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Showing posts from January, 2014

Homemade Notebooks from Book Binding Rings

 This has been a huge hit on my Old World Charm - Modern Living site. I hope you get a kick out of it. I've continued to make these as I need them. The extra large one I made below I destroyed to use the rings, since I didn't need the binder anymore. The biggest tip I'd suggest, and that I don't mention below, is maybe to use a thicker cardboard, or double it up. If you're like me, you need the durability, but for everyday purposes, the below work great. The best part of this project is what I mentioned above. If you get sick of it (I become far too bored with things and change them around a lot) you can rip it up, make a new one, or just destroy. Feels nice to destroy sometimes, doesn't it? =================================================================== Homemade Notebook  from book binding rings Makes: one Size: Depends on the rings you use. I made a 1 1/2" using 3 rings, and another 3 1/2" using two sets of 1 1/2 rings. I'l

Book Review - Fire Starter & Question of the Day

I just finished, Firestarter by Stephen King this morning. I tried to find the cover that I have, and this is what I found - CoverVia - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1567985.Firestarter I saw this movie when I was young, but mostly only remember that Charlie was played by Drew Barrymore. I don't remember much else about it. So the entire time I read, I kept seeing her face as the little girl. A lot of these Stephen King and Dean Koontz books are going to be popping up in the near future from me. I'm gorging myself on the best authors I can read. Or at least the ones that I deem the top. Others may disagree. From a writer standpoint, it's to study in the background while I read the book. A funny thing happens when you become an author/writer yourself. You find that while you read, you ingest parts of the grammar and writing that you wouldn't before. So while I'm reading, there is this part of me that says, oh, so that's how he writes this or th

Who Am I

Who am I is the prompt that I posted last week for The Blogging Lounge. The first prompt I shared as the new head of The Blogging Lounge , the former GBE2 group. I have been going back and forth on what I wanted to do for the first prompt. I didn't really think it appropriate to start this group, without including myself in the prompts. But to be honest, I just haven't felt up to writing this past week, or the week prior. I was busy taking care of a sick parakeet, and then two of our female dogs are in heat. We still have one male who we have to neuter so staying hyper aware of where each is every day, grows exhausting. Last Tuesday, my parakeet Jax passed away. I couldn't even bring myself to say it without crying, so I knew better than to try. Most people who haven't owned pets don't get the connection that pet owners share with their animals. Beyond that, I have always possessed a connection with animals that surpasses what most feel so when one of my pet

The Reaper - Love him.

  You're more than welcome to share and/or save this. As long as you don't alter the image, I make these for you to enjoy. Square means it's Instagram friendly, too.

The Blogging Lounge Prompt #2 January 22, 2014

When you've posted, you're welcome to come back here and share those links in the comments below. I will participate the same way and link my post (if I do one for the prompt) in the comments below. Though those of you who follow this blog, will get the blog post as normal, in the email, on this site, however you follow.  Feel free to save and share the image above. It's a square, which makes sharing on Instagram much easier. I can't wait to see how this inspires you! Join the Facebook Group and share the links within as well.

Dark Illusions Series

Dark Illusions Books In Order   To make it easier on you, so you know the order of the books, I'm making this page to sort through them. This is just the list. Dark Illusions: The Beginning   Book One in the Dark Illusions Series Dark Illusions: The Next Chapter  Book Two in the Dark Illusions Series Dark Illusions: The Final Chapter Book Three in the Dark Illusions Series Synopsis: The Awakened have existed since time began. Always there; never seen. Vampires with the ability to shapeshift into wolves, who retain many of the wolf abilities. Kat is thrust into a world she never knew existed before. A world many humans are never privy to. Not only does she have to learn to accept the existence of these creatures, but she becomes entangled in a war that may have consequences for her that she never imagined possible. The Prince has long wished for the humans to be unawares of their existence. He has maintained order--despite some clans trying to alw

Dark Illusions: The Final Chapter Official Page

Kat's life turned out far different than anything she could have ever imagined. One day she was being chased in an alleyway and now she's wondering who this man she fell for is. Being Awakened means little when you feel like a caged animal. What good is being immortal if you're no freer than a human?   If the Prince has a problem with that? He can take a seat with the others. Kat knows what everyone has kept from her. You can't hide the truth forever. The world needs a wake up call. The Awakened Prince isn't the one in charge anymore.   She is. And you know what? It's time to live by Kat's rules. Only one person keeps trying to undermine her. The Prince. It's time he backs off. Or does Julian have something left to discover about himself that may change the game for every single one of the Awakened, including Kat? That may change the entire future of everyone involved, and may still Awaken something that none of them had ever believed possible? Not all

Won't be around much.

I don't want to leave you guys hanging. This week may not be many posts, you won't see me much on social networks. I don't have the energy. I am editing Dark Illusions: The Final Chapter , and that's about it. So here is a really great article/essay from Stephen King. He talks about his books being banned from libraries. I always enjoy the eloquence of his writing. Maybe not something others would call it "eloquent" but I think he has a way with words that most don't, so I deem that eloquent. http://www.stephenking.com/library/essay/book-banners_adventure_in_censorship_is_stranger_than_fiction_the.html

Dark Illusions: The Final Chapter preview

The Blogging Lounge Prompt #1 January 8, 2014

When you've posted, you're welcome to come back here and share those links in the comments below. I will participate the same way and link my post (if I do one for the prompt) in the comments below. Though those of you who follow this blog, will get the blog post as normal, in the email, on this site, however you follow.  Feel free to save and share the image above. It's a square, which makes sharing on Instagram much easier. :) I can't wait to see how this inspires you. Join the Facebook Group and share the links within as well.

Homemade Tater Tots and boy are they delish

Credit for the original recipe is found here -  http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2011/03/homemade-tater-tots.html I will write up how I did it, but the original tells how to freeze it, and the like. Mine will just tell how to make a quick batch which will disappear within no time. And I do mean NO time.  Homemade Tater Tots Ingredients: (Original recipe -  http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2011/03/homemade-tater-tots.html ) 2 lbs russet potatoes, peeled and cut up into 1-inch chunks. About 4-5 large ones.  2 quarts frying oil (whichever you prefer, and use, I did just plain shortening) 2 tsp salt 1 tbsp cornstarch 1/2 tsp granulated sugar Ground black pepper (recipes calls for fresh, but I used my regular been sittin on the stove forever pepper :p) Directions: (Original recipe -  http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2011/03/homemade-tater-tots.html ) Wash potatoes for about 10 seconds in cold water, then place in wire mesh strainer for 5 minutes

What is the Blogging Lounge?

I decided that this weekend would be left up to cleaning and editing. I've had a lot of dishes pile up (our dishwasher broke years ago and we haven't had the moolah to replace it) over the past week so that's one thing I have to catch up on. The other is the cleaning and organizing of my desk. Whenever I decide to do an out with the old, in with the new moment, I try to go through my entire room, and see what can get ditched. Mostly minor things that have piled up around my room or desk area that should be dealt with so I can have a clean work area. Nothing like a clean kitchen to make me want to cook all day, and the same goes for clean and organized work area. Production gets boosted. It's weird how such a little thing can make a drastic change. I am constantly changing--aren't we all--and try to redo myself overall a lot throughout each year. So when that feeling strikes me, as it has this week, I know I just need a change. In my private life there have be

You are in the driver's seat

Only you control the way others make you feel because they cannot make you feel anything. They can do actions, which cause you to feel a certain way as a consequence, but they can't actually make you feel a certain way. You are the one in control of your own emotions. You control the way you react to situations and to people. You are the one in the driver's seat of your heart. The heart wants what the heart wants. That's true. You cannot choose who you fall in love with. That's true. But . . . it's up to you to be there. It's up to you to show up. Love isn't some miracle that only a few special people will know. As humans, we are born to love as much as we are born to breathe. It's a natural feeling that comes in many different forms, and many different ways, but it lives within us. It also requires a degree of trust, respect, and willingness to work to keep that love alive. To show up and to feed it. Like plants need water, humans need lo