Best BBQ Tips for Summer

Summer is coming for us on the east coast, and I couldn't be more excited. And with summer comes the best things - warm, sunny days, outdoor gatherings with friends, and of course BBQs! My absolute favorite way of cooking is on the barbecue. If I could do it all year round, I would; however, because we get such terrible winter weather (as much as I love it, I'm not standing at a BBQ in a blizzard), I always take full advantage of the months when barbecuing is possible.

Even though L and I barbecue on a regular basis every summer, we are by no means professionals...things still smoke and occasionally burn, and usually we stick with old faithful barbecue options - burgers, hot dogs, sausages. This year, I've decided to expand my barbecue horizons, and learn how to 'cue properly. I've toured around the blogosphere and gathered up some of my favorite all purpose barbecuing tips that will certainly be put into practice this BBQ season!

Summer Reading List - June 2015

As long as I can remember, I have always been a reader; I love books, all kinds of books, and can read anywhere and everywhere. I am also most definitely a collector of books. Between L and I, we have three bookcases full - and overflowing - with more books somehow making their way into our house all the time! This year, I've decided I'm going to make time to read more, and now seems like the perfect time to start, with the weather improving all the time and reading outside is an option again! Here are some of my picks - from my bookcases at home - that I can't wait to dig into this summer.

Summery Iced Tea Lemonade

It took a long time to get here, but it seems like warm summery weather has finally arrived! While there are still some chilly and damp days, the warm, sunny days certainly outnumber the yucky ones. One of the most important things to do during the summer is drink lots and lots to stay hydrated...buuut water can certainly get boring after a while.

My absolute favorite drink for summertime is that shaken iced tea lemonade they make at Starbucks. Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately! Haha), there is no Starbucks in my town; the closest one is about an hour away!! And realistically, who wants to spend $5 on an iced tea anyway? So, clearly I decided that I needed to figure out a way to make this super refreshing summertime drink at home. It's so super easy that everyone can make it; also, its easy to customize to your own personal taste - it tastes delicious with just about any flavor of tea you can think of!