Thursday, March 31, 2022

5 Alternative Easter Gift Ideas

 Another holiday is here and I am not afraid to admit that it has been a different holiday experience during this pandemic!



It has forced me to be creative, however, and that is always a positive in my opinion. I have thought of 5 alternative gift ideas for Easter 2022 and I am excited to now share them with you:

An Open Air Picnic And Easter Egg Hunt

The great thing about a spring holiday is that everyone is ready to get out into the fresh air and sunshine so a picnic in a park (or even your own backyard) is definitely a gift for everyone! Pack a light lunch or snacks and get out there! You can hide your easter eggs around and watch as the kids try to find all of them. A lovely day together is a gift everyone will remember.


A Child's Gardening And Bug Catching Guide

Since you will already be outside, keep that energy going and gift your child with the knowledge of everything around them. A guide to the different bugs you will see outside can take away the fear or misunderstanding of insects and teach your child about what they see in their environment. Have a little competition to see who can name the most insects correctly and maybe you can learn a little something, too. If your child prefers to learn about the different plants and flowers they see, a gardening and/or botany guide would be another great pick. There is also bird watching and animal guides in case they prefer that. There is lots to learn about out here and having a guide makes it fun!

A Memorable Piece Of Jewelry 

I know jewelry seems like a simple go-to gift for any holiday, but hear me out. Every memorable piece of jewelry I have received on a holiday has always been on a holiday that I was not expecting jewelry. 


    "Oh, you thought you were getting chocolate bunnies or a stuffed duck this Easter? WRONG. Here's a gorgeous gold rabbit brooch by AC Silver!"

Is this more of a gift idea for mom for Easter? Yes, yes it is.

A Disposable Camera And Trip Scrapbook

While I am sure that most older kids today already have a cellphone with a camera attached, a fun thing for little ones who do not is a disposable camera. They can take their own pictures, print them out, and then add them to their very own trip scrapbook. It helps kids open up their creative mind while giving them the satisfaction of seeing their creative work turn into a fun memory they get to keep. They could even start with your fun Easter Egg Hunt picnic I mentioned above!

Tickets To An Open Air Community Theater Event

With tours and shows being opened and then shut back down again, entertainment has been in a sort of limbo. Luckily, there are always community theaters in your town that perform in open air parks! Ask your gift recipient what type of show they would be interested in seeing and then grab some tickets if you can to surprise them with! It's a gift for Easter and it's a gift for in the future. A win all around if you ask me!


Holidays have been different lately but we can always find a way to give gifts to the people we love. I hope these tips help you find the perfect gift this Easter holiday!

Thursday, March 17, 2022

Finding New Goals For Your Hobbies

 Hobbies are good for our mental health and can help to build our personality. For a hobby to stay interesting, you need to keep finding new goals. If you’ve found yourself losing interest in a hobby or you simply feel your hobby doesn’t satisfy you as much, you should consider whether it’s time to set a new goal. Below are just 5 examples of goals for your hobbies.


Learn New Skills/Techniques

Consider whether it’s time to go out of your comfort zone and learn new skills related to your hobby. There are always niche skills that can be learned. A few examples include:
  • Expanding your piano skills by trying new genres like jazz or classical
  • Improving your knitting skills by learning new stitches
  • Learning how to grow new vegetables in your backyard
You can learn new skills by looking up tutorials online, getting paid lessons or reading handbooks. Work out what is the best form of learning for you.

Master How To Use New Equipment

There could be new equipment that you could buy to get more out of your hobby. Challenge yourself to master this equipment. Examples could include:
  • Buying new camera lenses and learning to integrate them into your photography
  • Buying new cake modelling tools to build your cake-making skills
  • Buying a new effects pedal to use in your guitar-playing
Saving up for equipment could be a goal in itself. Make sure to research into equipment so that you buy the best equipment and keep it well maintained.

Build An Online Fanbase

Find an audience for your hobby by sharing videos, images or blog posts online. You can then challenge yourself to build followers by consistently posting engaging content. Examples of this include:
  • Sharing images of sketches and paintings on Instagram and building followers
  • Posting video reviews of great books you’ve read
  • Writing educational/informational travel blog posts of places you’ve been to and amassing lots of loyal readers
Becoming an influencer could allow you to gain appreciation for your hobby, pass on knowledge and connect with fellow hobbyists. You could even monetize this following through options like sponsorships and ad revenue, which leads onto the next goal…

Monetize Your Hobby

Almost any hobby can be monetized. This could be a chance to earn an income - even if it’s just some money on the side - while doing something you love. A few examples include:
  • Selling handmade jewelry online
  • Becoming a paid soccer coach
  • Making money from a beauty vlog via ad revenue and sponsorships
Monetizing your hobby requires understanding how to market yourself. You’ll likely need to build social media pages and launch a website using a platform like WooCommerce hosting. In other cases, it may benefit you to attend events such as craft fairs or paid competitions. Speaking of competitions…

Get Competitive

You may be able to compete with other hobbyists to win events or break records. Competition can be a great way to take your hobby to the next level. Examples could include:
  • Playing video games in an online tournament
  • Taking part in a chilli-eating competition
  • Downloading a running app like Strava and competing with the performance stats of other users
Make sure that you understand the rules of competing. Set realistic competition goals so that you stay motivated - know your own ability

I hope these tips will help you find new goals for your hobbies. Add your own in the comments below!

Wednesday, March 9, 2022

Ambivalence

 uncertainty is
swallowing me

and I will
drown
in these words
unsaid

gasping as
I wonder
if I ever
knew 
how to swim