Category: Is it just me?

Fun Things to do in Connecticut – Part III

There’s lots to do in the state of Connecticut during the Summer, especially when the weather is cooperating.  It is truly ‘hotter than July’ so there is really no need to travel anywhere, we have sun filled days and long nights right here in CT (smile).

Here is a short list of annual events that occur in the Summer months and involve food, fun, music, festivities, entertainment and more!  The good news is that most are free to attend and some even offer free parking.

 

 

A Taste of Mystic (New London County)

This annual event takes place at the Olde Mistick Village (OMV) around the second weekend in June (Friday/Saturday/Sunday) and involves food and drinks, live bands, loads of entertainment, merchant specials and more!

 

Decisions…Decisions…

 

Admission is free (parking is also free).  To participate in The Taste you buy sleeves of tickets for $1.00 each to be exchanged for food and drinks from the vendors.

 

Joyce of OMV being interviewed by Meteorologist Joe Furey of News 8

 

And the OMV Merchants offer money-saving specials as well!

 

OMV/Munson’s Chocolates, OMV/Sticky Situations and OMV/Jealous Monk

 

New Haven Music on the Green (New Haven County)

In New Haven the unofficial start to Summer kicks off with Music on the Green!

 

Ryan Kristafer and Teresa DuFour from CT Style along with Lifestyle Expert Jo Jo Pastors and her girlfriend

 

In Summers past we have been entertained (in our VIP seats) by such notable acts as Ronnie Spector,  Debbie Gibson, Taylor Dayne, KC and the Sunshine Band and En Vogue, just to name a few.

 

Ryan Kristafer of CT Style getting down with the ladies from En Vogue!

 

And this year we had the pleasure of seeing Lisa Lisa on Saturday 7/20/19 and Morris Day on Saturday 7/29/19!

 

Lisa Lisa and her entourage
Morris Day and The Time put on a phenomenal performance!
Morris Day – 61 years young (smile)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Hamden Free Summer Concert Series (New Haven County)

Beginning late June on Friday nights at 6pm at the Hamden Town Center Park, live bands play to diverse crowds made up of singles, couples, families, dogs and more!  This free annual outdoor event truly features something for everyone.  There’s no VIP but at the same time there is truly not a bad seat in the house.  And if you come hungry you can feast off of the nearby food trucks or better yet, pack your own picnic complete with adult beverages.  Bring your lawn chairs and blankets and make a space on the lawn as happy people jam to the music.

 

Plenty of room at the Hamden Summer Free Concert Series. Lines galore at the delicious and ethnically diverse food trucks!

 

This year (2019) on Week 4 The Wailers, featuring Julian Junior Marvin, delighted the Friday night crowd.

 

The Wailers featuring Julian Junior Marvin

 

The Greater Hartford Festival of Jazz (Hartford County)

Jazz is alive and well outdoors at Bushnell Park in Hartford!  This free annual event takes place over an entire weekend (Friday/Saturday/Sunday) in mid July.   There are food and retail clothing vendors and folks completely covering the Bushnell park lawn with their blankets, lawn chairs, coolers and sun umbrellas.  Big screen TVs on both sides of the stage ensure that everyone gets a decent view.

 

There’s no need for a VIP as the big TV screens ensure that everyone gets a decent view of the performers

 

The line-up of jazz musicians is awesome and the party lasts all day long and well into the night.

 

Could not help but enjoy the beautiful weather, good company and awesome jazz performers

 

Although this is a free event donations are gladly accepted…

 

 

New London Sailfest (New London County)

This coastal city comes alive during the Summer with its signature event, the New London Sailfest!

July is the month and the entire mid month weekend (Friday/Saturday/Sunday) offers something for all family members.

 

From Tall Ships to face painting to patriotic costumes, there’s something for everyone

 

Speaking of which, there are amusement park rides, face painting, delicious food options plus sailboat and people watching.

 

The food…the rides…the atmosphere…

 

So that’s my short list of fun things to do during Summers in Connecticut – enjoy!

Summer Love

I’m that girl who happens to love the change of seasons that living in New England affords me…However, if April showers are supposed to bring May flowers, what do May showers bring?!?

That’s the $64,000 question in Connecticut today as we head into the 2nd week of May and those pesky intermittent April showers trail right behind us…

 

 

Why do I care?  Well for one I simply cannot seem to decide what to wear to work anymore – should I wear dark clothes to reflect the dim and gloomy skies or light clothes in anticipation of  brighter days?

 

 

And this iffy weather is even affecting down time on the weekends:  our grass is growing like wildfire so our lawnmower service cannot keep up!

 

 

But being the eternal optimist that I am, I try real hard not to take it too seriously, i.e., let it affect my mood but sometimes I’m not successful…

 

 

So here’s the glass half-full point of view:  Have you taken a look outside lately?!?   All of that icky persistent rain this past month and a half has turned the bare brown ugliness of Winter into a beautiful Green paradise.

 

 

And wait, there’s more:  Summer!  One of my fave seasons is only about 6 weeks away.   I have a lot to look forward to…

 

 

Early sunrises and late sunsets…

 

 

Carefree Summer work clothes with open-toed sandals 

 

 

Weekend Golf lessons with my female Golf mates

 

 

And a promise to not complain when it’s too hot outside (smile).

 

 

My Clean Living Life Part VI

As anyone who regularly reads TVFL knows, this girl has been blogging about taking care of her health and well being for the past several years.  It was precipitated 8 years ago when I was diagnosed with colon cancer:   A Place of Desert…(almost) 4 years cancer free   So it should come as no surprise to anyone that my most shared blog post,   My clean living life…  is up to Part Six.  Namely because health and wellness is something that I (and apparently others in or not in my age group) struggle with.  And I’m not ashamed to write about it.   However, don’t get me wrong, if I could wave a magic wand and become the healthiest girl alive overnight, I would’ve been there done that soooo many years ago (smile).

 

 

As is stands, working out at the Edge Fitness Center 5 mornings a week, eating clean and healthy, getting the proper ZZZs at night and imbibing only on the weekends can get old (smile).

 

 

Especially when you work on 100 percent commission in a pressure-cooker environment each and every weekday…

 

 

But I’m not one to throw a pity party for too long…I like to look on the bright side of life.  For instance, my quest for good health and wellness affords me the following rewards:  a brighter, sunnier disposition, faster metabolism, increased energy and overall improved health.

 

 

Not too shabby huh?!? (smile).

 

 

 

 

Daydreamer

It’s rainy, wet, chilly and raw outside today – an icky, icky combo – but excellent for daydreaming (smile).

 

 

So I will write about the things I would like to do in the future (if money and time were no object).   Here they are – in no particular order:

 

Hire a Personal Assistant to clean the house, pay the bills, run errands, etc.

 

 

Travel the world (by plane, train, boat, automobile).  And I would,  of course,  blog all about it (smile)

 

 

Eat lunch with a favorite celebrity or two (so many come to mind, not an easy choice…)

 

 

Go on a pricey Spa Resort vacay in Arizona for 2 or more weeks

 

 

Hire a personal chef to make me clean, healthy meals every day.   Plus hire a reliable chauffeur to drive me all around town

 

 

Hire a Certified Personal Trainer to work me out in my own Home Gym/Fitness Center

 

 

Have a movie theater/entertainment center installed in one room of my well-appointed home and a premium hot tub installed in another room…

 

 

Have a Wine and Tasting Room in my well-appointed home where I would host small dinner parties once a month and invite family and good, good friends

 

 

So there.  That’s my short list, what’s yours?

 

It’s the little things…

Suddenly it’s the middle of Winter in Connecticut and even though we are not getting much snow this year I still find myself feeling just a little out of sorts…let’s see:  it’s cold, it’s dark and it seems like there’s not a heck of a lot to do for fun…

 

The older I get, the colder I get…

 

Here’s the good news: Spring and Summer are just around the corner and all of the outdoor activities we are missing are too (smile).

 

 

So since we have a little ways to go ’till then, allow me, the eternal optimist, to focus on some of the things you, your family and your friends can enjoy in the meantime in between time:

Skiing

There is plenty of downhill skiing in Connecticut to enjoy and the resorts are merely a car ride away.   Mohawk Mountain in Cornwall, Mount Southington in the Plantsville section of Southington, Ski Sundown in New Hartford, Woodbury Ski Area in Woodbury and Powder Ridge Park in Middlefield.

 

I love Ski Mount Southington

 

Ice Skating

I went ice skating a couple of years ago on my birthday and like riding a bike, it really does come back to you.  Growing up Hollis we kids spent a lot of time on the ice as Winters seemed to be longer, colder and snowier back in the day (smile).   The difference between ice skating then and ice skating now is now it takes me a few days to recover…

 

This is fun just as long I don’t fall (smile)

 

Reading in front of a warm fireplace

This one’s easy because it doesn’t take much effort and it offers plenty of warmth and relaxation.  Not to mention down time…

 

Fireplaces were made for cold Winter

 

Cooking and Eating Comfort foods

Anyone who really knows me knows if I had my way I would have my own personal chef cooking me healthy gourmet meals each and every day.

 

I’m nobody’s chef but I do enjoy cooking when the temperatures drop

 

Watching old movies

I love watching old B & W movies and binge-watching new series’, especially when it’s too cold to venture outdoors…

 

There’s nothing better on a cold Winter day than a good old movie, a comfy chair and some hot buttery popcorn – yum!

 

Going to the museum or a live theater

It’s wonderful to lose yourself in the experience of a museum exhibit or live theater performance – lucky for us the New Haven area is known for both…

 

 

Spa Day

Pampering yourself works for any season but it feels oh so lovely in the dead of Winter (smile).

 

 

So…that’s my list, what’s yours?!?