Every different season in the year brings on new adventures and fun activities to be tackled. I love me a good bucket list and I have seen so many pop up on Pinterest lately. They are pretty much all encompassing which is great but I wanted to create a special one for entertaining specifically. Most of the items I want to do each month involve friends, family and food so it’s a perfect fit! You can do the below on your own but having people over to enjoy the activities makes it that more special.
Whether you add these items to your main bucket list for the summer or keep them separate – they are sure to be a lot of fun for all!
1) S’mores Love – I know summer has officially been successful when I have had a s’more during the season. I just love the process of roasting marshmallows by the fire, melting chocolate and the whole sticky mess! Normally this process is surrounded by friends and family and the night is filled with laughter and fun. It’s such a simple activity but always enjoyable.
2) EPIC BBQ Bash – I’m not sure you can even spell summer without bbq! Well technicalllly you can but who would want to?! Hosting a bbq with friends is one of my top favourite things to do in the summertime. Even if you do not have a bbq at home – a lot of local parks/conservation areas have grilling stations setup and you can bbq there for the day. Keep an eye out for my bbq checklist coming out in the next few weeks – this checklist has everything you need to host one EPIC bbq!
3) I Scream For Ice Cream! – Now how can you ever go wrong with this idea? Setup up some fun toppings (have you heard of gummy warheards?) and a few ice cream flavours and invite the neighbours to dig in! In my experience – best done outdoors (ie. backyard possibly) and if there is a possibility of a water sprinkler or balloon fight I AM IN. Also my favourite place to find ice cream toppings is Bulk Barn hands down!
4) Let’s Go Get Us A Pic-A-Nic Basket! (<– name that show) – The reason I adore picnics is because a) they get you out into the glorious weather b) you can essentially pack any items you please c) little cleanup is involved and d) tons of ppl can join! In our family we gather for picnics during the summer to celebrate various birthday and holidays. This is a great way to enjoy the afternoon and explore new lakes and parks in the area.
5) I’ll Take Another Sangria – My sister has been the queen of “make your own cocktail stations” – she threw me a wicked “make your own mimosa bar” for my birthday and always has an awesome beverage station setup at parties. Her genius was also involved in my recent “make your own Caesar cocktail bar” post. During the summertime, my drink of choice is an amazing, refreshing Sangria. Setup some fruit stations and premix a batch of white and red wine and you are ready for a great girls night in!
6) You Want A Piece Of Me? – Picking fruit in season is such a fun activity but taking that fruit and making glorious pies with it is even more amazing. Gather some friends to go fruit picking and then bring them back to your house to spend the day baking fresh rhubarb and strawberry pies! I love getting together with girlfriends and having a fun cooking session (pierogies are our specialty!) – you always end up with extras to freeze for the later months!
7) Smell The Lavender – I am lucky to have a beautiful lavender farm about 30 mins away from home that I love to visit yearly if I can. This year I already have a day date set with my friend Kusala from KuKaru Designs for us to enjoy and explore! They serve lavender ice cream (yes please) and have the cutest shop filled with lavender items. I can’t wait to buy some dried lavender to use in my lavender lemonade that I will be serving at our next gathering with friends. Look out for the recipe later this summer!
8) You’re A Peach Doll! – If you have not tried grilled peaches please do me a favour and grill them up at your next party. They are SO delicious and easy to make. My husband grills them on the bbq until they are warm and I top them with ice cream (or a variety of other items). They are truly that easy – not sugar needed if you pick a great peach! The crowd will love you for it I promise.
JMS TIP: To get the most mouth-watering peaches on the bbq you must use soft ripe peaches. It makes it easier to cut them in half and the juices warm up nicely before serving.
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I hope this list inspired you to add a few items to your summer to do list. My entertaining goals in the summer always involve relaxing with friends and having a good time. I hope you have a wonderful summer enjoying the sound of laughter as you sip away on your customized sangria drink. Cheers!
What is on your “must do” bucket list this summer?
