I have so many summer faves, it’s hard to pick which ones to share. Summer has always been my favorite time of year! When I was a little girl, I loved the smell of Coppertone suntan oil, long days, and the delicious juiciness of fresh tomatoes from the garden. And nothing could beat going barefoot while enjoying the cool sweetness of a tall ice cream cone. Today, I still love all those things about summer and so much more! So here are my top ten summer faves.
1. Summer Reading
I appreciate a great story, and there are some terrific reads this summer! My absolute favorite is “Where the Crawdad’s Sing” by Delia Owens. This book is about Kya, known as the “marsh girl,” who was abandoned by her mother and later left by her abusive father to fend for herself in the marshlands of the North Carolina Coast. An outcast with no formal education despite her expert knowledge of the surrounding ecosystem, she is accused of murder. This book offers vivid prose and romance, while also tackling more meaty subjects like racism and classism in the South.
If you’re looking for a page-turner with tons of twists and turns and an ending that leaves you speechless, try “The Wives,” by Tarryn Fisher. Thursday shares her husband with two other wives whose identities are a mystery. She only knows snippets of information about each one, until she decides to investigate further, against her husband’s “rules.” What follows is sure to keep you glued to your beach chair until the very last page!
Lastly, for those who have experienced the joys of competitive parenting, you will love the “Gifted School,” by Bruce Holsinger. Set in a fictional Colorado town that sounds just like the upscale Boulder, the novel explores the madness that ensues in a wealthy community when a school for exceptional students is slated to open. The competition surrounding the admission process exposes the parents’ true colors, while their shocking secrets ultimately are laid bare. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I know you will too!
2. Outside Workouts
With gyms closed in many places, summer provides the perfect weather for an early morning workout. Now that my days at the gym have passed, I’ve settled into a comfortable habit of walking or running each morning before I start the day. I love to listen to a podcast on my Air Pods (currently listening to “Committed,” which I highly recommend) and clear my head of the million things that await me in the hours ahead. I don’t think I’ll go back to the gym anytime soon, although when late fall and winter bring the wet weather, I will have to rethink my fitness routine. But for now, I’m just enjoying my summer workouts in the cool morning air.
3. Tomatoes
I would eat them whole as a little girl, and they’re still one of my summer faves! I love vine-ripened tomatoes sliced with some olive oil for breakfast, while cherry tomatoes are a colorful complement to my cool summer salads.
And they don’t just come in red; tomatoes come in yellow, orange, green, and even purple! They are so juicy and sweet they make my mouth water, but they also have many great nutrients. According to healthline.com, tomatoes are low-carb, a good source of fiber, and a great source of vitamin C, potassium, folate, and vitamin K. But their real superpower is lycopene, an antioxidant that reduces the risk of heart disease and cancer!
4. Outdoor Patios
Whether it’s sitting on my own patio chatting with my husband after a long day or going to our favorite restaurant’s patio for date night, I can’t tell you how much I enjoy basking in the warm night air and feeling the gentle Delta breeze that only Sacramento can offer. Of course, a nice glass of wine helps top off the evening!
5. Sundresses
Sundresses are so cool, comfy, and affordable! No need to think about what to put together, just a pretty dress and a few accessories and I’m off! They take me to run errands, go out to lunch with my bestie, or simply relax at home. Did I mention they travel well too?
6. Salmon Dinners
I know salmon is not just for summer, but nothing beats salmon combined with steamed broccoli or grilled asparagus for dinner on a hot summer evening. Like tomatoes, salmon has all sorts of nutrients. I like to coat it with fresh chopped garlic and honey along with a little salt and pepper and cook it for 12-14 minutes at 425˚F. It’s perfect every time! According to webmd.com, just one 3-4 ounce serving of salmon packs protein, vitamin B12, potassium, iron and Vitamin D. And it has only 200 calories!
7. Going to the Beach
As a California girl, I’m so grateful that the beach is within driving distance. The cool ocean breeze, the smell of the salt air, and the waves crashing combine to instill a sense of peace and calm. When I’m at the beach, I feel so small compared to nature’s power, and the minutiae of my thoughts roll away with the waves.
8. Dry Rosé
Rosé is the most refreshing variety I can imagine to accompany a long, hot summer day. It’s light, crisp, and it’s so pretty too! If you like dry wine, make sure your rosé comes from Provence and not the United States, which tends to be a bit sweet.
9. SPF Makeup
I wear SPF 37 eye cream and CC cream that’s SPF 50. As an American with British roots, I’ve had my share of sunburns, which are not one of the things I appreciated about summer as a young girl. Thanks to my SPF makeup and large-brim hat, my face is thoroughly protected – no aloe vera necessary!
10. Hiking
Summer is the only season where I can make plans to be outdoors without worrying about rain or other nasty weather. It is perfect for taking hikes in beautiful places like the rugged Northern California coastline or the serene beauty of Lake Tahoe. Hiking quiets my mind and fills my senses.
Summer is my favorite time of year for good reason! I hope you’ve enjoyed my top ten summer faves!
My blogger friends are also sharing posts about summer! Check them out at the links below!
Kim Heelam Cook www.foragoodlifeafter50.com
Heidi Suydam www.simplyoursociety.com
D’Arcy Vandenberg www.dear-darcy.com
Gwen Gottlieb www.gwenliveswell.com
Sherri Preston www.awomanthing.live
Lenysha Brinkley www.fiftyfabandtraveling.com
Rosemary Davis www.distinctlysouthernstyle.com
Melanie Silkworth www.mels2ndact.com
What are your summer faves? Let us know by leaving a comment!
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Michelle, this post had me grinning from ear to ear! I am totally a summer girl! And while I haven’t lived in Southern California for my entire life, I’ve had enough years to know that this is my favorite place to be! I’ve added all three of your books to my next Amazon order, thank you for keeping my reading addiction alive and well.
Glad you enjoyed it Lori! Southern California is stunning and you will not be disappointed in those reads!
I love tomatoes, salmon, and hiking too! Although there is no real place to go hiking or islands, so I save it for vacations. Great post!
Thanks Gwen! You do have the beautiful Florida Coast!
I have been wanting to read “Where the Crawdads Sing”! And a dry Rose sounds delightful.
You should! I listened to it on Audible, and the performance was great!
Great ideas! I loved the book “where the crawdads sing” and I’ve been walking lots this summer and even wrote a blog about things to do here in NY this summer since traveling is out.
I will have to check out your blog! We’ve all had to adjust, haven’t we.
Some of my Favorite things too! I love Summer Tomatoes, especially from local farmers! Yum! Have a great rest of your Summer!
Aren’t they great?! This has been fun! You too!
You’ve got some great summer faves. Thanks for sharing!
You’re welcome!
Love tomatoes and a good read. Summer dresses are my go to. Working out outside is good until it gets to humid here. Then I take it indoors. So much fun collaborating with you!
Kim
It was fun collaborating with you too Kim! I will have to take it indoors come November! I probably need to get an elliptical.
Good post Michele! I read Where Crawdads Sing at the beginning of the summer. You’re right, such a good one! That Wives one sounds interesting. We too eat salmon a lot more in the summer, maybe because my husband is the one that cooks it and I suggest it often:) (I’m a little tired of all the cooking lately)
Hugs
Melanie
You should really read the Wives! Such a surprise at the end and so many twists and turns. My husband likes to cook too! We’re lucky!
I must say that your summer favorites are mine too!
I enjoy everything on your list.
Rosemary
Sounds like we have a lot in common!
Fun summer favorites, tomatoes always remind me of my grandfather and his garden. My sister and I would steel a salt shaker from the kitchen and go in his garden and pick a tomato and eat it. Sundresses and the beach are another two favorites I share with you too.
My Best,
Nancy
That’s exactly how I would eat tomatoes when I was a little girl!