Things I Love About Summer

There's the heat, and there's the season. Yes, summer is hot, but there are also so many things I love about it! In no particular order, here are a few:

1. Long days
2. Early mornings
3. Sunrises
4. The satisfaction of a good, sweaty workout
5. Cookouts
6. Corn on the cob
7. Fresh peaches
8. Fresh plums
9. Fresh strawberries
10. Ice cold drinks
11. Satisfyingly (and hydrating!) cantaloupe
12. Salty foods to replace electrolytes
13. S'mores
14. Watermelon
15. Tank tops
16. Tan lines
17. The nostalgic smell of sunscreen
18. The initially soothing warmth of the car after the frigidity of air conditioned buildings
19. The Fourth of July
20. Red, white, and blue
21. Patriotism
22. Fireworks
23. Driving home from work in daylight
24. Evening walks
25. Sunsets

Jess Connolly (2024) says to seize your season. I'm seizing summer and squeezing out its joy for all its worth!

Reference:

Connolly, J. (2024, May 26). Seize your season (No. 41). [Audio podcast episode]. In The Jess Connolly podcast. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-41-seize-your-season/id1437912225?i=1000656850169

Summer Staycation

Summer is upon us! Some people will travel. Some will not. Some of us just need a break. So what about a staycation (taking time off work and other responsibilities, but staying at home, instead of traveling)? We took a staycation few years ago, and it was an excellent choice! I would totally do one again. And if I did, here are some things I would include:

Setting a budget upfront. I am a penny pincher, and if I do not have a budget for spending, I will probably just try to save money. Vacations usually involve some spending (unless it is a "no spend" vacation, which is a different subject).

Planning at least one "vacation" thing a day. This idea comes from my husband. Planning one activity a day creates intention, but also flexibility. If the "one thing" falls through, it can always be combined with another thing for a two activity day, but at least there is a little structure going into the vacation.

Getting local coffee (or tea). There are so many great coffee and tea shops, and not enough time to visit all of them. So instead of staying in for coffee, why not make one of the vacation activities going out for a morning or afternoon beverage?

Wearing comfortable clothes. Real vacations can require certain attired. For the days I stay home, I am wearing what I want to wear. Maybe it's even time to buy some new PJs!

Picking up some fun snacks. Hey, there is a time and place for healthy eating, but vacations are a chance to splurge! We can do that on the go, and at home. Plus, if we are not traveling, we might even enjoy things that don't travel so well, like that chocolate that tends to melt in the summertime heat.

Playing games. Day-to-day life does not always afford time for games, and travel does not always afford space for them. Staying at home means all access to all games all the time. Dig into a long one if you so choose!

Making cooking easy (if cooking at all).  If the budget does not afford eating out every meal, consider cooking in, but keeping it simple. What about frozen lasagna? Or a big batch of pasta. No use slaving in the kitchen unless I want to.

Splurging some. Even if we have to eat in, getting a few fancier items makes meals feel special. Taste buds will be thankful!

Staying up late (or getting up early) or sleeping in, or all of the above. Staycations allow for naps, so why not indulge in some atypical use of time. Enjoy it!

Taking pictures. I am a picture girlie, and I want to document my vacations, staycations or not. Fortunately, there's an IPhone camera for that.

Visiting local museums. There are so many, and several that have hours during normal work time. Going during the work day means less people, too!

Walking around town. I miss so much driving. When I have time to walk (or run) through different areas, I notice so much more. (And let's be honest, it gives me fodder for planning future staycations.)

BONUS: If we could afford it, I would book a night at a local hotel. Sometimes these hotels give discounts to locals, and why wouldn't I enjoy fancy linens and someone else cleaning for a day? Plus, lots of hotels have add-ons like pool use, meals, etc. Live it up, even if local!

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Do I want a staycation for every vacation? No, probably not, but it is worth including in the rotation. I am looking forward to the vacation we have planned off shore this year, but in the future, maybe we'll stay close to home and explore more of our own area.

Low-Heat Meal Prep

It's hot! We hit 118 several days last week, and the heat has not let up much this week. People in our geographical area have experienced power outages, and the city sent out an e-mail asking users to conserve energy between 3 and 8 pm by using less appliances that take a lot of power (as dishwashers, ovens, etc.). Meal prep is part of our current way of life, but given the heat and the city's request, I needed to do things a little differently. That led to this low-heat meal prep.

What is low heat? Well, since we keep our house at 80 degrees already, that meant meals that created as little heat as necessary to make. The oven was definitely off limits, and I wanted to use the stove as little as possible. Additionally, I wanted meals that could be eaten cold, or reheated with little extra energy output. 

Here is what I came up with:

Breakfast:

Carrot cake overnight oats (No cook/raw)

Stove-top granola (Not pictured)

Lunches:

Mexican chicken and vegetable bowls (Chicken cooked in the Instant Pot; eaten cold)

Sandwiches (Not pictured)

Dinners:

Ricotta/asparagus pasta salad with ham (Stovetop; eaten cold)

Spicy black bean and caramelized onion tacos (Stovetop; eaten cold)

Snacks:

Apples (Not pictured)

Bananas (Preferably frozen; not pictured)

Baked oatmeal (based on this recipe by Budget Bytes; eaten cold)

*I cooked this in the microwave for 14 minutes verses 45 minutes in the oven based on GE's microwave recipe conversion ratio.

Carrot sticks (Not pictured)

Cheese sticks (Not pictured)

Peanuts (Not pictured)

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Could I have reduced or eliminated stove-top cooking for this prep? Sure! I could have made raw meals, or solely used the Instant Pot, but this worked. I made the no-cook recipes at night, and spent a few mornings with the stove and voila, done!

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Readers, what are your favorite low-heat/no cook recipes? What do you eat to help survive the summer heat? Please share in the comments section.

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*For more inspiration, see Work Week Lunch's "Cold Lunch Ideas" blog post or no-reheat meal preps.

South Mountain Summer

After realizing anew the therapeutic value of hiking earlier this year, I started trying to hike most Saturday mornings. I made it my unofficial mission to see how many trails of the 16,000 acre South Mountain Preserve I could hike. I didn't make it to all of them, but I hit quite a few! (I also wandered some.) Here's a brief rundown:

Beverly Canyon Trail



It took me three tries to finish this one due to the number of spur trails. Follow the power lines to get it done!

Bursera Trail

Intended to be a Pyramid Trail hike, but I got off track. Lots of elevation change on this one!

Desert Classic Trail (partial)



A flat and ambling trail popular with bikers, so walk to the right and be careful!

Hau-Pal Trail



Starting from the 19th Avenue Trailhead, pretty much straight to the top and hard! Beautiful views!

Holbert Trail



Long, but great views! A moderate climb.

Javelina Canyon Trail 

An accidental hike when trying to find Beverly Canyon. Long, but not too hard.

Kiwanis Trail



Moderate. A good hike for the recreational hiker, but somewhat busy. This connects to Telegraph Trail.

Las Lomitas (partial)



Ambling, but enjoyable.

Marcos De Niza Trail



Whew! This is an up-and-down climb! And the end is not marked, so watch how far you go!

Ma Ha Tauk Trail

Beware! This trail goes on forever, way past what is mapped. Turn back when you are ready.

Max Delta Trail



Good for getting a feel for the park. Not too much climbing. In the open sun, though, so use care when hiking during the heat!

Pima Loop



A nice loop, with some shaded areas. Parking at the trailhead goes fast, though, so arrive early!

Ranger Trail



Flat-ish, then a climb to the ridgeline and views.

Ridgeline Trail



A steep climb to the top, but worth it for the view!

Telegraph Pass Trail



Starts on a cement trail, then turns to dirt/rock. Has petroglyphs and some climbing. A shorter hike that still leaves you feeling like you did something.

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Arizona friends, any new trails to recommend? Please comment below.

Simple Summer Suppers

Is it hot? Or is it hot??? 

In honor of the current heat wave, I thought I'd share a few of our current favorite dinners. Heat once, eat (at least) twice, and taste good cold are some of our pre-requisites for recipes these days. With that being said, here are a few of our favorites:

Cold peanut noodle salad with peanut lime dressing (Budget Bytes)

Instant Pot barley and vegetable risotto (Hot Rod's Recipes)

Instant Pot black beans and rice (Cozy Peach Kitchen)

Instant Pot Mexican quinoa (Cook with Manali)

Instant Pot zucchini linguine (365 Days of Slow Cooking)

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What are your favorite summer recipes? 

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Please share in the comments section!

Summer in Arizona

Summer is my favorite season. Why? There's sun and heat and hiking and good eats and so much more. I've written plenty of serious posts lately, so I thought I'd use today to give you a taste of what it's like to summer in Arizona.

Fire. Be fire-wise in Arizona, but also be forewarned that fires are part of our lives. They serve their purpose in clearing out death and decay, but they are also very dangerous. This fire was close to our home, but thankfully got put out quickly.

The rodeo.

And the rodeo parade. We have the World's Oldest Rodeo in Prescott, and going to it each year is a major tradition in my family.

Hiking. The lakes are low, but they are still beautiful.

Concerts. No, I'm not a King and Country roadie, but I have seen them twice this year.

Sunrises.

And sunsets. Days are long and hot here in the summer, but the mornings and evenings make it all worth it.

Cantaloupe. A refreshing treat on hot days.

And cookouts. Because why cook inside when you can leave the heat outdoors?

Fourth of July. We had no fireworks this year due to the drought, but I had my own two candles to celebrate year two in Arizona.

Monsoons look like they're starting to come. They aren't my favorite, but we do need the moisture.

Summers in Arizona are no doubt kind of crazy, but that's the way things go. There's a reason I call my Instagram My Arizona Adventure! Life is an adventure, and I'm thankful for it.

Surviving the Arizona Heat

For those of you who live in Arizona, this isn't new information. For those of you who don't live here and want advice for when you visit during the summer, here it is. And for those who are thinking of moving here, or are recent transplants like some of my classmates in training, here's some potentially helpful information:

• Arizona summer heat is dry (less than 10% humidity).
• June is one of our hottest months.
• Temperatures are normally over 100 degrees, especially at lower elevations.

How do we survive? Here are some tips:

Automobile:

• Store extra tires, wiper blades, and antifreeze in your car. 
• Buy and use a sunshade. It makes a difference.
• Never leave electronics, food that can melt, CHILDREN OR PETS in the car without the car running and the air conditioning on.
• Buy a steering wheel cover that doesn't heat up, or buy hot pads to keep in your car. Seriously, the steering wheel can burn your hands if your car has sat in the sun all day.
• Turn off your air conditioning when the interstate sign says to. Using air conditioning on that hill really will cause your car to overheat.

Physical:

• Always bring extra water.
• Drink before you're thirsty. With the dry heat, thirst indications a fairly progressed stage of dehydration.
• Dress in layers if you work inside. Buildings can get very cold with air conditioning and shocking your body when you leave work isn't good.
• If you don't have central air conditioning or a swamp cooler inside, wear lightweight, moisture-wicking clothes at home. Wear open shoes or sandals if permitted.
• If you have long hair, arrange it up and off your neck.
• Avoid peak sunshine times (11 am to 4 pm or so).
• Hike only early in the morning.
• If you must walk, walk after the sun goes down and bring a jacket in case of temperature swings. Big temperature drops happen in the desert.

Mental:

• Think positively. For example, I'd rather be hot than cold, so I tell that to myself when I'm really warm.
• Remember that summer is a season. Monsoons will come and temperatures will drop.

Any questions? Arizona friends, any advice to add? Feel free to comment below.