Although there’s plenty to love about every month, June is one of our favorites. The weather is balmy but not yet hot, and the landscape is in full bloom. Fresh, local produce can be found in every market and of course, strawberries and pink peonies are in season!
With kids out of school, June is an ideal time to focus on creating balance between family life, work responsibilities, exercise and other outdoor activities, social time, and setting aside the time to have a few quiet moments for yourself. Above all, the longest days of the year means it’s an ideal time for outings with family and friends, for enjoying nature and your outdoors spaces, and for hosting joyful seasonal gatherings. June is a month of celebrations—graduations, weddings and anniversaries, the end of the school year, and so much more.
Plan a Joyful Transition Into Summer
We’re all busy and wear many hats during any given day. And although we don’t love to use the words schedule and summer in the same sentence, planning out a calendar definitely helps make the most of the splendid month of June. Here are a few ways we like to approach summer planning at partager la joie.
If you have young children, plan some time where they have structured but creative summer activities with playgroups, educational activities, summer camps, sports, or art lessons. If you have teenagers at home, talk to them about how they envision spending their summer days—travel, volunteer work, a summer job, sports, leisure and enrichment activities, and so on.
Remember, the idea is not to schedule all their time. Keep activities and commitments flexible—after all, it's summertime, and many young people have had a more challenging school year than usual and will need the space to just let themselves be. However, a loose sense of structure and purpose actually helps most children relax (and you too!), so it’s helpful to get their input and organize some activities with/for your child.
Firm up any vacation plans and reach out to friends and family to plan some summertime gatherings. Schedule in time for your own activities too! Finding a healthy balance between spontaneity and the stability a schedule can provide will put you and your family on track for a healthy, rewarding summer full of joy.
The arrival of warmer temperatures naturally inspires and fills us with a desire to spend more time enjoying the outdoors. Mark the transition by changing up your fitness routine to include a wide variety of fresh-air activities like tennis, golf, kayaking, running, hiking, and swimming. Venture out of your comfort zone and try something new! If you’ve always harbored a secret dream to go sailing, scuba diving, rock climbing, or surfing—go ahead, be adventurous! The sky’s the limit! Certain sports are just the thing to get out in nature for that little bit of me-time you’ve been craving. Others help to bring families and friends together for summer fun, creating lasting bonds for years to come.
June Occasions
June is strawberry season! — Plan a strawberry day with your family or a friend and let these jewel-ripe berries inspire you! This month is a great opportunity to learn something new and make strawberry jam. We’ve highlighted some of our favorite strawberry recipes in our epicure: serve them with cream on our Belgain waffles, as warm jam over vanilla ice cream, for breakfast in a parfait with Greek yogurt, or in a classic strawberry shortcake.
Father’s Day — Don’t forget about Dad! As the weather warms up, it's the perfect time to plan a barbecue in his honor (see our Grilled Shish Kebobs and Baked Potato Board recipes for some seasonal ideas). Remember to give your father, grandfather, and all the special dads in your life a little extra expression of gratitude for their love and kindness, unwavering support, and encouraging guidance on our journey through life. There are so many ways to let them know how much they are loved.
Flag Day — Make our patriotic cupcakes and get creative with flag-inspired craft ideas. Dress your table in a flag-colored palette to show your pride and patriotism. Invite a few friends around for a Flag Day apéritif with drinks and small bites in a red, white, and blue theme, and raise your glasses to what makes you proud about our country.
End of School Year/Graduation — Plan a picnic or make-your-own ice cream sundae party to bring a festive sense of closure to this unique school year and reward hard-working kids for how patient and brave they’ve been. Getting them involved in helping you plan this party is a great way to introduce your child(ren) of all ages to the joy of hosting—and to start the conversation about summer planning!
Host a June Jubilee
Looking forward to gathering alfresco — It’s amazing how different a daily routine can suddenly become when you bring it outdoors! Everything takes on a new meaning, whether it’s early-morning coffee in the sun, a family breakfast on the patio, an outdoor pizza party with the kids, or a more elaborate evening gathering with friends. Just think of June as one excuse after another for joyful outdoors gatherings! Whether it’s small or large gatherings that strike your fancy this season, casual or formal—at partager la joie we are here to inspire you along the way. Learn more about our Inspiration Workshops
Create an Outdoors Summerscape — Revise your outdoors space in preparation for some of the above alfresco fun. Use clay urns, woven baskets, or window boxes to plant beautiful annuals and fragrant ornamental greens. Add some new perennials to your flower garden or fill decorative containers to make a creative kitchen herb garden. And if you have the space for a more extensive vegetable garden, now’s the time to sow all the lovely things you hope to reap! Gardening is a fantastic way to enjoy the outdoors and relieve stress, and your outdoor space is the ideal place for you and your family to relax together and take advantage of the season.
Artfully Arrange your June Blooms — At partager la joie, every day in June is Bloomsday. Pink peonies are all about abundance, soft fragrance, and elegantly overflowing clusters — and we are here for it! While they last, capture these blooms and display them in your favorite vase, jar, or any other decorative container. Arrange small, vibrant bouquets and place them not only indoors but in your outdoor spaces as well, to add their gentle elegance to that morning café au lait or evening barbecue. Take advantage of your potted fragrant perennials or whatever blooms are making their appearance in your outdoor space to add summer style to your home.
Set a Summer Patio Table for Gatherings — Add outdoor lanterns, beautiful linens, and hints of woven and olive wood accessories to style a personalized plein-air table-scape.
Summer Style
We’re excited to share what’s new in our summer styles for you and your home! We’ve selected carefree dresses and tops to pair with summer white jeans and fragrant roll-on natural perfumes in fresh, seasonal scents to carry on the go, as well as reusable market totes and new candles for summer nights in sea salt and citrus and coconut lime. To freshen your June gatherings we’ve got new linen choices, woven accents for your table and garden, olive wood accessories for your al fresco table, and lightweight throw blankets to keep cozy on patio evenings. Shop New In here
Epicure
Remember what we said about strawberry season? Peruse our June epicure and you’ll see that in addition to our excitement for barbecue season and outdoor dining, we’ve got a bit of a strawb-session with these fresh, elusive treats. They don’t last long, so make the most of them by trying our selected sweet and savory recipes.
Strawberry Breakfast Yogurt Parfaits
Grilled Salmon with Smokehouse Maple Seasoning
Belgian Waffles with Strawberries and Cream
Spinach Salad with Strawberries
Let Summer’s Ease Sweep You Off Your Feet
June ushers in the full splendor of what the French call “la belle saison.” Cherish this moment and the release and comfort it offers. Be grateful for family and friends, and share that gratitude along with your joy.
On this last stretch up to the solstice, relish lengthening days and the cool mornings before the heat of summer arrives. Be kind to yourself; balance is about cultivating room for your own growth, too. Take some time to breathe in deeply and savor the beauty of fragrant blooms and lush green surroundings.
Comments will be approved before showing up.
