Summer is the ideal time to make the most of family time. Once fall begins, planning gatherings gets a bit more complicated. So make August your opportunity to enjoy the timeless spirit of summer by organizing some fun, simple, and bright ways to savor these beautiful days with the ones who matter most. 

On a personal note, we’re getting excited about upcoming travel over the next few months! An injury brought unexpected challenges in July, but with recovery well underway, at partager la joie we’re feeling positive, looking toward the brighter side, and ready for all the new experiences ahead! 

Inspirations for Your Everyday 

Watch the Sunrise

This is something we try to remember to do often, to celebrate the brand new day. Go solo or grab a friend, venture out to a favorite spot (maybe a spectacular viewpoint, maybe your own backyard), and relish the marvel of the sun rising. Make sure to take lots of pictures to share the joy with those sleepy-heads who may have missed it :) If you follow us on Instagram, tag us in your stories or posts to share your magic moment with the whole plj community.

Let Nature Nourish Your Day

Spending time outdoors every day has significant positive benefits for all of us. Go for a morning run or walk, read or catch up on work in your outdoor space, or tend to your flower garden—whatever you choose to do, spending time in nature never fails to calm and reset your nervous system. If you’ve been following us for very long, you know we are inspired by travel and the sea. The carefree feeling of salty air, clear blue water, visiting new places, summer sunsets, walking along the beach, and learning about new cultures refreshes us, encourages us to slow down, and puts life in perspective. That being said, we need to create ways to embrace our sense of calm and well-being wherever we may be in our daily lives. This summer, take a moment to reflect on what it is that brings you calm and balance. Capture it—and keep it in your daily toolbox so that when life gets hectic, you’ll know how to unwind, breathe, center yourself, and move forward with positivity.

Make Room for Mindfulness

Another word for that sense of calm we just mentioned is mindfulness. The ability to center ourselves and find a calm space within is so empowering. Although acquiring this skill takes continual practice, the ability to focus and recenter on your inner strength will greatly help you to find balance in everyday life. This inner strength also provides you with the resources you need to take care of yourself in stressful situations.

Let’s begin with a mindfulness exercise we love. Take a few quiet moments to imagine a busy day or how you feel when your plans are disrupted for some reason. Observe what emotions arise as you take yourself through a stressful experience. What steps would help you to keep from reacting too quickly? Give yourself some space and the time to process and formulate your thoughts. Once you feel grounded in your thoughts, you could put your initial reaction or plan into place. It’s so important for us to think before we react. 

Practicing mindfulness will serve you well in everyday life, and especially when you are faced with situations that are difficult. Of course this ability will be different for everyone—but taking the time to organize your thoughts, plans, and ambitions creates the ability for you to feel more collected. Thinking about what it is that helps you calm your mind and then calling on this thing—it could be a place, a memory, a person, an ambiance—in a moment of stress is aptly called resourcing. 

In addition to inner resourcing, surrounding ourselves with people we love and relying on those who support us is crucial. When we hold those who are dear to us close, we mustn’t forget to include ourselves! Be kind to yourself and give yourself the support you need. Making time for meaningful connection with nature and loved ones. Taking good care of ourselves and others will not only foster new growth, but allow us to be the best version of ourselves and to be fully present in the moments we enjoy. 

Healthy Living

At partager la joie we believe that every day is a great time to think about how to incorporate some of the healthy lifestyle habits we’ve cultivated over the summer, and how to carry them forward. These habits include eating an abundance of fresh, colorful, seasonal produce and lean proteins, avoiding processed foods and excess sugar, and enjoying both leisure time and plenty of physical activity. Yoga is a particularly beautiful practice because it works and strengthens our body while centering and calming our mind. Encourage those around you to adopt healthy habits too, and prioritize wellness and mindful moments throughout your day. Living a healthy lifestyle is the best way to take good care of yourself and your family today and for years to come.

Conscious eating, rest, and exercise are all important components of a healthy lifestyle, but just as essential to our well-being are positivity and connection with others. Spending time with the people you love and creating moments to cherish is definitely a win-win! 

If all this sounds a little overwhelming, you’re not alone. We all feel like we could do better at mindfulness, being present and connected, and healthy living. But remember, anytime is a good time to start taking small steps in a positive direction toward a balanced lifestyle. We promise you’ll see a difference—a feeling that refreshes and nourishes you from within. We’re here to inspire you to start, reset, or enhance your healthy lifestyle. No matter what our age, we’re not getting any younger—but it’s never too soon to choose to live the best life we can, and to enjoy it along the way!

Summer Reading List

We enjoy reading all year round, but summer is the time when traditionally, we give ourselves a little extra time to hit the books—because wherever we are, summertime hopefully means more leisure time. Beach reads, poolside reads, forest clearing reads, lawnchair in the shade reads… wherever you go this summer, a book is a delightful way to relax and expand your mind. We thought it would be fun to share our favorite summer reads here. Tag us on Instagram with your own favorites (and favorite summer reading locations) to join the conversation; we’d love to know what you’re reading too!

On our list this month:

—Women and Children First by Alina Grabowski

—Real Americans by Rachel Khong

—All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker

—The Paris Wife by Paula McLain

—Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver

Simply Obsessed with Fresh

Here are are our favorite tips to incorporating a healthy everyday approach to eating all summer long and beyond:

—Prepare foods that are locally sourced. Visit local markets and farms and experience the joy of supporting local small farmers.

–– Pick your own seasonal fruit.

—Keep your ingredient list simple.

—Make cooking an artful experience to share with loved ones. 

—Do a little research about regional wines and pair one with your menu. 

—Share what you’ve learned about local cuisine and wine with your guests, and everyone will have a fabulous and memorable experience.

—Dine al fresco at a candlelit table and delight in the moment! 

August Epicure

Summer’s peak is a wonderful opportunity to relish the abundance of beautiful fresh produce available. We’re in love with lemons this summer—incorporating them into summer pastas and making them into a creamy frozen dessert. And the glorious summer tomato takes center stage in August at plj. Our all-time summer fave is still a local tomato salad with mozzarella, extra-virgin olive oil, sea salt, and basil—a simple dish that never fails to hit the spot when it’s hot outside. We also can’t get enough of our roasted tomato and burrata pasta dish with fresh herbs. On our epicure you’ll find a Strawberry Peach Frosé, Seafood Paella, Italian pastas, fresh summer salads, and a few French specialties to celebrate the 2024 Jeux Olympics in Paris!

Peach and Tomato Salad with Mozzarella and Parma Ham

Summer Gazpacho

Simply Roasted Tomato Pasta with Burrata 

Lemony Parmesan Chopped Salad

Garden Herb Pasta Salad

Seafood Paella 

Salmon Niçoise Salad

Bouillabaisse

Panzanella

Grilled Vegetables

Easy Sheet-Pan Eggplant Parmesan

Orange Coconut Creamsicles

Lemon Sorbet

Strawberry Peach Frosé

Style a Summer Table 

This summer we’re all about setting simple but elevated outdoor tables with various cotton and linen table coverings and napkins. Curate a comfy, chic vibe with various printed, patterned, and striped tablecloths and napkins with woven accents. Personalize your table with your favorite glassware, plus mini lamps—or create a canopy effect with string lights. Keep your design light and summery. Outdoor dining is meant to be relaxed, especially for you as the host, and to compliment nature’s beautiful surroundings.

Arrange Summer Blooms

High summer sunbursts come in the form of cosmos, dahlias, lilies—and of course those beautiful hydrangeas. Pick and arrange summer’s beautiful blooms for any occasion. Fill a dramatic vessel that highlights the textiles on your table, or keep it simple by grouping smaller containers filled with wildflowers or a single bloom in an artful bud vase. With so many beautiful flowers in season, personalize your own summer in a bottle… et voilà!

Summer Essentials Edit

While supplies last, many of our summer faves are on sale, so take advantage and shop soon. We’ve stocked the looks we crave for a carefree wardrobe in warm weather: gauzy beach pants and shorts, light and airy florals, flowing white cotton tops, dresses, and raffia beach totes, earrings, and slides. 

Our sea salt candle is the scent of the summer! Lavender and rose bath salts, oils, and mists and our sleep set are the highlights of our wellness collection. Woven table accessories, fresh kitchen essentials, patterned and printed tablecloths and napkins, beautiful olive wood serving pieces, and lightweight throw blankets are perfect additions for a curated summer home.

Love your Everyday

Here are our mindfulness reminders to carry you through the rest of summer and beyond... Slow down and savor the moment. Find your calm and practice your resourcing. Take good care of yourself. Find connections with those you love the most. Let nature inspire you. Watch the sunrise. Appreciate life's little moments. Be silly and lighthearted. Express gratitude. Surround yourself with people who love you. Always seek inspiration and connection. Bring out the best in others, and surround yourself with those who bring out your own best self.

Make time to find serenity in nature. Gather often with the people who matter to you. Fill each day with family, friends, adventure, fun and meaningful connection—where else would you rather be? Living simply and being present with ourselves and others helps us find fulfillment in our everyday lives. Share the joy of summer, relish these moments, be grateful for those you hold dear—tell them how much they mean to you. Let the summer sunlight glow within you!