First things first, what is living with novelty?:

Novelty brings newness and excitement to your everyday life in big or small ways. It is the same feeling you got when you were a kid, knowing you were going on a field trip or it was your birthday tomorrow. It is asking yourself, how can I make every day feel like the weekend and not save that fun for Friday night through Sunday? How can I bring the feelings of our annual family trip that we love so much here at home? We can all agree that certain places, things, and people make us feel alive, but the sad part is we only save those for our days off or push them off until we can take PTO, or we forget it altogether because we feel too tired to make the extra effort. Living with novelty takes us off of the conveyor belt of life. While this isn't a new idea by any means, this idea smacked me right in the face one day when I was driving home from work after picking up our daughter at daycare. I took a side road home that day, which allowed me to see the traffic on the freeway. I thought, 'Look at us all driving home from work; some people either love or hate what they do, but we all work to live and pay the bills. Some are picking up their kids, and some are rushing home to chores around the house, last-minute phone calls to wrap things up and make a dinner that has been in their rotation every week; if they have kids, it is bedtime routine after that and then the night is gone and then its time to prepare for the next day and plop in front of the TV with themselves or their significant other before it all starts over again.'

At that moment, life felt sad for us all. Of course, that was my perspective and assumption of everyone on that freeway, but for the sake of living with novelty, let's say that is how most people lived. When I became a stay-at-home mom, the same revelation met my mind. It was day after day of getting the kids ready, feeding, diaper changing, household chores, tummy time, bedtime rituals, and then sitting my butt on the couch after an exhausting day. Now, I thrive on routine, and I am not naive enough to think we can drop all our responsibilities with our work, family, and keeping our house in order, but I am prompting there has to be a better way. Living with novelty can be added to your everyday life regardless of whether you have work that day or have little gremlins running around your house. Whoops, I mean kids. These things can be as small as a razor's edge of a difference in your day, like using a fancy tea cup for your morning coffee instead of your usual mug, or big things like having a BBQ with your significant other and kids and lighting off a few fireworks outside after work on a Tuesday night in August. How much fun does that sound?

One day, my husband Aaron and I went kayaking before work. The sun was rising, birds were singing their morning music, and water was splashing against the kayaks, and in that second, it gave my entire body a rush of bliss. When I got to work that day, I felt like I had this layer of protection and fuel that made every single task I was doing done with ease. I didn’t feel heaviness and drama pairing up and butting their heads into my work. The nitty-gritty that once hovered my day became a blimp on my radar. Responsibilities that I had still got done efficiently, but it was almost like I was doing all this stuff for a friend as a favor in a lighthearted way.

Life with novelty is still possible for people who stick to routines; by all means, plan your moments of novelty in your calendar. You can do these things before or after work or mid-day. You can add ways of novelty at work or if you are a stay-at-home parent. Some seasons will require you to find novelty in different ways than you are used to as your life evolves. The only thing that truly stands between you and feeling alive each day is the effort it takes. It may take extra planning to work around your busy schedule if you work long hours, have kids, or have to wake up earlier or stay up later, but I swear the cost of doing those things is worth it. It does take effort to pull out your fancy china for dinner, to want to have a bonfire with your significant other after you put the kids to bed, or if you just had a long day, in general. It is easier to sink your body into the couch and be a zombie.

However, I have noticed everything else in life feels like quicksand and is met with more resistance, exhaustion, and effort when we live a life that feels as dead as the succulent in our windows that we keep watering. It is harder to live that way by putting in that kind of effort than it is to put in an extra couple of steps to make every day feel special. When our days feel fulfilling and lively, so will we, and what is even more beautiful is that we will start to evolve in our spirit, creating a ripple effect and flow in our everyday engagements, endeavors, and responsibilities.

Adding ways to make life feel unique can be done in multiple ways. Below are a few ideas, or you can try the journaling questions to get inspired and make up your own ideas:

• Wake up early; if it is warm enough, have your morning coffee or tea outside, enjoy the sunrise, and soak in the peace before your day starts.

• Do an online workshops. Magnolia's App is fabulous. You can learn about design, gardening, food, and bringing more beauty into your life. Meanwhile, you discover and build confidence in what you can do with the knowledge you learn.

• Sneak up on your loved ones and surprise them with a water balloon or snowball fight.

• Grab a few new ingredients at the grocery store and create a lunch you are dying to try to make something to look forward to at work. Another option is to gather some coworkers and have a fun taste test at the new joint down the road.

• Grab some flowers or a plant for your office desk. Switch up the pictures on your desk and add little things that make you feel more cozy and content in your workspace.

• If you are working on something, I call it simple busy work, such as inputting data, try listening to comedy on Pandora. Laughing while typing away is always a great idea.

• Bring new energy into the day. You can do this anywhere at any time. Think of a place where you feel great energy. For example, this could be a memory of a trip where you felt at peace, free, awe, enthusiasm, or wonder. Feel that feeling for a moment and carry that energy with you all day despite the circumstances. It will change your entire day, interactions, and outlook.

• Choose a new candle or essential oils to diffuse in your home. Something is to be said about having a fresh new scent around you. Do you know what I am talking about when you go to a hotel and they have the best scents in the air? It puts a pep in your step and takes you into a different environment, state of mind, and excitement about the new and what is to come. That is the goal with the new candle or essential oils here.

• Household chores that are followed by ice cream from your local joint.

• Have a giant sleepover with your extended family and plan fun activities together. Use this list to help you think up some ideas!😉

• Play board games inside or set up outdoor games like cornhole, volleyball, or outdoor hockey.

• Create something. Start a new project: Paint, build something, write, draw, and assemble scrapbooks.

• Watch old classic movies that you have never seen before. If you have yet to see Some Like It Hot with Marilyn Monroe or Houseboat with Sophia Loren and Cary Grant, start there. You're welcome.

• Read a new novel or listen to new music in a genre that you typically don't. You'd be surprised!

• Visit a museum or gallery or attend a theater, concert, or ballet.

• Hunker down and create a cozy atmosphere in your home by lighting candles. If you have a fireplace inside, get it going. If not, go to YouTube and type in the fireplace; you can bring the feeling through the TV. Finally, put a puzzle on your coffee table and enjoy!

• Pamper yourself with an at-home spa day. There are so many great ideas online! Google is your friend.

• Make yourself a yummy breakfast charcuterie board and enjoy it in bed.

• Go to a bookstore in your town instead of buying books at a big box store. While I love going to Barnes and Noble, something about your town's bookstore wraps you in novelty.

• Drive to a new walking or hiking trail with yourself or some pals. Follow up with breakfast or dinner at a cafe or nearby pub. If you are going during the day, pack a lunch to enjoy on your walk or hike.

• Go to a nearby town you have yet to stop at or wander around. Take your time and visit the shops, talk to the store owners, and grab a cup of coffee and a new meal at the local cafe. Or run into a bakery you've never been to and grab a treat to bring home.

• Light off fireworks on any occasion. Remember, tell your neighbors.

• Visit a drive-in movie or create your outdoor movie.

• Go skiing, snowboarding, or snow tubbing and end the night warming up at the lodge around the table.

• Grab a fishing pole and gear, head to the lake on a boat, find a spot to fish on the shore, or pop up the ice house.

• Bonfire outside with yourself or with your loved one. Remember the cozy blankets!

• Join a new class, whether pottery, a new yoga studio, cooking classes, or anything that sparks your intuition.

• Buy someone you love a thoughtful gift and go out of your way to bring it to them and surprise them.

• Wake up before work and catch the sunrise on your paddleboard, kayak, or boat. Bring your coffee or tea in your cupholder! If you can't make it in the morning, catch the sundown after work. If you have kiddos, ask your significant other to watch the kids for 45 minutes and enjoy yourself, or make it a family affair! Bonus points if you go tubing, water-skiing, surfing, or knee-boarding. Ps: If you don't have any of these, you can always find local places to rent one! There are also beaches and nature centers with groups that meet up for paddleboarding and kayaking.

• Run to the market, grab a nostalgic meal, or make a new one you have yet to try. A nostalgic meal will flood back beautiful memories, while a new cuisine sparks awe and creativity and has the power to become a part of your legacy. Another fun thing to do here is look up foods from different cultures, pick a recipe, and learn its history and how it is usually served. It may often take you to a specialty store where you can only find that food. This will lead you down a fantastic rabbit hole.

• Afternoon Tea Time. Make it a simple one by buying store-bought sandwiches and pastries. Throw a tea party with friends and family to make it a bigger deal.

• Visit a farmer's market or flea market.

• Check your state's website and make a bucket list of places to visit.

• If you have fun toys, ATVs, snowmobiles, or jet skis, take them for a spin. You can also plan a time to rent one of these and make a whole day around it!

A moment to journal-

taking in inspiration:

Conversation in the Chair: Let me know in the comments how you find ways to live with novelty.