How was your summer? Great, we hope! Alas, we’re now currently enjoying the last lazy, hazy days of summer before it’s back to chilly mornings, the nights starting to close in and 30 denier tights. But that doesn’t mean that we can’t squeeze the last drops out of sunshine, longer days and warmth right now!

Here’s some of our favourite ideas for ticking off that bucket list…

• Have one last summer garden party - grab the kids paddling pool, fire up the BBQ, get some drinks on ice and let your hair down! It’ll be a while until the flip flops are back out, so paint those toenails a bright summary pink and show them off.
• Book a long weekend away - if finances allow, get yourself away for a couple of days of staycationing. Camping, in a caravan or go all out in a shepherds hut with a wood fired hot tub - whatever you do, take a blanket and spend an evening lying on the grass looking up at the clear night sky.
• Read a summery book - if you can’t get away overseas, there’s no reason you can’t whisk yourself away to a Greek island - in your head! Find a beach read in your local bookshop or online (the trashier the better, in our opinion) and lose yourself in its pages as you dream of beaches and sun loungers. 
• Have a messy day with kids - outdoor fun is great all year round, but let’s face it, it sure is easier to hose sticky kids down in the back garden when it’s warm. Whilst there’s no raincoats to deal with or wellie boots to clean, take the kids to the beach or the local park and be silly. Run around, carefree, building sand castles and exploring nature.
• Find out if there’s any late summer fêtes, festivals or food fairs going on in your local area. Don your floatiest summer dress, bare those toenails again and waft around to your hearts’ content. 
• Enjoy some fresh summer produce - our Salmon Salad celebrates the nation’s favourite omega rich, oily fish as well as the taste of summer in the fresh salad ingredients and herbs. This Summer Panzanella also celebrates the end of summer perfectly. Leave out the anchovies if they’re too strong or you don’t eat fish. Round things off with this oh-so exotic Pineapple with Creamy Coconut Dip. Switch out the Greek yoghurt for a dairy free version if you’re dairy-free or vegan (maple syrup makes a great honey alternative too.) 
• Go for a long evening walk - it won’t be long before the evenings start to feel shorter, so make the most of the late summer and early autumn to enjoy your local neighbourhood on foot. Take everything in, from the last of the weeds growing through the cracks of an urban environment to the nesting of the birds in the countryside before they begin their long journeys south. Make it mindful, take deep breaths and be aware of your feet striking the pavement. What will you notice that you’ve never noticed before?