Weekend Dispatch

This past weekend ended up being very low key, which was exactly what I needed. The weekends seemed to filled to the brim lately, and I really needed some downtime to get myself organized. On Friday night, the Hubs and I went out to dinner and then stopped to see some friends who are in a band. They were playing at a local restaurant, and although it was a late night (we didn't get home until 1 am), it was fun. On Saturday morning, we hit a farmers market to stock up on produce for the week, and I finished a book and started a new one. On Sunday, we had brunch, went to a flea market and the girls and I did some quick shopping before spending the rest of the evening on our deck relaxing. It was a nice change of pace.

This week one of my sisters is coming to visit, and this weekend is my great-niece's 4th birthday party. Looking forward to enjoying some family time before we throw ourselves into preparing and packing for our trip to Rehoboth Beach.

Here's what else I am up to this week:

It's been 50 years since the Manson murders took place in Los Angeles. However, this story still gains traction to this day. On August 13th, a documentary Manson: Music From an Unsound Mind will be released and explores Manson's obsession with becoming a famous musician. Charles Manson had an unfulfilled dream of becoming a musician. When Sharon Tate was killed, Manson sent his acolytes to the home with the intent to murder a man who had promised to help Manson advance his musical career but never followed through with that promise. Manson's followers happened up Tate and others who were at the home, and killed everyone who was there at the time. When Manson's dream was not realized, his life became a nightmare, not only for himself but for others. This is the fascinating story of that evolution.

Two things I love are podcasts and movies that you can watch over and over again. So when I found The Rewatchables Podcast I thought I had struck gold. This smart, binge-able podcast is all about the movies that you can watch over and over again without tiring of them. The three hosts re-watch the movie and then discuss why it easy to watch over and over again.

Jersey tomatoes are finally in season, and they are delicious! I've been bookmarking all sorts of tomato recipes so I can take full advantage of the short tomato season. One of my favorite recipes is this tomato burrata toasts. They are so simple to make and soooo tasty. I eat this as a meal, but if you like a more substantial meal, serve this as a starter.

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If you are local to the Jersey shore and are looking for a good meal and a refreshing cocktail, head to La Mondina for anything on the menu and an aperol spritz. It's one of the best I've ever had, and I think it's because they add a splash of grapefruit juice. That simple ingredient cuts the sweetness of the aperol and balances the drink perfectly. If you aren't local to the Jersey shore, this recipe is a close replica to the La Mondina spritz.

Get outside! I belong to a gym and love working out there. I go most days of the week, but on the weekends I generally take a break to take my workouts outside during the warmer months. Lately I've been trying out different boardwalks and walking trials for my walks. Whether you belong to a gym or workout outdoors most of the year, this article on Well+Good gives you some ways to make your outdoor workouts more adventurous and effective.

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So, tell me. What do you have planned this weekend?