I’m back! Life got hectic here in New Zealand and some depression from the changing seasons creeped in which left me feeling zapped of any energy. Dealing with seasonal depression is an unfortunate reality for me and it takes up a lot of my brain power. So one of the ways I commonly deal with my seasonal depression is thinking of all the things I can do when the weather is nice again. Thus I decided to make a summertime bucket list. This is perfect timing as I’ll be returning to glorious summer weather back home in Michigan.
I’ve always wanted to make a bucket list for summertime but like everything else in my life I’ve just always failed to follow through. So I sat down and told myself that not only would I make one this year, but that I’d share it as one of my Sundays with Sam posts. I gave myself a deadline to have it finished by my last weekend in New Zealand and here I am burning the midnight oil finishing it up.
So here is what I hope to accomplish this summer:
- Make fresh lemonade
- Learn how to make a heart on a coffee drink at home
- Have a picnic
- Make homemade popsicles
- Visit MSU botanical gardens
- Visit a local cafe
- Visit a bakery
- Get fresh ground beef from butcher’s shop
- Make a trifle
- Make watergate salad
- Go out to eat at a new restaurant
- Make frozen margaritas
- Complete a Paint-by-numbers
- Go to a farmer’s market
- Go out for ice cream
- Make homemade banana splits
- Buy a bouquet of fresh flowers
- Go to the beach
- Go to the zoo
- See a new species of bird
- Go on a day trip to somewhere new
- See some live music
- Go camping
- Try out a new hobby
- Go stargazing
- Watch the sun rise
- Walk through the garden center at Horrocks
- Buy a plant
- Host a brunch
- Make homemade sorbet
- Have a game night
- Have a movie night
- Read a book
- Go to the movies
- Be a tourist in my own town
- Slumber party!
- Have a coffee date
- Swim in a lake
- Find a cool rock
- Take a relaxing bath
- Go bird watching
- Take a day off from tech
- Attend a campfire
- Cook a meal over the fire
- Make a summer playlist
- Go to a drive in restaurant
- Attend an outdoors concert
- Go for a walk on a trail
- Brew some iced tea
- Work on setting boundaries
As you can see, I don’t have anything too mindblowing planned and I cheated a little by including some things that I already have planned. Regardless, this is a list of things that would make my summer ideal. I’m planning a fun beach trip for my sister Bree and I. And mom and I already have a couple of camping trips booked as well. So I’m off to a good start.
A few of the other highlights that I’m really looking forward to are being a tourist in my own town and a trip to the MSU botanical gardens. Mom and I have been saying we want to go to the gardens for years now and we just never do, but now it’s on a list and so it has to happen. Mom and I are also always saying we need to go to the downtown of our little city, and again we never do. So I thought being a tourist in my town by walking around downtown and browsing all the shops would be a great plan.
What about you, dear reader, have you ever made a summertime bucket list? I’m curious to hear what is on yours.
Hello! I am Samantha Anne, a 30-something millennial just trying to find my place in the world. I split my time between my home in Michigan and my boyfriend’s home in New Zealand. At home I live with my mom and kitty, and in New Zealand I live with my boyfriend and his son. A collector of bone china tea cups/saucers, my other hobbies include camping, journaling, reading (when I can get the concentration together), interior design, and gaming. I also enjoy researching ADHD and its comorbidities in my free time to try and get a better understanding of myself.
In 2019, I suffered a brain injury from a car crash which has had a profound effect on my life and since then I am trying to figure out who I am now as I piece my life back together. So join me as I discuss ADHD, tidying/cleaning, parenting, my experimentations with baking, travel, and other lifestyle topics!
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