A few of my favorit summer things....

Oh, Summer days... There’s nothing like those hot days and just as hot summer nights. With the end of July fast approaching and thus the end of Summer, I started thinking about a few of my favorite Summer activities.

1. Cold Champagne. There is nothing like a nice cool glass of champagne whether it’s in a glass of OJ or just simple and by itself. It’s perfect for a nice hot afternoon with some fresh fruit, quiet jazz and a good book.

2. Summer movies in the Park. Every Monday night in my city they show a classic film in the park. This year it’s all Hitchcock. Get there a little early and pack a small picnic with some wine and great cheese. Include some card games and hang out with friends and family or make it a romantic night for two. When it gets dark the classics start and carry you away to another time…

3. Lounging in my Hammock. I live in the city in a brownstone up on the second floor. I do have a small deck were I have a mosaic table and the Summer hammock. During the day I make sun tea and when I come home from work just kick back and listen to the sounds of the city with a glass of iced sun tea.

4. Swimming in anything... I prefer the ocean, but seeing as I don't live on the coast (it would be a bit of a drive to get out there), I have to settle for cool lakes, hot springs and sometimes a nice cold pool.

5. Summer cocktails. I love a good Mojito, Tom Collins or Gin and Tonic. Or my favorite; Watermelon with Vodka and mint. Mmmm....

6. Cook outs and BBQ's I love getting together with friends and family and throwing some fish and veggies on the grill and having a good time.

So those are some of my favorite Summer things... what are yours? What is summer all about for you? What is the one thing you look forward to each Summer?


Please, do share.

Happy summer days!

Cheers,

Sassi

The best of the best... New York City Pizza

Recently I was in New York City visiting a couple of friends. One of my friends (lets call him NY, because I really do call him that) and I decided that we wanted to find the best pizza in New York City. Now I am a foodie, and while pizza joints may not seem like they would be on the top of a list of places to go in New York for great food, it was on mine. There is an art to making a good pizza and few can make a pie that is like an orgasm in your mouth. So NY and I decided because we both like pizza so much we should go out and find the best.

At this point I was only in NYC for about 3 more days so we decided to try and fit in as many as we could. So we came up with a strategy and did a little research and made a list of places that were said to have the best and went from there. We hit up 5 pizza places and out of the five I will give you the top two (because the others rated about the same but these two really stood out).

#1
Name: Di Fara Pizza
Location: 1424 Avenue J, Brooklyn NY 11230


Di Fara is the best pizza I have tasted. Its owner and chef is Dom. He is a old old Italian immigrant who runs the place with his two sons but he is the only one to make the pizza. Its said that if he is sick then they close the shop. It was a two hour wait to get this pizza and it was well worth it. NY and I ate a whole one, just the two of us. The sauce is great, only fresh ingredients and the best real crust you have ever tasted. Its located in a small Brooklyn neighborhood and everyone in the shop is on a first name basses with Dom. It is a great atmosphere. Its a small old shop with lots of old pictures and paper clippings on the wall about Dom and Di Fara. The best part is Dom makes the pizza's right in front of you. Rolls out the dough, pours the sauces, shreds the cheese and then tops it off with cutting fresh basil right on the pizza. Its like watching an artist create his masterpiece. I would recommend the Margarita pizza. molto bene!

#2
Name:Una Pizza Napoletana
Location: 349 EAST 12TH STREET, 10003
NEW YORK, NEW YORK


Una Pizza Napoletana is some of the best pizza I have ever had. One of my favorites would have to be the Bianca it has Mozzarella di bufala, extra virgin olive oil, fresh garlic, fresh basil, sea salt. It is the most basic but the most delicious pizza I have tasted. I also did have there Margarita pizza as well which came in a close second to Di Fara. The atmosphere is great. It is a small space with maybe three rows of tables. The staff is great and it is a very intimate atmosphere. The pizza are the size you would find in Italy, so as big as a dinner plat. And the pizza just melts in your mouth. The interesting thing about this place is they are only open for as long as they have fresh dough. They open at 5 pm and most nights they are closed by 7 pm. NY and I got there at about 6ish and just 15 min later they let the last guests in for the evening! It is well worth the rush over when you get off of work.

So that's it! Those are the two pizza places I would recommend anyone to try the next time they are in NYC or if you live there its a great idea for dinner tonight No?

So let me know what you think. What are some of your favorite pizza places? Do you have a place you have to go when you come to NY? Whats your favorite food or restaurant?
Cant wait to hear about more places to try!

Cheers,

Sassi

My sisters wedding

Whitefish Montana is on of the most beautiful places in the country. Always green and beautiful with some great lakes and nice people. When my sister, and her now husband, decided to have there wedding out there I was excited, there was not a more perfect place for them to get married. The wedding was out by Tally Lake and even though it rained and we had to move the wedding undercover it was still a beautiful wedding in a beautiful place. Fun and relaxed and when it stopped raining my sister and niece and I even went skinny dipping (after a bottle of wine and in a remote part of the lake)!

As promised I did get to do her hair and I must say it did turn out wonderful. I also got to make the Jewelry she wore for the big day. Below are some pictures of the wedding.

Let me know what you think. What would your dream wedding be like? How do you see your big day? Have you ever been to whitefish? What are some of your favorite parts of the country you live in?

Have a wonderful day and Congratulation you two!

Cheers.

Sassi

There'll be music- The Marie Bradshaw Band

So this past weekend I got invited to a music event in SLC Ut, by my brother, to hear this great new band called The Marie Bradshaw Band. Since I am a big music fan, I grabbed my shoes and was out the door before I even hang up the phone. I must say I was not disappointed at all! The music was amazing and the lead singer is nothing put pure talent. By the time they were done, I wanted to hear more and fallowed the band up to Park City to there next show!

Here is some back ground, the lead singer is Marie Bradshaw. She is 20 years old and has been writing her own music and songs since she was 14 years old. She is self taught and is amazing. Not to mention she is absolutely gorgeous!

If you ever get a chance to go see her, its a show you wont want to miss. The band also does have a web site http://www.mariebradshaw.com and you can listen to some songs on youtube (which is now on the top of my favorites list)they also have a facebook and myspace page you should check out.

Also if you live in SLC they will be playing at the farmers market on the 4th of July, so stop by and listen.

So what you do all think? Do you like it? What are some of your favorite bands? Any great local music in your area? Let me know!

Give it up for the Marie Bradshaw band!

Cheers!

Sassi

Wedding hair- the side bun

The side bun. Made popular by Michelle Williams at the 2006 Oscars (pictured left). And in more resent years has taken off and can be seen at almost any red carpet event in Hollywood.

Its a classic throw back to the 1920's and 30's that made a brief come back in the 1970's and I for one I am glad that this look is once again back in fashion. Its classic, simple, easy and can be dressed up or down. Braided or messy or simply straight and pulled back. Its a hair style anyone can do and you cant go wrong.

My sister who will be getting married this Sunday has decided that she would like to wear her hair in a side bun on her big day and when I found out that I would get to do her hair, I was ecstatic! Not only do I love the look but it is really fun to do and way easy (not to mention that is always turns out looking great so I cant be blamed for bad hair on wedding pictures). Also anytime I wear this look myself, the complements are endless! Since she will already look fabulous on her big day, why not add one more thing people can complement her on?!

So how about it? Do you like this look? Have you tried the side bun yourself? What are some of the comments you have gotten if you have? Would you wear this for your wedding day?

Let me know and I will let you know how her big day goes!

Cheers my dears,

Sassi

A new resturant that I am lovin'

Gracie's is a new resturant that just opened about two weeks ago in Salt Lake City Ut. It has a great atmosphere, all dark wood inside yet open and bright, with great patio seating on the outside. To top it off they have some of the best food that I have had in SLC in awhile. One of my favorites is the Roasted Veggie sandwich and they have a Curry Burger that is just haven.

On the down side is they need more local beers and I would prefer they use wild salmon and not farmed. Gotta protect the health quality of food ;).

All in all I would give it 4 stars out of 5 and I would defiantly recommend it.

So let us know what you think. Have you tried Gracie's? What was your favorite food? Would you recommend it?

Cheers,

Sassi

The :( face break up

This story starts out with a girl and a boy who meet and fall madly in...well like. Fire works and all. Then one day the boy breaks up with the girl over a frowny face… yes a frowny face. But I am getting ahead of my own story… so let’s start at the beginning.

It all began about 2 months ago. Me and some girl friends headed out to San Diego for an all girls weekend for a friends birthday. We flew in, picked up the car and head to the most amazing house we would be staying in. It had everything. Pool, hot tub, two blocks way from the beach and we stocked it full of drinks for the weekend. Our first night we go out for a fun filled night of drinking and fish tacos.

Needless to say the next day we were all in need of some coffee. So we headed to a Starbucks (I prefer the small local companies but my hangover would not allow me to be picky). One of the girls had a friend who was going to meet us there (lets call him Mr. X) and from the time Mr. X walked in it was an intense made connection, more so in the physical sense then any other at this point (and when I say physical I mean I wanted to rip is cloths off of him right now in the Starbucks coffee line and have my way with him). Needless to say social protocol stopped that from happening. However, Mr. X did join us a few more times on our fun filled girl’s weekend. And by the time we left we all had some great stories, inside jokes and great conversation behind us, he even asked for my phone number.

When I got home I started packing for my next trip to Texas, as I was repacking I get a text message from Mr. X. That one text message started a whole two month long relationship of text everyday, phone calls almost every night and planned trips to see each other (he even had changed an airplane ticket so he could see me) and the words that everyone waits to hear, “I love you”. It was perfect! I was in long distance relationship bliss.

Well one morning around 9 am I sent Mr. X a text, saying good morning. He did not respond and I thought nothing of this because he was on a road trip. Then at about 5 pm when I got off of work I texted him again, I wanted to talk to him. No response. So at 10:30 pm I gave it one more try and just texted “ :(” of doom. This pissed him off because he finds :( so irritating. Mind you I did not know they did. I told him that’s all he need to say, I didn’t know they bugged him and I would not use them anymore but he didn’t have to be such a jerk about a :(. At this he said “your gone” yes “your gone”. This was the end of our nearly perfect two and a half month relationship. I :( and your gone.

So how about it? What do you all think? Would you ever break up with someone because of a frowny face or something as inconsequential? Has anyone broken up with you because of something you did that you didn’t know was a big deal? What bazaar break up stories do you have? Please share so I know I am not crazy ;)

Cheers my dears,
Sassi :(