The 4th of July is just around the corner and while I’m not a particularly patriotic person, I do love any reason to cook for loved ones. I know hosting can be daunting but I’ve developed a formula of sorts over the years that makes it even easier. Below is my menu and why I’m making each item.

When I’m determining the menu, I always try to pick as many dishes that can be made in advance (or partially prepped in advance) dishes that can be served room temp or cold, with the main course being something served warm.

Whipped Ricotta Dip Recipe This is a great appetizer because it can be made in advance. I love picking appetizers that can be grazed on because it’s something people can help themselves to. I’m planning on serving this with radishes and sliced baguette.

Cheeseburgers Cheeseburgers are synonymous with the 4th of July so I have to make them. You can prep and form the patties in advance so they are ready to go. Even though this a more involved main course than I would normally pick, it cooks fast. I’m hoping to cook the cheeseburgers on the grill but if we have inclement weather I’ll be using a double burner griddle.

Potato Salad A potato salad pairs well with cheeseburgers and it is something that needs to be made in advance. I’ll be making this either the day before or the morning of the 4th of July.

Broccoli Salad I love serving a broccoli salad during the summer. It’s a great way to add a healthy item that is not a leafy green salad. This is something that should be made in advance. This salad tastes best when it’s made a day in advance. The dressing will soften up the broccoli without making it soggy.

Strawberry Crisp I love baking with fresh fruit this time of year. I’ve actually never made a strawberry crisp (or any crisp before) but I’m confident this will turn out. I’m planning on making each component in advance; putting the strawberry mixture on the baking dish, and storing the crisp topping separately until they are ready to bake. I typically like desserts that are served cold because I can bake them in advance but being able to make the components in advance and just popping it in the oven should be easy. I’ll pull it from the refrigerator as guests arrive and place it in the oven once everyone is eating dinner.

Since I host most holidays, I’m pretty well stocked when it comes to platters and serverware but I have been in need of serving utensils. Below are some recent serveware items I purchased. These are not 4th of July specific because I like to buy serving items that can be used for any occasion.

Serving Spoon This is the perfect serving spoon size for serving the potato and broccoli salad I’ll be making.

Mini Tongs Since I’m making a build your own cheeseburger bar, I need a lot of smaller tongs for grabbing the lettuce, tomato, etc and these will be perfect for that. These will also be great for appetizers or cookie platters in the future.

Spreader Although I imaging dipping the baguette in the whipped ricotta might be the best approach, some people might want to spread it. Spreadable dips are a go-to appetizer for me, so it doesn’t hurt to have this on hand. This will also come in handy when serving breads with butter.

Serving Fork I don’t see myself using this for serving anything on the 4th of July but I fell in love with this twig serving utensil collection so I had to get the serving fork too.

Ramekins Could I put bottles of ketchup, mustard, and mayo out for the build your own burger bar? Yes, but it will look nicer in ramekins.

Appetizer Spoon I’ll be using these smaller appetizer spoons in the ramekins with the condiments.

I always find it effortless to accessorize in cooler months. During the summer I find myself having to make an effort to accessorize. I love looking to new accessories during the summer, whether I purchase them or if it just gives me inspiration to utilize accessories I already have in new ways. On my hunt for inspo I came across a handful of accessories I love for this season.

Seagrass Tote I love a seagrass tote because they are super durable and can be used as a handbag or as a reusable shopping bag used for running errands.

Anklet I think anklets are so feminine and can dress up a pair of sandals.

Seashell Hair Clip This hair clip is handmade and made from real seashells.

Sunglasses Sunglasses are a necessity all year, but especially this time of year if you spend more time outdoors in the summer. These ones are such a good deal.

Headband Headbands are the perfect accessory on hot summer days when you want your hair down but out of your face. I love the retro beachy vibe of this one.

Turtle Handbag I’m obsessed with wicker handbags and this one might be the cutest one I’ve seen.

Hat I’m a big advocate for sun protection and a straw hat is the most stylish way to get some additional sun protection.

I’ve heard great things about Sarah Flint shoes for years and recently purchased my first pair. This review is based on the Mirjana sandal which happens to be on a steep sale at the time of publishing this. From what I have heard about the brand, the quality is consistent across the brand.

For as long as I can remember I have had some sort of camel color leather sandal in my wardrobe that has been a summer staple. I love a classic camel color sandal because it looks good with nearly everything I wear this time of year. When my last pair needed to be replaced I found the Mirjana sandal. I was drawn to the design of this sandal because it’s simple but unique, and feminine without being too feminine.

When I first heard of Sarah Flint Shoes, I heard a review of someone mentioning how the brand is high arch friendly. That caught my attention as someone that has a high arch who almost never finds shoes with adequate arch support. Ever since then the brand has been on my radar. Oddly enough, my first pair happens to be one of the few pairs of shoes the brand offers with no arch support…although aside from Rainbow sandals I have never found a flat pair of sandals that offer arch support. For a flat pair of sandals they are comfortable. The sandal has an elastic part that allows them to fit various feet widths without pinching or causing blisters. I had virtually no break in time. I can wear these sandals all day without pain. By the end of the day my feet feel a bit sore but nothing unusual for walking in flat sandals all day.

The sandals are high quality. Most of the sandal is made of leather with the exception of a rubber forepart. The craftsmanship is great and I can tell they will last for many years. Based on the quality, styles, and price point, I would compare the brand to Tory Burch. If you like Tory Burch shoes, you’d probably like Sarah Flint shoes. I definitely see myself purchasing more shoes from Sarah Flint in the future.

There is something about cooking in the Summer that hits different. I love all the fresh produce, sourcing it from the farmer’s market, and grilling/smoking. Below are some of the recipes I’m most looking forward to making this summer.

Cheeseburgers

I don’t really follow a recipe for cheeseburgers but I do like to make an In-N-Out style cheeseburger. How I make mine is very similar to the recipe I’ve linked.

Smoked Salmon

I made this smoked salmon recently and loved it (and that is coming from someone who doesn’t typically like salmon). A lot of smoker recipes tend to involve red meat, which I personally try to consume in moderation, so I love that I can make a healthy recipe on the smoker. I’m looking forward to making this again soon.

BBQ Chicken

It’s just not summer without making BBQ chicken at least once.

Smoked Brisket

This smoked brisket recipe is always a hit. I love this recipe because the prep work is done the night before and takes little involvement the day of cooking it which leaves me plenty of free time to make sides and dessert.

Strawberry Crisp

Speaking of dessert, I have never made any crisp before and I think it’s about time. I love utilizing fresh berries this time of year. I’m planning on making this strawberry crisp for dessert on the 4th of July.

Grilled Chicken Parm

This recipe embodies so many things I love about cooking in the summer like grilling, fresh tomatoes, and fresh basil.

Stuffed Peppers

The stuffed peppers recipe in this cookbook is one of my favorite stuffed pepper recipes because of it’s unique take. Rather than cooking the stuffed peppers with the filling inside it calls to roast the peppers and then fill it with a room temp filling which makes it feel more appropriate for summer. It also calls for an incredibly fresh and bright dressing to top the peppers with.

Summer is upon us so here are some outfit ideas. The outfits below are either exact outfits I’ve been wearing or similar.

Tee Pants Chambray Top (This is from the men’s department so size down in it) Sandals

Dress Hat Sandals

Jeans Top Sandals Hat

Meet Anthony Bourdain, the new addition to our family.

We picked up our sweet Maine Coon on Friday last week and have been spending every second with him since then. He immediately felt comfortable with my husband and I. He’s never been in a home before so he’s still adjusting to the noises in the house and getting comfortable.

He’s such a happy and expressive cat. We are so lucky to have him and I love bonding with him.

Father’s Day is just around the corner so it’s time to think about what you might want to get the Fathers in your life. Below is a gift guide with gift ideas ranging in prices and interests.

Thermos Sous Vide Cooker Grill Press Wooden Ladder Toss Rain Jacket

Last week I shared a review of all the books I read during the spring, so this week I want to share all the books I want to read this upcoming summer.

Death on the Nile

The synopsis on Amazon reads “The tranquillity of a cruise along the Nile is shattered by the discovery that Linnet Ridgeway has been shot through the head. She was young, stylish and beautiful, a girl who had everything – until she lost her life.

Hercule Poirot recalls an earlier outburst by a fellow passenger: ‘I’d like to put my dear little pistol against her head and just press the trigger.’ Yet in this exotic setting’ nothing is ever quite what it seems…”

I’ve seen the movie for this so I do know what happens but I also know I’ll still enjoy the book. I love Agatha Christie books.

The Lost Boys of Montauk

The synopsis on Amazon reads “In March of 1984, the commercial fishing boat Wind Blown left Montauk Harbor on what should have been a routine offshore voyage. Its captain, a married father of three young boys, was the boat’s owner and leader of the four-man crew, which included two locals and the blue-blooded son of a well-to-do summer family. After a week at sea, the weather suddenly turned, and the foursome collided with a nor’easter. They soon found themselves in the fight of their lives. Tragically, it was a fight they lost. Neither the boat nor the bodies of the men were ever recovered.”

This book gets mixed reviews so I’m a little nervous about it. It’s based on a true story and sounds really interesting which is why I picked it up.

Malibu Rising

The synopsis on Amazon reads “Malibu: August 1983. It’s the day of Nina Riva’s annual end-of-summer party, and anticipation is at a fever pitch. Everyone wants to be around the famous Rivas: Nina, the talented surfer and supermodel; brothers Jay and Hud, one a championship surfer, the other a renowned photographer; and their adored baby sister, Kit. Together the siblings are a source of fascination in Malibu and the world over—especially as the offspring of the legendary singer Mick Riva.

The only person not looking forward to the party of the year is Nina herself, who never wanted to be the center of attention, and who has also just been very publicly abandoned by her pro tennis player husband. Oh, and maybe Hud—because it is long past time for him to confess something to the brother from whom he’s been inseparable since birth.

Jay, on the other hand, is counting the minutes until nightfall, when the girl he can’t stop thinking about promised she’ll be there.

And Kit has a couple secrets of her own—including a guest she invited without consulting anyone.

By midnight the party will be completely out of control. By morning, the Riva mansion will have gone up in flames. But before that first spark in the early hours before dawn, the alcohol will flow, the music will play, and the loves and secrets that shaped this family’s generations will all come rising to the surface.

Malibu Rising is a story about one unforgettable night in the life of a family: the night they each have to choose what they will keep from the people who made them . . . and what they will leave behind.”

I love a good Taylor Jenkins Reid book. She writes quite the page turners which makes them the perfect books to pick up when you are in a reading slump.

Against the Currant

The synopsis on Amazon reads “Little Caribbean, Brooklyn, New York: Lyndsay Murray is opening Spice Isle Bakery with her family, and it’s everything she’s ever wanted. The West Indian bakery is her way to give back to the community she loves, stay connected to her Grenadian roots, and work side-by-side with her family. The only thing getting a rise out of Lyndsay is Claudio Fabrizi, a disgruntled fellow bakery owner who does not want any competition.

On opening day, he comes into the bakery threatening to shut them down. Fed up, Lyndsay takes him to task in front of what seems to be the whole neighborhood. So when Claudio turns up dead a day later―murdered―Lyndsay is unfortunately the prime suspect. To get the scent of suspicion off her and her bakery, Lyndsay has to prove she’s innocent―under the watchful eyes of her overprotective brother, anxious parents, and meddlesome extended family―what could go wrong?”

This book is described as a cozy mystery so I think it’s going to be the perfect book to read late this summer when I’m anticipating spooky season but we are not quite there yet.

The Hotel Nantucket

The synopsis on Amazon reads “Fresh off a bad breakup with a longtime boyfriend, Nantucket sweetheart Lizbet Keaton is desperately seeking a second act. When she’s named the new general manager of the Hotel Nantucket, a once Gilded Age gem turned abandoned eyesore, she hopes that her local expertise and charismatic staff can win the favor of their new London billionaire owner, Xavier Darling, as well as that of Shelly Carpenter, the wildly popular Instagram tastemaker who can help put them back on the map. And while the Hotel Nantucket appears to be a blissful paradise, complete with a celebrity chef-run restaurant and an idyllic wellness center, there’s a lot of drama behind closed doors. The staff (and guests) have complicated pasts, and the hotel can’t seem to overcome the bad reputation it earned in 1922 when a tragic fire killed nineteen-year-old chambermaid Grace Hadley. With Grace gleefully haunting the halls, a staff harboring all kinds of secrets, and Lizbet’s own romantic uncertainty, is the Hotel Nantucket destined for success or doom?”

I’ll pretty much read any book that takes place in Nantucket and this sounds like the perfect summer book. I’ve heard good things about Elin Hilderbrand’s writing.