Happy First Day of Spring! Woohoo! Let the birds sing, the flowers bloom and the sun shine! And let’s you and I dream of all the fun things we’ll do as the weather warms, the days get longer and the world around us brightens with color. Today I’m sharing my Spring 2024 Bucket List. It’s filled with fun things to do during my favorite season, as well as outfit ideas for what to wear while you enjoy these beautiful days.
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Walk Around Downtown
Does your city or town have a downtown area? When was the last time you walked along those sidewalks, popping in and out of the local shops? Maybe there’s a new lunch spot or coffee shop you need to try out. Or maybe your favorite antique shop has gotten in new “old things” since you were last there.
Spring is a good time to go downtown for a walk through the shops. Those small shop owners will be so glad to see you!
Go Out to Lunch with Friends
Put on something fresh and springy, and meet up with friends for a real ladies lunch. It could be as simple as Chicken Salad Chick. Do you have those where you live? My fav! Or you might have a local tea room to enjoy with the ladies.
My mom and aunt and I love going to the Swan Coach House in Atlanta. Such a treat. Tell me in the comments where you like to go for a real ladies lunch. Even if it’s local and we’ve all never heard of it. I’d love to hear about it! What do you order? At the Swan Coach House we love their chicken salad, cheese straws and frozen fruit salad.
Share flowers from your yard with someone.
For the first time we have beautiful daffodils blooming in our yard. James planted the bulbs this past year, so it will take a while for them to become strong and prolific, but I’m enjoying the bursts of yellow and white. If you have flowers to share, make a small bouquet and take them to a friend, new neighbor or service provider.
Visit a Botanical Garden
Right now is the best time to visit many botanical gardens as daffodils and tulips begin to bloom. Check with your nearby garden and schedule a visit so you don’t miss the blooms.
Don’t hesitate to visit a botanical garden on a rainy day. The crowds will be thinned out, and the flowers can look especially pretty glistening with raindrops. Just wear good shoes and take an umbrella of course. Consider the seasonal weather part of the adventure!
Dress up for a matinee performance.
Take in a matinee performance of a favorite play or musical. Dress up a little! I have a dear friend who is performing in Steel Magnolias mid April through mid May. If you’re in Georgia, definitely get tickets to Steel Magnolias at the Legacy Theater.
But many theaters kick off their spring and summer productions at this time of year. See what’s playing near you, invite a friend and make an afternoon of it.
Dine Alfresco!
On a pretty, spring day, surprise your honey with a spur of the moment invitation to meet you at a local restaurant with outdoor dining. Take a wrap along with you if needed to keep the chill off. But enjoy the fresh air and the freedom of being outside again.
Everything tastes better outside!
Take a walk in the woods.
Whether you go for a bona fide hike or you just get out to explore a nearby path, feel the rich earth under your sneakers! Be safe about it, but walk alone (in a well-trafficked area) and listen to the birds sing, the river flow and the breeze blow.
Welcome spring and rejoice in the beauty God has created. What a magnificent thing, the cycle of seasons! Savor the cool warmth of spring…before the heat of summer forces you back indoors.
Invite a friend to brunch.
Who says brunch is only for the weekend? Invite a friend to a leisurely mid morning meal any day of the week. Feast on delicacies of spring like fresh asparagus and early strawberries.
Linger over coffee. Catch up with your friend. Ask how you can pray for her and share what’s going on in your life.
Volunteer!
Serving in our communities is always a good idea. About this time in the year many volunteer-dependent services see a drop off in participation as new years resolutions wear off and travel plans crank up. Call around to local schools, libraries, hospitals, community centers and food banks to see if they are onboarding new volunteers.
Plan a play day with the grandkids.
Do the things your grandkids love to do. Feed the ducks at a local pond, fly a kite on a breezy day, hang out at the playground or go on a picnic.
Ask your grandchildren what they’d like to do, but have some ideas of your own, too. Let them help you plan out the day…or make it a surprise with clues leading to the next activity and then the next.
Meet a friend for coffee.
I just can’t get enough of being outside this time of year. Plan to meet up with a friend for coffee at a local coffee or tea place that has outdoor seating.
Enjoy March madness!
Have you set your brackets? The madness of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament begins TODAY! And the women’s play begins tomorrow. I won’t be creating a bracket, but I’ll definitely join my family in celebrating the madness. We love our college basketball.
With three graduates of the University of Arizona in our family, we’ll be rooting for their teams. And my husband will also be cheering on the University of Texas Longhorns. But truly we also love watching to see the Cinderella teams emerge. So fun!
Take in a Spring festival.
With everyone itching to get back outside, spring is a big time for festivals of all kinds. Part of my husband’s and my first date was a street art festival in Fort Worth, Texas, during the spring of 1987. Sweet.
Check the Internet or local newspaper for upcoming festivals in your area. Plan to get out and enjoy!
Do a good deed.
When you’re out and about this spring, do a little good. Pay for someone else’s meal at a restaurant, pick up the bill for the car behind you in the coffee run line, surprise a favorite business with donuts or a box of cookies, or pick up some supplies for a young mom while you’re running your own errands.
Treat a friend to a pedicure.
I got a pedicure yesterday, and that was nice. But it would have been so much more fun to share that time with a friend.
Stay away from nail salons on the Saturday before Easter and Mother’s Day. Instead, invite a friend to freshen toes together several days before those big events.
Attend a women’s conference or retreat.
Friends from church and I are going to a Christian women’s conference in early April. I’m looking forward to time with these special ladies as well as good teaching. Spring is a great time to refresh yourself in God’s Word and with sweet fellowship.
Will you be attending a retreat or conference this spring? I’d love to hear about it. By the way, I still speak at women’s retreats and Bible conferences, too. I also speak at other types of ladies’ events, such as girls’ nights out and teas. Email me if you’re interested in having me as a speaker. I would love that!
Plan a garden party.
Sometimes we miss out on special opportunities because we overthink them. A garden party can be as simple as having a few friends share tea or lemonade with you on your back deck or even on a blanket in your yard. Sometimes these simple gatherings are the sweetest.
Spend the morning at the Farmers’ Market.
Soon local farmers will be sharing their bounty at nearby markets. This is a great time to get the freshest asparagus, green peas, some lettuces and carrots. Take your garden fresh finds home and create a lovely salad or risotto.
Wear something that makes you feel pretty and youthful. Enjoy a treat while you’re out too. Make it a sweet morning.
Celebrate a special woman in your life.
Whether you treat her on her birthday, honor her on Mother’s Day weekend or congratulate her for a recent accomplishment, celebrate a special woman in your life.
Give her a sweet and thoughtful gift and treat her to coffee or ice cream. But most importantly, take a moment to express to her your admiration, gratitude and love.
Do you have additional ideas for our spring bucket list? I’d love to hear from you today. Join the conversation below.
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Blessed for My Day
The changing of the seasons becomes more and more of a blessing to me as I age. While other changes in life are sometimes hard and unwelcomed, the change of seasons always reminds me that God is in change. He created change, cycles, seasons, so we can trust Him to help us navigate them. And we can know that every season of life includes a hearty dose of blessings.
Even if you are in a winter of life, you can look outside and see that spring will follow. God has assured us that He will turn our mourning into dancing, the setting of the sun into the rising of the same and the cold winter days into sun drenched spring. You can trust Him to bring new blessings in hard times.
So if you faithfully obey the commands I am giving you today—to love the Lord your God and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul—then I will send rain on your land in its season, both autumn and spring rains, so that you may gather in your grain, new wine and olive oil. I will provide grass in the fields for your cattle, and you will eat and be satisfied. ~ Deuteronomy 11:13-15
Can you tell me the what jeans or pants you are wearing in Plan a Garden Party? Thank you.
Yes! I’ll have to fix that in the post. They are these from Spanx: https://rstyle.me/+Dl2N75vHPzao8WBMat6tqg
Oops! I got that wrong. They’re actually these jeans: https://rstyle.me/+81xOLIlCTDftRmjKScWvww But the Spanx pants are very similar in appearance and function. And they are so slimming.
What a fun blog post this morning! My hubby and I plan to visit our favorite garden on Thursday, they are displaying their rare blue poppies! I also loved the reminder to share these adventures with friends and grands! Speaking of grands, we are taking our two grandsons to a museum in Philadelphia on Monday to celebrate one’s birthday and also Spring Break time! Love all the outfit ideas as well. Thank you, Kay!
Wonderful! Those sound like great outings.
What a nice list! I would add one more idea – many animal shelters offer a wide variety of spontaneous volunteering opportunities. My local shelter offers “Doggie Day Out” as one of those, where you can pick up a shelter dog for the day and take him with you on a walk through the woods or around town, or just to play in your yard or house if you are up for that. Some dogs just enjoy riding in the car so you can take one on a ride through the country if you are not up for something more active. It gives the dog a much needed break from the shelter, and gives the shelter an opportunity to get valuable feedback on the dog’s personality away from the shelter, which can help match him with his forever home.
That’s amazing. Thank you for sharing. Love that!
My husband and I are off to Madrid for a few days. (We live in Portugal.) Love these little getaways to start off spring. 🌸
These https://rstyle.me/+q_BXsn0rnDQotk4LbseRsg are so cute and comfy looking and laid back stylish! Would go with all your out and about cute out-and-about pants outfits!
Sandra Winfield
Thank you for this post. These are the cutest outfits and where to wear them are so fun. I’m getting ready for a local one day church conference next month and I had no idea what I was going to wear. Now I have a good idea. The last conference I went to, I dressed up like I was going to church. When I got there, there were jeans everywhere. Now I know I can dress down a little bit. Again, thank you. I learn so much from you! Have a great day!!🌷
As more of my church ladies retire, we are growing our social group for daily activities. Tuesday is an indoor swim day. We went to an orchid show the other day and it was lovely. We also have skating days and fitness classes which are walking distance. It’s nice doing these things even though we still have snow on the ground outside! Thanks for the outfit ideas in this post Kay!
You are a busy lady. I love all those things. How delightful to be a part of all of that. 🥰
What great outfits! I love them all! 😍 I love a good tea room, we have a wonderful tea room in my area called Inspirations . I love the chicken trio, small chicken salad on greens, small salad on the side with candied pecans, fruit and raspberry dressing. Scone of the day and a slice of cake of your choice .Comes with a drink. This is my go to for my birthdays with my siblings. Even the men love the food! Plenty of leftovers which are the best!
Wow! That sounds like a great luncheon. How wonderful!
Hi Kay! I love this post! I already do many of these activities, but you’ve given me ideas for more. My favorite thing to do when spring arrives is to sit on my screened porch early in the morning with my coffee and my solitude. It is peaceful and quiet with only the sounds of the birds and chipmunks and squirrels rustling about. My husband gave me a Haiku box last Christmas which identifies the birds based on their singing and chattering. Thank you for another inspiring post!
What a wonderful box. Love that !
I love all these ideas! I especially like walking in my yard and neighborhood in the spring, listening for and identifying birds. This list would make a great printable for subscribers — one each season. 🙂
Yes, I enjoy identifying the birds too. Your yard must be lovely. 🥰
Hi Kay,
This is such a wonderful reminder of how blessed we are when we can sit with a friend or friends and learn from them. Each one has something unique about them to share, even if it is just a lesson learned or a scripture that means something to them specifically.
In our church another lady (more seasoned than me) and I head up a ladies’ lunch once a month where we meet at a nice restaurant called The Star on the main street of our town. Most often it is I who contacts our secretary to include it in the bulletin for two weeks before the date, and I also call to reserve several tables in an area that we like there. Also the week of it, I email our secretary to send out the email to our church ladies as a reminder. I am so happy to provide this simple way of gathering any ladies that can make it from month to month to join together for lunch. I am not able to do so very much any more since I have slowed down, but the other lady and I feel that it is a small but enjoyable way for us to serve and can be a form of outreach for our ladies to invite friends too.
It is a very great blessing to reach out in this way.
Thanks for all you do to encourage us ladies. —Janie
That sounds just lovely Janie. I wish I could join you!
Kay, today’s post resonates on many levels. First, the classic nautical top, which we all have, becomes elevated with a bright sweater. Your daily blessing at the end was appropriate for me to send today to friends enduring challenges. I was asked how I know you. My answer: You and I have not met, despite my reading your blog for couple years. I told them we readers are a family supporting one another through everyday life adventures. Thank you, Kay, for brightening a few lives today and for encouraging a personal bucket list.
That is very kind and lovely. Thank you so much . I count you ladies as dear friends too. 🥰
Hi Kay sorry just catching up with this today as I was out with friends yesterday for lunch we have a few places but our favourites are The Cloister which is right next to St Marys Cathedral in Newcastle Upon Tyne United Kingdom , it is family run and everything is homemade gorgeous Scones , cakes and fruit pies to die for , and homemade soups snd bread eyc etc , the atmosphere is calm and lovely being a few steps away from the Cathedral and another favourite is The Cafe Under The Spire which was once a Church , it is so beautiful and calm and peaceful, as you can gather I enjoy old Churches and they do a fabulous Eggs Benedict which we love as well as their beautiful cakes . I loved your fun post today and your lovely fresh and fun outfits , Ooh I love Spring my most favourite Season , Nature unfolding in all its glory , the birds having their young ❤️My 5 mile walks taking im all of Gods glorious Beauty, I love the Spring flowers The Blues and Purples of the Iris and Crocus , The Yellow of the Daffodils, Pinks of the Tulips and my most favourite of all the Little Snowdrop natures first and most hopeful flower so brave and so beautiful . Loved your BFMD today also . Kay thank you for this fun and happy post 💐
The Spire sounds just lovely. My kind of place. Eggs Benedict is one of my favorites. Unfortunately I’ve just realized I have an egg allergy. Bleh. I love eggs. 😒 Anyhow thank you so much for sharing about your lovely spring in the UK. I must go there sometime during the spring. And I envy you your 5 mile walk. 🥰
Thank you for this post. It will help me to live more intentionally by using some of these great ideas. Excellent points, truths, in the BFMD, too.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for reading and pausing to comment. 🥰
Hi Kay,
Thanks for all these great ideas – great inspiration to create more intentional weekends and time with friends.
I love the feminine blouse from Me +Em – so beautiful – saving for a splurge. In the meantime, have you found any more economical versions of a similar blouse to suggest?
I really enjoy your blog and posts and am learning a lot! I’m curious when you will share what dresses you decided for you cruise – it was a lot of fun to look at the options and your decision process. It’s hard to decide and be prepared for upcoming events. Thanks for pulling us into your planning process.
Happy Spring to you!