Today on weekend meanderings, what to wear while walking the dogs, can’t-put-it-down tell-all page turner on the history of the Condé Nast magazine empire, summer recipes for your outdoor BBQ, and the Spaghett Spritz aka Trailer Park Spritz … you’re going to love this one!
Happy Saturday, friends!
It’s time for the weekend post with Kim and Elizabeth, our weekly roundup of inspirations and goings on.
Can you believe it’s mid-August … how did this happen?! Kids are back to school, the countdown to Labor Day is on, and fall may not be in the air but it’s all over Instagram. Don’t worry, I’m still not going there but I am counting the days until I can retrieve my sweaters from storage.
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August is generally a pretty laid-back month, but it was a busy week on the blog. Let’s jump in …
Our Cabo Getaway & Must-Try Dining Spots
A couple weeks ago I shared everything I packed and wore on our 4-night getaway to Cabo. On Tuesday I chatted about our experience at the newish Four Season Resort in Cabo Del Sol – spoiler alert, it’s amazing – and a few must-try dining spots around Los Cabos.
I thought I was pretty clever wearing this floral dress to Flora Farms.
Caprese Dip + More Summer Outdoor Recipes
On Thursday I joined my favorite blogging pals to share summer recipes to be enjoyed outdoors. They can be enjoyed indoors too, and year-round, but you get the idea. Anyway, I made a Caprese Dip from What Molly Made’s blog. It’s beyond delicious and I nearly ate the entire thing. Fortunately, Jim came home in time to save me from myself and he polished off the rest. This is a wonderful dip to have in your recipe box … and for upcoming Labor Day weekend BBQ’s.
You can see it hot out of the oven here.
As you’d expect, Cindy, Annie, Mary Ann, Kim and Elizabeth shared scrumptious summer dishes. Follow links in my post to their recipes.
Dog Walking Outfit
It’s sad but true that the outfit I give most thought to these days is what to wear for Pippa and Maggie’s morning walks. I tend to wear the same thing on repeat with slight variation. Anyone who sees me on our strolls must wonder if I own anything else. I’m a creature of habit, and having a uniform is easy and works for me.
I’m a huge fan of Lulu and Alo joggers but these Ruti More Than Active pants have become my favorite of favorites. I’ll tell you why in a sec. First, full disclosure, occasionally brands me things to try out with no strings attached. If I like them I share and if not I don’t. Well, Ruti sent these to me and I don’t just like them, I love them. They have my two favorite features … they’re flattering and comfortable. They have other nice features too – like zippered front pockets, in addition to back pockets, and extra draping around the knee which sounds weird but is totally brilliant. Anyway, those things aren’t as important as the first two … but I do love a zip pocket for my keys. Don’t come at me, they’re pricey. But quality is quality and I’m buying another pair in black. I’m wearing a six.
I’m on a roll when it comes to finding good stuff, and I scored another win with this white tee. Instagram fed it to me via an Evereve ad. I’m always on the lookout for a good, white tee and I ordered it immediately. It’s a little different than your basic white tee, the neckline and cap sleeves have a sweatshirt style detail and the pima cotton is a little thicker, which I love. It’s my new favorite white tee and I’m going to order a back up … or two. It comes in many colors but I find that white is my most reached for and versatile tee.
Ryan Simkhai tortoise sunnies are another brand gift. It’s rare that glasses fit me without some adjustment … which is annoying. But, these fit perfectly … and don’t sit heavily – leave pinch marks – on my very wide bridge of a nose. Pinch marks are my numero uno complaint about glasses … sunnies and readers. When I was baby my mom thought I was crosseyed and flew me back to states – from the Philippines – to see her family’s doctor. The Navy pediatrician in the Philippines told her I had a wide bridge that created an illusion with my eyes, and not to worry, I’d grow out of it. She wasn’t convinced but the doctor in the States seconded the opinion and they were right. Any, these sunnies have transparent, sagey green ‘arms’ and smokey lenses. Cool!
And finally, Dr. Scholl’s Time Off sneaker that I bought for our trip to Puglia last summer.
Empire of the Elite
I just finished Empire of the Elite: Inside Condé Nast, the Media Dynasty that Reshaped America.
I’ve been on a roll reading about the heyday of the magazine industry, and I don’t want it to end. Prior to Empire of the Elite I read Graydon Carter’s memoir, When the Going Was Good: An Editor’s Adventures During the Last Golden Age of Magazines. Graydon, of course, is the long time editor of Vanity Fair, following Tina Brown’s resurrection of the iconic magazine. Speaking of Tina Brown, her memoir of several years ago, The Vanity Fair Diaries: Power, Wealth, Celebrity, and Dreams: My Years at a Magazine that Defined a Decade is also a great read on the same topic. Tina’s Substack, Fresh Hell, is really worth subscribing.
While we’re at it, Amy Odell’s book, Anna: The Biography is another perspective on the fascinating world of Condé Nast.
There are a couple of older books about my favorite editor of all time, Helen Gurley Brown. I could do an entire post on why I loved her so much and how her early 80’s book, Having It All, influenced my life as a young career girl in the 80’s. Her 10+ years later follow-up, The Late Show: A Semiwild but Practical Survival Plan for Woman Over 50, addressed the importance of continuing to achieve in mid-life. Her blockbuster book, Sex and the Single Girl, was before my time.
Enter Helen: The Invention of Helen Gurley Brown and the Rise of the Modern Single Woman, and Not Pretty Enough: The Unlikely Triumph of Helen Gurley Brown, are more recent biographies of Helen and Park Avenue Summer is a wonderful novel loosely based on Helen’s first summer as editor of Cosmopolitan magazine (part of the Hearst Corporation, not Condé Nast).
Best not get me started on HGB, I could go on forever. In fact, in my decades long – and still ongoing – efforts to finish my college degree, I gave a presentation on her in a business class. I was the oldest in the class – by far – and the 20-something’s hadn’t a clue who HGB was, although they were aware of Cosmo. Helen died a week or two after my presentation and I felt proud knowing that when they heard the news (and they told me they had!) they knew a little something about her groundbreaking books and career. See, I told you, don’t get me started.
Spaghett Cocktail (Trailer Park Spritz)
My friend Shelley Welley brought the Trailer Park Spritz to my attention – her husband brought it to hers. Of course I had to try it and add it to my summer cocktail night lineup. It’s officially called the Spaghett Cocktail, a dive-bar spin on the classic Aperol Spritz. It substitutes the presumably-more-expensive prosecco for the less expensive ‘champagne of beers,’ Miller High Life. Anyone else remember their 70’s jingle? According to Shelley’s husband, the Trailer Park Spritz is the drink of summer and orders are up (presumably in dive bars) – way up – which is an economic indicator. Jim says we need to visit the Roundup Saloon, our local – and awesome – dive bar, to investigate.
It’s a 3-ingredient spritz … Miller High Life, Aperol, and lemon juice (+ lemon wedge for garnish). It can be enjoyed two ways … in a beer glass or in the bottle. You decide.
In a glass ~
- Pour the beer into a chilled glass
- Add 1 oz Aperol
- Add 1/2 oz lemon juice
- Garnish glass with lemon wedge
In the bottle ~
- Open beer bottle and take a swig.
- Add Aperol and lemon juice into the bottle
- Push the lemon wedge into the bottle (a la Corona and lime)
Ok, it’s surprisingly good and a new favorite. ‘If you’ve got the time, we’ve got the beer.’ Cheers!
Odds & Socks ~
I’m curious about Tart: Misadventures of an Anonymous Chef, penned by Slutty Cheff. Seriously. It’s had good reviews, comparisons to Anthony Bourdain’s Kitchen Confidential, and is apparently quite juicy. ‘A hilarious, hot, and steamy account of coming of age in and out of the kitchen, from the anonymous chef and columnist, Slutty Cheff.’
Attention local friends! Rumor has it that Original Joe’s in Walnut Creek is finally open. This is big news and I can’t to get over there. I know there will be long lines for a good while, and it looks like only limited reservations are available via Open Table. While I wait for the initial excitement to die down, I’m monitoring the situation closely on Instagram.
This Italian sausage, tomato, corn, and basil pasta from Cindy’s blog is easy to make and totally delish!
Taylor Swift broke the internet this week with her appearance on the New Heights podcast. This is an awesome nugget of wisdom from the interview.
Current Favorites & Best Sellers ~
That’s what I have for you today.
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