Guest Blogger: Kristen Wells

Hello!! I hope you are all having a great day today!! I am so happy to have a guest blogger here on Mariah's Creations!!

Kristin Wells is a recent college graduate from The University of Georgia and an aspiring writer. She wants to make a difference in people's lives through her writing. Kristin also likes competitive cycling, running, and traveling as much as possible. She is a regular contributor on http://curiousmindmusings.blogspot.com/ so you can read more of her articles there!!


M3: DIY activities: Occupying your time and having fun


Being a military wife can be extremely rewarding. Naturally, we’re proud of our men, and we’re proud of what they do. But long deployments can be difficult. Combined with the worry and fear can eat away at your soul. The last thing husbands need is to worry about our sanity, so keeping in good spirits is truly the greatest gift we can give them. One way to keep yourself busy and keep your mind on other things is to tackle some home improvement projects while your husband is deployed.



Fabric Wallpaper

Even if you live in base housing, you can still decorate and bring some texture to your living space. Wallpaper can be difficult to take down before your next move, but fabric is a breeze to remove. There are two ways you can add fabric to the walls. Heavier fabric can be applied by priming the walls and then applying the fabric using wallpaper paste. Lighter weight fabrics can be put up by soaking them in liquid starch, wringing them out and then smoothing them onto the wall.



Refinishing Furniture

Scan the want ads for furniture that’s selling cheap but needs some tender loving care. You can breathe new life into old dressers, tables and chairs by stripping off the finish and applying a fresh coat of paint or stain. It can be as simple as wiping a few coats of stain on with a rag, letting it dry, and putting it back together. The process can be extremely therapeutic, and you will have a new piece of furniture that can travel with you when it’s time to move again.



Quilting

Creating quilts from scratch is not as hard as you might think, especially since there are countless books available to help you get started. You can sew the quilts by hand or with a machine. Either way, you will enjoy a therapeutic hobby and a family heirloom when it’s finished. Make the quilts for yourself, as a gift for your husband or as gifts for other family members.



There are many hobbies and activities you can take up to help get your mind focused on positive things. Activities like these have been used time and time when dealing with diseases like Pleural Mesothelioma to get them through the tough times. When your husband calls to check on you, he will be able to hear that you are okay, healthy and staying busy. While you miss each other terribly, he won’t have to worry as much about how you are handling the separation. This simple gift will allow him to keep his mind focused on the job, and it will help you both get through this difficult time.




Hope you enjoyed this article!! Have a wonderful day!

~mariah~