How I'm romanticizing my least favorite season

It's summer, don't unsubscribe pls

Can I be honest with you? Summer—at least for the time being—is my least favorite season. *winces like you’re going to punch me* Listen, I love alllll the summer aesthetics: the sunshine, beach, iced coffee in hand, driving with the windows down, one direction at full blast, and those sweet summer nights.

But, where I live, it’s just really dang hot … and humid. I do not have quick access to a beach—the closest is a two-hour drive—and the pool at my apartment, well, kinda sucks.

For that reason, I am not outside as much as I want to be. I kinda “hibernate” through summer, ducking my head down, hoping that when I look up again, I feel a cool crisp breeze and see pumpkins on doorsteps.

But I still want to make the absolute BEST of this season.

Here’s EXACTLY how I plan on doing it.

I’m Enjoying Slow Mornings

Mornings are sacred to me. Ever since I was a little girl, when I lived in a room with a large window that the sun poured eagerly through, I’ve loved mornings.

Just recently, I went back home for a week and rediscovered the magic of my childhood bedroom. I’d wake up naturally before 7 a.m., willed awake by the gentle sunrise.

So, yeah, I’m a morning person. But mornings in the summer are my refuge.

Summer mornings are quiet, cooler, and bursting with radiant energy. There is nothing quite like the feeling of opening your blinds early in the morning and the gentle morning sun drenching every inch of your home with its soft light.

My summer morning routine looks somewhat like this:

• Stumble over to my bathroom

• Brush my teeth

• Do my skincare routine

• Make my hair presentable

• Put on an outfit

• Open up my blinds

• Make coffee

• Sit on the couch by the window and read/drink coffee/check my phone

A little bit later, when my husband (not a morning person) wakes up, we’ll go on a walk with our dog, and then come back and eat breakfast.

These slow mornings give me the quiet energy I need to start my day.

I’m Prioritizing My Health

I’m taking the summer months to glow up. The last ten days, I have been eating healthy and working out (somewhat) consistently. I have a big weight loss goal in mind, but really just want to feel stronger and healthier, and want to be able to do more and have an abundance of energy.

I’ve also had a lot of fun exploring new recipes and making healthy food. I’ve had a lot of good food the last ten days, and have noticed my energy levels are pretty even throughout the day (the afternoon slump magically disappeared!)

This goal is keeping me motivated while also encouraging me to try new things, and I’m having fun with it!

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I’m Getting Creative

I have many plans to get creative this summer. I started a couple of weeks ago when I formed a clay mug at Nana’s house—she is my grandma-in-law. She actually owns and operates an art studio, but she keeps a bag of clay at home for creative emergencies.

At some point, hopefully soon, this summer, I want to go back down there to paint and glaze it, and fire it up in the kiln… and hopefully make more clay items.

I love working with clay; the feeling of molding and smoothing clay is extremely soothing—therapeutic, even. I would love to learn how to use the wheel soon.

Besides clay, I’d like to paint and crochet more. I have taken a couple of watercolor classes at Nana’s studio and would love to dive more into it. My mother-in-law actually showed me how to crochet a little less than a year ago, and it’s been something I’ve done on and off, but I want to get more into it.

I also want to learn how to sew, but I need more lessons because I don’t feel like I come by it naturally. But I think my next project is going to be some quilted tote bags.

I’m Going on Dates

Whether solo or with my sweet husband, this summer I want to go on more dates. Because it’s too hot for me to easily justify getting out of the house, I want to prioritize planning to go out and do something fun at least once per week.

We are going to go pick blackberries this weekend at a nearby farm and make a cobbler out of them (this is my cheat day, okay?), and I’m literally so excited. We did this a few years back, and we’ve been talking about going again since.

Need some date ideas? Here are a few that will help you get out and about this summer:

• Go to the library (It’s so much fun if you're a reader, I’ve even been checking out cookbooks recently!)

• Go get some ice cream

• Go to the movies! (Because if you don’t want to go outside, be inside in the dark with an icee in hand)

• Go to the grocery store and grab ingredients to make a fun dessert.

• Go paint some pottery at a local pottery painting shop.

• Go to the nearest drive-in movie theater

• Rewatch Stranger Things before the new season comes out this fall (Joel—my husband—and I have rewatched Stranger Things twice, and I’m really considering asking him to watch it with me again…)

• Grab a book and take it to the coffee shop!

• Go thrifting (a fave of mine. I’ve actually been thrifting fall decor… hehe)

Thank you SO much for reading!!! I hope you are all doing well.

Leave a note in the comments and let me know 1) if you love or don’t love summer, and 2) how you’re romanticizing summer. I’m always open to new ideas :)