Your Ultimate Guide to Beauty and Wellness this Summer

Summer favorites! Random things I've been loving

I’m not somebody that LOVES the summertime….

Especially in the city. The sun beating down on me while I’m rushing from place to place, sweat all over me, humidity… mild irritation lol.

I told myself this year I would romanticize the summer. I’d find any and all ways to enjoy this time of year, even if I’m bound to the city. How can I enjoy it more? Romanticize this time and find out why people love the summer. I told myself I’d embrace this slower season.

I have been enjoying this weather actually, and dare I say, I’m starting to like the summer. Here are some random things that are bringing me joy right now <3

Warning: Items are extremely random.

1. Cottage Cheese

   Lol. This one makes me sound like a gym bro but wow! Believe it or not I had never had cottage cheese in my life until this year. Something about this food just reminds me of summer, and I actually love the taste. Initially I started eating it to hit my protein goals and get some muscle going. But now I eat it because I actually crave it and love it so much. I have this snack I make almost daily where I use strawberries, vanilla extract, cinnamon and cottage cheese. Sometimes I add pistachios. DELICIOUS. Also, now that I think about it I introduced this food into my pantry via a recipe I tried out in Bethenny Frankel’s book, “Naturally Thin.” The original recipe was supposed to be a healthier version or imitation of cheesecake. I disagree with that, it tastes nothing like cheesecake HAHAHAHA but it’s SO GOOD regardless. Especially with strawberries. I learned to eat and pick fruit based on seasonality through another book I love, “Why French women don’t get fat.” Don’t let the title fool you, this book is full of gems about creating a pleasurable, holistic, and healthy lifestyle.

2. Hibiscus Tea

   I love hopping cafe’s. It’s one of my favorite pastimes. PERIODDD. But I can’t overdo the caffeine or the effects are obvious. I’ve been loving making hibiscus tea at home and buying it when I’m out. A berry refresher in this sweltering heat, beautiful color. Magenta is my favorite color and hibiscus tea comes close. One of the attitudes implemented in eating mindfully is eating with all five senses. Not only does this tea taste good, but the deep majestic color is a pleasure for your eyes.

3. Slow mornings

   Summer is a slower season for me work wise and at first I was resisting it. It’s a slow burn. But I have to admit it’s been really nice to enjoy my mornings without feeling the need to rush and get on with the rest of my day. I let myself enjoy my showers, my coffee, my walk. I sit in the silence of the early morning. It’s really nice. This habit translates to the nighttime too. I’ve allowed myself to slow down my pace overall. Even when I’m talking. When I’m walking. I notice I don’t rush as much anymore. This in itself is a really healing element of my summer so far.

4. Iced Cortado from Blue Bottle

   Blue bottle coffee is better than Bluestone coffee. There, I said it! When I tell you the iced cortado (if you don’t know what that is, don’t worry, I didn’t rather) is DELICIOUS. I mean delicious. Not in a sugary, overdone, extravagant, Starbucks-esque kind of way but in a coffee lover kind of way. This coffee. Their ICE CUBES! Listen to me, their ice cubes don’t melt. They’re big. It’s so satisfying. Everybody has their favorite coffee shop and signature coffee, right now in this season, this is mine. I’ve left my beloved cappuccino from my French boulangeries for this summer moment. The iced cortado is the moment honey!

   

   famous ice cubes

5. Strawberries

   Like I said, I’m learning to eat fruits and other produce based on seasonality for better taste. Not much to say here except that strawberries are in season, are delectable as a dessert, and taste delicious in the summertime.

6. Louise Haye: The power is within you

   Although I don’t align or agree with Louise Haye in the realm of spiritual beliefs (she leans more New Age while I proudly believe in the Bible and identify as Christian,) aside from this glaring difference, this book was fabulous. It was a light enough read to enjoy in the sauna and poolside, while giving me that dose of positivity and hope core that I love to carry with me in pursuit of wellness. She touches on all kinds of topics related to health and wellbeing, relationships, and love, which speaks to me as a life coach with a focus on integrative health. I think what I loved the most about this book was the stream of consciousness way in which it was written, because that’s my favorite style. Every topic flowed into the next. And I loved the cover because it was well, you know, PINK!

   

   some other books I recently picked up

7. Johnny Chang’s YouTube channel and podcast

   I try not to binge television and entertainment in the same way the I avoid binging on food and other pleasurable indulgences, BUT honey I binged this man’s YouTube channel and podcast like no other. His channel and content doesn't fall under the entertainment category, in that he is essentially preaching the gospel in an easy to understand, learner friendly way. The way the podcast is so thoughtfully curated makes it feel like you are listening to a “regular” podcast or channel. It is spiritually educating and purpose driven work. I have learned so much from the “Unlearned Wisdom” podcast and via conversations held on his platforms. This is what I’m listening to on my headphones on my morning walks, and is most definitely a summer favorite!

8. Lidia Mera pilates

   I love love love at home workouts. In the summer it’s so nice to workout outside and get some sun at the same time. I’m a big fan of the pilates and workout channels on YouTube, with some of my favorites being Chloe Ting, Pamela Reif, and Boho Beautiful. But I just discovered Linda Merv’s channel and I’m so happy because I’m finally feeling challenged again! For the first time in a while, after doing her workouts I felt sore the next day. Which is rare for me since by body is already so accustomed to pilates. Lately, her channel is my favorite go to in the mornings. I also love the she doesn’t talk as much lol... just straight movement. My fave. Definitely check her out and get some light dumbbells for an extra oomf.

9. “Soltera” by Shakira

   This has been my summer song! So random. I don’t listen to music all that much anymore, I only listen when I’m working out or if a song is randomly stuck in my head, but this song is so so summer. I turn it on and it reminds me of the summer. It makes me feel so free and idk I love it! I discovered this song through listening to Shakiras artist interview on Apple Music when she was talking about her divorce and how this album was therapeutic. I saw the music video shortly after and just fell in love with the melody. I can’t relate to her exact situation, but I love the theme of freedom and the song hits. It starts with a beautiful lyric, “Salir pa desperjarme…” Meaning, “I stepped out to clear my mind. Got tired of feeling turned off so I turned myself on.” It’s like she’s taking life into her own hands. Beautiful sentiment. I played this during a picnic I had with my girlfriend in Central Park and it was a beautiful, fantasy, moment. With my baguette sandwich. In a similar way the (cover) song “Doin time” by Lana Del Rey is sooooo summer. Period!

10. Picnics

    I love a picnic in the summertime! It’s such a beautiful past time and a great way to catch up with friends. It’s the simple things that create the best memories. If you’re in New York and go to Central Park, check out Butterfield market for the best, I mean the BEST, turkey and brie sandwich. I kid you not, this is my current fixation. It’s so so delicious. They also have a bunch of other cute grab and go items you can use for your picnic and an instagramable ice cream soft serve on the side of their storefront. The last time I was in Central Park, the picnics and sunbathers were so scenic that I mentioned to my friend, if we saw this as an image from a foreign country, it would look so fabulous and make us want to visit. It’s almost as if because it’s local and we see it all the time, it doesn’t “hit” the same. But New York, in it’s leisure in the summer, is truly a beautiful sight. Only when we have the time can we really take it in. In the summer, when we are in less of a rush.

    

    

    just a girl on a picnic, with a fabulous baguette that deserved to be photographed

11. Walking around aimlessly

    Embracing the leisurely sentiment of having less time pressure, I enjoy walking around with no real purpose or destination. Sometimes it’s in my neighborhood. Sometimes I do it after work or an errand as a way to explore the city and drop in different places that seem cool, like a cafe or boutique. The other day as I was walking around I came across a private park? I didn’t even know those existed. It was a beautiful park in a beautiful neighborhood, my curiosity for the day was extremely satisfied. In conversation with my hair colorist, we were talking about summer plans and potential vacations and I was lamenting over the fact that I’d love to go on a luxurious trip before the fall but the fall apparently is the best time for travel, so I might have to put it off. She told me she is planning on doing the same and that in the summers, she has learned to just enjoy staying local. This appointment was what started my summer and in a way started my newfound attitude towards appreciating a slower version of my city life. It made me think to myself that maybe I don’t need that fabulous St Tropez trip… for now ;)

12. Blonde

    My summer actually started off with me lightening my hair. I had a ~vision~ in mind if you will. The look I was inspired by and wanted to go for would serve as the start of a beautiful summer. I wanted to feel lighter. Not only aesthetically through the act of lightening my hair, but internally. I did two rounds of highlights and it’s been extremely fun to experiment with different shades of light brown, and now blonde. I even attempted to color some clip ins as an activity (beauty is a hobby of mine I’m realizing) and it was so much fun! It felt like painting, but I was painting hair. Coloring and swimming in this bleach bath of a summer has created a newfound appreciation for transition in my life. I’m enjoying the fact that things can always change, at any moment. It makes me feel more open and creative. Blonde wasn't my intention at all but for the moment, it’s here to stay. <

    

    

13. Not wearing spandex

    Another concept taken from one of my favorite books on diet and lifestyle, “French Women Don’t Get Fat.” In the book she mentions how culturally, one of the biggest differences she notices with women in France vs. the U.S is the time spent in spandex. She pokes fun at our habitual wearing of athleisure clothing and spandex. Since reading this I began to notice how common this is, and not that there is anything wrong with it, but I realized I enjoy wearing regular clothing AND being active. These days I go for my walks in my day clothes, hair and light makeup applied - and it’s made such a difference in my life in that I feel so much more put together and aligned with my true identity. As someone who used to spend so much time at the gym and in spandex, what a realization it was to be like - OH I actually DON’T want to be wearing skintight leggings today. I want to wear cargo pants. I want to wear a skirt. I want to look like I can go on about my day without changing or putting off “getting ready” for the day. I can start my day, ready. And cute ;)

14. Beauty and Hair products

    No particular order here are some of my favorite hair and beauty products for the summertime. I've been loving the money mist from color wow, the hair glosses, from DPHue for a quick deposit of color, the oral rinse from therabreath for teeth whitening, and my hands down favorite hair mask right now… drumroll… the leave in conditioner from act + acre from Sephora! My favorite sunscreen at the moment is supergoop, it leaves such a nice glow and doesn’t immediately provoke sweating in this heat.

you know I keep that thang on me ;)

I have so much more to add, this list could be infinite and never get published if I allow myself to keep writing. I’ve been exploring a lot of new-ness. I’ve been experimenting. I’ll do a part 2 if need be but here were some of my current summer faves and I hope you enjoyed!