I have a special treat for you today.
I am going to sing for you.
Ready? Get your best reggae, calypso beat going and if you want, sing along with me.
Don’t worry, about a thing,
‘Cause every little thing gonna be all right.”
(You know the song, right?)
You see, I needed this little bit of encouragement today, and maybe you do too.
Today is the first day of a new school year.
Summer break is officially over and it is back to the daily grind. Back to the routine of getting two kids to bed on time, getting up early, getting lunches packed, getting homework completed, getting two kids to and from soccer practice, etc….
Singing: Don’t worry, about a thing,
‘Cause every little thing gonna be all right.”
The weather is changing too. It is still sunny during the day but it cools down at night to where we have to close some of the windows and I no longer wake up to the sound of chirping birds. Instead I wake up to a stupid alarm clock. Soon enough the gray skies and rain will descend upon us where they will stay for much, much too long…
Rise up this mornin’,
Smiled with the risin’ sun, (Ha!)
The spiders have returned from wherever they go during the warmer months and have begun conspiring against me. They build their webs everywhere, right at face level so that I walk into them every time I set foot outside my house. Yesterday when I opened our front door one jumped from it’s web (built in the doorway, of course), landed on the wood floor inside my house, and then proceded to come at me in that skitterish, jerky motion they do, as if we were long lost friends about to embrace one another with welcoming arms. Um, no. Sorry Mr. Spider, but you were not invited in. And, sorry but I’m not sorry about the 2-inch thick Kindergarten activity book that sort of fell on top of you…
Three little birds
Pitch by my doorstep…”
Sigh.
You know what this makes me think about and long for? A vacation on a tropical island. Specifically, this recently-visited tropical island.
It also makes me think of cocktails. Specifically, the official cocktail of the Virgin Islands, the Pain Killer.
A Pain Killer is made with rum, pineapple juice, cream of coconut, orange juice and garnished with grated nutmeg or cinnamon.
I drank a few of these while we were there, and they are delicious. In fact, here I am on board the Daydreamer, a 55-foot catamaran during our day-long snorkeling cruise, enjoying a Pain Killer.
(Don’t worry, I didn’t start drinking until after we were done snorkeling.)
Singin’ sweet songs
Of melodies pure and true,
Sayin’, “This is my message to you-ou-ou:”
While certainly, I could pull out my cocktail shaker and mix one up right now in attempt to revisit the fun and flavor of the fantastic time we had there, but, seeing as how it is 11 am and I haven’t eaten any solid food yet, that could spell trouble.
Don’t worry about a thing,
‘Cause every little thing gonna be all right.”
Pain Killer Smoothie
Prep Time: 3 minutes
Cook Time: –
Keywords: beverage breakfast snack gluten-free vegan pineapple coconut cream orange Caribbean summer
Ingredients (Makes 1 serving)
- 1/2 cup orange juice
- 1/2 cup unsweetened coconut milk (from a carton)
- 1 orange, peeled and cut into chunks
- 1/2 cup frozen pineapple tidbits
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 scoop vanilla protein powder (I use Sun Warrior), optional
- 1 T coconut cream
- pinch of cinnamon
Instructions
All all of the ingredients except the cinnamon to a blender, and blend until smooth. Pour into a glass and sprinkle cinnamon on top.
On a recent trip to Trader Joe’s I happened upon this lovely find that brought a giant grin to my face.
I knew exactly what I would do with it. (The only question is, what do I do with the rest of the can?)
So listen up Fall. You can keep your leather boots and scarves, I am still wearing skirts and sandals.
And, you can keep your pumpkin lattes too. I am squeezing out every last drop of summer, and while I may not be lounging on a boat feeling a warm tropical breeze run through my hair as I sip a real Pain Killer, I am most definitely sitting on my back patio in the sunshine and sipping a Pain Killer Smoothie.
This is my message to you-ou-ou.”
What about you? Have you ever tried a Pain Killer?
Have you accepted (and embraced) the fact that fall is upon us? Or are you in denial, like me?
Yet again, another wonderful blog!!! The Pain Killers were awesome!! I love that you came up with a ‘smoothie’ version!!! I will have to try that!!! The spiders and their webs are out in full force at our place too.
Hope the boys had a great first day at school!!! 
They did, and they both love their teachers. It’s going to be a great year, I think. Let me know how you like the smoothie (and how it compares) if you try one!
I am totally in denial! Let me know if you are making 11:00am Pain Killers, because I want to try one.
I’m sure as fall weather arrives I will be making these daily to cope. I’ll call ya.
I loved revisiting the island with you. I will be making this pain killer smoothie, especially on the first rainy day of fall. I love your flip flop wine charm!!! :0)
Thanks! (A very special person gave it to me.) Let me know what you think once you try it. I think I remember seeing rum extract at the store–it might be a good addition to make it even more authentic, at 11 am.
What a wonderful blog!!! You were right, pain killers at 11:00 am not such a good idea…unless…we are by the beach maybe???Your smoothie sounds delish! Am going to try that real soon! The boys look absolutely grown up and ready for school! Hope they had a good one!
Well, when at the beach on a tropical island, *any* time is a good time for Pain Killers. I hope you like this version. (The boys had a great first day.) xoxo
This is usually exactly how I feel about summer. I hang on tightly and only reluctantly let go when the calendar says Oct.1. This year, for some reason, is different. I’m bidding summer an early farewell and welcoming fall early. I just can’t do summer anymore. I’m done. BUT. This smoothie I can do. I think I might be tempted to add the rum, though.
Maryea, it’s a good thing I like you so much because with anyone else, a statement like that about summer would be a deal breaker.
Send us the rest of your summer so your fall can come and stays away from here, how’s that sound?
And, by all means, add rum if you deem the day calls for it!
Another awesome blog!
Why, thank you, my love.
I was dreading the return to school, but it was no way near as bad as I thought it would be. I hope it hasn’t been so bad for you too.
I love all the seasons…. and truly love watching how much the landscape changes over the course of a year. I’d hate to live somewhere that didn’t have seasons. To me, that would be so dull!
Unfortunately, our summer was pretty much a wash out this year (literally). Apparently, we’ve just had the wettest July & August in 100 years! So glad we took that trip to Italy and escaped the rain for a couple of weeks! We’re having some beautiful weather at the moment but i don’t think it will last very long. The leaves have already started to turn golden and the mornings and evenings have started to get chilly…. sure signs that Fall is on its way.
I love summer the best, but I am glad we do have different seasons too. I just wish our winter/spring wasn’t so looooong. Wow, the wettest July & August in 100 years–I think I would have gone crazy. I am glad you got some good sun in Italy and maybe your fall will be extra sunny. You have definitely earned it!
p.s. The Painkiller smoothie sounds delicious… and what a beautiful photo! I love virgin pina coladas, so I’m sure I would love this one too. I must give it a try!
Yes! Please let me know if you do!