Memorial Day weekend is upon us, folks! You know what this means: a day off from work (for many of us), the beginning of summertime — and barbecues! In the happy spirit of long weekend-ness, let's put together a playlist of songs so we can adequately start (as Fresh Prince might put it) "chillin' out maxin' and relaxin' all cool." Speaking of Fresh Prince, the Will Smith "Summertime" tune is Read more

Need a playlist for your Memorial Day BBQ this weekend? I made one for you! Have you seen Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End already? If so, do you think we need more Pirates movies after this one? And by the way, that sexy Captain Jack Sparrow totally made my Top 10 Boys of Summer list. Who would you cast in Diff'rent Strokes if you could cast the show today? Check out my Cannes reviews Read more

My big memorial day bbq is tomorrow and everything has fallen into place for a successful, fun, and memorable party. Earlier this week I started prepping and planning to ensure that no detail would be overlooked. From the easy invites to the grilled food, the cool drinks and the outdoor decor, all is ready for the bbq to begin. Not to be forgotten or overlooked is the music. Music is important Read more

Although Memorial Day is a holiday that is generally associated with patriotic colors, I've decided to keep my bbq light, festive, and fun by using bright red and vibrant yellow (keeping in theme with the invitation). Just because the event is outdoors doesn't mean that I don't have to transform my space from everyday to party day. For my outdoor entertaining decorating tips, read more Read more

Memorial Day is all about barbeques, beer, and summertime fun and my party will be a perfect combination of those three components. I've invited everyone I know through email - the more the merrier at this laid back bash, come up with a grill-based menu highlighting classic bbq dishes such as baby back ribs and modern twists like scallop skewers with pineapple and avocado. Cool and refreshing Read more

The menu for my Memorial Day barbeque is coming along quite nicely. I've decided to use recipes from a bunch of different regions to maximize flavor. It's also a good idea to have a lot of options when feeding a bigger crowd, this works especially well in case there are any picky eaters or guests with special dietary needs. To start, offer guests seafood skewers, olives, nuts, and hummus. For the Read more

Woo-hoo! Not only is this weekend a three day weekend, but it's also my big Memorial Day/start of summer BBQ. Yesterday I made a flyer invitation and emailed it to everyone I know. Today I'm putting together an edible outdoor feast for a crowd. Instead of choosing one culinary theme and sticking with it, I'm taking elements from a variety of cuisines to create a cohesive summer inspired menu. The Read more