‘Is there anything you want to do this summer that we haven’t done yet?’ I asked my husband this morning over coffee while our baby played cheerfully on her play mat below us.
He looked at me dead in the eyes and said, ‘Rest.’
It’s true. After a summer of transatlantic travel, family visitors, christenings, and just daily life, we haven’t had time to properly be at home and just relax in months.
Not that I’m complaining. I intended for this summer to be filled with fun and free from rigid routines. But as our last visitor said farewell this week, all I want now is to settle into a lax routine, slow down, and just enjoy what remains of this atypically hot Irish summer.
Normally in Ireland, there are one or two ‘nice weeks’ here and then the rest of the summer is overcast, cool, and rainy. However, this year we have had at least eight heatwaves since our first one in May. As much as I’m enjoying summer this year (for those who don’t know, I really struggled in the past as written about in this newsletter) we have reached mid-August and I’ll admit that I am dreaming about Autumn. But not so fast. My summer won’t officially end until after my brother’s wedding in Greece in September.
So, in my head, we have one solid month of summer left. Instead of wishing it away like I usually do, I want to pause and reflect.
Is there anything on my bucket list?
What rhythms and routines do I want to shape my days moving forward?
What summer meals have I forgotten to eat that I love?
How can we use the rest of the summer to slow down and restore our energy?
Those are the questions I’ve been exploring this week. So this is how I’ll be romanticising and reseting (gently) for the end of summer.
Create an end of summer bucket list
bring Louise to the beach - we live 25 minutes from some of the most beautiful beaches in the country, and haven’t gone yet this year!
one more summer BBQ
take myself on a solo coffee date
visit the local farmer’s market
bake a summer treat
Tackle your summer reading list
I completely fell out of my reading habit after our trip to America at the end of July. I’ve been scrolling my phone at night, which hasn’t been the best for my mental health. Especially since I’ve been posting on social media again. My brain needs to properly switch off at night, so as of this week, I am reinstating my habit of reading my Kindle in bed when my baby goes to sleep.
Next on my TBR is The Wedding People by Alison Espach- has anyone read it?
Make your favourite summer foods
bruschetta with juicy summer tomatoes
overnight oats topped with fresh Irish strawberries
beef burgers grilled on the BBQ
late night ice cream with my husband
homemade potato salad
fresh watermelon cut into triangles (it just tastes different)
Create tiny end of summer rituals
The intention for the rest of the summer is to continue working on my writing and content goals while settling in to a slow and gentle routine. With a four month old, there is no such thing as a real ‘routine’, but I hope to create rituals and tiny moments for myself.
One tiny ritual I have at the moment is my haircare routine. Being postpartum, my hair has started to shed quite a bit, which is annoying and also a bit confidence-crushing. I was kindly sent the Champo shampoo, conditioner and growth serum* as PR back in February (with zero obligation to share about them with my subscribers but f you want to try them, you can use code MELC10 for 10% off your first order) and have been using them ever since. I can’t recommend them enough if you’re postpartum or just want to add a great product to your haircare routine. They smell amazing, the shampoo lathers so perfectly, and they rinse so well (I have pretty hard water, too). I wash my hair twice a week and I’ve been using the same bottles since February, so it really does last long. Having a luxurious haircare routine has made my showers (that are almost always cut short) feel like a mini spa experience this summer.
Another little ritual I want to implement, is having my morning coffee outside, ideally while journalling or doing another phone free activity. At four months old, Louise loves going on her play mat when we get up in the mornings so I get about 25 minutes of free time to have my coffee, feed the dog, and properly wake up. I don’t feel guilty about just leaving her there, because it’s literally the only time of the day where I don’t need to constantly be a source of entertainment. My Wheels On The Bus rendition is coming along beautifully, thanks for asking.
Summer is slipping away. I’m excited for autumn, don’t get me wrong. But there’s something magical about just being right here in the present moment. Enjoying what’s left of this season. To quote The Odyssey (which I’ve now seen twice in cinema) let’s chase the escaping sun.
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