Maybe it’s because I was born in May, or because I love a beach and a pool, or because everyone seems to give themselves more permission to be free and fun, but I love the spring and summer months.
For all the time and stress moving cost me in the spring, I made up for it by piling up summer plans and squeezing as much warm-weather loveliness out of it before the cool air came in right on schedule (and to that, I say, “Yay!”).
I didn’t get everything “productive” done, but here’s what I did instead.
1. Browsing or about to pick up something from Facebook Marketplace
There’s just. so. much. stuff. It’s really depressing to see how much junk accumulates in thrift stores (especially plastic junk). Having a new space to decorate is exciting, and I’m often looking for something very specific that I’ll buy new, but I’ve been hitting Facebook Marketplace and thrift shops for as many things as I can. My Favorite Place in Chamblee was one of my most successful thrift trips over the summer.
2. Going back and forth between natural and straightened hair
I wore my natural curls more often this summer than I ever have. I grew tired of fighting with the Georgia humidity, but then I’d get it straightened again and watch the humidity deliver a beat down. On the bright side, this means I got a good amount of natural hair practice and I think I’ve finally (or at least almost?) figured out how to get it to look good (or at least better than summers past??).
3. Sporting a fun nail set
I’m having fun with nail art again! I’m not doing my own nails anymore because I realized those hours were better spent elsewhere (at least for now), but that means I can get designs that are way above my skill level.
I like to get inspired by what's coming up next month (a trip, holidays, my bestie’s birthday, etc.). Last month when we went to Maine, one nail on each hand had a big ol’ lobster on it.
4. In possession of a pile of library books I won’t have time to read
It’s been great to have my Fulton County library card back. I got a little over-eager and requested an ambitious number of books, and have been shocked at how fast the due dates come up.
Unpacking my personal library showed me how many unread books I’m working with, so I should be reading from that collection. But no, I’ve been hitting up the library and taking a lot of books back unread. Sorry to anyone who was waiting for them, but not sorry for supporting my local library.
More on how my reading life looks these days in this IG post.
5. Wearing green
Especially my super comfortable green flats, which I initially bought for work but have been more into them than expected (I’ve been more of a chunky shoe lover the past few years).
6. Eating tacos from a gas station in my car
I do a lot of bopping around the city (and occasionally the suburbs, too…I’ll drive almost anywhere for a good time), but I don’t always time my adventures right. That left me eating tacos either from a food truck parked at a gas station or a stand inside of a gas station many times, but these spots are so consistently fast and good.
7. On the Atlanta Beltline
The city’s execution of the Beltline has received plenty of well-deserved criticism. But its original purpose as a walkable trail that connects neighborhoods and adds greenspace has served me well.
No matter how hot it was, you could find me walking, biking, getting groceries, or going to lunch on the Eastside, Southeast, or West End trails. One summer evening, my husband and I were biking on the West End trail and ran into people I knew three times during the ride. Having easy access (close to both work and home) to a space where I can more easily get movement in, explore the city, and connect with people has changed things for me in ways I can’t quite articulate yet.
8. Drinking a non-alcoholic wind-down drink
If you can’t relax on your own, store-bought is fine!! I mentioned my beloved mocktails in my winter wrap-up post, and it don’t stop. Since then, I’ve found new favorites in the Aplos Kola Fashioned, Aplos ‘Ease’ NA spirit, and Recess magnesium and adaptogen sparkling water.
9. Having margaritas with the girls
This is a year-round activity for me and mine, but the laughs and memories hit differently on a nice patio or by the pool. Living in close proximity (10-15 minutes) to 99% of my close friends (the ones in Georgia) again has been a quality-of-life game-changer and presented me with more margaritas to try.
(I guess this post could’ve been titled, “Ya girl loves a fun beverage, okay?!”)
10. Telling you how I’m trying to get back into [insert thing here]
I am full of ideas, ambitions, and good intentions. Whether it’s trying to get back into reading voraciously again, or posting online about reading again (and trying to incorporate writing because that’s what I care most about right now), or exercising, or cooking…the list goes on.
I’m somehow still trying to find my footing post-hybrid job (a year later) and post-move (six months later). I had an overly ambitious, arbitrary mental list of goals that were mostly tied to the types of things I listed above, and very little of that got done. But at least I had fun.
There was also my birthday, which I celebrated low-key at the house this year with a small group who met the qualifications of “folks I hang out with 1:1 on a regular basis” because I didn’t have it in me to throw a big shindig. Also, karaoke nights and road trips and taking one of my besties visiting from Charlotte on a bookstore tour.
As they say, “Joy has a habit of returning.”
the Rec League app / warm bread + fancy butter / the vegan burgers at Good As Burgers (and I rarely like vegan burgers) / starting “the great stickering” of my bike / Recuerdos Cafe / how fun Atlanta was during the World Cup (and I’m not a sports person) / cinnamon rolls / Byoma Moisturizing Gel Cream / wining and dining—especially the wine part (more on that later!) / perfume samples (especially the Imaginary Authors 2ml ones that came with bookmarks) / pop-ups (food, coffee, matcha—you name it) / diet lemonade from Chick-fil-A / my “baby pressure washer”
*This post’s theme was inspired by a journal prompt by @piajournals.
You found some good stuff on marketplace! I’m not in favor of the Beltline getting a rail, even if it was part of the original plan — truly would love to be proven wrong on this once it’s eventualyyy completed.