: banana boat/stockngo

Whatever you’re choice, be wonderful.

-h