Clichés for Kids (or Inspiration for Graduates)

Make a goal

Change your mind

Break the rules

Create new ones

Forge a path

Blaze a trail

Spread your wings

Fly for the clouds

And then…

Shoot for the stars.

And if—for some reason—you don’t reach the star for which you were aiming, that’s totally okay. There are bazillions of stars in the galaxy, and you only need to claim one. They’re all bright and colorful, and somewhere, one is waiting for you to catch it—it belongs to you, and you alone.

The only question left is which one will it be?

Reasons Summer Rocks

I love summer. I love the warm sunshine, driving with my convertible top down, and walking barefooted in the grass. (Just as long as I watch out and don’t step in dogie bombs.) I love the lush green trees in my yard, and the flowering vines creeping up the pergola surrounding my porch. And fresh garden vegetables—even when they’re just tiny plants in the ground. I love the very idea of growing food in my backyard, and the smell of freshly turned soil that comes with it.

You know what else I love? Lying on a chair by the pool and doing nothing more than enjoying the absence of snow and cold. I even love the smell of sunscreen, especially if it’s Hawaiian Tropic brand. *sniffs the air* Aahhhh.

Oh, and parades and fireworks and outdoor craft fairs / art shows. (Which often smell like popcorn, cotton candy and caramel apples—or—barbecue.)

With summer, comes the sound of music as neighbors and friends host backyard parties, and the ice cream man driving up and down the street trying to entice little children into begging their parents to pay a dollar for a Popsicle they’d pay twenty cents for at the grocery store.

Homemade ice cream. Snow cones. Roasted marshmallows. Barbecue sauce. Fresh peas off the vine. Outdoor concerts. All tiny slices of heaven on earth as far as I’m concerned.

Oh yeah, people. Summer’s here. So grab a book and a bottle of sunscreen and take a few days to enjoy it. Because if you live in Utah—like me—it won’t last very long.

What’s your favorite thing about summer?

Winner of the Summer Rocks Contest

By Nichole Giles

Today is the day I promised to announce the results of the drawing for the silver Roxy bracelet. The winner was picked using a random generator, and though I wish I had more than one bracelet to give away, I could only pick one lucky person for this particular contest.
And the winner of the bracelet is Ali Cross. (Cheer, clap, clap, clap, clap, cheer, hooray, and the crowd goes wild.)

Oh, but I couldn’t stand just picking one name! I have so many awesome followers and wanted everyone to win, so I had an extra name drawn as a runner up. In the event that I’m unable to locate Ali, this person gets the bracelet. But since I’m pretty sure that won’t be the case, the runner up will be getting a delicious chocolate stash in the form of either a Symphony bar or Hershey’s—her choice. So the runner up is Cindy Beck. (Dancing, clap, clap, clap. Cheer, and the crowd goes wild again.)
Congratulations, Ladies! Please contact me privately with your snail mail address information so I can get your prizes delivered this week.

Thank you so much for playing, and stay tuned this next few weeks for another fun drawing! (All you followers will automatically be entered—but watch for ways to increase your chances of winning.)

Have a happy, rockin’ summer! (And happy birthday to all my fellow July babies.)

Ten Reasons Summer Rocks and a Prize

By Nichole Giles

Anyone who knows or has ever heard a speech by the up and coming big-time author, James Dashner, has an inkling of his propensity for making lists. The man has a top ten for everything. And they’re always funny. Or, at least I find them amusing.

But recently he posted a list on his blog about all the reasons he hates hot weather, which in my book translates to summer. Now, while the Dash-man does make some good points, I am here to counter his dislike of my favorite season of the year.

Why, you ask?

Because I feel like it. And also, because summer rocks! ;-P (That’s me sticking my tongue out at James.)

So, I am hereby posting a top ten list of why summer is the BESTEST, most awesome season of the whole entire year. And then I’m giving away a really awesome prize. Again, because I feel like it, and summer—and warm weather—rocks.

10. Awesome, warm weather is perfect for water recreation. Boating, wave running, and skiing in local lakes, oceans, and rivers (skiing in the summer is called water skiing, which is why we don’t ski on dirt when there’s no snow).

9. No snow!!! You can actually walk around outside in the grass, barefooted and without a coat, and not get hypothermia.

8. A whole season (or at least part of one if you live in Utah) of healthy, natural vitamin D (aka sunshine).

7. Swimsuit and sandal weather—for soaking up those vitamins. (And if you hate looking at your feet, get a pedicure!)

6. Three words: Pools are Open. (And jumping in a pool is not nearly as scary as flying down a mountain on waxed wood with nothing to keep you from crashing into a tree but two skinny sticks.)

5. I can drive my convertible with the top down and not get snowed on, and also not have to leave my car at a local gas station because it's stuck in the parking lot (aka a sheet of thick ice).

4. Fireworks that make silly shapes in the sky, parades where clowns chuck candy at your kids so they ruin their braces eating it, carnivals with rides that cost way too much and make you throw up, and patriotic celebrations--because we live in America!

3. Cotton candy to give you a sugar high, caramel apples that also ruin braces--but are so worth it, snow cones--any flavor, and ice cream.

2. Barbeques and fresh veggies, baseball--especially the little kid kind, and blooming flowers.

1. My birthday is in July--and everyone looks forward to that.

This leads me to the big announcement. Next week is the big day (and no, I’m not telling you how old I am). When you’re a kid, people ask what you want for your birthday, but since I’m not a kid anymore, I’ve decided to give a gift away to one of my fabulous followers.

Check this out:

Pretty, huh?

Quicksilver / Roxy brand stainless steel charm bracelet. Retail value: $18.00.

Come on, you know you want it! To win this fabulous bracelet, all you have to do is one of these things:

1. Become a follower of this blog you’re reading or my other blog. (Or both.) Then, leave a comment on this post telling me you’ve become a fan. In your comment, tell me at least one thing you love about summer—or something special that reminds you of summer. If you’re already a follower, you’re one step ahead—but still leave me a comment and tell me why summer rocks.

2. Run on over to James Dashner’s blog and say hi to him. Tell him I sent you, and then come back here and let me know you paid him a visit. (You don’t have to follow him, but please still follow me. And whatever you say to him, be nice. He is my friend, after all.)

3. Go have a good laugh at the LDS Humor blog, and sign up to be a follower there, then come back here and tell me you signed up, and share a funny joke of your own. (Because everyone needs a good laugh, right? Oh, and then watch for your joke—and your name—to show up on the humor blog later this month.)

4. Listen to my playlist (on the sidebar) and tell me which summer song is your favorite. If your favorite isn’t on there, tell me what awesome summer songs I don’t have but should add. (As long as they’re appropriate, I will.)

Sometime on or around July 13th (that’s a Monday) I’ll have my trusty computer generator choose a random name from the list, and announce it here and on my other blog. The winner will then have to send me a private email with their snail mail information so I can send them the gorgeous prize. (Guys, I know this isn’t so much a prize you want, but it makes a great gift for an important female in your life. And if you follow me anyway, you’ll be automatically entered in the next awesome giveaway, which is coming up soon and is not jewelry.)

Now, get away from your computer and go get some sunshine!