OOTD + 5 Bucket List Items To-Do Before Summer Ends

With the days getting shorter and retailers stocked up with fall clothing, it can be easy to lose sight of the fact that we still have plenty more of summer left to celebrate and memorable moments to create!  I'm all for making the most out of the hot days that we have left, and plan on milking every last bit of summer!  In the interest of celebrating the season, here are 5 bucket list items I plan on doing before summer ends.

Skirt + Hat - Forever 21, Crop Top - Zara, Shoes - c/o Vince Camuto

1. Have a Late-Summer Picnic

Just because we're mid-August, doesn't mean that I'm done with picnics.  There is something so serene about grabbing your BFF, partner or some girlfriends and laying out a blanket in the park for a picnic.  Bonus points for picnicking a little later on in the day - shorter daylight hours means that you have a high chance of catching a summer sunset. Gorgeous!

2. Hit The Beach

Summer tends to fly by in the blink of an eye, and I for one have not yet been to a sandy beach - not even once! Before autumn rolls around I'm making it a priority to hit up a city beach, bikini and towel in-hand, for a fun day. My favourites to visit in Toronto are Sugar Beach or HTO Park, or if I'm feeling up for a drive then I love Sandbanks Provincial Park in Picton, Ontario.  City beach or not, I'm definitely going to feel some sand on my toes before the summer is up.

3. Bike For Pleasure

Although Toronto is very much a bike-cultured city, there is nothing quite like a summer bike ride. Before fall arrives I intend on blocking out a few hours to devote to a leisurely bike ride, without running any errands along the way. For those of us who are intimidated riding on city streets (me), I take my bicycle down to the Toronto waterfront for a beautiful (and traffic-free) ride.

4. Make An Effort To Use Our Balcony

Oh city life - so many of us live in condos with balconies and never seem to use them.  I for one definitely don't take full advantage of our little balcony oasis in the summer, and often regret not doing so in the winter. For the remainder of the summer, I plan on using my balcony at least once per day; whether it be to enjoy my morning coffee or for a relaxing patio dinner.

5. Catching More Summer Concerts

For those of you who follow me on Snapchat (username: lapetitenoob), you would see that I have been absolutely loving going to outdoor summer concerts this season.  Not wanting to this to end, I will definitely be adding more summer shows at the Molson Canadian Amphitheater to the agenda before the season is over - and I will be doing so with American Express Canada and Amex Invites. Not only do you get to breeze past the massive lineups that inevitably occur with outdoor music venues, but you also gain access to the Amex Lounge which is a slice of heaven on a hot summer day.  My last experience with Amex Invites saw me shaking my bon bon front row with Mr. 305 himself - Pitbull, where I was wearing this exact outfit! The evening was right in the middle of one of Toronto's most brutal heatwaves, but the cranberry soda waters at the Amex Lounge kept me cool all night long. It was a night that I will remember forever, and I'm so excited for all the other memories that are yet to be created this summer with Amex Invites.

Even though summer’s winding down, I also learned that Amex Invites opens the doors to upcoming events all year around from last fall’s Hunger Games movie screening to a live Dave Matthew Bands show. So whether you’re a music fan or theatre buff, Amex Invites has such fun and diverse events that can keep you entertained all year long.

What do you guys think?  Do you have any items to add to this end-of-summer bucket list? What was the last outdoor concert that you attended?  Let me know!

xo Joëlle

Thank you American Express Canada for my memorable moments.  This post was sponsored by Amex Canada.  The views and opinions expressed in this post however, are purely my own.