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Thursday, October 05, 2006

there's a war goin on outside no man is safe from

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In the span of a week, there's been a knife attack which ended in a shooting and a fatal car crash in my usually serene corner of Brooklyn. Whoa.

It's hard to get too upset about the Steelers' poor start because football itself is a pretty sorry mess right now. Glancing at Dr. Z's Power Rankings, only Da Bears haven't seriously gotten seriously embarassed yet. The Colts and the Patriots both almost collapsed fantastically to the theoretically pathetic Jets. The Bengals got their asses handed to them easily last week, as did the Seahawks. Nobody had anything nice to say about the Racist Team Names or the Broncos last week; the Broncos seem like they're mostly there for posterity. The Ravens are frauds, and they beat the Chargers last week.

Speaking of the Bolts, I wish there was a little more vitriol in this article about Ben's attitude towards their Sunday opponent. It started off promising: Ben has a list, Big Ben's Ten Most Wanted. It's the teams that passed him up. And featured prominently are the Chargers, opting instead for Phillip Rivers, by way of Elijah Manning. This all sounds pretty promising, the kind of vendetta that could drive a monster come-back this weekend.

But then it gets straight softbatch:

"It's not him, I have nothing against him," Roethlisberger said of Rivers. "I like playing San Diego because they had a pick -- anybody who was in the top 10, I kind of like to play against, it feels good."

Are you kidding? You fucking hate him, Ben. This is the Chargers: they didn't believe in you. Yeah, you've stomped out every non-believer in the country with two off-chain seasons and One for the Thumb, but they didn't think you were any good. And they fucked up your knee last season! On some cheap-shot helmet-leading doo-doo.

It does not "feel good" to play the Chargers. You hate the Chargers. You want them all dead. You want to drive over Ladanian Tomlinson's face with a dump truck. You want Quentin Jammer's still-beating heart on a plate. And Phillip Rivers--they thought he was better than you? Oh hell to the fuck no. Man up and kill somebody, Ben. Bring the Central Ohio ruckus.


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I Am Who I Am Photo Shoot - Teaser Shot

28 February, 2012

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The Avengers Movies Poster

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FGGT Fixed Gear Girl Taiwan Photo shoot

23 February, 2012

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Iron Man 2 Blu-ray Special Edition n Hard Disk

16 February, 2012
Hey guys,good afternoon just another loot got it during my trip to Miri last week not much you all can see only this.

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Hottoys Tron "Kevin Flynn"

12 February, 2012
Hello guys ok it time to make review closer up picture of the Tron "KEVIN FLYNN" so enjoys the beautiful detail guys, END OF LINE:)

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Last Year and New Year Hauls !

07 February, 2012

So this is my another one of my wish list 1/6figures has come TRUE ! Bought this two with cheaper price,stay tune for my review on each of hauls soon.

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Five Things You Might Have Missed In THE AVENGERS Super Bowl Trailer !

06 February, 2012
1) The tail of The Leviathan. Remember that call sheet which mentioned where "the Leviathan" came to rest in the street? Well this is probably our first glimpse of it:

Of course, the question which still remains is whether it's an actual creature, or just a ship made to look like one (a bit like dragons on viking boats)?

2) The enemy invaders. There's no certainty that they'll all look like this (the army could include multiple races after all), but the one that we can see reasonably clearly seems to have Skrull-like ears (either that or it's part of the armour/helmet design), blue skin, three toes, and a green patch (possibly glowing?) on the chest. None of the races in the comics would match these features exactly, but perhaps some artistic license has been taken? In that case, it's concievable that they might be Kree or Skrull warriors after all.
3) The portal in the sky. I think a lot of posters mistook this circle up above, which Iron Man is flying towards, for a mothership. In fact, it's a portal:

So, do the aliens have the technology to open up portals? Or is this the work of Loki? Either way, knowing where the portal goes would likely reveal the identity of those mysterious aliens.

4) What's clipped to Thor's belt? We see the lightning god landing on what looks like the quinjet, but what's that clipped to his side?

Is it his helmet? If so, why's he not wearing it? Has he been on a mission to retrieve something?

5) Triangle arc reactor. This is hardly a big revelation, but we can at least put to rest those claims of inconsistency between Whedon's film and Iron Man 2.

Tony still has the triangle arc reactor (which he developed thanks to his dad's insight) - the only difference is that the casing of his armour seems to change back to the circular design at some point during the film.

If you yourself spotted anything interesting in the trailer, or indeed have any theories regarding these pics, go ahead and post it in the comments section below!

did you notice the size of the iron man arm and reactor in iron man´s assembly? Many people think could be the Hulk Buster Armor

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The Avengers Super Bowl XLVI Commercial - Teaser

01 February, 2012

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Greek Yogurt Pancakes

I did a big cleanout of the fridge.  See, we have this awful, nano-fridge that necessitates that I squat to see what’s in it (I’m 5’4″…that means this fridge is LOW), and it had gotten so stuffed and disorganized that I didn’t know what I had.  So that led to  list of “This must be used within the next x days or it’s going to expire”.  On that list was an unopened tub of Greek yogurt.  I love Greek yogurt.  It’s so thick and rich and good for you.  But I wasn’t in the mood to just, you know, eat it.  So I went on a search and came up with this recipe for Greek yogurt pancakes, which I decided to tweak.  OMG, these were lovely, even though I kinda burned them a little bit.   I’m with the original guy–4 big pancakes is about what you’ll get out of this.  Because what’s the point of cute little baby ones for Sunday brunch?  This works out to 129 calories and 2.65 grams of fat per pancake (before you add whatever topping of choice you want.).  As pancakes go, these are super healthy.  **This recipe can be made gluten free by merely changing out for your favorite all-purpose gluten flour mix, with no other substitutions.**

  • 1/2 Cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 Tablespoon Splenda (subbed for sugar)
  • 1 Teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 Teaspoon salt
  • 1 Cup Greek Yogurt
  • 2 Large eggs
  • 1 Teaspoon vanilla extract (I doubled the amount in the original recipe)
  • 2 Tablespoons skim milk

  1. Mix all your dry ingredients.
  2. Add the wet ingredients and mix well, being sure to get all the lumps out.
  3. No need to let it rest, just go to town.
  4. Heat your griddle or skillet over medium heat (original recipe said medium high and that’s how I burned mine).
  5. Spray with butter flavored cooking spray.
  6. Pour in half a cup of batter.
  7. Cook until it starts to set at the edge and bubble up in the middle.
  8. Carefully flip and cook for another couple of minutes.
  9. Remove to a cookie sheet and keep them in the oven on warm while you cook the rest.
  10. Serve with your choice of toppings.

Printable version.

One thought on “Greek Yogurt Pancakes

  1. These look great. I make pancakes for my girls every Sunday and they might figure I’m doing it wrong if I change the recipe now they all know it so well but these look like they may be worthy of a redirect one week.

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Saturday, February 25, 2012

Open Mic March 2nd

I will be performing March 2nd at the Rebel Diaz Arts Collective! I recommend this open mic to any upcoming emcee (and more) that wants to mingle amongst the creme dela creme of the New York City underground Hip Hop scene. There will definitely be an array of talentes emcees, Djs, Beatboxers OH MY! Plus you can catch me do a small set that will be the appetizer to the main course I'm doing at 92ytribeca the following night!

Check out and all the amazing work they do for the community in the South Bronx and beyond.


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Contact Us

Road Construction In Southwest Michigan

Road construction sign.

Get the schedule and locations for this batch of Southwest Michigan road construction below.

Sunshine and warm weather bring us orange barrels every year.  According to Mlive,

The Michigan Department of Transportation announced it will invest $547,000 in crack sealing along 93 miles of state trunkline in Berrien, Calhoun, Cass, Kalamazoo and Van Buren counties.

This crack sealing project is set to begin Wednesday, May 17th and end on Friday, June 30th.  You can expect single lane closures in the following areas:

  • Southbound I-196 from Coloma Road in Hagar Township to 24th Street in Covert Township, Van Buren County.
  • M-63 from Dozer Drive to Midway Avenue in St. Joseph, Berrien County.
  • M-60 from Leet Road in Howard Township to Stone Lake Drive in LaGrange Township, Cass County.
  • M-331 (South Westnedge Avenue) from Kilgore Road to Michigan Avenue (M-43/I-94 BL) in Kalamazoo.
  • M-89 from 42nd Street in Ross Township, to West Michigan Avenue in Bedford Township.
  • I-94 between 12th Street in Texas Township, and the Kalamazoo/Van Buren county line.

If you’re planning a Michigan road trip or have a long commute you should check out the road construction interactive map provided by the Michigan Department of Transportation by clicking here.

Roundabout Approved At Dangerous Intersection In Kalamazoo

BONUS VIDEO:  I-69 Multiple-Vehicle Pileup Accident

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June 21, 2017

The Paleo Approach Exciting News!

Hey everyone! The Paleo Mom (Dr. Sarah Ballantyne) has just announced a FABULOUS sale on her first book The Paleo Approach! This book is chock full of the science and reasoning behind the AIP. I have read this book several times, cover to cover and the depth and proof of the science behind EVERY dietary change recommended when following the AIP, is laid out beautifully! She helps us understand both how our bodies work, as well as how they react with different compounds found in food! Not only that, she goes through several lifestyle factors and explains how they all can affect autoimmunity in the body! This is a fabulous book for anyone who is curious behind the "whys" of clean eating!

The Paleo Approach is NOT only for people who have an autoimmune disease, and can help ANYONE understand the importance of what we eat and how it affects the body!

At the moment, The Paleo Approach is ON SALE on Amazon for only $14.02 (marked down from $39.95) and the amount of insight and help that it holds is worth every penny. If you have any interest, or know someone who might, hurry over to amazon and order, as the duration of the sale is unknown!

The link:

EEEeeeekkk! So exciting!!

Summertime Pink Lemonade

Nothing screams summer vacation like homemade strawberry lemonade! With its pretty pink hue, and tart freshness, it is the PERFECT refreshment for any summer day! I mean look at it! Gorgeous! To get the deep color and delicious strawberry flavor, I simmer it over the stove and then chill it! The result is a truly fabulous pink lemonade!

June 15, 2017

Decadent "Chocolate Cake" Waffles

(AIP + egg and almond) Learn more about introducing new foods and find recipes that include other introductions here.

I can't think of a better way to start my summer break than with a large stack of waffles...that taste JUST like chocolate cake! Not to mention the fact that THESE waffles have ELEVEN different fruits and vegetables cram-packed inside! A perfect way to start your day! Thanks to the AMAZING new Collagen Veggie Blend that was recently launched by The Paleo Mom (Dr. Sarah Ballantyne), it is super easy to incorporate extra healthiness into our diets! This powder has several veggies such as kale,  broccoli, and carrots, as well as several antioxidant fruits like blueberry, cranberry, and strawberry! Not to mention the gut-healing collagen peptides! Thanks to the smart-thinking of The Paleo Mom, the powder isn't very sweet, which allows the consumer to sweeten it up to their own liking! This makes it perfect for adding to smoothies...or even something like a waffle! While one idea behind the easy-to-use blend is to have a quick and easy way to get more veggies, it also makes a great addition to pancakes or waffles, as they usually aren't too nutrient dense on their own.


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New Mexico News

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Visits made to the Anderson-Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum since it first opened in 2005 now total more than 1 million. Officials say the attendance milestone was surpassed during an annual folk festival that was held at the museum in early June. The adjacent balloon park also is home to an annual international balloon fiesta that draws hundreds of pilots and tens of thousands of spectators to Albuquerque each October for the lifting off of hot air and gas balloons.

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The number of people receiving opioid pain medication prescriptions or risky duplicate prescriptions is showing a precipitous decline in New Mexico since the state ordered doctors to check a database that flags patients who get narcotics from multiple sources. New Mexico State Epidemiologist Michael Landen tracks opioid prescription patterns in the state with the highest drug overdose death rate west of the Mississippi River.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico is seeing higher graduation rates and more students are reading at grade level thanks to reforms made over the past several years, but a top state education official says the demands of public education are evolving and schools need to be prepared. Christopher Ruszkowski took over as acting secretary of the Public Education Department this week. He replaces Hanna Skandera, who announced her resignation earlier this month.

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Gov. Susana Martinez says she will look closely at whether vulnerable New Mexico residents are protected under a Senate Republican plan to overhaul the nation's health care system. Martinez spokesman Joseph Cueto said Thursday the GOP governor did not yet have a chance to review the proposal for rolling back Barack Obama's health care law. Martinez has voiced support for overturning the Affordable Care Act while saying little about a House-approved bill that reduces generous federal funding for expanded Medicaid insurance for low-income adults.

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Members of New Mexico's delegation to Capitol Hill are at odds over whether to reduce the size of the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument under a review by the administration of President Donald Trump. At a congressional hearing, Republican U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce on Thursday urged the secretary of the interior to reduce the land area of the monument on the outskirts of Las Cruces to about one-tenth of its current size.

More News

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Wildlife officials are investigating the death of an endangered Mexican gray wolf pup. Federal and state officials involved in the wolf reintroduction program say a female pup belonging to the Diamond Pack that roams southeastern Arizona was found dead in May. The death was noted in a report released this week. Wildlife managers have placed a food cache in the pack's territory in hopes of reducing the potential for conflicts with livestock in the area.

LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) — A study on proposed commuter rail service between Las Cruces and El Paso will be unveiled Tuesday night at a public meeting. The Las Cruces Sun-News reports (http://bit.ly/2sYAF0k) that the $50,000 study was commissioned by the South Central Regional Transit District and paid for with state funding from Rep. Jeff Steinborn and other state legislators. The study will present the level of projected ridership, applicable fees to ride the train, the involved capital costs to operate the train and the development needed in the community around the stations.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The Latest on wildfires and fire restrictions in New Mexico (all times local): 10 a.m. Authorities say the evacuation of more than 150 homes in the mountains east of Albuquerque has been lifted as firefighters get a handle on the latest blaze burning in New Mexico. The fire started Wednesday afternoon. It took crews a few hours to slow the flames and families were allowed to return to their homes by nightfall. The fire is now 75 percent contained.

A naturalized U.S. citizen should not have been stripped of her citizenship for the sole reason that she lied to U.S. officials, the Supreme Court ruled Thursday, vacating a lower court's decision. The plaintiff, an ethnic Serb who entered the U.S. as a refugee, had argued that false answers she gave to immigration officials were immaterial to procuring citizenship.

"We have never read a statute to strip citizenship from someone who met the legal criteria for acquiring it," Justice Elena Kagan wrote in the court's opinion. "We will not start now."

Mass shootings in Orlando, Fla., Alexandria, Va., and San Francisco during the first two weeks of June — two of them on the same day — have once again put America's complicate

Updated at 2:32 p.m. ET

Senate Republicans unveiled their long-awaited health care overhaul proposal on Thursday. The Senate bill, called the "Better Care Reconciliation Act," would repeal major parts of the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. The broad outlines of it look a lot like the House bill, the American Health Care Act, which was passed in May.

When faced with allegations of sex abuse against one of its bishops, the Church of England "colluded and concealed rather than seeking to help those who were brave enough to come forward," the church's leader acknowledged Thursday.

Thanks to Sigmund Freud, we all know what it means to dream about swords, sticks and umbrellas. Or maybe we don't.

"For 100 years, we got stuck into that Freudian perspective on dreams, which turned out to be not scientifically very accurate," says Robert Stickgold, a sleep researcher and associate professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. "So it's only been in the last 15 to 20 years that we've really started making progress."

Copyright 2017 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.

One of China's most controversial celebrations, the annual dog meat festival in southwest China's Yulin City, is underway.

The event inflames passions among the celebrants and their critics to such a degree that the local government seems to be in a bind, unable to placate either side. Activists say that this year, the government issued a ban on the sale of dog meat, only to reverse following an outcry from locals.

"It's really confusing," says Zhang Xiaohai, secretary general of the AITA Foundation for Animal Protection in Beijing.

Dwayne Ortega Band Live, Saturday, June 24, 11:00-2:00

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Friday, July 26, 2013

Poetry Friday: Midsummer, by Robert Fitzgerald

by Robert Fitzgerald

The adolescent night, breath of the town,
Porchswings and whispers, maple leaves unseen
Deploying moonlight quieter than a man dead
After the locust’s song. These homes were mine
And are not now forever, these on the steps
Children I think removed to many places,
Lost among hushed years, and so strangely known.

This business is well ended. If in the dark
The firefly made his gleam and sank therefrom,

(Read the whole poem here, at The Poetry Foundation.)

The round up is at Semicolon today.

Melissa aka Equidae said...

Can you recommend me some good poetry books for me pls and maybe for kids aged 2 and 4?

Karen Edmisten said...

Years ago, Melissa Wiley recommended a great book to me, and I still love it -- Favorite Poems, Old and New, by Helen Ferris. Has poems for all ages, occasions, seasons, etc. Great book!

Mary Lee said...

"the sullenness of time"

What an interesting personification of time. Not all cheery and hopeful. Not at all...

Karen Edmisten said...

No, not cheery, but I love his evocative language.


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''the use of traditional often time consuming process alludes to the devotion of a mother''. c K. A. Ruane 2007

Tuesday, December 22, 2015

an embroidered ironing board

No, your eyes do not deceive you, it is an embroidered ironing board. It's this piece, you've seen it before. Today stitch has been added to the actual ironing board. I could say that this is finished now but it isn't. It's too narrow. I am going to extend this width ways, add another panel and yes...there will be ironing boards.
Everything is gearing up for the big day now. Shopping, wrapping, cleaning. I'm keeping on top of everything except the wrapping. I dislike wrapping and I swear it doesn't matter how much wrapping paper you always have to go out and buy more. I tried to finish it all yesterday, failed. Later today I will have one last push. Tonight I sew.....and soon it will be time for the plump jolly fellow to visit and all the wrapping will have been worth it.

1 comment:

Dolores said...

What a lovely ironing board cover. I've finished the baking but the house needs cleaning so that's next. Then the wrapping and hopefully, some sewing. No stress just my slow way of getting things done.


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Summer at the Drive-In!

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In 2003, we toured many provinces to capture interviews and locations of some of Canada's drive-in movie theatres. This was for Shining Stars: Canada's Drive-In Movie Theatres for Bravo!.

After we were done, we had lots and lots of great interviews and spectacular images that we still wanted to share. In particular, the camera loved the golden fields and blue skies of our prairies. To celebrate Saskatchewan's provincial jubilee, and drive-ins in general, we gathered some unused footage and creatrf ten short vides essays for Summer at the Drive-In!.

5 minutes x 10 episodes
Completion Date: April 2005
SCN and Drive-In Classics
Shooting on the prairies. divider line before thumbnails
Checking the map Crew in the prairies
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Broadcast Partners: divider line before thumbnails
Drive-In Classics SCN
Content © KarowPrime Films 2005.  Site design by APierowayWeb go back arrow divider line before footer divider line before footer
information about tycoon games.


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A: Each rebate will have different limits on the number of times you can submit. Look on the rebate form for the specific rules for your rebate.

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Tuesday, August 18, 2009

In. His. Dreams.

So I stumbled across this blog by Ellen Ashe called "Unquiet Mind." In a word? Genius. Seriously, check her out. Among her many postings she had submitted something that I had forgotten about. It was part of Sociology 101 at Ohio University, under the feminism category, I believe as a joke. I'm not a feminist, however, I don't need to be one to think the following is hysterical. It's also been in many emails...

Prepare yourself for your husband's homecoming. Take 15 minutes to rest so you will be refreshed when he arrives. Retouch your make-up, put a ribbon in your hair and be fresh looking. He has just been with a lot of work-weary people

Be a little gay and a little more interesting for him. His boring day may need a lift and one of your duties is to provide it.

Listen to him. You may have a dozen important things to tell him, but the moment of his arrival is not the right time.

Don't complain if he's late for dinner or even if he stays out all night. Count this as minor compared to what he might have gone through that day.

Don't ask him questions about his actions or question his judgment or integrity. Remember, he is the master of the house and as such will always exercise his will with fairness and truthfulness. You have no right to question him.

A good wife knows her place.

Can you imagine? Lol! Yeah right.

Ellen's Blog:http://ellenashe.blogspot.com/

In other news...

My darling friend, Saint Anton, has yet again publicized my blog on his monstrous blog, lol. So I feel the urge to reciprocate, lol. Anton's blog: http://ufexp.blogspot.com/2009/08/one-lovely-blog-award-one-nonono.html

Anyway, he has a link on there about personality types. Apparently he found it on Ranch Girl Ramblings http://ranchgirlramblings.blogspot.com/2009/08/its-that-time-again.html. I took a similar test for a business class and I was curious to see if it would come out the same way. So I retook the test from the following link: http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/JTypes2.asp. Anyway, It says I'm an INFJ (Introvert Intuitive Feeling Judging) personality type. Sure enough, same results.

I guess I fit their description, though I might bicker with the introvert suggestion, lol. Descriptions of the various personality types can be found here: http://www.typelogic.com/

So if you're bored, avoiding writing (lol), or just plain curious--take the test and see if you agree with their assessment.

Have a great day everybody. :)

  1. Be a little gay and a little more interesting for him.

    So my advice for you to take a bit of an interest in Lily Allen could have worked wonders for your marriage.

  2. Anton Gully! The more you write, the more I think your halo is cracked, lol. I love men, big, strong, bitchy men, lol. Can't you tell? Haven't you read my blog?

    Poor Lilly Allen, does she know she has a stalker? Lmao. As I said...in. his. dreams.

    Kisses. ;p


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Monday, January 25, 2016

The Park book reprint

My book "The Park" has gone through a second printing and is now available on my publisher's website here:

And this coming Friday (January 29th) there will be a launch for mine and three other books from Les Editions du renard at VU in Quebec City. You can see the facebook event here:

For those who haven't had a chance to see the book below are some of my favourite pages.

Thursday, January 14, 2016

"The Park" book reprint, and an interview

The Park book is being reprinted! Books can be ordered here:

And I recently did an interview about The Park for She Does The City. See it here:


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Tuesday, August 10, 2010

A Toast to Illinois' Early Settlers!

When Kate was writing Ruth by Lake and Prairie, she read all the accounts by the settlers she could get her hands on. Ruth's brother, Robert Nelson Murray, lived to be an old man, outlasting most of his contemporaries. About 50 years after the founding of Naperville, The Inter-Ocean, a Chicago newspaper, sent a reporter to interview Mr. Murray.

They found him sitting outside the general store on an old box, whittling. He was not yet 70 years old, and while some folks did live into their 80's, they were the exception rather than the rule. Illness, accidents, childbirth and hard work took their toll.

The reporter apparently was amused by Murray's "countrified" ways and his tales of the old days. It makes for a delightful interview and a very important resource for the researcher.

One of Murray's stories is about voting for Andrew Jackson in the 1832 Presidential election. Murray says he was eighteen at the time, and while the majority of the settlers voted for Henry Clay, "there were twelve other fellows who liked whiskey and black strap just as I did."

That's the kind of off-hand comment that authors love because it highlights a little domestic detail that can add realistic depth to a story.

Kate did a little extra research on the drinking habits of early Americans. Rum was actually the favored spirit in the original colonies, and was made in America from imported sugar cane, but after the American Revolution disrupted trade with the Caribbean, whiskey became more common. There were plenty of Scottish and Irish immigrants around who were distilling whiskey from excess grain.

Early Americans drank alcohol all day long. In many cases, it was healthier. Polluted water caused illnesses like cholera and even safe water often needed to stand to let the mud settle out. Milk could kill you, as it did Abraham Lincoln's mother, if your cow was eating poisonous plants.

Wine-making was not successful in the colonies and beer spoiled too quickly to transport it to far-flung settlements, so hard liquor was most common. Old recipes exist to make whiskey toddies and flips and other drinks -- like Mr. Murray's whiskey and black strap.

Black strap is a type of molasses that is created from the third boiling of sugar cane. After each boiling, more sugar crystals are formed, and the syrup that's left behind gains more of a "burnt" taste and color. That's why black strap is black compared to the earlier "golden" molasses.

In Ruth by Lake and Prairie, whiskey and black strap is passed around by the men during their Fourth of July celebrations on the schooner. In the pursuit of research, Kate admits that she did try a whiskey and black strap herself.

Let's just say it must be an acquired taste!

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15 Jan 2017

The Romantic Regency era

Happy 2017 to all

As someone who enjoys change, I've always liked the idea of the 'New Year' and so far no two have ever been the same, thank goodness!  So for my first post of the year, here's an update from the drawing board and another foray backward through the years to the time which inspired these latest designs.

When I was thinking up these illustrations, I was looking around for ideas that would have a romance about them.  The image of a grand Regency-style manor house with twinkling lights popped into my head and I knew it would be a perfect image for a lampshade.  And what a treat it would be for me sketch up some new patterns while dreaming away about my favourite period dramas..!

The romantic and racy Regency era.

What do most people remember of when they think of the Regency Era?  Our minds fill with images of empire line gowns, horse-drawn carriages and exquisite neo-classical mansions... With everything and everyone being in their own proper place, displaying dignity and decorum.  It is particularly ironic then that the only reason that 'Regency' exists at all as an era, is because during this time Britain's king - George III - had gone completely mad.  As he spent more time talking to inanimate objects than governing the country, his son was sworn in as the 'Prince Regent', marking the start of this highly romanticised time.

Perhaps Jane Austen springs straight to mind, with her sharp portraits of the elegant-yet-stifled society in which she lived?  In fact, Austen is just the most famous of a large host of popular authors of the time.  It started in 1814, when there came a revolution in terms of print manufacturing.  The invention of 'steam-printing' meant that the number of pages-printed-per-hour turned from 200 to 1100, overnight.

Jordan's bestselling books exist thanks to you, Koenig
Isn't it fascinating how a purely technological advancement can have such a profound effect on the arts?  The so-called "fashionable novel" was born out of this lucky invention, meaning that cheaply manufactured stories of high society were now freely available to all the public, changing the readership of the country forever.  Within twenty years, the weekly 'Illlustrated London News' would begin publication, shocking society with it's flashy and frivolous articles but nonetheless gathering up 26,000 eager readers on its first issue alone (no hashtags!).  Some might even see this the first gossipy trickle that would cement the British media's cut-throat and snarky reputation to this very day.

I just love this place where art and science meet.  Could the inventor of the steam-printer ever have dreamed where his invention would lead the world?  Perhaps he did.  But I imagine he was probably too busy with his head in facts and figures to wonder.

I do enjoy my little research projects and I'm going to be sharing my inspirations from history with every new collection - so if you are a regular visitor here, expect more art and education coming up for 2017!

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Friday, November 28, 2014

Getting A New Job: Go in the Direction of your Dreams

A male coworker left for a new job.  This is a perfect masculine card.  This card was created by Sue for our card club.

Crumb Cake
Very Vanilla
Early Espresso
Gold Sparkles

Circle Punches
Embossing folder

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Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Memorial Day Weekend

I hope everyone had a great Memorial Day weekend. We had fun and the rain didn't come in until yesterday afternoon. The rain has been a constant lately, so I was glad it held off for the most part. It did sprinkle Sunday, but not for long.

Anyway, I took Adam and Aurea to Guntown Mountain and Dinosaur World on Saturday and they had a blast:

Sunday, I went to my grandmother's house and collected a few items. Then, yesterday I kept Korey and played with her, Aurea, and Aurea's friend all day. It was a nice long weekend.

Monday, May 18, 2009

Back at it

Well, it's Monday and I'm back at the office. I am not a big fan of Mondays, or of mornings in general for that matter. I miss the weekend already and it's not even lunch time yet! I guess I'm in for a long week. I believe part of that comes from the fact that next weekend is a long weekend and I'm ready for 3 days off. Unfortunately, one day will be spent cleaning out my grandmother's house. I miss her, but picking through old furniture and found "treasures" does not sound like a fun day. On the bright side, it is a long weekend so I still have two days for other things.

This weekend was good. I took Aurea and we met Jennifer and Korey and went to Korey's school playground to let the girls play. Most of the weekend, Aurea spent outside playing with her friends or playing her new Wii game. I printed some photos with the new PhotoSmart printer I bought a couple of months ago. I also put up some pictures and reorganized some things around the house. I guess being single again does have some advantages.

The interior proofs for my book are almost ready! I'm really excited. I hope that means we are close to being ready to sell it. I can't wait! It will be on amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, outskirts' press website, and whereever else I pitch it and get it accepted.

Now, I need ideas. Being down to one income is not helping my life at the moment. While I hope my book comes out and sales wonderfully, I'm also realistic that that may take awhile. In the meantime, I would like to try to do something from home to make a little extra money. The problem is, everything I find on my own is some pyramid scheme or a complete scam! Any suggestions?

Thursday, May 14, 2009

My chaotic life

I haven't felt like blogging much lately, so thank you to any people actually still reading this. I have had so much going on in my life that blogging just had to take a backseat to it all. I'm glad to be able to come back and write about some of it. I won't get detailed though since it is mostly personal.

I learned in March that you don't necessarily know someone and what they are capable of as well as you think, even after three years. Some people just do not have respect for other people and do not see what is wrong with hurting them. I will not go into detail, but it is now an ongoing situation I will have to deal with for months or even years to come.

My grandmother passed away in April, she was 95. She lived a nice, long life. It hurt when she went, but we all knew it was time. I was just grateful I had the opportunity to say goodbye.

My life has been very chaotic since March and I'm ready for things to settle down. It is much quieter at home without a man around. Work has also calmed down since UK had its graduation last weekend.

Aurea is doing well. She is ready for school to be out. However, due to makeup days for snow and ice, she won't be out until June 4 this year. Adam is enjoying track and school events, but he is ready to finish school too.

The publisher sent the cover proofs for my book. I'm really excited and anxiously awaiting the interior proofs so we can finish production and get this book ready for sale!

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Carrots, Eggs, & Coffee!

Carrots, Eggs, & Coffee!

A carrot, an egg, and a cup of coffee...You will never look at a cup of coffee the same way again.

A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up, She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved, a new one arose.

Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three p ots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to boil. In the first she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and in the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil; without saying a word.

In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl. Turning to her daughter, she=2 0asked, ' Tell me what you see.'

'Carrots, eggs, and coffee,' she replied.

Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. The mother then asked the daughter to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard boiled egg

Finally, the mother asked the daughter to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma. The daughter then asked, 'What does it mean, mother?'

Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity: boiling water. Each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened. The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water.

'Which are you?' she asked her daughter. 'When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?

Think of this: Which am I? Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength?

Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but a fter a death, a breakup, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and hardened heart?

Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you. When the hour is the darkest and trials are their greatest do you elevate yourself to another level? How do you handle adversity? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?

May you have enough happine ss to make you sweet, enough trials to make you strong, enough sorrow to keep you human and enough hope to make you happy.

The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything that comes along their way. The bright est future will always be based on a forgotten past; you can't go forward in life until you let go of your past failures and heartaches.

When you were born, you were crying and everyone around you was smiling.

Live your life so at the end, you're the one who is smiling and everyone around you is crying.

May we all be COFFEE!!!!!!!


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Monday, May 25, 2015

K Club Special (Part 18) Kay Campbell - Smile Girl

Wow, have I been on a very interesting historical search over the last several months.  Apparently, early on in her career, Kay (one of our favorite 70s catalog models) was a "Smile Girl" for Jantzen. They had an advertising theme called "Just wear a smile and a Jantzen."  And as part of that campaign, they had these "Smile Girls" as company ambassadors.

What exactly was a "Smile Girl?"

Well, they were gals with great smiles (duh).  Here is Kay along with two other smile girls, Karol Kelly and Wendy Walters.

I got onto this era of Kay's career when Blue Senshi sent me the following little snippet.......

"A friend of my mother's entered my picture in Jantzen's first Smile Girl contest."  That is one really good friend.  Naturally I had to find out more which started a multi-month search that led to some real treasures.  So sit back and enjoy!!

Apparently there was a national contest to find these Smile Girls.  I assume that was to try and generate interest and find that "all American" look.  Here is newspaper clip about the local contest that Kay participated.  So how did she do?

Yep she won (are you surprised?) Now it was on to the national competition.

Yes, Kay in this pic.  But this was just the beginning....

The Smile Girls at the New York World's Fair.  This pic just drips of 60s uber-coolness.  Of course that was when the World's Fair was a Big Deal.

But wait, there's more for the Smile Girls.  They got to go on a big tour of Europe.  Note that Kay mentioned that she wasn't interested in pursuing a modeling career.  I guess she changed her mind?

The Smile Girls arrive in London.  Note that Kay always seems to be positioned in the center of these pictures - like in the first pic (just an observation.)  Rights for this photo are reserved.  Please contact me for permission if you wish to re-publish.

And when in London, what does one do?  Well you have tea of course!!  Rights for this photo are reserved.  Please contact me for permission if you wish to re-publish.

So now we know how Kay started her career, and what a career that was.  And to think it all began when a friend of her mom entered her pic in a local contest!  Go back to the first newspaper clip and you'll see that Kay was heading off to great things!!

Monday, May 18, 2015

Sizzlin' Sears Swimsuits - (Part 7) Challenge Accepted!!

Apparently, one of my favorite retro sites - - published some pics from a British catalog called Argos from the 80s where, it was suggested, the babes of Argos were perhaps a bit more "foxy" thanthe fare we enjoyed in the JCPennys and Sears catalogs over here in the States. Well, my friends, as we say down here in Texas "Them thars fightin' words, pardner."   You can see that post here.

So in the interest of some good natured fun, I'll see counter here with some happen' 70s swimsuits.  Yeah, JCP and Sears might have been tame compared to Argos, but we had a secret weapon - Aldens.  Combine that with swimsuits and we have some pretty heavy artillery with which to fight back....

I wish they all could be California girls......Yep, nothing was hotter than Kathy in a bikini.  Check that, two pics of Kathy in bikinis and, well, 'nuff said.  Combine that with the laid back attitude Kathy is displaying on the left, and it's game over folks.  Score one for Aldens. (1)

The west coast has the sunshine and the girls they get so tanned......  I admit that Argos definitely flashed some skin (and I'm certainly not complaining about that!).  However, even in one pieces and those groovy 70s style (sort of) bikinis, these girls were the stuff of dreams.   Score two for Aldens.

Speaking of skin....

I dig a French bikini on Hawaii Island.  Dolls by the palm trees in the sand... Speigel throws its hat, or rather Pam threw her top, into the competition.  I'd better leave it at that. Score three for Aldens with an assist from Spiegel..

And when Aldens didn't have Kathy, they had Jayne.  And while Argos had the girls in showers, we have girls splashing...oh never mind.  I keep forgetting that this blog is PG rated, darn!! The knit style bikini was sooo 70s.  Wait, make that sooo 80s!! Score four for Team Aldens!!

Yeah, but I couldn't wait to get back to the States.  Back to the cutest girls in the world...Okay, perhaps Penneys was a bit tame.  They couldn't flash the skin, but they could turn on the cuteness! Still I'll have to call this one a draw.

Well it looked like this contest was shaping up to be a runaway rout. Are we loosing momentum now??

Yep, we sure are!! I think we loose a point for that one!!

We need something to turn this thing around in a hurry...

California gurls, we're unforgettable, Daisy dukes, bikinis on top..... That's one way to stop a comeback cold - with a super hot pic of Kathy in a plunging one-piece.  What were the rest of those song lyrics?  Oh yeah, something about a popsicle.  Game, set, match for Aldens!!

PROGRAMMING NOTE:  I usually don't talk about upcoming posts, but in this case I'll make an exception.  Next week we're going to start another round of K Club Specials featuring the big four: Kay, Karen, Colleen, and Kathy (of course).   I've spent a lot of time and effort getting next week's post ready.  So for all you loyal followers of this blog, please be sure to check it out.

(1) Pic courtesy of JJ's Playhouse.  Thanks!

Monday, May 11, 2015

The Big Book Catalog Series (Part 6) 1972c!

We seem to be stuck on 1972 in our reviews of the Big Book catalogs of the 70s.  Well, there's a darn good reason.  It was a huge year for Kathy - as we'll see.  So, after a detour with Aldens and Spiegel, we're back with Sears and JCPenney - this time the Spring / Summer editions......

Loyal readers may remember way back, way, way back that my very first post on this blog consisted of the following two pics from the Sears SS 1972 catalog..

Let's step to the right.....

And now let's step left.  What?  Are doing a dance here?   Yep those two pics were the sum total of my first post.  I admit that when I published that first post I never imaged that this blog would  have developed to this point!  Since we started with jeans, let's stay with the jeans theme for awhile....

And the dance theme as Kay and Shelley stretch out those long legs and flash those big smiles!

Okay, we're not dancing here, just Colleen and Kathy showing off some 70s style "patch pocket jeans."

They didn't just have patch pocket jeans, they had cuffed jeans also - groovy baby!!

Kay, Joanne, and Shelley in a some snappy jeans to close out our look at the Sears SS 72 catalog.

And what was happening under the 70s "Jean Scene?"  Well, uh, it looks like bowling shoes?!?!?

Penney's got in on the jeans scene also with groovy bell bottoms and patch pockets!

So what about jeans for the guys??
Uggh, I can't end the post on that note!!

Ahhhh, that's so much better!!  Yeah, there are no jeans here, but I had to use some pretty strong medicine to wash out the image of the previous pic.  And what better way to do that than with Kathy and Karen in some classic spring dresses from Penneys!!

Monday, May 4, 2015

That's So 70s - Jumpsuits (Part 4) The Short Jumpers!

Not quite a jumpsuit, not quite hot pants, they are their own own thing.  Heck, they really don't even have a name - short jumpsuit, romper, short jumpers?  Confused?  good!

Here's what I'm talking about!  Kay, Karen, and Kathy show us some classic short jumpers here.  (1)

What the heck is "color-bright duck."  Anyway, the short jumpsuits usually appeared alongside other styles like here.  (1)

Many times you see the short jumpers paired with other casual, around the house wear like here.  In addition to the white jumper, we have the flowy dress, worn by Pam,and even some shorts - all in terry.

Nothing says summer is here like stretch-knit terry rompers by the lake!

Often the jumpers were paired with the regular long jumpsuits.  You can have your choice!  Once again we're by a lake - I still don't get that. (1)

More terry, more jumpers.  At least we moved from the lake. Oh wait, we're at the beach now and have the entire ocean as a background!

Okay this is just getting ridiculous.  How can I focus on the short jumpsuits when distracted about the background!!  What started out as a post on jumpsuits have devolved into one about water scenes! I'm sure the guy swimming in the pool didn't notice the modeling shoot going on, not at all, nope, never took a peek!!

(1)  These pics courtesy of Blue Senshi.  Thanks!


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After escaping the Roman heat wave with a long trip back to the States, I’m back in town and thrilled to be back to work doing, among other things, giving tours. In the spring, I added affordable small group tours to the repertoire, so if you want to hang out and talk about food and archeology, no need to book a private tour (unless you want to!). These small group itineraries visit two archeological sites that are normally closed to the public, Monte di Testaccio (aka Monte dei Cocci) and the Circus Maximus Mithraeum. Upcoming visits must be booked through Eventbrite. Here’s a bit more about the sites:

Monte di Testaccio is a man-made hill composed of tens of millions of ancient terra cotta amphorae. The hill is a fascinating trash heap which testifies to the Roman appetite for imported oil during the Empire. The next visits to the 135-foot-tall pile of ancient olive oil jugs will be held Sept 18 and Oct 3.

The Circus Maximus Mithraeum, a cavernous underground ruin dedicated to the god Mithras, dates back to the early Imperial period and preserves ancient reliefs. I’ll be leading tours of that site Oct 10 and Oct 24.


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Friday, October 31, 2014

Happy Birthday Ivy Scraps!

This month, Ivy Scraps celebrates birthday number 5. Stop by everyday to pick up a Daily Download then come by between November 7 through 23 for some extra fun.

I am trying something a bit different- A As You Wish Progressive Scrap. Stop by and find out what that means.

Friday, October 17, 2014

New Kit: Reunion

Finally decided my rework of Family Reunion was done. With 15 papers and 30 elements this is a big kit for me.
Super for any kind of gathering, the purples and greens in this kit are fantastic.
Buy it here  - all the other heritage kits should be on sale - pick up this month's heritage theme mini-pixels at $1 each.

Saturday, October 11, 2014

Pieces of the Past Layouts

Look at the wonderful digital scrapbooking layouts created by Ayla (on the Ivy Scraps Creative Team) using parts of my Pieces of the Past Mini-Pixel available for $1 at Ivy Scraps. Look for matching Mini-Pixel kits for a wonderful heritage Mega-Kit!

Saturday, October 04, 2014

Piece of the Past

Ivy Scraps October 2014 MiniPixel is a coordinated kit called Pieces of the Past - perfect for your heritage pages. My part is pictured. Pick up Minis in the store for $1 each and do the challenges in the forum to get a full set.
We are re-starting a heritage challenge. hoping to attract some new people. Come join me.


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Radiation Therapy

I've made it through 5 days of weekday radiation treatments so far.  Only 4 of them have actually been radiation treatments; the first being additional x-rays and positioning efforts.  I am going to be doing this every weekday for a minimum of six weeks.  My daily appointment is at 8:00 a.m.

I see some of the same people here each day. I am feeling pretty lucky. The two ladies I see look like they have it much worse than I. One is probably doing chemotherapy in conjunction with the radiation therapy as she has very little hair. The other must be suffering from lung cancer as she is on heavy oxygen. Lung cancer is the #1 cancer killer for women. They are both quite a bit older than I. While this has been scary, seeing them has made me actually thankful for the situation I am in. It could have been so very much worse. But for the grace of God, go I.

The women's waiting room has lockers, three changing rooms and probably 3 dozen wall cubes for our gowns. I was assigned a cube and given a gown that will be mine for the next 6 weeks. Each day I come in and change into my gown and lock my belongings into a locker. The keys are on elasticized bracelets we wear around. I then wait until they call for me. There are magazines and a table with a puzzle. I suspect a new one will be there by Monday. There were only a few pieces remaining as of 8:00 a.m. Friday. Becuase I have the early morning appointment, I don't have a long enough wait to start working the puzzle. I would imagine that those who have late afternoon appointments get the accumulated schedule issues and have time to tinker with the puzzle.

Once I'm called into my radation room (there are several) they have me lay down and then position me on the table. Both arms go high above my head, where I grasp handles. They take 2 x-rays each day and then proceed with about 15 minutes of other positioning of the machine and actually zap me with the radiation. I swear I can feel it tingle and heat up a little. I don't know if that is just in my head or real. Hard to tell. I've already developed a pinched nerve in my left arm and it hurts like heck to put my arm up there for 20 minutes straight. It's a killer. Hopefully a chiropractic appointment or two can help set that straight.

The doctors and technicians have warned me about the burn my skin is likely to get, so I have armed myself with aloe vera and apply it regularly to help keep my skin intact as best I can. I've also been warned to expect fatigue within another week or two. They don't know what causes the fatigue, but nearly everyone who goes through radiation experiences it. That side affect does bother me. I am concerned about my job. How will I be able to keep working at the break neck speed my job requires? Thankfully my bosses are aware and say they will work with me, but it doesn't assuage my own expectations of myself. I'm prayerfully hoping I can give my own self a break. I need to just take each day at a time.

Each day I try to do something to stay active and not just sit on my butt. So far I've been walking the mall every week day. I manage about 2 miles or so each time. I'm hopeful I can keep that up forever. Once weather gets good again, I can go back to walking my neighborhood or trails here in Sumner. Doctors say that being active means I'll have a 60% better chance of NOT having a recurrance of cancer. That's better than any pill I could take. It makes it VERY worthwhile. I have to do this.

I need to be cancer free. I will survive.

1 comment:

Dori said...

I don't know much, but I suspect the radiation fatigue could be caused by heavy metal build-up in your organs. There is no time for your body to get rid of it. Radiation looks invisible but there is a very good reason why you are in a chamber. You might consider some sort of daily chelation. Talk to your naturopath.


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Tuesday, October 2, 2007

"Mommy, where does God live?"

Yep, she asked the other night when we were walking around the neighborhood with the dog. What was my answer? "Well, let's see...some would say in the Heavens, since in the beginning He made the Heavens and the Earth and if we are here on earth He is there."
"Where are the Heavens?"
"Well, the if the earth is here, many people look to the Heavens up where the stars and sky are."
"He is in the Heavens with the Saints and the Angels..."
"Like I get to be an Angel in the Christmas show?"
"That's right, my love, just like that." I say, smiling on my face and in my heart. "God is also everywhere since He made everything. He is in the trees and the dirt and the grass and the stars...and He made the cats and the..."
"and the dogs and the people and the cars..."
I must say, it is interesting to try to explain that while she is right because nothing happens without God, the actual cars were not made by His hands but through the people whom He gave the brains to use the materials which He created to thinkit up and put it together.
That was mostly it, my darling little daughter and her bright little mind...I love her so if there was any question.


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Ball Smackers and Navy Stripes

Totally out of my go-to-bed-at-9pm-on-weekdays character...but I finally made it to a Rockies game last night with my Dearest Manda, and even indulged in a few microbrews (shocker). Only downfall was a missed all the drama with the Bachelor Pad.  I hear there were lots of tears...but don't worry, I totally DVR'd it!

But the game was great.  Company was fantastic and I even learned a couple of things.  One - all pin stripes on baseball uniforms are matter what the team colors are. Crazy!  Two - the term southpaw originated from left handed pitchers because home base was always west and therefore the leftys faced south.  Interesting....who would have thought!!

Ask me about football and I will talk your ear off.  But baseball is a foreign world to me.  I even started a Baseball Fantasy League this year with Gator Guy with hopes that I would learn more.  From the league I conclude with the following:

1.  I still do not know any thing more about baseball than I did before.  This is supported by the fact that I have not changed anything on my team since day one and have now gone from 10th to 3rd place.  Wish Fantasy Football was that easy.

2.  I created a team of pervs.  Seriously. I named the league Ball Smackers (long story, but the short version is some drunk guy kept yelling out Ball Smackers on the train.  I thought I was so funny that I wrote it down on my sudoku and decided to name any kickball or baseball team after it.)  Gator Guy and I determined that we should leave the league public just to see if we got anyone else.  Well, I built it...and they came. Example team names are:  Family Jewels, Blue Balls, and Big Long Balls.  Seriously....I created a league for all the pervs.  Well done Kat.  Well done.

  1. too funny, I don't know a lot about baseball either but am going to my first MLB game in a few weeks! Can't wait to whip out the facts I learned from your blog today to sound like an expert. ;)

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Thursday, May 29, 2014

Day 1,445: A Letter To My Son on His Fifth Birthday

Dear Augie:

Today you are five years old, and I am writing you a letter. Someday you will come to realize that most of that time that I spent tucked away in the house somewhere writing, I was writing a long, long letter to you and your sister. I wasn't writing it for the normal reasons that sent other mothers to the far reaches of the Interwebs to divulge the secrets of their souls. I was writing it so that you would know me, in case you would never have the chance to know me, because I died before you were old enough to remember me. I was writing it so that I could keep telling you stories, even after I was gone.

That sounds like a cryptic beginning to a letter to a boy who has not yet started kindergarten. And yet, that doesn't concern me, because the hard truths of life have never been far away from you, and you have never been unwilling to admit to them.

Long before I had cancer, when you had just been born, your father and I knew you were an old soul. When you were just a month old, he turned to me and said, Kate. I think he's been here before. And there we were, a couple with no spiritual life to speak of, only half-jokingly discussing who you were before your reincarnation. After all, what three week old baby laughs, a full belly laugh, practically slapping his knees, while he dreams? Laughter is tied to memory, and that is the reason that most very small babies cannot laugh--what do they have to remember? What could be so funny, in less than 30 days? Our guesses as to who you were in the past have evolved with your antics, but we know for sure that whatever life you lived, you had a damn good time.

Of course, life isn't always a good time.

When you were not even one, I had to stop nursing you. You know that by now, if you are reading this; it is a theme of this long letter. You might also know, but you might not, that when I was first diagnosed with cancer, I never once cried around your sister. She was four, and felt everything and understood everything so keenly. I am admitting to you now that I cried around you. I took you for walks in your stroller, and I cried. I talked to you, the way I always talked to both of you when I walked you in your strollers, about whatever was on my mind, as if you were just tiny versions of adults, which, of course, you were. But I also cried, and you would just look at me, and while I told myself that you were a baby and you would never remember your mother crying in that desperate and ineffectual way that she cried in short bursts that came out of nowhere, I knew even then that you would remember. You probably don't know that I chose my surgery path in part because of you. How could I justify a longer recovery period that would stop me from being able to hold my infant son if it wasn't medically necessary? I held you within two days of having my lumpectomy. I couldn't move my left arm, but that was no matter. I have a video of your sister taking her first steps, and I don't have any memory whatsoever of you learning to walk, as fogged as my mind was by grief and chemo and fatigue. Your second year of life was a hard one, but we got through it.

(the last time you ever nursed, on Mother's Day, 5 days after my first cancer diagnosis)

And then--well, and then. We had to go through it again, but this time, it was you who was four, who felt everything and understood everything so keenly. It was you who had night terrors, who began nonchalantly talking about death, and God, and what came before us, what is left when we die, it was you who asked to kiss my missing breast to make it feel better after this round of surgery. I thought I had spared one of my children the memory of this mess, but I was wrong about that too.

Having a mother like me has had its benefits, I suppose. I taught you how to throw a perfect spiral. You appreciate bald women and think they are beautiful and normal, and you probably always will. Having me as your mother means you haven't had to be afraid to talk about things that mothers and children dance around, like illness, aging, death, the world's unfairness, and fear. I am the mother who ignores advice about how to raise a son, how not to crush your spirit and ruin you by assuming you could sit still and behave, because I know something that I do believe you know but not everyone knows. Yes, you are a boy. Yes, you are willful and defiant and easily distracted and you hate sitting still and you are aggressive and loud and funny and you get a lot of attention and you love to shake your little booty and you are always one step away from trouble.

The thing is, Augie, I knew a kid like that.

And no, it wasn't your dad. Haven't I asked you a million times why I am always the one to finish eating first? Because I don't like to sit still either. I've just had to learn how to both be myself and follow some rules, like sitting my behind down at the dinner table. It's hard, but it can be done.

You and I are so much alike that I know damn well that I need to tell you that you don't get to act however you feel like acting, however nature tells you to behave. I didn't get by with it, and neither will you, and not getting by with it didn't ruin me or break my spirit, and neither of those things will happen to you, and hell yes you can sit down and read. I knew you could, but you just didn't feel like it. That's all right. For my entire life, my mother, your beloved MeeMaw, called me...Little Shit. So I get it.

(there I am, breaking into my father's briefcase)

And why wouldn't we be alike, you and I? Now is the time, in this fifth birthday letter, for me to tell you something I have never told anyone. You know by now that I saw you, I bore witness to you, when you were just an egg. I saw the egg that became you on an ultrasound machine during a doctor's visit to discuss my secondary infertility, which we now know was probably caused at least in part by breast cancer. I got pregnant with you that night.

And there it is, that out in the open secret:

It is almost definite that the entire time I was pregnant with you, and the entire time I was nursing you, I had cancer. After my diagnosis, after that awful weaning, your father and I painfully laughed about how you always preferred the left side. You literally fed on my cancer, and you thrived.

I brought you to life in the midst of my death.

It's dramatic, but it's true. And it is something you have always known; in fact, you have spent much of your life believing that I had cancer not in spite of giving birth to you, but because of it. So, while my body was turning on itself, it nourished you and enabled you to become a real person in the world. You have always--ALWAYS--been a person that understood that life and death are opposite sides of the same coin, because that was the environment in which you were born.

So, I get you, with your exuberance for the little things, your sheer force of will, your impatience and your rhythm and your lack of self consciousness and the deep thoughts you have and your interest in the whole world including the things you know are too old for you like sex and whiskey. You try me, because seeing you is like seeing myself, though you are a tad wilder and a much better liar. And I remember what was going through my mind, and the things I plotted, and I know we have our work cut out for us. The chickens have truly come home to roost.

But there are things that I think about that I very rarely say, and I am relieved that I don't need to say them, because someone else who has not yet learned what he is supposed to say says them for me.

Like this: the day of Lenny's 8th birthday party, which might have been the last one when the older kids still tolerated your presence, when you thrilled at the prospect of spending the afternoon with those kids, yelling and showing off and having the time of your life and then collapsing exhausted into bed and exclaiming this was the best day ever. And then your father, telling you to wish upon a star. And you, getting quiet, pensive, almost shy. You, claiming you could not tell him what you wished for, and him saying that was up to you, though if you wanted to tell him, you could, because you could tell him anything. And in the midst of your best joy, you were thinking this:

"I wish we didn't ever have to die."

You were saying to us, this love is painful with its goodness, these moments are more perfect for having been lost, right from the beginning.

And you were right. And me too. I think things like that too. Augie--I wish, I really, really wish. But know this: me first.

I love you.

Happy birthday.

  1. Little Shits.
    Happy Birthday Aug

  2. Happy Birthday, Augie. And as for your wish? Me, too.

  3. Happy birthday to your baby boy.

    I do want to say this: other mothers who are divulging their souls to the far corners of the Internet are doing it for the same reason you are, even though we don't have cancer. I think all mothers are painfully aware of our mortality. We are all hoping ME FIRST but also NOT YET. And we are all hoping to leave a legacy. Yours is a formidable one. Keep it up, Katy.


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Travel Diaries - Thailand #3

Lianne and I rolled out of a 14 hour bus at 6am in Phuket and literally had no idea where to go. Turns out Phuket is actually kind of big, Thailand wise, so after a quick communication break down with the taxi driver we decided on Patong because I vaguely remember that being the main area. We were honestly the worst for looking up travel information, wifi was sparse and any wifi we got we used on more important things like Instagramming that sick pic of us at (insert touristy destination here).
Anyway once we arrived in Patong it seemed like a pretty good choice, there was a Starbucks and in Thailand that is usually a sign that you have picked the most popular area. Our accommodation was right next to the beach which was ideal, especially when it is this pretty;

I will say this though, Patong is definitely the party scene of Phuket, we aren't talking Keeping Up With The Kardashians Thailand Special here, they went there and it was our only knowledge of Phuket so what we were expecting was slightly classier. See I told you we were hopeless. Patong had a pretty full on strip, think Magaluf or another sixth year holiday favourite. Can't exactly imagine Kim and the gang living it up here;

I think the letters missing from the sign paints the perfect picture of what this strip was like - full of cheap bars, strippers, ping pong shows and ladyboys. It was fun for the two nights we stayed here but anymore than that and I would have been bored. Is this what getting old feels like? Funnily enough my best memory of this place is when Lianne and I (mainly me) freaked the fuck out when we found not one, but two HUGE cockroaches lodging in our hotel room. I stormed/ran away down to reception to complain and managed to get an upgrade. I swear I slept with one eye open that night - bloody cockroaches.

We had to catch our boat from Phuket Old Town and from what I could see this area was a lot more chilled out and family orientated so if that's what you are looking for perhaps avoid Patong, you have been warned.

The boat to Ko Lanta takes around two-three hours but it had really pretty views of its surrounding islands and we sunbathed on the back of the deck. Naturally Lianne got a glorious sun-kissed tan and I resembled a cooked lobster, damn Scottish genes.

Ko Lanta was a place we hadn't planned on visiting but we had some time to kill and eneded up staying for three days because we loved it so much. Compared to Phuket it was really peaceful and kind of what we needed to recharge our batteries. We pretty much only sunbathed and ate those few days and it was glorious. Plus check out how cute our little hut accommodation was;

Fun fact - I broke toe taking this very picture to show my Mum how cool my diggs were. I was hobbling around the island for the rest of the trip...

As I mentioned Ko Lanta has some great, quiet beaches and is the perfect place to just chill out. It also has some really good restaurant and our fave was Patty's Secret Garden which does, as Lianne always called it, "normal food". When you have been travelling India and Thailand for 5 weeks and just want a good sandwich and sweet potato chips or a decent poached egg and avocado this is your go to.

So yes if you have time, which we had plenty of as we were in Thailand for 4 weeks, Phuket and especially Ko Lanta are great spots to visit.

The next Travel Diaries post will be focus on our favourite place in Thailand - Phi Phi Island. I have soooo many photos to share so I better go try cut them down now!

Back soon

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01 January 2014

What was the best part of 2013?

Someone on Facebook put that question out there as his status, and I couldn't actually think of any one thing that really stood out as "best."

I can think of lots of things that were good, but they mostly weren't individual events.

I can also think of lots of things that were bad, many of them actual events, but nothing that stands out as "worst."

I guess overall my life chugged along nicely. :)

Single most eventful event? Well, I finally decided it was time to quit Battle Pirates, after 2.5 years of devoting nearly my entire life to the community of people that had built up around the game. The game itself had stopped being much fun a long time ago, but it took a while before I was ready to try to leave my people. That was Dec 28. So far I'm still holding strong. I can't call it best or worst yet, because it isn't done happening.

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What is Evaporated Cane Juice? Definition, Health and Use

Evaporated cane juice is essentially another word for sugar. Evaporated cane juice is often used as a term for ingredient lists for products that do not with to list sugar as a primary ingredient. Evaporated cane juice is composed of a mixture of glucose and sucrose and functions virtually identically to common granulated table sugar. Evaporated cane juice is used as a sweetener in a variety of desserts throughout the world as well as processed food products.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. The above-mentioned food or ingredient may have related health risks not mentioned or not yet discovered. Consult with a medical or nutritional professional for more information.

by Susan White on Mon, 05/10/2010 - 03:45

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Intersection - A Conversation with Fifth Ward City Council Candidates Art Jago and Matt Pitzer

Mar 28, 2017

Columbia City Council elections for the Fifth and First Wards are April 4. This week, Intersection talked with the Fifth Ward City Council Candidates, Arthur Jago and Matt Pitzer. The candidates discuss issues including safety, policing, development and city growth.

Listen to the full episode here:

Intersection's producers spent time talking with people in the Fifth Ward about what they want from their new city council member.

Intersection’s producers are Claire Banderas, Margaret Vatterott and Trevor Hook.


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Missouri alters program for abuse victims due to St. Louis County court order

Apr 21, 2017
Originally published on April 21, 2017 11:08 am

About 1,500 people are being asked to reapply for a Missouri program that shields the addresses of abuse victims after a St. Louis County judge ordered a woman to reveal her home address because of a flaw in the application process.

The Safe at Home program lets victims of domestic violence, rape, sexual assault, human trafficking or stalking keep their addresses confidential by routing mail through a post office box run by the secretary of state's office

St. Louis County Circuit Judge Sandra Farragut-Hemphill recently ordered one participant to reveal her actual address as part of a divorce case. The judge said the application failed to include a sworn statement about the abuse as required by Missouri law.

The Missouri Secretary of State's office said Thursday that participants have been sent new forms that include a sworn statement.

Copyright 2017 KWMU-FM. To see more, visit KWMU-FM.


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Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Mel's Reivew, Sirenz Back in Fashion by Charlotte Bernnardo and Natalie Zaman

It's Hell on heels--again!

When Shar tries on a ring from Hades, it activates an obscure contractual clause that puts Shar and former-frenemy-now-friend Med in Hades' service once more. Shar is whisked away to the Underworld to prepare a ball for Hades, while Meg is sent to retrieve the errant soul of spoiled rich girl Paulina Swanson and send her to the abyss. Just when it appears the girls will be doomed to serve Hades for eternity, Shar meets two possibly helpful demi-gods who also happen to be gorgeous. Can the girls finally ditch the Lord of the Dead once and for all?

Mel's Review
4 Triple Goddess Moons
This was the second book in the Sirenz series. Each Chapter flipped back and forth , being told from the point of view from each of the two main characters. I didn't care for this at first, but once I got used to it I really enjoyed the book. It was easy to follow the story even though I never read the first book. The characters and their reactions were cute and it was a fun twist on the Greek gods and Hades' Underworld. I am interested to see what happens next with Hades and the girls and definitely plan on following the rest of this series.

Stalker Links
Facebook Fanpage
Charlotte's blog
Natalie's blog

Purchase Links
Barnes and Nobles

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Tuesday, January 27, 2009

CPSIA and the threat to handmade

As parents and concerned citizens I’m sure most of us at one time or another have been confronted with the question of lead poisoning. But have you asked yourself what your government is doing to protect your children from lead contained in toys? The answer? They're banning toys, taking books from schools and libraries, hurting low income families, killing entrepreneurial spirit and risking putting the economy in an even greater depression than we've seen in decades. I'd like to introduce you to their solution: the CPSIA.

Do you know about the CPSIA? No? Then I ask you to take a few minutes to find out about it.The CPSIA stands for Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, a new set of laws that will come into effect on 10 February, 2009 and will impact many, many people in a negative way. Make no mistake, this is very real. View it for yourself. If Forbes, the American Library Association and numerous other media are paying attention, perhaps you should too.

How will these new laws affect you? Well, here are a few examples:

To the Parents of Young Students:Due to the new law, expect to see the cost of school supplies sky rocket. While those paper clips weren't originally intended for your student to use, they will need to be tested now that your 11-year-old needs them for his school project. This law applies to any and all school supplies (textbooks, pencils, crayons, paper, etc.) being used by children under 12.

To the Avid Reader:Due to the new law, all children's books will be pulled from library and school shelves, as there is no exemption for them. That’s okay though, there's always television. Our children don’t need to learn the love of reading after all.Article from the American Library Association http://www.wo.ala.org/districtdispatch/?p=1322

To the Lover of All Things Handmade:Due to the new law, you will now be given a cotton ball and an instruction manual so you can make it yourself since that blanket you originally had your eye on for $50 will now cost you around $1,000 after it's passed testing. It won't even be the one-of-a-kind blanket you were hoping for. Items are destroyed in the testing process making one-of-a-kind items virtually impossible. So that gorgeous hand-knit hat you bought your child this past winter won’t be available next winter.

To the Environmentalist:Due to the new law, all items in non-compliance will now be dumped into our already overflowing landfills. Imagine not just products from the small business owners, but the Big Box Stores as well. You can't sell it so you must toss it. Or be potentially sued for selling it. You can't even give them away. If you are caught, it is still a violation.

To the Second-Hand Shopper:Due to the new law, you will now need to spend $20 for that brand new pair of jeans for your 2-year old, rather than shop at the Goodwill for second hand. Many resale shops are eliminating children's items all together to avoid future lawsuits.

To the Entrepreneur:Due to this new law, you will be forced to adhere to strict testing of your unique products or discontinue to make and/or sell them. Small businesses will be likely to be unable to afford the cost of testing and be forced to close up shop. Due to the current economic state, you'll have to hope for the best when it comes to finding a new job in Corporate America.

To the Antique Toy Collector:Due to the new law, you'd better start buying now because it's all going to private collection and will no longer be available to purchase. “Because the new rules apply retroactively, toys and clothes already on the shelf will have to be thrown out if they aren't certified as safe.” http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123189645948879745.html

To the American Economy:Already struggling under an economy that hasn’t been this weak in decades, the American economy will be hit harder with the inevitable loss of jobs and revenues from suppliers, small businesses and consumers. The required testing is far too costly and restrictive for small businesses or individuals to undertake.

To the Worldwide Economy: Due to this new law, many foreign manufacturers have already pulled out of the US market. You can imagine the impact of this on their businesses. If you think this is exaggerating, here is a recent article from Forbes

And for those of you prepared to be stupefied and boggled, The New Law

Did you know? If this upsets or alarms you, please react.

Monday, January 26, 2009

Voting is open

Get out there and support soapers. Vote for the best swirl.

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

6 Color Swirl, In The Pot Method, with Log Mold Tutorial

So I when needed to get another 6 color swirl batch in stock, so I thought I would take pics for a tutorial. With the swirl contest upon us, I wanted to share this with other soapers.

For those that can not see pics here is a link to my photo bucket.

WARNING: I know this works with my recipe, and this scent. Each formula is different, as is scent, so try this at your own risk.

For this, set up is the most important. I have all my containers for colors set up ahead of time. I am making a 64 oz (of oils) batch. Approx 1 tsp of mica is in each cup. I have my oils melted, my lye cool, and my mold all ready. My Fragrance is already mixed into my oils.

For this soap, I have used the pop micas from TKB Trading. My base is uncolored.

I then mix my lye into my oils. I mix until everything is just emulsified. I do move quickly, and start separating just after emulsified. Maybe the lightest trace. If you are not confident with your fragrance, or recipe, I can not guarantee you will not experience separation.

I quickly pour off my base color into each of the cups with the waiting mica. For this soap, I am pouring about 1.5 cups of raw soap into each cup.

I stick blend each color to combine. Yellow then orange. Then rinse. Then the pink. Rinse. Etc. After mixing, I am still at a light to medium trace.

I then get ready for the In-The-Pot Swirl. For 6 colors, I will pour each color around the bucket, clockwise in rainbow order. If using similar colors, like reds, oranges, and yellows, have each color next to a contrasting one so the colors don't blend. Here I start with the pink, pouring from about -8 inches above the top of the bucket so that the color sinks all the way to the bottom. At this point, I pour about two thirds in the pot, setting the rest aside.

Here you can see the pink, orange, yellow, and green. I am pouring the blue:
After pouring the purple (between the blue and red), I then go back and pour about half of what is left of each color in the center:

To get the colors to actually swirl, you will need to stir the pot. Taking my spatula, I put it in the pot near the red, and go around the pot clockwise 1-2 times. I follow the same path, about 1.5 inches from the side of the pot, right where the color is. I don't head to the center. But, since I am using a larger spatula to stir, it does move the colors more then going through them, so I probably do catch soap toward the middle.The more you stir, the finer the swirls will be. Too much swirling and you risk mixing the colors too much, getting grey.

Next, you will pour into the mold. Try to pour from one end of the mold to the other, you will probably need to do more then one pass, but again, if you pour in too many passes, you risk overmixing:
After pouring: You can leave the soap at this point, but I like to swirl on the top too. So, sow, I take the rest of the soap we saved from the swirl colors and pour on the top. By now, you are probably at a thicker trace with the left over soap, so you may have to spoon it on, or if you can, pour on the top from 3-4 inches away, so the color does not sink down and ruin the swirls below. Here I start with the pink:
And continue with other colors: When done with the pouring, before swirling, it will look like this:

I like to use a thin wooden stick with pointed end to swirl the top. Here you can do lines, circles, what ever your style is:

And when done:
Here is what it looks like cut:

I hope this inspires a lot of soapers to push with log mold swirls using the In The Pot method. I love it!

‘Best Swirl’ Photo Contest

For soapers out there, you know that swirling is truly an art form that takes practice, and takes many forms. That is why I was so excited to see a contest for the best swirl!

Saponifier Magazine is holding a contest for the best soap swirl. Please check out the entries to drool over beautiful soap, or click here to enter!

Stay tuned, I will be posting the tutorial on how I did my swirled soap later this evening.

Monday, January 12, 2009

What a crzy world we are in when we want to read updates from people. Updates about nothing sometimes, but I tell you, it is fun.

Check out Twitter and follow me :) http://twitter.com/kbshimmer

Sunday, January 11, 2009

Two new soaps and a restock

I love making new soaps, deciding what scent to soap, what colors to use, how I want the colors to interact in the soap, that is what makes this fun for me. But, even better, is having to restock a scent, as that shows I got it right! Here are three soaps I have been working on.

Sweet Lust is a sweet floral scent I blended to celebrate the season of love. Reds and pinks accent the scent. Green notes and a slight fruitty note complete this fun, lushish soap. Still on the curing rack, look for this soap in a few weeks.

Right now the scent of citrus fills the air at my house. First from my newest soap, a great combo of lemon and lime. Show here in full gel, I can't wait to cut this soap!!

Molten Lavender is my restock. Lemon accents the sexy scent of lavender while swirls of dark purple and lemon yellow pop against the light purple background. Shown here in full gel, this soap should be ready to cut tomorrow! I can not wait!

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Whew, long time, no posts!

I am a bad blogger, I admit it! I have good intentions to post, but them something always gets in the way.

Some of those things have been new soaps! I want to share a few of them with you, kind of a sneak peak before the hit etsy.
This soap is scented with a wonderful lilac scent. It is colored with 6 different shades of purple, blue, and pink, colors that I remember from the lilac bushed outside my childhood home. This is really one of my favorite scents so far, so fresh and spring like!

This next soap is Very Berry Vanilla. A dupe of a popular Raspberry scent found at mall Bath and Body stores, this scent is sweet, fruity, without being overpowering. This scent is a best seller both in my soaps and in my sugar scrub.

One of my best sellers is my 6 color swirl. To me it smells like a tropical vaction, sitting on the beach, fruity drink in hand, the sweet smell of mango, banana, pineapple. This is a restock batch, the colors are a bit brighter this time, but still lovely I think.

Be on the look out, soon I will share my tutorial on how I created this soap!

Christmas has come and gone, and the last soap I am going to share was the special batch made just for gift giving. But, it was so well liked, I think it will join my holiday line up next year! Frosted Mint, a fresh blend of peppermint, spearmint, and other mints, this is a cool scent that just screams holiday! I enjoy this scent in my matching bath bombs and mint foot scrub. Both are a great way to cool down during the hot summer days.

Stay tuned. I have a few more soap I will share, a tutorial to post about swirling, and some sales coming up that my blog readers will get to enjoy early!


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Thursday, August 07, 2008

Cosmopolitan's perennial features on how to please men sexually have long been reliably laughable and a deserving target of ridicule, but the execution of this Onion piece is still amazingly pitch-perfect and hilarious. I especially love the researcher and the footage from their lab.

'Cosmopolitan' Institute Completes Decades-Long Study On How To Please Your Man

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The Concert Choir of University of Mary Hardin - Baylor under the direction of Dr. Michelle Roueche, Director of Choral Studies, Professor of Music, rehearse Magnificat in D Major, BWV 243 by J. S. Bach in Manning Chapel on the UMHB campus in Belton, Texas.

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Thursday, 15 April 2010

Project 365 - Day 64 (15/04/10)

Day 64: A little colder today than it has been hence the multiple layers.

Faith boots, grey socks, leggings, denim shorts I've made, Primark t-shirt, H&M cardigan, leather jacket, Mum's scarf and Turkish earrings.

It's supposed to warm up again tomorrow so I'm looking forward to that.

Much love

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