Show & Tell 002: A Slow Down Summer
Note To Self: Become the kind of person who always has cold sun tea in the fridge.
At the start of the month, I like to create a mood-board to set the tone for the month’s upcoming newsletters. Nothing super lengthy but just some fun visuals to help inspire as I gather notes, share favorites, and follow whatever curiosity comes up. June’s theme? Slow Down for Summer. longer days, soft light, and permission to pause.
June always brings a shift in pace, after all it is summer break, the sun lingers longer, and suddenly everything feels like it's asking us to pause. This is the season of melting ice cream bars, bare feet in the grass, lazy mornings that bleed into slow afternoons. It’s also when I find myself fighting the urge to do more…when maybe the real work is doing less.
This month’s mood-board is full of golden light, sun-warmed objects, and reminders to stop and smell the roses. I’m leaning into imperfection, slow rituals, and just soaking up as much sunshine as possible!
Summer isn’t about abandoning ambition, just remembering that creativity needs space to breathe. We’re not machines meant to constantly be working. We’re people who bloom better when we’re not rushing.
A Few Notes from the Mood-board:
"Baguette Picnic"
Bread as an accessory, sun hat as a personality."Daisy Still Life"
The quiet drama of late afternoon light, I’ll take that with a side of afternoon journaling please."Beach bag packed and ready"
Sunscreen and beach towel check, the bag is packed and ready with all the “day by water” essentials."Fish Study"
A reminder to paint this summer, this little fish is perfection.
"Picture This"
I love these sweet frames with the colored matting, this is such a vibe."Bold Pool Tiles"
The kind of floor that makes you want to go barefoot. Sun-warmed and graphic."Peaches and Stripes"
The perfect summer breakfast, fruit, crusty bread, and the kind of tablecloth that deserves to be outside."Summer Essentials"
Cherries, sunscreen, a book, and a point-and-shoot camera. A love letter to slow afternoons."Dog Days Afloat"
A core memory I haven’t lived yet, just me, my dog, a sailboat, and a sunset.
Homework: Create one tiny ritual that invites slowness into your week—a walk without your phone, a morning spent barefoot, a pitcher of sun tea on the porch.
Extra credit if you leave a comment with your favorite sun tea recipe, do you add honey, sugar, lemon?? I’m curious because I just tried to make some and it actually didn’t turn out very well. If you’ve found something that works please share with the class!