M E L V I N ’ S M O N T H L Y M O M E N T S
JULY 2021
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PGA CHAMPIONSHIP AT KIAWAH ISLAND
We took our 11-year-old son, Bram, and his best friend, Clark, to the PGA Championship at Kiawah Island in South Carolina. Notable memories and observations: • Bram and Clark climbed a tree overlooking the seventh green, and it made it to the PGA Instagram in two different posts. Bryson DeChambeau liked both posts.
• Brooks Koepka gave Bram his glove after the first round of play.
Ratings of the golfers based on how nice they were to kids: 1. Bryson DeChambeau — the clear winner. He stayed around for 20 minutes after the practice rounds signing autographs and talking to the kids. 2. Brooks Koepka, Rickie Fowler, Scottie Scheffler, Tony Finau, Will Zalatoris, Justin Rose, Patrick Reed, Webb Simpson, Jordan Spieth, Tommy Fleetwood, John Daly, and Rory McIlroy all stood out for being generous with autographs, handing out golf balls, and giving high-fives. Two golfers who stood out for ignoring kids: • Phil Mickelson: I know Phil was a crowd favorite, and I pulled for him to win. He was focused. However, I never saw him
acknowledge the dozens of kids waiting at the end of the practice round or after the first round. I never saw him smile at a kid, sign an autograph, or hand out a ball. (Koepka tells a story that he attended the Masters when he was 8 years old and got 50 autographs; the one pro that refused to give him one was Mickelson). Again, we pulled for him to win, and I am sure he was just focused, but it was noticeable. • Colin Morikawa: I never saw him in any way acknowledge the fans and, in particular, the kids. Interesting side note: Harry Higgs is 6-foot-2-inches and weighs in at 235 pounds. His nickname is Big Sexy. For some reason, Bram and Clark thought this was hilarious, and I had to hear the term about a million times on the trip. If you are a golfer, I highly recommend attending one of the majors. It was a fun trip, and I do not even like golf.
-Melvin Upchurch
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WHAT IS ‘COTTAGECORE,’ AND SHOULD YOU TRY IT? INSIDE 2021’S HOTTEST HOME DECORATING TREND
This April, Ryan Bergara, the host of BuzzFeed Unsolved, proposed to actress Marielle Scott in the middle of a strawberry field. To do it, he got down on one knee and presented the ring in a handmade strawberry-shaped box. She said yes! Within hours, the story went viral. One Twitter user wrote that Bergara’s proposal was, “very cottagecore of him” and Brides. com called the moment an “adorable cottagecore proposal.” But what the heck is cottagecore — and what does an engagement in a strawberry field have to do with the latest trend in home decor? What does ‘cottagecore’ mean? When cottagecore started dominating design, Wovn Home’s founder, Davina Ogilvie, defined the term for Architectural Digest. “As a concept, it embraces a simpler, sustainable existence that is more harmonious with nature. Aesthetically, it’s a nod to the traditional English countryside style, romantic and nostalgic,” she said. Cottagecore is both a look and a lifestyle. Its simple but glamorous aesthetic extends to everything from proposals to fashion to interior design. Earlier this year, Homes & Gardens named it one of the top 25 interior design trends of 2021. What does it look like? Here are a just a few hallmarks of a cottagecore design scheme:
They Eat What on Pizza?! 5 Wacky Pizza Trends From Around the World
Here in the U.S., pineapple is considered a wild and controversial pizza topping. Even celebrities take a stand. Justin Bieber is pro-pineapple, but Jimmy Kimmel is against it. According to a 2019 YouGov Omnibus study, only anchovies and eggplant are more hated. But in other parts of the world, the tangy yellow fruit is far from the strangest topping you’ll see! Here are five wacky pizza trends from around the globe that will either make you hungry or inspire you to sprint the other way. You may want to order a comforting cheese pie from your favorite local pizzeria before reading this, just in case. 1. Banana-Curry Pizza (Sweden) — The Swedes first accessed bananas in 1944, and since then, they’ve put them on everything , including pizza which they top with tomato sauce, smoked cheese, banana slices, and curry powder. 2. Ketchup and Corn Pizza (Brazil) — According to several sources, Brazilians swap pizza sauce for ketchup or tomato slices and top their pies with strange combinations of local ingredients like corn, beets, hearts of palm, and potato sticks. 3. Haggis Pizza (Scotland) — Pizza may be the only semi-enjoyable way to eat haggis: a mix of sheep or calf offal, oatmeal, suet, and seasonings that are boiled in an animal’s stomach. Last year, Papa John’s got in on the action when it released a limited-edition haggis pizza in honor of a Scottish poet, Robert Burns. 4. Mockba Pizza (Russia) — This local pie comes topped with four kinds of fish (sardines, tuna, mackerel, and salmon), onions, herbs, and occasionally fish eggs. Most troubling of all, it’s served cold! 5. Chickpea Pancake Pizza (Argentina) — In Buenos Aires, locals top their super-cheesy pizza slices with fainá — chickpea pancakes cooked separately from the pies and balanced on top of each slice. Keep these pizzas in mind when planning your next international vacation! They might be tastier than they sound, and if not, they’ll still make great Instagram fodder. As actor Cole Sprouse once tweeted, “You’re losing followers because you’re not relatable enough. Try mentioning that you eat pizza. If that doesn’t work, play the ukulele.”
• Natural elements like houseplants, dried flowers, and fresh bouquets • A warm, neutral, and/or pastel color palette • Rustic farmhouse accents like exposed wood beams • Vintage furniture, barware, and decor • Floral, gingham, and check patterns • Gold accents and accessories Why do people love it? Cottagecore’s vintage and country elements are throwbacks to a simpler time before
smartphones and social distancing. “Due to the events of 2020, I think that cottagecore, nostalgia, and the need for comfort are all here to stay,” Instagram influencer Paula Sutton told Homes & Gardens. Is it right for you? If reading down the list of cottagecore elements above felt soothing, it’s worth testing out in your home. Fortunately, you can try cottagecore on a budget! Head to your local thrift store or flea market to scope out vintage pieces and pick some flowers on your next walk. Introducing these items to your space will help you decide whether you want to jump on the cottagecore bandwagon. For a full guide to getting the look, visit HomesAndGardens.com/News/Cottagecore-Trend.
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5 REASONS TO CLEAN YOUR CHIMNEY NOW Santa isn’t coming down the chimney any time soon, and that’s precisely why summer is the perfect time to clean it! Well, it’s one of the reasons. Here are five more (non-Santa-related) motives to call a chimney-cleaning service or attempt a DIY cleaning this month. 1. Dirty chimneys can cause house fires or carbon monoxide poisoning. If you don’t clean your chimney regularly, creosote will build up in the flue. Creosote is highly flammable, and if it catches, it can burn at up to 2,000 degrees F and ignite the rest of your home! Debris and other obstacles can also block your chimney. If they do, carbon monoxide won’t be able to escape and may leak out and poison your family. 2. It’s easier to get an appointment with your maintenance company in the summer. Most people don’t think about cleaning their chimneys until cold weather hits. By scheduling an appointment with the professionals now, you can skip the line and get the appointment you want exactly when you want it. 3. You’ll avoid adding another hassle and expense to your holiday season. Odds are you already have to buy presents, carve the Thanksgiving turkey, take the kids to see Santa, pick up your in-laws from the airport, and hang lights this winter. Why add another expensive, time-consuming task on top of all that? Clean your chimney now to save yourself stress later. (Yes, in July!)
4. If you’re doing the cleanup yourself, it will be safer in good weather. Cleaning your chimney involves spending time on your roof and with your head in the fireplace. This is much easier to manage when you don’t have to worry about snow, rain, or ice! 5. Your chimney will be ready for a fire whenever you want one . When you clean your chimney, you have to go at least one day without using your fireplace — even if it’s freezing outside. Take care of the job in July so you can have a safe, cozy fire on demand this winter. When you’re ready to have peace of mind, call your local chimney-cleaning service or visit FamilyHandyman. com/Project/How-to-Clean-a-Chimney for some DIY tips. (Warning: It’s a big job! If your chimney is in rough condition, you’re in poor health, or your roof is steeply pitched, call the professionals.)
THE BEST TEXAS-STYLE SMOKED BRISKET
TAKE A BREAK
Inspired by AllRecipes.com
Ingredients
Directions
• Wood chips • 1/4 cup paprika
1. In a bowl, soak wood chips in water overnight. 2. In a large bowl, mix paprika, white sugar, cumin, cayenne pepper, brown sugar, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. 3. Rub spice mixture on the brisket and refrigerate for 24 hours. 4. Preheat smoker to 230 F. Drain wood chips and place them in the smoker. 5. Smoke brisket until it has an internal temperature of 165 F. 6. Remove brisket and wrap it in aluminum foil. 7. Smoke brisket further until it reaches an internal temperature of 185 F.
• 1/4 cup white sugar • 1/4 cup ground cumin • 1/4 cup cayenne pepper • 1/4 cup brown sugar • 1/4 cup chili powder • 1/4 cup garlic powder • 1/4 cup onion powder • 1/4 cup salt • 1/4 cup pepper • 10 lbs brisket
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INSIDE
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A Lot of Fun, and I Don’t Even Like Golf
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5 Wacky Pizza Trends From Around the World
What Is ‘Cottagecore,’ and Should You Try It?
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5 Reasons to Clean Your Chimney Now
The Best Texas-Style Smoked Brisket
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3 Food ‘Scraps’ That Are Actually Delicious
3 FOOD ‘SCRAPS’ THAT ARE ACTUALLY DELICIOUS
Turn Food Waste Into Tasty Meals!
Did you know Americans toss out 30%–40% of edible food every year? That’s like emptying a third of your refrigerator drawers directly into the trash! Part of the problem is that people don’t realize the food “scraps” they discard are actually delicious. Here are three things to rescue from the trash pile. Carrot Tops According to ZestfulKitchen.com, these leafy stems are tasty when tossed in salads, used as a garnish for cocktails, or blended into pesto, chimichurri, or smoothies.
Broccoli Stems Broccoli stems taste just like the crowns! To use them, slice them thin and sauté them in a mouthwatering dish like Grateful Grazer’s Low-Waste Broccoli Stem Stir-Fry. Apple Peels and Cores Keep your apple scraps out of the landfill and save money by turning them into apple cider vinegar. To learn how, visit ZeroWasteChef.com and search “Apple Scrap Vinegar.”
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