A Cocktail & Conversation -- Summer Go-To's

Every other Thursday here at The Broke & The Bookish is A Cocktail Conversation time. One of the TB&TB members will pose a question to 2-3 of the other members of TB&TB crew about books, life, music, etc and then they'll answer and we can converse about it. So grab a cocktail & cozy up for some conversation. It's 5 o'clock somewhere, friends. 

This week we are talking FOOD -- which, besides books, is my favorite thing in life.

This week the question is: 

What is your go-to summer recipe/meal/drink?

  
Jamie says: In the past couple summer's one of our go-to recipes is this healthier, no-mayo potato salad. I love potato salad but I don't particularly love eating mayo so I found this and last year we had to cook for about 30 people during our family vacation one night and it was a HIT. We actually just made it last week to bring to my niece's graduation party. It's so easy to make and it's tasty without being loaded with mayo so I don't feel like I have to miss out on typical ~summer classics~ while still trying to be mindful of what I'm eating.  It's a compromise.

Bridget says: Going to any barbecues this summer? Need to bring a dish? This mac and cheese is always a crowd-pleaser. It's my mother-in-law's recipe and my husband and I make it all the time. It's super easy and super delicious. I never liked mac and cheese until I had this recipe, and once you try it you'll never go back to the boxed stuff ever again!

Daisy says:  One of my favourite things to make is pesto chicken salad, because you can just prepare it at any time and put it in the fridge till you're ready to eat/take it with you if you're bringing food. It's also ridiculously easy to make:
Cook pasta (any pasta, doesn't matter what you choose, it's all good), let it cool off after, add a little bit of olive oil so they don't stick together. Cut up some lettuce and add a bit of rucola (arugala for those in the states), mix in a small bottle of green pesto, add pieces of smoked chicken, pine nuts, add in pasta and TADA DONE! Tastes awesome and you can save leftovers for the next day, maybe next 2 days if it hasn't been sitting out on the table all night. Add tomatoes if you want, not necessary though.
This is always a winner with my friends and family and so easy. You can also switch the smoked chicken with bacon or add mozzarella. This is almost anything goes

Tell us your go-to summer eats!!

Top Ten Favorite Summer Activities That Aren't Reading

For future Top Ten Tuesday topics & info on how to participate, click here!

For the freebie topic of today, we decided to talk about our favorite summer activities that aren't reading. Cause you know, we occasionally do something other than reading.

Daisy's Picks

1 -- Going to the beach:  I LOVE going to the beach or go swimming at a lake, there's just something so peaceful about being out near the water and I just really love it when it's hot enough to swim outdoors and not turn blue.

2 -- Eating strawberries: Sure I like ice cream, but I will ALWAYS pick strawberries over anything. And I especially love picking strawberries in my own backyard. :)

3 -- Hosting barbecues: I love the laidbackness of barbecues and having people over is always fun! I'm a bit of a foodie and I enjoy making marinades and salads and adding some healthy options other than meat! And roasting marshmallows, because those are the best ever.

4 -- Shopping for cute summer dresses: I love this so much more than shopping for winter clothes. They're always so fun and I feel like twirling while wearing them!


Lauren's Picks

5 -- Movie nights: I love a good movie night during any season, but during the summer, it just feels different. Of course nothing beats going to the drive in during the summer to watch 2 movies for the price of one, but you can still get that outside feeling at home. When it gets dark outside, open all the windows in your living room, turn all the lights out, load the middle of the floor up with blankets and pillows, grab a bowl of popcorn, and sit back for a summer movie night.

6 -- Sitting outside at night: Yes, I'm Kentucky born and raised. No, I don't go to Wal-Mart barefoot. But... yes, I do love sitting on the front porch in a rocking chair or swing outside at night. It's absolutely soul cleansing. I just have to coat my entire body in Off Bug Spray... twice. 

7 -- Summer showers: This isn't so much as an activity, but I love summer rains. Whether it be day or night, I love the sound of rain and thunderstorms. 

Jamie's Picks

8 -- Outside concerts: We tend to go to way more concerts (and music festivals) and stuff because it's finally nice out. We love going to the venues especially that are outside or open air.

9 -- Discovering new ice cream places and eating at old faves: I always try to find at least a new ice cream place or two every year and we love hot summer nights after the sunsets when we can go grab an ice cream cone. 

10 -- Laying out (and reading) at my pool: I LOVE the hot weather, I love my pool and obviously I love reading. It's my FAVORITE place to read and one of the most relaxing things in the world for me. Maybe this one is cheating because it involves books but I just generally love being in the pool or laying out on a nice warm day where occasionally I get a cloud or two as respite when I'm sweating.


What are your favorite things about summer?? SHARE THOSE SUMMER VIBES WITH US!

Daisy's Mini-Review of A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas

Title/Author: A Court of Mist and Fury (A Court of Thorns and Roses #2) by Sarah J. Maas
Publisher/Date published: Bloomsbury USA Children's, May 3rd 2016
How I got this book: bought myself a nice shiny finished copy :)

***WARNING: POSSIBLE SPOILERS FOR FIRST BOOK IN THE SERIES***

I LOVE Sarah J. Maas' writing and OMG I NEEDED this book because ACOTAR was AMAZING and I just love Feyre and Rhys and everybody. So yeah. There was flailing when this finally arrived in my home.

And I have to say that this was even better than the first one. I loved that we explored more of the world Sarah J. Maas created and we get to know some characters better and meet some fun new ones and get so much more backstory! I LOVED it!

And YOU GUYS! SO MANY SWOONS! I really don't want to give anything away but there's just SO MUCH YES! I ship it so hard, I cannot even. Seriously.
Do you ever have that feeling that the book you're reading was written just for you? Cause that's how I felt reading ACOMAF.

I'm not sure how I'm going to survive that ending though OMG the wait will quite possibly kill me. Mind was blown several times and then some. If you're not already in on this action, you're going to want to hurry up and get on that. I'm not really a fan of fae novels, but this is everything. Go and read it.

My rating: 5+ stars

Top Ten Favorite 2016 Releases So Far This Year

Today marks our SIX YEAR BLOGOVERSARY!!! That is six years of this blog and SIX YEARS of Top Ten Tuesday!! Have a cupcake on us today! Well, pretend its on us! Thanks for all the book talk and making our TBRs grow every week!

And now back to our regularly scheduled Top Ten Tuesday.....

For future Top Ten Tuesday topics & info on how to participate, click here!

Today we are talking about our favorite 2016 releases thus far!

Daisy's Picks

1 -- Flamecaster by Cinda Williams Chima: the first book in a series that is set in my beloved Seven Realms both broke my heart with some things and reminded me why I love this world and the author so much. If you haven't before, you should definitely read the Seven Realms series and then this one. 

2 -- A Gathering of Shadows by V.E. Schwab: this might even have been more amazing than the first book in this series A Darker Shade of Magic. Read this all in one sitting during the readathon and it was AWESOME.

3 -- Jane Steele by Lyndsay Faye: I didn't expect to, but I LOVED this book! I mean, I love Jane Eyre and I'll always be intrigued by something that's marketed as a span on the classic, but I was surprised by how much I adored it! I had so many feelings!
My Review


Lauren's Picks

4 -- Rebel of the Sands by Alwyn Hamilton: I was lucky enough to receive this title to review from Netgalley and I was not disappointed. An easy 5 stars. And have you seen that cover? JUST LOOK AT IT.

5 -- The Serpent King by Jeff Zentner: So... I may have only just started reading this book, but its going on the list. Unless the world fold unto itself and we are in a different dimension before I finish this one, I know it will be a new favorite. (Jamie seconds this one)

6 -- Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys: Now I loved the author's other novel, Between Shades of Gray, just as much as the rest of the world... but his book in particular was absolutely amazing. It is tragic and heartbreaking, but the writing was beautiful and would fill up your soul. And because historical fiction is the genre that was my first love, this book just made me fall in love again. (Jamie seconds this one)

7 -- The Passenger by Lisa Lutz: I read this over a month ago I think and I'm still thinking about it. I just don't see those kind of books anymore. The ones that really stick with you. I'm honestly thinking of giving it a re-read already. 

Jamie's Picks 

8.  Girl Against The Universe by Paula Stokes: If you love contemporary YA, this is a must read. Cutest romance! It made me happy and made me cry and I just loved it.  You can read my full review of Girl Against The Universe!

9.  Truthwitch by Susan Dennard: Okay technically I read this last year so I didn't read it this year but it's still one of my favorite 2016 releases!! I loved this start to a new fantasy series and cannot wait to reunite with these beloved characters in the second installment. 

10.  The Unexpected Everything by Morgan Matson: Another incredible contemporary YA book from one of my favorite authors! Morgan always delivers the perfect story and characters that I didn't know I needed in my life. Perfect read to get to this summer! Great romance, complex friendship dynamics and an amazing father/daughter story. Oh and DOOOOOGS. Also, little Easter eggs if you've read her other books!  

Tell us your fave 2016 releases so far this year!!

The Summer Reading Illusion

My sister and I at Cedar Point

Hey guys. I don't have a review for you today. Why? Because my summer reading has dropped to
nothing. It's funny, as a kid, summer would be all about books being read under trees outside, taking a break from the hot sun. But now at almost thirty, I find myself navigating away from the stationary. Sign me up for sand volleyball or an all day softball tournament (seriously my forehead is still peeling).

The only time in summer that I gravitate toward books is when I am on a beach. But alas! I live so far from beaches. And in Ohio, I am choosing the walks with friends, the cookouts, the game nights over the solitary reading that I used to do not that many summers ago.

So I was curious. Do you all share my pain? Or is summer a high reading time for you guys? 

PS. We won the softball tournament on Saturday, and are undefeated in my Monday night league (somehow). Volleyball we lost tonight 2 - 1 but I had a nice run of 5 or so points, and it was a close game each match. Couldn't ask for anything better :)

Daisy's Ten Most Anticipated Releases For The Second Half Of The Year

For future Top Ten Tuesday topics & info on how to participate, click here!

1. Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo: OBVIOUSLY this is at the top of my list because holy wow, Six of Crows was AMAZING and I need this book in my life.

2. Empire of Storms by Sarah J. Maas: I expect this will be on lots of list today and it's on mine as well, I LOVE this series and am very excited to see how it'll continue!

3. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by J.K. Rowling: so obviously this will be another one on lots of list probably. I really need to stay off everything so I won't come across spoilers..

4. P.S. I Like You by Kasie West: I will forever read Kasie West's books because she always gives me all the feels and her contemporaries never fail to make me smile and swoon.

5. The Beauty of Darkness by Mary E. Pearson: I'm also sad because this is the end of this series but I need to know how it'll end!

6. How To Keep Rolling After a Fall by Karole Cozzo: this is not a book that I would have usually picked up based on the summary, but I ADORED How To Say I Love You Out Loud and I need to have more of Karole Cozzo's storytelling in my life.

7. The Fate of the Tearling by Erika Johansen: I'm both dreading the end of this series and really excited about it, can't wait for this one!

8. A Scot in the Dark by Sarah MacLean: Sarah MacLean is one of my favourite historical romance authors and I'm always excited when she has a new book coming out!

9. Of Fire and Stars by Audrey Coulthurst: I'm not gonna lie, this is exciting both because I love a good fantasy plot, but also because it's a YA fantasy that has a romance brewing between two princesses and I don't come across those often. I really hope this awesome.

10. A Shadow Bright and Burning by Jessica Cluess: basically this sounds like an epic new fantasy series and I'm always looking for those!

So tell me, do we share any? And please do tell me what I should definitely at to my TBR as well, because shiny new releases are always welcome :)

Top Ten Tuesday is a fun weekly link-up in the community where we provide a prompt and other lovers of listmaking join in on it with their own top ten list. Feel free to have less than 10 or more if you need to at times and put a spin on the topic if you need to! Just please link back to us if you are participating :)

To join, link up below with the URL to your blog POST (not your blog), your name and your email (which will remain hidden). Then bounce around the Linky!

New Library Card

Back in November, I moved in with my boyfriend.  This entailed moving an hour away, to a town that I had been going to all my life because my grandparents lived there.  I had long romanticized the little town and wanted so badly to move there and become a part of the daily life.  Couldn't explain why if I had to.  It's been the inspiration of a few stories that I've had running through my head, formulating themselves, for ages.  Basically, I love it here.

Ever since I started law school, I have truly been living the "broke" part of our title.  And, fortunately, since about the end of the semester, the "bookish" part has come back to me as well.  We don't have a real book store up here.  The closest one is a good hour away.  But that doesn't matter because I am broke.  :)

I decided a while ago that I wanted to get a library card.  I figured that 1. it would help me be more a part of the town and 2. it would be a cheap way for me to get access to new to me books.

Somewhere around high school, I figured that I really sucked at libraries because you have just two weeks to read the book and return it (they didn't have online renewal yet), so I just gave up on libraries as a viable option for me.  But, now that we've got online renewal, I can check out a book for quite a while and hopefully get to it in time, and my need is surpassing my former attitude.

I was still on the fence about it until last week at the pool.  One of the ladies there asked what I was reading, showed me what she was reading, and said she got it at the library on a whim.  Internally, I was like, "I'd like to get books on a whim and not risk getting burned!"  A couple of days later she described the book and it sounded amazing!  A quick look at my bank account made me realize that I couldn't buy my own copy even if we had a book store in town.  That really kind of settled it for me--I needed to get a library card asap.

Yesterday I had some time to kill before the pool opened, so I took the plunge.  I grabbed a utility bill that was in my name and headed downtown, on a mission.  As I drove, I couldn't help being pretty excited--I was getting a library card--I was becoming a real citizen here.  It all just felt big.  I'm sure someone, probably even several someones, reading this post will understand what I mean.

I filled out the form.

Then they handed me this:

Yay!  It wasn't quite the Harry Potter getting a wand moment, but it was maybe a little close since the AC kicked on and a slight breeze blew my hair back.

After getting the card, I looked around for the book.  My pool friend still had it checked out.  So I wandered around a little bit.  I almost picked up a huge annotated Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, but it's sheer size kept me from wanting to take it to the pool (I definitely filed it away for later).  Randomly, I picked up and checked out Galapagos by Kurt Vonnegut--started it at the pool, and so far so good.

I also put a hold on the book my pool friend has so as soon as she returns it, that sucker is mine!  At least for a week.

I'm even looking at the two week limit as a challenge as opposed to a restriction.

As much as libraries have stayed the same since I was a kid, they've also changed a lot!  For the past nine years, the only libraries I've been in have been on college campuses.  They have all of the latest technology and, in many ways, are more about creating a research-friendly environment as opposed to fulfilling a civic service.  This library had plenty of technology for the community, which is great, but they were definitely still book-centered.  And the summer reading program.  I wish there was one for grown-ups.

But my favorite thing is that now they'll send you texts when your books are due or when holds come in.  Awesome!