My collections: Zelfs

I love toys.  When I'm a little old lady I'll probably spend my days wandering around my condo in Florida (Golden Girls style) dusting off my toy collections.
I first saw Zelfs in a little display in the toy aisle of Walmart.  They instantly transported me back to my 10 year old bedroom where I'd spend hours playing with my Troll dolls.  Zelfs are like "themed" Troll dolls.  Some themes are darker than others.  There are witch Zelfs and vampire Zelfs...
But there are also adorable foxes, red pandas, a unicorn...

Aliens!

I used to carry my Troll dolls in a McDonald's Happy Meal Halloween bucket.  I was pretty enamored of those fluffy haired cuties.

Lambs and Frankenstein monsters can be friends!

I got these cuties for Christmas this year.  Isn't that koala adorbs?

And my most prized Zelf: Pearleen!  She's the queen of the sea, obviously.  And queen of my heart.

What do you collect?

Reading when you don't wanna: A How-To Guide

I consider myself a bookworm and I looove books but sometimes I feel like I have two modes when it comes to reading:  "read everything" and "ugh... don't make me read".

This past year I definitely spent most of my time in the latter mode.  I just could not get hyped up about reading.  I read a few books but, let's just say, I would not have earned any pizzas from Book It! this year.

 
I thought I would share a few tips on how to get yourself out of a reading slump:

• Get your eyes checked!  Reading had become literally become painful because my vision had changed and I needed a different eyeglass prescription.  My left eye was compensating for my weaker right eye and was giving me headaches.  Our vision changes as we age  (I didn't need glasses until I was 33!) so it's a good idea if you notice any blurriness, double vision, dryness, etc.
• Don't force yourself to read a book that just isn't drawing you in or holding your attention.  (I found out Mr. Coffee finishes a book and I was appalled.  Life is too short to read shitty books.) If you hate it, stop reading it.   
• If you're solely a fiction buff, try non-fiction and vice versa.  If you have a favorite author why not read their biography?  It might help you appreciate their work even more and inspire you to read any books you might have missed.  This can be applied to other genres as well.  If you're always reading horror, you might get tired of wading through the stacks to find the one book published this year that doesn't involve the sex lives of vampires.  Instead of giving up on horror why not befriend its brother fantasy or its cousin science fiction?
• Change the medium.  Sometimes something as simple as flipping through a magazine can help flex your reading muscles.  (It's a muscle right?)  Or try manga or comic books.  How about an art book or travel guide*?
• Re-read a book you know you love.  
• Set an attainable reading goal for yourself.  Having spent a lot of last year on the couch or in bed, I realized it was lazier easier to binge watch a season of shows than to choose a book and start reading.  Instead of another episode of The Office, why not turn off the TV, set the timer on your phone for 20 minutes, and read?

*These are not affiliate links, merely suggestions.

Helloooo, 2016!

Dear 2016,
I'd really like to stay organized this year.  Especially when it comes to blogging.  Every time I got on a schedule last year, you threw a wrench in the works with a barrage of doctors' appointments or something would break or one of the animals would get sick or injured.  Could you maybe keep everyone healthy this year?  At least the animals.  They don't have health insurance*.
It would also be really nice if you could make this new medicine start working for me.  Being exhausted and in pain isn't really my bag, ya dig?  Please and thank you, of course.
I really liked having a planner last year and even though some planner-less haters might think it's silly, decorating my planner and sitting down and really planning out my week helped me stay focused and helped me schedule in some downtime for myself.  Overdoing it is not my friend!  (Except I may have forgotten to pencil in "blog, dammit".  My bad.)
Speaking of planners, I decided to jump on the bullet journal bandwagon.  I love making lists, so this seems like a good system for me.

I already decorated my notebook because plain black is not my thing.

Aaand, speaking of lists, I decided to list all of the books on my shelves and in my Kindle that I have not read.  I also made a list of all the bath and beauty products I've hoarded purchased over the past year because one of my few resolutions is to use up what I have before buying anything new.  So please don't tempt me with so much cool shit this year, ok?  At least not until I read these thirty or so books on my list.

This is just my non-Kindle list.

I guess I'm ready for you, 2016.  The real question is:  Are you ready for me?

*And of course I want everyone to be healthy.  Just a little joke. 

Peace out, 2015!

I wouldn't say 2015 was terrible but it wasn't awesome either.
I was locked in a battle with my doctors as I watched my health deteriorate only to be told that it was "anxiety" and "all in my head".  False!  After arguing and demanding a second opinion, I saw a rheumatologist who diagnosed me with rheumatoid arthritis.  Basically my immune system is attacking my joints.  Thanks immune system!
In July I said goodbye to my bestest furry friend of 11 years.  I still don't have words for the pain it put on my heart.
2015 decided to go out with a bang and gave us a blizzard of biblical proportions:  cars trapped under snow drifts,  people snowed into their houses, roofs collapsing under the weight of our belated white Christmas.
Oy...
But it wasn't all bad.  I like my rheumatologist.  She actually took the time to listen to my concerns and wanted to help me start to feel better.
I saw a lot of good movies, watched some good shows, listened to good music, and played some rad games.
And, finally, in November I found this little noodle head on the side of the highway.

What I'd like for Damn Fine Coffee in 2016:
I really hope to write more posts, especially more personal posts. I feel that personal blogging has really sort of died out as more and more bloggers hope to monetize their "lifestyles". I don't think I can single-handedly revive personal blogging. I'm just doing it for me and that's what matters.
I'd also like to talk about RA and treatments and supplements and what is working for me in case there are people out there, like me, newly diagnosed and searching for answers.

So, that's it.  I hope everyone has a fun and safe NYE celebration. 

See ya next year!

Damn fine holiday movies

Just a few of my personal holiday recommendations:


Home Alone is, of course, the quintessential holiday movie for those of us who were lucky enough to have been born in the 80s.  I remember seeing it in the theatre and begging my parents to put up the tree as soon as we got home.  I also wanted some bad guys to break into my house because I was pretty sure I could take them Macauley Culkin-style.


How the Grinch Stole Christmas  The animated version.  Don't even try to pull that live action Jim Carrey crap with me.


Batman Returns  Not only is it the best Batman movie ever, but it takes place during Christmas.  And it has tons of adorable penguins.

Deleted scene:  Batman scolds Catwoman for knocking the ornaments off and hiding them under the couch.

A Christmas Story because, well, duh.


Gremlins was not only a touching Christmas tale but it also taught the value of good pet ownership.  Just because your adult child is old enough to drink and holds down a full time job at the bank does not mean he's ready for a mogwai.

Dad, if this is one of your awful inventions, I'm going to scream.

Scrooged  Any re-telling of Dickens' A Christmas Carol is alright with me but add Bill Murray into the mix and that's just the icing on the cake.


Edward Scissorhands The unsung Tim Burton Christmas movie.

May I see the receipt for those ornaments, Winnie?

It's beginning to look a lot like Twin Peaks

Want to make your holidays damn fine this year?
Start off by sending these rad cards to your friends and family.  Or keep them for yourself.  I won't judge.

Get yours here

 My log has something to tell you:  It looks delicious.

Get the recipe here

Oh Diane, almost forgot.  Got to find out what kind of trees these are.
Get in the holiday "spirit" with this Douglas Fir-inspired cocktail.

Recipe here

If BOB isn't leering at you from the branches of your Christmas tree, it might be time to re-think your decor choices.

See the whole scene here

Start planning for the new year with this adorable calendar.

Buy yours here

Adorable isn't really your style? How about a full year of the ladies of Twin Peaks?

Buy yours here

The mysticism of Twin Peaks

My favorite TV show meets my favorite divination method.

I've been a tarot enthusiast ever since I found a battered deck that belonged to my dad in my grandma's attic.  (What 70s-era teenager didn't mess around with a little occult lite?)

Artist Benjamin Mackey has been busy creating a Twin Peaks themed tarot deck.  View the entire deck here.
The Major Arcana is complete and Mackey is hard at work on the Minor Arcana cards. 
Naturally, the suit of cups is represented by none other than a damn fine cup of coffee.

Here's to hoping it becomes an actual deck or, at the very least, some kick ass prints.