Our Family Summer '24 Bucket List
"I'm gonna soak up the sun, I'm gonna tell everyone to lighten up"
Welcome to Moments & Mirrors! 🤍 Moments & Mirrors will unfold as a collection of stories and reflections drawn from my own experiences, with the hope that they inspire ideas for my daughters to inherit and individualize. So glad you are here! 💌
HAPPY SUMMERTIME! 🌞 A new season means it’s time for a new seasonal bucket list - one of my favorite personal traditions!
I love creating seasonal bucket lists as a way to look forward to things through out the season and to take advantage of whatever seems to be “magic” around that time of year. To me, it’s a way to celebrate living in the present moments.
However, I have to admit I am particularly drawn to sweet, sweet summertime. I’ve just always been drawn to the sunshine and warmth and liberating feeling around this time of year. Maybe it’s because I’m a summer baby or a Leo (who’s ruling planet is the sun) or maybe it’s just because summer is FUN!
Below are items on our family’s 2024 Summer Bucket List! …but before that I’d like to really quickly give you a couple tips of crafting the perfect list for you.
1. Don’t come up with a predetermined number, and don’t overwhelm yourself. I used to make summer lists with 50 items on them. Not only would I struggle to come up with ideas I genuinely had interest in, but I never even got close to doing half of them. It felt silly. Just take a moment to think about what you actually want out of these next few months, and write.
2. Take advantage of where you live specifically - think of local events, hidden gems, what nature offers around you
Alright, enough rules. Let’s dive into it!
Beach Weekend 🏖️
One of the beautiful parts of where we live is that we are only a drive away from so many beaches! One of the pictures on my 2024 Vision Board is of a baby on the beach. I can’t wait to take Charlie there in her cute wittle beach hat and swimsuit.
Go to a Local Baseball Game ⚾️
When I lived in Erie, PA my friends and I loved to go to the local minor league baseball games for dollar dog and beer nights. It was fun and low stakes, and I miss it! We live near several minor league teams now, so I want to make a family outing out of going to a game!
Visit North Carolina Botanical Garden 🌼
This is just a quick drive away from where we live. A fun way to get outside and take in the beautiful sights of this time of year!
Weekly Farmer’s Market Trips 🍑
A great way to support the local community, and to base your meals around fresh, seasonal produce! There is a great farmers market in our community on Thursday evenings. I’m going to aim to go every other week!
Backyard Movie Night 🍿
I loved going to the drive in as a date night with David. With a baby, that’s not very realistic anymore. So we’re going to bring the idea to life at home. Setting up a TV and cozy set up outside, with a fire and of course some snacks.
Go to a Local Carnival 🎡
Our town oddly seems to have a lot of carnivals…and there’s also a carousel set up right in downtown. Seems like something fun to check out!
Family Pool Day(s) 💦
Fun way to beat the southern heat and a way to spice up Charlie’s playtime! We have a pool in our neighborhood, so we want to take advantage of it as much as possible.
Celebrate Charlie’s 1st Birthday 🍓
Yes, it’s true…she is already turning ONE! I can’t believe it. But I do love a reason to plan a party. We’re throwing her a ‘Berry First Birthday’ party, decked out with strawberries! Adorable.
We also have plans to take her to Build-A-Bear on her actual birthday, where she can build her own build for only $1!
Porch Mocktails 🍹
My second pregnant summer. I’m a little bummed and dreading the discomfort, but hoping making some mocktails to sip on can help me make the most of it!
Stargaze 🌟
When I lived in Pittsburgh, I hated how where we lived was too “city” to really see the stars. I grew up in a small town where you could really the stars every single night of summer. The backyard was always full of fireflies. I miss it! We don’t get fireflies where we live still, but I do think there’s a better chance to go out and watch the stars! So I want to prioritize doing that this summer.
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