Weekly Wrap-Up 2

tomatoes everywhere, mystery novels, dressing for the heat

It’s been a very busy week over here! Here are some favorites - including the summer read I cannot put down and the cookbook I’m loving right now.

We are getting ready to go on a family retreat to the mountains tomorrow for the week. I’m hoping to get some writing and lots of reading done in the afternoons! The temperatures expected here are in the upper 90s and low 100s so it’s going to be hot, hot, hot. I’ll share more information on where we are going, along with lots of photos when we return.

Okay so first of all - WOW I can’t put this book down. I have never considered murder mysteries or detective novels to be my genre of choice but this author is changing my mind. I’ve heard about this series for years now but never picked it up. I’m so glad I did on a whim a few days ago. I’m sure many of you are familiar with these books but if you’re not, it’s worth your time. The writing is just so excellent and if a book about a murder could be considered “cozy”, this is it. I love the setting (near Montreal) and the character dimensions.

We’ve been cooking more plant based meals lately and I’m just loving this cookbook. The two things I made from it this week (tomato and blue cheese tart and spiced chickpea wedges) were off the charts incredible. The chickpea wedges were actually some of the best things I have eaten in a very long time. I immediately texted both my mom and one of my best friends to tell them about it. I think my words were “wow these chickpea wedges are worth the price of the cookbook alone”. Seriously - get the book and while you’re at it, follow the author on Substack!

I picked up a few things from REI the other day for our trip next week and my husband said the dress I bought is his favorite dress that I own. He actually told me to buy more of them and I never thought I would hear those words. ;) It’s advertised as a hiking and travel dress and the material is so nice, light and cool. More than anything though, it’s super flattering and comfortable! I think you could wear it with both sneakers or sandals. I wish they made more than two colors! I got a size small for reference.

Other highlights this week included watching my kids baseball game yesterday followed by a pool party, seeing Lucy do so well in her ISR swim lessons and cooking a ton of great food. Some weeks I’m in a cooking slump and others I’m on fire - this was one of the better weeks. I am looking forward to NOT cooking or cleaning at all next week though when we’re out of town!