Summer Things
Stealing a post from Cup of Jo because I love this list and I’m in dire need of a serious break and taking an extended vacation.
1. No Plans Friday and leaning into drinks o’clock. 4-5 PM: Sign out of your work email, do a quick five to ten minute pick up and order take out. 6 PM: Pick up take out, make yourself a drink, pick a nostalgic movie or your favorite rom-com and enjoy a No Plans Friday night. I don’t know if it’s my age, (I’m turning 38 this year!), the corporate atmosphere or if I’m just exhausted from watching the US go up in flames (it’s probably all of the above), but my No Plans Friday and getting all the things from Sam’s Spritz and Snack series has been my favorite start the weekend relaxer over the last few months.
2. Lie on the sofa and read magazines and/or a good lite horror novel. Especially CN Traveler and Cook’s Country, these are a couple of my favorites. Also peruse a print catalog, you don’t have to buy anything but flip through the pages of your favorite Crate and Barrel catalog or old issues of a J.Crew catalog. Growing up in the 90s, my mom’s catalog stash was excellent. Hot summer days were spent flipping through the pages and picking out all the things I wanted in my house as an adult. And for your horror rec, You Weren’t Supposed to Die Tonight by Kalynn Barron.
3. Play cards outside. When was the last time you played a game of War or Hearts? Plan a game night with burgers and hot dogs, invite some friends over and play Spite and Malice. Have never even heard of this game but I’m definitely intrigued.
4. Take a day trip. These are some of my favorite ways to get out of my bubble and feel refreshed without going too far from home or not wanting to spend too much money. Some of my favorite quick trips include walking around the quaint mountain town of Idyllwild or hiking in Forest Falls, CA.
5. Watch a ’90s movie. Being a millennial, 90s movies scream summer to me. They’re fun and familiar, so you can turn your brain off a little and chat during the movie. A few to get you started: Jumanji, Clueless, Steven Spielberg’s Hook, The Parent Trap, The Net, Scream. When Harry Met Sally came out in 1989, so maybe that counts, too.
6. Eat potato chips from a mug. I’m very much a seasonal shopper and eater. Which means I’m loading up on favorite potato chip brands like Cape Cod and Kettle chips during the summer months. I love Joanna’s brother’s idea of grabbing a handful of chips and putting them in a mug.
7. See some art in real life. My work-life balance has been pretty bad this year. So much in fact that I really haven’t left the house besides going to work and grocery shopping. Luckily when my newest co-worker started, we both bonded over a love of art and sharing our fav art museums. Take yourself on a solo date or go with your partner and check out your local art galleries/museums. I’m heading to Pasadena in a few weeks to visit the Norton Simon Museum. And then in the fall, I’m headed to Manhattan and I’ll be spending some much needed time at the MOMA and The National Museum of the American Indian.
8. Treat yourself to some soft serve, The closest Foster Freeze is about thirty minutes away and I’m craving a vanilla dipped in chocolate soft served cone. Popsicles and milkshakes count too. .
9. Stay inside and don’t feel bad about it. I don’t know if I’m anxious or what but I cannot turn my brain off lately and I’m kind of going crazy so I particularly love this one. Joanna’s friend Sharon encourages everyone to take “catch-up days,” where you all need a break, so you stay inside and do nothing. Maybe eat a bowl of cereal? Take a cold shower and see how many seconds you last? Just don’t do anything productive because that’s against the rules.
What’s on your list for summer? I’d love to hear.
