The Kitchen Brigade, Amazon Prime Days, Gerald and Sara Murphy and munch more on Monday Musings.
MONDAY MUSINGS NO. 80
Good morning friends! Happy Monday.
How was your weekend? It was hot, humid and stormy. No where near as bad as NY and the Hudson Valley where they suffered terrible flash floods and damage.
We spent most of the weekend at a croquet tournament watching my brother and nephew compete. Â This is not the backyard croquet of my youth but a much more sophisticated and grown up version. White dress is required and the mallet is square not round, the course is fixed and believe it or not croquet is a professional sport.
After 3 days of sun, fun and play my nephew was the singles champion.
Aside from that we spent time looking at tile and floor samples for a few upcoming projects. There is still time to perfect the design because our contractor and cabinet maker cannot fit us in until December. That also gives me time to decide on wallpaper. So far I haven’t had much luck with the samples I ordered.
Last but not least, I finished the last episode of Story of Yanxi Palace and I loved it!
What did you do? Were you caught up in the storms? Or did you have a hot and steamy weekend?
Ok, let’s get to the good stuff, what I read, watched and found.
+5 THINGS
1.READ
Everybody Was So Young: Gerald and Sara Murphy: A Lost Generation Love Story
Wealthy Americans with homes in Paris and on the French Riviera, Gerald and Sara Murphy were at the very center of expatriate cultural and social life during the modernist ferment of the 1920s. Gerald Murphy—witty, urbane, and elusive—was a giver of magical parties and an acclaimed painter. Sara Murphy, an enigmatic beauty who wore her pearls to the beach, enthralled and inspired Pablo Picasso (he painted her both clothed and nude), Ernest Hemingway, and F. Scott Fitzgerald.
The models for Nicole and Dick Diver in Fitzgerald’s Tender Is the Night, the Murphys also counted among their friends John Dos Passos, Dorothy Parker, Fernand Léger, Archibald MacLeish, Cole Porter, and a host of others. Far more than mere patrons, they were kindred spirits whose sustaining friendship released creative energy. Yet none of the artists who used the Murphys for their models fully captured the real story of their lives: their Edith Wharton childhoods, their unexpected youthful romance, their ten-year secret courtship, their complex and enduring marriage—and the tragedy that struck them, when the world they had created seemed most perfect.
2.WATCHED~The Kitchen Brigade
Cathy is a sous-chef wanting to open a restaurant. With financial difficulties, Cathy accepts a job at a shelter for young migrants. At first she hates the job then her passion for cuisine starts to change children’s lives.
Links
Women are Sicker Than Ever. Maria Shriver Asked 3 Groundbreaking Researchers to Explain Why
The boomers are retiring. See why that’s bad news for workers.
Feeling Ragey? It Could Be a Sign of Perimenopause
71 Tomato Recipes That Taste Exactly Like Summer
10 Lesser-Known Washington D.C. Landmarks to Add to Your Itinerary
What Your Favorite Game Night Says About You
The evolution of Barbie’s design over the years
How heat pumps of the 1800s are becoming the technology of the future
What Did People Do Before Smartphones
4. SHOPPING BREAK~FINDS
Amazon Prime Days are just a few days away. There are lots of deals to be had and everyone is sharing their favorite products. You can see many of the deals on Amazon and set alerts so that you do not miss out. Prime Day deals are only available for those with a Prime Membership.Â
Amazon Prime offers fast, free delivery on millions of items, FREE Same-Day or One-Day Delivery in the US, and more. Plus videos, music, books and more.
Prime Student is a discounted membership option for college students, with a six-month trial and just $7.49 a month after — that’s half off!
Prime Access is also a discounted membership option for qualifying government assistance recipients, starting with 30 days free!
Do you like to Read?
One of the best things on sale for Prime Days is the Amazon Kindle.  Like an iPad but for books and much less expensive. We have a Kindle and have had it for years, I also have the Kindleunlimited book subscription. But you can get lots of free books at your library.
My Amazon Prime Day Picks
Here are a few things I currently use at home that will be on sale during Prime Days.
Luminex teeth whitening stripes. I started using these a few months ago and think they brighten my teeth.
If you have always wanted a fire pit or have been thinking about a solo stove now is your chance. We have this very model and LOVE it.
This portable blue tooth speaker is used everyday when we drink our morning coffee or have a cocktail on the porch.
Vital proteins collagen, I add this to my protein shake every day.
Liquid IV electrolytes , add to your water to keep you hydrated all year long.
Yeti coolers and cups, will be on sale. We have several different cups and 2 of the coolers. The coolers are pricy but we have had both for over 6 years and they are great. There are lots of size and colors of cups and coolers. The cups will keep your drinks cold or hot from 12-48 hours. Typically I have found up to 24 hours depending upon how much ice you use and hot hot the drink was when you added it to the cup.
Olaplex hair care. My favorite shampoo, conditioner and leave in protector.
I think it is a great time to shop for your favorites, to get ready for back to school or to buy holidays gifts. The holidays are a busy time, why not knock out some of your shopping early. It also spreads out the cost and the stress that comes during the holidays.
5. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT~WEEKEND MEANDERINGS
Saturday on weekend meanderings, I shared Wimbledon, white dresses, strawberries and cream and a feel good story on weekend meanderings.Â
Don’t forget to read Kim and Juliets’ post as well.
You’ll  find all of the weekend meanderings posts here if you missed any.
THAT’S ALL FOR NOW
I hope that you enjoyed Monday Musings. Â There are millions of blogs to read and I am lucky that you choose to read mine.
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Everybody Was So Young is a superlative book! I purchased it the year it was published and pull it off the shelf at least once every single year. No telling how many times I have read it! Thank you for the link to the Maria Shriver article – fascinating.
Beth, thank you for your glowing review of Everybody Was So Young! I am almost finished and love it. I find it fascinating that Gerald never painted again after he left Paris and took over the helm of his family company Mark Cross. Have a wonderful week and thank you again!
Sounds like a fun weekend! Who knew croquet was a competetive sport? Big congrats to your nephew. Always looking for new books to read and this one sounds wonderful! I’m loving all the white dresses you linked. White dresses seem to be a must have this summer. Have a wonderful week, friend!