a girl for all seasons
janelles summer resolutions
who says we have to wait until january and a new year for resolutions? how about a mid year list of to-dos. i say we constantly resolve to make our lives happier and healthier. last summer i started my summer resolution list. i compiled a list of ten things i enjoy doing and wanted to do again or new things i wanted to try.
As a SanDiego native you would automatically think that i love the summer...you my friend would be mistaken. Don't get me wrong, me and my friends used to lather our bodies in baby oil on and put our mixed CDs compiled of music we most likely illegally downloaded off napster ( yes cd's not ipods) on in the back yard and fry our bodies for hours, but the beach ...not really my thing, camping or hiking or outdoorsing just not my thing, and don't even get me started on my families volley ball tournaments every summer holiday, i will watch from the side lines thank you very much. last summer though i decided that i was gonna start appreciating what this beautiful season called summer had to offer and so i made a list of must do's, and you will never believe what happened, i actually enjoyed my summer.
this year i decided to make a whole new list. maybe my list will inspire you.
1. re-start my book club.
when i was pregnant with my son and on bed rest i decided to start a book club. i composed a group of family and friends,and each month one of the members would pick a book , some chose their old favorites and others a book they had been wanting to read, we would meet once a month at someones home and discuss the book for about five to ten minutes and then (lets keep it real) we would eat good food and drink wine and laugh and vent and decide on the book for the next month. it was a great time and a great excuse to get together for girl time and to read some really amazing books. after about a year it just fell off and so this summer i decided to re-start the bookclub, our first book is called the accidental book club ( i know a bookclub reading a book about a book club..cheesy!) but it looked like a fun, touching girl power type read and a great way to reboot the previously dead club. i can honestly say i would have never picked up some of these books myself so im excited to restart and discover some new favorites.
2. revamp my patio.
i often imagine myself dinning alfresco or sipping margaritas or iced coffee while reading on my patio at my home. have i ever done any of these ...maybe coffee...maybe once. this dream comes to me every spring-summmer and i find myself longing to be in my little patio, the sun on my face and a cool breeze relaxing. yet when i go out there it is toys everywhere and not so comfortable patio furniture and its not exactly the tranquil scene i imagined. so this year my plan is to revamp my patio and make it somewhere i can get a some relaxation and maybe some tan lines.
3. night swimming.
As simple as this may sound, how often do we do this? last year at a friends birthday after a few margaritas i found myself jumping into a freezing pool in the dark of the night. it was refreshing and silly and i felt like a teenager. i didn't care that i got my hair wet or what my makeup looked like it was just a really fun summer moment with friends who jumped in a cold pool and had a really good time.
4. drive in movie
i have do this at least once a year for the past few years and it is so fun and sooo cheap! the first time i went to a drive in i had a very young baby and needed to get out of the house, obviously i couldn't take him to the theatre, but with him snug as a bug in his car seat i got to enjoy a great movie and bring what ever snacks i wanted and snuggle up in the privacy of my own car.
5. clean out my garage.
not such a fun one i know, but the holidays are six months away and how great would it be too actually know where all those decoration boxes are and to actually find that santa suit instead of the easter bunny costume. so my plan is get some ice cold drinks crank some good tunes pull the car out and get to cleaning that garage!
6. quality B time.
like last summer i have promised myself i would take my son out of the house on my day off. i know you may think big deal lady..but when the laundry is sky high and dishes are in the sink and errands need to be done it is hard to remember that kids are only small once. i have vowed to enjoy summer with my son. if you have a tight budget ( i do ) and a very energetic child here is some free or affordable options.
-birch aquarium : $17 for a adult, $14 for teens $13 for kids and free for kids under three years old. there are also coupons you can print on line. you can find more info and the hours on their website and they have a interactive area outside for kids.
-liberty station park: free. this has a huge play area both for toddlers and a separate play area with bigger slides and rock wall for older kids. it has close restrooms and this park is extremely clean.
-the local library: no matter your age if you love to read you should go to the library. the library is one of my personal happy places. i could stay there for hours! its is free clean, quiet and if it is a hot summer day it is a great way to stay cool!
7. make a family cookbook.
i have been trying this one for a while, but actually managed to make some progress this year. if you are like me your family gatherings and parties are full of noise and love and food! coming from a big portuguese family we all have our go to dishes and in time we have signature dish. i myself usually bring a baking contribution. lemon squares, snickerdoodles and grinch cookies are often requested by my family or friends. my grandmother makes a out of this world portuguese soup called soupa de cueves ( kale soup with fresh veggies and linguica -portuguese sausage) that can cure anything, i mean anything from a cold to a broken heart. after emails and group texts i got some of these coveted recipes and finally managed to write them down and organize them. if your grandmother is anything like mine she will have no clue what she puts in her recipes, A few weeks ago i even had the pleasure to stand side by side with my grandmother and make her soup with her so i could watch exactly how she does it. needless to say the results were amazing, i finished off multiple bowls, every last drop!
8. become a morning person.
the sun is out the birds are chirping a new day is here and i hate it! in the morning, every morning i am the old garfield cartoon, pulling the blanket over my head, my eyelids feeling like they weigh a million pounds, my hair sticking up like a shitzu and a pillow full of drool ( pretty picture right)i sluggishly drag my but out of my bed into my sons room where he has been screaming for at least 15 mins " i'm awake, hello! mommy, talk to me" literally he says this. as beautiful and adorable as he is every morning i say to myself cant he sleep in. of coarse the coffee helps and i get a move on eventually and i'm sure most of my problem is based on my insomnia however i would love to wake up and great those little singing birdies at my window and stretch in the morning and enjoy my coffee slowly instead of chugging it on my to work and spilling half of it on myself. so project morning person is in affect. wish me luck!
9. farmers markets.
being that i work on saturdays i don't usually get to go to farmers markets but recently i discovered one right here in my little town of point loma. i like most women love farmers markets, whats not to love? open air, fresh produce, new inventive foods, sometimes jewelry booths and always what ever flowers are in season. maybe it is my love of shopping but i thoroughly enjoy farmers markets and i cant wait to check out this local farmers market and artisan fair on the next sunday i'm off. the particular one i found is on 2880 canon street and open every sunday from 9am-230pm.
10.concerts at the park.
every year i think of how fun this will be and every year i am a epic failure and never get there! another great free summer activity. concerts at the park have outdoor music a great open family setting and often food stands or better yet you can bring a picnic.
here are some of the the ones i found:
- balboa park tuesday- thursdays 6:15-7:15 more info on their website
-coronado on orange avenue between 6th and 7th street at 6pm on sundays.
-point loma park fridays 6-8pm
search online for concerts closest to you, the have tons online.
what are your summer resolutions?
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