A *quick* weekend download and few recipes

I'm going to try to be brief here, something that is usually not my forte, and do a quick weekend/photo download.

We officially kicked off summer with a great Memorial Day weekend. It's amazing what one extra day tacked onto the weekend feels like. Not so much for me because let's face it, every day is like a weekend day to me. But to have Ben around for one more day to relax and spend quality family time together.

Here's a bit of the summer fiesta in a quick download of iPhone pics. Did I mention that Ben got a new iPhone 4 and we added texting - something that he didn't think he would EVER do? The photo quality of the camera and video is amazing!

Friday we kicked off the weekend with our weekly play date, which this summer will be held at the Summerbrooke and Southwood pools.

Logan, Carson & Paige in totally unplanned, matching swimsuits

On Saturday, Ben played golf all day, so Jack, Paige and I did some hanging out with the grandparents and a little side trip to the new Hobby Lobby and furniture shopping. We did manage to fit in a trip to the Southwood pool later that afternoon and grilling out of hamburgers at our house that evening.

On Sunday, we had to take Paigey to urgent care because she hurt her arm on Saturday night and was still nursing it that morning. We had it x-rayed, and all was okay, just a possible muscle pull/strain, so we did some backyardigan-ing that afternoon, then ate some BBQ shrimp and gouda grits at the Ginn's house.

I made a watermelon feta salad that was delightfully summery. I would highly recommend this salad recipe for your next summer backyard cookout!! I would suggest a few slight variations, though. I would prefer no tomatoes. I thought the texture and taste competed a little with the watermelon, although the Ginns would vote to keep tomatoes. I also subbed white truffle balsamic vinegar glace for the white balsamic vinegar, just because I had it from another Apron's recipe and it tastes phenomemal on salads.

On Monday, we decided to head out on the "YB Home" {my parent's boat} for a cruise around the Gulf.

After the boat ride, we decided to grab a bite to eat at the Rivershack on the St. Marks River, one of our favorite dives. Jack was working his magic on the iPhone camera.

We were all so beat when we got back home that we took naps and woke up in time to grab some pulled pork sandwiches from Sonny's takeout. I was feeling like a refreshing summer cocktail was in order after all of that sunning. So I stopped by ABC and a vodka sampler pack just happened to jump off the shelf and into my cart.

Left to right: Absolut Vodka and flavor infused peach, citron,
vanilla, ruby red, berri acai, raspberri, pears and mandrin vodka

I had some blueberries in my fridge, so I decided to mix up {and name} this concoction and it turned out great. Who knew I was a master mixologist!

Sweet Blue Summer Cocktail

Handful of blueberries

3-4 mint leaves

2 oz. berri acai vodka

2 oz. simple syrup

splash of club soda

crushed ice

Muddle the blueberries and mint leaves in a cocktail shaker. Add ice cubes, simple syrup and vodka to the shaker. Shake it up like Tom Cruise in Cocktails {on second thought that could end bad}. Strain into a Collins glass filled with crushed ice. Top with club soda and give it a quick stir. Garnish and enjoy!

I can't wait to see what other summery libations I can come up with using my sampler pack. So, here's to the beginning of an endless summer and being long-winded...

Cheers!