In My Own Words, Lifestyle

Happy Fourth

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Beau’s Shirt | My Shirt | Undershirt | Shorts | Shoes

Happy Fourth of July from Beau and I to you!

For the non-Americans, the Fourth of July is when the United States celebrates its freedom, and it is also known as Independence Day. 

In 1776, the United States was actually a British colony. On July 2, 1776, we declared independence from the British Empire. Continental Congress approved the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. It wasn’t until August 2, 1776 that the Declaration was signed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in Independence Hall. Today, Americans like to celebrate with a day off, food, fireworks, and time spent with family and friends. Fireworks are mandatory in my book.

This is my first Fourth in Texas. I’ve lived in Texas for two and a half years. The first year, I was on vacation in San Diego. Last year, I was in Chicago. This year, I am celebrating with friends and Beau. We’ll find out if Beau is scared of fireworks…

I have mixed feelings about the Fourth of July. Many Americans like to taut the U.S. as the best country in the world. I do love this country despite the human cesspool currently in office. There are lots of things to love, and a whole bunch of things leading to disappointment and anger. 

Like many countries, America’s history is fraught with racism, oppression, destruction, ignorance, slavery, and so much more. We are a great country with some truly wonderful people and things to offer the world, but there are some equally frightening aspects of who we are. 

Our present is precarious. We are stripping women of their autonomy and rights. We’re holding children and adults at borders in horrifying conditions so much so people are dying. We elected a terrible person to the highest office in this country. A rapist is sitting on the Supreme Court. Racism is rampant. Flint’s water is still dangerous. College is overpriced. People think vaccines are a scam. Insurance is not for everyone. Oh my God, the list goes on and on and on and on. My heart hurts, and anger is an understatement. 

I don’t understand how we could possibly be the greatest country in the world when there are so many people suffering and so many things are going wrong. We are a country full of potential to be great, but we’re not there yet.

Happy Fourth of July. Have fun! Celebrate. Enjoy the day. I will. But don’t let the fanfare make you forget all the things we have done wrong historically and presently. 

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In The Kitchen, Sides

Red, White, & Blue Recipes for the 4th

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The fourth of July is an excuse to invite a bunch of friends over and heat up the grill. If you’re looking for a patriotic and healthy addition to your celebration, look no further! Here’s some red, white, and blue for the day.
One of the best things about summer is watermelon, at least, according to me. I decided to add a fun twist to an old favorite. Grilled watermelon is not new, but it still remains fairly unknown. I’ve read included a couple of super yum variations. For the white and blue, I topped vanilla yogurt with homemade blueberry compote; it’s great for breakfast, a snack, or dessert.

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INGREDIENT LIST
Grilled Watermelon
~ Watermelon

Feta, Basil Grilled Watermelon
~ Watermelon
~ Feta
~ Fresh Basil
~ Kosher Salt

Cilantro, Lime Grilled Watermelon
~ Watermelon
~ Fresh Cilantro
~ 1 Fresh Lime

Vanilla with Blueberry Compote
~ Vanilla Yogurt
~ 12 oz of Blueberries
~ ¼ of Water
~ ¼ of Sugar

Grilled Watermelon
Grilling watermelon is incredibly easy. The hardest part is cutting the watermelon. I promise, it is worth the effort! Tip: You can cut and dice everything up to the day before and keep it chilled in the refrigerator. I like to have all the ingredients in cups, so people can make their own buffet style!

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  • Cut the watermelon into pie shaped slices about ½ an inch thick.
  • Heat the grill to medium-high heat.
  • Put the watermelon on the grill for between 3-5 minutes each side until char marks appear.
  • Pull off grill, and it’s ready to enjoy. Or continue below…

Feta, Basil Variation

  • Cut basil into thin strips and sprinkle on top of watermelon
  • Sprinkle feta crumbles onto watermelon
  • Drizzle with balsamic vinegar (I used chocolate balsamic vinegar just because)
  • Add a dash of kosher salt (or any I just prefer kosher)
  • Dig in! This is my favorite variation!!!

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Cilantro, Lime Variation

  • Chop parsley and sprinkle on top of watermelon
  • Cut limes and squeeze over the watermelon
  • Dig in! This is light and delicious

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Vanilla Yogurt with Blueberry Compote
I love my yogurt with things mixed in. It’s great any time of the day. This is great for the holiday because it’s sweet, cool, and light for a healthy dessert. The blueberry compote needs to be made ahead of time, so it can cool down. It’s also amazing with bread pudding, pound cake, and so many other things.

  • Pour blueberries into a sauce pan with water and sugar (I saved a few berries for garnish later.)
  • Over medium heat, bring the ingredients to a simmer
  • Stir constantly until the berries have popped and the sauce thickens considerably
  • Pour compote into a container and set aside to cool completely
  • Once cooled, this can be poured over yogurt or saved for a week in the refrigerator


I hope you enjoy! I really had a blast making this and mostly eating! It just tastes like summer!