Summer is almost here! I wanted to share with you a few of my summer organizing tasks I noted in my planning binder. (Now that I am writing this post, I am realizing that these items are so suburban-living. Some days I miss my country-living-childhood!)

• Plan a weekend trip to go fruit and veggie picking at a local farm. (I am also planning time that weekend to do a little jam-making and canning. A little container of homemade jam makes a great holiday gift!)
• Plan summer travel and look at flights, car rentals, and hotel availability now. Be aware of festival or motor race events at your destination that might make your stay a bit more difficult to book.
• Place mail-orders for summer items! (I buy our sunscreen, sneakers, and Crocs mail-order.)
• Check that you have up-to-date sunscreen, bug spray, first-aid kit, and insect bite medications. (I am allergic to bee-stings so I always check the expiration date on my Benadryl at this time of the year and make sure I have an extra packet in my purse/diaper bag when ever I go out.)
• Note the weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, baptisms, and other special events that are coming up in the next three months and start shopping for cards and gifts now. (When I get items ahead-of-time, I wrap them, label them, and place them in an accessible storage spot.)
• Purchase your family pool pass at your local community center and sign up for swimming lessons.
• Make sure your lawn mower, edge trimmer, and hedge clippers are tuned up and gassed up.
• Compile a list of local parks and note opening/closing times, admission fees, amenities (Burke Lake Park has a choo choo train ride), and other special items.
• Check spring clearance sales on kid-clothing and buy for next year.
• Check that your landscape maintenance service contract is current.
• Clean out and tune up campers/camping/hiking/biking, and other summer recreational equipment. (Don’t forget to fit little growing heads for new helmets!)

I hope this helps you ease into your summer fun! Do you have other summer organizing tasks on your to-do list? Leave a gentle reminder comment here for other readers! Happy Organizing!