Embrace the Culture!

With so many cultures living together in the US, it's hard to go anywhere without hearing someone speaking another language. Most of us have had a foreign language class in high school that we had to take, but that was so long ago that many of us don't remember what we learned. Or maybe our high school didn't offer the language we really wanted to learn. I know mine offered Spanish, French, and German. But wouldn't it be cool to learn Italian, the language of love? Or what about Chinese? With so many affordable resources at our fingertips nowadays, why shouldn't we learn another language..or perhaps two? You can easily pop a CD into your car stereo and learn a new language on your way to work everyday or if you take long trips. Embrace the culture, learn a new language!

There's an App for That

So I just got a new smartphone with the Android system on it and I am loving all the bazillions of apps available. The latest one I downloaded was Angry Birds because many of my friends said how fun and addicting it was so I thought I'd give it a try. They were all right...it is very addicting! The great thing about it is that anyone can play, I even downloaded it on my iPod Touch so that my three-year-old could play it and he loves it! It's one of those silly little games that helps the time go by when you are bored or waiting for the doctor or in line at the Secretary of State.

Create a Scrapbook

You know you have a shoebox, probably more than one, filled with pictures. Or you are like me and have a million pictures on your computer that you have yet to print out. Take some of that free time and make a scrapbook with all those great memories. Otherwise they will just sit on your computer or in that old box and collect dust where no one gets to see and enjoy them. And if you are not the really creative type, then you can always go online to Shutterfly or Snapfish and make a hard covered photo album where the pages look like a scrapbook. It's always a great gift idea too..hint hint!

Head to the Museum

It has been too long since I've last gone to a museum. I especially love the DIA - Detroit Institute of Arts - it's so peaceful in there and has so many beautiful things to look at. Every city has its own set of museums and science centers. Most of us went when we were kids on field trips for school but I think it's time we all went back. Take the family so they can learn to appreciate art and the history of the world. You never know maybe it will inspire you to do something creative and artistic.

Create a Jammin' Playlist

In fact, you should create multiple playlists for all of your different moods. There are days where everything just goes bad and sucks for me, I'm sure everyone can relate! Well, I just pop on my "Angry" playlist featuring songs from Metallica, Buckcherry, Drowning Pool, Limp Bizkit, Linkin Park, with a little bit of Rage Against The Machine and my angry mood usually calms down a bit. Then there are those beautiful, sunny days where everything just seems great so I listen to my "Happy" playlist with songs from Sublime, Rhianna, 311, Black Eyed Peas and some good 'ol Kid Rock.

I am a woman of many moods so I have different playlists to suit each one. Or if I'm not in any one particular mood I just hit the shuffle button and listen to them all. I love my iPod and all the songs on it, it's like my own little personal therapist that fits nicely in my pocket!


Search Amazon.com MP3 Downloads for All Your Favorite Songs

Start A Blog

Blogging seems to be the newest thing to do, heck I'm fairly new at it myself. The first thing you need to do is pick a topic. Are you going to write a personal blog about your everyday thoughts and experiences? What about your favorite sport or hobby? Love dogs, cats, hamsters, fish? Have at it! You would be surprised on who would like to read what you have to say. There are many blog sites available that are free of charge, Blogger of course, which is really simple to use, and also Wordpress.

If you want to try and make some money off of your blog, then you have to be more choosy on who you decide to host your blog through. Blogger allows Google Adsense (you know those ads on the sides of every page) and allows you to be an affiliate of a company, such as Amazon. To learn more about being an affiliate, Google it or find the link on the website of the company you are interested in. Don't think you are going to make tons of money right off the bat though, because your not going to, it does take time.

Blogs are a fun way to express yourself, whatever your ideas and thoughts are. It actually gets quite addicting after awhile too! I enjoy writing, always have, but I could never write a book or anything, even though I would love to. This is my little way of writing my book, post by post instead of page by page.

So think of a clever name for your blog, choose your topic, and start posting. Send the link to your family and friends, add it to your Facebook and Twitter profiles and have fun!

Take a Glass Blowing Class

I'm big into trying new things and when I ran across an ad for a glass blowing class I thought, "WOW now that's different!". You get to work with molten glass in a 2100 degree furnace. I mean how many times can you say you did that? Some schools or companies offer a one night class and others offer weekly classes where you can learn more intricate designs. Either way I think it would be really cool to have a vase, ornament, ash tray, or piece of glass blob sitting on the mantle that you can say you did all on your own!

So head on over to Google and find your nearest glass blowing class and learn a new craft, who knows maybe you will love it or be really good at it and you can make some extra cash on the side!!