I sat down fully intending to write this piece as a farewell to summer and all of the magic that summertime seems to hold. But as I started to draft out my thoughts, the cartoon Lizzie McGuire version of myself (we all have one of those, right?) appeared and kicked me in the shin pretty hard as a reminder that summer is not yet over!

While the majority of people that I know define their seasons loosely around school and work life patterns, summer begins Memorial Day Weekend and comes to a close on Labor Day. News flash folks: these holiday markers are roughly a full month off with science. Summer 2016 did not truly begin until June 20 at 6:34pm. That is almost a month after we started breaking out the shorts and sundresses as part of our seasonal rotation and not the wrinkled mess that seemed appropriate for the sporadically warm day in mid-April. As for fall? The autumnal equinox will not take place until September 22 at 10:21am, so we have a few more summer weekends ahead of us.

When I think of summertime my mind carries me away with memories of lazy days by the lake, nights spent with my friends laughing late into the night, sweating a little too much at a Sox game, and tailgating for at least one concert. None of these things must come to an end once Labor Day strikes, so how is summer officially over? Sure taking a day off in exchange for something fun seems a bit more of a faux pas, but the weather is still warm and sunny and begging for me to spend my free time out and about. Back to school season typically ushers in the need for fall clothing and seems to be a tradition that stays with us well into our adult years until we run a family of our own and start all over again. It makes sense in some capacity, but generally isn’t a school without air conditioning and outdoor recess enough reason to pump the breaks on calling this the fall?

Don’t get me wrong, I am fall fan through and through. It has always been my favorite season and there is not a thing that could change that. I love when the sun is out but the air is cool and crisp now that humidity has departed. I love the colors and the way that everything smells warm, a bit spicy, and inviting. And even though the sun starts to set earlier each day, I love how vibrant the sky becomes as it sinks for the night and I can do the same. Apple picking, sweater weather, and crunchy leaves are things I look forward to as soon as the peak of summer hits. No matter how much I love the fall, I will certainly not be letting summer depart earlier than necessary.

As I mentioned above, we are still able to enjoy summer for ten more days and for ten more days I shall indulge in sundresses, iced coffees, and brightly colored nail polish. Yes, I will likely do these things past the summer deadline, but for now let me enjoy it when it is on trend. You can keep your PSLs and scarves, I won’t touch them until the start of October - or the end of September, a girl can only exude so much will power. It’s too early for these seasonal goodies, just like candy shelves at Target are stocked much too far in advance (looking at you, Christmas colored M&M’s on November 2).

No matter when you identify the end of summer and the start of fall, maybe take a cue from the weather guy and keep yourself in tune with the seasons that way. Nobody needs to sweat it out in a cardigan this week just because they are back in school, but if you really must indulge, please be sure to let me know how the new Starbucks Chile Mocha is because I not-so-secretly cannot wait to try one!