Old-Fashion-Summer: A Nostalgic Guide to a FUN Summer

Trading trendy for timeless this summer

Hot-girl summer. Brat-summer. Coastal-grandma-summer. Just a few of the recent trendy phrases from the past year that people embrace as their “summer vibe”. I have to laugh thinking about some of these phrases… but the truth is I kinda love the idea behind it.

Finding a phrase that reminds you of what type of energy you are trying to cultivate in your life - whether that’s a confident and carefree, rebellious and playful, or lax and leisurely.

This weekend is Memorial Day Weekend - AKA the kick off to summer. While temperatures have been warm here in North Carolina for a few weeks, I grew up in PA where it wasn’t until the end of May that the weather felt truly “like summer.” So this weekend has always marked the beginning of my favorite season.

If you’re familiar with me or my Substack, you know I love a seasonal bucket list. The truth is this all started when I was in middle school and created summer bucket lists with absurd things with my best friends. It was the foundation of some of my fondest memories.

• Playing paint twister with my friend Steph

• My childhood best friend Curtis and I pie-ing each other in the face

• Catching fireflies with my Dad (I miss the fireflies that filled my childhood backyard so much)

• Cooking hotdogs over a fire with my Mugga

• Learning how to play poker with my Bumpa.

All sparked from a summer bucket list.

Some of my pictures from these summer lists are equal parts embarrassing and heart-warming

I’ve been making a list annually for over a decade of my life. It’s definitely evolved over the year - less absurd or random things (like, why did we pie each other in the face?! LOL). As I’ve grown older, the list gets smaller and has tended to include either more “mature” things or events/trips - concerts, vacations, etc.

I’ve been thinking back on middle-school me, and even younger-than-that me. What made me love summer. The childhood joy associated with summer. As I’m raising my daughters, what are the things that will make them feel SO EXCITED. The types of things that I’ve let myself overlook and take for granted as I’ve gotten older.

One example? Ice cream. Going out for an ice cream cone as a kid? EXCITING. BIG DEAL. What flavor will I chose?! As an adult? I can get ice cream whenever the heck I want so that type of thing has lost it’s magic. How can I rediscover the magic?

That’s why this summer, my personal phrase is going to be: “Old-Fashion-Summer”. The idea behind this is I’m stripping it back to the basics. Reminding myself how special the simple things really are. Letting myself vividly soak in appreciation for all of it.

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Here is what is on the list - I’d love the idea to get crafty and make something on actual paper!

• Go berry picking

• Pool day (think: the classic Sandlot scene)

• Make smores (Pro tip: Use Reese’s instead of a Hershey bar)

• Go on a boat ride

• Make popsicles

• Go on a picnic

• Make homemade lemonade

• Stargaze

• Backyard movie night

• Go to the beach (we’re lucky to have family near the beach and are excited to visit!)

• Get an ice cream cone

• Mini golf

• Play a game outside

• Draw with chalk

• Listen to live music outside (a music in the park vibe)

• Go to the farmers market

• Pizza night

• Have a bbq

• Get an iced coffee

• Get a pedicure

• Splash park

• Outdoor yoga

• Read outside - time to cultivate my summer reading list!

• Indulge in sweet tea (I mean, I live in the south now!)

• Go to a new playground

• Watch fireworks

• Watch sunrise

• Watch sunset

• Go to a baseball game

• Cousin sleepover

• Go to a zoo or aquarium

• Go to a state park

• Go to the Children’s Museum (perfect rainy day activity)

• Bake cookies

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And of course, I had to get into Pinterest and make my own little inspo-board!

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No vibe is complete without a playlist!

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Thanks for reading friends! What is your favorite thing about summer? Did you have childhood rituals or traditions that added something special to the season? I’d love to hear :)

Thanks for reading and see you next Sunday!