Articles written by Gilson Penny

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About me - Gilson Penny

Stephen King related an anecdote in his book On Writing about his motivation in his very early years. He questioned how he would feel, what his life would be like, if he waited until he was 50 to begin writing.

After a couple of decades of working in publishing,

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Creative Writing > Reflections Reflections: The secret keys to happiness: 2 of 114
Emerging research shows there could be a simple 3-step method to attaining happiness.1) Surround yourself with happy people.A Harvard Medical School and University of California study indicates a person's happiness could affect (and be affected by) the happiness of people in their periphery, showing happiness spreads through ... More..
Style & Beauty > Perfumes & Fragrances Moving day: How to choose a perfume that will help you stay fresh on this stressful day: 1 of 44
Psychologists classify moving as one of the most stressful occurrences of life, and this stress falls most heavily on the woman of the house. The smart woman will tap into the science and art of aromatherapy to make the day go smoothly.Believe it or not, specifically choosing a perfume for the day based on aromatherapy princi... More..
Food & Drink > Food & Drink (Other) Food ideas for the ultimate football tailgate party: 1 of 12
Top Ten Tailgate Party Foods for the Ultimate Tailgate Party:Tailgate party food should be fantastic, impress the other tailgaters, and impress the ladies. It should also be easy to prepare ahead, cook, and clean up. Using a grill (either small, large, or a camp stove) and a fondue pot, here's how to put together the best tai... More..
Travel > United States Road trip ideas in the US for seniors: 1 of 9
Senior road-trippers will benefit from ideas on general tips for making a road trip successful, and specific tips on good routes. This article will give both kinds of information, to maximize your planning and fun.Whether your road trip lasts a weekend, a week, or a month or more, advance planning accomplishes two things. It ... More..
Hobbies & Games > Holiday Crafts Do-it-yourself Christmas tree ideas: 1 of 6
This do-it-yourself Christmas tree craft is easy, fun, inexpensive and versatile. Make it small, for an 18 inch table topper, or large, for a full sized tree. My favorite use for this design is as a lollipop tree, but you can easily alter it for small or big lollipops, ornament twigs, silk flowers, or real twigs and branches.... More..
Hobbies & Games > Crafts (Other) Quilting: A creative process or pattern regurgitation: 1 of 6
The answer to this implied question is a resounding "Yes!" It encompasses both. The terms are simply not mutually exclusive. Anyone who decides to set their skills to task and make a quilt (or a painting, novel, sculpture, gourmet meal, garden design...you name it) is embarking on a creative process, regardless of whether the... More..
Celebrations & Holidays > Christmas How to avoid buying gender stereotypical gifts: 3 of 15
Choosing gender-neutral gifts isn't as difficult as our target marketing society makes it out to be. Three sure-fire methods, used separately or together, will lead you to unique and enjoyable gifts without resorting to bland politically correct choices.Three very useful ways to approach this are to 1) Re-package your gifts, ... More..
Hobbies & Games > Holiday Crafts Christmas crafts: How to make salt-dough ornaments: 1 of 5
Christmas salt dough ornament recipes can vary significantly. I tested five common recipes, and ended up developing my own recipe that worked the best with their combined principles. Christmas salt dough ornaments don't have to be flat, cookie cutter ornaments either. You can work with this dough just like any clay.In the rec... More..
Personal Finance > Real Estate A guide to renting out your second home: Pros and cons of having a property manager: 2 of 9
Whether you purchased your second home hoping rentals would cover expenses, or are considering renting your vacation home to pay those property taxes, approach your decision with a realistic analysis. The first question that usually pops up is "Should I use a property manager?" This should be the second question. Thoroughly e... More..
Celebrations & Holidays > Christmas Christmas gift ideas for the Boy Scout in your home: 2 of 9
Being a Cub Scout and Boy Scout leader for ten years has taught me that Scouting gifts must, above all, be COOL. There is a plethora of gear options and outlets, but when looking for Christmas gifts, look for something unique over something basic.Below are my top twelve gifts for under $30, and my top twelve gifts for over $3... More..