KICKING BACK...

... AND FINDING TIME TO RELAX... 

When I'm not driving from one end of the town to the other or working part-time at the local grocery store, you can usually find me spending time with friends elsewhere: at the donut shop or closest Starbucks. This summer's been so different from any other-- I've been busy! My entire life I've spent my summers watching TV and sleeping away the days, but with my new job and social responsibilities, I've barely had any time for myself. I'm not complaining; saving up for college is a must, and with a good number of my friends going to different colleges, I have to maximize what little time left I have with 'em!

So lately I've been trying to make some time to relax at home, and when I'm not doing chores, you can find me doing a couple of these. There are obvious things like sleeping, browsing the internet, and writing blog posts, and of course, reading's already a given, but here are four other hobbies that I've been focused on lately...

1. BAKING

It's no secret that I love to bake breads and cookies, so it's also no surprise that I turn to baking when I'm craving something sweet and I have the time and patience. There are some recipes that I always turn to, like the ABC Chocolate Chip Cookies or this Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread because I can't stay away from chocolate! There's something about the sweet aroma of baked goods that just makes me happy (not to mention hungry...), and sharing it with family and friends makes it even more rewarding. I guess it's kind of like seeing your little chemical experiment blossom into some delicious treat (am I a scientist yet?).

2. CROCHETING 

Okay, this one is a pretty new endeavor. In fact, I've barely even started, and all I know how to make is a basic rectangle. But Alex's little brother got into crocheting, and I was super jealous of the little animals and foods that he was able to make. Armed with my debit card and a deep desire to make little yarn donuts, I found myself marching into the crafts store and buying yarn and crochet hooks.

I'm excited to try it out; I never thought that I'd ever try knitting or crocheting, but from what I've learned so far, it's kind of fun! This will be one of the new things I'll try this summer since I'm always open to new hobbies. Who knows, maybe it'll also give me something to do during my Netflix binges...

3. TRYING OUT NEW PRODUCTS

Aahh! So the Lush store finally opened at my local mall, and everybody I know is flocking to it to check it out. I've never tried their products before, but my two older sisters love their facial cleansers and moisturizers. Earlier this week, I picked up their Ocean Salt face and body scrub, making it my first Lush product! Their concepts of fair trade and organic ingredients are very appealing, so already I approve of it. Now to see if it works! Although Lush is a bit on the pricey side, everybody I know who's tried their products absolutely loves them, and they've got items for every skin type out there. And since they use natural ingredients, I'm guessing that there'd be a smaller chance of it irritating your skin. You'll probably hear more about it in a later post!

4. NETFLIX! 

Alright so this isn't exactly the newest thing that I've discovered, but to be fair, the shows and movies on Netflix are ever-changing, and my list of things to watch is constantly growing! Lately I haven't been watching much television, so now it feels like cozying up with a mug of tea and being able to watch Netflix is a special event (and to think I used to binge-watch for hours without end!). I got back into a Spanish drama that I never finished, and I've got plenty of shows that I've yet to watch. How will I ever find time for all this?

Top Things on My Netflix List

1. Velvet (Spanish drama)
2. El Internado (Spanish drama)
3. The Walking Dead
4. Orange is the New Black
5. Mad Men
6. Knights of Sidonia
7. Pulp Fiction