Hello Summer!

I love Memorial Day weekend, firstly because it's three days and secondly because it's a signifier of summer. For a Memorial Day barbecue at Sabine's I had hoped to find a recipe for an amazing drink I had at a barbecue I attended the night before. It was a twist on a recipe in the Southwest Airlines magazine (scroll waaay down for the recipe). Though I couldn't hit upon how to make the drink, I was inspired to make something with a jalapeno simple syrup.

I decided on making Shandys because they are a perfect summer afternoon drink- not too alcoholic and very refreshing. You can use Minute Maid lemonade and Pabst and it's delicious- I opted for jalapeno lemonade and a wheat beer from my local brewery, Boulevard Brewing Company. 

It was a big hit, and perfect with hamburgers. I do think next time I'll use Red Stripe beer because the slight snap would stand up nicely to the lemonade. 

It was a wonderful beginning to the summer.

A visit to MoVi

My good friend Angie recently opened up the most charming business- MoVi, a modernized vintage boutique that is housed in an Airstream trailer that Angie's husband (and his father) renovated to whimsical perfection. 

MoVi is open every Saturday from 11 am- 6 pm on Westport Road at the corner of Mills and Westport (across from World Market), and every First Friday in the Crossroads District at 19th and Central. 

I love visiting with Angie (left) and her cousin Katie

The husbands (boyfriends, fiances) waiting area. My suggestion to Angie: stack some vintage Playboys and Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issues nearby for bored partners to leaf through. 

My purchase for the day was a perfect pink silk shantung shift. It reminds me of one of my favorite fashion/historical moments- Jackie Kennedys trip to India:

Image via

 If you live in Kansas City, be sure to drop by MoVi soon. And even if you aren't lucky enough to reside in Kansas City, you can support this lovely boutique by "Liking" it on Facebook. And if you do happen to fall in love with an item- MoVi is always willing to ship!

Local Pig

Our car has been with Matt in Louisiana for the past couple of months, which has meant the bus or foot power for me. I've been so eager to visit Local Pig since it opened- for non Kansas Citeans, Local Pig is a small butcher shop located in the back of beyond (the East Bottoms) that sells only happy, local, and antibiotic and steroid free meats.  Matt is only back for a week before he leaves for Afghanistan- I'm looking forward to feeding him well before he leaves. 

I wanted to buy everything in the shop- sausages, Campo Lindo chicken, duck breast. They are also one of the only butchers I've seen outside of New York that sells schmaltz, an essential ingredient in matzoh balls and other Jewish recipes.

In the end I held back and purchased a selection of sausages and some lovely skirt steak. I'll grill the sausages and make an Austrian potato salad on the side. Matt will grill the steak as well, and I'll make some chimichurri sauce and a lovely green salad.

Sabine and I are on the waiting list for a Local Pig Butcher Box. I can't wait until it's our turn to buy one!