Summer bucket list to have the best summer + outfit inspiration!

With summer quickly approaching, I thought I would put together a summer bucket list to have the best summer, plus all the outfit inspiration, so you have everything you need right here!

Thinking about summer my mind often goes to two places: I can’t wait for the warm weather, how can I make the most of it or what am I going to wear and how am I going to feel confident in smaller clothes?

This blog post is going to help you decide the best activities so you can have the best summer of your life, whilst also finding you the perfect outfit making you look and feel like the hottest version of yourself!

You don’t need a lot of money to do any of these things either! So you can have an amazing summer on a budget!

So, what am I going to do and what should I wear?

Bike rides

There is nothing more wholesome than bike rides in the warm weather! You could either drive to a location, or if your bikes won’t fit in your car (they definitely wouldn’t fit in mine) then you could just go from your house and explore your area!

TBH I haven’t ridden a bike in YEARS, but I know it will feel so freeing and fun! Get out the dusty bikes from the garage and go for it!

What am I going to wear? I’ve got you!

It may look cool to wear dresses whilst riding your bike, but let’s be honest, it would not be practical OR comfortable!

The oversized t-shirt will feel nice and airy when cycling and the cycle shorts are a safe option and means that you can feel comfortable, look stylish, and also be practical, as you are doing a physical activity after all.

Okay, so not only is this aesthetic, but is there actually anything better than sitting on a cute blanket in a park or open field somewhere and eating food? (Maybe lying on a beach in the Maldives, but surely this comes close right?!)

You could even cycle to this picnic location! But I obviously have a different outfit choice if you want to change or if you don’t want to cycle.

And what food should I pack?

• Mini sandwiches (fillings of your choice)
• Chocolate covered strawberries
• Sausage rolls
• Sushi
• Fruit
• Crisps
• Nuts

There has been countless times where I have worn a short dress, or shorts to a picnic, and I have regretted it every time because it is just uncomfortable to sit down for long periods of time trying not to flash someone!!

So a longer dress is perfect so you can sit in any position and be comfy! The flowery patterns are also so cute.

Beach

If you’re lucky enough to get warm weather (in the UK it’s quite hard to come by) then the beach is an amazing option. There are so many things you can do when you’re at the beach, like:

• Read
• Sunbathe
• Go in the sea
• Play tennis/badminton/frisbee
• Walk along the sea front

Outfit ideas:

The longer, looser denim shorts are a comfier option than a smaller pair of denim shorts, making them perfect for light activity such as badminton, or just lounging on your beach towel or sun lounger reading a book!

I would however not recommend denim shorts if you are going in the sea. Even if you dry yourself off from the sea, there is still going to be sand clinging to you, and denim shorts would not be comfortable!

That’s why there is a second option, made for dipping in and out of the sea! The loose fitting shorts are a light material and will be comfortable to throw on after going in the sea!

Paint outside

I’m not saying you need to be any good, but just let the creative juices flow and draw what comes to mind.

I’ve seen people do painting classes whilst drinking to maybe take the initial nerves away, and just really have fun with it!

You could paint with whatever you want (watercolour, acrylic) and you can paint on whatever you want, who says it has to be on a canvas? An old tote bag, a clear phone case, an old pair of jeans, shoes, just go crazy with it!

So for the outfit, I’m aware that painting is messy. My immediate thought is overalls, because that just screams painter right?! But obviously if you don’t have any overalls, or if you don’t have any that you are willing to ruin, then I would just throw on an old top and shorts!

Read outside

I have a book recommendations page if you want to check out some of my favourite books! http://bigsisterera.com/book-recommendations/

Who says it has to be all go go go in summer?

Sometimes it is so nice to relax, soak up the sun and read a book outside!

Make a day of it with your friends! If you have a friend that loves to read, visit a bookstore and pick out your favourite books for the other person to read, and then go somewhere like a park bench, or a nice area in the sun to read them!

Being so busy with uni and work and everything else, I know I will be reading so much in the summer because I will have so much more spare time! I can’t wait!!

Movie night outside

If you have a projector and a white screen, great, if not your laptop will do just fine.

Get your cosy clothes on, and bring some blankets outside (you will probably need multiple if you live in the UK)!

Get the popcorn out and have a movie night outside! There is something different about cosying up to watch a movie outside rather than inside. Make an occasion of it.

Hopefully the weather in the UK is warm enough to do this, because I will literally feel like I’m in a summer romance book lol.

There is also outdoor cinemas that you can go to! So if you love movies and the cinema, but feel like you’d be wasting the warm weather, then this is PERFECT!

So for the outfit – I’m thinking comfort. You don’t want to be sat outside for hours uncomfortable! In the UK at night, I’d most likely be wearing longer pants, but if it’s warm you could opt for shorts!

Have a BBQ & roast marshmallows

There’s nothing that screams summer more than a BBQ (especially here in the UK).

As soon as the warm weather rolls around, everyone’s getting their BBQ’s out and no matter where you go, you can smell someone having a BBQ!

It’s such a nice thing to enjoy with family and friends! (Usually my dad is the designated chef for the day – how lucky am I!)

Roast marshmallows

My mouth is watering just thinking about this one.

Roasted marshmallows just reminds me of summer, camping, warm nights and good vibes.

You literally cannot go wrong with this one, and imagine this after a BBQ, are you kidding me?! BEST DAY EVER!

For the outfit, I’m thinking a white tank top and a midi skirt for the daytime when it’s warmer, and then later on when it starts getting chilly, you have this cosy jumper to keep you warm!

Have a water fight

If there is any time to be carefree and wild, it’s summer time.

Water balloon or water gun fights, literally scream summer memories! If you go in with the mindset of having fun, not being too serious, not caring if your hair gets wet or your makeup comes off, then you will have the best time I promise.

But obviously you need to come prepared!

Don’t be wearing your favourite outfit. The competitive side of me is making sure that I am ready for battle, not running away in fear of getting wet!

Social media free days

Although I have no idea what outfit you could wear for a social media free day, I thought I would stress the importance of trying to stay off your phone as much as you can during the summer.

Look, I’m a sucker for TikTok and instagram too, but it is so easy to compare your days, your body, your life to others online. People naturally post the best parts of their day, or the best angles of their body, so your comparing yourself to something that may not be the reality.

Having a social media free day, or just being more conscious in the summer to spend less time on social media is something I will definitely be doing!

I spend so much time seeing what everyone else is doing, and thinking ‘wow they’re having such a good summer’ when I could also be having such a good summer, but I’m sitting on TikTok watching everyone else live their lives!

Thank you for reading!

And I hope this gave you some ideas on what to do for the summer, and some ideas on what to wear!

Let’s make this the best summer yet!!