Caribbean Travel

July 7, 2018

Shop the Post: Beach & Pool Basics

Have any plans to go to the beach or the pool any time soon? There’s nothing like making your way out to the water to find out you left something behind. You foot your way out to find your favorite spot in the sand, only to realize you forgot your favorite beach cover up, sunscreen (gasp) or comfy beach towel. No longer will this be an issue. Here is a list of things I can’t live without whether on the beach or at the pool.

1. Phone Charger Pack

There are always so many opportunities for selfies or scenic photos at the pool or beach. Make sure you have enough phone battery life to capture it all with this pretty pink Mophie powerstation.

2. Big Sunglasses

Don’t be shy with your sunnies. Make sure they cover your eyes well and don’t let all that light in on the sides, less squinting equals less wrinkles! I love these sparkly ones by J.Crew.

3 & 13. Eye Catching/Well Fitting Swimsuit or Bikini

Take the time to experiment on what styles suit your body best. There’s nothing worse then feeling uncomfortable in your swimsuit. Nothing feels better when it fits great! Swimsuit J. Crew & Bikini from Carbon 38

4. Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker

Gotta have those tunes at the ready. I love this Bose SoundLink Micro Waterproof Bluetooth speaker.

5. Reusable water bottle

These days it’s so important that we reuse & recycle every opportunity we get. Fill your water bottle with a cool refreshing beverage and remember to stay hydrated throughout the day. The hot summer sun can dry you out quickly! Carbon 38 water bottle

6. A fun read

Whether you are into gripping novels or glossy magazines, it’s always nice to have something juicy to dive into. This novel will keep you well entertained. Get the NY Times Bestseller: When Life Gives You Lululemons

7 & 12. Sunscreen for body & Face

You can never have enough sunscreen, make sure to pack high SPF’s for your body and face, reapply often and keep your skin looking it’s best. Supergoop! & Clinique.

8. Self Tanning Cream

We have all heard it time & time again…a fake tan is a safe tan. These lotions have come such a long way to help you achieve that sun kissed glow. We love this one by St. Tropez.

9. Lip SPF

Don’t forget to protect that kisser! Nothing hurts more than a lip burn. Keep lips moisturized and looking great with this Coola Liplux SPF 30.

10 & 19. Cover up/Caftan/Poncho

It’s fun to strut your stuff around in a haute swimsuit or bikini…but sometimes you need to cover up. These are perfect picks for chilling out at restaurants and bars. Both styles are available at J.Crew: Block Print & Coral beach poncho

11. Sarong Scarf

Sport this cute little cover up with a loose blouse, tank or just your swimsuit. The perfect little wrap for the cabana bar from J. Crew.

14. Fresh Scented Perfume

Keep that glam edge and fresh scent even in the sand with this fresh Mermaid perfume by No3.

15. Tote Bag

You need to carry all these essentials in something right?! Here you go, loving this Aloha Tote by J.Crew.

16. After Sun Skin Care

Treat your skin to this soothing, moisturizing aloe spray after your fun in the sun by Herbivore.

17. Flip Flops

Protect those footsies on the hot concrete & sand. These flip flops by Tori Burch come in pretty juicy colors.

18. Beach towel

Even your towel speaks volumes about your personal style. Find one that speaks to you. I fell in love with these thin, striped beach towels in the French Provencal markets last summer. This one is available at Target, for a great price too!

20.Large Brimmed Sun Hat

There is nothing I find more essential for a big hat whenever I go outdoors. It really helps shield your skin from the sun and they look so stylish too! Hat by Madewell.

~ Marla Meridith

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Bacon

July 5, 2018

Recipe Video: Pasta Salad with Asparagus, Bacon & Feta

Pasta salads are always a hit in my house and at every summer party I go to. They are basic, and oh so good. This one makes the most of seasonal asparagus, smoky bacon and briny feta cheese. You can have this recipe ready and on the table in under 30 minutes. There is no mayo in this Pasta Salad with Asparagus, Bacon & Feta, so you don’t need to fret keeping it super chilled if outside. Love the mayo & can’t live without it? Then check out my Chipotle Macaroni Salad, another family with that smoky edge.

Click HERE for recipe details.

~ Marla Meridith

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Baked Sweets and Treats

July 3, 2018

Sweet Summer Raspberry Tarts

Ahhhhh, raspberries. We love them by the handful and especially love them in these beautiful Sweet Summer Raspberry Tarts. I’ve been sharing some Baking Basics with you lately and in this recipe, we use two of them: Creme Patisserie (Pastry Cream) and Pâte Sucrée (Sweet Pastry Dough) Combining all these basics together and adding raspberries makes the most delicious French dessert.

Take each element one at a time and you will see that baking French pastries does not need to be intimidating at all.

Click HERE for recipe details.

~ Marla Meridith

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Baby Shower

July 2, 2018

Family Favorite Frittata

We go through a few dozen eggs a week. Between all the baking I do for this blog (and to eat of course!) and because we love them for breakfast, lunch and dinner. This Family Favorite Frittata recipe is always a hit in my house and I’m sure it will be in yours too. Other than a little bit of prep time, you can have this meal on the table in under 30 minutes. It’s healthy, protein packed and completely delicious! Serve with a side salad if you want to include some more veggies into your day.

Click HERE for recipe details.

Here are a few more Family Favorite recipes to fall in love with:

~ Marla Meridith

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Appetizers

June 30, 2018

20 Favorite Recipes for July 4th (or any Summer) Celebration

As you guys probably already know I am smitten with summer cooking. There is an abundance of fresh, seasonal produce and the markets are overflowing with fresh fruits and veggies. I love the impulsivity of shopping for ingredients that are at the peak of the season’s bounty. These 20 Delicious Recipes for July 4th Celebrations are some of my (and your) all-time favorites on marlameridith.com. Most require minimal prep and all have easy to find ingredients. There is a festive assortment of breakfast, sweets, savories and of course…cocktails! Bookmark this post for any summer entertaining or family meals.

Blueberry Buttermilk Scones: We love these simple to prepare scones. Great for breakfast, brunch, and snacks. Click HERE to watch the video.

Baked French Toast with Berries and Vanilla Syrup: This recipe comes together quickly and while it’s baking you can get other things done around the house.

Baked Blueberry French Toast: One of the most popular recipes on this blog. Make it today to find out why!

Blueberry Chia Pudding: This recipe is just as great for a healthy breakfast as it is for a mid-afternoon pick-me-up snack.

Fruit Salad with Lemon Honey Dressing: This sweet fruit salad is the perfect side dish or dessert.

Chipotle Macaroni Salad: Mac salad with a spicy twist. Everyone loves a great mac salad at picnics, BBQ’s and all kinds of outdoor parties.

Strawberry, Avocado & Asiago Salad: Taste all kinds of fresh flavors both sweet and savory in this fresh salad.

Hush Puppies: I could easily devour an entire batch of this recipe. Double or triple the recipe to feed a crowd. Trust me, they will go quickly!

$Pile on that crispy bacon, homemade guacamole, fresh pico de gallo & slather on the Lemon Chipotle Mayo. Get the recipe for these TEX-MEX BURGERS on marlameridith.com$

Tex-Mex Burgers: Pile on that crispy bacon, homemade guacamole, fresh pico de gallo & slather on the Lemon Chipotle Mayo and you have the secret to these delicious burgers!

Crispy Avocado Wedges with Crab Salad: This creative dish only looks like it a huge effort. It’s so tasty and not hard at all to prepare.

Lobster Rolls: This fresh recipe just signifies the bounty of summer. I remember eating lots of these rolls back when I grew up on Long Island, NY.

Healthy Oven Fries: Need a side for those hamburgers and lobster rolls? These baked fries will go so quickly I suggest you make a few batches!

Ice Cream Baked Potato: This only looks like a baked potato, but when you bit into it you can see it’s the most amazing ice cream dessert!

Vegan Blue Coconut Snowballs: No need for blue food coloring here…an all natural powder turns these coconut treats a beautiful color.

No-Bake Strawberry Icebox Cake: No baking means you are not stuck in a hot kitchen. This cake is a hit with kids and adults. As a matter of act, you should have the kids prepare it, it’s that easy!

Strawberries and Cream Cookie Parfaits: These parfaits have a homemade strawberry sauce you will want to eat by the spoonful. Layered with crushed cookies and ice cream or frozen yogurt.

Blueberry Swirl Cheesecake: This beautiful cheesecake tastes better than anything you can find in the store or a restaurant. It has lots of WOW factor.

July 4th Berry Dessert Pizza: This pretty dessert pizza is simple to prepare with a sugar cookie crust, pillows of fluffy whipped cream and fresh summer berries.

Blueberry Martinis: Isn’t this cocktail gorgeous?! Well, you can rest assured that it tastes as great as it looks!

Telluride Mudslide Martinis: We are hoping for no mudslides this summer in Telluride, but praying for some of these cold coffee cocktails!

~ Marla Meridith

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Baked Sweets and Treats

June 29, 2018

Baking Basics: Creme Patisserie {Vanilla Pastry Cream}

I recently introduced Baking Basics, simple recipes designed to bring us the essentials we need for creating beautiful pastries and dessert goodies. So far I have posted recipes on All Butter Pastry Pie Crust and Pâte Sucrée {Sweet French Pastry Crust} Both of those crusts are completely delicious but quite different from one another. Trust me, once you start making your own crusts, creams, fillings, and pastries you will make them all the time! This Creme is just as great as a stand-alone pudding or custard too. You can even flavor it in so many creative ways. Especially great in fruit tarts and eclairs.

Click HERE for recipe details.

~ Marla Meridith

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Berries

June 28, 2018

Blueberry Swirl Cheesecake

Cheesecake ranks super high on my desserts I can resist list. It’s something you can find on many restaurant menus, but sometimes you just want a slice at home. Have you ever made a cheesecake? It’s actually very easy. The best news is…you can have your favorite dessert baked right in your own home. My Blueberry Swirl Cheesecake makes the most of all those delicious blueberries you can find in the markets.

This dessert would be the showpiece at any party or celebration. Serve this for July 4th or any time you want to wow your family and friends.

Click HERE for recipe details.

~ Marla Meridith

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Entertaining

June 25, 2018

Chipotle Macaroni Salad

I absolutely LOVE the summer here in the Colorado high country. The sun has been shining brightly every day & the bluebird skies here in Telluride, CO. are breathtaking. July 4th is right around the corner and there are always pool parties & potluck events with friends this time of the year. Want to wow friends at your next get-together? Serve up this Chipotle Macaroni Salad and everyone will be super impressed. It takes just 15 minutes to throw together and the flavors taste like you spent way more time on it.

Click HERE for recipe details.

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~ Marla Meridith

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Dessert

June 23, 2018

Baking Basics: Pâte Sucrée {Sweet French Pastry Crust}

If you love delicious french pastry as much as I do then you must try making this basic recipe: Pâte Sucrée aka: Sweet French Pastry Crust . This is a sweet, but not too sweet, flaky, buttery pastry that is most often used in tarts. It’s usually filled with pastry cream and fruity toppings, stay tuned for my Raspberry Tarts recipe (coming soon) Although I don’t typically post too much baking, sometimes I have a big hankering to get into the kitchen to bake, especially with seasonal fresh fruit.

I believe that when we are armed with the basics, we are more likely to create beautiful baked goodies. This Pâte Sucrée has almond flour in it, which I feel adds to the flavor and oh so great flaky texture.

This pastry tastes so good, you might even want to slice it up to make basic butter cookies with it. This recipe makes enough for twelve individual tarts or two large tarts. You can make ahead and refrigerate for up to a week. The dough freezes really well too, simply wrap in plastic wrap and store in an airtight baggie up to 4 months.

Click HERE for recipe details.

~ Marla Meridith

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Berries

June 21, 2018

Recipe Video: Blueberry Buttermilk Scones

Around here we love scones…especially when they are bursting with fresh summer blueberries. Grab a scone on your way out the door if you don’t have time to sit down to breakfast. They are great on hikes & packed into the lunchbox too. Watch the video below for my Blueberry Buttermilk Scones recipe to see just how easily and quickly they come together.

Click HERE for recipe details.

~ Marla Meridith

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Fashion

June 20, 2018

Fireworks Fashions: What to Wear for July 4th!

Looking to make your own fireworks with great fashion? Look no further, I’ve got festive styles for you right here…

I cannot believe that July 4th is creeping up on us so quickly! Gosh, do these beautiful summer days buzz by or what?! I adore red, white and blue and lots of stars and stripes….this is the time of the year to show them off. Here are some of my favorite picks to wear no matter what you are doing to celebrate those sparkle boom booms, that’s how my daughter referred to fireworks when she was a tiny one! She certainly nailed a descriptive way to talk about an already fabulous holiday.

These Fireworks Fashions: What to Wear for July 4th! can take you from the day into night. Don’t forget to layer on that sunscreen, that summer sun is a sneaky one. Happy shopping friends!

We are so in love with this 1901 plaid button down that has all the July 4th colors! Wear with shorts, a skirt or jeans.

Nail colors to celebrate the red, white and blue. Use just one or combine for totally festive fingers!

1.Butter 2. & 3.Christian Louboutin 4.Oribe 5.Nars

These Frame jeans are comfy and adorably stylin!

Will your plans include taking a dip? This cute one shoulder striped swimsuit from J. Crew is selling out quickly!

Need a way to tote around all your essentials? This blue Frame tote will carry it all!

If you need to cover up, this laser star print denim jacket by Topshop is all you’ll want.

Keep the sun off your face and stay in the shade with these adorable straw hats by Lola. I have one that I wear all the time!

Dress things up with this pretty lace dress by ASTR.

If you love the fresh look of summer whites as much as I do, then you should go for this dress by Joie.

How adorbs is this monogrammed purse by Kayu? It’s a great price too!

Accessories should never be forgotten…especially ones with tassels! Shop for these BaubleBar earrings for a great price at Target.

This Wildfox star spangled sweatshirt is soft and oh so sweet.

I am completely obsessed with white booties this year! These studded ones by Chloe have been on my haute list for a good long time.

This dress from Anthropologie is super flattering and can make a presence at so many summer gatherings!

This Balenciaga purse is to die for. If you get it first let me know!

I can never have enough navy in my wardrobe. This outfit by J.Crew is no exception! Wear as separates or together. Shop the skirt. And the top.

These blue clogs from Boden will be your new summer go-to shoe!

These lounge shorts by Alternative are comfy, cute and will leave everyone who sees you starry-eyed.

These Marc Fisher espadrille sneakers have a little bit of sparkle and of course those fun white stars!

Don’t forget to protect those pretty peepers. Loving this style by Quay.

Never forget that sexy pout….we love this lip tint by Bobbi Brown.

As mentioned earlier…sunscreen is essential on sunny summer days. Here are a few bestsellers that I also happen to rely on.

Kiehl’s Butter Stick with SPF 25 2. IT Cosmetics face cream SPF 50+ 3.Unseen Sunscreen by Supergoop SPF 40 4.Drunk Elephant SPF 30 5.Coola makeup setting spray SPF 30 6.Coola SPF unscented 50 sport spray for body

~ Marla Meridith

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Baked Sweets and Treats

June 16, 2018

20 Delicious Recipes for Berry Lovers

Whether it’s blueberries, blackberries, raspberries or strawberries…there is one thing that holds true: We LOVE berries! Summer is the best time to enjoy all kinds of berries at their peak of freshness. If you are one of the lucky ones, then you might have some berry bushes in your garden. There is nothing like tasting freshly picked berries warmed by the sun. I hope you enjoy these as 20 Delicious Recipes for Berry Lovers as much as we do!