I’m here! It’s a Sunday night and it’s nearly October, but I’m here with summer still in my heart, and long list of cool stuff I did to prove it. You’re probably thinking, Girl! Get over summer already! That season is long gone! And to this I will say NEVER. Long live the idea of summer. Long live the memories!
To be honest, I’d really love to be blogging about the present, but I nearly forgot about doing this little recap on my summer bucket list and I thought I should for some closure, and also just to see how well I actually did crossing things off the ‘ol list.
If you do nothing but watch the video I made at the bottom (one of the things on my summer list), then I will be grateful. It took me A MILLION HOURS and was really tedious, but I’m really happy with it. My brain is now saying STOP PLAYING THAT SONG, but my guess is you haven’t butchered the song like I have, so here’s to hoping you’ll think it’s rad.
Also, I’m pretty pumped I did so much on my list. Consider me accomplished. And thanks for following along!
Here is the run-down on Dear Friend’s Summer Bucket List 2012:
1. Shop mostly at the farmer’s market.
I did this to the best of my ability. Sometimes I went twice in a week, sometimes I went every other week. I was away a lot towards the end of the summer, and finding time for a regular scheduled lunch was hard with my summer job, but I made it work. The summer fruit was my favorite, and we did a good amount of veggie eating, too. My favorite picks? Strawberries, blueberries, summer squash, and corn on the cob. YUM.
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2. Run 3x a week, increase my running stamina, and sign up for a 5K for the fall.
MAJOR FAIL. Bummer. Maybe someday?
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3. More yoga. Do the 6:45 AM class a couple times a week. (I did this last summer and it’s completely worth it. I need to remember this.)
Also, failed at this one. My yoga studio was closed for renovations for the month of July. Not really an excuse, but I took it as one.
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4. Take a photography workshop.
Nope. Didn’t do this one either. But I did feel like I practiced my skills on my own. And I’m fairly pleased with how a lot of my pictures came out this summer. I still don’t know how to fully use my camera, but I just see that as something to look forward to. Someday. When I get the motivation to learn.
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5. Photograph my way around the city of Boston. And do weekly blog posts about my favorite spots.
Can’t say that I did this either. Whoops! Too busy enjoying the summer sun!
(I promise I crossed things off! Keep reading!)
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{above photo by Doug Levy}
Hands down one of my favorite experiences ever. What a rush.
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So proud of myself. SO PROUD!
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8. Picnic and/or canoe on the Charles.
Yes! With Clair!
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BEST. That is all.
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10. Eat a lobster roll in Cape Cod.
It was amazing. Always has been. Always will be.
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Remember when I made Graham Cracker and Strawberry flavored? Yeah, me too.
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12. Get a bike. And a cute helmet.
My bike got stolen (you can read about that when you click on the link), but what I didn’t yet tell you is that I rose above that terrible situation by getting myself another one. BOOM. Ain’t nobody gonna hold me down.
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13. Have a BBQ. Send invitations.
SUCCESS!
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14. Take a flying trapeze class. I’m totally serious.
I didn’t do this one, but I DID get a gift certificate for my birthday. So it’s happening! And I’m psyched about it.
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15. Write a handwritten letter to a friend once a week and walk it to the local mailbox.
This might have been one of my favorites on the list. Such a feel-good thing to do. HIGHLY recommended. (I’ll send you my address if you’re interested.)
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16. Go to a Red Sox game.
Too bad they were terrible this year. SIGH.
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I did it! And the evidence is below!
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18. Create a piece of artwork. I even bought a canvas.
Inspired by this post here. This project was a fun one!
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19. Visit the following list of Boston museums:
I actually visited quite a lot of Boston museums this summer (MFA, Aquarium, Museum of Science), but I only got to two out of four on my list. Okay, but not great. I will just have to do the other two this fall! Thinking maybe I can go to Concord on the way to apple picking, or even after school one day, seeing as I work close enough.
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20. Take public transportation every possible day I can.
Totally loved doing this. 1) I hate (loathe!) driving. and 2) This is how I was able to read 11 books.
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TAKE ME BACK.
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22. Print my favorite instagrams and do something cool with them. I like this idea a lot.
Still want to do this! And I will!
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23. Have a romantic dinner with Zanner at the Top of the Hub.
Still want to do this, too! And WE WILL!
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24. A weekend in NH at the Farmhouse/ Hike Mt. Lafayette in the White Mountains
Twice!
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25. See Ingrid Michaelson in concert.
LOVE!!
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And so concludes the Summer Bucket List 2012. And the crazy amount of exclamation points in this post.
Here is my video… I’m really glad I have it, and almost pulling my hair out while making it was completely worth it. ENJOY.
You can watch the video full-screen here.
{All pictures by me. Song by Phillip Phillips.}
So good! I loooove your video. What a great way to get closure on a great summer!
Love it all. Especially the video! Great job friend!
LONG LIVE SUMMER! I’m saving your video for tomorrow morning. can’t wait ;)
also – as a surprise brian bought two pints of my favorite stweart’s ice cream with him on his move. makes me think of you :) boy does that place make good ice cream!
THE BEST!
And can’t wait for you to watch the vid— you’re featured! :-D
Oh my goodness your video is wonderful!! I’m completely inspired to learn how to do that now :) How great would it be to have videos like that from each season?? Thanks for the idea + thank you for sharing, pretty girl! xoxo, eliza
P.S. I’ve been in love with that song for months. Perfect choice for this video <3
Me too. It was my on-repeat summer song. I just love it.
Your video gave me chills! Love it!
Firstly, that video was wonderful- SO worth the effort! Secondly, summer only technically ended last weekend, so this is really the perfect time for a bucket list follow-up!
yes yes yes! congratulations on the things you accomplished this summer, I got chills watching your video! It’s so good. SO happy and you’ll be so grateful when you can watch this in years to come!
You are so talented and creative!! And I’m so proud to have been a part of a few of your summer moments. =)
Thanks for recapping…summer wouldn’t have been complete without it.
LOVE. THAT. VIDEO!
You did such a great job Anna! What a beautiful, full summer you had. Tons of adventure! I love it!
P.S. Your pictures are amazing and I never would know that you “still don’t know how to fully use your camera.” They are wonderful and truly captured the essence of summer!
GREAT JOB FRIEND. you are professional. that’s all.
miss you tons.
xoxox.
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wow, what a great summer you had! it went so quickly, but at least you have these treasure to look back on. and, your artwork? seriously, i’d buy that, girl! xo
awesome video, anna. seriously. and aren’t you SO satisfied you did it?
That video rocks! Awesome job!
I LOVE the video!!!! It must have taken you 15 years to make!!! Very impressive, girlfriend. Quite the summer you’ve had there!
You should be so very proud of your accomplishments! I am trying to think back to what I did this summer and I think most of it involved getting very very tan. And sadly that part is already gone and I have few pictures to show for it!
Sounds like SUCH a perfect summer! Congrats to all of your accomplishments. Love love love the video too – I would be bald from hair pulling if I tried to make something like that… so impressive!
Love your video Anna – well done! Luke enjoyed watching it too! Miss you tons…xoxo
Think you can check take prof photog course of the list friend. You already are one. WOW.
In tears from the video. BEAUTIFUL.
Love you. Mean it.
xo
That video is always going to be so special to have. You did a great job on it! You really live it up, and I admire you for that. Send me your address so I can write a letter! snacktive@gmail.com.