1. New Recipes

Ever made an Acai bowl yourself? Maybe you’ve made pasta before, but have you tried throwing in some broccoli? Or Zucchini? Ever try your hand at preparing salmon? Get creative and invite a friend or two over, cook up some new recipes, and jam to some early 2000’s throwbacks while you're at it.

2. Kayaking

I went for the first time, twice this week actually, and I wouldn’t mind going a third time. Even if you’ve already been 5 times, or never been, I highly suggest taking a friend and spending a warm afternoon adventuring and floating about.

3. You Guessed It: Gym Time.

I know, it’s summer, it’s 12:00 PM and you still want to lay in bed. Squats do not sound like anything that is happening anytime soon—but think about how much better you’ll feel after breaking a sweat or two at the gym. Get out of bed and clear your head! You and your quads will thank yourself later.

4. Tj Maxx Anyone?

Literally whenever I was bored last summer I would just go to Tj Maxx and spend what seemed like forever picking out beach scented and flowery candles, any comfy or workout clothing on clearance, and even random miscellaneous stuff to decorate my room. I mean, they do call it retail therapy for a reason...

5. Au Natural

Got milk? And honey? And baking soda? And oatmeal? And coconut oil? It’s always refreshing to wash your hair or face off with homemade, organic, and completely clean mixtures— My personal favorites include a face mask of milk, honey, and oatmeal, or a face mask of just baking soda. Coconut oil in your hair for about 15 minutes also works wonders too.

6. Tie-Dye or No-Dye

This one’s probably a bit cliche, but I still do this at least once or twice every summer with my younger siblings, and it never gets tiring. Someone either spills the dye all over the driveway or someone else’s shirt doesn’t dry the right way; but it doesn’t matter because you still end up with an extra t-shirt, lots of laughs, and a great memory. Grab your younger or even older siblings and a friend and their siblings and a bunch of white shirts and maybe some scissors if you’re feeling creative—you’ll thank yourself later when you have to go to a tie-dye party.

7. Start a Vlog channel

This is actually something I haven’t done yet, but I remember a couple of summers ago when the days were super long and hot and I was over at my best friend’s house. We’d run up and down the neighborhood making random videos and putting them all into one. Whether you’re visiting the Grand Canyon, spending the summer interning, or still in your hometown, save a couple of videos at the end of the day and share them!

8. Already know how to play an instrument? Learn another one!

Given that my clarinet I’ve sided with for 8 years is somewhere tucked away in the attic, I’m determined to learn a Jason Mraz song on my brother’s guitar.

9. Brunches, Brunches, And More Brunches

You can literally never go wrong with brunch. I’ve probably brunched more times this summer than I have in my life all together. Just think about all the french toast and strawberries you could ever want… with those chocolate chip pancakes. It’s a great way to catch up with old friends or spend time with the family as well!

10. Be Spontaneous

I’m all up for spontaneity—in fact, there probably isn't a word that describes me better. Wake up on a Saturday morning at 8:00 AM and drive down to the beach and spend the day there— Call up your old high school best friend you haven’t spoken to since college started and go on a hike. Or just go on a late night drive with some John Mayer buzzing in the background. The summer’s all about adventure and recollecting yourself before the school year starts, so do whatever floats your boat!