Check Out This Jar Lamp I Filled with My Childhood Toys!

This, my friends, is a lamp I made way way back in 2007...yep, over ten years old, and it still lights up just like it did the day I put it together. (Of course, it's probably in all that time have seen it's share of bulb changes!) One day I was out shopping somewhere in a venue that carried real old antique stuff and I saw this lamp that was made out of a glass jar and filled to the brim with something like seashells....It was love at first sight - I didn't actually buy it, as I had a better idea...I chose to be inspired by it, as what I really wanted was a lamp just like that one, just not filled with seashells. (I have nothing against seashells - I just wanted to put something else in there, just what ? I've always been quirky like that.) Out of nowhere I had the idea....I got to thinking about all the cute little toy miniatures I had from my childhood that I kept in shoe boxes or whatnot, and I got to wondering if I should put them in some kind of display case so I could enjoy looking at them....and then I just got this genius idea out of nowhere....Jars are great to display stuff, and jars can make great lamps too, and then..well something about a stone and birds comes to mind!

The meson jar I used is also an old timer too, if you collect them and you see "Perfect Mason" on the front, that's the big giveaway, most new ones don't have that anymore. But it's a half gallon 64 oz jar big enough to hold all my cute little toys from way back when. Everything from Cabbage Patch Kids to Strawberry Shortcake and friends, found a way. Then came the bottle kit - I've always been scared to death of messing with electric wires, but this kit is not the least bit as scary as it sounds as long as you just read the directions and follow them.

Actually the most scary part is the step where you have to create a hole in the jar to thread the wires through....I was in luck as my boyfriend at the time was used to power tools and was able to do the much-intimidating job of drilling the hole without a disaster on my hands. Boom - I was in business! I must have obsessed about this lamp all through the summer of 2007, adjusting the toys, the shade, and that stuff.

I also run a craft blog (which I spend more time on that this one) and I discussed it in a post there too.but I went into more depth talking about putting it together and how readers could do the same. I guarded this baby like a well-kept secret, but felt like I ought to share this, when you reach adulthood and you realize you collect stuff like I do, there are ways you may not have considered to repurpose them and bring them to new life! Hope you enjoy!

These Top 80s Hits Are, Like Totally Overplayed on the Air

Did you ever like a song or two from way back when, but after awhile, you heard it just too many gosh darn times that the novelty has worn off. Why are some songs just so, so overplayed? While that's a question I could never answer and much better presented to someone who actually works in the radio industry, I have come up with my own list of the most grossly overplayed hit songs I remember from the 80s that literally get played like they are going out of style. I'm sure you may be familiar with at least a few of them. Here goes:

1. Pour Some Sugar on Me - Def Leppard

This one was a big hit when I was in the 5th grade and one of the kids had the main album tape and brought it to our end of the school year party, which was a great memory to always cherish. Yes, I believe we were still playing tapes back then and life was simpler. Back to the song, yes I get why it's a great rock ballad, but, still, overplayed.

2. Summer of '69 by Bryan Adams

Honestly not too big of a fan (apologies) and while this one is good to hear every now and then, it seems like it is played at least two or three times a day; or maybe it's just my perception. Who knows-judge for yourself.

3. Heaven is a Place on Earth by Belinda Carlisle

Honest to gosh, this lady could be a very talented singer with a nice roster of songs but unfortunately, my ears get subjected (or is that more like "assaulted?") by this non-stop hit that the radio stations don't seem to let up on. Please, please, please, let me hear something else by this artist instead of THIS one over and over already, geesh.

4. More Than a Feeling - Boston

Nothing wrong with the song itself, and most of the time I don't even notice it in the room...but I do have to say, "If I had a dime..." Yep, I have literally heard this one so many times that I just don't really notice it on the air much. Kind of weird, but I guess it happens to all of us. We get either annoyed by something that plays incessantly or we get desensitized to it, and I guess I'm mostly the latter here.

5. Livin' On a Prayer - Bon Jovi

This one was a very big hit once and yes we did have our share of really great power ballads, but this one seems to hog a lot of airtime more than others. Just my two cents, anyway.


OK...I almost thought about making this a top ten list, but I thought I'd stop at five since I think it's better to dwell on the positive side of life. Right? These five were the top contenders for most overplayed if I had to keep it to a handful.

What do you think...Are there any other songs highly overplayed you would have chosen instead? Do you agree, or disagree with any on the list?