watermelon cocktail

Watermelon is one of my favorite summer fruits. I bought one the other day and have already eaten half of it...by myself. I guess Ebert doesn't like watermelon as much as I do. I've been wanting to eat the other half but then I started to think that maybe I should get my husband to eat some too. I mean, why shouldn't he enjoy "the fruits of our labor" just as much as I have? I certainly could eat the other half all by myself (and would enjoy doing so), but it's probably best that I don't, so this is what I came up with...

I combined this recipe with this recipe for a deliciously, refreshing watermelon-jalapeno cocktail. And friends, let me tell you, it's good. It's really good. This might just be a new summer favorite!

You could also make this without alcohol and it would still be delicious. And in case this drink doesn't sound like the most amazing cocktail ever here are some other ideas for watermelon. Notice that most of these recipes use cubed watermelon because, really, that's the only way to eat it.

week in photos

7.29.12 - 015

7.30.12 - 016

7.31.12 - 017

8.01.12 - 018

8.02.12 - 019

8.03.12 - 20

8.04.12 - 21

vacationing the past

Ebert and I got back from vacation last Sunday and this whole week I've felt like I've had a vacation hangover that I'm just now recovering from. First we flew to Phoenix to spend a few days with my family. I don't have any desert pictures to share... it was so hot we mainly lounged inside eating good food, drinking, and playing games— which are all fun and necessary vacation activities.

Then we drove across the desert to LA. It's hard to believe it was our first time back since we moved. We had such a great time! We hiked, hung out with friends, went to the beach, ate at a few of our favorite restaurants (La Cabanita, Cafe Bravo, the Brewhouse), and went to Santa Barbara for the day. There were some friends we didn't get a chance to see and lots more things we wanted to do, but it was kindof a whirlwind trip and we just weren't able to fit it all in.

It was also a very nostalgic trip for Ebert and I. We talked a lot about how our life used to be, what we missed about Southern California living, how our lives might be different if we had stayed. A lot has changed since we left, but at the same time a lot has stayed the same. That is comforting. What we realized has changed the most - is us - and we came back with a fresh perspective.

Visiting LA was good, but coming back to Chicago was great! It's home...at least, for now.

{all images via create.your.happy}