my kitchn.

My teeny tiny kitchen is in the running for the Kitchn's Small Cool Kitchens contest! Mine was a last-minute entry — some entries have been up there for weeks — but I would still appreciate any votes, because I'd love to win some kitchen goodies. Check out my kitchen and vote for me here, and be sure to check out the other kitchens, too. They're inspiring.

The latest of issue of Breathe Magazine is out today, and guess what? My pimento cheese story is on the cover! I had a great time talking cheese with experts and "doing research" (a.k.a. eating way too much of the orange stuff). It's a great issue all around, so go take a gander.

comida.

I took Todd to Barsa for his birthday a few weeks ago, and we had a leisurely meal of Spanish-style tapas and cocktails that had us remembering our trip to Spain a few years ago. Since then I've been feeling super wanderlusty — and watching lots of Rick Steves — so I decided to take it out in the kitchen. I made patatas bravas, gambas al ajillo, flan de fresas, and a salad made with local beets. Sounds fancy, but it was all super simple — and super delicioso.

fiesta.

I've never been a big tequila drinker, but margaritas are a different story. This hot weather makes me crave them — and not the stuff made with pre-made mix. What's your favorite recipe?

Orange Lime Margarita from Cupcakes & Cashmere.

This one is super-simple from Readymade.

 Mmm pink grapefruit via A Cup of Mai.

How perfect are these for a party? (No recipe but cute free printables from Living Locurto.)

I'm a sucker for good packaging, and this Espolon is calling my name.

happy weekend.

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I'm ready for my first weekend at home in weeks, but I don't plan on doing much relaxing. I might enjoy some al fresco movie viewing tonight, then I plan to bike to the farmers market in the morning and stock up on some pretty veggies for a crudite platter. I've got a birthday barbecue to host, where I'm trying out this rum punch recipe and this slow cooker mac 'n' cheese. I also need to make some pillows for the shop — though I might end up keeping all of them for myself. And on Sunday, I've got a ticket to a chef's potluck at Middleton Place plantation.

What are your weekend plans? 

dude gifts.

Guys are so hard to buy for. I know I'm not the only one who thinks this. So since Todd's birthday is a few weeks away, I've started stressing about what to get him. He says his favorite gifts are experiences — trips, an amazing dinner, a major league baseball game — but below are a few things I think most guys (or Todd, at least) would be happy to unwrap.

Dude Birthday by ericajackson

What's been your most successful dude gift? For me, I think it was the ukulele I got Todd for Christmas, but the deep fryer came in at a close second.

pimp my patio.

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After over a month of hard work, and spending about twice as much money as we expected, we finished our patio. The picture above is not our patio. I'm waiting for the plants around it to grow a bit before showing it off. But I sure do love it. 

There are, of course, a few things that are absolutely necessary for enjoying a patio, things I've been collecting since we finished the job. Bug spray, for one (I'm trying the Burt's Bee's stuff now). And fun lighting (globe lights, citronella torches), a fire pit (we got this one), comfy furniture, lots of plants, music (currently shopping around for an iPhone dock), and drinks, from a cold glass of iced tea to a summery cocktail. I can't wait to spend my summer on the patio. I never really want to leave.

patio by ericajackson