a jane austen summer

As I have been reading Mansfield Park, I have the urge to share with you the idea of having a Jane Austen summer. Think of Pride and Prejudice 2005 — long walks in nature, relaxing with a good book, etc. 

So how do you enjoy a Jane Austen summer?

First off, get fancy! Get on a floral dress! Dress up. Part of feeling ready is getting ready. If you want to feel like Lizzy Bennet, you can’t be dressed in sweatpants. So put on something that makes you feel good. Get a little fancy and you’ll realize how good you feel.

If you need inspiration, watch Pride and Prejudice for the gorgeous outfits! 

Go on long walks. This is almost comical if you know what happens in Pride and Prejudice. But in the Regency era, there wasn’t necessarily gym equipment. Long walks were good for exercise and keeping your health. So get outside! At the very least, you’ll increase your step count and at most, you’ll find yourself amongst nature’s beauty in awe of God’s creation.

Watch an adaptation. In the U.S., Miss Austen was released in May, and I highly encourage watching it if you haven’t yet, but any adaptation will do. I do enjoy Pride and Prejudice 2005, but I also loved Emma 2020. I also have watched plenty of Sense and Sensibility. I love watching Edward Ferrars in different adaptations. Edmund from Mansfield Park is, however, the most disappointing romantic hero of Austen’s character.

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If you can and you have PTO, take a trip! Many of Austen’s characters went to the seaside as a break from their homes and to meet new people. Even if you don’t have PTO, set aside a day to go to the beach. Bring some friends and make it a time of community. You have to be intentional to create magic in your everyday life. It doesn’t have to be a week away on an international trip. It can literally be a staycation or somewhere in driving distance. Just go somewhere new and be refreshed.

Throw a party! Nowadays, we no longer have balls when we can get dressed up and meet new people. But maybe you can throw a small party and invite your friends to bring someone new. Or even if you just invite a few friends over to dance together, as long as you’re having a great time! You don’t need much – some chips, a few sodas or iced tea, play some music, and you have a space to gather people together.

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Buy some flowers. Jane Austen is much more than flowers and fancy dresses but she never disregarded beauty. There’s no reason for you to do it either. Get something that brightens your kitchen. Flowers add something fresh to a room and reminds you of the beauty of the outdoors.

Head to a library! Reading is such a delight, and sometimes I get in a reading slump and what helps is wandering around the library or picking up something that catches my attention. Pick up something new or reread an old favorite. 

Overall, lean into the fullness of the longer days and shorter nights that summer has to offer.

This was a short but sweet post. Hope you enjoyed it!

Signing off,

Gigi