text:
In the efforts to be fully transparent, and as body positive as I can be while also working on my physical weight for health reasons, I tried Noom for a variety of reasons, some of them weight-related and some of them not. I'm really excited to tell you how it went. However, I understand reviews like these can be really triggering, especially for those struggling with negative body image. As always, if you feel something like this will be hard for you to read, don't hesitate to close the window.
I started using Noom, an app that divided food into Green, Yellow, and Red groups, at least 5 years ago. I remember signing up and having the app on my phone. I didn't like the Red, Yellow, and Green designations; I totally "got" it, but it didn't really help my issues with seeing foods as "bad" versus "good."
And while Noom does subscribe to the idea that making foods taboo is bad, using Red, Yellow, and Green ascribes them to "Stop," "Caution", and "Go", which still arranges them on a spectrum of Good to Bad. For all their dedication to terminology at Noom, I don't know why they kept this designation system! They could have at least chosen different colors.
Either way, I stopped using the app and promptly forgot about it until I heard an ad for that very same app on one of the many podcasts I listen to. "Huh?" I thought. "Noom costs MONEY now?!" I needed to know what the difference was.
Noom Coach is a program like the app I used way back when—that same structure of assigning food to categories and you eat a percentage of the category each day—with the added addition of a Goal Specialist, a Group function, and more. Basically, it became a support program to help you navigate both the physical aspects of weight loss and the emotional and psychological aspects as well. As someone who has struggled with my weight for a long time, I found this focus a little refreshing; there is a lot of psychology around the foods we eat and why (as well as the foods we don't eat and why) and I've always been very interested in it.
As well, since one of my goals in 2019, is to have a second baby, I knew I needed to get to a starting point that would be less damaging to my body than last time. (Again, that disclaimer at the beginning of this post comes in). This is something I need to do for my long-term health, since having preeclampsia during a pregnancy massively increases my risk of heart disease. I thought Noom would be a great option for that, since it seems a little more gentle than, say, Weight Watchers.
What is Noom?
Ok, so first things first: what is Noom? Noom is, like a said, a weightloss app. But it's design is not just like MyFitnessPal or Weight Watchers. It targets the psychological aspects of weight gain and loss as well. Like I said, they divide foods into Green, Yellow, and Red. Basically, Green foods are foods that are nutrient dense, but not calorie dense. Everything in Noom is based on caloric density. Green foods are things like fruits and vegetables, whole wheat bread, leafy greens. Yellow foods are things like avocado and peanut butter; nutrient dense, but also kind of calorically dense. And Red foods, despite Noom's insistence that no that's not the case are the foods you expect: butter, oil, fast food, coffees.
But it's more than just tracking food. I only signed up for a 2 week free trial (and spoiler alert, I did not spend the money for the first 3 months), but I still had access to the Goal Specialist you are assigned immediately. After a while, you'll also be assigned a Group Coach, as well as a Support Team. That means within the app you have daily articles to read, quizzes to take, and more, as well as daily weigh ins, tracking your intake, and more. Plus, you'll have support throughout the entire time.
In theory, this sounds like a great program. They set you up for success right from the beginning and just ask you to be more conscious of choosing nutrient dense foods. For me, that worked really well.
My Experience Using Noom
I'm an emotional eater. I know this. I know it! I also know that I love, love, love certain foods and viscerally hate others. I am a very picky eater. I don't like most condiments. I don't like anything mushy. I struggle with leafy greens because I find the texture really unpleasant in my mouth. In general, I'm just a picky eater. I am also extremely busy and very stressed. I have a 3-year-old, a full time job, and a lot going on in my life right now. When I originally started this review, my brother was about to get married—and if you've followed me for any length of time, you know that this was a huge stressful event in my life. Well, a lot happened both before and after the wedding; so much so that I had to put this review aside to deal with it and not use this review as a place to unload.
I'll just say: my experience with Noom did not help my stress levels.
Like I said, I think Noom's setup is absolutely great; the app is lovely and easy to use. I loved the daily articles about psychology. I loved the quizzes. The separating of food into color groups made sense, but I still found it a little triggering to see that Red column. There was one thing I had a huge problem with. It was my Goal Specialist.
I want to preface this, again, with this: I know 100% that my experience is based entirely on the fact that one person messed up and it ruined the entire app for me. I know that. And I know that if I had gotten any other Goal Specialist, who was more of a match to me, i probably would have spent the money on Noom Coach to keep going for 3 months. I know those things.
Ok, so, it's time to talk about what happened.
The purpose of the Goal Specialist is to walk you through the goals you set up in Noom. My goal was to have a baby in 2019 and to get to a happier, healthier point, both physically and mentally. I won't say the name of the Goal Specialist I was assigned; we'll call her S. The thing about the Goal Specialist was that she only really sent me one message per day—and in fact, for the first 4 days of the program, I only got 1 message from her asking me to think about things I wanted to work on, then message her on Wednesday after I signed up. That was easy enough.
Here's roughly what I sent:
"Hi S! I've been thinking about things I want to work on and I definitely think preparing ahead is going to be a big one. I feel like I'm busy all the time and end up grabbing whatever is easiest to eat once I get to work. I have a toddler and getting him out the door is my number one priority in the morning, alongside making sure my husband gets to work on time. I feel like I don't really have the time or energy to really food prep, so ideas for grab-and-go items I can have ready would be amazing!"
I got a reply from S nearly 24 hours after I sent that. Almost always, if she messaged me in the morning and I replied immediately, it would be 24 hours before she replied again. I don't know if this was part of the program, but it made communicating really difficult. I unfortunately didn't save her response when I deleted and unsubscribed from the program and app, but this is roughly what she said:
"Michelle, it sounds to me like you're making a lot of excuses. We all have the same time in the day."
Firstly, categorically, no, we don't all have the same time in the day. I work 65+ hours a week adding up all my various jobs and responsibilities, on top of having a toddler, cooking and cleaning, caring for a large dog, and taking time for myself. I work out 4 days a week already. The subtle implication that I'm lazy made me see absolute red. This reply was not helpful and did not answer my question or request whatsoever; it didn't help me get to my goals. It was demotivating and damaging.
My reply was absolute shock that she would say something like that to me. It was not a supportive comment to make to someone who was asking for very specific suggestions. I replied and told her that absolutely was not something I was ok with her saying and I would be requesting a new Goal Specialist. Which I did.
It took 4-5 days for them to assign me a new Goal Specialist.
In that time, S messaged me again and apologized, then again implied that I don't grocery shop! So great, another snide comment about being lazy. Nice!
When I was assigned my new Goal Specialist, I was close to the end of my free trial. I tried having a conversation with my Goal Specialist about how I was struggling to remain motivated to use the app after S's messages and, again, it always took nearly 24 hours to receive a reply. When I expressed concern about the program when it took so damn long for anyone to reply to me, the new Goal Specialist (we'll call her A) simply apologized. Finally, I realized I was done; it wasn't working for me, despite the fact that it had everything I really wanted in a weight loss app. I told A I wanted to cancel my subscription before the end of my free trial so that I would not be charged for 3 months.
It took two days for that to happen, but I wasn't surprised by that.
Final Thoughts
I know that's a lot to read. And trust me, it took me an embarrassing amount of hours to write it in a way that wasn't just emotional.
As someone who is incredibly Type A and fears being seen as lazy, being called lazy was a huge trigger for me. (And again, I realize this is the action of one person, but it is one person who represents Noom.) It made me immediately not want to even open the app, let alone follow what it told me. If the representative thought I was just lazy and making excuses, then what did it matter? The things I struggle with—taking time for myself, taking a break from working, not having to be perfect all the time—are very real, and yet, I felt like my Goal Specialist had completely devalued the things I struggle with. She acted like they weren't real and that hurt a lot.
I think part of this issue is this: i was assigned a Goal Specialist that was 1) much younger than me and 2) not a parent. I don't mean this as a way to talk down to young people (she was maybe 22 or 23) or people who aren't parents. But fundamentally, the life experience between a fresh-out-of-college Gen Z and a 30-year-old millennial is monumental. The same as between a non-parent and a parent. I definitely feel sometimes that young people and non-parents look at parents and think we are just being lazy in regards to what we eat and our activity levels. But it's not true. We know it's not true, but it's impossible to fight a stereotype, ultimately.
And beyond just that life experience level, what does a Goal Specialist who has never been overweight, never had to rush a toddler into the car to get to drop off on top, never had to walk around with the evidence of pregnancy on their body forever, know about my life? About my experience in this body? About the invisible sacrifices I make both at home and at work daily? The ways in which I have to choose between my health and the health of my family? How can they help me when they think I'm just making excuses? If you read even a single article about working mothers, you know that we perform massive amounts of emotional labor and make sacrifices every day. (And when I say working mothers, I mean mothers who stay home too. Taking care of a home and raising children full time is work, they just aren't being compensated.) What can a Goal Specialist expect to motivate me when they only see my inability to remember breakfast as being lazy? When they don't see that in the time I forgot to grab a healthy breakfast, I dropped off a toddler who cried and wanted to stay with me, made sure my husband had breakfast and lunch for work, cleaned up the living room, got to work, arranged my schedule for the day, started working, and made sure coffee was made for the office?
We all have things we struggle with, of course. This isn't unique to parenthood or motherhood. But I definitely felt that Noom was missing that crucial element of assigning Goal Specialists based on experience. It felt incredibly random and S just wasn't a good fit for me. In fact, she set me back in terms of my mental health and it took a long time for me to be able to talk about it. I haven't even told Danny about my experience on Noom.
So, to summarize, here are my thoughts:
Noom is, in theory, a great program.
There are still some major issues with the way Noom assigns Goal Specialists, as well as their system for tracking.
I found the entire experience really disappointing and, frankly, disconcerting. It's the New Year and Noom advertisements are everywhere. if you see one and it sparks in you to try it, I hope this review helps you better weigh whether the cost is worth it.


text:
This Site Is Part Of:
Welcome to the SA of NC Civil War 150 blog
North Carolina Civil War 150 is a space for collecting all news, events, and observances related to the American Civil War Sesquicentennial commemoration at the State Archives of North Carolina.
The State Archives of North Carolina Civil War Sesquicentennial Timeline (PDF) is now available.
Note: all posts and comments on this website are public records.
Tag Archives: African Americans
First Wednesdays – Cohabitation Certificates
[This blog post was written by Debbi Blake, Collection Services Section Manager for the State Archives of North Carolina.] With the abolition of slavery came many questions about the rights of freedmen, one of which was how to validate marriages. … Continue reading
Posted in First Wednesdays, News Tagged African Americans, county records, First Wednesdays, genealogy 2 Comments
First Wednesdays – Celebrating Freedom 1864
It had been almost fifteen months since President Lincoln made the preliminary announcement of an idea of ending slavery in the states in rebellion; it had been a year since that proclamation – the Emancipation Proclamation – was enforced. The … Continue reading
Posted in News Tagged 1864, African Americans, Emancipation Proclamation, First Wednesdays, politics
First Wednesdays – Secede from the Secession
Northeastern North Carolina, the area east of the Chowan River and north of the Albemarle Sound, fell to Union occupation during the Burnside Expedition in February 1862. The subsequent 22 months devolved into raids by Confederate forces, cavalry expeditions by … Continue reading
Posted in News Tagged 1863, African Americans, First Wednesdays, Guerrilla, Pasquotank County, Perquimans County, secession 3 Comments
Rare Opportunity to View Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation in Raleigh
[This press release comes to us via Bill Brown, Registrar for the State Archives of North Carolina. ] The Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation is one of the most significant documents in United States history. President Abraham Lincoln issued the document on … Continue reading
Posted in Events Tagged 1863, African Americans, events, North Carolina Museum of History, press releases
April 13, 2013 Genealogy Workshop: Researching Your Civil War Ancestors
[This event reminder is a cross-posting of a GHL Blog post.] April 13, 2013 Genealogy Workshop: Researching Your Civil War Ancestors Don't forget to join us on April 13, 2013 as staff members from the Government & Heritage Library and … Continue reading
Posted in Events Tagged African Americans, events, genealogy, State Library of North Carolina
Free Lecture: Who Freed Who – Emancipation and 13th Amendment: February 16, 1 pm to 2 pm
The Friends of the Archives and the State Archives of North Carolina Civil War Sesquicentennial Committee and are sponsoring a free lecture on February 16, at 1 p.m. Please come join us! Who Freed Who: Emancipation and the 13th Amendment … Continue reading
Posted in Events, News Tagged African Americans, Archives CW150 Committee, events, lectures
First Wednesdays – The Emancipation Proclamation in northeastern North Carolina
In January 1863 William W. Holden, editor of the Raleigh Standard, published a letter from an unidentified woman to her husband. The letter, written over several days, detailed events in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, that occurred after the turn of … Continue reading
Posted in News Tagged African Americans, Emancipation Proclamation, First Wednesdays
Military Governor of North Carolina Edward Stanly and his call for an election
Edward Stanly, Military Governor of North Carolina, upon publication of President Abraham Lincoln's preliminary Emancipation Proclamation called for an election in the Second Senate District of North Carolina. Stanly understood, as stated in the proclamation, that states with representation in … Continue reading
Posted in News Tagged 1862, African Americans, Edward Stanly, Emancipation Proclamation, governors, state government 1 Comment
A Species of Martial Law…
While Confederate General Robert E. Lee was dealing with the Union Army of Virginia operating in Central Virginia, the Union Army of the Potomac remained encamped around Harrison's Landing down river from Richmond, Va. General Lee appointed Major General Daniel … Continue reading
Women, Marriage, and the Law
It's been a while since we've given you an update on materials being added to the North Carolina Digital Collections, so here's a snapshot of what we're currently working on: First, we're loading Civil War materials related to Lawrence O'Bryan … Continue reading
Posted in News, Online Tools Tagged African Americans, genealogy, governors, letters, military, North Carolina Digital Collections, women

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Today I'm 10 weeks pregnant. I'm still holding my breath. A week from today is our next doctors appointment and we'll get to hear the baby's heartbeat for the first time. There is a fear inside me that when we go, the doctor won't hear anything and we'll be told that the baby stopped growing. I will have momentary rushes of peace and a feeling that everything is going to be alright…. but then my neurotic side takes over and become the nay-sayer of "what if's". I wish I could bitch slap my neurotic side, I really do.
Meanwhile, my energy returned somewhere near the end of week 8. I had a very brief period where I flirted with nausea, but it really never turned into anything. At this 10 week mark, the most obvious "symptom" I have is extreme mood swings. Everything irritates me or makes me want to cry. For example:
HIM: Are you irritable today?
ME: Are you going to ask me that every day?!?
HIM: Well….are… you…??
ME: WELL, I am now!!
My clothes are beginning to scream at me. From an expanding bosom, to a waist that is pushing the limits of my jeans…. I am seeing CHANGES. My closet is now full of clothes that no longer look appropriate on me, unless I'm trying to pull off the stripper-tight look. I have dabbled in maternity clothes shopping, but I'm still too scared to commit. What if this pregnancy doesn't take?? I can't stand the thought of being stuck with a bunch of maternity clothes. So instead of full out shopping, I have bought a few items on the cheap off the internet, at a consignment shop and from ROSS.
Physically I feel great at the moment, which is really freaking me out…. which doesn't help my irritability! I am counting down the minutes until next Thursday and hoping hoping HOPING that we hear a thump-thump-thump-thump thump. Until then, WATCH OUT…. don't look at me wrong…. because I'm in a mood.


text:
– All of Sweden is like a sea of whiteness, says Anna Lundberg, one of the two editors behind the most recent issue of Tidskrift för genusvetenskap (Journal of Gender Studies, aka TGV) which deals with 'Whiteness'.
In their editorial, the editors note that turning critical whiteness analysis into the continuously present part of gender studies that it ought to be has been a slow process.
– Critical whiteness studies are important for our understanding of how the world is structured, and what opportunities different people have. In the journal Mana that put out a special issue on whiteness in 2007, it says that while colonialism created the power structure, the ideology of whiteness is what maintains it. Whiteness is power which needs to be scrutinised and problematised, Lundberg states.
Sociologist at the Umeå University Catrin Lundström, featured in the special issue, elaborates.
– Whiteness studies, or critical whiteness studies, contribute to focusing on the normative which would otherwise pass as invisible. This means that we avoid a disconnection from ethnicity; something that white people don't seem to have. Critical whiteness studies contribute to making the structures that shape the deviant visible, i.e. that which differs from what is white.
White middle-class women
Whiteness studies are a North American import. They were launched in the early 80s in the U.S. and gained recognition as an academic field during the 90s. The term 'critical whiteness studies' implies the study of whiteness as an ideology, as a historical and social construction, taking as their point of departure the privileges and power relations that characterise and maintain the category 'white' and those who are defined as white. According to Lundström, studying whiteness is not at all reserved for gender theorists. Given the history of the concept, however, it seems natural that gender studies in particular have approached whiteness studies.
– The history of a critique of hegemonic whiteness and the white middle-class woman having been propagated as universal is now turning whiteness studies into an integral part of gender studies, she claims.
Apart from a translation of a central text within the field of 'critical whiteness studies', namely Sarah Ahmed's A phenomenology of whiteness, the special issue of the TGV is written by Swedish scholars and authors. Katarina Mattsson, one of the most prominent scholars within the field of critical whiteness studies in Sweden, writes in her text that this issue of the TGV in itself is a manifestation of an increased interest in the field. In Denmark, the journal Kvinder, Køn og Forskning (Women, Gender and Research) ran a special issue on whiteness in 2008 (no. 4). In their introduction, the editors note that the number of Danish studies focusing on whiteness is sparse, but apparently the body of work suffices for an entire issue. In Norway, however, a special issue on whiteness still seems to be far away.
Silent and embarrassed
– Only little research exists in a Norwegian context, states Berit Gullikstad of the NTNU Center for Women's Studies and Gender Research when asked about the prevalence of critical whiteness studies in Norway.
– But up until the past five to six years, gender and ethnicity haven't been studied in Norway, either. They haven't been a theme.
Along with e.g. sociologist Anne-Jorunn Berg at the Bodø University College, Berit Gullikstad is the editor of the book Likestilte norskheter – om kjønn og etnisitet (Equal Norwegiannesses – on gender and ethnicity) which appeared in the spring of 2010. The book does not mention whiteness explicitly. One of the chapters is about skin colour and, according to Gullikstad, thus becomes 'a study of how whiteness is produced without that term ever being used'.
– But all in all, we have to improve our ability to talk about colour in Norway. Not just whiteness, but also about the black, Gullikstad points out.
– Skin colour is a silent field. Nor is race a theme within migration research. For instance, it isn't problematised why the people with the darkest skin colour from Africa are the ones having the hardest time finding jobs and housing. We need to be more vocal about this.
At the time when Anne-Jorunn Berg's studies focused on technology, she had an attentive audience. When she started talking and writing about race and whiteness, however, her audience vanished.
– It's not resistance, but discomfort. A silent awkwardness, she says.
– It probably has to do with the Norwegian equality ideology, and how the history of that concept is linked to Holocaust. There's discomfort involved in verbalising difference. But difference doesn't disappear just because we don't talk about it or fail to conduct research.
Strikes a blow for 'race'
All three Scandinavian countries share a taboo on the use of the word 'race'.
According to the editors of the special issue on whiteness of Kvinder, Køn og Forskning (Women, Gender and Research), "the term race is rarely used in Denmark".
"Ethnicity, on the other hand, receives (a lot of) attention, seeing that the concept of race in a Danish context is first and foremost associated with the so-called biological racism which dominated the Western world during the 19th century".
Should the term 'race' be reintroduced, then? Yes, say the Danish editors and Catrin Lundström who writes about white Swedish female migrants in Singapore and the U.S. in the most recent issue of the TGV.
– Needless to say, race is a social construction; there are no biological races. But according to Lundström, using the word is a way to make power relations visible.
– Ethnicity is about cultural and linguistic experiences. But studies document that despite their upbringing, people of a non-white skin colour who were adopted to and grew up in Sweden as Swedish are not considered Swedish through and through. Race is about ideas that are coupled to the body.
To the sociologist Lundström, it was the study of Swedish girls with Latin American background that whetted her appetite for studying whiteness. These Swedish girls were not perceived to be Swedish because they were not white.
– Sweden used to be a world leader within race biology, and from there we've gone straight to declaring the nation colour blind, says Lundström.
– At the same time, we witness how people of a different skin colour than white aren't seen as real Swedes. How are we supposed to understand this without acknowledging that race is significant in Sweden? We operate with a colour blind discourse in a society that has race right at its centre, and where whiteness is intimately connected to our national self image.
While editor of the TGV Anna Lundberg and Anne-Jorunn Berg experience an unconscious and indirect resistance towards critical whiteness studies, Lundström has endured explicit ridicule from senior colleagues.
– There have been instances when I have presented articles or applied for funding, and senior professors have laughed at me for wanting to study whiteness in Asia, for example.
Challenges and changes
Lundström emphasises the importance of the fact that in Sweden, a number of non-white scholars are studying whiteness.
– It would have been a big problem if only white people were studying whites and whiteness.
Moreover, the sociologist considers it to be crucial that studies of race and critical whiteness studies are adapted to the individual national context.
– If one is interested in race studies, being in the U.S. is extremely exciting. But what does it mean in Sweden? What does it mean to Swedishness? Sweden lacks an adequate conceptual apparatus to analyse our own history. We can't just import from the U.S. We must be able to discuss our own race history in order to understand the current challenges. We can't predict how the election is going to turn out, but how are we supposed to understand e.g. the racist movements existing in Sweden today?
Catrin Lundström believes that a change is coming despite the ongoing invisibility of whiteness and race within Scandinavian research.
– I believe that what we'll see in the Nordic countries are more and more PhD students looking into this theme. There's a generational change taking place. The change isn't coming from the established professors; it's coming from below.
By Ida Irene Bergstrøm


text:
County BoA confirms use for equipment storage
In a case that details the kinds of conflict that can happen as an area is developed, a 1-acre property near Millville has been the source of discord between the property owner and neighbors in recent years, as they battle over an ongoing use that the property's owner says has existed there for nearly a half-century.
Residents of the Bay Colony community off Iron's Lane near Holt's Landing have posed increasing objections to the parcel's use by Harvey Justice for the storage of heavy equipment, such as dump trucks and bulldozers. Those objections culminated in a Nov. 2 case before the Sussex County Board of Adjustments to determine whether the use had been in existence prior to the county's 1982 zoning laws and whether it still complied with that use.
Justice's attorney told the board the parcel at the northwest corner of Roads 348 and 346 had been used for the headquarters for Justice's land, site, construction and demolition businesses for more than 30 years. The parcel was the site of the Justice family's general store and chicken houses, which gave way to Justice's business at the site no later than 1967.
The general store building became the headquarters for Justice's construction business, while the chicken houses remained on the site but not in use. He also had a conditional use for a borrow pit located on an adjacent parcel, where some of the business' equipment was also stored over the years.
But some Bay Colony residents had recently begun to complain to county officials that Justice had adapted his business to use more equipment, which was increasingly stored in a more visible location near the chicken houses – particularly after Justice sold off the borrow-pit parcel.
Justice's attorney told the BoA that the state's Chancery Court had decided that non-conforming use "has some flexibility," that the use "can grow over time" and still remain permissible, as long as it existed prior to the zoning laws – or if it was given official permission to remain.
"He's lived there for years and years. He's made a living on that property," said the attorney, noting the decrease in farmers in the area over time as they ceded parcels to development for residential use. "But he's using it essentially for the same purpose."
Justice's case for the existing use came with a bevy of familiar names from the area. State Rep. and local business and property owner Gerald Hocker wrote a letter that said he could verify the use of the property for a business for more than 50 years.
Russell Banks, whose family has owned large parcels of land in the area – many of which have since been developed – said he's lived in the area 57 years and knows Justice's business has operated at the site for more than 40 years.
"It's unfair for people in the area to find reason to complain," he wrote.
Ronald Dickerson worked for Justice in the 1970s and 1980s and said he could verify the use from that time period. Rosemary Steele Brown said he husband had worked for Justice at the location in 1974. Roger Marvel said there had been an active business at the site since 1966 or before, with equipment stored there.
Ralph Marvel, who dated business on the site since the early 1960s, emphasized that it pre-existed the county's zoning laws, which were adopted in 1982. He also said the use allowed "needed services" for the area, through Justice's demolition and construction businesses.
Justice admitted that the number of pieces of heavy equipment stored on the site has grown over the years.
"I started out with one dump truck, then a backhoe and dozer," he said. "If you're doing well and the people want you, you've got to keep expanding," he explained.
"I don't quite understand it," he added. "It seems like I'm the only one being singled out. There are other people out there who are in business. I was there and lived on that corner when it was a dirt road."
Justice said he felt the lack of objections to development in the area in past decades had led him to the challenge before the BoA.
"When Bay Colony was developed – if all of us and all our parents had gone down to Georgetown and raised Cain when Jack Hickman was doing that, we wouldn't have to be here now," he said. "I don't know where I'm in the wrong. We thought the property was commercial."
Residents divided over use
Members of the public present to give input on the case on Nov. 2 were about evenly divided on the issue, with 15 saying they were in favor of the continued use and 14 expressing opposition.
James Freeman, a Bay Colony resident and president of the community's property owners' association, took on a note of sarcasm in responding to Justice's statements about being singled out.
"I guess I'm one of those people from a big urban area who's come down here to harass Mr. Justice," he said, adding that harassment was not the opponents' intent.
"The problem with his business is that he has changed it," Freeman continued. "He's moved equipment from the borrow pit site to what has always been, since I've been here, a residence, chicken houses and maybe a tractor."
Freeman said the storage of the equipment on the parcel was an eyesore.
"To get to our community, you have to go by that particular corner. It's a very visible point," he emphasized. "Our belief is that this kind of use is detrimental to this area, which has become largely residential. The area has changed from agricultural and chicken-raising to residential. And it impacts people's desire to move into the area," he said of the equipment.
Freeman argued that Justice's use of the property in the last decade had not been to store equipment or even to operate the general store as a commercial venture.
"It seems to me the test here is what non-conforming use was being made in 1982, when the zoning laws were made and the area went from agricultural to residential," said Freeman, faulting the testimony that related back to the 1960s and 1970s. He said there was confusion as to whether those testifying to the use of the property for equipment storage were talking about the borrow pit site or the property on the corner, "which as far as I can see was always used as a residence and a store."
Freeman argued that even if Justice had used the site for commercial purposes at the time the zoning laws were enacted, keeping the non-conforming use required continuous use and a similar use to what was taking place there today.
"He has not shown that in 1982 he had a non-conforming use that has continued to the present and that is similar to the use he's using it for now," Freeman said.
"In my own experience, in the last year we have not seen a yard full of trucks or any commercial use," he said. "The borrow pit was different. It was a larger piece of property, and they were not parked along the road. What it looks like now is not quite the benign picture you've heard from the attorney. He made a voluntary decision to sell the borrow pit, and all of the sudden he moves all this stuff over here to this property."
Freeman also asked for petitions of opposition to be entered into the record of the case, saying that roughly 300 residents of residential communities in the area had signed the petitions in opposition to the use.
He further presented photographs of the site in 2005 and more recently. But there BoA members found fault with Freeman's argument.
"These pictures show more than one piece of equipment on this property," pointed out board member John Mills. "Where are the pictures without equipment on the property?" he asked. "There is equipment in the photo."
"There are two little ones," Freeman replied. "But they weren't visible. It's vastly different from the present."
"Your point is there are even more trucks than there used to be," queried Mills.
"It's not just an issue of the number but of the kind," replied Freeman.
"The point of this hearing is to determine if the purpose was always to store equipment," pointed out Mills. "The issue isn't of how much but whether it was there. This picture of a tree growing through a truck shows it has been in use as such for a long time," he concluded, further pointing out that the photographs showed equipment stored on both of Justice's adjacent parcels.
"He can't show you what he was doing in 1982," said Freeman.
"And you can't prove that it wasn't used for this in the 1960s," replied Mills.
"Since 1998, when I moved here, it has not been used for anything like this, not to this degree," Freeman asserted.
Freeman said the opponents' complaint centered around the fact that the parcel has AR-Agricultural/Residential zoning, "and this is not an agricultural or residential use."
Board members, however, said the issue wasn't the AR zoning but rather the pre-existing non-conforming use, which they said the photographs and testimony indicated had been in place.
"I don't think there's evidence that it is," said Freeman.
"That's the board's decision to make," board members replied.
And decide they did.
"I don't think there is any question that the gentleman has used this location for his business," said Mills, "whether there are more trucks now than there were. Our determination has to be whether it has been used for that business or not. The pictures show that. The testimony supports it."
The board voted unanimously that the existing non-conforming use had been proven and could continue.


text:
Global Monitoring
The tropopause region and the adjacent layers of the upper troposphere and lowermost stratosphere (UTLS) are very sensitive to changes of the chemical composition and the climate. However, the knowledge about this region is still limited. Long-term observations of atmospheric chemical composition, temperature, aerosols and clouds by IAGOS help documenting changes in this sensitive atmospheric region, better understanding the cycles of climate-active gases like water vapour and ozone, and investigating the impact of climate change. The regular measurement of the vertical distribution of air quality relevant components like NOx, O3, and particulate matter provide essential information for the assessment of global air quality. The operational measurement of atmospheric trace constituents on board of passenger aircraft have created a dense network of collaborations with European research infrastructures, aviation industry, airlines, and the European Earth observation programme Copernicus.
Research Groups and Topics:
Water Vapour and Ozone
- Water vapour budget of the upper troposphere and tropopause region
- Climatologies and transport processes
- Interaction of water vapour and cirrus clouds
- World Calibration Centre for Ozone Sondes (WCCOS)
Nitrogen Oxides
- Budgets of ozone and nitrogen oxides in the upper troposphere and lowermost stratosphere
- Transport processes and exchange at the tropopause region
- Air quality in the vicinity of airports
- Development of compact instruments for airborne operation
- Aerosol distribution in the upper troposphere and lowermost stratosphere
- Arctic aerosol (cooperation with AWI)
- Optical-chemical properties of boundary layer aerosol, long-term observations at the Julich Meteorological Tower
|In-Service Aircraft for a Global Observing System
|Cluster project of the European Environmental Research Infrastructures – Supporting environmental research with integrated solutions
|IAGOS for the Copernicus Atmospheric Service
|Measurement of ozone, water vapour, carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides aboard Airbus in-service aircraft


text:
Use the form on the right to contact us.
You can edit the text in this area, and change where the contact form on the right submits to, by entering edit mode using the modes on the bottom right.
Online website offering monogrammed baby gifts including hooded towels, bibs, burp, and baby blankets.


text:
The Sex You Want: An Ontario response to gay men's sexual health
Despite scientific advances in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of HIV, cisgender and transgender gay, bisexual, queer and other men who have sex with men (gbMSM) continue to be overrepresented in the HIV epidemic in Ontario. Launched in January 2017, The Sex You Want is a community-driven, sex-positive, and evidence-informed sexual health education resource.
In this webinar, Dane Griffiths from the Gay Men's Sexual Health Alliance will provide an overview of this online sexual health promotion intervention including the development, implementation and evaluation. We will discuss the role and need for combination approaches to gay men's sexual health and lessons learned from developing the campaign.
Dane will be joined by Eric and Holly from Elevate NWO in Thunder Bay. They will present on how they identified the need for a Men's Sexual Health Clinic, the partnerships that made it happen and an update on where the clinic stands today.
Dane Griffiths is the Acting Director & Manager of Health Promotion at the Gay Men's Sexual Health Alliance of Ontario (GMSH). He coordinates the planning, implementation and evaluation of gay men's health campaigns and knowledge transfer/exchange activities to strengthen gay men's sexual health programs in community based organizations across the province.
Eric Shih is the Director of Education and Community Development at Elevate NWO. He comes to this work from a background in media having previously worked as a project manager for a strategic communications consulting company and as a journalist at the CBC. Eric has degrees from Cornell University and Oxford University as well as a diploma from BCIT in broadcast journalism and media communications. He started at Elevate NWO as coordinator of the Blood2Blood Hepatitis C Awareness resource development project. At Elevate, Eric is responsible for overseeing staff and programming in the Education, Outreach and Community Development department. This includes the Men's Health Clinic for Gay, Bi, Trans and all other guys who are into guys.
Holly Gauvin is the Executive Director of Elevate NWO. She holds an Honors Bachelor of Social Work from Lakehead University and a Diploma in Native Mental Health from Negahneewin College. She has been working in the Social Work field for over 20 years in sectors including, mental health, homelessness, addictions, criminal justice and spent 13 years as an interim professor teaching counseling skills to first year Social Service Worker and Addiction Services Worker students.


text:
This is a great opportunity for Valley Divas! Courtney Mahon will be teaching a 6 lesson series at The Raven Golf Club in Phoenix beginning Nobember 3rd. The lessons are on Sundays with intermediate players in the morning and beginners in the afternoon session. Courtney has an amazing gift for teaching golf! To check our her bio and updates, follow … Read More
The Raven Golf Club 9 & Wine
Friday January 18, 2013 – Saturday January 19, 2013 3636 E. Baseline Road Map and Directions | Register Description: This is a bonus event! Cost of this event will include a mini lesson, cart fees, glass of wine, beer or soft drink after play and 18 holes of golf. Of course if you want to stop at 9 that is … Read More
First Scottsdale Event A Success!
[nggallery id=3]The first Scottsdale Diva Golf group event was held on October 25 and we had a great group of Divas in attendance! We got together at the Coronado Golf Course Driving Range (its lighted) and had a fun time getting to know one another. If you missed this event, don't worry. The next event is November 7th. Be sure … Read More
Phoenix Business Journal Article About Diva Golf Scottsdale
Phoenix Business Journal 9-25-12 The new Scottsdale group is already getting a lot of press! Get ready Arizona–the Divas are in town and ready to play golf.? We will have our launch party mid to late October. Stay tuned for details!


text:
Hi and thanks for checking out my site!
I love what I do! I enjoy making personalized items for people , not only is it rewarding to me , but it's special because these are memories that will last a lifetime for you as a customer - and anyone that you share them with.
Share the details of any special event by mailing out an announcement!
we specialize in :
Birth Announcements
Birthday Party Invitations
Baby Showers
Bridal Showers
Baptism Invitations
Contact us:
Phone: (416) 706-2336
email : email@example.com
(Note: it is .ca and not .com)
Milton, Ontario, Canada.
We are very quick to respond. If you sent an email and haven't heard back in 48 hours , it's likely that we did not receive your email.
Call us or double check that you sent to the correct email address.
We have experienced some Yahoo email issues .
Pricing if I print:
Printed professionally on high quality card stock
(min order 12 - qtys of 4 thereafter)
Card Stock 5x7's : $1.35 each and include envelopes
(min. order 12 - qtys of 4 thereafter)
Pricing if YOU print:
We offer the "Print it yourself" for any invitation file on our website.
The finalized high resolution file (jpg) is EMAILED to you and you can print immediately at any local printer on card stock or the photo lab of your choice - as many copies as you like.
Most photo places offer one hour or same day service for as little as 15 cents a copy
This option eliminates the shipping fee AND the shipping time.
The file we email you is the exact one we print from this end - there is no difference in quality! *Bridal invitations/ Wedding related are $15.00
Note: The Price above is for designs shown on my website .
New design requests are $15.00
To Place an Order:
Email the following information to
1 Specify the design style name from the website
2 Specify the size (4x6 or 5x7) IMPORTANT
3 Provide all the party details (see below for things to include)
2 Include any photo(s) uncropped in the email .
Sit back & relax, we will email you a proof to approve.
Once you approve, we can send to print or ship/email to you as soon as payment is processed.
(Note: We can create one from scratch if you don't see one you like)
Details to include for birthday parties are :
Name of child , age turning , Party Date ,Time, Location, Address , RSVP name and number/email and an RSVP date by if needed. I can also include any other messages such as 'Lunch will be served' or 'Don't forget your bathing suit and towel'
Pick up is available for FREE in Milton, Ontario!
Canada: $14.00
with tracking - NEXT DAY (Remote/Western Canada is $16)
United States : $15.00
(approx. 3 business days with tracking)
Payment Options:
ders picked up can be paid in cash.
: is the preferred method of payment for any orders shipped or emailed.
IF you do not have a paypal acct, It is very easy to set up . It's free and very secure.
EMT or e-transfers
(Canada) from your banks website are also accepted
Matching return address labels
Available for $4.00 a sheet (30 on a sheet) can match any theme
How To Order / Contact me
Baby Boy Birth Announcements
Milestone Invitations
Boy Birthday Invitations
Girl Birthday Invitations
Baptism / First Communion
Wedding and Bridal Shower
Tags and Toppers
Baby Shower Invitations
Thanks. You did a great job and your turnaround was amazing. Will definitely use you again in the future.
Despina (Toronto)
Lol I love your energy!! well I will take your word for it. I seen your work so I know you do great work. And ok cool I will let you know when I get them if I need more. Can't wait to see them!! :-)
Melissa (USA)
I just wanted to tell you that I got the invites printed and I can't thank you enough! The people I showed so far love them! I will make sure to send them your way for invitations! Thanks again-
Jessica K (OHIO, USA)
Omg I got the invitations! I love them they came out great. Thanks you so much. I will be definitely hitting you up for his baptism party lol. Thanks again
Melissa B (NY, USA)
Hey Denise I just received the girls invites and they look fantastic! Thanks again for your great service!! Take care
Manuela P (9th time customer from Maple, ON)
Hi Denise,
They arrived today and they look great! Thanks for your creativity and continual communication!
Janeen (FL, USA)
I got the invitations today...thank you! I absolutely love them! I'm not entirely sure yet if I am doing loot bags, but I will definitely keep you in mind. Thank you again :)
-Jag (Alliston, ON)
Looks great! I paid the invoice. Thanks again for another awesome invitation and being so quick to respond!
Nicole (Ohio, USA - Thomas the train invitation)
Hi Denise,
Just got the invites printed today and I'm delighted with them. Thanks so for such a great product/service. I've just become a really popular mum and my son is really happy.
Julia (England)
Wow! Talk about a quick response. It looks great! I just got your link for paypal. I'll send the payment right over.
Thank you so much!
Elvira (Austin, TX)
I love them!!! Thank you! You will hear from me in the summer for my sons birthday!!!
Tanya G (Toronto , ON- One Direction loot bag tags and round stickers)
OMG Denise they look awesome! Your design work is so great.
I really appreciate your quick turn around.
Nancy (repeat customer Milton, ON)
Awesome! Thanks so much for doing it so quickly...they look great!
Debra (Milton, ON repeat customer)
Thank you so much! It was a pleasure working with you…so fast and prompt! I love that!
Jennifer W (Ohio, USA)
Thanks Denise,This is the quickest service ever!! I have now paid through PayPal and the invitation looks great. Could you just centre the heading 'Coen is turning ONE'. Wonderful. Thank you.
Alicia H (NSW, Australia)
Thanks very much Denise! That's perfect! Much appreciated!
I'm sure we will be using your services again for future events so thanks again and we will organize printing now.
Kind Regards
Brad (Queensland, Australia)
Hi Denise,
Thanks a million for your fantastic invitation design for Tiffany's 6th B'Day party invite.
It's awesome and ties in nicely with the theme of the party.
Once again, I am thrilled with the end result.
Take care and Happy New Year to you and your family.
Julie, NSW Australia repeat customer
Hi Denise,
Hope you had a great weekend.
I love the invitation! Like always, you have exceeded my expectation
Adrienne (Toronto, repeat customer)
I think it looks great Denise! Katarina loves it! Thank you for such a fast turn-around time, and on a Sunday!
Karen (Texas , USA)
You're so fast - thanks for being so awesome with the turn around time & the rate, much appreciated.
Amber (Milton, ON)
Hi: received the package today.
The Xmas cards are lovely and the night lights are perfect - thanks again for sharing all of your wonderful talent.
Elsie B, Toronto ON
Thanks so much Denise,
I love your great work and your customer service!
Lynn (Burlington ~Christmas Cards)
Perfect I'll get that payment processed, thank you. You are so good!!!!! And fast.
You can continue to expect business from me :)
Take care,
Marcus D (AZ, USA)
Wonderful, thanks so much for the quick response and the great job! Will definitely keep you in mind for future events, I have three girls so there will be plenty!!!
Thanks again,
Becky G (MI, USA)
Hi Denise,
I just wanted to say "THANK YOU" for all your help.
I uploaded the invitation and had them printed without ANY problems.
It was so easy!
Stephanie Brown (Texas,USA darth vadar invites)
Thank you So much!
I printed them today and they came out Beautiful!
Definitely a very happy customer here :)
Dominique (NY, USA)
I received the Justin Beiber night lite! Love it!
Thank you so much for everything!
Nicolette (Chicago, IL)
Hi Denise,
got it and printed-looks great- job-well done-will definitely recommend you in the future
regards Bayzid (London England)
Hi Denise,
I just wanted to thank you so much for the incredible invitations.
They arrived this morning and are almost all already out in the mail. My son flipped out when he saw them. You did a fantastic job. They are truly amazing. Thank you so much.
Cortney (Toronto, ON)
Hi Denise,
I love it!! It is absolutely perfect! Thank you thank you thank you! So go ahead and print it.
How much do I owe you including delivery to Toronto?
Cortney (Toronto ON)
Thanks for everything Denise!
Payment has been made thru paypal today. Appreciate the excellent service! The girls will be thrilled with the invitations for their friends.
Enza D (Richmond Hill, ON - Little Mermaid)
Hi Denise!!! its all paid for! I am so excited and never buying invites from anywhere again!!! these are awesome!!! thank you so much!
Cindy R (Lego Star Wars)
Thank you so much! it was a pleasure, you did an amazing job and your turnaround and feedback were great!
Thank you Denise...
David and Maria (Santa Ana CA, USA)
Thanks so much Denise, I can guarantee I will still use you a lot and will also promote you here in SA to all my friends.
Jacqui S (SOUTH AFRICA!!!)
Thank you, thank you Denise :) I just love your work! Its truly amazing. I'll send you a picture after my daughters born. I know I'll need her baptism invites too.
Connie (repeat customer California, USA)
That sounds terrific! I will take your advice and choose the print it yourself option. I do have a paypal account, so please just let me know when you are ready to handle the financial transaction.
Thank you so much for preparing the draft so quickly. This has been a super pleasant experience!
Karrie (Texas, USA)
Aww! Thank you so much!
You are wonderful!
I'm going to recomend you to anyone I know that needs to order invitations! :-)
Michelle (Ohio USA)
Thank you so much!
It was a pleasure doing business with you! I am so glad i found your website!
I will definitely recommend you to all my friends.
Take care and thank you again!
Cristina (Ontario)
Thank you so much for the wonderful invitation. Pleasure doing business with you! I will keep your information handy for repeat business and to share with my friends. Have a great weekend!
Jacqueline R (Houston, Texas)
Thank you again. You do some amazing work! I will definitely be in touch again :)
Jennifer V (Mississauga, ON) repeat customer
Just wanted to let you know I picked up the invites!
They are fantastic!! Thank you so much! Again have passed on your info to two other friends:) :)
Cindy C (Oakville ON)
Thanks so much, I Love love it. Its a go. So I will need 46 invites please. And I will have them next week? So I will use paypal, send me the link. Thanks again so much you do awsome work and I never have to worry about a thing, Very creative.
I am sure I will be using you again soon in the near future. Thanks again,
Maria G (Hamilton, Ontario)
Thank you so much Denise! I had them printed and they're perfect!
Thanks for everything,
Tracy O (Alberta , Mickey Mouse invites)
Thank you so much. It turned out great! I printed a test copy at home and he loved it! I will definitely be passing your site along to all of my friends with kids.
Thanks again,
Kristen R (Michigan, USA)
Thanks so much again. Everything looks great. I'm very happy with my order!
Dori (Milton, ON)
Thanks for adjusting the layout, I love it, and so does my daughter! I'd like to order 30 invitations . I have a PayPal account so I'll keep an eye out for your invoice.
Thank you again, this was a super-easy process... and I really apreciate that! :-)
Janeen (FL USA)
LOVE IT!! your so fantastic Denise! thank you so much!!
Yes please paypal invoice me :) I am heading out now but will complete it when I am back home!!
Thanks again!!
Katie (Strawberry Shortcake - Calgary,Alberta Canada)
Hi Denise, I received the invitations yesterday! Thanks so much I wasn't expecting them until sometime next week. I just wanted to tell you that they're absolutely perfect and I appreciate your help and kindness. I will definitely use your services in the future and refer you to friends and family.
Enjoy your weekend!
Jaclyn (Winnie the pooh - Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada)
Thank you Denise.
You have been very accommodating with all the changes and very fast too!
Surely will use your service again when another need arise :)
Arni (Quebec, Canada ~ Thomas the train invites)
Great! You're the best!
It's been such a pleasure working with you- I'm so glad I came across your website- :)
Elisabeth Hashagen (NY USA)
Thanks again Denise I just received the invitations, they are so nice and they came early.
Have a great day!!!
Harelena, FL USA
Hi Denise,
I received my order on Thursday. Everything was amazing!!!
Thank you for helping make my sons 2nd b-day memorable.
I have referred you to a few of my friends and family.
All the best,
Dawn (Maple, Ontario)
Hi Denise,
I have submitted the paypal payment. Thanks for being creative!!
I will continue to use you to create my unique invites!!!!!
Shanelle (NC, USA - repeat customer - matched shower plates and created an invite)
thx again Denise, as usual your invites are amazing!!!!!!!
Indy S (Mississauga, ON - reptile invites *repeat customer)
Thank u so much it was a pleasure working with u.
I look forward to ordering from u again in the future : )
(Diana, NY USA - carnival theme invites)
OMG I'm blown away. It's awesome! Thank you!
Reka, Toronto, Canada (Mike the Knight invite)
Thanks so much! I love the fast service specially since life gets so busy I tend to leave things until
the last minute. I will be recommending you to my family and friends! Have a fabulous day!
Angela (Napanee, ON - Cars invites)
Hi Denise,
Meant to email you earlier –thanks for the lovely cards and your effort in putting this together.
Take care,
Maryann C Brampton, ON
Thank you very much and you will definitely hear from me again
Beverly S (Fort Worth , TX, USA)
The invitations look fantastic!! Thank you for all your hard work! You always seem to come up with
creative and beautiful ideas! Thank you so much. I left the $ with Yvonne. It is so kind of her to let me
pick up from her house. It makes it so much easier for me.
Thanks again
Lisa (repeat customer Maple , ON ordered 60th birthday invites)
Hello Denise,
Thanks you soo soooo much when i saw the cards they were more than I expected :)
you've done a fantastic job with them.
Gina (baptism and In the Night Garden invites Brampton , ON)
Perfect! Thanks so much for doing this so quickly, I really appreciate it.
I already sent you payment. I will touch base with you again in May to do my son's invites again :)
Michelle (Toronto, ON)
Dear Denise, thank you so much for the invites and thank you cards. I had them printed yesterday and they look great. I will be recommending you to all of my friends and will be back in touch with you for George's 3rd birthday next year! I really appreciate all the time you spent working on them and changing fonts, colours etc.
I wish you all the best. And look forward to working with you again next year. Thanks again for everything.
Kind regards, Adele (England UK)
Hi Denise,
I picked up the birth announcements this morning and wanted to thank you for doing such a wonderful job! They look fantastic!
Thanks again!
Sandra (Oakville, ON)
Hi Denise,
I want to thank you so much for making the invatation and doing it so quick, it looks awsome.
I have told some people about your web site and what a great job you did. Thanks again.
Jennifer (MI, USA strawberry shortcake invite)
I absolutely love it!!!!!!!! Better than I could have imagined....I really appreciate you
personalizing it for both kids!! I can't thank you enough, especially for doing such a good job so fast! Just let me know the best way to pay....Thanks again for such a special invite!
Julie (Cars invite for two kids - Georgia USA)repeat customer
Thank you so much, can't wait to see my daughters face when she see's the invite. Great service!
Sandra Ditta (Bolton, ON *Smurfs invite)
Thanks a lot Denise for your prompt response. i will definitely refer you all of my friends; you are a great person to do business with!!
God bless!
Blandine.K (Brampton, ON Tinkerbell bilingual invite)
Hi Denise
I just received the invitations and they look great. Thanks again for such great quality and service. I've passed your name on to the girls in the office.
Have a great day and I will be contacting you again in a couple of months for G's b-day.
Take Care
Lena (repeat customer Vaughen, ON)
That would be great. I just set it up so I'm ready to get you paid.
Thank you so much! From here on out, I will be ordering all my
invitation from you. Service is exceptional!
Shannon Albuquerque, NM (super heros invite)
Hi Denise
There is no rush with shipping, so next week is fine.
Thanks for letting me know about my next 10th free order.
As I mentioned, it 's a pleasure doing business with you, your service is incredible.
Everyone that I have referred has always come back and thanked me.
You can definitely count on me to continue passing on referrals.
We'll definitely be in touch in the future.Have a great day!
Stephanie (Maple, ON)
It looks GREAT!!! Where do I need to go pay for them!! You just do not know how much of a life saver you are to me for this. I have looked everywhere for these cards.
Thank You again,
Ragan P (Alabama USA)
Hi Denise,
We are so happy with the invitation and can't wait to hand them out!
Thank you again & look forward to working with you again in the future.
Trish O (Burlington, ON)
Hi Denise,
I just received the nightlights and they look absolutely fantastic!
Thanks so much for turning this around so quickly for us.
These will be a great compliment to our Christmas gifts for our godchildren and we will recommend you 100%.
Thanks to Rena as well for recommending we get these!
Hope you have a great holiday season!
Ryan F, Toronto ON (shipped 5 night lights)
Hi Denise,
This looks great. We can go ahead and finalize.
The party was great. We all had a lot of fun.
I am glad I found your website. You do really nice work.
I have given your website to other people as well.
Kelly (Depew, New York USA)
I SOOOOOOOO APPRECIATE YOUR HARD WORK, DILIGENCE and CREATIVITY....
I have never worked with someone as fast and thorough as you...YOU ROCK!
Susanna, Maple ON
Hi Denise! It's perfect! Thanks so much!!
I just sent a payment thru paypal so you should be receiving it shortly.
Let me know if there were any problems. Thanks again for everything! :)
Aileen (Abbotsford British Columbia)
I just saw the cards - they're awesome i love them :)
thank you so much!!
and the labels are so cute! what a nice touch :)
thanks again Denise
Amanda (Milton, ON repeat customer)
You did a great job understanding what exactly we were looking for to get my daughter's first Birthday card
printed and delivered great results.
Appreciate your prompt response right from start to the end .
I would defn recommend you to any of my friends who would need cards to be printed in future and you are our family card printer from now on :)
Thanks a lot again
Really appreciate your service
Sumi and Suraj (Milton, ON)
Thanks so much again for doing this for me. And I will definitely give your name to others you do such an amazing job! I will for sure contact you again in the future :-)
Kristina (Texas, USA)
Thanks so much Denise.I hope to work with you again too! I'm actually looking at your Christmas cards as we speak! Anyways thanks again, they look perfect!
Mandy (Winnipeg, Manitoba)
Thank you so much, Denise. I love them both. How to choose? They are both so cute! I just need to show them to my mother-in-law tomorrow and I will let you know right after which one I will choose. Again, thank you very much, especially for getting the proofs to me so quickly.
Shelby (Florida, USA)
Wow! What a fast response! I love it! It looks perfect.
Kathleen (Manitoba, Canada)
Hi Denise,
I just wanted to say thank you again for
making that invitation for us.
I think everyone will love them, and I do hope that the party is a huge success:)
Thanks again!
Veronika , (Ontario ,Canada)
Thank you! That's awesome!
I'll order 15 copies, please.
A FREE order?!?! So exciting!!! I can't believe I've done this 9 times already!!!
It shows how wonderful you are!
You are so accommodating and prompt and your work is beautiful!
I always get compliments on the cards I send. And I'm always sure to tell them your name and
give them your website. I hope it helps :)
Let me know whenever they're ready ... no rush remember!
Jessica (milton ON ) when I told her her next order was free since it was her 10th order
Thank you so much, i appreciate it , you did such a good job.
ill definitely come back in the future & refer you : )
Tiffany M , (Arleta California USA)
Ok thanks so much.
Send some business cards with my order and I will give them out to my friends here :-)
Keona, (Minnesota, USA)
Perfect, I love it. Great Job!!!!
Stephanie (Houston TX, USA)
If I could hug you through the computer I would!!! I love it!
Thank you soo much for perfecting these for me. They are good to print.
Thanks again and I'll keep you posted on what my plans are for Wednesday.
Marj, (Toronto, Canada)
Wow!! You are FAST!! I love the sample that you have attached!
Yes, I'd like an RSVP (sorry) can you add : XXXXX
Amazing work, thanks so much,
Virginia Niagara Falls, Canada (repeat customer)
Thanks a lot for doing my daughter's invitation so fast and beautiful. I really appreciate it.
My husband will be sending you your payment shortly.
Thanks again,
P.S. My daughter 1st birthday is coming up soon, once I finalize the location where I will be having her party I will contact you so you can make her birthday invitation.
Shiela (Brampton , ON) repeat customer
Thanks Denise! It has been a wonderful experience working with you and I love the product!
Leigh G (Massachusetts, USA) Lion King Invites
I got the invites and I love them!! Thank you so much!!
Nicole G , (SC USA)
Got it. Thanks!!!! So excited to print them out!
You have been fantastic to work with. I appreciate all your hard work.
Many thanks,
Erica (SC, USA)
WOW! You are FAST! Unbelievable! Looks fabulous. Love it.
I'll do the print it yourself option and buy some envelopes at Staples or Papersource.
Send me the file and the Paypal invoice. You are the best.
Charlene (Massachusetts , USA) lego batman invite
Thank you so much Denise, I love how it came out. It was a pleasure doing business with you.
I can't believe how easy it was. I will definatly recommend your services to all my friends & family!
Gabby (Mission hills, California USA)
Hi Denise,
Hope all is well. Our friends and family can't get enough of your cards! We always receive so many compliments, and they remain on people's fridges for months! :)
I was wondering if you can please design an invitation for Lucas' upcoming Baptism?
I have attached a layout that I like. I think it may need to be jigged a little to better fit my photo/verbage.
Also - we can't decide which photo we like better, so we wonder if we can see a sample of with each photo?
Karen W, Milton ON (repeat customer)
HI Denise this is Sierra I just want to say THANK YOU SOOOOO MUCH for the invites
they came out BEAUTIFUL..... You will definately be hearing from me again.
Thanks again!
Sierra (Maryland, USA)
IT IS PERFECT!!!!! I love it, love it, LOVE IT!!!! Thank you so much, Denise!
Nicole N (NY, USA) repeat customer
LOVE IT!! Just paid by Paypal. Thanks soooo much for the quick and friendly service! I'll "like" you on facebook too! Diana :)
Diana , (Minnesota USA)
thank you
I have paid you...
thank you very much for your work ... easy and exactly what I wanted
Maria D
(New South Wales , Australia)
I am so excited to print the invite!
Thank you so much for a great job! I will be in contact to order my
son's birthday invitations in a few months and to order holiday cards.
Thank you again
Gessica (Pensylvania USA)repeat customer
Thank you so much Denise. It is fantastic. Andrew and I r very pleased, and no doubt Oliver-James is too.
I must also thank you for the iggle piggle picture. It is perfect.
Will be sure to tell my friends about your fab service.
Thanks again,
Nila (NSW Australia)
It's perfect - thanks, Denise! I'm so happy I found your website... I have a daughter too, and both kids need invites, thank-you notes, etc etc etc... I look forward to working with you again!
Sarita (Richmond Hill Ontario)
Denise, Thank you so much for all of your help. You made everything so easy for us. My husband and I appreciate it.
I just paid using paypal. Do you do christmas cards? If so we will order from you.
God bless, Keri ( Washington USA)
would like to say I used Denise for my daughter's baptism & I couldn't have been more happy. They came out beautiful. I would recommend her to anyone.
Jackie , Milton, ON
I wanted to say that I just got my Daughters birthday invitations made by Denise and we were TOTALLY impressed. We are doing the Webkinz theme, but such invitations cannot be found. So I called up Denise mid-week and by the end of the week this wonderful lady had these beautiful invitations done.
My little girl has received many complements on them and has been so excited delivering as well as mailing them out.
I would definitely recommend Denise...not only is she talented, but also very kind.
Thanks again Denise, I will definitely keep you in mind for other occasions!
Linda C, Milton, ON
Hi, I too just got some invites done and they were amazing! Denise is very quick to get them done too! We were really impressed with her and her work and will definitely be using her again in the future!
Cheri, Milton ON
Hello all , Just wanted to let you all know that I had Denise prepare, birth announcements, baptism invitations and my son's birthday invitation and they all turned out great. I did everything over email and Denise delivered them to my house which was amazing since I just had a baby girl and it's not easy to get out and about right now.
I received so many compliments on the invitations and birth announcements, everyone loved them. I highly recommend ordering from Denise she is great.
Jennifer F, Milton, ON
They look awesome Denise!! I absolutely LOVE it! Let me know when is a good time to pick them up. Thanks again.
Megan , Milton ON
Looks wonderful Denise thank you, Thanks again…..great job!
Bill and Erin Whitby, ON
I did get them this afternoon and they are beautiful thank you very much. I might need some more but will keep you posted on that. Again thank you very much
Kelli Ann , Brampton ON
Hi Ladies,
Denise has just finished up my Daughters communion invitations and they are outstanding. I had an idea and she helped me perfect it! She has great ideas and is so very talented.
I have ordered invitations from Denise before and she continues to provide outstanding service. She is precise, dependable and extremely professional.
For those of you who would like a more personalized invitation I would highly recommend Denise!
Linda, Milton ON (posted on a local moms forum)
OMG .... that is sooo awesome Denise!! You rock!
It is so perfect.
Jennifer S , Milton ON
I got the invitations in the mail today, thank you so much. They look amazing. I will be using you from now on. I have your website in my favorites. Thank you again!!!
April , West Palm Beach, FL
I absolutely LOVE the baby announcements. They are gorgeous, and I know they will be a hit! I will not hestitate using your business again. You're very talented!
Thanks again!
Andrea, Milton ON
thanks a million for the cards, they are beautiful, Ive got your website saved under my favorites!!
your awesome, thanks Denise!!!
Lucy, Milton ON
These are wonderful!! I appreciate your speedy service. My favorite is the pink invite.
Glossy finish would be great and I will need 35
Thanks again for such great service!!!
Beth (Georgia USA)
I absolutely love Riley's invites. Thank you so much :)
Courtney, my sister, will probably be contacting you for invites for my neices party :) I continue to refer you each chance I get!
Heather, Milton ON
The Cars invites were brilliant, and thanks for your service!
Ryan, Johannesburg South Africa
(this was my first INTERNATIONAL order..very exciting!!! no need to ship, it was a digital exchange)
I LOVE the first one so much!!!!!!!! (the lime one) and It's exactly what I pictured (you are awesome!!!!!!) I am definitely going to have you do my wedding thank you cards as well! I will confirm with you by tomorrow night exactly how many I need (my mother and I are still finalizing the guest list). Again, thanks so much :)))))))))
Annie, Mississauga ON
I just wanted to let you know that I received the birth annoucements. I love them! Thank you so much for all your help.
Lisa, Milton ON
OMG!!! I LOVE IT SO MUCH!!! I am SO EXCITED!
He is going to love it too!
I will get the 3 pictures together, then I will send them to you. Then can you send me the final proof?
I LOVE LOVE LOVE what you have done!!
Heather, Madley in Love Photography , Milton ON
Denise thank you so so much it is beautiful yes you can use it on your website. Until the next time be safe and May God continue to Bless your talent in an awesome way!!!!
LaTonya, Georgia USA
Hi Denise,
Just wanted to say thanks again for doing our beautiful announcements- I love them! It was a pleasure to deal with you and I'll be sure to pass along your website. I hope to use your talents again soon!
Tara, Milton ON
oh yes Denise im so sorry i didnt get a chance to email you yet.I did receive them on Tuesday and they are Fantastic.You did an awesome job and im very pleased.Im going to let all my friends know about you so they can take advantage of your services for their special events.
Thanks again Denise!!!
Sonia, Hamilton ON
You are so awesome!!!
Fabulous suggestions ... so his teacher's name is Ms. ***** ... never would have thought to do that
And the BD invites look awesome. Let me know the total please -You are so great at this!!
Jenny (repeat customer) Milton, ON
Denise! Got the Birth Announcements 2 days ago, they are lovely, just wanted to say thank you for them, and for such a quick turnaround on them! Everything is going well, and I'm really enjoying my new little man...I can't imagine life without him!
Barb (repeat customer) Toronto, ON
Hi Denise, thanks again, these invitations are really great! They are sure to impress, and exactly what we had in mind. You are so talented!! Louise (repeat customer) Milton, ON
Thanks Denise…..the invitations came out beautiful!
I did them at CVS and I paid 3.80 for 40 of them.
Thanks once again and I look forward to using you again!
Middleton, Massachusetts
Thanks Denise! I just paid your paypal invoice. I'm so happy your website came up when I was looking for Tina's invites. I wish I had known about you before. I'll use you again in the near future. I also told a few of my friends about your work.
Vanessa Aurora, ON
Thank you for your fast response and I can't wait to see the finish product, oh and I don't want the invite glossy, matte. If you have any additional questions don't hesitate to ask. Every year I plan early on all party events. I have a son who's five and I start his invites early all the time and now I am expecting a little girl, really exciting. You will be getting business from me at least twice a year with my kids birthdays. Looking forward to working with you.
Regards,Reanna P. Upland, California
Hi Denise! I received the thank you cards on Friday. They look amazing! Thank you for a wonderful job! :)
Nalini , Scarborough, ON
I love, love, LOVE it, Denise! Thank you soooo much!!! It is perfect! The Sunday invite will be exactly the same, except a different date and time. I showed it to my husband and he couldn't believe how awesome it was! We honestly didn't think we could find anything like this (and have someone so professional and promt to work with). It is so much better than I had ever hoped - I honestly can't thank you enough. Dylan is our first child (as I'm sure you have gathered -haha!) and I am so excited to plan this super fun party for him. He loves Thomas the Tank Engine and all that goes along with it, so this will make such a wonderful keepsake for his scrapbook.
The standard shipping option should work just fine and I will set up the PayPal account as soon as I receive the invoice from you/ I noticed that you had many testimonials on your website and I would love to add mine, as well.
Thanks for making this such a fun experience for me! :)
Nicole Albany, NY
Thanks a lot for your work, I loved it. And I'll be needing you agian in March for my daughter's b-day. Again thanks for everything.
Yadira , California USA
Hi Denise I got the Halloween cards they are soo cute and thank you for the return labels I love them!
Angie C Maple, ON
Thank you so much Denise for taking the time to create the thank you card for us.. WE love it...WE will be going with this one, and the cross looks great there.The date is actually September 12,2010, I will have my husbands translate to Spanish tonight. And I will let you know the number I will need for each.But we will need approx.. 35.Thanks again it looks amazing....
Jodie Milton, ON
Hi Denise~
Just wanted to say thanks for the invites they are beautiful
thank you very much....
Carmen G California USA
Hi Denise,
Everything looks awesome spelling and all, the matte finish would be great. Tomorrow is perfect with me... I have listed my cell phone number below and you can give me a call and arranging pick up or drop off, which ever is best for you. Thanks for making my first experience in purchasing invitations a great one, look forward to purchasing more with you in the future.
Stephanie P, Brampton ON
Thank you again...they are lovely! Will be in touch again I am sure.
Victoria B, Milon ON
Ok, absolutely LOVE them both!!!!! This is exactly what I would have wanted for myself! I Am going to go with sample #2-the lilac one (lighter of the two). Will order 35, You can definitely send me the invoice via Paypal.Please let me know when they are done, so that we can arrange a pick up or delivery.
Thank-you again for getting back to me so quickly!
Sincerely,Tanja. Schomberg, ON
Hi Denise!
I wanted to thank you again for the lovely invites, they are just adorable, so princessy, just love it! just wanted to let you know and to just say thanks again for another great job on the invites.
I'm sure I'll talk to you again! Take care!
Lucia P. (repeat customer) Brampton ,ON
We received the invitations and they are great! Thank you very much for your help.
Tina and Andrew D (Ilinois, USA)
Hi Denise,
Thank you very much for creating my son's invitation. Both came out good :) I had samples printed out today and I'm so happy how they both turn out so good! I will be requesting another invitation with you probably by December for my niece invitation :)
Again, thank you :)
Regards, Sheryl M (California, USA)
Thanks again for your help, I think your work is amazing and I will surely contact again when I need invites!
Take Care,
Nicole (repeat customer )
Hi there,
Sorry, yes I got them! Handed them out today. It's been a long crazy day so I didn't get a chance to email you. They look absolutely awesome! My son's birthday is in August so I'm sure I'll be in touch again. He's probably going for a Lego theme so feel free to start planning now LOL!
Thanks again so much for the invitations and putting a rush on them. I really appreciate it!
Michelle (repeat customer)
I have been meaning to e-mail you to thank you again. I am so happy with the work that you have done. You are amazingly talented!! Thank you for your hard work and patience in getting Julian's invitation just right! I am positive that you will be hearing from me again very soon. I referred my friend to you (name) she is the one doing the monkey themed birthday for her twins. I will keep passing your info around, if that is ok. Thank you again!!
Lisa (Maple, ON)
Hi Denise,
I just received the invitations today and I LOVE them!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you! They are even cuter in person. Thanks for all your help and I will definitely use your service again! Can you do matching thank you's? I'd order them from you if you can!
Thanks again!
ollie K Arizona USA
Excellent!! I can't thank you enough. Guaranteed you will see business from us again :) Thanks for being so talented!
Misty, Colorado USA (repeat customer)
It is done, thank you so much. I wish I had more reason to use you because I love your work. I will pass your name on to anyone who asks me.
Lora W British Columbia, Canada (repeat customer)
I Iove them :) Emma does too, she is giving them out tomorrow. She has one stuck to her bedroom wall and her brother has been carrying one around too-- hence the need for a few extras from my first estimation! lol
I've already sent your contact information around to friends with children born in the first few months of 2011 :)
Ryan is born in May so I will be in touch in April!
Thanks again for your amazing work,
Steph Ontario
Thank you soooo very much! You are the best!! I definitely will use you in the future and will reccomend you to everyone!
Thanks again!!
Christina M (Texas USA)
That looked amazing!! Would it be possible for you to put this picture in just to see if it looks better??? I'm very indecisive! Thanks so much for your help you've been extremely patient and helpful:)
Kim B California, USA
Hi Denise,
I just received the invitations today and I LOVE them!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you! They are even cuter in person. Thanks for all your help and I will definitely use your service again! Can you do matching thank you's? I'd order them from you if you can!
Thanks again! Hollie K Arizona USA
Excellent!! I can't thank you enough. Guaranteed you will see business from us again :) Thanks for being so talented!
Misty , Colorado USA
It is done, thank you so much. I wish I had more reason to use you because I love your work. I will pass your name on to anyone who asks me.
lora W (repeat customer) British Columbia, Canada
I did receive these! Thank you so much! They came out BEAUTIFULLY!!!!!!!!! All my guests love them.
Thank you,
Michelle A , New Jersey USA
Amanda C Texas USA
Thanks again for everything! The invite looks amazing and the whole process was so easy :)See you tomorrow
Maria V Milton, ON
I can't believe that the order went this fast either! I'm glad that I'm a night owl and I'm staying up too late again.
This is just one more wonderful milestone of a first time mom. Thanks for working with me and for helping to make it special.
Tammy D ,Ilinois USA
Thank you so much, will definitely be hearing from us again and will pass your info along to other friends!
Noel M , New Jersey USA
Hey Denise I got all the invites and they look fabulous! Just wanted to thank you again for your service...
Take care
Manuela P (Woodbridge Ontario)
Hi, I got the invites printed yesterday and they look great. I am very impressed with your service. I appreciate the speediness! I will keep you in mind for future parties.
Thanks! Kelly Ohio USA
Thank you so much! You will definately hear from me again very soon. My daughter's 3rd birthday is coming up as well as Sabrina's Baptism. We'll be in touch. Thanks again they turned out great!
Tonia (Maple, ON)
I will tell all of my friends of your services, as you are very quick efficient and good at what you do.
Many thanks and kind regards,
London England
It's absolutely lovely!!!
How can I pay you and receive the high quality file?
Thank you so much!
Believe me when I say that I will tell all my friends about the great job you made.
Sofia L
(strawberry shortcake invites)
Like our Facebook page
DeeLights Digital Designs
for Contests and discounts
Don't worry we won't clog up your news feed :)
Click here for more testimonials
Personalized Place Mats
we can do any theme!
First Communion/Baptism


text:
Apple Hostels of Philadelphia
One of USA's highest rated hostels and located downtown in Old City, near Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. NO curfew and NO lockouts!
At one of the highest rated hostels in North America, we strive to provide each of our guests with friendly, courteous and knowledgeable service, clean facilities, lots of activities and an environment that encourages our guests to socialize with one another. The hostel is located in Philadelphias safest neighbourhood, steps away from Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, the Visitors Center, the subway, and were surrounded by a myriad of restaurants, pubs and nightclubs.
The following are FREE: billiards table, wireless internet, cereal on weekends, tea and coffee, Thursday-night pub crawls and more. Our hostel has central air-conditioning, large modern kitchen and a large lounge. ISIC cardholders receive $2 off per night.
State and municipal hotel tax totaling 15.5% is not included in the price
We require that upon check-in each guest must provide one of the following: a valid foreign passport; or a government-issued ID showing that you live outside a 75-mile radius of the hostel.
You must be 18 years of age or older unless accompanied by a parent or a school-appointed chaperone. No children under 12 years old are allowed in our dorm room, no exceptions.
There is a 14-day maximum stay for all of our guests.
Men are not permitted in the mixed dorm room unless traveling with women. Women are always allowed in the mixed dorm room.
We are an independently operated Hostelling International hostel. So while we meet or exceed all of Hostelling International's standards, we do not require our guests to have an HI membership. The is no longer a $3 fee imposed on non-members.
Plase note: Check-in from 4pm to 6am.
Disponibilità e tariffePer visualizzare la disponibilità e i prezzi, seleziona le date e fai clic su "Aggiorna date"
Ostello Servizi & Politiche
- Reception 24 ore su 24
- Sicurezza 24 ore su 24
- Aria condizionata
- Parcheggio per biciclette
- Giochi di società
- Scambio di libri
- TV via cavo
- Telefoni a scheda
- Sala comune
- Carte di credito accettate
- Asciugatrice
- Telefono e fax
- Mappe della città gratuite
- Accesso a Internet gratuito
- Wi-Fi gratuito
- Frigo/Congelatore
- Fussball
- Sala giochi
- Asciugacapelli
- Docce calde
- Pulizia
- Accesso a Internet
- Ferro e asse da stiro
- Accesso con chiave elettronica
- Cucina
- Tardo check-out
- Lavanderia
- Biancheria inclusa
- Armadietti
- Deposito bagagli
- Forno a microonde
- Nessun coprifuoco
- Vietato fumare
- PlayStation
- Bigliardo
- Luce per lettura
- Reception (orari limitati)
- Macchine per thé e caffé
- Travel Desk per i tour
- Asciugamani a noleggio
- Asciugamani inclusi
- Utensili
- Distributori automatici
- Lavatrice
- WiFi
Politica di cancellazioneQuesta proprietà ha una politica di cancellazione di 1. La mancata cancellazione entro questo intervallo di tempo si tradurrà in una penale pari alla prima notte di pernottamento.
IndicazioniMostra mappaNascondi mappa
We're located at 33 Bank Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106
From Philadelphia International Airport
Take the R1 train (follow the signs), there is a stop located at each terminal. Cost is $8 cash only, payment is collected on the train. Get off at Jefferson Station. As you exit the train, turn in the direction the train was traveling and exit the platform towards 10th Street. Take Market Street towards 2nd Street (approximately 10 minutes walking distance to the hostel). Bank Street is between 3rd and 2nd Street on the right hand side.
Taxis to the hostel have a flat rate of $29.50, plus tip. Uber and Lyft are also available. Once you're in the vehicle it takes approximately 15 to 20 minutes to reach the hostel.
From Greyhound Bus Station
Walk on Market Street towards 2nd Street (approximately 15 minutes walking distance to the hostel). Bank Street is a very small street (like an alley because it's one of the city's oldest streets) between 2nd and 3rd Streets, and the hostel is on the right hand side.
Megabus from New York City:
The Megabus is cheaper than Greyhound from New York City. Tickets are often only $1 if you buy them early enough, and their buses have free wireless internet. Get off at their 6th and Market Street stop, then walk down Market Street towards 2nd Street. Turn right on Bank Street. (This is an approximately 5 minute walk to the hostel).
Chinatown Bus
There are a few bus companies that depart from Chinatown in both New York, Baltimore and Washington DC. They let you off on 11th Street between Filbert Street and Arch Street. Walk to Market Street and then walk down Market Street towards 2nd Street. Turn right on Bank Street. (In total, this is approximately 12 to 15 minutes walking distance).
From Amtrak Train Station (including Megabus from cities other than New York)
Take the blue-line subway from the train station. Get off on Second Street. Bank Street is a very small street (like an alley because it's one of the city's oldest streets) between 2nd and 3rd Street, so if you're walking up from 2nd Street towards 3rd Street, Bank Street will be on the left hand side.


text:
As I pack away my design books and spring cleaning the material library in my office, I can't help but feel a surge of sadness. I'm gonna miss all these paint swatches, tile samples, fabric charts, furniture catalogues and all the material samplings that I've collected for the past 5 years. Throughout these years, I had learned so much starting from design on the drawing board to physically see the completion of the project; I made many good friends from the network circles within my industry; I established a new division to initiate external projects; I travelled to China for furniture procurement and pick up skills in price negotiation; I stayed overnight at a project site while I was 9 months pregnant, I see my work got published in magazine and newspaper; I learned how to be a team leader (& knows that it is never easy to be one), I got scolded, cheated, insulted, blamed and bullied in so many different ways that made me who I am today.
It's hard to say goodbye, but these does not mean I'm putting an end to my design career. Design will always be something that I'm passionate about, it's what I love and will never be tired of it. However I need to step outside my comfort zone to do something that is beyond my realm of knowledge and capability, something which I will find myself being purposeful and achieve fulfillment in a very different way.
As I look forward to a new chapter of my career, I vowed to work harder, strive harder and be better for my loved ones.
{Pic of me & my bestie/ex-colleague went furniture hunting at Foshan, Guangzhou in May 2011, look how serious we were… LOL…}


text:
Sir Olaniwun Ajayi was at all times a step ahead of his time. Sir Olaniwun Ajayi KJW, has imitations of immortality with what he built in the seen and unseen work of his firm, the people he sired, the work did, the landmarks he made, the systems he built, the leadership provided and on top of it all the virtues of righteousness and integrity he built.
Valedictory Service


text:
PowerPoint slide sets to accompany World Climate
World Climate Slides (pptx) – 16MB (June 2018)
- Farsi
- French
- German (February 2017)
- Hungarian (July 2017)
- Japanese
- Norwegian
- Portuguese (3 region) (6 region)
- Spanish (February 2019)
- Turkish (November 2016)
World Climate Supplemental Slides (pptx) – 100MB – Pick and choose which slides you want to include for your event. Updated October 2018.
World Climate Africa Slides (pptx) – 8MB- A set of slides focusing on the climate impacts in Africa and programs to address climate change that you select from to enhance your World Climate Simulation (or another event!) Updated April 2018.
Older versions (please note that these are large downloads)
Facilitator's Slide Set in Portuguese (ppt)
Facilitator's Slide Set in French (ppt)
Facilitator's Slide Set in French (pdf)
Facilitator's Slide Set in German (ppt)
Facilitator's Slide Set in Mandarin (ppt)
Spanish (Updated February 2018):
Facilitator's Slide Set in Spanish (ppt)
If you update a translation or add additional slides that might be useful to others we would be happy to share. Send us an email at email@example.com.


text:
Ask yourself these questions before you decide that you will coordinate your own Destination Wedding and not hire a Professional Experienced Wedding Planner.
"Have you ever planned more than one wedding before?"
"Do you have the time to plan a wedding?"
"Do you know how many hours it requires to plan a wedding?"
"Do you have any contacts abroad?"
"Do you have any experience checking: contracts, vetting suppliers, visiting venues, verifying their insurances and credentials and what assurance do you have of their professionalism at your wedding?"
*These are only just a few questions to answer before you put on your Wedding Planner's cape.
Laura's Wedding Day
I am a Wedding Planner in Puerto Rico. I only do Amazing Weddings. Proud to be a top Wedding Coordinator in Puerto Rico.


text:
Searching for balance is a constant both in and between my life and art. There are times where clay is predominant in my daily routine leaving little time for other enjoyments. I tend to lose track of time when I'm in the studio as the creative juices are flowing and I'm focused on the task at hand. It can be kind of addicting; it's easy to spend so much time in the studio that it minimizes time for friends, family and other fun activities. I've found time spent away from the studio is beneficial and contributes to success when I'm creating.
The intensive cycle of clay-making can be unforgiving and contribute to the abundant time necessary for successful completion of a piece. As a material, clay has its limitations and balance requirements. Too wet, and the clay will not hold a form. Too dry, the clay will crack when bent into shape. Additionally, there are numerous stages throughout the journey to completion that require good timing. Learning to dodge these stumbling blocks is part of creating a successful final product. It's another balancing act to achieve.
Finding aesthetic balance is another ongoing challenge I face in the studio. Imagining the final piece guides me through the creation process. I've learned to trust my own artistic eye. This translates into an authentic outcome that says, "I've been created by Laura."