Summer Strategy

Pardon my absence, I have been enjoying every single moment of my summer vacation.  So let's give you a quick run down.  I am going to keep today brief since I have craft projects, cleaning, running, and some relaxing to do :)  


Overall some of my favorite parts of summer consist of (I love lists, so here goes):

1. Coffee and/or breakfast on nice plates in my pretty living room  

I just love the idea of having enough time to wake up, break out my pretty plates, and cook up some eggs for breakfast.  While I cook, I down a cup of water (trying to keep my water intake good since I am known for being a camel and avoiding it all day).  This year I have been doing a much better job at drinking water, and I don't want to ruin my streak.  


After my eggs and coffee are ready, I head over to the living room/dining room (old fashion term: parlor). No matter how hard I try to call it the parlor, I just call it the living or dining room - I can't be THAT old fashioned.  


Last semester during the school year, I tried to wake up a few minutes early just to squeeze in some sit-down breakfast time. I did get the chance most of the time, but there is nothing like eating breakfast and then getting to hang around all day.  

2. My Cat

Some days, hanging around all day means hanging out with my Oliver.  He really is the cutest little thing (seven years old and he will always be my little baby).  He follow me around everywhere.  If I go outside, he usually hangs by the window to watch (or goes and takes a nap).  If I am sitting in the office doing some work, he will lay on the rug beside my feet and take a nap in the sun.  If I go to fold laundry in our guest room, he grabs a spot on the bed.  If I read on the couch, he naps on the couch.  Yes, he naps a lot. 


If he is not napping, he drags all of his toys to me and cries as he brings each of them until I acknowledge him.  I love him.  Now, he is curled up in my lap as I type (since I acknowledged his shower of toys).  He loves me too.


Rob asks me often who I would choose: Rob or Oliver.  I avoid answering. lol.  

2. Books

I just finished reading the Hunger Games Trilogy, and I am a fan.  I relate to Katniss, as I am sure most girls do.  Who doesn't want to be the beautiful stubborn Victor?  I am sure you will be seeing lots of HG references throughout the blogs, especially when it gets closer to game time.  


I just like the idea that I have time to curl up and finish a book without worrying or feeling guilty about what else I need to squeeze in.  In fact, I have really awful tan lines right now because I was outside reading in our new wicker loungers and didn't realize how long I sat out there as I was engrossed in the world of Panem.  

3. Side jobs

Although I am off, I am not really "off."  I am happy to admit that I am still raking in a pretty decent amount of bill money this summer (especially since I thought I was going to solely be savings-dipping).  Between teaching spin class, private tutoring (Rob just picked up another job for me - a 9:20 two-miler.  I have really good ways of relating the SAT strategy to race strategy, so I'll be perfect for the job lol.  Plus, what don't I relate to race strategy.), and tutoring at a college, I still have a pretty busy "work" schedule.  


Spin class does not count as "work."  I get to listen to music, make random playlists, and dictate a course of action.  I guess I am a natural coach, although the one downer to spin class is that sometimes I just like to be the student and not the person in charge.  But good thing, because now I can go to a spin class whenever I want, free of charge!  I am already starting to see a change in my quads, an extra bulge on the outside if I flex and a couple of deeper striations on the top and side.  Woohoo!  


I try to spin three days a week, but it really does zap my legs for running.  I am still trying to balance the two (expect a blog on this balancing act soon).  

4. Arts and crafts

Some of of my friends call me mini-Martha.  I just love creating things, especially for gifts.  I think they mean a little more when the gift receiver knows there is some sweat poured into the gift.  Yesterday, I dropped off a personalized hanger for my friend's wedding dress (I wired her new last name in the enter of the hanger, perfect for a wedding dress shot).  Thanks to Pinterest, sometimes I don't even have to come up with these ideas anymore; I plagiarize.  Now, I have the time to waste on the computer browsing ideas and the extra time to make more special things for people!  Working on a bouquet preservation tonight!  

5. Running

Because spin has tired me out, I haven't started a weightlifting program yet, which will begin starting this week.  I figure between spinning, swimming, and lifting, I can accessorize my running.  Since I spin on the Real Ryder bikes, my arms, not just legs, get a nice workout too.  Once the Patchogue pool opens in late June, I will get another full body workout swimming laps.  I want to learn how to flip this summer!  Then, lifting I can do in my beautiful home gym.  I figure, spin 2-3 days a week. Swim 2 days a week. Lift two days a week.  Run, six days.  Of course, I don't want to overdue anything.  Because I plan to do so much, I will definitely take one full day of rest, just like God.  


Because I have a flexible schedule for now, I get my running in whenever I want.  Lately, it has been late evening, which has been really nice.  Usually, I prefer a beautiful early morning run, but I give myself the month of May to sleep in until 8 or 9, since I don't get to sleep in that often during the school year.  Add in breakfast and house chores while digesting, and it's already 10 by the time I could run; I don't usually have great runs around 10-12, since I am used to lunch around 11:30.  I think Doomsday (my hungry alter ego) tries to ruin my run if I don't feed him.  Otherwise, I have been doing a spin class in the morning, so I need plenty of time to rest my legs before running (otherwise a different sort of Doomsday comes to ruin my run).


Plus, the weather has been so awful lately.  I wake up to rain and gloom, so I prefer to work on some inside house projects (adding more mason jars to my pantry, cleaning the fridge, donating clothes).  Then, the weather has gotten better in the evening, and if it's not better, I head out anyway. The other day I ran a 12-mile run to Bellport around 7 p.m.  It was the most beautiful run of the summer so far! On the weekend, I have been meeting up with Smitty, a Post athlete I have mentioned before, for a nice long run at about 8-minute mile pace.  It feels great to run and chat at a pretty decent pace with some company.  Add those runs to some of the most enjoyable ones of the summer too.  


Plus, my short pony tail (just donated my hair) makes my long runs mixed with the humidity quite enjoyable.  I think I probably commended myself for about four miles at what a good decision it was to chop the hair for some summer running.  

6. House projects

Like I said before, in between all of this, I have lots of house projects to do. Since I live in a Victorian house and with a perfectionist (my husband), there is always something to be done.  Right now I am scraping and sanding all of the paint off the outside trim and going to re-stain.  Rob's dad says I do a better job than a painter, which is probably one of the nicest compliments Mr. Bill Morris can give.  


I put "sand" on my to-do list everyday, just like I do for running.  This way, like my running routine, I will spend about 1-2 hours working on my sanding project.  Also, similar to running, I get quicker the more I work on the project and get more completed each day.  This way, the little work each day, adds up to great results.


And all of these little lovely summer items add up to a really great life.  I just can feel a change in my sprit and love every minute of my craziness.