Today is the first rubbish collection after The Bearded One’s birthday (Jesus, not Santa) and our street is strewn with boxes that only a few days ago contained over-priced plastic novelty items that have already been discarded for ever. I am completely over the news coverage of apocalyptic scenes of gun-wielding teenagers racing to be first to Knightsbridge for the post-Christmas sales. This consumerist shit makes me a little nauseous.
So, here are Ten Things to do Instead of Shopping:
1. Join/visit your local library. Pick up some new books. Or arrange a book swap with a group of friends. Trawl through someone else’s bookshelves (but someone you know right? remember: burglary is wrong, kids) for an author or book you haven’t read. To give you some ideas: 1001 books you should read before you die.
2. Whip up a home-made facepack and run a bubble bath.
3. Write a letter. To someone you care about. To a politician. Stop lurking around blogs and comment. Be brave.
4. Go for a walk without a map.
5. Have a clothing swap with friends.
6. Donate to something you believe in. (Or sign up to volunteer somewhere).
7. Start a blog. It’s free and has no carbon footprint. And the world needs more blogs. Especially blogs about cats. Start a cat blog.
8. Make a super awesome mixed CD/playlist. Tailor for individual friends. Make your own Dirty Little Secret Playlist of your favourites. Play it loud while reorganising the kitchen cabinets/alphabetising books/hoovering.
9. Treat yourself to an afternoon Nana Nap.
10. Your idea here.
Comments
10. Go further than having a nana nap and try to break your cat’s napping record before you have to get back to work in January and start getting up in the middle of the night to get to work on time. Been working hard on this one myself over the holidays but my cat is still beating me every day.
fabulous suggestions!
and welcome back to the light Ms Mel :)
lol, I am so with you. And I have come out of lurkerdom. Hello.
Mel
10. wear something fun (or nothing at all), send naughty pics to your other half and time how long it takes him to get home ;)
Great ideas! My vote is on an “afternoon Nana Nap”. I love naps :)
‘What would Jesus buy?’
Well, not waterskis, that’s for damned sure.
Concerning #3, I don’t care about politicians, and I’m not a lurker.
10. Head to the gym and get a good workout. It’s good for body and soul.
You make me laugh out loud so often – I just love it!
I like the question “What would Jesus buy?”. Of course, sandals is the first thing that pops into my mind. And I’ve got two pairs of them – good ole Birkenstocks – so I’m all set.
10. Make yourself a fine cup of coffee with lots of foamy milk in a travel mug and go for a walk.
?
This comes across as an odd combination of Rik and Neil from the Young Ones. And if people have received a load of tat you can kind of see why they might want to hit the shops and pick up something decent. So I say good for them if they want to spend their way out of the doldrums (and, for that matter, the recession).
And I’m unconvinced that the world needs more blogs about cats.
Sas, I’m right with you on this… on tidying my cupboards right now, whilst listening to the prodigy and quickly shouting over the swearwords so the children can’t hear! Em x
10. Redesign blog for the new year. Get about half way before enjoying photoshop fail. Leave blog half done and wander off for cup of tea. Be distracted by shiny button… forget half done blog.
Alternatively and more constructively:-
Clear out closets and donate everything you haven’t worn this year.
Spookily i have just published a post about commenting more on blogs and being more pro-active in terms of my internet time and then you come along and get my first ‘new attitude’ comment!
I’m totally going to get involved with more book swaps this year and i only wish i had enough clothes to swap with anyone else.