beach

{The stunning Mendocino Coast at Fort Bragg from a trip many years ago.}

Summer officially begins in just a couple of days {June 20th, to be exact}. With the days becoming warmer and staying bright longer, it’s making me excited to spend the next few months waking up with the sun, dining al fresco, and snacking on berries and tropical fruits all day long. While I don’t have any major summer vacation plans this year, I’m excited to spend the hottest days of the year lazily by the {saltwater} pool, relaxing indoors in air-conditioned comfort {preferably with a snuggly Chihuahua or a purring kitten on my lap}, and making weekend trips to the river or lake, wine country, or a beachy town. And still having a summer vacation like I did as a kid just makes me even more nostalgic for a season that was never my favorite {aka, spring & fall}.

With summer beginning this Friday, I’m sharing a few of the things I’d like to accomplish before the leaves begin to turn gold. And for more seasonal inspiration, here are my past seasonal to-do lists.

Summer To-Do List

1. Plan a trip to the beach.

2. Go to a concert in the park.

3. Attend a flower arranging + floral infused food and cocktail making class {or have a DIY version of it at home one afternoon}.

4. Go to a drive-in theater with burgers, fries, and milkshakes for an old-fashioned style dinner and a movie date.

5. Plan a picnic at the beach or a park.

6. Have an at-home spa day.

7. Have a weekly Taco Tuesday night {bonus points for virgin margaritas}.

8. Spend more time on my new hobby: drawing.

9. Start my mornings with an energizing yoga sequence.

10. Make desserts with summer berries from the farmers market every weekend.

x Paris

Lately, the thing I’ve been missing the most would be traveling, especially with friends. While it feels like I haven’t traveled in ages {in reality, it’s been a couple of months since my last work trip and a few years – aka, pre-COVID-19 – since my last international vacation}, I decided to share a few glimpses from a girls trip to Los Angeles from several years ago that was filled with a healthy dose of cupcakes + cocktails {virgin for me & boozy for everyone else}.

I’ve always been a huge fan of the weekend getaway – trips to wine country in the spring, the beach in the summertime, apple picking in the country in the fall, and to the snow in the winter. But while I used to make those weekend trips and vacations with friends when I was in college, as I’ve gotten older I tend to make those trips with my partner and family instead. So, when I had to go down to LA for work many years ago, I decided to extend my time down there and have a mini girls weekend. Filled with summery-hued drinks at the Sunset Tower Hotel, lazy brunches after late nights out {including tattooing our name to the bathroom wall at Piano Bar – which has sadly closed down since}, decadent meals at Gracias Madre {who make vegan food taste incredible} and La Boheme, indulgent desserts at Bottega Louie {whose raspberry and vanilla Le Grand Macaron and Nutella beignets were worth flying to downtown LA for alone} and The M Cafe {who made the best gluten-free vegan chocolate chip cookies and strawberry frosted cupcakes}, as well a plethora of pretty, it was the perfect pick-me-up weekend spent indulging in cupcakes and cocktails + a healthy dose of girl time. I hope this serves as some inspiration for your next girls trip, whether it is a staycation at home or at a pretty destination. x