20 ordinary things to do in 2013: Now is the time to…

67 thoughts on “20 ordinary things to do in 2013: Now is the time to…”

1. I love the shit out of this Channy! Awesome list and I love your ideas – especially sleeping upside down. Sending it to everyone I know! : )

   • Aww thanks Celeste! x

2. I started a herb garden this year! It was my Christmas present, along with Jamie Oliver’s 15 Minute Meals and the plan to cook more. Ridiculously excited about it. I’ve already made pesto twice when I was too lazy to cook anything more than pasta.

3. I just read a book called 365 thank you’s. it was wonderful. My first thank card was to our cleaner at work. Who was close to tears as in the 22 years of cleaning our building no one had ever given her a Xmas card or a thank you card. It was wonderful.

   • Oh, that sounds like a book for me. Must search for it.

4. Some of the most interesting friendships I’ve ever had were with strangers that I took the plunge and spoke to.

   I’d add volunteer at a soup kitchen or some other philanthropic organization. It feels sooo good to give!

5. Great list! I’ve stolen a couple of your ideas xx

6. really inspiring 🙂 thanks

7. I’m going to read more… Like actual books. Not blogs. Not magazines. Real, bound books.

   • What’s first on your list?

8. Awesome ideas! I think everyone loves being thanked or talked to randomly! Great way to live ones life, after all life is too short!

9. I just read your post and I loved it all and I am totally going to do some of these things but all I keep thinking is OMG your going to be an aunty…… Huge Congrats to little sis, I am so so excited for her. I look forward to hearing how it’s all going and please pass on my congrats to her. Such exciting news, being an aunty totally rocks!!!! I am looking forward to being an aunty again in a few short months. Love to you and Lacey. xx Bee

   • OMG is Deb pregnant again? Man, I’d love to be part of your family… so many great little friendships. I’ll pass on my congrats to Jen. Thank you. xx

     • Not only is she pregnant but it’s twins….. So excited!!!! She’s due in April so a little while to wait. Lacey will love having a little cousin to play with. X

10. Great ideas! Added a few to my list.
    Thanks.

11. Love this. Love, love, love it. This year, instead of making huge lofty aspirational resolutions, I’m looking at the small, little things I can do each day – all with the overall goal of “being the best version of me I can be”. There are a couple of things on your list I’ve already started doing (went swimming laps for the 1st time in nearly 10 years yesterday!), but there are some great ideas also to implement.
    And congrats on aunty-hood! Such an exciting time for you all xx

12. Some great ideas! I also love offering to take photos for strangers. Just the other day while on a day trip with my little family I saw a mum and dad with their little girl taking photos, dad taking one of mum and daughter and then mum taking one of dad and daughter. They were so grateful when I offered to take a family snap and it only takes a second!

    • What a sweet thing to do. 🙂

    • I have always done this, in the eighties I work at a Casino with a huge mural in the front, I was often asked to take photos, then I go in to the habit of asking. I do it all the time now – drives my kids insane….this also counts as talking to strangers.

13. I love every single item you have listed here. I would also add buy fresh flowers regularly. Congrats for the impending new addition. Newborns are so precious.

    • Definitely. Fresh flowers make a big difference. I haven’t found a good place to buy them up here yet – so I’ve had to buy them from the supermarket. That might be a resolution – to find a good market selling flowers!

      Thank you for my Christmas card and gift lovely. Have been meaning to thank you personally. xxx

14. haha i sleep upside down on those nights where i just cant get comfy and sleep. It seems to work.

15. Love these! They are so inspiring. Congrats on becoming an Aunty.

16. Sleeping upside down – my all time fave. Use to love it as a kid – always felt cooler down that end.
    Going to find a way into my artistic side more.
    Congrats on being an aunty.

    • lol I always thought it was cooler with my head down there!!

    • For some reason it is. Who knows why!

17. I haven’t checked in here for a while and just wanted to let you know something heartfelt. a) I love how your blog has evolved. b) I think you have nailed this blogging biz and c) I find your ideas quite inspiring. Congratulations on where blogging has taken you – I truly think you do live life inspired and inspire others. Sharnanigans X

    • Oh thanks Sharni. I love your posts popping up on Facebook… you always make me laugh with your antics. Thank you. x

18. Congratulations to your sister; being an Aunt is the best -all the fun and none of the mess or sleepless nights! 😀
    Brilliant list – I’m going to steal some of these ides, if that’s OK?
    Jude.x

19. Congrats to your sister!!! My own sister is only 19. I’ll have to wait for another 10 years until I get to be an Auntie I think. How sad. Your list is very inspiring!!

20. I love your list! So optimistic and full of possibilities.
    Makes me think I should write my own,

21. Congratulations on aunty-hood! Aunty-ship? Ehh, becoming an aunty! =D

    I swear, you never cease to amaze me. You make me realize THE most minute things that I am missing. I love you blog, so so much – and thank you so much for stuff like this.

    • Thank you! And Auntyhood/Auntyship sounds perfect. I’m all for made-up words. x

22. I love number 4!!!!

23. I love your list Chantelle! I do a few of these things already but you’ve given me some great ideas and I might just have to write one up for myself now. And, congrats on being an Auntie soon. I think being an Aunt is the best gig possible!!!

    • I hope so. I can’t wait. I’m already spoiling the baby. So much fun! x

24. Congrats to your sister on her pregnancy and to you soon to be aunty Telle. Being an aunty is the best – I am 5 times over!!

    • I can’t wait. I just wish she lived closer. We’re working on it. x

25. Love this list – thanks. we’ve been moving furniture around this week and i plan to do loads more dancing this year – !

26. You my gorgeous …… are getting me back on track.
    Last year was a bit of a fizzer of a yr for me, damn it I am going to get back on track being me again before I hit 40!! ( aherm in two yrs!) ( errr actually check that next yr OMG!!!!)

    • Yay for getting back on track. I hope this year makes up for 2012 and more. x

27. Have you seen the 2013 Creative Pay-It-Forward posts on FB yet, Chantelle?
    I’ve just come across it and it sounds like so much fun!

    • I thought this was a great idea…doing it and can’t wait to mail out my 5 surprises!

    • I have. They look great. I’m always tempted to leave my name – but then wonder what on earth I’d make!

28. This is a fantastic list of easily do-able items. I especially like the inspiration board, I’m going to implement that.

29. Love the list – thanks – its the simple things we forget – yet they have so much meaning..

30. My plan is to read more books. Towards the end of last year I started carry one around in my handbag wherever I went. It comes in handy when you are waiting around to pick someone up or for someone to finish dancing. You’d be surprised what you can achieve in the wasted waiting time.

    • Much better than faffing about on your phone!

31. 1. done 2. don’t dance, but I’ll give it a go! 3.Planning a getaway for our tenth wedding anniversary in May! 4. Does and online thank you email count? 5. Tried several new recipes lately cause I’ve taken over the cooking of cakes and slices for our cafe from Peter’s mum who is not well enough 6. On pinterest? or hard copy? 7. Yes, need to 8. Actually did this just the other night when the top end of the bed got too hot! 9. Need to do this again this year! 10. definitely on the to-do list for me too 11. Must do this 12. Another must for 2013 13. I have learnt to do this over the last few years, it has made a huge difference to stress levels 14. This is my major NY’s resolution for this year, because I forget to do it so often 15.Just started watching the Harry Potter series again! 16. Hobby this year is starting my own blogs and I have… 17. Done last week befor garbage night – very satisfying! 18.Ah…. the dreaded five year plan… we are five years through our seven year business success plan… come back in two years please! 19.That’s my hubby’s department, I’m more into flowers! and 20.One of my favourite Dr Seuss quotes – I try and sometimes I succeed and get myself into all kinds of trouble – “Oh bother,” as Pooh would say!

32. Absolutely love this list. I can’t wait to try sleeping upside down makes me laugh just thinking about it. My husband and I used to drag our mattress into the lounge to watch movies and then camp there for the night. Fun to mix things up 🙂

    • Oh we did that as kids. That’s fun! Our mattress is heavy – but would that be fun to do with kids as well. Thanks for the fun idea. x

33. I just stopped reading half-way through this post to write a note to a friend. I even had a stamp! Thanks for the reminder 🙂

    • Lucky friend you have! x

34. Seems I don’t need to plan to sleep upside down as when I am having bad dreams I tend to wander all over my bed and wake up in various, strange positions 🙂
    I like that list – makes one remember what’s really important and feels much better than all the resolutions one never really attempted to try to keep.
    And loving the Dr Seuss quote!

    • I hope the bad dreams are a rarity. They sound hectic. x

35. How funny that some of these were on my list before I read the list…,and some I have already done (and do consistently) YAY for this wonderful list of ordinary things to do-if you do them just right they are pretty extraordinary!!!

36. Love this post! My ordinary thing to do in 2013 is to wash my face every morning. Sounds easy and simple, but ever since I became a stay at home mom doing anything for myself feels like a luxury, it doesn’t always happen.

    • I TOTALLY get it. x

37. Great list. I love sending Thank you cards & just a note to say hello. I try to make a new meal each week. I’m trying to find healthy meals.

38. #11 & 14 – that’s what I need to do this year. Because I was focusing on the negative – my soon to be x-husband was downloading homosexual porn… and I caught him at it late Sept – and I started to believe life wasn’t worth living – so i focused on the negative. I moved in with my parents, and started letting myself go. So bad I spent this past weekend in an inpatient facility… trying to convince myself life was worth living…

    So, I’m gonna work on just those 2. That’s all the energy I have.

    But – I have started working on positive thoughts!!!! I now concentrate on my new mantra – “I must be one helluva woman – cause I kept a gay man happy for 17 years!” Of course, we were married for 23… the last 6 weren’t good – but I’m done focusing on those years – I’m gonna focus on the first 17, which even he admits were good! So, how many women can say they satisfied a gay man for that long???

    So, Look Out World – Julie Is Back and soon will be coming atcha! Because I’m going to work on #11 and 14!

39. Oh yay for your sister! That is so exciting for your family and I am sure Lacey must be counting down the months! It must seem like a long time in her 4 year old mind 🙂 Another Inspiring post Telle.

40. Congrats on the baby news Chantelle! You’ll be a great aunty.

    I love your list. I’m hoping to make a real dent into my life list. I’ve already crossed off one. Another four will be crossed off this by February. Good start to the year!

    Happy new year and wishing you lots of smiles always x

41. great twenty ones. busy realizing many of those. haha maybe except sleeping upside down. my hubby is a quite upsidedown person, but when it comes to sleep. haha maybe when we are camping this summer. lets go crazy :-))

42. I miss doing #7 . so much fun and laughs back then .x
    Still do it though. love a change every now and then.

43. Great List im also welcoming a new nephew this year which i never would have believed would happen so very excited aunty here, and ill be adding 1/5/19/20 to my list i achieved 9/10/11/15 last year

44. I used to #8 all the time when I was younger. I loved it, it was like a sleepover at someone else’s house! 🙂 Great list. <3

45. I love this list Chantelle. I love the thank you card. I just wrote one for my hubby, it was so lovely doing it and knowing he appreciated it to. I think next one is to a girlfriend xx

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