The Summer List.

Well here it is. Spring semester is over and for those who mark seasons by their school schedules, it is now summer.  I am taking summer classes, so it isn't quite as fabulous as it is for others but I am enjoying it just the same.  The weather has been more enjoyable lately and we're even hosting a BBQ this weekend in celebration of our move and to celebrate the beginning of a great time.

I saw on Fit Foodie Finds a Summer list of sorts and I thought I should make my own.  Goals for the summer and things that I just want to do in my spare time.  Here is what I have come up with.

1.  Walk.  Every single darn day.  It is so pretty here, there is no reason to not take at least a half hour jaunt  to enjoy the pretty flowers and greenery.  Plus, I could use the extra exercise.

2.  Learn how to garden.  Even if it's just a few little potted plants, I need to hone this skill.  I just hope the squirrel doesn't eat all the green stuff and leave my plants to nothing.

3.  Feel good in my swimsuit (and shorts).  I stole this one from Fit Foodie Finds.  Every Spring I eat too much which leads to a poor self-esteem in Summer clothing.  I am bound and determined to feel good in my swimsuit and feel capable of putting on a pair of shorts, which was not possible last Summer.  The varicose veins sure don't help, but I figure if I can tan up enough they aren't as visible.  I refuse to let my self-esteem and laziness get in the way of cooling off this Summer.

4.  Get up before 10a.m.  Until June 25th, this won't be a problem since I have class at 8:30a.m. every day.  But last Summer, since I had no job and nothing to do I pretty much slept until 10:30a.m. or even as last as noon every single day.  I will not waste my mornings this year, no sirree.

5.  Enjoy time.  Take advantage of the cool evenings.  Relax.  Read books.  Sew.  Write.  Do all the things I want to do in my spare time when I have the spare time.  Don't waste it.

Meet Me on Monday.

I took such a long break from the Never Growing Older's Meet Me on Monday blog hop, but now I'm back into it!  Here are this week's questions


1.  Crunchy or smooth peanut butter?
2.  What is your favorite color Rose?
3.  Do you remove your shoes when you walk into your home?
4.  What is your favorite season?
5.  Approximately how many hours a day do you spend blogging?

A bit of catching up to do.

Yep, I certainly have been gone for a long time.  And here is the run-down..

French films.  In all my spare time.  Some of my new favorites include "He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not" and "How To Get Married And Stay Single."  While Audrey Tautou ends up in many of the popular French films these days, she is fabulous and I love her adorable personality.  Not to mention she looks like Audrey Hepburn.

Spring pounds.  I have put them on by the heap-load (not even sure if that is a word..).  Embarrassed by my extra weight and inability to fit comfortably into my clothing, I have purchased a few billowy tube-tops and signed up for a summer of fitness classes at the Student Rec Center.  I'm really hoping that the little added money I have to put down will help me to stay away from extra food.  Four Zumba classes a week had better get my butt into shape (literally).

School. Is. Through.  Except for my summer courses.  I will be taking Biochemistry and Buddhism (a "B" semester, it seems).  Excited for Buddhism.  Boo on Biochemistry.  But there isn't much of an option, unless I choose to graduate a semester later which isn't an option for me.  Thankfully everything will be complete by June 24th and I'll truly get to begin my summer.

Moving.  In less than a week.  I just began painting the bookshelves in order to prepare them for their new home across the balcony.  Tomorrow I'll finish it up and hopefully have some delightful pictures to show you.

Tired. Tired. Tired.  Finally the weather has decided to co-operate, but the humidity level has taken a few leaps.  It wore me out today, especially with work.  But it is splendid to be able to enjoy something other than sweaters.  However, I did have to take a trip to the Goodwill to find anything that wouldn't have me breaking into a sweat.  Note to self: when sorting through closet, leave a few out-of-season options for a change in weather!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Family Heirlooms

This weekend while visiting my family, my grandma gave me an extraordinary gift.  Her wedding dress.

I had tried it on back in December, since she has been sorting through things and figuring out what to do with it.  I loved it, and since she was willing to let me alter it I definitely accepted (even though I'm not currently engaged).  It is gorgeous.  The layers of lace spill over looking delightfully elegant and, dare I say it, vintage.

It made me think about how important it is to pass things down.  For some reason we don't seem to do this as often as we used to.  Perhaps it's because items are so readily available.  Maybe we don't treasure things as people did in the past.  But for whatever reason, passing down valuable items with history is not really done.

I want this back.  I want to give something old and of value to my children.  Something to remind them of the past, to honor it.

To show them.

The darn wheel is stuck

I feel so terribly absent.

Once I try to sit down and write, nothing happens.  Nothing notable has been going on, I haven't been able to think of a new project, and I haven't really read anything new to share.

It appears I am in a rut.

What do you do when you get into these situations?