Hello everyone! I’m Dani and you can usually find me blogging at Daniela Yvonne. Karen and I were matched up in the 20 Something Bloggers’ 9th Blog Swap so you can find her posting on my blog today. Make sure to head over to check out Karen’s post. The topic for this blog swap is:
As summer nears its end and it’s back to school time for many, we think it would be fun to reflect on SUMMER. Did you take any great vacations? Did you melt in the heat? Do you have a favorite summer memory from your childhood? Share anything summer-related with us!
Growing up, summers back home in south Texas meant dry heat, raspas (also known as snow cones), family BBQs, running through sprinklers and adventures with my childhood friends and neighbors. Oh, and my birthday of course. Some of my best childhood memories come from those sweaty days, but it’s been my summers here in Chicago that I think I’ve loved the most so far.
The summer of 2007 was my first one in the city. I lived in an apartment with 4 of my college friends that had zero air-conditioning and had 3 different jobs (an internship, a part-time job at a cafe and an editor position at the summer edition of our college newspaper). We had to battle a few bugs and a bat invasion (and ok, by invasion I mean one lonely bat who was more terrified of us than we were of him). I was constantly running around, taking the train everywhere and working hard. I bought my Macbook as my 21st birthday present to myself. I went to festivals and markets and drank with all my friends. It was fun and hectic and I wouldn’t change a single thing about those 3 months.
Last summer, I moved back to Chicago with two suitcases, whatever money I had in my pocket and no jobs. I freelanced, I traveled and I made the most of my situation. I fell in love with this city and my neighborhood all over again. I enjoyed the time I had off to renew friendships and make new ones. I was fortunate enough to find my full-time job in early September, thus being able to enjoy that first summer back to the fullest. And then there’s this summer. It has served as the mark of my one year anniversary back in my favorite city. One year older, one year wiser, space of time filled with just as many laughs and adventures as the last one. Except this summer was also filled with love, as I met my wonderful boyfriend Alex back in May.
As a summer baby, the hottest time of the year is easily my favorite. The last few have shown me that each one can be even better than the next, as long as you remember to make the most of it. I can’t wait to see what next summer will bring.
