July Bucket List

Happy July everyone! The month of July is peak summer in Chicago. The weather is hot and sometimes humid, everything is green and blooming, and people are doing warm weather activities. There is a buzz of excitement in the air. There are long summer days ahead and warm summer nights for stargazing. There’s time to roast marshmallows and eat gooey smores. If you enjoy the heat, this month is perfect with sunny days and warm nights. The July bucket list is full of warm weather activities, baking, ways to stay cool, and even a workout challenge idea.

July Bucket List

1. July is national blueberry month! Go to a U-pick farm, buy blueberries from the farmers market, or make my blueberry crumble cookie bar recipe!

2. If you haven’t already, add sunscreen to your morning routine. My current favorite sunscreens for my face is the Supergoop SPF 50 sunscreen and the Beauty of Joseon daily relief sunscreen. The products feel light and velvety and don’t have that traditional SPF smell. I also use Eucerin Daily Hydration Broad Spectrum SPF 15 body lotion sunscreen for my body if I’m going to work or outside for a short time, otherwise I use a sport sunscreen for longer periods in the sun! Sun protection is so important! 

3. Head to the beach to take a long walk along the shoreline. Notice the things around you, look at the rocks or shells and enjoy the fresh air.

4. Happy fourth of July! Today, we host a BBQ for family and friends. In the past I’ve made my flag fruit tart recipe to add some festiveness to the table. This year, I spent time deciding on how to decorate the tablescape to be festive but still casual. Or if you want to make a dessert but don’t feel like turning on the oven, try my no bake Oreo balls recipe for both chocolate and vanilla versions.

5. Listen to live music. We prefer to head to a low-key outdoor music concert or even find live music at restaurants or local breweries. If you’re into festivals, search for events near you and find tickets ahead of time. It’s so nice to enjoy music outside on a nice summer day.  

6. Find a drive-in movie theater! If you can find a drive-in theater in your area, I highly suggest seeing a movie this way! We always have such a fun time when we can see a summer movie, buy some snacks, and watch from the car on a warm summer night. It’s a whole vibe!

7. Meet your friends for a cocktail or mocktail at a rooftop bar. Warm weather means being able to do so many things outside – there’s nothing like a Chicago summer. Dress up and have fun with it! Catch up with friends while enjoying the view. 

8. Host a BBQ and plan to make smores after. When I think about summer desserts, I always think of the nostalgic taste of melty chocolatey smores. I grew up with a charcoal grill so after dinner was done, we’d grab sticks or skewers and roast marshmallows over the cooling embers. To me, smores are not just about the taste but the nostalgia of a sweet treat on a warm summer evening.

9. Start a new summer book. There are tons of summer romance novels or books with summer themes but any book will do. You could also check out your local library and see if they have a summer reading challenge. Many libraries have both challenges for kids and adults with a prize for completing a certain amount of books. Personally, I’m doing my own challenge this year by trying to read or listen to 10 books (I’ve read 4 so far!).

10. Plan an ice cream pint party! Ask guests to bring their favorite ice cream, frozen yogurt, etc. Gather a bunch of toppings like sprinkles, nuts, whipped cream, cherries, chocolate, magic shell, candies, etc. Make sure you have enough bowls and spoons, and let everyone try different ice cream flavors and customize it their way.

11. Make an iced earl grey matcha latte recipe. An iced earl grey latte is a refreshing and aromatic drink that has the rich flavor of black tea infused with citrusy bergamot. Milk adds a creaminess that evens out the flavors and tastes delicious over ice. Adding a dash or vanilla or honey adds a sweetness that complements the latte perfectly. Use my earl grey simple syrup recipe as the sweetener to your favorite matcha.

12. Reevaluate what you do with the time spent before your 9-5 job or workday begins. This summer I made an effort to change my morning routine to allow myself more time in the morning. I started sleeping earlier, getting up at 5:45am, (yes, it was hard). By working out in the morning, I stopped having to stress over getting my workout in after my job which is a huge relief. Having more time (and a workout to wake me up) means that I can start my workday without feeling rushed. Over the last few years I had been creating cortisol spikes from getting out of bed and rushing to work. I never felt like my morning was my own. This new routine allows my mind and body to ease into things. 

13. Get a cute summer pedicure or manicure. If you follow me on Instagram you know that I love my press on nails from Etsy. I’ve been really into nails with some texture lately, so when I saw these fruit nails, I was so excited. I love going into a salon to get my nails done but sometimes I’m just in the mood for press ons and small shops on Etsy have been so successful for me lately! I just ordered fruit market picnic nails from this shop for my upcoming summer vacation.

14. Take an afternoon lazy nap. Working hard is rewarding and fulfilling but don’t forget to rest too. There’s something about a nap during a summer afternoon that feels amazing. It’s okay to take a pause in order to feel refreshed for the rest of your day.

15. Try a new summer hairstyle! There is so much inspiration over on Pinterest and Instagram that will show you step by step. I get into a routine with my hair and have to remember to change it up sometimes! It gets you out of your comfort zone and that can be a good thing. One thing that I’ve been loving lately are wide headbands to keep my hair back on days when I don’t have time to fix it.

16. Attend a baseball game with friends. Whether you’re a fan or not, summer and baseball go hand in hand. I find going to a sports game in person is much more enjoyable, especially with friends. Enjoy being outside, eating sports food (hotdogs, nachos, ice cream), and a summer in the city atmosphere.

17. It’s not too late to plan a roadtrip! Plan with your friend, partner, or even a solo trip if you’re feeling extra adventurous. Last year at the end of the summer, A and I took a 10 day road trip through Michigan and it was so fun!  

18. Visit a state park or national park and get exploring. Our parks are so important and offer a great way to learn about the natural world around us. Spending time outside can be so good for the mind and body. Tip: plan ahead to figure out parking or fees so that you’re prepared. 

19. Make a pitcher of iced tea for the week. Usually on my summer Sunday nigh resets for the week, I boil hot water, add it to a glass pitcher and steep 6-8 teabags. This usually lasts for 4-5 days. Once the pitcher has cooled down, move it into the refrigerator. In the mornings it’s so easy to add iced into a tumbler and pour in the tea for work. Lately I’ve been preparing black, green, or hibiscus tea, and I’ll add other flavors like lemon, lime, or simple syrup. I’m always craving iced drinks especially on hot summer days.

20. Decorate camping themed sugar cookies. Find step-by-step pictures for Big Foot, trees, campfires, lightning bugs, marshmallows on sticks, a tent, and the moon! I love decorating seasonal themes onto homemade sugar cookies! I have both my sugar cookie recipe and royal icing recipe posted on my blog.

21. Make spring rolls. Spring rolls can be so refreshing to eat during the summer because they use cold ingredients. Although you do have to cook chicken, shrimp, or pork, depending on what you like, we let it cool before adding it onto dampened rice paper. Besides adding protein, we add lettuce, cucumbers, vermicelli noodles, mint, and sometimes a jalapeño or mango slice. 

22. Make hibiscus iced tea to stay cool. I started learning about what herbs have cooling properties and how you can incorporate them into drinks or food during the summer. One of the herbs is hibiscus! This makes so much sense because I have always craved hibiscus iced tea during the hot months and now I know why. Hibiscus tea supposedly can help with hydration and cleansing the digestive system, which helps to get rid of heat. Also, its tart flavor it’s very thirst quenching. 

23. Try working or studying at a cafe. If you have remote work or a chance to work somewhere else for a day, try heading to a cafe you like. Even if you’re just working on personal things (like blogging 🙂), a change of scenery can be inspiring and can be helpful for focusing.

24. Harvest from your garden. In our garden we start seeing cucumbers, herbs, and even edible flowers that are ready for picking. Being able to step outside and snip a chili pepper or some basil is a lovely feeling. Seeing your hard work come to life is so rewarding! If you don’t have a vegetable garden, you could also try snipping some flowers to make a mini bouquet to place by your sink or windowsill!

25. Download a star guide app. A warm summer night is great for stargazing and looking for planets that are visible during the summer months. I use the Startracker app which lets you point anywhere in the sky and shows you stars, planets, and constellations.

26. Try following a yoga for bedtime video to help wind down. We often hear about morning workouts and post dinner walks, but adding a yoga for sleep routine is also very beneficial. The gentle stretching of your body after a long day helps put your mind and body into a calming mood. 

27. No phone in bed! Although this is only listed for one day on this bucket list, I’m trying to incorporate this into my everyday routine. Separating your screens from bed is a freeing feeling, although it is difficult at first. It feels like there’s so much to see or work on, but once you’re in bed, it should be a time for rest and recovery. Try keeping your phone in another room and buying an alarm clock instead.

28. Eat seasonal foods like watermelon, corn, tomatoes, zucchini, bell peppers, hot peppers, etc. I advocate for this every season, but eating based on the seasons means you’ll get the best tasting fruits and vegetables. If you shop locally at farmers markets, roadside stands, local produce stores, etc., you’ll also be supporting your community! 

29. Do your evening skincare routine with mood lighting. Sometimes we can get a little too up close and personal in those magnifying mirrors. You might even find yourself evaluating your skin. While I think it’s okay to do that sometimes, analyzing your skin every night can be overwhelming. Turn off overhead lights and try your skincare routine either by candle light or the glow of string lights. It creates a soothing atmosphere and lets you enjoy the process of applying skincare instead of analyzing it. 

30. Visit an immersive butterfly exhibit! These spaces are usually filled with plants, flowers, and other greenery while butterflies flutter all around you! This can be a great learning opportunity for young children, or just a nice way to observe butterflies’ life cycle up close. 

31. Try a 75 “medium” challenge to start on the 1st of August! Maybe you’ve heard of the 75 hard challenge which has the goal of daily workouts, healthier diets, and a routine to gain confidence and discipline. I was inspired by this YouTuber who took the 75 hard challenge and added her own tweaks to the rules. For 75 days, I created “rules” that were challenging but not impossible (otherwise I won’t follow through 😅). I started on June 1st and have been able to keep up with it! My rules are to complete each thing for 75 days: workout (weights, yoga, pilates, extra long walks), get 6k-10k steps, drink 64oz of water, cut down on sugar, sleep earlier, no phone in bed, and read for 10 minutes. Besides some physical changes, I’m feeling lots of good changes for the mind too!