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As I'm just coming back from a business trip, I have planned this tiny little update on what makes me happy in summer. I think this is important to celebrate every season, even those we like less than others - for me, it's summer!
Summer is...
- Wearing colorful bikinis and swimming in deliciously fresh water
- Seasonal pampering tools: turquoise mini-brush, flashy nail polish, vanilla scented perfume
- The delicious feeling of fanning my face right after spraying fresh thermal water
- Sunglasses makes everything look cooler
- A few magazines to pick up here and there: on the train, by the pool, on a terrasse...
- Spraying timidly tanned legs with gold sparkling vegetal oil (I don't think it really makes much of a difference, but it makes me feel more confident to show these white legs of mine)
But summer is also a slow and empty city, cheerful colleagues and friends, apéros en terrasse around beer and cheese plates, barbecues, cold cucumber or tomato soups, afternoons at the park, sunkissed skin, poppy tops and bags, evening card games around a cold drink, ripe fruit and vegetables, week-ends away, lunches en terrasse, time to reflect and renew our energy, and more!
What's summer like to you? And for those on the other side of the world, what is it you like best about winter then?
Summer is pain, at the time. Here in Vienna, we're suffering from extreme heat at the time. It has been 36-38 degrees the last week and it will still continue the whole next week. The city is heating up like crazy. This isn't normal. It's not the first extreme heat wave this summer. It shows that climate change is not only real but we really need to finally do everything we can to stop further warming.
ReplyDeleteEco-minimalism (not the digital nomads that are practically living in planes) is as important as never before.
Sorry, no joys from me :(
DeleteHa it is true that this year, summer is particularly hot, and it raises questions about the climate change we are currently experiencing. I totally understand, and that's why I'm putting together such lists. Otherwise I'd be endlessly saying "it's hot today. When's autumn coming?" :)
DeleteSummer is S-W-E-A-T. Here is Australia it is hotter than hell. Humid and gross, everything feels revolting and all you want to do after taking a shower is to take another one. We are coming out of our winter right now (which is most likely like your summer) and I am dreading summer once again. 8 months of horror. Oh the horror.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like a very long and very hot summer indeed! I can relate to the feeling of wanting to just stay in the shower, as it feels sweaty just after coming out. You're probably right though, French summers are hot but dry, so we don't experience those humid summers from some parts of the world. I'm sure there are tiny joys to find out of them though :) Like the first cool shower of the day. And all the other ones too.
DeleteSummer is mostly cloudy days and a few extremely hot days here in the Netherlands. But also hula-hooping with my colleagues during our lunch break in the park, reading magazines in the garden and just taking it slow in general.
ReplyDeleteSummer in the Netherlands sounds fun! It's true that it is a season for taking it slow, that's probably what I like most about it too.
DeleteSummer is:
ReplyDeletean extra 3 hours of daylight after work (till 8 pm almost)
switch to floral/fresh perfume as opposed to musky/heavy
sand on my car seats, sunscreen in my purse
sticky legs and frizzy hair
2.5 cans of shaving cream and 3 razors
boba (bubble) milk tea, frappuccinos, Vietnamese coffee, smoothies, ice blended drinks, frozen yogurt
barbecuing and/or grilling
long naps (avoid the heat! stay in!)
visiting family
+1 on cheerful nail polish and sunglasses!
Summer in LA sounds like a blast! I remember the nice warm weather with that cool breeze, relaxed people and a myriad of nice little cafés with welcoming terrasses. +1 on the fresh perfume! And barbecue, definitely :)
DeleteThroughout all of time there have been extremes in weather, and, recently I read that in the desert of California in the late 1900's the Palm Springs area experienced torrential rains for 21 (!) DAYS and was followed by 11 YEARS of drought (!!) That is well before it would have been possible to have been caused by "man made global warming." It just happened. So, what do we conclude from that? We cannot change the weather, no matter what we do. Relax. Look back in history, and you see that nothing is new here.
ReplyDeleteI can't really have a valuable opinion on that since I haven't read many studies about it. From what I've read, it's about human activity enhancing and catalyzing weather changes, like making stuff happen more quickly than it would otherwise have. I personally think that the planet will be fine in the end, not sure about mankind though. But I'm not informed enough to have a definite stance on that...
DeleteI used to really dislike summer back when I lived at home (Central European country with no sea) but no that I like in UK, it is a lot more bearable and I am starting to enjoy it more every year. Summers for me are about easier life, there´s just something about waking up with sun and not having to dress up in too many layers. It´s also the season when I easily feel grateful for tiny moments or really simple things such as greenery, an old dress I thrifted for a couple of pounds, trusty canvas tote, walking barefoot, hearing the breeze and so on. You´ve inspired to draft up a list for myself! :)
ReplyDeleteI can imagine summers in England to be quite pleasant! Being able to take walks in the sun, enjoy the greenery, dressing lighter and enjoying the warm but not hot weather... I noticed I disliked summer less since I am in Paris as it's not as hot as where I lived before. I'd love to read your summer list :)
DeleteI love summer! In Italy we have long and hot summer until the end of september.. summer 2015 is one of the hottest I can remember and we are still in 35 degrees. My summer joys are light and colourful dresses, my Birkenstock, enjoying the beach (I live in city on the Adriatic sea), messy hair and a easy way of life. Everything is a way more relaxed and slow, the light is so bright and the sky very blue :)
ReplyDeleteI love summer! In Italy we have long and hot summer until the end of september.. summer 2015 is one of the hottest I can remember and we are still in 35 degrees. My summer joys are light and colourful dresses, my Birkenstock, enjoying the beach (I live in city on the Adriatic sea), messy hair and a easy way of life. Everything is a way more relaxed and slow, the light is so bright and the sky very blue :)
ReplyDeleteOh that sounds nice! Summer in Italy certainly brings pleasant images, light dresses, delicious ice creams, walking bare foot along the beach... enjoy :)
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