A Few of my Favorite Things: Summertime Edition

Besides all the fun I'm having discovering our temporary new "home" -- I've mostly been using that as a distraction. Let's just say it's been a frustrating few weeks on the side. It is not easy to work in TX with an AZ nursing license, through an agency in CA, who's compliancy company is in FL.

However, things are finally coming to terms and I hit the ground running tomorrow! I have never been so excited to save lives! I miss the ER. This may sound very weird, but every time I hear ambulance sirens...my heart would sink.

"I want to help!!! *tear*", I would say.

It's amazing what a 3 week hiatus from working will do to this girl. Let me tell you, I am not feeling rejuvenated . I used to think I wanted to live in the 1940's -- where women were trophy wives, homemakers, and wore adorable house dresses. I take than statement back!

So to adorn this post with a little positivity, here are a few of the things that bring utter joy and happiness to my soul, in regards to summer. Summer ties with Fall as my favorite season. I like them both equally but for completely different reasons.

Swimming in the lake. I could stay in the water from sunrise to sundown. I didn't care how pruney my hands became or how blue my lips would get. (We lived in MN, and it was rare that the water was warm)
Swimming as an adult -- I miss our pool in AZ (and everything else about our house). Afternoons of sunshine, books, good music, friends, margaritas, and guacamole bring me great happiness.
Natural highlights -- every summer my hair gets blonde highlights from the sun. For the past few years I'ved dyed it, but this year I'm letting it go natural.
The smell of sunscreen. *ah, the nostalgia*
Cucumbers and tomatoes from the garden. Growing up, the centerpiece of our meals would be a huge plate of fresh produce from my Mom's garden. You can't say you don't like cucumbers & tomatoes until you've tried them fresh from a garden!
Banana popsicles. My favorite variety of popsicle - and it's funny I like these so, because I hate bananas.
Flip flops. Although I do wear these year-round in Tucson....
The Aroma of fresh-cut grass. I don't get this treat very much in AZ. But living in San Antonio I do, and it's heavenly. (however, it does make me sneeze like non-other)
Evening walks. Because the sun stays out later....I relish in the late evening walks to unwind.
Gin and Tonics with lime. Nothing cools you off like the refreshing bite of a G & T, I must admit.

What are your favorite things about summer? This list could go on and on! Here's a photo that beams summer happiness to me (it was taken Memorial Day weekend camping)

This quote is rather fitting.

Currently - May edition

I haven't blogged much - but the last time I did one of these, Maddy was 9 months old. It's really fun looking back on the things that were "stressors" to me at that time. Prior to that - my currently post was a pregnancy edition. So here goes May 2022. Maddy is almost a 15-month old and summer has set ablaze here in Tucson. Reading : I really wish I had a better answer for this one, but I have not been the best about reading lately. The only book I'm reading is "How to talk to your kids so they'll listen and listen so they'll talk". It is really good. Most of the book is geared more to school-aged kids, in my opinion. But it highlights some great communication skills with children to help them trust you as a parent to be open and honest. Eating: All the smoothies. It has been getting really hot here - and every day when we get home from our stroller run I make a smoothie for Maddy with whole milk, Fage, and fruit - and then a smoothie for...

30 Blogs: Something I'm Afraid of

This isn't a very difficult post for me to write about. I am such a "scaredy cat" about so many things. I could quite possibly turn this into a book. I was also the kid that wouldn't go on the monkey bars at school, out of fear that my arms may be ripped out of their sockets. I was the kid who got to the end of the diving board, and then shriveled into a ball at the end shaking in tears. I got to the top-climax spot on a roller coaster, and start saying "Oh my God, get me off this thing. I don't want to do it anymore! Get me off this thing!!" Then I went college, and majored in nursing. I leanred all the horrible ways one can reach multi-system organ failure. If I have too much coffee, and feel maybe the slightest heart palpitation - I am listening to my heart sounds with my stethoscope......... So here's my list of irrational some fears. ;) (some of these may be comical & pathetic to you):\ Heights Vomit (I've gotten better about th...

Let's try this again...

Last year we purchased soil, mulch, and all these plants that grow great in well-watered, rich-soiled areas. Then we went away for a weekend, and everything dried up like a prune. I was a bit disappointmented, as gardening is a hobby & passion of mine. In fact, I became quite frustrated with our hot climate. But we did some research on desert plants, and I found a new love! Desert plants are quite fascinating, actually. Their tough outer skin & small leaves result in maximum absorbtion of our spare water -- allowing them to thrive on little. They are also extremely regenerative. You can cut a branch or an arm off a cactus, and plant it in the ground somewhere else to create a new plant. So we found a very local cactus nursery last weekend, and got to work! Here are a few of the gems we planted. (These are pictures I've found offline, as I haven't taken proper pictures of our front yard yet due to the immaturity of our plants at this point) The Desert Barrel ...

Lisa's Yarns said…

I miss having access to fresh fruits and veggies from a garden! Farmer's markets fill the void, but it's just not the same! And Grandma & Grandpa's raspberry bushes. I whined so much about having to pick them, but now I pay a ridiculous amount for a tiny container at the grocery store and want to punch my younger self for being so whiny about fresh, delicious raspberries.

Some of my favorite things about summer are fresh produce, time spent in the lake, the run club season (when I lived in Minneapolis), banana popsicles (totally with you on them being the bomb.com), margaritas, rhubarb slush (I can't wait to have some when I am home), being at the lake, and the longer hours of sunshine!

July 10, 2013 at 4:39 PM

Marlys said…

Loved your post! I, too, love summer and even the sticky, sweaty days they bring! I love being at the lake, as you both do, as it quiets my inner soul and refreshes my inner being! Why, I can't answer that, but something about a body of water that can't be put into words. I love blooming flowers, and all the fresh produce, especially the fruit! I miss having a garden and all the great produce, especially green beans, cucs, cantaloupe & tomatoes! I love eating sweet corn, potato salad, and grilled food! But in the north, summer is so fleeting that I want to capture it and never let it go. Does it have drawbacks? Yes, MOWING LAWN!! Mowing almost 4 acres a week is exhausting!

July 11, 2013 at 6:40 AM

Unknown said…

Fun post! I remember you as a little kid swimming in the lake ALL DAY!

Here's a little helpful hint to make those G&T's even better. Use tonic water to make ice cubes. Try it, you won't be disappointed!!!

July 12, 2013 at 8:21 AM

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