Summer Lov'n

Today is officially the first day of the Fall season and that means a big good-bye to summer 2010! And although I am more than happy to leave behind the humidity, the burning seatbelt buckle, and unflattering swimsuit, summers always seem to bring a renewing effect -- projects get done, vacations, down-time (this is mostly from our school years), big movie releases, the infamous summer love that can occasionally (or frequently) come your way. A lot happens in summer.

Movie: INCEPTION

Among the horrible sequels of Iron Man and Sex and the City came a movie whose enticing and original premises of implanting ideas within the human mind drew me in immediately. Inception was everything a summer movie should be -- a visually stunning, intectually stimulating thriller with characters you root for and a storyline complex enough to keep you debating after the credits role.

Book: THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO -- This trilogy by the late Stieg Larsson of Sweden has been sweeping the world with millions of books sold, one Swedish movie version, and an English movie currently filming. Who wouldn't be intrigued? And for good reason because I could not put this book down. I don't know if it was the compelling characters of Mikeal Blomvist and Lisbeth Salander (who has been called the new feminist hero of the decade), the edgy and dark subject matter that blows any fluffy romance off its rocker (a warning to sensitive readers -- there is some disturbing content), or the great storyline mystery that keeps you guessing (no skimming pages or skipping boring chapters). Oh, and P.S. -- if you like the book, the Swedish movie version is available which I would highly recommend.

Project Finished: I have caught up on my scrapbooking of newspaper articles and movie ticket stubs from the last 3 years and have successfully created my own recipe book to put the infinate number of recipes I've collected and thrown carelessly into a shoe box. No more!

Fear Conquered: In my ever-evolving quest to conquer my anxiety of driving in populated areas, I have successfully driven almost the whole length of Interstate 355 --even with the constructions that I'm betting will be completed when the Apocalypse occurs.

Makeup Trick Learned: For all the pale faces out there, I learned that putting a bit (bit is the key word here) of blush across the hairline at the top of the forehead does give you a sun-kissed, bright face. Don't knock it til you try it! And don't use a dark blush....lighter is better.

Beverage: Sparkling Water -- I found this treasure by accident when I thought I had bought plain bottled water. Refreshing and without the sugar and heavy syrup of soda.

Go-To Summer T-Shirt for Lazy Days: It was all Blackhawks love since they won the World Cup and a bright red shirt with the mascot in front was this summers perfect tee.

Television Show: GLEE -- Summer television is not my thing as reality television gets dumber and many of the shows worth watching are on hiatus til fall. However, I was pushed to watch Glee by a friend and through my stalling and procrastinating I finally did.....and was hooked from the 1st episode. I'm a Gleek and proud of it!

Music: GLEE SOUNDTRACKS -- See above....they go hand-in-hand. For those of you who are just getting into Glee, I recommend the wonderful mash-up songs of Halo/Sunshine and It's My Life/Confessions and of course the song that started it all Don't Stop Believing.

Place to Go: A Cubs Rooftop game -- Yes, it is a bit pricey but it is an experience that every Cubs fan should have. The one price you pay includes the game, all food (better than any food you will find inside the park), and all drinks, including alcohol. Still not convinced? With 3 floors to choose from (one indoor, one partial indoor, and the rooftop with stadium seating), it fits for everyone's preferences. It is never crowded inside and there's no fighting the 40,000 people trying to squeeze their way out of the exits after the game. The best part? The bathrooms! And if you've been to the bathrooms at Wrigley, you will understand this immediately.

New Drinking Haven: Marina Bars -- the down-to-earth feel, hanging lantern lights (or tiki torches), and great summer night weather make drinking by the lake the comforting place to be. Add some great music and I'm there!

New Guilty Pleasure: Pedicures -- I've been avoiding them as I believed my tickilish feet would result in some poor girl's broken nose. I'm so glad I was wrong.

What I Learned This Summer: To let go -- There are people and things that were only meant to be in our lives for a little while....to help us grow and get us to the next part of our journey. And it wasn't meant to last forever, even if we wanted it to. Keep moving forward and remember those things as great memories. It may not make sense now but looking back later in life, connect the dots and realize that it happened for a reason.

Goodbye Summer 2010. Thanks for the memories. :)

Stephanie

Don't Dip the Sandals in the Lemonade

If you are wondering about the title of this blog, the two images I think of when summer is mentioned are flip flops and a tall, iced glass of lemonade. This is my first week of having no work. I'm liking it now but I know by next week, unless I get busy fast, I'm gonna hate it. I like work and the satisfaction it gives me and the routine I have. No, that does not mean I'm totally against spontaneity (in fact, it is a must), but I like knowing what my next day is going to be like -- at least on outline of what it is going to be like. I'm a planner...and I like plans. Summer jobs have dramatically dropped off and it shows in the classifieds with very few jobs (much less summer jobs) to choose from. I do mow a lawn for $30 a week, will do a rare fill-in at the Mary Kay office, and will pray that my textbooks will sell on Half.com (I've sold one!!). I have saved up a good amount of money in case this summer was a jobless summer that would let me travel and bit and maybe work on some personal growth. I've already started this week with summer plans:

• I cleaned out the room, brought up the summer clothes, tied up loose ends at work, and caught up on emails, got my car fixed ($675 later for full brake replacement...ugh), almost got graduation cards mailed out, mom's birthday.....and all that jazz
• Became the designated house cleaner since my parents do not charge me rent or make me buy groceries. If I'm not rushing off to work, I better make this house my work, so I make sure to pick up, vaccuum, and unload/reload dishwasher each day among other little things so show my appreciation

And I've started filling up the calendar with events, travel, and things that I hope to cross off my life list or continue things that I have started and quit:

1. I am heading to Decatur, IL with my friend Emily to attend a Haunting Conference. I'm so lucky to have a friend that is as much into haunted places and the paranormal as I am. We are staying two days, taking a haunted tour, participating in a seance, and meeting some haunted book authors!
2. Las Vegas Here I Come -- and you thought I wasn't spontaneous enough! Within two days of being invited by my friend Traci, I had my flight booked. Do I know what we are going to do? Nope. Where we are staying? Nope. But I'm excited!
3. Weddings -- One in July and one in August of an old roommate and a co-worker of mine which leads me to....
4. Getting in shape!! I have started and quit so many times and I always have the excuse of not having enough time....NO MORE! I've been doing pretty good actually. The bad thing is I walked a lot at work and didn't have much time to eat a lot and that might pose a problem.
5. Turning 23!! On June 13th
6. Cooking -- I am forcing myself to learn to cook meals and be better....this will be tough because I do not find cooking enjoyable yet but hopefully I will get motivated....I need to watch Ratatouille....that always gets me motivated
7. GNO -- Otherwise known as the Girls Night Out that me, my mom, and my aunt have traditionally done for the past four years. We take 3 or four days and head to different places....Shippsewana, IN (Amish country), Galena, Gurnee, etc.
   
8. Horseback Riding -- My life list has learning to gallop and canter a horse. Found a stable at a reasonable price. Will go there the 1st week of June and sign up!
9. READING -- Have wanted to read all the classics that have never made it into my hands. Oh, and I've started a Book Club. Wanted to follow through with that as well
10. Scrapbook and writing -- starting with keeping up this blog and starting to turn the pictures and cards and letters and ticket stubs into something that isn't a pile or a box.
11. Love -- don't want to touch this one too much....I know what the situation is....It's in a very uncertain zone right now and I'm afraid to push it one way or another just yet....so having a bit of faith that circumstances will change somehow before summer is up

Pheww.....wow.....let summer begin!
Steph

Where Have All The Signs Gone?

It is getting nearer and nearer to the end of my first year as an event coordinator. I'm technically a graduate assistant meaning my pay is really crappy but I do get my grad school paid for. I actually really enjoy my job, am learning more and more, getting more responsibility, and love the people I work with. The bad news is that this position is not a summer position, so from May 18th to August 31st, I am unemployed and am not taking any classes. So from going to being really really busy to having nothing......is going to be a change and it's making me a little nervous. I have some summer plans including a couple weddings, two small road trips, my birthday (23!), a concert, etc. But I really do not like the prospect of being unemployed -- I feel so....unaccomplished...lazy...bored. And I like having a schedule. I'm not the free-spirited person that I wish I was (I'm so envious of you people) who can get up with no particular plans and have the best day. My internship and job searches have yielded nothing so far but now that my graduate class is over as of this week, I can devote more time to it.

I do have enough money saved up to get by for the next three months, but somehow I want this summer to be different. I recently read a book called "When They Were 22...." It is a collection of very short biographies (a page or two) about famous people (singers, authors, actors, Noble Prize Winners) and how their life changed when they were 22. I feel as if this job and other factors in my life have changed me in the past year -- I feel older, more independent, and growing into my own. Not saying I still have a lot to learn and a lot to experience. But I feel like this summer should be different. I'm hoping for a sign because my future seems so unclear right now -- but maybe I need the break from the university (among other things......) to stretch myself a bit. Sometimes I feel like my life is too small..........like the town I grew up in....