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Hello!
Welcome to “Table Talk” July edition! Table Talk is my on site newsletter where we talk and catch up on real life. People often ask me what goes on BTS (Behind The Scenes if you’re like me and need to look up homemade acronyms 😆) and what my real life is like. We talk books, recipes, favorite finds and really anything random we might chat about if you were sitting across the table from me enjoying a coffee. I post this every couple of weeks, or once a month, or every few months– which very much reflects my real life summer, a lack of routine.
What’s Cooking?
Mixed Berry Cobbler
Nothing beats a classic recipe. This Mixed Berry Cobbler is full of soft, plump berries topped with a crispy, buttery biscuit topping that has the warm flavor of cinnamon and sugar.
Frozen Yogurt Bark
Perfect for a healthier option that tastes like dessert! Cool and creamy to refresh you during the hot summer days. (also- technically, no cooking)
In Season & Trending
Here’s what’s trending this month…
- Vegetable Medley Bake– This one has been around awhile and it’s perfect for this time of year when your gardens are producing all the yummy fresh veggies.
- Fresh Cherry Salsa– Sweet and spicy with fresh juicy cherries. Great on chips, chicken, pork or fish!
- Overnight Refrigerator Pickles– ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “So delicious! And easy! We made these the other night and I love them” (blog reader)
- How To Freeze Peaches– The best and easiest way to preserve those peaches so you can enjoy them all year long!
In Real Life
We had a couple of annual get togethers to celebrate the 4th of July (why does that seem so long ago?), I visited a local lavender farm, called Lavender Life Company, with my daughter which was such a cool place! My favorite thing about them is they sell these sweet stuffed animals and whenever they sell one, they also donate one to a child in foster care. If you’ve been around here long, you may know that we adopted two children out of foster care, so that gesture is near and dear to my heart. They ship their products as well, if you love lavender, check it out.
We also had some fun (NOT) parenting moments. 2 of my daughters opened up a social media account (with no device of their own) which they are not allowed to have at this point. My husband and I thought it would be really fun to confront them with it by loading a picture of us on it. Oh friends! I wish I dared to show you the picture! I don’t, so I’ll just let you use your imagination. We both “made” crop top shirts and did that ever so popular pose amongst teens (that I hate) where they hold up the peace sign and also stick their tongues out of the side of their mouths. Seriously, just describing this makes me feel weird– hopefully you get the idea. Then we captioned it “coolest parents ever”.
You know what? They didn’t think it was funny at all! 🤣😂🤷♀️. I share that just to prove that it is not all sunshine and roses over here.
We are still enjoying glorious Michigan summers over here. I love floating in the pool, visiting Lake Michigan, and dining outdoors. Kids are heading back to school in a few weeks and the schedule will be changing.
Favorite Finds
There was few things I needed/wanted for around the house and I was kind of holding out for Prime day. Here’s what I bought
- My friend has been telling me about her Cordless Stick Vacuum for awhile now, so I went ahead and got one for myself, so far I’m loving it!
- This mini portable fan has been so great! I’m enjoying it so much more than I thought I would. I pack it right in my pickle ball bag and use it in between games. Plus, it’s pink! Don’t worry, there are several colors to choose from.
- Speaking of pickle ball, I finally upgraded to a new bag. It’s very roomy, has a hook, and a spot for your water bottle.
- Our toaster has been on the fritz for… I don’t know, years probably. It just doesn’t toast evenly, so I was on the hunt for a new one. Here’s the toaster I got, and I LOVE the color. It matches my Kitchen Aid Stand Mixer.
- My entry way needed a new rug and I found this one from Lahome. Isn’t it fun? It’s washable, my friend recommended this brand and says they wash up great. I’ll keep you posted.
Book Club
This month we discussed The Lioness by Chris Bohjalian. I gave it ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. This story is set in the 1960’s, and an actress takes her closest friends on a Safari. Then there is some murders. One of the reasons I liked this book is because it’s so different from other things I read. I loved the setting, and the way it was written. I’ve never read this author before, but he has some others out there that I have my eye on. This one definitely had some gruesome scenes, which is not my norm, but I’m told his other books don’t.
Our hostess did an amazing job! She has a friend who’s husband has done loads of hunting and has so much mounted in a separate building on their property. What are the chances of this? It was so perfect! In addition to the veggie tray, we had bugles (claws), animal crackers, and chocolate covered raisins (scat 😆). She served White Russians (read the book, you’ll get it) and tonic water and lime. Our swag bags were filled with candy cigarettes, zebra cakes, matchbox landrover, some monkey toys and safari plastic animals.
July Reads
Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver– I gave this one ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. This is a long book, I actually listened to it on Libby. It was well narrated and there are so many themes throughout the book. Here’s the description from the book:
Set in the mountains of southern Appalachia, Demon Copperhead is the story of a boy born to a teenaged single mother in a single-wide trailer, with no assets beyond his dead father’s good looks and copper-colored hair, a caustic wit, and a fierce talent for survival. Relayed in his own unsparing voice, Demon braves the modern perils of foster care, child labor, derelict schools, athletic success, addiction, disastrous loves, and crushing losses. Through all of it, he reckons with his own invisibility in a popular culture where even the superheroes have abandoned rural people in favor of cities.
The Housemaid by Frieda McFadden-Okay, not my typical genre, but someone recommended to me and it’s always good to get out of my comfort zone. This one is a psychological thriller and there were definitely some twists and turns. There are 2 more in this series.
The All American by Susie Finkbeiner– A historical fiction book that takes place in the 1950’s about a a girl who dreams of playing on the All American Women’s baseball league. This is the one I picked for book club that I’ll be hosting next month, so I’ll keep you posted on that.
I’d love to hear what’s on your read, listen and watch lists. Leave a comment or send me an email!
Thanks again for stopping by, I’m honored that you spent some time having a conversation at my table.
Have a blessed weekend!
Chellie
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