Creativity Lives in Everyone! My daughter is an artist. She studied art in college, graduating with a
degree in Fine Arts. But her creativity in this field has been present since
she was old enough to hold a crayon. All her life she has been compelled
to draw & paint. I've always admired her artistic ability because I
can't draw a straight line with a ruler! :-) *Artwork is the property of Kimberly Daly, Artist/Illustrator.
Copyright: Do not copy. Permission granted for display in this
story.
My hubby was a fine musician, having studied the violin for 14 years, then
played the guitar for many more years and even had his own 'trio' during the
'folk music' era of our college days.
Today my son plays guitar and several other instruments and has his own local
band with a group of fellow musicians. I can't play any instrument and
have no musical ability. My brother sings and plays guitar. My mother and sister could sing up a
storm. I can't carry a tune in a bucket!
I used to say to my talented family that I had no 'talent' for anything,
until they reminded me that
my crochet and needlework crafting
was MY creative ability.
Creative Talent is in Everyone
You don't have to be able to sing or dance, play an instrument or draw to be
talented. Creativity in ANY area is a talent all its own. It was a
nice reminder that we all have some form of creative talent, whether its in
the arts & crafts field, music or dance, or simply being a wonderful
cook. Being able to express ourselves in writing is also a creative
endeavor.
Highlighting a Few Reviews Written by Our Talented Contributors on Review
This!
Our team of contributors who write for Review This! review many
products and do music, book and movie reviews, in addition to a wide range of
other topics. They are also very creative, sharing a variety of crafts,
tutorials of DIY projects, cooking and baking recipes, and photography and
gardening tips. The following are a few examples of this team's creative
talents.
Crafts Reviews
(c) Dawn Rae
How to Make Easy Christmas Tree Ornaments
by Dawn Rae. Dawn gives us easy step-by-step instructions on how to
create with your children these simple, yet lovely, ornaments for your holiday
tree.
(c) Bev Owens
For crochet crafters, Bev Owens tells us about this easy pattern you can use
to create your own handmade poncho in her review titled Reviewing A Crochet Poncho Pattern.
(c) Wednesday-Elf
Wednesday-Elf loves to crochet, particularly stuffed animals. Handmade
crafts are her favorite, as shown in this
A Bird in the Hand-i-Craft
article. In addition to her own crochet crafting, she enjoys sharing the
creative talents of many other
fiber art creators on Etsy.
DIY Projects
(c) RenaisanceWoman2010)
Clever & creative Diana (RenaissanceWoman2010) gives us a tutorial for
a DIY Mason Jar Bird Feeder
using a regular canning jar, a pretty plate or bowl, and a few other simple
supplies (glue, wire, and a chick feeder base). Then just add bird seed and
watch the local feathered friends in your area flock to your new bird
feeder.
Photography Tips
(c) mbgphoto
Several of the Review This contributors are photographers, but Mary Beth
Granger (mbgphoto) goes one step further with sharing her fabulous photography
tips for all of us to learn to take even better photographs. She shares the
tips she's learned from taking photography classes and doing LOTS of practice.
I would imagine Mary Beth seldom goes anywhere without a camera. Her favorite
subjects are lighthouses! Check out her Review of Photography Tips
for some helpful advice for your own photographs.
Recipe Reviews
(c) Sylvestermouse
Sylvestermouse is our creative baker here on Review This! She loves to put
together fancy cakes and cupcakes. A quick look at one of her favorite
cookbooks for baking (the
Cupcake Cakes Cookbook) will give you an idea of some of the fun and clever ideas she often
incorporates into her baking.
Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN) and/or Esty (Awin) Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”
Cabinet & Drawers I Covered in My Daughters New Home
Con-Tact® Brand Creative Covering Adhesive Shelf Liner in White Marble
When you buy an older home or rent an apartment, the inside of your cabinets can be like new by simply lining them with Adhesive Contact Paper.
Our daughter has moved at least a dozen times since she graduated from high school. First to dorm rooms each year, then to various apartments throughout her grad school years, and most recently due to job changes. I'm not very helpful with moving boxes and furniture, therefore my job on moving day is to line the cabinets throughout the house with Contact Paper. It's a great way to ensure that dishes, towels, and clothes will be placed on a clean surface.
As we all know, apartments and dorm rooms frequently have annual occupant changes. As a result, apartment kitchen and bathroom cabinets, as well as closet shelves, can be in varying states of cleanliness and condition. Shelves can even have cracks or splinters in them that will ruin clothes. Kitchen cabinets can have all kinds of stains or even unidentifiable gunk on them that require gloves and a face mask before you want to get close to them, much less, store your dishes or glassware on. Contact Paper is a lifesaver, literally, in rental dwellings or when you buy a previously owned house.
How to Lay Contact Paper
Like anything we do to improve our homes, there are a few tricks to laying Contact Paper if you want it to look nice in addition to being clean. First and foremost, measure then cut. There are lines on the back of Contact Paper that guide for a pretty straight cut. I intentionally over-cut the sides by 1/4", then trim it.
I always lay the straight edge at the front of the cabinet, which means the cut edges will be on the sides and back. I trim those edges with a boxer cutter.
How to Lay Contact Paper in Cabinets
In cabinets, I start peeling the backing off in the front, pressing down the adhesive side to the shelf, and work from front to back, slowly removing the paper backing a little at a time. After the backing is completely off, I smooth down the entire surface (again from front to back) with my hands. If a small bubble is in the paper, I use a straight pin to pop the bubble, release the air, and smooth it out.
How to Lay Contact Paper in Drawers
For drawers, I start at the front and work my way to the back. Even if the drawers are removable, it is easier to get it laid flat and straight by starting at the front. Also, you really want a prettier edge on the front that will show. Some bottoms of cabinets or drawers are warped and it is impossible to get perfection.
How to Lay Contact Paper on Shelves
For long removable shelves, the process is the same except I start on one end and work to the other end. That is easier since the widest area is from side to side.
For a very small shelf, like a linen closet, I remove the backing completely and carefully lay the Contact Paper in place, then smooth it down with my hands.
If you are covering an extremely warped bottom or shelf, it may be necessary to cut the Contact Paper with a box cutter in an area that won't show or get a lot of wear and tear to force it to lay flat.
How to Lay Contact Paper in Deep Cabinets
In all cases, I try to work with one main piece. However, deep bottom kitchen cabinets will require two lengths of the paper in order to cover them. I start with the piece that is cut for the back of the cabinet. Then, lay the front piece with the back edge of the front piece overlapping the front edge of the back piece. That will help prevent the back piece of Contact Paper from coming up when you slide around products later or push them toward the back.
Benefits of Contact Paper
Adheres to a just about Any Surface
Gives a Clean, Non-Toxic Surface to Cabinets & Shelves
Wipes Clean with a Damp Cloth
100% Vinyl
Easily Removable (so you won't lose your rental deposit)
Thick Paper Surface that Won't easily Rip or Tear during normal use
Lasts for Years (even decades, if desired)
Comes in a Variety of Designs & Colors, including clear
How Much Contact Paper is Needed
Probably the hardest thing to determine is how many rolls you will need to cover an area. I recommend buying more than you think you will need and returning unopened rolls.
The last kitchen cabinets I covered for our daughter required 5 rolls of 18" x 20" Con-Tact Paper to cover all of the shelves and cabinet bottoms.
Regardless of the store or seller, be sure you buy only Con-Tact Paper Brand for lining cabinets & shelves.
Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN) and/or Esty (Awin) Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”
If you were to offer me something bright, shiny, and new, or, on the other hand, something with the rich patina of age, I would choose the luster of an item that shows signs of life every time. The best example I can give is that of a copper weather vane. I have always loved the verdigris patina of weathered copper. So, when I discovered Modern Masters Metal Effects paints, I just knew I had to explore the possibilities of being able to speed up a process that normally takes place over many years.
I was given a custom-made folk art weather vane many years ago. Because of the loveliness of the wood grain, and because I didn't want to risk ruining what was a very meaningful gift, I'd been reluctant to paint or stain the weather vane with ordinary finishes. Until I found the right product, I decided to leave my special art piece unfinished.
When I recently came across some online videos of how Modern Masters paints and patina activators had completely transformed normal household items (like vases, frames, furniture, garden statues, and planters), I knew the day had come to give my weather vane the finish it deserved and had waited for all this time. I stopped by Hobby Lobby to pick up the Modern Masters copper paint and green patina kit and got started right away.
My first experiment with patina application.
You can finish a small project in a couple of days. First, you apply two coats of their uniquely formulated primer. Once those coats have dried, you then apply the first coat of your metal effects paint. For the second application of copper paint, you work quickly to spray on the patina activator while the paint is still wet. Then the really fascinating process begins. Over the course of a few minutes, you will begin to see evidence of oxidation taking place. The green patina begins to appear and will become more visible over the next several hours. Your painted item will become more and more lovely with time. The patina continues to evolve just as it would if you left copper outside to weather naturally.
Patina brushed in the direction of the grain.
Though I followed the directions, and spritzed on the patina activator as instructed, my first results were not what I wanted. The verdigris patina was too speckled for my taste. I decided to brush on a new coat of copper paint and begin again. That is the beauty of this process: you can redo until you are satisfied. It doesn't take long to figure out what works best given the vision you have for a piece. I found that lightly brushing the wet patina solution in the direction of the wood grain produced the best results. It created a sense of movement and freedom that honors the true spirit of this horse.
I have been asked about whether or not the metal effects paint must be sealed. The copper and bronze finishes are self-protective (no topcoat needed). You are encouraged to seal the iron paint with rust patina. There is a Modern Masters product specifically made for that purpose. It is called Permacoat X-Treme Sealer.
The wonder of this product is that it works on so many different materials (wood, metal, plastic, stone, paper, etc.). You have the choice of copper, bronze, and iron metal effects, along with green, blue, or rust patina activators. I have purchased all three kits and have more projects currently in progress. At the moment, I am restoring two vintage portholes recovered from ships. They are getting the bronze treatment just as soon as I finish removing all of the salt, rust, paint, and caulk from their surfaces. I will post photos throughout that process.
My other ongoing project involves the iron paint with rust activator. I am refinishing some reclaimed doors I purchased from the Habitat for Humanity ReStore. Those doors are going in the She Shed I built a while back. I'll keep you posted with the results of that experiment as I determine which direction I'm heading with that design. I'm thinking I might try a mixed media approach or play with some stencils when activating the patina. And, of course, it won't stop at that. I've been going through my jewelry box with the thought of giving some items a new look. Check out my Pinterest Modern Masters Metal Effects board for inspiration.
As you can probably tell, I am totally sold on Modern Masters Metal Effects paints. I highly recommend this creative medium. You can purchase the product in kits or individually. The paints and patina solutions come in a number of different quantities, making it easy and affordable to customize based on the size of your project. Go have some fun with your own metal effects adventure in patina painting! You will be amazed.
Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN) and/or Esty (Awin) Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”
The Salinas River was not part of my life until 1995, when my mother moved to a part of Paso Robles California only three blocks from river access. It was the first time I had lived near a real river. I grew up in Los Angeles County, and the only rivers I saw were mostly empty cement waterways that only filled after heavy rains. When we lived near Seattle for four months I was delighted to see some real rivers. I had always wanted to live near one, and now I live in Mom's house where the Salinas River is a short walk away. I love to watch it.
An Ideal Place to Sit and Watch the Salinas River in Paso Robles, taken with Nikon Coolpix S9300
Getting to Know and Photograph the River
Once I had such easy access to the Salinas River, I began to study it and observe and photograph it on a regular basis. The Salinas is a subterranean river. That means I don't see it most of the year because it's flowing underground. If we get heavy rains, it becomes visible again for a few weeks and then disappears from sight. I try to make the most of the weeks when I'm able to photograph the flowing river. I have put many of my Salinas River photographs on puzzles, greeting cards, posters, postcards, and other print-on-demand products at Zazzle. You can see most of those products here. Among them are a poster and greeting card of the bench photo above.
I just made a new poster of my favorite river shot. The river always makes me feel peaceful as it flows by me. So I added a bit of text that reminds me of one of my favorite hymns: "Like a River Glorious"
Here is my new poster. For ordering information, please click the photo. If you'd prefer to have the poster without the words or if you want to change the words, it's easy to do once you click through to Zazzle and click to customize.
One January day I had been walking in the dry riverbed after some recent rains, hoping the river was visible again. I didn't see much more than a few puddles. I was walking away with my camera to return to the riverbank when suddenly the river first trickled and then rushed toward me. I was able to capture it on video. I also got some still shots. You can see the video and the photographs I was able to capture that day and also learn more about the river in this article: The Salinas River: Now You See It. Some of my products also feature photos you will see on that page.
What I Like about Photographing the Salinas River
Access to the river from Larry Moore Park is easy. It's also easy to find a parking place beside or very near this neighborhood park. I get some interesting sunset shots over the river if I walk the river trail at dusk. Here are a couple of them.
Taken with my Canon PowerShot SX410 IS
Taken with my Canon PowerShot SX410 IS
I can also find a wide variety of native plants, weeds, and trees to photograph beside or even in the river. I also see a lot of driftwood. I especially like this shot of a log in the river.
Taken with Nikon Coolpix S8200
The sand on the bank also provides some interesting shots. In the photo below, you see footprints leading down to the river.
Taken with my Canon PowerShot SX410 IS
Sometimes one may see some unexpected wildlife. Birds are common, but hard for me to shoot. Rabbits, though, appear quite often at dusk. I almost didn't see this one. Do you see it?
Rabbit Blending with River Sand, taken with my Canon PowerShot SX410 IS
After the winter rains, the riverbank can come alive with color, as in the shot below. I was looking down from the trail when I took this photo.
Taken with my Canon PowerShot SX410 IS
No matter when I visit the river, whether it's flowing or dry, there is always something new to discover and photograph. My shots aren't as professional as my friend Mary Beth Granger's who gives us some tips in Challenge Yourself to Take Better Photographs, but I have fun.
My Photography Equipment
Photography is my hobby, and I get along fine with a point and shoot camera. My favorite was a Nikon Coolpix that fit in my purse or pocket, but somehow I lost it when I went out one day with friends and we made a number of stops.
Some of these photos were taken with my Canon PowerShot, another point and shoot. It has a longer zoom than the Nikon did. The zoom helped me capture that almost hidden rabbit above. The Canon won't fit in my pocket, but I got a nifty case for it that will also hold my cell phone and extra battery packs and San Disks. Nothing is worse than finding out that your battery is dead just as you find the perfect shot you'd been searching for.
The case below is the one I chose to go with my Canon PowerShot SX410 IS. It's light and the strap is so comfortable that I don't mind having to carry the larger camera. When I still had my Nikon, I could even fit it in the slot next to my Canon, though I think it was really meant for a lens. Now the PowerShot and the case go with me everywhere because every time I leave them home I find a shot I wanted to take and couldn't.
Did You Enjoy this Brief Look at the Salinas River?
If you would like to photograph the Salinas River from Larry Moore Park, here's a map to help you find it. My directions are from the Paso Robles Walmart parking lot. You can drive to the park from the southeast exit and park along Riverbank Lane. Or you can park just west of J. C. Penny, that white building on the map closest to the river. That diagonal path you see next to Penny's leads to a park entrance. When you reach that entrance, go straight toward the river. You can't miss it.
I'll leave you with one last photo with a bit of wildlife. I couldn't get close enough, even with my zoom, to bring the ducks closer, but occasionally they do get to the river. This shot was taken with my Coolpix S8200 and it didn't have as long a zoom as my Canon, which I did not yet own back in 2013 when this was taken. I didn't want to crop the photo to make the ducks show up better because it would diminish the view of the river.
Ducks Swimming in Salinas River
Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN) and/or Esty (Awin) Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”
This past weekend my husband and I watched the movie The Accountant so I would like to review it for you today. We both loved the movie but probably for a lot of different reasons; let me explain.
First of all, I admire Ben Affleck as an actor; after watching this movie that admiration has grown exponentially! When one sees the cover of the DVD, women might think that they want to pass on this movie. After all, Ben is holding a gun in his arms so that probably means it is a shoot 'em up kind of film. It is; there is quite a bit of violence in it but there is more to it. It is the "more" that made me love the movie and become a bigger fan of Mr. Affleck.
The basic premise is that Christian Wolff (played by Ben Affleck) is a math savant who works for some of the biggest crime organizations in the world; cooking their books. He hides under the guise of a small town CPA, lives quite modestly and keeps a very low profile. He is hired by a legitimate multi-million dollar business when they think that there might be a discrepancy in the accounting of the company. Some money appears to be missing.
So far you might be thinking "well, this doesn't sound all that remarkable" and I would agree with you; so stay with me. Without giving too much away I need to explain more about Christian. It isn't so much that he is extraordinary when it comes to numbers, it is that he is actually an autistic savant. Ben Affleck portrays a very believable adult who falls into the high functioning spectrum of autism.
It is this part of the movie that moved me the most, the story of a man with autism. We see glimpses of his past in an era when not much was known about autism by the medical professionals and the parents of kids with autism. We see the abuses suffered by a child who can't grasp the concept of social skills, who can't cope when they aren't able to finish a process or their routine is disrupted. We see a misguided parent trying to help his child be able to function in society. It is all of this that touched my heart deeply.
This movie is one that I think men will enjoy because of the macho fighting scenes and that part of the story. It is one that women will be touched by because of the back story of a person with special needs. My husband and I watch a lot of movies together and we both loved this movie very much. I don't think that you will be disappointed if you watch it, too. There are a lot of surprises with twists and turns in the plot.
Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN) and/or Esty (Awin) Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”
I received my new Kindle Paperwhite e-reader nearly two weeks ago and I'm loving it! I was very hesitant to upgrade as I don't like change and often have trouble figuring out new electronic devices. I started researching current e-reader options as my original Kindle (a Kindle Keyboard, remember those?) was starting to have some serious malfunctions after all these years. I felt forced to shop for a new e-reader before my old one just stopped working. I have to say that so far I'm very excited about my purchase. My new Kindle is awesome! I like it so much that I wanted to share my thoughts with you.
New 6" Kindle Paperwhite E-Reader
My new Kindle has a 6" touchscreen. It is slightly smaller than my first Kindle, and easier to pack in a small bag or purse.
This Kindle has built-in lights - no need to buy a separate, external light.
My new Kindle is advertised as having a resolution of 300 ppi. Now, that doesn't mean a single thing to me except that it is easy to see that compared to my original e-reader, the images are GREAT. I had briefly considered purchasing a Kindle Fire so that I could also read magazines and have color photos. But I'm really glad that I stuck with the Paperwhite for two main reasons:
My eyes. I am already familiar with how easy Paperwhite technology is on my eyes in general, in the dark while camping, and there is no screen glare when outside during the day. Computer screens strain my eyes. The Paperwhite does not.
Awesome battery. I require the long-lasting battery life of the Kindle Paperwhite. I want to read everywhere I go. That includes camping at The Shack, hiking, and waiting for appointments. There's nothing worse then reaching for an electronic device with a dead battery.
The Kindle I chose:
There are only two things that I'm concerned about so far. Both have to do with the touch screen:
No Buttons. I miss the buttons on my Kindle Keyboard that turned the pages. However, I'm becoming accustomed to turning the pages by tapping the side of the screen. But so far, I still wish for those buttons to turn the pages.
Oops! What Language is That?! When I unboxed my Kindle I plugged it in to charge and I put it in the cover I bought. During that process, I touched the touchscreen and voila, all of my display turned to a different language! I had the hardest time trying to find anything in the online owner's manual that helped me to visually find the language settings so that I could change it back to English. Finally, with a video review and a lot of guesswork, I was able to make the language change I needed. I think the online owners manual should have more visual aids to go along with the written instructions.
The awesome cover I chose:
My Love Affair with E-Readers
I was aghast when e-readers were first introduced. Who in their right might would want to replace their beloved books with an electronic device?! Oh the horror. You wouldn't be able to read your books outside, or while camping, or while at the beach. What a terrible invention.
Then my son surprised me with a Kindle (3rd generation I think). I bought a lighted, leather cover to protect it and to help me read it while camping. And I fell in love. I replaced my hoard of books with a single small item. And I found that even at the beach, I just place my Kindle in a gallon sized baggie and it is protected from the sand. Much better than soggy, gritty books after a day at the beach!
The only thing I didn't like about that first Kindle was the images didn't translate very well. Books with maps or drawings didn't always show up well. Or were too small to be read. I think Kindle e-readers are awesome. They allow me to read anywhere and anytime. I always have my entire library with me. And I'm sure there are plenty of functions that I am not even aware of that others would enjoy. If you've considered buying a new Kindle Paperwhite, I encourage you to do it. I think you'll be glad you did. Postscript: Each and every time I've considered updating my Kindle, I've thought of Susan Deppner. She was a Review This contributor and a friend to many. I thought of her as the best Kindle advisor there was. I did refer back to the Kindle Reviews she had written for guidance. Susan, you may be gone from this earth, but you are not forgotten. I know you'd be as excited about my purchase as I am.
Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN) and/or Esty (Awin) Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”
Our Backyard Trees - Kept Healthy with this Easy Tip
About ten years ago, while visiting a client, I had to know how in the world they were able to get the massive trees on their property to stay so healthy and look so beautiful.
He pointed to the neighbors trees across the street and said, 'when we first purchased this house, these trees looked just like those'. And 'Those' weren't very nice at all.
I asked him, 'what did you do?'
Here's the tip he passed along to me, and we've been using it ever since for the trees in our yard.
He was adamant, 'yep, just put them in and forget it'.
'How long before you saw results?'
He said it was by next year that the trees had a new life.
Our Home Has so Many Trees, I Had to Try This Product
When we purchased our home over 20 years ago we hand planted over 50 Cedar Trees in our
A Closer Look at the Health of Our Trees
from Implementing this One Tip
backyard, and in the front yard put a Blue Spruce, a Birch Tree and an English Oak Tree, along with shrubs.
As the years went on I noticed that the cedar trees in the backyard were looking a little rough, and knowing that sparse Cedar Trees aren't attractive, an immediate solution was in order.
For some reason my mind believed that caring for trees would be complicated. Wow, was I wrong!
I highly recommend using Fertilizer Spikes to care for your trees. Our experience has been fantastic.
Not being a tree expert in any way shape or form, I simply had to trust that this product would do the job.
You can find Fertilizer Spikes at just about any hardware store or The Home Depot or of course, online.
I'm not fussy on any particular brand. The only thing I look for, for our trees, are spikes that say 'Evergreen'. There are various fertilizer spikes for different types of trees and shrubs. Just pick the ones you need based on your trees/shrubs.
This year I added another fertilizer spike to the mix, one that was for both Evergreens and Flowering Shrubs.
How Do You Put Fertilizer Spikes in the Ground?
Easy peasy lemon squeezy. That's how :)
The ones I buy come twelve in a pack, with two plastic tops to use to hammer them in the ground.
It's like making Elephant Pudding (tee hee, an old elephant joke) - simply follow the directions on the package.
I use three boxes, that's 36 spikes for the backyard, and this year I used 30 spikes for the front yard. Some of the front yard spikes were for flowering shrubs.
Also, they say to use the spikes for spring and fall and I've only ever put them in the ground in the spring. However, I think this year I'll put them in the ground again in the fall.
I've put some of the product choices below, but as mentioned above, I'm not dedicated to a particular brand. Each year I just grab whatever is on the shelf at the local hardware store. I have used both brands featured below, and both were fine. I don't have a preference.
Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN) and/or Esty (Awin) Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”
I must be one of the few people in the world who hasn't read Rhonda Byrne's bestseller The Secret, I did get it out of the library a few years back, but I just couldn't get into it and I had some juicy whodunnits to read instead!
I have been told that books come into your life at just the right time and I think that this is true with The Magic.
The basis of this book is showing gratitude which is the basis of most spiritual teachings from Christianity to Buddhism. Whatever your belief system this book is a great way of teaching you how to practice gratitude in your life.
I like the book because it's short chapters, each of which has an exercise for you to do and it's designed to be read one chapter a day. I found this easy to add into my morning routine and was enjoying doing the exercises as well until I came to one chapter and just could not complete that particular exercise!
After a number of days, I decided to leave that chapter and carry on with the rest and there were a few that I found I couldn't complete. My daughter is reading the book now and I'll revisit it in a couple of months when I can hopefully complete all of the exercises.
I didn't find that the book taught me a lot that I didn't know, but by doing the exercises and really thinking about my blessings and showing my gratitude I have noticed a few things in my life have changed.
I really recommend this for everyone, personally, I was finding myself becoming very negative about a situation in my life (and I hate being negative I should add, I much prefer the positive side of myself) and I credit this book with helping me 'find' my positive side again. I also made an achievement in my work life which I think was directly connected to one of the exercises in the book.
Have you read The Magic?
I'd be interested to know if you've read The Magic and/or The Secret. I think once I've finished a couple of the books on my list I might try and read The Secret again and see if I get past the first few pages!
Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN) and/or Esty (Awin) Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”
It started innocently enough … but don’t all DIY projects
start out with the best of intentions until you hit the DIY speedbump. Years ago the kitchen cabinets were refaced with new hinges
and hardware and all was well. All was well for about 12 years until the first
evil click sound occurred when the cabinet was opened. The “click sound” was in
conjunction with an itty bitty little black dowel from the interior of the
hinge which would break and fly to the floor. The cabinet would then not open
as easily or as wide as designed.So occasionally
part of the hinge would need to be replaced. No problem.
The DIY Speedbump
The speedbump occurred when the company discontinued the
style of the original hinge and replaced the beloved model with a new model. Aesthetically the hinges look the same and function the same,
but through the years the “little black thingy” that broke off from the hinges
became a known issue on the internet.
A known issue because the search was on for the original
model. First, the hinges were still available from brick and mortar hardware specialty
stores, but as those supplies diminished the internet became the place to find
the hinges.
ROK Hardware To The Rescue
I found ROK Hardware while searching for a supply of the
hinges to replace the remaining cabinet hinges in bulk. Clearly the lifespan of
the remaining hinges with the “little black thingy” was at an end and I need a
supply of hinges to complete the cabinet DIY. As you can see I ran into a
little speedbump with the hinges and needed a few hinge plates (which is why
the pantry door is NOT on the cabinet.)
I have become a huge fan of ROK Hardware whose tagline is
Build It Better For Less. I love a company that delivers as promised! If you are seeking a hard to find part or replacement part bookmark ROK Hardware to comparison shop and I doubt you will be disappointed by the selection, price or shipping speed.
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