If you don’t follow me on Instagram, you might be wondering if I fell off the face of the earth and I’m very happy to report that’s not the case! 
I feel like I need to do a deep dive into my Instagram stories archives and compile everything I’ve been up to this summer because it’s been a lot. I didn’t even get my summer bucket list put together, which is so unlike me as they’re one of my favorite type of posts to pen! Between my girlfriends coming up in June, countless events, the Fourth of July, my 32nd birthday, Lollapalooza, and then having my best friend from high school here last weekend, I’ve been going non-stop. Needless to say, I’m reallyyyy looking forward to a slowdown.
How has your summer been? I’d love to hear! If you leave a comment down below, I’ll pick two random people on Sunday evening (Aug. 18) to send a bareMinerals Gen Nude blush, EltaMD Sport, and some goodies from the new eos flavor lab line to!
I hope you find something you love in this round-up!
Journaling prompt: Notice three not-so-great habits you have and put together a plan to change them to good habits. I have a habit of procrastinating things/situations that need to be addressed/confronted and am learning that ripping the bandaid off is better for my mental health.
Song of the week: Lotus Eater – Mura Masa. Turn it up and listen as you browse. 🙂
LINKS I’VE LOVED LATELY:
- After writing about my three years in Chicago, one of you (hi Melanie!) sent me this essay on being single and I wasn’t fully prepared and ended up crying into my cold brew in the Viagra Triangle. I pulled my sunglasses down from my head as fast as the floodgates opened and hoped the only person who caught my moment of vulnerability was the man to my left who was meticulously scooping ruby-red gelato into his mouth as he sat on the park bench.
- I wore this little red dress to Out of the BLU at Shedd Aquarium last month and it’s just one of those that makes you feel really, really good. I’m wearing “fire coral” in a size 4 and feel like it runs pretty TTS. I played into the primary colors and paired it with my navy tie heels and these bright yellow earrings from BaubleBar. Side note: if you didn’t make it to Out of the BLU this year, add it to your summer bucket list for the next! It’s always one of my favorite nights of the summer.
- The ruffly polka dot dress from Madewell that I’ve practically been living in over the past few months is on sale right now! Along with lots of other summer options.
- I can’t get enough of this striped crop top from Faithful the Brand and really love everything they do. This would be a good transition top for fall, too!
- I tried on an Equipment blouse at Trunk Club and have been thinking about it ever since. It’s an investment, but I know I’d get a lot of wear out of it across the seasons.
- I’ve also had a few questions about my monogrammed phone case lately, so I thought I’d share here again! I have the shadow text phone case, but there are so many cute options.
- I answered a few more of your dating questions over on Instagram! And if you’re looking for more where that came from, my last blog post on dating can be found here and I created an Instagram story highlight with all my archived posts on the topic!
- My friend Erin recommended the Insight Timer app to me and I can’t tell you how much it’s helped me nod off at night. I generally opt for the sleep meditations under 15 minutes and almost never remember the end of them! Worth a shot if sleep doesn’t come easy to you.
- Along that same note, I got a new duvet cover and the best sheets if you overheat when you sleep (which was happening on the regular for me) and I can’t recommend them more! I really need to do an entire blog post outlining everything I’ve been implementing to help me get better rest because there’s a lot more to it than that.
- Chelsea’s thoughts surrounding food are spot on with where I’m at right now.
- I’d be lost without my to-do list, truly. I think I got this from my Dad. He’s single-handedly kept Post-it in business with his sticky notes. Like Olivia, I really love getting a peek into the day-to-day of the people I look up to/follow. She’s been sharing her to-do list to Instagram stories and talks about how it helps keep her accountable, sorta how I feel when I share my workouts. I’m toying with the idea of doing the same on the weekends to help me be more productive!
- If you have rosacea, read this.
- Always adding things to my Poshmark! Make me an offer. I’m easy. 😆
SHOP THE POST:
Alright, that’s all I’ve got for now! I’m always sharing in real-time over on Instagram stories, so be sure to follow along there.
Summer has been a mix of highs and lows with family health scares but I think we’re coming out on top in time to enjoy August and LDW! Not letting go quite yet!
Ah, I’m so sorry to hear that. Never a good thing. Happy to hear things are looking up! And yes, here’s to making the most of the last month or so. I don’t want to wish away the days 🙂
Diving into my first summer as a momma, and wishing a little but that I would have embraced summer activities with the baby a little sooner, because it wasn’t nearly as stressful as I thought – paddleboarding, the beach, going out on the boat, etc. As a former Chicago resident, I do wish we had made it out there for some summer Chicago fun. Lucky for me, my husband embraces Chicago winter visiting…
Ah, congrats! Some of my friends have said the same thing about getting out for activities, but I’m glad you did! Oooh, Chicago winter. Those words scare me haha.
Yesss girl I have been following along via stories all summer but I love that you’re back here because I always click through all your links 🙂 way to take advantage of everything Chicago summer has to offer!
Hi Jenn – so happy to be back in this space too! Reading this motivates me to put more time into long-form writing, which I love, so thank you for sharing! I hope you have a great weekend and even better end to summer 🙂
Love your blog! Started following you when you were in KC! This summer we’ve been hitting all the at fairs – Brookside, Prairie Village and looking forward to Plaza! 🙂 We’ve traveled to Dallas, Austin and plenty of lake time!
Ah, thank you SO much for saying that! Means the world that you’ve stuck with me that long. So jealous…I miss those things! Dying to get to Dallas again (last time i went we got stuck in a snowstorm lol) and Austin, too. Cheers to the last month of summer!
Summer for me has been filled with a lot of firsts. First time to Chicago, first time to a professional baseball game, first time redoing our house, etc and also has been first time battling a medical condition. I’ve been following you since KC and have always enjoyed watching your Instagram and blog posts ❤️
I love that it was your first time here! It doesn’t get any better than summer in Chicago. Sounds like so many big, exciting things (aside from the medical condition, which is a total bummer, ugh. I’m so sorry). Thank you so so much for saying that (and for sticking with me!)…it truly means more than you know. I hope you have the best weekend!
Summer has been a crazy one and somehow one of my favorites. Even though I tore my ACL on the legit first day of summer :/ it’s also been my first full summer in Chicago. Even hobbling to the beach with a leg brace makes recovery worth it to see the skyline with my toes in the sand. I’ve also gotten to explore our neighborhood a lot more with limited walking! I can’t wait for more Chicago summers to come (and less leg braces to come haha)
Oh my word, that’s crazy! I’m so sorry that happened. Ahhh, yes. I’m so glad you’re able to make it down there. haha I can only imagine. I hope your recovery is speedy and you’re able to enjoy the last bit of your first summertime chi 🙂
Summer of 2019 has been something else! Finishing some need college courses and dating, trying to figure things out but also going with the flow. Also finding some killer music, which I can thank you for! Love the song in this post, btw!
Hasn’t it though?! Truly one for the record books. Dating…sigh. You and me both haha. I’m SO happy to hear you’ve been finding new music in the songs I’ve been sharing. I love it so much! Thank you for saying that and for taking the time to comment and read. Happy weekend!
My summer has been a mix of week-long travel and slow weekends with friends. Really just a lot of waiting for fall!
Sounds pretty good to me! Yes to fall 🙂 Ready for the slower pace for sure.
Was inspired by your “summer of yes” and got last minute tix to lolla for the first time! Loved it and don’t know how I’ve never gone. Been trying to do more of those spontaneous fun things and let myself worry about saving more money, getting more sleep come fall!
Oh my gosh, I LOVE this! Isn’t it so fun?! That’s exactly my mindset…sleep in the fall. Live it up, because summer will be gone before we know it! Cheers to the final month of it 🙂
I’ve spent a good majority of my summer wishing we were together 😔
That being said I was fortunate enough to have an opportunity to spend a long weekend with you and Tish. I’ve been exploring new parts of Tampa and Saint Pete. Currently in the process of getting a paddle board! I couldn’t be more excited. That sunscreen would definitely come in handy for long days in the Florida sun on the water!
Girrrrl, you’re tellin’ me! I’m so glad we got to kick off the summer together and I can’t wait to make my way down there this fall. I LOVE that you’re doing the paddle board thing…just don’t float out to sea, k? hahaha
Summer has been okay – looking forward to fall!
Yes, fall will be great, I just know it! 🙂
Summer has gone by way too fast! I spent the first three weeks after school got out (teacher over here) with my parents visiting but then worked summer school and I’m currently in Jamaica trying to squeeze the last bit of summer vacation into my life before going back to work. It’s bittersweet but looking forward to cooler weather and what not. I’m saving the journal prompt you posted to add into my weekly reflection.
It goes faster and faster with each passing year! Ah, love that you got to take a trip! So glad you loved the prompt…makes me so happy to hear 🙂 Good luck getting back into the swing of things at school!
Hi Jess!! Longtime follower here!
Summer for me has been a blur! What started as kind of a bummer recovering from my 3rd major surgery late spring, has turned out to be an amazing summer with friends and family! I stood up in one of my two best friend’s weddings and celebrated the engagement of 2 other besties ( with bridesmaid duties starting now for 1!) I helped my bf move into his new place and took him to my lake house for the first time for the 4th. We are making so many memories together as our first summer as a couple! All of this happening while finishing up my final year of grad school for my nurse practitioner!! Sometimes I barely have time to breathe with everything lol!
Hi Andrea! Reading this made my week 🙂 I’m so glad things turned around for you! All of this sounds so so special! And I love that you and your guy are living it up together 😉 Good luck in your final year – you got this!
Andrea – you were one of the random giveaway winners! Do you mind emailing me your mailing address and I’ll drop your goodies at the post office this weekend? Thank you so much for following along with me! 🙂
Hi!! Oh yay so excited!! Yes I will email you my address (:
-Andrea
This is my second summer living in San Francisco and I spent most of it preparing to move to a new apartment here in the city, and then planning for a move to Chicago next year (can’t wait to check out all of your recommendations!). I was also lucky enough to find some time for some short trips, plenty of long summer days with friends and a few really exciting work projects.
That’s so exciting you’re making the move to Chicago, you will love it! You will have to let me know what you end up checking out. And if you need any other recs, let me know 🙂 Sounds like the perfect summer to me!
Thanks for being the best!!!
MISS YOU SO MUCH
This summer has been nonstop travel for work, family, friends (weddings), etc. – and I’m honestly excited for the fall to come in hopes that things settle down a little bit!
Everyone has been saying this! I think we’re all on the brink of burnout from so much go, go, go. I don’t want to wish away the rest of summer, but I know fall will be good for me 🙂
Summer has been nonstop due to a full-time internship for grad school plus working part-time! But I’ve enjoyed the sun 🙂
Seems like everyone has been go, go, go! That’s exciting about your internship though 🙂 Hope there’s more sun in your future!
This summer has been a little sad for me, I’ve been very homesick as it’s the first summer I haven’t visited home due to a new job 😢
Oh no, I’m sorry! That’s the worst feeling. I really hope you get a chance to go back and visit soon!
Summer has gone way too fast! I was mainly just working part-time and applying for jobs because I just graduated. I really tried to take time to hang out with friends that I hadn’t been able to see as much during the rest of the year, though. So that was great! One of my goals this year is keeping in contact with friends even if I don’t see them everyday. Still applying for jobs, but I am making the move to the city which is much rather where I would be!
It’s gone faster than any other! Congrats on graduating 🙂 That sounds like the perfect balance. I love that idea! A random “thinking of you” text can go a long way.
Maggie – you were one of the random giveaway winners! Do you mind emailing me your mailing address and I’ll drop your goodies at the post office this weekend? Thank you so much for following along with me! 🙂
Hi Jess! Thanks so much! I just sent you an email with the address.
HI! I love that pink (red or coral) , navy heels and yellow earrings! You look so cute! Summer has been really good!
Thank you so much, Tracey! So glad you’ve had a great summer 🙂
This summer has been nonstop! Graduated law school, moved to the city, now stuck in the job search world amidst wedding season, boat season, etc. I keep busy regardless of the season, but I’m looking forward to fall when my schedule is filled with more relaxing events – football games, apple picking, farmer’s markets – just soaking it all in. Loved this post!
I’m right there with you! Busiest one to date. Sounds like you have had some big life things going on – congrats on graduating! And good luck…I’m sure you’ll land a job in no time. Thank you so much for taking the time to read and comment!
Summer is always too short! It’s been a delight though, watching my son experience everything for the first time (he’s turning 1 tomorrow!) I’m hoping to keep the summer activities, food truck rallies, festivals, and beach time, going as long as possible!
It is, but it’s not over yet! Ah, that’s so exciting! Sounds like the perfect mix to me. 🙂
It’s been super fun to watch your summer adventures via instagram/instastories! I’ve been exploring this summer with my new boyfriend which is kinda cheesy but we’ve been having a great time. I feel like sometimes in a long term relationship you get super comfortable (which is amazing too) but you forget to have the kind of fun where you can be silly. We’ve been hitting street fairs in our city, stuffing our faces with hotdogs at baseball games, needing out at museums, and cooking (sometimes not so successfully) our favorite summer meals for each other. Obvs i’ve also been traveling with some of my girlfriends and having some great solo time at coffee shops where I live but its been kinda movie magical to run around my city with a new beau.
That makes me so happy to hear! If there’s ever anything you want to see more or less of, I’m all ears. 🙂 Not cheesy at all! I love that. It sounds like the most incredible summer – young love…keep it that way 😉 I hope the rest of your summer is even better!
You know it’s been a good summer, the weather has been great (once it warmed up) and it’s been the right mix of fun nights and relaxation.
Yes, yes it has! John last night made it that much better! 🙂
This summer has flown by! I attended three weddings in June, then had a couple of fun, long weekend trips mixed in throughout July and now August. Labor Day weekend is almost upon us!
It truly has! I think the busier we are, the faster it goes. I can’t believe it’s NEXT WEEKEND. Ahhhh
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