Time to Unwind

I love living in the city.  I love the hustle and bustle of everyday life.  Even the things I hate, I love.  Like walking to the metro, navigating the throngs of people, avoiding tourists, sitting next to someone on the train for 6 stops who has yet to discover deodorant.  I love these things because of the energy, the excitement, the feeling of power and independence I have.  Even when I am incredibly annoyed, I remember how lucky I am to be here.  And then there are the things that I actually, really love.  Like the history up and down every street, the amazing variety available from Ethiopian coffee houses to Mediterranean  build-your-own-pita eateries, the thrill of knowing that you could bump into someone famous on the street, the beauty of our modern world humming all around us.

Sweet on the Lips, Easy on the Hips!

Greek yogurt cheesecake tarts

Look at this great 4th of July spread!

I love sweets.  I also love not weighing 400 pounds.  We especially tend to be sensitive about our bodies this time of year.  Ah, summer.  Sunshine, sandals and swimsuits (although I think I've put on a swimsuit maybe twice this season...).  We tend to show off more skin, and therefore, we want to keep our meals (and the number on the scale) light. 

Little Miss Independence

Who doesn't just love the Fourth of July?  The cookouts, the fireworks, the prominent display of red, white and blue... It's a day that celebrates the strength and determination of the American people.  And this year, I am lucky enough to be spending this Independence Day in Washington, D.C., our nation's capital.  A Capitol Fourth is a concert on National Mall between the Capitol building and the Washington Monument, followed by an amazing fireworks show.  It's all free to the public, and kind of like the hot and humid version of New Year's Eve in Times Square.  I'm so excited.