10 Summer Favorites

Hey there! 

I took last week off to take care of some family issues but I’m back! This week I’m so excited to share some things I’ve been loving lately and look forward to enjoying over the rest of the summer. Here are 10 of my summer favorites–I did share some links in case you are interested but none of this is sponsored, I purchased everything below myself (except for the couple gifts I received from family).

1. A good book

I tend to read a lot of heavy material but I’ve been enjoying some light, summer reading over the past few weeks. I recently read Anne of Green Gables for the first time (this beautiful Puffin In Bloom version). If you’ve never read it I highly recommend, the descriptions of the landscapes just remind me so much of the lush greenery of the summer. I think there’s nothing like a good, easy read in the sun.

2. A picnic basket

My boyfriend and I love going on picnics together and this year we decided to upgrade our picnics with a new basket. I wanted something with a classic look that was insulated and didn’t have plastic cutlery/glasses/plates. This is not the exact one we bought, but it similarly ticks all the boxes. 

3. A picnic blanket

Picnic blankets don’t have to be just for picnics! They’re great for a day at the park, a beach day, outdoor movies, or outdoor concerts. The key thing is to buy one with a synthetic bottom layer to protect you from wet grass. We bought this one made by UGG recently and I’ve already gotten some compliments on how soft it is!

4. Hair clips

I hate having my hair down in the summer, it’s just too hot for that. I cut my hair so short that it’s hard to keep it in an elastic because the shorter pieces fall out. Then I found these clips from Revlon which have been such a gift. They are the only clips I’ve found that don’t slip out of my hair, they keep it in place all day. I like them so much I’ve already repurchased them.

5. Tea

I love brewing iced tea in the summer. It helps me use up any tea bags I have sitting in my pantry (and there are a lot), plus it keeps me hydrated. Right now there’s a pomegranate tea I’ve been enjoying from a local grocer, but I also love the Tazo Passion tea. You can always mix it up by adding lemonade or a flavored syrup into your tea as well to keep it interesting. 

6. Ocean Spray Passionfruit Juice

If you’ve read most of my posts, you’ll know I cut back on drinking a few years ago to the point where I don’t really drink alcohol very much anymore. I also have a hard time drinking in the summer because the heat makes me feel run-down, and that feeling doesn’t mix well with alcohol, so I just largely avoid it all together. Because of this I mostly stick to mocktails. I tend to not drink a lot of juices because there’s so much added sugar, but this juice from Ocean Spray I will use a splash of in pretty much every mocktail I make.

7. Plants

I love having plants around me. Being around greenery just helps keep me calm and relaxed. I don’t have a ton of space for a garden where I live, so I have an herb garden I created in pots on my patio. It’s so nice for the senses, it looks beautiful but also smells good. Plus, we can use the herbs in our cooking. Win-win!

8. Outdoor concerts

I think the pandemic has made me appreciate how much I enjoy seeing live music. It’s something I really missed but it didn’t hit me how much I have missed it until I went to my first post-COVID-19 outdoor concert. Venues are starting to open up again, and there may even be small free outdoor shows near you. Take a look and see what’s out there!

9. Patio decor

I love our patio, it’s one of my favorite spots in the house. We recently spruced it up a little bit with new placemats, a centerpiece, some wall decor and new water glasses. They’re very small, inexpensive items but they make a big impact! It actually looks like someone designed our patio.

10. My bike

We were given bikes by a family member a while ago, but we finally took them out for a spin this past weekend and it was so fun! I forgot how much fun it is to ride a bike. I enjoyed it so much I’d like to go out regularly for the exercise. No judgement here (I mean look at the name, this site is a judgement-free zone), but I’d personally rather be enjoying the scenery of our trails than sitting in a spin class. 

What are some of your summer favorites? Let me know in the comments!

Until next week,

Livvy