The first day of summer is next Monday, June 21st. Even though here in AZ it has already felt like summer for many weeks, there’s still something fun about it officially being summer.
I’d take 100 degrees over snow and ice any day, so in honor of my favorite time of year, may I present…
MY FAVORITE SUMMER STUFF
1) Sunscreen!
I just love love love sunscreen simply for that beachy coconut-y smell (oh, and all of those sun-protecting benefits of course). I could swim in it and pour it on my Cheerios and wash my hair with it. Yes, it’s that good to me. SPF4 or SPF 40… I love it as long it screens the sun and smells like summer.
2) Summer Vay-Cay!
I’m a big fan of the beach. Normally I get to spend a week each summer in California with the high school youth group at our church, but I didn’t have enough vacation time at work this year to be able to go. I’m devastated. My heart will be repaired next weekend, though. I will be spending four days in a house on the beach in Mexico with some of my closest friends. (The above photo was taken from the house.)
I can’t wait for this trip.
3) WORLD CUP 2010!!
This doesn’t occur every summer… but so far summer 2010 has been all about watching the World Cup for me. I played soccer my whole life and love it more than any other sport in the world. One of my life goals is to go to a World Cup game someday. In the meantime, I have a schedule hanging up at my desk and I’m streaming the games on my computer at work (God bless ESPN3.com). As per tradition, I cheer for Team USA until they’re out (hey, I’m a realist) and then Germany gets my full support.
4) Iced Coffee!
Most people who work for Starbucks at some point in their lives become coffee snobs. I am one of those people. I don’t want your Folgers. I don’t want your sugar or your cream tainting my coffee. Give it to me strong and black, please. And in the summer, I looove it poured over ice. Sometimes I go a little crazy and get an iced latte or even an iced chai or iced tea… but there’s something so calm and refreshing about plain ol’ iced coffee.
5) Monsoon season!
Tucson is not known for rainfall, but every summer the monsoon season rolls in with its dark clouds, thunder and lightning, and massive amounts of rain. I love it. Playing in the monsoons with my sister is one of my favorite childhood memories… and the smell of dessert rain is better than most things on this earth.
5) Otter Pops!
Last Saturday I had a few Otter Pops during the USA vs England game and they were perfect. I used to spend my summers eating dozens of these things, and I think I’m going to have to buy a big box of them immediately.
Hope everyone has a wonderful last week of spring. I’m off to watch Brazil beat Korea while I get some “work” done. It’ll be nice to watch a game that doesn’t end in a tie.
