Summer is, without a doubt, my favorite season of the year. Oh, I've said it before? Well I will probably say it again and again. Plus, can't we all use a little more talking about what makes us happy? I love the long summer days, the warm weather, and the accompanying clothing [HELLO dresses and flip flops!] The fresh fruits and no-cook meals are so simple, delicious, and satisfying. Who doesn't like an adventure to get ice cream after dinner?

If you ask my husband about the highlight of his summer the answer will undoubtedly be baseball. His dreamy summer day consists of going to (and actually watching) a baseball game, drinking a few draft beers, spitting sunflower seeds all over a sunny stadium, and watching his favorite team take home a win. Then he'll go home and watch the highlights of the other baseball games on ESPN before calling it a night!

I try my best to be a supportive partner and "step up to the plate" by attending baseball games. While I have no intention of watching the ball game, I love to do a few laps around a stadium to people watch and search for the best food and drink. The home team here is the Seattle Mariners and their stadium, Safeco Field, has a great reputation for diverse and interesting food offerings and, more recently, food safety! 

Over the weekend my friends and I threw a bridal shower for our best girl Lauren. She and I are both Event Planners and have coordinated our fair share of weddings, showers, next-day brunches, and so on. We know just how dramatic and over-done the whole process can become which is exactly why she wanted a laid-back and non-traditional shower. We followed her instructions carefully and promptly. We forgot about the toilet paper wedding dresses and antiquated gifts while focusing on a day filled with her favorite things. Luckily for all of us that included a Bloody Mary bar complete with Babybel cheese garnishes. 

A Bloody Mary bar was a perfect setup for a late morning bridal shower and will also be a GREAT idea for the upcoming football season. Making drinks to order for friends and family seems like a sure-fire way to miss the whole game, doesn't it? Here on the West Coast those early morning kick-offs require a Bloody Mary or two before other forms of alcohol become acceptable! 

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania is my hometown and I was lucky to visit "the Burgh" not once, but twice, this summer! During my first trip I visited some of my old favorite spots like PNC Park and Eat 'N Park, saw some new-to-me places like Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater, and ate like a Queen thanks to dippy eggs and pierogies.

Summertime is my favorite season of the year. I love the warm weather, the long days, and the cool and refreshing foods. Cold ice cream, iced teas and coffees, and ripe fresh fruits at their peak of flavor all speak to my heart and taste buds.

This Cool Watermelon and Cucumber Salad is a unique combination of fresh flavors. Fruit, vegetable, cheese, and fresh mint marry for a refreshing side dish. Make it for yourself or bring a big bowl to share with friends at your next summer BBQ. This salad keeps very well in the fridge and tastes even better after a day or two.