Summer tends to be short and sweet and because of this I always make a list of things that I want to do to take advantage of the beautiful weather while it lasts! Here is a list of 10 fun things to do this summer…

1. Spend a full day at the beach and/or pool. Pack a cooler, a good book, your favorite beach towel, polaroid camera, fun sunnies, a cute bikini, sunscreen, and take advantage of the sun!

2. Plan a tea party with your friends. I love a good reason to get dressed up and am dying to plan an afternoon tea at a pretty hotel rooftop downtown.

3. Host a barbecue. Dave got some new grill tools and a monogrammed steak brand {note to self: great gift idea for the guys!} for our wedding and I think it would be fun to pick up our favorite BBQ sauces from around the city and create a BBQ bar at home!

4. Rent a bicycle and bike around the city! Create your own map, pack a picnic and visit spots that have been on your must-see list. It’s so fun to see your town from a new perspective.

5. Go for a boat ride. I know this depends on location but here in Chicago we have a lot of options! I love taking the architectural boat tour or renting a sailboat for a booze cruise with friends!

6. Take a cupcake tour of your city. {Chicagoans, I recommend: Molly’s Cupcakes, Sweet Mandy B’s, Sprinkles, Swirls, and Alliance Bakery}.

7. Cook an intimate dinner for friends using only ingredients from the farmer’s market. Every single Saturday I go to the Green City Market with big plans to cook this beautiful, fresh meal and I never follow through {I’m always distracted by the crepes/smoothies!}. This summer I’d love to plan a menu around the farmer’s market {and carry the ingredients home in this pretty tote, of course}.

8. Register for a tennis lesson or golf lesson. Dave is so good at both and I’d love to be able to keep up with him. It may have to wait until after the baby is born but this is on my to-do list.

9. Book a weekend getaway. There are so many great escapes only a short drive outside of the city and Dave and I are in search of a great location for a quick baby moon. Any thoughts??

10. Take advantage of the free summer concerts in the park. See the full schedule here or movies in the park here!

A few more ideas would be…make your own popsicles {we got this for our wedding and I’m so excited to make some!}, take a flower arrangement class, try a new workout routine, take a food tour of your city, or go to a festival!

Do you have any fun plans for this summer?