The biggest mistake we can make in life is thinking we have endless amounts of time. And by association, summers with our kids. So this edit is dedicated to slowing down, being present, staying soft, keeping it simple and most importantly, enjoying the kids and life you’ve created! In a world of hustle and grind, it’s the gangster (errr cowgirl) thing to do…
THE VIBE:
Living for the simple things: Ice cream dates, water balloon fights, summering in the backyard, eating al fresco, taking polaroids, making friendship bracelets, sipping on lemon water, enjoying extra sleep, eating well, moving lots, making messes, noses in books, practicing hobbies, cooking from scratch, sleepovers on the trampoline, making s’mores, watching Friends reruns from bed (with popcorn), going on hikes, scooter/bike gangs, charcuterie boards, outdoor concerts, wearing bucket hats, playing card games, a pile of summer treasures (rocks, sticks, and shells oh my!), wild flower bouquets, painting rocks, skipping rocks, asking for help, hammock naps, building faith, being one of the kids, soaking up the sun, planting an herb garden, and never feeling guilty for “only keeping the kids alive”. It’s not for the faint of heart!
READING:
Summer is such a good time to read and reading fiction will be a new adventure for me! Here’s what’s on my reading list.
- Daisy Jones & the Six (mostly so I can watch the series)
- Big Summer
- Love & Olives
- Ruthless Elimination of Hurry (so good, almost done!)
- The Hidden Messages in Water
- I will Teach You to Be Rich (finances have been a huge focus for us lately!)
- Nicely Said (for my copy writing friends)
WELLNESS:
Gosh, where do I begin!? Wellness has been a passion of mine lately. This summer I want to take most of the pressure off and focus on consistency with workouts, morning walks, good sleep, lots of protein, and not eating after 7pm. Also, started taking Athletic Greens a little over a month ago (highly recommend!) and other than LMNT (also 10/10 recommend), it’s replaced all of my other supplements! Simplifying is key to successfully doing anything (which is why I love our habit tracker and skincare!), especially this time of year. Also, also, thinking about having a sober girl summer, because WHY NOT!? I can’t think of any good reasons not to, so be on the lookout for fun mocktail recipes!
MOOD BOARD:
This board is everything and includes lots of good/helpful content from the archives — including this printable, lots of recipes, a lemonade stand checklist, and an un-fancy summer bucket list.
COASTAL COWGIRL PLAYLIST:
A summertime soundtrack if I ever heard one! Been listening on repeat all month (like I do anytime I’m making a playlist to share!) and am still in love. Also, my kids haven’t complained so I feel like that’s a good sign.
EATING:
Al fresco of course! Here’s the Meal Plan for June (and lots more to choose from here). Love these striped tablecloths from J. Crew (um, when did they get home goods!?), these candleholders (one, two, three), and this salad recipe. Last but not least, if it’s too hot inside to bake a pizza in the oven, try grilling them!
THE KIDS:
My top recs for living your best life (with kids, at home) this summer!
- Swimsuits they love: Poppy’s fave, Griff’s fave (no chafing), Tilly’s fave top & bottom, Espen’s Fave (& these!) — all on sale.
- Capturing the mems! Stock up on polaroids, disposable cameras, or chatbooks!
- Make a simple bucket list and get things on the calendar.
- Stock up on:
- craft supplies – looming, beads, paints, air-dry modeling clay, any of the Mondo Llama sets from Target
- water activities – self filling water balloons, sprinkler or splashpad, mister, pool
- Quiet time activities – deck of cards, workbooks (my kids like the sudoku ones), a new book (Poppy just started the Ramona series), journal, play doh, etc.
- Limit screens and sugar – this is hard at first, but worth it in the long run!
- Compostable food trays (you can thank me later).
- FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THINGS HOLY, GIVE THEM CHORES. You’ll be setting everyone up for success and not just now, but in the future too… So many studies on how good it is for kids to contribute around the house.
This summer belongs to you! How do you want to spend it!?
xx, Rae
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