July 1, 2020
4th of july cocktail hack

For many of us, we are heading into a long weekend with cook outs and hopefully, time spent with family–from a safely masked distance. As we prepare for food, fireworks, and (possibly) friends–here’s a quick cocktail hack to help save time and keep you focused on the quality time amongst your loved ones. (Or, a quick cocktail to sip as you indulge in some weekend reads.) Ingredients – Individual bottle of your favorite white wine –I tried Riesling and Moscato and found that I enjoyed the Moscato a bit more – Simple syrup –1/2 c sugar –1/2 c water – Club soda – Ice – Sugar for the rim of the glass – Strawberries – Blueberries – Mint for garnish Directions Combine…
review: the silent patient, by alex michaelides

The Silent Patient wasn’t at all what I thought it was going to be and I’m not entirely sure what that even was. It was recommended to me by a friend who listened to it on audio, so I followed suit and did the same. I think I have a million credits on Audible and I just keep forgetting to use them…at any rate. I would classify The Silent Patient as dramatic suspense with...

review: fast lane, by kristen ashley

It’s been a while since a book has stayed with me long after I put it down. Fast Lane was that book. Which is ironic, because the author, Kristen Ashley, was inspired to write this book after reading Daisy Jones & the Six, a book that stayed with her. She said it was the first time she had prolonged reading a book because she was enjoying it so much. I haven’t read Daisy Jones...

christmas in new york

For years, I’ve been fortunate to visit New York during the Christmas season. It’s been a self professed tradition since my college years, if not before. While I don’t make it to Rockefeller Center every year, I’ve come pretty close. However, 2019 was my first visit since 2016–the last 2 years having been outside the norm for me from a Christmas celebration perspective. But my annual tradition was reinstated over the course of the...

apple pie sangria

I whole heartedly admit that I have absolutely no idea when apple season begins and ends. But I like to think that we’re still in the midst of it. So with that in mind, this cocktail is perfect for this time of year. (Or let’s be honest, is there ever a bad time for sangria?) A friend of mine brought a pitcher of this to a Thanksgiving party a few years ago and I...

Review: Hidden, by Rebecca Zanetti

Malcolm “Mal” West is a recently retired undercover police officer. His last assignment left him physically and mentally battered. Plagued with guilt at having betrayed the closest thing he had to a brother and at the same time proud to have been part of taking down one of the most powerful mafia families in the country, he’s decided to retreat to a quieter life. But moving next door to Pippa Smith was the start...

review: The Infidelity Series, by Aleatha Romig

The Infidelity series, which isn’t about cheating, is one of those series that stays with you long after the story has ended. I read book one, which ended in a cliffhanger, and then paused in reading books 2-5 because I was too anxious to find out what would happen next. Needless to say, when I finally got started—I binged books 2-4 in a weekend. Some people have Netflix, I have the written word. The...
