Come back each month to find something new to try. Never dangerous, but always something that might help you see your world differently.
What kinds of weird and interesting things can I have you try this year? Well, keep coming back because I will try to keep you on your toes. Enjoy.
What kinds of weird and interesting things can I have you try this year? Well, keep coming back because I will try to keep you on your toes. Enjoy.
May: Cook Dinner for Your Family
Okay, here is the theme for the month—be awesome to your family. Remember, through thick and thin, they will be there for you. And, if you know that to be true, it is time to let them know how important they are to you.
So, for this month, I am recommending that you cook your family a nice dinner. Now, nice does not mean a six-course meal with lobster as the main dish. Let’s face it, macaroni cheese can be a nice meal if presented right.
Now, this will take some arranging, because you may need a parent to purchase the necessary ingredient, so make sure you get them in on this.
So, here’s the gameplan: set a date for the meal, pick your menu, get the ingredients, prepare the meal, enjoy with your family (that last bit is the best part).
Okay, here is the theme for the month—be awesome to your family. Remember, through thick and thin, they will be there for you. And, if you know that to be true, it is time to let them know how important they are to you.
So, for this month, I am recommending that you cook your family a nice dinner. Now, nice does not mean a six-course meal with lobster as the main dish. Let’s face it, macaroni cheese can be a nice meal if presented right.
Now, this will take some arranging, because you may need a parent to purchase the necessary ingredient, so make sure you get them in on this.
So, here’s the gameplan: set a date for the meal, pick your menu, get the ingredients, prepare the meal, enjoy with your family (that last bit is the best part).
April: Create a Poem -- Enter a Contest
In case you didn’t know it, April is National Poetry Month, which means it’s a good month to try your hand at a poem.
Now, I know that many of you have taken Creative Writing I and have dabbled in writing poetry. I also know that many of you have never written a poem. And finally, I know some of you write poems for your own…but will never admit to it (yeah, I’m looking at you).
No matter where you are in the poetry world, it’s all good. I just want you to give it a go. Try to write a poem about something that means a lot to you (boyfriend/girlfriend, mom, family, tacos, love, frustrations, anger, et). You do not have to worry about making a poem look a certain way. Let your poem form in any way you want it to look.
Finally, if you are interested, you can also see about entering your poem in a national contest. The America Library of Poetry sponsors a poetry contest every year. You have until April 30 to enter the contest. If you are interested, you can find all the details here.
If you do write a poem this month, feel free to share it with those you love. Oh, and if you enter the poetry contest and win, let me know, I want to be able to say congratulations.
In case you didn’t know it, April is National Poetry Month, which means it’s a good month to try your hand at a poem.
Now, I know that many of you have taken Creative Writing I and have dabbled in writing poetry. I also know that many of you have never written a poem. And finally, I know some of you write poems for your own…but will never admit to it (yeah, I’m looking at you).
No matter where you are in the poetry world, it’s all good. I just want you to give it a go. Try to write a poem about something that means a lot to you (boyfriend/girlfriend, mom, family, tacos, love, frustrations, anger, et). You do not have to worry about making a poem look a certain way. Let your poem form in any way you want it to look.
Finally, if you are interested, you can also see about entering your poem in a national contest. The America Library of Poetry sponsors a poetry contest every year. You have until April 30 to enter the contest. If you are interested, you can find all the details here.
If you do write a poem this month, feel free to share it with those you love. Oh, and if you enter the poetry contest and win, let me know, I want to be able to say congratulations.
March: Declutter (Spring Cleaning)
Okay, for March I want you to think about your surroundings at home. Are they a bit cluttered? Do you have a bunch of old stuff around that you don’t need any more and is getting in your way? Well then, it is time to declutter your life, and what better time than spring?
Let’s get things started. You are not trying to get rid of everything, just the stuff you don’t need any more. So, let’s begin with clothing. Anything hanging around that doesn’t fit because you have continued to grow? Donate it to a local charity. Or, if it is in great condition, see if there is a consignment shop near you (your might be able to get some cash for your clothes when they sell).
Now, take a look at other things that you are done with. Toys? Books? Empty food containers? If it’s garbage, get it out. If it something that can be donated—donate it. Let someone else get joy out of something that once brought you joy.
A nice benefit to decluttering your life; once you clean things up, you might find you now how room for something new that you have had your eye on.
Okay, for March I want you to think about your surroundings at home. Are they a bit cluttered? Do you have a bunch of old stuff around that you don’t need any more and is getting in your way? Well then, it is time to declutter your life, and what better time than spring?
Let’s get things started. You are not trying to get rid of everything, just the stuff you don’t need any more. So, let’s begin with clothing. Anything hanging around that doesn’t fit because you have continued to grow? Donate it to a local charity. Or, if it is in great condition, see if there is a consignment shop near you (your might be able to get some cash for your clothes when they sell).
Now, take a look at other things that you are done with. Toys? Books? Empty food containers? If it’s garbage, get it out. If it something that can be donated—donate it. Let someone else get joy out of something that once brought you joy.
A nice benefit to decluttering your life; once you clean things up, you might find you now how room for something new that you have had your eye on.
February: Visit a Little Free Library
As I am sitting down to write this out, my youngest son and I have just returned from a Little Free Library outing. We hit eleven little free libraries in Silverton and deposited nearly 110 books for that community. Oh, and we came home with about six books. That’s how it works.
If you are not familiar with Little Free Libraries, they are simply small “libraries” placed outside homes, businesses, etc. They are a place for community members to pick up a book to read, or drop off a book you no longer need. Are you required to leave a book if you take one? No (but it would be nice). Are you required to take a book if you leave one? Nope (sometimes they have something that looks good and sometimes they don’t).
My suggestion for the month is to find your closest Little Free Library, take a book from your house that you no longer need, drop it off, and then see if there is a book that looks interesting that you can take home. Simple as that. Actually, I will make it even simpler. Here is a link to the Little Free Library Map. Type in your city and see what’s near you. Happy Reading!
As I am sitting down to write this out, my youngest son and I have just returned from a Little Free Library outing. We hit eleven little free libraries in Silverton and deposited nearly 110 books for that community. Oh, and we came home with about six books. That’s how it works.
If you are not familiar with Little Free Libraries, they are simply small “libraries” placed outside homes, businesses, etc. They are a place for community members to pick up a book to read, or drop off a book you no longer need. Are you required to leave a book if you take one? No (but it would be nice). Are you required to take a book if you leave one? Nope (sometimes they have something that looks good and sometimes they don’t).
My suggestion for the month is to find your closest Little Free Library, take a book from your house that you no longer need, drop it off, and then see if there is a book that looks interesting that you can take home. Simple as that. Actually, I will make it even simpler. Here is a link to the Little Free Library Map. Type in your city and see what’s near you. Happy Reading!
January: Learn Something New About Your Family's Heritage
Here’s a little something where you will need to do one of two things. You either need to do some research (on-line, books, etc.) or you will need to talk to your family members (the elders—not your generation or younger). What I am suggesting is that you learn something about your cultural heritage.
If you don’t already know just where your family came from, figure it out. See if you can figure out why/how your family moved here to this spot. Or, maybe you don’t know about your ancestors. Take some time to ask questions and learn who is in your past. You never know, you might have a WWII war hero in the family. Maybe an inventor or professional athlete you were unaware of.
In the case of my boys, several years ago they had the chance to see the ruins of our family castle in Scotland, and they were given the opportunity to brandish a sword owned by one of our ancestors (about three hundred years ago)
So, no matter how boring you think your family may be, you will never truly know if they are boring or amazing if you don’t do a little digging and find out. So, get out there and figure out just where your family is from and the types of characters have peppered blossomed from the family tree.
Here’s a little something where you will need to do one of two things. You either need to do some research (on-line, books, etc.) or you will need to talk to your family members (the elders—not your generation or younger). What I am suggesting is that you learn something about your cultural heritage.
If you don’t already know just where your family came from, figure it out. See if you can figure out why/how your family moved here to this spot. Or, maybe you don’t know about your ancestors. Take some time to ask questions and learn who is in your past. You never know, you might have a WWII war hero in the family. Maybe an inventor or professional athlete you were unaware of.
In the case of my boys, several years ago they had the chance to see the ruins of our family castle in Scotland, and they were given the opportunity to brandish a sword owned by one of our ancestors (about three hundred years ago)
So, no matter how boring you think your family may be, you will never truly know if they are boring or amazing if you don’t do a little digging and find out. So, get out there and figure out just where your family is from and the types of characters have peppered blossomed from the family tree.
December: Bake Some Cookies
‘Tis the season for…cookies! Yep, this month I want you to try baking cookies. Many of you have probably baked cookies before, but there are probably plenty of you who have never taken the time to enter the kitchen and bake. Well, let’s fix that.
I am including a basic cookie recipe with some “exotic” mix-ins, but you can always adapt the recipe for the mix-ins that work best for you and your friends/family.
If you find you enjoy baking cookies, remember you can find many recipes on-line, and you can also find (literally) thousands of cookbooks that focus on cookies only.
Now, get baking and have some delicious fun.
‘Tis the season for…cookies! Yep, this month I want you to try baking cookies. Many of you have probably baked cookies before, but there are probably plenty of you who have never taken the time to enter the kitchen and bake. Well, let’s fix that.
I am including a basic cookie recipe with some “exotic” mix-ins, but you can always adapt the recipe for the mix-ins that work best for you and your friends/family.
If you find you enjoy baking cookies, remember you can find many recipes on-line, and you can also find (literally) thousands of cookbooks that focus on cookies only.
Now, get baking and have some delicious fun.
November: Build a Puzzle
I know, in this world of go, go, go, I am encouraging you to slow down and put together a puzzle. Well, there is a reason for that—sometimes putting together a puzzle can be relaxing, and we all need some relax time in our lives.
I can even offer you many ways/places to put your puzzle together. First of all, don’t worry about the puzzle size (100, 500, 1, 000, 3,000 pieces)—build what feels right. You can buy puzzles at dollar stores, toys stores, box stores (Fred’s, Target, Wal-Mart, etc.). You can even find puzzle that you can build on your computer.
And, if you have the time, the North Salem library tends to have a puzzle in production at any given time. Stop by and help put it together before school, at lunch, or after school.
Do the puzzle alone or get some friends or family involved. Regardless of how you do it, build a puzzle and see if it helps to bring a little relaxation in to your life.
I know, in this world of go, go, go, I am encouraging you to slow down and put together a puzzle. Well, there is a reason for that—sometimes putting together a puzzle can be relaxing, and we all need some relax time in our lives.
I can even offer you many ways/places to put your puzzle together. First of all, don’t worry about the puzzle size (100, 500, 1, 000, 3,000 pieces)—build what feels right. You can buy puzzles at dollar stores, toys stores, box stores (Fred’s, Target, Wal-Mart, etc.). You can even find puzzle that you can build on your computer.
And, if you have the time, the North Salem library tends to have a puzzle in production at any given time. Stop by and help put it together before school, at lunch, or after school.
Do the puzzle alone or get some friends or family involved. Regardless of how you do it, build a puzzle and see if it helps to bring a little relaxation in to your life.
October: Create a Piece of Art
Okay, so we are not all artistic. I know I am not that artistic, but I can make a killer stick figure. With that said, that does not mean you don’t have the ability to create some interesting art—and no, you don’t need to be in an art class to create art. So, this month, I challenge you to make a piece of art.
Your art could be anything. You could paint, create something from clay, take an amazing photo, design something on the computer, you could crochet/knit something, or you could just take a pencil to a piece of paper and see what happens.
The whole idea here is just to be creative. Let your imagination run wild. If you do end up creating a piece of art, drop by with it (or a photo of it). I would love to see what you came up with.
Okay, so we are not all artistic. I know I am not that artistic, but I can make a killer stick figure. With that said, that does not mean you don’t have the ability to create some interesting art—and no, you don’t need to be in an art class to create art. So, this month, I challenge you to make a piece of art.
Your art could be anything. You could paint, create something from clay, take an amazing photo, design something on the computer, you could crochet/knit something, or you could just take a pencil to a piece of paper and see what happens.
The whole idea here is just to be creative. Let your imagination run wild. If you do end up creating a piece of art, drop by with it (or a photo of it). I would love to see what you came up with.
September: Visit a College/University Campus
Hear me out before you shut down this month’s recommendation. No, you don’t have to be a senior. No, you don’t even need to have plans to go, but you should take some time to visit a college or university. The “why” is easy—to see what it is like. How else will you know what to expect if you choose to attend college/uni?
There are many colleges/universities within an hour of Salem, so you have many options. There is Linfield University, Willamette University, George Fox University, OSU, U of O, and more. Many, many options.
You can go for an informal visit. Park, wander around, and get a feel for the campus. Do you feel comfortable with the campus?
You can also make things more formal be setting up a visit through the admissions office. These visits can include guided tours, opportunities to sit in on a class, meet students, and some schools even offer the chance to spend a night on campus. If you have questions, this is also a good time to get them answered by talking to someone in the admissions office.
Hear me out before you shut down this month’s recommendation. No, you don’t have to be a senior. No, you don’t even need to have plans to go, but you should take some time to visit a college or university. The “why” is easy—to see what it is like. How else will you know what to expect if you choose to attend college/uni?
There are many colleges/universities within an hour of Salem, so you have many options. There is Linfield University, Willamette University, George Fox University, OSU, U of O, and more. Many, many options.
You can go for an informal visit. Park, wander around, and get a feel for the campus. Do you feel comfortable with the campus?
You can also make things more formal be setting up a visit through the admissions office. These visits can include guided tours, opportunities to sit in on a class, meet students, and some schools even offer the chance to spend a night on campus. If you have questions, this is also a good time to get them answered by talking to someone in the admissions office.