The Friday Five

1. Watching:

Sara and I watched this on Sunday night. It's pretty silly but I needed a laugh and I can't resist a young adult novel turned movie. 

2. Eating:

I blame my mom for getting me addicted to Trader Joe's Dark Chocolate Almond Toffee. Thankfully it only comes in small packages or I would need some serious self control.

3. Listening to:

Rachel Platton's Fight Song
The perfect summer anthem.

4. Recipe I'm pinning:

Averie Cooks Chinese Chicken Pasta Salad

The perfect summer pasta salad. 

5. Things making me laugh:
Outtakes from last week's beach trip.

Happy Friday!

Thought on Thursday

Books, Books, Books

In case you need some beach reads here are a few I've read lately:

The Knockoff 

This reminded me of the Devil Wears Prada but with the roles reversed.

From Amazon: An outrageously stylish, wickedly funny novel of fashion in the digital age, The Knockoff is the story of Imogen Tate, editor in chief of Glossy magazine, who finds her twentysomething former assistant Eve Morton plotting to knock Imogen off her pedestal, take over her job, and reduce the magazine, famous for its lavish 768-page September issue, into an app.

 The Vacationers
I didn't love this one as much as I wanted to.

From Amazon: For the Posts, a two-week trip to the Balearic island of Mallorca with their extended family and friends is a celebration: Franny and Jim are observing their thirty-fifth wedding anniversary, and their daughter, Sylvia, has graduated from high school. The sunlit island, its mountains and beaches, its tapas and tennis courts, also promise an escape from the tensions simmering at home in Manhattan. But all does not go according to plan: over the course of the vacation, secrets come to light, old and new humiliations are experienced, childhood rivalries resurface, and ancient wounds are exacerbated.

 The Hurricane Sisters
I loved this book and highly recommend that you listen to the book on tape. I was laughing out loud in the car but it may have been because it reminds me of my family.

From Amazon: Hurricane season begins early and rumbles all summer long, well into September. Often people's lives reflect the weather and The Hurricane Sisters is just such a story. Once again Dorothea Benton Frank takes us deep into the heart of her magical South Carolina Lowcountry on a tumultuous journey filled with longings, disappointments, and, finally, a road toward happiness that is hard earned.

Next on my list:

 All the Single Ladies

From Amazon: New York Times bestselling author returns with an emotionally resonant novel that illuminates the power of friendship in women’s lives, and is filled with her trademark wit, poignant and timely themes, sassy, flesh-and-blood characters, and the steamy Southern atmosphere and beauty of her beloved Carolina Lowcountry.

Water from my Heart

From Amazon: Charlie Finn had to grow up fast, living alone by age sixteen. Highly intelligent, he earned a life-changing scholarship to Harvard, where he learned how to survive and thrive on the outskirts of privileged society. That skill served him well in the cutthroat business world, as it does in more lucrative but dangerous ventures he now operates off the coast of Miami. Charlie tries to separate relationships from work. But when his choices produce devastating consequences, he sets out to right wrongs, traveling to Central America where he will meet those who have paid for his actions, including a woman and her young daughter. Will their fated encounter present Charlie with a way to seek the redemption he thought was impossible--and free his heart to love one woman as he never knew he could?

Birthday Recap

We kicked off birthday month last week with an office celebration for all the June birthdays.

Friday, I went to lunch at Mon Amie with one of my students. We split the fries covered in melted brie. Holy moly it was good. They also brought me a yummy cake in a mug.

Sunday night, Dargan hosted a dinner party with some of my favorite Spartanburg people.

We started the night the palmetto cheese, baked brie, and an onion dip. For dinner, we had roasted shrimp, asparagus, and orzo followed by pound cake with strawberries and homemade whipped cream. It was the most fun night.

Monday, Amy, Sara and I headed to Charlotte for the Taylor Swift concert. We had a wonderful meal at 5Church that included a beet salad, a white pizza with shrimp, mussels, and a lemon creme brulee.

Then it was show time. Vance Joy opened and then Taylor came on. She is perfection. I loved every minute of the concert and would go back to see her again in a heartbeat.

On my actual birthday, I drove to Charleston to have dinner at Indaco with ML and Lash.

We split the prosciutto di parma, the coppa, black pepper tagliatelle, and agnolotti. It was all so delicious.

After dinner, we walked across the street to HOM for a drink and a few games of ping pong before heading back to the house for some cupcakes.

The past few days have been the most fun being surrounded and celebrated by so many loved ones. I can't wait to see what all 26 has in store for me. 

Lately

I made the most delicious dinner a few weeks ago. It was based off of this Grilled Caesar Buffalo Chicken Salad from How Sweet It Is. Grilled romaine is my new favorite thing. 

We showered sweet Laura in preparation for her August wedding. 

 I'm currently living in a construction zone as they work to straighten Main Street. They are supposed to finish in two weeks but right now it is one big mess. 

I got way too excited about this Target find. I use a planner but I love being able to meal plan on this marker board on my refrigerator. 

This past weekend was filled with fun gatherings including Blues, Brews, and BBQ. The Wofford Class of 2011 was there in full force.

After living in Spartanburg for almost two years, I finally made it to the Farmers' Market for the first time last weekend. I went again on Saturday and can't believe that it has taken me this long to go. This just may be my new Saturday morning tradition.

I dusted off the Kitchen Aid and baked a pound cake. I'll share the recipe soon. It's one you are going to want to keep on file.

And since it is birthday month, I'll leave you with this: