summer bucket list 2012 (concluded) + a video.

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}

6. Flash mob. Doing it.

Hands down one of my favorite experiences ever. What a rush.

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7. Read 10+ books.

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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9. Swim in Skaneateles Lake.

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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11. Make homemade ice cream.

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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17. Make a homemade video to music on iMovie. Been wanting to do this, but not sure what to do it about.

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:

Isabella Stewart Gardiner Museum

Orchard House (Little Women!)

Boston Athenaeum

Harvard Museum of Natural History

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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21. Nantucket!

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.}

cape cod // or, the most pictures in a blog post ever.

Cape Cod really outdid itself this year.

This vacation is always the last trip I take before the start of a new school year. Every year it’s the best and this time around was no different. We stayed in Orleans, and it was the perfect amount of beach and relaxation. We were able to spend time in Chatham (our old stomping grounds) and we even spent an afternoon in Provincetown. Between the weather and the company, I’d say this summer definitely went out with a bang.

Like fireworks.

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I’ll let the pictures speak for themselves.

I loved so many of them I just couldn’t choose.

SIGH.

Oh, summer, thanks for EVERYTHING.

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{all images © anna e. burns | please link with love.}

Nantucket in 33 pictures.

The island of Nantucket is something amazing. As soon as you arrive you can see what all the hype is about. I don’t know about you, but whenever I’ve though of Nantucket, I think picture perfect dream land that’s beyond my reach (it’s expensive!). Life has taken me there before– I’ve been for a weekend to stay at Zan’s family friend’s house, and I took a day trip with my friends many years ago, but this time around I got to spend a whole 5 days there. 5 days. In a house. On the ocean.

When they say it’s all about who you know, they weren’t kidding.

This trip to Nantucket happened because I was lucky enough to be invited out by the family I used to work for in grad school. Staying in touch with the families I have nannied for has been especially worthwhile for me. Most importantly, I love watching the kids grow up, getting a peak into the people they are becoming, but also, for perks like this. I spent the week with the family, and I loved every minute of my time at that beautiful place. I watched the boys quite a bit, giving their mom some time to relax and get stuff done, but I also felt like I had plenty of time to explore the pockets of the island on my own, too.

I did a little shopping (bought a classic Nantucket bike basket), spent a lot of time reading, and best of all, woke up for two of the most beautiful sunrises I have ever seen.

With it’s cobblestone streets and endless thing to see and do, I would argue that it’s one of the best vacation spots around. Plus the fact that you’re completely surrounded by water is something totally romantic. It’s got beaches for miles and boats and shopping and food. Oh, some of the most delicious food you will ever eat. From the ice cream cones to the chocolate donuts, my sweet tooth was the happiest.

I just couldn’t get enough of it– I kept pinching myself to make sure it was all real. I’m so thankful that I had the chance to visit this summer and I can’t wait for the day I find myself on a ferry to the island once again.

That Nantucket is a good one. A good one through and through.

loving on the lake.

9. Swim in Skaneateles Lake.

“Skaneateles waters shining

Under skies so bluuuuu-uue

And the white clouds’ silver lining

Paints our colors true.”

Days on Skaneateles Lake could easily be classified as some of the best days of my life.

Hands down.

Every time.

A lot of the time I wish I didn’t live so far, but mostly I’m just thankful to be able to visit.

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From the clearest, cleanest water,

to the gorgeous scenery,

from rides on the party boat…

to breezy afternoons on the hammock,

and best of all, for the family that frequent there,

this place holds a special spot in my heart,

and I’m incredibly happy it’s home. ♥♥