Welcome to SUMMER FRIDAYS at How Sweet Eats!
I couldn’t be more excited—because really, what’s better than a summer Friday? A relaxed day when you can sneak out early or take the whole day off. It’s the perfect way to kick off June and welcome the season.
For me, the weekend often feels like it starts on Thursday. The anticipation for Friday is real, and right now I’m in a place where I want to savor these small, ordinary moments—the empty, unplanned weekend days—and not let them pass unnoticed. I want to enjoy them all.
Even though I’m self-employed, I try to take as much of Friday off as I can during the summer. I remember when Eddie could leave at noon on Friday at a past job; it was heavenly and I still miss it. I also know people who save all their vacation days to use on Fridays throughout the summer. Fridays are great any time, but in summer they feel extra special.
So: HSE Summer Fridays were born. I did a few posts like this years ago and loved them. Summer Fridays on How Sweet Eats will be my way of officially starting the weekend and making sure we enjoy it—even when nothing big is happening. Instead of only sharing lists of favorite cocktails, I want to bring real-life inspiration and conversation to these posts and help make every summer weekend feel a little more intentional. I hope you’ll come along. xo
Eating
Donuts, of course! It happens to be National Donut Day—perfect timing. If you want something to celebrate with, try the salted dark chocolate donuts I shared earlier this week. If you’re feeling extra festive, arrange a donut snack board with your favorites, fruit and a few sprinkles for a bright, simple display.
Prepping
I’m preparing a slow-cooker pork shoulder with cherry chipotle BBQ sauce. Our air conditioning is still broken and won’t be fixed until next week, so I’m avoiding anything that heats up the house. That means salads and grilling, but I put a pork shoulder in the slow cooker before I left and made a batch of cherry chipotle sauce last night. It’s easy and so flavorful.
Drinking
Strawberry gin lemonades are my go-to right now. Nothing says early June like a fruity, bright cocktail. I’ll be in Nashville for a book event through Saturday night, but we’re going strawberry picking on Sunday, and I plan to make these for Sunday happy hour while we grill.
Making
Strawberry cobbler. I made fruit cobblers or crisps almost every weekend this time last year, and I want to get back to that. This strawberry cobbler is one of my favorites—simple, comforting and perfect for summer.
Writing
Our summer bucket list. I haven’t made an official list in a while, and looking at the calendar reminds me how fast summer flies. We’ll be gone almost every weekend in July, so I want to prioritize things like strawberry picking, taking Max to an amusement park, making homemade popsicles, and having big fruit breakfasts on the patio. What’s on your summer bucket list?
Reading
I’m starting my summer reading list on the plane today. If you missed last year’s list, there are some great suggestions there as well. Since I’ll be doing Summer Fridays here, would you be interested in me sharing the book I’m reading each week so we can chat in the comments? Nothing formal—just a casual mini book club.
Buying
I’m shopping the Nordstrom half-yearly sale for summer pieces. I picked up a pair of shoes I love and eyed a few more. I’m also watching for the anniversary sale in July. Little seasonal updates and comfortable staples are all I need right now.
Listening
All the songs of summer. I put together an HSE Summer Fridays playlist full of upbeat and nostalgic tracks that feel like June. Every week I’ll share a new list, so expect an eclectic mix—90s Mariah, James Taylor, Frank Sinatra, and everything in between.
Craving
Nantucket. I daydream about the island a lot, inspired by Elin Hilderbrand’s novels and our past trip there that rained but was still magical. I keep checking properties late at night—just dreaming, really. I’d love to go back, even if it means juggling travel logistics with two kids. Someday.
Trying
Something new. We’ve been talking about Summer Fridays for months and I almost scrapped the idea at the last minute, but I’m glad I didn’t. This series is a small change from the usual recipe posts—more like the original vision for my Crushing On posts: a curated, casual way to make each weekend feel special. You’ll still see recipes and favorite finds, but Summer Fridays will be a relaxed, inspiring way to start the weekend.
Now go make a donut board and enjoy your Friday. xo