sunshiney goods

I want I want I want.  But can you blame me?  The sun is finally out (for good?) and I’m ready to take advantage of it.  I’ve been so preoccupied by everything house-related, that I haven’t taken a good look at my closet in months.  It’s not that I’d head straight to my favorite spots and blow a bunch of cash all at once – I’m far too cheap for that – but everybody deserves a couple summer staples to freshen up the rest for those 75 degree and higher days into nights we all love here in Seattle.

I truly heart a high-waist bikini bottom. And a fashionable way to keep premature wrinkles off my chest.  Suit courtesy of Urban Outfitters.

These Loeffler Randall sandals are too festive to pass up. (knockoffs available for way less on Delia’s)

Does it count as another pair of aviators if they have a little flare on the sides?

here comes the sun

Can you hear me singing it?  I am.  In my head.  I spent last Thursday afternoon in a park, in a tank top, flipped up to get a little color on my otherwise pasty midsection.   It must have been 75 degrees!!!  Yes, three exclamation marks for that.  I live in Seattle.

I can feel it – summer is just around the corner.  I need to prepare.

Who doesn’t want this bathing suit?  It’s amazing.  And that hat.  I want the hat, too.

 

Enough afternoons in the park, and perhaps…

 

Every summer I tell myself I’m going camping.  Or at least for a long hike.  Why is it so hard?  And why doesn’t it look like this?

 

Um, yum?

 

Missing you…

I realize I do this every quarter, but this time…the countdown is really on.  This quarter has been rough.  Nine credits in eight weeks with the full time job, four weddings, one dog, one special houseguest, one honey, Canada Day (err…my birthday), and one 60th birthday party in L.A.

Needless to say I am beyond excited that my last class is 13 days away (I told you I’m counting) and then I’m home free until mid-September, give or take a week in Vegas for work.

A few things I’m ever so excited for:

• Seattle sunshine – I’ve barely seen it.
• New books that have nothing to do with marketing or resource development
• Longer walks with Loki, or just walks with Loki depending how you look at our current “outside” time
• Lake Washington
• Organizing my life
• Getting back to the Farmers Market
• Making social plans and getting back on the horn (and skype) with my besties!

Fun happens, too

Brooklyn in the summer is HOT. Meaning full of free things to do outside, and that I am sweating profusely while sitting here. Literally, sweat is pooling in my onesie.

One of my favorite free to-dos is the Thursday night movie at Brooklyn bridge park. Oh my god. Such good people watching. Sunset. City skyline. Friends. Beers in paper bags (or pinky sized Dixie cups as the case may have been).

Last week we saw “to kill a mockingbird” which jogged my 7th grade nostalgia. The highlight, a certain someone, who shall remain nameless (eh hem, her name rhymes with datelin) leans over to me and whispers: “gem is kind of hot”. That’s right folks. Atticus finche’s 10 year old is not off limits to single girls in the big city. She clarified that she could just tell he was going to be hot. We will forgive her since we have all evaluated the hotness of relatively inappropriate people (it would be fun to compile that lost).

But, to my real point. Peep the scene:

Summatime Smoothie

Perfect replacement for a lunchtime sando.

You know summer is around the corner when smoothies start sounding good 24/7.  I spend all winter (and spring and fall) indulging in hot coffee, herbal tea, delicious soups, and all other things cozy.  So each year, when that summatime thirst for ice tea, ice cream and ice filled smoothies hits, I’m so ready.

My latest fav… a new twist on an old favorite.  Banalmond Vanilla.  Yes, I just made that up…and no, there is no exact science to this.  I’ve told you before I’m a huge fan of “flavor to taste”.

1 Serving (and I like a big serving)

• 1 banana (brown is good, but it doesn’t need to be)
• 1.5 tablespoons almond butter (I am loving MaraNatha no stir creamy, but there’s a wee sugar added)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 6-8 cubes of ice
• 1/3 cup plain yogurt, or so…
• 1/4 cup almond milk (I like vanilla) or so…
• optional – teaspoon or so agave nectar (I don’t really think you need it)