How do you savor summer?

I freely and unabashedly admit that summer is my all-time favorite season!  I know this isn’t true for everyone and that’s ok, but for me there’s nothing better than waking up every day and knowing that there’s not even a chance of being cold.  And because it always seems to go by in a flash, it’s the perfect time for me to practice slowing things down so that I can fully savor and maximize my summertime bliss.

I have many, many things I love about summer.  Here are a few...

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|  Quiet time in the sun

I am not an avid beach person (I know this is sacrilege to many shore goers), however I do adore soaking up the sun any chance I can get.  If I’m having an off day or feeling stressed or a little down, it can change my whole mood to simply go outside for 10-15 minutes, sit in the warmth and appreciate the gratitude I feel for the sights, sounds, and smells of summer.

|  An endless variety of abundant, gorgeous, delicious fruits and vegetables

As a confirmed fresh food addict, summer is hands down the best time of year to experience the most amazing produce from farmers markets, local groceries, and CSAs.  There is only one down side to this which is that I seem to be somewhat susceptible to over buying whenever I’m faced with this veggie extravaganza. Fortunately every down has an upside and the upside to too many veggies is that I get to spend lots of time surfing food blogs looking for new recipes to try...yummm!

|  Reading

What is it about summer that suddenly triggers the need to dive into a pile of books?  Now, truth be told I am a year round reader, however, it seems that in the summer I find it’s even easier to justify stealing moments here and there to get lost in a book.

|  Time with family and friends

Summertime has its own type of hustle and bustle which I try not to get swept up in.  I’ve found one of the most relaxing ways for me to connect with the people I love is to have casual dinners where everyone brings something to share.  This keeps it simple and fun.

|  Green Smoothies

OK...I admit this is a shameless plug for smoothies because I love them beyond all reason.  They are delicious, nutrient dense, easy to make and I believe they just might be one of the single most powerful catalysts for healthy living.  Why??  I’m so glad you asked!  I think their secret lies in the fact that they taste so darn good - which means we’ll keep making them and eating them.  And since you can sneak all kinds of awesome ingredients into them like spinach, kale, avocado, cucumber, and every type of fruit imaginable you will have a power-packed meal that keeps you energized and satisfied for hours.

If you’ve never tried one before, check out the recipe below.  It’s my favorite summer smoothie and has even been my dinner a time or two when the days are hot.

|  Most importantly, have fun!

Whether that means swinging in a hammock, reading books, hanging with friends, trying a hula-hoop for the first time, walking on the beach, or simply eating outside, summertime is designed for relaxation and enjoyment.   So don’t forget to slow things down a bit and enjoy this beautiful and abundant time of year.

I’d love to hear how you take advantage of all that summer has to offer - be sure to add your comments below!

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Banana Almond Peach Smoothie

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Serves 1

1 cup almond milk or almond milk and water combined
2-4 oz. baby spinach
1⁄2- 3⁄4 frozen banana (peeled and in small chunks)
1⁄2 of a fresh or frozen peach in small pieces
A few orange sections (optional)
1-2 dates, preferably soaked overnight in fridge
1 T raw almond butter
2 t pure vanilla extract
A few drops of pure organic almond extract (or leave out if you prefer) 
3-5 ice cubes

• Add to almond milk, blend & serve.

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