The Colors of Summer

Summer has officially begun and the Bay Area enjoyed warm temperatures and sunny skies throughout the week - the perfect way to kick off the summer season!

What are some of your favorite things about summer? Do you have any summer memories from childhood that you look back on with fondness? Are there any particular colors that you associate with summer?



Some of my favorite things about summer are:

• The abundance of fruits including blueberries, strawberries, peaches and apricots; I love going to the Farmer's Market on Saturday mornings so that I can fill up my fruit basket for the week
• Wearing sandals and flip flops to show off my pretty, painted toenails
• Indulging in iced chai tea lattes from Starbucks
• Reading outdoors - at the park, the beach, a cafe...
• Making homemade strawberry jam to share with my family and friends during the holidays, which gives them a "sweet" reminder of summer during the winter months
• The slower pace of life

One of my most vivid summer memories is of spending just about every day swimming at the high school pool that was within walking distance of my house in San Mateo. The pool was open Monday through Saturday afternoons for recreation swim. I remember spending almost the entire afternoon in the pool each day. Fortunately I didn't sunburn easily and while I didn't intentionally aim to get a tan, that's exactly what happened. I guess it's my Italian genes. My nicknames during the summer months were "Brown Berry" and "Water Rat."

Another memorable summer ritual was hearing the ice cream truck coming down my street. My brother and I would hear the music and we would grab our money and run out the door just in time to see the truck approaching our house. Not much beats enjoying ice cream on a warm summer day! I'll have to keep my eyes and ears open for an ice cream truck over the next couple months so that I can indulge in a "sweet" reminder of my childhood.



I'll wrap up with a line from Kenny Chesney's song Summertime:

"Perfect song on the radio,
Sing along 'cause it's one we know,
It's a smile, it's a kiss,
It's a sip of wine, it's summertime,
Sweet summertime."

Enjoy your week!

So Many Things To Be Happy About Today!

1. It's my 40th birthday! Yes, it's a big birthday, and one that some people often dread, but not me - I happen to love celebrating my birthday. What's not to love about being another year older and another year wiser?

2. I am taking the day off from work. I have a rule that I don't go to work on my birthday when it falls on a week day. In fact, since it's my 40th birthday, I decided to take the whole week off from work!

3. I signed up for a digital photo class which is beginning tonight.

4. My brother, Andy, is taking me out to lunch at Sam's Chowder House in Half Moon Bay to celebrate my birthday. It will be my first visit to this restaurant and I am looking forward to it.

5. Overall, my health is good and I am feeling optimistic about life.

6. Not having to wake up to an alarm this morning.

7. Taking photos today with my new Nikon D90 DSLR camera and lenses.

8. My family and friends wishing me "Happy Birthday" when they call.

9. Being able to take a long walk this morning - my favorite time of the day to be outside.

10. Starting to read a new book on my Nook.

11. Looking forward to a belated 40th birthday celebration at Disneyland with my family in September. Can't wait to see Mickey and Minnie!

12. Enjoying the gigantic, still "afloat" birthday balloons that my co-workers gave to me last week.

13. That my birthday falls on June 13. I consider 13 a lucky number because of that.

14. Knowing that the official start of summer is just around the corner.

15. Being able to wear sandals and flip-flops to show off my first pedicure of the season.

16. Thinking about the magical things yet to come during my 40s - I believe (and hope!) that it can only get better.

17. Enjoying fresh blueberries on my cereal for breakfast this morning.

18. Knowing that I will get to enjoy some yummy birthday cake this week, and maybe even a cupcake or two!

19. Listening to the newest playlist that I created on my iPod.

20. Making a wish and blowing out the candles on my birthday cake.

I'll wrap this post up with one of my favorite birthday quotes:

"A birthday is just the first day of another 365-day journey around the sun. Enjoy the trip."
-Author Unknown