the world is burning. the tomatoes are perfect.
Grief and beauty. Rage and summer fruit. This is the tension I’m living in.
I’m in that in-between place where the world feels loud, heavy, divided, AND I’m personally feeling more inspired and charged than I’ve felt in weeks. Follicular phase energy is real, but it’s up against the backdrop of a country that is… well. A fucking mess.
I’ve been watching the news, waiting for the Senate to vote on a bill that should never have existed in the first place, thinking about the upside-down flags some of my neighbors have started flying. And honestly? That’s the only kind of patriotic energy I can even slightly connect with right now. I don’t feel celebratory. I feel alert. Tired. Angry.
And yet… somehow??? Still hopeful.
Hope, for me this week, looks like forward motion. It looks like letting myself feel all of it without pushing it down. It looks like heading downtown for an insanely good NADC burger with ice cream for dessert while applauding Pride celebrations with my full heart, showing our son that LOVE IS LOVE. It looks like journaling in the morning and dancing in the kitchen and writing out a July "get your life together" list like it's going to solve all my problems (it might not, but it will help).
If you’re also in this tension, this place of “what the hell is going on” and “I still want to live a beautiful life”, please know you’re not alone. We’re allowed to make space for joy and resistance, for sweetness and rage. We can grieve and laugh and plan and feel good in our bodies, all at the same time.
So no, I won’t be sharing anything red, white, or blue this week. But I am wearing the cherry dress my son picked out for me, the one he screamed “WOW you look so pretty mama!” about in the fitting room like he was announcing it to a stadium. I’ve never felt more seen.
what’s new
Here’s what’s new on the blog:
This chipotle ranch salad dressing is my new favorite for salads AND fries.
Need a new summer spritz? This rosé elderflower spritz is my new favorite.
Tomato season is HERE. Cucumber tomato salad is ready for your next picnic or to top your favorite grilled meats!
cocktail corner
An Absinthe Frappe isn't for the faint of heart! It has strong roots in the US, hailing from the Old Absinthe House bar in New Orleans in 1874. Combining fresh mint with lemon and simple syrup, the absinthe and soda water join for a burst of herbal flavors!
A watermelon gin cocktail is the best way to quench your thirst! The combination of fresh juicy watermelon, refreshing mint, and floral gin is one that will have you coming back for more.
The perfect drink for a warm summer night, this Peach Old Fashioned cocktail is an ideal summer nightcap and a delicious twist on a classic recipe made from all-American Kentucky bourbon whisky.
Named for the beloved American child star, the Shirley Temple is a festive non-alcoholic classic perfect for July 4. With its cheery red hue and sweet grenadine flavor, it’s a nostalgic sip the whole family can enjoy.
what to cook this weekend
This salad is peak summer, zero stress. It’s juicy and crunchy and tossed in a citrusy, creamy dressing that clings to every bite. I love it for lunch with crackers, in lettuce cups, or stuffed into pita. Also: it’s one of those recipes that feels more like assembly than cooking, which is honestly the energy I want to bring into July.
what I’m reading
I am so close to finishing Words of Radiance… and it is everything. The way Kaladin’s arc is building (no spoilers, I promise!) has me clutching my book and yelling internally. It’s taken me a while, but this series has totally consumed me in the best way.
Meanwhile, I have to finish Sunrise on the Reaping before book club next week… and I keep putting it down because the trauma is just. so. much. But the deadline is looming, and I know I’ll be glad I pushed through. I just wish Suzanne Collins would let me breathe for one second.
what I’m watching
The third season of Squid Games dropped and we immediately dove in. And let me tell you - by episode 2 or 3, I was not okay. I cried harder than I expected, which I should’ve known was coming. But wow.
We’ve got two episodes left and I am absolutely dreading it. In a good way. (But also send tissues.)
the little list
🎵 Listening to: Heartbeats by José González. It's giving melancholy in a healing kind of way.
🍅 Obsessed with: Tomatoes in all forms. Sliced with salt on toast with cream cheese, tossed in salad, or standing over the sink with juice running down my arm.
📋 My July reset: I made myself a “get your life together” plan and I am committed. Sometimes you just need structure to feel like you’re back in your body. I now have a workout plan, a daily self-care plan, AND weekly themes to give me some direction. Small changes, each day.
📚 Loved this article: Do Not Delete by Lisa Haukom. Her writing, her POV, it’s all I want to be when I grow up (yes I am technically grown up, but I HAVE GOALS).
👕 Currently in: My graphic tee era. My favorite of the batch I just got? Squid games graphic tee. The love for traumatizing myself runs deep.
🍒 Wearing with pride: A cherry print dress that made my son scream “WOW you look so pretty mama!” in the dressing room and honestly, same. Oh, and the matching cherry clip he picked out to match it too.
Until next time!
xoxo,
Meghan
Yum!