Favorite Things... Tuesday!

I know, its not Friday--but since my nieces and sister are coming in this weekend (yea!), I decided to go ahead and do a F.T.F. on Tuesday!

I love this time of year...from now up until it August when it gets to be 115 degrees with 100% humidity here in good ol' Houston. I love spring and early summer and so many things get me in the mood for this great season of the year. So today, its a "Favorites" list of sorts...

My Favorite Things about my Favorite Time of Year:

*Summer Camps:

Me and my crew on Wilderness Trek--2000.

Hello, my name is Ashley, and I am a summer camp addict. I've been to so many camps, and spent so many summers at camp that I seriously believe that my experiences with sleep-away summer camps have changed me as a person! Just a few of the various camps I have been to: ACU Leadership Camps (from Learning to Lead starting at 3rd grade, up through Kadesh in High School and then being a group leader at Kadesh in college. Kadesh, without a doubt, changed me. If you don't know....I just can't explain Kadesh. :)), Wilderness Trek (one word...awesome-ness), Sports camps (volleyball and softball), Camp Koinania, Camp Deer Run, Camp in Austin--don't remember the name--...and others I probably am leaving out. I miss camps so much and I can't WAIT to send our kiddos to camp someday. Do you think they have summer camps for adults??

*Good Watermelon:

I am a watermelon purist. No salt please! There is nothing better than the taste of perfect watermelon (preferably seedless!) in the summer. I pass by the sliced watermelon all fall and winter longing for when it comes back in season. Can't wait!

*Sonic's Cherry Ocean Water:
Yep--the blue stuff. Actually mine is usually purple since I add the cherry flavor. I hear all it is is basically Sprite with coconut (and cherry) flavoring, but to me, its "Summer in a Cup". It tastes like how summer smells and feels to me. Maybe its the coconut. :) I've had one so far thanks to Happy Hour and look forward to many more!!

*Longer Days:
Days that I'm off = more time to play outside. I grew up going on vacations and hearing my Dad say, "We still have 15 minutes of daylight! Lets get going!" We always made use of every summer minute and I love it.
Days I'm working = SO nice to get off work and see the sunlight at some point during the day. In winter, I go to work in the dark and leave in the dark.

*Sandals/ Flip Flops
Simply put, I LIVE in sandals and flip flops in the summer. If you know me, you know this. Last summer I finally did give in and buy some nicer casual sandals (thank you Ann Taylor outlet!) as opposed to Target flip flops in every color of the rainbow. Either way, I despise wearing "real" shoes when its warm out...other than athletic shoes. :)

*Cajun Cones
An Abilene staple. If you have not ever had a chance to enjoy a Cajun Cone during the hot, dry summers in Abilene, you are surely missing out. (And P.S. How is there NOT a picture of C.C. anywhere in Google?) Sure, one might just think that its another sno-cone place, but no....with flavors like "I Don't Know, But its Good", "Pickle Juice", "Silver Fox" (Matt's fav), and others...its not just your typical hut. Although its been a few years since I last enjoyed a summer time Cajun Cone, I hope to renew my love for it this summer! :)

*Swimming / Water Parks:

Fun pic from one of my FAVORITE places to swim...Grand Cayman 2007

I'm a water baby. My mom tells a story about one swimming experience very early in life. She's gonna kill me for telling this online! Love you Mom! I was probably close to 1 year old. We were at the local swimming pool, and my mom was watching my sister doing some trick in the water from the edge of the pool where she was letting me put my feet in. As my mom is watching her, she realizes I'm not right underneath her like I had been. She looks down and there I am....at the bottom of the pool. Not in distress of ANY kind. I was just sitting at the bottom....blowing bubbles and perfectly happy. Of course, she grabs me out and apparently all I did was sputter a bit...but from then on, I have basically been part fish. :) I was in the water all summer, swam on a swimming team, and had summer passes to the local water park as a kid. I also taught swimming lessons one summer. Best tan I EVER had! :)

So that's my list. Any other summer lovers?? What's on yours? What do you love about spring/summer??