31Jul 2017 by Christine Crutchfield 8 Comments

Celebrate Life ~ Our Favorite Weird, Wacky Holidays in August

Living

I walk past the yellow picnic tables, across the enclosed, painted-gray concrete patio in my grandparents’ backyard, and release the latch on the screen door. I push the aluminum door open, hearing the light squeak as I step out into the yard. The sky is the usual vibrant blue of a San Diego summer, and the waterfall splashes into the small goldfish pond. I scan the perimeter and smile at the colorful orbs dotting the green leafy trees. Walking past the lemons and limes, I head straight for my favorite - the peaches. I reach up into the tree and start testing the fruit, searching for the one that will come off easily into my small palm. I’m finally rewarded as a soft, fuzzy peach separates from its branch. I…

28Jul 2017 by Christine Crutchfield 2 Comments

5 Friday Favorites ~ Videos that Give Me the Feels

Living

Happy Friday, Friends! It’s been a bit of a rough week here. Not sure if it’s because it’s the first full week where we haven’t gotten out of town in a while or because I haven’t had a proper cup of coffee all week or because it’s been uncharacteristically cool and gloomy for summer, but I’ve been fighting the blues. Being a writer, a blogger, and an adjunct can be a lonely business, and I always start to feel it in the summer after being left to my own devices in an empty house for too long. In times like this, I have a terrible tendency to close myself off, which is incredibly counterproductive to how I’m feeling. But I also recognize the importance of feeling things. So this week,…

26Jul 2017 by Christine Crutchfield 8 Comments

Under the Boardwalk ~ Popular Boardwalks and Waterfronts in Every State

Living

I hear the lyrics and melody running through my head as I write… “From the park you hear the happy sound of a carousel. Mm-mm, you can almost taste the hot dogs and French fries they sell. Under the boardwalk, down by the sea, On a blanket with my baby is where I'll be.” If there’s anything possibly more iconic and nostalgic in the summer than a drive-in, it might be the boardwalk. After all, while they both had songs written about them, The Drifters’ “Under the Boardwalk” is much more well known than the Beach Boys’ “Drive-In.” Just the word alone can conjure up a multitude of sensory memories, from the sounds of the games and rides, to the smell of the ocean air, the taste of popcorn, ice…

24Jul 2017 by Christine Crutchfield 5 Comments

Rumi: Wise Words of a 13th Century Poet

Living, Writing

Let’s get a little bit personal on the blog today. Like most people, I’ve had my share of ups and downs. I’ve made hard choices and dealt with the fallout, whether positive or negative. I’ve searched for where I belong in the world, moving cross-country 5 times since I’ve been old enough to do so. As strange as it seems, there is one thing that often helps me through the hard times: words. Whether it’s advice from someone close, song lyrics, bible verses, or quotes, words become a type of mantra, something to either cling to with hope or to validate feelings. One poet who always seems to manifest for me in times of need is Rumi. It’s odd to me that someone who lived over 800 years ago could…

21Jul 2017 by Christine Crutchfield 22 Comments

5 Friday Favorites ~ Summer Date Night or Family Fun Activities

Living

Happy Friday, Everyone! Another summer Friday is upon us, which means another opportunity to celebrate the sunshine and the end of the work week! Fridays have long been my favorite day of the week, and summer Fridays are extra special, especially up here in the Northeast where we don’t have nice weather year round. My motto is “A Friday night is a terrible thing to waste!” But if you don’t yet have plans for tonight, fret not because today I’m sharing my 5 Favorite Summer Friday Night activities. These suggestions can be adapted for a date night or family fun night with ease, and they can all be done without prior planning. Go to the drive-in. Although drive-in movie theaters have been around much longer than I have,…

17Jul 2017 by Christine Crutchfield 4 Comments

Vacation and Rejuvenation

Living, Traveling

Late this afternoon, my husband and I got back from 5 days of relaxing and rejuvenating with friends. It’s an annual trip up in the woods of Maine, and for many of us, it’s a tech-free trip, total unplugging because we don’t get cell service. It felt wonderful to camp, splash around or canoe in the water, play games, sit around the fire, enjoy meals together, and more. It also made me feel a little bit guilty. Since starting this blog in earnest, I’ve come to realize just how much goes into blogging, particularly the behind-the-scenes stuff, and I felt bad that I left Thursday morning with Friday’s post scheduled to publish, but nothing for today. I felt bad that I couldn’t promote it, or share tweets or photos on…

14Jul 2017 by Christine Crutchfield No Comments

5 Friday Favorites – Starbucks Hacks Edition

Living

Happy Friday, Everyone! As I sit here and enjoy my morning cup of coffee, I feel inspired to share some things I’ve learned for my 5 Friday Favorites. Prior to getting remarried, I spent a fair amount of time working at Starbucks - over 7 years in 5 stores and across 3 states, with some gaps in between, to be exact. I wanted to let you in on a few secrets from an insider’s perspective, in case you hadn’t heard. So I present: 5 Friday Favorites - Starbucks Hacks Edition Ask for light ice. Even with the pretty decent rewards system, fairly frequent Starbucks patronage can be expensive. You want to get the most for your money. As such, I generally recommend getting light ice in drinks.…

12Jul 2017 by Christine Crutchfield 12 Comments

The Ultimate Guide to 65 Ice Cube Tray Hacks

Living

Ice cube trays are awesome! Although they fell out of favor by way of the automatic ice maker, they are making a comeback. Not only can you now find an endless number of different shaped molds to fit any occasion or predilection, but there are also an untold number of creative ways you can use them. I’ve compiled and organized these 65 by food or not-food related, and most are fairly self-explanatory, but all it takes is a quick search if you need further information. I present to you... The Ultimate Guide to 65 Ice Cube Tray Hacks Coffee - Freeze leftover coffee into trays for your next iced coffee or drench in a little Bailey’s Irish Cream. Wine - Save that leftover wine (a rare occasion,…

10Jul 2017 by Christine Crutchfield 10 Comments

Saco Shenanigans – How to Have the Best Time on a Float

Living, Traveling

It’s the Monday before our annual canoe trip, and I’ve got Saco on the brain. This morning, as I worked to finish the post for today, I found myself continuously drawn to photos of previous trips, my To Buy/To Pack/To Do list, and other Saco distractions. Finally, I decided to stop fighting it and save that other post for another day. Instead, I bring you the Saco Shenanigans Extravaganza post! Time spent floating down a river is one of the best ways to enjoy a summer day. Unlike the beach, rivers can be found just about anywhere in the country, and it can also be extremely affordable! This is my 5th year going on this trip, but some of my friends have been at it for decades. I asked them…

07Jul 2017 by Christine Crutchfield 12 Comments

5 Friday Favorites – Summer Songs for Shaking It Edition

Living

As I sat down to write this post, my skin pricked with excitement. In case it isn’t obvious from my earlier posts, I take my music (and my dance parties) pretty seriously, and I couldn’t wait to curate a list of prime Summer-worthy jams to share with you all. I gathered all my tools - Spotify, Shazam, pictures on my phone, and texts I had sent myself because I never know where or when a song is going to grab me. I created a short set of rules to narrow things down: Songs had to be released in 2017. They had to have an upbeat and/or summer-y vibe. I wanted a variety of genres, in addition to a mix of well-known and lesser-known artists. And let me tell you, it…