#summer planning

hey lovelies! ✨

summer break is finally here and honestly? it's my favorite time to both relax and get things done. i know that sounds contradictory but trust me, finding that sweet balance between productivity and fun is totally possible! after years of either doing absolutely nothing or burning myself out, i've finally found my perfect summer rhythm.

first things first: the morning routine ✨

i've learned that my day flows so much better when i start it intentionally. i wake up around 8 or 9 (not too early because we deserve some extra sleep!), make my bed immediately (small win!), and spend 15 minutes journaling before checking my phone. this tiny habit has literally changed everything for me.

my summer morning essentials:

iced coffee with oat milk and a tiny bit of vanilla

a cute journal that makes me excited to write in it

10 minutes of stretching by my window

a super quick skincare routine (sunscreen is non-negotiable!)

creating a flexible structure 🤍

the secret to summer productivity is having just enough structure without feeling trapped. i divide my days into three parts:

morning: productive focus time (2-3 hours max) afternoon: flexible time for errands, friends, or projects evening: pure relaxation and fun

this way, i never feel like i'm missing out or falling behind. the key is being realistic about what you can actually accomplish in a day. i used to make these impossible to-do lists and then feel awful when i couldn't finish them.

my productivity non-negotiables:

i always make sure to do at least one productive thing each day, even if it's small. some of my favorites:

reading 20 pages of a book

organizing one small area of my room

working on a creative project for 30 minutes

learning something new for my blog

planning content or taking photos

balancing productivity with summer fun ✨

here's my little secret: schedule your fun just like you schedule your work! this sounds silly but it actually helps me look forward to both. some of my favorite summer activities that feel refreshing but don't derail my productivity:

morning walks with an audiobook

afternoon picnics where i can also read or brainstorm

coffee shop work dates with friends

sunset swims after a productive day

weekend day trips that recharge my creativity

my favorite productivity tools:

a paper planner (something about writing things down just works better for me)

the forest app to stay off my phone when focusing

aesthetic notion templates for organizing my projects

time blocking in my calendar with cute colors

lo-fi summer playlists that help me concentrate

remembering the why 🤍

summer isn't just about getting things done or having the perfect instagram moments. it's about growing, reflecting, and creating memories that will make you smile in december when it's freezing outside. productivity should support your joy, not replace it!

i've found that my happiest summer days are when i accomplish something meaningful in the morning and then have the freedom to be spontaneous in the afternoon and evening. balance isn't perfect every day, and that's okay too.

what are your favorite ways to stay productive during summer break? i'd love to hear your tips too!

xoxo, mindy 🤍

hey everyone, i made a goal earlier this month to post at least 5 blog posts, as well as 5 substack posts this march. so, i've been overly trying to come up with post ideas, and if you didn't already see my moodboard for this spring and march, it's very airy, cottagecore bridgerton-esque aesthetic. and i'm SOOO in love with it. so, i wanted to delve into that aesthetic with these posts. and i thought this would actually be the perfect way to start spring.

⊹ ࣪ ˖ strawberry girl foods for march ⊹ ࣪ ˖

✿ strawberry shortcake

✿ strawberry jam toast

✿ yogurt with strawberries and honey

✿ strawberry lemonade

✿ fruit salads w/ mint

✿ strawberry pancakes

✿ simple vanilla cakes w/ berries

✿ ice matcha w/ strawberry foam

✿ strawberry milk

✿ strawberry crepe

✿ strawberry overnight oats w/ chia seeds + almond milk

✿ mini strawberry tarts w/ whipped cream

⊹ ࣪ ˖ places strawberry girls love in march ⊹ ࣪ ˖

✿ farmer's markets

✿ flower shops

✿ small bakeries

✿ botanical gardens

✿ local parks

✿ quiet cafes w/ outdoor seating

✿ bookstores w/ large windows

✿ lakes or ponds w/ walking paths

✿ garden centers are so cute

✿ strawberry farms (if they're open)

⊹ ࣪ ˖ things a strawberry girl keeps in her bag ⊹ ࣪ ˖

✿ lip balm or strawberry lip gloss

✿ a small journal or notebook

✿ pink or red pens

✿ sunglasses

✿ tiny bottle of strawberry/floral perfume

✿ paperback novel

✿ reusable water bottle (strawberry motifs)

✿ a scrunchie

✿ camera for photos

✿ little snacks, like fruit or granola

⊹ ࣪ ˖ little strawberry girl hobbies for march ⊹ ࣪ ˖

✿ baking simple strawberry desserts

✿ learning how to make homemade jam

✿ painting fruit and flowers in sketchbooks + pressed flowers

✿ writing poetry about spring

✿ collecting or making vintage recipe cards or a recipe book

✿ visiting local farmer's markets each weekend

✿ learning simple flower arranging

✿ having picnics

✿ learning an instrument like ukulele

✿ starting a tiny herb and fruit garden in the kitchen/your garden

✿ scrapbooking

⊹ ࣪ ˖ strawberry girl picnic ideas ⊹ ࣪ ˖

✿ fresh strawberries in a small basket

✿ strawberry lemonade in a glass bottle

✿ baguette slices or pastries

✿ cheese and fruit

✿ little jars of ham

✿ pink picnic blanket

✿ small book to read

✿ lying on the blanket watching clouds

✿ reading poetry and romance novels

✿ journaling

✿ people-watching

⊹ ࣪ ˖ strawberry girl books for march ⊹ ࣪ ˖

✿ cozy romance novels

✿ coming of age stories

✿ poetry collections

✿ classic novels w/ countryside settings

✿ baking and cooking books

✿ lifestyle books about slow living

✿ whimsical novels

⊹ ࣪ ˖ strawberry girl traditions for march⊹ ࣪ ˖

✿ baking strawberry desserts on weekends

✿ listening to cottagecore playlists with spring ambience in the background

✿ buying flowers every friday

✿ going to farmer's markets every saturday morning

✿ having picnics whenever the weather is nice

✿ making homemade lemonade

✿ watching spring movies on rainy nights

✿ sending letters/postcards to friends and family

⊹ ࣪ ˖ small ways strawberry girls romanticize errands ⊹ ࣪ ˖

✿ bringing a tote bag to the grocery store

✿ walking instead of driving when possible

✿ stopping by bakeries

✿ visiting flower stands on the way home

✿ wearing cute outfits for simple tasks

✿ grabbing coffee or lemonade during errands

✿ let yourself WANDER instead of rushing!

thank you so much for reading this little guide, i may consider making a part two to this "strawberry girl" guide series, but i mainly will focus on other spring content. i will also be posting on my substack and instagram AND tiktok as well, so make sure to go check them out. if you have any other spring content suggestions, my askbox is always open and ready for ideas and questions!

xoxo mindy

I assume this will be the one more post before day camp takes over. Years past I've had no time or energy to journal during day camp, and I see no reason why this one will differ. Other than, perhaps, having two assistants; and thus a couple fewer missions to write, and more energy from the day. So hey - maybe.

Looking to be a good day camp, so far. We're doing the bulk of the planning tomorrow. I've got the planning doc all set up and detailed; so it'll be going over the location and story with them, dividing up innkeepers, outlining missions, and whatever other detail work we can get done or that folks want to do. I'm looking at testing out a couple changes for this upcoming year, to do either with how certain game skills are taught or ways of managing player actions or consequences in the game. We'll see how they go.

The story will hopefully be simpler, too. I don't want another repeat of FalJL this year, and there are going to be a bunch of young and inexperienced players. Straightforward is good in this case. Enough about day camp prep, though - let's other things.

Today's been a bit of a pacing-the-cage kind of a day. Not enough enrichment, I suppose, and expecting too much work from myself. Lots of sort of unfulfilling board games, and some Spirit Island with Hearthsnail of course; and mostly... otherwise meh. I made some fried cinnamon sugar tortillas tonight partly to use up the last of a tortilla bag, but mostly because I wanted to. I love that shit. It's so hard to go wrong with cinnamon sugar.

Been feeling kind of... hm. Glum isn't quite right, but it'll do for now; as well. Mostly feeling like a failure for all the usual response time issues, in all parts of my life. Emails, actions, commission responsibilities, friends... it's all the same. Wish I could figure out how to get over that particular bump, at least some of the time. This year has been the worst year by far, and I can see places it's starting to cause much larger problems. To say nothing of, the sapping at self worth and feeling like a competent human being. Would like to talk to someone about it, but my therapist is still on sabbatical and has been for nearly a year now; and the only other person nearby who has what I need has a schedule I can't match. Well. I suppose maybe I could during the summer. But we're already weeks along, and I'm not sure it'd be worth it for one or two sessions.

Still filled with other feelings, too. This one's a stubborn one. Then other feelings all over again, looking later in the month and things yet to come... It's going to be, I suppose, an interesting month.