Tag Archives: Seasonal Affective Disorder

Summertime Blues

Posted in Decorating by

We are unofficially in my least favorite season. Nearly seven decades ago a wise young man sang about it, too, so yes, hating the summer is a real thing for some. In fact, an article by Psychology Today called it Reverse Seasonal Affective Disorder. Ergo, summer makes me S-A-D. And it is nice to see I am not alone. There are even Facebook groups about this condition. I have found my people.

Top reasons I hate summer:

  1. Heat.
  2. Humidity.
  3. Heat & humidity.
  4. Bugs, especially flying ones that sting or bite.
  5. Lack of decorating opportunities.

(Image by me.)

The last reason especially is quite disconcerting to me. Many years ago I would set up a patriotic display just before Memorial Day and leave it as is through Labor Day. That way it covered both those holidays along with Flag Day and July 4th in between. I do not mind showing my pride for this “land that I love”, but after over three months, it gets a little stale. But since I am not a fan of the other looks popular with this season-coastal, nautical or beachy vibes-my choices seem limited.

I cannot seem to find my summer decorating staples like flags & stars, so for now I am using what I have in variations of red, white & blue to inspire me a little. Oh, and my Charlie Brown in perfect patriotic attire celebrating America’s favorite past time is a bit of whimsy from an old dear friend until the glory that is fall arrives.

(Image by me.)

So until the unofficial end of summer, I’m singing right along with Eddie Cochran (“…there ain’t no cure for the summertime blues”).

Stay safe & well.

The Ides Of Michele

Posted in Uncategorized by

Hi, Vixens!!!  Doesn’t this whole “lose an hour to spring forward” thing kind of make you feel like you lost more than just 60 minutes???  I cannot wait another 7 months to get it back.  I want it NOW   😦

We are six days away from the first official day of Spring but it already feels like the season has arrived thanks to last week’s mid-50’s temperatures here on the east coast-and this week promises more of the same.  I know the majority of people prefer the spring and summer months so much that they actually suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) waiting for the warmer weather to arrive.  But this is my time of year to be sad.

Getting-Through-Winter-SAD

Source:  Boatingtimesli.com

I get that some people have had it worse than me this time of year-Julius Caesar, for one, comes to mind.  But I prefer the fall to winter months, and let’s face it, we really did not have much of a winter this year.  It was not just the lack of snow, but except for a handful of days, it was a very mild season.

But this season’s holidays-Easter, Mother’s Day & Father’s Day, not to mention the birthdays of my grandmother and father plus my parent’s anniversary-and I need a morphine drip to get through the whole season.  Then come the hazy, hot & humid days of summer and I spend almost every waking hour in air conditioning.  I wish I was a bear so I could hibernate for these two seasons.  There is nothing to decorate for and even my magazines do not help as they are all chock full of “how to enjoy every second of the summer” articles.  Ugh.

Of course, there are some things I look forward to:  deliciously fragrant lilacs, paid days off (Memorial Day & Fourth of July),  fireworks, outdoor concerts and, of course, garage sales.  But other than that I would rather sleep through the next six months.

Lilacs-FlowerPatchFarmhouse.com-1-of-34

Source:  flowerpatchfarmhouse.com

So this weekend as I nursed a fever and felt sorry for myself for being sick, I thought about ways I could make the next six months easier to tolerate.

Despite the fact that I have a black thumb, I am going to try to grow something if it kills me.  I will try a tomato plant, a basil plant & a cilantro plant in containers outside my apartment.  Maybe I will be successful since the plants will be outside in the sun as opposed to inside my dark 60 degree apartment.

I also want to up my baking game.  Every year I promise myself I will make Christmas cookies but I never do.  I also want to learn to make my own pie crust.  What better time to experiment than in the summer when the house will be nice & cool thanks to the A/C?  I will start honing my baking skills with this beautiful Speckled Malted Coconut Cake courtesy of Country Living that I want to bring to my book club’s luncheon coming up next month.  You can find the recipe here.

Country Living coconut cake

Source:  Country Living Magazine. 

So that is my plan so far.  I hope it works.  If not, it will be a long six months.

On a completely random note, I stumbled upon these adorable Lady Bug golf ball crafts online.  Too cute for words, don’t you think???

How-To-Make-Golf-Ball-Ladybugs

Source:  EverythingOrganized.Org

Hope you all have a great week.

Until next time, fellow Vixens, happy digging!!!