Lady Va-Ca!

Please excuse Her Ladymess for the recent absence. I should have warned you all I was going on vacation! No computers, no cell phones, just the sea and me ... and 4 other folks :)
Vacation is a synonym for "game on". Aka- breaking out of your comfort zones, routines, control issues and try some new things! Like a cocktail BEFORE noon. Wu-oh! Don't worry, I did not abandon my juice, but I tried something NEW :

Bloody Mary's! Heavens to Betsy, what a delightful way to get your veggies in and get a little bit of a buzz! I have never been a mimosa gal. (Not into champagne and not into oj...barf nation). So, Bloody Mary's are NAILING it. I love how hot and spicy they are! Go buy the mix, add a little vodka, and voila!

I tried a new cupcake recipe since we had access to a full kitchen. A simple Hungry Girl recipe :
I box Devil's Food Cake Mix
1 can of 100% pure pumpkin

Mix together and bake at 425 for 12 minutes. It makes about 24 cupcakes.
They were a little bland for me, so my fella had the idea of putting rasberry preserves over the top... nailed it. It would be great with any icing on top :)

I nailed out 3 books in my downtime :

I did pick this book up initially because it was the name of my dog (Gertrude Penelope Pickle-Bottom), but I had no idea the lyrical love fest that I would have over this book. He is so eloquent and beautiful in his writing... I was obsessed. I cannot wait to put Siddartha on my fall reading list!

One of my all time favorites, as you know, is Summer Sisters by Judy Blume. There is something amazing about the author of Superfudge getting a little dirty with some teen fiction. Well, Forever didn't quite hold up to Summer Sisters, but it was still a delicious beach read. Would I recommend it ? Prolly not.

Lastly, I plowed through One Day seeing as how there is no way I would miss an Anne Hathaway film that looks like it will tear my heart out! I sure hope the movie is better. The book started off really well, but I didn't like or root for either of the characters. I can't say too much because I don't want to spoil anything for the movie. But, skip the read and go straight to the flick. Unlike The Help, which was glorious either way. READ AND SEE, PEOPLE.

There is something so peaceful about the ocean. There is a certain magic in the fact that you can't see where it ends. It reminds us all what a small part we are in this vast universe.

That's all for now!
xoxo
Her LadyMess