1. Have a weekend adventure. Plan a fun day or weekend trip with your best friends. Spend the day at the coast, explore another city nearby, or escape to the countryside. I’m planning a weekend in Oxford and a trip to the English seaside with girlfriends.
2. Stop to smell the roses (both literally and figuratively). This is one of the most beautiful times of the year, so don’t forget to take a moment to appreciate the beautiful moments; the feel of the breeze on a hot day, the beauty of a summertime sunset, the smell of the roses that bloom in the gardens you pass on your way home.
3. Buy yourself a fabulous pair of sunglasses, in honour of the sunshine. I’ve been wearing my favourite Karen Walker pair on repeat, and they magically seem to make every outfit a little bit better.
4. Take in an outdoor show. Make the most of these precious, sunny evenings and get a cultural fix outside. On my schedule: Shakespeare in a secret college garden at sunset (one of my favourite annual Cambridge traditions), jazz in the park and watching a movie beneath the stars at an outdoor cinema. (Take a blanket, a picnic and someone to snuggle up to.)
5. Spend a sunny afternoon dreaming + making plans. As we are now half-way through the year (!), now is the perfect opportunity to step back and assess how the year is going. Find a window in your schedule one afternoon, settle in a shady spot outside, and spend a peaceful moment just watching the clouds as they lazily float by. Think about the goals you set at the start of the year, about how this year has been thus far, and about the dreams you have for the rest of the year. Make plans to set in motion the actions you need to take to make those dreams a reality (and to make the rest of this year as great as it can be).
6. Surprise someone you adore with a thoughtful letter. Instead of just emailing, take the time to write a beautifully-penned letter or put together a thoughtful package to brighten up someone’s letter box. (I stock up on gorgeous Rifle Paper Co. notecards in the Selfridges stationery hall; they make letter-writing a joy.)
7. Hunt down the best gelato in town. Work your way through all the best ice cream places in town to find your favourite (because what’s summer without ice cream?). Personally, I’m still trying to find a version in London that is as good as the orange blossom gelato from Cibo in Adelaide, Australia and the apricot sorbet from Maison Berthillon in Paris.
I’d love to hear how you plan to make the most of the month!
Love, Miss B xx
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Love this! I need to make a list!
The Style Storm
<3, Christina
Thank you!
B xx
LOVE this list! xx
Thank you lovely Grace!
B xx
Try Venchi in Covent Garden.
Thank you; it has gone on my ‘to try’ list!
B xx
Wonderful ideas – especially number 5
x
Thank you!
B xx
love this list! I must compile one of my own and eating gelato sounds like the perfect start! 🙂 thanks for sharing yours! xx. gigi. http://www.gigikkitchen.com
Thank you! Summer can always be improved with a little gelato 😉
B xx
I just find your blog so darling girl. I love your lady-like and classic style! And I love this post. I want to do all of these things. I haven’t had gelato in ages so I think it may be the first thing I need to do in July!
Lauren xo
Sophisticated In Style
That is so kind, thank you so much!
B xx
love love love this list!!
Thank you, Michelle!
B xx
Love the idea of an outdoor cinema, I’ll have to see if there are any nearby!
Thank you; hope you manage to make it to one this summer!
B xx
Great list! loved it 🙂
Thank you!
B xx
Love all these tips for July!
I think number 2 is perfect..I think we often forgot to stop and enjoy the moment and that is such a perfect reminder, especially during this beautiful time of year!
Hope your having a happy 4th of July weekend!
Nan ~ Simply Elegant Blog
Thank you so much! I hope you had a lovely month.
B xx
Such a lovely list -especially the writing a letter one – I haven’t done that in ages!
Hmm maybe…
Thank you! I sent a few this week and it put a smile on my face (and hopefully theirs, too!)
B xx