10 of My Favorite Things – Summer Edition

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In honor of summer being in full swing, I’m sharing 10 of my favorite things to do this time of year. Everything from recipes, to routines, to my favorite summertime activities.

10 of My Favorite Things – Summer Edition

Sharing all my favorite things this summer season. 🤭

My Staple Summer Recipes

When it comes to my staple summer recipes, I’m focusing on quick ideas that add a light and refreshing bite to any meal.

Breakfast meals: green goddess smoothie, banana pancakes, farmers market veggie frittata, overnight oats, French toast bake.

Appetizers: tabouli salad, spicy pico de gallo, avocado salsa, hummus, mango avocado salsa, watermelon goat cheese & basil salad, summertime soufiko, cowboy caviar, guacamole.

Mains: deconstructed burger bowl, strawberry chicken salad, steak salad with tangy dressing, Greek-inspired kebabs, nachos, tacos, BLAT sandwiches.

Sides: tropical fruit salad, almond berry goat cheese salad, creamy potato salad, grilled bok choy.

Sweets: puppy chow, creamy hazelnut spread, banana chocolate ice cream, yogurt covered banana bites.

Favorite Beverages for Adequate Hydration

Proper hydration is crucial in the heat of the summer. My beet juice mocktail, lemon and basil mocktail, freshly squeezed orange juice, sweet citrus electrolyte drink, and fruit and veggie infused water are just a few of my favorite summer drinks!

Summer Activities I LOVE

If you know me, you know there’s no place I’d rather be than outside. Kraig and I recently bought a paddle board to enjoy some of our favorite mountain lakes. We also spend a majority of our time hiking, camping, and road tripping to our favorite places in Colorado.

Favorite Summer Traditions

Some of my favorite things to do each summer is to visit the farmers market, trying new seasonal produce. Kraig and I also tend to rotate through our favorite fun & adventurous summer date night ideas, which always adds some excitement to any mundane work week. We love packing picnics, attending the local rodeo, and enjoying the free summer concerts.

Kitchen Equipment I’m Using All Summer Long

During both spring and summer, I tend to rotate through staple recipes that utilize the slow cooker, grill, and blender. Not only do these appliances allow the preparation of quick meals, they also keep the home cool in the heat of the summer.

Routines & Habits

One thing about me is that I am very routine oriented. It seems like there’s always so much going, making it hard to keep up with it all! However, one thing I’ve implemented within my daily schedule is a morning routine – this helps me be more positive and productive throughout the day.

In the evening, I’ll step away from all electronics to get outside and soak up the mountain views and warm weather. By instilling these two routines, it ensures that I start and end my days with a calm mind, while enjoying the stunning landscape of the Rocky Mountains.

Summer Snacks I Always Pack

Some of my favorite snacks that tend to be packed for every picnic, lake day, hike, or road trip include: coconut water, Siete sea salt chips, mixed fruit & veggies, Taos granola bars, and Fatty Smoked Meat Sticks. These snacks help to satisfy my thirst, crunch, and sweet & salty cravings, while also providing my body with proper nutrition!

Road Trips I’m Loving This Summer

Road tripping is my favorite way to travel, thanks to our successful time of living van life! Living in Colorado, we tend to travel within our new home state, exploring all the beautiful views. Ouray, Telluride, and Aspen are three of our favorite places to visit. We also love making our way up north to Jackson Hole, to enjoy the stunning views of the Grand Tetons.

My Five Favorite Journal Prompts To Assess Halfway Through the Year

As we are already halfway through the year (!), I love to analyze how far along I’ve come, while assessing what I need to accomplish to achieve my yearly goals. Five of my favorite journal prompts can be found in this blog post here.

The BEST Decor Ideas to Make Any Home Cozy

After 7 months of living van life and over a year and a half of working on our buildout, we are getting closer and closer to moving into our finished home. I’ve been focusing on purchasing timeless pieces that include some of our favorite memories, to be showcased year round. I’m in love with our picture frames and photo albums purchased through Artifact Uprising, as they help to make any space cozy, while reminding us of some of our favorite memories! If you want to curate your own personal keepsakes, you can purchase through this link and use code ABIGAILJEAN15 for 15% off your next purchase. 😊

I hope you enjoyed reading 10 of my favorite things – summer edition! Don’t forget to also sign-up to my newsletter below to receive my FREE health & wellness accountability challenge. In this challenge, I provide the basics to developing a healthy, realistic, and sustainable lifestyle. And the best part, this challenge is tailored towards your own personal goals.