Jessica Merchant's Blog, page 54

What I Read In July 2024.

 

I’m still in the midst of some of my best summer reads! I feel like I lost a week of reading on vacation (hence why this post is so late) – doesn’t seem to make sense unless you know what it’s like to take kids on vacation, haha. But I still got some great ones in. A few favorites of the whole summer!

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.

All 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 JULY 2024Jackpot Summer – 4 stars

This was tied as my favorite read of the month! It was so cute. The story is about four siblings who enter the powerball lottery and they become overnight millionaires. The family drama and dynamics in this story is out of this world – if you have multiple siblings I think it is a must read. The ending is so, so good. Also so interesting about lottery winners and the stereotypes that we’ve always heard of. Such a good summer read!

The Summer Pact – 3 stars

I always love an Emily Giffin read. This story follows four college friends and then tragedy strikes senior year, and they make a pact to always be there for each other. A decade later they are traveling together after one reaches out during a hard time in her life. This felt a little all over the place for me and while I did like it, it was also a little slow at times. It also seemed sort of unrealistic!!

A Novel Summer – 4 stars

Love Jamie Brenner’s books!! I love that they usually take place in Provincetown and this is no different. We follow an author, Shelby, who has hurt her friends in the town with her bestselling book. She is working on her next book and finds herself helping a friend in their (adorable!) bookshop. Here, she ends up righting some of the wrongs. And of course we have love!! Such a great ending and heart warming story. Jamie does Provincetown like Elin does Nantucket!

The Ex Vows – 5 stars

Oh my gosh – LOVED this. From the opening, I was instantly hooked. I love a lifelong romance story. We follow Eli and Georgia who broke up years ago, but now must reunite for the wedding of their best friend. There is drama surrounding the wedding and the two of them have to work together to make the day perfect. I absolutely loved this story. Second chance romances have my heart. I loved this author’s first book too!

One Perfect Couple – 4.5 stars

I needed to throw a thriller in there!! I love Ruth Ware books. The story follows Lyla and Nico who join a reality dating show. They are on a remote island, there is all sorts of drama, storms and they are cut off from the rest of the world. I COULD NOT PUT THIS DOWN!!! Maybe it’s because we’re in the time of reality dating shows but it was so good and I was in such suspense. I couldn’t wait to see what happens next. I loved the twists and even though some of the people are so unlikeable, it’s such a good read. A great summer one!

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

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Summer Fridays, Vol 11.

Here’s all the fun summer friday things!

EATING

Marinated tomato BLTs. There is nothing better this year! Also, creamy lemon zucchini bucatini.

DRINKING

Frozen watermelon mojitos. Use up all that fresh mint!

MAKING

My bruschetta quinoa zucchini boats. So satisfying! And my zucchini lasagna bolognese. The best.

BAKING

My sheet pan berry shortcake. This is so wonderful – not very sweet either. And aperol spritz snack cake!

CRAVING

Chocolate zucchini cupcakes with avocado fudge frosting. YEP! Can you tell I have a lot of zucchini?!

GRILLING

The best grilled vegetable orzo. And grilled buffalo chicken sandwiches!

LISTENING

To the midsummer nights playlist!!

READING

I’m planning on starting The God Of The Woods tonight!! Will I make it through? Be too scared?!

WEARING

A reminder that this like a cloud bra is the most comfortable out there! I live in it. I also love the lulu visors and wear one almost every day. The removable sweat band makes this SO comfortable. It’s like a cushion. Also living in the scuba cropped full zip (the navy and gold is everything), I love these v-waist align leggings and the define jacket (I think I have 4 colors now!). While we’re on the topic of athleisure, my inner Kelly Kapowski still lives for these off the shoulder sweatshirts.

SHARING

All my back to school favorites! I’ve updated it a lot as the days have gone on. We’ve got most of our school shopping done. I love it!

LOVING

We have been so obsessed with the olympics that I ended up getting some of ralph team usa stuff for the kids. Max was SO excited. This and sweatshirt! Super cute. I wanted this one but it’s been sold out for weeks. Also, my current favorite bag/sling is the think royln little runway. I have had one of these for a few years and love it so much that I got different colors. It is so sleek, the perfect size (can fit wipes, a water bottle) and super comfortable.

SHOPPING

Love this spanx tennis dress! The lilac shade is perfect. But I’m fully on the fall train when it comes to buying anything. One of my favorite sites is my mind’s eye for decor and fun things for the kids – think seasonal/holiday plates, table runners, etc. The halloween section is too cute! Also loving all things rhone right now. I got Eddie a bunch of stuff for father’s day and it’s excellent quality.

 

 

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Blueberry Pistachio Galette.

We love this blueberry pistachio galette! A pistachio pie crust filled with fresh blueberries and baked until juicy and bubbly and hot, topped with vanilla ice cream. Summer is the best!

There’s just something about summer fruit desserts. 

They can’t be beat. They don’t compare. And it’s one of the only times that I’ll really consider fruit, dessert! 

This buttery galette crust is wrapped around juicy blueberries and served with a sprinkling of pistachios, lots of vanilla ice cream and all the summer feels! 

It’s perfect and ideal for a hot summer day with a delicious grilled salad or grilled chicken skewers. 

OH yes and the elephant in the room: my pistachio crust! Still going strong on the pistachio train. Hop on here with me! 

I love making blueberry galettes in the summer! It’s the perfect way to use up blueberries, and this recipe also is great with frozen blueberries too. You can even make it in the winter.

Galettes are one of my desserts of choice because, hello, pie crust. I still haven’t mastered it (read: don’t have the patience to make the edges look pretty) and it’s so much easier to fold up a galette crust into something beautifully rustic.

So much so that I actually prefer it!

I like it even more than traditional pie, because I want more crust than filling. And in a galette, you don’t get a super stacked filling. So I’m all about it! 

Regularly, I make a blueberry peach galette. That combo will forever be a favorite. But if peaches are out of season, I’ve got you! You can use all blueberries AND make a crust riddled with pistachios.

THIS IS SO GOOD. 

Galettes also make a better vehicle for ice cream. Add a scoop on top and within a few minutes, you have vanilla rivers making their way through the juicy, bubbly berries.  (more…)

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Grilled Honey Mustard Chicken Skewers.

These grilled honey mustard chicken skewers are super delicious! Tender, juicy and flavorful, they are made with lots of garden vegetables and a honey dijon marinade. Serve over jasmine rice for a wonderful dinner that everyone loves.

Give me all the honey mustard things!

These honey mustard chicken skewers are smoky and tender, loaded with summer garden vegetables and served over jasmine rice. 

Perfect weeknight dinner – one that everyone loves, craves and asks for!

Those are the best kind, you know?! 

So, my honey mustard grilled chicken is one of our grilling staples. Holy cow, it is SO good. And so is my honey mustard chicken chopped salad, which is where I created my dressing. If you’re a honey mustard lover, the dressing is practically good enough to drink. 

If you have a good set of grilling skewers, this recipe is so easy. The work lies in chopping and skewering the chicken and vegetables! That’s it.

I make my honey mustard vinaigrette. 

Chop some chicken breasts and lots of vegetables. Skewer everything!

Brush them all over with the honey mustard dressing. Let them marinate for a few minutes. Maybe will you cook some rice.

Grill them! Brush them a few times while brushing. 

I take them off the grill and serve them with jasmine rice because it’s our favorite. The whole family loves jasmine rice – the kids go crazy for it! I can’t believe how large the batch is that I make for dinner these days. 

Skewers are just fun to eat. Especially for the kids! They actually get excited to eat vegetables. (more…)

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Tuesday Things.

1. Nothing gets me as excited as SCHOOL SUPPLIES!! I have to reign myself in because, hello, I do not need school supplies. Only the kids!

2. Do we attribute the above to Lisa Frank? I still find it hard not to Lisa Frankify my bedroom, home decor, accessories, clothing, etc.

3. This peach coffee cake is unreal.

4. It’s safe to say that Francine Pascal may have changed my life. I was utterly obsessed with Sweet Valley High and would sit on the floor of bookstores while my mom was in the mall reading the books, because I couldn’t buy them all at once.

5. TV things!! Nonstop olympics over here. I stream it in the morning and then watch the primetime at night! The kids can’t get enough either.

6. 10 minutes to a clutter free morning. Love this for back to school time!

7. Can’t stop eating tomatoes with sharp cheddar! And flaky salt! And sourdough!

8. 17 uses for leftover pickle juice. I’m into it.

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Summer Mushroom Grilled Pizza with Pistachio Vinaigrette.

This summer mushroom pizza is absolutely incredible! Chewy crust, asiago cheese, sautéed mushrooms with bacon and a big drizzle of a pistachio herb dressing. It tastes like a fancy dish but is so easy to make at home!

This pizza is the epitome of summer lovin’. 

This pizza doesn’t look like much, but it tastes like everything!! Juicy mushrooms with crispy bacon, sharp asiago cheese, a fabulous vinaigrette made with pistachios and tons of fresh herbs – it’s incredible. It’s everything I want to eat and more! 

Okay, can you tell I’m in a bit of a pistachio phase? I almost shared three recipes with pistachios last week, but at the last minute cut it back to two. Does it even matter? Because here I am again, rambling all about this pistachio herb dressing that is my ultimate dream. It is briney, tangy, crunchy, herby and refreshing. 

And makes just about anything super satisfying! 

I also have been in a mushroom phase since the testing round of my summer mushroom tacos. We ate so many of them and I’m still not sick of them. 

This combo is one of my new favorites, a new go-to that I make especially for Eddie and myself, because it’s so flavorful and delicious. 

Think chewy pizza crust, sauteed mushrooms with crispy bacon, lots of asiago cheese and an herby pistachio drizzle to top it all off.

Oh my gosh – it tastes SO FREAKING GOOD. 

In the summer, I love grilling my pizzas. It’s really easy once you get the hang of it and the smoky charred flavor is fabulous. 

This is how I do it!

While the pizza dough is rising, I cook the bacon until it’s crispy. Since I grill the pizza, I get it very crispy because it doesn’t burn on the grill like it does in the oven. 

Next, I cook the mushrooms and garlic in the bacon fat. Oh my YES. This adds an extra layer of flavor and it’s wonderful. Makes the whole dish extra special. 

If I haven’t done this yet, I’ll chop up the herbs and pistachios to make the dressing/drizzle. This is similar to a chimichurri but loaded with buttery, crunchy pistachios. I also use it on my grilled peaches with burrata. I suggest planning to make both in one week so you can maximize the dressing! Use it to elevate both meals and have it in the fridge ready to go. Makes meals super easy when the time comes. 

I also make sure my cheese is ready to go!  (more…)

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A Week In The Life, Vol 32.

We finished out another week in our favorite place!

Cousin love!

My favorite thing – when the water looks like glass in early morning.

We took these two out on wave runners.

We had so much fun!

Even if Eddie and Max were way ahead of us.

It was a blast.

Jordy got to play in the lake while we did that.

And see the ducks!

Neon!

These colors have been a game changer when it comes to spotting the kids in the water.

Looking for petosky stones!

And a late lunch.

Best girl ever.

Fun game of cornhole.

The best sight!

We got family pics on the beach!

And had brunch.

Then jumped on the boat.

Where these crazy ones went tubing!

They had so much fun.

Boat pass out.

So.much.jumping.

These kids jumped for hours last week.

Every night we’d come up from the beach and jump off the dock a few times too.

It was their favorite part.

Jordy could live in the water!

S’mores. Still this light out at 8:30!

Caramelized onion + egg crepe. Yes please.

Pretty sure this playground gave my kids hand foot & mouth five years ago.

Word searches and tic tac toe are their go-tos.

Is it bright enough?!

We spent hours on the beach.

Jordan spent hours in the water!

Happiest.

The trampoline in the water is something they look forward to all year.

This is the first year they could really go on it by themselves.

These two are BFFs right now.

I almost don’t want school to start because they will be split!

His fave place too.

Weeeee!

Lots of beach pizza.

Sunsets.

And evening fishing!

I swear she loves it.

Two berry pie ice cream.

And that’s a wrap!

It was sooo hard to leave. But since we haven’t even been in our house a year, I think Jordan was concerned we moved again. He kept asking to go “back to our old house!” He meant our current home. Ha!

A rainbow of luggage.

Back at it for early cross country practice and tennis!

Swimming with friends.

Hockey!

And it’s a new week!

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What To Eat This Week: 8/4/24.

We’re in the heat of summer!!

What’s on your menu this week?!

What To Eat This Week

Zucchini boat bolognese

Grilled chicken caprese pasta salad

Pickle pizza with hot honey

Honey mustard grilled chicken and broccoli

Buttery lobster rolls

Greek salad on garlic grilled baguettes

Tomato picnic toast

Peaches and cream baked oatmeal cups

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Currently Crushing On.

This week on the blog I shared these grilled peaches with burrata. I also shared this zucchini couscous salad, a bunch of recipes I make for summer when I don’t want to cook and a new summer fridays post!

You can find all my July favorites here. And it’s the end of the nordstrom anniversary sale!

There’s a new weekly menu and a peek at a week in our 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

Craving this salsa macha!

Key lime pie bars look incredible.

This meyer lemonade looks so refreshing.

Coca cola cake sounds so good to me.

Love this buffalo chicken stuffed zucchini.

Zucchini snack cake for the win.

I need this hot smoked salmon bagel!

Peach blueberry muffins looks amazing.

We would love this oreo icebox cake.

Southwestern kale salad! Yum.

Making watermelon margs forever.

Ham and cheese croissants are the best.

Trying this parsley pesto!

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July Favorites.

A peek at everything I loved in July 2024!

FOOD

American spoon maple granola. This is not new to me and I always talk about it when coming home from vacation since I stock up. It is SUCH a delicious granola. I’ve made a copycat which is pretty good too but the american spoon version is fabulous.

Esti hummus. This is my new favorite store bought hummus. It’s so creamy and smooth! The flavors are unreal. I love it so much.

My chickpea pasta salad. I have made this almost every single week this summer!!

HOME

Trigger point massage balls. I use these EVERY SINGLE DAY. I’ve always had horrible tension in my upper back and neck – these are incredible at rolling out the tension. I can’t live without them.

Turkish beach towel set. I’ve had Turkish towels for years but always having one of these on hand with the kids is wonderful because it folds up so thinly, and dries so quickly! They barely take up any space but are bigger than a regular beach towel.

Breville touch espresso machine. Okay. This is insane but I ADORE it. I can’t believe I waited so long to get it. It is making my day, everyday. I’ve also got lots of delicious local coffee to use.

Silicone case for airpods max. I love my airpods max so much – it took awhile to get used to them but now I love them. These silicone covers are great, especially if you sweat because it covers the headphones! The silicone also feels so silky smooth. I love it.

BEAUTY

Kopari hydrating body wash. I’ve fallen in love with all things kopari this year. I swear by this oil and now am loving this body wash too. The pump is everything and the container is huge too.

Tower 28 daily rescue spray. This is saving my face and skin. I know you can find hypochlorous acid in larger bottles, but I actually love these smaller ones! They are so easy to throw in my bag and take wherever. I use them for the kids too.

Fenty Instant warmth bronzer. This has actually pushed out my favorite gucci bronzer. It looks so natural and is super smooth.

FASHION

Elan cover up maxi dress. I’ve had a few of these over the years and just love them. They are such great cover ups – so billowy and summery. My favorite of all time remain the 9seed coverups, but these are much more affordable and not as delicate! Best for the beach.

Longchamp cosmetic pouch. I’ve mentioned this a million times now. It’s the perfect size (and I have the largest iphone) + easy to grab!

Spanx air essentials maxi dress. Spanx can do no wrong in my eyes. I am obsessed with this dress!! Def can wear it into fall too.

MEDIA

Jackpot Summer. I loved this book so much this month! It was super cute and heartwarming.

Breakfast in a Nancy Meyers kitchen playlist. It never ever gets old.

KIDS

Back of seat car organizer. We can’t live without these when we travel. They are everything! And keep me from being a constant flight attendant.

Baseball sunglasses. Max and Emilia have these and loved for baseball earlier this year and now for running. They stay on their faces so well.

Magnetic alphabet puzzle. All 3 of my kids love these. They are such a great thing to keep in the car or take to a restaurant to entertain little ones!

[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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