June Fixations: bucket hats, deck reading, and pickled onions

what a combo!

Jun 29, 2025

Goodness gracious where has the month of June gone? I know it’s August that slipped away like a bottle of wine, but the same could be said about June. With July on the horizon I’m looking at my local Chicago activity guide for summer bucket list inspo. Top of my list: enjoying neighborhood movies in the park and Friday Morning Swim Club (any Chicago friends want to join??)

June has been filled with street festivals, farmers markets, and lots of time spent on the deck. I am in full summer mode and couldn’t be happier. I could go on, but let’s get into my monthly fixations!

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Reading on the deck

If I could spend all day on our deck I would. In fact, as I’m writing this post I’m sitting on our back deck avoiding the midday sun in the front. What can I say I’m an outdoor cat. There’s something so special about reading outside and being able to look at my flower box or stare off at the trees/clouds while daydreaming about small-towns. Weather permitting, I believe all reading in the summer should be done outdoors.

Summer Coded Jewelry

With less layers to play around with in the summer, I like to add interest to my outfits with more ‘statement’ jewelry. I’ve been loving the charm necklace I made on my birthday at Beadniks, my Lié Studios red carnelian eBay dupe, or the coastal shell earrings I found on Etsy mentioned in last weeks newsletter.

And in case you want to twin with the queen of Beach Reads herself, Emily Henry, check-out Bead Shop (I’m personally obsessed with this fruit necklace).

A flattering hat shape

For those of us who don’t look chic in a baseball hat. Do not sleep on the bucket hat life. I picked one up on my honeymoon last year and haven’t looked back. It compliments my face shape and tbh gives more sun protection than a baseball hat. I’m eyeing the Lack of Color Inca bucket hat but waiting to find it second hand for less. It’s giving Nancy Meyers gardening vibes.

Another easy weeknight meal for the books.

Love a taco Tuesday but feeling uninspired? Might I recommend fish finger tacos. A surprisingly simple, yet delicious, weeknight meal to whip up when you’re craving fish tacos from your favorite restaurant. All you need is some frozen fish fingers, taco seasoning, tortillas, and toppings of your choosing! I made our favorite mango salsa and dinner was sorted. This is an excellent I can’t be bothered to think of what to cook recipe but maybe save it for a non-ninety degree day.

Pickled Red Onions on Everything

Toss them on a sandwich, burger, toast, or salad for some much needed zing and some good gut benefits to boot. They’re also incredibly easy to make:

Thinly slice a red onion
Place them in a jar
Fill the jar with ~ 1/3 with vinegar of choice and the rest with water
Add ~ 1/2 teaspoon salt and sugar
Shake and store in the fridge for ~ a week (trust me you’ll go through them faster)

Watch List

When I’d rather be outside on a walk or sitting on a patio grabbing a bite with friends (or see above for reading) TV shows take the back burner in the summer. I’ve been prepping for season three of The Summer I Turned Pretty as mentioned in last weeks newsletter and loving every sun-baked second of it.
In between rewatches my hubby and I finally finished You—I found the ending extremely satisfying and thought it was a good way to close out the series. We also binged The Defenders in our journey to watch the old Netflix Daredevil series and I loved having a small Avengers like crew together!
I also saw The Materialists with a friend in theaters. While I adore Dakota Johnson as a person/style icon, her acting fell flat and thought she had better chemistry on the press tour with both Pascal and Evans. Not what I thought this one was going to be :/ I have heard many others say Past Lives was lightyears better.

A few more links before we go

🔍 What the heck is going on with Walton Goggins and Aimee Lou Reed?

💳 Please leave our credit card points out of this.

👩🏻‍🌾 Move over Emma Thompson, there’s a new Elinor Dashwood on the scene.

📚 Reese’s Book Club has a new podcast, Bookmarked.

That’s it for me. What were you hyper fixated on in June?! Drop a note in the comments. And if you liked this post please like, share, comment, do all the things—it means so much 🤎