I started writing Summer Sunday posts in 2020 on my old blog, so I think I’ll continue the tradition here!
May really got away from me, with the end of the school year approaching faster than ever because my district has now adjusted our calendar so that we get out earlier in June but return to school the third week of August — a shift I personally endorse as someone who never went to school past Memorial Day growing up. I finished packing up my classroom on Friday and realized how worn down I was feeling. I am now on my third proper sick day (isolating, resting in bed, watching endless episodes of Gilmore Girls, not “powering through”). I only managed to write twice this month: my best marriage advice and a list of quotes I’ve saved recently.
Plans I have for Summer 2024 include:
Deleting Instagram from my phone June 17-August 17. My longest social media break to date. I made a shared album (a vastly under-utilized iPhone feature, imo) with my dear friend Sandy in order to hold myself accountable.
Listening to every Lana Del Rey song. I remember hearing Lana on Tumblr after she released “Video Games,” and I played the hell out of Born to Die the summer I was 23 and “taking a break from dating.” Somewhere down the line I stopped listening to her, but now I am committed to catching up.
Go to the movies at 11:00 am. I pay $10 a month to be part of my local chain’s movie club because they let you roll tickets over with no expiration date. I am not sure what I’ll use all my banked tickets on, but going at 11:00 am feels like playing hooky in the best way. One summer I did this and cried my eyes out watching the Fred Rogers documentary. Another summer I told a grown man to stop making so much noise, the rest of us paid to enjoy Where the Crawdads Sing.
Sauvie Island. Sauvie Island is how I survived being pregnant during the 2020 summer lockdown. It holds such a special place in my heart! If you’re unfamiliar with west coast beaches, the Pacific Ocean is very cold and not always cooperative in the summer. The more traditional beach experience is usually at a river spot. We only made it there once last summer, and I am determined to go more regularly as it gets hotter.
Overnight trip to the coast. We don’t usually do this during tourist season because it’s expensive, but we aren’t traveling much this summer, so maybe we can swing a spontaneous mid-week getaway.
Renew my passport. My passport expired in 2020 and I have one trip planned to Canada in December to see the final Eras Tour show (I know, I know, I got extremely lucky). I must renew my passport this summer to avoid passport drama of my own making!
Make a second photo book for my son. I worked so hard in the summer of 2021 to make a first year photo album for Ari’s first birthday — I tried to include a variety of photos from each stage of infancy and get a good round up of photos with family and friends (more challenging than usual given the Covid constraints). They kindly didn’t say anything when I showed them, but I forgot to include my in-laws in the book and I have not forgiven myself. I have enough photos now to fill two or three books, but I am going to try and edit to a decent length before he turns four. Nana and Banana will have prime photo book real estate, I promise.
Make ice cream. This is another tradition of mine that I’ve skipped the last few years, but I am bringing it back. My favorite recipes come from Jeni Britton’s book - in particular her chocolate “Gucci Muumuu” ice cream and her absolute PERFECT recipe for olive oil ice cream (don’t knock it til you’ve tried it!). I’d like to make mint chocolate chip, too.
Visit Silver Falls State Park. Part of being an Oregonian on Instagram means I get served a lot of Travel Oregon content, which makes me feel ill-equipped and inadequate. I’ve never been an outdoorsy person, but being here makes me feel like I should be. I’ve decided to take the pressure off myself to be a certain type of Oregonian, and just go places with whatever gear I have for however long I feel like being there (it’s okay to just be a day trip person! Not everyone has thru-hiker energy!). Am I going to hike the entire seven mile loop? Probably not? Will I still see a waterfall? I hope so!
Pick blueberries. Blueberry picking is so much easier than strawberry picking. I genuinely love doing it, even when it’s terribly hot. I love baking muffins and collaborating on pies with Jonny. We have a blueberry bush we’re tending to this summer, too, so maybe next summer we’ll be able to pick some from our own yard.
Please share your summer bucket list with me, if you’re so inclined!
I won’t email updates every week, but I will be around.
With love,
Lexie
I love this list! I am going to think of mine and make my own post! ;)
I'm trying to do Monday movies at my local cinema because it's half the price, and I freelance so I have the flexibility for this! Another thing I want to do this winter is go camping! My favourite campsites are too packed during summer so winter is a great time to go, provided it's a relatively clear day. The best part is getting to make camp fires, which are usually not allowed in summer because of wildfire threats.