Happy happy Friday, friends! Is it just me, or do the weeks seems to go in slow motion during the summer? I spend the whole work week planning for epic weekend adventures and the rest of the time going through my to-do list and hoping for it to hit 6PM. Thankfully summer Friday’s are in full gear these days, and I have a very exciting weekend to look forward too!

After a few months of searching, my boyfriend bought a new condo {woot woot!!!} so I’m planning to spend the afternoon hoisting light pillows up a few flights of stairs. Kidding…but hopefully I won’t be held responsible for hauling anything too heavy 😉 Luckily he has some pretty awesome friends who are easily lured by pizza and free beer, so I’m sure he’ll be moved in sooner than later! I’m also planning to swing by a weekend BBQ at my friend Sarah’s, go to a conference for a few hours with one of my freelance clients, see Cait since she’s coming back to Chicago for the weekend (yay!) and hopefully getting a little work done in between 🙂 The work has been kinda put to the back burner lately in favor of summer adventures, so please cross your fingers for me that the latter actually happens.

In other news, I wanted to share a few of my new favorite things to do on the weekends just in case you’re looking for a little inspiration before kicking things off! And since I’m always looking to add to my growing list, so please let me know your faves too!

1. Go to the local Farmer’s Market:

Now that summer’s officially here, farmer’s market season is on every weekend! There are a ton of great ones in Chicago, but I’m a big fan of Green City Market in Lincoln Park on Saturday mornings {especially when it means that I can walk over and get some coffee/donuts on the way!}. I’ve been trying to buy more fruits and veggies that are in season, while also trying new ingredients I haven’t had before {speaking of, did anyone else know that garlic scapes are delicious?} and it’s been a fun little adventure each weekend.

2. Try a new recipe {both for dinner, and a cocktail!}:

Every Sunday I’ve been trying to make a big dinner with my boyfriend {which mostly involves me chopping up a few things and him doing the actual cooking}, with ingredients we picked up from the farmer’s market the day before. Since I usually have a bad case of the Sunday scaries, I also like whipping up a new cocktail recipe to keep the fun of the weekend going a little longer – and we recently made these delicious cucumber lime gimlets out of Hendrick’s gin we got from Drizly, yum!

3. Explore a new neighborhood in your city:

One of the many things I love about Chicago is that there are so many neighborhoods to explore, and I’ve been trying to add a least one new neighborhood to my itinerary every month! Before the end of June, I’m hoping to swing by Ukrainian Village since I’ve heard so many amazing things about the restaurants and bars/outdoor patios {and because you can never try enough cocktails, right?}

4. Discover something new at a local record store/book store:

Every time I go to a local book store or record shop I think, “Why do I not do this every weekend?” They’re the perfect place to unwind and find a little inspiration {which is always needed on the weekends!} while giving a little love to your favorite local spot. Reckless Records has an amazing collection of records and CDs, and you can easily get swept away for hours discovering new artists and re-discovering your favorite throw-back bands, which always makes for an entertaining afternoon.

5. Play tourist in your own city:

Who says you have to wait for visitors to play tourist in your own city? When I first moved to Chicago, I tried to do all the touristy things I’d been dreaming of – from taking selfies in front of the bean to exploring every architectural tour I could book. As the years have gone by, I find myself spending more relaxing weekends in Lincoln Park vs. exploring everything downtown where everyone is during the summer. This summer, I’ve been adding a few more touristy things to my itinerary, and it’s actually been pretty nice to rediscover a few more things I love about Chicago – from Millennium Park to the River Walk and even Michigan Avenue.

6. Clean out your closet:

Okay, so maybe save this one for a rainy weekend, but you’ll be surprised how incredibly satisfying it is to clean out your closet and organize your life! My mom and her best friend came to visit a few weekends back and we went through everything in my apartment, which took nearly the whole weekend. While it wasn’t the craziest weekend I’ve ever had, it made me feel so much better to organize my closets, get rid of things I don’t totally love and feel a little more at ease by the fact that my apartment is much more put together – and that’s a feeling that lasts even longer than the weekend!

Whatever you decide to do this weekend, make sure it’s a good one! And if you have any exciting weekend plans, I’d love to hear them too 🙂 xx