I’m reading a book right now called “Top Ten” by Katie Cotugno, and also my favorite blog that I read @mixandmatchmama wrote a blog on her top ten of her summer. Because of those two reasons, I was inspired to write my own!
Way way way back in February, I said to myself, “self, you need to have fun this summer.” You see, I’m the type of person who just worries constantly. “Am I doing enough to succeed? Am I working hard enough to succeed when I graduate? Do I have enough money in my savings account?” Blah Blah Blah. But, I don’t know, I just have really been working on being more adventurous, and more fun, so I told myself, you can work, and have fun. You can even make work fun! Setting out to have a fun, adventurous, memorable summer, I believe I did just that!
Now, Summer is ending, and senior year at Suffolk University is starting. I am ready, I am energized, I am excited! Without any further ado, here is a look at my summer!
10: WORKING 6 am -2:30 At TARGET 2267
Yes, this one is my last on my list, but still, it was so much of my summer that it had to be on the list. Now, this is just like any typical minimum wage job, boring, stupid, annoying, and you do way more work than you get paid for, but still I had some good laughs, and I actually had fun too. It is cool to see how the average person lives their life. I was thinking the other day when I was in the girls section, how some of our celebrities should come work at Target for a summer, and see how hard some people work just to make end’s meet, and see how many people in this world really think and live, it would be quite the learning experience for them. All in all, this job was fun, and I think I made a lot of people smile with my attitude, which is always my goal.

9: All my Days by the Pool, Swimming, Dancing, Singing and Reading
It came to me a while back, that many people think that the really great days in our lives, are the days when we don’t necessarily do anything significant, but are just totally normal. Most days, I worked, and then went home and put my bathing suit on, and went to my pool. I read, I sang, I danced, I swam, I just enjoyed the simple pleasure of being alive. And, it definitely was a top 10 of the summer, hands down. I hope I have more days like that in my life, days when the hours tick by, but by the end of the day, you just feel happy.

8: ALADDIN
My wonderful mother bought two tickets to see Aladdin at the Boston Opera House for me for Christmas, and the day finally came. Let me tell you, that show was everything it was talked up to be. I absolutely LOVED IT! It was so much fun, so much energy, so much talent, so much pure inspiration. I love live theater, always have, always will! And, sadly I didn’t take any pictures of my mom and me that night, I guess we were just having too much fun!
7: The Dance Recital 2018, “When I Grow Up”
June 23 was the dance recital this year, and it was amazing. Every year I get so nervous, so worked up, but every year it ends up being amazing, and I just have the best feeling when it all ends. I love seeing the kids have a blast, and I love the progression from the beginning of the year to the end of the year. Their faces when they realize that they can do it is phenomenal. I just love this day, every year this day ends up being one for the books, so it is only right that it ends up in my top 10 for the summer!

6: Hiking Mount Washington
This day was so great! It was hot, sunny, and humid, but this was the day that my brother and I set out to hike it, and we hiked it. All the way up, all the way down, in 6 hours! I was tired, I was sore, but we did it, and I love to accomplish my goals! And to do it with my brother was so cool!

5: My day in Boston with Andrea and Andrew
It’s no secret that Andrea and Andrew are my best friends, and we hang out a lot in Boston, since that is where college is, but on this particular day, it was extra special. Andrew was in 150 as an OL, but he had this day off, and so did Andrea and I, so we went in and just had a great day. We didn’t have a plan, but we never need one. We walked, we talked, we had coffee, we ate pizza, we went to the Lawn on D. Life is always just so fun with Andrea and Andrew and I hope we are friends for a long time!
         
4: The night on the Cape with Ben and Bruce
It’s always fun to hang out with people I have known your entire life, I never have to explain myself, or pretend to be anything I’m not, because they just don’t care. This night was a planned photo shoot with Ben, but Bruce tagged along, and we had a blast. Most of the night was driving to Sandwich and back, but it was just simple. It was so fun to be on the beach at night with two of my best friends, and take pictures. We laughed and then we decided to go out to dinner at a “hole in the wall restaurant” because the cape is full of those. But, when we googled hole in the wall restaurant, we chose the Fisherman’s View, and it was definitely not hole in the wall. It was packed, first of all, but also so fancy. But, we figured we were already there, so we couldn’t back out. It was a great night! I’m glad I have my brother and Ben in my life!

3: Martha’s Vineyard with Mom!
Yes, I have lived in Massachusetts my whole life and this summer was my first time at Martha’s Vineyard. I loved it! So relaxing! So pretty! Next I need to go to Nantucket, I have never been there either!! I am so glad to have Mom in my life as my travel buddy, we travel so well together, and we had a blast exploring the island, and also just enjoying each other. I can’t wait to go back and live the island life again!


2: Philadelphia with Mom!
Another city I love! I’m pretty sure I love all cities! Philly was so cool, it was so hot, but also really fun and laid back and cool to explore all that the city has to offer. Again, I was with Mom, and we had a blast, from the Museum of Art, to Penn’s Landing, to the Museum of the American Revolution, to swimming in our rooftop pool! I loved it there! I can’t wait to go back to Philly some day!

1: PAGEANT WEEKEND
I’m sure you could have guessed that this would have been my top of my whole summer! I just love NAM and I love pageants and I loved this weekend because I crowned my successor, but also helped girls of all ages to believe in themselves and I will be forever indebted to NAM for everything they have done for me, including giving my my favorite weekend of the entire summer!

I hope you had a memorable, adventurous summer too! Now, Senior Year, LET’S GO!