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Icopal T.P.I. Insulation Adhesive

Icopal T.P.I. Insulation Adhesive

Icopal TPI Insulation Adhesive-01Icopal T.P.I. Insulation Adhesive is a foaming two-part rapid curing polyurethane adhesive. The adhesive contains no volatile solvents. It is supplied in a 1500 millilitre twin cartridge and is applied using a battery powered applicator gun. The product is packaged 4 cartridges per box, together with 6 mixer tubes.

The adhesive is manufactured from bio-renewable materials and is VOC and odour free, making it the ideal product for sensitive areas of application where health and safety is of the utmost importance to the client. It is also an ideal adhesive for swift application as the product is rapid curing, and can secure materials in as little as 10 to 15 minutes from application.

Intended Use

Icopal T.P.I. Insulation Adhesive is intended for use as an adhesive to bond a range of warm roof thermal insulations boards to various compatible substrates.

The adhesive forms a strong, permanent bond with excellent adhesion and flexibility even at low temperatures. Icopal T.P.I. Insulation Adhesive was developed with the purpose of allowing for simple, uniform and accurate application on-site whilst remaining both as environmentally and health and safety friendly as possible.

Features and Benefits

  • Propellant-free packaging, simple disposal
  • Consistent mixing through static mixer nozzle
  • No release of volatile solvents to the atmosphere
  • Foaming adhesive for uneven substrates
  • Cold applied, easy application
  • Polymeric, remains flexible with strong permanent bond
  • Boards secured within 10 minutes..

Application Benefits

Icopal T.P.I. Insulation Adhesive is applied using a powered mixing applicator gun, allowing for easy, precise and rapid installation. The mixing element ensures the two components are thoroughly mixed, removing the possibility of human error and ensures the correct bead size is applied to the substrate.

The adhesive is rapid curing in 10 minutes and provides quick installation of insulation boards. This allows insulation boards to be secured and ready for waterproofing systems to be subsequently applied with minimal delay.

The foam is of low density and ensures boards are not lifted when the foaming reaction begins. And spreads horizontally to compensate for any undulations of the substrate.

Product Availability

Product Code Description Size Unit of Sale
3102852 Icopal T.P.I. Insulation Adhesive 1.5 L Each
3103023 Icopal TP Applicator Gun Kit  -

Product Data and Performance

Product Data
Size: 1500 ml
Coverage per 1500 ml: @300 mm ctrs: 14 m²
@200 mm ctrs: 9 m²
Chemical Base: Polyurethane
Solvents: None
Flammability: Non-flammable
Colour: Part A: Blue; Part B: Yellow;
Mixed: Green
Application Temperature: 0 °C to 30 °C

Icopal T.P.I. Insulation Adhesive is compatible with a range of absorbent and non-absorbent insulation boards to a variety of substrate types. It can bond the following insulation types:

Tissue and foil faced PIR insulations boards, expanded polystyrene (EPS), bitumen faced insulation boards, extruded polystyrene (XPS), cellular glass insulation boards, cork insulation boards.

Compatible substrates include: plywood/OSB, concrete, metal decks, existing aged bitumen roof coverings, mastic asphalt (sand rubbed) and mineral surfaced bitumen roofing and bituminous vapour control layers.

For other materials not listed above, it will be necessary to carry out preliminary adhesion tests and observe insulation manufacturer’s instructions..

Surface Preparation

Ensure the substrate is structurally sound and free of surface laitance, oils, grease, dirt, frost, moss, lichen, loose material and any material which would hinder adhesion. Ensure the substrate is dry and free of standing water.

Set-up Procedure

  • Unscrew the plastic cover from the cartridge head and remove the red insert -- - If you plan on reusing the cartridge, clean the tips to prevent cross contamination when reinserting into the cartridge head.
  • Screw on the plastic mixer tube, ensuring it is tightly secured.
  • Place the cartridge in to the applicator gun.
  • Dispense a small amount of adhesive until a consistent green colour is achieved.

  • Apply the adhesive in parallel beads 6 to 12mm in size. Beads should be at 200 mm centres for roof perimeters and critical areas, and 300 mm centres for normal roof exposures, or in compliance with specific wind uplift calculations for the project in question.
  • The insulation boards should be placed immediately into the wet adhesive. The boards will be bonded within 10 minutes, and installation of the waterproofing can continue.

Important Note: If the mixed adhesive is left standing in the plastic mixer tube for more than 20 seconds it will thicken and a new mixer tube will be required.

Please read through the product material safety datasheet prior to use.

    Contact Icopal 0161 8654444

    Find Local Support

    To discuss your project in more detail please contact
    Your Local Area Manager

    Technical Support

    0330 123 4585

    Email: technical.uk@bmigroup.com

    Sales Enquiries & Orders

    0843 224 7400

    0843 224 7401

    Email: sales.admin@bmigroup.com

    This site uses cookies in accordance with our Website Privacy Policy. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies. To browse without the use of cookies, you can opt-out as explained in our Website Privacy Policy or adjust your cookie settings for your browser

    Icopal: We Protect Your Building


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Exclusive adidas stellasport tank top h1d6x

£44.88  £27.88

  • Model: uk3313
RSS Product Feed :: Exclusive adidas stellasport tank top h1d6x

Please Choose:

Add to Cart:

Product Details

Get the perfect training companion with this women's Stellasport Tank Top from adidas. Designed in collaboration with Stella McCartney, her signature flair shows itself with this tank that comes in a blue and green colourway. When you are in the middle of a tough session you want to focus on your workout, so with the climalite fabric sweeping away sweat from your skin you can stay comfortable and cool. A high neckline plus close-set racer-back straps ensure a secure fit when on the go. This tank top is perfect for the style conscious fitness fanatic.

Care & Material

82% Polyester /18% Elastane Doubleknit

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advance CVS/pharmacy ads and deals!
everything you need to get the best deals at cvs

coupons being emailed to some cvs cardholders 02/26

many of those who have tried to use these coupons have reported beeping. (even if the coupon was received in their email!)

coupon links

♥ $2 off Playskool wipes, exp 03/01/09

♥ $1.50 off colgate total + toothbrush pack, exp 03/01/09

♥ $3 off be fine food skin care, exp 03/01/09

♥ $2 off aveeno lotion, exp 03/01/09

♥ $1 off 2 nivea lip care, exp 03/01/09
-$1 Nivea Lip Care Product, 17oz stick or .35 oz tube V 2/8/09

♥ $5 off $30, exp 03/01/09

♥ $4 off $20, exp 03/01/09

♥ $3 off $15, exp 03/01/09

anyone get anything else in their email this week?

my standard disclaimer:
the coupons for specific items (like the black rice and l'oreal) have been working for anyone in the past. the $/$$ coupons ($5 off $30, etc.) will beep "not for card" if they were not emailed to you. (but then again the $/$$ have a tendency to beep "not for card" even if they were emailed to you, because cvs has not perfected their system.)

via slickdeals

iheartcvs.com welcomes participation from readers!
please keep the following guidelines in mind when commenting...
1. no personal attacks or insults.
2. no advocating coupon fraud.
thank you! erica


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WATCH: Shawn Mendes Performs At UK Summertime Ball

Shawn Mendes wowed 80,000 fans during his performances at this year’s Summertime Ball at Wembley Stadium in England on Saturday.

The Canadian pop singer performed a mashup of Kings Of Leon’s “Use Somebody” that he turned into “Treat You Better,” followed by 2015’s “Stitches” and his latest single, “Mercy.”

Other performers on the roster for the event included Camila Cabello, Rita Ora, Charlie Puth, Jess Glynne, Craig David, Anne-Marie, Sean Paul, James Arthur, Jax Jones, G-Eazy and more.

Watch Mendes’ performances below:


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Did Ariana Grande Just Confirm Her Engagement to Pete Davidson?!

Photo via @FrankieJGrande on Instagram

Okay rumours about Ariana Grande and her new beau Pete Davidson being engaged have been circling ALL DAY and I have refused to talk about it, because I was like "there's no way".

I guess multiple sources say Grande and Davidson have been attending events together and telling people that they're engaged.

Since news broke, it's been BLOWING up all over social media, and Ari just responded, by tweeting this:

Soooo...... It's true?!?! Is it!?!?

People also did some digging and realized she HAD been sporting a huge ring on THAT FINGER lately.

What do you think?

Are they truly engaged after a month of dating?

Or is it just a prank?

Let me know!

xo Han


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Travel Distance 15 miles
Claremont , New Hampshire
( 03743 )
"Experienced Education Paraprofessional"

Hello :) I have been working in the elementary school system for about 5 years ranging from preschool to fourth grade. I have worked as a one on one aid, substitute, and a preschool paraprofessional. I currently have my associate's degree and am continuing on for my bachelor's degree in elementary education. I love the feeling of knowing that I have taught a child something that will impact them for the rest of their lives! I have coached youth sports for about 3 years. I am a very motivated,... ... More

Offering 2 subjects
Including : grammar reading
Travel Distance 30 miles
Cornish , New Hampshire
( 03745 )
"Elementary Education Tutor"

Hi, I am a certified Elementary Education Teacher. I have just returned to the states after teaching for two and a half years in South Korea. I believe in a differentiated instructional approach to teaching, as all people learn and retain information differently. I am willing to work with you and your son/daughter to develop the best instructional methods possible for your child's success. ... ... More

Offering 0 subjects
Including :
( 0.022 s | url 0.001 s )

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Starting your own immigration business

Congratulations! You completed your training program, passed the language test, passed the ICCRC full skills exam and you are ready to start your immigration business. Now what?

  • Where do I start?
  • Do I start alone or should I look for a partner?
  • Should I quit my present job and solely rely on my immigration business?
  • Can I do immigration as a part time job in addition to my full time job?
  • Do I need an office or I can work from home?
  • Should I rent and office on my own or I should share it with one or more people?
  • Do I have to register my business?
  • How do I choose name for  my business?
  • How do I register my business name?
  • Can I register my business name myself or I have to pay someone to do it for me?
  • Should I incorporate my business?
  • Should I work as as a sole proprietor? Partnership?
  • What are the tax and practical consequences of that decision?
  • Where and how do I open company (business account)?
  • Where and how do I open clients' account?
  • How do I find clients?
  • How will clients pay me?
  • What office supplies and equipment do I need?
  • What software do I have to have?
  • Do I need a web site?
  • What kind of web site do I need (static html site or dynamic data base driven web site)?
  • How do I choose a web host for my web site?
  • How do I register domain name for my business?
  • Do I need both paper and electronic business card?
  • Can I make a web site myself or I have to pay a (semi)professional to do it for me?
  • How do I establish web presence?
  • How do I advertise my services?
  • How do I advertise for free or low-cost?
  • How much do I charge for my services to be competitive?
  • Should I advertise locally and/or globally?
  • What is the best place to advertise on the Internet?
  • How to use social media to benefit my business?
  • Should I specialize in one area of Canadian immigration?
  • How do I stand out among over 2000 ICCRC registered immigration consultants?
  • Should I focus on IRB related work as the principal source of business?
  • How do I choose which CPD workshops and seminars to attend?
  • How do I make sure I meet all ICCRC requirements?
  • How do I meet Canada Revenue Agency requirements regarding business records?
  • What kind of client filing system should I use?
  • How do I keep record of all my business income, expenses and assets?
  • What are eligible business expenses (which can be deducted from your business income)?
  • What are the basic templates and forms I have to have for my business?
  • How do I choose e-mail address for myself and my business?

We can answer all these and any other questions that you may have of your own.

We charge only $1500CAD (tax included) for 5 hours (in one hour blocks - one hour at a time) of Skype or telephone mentoring. We accept Bitcoin payments.

Why is it only $1500?

Yes, you may say after all those expenses you had just to get ICCRC licence do you really have to pay another two thousand to start your business?

Think about it as an investment: if you do things right from the day one chances are you will save much, much more. Fist year in business is very tough, many new consultants give up on their dream of self-employment during those first 12-24 months. By having right information your chances of succeeding through that difficult period are much better than if you learn through trial and error.

Chances are you have spent around $10000 for training program and other expenses including expenses for ICCRC membership. If you fail you will lose not only your dream but also those ten thousand dollars.

Remember: if you get only one or two extra client because of the advice you get from us those two thousand dollars will be paid back!

When, for example, we tell you how you can put together a web site on your own, which is reliable and presentable, you won't have to pay those two thousand dollars to a (semi)professional to make a web site for your business.

If we give you right advice regarding office rental you may save those two thousand dollars within a couple of months.

Self-employment comes with many expenses and income is not guaranteed, of course, especially in the beginning. What is important in the beginning is to reduce all unnecessary costs and maximize chances of earning income from business. We think we can help you with both.

We will be giving you practical advice and information (unlike many instructors in the immigration training program you took); that means you will get exact information, web site addresses, step-by-step instructions how to do something.

Immigration consultant behind this web site went through this initial stage of establishing immigration business himself and after 3 years came to a point where he has more business than he can handle in a "normal" working day.

If interested please send us an e-mail.


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APM Realty NY Inc. (Edit)

Write a Review
4 Stars / 1 Review
Street: 2 SKILLMAN ST #216 (Edit)
City: BROOKLYN (Edit)
State: NEW YORK (Edit)
Zip: 11205 (Edit)
Web: www.apmrentalpropertymanagement.com (Edit)
Phone: (803) 750-0071 (Edit)

APM Realty NY Inc. Status Information

Current Entity Name:APM Realty NY Inc.
DOS ID #:3714112
Initial DOS Filing Date:2008-08-27
Jurisdiction:New York
Current Entity Status:Active

Chairman or Chief Executive Officer

Joel Karpen
2 Skillman Street

Principal Executive Office

Apm Realty Ny Inc.
2 Skillman Street

Name History

Filing Date2008-08-27
Name TypeActual
Entity NameAPM Realty NY Inc.

Stock Information

# of Shares200
Type of StockNo Par Value
$ Value per Share

Additional Information

APM Realty Group is a full service real estate company.

APM Realty NY Inc. Reviews

maxnorilij June 6, 2013

APM Realty Group is a very customer friendly company that has been in existence since year 2004.

Write a Review

Recently Updated | Updated Contact Information


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We Ship to all countries. Only Wholesale.

Are you Looking for Cz Jewelry or American Diamond Jewellery (AD Jewellery) in Bulk?

We are Manufactrers and Exporters of American Diamond Jewellery, based in West Bengal, the manufacturing hub of AD Jewellery in India. You are cordially invited to visit our Factory and Office.

Please note that we do not upload all our best Designs in the website. Customers with bulk requirement can avail the facilty of seeing these latest Designs through Video Call. Whatsapp us at +91943411777 if you have a Bulk Requirement.

Website Design Changes.

We are pleased to let you let you know that we have re-designed our entire website to give our B2B customers a better experience.

        Previous Design                              New Design w.e.f 7th June 17

Please send us your reviews on the new design. Incase you need any help we are just a call away. Whatsapp us at any of the following numbers and we shall get back to you at the earliest.  Mobile: +919434117777     /    +91-8967055887.

Note: To recive updates of our Newly Launched Jewellery Collections, please add the following number to your Whastapp and send us a message.

Broadcast Whatsapp number :+91-8967055887

Find us in Google Maps.

Check our Reviews in Google.
The best way to judge a supplier of fashion jewellery is to check what opinion, its existing and past customers have about the supplier.
Google Maps Location of www.indian-jewellery.com

Know about our Fashion Jewelry

What is Cz / AD Jewellery?
The best form of Fashion Jewelry available in the market is Cubic Zirconia Jewelry which is also known as American Diamond, AD Jewellery or  Rhinestone Jewelry.
It is a type of Imitation or Fashion Jewelry that is made with Lab Created gemstones called Cubic Zirconia. They are made in the exact way with which real diamond jewellery are made in India.
Note in these kind of Jewelry the stones are not glued like as in other cheap imitation jewellery. Infact each tiny stone is set in with  'prong setting' as seen in real diamond jewellery.
Cubic Zirconia are man made gemstones ( available in various sizes) which are used in the production of Jewellery....

8 Things you may not know about our Cubic Zirconia Fashion Jewelry.
1)  90% of Cz Jewellery in India  is made by ‘Bengali’ Craftsmen, situated in the Districts of Howrah, Hoogly, Burdwan, Midnapore etc, in the state of West Bengal.
2)  The Wholesale market of AD Jewellery is in Mumbai and Jaipur, while the Manufacturing hub is West Bengal. Wholesalers based in Mumbai, Jaipur, Chennai etc source this Jewellery fom Manufacturers in  West Bengal ...

About West Bengal’s Jewellery and its Craftsmen:
INDIAN FASHIONS  is Located in the state of West Bengal, in India. West Bengal has a very important role in the International Jewellery Industry.
The Jewellery Craftsmen of Bengal are famous for their Jewellery making skills since Centuries.
Whether you see a stunning Diamond Necklaces in a New York Diamond Store or loads of Gold Jewellery in Saudi Arabia......

Where are Cz Jewelry Manufacturers located in India?
95% of India’s Cz Jewellery are made by Bengali Craftsmen, situated in the Districts of Howrah, Hoogly, Burdwan, Midnapore etc.
The remaining 20% are made in South India, Mumbai, Jaipur etc. However, even in these places....

Why CZ / AD Jewelry?

Cubic Zirconia or AD Jewellery is a preferred choice for the elite ladies who love to look Classy. The demand for this kind of jewelry is 5 times more than Polki and  Kundan Jewelry  combined.
Since Cz Jewelry uses Diamond Setting technique for setting each of the stones, they are not prone to ‘Damage in Transit’.
To explain this let us make one fact clear. In Cz Jewelry Stones are not ‘stuck’ with adhesives as they are done in Polki or Kundan Jewelry....

How is Cubic Zirconia Jewelry different from American Diamond or AD Jewellery?
Cubic Zirconia and American Diamond is technically the same thing. Why they are called American Diamonds is an interesting story.
Initially, a few decades ago, USA developed the technology to make these stones and its production was restricted to USA.
But later China also developed this technology and .....

See how we make our Jewelry.

You are cordially invited!!

Get your own Website with all our Jewelry Collection

Are you planning to start a Fashion Jewelry Business? Do you want to create an online fashion jewelry store or are you trying to sell through Facebook and Whatsapp?

If your answer is 'yes' then you will probabbly find this article very useful. Let us help you to find a solution to successful online selling. Let us explain how a website is very important for online sellers and how it helps to build a confidence with your buyers.  In this article we will also explain how we can design a website for you with all our inventory.

When an end customer decides to purchase American Diamond Jewelry or any other form of Imitation or Fashion Jewelry the first thing that she is concerned about is the quailty of the Jewelry. Customers tend to buy from Organised sellers and this is where a website seems indispensable. Secondly, in the Fashion Jewelry industry, end customer wants to see a fairly good variety before she decides what to buy.

While most Online Sellers and Offline Store owners purchase goods between 500 to 5000 USD, this often not enough for the end customers as they have a thirst for seeing much more before they can place an Order.

To solve this problem, we can design a website for you with all our Jewelry comprising of American Diamond / Cz Jewellery, Polki Jewellery, Kundan Jewellery and other forms of Imitation Designer Jewellery which are made in India. You can show the website to your customers and get much more orders and can thus increase your business. And yes , you do not need to keep a stock of these items !!

The whole program is very interesting and we have listed the features and highlights as follows:

Salient features of the website:

The website will contain almost 8000 products. You may of course choose which categories to display in your site.

We will regularly upload new designs in your site and delete the ones which are out of stock.

Whatever designs are there in your site will be available in stock.

You can set your profit margins seperately for each type of Jewellery. We have no restrictions and no MRPs.

You can change Layout and design of the site. It is very simple and does not need any professional training.

You can accept payments from customers via PayPal, Credit card and Debit cards.

There will be 'Log in' and 'Register' section in your site.

The ownership of the website domain name will be yours.

Your website is in no way similar to ours, which means your customers will never know that we are connected.

You will have full access to the Control panel and Admin panel of your site.

You can create as many email id of your website as you want. Such as  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

What this will mean for your business!

This will actually mean that you have to take care only about promoting the website and all other work will be done by us…so we actually work as your back office.
We can provide you ‘drop shipping’ on behalf of your company name. This means if a customer orders from your site then you may ask us to ship the goods directly to the customer with your name (our name will not be reflected in the courier receipt). You ay also ask us to ship them directly to you (whichever option is easy and convenient for you).
You do not need to invest on goods, once you collect order from your customer you place the same on our website, and its done!
The cost of this is unexpectedly low !!   If you are interested then please email us This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and we shall get back to you will full details. Alternately you may Whatsapp us at +91-8967055887 for details.


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Faced with increasing instances of cross-border smuggling and to check unauthorised movement across the border fence, the Border Security Force (BSF) is introducing face recognition-based access-control system at gates through which farmers move to till their land.

As a pilot project, one such system is being installed at a border post to monitor and regulate movement.

During a visit to Amritsar, BSF Director General KK Sharma said Pakistani smugglers were trying to push in more contraband into India and that seizures by the BSF had gone up in the recent past. Connivance of some border residents, including those who cross the fence for farming, is a known fact.

According to BSF sources, the face reader, with ruggedised hardware, should be fixable on a fencing gate, naka or observation post.

The system, having a storage capacity of at least one lakh entries, will have a camera with infrared source for low-light conditions, that will be linked to a laptop and handheld tablets.

“The system will also have information about unwanted persons such as known smugglers, criminals or blacklisted persons and generate a different alarm for them on recognition,” an officer said. “Additionally, the system will be able to register additional information in respect of farmers like vehicle, animal, farming tools, farm products and personal belonging, besides keeping a record of other persons such as helpers or labourers accompanying registered farmers by taking their photograph,” he added.


text:
Get 65% Discount on Preventive Health Checkup
Career in India

Music Colleges of Delhi

Following are the Music colleges and institutes in Delhi
List displays all Music colleges in Delhi with the degree offered by them. Eligibility criteria and course duration is also mentioned.
Degree / CourseCollege / InstituteStateEligibilityCourse Duration
MusicShriram Bhartiya Kala Kendra , College of Music &Dance,New Delhi-110001Delhi
MusicUniversity of Delhi,Delhi-110007Delhi

Please note that the list of Music colleges in Delhi above is correct from our best knowledge. If you see any error in Music degree or the address of the Music college or institute, please do let us know. This list is provided only for personal use.

Career in India | Jobs in India
© All Rights Reserved, | partners | Sitemap


text:
Get 65% Discount on Preventive Health Checkup
Career in India

Home Science Colleges in Ahmedabad

Following are the list of Home Science colleges in Ahmedabad.
Degree / CourseCollege / InstituteStateEligibilityCourse Duration
B.Sc. Home ScienceB.D. College, Sankdi Sheri, AhmedabadGujaratHSSLC (10 + 2) Science3 years
M.Sc Home ScienceB.D. College (Gujarat University), Sankdisheri, AhmedabadGujaratB.Sc. Home Science 2 years

Career in India | Jobs in India
© All Rights Reserved, | partners | Sitemap


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Acquisition: TBH

Facebook has announced that it is acquiring Indicator Ventures portfolio company, TBH, short for “to be honest”. Facebook expressed its excitement following the acquisition in a statement highlighting TBH and Facebook’s aligned incentives: “TBH and Facebook share a common goal of building community and enabling people to share in ways that bring us closer together. We’re impressed by the way TBH is doing this by using polling and messaging, and with Facebook’s resources TBH can continue to expand and build positive experiences”. Facebook will allow TBH to operate independently as it has done with Instagram and WhatsApp. TBH’s four co-creators will join Facebook’s Menlo Park headquarters while continuing to grow their product and user base.

Nikita Bier, Founder & CEO of TBH, had some nice things to say after the announcement: “Indicator was a fundamental part of our story and stuck with us through thick-and-thin. It’s been a long time in the making but it made it all the more rewarding”.

To date, TBH has scored 5 million downloads and 4 million daily active users with its app that lets people anonymously answer kind-hearted multiple choice questions about friends who then receive the poll results as compliments. Users have answered over 1 billion polls since the app’s limited U.S. launch in August.

We want to congratulate Nikita and the rest of the TBH team for all of their hard work, dedication, and for sticking with it through various product iterations and pivots. Their work has clearly paid off, and we wish them continued success in their next journey with Facebook.

To learn more, click here.


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Friday, 29 April 2016

InSomnia RPG

SAMARA, Russia – April 27, 2016 - Today InSomnia, a dystopian dieselpunk RPG, from indie developer Studio MONO, has returned to Kickstarter to secure the funds required to complete the game.

"It was no easy decision to return to Kickstarter. After evaluating the progress made on the project, thanks to the funds from our previous Kickstarter campaign and the over £100,000 we've spent out of our own pockets, we've got to a point where we need additional funding.  The money's for one final push to take the game past the current Prologue Chapter we have released to the public." said Anatoliy Guyduk, lead developer at Studio MONO.

"We switched from Ogre 3D to UE4, and are thrilled with the improvements in both the visuals and the performance of the game. The Prologue Chapter, which is up to four hours long -  depending on how much you explore and do, will show you how passionate we all are for InSomnia. We hope that you'll support us in our dieselpunk inspired journey, one last time!"

InSomnia is dystopian vision, set in a murky, retro-futuristic style. The game takes place on a colossal, semi-deserted interplanetary space station. Having left their dying planet behind, this space metropolis, along with its inhabitants, has been moving towards the distant, ghost-like Evacuation Point for the past 400 years, where the descendants of the once great people hope to start over the history of mankind.

Game Features
•Multi-layered role playing game
•Dark retro-futuristic setting
•Hardcore gameplay
•Non-linear story
•Colossal space metropolis to explore
•Realistic combat system
•Generated quests and events
•Atmospheric ambient soundtrack

Prologue Chapter Download** (Win, Mac and Linux):

About Studio Mono
Studio MONO was founded in Samara, Russia in 2011 by Anatoliy Guyduk. With a core development team, they’re joined by freelance individuals from all over the world – including Malaysia, the U.S., Russia, the Netherlands and Ukraine – Studio MONO is a talented group of professionals who have been active in the world of game design for many years.

Indie Game Windows Themes

Getting a bit tired of the way my Windows desktop looks?  Want to find something a little more unique and in line with your interests?  If you are the sort of person who finds themselves changing wallpapers constantly but not really finding anything you might want to consider downloading Windows 10 Themes for you PC to liven up the desktop , perhaps including and I stumbled across an Indie Game Windows Theme for Windows 7, 8 and 10.

It featurs popular titles like Minecraft, FTL, Limbo, Super Meat Boy, Spelunky, World of Goo and many more well known indie-hits over the years. They are pretty much just several images making a slideshow of sorts with a change in color scheme. Fits right at home for themes that don't change too much of your desktop but still give it a good refreshing look for the Windows operating system.

The site is loaded with Windows 7, 8 and 10 themes from various categories including game and movie related Windows 10 themes for free download.  I'll try to get he site's creator to add some more indie game related themes soon!

Tadpole Treble

BATON ROUGE, May 6th -- It's time to the face the music! In Tadpole Treble, you swim through the actual sheet music of the game's songs. Avoid the notes, hit the beats, and guide a young tadpole through varied stages in a melodic quest to get home!

The adventure introduces a unique, appealing song for every stage, showdowns against intimidating boss creatures, rhythmic elements to master, and plenty of rewards for seasoned players. Doing well in the stages unlocks bonus features such as a Music Player, a detailed Bestiary, and the ultimate endurance test in Concerto Mode, where you have a single life to play through the game.

Younger pollywogs will get a kick out of the catchy music and abundance of fun surprises in the main game, while expert toads will enjoy competing for the top (and bottom) scores in the online leaderboards. And creative croakers of all ages will love our Composition Mode, where you can create your own song using dozens of different tools...and then play through your masterpiece with Baton, or share them online via QR codes!

Webcomic artist Matthew Taranto, his brother Michael and the whole team at BitFinity are happy to present Tadpole Treble--an aquatic, melodic adventure for all ages. Between the main adventure, the unlockables, the leaderboards and the robust stage editor, Tadpole Treble is sure to keep even the toughest players busy. Dive on in and enjoy this musical odyssey!

PC, Mac and Linux
Price: $9.99
Genre: Music

Matthew Taranto doodled a lot during art history classes in college, which led to him creating the good-natured and popular gaming parody webcomic, "Brawl in the Family" in 2008. The comic ran successfully for six years, including a pair of Kickstarter projects leading to a trio of print books. He's also been a writer and comic artist for NF Magazine since its inception in 2013, and is currently working on the soundtracks for three separate companies' games. A professional singer and pianist, Matthew provides the art, music, and general game design of Tadpole Treble.

Michael Taranto, being the older brother, is tasked with managing BitFinity's resources and making sure Matthew gets his work done on time. In addition, he tackles the level design, sound effects, and many of the PR duties. Like Matthew, Michael is a professional singer and often fights his brother for solos.

Tuesday, 26 April 2016

Little Johnny's Revenge

If you're a fan of Family Guy / American Dad / South Park then this point and click adventure game seeking Kickstarting might be up your street.

Check out the Kickstarter Campaign Page for more info, and a playable demo for PC, Mac, Linux and Android.  Little Johnny's Revenge full release will be available for Windows, Mac, Linux, Android and iOS. Win, Mac, Linux and Android version will be released first, with iOS following.

Interestingly the dev is also making the game engine he's been developing for 4 years to make this game freely available too - the Bladecoder Adventure Engine.  Will be interesting to see how that pans out too.

Indie Game "This War of Mine" Film Adaptation

Critically Acclaimed Game ‘This War of Mine’ gets Independent Adaption
‘Dogs’ Short Film Shines Light on the Ugly Side of War: Survival

Vancouver, CA: Marco Bossow is an independent filmmaker from Hamburg with a vision: to adapt the 11bit Studios game ‘This War of Mine’ into a compelling film that opens audience’s eyes to the difficult decisions civilians in war-torn areas are faced with every day.
‘Dogs’ features Artyom, played by Justin Turnbull (iZombie, Motive), a young man forced to leave his makeshift shelter in order to find desperately needed medical supplies to save his wounded brother.  Along the way, he encounters kind-hearted strangers and opportunistic marauders, and learns that there are no right choices in war - only survival.

“Playing ‘This War of Mine’ was a gut-wrenching experience which still haunts me,” says Bossow, the writer/director of ‘Dogs’.  “I want to trigger an emotional response within the audience that will motivate them to think about the conflicts that are going on in the world, and build sympathy for the suffering they experience.”  Marco even consulted with a survivor of the Bosnian War to keep the story authentic.

The teaser has already been filmed, which you can watch on their website (, but Marco and his team at Transmute Pictures need to raise the funds to cover costs like production design, insurance, among other production expenses. “’Dogs’ is an ambitious project,” says producer/actor Larissa Thompson, “we have lots of stunts, special effects make-up, and a war-torn world to build in Vancouver.” The team needs $25,000 to build this world, and have decided to raise the funds through Kickstarter (
("This War Is Mine" came 6th in the IndieDB "Indie Game of the Year 2014" awards.)

Demetrios release date announced

Comedy point and click adventure game Demetrios will be released on 31st May 2016.  Check out the Official Website for the latest news.

Previous posts about Demetrios:

Monday, 25 April 2016

"The Mind's Eclipse" - visual novel with uncompromising cyberpunk setting and stark visual style

Set in a bleak, dystopian future where mankind has embraced transhumanism, the game follows a father who awakens to a fallen utopia and must try to find his loved ones. With a gritty film noir aesthetic and an engaging cyberpunk theme, the game has an art style that stands out in the visual novel space which is typically dominated by Japanese anime styled games.

The Mind’s Eclipse calls itself a visual novel, but it looks to distinguish itself in the genre by providing an experience unlike typical visual novels. There are no romance options or dating minigames to be found here.

Instead, the game promises a mature discussion of sociological and psychological themes related to transhumanism, wrapped in an exciting, mind-bending science fiction tale. The game also features discovering and using items to overcome obstacles and progress the story, adding a level of interactivity not commonly found in the genre.

  • Beautiful hand drawn scenes and environments!
  • Navigate the ruins of a fallen utopia!
  • Every environment is interactive!
  • Discover messages and journal entries to help uncover the mysteries of the Eclipse!
  • Find and use items to overcome obstacles and unlock new areas!
  • Befriend the playful and mysterious AI known as L!
  • Intense, narrative driven gameplay!

Tuesday, 19 April 2016

The dark Tormentum reached mobile platforms with iOS and Android

WARSAW, Poland – April 19, 2016 – After a successful debut on PC, a gloomy point’n’click adventure game - Tormentum - Dark Sorrow – has just appeared on mobile platforms with iOS and Android. Gloom, surrealism, unsettling music – this is how we can briefly describe the most mature work of the independent OhNoo studio.

The production is distinguished, mainly due to its gloomy, artistic graphic design, for which it has been appreciated and rewarded many times up until now. The mysterious world we reach will attract our attention from the start with its intense, surreal atmosphere, evocative of the paintings by H. R. Giger or Beksiński. As a result, we are faced with a raw and dark world full of strange buildings and creatures, taken straight from the nightmares.

In this game, we act as a nameless hero, who wakes up one day, locked in a metal cage fixed with a chain to an enormous flying machine. The hero is transported along with another convict, a humanoid rat, to a castle, where he is supposed to serve time for his deeds. However, we don’t know what exactly these deeds were, because the hero has lost his memory. The only vague memory he has, is a blurred vision of a statue – a woman flanked with stone hands. This is how the long journey through the hostile world of Tormentum begins.

In order, to discover the truth about himself, the hero must explore 3 countries, made up of nearly 80 bleak locations. The atmosphere is perfectly complemented by gloomy and heavy music.

It is also worth adding that in Tormentum, the player’s conscience will be subject to numerous challenges, due to moral choices that will affect the end of the game. During our adventure, we will have to make decisions concerning the life or death of the creatures we meet.

Tormentum is out now through App Store and Google PlayStore with the promotional price 30% off for the limited time only. The regular price will be $6,99.

OhNoo Studio is a small design studio whose ambition is to leave a lasting trace, in the world of electronic entertainment. The Studio was established in 2013 and operates in Poland. At the moment, together with the animator, Alek Wasilewski, the studio is working on a stop motion adventure game titled Tsioque, for which a subsidy from players was obtained in 2015, through the Kickstarter website.

Friday, 8 April 2016

Adventure Game Fan?

Head over to our sister blog, PC Game Reviews and News, to vote in our poll for your favourite game released by Wadjet Eye Games - a difficult pick as they've published so many great #pointandclick adventure games!  As of this post Primordia is narrowly in the lead with Blackwell Epiphany second and Gemini Rue third, 14 games in total to choose from and 8 of them have received one or more votes from twenty votes so far.

Launching on April 14th: Defeat monsters and acquire knowledge in DUNGENIOUS

Test your knowledge (and your might!) in DUNGENIOUS, an “ingenious” turn-based dungeon crawler that mixes RPG mechanics with flashcards containing real-world facts and stats.

Created by Austrian dev Noizoo Games, Dungenious is packed with 50 different topics built right into the game. You’ll get a wide selection of subjects from geography, mathematics, music, art, languages, and much more. If none of the built-in topics interest you, visit Quizlet to create your own flashcards. Just load them into the game and you’ll have your very own custom quiz :)

Attack a Red Book Maki and gain new knowledge that you will use as your weapon against the dungeon’s monsters. Sleepy Wooden Deer awake when you cross their path; Piranha Rats move fast and gnaw away at the letters in a quiz; Jelly Ghosts are unaffected by obstacles and can walk through walls; and the Greedy Monkey will rotate your quiz answers to confuse you -- stealing your skills if you take a hit!

To progress, you must answer the quizzes correctly. The right answer will allow your character to land an attack; getting it wrong will leave you open for a counter. Collect “Genius Points” as you defeat monsters to deploy spells -- such as the Ring of Fire, a burning ring that sets enemies alight and clears the path ahead. Opening chests gets you a different kind of quiz: you now have three answers on the left and three questions on the right. Can you match them? If you do, you’ll unlock new powers and upgrade your abilities to take on the game’s heavy-hitting bosses -- such as the massive Slimy Slug or the fearsome Stack Rats :)

-- Experience a mix of flashcards and an engaging turn-based dungeon crawler
-- Upgrade your hero with powerful skills
-- Discover each enemy’s strengths & weaknesses
-- Learn with 50 built-in topics
-- Create your own quizzes with Quizlet
-- Replay your weakest questions to optimize learning

Dungenious will be available for iOS and Android on Thursday, April 14th for $2.99.

Thursday, 7 April 2016

Fancy a slice of Galactic Pizza?

Orme Studio recently released Galactic Pizza for Android, PC and Linux.

Galactic Pizza is an arcade puzzle game that takes you on a journey to a galaxy not so far away. You play as an intergalactic pizza boy whose pizzas have been stolen by a band of hungry aliens.

In this game, you must make your way through the aliens hideout and get back all your precious pizzas slices. But be careful, these hideouts are filled with tricky puzzles and dangerous aliens.

Wednesday, 6 April 2016

Indie Game Awards Finalists Announced by MomoCon

ATLANTA - April 6, 2016 - After more than a hundred submissions, twenty indie games have been named finalists for the second annual MomoCon Indie Game Award Showcase. Each of the twenty titles will be playable in the Indie Game Area at MomoCon 2016, taking place Thursday - Sunday, May 26 - 29, 2016 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta.
These twenty games illustrate the innovation and passion indie games represents:
Five winning entries will be announced in an awards ceremony on Saturday, May 28,2016.  Developers of those titles will receive:
  • $1000 Prize
  • 10 x 20 Exhibit Space at MomoCon 2017
  • Dedicated Panel at MomoCon 2017
  • Highlighted placement in a MomoCon newsletter going to tens of thousands of gamers
  • Glass Trophy
XSplit will continue their longstanding support of indie games and developers by having a small panel of content creators from the XSplit Elite program select their favorite game from the MomoCon Indie Awards Finalists. The developer of that title will receive $2000 USD and an Indie[dot]XSplit Award.
In addition to these twenty titles, MomoCon will showc ase three indie games developed in the state of Georgia and provide a $1000 cash prize to the developer of the judges' favorite game.
"The vast number of amazing indie games submitted to this year's award program made selecting twenty finalists exceedingly difficult," said Chris Stuckey, CEO, MomoCon. "but these games represent the best of the best.  We look forward to when the tens of thousands of attendees that come to MomoCon every year will get to experience these works of art for themselves."
About MomoCon
Founded in 2004 by Jessica Merriman and Chris Stuckey, then students at Georgia Tech, MomoCon has grown from a 700 person on campus event to the largest gaming event in the southeast United States for fans of video games, animation, cosplay, comics and tabletop games.

Rock 'N Racing Off Road DX for Australia and New Zealand.

6th April 2016, Barcelona, Spain. EnjoyUp Games today announces that Rock 'N Racing Off Road DX will be released on Thursday 7th April 2016 on the Nintendo eShop for Nintendo Wii U™ for Australia and New Zealand.

Price: $7.99

Kathy Rain - coming to Steam and GOG on 5th May 2016

Check out the trailer:

Android Indie Game Reviews

Haven't had time to do many of these yet, but here are the few I have done:

Gibbous - A Cthulhu Adventure - Kickstarter Campaign

A comedy cosmic horror point and click adventure made in Transylvania. Lucas Arts style, Lovecraft horrors, general insanity!  Check out the new Kickstarter Campaign.

Tuesday, 5 April 2016

Launch Dates (A Virus Named TOM PS VIta, Duskers PC/Mac/Linux)

  • A Virus Named TOM (PS Vita) launches 5th April 5th 2016 in North America & Europe (SCEA & SCEE regions) and is a PS Plus title for April. (AVNT Vita Trailer)
  • Duskers is currently in Steam Early Access, and the aim is to launch it in May after a big Story & Audio update in April (teaser and gameplay video links)

Monday, 4 April 2016

"Until I Have You" released

Until I Have You is a story-driven, fast-paced, retro-aesthetic platformer, engulfed in a Cyberpunk setting, by two of my AGS buddies, Jim Spanos and Andrea Ferrara

Driving you to the edge of your seat as you run n' gun through enemies, the game recounts a thrilling story of regret, love and corruption, in a city that’s gone haywire and just doesn't give a damn.

This is the story of the ARTIST, a talented assassin, who has worked many dirty jobs in a long and successful career. Finally heeding the pleadings of his wife, he has decided it's time to quit this ugly business and live a simple and peaceful life. However the ARTIST's clients know he is irreplaceable, and are unwilling to allow the craftsman to hangup his tool belt. They send him this message by kidnapping his wife, Emily, and make it clear, retirement is not an option! The ARTIST is determined to get his wife back, and prepares himself for one last assignment. He understands to be successful he needs to go all out, and he procures a rare exoskeleton suit. Although this provides him with additional powers, it also can cause hallucinations and affect his judgment.

If you could save someone, how much of yourself would you be willing to sacrifice?

It's out now on Steam.

Friday, 1 April 2016

Epistory Now Available on Windows, Mac and Linux

Mons, Belgium - Mar. 30, 2016 - Epistory, an atmospheric adventure with a distinct origami aesthetic, is now available through Steam for Windows, Mac and Linux. The first half of the beautiful game which received an IGF honorable mention for Excellence in Visual Arts was previously available via Early Access, while today marks the debut of the final two chapters.

Players guide a girl riding atop a three-tailed red fox on an epic journey to discover the source of an invasive darkness taking hold in a once pristine land.  As Epistory's narrative progresses, its papercraft world literally unfolds before the player, revealing lush forests, ominous dungeons, scorched plains, frozen temples and lost cities.

Magical abilities derived from four elemental types are discovered during the adventure, and they enable the heroine and her companion to navigate these treacherous landscapes. Freezing an enemy with ice magic will lock them in place and allow players to deal with other threats, while fire magic will burn through enemies and obstacles.

Epistory's tale is advanced entirely through an intuitive keyboard-only control scheme. Players unleash powerful magic, solve brain-teasing puzzles, attack menacing foes, explore dangerous environments and even navigate menus solely via typing.

Dynamic difficulty scaling allows everyone to enjoy the experience. Younger players will rarely encounter challenges they can't overcome while adults who use a keyboard all day will notice phrases will stack and grow in complexity as they prove their proficiency.

Experience earned by toppling obstacles and foes can be used to upgrade character and magic-specific abilities. For example, players can improve the protagonist's agility, or make the fire magic quickly burn through the next term in an enemy's chain of words.

Epistory has two game modes. The core of the game, Story Mode, allows players to piece together the narrative shared by the heroine and her companion in the mysterious world. Those searching for a competitive challenge can battle for the top spot on the leaderboards in Arena Mode, an endless fight against an onslaught of enemies.

"Our synergistic approach to storytelling and the visually stunning land in which Epistory takes place is unlike anything gamers have ever seen," says Bruno Urbain, CEO, Fishing Cactus. "Our origami world literally unfolds in unison with the plot, creating a truly one of a kind experience."

Epistory is available in English, French, Spanish, German, Russian, Polish and Portuguese Brazilvia Steam for $14.99 USD. In addition to the QWERTY keyboard layout, QWERTZ, AZERTY, BEPO, Dvorak, Workman and Colemak are also supported.

More information about Epistory can be found at

About Fishing Cactus

Fishing Cactus is an indie developer composed of 30 individuals. Based in Belgium, the company's name is to signify their originality and ability to thrive in a nation without many game development studios.

To learn more about Fishing Cactus, please visit


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Infosys Centre

The Infosys Centre in London is a permanent installation space that allows Infosys - world leaders in B2B IT - to talk to clients, press and government about how they work and the services that they offer. A series of highly custom interactives used presence, gesture and touch to trigger a number of short, animated films that highlight key trends in industry and describe how these are changing the face of modern businesses around the world.

  • Design direction, interaction design, content storyboarding.
  • For Moving Brands, London. Space by FITCH, London.


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Sasquatchin’ Day 2: Thank You Sir I’ll Have Another!

It’s DAY 2! Are you sleepy? Have you seen enough white males wearing kimonos, headresses, sombreros, and dashikis that your eyes have started bleeding? Maybe it is just all the dust? Let’s get back to things that will warm your soul instead. Brothers From Another In true BFA fashion, their … [Read more...]


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Sasquatchin’ Day 2: Thank You Sir I’ll Have Another!

It’s DAY 2! Are you sleepy? Have you seen enough white males wearing kimonos, headresses, sombreros, and dashikis that your eyes have started bleeding? Maybe it is just all the dust? Let’s get back to things that will warm your soul instead. Brothers From Another In true BFA fashion, their … [Read more...]

Bumbershoot 2013 Day 2: Diary of a Wanderer

The problem with Bumbershoot is one that every large music festival-goer has had: Sometimes, there’s so much good music going on simultaneously, it’s hard to see it all. Normally you would just pick your favorites of the day, make sure you’re there for those shows in particular, and try to catch … [Read more...]


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Wickes confident despite sales drop

Core product sales at DIY retailer Wickes were 3.3 per cent down on a like-for-like basis during the six months to June 30th, contributing to a 0.5 per cent reduction in overall turnover.

Sales of kitchens and bathrooms, especially in the first quarter of the year, were strong, with like-for-like turnover up 11.6 per cent on the back of an effective advertising campaign and the introduction of new ranges.

The business’s parent company Travis Perkins said that the group, which also owns Tile Giant and ToolStation, performed ahead of its expectations in the first half of the year with both merchanting and retail divisions increasing their market share and helping push up pre-tax profits at the group to £122 million.

Wickes itself opened three new stores during the period and overall revenues grew by 1.7 per cent, while there are an additional two shops scheduled to join the chain in the coming months, which has fuelled a feeling of optimism.

Chief Executive of Wickes Geoff Cooper said: “We remain determined to further develop our customer propositions via an exciting programme of organic growth initiatives with the aim of stretching our lead over competitors.

“While we continue to see modest market growth following a severe recession, we view the future with confidence.”

One problem companies like Wickes may face in the months ahead is dwindling sales of kitchens and bathrooms. Consumers’ interest in big ticket items like these has dropped as the year has moved on, with B&Q also noting similar sales trends.

Earlier this month, the Kingfisher-owned DIY retailer said that a lack of customer interest in making major purchases was a key reason for its like-for-like trading dip.

The 0.8 per cent fall in sales for the ten weeks to July 10th was still an improvement on the 1.8 per cent decline recorded in the first quarter of the year

Source : Ben Sillitoe - Retail

29 July 2010
view more UK DIY News

Insight DIY always publishes the latest news stories before anyone else and we find it to be an invaluable source of customer and market information.

Max Crosby Browne - CEO, Home Decor

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Sunday, November 28, 2010

Setting My Intention

At the beginning of yoga class, my instructor usually guides us through a short meditation, asking us to silently set an intention for our practice.  My individual intention is my personal focus for the next hour and a half.  As an article on states, "...[one's intention] is a path or practice that is focused on how you are "being" in the present moment. Your attention is on the ever-present "now" in the constantly changing flow of life. You set your intentions based on understanding what matters most to you and make a commitment to align your worldly actions with your inner values."

In talking to my dad over Thanksgiving, he reminded me that this Sunday, today, is the beginning of Advent.  Tonight after Mass, I picked up a complimentary copy of the Little Blue Book, which includes daily reflections for each day of Advent and Christmas.  I love little tools like this book as they provide a small daily reminder of what this season is all about.  All it takes is six minutes a day to read and reflect on various readings, thoughts, and traditions.

I am already a little anxious about decorating and buying gifts and handling all the busyness of the next few weeks.  But now that Thanksgiving is over, I am setting my intention for the holiday season.  If my intention is based on what matters most and aligns my actions with my values, I want to focus on each moment - be with friends and family, celebrate my faith, enjoy the bounty of food and gifts, and all the while, remember the true meaning behind it all.  We all lament how time flies, but I hope to savor this season, full of celebrations of light, love, life.

With the help of the Little Blue Book and the devotion of six minutes a day, I plan to fulfill my intention.  I may not succeed in holding this focus each day of the season, but as in yoga, a gentle reminder can bring one's intention back to the forefront.  Perhaps the Little Blue Book can be my reminder.

Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving and that you enjoy the upcoming holiday season, whatever your faith - and your intention - may be.

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Putting Pen to Paper

Ever since I was four years old, when I penned (or crayon-ed) the first story I can remember writing, I have felt called to write. I think the story was about fireworks and how pretty they are.

I was in high school when I first read Rilke's Letters to a Young Poet. Since then, I have re-read it a number of times, different sections here and there as well as the whole way through. One part stands out to me, a part that has resonated in my memory and echoes what I feel:
"Go into yourself. Find out the reason that commands you to write; see whether it has spread its roots into the very depths of your heart; confess to yourself whether you would have to die if you were forbidden to write. This most of all: ask yourself in the most silent hour of your night: must I write? Dig into yourself for a deep answer. And if this answer rings out in assent, if you meet this solemn question with a strong, simple "I must," then build your life in accordance with this necessity..."
My growing collection of books on writing
I know what I want to do, what I need to do. I want to move people through writing, the way art and music and films move people. The problems that arise are the same things that stand in the way of anyone's dream... they are the reasons we don't all open a bakery, start our own fashion line, or star in a blockbuster movie (or do whatever it is you dream of doing!). It's the reality of life. We have bills to pay, spouses and kids to care for, friends and family to keep in touch with, work to do, houses to maintain. And the fears inside ourselves.

Fear gets in the way of pursuing one's calling. It's not always comfortable. I always want to feel wonderful, rested and inspired when I sit down to write. But the reality is that I am usually tired after a long day at work with a stomachache from eating too much ice cream. My back hurts and my mind is distracted with random worries and the reality show that's playing on TV. There is never the perfect time. And there is always the fear of failure... my perfectionism doesn't help there. What if my writing sucks tonight (or always!)? What if the idea I have in my head doesn't come out the way I would like on paper?

The solution is to put pen to paper... or fingers to keyboard. Sentences may be a struggle, and the right words might be hard to find. But the only way to finish is to start. The only way to improve is to practice. The only way to create something beautiful is to make a lot of really horrible attempts.

This idea of just putting "pen to paper" makes me think of a book I have referenced over and over again, Anne Lamott's Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life. I also read this book for the first time in high school, and I still treasure my semi-worn paperback copy. Lamott's voice comes off the pages as if she is a live person in front of me. She speaks (writes!) of her writing experiences and all the ups and downs, just as she does during the classes and workshops she teaches, using real words, stories and emotion. Reading this book feels like listening to an interesting friend as she explains the inspiration, obstacles, and successes of writing - and how those experiences translate to life. Here are a couple parts from the first few chapters that compel me to simply get the words out...

On the journey of writing:
"There may be something in the very last line of the very last paragraph on page six that you just love, that is so beautiful or wild that now you know what you're supposed to be writing about, more or less, or in what direction you might go - but there was no way to get to this without first getting through the first five and a half pages."
On why we write:
"What's real is that if you do your scales every day, if you slowly try harder and harder pieces, if you listen to great musicians play music you love, you'll get better. At times when you're working, you'll sit there feeling hung over and bored, and you may or may not be able to pull yourself up out of it that day. But it is fantasy to think that successful writers do not have these bored, defeated hours, these hours of deep insecurity when one feels as small and jumpy as a water bug. They do. But they also often feel a great sense of amazement that they get to write, and they know that this is what they want to do for the rest of their lives. And so if one of your heart's deepest longings is to write, there are ways to get your work done, and a number of reasons why it is important to do so.

"And what are those reasons again? my students ask.

"Because for some of us, books are as important as almost anything else on earth. What a miracle it is that out of these small, flat, rigid squares of paper unfolds world after world after world, worlds that sing to you, comfort and quiet or excite you. Books help us understand who we are and how we are to behave. They show us what community and friendship mean; they show us how to live and die. They are full of all the things that you don't get in real life - wonderful, lyrical language, for instance, right off the bat. And quality of attention: we may notice amazing details during the course of a day but we rarely let ourselves stop and really pay attention, and this is a great gift. My gratitude for good writing is unbounded; I'm grateful for it the way I'm grateful for the ocean."
I'm grateful for the black words on the white page, the sentences that create a living, breathing story, a time and place with people and plot. I'm grateful for the connection between writing and life - the historical and fictional and current worlds, the small but vitally important details, the emotions evoked and experienced, the complexity of people and relationships.

What do you feel called to do? As we head into the Thanksgiving holiday, what are you grateful for? Have a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend!

Saturday, November 20, 2010

A Jolt of Java - My Love Affair with Coffee

My relationship with coffee began when I was in high school. If I remember correctly, a good friend of mine took me out to dinner before we stopped by one of his favorite little coffee houses. It was a warm house-like building, wooden floors and cozy couches, soft yellow lighting. The menu of drinks was posted in handwritten lettering, and I blinked up, trying to decipher what the words meant and which type of drink would be least offensive to my still-maturing palate. He suggested a mocha, just right for a girl with a sweet tooth, and that is when my love of coffee began.

Since then, I have so many memories that happened over a cup of coffee. My high school girlfriends and I would go to a little coffee shop to chat, once we graduated from hanging out at the mall and the movie theater. It had small pieces of art from local artists on the walls and a bar in the back that we basically ignored at that age (the coffee was strong enough for us, I suppose). We would try not to get kicked out after sitting there for three hours nursing one drink, planning out our weekend, complaining about school work, sharing secrets.

In college, I would often stop by the student center for a cup of flavored coffee before a boring class (econ, anyone?). It was a treat to get me through the freezing walk across campus and the subsequent mind-numbingly confusing class. Then when I was hunkered down in my dorm room, pounding out a paper the night before it was due, I would run to the basement vending machine and buy a bottled Frappacino. The boost would push me through the last few hours of homework, and I would crash into bed with my heart still beating under the influence of caffeine and my mind still racing against the clock, the impending deadline, the first light of sunrise. Starbucks was over-priced for my college-student mind (too many "points" off my dining hall plan), but I tried my fair share of their beverages.

Little did I know how I would become a frequent visitor to Starbucks post-graduation. Once the working world hit, coffee became a mini-escape, even just five minutes to run downstairs and grab a drink. It is now a moment to catch up with a work friend as we shuffle through the perpetual line and then wait a minute for our drinks to be ready. It gives me a caffeine-fueled clarity as I tackle my to-do list. (Seriously, the employees recognize me at the Starbucks in my office building now. My tip for saving money on these expensive almost-daily treats: I ask for gift cards every holiday, use some of my credit card reward points to receive more gift cards, and register all of the cards so I can get free drink postcards after every several visits.)

It's a wonderful time of year when the red cups return!

On the weekends, coffee provides a moment of relaxation and comfort, as I navigate the aisles of the grocery store, write blog posts and short stories on my laptop, page through magazines and books, or catch up with a friend post-yoga class. With a splash of Bailey's, it's an early-morning college-football-tailgate beverage or an after-dinner treat (just don't laugh so hard while sipping that it goes up your nose... my sisters are hilarious and this was the unfortunate, albeit memorable, result during one holiday dinner). Coffee is always brewing in the morning at my parents' home in Kansas or at Scott's parents' house in the suburbs. Both our moms appreciate a good caffeinated cup of brew, so it's a little source of bonding time in the kitchen as I curl up in my pajama pants on a barstool and we chat about what's in the newspaper that day.

We have a coffeemaker now, a wonderful wedding shower gift from my family, but it's really just for me. Coffee is one of those areas of difference for Scott and me. He has never had a cup in his life, but he is kind enough to recognize my love for it (addiction is a strong word) and knows it is a good idea for everyone involved that I get a little bit of coffee most days.

I'll leave you with some cheery news: Today and tomorrow from 2-5 pm, Starbucks is offering buy-one, get-one-free holiday drinks.  So grab a friend and get into the holiday spirit with a cozy, caffeinated cup!

(Birthday gift card in hand, I stopped into Starbucks yesterday and noticed that they now have polar-bear iced sugar cookies - reminds me of my dad who loves polar bears... Also, as I was waiting in line behind a woman who had the hiccups, I overheard the Starbucks employee recommend that she drink a glass of water while her friend plugged her ears. The whole store was soon glancing over at the ridiculous attempt to cure hiccups, but guess what, it worked!)

Monday, November 15, 2010

Delicious Ambiguity

Some stories don't have a clear beginning, middle, and end.  Life is about not knowing, having to change, taking the moment and making the best of it, without knowing what's going to happen next.  Delicious ambiguity...
-Gilda Radner

I'm a planner.  I like to keep myself challenged.  I always ask "what's next?" and look forward to what is coming up.

The challenge then becomes truly living in the present.  Lately, I have been working to notice and appreciate the beauty around me.  I think of my five senses: What am I feeling right now?  What do I see?  What do I hear?  What do I taste?  What do I smell?

It is tough to remain present when I have deadlines, to-do lists, plans for next weekend, next month, next year.  Being present in every moment means I experience and treasure it, rather than breeze by it.  I can settle into all five senses and escape to a place of calm and contentment.  I move away from the daily stresses or long-term questions of life, simply breathing in my current experience.  I don't have to worry about what might happen in the future, don't have to look back with sadness or disappointment.  The present is the only thing in my consciousness.

Vacation day... Feel: comfy in sweats;
See: words and pictures in some of my favorite magazines;
Hear: country music playing from my laptop;
Taste: iced coffee and a donut;
Smell: nothing in particular
I think that is why I love things like yoga and massages and reading so much.  (I had a fantastic, much-needed massage last week and that one hour of relaxation felt about 2 hours too short.  My shoulders were up to my ears with stress beforehand, so I just breathed and blocked out everything else.)  I can relish the feelings of the moment and push away any stress or worry.

Sometimes I don't want to live in the present when it's crazy busy or insanely stressful.  In that case, I try to remind myself that the moment will pass, I will learn from it, and I will appreciate the calmer times more because of it.  I find something to be grateful for that day, even a small thing like the changing fall leaves or a hug from my husband.

A cozy spot to curl up with a book
There is a wonderful prayer from St. Theresa that speaks to living in the present and trusting you are where you are meant to be.  Recently, I have been repeating the first line to myself as a reminder to live this way, even when I feel my blood pressure climbing.  I would like to share it as a source of inspiration.  Remember each day is a gift.

May today there be peace within.  May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be.  May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.  May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you.  May you be content knowing you are a child of God. Let this presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love.  It is there for each and every one of us.
-St. Theresa of the Little Flower

Friday, November 12, 2010

Lovely Lashes

I am not super-skilled with eyeliner.  I attempted false eyelashes once for Halloween and decided the glue and precision required was not worth it.  Then I discovered eyelash tinting.

Freshman year of college during orientation, all the girls in my section of the dorm got together and shared "two truths and a lie" about themselves (great icebreaker...).  One girl told us she had gotten her eyelashes tinted... and I thought it was ridiculous.  I mean, can't you just wear mascara?

Fast forward several years and I'm trying out a lash tint at the Benefit boutique on Armitage in Chicago.  Benefit may be known for their Brow Bar (my low tolerance for pain says "no" to waxing, but just ask my younger sisters who are brow-obsessed how awesome they are at Benefit).  But I can't help but be "wowed" by the lash tint, which is about $20-25 at Benefit.  The boutiques are only located in certain cities, but many other salons across the country offer eyelash tinting as well.  (As an aside, I want to get an airbrush spray tan at Benefit too... everyone who has gone there comes out looking sun-kissed and natural - for only $40 to boot!)

So here's the eyelash tint process: I take out my contacts, the Benefit woman applies Vaseline under my lower lashes and on my lids to keep the dye off of my skin.  She then places white paper-like half-moons under my lower lashes and asks me to close my eyes.  Good-bye to vision for exactly 14 minutes!  (Be sure you are hydrated - it can be a little disorienting to close your eyes for that length of time and still hear everything going on around you - and it's usually smart to not be hungover, as I was the night after my bachelorette bar crawl - yikes, that was a long 14 minutes!)  The woman brushes the dye onto my upper and lower lashes, sets the timer for 7 minutes and then adds additional dye before the last 7 minutes.

Sit back and relax... and look creepy :)  If you have a buddy to keep you company, the time passes more quickly, even if it is awkward to talk to a friend with your eyes closed.  My eyes tickled a bit with a "peppery" sensation, but it's not painful (remember, I can't deal with pain).  When the wait is over, it's time to rinse off the excess.  I hold a few tissues under my eyes and look up while the Benefit woman squirts saline solution over my eyes and asks me to blink, then wipe.

Without mascara!

With mascara

The result of this unusual experience - dark, full eyelashes!  The first few days, it looks like I am wearing eyeliner since the dye settled in between my lashes, but that eventually wears away. As for my eyelashes, the effect lasts for up to 4 weeks - both upper and lower lashes that are dark without any makeup (especially helpful for beach vacations!).  Even though I'm blonde, my eyelashes are naturally fairly dark... this tint still makes a significant difference.  I like to add mascara on top to increase the look of fullness and give my lashes some shape.  My two faves: CoverGirl Lash Blast Volume for everyday and Revlon Grow Luscious for special occasions and nights out.

Oh, and in case you were wondering, I am not receiving anything from Benefit to blab about this awesome service... just wanted to share this fun beauty tip!

Monday, November 8, 2010

Notre Dame Family

My mom forwarded this beautiful description of the recent Mass held at Notre Dame in remembrance of ND student Declan Sullivan.  It is a moving example of the universal celebration of the Eucharist and the strength of the Notre Dame "family."  I am blessed to be part of the Catholic faith and the Notre Dame family, two communities that intersect and extend across the globe.  My prayers are with Declan's family and friends.

Here is the link to Amy Holsinger's blog post and the full text follows below:

October 29, 2010...12:22 am

I did not know Declan Sullivan.

On Wednesday, Declan was killed on campus in an accident involving a hydraulic lift. He was filming football practice for his job as a student manager, and high winds caused the scissor lift he was filming from to topple over.

He was 20 years old. He was a junior majoring in FTT (film, television, and theater) and marketing. He lived in Fisher Hall.

Tonight, Father John Jenkins, University President, presided over a Mass in Declan’s memory in the Basilica of the Sacred Heart.

Mass began at 10 pm. I was in a lecture and movie screening for class until 9:45 pm, and I wasn’t sure if I was going to make it to the Basilica in time to get a seat. I also wasn’t sure if I even wanted to go to the Mass. I didn’t know Declan, so a part of me thought, “Why should I take a seat from somebody who knew him, loved him, cared about him? Who am I to do that?” But another part of me desperately wanted to go to the Mass to show my support for Declan’s family during this horrible, difficult time. That part of me wanted to show the Sullivans that Notre Dame is a place where everybody matters, a place where the spirit of the community links everybody together. I was already running late and I knew that my baseball-cap-and-Ugg-boots attire wouldn’t fly at the Basilica, so I decided to go over to LaFortune Student Center, where I had heard there would be auxiliary seating and a live feed from the Mass.

As I walked across God Quad in the dark, I watched people walking towards the Basilica, two by two. The doors were wide open, emanating a warm golden glow. I was able to hear the prelude for Declan’s Mass all the way at the flagpole on South Quad, and the sound of the organ became clearer as I crossed through the pine trees and made my way to LaFortune.

Up the winding staircase, I burst in to LaFortune and brushed past the representatives from the Student Activities Office who tried to usher me upstairs to the ballroom. “We have some seats left up there,” a girl with a nametag whispered. By the time I heard her, I had already set down my backpack near my usual spot in the main lounge. LaFortune was different. Normally, the building serves as a study/food/coffee/socialization/meeting space, and it’s one of the busiest places on campus. But tonight, it was quiet. Dimmer, somehow.

All of the comfy armchairs were occupied, so after lingering against a wall, cornered by a trashcan, for a few minutes, I plopped down on the floor like a kindergartener. Mass was beginning. The broadcast was coming through on the two large televisions in the main lounge. (It was available online as well.) During the opening song, the SAO folks brought out a number of chairs from another room, and I snapped up a seat just as Fr. Jenkins was greeting the Sullivan family.

Then, the oddest thing began to happen. Everyone in the room began to respond to the TV, just like Mass.

Peace be with you.
“And also with you.”

I don’t know if it was reflex, a genuine desire to participate in the Mass, or some combination of both. All of a sudden, I found myself in the midst of the celebration of the Eucharist in the same room where I drink coffee, read the paper, watch ESPN, and play Sporcle.

Notre Dame is very good at a lot of things, and one of those things is church. Notre Dame knows how to put on a great Mass, and the higher-ups pulled out all the stops for Declan. The Folk Choir provided beautiful music for the service. I was particularly impressed with the selection of the readings. The first reading was Romans 8:31-39 (“If God is for us, who can be against us?”). The gospel reading was John 14:1-14 (“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”).

Father Tom Doyle, Vice President for Student Affairs, gave the homily. He spoke eloquently and simply about storytelling—about Declan’s love of telling stories through film and about the feeling that we have been “written out of the book of life” that accompanies loss and grief. Doyle said, “Most days, we live in this place that is like Eden before the fall.” Normally, bad things don’t happen here. Students joke about the “Notre Dame bubble” for a reason. When terrible things hit Notre Dame, it seems that much worse.

As I watched the Mass on TV from my chair in the LaFortune, I noticed that the camera kept panning out to the people sitting in the pews at the Basilica. The Sullivan family sat in the front row. Gwynn, Declan’s sister, wore a Notre Dame football jersey and Mac, Declan’s 15-year-old brother, wore a Notre Dame sweatshirt. Across the aisle, the men of Fisher Hall sat in the other front section, all with their trademark neon green retro sunglasses pushed back into messy brown waves and perched on blonde crewcuts. Fishermen wear these distinguishing sunglasses around campus all the time, so seemed appropriate that they wore their shades to Mass in memory of their hallmate. The Notre Dame football team sat behind the contingent from Fisher Hall.
During the Eucharistic Prayer, LaFortune was filled with the mutterings of hundreds of students.

Lift up your hearts.
“We lift them up to the Lord.”

When it came time for the Our Father, the Folk Choir sang the beautiful Notre Dame Our Father. LaFortune joined hands and joined in. Then, everyone got out of their seats for the sign of peace. Hugs and handshakes all around.

The SAO employees notified us that the Eucharist was being distributed outside the Basilica and that we could leave and come back. After a moment of hesitation, about 75% of the room stood up, grabbed coats, and quietly filed out of the room. I was near the door, so I made it out quickly. Down the stairs, across the quad, towards the music and light. There were hundreds of people already standing outside the Basilica—overflow. Outside, there were musicians performing acoustic versions of the songs playing inside. As I huddled around the front of the Basilica, I turned around. A massive block of students stretched all the way from the foot of the Basilica to the stairs of LaFortune, and people continued to stream out of the building from the ballroom on the second floor.

We stood patiently, quietly in the cold. Occasionally, a priest would emerge from the big Basilica doors. People gathered around eagerly as the priest distributed Communion. Nobody jostled, nobody complained. We just waited. Slowly, more priests came out. After I received Communion, I walked back to LaFortune. I counted six priests standing outside, each man completely surrounded by students waiting for the Eucharist.

I made it back to LaFortune just in time for the final blessing.
The Mass is ended, go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
“Thanks be to God.”

And then, as always, we sang the alma mater, arms around each other, swaying.

Notre Dame, Our Mother
Tender, strong and true
Proudly in the heavens
Gleams thy gold and blue.
Glory’s mantle cloaks thee
Golden is thy fame.
And our hearts forever
Praise thee, Notre Dame.
And our hearts forever
Love thee, Notre Dame.

The fervent prayers of the Notre Dame community are with Declan Sullivan and his family.

A night like this should never have to happen again.

Sunday, November 7, 2010

Big Huge Birthday Party Post

Hello, loyal readers!  I know I have been a little quiet the last few days, but not to worry - this post is big enough to make up for the wait (good thing we have an extra hour with daylight savings!).  Yesterday was my 26th birthday, and since I love hosting parties, we had a whole bunch of friends over for cocktails and appetizers.  We hadn't had people over since fixing up the condo, and even though it's still a work in progress, there is nothing like a party to provide motivation to complete those lingering home projects.

Scott surprised me on Monday when I got home from a work event - he had painted most of the living/dining room, finishing the job on Tuesday and Wednesday evening.  I really wanted to paint the room before the party this weekend.  The room is much brighter now - we chose a lighter brown (Kilim Beige from Sherwin-Williams) than the original wall color.  We also hung up a few decorative pictures in the dining room.  And today, my birthday present from Scott arrived - a new coffee table!  I had been pining away for the vintage trunk coffee table from Crate & Barrel, which sadly disappeared from the C&B website this week.  Thankfully, there was one headed my way!

New coffee table arrived!

And the party also gave me a chance to try out a bunch of NEW recipes...  Trust me, these are super simple ones that only require a few ingredients and are easy to follow.  Plus they all turned out wonderfully - definitely had a couple major crowd-pleasers!  So here's a peek at my busy birthday:

Saturday, November 6, 2010

9:30 am - Wake up, open my gift from Scott (a picture of the coffee table to be delivered the next day)
10 am - Move my old dresser that has been hanging out in the kitchen downstairs to our storage room
10:30 am - Build my menu of recipes and grocery list

I listed out each recipe, the book it came from and page number for easy reference, the oven temperature and cook time.  After putting together a pretty ambitious list, I decided against Slow Cooker Mexican Dip... there was plenty of cheese in the other recipes anyway.

Bite-size Brownies
Chili Cheddar Pinwheels
Artichoke Ranch Squares
Roasted Red Pepper Dip
Mini Hamburgers
Rustic Apple Tart
Cheese & Crackers
Birthday Cake (all the way from Kansas - thanks, Mom!)

11 am - Grocery shopping... with a stop by Starbucks on the way
Noon - Arrive home and unpack groceries
12:30 pm - Help one of my guy friends shop at Bed, Bath & Beyond (I love consulting on home decor... plus it's fun to pick out new stuff and spend other people's money... ha)
1:30 pm - Bake brownies (Ghirardelli mix)
2 pm - Roasted Red Pepper Dip
from Taste of Home 2009 Summer Appetizers, page 56

I started with this recipe since I knew it could stay in the fridge all afternoon.
Yields 2 cups

1 cup (8 oz) fat-free sour cream
1/2 cup reduced-fat mayonnaise
1/2 teaspoon prepared horseradish
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper (I used red pepper flakes instead)
4 drops hot pepper sauce (I used Frank's hot sauce)
1 jar (7 oz) roasted sweet red peppers, drained and chopped (threw them in the mini-prep food processor)
1 medium sweet red pepper
Assorted fresh vegetables (bought a veggie tray and sliced up a couple cucumbers)

In a small bowl, combine the first five ingredients.  Stir in the roasted red peppers.  Cut a thin slice of one long side of sweet red pepper; remove seeds.  Spoon dip into pepper cup.  Serve with vegetables. (I waited to cut the pepper and spoon the dip into it until right before the party.)

2:30 pm - Chili Cheddar Pinwheels
from Taste of Home 2009 Summer Appetizers, page 107

I prepped these roll-ups and then baked them closer to the start of the party.
Yields 64 appetizers

1 package (8 oz) cream cheese, softened
1 cup (4 oz) shredded cheddar cheese
1 can (4 oz) chopped green chilies, drained
2 tablespoons picante sauce (I used some chunky salsa we had in the fridge)
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1/4 teaspoon garlic salt
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
2 tubes (8 oz each) refrigerated crescent rolls
Additional chili powder, optional

1) In a large mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese until smooth.  Beat in the cheddar cheese, chilies, picante sauce, chili powder, garlic salt and onion powder until blended.
2) Separate each tube of crescent roll dough into four rectangles; press the perforations to seal.  Spread about 1/4 cup cheese mixture over each rectangle.  Roll up jelly-roll style, starting with the short side.  Wrap in plastic wrap and chill for at least 1 hour.
3) Cut each roll into eight slices; place on ungreased baking sheets.  Sprinkle with additional chili powder if desired.  Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown.

Bite-size Brownies and Chili Cheddar Pinwheels

3:15 pm - Artichoke Ranch Squares
from Taste of Home 2009 Summer Appetizers, page 104

I made this recipe and then re-heated it before the party.  It is probably best fresh out of the oven, but I had a lot of "hot" recipes, so I had to prioritize.
Yields about 2 1/2 dozen

2 tubes (8 oz each) refrigerated crescent rolls
1 can (14 oz) water-packed artichoke hearts, rinsed, drained and chopped (tossed these in the mini-prep)
1 cup (4 oz) shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
3/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
3/4 cup ranch salad dressing (I used the ranch dip from the veggie tray)
1 jar (4 oz) diced pimientos, drained

1) Unroll both tubes of crescent dough and pat into an ungreased 15 in x 10 in x 1 in baking pan; seal seams and perforations.  Bake at 375 degrees for 8-10 minutes or until lightly browned.
2) Meanwhile, in a bowl, combine the remaining ingredients; spread over crust.  Bake 12-15 minutes or until cheese is melted and crust is golden brown.  Cut into squares; serve warm.

Ready for the oven...

3:40 pm - Rustic Apple Tart
from Real Simple Celebrations (the book I blogged about in this earlier post)

The recipe is for one apple tart, but I had so much of the apple mixture, I ended up making two tarts.

1 refrigerated piecrust (thankfully the box I bought had two crusts!)
5 medium apples, preferably Empire or McIntosh, peeled and sliced 1/4 inch thick (I used McIntosh)
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons granulated sugar (I used a little extra since I made two tarts)
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon grated lemon zest

1) Heat oven to 375 degrees.  Unfold piecrust and place it on a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil.
2) In a large bowl, combine the apples, 1/4 cup of the sugar, cinnamon, and lemon zest.  Place the apple mixture in the center of the crust.  Fold the edge of the crust over the apple mixture, allowing it to fall into pleats (the center of the tart should be uncovered).  Lightly, brush the top of the crust with water and sprinkle with the remaining sugar.  Bake until golden brown, about 40 minutes.  Let cool for at least 30 minutes.  Serve warm or room temperature.

Before baking...

After baking...

4:30 pm - Clean up the condo a bit by throwing things into closets and under beds.
4:50 pm - Mini Hamburgers
from Taste of Home 2009 Summer Appetizers, page 99

I mixed up the hamburger meat and waited until closer to party time to cook them.
Yields 40 servings

1/2 cup chopped onion
1 tablespoon butter
1 pound of lean ground beef or ground round
1 egg, beaten
1/4 teaspoon seasoned salt
1/4 teaspoon ground sage
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teapsoon pepper
40 mini rolls, split (Since my grocery store only had 1 package of dinner rolls, I used hawaiian rolls to make up for the rest.  They were smaller and worked really well, but with the amount of hamburger meat, you could get away with about 32 rolls)
8 ounces process American cheese slices, cut into 1 1/2 inch squares, optional (I just broke each slice into fourths)
40 dill pickle slices, optional

1) In a skillet, saute onion in butter.  Transfer to bowl; add meat, egg and seasonings.  Spread over bottom halves of the rolls; replace tops.  Place on baking sheets; cover with foil.  (I forgot to cover with foil and it worked out just fine.)
2) Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.  If desired, place a cheese square and pickle on each hamburger; replace tops and foil and return to the oven for 5 minutes.

5:15 pm - Dust every surface in the condo and Swiffer like a crazy lady, while Scott cleans the bathroom.
5:45 pm - Hang the pictures and decorative keys on the wall in the dining room area.  (Everything is from Hobby Lobby or Kirkland's and cost about $3 to $12 each.)  I first arranged everything on the floor so I could determine the layout.  Then we started by hanging the two center pieces and then the three pieces on the right side, then the two pieces on the left side.

Layout arranged on the floor

After close-up

6 pm - Jump in the shower and quickly do my make-up and hair (at this point, I am thankful that I cut off about four inches of hair the previous day!)
6:30 pm - Greet our friends from Milwaukee who made the trip to Chicago.
7 pm - Set up the bar with booze, ice, and sliced limes.

7:15 pm to 8 pm - Cook the mini hamburgers, bake the cheddar roll-ups, warm the artichoke squares, put the dip in the pepper cup, cut the brownies and apple tart.  Plate everything on various platters.  Set out cheese and crackers.

Gouda and Boursin

8 pm - Pop open a bottle of champagne!  Time to begin the celebration!

It was a wonderful birthday... thank you to everyone who was there to celebrate and everyone who called, texted, sent Facebook messages, etc.  I am so blessed!

Related Posts with Thumbnails


text:
Why Marian Rivera’s rendition of Rihanna’s ‘Unfaithful’ is viral again

October 26, 2018 - 12:18 PM
Marian Rivera
Marian Rivera poses during her recent media launch as brand ambassadress for Snow Crystal White Tomato. (Photo by Jill Tan Radovan/InterAksyon)

An old clip of GMA Network actress Marian Rivera’s singing of Rihanna’s hit song “Unfaithful” again circulated on social media recently following the transfer of her former colleague, singer Regine Velasquez to the rival network, ABS-CBN..

Marian’s unique rendition of the song on GMA’s now-defunct noontime variety show “Party Pilipinas” were depicted in memes and video clips shared both on Twitter and Facebook.

It was part of the farewell event of the GMA show “Temptation of Wife,” which Marian starred in, back in 2013.

One recording showed a clip of Rihanna’s concert, but was edited using Marian’s version of it.

Rihanna – Unfaithful (Live)

Posted by Jæms on Monday, September 24, 2018

Another popular edited video featured English boy group One Direction’s execution of their own best selling single “Story of My Life.” The song’s title is also the first line of Rihanna’s “Unfaithful.”

An informal survey conducted on the new singer for GMA’s station ID this year also gained traction this month. Results showed Marian’s name was the most preferred by at least 55 percent of the respondents.

Brace yourselves mga Kapuso!

Posted by Philippine Entertainment on Sunday, October 14, 2018

The five-year-old “Unfaithful” video started circulating again in September as rumors on Regine’s departure to ABS-CBN also swirled. Marian is being pitched—in a tongue in cheek manner—as Regine’s replacement.

Regine, known as “Asia’s Songbird,” was declared an “official Kapamilya” on October 17. Her return to the network that kicked off her career also became a reunion with her close friends and former SOP hosts, including her husband Ogie Alcasid.

Marian’s happy for Regine

Marian, who is Regine’s close friend and former GMA colleague, admitted that she was saddened with Regine’s exit. Still, she continues to support her decision.

“Ang importante diyan, kung saan siya mahalaga. Kung saan siya magiging masaya, doon siya. Kasi bilang kaibigan ko siya at ninang namin siya, e nirerespeto ko kung ano ang desisyon niya,” she said in an interview.

She also said that Regine did not inform her of the reason for the sudden move.

Regine was one of the principal sponsors of Marian and actor Dingdong Dantes in their wedding.


text:
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Gladys, VA is a great place to live. Many people who move in to Gladys, VA never want to move out, most of them build homes and spend their lives here. If you are new here, you must be having a great experience. Many new owners in Gladys, VA are in continued search for ideal Interior Decorators that can help them in interior decoration of their homes. Spending time browsing through the internet in search for an ideal Interior Decorator company is not only tiring but it is also time consuming. If you are one of these home owners, then search no more since Interior Decorator Pros Interior Decorators are here to help you out in all your interior decoration needs for your home.

Interior Decorator Pros Interior Decorators is a group of experienced Interior Decorators who have come up to form a company that aims to help clients in Gladys, VA in interior decoration. Whatever interior decoration design you are looking for, we will make sure that you get what you want at an affordable price. We plan on expanding our business to other states but for now our services are only available for people living in Gladys, VA and the surrounding areas. When you call that number you will get any information that you need to know on residential interior decoration and commercial interior decoration.

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