Summer Reading Suggestions

If the list of what I'm reading this summer wasn't enough...here are some of my all time favorite summertime reads, from easy reads perfect for the beach, to ones that will suck you into their world, no matter whether you're in your backyard or on a long flight. Seriously, just writing this list is making me want to read all of these again.

Books about people at the beach to read while you're at the beach...

Summer Sisters by Judy Blume

The Beach Club by Elin Hildebrand

If you're feeling nostalgic for summer camp...

The Interestings by Meg Wolitzer 

The Yonahlossee Riding Camp for Girls by Anton DiSclafani

Classics, that you probably skipped on your high school summer reading list but are totally worth it...

East of Eden by John Steinbeck

O Pioneers! by Willa Cather

Perfect summer reads that are light and easy, but still very worthwhile...

The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty 

Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walters

True stories that read like fiction, so you can feel like you learned something this summer...

The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown

First they Killed My Father by Loung Ung

Mystery/Thrillers to keep your attention even if there is a child kicking your seat on a plane...

The Cormoran Strike Series by Robert Galbrith (aka JK Rowling) 

The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood 

For more suggestions, check out my "Summer Suggestions" list on Good Reads.

Jenny's Summer Reading

Most days, I'm more likely to spend my free time watching Netflix, than pick up a book, but there's something about reading in the summer that sucks me back in. I love making a  long list and checking things off of it. It reminds me of the summer reading program at my childhood library where each book you read equaled a sticker to put in a folder themed like a pirate treasure hunt. I couldn't beat most other kids in a spelling bee or at four square, but I could out read them all.

Here's what's on my list for this summer so far. I'm sure I'll add more as I've been known to hastily grab the book closest to the checkout as I'm buying a snack before a flight and of course I always love getting recommendations from friends (please post any recommendations in the comments!!!) . If you want to follow along as I add more and rate the books when I finish, you can see my list at Good Reads...

So far I've read...

All Over the Place by Geraldine DeRuiter...I've loved following Geraldine's travels and hilarious stories on her blog The Everywhereist and her book has the same great mix. 

Who Thought This Was a Good Idea?: And Other Questions You Should Have the Answers to When You Work at the White House by Alyssa Mastromonaco...I highly recommend this one! It's like Mindy Kaling goes to the White House...I appreciated the honesty and humor in this memoir and finished it wishing I could be friends with Alyssa, who worked on Obama's campaign and then served as his Deputy Chief of Staff. I might have learned a thing or two about politics as well. 

I'm finally planning on finishing a few great books I started awhile back...

Bad Feminist by Roxane Gay

Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott 

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr 

Daring Greatly by Brené Brown

Also, I'm consciously trying to be more well rounded in my reading, typically I stick to fiction, but you'll see that the list above already includes memoirs and essays, yay for branching out! 

I'm also trying some poetry...

A Thousand Mornings by Mary Oliver

And some books to make me think about the world we're living in...

America's Original Sin: Racism, White Privilege and the Bridge to a New America by Jim Wallis

Hillbilly Elegy by J.D. Vance

Stepping Stones: A Refugee Family's Journey by Margriet Ruurs, illustrated by  Nazir Ali Badr

And of course, some good fiction...

The Marriage Plot by Jeffrey Eugenides

An Untamed State by Roxane Gay

Great Kitchens of the Midwest by J. Ryan Stradal

Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls... I was recently having drinks with Teresa and another friend, they could not believe that I was such an avid reader as a child yet never managed to read this one! They insisted I add it to the list :)

My Summer Drink: Wine Spritzer

My friend Erika introduced me to my new favorite summer drink: the wine spritzer. It's the perfect way to sip wine over a whole afternoon or cut back a little on work evenings. I just combine soda/seltzer water with my favorite semi-effervescent wine (a Vinho Verde or Grüner Veltliner work great), add ice and maybe a splash of lemon and you're set! 

PS. 17 reasons wine spritzers are the best drink of the summer. :)

Summer Hair Style: Braided Headband

Lately I’ve been making it my goal to only wash my hair twice a week. My new haircut has a lot of versatility in how I can style it and with a little (or a lot, let’s be honest) dry shampoo I can usually make it a solid 3-4 days without shampooing. One of my go-to styles for the weekend on day three or four of not washing has been to do a front French braid along my forehead. It’s relatively easy braid to master with a little practice and gets the now powdery hair out of my face.

What are your go-to summer styles? 

Flavored Water

It seems like everywhere I go these days I'm being offered fruit or herb infused water. There is something about it that is so refreshing and delicious. Now that summer is upon us I want to try keeping some flavored water at home to avoid the calories in juices, soda, and vino. This formula seems like the easiest for mixing up a perfect combination of herb and fruit. Also, have you tried one of these "infusing" pitchers or water bottles, they look like fun (but hard to clean?).

For summer it would be nice to get one of these big carafes (or this cute pitcher) to fill in the morning and just drink yummy water all day long...maybe out of these awesome glasses.

Do you have a favorite "recipe" for flavored water?

(Image)

End of Summer Blues...

Who else starts to get sad at the end of August? This time of year I have to avoid certain stores' back to school displays and continually remind myself that my life usually calms down a bit with the coming of autumn. 

Part of the sadness for me is a sense of regret about all the summery things I had planned in June that I still haven't managed to get around to. Hiking, picnicking, outdoor movies, picking berries...

This year, I'm trying to focus on the positive. Even though the only truly great summer in my mind would be an endless one, it has been a really great season and despite being crazy busy with work, I've definitely managed to squeeze in some fun. I got a bike and rode it a ton, been swimming, paddle boarding, boating,  and read a few good books. 

My goal for now until the weather turns cold is to not dread the end, but enjoy the rest and ignore the beginning signs of the changing of seasons, who's with me?

Summer Reading #2: Boarding Schools and Summer Camps

I've already put a pretty good dent into my summer reading list and managed to add a few more books along the way.

An interesting theme I seem to be stuck on currently: boarding schools and summer camps. Both were dreams as a child. The camp desire was definitely influenced by this music video, this TV show and of course, this movie. There was something thrilling about being away from your parents for that long, same with boarding school because of the seeming lack of adult supervision. Freedom. Not that I didn't love my parents :) 

Read: 

Prep

Winger

Looking for Alaska

Currently Reading:

The Yonahlossee Riding Camp for Girls: A Novel

To Read: 

Sleepaway-a collection of essays on camp from David Sedaris, Margaret Atwood and more. 

Any other good one's I've missed? I'm always looking for book recommendations!

Summer!

Even though people joke that summer in Seattle doesn't start until July 5th, the beginning of June feels like the start of something to me. I can feel myself crawling out of hibernation and wanting to be outdoors! Summer is my FAVORITE time of year, so maybe I just want it to start now so I can enjoy it longer. Here's my list of things I'm looking forward to most: 

  

S'mores 

Summer Reading

Iced Tea & Summery Drinks

Wiffle Ball Games

The BABY arriving in July! 

Paddle Boarding

Picking Berries & Making Pie

Laying in the Sun

Wearing Sandals and More Sandals

Backyard Movie Nights

Summer Hair

Farmers Markets

My Sister will be HOME!

Craft Projects

What do you love about summer? 

Photo Jason and I in New York last summer by Johnny Valencia

PS. Photos of Teresa's baby shower coming tomorrow! 

Summer Reading

One of my favorite sumer pastimes is reading. Whether I'm floating on a river, laying in my backyard or lounging on the chairs above, if I have a book, I'm happy. Here is the beginnings of my list of books for this summer: 

Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald

The Alchemist

Where'd You Go, Bernadette 

A Visit from the Goon Squad 
Winger

What do you think? Any recommendations? Must reads I should add to the list?

And, because I love making lists about as much as I love reading in the sunshine, here's a variety of other books I'd recommend for your summer reading: 

The Paris Wife

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle

Bel Canto 

O Pioneers! 

Interpreter of Maladies 

Tender Is the Night 

American Wife

Prep

East of Eden

Sunshine Essentials: Face Sunscreen

Now that the sun is out in Seattle (did you hear we were the second hottest city in the COUNTRY on Monday?!) I'm trying to prevent my extremely fair skin from getting burned after months of covering up. For the past couple of years I've used Josie Maran's Daily Face Moisturizer with SPF 40 in and I LOVE it. It is completely chemical free (great for me and baby) and made with argan oil which is super moisturizing and smells amazing. I put it on every morning and don't have to worry about accidentally getting too much sun during the day.

I love the idea of natural sunscreen for the rest of my body too but it's a bit pricey -- any recommendations out there for a natural sunscreen that doesn't smell gross and actually rubs in?

Sandals Weather is Coming!

Being that I can't fit into most normal clothes anymore, I'm pretty excited about getting some new, cute sandals for spring/summer! A girls gotta look cute somehow right? Here are a few that caught my eye from around the web.

The Neon Gladiator

The Super- Strappy

The Sparkly Espadrille 

The Steal

The Splurge

The "Brave for a Pregnant Lady" (but so pretty!)

The Everyday Ankle

Insta-Weekend

We had a great last weekend of summer here in the beautiful state of Washington! I'm so sad to see summer fade in to autumn but we went out with a bang. Friday night I went with my friend Anne, who is visiting from DC, to see Macklemore throw the opening pitch at the Mariner's game. We met up with Patrick's cousin Whitney and some other family and had a great time despite the loss.

Then we headed out to Hartstine Island in the south Puget Sound for two days of R&R with great college friends. We had a blast playing Ladderball, catching up over cocktails, soaking up the last rays of summer and even dug out some of Tracy's old ballet dresses for an awesome parade around the cabin (don't judge! :)

Goodbye summer, we'll miss you.

Hair How To: Easy Beach Waves

On top of giving us some great summer beauty tips while at the lake, Teresa's talented sister Laura, showed us a really easy summer look.

1. Give yourself some really awesome braids. Part your hair as you normally do on top and divide your hair into two braids.




2. Use your flat iron to heat the braids evenly. Rather than pulling the flat iron down the length of your hair, hold it in one place and then move it.



3. And now, for the very important part, leave your hair in the braids as it cools down. This will help the style to set. You can be nice like Laura was and do you friends makeup while you're waiting...(Thanks!)


4. Once your hair is cool, take out the braids and gently run your fingers through.




5. Re-braid pieces in the front and re-iron. This will give the look more variety and randomness to the waves making it more natural looking.



6. Go through the rest of your hair and pick out any other areas that could use a little help, re-braid and iron.





Ta-da! The results are carefree waves, perfect for vacation.

My Summertime Playlist

Kid Cudi - All Summer

Jack White - I'm Shakin'

Beach Boys - Do You Want to Dance?

Beat Connection - In the Water

DJ Jazzy and Fresh Prince - Summertime

Alabama Shakes- Hold On

Of Monsters and Men - Mountain Sound

Madonna - Borderline 

Santigold - The Riot's Gone

Rod Stewart- Maggie May

Passion Pit - Hideaway

Edward Sharpe - Man on Fire

(Image from here.)

School's Out for the Summer

I am 6 years out of college and every summer I STILL avoid getting anywhere near a giant section of Target and I stay out of office supply stores entirely because the back to school stuff stresses me out and I'm not even going back to school! Don't get me wrong, I loved school, but everyone deserves a couple months to slip n slide, eat a s'more and pretend like the summer will go on forever.

My current pet peeve, back to school commercials during the Olympics. Usually I'm easily able to avoid TV in the summer, but now, in order to see the Fierce Five, I have to put up with Jason Priestly peddling the latest in children's fall fashions. ARG.

Here's my solution for all of us to try. I've included some summery images. Pick your favorite and the next time you walk past a cardboard school bus filled with wide rule paper surrounded by trapper keepers, you can visualize your happy summer image. Good Luck.

Images via here, here, here, here and here.

Vacation Reads

What type of books do you like to read on vacation?
I always like to see what people bring with them, what sort of things they find relaxing and I am always looking for recommendations so I thought I'd do a little informal poll of what books everyone brought to the cabin with them.

In my hammock paparazzi shot, Patrick is reading The Art of Fielding. Teresa is listening to the audio book of Steven King's 11/22/63.

I've brought along The Sun Also Rises, which I was inspired to read after devouring The Paris Wife, a fictional account of Hemingway and his first wife Hadley's time in 1920's Paris with the rest of the Lost Generation.

Teresa's sister Laura is reading Mindy Kaling's Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns) which we both loved. Incase you missed it, we raved about this one here and here.

Teresa's mother-in-law is reading Skinny Bitch about becoming vegan and also Paris Noire, which she picked up after meeting the author on a recent flight.

Kasi and Ryan, baby Kenedee's parents, are reading Heat Wave (the hit TV show Castle is based on these books) and The Book of Basketball.

And last but certainly not least, three-month old Kenedee brought along The Curious Cat.

The Olympics Are Almost Here!

It's almost that time again. We have patiently waited four years and now they are finally upon us, the Summer Olympics! USA, USA! Do you have big plans for watching the games? We'll be in Idaho next week relaxing and playing our own version (more to come on the Priest Lake Olympics).

Here are a few great links from around the web that are getting me into the Olympic Spirit:

An inside look into the Olympic Athletes Village.

I love the US Women's Soccer Team! This video is so silly and fun, can we be friends?

The ESPN "Body Shoot" makes me want to hit the gym right now.

Have you seen the Spanish Olympic uniforms yet??

US athletes to know before the games begin.

William and Kate's official Olympic schedule, can't wait to see Kate in her "dressed down" look.

Kid's Guide to the Olympics (this could also be called Teresa's Guide to the Olympics!)

(Images from here)

Summertime Sseko Sandals

How cool are these shoes?! Sseko sandals can be tied into over a dozen different styles so that you can wear them however suits you on any given day. Jenny discovered them at a wedding last week where all the bridesmaids were sporting them, aren't they cute and fun?

Wait, it get's better. They are made by women in Uganda who are in their "gap year" between high school and college and need to save money to pay for their tuition. Watch the video below to learn more about why there aren't many economic opportunities for women in this stage and how these shoes enable Ugandan women to get higher education.


Sseko Way from Sseko Designs on Vimeo.

They are offering free shipping until Monday on orders over $65 with the code "birthdaylove" so get shopping!

Salt Water Sandals

   Me, my mom and little sis all rocking Salt Water's....Me wearing my mom's pair 25 years later.

In my mind, Salt Water Sandals are the epitome of  childhood summers. They bring back memories of popsicles and wading pools, among other things*.

Last month, I was about to buy an adult sized pair for myself but on a whim asked my mom if she still had hers and she did!  I put them on and have been wearing them practically every day since. My favorite part is looking down and for a split second thinking I'm a kid looking at my mom's feet.

Apart from being classic and nostalgic, they are super durable (please note that the pair I'm sporting has lasted since the mid 80's!) you can wear them in the water and they are really comfy. I can, and have, walked miles in them.

Also, you can get them in tons of colors! I'm eying the yellow ones...

Did you have a pair?

* My family can't talk about Salt Water Sandals w/o bringing up that time that my sister tripped in the parking lot after swimming at the Y. She fell on her face and had to be rushed to the emergency room for stitches. Sadly, the sandals were blamed and we stopped wearing them. In defense of the sandals, as a child Stephanie  fell on her face two other times requiring stitches sans the Salt Waters. I don't think it was her footwear. She was just slow to learn the important lifeskill of putting out your hands to catch yourself if you fall, sparing your face. I'm happy to report that she has since learned to catch herself while falling and she has had 2 broken arms to show for it.