Lollipop Tuesday is a special series on The Jackie Blog, where on occasion I will try something new that I will undoubtedly suck at and share my degradation with you all in a Tuesday post. Some may be mundane, some may be ridiculous, and when I run out of ideas, some may even be illegal.
Why Tuesday? Because Tuesday is the most overlooked day of the week. Mondays symbolize a new beginning – the start of a new diet attempt, the forerunner of the work week. Wednesdays are hump day – dedicated to a celebration of making it halfway to the weekend. Thursdays are thirsty and spent in anticipation of Friday, which is the happiest of workdays and the partier of the bunch. Saturdays and Sundays are no contest. And poor little Tuesday is left alone in the mix like a redheaded stepchild. It never did anything to anyone.
So Tuesdays shall henceforth be known as Lollipop Tuesdays. They will be a celebration of new attempts in unfamiliar territories. Feel free to chime in with ideas, which you can leave in the comments section of this page. Who knows – I might even use yours. And if you’d like to try to suck less as well, I invite you to try a Lollipop Tuesday of your own (clicky click) and then share it with me. I’d love to hear all about it.
Here’s what I’ve tried so far:
- Bikram Yoga
- A New Recipe
- A Craft Tutorial
- Ice Skating
- T-shirt Design
- Getting a Sonogram
- Pole-Dancing Class
- Watch a Movie I Swore I Never Would (reader suggestion)
- P90X
- Mystery Dinner Theater
- Bingo!
- Rock Climbing/Bouldering (reader suggestion)
- Opera
- Dinner and a Movie Alone (reader suggestion)
- Take a Lesson in Something from Someone on YouTube (reader suggestion)
- Participate in a 5K
- Read a Book in a Genre I’d Never Read Otherwise (reader suggestion)
- Go on First Plane Ride
- An Art Auction
- Gamble (Casino-Style)
- Eat Something Disgusting (reader suggestion)
- Go Camping
- Get a Tarot Card Reading
- Install My Own Internet
- Commit a Random Act of Kindness (reader suggestion)
- Attend and Participate in a Competitive Scrabble Club Meeting
- Serve As a Barback
- Attend a Major League Baseball Game
- Reenact the Battle of Bull Run (reader suggestion)
- Rap in Public
- Graffiti/Tagging
- Compete in the World Pinball Championship
- Bake an Apple Pie from Scratch
- Make a DIY Hanging Herb Garden
- Go Geocaching
- Enter an Essay Contest
- Solve a Rubik’s Cube
- Carve a Super Awesome Pumpkin
- Participate in a Research Study
- Occupy Pittsburgh
- Explore a Random Building
- Take a Megabus
- Lucid Dreaming
- Take a Mixology Class
- See a Broadway Show
- Attempt to Enjoy Twilight
- Knit
- Go Scottish Country Dancing
- Direct a Short Film
- Enter a Recipe Contest
- Canvass for a Political Campaign
- Teach at an Inner City Public School
- Get Hypnotized
- Audition for a Game Show
- Attend a Movie Premiere
- File an Appeal and Represent Myself
- Fast for a Week
- Become a Mentor
- Complete a Half Marathon
The Jackie Blog 
Sweet!!! Great idea 🙂
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Thanks a lot!
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Science experiments (this might keep you for a bit with the proper research and an open mind…), volunteering, going to an improv/acting night (where you willingly go up on a stage with no knowledge of what you’re about to say before you’re handed a script in front of a crowd and prompted to, “Go”), Stand up comedy <- that'll test some limits… I've got a bunch more, but i won't talk your ear off. If you are indeed in NYC i can actually suggest places to do these things 🙂 Good luck!
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Jared – thanks so much for the ideas. I’m all for you talking my ear off if it means you’re sharing Lollipop Tuesday possibilities 🙂 Everything on there is certainly an option, except the improv. I’m actually an actor by night and was once the captain of an improv team so that unfortunately does not meet my new experience requirement.
Stand-up comedy, however, is something I’ve been trying to get the guts to do for quite some time. Thank you so much for the suggestions!
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I really think you should try the Diva Cup! But, if that’s not something you want to share on the interwebs (and I don’t blame you), have you ever been to a spinning/cycling class? They’re a great workout and you don’t have to be coordinated (not that you aren’t, but I’m sure not).
Also, if you end up getting too many people to write names on slips of paper and draw from a hat, other sites have used random.org to choose winners (see: http://dooce.com/2010/11/16/dooce-xbox-joyride-giveaway-2010).
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First of all, YESSSS to the tshirt win (that was totally the one I liked, since I’m really excited about the possibility of your website across my boobs). I’m not going to lie, I’ve been trying to think of some Lollipop Tuesday ideas for you since I learned what it was, and I’ve been totally a geek for your blog since your rant about armpits. …wow. So, here are a couple of ideas- for now. Hopefully I’ll have more later:
-Lately I’ve really wanted to chop off my hair. I’m sick of it. But since I’ve sworn to let it grow to donate, I’d like to live vicariously through you. New cut, color, whatever.
-Okay, so have you seen The Guild? My boyfriend and I discovered it on NetFlix. Cracks me up, and for whatever reason the lead reminds me of you. And it made me think, you should totally try the blog out, video style.
-I just tried sushi for the first time. There are lots of new, gross food out there. Eat something, feel sick. It’ll be fun for us.
-Or, even better, cook a wonderfully complicated dinner. Make other people sick, instead. That’ll be fun for the rest of us, too.
-Try a new crafts or hobby. Knitting, scrapbooking, constructing bird houses, or hand stitch the days of the week into your underwear.
-Ooooh. Combining those last two, totally try making a cake. When it fails miserably, post it to cakewrecks.blogspot.com. Then evevn more people can laugh at you. 🙂
-Start a memior. It’s the cool new thing to do.
…so… that’s all I have for now. …the end.
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Oooooh! Dr. Horrible’s Sing Along Blog is my new favorite thing. Do a singing blog!!! Or try to take over the world. That could be fun, too. Or spend a day at a homeless shelter. Or dig a spork into your leg. Joss Whedon is so innovative. bhahahahaha.
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If it doesn’t have to be a single attempt then perhaps you could start a worm compost 😉 So trendy and environmentally friendly.
Or here’s a few other suggestions:
– Eyebrow threading (quiet an experience)
– Accupuncture (would your health insurance cover that?)
– Professional bra fitting
– Scavenger hunt
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Alright – here we go. I’m gonna just sit here in my bed and give you every fabulous or lame idea I can think of. I want a freaking t-shirt!!
Ok
– Reconnecting with Kindergarten craft day – make something paper mache or out of popsicle sticks
– Learn to knit
– Read a book or watch a movie you swore you’d never read/watch
– Volunteer someplace you’ve never volunteered before
– Go an entire day without one sarcastic comment (I’m curious to see if you’ll ex/implode)
– Eat a gosh-be-damned PLUM!!!
– Sing. In. Public. (not as a character, but as yourself)
– Learn the same phrase in 10 different languages
– Attend a service of a different religion
– Dress as a mime and do some sort of mild mime stunt (like “picking flowers” outside your apartment for half an hour)
– Get your shoes shined
– Watch a foreign film you’ve never heard of
– Find out how many licks it takes you to get to the center of a tootsie pop
– Attend an orchestra concert or ballet
– Go get a professional massage
– Spin Class!
– Use a neti pot (do you do that already)
– Take a cooking class
– Take a lesson in something from someone on Youtube
Ok – I think that’s all I have for right now.
Love you.
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Didn’t Stephen King have this running joke about (against) deifying plums? It was the funniest part of his biography!
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OK… so here are a few that I’ve come up with:
Rock Climb.
Be an EMT for a day… take CPR/1st Aid ,run calls, drive an ambulance, etc. -&/OR- Become a fireman for a spell: put on fire gear, learn the tools, do some practical/training exercises.
Work a summer camp for children (I know a great weekend bereavement camp).
Run a 5K (I plan on doing one this summer, you can join me).
Go Scuba Diving… Sky Diving… Skinny Dipping! 😉
Bungy jump.
Go to a diner & buy a little old man who is eating alone his dinner… don’t tell him, just take the check & leave. Also works with someone that looks down on their luck!
That’s all I can give ya for now. I will work on others in the meantime.
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Love this idea! Way to get out of a rut… if that even applies. Here is my idea:
FAN MAIL! Write a letter of adoration to a favorite author, actor, or singer. You never know. They could be so moved by your letter that they invite you over for dinner and decide to be your best friend. It could happen…
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jacks!!!!
you should…
-make your own paper camera and see if it works (it’s a real thing! google it!)
-eat nothing but asparagus all day…see how this effects you…
-write the opening chapter/scene of your debut novel/play and post it
-dine and dash (do you dare?)
-superglue a quarter to the ground and sit around for a few hours to see how many people try to pick it up (classic)
-write a last will and testimony (dun dun DUUNNN)
-eat 25 lbs of chocolate so you can get its benefit as a legal psychoactive drug
-don’t let yourself watch TV or play video games for one week (see what else you accomplish)
-try a food that scares you (bull testicle, anyone?)
-do a self breast exam (its for your own good!)
-try your hand at conceptual art
-have a big (verbal) fight in public
-learn to read tarot cards
-cut someone in line to see how they’ll react
-get a radical new haircut
-ignore your cell phone for one day
that’s all i got for now…
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sheila, you have a great list of things to try. I might have to try some of these…
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oooh do! and blog about it! haha
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Draw cartoons of everyone you know, and display them on the website. I’m talking captions and ascessories and the works.
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You should try and keep Kosher all day. It’s harder than you think.
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Write a song, then perform it.
or you could eat a goldfish.
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the mere idea of eating a goldfish is simultaneously disgusting and morally opposable. but I love it nonetheless.
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My sister swallowed a live one to get into a party. In the projects. Which part is worse?
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LOL thanks for sharing.
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Maybe you could pop in to the library and check out a book in a genre you never read. And then read at least the first 20 pages.
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Not a bad idea! Thanks for sharing 🙂
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OK I’m new to your blog and absolutely love your writing style. And since tomorrow is Lollipop Tuesday and you’re going to try something new, why not come over and help me cut my cat Lulu’s claws? She twists & screams bloody murder, and I can get about one a day. Which means that by the time I finish them all, I just have to start over. Which really cuts into my free time. So I figure it’s a win-win. You: something new CHECK. Me: Lulu’s claws cut in one sitting CHECK.
But if you can’t make it, I really like someone’s suggestion of sewing the days of the week into your underwear. And the mime is pretty good too. And singing in public, like at a restaurant during dinner or something. Just stand up and belt out one of those classic ’90s songs! 🙂
Happy writing!
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haha thanks for the suggestions! I actually thought about doing the claws thing tonight for my own hellian, but I’m sure I’d severely injure her. She can’t stay still; it’s impossible. I will, however, consider the days of the week underwear. 😉
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The solution to a cat that won’t stay still for nail trimmings is to burrito them. Wrap them in a blanket and only let the paw you need out. I’m serious.
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I keep imagining this with different paws coming out of the burrito. hilarious.
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I absolutely LOVE this concept! A friend and I are going to try to implement it (we can get lazy and end up in front of the tv with a movie). One thing I want to try is laser tag.
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Definitely do! First of all – you should do it because you’ve never done it before – but most of all, it’s a FREAKING AWESOME TIME.
lol sorry.. I feel very strongly about the awesomeness of laser tag. It’s like paying 10 bucks to be 10 years old. Glorious.
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– Put wedding music on and throw rice at random couples from your window (I actually did that with my roomie)
– Ball room dancing (fancy dress and shoes recommended)
– Go to a restaurant, the movies or a play alone
– Make a round in your building/block and collect funds for the WWF
– Go to a beauty counter and ask one of the sales people to make you up, then go home, change into dressy clothes + heels and clean your place
– At a bookstore/movie store go through the shelves and randomly put your finger on a book/movie and read/watch it.
– Take up a Tai Chi class
– Go to a wine tasting course
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Thank you so much – I love these!
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Dog walking or pet sitting! Tuesdays is usually my ten dog Tuesday. I care for 4 Newfies, 2 Goldens, 3 Cavaliers, and 1 Pekingnese who really thinks he is a Newfoundland! Get them out for their business details 3-6 times a day depending on the client’s needs etc…feeding and lots of puppy love, attention and massages for all canines! It is a fun time and obviously you really have to love dogs!
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Ten Dog Tuesdays – I like that 🙂 I can’t imagine caring for all of them at once!
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You should walk around town with your camera, and ask random people to take pictures with you. I’ve done this before with my friends and it’s highly entertaining.
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oh that’s definitely a good one – thanks so much for sharing!
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Was looking up sock bunnies and came across your site (which, on Google, is right after the site you reference) – cracked me up! You sound like me – I wouldn’t have the patience to wait for the sock to dry either. (And just FYI – the Magic Eraser was the most frequently suggested favorite cleaning product in a recent Real Simple magazine poll!)
How about hosting a Tupperware or Mary Kay party? Or a Bunco party?
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I don’t know if I could get away with that being a “new” experience because I used to sell that stuff – but maybe I could come up with some kind of twist 🙂 Thanks so much for stopping by and sharing! Did you ever get around to trying a sock bunny?
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This is great! I’ve made a vow to take on one adventure a week.
Try disc golf – most courses are free, discs arecheapand way easier than traditional golf. If you’re in cleveland I’ll show you how!
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YES! just one new thing every week! It’s such a great thing to do for yourself. Let me know how it goes 🙂
I was once a pretty avid disc-golfer, actually, so I can’t do that one. Buuut I’ve never been regular golfing. 😉
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Congrats on being Freshly Pressed! That’s how I found you.
Lollipop Tuesday is such an awesome idea!! My suggestion: learn/try to play the bagpipes, or violin. I don’t know how you would go about borrowing a set of bagpipes unless you know someone who plays; but you should be able to rent a violin for a day from a music store. 😀 I’m sure that all kinds of hilarity would ensue because it would probably really scare your cats. 😉
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Thanks! So glad you dropped in 🙂 If I can get my hands on a bagpipe or accordion… or lessons for either, that would just be the bee’s knees. Love the idea – thanks!
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host a HUGE brunch party for the neighbors!
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nice! I love that idea 🙂 I have a lot of neighbors so that would be quiiiite an undertaking. (I live in an apartment). Thanks for sharing!
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No excuse for running out of ideas. If all you need is something at which you will surely suck, think of how many musical instruments there are. No one will be any good on any of them without practice (barring the occasional genius).
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yes definitely – agreed! plus I’ve got this huge long list from all you awesome folks. No excuses for the whole year because there is enough right here. Thanks for moseying on by 🙂
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What a great concept! I love this. I have a similar list, which I call my Sunny Set if you want some extra inspiration:
http://thesunnygirl.com/?page_id=92
Best of luck with your Tuesdays and every other day of the week. I hope you find happiness in each day!
Keep shining,
The Sunny Girl, Lauren Cook
http://www.thesunnygirl.com
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oh how lovely! Thank you for sharing!
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I think you may have inspired me. 🙂 It may not be Tuesday, but having a weekly Lollipop day is a great idea.
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As a bit of a disclaimer, Tuesdays are just the day I have delegated to blogging about my experience. It holds me accountable to do something new once a week, even if not on a Tuesday. But yes, absolutely – I’m so glad it’s got you thinking. Give something ridiculous a try and let me know how it works out. 🙂 Hope the married life is just lovely.
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Your blog is entertaining and realistic. I love your Lollipop tuesday idea.
Suggestions: 1. Try walking backwards everywhere you go for one hour. 2. learn a card game. 3. volunteer at a shelter (homeless or animal). 4. Go christmas shopping in July.
Thanks for writing! Keep it up!
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Thanks so much, Sin. Ooooh I like the idea of volunteering at a shelter especially. Thank you for the great suggestions 🙂
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I found you via freshly pressed and added you to my reader. Love the post-a-day idea.
I’m actually doing something like a lollipop Tuesday year, something new every day, but I do get behind in posting.
Feel free to check it out for any Lollipop ideas, and I may teal one or two as well!
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Thanks so much for checking me out and for linking your blog. I love it!
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Love this idea! I randomly think of things I want to do and then do it…like learning how to skateboard…piercing my ears…dying my hair black with blonde stripes in the front (fondly referred to as my skunk stripes…)
Check out the Bucket List portion of my blog…if you use any let me know so I can read how it goes!!
http://wordsmeanmorethanthat.wordpress.com/category/bucket-list-2/
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LOL “Find my abs” is hilarious. And I ADORE the “get locked in a store overnight” that sounds fantastically scandalous.
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You should hand out balloons (or lollipops) in a bunny suit! Why not?
http://www.darkstarrising.wordpress.com
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LOL That could be just slightly disturbing to passersby… but perhaps that’s all the more reason to do it.
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If you’ve never done it before, you might want to try baking a pie from scratch. It’s loads of fun, but it’s also nearly impossible to get them to turn out perfectly. Visually perfect that is, making a tasty but ugly pie isn’t hard at all!
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I never have! I like that one. Sounds like it could be a glorious mess 🙂
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Cool blog, love your premise. For a new Lollipop Tuesday idea how about planting an herb garden or since it will be Fall soon, planting spring bulbs. Getting your hands digging in the dirt always seems to be a bit fun… Look forward to reading more….
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Thanks so much! I’d have to fashion some sort of window garden, as I live in the city – but that could be part of the fun! thanks for the idea and for dropping in 🙂
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Take a homeless guy out on a fancy dinner
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oooh very cool. I wonder how I’d manage to do so without the assumption of flirting 😉
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Hmm… Okay, how about THIS:
Set up a stand and sell gum. I don’t mean packs. I mean, sell INDIVIDUAL sticks/squares of gum.
Or(I saw a guy in Times Square do this) go to a crowded street and start offering “free hugs.” 😀 Crazy enough?
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LOL thanks for the suggestions!
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I love this blog! Very funny!
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Hey, thanks for stopping by!
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take a board game and a few of your best buddies to the most ridiculously busy area, sit down there and go about playing the game as if you don’t give a damn to the world
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love it! now I just need some friends…
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See if your local police department allows ride alongs. That can be fun and interesting. Riding in the front of the care without handcuffs, of course!
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I have an EMT friend who offered to let me take an ambulance ride, but I pass out at the sight of blood. Perhaps this is a better option 😉 Thanks!
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Babysit a bratty child (neighbour’s, friend’s or relative’s kid) for the day. Try to make him/her slightly less bratty by the end of the day.
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Super Nanny: Jackie Edition. Nice!
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I have a few ideas: 1) Get a tattoo. 2) Learn how to drive a motorcycle. 3) Sing an Adele song on karaoke night. 4) Swim 10 laps at the pool (that’s the number I started with).
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I’m a terrible swimmer. In that I don’t even know if I can be considered as truly knowing how to swim. I love that idea – I should certainly consider at least a class. Thanks!
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Try bathing a cat sometime. It’s a fine line between brave and stupid…
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Actually, I have. And I’d venture to say mostly stupid. At least with mine, who finds the crummiest places possible to dwell after said bathing. https://thejackieblog.com/2012/06/27/therapeutic-cat-washing
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hmmmm…maybe this will make tuesday not the worst day of the week…
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Is Tuesday the worst day of the week? Actually, it kind of is. You’re still in the first half but not fresh, and you can’t use the tired Monday excuse… Here’s to more Lollipop Tuesdays 😉
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I completely agree 🙂
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Enjoyed your freshly pressed post on dance! Here’s an idea, become pen pals with a soldier or marine overseas and send them care packages. Beneficial to them, which will make their day, and you make a new friend, all while being helpful and showing love. (:
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This is a great idea – thank you!
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Genius and creative idea!
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Gawrsh, thanks 🙂
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Lollipop Tuesdays? What about Cotton-Candy Thursdays?
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Throw the elevator pitch at me and let’s try it. 😉
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awesome idea and fricking awesome blog 🙂
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Thanks!
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you’re so cute and i feel like we could be friends.
that is all!
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We could be friends because my cat’s name is Lola. Or maybe not because I only have room for one Lola. I’m not sure.
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I vote for yes. Two Lola’s is never too much.
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Deal.
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WOW! Love the idea of a different challenge and pushing your boundaries – so therefore I chanellenge you to go hand-gliding! Such a great name too…Poor Tuesday!
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that would be absolutely terrifying. I should definitely do it. I wonder how much a thing like that would cost me… there is research to be done.
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You’re adorable! Plus I have a dog named Lola. But seriously, Lollypop Tuesday…LOVE, LOVE, LOVE! Can I put it up as a “sticky” on my blog. Okay, okay…bad. But everyone gets one miss after 11 pm at night. Don’t they? Can’t wait to follow you.
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haha thanks for the love and thanks so much for following – I really appreciate you dropping in.
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Hi! I’ve stumbled across your blog and LOVE this idea! I love bucket lists and pushing boundaries to prove we can do what we once thought was impossible. Kudos, and I’ll follow you for future adventures!
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Well, thanks! I’ve certainly grown a lot in the process even though every time I do one I get a lot of anxiety. 🙂 Thanks for tuning in! I like your blog name, and I also have to say that you should absolutely go get a professional massage again. Only get it at a high-end place, though. Pay at least 60 bucks for an hour. And get a chick. Never a dude.
Seriously.
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