Spring 2026 Bucket List

Happy Friday and First Day of Spring! I absolutely love that the first day of spring is on a Friday! I'm so glad the weather felt very springlike because just a few days ago, it seemed like winter was going to stay a bit longer. The weather definitely gave me (and I'm sure many other people) whiplash. 

This spring, I'm looking forward to the return of my local farmers' market, tulips, warmer weather, and walks along the Silver Comet Trail. I'm also looking forward to trying more seasonal foods, drinks, and treats.

Since it's a new season, you know I had to share my seasonal bucket list, which is a seasonal tradition and ritual I absolutely love. Many of the items on the list have appeared in previous spring bucket lists, but a few are new. Check it out below.

• Read 8 books

• Try 2 new recipes

• Submit a piece to an online publication

• Make homemade strawberry Pop-Tarts

• Participate in at least one Exhale blog hop

• Complete 1 unfinished creative project 

• Try a new art technique

• Work in my sketchbook/journal

• Participate in a book challenge

• Visit a new-to-me coffee shop

• Go for a family walk every week

• Visit a new-to-me restaurant

• Have a picnic

• Publish a photo essay

• Make a zine

• Watch 2 new (or new-to-me) movies

• Go to the farmer's market at least twice a month

• Make Same-Day Peasant Bread

• Make my own floral bouquet

• Have a movie and board game night

• Dye Easter eggs

• Go for a daily walk

• Buy fresh flowers every week

• Declutter and donate old toys and clothes

• Switch my perfume to a spring fragrance

• Make homemade syrups for teas and lemonade

• Go thrifting

• Visit a museum

• Visit the botanical gardens

• Document our spring adventures

• Continue to work on my 100 Days Project

What's on your Spring bucket list?

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...

Photo by Kerri Shaver on Unsplash

Just Five Things

1. It may still be spring, but summer is in full swing over here. Lately, I've been enjoying an insane amount of Rainier cherries, flowers, wearing soft shorts, listening to random summer rain showers, and taking a nap here and there. 

2. I've just discovered Betsey Johnson shoes, and I'm obsessed. These shoes are so colorful, fun, and cute. DSW currently carries Betsey Johnson sandals, heels, sneakers, and boots. I've got my eyes on these heels (and if you know me, you know I rarely wear heels): Fergie Sandal, Lenah Sandal, Mikah Sandal. 

3. I'm not a big fan of tea, but I recently visited my local farmer's market and discovered a business called Soul Food Holistic Healing, which sells amazing teas and drinks. I'm obsessed with their Black Butterfly, which combines butterfly pea flower tea and lemonade. Now, I'm interested in trying similar drinks and teas. I'll be sure to share some new teas as I try them. 

4. I'm reading several books, but I've been really enjoying Always Yours by Hope Ford. I'm also still reading Dear Writer by Maggie Smith. It's taken me a bit longer than it would take to read this book, but I'm trying to take my time with it. I love that she wrote about titles and how tricky they can be to come up with for pieces. Coming up with titles is something I have always struggled with, so it was interesting to read her take on them.

5. "Unlearn the ways of perfectionism by making art, taking photographs, writing words on a page...Let the creative process help you observe how beauty can emerge in an imperfect, candid space."

-Morgan Harper Nichols

What have you been up to?

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...

Photo by Timo C. Dinger on Unsplash

Just Five Things

1. Saturday was an amazing day because it was Independent Bookstore Day and the first day of my city's Spring Festival. We had so fun at the festival. Raphael loved the bouncy houses. We all devoured fried Oreos. I also bought a few things from some new-to-me small businesses. I absolutely love supporting small businesses and have noticed that I'm definitely trying to buy from more local shops as well. One of my new favorite bookstores, Sincerely Yours Bookstore, collaborated with a mobile coffee bar, Frothy Coffee Experience, on Independent Bookstore Day. After we left the festival, I stopped by the bookstore and bought some coffee for John and me. I loved the book-themed coffee menu and tried the Dark Chocolate and Hazelnut Latte inspired by the character Xaden Riorson.

2. I've been reading Mr. Boddington's Dispatches and have been enjoying them. Mr. Boddington is Rebecca Ruebensaal's imaginary friend and the inspiration for her book and stationery shop. 

3. Teacher and Staff Appreciation Week is coming up soon. I loved seeing some of the teacher gift displays (even though most were small) in stores. I've already started getting some goodies together for Raphael's teachers, and I'm glad that I haven't waited until the last minute because there weren't a lot of items available at most of the stores. Maybe I started shopping too early, or perhaps I am a little late? Who knows?

4. I got my first mail club package from Haley Weaver. The mail club is a subscription service for those who subscribe to Haley's Substack newsletter, Haley Wrote This. I received a few goodies, including a couple of postcards, which I'm excited about because I've been really into postcards lately. I may add one to my journal or Project Life (pocket pages) album.

5. Very relatable:

Today won't be like yesterday, you tell yourself. 

You won't reach for your phone first thing,

but maybe a quick peek is okay —

to check notifications,

to make sure the world is still whole.

Of course it's not; every headline fractures

the ground beneath you.

But that reality tv star had her baby

and your mom got Wordle in three tries

and you've received a discount code

to that online shop, a reminder that maybe

 a waist-cinching bathing suit could fix it all:

your body, your summer, your life!!!

—from Haley Weaver's #111: Today will be Different

What have you been up to?

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...

Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash