i am thoroughly convinced that one can taste all of summer in a single bite of watermelon.

my mom said i need to be home more. its not like i haven't wanted to be home, but sometimes its so easy to just get caught up in your own schedule that you forget about the people you love most. its awful, but true.

so, in light of that conversation with mom, i have made an effort to be home this week and spend time with my family. the time at home has resulted in a a bit of a cooking and baking spree. so far its been peach cobbler, pizza and mango black bean salsa. delish. tomorrow promises experimenting with making my own hummus and also some amazing homemade granola. i'm pretty excited.

being home is nice. you realize that you don't have to be out being crazy with your friends every night. sometimes just being home, around your family, laughing at episodes of Family Matters or screaming at the tv as Chase Utley hits a home run, or sitting around the table discussing how your day at work was; sometimes those times are the very best, the very sweetest times of all.

What makes a mind-blowingly perfect night?

Seeing an unbelievable performance of Les Miserables with one of your very best friends at the Fulton. Listening to Rent and Muse on your drive home and singing at the top of your lungs. Drinking wine and listening to music by candlelight outside. Watching a double feature of Father of the Bride and My Big Fat Greek Wedding, curled up on the couch with a blanket [plus another glass of wine, of course]. And all of this, spent with one of your very closest friends.

Yes. This makes a mind-blowingly perfect night.