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This post started out in my mind several weeks ago. Jadon has been singing all over the place. The more I heard him sing the song, "Thankful," the more I could not get my mind off it. "There's so much to be thankful for." It's true. I began pondering and thinking.
Then I participated in a chat with Mark Effinger and his mom. I watched these two express love and hope even though they had been through some tough stuff. I became more thankful....for my own family and for others who move past difficulty into something more peaceful.
Then I read an article by my friend, Julie, at Digital Marketing Diva. She talked about believing and beautifully brought the story of Christ together with the goodness of Santa. Then the song, "Believe," kept coming to my mind. Jadon sings that one, too, and I hadn't readily listened to those words until I began listening to him sing over and over, "Believe in what your heart is saying. Hear the melody that's playing. There's no time to wait. There's so much to celebrate. Believe in what you feel inside you. Give those dreams the wings to fly. You have everything you need, if you just believe." Powerful. True. I could do a whole article on this (and may). These, again, deepened my gratitude.
Then just yesterday while looking for recipes, I came across The Pioneer Woman. While browsing around in the recipes, I started reading about her. I became enraptured with her story and family. I guess growing up around farmers and ranchers, this story had a tender spot in my heart. I began to think about my husband and the good man that he was and our relationship and story, and gratitude came oozing out again.
Then I woke up this morning to this beautiful winter day. I truly have so much to be thankful for, so I am sharing a video with you– music compliments of my son– and pictures of all I am thankful for!
PS. Turn off the music on my blog page so you can hear this video without confusion
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Very Thankful
This post started out in my mind several weeks ago. Jadon has been singing all over the place. The more I heard him sing the song, "Thankful," the more I could not get my mind off it. "There's so much to be thankful for." It's true. I began pondering and thinking.
Posted by Denise at 12/31/2009 05:37:00 PM 1 Please comment here Links to this post
Winter Days & Misty Mornings
Yesterday driving home from the store, I looked down the road into the little beautiful valley I live in. It was an overcast day–a wintery, gray/white sky kind of day. I LOVE these days. That break from the constant sunshine days, but more importantly, that warm nostalgic feeling kind of day. When you drive down the tree-lined street that in the summer it provides a beautiful umbrella of green leafy shade, but in the winter you see bare trees with dried orange leaves still hanging from them. You see leaves dancing in the street with the breeze. You can see through the trees into the surrounding hills and homes. You can see the old pioneer homes, the smoke coming from chimneys, the dirt in the garden tilled and waiting for planting, and somehow you can see calm and peace. There is so much beauty and comfort for me on those days. I am overwhelmed by the gratitude I feel for this beautiful little valley, the people who live here, and the ones who sacrificed for me to have it all.
Just when you think you have seen it all and experienced that beauty, you wake up to a misty morning. Or as my 14 year old said, "are we sitting in a cloud?" Yes, we are. We are sitting in a Norman Rockwell painting. So being the pansy to cold that I am, I grabbed my daughter's pink snuggie (courtesty of fore-mentioned 14 year old brother), and ran outside with my camera. It was so beautiful and serene.
I wished I had grabbed my camera when I took the 14 year old to basketball practice, because it was the most beautiful scene down main street. With limited visibility, you could just see bare trees silhouetted against this misty gray/white backdrop. It was breathtaking. Of course, by the time I got back home to grab my camera, the sun had come up and chased most of it away.
But I just had to share a taste of the beauty of my home!
Posted by Denise at 12/31/2009 04:30:00 PM 0 Please comment here Links to this post
Christmas Day
Christmas Day is just always so fun! Especially when you have a little one who is experiencing their first Christmas. It was a very relaxing Christmas. In spite of economic conditions, we were blessed to have salsa money pay for our Christmas this year. Although scaled down, we still felt very blessed. Here are some pictures of our day.
Aside from Paul dropping a blender full of pancake batter, then dropping an egg on the floor, then dropping his pancake off the fork; and mom dumping hot bacon grease down her hand and burning it terribly....we had a GREAT Christmas Day!
Posted by Denise at 12/31/2009 03:30:00 PM 0 Please comment here Links to this post
Christmas Eve
It's amazing how you can leave practicing for the Christmas Eve Program with your kids saying, "it just doesn't feel like Christmas Eve," and you think the same thing, too.
Then magically something happens. You show up at the Christmas Eve program, and see little angels, wooden soldiers with red circle cheeks, reindeer, and frosty's. You feel this excitement and buzz in the air.
Then the program begins. The excitement builds to see your own child. And the giggles and laughter from the crowd watching that one performer who tends to "add a little something extra" to their performance.
Pretty soon, the program is over and you get all jittery, just knowing that soon Santa will come a jing-a-linging through the doorway to the gasps, shrieks and wide eyes of the little ones.
Waiting your turn for Santa can be almost excruciating-- especially if you're one of the older ones.
But there is nothing like watching that little one's first time on Santa's knee. It's a magical night and when the programs all over, THEN it feels like Christmas.
This year Kameron was a wooden soldier and did a great job.
Britton got to "dance with girls," so he was even more excited. I was in charge of their group and those boys really stepped up to the plate and did an awesome job!
Even Jadon got to sing a number between scene changes.
I was wondering how Palo would do on Santa's lap this year, but she actually did really good. I thought she might scream and bawl.
Following the presents, we headed to Grandma & Grandpa Frei's for our dinner and visit with the family while the little ones played with their toys. It's always such a fun time!
We came home and opened our pj's. While we got this cute shot of the boys, the rest of us didn't quite get gathered for a photo. You'll just have to observe them in the Christmas photos.
One of my kid's favorite things to do on Christmas Eve is to all sleep together in the same room.. When they started this, they wanted us to booby trap them in. Booby traps get pretty lame when you are tired and trying to set traps after midnight. But we usually get them pretty good. I'm guessing this will be the last year they stay together. Here's a cute picture of them getting settled.
Posted by Denise at 12/31/2009 02:00:00 PM 0 Please comment here Links to this post
Christmas Snow
The beautiful thing about living in Santa Clara is that it snows just enough to enjoy it, but not live in it. And it snows so much around you that you can drive to it and have some fun, then come back to your toasty fire!
Christmas Eve morning, after the program practice, we headed to Pine Valley with all the warm gear we could find. Did you know that it 250 lbs of clothing and 3-4 vehicles to transport you and your warm winter gear??!! You also feel like the Pilsbury Dough Boy after you have enough layers on to think you can get out of the car and keep warm for 5 minutes-- IF the sun is shining. If the wind is blowing, you only get 30 seconds. By the way, it takes 2-3 hours to pack, 45 minutes to get there, 20 minutes to get dressed when you get there, and 10 minutes of sledding before you are freezing and ready to go home and spend another hour unpacking and two days washing clothes and drying out things.
Well, the sun was shining, but there was a nice cold breeze blowing, so Palo didn't last very long outside. I took her back to the car, but was able to snap some good pictures first. Then left my camera to whomever to get some more shots.
Lorenzo (Misi's brother) crashed into the tree first thing. Then Britton crashed into the nice girl trying to help him out. (Turns out is was our cousin, Courtney Jones.) I'm still wondering if Lorenzo broke his foot.
According to reports, Whitnee had a nice wipeout and retired her sled after the fact.
Kallan still has a nice scrap on his shin.
I'm sure Britton and Kameron both need chiropractic appointments. You can see them airborne a couple of times.
All in all, it was a fun hour in the snow!
Posted by Denise at 12/31/2009 01:30:00 PM 0 Please comment here Links to this post
Christmas Gifts
I had the privilege of watching a tremendous group of young men participate in the real spirit of Christmas.
Kallan has a teammate who moved in from Kansas City this year. He is on the basketball team with him. According to one of our sources, he hasn't had Christmas for 2 years. I believe he's come from the inner city life. These young men have really stepped up to the plate to become his friend and invite him over. When finding out that he hadn't had a Christmas, the boys pulled together and decided to do Christmas for him.
I got to take them shopping and laughed so hard, yet cried. They were so excited to get stuff for him and to make him happy!!
Then I brought them to my house to wrap. Oh boy! Was that ever comical! Mykelle and I couldn't stop laughing. Clearly, learning how to wrap presents has not been high on their list. You have to have A LOT of wrapping paper and tape and wrapping paper. Any random large size of paper should usually work when wrapping. We got such a kick out of it that we had to take pictures of the wrapping party.
Sadly, when we went to drop the gifts off, he wasn't home. That was okay. What it did for the boys to bring them together and the spirit they felt will probably remain with them a lot longer!
It was truly another great gift for me to witness at Christmas.
Posted by Denise at 12/31/2009 01:00:00 PM 0 Please comment here Links to this post
Christmas Music
One of the best things about being a Mom is following your kids around watching everything they are involved in. For me, there is nothing more fun that sitting at a ballgame or watching my kids perform. Christmas was a wonderful time this year because I got to listen to Jadon sing quite a bit. He had some great songs with great messages that brought the spirit wherever he went.
He loves feeling the spirit of giving so much. Ever since those Madrigal trips to SLC, he longs to have that same feeling over and over. This year, being out of Madrigals, he had to create his own opportunities. He got with a group of his friends on Monday the 21st and they spent the day singing all over-- rest homes, individual people, and the hospital. He had a neat experience at the hospital, especially up in ICU. He said that several people starting crying and they were turning their computer webcams to capture them.
In the evening, they went to the Visitors Center to sing. We took the family over to listen and to view the "Reflections of Christ" display and the temple lights. The kids were very welcomed by those there.
As they had Jadon sing, "Mary Did You Know," I looked at him standing there in front of the Christus and heard him sing, "the blind will see, the deaf will hear, the dead will live again. The lame will leap, the dumb will speak, the praises of the Lamb." Here was the Savior with His arms outstretched as if He were beckoning my song. And my son singing, no testifying, of His very life. It was so incredible. The only camera we had was Sue's iphone, so they aren't the most professional pictures, but at least we captured it.
I wondered as I watched if Jadon could see the reflection of the Savior looking at him in the windows he was facing. It was pretty incredible!
The Sister working there stopped Paul and I at least 3 times and asked him to come back and sing.
Posted by Denise at 12/31/2009 12:31:00 PM 0 Please comment here Links to this post
Christmas Booby Traps
As I left off from my Christmas Eve post, I was explaining about this Booby Trap thing. Sometimes we are a little more creative, but the fact is that after midnight, we are just plain tired. I had great ideas for this years booby trap thinking it would probably be the last, so I bought a bunch of stuff. Paul was too tired, so he made the final decision. Turns out that it was still successful.
Paul hung a sheet in the hall way then hid in the closet just behind the sheet with an air horn. I had a bottle of sill string just around the corner.
We could hear the kids coming out and trying to decide who would go first. It was finally voted that the youngest should go first. I'm sure that's because it is like 8 votes to 1 that way. So Kameron was chosen. All he did was stick his hand on the sheet and begin to pull it back when Paul laid on the horn.
With a great scream, Kameron fell to the ground and quickly moved himself away from the front of the line. As the others began to make their way through, I showered them with silly string.
I would have pictures, but since my closer up lens was dropped and broken in Puerto Rico, I would have had to stand in Ivins to get the shot of them coming out Christmas morning. Also, it was too dark, and since I don't know how to run my camera well.....I just decided to man the silly string can.
Still proved to be entertaining!
Posted by Denise at 12/31/2009 03:00:00 AM 0 Please comment here Links to this post


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Sunday, 31 July 2011
Ring of Truth
While I'm significantly partial to a certain set of diamonds I do have in mind my ring set for AW11 already. I've already latched on to that deep red wine colour for this season and will probably run with the ruby reds with gold metals. Equally I think chunky flowers will complement any of those heavy tones and thick knits this winter.
Friend Indeed
Here's my beautiful friend Olga rocking a pleather, nude bow cuff from Primark - wearing it in different ways and definitely making it look more worthy than £2!
Here's Paul below wearing my leather jacket - this isn't the first time I've had him in ladies clothes so I knew it wouldn't be a challenge for me. He's very in fashion since the introduction of men as ladies on the catwalk
Cropped - check
High collar - check
Sleeves a little too short - check
And his cool, quiffed, poofy hair is entirely attributed to himself.
Mark stepped away from his usual and embraced geek chic on Friday night. Buttoned to the top corduroy shirt, long denim shorts and mid calf boots - staying true to his own style with his signature haircut and boots avoided any sense of try-hard and he just looked ace.
Friday, 29 July 2011
Get Me to the Church On Time..
Now there's great pressure here… while it's not your day, these pictures are going to be looked at for years to come. Memories stamped in history through photos and videos forever and ever and ever much like the ever lasting love between the lucky couple themselves…
Keep it classical with nudes, blushes, and champagne colours which never date. With accessories, Rose gold metals should extend the expensive look further and keep the shoes and bag simple (and preferably matching :) !) These colours happen to be extremely flattering for all shapes and sizes too - nude shoes are going to make your legs twice as long. Get on it.
I'm staring wide eyed at ruffles this summer for weddings - my mindset is girly, glamorous garden party dancing into the midsummer night…
Thursday, 28 July 2011
Roots of Origin
Today I'm wearing an oriental floor length Kaftan in silky purples, pinks and creams and some earthy pink peep toe sling backs. It's a little long so I've tied the front and back panels in a loose knot at the side which also makes this more current and urban and less pool side posing!
Wednesday, 27 July 2011
Bricks and Clicks
My favourite way to start a walk down Brick Lane is the Vintage Emporium tea lounge on Bacon street - stumbling back in time with a stuffed cat for company.
I snapped this guy outside the station - loved the bleached denim and loose neck tee. He looked all street and cool which was counteracted by the cute fringe poking out the top of his hat!
This lovely lady had no idea the amount of cool she oozed. Androgyny to perfection.
Bumping into an LCF friend on Brick Lane! Francesca looked effortlessly amazing, as always…
I wore my leather with a fringe dress, long cardigan and my new studs and gold bag. Although later that day I had to get rid of the long cardigan as I was soiled by an oversized pigeon whilst feeding squirrels in Richmond Park. Honestly, you give to nature and then it stabs you in the back… or poops or whatever…
Very Close to my Very Dream...
Very.co.uk had a stylist competition which ended in mid July where the winner got a Spangly stylist job with them!
And for those of you who haven't heard - THIS IS MY DREAM.
The competition began through the Very face book page (http://www.facebook.com/VeryUK) where the finalists were selected through public vote online. After one panicky, furious, fight for a top spot and the support of some amazing people I made it to the top three and the final round of interviews at Very's HQ in Liverpool.
And prior to the interview we were set a mini challenge:
Describe an item of clothing that could be worn to a festival and be sold as part of our fabulous Love Label Brand…
I decided to express in mood boards. The first objective was to identify the Love Label current festival collection in order to gain insight into their brand identity which is fun and very feminine as well as the trends they've unfolded for this season… I also explored the thoughts and mindset from online reviews of Love Label customers…
The second mood board explores the current trends of festivals which also includes celebrity influence. Having also been a punter at this year's Beach Break Live 2011 Music festival I could also gain inspiration from this…
From the above, I developed this suedette fringed playsuit. The sleeve details are popular with Love Label customers, the fringing fits with the festival style, and the suedette material furthers makes this item part of the collection. I fully supported my choice as it was commercial, cohesive with the rest of the Love Label collection and from customer reviews I could be confident this style would be popular :)
The whole day in Liverpool was pretty amazing, including the interview part and I'd wished so hard, and worked so hard in preparation for my dream job!
On 21st July 2011, I found that unfortunately I didn't get the job. It was heartbreaking to say the least. Fortunately, there are no regrets and from this experience sprouted many new things. Including this blog…
Below are my wonderful runner-up flowers also cushioned by some gift vouchers to spend at very.co.uk!
Monday, 25 July 2011
Stud Book
Among the recent acquisitions to my shoe collection are these darlings I shacked up with in a shopping mall in Hong Kong. Lamb's leather, silver studs across three straps adorning some wedge sneaker high tops…
Saturday, 23 July 2011
Primark Autumn 11 lookbook is here! And it looks pretty well put together - probably aided by the
Primark Autumn 11 lookbook is here! And it looks pretty well put together - probably aided by the soft tongue of French Lady's voice in the background and they've kept it simple this season. If you happen to know the soundtrack, my Shazam has failed me…
Love the deep red wine colour for Autumn 11 - did you check out the patent ankle boots? I'm not one to swoon for Primark but let it begin.
Thursday, 21 July 2011
Hungry Eyes...
One look at you and I can't disguise….
Kirst and the Fashion Crowd
….detailing the objects of my hungry (fashion) eyes; my sights for styling; views on fashion business; take on London street style; and secret fashion finds…
Yes I've finally jumped on the blogging band wagon but despite my fight to conform, above all I'm a sharer. And a carer. And a wearer. And sometimes a swearer, but that's for a different blog…
This beauty was hidden amongst the jumble of TK Maxx pulling me in and of course to no surprise was Irregular Choice.
Wednesday, 20 July 2011
My Love… And they've been my love since October 2005 which suggests to me that
My Love…
And they've been my love since October 2005 which suggests to me that Danny Sullivan might just be my fashion soul mate. There was once a time when 70% of my 200 strong shoe collection was irregular choice…. I'd call that dedication!
It's better now - while I was once fortunate to have both quality and quantity, the first step in a problem is acknowledgement…

subset: commoncrawl


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The American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana has challenged a Louisiana public school that requires female students to take a pregnancy test if they're suspected of being pregnant. At Delhi Charter School, students are subject to a school-selected physician and risk expulsion if they don't comply. In a statement, Louisiana ACLU director Marjorie Esman said, "The pregnancy policy violates the rights of every girl at Delhi Charter School. ... Every girl is at risk of being subject to intrusive medical testing, and possibly forced out of school, for reasons that have nothing to do with her education."
According to its student handbook:
If an administrator or teacher suspects a student is pregnant, a parent conference will be held. The school reserves the right to require any female student to take a pregnancy test to confirm whether or not the suspected student is in fact pregnant. The school further reserves the right to refer the suspected student to a physician of its choice. If the test indicates that the student is pregnant, the student will not be permitted to attend classes on the campus of the Delhi Charter School.
It continues, saying "any student who is suspected of being pregnant and who refuses to submit to a pregnancy test shall be treated as a a pregnant student and will be offered home study opportunities." If "home study opportunities are not acceptable," the school will offer counseling for other education opportunities.
The ACLU says the policy violates Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, a federal law prohibiting sex discrimination in schools and programs receiving federal funds. It states that students can't be excluded from any activities "including any class or extracurricular activity, on the basis of such student's pregnancy, childbirth, false pregnancy, termination of pregnancy or recovery therefrom."
The ACLU demanded in a letter that the school suspend the policy, or it will consider filing a lawsuit against it. No word whether the school still uses this handbook, which is dated 2006.


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Explore captivating Hindu myths of Hindu gods and goddesses The stories in Hindu myth stem from traditions within Hinduism, drawing on stories from ancient texts, like the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. Keep in mind that because different versions of Hinduism inspire different people, many different versions of the stories float through the jungle and over the stones of temples and traditions. The stories in this volume are my version, though I've stuck as closely to the original myths and legends as imagination allows. At the end of this audiobook, you'll find a short bibliography for further research. Within this book, you'll find the following Hindu myths covered: Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu, and the Beginning of the World The Birth of Lord Shiva Saraswati & Brahma's Fifth Head Shiva Tests Parvati Shiva Snares a Whale Ganesha Loses His Head Ganesha Spills a River Kubera's Pride Ganesha Injures a Goddess Ganesha Wins a Race Shiva Skips Success Ravana's Ten Heads The Birth of Rama Urmila's Slumber Deer of Deception Hanuman's Torch Suvannamachha Steals a Bridge Hanuman Moves a Mountain The Final Battle Sita's Purity Krishna Steals Butter Krishna Trades for Jewels Krishna Swallows the Flames Agni Spreads a Curse Vayu Humbles the Silk Cotton Tree Savitri Chooses a Husband Savitri's Fidelity And more! Get the book now and learn more about Hindu mythology 1. Language: English. Narrator: Randy Whitlow. Audio sample: http://samples.audible.de/bk/acx0/116944/bk_acx0_116944_sample.mp3. Digital audiobook in aax.
Hindu Mysticism ab 2.12 EURO
Hindu Astrology ab 2.99 EURO
Der HINDU ab 4.99 EURO Indienkrimi
The Ultimate Guide to Hindu Gods, Hindu Beliefs, Hindu Rituals and Hindu Religion In this audiobook we will explore numerous beliefs held by this diverse group of people. We will look at some of the legends of the divine "angels" that serve Brahman. Also, we will delve into some of the rituals that are common within Hinduism. In addition we will do some comparative religion, looking at some of the similarities and differences between Hinduism and some other philosophies. This will allow us not only to gain greater insight into Hinduism but to see the common threads of philosophy found in many of the great religions of the world. Hinduism is the oldest and the third largest religion by population. There are more than a billion Hindus in India, Nepal, Indonesia (Bali), Mauritius, Canada, New Zealand, Kenya, and elsewhere in the world who practice the faith. However, many scholars and practitioners believe that Hinduism is not a religion at all - it is a way of life, as Hinduism explains the purpose of human life, what you should and shouldn't do, how you should behave with others, and how you should carry out your duties and responsibilities. Within this audiobook you'll find the answers to these questions and more. Just some of the topics covered include: The meaning of Hinduism Brahman and Atman Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva Indra and other key gods and godesses Durga, Kali, and Mariamman Karma Reincarnation Hindu rituals Hinduism versus other belief systems Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva Tales of the Brahmin And more! Listen to this audiobook now, and learn more about Hinduism. 1. Language: English. Narrator: sangita chauhan. Audio sample: http://samples.audible.de/bk/acx0/082251/bk_acx0_082251_sample.mp3. Digital audiobook in aax.
Der HINDU ab 4.99 € als epub eBook: Indienkrimi. Aus dem Bereich: eBooks, Belletristik,
Hindu Astrology ab 2.99 € als epub eBook: . Aus dem Bereich: eBooks, Belletristik, Erzählungen,
Explore the Hindu religion with its fascinating rituals and history! This audiobook has eye-opening information about Hinduism that will help you to understand the religion, gods, beliefs, and rituals and how the religion has have evolved over time. Does Hinduism really have many gods? Why do Hindus worship the cow? How about the dot.... Why do they wear it near the middle of their forehead? Why are they forbidden to eat meat? These are just a few of the countless questions many people ask or wonder about Hinduism, and whether you are a Hindu or not, there must be questions you are desiring to have answered in regards to the Hindu culture, practices, religion, or even history. Hinduism is special and has a lot of material, perhaps because it is the oldest known religion in the world. It therefore provides a lot to learn, and you do not want to miss out on anything in our journey through Hinduism including the gods, culture, structure of society, beliefs, and so on. Did you know that the supreme spirit in Hinduism is believed to be both male and female? Well, you will discover more than you ever imagined exists in Hinduism, and by the end of this audiobook, you'll know a lot about a religion that has over one billion followers worldwide. This audiobook will cover these topics and more: A comprehensive background and history of Hinduism The Hindu gods and goddesses The lesser divinities The main tenets of Hinduism The Hindu rites of passage The common questions asked about Hinduism A comparison between Buddhism and Hinduism And more! Listen to the audiobook now and learn more about Hinduism! 1. Language: English. Narrator: Dryw McArthur. Audio sample: http://samples.audible.de/bk/acx0/102418/bk_acx0_102418_sample.mp3. Digital audiobook in aax.
Erscheinungsdatum: 10/2012, Medium: Taschenbuch, Einband: Kartoniert / Broschiert, Titel: Creative Commons, Titelzusatz: Impact on Indian Copyright Law, Autor: Kapur, Pranavakshar, Verlag: LAP Lambert Academic Publishing, Sprache: Englisch, Rubrik: Recht // Sonstiges, Seiten: 96, Informationen: Paperback, Gewicht: 168 gr, Verkäufer: averdo


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It's time for the next month of the 2017 Read & Watch Challenge!
(If you missed the initial post that explained how this works, check it out here. You can join in anytime. There's also a free checklist and reading journal you can download.)
This month's theme word is RETRO. The best thing about this challenge is that you can choose how to interpret the theme word when selecting which book to read and movie/TV show to watch for that month.
Possible interpretations of the this months' theme:
- A book that was published more than ten years ago.
- A story with a throwback theme (time-travel, 80s references, takes place in a previous decade even if it's a contemporary book)
- A book or TV show/movie from your childhood
- A non-fiction book about something from the past (or technology from that past, I'll have a rec below)
- Historical fiction or romance
- A TV show/movie from the past that's been rebooted
- A book with a retro cover
- A story or documentary about a band/singer from the past
And if you're still having trouble picking something, I've got help! Each month I invite a tastemaker, solicit reader recommendations from my reader group The Fearless Romantics, and I offer my own suggestions and what I'll be reading/watching for the challenge.
On to the recommendations, take it away Genevieve!
Tastemaker of the Month: Author Genevieve Lynne
Oh how I love a good retro story! Maybe it started when my husband and I netflixed Mad Men one week and actually felt like we'd accomplished something. Ten seasons in one week? You're damn right that was an accomplishment!
What I recommend...
For my book recommendation I'm gonna mention a few novels. My first one is The Haunting of Maddy Clare by Simone St. James. It's set in 1920s England, and is about a young woman who takes a job helping a ghost hunter and falls in love with a wounded veteran. It started a little slow, but picked up quickly, and it is creepy you guys. Like in a good way. I'm talking what the hell was that sound?, hurry and get under the covers, sleep with the lamp on creepy. And oh mah gawd there are black crows. Everyone knows black crows mean trouble. It won two well-deserved RITAS a few years ago. What I loved about this novel is that it hit all my favorite genre buttons: romance, mystery, and thriller.
What I'll be reading:
I'm going to be reading In the Shadow of Lakecrest. It's about a woman who discovers her new husband has a dark and disturbing past that has to do with some family secrets she tries to uncover. I do love me a good dark family secrets story.
I'm telling everyone who will listen that they need to watch A Crime to Remember on the Investigation Discovery channel. It's fascinating! Every episode tells the story of a crime that happened anywhere from the 1920s through the 1960s. It goes into the investigation techniques used during that time, and tells how the crime was solved. No DNA testing, no high tech equipment, no fancy chemicals. Check it out. It comes on Tuesdays, but they have the videos on their website, and they play reruns all the time.
What I'll be watching:
Hidden Figures. Duh, right? I'm almost ashamed to admit I haven't seen it yet. Everyone, and I mean EVERYONE who's seen it has told me how wonderful it is. For those who may not know, it's a true story about female African-American mathematicians who worked for NASA. Need I say more? I can't wait to see it!
Thanks, Genevieve! Now on to some suggestions from readers...
Reader Group Recommendations
I asked the readers in my reader group, The Fearless Romantics, what their recommendations were. (And if you want to join the reader group, find us here!)
Stacy recommends Mary Balogh's Bedyn Saga series. She says, "this was/is my favorite series of hers. These books led me to Pride and Prejudice, which was set in the same time and had the same locations."
Yanina recommends: "Lisa Kleypas' Wallflower series and BBC'S pride and prejudice"
Martha said: "I can totally second the rec for Mary Balogh's Bedwyns. I would also put in a shoutout to the old Loveswept novels with Tami Hoag (Sarah's Sin) and Iris Johansen (Sedikhan series). And then there's Johanna Lindsey's Mallorys. I mean, if we're going retro, what's not to love about the Fabio romance covers?! And if you're gonna go to the 80's early 90's bodice ripper covers, then you gotta tackle Tom Cruise romance movies starting with Top Gun, but don't forget Days of Thunder and Far and Away. Round that out with the Wedding Singer Soundtrack, and you're good to go."
Randee said: "Princess bride. Book and movie. Both are amazing not traditional romances but super fun!"
Susan offered a book/movie combo: "I loved the Thorn Birds - book and movie. I remember thinking I could never read a book that long and then stayed up nearly all night two nights in a row to finish it."
And from readers on my Facebook page...
Connie said: "Shanna by Kathleen Woodiwiss most amazing romance author of all time!"
Dixie said: "The first romance that I read and that got me hooked was Seduction by Amanda Quick. Still a favorite reread."
Monica said: "Thirteen Reasons Why with its tape set makes me think of Retro and they just released the trailer for the netflix show to come out the 31st of March."
*From Roni: I read Thirteen Reasons Why years ago and it has stuck with me. Fantastic book. (And I had no idea there were coming out with a show.)
Sharla said: "If Tomorrow Comes by Sidney Sheldon! My favorite old romance. Intrigue, deception, romance, woman finding the kickass within herself... and it was made into a movie in the 80's. Book is better."
Roni's Recommendations
HIstorical romance is actually a relatively new genre to me even though most romance readers grew up with them. I've mentioned before, but I didn't grow up reading romance. I was more a suspense and horror girl--but that's mainly because I didn't know romance novels existed, lol. So over the last few years, I've been working my way through some historical romances that people have told me are must reads and I'm totally in love. It's one of the subgenres that I've found I most consistently enjoy. So here are a few that could work for this month's theme.
Again the Magic by Lisa Kleypas
This is one that was recommended to me multiple times and finally I listened. I'm so glad I did. This one got me out of a reading slump last fall. The heroine falls for a servant when they're teens and everything falls apart. He's sent away to a rough life and he thinks she did it. He comes back as a grown man who has become successful in his own right and is now out for revenge. So good.
The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie by Jennifer Ashley
Widowed heroine and a hero who has Asperger Syndrome (though he's called mad because they didn't know how to define it back then.) This one was so well done. Super steamy, a mystery woven in, unique characters, and the Asperger aspect was handled well (my son's on the spectrum, so I'm always sensitive to how it's portrayed.) It was one of my few 5-star reads last year.
Hidden Figures
If you haven't seen this, you are completely missing out. (I'm probably one of the ones who told Genevieve to get her butt to the movies, lol.) Go. Now. So well done, fantastic acting, and a story that will make you cheer aloud. When I saw it, the entire theater applauded and whooped. I can't remember the last time I've had that happen in a movie. Even my nine-year old who sometimes has trouble staying focused for a "non-kid" movie was into it. (Though I had to do a little whisper-explaining along the way.) He just learned about civil rights and MLK so it was a great movie to add to that.
Fuller House (Netflix Original)
When I saw that Netflix was doing a reboot of Full House with the kids from the original cast (along with regular appearances by the entire cast), I couldn't resist because it was one of my favorite shows growing up. However, I had pretty big doubts that it'd be any good. It's hard to recapture something like that. I was wrong. I've gobbled up both seasons like candy. They somehow manage to embrace the original schtick of the show (including the requisite the group hugs and cheesiness) and it totally works. There are also nods to old episodes and inside jokes. There is also an appearance by the New Kids on the Block. I mean, come on, how can a child of the 80s/90s resist? Things are stressful in the world right now, so this is a show to go to when you just want to laugh and feel warm and fuzzy. It's also a show you can watch with your kids, which is hard to find these days.
What I'll Be Reading and Watching
Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
This is a book I chose from the Book of the Month Club and I've started but not gotten too deep into it. The premise is futuristic, which doesn't seem like it'd fit the retro them, BUT it's all about 80s references.
Here's the summary because it's hard to explain:
In the year 2044, reality is an ugly place. The only time teenage Wade Watts really feels alive is when he's jacked into the virtual utopia known as the OASIS. Wade's devoted his life to studying the puzzles hidden within this world's digital confines—puzzles that are based on their creator's obsession with the pop culture of decades past and that promise massive power and fortune to whoever can unlock them.
But when Wade stumbles upon the first clue, he finds himself beset by players willing to kill to take this ultimate prize. The race is on, and if Wade's going to survive, he'll have to win—and confront the real world he's always been so desperate to escape.
But that "obsession with pop culture" it mentions is an obsession with the 80s. Wade has to basically devote his life to studying pop culture from the 1980s to solve the game. So if you're a child of the 80s, your head is going to spin with all the references. Like I said, I started this one, but haven't gotten too deep into it. I'm hoping to fix that this month.
The Revenge of Analog: Real Things and Why They Matter by David Sax
As someone who is dedicated to her paper planner, reads more paper books than digital, and has vinyl albums on her wall, this book is speaking to me. I've read a little so far and am finding it fascinating.
Texas Glory by Lorraine Heath
I read Texas Destiny this past week. I'm not sure if I've ever read a historical western romance before, but I loved this one. It's old school so there's head-hopping to get used to but it was a great story. I'll probably blog about it more on Friday. But I've bought Texas Glory, the next book in the series, and hope to get to it this month.
Gilmore Girls (on Netflix)
I am apparently one of the few ladies in my age group who totally missed this show when it originally aired. I'm fixing that now. I'm about 6 episodes into season one and loving it.
The Princess Bride
I've never seen it. I know, I know. I need to fix that. I'm taking the recs from my reader group and putting this on my list. :)
Update: What I Read/Watched for the January Challenge of BEGIN:
The Sun Is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon (I raved about it here.)
OJ: Made In America (Almost done with this one. It's up for a number of awards and is very well done. It's not simply about the trial but delves into so many other things. I thought this might be redundant because we already watched The People vs. OJ which was excellent, but this is documentary style and incorporates so much more than just the trial.
Missed January's recommendations? Check them out here.
Thanks to our Tastemaker of the Month - Genevieve Lynne!
In Bokchito, Oklahoma, you know everyone and trust no one…
Emily Matthews swore she'd never expose her son Jack to her dysfunctional family that sent her running from Bokchito at only seventeen. The sins of her past still haunt her, but when her brother lands in jail, she has no choice but to go back and face her old demons.
Miller Anderson has never forgotten about the girl who ran out of his life thirteen years ago…
And with the secret he's keeping from Emily, he knows he most likely never will. But when his daughter Abby plays matchmaker to set him up with his lost love, he can't resist the resurgence of emotion that has them reliving their high school glory days.
Evil has a way of waiting for what it wants…
Just when Emily and Miller discover their old flame hasn't died, they learn another fire has been smoldering in Bokchito. Her family's long line of sins, kindled with a generation-old grudge, ignites when Emily discovers the truth about Miller's daughter and is forced to choose between protecting Miller's secret and the one thing she can't afford to lose…her son Jack.
Caught up in a game of lies and dirt road scandal, Emily must risk everything to save her son and preserve Miller's good name, or let her family's darkest secret ruin them both.
Free on Kindle Unlimited or buy for 3.99 or get it in the boxed set, on sale today for only 99 cents!
Find Genevieve online: Website | Facebook | Goodreads | Get a free coloring sheet!
So who's in for this month? What are you going to be reading and watching? For those who did it last month, how'd your January challenge go?


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Sounders FC
Sounders clinch playoff spot with 3-1 win against Real Salt Lake
On another day, the suspense might have ended early. The Seattle Sounders bolted to a 2-0 lead in the first 10 minutes and a 3-0 advantage in the first 20, setting them on their way to a 3-1 win over Real Salt Lake.
However, this was "Decision Day" in Major League Soccer, when all five Western Conference games played out simultaneously. Almost every goal from the other games changed the Sounders' projected playoff seeding, their possible opponent, or whether they would host or travel. When the final whistle on the final field finally blew, Seattle landed in fourth place and paired with fifth-place Los Angeles in a single knockout match 7 p.m. Wednesday at CenturyLink Field.
"We're excited to be in the playoffs," coach Sigi Schmid said. "As we talked about before the game, our moment has to be now. It didn't matter to us if it was L.A. or if it was Portland or if it was Vancouver, we wanted to be at home. Now it's L.A., so we want to take care of business on Wednesday and move forward. The only way we can win MLS Cup is to beat L.A."
Needing a win to be sure of playing into the postseason, the Sounders (15-13-6) jumped ahead in the fifth minute with a Clint Dempsey goal assisted by Obafemi Martins, a Marco Pappa strike in the 10th minute assisted by Dempsey and another Dempsey score in the 20th minute on the rebound of a saved shot from Martins.
It was the first time the Sounders had scored two goals in the opening 10 minutes or three in the opening 20. Meanwhile, Dempsey became the third player in club history to score two goals in the first 20 minutes.
"It was a game we needed to win," Dempsey said. "We needed to go out and try to attack the game and try to take the game to them, and create chances and not wonder what's going to happen in the 78th minute, 80th minute, trying to get a goal. We went off with the right mentality."
Luis Gil got the visitors' lone goal in the 77th minute. RSL (11-15-8) arrived in Seattle already out of postseason contention, and played without injured No. 1 goalkeeper Nick Rimando and midfielder Kyle Beckerman because of yellow-card suspension.
The result clinched a seventh playoff appearance for the Sounders over their seven seasons in MLS.
"It's huge," owner Adrian Hanauer said. "I think back to 2002, which was my first year, and I think we've missed one playoff since then. I did not want to miss for a second time. It's great, given the (injuries and losing streak of) summer. It feels good, especially getting a home game."
Seattle's regular season statistical leaders were Martins, 15 goals; Dempsey, 10 assists; and goalkeeper Stefan Frei with a club-record 111 saves.
The club's supporters also set a record, as the match was played before a crowd of 55,435 at CenturyLink Field, pushing Seattle to an unprecedented MLS season attendance average of 44,245.
"That's our fans," Hanauer said. "It just speaks to the relevance in this market of soccer of the Sounders. I still think there's a lot of opportunity and growth ahead of us. … I really feel like we're getting our feet under us and we're going to be able to do great things next year as well."
Tickets for the knockout match are on sale at SoundersFC.com. The game will be shown locally on JOEtv and heard on 97.3 FM.
"We have L.A. here. That's what everybody wants to see," forward Chad Barrett said. "…We have won the Open Cup and the Supporters' Shield last year. … Now we have to win this MLS Cup. That has to be part of this amazing story of the Seattle Sounders."
Don Ruiz: 253-597-8808


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Good morning!! I'm back, practically back from the dead! I've been away for awhile but I'm so excited to be back to my odd
I've been in a bit of a design slump lately, and then to top it off, I managed to get my annual hit of strep throat (Boo) which made it even harder for me to drag myself into the studio. To kind of ease back into things, I took the advise of some of the Oddies over at the Some Odd Girl Ning and did a little reorganizing of my space and the ever growing amount of papers and bits and bobs. I also started thinking about what birthdays I have coming up and I remembered this awesome Ustream I watched where Kristi colored Big Wishes Mae by using a birthday candle as the only light source….and BLAM! I had a project. *Cheers*
Copic Colors Used:
Skin: E000, E00, E11, E04, RV95, R12
Hair: E21, E32, E25, E27, V99, YR30, YR31
Cake: RV52, RV63, RV66, BG75, BG23
Clothes: BG75, BG78
Light Colors: YR30, YR31
Shadow Colors: BV20, BV23, BV25, BV29
The trick was to make everything close to the candle super highlighted and to darken everything from there. I like how she turned out.
If I had it to do over, I think I'd go back over the outside area with the chisel edge again.
Here is the finished card! I used new Fancy Pants Trendsetter papers (I love all their new paper sets!) and some really fun Webster's Pages trim.
It's going to be a fun birthday card for my boss at work. I think the quote on it is perfect. 'A girl should be two things: Classy & Fabulous!' is just perfect for her.
Good morning!! I'm back, practically back from the dead! I've been away for awhile but I'm so excited to be back to my odd
I never did get my Hogwarts letter. I'm a little bitter about it to be honest. But, this little Sorceress in Training digi
This turned out awesome! I'm not gonna lie, a little in awe of your coloring talent- just stunning 🙂 Glad you found your missing mojo…hugs, Katie
Thank you so much!! It was a huge relief to get some inspiration
The way you lit up her face is fantastic!! Wonderful coloring!! Thanks for joining the SOG challenge!!
Wow!! I love the way you colored this!! I haven't given the "glow" a try yet, yours is awesome! Thanks for joining us at SOG this month!! 🙂
Mind blowing coloration!!! Totally realistic 3D-Effect by perfect shadow setting… WOW, outstanding!


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www.mudproxy.dk (archived)
An MCCP proxy.
Works perfectly, but I think it does slow things down sometimes.
This only works for one port at a time. Multiple instances would need to be run to support multiple muds.
config.ini ∞
Old notes for Aardwolf.
MudHost aardmud.org MudPort 4010 ProxyPort 9009 Verbose No - does nothing yet Gagging Yes ServerMode No GagFile gag.txt LogFile log.txt Escape ##


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Print Chargrilled courgette bruschetta
These smoky, herby toasts are a very good start to a barbecue. They're equally tasty cold, as warm. You could cook aubergine and peppers like this at the same time for tricolour bruschetta. Thin slices of mozzarella make a lovely addition. Leave out or substitute the Parmesan to make this vegetarian.
Key facts
- Preparation time
- 10 mins
- Cooking time
- 20 mins
- Total time
- 30 mins
- Serves
- 4
- 4 courgettes, washed & trimmed
- About 4 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp rosemary, oregano or marjoram leaves, finely chopped
- 4 large or 8 small (e.g. baguette size) slices chewy textured white bread
- 1 garlic clove, peeled
- 1 mild red chilli, deseeded & finely slivered (optional)
- 50g Parmesan, flaked or shaved using a vegetable peeler
- Salt & pepper
- Slice the courgettes into ribbons using a vegetable peeler, cutting lengthways down the courgette. Brush each slice very sparingly with olive oil.
- Heat a cast iron griddle or heavy frying pan until very hot. Grill the courgette slices in batches, turning so that both sides are striped by the griddle (or take a few brown spots if you are using a frying pan).
- Try not to overcook the courgette ribbons though, they are nice if they keep a bit of juiciness. Once all the slices are cooked, sprinkle with salt and pepper and toss the herbs through.
- To make the bruschetta, toast both sides of the bread on the griddle (or use a toaster at a pinch). Rub one side of the toasted bread lightly with the garlic clove, followed by a trickle of olive oil.
- Pile the chargrilled courgette onto the bruschetta, add a few more drops of olive oil and the chilli slivers if using. Finish with a few flakes of Parmesan and serve.
Cooks notes
*We've used Parmesan in this recipe but if you are vegetarian you can use an alternative. Good vegetarian Parmesan can be difficult to get hold of; vegetarian Pecorino is often tastier.


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Muchenje offers a personal and homely atmosphere.
It is far away from the busy town of Kasane, yet only 2 hours drive from the Victoria Falls.
The down-to-earth Muchenje Safari Lodge is the perfect Botswana Safari venue – it stands high up on an escarpment overlooking Namibia's Caprivi Strip and onwards to the meandering Chobe River in the distance.
Located in the private Chobe Forest Reserve, west of Chobe National Park and about 50km from Kasane, Muchenje Safari Lodge enjoys a much quieter setting than Botswana Lodges closer to the Chobe Riverfront.
Less luxury, more attention to detail makes this Botswana Accommodation a good choice for travellers who care. More visitors descend upon Chobe at one time than at secluded camps in the Okavango Delta which can be daunting for visitors looking for a quiet Botswana Safari. But they will be enlightened by the incredible numbers of animals gathering around water sources during June to October.
Guests will settle into a room with a view easily – 11 solid, thatched, comfortable chalets look over an unusual landscape of water and floodplains and grasslands. Rooms are separated by bushy areas acting as screens but without blocking the views and one family chalet boasts a fun loft room for two extra people.
Recently added air-conditioning adds to ceiling fans to cool rooms in summer. En-suite bathrooms feature showers and his and her basins. Sliding doors lead out onto a wooden patio with chairs and tea and coffee can be made in the rooms.
Muchenje Safari Lodge has enhanced the views by building a large, split-level, thatched, wood and stone main area where guests can sit all day marvelling at the sites below them. A central bar is a focal point near a large dining table for group meals. A small library offers relaxation and solitude while guests can buy books at the curio shop.


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Baltimore, MD – HP White Laboratory, Inc., an Intertek company and the world's largest independent test laboratory of armor and ballistics, announces the launch of H.P.T.V. (www.hpwhite.com/HPTV), for online, remote viewing of ballistics testing. Through secure and password-protected online sessions, H.P.T.V. provides customers with two live camera views of in-progress testing. What's more, with voice over IP (VOIP) communications, customers may interact with HP White experts as if they were in the room. H.P.T.V. replaces the need for costly and time consuming onsite test witnessing.
"H.P.T.V. addresses critical needs in ballistics and ballistics resistance testing; customers need to reduce costs and make best use of every precious hour in a day," said Mike Parker, president, HP White Laboratory. "If a customer can avoid flight time, out-of-office time, and all the expenses to witness a two-hour test, then we've brought value to the relationship. Beyond that, if our customer can show their customer live testing at HP White with just a point and click, we've not only added value, we've supported our customer's success."
H.P.T.V. provides the following benefits of remote witnessing.
- See two camera views of ballistic impacts and measurements as they occur,
- Witness testing via secure, password protected sessions,
- Use VOIP to communicate with HP White experts,
- See data capture as it happens*, and
- Realize significant time and cost savings.
The H.P.T.V. service is offered with two options:
- Witness Testing: Observe testing from project set-up through data collection, with close-ups on strike face and back face; and
- Direct (R&D) Testing: Direct activities on the range with real time communications with test technicians
To learn more about H.P.T.V., visit www.hpwhite.com/HPTV to view a two-minute video demonstration and to download an H.P.T.V. Guide.
"For over 75 years HP White has been evaluating armor performance for military and public safety applications," said Parker. "All the while, it's very important for armor producers and those supporting the manufacturer to be able to see ballistic performance as it happens. In our business, seeing is believing. And HPTV allows clients to see performance testing from anywhere in the world. "
*Note: ITAR restrictions may apply to select international testing projects.
John Cronin, Business Development Manager
Telephone: +1.410.838.6550
About HP White Laboratory, Inc
HP White Laboratory, Inc. is an independent ballistics and ballistics resistance laboratory. For 75 years, HP White has specialized in research and development, validation testing, certification and quality control evaluations of body and vehicular armor systems, sub-components and materials. HP White developed many of the ballistics resistance standards, processes and methods used today to test body and vehicular armor for a full scope of applications (law enforcement, military, personal protection), threats (stab, slice, bullet, explosive), and environments (urban, war time, extreme heat/cold). HP White's services add value throughout the entire supply chain, from research and development processes and product certification to production lot acceptance and post-production quality control. HP White serves the needs of Federal, State, Local and Foreign Government agencies, and the manufacturers dedicated to saving lives of law enforcement and war fighters, globally.


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Xanthea Heynes, Owner of Amala Living Foods, Nottingham
Cobden Chambers is fast becoming one of the coolest places to visit in Nottingham. That's even truer now Amala Living Foods have opened their café-deli there! Even though it opened just a month ago, the deli is already receiving rave reviews and is quickly getting known as the place to buy and enjoy organic, raw and naturally "free from" vegan food. There's a lot of coverage of "clean eating" in the media at the moment, but Amala Living Foods is proving that it's much more than a fad and that it can be both delicious and life changing! The business was inspired by the experience of its Founder, Xanthea Heynes, who experienced the positive effects of switching to raw and vegan food herself. She developed her vision for something different in Nottingham and has been amazed by the response!
Xanthea's mission is to get all of us eating more organic, plant-based and raw foods with her deli and store which provides handmade food, using high quality organic and locally sourced produce – all 100% vegan and free of gluten and refined sugar. You'll find that the deli is packed with an amazing array of mouth-watering raw and cooked vegan food, salad boxes, cakes, juices, smoothies and even more!
You only have to spend a few minutes in the attractive-looking deli and experience its welcoming vibe to see why it's proving so popular. While the deli has been open just a few weeks, the business has been launched for about a year and has its roots in local foodie enterprises like the vegan market in Sneinton and a pop up takeover night at the Bluebird Café in Sherwood. We wanted to know how Xanthea has found her first month in business. She explains: "Time management is key! It's gone really well. It's just me and Eshe working here. We've been completely selling out of food. It shows that there is a market for raw, vegan healthy living. It's been growing and overall things have been good. The vision is almost complete!"
Naturally, we wanted to know more about the vision for the business! Xanthea tells us: "The vision for Amala Living Foods is to be a raw vegan food company. I'm expanding to a holistic approach so we will have a whole range of products in the shop, including things like skincare. We really focus on the local, sustainable and environmental side of things, as well as healthy food that you can cook for lunch or take it away, for example."
Sounds great, but what would Xanthea say is the most exciting thing about the business? "The most exciting thing about the business is probably opening the shop! It was always my vision to have a little premises, to have a place where I could locally spread the concept. To actually finally be within a premises, to have it up and running is amazing. It's all gone so fast! I was just talking to a property developer about this place back in the Spring and I never even considered that it would actually happen back then and now I'm here! What excites me the most is getting to share all these amazing products. I love getting the message out there about how you can eat raw healthy vegan foods. I've been waiting for somewhere like this to come along for such a long time and I had to create it myself because it wasn't happening! It's what I wanted and I thought if I wanted it, other people must want it as well!"
So how did the shop in Cobden Chambers come about? "It's really strange. When I first founded the business in September 2015, I said to my boyfriend Ross, "If it could choose anywhere, it would be Cobden Chambers" and then a year later I found myself here which is just bizarre! I was emailing around loads and loads of places to find premises and I was talking to Creative Quarter who put me in touch with Bildurn and they said they had a space opening in August. It was perfect timing because I was ready to go into something at that point and here I am!"
As you would expect, we want to know how this already popular café-deli is getting its name out there. Xanthea says: "Word of mouth marketing has been great for us. Word has spread and there's a really good buzz about the place in the local area. We're also using Facebook adverts. Eshe's really on the ball with social media! We do want to do more but it's finding the time and it's so easy to get caught up in everything else."
We wanted to find out what Xanthea sees as the hardest part of starting a business. She sums it up in just two words: "Time management! It's just the two of us working here and making all the food ready for the day. We run out of stock because it's so popular and while it's a great reason to sell out, it means we can't provide people with what they want. So we're trying to find that balance and we're starting to get into a routine now. We've both had a lot of support from the Prince's Trust and we have Business Advisor who comes in and helps us do all the admin side of things."
While it sounds like all of their products are in demand, we want to know what their best seller is! Xanthea says: "Everyone loves cake! It's Cake Week right now, with 10% off cakes, which has been very popular. I've also been really surprised about how well our organic produce went because I've always heard that most people don't really want to buy it. It's been the complete opposite – people have been coming in here and just clearing the veg out! It's been great."
With so much going on, we want to know what Xanthea is most excited about for the future? She explains: "Short-term, I'm really excited about Autumn and Christmas! We're going to have the Amala grotto with Christmas lights everywhere! We're going to extend the counter and do soups and that kind of thing. Aside from that, we've got some really exciting new products coming in. We're also making our own stuff. In future, we want to have a whole range of juices and smoothies. We've been doing them when we have the time, but eventually we want the whole range here. So it'll be just like a wellness centre in a way – you can come and get your organic produce, you can get your juices and smoothies and you can come and talk to us and just hang out!"
Eshe adds: "We're also excited about working with other local businesses and creating new initiatives and projects together! We're doing a supper club at Debbie Bryan's in November. Look out for us in markets in the new year too!".
So, if you haven't visited yet, get yourself to Amala Living Foods at Cobden Chambers to see what all the fuss is all about! You can also find out more at:
Twitter – @amalalivingfood
Facebook – @amalalivingfoods
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/amalalivingfoods/
1 comment
Amie Cadwallader
This food looks so amazing & looks like the perfect place for me, especially for the vegan food!
Love, Amie ❤
The Curvaceous Vegan | Instagram | Twitter| Facebook
Comments are closed.


text:
Infosec 2017: GDPR, the Cloud, and Government Spying
Get Your Free Copy Now
The deadline for the General Data Protection Regulation moves ever-closer, but the British government is in a state of disarray at a time when negotiations to leave the EU are underway, all while it's trying to increase its surveillance capabilities as well.
Enterprises are feeling the brunt of these changes. While cloud, in all its various guises, continues to shape digital strategies, we were curious to find out how security professionals were adapting not just to cloud technologies, but also to the increased focus on privacy that the GDPR will bring within the overall context of a government that's eager to increase its powers.
The results are based on a survey of 918 attendees at InfoSecurity Europe 2017 and offer a glimpse into what security professionals feel the impact of changes related to the GDPR and cloud adoption could be for organizations.
This report was written by Javvad Malik, Security Advocate, AlienVault. Any questions about the methodology should be addressed to him at [email protected].


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9 July, 2011
So, I figured I'd pick a little project to get me to post more regularly on here. I figured it might be nice to give some of you a glimpse into how a design project might work. I'm putting this under the "Weekend Design Challenge" category, but the challenge is mostly for me to post more often. :)
The project is to turn the d20 system (used for Dungeons & Dragons 3.5 edition) into a classless system.
I figured that some people might want to follow along at home, so here's the plan. I'll post on the weekends (for some definition of "weekend"). I'll post something about the work I've done, and then give a bit about what the topic is going to be for the next post. If you're interested, you're encouraged to do your own work during the week and post up your thoughts in a comment or trackback. (Note that I don't get some trackbacks from some places, notably Blogger. If your trackback doesn't show up in a day or so, feel free to manually leave a link in a comment.)
Wizards of the Coast did something pretty daring for the 3rd (and 3.5) edition of D&D, they created the "Open Gaming License". The goal was to mimic some of the "open source" licenses to allow people to create derivative products easier. This was a big concern, as previous owners of D&D were not always kind to people making derivative products. One of the big strengths of D&D has been that it is so flexible that you can create a bunch of interesting house rules to customize the game the way you see fit. The OGL was a way to make it easy for people to create products.
As a side note: it was very successful. The tabletop RPG industry was completely dominated by d20 books for a while. One could argue that perhaps it was too successful, as it lead to a lot of products of dubious quality despite creating a lot of great products as well. It's interesting to note that the newest edition of D&D uses a much more detailed license; I couldn't do this project with the 4th edition rules as explained by the license, as it only covers print or digital equivalent (.pdf) sourcebooks.
A nice hypertext version of the system resource document (SRD) can be found at http://www.d20srd.org/
My goal
My goal is to take the system and develop a "classless" system. To give it some context, let's say I want to make a single-player RPG (downloadable or Flash) and wanted to use a system that was familiar. A game that uses the (unaltered) d20 rules is Knights of the Chalice.
So, why take a class-based system and make it classless? Masochism. Er, wait, I mean, personal preference. In university, I created a classless system for 2nd edition D&D that I used a few times, so I thought it would be fun to try it again. (And, if you go searching around in my old homepages, you'll get the mental scarring you so richly deserve.)
Next week
So, the most important thing to do is research. Next week, I'll post up information I've found after doing a bit of research. Do your own research and get ready to post up!
(And, yes, I know there are a few classless d20 systems like this out there already. I want to do the work myself, but I'll show some of the other options next week when showing off my research.)
(Note that it would be best to hold off posting your own research for now so that people can try to work independently, then we can all compare notes next weekend. But do leave comments and suggestions about the project overall this week. Thanks!)
5 Comments »
I'll be following along I'm sure.
Comment by Sara Pickell — 9 July, 2011 @ 10:10 PM
Check this one out: http://www.anderfarnoria.com/mediawiki/index.php?title=Classless_System
We have been using and developing this one, based on 3e for years. It's pretty stable now. We also recently implimented a classless magic system to replace the old slot system and a damage reduction for armour to replace armour class modifiers. Both of which work very well.
There is some extra stuff here: http://www.anderfarnoria.com/mediawiki/index.php?title=House_Rules_for_Anderfarnoria
We have made a few more small modifications which aren't listed here, but I'd be happy to answer questions by email if you like.
Gobble gobble.
BobTurkey: Yeah, there's a few systems out there. I'm doing this as a personal exercise. I hadn't run across your system yet, so thanks for the links! Feel free to comment on the future posts to share your perspective.
The Rampant Coyote also has an article about using D&D rules for computer RPGs: http://rampantgames.com/blog/?p=3028
Comment by Psychochild — 10 July, 2011 @ 10:46 AM
Late to the party, but I just came across this.
The simplest (not necessarily easiest) solution I can think of would be to allow players to level up skills directly upon gaining a character level. Let them pick (n) first ranks of any skill for free upon character creation and then award (x) point per level. (x) could very well be the character's own level, for example, so at level 2 the player gets 2 skill points to distribute, 3 at level 3 and so on.
The first question that comes to mind is what to do to avoid overpowered characters at 20 when they earn 20 skill points, but that could be limited by how deep we want to make each skill in terms of skill ranks, so the choice to spread those points or overspecialize is always present as the character levels up. As long as we make sure the total amount of skill points earned from 1 to 20 is nowhere near enough to gain max rank on every skill available, it -should- work fine.
Unless I'm completely missing the whole point, this makes it a classless system where players are not confined to any archetype/skill groups and simply pick and choose what skills they want to develop as they go from the whole available pool. Yes, there is the problem of the potential Mage Priest in Plate, but then we're talking about balance. It all comes down to how many skill points you want to give them to play with and how expensive you want to make each skill rank.
Weekend Design Challenge: Research
[...] the design of a classless d20 setting, this week we'll look at research. Feel free to add your own in the comments if you found something [...]
Pingback by Psychochild's Blog — 17 July, 2011 @ 10:40 PM


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Sunday Lunch
Our excellent menu is based on pub classics with a modern twist, using local produce and suppliers where possible. All of our guests can enjoy their meals in a relaxed environment inside or enjoy our delightful beer garden where you can drink and dine surrounded by the Essex and Hertfordshire countryside. See a sample of our full menu below, this changes according to seasons and availability of produce, most of which is sourced locally.
Every Sunday we offer an la carte menu as well as our roasts
Hertfordshire Lamb shank - 14.50
British Lop pork belly - 12.50
Free range turkey breast - 12.50 S
Simmental topside of beef (medium only) - 12.50
with Yorkshire pud, roast potatoes, green beans, carrots & savoy cabbage
We don't do fast food we do good food!
All of our food is proudly prepared fresh to order
and therefore may take a little longer than at some establishments.
This also means we can cater to most dietary requirements.
Children's menu available, alternatively most of our dishes from our main menu are available half portion, half price – please ask for details
Food provenance;
We like to pride ourselves on sourcing locally where possible and encouraging others to do the same.
Some of the producers and farms we use are,
Bridget B's, Sacombe Farm, Hertford.
Our Eggs come from East End Farm, Roydon
Our Sausages are made just for us by Jason & his team at The Churchgate Sausage Shop, Mayfields Farm.
Amwell Farm supply our fruit and vegetables; Rolls and bread are baked at Mayfields Farm Bakery
Our Fish is supplied by Stickleback in Potters bar and we only use substaniable fish and seafood sourced from our own shores.
Sunday Lunch
Served between 12.00pm and 3.30pm
Special Dietary Requirements
As our food is all freshly prepared and cooked to order, we can cater for any special dietary requiment.
Group Bookings
We have facilities for parties and group bookings. Call us on 01279 424 180 for more information. Deposot Alternatively fill out the contact form
Lunchtime Menu


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The TOP 5 BOTCHED NXT Call-Ups to WWE!
It's amazing to think that Bo Dallas is a Former NXT Champion, the same Championship held by people like Seth Rollins, Samoa Joe, Kevin Owens, Big E & Shinsuke Nakamura! Not only that but he holds the record for the third longest reign behind Finn Balor and...
Latest Backstage News On John Cena At WrestleMania; Jericho Suffers Injury
With Samoa Joe now on Monday Night RAW what does that mean for John Cena at WrestleMania. Some say fans won't be happy. Plus Chris Jericho suffered an injury in the Royal Rumble match.
Triple H Says Shinsuke Nakamura Is Not Ready For The Main Roster
During this weeks NXT conference call Triple H was asked about Shinsuke Nakamura not being on the main roster and he stated that he feels that Nakamura is currently not ready for the main roster just yet.
WWE Champion AJ Styles robbed at WWE Live Event
Arkansas' Region 8 News is reporting that WWE Champion AJ Styles (real name Allen Neil Jones) had a black bag stolen, which contained his XBox 360, Six Games, a Small Screen TV, $1,000 in Cash, 7,000 in Japanese Yen (Approx $60), his iPhone, and a pair of Beats...


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|The Necessity of Surrendering the Inheritance According to the Portions that Allah Ordained
Sa`id bin Jubayr and Qatadah said, "The idolators used to give adult men a share of inheritance and deprive women and children of it. Allah revealed;
﴿لِّلرِّجَالِ نَصيِبٌ مِّمَّا تَرَكَ الْوَلِدَنِ وَالاٌّقْرَبُونَ﴾
(There is a share for men from what is left by parents and those nearest in relation).'' Therefore, everyone is equal in Allah's decision to inherit, even though their shares vary according to the degree of their relationship to the deceased, whether being a relative, spouse, etc. Ibn Marduwyah reported that Jabir said, "Umm Kujjah came to the Messenger of Allah and said to him, `O Messenger of Allah! I have two daughters whose father died, and they do not own anything.' So Allah revealed;
﴿لِّلرِّجَالِ نَصيِبٌ مِّمَّا تَرَكَ الْوَلِدَنِ وَالاٌّقْرَبُونَ﴾
(There is a share for men from what is left by parents and those nearest in relation.)'' We will mention this Hadith when explaining the two Ayat about inheritance. Allah knows best. Allah said,
﴿وَإِذَا حَضَرَ الْقِسْمَةَ﴾
(are present at the time of division,) those who do not have a share in the inheritance,
﴿وَالْيَتَـمَى وَالْمَسَـكِينُ﴾
(and the orphans and the poor), are also present upon dividing the inheritance, give them a share of the inheritance. Al-Bukhari recorded that Ibn `Abbas said that the Ayah,
﴿وَإِذَا حَضَرَ الْقِسْمَةَ أُوْلُواْ الْقُرْبَى وَالْيَتَـمَى وَالْمَسَـكِينُ﴾
(And when the relatives and the orphans and the poor are present at the time of division), was not abrogated. Ibn Jarir recorded that Ibn `Abbas said that this Ayah still applies and should be implemented. Ath-Thawri said that Ibn Abi Najih narrated from Mujahid that implementing this Ayah, "Is required from those who have anything to inherit, paid from whatever portions their hearts are satisfied with giving away.'' Similar explanation was reported from Ibn Mas`ud, Abu Musa, `Abdur-Rahman bin Abi Bakr, Abu Al-`Aliyah, Ash-Sha`bi and Al-Hasan. Ibn Sirin, Sa`id bin Jubayr, Makhul, Ibrahim An-Nakha`i, `Ata' bin Abi Rabah, Az-Zuhri and Yahya bin Ya`mar said this payment is obligatory. Others say that this refers to the bequeathal at the time of death. And others say that it was abrogated. Al-`Awfi reported that Ibn `Abbas said that this Ayah,
﴿وَإِذَا حَضَرَ الْقِسْمَةَ﴾
(And when are present at the time of division), refers to divisions of inheritance. So, when poor relatives, who are ineligible for inheritance, orphans, and the poor attend the division of the inheritance, which is sometimes substantial, their hearts will feel eager to have a share, seeing each eligible person assuming his share; while they are desperate, yet are not given anything. Allah the Most Kind, Most Compassionate, commands that they should have a share in the inheritance as an act of kindness, charity, compassion and mercy for them.
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About Sarah Feng
Sarah Feng is a sophomore at NYU, where she is double majoring in Economics and Journalism and minoring in Computer Science. She came to New York from her hometown of Knoxville, Tennessee. Her interests include figure-skating, playing the piano, eating, working out, and trying new apps on her Macbook Pro. Her favorite color is pink, her favorite food is ice cream and favorite television show is a tie between Gossip Girl and The Office. Aside from writing on Hackcollege, you can also follow her on Twitter.


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We presume this is the income that the Council will make when a shared equity homeowner sells their property. Why does the Council think that just after 1 year, if a homeowner sells their property, that the Council will received £547k income for only a 30% ownership share? Particularly in comparison that a 4-bedroom flat private sale has been valued at £862k'
The Council has provided details of the assumptions and summaries of the viability appraisals that have been undertaken. The Council is not going to release any further information on the viability analyses.
Does this answer your questions? If not get in touch
Was this helpful?


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The baking bug officially hit me this week and I honestly couldn't be happier about it. It's been so fun to find new recipes and experiment/adapt them to sugar-free and lower-sugar treats; it's becoming a new hobby of mine! So far, I'd say they've all been pretty successful, and these oatmeal raisin cookie bites were no exception. I stumbled upon these Cinnamon and Raisin Granola Cookies via Pinterest and was immediately intrigued. Jennifer makes some great looking healthy recipes!
Anyway, since I'm a big oatmeal lover and an even bigger oatmeal-cookie lover, I was excited to experiment with these, yet somewhat skeptical of how they would turn out due to the lack of butter and brown sugar in the recipe. An oatmeal cookie without brown sugar? Neverrr …or so I thought. I was proven wrong once I tasted the dough. These are chewy, full of raisins, and have just the right amount of natural sweetness. The only change I made was adding a half-tablespoon of protein powder in place of a tablespoon of maple syrup, since I thought this would bind the dough together a bit more. It worked! I'm calling these 'bites' because they're a bit smaller than a traditional cookie, at least for my standards.
The portion-size of the cookies can be whatever you want—I used an ice-cream scoop to spoon-out the dough for mine and simply flattened each slightly with a spoon before popping them in the oven. Remember, whatever portion you spoon-out for the dough will be the size of each cookie, since they don't spread. I loved that these were easy to make and portable enough to eat pretty much anywhere, and you can enjoy a few without any guilt at all! I enjoyed mine with a side of vanilla ice-cream, but that's an optional (excellent) addition.
Low-Sugar Oatmeal Raisin Cookie Bites
Adapted from this Peanut Butter and Peppers Recipe
- 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce (I used store brand)
- 1 tbsp. maple syrup (sugar free)
- 1/2 tbsp. protein powder (I used chocolate by Arbonne)
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- 1 cup oats, ground (I used whole oats)
- 1/2 cup oats
- 1/2 tsp. cinnamon, ground
- 1/4 tsp. baking soda
- 1/4 tsp. baking powder
- pinch of salt
- 1/3 cup raisins
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (176 degrees Celsius). Then line your baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl combine the applesauce, maple syrup, and vanilla extract. Mix well until combined.
- In a blender or food processor (I used a blender), grind one cup of oats until it is a flour-like consistency (this should take about 30-45 seconds max.)
- Then add the oat-flour, oats, cinnamon, protein powder, baking soda, baking powder and pinch of salt to the bowl; mix until combined.
- Fold in the raisins.
- Scoop the amount of batter you'd like for each cookie bite into cookie-form and place on the cookie sheet, about an inch or two apart from one another. (I flattened each with the back of a spoon, so they weren't so round). Then bake them for about 8-10 minutes or until bottom is lightly golden.
We all loved these. Next time, I'm doubling the batch!
Thanks again Jennifer for the recipe idea!
I'm off to enjoy the sunshine today, with the help of my new floppy hat.
Another first for me, thanks to Sue! She insisted on getting it for me yesterday, and I'm already obsessed with it! I just love the hat trend in Australia. Is it just me, or do big hats scream "royal"?!
It might just be me…oh well, I love it!
Happy almost-weekend!


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Perwyn Frey
|House Frey
|In or between 269 AC and 278 AC[1], at Twins[2]
A Game of Thrones (appears)
A Clash of Kings (appears)
A Storm of Swords (mentioned)
A Feast for Crows (mentioned)
A Dance with Dragons (appendix)
Ser Perwyn Frey is a knight from House Frey. He is the fifteenth son of Lord Walder Frey and the first son born in the marriage between Walder and Bethany Rosby.
According to Ser Daven Lannister, Perwyn is a decent man.[3]
Ser Perwyn rode in the tourney on Prince Joffrey's name day in 297 AC.[4]
Recent Events
A Game of Thrones
Ser Perwyn attends the Hand's tourney in King's Landing with five other members of House Frey.[5]
During Catelyn Stark's parley with Lord Walder Frey within the Twins, Perwyn is left outside in the company of Robb Stark to ensure his mother's safety.[4]
Five Freys serve in Robb's personal guard during the battle in the Whispering Wood.[6]
A Clash of Kings
Perwyn is a member of the party that escorts Catelyn as she travels to treat with Renly Baratheon at Bitterbridge[7] and Stannis Baratheon at Storm's End.[8] When they return to Riverrun after Renly's death, Perwyn is informed of Robb's victories in the westerlands by his half brother, Martyn Rivers.[9] Perwyn jests when he sees hanged plotters.[9]
A Storm of Swords
While under house arrest for freeing Ser Jaime Lannister, Catelyn watches Perwyn and Martyn, who fought in the Battle of the Fords,[2] unexpectedly leave Riverrun.[10] Catelyn later learns the Freys left because of Robb's marriage to Jeyne Westerling instead of one of Walder's daughters.[10]
Catelyn is surprised that Perwyn is not present at the Twins for the wedding of his sister, Roslin Frey, to Catelyn's brother, Lord Edmure Tully. Lothar Frey explains that Perwyn is away and delayed by the flooding of the Trident.[11] As the Red Wedding begins, Catelyn thinks of the absences of Perwyn, Olyvar, and Alesander Frey, as well as Roslin's crying, as warnings of House Frey's betrayal.[12]
A Feast for Crows
Perwyn is present at the siege of Riverrun, where he tells Ser Daven Lannister that his sister Roslin is in love with Edmure and is praying for a girl. Unlike most of the Freys at the siege, Daven approves of Perwyn.[13]
Quotes by Perwyn
Hallis: They have hanged some Lannisters.
Wendel: A pretty sight.Perwyn: Our friends have begun without us.[9]
—Hallis Mollen, Wendel Manderly, and Perwyn
Quotes about Perwyn
Catelyn: Is Ser Perwyn about? He helped escort me to Storm's End and back, when Robb sent me to speak with Lord Renly. I was looking forward to seeing him again.
Lothar: Perwyn is away. I shall give him your regards. I know he will regret having missed you.[11]—Catelyn Stark and Lothar Frey
- ↑ See the Perwyn Frey calculation.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 George R. R. Martin's A World of Ice and Fire, Perwyn Frey.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 13, The Soiled Knight.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 59, Catelyn IX.
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 29, Sansa II.
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 63, Catelyn X.
- ↑ A Clash of Kings, Chapter 22, Catelyn II.
- ↑ A Clash of Kings, Chapter 33, Catelyn IV.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 39, Catelyn V.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 14, Catelyn II.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 49, Catelyn VI.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 51, Catelyn VII.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 33, Jaime V.


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Digital Twins – are they taking the technology world by storm? IDC recently noted that by 2020, 30% of global 2000 companies will be using data from Digital Twins to improve organizational productivity by as much as 25%. While it is not quite there, Gartner predicts the Digital Twin will reach the "Plateau of Productivity" within 5 to 10 years.
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Posts Tagged 'Digital Twin'
GISCafe Special Report: Digital Twin Technology Offers a Mirror Image for Productivity of the FutureFriday, March 22nd, 2019
Tags: ArcGIS, Bentley Systems, Cityworks, climate change, cloud, crowdsourcing, data, Digital Twin, ESRI, geospatial, GIS, imagery, intelligence, LiDAR, location, mapping, maps, mobile, NASA, navigation, remote sensing, satellite imagery, social media, Trimble, USC
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