photo by Mary Costa Photo
I finished my 2016 summer bucket list and although I’m certain I’ll be tempted to keep adding to it, I feel pretty confident that everything I listed is something I can truly accomplish–and that’s a good feeling. I can’t wait to get started. Have you made a bucket list or a list of hopeful to-dos for summer? I’d love to hear what’s on yours!
1. Spend a day being a tourist in Boston
2. Spend a day being a tourist in New York City
3. Rent a beach house on Fire Island
4. Eat White’s cake at least once
5. Take a flower arranging class. I’ve been wanting to do this for so, so long.
6. Plan that wedding of ours
7. Meditate for 5 minutes every single day and see if enlightenment is possible after all
8. Make a summer playlist, and for the love of everything, do not let Hall and Oates dominate it.
9. Learn calligraphy
10. Go on a road trip with my best friends
11. Spend as much time with my niece Victoria as humanly possible.
12. Read 3 books. Any recommendations?
13. Scan and organize that massive Rubbermaid bucket of all my childhood and family photos. Have you tackled yours?!
I love this! Not overwhelming but gives direction. We are spending a week on Fenwick Island & I’m planning a tourist weekend in NYC as well. (Didn’t you grow up around Boston? No touristy adventures yet?) My book recommendations: “The Nightingale,” “Cooking for Mr. Latte,” “The Eight,” “Me” (Katherine Hepburn autobiography. Anything by Ruth Reichl.
Have a happy summer…thanks for sharing your list, you continue to inspire us all!
I second The Nightingale. Also, The Glass Castle is the most riveting memoir I’ve ever read.
The Glass Castle is one of my all time favorite books – yes… you must read it if you haven’t already! I also loved The Nightingale. I listened to it on audio and the narrators are so so so good, if you like audio books, that’s a good one to choose!
Love this! Must must must read The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt. How a 700 page book is can be a page turner not sure but you won’t sleep it’s that good. Central Park zoo amazing. Boston is amazing. Happy Summer!
I recommend “The Life We Bury” by Allen Eskens. I rarely give books 5 stars, but did for this one.
+1 Just read this recently and really liked it!
What a fun list! I love the idea of making a summer bucket list, now I’m off to go do that! Also, totally going to be stalking the comments for book recommendations, I’m always looking for more.
One of my favorite books last year was called Henry & Tom. Easily findable for kindle on Amazon. It was about the relationship between a man and a whale. Great easy summer reading. I got it for free through one of those services that show you want you can get free or cheap for your kindle and never expected to have such a love for the book.
I’m currently reading A Study in Charlotte by Brittany Cavallaro and highly recommend it – teen descendants of Sherlock Holmes and John Watson (and Holmes is a girl!) become friends and solve crimes. It references the old stories in a cool way, while also being modern, suspenseful, and really fun. Perfect for summer!! I’m having trouble putting it down to do things like go to work and sleep :)
This sounds like a fun read!
I am reading The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown. A fascinating and thought provoking read that I can not put down. Love your list; very diversified.
Wonderful book.
Such a great read! My parents both loved it, too. Fun for an unofficial family book club :)
LOVE THE PHOTO, so many happy memories of Palm Springs where we had a little winter home for 16 years. Yes, You have inspired me to think up a bucket list for the summer. Great idea!
My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante, A Man Called Ove by Fredrick Backman, any food memoir by Ruth Reichl or Blood Bones and Butter by Gabrielle Hamilton of Prune Restaurant fame. Great bucket list!
I love Blood Bones and Butter! SUCH a great read. But don’t read it while you’re hungry… :)
Oh I need to do this! Summer seems to filling up with activity so quickly. I love the new look of the blog by the way. Your list is inspiring.
Last winter I read “The Kindness Of Strangers” by Katrina Kittle for a library book group. I didn’t think I would like it because of the subject matter it dealt with – a neighborhood is shocked to find a couple in their midst is making pornographic movies of children and their children have been at risk. I was surprised at how well the author handled the subject. It is a fiction book that is a must read for parents, educators, and grandparents. The author, a teacher herself, uses fiction to teach about warning signs to watch out for to keep our children safe. I highly recommend it.
When Breath Becomes Air – loved it! I was just pondering on my tub of pictures this morning… to much to think about! I adore you! Hope to meet you at something one day :)
+1 Yep! I was going to say the same one. I just finished it last night and loved it! .
You are making me want to do a bucket list for the summer, not for the kids but just for me! I’ve never done one before that wasn’t kid focused. I love your list!
I’m going to be a total tourist in NYC for a couple days in June while Nick’s working. You should join me :)
ah i feel like meditation is on every bucket list on mine… I need to commit! I just moved to NYC so I would love to see any “tourist” bucket list activities :)
Love the budget list idea. I’m going to borrow that.
I just made a long list of summer reads from all the suggestions Thanks so much!
It was a long time ago, but I think you’d like Saving Graces by Patricia Gaffney – about four best friends, but later in life. Enjoy!
I LOVE THIS!! Here is mine:
-summer playlist- a lot of Hall & Oates
-Meal planning/recipes/organizing my family recipes
-big bucket of photos needs to be handled (bought albums, still empty)
-watch Dawson’s creek and other coming of age nonsense
-Read the stack of books by my chair (one is “Let it Out” about journaling)
-Spend time with nephews
-exercise
-tidy & maybe get new flooring
-Go to the beach/ Go kayaking
I loved the Nightingale and All the Light We Cannot See! If you want any tips for a fun NYC day let me know! xo
Love the idea of this post! May have to snag it myself (and credit you)! Here’s my reading list from last year. There are some real gems in there. https://kristiporter.me/2015/12/09/my-2015-reading-list/
Other than the two above that +1’d, a couple of my favorites from this year are…A Man Called Ove, 2 a.m. at the Cats Pajama’s, and You.
I have not made a list yet but plan on doing so soon. I love playing tourist. My list always has pick fresh fruit – strawberries, blueberries and peaches are a must. Your list is great.
Andie, love this post! I hope to run into you in Boston…number 1 on your list, love it! You have inspired me to finally make my bucket list!! Florence, Italy is on my list for the summer! Thanks for sharing :)
What a great idea! I haven’t created a bucket list for summer or any occasion but it seems like it could ground me and give me such positive things to focus on… Now what to add to it? Thanks!
The Light Between Oceans and Hotel On The Corner of Bitter and Sweet. Both VERY good books.
Gee, I’m reading a good book right now, “It Was Me All The Time”, but I s’pose you’ve read that.
I am late to the party but I recommend Jana DeLeon’s Miss Fortune Series. So very funny- they would be great summer reads. Actually, I recommend all of her books but The Miss Fortune Series is my favorite. http://janadeleon.com/books/
I love this idea! 12 weekends of summer–how do we fit it all in! As a Bostonian, I highly recommend an off-the-beaten-path visit to the Boston Athenaeum (close to the State House near the Common), it’s a private, super old, working library that has tours and is just so gorgeous. Top floor is breath-taking (and you’ll recognize it from a bunch of movies…).
Fun summer reads I recommend include:
The Rosie Project–apparenty it’s being turned into a movie, but it’s a funny, big-hearted read by the Silver Linings Playbook author.
Where’d You Go Bernadette–if you haven’t read it already, it’s a great, fun read. The plot creschendos into the absurd in the most delightful way!
If you want a book that will break you down and make you sob and question life, A Little Life was stunning. It took about 80 pages to get into it, but then… WOW. Blew me away. Maybe not one for the beach/pool though as I was ugly crying while reading it :)
love this list ! Maybe stealing a few ideas…
I’m all about enjoying food and my big bowls of food so here’s how I volume eat without overdoing it because big doesn’t always have to be bad !
https://leishamulvey.wordpress.com/2016/06/26/volume-eating