Savoring Monday

 

This weekend was iconic! I consider it a Summer bucket list weekend because I crossed a ton of things off my Summer bucket list. While we had some leisure, relaxing time, we also had some spontaneous adventures. We started the weekend in Walmarts plant section, perusing the flowers. I made a gluten free alternative for the hot cheetos korean corn dogs from Mochinut. We went to the library for some DVD classics and got Shark Boy and Lava Girl. That was a throwback. And of course, we picked up some fun snacks from Dollar Tree. I got flowers for my birthday so we also spent some time gardening and transferring those to a new planter. I spent some time reflecting on analog hobbies like using an old iPod or radio for music, figuring out my Summer junk journal and getting fabric for Summer DIY decor projects. I also had fun trying a new coconut matcha recipe using the Chobani coconut creamer. On our adventurous day, we spent about an hour at the beach before heading to a waterside restaurant...

This weekend in particular felt like the ultimate Summer weekend. We grabbed local coffee at The Seed and some light breakfast. I tried the seasonal blueberry banana bread matcha latte and it was delicious! If you are in Florida and you're looking for specialty drinks, I recommend checking out The Seed. They also offer a gluten free chocolate chip muffin which gives gourmet vibes, thats how good it is! We grabbed our drinks and breakfast to go and drove around until we found a picnic spot. We decided on an area close to beach access. After we ate, we enjoyed the beach scenery and I took some fun pictures. I've been back in my aesthetic artsy photography era.  After our morning adventure we spent time at home. We had a Summer inspired meal for lunch which felt festive. We had burgers, watermelon and chips. I had a veggie burger by the Actual Veggies brand. It was the sweet potato one and it has become a staple in my kitchen.  The next morning I made the Simple Mills banana brea...

The last day of May has been one of the best days of Summer so far. May is my birthday month and I didn't really think I could have as good of a weekend as my birthday weekend went..but I was wrong! This was truly one of the best beach days I have ever experienced.   We started off on the intracoastal side. The water was really clear and the beach was eerily empty. It was also kind of early. There was a lot of sea grass in the water so it wasn't the most comfortable of swimming conditions. We decided to pack up and head to the main beach to see if the water was just as calm on that side. BEST DECISION EVER!!  When we got there, I was in awe at how flat the water was. This was exciting to see because it's not always favorable swimming conditions on this side of the water. There were also SO many sea shells blanketing the sand. The piles went on and on forever. I successfully found pink shells, sea glass and shark teeth!  I think my favorite part of this whole experience wa...

I've been thinking about the Summer season for awhile now, making bucket lists, curating aesthetics and figuring out how I could make it the most whimsical Summer yet. Here's how I've been prepping for Summer: The very first thing I did was take inventory of what I already have and figure out how I could utilize it for Summer. Whether it was my closet, accessories, craft supplies or home decor storage, I went through everything to see what I could use this season.  For the most part, my style is very earthy, with pops of color and whimsical patterns. I was surprised to see how many blouses and t-shirts I could utilize in a unique way. I still have some jeans to cut into bermuda shorts and some embroidery and patchwork projects to do, but it was fun to shop my closet.  I also started saving some summer hairstyle inspo on Pinterest and practiced a 5 minute wavy hair and braids look. I definitely want to try out some braid hair styles this season.  I also figured out my 5 m...

Rewatching The Summer I Turned Pretty every Summer has become a tradition, and something I look forward to. The show itself feels very whimsical, nostalgic and encompasses the exhilarating anticipation of the season. I thought it would be fun to create a Summer bucket list based off the show. How to have a The Summer I Turned Pretty aesthetic summer TSITP Inspired Places to Visit: find your own charming beach town go to the boardwalk have lunch at the country club and wear your best sundress go to the golf course and book a tee time or go mini golfing go to an arcade with friends and whoever wins the challenge gets a bag of candy go to a bookstore Whimsical Summer Activities: movie night with old classics 4th of July party with fireworks and themed foods play carnival games and win a prize boat day play volleyball with friends write a book paint a portrait go sailing go for a nighttime pool swim throw a house party go surfing have a bonfire visit a drive in movie make up a dance routi...

 

 

Looking for creative ways to romanticize your summer? Crafting is one of the best budget friendly summer activities to add to your bucket list. As a lifelong crafter, I have curated the ultimate list of whimsical summer craft ideas - using affordable materials and items you might already have at home - ranging from summer jewelry, to diy home decor ideas, to analog hobbies to add to your daily routine. Aesthetic Summer Accessories to DIY: 1. Seed bead bracelets Once you learn how to make seed bead bracelets, you're not going to want to stop. This beginner friendly jewelry craft allows you to mix and match vibrant color palettes, thread in word beads or unique charms to add more whimsy to your summer outfits. They are cheap to make and would be fun to bring to a summer slumber party or to give as a gift. 2. Make chunky jewelry Statement jewelry is coming back! All you need is some oversized, funky beads and some string. It's an easy way to elevate a simple top. 3. Seed bead flo...

Im a foodie, so my Summer 2026 bucket list includes a section dedicated to how I want to romanticize every day foods by adding a whimsical summer flare to them. I've categorized everything by baking, drinks, sweets or other to organize the ideas. You can expect summer recipes inspo, fun summer flavors, festive desserts and summer meal ideas.   Baking: Bake a cake Make funnel cake - with gluten free pancake mix Make a sugar cookie fruit cake - with buttercream frosting and berries Make pop tarts - with a berry filling Bake a summer pie - berries or cherries Make chocolate chip cookies Coastal focaccia bread - create a crab or shell design Sand castle cake - use graham cracker dust as the sand and shell shaped chocolates Make tomato cupcakes or garden cupcakes Drinks: Try soda alternatives - sparkling water, olipop, poppi, bloom Make a earth sky matcha Make a strawberry matcha - using homemade syrups Have a tea party - casual or dress up Try local coffee spots Make lemonade Hav...

  notes from the week getting back into a routine while slowing down