Ahhh finally, the heart of summer. When I drive into work in the evenings, I can still see my way to the car without too much light – smell bonfires and barbeques. It occasionally makes me long for that type of summer in the olden days where people all knew each other, had dinners on picnic tables out in the lawn and spent the whole evening with family. I have two absolute hands down favorite things about summer. Fireflies and S’mores. I can’t really partake in s’mores this year as my program doesn’t allow much gluten or sugar. But I usually give myself one cheat a week so I don’t go insane with cravings – this cheat comes in the form of a Russell Stover S’mores that we sell at the registers where I work. I will be the first to say – I adore Hershey Chocolate. That being said, Russell Stover is a whole other level of Amazing. What this amazing snack is: two small Graham Cracker Squares, with a Marshmallow covered in Russell Stover Milk Chocolate around it. The second the entire combination hits your taste buds I swear there is an inner mind chorus singing “Ahhhhhhhhhh!” in rapture. It’s that good. It’s serious.
The second thing I love about summer is the fireflies – or Lightening Bugs – whatever the people in your area call them. They’re like little magical orbs of light that glitter on and off and make your backyard or garden look just a little more magical in the moonlight. The first night I saw them I think I jumped for joy and actually squealed – it seemed like they came out so late this year! It’s been a strange Summer in central New York, weatherwise.
I’ve been trying to experiment with a camera my dad gave me, one of the Canon Rebels, I’ve been carrying it EVERYWHERE. Literally. I need to read up on aperture and exposure information and investigate tutorials on this nifty amazing cameras. Here’s a few shots I took yesterday!
I’d really love some tips and tricks any of you might know! I don’t have photoshop or anything anymore so I’ve been using Picasa and Instagram for any kind of filters or photo editing I’ve done. I know I should get a tripod or one of those tripods that you can attach to things by wrapping the legs around it, so I don’t have to worry about the long shutter speed of a night time photo. Any other tips?
I am beyond excited to share this next news. I can run. Yes, you read that right. I. Can. Run. I can also jog, but running, oh man, I’m excited. I was starting to worry I might be doing the Run or Dye 5k I signed up for as a Walk or Dye 5k. Now though, I can run! Week 5 of the LiveFit program starts today and I’m so excited! I’m finishing my egg whites and spinach, smelling the chocolate protein bars baking, lunch is a 3-bean organic turkey chili and is all prepped and ready to go, apple slices and almond butter ready as well. It’s going to be an excellent week. Weight Training + Cardio I’m really hoping to start seeing some change in the scale instead of staying the same, but seeing the effects in my muscles. Don’t get me wrong – I love seeing the changes! But I’d also like to see at least a little bit of a change on the scale as well. I can’t wait to hit the gym after work in the morning, what a great start to this week!
Any tips for training for a 5k? How about any clean eating recipes? What do you love about Summer?
One of the perks of being the daughter of a librarian who helps with collection materials for the library is that my mother is constantly getting uncorrected proofs. Whenever I visit my mom at work I race into her office just to see if she’s had a shipment – not always books I’m interested – but you’d be surprised. I’m currently reading a new Amy Tan book, as well as a book based on the TV show Homeland that my mother had gotten. It has unfortunately created an unnatural need within me to own the Trade Paperback version of any book rather than the Hardcover. I’m waiting on The Kite Runner to be returned so I can read that and the books that follow – I know, I know, I’m super late to that party. I’m also looking forward to reading the Good Luck Girls of Shipwreck Lane by Kelly Harms, once my library gets it in and processed. Sarah Addison Allen is probably my favorite author lately, her magical realism really hits the sweet spot in my literature cravings…is that even a phrase – it is now! Primarily writing about North Carolina, it’s instilled this magical vision of the South in my mind.
The Glazed Lyon 