Literary Lattes

by Cynthia, posted in Friends and Family

What image do you conjur when you hear the term “Book Club?” If you have never been in a book club, you may be thinking “boring intellectuals” or “seedy romance fantasies.” When I affectionately mention my book club I see eyes roll or blank stares. I just smile. I love my book club!

We are the Literary Lattes. Literary means concerned with or connected with the writing, study, or appreciation of literature (Collins Dictionary); literature being books and writings published on a particular subject (Oxford Languages Dictionary). Lattes are … well … yummy coffee or tea drinks.  We meet once a month at a Barnes and Noble Café, hence the lattes. Usually we add a scone or breakfast sandwich since we meet mid-morning.

In my professional, working years, I had time only to read those things that furthered my knowledge of the position I held and the industry I was in. Once retired, I was starving for some intellectual stimulation, camaraderie, and the expansion of my realm of understanding. A book club seemed to be a good option.

Honestly, I tried starting my own, but after a couple of years, it fizzled out. The people I invited were not committed to process – read the book, discuss, drink some wine, eat some appetizers. Then I tried another but there was too much drama. The organizer was an extremely rule-bound, control freak – nice lady but so obsessed with the rules she created that members of the club began to drop out. That book club was a bit too intense for my retirement entertainment.

Now I have found the perfect match for myself. The group is small, allowing each person to have the space to share her interpretation of the month’s selection. We use one of the many free services available for scheduling and sharing ideas – Book Clubs. I opted to pay for the Premium version so we can have multiple administrators. Our book club is fluid and flexible, so anyone can send messages to others, create book lists, schedule meetings, and post reviews. In this way, no one person is “in charge.”  It works for us.

We select books four-to-six months in advance. If someone has extra time or wants to take along a book when traveling, we always know we can read a book in the queue. The books we pick come from various genres: historical fiction, memoir, occasional “beach reads”, mysteries, Pulitzer prize winners, best sellers, and so on. I like the mix. When I am not reading a book club choice, I can always read another book of my own liking.

Recommendations often come from friends outside our club who have read a particular book and shared his or her thoughts. Often, we run across a review or see the book mentioned so many times we figure “maybe we should read this one.” Almost always, we will read a book I otherwise would not have selected for whatever reason. This expands my horizons.

We read the format we prefer for the title and the time –hard cover, soft cover, electronic, or audio. Members have commented that the audio version provided a voice for the characters or author. Of the Kindle version eliminated the extras that appeared at the end of the hard copy.

I enjoy hearing the varying perspectives. Others find passages I may have skimmed over or validate ones that really “spoke” to me. We don’t always agree on the intent of a character or the author’s underlying purpose, be we respectfully listen to each opinion and openly and honestly share our own. How refreshing it is to be able to engage in civil discourse over the content of a published work.

Books can transcend time and place. They can take us where we have never been or where we wish we could go. And according to research, the act of reading stimulates one’s mental capacity and possibly cognitive longevity.

If you are a member of a book club, you probably are nodding your head.  If you are not but would like to be, check with your local library, look online, or even a local bookstore – many of which sponsor book clubs. You may have to try a few to find the right fit. Once you do, I believe you will find new friendships in the people who attend or in the characters in the book. Happy reading!

Invisalign

by sssmahh303, posted in Wellness

Mary Ann

When I was in seventh grade, I got braces.  I was one of the few kids in the school to have them.  And on top of that, I wore glasses.  Four eyes became metal mouth. In those days, you wore metal band around the whole tooth, and you wore little rubber bands to pull the teeth in the right direction.  I can remember that each time I went to get them tightened, I was in pain before we hit the elevator. It was a very long two years to get my teeth straight.  Then it was retainers for years. Did any of you have those experiences in your junior high years? 

Today, kiddos have a much different experience.  Most children are wearing braces today. You are really not different from anyone else at school.  It starts much earlier with pallet spreaders, retainers before and after, and the development of Invisalign – the invisible retainers that gradually move your teeth. You must wear those retainers for 23 hours a day and that can be difficult for young people to do.  However, you can’t really see them, so you “quietly” make the changes to your smile. 

Initially what started my brace journey was a little girl jumping on my back when I was three and I hit the refrigerator, and my front tooth blacken and died.  I lost the tooth way too early so when the permanent teeth came in, my one front tooth crossed the other front tooth.  The braces fixed the tooth and my bite, so I was gifted with a great smile.  

In my 50s my teeth began to shift. The cross over tooth was crossing over again and the other tooth was drifting back so I had a shadow when I smile.   It would show up especially in photos.  My dentist in NYC suggested I try Invisalign to fix my teeth again.  So, in my sixties, I began to wear braces, the new improved version, but nevertheless it was still braces. I was one of the orthodontist’s oldest patients.  At my age, I oversaw my own procedures.  I would check in every 6-8 weeks.  I was given the trays, and I was very disciplined wearing them for the required 23 hours.  Occasionally I would take a few  extra hours off.  I was able to complete the procedures in 15 months.  The Orthodontist corrected the shifting tooth, but he also realigned my bite, so my bottom teeth did not touch my top teeth making them better for old age.  The final trays become your retainers, and they prevent you from grinding your teeth and wearing them down. 

I was happy that I decided to wear braces twice.  Once is enough for most people.   However, if you are not happy with your teeth or your smile or having problems with your bite causing problems with your teeth, Invisalign is something to consider.  It cost me $5000 for the procedure and some of it was covered by my dental insurance from work and I had money in my HSA.  Today, it would cost you up to $9,500.  To me it was worth every cent.  I am very good at wearing my retainers each night.  On my first round of braces, you were weaned off retainers – every day to three times a week to once a week then done.  Really, you are never really done with retainers because teeth shift.   So, if you want to keep that beautiful smile, it will need constant attention. If you ever considered doing Invisalign, it is easy and not too much discomfort.  Remember, you are never too old to begin again whether it is your first or second time with braces! 

The Joys of Buying a Car

by Cynthia, posted in Taking Care of Business

My [third] beloved 2014 Toyota Camry is reaching 120,000 miles. So far, I have had no major repairs. I faithfully have kept up with the recommended maintenance, have occasionally replaced tires and a battery or two, and consistently vacuum and wipe down the interior. These cars last forever. Still, I decided to replace the Silver Bullet, if only so I can use the trade-in as a down payment, thus avoiding significant out-of-pocket expense.

Truth be told, I want a luxury vehicle. I will admit it. After years as a single mother, caregiver, and generous grandmother, I had decided it was time to treat myself. In the past I have been perfectly satisfied with a mid-range car. I have never been one to feel a need for a new car every few years, having had my last three Camrys 11, 10, and now almost 12 years, respectively. The cars look fine (although this last one suffered a couple of door dings and a scrape). They have been safe and reliable.

I spent several weeks reviewing cars, crossovers, and SUVs online. I read reviews, looked at features, searched for ratings.

Out I went in search of a new ride. Loving a good road trip, my goals were standard: safe, reliable, and comfortable. Those features that seemed like bells and whistles in years gone by are now standard in almost every [new] vehicle for sale.

I headed first for the Toyota dealership, being familiar with the brand. As is the case in most cities now, one owner holds the license to sell multiple manufacturers’ products. The autoplex or automall is not uncommon. On the way to Toyota, I stopped to look at other manufacturers’ offerings.

Admittedly car shopping is overwhelming. I dreaded the “hard sell” – but was pleasantly surprised that I received none of that. Some places had an abundance of inventory. Toyota had very little. What I found interesting was how similar cars are and how varied the prices can be. For the day, I settled on two that I test drove – one was a smaller SUV, and one was a larger, more elegant model. The larger was, as you may guess, almost $12,000 more, but still under what I believed I would have to pay.

I came home and searched for more information. The salespeople both gave me a printout of the car I drove. The printouts included the VIN and basic information about the vehicle. I used that information to find out more on the U.S. Department of Transportation National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website. https://www.nhtsa.gov/  It has a wealth of information. You can look up safety ratings and additional information. You can enter the VIN of your car to get full information on it, which I found was invaluable.

I was hoping to take advantage of the new provision to take an income tax deduction on the loan interest. The deduction is phased out for taxpayers who have a modified adjusted gross income of over $100,000. My research yielded the following additional criteria that must be met to take the deduction (even if you do not itemize.) https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/one-big-beautiful-bill-act-tax-deductions-for-working-americans-and-seniors . To summarize the vehicle interest deduction:

  1. The vehicle must be new and purchased in after December 31, 2024, or in 2025 – 2028.
  2. The vehicle must be for personal use and must be secured by a loan, not a lease.
  3. The weight of the vehicle must be less than 14,000 pounds.
  4. The vehicle must be made in or put together in America. Use the NHTSA’s VIN decoder to discover the vehicle’s plant of manufacture. https://vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov/decoder/
  5. The lender must report the interest paid to the IRS and provide a statement to the taxpayer, similar to a home mortgage.

I am fascinated by how much information is available, yet one must be informed to know to look for certain results. At least one thing has significantly changed in car buying. Dealers are no longer allowed (by law) to play around with extra fees, unclear interest rates, and other deceptive practices they used in the past. Once you sit down to pen the deal (supposedly) everything is open and on the table. So, off I go to finalize a purchase.

Wish me luck!

SteadyScrib

by sssmahh303, posted in Reviews

Mary Ann

My brother-in-law, Ron, has Parkinson’s.  He fights a valiant battle each day with dignity and grace.  Everything is hard, and each day the disease steals a little more from him.  As a family, we are always looking for ways to make things easier for him.

Parkinson is a neurological disease that has many symptoms, and it seems that each person has a different set of them.  So, when I came across SteadyScrib, I thought we had found an answer to a common challenge for Ron and many other Parkinson’s patients – micrographia. The handwriting is often so small that you can hardly read it.  

SteadyScrib was developed by two college students, Izzy Mokotoff and Alexis Chan, from Northwestern University.  Izzy had a grandfather with Parkinson and handwriting was difficult for him.  Alexis was a biomedical engineering student and had the skills to develop a new product.  They set out to solve the problem.  They eventually developed the prototype, applied for a patient, and proceeded to manufacturing.  SteadyScrib was an idea that became a reality thanks to two young, innovative, passionate women.  

It is a writing system that uses a magnetic clip board and a pen that is weighted, magnetic, and has a special grip that is like the ones that young children use to gain pencil control.  I went on the waiting list to get one once the pens were available for purchase.  Patience was needed because all the steps to production take time.  Eventually, the little company informed me the pens were available.  I ordered one.  It arrived shortly thereafter.

I took the pen to Ron and sat with him as he gave it a test drive.  He was able to print with larger, readable letters.  You wouldn’t know he had a writing challenge.  Then he wrote his signature, and it was almost perfect.  It was miraculous.  The pen worked.  I do however believe a little practice is needed to perfect one’s handwriting.  It is that old round, round, ready, write that we all did in elementary school when it was just reading, writing, and arithmetic. 

This blog is a PSA today.  If you know anyone with Parkinson’s or are dealing with it with a family member, this pen seems to work well for indecipherable handwriting. This brings back some control and independence to the Parkinson’s patient.  Everyone should have a good strong signature – Hey, Gen Z or whoever, hear this!  This is coming from an elementary teacher who taught penmanship!!

SteadyScrib Pros – This is a relatively easy system.  The materials are well-made.  It works, and it did for Ron!  

SteadyScrib Cons – It is a bit pricey at $75.00.  It could get cheaper if more are produced.  This is a small operation.  Some of the fee is given to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research or another Parkinson’s group of your choosing. They now have gel ink cartridge replacements – 3 for $15.00.  if it works, it is worth the price regardless.  They do offer a payment system.  

Contact Information – SteadyScrib.com is the website.  You can order the pen and replacements cartridges from the site.  There is lots of additional information available, testimonials, and the story behind the invention.   

Thank you, Izzy and Alexis for changing the world and making it better for Parkinson’s patients. 

Suburbia

by Cynthia, posted in Taking Care of Business

I just returned from my daily walk. I say daily because I have no set time to venture out.  I just know I have to walk every day, if possible.  As the temperatures continue to rise, it becomes harder to motivate myself.  Wishing I had heeded the recommendations when I was much younger, I now engage in some form of exercise every day.  The more aches and pains that arise, the more exercises I add. Once they become routine, they are not so bad.  The exercises take over an hour-and-a-half to complete.  I have to remind myself that I am retired and exercise will keep me healthier as I continue to age. It beats the alternative, I suppose.

As I stepped off my front porch and up and down the bridge-like front walk I heard the sounds of suburbia.  Across the street an old fence was being loaded onto a flatbed and new panels were being unloaded from another.  The voices of men instructing each other as they carried panels and installed the new fence reverberated through the neighborhood.

Continuing along my usual route I saw yard crews mowing and edging. In front of one neighbor’s house the man was visiting with a contractor about a repair that needed to be completed. A new air conditioning compressor was being installed at another home.

Rounding one of the cul-de-sacs I was deep in thought about the various flower beds and landscaping when I noticed a pair of legs, crossed, at the edge of an open garage door.  As I came closer, I noticed a hand waving, although I could not see the man’s face in the shadow of the structure.  I said hello and continued my turn toward the uphill slant of the street.

Later today Mosquito Militia will spray (organically) my yard and deck – my Urban Oasis – to cut down on that pesky population that I seem to attract just by stepping outside. Another indication of life in suburbia.

At last my house was in sight – a welcome abode where I would cool down and drink a whole glass of water before carrying on with my day’s objectives. I reflected on my observations, noting how grateful I am to have a comfortable home, food in the refrigerator, relatively good health, and a neighborhood where I feel safe enough to walk alone at any time of the day.

Royals

by sssmahh303, posted in Reviews

 With Love, Megan

Mary Ann

Ladies from my generation, do you remember when you were little girls and being enchanted with John F. Kennedy, his wife Jackie, and their children, Caroline and John-John?  They were American royalty – remember it was the time of Camelot.  I think when they were in the White House, I fell in love with fashion and just adored seeing the latest pictures with Jackie’s outfits with her iconic pillbox hats and her adorable children riding their pony Macaroni or playing in the Oval Office.  Then the time was gone in a puff with the presidential assignation, yet I continued to watch for pictures of Jackie and her children.  

Then during my daughter’s youth, Princess Diana reigned more than the British Isle.  She was a fashion icon with her cute little boys, Prince Wills and Prince Harry.   Her clothes were just beautiful, and she epitomized a true English rose.  It was fun again to see what she was wearing and what she was doing.  Princess Diana was a breath of fresh air from the stodgy monarchy.  (I can’t remember Princess Anne as a fashion forward icon.)  Her time ended too quickly with her untimely death. However, she still dominates a good bit of the news.  

Then the next generation, in our present time, came on the scene with Wills and Harry growing up and marrying.  Prince William marries Kate Middleton, and the new princess is just lovely as well.  They have three adorable children, George, Charlotte, and Louie. 

Later, Prince Harry marries Meghan Markle.  The new Duchess of Sussex has an exotic beauty about her and has a flair for fashion.  They have two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet – again adorable.    

The larger world and our own personal lives have been full of challenging times, and there doesn’t seem to be much making us smile.  Yet, when I look at the news and the British Royals are featured, I know I will be uplifted with beautiful clothes and cute pictures of their children.  It may seem shallow, but I am thankful for the respite from the woes of our world.  

I realize that the Royals themselves have their own set of problems – stay calm and carry on is something they live by. I was a big fan of Meghan Markle when she was on Suits.  Her blog, The Tig, was an early lifestyle site.  She has always loved food, wine, entertaining, crafting, and travel.  She had a healthy following.  Then you fall in love with a prince and your whole life changes where you must put away the things you love.  

The honeymoon with the British press lasted for a few years then they turned on Meghan.  I am sure that all the accusations have some truth about her, but who would like to live under the pressure of constant judgment.  Whatever you do, it is not right. You might decide to leave that life behind.  Fast forward to present times, Harry and Meghan did just that, and they had to make a living to afford the lifestyle they have been accustomed to and most importantly pay for protection for their family. – all big bucks!

Which brings me to a review of Meghan’s new lifestyle show, With Love, Meghan, on Netflix.   I was trying to watch with an open mind because I like her, and I was pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed the series.  I learned something new every episode either about cooking or decorating or gardening or entertaining.  I appreciated all her creativity. She moves throughout her world in confident and caring ways.  She has come back to the roots of the things she loves.  Again, she is being judged on everything she presents, but she perseveres. She is a little worker bee even if she is a queen bee! 

I loved the little edible flowers in the first episode and cannot wait to get some.  I will be sprinkling everything.  I loved the idea of using a Ziplock bag as a pastry bag with a scissor snip.  I love hosting so she gave me a few ideas to spruce up the guest room.  I haven’t tried the recipes yet, but I will.  I am going to rewatch the series again and catch the things I may have missed.  And it is exciting there is going to be a second season.  I can hardly wait.  So, despite how other may feel about her, she has given me a place to escape our challenging times and enjoy a pretty life!  I can’t wait for her to reissue her products – they sold out within an hour.  She may be more popular than presented.  

When I was a young woman, we had Alexandria Stoddard.  She wrote books about living a pretty life. I always loved reading her suggestions.  I think this is what Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, is trying to do – giving us ideas for making the ordinary extraordinary in simple ways!  Then came Martha Stewart.  I lived by everything she said.  She went off to prison, and we all seemed to still like her.  

If you haven’t watched With Love, Meghan, I think you might enjoy it.  No need to judge her, just use her ideas in your life to make things more interesting and enjoyable. Get some dried edible flowers sprinkles and spread a little joy!    

Note: The Second Season dropped earlier than I anticipated. I just finished watching Season 2. Again, lot of ideas to make your life prettier. I also purchased some of the products that As Ever offered. The packaging was very well done with little details such as personal notes and the like. The products seemed to be of fine quality – I got my flower sprinkles. The apricot jam I ordered was out of stock. They reimbursed me for it and are sending a free jar once they restocked. I think that is excellent customer service and encourages future purchases.

Gifts for Children

by sssmahh303, posted in Wellness

Mary Ann 

I have worked with children for over 40 years, and during that time, they have taught me a few things that I would like to share.  I am also a mother and grandmother, and the family, too, have all taught me life lessons as well. So, I compiled a list of what I think are the most important gifts, the most valuable gifts, you can give children.  These are not American Dolls or video games or a new Smartphone. These gifts are from the heart and soul and will outlast any toy.  Originally, I wrote this for a school newsletter, and one of the parents who was a publisher of a city magazine also ran it in her magazine – a sweet gesture to me.  

Gifts for Children
  1. The Gift of Love – We need to give our children unconditional love.  They need to know that there is a safe harbor from life’s storms.
  2. The Gift of Time – We need to make time for each of our children each day.  The time you have children in your home will go very quickly, and it is the minutes of a day that you make the biggest difference.  Take time to read, time to talk, time to snuggle, and time to be with them.
  3. The Gift of Acceptance – God gives each child treasures to bring into the world. Each child has different abilities.  We need to be happy with the treasure and not dwell on the things that may not be a strength.  Perfection is a hard burden for a child to carry. 
  4. The Gift of Language – We need to be talking to our children and helping them to learn words. We need to give them lots of experience so they can talk about them.  We need to read to children, say nursery rhymes, and “play” with words.  This is not the job of the television.
  5. The Gift of Example – We need to walk our talk.  If we expect our children to be honest, we must be honest in our own daily lives.  Your actions speak louder than your words.  Children are watching.
  6. The Gift of Consequences – We need to let children learn that their choices have good and bad consequences.  We cannot create a perfect world for them. That is an injustice to children who live in an imperfect world.  They need to know how to cope with mistakes and disappointments.
  7. The Gift of No – Children need to have boundaries and to know their limitations.  We can say “no” to a child, and he or she will still love us.  Children are not in charge of families.  
  8. The Gift of Curiosity – Children naturally love to learn, and we need to keep them ever curious about the world. We need to develop lifelong learners so they will keep growing. Your interest in the world will plant those seeds.  

As parents and grandparents, we have the awesome responsibility to shepherd our children and grandchildren through life.  Hoping these gift ideas will help be a north star to what is truly important to our children.  

It has been a few years since I originally wrote this article.  I don’t think I would change anything that I proposed.  If anything, I think I would add something about kindness, especially in the times we are living.  Be Kind is just too important to be ignored today.  We need to talk about it and live it each day.  It fits with most of the other gifts.

Hoping this blog with help you and the families in your life in the coming school year.  Learning is more than reading, writing, and arithmetic.  It is also growing a loving and kind heart, and you can be the most influential teacher with these gifts to the children in your life.   

The 5 Types of Wealth: Time

by Cynthia, posted in Taking Care of Business

The 5 Types of Wealth: a Transformative Guide to Design Your Dream Life by Sahil Bloom is an easily readable, non-fiction treatise on the value of Time, Social, Mental, Physical, and Financial opportunities. Mr. Bloom finished writing this book as he turned 32. Yet, my observation of his ideas leads me to believe Sahil is an “old soul.”  He seems wise beyond his years, quoting from many of the [business] gurus of our Baby Boomer professional lives; ancient philosophers, scientists, and mathematicians; and contemporary writers and speakers.

While much of the book focuses on building one’s life along with their career, he has wisdom to share with those of us who are retired yet still active. Thus, I share his perspectives which also serve as a catalyst to my own thinking – past and present.

In his introductory section Sahil reflects that he was in a very successful career, however a mentor he respected began asking him poignant questions. He was certain that he knew what success was but when he had reached that goal, he found happiness was elusive. His mentor suggested he visualize his ideal day at eighty years old. Through these visualizations and after several interviews with more mature people he came to “a powerful realization:  We all want the same thing – and it has very little to do with money.”  He determined most people’s ideal future dealt with Time, People, Purpose, Health.

Bloom provides a quiz in the beginning, offering the reader a look into his/her perception of each of these environments. Then he provides an avenue for reviewing each aspect.  In the Time Wealth section he highlights the importance of spending time based on your personal goals.  Of course this is a basic management concept. Yet have we stated the importance of spending time with family and friends?

As senior citizens many of us now wish we had more time to spend with other people, such as our parents, many of whom have passed on. Our friends, children, siblings, and others.

Many years ago I failed to take an extra step to locate contact information for a person whom I had respected and wished to tell him so.  When I finally took the time, I learned he had just passed away. I vowed that day to make time for people – family and friends who are loved ones, along with acquaintances I admired.  I have since made a point to reach out with a quick note – handwritten, emailed, or txtd – just to let them know someone remembers them.

Recently I invited a couple of friends to join me for coffee with a woman who had been a local leader. Ruth was always encouraging and supportive of women, yet now at 89 and in an assisted living retirement community, no one visits her. People who were “best of friends” have not reached out. While I would not have said we were good friends, I always visited with her at various meetings, occasionally enjoying a dinner out with her. I now make it a point to see her at least once a month.

As Bloom points out, it is important to understand that our time is finite. It is impermanent. In our winter years, we know this all too well. Still, are we making the effort to take advantage of the time we have? Are we allowing ourselves the freedom to choose how we want to spend each minute of each day? Are we tending to and focusing on the things that leave a legacy and that matter most to us? Bloom asks his big question: “How many moments do you have remaining with your loved ones?”

It is never too late to take control of the time we have. Time marches on. Let’s step in line and make the most of the time we have.

Let Them

by sssmahh303, posted in Reviews

Mary Ann

Mel Robbins is the number one female podcaster in the world.  She excels at taking research and making it relatable to the average person.  Mel knows how to ask just the right questions of her podcast guests.  She is authentic and vulnerable as she share her life stories and experiences.  Over the last few years, she has developed The Let Them Theory, and it now has become a best-selling self-help book.  

If you are fan of Mel Robbins, you will love the book.  If you are new to her work, you will find answers to questions you may have.  For me, Let Them and Let Me which are the two main premises of The Let Them Theory reminded me of the Serenity Prayer.  Let Them and grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change are both alike, and Let Me and grant me the courage to change the things that I can are similar.  Regardless, it is good advice to live by.  Mel tells you how to use the principles with several examples from her life or her family and friends.    She has done in depth research and had conversations with experts in the field of psychology that she shares in the book.  

She gives excellent advice on friendships and romantic relationships.  When you are hurting from a toxic friendship or trying to heal from a broken heart, you can find solace in The Let Them Theory.  Individuals with addiction issues can find support in the book as well.  

Life is hard and sometimes you need a little help from you friends, and sometimes a friend can be a book. You cannot change other people. You can only change yourself.  You have to say Let Them and then take steps to Let Me to care for yourself.  As someone who tries to fix everything, The Let Them Theory, was a good book to relate to my character flaws.

This is worth a read in your personal journey to self-discovery.  If you like the book, check out the podcast.  The Mel Robbins Podcasts are also full of good advice and interesting guests.  I am not sure Mel herself has developed new ideas, but she does bring the work of others to her audience and does the digging for you.  Her keen sense of what is important guides the way.  She can summarize topics in a concise and empathic manner making many subject relatable and understandable.  Thanks, our friend, Mel!  (When you listen to the podcasts, you will understand this ending.) 

Placemats

by sssmahh303, posted in Lifestyle

Mary Ann

As I shared with you in past blogs, I like to use items in different ways than their original purpose.  So, I want to share with you new ideas for a placemat.  

This all started when I was looking for accent pillows for my guest room.  I could not find exactly what I was looking for, but I did find the perfect pattern on a scalloped placement.  I bought four of them.  I paired them to create the front and the back of a pillow.  The placements were a black flowered pattern.  I made a black and white checked ruffle to surround the pillows (an easy way to make a ruffle is to sew a piece of yarn along the open edge of the material using a wide zigzag stitch. Then just pull the yarn to gather the material).  I attached the ruffle between the placements and then I sewed them all together leaving a small opening to add quilt stuffing.  Later, I hand stitched the opening.  

The pillows were just perfect in my guest room that was decorated in black, white, and pink.  The pillows accented the black and white toile bed spread and black and white checked dust ruffle and European pillow shams.  I have since used the same pillows in my bedroom that accented the black, white, and red bed linens.  Those placemat pillows are one-of-kind and have remained in excellent condition in two different bedroom settings.  This is an easy and inexpensive way to create unique décor.

Crafting unique tissue “boxes” is the second idea for placemats. The steps are simple, and the creative ideas are endless.  First, you need to buy some placemats.  At the end of each holiday season, stores such as Marshalls or HomeGoods discount the holiday placemats so for a dollar or two you can find the cutest seasonal placemats.  Then you fold the ends of each placemat to the center.  Pin the open ends at the top and the bottom of the placemat to secure it.  At this point, you can add trim such as pom poms, rick rack, or beads between the pinned ends.  Craft or fabric stores have trims available, and I did find several resources online that include Amazon, of course, but there are small companies that specialize in trims which may have more unique designs.  

After you have everything pinned together, you sew up the two ends.  You are almost done.  I then use holiday jewelry which is often on sale after the holiday as well.  If it is a pin, I put it in one of the corners.  Sometimes I use a novelty button or applique which may need to be sewed on, or I use Velcro dots or fabric glue to attach. The holiday jewelry gives a little character to the tissue “box.”  Then use Velcro dots to close the tissue top.  72 count boxes of Kleenex or other brands that are about 2 inches high fit perfectly inside with a few wiggles.  Also, you can find some soft-sided packages of tissues that fit as well.   Press the Velcro dots together pulling the tissue at the center.  Voila!  You are done. 

The tissue “box” fits almost anywhere and becomes part of my holiday decorations. I change for each one. The tissue “boxes” make nice gifts, and I always give a few extra boxes of tissues with it.  You can also make ones that go with your bedroom or wherever and are more permanent parts of your décor. 

I have had fun finding all the placemats and the accents for tissue “boxes” and pillows. As they say, “Necessity is the mother of Invention.”  It has been true for these creations.  I hope you will give this a try and use an ordinary placemat to create unique items for your home.