Ultimate Summer Guide

I never fully appreciated summer until I moved to Tennessee. It is absolutely gorgeous here in the summer (minus the 100% humidity), with lush green trees, rolling hills of grass and wildflowers, and lakes aplenty. Once it gets to be July, we all retreat indoors, and I focus my efforts on bringing the summer inside. Today I'm sharing my favorite ideas to help you enjoy the season. We still have 2 months of summer left; let's make the most of them!

(Mostly) Free ways to enjoy Summer:

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning if you decide to make a purchase via my links, I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.

I made a PDF Summer bucket list of my top 11 summer activities, which you can download free here.

Get Outside & Explore

• Go to a National (or State) Park and take a picnic lunch

• Go swimming at the beach, the lake, or your neighborhood pool

• Go on a road trip to somewhere you’ve never been

• Pick up fresh fruit at the local farmer’s market

• Go camping, even if it’s just in your backyard. Bonus points if you star watch!

 Refresh Your Home

• Thrift tablecloths for an outdoor dinner on the patio

• Make a simmer pot with fresh lemons, limes, rosemary, and rose petals

• Collect flowers to press and display in a frame

• Add a basket of fresh fruit as a centerpiece for the kitchen table

• Make a summer playlist (or use mine!)

Simple Joys of Summer

• Visit a library and check out some beach reads

• Watch a sunset while sipping a beverage of your choice

• Sit outside at dusk and watch the fireflies

• Pick up a new hobby or learn a new skill

• Volunteer at a local nonprofit, thrift shop, or food bank

• Grab an iced coffee and stroll around the garden center

Seasonal Sips & Bites

• Make homemade ice cream with fresh peaches

• Make lemonade from scratch (bonus points for adding mint!)

• Make s’mores over a campfire or the fire pit on your patio

• Thrift a picnic basket and enjoy a picnic in your backyard

• Host a BBQ for your neighbors or a friend's group

Bring the Outdoors In

• Craft a summer centerpiece using seasonal stems or grasses

• Buy potted basil plants for fresh herbs on pizza 

• Repot a house plant into a pretty vintage pot or planter

• Collect seashells or driftwood and display in a bowl or curio cabinet

• Make a bouquet out of flowers or wildflowers from your neighborhood

Summer Scents:

If you've been around, you know of my love for Antique Candle Co! My discount code still works, MELISSA gets you 20% off! My favorite Summer Scent is North Shore, it smells like a luxury beachside hotel. Momma's Kitchen, Sweet Lemon, and Georgia Peach are other spring/ summer favorites!

You can shop them here.

Summer Tastes & Treats

To me, summer means seasonal fruits and veggies, and as many meals on the grill as I can make. Here are a few fun seasonal recipes to try out!

Summer Decor Edit

Here is a collection of curated mood boards featuring all things summer, vacation, and light and breezy home decor! All the moodboards are clickable links!

I love all the gorgeous rattan and the retro vibes in this outdoor collection from Target.

Patio furniture on a budget! All of these pieces will help you enjoy time outside, while also making your wallet happy!

Anthro style but on a budget! I rounded up all these pieces, perfect for a day out on vacation, running errands, or date night!

We've been doing a ton of gardening this year, trying to tame our out-of-control weeds! Here are some of my favorite finds!

Sadly, we did not make it to the beach this summer, but if you are going, here are some cute and roomy totes to use!

Wishing you a summer filled with rest, relaxation, and exploration!

xoxo,

Melissa