June is sizzling and stuff is happening!

Good Morning!

These days are more and more scorching... can I refill your lemonade?   Ahhh that's better : )

I just returned to the beach from my parents house in Forest, VA, where I went and spent a nice loooong weekend, helped my dad finish the basement, got to see some old friends, and really enjoyed some quality R&R with my fam. Spent most nights on the back porch, eating, drinking and chatting, and even logged in some hours at the pool like old times with my brother, his lady, and his best friend. Last time we all did this together I think we were each half our current size : ) so it was nice.

My vacay home happened to coincide with the start of the 2010 World Cup (forza Italia!...next to the US, of course) which made me remeniscent of my time in Italy in 2006, where we went and watched Mondiali games in dirty, crowded piazzas with hundreds of diverse fans speaking in many different dialects.
It's not that I mind watching this year's tournament in an air-conditioned living room with leather couches, it's just....different...

But mama knew how to celebrate, whipping up a Caprese salad with the basil and tomatoes we planted 2 months ago. Mmmmm fresh and scrumptious!

I always eat really well when I'm home, since my mom should be on the Food Network and lo0o0oves to feed people, ("You're too skinny, Mangia!") and since we usually walk around the neighborhood at night, critiquing the houses and lawns, it's the perfect healthy balance.

Here's a couple of happenings that caught me by surprise this weekend:

Got some sweet new wheels for my ride. Now my little "Red Lady" is aqua-friendly.

Uh... holy canoli, my zucchini about tripled it's size and my cucumbers (they are in the middle, stretching out on runners) are flowering and spindlier than ever. Check out my sweet banana peppers...Yowza!
Now we have to cook out so I can grill up some of my veggies and whip up a fresh salad : )

Oh yea and I guess one more little thing happened.... MY BROTHER AND HIS GIRLFRIEND GOT ENGAGED!!!! I'M GONNA HAVE A SISTER!!!!! I CAN'T STOP USING CAPITAL LETTERS!!!!

Even though this beauty on the left has been a part of our family for...oh, say 8 years?!? she is now officially weighed down with a shiny rock. (don't worry I was with him and tried it on when he bought it, just to make sure it was legit ;)

I'm so excited, I can hardly contain myself, as the numbers on the thermometer go up and up I'm just trying to keep pace with this shaker-summer...and we haven't even reached the solstice yet!

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Got a PHISH show to go to later(woooo!) and a wide expanse of beach to relax on now. I think I'm going to take my notebook and sketch out some ideas to clear my head...going to need much brain capacity in the next few months to come! =)

Love is all around <3 Have a beautiful day!