How To Enjoy The Last Few Days Of Summer

 This post is sponsored by Allstate. All opinions are my own.

Seriously, how are we in August already? I low-key want to cry right about now. While I do love this month because it’s my birthday month (where my Leo’s at? ??‍♀️), there’s something about the end of the season that feels kind of bittersweet. Pool days, beach days, summer vacations. Flamingos and pineapples and massive amounts of sunscreen. We’ve made so many memories this summer, and I’m not quite ready to transition to fall.

I don’t know, maybe it’s just my hormones kicking in, but this was the first summer I spent with my 7 month old baby girl, and I’m not quite ready to let go. There’s still so much I want to do, so much left to explore, and I want to soak in every last minute of the season. So if you’re like me and looking to have a little more fun in the sun, here’s how to enjoy the last few days of summer.

1. Plan A Beach Day

Living in Miami, FL, I tend to take the beach for granted. While I’ve lived here my whole life, I can count the number of times I’ve been to the beach in the last year on one hand. But now that we have a little one, we’ll be going a lot more often, that’s for sure. We actually just got back from vacationing in Panama City Beach, FL and baby girl LOVED the beach.

I thought she’d hate the sand, but she actually had a blast rolling around in it. Of course, I cringed thinking about how much sand I’d have to wash off of her, but she was living her best life making sandcastles with her daddy and she loved the water just as much.

So, during these last few days of summer, plan a beach day with your kiddos, your friends, or even by yourself! Grab a good book (this is the next one on my reading list because I’ve heard amazing things about it), grab some sunscreen, and spend some time relaxing by the water.

2. Find A Nature Trail & Go For A Walk

If you live in a city where you experience extreme winters – I’m talking snow and snow shoveling and bitter cold that keeps you indoors for months, then this might be the last opportunity you get for a while to be outside! While the weather’s still warm and the sun is shining down, how about you find a nature trail somewhere nearby and go for a walk?

Enjoy connecting with nature on your own as a way to clear your mind or make it a whole family affair. Regardless, just get outside and get moving. Riley actually loves being outside, so she loves going for walks in her stroller. This was us at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens last week on vacation and she had the absolute best time (so did we).

3. Host A BBQ

Ribs and burgers and hot dogs? You don’t have to tell me twice! Who the heck doesn’t love a BBQ? Before the kids are back in school and things start getting busier in the fall, this might be a great time to host a BBQ for your family and friends.

Spend an afternoon relaxing, telling stories, and just hanging out with all of your favorite people. But before you do, just take a few minutes to make sure your backyard is a safe place to entertain by following these backyard safety tips.

Oh and when your guests leave and you start the cleanup process, check out this post from my friends at Allstate that’ll teach you how to clean your grill with an onion! Yes, an onion. Who would have thought?

4. Play Tourist For The Day

Isn’t it weird that you hardly ever do the “touristy” things in your own town? Again, I live in Miami and people from all over the world have experienced so much more of this city than I have. So before the summer ends, why not take some time to play tourist? Look up things to do in your city and go for a little adventure!

Joe and I were in Birmingham, Alabama earlier this month and we took a guided tour of the Bryant-Denny Football Stadium (ROLL TIDE!) and I bet there are a bunch of locals who don’t even know that’s a thing.

5. Visit An Outdoor Mall

In a world where we can shop online from our couch without pants on, it’s pretty easy to never leave your house. Seriously, as a stay at home mom I could go days without seeing the sun, and that’s slightly depressing. Am I right? So instead of doing your shopping from home all the time (sometimes it’s great and convenient and that’s fine) – before summer is over, spend the day strolling around at an outdoor mall.

This was Riley and I at an outdoor mall in Birmingham called The Summit and omg you guys, this place was absolutely gorgeous. I mean, look at that view.

I got to do some shopping all while enjoying the prettiest landscaping and flowers and IDK, that’s just the way to do it in my opinion. Me + pushing Riley in the stroller + carrying shopping bags = exercise, right? Seriously, though, try to hit an outdoor mall during these last few days of summer.

6. Eat Lots Of Ice Cream

Just do it. That’s all. You won’t regret it. You’re welcome.

7. Slow Down A Bit

During these last few days of summer, I think it’s a good idea to slow down a bit. The last few months – at least for me – have been crazy, so now I want to turn it down a notch. Instead of rushing around going from place to place, wake up a little later…spend some time curled up on your couch…really savor that coffee…take a bubble bath, even. You know? Just take some time for self-care.

With a seven-month-old, all of those things I just mentioned are near impossible, but I’m still trying to slow things down. Instead of having a rushed breakfast while watching TV, these days I’ve been pulling out a blanket and taking her outside to sit in the morning while enjoying some fresh air. This honestly does wonders for the both of us, so just pause a little more during these last few days of summer and take them in because they’ll be gone before you know it.

8. Plan A Quick Camping Trip

Now here’s something I’ve never done – I’ve never been camping. But before summer’s over, how fun would it be to plan a quick camping trip with your family and/or friends? Sure, you can go somewhere and do that. You can find a fancy camping ground and do the real thing. But if you’re pressed for time or don’t feel that adventurous (like me) how about starting off with a camping trip in your own backyard? Get some tents together, cook s’mores, spend the night telling stories around the fire… think about the memories you’d make.

Joe’s been wanting to get a fire pit for the longest time, so I think as soon as we get one of these, we’ll plan an at-home camping trip of our own. (FYI…here are some important things to consider if you’re thinking about purchasing a fire pit for your own home).

9. Declutter & Organize

You guys, I finally organized my pantry and I can’t tell you how happy it made me. My pantry had been a giant disaster for months, and now I finally feel like I’ve got my ish together. During the last few days of summer, I like to spend some time decluttering my home and organizing my life. From my closets to my computer desktop (seriously you guys would die if you saw how cluttered my desktop is), I like to take a few days to get things in order.

As a busy mom and blogger and now YouTuber (here’s the link to my YouTube channel if you want to check it out), I’m pretty much a hot mess all the time. But I always feel so much better after a little organizing. What’s that saying? Out with the old, in with the new? There’s no better way to prepare for the Fall than by making space for it both physically and mentally.

10. Reflect On The Season + Make Goals For The Fall

At the end of every season I like to stop and reflect on how it went. How was our summer? What did we do? What did I like about it? How did I feel during this time? What were the high points? What were the low points? What could I have done to make it better? I like to really think about how I spent my time and now with Riley in the picture, I feel like answering these questions is even more important. It’s also a great way to practice gratitude for all the amazing memories we made.

Then I like to turn my attention to the following season. Fall is actually my favorite of the seasons so I’m particularly excited for the months to come. During these last few days of summer, it’s a great idea to set some future goals. Personal goals. Family goals. Career goals. Think about all the different aspects of your life and determine how you want to spend your time moving forward. Maybe even create a Fall bucket list of your own. It can be short and sweet or filled with activities, but just set some goals for yourself and I promise this next season will be even better than you could ever imagine.

–

So that’s it, guys! Those are a few ideas to help you get through these last few days of summer! What do you think? Are you more of a summer person or are you totally excited for fall? Let me know down below in the comments!

This post was written as part of the Allstate Influencer Program and sponsored by Allstate. All opinions are mine. As the nation’s largest publicly held personal lines insurer, Allstate is dedicated not only to protecting what matters most–but to guiding people to live the Good Life, every day.