Summer Summer Summertime - Part of the Summer Lovin' Series

Since we are very close to this blog's second anniversary and in honor of the Summer Lovin' series here at A Day In The Life of a Coffee Addict I asked some very special people to guest blog. First up is my gal pal Gabby! Gabby and I met many moons ago while we were each planning our Vegas wedding - we met on a wedding planning site and totally hit it off it was Gabby's quirky sense of humor and all around geekiness that won me over.Then we both ended up living in Florida so we get to spend time together doing fun things like going to Disney and being silly! Gabby is one of the super cool hosts of PotentialCast - a podcast dedicated to one of my favorite shows of all time Buffy The Vampire Slayer - take a listen here.

When I was a young pup, I used to look forward to summer. Thanks to the loads of free time the break from school would allow, I would be able to enjoy swim lessons at the Colonie Town Park, endless hours of bike riding adventures with friends in the dense woodland area behind the suburban neighborhood where I grew up, vacationing at The Cape, and a house filled with family and friends as my Dad grilled burgers & hot dogs on the Kenmore gas grill that was a permanent fixture in our backyard. Aaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. Those were the salad days!

As years went by, summer lost all of the positive meaning behind it and became a six-letter dirty word! Summer was nothing but the season where I was confined to my tiny cubicle in the bowels of an office building ala Fox Mulder. Meanwhile, everyone else on this great BIG blue marble was out in the fresh air, running wild and free, enjoying sunshine, time with friends and family, and (above all else) freedom!

In the past few years, my negative view of summer has changed quite a bit! Although, I remain a fan of cooler months (and cooler weather in general), this season does indeed have some redeeming qualities. You know what? Summer ain’t half bad! As a matter of fact, some of my favorite events take place in the summer and I look forward to them all year ‘round! What are these things I look forward to? Well, since you asked nicely I would love to share my top 5 list (in no particular order) with you!

5. My husband and I were married in the summer! We were also married in Vegas in August on a 110 degree day. It was a glorious day where we were surrounded by a small group of family and friends that we hold dear. The night was filled with drunken post-wedding antics on Fremont Street. Le sigh.

4. The only thing that I love more than hanging out with friends is hanging out with friends in theme parks. The only thing that I love more than hanging out with friends in theme parks is hanging out with friends in theme parks while celebrating STAR WARS WEEKENDS! Every June, our group of three heads to “The Studios” to spend a Saturday of eating naughty food, enjoying frosty beverages, having our photos taken with Star Wars characters and getting away with being silly (in public) and acting like a kid!

C. The house in upstate New York, where I grew up, was missing one important thing that every house here, in northern Florida has. If it wasn’t for this one little thing we would all surely wither and die or drown in a pool of our own sweat. If it wasn’t for the brilliant invention of the central air conditioning unit, summertime happiness would be impossible to achieve. (Odds are that I would also be a resident of Alaska and not a Florida transplant.)

B. One of my new favorite things is not really new at all BUT it surely is new to me. Recently, I have discovered the joys of talking to friends via Skype. It’s AMAZING! Thinking back to the “good old days” if we wanted to contact friends who lived far away we needed to put pen to paper and wait days or even weeks until we received a letter in response. (For the kids out there: Back in the 70’s and 80’s every home had a phone. Today you know it as a “landline”. There were no cell phones with unlimited long distance. HECK! There were no cell phones! Long distance calls were insanely expensive and you could only talk to one person at a time. OH YEAH! Also, every home did not have a computer. This is shocking news. I know.)

Today, we are constantly plugged in. Everyone has a computer (or access to a computer) and a smartphone. Everyone has a Facebook page and a Twitter account. These friends made via online social networking are real people and having the chance to speak with one (or many) via Skype is a total blast! Also, every time I video chat I pretend that I’m Judy Jetson. (For the kids 2.0: I will not explain this reference as it will just make me sad. Google it!)

1. Television is awesome and I love it! Whether I’m sitting on my big ol’ bootie on the orange sofa watching it or experiencing the “joys” of housework the boob tube is on. I love dramas, comedies, travel shows, made for TV movies, documentaries, procedurals and (especially in the summer) reality shows. SWEET SASSY MOLASSY! HOT DIGGITY DOG DIGGITY! Trashy summertime reality shows are the best, especially Big Brother! It’s appointment TV on Sunday, Wednesday and Thursday nights. We record Big Brother After Dark on SHO. I’d fork over the “cabbage” for the live feed BUT I have a job that I need to go to in order to make money, keep a roof over our heads and food on the table so I refrain from becoming a member. If I was a member all I would do all day long is watch those fascinating creatures scheme, play humiliating games and fall to pieces while in the confines of their IKEA furniture filled house of two way mirrors.

The list could go on and on expressing my newfound love of summer. I could also go on and on writing about fond memories of summers past, but I think that the great Fresh Prince said it best:

“If ain't broke then don't try to fix it and think of the summers of the past adjust the base and let the alpine blast.”

Now ain’t that the truth?

Summer Lovin' Part 2

This Summer I've been in love with reliving my childhood at the Walt Disney World Parks!

First the Magic Kingdom brought back my beloved Main Street Electrical Parade. Sure, I love the Spectromagic parade, but what a thrill it was sitting on the curb and hearing the music of this parade I grew up with. As soon as the lights went out signifying the start of the parade I got chills and of course my sappy self teared up a bit. I loved sharing this with Mike. My one wish was that we could see this parade in cooler weather and my wish was granted, Disney spread a little Pixie Dust and announced that they are extending the run of the Main Street Electrical Parade!! So don't be surprised if you see many more photos of this parade in the future!!



As if bringing back the parade wasn't enough this Summer Epcot brought back Captain EO with Michael Jackson! Mike and I went one night to see it and I was SHOCKED to find out that Mike had never seen it!! This was another attraction that I grew up with here in Orlando and I loved it just as much now as I did when I was a kid. Naturally I cried both because Michael Jackson was a genius and is gone but also because there is something very emotional about going back in time like this, remembering sitting in that theater with my parents and sister and an assortment of friends and relatives over the years, remembering times gone by. But I'm happy to say with it's return I'll be making new memories! Not only did I get to see it with Mike but also recently saw Captain EO with some of my high school friends Brenda and Maggie.



Since I've focused this post on Disney Summer Magic I have to add another fun thing Mike and I always do during the Summer - The Summer Concert Series at Epcot! Some years we hit more concerts then others but this was the second year we went to see the Bon Jovi cover band. No they are no replacement for Bon Jovi but they are fun to watch and it always makes for a nice little date night with the hubby!

Look how wonderfully sweaty we are!

One last little sharing before I close - I put together this quick fun layout with some of the photos from the night we went to see the parade! Can't wait to hear what you think!!

Cooking and Creating!

Don't you love feeling inspired? Lately (after that much needed reboot) I am feeling so inspired. Maybe it is the yoga I've been doing almost every day? Or maybe it's the fact that I've been cleaning and organizing my scrap space? Whatever it is I'm enjoying it!

I've been doing a lot of writing and planning out so many projects, we've tried out fun new recipes and I've been taking pictures and just trying to really enjoy and think creatively every day.

This Summer I've been heading to the Farmer's Market with my friend Claire and recently I found these gorgeous tomatoes so it gave me the perfect opportunity to try Rachael Ray's Herb Butter and Goat Cheese Linguine with Fresh Tomatoes - you can find the recipe here. I loved how all the fresh herbs in this dish, really turned out nice but we didn't love the way it reheated.



The day after I made the pasta Mike took over in the kitchen and make Chicken Schnitzel with Mustard Sauce from Food Network magazine - you can find the recipe here. He paired with the chicken with potatoes au gratin, he didn't use a recipe and it didn't matter because this whole meal was outstanding! I'm wondering if it's to soon to ask Mike to make it again!!



Recently I put together two new layouts. One was inspired by Lain Ehmann, she put together a great tutorial here, so I ran with it. I changed my layout to 12x12 because that is my preferred layout size. I printed a quick self portrait I took and a few sheets of coordinating paper, ink, the extra large flower which I just folded in half and the large jewel. I put this page together in under thirty minutes just as Lain promised!



The second page was for a challenge on Let's Scrap but it is a subject I've been really wanting to document. Mike does such a great job on the porch garden so I went out and had a little garden photo shoot documenting all of Mike's hard work and then I used some of my favorite papers - Basic Grey's Nook & Pantry along with coordinating stickers. I'm so happy with how this turned out and I'm glad to have captured this in the pages of my scrapbook.

And The Winners Are...

First I have to thank all of you for commenting and visiting my little corner of cyber space! I love sharing ideas, thoughts and projects with you and I loved hearing about Summer memories and traditions you have all given me such great ideas!!

I put everyone's name on a slip of paper, folded them up and put them in one of the many Tupperware containers I have and my sweet hubby picked the four winners out of the container and so without further ado the winners are:

Sheila: A fun summer tradition we like to do is in my birthday month (aug) we
rent a pontoon boat and gather up the kids and grandkids and spend the day on the lake--always alot of fun--thanks for having this fun giveaway ♥

Mary: Summer Tradition - we really don't have one.. but you got me thinking. I think starting next year we will have a picnic with all family and friends, for the 4th of July.. this is one way to get them all together. thanks for this question. you just started a tradition for us. :-)

Tanya: We love to drive over to Grills at the Port to eat and watch the cruise ships and boats. Actually, we do this year round, not just in the summer, but I really want some of your stash, hahaha!

Betty Anne: Wow great giveaway Danielle. My favorite summer memory is having a family reunion at the cottage we used to go to as kids. I had a treasure hunt just like my Mom used to do with us each summer only this time it was with her Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren. It brought back so many great memories.

Ok gals email me your mailing info at DaniNYC12677@gmail.com and I will get these mailed out as soon as possible!! I hope you will share with me some of the projects you create with these goodies!

The Great Summer Stash Giveaway!

Lately my scrapbooking room has gotten completely out of control. So out of control that I can't actually scrapbook in there! I go in and pull out supplies and then take over the dining room table to actually work and put pages together. So I thought it was time to take action and take back my scrapbooking space!

I started to go through items, making tons of piles, finding products I had totally forgotten about, finding immediate inspiration in other items, but then found products I purchased for very specific projects that I've long ago completed and I also found items that I had several of so I started another pile - A Giveaway Pile!!

A few weeks ago I was very lucky to win a giveaway on the lovely Curious Key blog and after receiving my amazing package of goodies I was inspired to host a giveaway of my own. So in celebration of Summer, in celebration of you my awesome readers and in celebration of being able to see the table in my scrapbooking room again I give you The Great Summer Stash Giveaway!!!

Just leave a comment on this post sharing your favorite Summer memory or Summer tradition and I will randomly select 4 lucky winners! Each will receive a package packed with goodies from my stash! I will choose winners this Saturday!

Here are a few photos of some of the items! GOOD LUCK!

Rut or Reboot?

You might remember that in May I joined Lain Ehman's Layout a Day workshop and I scrapbooked like I never scrapbooked before.

I scrapbooked old photos

This photo was taken in the mid-80s

and new photos.

These photos were taken only 4 days before the layout was created! I almost never get photos turned into layouts this quick!

I told stories I've been waiting to tell and showcased loved ones.

Got to show off pictures from my cousin Denise's visit!!
And I got to tell this story which has been a part of me for a long time

I tried my hand at digital scrapbooking




and did a page with no photos.



Through it all I learned quite a bit about myself and my scrapbooking style. Then May 31st rolled around and Layout a Day ended and since then I have done absolutely no scrapbooking! Did I run out of stories? Ideas? Energy? I sure didn't run out of supplies!!

I started to seriously think I was just deeply stuck in a rut, but then I noticed that Mike and I were getting out and doing things. I was spending more time gathering inspiration from blogs and magazines and doing all that made me realize it isn't a rut I'm stuck in just a reboot. I'm getting out, enjoying time with friends, taking tons of photos as usual and gathering tons of inspiration. I've been focusing on other life things too like doing yoga ever day which has been a reboot for my body and soul. I've been working big time on this little blog and I have huge things in store including guest bloggers and giveaways!

And just like that I'm out of my rut fully rebooted and ready to create and that's just what I did tonight!

These photos were taken just over the weekend - for this layout I used a sketch on Let's Scrap. It felt good to pull out my papers, glue and distress stickles again!!

Summer Lovin' Part 1

Sometimes I take things for granted, sometimes I don't take advantage of all life and the world around me has to offer and oftentimes I let laziness and fear stand in my way of doing things that I know I would enjoy. I am working very hard to change these patterns and I'm doing and experiencing more so I thought a fun way to showcase some of these experiences would be to show what I'm loving about Summer right now! I will probably do this a few more times before Summer is over and then start again with a Falling for Fall series. I hope you enjoy the things I'm loving about Summer right now!!

1. Iced Coffee - especially made at home with Starbuck's iced Via made in my reusable Starbucks cup!



2. The beach!! Oh my gosh I love that we are going to the beach this Summer and I can't believe that we let years go by where we didn't go at all. This year we managed to get there once on our own and once with Monika and Dave both times were so much fun and so special and we have more happy plans to go to the beach in the future!!



3. Buying fabulous fresh vegetables at the Farmer's Market and then using them in fabulous recipes like Rachael Ray's Summer Vegetable Pasta!! I bought the zucchini at the Celebration Farmer's Market one Sunday morning with my friend Claire and I used fresh corn and we were so happy with how this recipe turned out. It's light and flavorful! A great Summer recipe to have in your back pocket.



4. Making new friends! Believe it or not I can be shy about talking to new people and I've been doing a lot to break out of my shell a bit and we've gotten to know many of our neighbors and they have turned into friends and it has been fabulous!!!



5. Yoga! I've been trying to do a little yoga every day this Summer - I spent a lot of time doing yoga before Mike and I got married and like so many things I let it fall to the wayside, I've happily taken it back up and it feels great!! I also get a kick out of how the fur babies play with the yoga mat!



Stay tuned for more Summer Lovin'!