My Dream Job

This post and blog are a part of what I want to do. I am in my mid twenties, went to university for history and I am starting to finally put together what I want to do. Going to university for history I thought I would land a job somewhere in that field – I am still looking, but it is getting harder as the months go on. Still hopeful I will get something, just have to look. I could always go back and do a little more schooling in that area, which could be helpful. But I am working on growing my YouTube channel tarotundercandlelite and working on this blog. There is that hope that I will make a small amount of cash of the two. I am trying to bring something new to people, or at least my opinion of it anyway. It would be cool to work for one or more of the companies books/decks I am reviewing. In the few years I would love to post even more on this blog and increase from one video a week to two. A video on Sunday, like I have been lately, and one video on Wednesday – more of the tarot deck showing video.

Also there is the hope I am doing all this work in Bavaria. I have had an interest in King Ludwig II of Bavaria for some time now and would be nice to be in that area. As well Bavaria seems to be a pretty nice place other than Ludwig. Or, it could with the first part, my own little place that is slightly out of town but ease of access to it. A plan I have to have my own little library in my own place. A place for all my books and decks. Up until now I have gathered, for me, quite a number books and able to keep them pretty contained on the shelves I do have.

Right now it is just trying to work towards that dream. Work on the goals I wrote down. Got to put down a few new goals and do them. With part of my dream you the reader and possible watcher are helping with what I want to succeed in my life. So thank you for reading and/or watching.

Planners and Stationary Items I Am Loving

Here I am telling you of the planners and stationary items that I am loving. I like writing things down rather than having it in my phone. Yes it would be easier but I like the quick look in my planner to see all my things at once. Again, yes I can do this on my phone.

So, what my go to now is the Recollection Creative Year planner and accessories. I can fill in my own planner and have different little books to go with what I need. Also I find that if you want one or two of the pages out of those books you can easily tear them off from the seam. For me it is easy to personalize.

Stickers and dividers are another great thing to have. They are a great way to remember things, know where you are and divide months or people. Just like highlighters, which are another great thing, you can colour code what you need. For the Recollections planner you cannot put large stickers into it but smaller ones just add some fun to the pages I put into it.

PaperMate InkJoy pens I find to work best for me. They have a few different colours to them, so if your do not want to do the highlighting and sticker thing – coloured pens are a great choice as well. Bic and Sharpie highlighters – the thinner ones, are easy and smooth going highlighters that are my go to now for when I need to highlight work hours, meetings and so on. Colours in both pen and highlighter can be great things to organize you time.

Sticky notes are my friend, especially the smaller, thinner ones. If you watch my YouTube channel you will find out with some of my books. They are a quick way to have a reminder, or quick divide between section or just a quick note. One other thing is white out tape. I do not use the liquid because to me it is messy and takes too long to dry if you need that space quick. White out tape is quick and needs no wait time. You can easily write over it.

I am also liking Leonie Dawsons' life workbook because it can be helpful to see what is going on and what you want to do. To do lists are another thing that is keeping me on track – most of the time. But they do give me an idea of what I need to do for the day, weekend or whatever.

tin radiant rider waite tarot

Some Uses for Cardboard

Here are some uses for cardboard that you may have laying around or may be coming in.

Mail/Moving

Shipping something:
Probably the most obvious recycled use is the cardboard box's primary use — packing and shipping. When you receive a parcel, put the box aside to use for your own mailings. After all, your purchase likely paid for it, so why not reuse it instead of buying a new one? Try not get overboard - only keep a handful, and reuse the rest in other ways or donate them. In the US, UPS accepts them, along with bubble wrap and other packing materials, for reuse. You can boxes you picked for free at the grocery store (some have a large bin near the checkouts) and local dollar store to ship items.

Padding a parcel: 

Speaking of mailing… Cardboard can also be cut to the size of an object to protect it during shipping. It is a durable and sustainable alternative to bubble wrap or plastic-padded envelopes (to emulate the latter, simply slide two pieces of cardboard in a paper envelope!).

Packing for a move:
If you’re planning an upcoming move, start collecting large boxes in a spare room now. If not, make the ones you still have from your last move, available to others by posting them on a classified ad (on Craigslist for example). People who pack for a move themselves are desperate to find free boxes and would be happy to make use of yours.

Larger boxes from warehouse stores, supermarkets, or the office are perfect for packing and moving. Moving is expensive enough — why not save a few bucks and get the boxes for free?

Income method:

eBay, storage facilities, on-demand container moving, and a society in transition have all conspired to make selling recycled packing, shipping, and moving supplies a new cottage industry.

Around the Home

Filing: Create the perfect low-budget filing system by grabbing some printer-paper boxes and organizing your tax returns, instruction manuals, old college papers, or extra family photos.

It just so happens that many cardboard boxes are the perfect size for filing. You could buy expensive boxes at the office supply store...or you could use cardboard. Handily, these boxes stack and are easy to label if you have materials that need to be stored, including digital media that might get hard to manage if you have large archives of backup discs, tapes, and other supplies.

Moving furniture:
Rather than carrying heavy pieces of furniture, set them on cardboard and slide them around. This will save your hardwood floors, and more important your back! Moving large pieces on carpet can be made easier by placing cardboard under heavier pieces and sliding instead of pulling.

Protecting your floor/Floor protection for events

Whether you need to protect your floor from a paint job, heavy traffic during a remodel, or your toddler’s food throwing skills, cover the area with unfolded cardboard boxes. But remember: if food comes in contact with cardboard, it’s best to compost it (vs. recycling it).

Big cardboard boxes are perfect for this. If you're renting an event hall and you want to protect the kitchen and other flooring during setup, cooking, and service, put cardboard down. It will catch spills and stains, prevent scuffs, and add some shock absorbency for workers who might be on their feet for a while. It doesn't necessarily look pretty, but it doesn't need to go in the public areas where people would see it.

Cardboard is a perfect hardwood floor protector. Cut out discs that fit under your couch and chair legs to prevent scrapes and scratches.

Storing your stuff:
Before the digital age, shoe boxes collected family photos, but cardboard boxes of different sizes are still predominantly reused for storing things. Don’t underestimate other cardboard forms though: your empty toilet paper roll can too serve you well. Keep spare extension cords neat and tidy by coiling and sliding them into separate rolls.

Clutter Bin/Donating Your Stuff:
Say goodbye to clutter with a cardboard clutter bin. Set it in a hallway so family members can toss in items they want to donate to the local shelter or thrift store.
Our household has been refusing plastic and paper bags since 2008, so when time comes to donate the kids overgrown clothing, we keep an eye out for a cardboard box to pack and transport our donation to a local charity. Boxes are much sturdier than bags, and with their flaps paper-taped up, I can pack them high and tight!

Recycling Bin:

Take a sturdy box and designate it for recycling so you are not buying containers to sort recyclables. Write on the box the materials that are to go in it and set it in a place where you know your family will utilize it.

If you're planning on taking cardboard to the recycle place anyway, let it do one last round of double duty. Organize your separated recycling into cardboard boxes, and place them strategically around events with clear signage to encourage guests to separate out compost, trash, and recyclables.

Lost and Found Box:
Decorate a box for lost and found items. You can donate it to your child’s school, your church, or anywhere that can use one.

Pet Bed:
Place a pillow and blanket in a cardboard box and you have the perfect pet bed. Cats especially will love this.

Whether it is for a real pet or the stuffed animal kind, a low-sided/ shallow box makes a perfect pet bed. With an old pillow and soft blanket, Spot won’t complain.

Kitty-litter box:

It may not be pretty, but shallow boxes are perfect for the kitty litter. Line with newspaper or fit with plastic sheeting for extra protection.

Knife sheath:

If you have a cardboard tube (toilet paper, paper towel, etc.), flatten it to make a sheath for protecting knives while packing, traveling, or camping. Many knives come with their own sheaths, but they tend to get lost in the shuffle; now you never have to worry about insulating sharp blades again!

Store nice dinner napkins:

If you have nice cloth dinner napkins that you keep for special occasions, you can keep them wrinkle-free and ready to go using a paper towel! Just put your cloth napkins in a stack, roll them around the paper towel roll, and store until needed.

Food storage:

Gardeners can appreciate heavy-duty cardboard boxes during harvest time. Use them to transport produce to market or store potatoes in the pantry. Cardboard flats are great for large quantities of canned food — just load and stack!

Ironing Board:
When in a jam a cardboard box can be used as an ironing board. Just use a low heat and press away.

Oil spill mat:

Catch oil drips before they have a chance to stain your garage floor. A broken-down cardboard box provides two layers of hassle-free protection.

Ugly insulation:

We've all done it — installing that window air conditioner and then trying to insulate around it with reused cardboard or Styrofoam. It's cheap, it's easy, and it works.

Outdoor

Kindling:
Cardboard makes great kindling. Tear it into strips and tie it into a bundle so you have it when you need it.

Compost Material/Compost bin
Rip the box up into strips and place it in your compost bin. It will help turn your soil into rich compost.

Cardboard is a great layering material for compost to balance out the composition of greens and browns. Use it when you need to up the carbon of your compost, and it will also helpfully keep things a bit contained, to boot!

Wriggly red worms turn food scraps and organic wastes into nature’s best soil to grow more food - and the worms love eating cardboard!

Garden Mat:
Don’t you hate it when your knees get sore and muddy after working in the garden? Take a section of cardboard box out with you next time and kneel on it instead. No more muddy knees.

Seedling starter pots:

Home-growing is a favorite activity everywhere. Get small boxes, place into rows in a large foam container, fill with soil and plant seedlings. Watch your garden grow!

If you buy eggs in cardboard, you may have pondered all sorts of uses for them, and there are a ton (enough for an entirely different roundup post!). But here's one in fitting with the accidental gardening theme of this one: seedling starters. Add rich clean soil to each egg cup along with some seeds, and watch your plants grow! Handily, you can cut the egg carton apart and plant it directly in the soil without disturbing the seedlings, because the cardboard will break down as the plants mature.

Door Mat:
Cut a section of cardboard to be used as a door mat. This is perfect to place in a garage or anywhere oil and grime can get on shoes.

Yard Sign:
Holding a yard sale or want to wish a friend happy birthday? Make a yard sign out of a cardboard box using markers and paint. Simply recycle it when done.

Quick and dirty raised beds:

Raised beds are primo for gardening, but a real pain to install. Guess what works really well, even if it doesn't look gorgeous? That's right, cardboard boxes. Place them, fill them with soil, and go to town. You can also use a cardboard box for the straw potato gardening technique -- fill a box with straw and seed potatoes cut into eyes, and when you fancy a potato, dig a hand in for one! (The great thing about this growing method is that you don't have to painstakingly wash dirt from your potatoes.)

Plant guards:

Young plants are vulnerable to lawnmower and weed whacker accidents, as well as nibbles from animals like deer and rodents. A cardboard tube can be cut in half and taped around a trunk to offer a little extra protection. (For issues with garden pests, you'll also want a larger plant cage to deter snackers.)

Weed control:

Weed barriers are expensive, and cardboard is usually free. Put down a few layers in the garden around problematic areas, and weeds will struggle to get through. The cardboard itself will eventually mulch back into the soil and enrich it, so you'll need to add more later, but your plants will appreciate the weed control/mulch combo!

Be my fire starter:

Like other paper products, cardboard is, of course, flammable. If you have clean cardboard that hasn't been painted or waxed (to prevent unpleasant offgassing), it makes a great fire starter. Cut a strip and light the end before applying it to key points at the fire you've laid to encourage it to burn hot and evenly -- and then toss your fire starter in with the rest of the pile when you're done!

Making Stuff

Craft making:

Why buycard stock when the very same material sits in your recycling bin? Our family no longer buys or stores art materials at home. When we need some for a school project, we reach into our recycling bin and use whatever bits of paper or cardboard we can find. And if a teacher asks for a poster board, we unfold and cut a box to size.

Paint Palette:
Cardboard is sturdy making it great for a paint palette. Just cut a section into a circle and make a hole for your thumb. Add your paint and get creative!

Spray Paint Shield:
When spray painting small items, place the item directly in the box and spray. The sides of the box will protect the paint from drifting and keep your surfaces safe.

Gift Box:
Keep cardboard boxes on hand to use as gift boxes. Just wrap colorful paper around them and you are ready to go. Splurge more on the gift by getting the box for free. Whether you're shipping the item or giving it in-person, recycled boxes make any gift more wallet-wise and eco-friendly.

Gift Tags:
Cut circle or square shapes out of cardboard boxes. Poke a hole and string ribbon through and you have instant gift tags.

Piñata:
Fill a box with candy and tape it closed. Wrap it in decorative wrapping paper and you have a fun and frugal piñata.

Sofa Shield:
Tired of pets jumping on your couch? Place some flattened cardboard on the cushions and they will go elsewhere to hang out!

Make a bunting banner:
Cut the cardboard box into triangles. Paint them or cover them with washi tape. Glue them to ribbon and you have a cute and decorative banner.

Furniture making:

Entire books have been written about crafting easy, cheap and light furniture from cardboard. It's not just for dorm rooms anymore — cardboard furniture is becoming high art and eco-chic.

Craft big or small, easy, cheap and light furniture from cardboard! Cardboard furniture is becoming high art and eco-chic.

Laundry basket:

They don't make laundry baskets they way they used to. Avoid the $10 every few months and go rogue with cardboard. Cut handles in the side for easier toting.

Car trunk organizer:

Toss a medium-sized box in your trunk to organize quarts of oil, windshield washer fluid, jumper cables and other emergency items.

For Kids

“Junk Science” challenge:

Save cardboard boxes and cardboard tubes of all sizes, along with string, rubber bands, lids, paper clips, yogurt cups, and so on. Then challenge children to collaborate on a project.

Made up games:

Make a list of all the games you can make with the box. Card games? Board games? Yes, please! Cut-out and decorate unique playing cards. Draw the spaces on your board and create original game pieces. Invite some friends over and let the games begin!

Box City or village:

Create the city or little village of your dreams made from cardboard boxes! Use paint, sharpies, clear vinyl, ribbon, scraps of paper and packaging to make windows, doors, chimneys and much more on your block houses.

Dollhouse:
Decorate a small cardboard box with colorful paper, markers, and paint. Add your miniatures and you have the perfect doll house.

Boat:
Make some oars out of dowel rods or wrapping paper rolls and hit the high seas. Kids will love pretending like their box is a boat. Use paint or markers to decorate it and a paper plate for a steering wheel.

Spaceship:
What child doesn’t want to blast into space? Cut windows into the box, add marker details, and you have the perfect spaceship. Kids will love playing for hours.

Racecar/Makeshift car:
Wanna race? Add paper plates for wheels and a steering wheel and you have the perfect racecar. You can even add battery operated touch lights for headlights.

Despite having no batteries, no steering and no wheels, you will be absolutely delighted pretending in your cardboard car!

Toy Chest/Box:
Keep toys organized when you use a cardboard box as a toy chest. Simply decorate the box with paint and the child’s name and you are ready to go.

Tape over any sharp edges, paint with fun colors and personalize liberally. Tape over any sharp edges, paint with fun colors, and personalize liberally. There are no heavy lids to fall on tiny fingers and no frustration when this toy box wears out.

Dream Castle:
A little paint and glitter can turn any box into a dream castle. Let your little princess dress up her box the way she pleases and have fun for hours.

Playhouse:
Make a mini place house by cutting some windows and hanging fabric scraps for curtains. Place small furniture pieces such as stools in the box and you have the perfect playhouse.

Go sledding:
Apply some cooking spray to the bottom of the box and take it for a spin down a snowy hill. A flattened box makes a great on-the-spot sled!

Playing pretend:

Give a child an empty cardboard box and you’ll open a whole imaginary world for him/her.

Signs:

Having a yard sale or estate sale? Selling lemonade this weekend? Cardboard boxes can become signage with just a few easy snips.

Puzzles:

Cut-out various shapes that fit together to make flat or 3-D puzzles from cardboard boxes.

Puppet stage:

Get creative and create a puppet stage from a repurposed box. Decorate the backdrop with any kind of paper scraps, gift-wrap, or paint.

Pretend “ice” skating:

Tape sheets of cardboard onto the floor and pretend to “ice” skate in your socks.

Ball or marble run:

Use several pieces of cardboard taped together to create a fun path for your speeding marbles or balls.

Cardboard canoe:

Find a box, large enough for your child to sit in it. Bring the ends of the cardboard box together, to create the pointy shape of a canoe, and use hot glue or duct tape to secure them in place.

Fort building:

Stack boxes of various sizes and shapes to make a fort. Knock it down, and repeat!

Play structures:

An unaltered box is sufficient to keep children busy for hours. Sheets of flat cardboard can be used as “building sheets” and cardboard tubes can be used for supports. A spaceship? A submarine? An airplane? Endless possibilities!

Hideout:

Draw on the outside of a large box (stove and refrigerator boxes work perfectly) and decorate the inside any way you like. A great spot to take a nap or read a book!

Oversized blocks:

Small boxes are great as disposable toy blocks. Small boxes are great as disposable toy blocks. Use markers to draw windows doors, and chimneys on your kid's block houses or make entire little villages. Who needs Lego's?

Pizza making:

A fun activity using cardboard, colored paper and other supplies around your home. The cardboard serves as the “crust” while you pile it high with eye-catching “toppings”.

Maze:

You will need lots of boxes, imagination and time to create a masterpiece to crawl-through!

Makeshift canvas:

Let your kids channel their artist with cardboard as their canvas. Frame accordingly.

Other

Picture frame:

Cut out different shapes and sizes of cardboard to use as frames to hang your works of art.

Eclipse sun viewer:

Use a cardboard box to make a safe solar eclipse viewer. A la Dolores Claiborne — use a cardboard box to make a safe solar eclipse viewer.

Halloween costume:

Become a robot, knight, big piece of wrapped candy, or anything you like by using cardboard boxes as the foundation of this year’s Halloween costume.

Diorama projects:

Use cardboard to create small worlds, school projects, and science fair displays. Perhaps recreate a miniature scene from a favorite childhood story or use the box to illustrate the investigation you child explored.

“Bring your Own Box” party:

Host a party in which guests are invited to show up with cardboard boxes of all sizes. Supply masking tape, duct tape, markers, paint and plenty of room for creations!

Memory-keeper:

An old shoebox is perfect for those greeting cards, (old love) letters or small treasures you can't part with.

Pinhole camera:

Create that vintage photo look by capturing your digital images through a small pinhole punctured through a small pinhole punctured in a cardboard box. Hold the pin-hole up to the camera lens and viola—unusual, unforgettable photographs.

Table base:

Display space is always at a premium during a yard sale or garage sale. Use boxes to keep your merchandise off the floor and closer to eye level. Boards bridging the tops of upturned boxes can optimize space.

Solitary or Coven VR Samantha Valens