10 Easy Ways To Make The Most Out Of Summer

We are already a week into July and I am determined to enjoy every last moment of summer before it is gone. I am still working checking items off of my summer to do list but is also important to remember to be mindful of all of the other little moments in between accomplishing these goals. Below are my 10 tips for making the most out of summer.

ONE // Make time to relax. Life in summer for some reason has a slower pace. I try to take advantage of this and carve out extra time to unwind and also not focus on worries as much.

TWO // Explore new places. Whether it is around the world or just across town exploring new places exposes us different perspectives and offers new sources of inspiration.

THREE // Declutter. Admittedly this sounds a little like doing work but I love the feeling that comes after I have cut back on physical clutter. I talked a little more about this here. Reducing physical clutter can be remarkably mentally calming.

FOUR // Focus and invest in yourself. Be self-accepting and be compassionate to yourself. Also spend some time on personal development and gaining new knowledge and skills (you can choose something fun maybe dance or cooking classes).

FIVE // Spend time with those you love. Relationships are the backbone of a happy life. Squeeze in some extra time to socialize with the people you care about.

SIX // Go outside. Get some fresh air. Enjoy the wind blowing through your hair and the sun on your skin. A healthy dose of Vitamin D will do you good.

SEVEN // Disconnect. I don't think there is a faster way to reduce stress and to be more present than turning off your iPhone and spending a day away from your email and social media.

EIGHT // Indulge in as much fresh produce as possible. One of my favorite things about summer is all of the fresh produce. Make it a part of your routine to visit the farmer's market often or to even grow your own garden.

NINE // Volunteer. Volunteering is an incredible way to give back and to feel amazing.

TEN // Plan a staycation. I try to plan at least a mini staycation every summer. Staycations are a great way to explore your area and take a vacation without leaving town. Here are some of my favorite tips for planning a successful staycation.

image via: Treasures and Travels, edited by Sunny Days and Starry Nights

Chit Chat: Enjoying Life

A couple months ago I was sitting with a group of other attorneys as we were waiting for our cases to be called before the judge. Everyone was talking about these dream vacations they were hoping to take and how great it would be to get out of town. During this time I was going through a period where I was feeling especially burned out. It was seeming like I was being pulled in every directions and just could not get a break. I piped in to the conversation and stated that I just wanted a week to stay at home and watch Netflix. My statement received a few laughs but it couldn't have been closer to the truth. I didn't get that quiet time for myself that I wanted then but I held on and now July has finally arrived.

July has become the time of the year when I have the most me time. Glorious, glorious me time. Most of the year I definitely feel frazzled, exhausted, and stressed but then July shows up and something magical happens. Work slows down for four or five wonderful weeks, I manage to avoid the office a little more than usual, I spend more time doing things I love, and I actually find myself feeling relaxed.

This July has started out like a repeat of my last three. I have been spending time with friends and family, laughing more than usual, I have already breezed through several books, hosted a couple game nights (seriously one of the best ways to spend an evening), and started majorly organizing everything at home. I have also found myself unplugging for the most part when I am home. And I have to say that that feels nice. Being always connected, feeling like I always have to be available, and constantly checking work or social media online makes all aspects of life feel hectic.

The best part about this July and something that I am really excited about is that in a little over a week I have 11 consecutive days scheduled for myself. I have no major plans, no responsibilities, and no obligations. I have no intentions of doing anything that I do not 100% enjoy. I intend to spend a few of those days having the perfect time home alone. I want to try new recipes, have a Netflix marathon (or two), read more of the stack of books I have beside my bed, and take afternoon naps.

Are you enjoying a slower paced summer and getting some quality me time too?

image via: Could I Have That

Essentials For The Perfect Day Home Alone

Sticky Buns (so good!) / Pajama Top / Apple TV / Polishing Body Brush / Deep Sleep Bath Oil (a splurge but so worth it) / Pajama Shorts / The Silkworm / Mug / Slippers / diptyque Candle / Pom Pom Blanket (love this)
A few days ago I was sitting with a group of attorneys in the courtroom while we waited for our cases to be called before the judge. Everyone was talking about all of these great places they were wishing they could escape to such as the beach. As the conversation continued I piped in and said, "I just want to stay home and watch Netflix." My statement received a few laughs but is so true.

I am all for days spent traveling to fun places, socializing with friends, or running around town to either visit favorite local spots or try new things. While I love doing all of these things days in which I have no plans, no responsibilities, and no where to be always rank among the best days I could have. I especially love these days when I can spend them totally alone. There is something so calming and balancing about having 12 or 24 hours completely to yourself. I think it good for the soul.

Above are a few of my essentials for a perfect day at home alone including comfy pajamas and necessities for a luxurious bath. I read this book recently and cannot wait to pick up the second book in the series soon. What are some of your essentials for a perfect day at home alone?

P.S. I talk more about alone time here and I discussed how I like to spend my free time here.

Chit Chat: Feeling Spent

I am so over the glorification of being busy. Everyone is busy. I like being productive. I love the feeling that comes with putting forth effort and seeing the resulting accomplishments but I hate being busy and I take no pride in overextending myself with an overbooked calendar.

The last couple months have been particularly jammed packed and stressful for me. Work has been nonstop and refusing to slow down. Plus a side project that I have has also been piling it on, which I am thankful for (the extra income is really nice) but I am finding it harder and harder to meet the demands of everything and it is nearly impossible to fit everything on my calendar.

Last Friday when I made it home from work I was grumpy, irritated, and exhausted. I called this being spent because that is exactly how I was feeling. All my energy used up with nothing else to give.

Although I knew it would have been wise to use this weekend to schedule a few blog posts for this week, doing errands, cleaning my embarrassingly messy house, and getting a jump start on work for this weekend I just couldn't bring myself to do it. I felt like even I tried it would have been half-hearted attempts with subpar results. I have yet to even look at my inbox in days simply because I know it is going to be incredibly overwhelming.

This weekend I shutdown. I slept more than I have in months. During the times between naps I read and caught up on the shows on my DVR. That is it. I feel like I needed this weekend in order to make it through the next few weeks so I took it. I may regret not powering through more work in the upcoming days right now I know I made the right decision.

How do you handle feeling spent?

image via: 1

Staying In

Pajama Set / Relax Eye Mask / Aerin Rose Lip Conditioner (amazing product) / L'Occitane Hand Cream / Shams (available in a variety of colors) / Velvet Slippers (pom-poms!) / Deep Sleep Body Therapy / Throw / This Works Deep Sleep Bath Oil / Diptyque in Rosafolia (amazing scent!) / Williams-Sonoma Chocolate Bar, Caramel / I'll Drink to That
I am working from home today and I am not budging from this house. As soon as I get the necessary items on my work to do list done I am calling it a day and climbing back in bed. Some evenings are just meant for staying home in cozy pajamas watching favorite movies and reading a good book. One more note before signing off. Have you tried these chocolate bars yet? They are simply delicious.

Chit Chat: Taking A Sick Day

Friday I had a great day. I had an incredibly productive morning and afternoon at work. I got so much work done that I was able to leave work a couple hours earlier. Heading out of the office with a wide open very picturesque fall evening ahead of me I stopped to buy some apples with the plan of making apple turnovers during the weekend. I then met Jessica and spent a little time browsing in some shops and picking up a few items for Halloween. This was followed by calling the rest of our family and meeting up for an impromptu family dinner at one of our favorite restaurants followed by treating ourselves to froyos before heading home. Once me and Jessica made it home we sat down to plan what needs to be done this week for our Halloween party on Saturday.

Almost as soon as we sat down to work out some details I began noticing the first signs of a sore throat and over the course of the weekend it completely went downhill from there. I had agreed to drive Jessica to the conference she was speaking at later on Saturday so that she could get some extra practice time for her speech during the drive. When I woke up at 4 am I could barely speak, my nose was stuffy, and I had an intense sinus headache.

I powered through Saturday but when Jessica's conference was over that evening I immediately fell asleep trying to finish my book club read while Jessica drove us home. I slept until almost lunch time Sunday except for the few times I woke up to take medicine or tend to my very needy cat. I spent the rest of the day in my pajamas until I had to force myself to get dressed for book club.

I typically get these horrible/nasty sinus infections two or three times a year and they typically last a few weeks but with Halloween approaching and all of the festivities that I love (including our party) I am really hoping to feel better soon.

The last couple weeks I haven't been taking care of myself the way I should. I have been awake really late and up really early most days plus I have been juggling a lot on my plate. It has really caught up with me and today I think I have made the right call by opting to stay home and be out of commission for the day. The rest of my week is booked solid so I am crossing my fingers that a little extra rest today will help me make through the weekend host my party Saturday in good spirits.

At this moment I am bundled up under several blankets on my sofa in my pajamas and as soon as I finish this post I have grand plans to take a nap. Before signing off I have to ask do you have any getting better tips for me? What helps you feel better (in a hurry) when you are sick?

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Lovely Brand: Maison Du Soir

Comfortable, pretty pajamas are among the best things in life along with sleeping in, rainy days, a great steaming cup of coffee, cats, and books you canoot put down. Actually, if you add all of those things together you basically have the perfect day.

I was recently introduced to luxury pajama brand Maison Du Soir when I was attending a birthday party where a friend received a few pieces as a gift. I was taken aback by the flattering silhouettes and luxurious fabrics. As someone who takes her sleep and loungewear seriously this is a brand I can definitely get behind. Among my favorites is this beautiful floral pajama top and shorts and this soft, chic knit top.

Do you own any Maison Du Soir pieces? What amazing brands have you recently been exposed to?

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Chit Chat: Vacation Personality

There are few words that sound sweeter to me than the word vacation. Everyone I know looks forward to getting away from reality for a few days me included.

There are a lot of different types of vacations: relaxation, adventures, family fun, etc. I tend to be someone who gets stressed often and who worries about everything so it would make perfect sense if I planned vacations around relaxation but that is totally not the case.

On most days my life is relatively mundane. I wake up at 5 am, go to work, get home around 6:30 or 7, make dinner, hopefully carve out a little time for blogging, and then go to bed so I can repeat in the morning. When on vacation I go in with the mindset that I can rest later and that I want to fit in everything possible during the next few days. I want to explore, I want to see, I want to eat at new interesting places, all the things that I cannot do at home (like feed flamingos).

Almost every time I visit NYC I sleep less than 4 hours a night (there is just so much to do). Even when taking beach vacations I am constantly on the go. I am not someone who just wants to sit still enjoy the sun and the sounds of the waves. I do this for about 15 minutes at a time and then I am ready to continue exploring the beach or splashing in the water.

How do you vacation? What types of activities do you look forward to?

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Chit Chat

Sometimes it is very hard to find time to relax and just unwind at home. The work week is just full of extra things that have to get finished when the working hours are over with. I have meetings after school, tutoring to help some of my high school students plus I have been tutoring a couple of college students in their college algebra courses, grading papers, planning lessons, and gathering materials take a lot of my after school time during the week.
Lately, I have had plenty of time to relax at home because of all of the snow days that we have had from school. If the weatherman is correct in his predictions it's not looking like I will be at work very much this week either. Since I have had all of this free time I thought now would be a good time to talk about what I need to relax. Lately, I have had a lot of time to relax at home, mainly because I have been stuck at home. For me comfy pajamas are a must. I need to be comfortable to relax and everyone around here is stuck at home so I am not going to be surprised by visitors. Mr. Cat is also a must. He is just so adorable and constantly by my side when I am at home. The sound of him purring is very soothing. Lately the necessities for relaxing have included a cozy blanket, great snacks, and my subscription for Netflix so that I can relax by watching all of my favorite episodes of Supernatural or White Collar (or one of my other favorite shows). A great book is also a necessity and we all know about that stack of to read books in the corner of my bedroom. What do you want when you are ready to spend a day relaxing at home?

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For The Perfect Night In

My crazy workdays and these frigid temperatures have really made me appreciate staying in whenever possible with a cozy throw and comfy pajamas. There is nothing better than curling up with a book, choosing future recipes to bake, and catching up on favorite tv shows. Two of my current favorites are these slippers (how cute!) and this candle that I have been lighting each evening.

Robe / Hand Cream / Socks / Slippers / Diptyque Candle / Silk Pajama Shirt / Bubble Bath / Pajama Pants / Throw / Homemade With Love Book
via: 1

Taking A Break

I had a recipe ready to go up today but instead of uploading the pictures and posting the recipe I am going to take a break. The last few weeks have been so crazy that I haven't really gotten to enjoy the holidays yet so I am going to try rest up today and get somethings taken care of in order to help next week will go smoother.

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Surviving the Holidays

Source: thenateshow.com via Tracy and on Pinterest

Source: google.com via Tracy and on Pinterest

Source: Uploaded by user via Tracy and on Pinterest

Source: thefluffingtonpost.com via Tracy and on Pinterest

Another Christmas has come and gone. I love Christmas time with getting to spend lots of time with family, family dinners, the lights and glitter, and the pretty wrapped presents. Everything just seems more perfect under the glow of Christmas lights. Getting ready for Christmas can be a lot of work though with baking, cooking, cleaning, wrapping, and finding the perfect gifts. Now I am looking forward to relaxing and enjoying the last of my break before work begins again. I have several days still before work and I plan to make the most of them. I plan to sleep in, read books, watch movies, and spend lazy evenings petting my cat Mr. Heffalump.
Don't get me wrong it won't be all play. I still have a few things left to get ready for work beginning again and some things to do at home, but I am definitely going to have time and relax. What do you do to relax?

Relaxing in my Pajamas

Source: hush-uk.com via Sunny on Pinterest

Finally I was given a day to myself! Yesterday was the first day in SEVERAL weeks that I was not busy. Lately, my schedule has just been so hectic. I have not had a day to just relax and do what I want to for a long time. Between going to classes, working on a HUGE project, doing some things for work, and having to do things around the house I have been absolutely exhausted. I thought I would end up with a nice three day weekend but family events took two days of it from me. But Sunday was such a reward!

Source: None via Sunny on Pinterest

I got to sleep in, which is a reward all by intself. Then I thought there is no need to get dressed, I don't have anything to do today. So I stayed in my pjs all day.

Source: marthastewart.com via Sunny on Pinterest

Besides lounging in my pjs I had plenty of time to relax and do the things that I actually wanted to do.

Source: nowness.com via Sunny on Pinterest

I relaxed with my cat, who also lounged around the house for most of the day.

Source: flickr.com via Sunny on Pinterest

I also had time to catch up on some reading.

Source: littleemmaenglishhome.blogspot.com via Sunny on Pinterest

I also had time for some baking. It has been a couple weeks since I have had time for that.

Source: google.com via Sunny on Pinterest

And I ended the day by watching some tv.

Have you had a day to just rest and relax lately?

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