March Bucket List
It’s March my friends! This is the month that holds the first day of spring. Sure, we still have some grey days and possible snowstorms, you never know with midwest weather, but things are changing! This month I’m sharing some of my favorite “green” ideas, ways to practice mindfulness, spring inspired baking, and a simple shift into the spring mindset. Whenever a prompt has asked “what’s your favorite season?” I always answer with spring! The anticipation of whats to come is so inviting. I hope my March bucket list inspires you to see this season with wonder!
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March Bucket List
- Add a new piece or two to freshen up your spring wardrobe. This spring I’m looking to invest in a few jumpsuits. I’ve been obsessed with them lately since they’re so easy to throw on and go! I like adding a t-shirt underneath and a light sweater for the chilly spring mornings.
- Try baking an Irish soda bread. Around St. Patrick’s day Irish soda breads can pop up in grocery stores. They’re typically sweeter and cake-like since they’re often made with all-purpose flour, lots of added sugar, and eggs. I do like to indulge in this American soda bread style and make the much less sweet version at home. My recipe is more traditional, similar to a brown bread that’s made with Irish style flour. It’s dense and crumbly with a nice hearty flavor, perfect with some Irish butter.
- It’s time to get your seeds and start them indoors. The Old Farmers Almanac has great information on this! I reference their website each year, so I can have a refresher on gardening tips. In the Midwest, we don’t have as long of a growing season for certain fruits and vegetables, so growing indoors for a few weeks longer helps with producing a full harvest.
- Today is national pound cake day. Need I say more? Either make one from scratch or buy one from a bakery. Pound cake + whipped cream + strawberries = the best spring/summer dessert.
- Start planning for your summer vacations. Now is a great time to get ahead on your plans! You’ll be able to book hotels/rentals before they get sold out, and you’ll have lots of time to research the areas you’re planning on visiting.
- Get some fresh air and take a walk outside. Be mindful of what you see around you. Are their birds singing? Any some buds on the trees starting to form? Do you notice a shift in the weather or when the sun sets? My favorite app for identifying birds is the Merlin Bird App. Take a moment to realize what new birds you might see this month! With spring migration starting, you’ll be surprised how many different calls you may hear.
- If you’re itching for your eyes to rest on some greenery after this winter, check out local botanic gardens or arboretums. Lot’s of gardens have indoor exhibits like greenhouses and special events. It’s so uplifting to have our eyes rest on the color green. You can also research houseplants to make your space greener. I have plants in my home and in my office. Taking care of them is a nice break from the screens and it boosts my mood to be able to care for this live plants! There’s just something about being surrounded by this calming color that brings me peace.
- Today is International Women’s Day. This day has been around for over 100 years to further the advancement of women’s rights across the globe. IWD is an important resource that spotlights social issues, workforce equality, empowerment, health, and beyond. Consider donating to a women’s organization like the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, Planned Parenthood, or girls inc. I like to take today to acknowledge the women in my life and the great things that they’re doing and have accomplished. I believe that as women, it’s vitally important to support one another year round.
- Try making my strawberry honey basil fizz mocktail! So, I love a good mocktail. I’m not much of a drinker but I enjoy the process of putting a good drink together. There’s something fun and cozy about sitting down to watch a show or movie, or catch up with a friend while enjoying a good drink. I don’t know about you but I’m ready to sit outside on a warm day with a cold drink. You can always add alcohol to a mocktail and make it your own!
- Stop doom scrolling. No but actually stop scrolling for one day. Maybe you aren’t a scroller (so keep on keeping on) but if you’re like me and sometimes get “stuck” with doom scrolling – try to take a break for a single day. I’ve been taking more breaks from social media and just like spring cleaning, it makes my mind feel “cleaner.” I feel less overloaded with information which makes me feel so much better mentally.
- Make a gut healthy breakfast! My newest obsession in trying to improve my overall health is preparing protein filled breakfasts. Try meal prepping a yogurt parfait. Cook down 2 cups of your favorite frozen berries (strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, cherries, blackberries) in a saucepan over medium heat. Mash them with a wooden spoon and add 1-2 teaspoons of honey (if desired) and the juice and zest of 1 lemon. Cook until it’s like a jam consistency and then take it off the heat. Stir in 2 tablespoons of chia seeds and let the jam cool. In a mason jar, add 1/4 cup greek yogurt, then a layer of chia seed jam, another 1/4 cup of yogurt and more jam! Let it sit in the fridge for an hour or overnight. Top with granola or shredded coconut and enjoy!
- Try a new craft that you’ve always been interested in! I was gifted this adorable watercolor painting workbook by Emily Lex Studio. It gives you instructions and swatches underneath an example of the finished object. On the opposite page, it has an outline for you to try! It’s great for beginners and a very relaxing!
- Make a positive affirmations jar. Find a small jar, cut strips of paper, and some of your favorite affirmations. Write each affirmation on a strip of paper, fold it, and place it into the jar. Each morning you can grab an affirmation and carry it with throughout the day. It’s a small reminder for yourself to remember that you are enough.
- Try a new form of exercise! There are so many possibilities because everyone has a different idea of what exercises they’re into. I usually life weights, walk, or do yoga. I tried jogging but that was definitely not for me haha. I was browsing YouTube for workout videos and came across a step aerobics playlist! Some of these video are so nostalgic for me! I used to watch my mom workout to these videos and I remembering playing on the step equipment haha! They really get your heart rate up and I find them so fun! Whichever exercise you choose, don’t be afraid to try it and then move on if its not for you.
- Listen to some relaxing Celtic music. I rotate my background music when I’m working depending on the seasons, and I always find myself coming back to Celtic music in the springtime. There’s something soothing and tranquil that makes me think of greener days, flowers blooming, and a calmness that helps me focus on work.
- Prepare a beautiful, mindful, self-care evening. What does self-care mean to you? Taking a bath with a bath bomb or applying a skincare routine is lovely, but there’s more to it in ways we can’t see. I feel beautiful when I set aside time for myself, when I intentionally choose products that bring me joy. It’s a beautiful ritual when I’m able to move slowly and enjoy what I’m doing. I try to remember that I’m not having a “self-care night” because I’m trying to achieve a goal but because it brings me joy. Taking care of your mind and body is a huge act of self-love, not just self-care.
- Happy St. Patrick’s Day! I hope you have a cheerful day whether you’re celebrating or enjoying the *warmer* weather (you never know in the midwest). Although this is a rather lighthearted holiday for many, it does have interesting history on how it came to be a holiday. In the past I’ve gone to see the Chicago river dyed green, out with friends to enjoy a good Irish meal, or by baking! I like to make St. Patrick’s Day sugar cookies each year! My family comes from Ireland so I personally find it deeply important to understand this holiday beyond just wearing the color green.
- Get ahead with some spring cleaning. I know to some this may not sound like the most fun thing, but it can be refreshing to clean your space. Start some with your desk, maybe a closet, and then work your way to a whole room. By tackling some areas at a time, it can be less overwhelming and it feels good to welcome the new!
- Meet up a friend at a new café or bakery. There’s been lots of new cafés popping up throughout my area and I love it! I absolutely love supporting local businesses and I find that their drinks are usually so much better than the big chains.
- Today is the official first day of spring or the astronomical beginning of spring. There is so much to look forward to! Although the weather can still be cold and grey, the days a noticeably longer, birdsong has slowly started to come back in the mornings, and little green shoots seem to rise suddenly. This time of year fills me with so much anticipation with the sunny days to come. To welcome the spring equinox, try making a spring simmer pot.
- Bake a mini matcha cake for yourself or share with friends. Since we’re talking about all things green this month, try baking something green! Matcha has an Earthy but slightly sweet taste. Most matcha desserts are not very sweet, and have a beautiful shade of green from the natural coloring of matcha powder. If you’re a little unsure of this flavor, you can try making a homemade matcha latte!
- Try a new type of tea. Speaking of matcha…why not add a new tea to your collection! Over the holidays I was gifted this 12 day Tea Forte tea advent calendar that had spring botanical flavors. I loved every single one and the presentation of the box was also so pretty! This would make a great gift for someone or for yourself.
- Buy spring produce like artichokes, kiwi, asparagus, blood oranges, grapefruit, mandarin oranges, and brussels sprouts. Try making a brand new recipe using these flavors or incorporate fresh produce into your meal prepping.
- Plan a garden party for June. It might sound stuffy but I promise you, I’ve had this vision of beautiful cakes, picnic blankets, DIY flower crowns, and floral dresses. The best time to plan a fun outdoor gathering is now, if like me, you need time to thoroughly plan and prepare for an outdoor themed party.
- Try adding pastel into your life. Spring time means pastel and I am definitely a pastel girly. If you’re not sure, try subtle things like pastel nails, maybe a new t-shirt, or pastel colored candles. When it comes to decor, I love to choose the colors of the season. For me, fall is warn tones, winter means deep greens and reds, spring bring the softness of pastels, and summer is bright and bold.
- Try a pink latte. What is a pink latte, you ask? It’s made using beetroot powder, milk, a pinch of cinnamon, and a sweetener. It’s healthy and taste delicious warm and iced.
- Try making spring decorated sugar cookies. My soft-cut out sugar cookie recipe is one of my most made recipes. It includes a royal icing recipe that is easy to make and perfect for beginners. Try cutting out flowers, suns, or other springtime shapes!
- Try making a spring themed simmer pot. Simmer pots are big in the fall and winter when we want cozy warm smells simmering throughout the home. Why not try it for spring? The freshness of spring scents is cozy and uplifting in it’s own way!
- Get interested in nature and conservation. Try watching a documentary about nature, which can range from so many topics! We enjoy anything narrated by David Attenborough as the pace is not too overwhelming and his voice is peaceful. Last spring I watched this great documentary on bees, “My Garden of a Thousand Bees.” Just by being a little more interested in the natural world around you can have profound impacts on your daily life.
- Have a relaxing Sunday. When the warmer months are upon us, we often start to kick things into gear. More movement, more plans, more working out, and while all of this feels refreshing, it can be stressful. Make sure to still find time to rest and recharge so that everything can be balanced.
- Soak in the anticipation of what’s to come. The best part about a lot of things in life, is the anticipation. That’s why I’m drawn to the spring season because even though it’s a subtle shift that can be filled with chilly days, there are many signs it has arrived. The excitement to see cherry blossoms, tulips, and snowdrops bloom. The promise of longer, sunny days that bring motivation and hope. It feels like you are on the top of the good things to come. I will add, I understand that spring/summer brings others seasonal blues, allergies, and other discomforts. Please take care of your body and mind.
