I hate summer. Even though I live in Michigan, where temperatures can get up to 90º in July, I’ve always hated the heat and humidity. Lately, though, I’ve been trying to brighten up my summer days—pun absolutely intended. In my mission to be more positive and to seek out the good parts of summer, I’ve found a few creative ideas. The key, for me, in getting through the thick summer heat is friends; if you have someone to complain with, it makes it just a bit better. So, here are three summer date ideas for you and your friends when the sun is beating down a little too aggressively this summer vacation.
Fabric Painting
I wouldn’t necessarily call myself an artist, but I find that when I dive into my more artistic side, it can be quite relaxing. A very beginner-friendly artistic outlet I’ve found is fabric painting, specifically on clothing. No matter your personal style, everyone’s wardrobe can be made more personalized and exciting by painting little designs to accent plain items in your closet. My favorite article of clothing to paint is jeans. Because jeans are typically one solid color, they’ve always felt a little boring to me. Simply spicing them up with, say, some florals painted on the back pockets, can make all the difference. What I love most about this idea is that it doesn’t require much. All that is needed for this date is standard fabric paint that can be ordered on Amazon and some craft store paint brushes. Then, invite some friends over and tell them to bring a piece of clothing they want to add some interest to. It’s up to each individual how they want to customize their clothing, and they can come up with their own ideas or get inspiration from Pinterest or Instagram. This is hands down my favorite summer activity, and I would highly recommend it.
Hammocking
On the surface, this seems pretty basic. But, in my opinion, that’s why it’s such a good summer date idea; summer is about relaxing and taking a break from having to worry about life’s traditional stressors that are present during the school year. Some of my personal favorite things to do while hammocking are reading, listening to music, having a summery iced drink, or just sitting and appreciating the warm weather with my sister and friends. You could also set up a simple charcuterie board with strawberries, cheese, crackers, chocolate—whatever you like—and snack while you sway in the summer sun. Hammocking can seem a little boring at first, but once you think creatively about how to add interest to the activity, many opportunities for summer fun are opened up.
Decorating Journals/ Sketchbooks
Like fabric painting, this date idea is fairly open-ended. All you need for this one is a small journal or sketchbook, some old magazines or books from a consignment store, a couple of Elmer’s glue sticks, and packing tape. After doing this many times, I’ve found that paper or cardboard covers will receive the glue better than plastic ones. It’s essentially scrapbooking, but on the outside cover instead of on the pages. I like to flip through the magazines to find inspiration for a theme, but Pinterest or another online source can also be very helpful. Once you have an idea for how you want to decorate your journal or sketchbook, cut out some pictures and words that you like. After you have all your elements, arrange them in a way you like, accenting with words or sentences that represent your theme. Finally, glue all your items down and seal the cover with packing tape. This one is especially fun because you can journal or draw after you’ve finished decorating your book, so it’s kind of like two dates in one!
Summer, though I have my qualms with it, can definitely be improved by a few fun dates with my friends. These three ideas, despite their simplicity, can really make all the difference in filling up your summer vacation.
