Breaking the Pattern: Spicing Up Your Social Life

Trust me, I get it - YOU'RE TIRED. You work, you have classes, you have to wash your hair, whatever. We often get so caught up in our day to day business that we forget to take some time to enjoy life. Probably our biggest offense is opting for a night in with the couch and a good movie instead of heading out with some friends. One problem I've been running into lately is not only am I too tired, but with everything I'm saving for I can't find the extra cash to go out every week. So, I started doing a little research, and here are some unconventional social activities that can break that pattern of becoming a couch potato after work without breaking the bank. So, grab your best friend or your current infatuation and try something new today - trust me, TiVO will fill you in on what you missed, later. :)



 - Go paddleboarding! Have you seen this yet? Maybe I'm just a newb, but standing on a short surfboard type contraption while paddling around on the water during a beautiful sunset sounds a lot more fun to me than getting drinks at Applebees.

- Go for a bike ride.

- Pick one of your favorite crafty pins on Pinterest and actually do it! Think about it, how many things to you pin on Pinterest each month? Now, how many of those things have you actually tried? Pick your favorite craft and go with your friends to Michaels to pick out the supplies. You'll have a night full of activities for relatively cheap - and you have more time to talk and catch up!

- Pick a random Groupon and go. Groupon has great deals every day for fun things around your town that you probably haven't tried yet. So, instead of heading out for Happy Hour on Friday, pick a random Groupon and try something new! The worst thing that could happen is you hate it, and if that's the case - at least you can laugh about it!

- Go for a drive. Yes I know, gas isn't exactly cheap. But if you've already got a few gallons in your tank, grab your significant other, your iPod, and a small cooler of drinks and snacks and head out for a drive. You can talk, share music, and let the wind blow through your hair. It's great for destressing and you can even open your eyes to stuff to do in your town that you never knew about.

So cute, love cooking with my man!

- Make a 4 course meal. Now, I'm not saying you have to gain five pounds and make some crazy italian buffet, but try making a 4 course meal that isn't that bad health wise. Try searching through the recipes on skinnytaste.com. Gina has great recipes for every course, and cooking in a kitchen with your best friend can be just down right hilarious, and if you have your boo with you, you can even make it romantic. ;)

- Clean up your resume. I know, right? How NOT FUN does that sound? But if you have a friend with you to review your resume, you'll be able to see what sound stupid and if it even grabs their attention long enough to get past the first line. If you're a recent college grad or just on the job hunt, this can be a fun activity. Add some wine if you'd like, just be careful - you are sending this to prospective employers, after all ;)

- Shop at a farmer's market. It might not sound like your thing, but there really is something about fresh fruit and vegetables. And that's not all you'll find there, most of the time there is even handmade jewelry, clothing, and crafts at farmer's markets. Grab your best friend and twenty dollars and you'll have a morning or afternoon full of laughter and great deals.

These are just a few ideas - I think my next venture will be paddle boarding (I mean come on, how fun does that sound?!) Which will you try? Leave a comment with your ideas for unconventional social outings below! :)