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Our Summer Bucket List

2013 May 24
by WWGD

SummerBucketList-WhatWouldGwynethDo

Ushering in a new season is kind of strange in Southern California where the weather doesn’t really change along with the calendar pages.

But even though it’s 73 degrees and sunny almost every day of the year, there is still a sense of transformation that comes with each season and you learn to embrace that as a sign of the change, even if your wardrobe doesn’t have to do the same.

I strongly believe in creating memories for my kids every season so they know how special each one is, even if they don’t feel it in the physical air around them.

So on that note, here is our 2013 Summer bucket list – things we want to do, see, and embrace to make the months ahead memorable (even if they look strikingly similar to the months that just passed):

1) Play hooky. Summer days are meant for wrapping up early, calling in sick once in a while, and impromptu long weekends.

2) Eat ice cream. Lots of it. On random Tuesdays and sunny Saturday mornings.

3) Beach picnics. For breakfast, lunch and dinner.

4) Learn to ride a bike without training wheels (Little D).

5) Go on at least three road trip weekend getaways. I am thinking Palm Springs, Santa Barbara and maybe San Francisco.

6) Eat outdoors more. My husband will be thrilled with this one – he always wants to eat outside and I am a lazy naysayer.

7) Go swimming. A lot. Maybe after dark. The kids would love it.

8) Learn to swim (Kai).

9) Learn to paddle board (me).

10) Camp out in the backyard. This may be a job for my husband – I will eat dinner outside if he sleeps out there with the kids. Fair enough, no?

11) S’mores. And more s’mores. And more s’mores.

12) Take advantage of great local activities such as jazz in the park. We always say “we should have gone…” This year, we will go.

13) An outdoor activity every day. We have been getting a little lazy after school and falling into an indoors routine that we need to shake up in the Summer months. Incorporate water balloons and sprinklers where possible.

14) Outdoor movies with a white sheet and a projector.

15) Surf more (skater hubs).

What will you be doing to make this Summer memorable? If you need ideas, The Happy Family Movement blog has a ton. They’ve even compiled an e-book full of fun activities (a glow in the dark party and pirate training would both go over very well around here) that you can download for inspiration. And if you want to join their Happy Family movement, share your Summer memories on social media with the hashtag #happyfamilysummer.*

Wishing you all a happy and safe Memorial Day weekend!

*not a sponsored post, I just think it’s a cool concept.

**image above via Jackie Rueda**

10 Responses
  1. Linda permalink
    May 24, 2013

    Great bucket list! Thanks for the Happy Family link. I used to love pulling out the Xmas decorations and fancy table settings and making a menu for Chez Linda. I served PB&J sandwiches and Lipton soup.

    • WWGD permalink*
      May 24, 2013

      Love that! So easy to make such great memories for our littles…here’s to making many of them!

  2. Karsha Chang permalink
    May 24, 2013

    I WILL go to the Playa Vista Outdoor Movie Fest once-and-freakin’-for-all this year!!! (I’ve said this 3 years in a row). Your post is inspiring me to MAKE IT HAPPEN! =)

    • WWGD permalink*
      May 28, 2013

      Ha ha, yes! Bring wine, it will instantly become a priority 😉

  3. Christina permalink
    May 26, 2013

    Love your summer list! We have a tradition in our family- we go out to dinner on the last day of school & everyone contributes 2-3 ideas of things they want to do/accomplish over the summer. It’s always fun to try to check everything off the list. Some things that might make the list this year: finish reading the Hobbit (finally); go to La Brea Tar Pits and LA Museum of Art (we live in So Cal but have never been to either); make our back yard a nicer place to hang out.

    • WWGD permalink*
      May 28, 2013

      I love that, what a great tradition! And yes, we lived in LA proper for 8+ years and never made it to the Tar Pits…let me know how it is 😉

  4. May 28, 2013

    love this! Just posted one of my own. Looking back, I realized it’s pretty similar to last summer’s 🙂 The one thing we are really good about is the summer park concert series- such an easy, fun way to get together with friends. Plus the Miho truck comes to the one near us, which means I don’t even have to pack a picnic!

    • WWGD permalink*
      May 28, 2013

      Ooh, that’s awesome. Ours is supposed to be great as well, but sadly, no Miho to be found…

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