Remember When Summer Was Fun?
On Reclaiming the Season
Nothing says summer quite like falling in love. The newness, excitement, and euphoria of meeting someone new, colors the world in a different way. The magic and the promise of summer love is part of why Love Island is so successful. We see ourselves in the cast members as they navigate the highs and lows that come with making yourself vulnerable. Though that vulnerability is nerve-wracking, it also offers something exciting — the feeling of being alive. This aliveness feeling isn’t just available to us when we fall in love with someone, it’s also there when we fall more deeply in love with our life.
Before my full-time working life started, summer provided a break from the rigors of academia. Time off from school meant my schedule was looser and I had the mental space to embrace more fun. So much happened in those two month periods from childhood through college — living different places, meeting new people, falling in love, and that sense of possibility every year was incredible.
In adulthood, naturally, everything changes. With a 9-5 work schedule there is no giant stretch of time where work ceases and you can choose your own adventure. Because of that, summer becomes just another season. My mission this year is to change that by reclaiming the summer energy I had in my youth. If you would like to do the same, keep reading for my guide on reclaiming summer.
Your Guide to Reclaiming Summer
BINGO
I created a BINGO card as a fun way to challenge yourself to make this summer more adventurous. I recommend printing it and actually checking it off as you go to hold yourself accountable. This BINGO card is a twist on the summer bucket list. Unlike a bucket list, there’s no pressure to check everything off. Choose the things that feel most aligned with the summer you want to have and let me know if you hit BINGO!
Do Things Just Because
What made summer grand in childhood was the lack of an agenda. So much of my adult life has been about doing things because they serve a purpose. While that’s great, it can also be taxing to only do things with the hopes that they’ll pay off in some way.
For the first time in a while, I am doing something just because! I’ve booked a three week working vacation to Lisbon, Portugal in August and will be solo traveling for the first time. I have no purpose for taking this trip other than having fun. Summer is the perfect time to lean into purposelessness and I encourage everyone to choose something big to do just because. Chances are, you’ve probably got something in your heart you’ve been dying to do, so why not? If you want something bad enough you will find the time, money, and energy to make it happen.
Slay Like Ariana
Ariana Madix is the baddest bitch on television and this isn’t up for debate. Every time I see the Love Island host slow-mo walk to greet the islanders, I soak up her look for the evening. Ariana’s hair, makeup, and clothing choices all work in harmony to deliver ultimate bad bitch energy. For the summer months, the goal is to slay like Ariana as we embark on our adventures.
Confidence is Key
One thing Ariana Madix has in spades on that Love Island stage is confidence. How she walks, carries herself, and speaks all project a strong sense of self. To have your best summer yet, it’s important to walk into every room like you belong there and put yourself out there with the energy of a person who knows they’re the shit. When in doubt, think “what would Ariana Madix do?”
Summer Beauty Essentials:
Black Girl Sunscreen - This sunscreen blends into darker complexions effortlessly and it doubles as a moisturizer that leaves your face with the perfect glow.
Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Body Mist Sunscreen - I use this sunscreen for my body and it goes on clear, which I love. It’s perfect for days spent in the sun and it’s affordable.
MILK MAKEUP Hydro Grip 12-Hour Hydrating Gel Skin Tint - If you want a “your skin but better” makeup product that will leave you looking luminous, then this is for you! I’ve been a die-hard of the bareMinerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Moisturizer for years, but when the summer months hit, this Milk skin tint is the only complexion product I’m reaching for.
EADEM Le Chouchou Exfoliating + Softening Peptide Lip Balm - This lip balm is really a year round go-to, but for summer I’ve switched from Boba Bounce as my everyday shade to Burnt Malai, which is a toasted caramel. The latter is the perfect summer nude shade and it pairs well with a brown lip liner when I want a little more punch.
Vaseline Glazed and Glisten Shimmer Gel Oil - I just started using this product in the Sunlit Glow shade and I’m obsessed! My skin really shines when I put this stuff on — my recommendation is to apply it to your legs, arms, and color bone, or whatever part of your body you want to pop. This gel oil will be an essential for days spent by the pool.
Hair & Makeup Inspo
In the summer, really year round if I’m being honest, I try to keep my makeup products minimal. It’s hot af outside and I don’t want to be sweating through a pound of makeup. As for hair, I have locs so it’s quite literally the definition of low frills lol, but I have pulled some hair and makeup looks that can serve as inspiration for those curating a new vibe this season. My goal for the summer is to find a blush, bronzer, and highlighter combo to help me achieve an extra glow and possibly a solid contour. Taking recs in the comments section if you have any!
Dressing for Your Summer Body
The summer body thing is complicated. Of course, when clothing options pivot from covering your body to exposing it, you’re naturally inclined to become more critical of what’s underneath. While I have been clocking in for my workouts 4 days a week, I have also been shopping for looks that flatter my body on my best and worst days.
My goal is to curate a wardrobe I love, with looks that make me excited to get dressed. Having cute outfits to showcase also makes me way more enthused about leaving the house.
My aunt put me on to ASOS (thanks Auntie Leslie!) and I absolutely love this brand! ASOS’ pieces are unique, often made with natural fibers, and come at an affordable price point; much of my summer wardrobe is currently being purchased there. For summer shopping I also recommend Old Navy (swimwear, active wear, and basics), aerie (swimwear + basics), Free People (dresses, shoes, dainty clothing pieces), and Dolce Vita (I literally by all of my shoes from them).
Turn the Music Up
No summer outing is complete without a playlist to turn up to, so I curated a mini one to help you usher in the vibe of the season.
Call for Beauty + Culture Submissions: Infinite Summer
What We’re Creating
The Of Age: Infinite Summer zine is a print publication showcasing the work of emerging writers and artists. This inaugural issue will be completed in early August and I am looking for beauty and culture writers who are interested in submitting.
Theme
Summer is the ultimate release of time, productivity, and who you think you are. It’s nights on the porch with good company and a little something to sip on. It’s days spent by the ocean that you wish could stretch on forever.
Summer is the season where we let ourselves be a little looser, slower, and more alive. We take time off without guilt. We gather, rest, and play. We let the sun hit our skin and remember what it feels like to be present.
The Of Age: Infinite Summer issue is an attempt to capture that feeling the season gives us and to share ways we can spread that energy throughout the year. To live in summer energy, infinitely, is to redefine what makes a life purposeful.
Beauty Writers: What I’m Looking For
I will be selecting one beauty piece for this issue.
Beauty stories should explore how summer shifts the way we inhabit our bodies, tend to ourselves, and experience sensory pleasure. These pieces should feel intimate, textural, and rooted in presence. I welcome unique ideas related to the theme, but here are some starting points to consider below:
Ritual essays — The small, slow practices that help you release urgency and feel more alive
Skin + body pieces — How sun, heat, sweat, glow, or softness change your relationship to your body
Scent + texture writing — Fragrances, products, or sensory memories that evoke porch nights or ocean days
Intergenerational beauty — Rituals passed down, inherited glow, nostalgia
Formats: 600–1,200 words (essays, routines, interviews, or hybrid pieces)
Culture Writers: What I’m Looking For
I will be selecting one culture piece for this issue.
Culture pieces should explore how summer shapes identity, community, creativity, and meaning — the gatherings, sounds, shifts, and scenes that define the season’s emotional architecture. I welcome unique ideas related to the theme, but here are some starting points to consider below:
Cultural moments — A gathering, shift, or conversation that changed you
Music essays — Songs, albums, or playlists that feel like release, rest, or rebellion
Community stories — How summer brings people together, loosens expectations, or redefines belonging
Formats: 600–1,200 words (essays, interviews, cultural criticism, hybrid pieces)
Submission Details
Please submit the full piece (not just a pitch), written without AI.
Include any images or concepts if relevant.
Compensation is modest (self‑funded project); details shared upon acceptance.
Send submissions to greenidge@myyahoo.com with the subject line Infinite Summer – Submission.
Deadline: July 15th
I think I need to knock off some Bingo squares this holiday weekend.
The zine concept sounds cool!