Summer Bucket List

Hello friends! So I know our Summer Bucket Lists were "due" on June 21, but I'm a little late to the party. No matter, I've already made some headway on mine! Here's some fun stuff I'd like to do this summer.

Go to the movies - Oh yes friends, we're doing this! I honestly don't remember the last movie I saw in a theater. Going to see a matinee showing of Black Widow.  

Fix/update Mom's tablet - We both got new tablets during Prime Day, but she hadn't set hers up, so I helped her do that and downloaded some apps for her. 

Go to the beach - we made it down there right before Memorial Day, which was great because there weren't any crowds yet. I'd like to go again at least one more time this summer, with my new beach tote! 

Attend a trivia night - I'm historically terrible at trivia, but I love going! I'll be meeting Michael at a favorite brewery tonight for a Schitt's Creek trivia! 

Celebrate Blue's birthday - HELL YES! Next week were are heading to the Poconos for a quick getaway and I can't wait! 

Enjoy a weekend getaway with mom - This is in the works for August! 

Celebrate the 4th of July - DONE! Had some great food and laughs with the family! It was wonderful to see everyone for the first time since pre-Covid. 

Visit a fair - there's a local county fair in August which takes place down the street from Blue, so hoping to get there this year since it was cancelled last year. 

Check out American Dream - Oooh, I actually just did this last weekend, but I definitely want to go back. This place is HUUUUUGE and it has an indoor ski/snowboard "resort," LegoLand, Nicolodeon Universe, an ice rink, a mirror maze, an aquarium, a water park, mini golf, and yes- stores! I don't think I've ever been so excited about going to a mall lol! 

Try some new cocktails and/or beer - A given every summer! I think I want to try High Noon and maybe some new cocktails.

Go to an aquarium or museum - Hmm... I guess I could do this at American Dream, but I really want to go to the "Best Aquarium in the Northeast" (according to USA Today), Adventure Aquarium. Best part, it's not too far away! 

Send care package to friend in Colorado - I meant to send this for Christmas in July. Maybe if I can get my act together quickly I can still send it (almost) in time! 

Visit Raven's new apartment - one of my close friends got a new apartment that she's really excited about. It'll be her first time living alone again since we lived next door to each other and saw each other practically every day (again, pre-Covid). And she got a new kitten I can't wait to meet! 

Sign up for/take a class - I DID THIS! I signed up for Yale School of Business Executive Education Women's Leadership Program, and it started yesterday. In 6 weeks I'll earn credits and a certificate. I'm really looking forward to this! 

Read 5 books - Book Challenge By Erin 15.0 started on July 1, so I need to get my butt in gear! I've already finished 2/10 books, and am working on my third now. 

And that's it! Got any fun plans for this summer? 

Linking up with Leslie!

Let's Look: Bathroom Organization

I love all things organization, so I was really excited when I saw this topic for this month's Let's Look series. One thing I learned lately is to have a storage container for EVERYTHING so you know exactly where it goes when you're done using it. I'm all about clear containers because if I don't see it, I don't use it. I can't wait to read some of your answers too so I can get some ideas on how to work on my "trouble area"- under the sink! 

So first off- here's my bathroom. It's more long than square. I live in a rented apartment, so I can't do anything about those sick yellow tiles except pair it with dark gray (my towels, rug, and shower curtain- at the top [not shown]). 

I try to keep my countertop mostly clear. I have a small basket for my nail polishes, a small ring holder that actually has sample size perfumes and safety pins (not sure why lol), 2 jars- one for Qtips and one cotton balls/pads, and then this corner caddy for hair and beauty products. (I don't wear much makeup, but the makeup I do own is stored on my dresser in my bedroom which is why you don't see any here.) Oh, and the waterpik I asked for one Christmas and still have never used (sorry Blue!) 

I mentioned jars. I love the looks of apothecary jars for storage, but I just cannot bring myself to spend $15 on a jar. I found this hack on Pinterest many moons ago and I love it! I purchase a lot of those BBW 3-wick candles. When it's empty/burnt out, I toss it in my freezer for a bit, and then scrape out the excess wax. I also found this way of cleaning them out using boiling water but I haven't tried it yet. Either way you do it you get an instant container- and less waste! 

Behind the mirror is where I store my mud masks, Band-Aids and Neosporin (easy access because I'm a clumsy girl!), and excess creams. 

I have two small, narrow drawers in the vanity. In one I store my toothpaste, a smaller face towel, and some random samples. In the other is my hair brush, glasses, extra contacts, bobby pins, and hair ties (and apparently tissues, a Tide stick(?), and a really old dip nail polish remover!). 

Above my toilet, I have the only piece of "art" in the bathroom, a poster that says "Enjoy the Journey" that I picked from TJ Maxx because of the gray background. On the lid, I keep my rubber duck collection (I work for a college and that's our mascot... and I also think they're cute). 

My under the sink storage could use some help. Right now I just have things lined up, and everything else thrown into a bucket. 

It's got a little bit of everything- hydrogen peroxide and iodine, contact solution, mouthwash, nail polish remover, sunscreen, femme products, my hairdryer, extra shampoo, conditioner, hairspray (listen, when there's a sale on Pantene I take advantage- don't judge me!), mosquito spray and bracelets. AND, what you can't really see, in one of those pouches in the back is just lipsticks, and the other is some more femme products. 

I put the bucket on my counter so I could get a better look at what was in it- basically pills (Dayquil/Nyquil/ Mucinex/Midol), a thermometer, first aid kit, a pack of unopened toothbrushes, an unopened loofah, razors (mostly unopened), a Rembrandt teeth cleaning kit (that I didn't realize I had)... other lol. 

What do you do for your under-the-sink storage? 

 Linking up with Erika and Shay!

Currently / Prime Purchases

Reading: Seven Days In June by Tia Williams, All The Lives I Want: Essays About My Best Friends Who Happen To Be Famous Strangers by Alana Massey and I just got One Last Stop by Casey McQuinston - I better get to reading a bit faster! 

Watching: I just finished Dirty John on Netflix and OMG! Can't believe it was based on a true story too- I binged the series in 2 sittings. Also watching Loki on Disney+ and Physical on Apple TV. 

Listening to: my 2021 Playlist on Spotify. I think my favorite right now is Vacation by Dirty Heads.

Enjoying: Spending time with family that I haven't seen since the summer BEFORE the pandemic, and hanging out with our newest little member! 

Eating: I FINALLY made this sausage pasta dish  and it was DELICIOUS even if it did shatter my casserole dish in the oven (still upset about that, and the MESS... ugh). I also didn't get any good pictures of it but I would definitely recommend and plan to make it again in the near future!

 

Feeling: Uneasy/uncomfortable/anxious. There's a major re-org going on at work and he entire process is stressing me out. No one is losing their jobs (thankfully), but a lot of roles and titles are changing, including mine. 

Going: away for Blue's birthday! We're heading to a casino/resort in the Poconos for 2 nights and I can't wait! 

Realizing: That literally half the year is over already! Time really does fly!

Ordering: So. Many. Things! I definitely took advantage of Prime Day, so here's a look at some of my purchases. The first four were for a bday/care package for my friend who loves to putter around in her new garden- I hope she likes them! She also likes gin, hence the book! 

Bamboo Gardening Gloves (x2) - $7/ea

Unisex Outdoor Activities UV Protection Sun Hat - $14

7-Pocket Gardening Tool Belt - $14

Gone With The Gin: Cocktails with a Hollywood Twist - $9.75

Hanes Women's Jersey Shorts (x3) - $7/ea

Needed some new lazing around shorts, and I love that these were inexpensive, comfy, and have pockets! I got them in gray, black, and navy. 

Amazon Basics Oven Safe Bakeware Set of 2 (rectangle and Square)  - $18

Because my trusty casserole dish broke! 

Olive Oil Sprayer - $9

Someone else mentioned this in an earlier link-up so I decided to try it. Haven't used it yet though!

Mesh Beach Tote Bag with detachable cooler - $35

I love this tote, especially the pockets that zip closed and the detachable cooler on the bottom that also has a handle so you can carry it separately. This isn't the exact one I got, because appararentally Amaon isn't selling it anymore? It said "page not found."

Revlon One Step Hair Dryer and Volumizer - $35 *Prime Day Deal*

Since I got my major hair cut, I wanted something easier to do my hair with. This is a lot bigger than I was expecting though! I will report back once I try it! 

Real Simple 12- Month Subscription - $3.75 *Prime Day Deal*

$4 for a year?! YAY! I cancelled my subscription sometime last year but I've come to realize that I missed it, and you definitely can't beat that price!

Amazon Fire 8" Tablet 32 GB (x2) - $45/ea *Prime Day Deal*

My first tablet! So honestly, I'm not sure how I'm going to use it yet, but I did download all of my streaming and social apps so I'm excited to use it- maybe on vacation! 

Did you take advantage of Prime Day? 

Linking up with Anne and Tanya!