Summertime and the living is easy...
This time of year is one of enjoyment and excitement, but also relaxation and rejuvenation. Many are the pleasures one can indulge in during summer when time seems to move more slowly and the days are at their longest. There are countless ways to spend these delicious golden hours and here we’d like to share with you some of our favorite trends and tidbits of the season:
Ice Queen
It is quite hot in South Florida but those of us that spend our summers here know that there is a myriad of tricks to stay cool despite the heat such as eating frozen foods. We love an excuse to devour cold treats and one thing that screams “summer!” is ice cream. We all love this chilled confection, but oftentimes its more portable counterpart- popsicles- are overlooked. Popsicles are much easier to make at home than ice cream and are infinitely customizable. Although there are many ice pop molds out there, you can always just pick up some dixie cups and wooden popsicle sticks from the grocery store to freeze your own. As far as flavors- well, the possibilities are endless! Here is a simple but super refreshing popsicle recipe from Oh So Delicioso:
Coconut Lime Popsicles
Ingredients:
- 1 ½ cup vanilla Greek yogurt
- ½ cup cream of coconut
- ¾ cup fresh lime juice
- zest of 2 limes
photo courtesy of Oh So Delicioso
Steps:
1. Blend all ingredients together in a blender
2. Pour into molds or cups and freeze for 1 hour
3. Insert popsicle sticks into molds and allow them to freeze completely
4. Enjoy!
Multicolored Magic
Speaking of refreshing, we are also loving summer outfits with bright pops of color. These tropical fruit-colored clothes are just the thing to add some cool hues to your look, even when the temperature is hot. We are fans of mixing bold with basic, so be sure to style these pieces with neutrals for balance. Here are some of our favorite colorful must-haves:
Red is sometimes thought to be too intense for casual looks, but we love what Ruby Rd. has done here by including a feminine floral design on the Hot Tropics Hibiscus Puff Print Tee. The twisted hem is another cute detail that adds even more flair to this tropical top.
Tiana B marries a bold orange hue with dainty ruffled seams on the Solid Ruffle Neck Dress. This little number might just become your new favorite warm weather frock!
With delicate daisies sprinkled all over a yellow cotton gauze fabric, the Daisy Gauze Necklace Blouse by Oli and Sofia is sure to leave you feeling comfortable and beautiful in equal measure. Don’t forget about the statement necklace either- it adds extra oomph to this groovy blouse!
The brand Zac and Rachel is renowned for their stylish pants, but they also know a thing or two about blouses, as seen here on the Eyelet Lace Peasant Blouse. This flowy green top is ideal for carefree summer ensembles.
A metallic ring and cutout detail on the neckline of the blue Ring Cut-Out Sleeveless Dress by Harper 241 creates intrigue, while the sleeveless design ensures easy wearing, even during the hottest days. Paired with a strappy sandal, you can’t go wrong!
While IBKUL offers the Solid UPF50+ Sun Shirt in over a dozen colors, we want to highlight “plum”, a deep purple shade that will add a unique touch to any outfit you build around it. Plus, the IceFil fabric will keep you cool and dry all throughout your sunshine-filled activities.
You’ll fall in love with the bright pink of the Pull-On Stretch Short by Anthony’s Resort Wear! This short looks great with a white top for a bold yet pretty look.
photo courtesy of Who What Wear
Mother of Pearl
Whether you are into wearing rainbow colors or earth tones, seashell nails are a gorgeous addition to any ensemble. This beauty trend echoes the lovely iridescence of seashells in a pretty, understated way- the perfect accent for all your summer looks. To try out seashell nails, pick a shade of polish that is a delicate pastel color with a subtle opalescent shimmer, à la abalone.
Summer Simplifying
As action-packed as summer can be, sometimes it is important to slow down and savor the small stuff. Although spring is the season that usually corners the market on deep cleaning, summer is a great time to organize, de-clutter, and get back to basics- whether it is in your home or in your head. Minimalism is a lifestyle that aims to do just that.
Minimalism, as defined on theminimalists.com, is a tool to rid yourself of life’s excess in favor of focusing on what’s important- so you can find happiness, fulfillment, and freedom.
Sounds like a tall order, right? You can start off small, and summer provides an excellent opportunity to do so. For example, you can set aside a couple of hours to rifle through your closet and find the clothes that you haven’t worn in a while (this is a great air-conditioned activity to do in the middle of the day when the weather is at its most stifling). As you go through this pile, ask yourself with each item if you are likely to wear it again. If the answer is no, then plan to donate it to your local Goodwill or other charitable organization. You’ll be cultivating less chaos in your physical space while also practicing generosity. It’s a win-win!
As far as letting go of mental clutter, meditation and other practices of mindfulness are ideal ways to gain clarity and tranquility. Whether you do five minutes of deep breathing whenever you feel yourself getting stressed or carve out thirty minutes daily for a consistent meditation routine, the benefits of mindfulness are many. Even if you just stop for a few moments to savor the summer sunshine on your face or the sound of the waves at the beach, you are engaging in mindfulness.
We hope you’ve enjoyed reading this rundown of some of our favorite things to do, eat, and wear this summer! What are you getting into this summer? Let us know in the comments below!
photo by Martin Zangerl on Unsplash
