It’s officially summer! I’m excited for the long days, warm nights, and breaks from our typical routine. I don’t know about you, but I often feel so focused with everyday activities and tasks that a whole season can pass by without me remembering to take advantage of all the fun.
So, in an effort to remind myself to have a little fun this summer, I sat down and thought of 4 things I want to do. And then I wrote them down. This simple act of writing a “bucket list” is powerful. It’s a visual reminder of my intentions and inspires me to take action.
Here are 4 things I want to do this summer:
Make a batch of ice cream
Summer = ice cream. And with all the fresh fruit available this time of year, I’m having a hard time deciding what flavor to try. Strawberry? Peach? Mango? YUM. If you’d like to make up a batch of homemade heaven this summer, don’t go out and buy an ice cream maker. A quick Pinterest search will pull up tons of recipes that don’t require any special gadgets or time spent churning. If you’re looking for some inspiration, here’s a recipe that I’m going to try. No Churn Ice Cream
Make lemonade. Real lemonade.
There is something so delicious about freshly squeezed lemonade. Growing up, my grandma always made fresh lemonade in the summer and it was way better than any mix. My grandma’s recipe is pretty simple, no need to make a simple syrup.
[yumprint-recipe id=’4′]
Go on a picnic
At my house, all we need for a picnic is a baguette and a jar of Nutella! As delicious as that might be, I do feel the need to add a few more things to round out the meal, but nothing fancy. The joy of picnicking is the simplicity of the meal. Just a few tasty bites. A nice spot. Family. That’s it.
I keep a basket stocked with a few supplies to make the process super simple. I like to keep a small wooden cutting board, a cheese knife, a large thin blanket, and some plates and silverware. I also keep a tiny pack of wet wipes tucked away. When it’s time for a picnic, all I need to add is some food!
I usually stop by a Giant Eagle Marketplace. I rarely buy my groceries there, but it’s a fantastic place to grab some quick picnic goodies. I like to grab chicken (they have both roasted or fried options), some pasta salad from the deli, strawberries, a jar of Nutella, and a baguette. Add a bottle of water or lemonade and that’s it! You’re done.
Columbus has some great spots for picnics, but my top three favorites with my family are the Columbus Zoo, Schiller Park (Shakespeare in the Park!) and Sunday’s Concerts on the Worthington Green.
Summer road trip
I’m really looking forward a lazy summer road trip this year. When I take a road trip, I like to have a general idea of where I want to end up, but no real rush to get there. The fun isn’t so much the destination but the journey.
We’re pretty lucky to have some fabulous options for short road trips. To our north is Cedar Point, Kalahari’s indoor water park, or Lake Erie. To our south is Cincinnati with castles to explore! To our east is Amish Country, full of farms, restaurants and activities, and to our west is the Air Force Museum.
If I get to all of those things this summer, I’ll consider it a success! What’s on your summer bucket list?
