Guilty Summer Pleasures

School is just around the corner. My kids are still sleeping late, going to bed late, and squeezing every last bit of fun out of summer. I feel blessed to have these moments with them. I know I'll never regret it, especially the day I see them driving away to college.

Summer is all about having fun and indulging, so I thought I'd share my eight guilty pleasures (eight in honor of August, also my birth month).

1. Sleeping In
I don't like wasting the day away, but there's something so sinful about waking up refreshed and close to lunchtime. It's best when hubby joins me and even a couple of kids.

2. Easy Reading
Kids are happily splashing around in the pool, so I sneak to a shady spot and crack open a good book. I like guilty reads this time of year... nothing too deep or taxing, just a great story with engaging characters. There's a reason books are labeled summer reads. My favorite go-to light read, anything Nora Roberts. I'm trying to expand, though. I recently bought Susan Mallery's Only Mine after several recommendations.

3. Caramel Popcorn
I don't want anyone telling me the number of calories in my favorite caramel popcorn. Life's too short not to occasionally indulge. I like it best hot with melted caramel oozing over the top. Even better, and more of a guilty pleasure, if I have it instead of dinner.

4. Mindless TV shows
I watch very little television. I like my books deep (except for some summer loving, see #2) and my television shows shallow. Some of my faves: Diners, Drive-ins and Dives (or anything on Food Network), So You Think You Can Dance, and Pawn Stars.

5. Entertainment Magazines
I flip through and look at the pictures the first time, then I read a few articles. I'm not learning life lessons here, unless wearing a see-through top to an event with cameras is a life lesson.

6. Electronic Games
Since I'm a writer, I guess it only makes sense that I love Scrabble or any word game. Or is it because I'm a word nerd?

7. Coloring/Drawing
Sometimes the girls and I sit around and color, everything from coloring books to drawing on a blank sheet of paper. I can't draw a stick figure well, but I can make a lot of circles and color them in with different colors. The funniest thing is when I look up and I'm still coloring, but all the kids have left.

8. Kid movies
I love Tangled, Enchanted, and so many more. Thanks to my kids and summertime, I can watch all the Disney and other animated movies I want and simply blame the children.

What's your guilty pleasure?