Way back when I was a kid, game shows and soap operas competed with talk shows for audience attention. Password, with Allen Ludden, was a huge favorite of mine.

I know a lot of folks could care less about them but I’ve often found such shows to be not only entertaining but educational. Trust me, it sort of sneaks up on you!

I love watching What’s My Line from decades past. Not only were the people interesting but the jobs…wow! All sorts of things that no one really thought about. I suspect the same is true today. There is so much that we don’t really think about, learn about.

I’ve been enjoying Bingo Blitz along with Tic Tac Dough. Frankly, I’m still astounded that Valerie Bertinelli has moved into that realm but I’m enjoying every minute. Scrabble and Trivial Pursuit are also fun to play along with.

Yes there are games that … fail to engage. That could be thought of as the luck of the draw. Personally, I think that game shows encourage a bit of community among those who enjoy the play. The old, let’s sit around the telly and see if we can beat the players mentality. What is often surprising, to me at least, is how often I do considering I am a blazing failure at trivia most of the time. 😀

It really comes down to spending a bit of time enjoying some mental calisthenics and seeing where that will lead.

You never know.

Like many people I have been struggling to find some peace and calm in a world that seems to have been tipped off its axis. I’ve spent more than a few days deliberately searching for those bits that bring me calm. A quiet music playlist. Some comforting vlogs. Getting in touch with nature.

Recently Frozen Pennies posted a vlog that nailed everything I’d been doing and then some. Sara reminds us that ‘we’ are important, too. Check it out:

I know many folks, myself included, who have saved the ‘good’ stuff for ‘later’. I know many folks who never got around to later…

If you have ever seen the safety drill on an airplane, you know they always tell you to put on your mask before you attempt to help someone else. The reason is simple: You can’t take care of someone else if you haven’t taken care of yourself first. (We see it a lot in disaster movies…)

There is power in slowing down. It gives us time to calm down enough to actually focus and think things through. It sets us up for success.

My mom had a habit of shifting the furniture around every 6 months or so. She might not do it in every room, but at least one room in our home got rearranged. End result: An entirely new space to inhabit. We had to actually pay attention for a while to make sure we didn’t bump into things. We actually felt like we had gone away for a few days. Don’t knock it until you have tried it.

Something similar can be done by changing the curtains and pillow or cushion covers. Switching out the sheets on the bed to something with a different color or pattern.

Mrs. Obama talked about learning to knit and how it provided her with a quiet place to focus on something other than what was stressing her out.

Crafting in all its many forms can provide you a safe place, too. It doesn’t have to be costly and many forms are portable.

The most important thing, I think, is to remind ourselves that we are important enough to get some attention and care. Better yet, it is a good lesson to teach kids. Food for thought.

Maybe more if they are lucky.

That favorite pair of jeans. The cozy sweater that is Just Right when it is cold outside. The dress that fits perfectly and wears like a dream.

Everyone has some article of clothing in their closet that makes them feel special. And, in many cases, said article is not new nor trendy.

The thing about Fast Fashion is that it was never intended to become that pair of perfectly fitting jeans that has become well worn in all the right places. Fast Fashion was never designed to be around for very long because its sole purpose is to be purchased, brought home and discarded to make room for the next piece of Fast Fashion.

The comfy, cozy clothes we gravitate to in our closet have been with us for years because they were designed to be long wearing and durable. Easy to clean. Effortless. Classic…or not.

I think one of the main reasons people learn to sew clothing is to have those well loved items available at the whisper of a whim. Patterns can be used more than once, after all…

And before anyone steps up to say that home made clothing is expensive I suggest they calculate the cost of constantly replenishing a closet full of clothing that barely survives a year of wear and tear. That ain’t cheap!

I’ll go one better. For many of us, being able to have the wardrobe we want, in the colors and fabrics we want, at the size we need, is not always possible to find in stores. The only option, therefore, is to make that wardrobe ourselves. The same goes for household items like cushion covers and window curtains.

Food for thought.

I discovered Shelby’s Cottage a month or so ago and have been indulging a bit. I love the vibe. I love the esthetic. I love the idea(s) behind it.

And I thoroughly enjoy the lack of urgency.

She recently posted her guide to escaping reality this summer and I thought I would share it here:

From the quite corners to read a book (not to mention book suggestions) to the easy meals and quiet respites, I enjoyed every bit of this video.

Summer in my part of the world is hot, often humid, and really not inductive to be outside for those of us who melt and burn easily. Finding a comfortably place to enjoy the quiet and comfort of long Summer days is important. Allowing oneself to appreciate not being tied to a To Do List or a calendar (unless, of course, it is for book and movie releases…) is imperative.

Turning the world off for a while should be mandatory as it allows us to recharge our own batteries, refresh our mindset, relax and regroup.

Enjoy!

No matter if it is online shopping or window shopping, tripping into a rabbit hole can be quite the experience!

I love to window shop. I love to online shop. I love to not shop. But if I find ‘something’ that captures my attention and gets me thinking…maybe… there is no telling what might happen.

Recently I came across someone who admitted she was intimidated by making her own pasta. It did not help when her husband bought her a rather pricey manual pasta machine. You know, that crank model that takes your dough ball and flattens it and then cuts it.

Now, I have often thought that home made pasta could be quite an experience. I had an aunt who made the most horrendous home made noodles ever (without any machine), so contemplating making my own … well it was a bit surprising.

As I thought about it, however, I could tell there was the teeniest bit of curiosity. I have a postage stamp sized kitchen so bringing in anything requires thought. As I started looking around to see what was available I came across electronic machines that mix the dough and cut the shapes via extruding the dough through dies. Okay, that really caught my attention. The comments and ratings were exceptionally good, too. A peremptory check of recipe books showed the potential.

While the price tag isn’t cheap, the potential is quite good. I am still thinking about this but you see the problem when you dive into a rabbit hole?

I’ve had similar experiences with crafting tools, too.

It is a funny thing, some items are a no brainer while others require thought and time. I figure if I am still interested in it a few days or a few months in the future, it is worth looking at again and then make a decision.

Thank goodness for small living spaces! <G>

Recently I caught up with several of my favorite YouTubers as they moved forward with their home projects. While all of their efforts were interesting and, to me at least, useful, the one constant theme is the way that their style has changed over the years.

Some were dyed in the wool pink lovers. To the point where the color showed up pretty much everywhere. Really. Now, I like pink but not quite to that degree. Then again, it isn’t my home. <G>

Some were really into major DIY projects to customize their spaces to fit their preferences. I applaud them but realize that some viewers could easily be intimidated by the work involved. Then again, it could be said to be an educational video.

My point is that, for most of us, our styles and our skill sets evolve over time. So, too, is that daredevil may care attitude. Sometimes we do things from ignorance or lack of resources that we might not do later when those … excuses … are no longer valid.

And you know what? It is all okay.

We all have to try, experiment, play around with, things to see what works for us and what doesn’t. Sometimes it is discovering that we really preferred that green in the kitchen rather than all the pink everywhere… Sometimes it is making peace with ourselves over not knowing how to treat antiques. Sometimes it is simply congratulating ourselves because we learned something and moved forward.

One step at a time. Give yourself permission not to follow trends just because.

Enjoy!

Something

I don’t know about you but it is feeling more and more like a shift, a change, a…something. Maybe it is all those Memorial Day commercials talking about DIY and painting or digging up the garden, or buying furniture. LOL!

Memorial Day is the unofficial start to Summer. That time when we start looking toward taking time away from the daily grind to change … something.

It is also that time of year when change happens. Graduations. Weddings. Vacations.

Here’s to starting in on a new … whatever … and enjoying it fully!

I have to admit that I am enjoying a variety of videos on YouTube. In fact, it astounds me when I consider the variety of content over there. That said, I have found myself viewing things that…frankly caught me by surprise.

I’ve long been a fan of Better Homes & Gardens Australia, which has become Great Home Ideas. I love their easy and accessible content coupled with good ideas for all levels of DIYers.

Imagine my surprise to discover another Australian channel that is devoted to massive overgrown garden cleanups. WTH?????

Yeah, surprised me, too. But you know what, it is very interesting to watch and the end result is often astounding. There are similar content channels from around the globe, so you might want to check on that but if you are interested, check out Quick Cuts.

Wasn’t that amazing?

Another thing I have seen is where folks go in and do massive cleaning oriental carpets and such. I mean rugs that are so dirty you can’t tell what color(s) it might be. The end results are astounding.

There are loads of DIY how tos that cover a wide range of topics. And, if you pay attention, you will find folks who know what they are doing and willing to share their knowledge.

And if you aren’t inclined to any of that, there are always lots of dogs and cats to keep up with. I’m rather fond of Eric over at Esselle and Eric.

He really is the sweetest cat!

Enjoy!