When creating bucket lists were all the rage, I never made one. Why? Not because I didn’t have a million things I wanted to do before I was too old to do them, more like I didn’t want to be reminded of all the things I couldn’t do for one reason or another. I know, cup half empty, right? Well, I came across this spin off idea of the bucket list in my Better Homes & Garden magazine (BTW, call me old for subscribing, I DON’T CARE, I LOVE IT) called a sand pail list. Basically instead of writing down everything you wish to do in your life, write down the things you hope to accomplish this summer! Here are the things I’m hoping to do with my family before school starts again.
Explore Nature
- I figure since we live in The Natural State (Arkansas), we need to get out and explore it! I want to take a weekend trip to the Hot Springs and hike the mountains surrounding the area and go “sluicing” for gemstones.
- While I’m not a huge fan of sleeping in a tent (or rather, not having an indoor toilet), I do want to introduce my daughter to camping…in the backyard. Tents, sleeping bags and smores! What could be more fun?
- Grow something different. I typically grow tomatoes, peppers and herbs in my garden. This summer, why not try something new? I’m thinking arugula. Not sure what to plant in your area? Check out SproutRobot.com. Just enter your zip code and they’ll tell you.
Be A Kid Again
- Run through the sprinklers WITH my bathing suit on. Don’t get the wrong idea, I don’t do it with my bathing suit off, I just don’t do it.
- Master the hula hoop. Or at least be able to do a few gyrations before it falls to the ground. I’m sure this exercise is good for the core.
- Teach my daughter one of those clapping games. Remember Miss Sue? Miss Sue from Alabama, her name was Susie Anna…or something like that!
Get The Kids in the Kitchen
- Let my daughter make cookies and not the PlayDough kind. She loves to help pour ingredients so why not take it the next step and get her hands dirty. And my kitchen dirty. This may only happen once.
- Get my step-son to cook with me. THIS. WILL. BE. A. CHALLENGE. For one, he’s not with us much this summer because he’s a teenager and let’s face it, they’re busy. Two, I’ve seen him make Kraft Mac & Cheese and that’s it. This will only happen once.
- Make smores – oh wait, that was part of exploring nature.
Give Back
- Make monthly donations to the local food bank. Even if it’s just a few items or a few bucks, every bit helps.
- Bring awareness to a charitable organization through blogging because it’s the right thing to do. Not because someone is sponsoring my post or because it’s trending on Google. Because it matters.
Artsy Fartsy
- Go to an outdoor concert – it’s been ages!
- Take the kids to a museum. Make them (me) leave the iPhones in the car.
- Take my daughter to see Super Why Live! It counts as a theater performance, right?
Those are just a few of the things on my sand pail list. I know I can do each and everyone of them and in the process, I’ll have an awesome time doing it! And if I’m really lucky, I’ll even sneak in a massage here or there. After all, you can’t go to Hot Springs without getting a spa treatment!
What’s on your sand pail list?
About Sarah
Twitter: emmuk74
says:
loving the sand pail list, I am going to write one of these as well, thanks for the inspiration
Twitter: ahelicoptermom
says:
What a great idea! I love your answers too!
I’ll definitely need to think of some fun things for my own Sand Pail list.
Thanks for sharing!
What a great idea! I have always wanted to go sluicing for gem stones…I wonder if there are any places to do that in Maine?
I love this idea! I am going to have my kids make lists too, and we will see how much fun we can have this summer.
Twitter: kSquaredGlamour
says:
this is such a fun idea thank yo for sharing
Fantastic tips! Thanks for sharing that to us. Hopefully I can make it
I love your post.
Twitter: CinnyBBS
says:
So cute! I love how you’d run through the sprinklers. Fun times!
Such a great thing. I feel like summer is the only time we can be kids running in the sand and playing with bubbles
Love this list, it’s practical and fun. I went a little crazy a month ago and made a 101 in 1001 list. It’s daunting but exciting too. – Katy
Twitter: _triplep
says:
I grew up on Better Homes and Gardens! Bucket Lists are for dying, sand bucket lists are for living, in my opinion, haha!
What a great sand pail list. I need to do this too!
Oh wow, I guess I kind of created my own Sand Pail list last week without even realizing it
Summer’s been on my brain, and all the fun things I want to do and see were on my mind so I wrote a small amount down 
Great list and hope you accomplish some of them, if not all =)
Twitter: linetteg
says:
I love it! What a great idea, I might just have to make my own sand pail list!
I need to be better about setting goals. I find I just get sucked into one thing (blogging) and then don’t do anything else!
Twitter: rjs7777
says:
You sound so happy I can feel it as I am reading your list. The list is a great idea and you have made a nice one. Thanks for sharing. It is nice to do new things. I am into quilting and was never a sewer. I am having fun. I am really getting into gardening this year, too. Oregon has had horrible summers and I am hoping this one will be a good one. I am relatively new to blogging and I am having fun except for hackers!!!
cute idea. I love that you have your list separated into categories.
What a neat idea! I never heard of a sand pail list but this is something im totally interested in trying myself!
I always thought if I did a bucket list, I would just feel like a failure right before I died if I didn’t get everything done because I’m a completist like that. I totally feel what you mean about having to break it down into smaller goals!
What a great idea! While it’s good to have big goals, it’s just as important to have smaller, attainable ones. Love yours!