You always hear the phrase, “it’s the little things” and you know what, those little things really do make the world go ’round. You want this year to rule? Here are a few things you can do!
- Have a wishlist on Amazon or somewhere else? This year pick at least one thing and buy it for yourself. Stop waiting! If you want it, buy the damn thing.
- If you ever find yourself in a drive thru, pay for the stuff for the people behind you. Unless they have their brights on, they get nothing. Kidding! Well, not really.
- Save a life. Rescue or adopt a critter. We did this last year and you would not believe how rewarding it is. Just make sure you’re ready forever, not till your next landlord doesn’t accept pets ok?
- Take up a new hobby that is totally outside of your comfort zone: gardening, knitting, painting in a new medium. Subsequently, be that one guy in the knitting circle boys! That’s an untapped resource of ladies. HOT women knit! I know a few of them… NO, REALLY.
knitting: not just for old ladies yo!
That’s a whole lot of gorgeous in one strip of photos right there. (PS, if that’s you, I stole your photo. I had to prove a point with your hotness, sorry!)
- See that massive influx of garbage in your email box? Yes, all those mailing lists you signed up for (or didn’t!)? Do yourself a favor, unsubscribe from all of them.
- Send tons and tons of snail mail. Dude, the art of letter writing is DYING and yes, postage keeps going up but it’s no excuse! The lid on your latte probably costs more. Do you remember the last time you got an amazing, unsolicited letter in your mail box? Do you remember how it made you feel? I rest my case.
- Go through your closet and if you haven’t worn it in a year, get rid of it! Clutter is toxic! Sentimental value items like wedding garb and the sweater that belonged to your friend that passed away do not apply. Also? Replace all your wire and plastic hangers with wood ones. We’re big people now.
- Tell people how you really feel.
- That print or piece of art you always admired? Get it and put it somewhere you can revel in it daily.
- Pay compliments, lots of them. A small set of nice words in any form can make someone’s entire day… and not just to people you know, do it to complete strangers. Good slices of honesty make everyone win.
- Have breakfast for dinner, in bed. You’re an adult now! You can be irresponsible and nonsensical from time to time. It isn’t going to kill you.
- Buy yourself fresh flowers. Stop waiting for people to do it for you.
- Make your bed every morning. I am a supreme slacker with this one but I have noticed my room is just more sanctuary-like when it’s orderly.
- Buy yourself a Q&A Journal. Anyone can fill in a blank once a day. Journaling with a shortcut.
- Stop hoarding recipes on Pinterest and actually make one.
- When you want to gripe, bitch and complain on facebook posts, stop yourself. You’ll feel a lot better when you realize you aren’t *that person* we all can’t handle.
- Go to new restaurants. We all have our “go to” joints but there is a lot of untapped gold you aren’t giving a chance.
- Start a piggy bank and every day when you get home put your change in it. When it’s full you will probably have a good $100+ in it. Take that money and do something nice for yourself with it. Yes, I am encouraging you to not pay bills with it. No point in busting your ass if you never do anything for you.
- Recycle. In this day and age it’s a reponsibility. Sorry. Wait a minute, I am not sorry. You should be doing this already.
- Buy used, handmade, support the mom & pops, buy local.
- Write a really nice quote or love note and leave it on the cork board of your local coffee house or grocery store.
- Dance around your house shamelessly, in your underwear, while singing at the top of your lungs and don’t give a shit who sees you. It’s your house dammit.
- Get that heavy burden off your chest. Send in a postcard to Postsecret and liberate yourself a little.
- Listen to music, anytime, all the time. Build a soundtrack to your life.
- Take risks. The only thing you have to lose is the fact you didn’t TRY.
- Make your bucket list and scratch off at least one of those things by December.
- Live. Life is short and we spend far too much of it on trivialities.
My name is Ivonne and this is where I come to unload. Artist, wife, mother, loud mouth, blogger, crafter and multipurpose elf.
About 2 years ago, my family and I did the unthinkable and uprooted from the West to the East Coast. You can imagine the culture shock when a Mexican, West Coast girl lands herself in South New Jersey. If anything it has made for some ridiculous stories.
b+i on instagram
beans + ink on pinterest
I bought new stamps in the hope that I will write more. I’ve been wanting to ask where you got the Mark Ryden post cards but wanted to ask you via Snail Mail. I’m not doing so well on the snail mail.
I got them here: http://www.porterhouseart.com/category_s/1.htm – tree show microportfolio
Just about to take a pic and post about snailmail. I found some old bat stamps that need to be shared… with a little extra for the new rates!
Heeeey!! I’m a hot knitter, w00t! I also know guy knitter. His name is Spike!
This is a good list. I need to get back on the snail mail trail. It’s all about making time to set down and write something instead of dicking around. Gotta get on it.
Ok, I have something to add that will make the day brighter for anyone that has to deal with traffic. I was recently talking with some people who were complaining that traffic ruins their moods, and their days. IT SHOULDN’T HAVE TO BE LIKE THAT.
When you’re stuck in traffic, remember that there is nothing you can do to make the other cars go. Getting mad about it solves NO problems. So just turn up the music, sing shamelessly at the top of your lungs, drum on your steering wheel, and dance in your seat. Are the people around you going to think you’re crazy? Yes, but they will judge you less than the nose-pickers.
Love this post. Going to put so many of these things into practice this year (a few I already have!).
I wish I had the closet space and $ for wood hangers, but I AM hoping to get snailing more than just random cards. I miss the days when, if you made online connections, they’d become snail mail friends showering you with long, handwritten letters and mixes from all over the world, just as often as e-mail.
Thank you for mentioning the part about the landlord and pets!! It’s a serious commitment!
I have those thin, velvety hangers from Costco that don’t let your clothes slide off. A lot of my dresses tend to drag off of the hangers and they are a Godsend! Ten bucks for 35!
I have undertaken the slow and steady process of decluttering not just my clothes but EVERYTHING!
I have been de-cluttering like a mofo as well. Reza’s toys and closet are next.
And yes, I’ll say it. I don’t know how many people I’ve seen giving away their pets cause their new place won’t take pets. Like, what are you doing even considering places that don’t take pet when you have them? That’s just stupid and shitty.
Partly inspired by you, I’ve decided to get back into the fine art of snail mail this year. I’ve spent much of the past week or two ogling stationery and rubber stamp websites.
Do you have a Paper Source near you? That is my crack dealer.
Yes, indeed I do! I’m like the kids at the beginning of “A Christmas Story,” pressing my nose against the windows whenever I’m nearby.
Love this post! I am def going to follow a few of these, I’m currently reading Kind Regards, it really makesd you appreciate snail mail
Have you read the Griffin & Sabine trilogy? I think you’d dig it
[...] part of my whole “Make 2013 Awesome”, I bought myself two things off my wish [...]