My summer Recap, from sunflower fields to the beach

I spent my birthday sitting on the sand with a whole cake balanced on my knees, making a wish while the waves went about their business behind me. No, I am not telling you the wish. That is not how wishes work.

That is honestly how this entire summer went. Small, a little ridiculous, and so much better than I expected.

Anyone who has been following along this year knows I started January with a whole get back in shape plan. Then summer happened. So here is the full recap, gym slump included.

Starting the year strong, then taking two months off

I went at it hard for about six months. Strict dieting, counting my macros, getting scans done so I could actually see what was changing, and showing up in my garage gym on my Monday, Wednesday, Friday schedule like it was a job.

And it worked. I traded some fat for muscle, which was exactly the goal, and I was so proud of myself for sticking with something that long.

Then the last two months happened. I fell off. I went to the beach instead. I ate the fair food. Sue me.

I am not even mad about it. I needed a summer. But I am back in the garage now, and the plan is one more focused stretch until Thanksgiving, then I switch over to a building phase so I can go all in on leg day through the winter. Hip thrusts, I am coming for you.

Sunflower fields, the fair and a lot of slow beach days

The beach got most of me this summer. I would drive out to film something for my Instagram and then just stay. Sit in the sound of the waves for another hour. Get sand into absolutely everything. Go home happy.

My friend and I also went out to a sunflower field and got to pick our own, which I did not know was a thing I needed until I was standing in the middle of a row of them holding a metal bucket like a person in a movie.

A few weeks later the two of us went to the OC Fair, which was exactly as loud and sunny and overpriced as a fair is supposed to be. I wore a cowboy hat. I stand by it.

I made it to Disney a few times too. Rode everything, ate tacos every single visit, because tacos are basically the only thing there my allergies will let me have. Truly the most gluten free dairy free Disney experience available to mankind. I have made peace with it. The tacos are good.

The concert I kept telling myself I would catch next time

My favorite thing I did all summer, by a mile, was the Ariana Grande Eternal Sunshine Tour.

Here is the backstory. The last time she toured I was working a minimum wage job with no money to spare, and I told myself it was fine, I would catch the next one. The next one did not come. Years went by. So when this tour got announced I did not think about it for even a second, I just bought the ticket and paid an amount I am not going to type out loud.

Worth it. Every single dollar.

She played basically every song I have had on repeat since high school, the dancing was unreal, and I stood there grinning like a little kid the whole night. I dressed as her first outfit from the boy is mine video, black dress over a white puff sleeve top, the glasses, the heels, all of it. I was convinced nobody would get it and then about four people screamed at me in line. Best night.

Turning the dog park into a five day a week habit

The thing I am actually proudest of is boring. My dogs were getting their regular walks and maybe one park trip a week, and at some point this summer I looked at them and thought, that is not enough.

So I bumped it up to four or five park visits a week.

The difference was immediate. They are happier, they are tired in the best possible way, and they now flop on the floor for most of the afternoon instead of launching themselves through the middle of whatever I am filming. Turns out the fix for chaotic dogs was just more running. Who knew.

If you are new around here, there is a little more about me and my whole zoo on the homepage.

Now I am sitting here with my fall outfits already lined up, which is extremely on brand for me, and I feel weirdly ready for the slow cozy part of the year.

What was your best thing this summer? Come tell me on Instagram @caileylonnie or TikTok at @cailey_lonnie, I want to hear it 🥰