Simple Summer Bucket List

This post is written by contributing author Deborah Jean. 

With roughly twelve weeks of summer left I've been thinking a lot about the simple pleasures of summer. I want to make the most of what's left of it, but not in a hurried, frantic way. I bet you are feeling the same way! I decided to write down five SIMPLE SUMMER things I want to do before summer is over.

Here's my Simple Summer Bucket List. Borrow a few of my ideas or better yet, write your own! 

Take in a movie or two at the theater

The gardens are planted and the HEAT is on... Now is the perfect time to escape to your local air conditioned movie theater for a mid-day matinée or a late night thriller! 

Bring a friend, or take the whole family. Splurge and buy buttered popcorn; sneak in some chocolate too! Shh, that popcorn will make you thirsty but I haven't met anyone who can finish a soda from the concession stand at the movies. Our solution? One drink, two straws!

Picket Fence Dreams

Go listen to a FREE outdoor concert in your city or town

Your local newspaper or a quick Internet search can tell you who, what, when and where. All you have to do is clear the calender, pack your lawn chairs and the cooler with a light picnic and your favorite night time drinks to keep you cool and relaxed for the show!

Be a tourist in your hometown

Go downtown, try a new restaurant, visit a museum, or  just go for a walk and get an ice-cream. Sit on a park bench and people watch until after the sun sets.

Make time for your elders

If you have an elderly relative, friend or neighbor who could use a little company and conversation why not you? I've had the pleasure of spending quite a bit of time with my 90 year old mother in law recently. She's still very, curious with a sense of wonder the size of the moon!

Sure, she does things at a snail's pace but that's not such a bad thing. I call it slow living! She is a joy to spend time with and she's wise too. She makes sure I have a rest during the day, just like she does... which leads me to number five on my summer bucket list.

Rest and nourish your summer soul 

Each season brings about different moods, desires and activities. Pay attention to the little things, like the way the grass sways in the summer breeze or the sparkles that dance on the tips of the ocean waves. Smell each and every plant you come in contact with, touch the leaves, study the blossoms up-close.

Take in all the outside beauty around you whether in your own backyard or while traveling. Rest when you are weary. Even a ten minute shut-eye session with some lavender oil dabbed behind your ears will feel like hours when you open your eyes.

Don't forget stay hydrated during the hottest part of the summer. Nourish your body with plenty of fresh citrus water, light cold meals, such as salads, fruit, tasty country bread, and easy desserts.

Endless Summer Hydrangea

I can think of a few more things to add, but the idea is to keep it simple! So I'll quit while I'm ahead!  

Tell us! What's on your Simple Summer Bucket list?

Summer Blessings to all!

Deborah Jean writes from a little yellow house near the shores of Cape Cod Bay in America’s Hometown. It wasn’t her dream house in the beginning but the dandelions that grace her front lawn each year have taught Deb many important life lessons. She blogs about them from her homemaking blog aptly named Deborah Jean’s DANDELION HOUSE where she shares creative seeds for your homemaking hands, heart and soul. Deb's world is centered around her husband, two teens, their beloved Corgi Max and "her girls" - The Cottage Hens!   Stroll  her gardens (weeds and all) and enjoy fresh, wholesome, organic cooking from her kitchen.  She’s no stranger to making do, recycling and upcycling. She loves giving pieces of the past a new look and purpose!  Connect to Deb via pinterest and facebook.