Be Creative Don't Watch The News

For the past 48 hours, I kept the news off my TV.  I am amazed at my attitude, how much I got accomplished and how much energy I have. On occasion, during the day I would check twitter or facebook,  just to make sure I'm not missing play by play of Armageddon or a Russian invasion or whatever else the media has decided I should know about.

All you see and hear is a panel of people thinking they know everything while talking over each other to prove they are smarter than - well everyone else on the planet. While surfing the news channels I feel the life being sucked out of me. 
I immediately felt like someone stuck a pin in my optimistic mood.  Bickering politicians arguing about metaphoric cliffs, sordid details of kids being gunned down, and smarty-pants journalists deeply committed to forcing each and every issue under the left and right lens.

Enough!

2018 is just days away and while I don't set myself up for failure by making new year resolutions I'll never keep I'm keeping the news off! I like what I've been doing the past 48 hours. I need to make me happy and the news is making me sick - literally. 

I'll get my news online - where I don't have to listen to those smarty-pants journalists. I can pick and choose what I want to read or watch online. Because I am darn sick and tired of hearing about Russia and I'm disgusted that the media feels they need to continually bash the American public (you and me) and work overtime with panels of elite smugness to destroy decency and integrity and pit us against each other. 
The media has a negative-filter lens and we a lead to see the world through them. And here's what we see: violence, chaos, fear, tragedy and some cute puppies. And if you see this over and over it becomes normal. It becomes your view of the world. 

Do you let your children watch the news? If your answer is no - perhaps you should opt-out as well. Someone, a friend, a co-worker a family member will most likely let you know if you should head to an underground bunker.   

There is goodness all around if you are looking for it.

Silent Call Procedure

Silent Call Procedure

The Silent Call Procedure

The Silent Call procedure is a unique program in the Massachusetts Enhanced 9-1-1 system that allows a caller who is unable to verbally communicate their emergency over the phone to receive the appropriate response.

If you need to call 9-1-1 and you are unable to speak for any reason, such as a physical disability, domestic violence or home invasion, follow these simple steps using a touch tone wireline telephone or a cell phone:

FIRST DIAL 9-1-1
Once the call is answered, indicate your need my pressing the appropriate number on your telephone. 

IF YOU NEED POLICE PRESS 1
IF YOU NEED FIRE PRESS 2
IF YOU NEED AN AMBULANCE PRESS 3

The 9-1-1 Dispatcher may ask questions that require yes or no answers.

PRESS 4 FOR YES

PRESS 5 FOR NO 

http://www.mass.gov/eopss/agencies/state-911/e911/about-e911/silent-call-procedure-2.html

Turn Lamps into Jewelry Stands

Reuse, Recycle, Reinvent is what I do!

This is my first lamp to jewelry stand project. The base of the lamp was pretty dirty and only had the light socket attached that had frayed wiring. But, I'll tell you the price was right at a local thrift shop so I purchased it, thinking I would clean it up and rewire. It sat for several months before I began to take it apart.  Once apart I was looking at my lamp parts and thought I'd try something different. I just started to stack - and this is what I made. Since it's my first one - it's never getting sold.  It's mine.


This stand is made with lamp components from four different lamps. A 1920's cast iron base, a 1950's yellow glass sphere, a 1940's Gone with the wind brass hoop and a fleur-di-lis finial.

So, began my new adventure of lamps to jewelry stands.

Here are a few pictures of other I have created: Most I have sold but there maybe 1 or 2 still up for sale. 

 Most of the time I do not paint - I love the vintage look. I pained this one Navy Blue and also painted the hoop in chrome.

 Copper, brass and, cast.

 This was painted in Cameo Rose Chalk Paint - it was originally a very ugly old brown.

This is porcelain.

Just a simple black and silver with a little distressing.

 I loved this one - it sold fast!!!

 Marble and flowers.

 This was painted with a hammered black finish.

Another one I was tempted to keep.

 Another favorite - it's getting harder and harder to find cast.

And now as always, I am on the hunt for lamps that would otherwise end up in the land-fil. 

DIY Packing Tape Labels and more

I saw this video on youtube Tape transfer easily lets you create custom labels to keep you organized. and thought I have to try this - right away.

I have lots and lots of plastic boxes which I store my jewelry making supplies in. I label them with blue painters tape. They look kinda messy. So... I decided to try it. Guess what it works.

All you need is a printer, paper, packing tap, flat burnishing tool, (I used a credit card) bowl or water and whatever you want to label!!   

Of course I then had to google this and I found this great webpage The Graphics Fairy and found more ideas!  

Grab Your Shovel - It's Time To Reconnect

So, it’s time to embrace winter and the extra responsibility it brings! Shoveling your sidewalk - it's the law.  If you own property, it is YOUR responsibility to shovel those sidewalks in front of your home or business. And don’t forget to clear that fire hydrant that may be in front of your place. Yes, those are your responsibility too.

Check your state and city web page for exactly what you are responsible for - each municipality is different. 

I live in  Massachusetts and the fines can be pretty steep - and without warning - especially if you live in or around Boston. 

The way they handle things in Minneapolis, where folks who don’t shovel receive a warning first. If they haven’t cleaned up the mess after three days, a city crew comes and shovels it out and the property owner is billed for their time plus a fee, so the penalty is pegged to the size of the offense and the public hazard is promptly removed.

And don't be thinking you can get away with a one shovel pass - nope most cities require the entire width of your sidewalk be cleared or snow and ice. 

When You Forget to Renew Your Domain

A few months ago my entire blog blew up. I only had a partial backup so I lost a whole bunch of posts. But I was making do. A week ago - I forgot to renew my domain. HA! Guess what happened - everything was gone -again!
Renewing the domain is not that expensive depending on who the ownership reverts back to.  For $12.00 I could have avoided so much pain and suffering.

Because even those extra grace days passed I would have had to pay for the domain renewal and a whopping restoration fee. So, I changed the name of this blog to CityChatterGal.com - paid the $12.00 fee and set it to auto-renew.

Now I did have a back-up - but since it's a new domain the only had the template and some gadgets all every last post was gone.

So... here I am trying to get everything back. I lost a lot of posts, links, ads, pictures.

Just a reminder make sure you auto-renew with your host.

WoodWick-Candles - I Love Them

I'm loving these WoodWick-Candles. They have a wooden wick and create the soothing sound of a crackling fire when they burn.


Highly fragranced WoodWick Candles by Virginia Gift Brands feature a natural wooden wick to create the soothing sound of a crackling fire. Fragrance never sounded so good

Each color layer in a WoodWick Trilogy Candle contains a different fragrance. As the candle burns, each fragrance and color melts into the next layer, creating a unique new fragrance.

Complaining just to Complain

I’ll be honest, when I’m around someone who is chronically whining, complaining, bitching and moaning I have to walk away. When I see their post on social media I stop reading all of their posts. I stop short of unfriending them, I mute - although I have unfriended some. 

These complainers use sarcasm to mask their bitterness - but it's not really funny sarcasm it downright nasty. There just bullies. These are the same people that do one good thing and expect everyone to praise them.   

I used to think people complained because they just wanted to “vent.” I can totally understand the concept of venting for mental health sake. But then identify the root cause and solve the problem. If you can't fix the issues that are making you complain - then just shut up.  

Sitting on your hands and complaining is useless energy.

I use of energy, which is a limited and precious resource to make my life positive. I'm no ball of sunshine all the time but I make an effort each morning to put a good thought in my head, something I'm grateful for or something I'm going to that day. I like the idea of only expending my energy on things that I can control not what I can't.

I can’t control the weather (but I can dress accordingly).

I can’t control traffic (but I can control what time I’m on the road).

I can’t control what Donald Trump tweets about, so I don’t spend any energy (to complain about) it.

Negativity is contagious. Now, there are real reasons for gossip and complaining: It helps us maintain social bonds. It brings us together against a common enemy.

1. Negativity Breeds Friendship

What better way to make new friends than by venting together on the various atrocities commonly experienced in daily life, such as the usual hot weather complaint? 

2. Help-Rejecting Complainers

You had just given up. It was your tenth attempt and you do not want to try anymore. You just want to vent and release some of that negativity to your friends. So, you go and complain about your failure to your best friend. They do what all good friends do, offer advice. Without even listening to them you reject whatever they say by explaining how you already tried the suggested method and hit another roadblock. 

3. I am special and I know it.

Usually, we do this when we want to distance ourselves from the general population. For example, people who eat school lunches are gross. The person who says this statement usually knows that their listeners partake in this action, but act as if they are wholly unaware in order to establish superiority while making others around them uncomfortable.

4. Power Struggles

We have all been in this situation before. Two friends, who we support no matter what, are suddenly against each other for some inconsequential reason. They both vent their frustration against the other in front of you in attempt to lure you to their side of reasoning. If you submit and agree with one of their complaints, you run the risk of endangering a friendship. In this situation, complaining becomes a powerful tool to control others.

5. Saving Face

You messed up again. Now it is time to choose what you are going to blame for your failure because surely it is not your fault and your parent, teacher, or coach will definitely understand it’s not your fault. So, you go ahead and blame the horrible traffic for being late again to practice. You blame your teacher for your terrible grades to your parents. You blame your parents for wasting your time for studying to your teacher.

Or you could just be a miserable person and you want to make everyone around you miserable. 

Complaining is also bad for your health. While it's not an exaggeration to say that complaining leads to brain damage, it doesn't stop there. When you complain, your body releases the stress hormone cortisol. ... It even makes the brain more vulnerable to strokes.

Oak Dining Table Makeover DIY

I love my 20-year-old oak table but it needed some love. I wanted to keep it original.
Stage 1 - I lightly sanded with a rubber sanding block.

 I washed with a lightly damped cloth - if the cloth is to wet you will raise the grain and have a totally different outcome. So make sure you let table dry. Then wipe the table clean with paper towels followed by a tack cloth. I used the sticky tack cloth. Using the sticky cloth will help remove what we can't see, including those fibers left behind by a paper towel or cloth.

Stage 2 -  I used Golden Oak Minwax stain with sealer. It's a one-step process. You can just stain then add poly but I had this on hand.

Stage 3 - Don't get nervous and think it's not working out as planned. It looks funky but it is supposed to. Remember I used an all in one product. 

Stage 4 - I let the satin absorb for about 15 minutes. I lightly sanded with 400 grit sandpaper and wiped again with a paper towel and tack cloth. At this point, you could use a wax and be done or add another coat if you're looking for a darker stain. 

Stage 5 - I wanted more shine - I used a coat of clear poly. 

Adding the coat of poly gave me the look I wanted. 

Stage 6 - A very light sanding just to smooth out any bubbles.

Because I used poly - I don't have to use any polish just clean the table with a damp cloth. By adding a little more gloss, which will become less shiny over time with daily use my finish will look great for years and years.

For best results, take the time to prep and always give 24 - 48 hours drying time before each coat.