I’m headed to Florida to visit family for the holiday weekend. What are you up to?
One of my biggest blogging quirks is that I tend to be on the anti-social side. Okay, I’m a super homebody. I don’t go anywhere during the week and I ditch out of events early on the weekends.
And then I start to miss my blogging friends and want to meat (I’m keeping this typo because I love that my subconscious ran with the BBQ theme) new people I’ve connected with online.
So, I had the (not so original) idea to round y’all up for some messy BBQ and BYOB. Here are the details:
Who: Bloggers and Tweeters from the Austin-area
When: Saturday, June 16th at 4:00
Where: The Salt Lick Driftwood
If anyone is interested, we can meet at my house (on the south-side) and drive together. Leave a comment if you can come and I’ll add you to the Austin Blogger BBQ Twitter list. And of course, we need a hashtag – #bloggerBBQ.
#bitchesgottaeat works, too.
Please come. Or it’ll just be me, an empty bottle of wine, and BBQ sauce all over my face. Which may make for a good blog post anyway.
Ollie is a bit of a picky eater, but there is one thing he just can’t turn his nose up at – and that’s peanut butter. I felt like a mom sneaking veggies into my kid’s dinner by adding organic pumpkin to these peanut-buttery treats, but he was none-the-wiser. There are tons of recipes for dog treats online, but I started with this one and ended up with the below, which Ollie loves. Your house will smell divine and your puppies will be happy and healthy. Win-win!
weiner dog treats for my weiner dog
Pumpkin & Peanut Butter Dog Treats
- 2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
- 3 large eggs
- 1/2 cup canned organic pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling)
- 3 tablespoons organic peanut butter
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- water if needed
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix all ingredients in a large bowl or stand mixer. Sprinkle with water if needed to form ball. Roll dough to 1/2 inch thickness and cut into shapes. Bake until hard, about 30 minutes. Cool completely before serving.
I’ve always been a reader, but lately I’ve embarked on a particularly bookish lifestyle and I can’t wait to sit by the pool (or in bed, for that matter) every weekend and make my way through my list of summer reads.
What are you reading? I never turn down a book recommendation.
This Is How: Proven Aid in Overcoming Shyness, Molestation, Fatness, Spinsterhood, Grief, Disease, Lushery, Decreptitude & More. For Young and Old Alike. by Augusten Burroughs – I love a good Augusten Burroughs book, but I’ve already been warned that this one is a far cry from his usual darkly jaunty stories.
Signs of Life by Natalie Taylor – Recommend as part of Sometimes Sweet’s summer reading list. There’s nothing like a sad sad memoir (with a pretty cover) to make you appreciate your own life.
The Fault in our Stars by John Green – Another tear-jerker. I’m pretty sure this is on just about everyone’s “to read” list this summer.
The Newlyweds by Nell Freudenberger – There are some harsh reviews for this book on Amazon and GoodReads. Which is kinda why I want to read it.I guess mail order brides can be quite polarizing.
An Uncommon Education by Elizabeth Percer – The description says that the book “captures the complicated ties of family, the bittersweet inevitability of loss, and the importance of learning to let go.” I, apparently, want to weep my way through my summer.
Seating Arrangements by Maggie Shipstead – Finally! Some fluff!
Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler - Because I’m curious what other explanation there could be besides “you’re a big fat jerk.”
I’ve pretty much always hated wearing a swimsuit. Which is to say that I’ve always hated how I look in a swimsuit.
I’ve been the girl wearing a t-shirt in the pool. I’ve been the girl at the pool party that “forgot” her swimsuit. I’ve been the girl in a coverup on the beach (and not because of an itsy bitsy teeny weenie yellow polka dot bikini).
Shopping for a swimsuit? Almost unbearable. I’m perpetually looking for a swimsuit that meets my strict criteria (and I never ever try swimsuits on in store – those lights and mirrors can reduce damn near anyone to tears):
- Thick straps – but no halter tops. I’d like to be able to stand up straight.
- Molded cups – but no underwire. Uniboob is not pretty on anyone.
- Tankinis preferred – but they must to be tunic length. Ruching is good.
- Qualify fabric – to suck me in and push me up. While still allowing me to breath.
- Patterns and color are a must – no old lady/fat girl boring-ness.
- That certain something that makes me feel comfortable and confident and not running for a coverup.
It wasn’t until I discovered Lands’ End that I found a swimsuit that met all of my criteria. Every spring, I snatch up as many of their tunic tankinis as I can because I know they sell out quick (proving that most women aren’t twigs – though those women probably have swimsuit struggles of their own) and I know I won’t feel like myself in anything else.
So, I applaud Lands’ End and SELF Magazine for celebrating women of all shapes and sizes during National Swimsuit Confidence Week. Thank you. And please don’t ever stop making this tankini.
So confident I took pictures by the pool. While my neighbors watched like I'd lost my mind.
If Twitter parties are your thing, look for the #confidence hashtag every day this week from 12-1 pm CDST for a chance to win Lands’ End gift cards and show your swimsuit confidence.
The lovely people at Lands’ End asked me to participate in National Swimsuit Confidence Week. I’m wearing one of the many Lands’ End swimsuits that I purchased.
