Fun things grown-ass women should always enjoy in life.

Everywhere I turn, someone’s written a new article on things you should stop doing by the time you turn 25, 30, or 40—and still others that basically say “if you haven’t done these things/worn these things/experienced these things by 25, 30, or 40… well, you’re a loser.”

I don’t read these articles for three reasons: One, they’re depressing; two, my family would be out of a job; and three, after you stop doing the things they tell you to stop doing, then what? Watch wrinkles form? I’m not about to carry around some random checklist to make sure I’m doing my 30s right.

It’s because of these so-called “rules” that so many of us have forgotten the little things that make being a woman great—the things we were shitting-our-pants-excited about as girls, but then when we finally became women, we let our responsibilities ruin everything like a red sock in a load of whites.

Here are 9 fun things that should totally make a comeback on your calendar:

1. Do jump in puddles

Contrary to popular belief, jumping in puddles never stopped being fun. We did that all on our own. Besides, I’ve got two words for you: Designer rubber boots… wait, that’s three.

2. Do have sleepovers

Didn’t Jenna Rink teach us anything?

3. Do doodle his name on your homework

You might not necessarily have any scented glitter gel pens on hand, but the fact is this is one of the key reasons guys exist.

4. Do eat what you want

Back in the day, you didn’t know what a calorie was—your only mission in life was to annihilate the entire box of Dunkaroos like a mini-girl boss.

5. Do play dress-up

We’re way better at picking out our clothes and putting on our makeup, yet many of us have lost our appreciation for it. It’s supposed to be fun, not a necessity. Go for that bold red lip or lime green shoes. You know you want to.

6. Do get excited

Remember how crazy-exciting it was to have a new outfit to wear to school or go on a road trip, so much so that sleep the night before just wasn’t in the cards? Now, we buy new outfits and it’s weeks before we take the tags off and the only road trips we go on are to the grocery store. Get your spark back by making sure something awesome is going to happen tomorrow. Like, right now.

7. Do get dirty

Okay, so the context of getting dirty changes when you’re a grown-up, but still. Grrr, baby.

8. Do say what’s on your mind

You turning down a guy at age 10: “Ew, gross!” You turning down a guy at age 30: “Um, well, you see, I’m just so busy… and a lesbian.” In some areas, we don’t get smarter with age.

9. Do put yourself first

I’m not saying become a selfie stick-wielding narcissist, but start prioritizing yourself as much as you do the people you care about. Become the “you” your 10-year-old self always wanted you to be.

What fun things would you add to this list?

Related on EcoSalon

5 Fun Books to Read This Summer

13 Fun Things to Do on Stay At Home Because You’re Well Day

100 Fun Things to Do This Summer If You Love Food

Girl having fun image via Shutterstock

The post 9 Fun Things You Shouldn’t Stop Doing Just Because You’re a Grown-up appeared first on EcoSalon.

Today is Stay At Home Because You’re Well Day, which means you’re going to need fun things to do. You’re welcome.

As far as I’m concerned, Stay At Home Because You’re Well Day should become as sacred a day as Thanksgiving. Too many of us only take time off when we’re sick, or because someone else is sick, or because we’re faking sick. Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to say, “I feel so fabulous that I’m not coming in to work today,” and you know, not get fired?

Since it falls on a Sunday this year, you basically have no excuses holding you back from finding fun things to do and making your dream day off a reality. Do things today because you want to, not because you have to.

Need some inspiration? Here are 13 fun things to do on your well day:

1. Start your day off right

You know those 2,412 corners you cut in the morning just to get out the door on time? Take the morning and spend it exactly how you’ve always wanted to.

2. Read a book

None of this read-a-sentence-then-get-up-and-do-something-more-responsible nonsense. I’m talking sit and read chapters at a time here, people.

3. Do as your cat does

The fact is, cats know what life’s all about. He’ll definitely be able to teach you a thing or seven about how fabulous me time really is.

4. Finish something that’s been bothering you

Whether your closet’s in disarray or you haven’t done a digital detox in a while, organize something in your home or finish a project that’s been hanging over your head – you’ll feel amazing afterward.

5. Catch up on your favorite television shows

That is, if Twitter hasn’t already ruined the suspense for you.

6. Play video games

I mean, shouldn’t you find out once and for all what all the fuss is about?

7. Find a Pinterest project

You know those Martha Stewart-esque Pinterest projects we all want to try but never get around to? Now’s your chance! And who knows? It might turn out exactly like the picture! (And a unicorn might gallop through your living room!)

8. Have a nap

Seriously, take one for the team.

9. Update your playlist

When was the last time you downloaded new tunes to jam out to? (In my case, I’m pretty sure CDs were still popular.)

10. Try a new workout

If your exercise routine’s feeling a little stale, look into new workouts at your local gym (or on your local YouTube) and go to town.

11. Road trip it up

If you’re dying to hit up a store or two, go on a road trip to the next town over for a change of scenery – and since you won’t be rushing around, you’ll actually get to notice it.

12. Reconnect

Check in with yourself and how your life’s going. It’s the perfect opportunity to tap into those emotions we tend to ignore for the sake of our to-do lists… or rather, our to-do scrolls.

13. Do nothing

That’s the beauty of today: It’s one of the few opportunities you get all year to not only do nothing, but not feel guilty about it afterward. Indulge. Enjoy. Or not. Whatev. (That was my lame attempt at being casual.)

What fun things to do are you planning to indulge in?

Related on EcoSalon

20 Things to Do Instead of Being on Facebook

Broke? 20 Fun Things to Do Without Spending a Dime

20 (More) Fun Things to Do Without Spending a Dime

Image: Viviana Calderon

The post 13 Fun Things to Do on Stay At Home Because You’re Well Day appeared first on EcoSalon.

ColumnLooking for fun things to do this summer that involve food? Look no further.

This week marks the summer solstice, which means your summer planning should be in full swing. Don’t know what to do with your summer months? That’s what Foodie Underground is here for. Every year we come up with a list of fun things to do with your summer vacation, all food related. Let the summer season commence!

1. Of all the things to do this summer, you should probably be making a kombucha cocktail at some point.

2. Write a short story about a vegetable.

3. Use olive oil instead of butter in a recipe.

4.Write a cookbook. Or at least a chapter of one.

5. Pick out your favorite summer food and paint a picture of it.

6. Make a rhubarb shrub. Your friends will love you.

7. Grind your own flour and make a loaf of bread.

8. Throw a dinner party in a field.

9. Make a set of greeting cards with your favorite food quotes.

10. Screw a mason jar onto your blender and make a smoothie. Yup, this actually works.

11. Get a burr grinder. Seriously, you’re still using a blade??

12. Make your own sriracha.

13. Find some friends and go clam digging.

14. Forage berries and make your own ice cream.

15. Sew your own reusable produce bags.

16. Make ice cubes with fruit in them.

17. Since last summer you mastered homemade marshmallows, this summer start infusing them with different ingredients. Lavender and honey anyone?

18. Get a beehive.

19. Take a camp stove to the park and make breakfast outside.

20. Make a set of chalkboard mugs for a friend.

21. Plan an outdoor food documentary festival.

22. Volunteer with a local food organization.

23. Make labneh.

24. Think of a country whose cuisine you know nothing about. Host a dinner party with food only from that place.

25. Stop buying nut butters and make your own.

26. Build a new kitchen storage system using old crates.

27. Two words: frozen watermelon.

28. Build a picnic table with built-in beer/wine cooler.

29. Herbal waters.

30. Host a disco soup party.

31. Open a lemonade stand for a weekend.

32. Make a dip using cashews. They’re surprisingly creamy.

33. Skip the Mexican restaurant and brew up a batch of your own horchata.

34. Pickle cherries.

35. Cook with lavender.

36. Make your own bitters.

37. Build a wine crate carrier on the back of your bike so you can put your vegetables in it when you shop at farmers market.

38. Ask your grandmother for her five favorite recipes. Write them down.

39. Bake a chocolate chip cookie serving bowl.

40. Have a rosé and socca night and dream about being in the south of France.

41. Dry herbs.

42. Use dried herbs in your own tea blend.

43. Put your homemade tea blend into homemade tea bags.

44. Cure and store garlic.

45. Oh, hello cold brew cocktails.

46. Grill fruit.

47. Grill greens.

48. Grill avocado.

49. Preserve lemons.

50. See if there are five things in your kitchen that you can live without. Minimize.

51. Print with fruits and vegetables.

52. Use a soda can to make a cookie cutter.

53. Put fruit in your second kombucha fermentation.

54. Stop buying vanilla extract and make your own.

55. Make seed bombs and throw them somewhere that needs some brightening up.

56. Do your own flavored salts.

57. See if you can make a baguette.

58. Drink local.

59. Find a farm you can go and work on.

60. Start an herb garden.

61. If you have a backyard, dig a fire pit.

62. Roast corn in your new fire pit.

63. Make ice cubes out of coffee to use in your cold brew.

64. Forage seaweed.

65. Design a chicken coop.

66. Start using hemp seeds in recipes.

67. Makes popped amaranth instead of popcorn.

68. Read a book on food policy.

69. Pretend like you’re a kid with a lunchbox again and make fruit leather.

70. Paint a set of plates.

71. Get to know your edible flowers.

72. Make tahini.

73. Visit a local cheesemaker.

74. Save your glass jars and use them to serve dessert.

75. Write fortunes for fortune cookies.

76. Make a meal using zero processed ingredients.

77. Infuse something with pine needles.

78. Churn your own butter.

79. Bake your own tortilla chips.

80. Micheladas.

81. Shandys.

82. Shock yourself by making one-ingredient ice cream.

83. Grow herbs in mini planters on your bicycle.

84. Instead of goji berries, buy blueberries.

85. Experiment with kefir.

86. Make a picnic kit (utensils, plate, durable glass) that’s ready to go at the drop of a hat.

87. Go to an estate sale, buy old tea towels, and sew them into napkins.

88. Build your own grill.

89. Forget kale chips and move on to CHARD CHIPS.

90. Soak peaches in bourbon.

91. Go to a U-pick.

92. Do a wine tasting 101 class.

93. Buy spices so you can make your own za’atar.

94. Build a worm composting system.

95. Make your own peanut butter cups.

96. Use avocado to make chocolate mousse.

97. Make zucchini noodles.

98. Brew sun tea.

99. Get your a sourdough starter going.

100. Think of 100 more things to do because you went through this list in less than a month.

Related on EcoSalon

Foodie Underground: 101 Summer Bucket List Items for Foodies

Foodie Underground: 100 Things to Do With Your Summer Vacation

20 (More) Fun Things to Do Without Spending a Dime

This is the latest installment of Anna Brones’ weekly column at EcoSalon: Foodie Underground, an exploration of what’s new and different in the underground movement, and how we make the topic of good food more accessible to everyone. More musings on the topic can be found at www.foodieunderground.com.

Image: Anna Brones

The post 100 Fun Things to Do this Summer if You Love Food: Foodie Underground appeared first on EcoSalon.