What better day to publish my very first puzzle post than International Puzzle Day?!?
Hi everyone, my name is Diane, and you might say I am a little obsessed with puzzles. I have enjoyed puzzles since childhood, but a few years ago I learned how calming they are and really help me unwind and relax. So, I decided to dedicate my Instagram page to puzzles.
About 2 years ago, a friend said, “Hey, you should make a time-lapse of your next puzzle.” It was obviously a brilliant suggestion, so I did! Since then, I have recorded a time-lapse of nearly every puzzle. It’s nothing fancy, but I post them all on Instagram anyway. It’s like my diary, but public. I like to watch the videos to see how I approached a particular puzzle and decide if I would like to try a different approach.
I currently own around 200 puzzles including the 24,000 Educa Life puzzle. I cannot wait to start that one (planning on starting in April).
In addition to my puzzle pictures and videos, you may see an occasional dog appearance (we have 4). My youngest, a maltese named Ari, likes to get on my puzzle table and “help” – which in his case is just laying on the table. And my corgi, Beau, is infamous for eating puzzle pieces. I have tried to tell him numerous time that puzzles are not treats, but alas he disagrees. There is also a 17-year-old beagle, named Sweeney, who we inherited after my grandparents passed away a couple years ago. No one thought she would have the will to live without my grandma, but she’s doing really great for such an old dog. Then there’s Zita, the maltipoo and alpha. This sassy little girl like to bring me her toys to play fetch while I am working on a puzzle.
I also love audiobooks. My favorite genre is mystery/thriller, but I listen to all types of books. And I LOVE to listen to them when I am working on a puzzle. It is just another way to engage more of my senses. Multi-taskers unite! (Pro tip: check your local public library! Many subscribe to services that allow you to borrow audiobooks for free. The most popular services are Overdrive/Libby, Hoopla, and cloudLibrary).
My husband and I got married on August 2, 2019, and moved into our newly purchased home on November 15, 2019. Then the unthinkable happened. On March 28, 2020, shortly after the pandemic causes many places to close our house was hit by an EF3 tornado. We were home when it happened – took shelter in the bathroom. This was a pretty significant storm. The tornado was on the ground for 12.5 miles and went through the middle of town. Our subdivision was hit hard. We lost our house and have been living in an Airbnb while we rebuild. They say the first year of marriage is tough, but ours has really been a doozy! I wouldn’t want to be going through this with anyone else.
I am a member of the USA Jigsaw Puzzle Association, a contributing reviewer for the popular Jigsaw Junkies blog, and a Wentworth Ambassador. I do share (nearly) daily on Instagram (@bizzlespuzzles), but you may also see me on YouTube, TikTok, Reddit, and in some Facebook puzzle groups.
I wanted a space where I could write more about what puzzles I love along with tips and recommendations. So here I am! And I am so happy you are here.
Happy Puzzling!