I found some really great "calligraphy" pens at Michaels. I can't remember the name or brand, but they have a pen tip at either end...for a smaller and larger calligraphy look. You have to practice some to learn how to hold the pen but I really love the look much much better than my plain hand-writing (which I HATE when I journal). They provide a more personal touch (look) to the page then printing calligraphy style on the computer (which is also a nice idea). Like Jill, I usually like to matt what I journal, depending on the page. If your cousin just graduated from Med school, could you somehow incorporate something from her "soon to be profession"? Perhaps you could make (scrape) a nice looking professional business card with her name, the date she graduated, her title etc.? I'm not too up on graduating med students so maybe she has to complete her residency, but maybe you could include smaller photos of where she will work or complete her residency on the page (in the background or superimpose photos of her on top of these smaller ones)? For something a bit more comical, maybe you could get a photo(s) of her with friends or family "using" her medical tools from her black bag with a humorous title page or a funny lyric or poem? I love to matt a lot of my photos and I also love to try (try being the key operative word here)and make up poems or rhyme when I journal. I think you could have a lot of fun and still have some very elegant and "fun" pages. Good luck! Send us a link for your completed pages so we can save the ideas...I'll need one in about 14-16 years!

Depends on if it has a solid bottom or not. If it has a solid bottom - like a concrete planter with a concrete base - then it is just a large container and needs to be filled with a soil-less container potting mix. And we hope it has some sort of drain holes :-) If it is only solid sides but a bottom open to the underlying soil/ground, then it is considered just the same as a raised bed and any sort of enriched soil product (garden planting mix, topsoil and compost, etc.) will work fine. Look for somewhere that sells bulk soil products. That planter will hold about 3 3/4 cubic yards of material and you could go broke trying to fill it with bagged product!

Think about your favourite style and search Pinterest. You’ll see all the components that bring a room together, which will help you decorate. You can also drill down further and search by color, bedding, window treatments, rugs, bedside lamps, etc For example, I searched specifically for a modern dark headboard. Area rug would be a nice addition and then base rest of room around it. Bedding is next and paint last. Nice window treatment with longer black rod

This is a basement hangout spot? Well, hell, that's a horse of a different color. Who cares about the split AC or seeing the door. You need to focus on cozy fun hang out space. You've got that with the seating and TV. Just add a fun high pile rug that feels good under foot and art above the sofa to the right of the door. A super casual round coffee table for drinks and snacks is smart too. Don't over think this space.