Desperately seeking a watermelon whisperer! ?
(You read that right.)
I could easily eat two 20-pound watermelons a week. They’re my favorite summer fruit, but so far this has been the Summer of Junk Watermelon (and yes, that’s “junk” as an adjective, which I think might be a local Hawaii thing), since every one I’ve gotten has been about as flavorful as a dirty Styrofoam cooler.
The one I got from Target last week made me the saddest of sad pandas. 🙁 Not only was it at least 60% rind, but the red fruit part was so overripe that it felt like tapioca pudding.
Blech! It was super gross. I ended up throwing it out (and I absolutely HATE throwing out food).
Is there such a thing as having a bad streak of watermelon luck? I’ve done the research. I try to follow best watermelon-picking practices. I follow the guidelines I saw on a sign at Trader Joe’s…but based on every single melon I’ve gotten so far in 2019, I have a special talent for picking all the wrong ones. LOL!
It’s at the point where I’m only going to buy the small ones until this problem gets worked out. Say it with me: “No more bland or squishy fruit!”
On to this weekend’s reading…
- Soon, we’ll be able to virtually “try on” a lipstick while watching YouTube video.
- Scientists are close to unraveling the mystery of the wild “Cat-Fox” of Corsica! ?
- Remember Mink, the 3D makeup printer that made a big splash when it was unveiled at a tech conference a few years ago? Apparently, they’re still around, and now you can buy one for a mere $395 ($295 if you pre-order now).
- Meet the beauty bloggers and YouTubers who changed the landscape for #naturalhair.
- Speaking of wild cats, here are six varieties that still roam free in the United States.
- What to do when your kitty employer has cat scratch fever!
- You already knew this, but your feline friend’s behavior may be influenced by their breed.
- JUSTIN BOBBY LIVES!
- The best spot treatments to make pimples fade away, according to Women’s Health
- A list of summery green fragrances for those who dream of smelling like a kale smoothie
- How Gloria Vanderbilt propelled the rise of high-end designer blue jeans
My preferred method
What happens when you melt down every lipstick from the drugstore into one Franken-lipstick
Heavy black liner, shiny red lips and a chorus you won’t be able to stop singing
I totally don’t mind this.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Hi Karen,
Off topic but I haven’t checked in for a while and have just learned you lost Tabs recently. My heart goes out to you – I know how hard it is to lose a much loved pet. I’ve been there …
Love your blog and will be back regularly,
Hi Kris,
Thank you for your note. It was hard losing him and my heart still aches when I think about it. Every day gets a little bit easier though, and when I miss him, I hug his box of ashes.
Nice to see you again, and hope we chat again soon.
OMG, I’m glad I’m not the only one with the bad luck of purchasing awful watermelons! I hit the jackpot on my 4th purchase @ Costco. Happy Saturday!
Design by Sydnee | A Lifestyle Blog ?
I have to try Costco! Thanks for the reminder and have a great weekend!
No. No, NO. NIN purist here. Miley is super talented but gawd nahhh lol?
I never buy produce from Target and rarely from Trader Joe’s. Only Farmer’s markets have the real stuff. REAL fruit with seeds! There IS a difference!
Yes! I don’t get why you’d buy fruit from big chain stores (esp. in CA!) when you can get them right from the source.
Thank you for the article on spot treatments. Perfect timing. I’ve had a pimple on the side of my nose for a week now that just keeps getting bigger and nastier. I’ve got some Origins Spot Remover for the girls that they love, but my spot seems to be laughing at it. I’m going to try the Kiehl’s.
I’m so sorry you’ve had junk watermelons! Mom has been hitting it out of the ballpark with her’s. She and the girls ate a whole Sugarbaby in one day.
It’s going to be an off year for watermelons because of the cool, wet spring and early summer in most growing regions. Watermelons grow best in hot, dry conditions – lots of rain means mealy melons with poor flavor. That said, when you are shopping – look for a deep green melon with a big yellow spot. If the spot is small or is white or light green, the watermelon was picked before it was ready. A big yellow spot means it sat on the ground until it was ripe. Get one that feels dense and heavy for its size – more fruit, less rind. (I’m from Deep East Texas where the sandy soil grows the best watermelons in the world, though most of the ones in Texas grocery stores come from Mexico or the Rio Grande Valley.) The above commenter is correct – you are more likely to get a good melon from a farmers market or roadside vendor than from a grocery store – less time from field to table.
I’ve had terrible luck with watermelons and cantaloupe from Trader Joes. I got one this weekend from costco and it was great. I look for that big yellow spot on the bottom, make sure it feels heavy. When you thump it–it should sound bright and not dull. Someone also told me not to get the ones that are stored outside. IDK if that’s true or not.
I’m sorry for your run of bad luck but “dirty styrofoam cooler” made me laugh. What I’ve always heard about melons of all types is to pick those that are heavy for their size and that are fragrant on the ends. I think most of our fruit would make you sad, though. Everything is trucked in, pretty much year round.
I didn’t know Ocelots were wild. I thought these were house pets!
I am definitely here for the 3D makeup printing! Hopefully that will become a thing! I just need more brands to be on board and create ingredients to print that I know I can use and trust to work for me. Less waste, less clutter, and more colours … sign me up!
Small watermelons, such as the “Sugar Baby” cultivar, are superior to large melons. All watermelons like it hot and wet, so they grow best in the SE region of the United States and not so well in arid California without a lot of irrigation. Most watermelon growers select cultivars that transport well, have a longer shelf-life, and are resistant to insects rather than flavor.
For the record, I sprinkle just a bit of coarse sea salt on my watermelon!
I run watermelon rinds through my juicer. And when I get a watermelon that is disappointing, I simply add gin and have friends over!