Summer
The other day, I was reading about Kyla’s summer plans. It spoke to me, because I have my own set of plans this summer. And in order to hold myself accountable, I’m throwing out some ideas to all of you.
This summer, I will…
- Participate in free and outdoor city events. Chicago has crazy amounts of festivals that attract big and small artists and musicians. Local eateries host vendor stands where you can try their food in small (or large!) doses. Sweets and I always talk about being more active with these festivals, but the reality is we’re not. This year, things will be different.
- Organize that second bedroom. For two years, our second bedroom has served as a catch-all. Sure, the closet in there holds most of my clothes. Sure, there’s a bed in there for guests. So, it is utilized. But, we have random furniture that’s never been properly addressed. We have boxes of stuff we don’t know what to do with. And it just always feels messy. That will change this summer.
- Add more shelves to our laundry room. Rarely do condos come with their own laundry rooms. It was a huge selling point for us when we bought our place. Not only do we have a full sized washer and dryer, but the condo came with built-in shelving (thank you, former owners). However, there’s room for more shelving. And we have a need for more storage space. So, another goal this summer is to figure out how we can add more shelving in our laundry room … and then actually do it!
- Make pillows! When we bought our living room furniture last year, I said I’d make some great throw pillows. I said the same thing when we registered for a new duvet cover and sheets for our wedding (I’ll make beautiful throw pillows for our bedroom!). I have yet to make one pillow for our not-so-new home (though, I have made pillows that have served as wonderful gifts!). This summer, I will make pillows for us.
- Read! I’ve been participating in a book club that meets every 6 weeks or so and that has been a great catalyst to begin reading more than I was before. But, I should still be reading even more. I’ve lapsed in reading The New Yorker and the Atlantic, something I used to love to do. And I almost never read books outside of book club. I’d like to pick things up a notch this summer by reading more.
- Go to the dog beach! There is a wonderful beach along the Chicago lakefront where dogs can run free, without leashes. We bring SoMi over there a few times each summer, but not nearly enough. It’s great exercise for her and though she’s hesitant around the water, once she gets wet, she’s so much fun to watch! I want to bring her there a few times each month, not only on the rare occasion.
So, whaddya think – it’s a doable list, right? For now, I think that’s a really healthy list of things I’d like to accomplish this summer. What are some things you’d like to do this summer?
June 9th, 2010 at 7:07 am
Sounds like a great list for the summer, and it’s doable. It’s got a good balance of fun things & productive things.
This summer I will:
- crochet 2, but possibly 3 baby blankets for friends that are expecting… we’ll see how fast I can crank them out.
- organize my living room closet. My condo has very little storage space so the living room closet is sort of my catch all space.
- do something with my Paris trip photos. This is on my 30 before 30 list. I will probably do a Blurb or Shutterfly book or something along those lines. It’s been about 2 years since that trip, I can’t believe I haven’t done anything with the photos yet!
Those are my 3 bigger projects! We’ll see what else I come up with.
June 9th, 2010 at 7:44 am
That’s definitely a doable list! I love the idea of a dog beach, that sounds wonderful- and getting those loose ends around the house tied up is perfect :)
June 9th, 2010 at 7:59 am
I am so with you on visiting the festivals. There are a few I can’t wait to go to this year just to wander around. Plus the farmers markets, I could spend hours there too.
We are in the process or cleaning out our second bedroom which is our office, it is a two steps forward and one step back process.
Our vacation plan is to engross ourselves in all the good that Chicago has to offer.
June 9th, 2010 at 8:00 am
I love this list! Festivals and fairs are amony my favorite summer activities. Its such a fun way to get out and about without spending a whole lot. (Yes, I’m cheap! You know I am all over the reading goal too. In my book, there is no better way to spend a Saturday or Sunday afternoon than sitting in the sun with a novel.
June 9th, 2010 at 8:43 am
I need to read more too! I go through phases. The nook makes buying new books *really* easy, so when I get into a real reading mood I’ll be buying books and reading like crazy. Then I’ll set the nook down and not pick it up for months.
I need to get better about blogging more often. I always have a lot of things in my head and then I can’t sit down and write them out. We also have some more remodeling to work on this summer!
June 9th, 2010 at 9:01 am
Dog Beach? How cool! However, I must say, Jack is a big baby when it comes to water but I’m sure he’d love a place to run freely. (He had our backyard up until recently but my parents just re-did the are and it’s kind of a dog-free zone now.)
I also think that you’re awesome for considering making your own pillows. I definitely need to learn to be more crafty. I hope you share pictures if/when you make them!
I think my goal for this summer is to be more in the now. Grad school has me constantly looking forward, planning at least two weeks in advance and while that’s all fine and good for time management, it’s also a little bit sterile and blah.
June 9th, 2010 at 9:16 am
Sounds like a great mix of necessary and just plain fun. Should be an enjoyable summer!
June 9th, 2010 at 9:19 am
That is a great list. My plans for the summer are to organize my closets. Actually complete the couch to 5K that I have started 4 times. And spend more time at the shore/on the beach.
June 9th, 2010 at 9:21 am
I think all those things are do-able. And I love, love, love the free outdoor festivals around here! AND there’s free movies at dusk at one of the parks on Saturday nights in June. And the municipal BAND plays every Friday, and, and, and. My goal is to get to the farmer’s market a couple more times. And to go to the beach as often as possible.
June 9th, 2010 at 9:48 am
I actually just wrote about this--Chicago has so much to offer in the summer and I’m determined to take advantage of it this summer since I won’t be working my fool head off. The main things: go to a baseball game (I’ve never been and this is my second year in Chicago!), go to the Garfield Conservatory, visit Evanston, go to free workouts in Millennium park. I could go on and on. Chicago is magical in the summertime!
June 9th, 2010 at 10:07 am
I think that’s a great (and do-able) list for summer!
Seattle has tons of fun outdoors stuff that is low cost/free and I hope to partake in it too. Though honestly the stuff I most want to tackle is cleaning out my hall closet and storage locker so that I can make room for a certain someone to move in.
June 9th, 2010 at 10:14 am
It’s a VERY doable list! I hope you get to do it all. All I really wanna do this summer is just travel and relax. I have 2 trips planned so far so i’m 1/2 way there!
June 9th, 2010 at 12:25 pm
Organize and redo our guest room is on my list too! So daunting. HA!
p.s. In case you hadn’t heard…Our blog has moved! We would love for you to visit us at our new site: http://www.bonbonrosegirls.com/
Unfortunately, if you followed us with Google Friend Connect you’ll have to re-follow but everything else is the same! Hugs, K
June 9th, 2010 at 2:05 pm
Sounds totally doable. Be sure to post pictures of your pillows and reorganized room… ;)
My summer To Do list is largely about scrapbooks this year!
June 9th, 2010 at 2:37 pm
I am so envious of your laundry room! We have a tiny closet that holds a tiny washer with a tiny drier stacked on top and has no shelving.
June 9th, 2010 at 3:00 pm
what a great list! a nice balance of “things you should do” and “things that should be really fun” :-)
June 9th, 2010 at 6:37 pm
Good list!
I also need to re-organize our spare bedroom for more works space (done as of Monday), keep my desk clean, create a new (husband-friendly) bill-management system and take the babygirl into Manhattan more often.
June 10th, 2010 at 8:29 am
Hmmm. Maybe start with the Atlantic. Since it is a monthly you won’t fall immediately behind the way I always seem to with the New Yorker. ;)
June 10th, 2010 at 9:37 am
Yes, it’s a doable list… and I hope you’ll get it all done! Sounds like a plan!
June 10th, 2010 at 12:52 pm
Reading is also on my list as well. I have a metric poopload of books I haven’t even touched since Christmas.
June 12th, 2010 at 7:34 am
I have a ton to do this summer and it seems that to do any of it I need to travel first. But I am very excited about it and looking forward to it and the thing is it HAS to be done, so no need to have others hold me accountable (a good thing! ;).
I like that your list has both to-do stuff, but also fun activities, that’s always a great balance :)