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Saturday, October 11, 2014

IPSY BAG: September 2014

the September Ipsy bag was all about Street Style and came in a metallic grey studded bag.

1) Crown Brush : Deluxe Infinity Shadow/Crease Duet Brush (C476)
This dual-ended brush offers the best of both worlds. The shadow brush is perfect for applying eye shadow or contouring the eye, while the crease brush is designed to be used dry for defining the eye, or wet for precision concealing.
size: 1 brush (full size!)
retail value: $17.50 (on sale for $6.99)
promotion: 30% off $25 or more online purchase with code CROWNIPSY30; expires Dec 31, 2014

this duet brush is part of the Infinity series which are made of synthetic fibers. i have not owned any other dual-ended brush prior to this and although it is useful to just flip the brush over when applying eye shadow, it is a tad more difficult to store. if i store it upright, one of the ends is going to get bent... hmmmmm.

2) Hikari : Lipstick in 'Cabernet'
Amp up the color with Hikari’s richly colored lip stick. The high pigmented formula glides on smoothly with a matte finish. Layer this formula to build color for a perfectly enchanted pout.
size: 3.8 g (full size!)
retail value: $13.00
promotion: 30% off online purchase with code HIKARI30; US only; expires Oct 31, 2014

the packaging looks exactly like Be a Bombshell... so i am thinking the two companies buy their cosmetics from the same company and just put their labels on it. the black box and the sticker are exactly the same (check out some Be a Bombshell products here and here).

on the website, "Cabernet" is described as a rich red wine (which sounds about right). in the swatch on my lips, the color is not so pink but a deeper red. it is however, that pigmented - which i really like. i didn't find it drying and it is like the perfect color for fall. love!

3) Pacifica : Natural Eye Pencil in 'Fringe'
These rich water-proof, buttery smooth eye pencils glide on smooth and deliver big color pay off with every stroke. Long-lasting natural formula, provides hours of wear and contains beneficial ingredients great for the sensitive eye area.
size: 0.73 g
retail value: $11.00 (2.8 g)
promotion: 20% off online purchase with code FallBeauty; US and Canada only; expires Oct 31, 2014

the color 'Fringe' is essentially a brown. i haven't used an eye pencil in sooo long, let alone one that was not black. somebody suggested using this for eyebrows... i might just have to try that!

4) Briogeo : Don't Despair, Repair! Deep Conditioning Mask
Repair and treat dry, damaged and breaking hair with Don't Despair, Repair!™ deep conditioning mask. Fortified with ultra-hydrating avocado, sweet almond & argan oils, strengthening keratin protein, power-conditioning rosehip oil, soothing aloe, and super hair-essential vitamins B5, D, A, E and biotin. This unique complex of targeted ingredients helps increase hair elasticity and moisture to prevent breakage, promotes healthy shine and luster, and replenishes strength. Comprised of 95 percent naturally-derived ingredients. This product is free of parabens, sulfates, phthalates, silicones, artificial fragrances, artificial dyes, and gluten. It is cruelty-free and contains organic ingredients.
size: 29.57 mL
retail value: $26.00 (155 mL)
promotion: free shipping with code IPSYSEP14; US only; expires Oct 15, 2014

i am not one for hair masks but i figured that since i did indeed get my hair dyed recently, i might as well try this. it softened up my hair and i really enjoy the sweet almond scent.

5) Nourish Organic : Moisturizing Cream Face Cleanser with Cucumber + Watercress
This gentle cleanser washes away impurities without drying, irritating or causing redness. Cucumber hydrates and soothes. Watercress, rich in antioxidants, helps protect skin from free radical damage. Alcohol-Free. Gluten-Free. Vegan.
size: 30 mL
retail value: $13.99 (177 mL)
promotion: 30% off any facial product with code IPSY30; US and Canada; expires Nov 30, 2014

the cleanser says fragrance-free but there is a scent to it - which i do not particularly like. maybe it's the watercress? not sure what watercress is supposed to smell like though.

aaaaaand that's it. it is a pretty decent ipsy bag. nothing too fancy but some key mentions include the Hikari lipstick and the Crown dual-ended brush.

currently listening: anything by Jessie Ware [Wildest Moments / Want Your Feeling | If You're Never Gonna Move / Sweet Talk / Running]
just watched: City of God
still watching: Doctor Who Season 3
now reading: When God Was a Rabbit

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The Best Men's Cuts for Thick, Coarse Hair

Moisture is your best friend.
Bill Angst
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Moisture is your best friend.
The best men's cuts for thick, coarse hair

Welcome to our Ask Beautyeditor column, where our experts answer your hair, skin and makeup questions. To request an online hair consultation from celebrity hairstylist Bill Angst:

  • Email with “Bill Angst Hair Consultation” in the subject line.
  • Include at least TWO well-lit, hi-res photos of you (one close-up, one full-body).
  • Briefly describe your hair texture, colour and main hair challenges.

Please note: All photos will be published.

Q: I need a little help with a hairstyle that will fit me. My hair texture is thick, and a bit dry and stiff.

Hair consultation - Bryan

Bryan needs help finding a haircut that suits him.

I also want to ask what colour hair will suit me. Thank you very much! — Bryan

Hair consultation - Bryan

Bryan's hair texture is thick and dry.

A: Bryan, I can't thank you enough for you request. You have my dream hair... the thickness is super-cool.

I know dry hair adds to having thicker strands, with a coarser texture. Moisture is this hair type's best friend.

Most moisture treatments are only effective from wash to wash, and expensive to keep up.

Instead, I would put coconut oil on moist, clean hair and hang out with it on as long as you can. Heat is not a bad idea for the hair cuticle to open and get lubricated as well… this will be most effective for styling. A smooth cuticle is very important to the movement and pliability of the hair, so you will have more styling options.

Jax Coco Coconut Oil

Jax Coco Organic Extra Virgin Centrifuged Coconut Oil.

Under a microscope, straight hair looks like fish scales and curly hair looks like barbed wire. So the moisture and the coconut oil will lubricate the hair cuticle, smoothing it down to resemble fish scales. This will help with styling and shine.

Then, you will need a strong styling gel. Any strong gel will be fine if it does not dry flakey. My preference, and the most concentrated product ever, is Oribe Rock Hard Gel.

Oribe Rock Hard Gel

Oribe Rock Hard Gel.

It has great hold and dries without flakes. You won't be disappointed. Remember the value in the fact that it is a concentrated product.

So Bryan, here are the cuts of my choice if I had your hair.

Joe Jonas, Do Something Awards 2010

Joe Jonas at the 2010 Do Something Awards.

Siva Kaneswaran, Capital FM Summertime Ball, 2012

Siva Kaneswaran at the 2012 Capital FM Summertime Ball.

Men's short haircut for thick hair

Men's short haircut for thick hair.

Men's Mohawk haircut

Men's mohawk haircut.

Cristiano Ronaldo fauxhawk hairstyle

Cristiano Ronaldo's fauxhawk hairstyle.

Men's short layered haircut

Men's short layered haircut.

Men's haircut for thick hair

Men's haircut for thick hair.

As for your colour, leave it alone. Most colour treatments will mess up your texture.

Bill Angst is one of Canada’s top celebrity hairstylists and the owner of Angst Salon at 240 Queen Street East in Toronto. Call 416-360-5942 to book an appointment.

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Tuesday, May 8, 2007

Partners through Prayer

Thank you for your prayers...I literally felt the support that was coming from the prayers being lifted on behalf of our teaching time last night. Very early on, almost from before we actually began the teaching, I felt a very thick sense of Holy Spirit with us in the room. I was so thankful, and really want you to understand that when you PARTNER, (that's what you are doing), in prayer with a person or ministry; you are EQUAL reapers in the harvest.
Seriously, read David's story in 1'st Samuel 30. In this case, those who stayed behind were exhausted and in mourning; but a precedent was set according to verse 24 and 25.
"...the share of the man who stayed with the supplies is to be the SAME as that of him who went down to the battle. ALL WILL SHARE ALIKE. David made this a statute and ordinance for Israel from that day to this"

So, very interesting night! This was a totally different class from the one I taught 2 months ago. there was a spiritual maturity in the room and a tremendous hunger. This class consisted of a number of ministry leaders and boy did they have questions!!!
All very solid, very relevant questions but wow!

God is doing some incredible things in and through some of these lives...I was humbled and privileged to have been witness to much of it. Due to the class hunger, and the fact that there were some other things Gaetane wanted shared last night, we did not have time to actually interpret dreams. So, Gaetane has asked me to return next week to do a whole night of interpretations; and is actually considering making it a three class topic in future courses(right now it is 2...she does an introductory teaching the first night).
So, yes more prayer coverage would be highly appreciated. Two specific areas: 1) Gaetane is checking dates, but may be at the Prophetic Council for Canada meetings in Ottawa that night....which means she would then be handing the responsibility of the whole class over to me...(a little scary) 2) from some of the experiences shared, I know there are going to be some very deep very challenging dreams coming from this class. I really need Daniel's mantle!

With all that we experienced, I know Holly would agree, it was a very awesome yet very sobering night. Thank you all so much for your support, and thank you Holly for being such a help in prayer, deed and KEEPING ME AWAKE!!!!!

Williams Family Blog said...

Jen, I have such an excitement about this.....I will be praying for you.....Be blessed and get lots of rest.

Holly said...

I couldn't sleep until PAST 2:00am....yes, I will be having a nap this afternoon!!!! I was so pleased to have been able to go with Jenny.It is really neat to what God is through her. I am a proud friend!

Lets all be willing vessels and see what God will do...?!!?!!

Holly said...

OK...I have had my rest(no, I couldn't wait until after lunch)!

Could you all "translate" my last note? I left a few words out!!!
I will try again....

It is really neat to see what God is doing through Jen!

Roxanne said...

Sounds like you are in an adventure!

Tammy said...

Awesome Jen, I do know there is a shift going on. I hope to share it soon.

Elspeth said...

Keep up the good work.


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Thursday, August 13, 2015

Makeup Revolution Iconic 3 Palette Photos, Reviews and Swatches

I was in Scotland recently and while there picked up a few of the Makeup Revolution eyeshadow palettes. Makeup Revolution is one of a few British makeup brands that do dupes for higher end products. While I was there I picked up three palettes: the Iconic 2 and 3 palettes and a 32-shade palette. You can see my review of the Makeup Revolution Iconic 2 palette here

In this post, we'll look at the Iconic 3 palette which is a dupe for the Urban Decay Naked 3 palette. It cost me £4. The Naked palettes cost $64 CDN each.

My apologies for the first two photos in this post. I'd neglected to take photos of the palette before I swatched it, so apologies for the non-pristine quality!

The Iconic 3 palette is 12 shades of warm mainly-neutrals, a mix of mattes, satins and shimmers. As with the Iconic 2 palette, I do not own the Urban Decay Naked 3 palette so I cannot do a swatch-by-swatch comparison of Iconic 3 and Naked 3. You can see one here, if you're so inclined.

While the Naked 3 eyeshadow shades are named, the Iconic 3 shades are not, so I will number them (1-12), as I did in my review of the Iconic 2 palette.

But first, here they are swatched together on my arm. My skintone is NW15.

From left to right the shades range roughly from lightest to darkest. The shades in this palette are in the rose-gold family for the most part, with some copper and purple. It's a predominantly warm-toned palette.

Shade #1 is barely noticeable swatched on my arm. It's a matte pale white-pink shade, and pretty close to my skintone. Pigment is decent.

Shade #2 is a metallic light-medium pink. It's quite glitter-heavy but it is lovely. There's a dustiness to it and a bit of fall-out but if applied with a damp brush, it's fine.

Shade #3 is similar to Shade #2 but peachier and less shimmery. A very wearable shade with good pigment.

Shade #4 is one of the matte shades in the palette and it's a dusty rose with a creamy texture and average pigment.

Shade #5 is a beautiful rose gold with lots of shimmer. It has a creamy texture and it applies beautifully.

Shade #6 is a medium copper tone with lots of shimmer. Even though it's glittery, it's got a good, smooth texture and it's quite pigmented.

Shade #7 is rosy plum, or a pink-beige-plum. It's quite creamy and highly pigmented.

Shade #8 lacks a bit in pigment but can be built-up. It's a lovely, shimmery rose-brown with a bit of gold to it.

Shade #9 is gorgeous, warm medium red-brown with gold shot through it. It's a shimmery shade, with good pigmentation and creamy texture.

Shade #10 is a darker version of Shade #9. More brown and less warm and silvery so it reads a little on the grey side. The texture is a bit dry so it goes on sheer, but it can be built up, and you'll want to. such a lovely shade.

Shade #11 is a medium-dark purple taupe, with red tones and silvery shimmer. It has excellent pigmentation and a creamy texture.

Shade #12 is a blackened brown with red shimmer. This is one that needs a bit of layering to build as it's a touch on the dry side.

Overall, the quality of the Iconic 3 eyeshadows is a touch better than those in the Iconic 2 palette. Very few of the shades were disappointing. This is an excellent palette for those with green and blue eyes as the rosy-gold shades will enhance cool tones.

The Iconic 3 palette is a pretty close dupe to the Naked 3 palette, from what I've been able to see online. Because it's a fraction of the cost, I'm happy to forgo a slightly lesser quality.

Here is a look I did using the Iconic 3 palette.

I applied shade #5 to my entire lid, up to my crease. I then applied shade #7 through my crease, blending it into the lid shade.

Using an angle brush, I smudged shade #12 along my upper lashline focusing on the outer third. I used what was left on the brush to smudge it down along the outer third of my lower lashline.

In the inner corner of my eye, I popped a tiny bit of shade #2 and also pressed some of it to the center of my lid for a bit of glow.

I don't love this palette as much as I love the Iconic 2 palette. While the quality of the eyeshadows in both palettes are quite similar (some great, some not so great), I don't tend to wear a lot of pink on my eyes. Iconic 3 is a dupe for the Urban Decay Naked 3 palette and I am glad I didn't give in to the rose gold frenzy and buy it, because I wouldn't have liked or used it much, judging by how much I like the shades in this palette. I find there are a few too many similar shades and not enough dark shades. Also, there is a lot of pink and I don't gravitate to pink for my eyes.

But I don't regret buying it. It was £4 and I will get some wear out of it. Just not as much as the Iconic 3 palette!

Grade: B

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Why I Choose to Use Cloth Diapers

Product Reviews

I'd love to review your products and help you spread the word about what you sell. Contact me at clothdiapermommy@yahoo.com if you have a product you'd like me to review and/or giveaway.

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Bunny's Village Frock

I saw this dress on one of the sewing blogs I was perusing the other week and fell in love with it.  Problem is, that it is not longer available, as you'd know if you just tried to click on the link.

So, I googled it, sure to find SOMETHING I could go on to make it for Bunny, since I had decided upon first sight that it was a dress I MUST make for her.

 I came up with lots and LOTS of pictures of cute Village Frocks (that is the name for it) made by many sewers who were lucky enough to get their hands on the pattern, but no pattern.

So, I decided I'd draft my own.  I've done it before and it seemed feasible enough.  So, I sorted through all the google images I found looking at shapes and construction as I started drawing plans for my own version of the Village frock.
 It was while doing that that I discovered this, similar pattern
And I even found a tutorial--that might be helpful to someone.

With these resources and a tutorial on making your own Bias Tape, I made Bunny her little Village Frock using fabric I'd found years ago on clearance at Walmart that I'd been dying to find a use for ever since.  I'm pretty pleased with the results.  And she got more compliments on this dress than she ever gets.  It was especially a hit at my sister's bridal shower.

Melissa said...

Very Cute! Thanks for all the links.

Rayna McInturf said...

You are brilliant! And your dress is stunning. I'm dying to make this dress for my 2 year old, but like everyone else, I can't get the original pattern! I've got the pattern for the simply sweet frock, but unfortunately the tutorial you linked to (the German one) is no longer there. Do you have any tips for me around figuring out the sleeves? Any help would be much appreciated!


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Sunday, 21 April 2013

My first Gertie

This face pretty much sums up how I feel about this top....
It's the new Butterick pattern by Gertie, B5895..
I'm just not really sure if it's me, or if it's something I would (should) make again.. Hmm.
Don't get me wrong, I love the style and the overall look of the top, just maybe not on me?
For one thing it is extremely short, I mean look at that guts.. ahh sorry guys (ps..that scar is from naked ironing, idiot)

I knew it would be on the shortish side, just didn't realise it would show my entire stomach.
Sorry I didn't get many pics of it actually on me, I was in a rush...and then to drunk...
On the plus side it made me realise I need more high waisted items, which I why this Gorgeous Skirt is next on my to make list :)
I think relating to the construction of the top I effed it up somehow, because the collar at the back didn't end up matching as it should have, which also made the facing sit weirdly, so I had to kind of wing it and try to fix it the best I could.. hmmm..

Again the buttonholes are a bit dodgy, due to the fact I haven't done many, and I blame my machine..
Speaking of machines, the hubby and I went sussing on Saturday and got a 40 minute tutorial on this little beauty that I have since been dreaming about every hour... *sigh*

Let me know what you think, about the top and/or the machine if you've heard any reviews ;)

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Science Fiction Becomes Reality: Robots to Get “Electronic Personhood” Legal Status

Wednesday, February 15, 2017 6:48
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Editor’s Note: Maybe this will take us one step closer to robot-human marriages being legal as well.

The singularity is nigh.

By Vin Armani

In this video, Vin Armani explains how the EU is giving autonomous robots “electronic personhood” legal status with rights and obligations. The law seems to be straight out of the science fiction novel I, Robot.

Watch the full broadcast here.

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I Love\Hate This Gary Johnson Web Ad: It’s Wondterribful!

Sunday, October 30, 2016 15:47
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(Before It's News)

This new ad from the Johnson campaign is great and awful. It’s a buildup, and as it builds up, your urge to apocalypse will rise.

A lot of you may not agree with me, but that’s fine. We’re not married or in business together so go ahead.

But the real message here is that the argument for personal liberty and freedom – you know, the most cherished argument from our Founding Fathers and the principles enshrined in our founding documents – are of little interest to the two clowns vying to be the President of the United States. That’s tragic.

The ad reminds you that voting for one of the two jerks is a rejection of those principles. So it’s a good-awful-timely-terrible-funny-tragic ad.

The post I LoveHate This Gary Johnson Web Ad: It’s Wondterribful! appeared first on RedState.

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Only 15 sex workers show interest in Project Own Window
One of the ex-brothels now offered to sex workers to run for themselves
Today there was big news about window prostitution in Amsterdam. Project Own Window, which offers which offers sex workers a chance to form their own corporation and run their own brothel is getting a green light from the city government. According to the articles published in the media, there's enough support from sex workers to continue with this project.

Back in February of this year, the city of Amsterdam announced they wanted to investigate the possibility of sex workers running their own brothel. They had 18 windows at their disposal for sex workers who wanted to form their own corporation. And thus the city began investigating if sex workers would be interested in running a brothel for themselves.

To the media this project was being sold as 'a way for prostitutes to work without pimps', implying that we would be working with pimps at this moment. It was a way for the city to justify why they wanted to close down brothels on one hand, but on the other hand now all of the sudden they wanted to open new brothels. The media, non-critical as they are, ate up the story, and sold it to the public as a 'pimp free' workplace for prostitutes.

Of course this is nonsense. Most sex workers who work in window brothels right now don't have a pimp. They only want to imply that, to make the other brothel owners look bad, because they still intend to close them down. Otherwise it would be impossible to defend their policy of closing down windows, while at the same time opening new windows.

Because in reality, there's just as much chance of pimps being involved with the women working in these Project Own Window brothels, as when they would be working for a conventional brothel operator. Who runs the brothel is irrelevant to being a victim. The brothel owners aren't the pimps, and neither do they work together with them. So there's just as much chance of victims working in this new brothel, run by sex workers, as there's a chance of victims working in brothels run by the current brothel operators.

But today the city announced that there's enough support from the sex workers to continue with this project. An interesting conclusion, because in the investigation report, they claim they need at least 45 to 50 sex workers to be interested (page 9), in order for this project to succeed. So the question becomes, did they find 45 to 50 sex workers that are interested in participating in this project? Well, no!

In the report you can read that in March there was a meeting organized for sex workers to inform them about this project (page 6). 24 Sex workers showed up, including myself, from the approximately 600 sex workers working in the Red Light District. So immediately you could say that not many sex workers were interested in this project if only 4% shows up. Not a strange thing, since most sex workers are content with their current workplace, situation and brothel operator. In short, there's no desire to change things.
One of the other things that made sex workers not to be interested in this project, was the fact that they simply don't want that responsibility. It's the whole reason why sex workers are so content with their brothel operator. They do all the paper work, and we only have to work and once in a while pay taxes over our income. Most of us aren't interested in taking up more paperwork, rules and regulations in order to work.

Some sex workers however were interested in this project. How many? Well, as we can read in the report, 15 sex workers showed an interest during talks that happened back in April and May (page 6). Not exactly 45 to 50 sex workers, like how many would be required to make this project successful.
And so in June, the mayor expressed that he hadn't found enough sex workers to make this project work.
So, what has changed? Well, nothing. No more new sex workers were found that showed an interest. Meaning, it's still the same 15 sex workers that showed an interest. Not even close to the 45 to 50 sex workers that they required according to their own criteria. Yet the media state that there's enough support from the sex workers to continue with this project.

Perhaps this is also the reason why now all of the sudden there aren't 18, but 15 windows available for this project. After all, back in February they said 18 windows were available. But now all of the sudden there are 3 windows less. And funny enough, there are exactly as many windows, as there are sex workers who showed an interest in this. I wouldn't be surprised if those other 3 windows dropped out, due to the fact that they simply couldn't find any more sex workers willing to participate in this project. But, sure, keep selling it to the public as if there's a lot of support from the sex workers to participate in this project.

The report says that perhaps sex workers don't show an interest yet, because they are still waiting to see how things will turn out (page 7). For example, what the rental would be. But I think the deal is much simpler. Just not that many sex workers are interested in running their own brothel. We just want to work how we do right now. Have a brothel operator take care of all the paperwork, legal work etc., so all we have to worry about is paying our taxes in time. We don't want any more work, or having to spend more time on our jobs than we already do.

We never asked to run a brothel ourselves. This is, yet again, one of those projects politicians come up with, because 'they think' we want this. But they never listen to us. We didn't ask to run our own brothel. We just asked that you stop closing down windows, and give us back the windows that are still vacant. That's what we asked for when we went to demonstrate against Project 1012. We didn't ask if we could please start our own brothel so we could be pimp free! Most of us are pimp free, and we don't need this brothel to prove that!

Dutch version
  • My photo

    Romanian prostitute working in the Red Light District in Amsterdam (De Wallen), speaking out for the truth behind prostitution. Blogging about prostitution, human trafficking, forced prostitution, politics and all the myths surrounding it. Member of PROUD, the Dutch union of sex workers.


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Sunday, May 31, 2009

And the winners of the RideTheWave Giveaway ARE...

to be announced tomorrow!

(POST EDIT: Do read this fun little story, but winners have now been chosen and are listed at the bottom of this post)! :)

Here's why. Betty and her family are in bed, (& Jhon was coerced into picking the winner last time). And I can't very well do this alone... there would be no one to verify that I didn't cheat! Besides, that's no fun.

So... what about Betty?? Betty is my *wonderful* neighbor who knows everyone, and always seems to be there for... whatever (like when you move in during fall & don't have a leaf rake yet, or when you're expecting a photo delivery from UPS but will be away working on the river... you know... neighbor stuff). She's always happy to help, and has some good advice too. Betty is going to help us find out who won the photos (unbeknownst to Betty at present time).

It'll go a little something like this... I'll take all the "Saturday people" and assign them a number starting with the first comment=1, and so forth. I'll compile a list, knock on Betty's door, and simply say, "Hi Betty! Pick a number between 1 and ______." She'll either smile & pick a number, or she'll stare at me _______ly. In the latter case, I'll explain the Giveaway and the whole story and then ask again. She would save herself time to just spout a random number with no concern as to why, but... she'll enjoy the story behind my latest antics. Always does.

At this point, I will flip over to the "Sunday people" page on back. All the Sunday people will have been assigned a letter... but we'll have to start after "B" (obvious possible problem).

"Ok Betty, pick a letter between C and ____."

TaaaDaaa! Winners determined, neighborhood & general life updates accomplished (they're in there somewhere, rest assured), and I'll come post the results.

But, as you can see, this must be done tomorrow. The fate of all this is in the hands of Betty, and I would hate to wake her-- she might not be so friendly about picking your entry then. Besides, that would just be... very unneighborly. And I like Betty.

And now... random and completely unrelated "Cute puppy pictures!" Who doesn't love puppy pics? This adorable little sweetheart belongs to one of the guides I worked with on the river last summer... and I was happy to be a sit-in Mom for "Munchie" at any time. The only thing as cute as her face, was watching her bound and bumble about, learning about our big world!

Now... good night and Good Luck! And THANK YOU for taking part in my giveaway and for all your wonderful comments! This was definitely a great addition to the weekend and a catalyst for wonderful things! I appreciate you.

Betty wasn't HOME this morning so I had to wait! Can you believe it? She's always home. Well, when I went over again, I DID get that update I said I would! A BIG one! She had to go to court to testify b/c a few days ago she was walking about town and happened to see a whole big episode of some guy resisting arrest and getting tazed! Betty sees everything. Anyway, I took the list, she was more than happy to participate (got a good laugh out of it). I had the list so she couldn't see names, and had my system (even had in mind to pick alternates in case those w/no profile info won and didn't come claim their pics). As it turned out, that was unnecessary-- she debated her numbers for just a second, had no hesitation with choice of letter, and... voilá! I circled the winners and took a couple quick pics on the step!

And the winners ARE...

Saturday: Marg Hamilton

Sunday: Kathy M.

Congratulations ladies!! Marg, you've won "After the Rain" and Kathy, you have won... well, you tell me what you've won. Go choose any 8x12 or smaller, and let me know! And please email me (link under my profile) or Etsy convo me with the addresses you would like your photographs mailed to.

Again, thank you ALL so much for participating! I really do wish I could give photos to all of you, just for being so wonderful!! I will do this again.

Saturday, May 30, 2009

2Day Ride-the-Wave Giveaway!

POST EDIT: Wow!!! Speaking of giveaways, I am so honored and just... stunned! I visited the wonderful blog of talented watercolor artist, Laura Trevey, to see her giveaway!
You'll never believe what it is!! Go see--->!

My weekend plans ended up being very different than originally intended... and I was bummed. But, after a while I got to thinking... I'm never online on the weekends-- I'm either doing art events or working on the river raft-guiding. So, I decided to "ride the wave" that followed the "rain" I've been given this weekend, and have some fun with it! I put together a kind-of-last-minute, possibly-hairbrained idea...

And I think you'll be glad I did-- a couple of lucky readers will benefit as a result of my weekend. I'm hosting a TWO-PHOTO-GIVEAWAY this weekend; one to be awarded for Saturday and one for Sunday.

The giveaway will revolve around my mental "theme" of the weekend, so to speak. Saturday I will be giving away "After the Rain" (click link to see listing details in my Etsy shop).

And Sunday, I will award the lucky the winner the photo of their CHOICE from my Etsy shop! Winner may choose any print 8x12 or smaller.

To ENTER the Giveaway:
Simply leave a comment on this post indicating which day you would like to enter. Wow-- you only get to enter one day?!? Sounds kind of harsh, right? I thought so too, so, here's the deal: you MAY enter both days but it will require 2 separate comments to be left-- 1 on Saturday and 1 on Sunday. For purposes of determining Sat vs. Sun, any comments left after midnight CA (Pacific) time will be considered Sunday, and any left after midnight on Sunday will be considered "not an entry" (but always appreciated). Can one person win both days? NO--the whole idea is to give more people more of a chance!
Winners will be chosen randomly, probably using one of those random-chooser-service-thingies (if I can find one and figure out how to apply it). Otherwise I will just have to devise some creative way of picking a random winner fairly (like out of a hat, but... hopefully I'll think up something more interesting).

So, there it is!
When does the giveaway officially begin?

NOW! Go!
Good Luck, have fun playing, and have a fantastic weekend!

(and for those who were wondering what happened after that little "launch" above...

Friday, May 29, 2009

Still Blushing...

Thank goodness I started climbing back out of my "poison-oak-ogre" hole and back into computer world when I did! Otherwise I would have missed the incredibly touching words the lovely Mrs. French wrote on her beautiful blog *Bliss*

I'm flattered, I'm touched, and yes, I am still blushing. Thank you.

Thursday, May 21, 2009

And these are just a FEW of the artists I admire & respect...

So, for those who grace my blog with your presence regularly (thank you!!), you know I've been talking, for some time now, about doing a blog post featuring some of the artists I admire & respect. Although delayed (thankfully, I already had it nearly finished, as I recently ran into a "poison oak of the throat & mouth delay"-- NOT on my highly recommended list)... the post is finally here!

I think the hardest part of all this was picking just a few among those I've come to think so highly of. To that end, I "categorized" this post to include "paper art" (photography, painting, etc...). Having said that, I struggled with that task and so, even though I admire many more than those listed here, this is still going to be a bit of a long post! And... I'm going to have to do another post sometime in the future to include so many other art forms like pottery, woodworking, textiles, etc... Then, I will need to do a post to catch some of those I missed, and then... I can see this could be a bit of an ongoing process! So, let us just call this "Admiration, Post #1," shall we?

While I could very easily go on and on about the merits of each artist, I will attempt to keep this somewhat brief... Some time can be spared by explaining ahead of time that each of these artists has at some point inspired me with their attitude, contribution to others & society, and are all genuinely *nice* people (I don't care how "talented" someone is, if attitude/treatment of others leaves somewhat to be desired, I have little interest in featuring or praising their efforts). Quite the opposite of that, these artists commonly go out of their way to share a kind, encouraging word with those they meet along the path, spreading positive energy for all to enjoy. So... the traits discussed below are in addition to those just mentioned...

**Click on any artist's shopname or artwork title (any underlined, cream-colored text) to be taken to their shop or particular piece in a separate browser window. I'm sure they would love your visit!**

Lyse's creations exude imagination and a poetic, dreamy quality. With a style all her own, her work looks as though the digital photography age somehow spilled onto the canvas of a renaissance painter, resulting in a beautiful, other-worldy (yet somehow familiar) Greek or Roman tale... with a modern twist. Stunning, and truly eye-catching.

I'm calling Jazz Mizzell

Allie's caring and playful spirit (demonstrated so very well in her photography) hides something bigger and deeper... a compassionate heart of gold on a mission to make a positive difference in the world around her. The title of her shop reflects her strong dedication to improving the lives of suffering children-- 15% of purchases from her shop benefit the Reach Out Children's Fund (not to mention the other charitable projects she's been a part of). This artist cares and seeks out the good and beauty to be encouraged-- and her work shows it... beautifully.

The Steps of Savannah, GA

Michelle's gorgeous work is as diverse and many-faceted as her wondeful personality (see her shop for lots more examples of what I mean). Her creative, bustling cityscapes and classic surf photos are closely intermingled with beautiful photos of delicate, young ferns unfurling in the soft light of morning. Don't let the cool city girl side fool you... there is, indeed, that very caring, compassionate side that's working to make a positive difference too. Another artist with a heart for charity, she donates to the Humane Society and was one of the talented artists in the "Paws for Charity" Art Book.

In a gorgeous, off-the-grid, Colorado homestead, Julie lives the conservation life we all strive for, and dream of achieving someday. Her dedication to nature shows in her gorgeous photography, and her lifestyle. I also deeply respect her attitude of love and just general appreciation of her life (which she is so wonderful to share with us through her work). Beautiful... on all counts.

Gary is one of those inspiring souls who finds beauty where others see ruin, opportunity where others see hardship, and makes good fortune in life where others may be blinded by the bad. This approach shows in his photography clearly, but if you get to know a bit about him, you'll see it is a choice or way of being that runs through his whole life. Though I had to choose these two photographs for this (I just love these), you would do yourself a favor to have a look at some of his barn photographs as well.
His incredible photography reflects not only dedication to "find the beauty and good" in unexpected places, but also the incredible scholarly dedication he has applied to his craft. He has devoted many hours to study every detail that comes together to form his final creations, from in-camera techniques, to post-processing, right down to detailed study of paper. And when I say he has studied papers, I don't mean he's well informed... I mean he can discuss the qualities, uses, and individual traits of papers as though they are friends he knows personally. And perhaps they are...

The most wonderful quality of Karen's work is the simple, almost understated elegance of her gorgeous watercolors. Anything more would detract from the innate beauty of the color and image... and she knows that. I would be remiss to muddle it up with too much text... rather, I will let you just take a moment to get lost in the feeling of her work-- so unlike the hectic, overstimulated movement that seems to overwhelm our modern society. Quiet... still... peaceful...ahhh...
I find it no surprise that Karen's work has been chosen for the first Design Style Guide (a wonderful interior design team I'm actually an admin for) Giveaway. You could actually win a gift certificate for some of Karen's work to still and quiet *your* space-- visit the great DSG blog here: Design Style Guide Giveaway #1

The Wanderers
What I admire most about Quwaa's work is his willingness to highlight subjects that are not always considered "beautiful" and are too often ignored. I think far too many people in the art world of beauty and prestige (and, indeed, our world in general) turn a blind eye to the plight of those struggling. Yes, I know, there are those who live homeless by choice (I've met a few with very interesting stories!), and yes, there are those out to scam you out of your money (just as so many corporate giants do all the time-- they advertise though, so it often gets a nicer spin), and those that are truly scary (ranting obsenities, etc...), but there are also some really genuine, nice people just down. Down like most of us have never imagined, and just had really bad things happen and could use a little help from a caring stranger... or the acknowledgement of a smile, a hello, just to be treated as... you know... a human with feelings. Quwaa's work embraces the "less glamorous" artistic beauties of life and our world... and does so compassionately and beautifully.

Green Island Studios

Life Is But Light In Many Hued Reflection
Kissing with Golden Face

Look at that bubble!! Go investigate her bubble series-- it's beautiful and thought-provoking! Ok, we all know that person (or many of them actually, in our circle)... they do this, dabble in that, find time to teach, write for this, that & the other thing, turn out new, amazing works constantly, AND still manage to be a good friend, supporter, and helpful person as well!
Jo Bradford is one of those people-- she teaches photography classes (as well as marketing her own amazing works on multiple sites), writes for multiple blogs, is well-read in poetry, classic & modern literature, always responds to messages with a kind reply, and answers those pesky "how to" questions from people like me! ;) Speaking of questions, Jo, I've been on a search to find the "More Me's" store so I can keep up with folks like you... could you just mapquest that to me? Many thanks.

Ok, a moment of heartfelt confession here: This next artist started with a similar "big family, small budget" background as I did, and truly represents "where I was headed and what I was sure to become" when I grew up (minus the "Mom" part). Scientist, artist, conservation speaker... a caring, motivated person making a big difference. The path was well mapped out and I had done significant work to put myself well on it. "And then"... famous last words, right?
While I'm still very much striving to bring about positive change through my photography, my lofty biology dreams & accomplishments were shifted sometime in University. And, don't get me wrong, I am very happy with my life. But I think sometimes you can't help but admire those that are doing what you originally thought you would. At any rate, her efforts are certainly to be admired regardless...

Another accomplished artist who falls under the "When do you ever sleep?" category, Molly engages in a loooong list of pursuits that ends with this sentence: "She is also part-time Research Laboratory Coordinator for the Laboratory for Ecophysiological Cryobiology at Miami University." Yup, she's motivated and smart! Molly is a passionate conservation speaker throughout the U.S. and (soon) Mexico, an ILCP (Intl. League of Conservation Photographers) Affiliate Council Member, a Zoology PhD candidate, a biologist, ecologist, a teacher (who's taken time to help her students earn various acceptances & recognitions), photographer, and... oh yeah, she's a Mom with two young children (luckily Dad plays a huge role there)! While she has always been very kind and I hold her motivated efforts in the highest esteem, I must begrudge her, as well, for not divulging the location of the "More Me's" store. Charge on, Molly!

Charge on ALL! You're lovely, talented, and very much admired & appreciated for all that you are and all that you do!

Saturday, May 16, 2009

Chasing Lady Bugs

Whoever said chasing lady bugs was just a waste of time? That person obviously never took the time to watch a lady bug... or a snail... or anything smaller and "less important" than him/herself.

Buying and selling useless crap we don't need that uses resources we don't have to bolster self-esteem destroyed by advertising... now that's a waste of time. The sooner we realize and embrace that concept, the better off we all will be. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying everything material is useless. But honestly, how many of the same shoes in different colors do we really need? And must we really replace a hardly-used-thingamajig with the latest-and-greatest-thingamajig (adding the old one to yet another landfill)? You get my point...

Hope you have a wonderful weekend, filled with time well-spent on moments instead of "things."

Sunday, May 10, 2009

Happy Mother's Day to Me!

Tulips for the Luncheon by Laura Trevey

Wow! What a wonderful Mother's Day morning! As you all know if you've seen my work, "For Mother," I treasure that relationship dearly. Technically, I'm not a Mom. I've been told I'm motherly from time-to-time and, though some precious little folks have adopted me as "another Mom," I don't have any children of "my own." I have, in the past, had children with four legs and fur, but can't have pets at our house now. Still, the "Mom" part of me is very honored and touched today! A lovely lady by the name of Laura Trevey has made my day! She has featured my work (with some very kind words) for her Mother's Day post on her wonderful blog, "Bright, Bold, and Beautiful." By the way, her blog title perfectly describes her work-- as you can see, she is a talented artist! If you can spare a moment, please pay her a visit here and help me thank her by leaving a nice comment for Mother's Day.

Last, but definitely not least, I hope your Mother's Day is WONDERFUL-- filled with smiles and treasured moments!

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Showing at the Stockton Art Walk- Friday

Hello my dear friends! I keep telling myself, "Today, after I finish _____work, I will catch up with blog-friends!" Sometime in the wee hours of the morning, I face facts that I still have ___, ____, & _____ that were on my to-do list for today, but I'm getting veerrrry sleeeepy.

I need more... ME's! I need to be able to delegate this 5 hour project to KennaA, that 5 DAY project to KennaB, and these 5 assorted tasks to KennaC... and then it would all get done! In the real world, I realize that I'm exhausted, pushing back some of the "less-time-sensitive-but-should-have-been-done-by-now" projects to tomorrow or next week, and go to bed. grrr. So, since it seems that I can't visit blogs and comment individually just yet, I'll passify myself with at least sharing updates here. Hope they are "worthy." :)

The good news is... it's good news that's keeping me so busy-- invitations to some events, acceptance notices to others I've applied for, lots of getting ready for this show or that show, and, oh, yeah, working. Things are going! Going well, going fast, GOING! I think I might blink and realize summer's gone though-- that would be a shame.

The news for THIS weekend is that I have been invited to participate in the Downtown Stockton Alliance Art Walk. It will be taking place on Friday, May 8 from 5-8pm at various businesses/venues in Downtown Stockton. My work will be on display at Hotel Stockton.

Then, it's take down and head back to Sacramento, sleep a little, and leave the house by 6am Saturday morning to head up to the Placerville Certified Farmers Market. Sunday, I'll find myself in Davis at the annual Whole Earth Festival (scouting for next year, found out about it after the application deadline this year).

Until then, to fill my "spare time," I'm taking a Bookkeeping/Quickbooks class and attempting to "beat the template" of my web building program into a functional photography website. haha. Hope to be able to "introduce" it soon.

So, can't leave you without a photo-- I think you'd throw tomatoes or something. This is from a scouting mission I did a few days ago for a photo-shoot/collaboration project involving dancers and yogi in nature. Wrapping up the discussion by the edge of a lake, we found ourselves captivated by a single, peaceful duck. Not pushily-begging for bread like city park ducks, just... hanging out. At some points, I was crouched by water's edge and it would quietly swim up to within a couple feet of me and just... be. Perhaps 30 minutes long, this was one of those peaceful, yet thrilling experiences when time just fades into tranquility, and segmented things like minutes stop their disruptive "march" and everything just... flows.

What wonderful company to share the end of a day with. A very willing model, this beauty seemed to know when the photo shoot was over. About 30 seconds after I took the last photo, it silently flew off, literally into the sunset. It was one of those moments in nature when everything just feels... beautiful and right with the world. Hope this adds some of that feeling to your day today.

Sending smiles and warm wishes,

Sunday, May 3, 2009

Great Rainy day at IndieSacramento fair!

So, I tried to stay optimistic as I left the house yesterday booth-ready and bound for the bi-annual IndieSacramento fair. I couldn't help wondering as I reflected on yesterday's weather... would it rain again all day today? Should I have been on the river instead? With all the rain, flows were running a swollen 5000 cfs... taking the adventure level on the South Fork up a big notch we haven't seen in years (in non-river lingo, 5000 cfs= whole river changes, waves bigger, holes bigger, hits bigger-- everything's faster and a lot more exciting)!

Rainy day at an arts & crafts fair, on the other hand, does NOT indicate a better-than-normal day. But... who could have known back when booking? So, might as well try to stay optimistic. Well... it worked. While I did (unfortunately) miss the chance to do an extra-exciting river trip, my day went well! I had the most *lovely* booth neighbors you could ask for (wonderful fellow Etsy folks, both kind and talented on either side), there were many good sports out braving the rain to visit us all, and I did surprisingly well for a rainy day. So... came away feeling very grateful.

I did, however, notice a different trend in requests. Typically, I get requests of "I LOVE this, but... can I get it printed BIG?" Yesterday, comments went more like, "Oooh, my Mom would love this, but things are kinda tight right now... do you have that in a small one?" I can relate to times of wanting to get something really nice for Dear Ones, but finding yourself needing to save for other things... like basic bills and food. So... to help those that are finding themselves in a pinch this Mother's Day, I'm holding a Mom's Day Combo Sale in my Etsy shop! All the details are there, but basically it means a nice Mother's Day gift of any 8x10 or 8x12 photo PLUS a fine art photo greeting card to complete the package for $20.

I hope this bargain helps some folks get the photo "Mom will LOVE" for years... without having to settle for a smaller version. Because... where would we all be without the wonderful loving Mothers of the world? I get sentimental thinking of the HUGE difference my Mom and Nonnie have made in my life, not to mention all the other Moms who have "taken me under their wing" and positively influenced my world.

Thank you MOMS!!! Hope your Mother's Day is filled with LOVE and fond memories!


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Posted March 21 2016, 2:45 PM PDT by Tara Sharp

What Home Buyers Love & Hate

Posted in Selling and Video Tips by Tara Sharp

Buying a home is an emotional experience and seeing a home for the first time is not unlike going on a first date. First impressions matter! Windermere agent, Nancy Chapin, has some great tips for sellers who want to put their best home forward.


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Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Don't Try To Be Efficient

Last week on Tuesday I looked at the clock and burst into action. It was impressive; Spring in fast forward. Me, bursting, into action. I hopped in the shower, showered in record time, dressed, dressed my baby, dressed my son, got my daughter all gussied up in her dancing clothes, threw everyone into the car and drove like a wild lady to dance class.

I promptly dropped my daughter off and then went to the grocery store for groceries (!) congratulating myself on being so efficient in such a short amount of time. My son loves the carts that are cars. You know, the kids get into the car part and you put your food, etc., in the cart part. Oliver LOVES this. He straps on his invisible seat belt and then takes out his invisible keys from his pocket. He puts the invisible keys into the invisible ignition, pulls the gear shift down so he can Drive, and then he turns the wheel. Only at this point am I allowed to move the cart forward. If I try to do it any earlier Oliver screeches loudly. Because everybody knows that in order to drive a car all of those things must be done.

After this time filling ritual I headed down the first isle when to my horror the time suddenly came to my mind through the clock that is NPR. Meaning, I realized that The Diane Rehm show was still on, and not Radio West which meant that I HAD DROPPED MY DAUGHTER OFF TO DANCE CLASS AN HOUR EARLY.

I ran to the van, pulled the kids out of the car, buckled them in, drove fiercely to the Women's Center where the dance class is held trying to decide if I was feeling mortified about everything. Being mortified is Not my default position. It just isn't worth the energy. I felt some extra color coming to my cheeks as I waited at the stoplight, but it was very faint. Sigh.

I did embarrass my daughter who opted not to stay in the early dance class (taught by the same teacher) and then couldn't bear to return to her actual dance class. But that was that. We all survived. But this Tuesday I am keeping a close eye on the clock. I took a long bath this morning instead of a hurried shower. I have no ambitions other than getting my daughter to dance class any earlier or later than necessary.

I am not on the ball this morning and my world will be better for it.

  1. Laughed out loud. Loved this.

  2. That's hilarious Allysha!

  3. Oh to be in good company! Thanks for sharing!


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Why No One Talks About Plumbing Anymore

Where Can You Find A High Quality HVAC Service? Because of the increasing demand, there are now lots of HVAC services rising to meet the needs of people. The good thing with having a good and high quality HVAC service is that it can manipulate the kind of environment you want inside your home or office. If you think some seasons are not comfortable for you because the temperature, then it is best to choose a high quality HVAC service for your comfort. Having an HVAC system entails responsibility on the owner side, which is why the need to take care of it always is needed. If you don’t take care of it well, you will experience a very unpleasant environment during extreme weather conditions. In this article, you can learn about the services you need in order to take care of your HVAC units well. When it comes to the services offered, it is also important for HVAC owners to be familiar with each one of the services offered. First of all, you have to know about installation services. If you are planning to buy an HVAC unit or already have one, it is important that you know the kind of unit you need in order to get the comfortable kind of environment you need. The good news is that there are now lots of contractors for HVAC unites to help and assist you. When it comes to choosing an HVAC contractor for your unit, you need to make sure that you choose one who is well experienced in the field. One of the reasons why you need to choose a well experienced contractor is for the installation of your units to be a successful one. A good contractor is one that knows lots about HVAC units and is able to answer all your questions about it. In order for the expert to know what needs to be done, you must invite him or her to your house for an inspection. One of the reasons for this is to make sure that the contractors have an idea of the ducts and floor plan in your house. The other thing you also need to consider is the quotation of the contractors, so make sure you ask it from them as well.
Overwhelmed by the Complexity of Repairs? This May Help
Aside from that installation service of contractors, they also have ongoing maintenance. It is important for you to consider having an ongoing maintenance for all your HVAC units so that it will be well taken care of over time If some of the services don’t have this kind of service, you can approach the manufacturer. If you want that kind of package, the good news is that you can get it from your local contractor.Overwhelmed by the Complexity of Repairs? This May Help


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Friday, August 24, 2007

rough day

man, today has been rough! my kids have been horrid! i wanted to put them to bed at like 4 o'clock...seriously. i just don't understand why some days they act like i am speaking in tounges. it took jay 3 hours to clean his room today. it was just picking up a few toys! he was being so defiant! but he started speaking my language really fast when i started putting everything on the floor in a trash bag. he freaked. but i had to do it. i threated to do it like 5 times, so i had to follow through. so, needless to say. the room is "clean" a 4 year old's standard.

but i do feel somewhat accomplished. i got the better part of my yard mowed. cora's too little clothes packed away, and her fall/winter 2t stuff out and washed and put away. i'm caught up on laundry, and i even got my bedroom/bathroom cleaned. so, i did get some things done. now it's almost 9...josh just got home from working, and we are just going to vegggggg. happy friday!

Thursday, August 23, 2007

southern living at home

I went to a southern living at home party with my friend, kim, tonight. It was alot of fun. I didn't know a soul there (except for her). I didn't buy anything. I kind of felt like a heel, but there were enough people there, no one even noticed I ooohed and aaahed, and made a mental wish in I must be mental to think we'd be able to afford that stuff right now. but man, I really did see some things I'd like to have. I don't love alll of their stuff, but they do have some collections that are this is the gallery collection. it's all white stuff that i really really like. i have a couple of the big plates (i use them as serving platters), the pitcher, compote, and big bowl.

the newest collection i have my eye on is the the christmas stuff....i think it's so cute. here's a picture of it too. they have a whole entire collection of this, but the picture only shows part of it.

anyway, the food was really great. and I ate up! i've been trying to watch what I've been eating, but tonight I felt no guilt. She had lots of appitizer type favorite. the party was about an hour away, so kim and I got the chance to chat and laugh on the way there and back. she is my workout partner, so I see her nearly everyday, but we usually have other pressing matters to tend our super hot bodies! lol!! anyway, thought of the day.....southern living at stuff for rich people! haha. i have a friend that sells it. if anyone is interested i can get you her name and number. having a party is really worth the great hostess specials they have. that's how i got my cute gallery stuff!

Tuesday, August 21, 2007

the long awaited baptism

This past Saturday we attended the baptism of Randy and Dalton, a father and son. Randy was good friends with my dad when they were young. And he's known my family forever. Dalton just turned the magical age of 8. I teach him in primary, and he is such a delight! He is always so eager to participate, and a little sponge soaking up the gospel. It was truely a special day. You could feel the excitement and joy of everyone there. A couple of sister missionaries even came down from Utah to be here for the baptism. How neat is that?

Wednesday, August 15, 2007

Mr. & Mrs. Noland

Monday was my little sister, Erin's first wedding anniversary. I can't believe she has already been married for one whole year. It's so strange to think of myself all grown up...much less my little sister! We all went over to my mom's house where she and her hubby, Thad, cut the saved top tier of their wedding cake. His grandmother (the neatest 80-something year old lady you will ever meet) had wrapped it perfectly and froze it for them. It tasted as good as it did 1 year ago. I remember mine was kinda gross. We tried to bring it to Louisiana with us on our move from Utah, and I guess the thaw and refreeze was not so good for it. haha! Anyway, Erin & Thad are the cutest couple, and we are glad to have him as a part of our family.


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Is a Bond Bubble about to Burst?

Is a Bond Bubble about to Burst?

Maybe it’s the appeal of the alluring alliterative headline, but “Bond Bubble” has been getting plenty of play across personal finance pages. For investors who flocked to the relative safety of fixed income during the Great Recession, the worry is real. After a long period of historically low yields, interest rates look to be on the rise. In fact the Fed’s simple mention of plans to wind down its economy-buoying bond-buying program resulted in a spike in interest rates that drove returns on bonds into uncharted negative territory. Now, the fear that rates will increase further and wreak more havoc for bonds looms on the horizon.

There’s no question that those close to or in retirement are being hit with a double whammy. After a period of frustratingly low yields made generating a reliable income stream a challenge, today’s rising rates could diminish the value of bond portfolios. For example, with the market rattled by speculation that after years as an aggressive bond-buyer, the Fed might soon take its foot off the gas of its quantitative easing program, we witnessed a half-point spike in the yield of 10-year Treasuries. That produced the biggest monthly bond market losses in nine years. Yet, to date, yields remain historically low; the yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note is just under 2.2%, a far cry from the 6.5% average since 1962.

Accordingly, although conventional wisdom holds that stock/bond portfolios should be weighted more heavily toward lower risk bonds as investors age, today a bond-heavy portfolio may feel pretty risky. Do the math. Benchmark Treasury yields have been well below 4% since early in the financial crisis. If your portfolio generates under 4%, how can you withdraw the commonly-accepted 4% annually, and add inflation adjustments, without seriously depleting your portfolio over time?

What should you do? There’s no easy answer, but before discussing our options, a quick fixed income refresher course can help you to appreciate fully the complex situation we find ourselves in. The first topic in our Fixed Income 101 lecture is the role bonds play in a portfolio. In short, bonds function as a security blanket to temper the volatility inherent in stocks and other risky assets and help create a reliable income stream.

It’s also crucial to understand the inverse relationship between interest rates and bond yields. Simply, when interest rates rise, the fixed income portion of your portfolio may face volatility and loss. The simple rule of thumb is if interest rates increase 1 percentage point (100 basis points), a bond’s (or bond fund’s) value will drop by approximately the bond’s (or the fund’s weighted average) duration. Yes, this formula is simplistic because it presumes a rare instantaneous, parallel shift in the yield curve, but it gives you a quick sense of how bonds might perform in a rising interest rate environment.

Finally, to allay your fears of a complete bond meltdown, it’s helpful to review some market history. And, because a picture is worth a thousand words, I’ve been sharing charts such as the one below depicting the “Historical Interest Rate Environment” provided by Dimensional Fund Advisors to provide some context for the unique environment we find ourselves in.

Our history lesson concludes by noting that while the fear of rising interest rates may be legitimate, a potential bear market in bonds is dramatically different from a bear market in stocks. Unlike stocks, where the accepted definition of a bear market is a 20% decline in prices, a bear market in bonds is often defined as any period of negative returns.

In fact, the broad U.S. bond market has never experienced a 20% decline. Far from it. In fact, the worst calendar year for the broad bond market was 1994, when due to an unexpected upward shift in interest rates, the bond market lost 2.9%. (Note, however, that in 1995, the bond market bounced back and returned 18.5%.) Contrast this to the experience of stock investors in 2008, when the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index lost more than 2.9% in just 27 trading days.

Understanding bonds’ structure, the math behind the returns, and the significant differential in volatility can help you to feel comfortable maintaining your strategic allocation to fixed income, even as rates rise. In an interesting piece, The Great Rotation Is Real (But It’s Not What You Think), Matt Hougan addresses the possibility that investors, worried about rising rates and plummeting bond values, will dump their fixed-income positions and rotate into stocks.

Noting that the ETF market offers a clear window to monitor investor behavior because you can see on a daily basis exactly how much money flows into and out of various ETF products, he says the “Great Bond Rotation” has yet to materialize. He writes, “Since interest rates started backing up in early May, investors have pulled a little over $500 million out of fixed-income ETFs. That sounds like a lot, but consider that there is more than $257 billion invested in the products. In other words, for ETF investors, the so- called “great rotation” has amounted to a whopping 0.2% of assets.”

Interestingly, Hougan acknowledges there is a rotation going on, but it’s within bonds. In fact, he notes that in July, investors pulled $5.2 billion out of 74 different fixed-income ETFs, while plowing $9.4 billion into 81 other fixed-income ETFs.

Where’s the money going? Those looking for protection from rising rates are investing in shorter duration bonds that will be less impacted by interest rate increases. Others, looking to boost chronically low yields areinvesting in high yield corporate bonds. While these are different bets based on different market outlooks, it’s important to remember bonds’ main portfolio function. Bonds work as a diversifier to offset the riskier assets in your portfolio. Therefore, diversifying between stocks and bonds to stabilize portfolios remains the core of smart portfolio construction. Diversification is the way long-term investors can weather all types of markets. Even bond bubbles.

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Tuesday, November 10, 2015

New Edition of Avoiding False Mirrors

Second Edition of Avoiding False Mirrors to be released

Arlington, VA November 10, 2015

A second edition of Avoiding False Mirrors, my book on innovation in business organizations, will be released approximately January 15, 2016. It is a major revision of the first edition, updated with new stories and examples, and brought up-to-date on the latest views of business process management (BPM).

"I enjoyed immensely writing the first edition, based on my years with the US Department of Defense, and used the book in many of my classes over the last several years. Yet, it is time to update the volume with new, more exciting and informative examples, and I have been working over the summer to do just that.  BPM is an exciting area, evolving every day, and well worth your time to understand."

Look for it on Amazon, and major book stores.  We will offer a special discount for Bloggers, so watch the page for details.

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Saturday, July 16, 2011

8 Gallons of Paint

I haven't had as much time to blog as I had originally planned.  I've been very busy around the house.  I spent 3 days and 8 gallons of paint to address an issue I've had with the color that has graced almost every wall downstairs.  I affectionately call it "cardboard".  Don't get me wrong it isn't a terrible color.  I might even like it in certain situations.  But, I felt like there was soooooo much of it and it really was such a dark color that it made our house feel very cave like.  It was practically the same color as our floors.  I decided that I wanted gray walls.  I have a blue and green theme throughout the house and I thought gray would be a nice neutral....  After spending about a month seriously debating on the exact shade (not too dark but not too blue/purple or beige) I finally commited to Sharkey Gray and got 5 gallons of that crap!  I later came to regret that decision.  By the end of that day our house went from this:

To this:
And I absolutely hated how it looked against our floors.  It was the WORST around our fireplace.  It looks sooo blue and UGLY to me.  But, it looked amazing in our dining room...  I spent about 24 hours staring at it constantly telling Diddles how much I hated it and showing him new paint options.  We even had friends over during that 24 hour period and they said it looked fine.  Now I know who my true friends are because they straight up lied to me! haha!  So, the very next day I went out picked up a green and blue paint chip (the colors of our dining room and kitchen) along with a floor sample that was similar to ours.  I went to the light beige section and spent about 10 minutes before commiting to a light neutral shade.  This time I only purchased 3 gallons (just in case).  I had the entire downstairs repainted by the end of that day.  And I can't believe I'm going to say this..... But...... I LOVE MY BEIGE WALLS!  Never in my life have I ever liked neutrals.  However, with the floors, raised paneling details, fireplace, windows and all the other colors in our house I think it looks great!  Diddles seems to think I just repainted it the same cardboard color.  But, If you look below you can see that there is a BIG difference.

 Below you will see some during and after pics!


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Monday, October 27, 2014

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Subscribe to Office News

Category: Office News

Banner Year for 2015

Thanks to you, 2015 has been a banner year for Best Acupuncture. This has allowed me to make significant investments in capital and build a better patient experience and practice.

WAC 246-08-400 Copy Fees

As of March 18, 2015, copy fees in the State of Washington have increased. The current statute states: How much can a health care provider charge for searching and duplicating health care records? RCW 70.02.010(15) allows health care providers to charge fees for searching and duplicating health care records. The fees a provider may charge […]

Office News Spring 2014 – Year of the Horse

Finally, the rains have stopped and the sun has come out. The rivers are swollen and cresting their banks. Some of you may know that Woodland is located on Lewis River, and we are protected by levies. The rains have been exhausting. Yet, we finally have some sun, and I was able to get out […]

Merry Christmas To You

The Santa season is upon us and the weather in the Northwest has finally crawled over freezing! I’m counting my blessings that we are back to a “normal” Northwest winter with temperatures in the low 40’s / high 30’s.

New Offering – Group Acupuncture On Thursdays!

Looking for a quick, inexpensive alternative to individual acupuncture sessions? Group Acupuncture may be your ticket. Group Acupuncture is an easy introduction to acupuncture and Chinese Medicine and a good way to meet the practitioner for the first time. Group varies from individual sessions in a couple different ways. You don’t need to book an […]


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Sex Toys and other Avenues of Adult Fun

Undeniably, sex is one of the most important gifts of creation and it is our duty to enjoy every aspect of it. There would be very few people around us for whom sex is not an integral part of life. Though people are of different temperaments when it comes to sex – some are open about it, some are shy – one thing is certain; the joys of sex are unquestionable to each one of us.

People open about sex have no problem getting it, but the people who are shy would not know where to go. But there is respite for these people who have been left behind for years. Today, there is a surfeit of sex toys that can give as good as the real thing. There are vibrators, dildos, sex dolls, fake vaginas, and a lot many things that can make the whole experience pleasurable. There is even no need to go to a shop to get these things. Online shopping has made the whole buying process very discreet.

But it is not only the docile people who are buying these sex toys. There are people from all walks of life. People who are so busy with their lifestyles that they cannot commit themselves to partners are prime examples of sex toy users. Due to hectic lifestyle, there is also a steady decline in people's sexual potencies. This may also make them conscious in front of a live partner. In addition, there are issues such as inadequacies in people's own bodies that may make them feel less confident about having sex. The very large number of people going in for augmentation surgeries today – whether they be breast enhancement or penis enlargement – is proof for this. In short, there are various reasons in today's world that are making people shier of the actual sex and taking them towards realizing their erotic desires through other means.

Sex toys do not just mean the regular dildos and vibrators. There are some sex toys that are specifically designed to enhance the genitals – like penis weights, penis enhancement pumps, breast enhancement pumps, etc. There is also sex furniture available, especially in the BDSM world to heighten the overall sexual experience. But the simplest sex toy is certainly the condom, which can be made with various textures and even flavors and perfumes to add to the joys of sex.

Though sex toys have broken new grounds in popularity, there are still many people who do not like to use one. These people are still quite orthodox about sex and there are even some taboos prevalent in some parts of the world. But at the same time, it must be said that they do have an attraction for these toys, but are only too intimidated to use them on themselves. Most of these people who would not use sex toys themselves really do enjoy watching porn actors use the same. Then there is one more category of people who do not actually use sex toys on their genitals, but would not mind using leather underwear, revealing outfits, belts and other such devices that could heighten the erotica. Shoes are making great headway in the sex toy world nowadays. Both men and women are turned on when they wear – or their partners wear – shoes like thigh high boots, heeled shoes, ankle footwear and the perennially popular platform shoes.

Many people don’t know about it, but sex toys can also be used when you are not actually having sex. There are sex board games and sex playing cards, which can bring a new twist to romantic bonding with your partners, or could really add the zing to a themed party. A very popular sex party pastime is the strip poker, which can be played with sex-themed playing cards. Almost every game today has a sex variation, and also a great market.

Now that you know better about sex toys, you must not be very surprised to know that people are using them around you all the time. There are people with closeted sexual preferences who are using them in the privacy of their homes, and there are people who are using butt plugs in their anuses all the time, even when in office! No wonder that the sex toy industry is really booming, and deservedly so!

© Copyright 2007. Best Love Doll. All Rights Reserved. Home | Resources


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Wednesday, August 21, 2013

This photo is too blurry. Its because I was trying to walk and take photos at the same time.
 Same with this photo. Walking and taking photos on full zoom does not work.
What I like about these photos is how close i got to the birds. It really shows the details of them.

1 comment:

  1. The first photo is just beautiful. Lovely composition. Thoughtful comment.


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Kentucky Hotel Reservations

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Kentucky Derby in Lousiville

Kentucky's Favorite Festivals

Home to some of the nation’s best bluegrass and folk music, famed distilleries, and, of course, premiere equestrian events and facilities, it’s no surprise Kentucky features some of the nation’s best annual festivals.

No matter your interest, give a look at some of our favorite annual Kentucky festivals, and plan your visit accordingly.

1. Kentucky Derby & Derby Festival

Kentucky’s premiere event, the Kentucky Derby and Derby Festival features over 70 special events centered on the iconic horse derby.

The festival is hosted throughout downtown Louisville each May. Check out must-sees like the marathon, balloonfest, and Thunder Over Louisville fireworks show.

Best Annual Festivals in Kentucky

Bluegrass Festivals in Kentucky

2. Kentucky Bluegrass & Bourbon

Kentucky’s two most prized exports – bluegrass and bourbon – all in one fun-filled weekend at Louisville Water Tower Park in early September. But wait, there’s more – barbecue, craft vendors, and more. This is the premiere end-of-summer celebration in Louisville.

3. Festival of the Bluegrass

Over in Lexington, the Festival of the Bluegrass is a favorite among eastern KY festivalgoers each and every June.

Make the short drive in from nearby Georgetown or Paris to the Kentucky Horse Park for several days of great jams, marketplace shopping, and more.

4. Forecastle Festival

Are you a fan of great live music? Then check out the Forecastle Festival, held in Louisville at Louisville Waterfront Park in July. The fest is just under 10 years old, but it's quickly risen up the ranks, now known for hosting some of the world’s biggest up-and-coming indie rock, hip-hop, folk, and pop artists on the planet.

5. Rolex Kentucky

Best Annual Festivals in Kentucky

Midway at the State Fair

Another of Kentucky’s excellent equestrian events, the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event in April features tons of saddled fun and for the whole family.

The event is hosted at Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington. Make the short drive in from Richmond or Georgetown and enjoy visiting Lexington.

6. Kentucky Bourbon Festival

Similarly, over in Bardstown, the Kentucky Bourbon Festival in mid September brings great drinks, jazz, dancing, and plenty more at a handful of venues.

Check the festival event schedule and mark your itinerary accordingly. Make the drive in from Shepherdsville or Campbellsville

7. Kentucky State Fair

Who doesn’t love the fair? The Kentucky State Fair, held in Louisville in August, brings all the classic state fair fun and amenities to Freedom Hall and the Kentucky Exposition Center.

Check out the Midway, big-name concert events at University of Louisville's Cardinal Stadium, endless vendors and festival food, and the fun at Kentucky Kingdom.

Best Western Hotels Along the Way:

Best Western Campbellsville Inn

1400 E Broadway Street, Campbellsville KY 42718-1569
Phone: (270) 465-7001  |  Fax: (270) 465-4949  |  Hotel Details & Reservations »

Best Western Plus Georgetown Corporate Center Hotel

132 Darby Drive, Georgetown KY 40324-8715
Phone: (502) 868-0055  |  Fax: (502) 863-1586  |  Hotel Details & Reservations »

Best Western Louisville East

9802 Bunsen Way, Louisville KY 40299-2548
Phone: (502) 499-0000  |  Fax: (502) 493-2905  |  Hotel Details & Reservations »

Best Western Paris Inn

2011 Alverson Drive, Paris KY 40361-2207
Phone: (859) 987-0779  |  Fax: (859) 987-6566  |  Hotel Details & Reservations »

Best Western Richmond Hotel

100 Eastern Bypass, Richmond KY 40475-2302
Phone: (859) 623-9220  |  Fax: (859) 624-1458  |  Hotel Details & Reservations »

Best Western Shepherdsville

211 S Lakeview Drive, Shepherdsville KY 40165-7128
Phone: (502) 543-7097  |  Fax: (502) 543-2407  |  Hotel Details & Reservations »

Best Western Winchester Hotel

1307 W Lexington Avenue, Winchester KY 40391-1128
Phone: (859) 744-7210  |  Fax: (859) 744-3354  |  Hotel Details & Reservations »

Best Western Rewards

More to See in Kentucky

  • Spotlight Louisville

    Spotlight Louisville

    Enjoy a tour through Louisville on your next visit to Kentucky. Hiking trails, bourbon distilleries, and even the Kentucky Derby make it pure excitement.

    Check Out Louisville ►
  • Kentucky Airport Hotels

    Kentucky Airport Hotels

    Find hotels near major Kentucky airports like the Louisville International Airport and Lexington's Blue Grass Airport.

    Hotels Near Kentucky Airports ►
  • Kentucky Outdoors

    Kentucky Outdoors

    Visit scenic Kentucky for outdoor activities like hiking, biking, fishing, and even caving in the beautiful Bluegrass State.

    Explore KY Outdoors! ►
  • Spotlight Lexington

    Spotlight Lexington

    Visit Lexington and explore everything from distilleries to historic sites. Enjoy pleasant indoor attractions, and a wealth of outdoor recreation.

    Explore Lexington ►
  • Kentucky Horse Trails

    Kentucky Horse Trails

    Choose from the never-ending trails of national forests to horseback rides near inner-city stables this summer in Kentucky.

    Saddle Up! ►
  • Kentucky Universities

    Kentucky Universities

    Check out hotels near top Kentucky universities. Explore area attractions or enjoy campus tours and college sports.

    KY Universities ►
  • Kentucky Bourbon Trail

    Kentucky Bourbon Trail

    Tour the Kentucky Bourbon Trail distilleries,, home of Jim Beam, Maker's Mark, and Wild Turkey distilleries, plus nearby bluegrass venues and BBQ restaurants.

    Explore the Kentucky Bs ►
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Each Best Western® branded hotel is independently owned and operated. © 2002-2017 Best Western International, Inc. All rights reserved. © 2017 TripAdvisor LLC. All rights reserved.


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Saturday, February 21, 2015

HSCC Testimonial: Jonathan Hernandez (Philadelphia, 2003-2004, 2006)

Jonathan Hernandez is a three-time participant in the National BDPA High School Computer Competition (HSCC). He and his teammates were trained by BDPA Philadelphia chapter. We asked him about his experiences and he wrote:
"During my time with the BDPA's HSCC program as a teenager, I earned deep skills in web, application, and database technologies which have served me to this day. The experience from my teens endowed me with an edge over my competition right out of college, allowing me to find more innovative, competitive, and empowering offers from the biggest players across industries. These skills allowed me to broaden my degree in Political Science, into an active position where I make equitable change on a daily basis to my clients and stakeholders as a technology consultant and project manager.

Jonathan (standing, 2nd-from left)
Additionally, the BDPA has empowered me with the ability to socially engage and manage cross-functional technical roles with a high level of effectiveness, building consensus and clarity across the organization, and in the direction of any goal. I would not be so fortunate without the help of the BDPA, and its most brilliant group of supporting members. Furthermore, as an adult within my career, the BDPA's dividends continue to provide me with access to mentors and leaders, who have given me invaluable advice in the direction of my dreams.
Jonathan graduated from Temple University and he's now working for Accenture as a data center migration consultant. He believes in the power of technology and the real social impacts it can make across organizations and borders. His work at Accenture allows him to provide technical project management services to businesses to realize best value and technical support. Jonathan has come back to serve as a volunteer with BDPA ... particularly with young people seeking to learn programming and professional skills before they ever enter a college lecture hall.

You can learn more about Jonathan from his website. You can support Jonathan's passion for BDPA by making a secure online donation for the BDPA Philadelphia HSCC Scholarship Fund.

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Our Beliefs and Values

Humanistic Jews believe:
- Each Jew has the right to create a meaningful Jewish lifestyle free from supernatural authority and imposed tradition.
- The goal of life is personal dignity and self-esteem.
- The secular roots of Jewish life are as important as the religious ones.
- The survival of the Jewish people needs a reconciliation between science, personal autonomy, and Jewish loyalty.

Freedom from supernatural authority
Theistic religions assert that the ultimate source of wisdom and of the power of the solution to human problems is found outside of people - in a supernatural realm. Humanistic philosophy affirms that knowledge and power come from people and from the nature in which they live.

Dignity and self-esteem
Life is worthwhile when each person sees them self as worthwhile. Self-respect is distinct from happiness. Happiness is less the goal of life than the consequence of having attained it. Self-respect is dependent upon autonomy. The autonomous person feels that s/he is responsible for the basic direction of his/her own life and that no one else has the right to usurp that responsibility. Autonomy does not mean that each person is individually self-sufficient. Healthy dependence is horizontal rather than vertical.

Secular Jewish Roots
Judaism is an ethnic culture. It did not fall from heaven. It was not invented by a divine spokesperson. It was created by the Jewish people. It was molded by Jewish experience. Holidays are responses to human events. Ceremonies are celebrations of human development. Music and literature are the expressions of human needs.

Society for Humanistic Judaism

Humanistic Judaism’s founding congregation The Birmingham Temple videos

Rabbi Adam Chalom Dean Of International Institute of SHJ speaking about Jewish history

Humanistic Jewish values

Truth: Rely on what we know about human experience and needs. Discover new powerful truths about our history and present, Advance ethical and moral goals.

Integrity: Say what we mean and mean what we say. Welcome all who seek connections with Jewish culture and history.

Dignity: Embrace the joy, power, and responsibility to shape our own lives. Our dignity goes hand in hand with the dignity of all peoples.

Reality: Employ reason, observation, experimentation and creativity to address questions and understand experiences in this world.

Judaism: Recognize that the Jewish people created Jewish culture. To be a Jew is to identify with the Jewish people.

— Rabbi Adam Chalom, Dean of the International Institute for Secular Humanistic Judaism

We provide a place where secular Jews can find a comfortable and stimulating home. We appeal to those who respect and love our Jewish heritage and want to affiliate with others with similar viewpoints.

Our History

The first Humanistic Judaism community was established in 1963 by Rabbi Sherwin Wine and a number of members founded the Birmingham Temple in a suburb of Detroit. In 1969, a North American  central organization, the Society for Humanistic Judaism (www.shj.org) was founded to establish and support local affiliates and to provide leadership to the growing movement (which now has 33 communities in the US and Canada). In 1985 the International Institute for Secular Humanistic Judaism was created, to coordinate the various national organizations and to train rabbi and lay leaders for the local communities.

Originally, there were two Humanistic Judaism communities in Colorado: the Colorado Congregation for Humanistic Judaism (CCHJ) established in Denver in 1991 and Beth Ami established in Boulder a couple of years later. In the year 2002, with the urging of Rabbi Wine, these two communities were merged into a single community, Beth Ami-CCHJ.

With the establishment of a Jewish Cultural Family School, as well as the addition of two Professional Leaders/Madrikhot, we are now offering a full array of programs and services.


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Modern Design Living Room

lighting 3d space design living room modern furnitureModern Design Living Room
On the roof of the living rooms are designed with lighting that comes out Fari roof and graphical form, so as to display the roof forms a very charming and elegant. sofas and other interiors such as table of rich, carpet, cabinets, wood flooring, wall forms and any other room in a modern well designed so that makes this living room really looks elegant.
Explore our collection of picture on this site.
You have just read the article entitled Modern Design Living Room. Please read the article from Home Design About , more. And you can also bookmark this page with the URL :


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Billy Bookcase, Easy to Assemble

Billy, where have you been all my life?  I'm a latecomer to Billy bookcases but it turns out they have been around for 30+ years.   The factory that produces the Billy bookshelf makes 15 Billys a minute.  That's 3.1 million a year!  Wow!  After buying three of my own, I can see why they are so popular.   They are sturdy, easy to assemble and reasonably priced. I shared my small (but growing) office … [Read more...]

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The Magic Ratio for Happy Healthy Relationships

BtR 015 – The Magic Ratio for Happy Healthy Relationships

What is the Magic Ratio all about?

Brandon and guest host, Jerry, talk about the magic ratio of positive to negative interactions that results in happy, healthy relationships. The Magic Ratio is based on work from Dr. John Gottman, an expert on communication in marriage.

While this discussion is grounded in the context of happy, healthy relationships in marriage, the lessons and tips discussed here can be applied in business relationships, friendships, teams, with our customers, and other organizations and situations where interactions with people are involved. In fact, it was in a business leadership training where Jerry first learned about the Magic Ratio.

Do you want a marriage that lasts a lifetime? Do you want employees who love working for you no matter what? Do you want customers who will not only come back again and again but also work for you as a free, never-ending, marketing campaign? This is the episode you don’t want to miss.

Links and Resources

Buy Dr. John Gottman’s book from Amazon, Why Marriages Succeed or Fail: And How You Can Make Yours Last

The Scientific Basis for The Orcas Island Couples’ Retreat: Divorce Predictors

A Fine Balance: The Magic Relationship to a Healthy Marriage by Dr. Shruti Poulsen

The Positive Perspective: Dr. Gottman’s Magic Ratio by Ellie Lisitsa

Attend a Weekend to Remember Marriage Conference near you. Use Group Name “BeyondTheRut” and save up to $100 off the couple registration.

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Let’s say that you want to buy an HTC One (M8) but you aren’t too keen on the device’s standard silver or grey — well, it looks like you’re going to get another option. @evleaks has just posted a press render of a blue version of HTC’s latest flagship smartphone and as you can see, the device looks pretty sweet with an aqua blue tint.We have no idea when the blue version of the HTC One (M8) will release but @evleaks doesn’t typically acquire press renders unless a device’s launch is imminent, which suggests HTC will release it sooner rather than later.

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