30 things I vow to do this summer: My summer bucket list

Summer is getting close. It’s already the middle of May, can you believe it? I can’t believe it! I still remember winter, and I’m still nervous that we’re going to get another snow storm before spring ends, I live in Michigan after all, and we have freak snowstorms in the middle of the fall a lot! But as of right now it looks like spring has sprung, the dandelions are in bloom, the robins are chasing after one another and haven’t had to wear my heavy coats anymore!

Because summer is near and because I saw one of Mama Kat’s Writer’s Workshop, writing prompts that were very befitting for this time of year. It’s basically a summer bucket list. It’s a list of 30 things that I vow to do this summer! I hope to be able to actually complete a quarter of the things, so wish me luck! You’ll see me chick in periodically about the tasks that I’ve finished. Maybe, if I’m lucky, I’ll get a few of these done before summer starts.

30 things you vow to do this summer.

1. Take a trip to the local bookstore and browse their free book section that they have outside: It’s going to be the start of my summer reading list with a twist. I’ll explain the twist in the next thing I want to do. But I really love the book stores free boxes and shelves a little more than a lot of people do.

2. Write my summer reading list with a twist: As I said in the previous thing I want to do. By the end of this month, I should have a list of books that I can read for my summer reading list. My twist? All my books have to be free! I can’t spend a dime, not even taxes on the books. Don’t worry, not all of the books have to be from the book store. I have used books that I have on the Kindle that I got for free, books that my kid stepdaughter got from PJ Library, or their preteen and adult programs, books I found online for free, or even books that have been gifted to me.

3. Visit and blog about some local and somewhat local place: There are a handful of places around my town that I’d love to talk about. Some gems that someone would find if they visited my town. One of the places I plan on visiting is a gluten-free place that I have yet to visit.

4. Get some pretty pictures of my local park: I want to go to the park a few times summer only to take photos of stuff. The park is so beautiful, and one of the photos I took earlier this year of the park next to the park I’m at because it was so stunning.

5. Go to Trader Joe’s: Trader Joe’s doesn’t sound like it should be on the list, but it is for the reason that the closest Trader Joe’s is over 24 miles (a half hour trip) away! It’s not a place I can get to as often. I wouldn’t have even put Trader Joe’s on the list if not for the fact that I’ve seen a handful of people talk about stuff that makes Trader Joe’s unique.

6. Learn to penny shop at Dollar General: For those of you that don’t know about penny shopping at Dollar General, the video below explains how to penny shop a little bit and what exactly penny shopping is. But because penny shopping is a lot like a treasure hunt, I need to learn to penny hunt a little bit better.

7. Play in the sprinklers: As an adult, I admit it, I don’t do the things that the kids are doing, like playing in the sprinklers, going outside and getting wet, and enjoying summer for what it was when I was younger. I need to be one with summer time again.

8. Sit outside and stare at the stars: My husband’s grandparent’s place is secluded enough that the lights from town aren’t a problem and they don’t block out the stars and the beauty of the night sky. The summer sky is beautiful, I need to take advantage of the cool summer nights.

9. Make vegetarian and gluten-free smores: Being vegetarian and gluten-free doesn’t need to take the fun out of eating smores, I’ve done it once in the past, but instead of roasting marshmallows, I used the microwave. This summer, I plan on making some vegetarian gluten-free smores and actually roast them. Yum!

10. Take a course at the library: Our local library has tons of cool activities to do all year long. Most of the time they’re free. I haven’t taken advantage of the type of fun things that the library has to offer, but I realize I need to take advantage of our local library for what it’s worth. I may not be able to do this item if the library is the middle of moving, I’ll just have to actually schedule around the migration of the library.

11. Try a new gluten-free meal: I’m still reinventing myself meal wise. Starting from scratch is pretty scary, and not all gluten-free foods are what they seem. They’re expensive, and not all of the foods are as tasty as people make them out to be. Making gluten-free, yet a vegetarian meal is one thing that I hope to do.

12. Record a Thursday Tag video instead of writing them out: I’m camera shy, and I really need to get over it. I want to do at least one or two tags this summer and actually record them. I probably won’t post them publicly on YouTube, as I feel the dislikes may keep me from wanting to do videos.

13. Try making a vegetarian and gluten-free root beer float: I used to love root beer floats before becoming vegetarian and gluten-free. I want to be able to enjoy summer without feeling like I’m not allowed to eat or do things that I used to do. I can do them with a twist.

14. Go bird watching: One of my favorite things to do when I know I’m having a panic attack is to listen to and watch birds. I like to identify the bird I’m listening to or watching. I used to love watching birds with my grandma when I was a child, now that she’s passed on, I want to be able to continue doing what she loved and hopefully pass the love on to my own children.

15. Go Geocaching: I’ve always wanted to geocache, this year is it, I need to get a little more active, and I want to enjoy the summer as it’s meant to be enjoyed. With that said, I want to try geocaching at least twice.

16. Buy a sundress: I have been reluctant to buy one the last few years, this year, now that I’m a little more confident. I’m going to actually do it. It doesn’t even have to be at a local store, finding the perfect sundress online is still an option. There are so many places to check to find me a sundress.

17. Try growing a plant: I’m not going to start a garden, every time I try to start one, they fail. My plants die. I’m going to start small this year and grow a plant. If I can at least grow one plant, I’ll be content.

18. Create this strawberry lemonade: I saw the recipe on another summer bucket list, and it looked good. I want to try to make it. Looks delicious, doesn’t it? I’m talking about the Lightening StrawberryLavender Lemonade, and not pictures of Thor (Chris Hemsworth).

19. Make homemade fruit bars: My mom and I used to do this a lot when I was growing up, they were cheaper and tasted better than most of the popsicles. that I had growing up. This time around now that I’m older, and need to have more fruit in my diet, I’ll try to make some actual fruit pops.

20. Have a 24-hour tech detox: Sadly, I won’t be posting pictures of the 24-hour tech detox, it won’t be possible if I’m supposed to stay away from all technology! This 24 detox could possibly include reading from my summer reading list or doing some things on my bucket list that are more private. We’ll just see where it takes me.

21. Do the 24 hour Aldi challenge: This is the last food-related bucket list item I promise! Aldi has a great selection of gluten free and vegetarian foods. I’ve seen a few YouTube folks do the 24-hour meal challenge, and now I want to try it! If it’s not videotaped I will be taking photos of all the wonderful foods that I ate during my 24 hour challenge!

22. Go barefoot all day: This does mean I’ll have to take off my socks. I love wearing socks, even in the summer. This task sounds a bit scary to me. I don’t know how well I’ll do without shoes. I may start panicking somewhere in the middle, but it’s okay. I can do it! No socks, no shoes, and probably no actual walking around outside of the apartment. I can do it at the grandparent's house, but not here.

23. Draw with chalk: Drawing with chalk is one of those things I really never liked, the sound of chalk on pavement sends shivers down my spine and the feeling of chalk is a bit weird to me (it comes with being autistic). I want to get outside of my comfort zone and draw with chalk.

24. Play hopscotch: This goes with the last task as well, I want to play hopscotch with the kids. I want to have fun outdoors. If I’m already out of my comfort zone with the chalk, why not build a hopscotch board and actually play hopscotch!

25. Give me a Dollar Tree inspired pedicure: Dollar Tree really? Yeah really, they have nail polish, and stuff to give pedicures. I don’t need to spend tons of money to make my feet look pretty this summer!

26. Dumpster dive: Could my bucket list get any weirder? I’m sure it could. I’ve been stalking the dumpster diving SubReddit for some time now, and I’ve seen some really cool stuff people dumpster dove for. I checked our local ordinances to find out what’s legal where I live and what’s not. It’s legal here!

27. Do at least two random acts of kindness: We all need to be kind to one another. This summer is no different. If I can help someone or an animal. I want to do that. Again this is one of those things I will not be posting much about on my bucket list. I don’t want to do the random acts of kindness because I’m doing it for a bucket list, I just need to remember to do them more often.

28. Play frisbee: I have a few frisbees in my closet and they’re not being put to good use. Even if it is just a simple game of catch, I’m ready for the challenge. I’m ready to be outside more often.

29. Collect rocks, pinecones and other cool pieces of nature for crafts: To both inspire me to be craftier and to be closer to nature, we will be collecting rocks, pine cones and whatever else I can find around town on my nature walks so I can be crafty and one with nature.

30. Paint and decorate rocks: With some of the rocks from the last task, I want to turn the whole rock craft into an adult thing. I want to connect with my childhood self at least a little bit, but at the same time collab with my childhood self.

Instead of having both a tag and a blog post this week, I decided that this list was going to be all that I posted. I’m sorry if you were all expecting a blog tag! Maybe next week!