By: Kat Remick
1. Make soap- Summer is the best time to make soap because a lot of the process needs to be well ventilated. There are tons of recipes online. Keep your eyes peeled in upcoming issues of Messy because this craft is on my to do list. Bonus, if you make enough you can give it to friends and family or you can sell and make a little extra summer cash.
2. Make a mixed cd- Compile a list of songs that remind you of summer, of being carefree, and just make you want to sing at the top of your lungs… then download those songs and burn them to a cd for your very own summer soundtrack.
3. Take a road trip- If you don’t have anywhere to drive, then go online and look up the most tourist places that are relatively nearby and drive there. Making sure of course to take a lot of pictures. Don’t have a lot of time? Pop in your summer soundtrack that you made and drive until it is done. Then turn around and start it all over again.
4. Eat dinner on the patio of a restaurant- Nothing better than a nice meal on a nice summer evening. Experiment, go somewhere you’ve never been. Try food you can’t pronounce or that you never thought you’d like. The worst thing that can happen is that you don’t like it… hey Mc Donald’s is always around the corner.
5. Perfect your breast stroke- I use to swim really well when I was a kid, but I haven’t really kept up with it. If you are like me or if you’ve never learned to swim… then take a class and do some laps. Its great aerobic exercise and you get to spend time outdoors in the cool water and the warm sun. SIGN ME UP!
6. Bedazzle a squirt gun and keep it loaded- Get some stick on jewel from your favorite craft store, get some super glue or use your glue gun and glue those bad boys on! Load up your kick ass new squirt gun and point it at anything that moves…. Or doesn’t! Just don’t hit my husband he hates it.
7. Spend the day in your bathing suit- When you’re on vacation somewhere tropical you’re at the beach or the pool 90% of time and walk around in your bathing suit… so get into that lazy days of summer mentality by putting on your bathing suit and hanging around the house or apartment.
8. Make freshly squeezed lemonade- F the powder crap! Buy some lemons, water, sugar, and a sprig of mint. Invite a friend over and catch up on old times.
9. Make a skirt- Sure you can buy a cute summer skirt, but why do that when you can make your very own unique frock that will set you apart from the rest of the flock! Go to your favorite craft store and get a couple yards of your favorite fabric and find a pattern for your favorite style of skirt and follow the directions to your very own tailored to you garment. Or create your own pattern. Pick up the book “Sew What! Skirts: 16 Simple Styles You Can Make with Fabulous Fabrics” by Francesca DenHartog at either your local library or bookstore. This book is awesome and it teaches you how to make a pattern from scratch.
10. Read a trashy romance novel- There is just something about reading about heaving bosoms to put you in a silly mood which is exactly the mood you should be in during the summer. Put down the copy of the Grapes of Wrath… you can pick it up again once the leaves fall. Trashy romance not your style? Perhaps some “chick lit”? Or comic books? If none of those appeals to you pick up a book by Christopher Moore…he’ll have you lol-ing in no time ;)
11. Go to a fair- Go to fairs, festivals, and parades. Go to lots of them. Go to ones that celebrate music, like regeafest, or ones that celebrate your culture like the Irish cultural festival, or ones that transport you to another place like Medieval Faire… Whatever it’s a celebration of, it is Fun in the sun for a couple of hours. That’s fun with a capitol F!
12. Go to a Farmers Market- Fresh yummy vegetables and supporting local farmers! I am all about killing two birds with one stone…not literally of course.
13. Send postcards to loved ones without going anywhere- Post cards are a short a sweet way to say hi to loved ones and a great way to advertise your city. Pick up some postcards that emphasis the coolest parts of your city. Jot down a note and mails them out to friends a family, who knows maybe you will inspire them to take a roadie to come and see you. Plus you are supporting the Post office, they need our help.
14. Refurbish a piece of furniture- take that old beat up desk, or coffee table, grab a can of paint, and a paint brush and turn it into a brand new piece. You may need to sand it down first…look up some tips from the pros on line. Don’t have a piece of old furniture to fix up? Go dumpster diving aka trash picking… or drive by the rich streets of your city on garbage day… One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.
15. Paint a self portrait- Maybe you aren’t the next Frida Kahlo or Vincent Van Gogh…SO WHAT. Look in the mirror and paint what you see or what you want to see… If it comes out jumbled mess, at least it’s your jumbled mess.
16. Make an anklet- Hop into the car or on to your bike, yet again, and ride down to your favorite craft store. Pick up jewelry wire, beads and jewelry claps and string up your very own anklet. Wear with pride.
17. Wear a toe ring- Toe rings aren’t very comfortable crammed into shoes, so take this opportunity of warm weather to don some flip flops or sandals and decorate those little piggies.
18. Paint your toe nails the colors of the rainbow- Now that you have let those piggys out into the open it’s time to decorate them some more. Paint toe nails make me smile. Sure you can paint them all one color…OR you can paint them multiple colors…green, red, blue, yellow, purple, orange, black, white, teal, and hot pink! This is sure to put a smile on your face every time you look down.
19. Train for a 5k- Exercise is boring. Most people do it for fitness which can only motivate you so far. But you can make it fun by making it about a specific goal. A 5k is a great start. It’s a little over 3 miles and totally doable for even the novice runner. Before you know it you will be running marathons...or not…
20. Go through your closets/ have a swap meet with friends- Remember that one man’s trash is another man’s treasure thing I said a few numbers back…well it applies to friends too. You know that awesome black cardigan you have been eyeing in your best friends closet, well maybe she’s sick of it. Maybe she really wants that awesome pair of heels that pinch your feet. Go through your closets pull out the stuff that doesn’t fit or that you don’t want anymore. Have your friends do the same and then go through the bags. Maybe you want find anything that you want, but you could leave with a whole new wardrobe. And at least you will have made room for more clothes .
21. Go to a Roller Derby- Girls in skimpy outfits knocking each other down… Sounds like fun to me. There are 40 Roller Derbies teams that make up the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association in the United States. There could be one near you and if there isn’t, use this as an opportunity to take that roadie.
22. Go skinny dipping- This pretty much speaks for its self… I’ve never done it, but as soon as I get the opportunity…
23. Plant a vegetable garden- This will really only work if you have enough land to do in. But if you don’t own a house with a white picket fence don’t despair! Start a community garden or get in on one already established in your neighborhood. Don’t like vegetables? Give them away to family, friends, or homeless shelters.
24. Make strawberry lemonade cupcakes- Buy a box of strawberry cake mix and lemon frosting. Follow the directions for the cupcake recipe and BAM! Your very own slice of summer heaven.
25. Make Limoncello- Follow my awesome recipe in the upcoming issue (Issue 5) of Messy Magazine.
26. Shuck corn- Then boil, slather on butter, salt and pepper and enjoy!
27. Shuck responsibility for a day and go to the beach instead- We all need a mental health day to recoup. So call off (or do the responsible thing and request off) and run to the closest body of water…lake, ocean, or pool. Spend the day listening to music, reading magazines or reading a book. Make sure to wear sunscreen and bring a snack.
28. Keep a journal/ blog- I have a journal…it’s mostly full of lists. I feel better when I take all the stuff I need to do and write it down. It sort of releases the burden. See your journal or blog to vent your frustrations or express your joy. This is your place to empty all your thoughts and keep track of all the great things you are doing this summer.
29. Build a sandcastle- Purchase a few plastic pales and shovels and build a gigantic sandcastle. Takes lots of pictures. Then destroy it like you are Godzilla and it is a small Japanese village…OR leave it up for others to marvel at.
30. Go to small independently owned bars/ Dives and see live local music- Cleveland is an excellent place for local music. And believe it or not I bet the places you live are brimming with local talent even if you don’t live in a huge city. You just have to keep your eyes open and for the price of a ticket to the movies (sometimes less) you can rock out, discover something new, support local business, support local artists and meet new and interesting people. Then if your favorite local band makes it someday, you can boast that you knew them way back when.
31. Make popsicles using your ice tray- try different flavors mix and match your favorite juices. For a something different try combining coffee, milk, and sugar. Pour into ice trays and stick in the freezer. Wait until they start to freeze and then stick the popsicle stick into the center of each cube, then place them back in the freezer and then enjoy. Or you can buy one of those neat contraptions that are specially made for making popsicles.
32. Wear a flower in your hair- Real or fake, wearing a flower in your hair is great way to get in the summer spirit.
33. Lay in the grass- Make sure it hasn’t been raining or you might become a muddy mess, but feeling the cool grass on your body on a warm summer day is like a little piece of heaven.
34. Play with sparklers- I don’t know about you, but when I was a kid this was the ultimate in fun! Like Fireworks without the noise. Grab you friends and a lighter and spark those babies up. Write your name in the air or write words in the air and see if your friends can guess what you wrote. Or just looks at the pretty and colorful sparks. But be safe.
35. Mosey on up to the window of a small seasonal ice cream shack- My favorite is getting the soft serve in a cone and getting the dip… Chocolate soft serve with the cherry dip is the best if you can find it!
36. Dip your feet in the closest body of water- Walk along the beach, dip your toes in the pool or fill up the bath tub and dangle your feet over the side…just make sure you feel that cool water on your little piggies.
37. Take pictures of you and your friends enjoying the summer- Make sure to capture all your shenanigans on film, in case you need a reminder that the sun does actually shine, once winter hits.
38. Drink ice tea on your porch or stoop- Invite a friend over and sit on your porch or stoop and people watch. No people to be found? Go to a park or a local coffee shop with an outside patio. These are great places to people watch.
39. Go to a garage sale- it’s that one man’s trash is another man’s treasure thing again! You can really find some awesome stuff, either in excellent condition or in need of some creative refurbishing.
40. Play in the sprinklers- You don’t have wear your bathing suit…hell you don’t even need to own a sprinkler. Run by any sprinkler you see and let the water get ya! It’s just water and it will dry. Find your inner child. It’s summer.
41. Do tourist things in your own town and discover where you live- This summer I went on The Goodtime III in Cleveland, my hometown. The Goodtime III is a boat ride that takes you down the Cuyahoga River and on to Lake Erie. I learned a little bit about my city and enjoyed a lovely boat ride around the city. Find the cool things to do in your city and do them! Get out of your everyday routine.
42. Have a potluck barbeque with friends- Have all your friends make a dish and then get together either at your place, the beach or a nearby park and chow down while enjoying the company of your friends and the warm summer nights.
43. Have a Jam session- This was inspired by my family. My uncles all play guitar and when the
family gets together the guitars come out, the bongos come out, the harmonica comes out and its music time. Can’t play an instrument? No problem sing a long instead! Can’t sing, not that it matters, then just sit back and enjoy!
44. Count butterflies- This one was inspired by my mother. She is a lepidopterist, which means she studies butterflies. She counts butterflies several times a week at Dike 14 Nature Preserve in Downtown Cleveland (This area is only open to the general public twice a year check out this website for details. http://www.dike14.org/.) She notices butterflies all the time, often when I don’t. So if you’re like me, open your eyes! Notice the world around you and count how many butterflies you find.
45. Go fishing- I have never done this before, but I’ve always wanted to. My aunt says there is nothing like the feeling you get when you catch your first fish. If you are lucky enough to accomplish this, score! Dinner! If you don’t like fish, don’t fret you can throw it back or give it away.
46. Cut a pair of jeans into shorts- Recently my favorite pair of jeans formed a huge hole near the crotch. Hot, I know. My solution? Cut the legs off and make them into shorts. Now they are my favorite pair of jean shorts.
47. Make a friendship bracelet- Remember when you were young and you took the embroidery thread and braided it or knotted it into a bracelet? Well I do and it was a relaxing way of killing an hour. Multi task. Do it while watching TV or while you’re a passenger during a roadie. Give the final product to your best friend.
48. Make sangria- My favorite is white Sangria! Check out my recipe at http://messymagazine.blogspot.com/
49. Play on the swing set- Go to the closest park. Put your ass in the swing and pump your legs till your worries disappear. And when you get high enough jump off with eyes wide open!
50. Write your own 50 things to do list for summer - And then do them! So what if it’s August! Summer ain’t over till the leaves fall.
