July 6. I’m still trying to wrap my head around the fact that the year is HALF WAY OVER. Because honestly, wasn’t Christmas yesterday?

In all seriousness, the months are blowing by. I feel like summer has been in full swing for weeks, and I have yet to do ALL THE SUMMER THINGS. Any reassuring attempts to tell me it will be hot until October are futile –  because once September rolls around, I am in full autumn mode (though that may be a bit delayed with my Europe trip at the end of that month). So with commitment upon commitment these next few months, I’ve gotta find pockets to squeeze in the sunshine and the sand and the picnics and the wine (the last one I’m already succeeding at pretty well).

No summer would be complete without my annual summer bucket list, which is really just a variation of itself every year. Do I always get to everything? Not even close. But that doesn’t mean I can’t be optimistic.

But most of all, this season, I want to embrace. Embrace myself – my flaws, my strengths, my feelings – who I am. And not apologize for it.

Embrace this fleeting season with the passion it deserves.

Embrace my dire need to just let go and LET GO ALREADY (is that a contradiction? EMBRACING IT).

Because all that really matters these summer months is that I feel the sun and sweat on my skin as much as humanly possible (isn’t that when you can tell you’re really living?).

Summer Bucket List 2017

• Twilight concerts at the Santa Monica Pier
• Late night improv shows at UCB
• Nachos at a Dodgers game
• Outdoor movies with Street Food Cinema
• Picnic at The Getty
• Disneyland with my mama
• Live jazz at LACMA
• Make homemade peach cobbler & vanilla ice cream
• Fancy dinner at The Magic Castle
• Roller skate on the boardwalk
• Wine taste in Malibu
• Paddle board in the marina
• Scour flea markets and craft fairs
• Brew iced coffee
• Snorkel in the ocean
• Listen to music at The Hollywood Bowl
• Take endless rolls of film photos
• Watch sunsets at the beach

Not local to LA? This is the best universal summer bucket list I’ve ever read.

Photos by Laurence Tan.

Happy freakin’ summer, y’all. I’m excited.

P.S. Summer travel plans and another way to celebrate.

-wonderland sam

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