I Completed A Spring Bucket List To Take Advantage Of The Warm Weather And Great Outdoors

To get things rolling, I wanted to do something that spread some springtime joy. I figured a simple yet sweet way to welcome the season would be to create a cheerful message for my neighbors to see whenever they passed my home. Since sticking a giant sign on my lawn seemed like a little too much, I thought that perhaps leaving a little note on the sidewalk would be a fun and subtle way to spread spring cheer.

When I went to grab the sidewalk chalk that I thought I already had, I couldn’t find it, so I quickly skipped over to the store to pick some up — of course, I couldn’t resist the adorable and colorful egg-shaped chalk.

Back at home, I sketched out a “Happy Spring” message on the sidewalk and added a few flowers to spruce it up. Voilà! Done. Spring bucket list item No. 1 was checked off, and I deemed it a success. Not only was it fun to sit in the sun and draw a little picture on the sidewalk the way I had done when I was a kid, I was also hopeful that my note would bring a smile to a few faces.

I was definitely feeling fortunate that it was finally springtime, which is why it seemed fitting to add an item to my bucket list that was all about good fortune. With fresh growth popping up everywhere, I was hoping to find an elusive four-leaf clover. And while I haven’t found one yet, I’m going to keep looking until I get lucky!

I couldn’t tackle a spring bucket list without taking advantage of one particular seasonal benefit: Easter candy! And while I always pick up some treats for my little ones before the big day, this year I also hopped over to the store after Easter was over to score my fair share of discounted chocolates.

Scoring discounted Easter candy presented the perfect opportunity to make a spring-themed dessert. I had come across an adorable idea from Crafty Morning, so I tried blogger Michelle's Rice Krispie Nests for myself.

Since I didn’t have Easter egg candies like the post suggested using, I instead opted for a few mini marshmallows and some chocolate bunnies (technically, rabbits do make nests, so I figured it wouldn’t annoy anyone who insisted on being weirdly accurate). Since I only had a tray for mini muffins (which would have resulted in nests that were far too tiny), I used ramekins to shape the treats. It was a quick and simple recipe with a wonderfully sweet result.

Although I still enjoy getting out for walks in colder weather whenever it’s possible, I'm always eager for things to get warm enough to leisurely stroll around the beautiful places in my area. Wandering around a picturesque park was one of the things I was looking forward to the most on my bucket list. So on the first sunny day that popped up, I sauntered over to a park. I found trees that were just starting to get their leaves and plants that were on the verge of blooming, bridges and gazebos, two swans, plenty of geese, and giant fish in a river that winds its way through the grassy islands.

The scenery, the fresh air, and the smiling faces of others who were enjoying the park were all absolutely perfect.

While strolling around a picturesque park on a sunny day is dreamy, I also wanted to enjoy some seasonal showers as part of my bucket list experience. And since it’s been a rather dark, cold, and dreary spring in my part of the world, it didn’t take long for an opportunity to walk in the rain to present itself. With the weather alternating between sprinkles and downpours, I grabbed my favorite colorful umbrella and set off on my drippy journey.

Although it was a little colder than I would have liked — which meant that I couldn’t stay out for as long as I might have otherwise — I still took enough time to admire (and, yes, splash in) some puddles, appreciate the smell of the wet grass, and avoid stepping on a lengthy worm that had also decided to come out to enjoy the drizzly day.

One of my favorite things to do when the weather is warm is to head out and enjoy the art around my city. I moved a few years ago and am still exploring what’s around this area, so I thought that tagging along on a coordinated art walk would be a good idea. But since the next one was in a few weeks and I wasn’t willing to wait around, I decided to head out on my own.

I found plenty of murals, including a stunning colorless face by Meaghan Claire Kehoe (the first piece pictured) and a wonderfully colorful face by Pamela Rojas (the third piece pictured), a stylish Sasquatch and shoe in a sticky situation by David Whitley (seen in the second and fourth pics), and a geometric color-fest by Stephanie Boutari (the last pic).

When I moved into a new home a couple of years ago, I was thrilled by the fact that it boasts a beautiful space for a garden in the backyard. And while I fully intend to plant plenty of flowers and grow my own veggies, so far the majority of my garden-related efforts have focused on adding kitschy decorative touches like fabulous plastic flamingos. Since it was now spring and I was eager to spark a renewed enthusiasm for working in the dirt, I was excited to find a new treasure for my garden.

When I spotted a tiny gnome at a local store, I knew he was meant to live in my backyard. Back at home, I tried out different spots for him, like under the birdbath (but I was worried my dog would pee on him there), among a patch of little purple flowers, and even on top of my shed, where a little moss was growing (unfortunately, he kept slipping). Finally, I decided the area beneath the mini pine hedge was the perfect spot for my tiny new friend, whom I named Gus McGnomerson. Now he just needs a few gnome buddies to hang out with him, don’t you think?

When my husband and I first started dating, we would sometimes spontaneously head out on the road and drive off in random directions, with no particular destination in mind, and end up in the most wonderfully random places.

These days, we always have at least one destination — and usually a few errands — in mind when we head out. That’s why, with the weather starting to get warmer, I thought it might be fun to go on a quick road trip, this time with our kids. 

And during our journey that started in the early morning and ended as the sun was going down, I was actually able to tackle a few other items on my spring bucket list. Read on!

Although it’s still a little early in the year for all of the delicious fruits and veggies that come along with summer, I still wanted to visit one of the local farms as soon as it was warm enough. So during our road trip, we made sure to stop at one of our favorite farms, which has a lovely little country store. Along with picking up chocolate chip cookies, lemon squares, and a carrot cake (yum!), I was also able to wander around a bit and take a peek at the tractors in the barn as well as the cozy cows hanging out in their shady shelter.

When we left the farm, we noticed a spring market taking place at a local brewery nearby. We stopped to see what kinds of crafty items we could find. There were plenty of fabulous creations, including bandannas for pets from Little Panther Designs, accessories by Pretty Pennie Jewellry, and pyrography from Pretty Grim Art.

Not only did we pick up a few great items from the friendly artists, but I also left feeling inspired to tackle a few crafty projects of my own sometime in the near future.

My own personal spring bucket list wouldn’t be complete without heading out on a hike in nature to do a little “forest bathing.” As Time magazine explains:

“We all know how good being in nature can make us feel. We have known it for centuries. The sounds of the forest, the scent of the trees, the sunlight playing through the leaves, the fresh, clean air — these things give us a sense of comfort. They ease our stress and worry, help us to relax and to think more clearly. Being in nature can restore our mood, give us back our energy and vitality, refresh and rejuvenate us.”

I’m lucky to live in an area that offers all of the conveniences of city life and stunning forests just a short drive away. So with a few hours left before winding up our road trip and making our way back home, we stopped by a local conservation area.

We took our time strolling around the trees, climbing up hills to stand at the top of cliffs, walking along the river, and even exploring a deep cave. By the time our hike was over, I felt amazing.

We were pretty hungry by the end of our road trip — which was perfect, because eating at a food truck was on my spring bucket list. While driving, we kept our eyes open and fingers crossed for longer than my stomach would have liked. But finally, we came across a fun place that we had actually tried out once last summer.

Not only does this little restaurant offer amazing fries and burgers that have a little kick, but if you sit at the picnic tables, you get to enjoy an amazing view of the trees and river out back.

Although the flowers are just starting to bloom and there are just as many rainy days as sunny ones right now, spring is in full swing, and completing a bucket list — which helped ensure that I enjoyed all of my favorite timely activities while not missing out on anything that I absolutely adore — was an amazing way to welcome the season. I highly suggest you indulge in your own spring bucket list each and every year. I definitely will be!