July Club

In my family we have a very exclusive club for those who are born in July (or within a few days on either side of July), since so many of us are midsummer babies. To be a member of July Club is highly enviable, since we are known for our wit, charm, beauty, and intelligence.

The founder of July Club was my grandmother, who would be 90 today. She loved parties, clubs, eating, celebrations, and anything remotely fun. So, in celebration of her life and good cooking, here's a delicious recipe for her signature cookie:

Nana Betty's Sugar Cookies

1 cup white sugar
1 cup powdered sugar
1 cup butter or margarine (melted)
1 cup Wesson oil (vegetable oil)
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp salt
1 tsp soda
1 tsp cream of tartar
4 ½ cups flour
Mix all ingredients together. Place in the refrigerator for an hour. Roll into little balls and dip a small juice glass in sugar to press dough balls flat OR roll out and cut into fun shapes.
Sprinkle with sugar and bake at 350 degrees for 7-10 minutes.

Tip: this dough can store in the refrigerator for up to one week.

thirtymoon

So I recently returned from celebrating the big 3-0 in Belize. I decided that if I haven't been spending my hard-earned money on a wedding or honeymoon or children, I should spend it on myself. Thankfully I have 2 good friends who totally agree. So we treated ourselves to 8 days in paradise, also known as Ambergris Caye, Belize.

We survived a hurricane (ok, tropical storm, but who's counting??) which left us stranded...at a Radisson...with a bar, a Mexican buffet, and the US getting defeated in the World Cup.

We ate delicious food at all times and sailed away to other tropical islands, stopping only to swim with the colorful fish.

We soaked up some local culture and enjoyed wandering the streets of San Pedro.

We zip-lined through the jungle like Jane to Tarzan (except Tarzan was a tiny 17-year-old Belizian named Oscar who was clipping me into a harness) and explored caves and crystal waters in inner tubes.

We went to bed whenever we felt like it and woke up early because hey, we're 30, and we have nothing to prove.
We conquered a 2-hour yoga class and later smoked Cuban cigars, because on vacation there are no conflicts of interest.
We zipped around Belize in airplanes the size of my car with no worries.
We hired a private guide to take us into the jungle cause that's how we roll...we're not sharing our Ford Windstar with other tourists.
We lounged by the pool while the pool boy delivered our frozen mojitos (a treat that rivals Rumba's mojitos, which is saying a lot).
We justified our ridiculous extravagance by insisting on the importance of supporting the local economy.

I reflected on the family and friends who have gotten me this far, and the unfathomable blessings I have received in my 30 years on earth.

And I was reminded that even though life at 30 looks nothing like what I expected or planned on, I've had a heckuva lot of good times and experiences and opportunities, and become a person I never dreamed I could be. And that's not a bad way to start a new decade.