Spice Up Your Life!!

Recently a friend of mine made a 30 before 30 list. These were things she wanted to do before she turns 30. One of the items on her list was to find a new outing for her and her friends. I thought this would be a great idea for a post. So many times we get tired of doing the same thing every weekend. After doing some research I have compiled a list of some fun and creative ideas to spice up your social life!

Special Outings:

1. Road Trip!! – This could be for the weekend or just for a day. Get a map (or GPS) and just start driving in a certain direction. Don’t forget your favorite snacks and music.

2. Last Minute Travel Deals – You can always find inexpensive last minute trips for under $300 through most traveling websites. Plan in advance a weekend that will work for you and your friends. Two weeks before the trip find a last minute deal to a random place.

3. Unique Dining Experiences – The Melting Pot is one of my favorite places to go. It is a fun dining experience. Do some research and find new and unique restaurants that you and your friends would enjoy. Try different types of cuisines and international foods.

4. Tea Time! – Dress your best, grab your hat and gloves and find a local tearoom. It will be a great time and you will have plenty of photo opportunities.

5. Adult Prom – It’s like prom but you can drink…well legally. Many clubs and bars host this at least once a year. Do some research in your area and have a “Night under the Stars” or whatever their corny prom theme is for the night.

6. Find Your Inner Athlete – Try beach volleyball, golf, or tennis. If you don’t know how to play it will only be more entertaining.

7. Scavenger Hunt – Make a list of things to find in your neighbor. Buy disposable cameras and give them to your friends so they can take pictures of the items or people on the list.

8. Historic Landmarks – While on your road trip stop along the way to check out local historic landmarks.

9. Yoga and Meditation Retreats – This would be great if one of your friends is experiencing a great deal of stress in their life. You will all come back calm and centered.

10. Get pampered for the day! Many spas will allow you to come in while they are closed and rent the place for you and your friends.

11. Be One with Nature – Visit a local zoo, aquarium or botanical garden.

12. Winter Wonderland – When it’s cold outside and all you want to do is stay in, get out! Go ice skating, snowboarding, or skiing!

13. Fun in the Sun – Pack a picnic and head for the closest beach or lake. Don’t forget the sunscreen.

14. Shopping for Less – Find local flea markets and thrift shops in your area. You may find a vintage treasure!

15. Skating – Remember in junior high when the skating rink was the place to be! Bring back some memories with a trip to your local skating rink.

Girl’s Night In

1. Fashion Swap – Everyone brings items from their closet that they are thinking of getting rid of. Put them in the center of the room and draw numbers. The person who has No. 1 picks an item from the pile. The person with No. 2 can either take the item from No. 1 or pick an item and so on. An item can only be stolen twice. This is similar to Yankee Swap.

2. Potluck – Everyone brings over their favorite dish.

3. Yard Sale – After Spring cleaning, gather the items that you no longer need. You can either keep the money or donate it to a local charity.

4. Spa Night – Make homemade masks and do pedicures and manicures.

5. Very Happy “Unbirthday” Party – Celebrate everyone’s Unbirthday by bringing each other homemade gifts.

6. Margaritas and Movies – Have a movie marathon of your favorite films. Add margaritas and you have a drinking game.

7. Wine Party – Each person brings a bottle of wine paired with an appetizer.

Go out in the Community

Look out in the community for fun and creative opportunities. Many local art councils, museums and colleges provide classes. This could be a fun activity for you and your friends to attend. Recently I took a wine class at a local art council and had a blast. Here are some other suggestions:

1. Cooking classes – For those of you, like me that are challenged in this area.

2. Art classes – Painting, pottery, or Photography

3. Community Events – Go to your town’s website for a calendar of upcoming events in your area.

Finding Your Spot

As we look towards our “next big step” there is always the lingering question of “Where will I go?”  The next step almost always includes a move to a new place.  You have to pick the place, find an apartment, find a roommate and pretty much start all over.  You could either be tired of your current place or moving for more professional opportunities.  Making these decisions can cause extreme anxiety and stress. 

When trying to find a new place to call home we should try to stay open-minded and think outside of the box.  Remember this is not the first time you have done this.  This was the same approach you took when choosing a college and your first place out of college.  This post will give you tips as a website that will help you in determining your next spot. 

First we will look at the many aspects to consider when moving to a new place.  I have come up with several categories to consider when moving:

1.      Location – Where would you like to go?  Would you like to move South, North, East, or West?  In the United States or outside the United States?  Do you want to live near the beach?  Near the mountains?

2.      Weather – This is a big factor for some people.  Can you tolerate a long winter?  Can you tolerate a humid, hot summer?  Do you like to snowfall once a year or constantly for 4 or 5 months?  Do you like the rain?

3.      Distance from Family or Friends – To some people this is an important aspect because they enjoy the added social support.  It is sometimes hard to make friends once you move but remember that is an option as well.

4.      Size Matters – To some it does.  Some people enjoy the amenities of a big city while others enjoy the quaintness of a small town. 

5.       Amenities – Do you want to be close to public transit?   Do you want to be near hip restaurants and nightlife?  Do you want to be somewhere that the entire town doesn’t close down at 8pm?  If you enjoy the outdoors, you might want to be in close proximity to parks and other outdoor facilities.  If you enjoy attending cultural events, you will want to live in an area that is host to theatres, observatories, museums, and art galleries.   

6.      Professional Opportunities – In today’s economy this is a biggie!  You definitely want to move to a place that provides new professional opportunities.  Many of the up and coming cities can supply you with this.  They may not be as big as others cities but will give you the amenities and opportunities you are looking for.

7.      Matching the Vibe of the Place – The vibe of a place can make it or break it!  If you are looking for a fast-paced, energizing area you will more than likely not be happy in a small, Southern town.  However if you are a person that gets stressed out by crowds, a big city may increase your stress.  A place’s vibe also depends on the people in that area.  Do you like the people that you will be interacting with on a daily basis? 

8.      Cost of Living – Though some places may have everything on your list, the cost of living may be astronomical!!  You may be willing to give up a few things to live in your dream location.  Think about what you would be giving up.  Is it worth living in your “dream place” if you can't afford to enjoy any of the amenities?

Once you have thought about the criteria, rank them in importance to you.  This should help you with your decision.  Take time to research and visit the places you are considering.  Spend time with the people in the community.  See what they do for fun.  Try and avoid doing touristy things on your visit as this will not give you a good idea of the people.     

If this has inspired you to take a move or start researching, I have one final tool for you to use.  This is a website that administers a quiz to determine your top spots.  You may be surprised by your results.

http://www.findyourspot.com/