Happy Fourth of July weekend! Here’s what I’m planning for the holiday and a few favorites I’m loving right now.
EATING
My ideal Fourth of July menu includes smash burgers, the best baked beans, a melon mosaic salad with hot honey vinaigrette, a perfect summer panzanella, and hot Cheetos grilled corn. These dishes are easy to make, bold in flavor, and perfect for a backyard celebration.
DRINKING
For drinks I’m serving sparkling rosé Pimm’s cups and cherry-lime gin and tonics. Both are light, refreshing, and pair well with summer cookout food.
MAKING
On repeat this weekend: a grilled asparagus Caesar salad and a baked pesto pasta. Both are simple to prepare ahead and hold up well if you’re feeding a crowd.
BAKING
For desserts I’m making firecracker confetti cupcakes — they’re festive and fun for the holiday — and a triple-berry sheet cake that’s been a big hit lately.
CRAVING
I’m craving chocolate chip cookie s’mores bars. They’re indulgent and totally worth the sugar rush.
LISTENING
I’ve put together a couple of Fourth of July playlists to keep the energy up throughout the day — upbeat, summery songs that work well for pool time or a backyard barbecue.
READING
Our current book club pick is One Last Stop. It’s a cozy, heart-driven read and perfect for lazy holiday afternoons. What are you reading this weekend?
WEARING
I’m loving a super-cute USA sweatshirt I picked up locally. It’s playful, comfortable, and the colors feel festive for the holiday.
PLANNING
I’m technically on maternity leave right now, and most of the blog content you see was prepared in advance. I’m mapping out how my workdays will look when I return full time, especially as the school year and busier seasons approach. I rely heavily on my passion planner—using the academic version right now makes planning feel fresh—and I also use downloadable planning pages for extra organization.
BUYING
I’m obsessed with the neon pink pieces at Lululemon right now. I live in Align leggings and have my eye on a neon pair, plus plenty of matching tanks that are totally summery.
LOVING
Have you seen the trailer for the Sopranos prequel movie? The Sopranos remains one of my favorite shows, so this new project has me really excited.
SHOPPING
There are plenty of Fourth of July sales this weekend. I’m watching the Monica and Andy sale for sweet baby onesies and also keeping an eye on the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale—there’s something comforting about those big seasonal sales returning.
CELEBRATING
We’ll be celebrating the holiday with a relaxed weekend: a pool party, maybe a baseball game, and lots of downtime. I might even have my first margarita since the baby — cheers to that!
xoxo