901 - Start your Thanksgiving preparations early.  That way you will have time to try new recipes, make fun place cards and decorations,  figure out your guest list, and have a more leisurely time of getting ready.  You could even surprise everyone with a mystery guest - a long lost relative perhaps.  Be sure to accept all offers of help and say yes to people who want to bring a side dish. As for clean up - many hands make light work!  This is the season of blessings and gratitude and you are a hero for hosting!

902 - Pick a subject to research.  Try something you have always been curious about - World War II, Elizabeth Taylor, archeology, a U.S. President, the history of your town or state, your family's genealogy - whatever!  Look things up on the computer, go to the library, read some books and magazine articles, take some notes, go where your research leads you - literally!  I have always been fascinated by authors who travel to find out information.  For example, if you were researching a President - you could go to their Presidential Library, or the town where they were born, or to the National Library of Congress.  I have always wanted to go to a separate room at a big library and be granted access to a famous person's letters, diaries, and personal papers.  

903 - Write a real letter - you know, with pen, paper, an envelope and a stamp.  Whoever receives your letter will be happy and impressed.  They might even write you back!

904 - Do you have odds and ends of greeting cards that just seem to pile up?  Sit down with your address book and check out who could use some encouragement, better health, birthday recognition, or even a fun postcard.  I am sure you remember how pleased you have been when somebody has taken the time to remember you in the past.  

 905 - Collect stamps!  I collected stamps for a couple of years in my childhood.  I loved matching the stamp in my hand to the image in my album, and oh how I loved those little hinges I would use to affix the stamps into my stamp book.   My beloved Grandpa was a stamp collector, and by hook or by crook, I managed to inherit his stamp collection.  Oh me!  Oh my!  Recently, I have been trying to figure out how to collect stamps in light of the sticker stamps we have these days.  I finally went to a stamp collector's show and I was in paradise!  I met a wonderful professional stamp collector who showed me around, introduced me to people, and even gave me a bag of stamps!  He said the best thing to me - there is no right or wrong way to collect stamps.  However you decide to do it is the right way.  Those words were music to my ears.  So I do a bit here and there, buy some stamps at the post office, look at my childhood album, and my Grandpa's big grown up album, and just have some stamp fun.   PS - there is a new Betty White stamp out!

886 - 900 Fun Things to Do

 886 - Find some of your childhood TV favorites in reruns and take a walk down memory lane!  GRIT channel on Dish streaming features old cowboy movies and series.  You can find "The Rifleman", "The Lone Ranger and Tonto",  "Gunsmoke", "Zorro",  and more.  Of course you can also find "Seinfeld", "That 70s Show", "Friends",  "The Andy Griffith Show" and others.  Prepare to ride the nostalgia train!

887 - Really enjoy a piece of chocolate.  I have noticed that if I let it melt in my mouth, the delight is extended.  Chewing is too fast!  I was on a bus once, in the middle of the night, with a Hershey's bar and a cold bottle of water.  Each little segment of the chocolate seemed to last forever.  It is my happiest food memory!

888 - Call someone you haven't connected with in years and hang on for the ride!  My friend Cindi from high school is coming over this Wednesday morning for tea.  We have only connected haphazardly over the years, so I am ready for a gabfest!

889 - Display a childhood favorite doll, teddy bear, train etc.  I have my Ginny bride doll on a hutch in my living room under a glass dome.

890 - Write an unexpected thank you note to a person who has made your life easier.  For example, it could be to a friendly cashier, mail carrier,  your real estate agent, a librarian. or a police officer.  We are surrounded by people all day long who make things go more smoothly for us.  It's nice to give them appreciation.

891 - Rent a ridiculous car.  I am looking forward to having a red convertible weekend soon!

892 - Walking in the rain with an umbrella!  I happily took a stroll around the neighborhood with my pink flamingo umbrella recently.  I didn't even get wet!  The sound of the rain on the umbrella was delightful!

893 - Start a gardening tradition with your children or grandchildren.  Here are my grandsons, Andrew and Nate after just after planting their annual circle garden in my yard.  They startied picking out flowers and putting them in their garden when they were 4 and 6 years old.  Now they are 20 and 22!

894 - Putt putt golf with friends and/or family on a beautiful day.  Go ahead and hit that hole-in-one that you've longed for!

895 - Color a mandala with crayons, colored pencils, or markers.  There are plenty of mandala coloring books and also available on the internet.  Very creative and calming.

896 - Enjoy a jammer day.  I'm having one right now!  A jammer day is what I call a pajama day, but it can be whatever you slept in the night before.  Just roll out of bed and enjoy your comfortable day!

897 - Bake some cupcakes or cookies and give them out to people throughout your day, even strangers!

898 - Watch a movie you have loved and seen many times before.  I always love it when someone says, for example, that they have enjoyed "Star Wars" 34 times!  If I have viewed a movie more than once, I look at the sets, the props, the cars, the clothes, the hair styles, etc.  I notice that the movie becomes even more alive when I do that.  

899 - All day long, you have thousands of choices to create a good day.  It is likely that you can't even count how many choices you have!  Build a good day!  

900 - Give a present for no apparent reason.  Wrap it up and decorate it.  You will be making someone's day!!

871 - 885 Fun Things to Do

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!

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.

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.

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.

875 - Take photographs of interesting automobile license plates, tire covers, or bumper stickers.

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.

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!

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:

Time

The most precious thing

we have is time, so spend it

wisely.  Be grateful.

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.

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.

880 - Put a rose under the windshield wiper of a friend or family member's car with a note.

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!

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!

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.

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!

885 - Pack a special lunch for someone you love that includes some of their favorite foods, some notes, and a culinary surprise!

 

861 - 870 Fun Things to Do

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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?

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.

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!

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.

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.

 

853 - 860 Fun Things to Do!

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!

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.

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.

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.  

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!

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.

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!

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!

847 - 852 Fun Things to Do!

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.

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!

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. 

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.)

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.

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!

852 -  I became a collector of "Wellness Tools" when I got involved with WRAP (Wellness Recovery Action Plan) www.wellnessrecoveryactionplan.com  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!

 

 

826 - 846 Fun Things to Do!

 

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".

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.

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.

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.

828 - Grab a friend and find a teeter totter.  Children may, or may not, be involved!

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.

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.

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.

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!

833 - Enjoy the many pleasures of a luxurious bubble bath with candles, soft music, and even a good book!!

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.

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!

836 - If you have your own fireplace, enjoy it often.  You could even have a s'mores party with marshmallows and chocolate.  

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!

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!!

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!

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.

841 - Take a self-defense course.  It will be good for your overall well-being and you will be prepared to skillfully defend yourself.

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!

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!

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!

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.

822 - 825 Fun Things to Do!

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

823 - Buy a hummingbird feeder for your yard.  Every single time I see a hummingbird, my heart gets really happy!

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.

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!

821 - New Year's Resolutions!

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

In 2019, I am going to enjoy more:

being with family

hanging around with friends

reading

writing thank you notes

laughter

gardening

adventures - alone and with others

trips to the library

working out

exploring University Circle in Cleveland

colorful clothes

plays

viewing artwork

random acts of kindness

needlework

donating

music

food enjoyment, cooking, and exploration

writing

Zentangle

researching to satisfy my curiosity

walking

whatever suits my fancy

Happy New Year!

809 - 820 Fun Things to Do!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

796 - 809 Vacation Fun Things to Do!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

STAYCATIONS

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

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

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

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

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

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

786 - 795 Fun Things to Do!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Thank you, Mary Ellen!!  You rock!

781 - 785 Fun Things to Do!

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

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

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

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

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

771 - 780 Fun Things to Do!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

776 - Pop the air bubbles in packing materials.  People of all ages enjoy this activity!

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)!

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!

779 - Join a fantasy sports league.  My husband, Tom, has lots of fun with his football and baseball fantasy leagues.

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!

   

761 - 770 Fun Things to Do!

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!

762 -  Play chess outside -- find a game with a stranger or set up your own.  

763 - Make a list of your favorite movie scenes.  Here are some of mine:

Kermit the frog singing "Rainbow Connection" in the "Muppet Movie".

Meryl Streep leading a group of singing and dancing women through the streets of her small town in "Mama Mia".

Lee Marvin singing "I Was Born Under a Wandering Star" in "Paint Your Wagon".

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?

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.

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!

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!

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!

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.  

770 -  Jump out of a plane with a parachute on your back!!  How's that for a thrilling and fun adventure?

748 - 760 Fun Things to Do!

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.

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!

750 - Watch some animation festivals on TV or in person.  Animation from all over the world is really interesting and often very unexpected.

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!

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!!

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!

754 - Try writing with a fountain pen.  You can even get disposable ones in all kinds of colors!

The Mercer House

755 - Study before and after a vacation.  My husband, Tom, and I recently went to Savannah, Georgia.  Before we went, I read Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil 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 Savannah's Jim Williams and His Southern Houses.  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.

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!

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!!

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!!

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.

760 - Take an online art class.  There are lots of classes out there, and many of them are very reasonably priced.

741 - 747 Fun Things to Do!

741 - If you see a sign that touches your heart, take a photo of it.

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.  

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 The Joy of Cooking right away.  It's a very long and complicated recipe that I won't be trying any time soon!

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!

745 - Recommend books you love to your friends and family.  The Little Paris Bookshop 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!

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)

747 - Play hard!  Play is fun and energizing -- what more could you want?