Victoria Zigler's Blog: Zigler News, page 151
December 20, 2015
Random ramblings - December 20th 2015
No, they aren't my decorations in that picture. They're in the window of a nearby store. Kelly took the photo for me a few weeks ago, since he knows I like to have photos of those kinds of things to share, even if I can't see them myself.
Anyway...
There's less than a week until Christmas. Can you believe it?
This year has zoomed by, hasn't it?
I did try to slow the world down, but it didn't work, and another year is almost over.
So, what are your holiday plans? Are you ready for them?
I'm ready, and any cards and gifts I'm sending are already with people.
In the past, I was making cards, but it was becoming difficult. With my lack of sight I need help, and Kelly has arthritis in his hands that makes it difficult for him to do fiddly things, as well as to write with a pen for long. I don't send to everyone I know. In fact, I have quite a short list compared to the one I used to have. But it doesn't take many cards for Kelly's hand to start hurting; especially if he's had to help me make them.
Anyway, the plan was to use up the last of the handmade cards I have (since I had leftovers from last year) and then send cards via MoonPig, or Funky Pigeon, or something. Except, with everything that's been going on lately, we got behind on our schedule, so would have needed to have a long card writing session in order to get all the cards sent out when we wanted to send them. So, I mostly just went straight to plan B. Apparently that was a good thing though, since those who have gotten them seem very pleased with their MoonPig cards.
***
It's been really cold here. We even got a bit of snow!
OK, it wasn't much snow, and it didn't stick around, but it's better than last year, and still early enough in the season that we could possibly get more. YAY!
In the meantime, I've had some awesome storms to listen to.
It's great being able to curl up on the sofa, or in bed, and listen to the enormous waves crashing against the pebbles of the shore as though determined to pound them to sand before Winter ends, while the wind howls as though a pack of wolves is competing with an ice monster for domanence over this land, and the rain lashes against the windows as though desperate to come in to escape the chaos.
I'd still like some decent snow though... Maybe I'll get some this year? *Looks hopeful*
***
I finnished the other blanket I was knitting during the second half of November. So, here's a photo for those who want to see it:
I'm now in the process of making a doll. I have no idea what I'm going to do with the doll once I've made her, but I thought it would be a fun project. I'll worry about what to do with her when she's finnished.
***
It was my Mam's birthday yesterday (December 19th).
So... Happy birthday, Mam!
***
Speaking of birthdays...
My birthday gift from Kelly finally arrived!
It's not his fault it took so long, nor the company's fault. It was due to issues with the post office; I spent several weeks alternating between waiting for the package to arrive, and calling the post office to find out why it hadn't arrived, while struggling to keep my temper with them for telling me different things every time I called them.
But, anyway... It finally got here last Tuesday. Or, I should say "they" finally got here last Tuesday, since it's a pair.
"A pair of what?" I hear you ask.
A pair of Cthulhu slippers, that's what!
Yes, Cthulhu as in the monster from the H P Lovecraft stories, and the Cthulhu roleplaying game that's based on them.
And here they are:
December 18, 2015
Furkid Friday: Santa Paws is coming
Hi there humans, rodent types, and anyone else reading this.
This is Jasper the degu.
The human caretakers say it's just one more week until Santa Paws comes, so my rodent siblings and I are working hard on a plan to catch him. We're hoping we'll finally do it this year.
There are eight of us, and we're all older and wiser than we were last year. At least, we say we are... The Mummy human says that, while she agrees on the older part, the wiser part is debatable. How rude! But, anyway, there are eight of us, and there's only one of him. Well, he has his reindeer, but I'm told they aren't involved in doing anything other than pulling the sleigh Santa Paws carries the toys and nibbles around the world in.
OK... There's only one way in or out of this place, unless Santa Paws wants to climb out of his sleigh while it's hovering outside the window, several floors up, which would be both stupid and dangerous. All our cages have a clear view of that entrance, so we're coming up with a plan to catch him as he comes in. As long as at least one of us stays awake, we should catch him this time, right?
I'm not going to share any more details of the plan on here, just in case he's reading this. But, we're sure it's a great one.
Wish us luck!
Squeak soon,
Jasper
This is Jasper the degu.
The human caretakers say it's just one more week until Santa Paws comes, so my rodent siblings and I are working hard on a plan to catch him. We're hoping we'll finally do it this year.
There are eight of us, and we're all older and wiser than we were last year. At least, we say we are... The Mummy human says that, while she agrees on the older part, the wiser part is debatable. How rude! But, anyway, there are eight of us, and there's only one of him. Well, he has his reindeer, but I'm told they aren't involved in doing anything other than pulling the sleigh Santa Paws carries the toys and nibbles around the world in.
OK... There's only one way in or out of this place, unless Santa Paws wants to climb out of his sleigh while it's hovering outside the window, several floors up, which would be both stupid and dangerous. All our cages have a clear view of that entrance, so we're coming up with a plan to catch him as he comes in. As long as at least one of us stays awake, we should catch him this time, right?
I'm not going to share any more details of the plan on here, just in case he's reading this. But, we're sure it's a great one.
Wish us luck!
Squeak soon,
Jasper
December 17, 2015
What's on your holiday menu this year? (FD)
After I queeried the lack of food being mentioned in Jeanie's posts about the December holidays - which you can find in my looking ahead to December holiday posts, here, and here, if you want to read them - Jeanie wrote this post, in which she talks about some of the tasty foods she and her family enjoy during the December holidays.
So... I was just wondering... What are your family's favourites for the holiday season?
Tell me below, or tell Jeanie in the comments section of her post.
And, remember: if you need more recipe ideas, there are plenty of recipes that would be good for the holidays among those on my website's recipe section, including things like traditional wassail, banana-nog, sweet mince pie filling, and a variety of cakes and cookies.
So... I was just wondering... What are your family's favourites for the holiday season?
Tell me below, or tell Jeanie in the comments section of her post.
And, remember: if you need more recipe ideas, there are plenty of recipes that would be good for the holidays among those on my website's recipe section, including things like traditional wassail, banana-nog, sweet mince pie filling, and a variety of cakes and cookies.
December 16, 2015
Wednesday's writing wordage - December 16th 2015
Read this post if you're thinking of becoming an author.
***
So, you have your story ideas from PiBoIdMo... Or, perhaps, just from general idea generation. Now it's time to research your concept to find out what's already been done, and give yourself the best chance possible of making sure your book will stand out from the crowd, and that your new twist really is a new one. But, don't forget, even while thinking outside the box, you still need to set some limits, or you'll never get your book done.
Most importantly though... Find what works for you. Even if that means writing out of order.
Also, you should always remember Jen's editing tips... Slow down! Your book takes as long as it does to finnish, and rushing it will only ruin it for your readers, which is not something you want happening... You want your readers to enjoy reading your book. Surely it's worth taking a bit longer than you'd hoped to get it out in order to achieve that?
***
Need an illustrator, or cover artist? Jacob Blackmon is your man! He specializes in fantasy themes; he does work for Paizo on a regular basis, for example. But Jacob doesn't only do fantasy and roleplaying artwork... He does other stuff too. You can see some of his work on his DeviantArt page, as well as by looking at some of my book covers, since he's one of my cover artists.
Marc Curlee is also a great artist, who would be happy to help out where he can. His work is generally more suitable for adults, and not child friendly. But if you're looking for an artist to do covers for books for older readers, Marc's your man! You can check out his DeviantArt page to get an idea of the kinds of things he does.
Both Jacob and Marc can also be found on several social media sites, such as Facebook, for example.
***
So, you have your story ideas from PiBoIdMo... Or, perhaps, just from general idea generation. Now it's time to research your concept to find out what's already been done, and give yourself the best chance possible of making sure your book will stand out from the crowd, and that your new twist really is a new one. But, don't forget, even while thinking outside the box, you still need to set some limits, or you'll never get your book done.
Most importantly though... Find what works for you. Even if that means writing out of order.
Also, you should always remember Jen's editing tips... Slow down! Your book takes as long as it does to finnish, and rushing it will only ruin it for your readers, which is not something you want happening... You want your readers to enjoy reading your book. Surely it's worth taking a bit longer than you'd hoped to get it out in order to achieve that?
***
Need an illustrator, or cover artist? Jacob Blackmon is your man! He specializes in fantasy themes; he does work for Paizo on a regular basis, for example. But Jacob doesn't only do fantasy and roleplaying artwork... He does other stuff too. You can see some of his work on his DeviantArt page, as well as by looking at some of my book covers, since he's one of my cover artists.
Marc Curlee is also a great artist, who would be happy to help out where he can. His work is generally more suitable for adults, and not child friendly. But if you're looking for an artist to do covers for books for older readers, Marc's your man! You can check out his DeviantArt page to get an idea of the kinds of things he does.
Both Jacob and Marc can also be found on several social media sites, such as Facebook, for example.
December 14, 2015
The Blue Reef Aquarium revisited
Kelly and I went back to the aquarium to see the reptile room last Thursday. We also grabbed a couple of photos of some of the other animals we didn't manage to get usable shots of last time.
Like this lobster...
Angelus the Angel shark...
And the great white shark who'd been swimming about over our heads in the tunnel...
Anyway...
In the reptile room they had animals like this turtle...
These White Tree Frogs...
A Green Iguana named Kieth...
Some beetles...
A Royal Python named Bruce...
Another Royal Python named "The Professor" who we didn't get a photo of, and several other more camera shy reptiles, such as a Boa Constrictor, some Bull Frogs, and an Emperor Scorpion.
We would have handled some of them... The ones it was OK to do so with... But we were much too early for a reptile encounter, and by the time we'd had a wander around, and then been for lunch, I was too tired to be up for going back the same day. But, hey, at least we saw the reptile room this time.
Like this lobster...
Angelus the Angel shark...
And the great white shark who'd been swimming about over our heads in the tunnel...
Anyway...
In the reptile room they had animals like this turtle...
These White Tree Frogs...
A Green Iguana named Kieth...
Some beetles...
A Royal Python named Bruce...
Another Royal Python named "The Professor" who we didn't get a photo of, and several other more camera shy reptiles, such as a Boa Constrictor, some Bull Frogs, and an Emperor Scorpion.
We would have handled some of them... The ones it was OK to do so with... But we were much too early for a reptile encounter, and by the time we'd had a wander around, and then been for lunch, I was too tired to be up for going back the same day. But, hey, at least we saw the reptile room this time.
December 13, 2015
Seeing Eye Dragon
I know many of the people who read this blog are interested in learning about my life as a blind author, and how I cope in a sighted world; from doing basic tasks, to learning to use modern pieces of technology like iPhones and EeReaders.
If you're one of those people, why not pop over to Seeing Eye Dragon, and follow the discussions about accessability of gaming and modern technology for the visually impaired, and the other trials a blind person faces when navigating a world made for sighted people.
There's not much on the site as yet, since it's new. But what's there is worth a read, in my opinion. Plus, it's all from the point of view of a blind person, who has been visually impaired since birth, blind since early childhood, and gaming almost as long.
So, go check it out, and feel free to weigh in with your own thoughts on any of the posts; the opinions of sighted people on these topics are welcomed too, after all.
If you're one of those people, why not pop over to Seeing Eye Dragon, and follow the discussions about accessability of gaming and modern technology for the visually impaired, and the other trials a blind person faces when navigating a world made for sighted people.
There's not much on the site as yet, since it's new. But what's there is worth a read, in my opinion. Plus, it's all from the point of view of a blind person, who has been visually impaired since birth, blind since early childhood, and gaming almost as long.
So, go check it out, and feel free to weigh in with your own thoughts on any of the posts; the opinions of sighted people on these topics are welcomed too, after all.
December 11, 2015
Furkid Friday - December 11th 2015 (FD)
Hellooo everyone!
This is Baggins the gerbil.
The weather is colder, and my brother, Bilbo, and I have been putting on our Winter weight; just like all those animals in the wild, who are preparing for food to be scarce, and - in many cases - hybernation.
The human caretakers insist we don't need to worry about it, since food for us won't be scarce like it often is for our wild relatives at this time of year, but we aren't taking any chances.
Besides... The nibbles are very tasty, so it's really difficult to resist the urge; especially when our instincts are telling us to fatten ourselves up ready for the cold months ahead. I mean, could you resist a bowl full of your favourite nibbles? Not to mention the offer of things like Cheerios and cheese on top of those things? I didn't think so!
Anyway, the Mummy human says a little extra fat won't hurt us, and that - when Spring comes, and we slow down with the eating again - we'll soon get the extra weight back off with all the digging we do.
In the meantime, if we find ourselves suffering the food scarcity our wild relatives often have to suffer during Winter, Bilbo and I know we'll be OK. And, if we don't... Well, like I said, the nibbles are tasty, and I agree with the Mummy human that we'll soon get the extra weight off when Spring arrives.
Squeak soon,
Baggins
This is Baggins the gerbil.
The weather is colder, and my brother, Bilbo, and I have been putting on our Winter weight; just like all those animals in the wild, who are preparing for food to be scarce, and - in many cases - hybernation.
The human caretakers insist we don't need to worry about it, since food for us won't be scarce like it often is for our wild relatives at this time of year, but we aren't taking any chances.
Besides... The nibbles are very tasty, so it's really difficult to resist the urge; especially when our instincts are telling us to fatten ourselves up ready for the cold months ahead. I mean, could you resist a bowl full of your favourite nibbles? Not to mention the offer of things like Cheerios and cheese on top of those things? I didn't think so!
Anyway, the Mummy human says a little extra fat won't hurt us, and that - when Spring comes, and we slow down with the eating again - we'll soon get the extra weight back off with all the digging we do.
In the meantime, if we find ourselves suffering the food scarcity our wild relatives often have to suffer during Winter, Bilbo and I know we'll be OK. And, if we don't... Well, like I said, the nibbles are tasty, and I agree with the Mummy human that we'll soon get the extra weight off when Spring arrives.
Squeak soon,
Baggins
December 9, 2015
Wednesday's writing wordage - December 9th 2015
To be honest, my writing's been pretty slow lately. I mean, I've been writing, but my writing projects aren't progressing as quickly as is normal for me right now. They are progressing though... Slowly.
Mostly this is due to a combination of the upcoming holidays, and things going on in life in general to make it more difficult to get my writing time in. But it's also because I felt I needed some time to step back and focus on other interests a little. Sometimes you need to, you know?
So, I've been a bit more relaxed than I should be on my deadlines and goal setting recently. But, there's progress, and that's what really counts, right?
***
Would you like some publicity for you and your books? If so, check out these places for author interviews!
They could be an excellent oppertunity for you - or one of your characters - to be interviewed, or for you and your books to be featured on someone's blog in some other way.
Having those posts to mention when they go up is also a good way for giving yourself a reason to put something on your prefered social media sites, without you having to resort toauthor spam.
I sometimes do author spotlights too, but I don't generally publically advertise my willingness to do so, since I prefer to have read at least one book by an author before I do a spotlight post for them, and usually only spotlight authors of books I've enjoyed. Some may not like that I do it this way, but I do it because, while I want to promote other authors' work, I want to know that I'm promoting something that deserves it; I'd hate to think I was sat here singing the praises of a book, only to find it was one of those books with so many editing issues it looked worse than my first drafts, or something like that.
I also sometimes post things for authors I've read if they're doing something for a book release and want people to post about it. But, again, I prefer to have read at least one book by the author in question before posting anything for them.
Speaking of featuring authors and their books... holiday book recommendation #4. Check out her blog for more great holiday book recommendations.
Mostly this is due to a combination of the upcoming holidays, and things going on in life in general to make it more difficult to get my writing time in. But it's also because I felt I needed some time to step back and focus on other interests a little. Sometimes you need to, you know?
So, I've been a bit more relaxed than I should be on my deadlines and goal setting recently. But, there's progress, and that's what really counts, right?
***
Would you like some publicity for you and your books? If so, check out these places for author interviews!
They could be an excellent oppertunity for you - or one of your characters - to be interviewed, or for you and your books to be featured on someone's blog in some other way.
Having those posts to mention when they go up is also a good way for giving yourself a reason to put something on your prefered social media sites, without you having to resort toauthor spam.
I sometimes do author spotlights too, but I don't generally publically advertise my willingness to do so, since I prefer to have read at least one book by an author before I do a spotlight post for them, and usually only spotlight authors of books I've enjoyed. Some may not like that I do it this way, but I do it because, while I want to promote other authors' work, I want to know that I'm promoting something that deserves it; I'd hate to think I was sat here singing the praises of a book, only to find it was one of those books with so many editing issues it looked worse than my first drafts, or something like that.
I also sometimes post things for authors I've read if they're doing something for a book release and want people to post about it. But, again, I prefer to have read at least one book by the author in question before posting anything for them.
Speaking of featuring authors and their books... holiday book recommendation #4. Check out her blog for more great holiday book recommendations.
December 7, 2015
A Fall scavenger hunt (FD)
Though Winter is wrapping its iron grip around the Northern Hemisphere now, this post is all about Autumn.
Most people love Autumn; especially those of us who can see the beauty of all four seasons.
The sound of dried leaves crunching under your feet as you take your morning walk, the smell of pumpkin pie baking on a chilly afternoon, the feeling of excitement as you prepare to go out trick-or-treating on Halloween night, and all the other things the season has to offer.
What's not to like?
To celebrate Autumn/Fall, and all the harvest themed holidays that go with it - as well as the foods associated with them - one of the groups I'm a member of over on Goodreads had a reading challenge that was a Fall Scavenger Hunt.
The challenge ran from September 1st to November 30th 2015, and all you had to do was to find and read a book for an item on the list. You even got to pick your own level for your challenge.
These were the challenge levels:
1-3 Books: Colorful Leaf
4-6 Books: Crisp Apple
7-9 Books: Indian Corn
10-12 Books: Pumpkin
12 + Books: Pumpkin Patch
And this was the List:
Pumpkin Pie A book that has a character who bakes or cooks
Hay Rides A book that has a tractor or horses in it
Scarecrow A book with a scary villain
Falling Leaves A book that has a character that falls in love
Apple Orchard A book that has woods or trees in it
Football A book that has organized sports or a game in it
Corn Maze A book with lots of twists and turns
Bonfire A book that is heartwarming
Giving Thanks A book you are grateful to have read
Candy Corn A book that you devoured, or couldn't put down
Trick-or-Treat A book that has a character that wears a costume or disguise
Haunted House A book that has a scary house or building in it
Turkey A book more than 450 pages in length
Cranberries A book less than 300 pages in length
Sweater Weather A book that has cold weather in it
Orange A book that has orange on the cover
Pinecones A book containing a character that has many "layers" or is hard to understand
Oktoberfest A book that has a drinking or party scene
Popcorn A book that has a battle or fight scene
Cornucopia A book that has an odd mix of characters
Gourds A book with yellow and/or green on the cover
Marshmallow A book with a character that is a big "softie"
Of course, I joined in, though I didn't do the ones with cover colours, for reasons that should be obvious. Yes, I could have asked Kelly to help with cover colours. But I decided not to bother; I usually just don't bother to do parts of challenges where colours of covers are involved.
Anyway... Here's what I read for the ones I did do...
Pumpkin Pie: The Story Girl (The Story Girl, #1) by L.M. Montgomery
Hay Rides: Wyvern (Wyvern Trilogy, #1) by John H. Carroll
Scarecrow: Balance of Fate (Delver Magic, #3) by Jeff Inlo
Falling Leaves: The Professor by Charlotte Brontë
Apple Orchard: Chronicles of the Nocturnal Forest (Stories of the Fairy of my Dreams, #1) by Vanessa Kings
Football: The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater
Corn Maze: RENOVO by Geoffrey Wakeling
Bonfire: Good-bye Stacey, Good-bye (The Baby-Sitters Club, #13) by Ann M. Martin
Giving Thanks: The Shepherd's Crown (Discworld, #41; Tiffany Aching, #5) by Terry Pratchett
Candy Corn: Throne of Vengeance (Delver Magic, #2) by Jeff Inlo
Trick-or-Treat: Super Sporty Short Stories Signed, Anonymous by Ellie Firestone
Haunted House: Pathfinder Legends — Mummy's Mask #1 The Half-Dead City by Paizo Inc.
Turkey: Villette by Charlotte Brontë
Cranberries: Yoikes (The Cloud Brothers Short Stories Book 8) by James Field
Sweater Weather: Till the Dark of Winter by Kate Trinity
Orange: ***Pass***
Pinecones: The Golden Road (The Story Girl #2) by L.M. Montgomery
Oktoberfest: Witch Winnie The Story of a "King's Daughter" (Witch Winnie, #1) by Elizabeth W. Champney
Popcorn: Sanctum's Breach (Delver Magic, #1) by Jeff Inlo
Cornucopia: Trolls Fly by Night by Suzanna Stanbury
Gourds: ***Pass***
Marshmallow: The Wacky World of Silly Willy Winston - an ordinary pet with extraordinary adventures by Donna Maguire
Most people love Autumn; especially those of us who can see the beauty of all four seasons.
The sound of dried leaves crunching under your feet as you take your morning walk, the smell of pumpkin pie baking on a chilly afternoon, the feeling of excitement as you prepare to go out trick-or-treating on Halloween night, and all the other things the season has to offer.
What's not to like?
To celebrate Autumn/Fall, and all the harvest themed holidays that go with it - as well as the foods associated with them - one of the groups I'm a member of over on Goodreads had a reading challenge that was a Fall Scavenger Hunt.
The challenge ran from September 1st to November 30th 2015, and all you had to do was to find and read a book for an item on the list. You even got to pick your own level for your challenge.
These were the challenge levels:
1-3 Books: Colorful Leaf
4-6 Books: Crisp Apple
7-9 Books: Indian Corn
10-12 Books: Pumpkin
12 + Books: Pumpkin Patch
And this was the List:
Pumpkin Pie A book that has a character who bakes or cooks
Hay Rides A book that has a tractor or horses in it
Scarecrow A book with a scary villain
Falling Leaves A book that has a character that falls in love
Apple Orchard A book that has woods or trees in it
Football A book that has organized sports or a game in it
Corn Maze A book with lots of twists and turns
Bonfire A book that is heartwarming
Giving Thanks A book you are grateful to have read
Candy Corn A book that you devoured, or couldn't put down
Trick-or-Treat A book that has a character that wears a costume or disguise
Haunted House A book that has a scary house or building in it
Turkey A book more than 450 pages in length
Cranberries A book less than 300 pages in length
Sweater Weather A book that has cold weather in it
Orange A book that has orange on the cover
Pinecones A book containing a character that has many "layers" or is hard to understand
Oktoberfest A book that has a drinking or party scene
Popcorn A book that has a battle or fight scene
Cornucopia A book that has an odd mix of characters
Gourds A book with yellow and/or green on the cover
Marshmallow A book with a character that is a big "softie"
Of course, I joined in, though I didn't do the ones with cover colours, for reasons that should be obvious. Yes, I could have asked Kelly to help with cover colours. But I decided not to bother; I usually just don't bother to do parts of challenges where colours of covers are involved.
Anyway... Here's what I read for the ones I did do...
Pumpkin Pie: The Story Girl (The Story Girl, #1) by L.M. Montgomery
Hay Rides: Wyvern (Wyvern Trilogy, #1) by John H. Carroll
Scarecrow: Balance of Fate (Delver Magic, #3) by Jeff Inlo
Falling Leaves: The Professor by Charlotte Brontë
Apple Orchard: Chronicles of the Nocturnal Forest (Stories of the Fairy of my Dreams, #1) by Vanessa Kings
Football: The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater
Corn Maze: RENOVO by Geoffrey Wakeling
Bonfire: Good-bye Stacey, Good-bye (The Baby-Sitters Club, #13) by Ann M. Martin
Giving Thanks: The Shepherd's Crown (Discworld, #41; Tiffany Aching, #5) by Terry Pratchett
Candy Corn: Throne of Vengeance (Delver Magic, #2) by Jeff Inlo
Trick-or-Treat: Super Sporty Short Stories Signed, Anonymous by Ellie Firestone
Haunted House: Pathfinder Legends — Mummy's Mask #1 The Half-Dead City by Paizo Inc.
Turkey: Villette by Charlotte Brontë
Cranberries: Yoikes (The Cloud Brothers Short Stories Book 8) by James Field
Sweater Weather: Till the Dark of Winter by Kate Trinity
Orange: ***Pass***
Pinecones: The Golden Road (The Story Girl #2) by L.M. Montgomery
Oktoberfest: Witch Winnie The Story of a "King's Daughter" (Witch Winnie, #1) by Elizabeth W. Champney
Popcorn: Sanctum's Breach (Delver Magic, #1) by Jeff Inlo
Cornucopia: Trolls Fly by Night by Suzanna Stanbury
Gourds: ***Pass***
Marshmallow: The Wacky World of Silly Willy Winston - an ordinary pet with extraordinary adventures by Donna Maguire
December 6, 2015
Finding simplicity in this modern world of chaos (FD)
Do you sometimes find yourself longing for those days when things were simpler?
With all the shiny new types of modern technology, and the apparent need to always be rushing around, it can often be easy to become over-whelmed, and difficult to find the time to slow down and take a good look at the world around you. Not to mention how tricky it can be to find some quiet time amid the hum of machinery, buzz of traffic, and roar of voices, all competing to be heard in this chaotic modern world we live in.
It's even worse this time of year, when every company that exists is fighting to get us to make their products our choices for Christmas gifts for our loved ones.
So, here are some tips for getting control back, and for finding some simplicity and quiet time amid the chaos.
First of all, here are 9 steps to take control of your day, which will help you with juggling the multitude of tasks you need to fit in to your day. Deanna has plenty of other posts that you might be interested in too.
So, how can you live simpler in this modern world? Well, here are 7 tips that may work for you, and here's a list of five tips you can use to start living a simple life.
Now, when you hear the word "frugal" you probably think of minimalist living, where you have only the bear essentials. That's not the case though. The simple fact is that being frugal really means being sensible, not living beyond your means, and thinking seriously about whether you really need something or just want it to keep up with the joneses, so to speak. So, to help you out, here's some old wisdom for modern frugal living, and 16 ways to save money and live frugally.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Please bear in mind that not all of the tips in the above links will work for everyone. Take the ones that will work for you, and disregard those that simply aren't an option in your case. In other words, find and follow your own path to living more simply and peacefully amid the chaos of this modern world.
What about my own tips? I'm sure you'd like to know what advice I'd give myself? After all, isn't getting my opinion on things at least a part of the reason you're reading this post? Surely you come to my blog to get my opinions on things sometimes? I thought so! OK... Here are my tips for finding simplicity in this modern world of chaos:
1. Schedule some "you" time every day.
This is the most important one, in my opinion. Everyone needs some "you" time. "You" time can be time to do anything that's just for you and relaxes you. Whether that's a daily meditation, a quiet cup of your favourite beverage sipped slowly with no interruptions, or something else. Doing this will give you an oppertunity to recharge, so to speak, and will make facing the rest of your day that bit easier. If you want to go with meditation, there are plenty of guided meditations available online, or you can buy a CD or something. To get you started, check out the daily meditation challenge that Deanna is doing... Click here for day 1!
2. Make a "to do" list, and mark those items that are priorities.
Either first thing in the morning, or before you go to bed the night before, figure out a "to do" list for your day, and make sure to circle or otherwise mark those items that are priorities so you can get those done first. Or, if you write the list on a computer or tablet, rearrange the list when you're done so that you put the most important items at the top of your list, then you can just work your way down it.
3. If you run out of hours in your day, don't panic.
The whole point of marking the most important items on your list is to make sure you get the ones that "must" be done completed. If the less important ones don't get done, it's no big deal. Stressing over not having done them isn't going to help anyone, so don't do it. If they're things it's important you do soon, mark them as priority items on tomorrow's list, otherwise just add them to the list again tomorrow and try again to fit them in.
4. It's OK to say "no" sometimes.
One of the biggest causes of stress is when you take on more tasks than you can handle. So, if you don't have the time to do it, say so. It's better for you to disappoint someone from the start, than to either get so stressed out you have a melt down, or rush the job and not do it properly. Alternatively, if it's something you really want to do, but you have a lot going on right now, ask the person if you can have a longer, or more flexible, deadline to work to.
5. Keeping up with the 'Jones' isn't essential.
Just because everyone else has the new must have item, doesn't mean you have to have it. This especially applies if you don't really have the income to support the buying of the new must have items every time they come out. But, whether you can afford it or not, that doesn't mean you have to buy it. Think about whether you really do want or need it, avoid impulse buys, and always choose functionality over fashion.
6. Reduce, reuse, recycle.
If it ain't broke, don't fix it, and if it is then see if it can be fixed before throwing it out and buying a new one. Also, bear in mind that leftovers make good meals, jars and containers can be used for other things once their original contents are used up, and plenty of people are happy to take second hand items off your hands if they're in good condition. Also, bear in mind that it can be a lot easier to not only keep your home tidy, but also find things when you need them, if you don't have to navigate piles of clutter. So, clear out your clutter, and arrange proper places for things to get put away, and then remember to put them away in their proper places when you're done with them. It might be a lot of work initially, but it wil make things a lot simpler later on... Trust me!
7. If you can, make it yourself.
This especially applies to food, but not exclusively. More often than not, it works out cheaper to make things yourself. Not to mention the fact you can be sure of everything that goes in to your meal if you make it from scratch. Of course, you may not feel you have the skills to make everything from scratch, or it might be time you don't have, and that's fine. However, in most cases it doesn't take much more time or effort to make things from scratch as it does to use the store brought version. So, if you can do it yourself, you really should; it will save you money, and it's healthier. Plus, I happen to think that homemade food usually tastes better. At the very least, buy things to make meals at home, rather than having take-away all the time.
I'm not saying I do a great job of doing these things, but they're the tips I'd give, anyway, and they're things I try to do.
Have any tips of your own? Share them below.
With all the shiny new types of modern technology, and the apparent need to always be rushing around, it can often be easy to become over-whelmed, and difficult to find the time to slow down and take a good look at the world around you. Not to mention how tricky it can be to find some quiet time amid the hum of machinery, buzz of traffic, and roar of voices, all competing to be heard in this chaotic modern world we live in.
It's even worse this time of year, when every company that exists is fighting to get us to make their products our choices for Christmas gifts for our loved ones.
So, here are some tips for getting control back, and for finding some simplicity and quiet time amid the chaos.
First of all, here are 9 steps to take control of your day, which will help you with juggling the multitude of tasks you need to fit in to your day. Deanna has plenty of other posts that you might be interested in too.
So, how can you live simpler in this modern world? Well, here are 7 tips that may work for you, and here's a list of five tips you can use to start living a simple life.
Now, when you hear the word "frugal" you probably think of minimalist living, where you have only the bear essentials. That's not the case though. The simple fact is that being frugal really means being sensible, not living beyond your means, and thinking seriously about whether you really need something or just want it to keep up with the joneses, so to speak. So, to help you out, here's some old wisdom for modern frugal living, and 16 ways to save money and live frugally.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Please bear in mind that not all of the tips in the above links will work for everyone. Take the ones that will work for you, and disregard those that simply aren't an option in your case. In other words, find and follow your own path to living more simply and peacefully amid the chaos of this modern world.
What about my own tips? I'm sure you'd like to know what advice I'd give myself? After all, isn't getting my opinion on things at least a part of the reason you're reading this post? Surely you come to my blog to get my opinions on things sometimes? I thought so! OK... Here are my tips for finding simplicity in this modern world of chaos:
1. Schedule some "you" time every day.
This is the most important one, in my opinion. Everyone needs some "you" time. "You" time can be time to do anything that's just for you and relaxes you. Whether that's a daily meditation, a quiet cup of your favourite beverage sipped slowly with no interruptions, or something else. Doing this will give you an oppertunity to recharge, so to speak, and will make facing the rest of your day that bit easier. If you want to go with meditation, there are plenty of guided meditations available online, or you can buy a CD or something. To get you started, check out the daily meditation challenge that Deanna is doing... Click here for day 1!
2. Make a "to do" list, and mark those items that are priorities.
Either first thing in the morning, or before you go to bed the night before, figure out a "to do" list for your day, and make sure to circle or otherwise mark those items that are priorities so you can get those done first. Or, if you write the list on a computer or tablet, rearrange the list when you're done so that you put the most important items at the top of your list, then you can just work your way down it.
3. If you run out of hours in your day, don't panic.
The whole point of marking the most important items on your list is to make sure you get the ones that "must" be done completed. If the less important ones don't get done, it's no big deal. Stressing over not having done them isn't going to help anyone, so don't do it. If they're things it's important you do soon, mark them as priority items on tomorrow's list, otherwise just add them to the list again tomorrow and try again to fit them in.
4. It's OK to say "no" sometimes.
One of the biggest causes of stress is when you take on more tasks than you can handle. So, if you don't have the time to do it, say so. It's better for you to disappoint someone from the start, than to either get so stressed out you have a melt down, or rush the job and not do it properly. Alternatively, if it's something you really want to do, but you have a lot going on right now, ask the person if you can have a longer, or more flexible, deadline to work to.
5. Keeping up with the 'Jones' isn't essential.
Just because everyone else has the new must have item, doesn't mean you have to have it. This especially applies if you don't really have the income to support the buying of the new must have items every time they come out. But, whether you can afford it or not, that doesn't mean you have to buy it. Think about whether you really do want or need it, avoid impulse buys, and always choose functionality over fashion.
6. Reduce, reuse, recycle.
If it ain't broke, don't fix it, and if it is then see if it can be fixed before throwing it out and buying a new one. Also, bear in mind that leftovers make good meals, jars and containers can be used for other things once their original contents are used up, and plenty of people are happy to take second hand items off your hands if they're in good condition. Also, bear in mind that it can be a lot easier to not only keep your home tidy, but also find things when you need them, if you don't have to navigate piles of clutter. So, clear out your clutter, and arrange proper places for things to get put away, and then remember to put them away in their proper places when you're done with them. It might be a lot of work initially, but it wil make things a lot simpler later on... Trust me!
7. If you can, make it yourself.
This especially applies to food, but not exclusively. More often than not, it works out cheaper to make things yourself. Not to mention the fact you can be sure of everything that goes in to your meal if you make it from scratch. Of course, you may not feel you have the skills to make everything from scratch, or it might be time you don't have, and that's fine. However, in most cases it doesn't take much more time or effort to make things from scratch as it does to use the store brought version. So, if you can do it yourself, you really should; it will save you money, and it's healthier. Plus, I happen to think that homemade food usually tastes better. At the very least, buy things to make meals at home, rather than having take-away all the time.
I'm not saying I do a great job of doing these things, but they're the tips I'd give, anyway, and they're things I try to do.
Have any tips of your own? Share them below.
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