icymi: i’m team “gamify the seasons” via seasonal bucket lists year round (disclaimer: i skip spring because the bucket list is just different variations of spring cleaning)
some of you might remember at the beginning of summer i made my annual summer bucket list. i’ve been doing this since i was at least 16 (and still have some of those teen year lists saved to prove it….and/or cringe at. my personal favorite was “turn 16” on the bucket list from, you guessed it, the year i turned 16).
the tldr on summer bucket lists — and any season bucket list — is that i’m a strong advocate for them.
while it might seem like toxic productivity, it’s summer & it’s not that serious (it’s also not necessary to complete everything on the list…i’ve personally transferred “tie dye” from bucket list to bucket list summer after summer in hopes this might be the year i finally do it. spoiler: i haven’t done it yet this summer and it’s unlikely it’ll happen before sept 22).
what “gamifying summer” does help with:
getting me out of a rut from doing the same thing
keeping the “childhood wonder” of summer alive (as much as possible while still paying bills). hitting concerts, picnicking, checking out a new farmers’ markets, etc. really fills my cup personally.
gets me off of screens and to the beach…or the movies…or a pool…or wherever i’ve come up with on my list because, admittedly, i just love the satisfaction of checking off a box
where’d i land on my summer bucket list to date? (if it looks a little different than my first summer bucket list installment, it’s because i left my list in the sun - as one does in the summer - and the colors faded so i had to give her an update <3).
my summertime ‘add to cart’ heroes
these shorts were my m.v.p. of summer. mostly because this summer entailed a million beach days and they were cute/easy to throw on and grab a bite after in too.
for any “real” swimming this summer, my go-to was left on friday (specifically the club top and the skinny dip bottom). i did secure some frankies bikinis for vacation, but we all know those are not holding up if you’re going all in on the above pool party bucket list item.
the black heeled sandal got me and hailey bieber through the summer. the difference is i don’t believe this is a worthy investment piece. for this one, get something $50 and under and wear the hell out of them. the ones i have aren’t available anymore, but these are a good alternative. you should never have to stress about wear & tear on a real summer shoe.
same text, different font: the black square toe havaianas flip flops (olsen twin approved). it’s not summer without a classic flip flop.
i’ve been searching years, high and low, for the perfect length denim short that wasn’t a daisy duke and wasn’t a full blown jort (no hate, i have some of these too) and i finally found her. summer felt so easy in these.
i went full teen girl mode this summer and wore an anklet from memorial day weekend through labor day (i miss her already). i picked mine up in mallorca, but really adore these ones too!
if i was not in a bikini, my go to summer outfit was a mini skirt (i have this one in black & “mole” aka dark brown so i had options to work with) paired with a classic black boot. worn with a basic tee or tank, it was the formula that worked for me all summer (major for someone who pretty obviously prefers getting dressed in colder weather).
face sunscreen, duh. i admittedly fill half of my suitcase with sunscreen any time i go to france, but this is at least the u.s. equivalent.
i do a lot of hosting & love baking so, i was on a mission this summer (per my tattoo party above) to find a great cake stand that wasn’t $$$$. i found her and have probably baked 4x as many baked goods this summer just to give her more face time.
quilts for picnicking and outdoor summer movie nights.
so much wavy wine was consumed this summer.
this cashmere cotton cardigan became my go-to for throwing on when the temp dropped during summer nights. i even got stopped in puglia by someone asking for the source because it looked “exquisite”. i’m anything but a gatekeeper so, i told her and am sharing with you all too of course.
things i listened to this summer
the summer i turned pretty soundtrack. this admittedly is the only time i listen to taylor swift (for no reason, i just never got on the train and feel like i’ve missed it) and the whole thing just sets a great summer tone.
a lot of arctic monkeys “am” album. likely because i listened to them a lot during the summers of my formative years, but i just can’t stop.
what dreams are made of by hilary duff because i couldn’t go to rome and not listen to this, that would be sacrilege.
a lot of “older” caroline polachek. emphasis on the “so hot” in so hot you’re hurting my feelings.
newly: swag ii. another no brainer.
things i read this summer
as seen on my summer bucket list….great big beautiful life by emily henry (★★★★★)
l.a. woman by eve babitz (★★★★★ - an icon, what can i say)
when the going was good by graydon carter (★★★★ - only because i wanted more tea)
funny story by emily henry (★★★★★ - read on vacation and you really can’t go wrong with an em henry book in those circumstances)
magnolia parks by jessa hastings (★★★★ - i should probably give it five stars because i’m continuing to read the entire series and….)
….picked up one of her other, newer books too because of it. time of your life by jessa hastings (★★★ - read just like magnolia parks, but imo the male protagonist had pretty much zero redeeming qualities)
neuromancer by william gibson (★★★★★ - it’s wild this was written in 1984. for any sci-fi fans or a.i. enthusiasts…or phobes…this is a good one)
my favorite dishes (and drinks) this summer
lobster rolls at abbott’s lobster in mystic, ct — i’m always a lobster fan, but the vibes were immaculate with my high school best friends by the water
homemade chocolate bday cake!
normal ice cream at barnsdall art park wine fridays (hand delivered in lactaid in tow too…dreamy).
grilled cheese at masa vins in barcelona. the photos do not do it justice. this place is my top rec for anyone visiting barcelona.
tomatoes with feta at ΛΙΝΟΥ ΣΟΥΜΠΑΣΗΣ ΚΑΙ ΣΙΑ in athens…everything about this place was incredible (also…the tiramisu! ugh!).
crudo any time i saw it on a menu (this one in particular is at wine is fine in athens)
some cheese / buckwheat crepe-esque dish at an event with parachute and asi asi. so chic.
a margarita pitcher at panzon in bk split between myself and my best friend. highly ambitious of us.
the big takeaway: gamify your summer because who cares if you (like me) need a checklist to make sure summer goes by without ever hitting the beach, having a picnic or throwing a pool party.
move mini golf to fall bucket list and let’s gooooooo