of Piña Coladas & Summer Reading {Give-Away!}

UPDATE- The winner of the signed copy of Lela Davidson’s book is…

Terri Adamson!!! Woo-hoo! Send me your address to thebusynothings@gmail.com and I’ll give your information to Lela Davidson to ship your book! 

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It’s been a hot summer. I remember optimistically chatting with a stranger in line somewhere (don’t be surprised- I live in the south, we’re friendly…) about how mild the summer would most likely be because the winter was so mild but clearly our optimism was misplaced.

With this heat, I just want to sit around and drink something cold and read a book while sitting on my couch in my air-conditioned house with a box fan blowing. Perhaps a couple of bonbons on a platter near by. I’m a girl of simple pleasures. Or I like to sit around with friends on an outdoor patio, listening to great music and drinking something… cold.

Keep reading for my book recommendation of the month, but first, a delicious FROZEN drink recipe that you will probably claim to be the genius of the first time one of your friends raves about it. And that’s ok if you do because I stole (and alcoholicly modified) the recipe from my mother-in-law…

My mother-in-law, Bonnie, who makes ONLY a non-alcoholic version of this, will probably say in exasperation when she see this, “Heidi JO!”, (even though that really isn’t my middle name).  This drink, whether you choose to use Squirt, 7-up or RUM, is a delicious party favorite that I love to make every hot, sticky, Arkansas summer.

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Bonnie’s errrr… Heidi’s Piña Colada

~1 46 oz can Pineapple Juice

~1 bottle Master of Mixes Pina Colada (maroon top)

~1 12 oz can frozen Lemon-aide

~ Rum, Squirt, or 7-up

~1 fresh Pineapple, cut into wedges (optional)

~tiny umbrellas for effect (optional)

Mix the first three ingredients and put in a large bowl, freeze over night. Generously scoop frozen mixture into tall glasses, or red solo cups if you are really classy,  and add RUM to taste! Put sliced Pineapples on the side of the cup and add an umbrella and straw. Happy SUMMER to you! This drink has the taste that captures the essence of summer.

a delicious treat on a warm summer day….

Pina Colodas are deliciously refreshing too!

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As far a books go, Ms July is Lela Davidson who is celebrating the one year anniversary of the publication of her book, Blacklisted From The PTA,  by partying all month long on her blog and giving me the opportunity to choose one of my readers to receive a copy of her collection of hilarious, relatable essays! Yes, that is right- I never do give-aways  unless the are AWESOME and this book is a fun addition to any collection. Plus it’s an AUTOGRAPHED copy- when Reese Witherspoon signs on to be a blonde version in a movie adaptation you can brag to your friends that you have a signed copy of the inspiration.

Lela is a local author and our paths have crossed several different times over the last year, most recently when I was not selected to participate in the “Listen to Your Mother” performance at the Walton Arts Center. However, as my hands shook uncontrollably in the audition and my voice quavered, I think she was doing me the kindest service as I would have most likely panicked and thrown up all over myself in front of a real audience. Being the awesome person she is, however, she helped facilitate the essay I wrote for the show into publication in her popular local magazine, Peekaboo. Peekaboo is an great  magazine full of heart warming and sometimes hilarious stories, also information about what is going on here in NorthWest Arkansas and ummm, I kind of think being published for the first time trumps vomiting on myself. Just a little bit…

How to get the autographed book:

-Leave a comment with your favorite summer recipe- for a drink or a heat-appropriate appetizer, preferably with a LINK to the awesomeness but that is not required.

OR

-Leave a comment telling me and Lela why you NEED a  copy of this book.

–if you want to follow me on Twitter and Facebook, that’d be grand cause I love new people to chat with but it’s not helpful in getting more submissions since this is a comment only give-away. Also- if you want to follow Lela: Lela’s Twitter, Lela’s Facebook

I’ll use a random number generater to be fair and announce the winner in an update here on my blog! Thanks and good luck!