Last updated on December 27th, 2021 at 11:26 pm

Are you impatiently waiting for summer like me? Are you over your winter wardrobe and dreary days? Living in Michigan, it sometimes feels like we wait longer than most for summer to arrive.  However, I find that there’s lot of things that you can do right now to bridge the gap between spring and summer, no matter where you live. And if you take the time to do them now, it just might make waiting for summer a little more fun and rewarding.

So, here’s my top 12 things to do and buy while waiting for summer:
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12. Add a sweater or sweatshirt in summer colors to your wardrobe. 
I think of these styles as the best of both worlds.  You can still stay warm, but at the same time feel like your wardrobe is heading into summer.  I have both of the tops below and it’s a perfect time to wear them.

11. Find a cute umbrella for the rainy days ahead.
You know how this goes. It’s the first rainy day and you are trying to remember where you last saw your umbrella. Is it in the closet? Maybe the car? So it’s the perfect excuse to pick up a cute and fun new one. They are pretty inexpensive and you’re bound to lose one at some point anyway. I love bubble umbrellas because you can stay dry and see at the same time! If you want something a little more traditional and compact, then I recommend this leopard print umbrella. It has an inverted closure to keep you dry!

10. Just like the umbrella, find some cute new rain boots!
You can always count on Target to have some cute options and here are a couple of my favorites. I really love lavender, so I was drawn to these mid-calf rain boots, they’re so cute! I also really liked these “bootie” rain boots, especially in the black patent.

9. Start testing out bronzers/self-tanners now.  
If you’re like me, the first day that you wear a dress or shorts, you start cursing yourself because you didn’t spend enough time using a bronzer or self-tanner. And now you have to venture out with your winter white legs.  Since no one wants that, Jen and I are working on a “self-tanner compare” now and we’ll share the results as soon as they are in.  But, in the meantime, here are a couple of suggestions at two different price levels:
St. Tropez Classic Bronzing Mousse – $32.00 on sephora.com
Jergens Natural Glow Self Tanner – $7.82 on amazon.com (as of 4/30/21)

8. Avoid getting caught on that first warm day with non-pedicured feet.  
Let’s be honest, we all tend to get a little lax during the winter with our toes.  We just published a detailed post on DIY Pedicures which will walk you through how to get your feet back into summer shape. It’s not too soon to start!

7. Start researching the flowers you may want to plant this year.  
This summer you still may not feel comfortable spending a lot of time in a greenhouse reading those little cards about “sunlight needed” and all that. It takes a lot of time. So, instead, start researching flowers now and be ready to shop when you visit the store.   If you do that, you’ll be able to go to the nursery with confidence and pick up exactly what you need.  You might even discover something new! Here is a great article from HGTV that you may find helpful: HGTV.com article link.

6. Do some digging for new summer recipes. 
Have you always wanted to make fresh-squeezed lemonade or homemade sangria but ran out of time to find the perfect recipe?  You can remedy that by searching for new recipes now that sound intriguing and start experimenting. Here’s a great recipe entitled “Best Lemonade Ever” from allrecipes.com that I started making last year.  The recipe is a little bit of work, but it’s delicious.  Also, make your ingredient list now so when it’s time to go to the store, you can just grab it and go.

5. Shop for summer dishes and or glassware.  
Along with the homemade lemonade I started making last year, I also found an adorable lemonade set.  I find that you have to purchase these items early in the season to get “first dibs” on what’s available.  Waiting for summer in this case might be too late. This set is similar to what I purchased last year:

4. Find a cute straw bag that you can use all summer 
Straw bags tend to sell out pretty quickly. I’ve listed a traditional choice and a fun choice.  There are lots of options if you want something more colorful and trendy or if you want to stick with a classic!

3. Shop for a classic trench coat if you don’t already have one. 
NY & Company has great trench coats every season. What I love is that they always offer them in fun colors. Fun colors like green, red, olive and bright blue. I own a light pink one that I must have gotten ten years ago and I am still wearing it.  It’s a classic that will always be in style. 

2. Start editing or building your summer playlist.
Be ready for those long walks, runs or bike rides.  You can even start investigating podcasts or audio books that you know you’ll want to listen to.  For me personally, I like to listen to autobiographies or memoirs.  It’s nice to listen to someone tell their own story.  If you’re of a “certain age” like me, the song “Sunday Drive” by Brett Eldredge will probably bring back some memories.  Enjoy the video below and I apologize in advance if it makes you shed a tear. I had a hard time keeping it together the first time I watched it.

And #1: “Last but not least”, LET’S STAY POSITIVE! 
I was originally going to write “clean out your closet and eliminate “the Covid 19” clothes that don’t fit.  We all have them and we know it. We don’t need to dwell on it.  So instead, let’s stay positive and look forward to brighter days ahead. And wear more pink sweaters!

Do you have any traditional tasks or purchases that you typically do every year at this time? Let us know in the comments below. And, if you missed our article on transitional shoes, you should check that out too. We’ve got some shoe recommendations that also help while you’re waiting for summer.