Dance Anyway

I'll report back on how these were accomplished later.  Like I mentioned, there's still 22 days of summer left....

Have you done your 50 Things You Must Do This Summer, yet?  #30 - Put on some music and dance with your partner in the backyard.

Have you done your 50 Things You Must Do This Summer, yet?  #31 - Sip this Citrus Sangria all afternoon as you catch up with your best friends.

SERVINGS: 8


1 bottle (750 mL) chilled medium dry red wine, such as Rioja or Malbec
2 c chilled lime or plain seltzer


1 c fresh orange juice
¼ c brandy (optional)
2 lemons, sliced


2 limes, sliced


2 oranges, sliced



COMBINE all ingredients in large pitcher. Cover and chill until ready to serve. Pour into 8 tall ice-filled glasses.

NUTRITION (per serving) 90 cal, 0 g pro, 6 g carb, 0 g fiber, 0 g fat, 0 g sat fat, 0.5 mg sodium

I think just add umbrellas and wah lah... I have this one and #18 taken care of.  Sounds refreshing.

Have you done your 50 Things You Must Do This Summer, yet?  #32 - Be outdoors for at least 30 minutes a day.

And how.

How About Two?

Have you done your 50 Things You Must Do This Summer, yet?  #29 - Spend a day on two wheels.

I did a day of RAGBRAI again this year with some old friends and new friends.  I missed my ride home to Ames that evening which meant an overnight stay and 5:30 a.m. start for home for a three hour commute the next morning.  On my bike.

My 5:30 a.m. spin class brought me 33 miles on some pretty amazing trails that morning.   Not gonna lie.  I was pretty intimidated by the whole thing, but it didn't take me very long down the Neal Smith Trail that beautiful morning... moon hanging in the morning sky and reflected on the river just above the trees... a mist on the river... a blue heron sighting... a doe so close to the trail I could have almost reached out to touch her... hearing a Bob White sing a pretty lilting song for the second time in two days for the first time in years... cardinal sightings everywhere... passing the marina that harbors boats YNot and Who Knew for the third time in a month (only this time on two wheels)... a gratuitous side trip to take in a morning view of the dam... to realize this was the best thing that had happened to me in a long, long time.  Funny how that works.

I dearly love the things I get to experience on two wheels.  And summer's not over yet.

Old Friends

Have you done your 50 Things You Must Do This Summer, yet?  #26 - Stargaze.

I had my fair share of stargazing this summer.  The most brilliant being an ink black wide open sky above a lake in North Dakota.  Most of my gazing heavenward, though, was moongazing.  But this... now this I want to find an occasion to try...

How To Fall Forever In the Night Sky

Have you done your 50 Things You Must Do This Summer, yet?  #27 - Connect with an old friend.

I've got one in mind.  I think I have a phone call or two to make.

Have you done your 50 Things You Must Do This Summer, yet?  #28 - Chow down on a lobster roll.

PREP TIME: 15 minutes


TOTAL TIME: 15 minutes

SERVINGS: 4

2½ c cooked lobster meat, coarsely chopped, or lump crabmeat
1 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted
½ package shredded coleslaw mix (7–8 oz total)
¼ c reduced-fat sour cream
2 Tbsp cider vinegar
1 tsp honey
4 top-split hot dog buns (preferably whole wheat), toasted
1 lemon, cut into 4 wedges

1. TOSS lobster gently with butter. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
2. COMBINE coleslaw mix, sour cream, vinegar, and honey in serving bowl. Toss to combine. Season to taste.
3. DIVIDE lobster mixture evenly among buns. Serve with coleslaw and lemon wedges.

NUTRITION (per serving) 281 cal, 24 g pro, 29 g carb, 2 g fiber, 7 g fat, 3.5 g sat fat, 572 mg sodium

Preserving this for another time.  In the meantime, does sushi from Wal-Mart count?

What Goes Up...

Have you done your 50 Things You Must Do This Summer, yet?  #25 - Ride a roller coaster.

What do they say?  Do one thing every day that scares you?  Let's just preface this with the fact that I am afraid of heights.  Ok.  Terrified is probably a better word.  I took my first roller coaster ride in many years a few years back.  August 6th was the day I needed to do it again.

Pretty much spent the entire day out of my comfort zone.  I can pin the blame entirely on my nephew, Hunter, for all the fun I had.  He would get an ornery, sly little look on his face as we approached the thrill rides and say with a challenging smile, "Are you coming, Aunt Lani?"  The day started by getting shot straight into the air with the Space Shot.

 I ended the day with a few upside down spins on The Dragon.  Pretty sure I hadn't gone upside down on a roller coaster since my Senior class trip in 1992.  Screamed a little.  Laughed a whole awful lot.  It was a good, good day.  We didn't manage to get Kekoa on his first roller coaster ride, but that day will come soon enough.  He did go on the Log Ride which Gavyn straight up refused.

I Bring You Sir Lancelot and Elaine

Have you done your 50 Things You Must Do This Summer, yet?  #24 - Be a tourist in your own town.

I bring you pictures taken by a "tourist" in June.  It was interesting to me to see my town through someone else's eyes.

Started at the pool during tot/adult swim time.  On a coolish, cloudy day, it can be pretty quiet, as you can see.

Made a stop on campus at Lake Laverne... home to two lovely swans named, Sir Lancelot and Elaine.

Ended  up eating out at one of my favorite eating haunts... on the outdoor patio of The Stomping Grounds.

Let's Talk Workout Partners

Have you done your 50 Things You Must Do This Summer, yet?  #23 - Sign up for a 5k and don't worry about your time.

Earlier this summer you may remember me mentioning that I ran Midnight Madness with my oldest, Kekoa, for his first ever 5k.  But that's not what I'm here to talk about today.  Let's talk workout partners.

I happen to be one of those people who enjoys both - working out with someone or alone. True story about how I came about meeting my current workout partner who has turned out to be one of my better friends, ever. Her name is Kathy and she's awesome. When my friend, Sarah, moved away to Wyoming, I was really missing having that someone to meet up with for my workouts. Kathy's boyfriend, Chris, had started working out in the a.m. I noticed him because he was a weight lifter and that was the sort of workout I was into at the time. You sort of start to pay attention and talk to the people who start coming in on a regular basis. They become your workout peeps. Not long after, I noticed that sometimes this woman (who appeared to be a significant other) would come in with him and run on the treadmill. I could tell she was athletic and someone who would really workout and I was currently at a point where I needed to get back into running. I had no idea who she was and for a period of time she stopped coming in with Chris. At this point, I don't even think I knew Chris's name. He was a complete stranger to me.

One morning we were in one of the side rooms where some of the weight machines are... I was about done with my workout and ready to leave and I really, really wanted to ask him about Kathy... who I also didn't know the name of at the time. But I was a bit intimidated. No joke. I almost left the room that morning without talking to him because I was that intimidated about talking to him. When I did finally get up the nerve our conversation went something like this, "That girl that comes in with you sometimes in the morning. Do you think she'd be interested in a workout partner? Maybe we could lift or run together?" After the initial shock of being approached by a complete stranger wore off, he said, "I don't know. I could ask her." To which I replied, "That would be awesome. I know it's kind of weird since I'm a complete stranger and tell her if she's totally weirded out by it, that is ok, too. Only if she wants to." No joke. That's how we became friends/workout partners. I'm sure glad she embraced the weird that is me and agreed.

The nice things about a workout partner are:


1) accountability (she's gonna be waiting for me there... i better get my butt out of bed!),


2) comradery/companionship/someone to talk to/listen to,


3) and encouragement to work a little harder/someone to lift the barbell off your chest if you can't lift it.


I love my, Kathy. I'm so glad she didn't get scared off by my stalkerishtic tendencies. I love the picture here because we are both in it. As I mentioned, it's from a local race this summer. She's the pretty woman in purple running next to Chris. I'm the one in the front running next to my boy, Kekoa, and my friend's daughter, Ashley, in their first 5k race ever. What have you got to lose? See someone who inspires you at the gym that seems to have the same workout schedule as you? Go introduce yourself or try to strike up a conversation and see if they want to try the workout partner thing. They might just become one of your better friends.

Facing Our Fears

Have you done your 50 Things You Must Do This Summer, yet?  #22 - A cannonball.

That's me in the lower middle.  This is Gavyn's attempt at taking a picture of Mommy doing a cannonball.  Do you know how hard it is to get up the nerve to do a cannonball after years of being out of practice?  Unbelievable, really.  And I didn't remember what it feels like to get that much water up my nose, either.  Otherwise, I would have plugged my nose.  Which all requires too much coordination.  My mind and body get all mixed up and my cannonball execution looks rather frantic because of it.

I was proud that my little Gavyn man faced a few fears of his own on these... our last late summer pool visits.  He finally will stand under "the bucket".

And he went down the water slide.  I wish you could have seen his face on his first run down.  Eyes wide.  Pure terror.  But the exhilaration that follows - the "I did it!" mixed with "That was actually, really fun!" is fun to witness.

And well.  These two together.  They are super close.  And I wonder if they know just how lucky they are to have each other.  They fight, of course, but there is a deep, deep bond.  I like thinking and hoping that they have a best friend in each other for life.

Ice Cream For Breakfast

Have you done your 50 Things You Must Do This Summer, yet?  #21 - Have an ice cream cone for breakfast.  We recommend butter pecan.

Do you know how hard it is to get an ice cream cone for breakfast?  It took me awhile to track it down on Tuesday.  They recommend butter pecan.  I recommend my own favorite... McDonalds vanilla.  The first one I went to waited until I got all the way up to the window with my $1.07 in change (that includes 17 pennies... yep, I know, they love me) to tell me their machine was down.  Never fear.  Super Wal-Mart is near.  Score!   A perfect PWO (post workout) food, too.  Low fat carb.  Seriously.  When I cut out sugar for a year when I was losing my 70 pounds and I craved ice cream?  These were totally legal.  If you're feeling extra splurgey, get a dipped cone.  The secret to the perfect dipped cone is sinking your teeth into it before the chocolate hardens.  Try it.  I bet you like it.

Bring Me Another

Have you done your 50 Things You Must Do This Summer, yet?  #17 - Start a journal and actually write in it.

Well, isn't that what I'm trying to do here?  I have really slacked off over the last couple of years and I regret it from the standpoint of not having it all written down.  I enjoy going back and looking through old posts of experiences I've had with my "babies and husband" over the past five plus years.  So here's to me getting my act together and getting things blogged.  I have difficulty with very personal journaling.  I don't think I'll ever do it.  Writing anything I'm thinking, feeling, experiencing down on paper feels unsafe and risky to me, no matter how therapeutic people claim it to be.  So much can be misinterpreted if the eyes of the unintended (as in, anyone but me) get an accidental or intentional glimpse at it.  That said, I am largely transparent and open to others about most of my life, so not a lot is hidden.  In a strange way, though, I do find blogging once a day to be a satisfying way to recap and process all the things that are going on in me and around me in this crazy thing we are experiencing called life.  That said, I am a total sucker for a pretty little planner or a lovely little blank book.  I might just have to go and see if I can find me one.  Just in case I change my mind.

Have you done your 50 Things You Must Do This Summer, yet?  #18 - Drink something that comes with an umbrella in it.  Have another.  I've got a date with a friend.  And her name is Michelle.  Maybe we'll have them in Florida.  I hear it's summertime year round down there.

Have you done your 50 Things You Must Do This Summer, yet?  #19 - Grill peaches.



Grilled Peaches With Macaroons And Caramel Sauce



PREP TIME: 5 minutes

TOTAL TIME: 15 minutes

SERVINGS: 4


4 med peaches, halved and pits removed

4 coconut macaroons

¼ c jarred caramel topping

1. HEAT grill to medium and coat rack with cooking spray.

2. PLACE peaches cut side down on grill rack and grill until lightly browned and tender, about 10 minutes, turning once. Remove and arrange 2 halves on each of 4 dessert plates.

3. CRUMBLE macaroons into cavities and over tops.

4. SPOON caramel topping evenly over all.

NUTRITION (per serving) 208.6 cal, 2.2 g pro, 45.8 g carb, 2.6 g fiber, 29.9 g sugar, 2.6 g fat, 2.7 g sat fat, 130.8 mg sodium

I used Keeblers Coconut Delights (a spin off of Girl Scout Samoas) crumbled over the top instead and skipped the caramel topping.  However, someone also mentioned serving with ice cream.  Now why didn't I think of that?  Next time!

Have you done your 50 Things You Must Do This Summer, yet?  #20 - Think rooftop anything - bar, pool, nightclub or even gardening.  I've got my eye on a future rooftop date with my hubby at a local place.  We've still got 26 days to make it happen.  Plenty of time.

Nighttime Magic

Have you done your 50 Things You Must Do This Summer, yet?  #16 - Watch lightning bugs.

Excerpt of thoughts from June 27th - I'm pretending that the thousands of fireflies I saw every second on my bike ride home are shooting stars and that all my wishes are going to come true. *happy sigh*

Have you ever tried to take a picture of a firefly?  You're just going to have to take my word for it.  They were abundant at the beginning of the summer.  Someone told me they thrive on wet conditions.  And we had very, very wet conditions.  Now it is extremely dry.  I guess that would explain why the fireflies are no more.  But I've started to hear crickets at night.  I guess when the seasons change, so does the nighttime magic.

Here's a little nighttime magic that two young boys created on their own one late-July evening on the lake.  A little fishing in the dark.  Nighttime magic at its finest.  Sure glad we got to experience it with some new North Dakota friends.

Does Mud Count?

Have you done your 50 Things You Must Do This Summer, yet?  #15 - Stand at the ocean's edge until your feet are buried under cool, wet sand.

Does mud count?  Over the 4th of July, the boys got a little play in the river, pre-fireworks fun in the river next to where we found a spot to watch this year's show.

Warm night or no, it's a good thing Mom had some adult size sweatshirts for dry clothes afterwards and a few leftover Little League snacks for energy before the show started.

Gavyn no longer covers his ears.  We've reached the stage where as a family we love the night it rains fire.  This year's show was a pleasant improvement over years past.

Supernova!

You Had Me At Greek Yogurt

Have you done your 50 Things You Must Do This Summer, yet?  #14 - Make homemade ice pops.

Being a self proclaimed fitness geek, you had me at Greek yogurt.  You sealed the deal with the mention of whey protein powder.  Gonna make these soon... a perfect treat for our current heat wave.  Supposed to be in the 90s and maybe over 100 all week long.  Didn't want to invest in ice pop molds so will use paper cups and Popsicle sticks instead.

Berry Delicious Yogurt Pop

Cool benefits: Research finds that eating a combo of carbs and protein—similar to the one in this pop—within 30 minutes after exercising is best for building strong, lean muscle.

Combine 8 oz 2% plain Greek-style yogurt, 1 cup fat-free milk, 1/2 cup mixed fresh berries, and 3 Tbsp honey in blender and puree until smooth. (If desired, add 1 scoop natural whey protein powder to double your protein.) Divide among 6 ice pop molds and freeze at least 6 hours. (Leftover yogurt? Put it to tasty good use.)

NUTRITION (per pop) 97 cal, 8 g pro, 14 g carb, 1 g fiber, 13 g sugars, 1 g fat, 0.5 g sat fat, 43 mg sodium

There are so many other ways I use Greek yogurt.... as a sour cream substitute in things like beef stroganoff and Pioneer Woman's chocolate sheet cake.  Or mixed with spices for chip or veggie dip.  So many awesome ways a person can get their healthy on.  Yum.  For more ideas check out Fitbie's 15 Unexpected Ways to Use Greek Yogurt.

Car Wash

Have you done your 50 Things You Must Do This Summer, yet?  #13 - Play in a sprinkler.

This weekend we washed the car.  Gavyn had been begging to do it all summer long and this most recent heat wave provided the perfect conditions.  It's not playing in a sprinkler.   But washing the car provides a little multitasking cool down fun, right?  I remember loving to wash the car when I was a teenager... provided some summer time heat wave relief and an opportunity to wear my swimsuit and get a tan.  All while making Mom and Dad happy.  What's not to love?

The Art of Drifting

Have you done your 50 Things You Must Do This Summer, yet?  #12 - Hop in a canoe alone, row to the most silent spot... and just drift (ahh).

I like the sentiment.  I had my first experience with paddle boarding this summer.  And while it provided me with some moments to drift this summer (although, not in a canoe), the most silent spot I found all summer was watching these beauties do a little drifting of their own one beautiful summer's eve in the middle of June.  I could learn a thing or two from them, me thinks.

Or from my sister.  Add it to my list.  Must go kayaking someday soon.

Life Is One Big Petting Zoo

Have you done your 50 Things You Must Do This Summer, yet?  #11 - Go to a petting zoo with a child.

Life is one big petting zoo, no?  Especially when one has access to Grandpa & Grandma's farm.

I Prefer It Sweet

Have you done your 50 Things You Must Do This Summer, yet?  #10 Make spicy corn on the cob.

Corn On The Cob With Chile-Maple Glaze



PREP TIME: 10 minutes

TOTAL TIME: 35 minutes

SERVINGS: 4



⅓ c maple syrup
2 Tbsp butter
2 tsp lime juice
1 small chipotle chile pepper in adobo sauce, finely minced (about 1 tsp)
1 tsp reduced-sodium soy sauce
¼ tsp ground cumin
¼ tsp salt
4 ears corn on the cob, husked
1 Tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped


1. COAT a grill rack with cooking spray. Preheat the grill.
2. COMBINE maple syrup, butter, lime juice, pepper, soy sauce, cumin, and salt in a medium saucepan.

3. SIMMER mixture over low heat and cook for 12 to 14 minutes, or until thick and syrupy.

4. PLACE corn on the grill rack and grill for 2 minutes.

5. BRUSH corn with some of the mixture and turn a quarter turn. Continue brushing and turning corn every 2 minutes for 6 to 8 more minutes, or until corn is well marked and cooked through. Transfer corn to a serving platter and brush with remaining syrup.

6. SPRINKLE with cilantro, if using, and serve immediately.


Note: Chile oil sticks to the skin, and water alone won't wash it away. After handling chiles, be sure to use soap and water to wash your hands.


NUTRITION (per serving) 214.5 cal, 4.2 g pro, 34.5 g carb, 2.1 g fiber, 8.4 g fat, 3.6 g sat fat, 210.8 mg sodium, 20.9 g sugar

My review?

I prefer it sweet, but it was fun to try something new.  It's worth a try if you like grilled corn, but I prefer to just have mine straight up with butter, salt and pepper... or plain.  A good ear of sweet corn tastes like candy with nothing on it.  Cooked or raw.  Take it from a midwest girl who grew up on a farm.