Hot Girl Summer: How to make the most of the last four weeks of Summer Solstice
Outfit Details: Fully Forever 21, Necklaces from Child of Wild, Seashell Cup from Urban Outfitters
I must say - this summer has been a fun one. Despite being UBER busy with weddings, clients, design work, building my company (companies!), projects + more, I have made it a point to make work-life balance a thing this season - and I must say… I feel like I have mastered “working hard and playing harder” this summer (…and sometimes the other way around, too, but hey thats fine when you love what you do! From outdoor music festivals to street fairs, the county fair to a little bit of travel (more later this year - see you soon Sedona, Arizona and New York!) I’ve enjoyed my summer so far, but I have also yet to bust out my swan floatie - definitely need to do that at least a few times within the next four weeks! That’s right - only four weeks left of summer - let’s make the most of it!
MAKE IT A POINT TO WATCH THE SUNSET AT LEAST TWICE A WEEK
I love a good sunset, and in Newport Beach, man do we have good ones. I love making it a point to see the sun set at least twice each week, taking a few moments to enjoy the transitioning of the day and the beauty of the earth. The sun doesn’t set until 7:30-8pm in California in the summer season, giving us plenty of time to wrap up our workday, get going to our next destination, and make a stop to watch another day end and just enjoy + be present.
2. SPEND MORE TIME OUTDOORS
I started roller skating and bike riding earlier this year and although I haven’t gone out as much as I would have liked this simmer (duty calls!) I have enjoyed the times I did experience strolling down the boardwalk and enjoying the fresh ocean breeze. Whether it’s going for a run in the evening while it’s still warm out, taking a walk around the block during your lunch break or simply driving with the windows rolled down, I am all about spending time outside, feeling the breeze on your skin and breathing in fresh air this summer.
3. SUMMER COCKTAILS!
Your girl enjoys her cocktails year round, that’s for sure, but summer is such a fun excuse to experiment with new conconctions and create refreshing + yummy new drinks! Summer is also a fun time to entertain guests, and it’s always fun to have one or two creative cocktail recipes up your sleeve. I’m listing a few of my favorite summer cocktails here, with ingredients on how to make each of them (of course, I also came up with fun names for each, too):
Sunbeams + Daydreams
BLENDED PINA COLADA MILKSHAKE
2 1/2 cups vanilla ice cream (I typically use dairy-free!)
8 ounces crushed pineapple in pineapple juice undrained
1/4 cup coconut milk
1/4 cup Cream of Coconut
1/4 cup rum
Shredded sweetened coconut flakes
whipped cream and maraschino cherries for garnish
Sunkissed Summer
STRAWBERRY BASIL MARGARITA
1/2 pint fresh strawberries
1/2 c. blanco tequila
1.5 oz. Cointreau
1 lime juiced (about an ounce)
1 tbsp honey raw if you have it
2-3 basil sprigs
ice
kosher salt
River Water
HIBISCUS-VODKA COCKTAIL WITH MINT AND JALAPEÑO
Hibiscus Syrup
3 cups water
¾ cup dried hibiscus flowers
½ cup sugar (I recommend agave or honey, it’s healthier!)
For 2 Cocktails
½ cup hibiscus syrup
1.5 ounces lime juice (about 1 large lime)
4 ounces vodka (or gin!)
4. EAT SEASONALLY
ALL of the most delicious foods happen to be “Summer” foods. From Avocados + Tomatoes, to Watermelon + Peaches, to more quintessential summer foods like hot dogs, corn on the cob + ribs, summer is a season to be eating well, that’s for sure. A few more of my favorite summer foods, all more on the healthier side:
SEAFOOD (!)
GAZPACHO
SALADS OF ANY + ALL KINDS
SPAGHETTI SQUASH
ICED TEA
STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE (OK, SNUCK THAT ONE ON HERE - NOT HEALTHY BUT SO YUMMY!)
5. TRAVEL!
Ever since I was a little girl, I looked forward to the magic of the summertime. Although I didn’t grow up traveling (my mom was DEATHLY afraid of planes and we pretty much stuck around locally), each summer season, I knew I would experience something new, make new memories and come out of the other side a little bit different. I share the same sentiment in adulthood, but now - I have wonderful opportunities to travel, to see new things, and experience new places - and this summer has been no exception. I’ve been able to take a couple of 1-2 day trips out to Las Vegas, to the deserts of California and up north to wine country to Buellton, CA and I am craving a weekend out in Joshua Tree and an overnighter in Palm Springs before summer is over. I am excited to travel to Sedona, Arizona for LW Natalie’s own wedding day at the end of September, while it should still be nice and warm out (#indiansummer - another one of my favorite parts of summer, that period of warm, dry weather that sometimes occurs in autumn in the Northern Hemisphere.) Whether it’s an overnighter, a weekend away, or an extended vacation, I encourage you to see something, experience something, a little different - maybe even a little out of your comfort zone - this summer, and see how it changes you.
