another weekend of reading, sunning, and flowers.

Seriously. Monday again?

I brought myself a bouquet of flowers to work today. I'm hoping this will somehow bring me zen and peace all week long...??? And/or trick me into thinking I'm actually at home in my garden and not stuck in an office...???

Zinnias and lavender make a very fast and pretty bouquet!

It was a lovely weekend. There were lots of soccer games to be watched by the folks that care about such things, which meant I had plenty of time left to my own devices. Any guesses as to how I spend my free time in the summer?

Not shocking.

So I'm almost done with Book 3, and I am looooovvvviiiinnnnggggg the series. I never really doubted that I'd like them, but it's still nice to find myself enjoying every minute of reading instead of grudgingly getting through it just to please my friends. :) Plus, pool time? Books + pool = Erika's personal nirvana.

Based on Saturday morning (okay, early afternoon) attendance, it appears that everyone at the gym has given up on their fitness goals for the summer. I say that as thought I'm any different. The fact is, if and when I drag myself to the gym on a Saturday, I typically 'reward' myself for my awesome life choice by totally phoning it in (as Jillian would call it). I time it so that I get there right on the hour (any hour) so that a show will be starting on HGTV and then I just zone out on the elliptical until the show ends. No circuits. No weights. Mindless cardio and someone else's home renovation is what a Saturday workout is all about. And I would feel guilty except for it's gotta be better than no workout, right? Right. So.

Since there was not a single soul besides me in the ladies' fitness area, I finally had my long-awaited chance to take loads of (blurry) pictures and selfies. Since guys aren't allowed in the ladies' area, Matt has never seen it! He's had to imagine it based on my verbal description alone!! (There are lots of...umm...weight things...and like...ellipticals...and a line of these other thingies??) So now we've remedied that situation. Whew.

Due to the extremely unbearable heat and humidity all weekend, we only got in a few good hours in the yard. It was long enough, however, to plant a new raspberry plant. We've been loving our raspberries so much (we planted one in April), it seemed like the smart thing to do. Hopefully our raspberry yield will catch up with our blueberries and blackberries and then we will be the most antioxidantated (real word, promise) people on earth. 

And now it's back to work. And tearing through HP! Have a great Monday!