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…
devil’s cut, by j. r. ward
Fans of the wildly successful Bourbon Kings have been waiting a year for the final installment in this captivating trilogy. The anticipation was quelled a little over two weeks ago when Devil’s Cut was released to well-deserved praise. Readers will easily be drawn back into the world of the rich, powerful, and incredibly dysfunctional. There were so many loose ends to tie up: Edward was in jail for killing his father, William Baldwine Sutton...
movie review: ingrid goes west
A few weeks ago, I had the privilege of going to a private screening of the movie, Ingrid Goes West. A dark comedy with an extreme take on social media–Instagram in particular–I found this movie to be very entertaining. While the cast is largely unknown, with the exception of O’Shea Jackson, Jr. (son of rapper Ice Cube and star of Straight Out of Compton) they deliver solid performances with perfect timing. Ingrid, played by...
crunchy coleslaw
A new take on an old favorite, this coleslaw has been a fave of mine for years–ever since I had it at my friend Denise’s. While I think we have her sister to thank for the recipe, I’m also going to site Food.com for their version (minus the onions). For those final cook outs this summer, or something a little out of the ordinary–give this a try and let me know how what you...
the ghost bride, by yangsze choo
The Ghost Bride is debut author Choo’s stand-alone novel about the plight of a young girl in 19th century China. Li Lan is the daughter of a once wealthy and revered family. However, after her mother’s death, her father sinks into a depressive state that he combats by self-medicating with opium. While their financial status continues to deteriorate, Li Lan’s father is approached by the upstanding and well-to-do Lim family, who ask for his...
strawberry salsa
Whether you’re bringing a dish to a summer party or hanging at home on the deck with family, this quick and pretty dish is sure to please. The original recipe is courtesy of one of my favorite kitchen chef’s, The Pioneer Woman, and I only altered it slightly for a recent book club reunion with some girlfriends. Letting the salsa sit overnight allowed all of the ingredients to spend some quality time together so...
sexsomnia–sleepless in manhattan, by anya omah
Sexsomnia, or sleep sex, is a condition in which a person will engage in sexual activities while asleep. I had no idea such a thing existed. Intrigued by the subject matter, I borrowed Sexsomnia–Sleepless in Manhattan on my Kindle. To start, Abigail is one of the strongest heroines I’ve read in quite some time. She’s not a wide-eyed virgin who’s infatuated with the hero. Her initial actions might give you pause, but her dialogue,...
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