When I look at the calendar and see it’s already July 18th, it sickens me to acknowledge the summer is halfway over. Even though these are the longest days of the year, they seem to be going by the quickest. At the beginning of each week, I think about everything I have set out to do or planned, and then I blink, and the next week is already upon me.

With the time flying by, we’ve already seen countless trends come and go this summer. From emerging musical artists to fashion styles, we’ve gotten to experience a lot. These hot summer days might be getting to us, so it’s time to evaluate what keeps us cool and what we can let go of.

This week’s hot takes are all about what’s in and what’s out this summer.

What’s Hot and What’s Not

Open-toe shoes are IN! There is absolutely no reason to keep your dogs trapped underneath socks and sneakers. Let your flip-flops slap the pavement and give up your Dr. Scholl’s arch support. We wear closed-toe shoes for so much of the year; give yourself a break–you’ll also have a little less laundry to do!

Water bottles that sweat are OUT! Your ice isn’t lasting more than 30 minutes with this heat. Ditch the plastic cup and go insulated. A new brand of insulated water bottles comes out of nowhere every month. Yetis, Stanleys, Hydroflasks, Owalas, Contigos–find a color and style that works for you and then stay cool! It’s way too hot to not stay properly hydrated. Take care of yourself!

Beach days that last until 8pm are IN! What’s the rush to get back home? If you have the time, keep that butt in your beach chair until the sun disappears behind the waves. If you’re concerned about eating dinner, luckily we have UberEats and DoorDash! The cost-effective and best option is a large pizza from any pizza place in Connecticut. (Connecticut pizza is always in)!

Summer flings are OUT! Summer 2024 is all about you and your besties making memories, sharing laughs, and having adventures. The rest of life is simply too serious to be waiting for a text back. 

Accessorization is IN! Handcrafted rings, chunky bangles, beaded anklets, cats eye sunglasses, and everything in between is all in. Discover your style and let it be present throughout all of summer 2024. Clothing is a way for us to express ourselves; turn it up a notch and add some accessories into the mix to express yourself even more.

Negative self-talk is OUT! Whether you believe it or not, you are flourishing, and if you’re doing your best, that’s all you can ask for! Drop the inner-critic; it doesn’t serve you, and the summer days are much too long to spend sitting around thinking about everything that you dislike about yourself–that is what winter is for!

Bags are IN! The whole Vera Bradley just-carrying-around-a-wallet moment was cute and minimalistic, but now it’s time for preparation and an extension of fashion. A bag of any size adds to any outfit, even if it’s just a t-shirt and gym shorts. The other benefit of carrying a bag is the amount you can store in it. You might think you’re just going out for lunch with the girls, but suddenly you’re on your way to a music festival–thank god you keep a travel-size sunscreen in your bag!

Showing up at restaurants 15 minutes before they close is OUT! I write this one for myself and all the other people I know working in the service industry. We don’t want your business 15 minutes before we close. We want to clean up and go home! 

Women’s Sports are IN! Oh, you don’t watch the NWSL, WNBA, WSL, LPGA, PWHL, or any women’s professional sports league? You’re missing out on witnessing amazing athletes that have dedicated just as much time and possess just as much talent as professional male athletes. #everyonewatcheswomenssports

The 2024 Presidential Election is OUT! Am I terrified? Yes! But let’s let this one lie until the fall. We can all panic more in the fall. Resting this case there.

Happy Hour is IN! Every opportunity for happy hour needs to be taken advantage of. Save your bank and say goodbye to full-priced drinks and food. There are so many different restaurants that offer fun happy hours, so take advantage of this summer! This will also help with not getting to a restaurant right before they close. 

Shorts (unless athletic) are OUT! I am a huge fan of jean shorts and all the varying styles, but it is absolutely way too hot to make it comfortable. 

Doing things that are good for yourself is IN! This can be exercise, being creative, investing in hobbies, mindfulness, selfcare–whatever works best for you. When you invest in yourself, it’ll pay off, and you’ll feel great about the person you are.

Mindlessly scrolling on social media is OUT! Put the phone down and go for a walk instead. There are too many outdoor activities available to us, one of which being pickleball, which is truly in. Social media will always be there, and there is never going to be enough time to keep up with all the different trends. Focus on staying present!

Lemon and cucumber water is IN! Putting lemon and cucumber into your insulated water bottle provides hydration, is a good detoxifier, boosts your immune system, and improves your digestive health! I’ve been drinking lemon and cucumber water all summer long, and it has been a wonderful experience. 

Lastly, the summer ending is OUT! I know there are many of you out there looking forward to the “ber” months and more than anything to get out of this heat. But nothing beats the summertime! The break from all the craziness, the time to relax, the unexpected adventures. An endless summer is heaven to me.

Halftime

As I mentioned earlier, summer is only halfway through. There is so much more time to discover what else works and doesn’t. Consider taking some of these tips and incorporating them into the rest of your summer. And anything that you’ve been doing that was listed as out, get rid of…immediately!!

One other honorable mention I’d like to shed light on is reading justhumansbeing.co is so IN! Every Wednesday and Friday, there’s a fun new blog to read, and we all get to learn a little bit more about ourselves from it. Thanks for reading!

Comment below what you think is in and out this summer 2024! 

Until next time,

SPF 15 User (IN, when reapplied multiple times throughout the day)