Recharging Batteries

Fridays wind to a close and for some reason a good night’s sleep doesn’t seem enough to break away from the chains of stress that still has its knobby fingers around you. 

What do you do? 

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Sleeping in is usually the answer but why not try to listen to the nudges of sunny Saturday (well, hopefully it’s sunny at your end too) and join the birds’ chorus to a new day promptings! 

Open those sleep-fogged eyes.

Move those lazy bones under the bed sheets.

Stretch your body out of that cozy bed.

Here are some ideas to de-stress without going over the budget.

Begin the day with a smile

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Start off your day by preparing your favorite breakfast combo for a change while listening to your favorite tunes. Let yourself loosen up along the sweet strains of your favorite music artist. If your domicile has small balcony or patio, why not spend a gorgeous breakfast outside. Take time to take in the wonder of the new day.  

If you are heading out, why not take a leisure walk around town. There are bound to be new shops that have sprung up over the week that you haven’t noticed before. Take in the sights and not gloss over the familiar shops because they are recognizable to you.  They may hold announcements from latest menu to services that you weren’t aware of due to the constant bustle from the previous weeks.

Visit your local indoor/outdoor skate/bike park and be one of the lucky audiences to be fortunate in catching an impromptu demonstration of skills from sporty enthusiasts.

Saunter through the town mall with friends. Check out the activity roster for schedules of live performances by local or up-and-coming acts or by glee clubs from nearby schools for the week. It is usually a good treat supporting the town favorites too.

Plan a TV series marathon or a movie marathon with friends. It can be a whole day affair with costumes or a themed-get-together party where the food is pot-luck. A quick agreement on food assignment amongst friends and you’re set to go.

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Redecorate the spare room that has been screaming for a makeover. Gather all your home makeover books and materials that you’ve slowly accumulated over the past months and thumbed through the pages. Perhaps, a faux stone wall effect will do the trick for your room?

Or if you have few selections, head over to www.dyinetwork.com for style ideas on how to resuscitate a dreary room and transform it to a vibrant one.  There are tips, suggestions, and videos on paint techniques to help you decide which will work for your room.

Stop and Smell the Roses

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With varied choices coming from your own roster of interests, all one needs is to diversify a weekend activity. Allow yourself to free up from your working routine.  As they say, “stop and smell the roses”. Appreciate every break away from the daily grind. We can’t go on forever brooding. Smile.

Music with Lyrics or without?

What do I prefer listening to, music with lyrics or music without? 

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I mostly listen to music with lyrics because the words are the next thing that draws me into a song. Listening to what the song is all about and the world the artist  is painting in that 4.5 minutes of the track. The words also acts like a guide (to me) where I'm supposed to be heading within the song too. What feeling was the artist conveying at that time he or she wrote the song or even just a sliver of his/her thoughts around the different subjects like love, of leaving, goodbyes, new love, life, connectedness, people, etc.  

However, very few songs today have stories within the lyrics. Unfortunately, I can't recall the song that was in my office-mate's playlist so you'll know what I mean. I was surprised by that little realization. The song I believe was pretty much the song tracks our older siblings used to listen.  Sorry, somewhere in the '70s probably. I guess even the '90s songs are considered old today. Hahha

Several of my favorite songwriters are: David Foster, Diane Warren,  Christian Ingebrigsten, Mark Read, Ronan Keating and the rest of Boyzone (A Different Beat, Key to My Life, I Never Not Need You, Melting Pot are some of the notables, imo) Andrea Corr, Gary Barlow, and Alan Menken.

Then there are  music composers who are my top faves too such as Howard Shore, Yanni and Kenny G. 

How about you, which do you prefer listening to?

Oh... fantastic beads!

I haven't started this craft yet and just been doing the customary look-see mode for several months. I'm itching to follow a design but first thing's first. I have to get acquainted with the tools and where to get them. I don't know if the local craft store carries this. All I can see from their displays are materials for Cross-stitching. I wonder if I'll be needing a beadboard? There was one youtube free beading instruction video that was posted over there and the facilitator used the beadboard to help her map out the length of the bead bracelet she was going to make. It seemed very helpful to have. Then there were several beadmakers I've watched at the mall, who don't use it all. I guess they've been doing it for quite some time, they don't need it.

I found this magazine three months ago. Following the designs will be a labor of love all right. Watch out for this space for a beading debut. Lolz. Well, after I get all materials and tools. 

Photo Credit www.magnifyingglass-withlight.info

I hope I won't be needing a magnifying glass like this one because I do know I easily strain my eyes from staring at the computer for most of the day. Okay. Time for a break! 


There are some fabulous sites that I can't get enough visiting them! A couple of my faves are: Beading Daily and Jewelry Making Daily


So it's time to rest these eyes!

What Five Books You Want to Read?

After my stint working the night shift succumbed me to exhaustion (and almost landing in the hospital), I decided to to leave the work because it was seriously doing more harm to me! Yay! Freedom. I can put my feet up for a while. I don't know why I was craving to visit my favorite thrift book shop though. Here are my five books. What are yours?

 

Ordinary Miracles

A five minute skit I wrote for a group activity

Back one summer day when I was seven years old I asked myself, what I was that something in me which was unique and felt right? I felt everyone on Earth was given a purpose. 

I've never thought much about it because I was too young to understand what happened. It was only recently that I dwelt on this memory and was encouraged. From that quiet moment,  I remember feeling a warmth cascading down on me, encircling me before the word "story" flashed through my mind. 

It was very heartening when I stumbled upon Ordinary Miracles today and read  When God Calls You To Write. More thoughts to think about and a wonderful encouragement if you found yourself stuck.

My previous Anthropology professor asked the room: Do we live to exist or do we exist to live?

Meet Cottonball

Cottonball

The newest member! At the times like this, I so need a new cam.  Ack! I hope I'll be able to see little Cottonball soon. His mother has the habit of transferring him. I don't know if the mother and son visit our neighbors houses. 

Tripp likes to play tag with Cottonball, much to this little one's exasperation since he's too small to tag back. I think Tripp thinks Cottonball's a furry rat. Lolz.

Cottonball was more likely to tumble and flipped too hard by Tripp. There was an instance when  I heard this poor furball shrieked twice. Tsk...tsk. 

Tripp still adorable (lolz)

High-energy Tripp.  He poked his nosy face at the plants when I was transplanting that day this was taken. He likes to get in the way too. It was so funny when he found a spider. He chased and pounced at it. Clearly looking for a playmate. Hahha

Monetary avenues

With economies tightening belts left and right, one tends to become creative in looking out for opportunities from the comforts of one's home.

A stay home mom, someone in the midst of changing careers or even finding oneself "employment- challenged" or simply unemployed, can strive ways for some monetary opportunities to help tied over the leaner months.

Here are some ways to keep positive while waiting for that e-mail from prospective employers or simply wanting for fill those free hours.

Coming Back

I finally found my way back to this blog and after trying to recall which right password combination to match the e-mail address, access to posting was back. I hope to continue adding something here soon.