Reasons I Am Loving Summer and a Giveaway Winner

{we heart it}

Impromptu picnics with Matt…
Fresh fruit, particularly crunchy red grapes…
Great Chicago weather…
Maxi dresses and tissue cardigans…
Leaving our patio door open all hours of the day…
Late nights with friends…
Not having to take summer classes for the first time in a bazillion years…
Experimenting with fun summer recipes on our new grill…
Sno cones… 
My new summer work out routine…
Pink nails…
Evening walks around our new neighborhood pointing out dream houses…
Ponytails…
and summertime visits from friends on vacation.

Matt and I on a picnic last week at a park just across from our house.  We have a traditional picnic basket, and I always feel so delightfully old fashioned carrying it across the park :)

We’ve only been in Chicago for six weeks and I can already tell the best part is the visitors.  Lots of people come to Chicago to see family, attend conferences, take a quick vacation, etc, and we have been so lucky to see a number of special people during our short time here.  Today, we were so blessed because Jenny, my friend and previous boss in Texas, and her husband were in the Chicago area visiting family.  We got to meet them for lunch, and it was SO good to see them.  I am already counting down till September when I’ll be back in Texas and can see her again :)

And I know I am ridiculously late in announcing the $40 CSN Stores gift card giveaway winner (the weekend completely got away from me) but the winner is…Tamara Nicole!  Congrats girl; send me an email, and I’ll pass on all the info you need to get your goodies.  Thanks to all who entered and to CSN stores for sponsoring.

So what about you…what are your reasons for loving summer?  I’d love to hear!