Some Cures for the Summertime Blues

Eddie Cochran once wrote “there ain’t no cure for the summertime blues”.

I disagree. So much so, that we’re going to give you five ways to beat those Summertime Blues!

Ok, so you don’t live near a beach like we do. So what? Do you have a car? Do you have goals? How about ambition? Are you curious and adventurous? Well, good. That’s what you need to get started.

1. Take a road trip for a day.

If you’ve been following our blog, we’ve been on a Festival tour this year. I promise you, no matter where you live, I guarantee there is something going on in your area within 100 miles of you.

Want proof? Go here. Select your state and a month you wanna go for a ride.

Check your local newspaper. Google events in your area. I’d betcha there’s something goin on nearby!

Fill the gas tank, pack a small cooler of drinks and road snacks and put $50 in your pocket. Burn a CD of your favorite tunes and sing out loud to them with the windows down. Go have fun!

Got kids? Bring em!

2. Start a Fitness Regimen.

I know, I know. You get sweaty and tired and it takes effort and discipline to whip that body into shape. Trust me, I’m going through it now. But take it from me, as horrible as it is to drag yourself to the gym when you don’t feel like it, you feel a TON better when your workout is done. I feel like I accomplished something and it helps me start my day off with a bang. Set aside 30 minutes to an hour, put on some music and work it.

Don’t have the money to join a gym? That’s ok. Here are ten exercises you can do at home – without equipment! Twenty five other exercises here.

Need some inspiration? Our friend Kim at Snug Harbor Bay has a son named Tony. Go check out his site here and get inspired.

3. Try your hand at a hobby, like Arts and Crafts.

The Queen and I both have hobbies. I make music, she scrapbooks and makes creative things with the shells we collect (among other things). Neither one of us were very proficient when we started. Now, she makes scrapbook pages that belong in magazines

and shell related collectibles that make me proud to be married to her.

😉

The point is, we started a hobby.

Find something that interests you. Have you always wanted to paint?

Then paint! Places like AC Moore, Michael’s and Hobby Lobby always have sales going on with things you can craft on a budget. Take the leap and make something cool!

4. Take a cooking class.

I love to cook. So this particularly interests me. I like watching Chopped, Man vs. Food, BBQ Pitmasters and all those other cooking shows. I like to learn new techniques to make my food better. And who doesn’t like to eat??

Did you know that there are cooking classes all around you?

Taste of Home offers a cooking school. Many grocery store chains offer the same. Here are three other websites you can visit to find a cooking class/school in your area:

Here

Here and

Here.

5. Have a set date night with your significant other.

I know sometimes the first thing folks think about date nights is, “But that gets expensive!”

Yep, if you let it. However, date nights can be inexpensive and still be fun if you’re with the right person – and it doesn’t matter where you are as long as you keep your date set.

The Queen and I have a date night every Friday, without fail. She is not only my wife, but my friend. Best friend actually. So no matter where we go on our date nights, we have fun.

When we first got married, we didn’t have much money. But we set a date night, held to it and watched our budget. We still had fun.

We like Steak N Shake. It normally costs us $18 with tip when we go. We also find other things to do every Friday. Sometimes, we go to a movie (which IS expensive). Other times, I make a homemade pizza, we get a RedBox video (which is $1) and curl up on the couch. Like I said, it’s all about who you’re with on your date night, not where or how much it costs.

Again, got kids? Bring them and make it a family date night. Get some ice cream as a family and make memories.

So there you go! Five tips on how to get rid of Summertime Blues. Remember, your life is only as good as you make it. If you want to have a fun, exciting and adventurous life, you have to find the fun, excitement and adventures. 😀

Do you have any tips to cure the blues? We’d love to hear what they are!

Snorkeling Stuff

 

As it’s well known here at SK dot com, the Queen and I snorkel. We are often asked about our snorkeling and snorkeling gear. Where do you snorkel? What do you use? How do you keep your mask from fogging up? Find anything good? So let me take a few minutes and answer the four questions we’re asked most often.

Q: So where do you snorkel?

A: There really are a number of beautiful places to snorkel here in Florida. We’ve snorkeled Sanibel Island, Little Hickory, the Florida Keys, Indian Rocks Beach, South Beach in Miami, Siesta Key and many others. Unfortunately, over the last year or so, the snorkeling on Sanibel has been hit or miss, thanks to the Okeechobee water releases (and it appears it’s going to continue this summer as well).

We’ve also been fortunate enough to snorkel  many places in the Caribbean – The Bahamas, The Cayman Islands, The Virgin Islands, Turks and Caicos, Cozumel and a few others.

Q: What kind of equipment do you use?

A: Both the Queen and I own Cressi masks and snorkels. We don’t use fins unless we’re on a snorkel charter (which many times are required by the charters). We’ve used other brands, but Cressi is the best fit for us. Mine is black. The Queen’s mask is pink because she is a girl.

😉

If you’re unsure if a mask is right for you, it’s best to find a dive shop near you and they can fit you with a mask. Remember, the strap should rest on the crown of the back of your head, not straight back behind your ears. The strap doesn’t need to be tight, because if you find the right mask, the seal will keep it on your face.

To find the right snorkel, the same rule applies – Check out a dive shop. The mouthpiece should feel comfortable in your mouth and you should be able to fit your thumb through the breather hole. The snorkel should clip easily to the side of your mask without pulling it away from your face.

If your snorkel tip gets below the water, blow strongly through the snorkel when you reach the surface. This will clear your snorkel of any water.

Q: How do you keep your mask from fogging up?

A: Some will say your own spit. Some will say anti-fogging spray (which can be expensive at times). We have a small spray bottle. One or two drops of Johnson’s Baby Shampoo and the rest water. Shake that up and spray it on your mask before you hit the water. If you have a good seal and don’t accidentally breathe through your nose, you should be able to keep that mask clean and clear the whole time.

Unfortunately, I tend to accidentally breathe through my nose sometimes. Other times, I go a few days without shaving and if you’re a guy, that will prevent your mask from keeping a good seal (If you’re rockin the ‘stache, try Vaseline on your upper lip, fellas). When I shave and don’t breathe through my nose, it stays sealed. If you get water in there, surface, pull your mask open, rinse it out and reseal.

Another thing we do after snorkeling? Wash our masks. We use a sponge with dish soap and gently clean the entire mask. This washes away any sand and salt water. Dry with a paper towel and place back into the plastic container your snorkel should come in.

Q: Do you find anything good?

A: Peek around our site. You might find a goody or two.

😉