Staycation the Third: A Whole New Summer Experience

It's summer, ladies and gentlemen! This a very exciting thing. And for me, it's a totally new concept.

What? How could summer be a new concept? Don't you have one every year? Well, one might say that where I live, winter is so awful summer is like a totally new concept every year...something we spend months and months dreaming about until it's finally here. But no, this is not the reason summer is new to me. Summer is new to me because...(drumroll please)...

It's my first ever Summer Off.

The past four summers, I taught summer school. That meant I was still working all the time, just a little bit less. The two summers before that, I worked at a childcare program and went to graduate school classes. The four summers before that, I was a college student and worked at a daycare center, had an internship at General Mills, and did some other things I don't remember. One summer I worked at Curves for Women. I also worked at a credit union and as a nanny.

And before that, my mom gave me "summer homework." Literally. I was writing book reports and doing math sheets during the summer. Can someone give a sista a break? (Well, in this case I shouldn't complain since I graduated with honors and now have a Masters' degree...so thanks, Mom. You win this one.)

Anyway, back to the topic at hand. SUMMER! I am taking the summer off. In past summers, I was so Type A (nothing's changed, still am) that I thought if I didn't work during the summer, I'd spend all my time eating Ben and Jerry's and watching Netflix and trying to figure out what to do with myself, and I'd melt into a puddle of boredom and brain goo. However, after an incredibly exhausting school year, I have decided to dedicate the next two months to the art of relaxing. I am told this is a very enjoyable thing to do. I am personally not exactly acquainted with it. But I think me and Relaxation will be very good friends by mid-August. 

I have decided that my goal will be to not do things that feel like work. Or sound stressful. Or are stressful. I considered traveling to Guatemala, but that would have been stressful. I considered finding some summer employment not directly related to my job, but that would have been work. I considered subbing for summer school...but that also would have been work. So instead, I'm Not Working. And you know what that means...Staycation Time!

Naturally, if I'm staycationing, I have to blog about it. I'm really excited!

Afternoon, in pictures

What a lovely afternoon! 

I started out at Zumba class here:

 

Then went to the store and bought these.

 

On my way out, I found this: 

 

Stylish, no? The hilarity of it all made me thirsty, so I bought this:

 In a haze of delicious orangey-creamy goodness, I came home and fell in love with these.

Which helped me to finish this: 

And now, I'm off to do this: 

Um, I mean this: 

Goodnight!

Vol. 3, Day 3: More Novel Ideas

As always, vacation is a great time to do two things: wear super-comfy clothes and read novels. I am partial to Chick Lit--books that basically chick flicks that haven't been made into movies yet. Why do I love them, you ask? Because I hate drama in my life, but I like it in fiction. And also because the amount of mental effort required to read the book is about this much. And that's the way I like it.

This week's novel is

which I am reading while wearing these:

These socks were given to me my by freshman roommate in college, who clearly has excellent taste in socks (though she never seemed to be able to find matching ones when getting dressed). Speaking of whom, happy birthday, Rachel!

This particular novel is about a chick who used to be overweight and insecure, and decided she wanted to change. She was so successful in changing that she lost 75 pounds and became an image consultant. Her company now pays her to teach people "how to be cool." Sort of ridiculous idea? Yeah. Something that could probably happen in real life? Yeah. Great book for the beach? Heck yeah.

Maybe I'll head there tomorrow...

Vol. 3, Day 2: Bella Vista

Sunday was Mom's Birthday, part 2. We had a brunch cruise on Lake Minnetonka, which meant eating crap-tons of amazing calorie-packed goodness while floating around and looking at gigantic lake houses.

Our lovely boat

Um, did I mention I get down? Yeah, buddy.

Dessert! (like I really had room for it after all that food...but heck, I ate it anyway. It was delicious!)

After that awesome brunch cruise, I went home and watched the Olympics. I love the Olympics! Last night's highlights:

1. Bolt doing the "Bolt", and the cameramen chasing after him as he showboated down the track after reestablishing himself as the fastest man in the world

2. Maroney falling on her derriere and still winning the silver medal on the vault. I know she was really disappointed that she didn't get the gold, but to fall on your butt and still go home with a medal is pretty darn awesome in my opinion.

3. Pistorius, the paralympic gold medalist, competing in the men's 400m semifinal. He didn't win, but for a double-amputee to compete in the Olympics is an amazing feat.

Check out the story here.

Loving vacation!

Staycation Volume 3: Short and Sweet

Whoo! Summer school was fun, but I'm glad for a break. I've got exactly 11 days off of work before fall training and things, so I've got to make the most of it!

So far, it's been good.

Friday I went to Zumba at the gym, spent most of the day in my pj's, and then finished it out with a fabulous evening at the Chatterbox playing board games and eating caramel-covered carrot cake. Mmmmmmm.

Saturday was Mom's birthday, part 1--a picnic in the park.

Happy birthday, Mom!

The food was delicious. When we eat, we get down.

Summer Fun

It's finally summer again! I will be working a LOT this summer, finishing my Capstone, teaching summer school and going to tons of training sessions for work. So in between, my goal is to get in as much relaxing as possible!

I had a few days off work this week, and I was going to try and clean the house, do some at-home projects, work in the yard, wash my car, start work on my paper again, etc...and then I realized, I'll be working for the next seven weeks. Why start now? 

So instead, I...

Read three novels, 

Went to see a movie in the park, 

Salsa-danced with friends, and

got caught up on the latest season of Drop Dead Diva. 

Oh--and of course, spent three days in my pajamas. 

I love summer!

SS Part 7: Just About Done

Well, my spring staycation is almost over, and I think I need to update my list.

I made pancakes! 

I haven't taken a nap yet (I'm really bad at napping in general), but I slept in plenty.

My latest novel is a mystery. I'm a Meg Cabot fan in general, and this particular series is an interesting one. Our  size-12 heroine works in a college dorm where people tend to get murdered rather frequently. The most recent victim happens to be her boss. Despite her landlord's (who also happens to be a private eye) advice to stay out of it, she has to figure out who killed him. Ooh, intrigue...

Here's the list: 

1.sleep in 
2. museum
3.$2.50 theater 
4. eat cheesecake

5. cook something
6. read a novel
7. read a not-novel
8. Oscars movie marathon
9. new TV show
10. go to the gym

11. clean something 
12. take a nap
13. Pie Wednesday!
14. go to the lake
15. plan for work
16. drink something out of my wine glasses
17. paint my fingernails