I think that I’m going to turn this into a monthly post – just like the monthly favorites, it forces me to pause and reflect. I think the writing the post is a nice reminder to me of all the great things going on around me, big and small, and I hope it can be a little reminder for you to stop and smell the metaphorical roses, too. Here’s what I’m feeling grateful for right now.

Warmer weather

I am truly my best, happiest person in the sun and the warmth. I always forget what an attitude shift I feel when the days start getting longer and warmer – I have more energy for sure and am just happier overall. It was in the upper 80s / low 90s here over the weekend and while I know, for many people, that’s too hot, I was in my element.

So many new book releases

I have raced through so many amazing new books releases in the last few weeks – the books were so good that I absolutely could not put them down. From Book Lovers by Emily Henry, to This Time Tomorrow by Emma Straub, to Mean Baby by Selma Blair – it just felt like I was given a generous gift of incredible reads.

My backyard patio

Sometimes I can’t believe that this time last year, the patio was just something that I was wishing for (and measuring and planning for with twine and random pieces of furniture to get a sense of the dimensions). And now it’s real and I can’t imagine not having it! I have been spending so much time outside – I bring my laptop or iPad, my noise-cancelling headphones, and my cappuccino, and it’s my own little oasis.

Summer travel plans

I have a few different trips planned for the summer, and it just feels really nice to have something to look forward to on my calendar. My life has felt like a lot of the same, over and over recently, so it’s great to know that there are fun plans ahead.

Summer nostalgia

This one is kind of hard to explain, but I mentioned it in one of my Friday Favorites post. I went outside one day earlier this month and it just smelled like summer, which is hard to explain, and it just suddenly brought back the most intense bout of nostalgia. It was such a fun walk back through memory lane – thinking of late summer nights spent with my friends, that incredibly giddy feeling you got in high school when you knew the school year was ending and summer break was about to be here. I have so many great memories of high school summers and that nostalgia just made me so happy.

What are you grateful for right now?