I told y’all it was a hot girl summa, and this hot girl is outside!

This week, I did something I never thought I’d do: I played pickleball for the first time, and I actually loved it. Listen, when I said I was going to make this summer meaningful, I really meant it. This season is all about stepping out of my comfort zone, trying new things, and finding fresh ways to have fun, laugh, and feel good in my skin. Pickleball? I know it sounds random, but it was exactly what I didn’t know I needed.

First off, let’s talk about the fit. I wore a cute little pleated skirt from Lululemon….yes, a skirt. If you know me, you know I never have my legs out like that. But I promised myself that this summer I’d tap into my softer, more feminine side. So I’ve been slowly adding dresses and skirts to my wardrobe no matter how weird or awkward it feels at first. And let me tell you: once I stepped onto that court, pleats and all, I felt so cute, so free, and honestly, kinda unstoppable.

If you’ve never played pickleball, it’s basically tennis’s fun, less intimidating cousin. You don’t need to be Serena Williams to get the hang of it. The rules are simple, the vibe is social, and the workout? Sneaky good. Within minutes, I was sweating, laughing, and trying to hit the ball without completely embarrassing myself. But you know what? Even when I missed (which was a lot), I didn’t feel silly, I felt alive.

That’s the thing about trying something new: it reminds you that life doesn’t always have to be so serious. It’s okay to look a little goofy, to mess up, to not be perfect because in the middle of all that imperfection is where the real memories live.

This “hot girl summa” for me isn’t just about cute pics and patio brunches (although, yes, please). It’s about saying yes to the things I used to overthink. It’s about letting the sun kiss my skin, about moving my body in new ways, about laughing so hard my sides hurt. It’s about building confidence in the smallest ways like wearing a skirt when you’d normally stick to leggings, or picking up a paddle and just playing.

So here’s my little nudge to you: do something this summer that you’ve secretly wanted to try but always put off. Book the class, wear the outfit, play the game. Whether you win or lose doesn’t matter, the point is that you showed up for yourself.

I told y’all this was a hot girl summa and this hot girl is living, sweating, laughing, and growing. One pleated skirt and pickleball match at a time.