A SUMMER LOVE LETTER

We’re over halfway through the summer of 2024/25, and it’s been nothing short of amazing. 

Sunshine, clear blue water, and lazy beach days with friends have been the vibe. But as always, the post-holiday blur hits hard—one minute you’re wrapping up Christmas, and the next you’re back at work, juggling new year resolutions and reflecting on old ones. January is equal parts refreshing and overwhelming. 

As January comes to an end, I am left feeling nostalgia for school holidays (random) and what used to feel like an endless amount of nothing days in summer. Seriously considering a feet pics account, so I can live at the beach forever again (ahah kidding). Unfortunately, I didn’t quite understand the extent of legal identification that was required when creating an account lol... sooo for now, I guess I’ll go back to work. It’s a hard life (kidding, I love my job).

With February swinging in, with only a month of summer left, it’s the perfect time to motivate thy self to make the most of what’s left of sunshine, long nights and warm water. Whether it’s spending long days by the beach, catching up with friends, or just enjoying the slower pace, now’s the time to really appreciate the season, and these are the things that will ABSOLUTELY without a doubt, make it possible.  

First up? A non-negotiable: 

A beach bag - always have one packed and ready to go in the back of your car.  

BEACH BAG CONTENTS

SUNNIES

Preferably from ROC Eyewear. I am IN LOVE with THIS pair. ROC eyewear also makes their plastic frames from 100% post-consumer waste and are eco-conscious which is prettty cool.  

BIKINIS 

THIS GUD-Swim pair is so cute, the comfiest and also earth-conscious, which is pretty cool.  

SANDALS

THESE Alexander Wang sandals, I bought for myself for xmas tehe because I’m just a girl, and you have to buy yourself presents sometimes. Also packing bandaids though, because my GAWD the break in is real.  

BOOK

A smutty, fantasy romance series is ideal, but a light-hearted beachy holiday romance or Dolly Alderton like THIS ONE also makes the cut.  

TOWEL

Preferably a cute and fluffy one like THIS girl.

SPF

The Kind Collective lip balm is my go to, and the MECCA Cosmetica SPF 50+ is also to die for – the consistency is so nice and smooth and doesn’t suffocate my face lol.  

What you should be doing... 

Drinking Aperol's 

Hosting dinners on your deck (if you have one – otherwise a grassy hill does the trick)  

Living in your swimmers  

Napping at 3pm (on weekends, if you’re back at work)  

Snorkel, swim, surf, float on a donut– the lot.  

Have a day where you do absolutely nothing, and don’t feel guilty about it.  

Document it. 

Polaroid people! and make a wall of them. It’s a fun and a cute thing to look back on.  

Have a digi cam on hand for an evening or possibly sloppy occasion (slightly more durable than the pretty polaroid).  

Journal. Write about everything – make lists, talk about your memories, day-to-day, wants and don’t wants. Write about your feelings and emotions and make goals and resolutions.

Reflect on the year past. Congratulate yourself – make a list of ‘ins’ and ‘outs’ and feel good about the things you want to carry on into 2025. I’m a firm believer that your resolutions don’t start until Feb 1st – Jan is for making them.  

TIPS.  

When resolution-ing (is there a word for this?) for the year ahead, make minimal BIG ones and lots of small ones to maximise achieving them. Some people talk about a word for your year – this is also a cute idea.  

When journaling, write about the good moments, and the bad, but focus more on the good. Talk about the bad when you need to vent – it clears your head. But don’t dwell here – make lists of things that made you happy, or times when you laughed. At the end of summer, reflect on these entries and make lists of things you were doing that made you feel good. As someone who struggles a smidge in winter, this really helped me recognise things that made me feel good, so that I could bring them through into winter.

Now, go forth AND SUMMER HARD biddies (a modern day Shakespeare quote).

Cya, off for a swam and drank x  

With love, 

Xx