Best thing you've done

[Treasure]

However long it's been since your kids have flown the coop, what's the best thing you've done with your newfound freedom? Develop a new skill? Get a job? Spend more quality time with your spouse? Read more?

[JustUs2]

We got on the low-carb diet plan and have lost significant weight.  This would have been hard to do with my son living here because he loves carbs and we have no will power.  What about you?

[celebratelife]

I have started dabbling in freelance design and writing. I am discovering a whole new world online, and it is just phenomenal. However, I am realizing just how much technology knowledge is required!

[Treasure]

JustUs2, that's what I'm in the process of trying out now. Hopefully I'll get similar results! I've been journaling lately which is something I've always wanted to do but never had the time before. It's been fun so far and has given me a great creative and emotional outlet.

Celebratelife, that sounds like so much fun! I can only imagine how much tech-savviness is required. Good for you! What sort of things have you been designing/writing?

[celebratelife]

Honestly, I've been trying a wide variety of writing and designing. However, I've found that I am most successful on freelancing sites where the jobs are short term and are very random by nature.  So that includes some odd jobs designing advertisements or a logo. But I've had fun with it.

Journaling sounds great! Do you have a favorite medium or pen to journal with?

[Treasure]

That sounds really fun! I'm sure the variety helps keep things fresh and you never feel bored. That sounds like a great way to do things. I'll have to check out some freelance writing jobs. Do you have a site you'd recommend checking out?


It's sort of an "art journal" - it's in quotes because I'm not all that great at art! But I've been playing a lot with watercolors and I'm just in love. Right now I'm using a Winston and Newton set (Cotman) and they're pretty good but I think I'm going to have to invest in more expensive colors if I keep this up because the colors just aren't that vibrant. For pens, I've been using Faber Castell 4 Pitt and they're great, especially with the watercolors since they won't bleed.

[celebratelife]

I am still on the lookout for better sites, but one site that I've had a little bit of success on is called iWriter. It is not the best, but it's a starting point.

I think that Faber Castell and Winston and Newton are great brands to use! I also love using a brand called "le pens" for writing and Zig brush pens for typography designs that I do from time to time. They come in so many colors, but they can be around 2$ per pen, so I usually only buy black.

Do you have a specific kind of journal that can hold up to watercolors? I can imagine being worried about getting the pages too wet.

[Treasure]

I'll have to give that site a look. Thanks!

I've never heard of either of those brands before so I'll have to check those out as well. You're giving me all sorts of fun things to try. That's so cool that you do that kind of typography work.

Honestly, my first one was just a plain old notebook. It didn't hold up too well but it wasn't as bad as you'd think! I also discovered that a layer of Gesso will help make the pages a lot more durable.