how to have the best summer

from a summer enthusiast !!!

Sorry to any readers in the Northern Hemisphere, as I know you are currently sipping your pumpkin spice lattes and wearing a puffer jacket right now (womp womp). I, on the other hand, have the aircon blasting while sipping an iced latte because it’s 34 degrees outside.

If you know me, you know summer is my favourite time of the year. I am a summer baby, for one, so I've always had the best time. But I also feel my personality come back every time there is even a slight feeling of a scorching sun on my forehead (I would say back, but I wear the hijab). I find myself eating better and wanting to be adventurous. Maybe it’s the nostalgia attached to summer that I deep down like to relive every year, or maybe it’s science. Regardless, here’s a breakdown on how to get the absolute most out of your summer.

find your scent of the season

I like to have a scent for every season. Summer, in my head, smells like two things: frangipani and chicken cooking on a charcoal barbecue. Now, before you judge me, Australians are renowned for our barbecues, or 'barbies' as some may say, and while that's true, being Lebanese Australian, we have our own place in this culture with our charcoal barbecues that you just cannot beat.

Now let me paint the picture: it's 2010, you've finished school, and it's the last week of term because it's almost school holidays. Your mum drives you to your grandparents' house. On arrival, you see your cousins' family cars and immediately know what's about to go down. A barbecue. There are marinated chicken wings on the small charcoal barbecue that took two men and a lot of sweat to start. Soon after playing around in the backyard for hours due to daylight saving, you enjoy some wings with Lebanese bread, toum (garlic dip), and an off-brand cola drink from the local fruit shop. You can't deny that doesn't sound amazing because it really is. It's my favourite smell that wanders around Western Sydney, as I know some little kid is making memories too.

Now, I bring up scents because I actually recommend you pick a scent for the summer yourself. I definitely don’t recommend opting for a chicken or charcoal-smelling perfume (although low-key, I would be into that), but do opt for a scent that will forever remind you of the fun ahead. I have had a fragrance I've dedicated to the last four summers or so, and one smell of it immediately brings me back to the moment. Some that I recommend, as I’ve used them myself, are Maison Margiela Replica 'Beach Walks', which reminds me of my family Gold Coast trip a few years back, Jean Paul Gaultier Divine, Kayali Eden Sparkling Lychee, and Charlotte Tilbury Joyphoria, to name a few of my faves.

be grateful

As the world is constantly in turmoil, you may have become desensitised to the injustices our siblings overseas face. I think a big part of growing and feeling content is to not live in blissful naivety but to unpack reality. Often, I would avoid reality because my anxiety would lead me to spiral, and I would rot in bed. Being grateful for the safety you have, the freedom, and the joy will allow you to appreciate everything and live in the moment. Wishing you were at a resort in Bali instead of your small town? Don’t we all, but kindly and respectfully, we need to appreciate all we have and that which has been written for us, and you will grow to become more content.

pick up a book

I am actually a hypocrite because I haven’t been reading due to a bit of burnout, but I will definitely be picking up a book ASAP. I love capturing photos and videos in summer because it’s my favourite time of the year. However, this summer I hope to go out and, instead of mindlessly scrolling in the most beautiful scenery (an Aussie beach), I want to read some books on my TBR list. Learn something this summer, and always, but especially when you have more free time. Fill your mind with words and thoughts, and leave out all the online brain rot and comparison.

I think when summer hits, we all have the best intentions to unwind, relax, and plan for the new year ahead, but we don’t actually try to implement the time and space to do so. I personally have a few Islamic books I want to read, as well as some fiction books I’ve been avoiding. I’ll probably alternate between those.

Thrift your summer wardrobe

Summer, like any season, becomes a capitalistic nightmare with plenty of fashion campaigns pushing overconsumption. However, summer is the perfect season to shop less and wear less. As a Muslim girl, I have perfected a summer capsule wardrobe that is foolproof for every year. Invest in a good swimsuit for sure, as a hijabi, it’s not easy for us to just thrift an affordable swimsuit. But in addition to this, I have thrifted a handful of adorable sarongs to alternate with, plenty of chunky summer jewellery, and outside of this, anything I thrift is usually a fun summer dress or skirt.

Don’t spend the season hyper-fixated on blending into what’s in trend and having the next best thing; just live. Wear what makes you comfortable and embrace not overthinking it. The end of the year also has plenty of shopping events such as Black Friday and Cyber Monday, and it's easy to feel like you need to buy and harder to feel like you shouldn’t participate. Some summer trends I’m keeping an eye out for in the op-shops are maxi skirts, gold chunky jewellery, Y2K and 90s summer pieces (old school Roxy and Billabong), and statement beaded bags.

enjoy a new hobby

I’ve mentioned crafting like scrapbooking and journalling before and unpacked how good it is for anxious girls in their 20s to unwind and explore their feelings. If you haven’t tried it yet and are eager to, now's the time. Sit outside with a coffee (or inside on the really intense hot days) and collect moments from your summer like receipts or flowers and explore your creative side. Take photos with your friends and use them in your journals or start the journal with plans and goals for the new year. If you need journalling or scrapbooking prompts, check out Pinterest. It’s also great to have a daily gratitude journal and write down du'as alongside your goals and aspirations. I'm not shy to start a new hobby; alongside journalling and scrapbooking, I’ve also fallen into the Coco Wyo trap this year and even attempted mosaicking.

cook with seasonal food

You might raise an eyebrow at this, but hear me out. There are Islamic benefits in eating seasonal foods as it aligns with the principle of consuming what nature provides at its peak freshness and nutritional value. In the West, we are so used to having everything at our disposal and we never question how and why things are so readily available to us. The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is known to have consumed and recommended foods that were locally available and in season.

Not only is it beneficial for our health, as the earth provides fruit and veg that we need in that season for a reason (for example, summer fruit is full of hydration, vitamins, and antioxidants our body needs in summer), but it also allows us to avoid waste. The Quran emphasises the importance of avoiding waste, and as seasonal produce is typically more abundant and affordable, it reduces the likelihood of waste compared to out-of-season foods that may have a higher carbon footprint and cost due to transportation and storage.

Additionally, buying in-season produce from local farms, shops, and markets is good for our community, which is also Islamically encouraged. I’ll be attempting to do this, so let’s challenge ourselves together!

digital detox

If you’ve wanted to try it, start now. I never took a digital detox until this year after being, no joke, on my phone consistently for 5+ years because I told myself it was my job, so I had to. For one, it’s not normal to be so consumed by a device. But also, if the tragedies we’ve seen in 4k lately have taught you nothing, here’s a reminder that this life is temporary. Live, learn, and make the most of everything. Even a few days offline remind you to love your body and your brain and reduce comparative thoughts, or at least it does from my experience.

Social media is no longer how it was before, a time when one day without posting led to becoming 'irrelevant'. Nobody really cares anymore. Live and experience. Cry, smile, and wonder offline.

happy summer my loves ;) hope we all thrive!!! ⋆｡𖦹 °.🐚⋆❀˖°