Life Recently: Holding Onto Summer

Hi, everyone! With late August rolling in, I find myself desperately grasping onto Summer. It's a strange phenomenon, as I'm an Autumn girl through and through. I much prefer the crisp breezes, colourful leaves, and cozy sweaters. The heat and humidity of Summer typically leave me sweaty and cranky and seeking the comforts of air conditioned spaces. Despite this, there remains a pit in my stomach when I think about the arrival of September. Maybe it's because I've been an eternal student (this is the first time in 28 years I will not be returning to school in September. Whoa.) or maybe it's because Summer, in all of its hot, soupy glory, can still present magical, sunny days that just cannot be re-created at any other time of year. 

While I live for the hustle and bustle of Toronto's downtown core, I am lucky enough to live just a few blocks south of the chaos, on the shoes of Lake Ontario. This past Sunday I embarked on a solitary afternoon along the waterfront and it provided all of the peace, warmth, and vitamin D I was craving. Armed with a book, a huge bottle of water, and my biggest vintage sunglasses, I took to the boardwalk and soaked it all in! 

For the first portion of the afternoon, I sat by the water in front of Harbourfront Centre, watching the boats and reading, with the CN tower at my back. It really was idyllic, despite the throngs of tourists lining up for cruises and gathering around street magicians. There was an Iranian cultural festival going on at Harbourfront that day, so I also got to stop and watch some folk dancing that was absolutely beautiful! 

Then I strolled a little bit further west to HTO beach, which is a small but perfectly summery little plot of sand adorned with cheery yellow umbrellas. I plopped down in a Muskoka chair, dug my toes in the sand, cradled my book, and watched the pirate ships (yes, pirate ships!) sail by. 

Even though I walked away with a bit of a sunburn (SPF is important, guys!), my afternoon by the water showcased the beauty of Summer in the city and gave me a reason to hold onto the season with all of my might. I am beyond lucky to live so close to these sights (literally, a 5-minute walk) and Summer truly is the season when my neighbourhood is at its finest. So although I still look forward to the fresh, cool breezes of Fall, they can wait their turn while I soak up the sun a little longer :)

Are you a fan of Summer? What have been your favourite summery activities lately?

Thanks for dropping by! xo