Amigas, thank you for joining me for my summer 2021 bucket list reveal. Hope if you haven’t done so already, my list will inspire you to create one of your own. Having goals and plans after a year of being unable to do so is a welcome diversion.
But before we get to my summer list, we have some loose ends to tie up on my bucket list for spring.
My Spring 2021 Bucket List
I originally shared my spring 2021 bucket list back on 03.21.2021. My sweet mama’s birthday. Today’s post is my third and final update on my progress on that list.
Spring Bucket List Update 06.2021
All things considered, I think I did pretty well on my spring bucket list. Of the 18 activities, I completed 16. One of those that went uncompleted was really out of my control. On the other activity where I gave myself a big red ❌ I am so close to achieving it but not quite there yet. Bumping it to summer.
Here’s how I wound up for spring.
BODY- 2 checks
- Discover a new hike – tin mines or Hueco Tanks maybe?
- Investigate playing pickleball again – check out the possibility of classes. Our pickleball gym was sold. Now I need to try to find a new place to play. I did check out the possibilities of playing but never got to play. ❌
- Facial and pedi – bumped the facial from winter’s bucket list. Need a pedicure to kick off sandal season. Have enjoyed two facials and finally got that pedi with Lauren before going to Kentucky. Done son.
HEART – 3 checks
- Spring fun – Easter egg hunt with the girls or confetti eggs in the park, bird feeder, plant a garden, blow bubbles?? Some or all. Did most everything in April.
- Try a new date night experience – would like to check out iFly or Top Golf, renting 4-wheelers at Red Sands. We had a reservation for Top Golf this past weekend. But – in the interest of full disclosure – right before we were supposed to go play, we got into a tussle and didn’t go. We have tried new restaurants so going to give this a checkmark anyway.
- Visit a new-to-us restaurant or brewery – maybe something downtown. Tried the Keg and Brew. I had a peanut butter and chocolate ale. Paul had a German beer that was a little less exotic. Plan to go back again soon.
MIND – 3 checks
- Finish mosaic – meet the #100DayProject deadline of 05.31.2021 for completion. Oh, girls, I did it!! I finished this baby. I earned a big huge green check mark for finally completing this 7 year long project.
- Quirky birds collage – participate in another collage workshop with Jennifer at The Maker Beehive. Loved doing this and want to start on my bicycle collage as soon as my sister finishes school for the year.
- Blog facelift – give the blog a fresh look for spring. No fun but done.
SPIRIT – 2 checks
- Begin using new devotional journal – complete Finding Your Path to Faith, Hope & Healing: A Workbook to Enrich Your Journey and begin using the Prayer Journal for Women: 52 Week Scripture, Devotional & Guided Prayer Journal. Never finished Finding Your Path to Faith but will have it done before this month is over. Bumping this activity to summer. ❌
- Attend Easter church services – PC will get his second vaccine on Tuesday and then we will feel more comfortable about attending church.
- Read a self-help book – bumped from my winter bucket list. Looking at How to Be Yourself: Quiet Your Inner Critic and Rise Above Social Anxiety by Ellen Hendriksen or Keep Sharp: Build a Better Brain at Any Age by Sanjay Gupta.
STOMACH – 3 checks
- Create a spring charcuterie board – my BFF Sharon sent me a charcuterie board book with lots of ideas. Can’t wait to try some of them and share with you. Just under the wire with this one. Put together a board last night. Nothing fancy but very tasty.
- Try 3 new Weight Watcher friendly recipes – make the recipes and add them to the online WW database. Made this shrimp and grits recipe and it was love at first bite. By my calculations, a serving is 8 points. Also tried this cheesy southwest chicken soup; a hearty bowl is 5 points. Made this Thai peanut noodles with chicken recipe from Eat Yourself Skinny (sign me up) on Pinterest.
- Go on a burrito or taco run – pick up burritos or tacos from several local restaurants, maybe some of the tacos mentioned here or the burritos mentioned here and determine the best. We visited 3 taco restaurants and our favorite was El Taquito Loco. Had both the pork and chicken tacos, served with street taco-sized corn tortillas and baked potatoes. The taco bar had limes, onions, cilantro, cucumber and a variety of salsa and pico de gallo. The restaurant was clean and quiet. Not much in the way of atmosphere but the food was delicious.
STYLE – 3 Checks
- Find, pose by and photograph 5 new-to-me murals – style several of the spring 2021 capsule wardrobe pieces for this activity.
- Reach for skirts and dresses more – try wearing a skirt or dress once a week.
- Update warm weather active wear – buy some quality pieces and purge my older things. Well, I didn’t wind up buying big name brand active wear like I originally planned. But I did get some new pieces. New sports bras and new yoga pants with pockets. Purged about a half-dozen pairs of old leggings and about that many sports bras, too. This outfit is a combination of pieces – yoga pants from Marshall’s (RBX brand) and tank top from Amazon.
So, that’s a wrap for spring 2021. Now onto bigger and better…
My Summer 2021 Bucket List
I am keeping the same 6 categories for this season’s list that I have used for all of my recent bucket lists. Doing so helps me create and enjoy activities of all kinds. Those that fall under body are usually physical activities. Heart activities are things I generally do with loved ones. The experiences I list under mind are designed to make me think, feed my brain. Likewise, those under spirit bring inner peace. Style activities revolve around fashion and beauty. And this season I changed the old category stomach to taste buds. These are experiences that involve delighting the taste buds.
Here’s what I have come up with for summer.
Body
- Another new hike – Hueco Tanks or Sitting Bull Falls or maybe we will get to the Tin Mines. This was an activity on my spring list and we did investigate a new hike but not any of the ones I wanted to investigate. So, I am going to try again.
- Skin cancer screening – Have had this on my wellness goals for over a year. It is going to happen this season.
- Meet and maintain within 2 pounds lifetime Weight Watchers weight – My lifetime weight is 138. I was 139.8 on Saturday. Need to get to 138 and stay there!!
Heart
- Beach vacation – South Padre Island; we will be vacationing with family and celebrating all the birthdays together
- Balloon fest or water park – Would like to do both of these activities. Hoping Brennyn can come in September and go to the Balloon Fest with us. Thinking Lauren and I can let Cia and Cami play hooky and take the girls to the water park one day.
- Farmer’s market and food truck rodeo in northeast El Paso – If you live in northeast El Paso, you have probably joined me in bemoaning the fact that we have so few activities in our own backyard. The best restaurants and stores are on the east or west sides of town. When I heard we were getting our own farmer’s market out here, I immediately added it to my summer bucket list.
Mind
- Write meaningful blog posts – I have been saying that I want to redirect my blog to my original focus. Life after retirement. And writing. Going to force that to happen by putting it on my bucket list.
- Game night once a month – Over the winter we had several game nights and really enjoyed them. Want to bring them back. And maybe have a game night in South Padre, too.
- Summer twist for reading club – My online reading club has been going for several years now and we are up to almost 100 members. This summer, I want to jazz things up and try something new with the gang.
Spirit
- Write one Thankful Thursday post a month – Want to return to joining my friend Rebecca for this series.
- Start new prayer journal – Bumped from spring. Going to start using the Prayer Journal for Women: 52 Week Scripture, Devotional & Guided Prayer Journal.
- Photo scavenger hunt for summer – Blogging friends Mary-Jo, Ruth and Deb all participate in the summer photo scavenger hunt. I am going to join them. Taking photographs is one way to become more aware in the beauty in the world. You can find the prompts, here.
Style
- Share a beach style post – Don’t worry, this won’t be me in a bikini!! But want to share some of the looks I pack for our summer vacation.
- Purge summer clothes not worn in 2 years – Now that I am volunteering some at the Clothes Closet, I want to donate those warm weather clothes I haven’t worn in a long time.
- Update my pajama game – Poor PC. He will appreciate this one. I really need to do better in the pj department. Time to toss the raggedy pajamas and gowns and replace them with something new.
Taste Buds
- Try new treat – Maybe Teapioca boba tea or Aurora rolling ice cream or Nonotelo gelato. Are any of these nummy things familiar to you?
- Find a new breakfast restaurant – No bright ideas for this activity yet. But I am tired of iHop.
- Try 3 new recipes – Using my air fryer, follow my Pinterest board Air Fryer Foodie and/or using my bread machine, follow my Pinterest board Baking Bread. I have these fancy appliances and need to use them.
Your Turn
What are you cooking up to keep yourself active and occupied over the long summer days? Are any of my activities on your summer 2021 bucket list? Please share in a comment below, or on my blog FB page, here. Or if you have a summer fun blog post, please join the linky party.
A mountain of clean clothes awaits me, friends. Need to get them folded and put away before PC gets home. And trying to run on the treadmill several times a week. But our triple digit heat sure makes running in the garage a sweaty proposition!!
Have a peaceful week. Thank you for stopping by. I am linking up this post with my friend Natalie who shares the most exquisite photographs of her hometown Toronto. Hope you will run by to check them out, here.
Hugs and kisses,
Lovely summer plans. Look forward to reading about your experiences. My summer bucket list is short. Have bunion surgery and recover with minimum whining. Keep boredom at bay, my mind happily occupied and my attitude good while doing so. Express appreciation for Hubby’s caretaking!
Bless your heart, you are so brave. My feet are really bothering me but the doctors have not offered any solutions. Or even identified the problem by name. Thinking it might be time to have them check again to see what is going on. Glad your hubs is so good to care for you. He knows he has a prize!!
You did a great job on your spring bucket list and great job getting so near to your WW goal! You can do it!!
Thank you!! I need to get back tracking. Ugh. Just want to eat!!
These are great Leslie. I need to get my post done. I came home and had to do some other things, and then our internet went down, and now I’m too tired…lol. Thinking I’ll finish in the morning.
You created a great list of activities. Will be anxious to follow your progress. Thank you for joining me.
Great goals and you did a lot of them! Now enjoy the summer!
Thank you, dear friend. Want to begin ticking things off my bucket list this weekend. Thinking I will start with the edible activities!!
I like your summer bucket list; such a blend that keeps your mind body & spirit engaged. Thanks for the SPSH shout out. I don’t think I’ll make a bucket list this year, even with people getting their 2nd COVID vaccine, the Delta variant is running rampant & people are still getting COVID. SO my plans will definitely be keeping me at home, again, for the summer. 🙁
… Mary-Lou
I am so sorry that the Delta variant of Covid is giving Canada and Great Britain such worries. Apparently, our numbers in Texas are going up again. Geez, this pandemic has just been paralyzing.
Yay for having a local farmer’s market. I love the idea of trying to join Rebecca’s Thankful Thursday link up once a month. It is really good to focus on the gratitude in life. I need to do that more often, especially these days.
Come on and do the Thankful Thursday. I started my post but didn’t get it finished so will post it next week.
You have some great goals and plans for summer!
Great job on your Spring bucket list. I didn’t check off a ton, but I still did a lot of other things so I still count it as a win. Good luck with all the items on your Summer bucket list. I feel like half of mine are food related. LOL I keep wanting to check out – or go back to – various restaurants and places though. It’s all part of touring locally.
Lauren
http://www.shootingstarsmag.net
Food related activities rock!! My daughter used to beg me to think of things we could do together that didn’t revolve around food. Pretty sure she must be adopted!!
I love how you are pushing yourself to try new things…food, style and everything!!
Did I ever tell you the time we had an ice cream review. There were 6 of us and we went to three different places in one day and rated them!! SO FUN!!
OOXX
Jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
An ice cream review sounds great. Sign me up. Maybe I will borrow that idea. We started on our taco run and review and tried three places that we liked very much. Impossible to really pick a favorite!!
Nice work on your spring list, Leslie! You certainly accomplished a lot. It sounds like your summer list will keep you busy too. I’ve recently had my skin screening. I’m happy to hear that you do that too. It’s so important. I’m also looking forward to the Farmers Markets and more hiking. Happy summer!
Thank you, my friend. High five on having your skin cancer screening. Great minds!! The only trouble is now I feel like I don’t have to worry as much about sunscreen because everything checked out. Need to get over myself and back to slathering on the sunscreen.
Such an interesting bucket list for this summer. Great plans and great tips.
Thank you!!
Just look at all those things you ticked off! Brilliant! I think you’re going to have fun working your way through your Summer list too.
Thank you!! Looking forward to doing the scavenger hunt with you and the gals.
Lots of checks in your boxes. I know I’ve said it before but I love the categories you use. It makes for such a well-balanced bucket list – and I do love a well-balanced bucket list…
Thank you!! I am a big fan of well-balanced everything…just not terribly well-balanced myself!!
Oh I hear you.
XO
These were all really great activities! Way to go on completing so many of them!
Thank you so much!! Hope you are enjoying a restful getaway with the hubs.
WOW – you were crushing your goals from spring!! That is impressive…you must be the champion of New Year’s resolutions:) Much like resolutions, I make goals (for season etc.) but don’t right them down. Less accoutable that way – ha! If you keep up the pace – your summer looks to be very productive. And fun!! I’m right there with you on uping my pajama game (sigh) and finding a new breakfast spot. Breakfast out is my favorite!! Have a great weekend!!
LOL, you make me laugh. I love eating breakfast out. But want to find an alternative to McD’s and iHop!! PC will be glad for me to toss some of my pjs and replace them with something prettier, more feminine. Bless his heart!!
Well done with your Spring bucket list Leslie! Your Summer bucket list looks like a lot of fun, especially the items under Heart category. Thank you for linking up with #weekendcoffeeshare. Have a great week!
Thank you for stopping by Natalie. And for always sharing the beauty of your world with us.
How nice to see how much you’ve done during the spring! Your summer goals look very good too. I love your hike exploration!
I don’t usually write goals down like this, and because of the uncertainty around the pandemic I haven’t had any goals for activities but just to go with the flow. But when the vaccination rollout started speeding up here and I received my first shot, I felt it was time to make some goals or plans. Most of my plans have to do with road trips, pubs, visiting places and seeing friends. I will soon be fully vaccinated and then we can go to a friend’s house to play some tunes, and eat out. We also plan to visit Dublin for a guitar testing spree in music shops!
I can’t wait to go to church again. Thanks for reminding me to check how my local church is doing, if it’s open and so on.
Good luck with your summer bucket list, and have an enjoyable summer! I’m quite new to your blog but I like what I see and look forward to reading more.
Thank you so much for discovering my blog and taking time to say hello. Now I can return the favor. That dreadful pandemic through all hopes of making plans right out the window. For a year!! So glad for the vaccination and for the freedom it has brought back to our lives. You mention visiting Dublin…as in Ireland? I am not sure where you live but have a tab open to find out…I would adore visitng Ireland, Scotland and England. Ahh, you are a transplanted Swede. And an excellent photographer.
Aww, thanks for your comment about my photography, that makes me so happy! And yes, Dublin, Ireland. But we decided not to go (this time, at least)! We’re happy to browse around in our own area instead, and to see some guitar builders we know in Scandinavia later.
Totally agree about the freedom… now I just hope it will last.
You always have such great goals Leslie and a huge tick for finishing your mosaic!! These were all fun to read and I wish you all the best for continuing as you have started. The range of categories is very balanced and you are such a beautiful soul inside and out 🙂
Aww, what sweet words. Thank you for leaving such a heart-warming comment.
You always set such lofty goals and accomplish so much!
First time visitor from Natalie’s! I like your style. I should put a to do list together. I do have one in my head most of the time. I am the planner and instigator for our activities and my husband just comes along. Like you we are always ready to try any new food (me a little more so). We always plan a couple of day trips either around Toronto and close by each week. They have to work around John’s golf which is fine as that gives me time to do what I want.
So nice to meet you and have you leave a comment so that I know you stopped by. I love all that Natalie has shared of Toronto. Seems there is so much to explore and enjoy. We plan around my husband’s baseball so I understand completely about scheduling things around golf. I used to always say we were going to try something new each weekend or at least once a month and then when the time came, I would forget what I wanted to try. Making these bucket lists really helps me remember the things I want to try. Otherwise, we would eat at McDonald’s every Saturday. And a big date night would be a movie. Thank you for coming by!!
I love how you’ve categorized your goals. You’ve inspired me to do something similar.
How do you get the suns to fall down the page?
Thank you!! Come do a fall bucket list with me in September. So glad you somehow found my blog and left a comment so I can return the favor.
The suns (someone suggested they look like Covid bacteria) are part of a Weather Effect widget. I have decided to change the suns to a summer drink. Hope you will run back by to check them out!! Cheers.
Way to go on the Spring bucket list!!! And when I read about your skin cancer screening… it reminded me that I need to schedule my colonoscopy!! 😉 Here’s to accomplishing all of your bucket list!!
Thank you, Cammi. I am thankful my skin cancer screening came back A-Ok!! Yes, get that colonoscopy scheduled.
These posts always make me think and stir something inside me! Like writing thoughtful blog posts. I feel like I am running out of words and searching for my mojo in that department. I am also thinking about the murals idea – we have them here in Orlando but I never bother finding them and I need to! Thanks for inspiring me!
xo,
Kellyann
Oh, I bet you have fabulous murals in your area. Maybe you could use some of them as backdrops to your style posts? I would love to see.
It’s awesome you achieved so much from your spring bucket list – I hope you are able to have the same amount of success or even more with your summer list – lots of good things on there to do in the warm weather!
Hope you are having a lovely week 🙂
Away From the Blue Blog
Thank you, my sweet friend. Need to get started ticking things off my list.
Such an interesting bucket list. I will definitely try some of these ideas. Seems so much fun!
Thank you!! Come make a fall bucket list with me on 09.21. By that time you will be settled into your new home and can make a list of fun things to do!!
This is so fun to read! My sister niece and I went to Top Golf here for the 1st time . The only golf I played was miniature. It was a BLAST! So fun and we laughed a lot, especially when we missed the ball! I need to go for a facial! Im also due for toes, anytime they are exposed, its time for a pedi! Love the charcuetarie ( sp sorry) board. Have you ever tried Drunken Goat? Oh, it is good! I love these ideas! I may have to write one as well, I always enjoy hiking in new spots and my hubby loves trying new breweries, there are quite a few here.
Have a great week Leslie!
jess xx
http://www.elegantlydressedandstylish.om
Would love for you to do a bucket list any season with me. We will share the progress on our summer lists on 07.21 and 08.21 and then on 09.21, we will reveal our autumn lists. They are my favorites!! So much to do in the fall. I have not tried Drunken Goat and have no idea what that is. Going to look it up right now!! Thank you for piquing my interest.
What I liked about reading your list was how kind you were to yourself…bumped it to Summer. I have not ever made a bucket list and probably because it felt too much like goals and achievements that I always had to answer to in my roles in education. These days, I am enjoying my wellness following head and neck cancer, noticing nature wherever I go, doing lots of art, including ICAD and blogging!!
Thank you for sharing your post for #LifeThisWeek at Denyse Whelan Blogs. It’s been great to see you here and thanks so much for your contribution to the community of bloggers who link up from Mondays to Wednesdays (Australian Eastern Time). Next Monday the optional prompt is Taking Stock. And we are past half way for my 2021 Blogging Year! Denyse.
So glad to have discovered you among the blogs of our mutual friends. Have really enjoyed your ICAD projects. I have done 3 of them but not particularly pleased with my efforts so haven’t shared. Maybe next year, I can get in from the start.
I remember reading that you have battled and overcome head and neck cancer. Bravo!! Cannot imagine how very difficult that must have been. Things like that do tend to help us look for the good, the beauty, the creativity in the world.
Wonderful summer plans, Leslie.
Love the spring charcuterie board.
Thank you, new friend. Now to accomplish them!!
The kids and I have been checking out a new breakfast place every other week and it has been a lot of fun! I have been craving boba tea and haven’t had it in ages and ohhh I should get some rolled ice cream as a treat this 4th of July!
Carrie
curlycraftymom.com
Never had rolled ice cream but we need to try it. What fun that you guys have discovered some new breakfast places this summer. I think that is going to be a challenge for us. We have Mexican restaurants on every corner but not many serve breakfast!!
Wow you tackled that spring list –and that was a lot! I’ve had boba — but honestly I’m not a fan. I usually like my milk tea with aloe jelly or pudding or otherwise plain. I’ve never had rolled ice cream, but I have seen it. I’d be open to try it too.
Hmmm, my sister is the one who told me about boba. I will be anxious to see what I think. Hers was alcoholic somehow. I really know nothing about it so need to check it out. Thank you so much for finding my blog and taking time to say hello!!
I’ve tried alcohlic boba. It’s a novelty. Not something you’d commonly find in a bar.
Hi Leslie!
This is a great way to break down a bucket list by these categories, I love it! We went to a new Farmer’s Market here and i love it. One of my hubby’s clients just gave him a huge basket of fresh fruits and veggies, as they are starting one as well.
I just bought some new workout bras and leggings myself, it does help with motivation! I find Marshalls does have some good workout clothes
I would love to see what you bring on your beach trip. I packed light recently, bunch of cute tops and denim shorts I would wash -along with 3 dresses for celebrating bday dinners. Enjoy your celebrations and beach getaway!
jess xx
http://www.elegantlydressedandstylish.com