Make the Most of the Late Summer Days
August 28, 2023
Summer 2023 is winding down! Everyone has returned from summer vacation, the school year has started, and you are settling back into a routine. If the end of summer has you feeling blue, why not make the most of these late summer days?
Celebrate what you love about this time of year, whether it is a chance to catch up with friends who have been away or to enjoy some me time now that the kids are out of the house and back at school. Give your home a little refresh by updating artwork or light fixtures or get ready for some fun tailgating or postgame parties now that football is almost back! Find what you love about this time of year and embrace it. Here are 10 ideas to inspire your late summer plans.
Refresh Water Bottles
Did back-to-school sneak up on you this year? You may have checked off your list of required school supplies and bought a new school bag, but what about updating their water bottles? After dragging their reusable water bottle around summer camps, sports practice, and throughout their vacation, your kids’ water bottles may have seen better days. The temperatures are still high so long school days require a sturdy water bottle that will keep them hydrated.
We have you covered with the latest styles and colors from Corkcicle. Their sleek and ergonomic canteens and cold cups are ideal for ensuring cold drinks stay cold, no matter the weather or the length of the school day. Even better, they come in a wide range of colors and designs, so your kids are sure to find one that fits their personality. While you are there, why not pick up a new water bottle or to-go cup to make your daily commute or a trip to the gym a bit brighter?
Get Ready for Tailgating
What is one of the best parts of summer coming to a close? The return of football season, of course! The Gators season is nearly underway, and the first home game is just around the corner. That also means it’s time to get ready for tailgating. Our Gainesville, Florida gift store has everything you need to tailgate in style.
Stay hydrated with Corkcicle water bottles or enjoy a favorite cocktail from a Corkcicle tumbler, all emblazoned with the Gators logo. Show your pride with a Gators sign and declare “It’s Game Day” with these cute cocktail napkins. With our wide array of Gators-themed products, you will be ready to host a watch party at home, tailgate with friends at the game, or celebrate a victory with an after-game party!
Give Your Home a Later Summer Refresh
Now that you’re back from vacation, the bags are unpacked, and the suitcases put away, it’s time to focus on home life. Look around your home and you are sure to find areas that could use an update. You may be planning a bigger project like a kitchen remodel or a new master bath design that will transform your living spaces. In the meantime, why not refresh your living areas with a simple update that can give your home a new outlook as you head into fall?
Here are a few ideas for simple changes that can have a big impact:
- Change cabinet hardware: The style and finish of cabinet hardware accessorize your cabinetry just like jewelry for a special outfit. Changing hardware can completely transform the look of your kitchen, bath, or living room storage.
- Update your towels: This is a simple way to add a fresh splash of color to your kitchen design with colorful dish towels. In a bath design, you can add an accent color or go for plush white towels to give your bathroom a spa-style feel.
- Invest in new light fixtures: Lighting is an essential part of every space in your home, from a closet to your living room. You need lighting to see clearly, but light fixtures also enhance your home’s style. From chandeliers to pendants and sconces, your choice of light fixtures can transform a room and set the tone for your space. Check out our full range of lighting in our design showroom when you visit our Gainesville, Florida store.
- Change out your artwork: Artwork is an ideal way to inject personality into your home. The subject matter you choose, the color scheme, and even the artwork’s frame can all bring a stylish accent to any space in your home. We have a selection of fun artwork like this black cat painting that can bring a unique touch to your home’s design.
Plan a Last-Minute Summer Getaway
If you are not quite ready to say goodbye to summer, why not plan a final summer getaway? You could go away for a weekend to work around the kids’ school days. Or if you are not tied down to a school schedule, take advantage of the off-season and plan a longer getaway to explore a new location or return to an old favorite.
Pack the book you meant to finish over the summer (but didn’t), your swimsuit, and some travel-size toiletries like this handy set from Thymes that includes body wash, body lotion, and hand cream. If a getaway is not on the cards for you, consider taking a few days for a staycation to enjoy local sites when they are not as busy!
Schedule Some Catch-Up Time with Friends
Summers can be hectic! With everyone away on vacation at different times and kids heading off to camps, time is often limited during the summer to see your local friends. Now that everyone has returned to a (somewhat) normal schedule, it is the perfect time to schedule a catch-up session with your besties.
Plan a barbeque to make the most of your outdoor kitchen design, have a coffee morning to catch up on everyone’s summer, schedule a cocktail party to show off your favorite summer mixed drink recipes, or plan a sophisticated wine and cheese party. Up your entertaining game with our selection of stemless glassware or cocktail sets. Or go for one of our cheeseboard and knife sets paired with the Savannah Bee honey for cheese that adds a delicious touch to any cheese selection.
Plan some Me Time
Whether you spent your summer days traveling through Italy, working behind a computer, or trying to keep the kids entertained while they were off school (or, let’s face it, all the above!), you may be ready for life to slow down a bit. Take a morning or an afternoon off or block out a Saturday to pamper yourself. Relax in a bubble bath, put on a soothing face mask, light some candles, and listen to your favorite tunes. Our range of bath products offers just what you need to complete this serene scene, like the Archipelago Botanicals bubble bath milk, body wash, soap, lotion, and more.
Restart Your Book Club
Getting back into a routine means you can also revisit your favorite local activities, whether that is a sport, a trip to the gym, walking with friends, or going to local theater productions. If you are ready to expand beyond your summer beach reads, this could also be the perfect opportunity to restart your book club (or start up a new one). By which we of course mean book and wine club because no book club is complete without a glass of wine to make the discussions even more lively! We have the perfect accessory to complete your festivities with these adorable book club wine charms. Give everyone a unique charm to place around the stem of their glass so each person can keep track of their wine, even when the discussion gets going about your latest book.
Enjoy Your Favorite Summer Treats
Certain drinks, snacks, and foods automatically make you think of summer. From summer cocktails to ice cream and fresh fruits, summer treats remind you of enjoying time by the pool or at the beach with family and friends. Make the most of these late summer days by indulging in a few of your favorites. Sit by the pool catching up with friends over a glass of sangria or a margarita. Take a stroll with your family to visit a favorite ice cream spot. Or enjoy some delicious, sweet, thirst-quenching watermelon, beautifully displayed on our serving plate adorned with a mini watermelon slice. It’s ideal for a quiet Saturday snacking at home or to dress up your table at a late summer barbeque.
Spoil Your Furry Friends
If you went away on vacation this year, then you probably had to leave behind your furry family members in the care of a pet sitter, friend, or pet boarding facility. Even if they love their doggy hotel or get spoiled by the cat sitter, there’s nothing quite like bringing your pet back home to their creature comforts. You love spending time with them at home and they love getting back to their favorite sleeping spots.
Show your furry family some extra love right now by getting them some new accessories. Our portable food and water bowls are ideal for taking them out on long walks while declaring that they are your “favorite child”, while this treat container is sure to get their attention when filled with special snacks.
Hold On to the Scents of Summer
What’s not to love about summer? From vacations with family to favorite summer snacks, flowers blooming, and gardens growing, this season is a treat for all the senses. Now that summer is winding down, you can hold on to the scents of summer and bring them into your home with fresh-cut flowers, scented candles, or diffusers. Pick a scent that you love and that brings out your favorite summer memories and find a way to deliver that throughout your home living spaces. Capri Blue Volcano candles are an ideal choice as they blend sugared citrus and tropical fruits, evoking the scents of a summer night. They look as good as they smell in these fun, colorful containers that will bring a ray of summer sunshine into any room.
Enjoy the Last of the Summer Days!
Whether your kids are back at school, or you have just returned from vacation and are getting back into a work routine, the end of summer can leave you feeling blue. Why not make the most out of the remaining summer days by enjoying time with family and friends (including the furry family members!), indulging in summer treats, or even taking a last-minute getaway before fall kicks in? Stop by our Gainesville, Florida store and let our experienced team help you look for the perfect pick-me-up to make the most of the late summer days.