I found this fun article on Bustle that tells you about your personality based on your TBR (to be read) list.  I think it is way too short and doesn't include my TBR which is filled with psychological thrillers and murder mysteries................They probably didn't want to go there.  LOL  Anyway, it is a fun article by Alex Weiss The article is found here What Your Personality Says About Your Personality

Sorry I haven't posted any reviews in a while or anything else for that matter.  My laptop hard drive went kaput and I've lost tons of books and more.  Ugh.

On the good side of things I'm starting to review coloring books.  Yep, coloring books and so I'll probably start a page for that too.  It is certainly fun to get free ones.  Of course, when the lap top died I lost a bunch of those too.

I'm currently using a desk top that's on its last legs but hopefully it will last long enough to get something else.
I've always said - Computers can't live with them and can't live without them.

Hope everyone has a great week!!!

How to: Bookcase Makeover

How to: Adult Coloring Book Dishes

Wow it has been awhile since I've been here.  Bad, bad, Diane (grinning here).   I have fallen into the Adult Coloring craze and love it.  Yes, another addiction.  lol

I am here to tell you though there are a lot of benefits from this hobby.  I'm sure you have heard that researchers and therapist recommend it for relaxation, anxiety and stress relief.  I'm here to tell you that is a truth.  I know a person in one of my coloring groups and she is a therapist.  She does use adult coloring as a part of therapy.  Note, I did say part because of course there are more aspects to therapy.  Apparently the use of coloring for adults has been going on for the past 10 years.  Who knew?  Not me, although I do have a friend who has colored for years.  

There have been studies done on the subject too proving that coloring mandalas is more relaxing and lessens anxiety more than doodling.  It is an activity that is totally stress-free - just step away from life for a while and enjoy the moment.  It lets us be creative, even if we think we don't have a creative bone in our body.  There is an image and each individual  makes it into something special.  No two people do any one image alike.

There have also been studies showing that it helps train the brain to focus.  I have Lupus which effects my brain.  I have trouble remembering, concentrating, focusing - it is called Lupus fog.  I have to say coloring does help me focus in and concentrate on at least one activity.  I haven't been doing it that long so I don't know if long term it will help - I can hope.

Coloring also is supposed to help fine motor skills and vision.  I can't say one way or the other.  I have a tremor and sometimes I can't stay in the lines but who cares?  It is fun and no ones says you have to stay in the lines.  I can say for sure there are some images that totally exercise your eyes - like the one below.

I would highly recommend everybody give it a try for whatever reason.  It doesn't have to be an expensive habit.  There are coloring books anywhere from $3 to $25.  Colored pencils can be found at Walmart for $4 for 36 or you can get expensive ones that go for $40-$60.  Gel pens can be found at Walmart relatively reasonably and I've found they work better than ones I have gotten off Amazon.  So you can spend as little or as much as you want.   The best thing is that you can find free coloring images by googling "free adult coloring pages" and tons will come up for you.  

As you can tell there are a wide variety of pictures and books.  There is something for everybody.  Here are a few links to free pages.  

25 Adult Coloring pages at The Country Chic Cottage  Angie has gathered all kinds

Coloring pages for Adults Faber-Castell is a pencil company.  The images are free

Coloring Bliss  This site has free pages and she has a membership  deal where you can get 100 pages a month for $5/mo.  

Also if you search free coloring books on Amazon there are a few.  These are ebooks - how can you color something that is an ebook if you don't have an app?  Go to the end of the books and they have a link where you can get the pdf images.  

Anyone else feel this way?  lol

Since my asthma has gone into overload, I haven't been on my blog much, haven't been reading much, haven't been doing anything much.  I have to get that turned around today.  Soooo I am reading a book, doing a bit of cleaning (don't want to overdo it you know) and crocheting.  I also have a new passion coloring.  It is so relaxing and fun.   I need more hours in the day and I don't even have a job to go to!

I thought this was cute!

and just for fun here are a couple of my 'works of art'...................if you can't draw, color

Found on Mental Floss 15 Things you Might Not Know about Beatrix Potter.

• Her first name was really Helen
• The Tale of Peter Rabbit was inspired by  a letter
• Peter was based on a real rabbit
• Potter's house was basically a menagerie.
• Peter Rabbit did not start out as a success.
• She understood merchandising
• She was a naturalist in a time that women usually weren't
• She sometimes wrote in a secret code
• She disappointed her Mom
• She wrote much more than you (probably)
• She didn't want one of her books published in England
• Her later books had to be cobbled together from earlier drawings.
• A lost work of her's was recently rediscovered.
• She also farmed sheep
• You can visit her house

For the full article by Claire Cock-Starkey check here

Valentine's Day is upon us. I can't believe it is already here.  Happy Valentine's Day to all my readers out there in cyber land.  I hope your day is filled with love, family and hope.  If you are like me and don't have a significant other, I hope you have a warmth filled day - maybe with chocolates, coffee and a good book.

Here is an article I found on Read it Forward by Abbee Wright:  30 Characters From Literature We'd Want as Valentine's  Who would you want off the list for your Valentine?  I'm tied between The Lorax and Jack Reacher (not Tom Cruise but the true Jack Reacher)

Oh you have to check these home libraries out!  Some of them are totally wonderful and I could spend my days there easily.   31 Classic Library design ideas  What is your favorite?  This is my first and second, although I'd be happy with any of them.

Have you ever seen those book shelf chairs?   I've always wondered how to make one and have thought it would be so cool to have one.

Well, drum roll please.......................I found a tutorial and I'm going to share it with you all.

Book shelf chair

I've looked this way often for this very reason