New Year's Day Checklist

by Liz Heather in ,

The following things must be done on New Year's Day to ensure a prosperous year ahead:

  1. Wear red. This brings luck.

  2. Nothing should leave your house - so don't take out the garbage today - because if things leave, then that means things will be leaving you all year.

  3. Don't do your laundry or wash your dishes or wash your hair because you'll wash away luck. And don't you dare sweep at all.

  4. Don't use scissors today or they will cut off your good fortune.

  5. Good Foods To Eat:

    • Incorporate some black eyed peas into one or all of your meals today. When eaten today, they bring enormous good luck. 

    • Lentil soup because lentils resemble coins.

    • Pork because poultry scratches backwards, a cow stands still, but a pig roots forward, ergo those who dine upon pork will be moving forward in the new year.

    • Chicken should not be eaten on the first day of the year or you will have financial difficulties for the rest of the year.

    • Any greens such as collard greens, peas, chard, cabbage, kale, spinach, broccoli, etc. (because the greens resemble money).

    • Eating cornbread is supposed to bring wealth.

    • Some good recipes can be found here.

  6. Wearing new clothes today (especially socks and underwear) is extremely lucky.

  7. Do not lend any money to anyone today or you'll be giving away all your money throughout the year. And try not to spend any money as well.

  8. Avoid breaking anything today or crying. Again, what you do today sets the tone for your coming year.

  9. Keep this in mind: Anything shaped like a ring is believed to be good luck because it symbolizes “coming full circle,” completing a year’s cycle.

  10. Sleep in a bed with clean, new sheets.

So basically - whatever you do today will set the tone for your year. So sleeping in all day is obviously not the best idea since you'll have a lazy year ahead. Some ideas of things to do today for a good year?

  • Phone friends of family

  • Dance

  • Be friendly and polite, more than usual

  • Exercising, even in some small way

  • Do a small amount of work, but don't go overboard

  • Compliment someone

Am I ridiculous for suggesting these things to you? That's your call. I'm a firm believer in this kind of stuff and I'm also fortunate enough to feel a great deal of happiness in my life so I'll continue on with adhering to things like this. 

Happy New Year!

You can see more posts like this on my latest newsletter.

New Year's Eve Checklist

by Liz Heather in

Make sure the following things are done today:

  1. Make sure there are groceries in the house. The new year must not be seen in with bare cupboards, lest that be the way of things for the year.

  2. Go to an ATM or bank and make sure there is cash in your wallet. This guarantees prosperity in the coming year.

  3. If you're celebrating at home, let all the windows and/or doors open at midnight to let the old year out and to let the new year in.

  4. Twelve grapes, for the twelve months. You also should make a wish on each grape. And for each grape's taste - that signifies what that month will be like. For example, if the third grape you eat is very sour, then March will be an unpleasant month for you.

  5. Wear polka-dots, even in some small way. Anything round signifies good fortune.

  6. Pay January's rent TODAY. You don't want any money going out of your home tomorrow.

  7. Settle any debts you owe, if you can afford to.

  8. Back up your laptop onto the external hard drive. Have you done that lately? God, so important. Go do that now.

  9. Wash your hair today, so you don't have to tomorrow. This will be explained later.

  10. Take out the garbage today, so you don't have to tomorrow. Again, explanations are coming soon.

I'm sorry. I have to do these things. And so, I must pass them onto you.

If you actually give a shit about doing ANY of those things, then return tomorrow to see what you should do on New Year's Day for a prosperous year ahead.

You can see more posts like this on my latest newsletter.

Lessons of the Week

by Liz Heather in

  1. Scallops are the hardest thing in the world to make. Only because it's impossible to know when they're done. And if you are three seconds late in knowing that? They're totally rubbery and ruined, apparently. Way too hard. Gotta stay away from pinning any scallop-incorporated recipes on Pinterest from now on. 
  2. On a MAC, press Command + Delete to delete a file instead of dragging it into the trash can.
  3. I've been using a lime as deodorant for the past few days. And dude? It's been pretty sweet. If you know me, you know I'm very... finicky when it comes to deodorants - I just don't trust them. They're so chemically. I heard about this alternative in some health magazine. Give it a try.