The Art of Designing Your Summer

I am a fan of the Gretchen Rubin/Liz Kraft podcast, Happier. 
(FYI:  Liz started a podcast with her writing partner called Happier in Hollywood.  Super fun listen.)  Last May, Gretchen and Liz discussed the importance of designing your summer.  If you spend some time planning, you won't  wake up on Labor Day wondering why you spent the summer beached in front of Netflix.  Gretchen's summer design was to meet a friend for lunch 3 - 5 times a week. Since I am a lazy teacher with summer's off, my design is more involved.     

Four score and one year ago,
Lulu tried on a hat that I refused to buy.

I loved this idea and, for the first time, designed my summer in 2016.  Here are a few highlights from last summer:


I read the entire Harry Potter series for the first time.  (Note:  Books 3 - 7 are magical.  Feel free to skip books 1 & 2 and just watch the movies.  I know.  I am SUCH a Muggle.)

The kids and I took a family vacation to Springfield, Illinois, Land of Lincoln.

Many people advised me NOT to paint the basement a curry color.  But I did and I love it.  Many people also told me not to carpet a basement.  Again.  I did and I love it.  

I finished making the basement family room livable.  It used to be bar area with stick-on carpet tiles.  I even painted the entire room by myself.  Years ago, a boyfriend told me I couldn't be trusted with a roller and I believed that for years. Painter's tape is my friends, so much so that there is still some hanging out on the ceiling.

I made one photo book on Snapfish.  To make this a super cool project, I met up with my friend, Diane, and we each worked on photo books once a week.  

I have to say, last summer was one of my best summers ever.  I actually did everything in my design plan.  There is a shift that happens when you say "Designing My Summer" instead of "My Summer to Do List."   

I am starting to design the summer of 2017.  Here are some design elements:

I will reread the Anne of Green Gables series and watch the corresponding Public Television series.   

Yep.  This is the signage for the LIW Museum in Pepin, Wisconsin. Like a bad Holly Hobby craft project.  I seriously need to devote my retirement to this museum.   

A Laura Ingalls Wilder road trip will be happening.  I will be the tour guide for my mom, aunt, niece and daughter as we journey to Pepin, Wisconsin and Walnut Grove, Minnesota.  All road trip members have to read or reread the first four books in the series. (You can't take the books outta the Reading Specialist.)  I don't want to field stupid questions like - "Who were Pet and Patty?" or "What kind of buttons did Ma's fancy dress have?"

Meeting up with one friend a week for coffee.

Finishing the organizing and styling of my studio so I can host a "Studio Night" in August.  

How will you be designing your summer?  Let me know.  

Prairie Eydie