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Inspired by one of my favorite blogs Brocante Home (who was in turn inspired by a feature in Harper’s Bazaar written by Diana Vreeland), Why Don’t You is a week’s worth of ideas for adding a little something special to your life. 

Pick and choose what sparks your interest and fits into your schedule. Or use these simple ideas for special days as inspiration for coming up with your own ideas. Most of these ideas should take very little time or effort, but they can make a big difference in adding a little spark of joy to your day!

Why Don’t You – Simple Ideas for Special Days

I’ve tried to include ideas to do for yourself, to do with your family, and to do with others. There are ones that are perfect for introverts as well as extroverts. I try to add ones for self-care/pampering and for showing some love to your home. Finally, each week I look for a way to give back to others, because I believe that by giving to others, we are also giving to ourselves.

Be sure to look for links below for further ideas and suggestions on each topic!

Get a group of friends together for a game night.

Choose your favorite board games or play a live “role-playing” type game such as a live action version of Clue or a game of Werewolf. Both are fun but low-key and require little advance preparation.

Have breakfast in bed.

Of course, it’s always a treat when someone else brings you breakfast in bed! Fixing it for yourself and then enjoying a leisurely breakfast in bed can still be a lovely little indulgence.

Simplify it by preparing the night before. Set up a beautiful tray complete with your prettiest dishes, cloth napkin, fresh flowers (or a lovely potted succulent – even a beautiful silk flower in a bud vase will do), and a quote/affirmation to kick off your day. You can add any non-perishables to the tray too – dry cereal, seasonings, honey and so on.

Then prep any of the other foods as much as possible. If I’m planning to have an omelet, I’ll chop up the fillings and put them in little bowls in the fridge to make it as easy as I can. Make some overnight oats in a jar. Prep all of the ingredients for a beautiful fruit, yogurt, and granola parfait so all you have to do in the morning is assemble.

Enjoy your breakfast in bed with a movie, a book you’ve been wanting to read, the New York Times crossword puzzle, or just sit back and focus on your meal.

Use a lip scrub.

Oh dear readers, do your lips get dry, flaky, and chapped in winter too? If I don’t take care of mine properly, before I know it, they’ll be cracked and bleeding. So, once or twice a week, I use a lip scrub. It gets rid of the dead skin cells and makes your lips oh so soft.

Lush Cosmetics makes a really great lip scrub. It’s gentle but effective and like all Lush products, it is handmade, with no animal testing. Ingredients are 100% vegetarian and ethically sourced. I’ve tried multiple brands of lip scrubs and this one is my favorite.

For a simple solution, you can also whip up some DIY lip scrub at home. You probably even have the ingredients needed to make a basic one on hand already.

If your scrub isn’t sticking well to your lips in order to exfoliate them properly, start with some lip balm. Apply the lip scrub using small circular motions. Leave it on your lips for 1-2 minutes. Use a warm damp washcloth to gently remove the lip scrub. I sometimes follow up with a little splash of warm water to my lips to get those last traces.

In between scrubs, keep your lips moisturized with a good lip balm. I also apply coconut oil to mine right before bed. A weekly lip mask is also a great idea for supplying as much moisture to your winter-worn lips!

PandemicWHAT DO YOU MEME? Party GameCatan The Board GameTicket to Ride Board GameBurt’s Bees 100% Natural Conditioning Lip Scrub with Exfoliating Honey Crystals – 0.25 OunceChapstick Total Hydration Conditioning Lip Scrub, Vanilla Creme, 0.300 OzLip Sleeping Mask, Lip Mask, Lip Treatment, Alivin Cherry Overnight Moisturizing Repairing Lips Mask, Sleeping Lip Balm, Peeling Lips, Lip Primer, Lip Scrub, Chapped SkinNeedle Felting Kit – Wool Roving 36 Colors Set – Starter Tool Kit in a Storage Case and Foam Mat Included – Plus 15 Beginner Projects eBook with Instructions – Gift Idea Crafts ParadeJUYA Paper Quilling Kits with 30 Colors 600 Strips and 8 Tools (Paper Width:3mm, Blue Tools)Egoshop Silk Ribbon Embroidery Spring Flower blooming Kit Eight Couplet Painting X5002A DIY Wall Decor Stamp Silk Ribbon Embroidery Kit With English Instruction(No Frame)Caydo 3 Sets Embroidery Starter Kit with Pattern and Instructions, Cross Stitch Kit Include 3 Embroidery Clothes with Floral Pattern, 3 Plastic Embroidery Hoops, Color Threads and Tools

 

Take some time to just sit and breathe.

Even 5 minutes can make a huge difference. You can sip a cup of tea or a glass of water and just do nothing for a few moments. Or simply close your eyes and concentrate on some deep breathing. It’s a great way to refresh and regroup before moving on to the next segment of your day.

Clean out your pantry.

No need to make this overly complicated! I empty out the pantry onto my kitchen table. Wipe down the shelves. As I start to put items away, I check them for expiration dates. I also like to group them so that like items are together when I put them back. They always start out that way but don’t always stay organized when we get in a hurry.

Take this one step further by taking inventory as you go through all of the items. Just jot them down as you go or enlist the help of a family member to write them down as you call them out. Put this inventory list on a clipboard to keep it handy. You’ll save money and time by knowing just what you have on hand.

Try a new craft.

Or revisit one that you haven’t done in a while. Over the holidays, I pulled out my supplies for paper quilling, embroidery, needle felting, and crocheting and started dabbling with them again. It was incredibly soothing and satisfying.

Maybe you’d like to make something to help out animals in need. Currently, there are craft guilds collecting sewn, knitted, and crocheted items to help Australian animals affected by the wildfires.

Build a blanket fort.

Seriously. Embrace your inner child and make yourself a cozy blanket fort. Fill it with comfy pillows and throws. Add your favorite books and maybe a special treat to eat. This could be just for you (or you and your significant other). Or, make this with your kids and hunker down for a movie on your tablet and a popcorn snack.

Come on – what could be cozier on a cold January day?

What will you do this week to make your days lovely? Find more Why Don’t You? posts here.