Tune In

LIFE, is one grand, sweet song, so start the music - Ronald Reagan

Original Album circa 1977

 

I admit it, I'm one of those people who sings along (really loud) with songs on the car radio and gets the words wrong. 

 

I have forever .... and always.  I'm no longer ashamed... because there are many people like me!  And what's so interesting about that is, I know how to read music, I have played piano, cello and violin.... I have sung in 5 different choirs... and still I find it quite amusing to make up my own song lyrics when I don't really know what the artist originally intended to 'say'.

 

Week #46 LIFE'S Simple Pleasures - music

 

Now I'm going to sound old here, but in my LIFE time I have listened to music in all different forms on all different types of 'things'.... vinyl albums, 8 track tapes, Audio Cassette Tapes, Compact Discs, Itunes.

 

The above photo is one of the really cool album covers we have on display in our house.  It's classic in artistry design, as well.  We have no record player or turn table.  I couldn't find any cassette tapes lying around the house either... those have faded away like a memory.  We do however, have a 'few' CD's.... collecting dust in some cabinets.... when is the right time to purge those babies??

Funny how a melody sounds like a memory.

 

Often, music evokes a memory in our LIFE. 

 

There is more types of music than I have fingers and toes to count, but I think we are all familiar with these different genres: Blues, Jazz, Rock N Roll, R & B, Rap, Pop, Rock, Classical,  Country, Disco ....

 

I find it so dang interesting that this piece of audio equipment in the above photo is almost obsolete and it's only about 3 years old.  It's an iPod Shuffle. It can hold hundreds of songs and it fits inside the palm of my hand!

 

My taste in music ranges from 'you need to listen to this' to ' I know, please don't judge me.'

 

What's on Your Discovery Channel?

I think a spiritual journey is not so much a journey of discovery. It's a journey of recovery. It's a journey of uncovering your own inner nature. It's already there.

Billy Corgan

 

Week #45 LIFE'S Simple Pleasures - Discovery

 

I have found that I can make new discoveries every day.  To discover is to find something unexpectedly or in the course of a search.

 

In LEARNING to become Geocachers, Jeff and I have discovered new parks in our county that we never knew existed.

 

Are we on the right path?

 

Mistakes are the portals of discovery - James Joyce

 

Mistakes are also 'creative opportunities' in the card making world.  Oops, ha ha... my favorite picture above, I realized (discovered) I typed my watermark signature wrong... I'm ptdesogms2013.

 

The only real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes.

~ Marcel Proust

 

LIFE'S simple pleasures

FIND YOUR SELF

Get on Board

Do. Or do not. There is no try. ~ Yoda

 

I put a little 'twist' on my post today of  discovery, to focus a bit on my evolving and learning.  I am super thrilled about Pinterest.  I've heard that some call it the 'fantasy football' league for women. 

 

Where in one place can you get so many ideas, from home decorating to fashion, from recipes to simple DIY projects?  And so much more....

 

So, a few months ago I saw this cute DIY post for a card board.  That sounds kind of funny when you say it... seems like you are saying cardboard... which you are.... it's a board to hold your 'greeting' cards. 

 

If, and when I actually attempt to sell my creative greeting cards at a craft fair you need to have a display to show the goods.  For a few years I've been looking for old indoor window shutters with the louvers, because I saw a display where they have the card behind the slat and you can display a lot of cards at once.

 

Simply said, I've not found what I have in mind.  But then I saw this card... board. Not only had to try and make it.... I had to DO.

It is 4 boards that are 4" x 4'.  Cheapest boards I could find at $3.49 each.  I actually had Menard's cut the 10' boards at 4 feet for me (they did it free).  I sanded the heck out of those four boards to
a: get rid of all the splinters and
b: to distress the edges of the wood.

I used paint stirring sticks on the back to hold the four boards together. On the backside using wood glue and a staple gun I lined the boards straight and flat and then put the stir sticks across horizontal and stapled the hell out of them.  I probably could use two more stir sticks, but that will be for next time.

I painted the boards with some extra exterior house paint I had on hand.  Sanded up the edges of the boards again once it was dry... distress is best.  On the raw wood I was supposed to use wood stain, but all I had was Distress Ink in my craft stash, but that worked.... it's all about making the wood look worn.

 

Wrap twine around the boards, overlapping and twisting along the entire board.  Tie with a secure knot on back.  Add clothes pins.  The more distressed and worn the clothes pins the better.  Don't want any of those pristine ones that you can actually get from the Dollar$tore.

 

I have floor space and room enough to display this four foot stand.  The DIY on Pinterest used it as a Christmas Card holder.  She used holiday floral picks with pine cones and red ribbon and attached it to a spot on the top corner.  But actually, you could make a 'clip on' pick and change this up for any holiday or celebration... for someone's birthday you could add a banner hanging from the top, you could use this to display photos, postcards, kids art.....

 

Or even, a cute, whimsical, one of a kind.... creative greeting!!!

 

Brighten Someone's Day

with FuN MaiL!!!

Most Valued Customer

Words a girl loves to hear...

 

Do any of these words catch your attention????

 

Week #45 LIFE'S Simple pleasures - discovery

 

Obviously, if you've been following my blog for any amount of time, although I take my writing seriously, the 'twist' I take on LIFE, is supposed to be about LEARNING, INSPIRING, FEELING, EVOLVING and SHINING regarding simple pleasures!

 

What a feeling to walk into a store and find an item you needed is 'on sale'.

 

I always think of shopping as the art of the find!

 

Like in yesterday's post (just scroll down) its fun to find a BOGO.... buy one get one free, especially if you have someone to share the 'other' one with.  Really?  What in LIFE is FREE anymore?  But just the idea you're getting something FREE is an incentive for any good shopper!!

 

Kohl's Department store is actually my all time favorite store!! I am one of their MVCs... Most Valued Customers! And have been sine 1987.  I mean, who doesn't love a SALE, and then on top of that, getting 30% marked off your purchase.  Great marketing!!!!  And to prove their point... they ALWAYS circle in red at the bottom of your receipt how much you actually saved on that days purchase!!!

 

And in this economy, who doesn't want to $AVE more money.  There are few things we really NEED to survive... food, shelter, clothing, family, love... but being light hearted and fun.... it's great when the things we WANT are 'on sale'.

 

Your most important sale in life is to sell yourself to yourself.  Maxwell Maltz

 

 

BOGO

This week on my blog I'm writing about discovery.

One of LIFE'S many simple pleasures is finding out that something you were going to buy, you actually are getting two for the price of one.

BOGO.... Buy One, Get One
..it is regarded as one of the most effective forms of special offers for goods,

In my old neck of the woods this was called Double Bubble.  Two for one.  In other places it's called Happy Hour!

 

We were in Iowa City, Iowa recently visiting our oldest who is a Junior Hawkeye and trusted Trip Advisor to direct us to a good eats place.  Not often seen anymore with businesses trying to make a buck, but  EVERY day from 3-6 it's two for one drinks, on ALL drinks!!

 

Week #45 - LIFE'S Simple Pleasures - discovery

 

Yesterday's blog post was about finding money in your winter coat pocket, underneath the couch cushions or on the sidewalk.  It's like winning a small lottery!

 

You're richer than you were a few minutes ago!

 

It's just one of those simple pleasures, going somewhere that you've never been before, and putting your money in the vending machine and two sodas drop down instead of one.  The best thing is to share the 'free' one with a friend!

 

Not every BOGO is a deal, especially if you don't need two of them.  But discovering one at the end of a good day, unexpectedly, is one of LIFE'S simple pleasures.

Loose Change

Money can't buy you happiness, but money can buy you ice cream and that's kind of the same thing.

 

Week #45 LIFE'S Simple Pleasures - discovery

 

There can be a lot of different ways to describe this week's Simple Pleasure.  I thought it would be fun to highlight some things we get, find, or discover.

 

There are so many things in our LIFE to celebrate, and some of the best things in LIFE are Free. 

 

So, as I write this, there are seven more weeks left in 2013.

 

There is always something new to discover! (or new to you/me) Because there are so many great things, it's a small challenge to group some of them together to write a cohesive post. This week I find a few simple pleasures that are a great little moment of discovery. 

It's a great day when you discover (find) money! 

 

Oh, it doesn't happen to everyone, but when you find a $10 bill in your winter coat pocket, you feel like you have won the lottery!!!

 

Okay, finding a penny on the sidewalk isn't as exciting... but if you are somewhat superstitious, or you have a small child with you... I'm sure you think to yourself.... see a penny pick it up, and all the day you'll have good luck. Find a penny, leave it lay, and you'll have bad luck all the day. 

 

But, finding paper money on the sidewalk?  You don't know if you dare pick it up?  Look around to see if anybody is nearby looking for something?  Or just chalk it up to finders keepers!!!! cha-ching!

 

Hey, it was exciting to find money in the phone booth coin slot!  I don't think anyone under 40 will get that... what's a phone booth??

 

Another place that it's fun to discover some money is in the cushion of a couch or underneath the car seat.  Even if it's only some change, that discovery of money makes your day, especially if you can buy a favorite beverage with it.

 

I knew someone who bought a pair of jeans at a resale shop for her niece, and when she got them home and the young girl tried them on... they discovered a twenty dollar bill in the front pocket.  It's like winning the lottery!!

 

Sometimes, big money can be discovered when the newspaper lists names of those that have  unclaimed property or authorized government money refunds.

 

Although, the true simple pleasure is finding only a few bucks.

 

There are people who have money and there are people who are rich.  Coco Chanel

 

 

Mish Mash Stash

Beware!!!!

Cute kids ahead!

 

I must admit that it's only November 1st and I'm done with Halloween, and ready to move on to the next holiday or event or special occasion. The pumpkins are ready for the trash bin, the candy bag is empty and definitely the weather has changed!

 

Do you ever feel that way?  Weeks of preparation, the anticipation and excitement erupts everywhere, then it's pouring rain for the event, 4 hours later the light goes off and this holiday is in the history books.... so to speak!

 

Does every event have to flash by so quickly now?

 

Week #44 LIFE'S Simple Pleasures - Halloween

 

I've been blogging all week about my kid's Halloween costumes.  When they were quite young there were few choices and easier persuasions when deciding the perfect costume. Looking back, I enjoyed making their costumes, but I'm sure at the time, I was stressed about buying them versus making them and why things had to be so expensive!!

 

I believe these pictures are from 1998, and yes, although store bought, these costumes were part of their normal every day play.  We truly got out monies worth with this dress-up fashion statements.  Can't help but show our Packer pride in the Green and the Gold.

 

 

I don't want to say (admit) all holidays are for the young, but by becoming empty nesters this year, sadly, I have a different understanding of the excitement, and the interest is no longer the same in our home! 

 

I still love getting caramel (or candied apples) and purchasing bite size candy.  I have fun walking through the garden center and picking out the perfect pumpkin.  I like putting out simple (yet tasteful Halloween decorations). And I love scanning the costume aisle at Target. Now it's to see what silly costume I can dress my dogs in. (no, I did not buy my dogs costumes, this year!!!)

 

But, I miss being the room mom with the Interactive Halloween Story, GHOST bingo, bobbing for marshmallows, costume parades down the hallways throughout the school, Mish Mash Hot Potato and helping my kids pick out their costumes. I miss the rush of afterschool snacks and getting the costume put on, to find that a piece is missing or something needs to be stitched closed. I miss their excitement of meeting up with friends in the neighborhood and the stories they have to tell.

 

What I'm finding out this year is that LIFE'S journey takes us on many different roads.  I've been down that Halloween costume road and now it's time to enjoy the happy memories. And to be proud that I was able to share these events with my kids.

 

However, I miss looking through their stash of candy and finding the things I like!!

 

Happy All Saints Day!!!!