Here’s a strange little tradition that John and I started last year: in the dead of winter, we make a list of stuff that we’d love to do in the summer:
Then we hide the list somewhere that we won’t look until the weather is nice and warm again (we tape it to our sunscreen bottle, but it would also work tucked into a bathing suit drawer or stuck in a cooler that you only use in the summer months).
It may sound weird, but we come up with about a million things that we can’t do in the winter because it’s cold, and then summer rolls around and everything we were dreaming of doing somehow slips right out of our brain. So instead of relying on faulty mental notes we decided to make an actual note to be rediscovered months later when the sun is back out in full force. This year our “to-do” list includes everything from Frisbee-golf to a tour of the Capitol and even building our own rain barrel. It’s a definite excuse to get outside and have fun, and we love that it’s one to-do list that we never dread. Happy listing!
This is a great idea. Here in Chile it IS summer, and I’m sure that I won’t get to doing some of the things I dreamed about through the cold winter. I also like the idea of applying this to other things from vacations to just things to do in your area…I’m always thinking of fun weekend activities, and by the time the weekend does roll around I end up just lazing around the house. Which is enjoyable, but trying something new is fun too.
So you don’t use sunscreen in the winter? Shame on you! ;) As a skin cancer survivor I’d like to point out that the sun’s harmful rays can still cause damage on cloudy days so lather up!
I love lists – this is a great idea.
Hey Heather S,
I knew we should have been more specific about the sunscreen thing! We use spf 15 lotion in the winter (religiously, I promise) but not the waterproof 40 spf sport body lotion in the bathroom closet- that just comes out in the summer.
xoxo,
Sherry
We do this too! We have a book where we keep lists of trails we want to hit, day trips we want to take, and improvements we want to make around the house. It’s a great reference when you finally have a day off and it’s beautiful out! Ours in in a plain notebook but I love how this person created a custom leisure book in a Moleskin:
http://jordanferney.blogspot.com/2009/01/leisure-book.html
I love this idea! The January blues in NY make me day dream of all the wonderful things I can do when it’s warm. I should take note like you guys. :)
Good idea….I think it would also be great to see organizational tips like this more frequently on the blog, too.
What a great idea!! I love it! I could see this working for all seasons… for instance, I always think it would be charming to go on a sleigh ride in the winter, or to go hiking at a state park when the wildflowers are blooming in spring. But do I ever think of those things when the time is right? Nope! Time to break out a pad of paper and put this wonderful idea into practice. Thanks for sharing!
-Bethany
I have been waiting to go to this.. im worried I’ll want to spend lots!
Love this post…am a huge list-maker myself! Your blog is great…I just gave you an award on my blog. I’m a former Richmonder living in Bristol, VA (my hometown) but still have a home in Wyndham so I follow your blog regularly.
http://www.theconfettichronicles.blogspot.com/2009/01/lemonade-stand.html
Great list…thats called life without kiddies! ENJOY…for now (wink wink)
What a super fun idea. I love to break out my gardening books in January and get planning for the warmer weather. Then the cold snow doesn’t seem to bad.
Heyo! We are building our rain barrel this summer, too! There is a juice factory just up the Allegheny River and we canoed out to salvage some litter (a giant, floating barrel that got away from the juice people). Now we just need to get the spout and drill a hole in the top when the weather gets…well when it’s more than 10 degrees.
My husband and I totally do this. It’s such a great idea. We made the list as winter was becoming spring, and I taped it on the fridge so I’d have some things to look forward to!
This is great! My husband LOVES some frisbee golf! We have a course next to our house and he is always looking for people to play with….
….he also started his rain barrels this past summer. They’ve worked out very nicely.
I love this idea. We forget how miserable we are in the winter when the weather is great. I am going to sit my family down and make them write the list.
I am glad to hear that you use sunscreen all year long! (though you should up it up to at least 30 when you are outside skiing, snowshoeing, hiking, sledding, etc.)
I started a list of things I want to do each season and am posting it on my blog so that my friends can tag along on my adventures as well.
I was also remembering the fun summer days that didn’t involve kiddos. Not that little ones couldn’t be incorporated into some of those fun activities that you listed, but it’s funny–once you have children, you sort of pine for those summer days when you used to just lie out in the sun all afternoon, doing nothing but reading and dozing (wearing sunscreen, of course!). Kiddos sort of make that impossible.
Great idea, though! I think I’ll start a list too.
Don’t wait to go to the Capitol — the General Assembly is in session Jan – Feb! You’ll see your elected representatives in action. The two chambers go into session at noon every day, so make sure you’re there around that time and get a chance to sit in the gallery above.
cute! this makes me think of the adventure book in that movie up. my husband and i have been meaning to start one…
kelly
http://tearinguphouses.blogspot.com
Why wait until summer to do those things? My husband and I just got back from a 7 day Mexican cruise, and it was less than $500 per person!! It was wonderful looking at the cold weather reports back home while sitting on the warm sand with my drink in hand. I totally recommend it!