Summer Solstice

Summer Solstice

Summer Solstice

My husband is Finnish, we met in San Francisco, the old fashioned way, at a bar. And after a year of dating he whisked me away to his cold, dark homeland, Finland. Well not cold and dark all the time, but with only 2-3 hours of weak sunlight during the winters, mid summer (Finland's version of Summer Solstice Celebration) is greeted with huge enthusiasm! During summer the clock is reversed and the longest day of the year is about 18 hours of sunlight. 

(this photo was taken by business insider)

Excerpt from my travel notes in Finland: In the morning we breakfast on buttered rye bread dipped in chopped herbs from the garden. Tonight is the big hall dance. Eevi and I dress up in flowered skirts and the men put on dress shirts. We dig some old bikes out from the garage and peddle down a long road illuminated by a soft yet vivid evening sunlight. Bordering the road are vast fields dotted with grazing cows, no signs of factory farming here. The only sound in the quiet night is the soft crunch our tire tracks make in the dirt.

Summer solstice is also celebrated as National Yoga Day! A revitalization of life through movement.  "Yoga is the journey of the self, through the self, to the self."
This is my friend Amy, a lover of hiking and cats -if you're in Napa and you want to drop into a class, check their studio out Napa Valley Yoga Center. 

These days it might not be possible to travel outside of town, so why not check out what's in your own backyard...is there a beach nearby? Enjoy summer solstice with a beach picnic, check out these 12 summer recipes from a pinch of yum! 

 Summer beach outfit insp:

1. Easy toss on jumpsuit 2. Slip on wedges 3. Breezy dress 4. Go anywhere sandals 5. Comfy joggers 6. Relaxed tie front blouse 7. Palazzo pants 8. Weekend tee