My Summer 2026 State of the Union

Summer is officially here (!!!!) and I am genuinely so excited about it. Like, actually excited - not just saying that. For the first time in years, everything in my life is starting to feel more aligned, and I want to lean all the way into this season and really enjoy it. So I’m doing what I do every season: sitting down for my State of the Union where I share my ins and outs, what I’m building my summer around, and the seasonal curriculum woven throughout.

Quick note on the curriculum piece - back in February & March I shared monthly curriculums that include a theme, a book, a hobby, a space upgrade, something to use your free time with actual intention. But monthly started to feel like a lot, and I really couldn’t keep up. So I’m switching to seasonal and tying it into the State of the Union going forward.

This is my first one back in LA and I could not be more excited!! As always, I will start with the OUTS and we will end on a high note, with the INS!

Weddings. I say this with love in my heart for everyone in my life - but the back to back to back wedding season is a lot. The travel, the cost, the disruption to my routine, going alone… It is socially and mentally exhausting. Every wedding blends together to me, and there’s this energy around wedding culture where you’re expected to be endlessly enthusiastic at all times or else. I’m enthusiastic. I’m there. I’m happy for everyone. But I’m also very much looking forward to wedding season being over and having some time to really settle in and not have travel hanging over me. SORRY!

Wearing black. My entire wardrobe has historically been mostly black. It’s easy and comfortable, and if I’m being honest - it’s also a way of hiding. Being back in LA and actually feeling like myself again has made me want a little color, lightness, and texture in my wardrobe. I’ve been slowly replacing a lot of my black pieces with navy - I feel like it suits my coloring better anyways. The goal for the summer is to not reach for black at all! I think I can do it.

Staying up late. Nothing happening after 9pm is worth the sleep I’m giving up for it. I’ve fully made my peace with this. When I look at my Oura Ring data the correlation is clear - earlier nights, better focus, better skin, better mood, better everything. LA is a daytime city and I am a daytime person. We’re leaning into it this summer!! Days will be packed, nights will be chill.

FOMO. JOMO is the vibe for summer 2026 (and life in general). I am soooooooooooo done with saying yes to plans I don’t want to do because I feel bad or feel like I “should” go to them. I would so much rather be fully present in the things I actually want to be at than show up somewhere out of obligation and spend the whole time wishing I was home. Something clicked when I turned 30 and I feel like I’ve genuinely stopped caring and now I just do what I want. It’s the best.

Dating apps. I deleted Hinge in November and I will never download it again. I’ve completely de-centered dating and my life has felt genuinely better as a result. It’s that sick lol. I’m open, I’m out in the world, and if something happens naturally it happens - but I’m not actively pursuing dating anymore because I simply don’t want to. I make money. I like my life. I like my friends. I have hobbies. I’m satisfied with my work. There are not a lot of men in the world right now who can add to that. You’ll find me at the beach instead of drinking wine with a crusty dude who wants to split the bill.

Real BEACH summer. Last summer in Chicago I had basically no beach. The lake is not the beach (not sorry) - the sand isn’t the same, the waves aren’t the same, the vibes are absolutely not the same. This summer I am making up for lost time. If you’re looking for me on weekends I’m in Malibu or Manhattan Beach with my beach chair, my Kindle, a Topo Chico, and absolutely nowhere to be. This is what I moved back here for. Yay!

Early mornings. The hours between 6am and 9am are the most special hours of the day. They’re quiet, the air is crisp, nobody needs anything from me, my phone is bricked (no socials), I’m making a fresh coffee, and I have the whole day ahead. I’ve been giving myself some flexibility with my mornings since the move earlier this spring, but I’m comfortable now and I’m putting myself back on a real morning routine. The goal is to build my summer around early mornings - even on weekends, especially on weekends. I want to maximize my days to the absolute fullest!

Elin Hilderbrand and the beach read era. I went deep into #romantasy earlier this year and loved it, but I’m taking a break for the summer and I am fully in my beach romance era. 28 Summers, The Five Star Weekend, Every Summer After - they’re all easy, summery, and fun to read. There’s something really lovely about a book you actually look forward to going to bed for. Recommendations always welcome if you have a good summery beach read!!

Ceramics. My hobby for this season is wheel throwing ceramics. I took one class in Chicago, and while I was not good at it, I loved every second! There’s something about making things with your hands - being completely off your phone, too - that I find really grounding and fun. I want to start making espresso cups. My plan is to take a few classes first and then decide if I want to join a studio. I am VERY excited about this!!

Curating my home. I spent most of April and May making the final purchases for the big stuff around my apartment, and I feel like the space is really coming together. BUT… I’ve got a lot of big, blank, white walls that need a little personality. Art is what makes a house feel like a home, so I don’t want to rush it. The right piece finds you if you’re paying attention, so this summer I’m prioritizing going to antique markets, thrift stores, and finding pieces while I’m traveling. I went to the Santa Monica Antique Market recently and didn’t find anything but loved the process of looking. I will be going to the Rose Bowl Flea Market next!!

Getting my glow back. First - I finally got Botox and I’m obsessed. I am also planning to start micro-needling this summer because I really want to prioritize my skin as I move into my 30s. I have my skincare routine down pat -both topically, but also internally - and now I am ready to take it to the next level. Beyond that, I am getting serious about a weightlifting and fitness plan. I really want to tighten up a bit and feel more confident in both my clothes and my bathing suits, and just overall feel better. Lately I’ve been using Claude to help me with putting together a workout plan and logging my meals, so if you’re in the same boat, let me know and I can share more about this!

Spending my money. These last two months have been some of the best I’ve had in a while and I’m giving myself full permission to enjoy them. I’ve spent more than I historically have and I tbh had a great time doing it. Going to dinner with my friends, investing in my appearance, buying things I actually want…. it feels good!! I’ve been living below my means for a long time and I’m not throwing that out the window (duh) but I’m just giving myself more room to actually enjoy what I’ve built. I’ve earned this and it feels really good to finally act like it!

Wishing you the best summer ever - let me know what is in and out for you this season!!

xx

Michela