How to Make the Most of Summer – Ideas and Inspiration
Happy weekend and welcome to the Saturday Spotlight! Are you still embracing summer or have you already switched over to fall mode? Each year, I hang onto summer to the very last moment…and this year is no different. So, join me today as I share my tips on how to make the most of summer! After all, it’s not over yet!
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Ways to Make the Most of Summer:
Turn your backyard into a staycation:
Since many of us aren’t traveling yet, why not vacation at home?!
Last year, I shared my backyard staycation tips…and who would have thought they’d still be just as relevant this year? When will things get back to normal?!!
Either way, I think we’ve all learned to embrace our homes in a whole new way!
Escape to the Beach:
If you live in the northeast, you know that August is the perfect time to visit the beach…or as we say in New Jersey – go “down the shore”!
Appreciate the Simple Things in Life:
As we slow down and relax during these lazy days of summer, I think we should take some time to reflect on what’s important in life.
Last year, I listed some simple pleasures in life and I think most of them still apply a year later. Who says you have to wait until the new year to reflect on life?
Indulge in Seasonal Fruits and Vegetables:
In New Jersey, corn and tomatoes are at their peak in August…and they’re amazing! We’ve been making almost daily trips to the farm stands lately…
Grill Your Dinner and Dine Alfresco:
This year, I think we’ve blown through several propane tanks from all the grilling we’ve done! And even though we’ve had some super hot and humid days, we’ve eaten on the patio a lot! It’s really my favorite place to dine!
Besides grilling burgers, chicken and steaks, there are many nights that I just eat a salad…and I can never get enough arugula!
Over the years, I’ve tried many arugula salad combinations and here are 3 of my favorites!
Summer Shopping Finds:
Embrace what’s left of summer with these shopping finds:
Who can resist a hammock in the summer?! Just don’t forget the stand!
Grab a fun beach read…I recently finished Under the Southern Sky (and loved it!)
A summer dress that’s cute and comfortable…(I bought this earlier this summer and I’ve already worn it several times. Great material and it fits true to size).
For even more ways to make the most of summer, here are a few ideas from around the internet:
- Here is a gorgeous summer tablescape with hydrangeas!
- Embrace the season while keeping your home fresh this summer!
- This summer salad looks delicious!
- And another amazing summer salad with seasonal cantaloupe.
- Here are some pretty late summer ways to decorate with sunflowers!
- Stay cool with these delicious summer cocktails!
Hopefully, some of these ideas will help you embrace the last of the lazy days of summer!
For those of you who are ready for fall, I’ve shared some ideas for September!
In case you missed last week’s Saturday Spotlight, I highlighted New England Style!
What are doing to make the most of your summer?
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Sharing these summer ideas with these blogs:
Eclectic Red Barn – Happiness is Homemade, My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia – Inspire Me Monday, A Stroll Thru Life – Inspire Me Tuesday, Common Ground – All About Home, My Wee Abode – Tuesday Turn Around, Eclectic Red Barn – Thursday Favorite Things, Imparting Grace – Grace at Home, Pieced Pastimes – Saturday Sparks, Eclectic Red Barn – Wonderful Wednesday
These are all such wonderful things to do during the summer. I’d love to have a backyard oasis with a pool but for the few days it would be warm enough to swim, it’s not worth it. The salad looks really yummy.
Thanks Carol! We’ve only had our pool a couple years but so far we’ve opened it in April and close it in October. Most people go May through September where we live but we try to stretch our summer out as long as we can!
That gorgeous picture of the beach says it all. A former NJ girl, Cape Cod is now my home. And the beach calls my name week in and week out … especially off season.
Good to meet you today, Shelley!
There’s nothing like the beach! I’m glad you can appreciate the Jersey shore…and Cape Cod is beautiful too! Thanks for stopping by!
We enjoy visiting the beach right through most of Sept. too!
Nice – and some of the most beautiful weather is in September!
These are great ideas!! I will pin this for next year’s end-of-summer! Especially for the ideas about grilling and dining alfresco!!
I am hanging on til the bitter end! We are headed to the beach vacation end of August (praying for good weather!). I made a note of that book, and that cantaloupe salad sounds amazing.