8 Sweet Ways To Romanticize Your Life This Summer
Staff Writer, Jasmine Williams, covers a variety of topics from home decor to beauty and everything in between. She has bylines at Motherly, The Everymom, and Byrdie where she wrote about motherhood, beauty, health and relationships. Jasmine knew she wanted to be a writer when she realized she was actually interested in reading the articles in her mom's favorite magazines — and she may or may not have ripped her favorite articles out to study them later. When she's not working, you can find Jasmine playing make-believe with her toddler, spending an undisclosed amount of time in Target or TJ Maxx, and searching for a family-friendly puppy to add to her family.
Spring was a nice preview of warmer weather and lovely activities, but now it's time to set your heart on learning how to romanticize your summer. Despite the occasional rainy days, you'll have plenty of time to check off your personal summer bucket list. I'm personally looking at doing more summer reading and finding a new yummy scent, but there's so much more you can do!
Here's a short and sweet list that'll make you feel like the world is your oyster this summer!
Embrace Al Fresco Dining
Photo by Regina Zwirchmaier/Dupe
If you’ve been looking for a sign to make your breakfast, lunch, or dinner meals more exciting, this is it. Whether you’ve got a taste for making satisfying breakfast smoothie recipes, you’re ready to make your own Blue Zone diet recipes (think Cava-style bowls), or you're just wanting a glass of wine at your fave restaurant with your girls, your body will readily thank you for the welcomed change of pace. Outdoor dining for the win!
Shake Up Your Fave Drink at Home
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“If you like piña coladas and getting caught in the rain…” will have nothing on your recreation of juicy watermelon cocktails. We’re big on sipping on pretty drinks that taste as refreshing and yummy as they look so we think you should try whipping up your own recipe.
Prefer something that tastes slightly different? Shuffle through more summer cocktail recipes to find something you can easily make at home!
Date Yourself
Photo by Cora Pursley/Dupe
Instead of waiting for prince (or princess) charming to compliment us, buy us flowers, or take us on the fairytale picnic of our dreams — I think it's time we do this for ourselves. If there's a particular bouquet of flowers you can't stop dreaming about, buy them and place them in the prettiest vase you own. Similarly, craft the charcuterie board that rivals your favorite influencer's, and create a picnic spread that the Bridgerton ladies wouldn't mind indulging in.
Find Your Summer Scent
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I found my signature scent — warm gourmand — early on, and haven’t strayed from it since. But, all perfumes aren’t created equal, and that’s something Moodeaux has taught me. The top and bottom notes of a fragrance have the magical ability to change the overall vibe of a scent so it’s important to ask yourself what tickles your fancy.
Do you feel a tingle in your spine when you smell something citrusy? Try Chanel's COCO MADEMOISELLE Eau de Parfum. Need to smell like a walking version of paradise? Join the warm gourmands crew by spraying yourself with Moodeaux's Worthy IntenScenual Eau De Parfum Fragrance! Love the delicate and dainty smell of fresh flowers? You’re a floral girl all the way and need Gucci's Flora Gorgeous Gardenia Eau de Parfum in your life.
Thrift a Vintage Sun Hat
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It’s not everyday that you find a cute sun hat to wear. Either they’re too big, or they're much too flimsy to be practical, leaving you turned off by the idea of wearing one. But, I have a solution for this!
Scope out the nearest vintage store so you can thrift a sun hat you won't mind wearing all summer! While you generally have to be patient when sifting through various racks, the sun hat you're looking for could jump out at you when you least expect it!
Dress in Summer Brights
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Did you think your meals are the only things that are allowed to be colorful this summer? Whew, please think again! You’re allowed to (and should!) wear as much color as you please.
Minimalist lovers can add a pop of color to their wardrobes by wearing a kitschy hair clip or hand bag. Those who live by the motto “more is more” can find the cutest jewel-tone slip dresses to shimmy into, or the frilliest going-out tops to cause a scene in.
Enjoy A Beach Read
Photo by Rebekah Lelli/Dupe
Reading books on the beach just hit DIFFERENT. Right now, I'm sooooo into The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren, but there are TONS of other beach reads you can choose from!
Are you looking for a classic enemies-to-lovers trope? Try How to End a Love Story by Yulin Kuang. Want something that makes you believe in second chances? Read Before I Let Go by Kennedy Ryan. In the mood for a novel that reads like a K-Drama mixed with ancient folklore? Get ready to sink your teeth into The God and the Gumiho by Sophie Kim because it hit shelves next week!
Scope Out the Best Sunset Viewpoint
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Perhaps my favorite thing to do during summer is watch as many sunsets as I can. If you’re fortunate to have an apartment that has a balcony, I highly recommend lounging on it while lazily reading your preferred summer read.
As the sun starts going down, you’ll be able to catch the glorious rays light up the sky with hints of coral and yellow before it allows the moon to get its nightly shine.
How To Romanticize Your Summer
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Staff Writer, Jasmine Williams, covers a variety of topics from home decor to beauty and everything in between. She has bylines at Motherly, The Everymom, and Byrdie where she wrote about motherhood, beauty, health and relationships. Jasmine knew she wanted to be a writer when she realized she was actually interested in reading the articles in her mom's favorite magazines — and she may or may not have ripped her favorite articles out to study them later. When she's not working, you can find Jasmine playing make-believe with her toddler, spending an undisclosed amount of time in Target or TJ Maxx, and searching for a family-friendly puppy to add to her family.