Whoa, slow down, August! This summer really has been a blur. So much has happened at such a lightning fast pace, that it’s hard to reflect on and put into words.
Recently I’ve tried putting some methods into practice and routines into place to help me spend my free time with more focus and intention. I never seem to make an effort to savor the summer season quite like I do the autumn or the holidays – mostly because I always feel like it’s here and gone in the blink of an eye – and I’m on a mission to slow things down just a little.
One day, I hope to record in more detail (be it here or journaling privately) what our days look like on a much more regular basis. I can’t tell you how often I’m reminiscing about this, that, or the other, and struggle to recall the name of the book or artist or city I’m trying to talk about, or the month or year in which something happened. Hopefully taking the time to jot down a few lines like these once every season or so will help when we look back a year or two or ten from now.
With that, here’s what I’ve been up to this summer…
Watching: The Keepers
Reading: A Thousand Mornings by Mary Oliver
Listening: Melodrama by Lorde + Strict Joy by The Swell Season + Traveller by Chris Stapleton
Learning: how to preserve and can garden produce. This seems like a trusty guide.
Crafting: with pressed leaves and flowers.
Cleaning: the spaces we love to put off – like the garage and the basement.
Organizing: the closets and cabinets throughout our home.
Eating: goodies fresh from the garden and the grill.
Drinking: all of the iced coffee.
Craving: vanilla bean ice cream topped with melted chocolate and strawberries.
Cooking: frequently, and loving it, with HelloFresh. Recent favorites include the Patatas Bravas Salad, Get Your Greens Rice Bowl, and Sweet Potato Black Bean Tacos!
Baking: lots of zucchini-filled treats, like these breads.
Planning: an autumn adventure in Michigan. We’re thinking about spending a week or so up north this fall, starting in Traverse City and making our way back down the coast. Taking any and all recommendations for attractions, food, and brews.
Buying: houseplant after houseplant. It’s time for an intervention!
Wearing: summer dresses and denim jackets, forever. This dress has been my favorite this season.
Pinning: cocktail recipes. We tried HT2, a craft cocktail bar that recently opened in town, a couple of weeks ago, and it inspired us to get more creative with our homemade cocktails. We highly recommend it for a special evening out!
Smelling: the lingering scent of tomato vines and soil constantly on my hands and rosemary + orange + peppermint oils in the diffuser.
Focusing: on remaining positive and strengthening my mental and emotional well-being. This article resonates with me so much in this stage of life, and following some of this advice has helped tremendously.
Loving: the Kristin Ess line at Target, this artist on Society6, these refugee made goods, and this podcast.
Dreaming: of an unplugged weekend at the lake.
What are a few small things about this summer that you want to remember for years to come?
xo, Aly