HAPPY SUMMER VACATION!

YEE HAW! 

SUMMER VACATION IS FINALLY HERE!

Here are 10 awesome things coming up this summer...

1. Family trip to Lake Champlain

 

 We haven't been back to the Basin Harbor Club for years, since the kids were little. 

I love this place. It has a charming, old-fashioned vibe that is both relaxing and rejuvenating. 

And I get to see the kingfishers in the morning. Can't wait!

✵

2. Writer's retreat with the Junior Mints to Woodstock, VT!

My second trip to Vermont for the summer!
The gals and I will be diligently working on our latest novel antiquing, noshing, exploring, and generally having an excellent time.
Oh yeah, we'll probably work, too.

✵

3. I'M GOING TO SEE LOUISE PENNY 
AT THE NORWICH BOOKSTORE!  
AHHHHHHH!

 

I have been patiently waiting for the day when Louise Penny would tour New England.

And THE DAY IS FINALLY HERE!

She will be reading and signing books at the adorable Norwich Bookstore in July.

 And I think I was the first one to get tickets. Hee hee!

This is how I feel about that...

 

So, this will be my THIRD trip to Vermont for the summer. I am not complaining!

✵

4. Family reunion in Jamestown, Rhode Island

My hubby grew up in Rhode Island, and we try to get back here every summer.

My favorite things to do? Cliff Walk, Sachuest Point, and getting a Del's lemonade by the beach.

It has chunks of lemon peel in it. YUM!

 ✵

5. Finish THE LUMBERJACK AND MIMI SPARKLES

 

I finally figured out what story to finish over the summer. 

LUMBERJACK POWER ACTIVATE!

✵

6. Kids are going to movie-making camp, art camp, overnight camp, and community service camp.

✵

7. I'm doing the "get hot while it's hot" challenge with Sue.
Check out her blog and her inspirational story about losing weight and getting healthy!

✵

8. Newport Kite Festival

The Kite Festival at Breton Point State Park in Newport, RI is a blast.

This park is right next to the ocean--gorgeous! 

And the sky is filled with kites of every shape, color and style.

✵

9. Summer Cocktails!

 

My new favorite summer drink is the MOSCOW MULE.

I'll have more about this tasty cocktail later in the week.

✵

10. Gardening in New England

Pumpkins are growing. I have squash, peppers, raspberries, tomatoes, fresh dill cropping up.

I've been using my fresh oregano and lemon balm every day.

I LOVE SUMMER!

What is everyone doing this summer? Anything fun? Let me know!

Penny

Holiday Cocktails!

♫♯ It's the most...wonderful time...of the year! ♬♪

Time to drink festive holiday beverages! Yee haw! I always make sure I have red wine, white wine, and some Christmas beers at our parties...see exhibits A and B...

Exhibit A: Favorite Red!

Exhibit B: Christmas Ale!

And I usually make a special holiday cocktail. Last year I made cranberry mojitos that were awesome.

This year I'm going to try the EGGNOG MARTINI recipe from Skinny Scoop.

❧ EGGNOG MARTINI ❧

Ingredients:

2 oz. dark rum

1/2 oz. vanilla vodka (YUMMY!)

1 and 1/2 oz. eggnog (I'm using the "lite"version...ha ha!)

dash of simple syrup

crushed graham crackers for garnish

ice

Simple syrup is really easy to make. Here's a basic recipe.

Put rum, vodka, eggnog and ice into a cocktail shaker and SHAKE IT, BABY!

Put graham cracker crumbs on one dish, a bit of simple syrup on another. Dip rim of martini glass in syrup, then coat with graham cracker crumbs. Pour icy cold cocktail into the glass.

Drink and be merry!

Here are some other cute ideas for holiday cocktails:

Looking for a kid's recipe (no alcohol)? Here's a recipe for Kid-Friendly Pomegranate Punch, from Blue Sandpiper...

Ingredients:

2 oranges, sliced
1/4 c. pomegranate seeds or raspberries
1 2-liter bottle Sprite or ginger ale
2 bottles sparkling grape juice
3 T. sugar
1 c. diced fresh pineapple
1 c. pomegranate juice

In punch bowl, dissolve the sugar in the pomegranate juice. Then add the rest of the ingredients. Serve over ice. You can substitute white wine or champagne for the ginger ale if you want to make an "adult" version of this recipe.

I also want to try this delicious-looking recipe for a GINGERBREAD MARTINI from My Recipes. It includes ginger liqueur, crushed gingersnaps, vanilla liqueur, coffee-flavored rum, and whipping cream. OH YEAH!

Snap my ginger!

And finally, a party just isn't complete until you've made a Martha Stewart recipe, right?

It's a good thing!

I like Martha's cute little recipe for a Berry Little Cocktail, which includes cranberries, Charbay ruby red grapefruit vodka, Champagne, cranberry juice and black currant juice. Festive for the holidays!

Well, I hope this post has given you some inspiration for your holiday alcoholic beverages. Let me know if you have any favorites!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Penny

Monday Morning Update: Cocktails, Junior Mints, and Chunky Girls For The Win

Junior Mints Steph, Penny, and Vicki at NJRWA conference, hard at work. :^)

1. ALWAYS THE CHUNKY BRIDESMAID, NEVER THE CHUNKY BRIDE...

I wrote a review for Ros Clarke's FLIRTING WITH THE CAMERA for the new blog Love In The Margins. I really loved this book. It has a chunky girl heroine who has good self-esteem and thinks she's beautiful. How 'bout them apples? Please check out this cool new blog, leave some heckling comments for moi if you so desire, and enjoy my pics of Queen Latifah, Barbie, and a NKOTB video.

Here's the linkie--->My post is called ALWAYS THE CHUNKY BRIDESMAID, NEVER THE CHUNKY BRIDE. Enjoy!

What? You looking at me? I totally represent real women. Come on.

***

2. I attended a conference this past weekend. Here are my photos...

Blueberry Martini...felt like drinking bootlegged grain alcohol...I may have lost 5 or 10 minutes of my life after consuming this one.

Wine, mojito, and totally kick-ass strawberry basil alcoholic lemonade. 

The Beach Martini, with the cool layers you could swirl around.

What? You're asking if I did anything else besides drink during the conference? Um...Um...Of course I did, dammit!

See photo at top of post...I am discussing literature with my friends.

Also, here's another photo, where Bobbi Baby (Bobbi Ruggiero) and Victoria Morgan and I are having a conversation about how to add conflict into your story.

And here are me, Stephanie Funniest-Woman-In-The-World-Most-Likely-To-Be-Struck-Down-By-A-Bolt-Of-Lightning and Bobbi Baby-Don't-Touch-The-Silken-Curtain-Of-Perfection-Or-I'll-Bite-Your-Hand-Off having a super serious discussion about the state of publishing...

And...something else REALLY EXCITING HAPPENED!

OH MY GOD!!!!!!!

My bud Victoria Morgan was a finalist for the Golden Leaf Best First Book Award for her super fabulous debut novel FOR THE LOVE OF A SOLDIER. And guess what!!!!!!

SHE WON!!!!!!

We may have made a bit of a ruckus screaming and yelling and cheering at the time. I'm not sure. (Penny looks super innocent).

And now I have 12 days until the INDIE AUTHOR SYMPOSIUM with Marie Force! I cannot wait. It's going to be an incredible conference, and it's not too late to register. If you are interested in getting more information about how to be the master of your own destiny, check out the website and sign up.

I highly recommend it. 

Happy Monday!

Penelope