Surviving Summer Funning

What a great summer it has been!

How quickly the fun has flown by.

We all have fond memories of those carefree summer days of our childhood.

But here's yet another thing no one warns you about when you start "planning" your family - your precious summers will soon develop a dark side.

Sure, summer is still full of fun, but it is also a very Mommy-intensive season.

There's the planning - camps, activities, outings and vacations.

There's the packing - suitcases, backpacks, snacks and picnics.

There's the loading and shlepping - beach chairs, sand toys, fishing rods and tackle boxes and coolers.

It's all so wonderfully exhausting!

Then, after weeks of familial togetherness, once loving siblings transform into a pack of naughty puppies - constantly nipping at each other and whining to Mama over invisible injuries and imagined injustices.

Mama's nerves are soon frayed, frazzled, fried.

What are my strategies for summer survial?

Eat Well -

Lemon Grilled Chicken, Zucchini Muffins, Peach-Blueberry Pie, Pickled French Green Beans

I love shopping farmer's markets, making old favorites and stretching my culinary muscle.

Retail Therapy -

Retail therapy always helps. And the better the bargains, the more effective the treatment.

I scored the two dresses, tunic and silk skirt pictured above at the semi-annual Boden clearance sale last Saturday all for just $100! It was highly competitive bargain grabbing, but the percentage of discount made for a highly successful treatment.

Escape, Runaway, Hide -

Grab your gal pals and runaway - for a few hours, a day, a weekend if you can!

I got to run off to NYC with three awesome bloggy pals - I wouldn't call BlogHer '12 relaxing, but it sure did rejuvinate, invigorate, inspire and surprise.

Practice Your Mixology-

And don't forget the Mojitos and  Margaritas!

Let the Back-to-School Countdown Begin -

And now it's time to start my annual "I'm done with summer! When are these monsters going back-to-school?" countdown.

15 days!

I just have to hold onto my sanity for 15 more days!

I think I can do it. 

I think I can - I think I can - I think I can...

Now, I'm off to do laundry, cook & bake, organize and pack for one last week of "family fun" on the Cape.

I know a week on Cape Cod isn't exactly "hazardous duty", but it ain't no week at a spa either!