2013 Summer Bucket List

Gosh, “Bucket List” makes this post sound morbid, doesn’t it? Anyways, I know it’s not technically summer until the 21st of this month but if you ask me (and I suspect most people would agree), summer already started on Memorial Day. So let the summer bucket listing begin!

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Go vegetarian for one week

Laughable that this used to be a piece of cake to accomplish. I’m totally fine with eating lots more meat than I was a couple years ago (especially during the summer — burgers, brats, hot dogs, oh my), but it would be a fun challenge to see if I could forego meat for one measly week.

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Attend Film on the Rocks

I say I want to go every.single.summer. then somehow it slips my mind and by the time I remember, the movie is sold out and I’m saying “maybe next year?” Not even letting it happen again this time.

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Finish all the books on my “Summer Reading List”

I’m going through a serious dry spell in terms of reading. For some reason, Twitter has convinced me that I should spend more time with it at night than with a good book. Wrong, Twitter. You’re wrong. I’ve got 4 books on my list for this summer: The Paris Wife, The Night Circus, Dearie and The Storyteller. Here’s to being a bookworm this summer.

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Go to Movie in the Park

They show movies (for free!) on Saturday nights in both Boulder and Denver and the line ups for this year look great! Last summer was actually the first time I’d done this before and I had such a blast. I’m definitely up for it again this year.

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Try a new hiking trail

As much as I love love love hiking the Royal Arch in Boulder, I know there’s tons of other equally-beautiful hiking spots in Colorado and I’d love to try a new one this year. Also, totally sad that I have yet to take a single hike yet this year!

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Go one day without social media

This might be the ultimate summer challenge for me. Help, I’m addicted.

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Run a 10K

I’ve been digging the whole run for fun/not training for anything habit I’ve been in for the past couple of years, but after running the Bolder Boulder I’m reminded that 10K’s are a really fun distance. Also, a totally do-able distance without any training. The real challenge will be finding one that doesn’t plant me right in the middle of some kind of summer heat wave.

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Bike to work

Joey and I had noble aspirations to get our bikes into working condition this past weekend, but I think a 2.5 hour nap snuck in and there went that plan. I know Joey has ridden his bike to work in the past so I know we can make it. Don’t think it will become a daily (or even weekly) habit, however.

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Give my office some personality

Thank goodness I work with a bunch of guys who don’t care about office décor or I would feel really embarrassed about my completely blank walls and utter lack of beauty in my office. I don’t think I have a designer bone in my body so I’m probably talking about something simple like a fun lamp, some flowers and a giant portrait of myself (not!) but that’s better than nothing.

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Go to an amusement park

Because nothing’s more summer-y than roller coasters and corndogs, right?

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Brew an IPA

Even though I’ve totally come around and am a total beer drinker now, Joey and I still don’t see eye-to-eye on the type of beer. I love anything wheaty and Joey is all over anything hoppy. He loves IPAs and is always hinting that he’s like to brew one. I’ve been successfully skating the subject, but I guess I could take one for the team.

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Make/eat s’mores

Every time we drive back to our apartment at night during the summer I can see a few people gathered around the fire pit and think to myself that it looks like the perfect spot to roast s’mores. I would hate to let the s’more making opportunity pass me by again this summer.

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Drink a root beer float

Another one of those fleeting summer cravings that I need to give into.

Go to the cabin (and don’t complain :P)

True Story: I’ve never been camping. Roughing it just isn’t my cup of tea. For years Joey has been begging me to go to his uncle’s cabin for a weekend with him and for years I have been saying no and loving that Joey has a short memory and doesn’t remember to bring it up more than once a year, but I think my list of excuses is running out.

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What’s on your summer bucket list?

10 Reasons To Be Glad It’s Spring

Did you know yesterday was the first day of spring?

I did and if I had been planning ahead, I would have posted this yesterday.  Planning ahead instead of say, Googling chronic tiredness and then trying to convince everyone that I have a rare condition where I dream too much and all the energy my brain is using to create such vivid dreams is making me tired instead of allowing sleep to be restorative.  Oh dear, I’ve said too much.

Anyways.  It’s now spring!  And I don’t know if it was my trip to the sunny and eternally summer-like state of Arizona or the two days of 70 degree weather we had a couple of weeks ago, but I am ready for spring and here’s 10 reasons why.

1. The return of hiking season.

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My sister and I were just lamenting about the fact that last St. Patrick’s Day we were out on a hike in Boulder.  This year, it’s a week past St. Patrick’s Day and there’s snow in the forecast.  I’m ready to feel the pain and exhaustion of a good hike, which always feels like I’ve never exercised in my life.  I want that feeling.

2. Baseball!

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Rockies Opening Day is so soon.  They put out their new commercials yesterday and they just made me want to be friends with the whole team.  Fingers crossed for a better season than last year.

3. Spring birthdays.

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I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again.  I love other peoples’ birthdays!  All the celebrating but none of the center of attention-ness.

4. Fresh spring flavors and meals.

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And by that I specifically mean tacos.  Oh so many tacos.  But also fresh asparagus, light salads and sweet fruit.  Warm hearty comfort foods make winter taste oh so delicious, but I’m so ready for something a little brighter.

5. Trips to the Farmers’ Market.

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And all the expensive produce that I am suddenly convinced I need when I am there.  In similar but not-exactly-related news, I really want to sign up for a spring/summer/early autumn CSA this year!  I spent some time yesterday doing some farm research and have a few picked out that I need to debate over and then that part where I convince Joey to shell out a big lump sum for vegetables.

6. Spring blossoms.

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Apart from turning leaves, is there anything more breathtaking than freshly blossoming trees?  Not to mention that sweet delicious smell they produce.  The white ones are beautiful but the pinkish purple ones?  My favorite!

7. Easter.

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And all the brunching, family bonding and Easter egg hunting that comes with it.

8. The arrival of the Bolder Boulder. 

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Actually I am terrified for “America’s Best 10K” because I feel I might die every time I’m done running 3 miles, which is in fact only half the distance of a 10K.  Thank goodness it’s a race where walking, keg-standing and slip-n-sliding is highly encouraged.

9. Our family trip to Vegas. 

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This is not a picture of Vegas.  This is a picture of alcohol, which we will consume in Vegas.  And my sister will finally be able to do this legally.  Because she’s turning 21 in April.  Yay!

10. It’s not winter! 

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And I will celebrate any season that isn’t winter.

Happy 2nd Day of Spring!

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What part of spring are you most excited about?

What’s your favorite spring meal?

Have you ever self-diagnosed yourself with a rare condition after doing too much Googling?  Still just me on that one?