An Invitation to Savor Summer and Celebrate my 600th Blog Post

I love summer. I've come to realize that it's my favorite of all the seasons. So many flowers. So many good things to eat from the garden. I've also come to realize that just like the plants and flowers in my garden, I thrive in the sunshine.

I love being barefoot and spending my hours outdoors. Eating outside. Playing outside. Working in the garden or just communing with nature. Long, slow, joy-filled days. Those are the days I look forward to. Those are the days I cherish.

Last summer went by in a blur and then the winter months seemed to creep along. I don't want that to happen again this year.

I want to savor these days. I need to remind myself daily of all the things I love about the season. I need to remember not to let the days slip by without doing something summery, something fun, something good for my soul. I might not be going on any summer vacations, but I can make my days feel like summer vacation.

So, for the month of July I'll be focusing on savoring summer. I want it to be a nice, long, slow, glorious month.

And I'm inviting you to join me.*

My plan:

I'll be celebrating Joy List Monday every week in July with lists focused on summer joys. I would love for you to post your own joy lists on your blog if you're a blogger, or elsewhere if you're not (Instagram, Facebook, Google+, other social media). I'll be using the hash tag #ssjuly2015 if you want to join me (it sounds like the name of a ship to me... let's take a fun, imaginary journey together). Even if you're just inspired to pen your list on a scrap of paper (or in the joy book downloadable for free when you sign up for my newsletter), that's great, too!

For the next four Fridays I will be posting ideas for ways to savor your summer days, to make each one feel light and joyous, as if you're on summer vacation. I'll be sharing ideas for play, for books to read, for food to make and for easy, natural beauty treatments to do at home. A couple bloggers have already offered to join me.** Simone of the blog Linden Grove was more than ready to start savoring; read her initial post here and get inspired by her teacup garden project with today's post.

I want this to be fun and easy for you. Don't have time? Don't worry. Slow down and enjoy your days. Be easy on yourself. Savor each moment.

But, if you're looking to create more time in your day, Arianne Foulks is sharing a series of posts on the Aeolidia blog this summer about how to streamline what you do in order to make more time for things other than work. Go take a look and start working smarter.

Need more savoring inspiration? Do you remember Shannon Kinney-Düh of A Free Spirit Life? (I featured her earlier this year in this post). In her newsletter this week she shared her intention of Savoring a Slower Summer. You can read all about it here. Her plan seems just perfect, don't you think?

And now, how about some cake, or cupcakes***, rather, to celebrate my 600th blog post?

Thank you for coming along with me on this creative adventure. Every single comment means so much to me. Your encouragement. Your support. You bring me joy each and every day. Thank you!

So here's to a wonderful month of savoring. Wishing you sunshine and joy, creativity and fun. And be sure to take a little time just to stare up at the clouds (and the stars) too.


Please note: Dana and I will also be continuing our Wednesday 2x2 Sketchbook posts each week this month. It will be a full month! I hope you'll be dropping by throughout!

*My apologies to all of my southern hemisphere friends... please know that I'm not trying to exclude you. I do hope that you will be savoring your winter while I'm savoring summer! If that's you and you are... I would love to hear about it!

**If you're a blogger and would like to join in,  please let me know, either with an email or by leaving a comment on this post. Also, please feel free to download my Savor Summer logo to use on your blog (email me if you need help figuring out how!).

***You can find the recipe for these rose cupcakes here.