A Use for Floppy Disks

My generation caught the tail end of the floppy disk era so if you don’t know what they are, here’s a photo. They were used for data storage, much like USB’s do now except they held an embarrassingly small amount of data.

Since their obsolescence, people haven’t been able to find a use for them. Unlike typewriters or record players, you can’t make a case that they’re vintage because no one can even use them. So instead of the recycle bin (because of course you’re recycling them, right?), I propose making them into coasters!

Here’s how:

1. Dig up some old floppy disks. If you don’t have any, fine a garage sale or some friends who do. Ten to one they won’t mind donating them to you at all. You can even buy used ones on Amazon if you’re that zealous about it. The good thing is that they come in many colours. I picked ones that matched my furniture.

2. Get some sort of laminating spray or other laminating mechanism. Otherwise, as one very wise person advised me, they start to bend from the warmth or coldness of the beverages. I used DecoArt Triple Thick Gloss Glaze for a whopping $5 from the neighborhood craft store.

3. Spray the glaze about twice on every side in a well-ventilated area on a piece of cardboard or newspaper and let completely dry. When they’re done they should be firmer and shinier!

Optionally you could glue some cork rounds on the bottom, but the thinnest ones are about as thick as the disk anyway so it’s your call if you want to give up economy for extra padding.

This is about the easiest how-to ever 😀

Cheers!

KRP

Do’s & Don’ts of Living x Yourself: Part 1

This will probably be one of a series of posts I will be making as I discover the ins and outs of living by my lonesome. This is what I learned from the first month or so.

Don’t:

1. Over furnish. You can 86 the dining table idea. A bar stool and a coffee table beat table for one. Or if you’re me, for your mail.

2. Over grocery shop. Unless you’re a cook, you only need a few (3) onions at most. The rest will go unused and I hate very few things more than handling fruits and veggies that have gone bad. Also lettuce tastes much better and keeps much better fresh than in one of those salad bags.

3. Make brownies. Just because you get a chocolate craving, it doesn’t mean you should make a whole box of brownies because you will be the only one eating it. It’ll put a damper on your relationship with Betty Crocker.

4. Decorate everything. It’s so tempting to buy something to fill every square inch of blank wall that you now have but resist. Wait until you find something that actually means something to you. Those make the best memories. I’m currently waiting on a funky clock.

5. Leave work upset. Make your peace about whatever happened or didn’t happen at the office before you leave. Going home upset will suck your motivation to do anything useful and no amount of Community episodes will cheer you up.

Do:

1. Make projects. You need something to keep yourself busy after work/during weekends and the charm of housework will wear off soon enough. I found that initiating exploratory excursions is a good way to get to know your environment and that starting a project will help give meaning to your wanderings.

2. Get night-lights. It’s not that you’re afraid of the dark. It’s just that showing up to work with bruises from when you walked into the bathroom doorknob at 3am will win you some weird looks.

3. Make food for several days. That way you can prepare and get the ingredients to make more than just  mac and cheese and it gives you more time after work to work out, have a life, or fully make use of your cable subscription.

4. Double-dip. Come on, live a little. It’s kind of invigorating actually.

5. Get ice cream. It’s the best way I’ve found so far to satisfy those instant sweet cravings without having to deal with more sugar than you need. I highly recommend Ben& Jerry’s Half-baked.

Grab a spoon,

KRP