Jessica Merchant's Blog, page 51

Tuesday Things.

1. Who else feels like September is the best time to start anew?! I love it so much more than January. I will never think otherwise!

2. How to make exactly 4 big chocolate chip cookies. YES.

3. I also had my very first pumpkin cream cold brew which meant I instantly started planning my Thanksgiving table this year.

4. Motivation to minamilize! I did lots of closet clean outs this weekend.

5. Unfortunately (fortunately?) I am a maximalist. I cannot help it!!

6. See also: I’m stalking all my favorite sites to find the cutest holiday clothes for the kids. Already!

7. For a Tuesday that feels like a Monday: diane keaton cooking in a turtleneck.

8. TV things!! So freaking excited for The Perfect Couple this week!

9. Okay I am now convinced I have to try a chopped cheese.

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What I Read In August 2024.

I can’t believe we’re winding down on summer reads! I feel like I still have so many to get through. But I loved what I read this month. So many great books.

I shared my giant summer reading list a few months ago – you can find it here.

Let me know what you’re reading below.

I do have a book of the month membership – I love it so much. That’s where I got a few books from this month. I get so many of my new releases and debut author books there. You can sign up for one here.

Most of these books are linked through bookshop (if available!) and I highly suggest shopping through there because it will support your local indie bookstore. You can choose the local bookstore to support! I support Penguin Books when I buy which is my fave here in Pittsburgh.

WHAT I READ IN AUGUST 2024Not Another Love Song – 4.5 stars

Loved this one! So I was hesitant at first because this author can write some DARK characters. In her previous book, the guy was just so dark. This guy starts out like that but it gets a lot better. The story follows two people who are musicians and play in the manhattan pops. I loved this storyline so much – the author is extremely detailed in the musical world and it was fascinating!

The God Of The Woods – 5 stars

Loved the one so so so much! Ooooh it is perfect for a misty summer day. This story is about a camp set in the 70s, run by a wealthy family. A camper goes missing who happens to be from the family, and a decade earlier another child from the same family had gone missing. This is very good and does have some twists – I saw a few coming but in the best way possible. I loved how this ended even if it was a little heartbreaking!

So This Is War – 3.5 stars

I love a good Meghan Quinn book when I was to numb my mind, and I mean that in a good way! They are all fairly similar and the characters all play off each other. In this one we follow one of the hockey players who ends up living with the coach’s daughter as a favor to him. The premise is kind of ridiculous but it was a quick read and one that moves quickly. I did like the characters!

The Pairing – 4.5 stars

Ahhhh this was so so good. We follow Theo and Kit who are exs and had an awful breakup. They were supposed to take an amazing trip that never happened, so years later (once they are out of each other’s lives), they both decide to take the trip… at the same time! I live for a good second chance romance and this one does not disappoint. The descriptions of the vacation are INCREDIBLE and made me feel like I was there.

The Housemaid – 4 stars

I finally read this!! Both of my SIL’s have been raving about her books. Oh my gosh, this was like a drug. It was such a quick and enticing read. Very fast to read and suspenseful! We meet an ex con who is hired to be a maid for a woman who ends up bonkers crazy. Tons of big twists. I saw a few coming but only because I’ve read similar books – if you have too, you will get what I mean. This books moves quick and I read it in less than 24 hours. Already onto the next ones! I love that they are a mystery/thriller but not scary.

The Rom Commers – 4.5 stars

I love Katherine Center’s books SO much. They are the perfect rom com to me – which is funny considering the title of this one! Here, we follow two screenwriters (a famous one and one who is hustling to make it happen) and they end up working on a project together. Super cute, funny, love the writing and the characters. I love that she can write cynical characters without them coming off as dark or mean.

(This is not sponsored but there are a few bookshop and/or affiliate links above! Thank you for reading!)

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A Week In The Life, Vol 36.

These weeks are just flying by.

As soon as school starts, it’s like we’re off to the races.

First regular preschool dropoff!! (like, when I don’t walk him in!)

Sheet pan lasagna was a winner.

Hot as heck for tennis this week! 95 degrees.

Those blonde braids.

House salad always. I put buffalo chicken on top of this. It was unreal.

I don’t feel complete unless I have sourdough pizza dough in the fridge, ready to go.

Loving school like a big kid!

In case you think my kids eat gourmet all week… they lived on pizza bagels all summer! Marinara + tillamook mozzarella.

She looks 16.

We celebrated my brother’s and niece’s birthdays and my SIL made these amazing pineapple chicken tacos.

Have moved onto pumpkin iced coffee at home.

Made a huge batch of pesto!

As summer winds down, once or twice a week I will get as much basil as I can and make batches of pesto for the freezer. I like to put in the souper cubes and store in the freezer too.

This is how excited we are for September!!!

These two are the cutest BFFs.

And yay SEPTEMBER!!!

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42 of Our Favorite Game Day Recipes!

There’s a ton of amazing football season recipes here for you: snacks, dips, pulled pork, salads, treats, cocktails and more. Everything that is easy to make and serve for game day entertaining.

Football food is back!

It’s the best time of year! The games, the weather, the FOOD, all that jazz!

For years, I shared a huge list of our favorite “football foods” on Labor Day! Think, a big recipe guide so you could have everything you’d want to make throughout the football season, right on one page. It’s been a few years since I’ve shared one, so today I thought it would be great to show you my absolute go-tos when it comes to fall game day entertaining. The best of the best.

Regardless of if you actually want to watch the game or just enjoy the snacks, these are my top picks!

42 Football Season Recipes

(more…)

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What To Eat This Week: 9/1/24.

Celebrating the unofficial end to summer this week!

What’s on your menu?!

What To Eat This Week

Cheesy baked pesto penne

Summer crispy carnitas tacos

Spinach baked ravioli

Sticky BBQ chicken meatballs with broccoli slaw

Sheet pan cauliflower black bean fajitas

One pot garlic butter shrimp orzo

Bircher muesli 

Smashed pesto chickpea sandwich

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Currently Crushing On.

It’s a long weekend!

This week on the blog I shared these summer carnitas tacos. I also shared these double chocolate zucchini muffins, my august favorites (so many good things) and our final summer fridays post!

There’s a new menu for the week and a new peek inside our everyday life!

You can join The Everyday Dinners cookbook club right here! If you have a copy of the book, request to join the group. If not, get one here!  Ready to start on fall! It is such a wonderful community and an amazing place for recipe ideas.

xoxoxox

WHAT I’M LOVING THIS WEEK

Chocolate chip cake! Love it.

These garlic butter wings sound amazing.

Grilled shrimp rice bowls. Incredible.

And these grilled shrimp skewers look so good.

7 layer loaded hummus dip. YUM.

Love baked apple cider donuts.

Tamale pie has to happen.

It’s pumpkin chocolate chip cookie time.

15 minute puppy chow recipe.

Need to try caramel apple cinnamon rolls.

Bacon wrapped chicken thighs look fabulous.

This croissant chicken sandwich is unreal.

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Summer Fridays, Vol 14.

It’s our last summer fridays of the year!

EATING

A slider bar for labor day weekend! And chilled queso! And lemon chicken pasta salad. Zucchini corn fritters too.

DRINKING

My apple cider spritz! And pumpkin coconut cream cold brew!

MAKING

My salted apple fritters! Oh my word, are these incredible.

BAKING

Brown butter pistachio granola. Such a great snack for school days.

GRILLING

My grilled corn summer enchiladas. And these grilled chicken caesar sandwiches!

CRAVING

My cinnamon toasted pumpkin pie oatmeal. It’s one of my favorite things. So is this baked pumpkin cheesecake oatmeal!

LISTENING

To our summer fridays send off playlist!

READING

Just started The Cliffs last night! What are you reading?!

SHARING

I have a whole giant labor day recipe guide right here. I also have a ton of our favorite back to school recipes right here. And for major ease, all the sheet pan dishes.

WEARING

A shoutout for the best champion tank of all time, originally at target, but now sold on amazon. I’ve lived in these all week since it’s been 90 degrees. I will cry if they ever discontinue them! I also got this little wrap coat that I’m obsessed with. It gives off major varley vibes! Speaking off, the new varley fall stuff is SO good. That pink shade!!

SHOPPING

To be honest I really truly adore shopping for my kids outfits!! I love finding them things that match or coordinate and Emilia’s sense of style is SO fun. My go-tos are always target, j crew factory (which I like SO much more than j crew f0r the kids), lola and the boys for Emilia, The only ones that caught my eye are the osea sale, the hill house sale, shopbop and the aviator nation labor day sale.

LOVING

Everything halloween here in my amazon shop. Oh my gosh – there are so many cute things. Sept 1 – it’s on! And I know I’ve mentioned it a few times, but the my mind’s eye stuff is also super cute. I’m done with the glitter bats on my fireplace – black glitter butterflies are where its at!

CELEBRATING

The end of summer fridays! The sun is setting on our little weekly catch ups for 2024. I can’t believe it’s here already. I love doing this every summer and it gives me something to look forward to! But fall is the BEST time for recipes and I have so many delicious things coming at you. A bunch of new exciting things are on the horizon too with my next book!

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August Favorites.

A peek at everything I loved in August 2024!

FOOD

My chickpea pasta salad. A repeat, but I can’t even tell you how many times I have made it this summer. Many, many times! It’s a family favorite and always a hit. Also very customizable!

Chocolate covered pistachios. I found these at costco and was in heaven. Pistachios AND milk chocolate? Hello, I’m in heaven.

Popcorn bar. This isn’t something specific, but more an idea. My kids have been LOVING this for movie nights. A big bowl of popcorn surroounded by add-ins, like nuts, salty snacks (cheese crackers, snap pea crisps), gummy candy and chocolate. So fun! P.S. mix those pistachios above with popcorn too!

HOME

Hulken bags. I cannot get enough of these bags, but especially this time of year with school supplies! They are the best way to drag everything we need into school. These also make such a great gift! They roll so easily that the kids can take them places too.

E. Frances little notes. I just discovered these and I am OBSESSED. I don’t even want to tell you how many I ordered. If you’re a stationary lover, these are a dream. I ordered a bunch for gifts too. All of the rest of the stuff is incredible too!

Amazon lazy susan. This is the BEST lazy susan I have bought. It’s melamine, the sections are removable (so 2 bowls in 1!), it spins so smoothly and it’s pretty enough for any holiday. Oh, it also HAS A LID!!! Best thing ever. I’ve taken it to parties already and have used it for after school snacks. Love.

Rifle paper Halloween platter. I am in LOVE with this rifle paper melamine halloween line! I know it’s early, but in my experience, this stuff always sells out by September or October! I got this, the bowl, plates and towel at the start of August. They are SO cute. If you love to celebrate these holidays for weeks with your kids, they are a must! Everything melamine is an instant win for me.

BEAUTY

Afternoon delight perfume. I can’t get enough of this perfume. I love it so much. Warm and delicious but not cloyingly sweet.

REFY lip gloss in blush. Loving this gloss almost as much as my laneige. The slight tint is so so pretty and flattering.

Pillow Talk Fair lipstick. I have never been able to get on the pillow talk bandwagon – I’m too cool toned and it looks too brown/warm on me. But!! This pillow talk fair shade is SO GOOD for my skin tone. It reminds me a lot of MAC creme cup which is probably my all-time favorite pink.

FASHION

Racerback midi dress. In.love.with.this!!! You know those tank tops I couldn’t stop talking about at the start of the summer? This is like that, but in dress form. Super comfortable too!

Cuyana La Toquillera hat. This has been my savior all summer. I never go in the sun (or basically, outside) without a hat, but I hate regular hats because they make me so hot. I always wear visors, but this find was truly my favorite all summer. The band is so easy and lightweight and it provides more coverage than a visor. It’s really comfortable!

Mini zip pouch. Another cuyana find. In my larger totes, it’s a mess of pouches. I mean, a good mess. I have everything pretty organized and separate in pouches. I grabbed one of these and it’s just as great as you’d thing – that super soft cuyana leather is just so good. I got the deep ocean color. I want all of their items in that gorgeous shade!

MEDIA

The God Of The Woods. Definitely my favorite of the month. I was sucked into this book instantly!

Lainey Wilson Whirlwind album. I love every song on this new album! Have been listening constantly.

Criminal podcast. Okay, still in my true crime era. Loving this one all month!

KIDS

GoBe snack spinner. I also really love the lunchbox, but it is too long to fit in my kids current school lunchboxes!

Kid’s Halloween mug set. Like the rifle paper tray above, I was so excited to find these for the kids. They’ve already been using them (just to even drink water, haha) and I don’t mind, they are so cute!

Animal magnets. I actually got these for the kids for their lockers and they love them – but Jordan adores them too! They are fun magnets to have for kids.

[none of this is sponsored, i just love to tell you what i love every month! there are a few general affiliate links above! xo]

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Double Chocolate Zucchini Muffins.

These double chocolate zucchini muffins are perfect! Dark chocolate muffins with grated zucchini and melty chocolate chips are the best snack this time of year. We all love them so much!

It’s that time of year.

When the zucchini is abundant and you need to make some treats to use it up. These little muffin cakes are loaded with double chocolate flavor, melty chocolate chips and are ridiculously satisfying. 

Plus, we’re eating a vegetable!

Yes yes yes, this is my favorite way to eat a vegetable. Covered in chocolate. 

These muffins don’t look like anything special, but they are incredibly good. My kids beg for them. They taste like a treat, they are moist and have a cake-like crumb. Really, you can’t go wrong with them. 

I even threw a batch in the freezer!

We are muffin maniacs. 

These blueberry zucchini muffins are some of our absolute favorites. I also made my pumpkin muffins often this time of year.

It’s safe to say that we are a muffin family!! 

And I love it. 

I took that favorite zucchini muffin recipe and added cocoa powder and tons of chocolate chips. Extra chocolatey, coming right up. 

These are pretty darn easy to make too. The biggest key is to grate the zucchini then squeeze out the extra liquid in a towel, over the sink. 

After that’s done, stir together the dry ingredients.

Then whisk together the wet ingredients!

Add the dry to the wet. Add the zucchini. And then the chocolate. 

The batter almost looks like brownie batter. So chocolatey and rich and wonderful. 

Bake for 20ish minutes, let them cool slightly and you’re done.  (more…)

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Tuesday Things.

1. Okay. I am ready to decorate for fall. I can’t help it!

2. Just a reminder that apple cider is the best fall flavor there is.

3. This lemon ice cream looks absolutely incredible.

4. Have you tried fruit riot grapes?! Just tried them and I am in.love.

5. I haven’t put a lemon in my dishwasher yet. I want to.

6. TV things!! We watched Twisters over the weekend, it was pretty good.

7. Cannot live without a chopped salad in my life. These salad scissors change the game.

8 Very into making my own giant snack mix. Basically mixing all salty snacks and nuts together (popcorn always) in a big bowl. People go wild.

9. Things we shouldn’t stress over.

10. Hello, I made a page of Halloween favorites.

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