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Its over. Now what do we do? Actually watch the bowls and settle stuff on the field? That is weird.
After all the debates and chaos the BCS has brought over the years it caught a break this year as the Championship Game is pretty cut and dry. Auburn will play FSU on Jan 6 for the last BCS National Title before we move to a four team playoff next season. Funny part is there would have been controversy this year with deciding who teams 3 and 4 would have been with Bama, MSU, Baylor and Stanford. But seeing as the committee hasn't decided stated their criteria for how they will decide we will just have to leave it to talk radio and bar talk.
For now lets focus on what happened on Saturday as Auburn ran all over Missouri and the Buckeyes got tripped up by MSU. I must admit I thought Missouri would win the game. I didn't think Auburn's run offense could do that to a pretty good defense. 545 yards rushing later and Malzahn has me and all of the SEC believing in his offense. When Auburn won in 2010 they did it with a transcendent QB who went first overall in the NFL. This year he did it with a guy who was a DB at UGA two years ago. Tre Ford did basically whatever he wanted to the Mizzou defense and they put up 59 points which could have been more had they not turned the ball over. After they won they all put on MSU gear and started to "Sparty On."
And the South's prayer was answered in the form of the Spartans taking down OSU. The Buckeye's secondary had shown cracks earlier in the year against Abbrederis and Wisconsin and Michigan last week and MSU exploited them, jumping out to a 17-0 lead. OSU then came back with Braxton and got the lead but got stuffed on the 4th and 2. Urban made the call himself and was despondent post game. The 24 game win streak was all for naught and it ended up no debate was necessary.
There was also no debate as BAYLOR won the Big 12. God that is fun to type. Oklahoma helped out the Bears and now Briles and boys are headed to the Fiesta Bowl. Lets dive into all the fun stuff…
Michigan's Bowl
1. We are playing Kansas State in the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl… Get Excited: True story, the week of the MSU game I was traveling back from Atlanta and saw some guy in a Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl Shirt. I took it as an omen. That omen has come true. (Btw I hope Hoke can negotiate some deal for Michigan fans. All you can eat for like $15 or something. I trust him to get this done.)
B1G Title Thoughts
1. Congrats to MSU: I made fun of their offense more than anyone in the early part of the season and you have to give them credit. They settled on a QB, Langford became their back and the O Line became a real good group. O yea, and the defense. Pretty damn good team all around and should be a good matchup versus Stanford.
2. "Connor Cook, game manager"… Get used to it: This will follow him for the rest of his career and for the most part it is true. He throws off his back foot a bunch but got the job done. Also the OSU secondary helped him to his best day as a starter.
3. OSU secondary got exposed… I already hit on this but Gardner had 450 yards last week and Cook had 300 plus this week, it was clearly the weak link of the team. Once Christian Bryant got hurt against Wisconsin it was clearly an issue but they didn't have to worry about it because of the schedule. The Run D held up until the end but the secondary is the reason they won't be in Pasadena. They probably lucked out because Winston and FSU would have done terrible, unspeakable things to them.
4. MSU D vs OSU O goes to Sparty… It was close: The 4th and 2 call was the play that decide the battle. MSU came out on fire and shut out the Buckeyes in the 1st Q but Braxton and Hyde fought back and got the lead. They were able to put up 200 plus on the MSU D which is legit but it was short of their 350 plus yards they had been averaging coming into the game. Denicos Allen made the play against Braxton that decided the game and gave the round to Narduzzi. (OSU was also 1 for 10 on third down)
5. Langford, WRs and the O line: At the beginning of the year all of these were question marks but in Indy they got the job done. Langford has been a solid replacement for Bell, the WRs did enough to make plays and the O line became a very solid group.
6. Darqueze Dennard would you like to be a Steeler?: I would be very fond of this idea. He is a lockdown corner and is the reason Narduzzi can be so aggressive. Roby came into the season with more hype but I would take Darqueze any day of the week.
7. Some other school please hire Narduzzi: UConn is going to try and interview him but I am not sure he will take the job. He clearly has an influence on the team as Dantonio had him come down earlier to the field than usual. I would prefer if he coached somewhere else but I feel he may get the "head coach in waiting" tag at MSU.
8. Roby is gone, what about Braxton and Shazier?: Sounds like Braxton will be back but Shazier may go to the NFL early. I hope so (That blocked punt by Shazier was pretty awesome. Just flung his body at the blocker.)
9. Joey Bosa is going to be a stud: Would you like to transfer closer to home please?
10. Now comes the hard part for MSU, winning the Rose Bowl: MSU hasn't been to the Rose Bowl since 1988 when they beat USC. That is quite a feat because normally B1G teams lose to the Pac 12. They will be playing Stanford who is a mirror image of themselves with good D and a solid run game. Big thing is Stanford has last years experience. It is tough to stay focused when it is 70 and sunny on Jan 1.
11. Advice to Spartys, go to Pasadena: Trust me. It is glorious and when I went Michigan lost to USC. (Shocker) Another bit of advice, don't go to the parade because, you know, its a parade. Instead sleep in and go to brunch and watch the Winter Classic.
12. OSU vs Clemson, A shootout: This will be a really fun game. OSU will put up points for sure with Braxton/Hyde and Sammy Watkins and the Clemson WRs will run free for so many points. This will be a big game for Urban. Win and they had a very good year. Lose and they still had a good year but their biggest win would be over a 9-3 Wisconsin team at home.
13. OSU 24 win streak snapped: MSU was the first top ten team they played under Urban and they were the ones that snapped the streak. People will be down on OSU but their offense is legit but the back half of the defense was their undoing.
14. The Rematch, Nov 8, 2014 in East Lansing: OSU will travel into Spartan Stadium in November. I am sure there will be plenty of hype. (Can you tell I have been living in 2014 for a month? You will love it. There are drones that drop stuff at your doorstep and the World Cup and Olympic Hockey. It is glorious)
B1G Bowl Slate
1. MSU vs Stanford: Rose Bowl Jan 1: The 100th version of the game will be two sledgehammers beating the crap out of each other.
2. OSU vs Clemson: Orange Bowl Jan 3: So many Points
3. Wisconsin vs South Carolina: Capital One Jan 1: Should be a very good game. Wisconsin's Run Game vs Clowney should be legit
4. Iowa vs LSU: Outback Jan 1: Normally I would say this would be a rout but with Mettenberger out and a freshman playing, Iowa could because they play solid D.
5. Nebraska vs UGA :Gator Bowl Jan 1: They played last year in the Capital One Bowl. Snooze
6. Michigan vs Kansas State: BWW Bowl Dec 28: I wonder how many flavors they have?
7. Minnesota vs Syracuse: Texas Bowl Dec 27: The Gophers get the shaft and have to deal with bowl politics and are sent back to the Texas Bowl. They could win though which would be nice for them.
8. Rutgers vs Notre Dame: Pinstripe Bowl Dec 28: Rutgers will start a rivalry with ND, its B1G tradition
9. Maryland vs Marshall: Military Bowl Dec 27: No opinion here
1. Auburn vs FSU: The SEC looks for eight straight and FSU tries to complete a perfect season. Don't forget that FSU DC Jeremy Pruitt was at Bama the past few years and has faced Malzahn before.
2. FSU hasn't been tested: Their closest game was 48-34 versus BC so it will be interesting to see how they do if they get a test from a very good run game that punches back.
3. Dorial Green-Beckham: After a rough first year he showed up in 2013 and was a force in the SEC title game. He is living up to the hype.
4. BAYLOR!: I would like to thank all of the little people who let Baylor get to this point. Mainly Mack Brown. Either way this is a big moment for Baylor football.
5. Mack Brown Watch is back on: Not sure who Texas will hire with Briles/Malzahn off the board. (SABAN!)
6. Stoops owns Okie State: This one has to sting for the Cowboys who were a double digit favorite at home and had the Big 12 title in their grasp. Instead OU will head to a BCS bowl in a "down" year.
7. Stanford > Pac 12: ASU had a great year but got clobbered by Stanford again. The Cardinal dominated them earlier in the year and the same thing happened again on Saturday. The Pac 12 goes through the Farm.
8. BGSU > Northern Illinois: Jordan Lynch and the Huskies came into the game with everything to play for but their D couldn't stop BG at all. Instead Bowling Green will be heading back to Detroit to take on Pitt.
9. UCF > Zombie Big East: UCF got the Zombie Big East's last automatic bid. They will play Baylor which means I hate them
10. Fresno State> Mountain West: Their loss last week cost them a BCS birth
11. Sark to USC, Peterson to UW: Sark isn't a slam dunk hire but he will at least make them good but adding Peterson to the Pac 12 gives them as impressive a group of coaches as anyone else in the country. Good luck trying to make it out of there with less than one loss.
12. Heisman:
1) Jameis Winston: With his legal troubles behind him this is a forgone conclusion
Also headed to NYC IMO: Tre Ford, Braxton Miller, AJ McCarron
13. Ranking the BCS Bowls
1) Nati: FSU vs Auburn
2) Orange: Clemson vs OSU
3) Rose: MSU vs Stanford
4) Fiesta: Baylor vs UCF
5) Sugar: Alabama vs Oklahoma: This is going to get ugly
14. Best of the rest
1) Cotton: Missouri vs Ok St
2) Capital One: South Carolina vs Wisconsin
3) Alamo: Oregon vs Texas
4) Russell Athletic: Louisville vs Miami
5) Chick Fil-A: Duke vs Texas A&M


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In an effort to motivate me to finish some projects hanging around my sewing room, I made finishing this quilt my August goal for ALYoF with Sew BitterSweet Designs. Yay for finished quilts!
You can find the free Charm Pack Cherry pattern here. It just needs two charm packs of a print and two from a solid. Pssst: Check out the sale this weekend at Craftsy. I saw some great deals on precuts and solids.
Linking Up:
Free Motion Mavericks
WIPS be Gone
Sew can she

subset: commoncrawl


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Peter C. Verhoef is the recipient of the 2012 Sheth Foundation/Journal of Marketing Award for his article, "Understanding the Effect of Customer Relationship Management Efforts on Customer Retention and Customer Share Development," which appeared in the October 2003 (Vol. 67, No. 4) issue of the Journal of Marketing (JM). The award is administered through the American Marketing Association Foundation. Nominations for the award were solicited from members of the JM Editorial Review Board, and a committee of former journal editors—Roland T. Rust (chair), Ruth N. Bolton, and David W. Stewart —made the selection. The award is given to honor articles that have made long-term contributions to the discipline of marketing. The award recognizes scholarship based on the benefits of time and hindsight and acknowledges contributions and outcomes made to marketing theory and practice. This year, the committee considered all articles published in JM between 2003 and 2007. The committee also weighed information obtained from nomination letters and citation analyses. The Sheth Foundation/Journal of Marketing Award was established through the generosity of the Sheth Foundation. The criteria for selection include the quality of the article's contribution to theory and practice, the article's originality, its technical competence, and its impact on the field of marketing. Articles eligible for the award must have been published between six and ten years previously.
As a nomination letter noted, Verhoef's article "constitutes a basis for many papers that have been published after 2003" in the area of CRM. Marketing managers and academics have sought a better understanding of the factors influencing "share of customer" or "share of wallet" over time. However, this research problem has been very difficult to investigate for theoretical and technical reasons. The factors influencing share of customer are different from the factors influencing customer retention but this problem had been given insufficient theoretical attention. The article tackled a topic that is difficult from both a conceptual and empirical perspective, and is an exemplar of well-designed and well-executed empirical research. To quote a nominator, "the paper is highly relevant and frequently used by practitioners," and "has been written in a style which stimulates practitioners to implement ideas and outcomes." The committee believed that the significant impact of the article on both scholarly research and marketing practice made it a worthy selection for the Sheth Foundation/Journal of Marketing Award.
The award is presented annually at the American Marketing Association's Summer Marketing Educators Conference.
Peter C. Verhoef is Professor of Marketing at the Department of Marketing, Faculty of Economics, University of Groningen, the Netherlands.


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Guide to the Georgian era: how long did it last and best places to visit in Britain
The Georgian era was regarded as the age of elegance as vast stately houses and estates changed the the rural landscape. Our expert guide on Georgian Britain looks at the history of this elegant period and features a selection best Georgian places to visit in the UK.
Learn more about Georgian Britain with our historic guide which explores this elegant period and lists some of the best Georgian places to visit in the UK.
When was the Georgian Period?
The Georgian era took place between 1714-1830. A time when the industrial revolution changed the face of the country as our cities grew, so did some people's fortunes. It drove many people to seek solace beyond the urban sprawl, either in nature or palatial stately homes.
Historic about the Georgian period
- The Georgian period encompasses the reign of four kings: Georges I, II, III and IV
- England's population rose rapidly in the later decades, growing from around 5.7 million in 1751 to 8.7 million by 1801
- Between 1760-1799, enclosures brought two to three million acres of land into cultivation. By the 1790s, around 75% of the land was cultivated by tenant-farmers who occupied it but didn't own it
- Wars were waged throughout the period. Conflicts included the Seven year's War (1756-1763); French Revolutionary Wars (1792-1802) and Napoleonic Wars (1803-1815)
- Aristocrats' annual incomes were in excess of £10,000 while the average labourer or servant lived on £4-£10 per year.
The countryside as a refuge
A time of dramatic transformation, Britain waged war abroad, both with old enemy France and newly independent America, while at home there was unrest. Radical ideals fermented and people struggled with dramatic economic fluctuations. There was also innovation, as new kinds of products – from watches to steam technology – made their mark on everyday life.
The countryside was regarded by many as the calming tonic to such social, political and economic upheaval. A veneration of the pastoral went hand in hand with concerns about its future loss as towns mushroomed in size. The Georgians fretted about London's accelerating growth. Even the bucolic villages of Chelsea and Kensington to the west and Hackney to the east looked like they would soon be overwhelmed by the expanding girth of this 'great wen', as it was described by William Cobbett, champion of country life, in 1820. Yet the rapid industrialisation that created belching cities by the late 19th century was still to come.
How did the Georgian period have a dramatic impact on Britain's landscape?
Privatisation of land
Uncultivated land was wrestled into production to feed a growing population. Views were entirely remade as vast open fields, wasteland and common land were enclosed and brought under private control. Britain's patchwork landscape of straight-edged fields flanked by hedgerows and dry-stone walls was the visual result of this change. Land enclosures supported the emergence of large, tenanted farms that yielded more crops and plumper stock. Of course, such reallocation of land came at a cost. Ordinary people lost access to open grazing that had enabled them to keep a pig or hens as a supplement. The poorest, who had relied on squatting rights and gleaning to get by, were dispossessed.
More like this
A perfecting and mastering of nature
Ripon, North Yorkshire and its perfected Studley Royal Water Gardens
At the top of the social ladder, an appetite for remodelling the land extended beyond the productivity of agricultural reform, and the very wealthy carved out fashionable new vistas at their sprawling country estates. As with all good makeovers, the artifice had to masquerade as nature. None were more skilled in this alchemy than Lancelot 'Capability' Brown. Many of the parklands surrounding 18th-century country houses aren't the work of nature at all, but of Georgian grand design.
Perhaps, it was this remodelling of Britain's map for profit and pleasure that made its natural landscapes all the more alluring in the closing decades of the Georgian era.
Georgian's cultural interest in the natural world: a time of romantic poems and paintings or of vigorous analysis?
Many Georgian painters and poets turned to commune with nature, who in Wordsworth's words, "never did betray the heart that loved her". From Scotland's ancient lochs to the Lake District's soaring peaks, Georgian romantic artists were lured to to create their works from these environments. By the end of the Georgian age, John Constable's paintings of babbling brooks and grazing cattle, William Turner's fog-strewn hills and crashing waves, and William Wordsworth's poetic passion for the 'dizzy raptures' of rural beauty, showcased a Britain composed of majestic panoramas, over which nature ruled supreme.
Wordsworth House in Cockermouth, Cumbria, where both William and Dorothy Wordsworth lived and wrote
However, the Georgian's relationship with the natural world wasn't just romantic. While some gazed in awe across epic landscapes, others focused in on the tiniest elements of it and scrutinised the details. A time of analysis as well as art, citizen scientists attempted to catalogue natural history just as vigorously as artists tried to capture its beauty. Margaret Bentinck, Duchess of Portland, had a natural history collection so large she employed a curator among her staff. Fossils, feathers, shells, flora and fauna were collected by life-long experts and fashion-following amateurs alike. As a result, even the newly built townhouses that ranged down Georgian terraces contained specimens of nature, with shells adorning small boxes or large, purpose-built grottos and flowers painted onto canvas or pressed and ordered into books.
Best Georgian places to visit in Britain
1. A la Ronde Devon
An intriguing Georgian property open till late in the year, ideal for an Autumn visit
This remarkable 16-sided Georgian property was built for cousins, Jane and Mary Parminter. Like others living on the coast, the cousins feared a French invasion, so they had hidden escape routes built into their house.
£9.50. Open daily until 28 Oct. Exmouth,
2. The Lake District, Cumbria
Glorious daffodils in the Lake District; unsurprisingly an inspiration for Wordsworth's poem; Daffodils
The inspiration for William and Dorothy Wordsworth. Visit their childhood home in Cockermouth or go to Glencoyne Bay and see
the flowers said to have inspired William's poem Daffodils. £7.90. Open daily (except Friday)
until 28 October. Cockermouth, CA13 9RX.
01900 824805
3. Studley Royal Water garden, North Yorkshire
A splendid National Trust property encapsulated by its prestigious garden
After losing his job as Chancellor of the Exchequer, John Aislabie created this formal garden from a wild valley and later purchased the neighbouring ruin of Fountains Abbey.
£15. Open daily. Ripon, HG4 3DY.
017656 08888
4. Trelissick Manor, Cornwall
A Georgian coastal retreat, Trelissick Manor stands boldly as cows graze in the foreground.
Aspects of Georgian innovation and industry are dotted all over Cornwall. Trelissick Manor, built in the late 18th century by the Daniell family who made their fortune from mines, overlooks the coastal landscape where it meets the sea.
£11.60. Open daily. Truro, TR3 6QL.
01872 862090
5. Chatsworth, Derbyshire
Chatsworth House, one of few Georgian properties that remains a thriving home
Set in the majestic Peak District with the
family name emblazoned in gold letters across
its top is Chatsworth, one of the grandest surviving houses of the Georgian era and
still home to the Dukes of Devonshire.
£23. Open daily. Bakewell, DE45 1PP.
01246 565 300
6. Cragg Vale, West Yorkshire
The Luscious Cragg valley.
This area was notorious in the 1770s as being home to a large network of coiners and counterfeiters who plied their trade in hilltop cottages. The Hepstonstall Museum displays artefacts and information about the coiners.
Free. Open daily until 31 Oct. Heptonstall, HX7 7PL. 01422 843738
7. Coleridge Cottage, Somerset
Coleridge Cottage, A Poet's Retreat
The home of Samuel Taylor Coleridge from 1797. It's said that his famous poem Rime of the Ancient Mariner was inspired by the nearby Watchet harbour, while Frost at Midnight was written on a cold night in the cottage.
£6.60. Open daily until 4 Nov. Nether Stowey, TA5 1NQ. 01278 732662
8. Bath, Somerset
The iconic 4-storey Georgian Crescents of Bath
The archetypal Georgian town has the famous Assembly Rooms and surviving Georgian theatre, which evoke the essence of Georgian sociability. No 1 Royal Crescent is a house refurbished in
the style of the period from 1776 to 1796.
£10.30. Open daily. Bath, BA1 2LR.
01225 428126
9. Paxton House, Berwickshire
The wonderful Sandstone exterior of Paxton House, Berwickshire
Architect Robert Adam was at the forefront of the classical revival in England and Scotland from 1760 and built this elegant mansion. Much of the beautiful furniture inside was made for the house by master craftsman Thomas Chippendale.
£5. Open daily until 4 Nov. Berwick-upon-Tweed, TD15 1SZ. 01289 386291
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text:
HUMORS by Joel Chace
Copyright © Joel Chace
Release Date: January 2018
Paperback, 58 pages
Price: $16 (before discount)
Distributor: Paloma Press
Paloma Press is pleased to announce the release of Joel Chace's HUMORS.
"…Humors speaks of the world in front of our eyes and the world hidden within that landscape/mindscape, coloring in the shadows with history, theology, ideology, and human relations, which achieve a realism beyond doubt or faith. This is the complex muddle of life with all its curves and wobbles, ascents and descents. It is a canny and lovely journey filled with "language that births soul/…and/voice /breathing fire in/the crowded theater."
—Maxine Chernoff, author of Without and New Faces of 1952
For review copies or for more information, please email email@example.com.
JOEL CHACE has published work in print and electronic magazines such as The Tip of the Knife, Counterexample Poetics, OR, Country Music, Infinity's Kitchen, and Jacket. Most recent collections include Sharpsburg (Cy Gist Press), Blake's Tree (Blue & Yellow Dog Press), Whole Cloth (Avantacular Press), Red Power (Quarter After Press), Kansoz (Knives, Forks and Spoons Press), Web Too (Tonerworks), War, and After (BlazeVOX [books]), and Scorpions (Unlikely Books).


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Well. Here we are, with another month update.
I'll say this every time, but how am I doing this update already? Time has, as if it was possible, sped up even more. I'm not sure if it is because I'm back at work or that we are buying a house, or a mixture of the two? It could just be that a baby makes you hyper aware of just how fast time flies.
So this month has been fun. Evan is a super happy little guy. His favorite activities include: bathtime, smiling, cuddling, tying to giggle, standing up (assisted but he always straightens his legs), talking, smiling some more, when I sing "twinkle twinkle little star" (ah, he must love me), and more smiling. He is just a joy to be around, and loves conversations He also loves his Baby Eisenstein videos and little piano grandma bought him.
We have serious conversations these days, he has so much personality. He loves to wrap his fingers in my hair and has drooling down. He is starting to chew on his paci instead of sucking on it. He is an absolute angel, and a little ladies man.
Oh and he loves eating his hands:
Dear Evan:
Today you are three months old. You are a complete joy in my life. I started working again a couple weeks ago, and the HARDEST thing I HAVE EVER had to do, was be away from you for a few hours at a time. I feel like a piece of me is missing when I'm away from you. But! Grandma Luz loves you lots and you are getting lots of quality time with Auntie Nancy and Uncle Josh, they all love you to pieces.
This month I have noticed just how much you absorb everyday. You are alert, you follow things, you know your name and I swear you have full-on conversations with me. You get excited to watch Baby Eisenstein videos with Grandma Debbie and love your little piano. Grandpa Joe has a funny way of keeping you calm with little effort, and you like when he tells everyone "He is really saying HI! He knows words but just can't say them yet" – I told you he thinks you will be President, my little genius. Today the camera has been in your face all day, I apologize, but I just feel I need to capture every second, because you grow a half an inch an hour. You are SO strong! Everyone comments on how they can't believe your age because of your alertness and strength (it was all the baby pushups 😉 ).
My emotional breakdowns happen every other day now, which is much improved. Why breakdowns? Because I have never experienced days that fly by so quickly. I wake up, see you, and suddenly the day is over. HOW. DOES. THAT. HAPPEN. Gone are the days I'd wish away, thanks to you. I love every second of every day when I'm with you. That is probably why work is so hard, but those seconds away I'm just focusing on how I'll get to see you 😉
This month is a special month. October 2011 was crazy! Marathon, Married, Conception, New Job. This year is no different, Back to Work, New House, New Baby. Daddy and I are going to celebrate our wedding anniversary with you in our arms. How special is that?
I love you, with all your drooly faces, sweet baby kisses and even poopy diapers. You are amazing in every single way. Just when I thought I couldn't love you any more, I do. Thank you for coming into my life little dude.


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No need to count calories!
Imagine, summers approaching and you start thinking about all the delicious foods you've eaten over the winter period and the plump belly that's slowly formed over time leaving you looking 3 months pregnant, or ready to give birth (depending on how much you like food, and if you're like me well let's just say I'm like a baby in a candy store).
So, you decide to sign up to a gym and attack that extra fat. Thing is you don't really have a clue about dieting and don't have the money to pay for a personal coach to create a personalized diet program for you.
So, you're hitting the gym hardcore (or not) and you start out great, hitting the gym every other day and eating salads (basically starving yourself). After a few weeks you've lost a far amount of weight but are tired and fed up of eating the same thing day in day out, so are thinking of giving up. The thought of counting calories is depressing, and to be honest you can't be bothered (normal excuse is "I don't have time for that" or "that's too complicated").
Well, We all know the basics, eat more calories than you burn, and you gain weight. Eat fewer calories than you burn, and you lose weight.
Thing is, counting calories isn't that simple, and if you're anything like me, math is not my strong point. Even if it was, that wouldn't help, wanna know why?
Fact – Calorie counts on food labels and within food databases are more than often as much as 25% off. So, that just leaves it impossible to calculate calories, right?
Fact – Calorie expenditure estimates using tables and cardio equipment readouts are also as much as 25% off. So, calculating "calories out" is hard to measure accurately.
Apart from that, it's just plane and simply annoying to weigh, measure, and count all your food. Especially when I know an easier more convenient way of doing it.
So, I recommend using hand-size portion estimating and here's how it works:
- Your palm determines your protein portions.
- Your fist determines your veggie portions (green veggie).
- Your cupped hand determines your carb portions.
- Your thumb determines your fat portions.
By using this system your calories are counted for you, and not only that but your macronutrients and lined up too, without having to do any fancy kitchen math.
Plus, your hands are portable—they go wherever you go, making portion-sizing very convenient.
In addition, your hands are generally scaled to your size—the bigger you are, the bigger your hands, the more food you need and the more food you get. And vice versa.
Finally, it's much easier to listen to your body and its hunger and appetite cues without OCD-like reliance on calorie math.
I recommend eating 3 main meals and 2 – 3 snacks during a day, this will help fuel your metabolism and manage your weight. Limit you snacks to fruit, vegetables, or even a small portion of nuts. Keep meals / snacks 3- 4 hours apart. Drink plenty of water.
Contact me by leaving a message below and i'll be happy to provide you with more tips and advice on weight management. If you would like a personalised diet program or fitness routine then don't hesitate to leave a message and ill get back to you in the shortest dely.


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Y'know that feeling when the hero shows up on screen in your favorite movie? The thrill never ends—and that's kind of how we feel every time The Maine releases music. This time, we're being treated to some "Bad Behavior" from their coming album Lovely, Little, Lonely, and it's safe to say the idobi staff adores it like roses. Check out what we thought below, and join us in waiting for the album to release on April 7th!
What I love about The Maine is that they love music. You can hear it progress in every album they make. There are no sonic boundaries for these guys. With "Bad Behavior" they bring back their take on classic American rock but also seamlessly blend in flavors of 80s R&B/pop—and much like American Candy it's delicious. (Sherin Nicole)
The Maine make music you didn't know you were craving, but as soon as you hear it you just know that this is what you've been waiting for. I've listened to this song a couple (hundred) times already, and the more I listen the more I go back to replay it. Every chapter of The Maine is just as interesting as the last, and I can't wait to see what Lovely, Little, Lonely has to hold. (Emillie Marvel)
The Maine can never be accused of being boring or stuck in a rut. None of their albums sound exactly the same but there's something about each one that makes you think "yes, this is what The Maine should sound like at this particular moment in their lives." (Sam Devotta)
Stoked The Maine continued in the general direction of American Candy with the single. I can't wait to hear the rest of the album! (Mike Fishkin)


text: Poindimié, New Caledonia – Steeve Tojib and Georges Mayet have weighed the largest Marlin ever caught in these waters, an 1,135 lbs. Black Marlin. It took the guys 3 Hours and 30 Minutes to get the fish to the boat on stand-up 130 lbs. tackle. The fish was caught on a small trailer boat.


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Since t-shirt quilts are such a big part of Quest Quilts, I thought it appropriate that they receive their own section. Here you can find an online order form as well as FAQs.
If you don't even know where to begin when it come to t-shirt and memory quilts, here is an article I wrote on that topic for my local community magazine.
I have an online form with all my options and pricing. I can make t-shirt quilts from a lap size all the way to a king. I can sew the shirts without anything fancy, or I can add sashing, pictures printed on fabric, and letter blocks spelling out names. The form outlines all of that.
To see the order form, please click here.
Fill out this form to contact me directly for more questions:
For local folks, by that I mean in Gwinnett County, I meet you at JoAnn's fabrics in Snellville. There you can give me your shirts, talk about what you have in mind, and pick out fabric. After that I'll send you picture updates as I go.
Basic Info:
Please note the price listed is for a basic t-shirt quilt.$250 Lap quilt – any quilt measuring 75" x 60" or smaller$325 Twin sized quilt – measures 90" x 60"$375 Full-sized quilt – measures 90" x 75"$425 Queen-sized quilt – measures 105" x 90"$550 King-sized quilt – measures 105" x 105"Styles Offered:
I'm listing some FAQs below my pictures that should help you get an idea of my method and how to get started.
FAQsQ. How come you say "blocks" instead of "shirts" when talking about making the quilt?A. I say "blocks" because not every shirt is a single block. Sometimes a shirt has a fantastic design on the front as well as the back, and it will make two blocks. Sometimes I shirt's front and back can be combined. So this is my way of reminding folks that a shirt may create either one OR two blocks depending on the design of the shirt.Q. How many blocks do I need to have?A. There is no direct amount required. Usually, I'll take what shirts you give me and adjust it for the desired size. If there's too many, I can shrink down the block size or ask you to pick X amount to take out. If there's not enough, I can make block sizes, sashing, or borders bigger. I have also added in blocks of other fabric that ties in. There's a lot more flexibility than most people realize.Q. No, seriously, can you give me a number of blocks to at least try for?A. Okay, I'll do it, but remember this is all flexible. For a lap quilt, I suggest 9-12 blocks as a starter. It goes from there with 20 blocks for a twin, 25 blocks for a full, , and on up to around 36 for a queen, and 42 or so for a king. Again, these are estimates. I've squeezed a lot of shirts into a smaller quilt and expanded a few shirts into a larger one. You give me what you've got, tell me a size, and we can adjust from there.Q. The prices seem a bit high. Can you explain why?A. The materials involved for a basic quilt include batting, which can go over $30 easily, thread, stabilizer, and the backing fabric, which can be around $6-$10 per yard. I need anywhere from 6 to 8 yards for a good-sized quilt. Making each block can be time-consuming depending on the fabric and design, and the quilting itself involves hours of work in addition to the time spent assembling the blocks.Q. Where do you meet?A. I like to meet at the JoAnn's in Snellville. This way, we can hand off the clothing and pick out a backing all at the same time. If there's enough of the chosen fabric, I'll get it cut right then. If not, I know what to go home and order online.Q. Are there some fabrics that are off limits?A. For the top, not much is out of line. If it's cloth, then it's good. Oil cloth and stuff with a lot of paint or plastic on it doesn't do well on my machines and can break them, but uniforms and such are just fine. As for the backing, some of the more expensive quilting fabrics at the store add up a lot when I have to get between 6-8 yards of it, so I generally stay in the mid-range fabrics. Mid-range fabrics are part of the original price for backing. If you want one of the more expensive fabrics, then we can discuss something, possibly compensating for the difference in normal price. Again, we can see what you have in mind and adjust accordingly. This is the best part of making these quilts!Q. Do you use all parts of the shirt?A. If there is a design, I'll use it. If you only want one side of a shirt used, then safety-pin a note to that shirt, telling me what you have in mind. Sometimes I can combine a front and back if there's something too small for its own block. Generally, though, I try to include as much of what you give me as I can.Q. Is there anything else I need to know before giving you the clothes?A. Yes, please wash and inspect them all before handing them over. Many shirts age well, but sometimes a design will flake if the shirt is of cheaper quality and has sat around in a garage for years. Also, if you smoke or if the shirts smell of mold/mildew, please do everything you can to lessen the smell. Mold and mildew will trigger allergies for me and my family.Q. What about you – do you smoke?A. No, I do not smoke, nor does anyone in my house. I do have two cats, though, who have litter boxes in the basement, nowhere near my sewing area. We also have a dog as a result of all those trips to the adoption sessions to donate dog beds! I lay something over the clothes as I am working on it, so they cannot mess with it. I also like to wash and inspect quilts before handing them over, so it will be newly washed when you receive it.


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It started with trying, then trying a bit more, only to get frustrated as NOTHING was happening- I mean, I felt nothing and I saw nothing during the ritual of daily meditation, despite following instructions of every LOA pundit that I had read or listened to. Not their fault, it was me – I was not being receptive, despite my best efforts. May be I was trying too hard and not enjoying the process. So, one day, I decided to venture into something , which resonated with me.
So far, I was desperately seeking to connect with the Universe, to feel aligned with it's frequency. But why? So that I could achieve a state of mind appropriate to present my desire to the Omnipotent, for fulfilment. I went through stages to reach at this level.
stage 1-
I closed my eyes and started meditation with breathing exercises, but with a slight variation from earlier practice- While inhaling, I would invoke a feeling of 'taking in ' the belief in the universe', 'taking in all the love', 'taking in all the peace', and so on; and while exhaling, I practised feeling 'out with the doubts', 'out with the hatred', 'out with distractions', and so forth.
Stage 2-
Once I had grounded myself, I proceeded by thanking the Almighty and focused into the quiet and tranquil stillness. I must admit that the most intense challenge was to calm my overzealous wandering mind. As anyone can imagine, I didn't succeed in the very first attempt, nor even the second time. In fact after much perseverance, I could focus in to my inner emptiness, to the extent that I felt peaceful being one with the darkness behind the closed eyes – Just me and nothingness, except my breathing. It's so serene.
Stage 3-
Now it was time to step up to the next level. While meditating, I started asking myself- 'So where am I with what I desire and how do I proceed from here?' The next question was 'Who will answer these questions?' Then, it downed on me- I need to understand the concept of consciousness, which has a direct link with the universe. It meant comprehending my consciousness at 3 different levels-
- My conscious is the metaphysical state of mind that guides me through day to day thinking and functions of life generally. It also manages our wishful thinking. It was my conscious that first steered me towards LOA, by waking up the thought of 'wanting more in life' inside me.
- My sub-conscious guards me with what is actually right or wrong for me. Its also called the sixth sense or gut feeling. This is the level at which I will be convinced, without a doubt, what desire is best for me. Its frequency is always aligned with the Omnipresent. But if conscious is always conveying negativity, without listening to what sub-conscious has to say, then that's what is picked by the Universe through our vibes.
- My un-conscious stores all my life experiences and related feelings. When a smell or a song or any reference takes you back in the past to a related experience, its under the influence of the unconscious. It has the power to send positive or negative vibrations to sub-conscious and conscious mind.
In other words, when conscious mind reacts to negative stimuli, but the wise man in the middle, our sub-conscious, is ignored, the un-conscious mind instigate the matching negative sad memories from the past records of life. The vibration of such a state attracts, involuntarily and in ignorance, a manifestation of more negativity from the universe,
Stage 4-
Now that I realised I needed to address my inner self, I focused for each of these consciousness states to openly communicate with one another by working in harmony , for my ultimate benefit.
My conscious motivates me daily to meditate with all its prescriptive steps of finding a quiet place to sit, breathing, closing the eyes etc.
Once a state of peace is felt, that's the spot where sub-conscious meets my conscious mind. At this stage sub-conscious would respond to all the questions of my conscious mind, with elucidation. To confirm that its the sub-conscious that has spoken, there has to be no influence of the conscious self. In other words, no wishful thinking without actual belief, but only gut feeling. Once, the conscious and the sub-conscious are working collaboratively, they would coach and guide the unconscious mind to sweep out the garbage of old hurtful, sad and regrettable memories, so that I am left in a happy and positive state of mind. Now, my inner being was brought together as one entity with all the three separate levels of consciousness becoming 'ONE Conscious' within myself.
With daily practice, it soon started working with a flow. It was time to explore the next level.
Stage 5-
At this stage I found myself at peace and felt absolutely free. There was a compulsive desire to connect with the Universe itself. So my conscious questioned," How do I get in to the spiritual periphery ?"
My sub-conscious spoke to me, ' Through gratitude. Don't deliberate too much on your desire itself or what you don't have. Rather thank the supreme power for all the good factors in your life, starting with LIFE itself.' Message was loud and clear. So I started thanking my Maker for my life, for the lives of my dear ones, for the roof over my head, for the food and water I am blessed with… and I actually found that I have a lot to be grateful about. My life was far better than I thought. Yes, I still desired more and I deserve it, but I was in a much happier place with what I currently possessed too. I found I had reached the mindset through my 'one-consciousness', that would prompt the right desire to make me feel abundant. I was ready to move forward.
Step 6-
I sat down for meditation, and after reaching the happy state (as per step 5), I thought about my current desire. I started through the sequence of questions 'why', 'what', 'how', etc. while analysing the desire. For example, I think this role is good for me > why is it good > I deserve a better job> what else>More money> Is it only the money > no, there are other perks >what will I do with better perks > improve my life style> how can I get the role> by showing my abilities>how>applying for it> > How will I feel if I actually get this job> thankful and happy. Everyone's question sequence can be different, but must reach the same point of thankfulness and happiness in the end, I believe.
So this is how I found to determine what desire was right for me- by reaching the point of carefree joyfulness, not just in theory but actually feeling it in the veins.
Stage 7-
Once, I have chosen the desire, there was a last push left for actually manifestation. Once I was at a stage of feeling complete exhilaration, I also felt transcended and no words can possibly describe that experience, except through undergoing it yourself.
This is when I would say to the universe, with humility and love, that I am 'Ready To Receive'. Then leave the 'How' and the 'When' to the Omni power to work out for me. This is also the point when I let go, because I am confident that my request is heard and delivery is on its way. The best way, for me, to let go has been by diverting my thoughts to another exciting stimulus.
I am happy to share my experience and progression with fellow seekers. Happy manifestation.


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Welcome To Bestwall Plastering: A Short Hills Plastering Contractor
At Bestwall Plastering, we are committed to providing superior drywall and plastering services for residential and commercial properties in the Short Hills area. Our professional Short Hills Plastering Contractors offer plastering and drywall services for all your Short Hills home improvement and repair needs. Working mainly with general contractors, our licensed and insured company guarantees all of our quality workmanship, which is backed by years of experience. From our personalized service to our attention to detail, you are sure to be happy with the finished drywall plastering project.
Bestwall Plastering - Short Hills Plastering
Here at Bestwall Plastering, we offer our customers Full Estimates, and are fully licensed and insured. We can handle repair and installation of plaster molding, interior drywall, and exterior stucco. We can also repair water damaged ceilings and walls.
Short Hills Plaster Repair
Since 1980 we have been providing superior European craftsmanship when it comes to plastering and dry walling homes and businesses in the Short Hills area. Small drywall repair jobs are welcomed. We also can help with:
- Plastering installation
- Plastering repair
- Plastering plastering
- Plaster molding
Short Hills Plaster Molding
Plaster molding can easily lend an upscale polish to any Short Hills home. Many older homes frequently used ornamental plaster molding; NY brownstones and swanky, antiquated apartment buildings made elegant use of this technique to spice up the design aesthetic. Whether your new Short Hills apartment or home already has plaster molding, or you simply wish to incorporate molding into your interior design, you should first decide if you need to hire a plaster molding contractor in Short Hills.
Services We Provide In Short Hills
Reviews and Testimonials for Bestwall Plastering in Short Hills
01/26/11 - Very fast response and was able to get the work completed quickly. This was repair work - and others wanted to take half my ceiling down - not so with Bestwall. VERY CLEAN! And, they (Kieran) has quite an artisan's portfolio as well. True craftsman - an unusual find! He also had a good source for painting the wall as well. Fantastic experience!


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News from "Routes François 1er"
Routes François Ier is a non-profit organization whose aim is to introduce the French and foreign public, journalists and tourism professionals to the monuments of Francois I.
With the help of distinguished Francis I historians, a strict selection of castles and cities built during his reign in the first half of the 16th century have been chosen. Only those monuments built under his reign are included, excluding many other monuments built after the King's death (1547), consequently offering a complete view of the way people lived in castles during his lifetime. The 12 French castles are divided into 3 different Routes and include the large royal castles owned and built by the King, several castles that belonged to top noblemen of the Court, and smaller castles built by the gentry during Francois I's reign.
The address is :
ROUTES FRANCOIS Ier
250, boulevard Raspail
75014 Paris - France
Telephone/Fax +33(0)1 43 29 48 44
> 02/03/2010


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Q&A with Rock N Roll Bride Kat Williams on her kitchen makeover
April 25, 2018
The founder of the alternative wedding magazine has updated her kitchen for Revamp, Restyle, Reveal. We got the lowdown on how she renovated and refreshed her kitchen design with pops of colour, copper accents and by changing the layout.
Image: Kat Williams
Along with nine other interiors bloggers, founder of Rock N Roll Bride magazine Kat Williams, accepted the challenge of renovating her kitchen in an ambitious four weeks.
With the help of husband Gareth, Kat transformed her small kitchen by changing the room's layout to maximise space, and cleverly used pops of vibrant pink and copper accents to inject character into their period property.
We chatted to Kat to find out how she turned around her renovation in one month, and the inspiration behind the bursts of colour that make up her decorating scheme.
Talk us through the concept featured in your revamped room?
Image: Kat Williams
Our kitchen is very small (about 3 x 5 metres). An extension is in our grand 'one day when we win the lottery' plans but for now we just need to make the small space work for us. In a nutshell, the space was a disaster. Nothing matched or fit together properly (the appliances didn't even fit under the units!) there was an awful yellow mural on the wall and in place of one of the windows the previous owners had blocked up a door with some chipboard, painted it shut and stuck a worktop in front of it. I kid you not!
We changed the layout to a U shape to maximise the space. On the left-hand side, we now have half size units at the top and bottom so the gangway is slightly wider, the oven has moved to the end, the sink has moved up on the right-hand side slightly and we extended the right-hand side worktop a few feet so that a) it actually covers the appliances and b) it gives us more work space.
We've also painted the back wall bubblegum pink, moving the fridge and creating a small little comfortable seating area for us to chill out in in the morning.
Talk us through the before and after.
As you can see, we've gone for a bit of copper with a dash of pink theme. As the space is so small we knew we needed to everything we could to make it feel as big as possible. That meant lots of white, clear surfaces and a cohesive theme.
One of our tricks was to have half depth units on the left hand side to widen the middle and it's made SUCH a difference. We also currently have no wall-mounted cupboards which helps make the room feel bigger, but we will need to add some at some point as right now there's only one cupboard with actual food in it
What design elements have inspired it?
Image: Kat Williams
Copper and pink are my jam. Having a galley kitchen, we knew we wanted to keep lots of it white to maximise the space but all-white would also be very boring. I started looking at Pinterest and on interiors blogs and Instagram accounts and was, unsurprisingly, very drawn to anything clean and white with pops of colour.
What, if anything, did you make yourself?
Image: Kat Williams
EVERYTHING. Literally. My husband, Gareth, did everything he could himself (except connecting up the new gas hob, which he's not legally allowed to do!). He taught himself to brick lay and plaster with YouTube tutorials. He's a champ! I pitched in with the more low-key tasks like painting and hanging pictures.
What do you think is important to consider when decorating a room like this room?
A message from the editor:
Let us help you create the home of your dreams! Get ideas & inspiration from Good Homes every month, delivered direct to your door. Visit goodhomesmagazine.com/newsletter to sign up for the weekly Good Homes newsletter. Meet the Good Homes team at Ideal Home Show and be inspired by our on-trend roomsets.
~ Karen Walker, Editor, Good Homes
Image: Kat Williams
How to maximise a small space and also how you'll actually use the room. It was quite daunting initially, trying to figure out where we'd place everything but then a friend gave me some great advice – think about how you actually use the room. For example, you'll probably rinse your plates before putting them in the dishwasher – so put those near each other so you're not walking to the other side of the room every time. Have things you'll need to cook with close to the oven. It seems silly and obvious now but it really helped us figure out our layout.
What key interiors pieces do you think make the room and where are they from?
Image: Kat Williams
Some of the things we're most excited about are our copper pendant lights from David Hunt Lighting, the amazing brushed leather chesterfield armchair from Maison de Monde and all the appliances from AO.com!
What do you think makes a house a home?
Image: Kat Williams
Family. At the end of the day, having nice décor is lovely but without your family it's simply a shell that you sleep in, not a home.
What are the main advantages of redecorating a period property over a new build?
I've never been a fan of new builds. I don't like the way they look, I don't like the construction I don't like the small gardens… I've always grown up in older properties so buying something with some character was top on our list of priorities when we bought this place.
I love the history of the house and all those added ornate details that you just don't get in newer homes. It's very satisfying to feel like we're almost rescuing an old property that was falling into disrepair after years of being unoccupied.
What's your biggest trend prediction for 2018?
I'm all about having things in your home that make you happy and you think are beautiful, whether they're in fashion or not. Trends come and go but your personal style is what will really make your home a wonderful place to be.
Can you share some of your top decorating tips with us?
Image: Kat Williams
Plan everything out before you begin. We literally got graph paper to plot our layout out first and picked all the products we wanted to use together, before we began any work. This meant both my husband and I were on the same page from the beginning.
Why is Revamp Restyle Reveal such a great campaign to get involved in?
It's been so amazing to be set such a fun challenge and – crucially – to have a deadline to get it done! It's really kept us on our toes and forced us to keep going with it, even when it's hard!
It's also fostered an amazing community between all the bloggers taking part. We had a private chat group going where we could ask advice, share our updates and howl with laugher at all our mishaps along the way. It's been so amazing to connect with other people who are passionate about their homes.
Are you a fan of Kat's kitchen makeover? Let us know by tweeting us @goodhomesmag or post a comment on our Facebook page.
Before and After: LustLiving interior blogger's living room makeover
Before and After: Interiors blogger, Malcolm Begg's guest bedroom makeover
Before and After: Interiors blogger, Lisa Dawson's bedroom
A message from the editor:
Let us help you create the home of your dreams! Get ideas & inspiration from Good Homes every month, delivered direct to your door. Visit goodhomesmagazine.com/newsletter to sign up for the weekly Good Homes newsletter. Meet the Good Homes team at Ideal Home Show and be inspired by our on-trend roomsets.
~ Karen Walker, Editor, Good Homes


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Garage Auto Sports was founded with a strong desire to provide honest, efficient service. To break the stigma around the automotive industry and to provide the best service possible; Uncompromising and fair.
From there, we built off of a strong performance foundation to provide an all-in-one solution of service, parts, fabrication, performance, and client satisfaction. We are always growing, constantly expanding our resources to stay true to this vision. We exist to work with our clients to meet all of their needs, no matter how large or small, with custom-tailored builds and performance to meet all of your needs and more.
Some of the services we offer include:
- Regular maintenance
- Repairs
- Performance fabrication
- Turbocharging & Supercharging
- Tuning services
- Engine building
Our services and more information regarding them can be found under the Service section at the top of our site.
Our Process:
To provide you with service you can count on, every time, we adhere to the following guidelines:
- Before we start, we will always take the time to explain all work being performed, and answer any further questions should they arise.
- All vehicles are stored indoors; our facility is secure and temperature-regulated, meaning your vehicle is kept safe and in optimal conditions.
- Documented inspections performed at every visit, complimentary. Before any work is performed, your vehicle in inspected thoroughly, allowing us to maintain our quality, as well as keeping you as knowledgeable as possible when it comes to your vehicle's condition. This will also allow us to catch any weak links before they leave you in a bad spot.
- We treat your vehicle like our own; our trained service team demonstrates the utmost respect for your vehicle during its stay. We'd expect the same for ours!
A Brief History:
Garage Auto Sports was founded by Bill Sanderson in 2015, following a career full of dealerships, parts stores, small shops, driveway builds and highway tuning (in no particular order). GAS was derived as a result of wanting more - more customer service, more performance, more flexibility, and above all, more room for expansion; to offer what other companies could not or would not.
2015 - Our first shop was started as a one-man, one-bay operation, catering to all makes and models. As a short time passed, word of mouth grew and so did business! GAS was off the ground, necessitating a larger location with more service bays and a team.
2016 - Our second location in the heart of Newmarket, Ontario provided more capacity to grow, bring on new team members, and provide a better experience for our clients. We have narrowed our focus by this time to exclusively European vehicles, allowing us to offer more specialized service and a wider variety of performance options, including tuning services.
2018 - Once again, we have outgrown our humble building. Our narrowed focus has allowed us to freight train our operations, bringing the need for more bays, fabrication areas, engine assembly room, a dyno bay, greater performance inventory, and a more client-oriented lounge. Our new 7500 sq-ft. location, also located in Newmarket, has allowed us all of that and more!
2020 - Secured Authorized Independent Repair Facility status with Audi, Volkswagen, and Lamborghini for repair, diagnostics, and re-programming. This relationship allows us to take our service abilities to the next level and further cements our professionalism in the European/Exotic market.
Meet The Team:
Bill Sanderson
CEO/Director of Development
Dan Arent
Service Manager
Devon Campbell
Service Technician
Sully Jiwani
Apprentice Technician
Tristan Trinkwitz
Fabrication/Product Development
James Davis


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Hello Everyone, Hope you are enjoying this beautiful spring weather.
I wanted to take a moment to list my Art Show schedule for 2009. I will once again be joining the Art Fair in Bethel, Maine and have decided to try the Brunswick Outdoor Arts Festival this year. See below for more information.
20 Annual Bethel Art Fair
Date: Saturday, July 4 th 2009
Where: On the Bethel Common
One Broad Street
Bethel, ME 04217
Time: 9 am to 4 pm
In addition to the art, the fair will have musical entertainment and will include a special young persons' area where children will be able to take part in a variety of activities. Several local eateries will be serving their special fare for purchase. The fair is open to 50 artists and fine craftsman alike. Not only will you find original paintings and photography to choose from, but also sculpture, stain glass, woodcarving and fine handmade jewelry. Sorry no rain dates.
3rd Annual Brunswick Outdoor Arts Festival
Date: August 15, 2009
Where: Maine Street
Brunswick, ME 04011
Time: 9 am to 5 pm
This is a juried art show to display fine arts and crafts in booths set up along the sidewalks up and down Maine Street in Brunswick. There will be original art work along with numbered reproductions and fine crafts available to purchase. Many outstanding local performers will be providing traditional musical entertainment along with street performers, dancers, mimes and jugglers. There are also many cafes and restaurants up and down Maine Street for your dining enjoyment.
Stop by if you are in the area and say hi. I will have many of my latest photographs on display framed and ready to hang and also a few new small gifts items like photo utility holders and magnets for the wildlife lover on your gift list. Take care and hope to see you this summer~
Sandra Lee Huston


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Still finding my way around this beauty blogging business (as it really all said and done is a lifestyle blog), I often get really excited when I get offered to try skin products.
As an eternal sufferer of combination skin, dry one minute and oily the next, it's not actual face washes that present me with a challenge as their are so many on the market for combination skin, but actual moisturizers that I find hard to find with the right balance. I've tried a few of the usual suspects, Simple etc, but unfortunately for me they just don't cut it.
As someone who moisturizers really regularly, Premae skincare asking me to try one of their products was a god send. I'm ALWAYS running out of moisturizer. The moisturizer they sent me 'Harmony' had Aloe Vera butter in it.
On first impressions i was impressed by the smell. I'm always smelling things before i use them. Actually I'm quite excessive with it so next time you see a nutty woman in the middle of Asda's inhaling Lenor before she buys it …. I'M that nutty woman.
Harmony isn't a moisturizer you need to use a lot of (which is great because it lasts longer). I've had moisturizers in the past which feel very 'thin' on your face and very watered down which makes you fall into the trap of slapping loads on. With Harmony, it is a very rich, creamy mixture and spreads on smoothly without making your face feel like you have just stood above a deep fat fryer.
Another little added bonus for me, was the Aloe Vera, as i took it to Thailand and it really helped soothe on those days I had spent a tad too long in the sun (for someone with my skin tone, this is EVERY day). It was actually soothing as WELL as moisturizing, so I would recommend this as a little suitcase filler.
Even if it's not just moisturizer that tickles your fancy, check out the website http://premaeskincare.com/
Premae skincare are proud to be completely FREE FROM, which means Treenuts, Soy, Wheat and Oats and Gluten – as well as all parabens, petrochemicals and SLS Free.
They also ethically source their Mango butter and package their products in an environmentally friendly way.
The way these guys are going, I can see them giving Lush a run for their money in a few years.


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Welcome to the UAB Department of Occupational Therapy!
The nationally ranked UAB Department of Occupational Therapy offers innovative graduate programs for students interested in becoming occupational therapists or those seeking to advance existing occupational therapy careers.
The UAB Occupational Therapy program is 23rd in the nation as ranked by U.S. News and World Report in the most recent "Best Graduate Schools" edition.


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The Egyptian Flower Mantis (Blepharopsis mendica) is also known as the Devil's Flower Mantis, Thistle Mantis, and Arab Mantis, but of course, I like the Egyptian name. 🙂
These mantids are referred to as Praying Mantises because of the way they hold their forelegs folded in front, as if in prayer. Mantises are also characterized by their triangular heads and forward facing eyes.
Spring is the perfect time to spot these mantises in our desert wadis. Specifically, to spot the nymphs. After hatching from their egg, mantises continue to go through several stages of growth. At each stage, the nymphs shed their exoskeletons, a process called molting. The nymphs start out small, as you can see from the photo below, and look quite different from adults.
Adults can grow up to 6 cm long and are creamy-white with a marbled green pattern. And, of course, they have wings!
They have a small pointed shield on their backs and the inside of their forelegs are orange and blue with white spots. Females have thin antennae (above) and males have feathered antennae (below).
To notice these while wandering through wadis, you'll have to stop and take a closer look at the plants. I have spotted these mantises on a variety of desert plants – capers, acacias, and nimnam – but most often I find them on dhafrah plants (Iphiona scabra), pictured below.
Egyptian Flower Mantises are experts at camouflage and wait patiently on the plant for prey to pass by. Their arms are well-designed to catch flying insects. In fact, what usually draws my attention is the sight of a butterfly, still and unmoving, on the bush. An odd sight as butterflies are usually flitting around quite a bit. On closer inspection, I'll find the butterfly is not moving because it has become breakfast for either a mantis or a spider!
I've seen these mantises in several of the wadis around Dahab and also higher up in the area around St. Katherine's. Where have you spotted them?


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What Is Style?
Rachel Zoe stated it best when she said, "Style is way of saying who you are without having to speak."
This statement is paramount in defining the idea of style as being much more than what we choose to wear. Because honestly, if style was simply wrapped up in handbags, shirts and dresses, then who would we be?
"Hello, my name is (fill in your favorite clothing item)."
Of course, this is an exaggeration, but you get my point. Does it make sense to base our identity on what we wear? No, nor is it healthy to place our identities within objects.
Discover Your True Style
True Style has energy, personality, depth, spirit, and a voice. If we relegate the meaning of the word into what hangs in our closet, then what we're left with is a one-dimensional layer, better known as style without substance; which will surely lead to a mistake in identity.
Recently, an individual left a comment on my blog which stated, "You wear clothes like they were meant for you." I have to admit, I agree with this. Here's why:
- I know who I am,
- My clothing helps in telling my story,
- My clothing choices resonate with my spirit and lifestyle,
These three points, though they may seem simple, are often quite difficult for a person to achieve. Knowing yourself requires an in-depth understanding of what makes you tick; what inspires you; what causes you to spread your wings and soar. When you reach this level of acknowledgement, you'll then have the ability to skillfully capture your identity with your wardrobe choices.
How to Find Your True Style
When a client reaches out to me for personal styling service, I immediately introduce them to the true meaning of style. I ask them to determine what it is they want to achieve.
Do they want to discover their style, or are they simply in need of assistance with their wardrobe?
The latter is much easier to accomplish. Sure, I can help you get dressed! But to begin the process of defining your style can require sifting through the rubble with a fine-tooth comb. However, once the excavation process has been completed, what will be revealed is someone who has the ability to masterfully express their true identity – spirit, mind, body, and yes, wardrobe.
When we recognize fashion icons from our history, such as Audrey Hepburn, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, and Michelle Obama, sure, we recall their sartorial choices, but we also remember their incredible stories! The heartaches, accomplishments, their authenticity, their uniqueness. We see their substance. Identities built upon substance are far more memorable than identities based on a person's accouterments. Take away the color, the jewels, the designer labels – who remains?
Stay True, Glenda
Glenda K. Harrison is the author of True Style: A Look Beyond the Surface – Available on Amazon and CreateSpace eStore.


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Occasionally the ship ports in the same place for 2 days, giving us the option to stay on land overnight. My first "overnight" experience was last week in Busan.
I hadn't been to Busan since joining the ship in early July. It felt strange being there again. I feel like so much has happened in the past month and a half, but being back at the port, I felt like no time had passed. My perception of time is very skewed!
I got off the ship mid-afternoon on the first day in Busan. My roommate and I shared a cab with some members of the sports staff and had an amusing conversation with the driver. In broken English, he asked if I was from Singapore. As a fair-skinned ginger, I was quite surprised by this question! When we got downtown, I took advantage of free, fast internet at a cafe. On port days, everyone uploads photos on Facebook, so I was flooded with notifications all afternoon!
We returned to the ship for dinner and a short rest, and then took cabs out to Hayundae Beach. A few of my cast mates, some ice skaters, stage staff members, musicians, and a few officers all met up at a bar called Thursday Party. Our cab driver wasn't sure where we needed to go, so he dropped us off in the neighborhood, and I ended up asking the concierge at a hotel and a few people on the street for directions. Luckily, my nonverbal communication skills are pretty good these days, and we found the spot without too much trouble.
We split into smaller groups, wandered into a hookah bar, and ended the night (or, more accurately, the morning) at Burger King. Upon returning to the ship, I climbed straight into bed. A few hours later, we went out again for coffee, internet, and shopping! I have to say, cinnamon mochas are incredible!
While I didn't really have a cultural experience in Busan, I feel like I was able to see a different side of the city than I would with normal sightseeing. All in all, I had a great first overnight!
We'll be returning to Busan next month, and I intend to go to the aquarium, some temples, and a famous tower. I hope the next stop there is just as fun!


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Good News: No Riots
Posted on July 16, 2013
The good news was there were no riots.
Some protests. A few folks got hurt here and there by vengeful kids who wanted to take their anger out on somebody. A promise of future protests by Cable television star Al Sharpton.
But not much burning and looting and otherwise carrying on.
I guess that's progress.
Despite the fact that it is really hot out (or maybe because of it), and despite the fact that the unemployment rate is around 25 percent for African-Americans, there wasn't an explosion of violence in reaction to the George Zimmerman.
Whatever violence that did occur was perpetrated by elements of the Occupy Movement. There are mostly young white radicals who have an aversion to showers and to getting a full time job.
It was an element of Occupy Radicals who beat up a young conservative filmmaker who provocatively decided to observe the protests up close and personal.
My view is that if you don't want to risk getting beat up, don't wander into places where you aren't wanted. But that's only my view.
There are a couple of reasons why there weren't widespread riots.
First, clearly George Zimmerman wasn't guilty of what he was charged with.
Any fair-minded person who watched the trial understood that.
This isn't a case where a man was beaten to a pulp, ala Rodney King or a case where an iconic Civil Rights leader was gunned down.
The facts in this case were always murky and the outcome was pretty much pro-ordained. The state had a lousy case, and it was no surprise that Zimmerman got off.
Second, the protesters now run the White House and the Justice Department.
It is hard to rail against the Man, when the man used to be the man who protested alongside you a couple years ago.
So, is Al Sharpton really going to picket against his close pal, Eric Holder?
Really? How is that going to fly?
Third, in many parts of the country, segregation is falling apart.
African Americans are moving to the suburbs, white folks are moving back in the cities, Hispanics are living everywhere, and the world is a much different place than it was 20 years ago.
There are still enclaves of white people and black people and Hispanic neighborhoods and Asian neighborhoods, but the reality is that we are much less likely to be segregated than we once were.
Fourth, this was a media creation, and at the end of the day, unless you are playing for the cameras, there was never much to this case.
This wasn't an example of a white man (or a group of white men) lynching a defenseless black man. It was a case of the two people getting into a tussle and one person getting killed. Nobody believes the media anymore, and while the case got a lot more attention than it deserved, it didn't stir the kind of deep emotion that leads to rioting and real protests.
The media is going to continue to follow this story, because it boosts ratings (unless you are MSNBC), and it is far better than talking about a coup (non-coup?) in Egypt or a deadly boring discussion of a change to Senate rules. Talk about a ratings killer.
But at the end of the day, despite the effort to manipulate the narrative to really get more viewers, the media will have to move on with no riots.
A race war has been averted. Yay! Can we get back to watching baseball?


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Episode: The Moon and the Desert
Original Airdate: 3/13/73
I don't remember TOO much about this series except that I loved it and watched it rabidly as a kid. Thinking about this now, I do remember thinking it was completely awesome and the special effects were mind blowing and…. The Bionic Woman…. YUM! Let's see what we've got going on here.
Steve Austin is a U.S. astronaut. One day he strolls into work and test pilots an experimental new plane. Trying to land, he crashes and tears his body up. The government gives him a new arm, some legs and a new mechanical eyeball. Then they send him to the Middle East to run through the sand and rescue a politician from terrorists. I would hate to spoil this for you but let's just say, he throws a bunch of grenades and makes it back home.
Here's some notable takeaways from the first of three TV "Pilot" movies:
- The opener is a Pre-DOS computer explaining to the viewer what a "Cy'borg" is
- The dad from A Christmas Story is in this
- Steve Austin is wearing a slick one piece, orange jumper
- With a match sticking out of his mouth….
- This is some interesting POV filming from inside the cockpit
- There are LOTS of moustaches in this thing
- Ashtrays in the hospital break room! Score!
- That nurse has a nice
rackacting ability
- There's WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY too much Be-Bop in the score
- Nice wig, Israeli captive
- No man throws grenades like that!!!
- LOL that was TOTALLY a stuntman falling off of that tank…
Oh well – this was pretty good. It had some laughable moments that were supposed to be serious, some serious hairdos and some serious moustaches. The special effects were mainly sped up footage of Lee Majors running a lot and the music totally sucked. But I'm not complaining and I'm geared up for the next one!


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I adore Instagram, and while I'm still pondering how the Facebook acquisition will impact this jewel of a smartphone photo-sharing service, here are some art-related people, institutions and accounts you should follow to inject some arty content into the palm of your hand.
A couple of things … first, this list is photographer and street artist heavy because both groups are well suited to Instagram's pop aesthetic, and second, like any social media list, the picks are subjective, but these are the people I like to follow.
Btw, you have to wonder how cool Instagram is anymore when Iran's Supreme Leader joins … yes, you read that right.
And btw … ahem… you can always follow me (@hragv ) and Hyperallergic (@hyperallergic) on Instagram.
Some Artists
There are many but these are some of my faves.
Ana Bagayan @anabagayan (website) (Twitter) — A LA-based artist with a taste for little girls with moist eyes, you really get a sense of what she is working on and looking at in her stream.
Elbowtoe (aka Brian Adam Douglas) @elbowtoe (website) (Twitter) — A smart street artist with the technical skill that translates easily into a gallery (where he normally exhibits intricate collages), Elbowtoe recently became a father so you get to enjoy pics of his twins along with street art, gallery trips and other observations.
Gaia @gaiastreetart (website) — This prolific street artist is known for his oversized Hippogriff-like concoctions on the street. They are striking and his stream reflects his energetic nature.
Os Gemeos @osgemeos (website) (Twitter) — The Brazilian twins love Instagram. They don't talk back to their followers much though, which is unfortunate. Ever notice that they use a hell of a lot of yellow in their work. Why?
Saber @saberawr (website) (Twitter) — LA-based graffiti artist with a colorful and exuberant style that pops.
Hank Willis Thomas @hankwthomas (website) (Twitter) — I'm an admirer of artist Hank Willis Thomas and I like the personal insight his stream offers. Nature shots galore and well-framed shots are what keep me coming back for more but I'm open to whatever else he has in store for us.
Ai Weiwei @aiww (website) (Twitter) — Is there a social media network he isn't on? His Instagram makes the case that he (or one of his assistants) is a big ol' hipster — the photo above is proof.
Some Photographers
Yes, I know they're artists too but photographers were made for Instagram so they get their own special category.
The New Yorker @newyorkermag (website) (Twitter) — This magazine has placed its Instagram account in the hands of its photographers. According to Petapixel, "Every few weeks, the account will be passed on to a new staff photographer who will use it to document the things they see as they shoot assignments." I'm not sure what they've achieved so far but it's pretty (too pretty?).
Borojaguchi @borojaguchi (Twitter) — Fall in love with Tokyo through this web director's stream.
Jimmy Chin @jimmy_chin (website) (Twitter) — A National Geographic photographer who creates a lot of WOW images.
Jake Dobkin @jakedobkin (website) (Twitter) — There's an almost proudly half amateur/half pro aesthetic at work in Dobkin's photostream and that's the appeal to me. He's the publisher of Gothamist, btw, and there's always lots of street art in the mix. I adore that his stream is Brooklyn-heavy.
Sam Horine @samhorine (website) (Twitter) — A New York photographer par excellence, I was first introduced to Horine's work through the street art scene but he does a whole lot more. He's one of the most popular people on Instagram (186,000+ followers) and he was on it practically when it started. His stream is pure joy.
Zaruhy Sangochian @zaruhy (Facebook Page) (Twitter) — An architectural photographer based in Mexico City, Sangochian is one of my favorite finds on Instagram. She shows me a side of Mexico I never get to see … and I love it.
Some of My Fave Art Writers
I wish there were more art writers on Instagram but there aren't. I guess it's normal that writers aren't always good photographers but some could at least try.
Kyle Chayka @kchayka (website) (Twitter) — Assistant editor at Artinfo, Chayka's stream is filled with art, ennui and casual moments in the life of a New York art writer.
Sarah Douglas @sarahldouglas (on NY Observer) (Twitter) — The Culture editor of the New York Observer, Douglas's stream is not updated daily but it's fun.
Veken Gueyikian @veken (website) (Twitter) — Ok, he's not an arts writer but he is our publisher and I'm married to him and he's adorable.
Marina Galperina @mfortki (on Animal NY) (Twitter) — More personal pic diary than art stream, Galperina is all about the personal moment turned public.
Alexis Hyde @hydeordie (website) (Twitter) — This LA-based blogger gives you a window into her world, which is filled with junk food, gallery hoping and stuff LA peeps do (like drive?).
Paddy Johnson @artfagcity (website) (Twitter) — Her feed is much better than it used to be but I personally want see more art on it. WTF PJ!? Bring it!!
Carolina Miranda @cmonstah (website) (Twitter) — I will never forgive her for moving from Brooklyn to LA, but I will stay abreast of the latest visual developments in her life via Instagram (she's currently in Peru, for instance). Little known fact about Miranda is she is fluent in artspeak.
Jillian Steinhauer @jilnotjill (on Hyperallergic) (Twitter) — Hyperallergic's assistant editor is rather new to Instagram but she promises to post more. No pressure.
Some Museums & Orgs
I do wish most museums and arts organizations would be more creative with Instagram, but something is better than nothing I guess.
Brooklyn Museum @brooklynmuseum (website) (Twitter) — A fun mix of party, art, personality and goings on at Brooklyn's premiere museum.
Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago @mcachicago (website) (Twitter) — Never enough Chicago in our lives, and MOCA Chicago does its part. More art please.
MoMA @themuseumofmodernart (website) (Twitter) — Not as active as it should be but then again they're MoMA and they can do what ever the fuck they want. You go, girl!
New Museum @newmuseum (website) (Twitter) — The party stream of Manhattan's museum on the Bowery. I personal want more freak show and less party shots on this stream … hint, hint.
Storefront for Art and Architecture @storefrontnyc (website) (Twitter) — This beloved Soho museum devoted to architecture and design really loves Instagram, so follow to get a taste of life in this small but amazing institution.
Printed Matter @printedmatterinc (website) (Twitter) — I wish Printed Matter would photograph every new book (and maybe those on sale?) that comes in. Honestly, that would make me happy. Hint, hint.
Walker Art Center @walkerartcenter (website) (Twitter) — More party photos!
SFMoMA @sfmoma (website) (Twitter) — If it's digital, then SFMoMA is probably all over it. As the leading contemporary art museum in the Bay Area (which includes Silicon Vallery) it only seems natural.
LACMA @lacma (website) (Twitter) — A solid museum feed with tons of art.
Street Art & Graffiti Streams
Instagram is made for street art and graff. Lots of streams. Some meh, some are lovely. Here are my pics.
BeirutPost-grafspace @grafspace (website) (Twitter) — A lovely window into the burgeoning world of street art and graffiti in the Lebanese capital and beyond.
Luna Park @luna_park_nyc (website) (Twitter) — Your fix of NYC-area graff and street art.
Miami InstaArt @miamiinstaart (Twitter) — No frills Miami graffiti stream.
NOLA Graffiti @nolagraffiti — New Orleans-area graff never looked so good.
Vandalog @vandalog (website) (Twitter) — Mostly East Coast, Vandalog does travel and there are often London pics in the mix. Curated by the site's editor, RJ, there's always something good to look at.
Other Fun Follows
Other accounts you should check out.
Donald Burke @awesomedonald — A Canadian in Berlin, Donald takes a lot of street art shots and it's always great to see what's going on in Germany's artistic powerhouse.
Samantha Culp @newterritories (website) (Twitter) — Blogger Samantha Culp is based in Shanghai and captures the textures of her corner of the world quite well. If I move to Shanghai, it will be because of her.
Kim Drew @blackqueerdo — I just discovered Drew's stream and boy do I love it. Art, personality and a good eye.
The Family Business Tattoo Parlor @thefamilybusinesstattoo (website) (Twitter) — The stream of this London tattoo parlor has been Olympic rings-heavy recently but it'll probably be back to business for this joint that seems to take its tattoo culture seriously (though not too serious). Their slogan tells you all you need to know: "Tasteful tattooing for first timers, old timers and serious collectors."
Johnatan Guaida @johnagu (website) (Twitter) — A Mexican architect, Guaida's stream is an explosion of forms, landmarks and great perspectives.
Kenia Lashes @kenialashes — She does nails for a living in Cincinnati, she's new to Instagram and the stuff she does and photographs is pretty wild. Enter the world of nails!
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center @nasagoddard (website) (Twitter) — NASA has an Instagram account and there's tons of cool shit here. 'nuf said.
Phillips De Pury auction house @phillipsdepury (website) (Twitter) — An auction house with a photostream … let's see where this goes but so far, so good.
Text-Only Instagram @textinstagram (Twitter feed) — When our writer wrote about the service, she hit the nail on the head, "We know, without seeing, what we should be seeing." It's a fun account that lampoons the stereotypes of this online service in a rather conceptual way.
Gerry Visco @gerryvisco (Facebook Page) (Twitter) — A New York social diva, Visco has never found a fun moment she doesn't want to instantly click and upload. Her friends are as much fun as she is and the pics capture every friggin' frame.
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Witches Take Over Westchester
Bowen's multimedia art is an alchemical mix of the sensuous and arcane, and it is more than a little witchy.
The Public Theater Explores the Hurricane Katrina Diaspora in shadow/land
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14 Art Books and Catalogues We're Reading This Month
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MoMA to Co-Curate Exhibition With NYPD
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Ayanna Dozier, Ilana Harris-Babou, Meena Hasan, Lucia Hierro, Catherine Opie, Chuck Ramirez, and Pacifico Silano explore the myths of the American Dream at Brooklyn's BRIC House.
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The exotic scents of the Rapatriement line offer solace and joy to dismayed collectors who were forced to return looted artifacts.
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The two-part exhibition features the work of 41 graduating artists across disciplines, including painting, sculpture, printmaking, and integrated practices.
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Newly Discovered Trove of Vermeer Works Reveals He Painted Mainly Dogs
A cache of 243 paintings found in an English castle, all depicting canine subjects, suggests Vermeer's true aspiration was to become a dog portraitist.


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.NET's IOptions have made using application configuration in any type of project more consistent and easier to implement than it ever was before. I found myself recently trying to use it in an Azure Functions project, and ran into some trouble along the way. I had to combine a few different solutions to get everything working properly, so I decided to group it all together for anyone else trying to do something similar.
Startup Configuration
There is an article in the official docs on how to set up IOptions to work with Azure Functions, but you wouldn't know it from the page's title (it's called Using dependency injection in Azure Functions). It's lacking a few bits of information that I'll clarify below.
The first step is to create the class you'll use to load the configuration:
public class SomeOptions
public string SomeString { get; set; }
public int SomeInt { get; set; }
To load the data, in your Startup class, you configure it using IConfiguration:
.Configure<IConfiguration>((settings, configuration) =>
At which point, you'll be able to inject an instance of IOptions<SomeOptions> anywhere in your function's code.
You'd represent these values in the local.settings.json as follows:
"IsEncrypted": false,
"Values": {
"SomeOptions:SomeString": "Some valid string",
"SomeOptions:SomeInt": 12345
The object can't be stored as a JSON object in the local.settings.json because of the way the functions runtime loads configurations from the Values object. You'd create the properties exactly the same way in the Configuration section of the functions runtime in the Azure Portal.
Using Arrays in Configuration
The above approach works well when all you've got is an object with a bunch of properties and values. But what happens when you want to use some type of enumeration in the options? That's when you need to get a bit creative.
The C# class that you'll use with IOptions is what as you'd expect, defined as a list of strings:
public class SomeOptions
public List<string> SomeListOfOptions { get; set; }
The difficulty comes when trying to represent this data in the local.settings.json and in the function's configuration in Azure. There is a way to do it, even if it is a bit ugly:
"IsEncrypted": false,
"Values": {
"Environment": "Development",
"SomeOptions:SomeListOfOptions:[0]": "string-1",
"SomeOptions:SomeListOfOptions:[1]": "string-2"
Once again, configure it exactly the same in Azure, either through the portal or your build & release pipelines.
Wrap Up
Working with IOptions in Azure Functions is relatively easy, if a bit unsightly. Configuring our functions in this way keeps our configuration code separate from our business logic, and sets our code on the path to being easily maintainable and extendable.


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Collection: 250ml Woodland Trust by Ronseal
Inspired by native woodland, these long lasting, wax enriched colours compliment the natural colours in your garden.
A specially develpoed fade resistant formula locks colour into your garden wood with an opaque matt finish that allows the natural characteristics of the wood to show through.
Ronseal pledge to support the woodland trust with a 25p donation for every tin of woodland colours paint sold.


text: Good morning. Now that the COD State of the College event is over, and we have a minute to breathe, I wanted to say thank you for all you did to help produce and deliver when we really needed you. We were all given impossible timeframes and expectations to perform, but thanks to a great creative and production team and some truly herculean efforts, the first-time event was a terrific success. What seems like a miracle was made possible in large part because of your efforts. Your team was responsive, professional and great to work with. Please know how much we appreciate you.Thank you.