10 Ways To Celebrate Summer

Umbrella and Chairs on the Beach

Summer is most people’s favorite time of the year. School is out, the weather is warm and it’s time to relax and recharge.

We have some great ideas to get you started on the season.

Spoon Up Some Ice Cream-  One of the quintessential summer symbols is ice cream. Make the first day of summer even better by stopping by your favorite ice cream stand or setting up a make-your-own sundae bar for dinner.
Freshen Up Your Home -Perhaps spring cleaning got away from you. Let the official change of seasons be your cue to freshen up the look of your bedroom and your kids’ rooms and get them ready for summer. For example:
* Clear out any old papers, books or clutter that accumulated over the school year and you don’t need any more.
* Reorganize the room’s layout — even if it’s not really necessary, it’s fun to change things up (use Pottery Barn Kids’ Room Planner tool).
* Purchase airy curtains to let the sunlight in.
* Put out memorabilia from previous summer fun (like shells from a trip to a beach).
* Place repositionable stickers on the walls of your kids’ rooms to create a warm-weather inspired mural.

Have a Picnic- Celebrate the first night of summer with a dinnertime picnic in an unusual place, like on top of your building’s parking garage for city dwellers, or in a spot along a scenic country road. Perhaps it’s time to dust off your bikes and ride until hunger — or an inspirational patch of grass — strikes. Revel in the relaxation and watch the stars come out as you polish off dessert.

Set up a Lemonade and Cookies Stand-  Start off summer by earning a little fun money to support all the big plans you have up your sleeve for vacation.

Pay attention to nature- Just the other day I noticed some of the leaves falling from trees and thought to myself, “Wow, summer will be over before I know it!” I need to pay attention to the season before it passes me by. I need to look at the bright blue sky and feel the warm sun on my arms as I’m driving. I need to make note of the green, green grass and all of the beautiful flowers still in bloom.

Enjoy summertime foods.-  There’s nothing quite like summertime foods to remind you of how great summer is. There are certain things I eat during the summer that I rarely have any other time of the year — watermelon, corn on the cob, and fruit salad being three of my favorites — and I need to eat more of those while they’re in season. It could be another year before I’m likely to eat them again so I need to take advantage of them now, enjoying them in all of their summertime glory!

Throw a First Day of Summer Party -Make the backyard into a water park by turning a plastic tarp into a giant slip n’ slide, hanging a cluster of water balloons from the ceiling like a Pinata and giving everyone water guns for a splashing good time.

Fly a Kite– Channel Benjamin Franklin and make your own kites in preparation for the first day of summer, then spend the day flying them in a field or park.

Camp Out – Kick off summer with a night under the stars. Go camping in a state park or even your backyard. Do traditional fun camping things like grilling hot dogs and telling ghost stories.

Enjoy a Summer-themed Feast- ?What’s your favorite summertime treat? Maybe it’s homemade ice cream, BBQ ribs, burgers, s’mores or fresh fruits and veggies from your garden. Combine them in a meal that’s a toast to the season and reminds you of all the good times past and those to come over the next couple of months.

However you celebrate summer this year, we hope it’s a wonderful time!