Okay, you got me - that's not entirely true. Yes, I have been busy, but that is not the only reason I have yet to honor the main event of 2011, aka "The Summer of Erin". The truth is the main event is... not over! (I can hear my husband's head falling on to a keyboard somewhere)

"Excuse Me for Partying" was on a t-shirt I read one time. I remember thinking after I read it, "yeah, sorrrrry for having a good time - world!" Now that the summer and holidays are over and my husband is back to school and work, I feel as though I need to apologize for still being on a break. And by break I mean not working at a job where I get paid.

Here's the truth about taking a break from the old humdrum.
- First comes guilt
- Then an overwhelming feeling of what to do with your time
- After an extensive google search you have literally hundreds of ideas for trips
- Too stupid to figure out the "point system" on Southwest Airlines you decide to narrow down the trip ideas
- You start working out more
- Then somehow you become even more busy than when you were working, with trips, projects and plans, that you need a break from your break
- You stop working out
The other truth about taking a break from working is that it can be GREAT!

Not working usually means freedom to do as you please - but I found this to only be true if I allowed it. The biggest lesson I learned from "The Summer of Erin" is that freedom is ALWAYS a state of mind. When I let go of judgements, more importantly my own judgements, it left room to truly be myself. I've come to realize that wherever I am in life, the biggest obstacle between myself and my freedom is myself, and more specifically my worries... and also reality TV. Damn you Bachelor Ben!
While I know we are in the thick of winter and I can't technically say it is still "The Summer of Erin", in my mind it is still going strong. This is not because I have not found a job yet or I still get the occasional spray tan, but because of what "The Summer of Erin" represented - freedom to be myself.
Here is finally an appropriate goodbye to "The Summer of Erin" - which is still going on, but not technically. Thank you to all who helped me let go and enjoy this time! This is in honor of you cool people!








































