August Bucket List

Happy August everyone! August is like the golden hour of summer. Still alive and warm but the promise of a new season is around the bend. The summer heat can be brutal, and for some of us, were so ready to move onto a cooler season. For others, were not quite as ready to let go of summer. With back to school in the stores, (and even Halloween??) it seems like everything gets swept away into fall. So here’s your reminder to take a breath and slow down. This August bucket list has ideas on how to enjoy the rest of summer while knowing whats to come.

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August Bucket List

1. Do your monthly reset – which can look different for everyone. This might be filling out a monthly budget spreadsheet, (I got this cute budget template from Etsy), or coloring this monthly doodle planner. You can also reflect on were you are right now and the goals that you set at the beginning of the year. It’s not about feeling upset if you haven’t met a goal, but just asking yourself if you’re still aligned with it or how to take baby steps to work towards it!

2. Enjoy the summer harvest and shop at a farmers market! I love the farmers market all summer but there’s something about August produce when it’s really hit it’s stride.

3. Look for a U-pick farm for raspberries, black raspberries, peaches, blueberries, and apples. It really depends on where you live and how the weather has been for the crops.

4. Enjoy your summer morning routine. I’ve been waking up earlier before work to get in a morning walk. This means I feel less rushed and anxious to get to work and I get in my steps. On the weekends, I’ve been enjoying making a latte at home, sometimes enjoying it outside on our patio. The warm weather really puts me in a good mood, since I can combine my morning routine and being outside.

5. Bake a key lime pie! My family loves this tart-quenching dessert that’s perfect for the summertime. My recipe works with fresh key limes, bottled key lime juice, or regular limes. It’s served chilled which makes it refreshing against a hot summer day.

6. Head to a sunflower field! In Illinois, August to early September means sunflowers in full bloom. It makes my heart so full to see the rows and rows of happy yellow flowers. It always reminds me that fall is on its way, and to enjoy the fleeting summer moments. It’s also a great opportunity to use them for a fun photoshoot. Put on a cute outfit and a straw hat (for protection and style!) and enjoy a beautiful day!

7. Today is national lighthouse day. I learned about this day during our summer travels around Lake Michigan and Lake Superior when we saw many different lighthouses. I love lighthouses because of their history, symbolic meaning about guidance and hope, and how each one has unique architecture. They also make great photos! If you live nearby a lake or coastline, take a trip to walk along a pier or beach, or find a lighthouse that’s giving a tour.

8. Sleep in and have a lazy day. I know this could be a tough one for some of us, me included, but rest is just as important as hard work. To avoid burnout and feeling stuck in a creative rut, take some time off to just enjoy the day without guilt. Spend a morning at a cafe, or a slower paced walk in order to really enjoy being in the moment.

9. Tonight is the August full moon also known as the sturgeon moon. The name has a beautiful connection to the Great Lakes. Giant sturgeon are abundant in the Great Lakes during this time of year which made them easier for fishermen to catch. There’s also other names for the full moon like corn moon, harvest moon, and black cherries moon (source: Almanac). I find the connection and stories that we have to the moon very interesting and differently worth reading about!

10. Make smores rice krispie treats. My brown butter rice krispie treats recipe is currently the top recipe on my blog. I wanted to make them with a twist and summer and smores go hand in hand.This recipe has crunchy graham crackers, chocolate, and marshmallows, which works perfectly with this brown butter rice krispie recipe.

11. Start planning a fall vacation. There are so many places to see the beauty of falls changing leaves. Many times this does draw a crowd so make sure to start planning now! Here in the Midwest; Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Minnesota all have beautiful leaf peeping (I just learned this phrase and I’m not sure how I feel about it lol). Beyond the Midwest there’s so many places that offer beautiful displays of fiery, golden leaves.

12. Go stargazing and look for the Perseid meteor shower! Named after the constellation Perseus because around this area is where you’re likely to see a meteor. It peaks during August 11th to 13th so get out there and get stargazing. The Perseids are very popular because they’re abundant which makes it possible for a new stargazer to see them. If you aren’t sure how to look for constellations try downloading a stargazing app. You can point your phone to the night sky and look for the Perseus constellation which is visible year round in the Northern hemisphere.

13. Harvest your vegetables! If you planted a garden back in the early spring/summer, it’s probably time to harvest! We’ve been picking herbs all summer long, but nows the time when our peppers, lavender, and tomatoes are really at their peak!

14. Find a drive-in movie theater! Over the summer we took a trip to Door County, WI and went to a drive-in theater. It was so much fun and we got to sit back, eat some popcorn, and enjoy an old school way of going to a movie! It was also dark enough that we were able to see the stars!

15. Go for walks after dinner, hiking on the weekend, or just walk while catching up with a friend. When it gets colder outside I find it hard to go on these walks. Now’s the time to savior the ease of heading out without a jacket, hat, and gloves, and being able to walk at a leisurely pace.

16. Plan a road trip! If you have time off over Labor Day weekend that could be the perfect chance to still squeeze in another summer trip. If you can’t travel far, try being a tourist in the nearest city.

17. Meet with friends for brunch and even better if you can sit outside! Can you get a sense that this bucket list is really about soaking as many warm summer days as possible? Don’t get me wrong, I love living where we have four seasons, but it’s the ease of summer with no coats and heavy boats that makes me want to spend as much time as I can outside!

18. Go to a concert, festival, carnival, or other event that has outdoor music. Listening to music outdoors on a warm day is a vibe!

19. Plan an evening to grill for you and your family, partner, or friends. Grilling is a summer staple and it’s fun to switch it up sometimes. Instead of burgers and hotdogs, try grilling a pizza, seafood, or a charred caesar salad.

20. Try pressing flowers to hold onto summer memories. I’ve used a flower press and a heavy book and both methods work great. I pick flowers after they’ve just opened and look their best. You’ll need to stick them in-between parchment paper and apply enough pressure so that the moisture will evaporate and the flowers will dry over the course of a few weeks. You can create framed art, add them to homemade greeting cards, keep them in a memory box, or use in homemade candles or soap – there’s lots of ways to use them!

21. Go camping or hiking and enjoy the outdoors! Or if you’re not a camper (as much as I love being outdoors, camping is just not for me), try decorating camping themed sugar cookies.

22. Try something new that scares you. Whether that’s going to a workout class alone, planning a trip, taking a new class, or whatever you have wanted to do that you’ve been hoping to get to one day. It’s when we get to do something new that gets us out of our comfort zone where we find growth and inspiration.

23. Set up a projector and watch a movie in your backyard! Make sure to spray the yard with bug spray, light candles, have a bonfire, string lights, and set up chairs. You can use a screen or even a white sheet to project onto. Make sure you have a good audio setup! This would also be such a fun experience for kids!

24. Bring a sketchbook with you on your next outdoor adventure. Head to a botanical garden, a zoo, or just sit in your backyard and try your hand at sketching. I’m not the best at drawing but I try not to go into thinking that I’m bad at drawing. Just enjoy the experience of being creative.

25. Have a wine and cheese picnic. Prepare by getting your favorite wine, pack a charcuterie board, wine glasses, and maybe a sweet treat like my perfect chocolate covered strawberries. Make sure to add ice packs into your picnic basket! I love this cute picnic basket and a cute picnic blanket 🙂

26. Create a scrapbook or junk journal! If you’re like me and like to save little things like mini golf scorecards, tickets, maps, or other memorabilia from events or travels, this is the perfect way to store them! I kept a bunch of little papers from our recent vacation and like to dedicate one or two pages and glue down everything. You can print pictures, use wrapping paper, any arrange on the page and then glue it. 

27. Sleep under the stars, whether that’s camping or with a screened window. Turn off your phone, music, computer, or any electronics and just listen to the sounds of summer. Here we have cicadas, crickets, and even an occasional owl! It’s very comforting to hear these warm weather sounds.

28. Find a new book to cozy up with. Relaxing with a good book doesn’t have a season! If you’re stuck in a rut with what you currently read, try switching it up and finding a new genre.

29. Watch a sunrise or a sunset. Have you ever tried taking a picture of a beautiful sunrise or dreamy sunset and it just doesn’t capture how beautiful it looks? That’s why catching an early morning sunrise or a sunset after a long hot day is a perfect way to sum up summer. They’re fleeting but beautiful and make you stay still for long enough to enjoy the moment.

30. Go for an evening bike ride. This is a great stress reliever after a long day of work or studying. You can ride around the block, neighborhood, or even to a scenic spot, or maybe just ride without a destination.

31. Get into the fall mood! Or, if you’re sad to see the summer go, chances are there are still a few weeks of warmer weather (in the Midwest, it usually doesn’t get cold until October!) and get out there and enjoy as much as you can! Changes are a part of life and although the anticipation of them can be tough, find the things you love that bring joy and comfort.