Extra Moments

This week-end is the time we fall back—most of us in the US will gain a  whole extra hour in the day. A few years back I decided to look at all the potential ways a fellow might ‘spend’ this bounty. Revisiting the list I’m gonna say #56 would probably do all of us the most good in the long run. And that #59 is something that would be worth doing every day

So here goes…

1. making a fall bouquet of found items in your yard
2. taking a walk or bicycle ride
3. tell a ghost story to your hubby, grandkids or whomever you can corner
4. dance to your favorite music, slow and fast
5. savor a bottle of wine you’ve been saving back for a special occasion
6. pamper your feet with a hot foot soak and a good massage with lotion
7. look through old photos (remember the ones we had before digital came along?)
8. watercolor remembrances of this Fall in your journal— doing your best to match the magical colors of the leaves—which is impossible but the JOY is in having a go at it!
9. draw a single fallen leaf (or trace it) and paint it in your journal
10. unplug…the phone, the computer, the tv
11. begin a book that’s been tugging at your heart to read
12. call someone you love that you haven’t spoken with in awhile
13. write a letter to your _____ that has already passed and tell them what you’re up to these days…I’m pretty sure they’re listening:)
14. skype or facetime a long distance friend and share a cup of tea together
15. watch some old family videos and marvel at how pretty you were then and didn’t even know it:))
16. find a swing and swing in it
17. head out into the countryside far from the city lights and watch for falling stars
18. make some lists of crazy things you’d like to do
19. pick one and set a date to do it
20. watch a classic movie with home made popcorn
21. paint a petite painting
22. make a pumpkin pie, then eat two slices with lots of whipped creme. and have a glass of cold milk while you’re at it
23. create a playlist of your favorite upbeat, positive message music (Spotify app is perfect for this!)
24. hang children’s art in your studio to remind you of the beauty that exists in all art
25. place quotes, letters, photos, and keepsakes in your work area (office and studio) that help you to remember to follow your own North star
26. buy an orchid to spend this winter with
27. take a long bath in scented water with candlelight and spa music
28. work on a vision board
29. bake chocolate chip cookies
30. daydream. like you did when you were a kid
31. watch the sunrise. so simple. so special.
32. write a love letter to yourself. take note of the big things, the small things that define who you are. write it from the outside looking in. you are a marvelous work of god
33. plant spring bulbs. come spring, you’ll have new faces bringing color into your world.
34. call your mother (or if she’s gone, write her a letter)
35. write your significant other a love note.
36. mail 5 postcards from your town to faraway family and friends (my sis Rhonda does this to me and I love it—I discover things about where she lives via her postcards)
37. visit with your neighbor–share the chocolate chip cookies you baked. This is supposing there are some left to share 😉
38. meditate in a new place
39. get a pedicure with a new color
40. eat some gelato (I suggest salted carmel flavor…yummmmm)
41. watch Under the Tuscan Sun….again
42. do something outside of your comfort zone
43. go to a local antique/junk store. look for things that remind you of your childhood….and smile
44. browse in your local book store…you never know what goodies are out there. (half price books in my area is one of my favorite haunts)
45. go to the zoo or aquarium (if you are lucky enough to have one where you live)
46. go to the flea market…you REALLY never know what you will discover, uncover, that you can’t live without
47. get your hair done and maybe add some wild color. i’m thinking a streak of purple would be fun!
48. go to the dollar movies. cheap thrills. big screen is always better
49. read the cartoons or a joke book (I have several Scott Adams books, author of the Dilbert cartoons. Pointy Hair Boss and Catbert my fav’s)
50. watch a funny movie (share your picks in the comment section)
51. create stations for yourself on Pandora radio. (Spa, Yoga, Pink Martini, John Mayer, Jim Brickman are a few of my fav’s–please share some of yours in the comments below)
52. head for the kids section in the library or bookstore. the images and stories are always so delightful!
53. buy some colored gel pens and have a field day in your journal
54. go to someplace new, a place you have never been before. a park. a cafe. a new (to you) street in an old neighborhood
55. meet a friend at an outdoor cafe for coffee and smiles
56. spend the hour in quietness
57. pick out 10 great digital photos and print them out and post them in places sure to make you smile. your bathroom, refrigerator, taped to your easel, closet—all the unexpected places that you frequent ?
58. take photos of yourself making goofy faces and mail them to others with the caption “wish you were here!!” (not that I know anyone who does this….)
59. write 60 things you are grateful for
60. this one is yours. fill in the blank__________________ ?

Let your life lightly dance on the edges of time like dew on the tip of a leaf. ~Rabindranath Tagore

“Time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time” ~Marthe Troly-Curtin

We didn’t realise we were making memories. We just knew we were having fun. ~Winnie the Pooh

“Time is a game played beautifully by children.” ~Heraclitus

Taking time to do nothing often brings everything into perspective. ~Doe Zantamata

Magical Moments. 

How will you spend yours?

Just for the painting fun of it,  I giving away a few of my Dream.Love.Paint aprons. They will not be for sale anywhere, so to get your name in the hat for one of these limited edition aprons–join the giveaway below!

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P.S. Just a reminder — the online painting adventures continue – in Italy! Get the scoop and sign-up to win a spot in this new online course — Click Here!