Inspiration
There are so many beautiful places worth seeing.
Beach Days
What is summer if you don't spend some time at the beach? Admittedly, I am from Midwest, so to me, the beach has always been more of a lakeside than a proper coastline (to those who live by a real beach, I envy you). Nonetheless, I love taking advantage of the warmer weather and laying out on sunny days. These past few months, I've gained a much deeper appreciation for nature. I find that I'm at my calmest and am most able to reflect when I've spent some time outside. So, I hope to spend some time at the beach this summer! Hopefully, this gives me the chance to unwind, unplug, and spend some time with friends.
Life Changes
Odds are that this will be a summer of change in my life. After spending most of my life in a suburb of Chicago, it seems that my family is looking for a new place to call home. Now that my older brother has moved out on his own and I am settled at college in Georgia, my parents intend to move to the south and start a new chapter of their lives. So, it seems as though I may be trading the windy city for southeastern beaches in the upcoming months. I've personally never been to Charleston, and though change can be intimidating, I'm looking forward to what this next chapter may hold.
Healthy Living
I feel my best when I'm eating healthy and being active. I love exercising and sticking to a routine, so that is something I hope to maintain this summer. Despite the added free time, I find it can be difficult to maintain a healthy lifestyle without the routine structure that the typical school-year has. Thus, it is one of my main goals to build a good routine for myself this summer that involves staying healthy and practicing wellness, both for my body and mind.
Baking
Baking has always been one of my biggest hobbies. Unfortunately, having lived in a freshman dormitory for the past year, I haven't had access to a toaster, let alone my beloved KitchenAid mixer or a double-oven From making Christmas cookies with my mom to taking pastry classes in Paris, baking has always been a passion of mine and a hobby I return to anytime I seek comfort. I love experimenting with new recipes and perfecting old-time favorites, like the Nestle-Toll House chocolate chip cookie recipe, for instance. So, with a little more free time on my hands this summer, I'm really hoping to get back into baking and spend some time learning new recipes.
Recipe Blogs
While some people are partial to using old family recipes, one of my favorites places to find new recipes are blogs. Feel free to take a look at my personal favorite, Wood & Spoon by Kate Wood!
Wood & Spoon