Simple Pleasures
Originally uploaded by Danika Leahy

While most of us dread the onset of rain invading our precious weekends, the reality is that you can still have a fabulous weekend in spite of the rain - you just have to get a little more creative. Picnics in the park, strolls by the water and dashing about town is off limits without gumboots and a brollie, but there are a ton of fun things you can do and stay dry and occupied in the comfort of your home.

01. Movie Marathon: An obvious choice, but there is a certain charm in having a good movie marathon whether by yourself or with your best mates. Grab a box set of your favourite TV shows or grab a bunch of flicks from the video store, set yourself up with a doona & some snacks & you're good to go.

02. Bake: Whether you are an old hat with impressive culinary expertise or completely new to the whole baking game, there is no better time to pull out the mixing bowl and switch on the oven then on a rainy weekend. The smell of baked goodies throughout your home & the pay off licking the bowl eating cakes warm from the oven is most excellent! So pull out that dusty cook book or phone up your mum/grandma to steal some recipes and get to it! Try cupcakes or biscuits... then share them with your mates or impress your colleagues on Monday with your domestic prowess, it's one cure for Mondayitis.

03. Rearrange / Redecorate Apartment: You know the old saying that a change is as good as a holiday so why not spend a few hours decluttering your bits and bobs and rearranging your furniture.

04. Post It Notes: Create a whole set of post it notes with compliments, thoughtful quotes & positive affirmations handwritten on them. Leave them around the apartment for your family or flatmates to find. Alternatively taken them into work and stick to your colleague's monitors; a simple gesture is often enough to make someone's day, or in the very least you'll give them something to smile about.

05. Journal: Pull out that journal from under the pile of whatever and give it some love! It doesn't matter if all it contains is your well intended New Years Resolutions, it's never too late to get down your thoughts. Journaling can be quite therapeutic and it's a great way to judge your emotional achievements in the future - reading old journals can be very insightful (& fun). If paper journals aren't your dish, jump online and start your very own blog.

06. Girls Night In: Invite your friends around for a throwback to the days of your youth - have a girls night/slumber party, stay up all night playing sing star/karaoke or relive days gone by with games of truth & dare. Order in pizza & make up your own cocktails (get everyone to bring a bottle of something) ... and have some good old fashioned fun!

07. Enjoy The Rain/Read A Book: Yes! A real one! And no, Cosmopolitan does NOT count. Curl up in bed with a good book and enjoy the sound of rain coming down outside!

08. Anticipate Sunshine: Make up some flavoured ice cubs. All you need is an ice tray, water and some fruit. Cut fruit into small pieces, pour water into ice tray, pop in a few portions of fruit, freeze - & in a few hours you've got yourself a great was to make water more exciting.

09. Get Crafty: Make earrings or beaded jewellery. Try altering some clothes, cut up t-shirts, crop old jeans, sew badges - your only limit is your imagination. If that sort of thing isn't your cup of tea, why not use some card and photos or pictures torn from magazines to make up some personalised cards to keep in stock for when your friends birthdays or other celebrations come around. Your loved ones will appreciate the obvious effort you've gone to.

10. Write Letters: Even if you see your friends & family most everyday, there is nothing quite the same as receiving a hand written letter. So give it a go, write letters to your loved ones, decorated & handwritten, tell them how much better your life is with them in it!

11. Be Ambitious: Design your future business card. From the look, to your position, the company - the works! Visualise where you want to be & do it in style.


What's your favourite way to spend a rainy weekend?