Do not do work twice
Reduce the time spent on maintenance tasks by avoiding doing the work twice.
Puzzle: Unicorn Waterfall
Size: 300 pieces
Dimensions: 27.94cm x 38.1cm
Producer: Ceaco, Glow in the Dark series, 10-puzzle pack, 2013, No. 103013-21081-A
Puzzle: Lovely vibrant colours. We did this puzzle with my almost four-year old, and he quite enjoyed it. Good places to start are the orange ground, the purple sky and yellow mountain top, the green bushes at the bottom, the lilac haze along the right side, and the dark purple tree. Next …
Puzzle: Fairy Raindrops
Size: 300 pieces
Dimensions: 27.94cm x 38.1cm
Producer: Ceaco, Glow in the Dark series, 10-puzzle pack, 2013, No. 103013-21081-A
Puzzle: Great for kids with its vibrant colours and clear colour borders. My son loved assembling it with me. The rainbow background is the easiest place to start, followed by the exposed skin, face, hair and flowers, mushrooms on the right, daisies, and shiny raindrops at the bottom. The dress, long-stemmed plants, and …
Resolutions? Try something new!
We get so bogged down in routine that on a rare occasion we surface for air (during holidays or a vacation), we often realize how monotone our life is. We work, we take care of children, we cook, clean, run errands, and manage to get out for an evening once in a blue moon. In all these chores and commitments, we often lose the sense of being alive. January is the month for the New Year resolutions. This year, resolve to try something new, often.
Puzzle: Space Station 2 by Ciro Marchetti
Size: 750 pieces
Dimensions: 67.95 cm x 48.1 cm
Producer: Mega Puzzles, Vibrant series, 2013, No. 50572ADN, A 23123 LP
Artist: Ciro Marchetti
Original: Space Station
Puzzle: Lovely vibrant puzzle – a pleasure to do. Easy due to multiple cues – bright colours with distinct borders, multiple distinct colour regions, zodiac signs in a circle, different textures of wood and metal, bright red flags. …
Stay zen this holiday season
Holidays tend to be overwhelming, as new responsibilities and chores seem to rapidly pile up on top of the everyday ones. Suddenly, we are expected to attend multiple events, create or purchase a variety of thoughtful gifts, bake delicious treats, decorate the house, and still manage to keep the kids alive, the work done, the house clean, the food made, and stay somehow looking vibrant, beautiful, and non-disheveled after all this. I share a few strategies that can help make this time less stressful and more enjoyable.
Puzzle: Shangri-La Winter by Ciro Marchetti
Size: 1000 pieces
Dimensions: 51cm x 68cm
Producer: LPF Ltd., Holographic puzzle
Artist: Ciro Marchetti has had a successful graphic design career that has spanned working in Europe, South America and the US. He is a five-time recipient of the distinguished Photoshop GURU award, and three time winner of the Worldwide Photoshop Competition presented by the National Association of Photoshop Professionals. The current content …
Puzzle: Enchanted Encounter
Size: 300 pieces
Dimensions: 27.94cm x 38.1cm
Producer: Ceaco, Glow in the Dark series, 10-puzzle pack, 2013, No. 103013-21081-A
Puzzle: This puzzle was one of my son’s favourite, as it had a fairy, a wizard, a dragon, a horse, and a castle all in one. We assembled it together. Good places to start are the wizard’s robe, the blue of the sky, the castle, the sky border with the …
Vary the intensity
Vary the intensity of activities to maximize productivity and balance out work and rest. Try the singing bowl exercise to help you find areas that need the most attention and will fulfill you most.
Puzzle: Spring Bouquet
Size: 500 pieces
Dimensions: 30.02 cm x 48.26 cm
Producer: Mega Puzzles, Vibrant series, 2013, No. 51410AAN, A 17063 LP
Photographer: Val Thoermer
Original: photo
Puzzle: Lovely bouquet – beautiful zen puzzle. With well-fitting Sure-Lox pieces, small size and vibrant colours, it is not difficult. Good places to start are the white and the pink roses, dark purple hyacinth and bright green buds. The violet flowers …
How to make Waldorf-inspired play silks
Before my son’s fourth birthday, I searched around for Waldorf-style play silks and found, to my astonishment, that they cost about $15/piece. As I wanted to get him a few silks in different colours, this seemed an exorbitant expense, so I have set out to find a way to make those myself. By the time the supplies have arrived, his birthday was over and I was swamped with getting back to work while taking care of the baby who’s been ill on and off, and trying to recover my system after a drive crashed and took with it not only data but two operating systems as well. This past weekend, I have decided to undertake the silk dyeing project in hopes to get my son excited about making our own toys and to create something that my upset and exhausted from illness baby would enjoy as well. The silks were a success.
Puzzle: City of Coins by Ciro Marchetti
Size: 1000 pieces
Dimensions: 51cm x 68cm
Producer: LPF Ltd., Holographic puzzle, #3921
Artist: Ciro Marchetti has had a successful graphic design career that has spanned working in Europe, South America and the US. He is a five-time recipient of the distinguished Photoshop GURU award, and three time winner of the Worldwide Photoshop Competition presented by the National Association of Photoshop Professionals. The current content …
Importance of movement
To follow up on the importance of alignment and varied movement throughout the day, here’s a great explanation from Katy Bowman.
Just keep moving
Move throughout the day between sitting, standing, walking, bending, squatting, lying down. It’s not about finding a perfect position — it is about changing positions frequently.
Puzzle: Dark Angel
Size: 300 pieces
Dimensions: 27.94cm x 38.1cm
Producer: Ceaco, Glow in the Dark series, 10-puzzle pack, 2013, No. 103013-21081-A
Puzzle: Lovely puzzle, easy to do due to its small size and large differently-shaped pieces. Good places to start are the wings, the exposed skin, the red belt and skirt trim, and the purple dress. The stairs are easy to do and make for horizontal guides. The greenish light above and behind the figure …
Seven-year wedding anniversary
This past week has marked the seventh wedding anniversary for me and my partner. It came just a few days after our second baby turned a year old. To my surprise, most people reacted strangely to me saying that I feel a strong need to acknowledge and celebrate this milestone.
Puzzle: Sunlit Sanctuary
Size: 500 pieces
Dimensions: 35.56cm x 45.72cm
Producer: Ceaco, Glow in the Dark series, 10-puzzle pack, 2013, No. 103013-21081-A
Puzzle: Generally not my type of puzzle to do, as I’m more into architecture, landscapes, and fantasy, but it came in a pack of 10 puzzles from which I liked a few. It was a little big for my son, so I’ve put it together myself. Quite easy to do. Good places to …
Puzzle: Fairy Key by Nadia Strelkina
Size: 750 pieces
Dimensions: 51cm x 68cm
Producer: Lafayette Puzzle Factory, Goldenline Fairies series, APL33650LK0812, #0213
Artist: Nadia Strelkina
Painting: photo
Box: photo
Puzzle: From the same series as Prisoner, this is a lovely colourful puzzle – a pleasure to do. The best places to start are the skin (face, neck, and hands), …
Shift your pattern by changing one thing
If you feel you are stuck in a routine you do not enjoy, try altering it in small ways. Before you know it, small changes might carry you into a more enjoyable reality.
Lemongrass, comfrey, lemon verbena harvest and preservation
My November garden still produces kale and Swiss chard, so lots of smoothies are happening in addition to blanching and freezing kale for the winter. I have harvested more tomatoes, my huge lemongrass and lemon verbena plants, comfrey, and butternut squash. Here are some resources I have found useful in the process.