Independence Days

I just returned from an incredibly lazy six day stint in Tennessee, most of which was spent at my mom's riverside cabin, aptly named "The River House." It's a bit of a family tradition to celebrate the Fourth of July there. For as long as I can remember, my mother's whole clan has gathered there for swimming, sun, boating, fishing, skiing, and canoeing -- not to mention grilling out -- one time my aunt even made her own beer-battered hushpuppies -- and feasting on homemade ice cream.

This trip was appropriately relaxing and replete with an afternoon aboard a pontoon boat, and the homemade peach ice cream that followed was fantastic. I even treated the fam to my new breakfast specialty, cinnamon raisin French toast English muffins (say that five times fast). However, perhaps the most amazing thing about my six days away was the fact that for four of them, not even a smidgen of makeup touched my face, and I didn't even unpack my blowdryer. If you know me, that should astound you.