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listen to music…outside


Outdoor concert season is here. If rocking out to a popular band isn’t in the budget, check the itinerary for local parks or organizations in your town that are offering free shows.

pack a picnic


Take your weekly ladies dinner from your favorite sushi haunt to someone’s backyard. Make it a potluck, spread out a blanket and don’t forget the box of wine.

weekly trips to the farmers market


Make it a point to get to your local farmers market every week. There’s nothing like a basket brimming with summer’s bounty of fresh berries and leafy greens.

lawn game olympics


If you take a game of Croquet very seriously and you’d happily skin a knee diving for a birdie, then host your own backyard matches. Set up multiple games and rotate teams. Dole out cheeky medals to the winners—and the losers.

get in the car


And drive with absolutely no plan in mind. Unplug the GPS and hit the back roads to see what you might stumble across. Stop at tag sales and ice cream shacks along the way. Just don’t leave the GPS behind entirely, since you might eventually need help getting back.

concoct a signature cocktail


Since backyard entertaining will be at an all-time high, why not perfect your pouring skills? A signature drink will have guests expecting to have a glass of your now infamous Lavender Gin Fizz the moment they arrive.

clean your closet


We admit that the fun doesn’t come until after you’re done purging. Invite your friends over for a summer swap session. You’ll be instantly amped for warmer weather with a free new-to-you sundress.

make your own bug spray


An increase in outdoor time means your skin will be more prone to bug bites. Keep a homemade concoction in your tote at all times. Start with a soybean oil base and add drops of insect repelling essential oils like catnip, citronella and lemongrass.

join a biker gang


You don’t need a leather jacket and a Harley to be a biker. Plan to go on a weekly bike ride with friends to a new location. Make sure you give your group a cool moniker like “Hot Wheels” or “The Let’s Get Lost Girls”. You can probably come up with a better one…

host an outdoor movie night


Drive-in theaters have seen a steady decline since the rise of digital, but you can keep the magic of outside movies alive by hosting your own viewing party. Buy an outdoor projector (you can find many for under $100 on Amazon), hang up a sheet and create your own pick-a-mix station. If it all goes well, you might even be able to start charging.

perfect the burger


Whether it’s in the form of bean or bison, everyone loves a grilled burger in the summer. Dabble in different recipes, tweak them to your liking and settle on a favorite that you’ll use for many summers to come.

get your arranging on


Pick your favorite petals and practice arrangements at home. If you’ve ever doubted the power of fresh flowers, make sure your home is filled with them all season long and then let us know what you think.

tie-dye something


The best thing about summer camp was always the tie-dye station. Create your own by picking up dyes from your local craft store. We love using Indigo on white cloth napkins and pinks and yellows on an old canvas beach bag.

act like a kid again


Dust off that skateboard. Practice that hula-hoop. Heck—break out the Skip-It if you’ve still got one of those around. Give in to your inner child and do something silly that helps you break a sweat.

make a new tradition


Kick off summer right every single year by starting a tried-and-true tradition. If you need some inspiration, some of our favorites include a plunge into the ocean, a trip to the ice cream parlor or a backyard dance party with a playlist of songs with the word ‘summer’ in the title.