Summer Sundays in Texas
Happy Sunday, everyone! Welcome to the second feature of my Summer Sundays in Texas, lifestyle posts.
I know the calendar is not sitting yet on summer officially, but in Texas it is in full swing.
Summer Sundays in Texas is just another way for me to face this season with joy on my cup, and I hope there is joy on your cup as well this morning.
So, no matter what is or is not on your cup, I hope you will sit down with me and discuss some of my happenings from this past week.
SUMMER SUNDAYS IN TEXAS – JOY ON THE SUMMER MENU
My youngest son joined us for Memorial Day with his second best friend, Ollie…his first best friend, his wife, was on a short trip with her parents.
I wanted the menu to reflect summer cooking.
I have enjoyed sitting down with the Summer edition of Magnolia Journal.
There a recipe caught my eye that would be good for this meal.
This is Joanna Gaines’ Caprese Pasta Salad.
The only tweaks I made to the recipe included the pasta. I used a veggie macaroni pasta.
And the nuts…I love the flavor of roasted walnuts over pine nuts.
CAPRESE PASTA SALAD
12 ounce dried cavatappi or gemelli pasta
1/2 cup olive oil
1/2 cup white wine vinegar
2 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice
2 large garlic cloves, minced
1 tsp. kosher salt
1/2 ts. freshly ground black pepper (I have a grinder now just for fresh seasoning and I love it)
4 1/2 cups halved cherry tomatoes
1 8-ounce package fresh mozzarella pearls
3/4 cup halved pitted Kalamata or ripe black olives
1/2 cup chopped fresh basil
1/2 cup toasted pine nuts
Cook pasta according to package directions, drain, rinse with cold water and cool. In a large bowl, whisk together the oliver oil, vinegar, lemon juice, garlic, salt and pepper. Add everything but the basil and nuts.
Stir well and put in the refrigerator for at least two hours. Then stir in the basil and nuts before serving.
It went well with grilled chicken and my famous pinto beans.
However, both Mr. B and I, believed it tasted better the next day.
When I make this again I will let it sit for 24 hours or more before serving.
I do recommend it for a summer menu!
SUMMER SUNDAYS IN TEXAS: JOY OF DANCE
For about five years, our summers have started with dance recitals starring our precious grand daughter.
This year she performed a jazz number to Be Our Guest from Beauty & The Beast. Gives me such joy to watch her dance.
I selected to wear the Bryn Walker linen outfit I recently found at Dillard’s.
The top is the Fran Light Linen Round Neck Ruffle 3/4 Bell Sleeve High-Low Coordinating Shirt and the skirt is the Cinzia Light Linen Elastic Waist High-Low Hem A-Line Skirt.
However, I will say that next time I will not wear linen in anticipation of a child sitting on my lap.
But, I was fine with the wrinkles because he will not sit on my lap much longer.
The joy of dance was throughout the show, but especially in this darling father/daughter dance.
There is something so reassuring about the days we live in when fathers will go on stage and dance with their little girls.
Joy welled up inside.
SUMMER SUNDAYS IN TEXAS: JOY OF STAYING COOL
I was recently sent this “cooling blanket” to review.
We are already into the kind of heat that when someone mentions the word cooling…I immediately say…bring it on.
Tux and I decided to sit down in the reading room to read and tossed on the cooling blanket…it felt cool to the touch from the moment I opened it.
But, an unexpected turn to this blanket’s response was the reaction of Mr. B!
Many of you know that Mr. B is a trail runner…yes, he is obsessed with it.
Once he touched and wrapped up in the blanket, he asked if he could have it. You would have thought he just received a Christmas present.
He has a run coming up where he will be sleeping on the trail, so this blanket will now be his cover and he is pumped.
So, either for yourself or for Father’s Day, consider the Marchpower Cooling Blanket for Hot Sleepers.
It absorbs the heat and makes summer sleeping much cooler. It would also be a great blanket for campers.
Through October, you can receive a 10% discount at checkout with the code: PX2UC2PR.
SUMMER SUNDAYS IN TEXAS: JOY FROM THE WORD
We discuss clothing ourselves often here, but I love this Scripture for a weekly focus.
How do we walk in unity and harmony? By wearing love.
One last moment from the dance recital. There was a number to ….YOU ARE NEVER FULLY DRESSED WITHOUT A SMILE!
No matter what, wear your love and a smile this week and you will look great! Now….
STAY STRONG & KEEP SMILING!
By Pamela Lutrell
Disclaimer: Products were provided in this post for review, but the words are my own.
Thank you to everyone who shops with my SHOPPING LINKS…you support of this blog means everything to me and keeps me here.
Blogs are a little like owning a home…there are many monthly payments which must be covered to keep me here in this space…thank you so much!
Beautiful post, Pam. It shouts JOY. You look fabulous in that skirt outfit.
Thank you, Marcia! I wore that skirt all day yesterday from recital to brunch to church that evening. I love how light and cool it is. Happy Sunday!
I love your post today. It hit home on so many points, from dance recitals to cooling blankets. Love it! Where did you get your Joy mug? I am looking for that word on items as I shop.
Hi Anne! I am trying to remember about the mug. It was a soup mug with a lid originally. I think it was a Marshall’s. But I will watch for you and if I see another will let you know! We all good use a cup of Joy!
Wonderful post! I especially love grilled chicken and pinto beans. I look forward to making the caprese salad.
Your granddaughter looks more and more like you! What a cutie, and so nice she is developing a healthy habit and isn’t afraid to get out in front of others …great life skills. I didn’t get a chance to comment yesterday on the stripes article. I adore stripes, and in the summer, I swear they are half my closet. I only wear narrow ones, because even though I like rugby stripes, they feel a little loud to me these days, as my tastes have changed a bit in recent years. To me they say classic, French, polished, fresh, crisp, and nautical. This morning, I’m doing a bit of shopping on Lands End with your links for Father’s Day :).
It’s really good the next day, Kathy. Make the day before you want it!
Bless you, Linda! Thank you so much for shopping with my links!
After reading my copy of Magnolia last week, I also zeroed in on the caprese pasta salad recipe and bought what was needed from the grocery. My week got away from me and I didn’t make it, but now I am re-inspired to put it together. Thanks for that. Ollie and Max are each so cute. ADORABLE to see all those proud fathers up on stage with their dancing daughters!
Love your post! Down here near Houston we have been having bad rain storms and of course my power went out yesterday at 1:00 pm and finally came back on about 11:30 pm. Gave many thanks that it was not the middle of July. 😁. Children’s recitals are a beautiful clip that you can hold in your mind forever.
Lovely, joyful post today! Definitely ordering one of those cooling blankets. Tent camping in Yellowstone later this month, so need to get one ASAP. You were so kind to gift it to Mr. B. I’m sure it will be excellent for his trail run/camp as it appears to be very lightweight. Never know what we’ll find but need on your blog.
I always look forward to your Sunday post where you share your family’s celebrations and adventures with us. The dad & daughter dance at the recital was just so precious. Your darling granddaughter has your lovely smile. Thanks for sharing the salad recipe. I’ve printed it and plan on making it soon especially now that my basil is looking good. I made a note to make it a day ahead. Tux and Ollie are adorable. I wonder if Cocoa will look like Ollie when she grows up. She graduated from Puppy Kindergarten yesterday and will have her (much needed) first grooming this week. Happy Sunday.
The dads and daughters dance was the cutest most inspiring thing I have seen in a long time!
I know Houston and Dallas have been hit hard this spring. Glad the power came back!
He was so excited about it and it rolls up nicely for a back pack. Thanks for being here Deanna!
Ollie is the sweetest dog but he is very big. My son and his wife adore him…and spoil him.
Oh you gave me a jiggle to my memory of my own dance recitals that lasted from age 5-17. I love the father daughter dance. I have never seen it before. My mother went to every performance and I really loved having her there. She also made most of my costumes which is what was done way back in the day. Sadly, I have no pictures as back in the day before digital we had to use film and cameras. I don’t remember seeing my mother with a camera until my children came along. Pam, you looked lovely in your linen skirt and top. It is warming up here too!
So glad to put a smile on your face, Sydney. The dads came out snapping their fingers to the classic song, My Girl. Then these adorable little ladies ran out to dance with them. It was heart warming!
I so enjoy your Sunday family posts too! And you do look great in this linen! We gsvrnt seen any terribly warm or hot weather yet but I’m in light colored jeans (blue) with ribbon piping along sides with a basic indigo tee and a gold necklace ( very simple) on a near perfect day- 70s, blue blue skyand sunshine! No humidity – yet! Runners galore ( I power walk) and bikers (bicycles) are out in droves.
A perfect weather Sunday!
Sounds perfect, Paulette! Thank you for sharing the details!
Love the picture of your adorable granddaughter and the picture of your son and Ollie. Looks like she is a confident dancer. So sweet.
Thank you, Katherine. It has been such a joy to watch her in these recitals!
Your granddaughter’s smile says it all. Those recitals & performances are special not to be missed events. You are right about any wrinkles that happened. They are a small price to pay for the joy of having a precious child sitting on your lap. When I saw the headline on the Magnolia Journal that said ” Taking Back Summer” I was intrigued. I may have to pick up a copy.
The Magnolia Journal always has good, well written articles. The only magazine I enjoy.
Thank you for your post today. It is so special to me to read the joy you have with your family.