Summer Ending.

A ugust was almost over. The first cool touch of autumn moved slowly through the town and there was a softening and the first gradual burning fever of color in every tree, a faint flush and coloring in the hills, and the color of lions in the wheat field. Now the pattern of days was familiar and repeated like a penman beautifully inscribing again and again, in practice, a series of l's and w's and m's, day after day the line repeated in delicate rills.

Dandelion Wine, Ray Bradbury

Favorite Beaches: Oak Island, North Carolina.

Oak Island is the first beach I ever went to. From when I was in utero until I was 14 years old, my mom's family would rent the same beach-front house for one week each summer.

The week was all about spending time with family, playing board games and cards with cousins and aunts and uncles, swimming, taking long walks to the arcade at the pier, and playing putt-putt.

The smell of gasoline still sometimes reminds me of driving bumper boats.

Wearing: July 4th Weekend.

Not very glamorous. Not very interesting. But very practical. This is what I'll be living in this weekend. In fact, I started wearing this outfit yesterday, slept in the T-shirt last night, and plan to (maybe, hopefully) wash it before wearing it again tonight tomorrow Monday. 

Our plans for Monday include riding our bikes into DC, listening to the reading of the Declaration of Independence at the National Archives, watching the National Independence Day Parade, heading over to watch the Nats take on the Cubbies, and, more importantly, eat hot dogs and drink beer (God Bless America). Boy, it'll be hard to root for the home team when they're playing the Lovable Losers. Later in the night, we'll probably take in some fireworks. 

This outfit will keep me cool and comfy for my busy Fourth. This T-shirt is the most perfect thing on earth. I bought a medium so it is nice and loose and comfy and I have been wearing it tied in a knot at the waist (like this pretty lady). It looks great with this Gap skirt I got last year. I might wear a pair of bike shorts under my skirt, but I might not. Let's just hope I don't get pulled over for wearing a skirt on a bike like this woman in New York. My Toms will be perfect for biking and walking around in, and the wayfarers will be absolutely necessary as it is supposed to be hot and sunny. Oh, and don't think I have a pair of for-real for-real Wayfarers. I have $8 knockoffs from Old Navy. I'm still sporting Racey Rouge polish on my nails. It will be there all summer; don't forget to tip your waitress. 

And the backpack. I could lie and tell you I'm going to carry around some adorable straw tote or trendy crossbody bag. But, you know what? I won't be. My trusty Jansport will carry everything I need for the day - a blanket to splay on during fireworks on the Mall, my camera, and sunblock, sunblock and more sunblock. Seriously, we've been having summer-like weather for over a month now and I'm still pale as a ghost. And intend to stay that way, thank you very much.

Wearing: Weekend in the Sun.

(top, shorts, hat, necklace, sandals, nail polish)

I plan on spending a lot of time outside this weekend and this is very similar to an outfit I will likely be wearing. I bought this hat from Target last week and it is perfect for shielding your face from the sun. I also just scooped up a pair of these Old Navy shorts and will be wearing them all summer long, often with a striped shirt like this. I say "like this" because I would never ever ever spend $85 on a knit top. Luckily, stripes are everywhere nowadays.

I liked the idea of keeping this outfit fairly neutral except the pop of the yellow shorts and bright red nail polish. These shoes and necklace are both neutral in color, but also bold and interesting. Anthropologie is my favorite place to look for bold, fun jewelry. Most of the pieces are way out of my price range, but it is always nice to internet-window shop, ponder a DIY here and there, and hope that some favorites get marked down. And the marked down again.

Speaking of favorites - Sally Hansen Insta-Dri nail polish in Racey Rouge. This polish dries in two minutes and has a fantastic fat brush that makes painting your own nails, even with your non-dominant hand, incredibly easy. It comes in a ton of colors, but this red is by far my favorite. I actually need to buy a new bottle because the one I have now is empty. Nail polish usually dries up before it gets used up in this house. Not this one.

Summertime.

Summer, summer, dear summer. I love you. I have always loved you. Although I don’t think I ever loved you more than I did when I lived in Chicago.

Seasons are fickle in Chicago. Actually, not all seasons. Winter is consistently cold, windy, snowy, and…did I mention cold? Really, really cold. Fall can be sweltering hot, freezing cold, or any temperature in between. Usually, if it is above 45 degrees after mid-November, restaurants put tables outside for al fresco dining. Spring? It snowed the first day of spring every year I lived in Chicago. But there is progress. Usually. Slowly. And then – boom – suddenly it is spring. For two weeks. Then summer. Summer. Summer! Summer in Chicago has the unbelievable, magical, supernatural ability to make Chicagoans forget that that it is impossible to leave the house without an ankle-length, down-filled, Stay Puft Marshmallow Man-looking coat for five months of the year. It is glorious.

Honestly, after finishing college, then grad school, summer began meaning less and less to me. The excitement of summer break waned. I worked all summer - and in places without “summer hours” (the nerve). But summer in Chicago was such a blissful time that it made me feel like a kid again. I had to spend every possible hour outside, go for a walk at lunch, a run after work, meet friends for an outdoor happy hour, take a walk to the local ice cream parlor.

This year, even though I no longer live in Chicago, even though our first 70+ degree day was in mid-February, I intend to treat this summer like it deserves. Like a special, fleeting time. This is how I plan to do just that:

1. Read some of my favorite summer stories. My most-read and all-time favorite is Ray Bradbury's Dandelion Wine (above).

2. Take my movie-watching outside.

(via)

DC abounds with outdoor movie screenings. Screen on the Green on the Mall (must see: Gentlemen Prefer Blondes on August 8). NoMa Summer Screen just north on Union Station (must see: Planes, Trains and Automobiles on June 29). Front Row Films at the Capitol Riverfront (must see: West Side Story on July 28). Stars on the Avenue in Bethesda (must see: The Social Network on July 30).

3. Eat like it's summer.

(via)

Freeze pops, Fudge pops. Ice cream cones. It's summer and it's time to run down the ice cream truck. Summer also means eating salads with fresh, local produce and snacking on berries berries and more berries. I also intend to take in a few baseball games and it is not a day at the ballpark without a beer and a hot dog. And soft pretzel. And nachos. And cotton candy....

4. Turn up the summer jams.

I. Love. Pop. Music. There, I said it. And I feel like I can get away with listening to it - loud, and with my windows down - in the summertime. This year my summer jam is the Scissor Sisters' Take Your Mama Out. I also can't get enough of this particular performance. Some of my other summer jams from the past few years? Rihanna's Disturbia (2008). Michael Franti & Spearhead's Say Hey (I Love You) (2009). Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros' Home (2010).

5. Say yes. 

(via)

I want to live this summer fully and not get caught up in being tired or lazy. I want to look back and know that this summer I did things that adventurous, fun and fearless, but mostly that I did things. It may mean taking a spontaneous road trip, trying a new restaurant, going for a hike, to the climbing gym or for a last-minute bike ride into the District. And, sure, it may mean jumping off a cliff into cold, refreshing water. I think this series of images by photographer Max Wanger really captures the essence of summer. Summer is for jumping off a cliff, literally or metaphorically.

Wearing: Almost-Summer Weekend.

You know it's almost summer when you start wearing swimsuits as underthings, just in case you have an opportunity to take a dip.

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