Celebrate April

1. Be a tourist in your own town. Take the day and stop at the Visitors Center. Find the top attractions. Take a bus there (if you can). See your town from an outsiders eyes.

2. Obsess over organization. Make your own artful labels (or buy vintage Dennison labels with the red borders). Use shoe boxes, plastic bins, jars. Separate your goodies, label them, roll matching socks together (if the dryer hasn't eaten them first). And for at least this month, put things back where you found them.

3. Plan a "dream" vacation. Get on the internet and look up fabulous beachy resorts, glamourous European hotels, far-away lands. Money is no object (for this project...you've just won the lottery). Fly first class. Stay in the Presidential Suite. Bring all your friends and family (or maybe it's just YOU on this "dream" vacation. Close your eyes and imagine that you are THERE.

4. Go for a bike ride. Circles in your culdesac, with a basket to the grocery store, a 10-mile trek as a serious-bike-aficionado. If you don't have your own bike...borrow your 10-year-olds. Even a tricycle will do (and be a REALLY good time). Wear a helmet.

5. Window shop for jewelry. Stop at every jewelry store window. Ohh and ahh. Maybe, just maybe, go inside and try something on "for size".

6. Be a Sunday driver. Take a long drive to the next town over...to the country...to nowhere. Stop for lunch (or eat in the car). Make a wrong turn. Find your way back.

7. Spring clean...detail your own car. Wipe it down, vacuum it out, hunt for the lone french fry under the seat. Wash it on the outside and finish with wax. Put a stuffed animal in the back window!

8. Sit outside on your steps and watch the world go by. If it's chilly, throw a blanket around you. Say hi to the neighbors, wave at the people driving by, sip hot chocolate (or wine) and stay a while. You may even meet your mailman!

9. Doodle on the bottom of your sneakers...you know...like you did when you were in high school. Write your sweeties name. Jot down your best friends phone number. Doodle flowers and faces and lines and spots.

10. Have a family "pot luck" dinner party. Each person in the house is responsible for a different part of the dinner. Of course, the men want to barbeque! Little ones can tear lettuce to make a salad. Nine-year-olds are good for milkshake desserts. But who is going to do the vegetables?

11. If your hair is straight...curl it. If it's curly...straighten it. If all else fails...wear piggy tails!

12. Go on a field trip with your children. Take them to the museum. Bring their friends. Learn. Go out for ice cream afterwards.

13. Throw out your old make-up. It's old. And if you still have it and it's old...you don't use it...so throw it out. Now go on a make-up shopping spree at Sephora.

14. Find a vintage crinoline petticoat skirt. Put it on and twirl.

15. This time, do it with a CPA.

16. Search garage sales and flea markets for vintage hard-cover books under $1. Tear the inside pages out (you can use them in collage). Separate the front & back covers (leave the fraying canvas). Now, use the covers as your "canvas" for art. Attach seam-binding ribbon to the top and hang here and there.

17. Get with the times and get yourself a Facebook!

18. Don't forget about the American Red Cross...an organization who is there for all tragedies big and small. Whether you donate money, donate your time, or take a class in CPR, show your support for the American Red Cross and for your community.

19. Play silly car games...ie: "who stole the cookie from the cookie jar"? In case you forgot, it goes like this:
Person A: "___B____ stole the cookie from the cookie jar".
Person B: "Who, me?"
Person A: "Ya, you."
Person B: "Couldn't be"
Person A: "Then who?"
Person B: "___C___ stole the cookie from the cookie jar..."

20. Take your mom and dad out for lunch. Don't meet them...pick them up and be their chauffeur. Make sure all talk is "happy" talk. Treat them.

21. Make snow-angels in your freshly vacuumed carpet. Do it with your children. Or just do it alone.

22. Bring gourmet cupcakes to the office. Treat yourself to Saint Cupcake (if you are in Portland or soon-to-be-shipped-across-the-USA). Or fake it and make your own buy buying store-made cupcakes, scrape the icing off, and add your own icing (pre-made icing with food coloring). Don't forget to add the sprinkles!

23. Zap your cat. To take the chill off (which is still out there)...get yourself a microwavable Kitty Wrap (or Bunny, or Leopard, or...)! Within 3 minutes your cat will lay on your belly, relieve a sore back, and keep your feet warm. This kitty is even willing to pre-warm the seats in your car every morning. The best part? You don't need to feed it...it won't shed...and you can rub its belly without getting bitten! For your very own heatable kitty, visit Warm Whiskers.

24. Wear a candy necklace all day long. Re-string it if it's too tight. Eat it if you're hungry.

25. Get yourself a pair of Levi's 501's...the BOY jeans (they look really good on girl-butts). And the button fly is fun.

26. For those with a little snow left...make a snowman and watch him melt!

27. Wear 3 necklaces at the same time (layering). Pearls with rhinestones with vintage chain. Make a statement.

28. Outbid someone on eBay at the last minute. Remember...it's not about the iterm...it's about WINNING!

29. Dress up your reading glasses. Buy mini-rhinestones and super-glue them on (be careful not to glue your fingers!). Make a beaded cord to hang them on around your neck, too.

30. Indulge in Spring and go Tulip Hunting! There must be a farm-field of tulips to wander through...picking your own. Or a small pot at your local garden center just to add that "yes...I promise...spring is here (or coming soon)!"

Comments

[Linda Cain]

Wonderful Post! And sooooo inspiring! Will try to do some of the terrific things you suggested!
Linda Cain

[Jeanie]

What a fabulous list! I visit for the first time, after re-reading a Somerset article from a few months ago (every now and then, I begin to organize the magazines!). I was so captivated, I knew I had to stop into the blog. I'm stopping back on a regular basis -- Sally Jean will now be part of my route! And I adore this list! It makes me smile -- it also motivates me to the max -- even if it's mid-May!

[Relyn]

Oh, I love, love, love this post. Thank you for all the inspiration and smiles.

I thought it might be fun to give you a suggestion in return for all your lovely ones. Steal an evening alone away from your regular responsibilities and plan a lovely time on your own. First, be sure your house is already neat and the tv room is clean. Then, gather your truly favorite snacks. Since this is a take-care-of-me activity, the calories don't count anyway. Find one or two favorite movies and drag in the pillows and cozy blanket. Put on your PJs early and pile up on the couch for the evening.

It's fun to plan the evening around a theme. You can watch beautiful movies like "Out of Africa" and eat gorgeous cupcakes and tiny sandwiches and tea from a china cup. Or, watch tear jerker movies like "Steel Magnolias" with hankies handy while noshing popcorn and Milk Duds.

Tomorrow evening I'm watching "You've Got Mail" and eating a chicken salad sandwich on a croissant with a crystal glass of pink lemonade. Fabulous four layer chocolate cake is for dessert.

If you like the idea, let me know what you end up watching.

[Jenny]

Thank you for this. It's been a stressful day, and just reading about all of the fun things to do made my stress dissipate. (Twirling around in a crinoline in my head.....)Love your beautiful work and joyful spirit! -Jenny at CraftTestDummies.com

[Terisa]

OK I'm off to buy a pair of boy jeans....need to do whatever I can to make the ever increasing butt look good!
Terisa

[Joy at Cupids Charm]

Oooooh my! my new life goals are to complete your monthly lists! Each and every item is something that MUST be done. Thank you for sharing these lists...it keeps me focused, and as a fellow blonde, I need all the focus I can get! xoxo ~ Joy

[julie b.]

You make me laugh, and those cupcakes make me hungry!

[Jen Crossley]

Great post great fun
Jen

[christine rose elle]

I love spring! And you!
I will celebrate to the fullest. Cupcakes will definitely be involved...
xoxo
Dollybelle
aka christine

[*Heidi*]

Great fun! The seeds are planted, let's see what I do now!
*Heidi*
Everyday Cookies

[Rachael]

Great fun post, I am going to attempt do follow it:) Thanks