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Address   :  2500 Jose Abad Santos Ave corner Cavite St., Tondo, Manila

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Megaoffice Surplus in Manila, Philippines has been a favorite surplus furniture bargain source for Discriminating designers, Business owners, BPO managers and Smart shoppers. Megaoffice Surplus is one of the nation’s premier office furniture supplier.

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MEGAOFFICE SURPLUS

Address   :  2500 Jose Abad Santos Ave corner Cavite St., Tondo, Manila

Email       :   megaofficesurplus@gmail.com    /    megaofficesurplus@yahoo.com

Mobile      :  0922.4660033 (Sun)   0927.9286833 (Globe)

Facebook :  megaofficesuplus

Twitter      :   megaofficesuplus

The first Try It looked simple enough—that’s why I chose it! If you’re like me (AKA, crazy-organized and OCD) then you’ve got a whiteboard handing in your kitchen with the week’s plans written on it. (Wait, you’re not like that? Its just me? Hmm…) If you’re also like me, you hate it when you can see plans from weeks ago, still stained on the whiteboard (I know there’s teachers out there giving me a “Hallelujah!”)

So when I came across this pin:

Yes it does!

I got really excited. Probably more excited than I should’ve been.

I decided to test it out. According to the pin, all you needed to do was spray air freshener on your white board and the past stains would magically erase.

Here’s my before shot:

Gross.

And here’s the after:

So fresh and so clean, clean.

It works! Not only that, but it left my kitchen smelling like oranges! (Its so clean in fact, you can see my reflection. Yes, I’m in jammies.)

*Since I was gone last week, you’re getting a two-for!*

I haven’t really “done” my nails (AKA, nail art) in a while and I really wanted to start trying some of the Christmas-y art that I’ve seen floating around the interwebs. This one looked easier than most, so I thought I’d try it.

Here’s the original pin:

Ho, ho, ho!

I used Sally Hansen in Cardinal and White Out, as well as Pure Ice Glitter, and a black striping polish:

I did a coat of red first and let it dry thoroughly. Then I did my black striping (which was tedious). I let that dry and then used a dotting tool and the white to make the “buckle”. When that dried I used the glitter for the clasp of the belt. Fifteen minutes later:

Mrs. Claus manicure.

I like this so much I may do my left hand this week! Ha!

One side is a blackboard.

The other side is a whiteboard.

I love it!

I replied with “But, I’m not feeling well” and followed with a loud  cough that sounded more like a bark. She ignored me and positioned me on the aisle. Then, she began spinning me around. Supposedly, she was to spin me ten times. But, after just four times, I already felt dizzy.

In my very distorted perception, I saw the floor moving towards a different angle, prompting me to grab hold of a chair. I thought I was going to slide to the corner of the room. After about a few seconds, I realized that everything was back to normal.

“Let someone else go next.” I said, while making my way back to my seat. I was still feeling a bit wobbly.

After that, they moved the starting point nearer to the white board. To make things clear, the goal of the game is to write a word on the board after spinning ten times. This was done by pairs and the one who writes the word first wins.

Apart from the only two boys in class that day, all of us gave it a try. I even gave it another try. It was a really fun game because all of us got dizzy and began tripping on the platform. Some just made scribbles on the board. One of us got too dizzy and fell on the floor. We were all laughing and having a very fun time.

I really enjoyed bonding with my block mates. It was something we should do more often.

This is my favorite time of year. Christmas! Yeah, I said it. I dig it. Love giving gifts – and getting ‘em. Hanukkah also works. Eight nights of presents, right on. So I thought I’d share my picks for the best gifts for writers. You’ll find 20+ gifts that may make your favorite writer’s life better, healthier, and/or easier. And many of these gifts writers probably didn’t even know they wanted! Plus, you’ll find gifts for every pocketbook. Want to give a writer something small just to show your support? You might find it here. Need a “wow” gift for a very special writer in your life? You just might find that here, too. Writers, your loved ones would probably appreciate a couple of helpful hints, especially in a nicely crafted email with a link to this post. Just saying.

While I put some of the company websites within the post, I also put Amazon links at the bottom so you can check out other reviews.

FitDesk

My FitDesk with Jon Hamm. Photo by Kam Miller.

The FitDesk is awesome. Santa gave me mine two Christmases ago. It has been by far the best writer Christmas gift I’ve ever gotten. The concept is simple: It’s a stationary bike with a padded desk for your laptop. Your writer can write while pedaling and sweating. It’s a great way to exercise without feeling guilty about neglecting your writing. Think your writer won’t be able to concentrate on his script or novel while coordinating his feet? Well, consider this. Your writer probably spends an hour on Twitter, Facebook, Deadline Hollywood, Glass half-full in Hollywood, and other important Internet surfing. Why not spend that surf time pedaling? The FitDesk is perfect for these low concentration, time-sucking tasks. What’s more, your writer can also research his current project, watch videos, and/or catch up on his DVR. And I bet he’ll be surprised at how quickly he begins to integrate actual writing during his stationary cycling time. It puts a whole new spin on writing sprints. I love my FitDesk. It was easy to put together. It even folds up so it can stored in a closet, but I just have mine out all the time. It looks like they changed/improved the FitDesk a bit since I got mine. Two years ago the seat was rather narrow, so I switched it with a Schwinn touring seat. Now it looks like they’ve widened the seat to make it more comfortable.

Fitbit

The Fitbit Ultra. Photo courtesy of Fitbit, Inc.

Half the battle of writing is keeping your bum in chair and fingers on the keyboard. It’s really easy to forget that our bodies need to move. Our bodies actually work better when we’re active. We were designed to be hunting and gathering, not hunting and pecking. Wouldn’t it be great to have some kind of measurement of your activity, or inactivity? May I suggest the Fitbit. I got one last year. Love it. My Fitbit is almost always on me. (I take it off to shower. TMI?) The Fitbit measures the number of steps you take, the number of floors you climb, your mileage, and your caloric expenditure. It lets you know exactly how much activity you’ve done or haven’t done that day. Plus, it gives you real-time updates. The Fitbit automatically syncs to your online dashboard anytime it is within 15 feet of your computer and the Fitbit base station. With the Fitbit, your favorite writer has a constant tally encouraging her to get just a little “bit” more activity into her day. Plus, she’ll get lots of encouragement from accomplishing her goals.

The Fitbit is basically an enhanced pedometer. And you can get by with a much cheaper pedometer. However, the feature that sold me on the Fitbit was its ability to measure sleep efficiency. My sleep is a bit erratic. It’s been really helpful to track my sleep efficiency as it relates to what I ate and how much I exercised, etc. Plus, I’m addicted to the stair-climbing feature and online dashboard. And OK, I dig it when my Fitbit chatters at me. The Fitbit displays encouraging words throughout the day. I know when my Fitbit chatters “Hug me” that I need to step up my activity.

Day and night, I wear my Fitbit. In my e-chair, at a panel discussion, at a cocktail party, or at a movie premiere – you can’t see it but Fitbit is there. After hearing me rave about my Fitbit, several of my writer friends ran out and bought one for themselves. (Actually, they went online but it’s more romantic to imagine them running.)

The Fitbit One. Photo courtesy of Fitbit, Inc.

Fitbit recently released the Fitbit One, which is an upgrade from the Fitbit Ultra, the version I have. I’ve asked Santa for the Fitbit One in burgundy. Please! They also recently released the Fitbit Zip, which just tracks steps, distance, and calories but syncs directly to a smartphone, computer, or iPad without a base station. For a little less than the other Fitbits, the Zip can encourage your writer to get in 10,000 steps a day, which was the whole point to begin with.

e-chair

Imagine your favorite armchair with its own laptop desk that swings over your lap when you are sitting and out of your way when you get up. Instead of a reading armchair, it’s a writing armchair. Awesome, right? Several years ago I saw an e-chair on a talk show and fell head over heels in love. I had to have it – in purple – along with its matching storage ottoman on casters. My e-chair is indispensable to my writing. It’s so cool. It even has an electrical outlet built right into the chair. Unfortunately, Rowe furniture doesn’t make e-chairs anymore. However, you can find upholstered writing tablet armchairs online. You’ll find an Amazon link to one at the bottom of this post. Several furniture manufacturers make them for libraries. In fact, you might have seen one in your local library.

Here’s a link to a cool looking tablet arm chair, the Satori designed by Mark Saffell and David Ritch. (See photo below.) It’s a little pricy, but maybe you want something extra special for the writer on your list.

Satori chair with writing tablet arm designed by Mark Saffell and David Ritch.
Photo courtesy of Mark Saffell and David Ritch.

For writers with back problems or other ergonomic issues, a writing table chair might not be the best choice. I highly recommend testing one before purchasing. Again, I adore my e-chair and can’t get my mind around using a regular desk anymore.

Standing desk

DIY standing desk. Photo courtesy of Tom Borowski.

Standing desks can be extremely beneficial for writers with back pain. Sometimes even sitting in the most ergonomically correct chair can be murder on some people’s backs. Sitting can cause constant pressure on intervertebral discs, especially in the lumbar region. Standing often alleviates this discomfort because it distributes the pressure more evenly. A standing desk might just be the perfect solution. Also, standing desks are great for people who want to increase their caloric expenditure while working. So you can kill two birds with one stone by reducing back pain and using some calories in the process.

You can create a standing desk, which is cheaper than buying ready-made ones if you’re up for the DIY factor. Ikea has some options that can be modified into standing desks. Lifehacker.com posted an Ikea guide to creating your own standing desk. You’ll have to judge if you want to tackle the task of building standing desk for or with your writer.

There are some ready-made alternatives. However, I haven’t tried them. As I mentioned, I use my e-chair for the majority of my writing. I did purchase a small standing laptop cart, which I use at my whiteboard and next to my Fitdesk. It’s on casters so I can roll it wherever I need it. I have mine adjusted to about 40 inches high, which works well for me. However, someone who is, say, 5’11″ may prefer a standing desk that’s about 44 inches tall. Each person has to experiment with the right height for him. You’ll find a link to a less expensive version of the type of cart I have at the bottom of this post.

Treadmill desk

DIY treadmill desk. Photo courtesy of Lena Cardell.

Adventurous writers might be interested in a treadmill desk. It’s a standing desk with a treadmill sans handrails underneath it. The LifeSpan treadmill desk seems well reviewed on Amazon. Check it out. If your writer already has a treadmill, you might want to take a look at the TrekDesk. It goes right over the front of a treadmill. If you’re DIY handy, here’s a link to a treadmill desk blog site that shows you how to make one for $39; the treadmill isn’t included in that price.

Dry erase board

Dry erase board in “CSI” writers room. Photo courtesy of @CSIWritersRoom.

There is something about writing ideas on a whiteboard that makes them suddenly clearer. Just ask Dr. House – and pretty much every Hollywood screenwriter. Writers rooms usually employ several dry erase boards, cork boards, and a clear plastic tub of Red Vines. (I don’t know why writers rooms always seem to have Red Vines but they do.) If your writer has the real estate, a 48 inch by 36 inch whiteboard would be an awesome gift – along with an extra pack of multi-colored dry erase markers and a spray bottle of marker board cleaner. Writers can get by without a cork board – they can just put Post-its on their whammy new whiteboard. I think a dry erase board with its easy to erase acreage is a luxury worth devoting wall space to.

Noise canceling headphones

Sony MDR-NC40 noise canceling headphone with case. Photo courtesy of Sony.

Noisy office mate? Cellphone talker projecting to the cheap seats? Raucous bunch of writers not writing at the local coffee shop?! Not a problem with noise canceling headphones. There are lots of different brands that work really well. I have a mid-range pair, the Sony MDR-NC40 to be exact. You can pay hundreds for Bose and from what I hear, they’re great. But I just wanted headphones that would cancel noise. I’m not a DJ. I’m not a audio technician. I don’t listen to a lot of music while writing. I pop on my headphones when I’m on my FitDesk or on an airplane. I don’t write in coffee shops or public places, but these Sonys would do the trick if I did. And they cost about $65.

Macbook Pro with Retina display

Apple’s new Macbook Pro with Retina display. Photo courtesy of Apple.

I debated about putting the Macbook Pro on the list because every writer knows he needs a good laptop. It’s fundamental to our profession. I decided to put the Macbook Pro on the list because most of Hollywood writers I know use Macs. It’s the preferred tool of our trade. And it’s something we spend a lot of time looking at.

I just upgraded my Macbook Pro to the new version with the Retina display. It’s killer. The screen has much less glare than my last Macbook Pro. The glare really bothered me before. The new Macbook Pro is, of course, faster. I got a bigger hard drive, which I desperately needed. Apple slimmed the Macbook Pro down so it’s very lightweight. They accomplished part of this weight reduction by taking out the optical drive, which can be a bummer. To remedy this, I just got an Apple optical drive accessory and it works like a charm. So if you’re granting wishes this year for some amazingly lucky writer, you cannot go wrong with the new Macbook Pro. Upgrading from Snow Leopard to Mountain Lion was a bit of a beast, but it’s still worth the faster processing speed, reduced screen glare, and all the other whammy Apple i-ness you get.

External hard drive

A Seagate FreeAgent external hard drive (80Gb). Photo courtesy of Gamer 112.

Nothing says “Bah humbug” like your hard drive crashing. You can’t recreate genius. It just doesn’t work that way. You can get close but you’ll always feel like you lost something and you have. Be your favorite writer’s personal savior by giving him an external hard drive. I just got the Seagate FreeAgent GoFlex one terabyte. It’s small, lightweight, and comes in different colors, if that matters to you. There are many hard external drives on the market. You may have to do a little research on what brand will work best for your writer’s computer. Mac users should check out Super Duper and Carbon Copy Cloner apps to make regular backups easy.

Apple TV and/or Roku

Apple TV device. Photo courtesy of Mike Panhu.

Roku XDS player with remote. Photo courtesy of Matt Nad.

This is a frequent writer’s dilemma. You’re writing and suddenly you realize the project you’re working on has elements like that BBC series you saw on PBS last year. That show expertly dealt with that same issue you’re dealing with. What was the name of that show again? “Luther.” Yeah! You need to re-watch the entire series, which is about ten episodes total for two seasons. Yes, you can watch it on your computer or your iPad, but if you’re really going to invest the time, why not watch it on your flat screen? That’s where Apple TV and Roku come in.

I have both.

On the Roku, I have easy access to my Amazon films and TV shows. On my Apple TV, I have access to all my iTunes films and TV show library. Why have both? I love my small, handheld devices for convenience but if I have a choice I prefer to watch content on my flat screen. Filmmakers and show creators often make choices for larger canvases. Writing for moving pictures isn’t just about dialogue and plot, it’s about visual, emotional storytelling. We’re making cinematic experiences.

Seeing a film or a TV show on a larger landscape gives me more of the experience I’m trying to recreate, so for me Roku and Apple TV are essential to my profession. If your writer is writing for the screen, why not make it easy for her to watch content on a bigger screen? Roku and Apple TV both stream nicely.

Scrivener app

Scrivener app logo.
Artwork courtesy of Literature & Latte, Ltd.

Scrivener is great for screenwriters, novelists – all kinds of writers. This powerful little app organizes your works in progress beautifully. You compose within the app, then you can export your work directly into Final Draft, Microsoft Word, rich text, OpenOffice, plain text, or HTML. What’s more, Scrivener allows to you collect all your research in one place and marry it to your ongoing project. The app costs $45 and I think it’s worth every penny. It has made my writing life a lot easier. I just wrote a pilot on it and plan to put my novel into it next. Perhaps your writer will love it as well.

Writing books I read every year

Want to find the perfect writing book for your favorite writer? You could easily get overwhelmed with your choices. When searching on Amazon, 176,890 paperback and 62,374 hardback books pop up for writing. Let me narrow the field for you. There are four books I read every year. Each time I read them, they still offer precious pearls of wisdom and inspiration. These aren’t how-to books. These aren’t breaking into Hollywood books. These books share hard-won wisdom from writers to writers. These are like old friends that any writer at any level can lean on during those cold, lonely hours of uncertainty.

Cover for Ann Lamott’s book “Bird by Bird.” Artwork courtesy of Anchor Books.

Anne Lamott’s “Bird by Bird” is one of the best books on writing – period. Every writer should at least check it out of the library and give it a read. The third chapter alone, titled “Shitty First Drafts,” can embolden a writer to keep pushing through whatever crappy thing he is writing right now and have hope it’ll someday be wondrous to behold. I often give this book to friends who are starting their first screenplay, novel, non-fiction book, etc. Written in a down-to-earth, inspiring, no nonsense way, “Bird by Bird” is well-recieved across the board. Thank you, Anne Lamott, for writing such a generous, funny, lovely book.

Cover for Stephen King’s book “On Writing.” Artwork courtesy of Pocket Books.

Another old friend is Stephen King’s “On Writing.” In it, Steve describes his humble beginnings, which to me is the most interesting part of the book. Successful writers talking about struggling – color me fascinated because that’s the job. Certain aspects of the business get easier over time but every project is its own mountain to climb. Many days the job is just you and the screen. All the trappings fall away. I could easily be typing on that student desk in the laundry room of Steve and Tabitha’s trailer praying I write something half as good as “Carrie.” “On Writing” inspires me yearly. It tells the ultimate writer’s American dream story, and that’s something no writer can resist.

Cover for Karl Iglesias’ book “The 101 Habits of Highly Successful Screenwriters,” 10th anniversary edition. Image courtesy of Adams Media.

In his book “The 101 Habits of Highly Successful Screenwriters,” Karl Iglesias interviews some of the top screenwriters in the business to find out when they wake up, what they eat for breakfast, if they exercise, when they take lunch, and other juicy, mundane tidbits of famous screenwriters’ daily lives. Ed Solomon likes big whiteboards. Leslie Dixon feels more clever after noon. Eric Roth likes to work in the middle of the night when he is “sort of half-asleep.”

This book sits in the first cubby of my bookshelf. I see it every day. It dares me to remember what I’m supposed to be doing. And while my habits aren’t exactly like the writers in the book (several eschew caffeine!), I’m reminded to do the things that make me productive.

There is a new edition of the book “The 101 Highly Successful Habits of Screenwriters: Insider Secrets from Hollywood Screenwriters.” However, from reading the Amazon reviews, it seems the new edition isn’t dramatically different from the original. If your writer already owns the first edition, she may already have the bulk of the new edition.

Cover for David Howard and Edward Mabley’s book “The Tools of Screenwriting.” Artwork courtesy of St. Martin’s Press.

“The Tools of Screenwriting” by David Howard and Edward Mabley is a critical examination of screenwriting. And it’s the only book on screenwriting that has stood the test of time on my bookshelf. There are many other helpful screenwriting books, but as my skills and interest in the craft have evolved, I continue to learn from “The Tools of Screenwriting.”

Full disclosure: I was fortunate enough to have David Howard as my thesis advisor in film school. What an honor. So I’m a bit biased. But don’t take my word for it, read what the illustrious feature filmmaker, former artistic director of the Sundance Institute, former co-chair of the Columbia University Film School, and former dean of USC’s Film School, Frank Daniel, had to say about this book:

What the would-be screenwriter needs most is an unbiased, non-dogmatic introduction to dramatic structural principles and an understanding of the different narrative techniques and storytelling devices that cinema has learned to use. David Howard has wisely outlined this area for himself and covered it in a concise, readable, knowledgeable, and intelligible manner. He has also been very generous with his pointers, advice, and admonitions about screenwriting and storytelling.

What’s more, Professor Howard has broken down some of the best screenplays in the Hollywood history: “Chinatown,” “Some Like it Hot,” “Citizen Kane,” “The 400 Blows,” “Rashomon,” and more. Just like re-watching a favorite movie, I love to go back and read the analyses for these great films.

Coffee shop gift cards

There always seems to be a Starbucks around the corner. Photo courtesy of Piutus.

Yes, it’s true: lots of writers drink coffee. And flock to coffee shops to write. What’s more, we meet other writers in coffee shops. Starving or not, all writers love free food. Having your grande non-fat mocha latte already paid for can be a beautiful thing. Starbucks gift cards are probably a good bet, unless you know your writer prefers a specific coffee shop.

iTunes gift cards

iTunes splash page for TV shows. Photo by Kam Miller.

When you’re a writer, you have to consume entertainment. Whether it’s songs, movies, TV shows, apps, books, or – my favorite – audiobooks, your writer can find something at the iTunes store for her craft. In fact, Final Draft has an iPad app available through iTunes. It’s perfect for script changes on the go, including when you’re on set.

Amazon gift certificates

An Amazon home page. Photo courtesy of Doc Searls.

I purchase a lot of content from Amazon – usually in the form of books, DVDs, Blu-rays, and online streaming. When I was in grad school, I’d save my Amazon gift certificates from Christmas so I could treat myself to something later in the year. Often it would be research relating to my work in progress. While gift cards and certificates aren’t glamorous, they’re very much appreciated by young writers who often need something very specific, something you couldn’t have anticipated: a book on the Golden Age of Reason or a documentary on human trafficking in Asia. Often the writer doesn’t know what she needs until she gets to that sticking point in the story. Once we’re there, we can become obsessed. Having a gift certificate tucked away for that August research binge can make all the difference in the next novel or script.

Movie passes

A darkened movie theater. Photo courtesy of Roey Ahram.

Have you seen the price of movie tickets lately? What screenwriter wouldn’t love a free movie? Everyone I know loves a free movie, whether it’s a screening, a screener, or a pass from a generous, thoughtful, insightful loved one. Obviously, theaters sell gift cards and passes. You’ll find Amazon links to AMC and Regal theater movie passes below. Also, Costco sells movie tickets for a reduced price.

A writer’s real wish

Cool nights, hot cocoa, and a good book. Photo courtesy of Tim Massey.

From a brand new Mac to a cup of coffee, these are my picks for the best gifts for writers. I hope you find something wonderful for your someone special. I want to take a moment to say that your writer is incredibly fortunate to have you in her life. I hear so many tales about writers whose loved ones don’t support them. Who tell them to give up this crazy dream. Who tell them they aren’t good or talented enough.

I feel so fortunate to get to do what I love for a living. I’m very blessed to have wonderful loved ones who supported my desire to be a writer. Not everyone has someone who believes in them. Kudos to you for being a writer’s supporter. Thank you for encouraging an artist to go after the dream. With a simple cup of coffee (or cocoa), you can say, “I believe in you.” And that’s pretty wonderful.

Cheers!

Amazon links

Fitdesk – stationary bike with laptop platform

Lorell writing tablet arm chair

Safco adjustable height standing desk – ready-made standing desk

Laptop standing desk cart – standing laptop desk cart

LifeSpan treadmill desk – desk plus treadmill

TrekDesk – desk that fits over your existing treadmill

Fitbit Ultra – activity and sleep monitoring device

Fitbit One – upgraded activity and sleep monitoring device

Fitbit Zip wireless activity tracker

Universal Dry Erase Board You may want to pick this up at your local office supply store. Several Amazon reviewers noted their dry erase boards were cracked or broken during shipping. However, the comments on this link say this particular Amazon-affiliated company does a better job shipping than most.

Sony MDR-NC40 noise canceling headphones

Apple MacBook Pro MC976LL/A 15.4-inch laptop with Retina display (NEWEST VERSION)

Seagate FreeAgent GoFlex 1 TB

Apple TV

Roku 2 XS 1080p streaming player Roku 2 XS has both Ethernet and USB ports. Plus, it includes “Angry Birds.”

Scrivener 2 Amazon sells both Mac and Windows version of the Scrivener app.

Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life by Ann Lamott

On Writing: 10th Anniversary Edition: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King

The 101 Habits of Highly Successful Screenwriters: Insider Secrets from Hollywood’s Top Writers by Karl Iglesias

The Tools of Screenwriting: A Writer’s Guide to the Craft and Elements of a Screenplay by David Howard and Edward Mabley

Starbucks gift card

iTunes gift card

Amazon.com $25 gift card

Amazon.com gift card with gift box

Movie passes

AMC gift card

Regal Entertainment group gift card

Happy holiday hunting! I hope you find the perfect gift for that special writer in your life. Cheers!

Remember last month when I shared my DIY Party Pumpkin Keg and introduced you to the ladies of Collectively Creative?  Well, guess what… we’re baaaaack!  This time around our posts are centered around a ‘Thankful’ theme which is fitting seeing as how it’s November and Thanksgiving is sneaking up on us.

If you’re new to my blog, the idea behind Collectively Creative is that multiple bloggers choose one central topic and everyone publishes a post at the same time on the same day.  It’s a great way to experience new bloggers and see related posts!  At the bottom of this post, there are links to all of the other bloggers that are joining in this month!  This month we’ve expanded our collaboration so be sure to check for new bloggers.

For my Thankful post, I’ve chosen to share with you a fun and easy DIY project.  With the chaos of every day life (work, bills, hobbies, holidays, etc), some times we forget to take a step back and appreciate what we have and be grateful for the people in our lives.  I decided to create something that could highlight various ways Jon and I are thankful for each other.  In theory, we know we appreciate each other but on occasion, it’s nice for these things to be called out into the open.

The great thing about this project is how versatile it is.  You could copy the same idea for friends, roommates, children, parents, etc.  Also, since I used a shadow box instead of a flat frame, you can customize each piece and give it some dimension (like my autumn inspired berries).  I plan to keep this project out in the open and update it with the seasons/holidays.  Maybe next month there will be a Christmas themed piece?

The options for creating and decorating your board are truly endless.  I’m going to share what I did but feel free to get creative and put your own twist on things.

Originally, I thought I was going to use scrapbooking paper to create the backdrop but then I realized the shadow box had a thin cloth as the backboard and since it was a neutral color, I decided to work with it.  In addition to the shadow box, I pulled out a bunch of supplies but realized I really only needed one color of paint, a foam paint brush, stencils, and some small decorative pieces.

I used Martha Stewart peel & stick stencils (similar ones) to spell “Give Thanks” and then painted the letters with a chocolate-brown paint.

Tip:  It probably would have made my life easier if I had used the painter’s tape to outline the letters.  If I had done that, I wouldn’t have had to paint so slow and tedious.

After letting the paint dry, I pinned these decorative berries to the foam backboard with the pins that came with the shadow box.  Afterwards, I reattached the backboard and voila, my Thankful board was created.

Tip:  I found these seasonal berries in the clearance section at Michael’s but I was also considering pine cones, twigs, and leaves.

Although I had read on Pinterest that you could write on the glass and simply wipe it off, I was still hesitant until I tried it for myself… and then I was a believer.  Luckily, this allowed Jon and I to write and re-write things until we liked the way it looked.

Now Jon and I just have to find somewhere to hang this.

DIY Thankful Dry-Erase Board

Inspired by this pin

You Will Need

• one shadow box
• foam paint brush
• paint
• stencils
• small decorative pieces
• push pins
• dry-erase marker(s)

What to Do

1. Remove the backboard from the shadow box.
2. If yours comes with a thin cloth, you can use that.  If not, you can cut your own thin piece of fabric or use card stock.
3. Use your stencils to spell our your chosen word(s) and/or pictures.
4. Using your foam brush, carefully fill in the stencils.  Let the paint dry.
5. With your push pins, add your decorative pieces.
6. Reattach the backboard to the shadow box.
7. Use dry-erase markers to write on the glass then hang for all to enjoy.

Now for the other fabulous Collectively Creative bloggers this month:

• What I’m Thankful for: Grandparents and Cinnamon Rolls (The Thing About Joan)
• Healthy Chicken Sausage and Apple Stuffing (My Healthy ‘Ohana)
• Vegan Creamed Corn Cornbread (The Pancake Princess)
• Holiday Entertaining: Gifts For Your Guests (Green Door Hospitality)
• Rustic DIY Thank You Cards (NorthStory)
• Roasted Squash And Garlic Apple Potage (Cul De Sac)
• Creating a Thankfulness Photo Album (Organizing Living Essentials)
• Our Family’s Thankful Journal (Cobwebs, Cupcakes & Crayons)
• Mrs. Hetherington’s Thanksgiving Pageant (Pillows A-La-Mode)
• T.H.A.N.K.F.U.L. for my Kiddos! (Neaten Your Nest)
• Thanksgiving Requests (Ponytail Kind of Day)

Just wanted to share a few random pics that pretty much summarized what my whole weekend was all about.

My weekend soundtrack. All about raspy rhythms from two amazing female artists. Still can’t believe Amy Winehouse is gone. I’m glad her spirit will live forever through her songs.

The little one wanted to play with the white board. We were on guard of course in case she decides to swipe the marker on the sofa.

The photo on the upper right part was her final work. I almost wished she drew on paper instead. That way I could have preserved her work. In these photos, it appears she’s still using a palmar-supinate grasp, where she uses her whole palm to hold her pen the way it appears in the photo. But she’s actually progressed to tripod (the usual way you hold a pen).

I think she purposely reverted to her old way of pen-gripping so as not to get marks on her hand and elbow. Smart girl. hehe. By the way, I learned all these from her teacher. When they assess the child, they don’t only focus on the way the child progresses in terms of attention span, attitude and their general performance in school. They also observe the child’s development such as in pen-gripping, or how they walk up the stairs as these are all part of the developmental stages of a child. To learn more about the preschool pencil grip, you can read this helpful article.

Weekends are about tuning in 24/7 (that’s an exaggeration) to Disney Junior or Nickelodeon. But when Pocoyo is up, I don’t really mind. I love him. Elly is cute too. Do they make Pocoyo toys? I think it would be awesome to have Pocoyo collectibles.

You know that a party is pretty darn special, when there happens to be lechon! Attended a birthday party and just had to take a pic of this pig head which was roasted to perfection.

Had my nails did with a touch of glitter on my ring finger. I know, this trend is pretty old but since I never followed it while it was still fresh, I figured what the hey, might as well catch up now!  To cap our weekend, we finally put up our old Capiz lantern. We’ve had this for three years. Definitely worth every penny.

So those were some random snaps from my weekend. how was yours?

There are still plenty of kinks to be worked out with the new ideas. To help out, I spent a while story-boarding on my white-board and searching for common myths. Let me know if you know of any exciting myths (like yetis, area 51, etc). I could use all the help I can get doing research. It is astounding to me how much research can go into one little idea that a reader may barely notice. But its essential to have a solid foundation for a book (and sometimes that foundation comes from myths).

Today I am thankful for:

1. Time with Sister Kate

2. Vanilla Spice Coffee from Dunkin Donuts

3. Positive feedback on my new book

4. Time to story-board

5. A day of rest from homework

6. Three chapters of Corinthians memorized

Before my daughter started Kindergarten, my husband and I decided to take her to eat lunch a few days at her future school.  They offered free lunch to children during the summer.  I wanted her to get acquainted with the cafeteria and I also wanted to see if she liked the food that they served.  Some days, she ate well (hamburgers and sandwiches were a hit), but the day she was given pasta and meat sauce separately, she took a small sampling of the meat and left it completely.  She did it eat some of the pasta, and I tried to convince her to eat more of the sauce, but she wasn’t having it.  Of course, she had no complaints with the desserts they offered.  Neither with the plain or chocolate milk and fruits, but the main dishes and even the vegetables were mostly a miss.  I knew then that I would be making her lunches for school.  At first, I was nervous because I wasn’t sure what to pack in her lunch.  I’ve never done this before so I searched online for ideas.  I saw so many wonderful pictures of lunches packed by fabulous parents!  They were educational and inspiring.  Also, her school has implemented a healthy eating program.  It was one of her first projects.  They wanted her to draw or cut out pictures of healthy food and glue them onto a piece of paper resembling a plate like this:

Go to www.choosemyplate.gov for more great information

We all learned a lot with this project!  Now, I consult this clip art, which I made into a mini poster and placed it on my kitchen wall,  in order to send my daughter with a healthy portion from each group.  I went to Wal-Mart and bought small food containers and I place everything into my daughter’s lunch bag sort of like a bento box.  Also, in order to remember what she ate Monday through Friday, my husband placed a big dry/erase white board, which he found outside a while back, in the kitchen for me to jot down all the foods per day and keep a list of foods to pick from.

This is what keeps me sane!  I’m a visual person so this helps me out a lot.  FYI: If you spy the word KRAVE under Monday’s menu this is Kellogg’s new cereal that we’re totally addicted to.  It’s so delicious.  It doesn’t last two days in the house, because of me!

The board looks different this week because I’ve written “school closed” for the whole week and at the bottom there’s a short hand version of her lunch for each day.  It’s the norm now so I just keep it up.  Many thanks to all those moms and dads who post pictures of their children’s lunches.

Stay alert, stay alive.  Until next time…

Designed by: SG Designs

If you liked this post you might like:

Draw My Heart

Pencil Shavings

Okay, that might be a little bit of an exaggeration.  I mean, it wasn’t as intense as that time I slipped on ice and woke up who knows how many minutes and/or hours and/or days later in a pool of melted ice or blood.  It wasn’t as intense as the day I listened to Born to Die three times in a row, or, really, any day I’ve listened to Boys for Pele more than three times in a row.  And it definitely wasn’t as intense as the week I discovered how many varieties of trail mix there were at the Bi Lo down the street.

Nonetheless, it was pretty intense.  I looked inside a bee hive.  I ate a red velvet funnel cake.  I graded infinity papers and discovered I still had infinity papers to grade.  I wrote a poem about shoes on my iPhone.  I fulfilled the dreams of four-year-old Emily Bolden by teaching My Little Pony.  I gave one of the theory-heavy lectures I’ve ever given, and I gave that lecture about My Little Pony.  I drew confusing and illegible things on the dry erase board.  I made photocopies of a poster featuring a swamp monster for The Burning Swamp Reading Series, which kicks off with our first-ever reading tomorrow night.  I got a fish and let it live in my house and I’m still alive and so is it.  I won a giant unicorn at a bowling game.  I got matching airbrushed t-shirts with my BFF, which has been my goal since I knew what airbrushing and t-shirts were.  I remembered how much I love Laura Jensen’s Bad Boats.  And, perhaps most importantly, I actually remembered to put my recycling out so it can get picked up tomorrow morning.

See? INTENSE.

Here’s the photographic proof.

Day 292: PEOPLE, IT’S MALLOWCREME PUMPKIN SEASON. I need say no more.

Day 293: Deciding whether to purchase or run from this was one of my most major existential crises to date.

Day 294: Alice, examining my haul from the Kiwanis Ogeechee Fair. Please note that while she showed great interest in this unicorn and its magic, she didn’t notice that there is now a fish living in her house. As you might have already guessed, Gertrude Stein did notice, and she has registered many complaints.

Day 295: That’s right, people. That’s a fish. A real fish. As in a fish that’s alive and stuff. And that fish is living in my house. As in the house where I also live. Her name is Esther Williams and she hates the hiding house I bought her, even though it compliments her fins so nicely. Hmph.

Day 296: This is a picture of Alice continuing to not realize there’s a fish in her house and instead metaphorically showing how she is lost in the world by clutching to the rug for dear life.

Day 297: Sometimes we need reminders of what’s most important to us, and sometimes said reminders need to come in the form of two-finger rings, with which we’ve been obsessed since we first saw Lana Del Rey sporting one.

Day 298: When in the course of writerly events it becomes necessary to co-found a reading series, it sometimes also becomes necessary to purchase tiny stuffed swamp monsters for the kick-off reading in said co-founded reading series.

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I was asked to design interactive prayer stations at my seminary around the story the Good Samaritan, love, and issues of power.

Interactive prayer stations are a wonderful opportunity for people to reflect on any biblical story. The interactive prayer stations are meant to be intergenerational. (For more specific instructions on layout, purpose, design, and more ideas, you can view previous posts tagged under “Interactive Prayer Stations.”) You can see more pictures of these prayer stations here.

Interactive Prayer Station #1: Light a Candle

Materials: Candles

Interactive Prayer Station #2: Love Thy Neighbor

Materials: White Board, Dry Erase Markers

Interactive Prayer Station #3: Samaritans & Suncatchers

Materials: Baby Oil, Q-tips, Clothes line, Paper Clips or Clothes pins, Good Samaritan Story

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