(Giveaway [Closed]) Summertime and the Living is...Free!

         THIS GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED

           My favorite time of year has really, truly arrived. The time of year when all of my favorite things come out: fireflies, fireworks, water parks and watermelon.  It's the time of year where I might be the only one older than 15 in the pool but I'm not the only one that smells like sunscreen all the time. Incidentally, I think everyone should wear sunscreen all year round and take every opportunity to swim. Life is short but wide, after all.

         As a kid, I was always the first one in the water. Pool, ocean, river, lake, didn't matter to me. Any time I got near anything bigger than a puddle I went in. As a result, anytime I was out of my parents sight, they braced themselves for my returning a sopping, giggling mess.

Not pictured: my mother, relieved at my wearing a swimsuit

          As an adult, I've learned to keep a swimsuits (and sunscreen) handy to prevent aforementioned sop. And, in an effort to spread the good word, I'm giving away a $50 gift card to SimplyBeach.com to one lucky reader!

          After perusing obsessing over their website, I can tell you I have never seen such a good selection of swimwear and lingerie. They have something for everyone, especially those who may have had trouble in this area in the past. I, for example, have enormous breasts AND a sliver of dignity, so I have often struggled myself. They have suits going up to an G cup, and loads of plus-sized, petite-sized and generally all-sized options. They also have a great selection of lingerie. Check out their website here.
    What is your swimming style? Do you have a go-to beach outfit? 

California Casual Bikini by travellinglightly featuring ray ban sunglasses

SeaFolly Tea Rose Bikini- Trendy Collage by travellinglightly featuring a vintage swimwear

Bombshell Bikini by travellinglightly featuring prada shades

Edgy Bikini by travellinglightly featuring cowl tops

Click through to view itemized list of items

To enter, comment on this post with your answer. For bonus points, follow me on Bloglovin

AND/OR

• tweet about this contest, including both @sarahhartshorne and @simplybeach

AND/OR

• Re-pin one of my contest pins and follow me on Pinterest

AND/OR

• Find me and reblog this contest on Tumblr

AND/OR

• Link to this post on Facebook.

Be sure and add an additional comment for each entry letting me know.
Good luck! Wear it well and often.

P.S. This is not an equal opportunity blog, but there is stuff for men on SimplyBeach so please enter!



UPDATE: this giveaway will close Monday, July 17th.

Happy Friday!

It's the weekend! And since it's starting off as a snowy one, I thought I'd leave you with some summery images and a fresh, summery cocktail because I'm 10,000,000% over the idea of snow.

Image Courtesy of Chic Muse

Image Courtesy of Stardust & Sequins

 The Salty Dog

4 oz. freshly squeezed grapefruit juice
2 oz. Hendrick’s gin
1/4 teaspoon salt mixed with 1/8 tsp sugar, for rimming

Pour all ingredients over ice cubes in a highball glass rimmed with salt/sugar mixture. Stir well & serve. Serves 1.

Hendrick's is my favorite thing, and grapefuit juice is The Boy's favorite thing, so if you'll excuse me I'm going to partake...

P.S. This is awesome, and also adorable. Crocheted Food. I can't.  

Summer Food

I think I have an evolutionary kink: I tend to get bigger in the summer and wither away in winter. It's mostly muscle, since summer brings out the running, biking, swimmy kid in me, but it's also the food. It tastes better in summer, no? Here are a few recipes I've been loving.

Lemon Meringue Pie


Image and recipe courtesy of Heart of Light

I got the recipe here, but I also had the expert help of The Boy's Sister, aka my sister outlaw. This recipe is great. The lemon is more of a custard than a gel and the meringue proportions are perfect. We followed it, for the most part, although we were very heavy handed with the lemon juice. I recommend using fresh lemon juice and zest, it really makes all the difference. I also got the crusts from Trader Joe's and something made them shrink so instead of a crust it was more like a thick, doughy bottom layer. I don't know what made it do that but it was awesome.

Blueberry Ice Cream

Image and recipe courtesy of SFGirlByBay

I got this recipe here and since I don't have an ice cream maker, I followed the link to learn How To Make Ice Cream Without an Ice Cream Maker. I'm attempting to make strawberry ice cream using roughly the same recipe now and I'll let you know how it turns out.

Risotto with chicken sausage and scapes
I don't have a picture. We ate it too fast.
This is an original recipe that I was super nervous about. This incident left me a little gun-shy in the kitchen, so I was worried about attempting something as complicated as risotto. But, it turns out, risotto isn't as difficult as it is labor intensive.

Ingredients
6 cups vegetable or chicken stock
1 cup old, flat champagne (this is a great way to use up leftover champagne*)**
1/4 cup diced shallots or onions
2 cups risotto rice (I like Della Arborio)
2-3 garlic scapes
3 pieces chicken sausage (I chose spinach and garlic and it was a friggin delight)
A lot of parmesan cheese (I didn't measure. It's a matter of taste, but I recommend a lot if you want that creamy texture)
2-4 tablespoons olive oil or butter

Equipment
Large, deep saucepan
Large pot for stock
Ladle
Wooden spoon for stirring (better than metal)
Serving dish (you'll want to remove the rice from the dish when you're done to prevent overcooking)

Instructions
Heat the stock, set aside and keep warm. In a large saucepan, saute the shallots in the olive oil over medium-high heat until they're soft but not browned. Add the rice and salt and pepper to taste. Stir the rice and shallots constantly for 1-2 minutes, being sure to avoid browning or bursting the kernels. Add the wine and then the stock 1/2 cup at a time, stirring constantly. Wait until the liquid is absorbed before adding more. While the liquid is being absorbed stir frequently but not constantly. You want to keep the rice from sticking to the bottom, but you don't want to break the kernels by over-stirring. Adjust heat to maintain a gentle simmer. Continue cooking and stirring until 6-7 cups of stock is absorbed. You can add the scapes anytime during this process, depending on how flavorful and crispy you want them. I like them barely cooked, so I added them with the sausage. After adding the last of the stock but before it's fully absorbed, add the sausage. Finish cooking. Remove from heat. Stir in 1/2-3/4 cup parmesan and a little olive oil before transferring to the serving dish.

So, that's what I'm eating. I'm also going through a hell of a lot of watermelon, cucumbers and string beans from the garden and fried green tomatoes. Goddamn, I love summer.

*There is no such thing as "leftover" champagne in our house, but apparently some households are able to resist finishing the bottle.
**Most recipes recommend white wine, but I found the champagne added a delicate, light flavor without that tang that cooking with wine can bring.

Cat Scratch Fever

I have it. Not this:

In fact, let me state for the record: Ted Nugent lied. It's a lot less angry sex and a lot more debilitating malaise than he would have us think. But I'm looking on the bright side: not only do I have an excuse to lie around and watch 30 Rock (which, let's be honest, I really love) but my excuse also has a hilarious name. Come on! Cat scratch fever!

Sure, I could do without the cough, the fever, the achiness and going so long without working my ass off is driving me bonkers, but I'm trying to think positive. And now, because all this thinking is exhausting me, here are some pretty pictures of summertime lovelies.

Afternoon naps in the sun.


Biking everywhere.

Stripes, baby!


Fiestas

Lakes that mirror the sky.
Image by the Erratic Traveller. All other images courtesy of Apartment 34

I hope you all have a gorgeous week, and that I can be a normal human being again soon!

Waiting for Summer with my Purple Sunglasses On

Had a fun bit of dress-up yesterday, centered around a fantastic find at Target. Not sure the picture captures it, but these are my new favorite things.

PURPLE SUNNIES!

When I got them, I imagined them with pastels and flowers, pink Dr. Martens, lounging in pastel lawn chairs and sipping lemonade, but somehow it turned into a kind of dotty old lady outfit.


It so often does.

Can't complain though. In my heart of hearts, I am a bit of a dotty old lady. Besides, with the weather warm I know the pastels and lawn lounging will come soon. My favorite time of year is fast approaching and I'm so excited I could spit (I won't).


Quiet days.

Crazy nights.

Champagne and bathing suits.

All Images Courtesy of The Teacup Pages

P.S. My birthday is tomorrow.