Y’all I am SO excited about this summer! I know summer doesn’t technically start until June 21st with the Summer Solstice, but I’ve got full-on summer vibes going. Especially because the weather around here has been 90 and ridiculously humid.
So let’s talk summer…
A few years ago I was lamenting about how the summers just slip through my fingers. They weren’t special anymore. I just spend most of the summer doing the sale ole same ole and complaining about how bloody hot it is. Bleh.
That bummed me out and I was determined to make that summer different.
I started with what I wanted to FEEL. It was Freedom. I dubbed it “The Summer of Freedom”.
That was actually my 2nd Summer of Freedom - my first being in college after I broke up with my boyfriend. I did that Summer of Freedom very differently, but those are stories for another time.
Back to my 2nd Summer of Freedom, just a few years ago…
Once I tapped into the feeling I wanted to create, I brainstormed a list of what gave me that feeling of freedom.
Then I made sure that I had at least one of those things on my calendar each week. Some were small - like iced tea on the deck, Don Henley on my summer playlist. Some were bigger - like kayaking with Sister, a paddle down the river with James Scott. None were elaborate.
So this photo right here is my Summer 2026 vibe. Don’t judge me because this was a brainstorm list on a painting I did with my 3 & 4yo neighbor girls. They like to come over and paint (which I LOOOOVE). They also like to tell ME what to paint. I saw it on the table and thought - THAT feels like my summer vibe! Rainbows and butterflies and ice cream. Right!? Can you get on board with that? Little kids know what’s up with summer vibes!
So I jotted down my ideas on my little kid painting and plunked it on this small slice of wall that needs a paint job and has an empty nail. We’re not going for perfection here ;-).
I started with what I wanted to feel. This year it’s 4 words: connection, a sense of lightness, engaged (like really getting into summering), creation (wanting and needing some creativity right now).
Then, as you can see, I put those feelings in categories and wrote down ideas of things to do that would give me those feelings. A mix of easy things and little trips that take a bit more coordination. Nothing hard. I don’t want complicated this summer.
If we don’t set an intention - type in our GPS where we wanna go - then we won’t know how to get there or if we even DID get there.
Then summer’s gone. And we wonder where it went. And we wonder - did I have a good summer? IDK. I don’t think so. What makes a good summer anyway?
Not this year sister! Let’s make some summer magic!
I’m opening up 5 spots for 8 weeks of summer coaching. I’ll take you through the process of setting your intention for the summer and then help you ACTUALLY MAKE IT HAPPEN!
Intentionally creating what you want is a science. And a process. And I know how to do it and I can lead you through it. And we’ll have a blast! (I know Mrs Smith, my HS English teacher, is rolling over in her grave about me starting so many sentences with “and”…among other grammatical insults, I’m sure). Back to summer tho…
I’m already having a great summer!
Scott and I started our SASS last weekend - Saturday Afternoon Summer Sandwiches - inspired by reading Indianapolis Monthly Magazine’s 25 best sandwiches in the city. Hot tip: Amore Mio in Clermont! If you’re Italian and you’re making me a sandwich (well anything really) - then I’m gonna eat it! And these Italians do not disappoint. See my handsome husband showing it off below.
I have a few summer playlists on Spotify: Coastal Grandma (that’s a vibe - you know about it? google it), ‘70s Southern California Summer, Summer at the Lake.
I’ve made a few essential oil blends that are bringing me so much joy! Coastal California, pictured below, is my fav.
I’ve got an iced tea blend in the frig.
Day tripped to New Buffalo MI with Ruby and her bestie Harper for Rube’s birthday (pictured below).
Booked an overnight MI trip with Sister!
Got Cardinals tickets! Ruby wants to see an MLB game this summer because that’s part of her summer vibe. She also requested grilling because it feels very summery. That girl knows how to set intentions and make ‘em happen!
I’m off to a roaring start! Wanna join me?!
Comment below and we’ll set it up.
Let’s create a magical summer that makes your Fall 2026 Self say YESSSSS WHATTA SUMMER THAT WAS!
