Tired of looking at the same old options for bookshelves? Check out these amazing bookshelves. If you are handy with tools, you can even make some of these yourself!
Have you seen, considered, or even boast a unique bookshelf? Maybe your creative juices will flow after viewing a few of the above examples so that you can now create or design a bookshelf that is not only is functional but also a piece of art.
Photo: Pixabay
October is National Book Month, so our blogs this month will be about (you guessed it!) books.
Below are five tips for organizing your bookshelves so that you can quickly get your hands on any title you own.
To keep your bookshelves organized and uncrowded, weed out your collection as you add a new book. Use the “one in, one out” rule to ensure that you are limiting the number of books you are keeping.
Photo: Pixabay
If you are like me, your computer holds so much diverse information: client records, home repair notes, favorite recipes, eyeglass prescription, photos, email, and the list of movies I want to see. This pretty much accounts for much of the “stuff “from every aspect of life. What would happen if that data were lost, deleted by accident, corrupted by disk error, attacked by a virus or other malicious software, including held hostage by ransomware? Yes, life would be complicated, that is for sure!
A client had a recent scare when several dozen files got corrupted by a disk issue. What could have been a disaster turned into only a mild inconvenience because all her data were backed up.
Do YOU have a backup plan for your data? Find below three guidelines for setting up such a vital plan.
It really is a gamble if you are not backing up your computer. One other precaution is to back up to the cloud. Now you have both a physical backup on your external drive and a cloud-based solution.
Photo: Pixabay
How many of you were raised being told you were not allowed to wear white after Labor Day? Is it still a thing or a question one thinks about? I was brought up to believe in this ‘rule’ that no one ever questioned.
This custom of not wearing white after Labor Day originated in the 19th century as a way for the upper class to differentiate themselves from the working class and to spot the nouveau riche who were not privy to the elite secret. It is a totally fabricated fashion ‘rule’ that is well past its prime.
Bottom line, yes, you can wear white year-round. If you still want more information, here are some links to read more about this.
Photo: Pixabay
I recently traveled out of state to Oregon to attend my niece’s wedding. I stayed in a hotel with my sister, and we both realized items that the other included in her luggage that really came in handy. Pack these items just in case you, yourself, should need them in your travels.
I am sure you have a few items you could add to my list. If you do, please leave them in the comments section. I love learning from all of you. Happy trails!
Photo: Pixabay
In some areas of the United States children have already begun their new school year. Other areas will be returning soon. Regardless of timing, here are some tips and tools for keeping your children safe and healthy for the coming academic year.
I could reiterate what is already out there, but I found a great website, the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). It provides a wealth of resources for parents and educators about health conditions and safety for children of all ages, starting with mom’s pregnancy going through age 19. Topics include preparing for back-to-school, safety in the home, information on the ever-changing COVID-19 guidelines, bullying, and so much more. There are also articles about specific conditions, such as ADHD and ASD. The information is presented as podcasts and articles.
Heading back to school is an exciting and sometimes scary time for children. Preparing them and you, as parents, will send them off to, hopefully, have their best school year ever.
Photo: CDC.gov
Nothing is more refreshing on a hot summer day than lingering over any liquid served to you over ice. When organizing backyard gatherings, though, how often are drinks the last item to spark your creativity? Rather than the standard iced tea and lemonade, let us put on our thinking caps and explore cool summer drinks.
I have a friend who will seek out a new concoction every year to be her signature drink for the summer. I think that is such a “cool” and brilliant idea! Come on folks, we can do that, right?
To get some inspiration you may want to explore the following websites to see what fun non-alcoholic drink might become your go-to summer beverage
Now after investigating these sites, what have you selected as your signature 2022 cool non-alcoholic summer drink?
Photo: Pixabay
Has it been hot enough for you? Ask friends about the meaning of the “dog days of summer”, and they will probably respond with something along the lines of “It is when it is too hot and humid in July and August for dogs to be comfortable outside.” Well, you know what? They are wrong.
The expression originated in ancient Greece, Rome, and Egypt and is tied to astronomy. It is when the star, Sirius, appears in mid-to-late summer. The “dog star”, another name for Sirius, is one of the largest stars in the Canis, the big constellation.
In Greece and Rome, the “dog days” meant sweltering days (that could drive men and dogs insane), bad luck, drought, and disease. They were referring to the twenty days before and twenty days after Sirius aligns with the Sun. These days were not only the hottest days of the year but were when bad things happened.
Egypt, in contrast, welcomed the dog days, as that signaled that the annual floods so greatly needed for their crops were on the way.
The Old Farmer’s Almanac considers the Dog Days to be the 40 days beginning July 3 and ending August 11.
Here is how to stay cool in these dog days of summer:
We may be complaining about these hot days; however, what is the alternative? Freezing in January? Well, we know those days will be coming sooner than we think. Just live in the moment. Chill, baby, chill.
Photo: Pixabay
One of the best summer activities is reading, whether at the beach, on your deck, or in your air-conditioned bedroom.
How to choose what to read? Of course, you can check the bestseller lists, but for lesser-known gems, seek out your local, independent book seller for recommendations and support a local business. https://www.indiebound.org
Another great resource is a newer app, Readerly, where you can read reviews by your friends, post your own reviews, and rate books not by stars but by recommendation phrases, which offers you better insight based on your taste in books.
Happy reading!
Photo: Pixabay
Ah, summer … when “the livin’ is easy …”, who does not love cooking outdoors? Will you be hosting a barbeque for a crowd this season? There are still many weekends of beautiful weather remaining to host one. If you are planning a gathering, here are some useful sites:
https://www.barbecueplanner.com/
Here are a couple of comprehensive checklists:
What’s more, for those days when you get the sudden urge to entertain, here are some recipes you can prepare in little time on short notice so you can spend your time with family and friends:
https://www.allrecipes.com/article/last-minute-bbq-recipes-and-party-ideas/
All this brings to mind a recent backyard barbeque that I attended where the host served the most amazing smoked barbequed ribs. It was a perfect summer day and a great time to sit back and relax with great friends. I hope you will be able to do the same given the useful – and fun – tips above. Bon appetit!
Photo: Pixabay
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