July Bucket List

Happy July everyone! Summer is at it’s peak here in Chicago. Days spent outside soaking up the sun, at farmers markets, baseball games, and BBQ’s. There’s long summer days ahead and warm summer nights for stargazing. There’s time to roast marshmallows and eat gooey s’mores. If you enjoy the heat, this month brings lots of opportunities for summer fun. This July bucket list is full of warm weather activities, baking, and ways to stay cool.

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 Innisfree Daily UV Defense. The products feel light and velvety and don’t have that traditional SPF smell.

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! If you don’t have a drive-in nearby, have a movie night with your favorite snacks.

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 s’mores after. When I think about summer desserts, I always think of the nostalgic taste of melty and gooey chocolatey s’mores. 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, s’mores are not just about the taste but the nostalgia of a sweet treat on a warm summer evening.

9. Start a new book. Whether it’s summer themed or just a book you’ve been eyeing, get a book and read it outside. Instead of buying, check out your local library! Your library may have a summer reading challenge. Many libraries have both challenges for kids and adults and it’s a fun way to get reading. 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’m making an effort to allow myself more time in the morning. I started sleeping earlier, getting up earlier, (it was hard) and getting a workout in. Having more time for myself in the morning means allowing my mind and body to ease into things. If you’ve been feeling a little stuck with your current routine, give it a try, you can always change back.

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. It’s so fun to go to a salon to get your nails done but it can add up and sometimes press-ons are easy and fun. Try finding press-ons on Etsy and support a small business. This is my current favorite nail shop, especially the celestial forest ones.

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. It’s fun to change it up and new hairstyles will get you out of your comfort zone. 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 road trip! 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. Try your Sunday night reset for preparing for the week ahead. Boil hot water, add it to a glass pitcher, steep your teabags, and add sweetener if your prefer. Once the pitcher has cooled down, move it into the refrigerator.

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. Hibiscus tea is a great cooling herb to help on hot summer days. TAZO Passion Herbal Tea is my favorite and I drink it every summer. 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, 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 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. Gently stretching your body after a long day helps put your mind and body into a calm 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 buy 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 soft 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. Set an intention for next month. An intention is how you want to be instead of the things that you want to do. An example is maybe you want to make a conscious effort to give yourself grace as you move through this summer season. Write it down or say it out loud so that it’s clear. Making time for this allows you to reflect and think deeply about your ambitions and future self.

I hope you enjoyed this months bucket list, I’ll see you for August’s bucket list!