14 ordinary things to do in 2014

2014

Did you write resolutions? You know the big, lofty ideals you want to achieve this year that we know just might not happen? I hope they do. I do hope you you climb Mt Everest while wearing heels and eating a burger. I hope you do.

I didn’t write any this year. Each year I choose one word for the new year and this year the word was ‘fun’. Because I think I was quickly becoming an overtired, not-so-fun 33 year old, and ain’t nobody want to hang out with that.

Here’s 14 things you might like to try in 2014. I know I am going to. What about you?

1. Meet your neighbour

Sing with me, “Who are the people in your neighbourhood? In your neighbourhood? In your neeeeiighhhbourhood?” Last year I got to know my neighbours better and man, I adore them. A week or so ago one just turned up on my doorstep, said hello and said she was taking the girls for a walk to give me a break for a bit. I love her. She’s just gone traveling around Australia for a few months, and I’m just quietly a little bit devastated. Who are you living next to?

2. Send birthday cards

In 2014 text messages just will not do. Put your hand in your pocket, pull out some coins and buy your mum/dad/grandma/sister/BFF a birthday card and send it. Do it. You win extra brownie points if you send a little lotto ticket/scratchie inside too.

3. Create crazy traditions

Whenever we visit someone and we leave we do a silly thing. I don’t even know where it started. As we drive off the people we’ve visited have to run on the path along side the road to race us {not on the road, so it’s safe people!}. Lacey hates goodbyes {I think she got it from me} so this puts a positive spin on leaving somewhere… but we also can’t help but crack up too. You should have seen the awesome sprints Uncle Karl and Uncle Nath put on over Christmas. Awesome.

4. Swim

I don’t care where you swim {even the bathtub if you have to!} but swim. I’ve been practicing my freestyle and breaststroke and while I might look a little bit like Phoebe running but it feels good. How long has it been since you got in the water?

5. Make dessert and eat it

Yes, I know you’re on that diet where you can only eat carrots and lettuce, but how about once a month making a delicious dessert and eating it too. Life’s too short not to have dessert, don’t you think? {This one is worth the calories}.

6. Plan a self-date

When is the last time you took yourself out and showed yourself a good time? And I mean not just to the supermarket, but something a little but more special. You don’t have to make a crazy statement {i.e. nightclubbing on your own and owning that dance floor}, even just a hot chocolate and reading a magazine, or a manicure, or a walk on the beach… lock in a date with yourself. You’ll thank yourself, I think.

7. Dance your cranky out

Do you ever have those days when you wake up on the wrong side of the bed and everything is just… wrong? I do. So does Lacey. So we have this thing where we go and dance our cranky out. Or if we’re out and can’t really dance, we take off our imaginary cranky pants and throw them in the bin. Don’t let your cranky ruin your day, dance it out.

8. Follow your bliss

So you probably know by now that I love me some quotes and inspirational words, so my goal for this year in regards to work is ‘Less busy work, More big ideas’. I feel like I’ve been getting bogged down in the busy work {answering emails, the back and forth with clients, blah, blah, blah} and haven’t been doing the fun stuff. So this year I’m embracing big ideas. Here’s a sneak peek at one that will be launching next month, so excited!

9. Find your happy place and visit it often

Last week in the photo-a-day challenge I asked people to share their Happy Place. It was interesting to see all the different places that made people happy. Do you know where yours is? Mine is home or the beach. Find yours and make sure you visit it often.

10. Build a bridge and get over it

2014 is the year to let stuff go. You know that grudge you have with that friend that forgot your birthday {or whatever it is that they did}? Build a bridge and get over it. Let it go. On that same note, if you’ve got a toxic friend who keeps letting you down over and over and over again… perhaps it’s time to let them go.

11. Clean out your wardrobe

Throw out the fat clothes! Streamline your wardrobe! Imagine being able to go to your wardrobe and wear everything you see. My wardrobe is home to maternity wear, clothes in a size or two bigger and smaller too. It overwhelms me. This year I want to clean it out, donate, and simplify it so that everything I see I can wear. {I might get this book to help me out}.

12. Fall in love again

Whether it be with the person you’re married to, yourself or someone else {I mean if you’re single, I’m not suggesting you go and have an affair now!} but how much fun is falling in love? It’s all about the small things, the way you listen, the way you give him that look, the little love notes left for him to read, that trashy little bum slap that you used to do way back when. Do it!

13. Save money

I’m super determined to have a pool at my house one day soon {i.e. in the next few years}. I was trying to explain to Lacey that every cent counts and that we should do with less to get a pool {she then promptly asked me to buy her a magazine, in one ear out the other!}. Start saving and treat yourself to something big later on {a holiday, a new lounge, a pool!}.

14. Get in the photos

When was the last time you were actually in a photo with the family? It’s time. Time to jump in the photos too. And no, selfies don’t count.

What ordinary things are you going to try in 2014? Does anything above sound like a good thing?

26 thoughts on “14 ordinary things to do in 2014”

  1. Love it ! I have been doing a version of “dance your cranky out” with my girls these holidays. Every time they start fighting over something, I go to the stereo and crank up “Happy” from Despicable Me 2 by Pharrell Williams. The next minute we’re all jumping around singing and they have forgotten what they were fighting about.

  2. Such a great list – my hopefully achievable and not too lofty goal is to do something creative every day, even if for just 15 minutes – sketching, sewing, painting – all my crazy ideas seem to need so much time that I don’t really have – meaning I never get started. This way I edge a little closer to my creative goals.

  3. What a great list. As with you Chantelle my word for the year is FUN. As I’m travelling around Australia at the moment my list tends to change every time I get in a new location. But this year I am sending real birthdays to all my friends and family. I also have Davine time. I may gave to borrow a couple of your ideas.

  4. Mine is to write some letters – real letters not emails and push send, but handwriting and all that goes with it.

  5. I just LOVE this post. I agree with all 14 points. This list is going to be printed and stuck on my pin board for a constant reminder xoxo

  6. This is the best. I do a word thing usually on NYE instead of resolutions. Mine was 2 actually , Let Go. That’s it. I relate to all of your list. I agree with the me time too. Coffee and magazine , walk alone, sneak out to the movies alone ( hubby and kids think I am at a meeting ) …this is the ultimate. And family photos I did in Dec. I’m always the one taking them . And always dessert. Always.

  7. So, I love your lists, and this, well lovely lady, this is my favouritest (is that even a word?) of all . . . thanks Chantelle 🙂 xk

  8. I love this list. I can’t wait to get cranky just to take off my cranky pants… metaphorically speaking of course.

  9. Love the “take off your cranky pants”! Will start this with my son. As for dessert, I’m continuing with ‘lunch dessert’ again this year!

  10. I planned to send more birthday card this year! I hope I can send a birthday card for everyone. Receiving handwritten card is one of the best feeling ever >

  11. I love the pick a word! My word for this year is gonnabe Focus!! And I definitely should work on many of these. I mean I fall in love with my husband everyday, but I’d love to have more pictures of us! Thanks for sharing!

  12. I love the idea of a self date. I never do that, and it’s something people really should! I’m going to take myself out to the museum– why wait for someone to have time when I can go on a self date. Brilliant.

  13. I love all this list and am already hard at work on some of them! My word for this year is health, and although I don’t dance my cranky out, I do sing my happy out (earplugs required!) We’ve started saving for Disney in a terramundi pot. Have you seen them? It’s a clay pot, and when it’s empty you pop in some paper with a wish, and then when it’s full, you smash the pot, grab the cash and hopefully, your dream will come true! We’ve been dropping a gold coin in every time we work out. Saving has never looked so good! I can’t wait to see what secret tricks and cunning plans you have up your sleeve for next month! Here’s to an absolutely fabulous year!

  14. I usually don’t do New Year’s Resolutions, I’m a “just start now” kind of girl, but this year I also chose a word, and guess what! It was Fun! But then I decided I needed to embrace another word in order for Fun to happen. So Fun and Relax it is. No more worrying about the little silly things that don’t matter. We just took our 6 kids on their first 7 hour road trip and I decided that instead of letting their very loud chatter (picture 4 or 5 separate conversations happening all at once) bother me I would secretly listen in. It was so beautiful and extremely funny. I’m going to relax and have fun with the 7 most important people in my life. Love your list, especially the photos bit, I hate having my photo taken, so all of our photos of the kids have their dad in them, no Me. Must change that.

  15. Love your list so much. I am definitely going to do my own list. Number 14 Get in Photos is so true for me too – I am dreadful at getting in the shot and I am really going to try hard this year to change that.

  16. I love this list! So refreshing and inspiring. I’m definitely going to try meeting my neighbors, cleaning out my closet, and dancing my cranky out! Falling in love again sounds nice, too 🙂

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