by Marie | Jan 3, 2014 | Thoughts
I know this is a departure from what I usually write about, but I’m hoping to spark a bit of a discussion here about something I love very much—reading. I got to thinking about precisely why I read back in August, when I spent some time with some sort-of relatives. The eldest is around my age, and we were quite good friends when we were younger. We were discussing books we’d read lately when the 15 and 12-year-olds piped up and proudly declared that neither of them had ever read an entire book, and that reading is stupid and dumb. I certainly hope they were exaggerating, but the fact that either of them thought it something to brag about is rather heartbreaking.
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by Marie | Dec 30, 2013 | Thoughts
I love learning. Figuring out how a certain cosmetic is made, learning the etymology behind a neat word, trying out a new cooking technique. One of the things I’ll always have a lot to learn about is life in general. Here’s some things I sorted out this year.
The photos for today’s post are from a hike Craig & I took up into the Bugaboos this summer.
Sometimes people will force you to do something unimportant just to prove that they can boss you around. They can be slimy and sweet about it, or a flat out asshole. Either way, you probably will not like it (or them). They will often do it under the guise of it being necessary, though you can clearly see that it is not. It turns out there isn’t usually much you can do about this. However, there is a good chance that if you just grin and bear it, people around you will start to notice their asshole-ish behaviour as well.
Sometimes being unhappy for no apparent reason just happens. Try to figure it out, read a few books, and reach out to your friends.
I need vacations, and I need them to be spread out over the year.
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by Marie | Dec 23, 2013 | Thoughts
Merry Christmas, everyone! I thought I’d celebrate by sharing a few of my favourite Christmas shots from the past few years. I also want to say a big thank you to everyone for supporting me this year by reading my blog, commenting, following me on my assorted social networks, and DIYing with me. It means the world to me.
Merry Christmas to you & yours 🙂
by Marie | Nov 22, 2013 | Thoughts
As I’m sure you can readily surmise, I am never at a loss when people ask me what I like to do in my free time. Similarly, my shelves and cupboards are never at a loss for things in tins and bars and bottles and what not. That said, though, I am not always the most organized when it comes to ensuring I have Christmas gifts on hand—last year I nearly entirely ran out of soap! Disgraceful. So, in an effort to collect my thoughts, and perhaps help collect yours, here are ten ideas for homemade Christmas gifts (and the recipes).
Hand Salve
A nice, herb-infused hand salve is always useful, especially in the dead of winter when skin can shrivel up like a raisin. This makes an especially thoughtful gift if you know a person has recently gotten into something like guitar playing that requires the use (and abuse) of their hands.
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by Marie | Oct 19, 2013 | Fashion & Costuming, Thoughts
Well, the weekends for Halloween fancy dress parties are coming up fast, and you don’t have a costume yet. Maybe you do this every year, or maybe this is the first time in a long time you haven’t had a chance to sew something elaborate from the ground up. Either way, I’ve got you covered with another installment of my 10 Quick & Easy Halloween Costumes for Procrastinators! (Be sure to check my 2011 and 2012 editions for even more ideas.)
The Royal Baby
Footie pajamas, a crown, and a bejeweled (bedazzled) rattle and pacifier. Done!
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by Marie | Oct 14, 2013 | General DIY, Thoughts
There are many reasons I love Bill Bryson and find him downright hilarious—one is his ability to describe misery so well. It’s not that I particularly delight in the misery of others, but when aptly described in a way that is clearly meant to be humorous, I am powerless against the ensuing giggling and snorting (sorry, fellow public transit users). Anyhow, with this second instalment in my “Abject DIY Failures” series, I hope you can find some amusement, and learn from my mistakes.
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