Maryann Jacobsen

Independent Author & Family Nutrition Expert

  • Home
  • Start Here!
    • Subscribe
    • Topics
    • Top Tips!
  • About
    • Services
    • Contact Us!
    • Media
    • Disclaimer
  • Blog
    • Popular Posts
    • Recipe Index
  • Books
    • RD Book Coaching Services
  • Podcast
  • Privacy Policy

10 Goals for Summer

June 24, 2014

Tweet
Pin
Share35
Yum
Email
Share
35 Shares

I have a confession: summer kind of stresses me out. I feel the pressure to plan the perfect vacation, pick the right camps and somehow get work done with the kids around more. This year I caught myself after reading a post about how to have a seventies summer. Summers should be about taking it easy and not stressing, right?

So I thought about what we really want to do this summer. And I came up with this list of 10 (non-hardcore) goals.

Jump Ahead

  • 1. Take real time off
  • 2. Clear out stuff
  • 3. Get started on a photo project
  • 4. Get summer cooking
  • 5. Lunches with kids
  • 6. Time with hubby
  • 7. Relaxed dinners
  • 8. Go to the beach once a week
  • 9. Enjoy the kids
  • 10. Get in touch with friends

1. Take real time off

When you work from home, it can seem impossible to take time off. But this summer I want to take my first “real” break since starting this blog 5 years ago. We are renting a beach house in August and I plan to read lots of books and enjoy the kids without even thinking about work.

I also am putting off some of my projects until fall so I don’t feel stressed this summer. Come September, I will have both my kids in school full-time, so that’s a great time to ramp up the work.

2. Clear out stuff

We had a fire threat recently and I was worried we’d need to be evacuated. This made me think: what are our most prized possessions? And where exactly are they stored?

We have a small place so it’s easy for it to get filled with too much stuff. I’ve been picking different areas in the house and going through them and choosing what needs to go. My goal is to clear out what we don’t use and have a good feel for where everything is by summer’s end. The organization of it all will take a bit longer.

3. Get started on a photo project

One project that has been hanging over my head since the dawn of digital cameras is photo organization. We take lots of pictures and then store them on our computer. But that’s about it. For the last two years, I have made yearly photo books but I’d like to do that for years past and store photos and videos in an organized way. I know I can’t be alone on this one!

4. Get summer cooking

I’m aiming for some new meals for summer grilling, especially sides. One side I have been making is this black bean salad (I add less oil and skip the corn). I have goals to work on a roasted potato salad without mayonnaise, a cold lentil salad and a go-to (summer) kale salad with fruit.

5. Lunches with kids

We will do plenty of packed lunches while we are on the go but there will be days we will eat at home. I’m going to take advantage of this to hopefully get more lunch ideas for when school starts. So we will have make-your-own sandwich/salad/wrap days to spur new ideas.

6. Time with hubby

I was asked to give a short presentation for the Dairy Council of California this past Friday in Napa and my hubby and I turned it into an adults only trip. It was so relaxing to get away without kids. I hope to slip in more time together this summer with a less tight schedule.

DCC

selfie

unnamed

7. Relaxed dinners

The other night we were having leftovers so I decided to take the kids to our community pool around 5:30. There was no pressure to come back because there’s no homework to do, no cooking required and no reason to get up early.

I don’t want to be rushing to get dinner on the table like I usually do. I will invite the kids to help more and leave room for spontaneity.

8. Go to the beach once a week

Last summer when Big A asked to go to “a beach without sand” I knew we didn’t see the ocean enough. People assume because I live in San Diego we are at the beach all the time but it’s a good 20-minute drive — and kind of high maintenance — so we tend to go to the pool instead.

To remedy this I’m picking one day each week to be “beach day.” We may not go every week but hopefully by summer’s end, we will have been quite a bit.

9. Enjoy the kids

My kids are 5 and 7 now and they are the funniest people I know. I feel like I’m in that sweet spot of parenting this post articulates so well. They like to be with me, still want to cuddle and have relatively few tantrums compared to the toddler days. I thought about doing more camps but we decided to have a less structured summer. When my patience runs thin, and it already has, I will remind myself of how short-lived this phase is.

10. Get in touch with friends

I’ve lived in a variety of places and have dear friends all over the country. Since having kids, I haven’t been as good at keeping in touch. So my goal is to call friends and reconnect before school, homework and work overwhelm me once again.

What are your goals for summer (it’s okay not to have any!)?

 

Get your family meals organized this summer (and kids cooking) with The Family Dinner Solution: How to Create a Rotation of Dinners Meals Your Family Will Love

Related Posts

  • roasted summer veggies recipe
    Roasted Summer Veggies [Recipe]

    This almost seems to easy to post but I love those types of recipes.  I…

  • summer kale salad
    Summer Kale Salad [Recipe]

    Every year my husband and brother-in-law run the Camp Pendleton Mud Run, and every year…

  • Summer Dinner Rotation 2017

    I’m late to send this out because I just got to my summer dinner rotation.…

  • 10 Healthy BBQ Side Dish Recipes for Summer

    Now that summer is here, grilling is here too. What that really means is my…

Tweet
Pin
Share35
Yum
Email
Share
35 Shares

Categories: Real Life Stories 13 Comments

« Ask Maryann: Is There Such a Thing as a Healthy Hot Dog?
Monthly Meal Plan (July) »

Comments

  1. Katie says

    June 24, 2014 at 9:27 am

    I didn’t know you lived in SD! I live in Tucson and we are planning a week in your town in October. Through VRBO we rented a house in the Mission Bay area. My parents are joining us as well. Really looking forward to it! It’s not my first time there, but the first time to really explore the area (with kids, parents and hubby!) Anyway, I always struggle with summer too. Once the kids are old enough to have a year or two of school under their belts, it’s really hard to go back to the days of 24/7 togetherness. We always do a week of Girl Scout day camp, which is always an awesome experience for my girl, and a great value. Besides that, we make a list of things to do and try to get to them all. In the school year, we don’t make time for big outings like the Children’s Museum and Peter Piper Pizza. Also, matinee movies, the roller skating rink, and the library. I get some childcare for my boy, which makes expeditions less stressful and more fun for me. Also, I pay once or twice for a house cleaner. We get the house messy when we’re all home and I can’t keep up with it! I figure since I’m not paying for preschool or other school related expenses, I deserve it! I bake more with my girl, as it’s a fun stay-home project. And I keep dinner simple, so we can swim in the afternoon when the pool is warm and in the shade. By the way, Tucson is too hot this time of year for all the classic summertime activities, so we look for indoor fun or swimming! One last thing, my daughter doesn’t need a nap everyday, but we still have “rest time” from 1-3. She has to stay in her room and play or sleep. It’s enforced “no screen time” and an interruption-free time for me. It also reminds her how fun books, legos and other toys are, and how nice alone time can be. Some days we skip if we are out, but I think I’ll never give it up completely!

    Reply
    • Maryann Tomovich Jacobsen, MS, RD says

      June 24, 2014 at 10:19 pm

      Hey Katie. I hope you enjoy your stay in SD. Let me know if you have any questions about what to do. I also have started quiet time in the afternoon for kids to play or read. It’s a must for me and them!

      Reply
  2. LeAnne Ruzzamenti says

    June 24, 2014 at 11:58 am

    First, it was so great to meet you in person during the Dairy Council of CA presentation last week!! I have many more things to talk to you about! Video/photo projects are on my list as well. Two years ago I switched to a Mac and iphoto and iMovie and it has helped tremendously. You can rate photos as you go and when it’s time to create the year-end photo book, just search for highly rated pics. It’s still a lot of work, but a much better system.

    The past few years, we’ve created a summer fun list on posterboard that hangs in the kitchen and we discuss our progress during family dinners – from evening bike rides to visiting our favorite museums and traditions like eating ice cream for dinner one night – it helps us be intentional about our time.

    Wishing you a relaxing and enjoyable summer!

    Reply
    • Maryann Tomovich Jacobsen, MS, RD says

      June 24, 2014 at 10:21 pm

      Great to meet you too LeAnne! I love the summer list. I’m not the best planner so that will be a good reminder of some fun stuff to do.

      Reply
  3. Sally Kuzemchak says

    June 24, 2014 at 7:19 pm

    I love this post because it gives me so many ideas and it’s very similar to how I’m feeling this summer as well. I, too, am in a “sweet spot” with my kids and wanting to slow down and enjoy it. I purposely didn’t schedule too many camps this summer so we could have some downtime. I’ve definitely heard a lot of “I’m bored”, but it’s actually music to my ears. Boredom is good! I also love LeAnne’s idea of a family summer fun list. Thanks for the inspiration.

    Reply
    • Maryann Tomovich Jacobsen, MS, RD says

      June 26, 2014 at 8:57 am

      Have a great summer Sally. We are getting into the groove here. By the time we have it down school will start ; )

      Reply
  4. Anne says

    June 24, 2014 at 7:19 pm

    It was stressing me out today that June is almost over, I feel you! There is a lot of pressure on summer, especially here in the Midwest. These goals are great. I am curious though, is there something wrong with corn?

    Reply
    • Maryann Tomovich Jacobsen, MS, RD says

      June 26, 2014 at 8:56 am

      Anne — I don’t add corn because my husband doesn’t like it ; ) Nothing wrong with it nutritionally in my book.

      Reply
      • Anne says

        July 2, 2014 at 8:33 pm

        Oh thank god! My kids love it.

        Reply
  5. Lisa says

    June 25, 2014 at 9:42 pm

    I can relate to each one of your goals! I like your balanced approach. Best wishes for a great summer with your family!

    Reply
    • Maryann Tomovich Jacobsen, MS, RD says

      June 26, 2014 at 8:57 am

      Thanks Lisa! Same to you!

      Reply
  6. Jessica Corwin, MPH, RDN says

    June 27, 2014 at 12:10 pm

    Excellent ideas and so very close to home! I also work both in and outside of the home and you’re right – so hard to turn ‘off’ and enjoy 🙂 Even when it comes to reading, I find myself reading YOUR BOOK or other nutrition related pieces. I miss the days of chick lit (or even chick flicks for that matter). With a busy toddler and another due this October, I know things will not become any slower. This is a nice reminder to savor each moment as we receive it.

    The picture org is a great idea. Not sure when I’ll make that happen, but one day 🙂 For now, we are enjoying the beach multiple times a week as it is only a hike away – and a great way to tire out the munchkin!

    Happy Summer!
    @JesicaLeaRD

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Hi, I’m Maryann…

Hi, I’m a registered dietitian who focuses on developmental stages. Here, you won’t get one-size-fits-all advice. Instead, you’ll get information based on your (and your family’s) age and stage. Make your choice between family and midlife-focused newsletters below and subscribe. Find out more!

Recent Posts

  • Heart Health for Women Over 40 Comes Down to This
  • How to Diet-Proof Your Daughter with Amelia Sherry [Podcast]
  • Yes, Every Midlife Women Should Take a Multivitamin (And Here’s Why)
  • 10 Signs Intermittent Fasting Doesn’t Live Up to the Hype
  • What do the Latest Vitamin D Studies Really Tell Us?

Random Posts

  • Join the Real Food Snack Revolution (And Kind Giveaway)Join the Real Food Snack Revolution (And Kind Giveaway)
  • Slow Cooker Veggie Lasagna [Recipe]Slow Cooker Veggie Lasagna [Recipe]

Categories

Get the books!

The Alliance of Independent Authors - Author Member

Join the Newsletter

Sign up for Maryann’s E-mail Newsletter and get her ebook The Landmines of a Healthy Relationship with Food for FREE. Subscribe now!

Thank you!

You have successfully joined our subscriber list. You're not done. Check your email to confirm your address. After you do that, you'll receive a link for the free e-book.

.

Copyright © 2023 — Maryann Jacobsen • All rights reserved • Powered by Femme Flora. Designed & Developed by BinaryTurf Privacy Policy

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.OK Privacy Policy
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT