10 Ways to Be Cool in 2011: a meticulously researched and peer-reviewed list.

1. Eat food grown by local farmers. This is becoming increasingly easier as amazing people such as http://www.wendysmobilemarket.com/mobile-market.htm join forces to gather and deliver local produce, meat, breads, and much more to local restaurants, foodies and concerned eaters. I'd like to see Wendy's Market set up depots in Kingston to reduce their delivery stops. I'll sign up as the first depot!

2. Make something! And buy more handmade. Check out the amazing jewellery made by a 12-year-old friend of mine http://www.kiwidesigns-emily.blogspot.com/ Scroll down to the bracelets. Even her photography is wonderful. You can find amazing handmade goods at http://www.etsy.com/ If you haven't checked this site out yet, you are in for a treat. Great source for handmade gifts.

3. Buy less cheap crap. Go for fewer, quality items. My mom's motto was "I'm too poor to buy cheap." As a depression-era thrifter, she was frugal before it was trendy. She would spend a month's salary on a coat because she knew it would last a decade. The global economy (read: cheap offshore labour) means we can buy 20 $5 shirts. Local garment-makers can only flourish if we buy one or two $30 shirts. Check out http://www.proudnation.ca/yoga.html

4. Sleep more, sleep better. I'm a big fan of sleep. I never boast at needing only four or five hours because I don't buy it. It's a major cause of health problems and grouchy co-workers. Check out this amazing blog post about ditching your alarm, a little hippy, but worth a read http://bit.ly/dGActP

5. Work less, play more (unless - like me - you really really like your job and consider it play). This is only possible if you can live on less money, so refer back to rule #3, and cut up your damn credit cards. Most people I've talked to can't manage them and get trapped by them. If you want to learn how to manage them, check out http://www.gailvazoxlade.com/books.html Cheesy reality show? Maybe. Dead smart advice? Absolutely.

6. Bike wherever possible. Am I the only one who feels giddy on my bike? My bike is my prozac. And if you're worried about looking dorky, check this out http://huff.to/hy0fLl (keeping #3 steadfastly in mind). Forget the Prius; ditch the suburbs and buy a bike.

7. Focus less on your weight, receding hairline, wrinkles, insert major source of insecurity here _________, and focus instead on someone else. http://www.kiva.org/ is a great way to donate to another actual human being and follow their progress. If money is tight, you can always donate your time (although for me, time is tighter than money, because I sleep so much). Check out http://www.cybf.ca/ if you are interested in supporting an entrepreneur, or Big Brothers and Sisters if you want to make an even more meaningful contribution.

8. Join the Badminton in the Living Room movement. There is no link because, well, I started this. But it really is worth joining, honest.

9. READ! Want to feel smarter? Log off Facebook and read something. Whether it's Dickens, Maxim or Jodi Picoult on a Kindle, just do it. Great blogs make for great reading. I enjoy the curmudgeonly musings of one D.J. Berger. So funny http://www.red-handed.blogspot.com/

10. Sit, for a minute or two, and just look at and admire your kid(s), dog(s), mate(s), self(ves) or bike(s). Just marvel for a minute. This moment is all we've got. Hope this read was worth it.

Can you add to this list?

*No individual, organization or company mentioned or referenced on this blog has either reimbursed, or even given consent to, the author. In fact, most will never realize this was even published. Her bold pronouncements and promotions are strictly her own.