Final Summer Bucket List Update for 2019
Every summer I make a list of fun things and productive things I want to do before summer "kicks the bucket". I post updates every few weeks to let you guys know how I'm doing (and to hold me accountable!)
Well, it's September.
How did I do on my summer bucket list? Let's see!
Productive Goals
1. Paint Sonia and Zoe's beds white.
Done! See photos here.
2. Paint Zoe's room.
Done! See before and after photos here.
3. Paint Sonia's $25 Goodwill dresser.
Done! Here's a whole post about it, if you missed it.
4. Paint my bedroom.
Nope.
BUT. I got a bunch of paint chips and Mr. FG and I are working on picking out a color. We are going to actually do this, people!
5. Paint the replaced board on the deck.
Done.
6. Sand and paint under the bumpout in front of our house.
DONE. We had a temperate day so I tackled it.
It actually only took a few hours total, but let me tell you, holding a sander up like that is a serious arm workout.
Photos of my soffit-painting process are right here.
7. Do a top-to-bottom declutter of my house.
I did my:
- kitchen
- linen closet
- hall closet
- living room
- the office (Mr. FG and I did a great joint effort here and listed oodles of stuff for sale. Gold stars for us!)
I did not get to:
- my bedroom
- the under-the-stairs closet
- the laundry room
However, I will get to the bedroom as we tackle the painting project. And I can always do the closet and laundry room later.
I actually enjoy decluttering, so I will likely get to these projects during the school year.
8. Make three photo books.
I did exactly nothing on this, so I'm going to bump it to my do-during-the-school-year list, I think.
______________________
So, I did ⅚ of my painting projects, which I'm pretty happy about.
And while I didn't get the whole house decluttered, I did get rid of a lot of things.
On the whole, I'm pleased with how I did on my productive bucket list things.
Non-Productive (Fun!) Items
1. Make a random donut run.
2. Go see a movie in the theater.
We saw two movies at the second-run theater, actually.
3. Go visit our friends in Ohio.
4. Swim at least once a week.
5. Eat a meal at a park.
6. Eat a meal at the pool.
7. Go camping so Sonia can star-gaze.
Nope. But we do plan to go camping in September and Sonia will definitely bring her telescope.
8. Buy slushies.
9. Bike to the snow cone shop.
It finally cooled down enough to make this sound fun rather than miserable.
10. Roast marshmallows.
Luckily, we did this while visiting Mia in Ohio!
11. Go night swimming.
12. Go mini-golfing.
13. Host lots of sleepovers.
We had about 372 sleepovers this summer. Or thereabouts. Definitely crossing this off!
________________________
It would be quite rewarding to check EVERYTHING off the bucket list, but I don't know that that's ever happened for me.
But what I do know is that I get more things done (both fun and productive things) because I make a list.
And that's where the value lies.
Ha, I don't think I did anything this summer that I'd planned. I mean, we still did some fun things but all of the productive stuff will be put off until another day I guess.
The good news is that as much as I hate summer to end, autumn is generally far more active for me.
Weeeellllll....
Nope.
I did part of one thing -- take the grandkids on mini-trips. As in, I took one grandkid on one trip.
Rats.
But -- one of the projects I messed up and had to start over; I have actually started over. And once the weather cools, my outside project might still happen. It's just been too hot, and when it wasn't too hot, it was raining. I'm not going to work in a downpour or in a 130 deg. F heat index, which yes, has been happening this summer, and may happen next week -- we have possible 100 deg. F heat predicted and lots of our famous Florida humidity.
I've often thought that a Fall bucket list is better for me, even with the spate of holidays. We'll see if I make this stuff happen in the next four months.
I'm impressed with all you got done, Kristen!
Oh my word, if I had that weather I would be doing NOTHING outdoors. Oof. I hope you get some cooler weather soon.
That's very impressive, especially the painting.
In the ongoing saga of my staining one miserable little table: the cabinet-maker I hired to fix some things, offered to pocket-screw the table legs and supports. He said it was because I was so understanding of his very late arrival that day but I suspect the real reason is that my plan (glue and pre-existing screw system) was such a hack that it offended is professional sensibilities. ;-}
My Summer To-Do List has been hit or miss.
- I've made progress on several big projects, including ironing out a niggly financial thing that much-later-future-me will thank current-me for doing and getting niggly little house things fixed or hired out.
- I've completed projects I didn't plan to do.
- Other projects have taken much more work than they should, such as getting the chimney fixed. They keep getting it wrong and I have to keep calling them on it.
My Summer Fun List was also hit or miss.
- I did exactly one day trip; I anticipated doing more.
- I did not do any longer trips; I thought about doing one.
- I saw friends only a little more than I usually do.
- I did a lot of small, pleasant things: wandering around a neighborhood instead of hurrying home. Taking the dog for long walks in new areas. Small impulse outings.
- I slept better. (Sadly, this did survive the end of summer but it was nice while it lasted.)
DH and I bought a house to flip in May, 2018. It needed to be completely re-graded, re-landscaped, foundation settling work, complete rewiring and relocation of the electrical panel, removing the back of the house, removing a fireplace, tearing out all drywall, and of course, replacing everything, including completely new bathrooms and kitchen. We finally finished at the beginning of August, 2019. It's due to close next week.
The buyers didn't want any of my frugally sourced staging furniture, so we had a garage sale last weekend.
That is one huge bucket to cross off our list. We are so glad to be finished!
That's an amazing accomplishment. And I feel tired thinking about that job!
I didn’t do a summer bucket list but my husband and I, as newly empty nesters, put together a list for the fall. We’re hoping this will help with the transition to the new chapter in our lives. Oh boy, is it quiet!
I know the feeling! Are you finding hard adjusting to cooking for just two people? I keep making too much food.
Darlene, yes! Have frozen a few leftovers now
Your list looks great!!
This summer I was feeling the "this is my last few months with all 3 kids at home before we start school-life" so we did lots of fun things, particularly in the second half of the summer. Library, zoo, swimming, playdates, camping. I'm happy with it.
That sounds like a perfect summer. 🙂
I need to do a household purge. I've already gotten together numerous items to sell but I keep putting it off. For items that you post for sale, do you have the buyers come to your house to pick up or do you meet them somewhere? I'm dreading that aspect of it. How do your customers pay? I really don't want to accept checks from people I don't know.
Cash only! I sometimes offer to meet people at a convenient place for both of us (especially if I’m desperate to get rid of something!) like the library or grocery store and then plan my errands around that. I’ve found that most people are less likely to blow me off if I’ve offered to meet them.
For safety purposes as well, it’s a good idea to meet at a public place like this. Some people choose to meet in the parking lot of their local police or fire stations also.
We require cash only when people come to pick up. We actually never get requests for checks (hardly anyone pays via check anywhere anymore. And I'm upfront with my posts to say Cash only). totally not an unreasonable request!
Cash only. I put it in my posts.
You rocked the painting!!
I'm impressed with all the FUN you had too!
Gentle hugs here. No criticism. You might need to change how you make photo books, so they aren't such a burden to you. I find it's easier and faster to make the collages myself and then upload the collage page to the site. The book is done much quicker.
Also, are your creative daughters interested in making them for pay? Or for free?
Ah, interesting! What do you use to make the collages?
Seems like she means arrange the pics on a single page, maybe a white piece of paper, then take a picture of that page to upload.
I seem to keep putting off my bedroom, also. Not to paint but to declutter. I think I have decluttered most everything but that. I didn't make a summer bucket list but we stayed around the house a lot more this summer than we usually do which was nice. There were several craft projects and day trips that come to mind. I still haven't painted my deep watermelon bathroom either. I guess I know it's going to take a lot of paint and it also has a high ceiling
Oh, night swimming! I used to do that as a kid in our backyard pool (it had colored lights under the water, so we'd play "color tag" -- haven't thought about that in years!)