Showing posts with label ideas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ideas. Show all posts

Thursday, 8 August 2013

30 Things to Do When You're Bored at Walmart

We’ve all seen people doing some pretty nutty things on our Walmart excursions, but why should they have all the fun?  At Walmart it’s almost the norm to act crazy, and every weird thing you do is socially acceptable. So go ahead and try out some of my ideas the next time you go shopping, and if you think of any other activities that you believe should be on my list please let me know in the comment box below. Enjoy!


1. Walk into the produce section dressed in a banana suit, and start dancing around excitedly; throw bananas at anyone who looks at you like you’re crazy.

2. Organize the $5 DVD bin – alphabetically, in neat, even piles. After half an hour of painstaking sorting and stacking, allow your eye to twitch slightly as you watch a 300lb ‘movie buff on a budget’ tear up your beautiful masterpiece in a matter of seconds.

3. In the toy section, excessively push every button that says ‘try me’. Imitate the sounds.

4. Head over to the pet department, and take a good long look at the fish swimming around in the aquariums. If you spot a dead one, start sniffling and gently cry out, “Oh Nemo, why did you have to go so young? Your dad was coming for you Nemo, he was so close – so close!” Sob quietly.

5. Now, find an employee and casually ask if Nemo is half-price since he’s dead.

6. Take the liberty of testing out the toothbrushes, combs, and deodorants in the cosmetics department. Don’t buy anything.

7. Go into a changing room, shut the door, and after a few minutes yell urgently, “There`s no toilet paper in here!”

8. Check out the craft section, and complain bitterly about the rising price of yarn to any elderly woman who will listen. “Nine bucks for a pound of yarn? Everyday low prices my big crocheting tushie.”

9. Play I-spy: “I spy with my little eye, someone whose shorts are two sizes too tight.” That’s a solid 15 minutes of guessing there.

10. Ask an employee how much their walls cost, and don’t take “I’m sorry but our walls aren’t for sale” for an answer. Be persistent, and also don’t take “Sir, I’m going to have to ask you to leave the store now” for an answer either - they don’t really mean it.

11. Randomly direct people to the mouthwash and breath mint aisles.

12. Walk around the store with an elephant puppet, and when you come across a Nutella display exclaim loudly, “Mr. Elephant doesn’t like hazelnut, Mr. Elephant wants peanut butter. Peeeaaaanuuuuuuut Buuuuutttttttterrrrrrrrrr!” Proceed to throw a temper tantrum.

13. If a few people are walking side-by-side in front of you, run between them shouting “Red rover, red rover, I call [your name] over!”

14. When a message comes over the loudspeakers, scream “Make the voices stop!” and lay down in the fetal position.

15. Dress up as Chicken Little, and skip around the store singing “The prices are falling! The prices are falling!”

16. Walk up to customer service, remove your pants, and tell the employee you’d like to exchange them for a smaller pair. If they refuse, act offended and cry out, “It’s because I’m fat, isn’t it?” Then angrily storm off, never stopping to put your pants back on.

17. Loudly complain every time you see an empty McDonald’s cup littered on a shelf, and rant for a few minutes about how lazy and disgusting people are.

18. Locate the pet food aisle and sample the hamster treats. Fully absorb the taste and react accordingly.

19. Go up to a random person and start talking to them as if you used to know them really well. See if they play along to avoid embarrassment.

20. Dressed in your finest lederhosen, head over to the deli and use your best German accent to ask an employee where they keep the wiener schnitzel and sauerbraten. If they tell you that the store doesn’t carry those products, keep the stereotype going and pull out your handy-dandy accordion (that all German people carry with them wherever they go) and play the polka in protest.

21. After making some careful and well thought out selections in the arts and crafts aisle, create your own line of greeting cards.

22. Verbally abuse the patio furniture.

23. Make yourself a salad! Grab a bowl from the kitchen department and fill it up with lettuce and your favourite veggies. When you’re finished, take it up to the cashier and see how much they’ll charge you for it – don’t forget to tell them you added extra cheese!

24. Stand at the entrance and warmly greet everyone who comes into the store. Tell them they can call you captain.

25. Strategically hide garden gnomes around the store, just for the heck of it – it could really freak some people out. ;)

26. With a straight face, walk up to a stranger and ask (don’t sing) very seriously, “Can you tell me how to get, how to get to Sesame Street?”

27. Serenade your fellow shoppers with some beautiful clarinet music – Squidward-style!

28. Play a good old-fashioned game of hide-and-seek. Not challenging enough for you? Invite your imaginary friends to join in on the fun!

29. Try to use chocolate Easter bunnies as currency.

30. While browsing the meat department, notice the ham and cry out sadly, “Piglet, is that you?” Pick it up, and as you begin to gently cradle it in your arms whisper, “I’m so sorry buddy. For all these years people have been making fun of you for being scared, but it turns out you had a good reason to be afraid.” Curse Christopher Robin for allowing this tragedy to happen.



Saturday, 20 July 2013

20 Beautifully Simple Life Hacks

Life is hard. And first world problems are hard. But fortunately they don’t have to be, thanks to the internet. After my sister showed me a neat trick on how to stop the hiccups, I started to wonder what other simple solutions were out there for my most pressing first world problems. So I sat down and spent a couple hours surfing the web, and have scoped out la crème de la crème of life hacks. Most of the items on my list are not my original ideas, just an assortment of the gems I found floating around in cyberspace.

Get ready for your life to become a whole lot easier!


1. When you accidentally grab something that is too hot, immediately touch your earlobes. You will feel the heat transfer from your finger tips to your earlobes, and it will keep you from getting burnt.
Why does this work? Earlobes are mostly adipose tissue, aka fat. And since fat has a low density, it allows for it to absorb heat faster.

2. Put newspaper at the bottom of your kitchen garbage bin to absorb food juices. It not only prevents your garbage from leaking, but also keeps it smelling fresher.

3. Ouch, just gave yourself a paper cut?  No problem! Heal the cut immediately and stop the pain by rubbing Chapstick on it.

4. Just finished a delicious plate of garlic alfredo at your favourite Italian restaurant, and now your breath isn’t smelling too fresh? The parsley on your plate isn’t just a pretty little decoration, it neutralizes garlic breath.

5. Not sure if your batteries are still good? Drop them onto a table from a height of about 6 inches. If they bounce once and then fall over they still have juice, but if they bounce more than once they’re empty.

6. Sometimes price stickers are annoyingly difficult to remove. But if you heat them with a hair dryer for a minute or two they’ll peel right off.

7. Crack an egg onto a plate. Squeeze an empty water bottle, and then hold it to the egg yolk. Slowly release the pressure on the bottle. This is the simplest way to separate yolks from eggs.

8. If you have a bad case of the hiccups, follow these simple instructions: 1. Inhale as far as you can. 2. Swallow twice. 3. Exhale slowly. Your hiccups are now non-existent.

9. Place a wooden spoon over a pot of boiling water to keep it from bubbling over.

10. Tired of your charging cords bending a breaking? Put a spring from an old pen around the base of the cord.

11. Add a teaspoon of baking soda to the pot when boiling eggs. The shells will peel off effortlessly.

12. When heating up leftovers, leave an empty space in the middle of your plate. This will cause the food to heat up more evenly.

13. Scared of hitting your thumb while hammering a nail? Rather than holding the nail with your fingers, use a clothespin. Problem solved!

14. Paint clear nail polish onto the inside of your rings to keep them from turning your fingers green.

15. Use dryer sheets to remove deodorant stains from your clothing! Rub the dryer sheet in a circular motion over the stain, and it will absorb the deodorant. Just make sure there isn’t any lint on the dryer sheet, or it’ll leave grey marks.

16. Use ice cubes to remove gum from your hair. It will cause the gum to harden, making it easier to remove.

17. Press your tongue to the roof of your mouth to instantly cure brain freeze. This also works in making the urge to sneeze go away.

18. If you have persistent acne, sleep with a freshly washed towel over your pillowcase. It will cure or drastically reduce your acne.

19. Car headlights getting a little hazy? Use toothpaste to clean them, they’ll look brand new!

20. Don’t you hate it when you get out of the bath or shower and your mirror is all fogged up? Instead of wiping it off with a towel and leaving smudges and streaks, use your hair dryer and give it a quick blast. Your mirror will be clear in seconds.


So those were the top 20 life hacks that I came up with – hopefully they will make your life just a little easier. If you have any ideas of your own, or I missed something that you believe should be on the list, please tell me in the comment box below. Let’s work together to find a cure for all of our first world problems!

Thursday, 18 July 2013

50 Things to Blog about When Suffering from Severe Writer’s Block

Oh writer’s block, the arch nemesis of bloggers everywhere. Excitedly we turn on our computers, open our word documents, and then BAM! Nothing. Our minds go blank. We write and rewrite sentence upon sentence, building up an intense frustration as our fingers make close friendships with the backspace key. Each writing attempt becomes more pathetic than the last, and we eventually turn off our computers in disappointment and defeat.

But we can fight this! Below I have put together a list of 50 writing prompts – ammunition with which we can protect ourselves from the dark side. Feel free to use these ideas as your own, and if you think of any others please help your fellow bloggers out by leaving them in the comment box.

Together - as one unit - we form a shield. A shield strong enough, powerful enough, and with enough writing talent (that’s right, this shield can write), to survive any obstacle. We will join together and work as one to not only defend against, but also ABOLISH, the evil force that is writer’s block.

So let's get started!


1. 10 reasons why my pet is better than yours

2. 5 people I would like to be friends with

3. You know you’re a band nerd if…

4. 17 things to do when you’re feeling blue

5. Eggs: Are they all they’re cracked up to be?

6. 10 things I hate about the human race

7. My favourite stuffed toy is…

8. 6 Reasons why rabbits make amazing pets

9. My top 5 favourite places in my city are…

10. Everyone is beautiful: A discussion on the pressure to be “perfect”

11. 4 stories we know and love – before the Disney alterations

12. 9 things to do when you’re dying after an intense workout

13. 10 things I wish I could’ve told myself 5 years ago

14. 15 jokes for nerds

15. 4 guilty pleasures I couldn’t live without

16. My top 3 most embarrassing moments

17. 15 things to do when suffering from writer’s block

18. Someone who inspires me is…

19. The 10 commandments of weight loss

20. 6 things not to do when visiting your grandma

21. How to write a blog article

22. 8 reasons why you shouldn’t piss me off

23. Everything you could ever want to know about elephants

24. 13 of the all-time most entertaining German words

25. 5 reasons why the morning is the best time of the day

26. You know you’re Canadian if…

27. 10 places I want to see before I die

28. 12 things I learned over the last year

29. 5 books on my shelf that I will never get rid off

30. How to survive an encounter with me

31. An inspirational quote that has really impacted me is…

32. 20 names perfectly suited for a guinea pig

33. I am obsessed with: Josh Groban!

34. 10 ways I motivate myself when I’m feeling down

35. Oldies vs. Rap: A biased review

36. Duct tape: the ultimate necessity

37. 12 things that annoy me more than they probably should

38. 8 things I would do today if I knew I would die tomorrow

39. Let’s talk about: Charles Dickens!

40. 10 things my pet would probably say to me if he could talk

41. An open letter to someone I wish I could talk to

42. A mental illness that I would like to know more about is…

43. 18 embarrassingly pathetic first world problems

44. How to cure the hiccups, and 9 other helpful life solutions

45. Does an apple a day really keep the doctor away?

46. Yolo!...Why does this phrase make me want to hurt small animals?

47. 12 things to do at Wal-Mart

48. Something going on in the world that I feel strongly about is…

49. 10 reasons why I’m looking forward to Christmas

50. 10 ways to pass the time using only a roll of toilet paper, a dishcloth….and kitty stickers

Thursday, 4 July 2013

25 Things to Do When You're Bored

So, in a bout of frustration you have stumbled across this article, questing for something to put an end to your boredom. And fortunately for you, you have come to the right place. Peruse this treasure-trove of ideas, and pick an activity that sounds appealing. You’ll be having fun in no time!

Disclaimer: I, in no way, accept any responsibility for any arrests, injuries, or deaths resulting from the following suggestions. But on the bright side, going to jail/the hospital/the afterlife will at least get you out of the house!


1. Watch the Jerry Springer show, screaming obscenities at the tv like the redneck you are.

2. Give your guinea pig a haircut. If you don’t have a guinea pig, sit down, cry out of loneliness, then get your ass up and find yourself a guinea pig. Proceed to cut the hair of said guinea pig.

3. Teach yourself the Cyrillic alphabet, and then write a poem expressing your love of language in perfect Ukrainian.

4. Listen to every One Direction song ever made - without contemplating killing yourself. If a suicidal thought enters your mind, start over.

5. Become a hard-core Canucks fan. Make posters and dye your hair blue and green.  Follow every tweet, interview, and article. And watch every single game until they win the Stanley Cup Playoffs. *Life-time commitment required.

6. Go to the best ice-cream place in town, and try every single flavour.

7. Develop an extensive workout routine to drop the pounds you gained while stuffing your face with ice-cream.

8. Go to Wal-Mart, and ask an employee if their walls are for sale. If they say no, accuse them of false advertising, question their integrity, and storm out in a huff.

9. Skydive – make a search on Google Earth, and zoom in really fast. Eh, that’s close enough.

10. Master the art of sword-swallowing.

11. Acquire a sheep. Shave that sheep. Spin that sheep’s wool into yarn. Knit a kickass afghan, then feel bad and give it to your naked, shivering sheep. You jerk.

12. Set a timer, and don’t think about turtles for 5 minutes. If you think about them, start over. (This one is probably impossible).

13. Use peanuts and birdseed to lure all the squirrels in the neighbourhood into your backyard. Become the Squirrel Master, leading your new followers to world domination.

14. Narrate everything going on around you - in a Scottish accent.

15. Go through the McDonalds drive thru. Order 8 Big Macs, 10 large fries, 60 chicken nuggets, a few milkshakes, and a Diet Coke (because you still haven’t lost all your ice-cream weight). “Forget” your wallet.

16. Have a conversation without using the letter ‘S’. Time how long you can go.

17. Move everything in your house 2 inches to the left, just for shits and giggles. Realize you have a crippling fear of change, and proceed to burn the house down.

18. Turn everything you say into a hypothetical question. “What if I could turn everything I say into a hypothetical question?” “What if this becomes incredibly annoying?”

19. Create clothing from your curtains, Cinderella-style. What, you don’t have little bird and mice friends who can sing and sew? Better get training.

20. Watch a 6 hour marathon of Here Comes Honey Boo Boo. Question what you’re doing with your life.

21. Examine your belly button for lint, and find something that looks like it could be food. Make a decision.

22. Disprove the theory of gravity by jumping off the roof (of your neighbour’s house, because you burned yours down). Physics is for suckers.

23. Watch an animals' rights video on YouTube. Never eat meat again.

24. Think of every poor decision you have ever made - every stupid thing you have ever done – all at once. Cry.

25. Drink an entire pot of coffee, with half a cup of sugar. While bouncing off the walls (that disappointingly, Wal-Mart didn't sell you), see what ideas you can come up with on your own.



So there you have it – 25 things to do when you’re bored. If you liked this article, please share it on Twitter, Facebook, etc. Heck, you obviously have nothing better to do, and think of all the other bored people who will benefit!

Thursday, 20 June 2013

Down a Pint, Now What?

On the wholesome topic of blood and blood donation, I realized that I had failed to mention a crucial part of the process – what do you do after you give? The Red Cross and Canadian Blood Services have outlined a few precautions to take post-donation, as you may be feeling a little light-headed and out of sorts. For example, you should be sure to stay well-hydrated, and drink an extra 4 glasses of non-alcoholic beverages. It is important to keep your bandages on for at least 5 hours, and to not do any exercise or heavy lifting for the rest of the day. And of course, if you notice any complications or feel ill for more than 24 hours you should contact your doctor and the blood centre.
And while these are all crucial and important steps to take, the recovery time – in my opinion – can be a little dull; a combination of a light head and a ban on physical activity leaves you with surprisingly little to do. This, of course, isn’t the end of the world – a few lazy hours on the couch never hurt anyone. But along my journey in blood donation, my sister and I (she's my blood-donating buddy) have found a few activities that have proven to be a tad more enjoyable. So here are our best ideas, the top 3 things to do after saving 3 lives.

3. Hit the nearest seafood bar! Every time you donate blood the iron levels in your body decrease, which could lead to anemia or even organ failure. So to prevent this it is important for donors to either take an iron supplement pill, or more enjoyably, eat plenty of foods rich in iron. And what better way to do that than to fill up on oysters, mollusks and shrimp? With a whopping 295% of your daily value of iron in 20 clams (190g), this is the easiest way to attain your iron needs. If you aren’t a seafood fan, liver, spinach, lamb, peanuts, and even dark chocolate are also good choices.

2. Take an afternoon drive – Shotgun! When we drive, we often become so focused on the road that a lot of the beautiful scenery goes unnoticed. So is there anything better than spending the remainder of your day cruising around town, in the passengers’ seat? Operating heavy machinery (aka your car) is a big no-no in the hours after you donate, so you finally have an excuse to relax and just take in the sights. Grab a friend, hit the road, and be sure to make a stop for a Pepsi or smoothie along the way – remember, you gotta stay hydrated!

1. Go grocery shopping! Perhaps this is not the most exciting activity – on an average day. But on blood donating day, anything out on the town is an adventure. You know those little stickers they give you after donating, the ones that say Be nice to me I donated blood today? You wear your sticker proudly, flaunt that blood donation sticker! Enjoy the attention, and also use the opportunity to tell people about your awesome experience donating. You might even inspire someone to go out and get their own snazzy donor sticker.