Stay Home Summer Bucket List

My bucket list posts are always some of my most popular but with the onset of the coronavirus they didn’t really seem worth doing. But then as we’ve entered summer I wanted a bit of a perspective shift – there’s still so much fun that can be achieved right in our own homes or own backyards and today’s post is all about celebrating those things. I put pen to paper to think of loads of ideas that you can do this summer while staying home and I hope you’ll join me in making your way through this list. Reading it through in its entirety made me actually excited to do some new things this summer!

Today’s post is in collaboration with one of my go-to brands for affordable, feminine basics, Ann Taylor and I hope you enjoy the pieces I share here! Before we get to the bucket list, I want to touch on these pieces and their newest arrivals I am eyeing!

This eyelet sweater was love at first sight.

I love summer sweaters (Ann Taylor made another one of my favorite ones that I shared here) and the eyelet sleeves on this one make it so darling + so my style. I paired it with white jeans but also think it would look great with denim shorts. I’m wearing a Medium.

The next pieces I fell in love with were these chambray shorts with the most darling, scalloped (!) tie on them making them a super flattering fit. (Not all shorts are created equal in my opinion but Ann Taylor’s I find to be super flattering). I had to top this outfit with their summer fringe jacket because it is so chic, so perfectly patriotic for summertime and because you know Ann Taylor makes some of my very favorite tweed jackets (Exhibit A, Exhibit B and Exhibit C). I’m wearing a 4 in the shorts and a 6 in the jacket.

A few other Ann Taylor pieces I am eying:

Bake a stone fruit dessert.

I suggest Ina Garten’s Peach & Raspberry Crisp that is utterly divine.

Find a signature summer cocktail.

I’m having so much fun making summer cocktails this season. See some of my favorites over on my IGTV in my Let’s Make a Drink series.

Learn a new skill.

Try needlepoint or a new language! Need inspiration? Check out this post.

Get dressed in a “normal” outfit.

Here is some summer inspiration. I’ve been doing this more and more and it has done wonders for my mood.

Teach yourself a new low maintenance hairdo.

I am obsessed with this Etsy shop for pretty hair accessories to pull your hair back for hot days.

Watch the sunrise.

It’s worth the early wake up call! I did it twice the other week and found myself doing some deep, meditative breathing alongside the sun rising.

Make a meal entirely from the farmer’s market.

This time of year is the best for cooking with in-season product in my opinion. Head to your local market in a mask and then shop for whatever strikes your fancy. Then build your meal around what you find!

Walk around a new neighborhood.

One of my favorite parts of shelter in place has been getting to my neighborhood and its neighboring neighborhoods even better. Drive or walk to a part of where you live that you’ve never explored and see where your two feet take you!

Donate to a new cause you’ve learned about.

There are so many amazing causes out there so why not give to one that tugs at your heart strings? Need ideas? Browse GoFundMe.

Support a female owned small business.

A few I personally love include Katie Dean Jewelry, Otherland, Follain, Cuyana, Lake Pajamas, Year & Day, MM.LaFleur, Sarah Flint, Hero Cosmetics and Sezane.

Support a black owned small business.

Get loads of inspiration here and I personally love Estelle Colored Glass and LuvScrub.

Make a cocktail with infused simple syrup.

Add equal parts sugar + water to a pan and bring it to a boil! Once sugar has been absorbed into the water, turn off the heat and add your infusion of choice. So far this year I’ve made strawberry, honey, mint and basil simple syrups and it is SO fun and adds so much easy flavor to your favorite cocktail (or mocktail!)

Send snail mail to an unsuspecting friend.

And may I suggest you do so on my wit & whimsy custom croissant cards?

Visit a body of water and dip your toes in.

This is one of my favorite simple pleasures in life. If you can get to an ocean or a lake or a river by you safely, I highly recommend it for a bit of summer solace.

Call a friend you’ve not spoken to in a while.

No time like the present to reconnect!

Read a book about a topic you’ve never explored.

I’ve been leaning into reading more and more and now I want to expand my horizons. I recently purchased Big Friendship: How We Keep Each Other Close and So You Want to Talk About Race to read this summer.

Try grilling your entire dinner.

I may not have a grill but this inexpensive grill pan makes me feel like I do. I love making steak and grilled veggies on it! Next up I’m going to try grilling peaches on it.

Make an ice cream sundae bar.

I love nothing more than a toppings bar so an ice cream sundae bar is right up my alley. Set up loads of toppings and several flavors of ice cream and dig in!

Store your favorite facial spray in the fridge.

Perfect for a summer pick me up, store your favorite facial spray (mine is the Caudalie Beauty Elixir) or eye masks or moisturizer in the fridge.

Listen to the ocean waves – IRL or a via a white noise app. 

One of the most healing sounds in the world in my opinion.

Have dinner with friends virtually over Zoom.

All prepare the same dish (lots of good recommendations here) and then eat together over Zoom.

Make homemade lemonade.

Homemade lemonade reminds me so much of my childhood summer. I am going to try making some myself this summer (and remember vodka is always a nice addition for hot evenings!)

Spend a day totally tech free.

Can you do it!? I deleted Instagram the other weekend and it was heavenly. See where your day takes you when you unplug entirely.

Get a new plant.

Bring outside in! I love my plants from The Sill.

Have a movie night with classic films you’ve never seen.

There are plenty of classics I’ve never seen and I want to tick off a few this summer! Not sure how to make a selection? Try this fun method!

Venmo a friend $5 for a coffee on you.

This is a favorite pastime I do with my friends.

Go on a day trip to walk around a new town.

Getting (safely) out of your neighborhood is a great way to feel like you’re doing *more* this summer than staying at home. Explore a new town nearby you and support some of their local small businesses by grabbing coffee or ice cream or a takeaway meal you can eat in a nearby park.

Make a summer playlist with feel good tunes.

Want a headstart? Mine can be found here.

Start a virtual bookclub.

Gather your besties and pick a summer book you can read together and then discuss on Zoom at the end of the summer.

Make homemade popsicles.

Use leftover smoothie mix to have a refreshing cold treat this summer. This is a fun activity to do with kids, too! And for the adults – try making boozy popsicles! These popsicle molds are too cute.

Try growing herbs at home.

Quarantine cooking has made me realize how much fresh herbs makes a difference in a dish but I don’t have any I am growing so I feel like I spend way too much money on herbs that don’t last. My friend got me two of these indoor garden herb kits for my birthday and I can’t wait to start to grow mint + basil at home! Pro-tip: you can use them for infused simple syrups for mocktails and cocktails, too!

Learn to make an epic cheese + charcuterie plate.

When you can’t go to a wine bar, bring the wine bar to you. Make yourself a meal one night full of cheese + charcuterie + all the fixings (marcona almonds are my personal cheese board favorite! and olives! and honey!) and then watch a favorite movie set in Europe.

Here’s a handy graphic of the above for you to print out or pin so you can keep track of all you do from the list! And tag me on Stories if you do them, too! I’d love to see them.

What’s something you’re looking forward to doing this summer?

SHOP THE POST:

Ann Taylor Mixed Media Summer Sweater (size M) // Jeans // Zara Sandals // Wicker Bag

Ann Taylor Summer Fringe Tweed Jacket (size 6) + Chambray Tie Shorts (size 4) // Tee (M) // Bag // Sneakers

p.s. more new things to try this summer and everything I use to survive hot summers.

This post is in collaboration with Ann Taylor. Thank you so much for supporting the brands I love to work with! You can see our last collaboration here, here.

[Jacqueline Clair Photography]