Zooey Deschanel considers herself a summer person.
She fell under the spell of the season as a kid at camp in upstate New York.
“It was classic,” says the 29-year-old.
“Swimming and sailing and ice cream and sing-alongs!”
“I like the feeling of summerit’s lighter somehow,” she says.
Although Deschanel is busy this month promoting her latest film,500 Days of Summer(nice coincidence, right?
Exclusively for SELF, Deschanel made a list of her favorite summertime activities.
See #2.)
Grass can be hazardous to light-colored clothing.
My suggestion is to put on an all-green outfit and roll down a hill.
2.
Use baby sunscreen instead of adult; it smells like summer.
3.
Read a mystery novel in a hammock.
I really wish I had a hammock.
4.
Get one of those tiny fans from the drugstore.
Here’s arecipe for Green Summer Soup.
It’s the easiest thing ever.### 6.
Run around in the sprinklers.
If you don’t have a yard to do that in, find a friend who does.
My sister and I used to do this as kids, usually with a Slip ‘n Slide involved.
I like the idea of doing it again, but it’s probably going to remain a sweet memory.
7.
Wear a bonnet or a straw hat.
This makes me think of my mother, who wears hats.### 8.
Have a picnic with friends.
Nothing’s better than a picnic.
Next time you have one, try a quinoa salad.
Check out a book from your local library.
Libraries are cheaper than bookstores and better organized.
I enjoy the environment, even if I don’t like being shushed.### 10.
Eat some heirloom tomatoes
I like all the varieties.
With salt.### 11.
Do an everyday task in double the time it normally takes.
Make jam out of a summer fruit, like strawberries.
Recipe: My Mother’s Strawberry Jam### 13.
Go to a state or county fair.
They’re usually cheesy and weird and have terrible rides that lack safety precautions.
And the food is terrifying.
But other than that, fairs are fantastic and kind of hilarious.
14.
Encourage the men around you to wear a boater hat.
Not everyone’s a hat person, but it can’t hurt to try!### 15.
Play a board game.
See an outdoor concert or performance.
Hit the bleachers for a nighttime baseball game.
I’m a big Dodgers fan.
Get overheated and then cool your forehead with a cold soda pop can.
This is a trick I learned living in an apartment in L.A. with no air-conditioning.
It’s not really a trick.
Actually the best trick is to get air-conditioning.
Play a game of tag.
What do you mean, Do I win?
Of course I win.### 20.
Unless you are all members of a particular fan club, stick with classics.
you might never go wrong with The Beatles or Motownmost people know quite a few of those hits.
21.
Set out in a sailboat.
My dad and I rented boats a lot when I was a kid.
It was funwell, it was more my dad’s idea of fun!### 22.
Head to a revival movie theater for a classic you’ve never seen.
If you don’t like it, nap.### 23.
My parents have a patio at their house that’s just right for outdoor dining.
They have a lot of meals outside, so it’s nice to go there to eat.
Also, they cook meals together, which I think is really cute.### 24.
Watch an old-school musical
LikeThe Band WagonorSeven Brides for Seven Brothers.
25.
Spice chickpeas and roast them in the oven until they are crunchy.
Recipe: Spicy Chickpeas### 27.
Let your hair air-dry.
I always let my hair dry pretty naturally.
Ride a Ferris wheel.
I was unaware that kickball was having “a moment.”
Mix up a vegan chocolate treat.
Recipe: Vegan Chocolate Mix### 31.
Make a playlist of summer songs.
Certain types of music just make me so happy.
