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I'm on vacation this week, so I hope you enjoy this replay of one of my favorite episodes!

Summer is the perfect time to pause, check in with yourself, and make a few small changes that can make a big difference. In this episode, we're talking about creating a summer you actually enjoy—not one that feels like another to-do list.

In this episode, we cover:

• A personal update on my health, energy, and family visiting.
• What June feels like in Chicago—from beautiful weather to those not-so-beautiful bugs.
• Celebrating another anniversary of calling Chicago home and what that journey has meant.
• Two simple questions that can change your summer: What do I want less of? and What do I want more of?
• How to create a realistic summer bucket list you'll actually complete.
• Fun local adventures, trying new restaurants, and breaking out of your everyday routine.
• Easy summer rituals like morning walks, screen-free afternoons, and spending more time outdoors.
• Tackling one small decluttering project and remembering to check your sunscreen expiration date.
• Creating a weekly joy list with three things to look forward to.
• Writing down your summer intentions—and why sharing them with someone else helps make them happen.

I'd love to hear what's on your summer list! Send me your ideas, your traditions, or topics you'd like me to cover in future episodes.

You can email me at InsideMarcysMind@gmail.com, or send me a DM on Instagram.

If you enjoyed this episode, I'd be so grateful if you'd leave a review wherever you listen to podcasts. And don't forget to share it with a friend who could use a little sunshine...with a healthy side of sarcasm. You know that's what you'll always get from me.

Enjoy the episode, and I'll be back soon with brand-new conversations!

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We answer the questions people always ask about living in downtown Chicago, from cars and groceries to tourists and noise. We share why the daily trade-offs still feel worth it when walkability, culture, and Lake Michigan are right outside our door.
• learning to drive in a dense grid city and getting comfortable over time
• why traffic can swing from 20 minutes to 90
• how grocery shopping shifts from bulk runs to smaller trips and deliveries
• navigating tourists and choosing calmer side streets
• having concerts, theater, and global food close to home
• the surprising small-town feel of downtown Chicago
• Chicago beaches near the skyline and what they add to city life
• the real downsides, including noise, parking costs, crowds, and taxes
Don’t forget to check out my other podcast, AGA for Sissies and Unbottled.

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Downtown Chicago didn’t just change my address, it changed how I move, shop, connect, and feel at home. I share the real surprises of high-rise living and why “place” can quietly become a powerful support system in your life.

• the questions people always ask about downtown living and why they stop mattering over time
• why Craig and I never expected to love a high-rise and what changed
• how River North and the Gold Coast function as true neighborhoods
• running into friends more often than I ever did in the suburbs
• why the biggest adjustment is not using the car and how that reshapes daily life
• elevators as a social space and the funny personalities you meet there
• not missing a backyard thanks to shared outdoor amenities and city green space
• walking as everyday movement that improves routines without feeling like exercise
• practical grocery-hauling fixes and small city-life trade-offs
• parking quirks, walking to church, and the convenience of nearby stores

All right, check in next week with Inside Marcy's Mind.