10+ ways to celebrate with the curious year

My goal in making The Curious Year calendar is to help you find a little fun in every day with easy ideas to celebrate & make memories throughout the year. In an effort to help you make the most out of The Curious Year, I’ve created a list of 10 ways you can use this calendar to add some fun, connection & memory-making into your days 🥳

1 – Use it to delight someone: Is there anything better than making someone's day? Whether it’s a neighbor, a coworker, or a stranger in line at the grocery store— use the holidays in this calendar as inspiration for a little treat, gift or surprise for someone in your life 🎉

Examples: On “National Coffee Day” drop by your BFF’s office with her favorite hot beverage, or on “Plant a Flower Day” plant some surprise flowers in your Mom’s abandoned flower bed that will pop up in the Spring and surprise her! On “Make a Card Day” write a little note for your elderly neighbor that you’re thinking of them to add a little joy to their day. 

2 – Use it as a bucket/bingo list: Instead of getting overwhelmed by trying to celebrate every single day, think of the calendar like a Bingo card and just pick a couple holidays that you’d really like to celebrate! Maybe add little stickers or a check mark to the ones you end up celebrating so you can look back at the end of the year at all the fun things you celebrated! Don’t worry about celebrating the exact day on the day, no one’s going to know 😉

3 – Use it for meal inspo: In a food/lunch/dinner rut? Not really much of a meal planner or prepper? Maybe you're sick of eating the same things over and over...or maybe you just want an excuse to eat something fun that you normally wouldn't! If you’re in a meal rut or wanna mix in a fun new meal, use the calendar to incorporate a fun meal of the week or as inspiration while your meal planning 🍕

Examples: For Nachos Day have Nachos for Dinner, try out a new Chili recipe for Chili Day, OR have a waffle bar with allll the fixin’s for Waffle Day because when else can you eat waffles for dinner? 

4 – Use it as a conversation starter: Not all of us can talk to a brick wall. Use the holidays as conversation starters with your kids, significant other, roommate, coworker, etc. at dinner, in the car, before bedtime, etc. 💬

Example: For “Authors Day” ask Who’s your favorite author? Why? What would you ask them if you could? On “Eat an Extra Dessert Day” talk about what dessert you’d pick (and maybe actually go ahead and eat an extra dessert too) 

5 – Use it for family connection: Missing each other during the week? Is life a little crazy busy? Commit to celebrating one fun day per week together as a family! Or let each child/family member choose 1-2 holidays to celebrate that month and work in a little extra fun & memory making into your family’s rhythm 🥳

6 – Use it for activity ideas with kids: If you have or care for young kids, this can be a helpful tool for figuring out activities for the week – especially if it’s during a season where you’re stuck inside more! Let the calendar inspire your snack time, a craft, or baking adventure with the little ones in your life ⭐️

7 – Give it as a gift to a teacher in your life: Show your appreciation for all that they do and give them a gift that will be super fun to hang in their classroom so they (and their students!) have something to look forward to every single school day 🎁

8 – Use it at work: Hang it in your office or gift it to a coworker to create fun moments in your workplace! Maybe choose 1 holiday per month and surprise your coworkers or employees with donuts for “Donut Day” or go out to lunch with your work bestie for “International Taco Day” or write a nice card for the boss in your life on Boss’s Day 📝

9 – Use it to keep in touch with people: If a holiday reminds you of someone, reach out to them and tell them why it made you think of them! That can help foster long distance connections with family and friends that you don't see often or who don't live close by. If you wanted to take it further, you could commit to celebrating one holiday per month together from afar. It would take extra effort, but you could even take turns exchanging themed care packages — because who doesn't just love receiving fun mail!? 💌

10 – Use it as inspiration for books to read: Peruse the holidays and see what inspiration strikes for a subject, genre or old favorite to read! You could even use it as inspo for a book club reading list 🤓 📚

11 – Use it to incorporate fun treats into your week: Maybe commit to making/baking/creating one fun treat per week, or trying out a seasonal beverage from your local coffee shop, or even just picking up something fun from your fave dessert spot. A fun treat is a wondrous midweek pick-me-up when you need it 😎 🍪

I hope these ideas help you add a little fun into your year ahead!

How do you like to celebrate the holidays in The Curious Year calendar? I’d love to know! 👇🏼