tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15636309491346927472024-03-13T18:25:47.233-04:00Celebrate Possibilities!Carol Bailey Floydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06659773711556749336noreply@blogger.comBlogger191125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1563630949134692747.post-57730999051371086072024-02-28T17:02:00.001-05:002024-02-28T17:03:20.326-05:00871 - 885 Fun Things to Do<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHP2OqNMqhzIFMX2i8eOItAyJDrDnvzXlM8-Bs9jMwcZRcWTjkQFEou_UiCgbaKA1MWjJjDOCCsEtFL58Sgb40Ft-rDGzWgBjltanOCL77a5v1oSbALtDiQd_jwEDkcEOffHzWjW4iKu-fLPSFn7Yr9nlfqDKSVnXRPK1ZwokZShJa9_wEJTowjtt3z-Mq/s1357/IMG_2959.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1357" data-original-width="1170" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHP2OqNMqhzIFMX2i8eOItAyJDrDnvzXlM8-Bs9jMwcZRcWTjkQFEou_UiCgbaKA1MWjJjDOCCsEtFL58Sgb40Ft-rDGzWgBjltanOCL77a5v1oSbALtDiQd_jwEDkcEOffHzWjW4iKu-fLPSFn7Yr9nlfqDKSVnXRPK1ZwokZShJa9_wEJTowjtt3z-Mq/s320/IMG_2959.PNG" width="276" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">871 - There are days when we get a lot done. We can accomplish most of our "To Do" list efficiently and walk tall and proud. On other days our "get up and go has got up and went". If you need to slow down, take your time and read a book, watch TV, take a nap, or just do nothing. When you are back in the world, I bet you will feel rejuvenated and ready to ramble!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">872 - Go to a bake sale! They pop up here and there, especially at churches, and are sources of delicious delectables at reasonable prices. The money raised is always for a good cause, so your donation is always appreciated.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">873 - Enjoy the magazines at your local library. It's a great way to save on subscriptions, and you'll have a chance to look at some different magazines. Older issues are usually available to check out. This is one of my favorite things to do.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">874 - Write a note for someone, put it inside a balloon, blow it up, and give it to them! It's an inexpensive way to have fun and communicate at the same time! You could even distribute balloons with invitations inside them.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Z_87ziU2xe758m99srkUV7zqzzAF4B4FwMoKIs7xgXYKjVgvi8h5xfqSQK35c1pcOneRQgpALEKURY83HHReen7Nh6W5Z5_U7p7BK6ZM8v3nNNeqkxdYFbedMLyC9AWrUDzTTJRz2ZxxB46lxjZolRTxIBUQ-imgOuJN5WLJW36RGJFDFUcHLEe51Sk4/s4032/IMG_2933.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Z_87ziU2xe758m99srkUV7zqzzAF4B4FwMoKIs7xgXYKjVgvi8h5xfqSQK35c1pcOneRQgpALEKURY83HHReen7Nh6W5Z5_U7p7BK6ZM8v3nNNeqkxdYFbedMLyC9AWrUDzTTJRz2ZxxB46lxjZolRTxIBUQ-imgOuJN5WLJW36RGJFDFUcHLEe51Sk4/s320/IMG_2933.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">875 - Take photographs of interesting automobile license plates, tire covers, or bumper stickers.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">876 - Get up at dawn for no reason except to greet the day with extra time. Enjoy a cup of tea or coffee while you leisurely approach your world.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">876 - Have a take-out party! Invite your friends to bring their favorite take-out. I did this, and it was so much fun. Fourteen people came and would you believe that there were no duplicate take-outs!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">877 - Write a poem for someone. It doesn't have to be a romantic poem and you don't have to be a perfect writer. My friend Mary Ellen and I have been writing Haiku poetry to each other for almost two years. Our original "Writer's Digest" challenge was for one month, but it was so fun, we kept on going. We sure know each other a lot better now. Here is one of mine:</div></div><p></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Arial; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">Time</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<p style="background-color: white; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Arial; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: center;"><br /></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Arial; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">The most precious thing</p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Arial; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">we have is time, so spend it</p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Arial; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">wisely. Be grateful.</p><div><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">878 - Clip an article or photograph out of a newspaper or magazine and mail it to someone who might be interested. My Dad often send clippings to his friends and family. He even mailed out New Yorker cartoons from his Page-a-Day calendar.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiChyphenhyphenl4gOn8r6yxAJcn6St2Rf42FB4zZ7QevlJOun35YmZEWLOGjBJMdVVBxFvIuhvzVJmfuEd8iw_G9TjDaBIArfAWflbk3CapGzmyTBG2E6xWfqjfQ8wE_55pTgB0c-14nRDppHA-DgLG8OGKSwnee7-rhmBOCLEKxF_PFQMtU6YZhnOByj4AV4KhzyQb/s4032/IMG_2987.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiChyphenhyphenl4gOn8r6yxAJcn6St2Rf42FB4zZ7QevlJOun35YmZEWLOGjBJMdVVBxFvIuhvzVJmfuEd8iw_G9TjDaBIArfAWflbk3CapGzmyTBG2E6xWfqjfQ8wE_55pTgB0c-14nRDppHA-DgLG8OGKSwnee7-rhmBOCLEKxF_PFQMtU6YZhnOByj4AV4KhzyQb/s320/IMG_2987.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">879 - Take random photographs around your house and put them in an album. There may be a time when you do not live in the same home, and you will really appreciate these photographic memories.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">880 - Put a rose under the windshield wiper of a friend or family member's car with a note.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">881 - Buy "Love" stamps to use when you are mailing something to your favorite people. I always have a lot on hand, but I also have other kinds of stamps. I had to laugh one day when I noticed that my husband Tom had put a love stamp on an electric bill envelope!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">882 - Find a pen pal! You could write to one of your old high school friends who lives far away, or to a military person overseas, or to a child in your family. In this age of technology, a handwritten letter can be an unexpected delight!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">883 - Browse through a dictionary and find words you don't know. Read the definitions and try to use your new words conversationally as soon as you can.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">884 - Take a lesson - dancing, Yoga, golfing, crochet, guitar, cooking, sky diving - there are so many to choose from. You are never too old or too young to learn new skills!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">885 - Pack a special lunch for someone you love that includes some of their favorite foods, some notes, and a culinary surprise!</div><br /><br /></div><p></p><p><br /></p><br /> <p></p>Carol Bailey Floydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06659773711556749336noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1563630949134692747.post-34130205192014405742023-09-02T22:08:00.001-04:002024-03-03T14:40:52.682-05:00861 - 870 Fun Things to Do<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisOjiFESqg2W-l63aax04NU35VLCUqnKjTo4fZf76YuDJL12lwNtpWS10PCKo7TaVqZnHINuwi1Tc3W2EvQdre_6xvvbHWTGAQeqTExB9r8TTu8zYVXxLDJvOa9DNWWIlvz_2K2Rt-mX4-_6PriBvw9CN9u8X2oZCU_msrKfq8TBCzpXkii5COEEgAVBn2/s4032/83E62630-AB6A-47A4-A24C-EBE13F2183A9.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisOjiFESqg2W-l63aax04NU35VLCUqnKjTo4fZf76YuDJL12lwNtpWS10PCKo7TaVqZnHINuwi1Tc3W2EvQdre_6xvvbHWTGAQeqTExB9r8TTu8zYVXxLDJvOa9DNWWIlvz_2K2Rt-mX4-_6PriBvw9CN9u8X2oZCU_msrKfq8TBCzpXkii5COEEgAVBn2/w300-h400/83E62630-AB6A-47A4-A24C-EBE13F2183A9.heic" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">861 - Take photographs of your favorite garden flowers. If you live in a one season climate, you will have flowers year-round. But those of us in our Spring/Summer/Fall seasons grab all the glory we can, while we can! This year my hibiscus bush thrilled and delighted me for about two weeks. My hibiscus are gone now, but not only do I have their memory, I have lots of photos.<br /></div><p></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">862 - Celebrate Weird Days! Every single day has a few celebrations. My husband, Tom, and I once celebrated National Ravioli Day by going to an Italian restaurant and, you guessed it, eating ravioli. My friend Mary Ellen's husband Tim, often tells her the celebrations for each day in the morning. Today, 9/2/23, is National Blueberry Popsicle Day, National Hummingbird Day, and National Play Outside Day. www.nationaldaycalendar.com is one of many sites with celebration day information.</div><p></p></blockquote><p style="text-align: justify;">863 - Do something fun you used to do in your childhood - skipping rope, playing with toy cars, cutting out paper dolls, climbing a tree, sledding, or re-reading one of your favorite childhood books. Invite a friend to join you in your retro play time.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">864 - Pay attention to the sky. It really is performance art! Lying on your back and looking up is the best way to enjoy looking at the sky and the shapes of the clouds, but noticing the sky at any time in any way is great! I can tell if I am having a really good day or not by my relationship to the sky.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRi72ghZcHDrw18y_Yg1dSYXLP93k9shxvLMZO3B47tSUpuOORB9uLhAwsowC3FQOdQ8z7pKsNEajSEdk_qFjfdyCrmlyPFH_AaKaV3Kbz8BDoKyl94qXFmvE9PipsLF6Vs_YMMWSMLJd0MlkNlEOunNMMRwebrNRLuP60hYcXo7s7Locvp4XQUf2gXTIZ/s4032/89FE7545-4619-4E4B-B138-1DB3472F87A5.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRi72ghZcHDrw18y_Yg1dSYXLP93k9shxvLMZO3B47tSUpuOORB9uLhAwsowC3FQOdQ8z7pKsNEajSEdk_qFjfdyCrmlyPFH_AaKaV3Kbz8BDoKyl94qXFmvE9PipsLF6Vs_YMMWSMLJd0MlkNlEOunNMMRwebrNRLuP60hYcXo7s7Locvp4XQUf2gXTIZ/s320/89FE7545-4619-4E4B-B138-1DB3472F87A5.heic" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">865 - Hang reminders in your home to encourage you to seize your life. Dare to live is a great jumping off point for your hopes and dreams! Dare to live with joy! Dare to live with courage! Dare to live with hope! I posted this photograph on Facebook today, and my friend Jeanie commented - Dare to live intentionally! Some days it take courage just to dare to live, on other days, you might be singing and dancing!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">866 - Get a tree identification book and have fun exploring the trees in your yard, your neighborhood, or in a local park. Remember the leaf assignment you probably had as child, and pressing your leaves between wax paper? The trees are still there waiting to be noticed and identified, and I am sure you have access to wax paper and an iron. Who needs a teacher with an assignment?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">867 - Hang a mirrored gazing ball of any size around your home to remind yourself to let your disco ball shine! I have them all over my house, and I often catch a glimpse of one just when I need the message. I have also given them to my friends.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">868 - Join a fantasy sports league. My husband Tom is in football and baseball fantasy leagues. If you love sports and statistics, you are ready for a new adventure. Participants draft players (or racers in the case of NASCAR) and follow their activities throughout their season. Trading players is part of the fun. Kibitzing and camaraderie are the name of the game!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">869 - If you're at a gathering and meeting new people, don't ask them what they do. They might be out of a job or hate their occupation! I always ask - what do you like to do for fun? Their answer reveals a lot about them, but is a friendly conversation opener. It's also a good way to find some new ideas.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">870 - When you are working on a project, you might want to take various photos as it unfolds. We had a new garage built a few years ago, and I took photos of the old tilting garage before and during the tear down, and of course, during construction, and of the final thrilling new garage outcome. These photographs are in a collage in the garage. And, oh yes, we had a garage opening party and invited all the neighbors.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div> <p></p>Carol Bailey Floydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06659773711556749336noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1563630949134692747.post-91627852832976031982022-06-27T16:01:00.000-04:002022-06-27T16:01:27.890-04:00853 - 860 Fun Things to Do!<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRDvCIRHsIftNi5TCQc2j7EHYu-hMfUvhuJ6AnP9O1zVyDejjCcjstfUG0ixo0jKes4enI4fuOt57xOWWXJ_20C2y9-Z-8skBSU-ip7fLFAFhzhGYK0MCmYZWEcTCoyhhQLvaWRflbxkOdw4ARlu2VL5HaqV4yX05jcWb8iwlLIC4_jcwlenBTOzUz_Q/s1088/957D5B15-F4A1-4E3C-981B-CC1A13E056C1_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1088" data-original-width="995" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRDvCIRHsIftNi5TCQc2j7EHYu-hMfUvhuJ6AnP9O1zVyDejjCcjstfUG0ixo0jKes4enI4fuOt57xOWWXJ_20C2y9-Z-8skBSU-ip7fLFAFhzhGYK0MCmYZWEcTCoyhhQLvaWRflbxkOdw4ARlu2VL5HaqV4yX05jcWb8iwlLIC4_jcwlenBTOzUz_Q/s320/957D5B15-F4A1-4E3C-981B-CC1A13E056C1_1_201_a.jpeg" width="293" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">853 - Encourage your family and friends every chance you get, especially when things might be a little tough for them. Think about when people encouraged you when you were having a difficult time. It's also good to give cheerful messages for no particular reason at all!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">854 - Rent a cabin in the woods by yourself! Read, fish, paint, write - whatever suits your fancy! You will be on nobody's timeline but your own. If a cabin is not feasible, go someplace where you can have a space of your own, like a private room at the library, or an empty pavilion or bench at a park. The important thing is to block out a large chunk of time to do whatever you want to do.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">855 - Get some friends together and try paintball. It's just running, hiding, and jumping out, using a paintball gun. Check to see if you have paintball in your area.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">856 - Do a research project on the history of your town. You can check the library, your local historical society, and even do some interviews with people who have firsthand knowledge of your area's history. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">857 - Make up a holiday to celebrate by yourself or with friends. It could be the anniversary of something important in your life. You might celebrate "Corn on the Cob Day" with a meal/s featuring lots of corn on the cob. Once a friend and I had a corn eating contest - we tied at 8 ears each! That's my kind of happy day! Or you could celebrate the number of years you've been in your house, or your car's age, or your child's academic or athletic achievement. Balloons! Streamers! Sparklers! Signs! Fun food! Thank you to Sarah for this great idea!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">858 - If you have a friend who likes photography as much as you do, go on an adventure together and look for interesting things to photograph.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">859 - Instead of trying to organize your millions of photographs, try putting them in albums out of order! There will be a wonderful conglomeration of photos for you to enjoy. There are no photo police, so you can do whatever you want!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">860 - Put flowers all over your house - in vases and/or pots. One time I had some friends over for lunch and I had flowers everywhere. I even put flowers in the bathroom. That even impressed me!</div><br /><p></p>Carol Bailey Floydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06659773711556749336noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1563630949134692747.post-75284879716026998112022-02-21T14:32:00.001-05:002022-02-21T14:39:58.118-05:00847 - 852 Fun Things to Do!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgKW1HuE57LqsqA0RP29UCwMorKs7gqlveqaFDutf4qr6bgYoo-Z7q_5VAmESHhWydW97g0xKKVMLMcj9_8ON93-23G9FEUioJuAsGY-AofbdshWYG25IICwy7U9BLfPDy4OgiPgSQYAp7e-5Siaxg02wVB6xYb_ZCkUkOgbUAd5j4-cXEQbosoEBTnmA=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgKW1HuE57LqsqA0RP29UCwMorKs7gqlveqaFDutf4qr6bgYoo-Z7q_5VAmESHhWydW97g0xKKVMLMcj9_8ON93-23G9FEUioJuAsGY-AofbdshWYG25IICwy7U9BLfPDy4OgiPgSQYAp7e-5Siaxg02wVB6xYb_ZCkUkOgbUAd5j4-cXEQbosoEBTnmA=s320" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">847 - Hang up some of your favorite inspirational sayings around your home. Change them around once in a while to keep the quotations lively and noticeable.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">848 - Join a club or group that reflects your interests -- chess, stamps, fishing, cooking, travel, etc. There are clubs for just about anything you can think about. If you cannot find a group, start one!! Most libraries have free rooms to reserve. All you need to do is get the word out and you're on your way! I love writing so I recently joined a writing club that has renewed my enthusiasm enormously!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">849 - If you are feeling a little low, designate a time period to really give into the your gloomy feelings. For example, you might think to yourself - "I am going to feel bad until tomorrow afternoon at 1 p.m. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Between now and then, I am going to watch a lot of TV, take lots of naps, create a dark painting, play solitaire, and read as much as I like". Go wherever your bad mood takes you! Then at 1 p.m. the next day, burst forth into your life again! Take a walk, call a friend, do some errands, water your plants, make some lists - whatever moves you! (This may not be effective if you are dealing with long term depression, but I have found it very useful to lift my spirits during a case of the blues.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">850 - Visit a tea room! Most tea rooms have lace everywhere, gorgeous furniture, beautiful china, delightful menus (tea sandwiches are one of my favorite delicacies), an interesting selection of teas, and cordial and gracious servers. A tea room experience can calm you and reinvigorate you at the same time! We have a delightful Miss Molly's Tea Room in Medina, Ohio. My friends and I love to find tea rooms in surrounding areas and happily visit them.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">851 - Research something you have always been curious about. It can be a person, place, event or whatever strikes your fancy. These days, researching is much easier with computers. Even if you don't have a computer, a friendly librarian will help you get started. You can also find books, magazines, and even audible books. Depending on your topic, you can do some original research on your own. I recently researched Ernest Hemingway. I started out with a book about his early years as a writer during his years in Paris. I read lots of books about Hemingway as a writer, husband, and father. He was married four times -- to Hadley Richardson, Pauline Pfeiffer, Martha Gellhorn, and Mary Welsh. I got off the topic of Hemingway when I fell in love with his third wife, Martha Gellhorn. She and Hemingway fell in love when they were both war correspondents. Independent and scrappy, she was very appealing to Hemingway from the start. Unfortunately, their marriage did not work out because when they settled into their home in Cuba, Martha was independent and scrappy! After they divorced, she went on to have a very adventurous life. See how fun it is to delve into a topic of your own choosing? Hooray!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">852 - I became a collector of "Wellness Tools" when I got involved with WRAP (Wellness Recovery Action Plan) <a href="http://www.wellnessrecoveryactionplan.com">www.wellnessrecoveryactionplan.com</a> One of their segments encourages you to develop many Wellness Tools to use when you need to coordinate your life for the better. The majority of my Wellness Tools are fun. Once you make a list, you are empowered to use it as a powerful resource for daily living. My challenge of "1000 Fun Things to Do" was conceived after I became a collector of Wellness Tools and began to appreciate the power of fun! A fun thing to do - have a fun things to do day! Make a list of lots of things you like to do and see how many you can coordinate in one day. It is very empowering, fun, and energizing!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(77, 81, 86); color: #4d5156; font-size: 14px;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /> <p></p>Carol Bailey Floydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06659773711556749336noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1563630949134692747.post-53643337524182529552021-05-13T18:51:00.012-04:002021-06-10T20:59:01.050-04:00826 - 846 Fun Things to Do!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-otv1TWenov4/YJ2CayATaTI/AAAAAAAADeY/iV8Z2TMQAE4ILZ0rsfWq1Z00c0rlxGpEwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/fullsizeoutput_55a5.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-otv1TWenov4/YJ2CayATaTI/AAAAAAAADeY/iV8Z2TMQAE4ILZ0rsfWq1Z00c0rlxGpEwCLcBGAsYHQ/w300-h400/fullsizeoutput_55a5.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p>826 - Take photographs of signs you like. Here is a sign I saw at Mustard Seed in Highland Square. I was driving when I saw it, so I pulled over and took a photo. I am always on the lookout for interesting signs. One time I saw a sign for a restaurant that said, "My boss told me to change this sign so I did".</p><p>827 - Learn about the constellations in the sky, so you can point them out to someone when you are looking at the stars at night. This would especially be fun to share with children.</p><p>826 - Teach children how to make and fly paper airplanes. There are lots of books and leaflets with instructions you can follow. They can be as complicated or simple as you like.</p><p>827 - Design a family crest!! You can choose motifs that are meaningful to your family. You could even have the design transferred to T-shirts. This would be especially great for family reunions.</p><p>828 - Grab a friend and find a teeter totter. Children may, or may not, be involved!</p><p>829 - Take a cooking class and improve your culinary skills. I have taken classes where I was involved, and some where I just watched. Your friends and family will gladly reap the benefits.</p><p>830 - Go to a garden show in your area. You will get lots of great ideas, see some wonderful gardens, and find out lots of gardening and home improvement information.</p><p>831 - Find a Toastmasters Club locally. They are very friendly and helpful. You will find lots of mentors to improve your speaking and communication skills and lots of camaraderie.</p><p>832 - Make a big change in your life! Dye your hair blue, take up running, drive some place you've always wanted to see. Change can enrich your life and lift your spirits!</p><p>833 - Enjoy the many pleasures of a luxurious bubble bath with candles, soft music, and even a good book!!</p><p>834 - Keep paper and pen beside your bed. You might wake up in the middle of the night and want to record an interesting dream or some good ideas.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e25AkGCPPH8/YJ2KnZgXclI/AAAAAAAADeo/zxsKYn-cInQQKxu8I_M9fnic_WEr5sAJwCLcBGAsYHQ/s702/fullsizeoutput_5538.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="702" data-original-width="686" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e25AkGCPPH8/YJ2KnZgXclI/AAAAAAAADeo/zxsKYn-cInQQKxu8I_M9fnic_WEr5sAJwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/fullsizeoutput_5538.jpeg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">835 - Patronize a favorite small business regularly. It is hard for independently owned businesses to compete with retail chains and online sales. This is The Peanut Shoppe in downtown Akron. They have been a fixture on Main Street for many years. Should I mention chocolate covered potato chips? When you walk in the front door, it smells like paradise! It is such a delightful adventure to leave with little bags of this and that!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">836 - If you have your own fireplace, enjoy it often. You could even have a s'mores party with marshmallows and chocolate. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">837 - Bake bread - any kind you like. Knead it, punch it down, put it in the oven and then enjoy the wonderful aroma that will permeate your house. Ahh - a nice thick slice of homemade bread with butter, such a homey treat!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">838 - Finish a project that has been on the back burner. SARK (Susan Ariel Rainbow Kennedy) calls this the "joy of completion". You can make a list breaking down the various parts of the task, and then get going!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">839 - Learn how to play chess. Sharpen your skills by playing with other people. When you are feeling chess confident, or just want a challenge, enter a chess tournament!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">840 - Check out a comedy club in your area. You might first want to find out if the comedians for that time are really "blue" (crude). Just for fun, put together some jokes and funny stories and practice them in front of a mirror. I bet you will have a new found appreciation for professional comedians.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">841 - Take a self-defense course. It will be good for your overall well-being and you will be prepared to skillfully defend yourself.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">842 - Try a creative writing course. There are all kinds at your local university, civic center, or online. Explore writing techniques for poetry, biography, fiction, non-fiction, or even memoir. You will probably not be graded, so jump right (write) in and have some fun!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">843 - At the end of the day, write down one thing that happened that you really appreciated. Can you imagine looking at a book full of those memories ten years down the line? Hooray!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">844 - Make a romantic candlelit dinner for someone you love. You can feature some of the wonderful recipes that you tried out in cooking classes!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">846 - Take photographs of every house you've ever lived in and mat and frame the photos together in order of habitation. I did that for both my sisters one year, and they really enjoyed the result. Taking photographs of houses can be tricky because of lights and shadows which are different for every house. You might want to check out optimal times for photographing your project. I always knocked on the door of each house to let them know what I was doing.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Carol Bailey Floydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06659773711556749336noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1563630949134692747.post-89605850882759464682020-06-23T15:33:00.001-04:002020-06-23T15:42:23.710-04:00822 - 825 Fun Things to Do!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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822 - Build or buy a "Little Free Library" as a way to share books with your neighbors. I bought a pre-assembled library, but there are many different kinds of instructions to build your own. Little Free Library is a non-profit organization whose mission is to "inspire a love of reading, build community, and spark creativity around the world". www.littlefreelibrary.com</div>
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823 - Buy a hummingbird feeder for your yard. Every single time I see a hummingbird, my heart gets really happy!</div>
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824 - Take a walk in the rain with an umbrella. The sound of the rain is really terrific. The last time I did this, I walked for about a mile and did not get wet at all. It also helps if you have a cheerful umbrella - mine is multi-colored polka dots.</div>
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825 - Play in the rain! A neighbor and her young daughter had on plastic ponchos with hoods in a recent rain shower. Puddles were jumped in! Faces were upturned! Laughter reigned!</div>
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<br />Carol Bailey Floydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06659773711556749336noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1563630949134692747.post-61648467373281199622018-12-31T19:51:00.000-05:002018-12-31T19:51:01.988-05:00821 - 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.<br />
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In 2019, I am going to enjoy more:<br />
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being with family<br />
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hanging around with friends<br />
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reading<br />
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writing thank you notes<br />
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laughter<br />
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gardening<br />
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adventures - alone and with others<br />
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trips to the library<br />
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working out<br />
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exploring University Circle in Cleveland<br />
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colorful clothes<br />
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plays<br />
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viewing artwork<br />
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random acts of kindness<br />
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needlework<br />
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donating<br />
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music<br />
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food enjoyment, cooking, and exploration<br />
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writing<br />
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Zentangle<br />
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researching to satisfy my curiosity<br />
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walking<br />
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whatever suits my fancy<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Happy New Year!</span></div>
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<br />Carol Bailey Floydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06659773711556749336noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1563630949134692747.post-63753310917427622042018-10-24T20:20:00.000-04:002018-10-24T20:31:21.690-04:00809 - 820 Fun Things to Do!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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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!</div>
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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.</div>
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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!</div>
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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.</div>
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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. </div>
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815 - If you are having tech difficulties, check with a teenager or a child and they will dazzle you with their knowledge!</div>
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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.</div>
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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!</div>
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818 - Dance in the dark -- by yourself or with a partner! Candles optional.</div>
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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!</div>
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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.</div>
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<br />Carol Bailey Floydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06659773711556749336noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1563630949134692747.post-89343382356628427632018-06-30T23:04:00.001-04:002018-06-30T23:05:05.162-04:00796 - 809 Vacation Fun Things to Do!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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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.</div>
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798 - Research your vacation destination so you can more fully enjoy your adventures. Before Tom and I went to Savannah, Georgia, I reread <i>Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil</i> 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.</div>
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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. </div>
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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.</div>
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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!</div>
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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.</div>
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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.)</div>
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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.</div>
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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!</div>
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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!</div>
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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.</div>
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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!</div>
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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!</div>
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Carol Bailey Floydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06659773711556749336noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1563630949134692747.post-8627705387878720732018-05-31T22:43:00.001-04:002018-05-31T22:47:02.978-04:00786 - 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!<br />
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786 - Deliver a whole meal to the hospital room of a friend, and then eat with the family.<br />
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787 - Give yourself a sick day. Change into your jammies and organize your activities. Time to read a book or color!<br />
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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.<br />
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789 - Say yes to something without thinking about it. It could be an adventure!<br />
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790 - Send lots of emails or texts early in the morning and see what you get back by afternoon.<br />
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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!<br />
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792 - Get involved in something that helps someone. We need to take care of each other.<br />
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793 - Find an author and read as many of his/her books as you can. It's fun to read the lesser known books!<br />
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794 - Have dinner at lunch time. Way to shake it up!<br />
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795 - Celebrate your right to vote by voting and then going out to lunch - not a chore, but an adventure!<br />
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Thank you, Mary Ellen!! You rock!<br />
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<br />Carol Bailey Floydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06659773711556749336noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1563630949134692747.post-62905156064295217232018-02-02T16:38:00.000-05:002018-02-02T16:39:20.069-05:00781 - 785 Fun Things to Do!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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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!<br />
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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.<br />
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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.<br />
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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!<br />
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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.<br />
<br />Carol Bailey Floydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06659773711556749336noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1563630949134692747.post-19931104989912200962017-10-21T22:26:00.000-04:002017-10-21T22:26:42.156-04:00771 - 780 Fun Things to Do!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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771 - Enjoy fresh flowers as often as possible. I got these vases in Sarasota, Florida this Summer and I have had fresh flowers in the house ever since. If you are very lucky, you have a wonderful flower garden where you cut your own flowers. And if you live in a sunshine state, you are blessed with flowers all year.</div>
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772 - Put bike streamers on your lawn mower! My friend Janis had this idea, and I am betting she really does have streamers on her lawn mower.</div>
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773 - Simplify! You don't have to simplify your whole life, but you could simplify a day or a weekend. If you are used to having a very busy life, try a day or two of few responsibilities with some leisure time to just enjoy your life.</div>
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774 - If you see a blimp, do not move until it is out of sight! Blimps are very lucky for me, so I enjoy spotting them -- luckily, I live in Akron, Ohio, where blimps are not an unusual sight.</div>
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775 - Put a streak of color in your hair! When I decided to let my hair grow out from red to gray, my daughter-in-law, Dyan, told me that I have the personality of a redhead so I wasn't allowed to change it. When I told her I was going to streak it with colors, she said okay!! So far I have had purple, turquoise, and hot pink streaks. Fun!</div>
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776 - Pop the air bubbles in packing materials. People of all ages enjoy this activity!</div>
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777 - Go on a tour of a factory. I am always curious about how things are made, so I have thoroughly enjoyed every factory tour I have taken, and I am always on the lookout for new opportunities. Best tour ever? Harry London Chocolate Factory (free samples)!</div>
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778 - Do you have something coming up that you are dreading like a dentist appointment? Plan something fun for soon after, so when you think of the difficult event, you can also think of your upcoming plans!</div>
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779 - Join a fantasy sports league. My husband, Tom, has lots of fun with his football and baseball fantasy leagues.</div>
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780 - Try something fun you used to enjoy when you were a child like rollerskating, sledding, climbing a tree, playing hopscotch - whatever makes you happy!</div>
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<br />Carol Bailey Floydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06659773711556749336noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1563630949134692747.post-51427251729867266842017-05-31T21:47:00.000-04:002017-05-31T21:55:08.749-04:00761 - 770 Fun Things to Do!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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761 - Support your local sports teams. We are lucky to live in Akron, Ohio, hometown of LeBron James. The Cavaliers are about to enter the NBA playoffs tomorrow night. I am a proud member of the LeBron James' Grandmothers' Fan Club and we are excited! We have certainly had our fair of sports excitement in N.E. Ohio lately. Last year the Indians won the American League Championship and came in second in the World Series. And remember, the test of a true fan is one who is there through the good and the bad. Don't forget the kids' sports -- in many ways, they are even more fun than adults' sports because you never know what to expect!</div>
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762 - Play chess outside -- find a game with a stranger or set up your own. </div>
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763 - Make a list of your favorite movie scenes. Here are some of mine:</div>
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Kermit the frog singing "Rainbow Connection" in the "Muppet Movie".</div>
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Meryl Streep leading a group of singing and dancing women through the streets of her small town in "Mama Mia".</div>
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Lee Marvin singing "I Was Born Under a Wandering Star" in "Paint Your Wagon".</div>
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764 - Make up your own holiday and then celebrate it! It might be a celebration of the last day of school, news of a promotion, the first day of Spring, or a friend or family member's visit home. You can have balloons, crepe paper, favorite music, fun food, signs, parade, party, or even a bonfire. It is so much fun to celebrate, why limit yourself to ordinary holidays?</div>
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765 - Go barefoot! I know a woman who plays golf in her bare feet. She loves the feel of all the wonderful grass under her feet -- why let it go to waste? I bet she more fully appreciates her golf games than most people.</div>
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766 - Dance it out! Dance if you're happy, aggravated, feeling silly, or for no reason at all. Dance at home alone, with friends or family, or at an entertainment center. One thing is guaranteed -- you will feel much better after you have danced it out. Release your self-consciousness and go for it!</div>
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767 - On an ordinary day, make a fabulous dinner! This is especially effective if no one is expecting it! Get out the tablecloth, vase of flowers, and perhaps some candles. You might prepare a favorite meal or try some new recipes. Enjoy!</div>
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768 - Finish a project you have left hanging. I have two double windows on the second floor. The first has been painted with lace curtains hung at the window. There is a can of paint and some brushes sitting on the floor by the second set of windows. It will be a personal triumph when both sets of windows are painted!</div>
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769 - Create some bracelets. You can use elastic cord or jewelry wire with a fastener. I like to make what I call "happy bracelets" with all kinds of beads. The bracelets above were made by me and some other volunteers for a jewelry extravaganza fundraiser for Access, Inc., which is a shelter for women and their children when they have no place to go. </div>
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770 - Jump out of a plane with a parachute on your back!! How's that for a thrilling and fun adventure?</div>
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<br />Carol Bailey Floydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06659773711556749336noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1563630949134692747.post-14849872652470007352017-03-31T21:19:00.000-04:002017-03-31T21:24:07.189-04:00748 - 760 Fun Things to Do!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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748 - Take a selfie with you and a friend while you are having a good time! This is my friend, Diane, and we were at a Zentangle art exhibit at a local gallery. She just moved to Florida, so I am especially glad to have this fun photo.</div>
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749 - Watch cartoons, on Saturday morning or any time at all! My friend, Mary Ellen, was feeling a little stressed recently so she zoned into some cartoons for a few days. They really helped lift her spirits and have some good laughs too!</div>
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750 - Watch some animation festivals on TV or in person. Animation from all over the world is really interesting and often very unexpected.</div>
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751 - Go to an international film festival. Most Hollywood films will seem boring compared to these artistic films. Lots of cities in the United States host film festivals. In New York, Robert DeNiro is co-founder of the Tribeca Film Festival; in Colorado, Robert Redford founded and hosts the Sundance Film Festival; and there is a Cleveland International Film Festival. If you have connections and a lot of money, you could even attend the Cannes Film Festival!</div>
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752 - Enjoy your Spring flowers indoor and out! Last year I planted more daffodils and tulips. Just knowing they would come up in the Spring made my Winter go a little easier. In March we had a week of severe cold and snow so I was very apprehensive about my new flowers which were at least 6" tall by the time they froze and were covered with snow. But my flower happiness prevailed and I am enjoying flowering blooms all over the yard. Hooray!!</div>
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753 - Pick a pen color and stick with it for a while. Right now, turquoise is my favorite and I recently went through a streak of pens with purple ink. There are so many kinds of pens available right now -- gels in all colors, glittery markers, multi-colored pens and more!</div>
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754 - Try writing with a fountain pen. You can even get disposable ones in all kinds of colors!</div>
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The Mercer House</div>
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755 - Study before and after a vacation. My husband, Tom, and I recently went to Savannah, Georgia. Before we went, I read <i>Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil</i> by John Berendt which is a nonfiction account of Jim Williams, who was instrumental in the revival of the historic district. We took a tour of the Mercer House, which was the last house he lived in. There was a crime involved which is detailed in the book, but I don't want to ruin the story for you! There was also a movie, "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil" starring Kevin Spacey. Now that we are home, I am reading <i>Savannah's Jim Williams and His Southern Houses. </i>I would recommend visiting Savannah to anyone -- the architecture alone is worth the trip, but there are also many other interesting things to do like ghost walks, trolley rides, fabulous food, interesting people, river cruises, intriguing cemeteries, and amazing churches.</div>
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756 - Buy some books that you loved as a child. The Nancy Drew series meant so much to me as I was growing up. Nancy was clever, smart, and courageous. She was a wonderful role model for me. I found a vintage bookstore in Savannah that was delightful. Betsy, the owner told me that one of the amazing things about the Nancy Drew series is that they were first written only ten years after women got the vote!! If you are ever in Savannah, Georgia, find this marvelous bookstore -- Books on Bay. They have all kinds of vintage books, but I was personally thrilled to find old friends like Nancy, and also the Hardy Boys, Trixie Belden, the Bobbsey Twins, Cherry Ames, and more! One of my favorite bookstores ever!</div>
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757 - Buy lots of books for children, and read to them often. Some day they will read to you! When I worked in bookstores (I volunteer in a bookstore now), I used to tell people to buy lots of books for their children so they will love to read, which means they will do well in school, get a good education, find a great job, make lots of money and take good care of their parents and grandparents when they are old!!</div>
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758 - Be a representative of the Easter Bunny for people you love! My daughter, Maribeth, and I have had a lot of fun over the years. hopping around town on Easter morning. Every year I try to pick out one extra person to get an Easter surprise. And Maribeth and I always wear bunny ears, and when we are done delivering baskets, we go through McDonald's drive thru and pass out Peeps!!</div>
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759 - Enjoy your art supplies and play with them often!! You can invite a friend over to have some artistic fun or you can spread out lots of fun materials and dive in on your own.</div>
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760 - Take an online art class. There are lots of classes out there, and many of them are very reasonably priced.</div>
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<br />Carol Bailey Floydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06659773711556749336noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1563630949134692747.post-28230861180168332532017-02-28T23:25:00.001-05:002017-03-01T00:12:47.381-05:00741 - 747 Fun Things to Do!<br />
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741 - If you see a sign that touches your heart, take a photo of it.</div>
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742 - Make a pledge to yourself. I am pledging not to buy any books in March!! That is because I buy books online, in bookstores, at library sales, and wherever I can find books for sale! I have 12 bookcases full of books (and overflowing!) So hopefully March will be a month of reading, reading, reading!! I am also a frequent patron of the library, but twenty years of working in bookstores has caused me to be a lover of books that I own. </div>
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743 - Cook something at home that you love to eat in restaurants. I finally made asparagus at home for the first time a few years ago. It was a lot easier than I thought it would be! One time I had Beef Wellington in a restaurant, and it was so delicious that I looked up the recipe in <i>The Joy of Cooking</i> right away. It's a very long and complicated recipe that I won't be trying any time soon!</div>
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744 - Try glow bowling!! This is bowling in the dark with glow in the dark bowling balls, perhaps glow in the dark shoes, and/or decor, too. You can do a "glow bowling" keyword search to find glow bowling in your area!</div>
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745 - Recommend books you love to your friends and family. <i>The Little Paris Bookshop </i>by Nina George is my new favorite book. It is about a bookshop in a barge on the Seine in Paris. The owner, Perdu, recommends books to customers by asking them four questions, and is proud that his books are in homes all over Paris. There are intriguing characters, adventures, love, mystery, and lots of surprises. Just when you think there couldn't possibly be any more surprises - POW!!! - something happens that you could have never predicted. It is written so well, that I felt swept away and thought about the book when I wasn't reading it. Hope you give it a try!</div>
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746 - Try lavender tulsi tea for better sleep, headache reduction, and upset stomachs! I originally bought this tea because I love lavender and and wanted to try it. Then I investigated the benefits and was happy to find out that it had all these capabilities. If I know that I need a good night's sleep, I just steep two tea bags for 15 minutes and I am almost always guaranteed great sleep. If I have a headache that goes into a second round, even after medication, some lavender tulsi tea works every time (so far). Every time I have had an upset stomach recently, a cup of the miraculous lavender tulsi tea does wonders. You can buy it at www.stash.com or at www.amazon.com (best price)</div>
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747 - Play hard! Play is fun and energizing -- what more could you want?</div>
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<br />Carol Bailey Floydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06659773711556749336noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1563630949134692747.post-74966467691851782562017-01-31T22:43:00.000-05:002017-01-31T22:43:54.185-05:00731 - 740 Fun Things to Do!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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731 - Feed the birds at a local park. This is my friend Laura feeding a chickadee at Seiberling Naturealm in Akron, Ohio. The birds are very friendly and happy to hop on your hand for a quick snack. We have had chickadees, tufted titmice, nuthatches, and cardinals (who lurk, but don't perch). Feeding birds from your hands is a magical mystical experience which I would highly recommend.</div>
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732 - When you are feeding birds from your hand, always have extra birdseed to give to curious strangers -- especially children. It is amazing to see the expressions on their faces the first time a bird lands on their hand!</div>
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733 - Organize a bowling party. It can be just for the fun of it, or for a special event. My grandson and his friends had a terrific time at his bowling birthday party. Check out your local bowling alley and see what they have to offer,</div>
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734 - If you really like bowling, join at bowling league. I was in a league once and I can testify that it was a LOT of fun and there was great camaraderie. If you're lucky, you might get one of those cool bowling shirts!</div>
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735 - If you are wrestling with a dilemma in your life and can't figure out what to do -- dance it out! You don't have to go to a nightclub -- just wait until you are alone, turn up some energetic music and go for it! It is my guess that by the time you have worn yourself out, you will be able to make your plans more clearly and calmly. Dancing it out can be done at any time for any reason!</div>
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736 - Keep an eye out for reflections in a pond or lake and capture the image with your cell phone camera or regular camera. Reflection photographs are so interesting -- you might even frame one that you like.</div>
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737 - Keep your favorite books in one place so they are always handy when you want them. My sister Barbara had a whole bookcase of favorite books, and I followed her lead and now know exactly where to find my books by Carol Shields, Julia Cameron, Carl Hiaasen, Studs Terkel, Hunter S. Thompson, and Isabel Allende to name a few.</div>
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738 - Read a book that is totally unlike something you usually read. The library is full of wondrous books waiting for you! I usually try my books out at the library first to see if I want to buy them later.</div>
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739 - Share your books randomly. At <a href="http://bookcrossing.com/">bookcrossing.com</a>, you can find information about how to register your book, and then leave it somewhere for a stranger to find! This is from their website:</div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #54631e; font-family: "lato" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">BookCrossing is the act of releasing your books "into the wild" for a stranger to find, or via "controlled release" to another BookCrossing member, and tracking where they go via journal entries from around the world. Our community of passionate, generous book-lovers is changing the world and touching lives, one traveling book at a time. We hope you join us!</span></div>
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740 - If you love books, you will enjoy finding quotations about books. For example, "A good book makes you want to live in a story. A great book gives you no choice." from the BookCrossing Facebook page I am reading a great book right now -- <i>A Little Paris Bookshop </i>by Nina George. It is an enchanting tale of a man who sells books from a barge on the Seine in Paris. There is romance and mystery too! </div>
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<br />Carol Bailey Floydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06659773711556749336noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1563630949134692747.post-25657048946070573562016-12-31T17:13:00.000-05:002016-12-31T17:15:58.403-05:00717 - 730 Fun Things to Do!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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517 - Use buttons to highlight your artwork. Make sure you use good glue so the buttons won't fall off. For some reason, I just love buttons, new or old.</div>
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518 - Find a playground in your neighborhood and have some fun. I enjoy this the most when no one else is around (except a friend) so I can be as silly as I want to be.</div>
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519 - Take a nap at an illegal nap time! That could be an hour after you get up in the morning, in your car on your lunch hour, while you are procrastinating, or whenever you feel like it. I have been doing illegal naps for years, but got the term, illegal nap, from <i>The Book of Awesome</i> by Neil Pasricha.</div>
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520 - Collect books from favorite authors so you can read them again years later. I have a whole bookcase that is filled with books by my favorite authors -- Julia Cameron, Studs Terkel, Carl Hiaasen, Carol Shields, Isabel Allende, Hunter S. Thompson. I have read most of the books, but I enjoy knowing that they are mine, and I can read them again any time I want.</div>
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525 - Keep packing bubble wrap so you can pop it whenever you want. It's also good to have on hand when kids come over and you want to impress them since you might lack age appropriate toys. I have never met a child (or adult) who didn't like popping bubble wrap.</div>
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526 - Play the board game, Monopoly. It can be engrossing for hours, but be prepared to be gracious when one of your opponents starts building hotels. </div>
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527 - The TV isn't working, the laptop is on the fritz, your alarm clock is inoperable -- unplug (then replug) - or reboot them and enjoy the happy relief of this simple and free fix! Hooray!</div>
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528 - Create a theme for a day -- food, music, play, anything you want. Plan things throughout the day related to your theme.</div>
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529 - Take all of the furniture out of your living room, play some great music, and have a dance party!</div>
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530 - Read the Sunday paper/s in bed -- you could even eat your breakfast while you are reading.</div>
<br />Carol Bailey Floydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06659773711556749336noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1563630949134692747.post-63507267806221492412016-10-31T23:12:00.000-04:002016-10-31T23:12:11.130-04:00711 - 716 Fun Things to Do!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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711 - Enjoy a creative welcome mat. This one is a terrific way to great your family and friends!</div>
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712 - Find a gasoline price app that will indicate the prices of gasoline wherever you are. You can find the best gas station to incorporate into your travels around town.</div>
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713 - If you have something difficult coming up, plan something fun for after that event! For example, if you have a major dental appointment, reward yourself with a concert, a play, a walk on a beautiful trail -- whatever strikes your fancy. Be sure to put both events on the calendar. Your difficulties will diminish.</div>
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714 - Go to a book signing. They usually occur at libraries and bookstores, and if you find one of your favorite authors, all the better! My friend Kathy and I went to a lecture and book signing featuring Adriana Trigiani, an author we both appreciate. It was a fun, interesting, and exciting evening.</div>
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715 - If you are collecting a series of books, take a photograph of the ones you already have so it will be handy the next time you go to a library or bookstore. I volunteer at a used bookstore in a huge library, so I have the best of both worlds! I bought all of those books for less than $2.00.</div>
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716 - When you encounter a difficult person, just say -- "You better be getting on your good-bye shoes!" You can even just think it, and you will be able to have a private laugh!</div>
<br />Carol Bailey Floydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06659773711556749336noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1563630949134692747.post-76775441425217436142016-08-31T22:09:00.001-04:002016-08-31T22:15:41.909-04:00701 - 710 Fun Things to Do!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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701 - Get a fountain to add water interest to your environment. I wasn't looking for a fountain when I saw this, but the sound is great, and the frog is cheerful, so it had to come home with me!<br />
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702 - Go to a toy store and have some fun. Maybe there is a toy you wanted as a child, and never got, or perhaps you could wander up and down the aisles until you are enchanted. You could even buy a toy for a child you love!<br />
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703 - Take a tour for a day or longer. AAA has a lot of great tours of all kinds at very reasonable prices. There are other organizations, including travel agencies, who have tours to just about any place you might imagine. If you are going to a foreign country, it is very comforting to have everything planned out in advance.<br />
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704 - Be a sidewalk supervisor! My Dad used to walk all around his neighborhood, and being a very curious fellow, he would strike up conversations here and there. If there was a construction site, he would find the Foreman, and find out what was happening. Of course, my Dad had advice to give about pipes, digging, navigating, etc. I often walked with him, and was always amazed at my Dad's readiness to talk to just about anyone, about almost any subject. I was lucky enough to be a sidewalk supervisor in my neighborhood recently. I had a conversation with a construction worker, and spent some interesting time watching all the action. Who says you have to be a little boy to enjoy big equipment performance?!<br />
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705 - Take a pottery class. This is my first attempt at building a vase - very hilarious, I must admit. The more crooked it got, the more I liked it! Now it holds all my paint brushes and is a great memory of a fun time with my friends.</div>
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706 - Enjoy a succulent garden. These are very popular right now, and you can get them at most garden stores already planted, or in individual pots waiting for your creativity. Depending on your weather, you can plant them outside or inside in pots. Even if you live in a four season climate, you can still enjoy your succulents outside in the Spring, Summer, and Fall.</div>
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707 - Get something monogrammed. You can get your initials put on towels, shirts, tote bags, pens -- whatever suits your fancy. Giving a gift of something that is monogrammed is a great way to show you took some time, thought, and effort in your selection.</div>
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708 - Buy an easel for your cookbooks, or just for a handy way to do your reading. </div>
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709 - Use chalk paint on a piece of furniture to liven it up. I love this chest because it was my Mother-in-law's. It was looking a little beat up, so I chose bright green to make it look more appealing. I really love the way it turned out.</div>
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710 - Find some interesting drawer knobs to accent your furniture or cabinets. </div>
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<br />Carol Bailey Floydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06659773711556749336noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1563630949134692747.post-91992392220996663882016-06-30T20:03:00.000-04:002016-06-30T20:03:20.534-04:00673 - 700 Fun Things to Do!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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673 - Enjoy a Chicago style hot dog! I first tried one of these amazing taste delights at a picnic. The first thing that came into my mind after I took my first bite was - I have to have a party!! Within two weeks, I had one of my book groups stay for lunch for Chicago hot dogs with all the fixings! I was right -- a Chicago style hot dog is terrific (and affordable) party material. You probably will be able to find a Chicago hot dog in your town. Here, in Akron, Ohio, you can get them at Steak and Shake, Mary Coyle's Ice Cream Parlor, or at Ninny's Chicago Style Hot Dogs in Cuyahoga Falls. The photo above is one of Ninny's delectable creations. Here are the ingredients and the order in which they are layered:</div>
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poppyseed hot dog bun</div>
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mustard </div>
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relish</div>
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dill pickle slice</div>
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tomatoes</div>
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banana peppers</div>
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celery seed</div>
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Have fun!</div>
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674 - Go to a farmer's market and get some wonderful fresh fruits and vegetables. </div>
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675 - Make up a scavenger hunt for your family and/or friends. It can be done by car, or in your neighborhood. People can go out in teams and hunt for the items on the scavenger list. This is great fun for children or adults.</div>
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676 - Have a water fight. One time we had one in our neighborhood and it was hilarious! The person who won is the one who turned on their hose!!</div>
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677 - Have a chili cook-off. Invite people to bring over their favorite kind of chili and have a taste test. You can crown a Chili Chef!</div>
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678 - Have a laid back day in your pajamas! I call these "jammer days". I read, lounge around, and just enjoy a day without obligations. Oddly enough, it is very energizing to take some time off for yourself. The day after a jammer day, I am ready to jump back into the world and get things done!</div>
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679 - Send electronic greeting cards. My favorite cards come from <a href="http://jacquielawson.com/">jacquielawson.com</a> She has a wide variety and you can send LOTS of cards at once. I have fun sending them out for holidays to my family and friends. There is a subscription fee for Jacquie Lawson, but there are other websites that have free cards -- just do a keyword search.</div>
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680 - Go fishing, by yourself or with a companion. My Dad used to take me fishing once in a while when I was growing up. Those were some of the best times ever, whether we caught anything or not!</div>
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681 - Welcome and celebrate a hometown hero! Our fabulous LeBron James was extremely instrumental in the recent Cavaliers' NBA championship - the first championship in Cleveland in over 52 years! He was a team leader who never gave up. LeBron exhibited qualities of good sportsmanship, goal setting, preparation, tenacity, loyalty and giving back to his community. Over a million people celebrated the Cleveland Cavaliers in downtown Cleveland last week - the biggest crowd to ever be in Cleveland! Since LeBron is proudly from Akron, over 30,000 people filled an outside amphitheater and the local baseball stadium, with lots of leftover people in the streets. It was a glorious event -- one I will remember all my life! I am a member of the LeBron James' Grandmothers Fan Club, so everything was extra special.</div>
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682 - Use headphones for music or audio books. It's a great way to relax or you can be active also.</div>
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683 - Attend a major league baseball game. The snacks are great and are often delivered right to your seat! As far as I am concerned, there is no mustard better than stadium mustard. What could be more fun than thousands of people singing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame"?</div>
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684 - Get yourself a brand new notebook every time you start a project. I just love office supplies, and getting a nifty new notebook is usually the beginning of great things happening. Sometimes I take a notebook to the library for a couple of hours and wander around until I find things that interest me. This is one of my best ways of having fun, and I have learned a lot in the process.</div>
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685 - Speak to a toddler. It is a wonderful privilege to listen to their viewpoints and comments. When you least expect it, they will amaze you!</div>
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686 - Pre-read a few pages into any books you are considering taking on vacation. A friend shared this idea with me, and it has been a great way of making sure I am happy with my reading material. When I am on vacation, books are essential to my enjoyment so this idea has saved me a lot of grief.</div>
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687 - Try some lavender tea. It has lots of health benefits -- good for your digestion, helps with insomnia, can relieve the pain of migraines, and is very relaxing. The kind I like is from <a href="http://stashtea.com/">stashtea.com</a> and contains the herb tulsi, which is a sacred Native American herb which diminishes the strong flavor of lavender. I also use a little bit of raw honey with it. I often drink a cup of lavender tea before bed and I really seem to sleep better as a result.</div>
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688 - Go to a wine tasting. There are all different kinds of wine tastings, and some even have an accompanying dinner. It's interesting to learn about wine. The best and most affordable way to do that is to try small amounts of different varieties. Just make sure you have a driver!</div>
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689 - Write a brief description of a fun thing you did each day on the calendar. When you look back, it will be fun to see how much fun you had. Perhaps it will encourage you to do at least one fun thing every day!</div>
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690 - Play chess with a stranger. Lots of areas have chess clubs where you can increase your skills and have fun at the same time. There are also chess boards in libraries, coffee shops, or parks. </div>
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691 - Teach someone to play chess.</div>
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692 - Keep an eye out for new books by your favorite authors! Julia Cameron has written lots of terrific books -- my favorite is <i>The Artist's Way</i>, which is about creativity as a life force and everyone's connection to it in one way or another. Julia's new book is <i>It's Never to Late to Begin Again.</i> This book is about exploring possibilities and abilities. Both books are a twelve week series which can be done alone or with others. All I can say is -- hooray for Julia Cameron!</div>
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693 - If you want to give something away, but are still very attached to it, take a photograph of it and let it go!</div>
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694 - Buy from local artists. I have artwork all over my house that has been done by local people I know and don't know. I love the opportunity of meeting an artist and starting to collect their work. I am very blessed that my friend Cathy Dully, who is an amazing artist, has sold me some extraordinary art. There piece above is over the mantel and it still seems new to me every time I look at it. The photograph does not capture the textures or the full glory of it. I can still sit and look at it and get lost. </div>
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695 - Wear a fun/interesting tie! When servers at restaurants have unusual ties, I tip more! Really. I am also grateful to people who wear bold and different ties. I once saw a photograph of a skirt a woman had made of her late husband's ties. It was stunning, and I am sure it was a great comfort to her to wear it.</div>
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696 - Eat cupcakes! Cupcakes are very popular right now, with whole bakeries devoted to these culinary delights. Even wedding receptions are replacing regular cakes with tiered cupcake arrangements. Make cupcakes! Forego the bakery, and try your hand at making some of your own cupcakes -- just for fun or for a special occasion.</div>
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697 - Observe the birds at your feeder. This is a Rose-breasted Grosbeak, and it is one of my favorite birds ever. I have three pairs of them this Summer! In prior years, I had only seen one twice, for only a few moments. I was so thrilled this year to have them on a regular basis that I spent lots of time by my kitchen window the first week they appeared. I stared at them so hard that I also started noticing the behavior of other birds who were regulars at the feeder, so that was an extra bonus.</div>
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698 - Surprise someone with balloons for no reason!</div>
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699 - Treat yourself to an ice cream cone. Better yet, treat someone else to an ice cream cone, too!</div>
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700 - Make a wonderful fresh fruit salad in a scooped out watermelon. When I go to a party and there is a fabulous fruit salad, I am so happy!</div>
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<br />Carol Bailey Floydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06659773711556749336noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1563630949134692747.post-12982041275366447662016-04-30T22:30:00.001-04:002016-04-30T22:33:11.717-04:00666 - 672 Fun Things to Do!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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666 - Find a motto to liven up your life! This is from <i>Joyful Inspirations, </i>a coloring book that features great quotations. I had a lot of fun coloring this. I used colored pencils, glittery gel pens, and regular gel pens. I wholeheartedly agree with the concept of playing hard!</div>
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667 - If you are home alone, play some favorite music really loud while you are taking a shower. You can just listen or sing your heart out! Happy showering!</div>
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668 - Photograph your home in all seasons. You can frame the results if you like.</div>
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669 - Take photographs in all rooms of your home. You will enjoy them now, and later when you may have redecorated or even moved, you will enjoy them even more. (This is also a good idea for insurance purposes.)</div>
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670 - Pay yourself to do a chore or project, especially if you have been procrastinating. I am about to pay myself to hang new curtains on the second floor. I think I will pay myself $20.00!</div>
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671 - Go to a handbell concert. The music is delightful. A sample is <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LyFmJxApKRA">here.</a></div>
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672 - If your week is shaping up to be really busy, and you are feeling uncomfortable about having so many obligations, freeze your week. I just take a pink highlighter and print FREEZE across the days on my calendar. I did this a couple of weeks ago, and it helped make my life a lot more manageable and made it easier to say no to requests for my time. It worked so well that I did it for two weeks. This is a really terrific way to feel like I have regained some control over the number of activities in my life. </div>
<br />Carol Bailey Floydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06659773711556749336noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1563630949134692747.post-72748072832154460282016-03-31T23:32:00.001-04:002016-03-31T23:34:34.875-04:00662 - 665 Fun Things to Do!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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662 - Create a coloring tablecloth! One time, I surprised our book group with coloring wrapping paper taped all over the kitchen table, and we had so much fun coloring each week. But the paper was thin, and we wondered what we could do with it. My friend, Maria, told me about coloring fabric you could purchase by the yard online. <a href="http://www.fabric.com/">www.fabric.com</a> There were many designs, and since it is Spring, I chose butterflies and flowers. I also ordered Tulip fabric markers. Then Felicia, a wonderful seamstress, made the fabric into a tablecloth. Voila! It was great fun presenting the book group with a coloring project we could keep -- of course, we plan to keep meeting forever! Diane created the beautiful and colorful close up area. We are having so much fun!<br />
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663 - Pay yourself to do a chore or project. Sometimes I have trouble finding the motivation to get certain things done, and when that happens, I feel disappointed. Then I got the idea to pay myself to clean the kitchen floor, tidy up the spare room, or organize a cluttered area, etc. One of the tricks to this plan is that you must really pay yourself, and the money you earn must go towards something fun. Now when I am reluctant to jump into cleaning or organizing, I just offer myself what I think I might have to pay someone else to do it. Makes perfect sense to me!<br />
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664 - Whistle! If you don't whistle very well, practice in the privacy of your own home until you are ready to share your talents. If you enjoy whistling, take your talents out in public. Today I was walking up two flights of steps with a man who whistled cheerfully all the way. It was a delightful experience, which I know I will remember fondly. We used to have an amazing mail carrier, Cecil, who used to whistle, even in the rain, as he was delivering the mail. His cheerfulness really improved the quality of my life!<br />
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665 - If you enjoy walking, try walking in different neighborhoods. I know someone who got a map of their city, and highlighted everywhere he walked. It's fun to have different environments to enjoy as you walk!<br />
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<br />Carol Bailey Floydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06659773711556749336noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1563630949134692747.post-81356016620237742602016-03-29T21:18:00.000-04:002016-03-29T21:18:02.956-04:00Activities at Summit ArtSpace in Akron, OhioI think it will be fun to start putting in some information about local activities. Here are some upcoming events at Summit ArtSpace, 140 E. Market St., Akron OH 44308 -- one block east of the Akron Art Museum.<br />
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Our promotion on our page:<u></u><u></u></div>
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<a href="http://summitartspace.org/3237/loolapalooza-celebrating-a-restroom-renaissance-friday-april-1-2016-7-9-pm/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://summitartspace.org/<wbr></wbr>3237/loolapalooza-celebrating-<wbr></wbr>a-restroom-renaissance-friday-<wbr></wbr>april-1-2016-7-9-pm/</a><u></u><u></u></div>
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In December 2015, the Devil Strip’s column “Urine Luck” graded our bathroom with a 1.5 out of 5 toilets. (See page 34 in that issue)<u></u><u></u></div>
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<a href="http://www.thedevilstrip.com/home/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/final-proof1.pdf" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://www.thedevilstrip.com/<wbr></wbr>home/wp-content/uploads/2015/<wbr></wbr>05/final-proof1.pdf</a><u></u><u></u></div>
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We are in the process of sprucing up our bathrooms and holding a “Loo-lapa-loo-za” to celebrate our loo’s new look! It is to be held on Friday, April 1<sup>st</sup> from <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_231758775" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">7 to 9 pm</span></span>.<u></u><u></u></div>
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(The current issue of the Devil Strip mentions it on page 38)<u></u><u></u></div>
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<a href="http://www.thedevilstrip.com/home/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/final-proof1.pdf" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://www.thedevilstrip.com/<wbr></wbr>home/wp-content/uploads/2015/<wbr></wbr>05/final-proof1.pdf</a><u></u><u></u></div>
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We’ll be having The League of Creative Interventionists (<a href="http://www.creativeinterventionists.com/akron/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://www.<wbr></wbr>creativeinterventionists.com/<wbr></wbr>akron/</a>) and Let’s Grow Akron (<a href="http://letsgrowakron.org/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">letsgrowakron.org</a>) helping design an outdoor exhibition for the event. Syn-hak (<a href="http://synhak.org/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://synhak.org/</a>) is creating the bathroom lighting and will have some of their work here on display. The Devil Strip will be there (with the reporters that broke the story about the sad state of our first floor bathrooms.) We’ll also be having some light refreshments (cake & punch) and will have some games and a raffle.</div>
Carol Bailey Floydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06659773711556749336noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1563630949134692747.post-75061041914740792612016-02-29T14:32:00.000-05:002016-02-29T14:32:33.078-05:00661 - 665 Fun Things to Do!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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661 - Make an altered book. You can cut, color, paste, glue, add images -- whatever you like! These pages were done by Janet Laird, also an Advanced Level WRAP (Wellness Recovery Action Plan) Facilitator. They are samples of a memorable and creative WRAP she has made. I bet it was as fun to make as it is to look at! Below are the opening pages of an altered book I am making. Altered books are also fun places to try out new techniques.<br />
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662 - Give the same book to several friends and/or relatives to read at the same time for an impromptu book group. It will be fun to get together and discuss the book after everyone has read it. <br />
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663 - Make carnival lemonade! Just put 1/4 cup sugar, the juice of one lemon, and one of the lemon halves into a large glass. Add ice and put another large glass into the top of the first one and shake. It's fun to make and very refreshing.<br />
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664 - Save lyrics that inspire you. Here are some lyrics from a song called "Cape", written by Guy Clark: Spread your arms and hold your breath and always trust your cape! The whole song is great, but I especially like those lines.<br />
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665 - Have a "jammer" day. I love a day when I stay in my pajamas all day long. It may or may not be a productive day, but it is always guaranteed to be fun!Carol Bailey Floydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06659773711556749336noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1563630949134692747.post-16084215190056880332016-01-31T21:44:00.000-05:002016-01-31T21:50:54.008-05:00656 - 660 Fun Things to Do!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<img alt="LeBron James" class="s-img" height="280" id="yui_3_10_0_1_1454290478933_2783" src="https://s.yimg.com/fz/api/res/1.2/UjBxZ8OjgUrMJRDmLZoMlA--/YXBwaWQ9c3JjaGRkO2ZpPWluc2V0O2g9MjgwO3E9OTU7dz01MDI-/https://s.yimg.com/xe/i/us/sp/v/nba_cutout/players_l/20151027/3704.png" title="LeBron James" width="502" /></div>
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656 - Pick an athlete to follow. As you probably know, this is LeBron James from the Cleveland Cavaliers. I am not usually sports oriented (except for my children's or grandchildren's events), but I was impressed with LeBron from high school on. He has represented Akron, Ohio very well with his generosity and loyalty. The children of Akron are one of his top priorities and he has reached out to hundreds of boys and girls, not just with material things, but with lessons about studying hard, respecting others, and succeeding. I am a proud member of the LeBron James Grandmothers' Fan Club. Hooray for LeBron James!</div>
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657 - Go to an International Film Festival! Even better, attend a film festival of short films. Chances are you will find that there will be some short films that strike your fancy. To find a film festival, check your local newspaper's entertainment section, or see if your local college or university is sponsoring one.</div>
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658 - Make a word cloud! You can do one for free at <a href="http://www.wordle.net/">www.wordle.net</a> Just make a list of your favorite words. To make one word bigger than the others, list it more than once. Different color schemes are available. There are other word cloud websites, just do a keyword search on word clouds.</div>
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659 - Make a postcard and send it to someone. You can use 4 x 6 thick paper, like watercolor paper. You can watercolor, do patterns, use a quotation -- whatever suits your fancy!</div>
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660 - Memorize a good joke and tell it to ten people. By then, you should have it memorized!</div>
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<br />Carol Bailey Floydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06659773711556749336noreply@blogger.com0