Sweet Sunday sun

Breakfast at IHOP. A long walk along the river. An afternoon spent lounging by the pool. A dinner of turkey burgers and veggies from the grill. Watching lightning bugs fly around the deck in the evening.

Sunday was one of those relaxing and fun days that you just can't plan. The weather was perfect. The dogs behaved. The neighbors were quiet.

I only wish tomorrow could be another Sunday.

Here's a couple of photos of the pool and lake. They weren't taken today, but they'll give you an idea of why I had such a perfect Sunday. Y'all need to come down for a visit. You'll have fun. I promise.

Welcome back sunshine!

It's been rainy and gloomy for weeks here in Georgia. But today it's sunny and warm. Birds are chirping, kids are playing, adults are smiling. Everyone is a little more friendly and a lot happier today than they were yesterday (or three week's ago).

The rain always seems to bring out the worst in people. Maybe that's because our feet get wet or because our hair goes flat. Maybe we hate umbrellas. (Even those cute polka-dot ones from Target).

Whatever the reason, I shouldn't ponder it on this pretty day. I need to run over to the office window and join my co-workers as we rejoice the sun's return to our city's sky.

Grilling with the bikini in mind

Of course I love, love, love, a thick and juicy steak fresh off the grill. But sometimes I need a little something lighter. Especially if I'm going to be wearing a bikini.

That rule about waiting 30-minutes after eating to jump in the pool may help to calm down the kids, but it doesn't eliminate the stomach bloat of the adult female. If you're going to eat a giant ribeye at a poolside barbecue (or cookout, as we say here in the South) then you'd better be willing to wear your swimsuit cover-up for the rest of the party. The only thing that's going to get rid of that steak tummy is a good night's sleep, several big glasses of water and about 1000 crunches.

Don't want to cover up that $120 miracle bikini with your $10 wrap? No problem. Just rethink that ribeye. Below you'll find a delicious flank steak dish with a chimichurri sauce served on tiny crostini. Yummy for the tummy!

Jeff and I made this yesterday, and it's sure to become a summer staple. The recipe includes a vidalia relish that we skipped because, um, we're lazy. Oh, and we didn't have any cassis, so we skipped that, too. The marinade didn't suffer. We used a $10 Sangiovese (red wine) for the marinade. Yes, dad, a Yellowtail merlot will work just fine. After drinking the rest of the Sangiovese before the meat hit the grill, we opened a bottle of 2008 Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc. It was crisp with a slight sweetness that tasted especially good with the chimichurri sauce. I guess we can also rethink that rule about steak and red wine.

To get the recipe, click here

Needed: Fun show, Found: The Little Couple

Like a million others, I tuned in last night to watch the season five premiere of "Jon and Kate Plus 8."

I've watched the show since the cute sextuplets were babies. The only thing that even resembles that first season is that the kids are still adorable. Now husband Jon and Kate and their 8-year-old twin girls and 5-year-old sextuplets live in a million dollar home in Pennsylvania. The family travels (for free) to Hawaii, New York, Chicago, Florida, California and Utah (for skiing.) Kate has written two books and has a lucrative speaking career.

Oh, did I mention the rumors of infidelity? Both Kate and Jon have been accused of having affairs. Both have denied the rumors. There's gossip (from Aunt Jodi, married to Kate's brother) that Kate terminated the marriage months ago, but had Jon sign a contract stating that he could date other people as long as he showed up at "home" on filming days.

Monday's show featured Jon and Kate giving separate interviews. They had one brief and extremely awkward interview together where they wouldn't look at each other or talk to each other. In their individual interviews, both mentioned the possibility of divorce. The interviews were shown between clips from the sextuplets fifth birthday event. The show was depressing and painful to watch.

I'm going to need a new funny and light-hearted show. TLC seems to have anticipated this because tonight "The Little Couple" debuted. Bill and Jen are newlyweds (oh, and little people). In the first episode, the couple travels from New York (Bill's home) to Houston where Jen, a doctor, works at a hospital. Bill and Jen have cute newlywed fights on their roadtrip as viewers watch the everyday difficulties that little people face driving, getting clothing tailored and generally not being able to reach things.

"The Little Couple" had charm and those "aw" moments that a certain 10-person show used to have. Click here for a link if you're looking for a fun summer show.

No potty humor for dad

I just got a funny "news release" sent to my work e-mail. It's funny mostly because it's not supposed to be.

"Please consider the Breeza Deodarizing Toilet Seat for your upcoming Father's Day gift giving features," the request states.

Seriously? I really don't think my dad would like to receive a toilet seat (sweet smelling though it may be) for Father's Day.

In fact, anything having to do with the toilet should be considered ungiftable.

I know folks struggle with Dad's day presents, but the traditional tie, book or card has got to be better than a toilet seat, right?

Chick lit is real enough for me

I just finished the book "Bound South" by Susan Rebecca White. The novel tells the first-person stories of three Southern women who live in Atlanta. The main character is a middle-aged Southern belle and mother of two, the second character is her daughter and the third is the daughter of the main character's cleaning woman. It's classic chick lit, my favorite genre.

People (like Jeff) are always teasing me for reading these books. It's not real, my critics say.

Well, sure, technically the characters aren't real, though I bet they're loosely based on real people. And I'll admit that the circumstances in the books are just a bit too tidy to have happened in real life. But these chick-lit novels often focus on real issues.

"Bound South" explores issues of racism, classism and sexism in a humorous and intellectually honest way. The feelings and thoughts are real, though fictional characters are doing the feeling and thinking.

Maybe the best way to express a true – but unpopular – feeling is through fictional characters. No one wants to admit to the world that she feels something that could fit into one of those "ism" categories, but we all know those feelings exist.

Sometimes nothing is more real than fiction.

The whole dress, for Karly

I wore this dress to a wedding. The sneakers stayed home. My cute little black heels looked a lot cuter than the shoes you see in this photo. What's up with the athletic shoes? Well, I enjoy running in formal attire, you see.

Not really. Sassy and Alley were staying at my sister Anne's apartment while Jeff and I were at the wedding. When we returned to the apartment the dogs had to go potty IMMEDIATELY!! I only had time to change my shoes quickly and run the girls outside.

It made for quite the cute photo. My friend Karly asked for a full shot of the dress and this is the only one I've got.

I'm a contradiction

I love to watch the Food Network on Saturday afternoons. There are so many delicious recipes featured and tons of kitchen tips. A few of my favorites: Store plastic wrap in the freezer to keep if from sticking to itself and freeze an onion for half an hour before chopping to avoid runny eyes.

Today I was watching Paula Deen make a flank steak dish using cocoa powder. Steak and chocolate? Yes, please! I got a little hungry while watching so I fixed myself some lunch. I microwaved a box of Healthy Choice Chicken Marsala with broccoli.

"Are you seriously eating a frozen dinner while watching cooking shows?" Jeff asked.

Um, yes.

But that was my baby name

The top baby names for 2008 were released today. Guess what? Emma is now the most popular name for girls. Who cares? Me. I care because that's my baby name. You know the name I've been planning to give to my future daughter. Arg. I had that name picked out BEFORE Jennifer Aniston's character on "Friends" named her baby Emma. And that was in 2002. And it was only because in 2000 my first favorite baby name, Emily, became the top baby name in the country. Maybe I need to be a little more creative in choosing a name, huh?

Oh well, with any luck by the time I get around to having a baby the names Miley and Hannah (as in Cyrus and Montana) will climb into the top positions.

Click here to read other top baby names.

Congratulations, Debbie and Ronnie

Our friends Debbie and Ronnie got married Saturday. The wedding was a multicultural affair since Ronnie's family is Indian and Debbie's is American. It was inspiring to see people of different backgrounds and religions celebrating the marriage.

It was fun to dance to Indian music, wear jeweled "henna" stickers, see women wearing colorful saris and men wearing turbans. But it was also nice to eat American food, drink Chardonnay and shake it to Michael Jackson's finest.

The best thing, of course, was to see everyone smiling and cheering for the bride and groom. Best wishes, guys!

It's time for warm-weather outfits

I got to wear an adorable sundress to a garden party last night. I've been waiting to wear this dress for almost a year. I bought the dress last summer at a boutique in Atlanta. (Thanks for the shopping party, Anne) For some reason, I never had the right occasion to wear it until last night.

There's something about wearing a cute little dress and sandals that just makes an evening relaxed and fun. And check out the yellow bag I paired with the outfit. (Thanks, mom)