Our Family Spring Bucket List
Ahhhh, the fresh start of spring.
I am a sucker for a bucket list, and I love to make them seasonally. There’s just something so exciting about a new season to me. Nature is giving you the cues to enjoy a vibrant life - whether that is getting cozy in autumn, resting in winter, or the fresh start of spring.
Fun fact: I used to hate spring. When I lived in PA, spring meant slushy-dirty-snow and teases of warm temps, followed by snow comin’ along and saying “You ain’t seen the last of me yet!” Spring felt like the final hurdle before glorious summer - by far my favorite time of year.
But last year when I moved to North Carolina, I realized that spring is actually lovely. The birds come back and chirp in the morning. Tree leaves start to bud and bloom. Light lasts longer. It felt like spring was supposed to feel. (The downside is that July and August can be pretty dang hot…). I guess where ever ya live, there’s give and take right?
Anywho, as one can imagine - as I get older, my bucket lists change a bit. They’ve become softer and simpler. Here is what is on my Spring Bucket List this year:
Start a Garden
I no zero knowledge on plants. My Mugga and my dad are both phenomenal at gardening, so I’d like to think I could learn quickly and maybe the whole green-thumb thing is genetic! When making my vision board for 2024, I saw a picture of a momma and her baby in a garden together, and it really called to me. So I’m going to attempt to grow some vegetables myself for our family meals! I love the idea of eating meals with food that we grew in our own backyard.
This year we will be attempting:
Tomatoes (my favorite)
Green beans (David’s favorite)
Banana peppers (David loves his Grandma’s banana peppers stuffed with sausage, so I’m going to *attempt* to recreate those for him)
Zucchini (something we eat a tooon of during the summer. So delicious on the grill!)
Spring Cleaning
What a snooze, right? But I feel like this is one of those things that will actually make me feel a lot better afterwards. And when creating a bucket list, it’s not only about things you want to-do, but how you want to-feel. I know once we tackle decluttering our closets, pantry, garage, etc. - and give the more unattended parts of the house a real good cleaning, I am going to feel refreshed and relaxed.
Bake on Sunday Mornings (New ritual!)
I was in a funk for a few weeks in March. When St. Patrick’s Day rolled around, David kept hinting about these chocolate Guinness cupcakes I used to make. He was cute and coy about it, but I know he was hoping I’d make them. I was feeling so lazy for weeks, but I ended up baking them and it reminded me how much I enjoy it. I think it even helped my funk.
So I’m going to try a new little ritual where I bake something for the family on Sunday mornings! Doesn’t have to be anything crazy or fancy. But a house smelled like freshly baked treats is a pretty phenomenal way to kick off the week.
Family Picnic
As the weather gets warmer, I’ve been spending more time with Charlie outside. We spent one afternoon in the backyard spread out on a blanket with her toys, and it was so simple, but so fun. I’m hoping we can recreate this moment with a family picnic at the park near our house!
Visit A Pick-Your-Own Flower Farm
This one is selfish. I love fresh flowers in the house, and I think this would be a fun way to explore a different area, while bringing some spring life and color in our home.
Try A Lavender Latte
The Starbucks ads have gotten to me, okay? Iced lattes are my go-to “treat myself” coffee order, and I love lavender. Well - the smell of it, at least? I don’t know if I’ve ever eaten anything with a lavender flavor? All the more reason I wanna try it!
Celebrate Charlie’s 1st Easter!
I’m a big holiday-gal, and motherhood has only multiplied that. Like I said earlier, I didn’t ever really like spring. And Easter kinda fell into that too. It’s…sorta my least favorite holiday? But I think I’ll have a new perspective of it as a mama! I’m so excited to put together Charlie’s basket, have a little family brunch, put her in her little Easter dress, maybe some sort of Easter-egg hunt with her cousins? Babies just make holidays more fun - it’s a given.
Get a seasonal massage
I love massages. My back gets really tense and in knots often. But getting massages always felt so frilly to me. I convinced myself it would be a waste of money. But then I heard somebody talk about putting together their “healthcare” team of doctors, dentists, etc. And she talked about incorporating massages and sauna sessions as part of your healthcare. Eye-opening.
Obviously, when it comes to health I do want to prioritize the things like wellness checks, annual exams, teeth cleanings, etc. But it made me realize that getting a seasonal massage isn’t “selfish” if it’s actually going to help me physically feel better in my body! I’m so excited to get this scheduled.
And there ya have it! What are some things that are on your Spring Bucket List?
Now Playing: The new Kacey Musgraves album