821 - New Year's Resolutions!

This year instead of making disappointing and breakable New Year's resolutions, I resolve to make 2019 the year of MORE!  This way I can increase the fun factors in my life often and on purpose.

In 2019, I am going to enjoy more:

being with family

hanging around with friends

reading

writing thank you notes

laughter

gardening

adventures - alone and with others

trips to the library

working out

exploring University Circle in Cleveland

colorful clothes

plays

viewing artwork

random acts of kindness

needlework

donating

music

food enjoyment, cooking, and exploration

writing

Zentangle

researching to satisfy my curiosity

walking

whatever suits my fancy

Happy New Year!

809 - 820 Fun Things to Do!

810 - Goat Yoga is the newest thing for encouraging a good sense of humor along with some fun physical activity.  Some have described it is as getting in touch with your inner farm girl or boy! The goats are trained to interact with participants and it is an experience you will never forget!

811 - Attend lectures and/or book signings with well-known authors.  Recently I have been privileged to go to presentations by Judy Blume, Paula McClain, Jodi Picoult,  John Irving, Adriana Trigiani and this week I will be attending an event featuring John Grisham.  Local libraries usually coordinate author happenings - some are free, and others include the writer's newest book in the cost of admission.  I have enjoyed every author event I have ever attended.  Check your local libraries for author events near you.

812 - Listen to audiobooks.  My local library system has over 10,000 audiobooks that can be borrowed!  You can access them with your phone, iPad, laptop, or desktop.  I use headphones when I am going to be moving around.  Recently, I put on my headphones, with an intention of doing some housework for about an hour -- five hours later, I was still going strong!

813 - Investigate the history of your town.  You can check your area's historical society and library for names of books and other resources which will enlighten you about interesting local facts and stories.

814 - Help someone to learn a skill.  You have many talents that could enrich the lives of others!  If you want to reach a lot of people at the same time, check with your local library about teaching a class.  

815 - If you are having tech difficulties, check with a teenager or a child and they will dazzle you with their knowledge!

816 - Take a photograph of your table before lunch or dinner.  This may look like an ordinary table, but the tablecloth was given to me by my dear book group friend, Cathy, the Fiesta ware is part of my collection which was started as a tribute to my late Mother, and the wooden salad utensils were beautified with Zentangle® inspired art (see zentangle.com) by my talented friend April.

817 - Honor a child's or an adult's achievement with a certificate or a trophy.  Whether it is winning a spelling bee, hitting a home run, or getting a promotion at work, make it a wonderful celebration!  Certificates are available at office supply stores and can be made to look very official with the help of your computer or even your own good printing skills.  Trophies are much less expensive than you might think, and can be engraved with the pertinent information.  These are good ways to celebrate any occasion and make it very tangible and memorable!

818 - Dance in the dark -- by yourself or with a partner!  Candles optional.

819 - Remember unique sayings that strike your fancy.  One time during a discussion, my daughter, Maribeth's boyfriend Phil said, "Are you picking up what I am putting down?".  Now I live for the opportunity to interject that sentence into conversations!  Thank you Phil!

820 - Have a canvas print made from one of your favorite photographs.  They are available in many sizes locally or on the internet.  This is a wonderful gift to give yourself or others.

796 - 809 Vacation Fun Things to Do!

797 - Enjoy the magic of sunrises and/or sunsets on vacations and document them with photographs.  I am not a morning person at all, except when it comes to the allure of fabulous sunrises.  This photo was taken in Ocean City, Maryland.

798 - Research your vacation destination so you can more fully enjoy your adventures.  Before Tom and I went to Savannah, Georgia, I reread Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt, which is based on a real story.  We got to tour the house where the main character lived and see some other locations mentioned in the book.  You can also find lots of destination information on the internet, from AAA (American Automobile Association), and at the library.

799 - It's fun to take a sketchbook on vacation, even if you don't consider yourself to be adept at drawing.  Without judgment, draw some interesting items here and there.  When you get home, you will be happy to have these memories to recall in a very personal way. 

800 - Take photos of your meals when they are first served.  Sometimes when I get home from a vacation, I know I have had really great food, but often the specifics are hard to recall.

801 - A vacation is a perfect time to keep a journal of your adventures and any particular things you want to document.  Vacation journals are real treasures to review for many years to come!

802 - Put together a photo album of your vacation pictures.  I often make a photo book online - a wonderful record for your family and a great and very personal gift.

803 - Take some interesting, perhaps even a little bit wild, clothes with you to enjoy.  Most people won't know you anyway, so change your identity a bit, and have some fun!  (Thanks to my friend, Denise, for this idea.)

STAYCATIONS

804 - One of my favorite things to do is drive around with no destination - just rambling around, stopping occasionally, taking some photos, trying new restaurants and using a GPS to find my way home.

805 - Check out local attractions that you have never seen before.  Most states have books, pamphlets, and magazines devoted to interesting things to do.  Did you know that you can rent tree houses in Ohio?  Mohican Cabins and Treehouses in Glenmont, Ohio have a variety of treetop accommodations waiting for you!

806 - Do lots of research for a future vacation!  Perhaps you will go, perhaps not - but the fun of learning about an unfamiliar area can be very rewarding.  You might find that if you coordinate your savings, you might really get there one day!  One time my friend Mary-Anne, who lived in Minnesota, wanted me to be in her wedding.  I could not afford the plane ticket until I counted the quarters I had been saving and miraculously, I had enough for a round trip ticket!  Saving coins can reap big rewards!

807 - Do an activity in your area that you had previously not considered doing like laser tag, paintball, or car racing - whatever suits your fancy.

808 - Throw a theme party and invite lots of people to share your staycation with you!  My son, Kevin, and daughter-in-law Dyan, have had many Hawaiian luau parties, but have never gone to Hawaii!   But if they ever go, they will be prepared in advance for lots of Hawaiian fun!

809 - Have a wonderful time doing nothing, or very little.  Naps, reading, binging on TV shows.  It can be very restorative and fun to not have very many obligations!

786 - 795 Fun Things to Do!

This month's fun things to do were provided by my dear friend Mary Ellen, who is brilliant when it comes to fun ideas!

786 - Deliver a whole meal to the hospital room of a friend, and then eat with the family.

787 - Give yourself a sick day.  Change into your jammies and organize your activities.  Time to read a book or color!

788 - Choose a picture you have taken with your phone and have it blown up and frame it as a present.  Make a copy for yourself.

789 - Say yes to something without thinking about it.  It could be an adventure!

790 - Send lots of emails or texts early in the morning and see what you get back by afternoon.

791 - Buy something on ebay.  My hubby (Mary Ellen's) bought a train.  It came in one day and our dining room table has a track on it!

792 - Get involved in something that helps someone.  We need to take care of each other.

793 -  Find an author and read as many of his/her books as you can.  It's fun to read the lesser known books!

794 - Have dinner at lunch time.  Way to shake it up!

795 - Celebrate your right to vote by voting and then going out to lunch - not a chore, but an adventure!

Thank you, Mary Ellen!!  You rock!

781 - 785 Fun Things to Do!

781 - Keep the promise of Spring in your heart and treat yourself to flowers throughout the Winter.  I try to have fresh flowers and Spring bulbs in bloom throughout the season -- my Winter garden.  I feel much more cheerful with flowery reminders of an impending Spring full of miraculous blossoms.  By the way, it is 46 days until Spring --  you can start counting down now!

782 - Donate to your local arts organizations.  It's a great way to promote art and creativity in your area, and a wonderful way to feel part of the art scene.  You can also take some amazing classes for some artistic fun and adventure and become a regular at new exhibits.

783 - Have a conversation with a stranger.  This is one of my very favorite things to do.  I enjoy being able to get a glimpse into someone else's life -- even a short exchange is fun.  Some of my best memories are of conversations with people at coffee shops, airplanes, and wherever there a friendly stranger can be found.

784 - Try a home meal delivery service!  We use "Home Chef" and get two meals a week.  I always considered myself to be an average cook, making meals that I thought my husband would appreciate.   Now that I have happily been making new recipes, we have entered a wonderful world of culinary exploration.  Now Tom will try anything, and always likes whatever I make.  I roast pine nuts, caramelize onions, use wine,  incorporate interesting herbs, and have an enormous amount of fun learning new techniques and putting really great meals on the table.  Check one thing off my bucket list!

785 - Try all different kinds of tea.   A good cup of tea can help an upset stomach, encourage sleep, comfort, invigorate and more!  Having a some tea with a friend can make for a cozy and fun visit.