summer A to Z
vibes, goals, and aspirations for summer 2025
Floor Time
/flôr tīm/
noun
the 15-60 minute time period spent laying on the floor in the middle of the work day, typically as a relief from the soul-sucking reality of corporate America.
I got this idea from Ali Labelle, who writes Á la Carte. This week, we were graced with the first real week of summer in New York, and it has me antsy for all that’s to come. There’s a lot to look forward to, so I’m sharing some of the things I’m thinking about for the coming season, in A to Z format.
A
After-dinner walks. I used to have this great habit during COVID and even as a high schooler, where I’d go on after-dinner walks. These days if I’m at home, I get lazy and “after dinner” means I make a tea and curl up with my book. But on Wednesday, I decided to take my bestie FaceTime on-the-go. Klaus and I walked to the water, watched the weirdest pop-up performance art, and took in the balmy night air. The benefits of after-dinner walking have been long discussed, but Wednesday was a reminder of just how good it feels. Also, the sun sets at 8:30 now, so there’s plenty of time to squeeze one in after work.
B
Best friends’ weddings. I have three sets of best friends getting married this year and my little heart is bursting with excitement to celebrate them. Technically they are more fall weddings, but I’m already thinking about them in summer so it works for this list. Also, it’s my newsletter so I’m in charge.
C
Cooking at home. I’ve been making my way through the Wishbone Kitchen cookbook which has gotten me really excited about summer cooking. With life being as busy as it is, cooking has in a way become my mindfulness routine. Can’t wait to have summer produce to really elevate my dishes, too.
D
DJ sets. I’m not a DJ person (minus Peggy Gou), but Andrew is proving to be one? Find me with my Loops buried deep in my ear canals while I cosplay as a young person dead ass no cap.
E
Errand hang outs. I wrote about doing nothing with your favorite people a while back, and one of my favorite “do-nothing” activities is running errands with each other. Over the past couple weeks, I’ve hit up a handful of different vintage and new clothing stores, helping my friend Eli get wedding outfits (and we said yes to the dress!!!). There was also a day a couple weekends ago when I needed to make a bunch of returns, so he just came and walked with me. It’s the best—highly recommend.
F
Four day work weeks. Forget summer Fridays, I am embracing the four-day work week (hopefully for summer and beyond).
G
Garbage separation. This is super random, but next month I’ll be able to compost again (long story—but it’s harder to compost in NYC than it looks!). When I moved to New York, it was the first time in my entire life I couldn’t compost1, and I still feel this little pang every time I put organic waste in the normal trash (can take the girl out of California…).
H
Scenic hikes. I have some summer travel planned that I anticipate will lead to some of my favorite hikes yet. And I love that this gives me an excuse to get the gear as I haven’t refreshed most of my hiking gear since I lived in SF.
I
Interior decorating. This summer, I’ll have more opportunities for an interior refresh. The last time I decorated my apartment was in COVID times, so I’m eager to curate a fresh space that feels more reflective of who I am now.
J
Jet lag. I have two international trips planned for the summer, and both will involve me doing tight turnarounds into another event upon my return. My mindset with jet lag has always been: fight sleep, take probiotics, and do jumping jacks.
K
Klaus time. It was a really busy winter and an even busier spring, which I’ve felt fortunate about in most ways. That said, it’s been hard to devote as much time to Klaus as I’ve wanted. But warmer weather begets more time outside, which means more enrichment for my best friend.
L
Library cards. Lifelong public library cardholder here. I recently took stock of how many physical books I own2, and realized I need to accept that some reads are meant for the library. Although I am an avid Libby user, I haven’t been to the physical library in a long time, and I also (finally) opened a Brooklyn Library card after living in Brooklyn for the past five years… My goal for the summer is to support the local library and spend more time there, like I did when I was a kid :)
M
Monday movie nights. Another card I carry is the Regal Unlimited Movie Pass. This summer, I plan to get my money’s worth. I’ve used it for the new “Mission Impossible” already, last night I saw “The Phoenician Scheme,” and next week I will have my ass SAT and ready for “Materialists.” Shortly after, there will be “How to Train Your Dragon,” and “Jurassic World Rebirth.” One thing about Universal—they keep us fed in the summer months.3
N
N/A beverages. There’s nothing I love more than when the weather switches from low-seventies to high-seventies and every friend hangout starts to feel like a bottle. But alas, we’re not 25 anymore. I’ve been finding that the N/A beverage scene is a good alternative for when it’s a weekday, or my body needs a break. And they’ve gotten really—dare I say—yummy? My favorite for summer is the Ghia Le Spritz, and I was pleasantly surprised by the Athletic Lemon Radler.
O
Outdoor seating. I had to hide for a lot of the spring due to allergies, so I will be outside as much as possible this summer. Strapped with mosquito repellent, of course.
P
Produce hauls at the Farmer’s Market. I’ve been rediscovering my love for the Farmer’s Markets. When my allergies were at their peak in early spring, I went to get local honey, and found myself buying so many other things, too—apples, ramps, leafy greens, peonies. Something about fresh produce sold outside hits different. And we’re almost to good tomato season, huzzah!
Q
Quiet mornings. I have always been a morning person. And I particularly love summer mornings. The sun is already up, and it’s already hot, but it’s the least hot you’ll be all day. I make myself an iced coffee, put on sunscreen (see “S”), and read my latest book. Klaus is at my feet sniffing the hot, summer air. Pure bliss.
R
Reading romance novels (and recession indicators). For a long time, I tried to only read “high brow” books. I’m so over that. Remember: everyone hates women and that’s why romance is a mocked category. I will shirk it no longer! Plus, when I read romance, it takes me a single sitting to finish them. Anything that encourages more reading is a good thing.
And my biggest recession indicator is how my patience on Libby has suddenly grown, because it keeps me from impulse buying every new beach read I want. Le sigh.
S
SPF 50+. Listen, I may have turned 31 this year but I haven’t played about sunscreen since I was 2. For those of us summer babies who grew up in the water, we have the Routine of Reapply down pact. My tried and true summer screen is this Neutrogena for face, that I’ve used since I was a kid, and this Coppertone for body. (Also love adding the Vacation Chardonnary Oil on top for a little extra sheen). I always prefer the “sport” screens because growing up swimming I liked that these didn’t melt or feel oily in the water. That holds true if you’re just out and about—these don’t feel greasy and they offer extra protection. For a chill city day, I usually do the Round Lab, Beauty of Joseon4, or the Trader Joe’s Supergoopdoop (Supergoop dupe).
T
The final season of “The Summer I Turned Pretty.” Loyal Floor Time readers know that I was raised on and stay in the Jenny Hanaissance, and I’m so eager/curious/nervous to see how the show wraps up the trilogy. The third book, for me, is dated and cringey—I hope that Jenny modernizes it in the way she has expertly done for “To All the Boys” and the previous seasons of TSITP. #TeamConrad
U
Underwater camera. I never developed my underwater film from my summer trips last year, but I loved having the camera and capturing adventure photos the old-school way. As I’m writing this, I put a reminder in my calendar to drop off my film at the developer. That way I can justify buying a new disposable before my first camping trip of the year later this month.
Also, did you know the new iPhones can withstand 6 meters underwater? I got a ton of great reef shots in the Philippines this way.
V
Tinto de Verano. One of my favorite summer drinks translates to “red wine of summer.” I first discovered it in Madrid in 2023—the best one being at Bodega la Ardosa, which I’ve definitely mentioned in Floor Time and to anyone else that will listen. It’s typical for the drink to be made with one part red wine and one part soda (as NYT Cooking has in their recipe—here’s a gift link for ya), but at Bodega they use vermut they carry on tap and light Spanish beer. However you make it, this is the drink you want at a happy hour al fresco (this, or the Lambrusco Spritz from the Wishbone Kitchen cookbook).
W
Wine bars. I believe it was the coolstuff newsletter that said: “While W-burg has its fair share of natural wine bars…are there ever too many to add to the repertoire?” Lately, I’ve been frequenting Rude Mouth, Lai Rai (try their rice wine from Vietnam, and grab a scoop of their rotating ice cream they make in-house—I tried the chrysanthemum this week and it was *chef’s kiss*), Babysips, Rhodora, and Plus de vin. I also checked out the newly launched summer-only popup by ex-Sauced people, Bascule. All the places I named have outdoor seating, so they’re ideal for summer.
X
X-treme sports (ok, so it’s a stretch—but you were gonna get a simple “xylophone” here otherwise). As a kid, my dad was very much a worry-wart (that’s where I inherited it from, probz). Extreme sports and risky activities weren’t a thing in my household. Sadly, as I grew up I surprised myself by becoming a bit of an adrenaline junkie. I went bungee jumping and LOVED it. I love a great roller coaster. And I picked up surfing in college, then snowboarding (ICYMI) last year. This year I’m doing a Europe trip with a group of avid mountain bikers. Unlike surfing and snowboarding, it’s not necessarily a sport I am interested in picking up, but I won’t knock anything until I try it.
Y
Yoga with Nora. Did you know that I’m a certified yoga instructor? I’ve been practicing consistently for the past 10 years, and when I moved to my current apartment, I found the best instructor I’ve had in a long time. Her name is Nora. I go to her class every week, and she’s been helping me find the fun in yoga again (there was a lull for a sec for sure).
Z
Zohran Mamdani. New Yorkers, we have an important election coming up this month. I’ll be ranking Zohran Mamdani first for mayor and:
Something I Thought of in the Shower
If Dakota Johnson picks that poor white man over ~*Pedro Pascal*~ I will let out a blood-curdling scream right there in the theatre
Something for Clarice
Hey! This newsletter is free and I intend to keep it that way. That said, if you love it and want to show your appreciation, buy me a coffee :)
Something Pretty
Thinking back to Palm Springs for Eli’s bachelor party. *Melancholic sigh*. California really is that girl.
By the way…I’m reading this.
On the topic of romance novels, I blew through the new Ali Hazelwood, Problematic Summer Romance. But I’ve been attempting to read more of the physical books I own so I can clear out my bookshelf a little. I also read Artemis by Andy Weir, and I started All Adults Here by Emma Straub.
And I’m watching this.
I have a lot of thoughts on “Sirens” that I might need to talk about in a bonus Floor Time. But aside from that, I’m aiming to start “Overcompensating” in the next week.
Thanks for reading this very long installment! Hope you get some good photosynthesizing time this weekend.
‘Til next time, summer babies. Your friend,
Clarice
Please don’t call me out here—obviously I can compost if I want to, but it’s a significantly higher lift to do so and I’m just a girl!!
Some people called me out when I did a book giveaway on my Instagram stories. I use the library, but I will never be someone who doesn’t keep physical books on a shelf in my house. Having a packed bookshelf is one of my biggest serotonin boosters!
It’s important to note they also make the movie of the fall because what do you mean the “Wicked For Good” trailer made me cry on three separate occasions and that was just the TRAILER!?
I hope readers of Floor Time are smart enough for this, but if you’re buying K beauty, DON’T for the love of god, buy it on Amazon. Get it at an actual K beauty online site or store.