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For quite some time, I haven't collected Kiraz dolls, and then, when Mamzelle de Paris came out. I had decided not to collect one, for many reasons... One being space in my doll cabinet, and two, money, and so on...
These amazing reproductions of Kiraz's Poupee de Kiraz, are the more affordable versions. Sadly, they have since sold out, and if you are very good at checking back often, they may just pop up on ebay!
In this case, they did! Now, I can afford one!
These are dolls were found from inventory. So, I bought the Mamzelle de Paris Brigitte with blonde chignon & fringe with red lips, nude, after a lot of convincing myself, to do so. Haha.
Matilda Pink on etsy's dresses! Yay!
Oayt also on etsy!
Atomaru's Doran Doran Aram dolls! Yup, she can fit them. Especially, since they don't come with shoes, darn... I know these gals can fit them, and Francie's heels. Well... certain ones.
Brings me back to the time I used to own an original Poupee de Kiraz... ahhh, its nice to be able to afford these! Thank you Mike for making them, even if for a short time!
Thank you for reading! ~ ggsdolls


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The Romance of Canada 4: Escape to the Barrens
Nicholas Dawidoff, "The Man Who Saw America" (NYT Magazine, July 5, 2015)
Nicholas Dawidoff, who appeared here before in the guise of a football writer, has a fascinating article about photographer (best known for The Americans) and filmmaker (best known for Cocksucker Blues) Robert Frank in the NYT Magazine. It's worth reading on its own merits, but Canada does play a small role, when Dawidoff describes Frank's reaction to his own growing fame:
Acclaim was likewise anathema. By the 1960s, just as his work was gaining a following, Frank abruptly moved on from still photography to become an underground filmmaker. Ten years later, with all the glories of the art world calling to him, Frank fled New York, moving to a barren hillside far in the Canadian north. (42)
"A barren hillside far in the Canadian north" — how romantic that sounds! Later in the article, however, it turns out that the place he moved to was Mabou, Nova Scotia. Here's Dawidoff's description of the move:
Overwhelmed in New York, craving ''peace,'' Frank asked [June] Leaf [his girlfriend] to go to Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, to find them a home. It was winter. She bought a pair of thick boots and flew north: ''He knew I'd do anything for him,'' she says now.
They moved to Mabou, where the March wind was so strong you had to walk backward. They knew nobody, and the house they'd purchased overlooking the sea was, in the local expression, ''after falling down.''
Now, if you consult a map, you will see that while Mabou may be barren, it is roughly as far north as Maine. (If Frank is "the man who saw America," Dawidoff is "the man who never saw (a map of) Canada.") It's a bit troubling that this kind of error can make its way into The New York Times (even if only the magazine) — doesn't anyone check these things? Do the editors really think a place that's much closer to Martha's Vineyard than to the Arctic Circle represents the "far north"? Perhaps they think anywhere in Canada is the far north. Or perhaps this is just another instance of Americans' total indifference to our country and everything to do with it.
Beyond that, Frank's girlfriend saying that flying to Nova Scotia proves that she would "do anything for him" is quite charming, suggesting, as it does, that travelling to Nova Scotia is a perilous undertaking from which one is fortunate to return alive. And while Dawidoff doesn't say it directly he certainly implies, through the references to the thick boots and the strong March wind, that Canada is cold — one of the most common ideas about our country.
The main impression of Canada conveyed by this article, however, is that it is a remote, unpopulated land that is ideal if you're looking for somewhere to escape to. (We saw a similar attitude to Canada in Kris Kraus's novel torpor.) And perhaps I'm imagining things, but I even feel like there is a certain admiration in Dawidoff's tone as he describes Frank's abrupt departure from New York. We do tend to idolize great artists, and far be it from me to suggest that Frank doesn't deserve Dawidoff's adulation; but there is a special reverence reserved for those who not only produce great works of art, but who also reject the trappings of fame and celebrity that come with their accomplishment. The reclusive genius is a romantic figure, admired for being more honest and true to the artist's calling by virtue of having rejected fame, and in describing Frank's flight to Canada, Dawidoff places him firmly in that category.
And so Canada plays a role here, not as an independent nation with an identity of its own, but rather as a marker of authenticity that validates a particular kind of American achievement: ironically, it is by leaving New York for Canada that Frank establishes his status as a true American original, a genuine artist not interested in his own fame but devoted only to the tough realities of his art.
What, after, all, could represent a more complete rejection of fame than leaving New York City (and "all the glories of the art world" — what are those, I wonder?) for Canada? And not just Canada, but a "barren hillside" in the (supposedly) "far north"?
In fact, there are probably areas in the United States that are just as much a wilderness as the most wilderness-y areas of Canada; and yet escaping to a cabin in Montana doesn't have the same romantic finality, the same grandeur in terms of a gesture, as fleeing to Canada, where of course acclaim can never pursue you because, as everyone knows, in Canada the mechanics by which acclaim comes to be don't exist: there are no magazines, no newspapers, no television, no radio, no people or communities; just an endless succession of barren hillsides where American artists fleeing their own celebrity huddle together to stay warm against the unending cold.

subset: commoncrawl


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The Word: Get ready for 'Independence Day 2'
Fox announced yesterday that they've booked a release date for Roland Emmerich's "Independence Day 2."
Oh, man, how did this take 19 years? Fox announced yesterday that they've booked a release date for Roland Emmerich's "Independence Day 2." According to Deadline, the first sequel to the ultimate summer popcorn movie will come out July 4 weekend, 2015, 19 years after the original introduced us to Will Smith's "Welcome to Earf."
The first "Independence Day" was the biggest movie of 1996, and made Will Smith the movie star he is today. So will the alien facepuncher return? How about Bill Pullman's President? Pullman has confirmed his involvement, but no one's said anything about Smith, and it sounds like the team is planning to move the franchise onto younger (and presumably cheaper) shoulders."It's still some of the same characters, but also new younger characters; it's a little bit like the sons take over," Emmerich told Entertainment Weekly.
Hmm. Paging Jaden Smith...
Then again, maybe Will and Jaden need some time apart. You know what's creepy? Scientology. You know what's creepier? Tongue kissing your son on television. You know who is allegedly guilty of being a part of both those scenarios? Will Smith. In arecent interview on a Thai television show, Smith apparently answered a question about how close he and son Jaden are at home by making out with the kid. Or simulating it — either way, we're pretty sure that's not okay. And, sure, we know everything's reportedly looser in Thailand. We've seen — I mean, uh, heard about — Thai hookers performing some pretty impressive acts with ping pong balls and their, er, lady parts, but still. Remember the good old days, when Will Smith was just relaxing all cool, shooting some b-ball outside of school? Someone send this guy to live with his auntie and uncle in Bel Air, STAT, before he goes full-on Tom Cruise.


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Here's an article my hubby found on AOL earlier....wondered if she just had Lupus....or possibly Hughes as well?
Sophia Brown - a contestant on Big Brother 10 - has reportedly passed away at the age of 30.
The 4ft 11in former banking assistant took part in the tenth series of the show, which was eventually won by Sophie Reade.
It is still unknown what caused Sophia's death. She had been suffering from Lupus since childhood, a condition that affects the immune system.
My sympathy goes out to her family & friends, R.I.P. Sophia.


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Benefit - cosmetics, which began its history in 1976.The first store was opened in San Francisco, a unique cosmetic boutique immediately attracted attention as more like a candy shop.New cosmetics and style of the sisters came up with Jane and Jean Ford.New milestone in the development of the company expected in 1999, when it was merged with the holding company LVMH Louis Vuitton.
In Blumigdeyle Benefit opened its own bar, of course, is not an alcoholic, and beauty.Each visitor can get advice professional makeup artist, to try and personally pick up the necessary products.
recognizable and beloved brand
Benefit - cosmetics, which is easy to find among all the different brands of cosmetics.The main distinguishing feature - a fun and unusual design packing retro.Benefit Cosmetics Letual introduced in the whole range of products, only a few minutes - and you find yourself in the fabulous world of powder, lipstick, gloss and highlighter, including any fashionista will find suitable means.
Corporate handwriting brand - unusual packaging that resemble jewelry box or candy wrappers.Since the establishment of its make-up artists follow the principle of a combination of various shades of rouge, lipstick and shadows, allowing you to create unique images.
considerable popular perfumes Benefit, presented by a ruler Crescent Row.The manufacturer offers its admirers toilet water with ironic and intricate names Laugh with me LeeLee, Something about Sofia ..., Maybe baby.And this is not a complete list of fragrant innovations offered by Benefit.
Cosmetics Russian women won in 2009, when appeared on the shelves of the largest shopping centers.High scores received products and professional beauty-industry.
Legendary Benetint
his ascent to Olympus cosmetic panacea for cheeks and lips began in 1970.Most notably, the reason for the request was the creation of a product stripper who lived next door to the sister Ford.The girl asked to create a persistent agent which would have allowed her nipples long time to keep a bright pink hue.
Benefit - cosmetics, which should last a long time, and the most prominent representative catalog, confirming it is precisely Benetint.For the first time taking a bottle in hand, you will see a bright liquid, which has some similarities with beet juice.Getting on the skin of the lips and cheeks, she absorbed and creates a sense of natural blush, which appears in the cold.The tool has phenomenal stamina and does not leave your face during the day.These are all wonderful works Benefit cosmetics.Buy in Moscow can be a novelty in the Corner mark or online stores.
Dr.Feelgood - base makeup
Base makeup Dr.Feelgood certainly will appeal to owners of combination and oily skin, because the manufacturer has given its matte quality.If you open the jar, before you would wax that has the color of vanilla cream.Means well and spread evenly with a thin layer of skin using a sponge, included in the set, or fingertips.
According to the consumer, it is perfectly hides shine and affects its resistance.Applied as a comfortable base for make-up and at it.Going for new clothes for her beautician, keep in mind that funds can not afford to hide the serious defects of the skin such as pigmentation and redness.
Benefit cosmetics in Moscow.Review of tonal resources
Benefit regularly publishes news, pleasing his admirers.Legendary line of facial care products became Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow Lineup, which was packed in a classic bottle and had a liquid consistency.The development of the line took nearly 3 years, the result was a complex, enriched with vitamins C and E, and peptides that improve metabolism and cellular respiration, protects against the harmful effects of the environment, preventing the appearance of wrinkles.Done a lot of noise tonal resources Non Fiction Liquid Foundation and You Rebel.
Benefit to care for radiant look
Cosmetics Benefit, reviews of which point to the highest quality, offering a wide range of masking concealers.A different form of packaging allows you to choose the most comfortable and convenient form of release.In this category also has its own leader - a dual-layer stick Fake Up.The composition of the concealer include reflective particles, which hide under the force of even the most obvious signs of lack of sleep in the form of dark circles under the eyes.
outer ring design - moisturizing complex with an extract of apple seeds, and vitamin E. Such a tandem is not only conceals dark circles, but also provides nourishment to the skin around the eyes, reduces the number and depth of facial wrinkles.
Guarding the eye makeup cosmetics Benefit
sets shadows offered by the company, it is difficult to imagine without the legendary product - Stay Do not Stray.Small compact tube hides a base under shadows, able to keep in place not only the "naughty" eyeshadow, but concealer.Thanks to the classic neutral shades, which is suitable for nude-make-up base can be used as a standalone product that can align the color of the century and hide little pigmentation.And that's not all that prepared Benefit!
«Ekaterinburg Benefit Cosmetics" - a frequent search query, which is sure to introduce you to the must-have of every girl - blush, highlighter Fine One One.Universal product will appeal to those who live life in the fast rhythm and was not used to spending a lot of time to make up.Compact, naturalness, application speed and feathering output product in the top ten most popular and sought after.
glance from beneath his eyebrows
It's no secret that the expression is largely determined by the shape and the correct definition of the eyebrows.Those who are not lucky with the bushy eyebrows, the company offers a gel for eyebrows Gimme Brow.Have microfiber (polypropylene) as part allows you to create volume.Its developers have presented a novelty in two shades of light / medium - for blondes, and medium / deep - for brunettes.
about shadows and lipsticks
shadows of Benefit have a classic structure, which is inherent in extruded, dry shadows.On the basis of colors Thanks a Latte and Call My Buff can create lasting make-up day.By adding a bit of color Kiss me, I'm tipsy, you can turn a single brushstroke day make-up in the evening.By the way, Benefit - the only cosmetic company which produces the shadow of one color with different effects.
Most funds lip gives a light coating, so the makeup artists recommend to put their fingers performing a light patting motion.His popularity lipstick Benefit received not only by a pleasant texture and quality's Skin, which allows to solve the problem of dry lips.
Bestsellers Benefit
His bestsellers company carefully collected into sets, thereby offering its buyers a comprehensive approach to the selection of cosmetics.
The average price range of $ 45 is the set of Benefit - confessions of a concealaholic, consisting of leveling base That gal, concealer Erase paste, correcting means Boi-ing, yellow basis for corrective century Lemon aid, highlighter for the eyes Eye bright.
Lovers various haylaterov bronzer and offer a range of Coral My World!-this $ 18.The kit includes all two products.However, it is recommended to start with their familiarity with the brand - it's gold and powder highlighter Sunbeam Coralista.
Rank perfect travel-set earned Goodtime gals, consisting of Tinta Posietint deluxe mini, primer That gal and lyuminayzera Girl meets pearl deluxe mini.
Brow zings - professional set for correction of the eyebrows, presented in light, medium and dark shades.A small box fit a pair of tweezers, pigmented wax, tint powder, hard angular brush, brush for blending and a mirror.
Manufacturers have taken care of creating products narrow focus, such was compact set of offsets, called Perk it ... then work it!Several shades of dense texture allows to hide and neutralize redness and dark circles, refresh and make the eyes look brighter.
Big beautiful eyes - set for increasing the visual eye, consisting of a masking agent for the skin around the eye shadow and pink-colored cocoa-shadow and eyeliner brush.Reliable assistant will also be illustrated abstract, created by make-up artists of the company.
Smokin Eyes - an integrated approach to creating makeup Smoky Eyes, which, according to developers, should be created with the obligatory participation of soft black pencil, eyebrow wax, light pink wax and three shades of shadows.
Benefit - sweet-n-wow!- A set of full-size products - rouge Sugarbomb and pigments for the cheeks and lips Posietint poppy.Rate the quality of products to help eyelashes sets Double the real!and Badrageous love !, consisting of the full version and travel mascara.
Pretty porefect - Trio, giving the face a perfect view.It consists of a primer for the face lightening That gal, moisturizing cream for the eyes It's potent!and professional makeup base The POREfessional.Experts recommend apply a foundation on well moisturized face, paying special attention to problem areas.When used correctly, the facial skin becomes smooth and applying makeup - durability.


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Several videos are popping up on YouTube about John McCain being as "McDumb as Bush" (Obama must be loving it). The most common clips are about John McCain's horrid performance as a student and his computer illiteracy.
The first killer clip comes a speech at Google. When asked about his performance as a student, John McCain notes that he was the "5th from the bottom of [his class]". That's 894th out of 899. It's also interesting to listen to McCain stumble through his answer.
The second clip, which is being referenced by Obama, is about John McCain being computer illiterate. When asked if he was a PC or a Mac guy, he noted, "I'm, I am a, uh, illiterate that has to rely on my wife for all the assistance that I can get."
So I guess this leaves America faced with a dilemma: elect (another) computer illiterate 'd' student, or a Harvard Law graduate. Tough choice.
Pokling fun at McCain, a new Obama campaign notes, "He admits he still doesn't know how to use a computer, can't send an e-mail, still doesn't understand the economy, and favors two hundred billion in new tax cuts for corporations, but almost nothing for the middle class."
McDumb as Bush?
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Universally Flattering Matte Lipsticks
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McCain 894th / 899th in His Class, Can't Use a Computer, Obama Pokes
- By: Jeremy GutscheSep 12, 2008
References: trendhunter
References: trendhunter


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Kate Bosworth & Alexander Skarsgard: Poolside PDA
After a long weekend at the Coachella Music Festival, Kate Bosworth and her boyfriend, True Blood vamp Alexander Skarsgard, enjoy a relaxing day by the pool on Monday (April 19) in Palm Springs, Calif.
A shirtless Alex, 33, was seen caressing Kate's face and holding her hand. Bikini-clad Kate, 27, was seen resting her head on Alex's stomach. The loved up couple chatted with friends poolside and read over screenplays.
For Skarsworth pictures at Coachella, check out: Day 1, Day 2, and Day 3. More bonus shots here and here!
FYI: Kate is wearing a purple Zimmermann bikini.
25+ pictures inside of poolside PDA pair Kate Bosworth and Alexander Skarsgard…


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Borini praises Poyet impact
Gus Poyet's appointment at Sunderland was the catalyst behind the club staying in the Premier League season, according to Fabio Borini.
Poyet replaced Paolo Di Canio as head coach in October when Sunderland were bottom of the table with only one point from their first five top-flight games.
The Uruguayan stated after a 5-1 hammering at Tottenham last month that it would take a "miracle" for the Wearside club to avoid relegation, but they are safe with a game to spare after beating West Brom 2-0 on Wednesday.
Sunderland also reached the League Cup final, in which they were beaten by Manchester City, and on-loan striker Borini believes Poyet should take great credit for the impact he has made at the Stadium of Light.
"He (Poyet) has had a great impact," Borini told Sky Sports News. "He changed our style of play, and we built up confidence by playing the way he wants us to play.
"That made all the difference, especially at the end of the season when probably everyone thought we were dead.
"We showed that with good football, solid and compact we can achieve good results."
Italian striker Borini has scored nine goals in 39 appearances in all competitions this season.


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H2H Movers Specializes in local moves
Our primary clients are people who move within the city of Chicago or from suburb to suburb. Many of those clients return to use our services every year. H2H Movers does thousands of local moves, which makes it our most requested service.
H2H Movers is a Chicago based moving company
Many moving companies in Chicago are home based in other states or are franchised. In many cases, this would mean that their reputation is only worthy in their home base states. At H2H Movers we strongly cares about every move and we are more focused on our local reputation management.
What qualifies as local moving?
We cover more than a 100-mile radius from downtown Chicago. Our local moving services are offered for seven counties:
- Cook
- Lake
- DuPage
- McHenry
- Kane
- Will
- Kendall
- Coming soon...
We Take Care of Any Size Local Move
No move is too big or too small for us, we deem every move as important. We can help you move from a studio apartment to another, or from a large house to even larger.
We are Licensed and Insured in the State of Illinois
Many local moving companies do not file the required paperwork to obtain proper license and insurance. The process can take over an year and it cost tens of thousands of dollars. It is extremely important to choose the right moving company that has all of the necessary licensing with the State of Illinois.
H2H Movers Has Done Local Moves in Chicago for Years
Companies that represent them selves as being "local" are in some cases branched out from another area. The movers that they recruit at the new location are not always as experience. Rest assure, we work with professions that have years in training and experience. All of our movers are employees of the company and have met proper employment requirements and insurance.


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I hope you are all well out there. I have been busy, busy over here as usual. To start, I just did a really different portrait shoot for a contest that I entered. The contest asked you to push the envelope of traditional portraiture. I think I did it with these, don't you? The rest are on my Flickr stream here. And thank you to my little model for braving the seagulls for me. You'll be seeing more of her in my Christmas imagery.
What else? Oh! Two exciting things over at my shop. First of all, I'm doing some house cleaning and I have moved some of my older work, and all of my cards to a Soon to be Discontinued section and I have discounted those prices 50%! Great prints and cards at lower prices for your holiday shopping.
Secondly, I am having a 12 SALES OF CHRISTMAS promo for my Facebook fans only. Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday for the next month, I will feature an item or items and give you a promo code for 20% off until the next sale day. I started today and all lockets are on sale until Wednesday! Go like the page and get the deals.
I have some amazing new work I'll be posting very soon, but until then, I thought I'd share this great little painting I found recently and hung up in my office. It was $5 because the frame was loose! Totally worth it. I love the Wuthering Heights feel of those cliffs and that tree. Great stuff.
And on the cephalopod theme, my Sweetie had a birthday yesterday and I decided to make it really special. So, I booked a tattoo session for her and let her pick out any image she wanted. She happened to pick out The Creature From the Black Lagoon which her amazing tattoo artist then combined with a squid in a fight to the death. This tattoo is amazing and she's delighted. Check it out:
And then, keeping with the theme, Bridget, a very good friend of ours, artist and owner of Inventing Trees, decided to part with one of her favorite pieces so I could give it to my Sweetheart for her birthday. This piece is huge and vibrant and so well done. We are delighted to have it in our home and it already has a special place. Her work is amazing.
I will leave you with this amazing photo to make your week a little brighter; a wee octopus. Adorable, isn't it?
Until next time: unpleasant dreams...


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You wake up to brush your teeth and wash your face and the first thing you notice is something growing on your face that wasn't there before! No, not the new pimple or the dried drool on the side of your face… something more prominent like a raised bump or growth.
Skin growths, believe it or not, are pretty common but in many cases are harmless in nature and fairly easy to treat. Some of the most common include skin tags and moles.
What in the World is a Skin Tag?
That's a question I found myself asking not too long ago. After a bit of research I found out that a skin tag is actually a small piece of tissue that can hang from your skin. They are generally caused by skin to skin friction and typically appear around the neck, chest, back, armpits, eyelids, and near the groin area.
There's no need to get overly alarmed. Besides the unsightly appearance of having a skin tag on your face, they are benign and do not pose any risks. They are also pretty painless in nature.
So How Do You Treat Skin Tags?
If you want to get rid of a skin tag, there are several ways to go about it. You can contact your dermatologist, who can remove them by cutting them off or freezing them. You can also try a simpler option, which would be to remove them utilizing a skin tag remover. By applying the solution to the affected area, you should start to see improvements over the next few days.
OMG is That a Mole?
Moles are another skin growth that can develop anywhere on the body. They are generally brown or black in color. Moles generally appear early on in childhood but can change and develop as you get older. It is common to have a few moles on the body. Moles are caused by skin cells that have grown into a cluster.
But Can't They Be Cancerous?
There are instances in which a mole can be cancerous and very serious; however, you'll be glad to know that many of them are benign. You should only be seriously concerned about moles if they look different than other moles in your body, or they appear on your body after the age of 30. Also be aware if you notice the mole changes color, size, or shape as you may need to have it looked at by a dermatologist.
How Are They Treated?
Better safe than sorry some people opt to visit the dermatologist at the sight of a mole. If your dermatologist believes that the mole needs further analysis or removal they will take a biopsy of the mole. If it is in fact cancerous the mole will be removed by cutting it off and stitching up the wound. If the mole is not cancerous, your dermatologist may do anything at all (unless you'd prefer to have them removed). You can also try over the counter mole removal products to get rid of moles in areas that are visible such as your face.
You know, the older I get the more I realize that the body changes in ways I would have never imagined. One minute you're battling puberty and dealing with acne and the next minute you're waking up to find new bumps and growths on your skin. The good thing is, in many cases you can resolve any skin issue with the help of your dermatologist or with the use of over the counter products. If only all of life were that simple.
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Hawaiian Electric Co. planned to work through the night on power failures affecting about 650 customers scattered islandwide.
The speed at which power is being restored has slowed because the reasons for the failures vary widely and have to be addressed on a case-by-case basis, said Lynne Unemori, HECO vice president for corporate relations.
Crews have to assess the situation, get the proper repair materials and deal with ongoing wind gusts and rain, she said.
Peter Rosegg, HECO spokesman, said yesterday, "We're hoping most of them will be back tomorrow. There may be some that could be without power until Sunday or Monday."
Meanwhile, a landslide closed Kolekole Pass Road in Waianae yesterday afternoon, military officials said. No one was injured in the incident, which happened shortly before 3 p.m., said city Department of Emergency Management spokesman John Cummings III.
Leeward residents had been using the road this week as an alternate route after fallen power lines forced lane closures on Farrington Highway. All four lanes of Farrington Highway reopened at about the same time as the landslide, Cummings said.
HECO reported a few houses or portions of neighborhoods remained without power last night in:
» Waialua, Haleiwa and Waimea on the North Shore.
» Laie, Hauula, Kahana and Waimanalo on the Windward side.
» Hawaii Kai, Kahala, Waikiki, Waipahu and Ewa Beach on the South Shore.
» Kunia, Wahiawa, Aiea, Pearl City, Moanalua, Makiki, Nuuanu and Palolo in the central and south-central areas of the island.
» Nanakuli and Maili on the Leeward coast.
A new outage yesterday afternoon for 750 Nanakuli customers lasted from 4 to 5:30 p.m., HECO spokesman Darren Pai said. The failure was unrelated to blown-down poles, which have all been replaced with new, larger poles, he said.
At the YMCA's Camp Erdman, on the North Shore, the 25 staffers who live there have been treating the almost four days without electricity as "a new adventure," said Barry Welch, a YMCA conference director.
The American Red Cross reported that 53 families on Oahu were affected by the storm.
City spokesman Bill Brennan said yesterday that crews responded to 200 of the 450 calls about trees or limbs down at city parks or along city streets.
A number of city park facilities and golf courses were closed yesterday and might be closed again today depending on conditions including Kapiolani Park fields, Ala Wai Community Park fields and Central Oahu Regional Park baseball and softball fields.


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Excellent location on Onetangi beach. Has a good varied menu, but the burgers are the best! One of the more casual places to eat on Waiheke, to pop in when spending the day at the beach. The service is ok, sometimes we have found there's a noticeable gap of time between each person's food coming out, but this is never a big issue.
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.


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JCSO warns of scam in area
The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office has been alerted to a new scam that is active in our area. In this scam, a resident received a call from an individual that was claiming to be employed by the Jefferson County Fraud Department. The caller ID showed the name of Jefferson County Courthouse. This can be done by what is termed spoofing by utilizing an electronic device or website with Voice Over IP (VOIP). The caller requested personal information from the resident as part of an investigation.
There is no such department as the Jefferson County Fraud Division. The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office nor any other law enforcement agency would call an individual over the phone or email and request personal information.
The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office requests that all resident resist giving any personal information that will assist a suspect in committing ID Fraud over the phone or email.
(Jefferson County Sheriff's Office press release)


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Hello to all my friends and followers
This month for my Freeby Friday giveaway I wanted to share some stunning images of beautiful ladies by moon light. This time of year the moon is beautiful here in Texas it truly has a magical look about it and these images reminded me of that.
Hope you have fun creating with them and remember if you do create something share it here so we can all see it.
Happy Crafting


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Gouache and watercolor on smooth side of Masonite painting of a merchant ship in a stormy sea, 11 1/2" by 15 3/4" (18" by 22" as framed---no glass), signed at lower right "HINGER" (California artist Richard Hinger, born 1937). The work is technically excellent, leading one to think it a print, but I guarantee this to be an original work. Hinger is a Pittsburgh native, but for a number of years has been creating art in California, with Indian themes, landscape and portraits favorite subject matter. He has also created murals. This drawing is in excellent condition despite having no glass.
30 other shoppers are interested in this item
Fine paintings, drawings, prints, sculpture, Old Master to Contemporary--and other fine collectables
Please look through my offerings for an unusual and rewarding online fine art shopping experience.


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The purpose of my reading the book was to see whether it would be a helpful resource for people who attend our church but had not joined yet – not to "convince" them to join but more to help them diagnose what specific things gave them cold feet about the whole thing.
The book easily met my expectation. It is short and easy to read. He writes it in the first person which makes it seem much more like a conversation than a theological book. In fact there are many other better books on the doctrine of the church I would recommend ahead of this one but I agree with Tim Challies that the ease of reading here was perhaps its greatest strength. It's hard to believe an open minded Christian could read this book and walk away saying that they should just keep their local church relationship at arm's length. It's a solid effort all the way around.
In addition to the readability of the book, I really appreciate how unashamedly he promotes the need to passionately love God's people because God loves them passionately. If we Christians want to be like David (a man after God's own heart) and love what He loves then we need to be crazy in love with God's people in the context of the local church.
Chapter 4 is a very practical outline of what it would look like if you were really committed to your local church. It would be a helpful diagnostic to anyone wanting to see whether their level of commitment to a local church was an appropriate expression of God's love in their lives. It's well written, concise and very practical.
I don't have a lot of reservations about the book but I did have a few. Since it's written from his experiences, the scope of the book is pretty limiting. In this way the book's biggest strength is also it's biggest weakness. The Bible says that we should be active in the sharing of our faith so that we may come to know every good thing in Christ Jesus for a reason. Our own experiences will never give us a full picture of how God is working and Josh's own experience of coming from a weak love for the church to where he is today is not everyone's experience. He also seems to have let his direct contact with people equal the sum total of why professing Christians are not committed to local churches and those may not line up well with everyone.
One other issue I had with the book was his statement in chapter 3 that we need the ministry of others – especially pastors – to encourage us, to help us apply God's word to our lives and to help us see our sins. That followed on a quote of Hebrews 10:24-25 (provoke one another to love and good works…encourage one another) which really has nothing to do with pastors. These are commands to every believer and most often come into play when ordinary Christians minister to each other. I don't think most pastors, especially in churches over 200 people, even know their people well enough to do what these verses command. This is a point he makes elsewhere in the book so I don't want to be too hard on him but having studied that passage recently it struck me as odd that he'd emphasize a pastor angle that I don't think is in the verses.


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Ethiopia draws a lot of interest from the development industry. Both USAID and GTZ (German development association) have their largest missions in Addis. So there is a fairly large Ferenge population. They/We tend to gather at the same coffee shops and restaurants: Lime Tree on Bole Rd., Castelli's in Piazza, Serenade up by amest kilo, the riding stables on Sunday mornings. Because we're all in the same boat people tend to be fairly open to making and receiving invitations for social activity. It's easy to get included on the bike-ride e-mail list. You can always find someone to go for coffee on Sunday afternoon. Social groups tend to group by language, e.g., the first party I went to here was attended by Americans, Brits, and Canadians. This is not always the case. We spoiled Americans enjoy the fact that most expats speak English pretty well, no matter where they're from.
One quick connection maker is the Mom network. As soon as someone with young children moves in, or even before they move, they get plugged in, via e-mail, to the play-group network. Mothers and others (the occasional stay-at-home dad) gather to let the kids play, and to drink wine and talk. Sometimes moms bring the Nannies so they can converse more easily. Sometimes the Nannies come without the moms. Anyway, these play group connections also become non-kid social connections, for dinner or whatever.
The itinerant nature of people's postings here (most are two years) keeps relationships somewhat less deep than they might be otherwise. For people who like to have lots of acquaintances this is an ideal situation. For those who prefer a couple of deep friendships, it's not.


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I have previously devoted a number of blog entries to the art of Ron Embleton and the post More Ron Embleton Magic (18 June 2011) has consistently proved to be one of my most popular.
Last month I was thrilled to be able to buy the painting shown above to add to my small collection of original Ron Embleton art. It is not a large painting, but it is one I have loved ever since I first saw it as a child.
Although I admire all of his work I think Embleton's works lit by candlelight, firelight and moonlight are his most atmospheric and technically brilliant.
This is how the painting appears in the story 'The Secret of the Trolls', originally printed in 1970 in Once Upon a Time magazine.
In one of my earliest posts Here be Dragons (20 January 2011) I mentioned that prints/posters of Ron Embleton's work are available for sale that are often vaguely titled. This painting is another example. It is always called 'Girl Writing a Letter'. The 'girl' in the illustration is called Lady Ulfstan - she is busy inviting all the noble knights in the land to her castle in the hope that one will offer to marry her troublesome daughter!
The next two are both from Snow White (1969) and show the wonderful depiction of the wicked stepmother in that story.


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This is my EPIC Journey!!!
Hi everyone!!
I am proudly riding as part of Team Tealpower for the second time to raise awareness about cervical cancer, and to help ALL cancer battles!
Tealpower is about listening to your body, taking action, and preventative care! For cervical cancer, ladies, that means getting your pap smear! I am very proud to be riding with this group and working to keep the legacy of Alison Salinas shining bright!!
I also ride to keep my mental health in check, and to stay healthy! I fear that one day I will be struck with cancer, and in order to keep my anxiety at bay I ride to stay in touch with nature, my spirit, and my health.
For more info on the Tealpower cause visit: www.tealpower.ca
You can also follow my journey to mental health on my blog: https://teslamay.wordpress.com
My Participant ID: 611719-1
My Achievements:
If you think this page contains objectionable content, please inform the system administrator.


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Egg Kheema:
1 large onion, peeled and chopped2 tbsp. oil
4 cloves garlic
1.5" piece ginger
2 green chilli peppers
1 tsp. fennel seeds
1 tsp. cumin seeds
1 bay leaf
2 potatoes, boiled, peeled and mashed
1 8 oz. can tomato sauce
2 heaping tsp. coriander powder
1/2 tsp. cayenne powder, or to taste
1/2 tsp. turmeric powder
1.5 tsp. garam masala
1 cup chopped carrots, partially steamed
1 cup frozen peas, defrosted
2 tbsp. lemon juice
a pinch of saffron powder
salt to taste, or about 1.5 tsp
1 cup full-fat coconut milk
10 hard boiled eggs, peeled and grated
Heat the oil in a large pan. Add the bay leaf and cumin seeds, and let the cumin seeds begin to brown. After, add the fennel seeds, and let them just begin to brown until they give off a strong aroma. Add the chopped onion, and cook it over medium heat until transluscent and tender. Make a paste with the garlic, ginger and green chillis, and add the paste to the onion. Cook for 1-2 minutes, or until the garlic is no longer raw, but not brown. Add the tomato sauce, and cook for 2 more minutes. Add the coriander, cayenne and turmeric powders. Add the carrots and peas, cover and cook until the carrots are well-cooked, but still have a slight crunch to them. Then, mash the potatoes and add them to the mixture along with about 3/4 cup water. The potatoes act as a thickener for the gravy. Cook covered until the potatoes absorb the water. Add the coconut milk, garam masala, lemon juice, saffron and salt to taste. Let simmer for about 2 minutes, and then taste and adjust spices/seasonings as needed, especially the lemon juice depending on how sour as opposed to sweet you like it. Add the grated eggs, cover, and let the mixture simmer for about 5-7 minutes. Serve hot with rotis, parathas or naan.
Serves 8


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We're half-way thru our monthly challenge and it's time to draw a random winner from those who linked up early!
Let's see who Random.Org picked this time to win a free digi set of her choice from the store! We have 20 entries so far, and our winner is....
Congrats to Gail!! Please email me at kris_imaginethat(AT)aol(DOT)com with your choice of digi set (excludes KD-Kits).
Remember, you have until the end of the month to enter your challenge cards and all who link up will receive November's set FREE!


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10 Muck Up Day/Senior Prank Ideas
Well done for reaching the end of your school career, now its time to end with a bang. The idea of a muck up day or senior prank is to do something that everyone will remember for years to come, but in a lot of schools, such as mine, if you were to do something serious or damaging there is a big chance that you could get expelled or worse a criminal record. so the best pranks involve maximum comedy value for minimum damage.
1.Dress up - all agree on a theme and go for it. my favorite suggestions are: ninjas, pirates, animals, teachers, beach, cow boys/indians, chavs, rednecks or hooligans.
2.Relocate things- on my last day we got all of the chairs in the whole school and put them in one room then we locked the room from the inside and jumped out of the window. It doesn't have to be chairs, maybe lunch trays or cutlery.
3.Food Fight- its a classic and self-explanatory.
4.Personal Rape Alarm - Rape/personal alarms are tiny but really loud alarms that you set off by pulling out a cord. The idea is that you put them in a place that is really inaccessible or hard to reach such as on a roof or attached to a helium balloon that you let go somewhere with a high roof. you can get them really easily and cheep online.
5.Three goats- this could be quite hard if you live in a big city but for a country fella like me it is possible. you acquire 3 goats (other animals work but i think goats are funny) paint 1 on the first, 3 on the second and 4 on the third, the idea being that people will search for the 2 for ever.
6.Bubble fountain-if you school has a fountin then add a bottle of washing up liquid or bubble bath and there will be foam every where (please make sure there are no fish in the pond, my sister did this and all the fish died, she still feels very guilty).
7.Water Balloons -get them really cheep online, throw them at every one.
8.Stonehenge- make Stonehenge out of lockers.
9.Slip and slide- This is good if your school is on a hill. lay down a long bit of plastic sheeting, squirt on some washing up liquid, get a hose pipe/water and run and jump.
10.Fight!- get one of those old boxing games where the blue man fights the red man, i think they call them rock'em shock'em robots. give it to two lower school students and tell them to play it, then get everyone to gather around and chant fight,fight,figh....... teachers will go crazy untill they realise that its just a game.
one final suggestion, set up a facebook event page and invite your whole year. it will really help get the ideas flowing, also you can use the question voting thing to decide on a theme etc.


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This DIY Marble Manicure is a realistic take on how to achieve the look of elegant natural stone on your nails. With just three colors and a few brushstrokes, the tutorial is one that even novice nail-painters can attempt.
The stony manicure is created with a base coat of white polish, topped with light and dark gray streaks applied in a "zig-zag" motion to create the marble's distinctive veins. The look is finished off with an application of glossy clear topcoat for a realistic luster.
The simple DIY was created by fashion blogger Ivania Carpio of 'Love Aesthetics' and it is emblematic of the blogger's minimalist style and love of white. To make things even easier, Carpio recommends applying the effect to only a few nails to keep the look "subtle and not too decadent."
Photo Credit: Instagram
DIY Marble Manicures
More Stats +/-
Blackboard Nail Kits
DIY Watercolor Manicures
Simulated Manicure Apps
Candy-Inspired Nails
Playful French Manicures
Fashion Blogger Ivania Carpio Shares an Easy, Realistically Chic Look
- By: Laura McQuarrieMay 12, 2013
References: love-aesthetics.blogspot
References: love-aesthetics.blogspot


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The holiday weekend continues apace. Having scratched the yearly Call of Cthulhu itch yesterday this evening I'm back to the Retro Dungeon proper.
I stuck fairly closely to my original colour scheme, just weathered and corroded things a great deal more. The helm was left in its original paint because it looked right & fits the theme of having something of an earlier age on the miniature.
These old Grenadier skeletons really were fabulous, there was a nice mixture of contemporary & archaic equipment, in respect of the fantasy medieaval feel of OD&D at least and the quality of the sculpting was (is) top notch.
As far as The Undead League Tables run I'd have to put them second to the Denizen Miniatures Legion of the Damned, but only on goal difference.
Todays other project has been to get some paint on the tomb wall sections I've cast up over the last few weeks. Here are the two very different attempts at mausoleum interior design:


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What if York Beach could become a year-round destination resort?
What if York Beach could become a year-round destination resort?
Oscar Plotkin, chief executive of Berkshire Development, presented ideas for a new recreational, cultural and residential development in York Beach to the York Planning Board on July 24, and again at a public forum at the York Beach Fire Station on July 25.
About 100 people attended the forum on Friday, which York Board of Selectmen Chairman Mike Estes opened saying, "The purpose of this meeting is to gather some ideas."
Plotkin reiterated this sentiment, adding that he has been "listening" for three years to learn what York residents may need from a new development.
His intention for the meeting was to, "continue our dialogue," he said.
Plotkin introduced architect Rick Joy of Rick Joy Architects in Tuscon, Ariz., who presented a concept they referred to as a "What If?" plan, meaning that it is still in the idea stage.
The public seemed stunned to near silence by the scope and grandeur of the plan.
The geographical area of the development, according to maps included in a slide presentation given by Joy, would include the property on which York's Wild Kingdom currently resides, plus abutting properties. The total area is close to 200 acres between Route 1 and Railroad Avenue.
The plan also spills out onto the beach.
Joy's slide presentation depicted an indoor/outdoor pool in place of the current Short Sands Beach parking lot.
It also suggested locating a Ferris wheel and carousel adjacent to the beach. Other ideas included extending Main Street into what is now York's Wild Kingdom.
"We are thinking about extending the commercial zone into Oscar's property," said Joy at Friday's meeting. "There would be residences up over shops. Live/Work is a good way to think about it."
According to Joy's presentation, a music hall and an open-air performance space would also be part of the expanded commercial zone.
The plan envisions the construction of a new road connecting Route 1 to Railroad Avenue, along which would be an indoor water slide and hotel, a nature museum, plus an expanded zoo, several three- to four-story residences, and a hotel-spa. A light rail or shuttle would connect a series of parking lots along the new road.
On Route 1, there would be a shopping center including a grocery store, an indoor hockey rink and a police and fire station.
Reactions following Friday's presentation were mixed.
Some said that as non-residents who own vacation homes in York, they shoulder an unfair amount of the local tax burden. The new development, they said, would bring in revenue to help alleviate their costs.
Others wondered how Plotkin's development would fare in the face of the town's building regulations.
Cosmo DiBiase, who builds homes in York, asked, "How do you get around the growth ordinance?"
He said the wait for a building permit under the cap can last months or years.
"If we had to wait 17 months to build each house," said Plotkin, "we wouldn't do it."
He went on to say that York would have to make changes to the town's zoning ordinances in order for the development to go forward.
Beth Dutton, a resident of Freeman Street, said she and her neighbors already contend with noise and light pollution.
"Anything that would bring more noise sounds terrible to me," she said. "I'd love to see a grassy park, trees and park benches."
Other challenges beyond the control of the town include some confusion about the transfer of real property to the developer. Plotkin said, at both meetings, that he has "assembled approximately 150 acres under contract," and is "in negotiations for another 50 acres."
Sam Horn, who with his two brothers Harry Horn and Dewey Horn, owns 44 acres of property within the geographical area of the project. He said that land is not under contract, and expressed anger that Plotkin has not responded to his phone calls or letters.
Harry Horn said, "He wants to have a hold on the property without putting down any money."
He went on to describe difficulties communicating with Plotkin's representatives. "We can't get the same story from two people."
Dewey Horn contacted The York Weekly after Friday's meeting.
"My brother and I have a legal contract with Mr. Plotkin," he said, but would not say what the contract is for.
Several people on Friday asked what the next steps are for this project.
Acknowledging the current state of the economy, Plotkin indicated that he has not set a timetable or done planning work beyond the "What if?" stage, which he reiterated was intended to introduce his ideas to York residents and town leaders.


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Celebrating the tradition of outdoor painting this juried plein air exhibit will feature "on location" inspired artwork. Plein air painting includes any subject matter observed outdoors while also capturing the mood of a scene which often includes the sights, the sounds, temperature, atmosphere and changing light. This exhibit will feature local and national plein air artists, each depicting a scene brought to life on the canvas.
Prospectus17-18_On Location
Click here to submit
Artist Reception 5:30-7 PM, 1/5/18
Visual Arts Fine Arts


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Wednesday, February 24, 2016
Celebrating 1200 blog posts and over 600,000 page views
Yesterday was the 1201st post on this blog. The image shown above displays what 1200 schematic documents looks like.
I'm also celebrating getting over 600,000 page views, which is harder to visualize. According to Wikipedia that's the population for the Albany-Schenectady urban area of new York (594,962) or Baton Rouge, Louisiana (594,309). For Baton Rouge another way to visualize it is that the LSU Tiger Stadium has a capacity of 103,321 and if it was filled for six home games that would be 613,926 people.
Posted by Richard I. Garber at 5:37 AM
Labels: holidays
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(CNN) – With "Mexico only turns 200 once" as their motto, iReporter Michael Hilburn and his girlfriend took a five-day bicentennial road trip in September.
"Starting in Guadalajara, our 792 mile trek took us through some of Mexico's most beautiful and historic cities including Guanajuato, San Miguel de Allende, Dolores Hidalgo and Zacatecas," Hilburn, 28, wrote on iReport.com.
Hilburn, of Patterson, California, has been living in central Mexico, where he teaches at a small bilingual Christian school in Guadalajara.
The areas visited by Hilburn and his girlfriend, Jensine Pulford, were far removed from the violence making headlines along the U.S. border. "Even on the highways and among the large crowds of Independence Day celebrators we felt extremely safe," Hilburn said.
Share your travel stories on iReport.com
CNN asked Hilburn to answer these questions about his experience:
First impression
Prior to our trip, my first impression of a "Mexican city" was one dense urban sprawl polluted with noise and smog. However, walking through the enchanting back alleys, or callejones, of Guanajuato and Zacatecas, I quickly remembered that the beauty of these romantic old colonial towns was one of the reasons why I moved to Mexico in the first place.
Don't-miss experience
If you are traveling from Zacatecas to Guadalajara like we did, the ruins of La Quemada are not to be missed! The impressive remains of this giant settlement stretch across the top of a mountain and overlook a breathtaking valley.
Adjectives that capture this place
Three adjectives that would describe our experience would be enchanting, intriguing and delicious.
Lasting memory
A lasting memory was participating in the "Grito" [a shout of independence] from the steps of the Alhondiga de Granaditas [an old grain storage building in Guanajuato City], the site of the first major [victory] for Mexican Independence.
Most delicious food or place to eat
I had one of the best meals of the trip our first night in Zacatecas at a small restaurant called Los Dorados de Villa. My order of enchiladas came drenched in a "Durango style" sauce that was sweet, spicy and chocolaty, all at the same time!
Biggest surprise
Our biggest surprise along the way was our "discovery" of an abandoned hacienda on the road to San Luis Potosi called Jaral de Berrio. We spent hours roaming through the passageways, courtyards and towers of this football field-sized mansion that was built around the turn of the 20th century.
All in all, this trip was one that will not quickly be forgotten.


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Despite my predetermined acceptance that I wouldn't win a $50 gift card to Whole Foods, a festive Stonyfield Farm's superhero cape, and a 6-ounce cup of Stonyfield product, I won! Not only did I win the superhero pack from Stonyfield, but Healthy Child Healthy World is also giving one of ESP's fans a chance to win the same prize!
Contest ends August 6! For US residents only.
To enter into the Giveaway:
- Like ESP on Facebook (yay! if you already do!) ~ https://www.facebook.com/LoveESP
- Tweet about this Giveaway ~ I just entered to win a Stonyfield Super Hero Prize Pack from @Live_ESP! http://acupofesp.blogspot.com/2012/07/stonyfield-organic-giveaway.html
- Leave a comment on this post letting us know you have liked ESP, Tweeted, and why you choose to go chemical-free and organic!
Extra entries (double or triple your chances to win!):
- Like Healthy Child Healthy World on Facebook ~ https://www.facebook.com/HealthyChild
- Create your own food superhero at Stonyfield Farms ~ www.iwillknowmyfood.com
Superhero Prize Pack Includes:
- $50 Gift Card to Whole Foods (can't go wrong here!)
- Stonyfield Farms Superhero Cape (or as my husband referred to it as a large bib)
- a 6-ounce cup Stonyfield product (great yogurt!)
Good luck...and go benannahs! The more entries the better your chance of winning!
~ Hannah


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As I was preparing the details for the exciting prize I am offering for this year's Menu of Hope campaign, I was thinking of how often the best laid plans do indeed to to seed. Not that this is always a bad thing, you understand. When I started this blog in April, earlier this year, I thought I knew how it would turn out. It went something like this: I'd set it up on a rainy afternoon as a bit of an experiment, type a few posts out about food and wine, probably lose interest/run out of things to post about/find no time to keep it up and then leave it out there to drown quietly in the blogosphere. It never occurred to me anyone would actually read it. Things certainly turned out differently - how could I possibly lose interest in something that connects me with so many other like-minded food enthusiasts? Too few things to post about? Try too many - I always seem to have a backlog of things I want to share. No time? Hmmm. This is closer to the mark. But my blog is now such a passion that I manage to make time for it (to the detriment of the filing/housework/ironing).
Perhaps the main thing I didn't plan on though, was the theme. I knew I wanted to write about food. But I also planned to write a great deal more about wine. Wine, after all, is in many ways more my area of expertise. I work in the wine business. I host wine tastings for a living. Wine is a huge passion. But as the months have passed, I have posted remarkably little about the fermented grape. A few wine suggestions to match recipes, here and there, but little else. I'm still not sure why this is. I suppose that the obvious reason for this is that I am involved with wine in some way or another for every hour of my working day. Whilst post-writing is usually accompanied by a glass of something-or-other, I maybe need to focus on something else once I get home.
Having said this, food and wine are inextricably linked. For me, one is simply inferior without the other (there are the odd exceptions... a refreshing German riesling goes down a treat on a summer's day with nothing to accompany other than the gentle hum of someone else mowing the lawn whilst I relax in a deckchair and I'm not one to refuse a glass of decent Champagne just on the basis that there are no smoked salmon blinis to accompany it). I give much thought to what wines to serve with the foods I serve. At this time of year, I am often called up by panicked friends for advice on what to serve over the festive period. What goes best with the turkey? Tawny or Ruby Port with the Stilton? Will any wine stand up to the richness of the Christmas pudding? Will last year's Sherry be good to drink this year (NO!)?
With this in mind, here are my hints and tips on wines for Christmas drinking. I hope you enjoy reading them, bearing in mind the following food and wine matching guidelines which I always stick to:
1. There are NO rules when it comes to food and wine matching. Red wines can and DO go with white meats and fish just as white wines can and DO go with cheese (often better than reds).
2. Taste is entirely subjective. Just because Sauternes is generally accepted as the perfect match for Roquefort cheese does not mean that you have to like it!
3. The key consideration when matching food and wine is... BALANCE. Take into consideration the 'weight' and intensity of your food and wine and try to balance them. Weighty food with weighty wines. Light food with light wines.
It is hard to generalise about festive starters - there is no one traditional starter at Christmas. So a few general suggestions -
Smoked salmon (and other festive fishy things) - in our household, smoked salmon is eaten twice on Christmas Day. Firstly, piled onto brown bread with lemon and pepper to nibble on whilst we open our presents and then late in the evening, if we have space after lunch, sometimes accompanied by a little scrambled egg.
I think there are three schools of thought when choosing smoked-salmon friendly wines...
1) Crisp and refreshing (to cut through the oiliness and act like a squeeze of lemon). Brut (dry) Champagne works well, especially if the salmon is in canapé form and accompanied by a crusty bottom, blini or creamy base. Champagne is also great with caviar. Chablis (or crisp, unoaked chardonnay from the New World) is also a good choice, as is sauvignon blanc from the Loire Valley (Sancerre, Pouilly-Fumé). I'd avoid the more tropical, overtly gooseberry-flavoured New Zealand sauvignons though. Dry, minerally riesling can also be a good choice. These wines all work very well with shellfish too.
2) Fat, oily and aromatic. Sounds faintly unpleasant, doesn't it? But the idea here is to match the oiliness of the fish with something similarly textured and the smokiness with an aromatic flavour. Exotically-scented, dry gewurztraminer from Alsace makes an unusual but highly successful match.
3) Dry Fino and Manzanilla Sherries. Served nice and cold and, most importantly, fresh. Treat as you would any other dry white wine - keep in the fridge for no more than a few days - and enjoy as the ultimate aperitif. Brilliant with olives and salted almonds too. And tremendously good value.
Pâtés and foie gras
Rich pâtés work brilliantly with rich, sweet wines. Honestly. I promise. Foie gras is traditionally eaten at Christmas in France and is usually served with Sauternes, Bordeaux's famous sweet wines made from semillon and sauvignon grapes that have been affected by 'noble rot', a fungus that feeds on the grapes, sucking moisture from them and thereby concentrating the sugars, flavours and acids. Sounds vile. Tastes divine! Ring the changes though and try other sweet wines - late-harvest gewurztraminer or pinot gris is good. If you don't want to overwhelm the rest of the meal by starting on something so sweet, stick to a drier Alsace pinot gris. With meaty pâtés, you could go with pinot noir or perhaps a good Beaujolais.
The Main EventTurkey
This most festive of birds is a fairly forgiving creature and will go well with almost anything you care to throw at it. Some insist on white (in which case opt for a good chardonnay - I'd favour Burgundy but you could equally go for Australian, New Zealand or Californian example). I would, however, ask you to consider the pictures above and below for a moment...
Notice the difference? Yes. The top one shows a turkey. Plain. Unadulterated (save a little bacon). The bottom shows an obscenely large plate of food featuring turkey, chipolatas, kidneys wrapped in bacon, two types of stuffing, parsnips, roast potatoes, bread sauce, Brussels sprouts, giblet gravy, roasted carrots, cranberry sauce (and peas, but I'd prefer not to dwell on that dirty little habit of mine). What started out as a fairly lightly flavoured meal has now become anything but. Lots of rich flavours there. Your chosen wine needs to stand up to them all!
I favour red with the festive feast, I have to say. Bordeaux is the usual choice for my Christmas but pinot noir would be excellent with the turkey too, whether from Burgundy or New Zealand. I know some who insist on something heavier (an Australian shiraz, for example) but I'm not totally convinced. I like something with a bit of old-world elegance. Having said this, I recently tried a very good Californian Zinfandel with turkey, chestnut and cranberry pies at a food and wine matching session and was duly impressed. The flavours were superb with the cranberry element and held up well against the sprouts. Sprouts can be fiendish - their slight bitter flavour can make most reds taste slightly metallic. They work best with full-bodied, high alcohol reds. grenache and Zinfandel are both good candidates here.
Other festive birds and animals
Goose is great for some with gewurztraminer. I like it also with pinot noir. And I like pinot with most game birds- pheasant, partridge, grouse. Stick with cool climate pinot with a nice seam of acidity to cut through the goose-fat though.
Roast beef is another choice favoured by some - pick any favoured red and you'll probably be fine. Roast beef is my favourite way to show off any really good bottle of red that I have.
Boxing Day - a groaning table of cold turkey, ham, salads, cheeses and condiments requires a reasonably undemanding yet fruity wine to take on this smorgasbord of flavours. I'd opt for a good Beaujolais (probably one of the 'crus' such as Fleurie, Morgon or Brouilly). The lowish tannins will handle the cheeseboard up to a point (see earlier post on cheese and wine matching) and the lovely bright summer fruit and cherry flavours will act like a fruity chutney to the cold meats.
Turkey curry - spicing up the leftovers (I threw mine into a Thai green affair last year) screams out for the aromatic whites of Alsace. Again, gewurztraminer would be my choice of varietal here. An exuberant NZ sauvignon blanc could work too. As could a New World riesling, just a notch off-dry.
All things sweet and wonderful...
I have one word for you here: Madeira. Actually, I have a couple more for you too: Sherry and Port. I urge you to race out and buy a bottle of Malmsey Madeira (Henriques and Henriques do lovely 50cl bottles if you don't trust me 100%). Light the fire. Draw the curtains. Sit comfortably and then pour yourself a glass of this deeply coloured liquid. Stick your nose into the glass and breathe in. Mmmmm. What does it smell of? Christmas.
Yes, this divine stuff taste of figs and walnuts and caramel and coffee all at once. Gorgeously sweet but with firm acidity and backbone, this is the ultimate Christmas wine. Am I right? Or am I right? Gorgeous on its own with your feet up by the fire, this is also perfect with a slice of Christmas cake at tea time, with a mince pie, with Cheddar and Stilton and even with the similarly-flavoured Christmas pudding. It will even cope with the box of handmade truffles that are sitting on the sideboard - really it will.
If you feel the need to venture beyond the confines of Madeira, then do try some of the sweeter styles of Sherry. Sweet and nutty Oloroso sherries are marvellous with cheeses. Pedro Ximénez (PX for short) is a treacley, unctuous dream poured over vanilla ice cream.
Other Christmas pudding-friendly wines include wines made from the Muscat grape variety. Thick and sticky Rutherglen Muscat from Australia is oft described as 'Liquid Christmas Pudding'. If you prefer something less rich, then some insist that sparkling Moscato d'Asti works a dream. I haven't tried it, but am prepared to give it the benefit of the doubt!
Whatever wines you choose this Christmas, I hope you have a very merry time with them.P.S. Do remember to check back on the 10th for details of the wonderful wine-related prize I shall be offering for this year's Menu of Hope raffle, plus details of where to find out about the other fabulous prizes!


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Wednesday, 16 May 2012
Cute orange blob!
10 comments:
He is too cute! I can't wait to see the pattern :)ReplyDelete
Alyssa: Hehehe, thanks! :-)ReplyDelete
very cute Jordan. xReplyDelete
OMMMMMGGGG he is so cute, so want one :P, is he crocheted? or knitted? hoping knitted then I CAN MAKE HIM :PReplyDelete
Kerryp77: Thanks :D Hehehe, I'm glad you like him :-) xxxReplyDelete
Springmusician: Hehehe :0D He is crocheted (sorry :/) The pattern is not too hard though mainly just dc and I am happy to help :-) xxx
- Knittinggirl18 May 2012 at 08:45
Haha this ad was very funny and it made me very happy too! I want to make my own Zingy as well :DReplyDelete
Knittinggirl: Hehehe :P I think I will put the pattern up on saturday :0) xxxReplyDelete
Adorable Jordan!! I will definitely be making one of these if you post the pattern! I've seen the advert a few times and thought he'd make a perfect ami!! :D Laura xReplyDelete
Hehehe, I think I will put the pattern up on sunday :DReplyDelete
darn he's crocheted :( I can't crochet at all ah wellReplyDelete
I'm knitting a May Day Mouse, it's already the 24th May (yesterday was my bday I'm 18 now yayyy) so my mouse will have to wait to do may day mouse stuff till next year, not that Ill probably finish her knowing me


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For months I've been pouring over food blogs - it's become a borderline obsession of mine. If I find myself surfing the 'net, I will check Facebook, my gmail account, my work email account and between those food blog sites. I have a few "old reliables" if you will, but as I continue to harbor this need for blog sites, I've found that there are more and more and more people just like me (or arguably, I am just like them) that also LOVE food, cooking, baking, their kitchens, their cookbooks, sharing food and also, love food blogs. I've attempted this blog thing once before and ran out of material, but I've decided that rather sit back and envy those who have their very own grown up blog sites - I will try to attempt one myself. God knows I am cooking and baking in the kitchen enough that I do need one. Now, if only I could find a way to make this my day job.
In honor of Valentine's Day, I kicked off my weekend by making my old "go to" Sugar Cookie recipe. Michelle Robertson, I dedicate my very first KitchenOfKy entry to you and your love of my sugar cookie recipe. I started using this recipe about 4 years ago and it has never failed me. Mind you, sometimes I fail it by forgetting my cookies in the oven and baking them a touch too long. I found this recipe somewhere on www.allrecipes.com though I couldn't redirect you to the exact recipe among the hundreds there. The trick with these bad boys are: don't cook them too long and keep the dough rolled just a little thicker than usual! This way, they retain their soft goodness that a sugar cookie should, in my opinion have!
Enjoy the recipe below! To Michelle! Cheers!
Sugar Cookies: found somewhere on www.allrecipes.com
1 cup margarine, softened (room temp is best)
1 1/2 cups white granulated sugar
3 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
3 1/2 cups all purpose flour
2 tsp cream of tartar
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
Cream margarine & sugar together, add the eggs & vanilla. Add in the flour, cream of tartar, baking soda & salt. Make the dough into a ball & refrigerate for approximately one hour. Take the dough out of the fridge & allow to soften if needed. Sprinkle flour on your counter top. Roll your dough out to a 1/4 - 1/2 inch thick. Use your favorite cookie cutters. Transfer shapes to a non-stick cookie sheet.
Bake for 6 - 8 minutes at 375F. Let cool. Decorate how you like. Enjoy!!!


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Podcast – The 6 Stages of PTMs
Do you know what to say during a PTM?
Do your PTMs run over-time?
Do you have to sit and wait while Parent and PA speak in their local language?
Do you know what the parents are waiting for?
Have you thought about goals for each learner and how to get there?
Check out our latest Podcast on The 6 Stages of PTMs to find out.


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BitPay is a processing system for Bitcoin and with $2 million in new investment, the intention is to provide a Bitcoin focused alternative to PayPal.
If you still haven't worked out what Bitcoin is all about, see my "Bitcoin Explained" piece here on The Inquisitr.
Initially BitPay plained to bootstrap its growth, but when the Founder Fund expressed interest in investing in the startup, BitPay CEO Tony Gallippi changed the plan.
"There's no single investment firm we would rather have on our team right now than Founders Fund," Gallippi said.
Founder Fund is a group of investors largely made up of founders and executives from PayPal who have been impressed with BitPay's rapid growth.
BitPay says they processed $5.2 million in Bitcoin transitions for merchants in March. They're adding hundreds of new customers a day by focusing on processing Bitcoin payments for merchants who want to accept the new currency for legitimate business transactions.
"Merchants are clearly appreciating the superior performance of our platform compared to all others in the marketplace," said Gallippi.
The primary advantage BitPay provides for merchants is lower payment processing fees leading to higher profits, especially when selling expensive services or products. BitPay's processing fee is 0.99% including the guaranteed exchange rate.
BitPay distributes payments to merchants once a day to clear out balances with BitPay to protect against hacking, one of Bitcoin's weaknesses. Merchants can choose to have payments automatically deposited to a bank account at current exchange rates or to a Bitcoin wallet.
For merchants who are interested in accepting Bitcoin payments without the hassle of involving themselves with currency exchange, BitPay is a solution worth exploring.


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What new functionality we are looking for
HourCar won its Golden Ticket for the Overnight Website Challenge as part of their win at the 2011 Social Venture Cup at the Engaged Philanthropy Conference.
Americans are car dependent and Twin Citians particularly so. While private vehicles have contributed to a sense of personal freedom and productivity, the resulting car-centric culture has also led to pollution, household financial stress, social isolation, physical inactivity, sprawling development, and deaths from accidents in the tens of thousands each year. Car ownership is an expensive burden on most Twin Cities households: from up-front costs, insurance, and gasoline to depreciation, financing costs, recurring taxes and fees, maintenance, and repairs, owning even a modest vehicle costs between $5,000 and $8,00 year in, year out.
HOURCAR makes car ownership optional for the lucky residents of the Minneapolis and Saint Paul metro area.
HOURCAR members pay a small application fee and complete an online training and test. We check their driving history and mail them a personal key "fob" that opens all the vehicles in our fleet. Whenever they need a car, members visit HOURCAR's online reservations system (or call our 24-hour support staff) and reserve any car in the system for their trip. Their monthly invoice includes a nominal fee for dues ($5-$15) plus a few dollars per reserved hour and $0.25 per mile driven. The average HOURCAR member spends just $35 per month on shared car use.
Car sharing fills an important transportation need. Thanks to a combination of buses, the expanding light rail system, and a growing network of bicycle and pedestrian amenities in the urban core, it's relatively easy for most local residents to commute to work and back without using a car. The cost of these options ranges from negligible (walking shoes and a raincoat/umbrella) to a couple hundred dollars for a refurbished bicycle, to $85 per month for an unlimited-ride rush hour pass on a local bus. Even better, seniors, youth, and persons with disabilities enjoy significant discounts on transit.
Unfortunately, even the most well-prepared and intrepid travelers find that some trips are hard to make without a private car. Here's where HOURCAR comes in:
- An impromptu visit to the pediatrician with a sick toddler
- A discount store trip for dog food, toilet paper, laundry detergent, and a garden hose (try that on a bus)
- An outing to an elderly parent's house in a nearby suburb, then a stop at the drug store, then back to the parent's house, then to the grocery store and back then home
- A short weekend camping excursion to a regional park
HourCar won its Golden Ticket for the Overnight Website Challenge as part of their win at the 2011 Social Venture Cup at the Engaged Philanthropy Conference.


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New Delhi: Concerned over the situation of Indian workers at the cement plant in Sumbe, External Affairs Minister S M Krishna on Tuesday spoke to his Angolan counterpart Georges Chickoty who assured him that the contractual commitments to the workers will be met.
Krishna telephoned Chickoty who also agreed that Angolan government would facilitate, in cooperation with the Indian Embassy, early repatriation of those workers who may not be interested in continuing to work at the cement plant, official spokesperson in MEA Syed Akbaruddin said.
"As a matter of priority, those workers who are in custody will be sent back in the next few days. All workers who have indicated their desire to continue working will be assured of safe and secure work conditions. More than 500 of the 900 Indian workers have already gone back to work," he said.
Trouble arose when the workers were reportedly not paid their overtime dues properly, resulting in their refusing to work and going on strike. The Dubai-based cement factory employs about 1200 workers at Sumbe.


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We believe strongly in supporting our local community. We are pleased to contribute at least 3% of our profits for charitable causes.
By purchasing our products, you are helping to support some very worthy organizations.
Please visit our site often for updates on our charitable contributions and the organizations we support.


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Trevor Newcomb
Trevor Newcomb was born and raised in Northeast Philadelphia, and is a product of Philadelphia Academy Charter High School. After graduating with a degree in Broadcast Journalism from Penn State, Trevor began interning with the news department at WBCB. After two months, Trevor was put on the payroll and now is the Tuesday morning news anchor.
Trevor, sometimes referred to as T-Dawg around the office, can also be found engineering remote broadcasts, DJing, and doing play-by-play and color commentary for sporting events. He also contributes to the WBCB Sports Blog.
When not at WBCB, Trevor covers high school sports for The Daily Journal in Vineland, NJ.


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Suzy Mitchell
Honorable Mention
"Dance Class"
The image came together when the little girl turned. Shot as a commercial brief.
Biography: I am a social photographer shooting mainly children and weddings with some commercial work as well. I was not one of those who was enthralled by photography from the earliest age, rather I came to it later on. My images represent 'snatches of narrative' of daily lives, of all our lives. People invite you in which is why I photograph them.
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