May’s Loving List

31 Ways for Loving the Ordinary Each & Every Day

Every month, I create a list with 31 ways for Loving the Ordinary each and every day. It is a list to help you enjoy life by Carefully Curating the days with home, garden, and life, taking time to enjoy the moment alone or with someone special. I’ve expanded on some of these ideas to further inspire you.

Please find one or two that inspire you to Love in May.

• Celebrate May Day by surprising the neighbors with a bouquet. The old tradition of placing small tokens of flowers on the door. Here is what NPR says about it, “A reporter in the Sterling, Ill., Gazette in 1871 explained the seasonal ritual this way: “A May-basket is — well, I hardly know how to describe it; but ’tis something to be hung on a door. Made of paper generally, it contains almost anything, by way of small presents you have in mind to put in it, together with your respects, best wishes — love, perhaps. It is hung after dark at the door of anybody the hanger fancies. — Which done, the said hanger knocks and scampers.” If you are looking for ideas, I have some on Pinterest here.
• Open up the curtains and windows, let in the fresh spring air.
• Paint your toenails with a fun spring color.
• Cut a single peony from the garden to put on your desk.
• Take a walk by the river, lake, or pond to see all the baby ducks, geese & swans
• National Nurses Day is May 6th. For example, take your doctor’s staff treats to say “Thank You”.
• Deep clean the house so it is done before summer begins.
• Make bubble wands.
• Have a garden party to celebrate all the incredible women in your life. Furthermore, let them know what you admire about them.
• National Etiquette Week begins May 10th: take a moment to brush up on your manners
• Plant flowers: lilacs, peonies and seeds: cosmos, zinnias.
• Take photos with the tulips.
• Make a twig trellis or tepee from prunings of landscape shrubs. Then, plant it with morning glories or scarlet runner beans
• Find an app to help with grilling, smoking, or BBQ for dinner.
• Create an Outdoor Kitchen or a Grilling area.
• Collect and paint rocks to leave on your walks so others walking by will discover them. Some ideas to paint are ladybugs, rainbows, or herb markers.
• Watch or read “A Secret Garden” for garden inspiration.
• On Notebook Day, May 18th, start a Curated Life Journal. I also have a blog on 10 Reasons to Start a Journal here.
• Organize, clean & sharpen your garden tools.
• Visit a National Park, even if it is virtual.
• Sit on the porch with a special drink, maybe a spring detox tea or rhubarb shrub.
• Learn to Hula hoop – if you need inspiration, watch this YouTube video of Oprah reading the children’s book Hula Hoopin Queen: https://youtu.be/op9Bc7GWCuw.
• Try a new grilling class online or in person.
• Plant a few tender perennial herbs into pots, such as prostrate rosemary, lemon verbena, lemongrass, and scented geranium
• Purchase a beautifully tuned wind chime and hang it near a window.
• Find a friend who could use help in the garden and spend a weekend day helping out.
• Go on a family date, during which you could see a parade, get ice cream cones, or ride bikes in a different park.
• Burger Day 28th – what’s your preference? Beef, Turkey, Portobello?
• Gather porch party items; after that, you’ll have them close at hand for impromptu gatherings
• Find & purchase fabulous new sunglasses
• Thank a Veteran For Their Service; here are 10 Ways to Thank a Vet.

I hope May finds you enjoying a moment in the sun, enjoying your home, your garden, and your community. “Community”* I use that word as a reference to all those people in our lives. That is to say a word for our family, those we consider family, friends, neighbors, and those we nod and say ‘hello’ to as we take our morning walks. May Blessings to You, Bobbi

** “Community” I use that word to reference all those people in our lives. That is to say a word for our family, those we consider family, friends, neighbors, and those we nod and say ‘hello’ to as we take our morning walks.

Please comment below if you like or try any of May’s Loving the Ordinary List. There are five more ways to explore the idea of Loving the Ordinary daily. First, you can sign up below for notification when a new blog posts. Secondly, if you want more videos, fun sheets, and classes, please sign up for my weekly newsletter as we continue our Carefully Curated Life adventure. Thirdly, if you want to know more about it, here is the blog explaining it. Fourth, visit other seasonal blogs on the website. Lastly, we offer a monthly eBook exploring loving the ordinary with journal prompts, activities, and curating your home.