Stay Updated On What's New In The Puzzle World
This past month I was able to attend the first Portland Jigsaw Masters (PJM) speed competition in Oregon. The event was sponsored by Pomegranate which we all know and love and Portland Puzzle Company, which is a very small brand from the area. The competition was from August 2nd to 4th and had individual, pairs, teams and mini sprint competitions. I competed in all but the sprints and thought I’d share my experience with the puzzles with you all!...CONTINUE READING
Please be sure to let us know how you liked the blog in the comments!
I’m going to be very honest with you, July was a very difficult month and I originally had a much different blog planned. I wanted to share how puzzles have really helped me when life was just hard. In July my husband and I went to Maine to visit family. I had packed a whole suitcase of just puzzles for while I was gone. It was a three week long trip and I was so excited. However, some unexpected health diagnosis had come up with one of our family members and our time was swallowed up by everything that was going on. I went through that whole trip only doing a couple travel puzzles when I had a spare moment. What struck me though, is that now that we are back in Washington, I’ve realized how much puzzling really helps with stress and I’ve rediscovered how many of us do puzzling to unwind, destress, and zone out. Here are some things I’ve rediscovered about puzzling since my first few weeks back...CONTINUE READING
Please be sure to let us know how you liked the blog in the comments!
Ice cream is said to be the most patriotic food in the US and is considered a national symbol of America. I could write a whole blogpost just on the history of ice cream but I’ll just redirect you to this article on the History of Ice Cream in the US. If you want the cliff notes version, ice cream was a symbol of the US during World War I when sugar was rationed world wide. “By the time World War II occurred, ice cream had become inseparable from the American way of life, an emblem of American comfort, freedom, and democracy (Siegel, 2021). While the rest of the world banned ice cream as part of their rationing efforts, the US doubled down and built ice cream factories on the front lines to deliver ice cream to allied ships, distributing 135 million pounds of dehydrated ice cream base in 1943 alone. Thanks to President Reagan in 1984, July became National Ice Cream Month and the third Sunday of July, was proclaimed National Ice Cream Day. It is your patriotic duty to eat ice cream...CONTINUE READING
Please be sure to let us know how you liked the blog in the comments!
It’s here, it’s here!!!! Summertime is just around the corner and can I say, I am SOOO excited! If you are new to my blogs, this was my first Washington winter after 10 years of living in Southern California. I knew moving up here was going to be an adjustment, but I thought, “eh I grew up in Maine, I’m used to the seasons.” However, I didn’t realize just how much it really does rain up here! I swear about 90% of our days since October have either been rainy, misty, overcast, or in a couple instances snowing. My lack of vitamin D is very apparent and I cannot be more excited for our dry sunny season to be upon us. I want to soak it all in!...CONTINUE READING
Please be sure to let us know how you liked the blog in the comments!
Usually when I’m puzzling, my beverage of choice is usually a cup of tea or coffee. Not today! It is World Cocktail Day and am deciding between my traditional Gin and Tonic or if I want to try something a bit more fun. I’ve done plenty of puzzles with cocktails in the image but to be honest, this my first time celebrating this as a holiday, and only because I’ve now learned about it for this blog. Before we get into the puzzles, here’s a little history lesson...CONTINUE READING
Please be sure to let us know how you liked the blog in the comments!
What do you think of gradient puzzles? When I first started to notice them popping up, my first initial thought was, “but there’s no artwork.” Doing a puzzle without an image seemed like it would be boring but also difficult. Little did I know at the time, I would absolutely love them. Now this style of puzzle may not be for everyone. However, there’s something to be said of just doing a puzzle of pure color. Not only is it incredibly relaxing but it has helped me see variations in hues a lot easier for other elements of puzzling, such as a sunset sky, large bodies of water, or landscapes to a far-off horizon...CONTINUE READING
Please be sure to let us know how you liked the blog in the comments!
“It’s about time!” That’s what I said when I first found out that Puzzle Warehouse was going to start selling a selection of Magnolia Puzzles. I have been a fan girl for this brand since their very first collection in 2020. At the time you could only buy them from Turkey and it took several weeks to get to my home. Now, they are much easier to get in the states and I’m so excited to see them expand and get a larger following. Before you get all excited and head over to the brand’s page, just know that they are a sought-after brand. Puzzle Warehouse currently has 25 of their images, but it’s been hard to keep them in stock. However, I wanted to make this blog post in case you have been curious about the brand and want to know whether they are worth the wait...CONTINUE READING
Please be sure to let us know how you liked the blog in the comments!
According to MoneyGeek the average date night in America, for dinner and a movie, costs around $159. If you were to add flowers, a babysitter, drinks, or other stops for your date, we’re talking closer to $300 for a night with your significant other. While a night out is a nice treat, it can be an expensive item to factor into your budget. One of me and my husband’s favorite date night ideas is Date Night – Game Night. We have always loved playing board, card & video games together. The concept for this date is simple. One of us picks out a couple games (could be ones we already own, or we may buy a new one). Then we add some snacks or pop in a frozen pizza and boom - we have a fun and inexpensive night in...CONTINUE READING
Please be sure to let us know how you liked the blog in the comments!
Whether you stayed at home puzzling or went out with friends, I hope you had a safe and happy time ringing in 2024. Like many I use this time of year for both reflection and planning for my upcoming year. I thought I would use this blog for exactly that purpose. Now, I know New Year Resolutions aren’t for everyone. Researchers suggest only 9% of Americans complete them and 23% of people quit within their first week. For me, there’s just something about the ritual that gets me excited for the upcoming season of life...CONTINUE READING
Please be sure to let us know how you liked the blog in the comments!