Summer Has Arrived!

…or at least the sounds of summer have. Sitting on my deck, I hear birds chirping, lawn mowers purring and the distinct sizzle of meat on the grill. It seems to be a trend of cold-weather climates that as soon as the temperature rises above 15 degrees, it’s officially summer and suddenly T-shirts, shorts and bikinis are the apparel of choice. I must admit, I have fallen victim to this trend; pairing leggings with my jean skirt just to have the feeling of a warm (well, tepid at least) breeze against my ankles.

With these summer traditions, I begin to think beyond the dreaded ISUs (course projects worth 15 percent of my final mark—yikes!) and torturous exams, to what the two months of blissful rest will bring. Although summer is a time for last-minute plans, I know I’ll be enjoying my favourite pastimes: travelling, tanning and being with friends.

As for the travelling aspect, I’ve already got a few plans up my sleeve. First on the list? A birthday trip with my mom to rural China, Hong Kong and Tokyo! I am beyond excited! Last summer, I spent 10 unforgettable days in Hong Kong (probably the most fascinating city I’ve ever been to) and loved every humid minute of it. This year, I’ll be celebrating my 18th birthday in the heart of Tokyo! What could be better than going to a city famous for bringing us Lost in Translation and Gwen Stefani’s Harajuku girls?

Before school’s out and I can enjoy summer in it’s entirety, I am trying to keep myself as busy as possible so I don’t stress out too much about school. It’s easy as a student to box yourself in and become a homework hobbit, stepping into the sunlight only to buy another HB pencil or necessary coffee beverage. Instead, I have recently mastered the May/June shuffle. This technique pairs homework obligations with trips to the mall, studying with sushi eating, and essay writing while tanning. It is arguably the only way to maintain sanity during these stressful months.

The key is to give yourself things to look forward to—like prom, for instance. Okay, perhaps a bad example since I am in a bit of a pickle and it’s proving to be somewhat stressful. It’s the old “to buy or not to buy” routine. Many of my friends are doing a “re-dress” (similar to the phenomenon of re-gifting except it involves wearing a dress you’ve already worn).

My predicament began when I saw the girls around me doing the ceremonial prom dress hunt. Before the race to the cash registers began, I had already planned the whole thing out. I’d wear either the vintage dress I bought for the Gemini Awards or a black dress that was given to me by a family friend (who had it made for herself in the 1950s!). However, as I look longingly at the shoes that I’ve only worn once (at the FASHION18 photo shoot!), I wonder if they deserve a new dress. After all, you only go to prom once, and isn’t buying the dress a rite of passage? So now, with less than a week until the big day, I’m stuck wondering if I should buy a new pair of shoes to match one of the two dresses (a way to spice it up and make it feel new again), or find the perfect dress for these gorgeous shoes that have yet to see the light of day or feel the exhilaration of a dance floor. So, what do you think? Do I buy the shoes or the dress? At this point, my indecisiveness is so overwhelming I’ll probably end up at prom in my favourite Ernest Sewn jeans!

Keep checking my blog for more of my predicaments, accomplishments and excitements. This summer is sure to be one I’ll never forget.
Enjoy the sunshine!

-Sarah Barrable-Tishauer