My Summer Bucket List...

Hiya, peeps!  Just got home from a super busy, but fun Saturday and saw a cute link up over at Mrs. Jump's Class... I wanna join in on the fun.  I love summer for many reasons, but I especially enjoy having the extra time to catch up on blog reading and find lots of new ideas to implement!

The first thing on my summer bucket list is to go to the gym.  I am hoping to enlist some friends to go with me... but I would really like to think that I can do this.  I have a Fitbit and have been pretty consistent with my 10,000 steps a day... but I need to up my game!  Fingers crossed, but I could use some prayers and good vibes if you have some extra!  If I were to set a realistic goal before school starts back... I would say to lose 20-25 pounds.  

Second on the list is organizing my school "stuff"...  My goal is to file my extras by CC standard.  I have a plan to label all my file folders with the standards and go from there.  This last year I got overwhelmed and everything just went into a stack....  we're talking about a BIG stack people!  I need to do better.  We have keys to the school so I'm able to work over the summer and I'm thankful for that.  My boys are signed up for VBS soon and then karate camp so I'm hoping to be really wise with my time.  I will keep y'all posted on this!  

I plan on going through my closet and giving away around 1/2 of what's in there.  If I don't love it... I'm going to give it to friends or take to Goodwill.  There is too much in there...  and it's time to declutter!  Actually I think it would be easier to pick out work clothes if I didn't have so much in my closet.  It's time to pare down.  I started with 25 shirts today in the giveaway pile...  I still need to go through again mid-summer and weed out about 25 more.  I found that I just didn't really love a lot of things that were hanging in there anymore.... and more is not always better.  

I am the most excited about the beach this summer.  I go every year with friends, our children, and a babysitter.  We go to Fripp Island in South Carolina which is not that far from here.  It is a private island and a wildlife refuge.  We reserved this beach house back in September so I've been counting down for this for almost a year!!!  Everyone drives around on golf carts and it is so fantastic.  Here is what I'm most excited about (in no certain order): 

napping

sea turtle hunting

golf cart riding

key lime frozen adult beverages

late night rice krispy treat making

alligator hunting

sandcastle making

shirt tie dying

board game playing

morning coffee with friends

seashell hunting

friends playing with my hair

we take this same pic of our kidlets every year...

The 2nd most exciting trip I'll be taking is to Las Vegas with my friend Tara for the Teachers Pay Teachers conference.  We are staying in a suite with lots of other bloggy buddies.  We have big plans that may or may not involve a roller coaster on top of a building, New Kids on the Block concerts, shopping, eating ridiculously amazing food, bloggy meet ups, spa appointments, and naps!  

I'm excited to do some reading this summer.  I bought 2 books awhile back and haven't had a chance to read either of them.  I've heard great things about Fault in Our Stars and I also bought Prepared for a Purpose.  It's written by the school secretary in Atlanta that helped prevent a school shooting.  I hope they are both as good as I'm thinking!  

I am going to go room by room in my house and try to make each room look more "homey"...  I think each room could use some freshening up, cleaning, organizing.  I am thinking maybe focusing on one room each week of summer.  Maybe wash curtains, bedding, organize cabinets or closets in each, maybe add new fabrics/pillows, switch around art and framed pictures, etc.  There are also a few house projects to complete:  hanging a new ceiling fan, etc.  There never seems to be enough time during the work week to get all the mundane stuff done, huh?  

Number 8 is to catch up with doctor's appointments.  I know that I need to go to my GYN appointment.  I have made several appointments, but I always seem to find a reason for it to be cancelled or rescheduled.  I have always been a huge proponent of going, but now going near that office just makes me sad.  Going  there  makes me think of losing my daughter.  So I am hoping that this summer I will work up the nerve to go.  I can feel the endometriosis is back again... I know I need surgery again...  and so I need to go.  I just need to find the courage to make it happen.  

I want to find small and BIG ways to help others.  This has been on my heart a lot lately.  I have a plan... and I may need your help.  Stay tuned for this one!  

My #10 is to be totally focused in on my children and make this summer count.  I want to be fully present.  It seems like they are growing inches every single day.  I know that these moments are fleeting... and I want them to look back on these summers together and have amazing memories!  My boys are my reason for living...  and I don't want to take that blessing for granted.

I hope that y'all are having an amazing weekend so far...  talk to y'all soon!