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Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Happy New Year!

Welcome to the End!
Happy NYE!
The sooner I go to bed, the sooner I wake up in a New Year but iDigress...

The Year wasn't a Total Wash.  I saved the Best for Last.
I really did.  In a year where nothing went my way...for 2 Glorious Days, Everything Did.

It was my 2nd Annual NYC "Weekend Getaway!"
Yours Truly, Rev Sully, along with the power of his best friends, combined to form a most awesome of days off in the holiday season.
Peter, OCHO's very own Doctor Hooey, his wife Eliza and their 4 year old daughter Lyra hosted me for another time in the Big Apple.
Eliza is from Manhattan, grew up there.  Her dad & mum live there, other family too.  They are real Manhattanites, which is a little different than the stereotypical Borough Neighborhood Archetype.
So I got to do this last year as well as documented here on OCHO.
Such a lovely thing to do...Walk Around Manhattan.
This Year, I landed the Day After Christmas.
I slummed in the Upper West Side again.
Our View?
This is the Dakota.  On the corner of W72 & CPW.  This is where John Lennon lived & died.
Strawberry Fields Forever...You'll see the Dakota behind my left shoulder.
I wandered around the City all afternoon.
 One Light Goes Out...They All Go Out!
Rockefeller Center in December.  This should be a Norman Rockwell.
 BALLS!  Holiday Balls.
 These Two are an Old Story.  When I worked at the Hard Rock Cafe (yes about 20 Years Ago!), we staffed an annual event at the legendary NYC venue, the Roseland Ballroom for Nordoff-Robbins, the music-centric international children's charity.
Between the original NYC Hard Rock on W55 and Roseland, just a few blocks away, we cooks in our chef pants & whites had to wheel plastic-wrapped covered speed racks & food-laden Cambros down Broadway.  I was intersecting with my own ghost of a Score of Years Past...
Check this out...the Globe at Columbus Circle/Trump International...from directly under.
this is New Zealand
This one is for Kiwi.
 I can't tell you the name of this tower yet it's at the foot of Central Park South & I hear it is all residential.  And it's gone up in the past few years.  I clearly remember seeing this last year a bit more skeletal & Erector Set-like.
Pete & I found this on the bar crawl back to the apartment.  It was upside down for why??  Who knows!  Yet dig that holiday-colored Empire State Building in the background!
This was just the first day!

My second day was just was perfect yet for different reasons.
I spent all day window shopping in NYC checking out the Holiday displays with the best company a man could ask for.  And ate at Gordon Ramsay's London Bar.  Boo-yah.
Also we went on an Adventure!  For dessert we trekked across the Upper East Side for the Sweet Shop, E73 & 1st Ave to taste what was billed as the best Ice Cream Ever!!!  Odd Fellows of Brooklyn.  OMFG, no lie this is the Next Level.  Extra Virgin Olive Oil ice Cream!!!  Sorry Ben, Sorry Jerry...I'm just too Odd for You.  ;)
 Yet I leave this Year in good taste!  I was looking at an everything bagel this morning at work, starving and could not muster the will to toast & eat it.  For it cannot come close to the savor-every-bite Everything Bagel from 72nd Street Bagels.  I brought home a 1/2 dozen for my roommate.
And a Sully Story would not be complete without a Road Soda!
On the Bus, Homeward Bound.

So Namaste & Good Luck!  Take a trip!  Get out and see something...
And share it too.
My whirlwind weekend was wizard only because of the company I keep.

Kriya Shakti,
Rev Sully

Wednesday, December 25, 2013

"Christmas Lights"

PS I only kinda "get" it =)

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas Everybody!

2013 has been a Bad Year and I'm glad to see it go.  Hey '13, don't let the door hit ya where the Good Lord split ya! ;P But iDigress...  Nothing too much to say that hasn't already been said.
Yet I'm treating myself to a whirlwind "weekend" in NYC so maybe I'll find something to write about while I'm there ;)
It hasn't totally been a Bad Year...The Bruins went to the Stanley Cup, the Red Sox won the World Series.
Then I think of things of External from the Marathon Bombing, to the Internal a Year of Personal Inertia.
All in All, 2014 rounds the bend bidden or not.
I'm looking forward, without Hope or Despair.  When I conquered a level of Personal Despair this Year, I found that my sense of Hope vanished too.  And not in a Negative Way.  Not quite positive yet very Neutral.  It's as the Mystics said would happen.  I still possess both in a way yet I neither Accept nor Reject them...Simply Respect Them.  They exist!  And they are part of the World but it is as if Hope was the Obverse of Despair and I just figured that out.  It was the sense of "Moksha", of Spiritual Freedom when I came to this conclusion.  Yet I think I befuddled a few friends with this sentiment so I wanted the soapbox in which to say "sorry if I alarmed you" =)
I've never felt better...I've never felt worse.  I've never been this healthy, and I've been a lot sadder, hungrier & desperate in this life which I am not in this Now...so I am grateful for my jobs, my skill set, my family, my friends & loved ones.  Thank you all.  And may your Holiday be filled with exactly those & that.
This XMas I'm hanging with my Parents, Mom & Hoppy.  We're doing it Low Key: Movie & Chinese Food.  Here's Your Hat, What's Your Hurry?  Then I'll be in NYC by lunchtime tomorrow for a few days.
I do love simply walking around Manhattan this time of Year.

So have a Happy Holiday!  What are you cooking?  What's your favorite present, given & accepted?
Got a favorite Holiday song?
Are you wearing an Ugly XMas Sweater???  If you are, you might be having a good time =)

Saturday, December 07, 2013

The Smoking PUCK!

December 7, 2013

Winter is Coming.
Sigh.  My mind has one foot in the gutters of "Fleabottom" these days but iDigress...
But check this out:
This Year: the NHL has Multiple Outdoor Games!
The 2014 Winter Classic to replace the missed opportunity last year: Toronto at Detroit in a place called "The Big House" which seats 110,000...
The infrequent yet utterly Canadian Heritage Classic featuring the Ottawa Senators versus the Vancouver Canucks.
Then the Baby New Year of the Bunch: The Stadium Series.  Well, since it's a series over 3 cities which should make it a Stadia Series yet I'm a Prick, right ;)
In Los Angeles (yeah huh???), at Dodger Stadium in the Chavez Ravine...the Anaheim Ducks face the LA Kings.
In Chicago, the Pittsburgh Penguins faceoff against the Blackhawks at Soldier Field.
Then in Yankee Stadium, the NYC Rangers play against the New Jersey Devils then the New York Islanders.
It's an occasion for great alternate jerseys and outdoor hockey.
Being a Winter Sport, as a kid we used to play hockey in the middle of Columbia Park, South Boston when we open a fire hydrant and waited a few days.  Nothing in the world was quite like that feeling.
I achieved it again when I used to work as a young man at the Cheers bar across from the Public Garden, in the the pre-9/11 American past when things were cooler, better and helmet-less...the Duck Pond would freeze over and before work, I'd lace 'em up and play with anyone out there skating.
nothing like the feeling of hustling down a loose puck and having your skate-clad boot crack & plunge through the ice into a foot of cold swamp...
but what can you do?  Skate it off, my friend...skate it off.

So bundle up, wear some layers...Winter is Coming.
So go outside and play, why don'tcha, kid?

Rev Sully
the Hub of the Multiverse


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Saturday, March 28, 2015

The Comics Gnome Poots!

So this above should say it all.

I'd like to get all "deep end of the pool" yet as what's keenly phrased in GRR Martin's Ice & Fire..."Words are wind" but iDigress...

Hey if you got nothing good to say, then say nuthin'!
I mean why would you want to waste your time reading me screed on something you would never read in the first place.  It's so...derivative.

I dig on the idea of "weapons-grade rumor".  That was a high point.
Yet "Who" is this story being told & sold to and "Why"?  It's very 80's Action Teevee show-like if I had to nail a vibe.
And Who are the Teen Titans?  It's usually a collection of teenage sidekicks, bonding in their free time.  And it's usually fun.
This contains neither.  None of the Heroes are Sidekicks....just elusively & tangentially associated.
I dig that it tries with a Hip Vibe and a gay character,  That's big for DC.  MARVEL's been doing that for a generation or two so DC is so behind the times.  So what?
Hey...make "Bunker" someone that we want to root for is all we ask as Hero Fans.

In the Month of DC Movie Poster Tributes, I did "bite".  Oh well...

Tuesday, March 24, 2015

Letters to Shakti

I remember you
I never forgot you
When we were one
And nothing came between us
Not even ourselves

Then we made a space to love
To live, to be together not as one yet as Two
We made the space & we also had to create time in which to enjoy.

Mitigation, Waiting, Entropy
Half life occurred
Chemical Bonds & Emotional Alchemy fail over the march of Time. Only to make new, stronger elements for the new nebulae to create stronger tools to make our Space & Time truly Ours

Of course I remember you
I never forgot you.
We invented this place to make Creation.
We are Two. Looking to regain Unity
And filling our space with our time once again

Monday, March 23, 2015

Friday, March 13, 2015

Pulse check... yup, I'm still here. So are you! Yay!

I just found out last night that my son's best friend in preschool is Bobby Orr's grandson. How cool is that!?

In other news, I'm doing the P90X3 "Beach Body" workout program and weight watchers in an effort to get myself into a shape that isn't a circle. So far, so good!

Also, I learned to make cheese. Based on my last Colby, it's damned good cheese, if I do say so myself.

Ready for spring. Don't be a stranger.

Sunday, March 08, 2015

a get in my belly fortune cookie

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Search This Blog

Saturday, February 12, 2005

I am tired.

Tired I am.

Thirst For Verse (Slight Return)

When I went to the library the other day, I noticed they were holding their quarterly book sale this weekend.

So after my shower and some coffee, I head off to the sale.
Run into a few book-loving freaks like myself that I know.

Say hello.

Good luck.

Happy hunting.

I'm only sort of half with it from the sleepless night and I don't have the time to do any real serious browsing.

I hit up the basics: poetry, biographies, fiction.

The poetry section is weak and blurred together with drama and classics. I don't see any City Lights Pocket Poetry Series chapbooks (easily identifiable by their size) so I head off to biographies hoping to find a good one by Nick Tosches (on Sonny Liston or Dean Martin specifically) but find no such luck. Browse the fiction. See a Jim Harrision book - Dalva - which I'm convinced I already have in hardback, this one here is soft cover.
So I pass on it.

Oftentimes, I'm so fixated on trying to land a certain score that I end up buying it twice. I've done this with records many times.

I go back to biographies one last time before I leave. Along the way I spot Kem Nunn's THE DOGS OF WINTER which I recently read and it was one of the best books I consumed in quite some time.
I pick it up because it is hardcover and vow to send/give my soft cover copy to someone in the near future.

Back I biographies, I spot one on Kenneth Rexroth - who is one of the grandaddies of San Francisco's epic Beat lit scene - and pick it up.

I had just gotten an email from a friend of mine about how I was a great American poet after he discovered a long lost stash of poems I'd sent him years ago.

He is an archivalist.

He keeps everything.

Ironically, this was on the same day that I felt compelled to go to the library and read poetry. I felt it was my duty to keep the synergy going and take the Nunn and Rexroth books to the checkout.

It cost me $2.

Turns out I don't have DALVA

Sleepless In Carolina

The House Of G was kept awake last night by sickness.

4-yr.old Spencer's coughing and stuffy nose kept him awake.
Beckoning mommy or daddy to his room to blow his nose, get him a drink or give him yum-yums (Simply Stuffy - a children's decongestant).

Roughly 2:45am I awoke to a heartburn induced dry cough attack.

Must have been the nachos consumed while watching that shitty "scary" movie called the VILLAGE. At least it's not scary 45 minutes into and that's when I pulled the plug on it because I kept finding myself looking at the inside of my eyelids.

I've had a scratchy throat since I butchered my voice during Wednesday night's band practice. The makeshift P.A. just isn't cutting it. I'm finding it harder and harder to hear my vocals so I end up yelling more, making me sound like some Baldwin brother for a few days.

So I'm up coughing, drinking juice, sucking on a Ricola and doing just about anything to right the situation.

Drinking dry pilsner beers and toking on a one hitter doing the movie surely did not help.

I retreat to the back room as to not wake those who are trying to get some sleep and snuggle under a blanket with the TV on, volume real low. Finally sleep comes.

Then Spencer waltzes in a says it's time to get up. I drag myself
and the blanket to the family room, turn on the TV for him and lay down. I never looke at the clock. Several shows later I look:
it's only 6:15am.

I deduct I have easily been up since 5am.

It's at this time the wife stirs, feeling edgey and awake from whiskey consumption and allows me to return to bed for sleep.

It seems to take forever to get back to sleep and I even dream about already being asleep and having to wake up.

8:30 am. I'm torn awake by the most amazing leg cramp I've ever had. Not since my days as a bicycle messenger in Los Angeles have I woken up in writhing pain, twisting and turning, rubbing the cramp.

I get up and shower.


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LONDON — WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange no longer is the subject of an active rape investigation in Sweden, but he remains holed up in Ecuador's embassy in London facing an unclear future because of uncertainty over whether American authorities will try to get him handed over next.

Sweden's top prosecutor dropped a long-running inquiry into a rape claim against Assange on Friday, saying there was no way to detain or charge him "in the foreseeable future" because of his protected status inside the embassy.

Prosecutor Marianne Ny said she could not judge whether the 45-year-old Australian native was guilty or innocent because the investigation had been thwarted. Ny said the case could be reopened if Assange comes to Sweden before the statute of limitations expires in 2020.

British police said they would arrest Assange if he leaves the embassy on the relatively minor charge of jumping bail, but the more severe threat is a possible sealed U.S. indictment against him.

The sun-starved WikiLeaks provocateur, looking healthy if pale, emerged Friday afternoon to address the media in the open air of the embassy's balcony. He said the day marked an "important victory," but noted that he still could be prosecuted by the United States.

Assange also lashed out at Sweden for taking seven years to investigate allegations he maintained were baseless. His children had grown up without him, he said.

"That is not something I can forgive, or forget," he said, claiming he had suffered a "terrible injustice" while living under house arrest or hidden away inside the embassy without ever being charged with a crime.

Despite the welcome news from Sweden, police in London said Friday that Assange is still wanted there for jumping bail in 2012. More serious are the possible charges he faces in the United States for WikiLeaks' aggressive publication of thousands of pages of classified government documents.

Assange said his legal team would reach out to British authorities to try to find a way forward, and he said he would be "happy" to have a dialogue with the U.S. Department of Justice despite its threats against him.

WikiLeaks has repeatedly infuriated U.S. officials with the widespread release of sensitive secret documents related to military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq and diplomatic relations around the world.

WikiLeaks also had a role in the 2016 U.S. presidential campaign when it published emails written by Hillary Clinton's campaign officials.

U.S. and British officials Friday declined to say if the United States has requested Assange's extradition.

Ecuador's foreign minister, Guillaume Long, tweeted Friday that Britain "must now grant safe passage" to Assange. The South American country has granted him asylum, but it is not clear how Assange would travel there without the permission of British authorities.

Assange has spent nearly five years inside the Latin American country's London embassy, but he seemed robust and defiant in his brief balcony appearance. He did not take shouted questions from the reporters assembled outside and would not say if he plans to leave the embassy located in the posh Knightsbridge neighbourhood.

The day began with the dramatic announcement in Sweden that the rape investigation was being suspended. But some experts said the development would put him in an even more precarious legal situation, if the U.S. has a sealed indictment for his arrest.

U.S. President Donald Trump said last month he would support any decision by the Justice Department to charge Assange.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions has suggested that the arrest of Assange could be an American priority, saying last month the U.S. was "stepping up our efforts on all leaks."

"We will seek to put some people in jail," Sessions said.

Army Pvt. Chelsea Manning served seven years in prison for giving classified material to WikiLeaks. She was freed Wednesday, having had her sentence commuted by former President Barack Obama before he left office.

British officials said they do not comment on individual extradition cases. British Prime Minister Theresa May said Friday that "any decision that is taken about U.K. action in relation to him (Assange) would be an operational matter for the police."

WikiLeaks complained about the lack of clarity in Assange's legal situation.

"UK refuses to confirm or deny whether it has already received a US extradition warrant for Julian Assange. Focus now moves to UK," the group tweeted.

His supporters believe the sex crime allegations that have bedeviled Assange for years were politically motivated. They surfaced after the women accused Assange of sexual misconduct during a visit to Stockholm in 2010.

A lawyer for the woman who alleged she was raped by Assange said "it's a scandal that a suspected rapist can avoid the judicial system and thus avoid a trial in court."

Elisabeth Massi Fritz says her client is shocked by the Swedish decision but added that "she can't change her view that Assange has exposed her to a rape."

There were initially two separate allegations being investigated, but one was dropped in 2015 because the statute of limitations ran out. The rape allegation, the more serious claim, remained under investigation. Prosecutors were trying to determine, among other things, if Assange had sex with the woman while she was asleep and without using a condom.

Assange has said the sex was consensual.

British police said that since Assange is now wanted for a "much less serious offence" than the original sex crimes claims, police "will provide a level of resourcing which is proportionate to that offence."

British police kept up a round-the-clock guard outside the embassy until December 2015, when the operation was scaled back partly because of the costs, which had exceeded 11 million pounds (over $17.5 million at the time).

Keyton reported from Stockholm. Jill Lawless in London, Eric Tucker in Washington and Jan M. Olsen in Copenhagen, Denmark, contributed to this story.

Gregory Katz And David Keyton, The Associated Press


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Sims Named Pitcher of the Week

Posted On Monday, August 24, 2015

PEARL, MS — Mississippi Braves RHP Lucas Sims was named Southern League Pitcher of the Week, August 17-23. During the week, Sims went 2-0 with a 0.79 ERA in two starts. He surrendered just one earned run-a solo homer-and four hits over 11.1 innings pitched. The right-hander struck out 15 and walked six.

Sims, 21, entered the 2015 season ranked by Baseball America as the No. 4 prospect in the Braves system. He joined the Double-A Braves on July 19. With the M-Braves, Sims is 3-2 with a 4.19 ERA in seven starts. He’s struck out 44 batters and walked 26 in 34.1 innings of work. Right-handers are hitting just .145 against Sims. In his past four starts, Sims is 3-0 with a 1.99 ERA and a .133 opponent’s batting average.
Prior to joining the Mississippi club, Sims was 3-4 with a 5.18 ERA in nine starts at High-A Carolina. He was holding right-handers to a .197 average. Baseball America also selected Sims’ curve as the “Best Curveball” among Braves farmhands entering the season. In his final eight starts last season, Sims went 8-0 with a 1.59 ERA at High-A Lynchburg. A native of Lawrenceville, GA, Sims was selected by the Braves in the first round of the 2012 draft.
With 14 games remaining in the 2015 regular season, the Mississippi Braves have a half game lead over Pensacola and Mobile in the Southern League South Division Chase for the BC Powder Championship Series. The Braves have four games remaining in Pensacola before returning to Trustmark Park Friday, August 28 for a five-game set against Biloxi. Mississippi concludes the regular season at Jacksonville.
The Mississippi Braves baseball team is the Double-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves. Since making the move from Greenville, SC, in 2005, over 100 M-Braves have gone on to play in the big leagues. The M-Braves have made postseason play three times and went on to win the Southern League Championship in 2008. Tickets are on sale now. Stop by Trustmark Park or call 888-BRAVES4 Monday through Saturday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. For the latest news and updates, visit and


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7 steps to content marketing superstardom

It’s easy to forget content’s core purpose in the face of an ever-expanding list of new tactics, trends, data, and content tools. These tips from Forbes will get you back on track and help you bring value to your audience in no time.

Master the basics before you decide to launch that uber-expensive virtual reality project.

“Instagrim”: Why social media makes students miserable

In our classrooms, we urge our students to express a range of opinions, to disagree, to become critical thinkers. Online is a different matter. On their Facebook and Instagram feeds, they are learning to conform and be uniformly agreeable, because opinion and difference can come with a high price.

“People have pressure now, more than ever, to project an image that everything’s peachy and wonderful in their life,” said one student.

Twitter for the Fearful

Let it go.
Let it go.

Twitter is the East Village of social media platforms, a once-cool locale that has been deserted by its hipster denizens and left to the well-heeled wannabes. Which means, of course, that it’s prime ground for business development.

With nearly 300 million active users (Statista 2/2015) who can be segmented by interest, location, and a dozen other criteria, there will never be lower fruit for marketers to pick. Yet, while everyone has some presence on Twitter, practically no one in the corporate world is doing it right.

There are a few good reasons for this. First and foremost, social media is the province of the young, and young people are rarely intentionally strategic. They are the world’s greatest connectors, building enormous and vibrant networks, but these pulsating masses of virtual humanity are often ends in themselves.

Second, older people are afraid of social media. “It can’t be controlled.” “It gets out of hand.” “We don’t have the resources to deal with it.” Sounds like any establishment figure talking about any youth movement, doesn’t it?

Well, get over it. We’re going to have to find a way to exist in this brave new world (which is 20-plus years old already). And that means partnering with younger people, charting a strategic course, and letting the connectors do their stuff.

Next up: Developing a Twitter Strategy, or “Ain’t Nobody Got Time for This”

Follow me @DebGainesAssoc


text:
 The Courier » Rosalie Park

Rosalie Park

A funeral for Rosalie A. Park, 71, of LaRue, will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Lucas-Batton Funeral Home, Upper Sandusky, with Kathy Herr officiating. Burial will be at Meeker Cemetery, Marion.
Visitation will be held from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday at the funeral home.
Mrs. Park died Thursday, Jan. 9, 2014, at Marion General Hospital.
Surviving are her husband, Myron A.; two sons, Darrin (Terina) and Arlin (Julie), both of New Bloomington; a daughter, Mrs. Jason (Natalie) Morgan of Columbus; three brothers, James (Peggy) Imbody, Marion; William and John “Boone” Imbody of Green Camp; and three sisters, Mrs. Ronald (Dorothy) Tackett, Green Camp; Mrs. Robert (Mary) Berridge, Prospect; and Mrs. Mark (Laura) Reed, Clarksville, Texas.
Memorials may be made to the Meeker United Methodist Church in care of the funeral home, 476 S. Sandusky Ave. Upper Sandusky 43351.

About the Author


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Jan 30, 2012

Well, it seems that the allergy thing is still not letting up on ol' Crash, so for this 149th installment, we are trying something completely different. I have entrusted the show to Ron and Tim this week, and they have done an outstanding job (in spite of my attempts to distract them LoL)! They've got some new products to talk about, as well as some interesting FPV discussion, too! Also, the RCadvisor is back this week with the second part of his discussion on Pitch Stability, so be sure you don't miss this one.

TX-R F-86 Sabre

Tactic 6 Channel Rx

Blade mQX BNF

E-Flite Mig 15

"Smart Device" Heli?

Kaos 40 ARF

Foamie FlyGuy

Magnum Reloaded (You'll need a free membership to get at this)

Rascal on Floats? (RCPtero is doing it!)

TheCrashCast On FaceBook (don't forget to LIKE us and add a photo of you and your favorite RC Aircraft for your chance to win our January GiveAway RadicalRC Mini Intern Kit!).


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Saturday, October 2, 2010

Boomer Sooner

Bobbie said...

Violet Marie who will arrive around Feb. 11th...will need one of these for next season!!

brittbree said...

too cute! If only I knew someone with a little girl :)

Anonymous said...

please email me and let me know how much this is. I would love to by one please
Thank you


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My Favorite DYI’s Skin Care

Today I will be sharing my favorite skin care remedies for perfect, healthy skin.

I have had problem skin ever since I can remember, and instead of spending a fortune on expensive skin products to help my skin issues, I looked into DYI’s and found that homemade remedies were cheaper and a lot more gentle on my sensitive skin.

Here are some easy remedies for keeping your skin moisturized and clear

Honey Mask

This is a simple mask, just apply honey to your face. I find it really smooths my skin, and gets ride of all my clogged pores during the winter season

Egg mask

This mask helps heal and clear those pesky blemishes. Just separate the egg white and yolk. Then beat the yolk until it is frothy. Apply to a clean face, letting sit anywhere to 15 minutes to an hour. Wash off, then apply the yolk, leaving on for 10 minutes. The yolk of the egg has natural moisturizing properties, which is perfect for the winter.

Coconut Milk and sugar mask

This mask is perfect for exfoliating and also moisturizing your skin. Just wet some sugar, with some coconut milk and apply to your face. Rinse off after about 10 minutes, and rinse again with coconut milk. Your skin should feel soft and refreshed.

Have fun experimenting, more to come soon,

Have a happy  Thursday,

2 thoughts on “My Favorite DYI’s Skin Care

  1. I’m truly enjoying the design and layout of your website. It’s a very easy on the eyes which makes it much more pleasant for me to come here and visit more often. Did you hire out a designer to create your theme? Fantastic work!

    1. Thanks so much for you comment! No, my design is a free one provided by WordPress with a few tweaks of my own.

Comments are closed.


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Advanced Nitrox

Advanced Nitrox

The TDI Advanced Nitrox Course qualifies divers to use enriched air nitrox from EAN 21 through EAN 100 percent within your current certification level to a maximum depth of 40 metres/130 feet during dives that do not require staged decompression. Often taught in conjunction with the TDI Decompression Procedures course, this can be considered the foundation of your technical diving career. TDI Advanced Nitrox is also a must for SCR or CCR divers.

Who this course is for

  • The certified nitrox diver looking to expand their understanding of nitrox mixtures containing more than 40% oxygen
  • The certified nitrox diver looking to expand their in-water skills
  • The certified diver who has interest in moving forward with technical diving education

Course prerequisites

  • Minimum age 18, 15 with parental consent
  • Minimum certification of TDI Nitrox Diver or equivalent
  • Minimum certification of TDI Intro to Tech Diving certification
  • Proof of 25 logged open water dives

Equipment requirements

  • Alternate second stage octopus attached to a primary regulator OR a redundant scuba unit (min 13 cf)
  • Submersible pressure gauge
  • Depth gauge and automatic bottom timer or dive computer
  • Buoyancy compensator appropriate for equipment configuration
  • Cylinder and regulator properly labeled and cleaned as required for EAN mixtures
  • Access to oxygen analyzer
  • Exposure protection appropriate for local diving condition
  • Other equipment requirements may apply, check with instructor

What you can expect to learn

  • Advanced Nitrox picks up where TDI Nitrox leaves off and offers a more in-depth look at diving with nitrox including:
  • Physics and physiology relating to diving with gas mixes containing more than 40% oxygen
  • Gas planning, dive tables, dive computers, oxygen limitations, nitrogen limitations
  • Equipment considerations, cylinder labeling, analyzing nitrox mixtures, gas blending procedures, and oxygen service ratings for using gases with more than 40% oxygen

Some of the skills you will complete in this course include

  • Demonstrate buoyancy control; ability to hover at fixed position in water column without moving hands or feet
  • Show good awareness of buddy and other team members through communication, proximity, and team oriented dive practices
  • Demonstrate the ability to manage free flow from primary regulator in controlled fashion, shut down cycle, and switch to back up regulator
  • Conduct appropriate safety stop while maintaining neutral buoyancy
  • Demonstrate the ability to share air with buddy as both recipient and donor in a controlled manner while maintaining position in the water column
  • Demonstrate correct body position; appropriate trim, such as horizontal/streamlined when moving forward
  • Demonstrate proper stress analysis with self and dive buddy

What’s in it for you

  • Ability to dive using EAN 21 through 100 percent oxygen
  • Ability to enroll in TDI Decompression Procedures, TDI Semi-closed Rebreather courses, TDI Closed Circuit rebreather courses

TDI Advanced Nitrox Diver minimum certification requirements

  • Satisfactorily complete the TDI Advanced Nitrox course and written examination
  • Complete all open water requirements safely and efficiently
  • Demonstrate mature, sound judgment concerning dive planning and execution

Course fees do not include gear, tanks, airfills, travel, accommodations, training materials.

There are no products listed under this category.


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Fatal shooting in Orange County

Fatal shooting in Orange County

A shooting in Orange County on Saturday, June 7, started with a disagreement and ended in the death of one Vidor resident, deputies report.

At approximately 10:15 a.m. Saturday morning, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office received a 9-1-1 call in reference to a shooting at a residence in the 400 block of Florence Street near Vidor. When deputies arrived at the location, they discovered 60-year-old Ronald Thomas Barnes deceased from several apparent gunshot wounds.  The actual homeowner, identified by police as 47-year-old Steven James Coutee, was at the residence when deputies arrived. Coutee reportedly told police that the two men were at the residence when they got into a disagreement that escalated to the point that they each produced a firearm. According to the news release from OCSO, Coutee shot Barnes and then called 9-1-1.

Justice of the Peace Janice Menard arrived on scene with investigators and ordered an autopsy of the deceased.

Coutee is cooperating with investigators, and no arrest has been made at this time. Deputies are still trying to determine all the circumstances that led up to the death of Ronald Barnes. Chief Deputy Clint Hodgkinson said investigators on the case split up to "go down different rabbit holes" in order to find all the facts of the complicated incident. Because Barnes was killed, he cannot corroborate Coutee's account of the events that led up to the fateful shooting. All investigators have to go on are Coutee's story and the story told by the physical evidence.

"At this point, we haven't arrested the guy because there is obviously more to it," Hodgkinson explained. "At this time, we don't have enough to say either way (whether an arrest will be made). We are still trying to get to the bottom of what happened."

The investigation is ongoing and more information will be released as it becomes available.


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Posts Tagged ‘Genesis of Creation’

Like last year, I will be attending Apollocon 2015 as a guest/panelist/workshopist. Here’s the schedule of my appearances and stuff.   This year, I get to run one of my all-time favorite workshops, The Genesis of Creation: Where We Get Our Ideas. It’s very audience-participatory, there are prizes from sponsor Grey Gecko Press (my publisher), and […]

I’ve often said that creativity, that idea generation, is a learned, practicable skill – meaning it is a skill than can be practiced and enhanced with use. I’ve even led workshops on this idea at conventions (stay tuned for the post about that). Absolutely anyone can learn to generate ideas, can learn to be creative, as […]


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Commentary, sarcasm and snide remarks from a Florida resident of over thirty years. Being a glutton for punishment is a requirement for residency here. Who am I? I've been called a moonbat by Michelle Malkin, a Right Wing Nut by Daily Kos, and middle of the road by Florida blog State of Sunshine. Tell me what you think.

Sunday, August 12, 2007

Two degrees of Tiger Woods separation

The PGA Championship finishes today in Tulsa Oklahoma. Guess who is leading?

TULSA, Okla. - Tiger Woods saved his best golf for the last major. Woods followed his record-tying 63 at Southern Hills with a round that wasn't anything special Saturday, but no less effective at the PGA Championship. He made 15 pars in his 1-under 69, giving him a three-shot lead over Stephen Ames going into the final round.

It felt much larger considering the history of the world's No. 1 player.

Woods is 12-0 when going into the final round of major with at least a share of the lead, and he has never lost any tournament when leading by more than one shot after 54 holes.

Woods finished at 7-under 203 and will play in the final round of a major for the third time this year. He was trailing at the Masters and U.S. Open and never caught up, but the odds are much higher in his favor of capturing his first major of the year.

Ames made a 12-foot birdie on the final hole for a 69 that put him in the final group of a major for the first time. Just his luck he gets Woods, spotting the 12-time major champion a three-shot lead.

Only five players remained under par at Southern Hills.

Woody Austin lost his chance to be in the final group when he took bogey on the final hole for a 69, leaving him at 207. Johnson Senden had a 69 and was another shot back, followed by Els.

Verplank held his own until a double bogey from the rough and trees on the signature 12th hole, and a three-putt from the back of the 18th green for bogey sent him to a 74.
Anyone want to bet against Tiger winning today? I don't think there is a sucker out there to take me up, but feel free to leave a note if you are. Even money odds, Ok?

I was thinking about Tiger and Southern Hills yesterday. There is a golf saying, 'Horses for certain courses'. This can be easily done with PGA tour stops that play the same course year in and year out, but the PGA is a major that changes courses every year. The last PGA at Southern Hills was in 1994, and the last major(The US Open) held at the course was in 2001.

Don't worry, I still have come up with a formula or comparison. Consider it golf's version of that Kevin Bacon game.

Tiger has won majors at Augusta National, Pebble Beach, Bethpage Black, Medinah, Vahalla, Hoylake and St. Andrews. Forget Hoylake and St. Andrews, only one former British Open Champ, 1994 winner Nick Price, has also won at Southern Hills.(Nick does co-hold the course record for Augusta, a 3rd round 63 in 1986)

For our little game remember these names- Hubert Green, Dave Stockton, Arnold Palmer, Lou Graham, Ray Floyd, Lanny Wadkins, Retief Goosen, Mark Brooks, Phil Mickelson, Gary Player and Corey Pavin.

First, the only person to have win at Augusta and at Southern Hills, is Ray Floyd. He took the 1976 Masters at Augusta and the 1982 PGA at Southern Hills. Tiger has won four times at The Masters.

Retief Goosen has won two US Opens, the 2001 US Open at Southern Hills and the 2004 title at Shinnecock.

Note Ray Floyd won the 1986 US Open at Shinnecock. Retief Goosen was second to Tiger Woods at the 2002 Masters. Tiger wasn't a factor in the only US Open(2004) he played at Shinnecock as a pro.

Corey Pavin the 1995 US Open Champ at Shinnecock, was 2nd to Nick Price at the 1994 PGA at Southern. Lanny Wadkins was 2nd at the 1982 PGA at Southern, and the 1986 US Open.

Phil Mickelson was 2nd at the 2004 US Open(Shinnecock) and 3rd at the 1994 PGA. Heck Phil was third at the 2001 Masters which Tiger Woods won .

Arnold Palmer won at Augusta, and was second at the 1970 PGA at Southern. Note Gary Player also a former Masters winner was second at Southern when it hosted the 1958 US Open.

The reverse Palmer, Player Southern-Augusta connection goes to Dave Stockton. He was 2nd at the 1974 Masters, and won the 1970 PGA Championship.

Besides the Shinnecock-Southern connection, there is the Medinah-Southern connection. Lou Graham won the 1975 US Open at Medinah and narrowly lost the 1977 US open to Hubert Green, finishing in 2nd place one shot behind. Tiger of course won 2 PGA Championships at Medinah.(99 and 06)

How does Vahalla work in? Woods won the 2000 PGA there, Mark Brooks was the 1996 PGA champion, played at the same course. Mark Brooks lost the 2001 US Open playoff to Retief Goosen played at Southern.

Cherry Hills(Outside of Denver) is connected this way. Arnold Palmer won the 60 US Open there, and I already mentioned his other connections above. Hubert Green won the 85 PGA at that course and the 77 US Open at Southern.

Note- Hubert Green was 2nd at the 1978 Masters to Gary Player.

Dave Stockton the 70 PGA Champion at Southern, was 2nd at the 1978 US Open at Cherry Hills.

So we have the Medinah-Southern-Augusta-Vahalla-CherryHills-Shinnecock connection that revolves around at ten or twelve golfers. What's the signifigance of all this? Absolutely nothing, I'm just showing off some of the golf trivia stored in my head.

Update- Corrected my post to say only Ray Floyd has won at Augusta and Southern Hills. Tiger is trying to become the second.

Linked to- Adam, Bullwinkle, Cao,

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1,000 Somalians in Minnesota Protest in Support of Islamic Courts!

After mosque services, 1,000 Islamic Courts supporters rallied in Minnesota yesterday!

Somali women, including Nadifa Farah, who is holding the sign, joined a demonstration Saturday at Peavey Park in Minneapolis. (Star-Tribune)

Charles Johnson reported on the Radical Islamic Court supporters rallying in Minneapolis yesterday as reported in the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

The Pioneer Press has more on the Islamist Court supporters in Minnesota:

Going from prayer to protest, more than 1,000 Somalis took time out Saturday from one of their major holidays to denounce the entry of Ethiopian troops into their native country.

After attending mosque for the Muslim celebration of Eid al-Adha earlier in the day, Somalis huddled in the soggy cold of Peavey Park in Minneapolis, singing, chanting and holding up signs that said, “Ethiopia out of Somalia,” and “Their pain is our pain.”

Thousands of Ethiopian troops entered Somalia before Christmas, bombing two airports and then taking over the capital city of Mogadishu on Friday.

The city had been under the control of the Union of Islamic Courts, a group denounced by U.S. officials as terrorists but lauded by many of those gathered at the rally.

“The Islamic Courts are not terrorists!” said Hassan Mohamud, president of the Somali Institute for Peace and Justice, which organized the protest. Speaking to the crowd, which was arranged in a large circle, the men on one side, the women on the other, he said, “Ethiopian troops are terrorists!”

The country’s U.N.-recognized transitional government, which has been considered weak at best, invited the Ethiopians into Somalia. And many local Somalis said earlier this week that they celebrated the arrival of the troops.

A supporter of Ethiopian troops entering Somalia wandered into the group in the Phillips neighborhood park but was quickly escorted out by police, to the cheers of the crowd.

“He was creating a disturbance, and he had made reference to al-Qaida,” said Minneapolis police Lt. Rick Thomas. “It was obvious that he was here to cause trouble.”

Hassan Mohamud, president of the Somali Institute for Peace and Justice in Minneapolis, (and supporter of segregated girl scout troops!) was also in the news earlier this year for the taxi cab flap in Minnesota where Islamic drivers were refusing to carry passengers with alcohol.

This is what Hassan Mohamud said about the taxi flap at the Minnesota airport:

Mohamud adds that Americans need to learn about Islamic law because the Muslim population here is growing. That’s why the proposed two-tier system for airport cabdrivers is important, he says. It could become a national model for accommodating Islam in areas ranging from housing to contractual arrangements to the workplace.

How gracious of Hassan to prepare America for Sharia law. What a considerate man.

As a privately owned web site, we reserve the right to edit or remove comments that contain spam, advertising, vulgarity, threats of violence, racism, anti-Semitism, or personal/abusive attacks on other users. The same applies to trolling, the use of multiple aliases, or just generally being a jerk. Enforcement of this policy is at the sole discretion of the site administrators and repeat offenders may be blocked or permanently banned without warning


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Bring This Man to Ferguson>>> Milwaukee Police Chief’s Epic Rant on Crime Goes Viral

Police Chief Loses It During Press Conference… Suggests Press Doesn’t Give a Sh*t About Black on Black Crime

Earlier this month Milwaukee Police Capt. Ed Flynn erupted while discussing a local shooting with reporters.

He reminded reporters that 80% of shooting victims and 80% of violent crime in his city were black-on-black crimes.
Via The News Commenter:

Chief Flynn was so upset because he had just been informed about a local shooting death.
Laylah Petersen

Five year-old Laylah Petersen was killed when a black gang shot her dead this month while she was sitting on her grandfather’s lap.
The national media ignored this story.
Wounded American Warrior reported:

Two black males in Milwaukee walked up to the home of a white family, in a majority black neighborhood, and unleashed a hail of gunfire. A five year old white girl was murdered while sitting on her grandfather’s lap.

Milwaukee police say there is no question the shooters were deliberating trying to kill people inside the house. At least a dozen bullets were fired directly into the house. There may have been a third person driving a getaway car.

The house was located in a census tract that is 77% black and 14% white.

The Milwaukee Sentinel and Milwaukee channel 6 have actually been trying to downplay the murder. They are falsly reporting that it was “a stray bullet.” That directly contradicts all the evidence found by police.

The family donated Laylah’s heart after her death.

Family, friends and neighbors of 5-year-old Laylah Petersen who was fatally shot while sitting on her grandfather’s lap held a candlelight vigil in her honor.

As a privately owned web site, we reserve the right to edit or remove comments that contain spam, advertising, vulgarity, threats of violence, racism, anti-Semitism, or personal/abusive attacks on other users. The same applies to trolling, the use of multiple aliases, or just generally being a jerk. Enforcement of this policy is at the sole discretion of the site administrators and repeat offenders may be blocked or permanently banned without warning


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TH/QH cross chestnut mare

Foaled approximately 2000

Kaz has come to TGC thru the Stanford University polo program, where Gamut used to work.

Kaz is considered "hot" and so wasn't suitable for beginning riders in the polo program, and between that and her age, was harder to place.  She DOES seem to have some stiffness issues, which we are treating with mild pain relievers as needed.

so far, Kaz seems to be a "man's woman", generating lots of interest in the horses, from Ronan, to Bear, to Jedi.

She comes back to her stall at night very eagerly and has her head all the way out the window looking for that second bucket that has the carrots in it!

She has a scar on her shoulder, that doesn't seme to cause any problems - polo wars no doubt...

Two of the volunteer coaches, Michael and Heather, from the polo program are providing some financial support for Kaz - but we need much more just to cover her feed expenses, so if you would consider this girl, even $10 or $20 a month would be a wonderful help to us, and validation of her years teaching humans to ride!


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Author: Ashley
•10:46 AM

Our last 2 weeks have been slow. It is just the calm before the storm, though. Last week involved testing for reading. Little Bit did ok I guess. Her actual scores weren't that great (about a 78) but she knew everything that she missed so I think she's just not thinking. I remember having problems on tests when I was little. I guess it is a developed skill. One example of her not thinking: yesterday I planned a fun activity for what we are thankful for. We don't have to do this extra stuff but it is a fun break. Or it should be anyway. The questions were similar to "what are you thankful for that is round, green, yellow, etc" I wanted to slam my head against the wall. Her answer for round: "thanksgiving." followed by "I don't know what round is." Soft: "a scarecrow."  green: "the leaves changing colors." I finally gave up. I know she's 6 but I just wish she would use some common sense. And unfortunately I can't teach that.

Little Monster is sick today. He runs the highest fevers! It is really crazy. And scary. Tonight daddy and him (he?) were playing the wii and when I went to check on everybody I could tell his fever was up. I checked it and it was 103.8!! CRAZY! It took a good hour and a half to get it down. It still isn't normal but it is better. He kept telling me this morning "I just want you to watch over me." It was rally sweet and mildly creepy.

Christmas shopping is going good/almost done! I think I have 2 more things to buy for the kids plus make a hooded towel for Little Monster and a quilt for Little Bit. Oh and I guess I need to shop for B. A lot of people are getting homemade gifts from us this year. And they are neat homemade gifts too!

My cat Quincy has been sick. He vomited 5+ times Saturday morning and we ended up at the vet with him. He has some majorly bad ear stuff going on but they can't tell what b/c his ear canal is swollen to the point they can't see his ear drum. I have no idea what we are going to do about that. Maybe Obama should pass pet insurance law. For all the good the new healthcare law is doing our family other might as well have been a pet insurance law.

My cat Gracee is licking her fur off. She's on meds for that.

Little Bit is currently using an eneuresis monitor. She had her first dry night last night. We have been getting up with her 2x every night when it goes off. But it seems to be helping. I will be glad to get a full night's sleep again.

All in all, it sounds like we are falling apart over here (and trays not mentioning my issues) but it could always be worse!

Leaving you with picture of the rottenness I live with. This is what my cat Gracee begs to do ALL THE LIVE LONG DAY!! It looks so sweet right? Well after about 4 minutes of it, not so cute and sweet. Much hissing ensues (and that's not to mention all the noise she makes)

Author: Ashley
•7:47 PM

My son never ceases to amaze me. Yesterday, I randomly wrote a row of capital letters and a row lower case letters and he drew the lines to match them. I didn't have to help him once. We also talked about the words "cat" and "dog." I wrote them out yesterday and then tonight he asked me how to spell them. I sounded out each letter, he told me what it was, and then wrote it by himself. My favorite part was when he told me he didn't know how to write a "g" and then wrote it with no problem and no instruction.

I gave both of them octopus pictures today and asked him to put the correct number of dots on each leg. He never asked a question and got them all right. He also told me he was going to color something and everyone would "be so impressed."

Little Bit drew pictures of Peach, Luigi, and Yoshi. I love them. She also had to take a math test today and did a great job. She only missed writing the number 200 (she wrote 220) and reading one of the clock faces. I was impressed. It amazes ne how far she has come in 2 months. Hard to imagine where she will be at Christmas. Little Monster will probably be graduating from college by his next birthday.

Speaking of birthdays- Little Bit is supposed to have a party in 2 weeks and I can't get motivated. I think I might have too much going on in life. Just maybe.

Author: Ashley
•2:00 PM

My daughter turned 6 last weekend and we celebrated the weekend before with a big shindig. It is crazy how you invite a "few" people and there ends up being 16 kids and a bunch of adults (didn't count those). I guess all those friends and their siblings add up. They had a blast, though. Like every other little girl in America, my daughter loves Tangled so we had a Tangled themed party. A week before the party I wasn't motivated to even have one but thankfully I pulled it together in the end and put together a few cool things. Flynn Rider's wanted poster was posted on the front door. A friend's child got a Rapunzel toy a few months ago and I saved the small print on the back of the box. I used that as a guide and drew a bigger copy on posterboard. For her Fairy party last year I bought a TON of paper lanterns with the battery operated tea lights and never used them (didn't even remember that I had them until the party was over and they were the one thing that spurred the Fairy/Garden party idea). But I did use lanterns this year. Not all of the ones I had but a few.

We hung posterboard on the fence and let the kids go to town with washable markers. I think this should be a staple at all parties and I plan (assuming I don't forget) to do this at every party from now on. If there's not an activity going on, just send them the fence to draw. We do have some marker on our fence now but it should clean off with a clorox solution. And if not, it adds character. Another option would be to use sidewalk chalk straight on the fence. I think I might go to our local newspaper and buy some unprinted paper. They sell the ends of the rolls for about $5 (and it is a ton of paper). Ok, back on track now--I am going to punch holes in all of the poster drawings and make a "book" for her.

Trampoline, balloons, and children under the age of 6. Nothing more even has to be said. And I'm not sure if Little Monster is thieving the balloons here or taking back escaped balloons. I have a feeling he was thieving. Maybe we should have dressed him up as Flynn Rider.

The cake was fun to make. Two weeks before the party I had decided to just buy cupcakes or a cake from somewhere. A week before the party I decided to ask my mom to help me with it. And 6 days before the party I decided I just needed help with flowers. Those are not my specialty but my mom is amazing at it! Hints on decorating a tower cake: use a dense cake (ex...I used THIS TRIPLE CHOCOLATE POUND CAKE...oh so amazing!! Double the recipe though...maybe even triple it), use the the inner tube of a roll of aluminum foil to stack the doughnuts on (it is a great size and really strong cardboard. I wouldn't recommend a paper towel roll since the cardboard is kind of flimsy), use moldable chocolate for any other figures that need to be created (I didn't even do a Rapunzel...just had her hair flowing out the window. Of course, every child wanted to know where Rapunzel was but I just told them she was hiding inside), and use dense doughnuts for the tower.
I'm not sure where this tradition started but I always get something for the sibling of the birthday child (my parents and one of my friends do as well). Little Monster has been having fits wanting the Mario/Sonic Winter Olympics Wii game. I found it cheap on ebay so that was his present and I don't think anything else could've made him happier. I wish I had his reaction on video. We probably could've won money off of it. But here he is examining the game with Papaw
After the party was over we drove to a park to release real lanterns (just like the movie). These were so stinking cool! I got them off of Amazon and they were worth every penny. We only released 2 (which means we have 8 more fun flying lanterns). A few people were really afraid of them catching on fire but they work just like a hot air balloon. So if there's a flame, they float up. When the flame goes out, they come down. I wouldn't suggest doing them around trees b/c they could catch a tree on fire but after they are above the trees, there is no worry (well, maybe birds?).
Author: Ashley
•1:12 PM
I have great memories of soft pastels. I don't have messy memories but whoa! Mess was everywhere when we ventured into the soft pastel world yesterday. Little Bit's assignment was to draw something she enjoys doing. When I came to check on her I saw a picture of a princess going home to her castle (bottom). Now, I love her drawing but seriously?? How do you teach a child to follow directions? So then it was the principle of the matter and she had to do another one. That one ended up being her playing on her swing set (also--soft pastels are hard to do neatly...not just the mess they make but trying to color with a rectangular block of...stuff). Little Monster wandered in and drew a "cominent." A comment? Nope. A cominent. No clue what that is but I asked him again last night and he told me the same thing. I'm not questioning it. It must make sense in his head.
p/s--can't get the font size to go back to normal. It looks like I'm super excited about this post but in reality I just can't work the computer.


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Second House panel clears bill to repeal Medicare board

A second House committee agreed by voice vote Thursday to repeal a key cost-cutting board in President Obama’s healthcare law.

The Ways and Means Committee voted to repeal the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB), a 15-member panel tasked with cutting Medicare payments. The Energy and Commerce Committee passed the same repeal bill earlier this week.

Republicans say the IPAB invests too much power in unelected experts and could lead to rationing. Democrats note that the panel is expressly prohibited from cutting Medicare benefits or increasing costs for seniors. It can only cut payments to doctors and some other providers. Hospitals are exempt from the board's cuts until 2018.

Leadership is hoping to have the IPAB repeal bill on the floor around the same time the Supreme Court begins hearing oral arguments over the healthcare law. Those proceedings are set to begin March 26.

The Obama administration has aggressively defended the IPAB, saying it’s one of the most important cost-control features in the healthcare law and contrasting it with Republican-led proposals to at least partially privatize the program.

— This post was updated at 4:19 p.m.


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Paula + Nick | Turner Hill Manor, Boston

From the bride:

“The Hons and Chelsea are the best in the business! Choosing them as our photographers for our engagement and wedding photos was the best decision we made. They made the whole process enjoyable, natural, and FUN!! They are a joy to work with. In addition to their spunky and witty personalities, their work exceeded our expectations. They have a true natural talent for photography and were able to capture every special moment that meant the world to us. Their communication was consistent, effective, and efficient. Their precision to detail is amazing. If you want the most authentic, unique, and fun photos in town, these are your people. One conversation with them and you’ll be hooked. Thank you John, Brittani and Chelsea!!!!”

This wedding was photographed by Brittani Hon + Chelsea

Related Posts
Svetlana + Brandon Engagement | Boston, MA
Jessica + Michael | The William Vale, Brooklyn
Lorenza + Pete | New York Botanical Gardens


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Naomi R. Miller

Advanced Stylist,
Chemical Technician

A stylist since 1999, Naomi has achieved national recognition for both her technique and production. Specializing in styles that enhance her guest’s individuality and can be easily replicated at home, Naomi began her career and honed her skills as a member of the world-renowned Toni & Guy Hairdressing Team in Tucson. Both a trendsetter in style and promotion of education, Toni & Guy afforded Naomi the opportunity to complete world-class training in Newport Beach, Dallas and London, England.


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Email Sign Up

About Us

What is a Credit Union?

A credit union is a not-for-profit cooperative financial institution owned and controlled by all people who use its services. Credit union members normally have a common bond, such as where they work, live, or worship. This is known as a field of membership.

The Infirmary Federal Credit Union was chartered in September 1974, to serve the employees of Mobile Infirmary. As the Infirmary has grown, so has the Credit Union's field of membership. Please see below for membership eligibility.

The Infirmary Federal Credit Union is a not-for-profit, member owned, federally insured financial institution that has served the needs of healthcare professionals employed within Infirmary Health and its affiliates and their families since 1974. Historically, membership in our Credit Union was a benefit only available to those employed by Infirmary Health and its affiliates; however, in March of 2016, our membership was opened to all professionals and support staff employed in the healthcare industry in the Alabama counties of Mobile, Baldwin and Escambia.

To join simply deposit $5 into a regular share (savings) account. Once your account is opened, you can apply for any of the services through The Infirmary Federal Credit Union.

Board of Directors

The Credit Union is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors elected by the membership. Currently our Board consists of the following people:

  • President - Jimmy Taylor
  • Vice President - Les Robinson
  • Treasurer - Jim Mitchell
  • Secretary - Catherine Bryars
  • Director - Sabrina Blackwelder
  • Director - JR Smith
  • Director - Larry Stapleton

Supervisory Committee

The Supervisory Committee is appointed by the Board of Directors and serves as an audit committee. Currently the following people are serving on this committee:

  • Chairperson - Kristina Davis
  • Melissa Browning
  • Myra Smith

President/CEO – Adena Whitman

Operations Manager - Taylor Nelson

Lending Manager - Paula Rhodes

Financial Operations Manager - Amanda Givens

Financial Operations Clerk - Jeannie Horton

Member Service Representative/Loan Officer - Becky Harris

Senior Member Service Representative - Leigh McNider

Senior Member Service Representative - Eunice Robinson

Member Service Representative - Toni Boykin

Member Service Representative - Kelli Gatlin

Member Service Representative - Wendy Hicks

Member Service Representative - Clair Smith

130 Mobile Infirmary Blvd.
Mobile, AL 36607
Drive Up
Monday - Friday
7:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Monday - Friday
8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

(Located in Thomas Hospital)
750 Morphy Avenue
Fairhope, AL 36532
Monday - Wednesday - Friday
8:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.


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Monday, September 7, 2009

IGA week of sept 6th - 12th

IGA has a lot of 10/10$ this week

classic iceburg salad mix 10/10$ (1$ each)

Family Pak ice cream 10/10$

Prarie Farms Cottage Cheese 10/10$

IGA garlic Bread 10/10$

IGA spaghetti sauce 10/10$

IGA sandwhich bread 10/10$

Pert Plus 1.99
$2/1 Pert Plus, exp. 9-30-09 (SS 8/2/09)
$1.50/1 Pert Plus for Men, exp. 9-30-09 (SS 8/2/09)
$1/1 Pert Plus or Pert Plus for Men, exp. 9-30-09 (SS 8/2/09)

green giant vegatables 10/10$ (select varieties)

Deans dip 10/10$

Pillsbuty brownie mix 10/10$

chinet napkins 10/10$

mt olive relish 10/10$
$0.50/1 Mt. Olive Product, exp. 10-4-09 (SS 8/16/09)

Bisquick baking mix 10/10$

Elbow macaroni or spaghetti noodles 1.89

Special K cereal 5/15$
buy 5 for 10$ store coupon in flyer (you will have to buy 5)
$1/1 Special K Blueberry Cereal printable
$1/2 Special K Cereals, exp. 9-13-09 (Kellogg's/Keebler Insert 8/2/09)

Daisy sour cream 10/10$

Imperial margerine 10/10$

IGA Fries 3/5$ ( i have tried these they aren't that bad)

russet potatoes 10/10$

baby carrots 10/10$

Whole pork butt .89 lb

split chicken breast .99 lb

As always this isn't everything that is in the IGA flyer. If you would like to see everything that is on sale check out their

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About Me

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Hi, I am a stay at home mommy who is trying to stay sane with three very mischievous little boys, who are the light of my life. Oh, I also have a husband that I adore. I have recently started a weight loss journey (again). I do like good deals, but have not been as active as I use to be in couponing.. and lastly I am a flybaby who hasn't been flittering very well recently, but I am still trying.


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Sunday, December 27, 2009

Shopping Trip 12-27-2009

Today I went to CVS and IGA.  Super Valu's sales start tomorrow, but unless they have something great I may skip it.  I have already spent over 70$ this week

I got

2 old spice deodorant 2/5$, 1$/ 2 coupon, got 1$ ECB (1.50 each after coupon and ECB)
3 Coke Prodcuts  1$ each, 1$ ecb when you buy 3.  ( .66 each after ECB)
wrapping paper  sale .75
Colgate advanced  2.99  (2.00 in ECB, thier is a coupon, but I had already used it..  .99 after ECB)
Gillet fusion Razor  8.99 ( 4$ in ECB, 4$ coupon, .99 after Coupon and ECB)
and I had 8.99 in ECB's to Use

Check out Couponing101 or Surviving the Stores for these and more coupon match ups for CVS!!

So I spent

Out of Pocket  8.00  (a lot for me really)
Saved   23
Total Value  31
Total Percent 71%

I spent  65
I Saved 26
total value 91
total %  28%

total for the week

total spent 73$
Total saved  57$
Total Value  130
Total % saved   43%

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Hi, I am a stay at home mommy who is trying to stay sane with three very mischievous little boys, who are the light of my life. Oh, I also have a husband that I adore. I have recently started a weight loss journey (again). I do like good deals, but have not been as active as I use to be in couponing.. and lastly I am a flybaby who hasn't been flittering very well recently, but I am still trying.


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Thursday, June 17, 2010

F&OTD: Neutral & Brit with skirt

This is the first full on day that I've used the Sally Hansen foundation. So far so good... Oh and my belt is totally not centered xD

Products used:
Sally Hansen Your Skin Makeup in Golden Beige
ELF Tone Correcting Concealer
Sally Hansen Sheerest Cream Blush in Sunrise
ELF Pressed Powder in Caramel
MAC MSF Medium Deep
NYC Sunny Bronzer
ELF Blush in Glow
ELF Blush (from contouring and bronzing powder duo)
ELF bronzing powder in Luminance
ELF Primer
Maybelline Quad in Chai Latte
MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack
L'oreal Telescopic in Carbon Black
Rimmel Eyebrow Pencil in Hazel
Revlon Pink Pout
Revlon Colorburst Soft Nude
Rimmel Royal Gloss in Bubble Blush
MAC Fix+

I think if I didn't set my face with Fix+, it wouldn't have been so oily. For some reason, Fix+ is only good for some minutes on me, then makes me oily right after.

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The Flying Room Online Shop

The Flying Room Online Shop and Blog

The Flying Room is an online shop I co-founded with Hong Kong-based designer Sceroz Chan in 2012.

The Flying Room’s mission is to create an inspiring, imaginative world where everyone lives in endless creativity and possibilities.

My tasks

– Brand strategy and direction
– Logo design
– Presentation design
– Facebook Page design
PinkHunt contest brand activation
– E-commerce website design. Worked with a few local and overseas programmers on platforms including WordPress, Joomla and Shopify

– Code modification on Shopify template
– Facebook Page shop and blog tabs

Digital content creation
– Website labelling and copywriting
– In-depth writing about art exhibitions, artists and design trends

Digital marketing
– Understand Google Analytics
– Facebook advertising
– Facebook engagement

I am also responsible for managing the shop, including stock buying, accounting, customer service, public relations and everything else required to run a business.

The Flying Room Online Store Logo Design

The Flying Room Online Store Mission

Growing through experiences

From this project I’ve learnt that to succeed in running a business, it is essential to have persistence and passion in what you do, which is what we lack of for this project.

Although we failed, this experience is definitely a very valuable lesson for us.

At the beginning the shop was very well received. From the PinkHunt contest brand activation, we’ve gained exposure through local businesses and galleries. Only within a few months after we launched the shop, we were praised by a few major publications and were interviewed by Surface Asia magazine in Singapore.

What we have done back then was an MVP (minimal viable product) which was ready to be improved over time.

Because of other distractions, we didn’t put any effort into maintaining any part of the business except the blog as writing remains my passion. My articles about art and design have attracted a significant amount of traffic which could potentially be converted into sales.

If I had the resources to reactivate The Flying Room, there are many things I would like to do based on the data collected in the past two years, such as narrowing the product range, improving user experience based on user feedback and blogging more strategically.

I will share this learning experience, including obstacles in building The Flying Room website and crucial mistakes I have made in the very early stage, on The Journey That blog. I hope this article would be useful for people who are starting up their own businesses. If you are interested to learn more, subscribe to my newsletter to receive notice when the article is published.

The Flying Room website, built on a modified template on Shopify.

The Flying Room Website Design. Powered on Shopify.

The Flying Room Website Design. Powered on Shopify.

The Flying Room Website Design Product Page.

The Flying Room Website Design

The Flying Room blog
Below is the most-read and inquired blog article: The Most Beautiful Terrariums Roundup.

The Flying Room Blog. Written by Danling Xiao.

The Flying Room Blog. Written by Danling Xiao.

The Flying Room Facebook Page

The Flying Room Facebook Page

The Flying Room Facebook Page

The Flying Room PinkHunt contest brand activation

The Flying Room PinkHunt

The Flying Room PinkHunt

Sydney Your Say Rebrand and Website Redesign
Sydney Chinese New Year Branding and Event Design
Art & About Sydney 2013
Mundane Matters Instagram Photos
15:15 Digital Gallery App UX Design
The Flying Room Online Shop and Blog
Selected Logo Design
White Rabbit Gallery Book Design and Illustration
Cactus Skincare Rebrand and Packging Redesign
Global Sydney
Safe City - City of Sydney
Art & About Sydney 2014 Digital Ads
WorleyParsons - Various Projects
Ariel Books Paper Art


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Friday, December 28, 2007

ScotRail Strike Again!

We wanted to go into town last night to see my son's band Room 13 play a gig but when I checked the times of the trains online, I was shocked to discover that we'd been stuffed yet again by ScotRail. There was no service at all on our line on either the 27th or 28th due to track improvements and maintenance taking place between Glasgow Central and Paisley Gilmour Street.

It's the Christmas and New Year break and just when you'd prefer to use public transport rather than drive but ScotRail, as ever, have little consideration for us lowly passengers. Fair enough, there's no train service on Christmas day and Boxing Day but when that drags onto the 28th, it's too much.

What's worse is that they don't even consider this a disruption of service. At least not if you've subscribed to their JourneyCheck service, which is supposed to alert you by e-mail if there are any problems with your selected routes and times. It's useful for checking if there are going to be problems getting into work but all I got today was "There are no disruptions reported at this time affecting services between your selected stations."

Bah! Humbug!

Monday, December 24, 2007

EnchantedFaced with an evening in listening to our upstairs neighbour fitting a carpet, we decided to head into town for dinner and a movie. We had a nice meal in Viva Ristorante in Bothwell Street and then headed up to the Cineworld to see Enchanted an animated/live action movie from Disney.
The tale is set in the fairytale land of Andalasia where the evil Queen Narissa (Susan Sarandon), scheming to keep her throne for as long as she can, has kept her step-son Prince Edward (James Marsden) well away from any marriagable fair maidens.

However, when fate (and her singing) causes the prince to encounter the fair Giselle (Amy Adams) while out hunting ogres in the forest, the pair of them fall in love and plan to marry the next day. Not to be so easily thwarted, Narissa, disguised as an old hag, persuades Giselle to try the old wishing well in the castle gardens but, when the girl has her eyes closed, she pushes her in, banishing her to a world where there are no happy ever afters - New York City.

In New York, Giselle meets divorce attorney Robert (Patrick Dempsey) and his 6 year old daughter and tries to come to terms with life in the real world while absolutely sure that her true love Edward will come to her rescue. Of course Narissa has plans to make sure that she never returns.

I suppose it was only a matter of time before Disney once again milked the success of movies like Sleeping Beauty, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and Cinderella but it works quite well here. Giselle is an amalgam of all three Disney heroines and the tale mixes in many different characters and story elements from all three movies - a damsel in distress, a handsome prince (or two), an evil witch queen and her nasty henchman, lots of friendly forest animals, a fair smattering of magic and a dragon.

The visuals are excellent. From the two dimensional, cel-animation land of Andalasia, where everything looks like those classic Disney animations of old, to the three-dimensional animations when some of the characters and effects reach through into the real world. As for the cast, Susan Sarandon is nastily good as the evil queen Narissa and Timothy Spall does a good job as her besotted servant Nathaniel. James Marsden plays the perfect fairytale prince with lots of gusto and Amy Adams is spot on as Giselle, a maiden who believes happy ever after is for real. Patrick Dempsey does the down to earth lawyer role very well even if he doesn't get any laughs.

It's all very cleverly done and, with a goodly amount of visual gags that will appeal to kids and adults, it's an ideal movie for the Christmas break and well worth catching in the cinema with the kids for the big screen experience.

Genre: Adventure, Animation, Comedy, Family, Fantasy, Musical, Romance
My Rating: 7/10

Wednesday, December 12, 2007

Why Doesn't IKEA Deliver?

We've just had the kitchen done - new units, tiling, etc. so thought we'd get some stuff from IKEA to help finish it off. I had a bit of a browse on their site and spotted a circular dish drainer that would go well on our new semi-circular sink drainer. The IKEA web site's not bad, it gives the dimensions, images, etc. and you can even check if an item is in stock at your local store.

So, off we headed to IKEA the other night to find those items that the site had said were in stock. Note: Never, ever go at the weekend, especially a wet one, as the place is crammed full of hopeful and probably disappointed shoppers. Anyway, we wandered around the maze of twisty paths, ignoring the impulse buys, and hunted high and low to no avail and, not having had the foresight to remember the ridiculous names they give stuff, we couldn't really ask anyone where we could find them. We even got hold a catalogue but that only lists their main lines.

However, here's the killer. Before you can shop online with IKEA, you have to check if they deliver to your postcode area. Not unreasonable you might think but they seem to have different rules for delivieries for goods bought instore and for those bought online.

I know my local IKEA do deliveries as I've had some wardrobes and storage units delivered in the past so imagine my shock to find that I can't get a delivery from them if I order the goods online. What kind of system is that? The store is only a few miles away in Braehead so it's not like we're on the Outer Hebrides.

Now we're going to have to go back to the store and get hold of one of their very hard to find assistants and get them to tell us where the stuff we want is. Wish us luck!

It's no wonder there are a stack of blogs and sites out there listing people's gripes about IKEA. Here's a few worth reading…

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Bee Movie

Bee MovieHaving had the kitchen tiled on Saturday morning, the fumes of the adhesive were still permeating the house on Sunday so we headed into town to grab some lunch, do a bit of shopping, catch a movie and grab a bite to eat in order to avoid the smell.

We had thought to go and see The Golden Compass but when we got there Bee Movie was showing sooner so that was that.
When young bee, Barry B. Benson (Jerry Seinfeld), graduates from college he's dismayed to discover that he's expected to choose a career in honey production and do that same job for the rest of his life. So, determined to break the mould he's been cast in, Barry ventures outside the hive along with a squadron of nectar gathering bees.

However, when an accident with a tennis ball separates Barry from the rest of the bees and he's in pretty dire peril, he ends up being saved by Vanessa (Renée Zellweger), a human. Barry decides that he has to break a strict bee law banning bees from talking to humans and thanks Vanessa for saving his life. She's a bit shocked to discover that bees can talk but the two soon become fast friends.

But, on a visit to a supermarket with Vanessa, Barry is horrified to discover that humans eat honey, honey they have to have stolen from hard-working bees. Determined to right this great wrong, he files a class action lawsuit against humans but the ramifications of his actions lead to serious problems for bees, humanity and the earth itself.

Bee Movie
Okay so the concepts of talking bees growing up in little family units or of male bees doing any work at all is taking some liberties with nature but this movie really isn't about bees at all. It's a bit of a mix of a coming-of-age movie, a romance, a courtroom drama and an ecological disaster movie. The bees are just there to attract the kids as a animated movie with a teenager fighting against the establishment just wouldn't work as well.

That's not to say it isn't funny. it is and very much so in places but I think the writers have tried to squeeze too much of a plot into what should have been a simple animated comedy and it misses the mark a little with the younger audience. I never got into Seinfeld when he was on TV so have very little experience of his humour but it works here, especially for adults as the one-liners kept coming at a pretty fast pace.

The animation was pretty good, especially in the flying through the hive scenes, but it wasn't anything spectacular like the kind of stuff Pixar puts out. I got the impression that all those flying scenes and dodging stuff were crafted more with a video game franchise in mind than for the benefit of the storyline.

It also attracted a lot of well-known names to do the voices. Aside from Seinfeld and Zellweger, there are roles for Matthew Broderick as Barry's friend Adam, Kathy Bates and Barry Levinson as his parents, John Goodman as humanity's lawyer, Oprah Winfrey as the judge, Chris Rock as a mosquito, Larry King as bee version of himself, Ray Liotta and Sting as themselves as well as Larry Miller, Megan Mullally and Rip Torn.

All of the above concerns regarding the plot and animation aside, it's all about the humour and there's plenty of it. I'm not sure a younger audience would appreciate it but we enjoyed it and laughed quite a lot so it has to have something going for it.

Genre: Animation, Comedy, Family, Fantasy
My Rating: 7/10


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Friday, October 29, 2010

Recent NOTD: Sally Hansen Vital Violet

Sally Hansen lover that I am, I have fairly few from the Maximum Growth line. Vital Violet is a mauve-y frost. It went on smoothly and the brushstrokes settled nicely, but it stayed dentable for way longer than I'd like, even with my usual fast dry top coat. I do like the color, though, not quite neutral but not too flashy for work meetings.

I have no recollection of when or where I got this, which I think may be a bad sign. Of what, I'm not sure. Too many bouts of hauling frenzy? My brain running out of room to store information?

Thursday, October 28, 2010

MAC Bad Fairy

Today I have swatches of MAC Bad Fairy from the Venemous Villians collection. I was not going to buy this one because MAC limited edition hysteria makes my head hurt, and I just didn't want to have to call around and find a counter that would put one aside for me and drive who knows where to get it. I did want it because I do like Disney, and while I had the dupes for the other two nail colors in the collection, no one had found a match for this one early on. I happened to be online the Sunday after the release when a kind person I know from the MUA nail board made a few available for sale on LiveJournal at what I thought was a very reasonable price, so I decided that was a sign and sent off a private message and crossed my fingers hoping I'd been fast enough. I was, and not too long after I had this beauty in my hands. It's a duochrome, so that means lots of pictures are necessary. The first four photos below are in varying levels of indirect indoor light, and the last one is outdoors in the sun, where Bad Fairy really glows. It's a bit sheer; I used three coats and still got some nail line showing in some lights.

The duochrome in Bad Fairy reminded me of a Sally Hansen Nail Prism I'd gotten in recent swap, Bronze Ruby. I knew the Sally Hansen wasn't a dupe because it lacks the foil-y grittiness of the MAC, but I thought maybe layering might help with that. I first tried one coat of Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Fireberry Red under two coats of Bronze Ruby on my middle finger. That combination was no Bad Fairy, though in the sun it did look sort of similar.

Top to bottom: Bad Fairy, Fireberry Red with Bronze Ruby, Bad Fairy, Bad Fairy.

Fireberry Red with Bronze Ruby (top), Bad Fairy (bottom).

Next I tried two coats of Orly Shine (a silver foil) under two coats of Bronze Ruby to try and get that metallic-y thing going. The texture of that combination was closer to Bad Fairy than my first try, but the color was still off. I did like the effect of the Prism over the foil, so I plan to do some more experiments along those lines to see what I can come up with.

Orly Shine with Bronze Ruby (top), Bad Fairy (bottom).

I've seen mentions of other polishes being dupe-y to Bad Fairy. OPI DS Perfection is one leading candidate (not that it's easy to find anymore), though All Things Nails found it to be not that close. Same story with OPI The Show Must Go On according to The Lacquerista. Milani Hot Flash from this past summer has a similar texture and base color but lacks the duochrome. Accessorize Pink Spice seems to be the current front runner in the dupe race, but some say it's not a perfect match either. Right now, I'm feeling glad I was able to get Bad Fairy.

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Wheel M: Pink Cremes

Nail Wheel Wednesday is back after its impromptu hiatus. Today it's pink cremes. Let me know in the comments if you have any wheel requests for future installments.

Nail wheel

1. Maybelline Express Finish Pink Sombrero (3 coats)
2. Wet 'n' Wild Craze Tahiti (3)
3. OPI Feelin' Hot Hot Hot (2)
4. OPI Charged Up Cherry (2)
5. Sally Hansen Insta Dri Speedy Sunburst (2) [sunburst? shouldn't that be yellow?]
6. Sally Hansen Salon Azalea (2)
7. Maybelline Express Finish Fiesta Fuchsia (3)
8. Sally Hansen Salon Cherry Nice (2)
9. Studio M Power Pink (3)
10. Essie Pink Parka (3)
11. Pro 10 Spin (2)
12. Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear unlabeled mini (2)
13. Borghese unlabeled mini (2)
14. Revlon Bubble Gum (2)
15. Maybelline Express Finish Candy Coated (2) [this one has a secretive shimmer]
16. Maybelline Wet Shine Pink Crush (2)
17. Studio M Hot Fuchsia (2)
18. Nail Tek Dose-A-Rosa (2)
19. CND Passionfruit Poppy(2)
20. Nails Inc. New York (2)

Monday, October 25, 2010

NOTD: OPI Mad as a Hatter

I'm back from vacation but still wearing the polish I put on before I left, so this will be an actual Nails of the Day post for a change. This trip was in celebration of mine and Mr. Karen's 24th wedding anniversary, and we decided to go to the theme parks in Orlando. On our honeymoon lo so many years ago, we'd spent time in Disneyland and Knott's Berry Farm, so going to Walt Disney World and the Universal parks seemed fitting. I didn't want to spend time fussing with my nails on the trip since the point was to be together as a couple, and Mr. Karen is not particularly interested in nail polish. I considered trying Shellac, but never got around to making an appointment, so very late the night before we left, I put on OPI Mad as a Hatter, since I figured a dense multi-colored glitter like that would be easy to touch up, plus it pleased me that we were going to Disney and Mad as a Hatter is from a collection inspired by a Disney film. I didn't take any formal lightbox photos of this polish; instead, I snapped candid shots as I went along.

Here it is just after I applied it late Friday/early Saturday, in the dim indoor light that prevails at my house in the middle of the night:

On the plane on the way down to Florida Saturday afternoon (the 16th):

Under the colored lights in one of the ride queues (I think this was Dr. Doom's Fear Fall) on the 17th:

At Walt Disney World, on Main Street in the Magic Kingdom waiting for the parade to start on the 18th:

At the EPCOT Food & Wine Festival on the 20th, with my gift card wrist band so I can pay faster and get on with the eating and drinking. At this point, the effects of too much sun and public bathroom soap are starting to show on my hands, but the polish is still holding up nicely:

Holding a bottle of pumpkin juice in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Islands of Adventure on the 21st.

In the lobby of Disney's Polynesian Resort before dinner on the 23rd. It's our favorite Orlando hotel, but we stayed elsewhere this trip, because while we do love it, it's hella expensive. I really need a "glitter fill" by now but was having too much fun doing other things to do a touchup, and since I hadn't gotten any chips, I didn't need to dig the polish out of the protective wrapping I'd put it in for travel.

I did finally get a chip yesterday, but it's along the side and barely noticeable so I haven't bothered to fix it yet. If we'd gotten home earlier last night I might have taken it off and put a new color on, but now I'm thinking I might keep itand try a crackle polish over it, inspired by jaljen.

Oh, and so Universal wouldn't feel slighted, I wore OPI Funky Dunkey on my toes. It survived through water rides that got us completely soaked and so much more walking than I usually do.

I've got a lot of catching up at work to do so might not be posting quite as frequently as usual this week, though I do have the two NOTD before Mad as a Hatter to post and some comparisons I did before we left so even if I don't get time to swatch this week I can still write entries.

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Recent NOTD: Orly Galaxy Girl

I'm a fan of Orly (which I say, "oar-lee", because when I first started buying their stuff LOLspeak wasn't around and "oh really" never occurred to me), so I consider it quite restrained behavior that I have not yet bought the whole Cosmic FX collection since not only does it come from one of my favorite brands but it's chock full of multichrome shimmery goodness, which appeals to the color lover in me. Today I have Galaxy Girl, which I wore for almost a week I liked it so much (that means I might catch up with my NOTD bit sooner). This one gave me fits trying to capture its complex nature with the camera, so I am going to share a whole bunch of pictures and hope you can get some idea of what was going on.

This first set is indoors, in indirect light.

And here it is outside in the sunshine:

And indoors in low light:

Indoors, direct light, looking sort of silver-y:

Finally, in my car a couple days after I put it on:

I really like this one. I've read it described as a "bruise" color, but this is much prettier than any bruise I've ever gotten.

Monday, October 18, 2010

L'Oreal Luminescence

Remember the L'Oreal display with only one of each color polish in it? (Picture in this entry.) When I saw it the second time, there was BOGO50% sale on, so I got the two shimmers. I tried the purple one, Luminescence, first (no big surprise there). The formula was fine; I used two coats.

The two photos above are indoors, in the the indirect light of my lightbox. I was rather unexcited by the effect, a very dark plum with the shimmer pretty much disappearing into it. When I went outside into the sun (picture below), I could see the pink and purple and bright plum of the shimmer, and that was pretty.

Being a purple lover, I was sure I'd find at least one dupe of this in my collection. Based on the shimmer and color in the bottle, I picked a couple from my purple drawer to compare.

Left to right: Borghese Plummaggio Purple, L'Oreal Luminescence, Sally Hansen Lacquer Shine Spark.

When I put the Borghese and Sally Hansen on my nails (both were two coats, like the L'Oreal), I saw they were more blue-toned and obviously shimmery.

Top to bottom: Luminescence, Plummaggio Purple, Luminescence, Spark.

In the sun, even the shimmer on Plummaggio Purple and Spark showed more blue than the Luminsecence.

Left to right: Luminescence, Plummaggio Purple, Luminescence, Spark.

I'm still convinced I have something close to Luminescence; I just need to find it. Maybe that's why L'Oreal only put one of each in the display; they knew the colors weren't that special.

Of the this group, my favorite is Spark. Unfortunately, that's been discontinued along with the rest of the Lacquer Shine line. Diamond Strength is still going strong but my beloved Lacquer Shine, not so much.

Friday, October 15, 2010

Recent NOTD: China Glaze Ingrid

When the press release for China Glaze's Vintage Vixen collection came out, I wasn't convinced I'd need too many of them, what with all the "frost" this and "gold micro glitter" that. Ingrid was described as "'greige' creme with copper micro glitter", which I couldn't see looking that great. Greige, yes, I'm all for that, but not with copper. Yet when I saw the bottle in the display, I bought it, because it looked so nice and taupe-y. It took me until now to try it,
and now that I have, I've fallen hard. Ingrid is gorgeous. The micro glitter (I'd call it shimmer myself) looks more gold to me than copper, and I wouldn't think gold would look good with taupe either, but somehow in Ingrid it does. The shimmer is balanced just right; doesn't come forward too much and distract from the elegance of the base color but doesn't get lost in normal room light, either.

If I hadn't given up buying backup bottles, I'd get one of Ingrid.

I'm going to be taking some time off from the internet for the next week or so to have some fun offline. I've set up a few scheduled posts so this space won't be entirely dead, but I won't be reading comments and e-mail very often if at all during that time. I will catch up as soon as I can once I'm back at the keyboard.

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Swappity Swap

I have more swap goodies to share today, this time from my recent swap with Miranda of Mirannie's Nails.

Polishes left to right: Essence Choose Me, Glisten Up, and Get the Fever; Catrice From Dusk to Dawn, H & M Cha Cha, and Ozotic Pro 524.

H & M Cha Cha was the first one I tried because there was sunshine when I started swatching, and there's no better polish for sunny weather than a holo. Application was fine; two coats over a base coat was good, and I skipped top coat because this was a swatching session. Indoors, in indirect light, Cha Cha is a slightly sparkly champagne color.

Outside in the sunshine the colors come out to play.

I decided to compare Cha Cha to another holo in my stash, OPI DS Classic, the polish I call my "office holo" because it's not too flashy for a customer meeting but very entertaining sitting in the sun at stoplights on my commute. Two coats of DS Classic was a bit less opaque than two coats of Cha Cha. DS Classic is a little warmer-toned and a little deeper-hued.

Top to bottom: H & M Cha Cha, OPI DS Classic, H & M Cha Cha, OPI DS Classic.

Top to bottom: OPI DS Classic, H & M Cha Cha.

Outside, it was clear that the H & M is a finer grained and slightly less flamboyant holo, though they're both pretty.

Left to right: OPI DS Classic, H & M Cha Cha, OPI DS Classic, H & M Cha Cha.

Left to right: H & M Cha Cha, OPI DS Classic, H & M Cha Cha, OPI DS Classic.

I think Cha Cha might be my new office holo. Thanks, Miranda!

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

500 Followers Contest Winners

It took me a little longer to complete the draw for my 500 Followers Contest than I'd expected. I wanted to be sure everyone had ten tickets to start with, that I wasn't excluding any entries that were valid, and that I was fairly weighting the entries for frequent commenters and early followers. I then used to generate numbers for each of the ten prizes and consulted the spreadsheet to find which entries those numbers corresponded to. Finally, I e-mailed the lucky winners, who are:

Prize #1, Sally Hansen assortment: Ping from Another Nail Blog

Prize #2, Wet 'n' Wild collection: Jo Tee

Prize #3, Across the Universe: Varnish Vixen

Prize #4, Paradoxal: Zara from Never Unpolished

Prize #5, Revlon glitters: alice.left

Prize #6, glow in the dark pumpkins: BV from Beauty Verdict

Prize #7, chunky glitter pumpkins: throuthehaze

Prize #8, Khaki vert: Jen from The PolishAholic

Prize #9, Borghese assortment: [see Holiday Giveaway post for an update]

Prize #10, Milani assortment: xtinaaj from Polishious

I'm happy to see that the random numbers resulted in a mix of winners: some people who've been following and/or commenting here since early on and some I've "met" much more recently, some people with blogs and some without, some names I recognize and some I don't, some in the U.S. and some not. Thanks to everyone who entered!

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Recent NOTD: Barry M Racing Green

I've been changing my polish more often than usual recently, so I've got more of a backlog of nails of the day pictures than usual, so there might be one of these posts every other day or so until I catch up. I put on Barry M Racing Green in honor of Michigan State University, the fine institution from which I got my degree, the colors for which are green and white. It's college football season now, so I want to support my team. I used two coats of the Barry M plus topcoat and had no chips in the three days I wore this.

I've read that this is a dupe for China Glaze Emerald Fitzgerald, which is probably true, since I have Emerald Fitzgerald already. But this is special; it came all the way from England to me in a swap. And it has green right in the name, which seems to make it more appropriate for wearing when cheering the Green & White of Michigan State. I am delighted to be able to say the MSU beat our archrival, the University of Michigan, this past Saturday, on their home turf. That makes it three years in a row for the first time since the 1960s. Anything else the team manages to do this season is just gravy.