Magazine Review #3 (Oh)

 

Name of magazine

Oh (Issue 58/Early Spring)

Who is it aimed at?

Anyone who likes art and culture would like the magazine. 

It also seems to be for family oriented people.

The slogan

Mindful being – Mindful doing

What the magazine aims to achieve

The magazine feels like a comforting hug including escapist articles, and mindfulness tips. 

This issue was written during the pandemic, so topics for how to keep well are included.

Favourite articles

I read this cover to cover and I enjoyed all the articles. My tops were ‘Sisterhood’ an exploration of family ties, ‘In the flow’ about why we swim, ‘Green economy’ living life sustainably, and ‘How to be still’ the practice of acceptance.

Further notes

Reading this magazine was one of my highlights of the month. Sometimes I feel with certain magazines that they are just not aimed at me but with this, I was fully interested and inspired.

Would I buy another copy?

Yes, without a doubt I would order another issue. ‘Oh’ is more widely available to buy online than other titles I have read in the past.

Any DNF (Did not finish) magazines lately?

Practical Mindfulness Book (Issue Six)

I thought I was going to thoroughly enjoy this one, but because it was too technical and jargon was used I felt overwhelmed. I didn’t find it accessible.

Have you heard of Oh magazine before?

Do you read magazines in your spare time? :-) Xx

Jigsaw Log #6

 

Welcome back to my jigsaw log series. I had a long period of not really doing much jigsawing so around the start of the month, I challenged myself to a five-hundred-piece puzzle which wasn’t too difficult in comparison to one thousand pieces. I love the cosy feel to this design with the pets on the couch, and I found it to be well made, as well as a nice difficulty level for me.

If you are just starting the hobby, this would be a good one to complete. My Nan was gifted it after having a jigsaw related chat to a friend. I noticed the box had a charity shop sticker, and in my experience, they are a good place to shop as lots of people tend to donate them after completion. It was originally from The Works, and they are online if you fancy a browse.

I found this article on the Gibson’s game blog and it’s a really lovely read:

https://gibsonsgames.co.uk/blogs/news/mental-health-benefits-of-jigsaw-puzzles

Here are a few quick quotes from the article:

‘Puzzling reduces stress by occupying and engaging the mind to create a sense of calm and serenity’

‘Completing a jigsaw works both sides of your brain, the left hand-side that thinks logically and the right, the creative, intuitive, and emotional side. So, when you piece together a jigsaw puzzle, you harness both brainpowers.’

‘Completing a jigsaw puzzle is a fun and entertaining pastime that is enjoyed without any kind of electronic involvement.’

‘Completing a jigsaw with a friend or family member promotes discussion and interaction as teamwork is essential for finishing a tricky puzzle!’

Do you feel like trying a jigsaw too?

What pastimes have you been interested in lately? :-) Xx

Jigsaw Log #5

 

It’s lovely to be back with this series. Recently I’ve been thinking about getting back into the hobby, although at the moment my jigsaw table is being used for something else. My Mum gifted this jigsaw to my Nan a while back, and my Nan, Mum and myself completed it March 2020, just before the pandemic hit. 

I really recommend this design because of the intricate picture, making finding the appropriate pieces a little bit easier. It had 500 pieces, so it was fairly doable as well. The image is of a busy park with lots of people, so we found it a nice conversation topic as we were doing it.

I found an interesting article on jigsaws: How did the Jigsaw Puzzle Become a Popular Pastime? 

If you want to read it for yourself, it covers the early history of jigsaw puzzles, 

the boom in popularity and how they're made today.

Here are a few quick quotes from the article:

‘Although puzzles are often regarded as a leisure activity,

 its beginnings are rooted in education and the teaching of geography.’

‘The name “jigsaw” refers to the specialized saws used to produce them;

 however, it would not become commonplace until decades later.’

‘Jigsaw puzzles have seen a resurgence in popularity in 2020 due to the coronavirus.’

I completed two other jigsaws in 2020:

The tropical sea life design in February (blog post here)

The supermarket design in July (blog post here)

Has this inspired you to do a jigsaw?

Or do you already do many, if so what types? :-) Xx

Jigsaw Log #4

Welcome back to another jigsaw log which is a fairly new series on my blog. Over the past couple of years, I’ve been getting more into doing jigsaws. I normally buy second-hand or swap with friends but my brother kindly bought me this 1980s shopping basket 1000-piece jigsaw. He said he thought the detail and familiar brands would make it a fun one to do and it was.

I mostly opt for 500-piece jigsaws and even then I tend to do them with my family. I started this one at the beginning of lockdown feeling very ambitious. It took me a good couple of months to complete; I kept coming back to it adding pieces as I went and I found myself enjoying it. I think I’ll be having a rest from jigsaws for a little while, but I’ll come back to them at some point as I have one or two more in the waiting. I would recommend this jigsaw as it was good quality.

What are your favourite relaxing pastimes? 

How have you been keeping busy lately? :-) Xx