1000 Ideas for Creative Reuse by Garth Johnson

1000 Ideas for Creative Reuse by Garth Johnson is a fantastic reference and idea resource book for “creative reuse, remake, restyle, recycle and renew.”

I originally thought that this book was more of a “how-to” style book. It isn’t and I really didn’t mind after looking through all of the 1,000 images. Each image is numbered and lists the artist’s name and country. If you look at the back of the book though, you can lookup in the “Image Directory” what the picture is of and what materials were used. This makes for a fun game while browsing through the book.

Here are some of my favorites in each of the sections:

Paper, Collage & Assemblage – paper teddy bear, many beautiful magazine collages, re-used books and even wearable jewelry.

Couture & Soft Goods – this was my favorite section because it concerned fashion. It has some really cool reconstructed fashion and even some that would be very wearable. Some were just for photos like the couture cardboard and plastic dresses. There were some cute accessories too like the measuring tape purse and an old Victoria’s Secret bag reused as a sturdier and reusable bag.

Jewelry & Adornments – this section also sparked many ideas for me. It has beautiful ideas for reconstructed jewelry of all types. There were also some very interesting steampunk fashionables. There were some photos in here that were rather odd or scary featuring jewelry made with many Barbie doll parts.

Geek & Man Craft – this section has some really fun things related to computers, jewelry and robot-like things. All very unique!

Housewares & Furnishings – this section features some fascinating ideas for reusing items for furniture like a chair made out of a shopping cart, a sofa made out of an old bathtub, candles out of old wine bottles and a beautiful light fixture made with many glass bottles all around it.

Art, Interiors & Installations – there is beautiful artwork featured in this section from ordinary things like credit cards to laundry detergent bottles and artwork made out of clothing.

The resources found in the back of the book are fabulous. The “Image Directory” does a great job explaining further what the pictures are of and what was used. The “Directory of Contributors” is an even better way to find more information on the ideas featured and even ways to purchase some of them.

Overall, I found this book to be an excellent eco-friendly book that gives great ideas and inspiration on reusing things you may consider junk and turn it into something beautiful.

Excited for New Moon!

November 20th is the day New Moon is out to the general public. I plan on going to see it that day if possible, if not I’ll go as soon as I can.

To ease everyone’s excitement though (and help with press) the actors are going on talk shows this week. If you have a TiVo or DVR of some sort, get it ready because you’ll want to see them on these shows!

Monday
Dakota Fanning – The Ellen DeGeneres Show
Taylor Lautner – The Jay Leno Show
Kristen Stewart – The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien

Wednesday
Robert Pattinson – David Letterman
Kristen Stewart – Today, Live with Regis and Kelly, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon

Thursday
Robert Pattinson – Today, Live with Regis and Kelly
Dakota Fanning – The Jay Leno Show
Taylor Lautner – Late Night with Jimmy Fallon

Friday
Nikki Reed and Kellan Lutz – Today
Robert Pattinson – The Ellen DeGeneres Show
Taylor Lautner – Live with Regis and Kelly
Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart – Jimmy Kimmel Live

I’m looking forward to seeing Jimmy Kimmel Live on Friday because Robert and Kristen will both be on it and we can see for ourselves just how much of a “couple” they act like if it is true they are dating or not. If they are, that’s great. If not, I wish they’d just admit they aren’t!

Dentist Fun, Shopping and Survivor – oh my!

Today I went in for a new patient exam, x-ray and cleaning at the dentist. I had a huge issue with some teeth back in June that I had fixed but since I figured it was time I went in for real, I made an appointment and was able to get in pretty quickly.

Going to the dentist with no insurance is not cheap. So I was waiting for when I had some more cashflow coming in before I could go back. I was hired for a job (not one I really want as a career) but a job that gives me cash (tips) and an hourly wage. I’ll talk more about this (maybe) later when I’m working there longer.

The exam and x-rays and cleaning were extensive. It took 3 hours and was really quite interesting. It was much more high tech than my last dentist (granted that was like 4 years ago). It was kinda cool even and usually I quite dislike going to the dentist because pain is involved.

Well, I have a pretty bad cavity on the upper right I need to get filled and one next to it. So, I’m getting 3 filled on the right side ASAP. Then I have 3 more minor ones to do at another time (soonish) after that. Not cheap but it really needs to be done before those turn into big problems too.

I’ve decided even if I don’t have dental insurance, I really need to go 2 times a year for checkups so these issues don’t happen anymore. I don’t like the pain of it and I need to take better care of my teeth.

Next year I also hope to get invisilgn. This is also not cheap. It is braces, sorta. My teeth aren’t the worst but they make me really insecure about myself. Plus, it’ll help fix some of my other dental issues. So, that is my plan for next year. Hopefully it’ll happen.

After the dentist I went to the mall.

Free Victoria’s Secret panties card/coupon I just had to redeem ya know? I Can’t let that go to waste!

I stopped by the book store (usual stop while at the mall) and found a “last chance” section where all books were only $1. Seriously, did I just leave the dentist’s office and walk into a little piece of heaven at the local mall? Free panties, $1 books…. Chik-fil-a…



To make it even better, I found a nice pair of jeans on sale that fit perfect. Again… heaven! Plus some really cute zebra print flannel PJ bottoms. I know what you’re thinking… cute, lame, funny, rawr, etc., but I love them!

Pretty good day and then Survivor made it even better. Tonight’s episode was true Survivor blindside when someone’s dream of winning $1 million was smashed by someone using a secret hidden immunity idol that he didn’t even have a clue to know where to find it (again)! I don’t like Russell as a person, but he is a great player in the game of Survivor. Plus, also in this episode Natalie killed and ate a rat! I get that they are hungry, really hungry… but now she is forever going to known as “rat girl” – worth it or not? I think not!

Twilight or Vampire Diaries?

If you read my blog (at all) you know that I love vampires. Twilight vampires, True Blood vampires, Vampire Diaries vampires, Anne Rice vampires, any vampires will do pretty much as long as they follow the code of being mysterious, sexy and dangerous.

I’ve also mentioned a few times that I love the What The Buck show. Here is a funny one you can watch discussing Twilight or Vampire Diaries. He goes on about the X-Factor show and w/e else until about 2:35 on the clip so skip to there if you like.



My Comments on it…
I love how he compares Elena to Bella and Stefan to Edward – it is so true! Plus, it is so like Twilight where the vampires are stalkers and the hero vampire only drinks animal blood! Love it!

I guess I need to be all sad and depressed and angsty to get a hot guy too! Hahaha (but hey if it works, I’ll try it, maybe).

Oh and as Buck says “Wii Wii Wii all the way home!”

Fun Christmas Gifts from Everything But Flowers

It isn’t even Thanksgiving yet and people are already shopping for Christmas presents and decorating their houses for the Christmas season. Getting prepared with all the presents ready and no last minute shopping is the ideal thing to do after all.

Everything But Flowers is an online store that has some fun and fabulous Christmas Gifts for friends and family. They can also do customizing on some items for a truly unique present.

I’d love to get any of the Crabtree & Evelyn gift sets, wine, perfume or luxe candles. If I could afford it, I’d give the Glamourflage Goddess Collection to all my female friends and family members. So cute!

Have you started doing your Christmas shopping yet? Are you a last minute shopper?

The Perfect Meme

Wow. I’ve had this meme stored for a rainy day. It is even raining (quite a bit) today, so I figured I’d go ahead and post this now. I found it over at Andhari’s blog a long, long time ago. Go ahead and participate too, even if it is a bit late…

Since I’m really wanting to watch Bridget Jones Diary and can’t find it on TV and don’t have it on DVD (I don’t know why either, I love it), and because people have told me I look like Renee Zellweger (when she isn’t super skinny – so maybe when she was Bridget Jones) I’m going to add in pictures from the movie and of her. Enjoy!


• The perfect outfit : Depends on the event! My favorite outfit though is always a nice pair of jeans (dark colored but not too dark blue) that look great and a nice fashionable top with cute shoes and a great purse. Accessories would include studded earrings on the top hole and dangle gemstone ones on the bottom (I have 2 earring holes in each ear), 2 or three rings that go with the outfit and an awesome necklace.

• The perfect meal : Oh gosh, probably something Italian. I love Italian restaurants. Start with a nice salad, fried calamari, chicken parmagana with either risotto or some pasta and if there is room for dessert I’d try something new they specialize in.

• The perfect road trip : My recent New Orleans trip with my Mom was pretty awesome. We drove down there and had a great time!

• The perfect facial feature : Eyes. You can tell a lot by looking into someone’s eyes.

• The perfect drink : Non-alcoholic – water. Alcoholic – daiquiris.

• The perfect hangover cure : Lots of water, if I can eat then maybe grilled cheese?



• The perfect song : I love too many to pick just one!

• The perfect sign of affection : Hugs.

• The perfect afternoon : Going shopping, out to dinner and then to a movie.

• The perfect vacation : A LONG tour of Europe. I would love love love to go tour Europe.

• The perfect type of wedding : A wedding with only close family and friends and on both sides at a beautiful castle in England or Ireland.

• The perfect album : I absolutely loved the Twilight soundtrack.

• The perfect accent : English – British. Swoon!

• The perfect date : Something awesome Bachelor/ette style. Just kidding that isn’t real life, not that I’d object to such dates….

• The perfect weather : I love the rain, cold and snow. Not all at once though.

• The perfect party : Great friends, music, food, drinks, etc.

• The perfect sport : I used to love playing softball. I like to watch basketball games though if I am there. Not so much on the TV though.

• The perfect thing to say : I love you.

• The perfect day of the week : All days of the weekend!





XOXO – Sheri Rene
(yes, that is my real middle name even… weird huh?)

Finding Purpose Beyond Our Pain by Paul Meier, MD and David L. Henderson MD

Thanks to Thomas Nelson Book Review Blogger program I was able to review the book Finding Purpose Beyond Our Pain by Paul Meier, MD and David Livingstone Henderson, MD.

I chose to review this book because everyone needs a little help with finding the purpose to our pain sometimes, and I’m not ashamed to admit it.

I do however have to admit that this book was hard for me to get through. Not because it is hard for me to look at myself and see the purpose of pain, but because of all of the scriptures in the bible. For some people it may be very comforting, but for me it isn’t. I liked reading some of it, but for most I’ll pass.

The book does contain some really great stories about people who suffered through various losses and rejections and dealt with them, but nothing really spoke to me.

I am glad that I read it and some of it was worth reading, and I’ll hang onto it for the future where I may enjoy reading it more. For now though, it is going onto a bookshelf in a non-prominent spot.


Book Description
A revolutionary approach to dealing with life's challenges that guides readers in how to face them and to recognize them as gifts from God.

At one time or another everyone finds themselves questioning, "Does God still love me? Is there a purpose for all this pain?" Drs. Meier and Henderson teach readers how to face painful struggles head-on in a way that allows them to grow and mature emotionally and spiritually. In this timely book they explore the seven most common life challenges:

* Injustice
* Rejection
* Loneliness
* Loss
* Discipline
* Failure
* Death

In addition they offer the three reasons we often miss the gifts these challenges can be. This unique approach to an age-old problem will encourage and challenge readers to grow through their struggles instead of wasting energy trying to avoid them altogether.