May Rose & Thorns – A monthly recap of the highs and lows experienced each month.
Rose: Summer Soirée
I maxed out my social calendar this month. Beach day. Yes. Social Networking Events, double yes. Attend a concert after a twelve-hour day. I’ll be there. If I was invited, I went. I’m so grateful for the invites and the opportunity to meet new friends and spend quality time with old friends. It can be challenging to make friends as an adult. My natural tendency is to want to sit on the couch and watch the newest episode of The Real Housewives in my pajamas. Socializing is like going to the gym; you may begrudgingly get dressed, lie across your bed seriously contemplating not going, but ultimately you get up and force yourself to drive there. This sounds like an awful process. However, pushing myself to show up has yet to disappoint me. I’ve met so many wonderful people this month that I would not have met otherwise had I not shown up.
I’d have to disagree with the famous quote, “just showing up is half the battle.” Showing up is 100% the battle. Not listening to the voice in my head that says, “you’re a socially awkward person, you’re not going to have a good time,” is the constant war. But I have found the more I put myself out there, the quieter the voice gets. In the end, what is the worst that could happen, I show up and have a mediocre time? This has yet to happen. At the very least, my takeaway always results in feeling glad I showed up and further confirmed that my brain is a liar.
Thorn: Car Air Conditioning Has Gone Kaput
Air Conditioning is a necessity for being able to survive the summer heat. Temperatures in Florida have already exceeded 90° F this month. Unfortunately, my car’s AC doesn’t seem to care about my well-being and has broken at the worst time, in the most expensive way possible. The voice of the receptionist started to fade away while explaining the issues. My eyes only fixated on the estimate of the repair bill of over $4,000. They could have told me unicorns were eating at tubes or a family of leprechauns moved into my condenser.
While I may be driving around with the windows down for the foreseeable future, it’s not the end of the world. This is the first major thing to break in the twelve years of my car’s life. Up until this point, tires and a few sparkplugs have been the most significant expense. I’m thankful I have automatic windows to roll down for the rapid release of the oven-like temperatures I can expect to build up during the summer.
Favorites of the Month
Self Adhesive Paper Towel Holder – Aaron bought me a pack of reusable paper towels for Christmas last year. He thoughtfully rolled them on an empty cardboard tube and tasked me with finding a proper paper towel holder for them to live. The tube of reusable paper towels has been taking up space on my counter, constantly falling over and getting in the way. Six months later, I have finally gotten around to finding a solution. After a quick search of wall-mounted paper towel holders, I found the answer to my problem. The installation was as simple as peeling off the backing covering the adhesive and applying it to my cabinet.
Running Energy Gels – This month, I hit a new furthest running distance of 8-miles. I’ve hit a point where I can feel my body run out of energy. I’m new to figuring out how and when I should refuel while running, but as a starting point, I bought these energy gels in hopes they will give me the energy I need to further my runs. So far, the flavors have been delicious, and more importantly, my stomach hasn’t gotten upset.
15 lb Kettlebell – As a supplement between the days I do not run, I have been implementing strength workouts. YouTube has a million different workout videos to do from the comfort of your home. There is no need for a garage full of bulky equipment; a simple kettlebell and your body weight are enough to get you working up a sweat.
May Blog Post Recap
In case you missed any posts this month:
DAY TRIP TRAVEL GUIDE – CALADESI ISLAND STATE PARK – Boat or paddle your way to Caladesi Island State Park for a beach day with all the amenities. Just pack your swimsuit and a good read; everything else needed for the beach can be provided upon arrival.
10 BEACH ESSENTIALS YOU SHOULDN’T HIT THE SAND WITHOUT – Speaking of things needed for the beach, I created a list of all my essentials to make this Summer’s beach vacation more enjoyable for everyone.
SIX THINGS YOU SHOULD DO ON FLORIDA’S SCENIC HIGHWAY 30A – If you’re looking for a beach to vacation this summer, I highly recommend any beaches along Highway 30A. Find out all there is to do in my latest post.
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