Memorial day has come and gone and usually by now we’d be basking in the sunshine of summer. Summer has decided that it is not ready to come out and play, at least here, but I sure hope it is just around the corner. Today I feel like watching one of my old faves, Beach Blanket Bingo, while cuddled up with a blanket. It is so miserable out!

I’m just starting to plan summer holidays and sign up for camps for the kiddies; it’s not all play around here-Momma’s gotta work y’know! I can’t believe how outrageously priced some of the summer day camps are.  There are some more reasonably priced ones but really I don’t know how people do it. What do you do during the summer if you have to work?

Here are a few options I’ve come up with so far:

-Boys and Girls Club or YMCA camps:these camps seem to be reasonably priced and have fun activities and day trips around town

-Trade days with a friend: if you’re friends with any other parents that work part time then you can try swapping days of looking after the kids and work (if you can make your schedules work).

-Family: some day I think it would be fun if the kiddies can go visit their grandparents for a week if they live out of town or even if they don’t. It would give them a little vacation and a lot of quality time with Gramps and Grams. Win-win I say!

-Day camps: some of the programs run through the schools or community centers are quite reasonable and sound like a lot of fun.

Summer is the best time to take vacations as well.  If you don’t have a lot of money it’s still fairly easy to get away camping or go visit family without breaking the bank. I’m really looking forward to some nice weather, time in the sun, family, friends, BBQs, beach time and of course the summer produce-peaches, cherries, strawberries and of course corn on the cob. Yum! Can’t wait! It seems like more of a dream than reality right now. Hopefully the weather takes a turn for the better and doesn’t put a damper on the fun summer ahead.

Here is a yummy summer BBQ recipe; it’ll make you feel like you’re on a tropical island basking in the sunshine (kinda what I’m dreaming about on this miserable rainy day).

Grilled Rum Basted Pineapple with Sorbet

• 2 pineapples, peeled, sliced crosswise into 1/2-inch-thick rounds
• Dark rum
• Assorted sorbets (such as passion fruit, mango, coconut, and raspberry)
• Fresh mint sprigs
• Cookies

Enjoy! Until next time my lovelies….