I'm giving away a box of my favorite summer things (Travelwee included!)

This giveaway is now closed.   Congrats to Beth Ann, the winner of the summer box!

Hello, dear readers!

Normally I don't write a post on Memorial Day, since most of you Americans are busy having a holiday weekend.

But, to kick off summer this year, I'm participating in a multi-blogger giveaway, where we each are giving away a box of some summery goodies.

Below is an image of all the giveaways, plus links to enter each giveaway.
favorite summer things giveaway

 

1. Thriving Home // 2. Happy Money Saver // 3. Happy Home Fairy // 4. Heavenly Homemakers // 5. Kitchen Stewardship // 6. Nourishing Joy // 7. The Nourishing Home // 8. Intoxicated on Life // 9. Tried and Tasty // 10. The Frugal Girl //11. Mommy Hates Cooking // 12. Stephanie Blue

HOW TO ENTER:

    • Check out the giveaway collage featuring all the beautiful bloggers we’ve partnered up with and their favorite summer things things.
    • Scroll on down to see the details for MY favorite summer things.
    • Enter to win in my giveaway below.
    • HOP to all the other sites and enter to win their favorite summer things!
    • Look around and enjoy the sites of these bloggers.

my giveaway

Here's what you'll get if you win my box:

favorite summer things

  • We love our Strawesome straws, so I've included a beautiful blue glass smoothie straw. It's got a slight bend in it, which we love because that helps prevent these straws from rolling off the counter onto the floor. 😉 A straw cleaning brush is included.
  • On the food front, a box of my favorite chai, and a box of Aldi fruit strips, which we love (and which are 100% fruit)
  • a white Chalk Ink marker (so much easier to use than chalk! Read more here.)
  • A soy candle from Epantry (plus an all-natural lip balm from Epantry)
  • Some summery products from Third Day Naturals (soap, sugar scrub, natural bug spray, and lip balm)
  • A BBQ cookbook
  • A Travelwee! Lisey made one especially for the giveaway, because we thought one of you might like to take a Travelwee with you on your summer adventures.   The travelwee will come in a little Altoid tin, ready for, well, travel.   😉

giveaway

Since I don't love using Rafflecopter when I enter giveaways, I'm keeping it simple!

To enter my giveaway, just leave a comment on this post telling me your favorite thing about summer.

And after you enter, don't forget to go throw your name in the hat for all the other summery giveaways!

__________________

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY.   Void where prohibited.   One entry per person, please.   Odds of winning depend upon the number of entrants.   Some companies furnished prizes for this giveaway; others were purchased by me.   This post is not sponsored.

more about the bloggers

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Thriving Home

Friends and stay-at-home moms, Rachel and Polly, began Thriving Home in 2012 as a way to encourage and equip moms in several areas of home life. They share healthy kid-friendly recipes, evangelize about freezer cooking as well as documenting many other topics relating to running a home and family including a few spectacular parenting failures from time to time. Swing by to join in on their crazy journey through parenthood.

tnt-square-logo1_1024

Tried and Tasty

TriedandTasty.com is a premium and well established recipe blog with a friendly, conversational writing style paired with magazine quality food photography. The recipes are typically very health conscious, with rich and decadent desserts occasionally included for good measure. TriedandTasty.com has a loyal following of 'foodies' and is gaining new followers every day thanks to its recipes being featured on the websites of high profile magazines, news outlets, popular Facebook pages, Pinterest boards, and more.

logoHeavenly Homemakers

Laura Coppinger and her husband have four sons ages 10-17. HeavenlyHomemakers.com is dedicated to inspiring women daily with healthy (and easy!) recipes, homemaking tips, spiritual encouragement, and good ol' clean fun.

logoMommy Hates Cooking

Mommy Hates Cooking is a national cooking and lifestyle website that encourages families to take back the dinner table. Through her easy-to-prepare (yet looks like you spent all day in the kitchen) meals and her knack for breaking down meal planning, Kristy has become the busy-mom’s resource for the modern family.

Kitchen Stewardship Chalkboard Logo - BlackKitchen Stewardship

The mission of Kitchen Stewardship is to present healthy living in bite-sized baby steps, challenging people to make positive changes in their kitchens without being overwhelmed, and providing tools to balance a family's health, budget, time and the environment. Katie Kimball and her team share family-friendly whole foods recipes, weekly challenges, and science-geek research on what's healthy and what's not.

logoNourishing Joy

Nourishing Joy is dedicated to real food and natural living. We're on a mission to equip and inspire parents like you with the tools to make intentional, thoughtful decisions that work for YOUR family easy. Or at least easier.

happyhomefairy facebook pageHappy Home Fairy

Julie Brasington is the creator of Happy Home Fairy, a popular blog focusing on encouraging and equipping moms to choose joy on the parenting journey. She shares easy craft ideas, FREE printables, simple recipes, corny jokes, holiday fun, thoughts on raising her 2 boys, and honest, heartfelt messages to uplift the weary mama. bbb

Happy Money Saver

Happy Money Saver is a website that has a growing population of readers who are passionate about saving money, homesteading, gardening, cooking from scratch, freezer meals, DIY projects and embracing their dreams.

logo3Stephanie Blue

At Stephanie Blue, I blog about my passions: natural living and essential oils. My purpose is to bring hope to moms and help them discover ways to strengthen their families physically, emotionally, spiritually, and financially.


frugal girlThe Frugal Girl

The Frugal Girl is all about living cheerfully (and well!) on less. Get recipes, DIY tips, painting ideas, photography tips, green living inspiration, and more from Kristen, a homeschooling mom of four.

IOL_Header_Design_no_taglineIntoxicated on Life

Intoxicated on Life is a resource for families who are looking to raise healthy families - body, mind, and soul. They cover a wide range of topics from healthy gluten-free recipes, to godly parenting, homeschooling resources, and more!

TNH Grab buttonThe Nourishing Home

The Nourishing Home provides family-friendly GF recipes, free weekly whole food meal plans, helpful cooking tips and techniques, and lots of encouragement to help you in your journey to live a more nourished life.

567 Comments

  1. My favorite summer thing is not having to cram my boys into multiple layers to go outside. Shorts, shirt, shoes optional, go. Love that.

    1. Oh, so true. And even if you are going grocery shopping, they can all just put on flip-flops. No socks, shoes, or coat necessary.

    2. My favorite thing about summer... things are more laid back and also summer reading programs.

  2. Oh the green! After a long winter of black, white, and grey I am loving the GREEN!

  3. I'm ready to travel! I just love the travel wee! If I don't win him I might just have to make one for myself!

  4. My family likes to cook outside in the summer so the house doesn't get overly hot and we LOVE that it is still light outside after dinner.

  5. I don't usually comment on blogs but found this post and your links interesting. Thanks for sharing! It's hard to pick just one thing I love about summer but I guess if I have to pick one, it's biking.

  6. I LOVE the long days!! We love spending time outside on our porch in the evenings or going fishing.

  7. Everyone seems more laid back in the summer, plus this summer we're expecting a baby!

  8. Free summer concerts under the stars! At ours, they open the local pool so the kids swim while mom and dad enjoy the concert.

  9. Not making lunches in the morning. Going to the beach instead of driving to after school activities.

  10. The farmer's market and garage sales--fun ways to enjoy good stuff and new people.

  11. I love all of the flowers and green grass! I anxiously wait for them all winter!

  12. The hot weather and the joy of eating a sun warmed vine-ripened tomato straight from my garden.

  13. My favorite thing about summer is having kids home from school and spending more time with them.

  14. Although I no longer have children in school, what I appreciate about summer is the absence of school zones!

  15. I love the more relaxed feeling the days and evenings take on during summer. Even though I still have to work during the summer months, there's a summer break feeling to everything.

  16. I just love being able to spend time outside in the warm, long summer days after the winters here that feel like they will never end.

  17. I love the fresh fruits and veggies of summer....especially homegrown strawberries! My 14-month old is currently obsessed with strawberries so this is a magical time of year for him.

  18. My favorite thing for the past 6 years has been the alarm not going off at 6 AM to get one or two off to high school. Now that youngest graduates this week, tomorrow is the last time we must be up at 6! It will feel like summer all year long!

  19. My favorite part of summer is deck time. Any deck. I love sitting on the deck and watching the world go by. I love a beer or iced tea in the afternoon on the deck. In fact, I am brewing some tea right now for this afternoon's deck time!

  20. Oh! We have winter for what feels like 8 months out of the year. So many things to love about summer, sunshine, sandals, and right now iced lavender coffee and breakfast on the patio.

  21. In summer I love all the garden fresh produce...from our own garden, farmers markets and the INCREDIBLE peaches here in Western Colorado! Happy Summer everyone!

  22. My favorite thing about summer is spending a weekend at the lake. It's so peaceful and relaxing.

  23. I'm a teacher and just got out for summer break, my favorite thing is sitting on the back deck and drinking my morning coffee while watching my little Jack Russel play in the yard.

  24. The memories for waiting and planning for summer when my kids were in school and all the summer vacations when I was a kid with my family. Now it seems to be about summer foods fresh from the garden or off the bbq pit.

  25. Love the warm weather and being outside working in garden, harvesting fresh vegetables from my garden.

  26. Eating fresh produce, splash pads, and bonfires. The usual sorts of things 🙂

  27. I love the sunshine and fresh air, especially after the long, cold winter in the Northeast this year.

  28. I love getting the garden up and producing nice fresh veggies for the table, oh and the chickens lay more eggs too!!

  29. I love sitting outside on our deck and enjoying beautiful weather with family and friends.

  30. My favorite thing about summer is not setting an alarm. I love going to bed at night knowing the kids and I don't have to rush to be somewhere in the morning!

  31. There are so many great things about summer!! I think just having a more relaxed pace would be the best. No school to get up for, no lunches to make, freedom to go do things any time, not having to wait because there are so many other activities. These giveaways look great! Thanks!

  32. I love the warmth of the sun, a cool breeze at night and garden fresh food to eat!!!!!

  33. I love picking out yummy local produce and locally made products at our farmer's market....and then finding new ways to prepare them.:-)

  34. I love swimming, the beach, and seeing my family in the summer! I always get to see them more (they live 500 miles away) during the summer months.

  35. It's hard to pick just ONE favorite thing! But definitely the sunshine and outdoor activities after the long cold South Dakota winter, and also the much more open schedule and chances to be spontaneous and adventurous.

  36. My favorite thing about summer is the opportunities to try new things- take special trips or simply take time to enjoy simple things.

  37. Favorite part of summer is not as strict of a homeschool schedule, I get caught up on projects, swimming with kids, gardening.

  38. Grilled pizza with garden tomatoes, fresh mozzarella cheese, and basil from the herb garden.Yum!!

  39. My favorite thing about summer is eating cherry tomatoes off my own garden with my kids. God bless!

  40. I love lazy summer days with no school, busy decluttering/organizing the house and planning curriculum for the upcoming year. 🙂

  41. I love that it stays light so late in the evening. I am more motivated to get things done when I get home from work.

  42. My favorite thing about summer is hanging out with my friends who have come back from school. 🙂

  43. Fireflies, grilling, farmer's markets, sno-cones, county fairs, fresh veggies, baseball games, flip flops, vacations

  44. My favorite thing about summer is hiking and picnicking with my friends and family and long summer nights

  45. Windows open, breeze making the curtains billow, green grass, green trees, and an explosion of colorful flowers!

  46. LOVE the early mornings and the longer evenings. It's so much happier when the sun is out!

  47. What I love best about summer is the traveling we get to do and showing my 2 year old all the awesome things that summer has to offer. Plus, this summer, we get to welcome our new baby into our family!

  48. Oh gosh! I love just about everything about summer! But I think my favorite right now is my vegetable garden. I love watching everything grow and the promise of big bowls full of fresh veggies.

  49. Less sickness tops my list. Then comes: open windows, shorts, no school, less frantic schedules, time with my school age child, travel, and gardening.

  50. More time with family and for projects hard to get done during homeschooling.

  51. Spending more time outdoors with my family. We grow and take care of the garden together, we play, we read on the hammock...it is so peaceful.

  52. Too many favorites about summer: my garden, sunshine, pool time, visiting the park, birds chirping, grilling out...the list goes on!

  53. My favorite thing about summer is bright toe nail polish and flip flops 🙂

  54. I love that there is no hurry to the days...such hours and hours of fun and possibilities ahead.

  55. My favorite summer thing is working in my yard. It's very therapeutic, and I love the smell of the earth and plants.

  56. My favorite thing about Summer is outdoor adventures with my family. We love camping, hiking, riding bike trails, and lots of pool time.

  57. My favorite thing about the summer is all the fruit that ripens in the summer. I love berries and peaches and plums, and melons - yum!

  58. My favorite thing about summer is fresh, ripe tomatoes right off the vine!

  59. My favorite thing about summer is gardening, and eating more meals out on our deck.

  60. My favorite part about summer is the relaxed schedule of summer allowing us to spend more time with my kids.

  61. I enjoy the slower pace of life during the summer, and admittedly, lesser layers of clothes 🙂

  62. I love being able to spend so much time outside, not having to bundle the kids up to go somewhere, and fun having more to do on the weekends.

  63. So many but I especially love the longer days and time to spend digging in the garden. Both for health reasons and circumstances I have found myself without a job this summer. I decided to take time and reflect on what is important to me and my family and to do the things that I never had time for in the past. Living frugally has become an important part of the plan this summer.

  64. The wonderful vacation stories that I hear and the relaxing times we have at the pool are the two things I love best about summer! Thank you for posting the giveaways.

  65. I love gardening, the lake, enjoying each day, campfires, hiking, biking...I just love summer!

  66. My favorite thing about summer is getting time off of school to spend by the pool.

  67. Popsicles! Oh my gosh I love them--homemade or store bought rocket pops--cold and refreshing!

  68. My favorite things about Summer are warmer weather, longer daylight hours and vacation!

  69. I love that my oldest doesn't have school, so we all get to hang out together, and I get to be the boss of our schedule!

  70. My favorite thing is riding my bike everywhere - work, church, the library and more - with no blizzards or wind and lots of sun.

  71. I love summer. I think my favorite part is my giant garden. I love to work in the garden, and my family all works together. It is such fun. Especially when we get to harvest some of the yummies.

  72. My favorite thing about this summer will be meeting my baby boy who is due to be born next week! I'm looking forward to taking him for walks and enjoying all his milestones!

  73. I love being outside! Since I'm from NorthEast Ohio, we hibernate all winter (like, 6 months!), and then spend every possible moment outdoors when the sun comes out!

  74. I love spending time with my family in the sunshine... and not having to do school. I can be the "fun mom" in summer! =)

  75. My favourite thing about summer is wearing dresses in light fabric with bright colours.

  76. Summer evening thunderstorms and the smell of the air after they pass.♡

  77. My favorite thing about summer is getting outside in the woods with my family.

  78. My favorite things about summer is the warm weather, I get to wear shorts, flip flops, and tank tops! I love hanging out with my two beautiful girls at the beach (swimming and sun bathing) and on our back deck (drinking ice tea and lemonade). 🙂

  79. My favorite thing - The Great Outdoors 🙂 (Hiking! BBQ! Patio Dining! Festivals! Dog Park! Fireworks!)

  80. Being home with my girls and just hanging out, doing fun projects, swimming and Camping!!!

  81. My favorite thing about Summer is definitely being able to take it slow(at least this Summer) for about 2 months after such a hectic and crazy chaotic school year! It'll be nice to relax and spend more time with my family, friends, and boyfriend 🙂

  82. Eating breakfast outside, everything so lush and green, not living by the public school timetable, floating in a lake, frozen margaritas, and time to hang out with friends and family.

  83. I love doing thing outside like working in the yard, riding bikes and jogging with the pups.

  84. Having far fewer clothes to contend with for potty-training and getting precious wee ones ready to leave the house! Thanks for the entry.

  85. I love all the endless opportunities for learning (the world really is the best classroom), baking bread, and cooking straight from the garden. Sweaty tired children, we have 10! and big toothless sticky smiles that only a mom can love!

  86. Oh to narrow it down to one thing....I'd say fresh tomatoes from the garden! mm mm 🙂

  87. I love the laid back way we can go about our day! I am a teacher, so it is super refreshing for me.

  88. My favorite thing is the food. 🙂 Fresh fruit, s'mores, grilling everything (no inside cooking!), sweet tea or lemonade... I could go on but I won't because I'm making myself hungry.

    Thanks for the chance!

  89. My favorite part of summer is finding time to read some good books, enjoy the beuitiful sun and spend time with relatives!

  90. My fav thing about summer is watching my kids play on the beach and swim in the pool. ☺️

  91. I love the sunshine, flowers and swimming with my kids. And planting my garden!

  92. In summer, although it gets awful warm, I love cookouts with friends & family.

  93. There are many things I love about summer. I love the fact that I get to spend more time with my children. We love going to the park, swimming, and involvement in the Community Theater.

  94. My favorite part of summer is the laid backness. No soccer, lacrosse, girl scouts, dance, etc. Just fun filled family time. Oh and all the extra projects I get done around the house since we are not running around.

  95. I love the fresh produce, corn, green beans, asparagus, strawberries, blueberries, and peaches are some of our favorite.

  96. I love grilling the fresh summer vegetables with the family!! Summertime!!!

  97. We are fortunate enough to live in an area that is closer to 9 months of summer, but honestly what's not to love? Grab a good bugspray and the days go on forever... Outdoor socializing, outdoor cooking, outdoor fun!

  98. It's too hard to choose one thing to be my favorite. I love the warm weather which brings all the greenery and leaves, flowers, gardens, crops, etc.

  99. My favorite thing about summer is the longer days. More time to take pictures, grill out and enjoy life.

  100. I love the impromptu BBQs with neighbors like today!!! What a beautiful day. Hope to have many more this summer!

  101. Garden vegetables, thunderstorms, weeks with no schedule, hammock in the shade, and ice cold watermelon.

  102. My favorite thing about summer is the longer days. Thanks for the chance to win!

  103. I love spending time outside in the garden, the fresh vegetables, and the sun!!

  104. I love the warm weather and not having to bundle the kids up when we go outside.

  105. My favorite thing about summer is....no school (Especially when I was a home school mom!)!!!!!!

  106. I like the release from the rigidity of the school day. We still have schedules to keep but they're more relaxed. Ahhhhhhh!

  107. Not rushing my kids through homework - and a later bedtime means more snuggles before sleep

  108. I think my favorite thing this summer will be working in the garden with my toddler!

  109. Summer Fridays. My husband gets to leave work up to 4 hours early in Summer Fridays which is such a gift and let's is indulge in other summer fun!

  110. My favorite thing about summer are all the flowers a-blooming in my garden nearly a new one every few days!

  111. I love summer - flowers blooming, going to the pool and beach, a more relaxed schedule.

  112. My favorite thing about summer is the long nights and the extra beautiful sunshine!

  113. My favorite thing about summer--everything (except the necessary a/c). No school, more sunlight, no coats, occasional laziness, campfires...how can I pick just one?

  114. My husband is a teacher so my favorite thing about summer is I have him home with me for two months. 🙂

  115. I love the sun shining, I love spending times with the kids and love taking them to the pool

  116. Spending time with my kids and taking them to the beach

    tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com

  117. I love the early morning light - so beautiful when it's shining on the dew and lush greenery. Summer is the only time of year I don't hate getting up at 5 am for work! Haha

  118. My favorite things about summer are a less hurried schedule, less layers to wear, sandals and water of any kind - pools, beaches, water fights.

  119. My favorite thing about summer is the laid-back summer evenings spent in the backyard...this year I'll be tending to my garden, watching my 1-year old learn more about nature, and (hopefully!) getting to sit back and relax.

  120. I love being able to take our time and not rush to be anywhere. We can go with the flow and do what we want.

  121. My favorite thing about summer is what I call "no coat weather". I love this time of year!

  122. My favorite thing about summer is getting to lounge in the pool all weekend long.

  123. The thing I love most about summer is the extra time I get to spend with my kids outside.

  124. Favorite thing would be, spending much needed bonding time with my son. His father and I work busy schedules and enjoying those summer weekends out having fun mean the world to us! 🙂

  125. Spending more time with my kids and the warmer weather makes me happy!

  126. I love all the light! We live at the bottom of a wooded hill, on the north side. And we live in the northern part of the country. And the sunlight just fills me in the summer!

  127. I just finished my first year of teaching, and I'm looking forward to spending time with my family.

  128. As a Kinder teacher, I love my workdays, but having time to devour books during the summer, or have a leisurely lunch on a weekday is hard to mind. C'mon, summer!

  129. Summer = flipflops and tree climbing and sprinklers and popsicles and ice cream and so much more!!!!!

  130. Travel! We especially love to pile in the car and drive off on an adventure someplace we have never visited before.

  131. Love all the extra light, eating outside, taking the kids to the beach, and enjoying all the lovely green growing things.

  132. The best thing about summer is flip flops, the abundance of vitamin D, and air conditioning. We are expecting #3 in August, so I am really thankful for AC this summer! 🙂

  133. I love summer because everyone in the house gets to stay and wake up late, lazy breakfast or brunch with the family and of course, ice cream.

  134. Summer is my favorite time of the year. Thanks for posting this generous offer 🙂

  135. My favorite part about summer is everything: gardening, camping, spending time with my kids.

  136. In the summer I love sleeping with my windows open at night and being awakened by bird songs in the morning. It's the perfect alarm clock for me.

  137. Other people's attitudes. So much more relaxed and less stressed out. It makes the season more enjoyable.

  138. My favorite thing is getting to go on vacation! The kids are finally all old enough to enjoy the ocean, beach, boating, fishing.... Can't wait!

  139. My favorite thing about summer is all the holidays to spend with family and friends!

  140. I love days at the park, play dates with friends, and family road trips.

  141. Lots of fun things about summer. Reading with the kids and the pool. One last thing cold lemonade. Yum

  142. My all-time favorite thing about summer is having my husband home most of the time. (He is a teacher.)

  143. My favorite thing about summer is being able to go swimming! I am a true Pisces, love the water!

  144. My favorite thing about Summer is the plants--flowers, tomatoes, peaches, watermelons, shady trees.

  145. Endless warm afternoons with iced tea on my porch. Visiting friends. Early morning coffee with hubby!!

  146. I love spending summer going to parks and zoos, having picnics with friends and family, and summer camp!

  147. My favorite thing about summer is going to the beach and long nights spent on the deck relaxing with family and friends 🙂

  148. Watermelon. I love all kinds of things about summer, but I adore watermelon in the summer.

  149. It's hard to list one favorite thing. I loving being outdoors with the family on the river; I love being in my garden and I love planting and looking at all my flowers!

  150. my favorite thing about summer is just having more time in the evening after work to spend with the kids. there's not the shuffle of hurry up-eat-do homework-take a bath- and then play if there's time, into bed with enough time to get a decent night's rest for school the next day 🙂

  151. I just love that I'm not cold. And I love how much light there is. I get so tired of cold, dark winter days.

  152. I love wearing sandals. Bonus, there are no socks to match during summer laundry. 🙂

  153. my favorite thing is going to the pool! and our new neighborhood has one...so awesome 🙂

  154. I love being able to read a good book outside - whether it's on the patio or at the pool!

  155. I'd have to say the more laid back pace. I love being at home with the hubby and kids and being able to do whatever we want!

  156. I love the bounty of fruits and vegetables and then cooking them all outside on the grill. I always feel so much more healthy in the summer because I eat better and I'm more active.

  157. Summer means more leisure time to spend with friends -- on the front porch, by the lake, on a picnic, at parades, at the beach, in the mountains. It is all soooooooo fun!

  158. My favorite thing about the summer is the food! I can't wait for our CSA share to start up next week, so we can get back to chowing on fresh, local produce again.

  159. My favorite thing about summer is seeing my family, (an ocean away) and remembering what really is important in life.

  160. My favorite thing is my anniversary! 🙂 Seriously, my hubby and I always do a fun trip to celebrate our wedding anniversary each summer. Sometimes it's super simple or more elaborate (going to the next state) but we always have a great time!

  161. My favorite thing about Summer is the warmth, relaxation outside, the beach and spending time with extended family on vacation!

  162. I love the weather and playing in the water with my kids. Thanks for the chance to enter.

  163. My favorite thing about summer is having my whole family together. My husband is a teacher, so we get to see a lot more of him during the summer.

  164. Strawberries, blueberries, peaches, watermelon, tomatoes, corn on the cob, butter beans, squash, cucumbers, etc. I love the fresh summer foods!

  165. My favorite thing about summer? My kids asking for watermelon, strawberries, honeydew, blueberries, corn on the cob, fresh green beans, etc. instead of junk food! Eating healthfully (and taking them grocery shopping with me!) is so much easier with all the fresh (and local) produce available and in season. Love it!

  166. I love being outdoors and enjoying the sunshine! My favorite thing about summer is camping and/or going to any body of water (mostly lakes because of where we live) and kayaking, swimming, fishing, or boating. I have such great memories from my childhood while growing up on a lake, and it has certainly carried over into my adulthood. It is definitely a season where adults can act like kids again and take time to slow down a bit and take some time away from the crazy busy lives that most of us carry now. 🙂 I am a summer baby as well, so that might have a little something to do with my love for summer and all that comes with it. 😉

  167. I love that the kids can enjoy all the fresh air and sunshine outside! I have allergies so I don't enjoy it quite as much. But I like that they can. 🙂

  168. What I love most about summer is family time and gardening. We love to grow our own vegetables and we can and preserve most of them. We make it a family affair by getting everyone involved. The kids are learning a great life lesson and during the winter we get to eat yummy veggies from our garden.

  169. I love being able to spend time outside in the sun! It's so great not to be cooped up inside, especially with toddlers

  170. My favorite thing about summer is a more relaxed schedule and being outdoors with my family.

  171. I love that they days are long in the summer. Early morning or last thing in the evening I love to be outside!

  172. The warm weather & spending time outside combined with iced coffee. The glass straw looks much better than the plastic ones, disposable or not.

  173. Definitely spending time outside, going to the park or just going for walks

  174. I love the fresh figs and blueberries of summer, the ripe tomatoes in early summer and the watermelons all summer long, but the things I really love about summer are the memories:

    Long days going barefoot all day, smelling the sweet scent of clover and freshly mown grass, the freedom from school, the hot evenings made cooler by hand-churned ice-cream, the nights camping out in our own yard in a pup tent with friends, and the blissful first couple of weeks of summer when our mother let us sleep as late as we wanted until we caught up on our rest. Every summer brings back those memories and bring such a smile!

  175. my favorite thing about summer is watching my son grow from all of his experiences like volunteering at the pool, swim team, boy scout camp and this year cello camp! I cant wait!

  176. My favorite thing about summer is definitely various activities: biking, swimming, and hiking!

  177. My favorite thing about summer is getting to watch the heat lightning in florida and fireworks on the 4th of july

  178. Summer brings relaxed days, adventures, lots of hiking trails to explore, bike rides on the trails, and CAMPING!

  179. Summer brings relaxed days, hiking trails to explore, bike rides on the local trails, pool time, and CAMPING!

  180. Summer brings relaxed schedule...pool time, exploring hiking trails, local bike trails, and CAMPING!

  181. My favorite thing about summer is being outside. I enjoy working in the yard and absorbing the sunshine and in the evenings sitting by our fire pit.

  182. I love not getting my teenager up at 5 am. That's just too early, for her and for me!

    1. Goodness. I can't imagine! Neither of my teens are in functional shape at 5 am. 😉

  183. Summer brings relaxed schedule, sleeping in, exploring the many hiking Colorado hiking trails, long bike rides along the Platte River, pool time, and CAMPING!

  184. My favorite thing about summer is the SUN. And days at the lake. And iced tea. 🙂

  185. My favorite thing about summer is vacation to visit family and friends that I have not seen in the last year. Spending time with my family. Just relaxing.

  186. I love not having to wear hats / gloves / coats / boots -- and not having to make sure the kids have all those things too!

  187. My favorite thing about summer is spending time outdoors - picnic, beach, walking, etc.

  188. My fave thing about summer? Fun times at the pool and the beach with my son. We love our summertime!!

  189. My favorite thing about summer is... it's summer! Which means no work for me. One of those "many" upsides to teaching. 😉

  190. My favorite thing about summer is traveling and visiting friends and family

  191. My favorite thing about summer is gardening and floating on the lake on a float.

  192. My favorite thing about summer is eating on the deck, especially local corn and burgers!

  193. I love being outside - flower gardens, vegetable gardens, swimming, relaxing summer evenings, and a slower pace...

  194. My favorite thing about summer is my garden, but the late evenings are so great, too.

  195. I love that my husband cooks out on the grill so often! :o) And that straw is SO cool! love it! :o)

  196. My favorite thing about summer is sitting on the deck with someone I love and a glass of iced tea.

  197. What I love most about summer is the ability to have girls in my bible study come down to our grandparents' lake house to eat good food and tube/waterski behind our boat, not to mention just get time to catch up with everyone.

  198. My favorite thing about summer is growing and eating food from my garden. Then I like to relax by our lake.
    slrdowney at hotmail dot com

  199. My favorite thing about summer is gsetting to spend so much time with my kids!

  200. Can't wait for my garden to start producing (flowers on the strawberries even as we speak) also farmer's markets for those other goodies.

  201. How can I pick just one favorite thing about summer?! I guess it would have to be the fresh veggies of summer...and eating sweet corn on the cob! But how can you forget the sunshine, the flowers and animals, swimming, grilling/bbq, not having to wear a coat and socks - woohoo! Have a beautiful summer everyone! 🙂

  202. I love getting to spend extra time with my extended family (my Mom is a teacher's aide), going on vacation, and being outside. We love to take walks, swim, and blow bubbles!

  203. Since I live up North, my favorite thing is grass... or put another way, no snow!! 🙂

  204. i love the lack of schedule. Everyday I get to choose what when and where we are doing for that day.

  205. We're in Alaska, so we don't have the heat, but I love the long days and the sunshine

  206. My favorite thing about summer is having extra time to take my daughters to the library, story time, Mommy & Me, YMCA, and when at home making smoothies, healthy snacks and popsicles, reading together and doing lots of arts & crafts with them!

  207. Getting to create memories with my kiddos! We plan a summer calendar and have a TON of fun!!

  208. I love the longer days.

    Those exquisitely cool early mornings, coffee at sunrise, the stillness of the world so beautifully broken by the singing (and the *chirp chirp chirping* of baby birds in nests). The deep heat of mid-day, growing gardens and flowers and lawns. The cool of evening, lightening bugs flashing, eating outdoors, children playing before bedtime, bonfires with precious people gathered around to talk or sing or play a guitar or just look at the stars. It's difficult to say just *one* favorite thing about summer!

  209. My favorite thing about summer are the warmer temps, I don't do well in winter with the cold temps, I need to move to a warmer climate zone!

  210. Loving this giveaway 🙂 May favorite thing about summer is Hanging my laundry on the clothesline! I love the crisp clean smell of Laundry just off the line!

  211. My favorite thing about summer is the lack of schedule for my kids! And the sun 🙂

  212. I love the more relax feel to summer, along with the longer days, the beach and lots of time to play.

  213. With kids schedules a bit more freed up from organized sport activities, I love sleeping in a bit and having time to make more frugal choices that include money saving meals and the endless organizing/decluttering that help us find things so we do not spend money on things we already own, but can't find.

  214. My favorite thing about summer is hearing my boys' happy squeals as they run through the sprinklers.

  215. Summer is a bit hard in Arizona. It tends to be the time of the year that most of us dread... BUT we have a ton of fruit trees and we really look forward to our summer peaches, grapes, and figs. Yum!

  216. I love that we are not on a schedule. we can lounge, the kids can play, etc. and we are not rushing.

  217. Hi, my favorite thing about summer is being able to lose myself in my garden or my crafting, depending upon my mood....and no one questions me because it's warm outside (nice enough to garden but I can always say it's too hot so I need AC!)

  218. The long days. Taking a walk at 9:30pm and it's still light outside. Sitting in the shade and reading.

  219. I love the lazy days of summer. I love being in the water and going to minor league baseball games.

  220. My favorite things about summer in the desert are the cool nights and stargazing without city light pollution.

  221. Peaches, watermelon, running through sprinklers and catching lightning bugs.

  222. I love taking my kids to the splash pads and going on vacations! I also love going to the pool without the kiddos and reading a good book.

  223. School's out! For us homeschoolers, that means free time to just be Mom and let the kids choose the agenda for the day.

  224. My favorite thing about summer: the beautiful colors of flowers and gardens!

  225. would love to win! fav things are the summer activities - beach, lake, camping, etc

  226. My favorite thing about summer is no school and wearing shorts and flip flops everywhere.
    Thank you!

  227. I love summer because we are on a more relaxed schedule and we do more things together as a family and with close friends.

  228. I love working in the garden and all the daylight left after my husband gets home (I don't love trying to get the kids to bed when it is still light out though...)

  229. camping! Chillin with my favorite people! outside! I LOVE being outside after the long winter indoors, altho that was fun too, for awhile!

  230. My favorite thing(s) about summer: sun, lush plant life, less hectic feeling, and more family time!

  231. bbq-ing, long sunny days, gardening, the heat, swimming in the lake, picnics, i could keep going but i have more giveaways to enter! 😀
    thanks for the giveaway!

  232. Oh Summer... there is a special essence in the air! A delightful feeling of fancy-free, easy dressing, smiling faces in the sunlight, half squinting from the Memphis sunlight! My little people barefoot on the front doorway, itching to play with toy truck & babydoll... in the front dirt... rather... lawn! There is just nothing like the Summer! (especially when you are originally from NY!)

  233. My favorite thing about summer is spending lazy evenings in the hammock, warm and comfortable.

  234. My favorite thing about summer is that it's beach weather. 🙂 We enjoy family outings to the beach.

  235. My favorite part of summer is extra time with my children! Especially since my oldest is away at college - it is such a joy to have her back home with us.

  236. I love the parties/cookouts with my friends and family! We have a big party every 4th of July - we even have t-shirts made!

  237. I love the unstructured schedule which allows for more reading and gardening. Also our annual one week camping trip!

  238. I love to listen to the frogs at night, and the sound of box fans. Then the drone of the crickets and cicadas during the day.

  239. My favorite thing about summer is getting to play outside with my kiddo after I get home from work - thank goodness for the extra daylight!

  240. My favorite thing about summer is spending the day outside laying by the pool, bbqing with friends.

  241. In theory, I love the downtime that comes with summer. Theoretical because life never ends and there is always something to do. 😉

  242. My favorite thing about summer: amusement parks especially roller coasters!

  243. This summer I'm loving how much easier it is to stay active. Last winter I was borderline depressed. I do not enjoy getting out in the cold. This beautiful May has been perfect and our young family has started taking some mild hikes. I am so proud of us! I hope we keep it up. It really doesn't feel like exercising when you are exploring God's beautiful outdoors!

  244. My favorite thing about summer is that it's warm enough to go do outdoor activities with my friends and family like hiking, amusement parks, nature activities, pool, tanning, beach, etc

  245. I'm a teacher, so I LOVE the time home, free from a rigid schedule, and to be with my family.

  246. My absolute favorite thing about summer is all the fun times I get to have with my three boys (ages 16, 11, 9). My oldest still likes to hang out with me, so I take major advantage of that and do lots and lots of fun activities and just "play." I know the time with him is dwindling and it makes me sad, so I take every minute he's willing to give me. 🙂

  247. My favorite thing about Summer is the long days! I love that we can take the kids out to events we would normally have to skip due to bedtimes and early mornings. The late sunset really does impact our little ones' circadian rhythms because they can go until well past 9pm! We just make sure not to do that too many times in a week...

  248. I am a teacher so my favorite thing about summer is not working and the leisurely pace - getting to enjoy a slower more delicious life.

  249. One of my favorite things about summer is all of the beautiful colors! Especially those last few months of winter seem so dark and dreary; I love seeing everything green up and all of the beautiful flowers.

    And of course, the warmer weather doesn't hurt either. 😉

  250. I love having a less frantic schedule which means more time for just enjoying free time with my kids 🙂

  251. My favorite thing about summer is the abundance of fresh berries 😀
    Thank you for the giveaway!

  252. Favorite things about summer is going for walks everyday in our neighborhood 🙂

  253. My favorite thing about summer is sitting on my patio in the morning listening to the birds sing!

  254. I love the longer days with more sunshine, fresh veggies from the garden, blooming flowers in the flower beds -and of course, VACATION!

  255. All of the many yard sales and rummage sales. I save so much money finding items I need or want to try.

  256. Flip flops, grilling & swimming are all my favorite things about summer. 🙂

  257. So, favorite thing about summer. I love everything about summer except humidity and mowing. Green, sun, storms without snow, green, sun, smaller loads of laundry. Free garden food.

  258. Summer means going camping with my family - and getting to see my parents more often (since they live in warmer climates during the winter).

  259. My favorite thing is the longer daylight hours. When I get out from work it's still light out! Yay! And because the schools are not in session, I can get a seat on the NYC subway! Double bonus!! 🙂

  260. My favorite thing about summer is the warmth!! Everything feels so much nicer when you're not bundled up in 50 layers!

  261. Embracing the outdoors more! We live in a very cold climate so summer is a little slice of heaven!

  262. Gardening, camping, and the change of pace from the school year with its accompaniment of activities for four kids!

  263. My favorite thing about summer is being able to be home with my kids (I teach). I love getting to spend time with them - swimming, going to parks, camping, etc!

  264. Swimming outside and eating Rainer cherries. The cherries will be in season in about a month and I can't wait!

  265. My favorite thing about summer... I actually get to spend time with my husband.

  266. My favorite thing about summer is teacher vacation. My husband and I are both teachers!

  267. My favorite thing about summer has always been that my family has more together time with school out. This year my children are grown, but home from college and so, underfoot. Just where I enjoy them the most. Just waiting for my husband to go on vacation!

  268. My favorite things about summer are the time I spend with my children doing fun activities, going to the library, swimming, and just hanging out. 🙂

  269. I love early morning summer walks when the sun is rising, the birds are singing and all seems very peaceful.

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