Our mission this week is to show how we how we pamper ourselves and take the time (without guilt) to recharge. I'll be honest, with all our children either on their own or driving age, plus the luxury of a part time job, I've got it made. Still, with my jewelry business, housekeeping, bills, school activities, and the huge amount of volunteer work I do in our church and the community, I find there are just note enough hours in the day to get everything done.
So how do I like to relax and recharge? With books! Books on gardening, books on making jewelry, books on cooking, books on healthy living, and magazines--lots of magazines. These are just a few of the books I have on making jewelry.
To really recharge my batteries I like to go on Sunday drives in the country with our kids, their cousins, and their grandpa.
But the best way to recharge for me is to take a summer vacation. Our family has taken a summer vacation nearly every year, and when we arrive home I'm already longing for the next one.
Our Chicago Trip Summer of 2012 - Lake Michigan Lighthouse, Chicago Harbor
Ferris Wheel at the Pier-Chicago
So how do you like to recharge?
Thanks for stopping by. Please check out Sally's blog to see all the other participant's photos.
31 comments:
great photos! i especially love the lighthouse :)
i think we're rather a bookish lot - they feature alot in this week's challenge...
have a great week!
[no. 13]
After visiting several blog posts where reading is the main focus, I realized that I used to read all the time...when did I stop? I have decided it is this electronic stage of life that has done this to me! I need to put the Ipad down and pick up a book! That's what is missing! And, here's to more summer vacations for sure! I am going on an extended family vacation this summer and I am so looking forward to it!
Oooooh, Alice, I think you and I might have been separated at birth LOL! I've actually had to move to digital copies of books, or otherwise I would have either had to get rid of some (Nooooo!!!!) or move (Oh heavens, no!!).
And I agree about the drives as well...if the weather hadn't been frightful when I was doing my post, I probably would have done that....love to do the "where does this road go?"
Oh I see a few of my favorite books there! I just love to pull up in a chair and dig into one of my bead books - nothing better!
I think I see a few books in your pile that I don't have! Shocking how many we accumulate isn't it? I still love holding and flipping through actual pages though and the few I have downloaded sit untouched on my computer or iPad. I love the real thing!
All beautiful ways to relax and recharge: there is nothing like happy walks through nature, a huge stack of books, and a new place to wander through =)
I love peeks at other people's libraries! Especially since I only have on of those titles, Bead on a Wire, in my library. I'm hope to play with wire more this year.
Also loved the pictures of your family. Spending time enjoying life with those we love is so important.
Well, now you have no more mysteries! Love the pile of books and the dream of vacations past and those to come.
These all look like perfect ways to enjoy some "me" time Alice! I keep a stack of books on the middle seat cushion of the couch (it has recliner ends so we each have our spots really). I will often flip through the books just moving through the stack as we watch tv
Those are some wonderful pictures. I love that stack of books .. You have some great titles. It looks like you have had some wonderful vacations.
Great photos and I agree, books are a wonderful way to recharge!
(I'm #40 this week)
I could sit for hours and look at all my sewing books and magazines. I'm looking forward to a trip this summer with my daughter and granddaughter.
Got a few of those books too, must start looking through them again. This year I'm aiming to be more mindful and less distracted...easier said then done!
I saw that first photo and thought "we are definitely kindred spirits!" I think I have just about those same books and I love cookbooks too, sounds crazy but I can sit and read a cookbook! The time spent with family both the sunday drives and summer vacations are so special and make such wonderful memories, the best possessions!
I am with you on recharging with books, especially art books! I love settling into the reading chair and ottoman we have in our living room and browsing through my art books or reading a novel.
Hi Alice,
Those are all great ways to relax and recharge. I like to read and I love to travel. You are so right there is nothing like a vacations to get you ready to go one with the everyday things and to have the next vacation to look forward to.
Therese
I love the way you take time to recharge the batteries - can never have to many jewelry books! Love your pictures from Chicago - especially the ferris wheel.
Alica, I'm with you on the books. I have most of the same books. Yes vacations are special. Last summer I drove by myself to Toledo and saw my Grandsons for the first time in 8 years. I'm already looking forward to going again.
Awesome, I think it would be cool to live in a light house....I love storms and the sound of crashing waves....what a great way to recharge! Thanks for a great post.
I'm a book and magazine addict, and I may have drooled just a bit when I saw your picture! =) Beautiful ways of recharging Alice!
OMG I have almost all of those books as well!!!! Enchanted Adornments is one of my faves because of the love story hidden inside!
All great ways to recharge...I LOVE books too! I tend to buy more jewelry mags than books.
I see a lot of familiar books in that stack! And a few that I need to investigate! Enjoy the day. Erin
I also have a thing for books and I know I have every book that was in your stack of books.
Oh I soooo agree with you- books books books!!! And you have an awesome stack there too. I love all your pictures. I really love the ferris wheel. I am terrified of them but they sure make for terrific photo fodder:)
I am a booklover too.. Hm.. those Chicago pictures gives me some lovely memories.. The first place I have ever stayed in the US, the place where my daughter was conceived.. And Navy Pier, tall ships.. and the fact that we have already decided our vacation trip to Chicago!
Oh, Alice, those are some really fantastic ways to spend your free time. I like it!! Thanks for sharing a bit of it with us :)
Books and vacations,...what awesome ways to spend your time! I love the light house picture the most,...makes me want to be right there!! I would also love to come over and read some of your books! :-)
All fantastic ways to take time for yourself. I have a stack of books in my week 3 photo, too, but mine are all novels. Beautiful photos of the lighthouse and Ferris wheel, too. And it's so nice that the cousins get to spend time together and with grandpa, too.
You take the best photos. All of your pics are so inviting. I love books too and life always goes better when I have a book I am in the middle of.
I have just recently discovered Freddie Vargas, a delightful French mystery writer.
Alice, I thought that you took a pic of my book shelf! :) I have so many of the same books and enjoy what there pages have to offer! Your post actually got me thinking about Sunday drives. My husband, son and I would always go for a Sunday drive and we have seemed to have forgotten about them over the past months. I'm going to have to make a point of getting in the car and going, I enjoy them so much!
Post a Comment