Summer Recipes + My Favorite Magazines

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of PEOPLE®, Real Simple®, InStyle®, CookingLight® and Sunset®. The opinions and text are all mine. 

We spent most of the day today hanging out with friends, eating delicious summer time food, relaxing by the pool and embracing what the summer season is all about. To me summer begs for us to make everything a little easier and more relaxed. Easier recipes. A more relaxed scheduled and me time here and there to give us that bit of rejuvenation we all need.

If you asked my family what one of my favorite ways to relax is, they would tell you curled up in my bed with a book, a magazine and something to sip on. (They know me well and call my bed my ‘special place’.) I learned a long time ago that having a place in my home to relax alone is important for my soul. If I’m feeling a bit stressed or just exhausted from a busy schedule, even 30 minutes of time in my room away from electronics and life’s busyness, gives me that boost I need.

Lately I’ve been overwhelmed with end of the year activities, planning my daughter’s graduation party and work duties. All of these are good things and I love doing them, but they’re draining energy and time wise. It’s more important than ever to relax and get that me time in before I hit a wall. (And believe me, I’ve hit that wall before and it’s no fun.)

While my husband was out shopping at our local RANDALL’S, he picked up a couple of magazines for me: Cooking Light and Real Simple. (He knows the way to my heart.) The minute I saw the pasta dish on the cover of Cooking Light, I knew I HAD to make it. From the colors of the vegetables to the fact it included prosciutto, I could not wait to make this dish for my family. Plus, the magazine has 67 super-fast recipes and the 25 Minute Summer Cookbook. They were speaking my language!

Have a look at Cooking Light’s Pasta with Prosciutto and Cherry Tomatoes…

This turned out so good and is definitely going to be a go-to recipe for me this summer. It’s easy, requiring only chopping a few veggies and boiling the pasta, and the flavors were incredible. I served it with some bread and olive oil and it was a hit with the family.

Are you hungry yet?

I also made another pasta recipe for a cookout we went to. Since my son’s are vegetarians, when we’re invited over for dinner I try to bring something they can eat as a main course. The pasta dish had pesto, cherry tomatoes, fresh mozzarella and Romano cheese. Again, it was a hit and a recipe I’ll be making again.

It is so relaxing to me to flip through a magazine and get inspired by recipes, home decor ideas and organizing solutions. I have somewhat of a system when it comes to magazine reading. First, I flip through the entire magazine from front to back, skimming through to see what awaits me. Then, I read it like a book. I read every article and with a pen in hand, I mark up things I want to try or dog ear pages I want to come back to. Please tell me I’m not the only one who does this?!

Could you use some me time? Or maybe some inspiration for meals, your home or outfit ideas for the summer? Flipping through a magazine not only inspires me, but it gives me a boost to get my life in order when I feel incredibly overwhelmed.

See below for a $1 off coupon on some of your favorite magazines and get inspired! Just promise me…you’ll squeeze some me time in this summer, okay?

You can visit your local participating  SAFEWAY, JEWEL-OSCO, VONS, PAVILIONS, TOM THUMB, RANDALL’S, SHAW’S or ACME MARKET and get $1 off PEOPLE, InStyle, Real Simple, Cooking Light or Sunset magazine too through Just for U or MyMixx!

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of PEOPLE®, Real Simple®, InStyle®, CookingLight® and Sunset®. The opinions and text are all mine.

 

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