mom a la mode

From BRAVO TV to brightly colored floral Camp Shirts, there are quite a few things making this mama’s summer sizzle.  Here is mom a la mode’s round up of her Summer Obsessions (and be sure check back quarterly for my seasonal obsessions!)  Enjoy!

Food: Siracha

When I was pregnant with my son, I craved sweet/spicy/tangy flavors almost regularly.  I’m surprised that I didn’t give Siracha sauce a chance back then, because I likely would have been going through a bottle a week! But here I am 2 years later and completely obsessed with the tangy chili sauce in that funky bottle.  I use it with everything from scrambled eggs to breaded chicken, and also infuse into cocktail sauce.  At a recent “3^rd of July” bash, I enjoyed grilled shrimp  marinated in Siracha and Orange Juice – a dish concocted by my good friend and blogger, Alison Hein of the Mixer Upper (maybe she’ll post the recipe!)

Siracha Sauce photo from asiangrocer.com

Fashion: Old Navy

If I can be honest with you, it’s been years since I’ve truly shopped in an Old Navy. And when I say “truly shopped” I mean ransacked the store top-to-bottom, opposed to just popping in to see what caught my eye.  It wasn’t until I became pregnant, and a mommy, that I rekindled my relationship with this super store of savings.  During my pregnancy, I couldn’t resist the cheap cardigans and dresses (although I didn’t love the pants so much.)  And now, as a mostly stay-at-home-mama, my wardrobe has transitioned just as drastically as my career.  So Old Navy has really come through with great shorts, printed tanks, tees and tops, and can-you-believe-how-cheap-these-are flip flops.  I’m particularly obsessed with their slim-fit, dark denim Diva Bermuda shorts and their gauzy cotton, bright floral Camp Shirt.

Old Navy’s Diva Bermuda Shorts from oldnavy.com

Camp Shirt from oldnavy.com

Fun: All Things Disney

In case you missed my recent post on our trip to Disney this summer, I am frantically and excitedly gearing up for some time in Walt Disney World, Florida and embarking on a Bahamian cruise aboard the Disney Dream with my entire family.  You can bet that there will be a follow up post (or two!) with complete details upon my return.

Everything Fabulous: Summer by BRAVO

Here’s the TV analogy in my household: ESPN is to my husband, as BRAVO is to mom a la mode.  

After many, many years of non-stop Food Network patronage, my new loyalties now lie with the “Network That Andy Built”  (note the Babe Ruth/Yankee’s reference.)  Who is “Andy” you ask?  None other than Andrew Cohen, Executive Producer and chief mastermind behind the Real Housewives franchise (amongst other amazing shows like Top Chef, etc.) More on Andy Cohen in another post, in just a few short weeks…stay tuned!  But in the meantime, I am completely obsessed with not only the summer programming on BRAVO – the Real Housewives of New Jersey, Around the World in 80 Plates, KATHY, Watch What Happens Live, Million Dollar Listing – but I am equally enamored with the fun, campy Summer By Bravo Olympic-themed promos that have been running for the past few weeks (set to Madonna’s “Superstar”.) Check it out here.

So what are you obsessed with this season?  Share or comment below. 

Happy Summer to all!

oxox
- mom a la mode

{The opinions expressed in this post are solely mine, and I was not compensated in any way for these brand endorsements.  Andy Cohen, if you’re reading this – I am DYING to come to the Clubhouse!! Tweet me! @Lisa_Pisano or @momalamode}