The potions master and the goddess of love…could there be a more perfect couple?

Well, ok, maybe so, but shhhhh…allow me my fantasy, would you?

Yesterday, Michelle and I, after enjoying a flight of martinis at Aquatini, ambled up the street. We were blinded a bit by the combination of delicious drinks and bright sunlight, so at first we only noticed an open door and big, plate glass windows. Then we looked beyond…and saw what appeared to be many, MANY bottles of scent! A parfumerie!!!

We giggled, looked at each other and said at the same time, “it’s just what you’ve been looking for!” (me) and “oh heaven!” (Michelle)

We spent a glorious hour in there, sniffing this scent and that scent, reading about what scents were in the perfumes we liked and wach finally deciding on one that we liked. Michelle’s was Aphrodite, an enticing combination of rose, ylang ylang, geranium and mimosa oils, all known to inspire euphoria, bliss and ardor, and create a warm glow of romance.

I chose two scents combined: Tunisian Opium (patchouli, black opium & jasmine) and Angel (a blend of chocolate, caramel, honey, vanilla, sandalwood and patchouli, accompanied by fruity notes of citrus, melons, peaches and plums) which reminded me of Snape because of a story I once read in which his favorite tea is Lapsang Souchong, a very smoky blend; this scent is smoky, as well. When asked what I wanted to call my creation, I looked at Michelle and simultaneously we said, “Snape!” The guy behind the counter laughed and said, finally, they’re in agreement about something (the scents Michelle liked were not the scents I liked, and vice versa LOL).

Anyway, a day of being in a beach town, walking around, taking pictures, stopping for a martini, walking around, taking more pictures, buying a custom made perfume, walking around, taking more pictures, having lunch and another martini, walking around, taking pictures, driving to a second beach town, climbing a huge rock to get a picture of the sunset, and finally sticking my toes into the ocean is just about as perfect a day for me as can be!

The 4th of July: the words conjure up many memories; summertime, hanging out at the beach, music, fireworks…but most of all … FOOD!

To me, the perfect 4th of July foods are: hot dogs and/or hamburgers on the grill, potato salad, deviled eggs, corn on the cob, watermelon, ice cold beer… typical fare at all the 4th of July cook-outs (such a quaint New England term!) I’ve ever been to.

My cousin is hosting a cook-out tomorrow; we’re having all of the above plus fresh, home made salsa, clam dip and chips, fruit salad, maybe a 7 layer mexican dip. We’ll have to suffer with steak shish kabobs instead of hamburgers and hot dogs, tho. Life’s tough sometime! Maybe we’ll have some angel food cake with strawberries dipped in chocolate for dessert or possibly a cake like this:

What kinds of food makes it a perfect 4th of July for you?