I think late summer may be my favorite time for Farmers Markets in North Carolina—mostly because the season’s sweetest tomatoes have arrived. And I like to think of tomatoes as an excellent excuse to eat mozzarella cheese. (I’ve heard that it’s frowned upon to just serve yourself a plate of fresh mozzarella. Just to be clear, this would not be frowned upon by me.)

Anyway, over the weekend I created this salad using a few of those tomatoes, some fresh locally-made mozzarella, and an olive oil I picked up in Italy. It was the greatest caprese salad I’ve ever made. So, since I’ve created my greatest, I feel confident sharing some tips for your creation.

1. Eat local. Get as many of your ingredients—tomatoes, cheese, basil—as possible from local farmers and artisans.
2. Except for the olive oil and salt. Olive oils that you’re not cooking with should come from Italy. Check the bottle. You want olives that are picked and press in Italy. You’ll taste the difference. Trust me. It will actually taste like—crazy as this sounds—olives. As for salt, I’m a salt snob. My favorite easy-to-obtain brand though is Real Salt.
3. Pick and tear your basil just before you serve. It’s the most fragrant in that moment.
4. Use different colored tomatoes. This is mostly for presentation purposes, but also adds a nice mix of flavors.
5. Serve with crusty bread and pour your olive oil liberally enough that you’ll have lots to sop up.

Eat up and enjoy!

In the last few years I’ve realized that in general I wake up unhappy. It’s funny, because I’d describe myself as a “morning person.” I like getting up early and being productive. But the morning is when every anxiety in the world seems to land on my shoulders. It’s like I haven’t been diligent at keeping them at bay in my sleep and so I wake up unreasonably distraught by the state of my world.

(Related: Most mornings I’m awakened by an animal that closely resembles an 80-pound coyote jumping on top of me and howling for food. So maybe that has something to do with it.)

Anyway, because of this, I make a conscious effort to spend my morning lifting my mood. Coffee helps. So do dogs. But one of my favorite things to do is watch inspiring talks online as I get ready. I generally alternate back and forth between Ted Talks and sermons from Andy Stanley’s Atlanta church, North Point.

Right now, his church is doing a series that feels a little like Ted Talks (if Ted Talks occasionally mentioned God). So far, the VOICES series has included talks from Jeremy Cowart (world renowned photographer who founded Help Portrait), Scott Harrison (club-promoter-turned-philanthropist who founded Charity Water), and Ryan Leak (the hilarious motivational speaker behind Chasing Failure). It is awesome. Regardless of whether you even believe in the existence of God, this series and these people are so inspiring.

So, if you’re like me and wake up in a state of despair, definitely watch this. But even if you’re just a normal human who enjoys some good inspiration, it’s worth a watch.

I’ve been reading a lot this summer. I’ve read some things I wouldn’t recommend (Paula Hawkin’s—author of The Girl on the Train—new book really bummed me out) and some stuff you already know to read (Grisham’s latest isn’t great, but it’s not terrible and read Big Little Lies before you watch the HBO series). But here are five favorites from the last few months:

This novel jumps around time-wise—skipping entire decades without reference—and there are tons of characters, but you feel invested in all of them. It feels true to life in a lot of ways—especially the broken pieces after divorce. It’s not a happy or a sad story necessarily (and it’s definitely not fast-paced), just a beautiful story about a family. The author’s subtle descriptions of place and time—from summers in 1960s LA to rural Virginia—were my favorite part.

The author of this novel about immigration and refugees is Pakistani and while the novel is (obviously) fiction, it hits uncomfortably close to reality with the current Syrian crisis. Many parts feel fantastical, while others feel as if they could be autobiographical for an actual modern day refugee. It’s insightful and eye-opening. And it often read like scenes from a movie, so I’m really hoping someone turns it into one.

This is your eerie summer beach read. It’s a bizarre thriller that takes place in London and is full of twists and turns. It’s the kind of psychological page turner that’ll keep your attention and should probably be followed by something light and fluffy.

Speaking of light and fluffy, for the most part this book falls right into those categories. Sure, there are some twists and some intrigue and a little bit of sadness, but this novel keeps thing pretty upbeat. It’s the story of a self-described boring British woman who moves to the South of France and becomes immersed in a mystery around perfume and  aristocrats, with a love story thrown into the mix. I read this when I was on a trip to Tuscany, which is cheating. Because everything is better in Tuscany. But if you happen to be traveling to some spot like Tuscany or the French Riviera, this is the perfect companion for your trip.

This book was published in 1989 and was an international bestseller, so there’s a good chance you’ve already read it. And a television series based on it was released in 2010, so you may have actually watched it. I had done neither and now I don’t know why I waited so long. I loved this book in general—its stories and characters, set in the 12th century, are compelling and fascinating. It’s not out-of-this-world writing, but the storytelling is just amazing. And this summer I’ve had the chance to visit a few European cathedrals (which is what much of this book centers around) and all I could think of was this novel. I really loved it. Read it. (Tip: Read the Kindle version. This guy is like a thousand pages.)

It’s hard to keep up with Charleston. The pastel-hued Lowcountry town may be known for its deep and rich history, but the city seems to be opening a fresh new restaurant, shop, cocktail bar, or boutique hotel every second—each one cooler and more gorgeous than the last.

On my latest visit, I stayed in The Dewberry, which checks all of Charleston’s boxes: interesting history, chic design, incredible food, and fabulous cocktails. (Bonus points: It also has a spa that is a perfectly cool and dark retreat from the Southern city’s ridiculous summer heat.) After that visit, I’ve compiled a list of some of my favorite Charleston spots right now. New and trendier places will edge their way in soon, but for now, my latest favorites:

LOUNGE
Even if you don’t sleep at The Dewberry, plan on at least one cocktail in the new(ish) hotel’s luxe lobby, which they aptly call a “living room.” Housed in a former 1960s federal building, the area features authentic 1960s furniture and a vibe that’s distinctly Mad Men. Behind its brass bar centerpiece award-winning mixologist Ryan Casey works his magic. Order the Old Fashioned and pretend you’re Don Draper for the night.

EAT
The bustling Upper King Street is undeniably the hottest place to eat and drink in Charleston these days. My current favorites are The Darling Oyster Bar, The Ordinary, and The Grocery (related: What’s with Charleston adding “The” before all restaurant names?). At the vintage-inspired and stylish Darling, order the baked oysters (pictured). At The Ordinary, which is housed in a 1920s bank building snag a seat at the bar and order the crispy oyster sliders. And at inviting and convivial Grocery, don’t skip the fresh and bright swordfish crudo.

DRINK
After dinner, grab a cocktail at The Belmont where black-and-white films play on the wall and the drinks are as smooth as they are potent. Or, head down the street to The Cocktail Club, a hip speakeasy-esque destination with an always-popular rooftop. (It’s been around for awhile and gets talked about a lot, but if you haven’t been, The Gin Joint on East Bay is just as good as you’ve heard.)

SEE
Sure, there’s plenty of history around town—definitely take a walk through the historic City Market or along the Battery. But this time of year you’re likely looking for the places with air conditioning or a breeze. Grab drinks one night at The Watch, the rooftop bar and restaurant at the new(ish) Restoration hotel. Take a stroll in the early morning through the Saturday market in Marion Square. Grab an iced coffee and sweet treat at the cozy new Harbinger bakery.

Ok, I’m stopping. If you’re looking for more, there’s no shortage of online articles telling you the latest and greatest in the city. These are just my favorites. For now.

When my friends, Julie Ann and Javier, told me they were getting married in Mallorca, Spain over July 4th weekend, my first thought was “Well, I’m going to need to take a second job to afford this trip” and my second was “This is going to be the trip of a lifetime.” I was correct on both counts.

I didn’t do much/any pre-travel planning (literally booked rooms the day of my flight), but you should learn from my mistakes. Below, I’ve got some tips for anyone considering a trip to this gorgeous, sunny Mediterranean island.

• Rent a car. This island was made for exploring. The roads are terrifyingly small, but every turn and crest of hill is more beautiful than the last. You won’t want to just be in one port or town. There’s too much to see.
• Stay in one of the island’s charming smaller port towns. We stayed in Porto Petro (photo from hotel balcony below), which I’d recommend, for a few nights. We also stayed in Cala D’or for a few nights, which was a little too touristy for my taste. (Read: Lots of drunk Brits singing karaoke until the wee hours of the morning.)

• Go beach hopping. There are so many gorgeous beaches. You’ll want to try a few. Our favorites were Cala Mondrago (part of a national park), Cala Mesquida (most beautiful wide white beach… and randomly filled with Germans), Cala Sa Nau (away from the crowds and surrounded by craggy cliffs).

• Explore the smaller towns and island’s sites. If you’re staying on the eastern side of the island (which you should) and in the mood for a hike, check out the wooded trails leading up to the Sant Salvador, a mountaintop 13th-century monastery offering panoramic views from its windy peak. Save a Wednesday or Saturday morning for the bustling food and artist market in Santanyi (have an idyllic lunch on the lemon-tree-filled patio of Restaurant Laudat). And just save time for stops along the way—seemingly every town has a sun-bleached old cathedral, charming city square, and inviting restaurants.

• There is so much good food it’s hard to pick favorites. But here are a few musts: Quince in Porto Cristo was the most charming waterside cafe ever. Seriously ever. Nicest owners. Best food. Beautiful views. Go for tapas (pic below). Get drinks at sunset at Blue Bar Chiringuito in Porto Colom.  Then get dinner (ideally, seafood paella) at Club Nautic Restaurant just across the water.

• Spend at least one day/night in Palma. The island’s main city feels like a little sister to Barcelona. There’s plenty of shopping, historical sites, and beautiful narrow streets in its old town—without the overwhelming tourist crowds of Barcelona. Have a late dinner at the bright and airy El Tapas de Flanigan (Best ham croquettes we ate the whole trip. And we ate a lot.) and take a walk by the stunningly beautiful seaside cathedral at night. Our boutique hotel, Santa Clara Urban Hotel & Spa, was the perfect mix of historic charm with luxe modern amenities—and smack in the middle of the old quarter.

• If you want to splurge, spend a night at Hotel Cap Rocat where my friends got married. I did not. Because I’m not a millionaire. But it was AMAZING. It’s an old seaside fortress turned into a luxury hotel overlooking Palma. I really can’t stress enough how incredible it was. Go for drinks, dinner, a night (or ideally one of your favorite couple’s wedding).

• Final tips: 1) There are about 8 billion Airbnb options on the island. Book early in the summer time, because they fill up fast. And there are some really amazing villas you can get pretty cheap if you look. We used Hotel Tonight some and had success with that. (Sidenote: I love that app too much.) 2) The very popular bread, aioli, and olives appetizer sounds weird. Embrace it. It’s so good. 3) Bring copious amounts of high SPF sunscreen. The sun here is insane. And the sunscreen is overpriced. 4) They mine salt on the island. Stock up on that for souvenirs. You won’t regret it. 5) Order sangria every chance you get (this is really just life advice, not necessarily specific to this trip).