Tag: summertime

School May Be in Session, But Summer Isn’t Over

Posted on by Jordank

This week, schools throughout the country are welcoming students back for another year. A few kids may not be ready to let the carefree, lazy days of the seasonal break go, of course, and may complain loudly that “summer’s over.”

#Summer is far from over, though, especially for anyone who isn’t in school. The start of school may be a harbinger of cooler climes to come, but there’s still a month to go before the vernal equinox — and plenty of warm weather left to enjoy.

Now’s the time to kick that summer fun into high gear! Have you gotten in any of your favorite outdoor activities, such as camping, fishing, boating, kayaking or swimming? Have you taken the opportunity to picnic in a park or cook out?

Maybe you’re more indoorsy — or a temporary heat “dome” is encouraging you to stay inside. Beat the heat at an indoor matinee. Or take on a household project such as #decluttering your wardrobe or #redecorating a room, Apartment Therapy suggests.

There’s still time to schedule an end-of-summer trip, too. September and October are beautiful months to visit many northern climates and see the leaves change color, and it’s still hot enough in the south and the tropics to swim and sunbathe.

If you opt to #organize and #declutter, there’s still time to schedule and stage a #garage sale. Set aside your castoff clothing and household goods and tag them. Pick a weekend and post signage directing shoppers to your door; you’ll have extra pocket money in no time.

If that sounds like too much work for your precious summer days, you can always schedule a free #donation #pickup at ClothingDonations.org to effortlessly relieve yourself of that #extra #stuff while supporting valuable #veterans programs.

Whatever you choose, there’s a lot of summer left to do it. Even the Labor Day holiday isn’t the limit — and if you have kids, they’ll be at school, leaving you much of the day to concentrate on personal and professional needs. Start planning what’s left of summer now!

Enjoying the Bounty of a Summer Garden

Posted on by Jordank

For many people, there’s nothing like growing your own food. It’s healthy, cost-effective, #sustainable and above all, delicious! And if you followed some of The Organizing Blog’s previous #gardening tips, you’re probably drowning in fresh summer produce right now.

What to do with all of those garden-fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, squashes, melons, peaches and other delicacies is the question. If you’re anything like us, you planted with abandon eight to 10 weeks ago, and now must do whatever you can to make the most of that fresh produce.

One way is to share some of that bounty with friends, family and neighbors who don’t have the same amount or variety of produce. Whether they have the space or the ambition to grow their own fresh food or not, nobody is going to turn their nose up at a ripe heirloom tomato.

Another way to take advantage of summer’s bounty is to try a new recipe (or several). Base your meal plan on whatever produce you have in abundance, and you may wind up discovering a dish that you can revisit again even in the off-season.

Speaking of the off-season, there are plenty of ways to keep and store some of that produce for cloudier and colder days. Too many tomatoes? Make and freeze some marinara for a lasagna. Got lots of corn? Cut it off the cob and freeze the kernels in bagged portions for anytime use.

Many summer fruits and vegetables can be processed, portioned and frozen quickly for later use including peaches, plums, watermelon and peppers. Got bumper crop of basil? Make pesto ice cubes and pull one out any time you need to flavor a pasta or meat dish.

Freezing summer produce can make it last up to six months, but if you really want to put things up like the pioneers, try your hand at home canning. It’s simpler than it sounds, and you can make tons of sauces, pickles and jams that you can tap into for months — or give as gifts.

Even if you didn’t grow your own fruits and vegetables this year, don’t let summer’s bounty go to waste. Visit a local farmers market to get some of the freshest, healthiest foods you’ll taste all year. (And get enough to share!)

Pick a Destination and Pile in the Car

Posted on by Jordank

One of the best ways to have a last-minute #summer #getaway with Kkids is to pick a convenient destination and pile into the car with a cooler full of snacks and drinks. VacationIdea suggests exploring family-friendly destinations such as Myrtle Beach, Sonoma, Santa Fe and other historic/interesting mid-size cities across the county. Gas prices have receded from their record highs, so you can simply pick a location within a day’s drive, arrange accommodations (maybe with a pool) and take off. Even a long weekend away can refresh the whole family and fight those back-to-school blues. If you want to get back to #nature rather than stay in hotels, there are plenty of campsites throughout the country where you can rough it, see the stars and get some fresh air inexpensively. #LastMinuteSummerTravel

Search Flights Now to Travel Before Fall

Posted on by Jordank

#Summer isn’t officially over for five more weeks, so if you don’t have kids in school there’s time to book an inexpensive #flight to destinations across the country. Remember that airfares on most domestic carriers except for Southwest go up three weeks ahead of departure, however, and plan accordingly. To save money when booking, try searching for two one-way flights instead of a round-trip, says Scott’s Cheap Flights, and always check alternate dates and nearby airports. Depending on the destination, midweek flights may be cheaper, and factor in all fees when picking a flight — if an airline offers a $200 roundtrip but adds $30 each way in baggage and other fees, for example, a $250 flight that includes bags is the cheaper option. #LastMinuteSummerTravel

Book Your Last-Minute Summer Travel Now

Posted on by Jordank

If you’re craving a last-minute #getaway to close the summer on a high note, there’s still time to book a long weekend in #vacation hotspots such as Las Vegas, New Orleans and Myrtle Beach. But if you want something a little less crowded (and likely less expensive, too), Budget Travel suggests, consider destinations such as Bangor, Maine; Portland, Ore.; and Cleveland, Ohio a try; all have a range of lodging, dining and outdoor activities to try. For a more international escape that’s not too far from the U.S., try the Bahamas, Cancun or Guatemala; it’s the off season and you may be able to take advantage of last-minute deals without having to book an overly long flight. #LastMinuteSummerTravel