A Friday Buffet
No. 034 Penguin ice, sushi rice, and my rookie mistake.
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Hello!
Have you ever worn a dinner outfit to breakfast?
I made the rookie mistake of wearing a dinner outfit for my breakfast and our (long) morning walk today. Now, what’s a dinner outfit, you may be wondering? A dinner outfit, during the summer, is one that’s comfortable for summer weather but is really only to be worn in the evening, out for dinner, or when minimal effort outside is required. A dinner outfit may look like a daytime outfit, but during the summer months, when temps soar and the sun is scorching, the outfit is really only appropriate in the evening or when minimal sweating will occur.
Silly me. I had forgotten this “rule” and sweat profusely through everything I had on before 9am. Yikes. I’m already on “look #2” of the day and I’m sure I’ll change at least two more times before it’s actually the right time for a dinner outfit. Of course, this is a minor problem in the scheme of summer and the joy that hot weather can bring; just make sure you’re prepared with fans, A/C when necessary, the right clothing choices, and plenty of water!
Prior to writing, I found my stack of shorts from last year and promptly moved them from the “waiting” section of the closet to a front and center position. Admittedly, I’m much more of a pants person in general, but holy sunshine the summer is here and pants are now strictly for evening (or any time when extreme sweat isn’t part of the plan).
Now that I’ve lamented to you about my rookie mistake in the world of summer clothing choices, we can move along to much more important matters. Penguin ice! Yes, penguin ice. Pepper is obsessed with ice cubes as a treat and a good way for her to cool down after our hot walks is to have a few ice cubes in her water bowl and give her a cube or two to eat on the floor. She crunches away and is so happy with her ice treats!
Upon realizing we needed a constant ice supply, and knowing our fridge ice-maker isn’t always reliable, we sorted through basement boxes to find a stack of ice cube trays that we immediately filled and keep at the ready for her ice-treat needs. Two of the trays have a penguin-shaped mold and Pepper loves it! Penguin-shaped ice is just the right size for her to crunch and I just think it’s funny that the “penguin ice” is specifically for Pepper. Ha! In other news, our fridge ice-maker is working once again so now we have a surplus. Good thing it’s summer! Maybe we need to have a party?
I can hardly believe today is the last day of June and we’re on the cusp of July 4th Weekend. Summer always goes quickly which is such a shame because it’s my favorite section of the year. While I don’t thrive in extreme humidity nor do I like changing five times in a day (OK, maybe I do), I love the feel of summer. It’s more relaxed, it’s a bit calmer, and it’s never a bad idea to just sit outside and listen to the world - cold drink in hand.
The next couple of months have a lot of the good stuff: running around our fenced-in yard with Pepper, enjoying all of the foods that are best eaten during a hot summer’s night, our 7th wedding anniversary, my August birthday, plenty of time with friends and family, and just enjoying this somewhat fleeting part of the year. I love summer most of all because it always has the chance to surprise us with its lack of schedule, oodles of (pretty good) weather, and (hopefully) the opportunity to just chill out.
I hope you have a wonderful long weekend and enjoy the start of July. Hi, summer! I am so glad you’re here.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, it’s time for more penguin ice.
Here’s to [gluten free] July Dining - let’s go out!
Latina Kitchen and Bar - we love this spot in Needham Center for their plethora of gluten free options including delicious empanadas, shrimp tacos, plantains, and so much more. The margaritas are top-notch as well.
JT Farnham’s - a summer destination in Essex that’s essential summer with all of the fried clams, lobster rolls, chowder, and much more. We love to grab one of the picnic tables outside to enjoy our feast; keep in mind it’s cash only and can get incredibly busy during peak meal time. Go extra early or pre-dinner rush for the most relaxed setting! PS - it can all be made gluten free!
Surf Seafood - our new favorite spot for sushi! GF tamari, GF sushi rolls, GF everything at this relatively-new restaurant in Woburn. Seth and I usually share four rolls for dinner, but the extensive menu has plenty of other choices. The red dragon roll and lobster maki are terrific!
Fiorella’s Cucina - a new Italian go-to that has indoor and outdoor seating (we bring Pepper!) in some of the locations which is perfect pending our weekend plans. I’m a big fan of the GF pizza, but am looking to try their GF pastas and salads next time we visit!
A Buffet for Today: 6/30/2023
Summer sales are in full force my friends so I’m sharing with you the ones that I’ve scoped out…
Clare V - excellent discounts on some really adorable bags, accessories, and other items from this chic LA-based company.
Alex Mill - incredible deals on wardrobe staples from my favorite shop to find perfect-fitting tees, great pants, and always-in-style button downs.
Net-a-Porter - Always a good idea to peruse the site during the sale season because it’s often the best time to get a great price on designer jeans, hard-to-find sneakers, and other goodies.
J.Crew Factory - I was on the hunt for wide-leg, striped linen pants for a good deal and found them here. I’ll let you know about the fit, but the price was perfect.
Madewell - awesome prices on everything from jeans to tanks to shoes and bags; never miss an opportunity to get reliably good clothing from Madewell that washes well and fits even better.
In my opinion, it’s not quite the season for loafers, but this is a good roundup of the classic style to consider if it’s a shoe you’ll be wearing in the fall.
Love this depiction of a Summer Bucket List.
This historic home is so chic and relaxed; so very summer!
Homemade strawberry mango popsicles could very well be my level of “baking” right now.
Summer has arrived and thankfully so has Boston magazine’s Best of Boston list!
Cheers and joy,
Mollie
