Inspiration Machine 24

Clockwise from left: rjdesq, emmily shaw, jera <3, dawn(rise)_lewis

1. Buy a BeDazzler, and begin decorating everything you own with shiny jewels!

2. Mail distant friends and family "Update" postcards, telling them what is new in the life of yourself or your family. Include photographs, funny quotes, and well wishes. A great way to stay connected to those people you don't see often!

3. Take old band t-shirts and clothes you no longer wear that have sentimental value, and make a banging memory quilts to keep you cozy without cramming up space in your closet.

4. Shop your closet. This is the trend of digging deep into your stowed away clothes you no longer wear, and pulling out those prize pieces that have not seen the light of day in nary a year. In a recession-fest like we are in today, this is a great way to re-coup some of that new-item joy we are all lacking from budget crunching.

5. Create a "couture" fund - each day, drop a dollar in a piggy bank every day for as long as you can bear it. The longer you wait, the more you will be able to afford something really bling!

6. Keep a picture of something expensive you really, really want to buy in your wallet. Everytime you go to purchase something, take a hard look at the picture as a reminder that if you save money now, you will have more to spend on THAT.

7. Steal His Jeans: With boyfriend jeans on the rise, don't spend a mint buying jeans that look used - get the real McCoy. Snag your beau's old jeans, and alter them to fit, preserving a bit of the slouch.

8. Make a mixtape of your 20 favorite songs of all time. Distribute it to your closest friends.

9. Decide to make someone you don't generally talk to your "best friend for the week" - treat them exactly as you would treat your closest friend. You'll be surprised how receptive people are, and how many new friends you'll make!

10. Keep a collection of "true love." Write down your own stories, and catalog others.