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It’s Not Too Late To Make The Ultimate Summer Bucket List
Depending on where you live and your perspective on time, we’re slowly approaching the halfway mark of the summer. This time during the season presents a unique opportunity to not only reflect on all the memories that you’ve already encapsulated but also take inventory of how you’d like to spend the remaining days ahead.
Summer bucket lists have long been a staple tool to document our desired adventures and keep track of lasting memories that have marked our summer days. And while most people create their bucket list before summer gets into full swing, it's never too late to create a list to put yourself on the road to making the most of what’s left in the season offerings.
Whether you've been caught up in the hustle and bustle of life or simply looking for some inspiration, a mid-summer bucket list can infuse your remaining days with spontaneity and intentional joy — since the spirit of adventure knows no time constraints or time limits.
Before diving into creating your mid-summer bucket list, it’s always best to have a moment to reflect on the experiences you've already had this season. Sometimes when we live in a city that gets a lot of action with concerts, festivals, and everything in between, it can be overwhelming to decide what it is you actually want to put your energy into going to. But when you take time to recall the moments that brought you joy and the nights that made your heart race (in a good way), they can give you the foundation for your future summer shenanigans.
Just because the calendar says the summer days are winding down doesn’t mean you can’t still embrace the wonder of trying new things and a sense of excitement for the unexpected fun that lies ahead. As long as you have warmth and extended sunlight at your disposal, it's never too late to start your summer checklist, and to get you started, we’re providing you with all the inspiration you need to create one that reflects your unique desires.
1.Beach Day with Friends:
Spend a day at the beach with your closest girlfriends, soaking up the sun, bronzing up your melanin, and indulging in a refreshing tipsy drink (or two).
2.Take A Road Trip Adventure:
Plan a spontaneous road trip to explore nearby towns, hidden gems, and breathtaking landscapes. Embrace the freedom of the open road and create unforgettable memories along the way.
3.Get Aquatic With A New Water Sport:
Whether it's paddleboarding, surfing, or kayaking, challenge yourself to learn a new water sport and experience the thrill of riding the waves.
4.Take Your Workout Outside:
Find a serene spot in nature or a group outdoor class to rejuvenate your mind and body while connecting with the beauty of the outdoors.
5.See Your Favorite Artist In Concert:
Something about summer ‘23 has all our favs touring, which is perfect for us: the fans! Grab your tickets and get lost in the sounds of your most-loved tunes, you won’t regret it.
6.Outdoor Movie Night:
There’s nothing like watching the sunset while a classic rom-com is playing in the background. Hit the nearest rooftop and organize a cozy outdoor movie night with friends, complete with blankets and popcorn — extra points if you get a good cry in.
7.Attend A Farmer's Market:
Explore a local farmer's market, supporting local businesses while discovering fresh produce, handmade crafts, and unique artisanal products.
8.Try Trendy Summer Recipes:
With the TikTok kitchen at our disposal, there’s always room to experiment with refreshing and Instagram-worthy summer recipes. From colorful smoothie bowls to homemade popsicles and fresh salads, you can keep your meals light and cute.
9.Switch Up Your Appearance:
Maybe you’ve been eyeing a hair color or a curly cut on your Pinterest mood board. Whatever your flavor, summer is the perfect time to test out a new look and switch your style up.
10.Pick Up A Book:
Remember when we used to read for fun? We do too! For book recommendations, check out our Good Reads section and our series, "I Read It So You Don't Have To," by clicking here and here. Why not use the summer to tap into your inner bookworm?
11.Go For A Sunset Bike Ride:
There’s one thing to see the city on foot. There’s a whole other thing to see it on a breezy route while biking. Take the long track while taking in the scenery of your neighborhood and city.
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Featured image by Luis Alvarez/Getty Images
Aley Arion is a writer and digital storyteller from the South, currently living in sunny Los Angeles. Her site, yagirlaley.com, serves as a digital diary to document personal essays, cultural commentary, and her insights into the Black Millennial experience. Follow her at @yagirlaley on all platforms!
How This New Bond Repair Line Transformed One Mother's Postpartum Shedding Into The Ultimate Curl Comeback
This article is in partnership with SheaMoisture
For Crystal Obasanya, her wash day woes came shortly after her son did. The beauty and lifestyle content creator had been natural for years, but during postpartum, she quickly learned about one reality many mothers can relate to experiencing: postpartum hair loss. “Sis had thinning hair. Sis had split ends,” she shared about her hair changes in a Reel via xoNecole.
Over a year into her postpartum journey, Crystal explained she also had dry, brittle hair, noting that keeping it hydrated before pregnancy had already been “a task.” The 4C natural recalled going from thick hair during pregnancy to a thin hairline due to postpartum shedding as “devastating.” When it came to strengthening and revitalizing her hair, the new SheaMoisture Bond Repair Collection was just the thing she needed to elevate her damaged coils to revive and thrive status and get them poppin' again.
SheaMoisture is providing us with the cheat code for transforming dry and damaged strands into thriving and deeply nourished crowns. By unveiling their 4-step hair system, the SheaMoisture Bond Repair Collection is equipping you with the tools to reverse signs of hair damage caused by protective styling, heat, and color and is uniquely formulated for Type 3 and 4 hair textures.
The haircare system revives damaged natural hair by repairing and rebuilding broken hair bonds through a game-changing combination of HydroPlex Technology and AminoBlend Complex, a unique blend of fortifying amino acids formulated specifically for curly and coily hair. Scientifically proven to reduce breakage by 84% and make your hair six times stronger (vs. non-conditioning shampoo), the collection infuses your hair with the nourishment it craves and the strength it deserves.
All five products of the SheaMoisture Bond Collection are infused with natural strengthening ingredients like Amla Oil and fair-trade shea butter. The collection consists of the 4-step breakage-fighting Bond Repair system, as well as the Bonding Oil.
“When trying it out, I quickly noticed that my hair felt revived and renewed, and my curls were so hydrated,” Crystal said while using the Amla-infused Bond Repair Leave-In Conditioner. “I also felt my hair strands were stronger.” So much so that the influencer felt brave enough to get her hair braided shortly thereafter. “I can definitely say that I will be keeping it in my hair wash routine,” she added in the caption of her Reel about her positive experience using the products.
SheaMoisture Bond Repair Collection is making bond-building a key player in your wash day routines and the purveyor of life for thirsty manes. Because who doesn't want stronger, shinier, happier hair?
Step One: Bond Repair Collection Shampoo
Rejuvenate your hair with SheaMoisture Bond Repair Shampoo, your go-to solution for luscious locks. Packed with hella hydration power, this shampoo adds moisture by 60% while removing buildup without stripping your strands. This shampoo gently cleanses impurities while significantly enhancing shine, smoothness, and softness.
The Bond Repair Collection Shampoo is the first step in the 4-step Bond Repair system, all of which are powered by the uniquely formulated AminoBlend, and HydroPlex, SheaMoisture’s technology that rebuilds hair strength at its core.
Step Two: Bond Repair Collection Conditioner
Tailored to repair styling damage, this creamy conditioner locks in 12x more moisture than standard non-conditioning shampoos, boosting damaged hair strength by 1.5x with significantly less breakage. The creamy SheaMoisture Bond Repair Collection Conditioner deeply hydrates, enhances manageability, and leaves your hair looking healthier and shinier.
Step Three: Bond Repair Collection Masque
This Ultra Moisturizing reparative masque is a moisture-rich game-changer for those dealing with the aftermath of hair damage caused by styling. The SheaMoisture Bond Repair Collection Masque delivers 13 times more moisture compared to non-conditioning shampoos, ensuring your hair feels nourished and soft. Designed to repair and rejuvenate, this masque significantly strengthens damaged hair — making it twice as strong while reducing breakage.
Step Four: Bond Repair Collection Leave-In Conditioner
Elevate your curl game with SheaMoisture’s Bond Repair Collection Leave-In Conditioner. Lightweight and hydrating, the Bond Repair Leave-In Conditioner provides 12x more moisture than non-conditioning shampoos and tames frizz with 24-hour humidity control. Designed to define curls and coils, the leave-in conditioner enhances softness and shine allowing you to detangle effortlessly.
Bonding Oil
The SheaMoisture Bond Repair Collection Bonding Oil is a multitasking all-in-one formula that acts as a heat protectant and provides the hair with moisture, strength, shine, damage protection, and intense nourishment. This lightweight oil not only offers 24-hour frizz and humidity control but also fortifies your tresses, making them up to 5 times stronger with significantly less breakage.
Featured image courtesy
Looking for ways to level up your solo sex sessions or your partnered sex play? Entering the wonderful world of arousal oils might be exactly what the doctor ordered. As its name suggests, arousal oil arouses. And they might very well be the pleasurable vessel through which your mind-blowing orgasms can be beckoned. Specifically, arousal oils are a pleasure-enhancing sex lubricant intended to increase the sensitivity to your nipples, your vulva, or your clitoris, just to start.
With an ingredient list that can include the likes of CBD, ashwagandha, and essential oils, arousal oils act as an aphrodisiac in a bottle, maximizing intensity and heightening the levels of pleasure you feel, thereby making your climax that much more attainable.
Keep reading for our selection of some of the best arousal oils in the game right now.
Bloomi Luxe Arousal Oil
Described as a "sensual pleasure oil," the Luxe Arousal Oil by Bloomi is clean with plant-derived organic ingredients. With 2-4 pumps, a gentle massage with this oil-based intimacy oil is formulated to intensify pleasure to your clitoris, your vulva, your thighs, or anywhere else you care to use it, before and during the act.
Foria Awaken Arousal Oil
Not only do reviewers rave about the "incredible o's" from Awaken Arousal Oil, but this best-seller is also known for its sensuous aroma, slip, and feel. With the uncanny ability to enhance sensations, users of the product have reported reinvigorated orgasms and renewed sex lives. And all we have to say is, say less.
Mood Maker Pleasure-Enhancing Intimacy Oil for Couples
Amazon
The Mood Maker had us at hello. Christina Aguilera's sex oil is where luxury and intimacy meet. Thanks to the relaxation facilitated by magic mushrooms and pleasure-enhancing adaptogens, the Mood Maker lays the groundwork for easeful foreplay, sex, and even an encore. With its texture like silk and warm scent, the oil effortlessly sets the perfect mood for pleasure play and allows your body to follow suit.
Lure Deluxe Intimacy Oil
Sultry, clean, and moisturizing are the cornerstones of this intimacy oil. The oil is formulated with organic ingredients like MCT coconut oil and CBD, so there is no need to worry about throwing off your pH balance or leaving behind a sticky residue when using it for intimate moments. The silky texture provides a sensual slip that is all gas no brakes, creating a slip n' slide glide during partner play, as well as solo play.
Bonus points: since it's all-natural, it's also oral-friendly. So Deluxe Intimacy Oil is queening-approved.
Green Compass Intimacy Oil
Green Compass
Entice and awaken your pleasure and your senses with the Intimacy Oil by Green Compass. An intimacy oil made for every body, this oil is fragrance-free, paraben-free, and silicone-free and formulated with plant-based and organic ingredients. With ingredients like organic hemp flower extract, coconut oil, and jojoba oil, the pleasure felt and experienced in intimate areas becomes even more intense upon application.
FOCL CBD Arousal Oil
Loved by users for its "perfect texture," its "warm wonderful feeling," and the fact that it's "non-irritating," the CBD Arousal Oil by FOCL is definitely worthy of a spot in your tox boy. Like other CBD oils, the hemp-derived product is said to ease tension and promote blood flow, which are major keys to enhancing and maximizing your sexual pleasure.
Sensuva On Arousal Oil
Amazon
Looks like we saved the best for last. Available in Lite, Original, and Ultra to give you the ability to choose the intensity that suits your intimate moments best, the On Arousal Oil by Sensuva is said to be one of the most powerful arousal oils on the market with good reason. With a "unique, buzzing vibration sensation on the clitoris," in 1-2 drops, On Arousal delivers more sensation during sex, helps women achieve orgasms quicker and more intensely, and can also help curb any issues with vaginal dryness.
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Featured image by Getty Images