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Sleep tight my beautiful kitties.
It's not often that I will post about my personal life. At least not a post like this…
When I moved away to Pembrokeshire, leaving my cats (albeit with my parents as 5 of the 6 were the whole family's cats) was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. In some ways, it was the hardest. I spent countless days crying and missing them. Particularly Felix as she was my little fur baby. I wanted to take her with me, but as grumpy as she was to the other cats, I wasn't sure how she'd react to living with me on her own. It got even harder once Willow was born as I knew I couldn't see them anywhere near as much as I had been but I was excited for the day when they'd finally meet her.
Yesterday I'd heard from my mum that Tessa was really poorly. Not just that, but Felix was also missing! Terra, our other cat, kept going out to look for her. In the early hours of this morning, cuddled up with my mum and dad on the sofa, Tessa sadly passed away from suspected poisoning.
Completely and utterly heartbroken over the news. Hurting so bad and I have cried so much my head hurts as well as my heart. I'm still holding onto a glimmer of hope that Felix and Terra will be found and that they're OK but it doesn't look good. 😭
Such an incredibly sad day. I'm hating the world and hating the people who think it's ok to poison cats and other pets. 😿 How can we have lost 3 beautiful cats in the space of 24 hours?! It's just not fair!
Now Felix won't be waiting in the garden when I come home from Wales for a visit. Looking at me all shocked when I call her name then happy purring and meowing when she realises it's me. No longer will she laze on my bed, having some down time from the other cats, and no longer will I be able to have cuddles with our three fur babies.
Sorry for such a gloomy post. I just wanted to write about it and get all my feelings out. Completely devastated right now.
Start the Countdown: 24in48 (Summer '16 Edition) Sign-ups are Open
Since the last minute of the last readathon in January, I've been counting down to the next one. And now that we're a little more than a month away from 24in48 (Summer '16) Edition, it's time to take this countdown public. The next readathon will be on July 23-24, 2016! Officially, we're 40 days away from the start of 24in48, and I personally could not be more excited.
If you're new to 24in48, this is the basic gist: Beginning at 12:01am on Saturday morning and running through 11:59pm on Sunday night, readers read for 24 hours out of that 48 hour period. You can split that up however you'd like: 20 hours on Saturday, 4 hours on Sunday; 12 hours each day; six4 hour sessions with 4 hour breaks in between; whatever you'd like.
And that's it. The format never changes but it's always an adventure.
Have more questions?There's…
View original post 125 more words
Two Very Special Announcements!
First off, I'd like to apologise for how quiet I've been. Second, the first part of this post should have been done weeks ago but I've been kinda busy … getting used to being a mummy! Yep I am now a mummy! I'd like to introduce you all to our daughter, Willow Rose Phillips, born 23 February 2016 at 11.14pm by emergency caesarean, weighing 8lb 11.5oz!
Both of us had to spend a couple of days in hospital as we were fighting off an infection but we were ok otherwise. Was so relieved when we finally got to go home, I can tell ya! Being first time parents, it was scary at first but we soon got into the swing of things. Aled still needs to change his fair share of nappies though. 😝
Willow is now nearly 5 weeks old and is doing so well! Can't wait for her first proper smiles and giggles etc!
The second part of my announcement is …. I'm engaged!! Aled proposed to me last Saturday morning (19th March) whilst we were cuddled up in bed and I was still half asleep lol!
I can't wait to take his name! We haven't set a date yet and will just take the time to save up money so we can have the wedding we really want. Wow, I can actually look at wedding dresses for real now and not just for fun haha! Venue wise, I'd love to get married in a castle or, failing that, something like a manor house.
Well, I just thought I'd pop on and share my good news with you guys. I hope you all have had a lovely Easter.
Take care and I'll blog again soon (if Willow lets me).

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Comments about 'Utah Utes football: ESPN crews heading to SLC for 'GameDay''
- Oldest first
- Newest first
- Most recommended
Go UTES !
- 4:06 p.m. Nov. 1, 2010
- Like
- Report abuse
For the BYU/UNLV game?
- 4:07 p.m. Nov. 1, 2010
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That horned frog head is going to look good on Mr. Corso.
- 4:12 p.m. Nov. 1, 2010
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Easily the best sports show on cable TV. I love it! But, Corso is wayyyyyyy past him prime on this show and can't leave soon enough. I'd love to see way more of Desmond Howard (fresh perspectives) and less of Corso. Fowler and Herbstreit are solid! Very good nat'l pub for the MWC. Any bets on the UTES "guest" alumn for the game predictions at the end of the show? Will Ferrell was hilarious last Saturday!
- 4:15 p.m. Nov. 1, 2010
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I'd love to be one of the 10,000, but I don't think I'll be able to make it.
I've already hit the road for the Iowa State game, and I have tickets for the
Notre Dame game. And I don't think my wife would countenance a third trip out to
Salt Lake for another game.
So I need at least one of you Ute fans that had not intended to go to show up for me.
Go UTES!
- 8:57 p.m. Nov. 1, 2010
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My guess on the celebrity appearance:
Alex Smith who has a bye week or Jamal Anderson.
Alex would be a cool story since he was part of the first time Gameday was in SLC, but you can never go wrong with the "Dirty Bird" either.
- 9:13 p.m. Nov. 1, 2010
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They should have Max Hall show up as the guest predictor..lol
- 12:41 a.m. Nov. 2, 2010
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Hahaha, good one dhsalum!
- 9:26 a.m. Nov. 2, 2010
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Microsoft ships 5 million Xbox One consoles worldwide, a record in any other generationPocket-lint
Microsoft has announced that it has shipped five million Xbox Ones to retailers around the globe, a staggering amount for the company that represents 60 per cent growth on the sales performance of the Xbox 360 in a comparative period. It would be a record if it weren't for those pesky kids at PlayStation, who announced that Sony has sold seven million PS4s in the same time frame.
But although there is a two million gap, five million Xbox Ones means that Microsoft now has a very healthy user base and counting. This was proven in March, with Titanfall on Xbox One outselling every other game in the US for the month, next or current generation.
READ: Titanfall review
Gamers, says Microsoft, spend an average of five hours per day on their Xbox One consoles, and that collectively means that more than one billion hours have been spent in games and apps since the machine's release in November last year.
READ: Xbox One review
And with the company set to announce many new games during its E3 press conference, it revealed, the future is looking rosey for the Xbox One, even with the PS4 doing so well itself.
Pocket-lint will be Attending E3 in force and reporting from the gaming trade show in Los Angeles for the whole of the second week of June.
This is how much space PlayStation VR requires for you to play
Nintendo NX: Completely portable, powered by Nvidia Tegra chip, and games that...
Pokemon Go future features revealed
Pokemon Go Gym tips: How to battle, train and win
- This is how much space PlayStation VR requires for you to play
- Nintendo NX: Completely portable, powered by Nvidia Tegra chip, and games that come on cartridges, claim sources
- Pokemon Go finally launches in Japan, France, Hong Kong
- You can now preorder Razer's OSVR HDK 2 virtual-reality headset
- How Xbox One backwards compatibility works: The Xbox 360 games list and more
- Nintendo's new console available to order, but it's not what you expected
- 5 best indie games coming to Xbox One you must download
- Best games coming in 2016: All the latest PS4, Xbox One, Wii U, PC and PS VR trailers
- Xbox One S out in two weeks: Coming 2 August for pre-orders
- Xbox One S preview: Thinner, better PS4 beater
- Pokemon Go Gym tips: How to battle, train and win
- Pokemon Go: How to find and catch rare Pokemon like Charizard, Blastoise and Alakazam
- 13 secret WhatsApp tricks
- 17 Facebook Messenger tips and tricks you likely didn't know
- This is how much space PlayStation VR requires for you to play
- Best battery cases for iPhone 6S: So you can Pokemon Go and Go and Go
- Samsung Galaxy Note 7: Release date, rumours and everything you need to know
- Apple iPhone 7 Pro: Will it happen and what's the story so far?
- Best Galaxy S7 and S7 edge cases: Protect your new Samsung device
- Apple iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus: Release date, rumours and everything you need to know


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When Red Robin and his friends are trapped in the unknown world of the Unternet by the Calculator's fail-safe program, it's Batman and Robin to the rescue â but which Batman and Robin is it? If the Unternet is a telepathic communications gestalt where the villains' dreams come true, can Red Robin become its waking nightmare?
DiDio & Lee Says DC Will Take the Time to Do "Watchmen"/Rebirth Story 'Right'
Comic Books


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0800636627 / 978-0800636623 / The God You Have: Politics and the First Commandment (Facets) / Patrick D. Miller
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Yellow Ribbon Hills, Boutique Suites, Bangkok
- Free WiFi
Main amenities
- 80 guestrooms
- Restaurant
- Breakfast available
- 24-hour fitness center
- 24-hour front desk
- Air conditioning
- Daily housekeeping
- Garden
- Car rentals on site
- Library
- Laundry service
- Gift shops/newsstands
What's around
- In Sathorn
- Patpong Night Market (0.9 mi / 1.5 km)
- Lumpini Park (1.1 mi / 1.7 km)
- MBK Center (2 mi / 3.3 km)
- Siam Square (2.2 mi / 3.6 km)
- Siam Paragon Mall (2.3 mi / 3.7 km)
For families
- Rollaway/extra beds (surcharge)
- Sofa bed
- Kitchen
- Cookware, dishware, and utensils
- Microwave
- Refrigerator
Yellow Ribbon Hills, Boutique Suites, Bangkok
Hotel Info: 866-266-9798from $45 CAD
- Family Suite, 1 Bedroom, City View
- One bed room business - Double
- One bedroom president - Double
- One bed room executive - Double
Also popular with travellers from Canada
At a glance
Key facts
Hotel size
- This hotel has 80 rooms
- This hotel is arranged over 15 floors
- Check-in time starts at 2 PM
- Check-out time is Noon
Required at check in
- Credit card or cash deposit required
- Government-issued photo ID required
Travelling with others
- No cribs (infant beds)
- No pets or service animals allowed
- Free WiFi in public areas
- Free WiFi in rooms
Nearby Three Star Bangkok hotels
In the hotel
- Breakfast (surcharge)
- Restaurant
- Room service (during limited hours)
- 24-hour fitness facilities
- 24-hour front desk
- Dry cleaning/laundry service
- Laundry facilities
- Luggage storage
- Number of buildings/towers - 1
- Year Built 1992
- Elevator/lift
- Designated smoking areas
- Garden
- Library
- Accessible bathroom
- In-room accessibility
In the room
- Air conditioning
- Coffee/tea maker
- Sofa bed
- Separate dining area
- Separate living room
- Separate sitting area
- Private bathroom
- Deep soaking bathtub
- Free toiletries
- Hair dryer
- 32-inch LCD TV
- Premium TV channels
- Desk
- Free WiFi
- Phone
- Refrigerator
- Microwave
- Kitchen
- Cookware, dishware, and utensils
- Free bottled water
- Daily housekeeping
- In-room safe
Top Bangkok hotels
Recently reviewed hotels in Bangkok
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Nearby hotels
Special features
DiningAt Yellow Ribbon - This restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Guests can enjoy drinks at the bar. Reservations are required.
Yellow Ribbon Hills, Boutique Suites, Bangkok's small print
Also known as
- Yellow Ribbon Hills Boutique Suites Hotel Bangkok
- Yellow Ribbon Hills Boutique Suites Hotel
- Yellow Ribbon Hills Boutique Suites Bangkok
- Yellow Ribbon Hills Boutique Suites
- Yellow Ribbon Hills Boutique Suites Bangkok
Only registered guests are allowed in the guestrooms.
Transfers via airplane are required and must be arranged at least 48 hours before travel by contacting the property at the number on the booking confirmation.
Optional extras
Rollaway beds are available for THB 700 per night
Breakfast is offered for an extra charge of THB 200 per person (approximately)
High-speed Internet access (wired) is available in guestrooms for THB 100 per day (rates may vary)
We have included all charges provided to us by this hotel. However, charges can vary, for example, based on length of stay or the room you book.
Recent reviews
Good 3.9 /5 from 22 reviews
My girlfriend was quite annoyed with the receptionists telling her to produce her passport/identification repeatedly (they thought she was an escort) everyday throughout our stay despite having already told them that she was my girlfriend. Other than that, the rooms were spacious, well-equipped and well-maintained despite the being old. 7-11 convenience store was just around the corner. Located at a quiet neighbourhood. Security guards were very friendly.
Value for money
Everything is good, it will be better if there is a pool.
3 Night comfortable stay, location is good as at walking distance from BTS. Staff was really helpful.
Room was clean, staff were all very friendly.
Is the description of this hotel not correct? Tell us


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Stefanie is a staff writer here at See Debt Run, and also writes on her own site "The Broke and Beautiful Life".
Hello "See Debt Run" readers! I wanted to take this opportunity to introduce myself by sharing some of my day to day strategies for saving money. Some of these you've probably heard before, others may be new, some you may be doing already, and others might not be for you.
If there's one thing I've learned, it's that personal finance is truly "personal". We've all got different ways of prioritizing and shaping our financial future. My goal here will be to give you a variety of options and tools to consider so you can pick and choose which strategies work best for you.
And with that, let's get started with my 10 everyday ways to save money.
1. Stock Up on Socks and Underwear. Spending time and money going to the Laundromat is something I like to avoid as much as possible. To make my wardrobe stretch, I re-wear staples like jeans and jackets and stock up on the items I need to change every day like socks and underwear. With a full drawer dedicated to these every day essentials, I only have to do my laundry once a month.
2. Cut back on primping. I work in the entertainment industry so I appreciate the importance of appearance, but I am not willing to drop over $100 every four to six weeks to get my hair trimmed and my roots done. Simple techniques like waiting an additional few weeks between haircuts or painting your own nails can save you hundreds every year.
3. Learn. Everything I know about saving and making money I learned at some point from somewhere. Continuing to read and stay tuned in to the latest information is critical. If you know the fair price of an item, you won't allow yourself to be scammed. If you understand how to use your credit card effectively you can wind up getting cash back rather than paying interest. If you learn how to invest wisely, you can grow your money rather than losing it to inflation.
4. No pets. I can barely afford to pay my own rent, buy my own food, and purchase my own healthcare let alone provide all that for an animal. I also never want to be faced with the decision of splurging to treat a pet's unexpected medical condition or letting it die.
5. Netflix. A 3-D movie in New York City can cost $18! The "regular" price is still somewhere around $12. I'll trade three movie nights for a chance to go see a Broadway show instead. In the meantime, I'm a Netflix junkie. At $7.99 a month, with all the amazing new series', and instant accessibility, I'm happy to stay in.
6. Use Your Freebies. I always do my best to utilize freebies and items built into the price of a purchase. For instance, when I stay at a hotel, I'll pack up the complimentary shampoos and conditioners each night so I get new ones when they clean the room in the morning. Now I have a stockpile of practically new travel sized soaps for future camping trips and family visits.
7. No processed foods. I don't care to spend my hard earned money on the long-term health consequences of a poor diet.
8. Run. A membership to New York Sports Club costs $80/month. I'd much rather enjoy a long run in the sun along the Hudson River than stare at a screen on the treadmill. Plus it's free and my running comes with me wherever I go!
9. Bike. While I enjoy running for fitness, I've taken to biking for transportation. In the past 6 months, I've saved over $600 by not having to buy a monthly metro card or drive a car.
10. Pick and choose. More than anything, I believe in moderation. I don't want to deprive myself of the occasional Starbucks and dinners out just to save a couple of bucks here and there. Maybe you don't want to deprive yourself of having a pet or going to the movies. Like I said, it's personal. The important thing is to recognize those indulgences for what they are and make sure they don't become regular occurrences that interfere with your ability to create a secure financial future.]]>
The annual battle to determine who can have the greenest patch of grass in front of their house is a part of living in suburban America. In the house that we lived in a few years ago, we really didn't stand much of a chance. We were surrounded by retirees who treated their yard like it was their baby. As a busy family of five, we just didn't have the time required to keep things the grass appropriately watered, and keep the weeds at bay.
When we bought our current house, however, it came with a secret weapon, the sprinkler system! All we had to do was to setup a program into the panel in our garage, and the system would kick in every evening and water all of the "zones" around our yard for a few minutes. Our first summer in this house ended up being quite hot and dry, and we used the sprinklers pretty heavily. Sure enough, our yard stayed a lovely shade of emerald green, even as many of the neighbors grass turned brown. Haha! Take that! But as it turned out, they had the last laugh, as our monthly water bill that summer was north of $400! (ouch)
The next summer, we did go ahead and open up the sprinkler system for the summer, but only used it sparingly. Frankly, we just didn't have the money in the bank required to run a system of this kind. It turns out that Kermit the Frog was right; it ain't easy being green. Near the end of the season, I noticed that the back-flow portion of the sprinkler had developed a small leak. Water was dripping out of the unit at a very slow pace, but it was clear that it was going to likely need some repairs if we decided to activate the system again.
Fast forward to this summer, and again we've entered the hot and dry portion of the midwest summer. When I turned the water on to the back-flow, the "small leak" had turned into a large "spray". It was clear that the system was going to need a professional to take a look. I contacted one of the local sprinkler services and had them come out to assess the damage. It only took him a few minutes to quickly determine that my worst fears had come to fruition. The entire back-flow/pressure-valve portion of the system would need to be replaced. While much cheaper than installing a full system, the repairs would still cost over $700.
Paying $700 to repair the system was not a real option for us. Summer is always a difficult time in our family budget, with the combination of camp fees, electric bills that have been enhanced by air conditioning, and planning for a small family trip. While we did have enough to cover the repair in our emergency fund, we really couldn't consider brown grass to be a true emergency. Instead, we had to come up with another solution.
Enter the cheap-o $10 sprinkler.
We actually ended up purchasing two of these bad boys, one for the front yard and one for the back yard. Of course, they don't magically come on at the same time each day, and are not perfectly designed to perfectly cover every inch of every zone in our yard. Instead, we have to drag them out ourselves and try to place them in strategic spots where they get the most coverage. After a few minutes, we have to run out and reposition them somewhere else, while trying to avoid getting sprayed in the face. While the automated system runs every day regardless of how busy we are, our new system only runs when we have time. But all and all, its a big net win for us. Instead of paying over $700, we paid $20. I consider that a victory.]]>
There is somebody that you love that you haven't seen in far too long.
Perhaps this person lives too far away from you, and it is just impractical for you to see each other. But perhaps you have just both been busy, living your own lives. For some reason, neither of you have made it a priority to connect.
Please do me a favor.. and don't take them for granted.
Give them a call, and do it today. Find a time when you can meet up for lunch or coffee. Invite them to come along the next time you hear about something interesting going on in your town. If they have plans and can't make it, don't get discouraged. Try again. Rinse and repeat.
We are all defined by the connections that we make in this world. The people that we love. and the relationships that we form, will play a big part in forming the identity of who we are.
What is the psychological reason that people start collecting things? Most kids will at some point start a collection of something, and few parents would discourage this. It is perfectly natural for a child to develop his interest in something by starting to obtain as many things pertaining to that interest as possible. Or is it?
Isn't collecting just a way to become a hoarder of things, on a miniature level? Most collections are not actually usable, most of them either find themselves sitting on a shelf, or even worse– tucked away in a box somewhere. The money spent on collections *does* spark the economy, as there is a large sector of businesses and jobs that depends on people's continued obsessions. However, becoming a collector is expensive, and unless you have the disposable income to support it– it is not conducive to a healthy personal bottom line.
Childhood collections often take the form of a few traditional items: Old coins, rocks, seashells, comic books, and even stamps make an occasional cameo. Kids today also tend to start collecting whatever peer pressure tells them is the cool trend of the day: Pokemon cards, Bakugan, Silly Bands, or whatever the next trend is that I am sure to hear about in a few months. Depending on the age of the child, of course, the parent has to be a willing participant in this collecting Minamalist @ Home recently posted an interesting article about this.
Somewhere along the line, at perhaps about 4th or 5th grade, the idea of collecting seems to become a little "nerdy" to most kids. At this point they would typically rather be dead than caught using a metal detector, but in reality they have just shifted their collections onto new things, even further fueled by peer pressure. Collections migrate to designer clothes, shoes, video games, sporting equipment, books, MP3s and more.
I have collected various things in my childhood, all of which I regret at this point. When I was 12-14, I spent every cent that I earned from my allowance, grass cutting, birthday money, etc, on baseball cards. I somehow got the impression that this collection would one day pay for my kids' college. However, as my collection was building, the market for baseball cards was quickly becoming over-saturated, and when I was in college– it fell off a cliff. Now my collection still sits in my basement, and we just recently found a use for it. Later on, I started collecting music CDs, a collection that also became totally worthless when MP3s became the new standard.
I am not here to lecture you or to tell you that your large collection of Star Wars memorabilia makes you a bad person, as it certainly does not. If you are taking care of yourself and your family, and have income to spare– then by all means you should spend money on whatever makes you happy. For many people, collecting things that they love seems to have that effect. With the advent of the internet and especially with eBay, collecting things has become easier than ever, and building a serious collection really doesn't require a ton of effort. But in a way, doesn't that kind of defeat the purpose of collecting to begin with? Shouldn't collecting require a little bit of effort and patience?
There was recently a show on television where they showed the "Spelling Manor", a large mansion where the guy behind 90210 and many other shows in the 90's and his family have lived for the last 25 years. The wife was selling the place and she had warehouses full of collections, just rows and rows, shelf after shelf, of junk that she was "collecting." It just seemed so very wasteful. Just because you are organized, lady, doesn't mean that you are not a hoarder.
As someone who calls himself an emerging minimalist, I think that I am done with collections of any kind. If I am not going to use it, I am not going to keep it. The closest thing that I have to a collection of any kind currently is books, and I haven't bought a new one in over a year. Any books that I have that I could see myself re-reading in the next year, I will keep, but it is probably time to go ahead and sell or donate the rest.
As for my kids, I am not going to discourage them from collecting altogether, but I will discourage them from collecting things that cost money. I welcome them going out and collecting interesting rocks or sifting through the coins that pass through the house (although, there may not be many these days) to see if any of them are worth saving, because those are free hobbies. But if the kids want to collect something that costs money, they are going to have to spend cash that they earned to keep that hobby going. I will gently remind them of my experience with baseball cards, and point out that what is cool today will quickly fade tomorrow, and that they will often be left with a useless pile of junk.
This article was originally published on 2/19/2012]]>
As someone who has worked for two different reputable eye care companies, I've been on the inside and I know all the secrets! First and foremost, if you live in the US, you want to make sure you are aware of all the fees involved in your eye care insurance, as it is entirely separate and different from your medical coverage. Some plans will automatically give you a standard set of benefits, but if you know that your eye care needs will be above and beyond what most people need, you might want to talk to your Human Resources Department to find out if there are other plans available. Since I only wear glasses part-time (although I probably should wear them more often to stave off the headaches I sometimes get) and my husband only wears them while on the computer, the standard plan is more than adequate. If and when our children need glasses as well, it might be a different story.
Now that you've figured out your plan, find a good Optometrist. You can look for one who is great with kids, or one that offers the newest technology, or simply the one that is closest to your house. Do make sure that the doctor you choose is in your network. They might not know when you call them as all plans are different, so take the time to call your insurance company and make sure. There are also interactive online services through most insurance companies where you can search. I'm sure you're wondering how going to the doctor is going to save you money since you'll likely owe a small copay at least, the truth is that preventative care is much cheaper than diagnostic testing and surgery. Say hello your eye doctor once a year and make sure everything checks out. At the office I most recently worked, they also offered imaging of the retina for a small fee. This is also something I would recommend springing for, but only every couple of years or if you have any concerns.
I know what you're thinking; so far, all I'm doing is spending your money, not saving it, but we're getting to the good part! When the doctor tells you the dreaded words that you need glasses or contacts, there are many ways to save some dough.
Use your old frame. If your prescription changed, but your frame is still in great shape, you could always get new lenses for the frame. Some places don't like doing this, but most eye care shops will if you ask. They likely have a machine they don't want you to know about that can "trace" your current glasses with the lenses out. Then, once the new lenses are ready, they can just swap out the lenses and you're ready to roll. The downside: if you didn't purchase your old frames from your current eye care company, you might have to sign a waiver releasing them of any liability in case anything breaks while replacing the lenses. It sucks, but breaking glasses does happen occasionally. I remember breaking a patient's BURBERRY reading glasses once and I'm pretty sure there were tears…from both me and the patient.
Shop prices. Just because you love the eye doctor doesn't mean you have to buy your glasses or contacts from the same place. The company I most recently worked for had really reasonable prices, so we rarely lost customers to anyone, except occasionally Wal-Mart. More often, we would have patients come in with a new Rx wanting to shop our frame selection. We also had a lot of Ophthalmologist patients coming to us needing glasses and contacts. There were occasionally patients who couldn't find what they were looking for in our store. Some patients wanted to find the spooky and crazy contact lenses, whereas we only carried the basic colors. If someone wanted something a little out of the box, we had to refer them to places like 1800Contacts.com. Even though we matched prices to them by the box, we couldn't match their prices when they had sales or bulk discounts. Subsequently, I spent a lot of time checking and rechecking patients' prescriptions when 1800 Contacts would call our office to verify orders.
Watch out for the up sells! As someone who has worked in eye care, I would recommend only one of the many coatings they will try to sell you. It's an anti-reflective treatment. I can't stand wearing glasses without it, so to me–it's important. The anti-reflective coating that I liked was fairly inexpensive and came with uv and scratch coating. That's all I needed! Now, I do have a very mild prescription and therefore didn't require the "high index" materials to make my lenses thinner. If you are told that you need the higher index lens materials, ask to see their recommendations chart or something that tells you that your prescription is in the range. Hint: if you need the higher index lens materials, you probably know it. Unless you're a child and this is your first pair of glasses, you will likely know if your eyes are that bad. If you're not sure, ask the store what their policy is for someone who is dissatisfied with the thickness of their lenses and wants to upgrade. If there's no additional costs (there weren't at the two places that I've worked) and you're not sure if you have a high prescription, might as well go for the less expensive and see what they look like! Also, if your vision is worse at a distance, you're what's called near-sighted, and your lenses will be thicker on the outer edges. Going with a smaller frame can help with some of the thickness in that case.
Finally, ask lots of questions. For example, ask the optician if you're eligible for a material that is shatter and scratch-resistant based on your prescription. If you are, a lot of times upgrading your lens material to one that comes with scratch coating and uv protection is cheaper than buying those two coatings separately for a more basic material. Also, asking lots of questions lets the optician know that you are a smart cookie that's going to do your research, which is never a bad idea!
Some people just have a knack for getting out of traffic tickets. Unfortunately, I am NOT one of those people. If I ever catch the unfortunate sight of flashing lights in my rear-view mirror, rest assured that a $200 ticket is going to be in my immediate future.
Case in point, I was pulled over a few months ago after making an illegal left turn out of the local YMCA. I was very respectful to the officer–as I always am. But I also told him that I had no idea what I had done wrong, which was completely true.
The officer informed me that I had made an illegal left turn out of the parking lot, and wrote me a ticket for a "failure to obey a traffic control device." This was surprising to me, because I had made that same turn dozens of times, and had seen countless other cars do the same. There were no signs or markings on the pavement that indicated that left turns were not allowed, but instead there was only a slightly angled curb that angled to the right at the end of the parking lot. I had always assumed that the curb was angled that way to discourage people from making left turns INTO the parking lot, and I never had considered that left turns were not allowed.
Of course, I noted to the officer that there were no signs or anything indicating that it was an illegal turn, but he was determined to give me a ticket one way or another. He seemed a bit nervous when he returned with the ticket and simply informed me that if I had an issue with the ticket I was welcome to fight it in court.
To most people, "fighting a ticket" in court means simply hiring a lawyer to show up on your behalf to plea bargain the charge down to a smaller non-moving violation. Many people do this when they get speeding tickets to keep the ticket off their record, and in turn- to keep their insurance rates down.
However, hiring a lawyer to fight a traffic ticket for you doesn't come without a cost. Unless your cousin Vinny is a lawyer, it will likely cost you $200-$300 out of pocket. In my scenario, I just couldn't swallow this. Why should I have to pay big money to fight this when I had done nothing wrong? Nope. I was going to have to figure out how to fight this myself.
Naturally, I was quite upset by this whole situation. A ticket of this kind would cost nearly $200, and I hadn't done anything wrong. I knew right away that I was going to do everything that I could to fight this ticket. When I got home, I started searching online for the statute I had been charged with. The ticket stated that I had "failed to obey a traffic control device," presumably implying that the angled curb was a traffic control device. On a Missouri State website, I found a link to the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD). In this official document, I found exactly what I was looking for:
"Section 900.1.8 Authority for Placement of Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD Section 1A.08)
In a way, I was kind of excited to go to traffic court to fight the charge against me. I had never gotten an inside look at the justice system like this, and I was curious to see how it all played out. I printed out a copy of the manual that I had found and brought along some pictures of the intersection. I practiced what I would say in front of the mirror and tried to imagine what the judge and prosecuting attorney would come back with. But once the night of my scheduled court appearance arrived, I never got the chance to tell my side of the story.
Instead, I learned that this "court date" was actually just an arraignment, or a chance to plead guilty or not-guilty. We wouldn't be allowed to present our side of the case. If I wanted a trial, it would be held at a later date. The first portion of the evening was where all of the lawyers who were present were given the chance to speak to the judge in a semi-private setting. Their conversations were brief and light hearted, and the court happily lowered about a dozen charges for only a handshake and some court costs.
Next, the judge spoke for about ten minutes, explaining how the arraignment would proceed. He told us we had the right to plead innocent to the charges against us, but advised strongly against it. He said that we would be up against a prosecuting attorney who knows the law inside and out, and who tries cases like ours every single day. If we wanted to have any chance at all, he explained, we should strongly consider hiring an attorney. His stern words seemed to have quite an affect on the rest of the defendants, as the first dozen that were called to the stand all pleaded "guilty" to the charges against them, many of them asking the judge if they could go to traffic school to wipe a ticket from their record.
When my name was called, I approached the bench and without hesitation told them that I would be pleading "not guilty." The judge took off his glasses and looked me up and down. He again reminded me of the District Attorney's courtroom prowess and suggested that I speak with a lawyer if I wanted to fight the ticket. I responded that the officer was in the wrong when he wrote me the ticket, and I didn't think that I should have to pay $200 for the officer's mistake. He sighed, handed me a piece of paper with my official court date (four months in the future), and called the next name on his list.
I wasn't sure exactly how I should feel after the arraignment. I had pushed through my nervousness and handled myself in a professional manner. I was still confident that I was in the right, and that I could win if given the opportunity to state my case. But I couldn't help but wonder if perhaps the judge's words carried some weight. Maybe I was foolish to think that I could handle navigating the chummy waters of a courtroom without an attorney by my side. I decided to reach out to a friend who worked for a nearby city attorney's office, to get his read on the situation.
Thankfully, my friend had some great advice. He said that without a doubt, the court didn't want to take my case to trial. Something like this was "small potatoes" and the last thing the prosecuting attorney would want to do is to spend the time and resources required to fight something like this. He said that the statute that I found about the traffic control devices should be enough to clear my name, but that I should try and and settle beforehand. The easiest way to do this, was to write a letter to the prosecuting attorney, stating the details of my case, and asking if they would consider dismissing or lowering the charges against me.
A part of me was a bit nervous to reach out to the prosecutor, as I would be handing them my entire defense on a platter. If they still wanted to prosecute me, they would have the time to tear about the traffic codes even further, to potentially shut down my argument. But the more I thought about it, the more I started to think that this wasn't a probable outcome. When the attorney saw the details of the ticket, which were clearly bogus, they would most likely move for dismissal. So I typed up the letter, and sent it off.
Three weeks later, I finally received a reply. I nervously opened the letter, and what I found is shown below. Nolle Prosequi, This case is now closed. In other words, a formal notice of abandonment by a plaintiff or prosecutor of all or part of a suit or action. Yes, I fought the law, and I won.
Ahh, the smell of sweet justice.
IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER: The above article represents only our own experience, and should NOT be interpreted as legal advice. Your results using the same method could and likely will vary wildly, depending on the court and the situation. We recommend contacting a legal attorney to discuss your case.]]>
If you are reading this article and have found yourself in our little corner of the web, chances are that you care about money. You may be on the lookout for ways that you can improve your bottom line by finding new ways to save money. Or you may be hoping to find some inspiration for a new idea that will enable you to bring in a little extra income, or change your family's whole financial future.
To help facilitate this kind of change, you may find yourself brainstorming for ideas on how you can make your own fortune. Perhaps you will invent something that will change people's lives forever. Or perhaps you are thinking of starting small and starting a website, which you will one day grow into your own little online empire.
I have been spending a lot of time in the past few weeks reading and listening to the advice of people like Pat Flynn, who continue to innovate and create, and who inspire me to work harder to achieve my own goals. The natural result of this is that I have found myself doing a lot of exploring of new ideas lately, and I as a result- I have several projects that I am planning to dive into full-bore.
The same thing will happen to you as well when you start searching for that big idea. Eventually, opportunity will come knocking on your door. What you need to ask yourself is, "Will I be ready to pounce when it does"?
When I speak of opportunity, I am of course not talking about receiving a phone call from your Uncle Madoff, who has a can't-miss investment proposition. Instead, I am talking about being willing to put forth the required time and effort to bring your big idea to reality. To dive headfirst into any project, you may have to shift your priorities to free up time to work towards your new passion. You will need to read books and related websites, learn new skills, meet some other people in the industry, and perhaps even hire some people along the way to help bring your idea towards reality.
In addition to the commitment of time and energy, you may will likely need a financial investment to bring your big idea forward. You may need to cover your living expenses if you quit your day job to work on your big idea big time (something I wouldn't necessarily endorse), or you may need to purchase equipment or web-hosting software and packages. If you are selling a physical product, you will likely have to make a deposit with a manufacturer to develop a prototype, and you may be required to purchase a "minimum amount" of the product up front, in case you have difficulty selling it. You may also need to purchase core business supplies like a postage scale or a credit card reader.
Is it worth investing your time and money to bring your big idea to a reality? That of course depends on how good of an idea it really is. Before moving all of your chips to the table, it is likely a smart move to kick the tires on your idea on a smaller-scale at first. For example, you can start implementing your plan in your free time on nights and weekends, while keeping a 9-5 job during the days to keep paying your bills. If you product starts to gain momentum, you can dedicate more time and resources to it as necessary, eventually seeking to make it your full-time work.
If you are already dreaming and searching for your next big idea, then you are halfway there, my friends. You have the true entrepreneurial spirit, and you have one up on the vast majority of people. The next step is making sure that you are ready to pounce on that opportunity when it finally arrives.]]>
One of the biggest expenses in homeownership is rarely considered before purchasing. Maintaining a home is handled a little differently when you own your home vs renting. The difference? You foot the bill and fix it all yourself! Fun! Who doesn't love a good DIY project? While you likely have homeowner's insurance (required if you have a mortgage, and not a bad idea if you own outright), there's always a steep premium, and usually still a headache even if insurance pays out.
In fact, before opening a claim with an insurance company, you better be certain they'll pay. Otherwise you still have to fix whatever it is that's not working and you'll still be on the hook for the premium. Sometimes, it's a real lose-lose. Not only are there many instances in which insurance companies won't pay out, there is also a huge list of items insurance won't cover at all. Ever.
Appliances and Electrical
The simple truth is that all mechanical things break down, and your house is chock-full of machines of all kinds. From your simple machines like ceiling fans to more expensive items like garage doors and heating and cooling systems, there are plenty of things that can slice into your bank account.
The best way to save money on these items is to simply take care of them. To make them last as long as possible, try to keep your appliances clean and always perform the recommended maintenance. We like to set reminders on our phones when it's time to change the filter in the furnace or run a cleaning cycle on our washing machine. These little maintenance checks can save you from needing more expensive professional fixes down the road.
Even if you don't have any home improvement skills, most plumbing jobs are fairly simple to take on. Whether you are fixing a toilet, switching out a faucet, or installing a garbage disposal, all you really need is a decent wrench and a willingness to get a little dirty. Most plumbers will charge you $100/hour or more, so learning how to do tasks of this kind can save you big money in the long run.
Aesthetic Upkeep
Everyone likes to have a home that is warm and cozy and a nice place to visit. Unfortunately, it's easy for many people to let things get out of hand when it comes to home decorating. You see your neighbor's shiny new fill-in-the-blank and suddenly your own home starts to feel a little dull and dated. In reality, it is often possible to give your house a fresh and updated look without spending a fortune. A fresh coat of paint will cost about $25, and give a room a fresh look. For artwork, why not tap into your creative side and create something original and beautiful. Also, remember that less really is more with decor.
Lighting and More
There are certainly some costs that come along with home ownership that you just can't get around. For example, all of the light bulbs in your house will eventually burn out and need to be replaced. Thankfully, bulb technology has come a long way with the spread of CFL and LED bulbs that can last for years.
Maintaining flooring and furniture can also be costly, but there are ways to prevent the need for full replacement. A lesson we have learned the hard way in our home is that there needs to be rules about food, drink, pets, and other mess makers. We have a "no shoes on the carpeting" rule in our house. We also don't eat or drink anything that stains on the carpeting or near any upholstered furniture. While most of our friends and family oblige without fuss, we do know a few who think we're too strict. The truth is we're just frugal!]]>
Saving money on our grocery bill has always been front and center in our strategy to cut spending and improve our financial situation. No one item in the grocery store is more central to this effort than the "big bag of frozen chicken breasts". We have five mouths to feed in our household, and we make an effort to eat healthy whenever possible. Chicken is naturally low-fat and very high in protein, and that really makes it the perfect food to build meals around. We do mix in lean ground beef, seafood, and turkey every once in a while, but at least half of the dinner entrees that we prepare are centered around chicken.
There are many benefits to buying chicken frozen instead of fresh from your local butcher. The biggest reason of all is of course, to save money! A big bag, like the one shown in the middle of the picture at the top of this post, will typically cost you $5.99 at your local Aldi (I have proof!). Both Target and our other local grocery stores offer something similar in their frozen meats section for a dollar or two more, but the quality is about the same. Be sure that you pick up the bag that says "Chicken Breast" (instead of thighs), as this is the healthiest and tastiest part. I also wouldn't recommend picking up the pre-cooked or pre-spiced varities of frozen chicken– as they typically have more fat, strange consistency, and you are better off seasoning them yourself.
The second main benefit that you get from frozen chicken is versatility. Like anyone who is trying to save money on groceries, we try to meal plan as much as possible– but things don't always go as planned. By having a large stash of potential "main courses" ready for use, we are always covered. Bags of frozen chicken will stay good in your freezer for up to nine months, so if you ever see them on sale– be sure to stock up! A bag like the one above typically has about 10 large chicken breasts inside, and this should cover you for anywhere from 3-5 meals, depending on what you are cooking and how many people are in your family. They are almost always resealable, so when preparing a meal– just take out what you need, seal the bag back up, and put it back in the freezer for next time.
The third benefit that you can get from Frozen Chicken is actually the taste, believe it or not. There may be some of you out there who will swear up and down that the only way to eat chicken is to buy it fresh in the never-been-frozen meat section of your local grocer. That is fine if you can afford it, but the reality is that you can get some great tasting meals with frozen chicken as well. You just need to cook with the correct spices and have a nice variety of go-to meals to rotate in. Here is a look at some of my favorite spices:
(left to right: garlic powder, basil leaves, taco seasoning, old bay, pepper, pampered chef smokey bbq rub, sea salt, seasoned salt, oregano leaves)
I am not going to share any of our recipes in full today, but I did want to give you a general idea of some of the meals that we like to prepare with the big bag o' frozen chicken breasts:
Grilled Chicken : This one might seem obvious, but the seasoning really is the key. I always use garlic and seasoning salt, and often sprinkle in the smokey bbq rub or basil (but not both). You can also marinate the chicken ahead of time in italian dressing, or just baste a little bbq sauce on when it is almost done cooking. We sometimes grill outside, other times we use the Foreman, or lately- we have started just baking the chicken in a glass pan filled with an inch or so of water. The latter method is the healthiest, as it doesn't use any oil and avoids the potential carcinogens of grilling over fire. Anytime we grill up some chicken, we always make extras for lunches the next day. Estimated Cost to Feed the Family For an Evening : $8 (including side dishes)
Chicken Tacos : We actually prefer chicken tacos to beef, and this is one of our big go-to items when we have friends over for dinner. Just cook the chicken until white in a pan, and then add in some Ortega Taco Seasoning and a cup of water. After that, bring the water to a boil, and stir frequently. The water will quickly evaporate and the spices will bond to the chicken in the pan. Open up a can of re-fried beans, cut up some fresh veggies, and grab some tortillas and you have a great meal that can serve a bunch of folks. Estimated Cost to Feed the Family For an Evening : $12
Chicken Salad : We often take the leftovers from grilled chicken night and spin it into a nice batch of chicken salad. Just cut up the chicken into very small pieces, chop up a couple of stalks of celery, and a few cups of red grapes. Toss it all in a bowl with some smashed walnut pieces and a few squirts of reduced fat mayo– and you have a chicken salad that tastes better than anything you will find at a restaurant. Estimated Cost to Feed the Family For an Evening : $6
Chicken Pasta : This one is easy, but is always a big hit. Just grill up a few chicken breasts as shown above, and cut into small pieces. When the chicken is done through and through, add a bag of your favorite frozen veggies, and stir regularly. As the veggies start to thaw, just add in about a cup of your favorite tomato sauce. At the same time, cook up a few cups of penne noodles, following the directions on the box. When the penne noodles are done, drain them and then mix the noodles in with the chicken, veggies, and sauce. Estimated Cost to Feed the Family For an Evening : $7
— There are of course, many other dishes that you can tackle with the big bag o' frozen chicken, but these are a few of our favorites. We also occasionally take on a chicken pizza, a chicken parmesan, grilled chicken sandwiches, and many more.
Does your family utilize the value and versatility of the big bag 'o frozen chicken?
Note: This article first appeared on See Debt Run on April 23, 2012]]>
This holiday season, thanks to cleaning out our storage room, we had a little extra money to spend on gifts.
As of recently, my husband and I were still teetering on the decision of whether to have more children or not, so we kept a lot of our children's outgrown clothing and accessories. How much is a lot exactly? It's precisely 6 large bins of clothing and 1 bin of shoes. Perhaps it was the thought of moving out of a home where we'd resided for almost 10 years that tapped out my emotional bank. There were already tears over the playset in the backyard where so many memories lived below the ample maple tree. Then, there were tears over the wall decal in my 1-year-old daughter's room, the one with the tree and all the adorable hedge creatures who we touched and said 'good night' to through so many bedtimes.
Although fully on board with the decision to move, it still took its toll on my heart, which is why I stupidly moved all those heavy bins into my new home before going through and selling all the contents.
If you decide to its time to sell kids clothing to a resale shop, first take a look at their website, give them a call, or even stop by the shop to talk to an employee about the process. You'll want to find out what they accept and, of course, if they're even buying at the time. I went to one store that was buying, but only offering store credit. Another store I visited gave cash on the spot, though. Guess which one I decided to sell to?
Going through the clothing, you'll want to divide into piles of DONATE, SELL, and TOSS. There might also be a small KEEP pile if there any pieces that you wish to save. Maybe a beautiful Easter dress that you want to pass down, or a handmade quilt made my Grandma. The SELL pile should be comprised of clothing that doesn't have any tears, missing buttons, or stains. Resale shops won't purchase anything from you that has any noticeable wear. Also, they might only be interested in certain brand names. The DONATE pile can be clothing that is in fair condition and has a lot of wear left in it, but again — not many noticeable stains. For us, some of our donate items were given to friends and family instead of selling.
After separating into the piles, I went to work. The SELL clothes got tossed in the wash. The DONATE items went into my car so I could drop them off at a clothing donation center the next time I went out, and you know where the TOSS pile went. Some of these things made me wonder what I was thinking! Onesies with spit-up stains, plain t-shirts with holes big enough to fit a finger…or a wrist. Clearly, I have mental issues. After washing and drying my salable items, I ran a steam iron over them before folding them nicely and organizing them into outfits. The place I sold to pays more for complete outfits, so this extra step is worth it. And the ironing? You think I'm crazy, don't you? Well, that's also to your benefit as everyone knows that neatly-ironed clothing looks newer and thus more expensive!
At the store, they offered me $116 for 3 bins of clothing. Not bad! As I looked at my children's clothes in the bins, my throat started to close as my chin quivered.
"I'm sorry. Is it normal to cry during this process?"
"Totally. That's very normal." The clerk assured me. She said more reassuring words, but my mind was elsewhere.
I lifted one of the shirts between my fingers and was immediately taken back to the last time my daughter had worn it. She was in the grass and laughing at the bubbles her brother was blowing, then squealing as they popped on her softly rounded knees and bare toes. After that, I stopped looking through the bins. This is probably something that you should do; however, I know myself. I know that if I would have touched every single outfit again, I would have begun pulling items out and making excuses for keeping them in my basement. I patted the tops of the piles and gently pushed them toward the store associate. There were many items they didn't accept, because of several reasons.
Try not to be offended if they reject some, or a lot, of your clothing. It may simply be that they already have a lot of a certain size, or it may be that they've had a difficult time moving merchandise similar to what you're selling. For all the clothing they didn't want, I have plans. You can sell a "lot" of clothing on a site like eBay or even craigslist. If you think you'd like to trade up, you can check out ThredUp, too.
Photo by advencap (flickr)]]>


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Me and Mr Darcy Paperback – 28 Jun 2007
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'A winning formula of chaotic heroine meeting eccentric hero, and, after misunderstandings, finding love. Sharply written, pacey and funny...pure self-indulgence' (The Times on BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR)
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What a fab idea for a book. Potter has created some great characters - I loved all the 'oldies' on the tour, and I also really enjoyed the spookiness of the mysterious Mr Darcy appearing from nowhere. This was a really easy to read book - one of those ones which you start and before you know it you've read about 100 pages without even realising. Lovely cosy descriptions of winter in the UK, lots of likable and endearing characters, tons of references to Jane Austen and an entertaining and enjoyable plot make this book a really great one.
If you're in the mood for a fun, light hearted read then I highly recommend this book. However if you're an obsessive Jane Austen fan who can't bear to see any of her characters in the 21st Century then you're probably better off avoiding this one!
I've never been into chick lit. I mean, I do love `Bridget Jones' but that's as far as it goes really. Unless you count classics like "Pride & Prejudice" as chick lit, then fair enough. Anyway, I got "Me & Mr Darcy" as a birthday present after adding it to my Amazon list. "Pride & Prejudice" is one of my favourite classics, and I was looking for some more Mr Darcy to keep the fantasy going. The summary for this book seemed nice enough, and I was secretly jealous of the very pretty girl on the cover, so I went for this one.
At first I really enjoyed it. It was an easy read - something I'm not really used to - and interesting enough. But then she started quoting excerpts of "Pride and Prejudice" and it annoyed me a little. Especially since it was followed right after by a completely similar experience for Emily, the main character, I had a feeling that the author expected me to be stupid and not understand the parallel by myself.
Emily. She works at a book shop and claims to be a bookworm. Mmm... Thing is, throughout the whole book she sounds like a total idiot. She gets annoyed whenever someone assumes she is stupid because she is American, but to be honest it is not far from the truth at all is it? I don't think there's any depth to her character. She really seemed empty and superficial to me. Perhaps it's a cliché, but I would expect someone who says they read a lot to be slightly more intelligent.
Then you've got Spike.Read more ›
The book starts off well with a likeable and funny main character. I liked the idea of her going on a Jane Austen book tour in England, as well as her 'fish out of water' scenarios.
Unfortunately the worst bits in this book are the bits that I most looked forward to: when the heroine meets 'Mr Darcy'. Except don't expect anything like Jane Austen's celebrated character to appear, as the Mr Darcy is bland, dull and not half so attractive as Jane Austen's creation. Whilst this is Potter's point- that reality is better than fiction, all is not what it seems, blah blah blah- it does leave you feeling disappointed. Instead Potter recreates Mr Darcy's character through Spike, a cynical journalist. Which is all very well, but why she had to turn Mr Darcy into a boring dud is beyond me. Since when, for example, did Mr Darcy ponce around reciting poetry aloud to women?! Anyone who is a fan of Pride and Prejudice will know that this is NOT something Mr Darcy would ever do!
But then the whole thing is far-fetched, and so cringingly predictable. For someone who is supposed to be obsessed with Pride and Prejudice, the heroine is incredibly stupid not to realise that all of the action mirrors the events of the novel. As well as using whole extracts from P&P, Potter has her characters paraphrasing throughout the novel. This makes is painfully obvious to readers exactly what is going to happen, yet our heroine doesn't notice.
And (don't read the next two paragraphs if you're going to buy the book) the ending is ludicrious, beyond farce.Read more ›
Invited to attend Mexico with her outrageous friend, she opts for a tour of England, in particular Jane Austen country. The trip leads to misery, heart break and a soul searching experience bound up with fabulous romance and fiction. I loved this book and knowledge of `Pride and Prejudice' is not necessary as extracts are used throughout the book.
I'm so pleased I read this and in places it reminded me of `The History of Lucy's Love Life in 10.5 Chapters'. A good plot, believable characters, excellent narrative - what more could you want from a few hours curled up on the sofa?
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I enjoyed reading it despite the fact the story was a bit silly, the author's style annoying at times (and full of stereotypes on Europeans) and the story very predictable. Read morePublished 11 days ago by Clarabou
My first by this author but won't be the last. Its funny, romantic, a bit of a fairy tale in a way. Easy to read and hard to put down. Really cheered me up!Published 2 months ago by Lindsay
I liked the book for what it offered a bit of light reading with a little mystery at the end.Published 3 months ago by Taboo Counsellor
I absolutely loved this book, so much so, I could not put it down. I would recommend this book, and will be looking out for further books by this author.Published 4 months ago by Julie
Easy reading if you don't mind lots of steamy sex pages.Published 4 months ago by Ms. Heather C. Oliver
Was almost perfect for a second hand book quick delivery very satisfied thanksPublished 5 months ago by Amazon Customer
I read this book 2 years ago and looooved it. I'm a huge book lover and I'd read one of Alex's books before and loved that, too! Read morePublished 6 months ago by Amazon Customer
Great mix of fantasy and real life! Worth a read x love it, definitely recommend it who loves jane Austen xPublished 10 months ago by samantha webb
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Phosphorus Recovery from Wastewater – State-of-the-Art and Future Potential
Abstract:Today, there are already a variety of very different approaches to the recovery of phosphorus from wastewater, sludge and ashes. These approaches differ by the origin of the used matter (wastewater, sludge liquor, fermented or non-fermented sludge ash) and the process (precipitation, wet chemical extraction, and thermal treatment). They are characterized by their process steps, use of chemicals, complexity and effectiveness of the technology, economics, product quality for further use (fertilizer or industrial use), residuals, maturity of the technology, and degree of centralization and are rated positive, negative or neutral. Together these characteristics form the advantages and disadvantages of all the recovery processes. These were phrased as hypotheses that were used in an international expert survey.
The survey showed that P-recovery will become an established process over the next 20 years in industrialized countries for economic reasons. A decisive aspect in this regard will be the quality of the produced fertilizer. Simple technologies such as the recovery from sludge liquor seem to be preferred. If sludge is incinerated, P-recycling from ash then becomes more interesting and has to be considered. P-recovery and source separating sanitation technologies are more appropriate for industrialized countries than for developing countries. As the growing awareness of environmental issues will prevent sludge being used agriculturally in an increasing number of countries in the next decade, the market potential for nutrient recovery technologies will increase in the immediate future.
Keywords: Phosphorus; Sludge; economic potential; recovery; sludge ash; wastewater
Document Type: Research Article
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2175/193864711802867676
Publication date: January 1, 2011
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