Celebrate March

1. Watch an old classic (in black & white). Try Cary Grant - Mr. Blandings Builds his Dream House (especially for those that enjoy remodeling!), Harvey (Jimmy Stewart and his 6-foot rabbit), or From Here To Eternity (an all-star cast and unforgettable love scene). Of course, for giggles, try a marathon of Dean Martin & Jerry Lewis.

2. Remember our little friends in a big way. Make a donation to an animal shelter/rescue/adoption center. Big or small - every little bit helps. You can donate with money, or even just a bag of pet food or cat litter. Be inspired: Bernie Berlin has devoted her life and art to A PLACE TO BARK - an animal rescue. I love that she is drawn to "the unwanted, unloved and misunderstood." Visit her blog to find out how important she and others like her are. You will find links to donate online, and addresses of where to send needed items. http://www.aplacetobark.blogspot.com/

3. Play with play-doh. Hit the kid section of your supermarket or dollar store. Buy all the different colors. Open them up (remember the play-doh smell?). Make balls and beads and animals and houses. Roll it. Pound it. Mix the colors up (just like you did when you were a kid). When you're done, smoosh them all back into the can. (ok...save at least "one" of your creations!).

4. Start recycling in a big way. Buy products that are green, save scraps to use in artwork, sort your garbage and recycle as much as possible. Organize a recycling center in your garage or basement...get the whole family involved.

5. Deliver a special lunch to your child at school. Even if you sent lunch money, or the usual brown-bag sandwich, drop off a special treat. Perhaps "take-out" from their favorite restaurant, Subway (including the cookie), or a sushi-surprise (California Roll and Ebi). Just a little treat to make their day a little brighter.

6. Indulge in random acts of kindness. Send a handmade gift to someone (a teacher, a friend, even someone you don't know). Pay one month's electric bill for your parents. Give movie tickets and baby-sitting to a friend who could use a break for a date-night. Put your ideas in a bowl and every once in a while, pull one out and do it. Make up random acts of kindness for your children to do, also.

7. Spend the day exploring. Bring your camera and take black & white photos of everything. Submit the best to Somerset Studio LIFE IMAGES.

8. Make your own paper. Find a blender at the local Goodwill. Put water in it, then add scraps of paper. Blend until it makes a pulp. Pour onto an old window screen (found at a rebuilding center, hardware store, or your own basement). Press the water out (best done outside or over a plastic bin). Let dry and you will have paper. Press down more for a thinner paper, add bits of dried lavender or grass for texture. Use a ruler to tear it into squares for sending notes or making art on. Google "making paper" on the web and try some other recipes.

9. Write limericks just for fun. Begin each one with "There once was a girl named _______" or "There once was a town called ______". Go around the dinner table and have each person make up a limerick for themselves or the person next to them.

10. Pick up garbage when you see it on the ground. For example, if you are going for a walk and see a coffee cup in the gutter? Pick it up and throw it away. Every little bit helps to clean up our earth every day.

11. Get hooked on a reality show. Escape to THE REAL HOUSEWIVES OF NYC for a peek into the chic-chic big city life (premiering March 4th on Bravo TV). Or TOP CHEF for those that can cook a mean Top Ramen (premiering March 12th on Bravo TV). Or for a much "bigger picture" - OPRAH'S BIG GIVE where you will find a do-good/feel-good message along with mixed personalities and real people (premiering March 2nd on ABC).

12. Go to the zoo. Visit in the morning to see the animals in action. Sit and watch the big cats (or the penguins - you pick). Read about the animals. Enjoy them. If you don't have a big zoo near you, visit a small petting zoo.

13. Write daily love letters to yourself. Yes, you can do it. Write only good things: "You look great today", "Exercising was fun, wasn't it? Eating chocolate in bed was even more fun", "little ZoZo really enjoyed the story you read to him tonight". Put them in envelopes covered with stickers. Mail them every day.

14. Sleep in. Stay in bed as long as you can SLEEPING. Snore all you want!

15. Visit a museum. Every town, big or small, has some type of museum - an art museum, the historical society, a local pub with ancient fishing gear hanging from the ceiling. Read the caption/credits on the pictures/paintings. Take home a postcard (if they don't have one - make one yourself).

16. Scavenge for old picture frames (the chippier - the better). Find them in different sizes (so that one will fit inside the other). Hang them on the wall inside one another or as an arrangement - the frames, themselves, will be art.

17. Play on the playground. Go to the playground. Right now. By yourself. Swing on the swings. Go down the slide. Slide down again.

18. Live by candlelight. Find yummy-smelling candles. Have one lit and twinkling when you are making art, cooking, reading, getting ready for work in the morning. Truly, it puts you in a different mood. Don't forget to blow them out!

19. Take your best friend to your favorite store. Do lunch and then browse. Indulge. Buy yourself a little "something-something".

20. Sign up for an art class. Local art stores usually have 3-hour or one-day workshops. Try something new! Go alone and make new friends. For a big event, visit ArtandSoulRetreat. The Portland retreats' October 2008 workshops have just been launched. Registration begins March 11th!

21. Have a picnic in your living room. Spread out a checkered table-cloth. Pack all your treats into a basket. Sit on the floor, pass the potato salad, eat on paper plates. Hey, look mom, no ants!

22. Make your own mouse pad. Find a favorite photo (or take a scan of some artwork). Maybe even an artful list of your favorite eBay sellers! You'll need an image that is 9.25" x 7.75" at 300 dpi in .png format (although .jpg will work, too). For $10.99 you will have something fabulous to look at whenever you are on the computer - which is ALL the time, isn't it? Visit CafePress to make your own mousepad (and other goodies, too).

23. Find an old adirondack chair. Paint it white. Add it to your living room seating for an eclectic appeal ala Goldie Hawn in Housesitter!

24. Splurge (ha!) on cheap drug-store lip gloss. Get the flavored kind (ooh la la - strawberry!). Roll it onto your lips for a wet and shiny pucker. Lick it off and apply more. Repeat.

25. Doodle all over your phone book cover. It needs the love and attention.

26. Try driving a different route to work or the store. Take a different street. Turn a different direction. Try...the road less traveled.

27. Pick up your children after school and surprise them with a trip to the ice cream shop, the roller-skating rink, miniature golf. Just a little middle-of-the-week treat. Truly enjoy the time you spend with them.

28. Take vitamins every day. You may not think you need them now...but wait until you turn 40! If you are 40...you KNOW what I mean!

29. Make your own Flashcards. Cut index paper into 3" x 8" rectangles with slightly rounded corners. On one side, artfully make a capital "A". On the other, make a lower-case "a". Draw, paint or collage a picture to illustrate what the "A" stands for...but don't make it an apple! "A" is for "art". "B" is for "Bon-Bon's". "C" is for "Cocktails". These are YOUR special Flashcards...make them YOUR way. Antique up the edges with charcoal pencil or walnut ink.

30. Wear several watches (each set for a different time zone). Think of the fun Swatch watches. Pick up used watches at a thrift store. Decorate them up and wear them on one arm. When someone asks you what time it is, raise your sleeve a little and say "8pm here"...then pull your sleeve up a bit more "5pm in Los Angeles"...then pull it up more "3pm in Honolulu"...."7 am in Tokyo". Or make it more fun! "8pm here"..."5pm at Sally's house"...

31. Photograph March. Continue on your quest to show how the seasons change over the year (for your 2009 calendar). March is filled with melting snow, budding branches, crocuses popping out of the ground, Easter bunnies.

Comments

[Kai]

I just came across your blog this morning & couldn't WAIT to come back tonight and start reading it. I have to tell you that I think it's the most fun and inspiring blog I've found & it's going straight on my READ DAILY list!

[Beithe]

I am so absolutely tickled to have found this site!!! I saw your book Pretty Little Things two weeks ago and it has been whispering in my ear at night when I try to sleep ever since....buy me.....buy meeeee.. so tomorrow.first.thing.I.will. I love your blog. I love your website. Inspiration is a very good thing!

namaste

[Bernie Berlin]

Thanks so much for the link to my blog!!!
I will call you soon:)
Probably on Thursday from the road, I will be transporting 42 dogs to Chicago, so plenty of time to chat...
Keep making your beautiful art.
Much Love,
Bernie

[Eve]

Hi Sally Jean,
I ordered a few items 2 yrs ago and decided to check your site to see what was new. Well,I discovered your blog and I must tell you what a treasure and inspiration you are to me. I don't know how you pack all you do into a day! I will definitely read your monthly lists now so please don't stop sharing your ideas with us. Oh...and I did buy a few more items. I just love your work! God bless you!

[dollybelle]

I am officially ready for March now! And Asilomar! See you there!
xoxo
Christine

[dollybelle]

I am officially ready for March now! And Asilomar! See you there!
xoxo
Christine

[Paula]

I purchased your book Pretty Litle Things today, here in the UK. What a gorgeous illustrated book it is. Just each page makes me long to create, they are all so gorgeous. The projects are stunning. I have never done soldering but am determind to give it a go.I tend to cheat & do faux with melted embossing powder.

[Joy Jones]

Hi Sally!
You had me at the puppy picture! I love all your to-do's...so inspiring that I print them out for honorable placement on my fridge! Thank you and enjoy March.

xoxo~Joy at Cupids Charm

[Nerissa]

I LOVE these celebrate month lists. You are so inspirational. Thanks!

Nerissa

[amber]

Love your blog. Love. It.

[jillian]

oh! Some of your ideas made me laugh and some made me well up just thinking "how sweet"!!! What an inspiration you are! Love your creations as well. I've always been a HUGE fan!
Jillian

[Cheryl Simpson]

Ohhhhhhh....the March list! I love it...especially the flashcards! Thank you for the inspirations...I so look forward to these. MWAH!
Cheryl

[Prairie home -Sherry]

Love Your Energy Girl!!!
Cheers!
Sherry....

[Jen Crossley]

Terrific List Sally I love the one to sllep more zzzzzzzzzzz
Jen

[Stephanie T.]

You dear...are a blessing!
Thank you for breathing some life into springtime! March and Sally...WooHoo!

[Heidi Woodruff]

Great list! I love March, it's the BEST month of the year! And who knows, maybe the sun will come out in Oregon this month, too!
*Heidi*

[Sheila Earhart]

You are amazing, Sally. Wonderful, loving, precious ideas.

Hugs,
Sheila
Mt.Angel
halohill.blogspot.com

[Becky Caldwell]

Sally,
As always your are so very inspiring. I love your monthly to do list. They are wonderful and ALWAYS make me chuckle, make me smile and make me think.... I am going to print this one out, paste it to cardboard, decorate it all up for even more inspiration and hang in my studio so I can see it everyday! I love your work and your thoughts on life and thank you so much for sharing them with all of us. Take Care!

Becky