Summer Love! - Ep 52

It's summer, and Ellen and Tish are ready to take it on. 

Books, blockbuster movies, fashion, food & drink, sports, travel, and seeing friends and family - Ellen and Tish share what they've got planned and great ideas for all in these six categories to make your summer the best one ever.  And, yes Tish does mention pickleball in this episode!
 
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Obsessions - please use these links to support the show!
Tish:   Watermelon Tap and Pineapple Corer
Ellen: La Roche Posay sunscreen

What we talk about in this episode:  the new Indiana Jones movie, watermelon, kegs, white jeans, white jean shorts, white jean skirts, vibrant belts, Elin Hilderbrand, Emma Cline, Taylor Jenkins Reid, Julie Suk, Oppenheimer movie,  Indiana Jones new movie, Watermelon Kegs kits and pineapple corer, birdcage bars, Jaws, Nantucket, Campari soda, gazpacho, Hadley Pollet belts, high school graduation, watermelon martini, ocean spray, Laguna Beach, Tampa, Cayman Islands


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Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:21

Today we are going to talk about all things summer. with Memorial Day weekend now behind us and graduation season almost over, I'd say it's here, Tish.

Speaker 2: 0:33

Yes, I am so excited for this summer. I can't tell you.

Speaker 1: 0:38

I know It's like we were just talking about spring clean your life. it seems like.

Speaker 2: 0:44

We were, we were Yeah, we were just gliding right into the summer vibes. I like it.

Speaker 1: 0:49

I do too. So today we're going to share our recommendations across six key areas for everyone to have a fabulous summer, and we've got so many great things, so many great ideas, some funny ones, to share with you today.

Speaker 2: 1:06

You know, there's just something about summertime and it can so easily this time can so easily slip by, and then you're like hey, i didn't do anything. So I want to just challenge everyone to be intentional about making memories for this summer.

Speaker 1: 1:26

I agree. Just like we said, it was just spring and now it's summer and I am psyched out. Here in California, it seems like we're still looking for that golden summer without COVID, you know. But before we dig in, you know, i love, love, love talking about our obsessions and I think you must have a few good ones for summer. For me today, tish.

Speaker 2: 1:49

So my, my, I have two obsessions, but they go together because we're going to use them together and I'm going to talk a little bit more about it later in the episode. But it is a watermelon tap beverage dispenser kit and a pineapple corer. Okay, So I'm going to use these as part of something fun to have this summer at your next cookout. But those are my obsessions.

Speaker 1: 2:17

Well. I can see where this is going.

Speaker 2: 2:22

We're going to be able to go a watermelon for the kids or possibly an adult watermelon.

Speaker 1: 2:29

An adult beverage, all right. Well, keeping in that summertime theme, my obsession is my French sunscreen. And you know, here in midlife, i wish I had done this younger. I wish I hadn't been sunning myself with an album cover or on a silver blanket back in college.

Speaker 1: 2:50

I really take care of my skin now And my dermatologist recommended and I'm sure I'm not saying this right, but La Roche Posse. It's a French sunscreen and I know it sounds super fancy, ladies, but you can buy this at CVS, walgreens, probably even Target, and it comes in a great kind of like a tinted version for your face. Love it.

Speaker 2: 3:16

Oh, i like that. So does it give you a little color, kind of just to start off with and you put it on? I like that. I like that And I think we do have to be a little bit more careful about our skin protection. So, like that one, i've got to go try that one.

Speaker 1: 3:33

Yeah, it's a good one. I think you know they have an SPF 60 for your face Like you. Really can't do any better than that. But let's get on to our ideas for having the best summer ever And share with our listeners some of the things we have planned. Tish, yes, i'd like that. Okay, i think we should start. We're calling this the B squared the book and the blockbuster, so it's a book, summer book and a blockbuster movie. I'll go first. How about that?

Speaker 2: 4:08

I think you should go first. You're a big book person.

Speaker 1: 4:11

I know. So I picked two books, one I've read and one I haven't. So I am so looking forward to this newly released book called The Guest by Emma Klein. And I read her last book, i think it was called The Girls. So I think it's interesting.

Speaker 1: 4:27

The Guest, the Girls, which was kind of a story of like some Manson type, you know clan action happening. It was so good. And The Guest is about a woman who's mistaken for a young college student versus a call girl And she's at a summer house And her name is Alex And she's with this man, simon. He's a wealthy, older man And you know they say it's kind of in the genre of like a white lotus or almost like a secession right, so kind of, you know, a little steamy, yeah, and a little, they say, like a bummer, a bummer novel, but a good bummer in a good way. So that's called The Guest by Emma Klein. That's the book I haven't read And the other book is called Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid, and I think I may have recommended this one other time before It's out in paperback. It's on sale. It is just the best book for a beach, a pool, wherever you are. A hammock story of the Riva family in Malibu.

Speaker 1: 5:34

The book ends with the house catching on fire, so there could be a bigger or a more spectacular end, but I love reading in the summer outside under an umbrella, just in my backyard. How about you, tish? Do you like summer reading better than snuggling?

Speaker 2: 5:55

I do, i do. There's something about being out at the pool with the good book and the sunglasses on and just taking a break from the water and just kind of being in my own little world. There's just something great about that. Or, even better yet, with my toes in the sand at the beach. So I don't care if I have to just drive down for the day I've got to get my toes in the sand very soon.

Speaker 1: 6:20

Well, speaking of toes in the sand, i am anxiously awaiting the new Ellen Hildebrand book that comes out on June 13th. Five Star Weekend.

Speaker 2: 6:31

Oh my gosh. Now, ellen, that was my pick, i know. Okay, this is on my book to read for the summer. So I picked two different books myself as well. One is kind of light and fun and the other one is a little bit more serious. So the Five Star Weekend this is another one of her novels, set in Magical Nantucket, and the story is after a tragic loss of her husband, our main character, hollis. She gathers four friends to go on this weekend And what's unusual about that is she is going to get them from different stages of her life. She's going to weave in some friendships, it sounds like. So this should be very interesting, and you know I love me some girlfriend power bonding storyline, so this one's right up my alley for sure.

Speaker 1: 7:23

Right And Nantucket. I mean, I just love all her books. It's on my bucket list, Nantucket. So, what's your serious?

Speaker 2: 7:32

book Tish. Okay, so my other book, my serious, on a more serious note, is by author Jewish Shooks and it's called We, the Women, unstoppable Mothers of the Equal Rights Amendment, and so that one is a more serious read. You know, we've been talking a lot about, you know, the Equal Rights Amendment having not passed And there has been a lot of stirring, starting in January of this year, to do something about that. So it was a book that I really wanted to read, and Julie is actually a law professor at Fordham University, so I'm really looking forward to this particular book.

Speaker 1: 8:16

Gosh, you have me. I think I'm going to read it too. Very interesting subject.

Speaker 2: 8:21

Yeah, And just you know, I think I need a little inspiration in that department. So those are my picks for books.

Speaker 1: 8:31

That's great. Well, we'll definitely have to report back on both the five-star weekend, which sounds very interesting, and we the women, because I think we could all almost all of us use a little motivation on getting the ERA going again. So, all right, let's move on to movies. So the movie I'm going to see as soon as it comes out on Fourth of July weekend is the fifth Indiana Jones, and with three boys, i have sat through every Indiana.

Speaker 1: 9:05

Jones movie maybe a few times, as well as building Indiana Jones Legos and going on Indiana Jones rides at Disneyland. But I can say I so love these movies And Harrison Ford.

Speaker 2: 9:20

I mean. Well, that makes it all the easier, right, Harrison Ford.

Speaker 1: 9:24

Yes, and I did just watch the Yellowstone prequel with him and Helen Mirren, 1923. So I'm just going to give a shout out to that as well. If you're a Harrison Ford fan, if you're a Yellowstone fan, definitely watch that and watch 1883. I mean, why'd they have to name both of them years? That is the prequel to the prequel with Faith Hill, bobby Tim Grah, and I love that one the most. So are you a Yellowstone fan, tish?

Speaker 2: 9:57

You know I've heard so much about that series and I've not jumped on the Yellowstone bandwagon. But you know, sometimes I'm late to the party on those type of things. But I'm sure I'll get around to that.

Speaker 1: 10:09

Awesome. Well, just to shout out at the the Indie, the Indiana Jones movie is called The Dial of Destiny. I'm going with my boys, we're going to see it in a theater with those big barco lounge or seeds, that serves both wine and popcorn.

Speaker 2: 10:25

You know I love those theaters that, like, are full service food and stuff. Yeah, it's been. It's been a minute since Liam and I have done that, but he was like anywhere that's willing to bring him a cheeseburger and a Sunday. Yeah, he was on board.

Speaker 1: 10:41

Okay Tish. What's your movie? What's your blockbuster?

Speaker 2: 10:43

Okay, so I want to see Oppenheimer okay, the father of the atomic bomb.

Speaker 2: 10:49

I don't know, just that whole storyline. You know, to me there are times in history that are pivotal, you know, and I really think, his involvement in the creation of the atomic bomb. If it wasn't for him and his team, i think we would be living in a very different world, and I'm really looking forward to seeing this with my son, liam, who is really becoming quite the history buff. So I want to see how his reaction is a little different than maybe mine. We usually see politics a little bit different, so I always like to see what his take is going to be. And, like I said, i think we could be living in a really different world today if it wasn't for Oppenheimer and that particular group. But the other thing and this is something that I wanted to do for a couple years, but last year my friend Casey and I we almost pulled the trigger on it And then I don't know if it was weather or something, but we are planning to do a JAWS party.

Speaker 1: 11:50

I love it. I love it.

Speaker 2: 11:52

I just want you to know that JAWS originally came out in 1975. So the movie is 48 years old. I mean we're coming up on the big 50, you know for that movie.

Speaker 1: 12:05

That is unbelievable. I mean, we were like 10 at that point.

Speaker 2: 12:08

right, we were, yeah, we were And I remember it being one of the very first movies that I recall going to see And I went with my bestest friend in the world, Judy, and we were terrified. We were terrified. We were afraid to go into Lake Erie. You know it didn't matter that Lake Erie does not have any sharks, but we were afraid. So that movie just has that type of impact. Just the music, Yes.

Speaker 2: 12:39

So we want to either do the movie where we're going to set up a movie screen either lakeside or poolside, and we want everybody in inner tubes floating while we watch the movie, and I am going to say that I challenge anyone to listen to that theme and not lift their legs up out of the water. So, casey, casey, this is our year. We need to do the Jaws movie.

Speaker 1: 13:11

I love that kind of party And you know that movie probably affected our generation, everyone from our generation, tish so much And that shark was really one of the first like animatronic. Oh, yeah. I mean for the special effects, for that time. But it's true, you hear that, you hear that music and you know what's coming.

Speaker 2: 13:34

You know what's coming, so I have a question for you, ellen. Yeah, do you have drive-in theaters in your area?

Speaker 1: 13:43

You know what's interesting a couple years ago, we have a very nice theater called the Lark Theater. They play more art kind of films and they have events there And they started a drive-in movie theater on the weekends in the parking lot of the Nordstroms And so it's close by. They play a lot of kids movies. You know they're really kind of catering to that But there have been a few movies that I thought that would be so fun to go see. So it is local And you know I think it would be a fun thing. I do remember going to a drive-in movie with my best friend, sue from high school, a few times.

Speaker 2: 14:25

What about?

Speaker 1: 14:26

you Do? you still have them in South Carolina.

Speaker 2: 14:29

We actually do have them in South Carolina And it just, you know, brings me back to the days that my parents, like my mom, would have us take early baths, put our PJs on, we'd pile into the car and we would go and watch our movies. And of course I would never make it through to the end of the second movie And you know, i remember my dad carrying me in from the car. You know, sound asleep and stuff. So it has great memories. And then when I hit high school, well, you know, there was one or two drivers in the front and like eight friends stuffed into the trunk, because he would pay per person And you'd open the trunk and it would be like a clown car, all these people coming out. So the drive-in has such wonderful memories for me And I just really want to go again this summer. So I think I have to find me a date and go parking at the drive-in or something I just know. I want to go to a drive-in this summer, that's all I have, i love it.

Speaker 1: 15:27

Put that on your summer list. Put that on your summer list, so fun. We have a lot more movies in the park here, so I'm more inclined to do that down on our baseball field or in the next town They do movies in the park And I think those are really fun too.

Speaker 2: 15:44

I love that.

Speaker 1: 15:45

Yeah, all right, let's talk about summer sports And you know, i don't think I'll be giving too much away to say you're probably going to talk about pickleball here, maybe.

Speaker 2: 15:56

Maybe. Well, you start us off. What are you going to be into this summer?

Speaker 1: 16:02

You know, i have to say that I was thinking about this the other day And there's just so much to choose from. Right, i've been learning a little pickleball. I've been doing golf for a couple years. I love to hike. Right, i'm doing my yoga, but I've decided to go hard on golf, doing a couple lessons with my youngest kid and, you know, getting my boys out on the links as well as friends too. But I found right now, for me pickleball is a little hard because I'm not that good and I'm a single, and so I haven't quite gotten away or a place or a group to really be able to get into it. Because you know, as our friend Kristen says, pickle, pickle, pickle Everybody wants to pickle. But I'm going to, i'm going to really try and play golf two times a week and do some hitting, some hit some balls too. So for me that's really leaning in.

Speaker 2: 17:00

All right, you know one of my favorite things about golf is it is a sport of a lifetime.

Speaker 1: 17:06

Yeah.

Speaker 2: 17:07

You know it's not like you. I'm too old to play, you know. You see, you know every ages and stuff out there, and I love that you're going to be planning some memories to do with your boys out there And while they're home for the summer. Take advantage and definitely do that, and I do think it's always a good thing, it's a good sport to learn, because people do do a lot of business still with golf. So, yeah, kudos to you.

Speaker 2: 17:35

Now, i had signed up to be part of a singles, like a golf pickup thing, and I was all gung-ho And I think I'm just going to have to back off. I just don't think I have the time. So I've been, you know, i've been going through a lot of job changes recently as well as some health issues, so I am really, i think, going forward, going to recommit to my pickleball. I really miss my pickle family And I think, you know, i think I'm going to put golf in the back burner on, yeah, until maybe the fall or something like that, and really get back into that pickleball as well as just, you know, just other miscellaneous things here and there, but that's really where my passion still lies.

Speaker 1: 18:23

Yeah, you have such a great pickleball community that you're part of their tish that I can see that that would be where you would go Now. Do you consider floating in the intertube down that river every summer sport, is that a sport for you?

Speaker 2: 18:40

Sure, sure, i can make it a sport. It's a drinking sport, it's a music. We bring waterproof music and some cocktails And it takes us about three hours to float down the little kataba there And it is definitely fun. And I know we will be bringing out the intertubes for a couple of those sessions this summer as well.

Speaker 1: 19:04

Nice So yeah, i'll stick that into the sport category. Okay, just making sure. All right, we're going to move on to what I'm calling reunion or a family event, and I think we have a lot of these over the summer, and I'm just going to go first. My youngest child, will, is graduating from high school here in June.

Speaker 2: 19:25

This is the year of will.

Speaker 1: 19:27

The year of will is quickly coming to an end here, but it really was the best year. Of course, with your youngest child, you rarely get time with them alone And having my middle son so close together, you know we'll never got any time alone, so it was a great year. We've got some folks coming in for the graduation And I just have to say I did his senior collage today and I am ready for the graduation. That's my big family event for the summer. What do you got?

Speaker 2: 20:01

going Tish Well before that. I'm sorry I can't be there for Will's graduation, but I do have a little something coming his way just because I was thinking about him. And he's the last of it. You and Kitty have the youngest ones, and they're both graduating from high school this year, and then we're all empty nesters.

Speaker 1: 20:25

I know it's really, it's really great Shout out to Maya Kathy's daughter, who's graduating and heading off to college next year too. We really prolonged the mothering of the Trinity tribe today.

Speaker 2: 20:41

Oh, we stretch it out really well, but well, i was supposed to be going to my high school reunion. I was really looking forward to this one too, so many of my classmates were going to be going, and unfortunately I don't think that's going to happen after all. Again, i've had some medical things that have kind of popped up for me, and I guess it is what it is, and I'm going to make more of an effort to reconnect with those ladies on a one-on-one thing, on a one-on-one you know away from the reunion, obviously, but also I really, because I'm missing out on something like that. It just reminds me that there's so many friends that you kind of lose connection with, and I want to really make an effort this summer to reconnect with some people that I'm missing. So I'm going to reunion in town.

Speaker 1: 21:31

You know what I love that. it's like a staycation, but a reunion staycation, and I think that's a great idea. You know these big milestones like a special high school reunion. I wasn't able to go to my last one either, but my best friend from high school, she came out here to California last weekend and it was really special to reconnect with her. So I think you know, sometimes the reunions have to be one-on-one. Yes, yes.

Speaker 2: 22:01

If you can't be there for the main thing, still make the best of it, for sure. But you know this is going to be my favorite, one of my favorite subjects coming up here, I want to talk about summer fashion And you know I always like the change of the season because I become obsessed with something else. You know my focus is I like a special thing for each season. It doesn't have to be grand or anything like that. What is your go-to for summer fashion?

Speaker 1: 22:32

Well, before I get to that, I just have to ask are you putting away the white cowboy boots, or do those transition into summer as a special thing for you?

Speaker 2: 22:41

Well, tomorrow night I'm going line dancing and the boots will be with me, Okay So? that would be a no, that would be a hard no, thing away.

Speaker 1: 22:51

All right well.

Speaker 2: 22:53

I think that's the year of the white cowboy boots, so they're going to keep going.

Speaker 1: 22:57

They are season less, so to speak. But you know, i think this is funny because we both wrote down what our fashion, you know, must have for the summer is. And I have to say we both put down white jeans. But I put down also a white jean skirt, thanks to Kathy Shea who always had one on. It always looks so cute. But every single top I have I always say, how would that go with white jeans? Oh, that goes great with my white jeans, right? So I have to say white jeans are synonymous with summer. I have crop, i have kind of a flair, and then I have the, the jeans skirt And I have to say I probably have those on three or four times a week if I'm not in, you know, a dress or some other kind of shorts. They, they are the best, they are.

Speaker 2: 23:51

I just love the white jean And for the first time you know, because of my help journey I'm going to actually be wearing white jean shorts as well. I was never much of a shorts person But I also. So I have my white jeans and my white shorts And you know they're just so classic, they're versatile. I love pairing them with like a white top and then finding a pop of color. So this year my pop of color is going to come from my Hadley Pallet reversible belt. So you got me inspired onto Hadley Pallet.

Speaker 2: 24:27

They are amazing belts with these little turquoise buckles on the front And it usually it has the same colors but like on one side it's a pink dominant with green accents And the other side is green dominant with pink accents. But they just make the white jeans and the white jean shorts pop. So totally I love that look. I love the all white look with just that pop of color. Maybe it's, maybe it's your shoes, maybe you have like a hot pink shoe on with you know, all white and it's just fun. I just so, if you haven't bought yourself a new pair of white jeans for this summer, do so. Go get that really crisp new pair And you just kind of feel fabulous every time you go out.

Speaker 1: 25:15

You know. So, true, tish, and I love the monochromatic look, the white jeans, the white tea. You can put any blazer, you can put a scarf or, you know, the belt. I think you had your Hadley palette out here and I had this hot pink belt on.

Speaker 2: 25:33

We were like yeah in sync.

Speaker 1: 25:35

In sync to just add those pops of color, just like you know, some black pants and a black tank. You can do anything with that, but kudos to you for getting those jeans, i mean those shorts, those white shorts this year. You look fabulous in them. You sent me a photo.

Speaker 2: 25:53

Yeah, I took a course. I had the white cowboy boots with the shorts on.

Speaker 1: 25:58

Of course you did, my friend. Of course you did.

Speaker 2: 26:02

Well, let's talk about some travel. What's going on with your, your summer, in terms of travel, anything exciting.

Speaker 1: 26:09

I have something very exciting. I have to say that. You know, i live in California, so sometimes California travel spots seem ho hum to me, you know, but they're. They're fucking amazing California people. So I am going down to Laguna Beach in July for a wedding, and it is the first wedding of one of my kids friends. So it's kind of special from that standpoint. And this friend was born one day after my older son in the same hospital And they went through high school and college together. So it's it's kind of a very special event. And I've not spent a ton of time in Laguna Beach and it just looks quaint like a quite little California beach town and I'm going to be down there for four days and with some of my kids. So yeah, that's my summer Laguna Beach.

Speaker 2: 27:09

I love it and I think you should like those beaches in California with the cliffs at your back Just so amazing. You need to do like a wine day at the beach with your girls. I'm telling you get through the next book club at the beach that's what you have to do.

Speaker 1: 27:29

It would be so great, i know. When we went to Pismo Beach with our kids, we had such a great time. We were on the cliffs and kayaking and surfing lessons and the whole nine years.

Speaker 2: 27:42

Yeah, we almost died kayaking.

Speaker 1: 27:48

That was a little dicey.

Speaker 2: 27:50

We were kayaking, we were having a great time, you know, for the first three quarters of it, and then our way back, all of a sudden those California waves went from one to two feet to five to six feet and life was dicey then. But you know what? it was the kids favorite because it was, you know, so much drama.

Speaker 1: 28:10

They loved it and they thought we were out of our minds to be scared. That's what.

Speaker 2: 28:14

I like.

Speaker 1: 28:15

Okay, what about you where you headed this summer tish.

Speaker 2: 28:19

Well, i am actually going to be headed back to Tampa. I had a work trip interrupted there and I have to actually round on back and go back to Tampa, even though it's work. I'm going to take the weekend in between my being there and just have some fun down there with some friends. College girls are in that area, so we're supposed to reconnect again. There is a place that we want to go to near the beach and just spend some time there. So hopefully we'll be able to get Danielle there.

Speaker 2: 28:53

I know her daughters do with her baby soon but hopefully she'll be able to make this this trip. But collect was there and Felicia was there, so, okay, so you're going to have to be Tampa for me, because I'm going to save the rest of my going out of town, except if I run down to the beach for a day or something like that. But I'm going to save the rest of that time off that I have for a big fall trip, a big fall girls trip to the Cayman Islands. So it'll it'll be worth staying home to be able to go to the Cayman's.

Speaker 1: 29:32

I love that. I think everyone is looking forward to that trip and you know, the one thing I forgot to talk about on my Laguna Beach trip is I'm driving and I'm making it a road trip and I just love road tripping in the car and stopping and you always find something wacky and crazy and out of unusual. Well, something happens that you didn't think happened. So I hope some of our listeners are going to take some road trips this summer. We'd love to hear what your travel plans are to Yes.

Speaker 2: 30:08

So what about some summer food and drink? because it's not summer unless we are entertaining or kicking back in the backyard or something like that. so what are some of your favorite summer food and drinks?

Speaker 1: 30:22

I'm going to, and you know, last year I was obsessed with aparol spritzes And this year I'm obsessed with Campari and soda with an orange wedge And it's kind of like an aparol spritz but it's a little lighter, you know, from that standpoint, and it's just a great way to start off any little gathering. Or, you know, just a little pre meal light drink and adding the orange or a squeeze of citrus in it just makes it, just makes it so good. And my food for the summer and this is such a great, i want to say healthy food is gazpacho. And I lived in Spain back in college and I fell in love with gazpacho and it is so easy to make in the summer And what I love is that you can just make a lot of it and keep it in your refrigerator and you can serve it up whenever you want, top it with a little croutons, you know a little, some nice topping, and it's so healthy.

Speaker 1: 31:25

It's like a salad in a blender to me, okay, and it's supposed to be served cold, right? Yes, yes, it's cold. So you know, you can make it for the week and it's, you know, it's a lot of seasoning tomato, cucumber It's just very fresh and olive oil, red wine, vinegar just tastes delicious. So those are two things I'm super into for my summer. What about you? What are you obsessed with?

Speaker 2: 31:54

Okay. So in the summertime I'm always known for making like everyone makes pasta salads. But I like to make my pasta salad with orzo, which is like a rice-like pasta and it's really creamy in its texture. And in fact it's funny cause I made a batch tonight and it you know, again I'll make a big batch and then have it during the week. So I wanted to show I've been gonna work all summer showing my son, liam, how to make certain recipes.

Speaker 2: 32:26

So I bought the orzo and then, because it's just the two of us, it makes it a little difficult to, you know, buy all these vegetables and then some of them go bad cause you can't use everything. So I actually went to the salad bar and picked out the onions and the pep, the different color peppers I needed and the feta cheese. I didn't even get any lettuce, i just got the fixings to go in this salad. To show him you don't have to buy like a ton of vegetables. Go to the salad bar, get what you're gonna need for your amount of food, and so it was great.

Speaker 2: 33:03

So you chop it up real fine, to the same size as the orzo is cooked, and I add chunks of ham in mine. You could add like salamis or something like that, if you want. But I like the, i like the saltiness of the ham, so I have onion and cucumber and tri-colored peppers and feta cheese And then I mix it with Italian dressing And it is just fantastic. It's just such a different, you know, as opposed to the you know shells or the, you know the rotelli, yeah, or the elbows For the pasta.

Speaker 2: 33:41

Yeah, So it's just a different, and it just it gives you a creaminess that other pastas don't quite have, And so that is my food obsession.

Speaker 1: 33:51

It sounds delicious, tish, and I have some orzo right here in my cabinet.

Speaker 2: 33:56

I think I'm gonna try it, yeah, and it's just whatever you have, whatever you like, you know. Yeah. So, and as far as I don't know what it is with me lately, watermelon I want everything. Watermelon I got some watermelon lip balm, But so I am obsessed with the Ocean Spray. One of their newer flavors of Ocean Spray I think it's only like three years old is Cran watermelon, Wow. And to take that maybe with some vodka or some gin, or you don't even have to mix in that kind of stuff, Yeah, or just that, Yeah, Yeah, or just that. Some slices of lime, maybe some, you know, wedge a nice watermelon in there or on the edge of the glass. And in fact I had some tonight, because I did buy some, because I'm gonna have a friend over in a couple days And I thought, oh, that'll be something nice to serve, is, you know, just something refreshing, And it's just a nice big goblet.

Speaker 1: 34:56

So it just it's Putting lime in anything like that just elevates it too. I would love a squeeze of fresh lime, so it could.

Speaker 2: 35:03

It can be a virgin mixture or you could put your favorite, you know, rum or anything into it. Yeah, so ocean sprays Cran watermelon And it's not overwhelmingly sweet.

Speaker 1: 35:19

Sounds great. Now I know we're gonna talk about something we talked about on the YouTube episode. Actually, a few things coming up are from YouTube, So why don't I hand it over to you?

Speaker 2: 35:31

Okay, so on, one of the biggest YouTube videos out right now is how to make a watermelon keg Woo-hoo. And so I had said at the beginning what my weekly, what my obsession was with this week, is with this kit that can turn a watermelon into a keg, right, so you're gonna cut, you're gonna put your, you're gonna put your watermelon lengthwise right. Some people use like a base, just like a tea towel, in a little circle to help it stand up, right, but you're gonna cut the top off, just like you would a pumpkin. Okay. And then what I thought was really cool is, if you get one of those pineapple spiral tools that you can cut the center of the fruit out, right, and the one that we have, the link not only has that, but it has like an apple separator. It looks like one of those things that you make your apples and sections.

Speaker 1: 36:25

Apple core, yeah, yeah.

Speaker 2: 36:28

And if you use that, you can cut that whole center into chunks so you can use that for something else. And then you go in and you scoop everything else out from the watermelon and you're going to put it through a sieve because you don't want the chunks in there. You want it to be definitely liquid and not chunks. And then at this point you want to add maybe some other juices to it. Again, you can add liquors to it or choose not to add liquors to it. Just make sure, if you're gonna have kids around, they're gonna be curious. You better have two. You better have a child-friendly one and an adult one. That's right, that's right.

Speaker 2: 37:04

But you're gonna mix all this stuff into the watermelon. You can put ice in there. You're gonna fill it all the way up. You can put the top back on. And then there's this very simple kit that's not very expensive, that you're going to put the tap towards the bottom I would say a quarter of the way down, maybe slightly lower You don't want it too low And then it allows you to empty the watermelon from that spigot. Right, i love it.

Speaker 1: 37:35

I love this idea. It's just so cute. Yeah, I think we need some photographic proof of these two.

Speaker 2: 37:42

We'll have to put them on our socials right.

Speaker 1: 37:45

Yes, yes we will. So let's batting and clean up position here on our six things or some summer projects And I know both of us are working on a few summer projects, but I'd love for you to share what you've got going Tish.

Speaker 2: 38:01

Okay, so I actually have two that I'm working on right now. One it's going to be for my son's dorm room And we took one of his old surfboards. That is actually too long for him. The better you get, the shorter the surfboard you want. So we took his old surfboard, i painted it and put this very kind of retro 60s vibe colors And I'm gonna put a little video out for this as well.

Speaker 2: 38:28

But we're gonna turn it into either a high top, like for a kitchen table like a bar or a coffee table, but I'm gonna make it so it's not permanently affixed to the legs but it can be temporarily put there. So if he wants to put it up in the wall is a piece of art that he's gonna be able to go ahead and do that. So it's about 95% done. I have to make some final touch ups on the paint and then put a nice shiny surface on it Here, Coat.

Speaker 1: 39:02

Well, you're certainly getting a jump on your summer projects here, And I know this is what you call the practical art. Maybe you can just share with us a little bit what that is.

Speaker 2: 39:12

Yeah, the practical art is something that is not only beautiful but you can use it, and so that's what I loved about this. For his apartment that he's gonna have with his roommates, this could be in place of a kitchen table. They never had a kitchen table last year, oh wow, but I could get just some legs under this and they can use it like a counter.

Speaker 2: 39:37

It could go on the wall as art, it could be put on a short legs for a coffee table. So it's really excited about having this And I think it's gonna create a nice vibe. And it literally cost me so far $10 in paints.

Speaker 1: 39:56

I love it Because we have a surfboard. That's amazing. Why don't you share with us what your other project is, because I know you said you would too.

Speaker 2: 40:05

Oh, yes, Okay. So the other project that I'm starting to work on right now is I like to be out in my backyard and stuff like that, And I wanna start having a couple little get-togethers with friends out there, And so I love to repurpose things right. So I bought this really cool bird cage a wrought iron bird cage, of course off Facebook Marketplace. I love to find things from there And I had put plants and stuff in it at different times, but I am going to change it into my outside bar. So I'm gonna have all my drinks and stuff inside the cage and be able to have it decorated and stuff, But it's in the corner outside and it's gonna be kind of a showpiece for my be able to serve drinks from outside.

Speaker 1: 40:55

I love that idea And I've seen this bird cage. I think it's gonna be stunning. Again, I think we want pictures.

Speaker 2: 41:02

Yes, we'll have pictures as soon as I get that one done as well, but I know you have a really kind of cool project that you are gonna be starting very shortly, aren't you? For your outside.

Speaker 1: 41:14

Yes, it's true, and you know I love puttering, that's what I call it around in my backyard, in my garden, and I have some fruit trees, you know, and usually it's in the backyard. But I am going to do something that I have learned how to do on YouTube And I am going to stencil my front porch to look like tiles, kind of like those pretty tiles that are from the south of Spain or, you know, portugal, and I got these big, giant stencils online. I think they're like 18 by 18 maybe, so they're kind of big, cause the porch is pretty big, and I'm gonna paint the cement again, clean it, paint it and then probably spend two weekends stenciling. You know, you have kind of a brush that you tap the stencils on You're not really rolling or anything to kind of give it that, you know, that old vibe. So I think this is gonna be really fun And I'm going with a gray base and the tiles are gonna look like they're gray and white, which I think will look great with my house. So, oh, i love that.

Speaker 2: 42:19

Very subtle, but very textural You know, and that sounds like something that's really reasonable in terms of pricing.

Speaker 1: 42:27

Again, you know it was probably $25 for the stencils and the brush and, you know, just a gallon of paint, so really inexpensive and fun. And I love that feeling tish, which I know I'm sure you have from the surfboard is you feel really gratified, you feel really accomplished when you do something like that. And you know I walk on my porch every day. I'll be able to see it, so I will definitely share photos.

Speaker 2: 42:57

So, just like my surfboard reminds me of the times that I would take my kids to the beach and get surf lessons for them, and how much fun that we would do, and we would bring their friends to do that too, you know it's nostalgic, and so your tiles are gonna remind you of your trips to Spain. That's right, and I think that's part of it, and so I want our listeners to think what is something? a trip, a memory, something from growing up? I don't know if it's creating your own drive-in theater in your backyard or something like that. I've seen where people take. They take kiddie pools and fill them with beautiful pillows and stuff and create this whole little outside oasis. Like everyone gets their own kiddie pool full of pillows and they have a drive-in theater out there.

Speaker 1: 43:53

That's right, just like an outdoor movie theater.

Speaker 2: 43:56

I love it So whatever it is that brings back that little piece in the nostalgia, that little piece of I remember the summer when feeling I want you to create a project around that that every time you spend time there this summer it's gonna bring back those memories, because really, that's what it's all about, isn't it?

Speaker 1: 44:17

No, it's true. And so go to every outdoor concert, any baseball game, have a bomb pop. When's the last time you had a red, white and blue bomb pop, A fireworks show? whatever it is you need to do or you're invited to take those opportunities, get out and let's make summer 2023 the best one yet, mid-life first, Till next week.

Speaker 2: 44:43

Till next week, mid-life first.