When You Need To Have A Little More Fun

Silly string in action (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

On Monday I wrote about being a little more serious. Which is good. But too many good-intentioned tough girls take it to an extreme and become nothing but serious.

Why so serious? Do you need to lighten up? Do you remember how?

“Rejoice in the Lord always! I will say it again – rejoice!” – Philippians 4:4

Have fun with your friends. Plan a girls night out or a girls night in where you do something totally zany and awesome. Give them little gifts that remind you of inside jokes. Play pranks.

Have fun at school. Be creative on assignments and put a smile on your teachers’ faces. In fact, just smiling can make you really stand out!

Have fun with your family. Plan a game night or pack a picnic for all of you. Send random texts to your parents or brother or sister and let them know you love them. Post silly things that remind you of them on their Facebook walls.

Have fun with being thoughtful. Seek out people to build up with encouragement. Look for people who need a good laugh. Wear clothing that reflects the joy and peace that Jesus has placed inside of you.

Have fun with Jesus. Rock out to some upbeat Christian music like TobyMac or Group1Crew. Read a Christian fiction book. Go on a thanksgiving walk with a friend.

Question: Where in your life could you try and have a little more fun? Who is someone you’d describe as “fun” that you could pattern yourself after? Where do you draw the line between too serious and too fun?

Why I Like Stupid Things

thegoldguys.blogspot.com/ or http://www.lumaxart.com/ (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

My husband and I rarely fight. But when we do, it’s typically over one of two things…

#1 – He thinks the music I’m listening to is stupid.

#2 – He thinks the dance party to the music I’m listening to is stupid.

Here’s the thing – I like stupid music. I like poppy, catchy, popular songs that sound like the soundtrack to some summer teenage love story. Why?

They make me smile. They make me make a fool out of myself in my car as I bob my head back and forth, singing at the top of my lungs. They make me swing my hips and twirl in circles as I sweep my house. They make me fall asleep with a smile on my face.

Way too often, we make life too serious.

We’re serious about school.

We’re serious about reading our Bibles and going to church.

We’re serious about meeting with our friends.

We’re serious, serious, serious.

Now, it certainly isn’t bad to be serious. We need those times of intellectual devotion and intentionally challenging ourselves.

But sometimes we just need to let loose! Do something crazy and silly and remember that this life is fun! When is the last time you…

Jumped on a trampoline?

Watched a Disney movie?

Made cookie dough just for eating?

Skipped?

Sang karaoke?

Made a YouTube video?

On cloudy, dreary days when I just can’t seem to lift my spirits, I will always put on Secondhand Serenade, We The Kings, Boys Like Girls, Never Shout Never, or The Ready Set. Yes, I know music doesn’t get much more poppy and shallow than that. But it makes me dance! It makes me smile! And it brings my heart to a happy place where I can better draw on the joy of the Lord through His word and prayer.

Who knew stupid things could be so spiritual?

“This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” – Psalm 118:24

Question: What stupid things bring fun to your everyday life? How can you use those things to help you grow spiritually?

What Are You Making Out Of Today?

Image by pennydogaccessories via Flickr

Perhaps it should read “What Are You Making Today?” I was really inspired by my girl, Sierra (she’s really inspiring – remember her from this post?) who wanted to have some art in her new dorm room. Instead of shelling out major cash for prints of something someone else made, she decided to make her own. And, let me tell you, it looks amazing!

So I got to thinking – when was the last time I was creative like that? When was the last time you were? When was the last time you took some time and effort and made something totally unique and kick butt?

Maybe you’re an artsy person. Or maybe music is more your thing. Writing. Drama. Chances are, there’s something amazing and creative about you. Let it shine, tough girl! Show the world what you’re all about.

Make a plan. Set a goal. Set apart some time to do something creative and beautiful and special. Need some ideas?

Arsty farsty:
Shabby chique plaque

Funky lamp shade

DIY necklaces

Writing Warrior:

National Novel Writing Month

The Poetry Sanctuary

Teenage Authors

Band Geek:

Song of The Year

You Tube Mania

Drama, Drama, Drama!

Whatever you do, do it well. And, above all, have fun!

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When Was The Last Time You…

Image via Wikipedia

Splashed in a puddle?

Created something you were proud of?

Had a dance party?

Told someone they were beautiful?

Picked up random trash?

Skipped?

Played on a swing set?

Screamed at the top of your lungs?

Laughed so hard that you cried?

Hugged your mom and dad?

Painted a picture?

Wrote a poem?

Baked something?

Gave away something you love?

Listened to a friend?

Memorized a Bible verse?

Played a practical joke on someone?

Talked to someone you haven’t talked with in a long time?

Read a book for fun?

Colored with sidewalk chalk?

Took a funny picture?

Lived life like each day was a gift?

It is.

So go out and do something about it.

Summer Fun

 

On Monday, I challenged you to find a friend this summer and get serious about going deep. But, let’s be honest, deep and serious isn’t always fun.

 

So, here’s another challenge – HAVE FUN!!!! Don’t let your summer days slip away in a haze of sleeping till noon, watching copious amounts of television, and doing nothing extraordinary. In the words of Judy Moody, strive to have a not-bummer summer.

 

Need some ideas of what to do with your friends? Some cheap ideas?

 

Outdoor Movies

Okay, I’m as excited as the next person about all the awesome movies coming out this summer. But going to the theatre really starts to add up. Here’s a great idea – grab a TV and an extension cord (with your parents’ permission, of course) and set up your own outdoor theater. Lay out some blankets, pop some popcorn, and have fun! My recommendation? Hitchcock movies!

 

Crafting Queens

Do your parents a favor – clean your room…and so something with all the stuff you find. Google things you can make with old shirts and jeans. Find something fun and funky you can make with your school folders and random pieces of paper. Be creative and resourceful.

 

Cooking Contests

Cupcakes. Pies. Cookies. Get a group together and have a contest as to who can make the best tasting, best looking, most creative something or another. You can even invite other people to be the tasters and judges.

 

Learn Something New

Urban homesteading. Crocheting. Painting. The library is full of how to books that you and your friends could check out and commit to learning over the summer.

 

Trail Blazers

How many parks around you have trails? Walk, run, or bike as many of them as you can.

 

Water Goodness

Lakes and rivers scream summer fun. Put on a (modest) bathing suit, call up your friends, and head out for some fun. Get some cheap inter tubes and water guns, pack a picnic, and make a day of it.

 

Campfire Club

Make a plan. Pick a night during the week and go to someone’s house who has some kind of fire pit. Different people bring the s’more ingredients. Someone else brings a guitar. Sit around, laugh, tell ghost stories, and sing worship songs. If it’s a weekly tradition, more and more people will come.

 

Those are my ideas. Any other cheap ideas you can think of to make this a not-bummer summer?

Girl’s Night Out

It’s Friday Night. You’ve seen every movie. You’ve played every board game. You’re looking for something fun and totally kick butt to do. So wrestle up some friends and try something new:

Iron Chef Party – If you’re competitive and like to cook, this is the party for you. Pick a couple of teams and give them a main ingredient. You can pick anything from beef to chocolate to cream cheese. E-mail the ingredient ahead of time to your chefs. Then set a start time. Each person or team has one hour to cook three dishes featuring that ingredient. Then you all get together and present your dishes with other people serving as the judges, ranking things like creativity, look, and taste.

Monster Laser Tag Party – This one is simple. Get a group together and have everyone down two Monsters or any other kind of energy drink. Then, totally hopped up on caffeine and sugar, head off to your local laser tag place and go at it!

Disguise Scavenger Hunt – Especially good if you’re inducting younger girls into your tough girl group. Have the leaders of your group dress up in disguises – I’m talking temporary hair dye, lifts in shoes kind of disguises. Then have them get lost in the mall or some other crowded public place. The younger girls have to go on a scavenger hunt, getting the signatures of all the girls who are hiding in plain sight.

Make Your Own {Blank} Party – Purses. Jewelry. Coffee mugs. Kick butt t-shirts. Just get together and make something.

Creeping Party – Some people (who shall remain nameless, but they know who they are) have started this activity. Instead of toilet paper or forking yard, they creep around at night and take their picture in front of people’s houses. They then post these pictures on Facebook, tagging the person whose house it is. Totally legal. Incredibly creepy. Nothing but fun.

Sitting at home being bored is not kick butt. Sitting at home feeling sorry for yourself is in no way tough. Don’t ever buy the lie that you have to compromise what you believe in to have fun.

But you’re the only one who is going to make it happen!