Spring has sprung. Love, sweet bird-songs (and pollen) fill the air. Yep, it’s that time of year again. The time when cold winter melts into warmer spring. Days start getting longer.
Nothing gets you ready for a change of season quite like creating a spring bucket list. It shows you how to squeeze the most out of this beautiful season.
Here are the things we’re looking forward to in the springtime. Adopt our bucket list or create your own. Either way, awake from your hibernation, get out and (literally) smell the roses.
Visit the botanical garden.
Does your city have botanical garden?
It’s the perfect place to get excited about all the smells, sights and sounds of spring. Sometimes these beautiful gardens are free to roam. Some charge an entrance fee that often covers other activities, demonstrations and learning opportunities. It’s easy to make a family fun day out of a trip the gardens.
Enjoy a picnic.
While you’re visiting the botanical gardens (or even in your own backyard), take lunch outside and enjoy it among the flowers.
You’ll need a picnic blanket, a picnic basket and some delicious food that travels well.
Here are a few of our favorite picnic-ready eats:
Don’t forget dessert: https://buildingourrez.com/dark-chocolate-fudge-almond-butter-energy-bite-truffles-vegan-paleo-whole30/
Visit your local farmers market.
Many cities and towns have a farmers market that meets regularly (often weekly).
This is a great opportunity to stock up on fresh fruits and veggies, locally-sourced meat, eggs and dairy. Not to mention loads of fresh, homemade treats like baked goods and salsas or art from local makers.
Many local farmers markets have live music and food trucks – a recipe for a fun morning or afternoon out. Check out this website and click on your state to find options by county http://www.localfarmmarkets.org.
Plant your own garden.
Visiting some beautiful flower gardens and your local farmers market is the perfect segway into creating beauty in your own yard.
Get the kids involved in choosing which flowers, veggies and herbs they want to grow. This could even be a way to get your little guy or girl to eat more veggies. Canaan likes to talk about how he ate the, “Kale from the garden”.
Learn how to make a raised-bed garden here:
For help troubleshooting and our recommendations on organic herbicides and pesticides: https://buildingourrez.com/how-to-garden-update-i-organic-insecticides-new-harvest/
Take a hike.
After being cooped up inside all winter, get your blood flowing and your heart pumping with a hike.
If you get lucky, maybe you can pick some wildflowers along the way. To plan your next hike, check out https://www.trails.com/hiking. Click on your state and from there you can search within a certain area or search by distance, whether the hikes are dog friendly, kid friendly, include waterfalls and a whole bunch of other criteria.
Visit a festival.
From art festivals to music festivals, these gatherings celebrate the warm weather and often center around delicious food.
There is something for everyone. You’re sure to enjoy yourself at a giant, outdoor party aka “festival”. If you live in the southeast US, check out the AJC’s round up of where to find the best spring festivals around Atlanta.
Or if you’re feeling extra adventurous, check out this list of 10 of the best spring festivals around the world:
Open all the windows in your house.
Let that fresh air in!
The time of spring when the temperatures outside are cool in the morning and evening and wonderfully warm during the day is my favorite time. Throw open your windows and doors in the morning to let some of that perfect-temperature air in and hear those birds chirping. (Disclaimer: beware of pollen if you’re in the south.)
Go on a spring cleaning spree with the whole family.
Doesn’t packing up winter clothes and bringing out your spring and summer wardrobe perfectly set the tone for the season?
Get your Marie Kondo on and start Tidying Up.
- Get the whole family involved by setting out a box for kids to donate old clothes and toys. You’ll all feel a little lighter.
- Make a list of all the spring cleaning projects you want to tackle from light organizing to deep cleaning. Prioritize them. If you’re willing to give over some control, wrangle your kids to help out too.
Hang a bird feeder.
Watching the birds flock to our bird feeder and talking about how birds eat seeds is one of our little guy’s favorite things.
Little singing birds outside your window is just the spring-iest of sounds. Here are a couple bird feeders that won’t be an eyesore in your backyard.
Diffuse fresh, springy essential oils.
I love the look of a flickering candle, but a pretty essential oil diffuser can be just as calming and pretty.
Plus the scents of essential oils are so much fresher and provide more health benefits. Here are a few of our favorite springtime scent combos:
2 drops Rosemary + 3 drops Lemongrass
3 Drops Lavender + 3 drops Orange
2 drops Cedarwood+ 3 drops peppermint
3 drops Frankincense + 3 drops Lavender
3 drops Lavendar+2 drops Peppermint+2 drops Lemon
- Our go-to for essential oils are two brands: Edens Garden and Plant Therapy. After doing lots of research, it seems that these two consistently rise to the top as the brand of choice for many certified aromatherapists, get great reviews, are more cost effective than many of the big name brands, but still pure essential oils without fillers. And, bonus, you can buy these oils on Amazon.
Swap out faux flowers for fresh flowers.
This needs no explanation, but don’t you just love the look of fresh flowers?
Whether you grab some at your local grocery store or clip some from your backyard garden, a vase or two of fresh flowers is sure to elevate your spring decor.
Hide kindness rocks.
Get the kids involved in painting some “kindness rocks”. Then go on adventure around your neighborhood, leaving them for others to encounter. Learn more https://www.thekindnessrocksproject.com/howto
Host a bonfire.
The season where the days are getting longer but nights are still cool? Perfect for a bonfire in your backyard fire pit.
Here is our tutorial for how to build an amazing party-starting fire pit in just 1-2 hours. For $75 or less.
The kids can get involved in helping dig out the space, spraying the paver base with the hose and dumping pebbles. Once the firepit is built, have them wander the yard with a bucket or basket collecting sticks, leaves and pine cones for kindling.
Even our almost two year old loves to “help” by picking up pinecones. It’s really sweet and makes him feel so important.
Try out some of these ideas to help you get a jump on celebrating the spring season. And let us know if you check any of these off your own bucket list. Happy spring-ing!
