Favorite Things – summer edition

Howdy friends! How’s everyone doing out there? We just had a bit of a hot spell but that is Northern California summers for you! It was a slow start and then boom, the heat hit. While summer isn’t my most favorite of seasons cause I am not overly heat tolerant, it has some perks. One of those being sun-kissed skin and days on the water. Don’t worry, I still use lots of sunscreen. One of my most loved spots is Lake Tahoe. I honestly love it year round but October is probably my favorite time of year to visit because of the quietness of the in-between seasons. While I visit South Shore the most, I love all of it.

We have a few house projects happening and my husband is set to retire this December so we don’t have a big summer vacation planned. Just a few small trips and of course lots of day trips which I really love. I’m a bit of a homebody and sleeping in my own bed brings me joy.

One of the things I have on my list for this summer is to hike the train tunnels up at Donner Pass. I am sure we will get in some good hikes and of course kayaking and paddle boarding are always on the summer agenda. I’ve also always wanted to raft the Truckee River. Maybe it will finally happen this year.

Since summer is upon us, I thought I’d share a few things that I am loving. As an Amazon affiliate, I am sharing things that might gain me a small commission but I promise, I won’t ever share what I don’t love.

1 // Since I cut my hair into a bob and texture is key, this amazing hair paste gives my fine hair some extra texture and body and I am so here for it! It is also considered a dry shampoo.

2 // One of the many hats I wear is candle maker and this is my summer favorite. It smells like juicy garden tomatoes with a hint of citrus and jasmine. I’m calling it Farmers Market.

3 // As I’ve gotten older, I love a cute one piece swimsuit and this one is so perfect that I grabbed it in a few colors. I love the fun scallop detail.

4 // I am never without my emotional support water bottle. I just upgraded to a bigger size because I was constantly refilling the smaller one. I love this brand because of the straw and sip option. It is also a great fit for my car cup holders which is important too.

5// I Love being out on a mountain lake and even though kayaking is my go to, ours can be heavy and hard for me to manage solo but this awesome hybrid paddle board has a removal seat and it’s a blow-up which means I can tote it around to meet up with friends or go solo.

6 // My husband and I just celebrated our 25 year wedding anniversary and I decided to get us some camping rocking chairs. I know, so romantic! We used our friends while camping and I loved them so it felt like a good excuse to buy some for us. I really like the little fold down side table as it can hold drinks, food or even a game or book.

7 // I have taken collagen for a few years now and I notice a huge different in how my joints feel when I stop. Recently, I switched to a different brand because someone gave me them for free. It took a couple of months for me to correlate why I was feeling so crummy and now I will never not take these again. I was back to feeling good within a day! I have recommended them to friends and the feeling is unanimous.

8 // I run hot (thanks perimenopause and genetics) but I also love having cozy and comfortable bedding. I grabbed this super light weight set and it’s perfect for those hot summer evenings. Plus it’s super oversized for my California King bed.

9 // My most favorite ever sandals? Well, I have two! Birkenstocks and Salt Water Sandals. I might need an intervention for how many I have of both. I just got a different version of the original Salt Waters in Paprika and I am so excited to wear them. They have a bit more cushion and different straps than the originals.

10 // I love a good beach or pool read and this one was SO good. It’s also a Netflix movie and I will be watching that soon. Remarkably Bright Creatures gives all the feels and is worth the read.

What I’m drinking this summer:

INGREDIENTS

• Ice cubes
• 3 oz. dry Prosecco
• 2 oz. Aperol
• 1 oz. club soda or unflavored sparkling water
• 1 fresh orange slice (for garnish) 

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Prep the glass: Fill a large wine glass or balloon glass generously with ice.
2. Pour: Add the Prosecco, followed by the Aperol.
3. Top: Add the club soda or sparkling water.
4. Stir & Garnish: Gently stir the ingredients together. Slide a fresh orange slice into the glass, or squeeze a little of the juice into the drink before dropping it in. 

I hope this post leaves you with a bit of summertime inspiration. Stay safe and have fun during the hot and busy summer months.

XO, Gabby