What are your plans for summer?
Taking control of the summer narrative effective immediately.
I’m feeling a little boo-hoo about summer right now. June was consistently cold and rainy each weekend, which felt like such a punch in the face because Monday would routinely dawn 80º and sunny as I drove into the office to spend the beautiful day perched up in a cubicle. It felt like a lost summer month, but frankly, I also wasn’t in the headspace to enjoy it anyway. My son finished up the 1st grade and our summer childcare plans fell through, so I’ve been swamped with work, while trading off parenting while working with my husband, and I fall into bed while it’s still light out most days, wasting the long evenings altogether.
I could probably go on this way pretty easily, but I’ll sink so deeply into a completely different kind of seasonal depression if I lose/waste another summer month, so I’m taking some action. In the back of my head is this quote I read somewhere, forever ago, and it’s like this: you get to choose if you want to walk on the sunny side of the street. I’m choosing the the sunny side and with July 1st coming right up, I’m choosing to kick off summer right now.
On the agenda:
Summer Movie Nights | I’m talking projector on the patio, a white towel taped to the side of the house, themed movie snacks and every classic summer camp movie available on streaming services. A fire in the solo stove and twinkle lights strung up around us.
The Parent Trap + Oreos and peanut butter.
Matilda + a big ol’ chocolate cake.
Thelma & Louise + Margaritas (by the sea)
Dirty Dancing + a jug of water to poor down the front of Robby-the-Creep’s pants.
Extra Credit Reading: 50+ Best Summer Movies (Town & Country)
Beach Picnics | Swing through a drive-thru and take it to the beach. Arguably the easiest dinner plan and I have found that even Subway feels special if the vibe is right.
No excuses, snap that laptop shut at 5pm sharp | If an email lands in my inbox at 5:01, that’s tomorrow’s problem.
Dine al Fresco | Eating outside is such a mood-lifter. I’ve strategically put a patio table at every exterior door of my house and there’s no reason I can’t drink my morning coffee on the front porch, or bring my plate out on the deck for dinner.
Related: drive over to the local beach-front town 10 minutes away, get donuts, take them to the benches lining the boardwalk and eat them for breakfast while people watching the early birds out for their morning walk.
Fully Embrace Boring Girl Summer (You’ve Got Lauren).
Swim in the lake. Get my hair wet. Let it air dry. Don’t worry about what I look like. Don’t worry about what I look like. Don’t worry about what I look like.
Read a Lot of Books | But put it down and grab another if it sucks. I’m not guilt finishing anything.
Buy Fancy SPF | Might actually put it on if it’s an ooh-la-la experience.
Make Time for Bonfire, Smores, Sparklers and Staying Up Late.
