BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND...

Yeah! I'm treating y'all to a guest visit from Ali & Vic's thoroughly enjoyable blog. Sure, they shame me 'cause their blogging is much more sophisticated than my motherly babble. I loved their ten suggestions for January. Since February is arriving on Friday, let's try some...I really loved the 'Duvet Day' idea!

Eeenjoy!!

Ms. P xxx

1. Celebrate New Year's Day

http://vancouverisawesome.com/2013/01/03/vancouver-daze-polar-bear-swim-centennial-beach-tsawwassen/

Embrace 2013 with gusto by braving the elements, whether you go for a bracing Polar Bear Swim or a cobweb-clearing winter walk.

2. Make a List of New Year's Resolutions

http://fistfuloftalent.com/2012/12/fot-2013-resolutions.html

Yes, it's a cliche, but there is something so satisfying about starting off the New Year afresh with a batch of resolutions. (And, even if you've already fallen off the wagon, you can always "re-start" them on Chinese New Year in February ;-)

3. De-Christmas the House

http://blog.sfgate.com/sfmoms/2010/12/29/when-do-you-take-down-your-christmas-tree/

There's nothing so depressing as seeing remnants of Christmas well into January, so make sure that every last strand of tinsel and chocolate santa is well and truly gone so you can move on with 2013.

4. Clean Out Your Fridge

http://mommylife.net/archives/2009/07/cleaning_the_re.html

On a similar note, now's the time to thoroughly clean out your fridge and toss out anything with a 2012 expiry date (because eating food that went off last year sure ain't good).

5. Take Up a Hobby

http://www.docdreyfus.com/psychologically-speaking/the-importance-of-hobbies/

January is apparently National Hobby Month, so why not try your hand at something you've always had an interest in? Now's the time!

6. Have a Duvet Day

http://www.agirlsimagination.com/2012/02/duvet-days.html

Whether you have a legitimate reason (ie. the flu!) or not, everyone deserves a Duvet Day at some point in January. A Duvet Day, for the uninitiated, is a day in which you pretty much stay in bed all day, armed with a stack of books, magazines, DVDs, snacks, etc, etc. The perfect way to while away a dreary winter's day!

7. Watch the Golden Globes

http://www.salon.com/2013/01/14/and_the_golden_globe_goes_to/

Sunday the 13th was the 70th Annual Golden Globe Awards; we hope you enjoyed the 3+ hours of escapism!

8. Watch the Presidential Inauguration

http://www.aoc.gov/projects/construction-2013-inauguration-underway

Tune in to see Obama's second inauguration on the 21st - those Americans sure know how to put on a show!

9. Observe National Compliment Day 
http://www.examiner.com/slideshow/national-compliment-day-

Were you aware that there's such a thing as National Compliment Day, and that this year it's celebrated on the 24th of January? Nope, neither were we til now, but it's a holiday we can get behind. Brighten your day and others' by dishing out compliments to all you meet.

10. Celebrate Australia Day

http://magickalgraphics.com/australiaday.htm

Why the hell not?! Even if, like us, you have absolutely zero connection with the Land Down Under, you can still pay a subtle nod to the day (26th January) by watching Summer Heights High...or listening to Kylie Minogue...or eating a Vegemite sandwich. You get the idea!