WO: Weekly Obsessions
The sun finally decided to show for longer than three hours this week, which can only mean one thing: Summer is (basically) here! No more jackets, no more tights, no more PANTS. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.
- Summer Fridays: I couldn’t be more thrilled my office participates in this new-to-me tradition. Starting this week, we can leave each Friday afternoon to get the weekend going early. HALLELUYER!
- “Girl Code”: My roommate introduced me to this super funny female version of MTV’s “Guy Code.” Topics covered include: girls’ night out, the gyno, working out and so much more. New episodes air Tuesdays at 930 and 1030 p.m. EST.
- Memorial Day: This weekend is extra-long thanks to Monday’s observance of those who’ve sacrificed their lives in the line of duty. I’d like to say I’m doing something meaningful, but I’ll probably just be raising a glass from a rooftop party.
- “Cruel Summer” – Ace of Base: The ol’ iPod shuffled this to the top of my playlist this week, so I’ve naturally put it on repeat each day. I prefer it to the Bananarama version, but I’ll give you two scoops just for being here.
Images courtesy of: Sound Bites NYC, MTV, 1ms, Free Code Source
Witty in Fitty: Summer Style
It’s too hot to type. My fingers are swollen and the keys have simultaneously gotten smaller. Presenting my required faves to beat this miserable heat:
Homemade popsicles; recipe here
Breezy fabrics in cool prints
Oversized shades
Anti-humidity hair
Bronzer-moisturizer combo with built-in SPF
And of course, a summer playlist
Fin!
When Summer’s a Bummer
Between this summer’s relentless rain and suffocating humidity, my face melts off daily and I’m in a piss-poor mood. What’s a girl to do? Stick head in freezer, sit in front of fan and crank up these tunes. Presenting Wittyburg’s Summer Playlist:
- Big Pimpin’, Jay-Z. Let’s get this started with a bang and ri-i-i-i-i-ide.
- Cruel Summer, Ace of Base or Bananarama. I prefer the AoB version, but whichever tickles your pickle will be just fine.
- Margaritaville, Jimmy Buffett. Classic, classic, classic. Best enjoyed on the rocks with salt.
- Summertime, Kenny Chesney. Any song that mentions bare feet, bikinis and Yoo-hoo is a winner in my book.
- All of the Lights, Kanye West. From the sick thumping beat to Kanye’s classic way with words, this is my latest iPod fave for summer workouts.
- Boys of Summer, Don Henley or The Ataris. I love both versions and will happily raise a glass to these boiz.
- Summertime, Sublime. The livin’s easy in LBC (Long Beach County), and the boys of Sublime are just too cool.
- Tonight, Tonight, Hot Chelle Rae. I can’t get enough of this upbeat hook and melody. Currently obsessed!
- Summer Girl, Jessica Andrews. Her bumper sticker reads, “Drink till he’s cute.” Hello, life motto.
- Hot in Herre, Nelly. You can put a Band-Aid on my face anytime, Cornell Haynes, Jr.
- Summer Nights, Rascal Flatts. I may or not be biased with the Daytona reference … but it’s still a great tune.
- Summer of ’69, Bryan Adams. It’s the quintessential light-rock song that you know every (fifth) word to.
- American Honey, Lady Antebellum. Sickly sweet lyrics and a heavenly voice make it a go-to.
- Summer Girls, LFO. Those Lyte Funky Ones sure know how to drop a rhyme. Bonus points if you like ruby-red slippers and a bunch of trees; the great Larry Bird, jersey 33.
- Steal My Sunshine, Len. The video was filmed in Daytona (biased again), but the beat is more infectious than Herpes Simplex I.
- Blister in the Sun, Violent Femmes. Heard at every bar all summer long, you can’t argue with this classic. Now, what the lyrics are about … well, that’s debatable.
What songs keep your summer spirits up? Am I missing any that are must-haves when temperatures rise?
“I don’t know about this KAN-yee West guy, Frankie.”
Summer Sips
Memorial Day kicks off the start of sandals, swimsuits and surf (for the rest of the country … let’s be honest, that started four months ago in Florida). So, here are some of my favorite cocktail recipes to beat the heat with — little drink umbrella required.
“Cosmopolitan” Trendy Summer Drink
This was recently served at a friend’s going-away barbecue, and I couldn’t get enough. So light and refreshing!
Ingredients
- Orange, lemon or lime, cut into wheels
- Ice
- 1 cup vodka
- 1 cup ginger ale
- 1 cup lemonade
- 1 cup light beer
Preparation
- Add citrus wheels to a pitcher, then fill a third of it with ice.
- Add vodka, lemonade and ginger ale.
- Top with the beer.
Cherry Lemon Drop
My drink of choice this past weekend, this one will have you going back for seconds — and fifths!
Ingredients
- 1 lemon, cut into wedges
- 1 bottle cherry vodka
- 1 bottle lemonade
- Superfine sugar, on a small plate
Preparation
- Rub lemon wedge around the rim around each glass. Put wedge aside.
- Roll rim of the glass in superfine sugar.
- Shake off excess sugar over sink or trash can.
- Mix 1 part cherry vodka, two parts lemonade in glass. Top drink with lemon wedge.
Super-Easy Sangria
Your summer just isn’t complete without the Spanish-inspired flavors of sangria. Delicioso!
Ingredients
- Ice
- 1 bottle of chilled red wine
- 1 lemon, cut into wedges
- 1 orange, cut into wedges
- 2 Tbsp. sugar
- 1 shot brandy
- 2 cups ginger ale or club soda
Preparation:
- Add ice to the pitcher first, and then pour wine into it.
- Squeeze the juice wedges from the lemon and orange into the wine.
- Toss in the fruit wedges (leaving out seeds if possible) and add sugar and brandy.
- Add ginger ale or club soda just before serving.
