stuffstuffstuff

So. Much. Stuff. It's garage sale time! AKA, time to sort, organize, clean, price, and set up. Hello, busy week.

10 Things I Love About Summer

1. The blackberries growing over the fence into my backyard (seen above).

2. Cooking and cooking and cooking...trying out all kinds of new recipes, which I will bring with me to school next year. Mostly vegetarian...I'm on a new meatless kick.

3. Teaching swim lessons, especially to kids with Down's Syndrome. Irvin and Thomas make my day every day.

4. My swim team kids.

5. Exercising!

6. Having time and a car to go buy things I need (or want!), which is so much easier at home than at school.

7. Hiking and watching movies with my dad, and playing games with my family. These things pretty much only happen in summer.

8. Fruit smoothies.

9. Farmer's markets and eating organic food. Also, any and all food coming from our garden.

10. Going to Mosaic. I sure do love that church.

Cam-Cam-Camera!

So, when you're on a spending streak, why not spend more? This was my philosophy this weekend. I figured I'm getting paid next Thursday, so I might as well go ahead and spent my whole paycheck (and more) ahead of time. ;) Actually, I just finally got around to buying some things I've wanted for a very long time. Yesterday was my new bike (see post below), and today I brought home my very own Nikon D3000 Digital SLR (with additional lens and bag to boot)!

This has been my dream for a long time - to have a digital SLR and learn to enhance my photography skills. Ironically, while I've been trying to sell photos on my etsy site, the only ones that have ever sold were taken on my little point-and-shoot. I won't let this deter me from learning to use my new camera, though!

Watch out, blog! Killer pictures to come.

[P.S. The above photo was taken with my new camera, as is. No photoshopping or editing occurred.]

My Sleek New Ride

The title is self explanatory. [I may be terrible at blogging but] I have a new bike for the first time in a decade. And I am so excited.

17.

Today is my sister Becca's birthday. She is 17 - how did that happen? We are celebrating with only the best - cheesecake and raspberries!

Birthdays make me reminisce. I remember turning 17... and then time flew and suddenly I'm 21, but I still feel like I could be 17 at times. Especially in the summertime, it's funny to realize I'm getting older. I'm back working the same job with a lot of the same people, and even teaching the same kids! It's like a little dreamworld where hardly anything changes. But then I remember, oh yeah, I am older. I did go away to college, I was a PA, I have completed 3/4 of getting my degree. I have changed. And my little sister is now 17 (and she finally got her permit yesterday while she was still a 16-year-old). :)

And from what I hear, life only gets faster. Birthdays are a good reminder to make the most of the time we have because before you know it, your 17th birthday is just a distant memory - but hopefully just one of many great memories in a fulfilled life.

Craft Central

Wow, summer is awesome. After a particularly crazy year, it's been so wonderful to enjoy lazy afternoons, chatting on the phone with friends (and not feel the nagging stress of homework!), reading for fun, and most of all, doing crafts!

This summer my crafts of choice are handmade journals (made from maps!) and frames with screen - perfect for hanging earrings. I've been watching the World Cup and crafting at the same time. This last Thursday I sold my crafts at the Last Thursday street fair on Alberta Street. Sales were...ok. I only sold 2 frames and some other little craft items, but I made $27, and hey, that's $27 dollars I didn't have before, which is awesome. I just posted all my journals (and will soon post my frames) on my etsy site, so check that out! And click on the pictures - then I get more views. :)

Other than that, summer is starting out SO well. The sun finally came out, and it really feels warm. I have 10,000 freckles and tan lines that won't disappear and I'm starting to talk like a little kid after teaching lessons all day. So all is right with the world. :)

s.u.m.m.e.r.

Summer in a paragraph:

Sun. Swimming. Crafts. Tan lines. Flip flops. Popsicles. Freckles. Sunscreen. Chlorine. Reading [for FUN]. Afternoon naps. Shorts. Last Thursday. Soccer. Movies. Sunrises. Babysitting. Farmer's Markets. Fresh Fruit. Family. [No homework.] Warmth.