Ready to romanticize the heck out of your summer? If you missed my first post of ideas, you can find it here. Now, let’s keep the good energy flowing. Read on for more ideas on how to have your best summer ever.
Create a summer playlist. Music has such a powerful impact on our moods and energy. If you want to get into a happy, summer state of mind, having the right playlist can get you there faster than anything else.
Free apps such as Spotify and Pandora make creating playlists so easy. You get to choose the specific songs or artists you want to add. If you are looking for beach or tropical vibes, think Zac Brown Band, The Beach Boys, and Bob Marley. Or you could go for high energy fun songs like Walking on Sunshine by Katrina and the Waves or Happy by Pharell.
Music can also transport you to different places. Put on some steel drum songs and suddenly you’ll feel like you’re on a tropical island. Or play some chic French music, and you’ll close your eyes and swear you’re in the south of France.
If you aren’t sure what music to include in your playlist, don’t sweat it. Search for summer or beach playlists on Spotify or Pandora and you will find a ton of playlists already created that you can either play or borrow from. I discovered the band Stick Figure, which is now one of my favorite go-to beachy vibes bands, this way.
You can have multiple playlists for your summer. An Afternoon at the Beach playlist, A Summer Road Trip playlist, A Pool Party playlist, and more. Having your best summer ever requires the best playlist ever. Start creating yours today.
Check out your local library. Libraries are great for checking out books for free, but they offer so much more than just books, especially during the summer.
I love to go to my library in the summer and read magazines from the comfort of their big, comfy chairs under the air conditioning. Magazines have become super expensive-some are more than $15!-but you can read them for free at the library. Digital images on Pinterest or Instagram are great, but there’s something a little magical about holding a physical copy of a magazine in your hand and taking your time turning the pages.
Many libraries offer free digital movie rentals and even free day passes to some places like amusement parks or state parks. Most libraries offer free summer programs for kids at least one day a week. They may have story time, special snack, or even have guest speakers come in. I know last year our library had a park ranger from the nearby state park come in, and they brought some animals like turtles and corn snakes to show the kids. This is a great way to keep your kids entertained without sticking them in front of a screen.
They may also offer free outdoor movies. Every Friday during the summer, my local library sets up an outdoor screen and projects a movie for people to enjoy. Everyone is welcome to bring camp chairs or lay out blankets to watch from. You can purchase drinks and popcorn from the library or bring your own snacks. It’s usually a kid’s movie, but hey-kid’s movies are awesome. It’s a fun way to spend an evening with your family. It’s amazing what you can get…for free…just from having a little old library card.
Host a summer barbecue. Invite your friends over for an outdoor party. Crank up the grill and throw on some hamburgers and hot dogs for an easy dinner. Or throw on some shrimp and steaks for a little surf and turf.
If you’re providing the main course, have your friends bring all the extras: paper plates, forks, and napkins, sides like mac and cheese, potato salad, a big garden salad, and desserts and drinks. When everyone has the chance to contribute, it makes everything easier and more fun for everyone.
Set up some outdoor games like cornhole or horseshoes. Have a fun summer vibes playlist playing on a Bluetooth speaker in the background. String some twinkle lights around trees or patio posts or put up string lights at a diagonal to create a festive vibe. All of these details really do make a difference.
After dinner, play a fun game like charades where everyone can participate. Light up the firepit and roast some marshmallows to make s’mores.
The most important thing is spending quality time with friends and family, making memories that will last a lifetime.
I hope you enjoyed these ideas for romanticizing your summer. Stay tuned for Part 3 for even more ideas!