your august bucket list
a curated guide to surviving the final stretch of Texas heat through A/C escapades, low-fi mindfulness, and small kitchen alchemy.
I challenged myself to be somewhat positive about August. This is a list of activities for those who struggle through the heat, but are still trying to make the most of summer even though the temperature is truly testing your patience. Living in Texas during these months means you have to get creative to enjoy yourself, so I compiled a few hobbies I love to rely on during this time of year. Most of my bucket list items are intentional activities designed to keep you completely away from the heat.
The a/c escapades (outings that guarantee a blast of cold air)
Go ice skating: Every August, this is the very fist activity I book. Trading the suffocating heat for an indoor sheet of ice feels like a glitch in the summer matrix. My local ice skating rink has a jukebox, and I love to play “Unwritten”. Does anyone remember the movie Ice Princess?!
Go roller skating: Lofi music, neon-lit hardwood floors, Y2K vibes, and the absolute best concession stand food I have ever found. It’s especially fun if you go during themed nights, my favorite is ‘80s night. The music was just iconic back then.
Go bowling/ Visit an arcade/ Ride bumper cars: Lean straight into childhood arcade nostalgia because it’s always air-conditioned. Honestly, doing this gets me so ready for carnival fair season.
Spend an afternoon at a museum: Walking through quiet, beautifully chilled galleries where time slows down. Museums are my comfort place, I go there more than any place in town. I just love the peace and quiet. It’s so serene, and I always treat myself to lunch on their patio afterward. Its my favorite outing.
In-House Alchemy (Small, creative kitchen projects)
Make fun ice cubes: Freeze stars, hearts, or moons into your water to make romanticizing daily hydration a little easier. Its just a nice, simple way to add a touch of whimsy to my morning routine. I see everyone on social media adding sprinkles to their drinks but that’s too much sugar for me. I’d much rather take my sugar in the form of a homemade flavored syrup.
Make a syrup for the month: I love to be playful when it comes to my iced coffees and matchas, so once in a while, I add homemade flavored syrups. This month I am leaning into blackberry and maple syrup blend to elevate my morning coffee or a glass of sparking water.
Bake a key lime pie: Test out a brand-new flavor combination (like blackberry!) and embrace the temporary heat of the oven. Trust me, it is so worth it. This has become an annual tradition in my home. Every August, without a fail, we bake a key lime pie.
Sensory Transitions (Preparing your mind and body for autumn)
Take a peppermint shower: Starting or ending your day with a cooling, tingling sensory reset is truly amazing when humidity peaks.
Save seeds for next year’s garden: A quite, tactile way of reminding ourselves that a brand new season is always on its way. Collect faded flower heads and dried seed pods, shaking the seeds into small paper envelopes to store away a little piece of this summer for next spring.
Notice what’s reaching it’s peak: Paying attention to what is thriving right now before the landscape shifts. Bake that peach or apricot galette before the season disappears.
Low-Fi Mindfulness (Digital detoxes and mental space)
Leave the house without your phone: Even if it’s just for a brief, ten-minute walk around the block right after the sunsets.
Open your notes app: Write down the fleeting things you want to remember from this summer before September arrives.
Start a playlist that helps you through the season: Curating the exact vibe you need to keep your headspace cool.
Here is a playlist with the perfect summer vibes:
I hope your August is easy and kind
- Lily H.
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