Summertime and the livin’ is….beautiful.  La bella vita, indeed!  I always talk about summer being my most productive season.  I am just overflowing with active energy during the long summer days when nature is buzzing about at the height of its productivity as well.  I feel like I can accomplish so much more in terms of both my indoor work and outdoor pleasures during the summer.  I like to pack my days full and there just seems to be more time right now.  Somehow, magically, time is proceeding at a leisurely pace for me recently as opposed to the breakneck speed I am accustomed to watching it whiz by.  I am savoring these long summer moments…

It’s Always A Good Time For Tea

Speaking of savoring, is it ever a bad time for a nice cup of tea?  I’m having a hard time thinking of one.  I usually go for iced tea over hot brews in the summer months, but lately I’ve been all about a nice hot cup of tea.  It doesn’t matter what time of day it is or how hot it might be, a steaming cup is always enticing.  I’m still working on getting through my massive tea collection.  I am on a strict No Buy (unless I run out of a specific category of tea).  Lately I’ve been all about black tea in the morning, green tea midday, and peppermint tea at night.  I’ve also been enjoying using my new owl mugs that were gifts from friends.  Too cute to hoot!  (<— see my pun there? LOL 😉 )

Fun Chicago Outings

I was lucky enough to travel downtown twice last week for a couple of fun outings.  On Tuesday I took my Mom to The Art Institute to see the current Impressionism, Fashion, and Modernity exhibit.  What a great collection of mid-late 19th century art and fashion!  I highly recommend it if you’re in the area and love impressionism (think Degas, Manet, Caillebotte, Monet, Seurat, Renoir, etc).  I love how the exhibit pairs beautiful art with actual clothing items and accessories from the time.  We had a wonderful experience at the museum and refueled afterwards with tasty lobster rolls at The Gage restaurant right across the street.  Then, on Saturday Don and I headed downtown to see Lookingglass’s current production, Big Lake Big City, a spoof-like film noir detective story written by Keith Huff and directed by David Schwimmer.  I found it to be a bit on the dark side of funny, but an excellent production with an awesome cast.  We were lucky to join The Raven Foundation and most of the cast after the show for a great post show talk back.  We extended our date to include a delectable dinner at our favorite Chicago Italian restaurant, Spiaggia.  Words cannot express the utter deliciousness!

Let The Sun Shine

The weather this past week has been absolutely stunning.  Usually late July in Chicago is miserably humid, buggy, and HOT, HOT, HOT.  We were blessed with a slew of unseasonably mild days.  It almost feels like San Francisco weather (after the fog has lifted!).  With temperatures in the 60s and 70s, low humidity, and sunny days filled with rolling clouds and a lovely breeze, it’s hard to stay inside!  Winnie and I have been enjoying longer morning walks and some lovely evening strolls while the sun sets.  It’s also the perfect running weather.  In just the past week I am finally back to a more normal level of running for me with one mile intervals at a ten minute average pace.  I think the gorgeous weather helped me make that last push I needed to get back on top of my running game!  It’s so beautiful outside I barely notice I’m even running at all!

Life is beautiful, both in my outside and inside worlds.  I hope the same is true for you.  Enjoy 🙂