Linger Moments No. 8

lin·ger

/ˈliNGɡər/

verb

to stay in a place longer than necessary, typically because of a reluctance to leave.

You know those moments: the ones often catching you by surprise, causing you to pause a little longer than perhaps intended.  Whether your upcoming weekend is one filled with activities or has the promise of being a relaxing weekend, you are invited to take a moment to linger before heading to the end of the week.

1. Flora Forager

I stumbled across this Instagram account a few years ago and completely fell in love!  Bridget Beth Collins is a floral artist that used flowers, foliage, sticks, twigs, moss, mushrooms, and so forth to create magically whimsical art.  Some of my favorite creations of hers are her castles, her mermaids, and her winter scenes.  Check out her books and prints on her website and definitely follow her Instagram account for daily doses of beauty and magic.  Thank you to Bridget for the use of the above picture!

2. Atlanta Symphony Orchestra's FREE Concert at Piedmont Park!

The first outdoor concert of ASO's I heard was years ago when Chris and I were dating.  They had come all the way to Alpharetta to play at Will's Park.  We packed a picnic of Rachael Ray grilled swordfish and tuna steaks and set off to watch these world-class, Grammy-winning musicians play in a covered horse arena (that is also used for rodeos).  This year, ASO offers another FREE concert at Piedmont Park on Thursday, June 14, 2018, at 7:30.  If you've followed my Instagram account, you know how in love I am with our orchestra and their music.  They will be performing Bernstein's Overture to Candide and Symphonic Dances from West Side Story.  Additionally, some "crowd favorites" (my favorites, as well!) of Tchaikovsky's Romeo and Juliet Fantasy Overture, Variations on a Rococo Theme, and the 1812 Overture.

3. Gourmet Sandwich Company Premier Catering

Speaking of sandwiches... y'all, this one has my vote as the best sandwich in Alpharetta/Roswell/Milton area.  Heck, it has my vote for the best salad, too!  At this point, I've had the Gourmet Sandwich Company cater at least a dozen music teacher events and we have never been left wanting.  My favorite sandwich that is offered is definitely the "Lab Experiment."  Founder/Owner Travis puts turkey, bacon, tomatoes, gouda, and avocado on a JALAPEÑO-cornmeal bread.  It is ahhhh-maz-ing.   

Summer Preview!

Last week was the last week of the children's school and after a nice long weekend, we have begun to settle into our summer schedule.

After my oldest started school, I realized quickly how sacred summers would become.  Precious days upon days with no schedule and no obligations.  The first summer came and went beautifully.  However, as she and my youngest started to get older I quickly realized that some structure would be required to ensure we all stayed sane.

All throughout the school year, I find myself saying, "Well if we didn't have school/homework/school events, we'd have time to do this [insert activity]."  Before school ended, I decided to list out those activities and create a "summer schedule" that would allow us to relax, but also give some structure to our days.

Some of the activities I wanted us to incorporate into our daily activities were baking, riding bikes, visiting parks, and having playdates with friends.  I do continue to teach piano during the summer and am very fortunate to have flexibility in when I schedule those lessons.  Additionally, the children have four weeks of swim lessons that we can schedule our activities around.

Finally, I really wanted to incorporate more chores for the children into our days.  They are all about lists and responsibilities.  They're even about getting things done when it's on said list and not just me telling them to do it.  Again, the school year (and waking up at the LITERAL crack of dawn) makes being consistent with chores difficult.

What I have found through creating this schedule is that our days are quite simple.  I think loosely following it will give us the satisfaction of accomplishing many things, but without feeling like we're running all over the place.  There are so many chances in this loose schedule for us to relax and connect.  I am so looking forward to having my children home this summer and creating memories with both of them!