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I originally published this article on Lore Forge. It's one of my best ones, in my opinion. Written with the writer in mind, the concepts will still work across all domains.
There are individuals in every field who transcend the rest of the pack, who perhaps defy impossible odds, who elevate themselves to legendary status. People who seem to come around only once in a generation or even a lifetime. Some of them seem to defy time itself, immortal. The Da Vincis, the Bruce Lees, the Shakespeares. Yet if we were to dissect the process of their mastery, we would notice common threads among them: their mindsets and their actions are all things anyone can emulate. Revealing the process not only provides a road map on how to become a champion, it serves as a reminder for why we are not champions ourselves.
Being a champion is a distinction reserved for the elite. Not everyone has the resolve to do it. The status is earned.
That is what this article is all about. These ten principles span across all domains. Whether you're a writer, an athlete, an artist, a musician, or a craftsman, it doesn't matter. If you want to be a champion, you must do what it takes to become one.
You will manufacture your own success, guaranteed. You will find, as you read these principles, that talent is not among them. Bruce Lee, a man of incredible talent, still did each of these things. Talent only helps you hone in on what you should be doing, hard work finishes the job.
If you want to know why you aren't finding success, here's why.
1. You Don't Take It Seriously
"You can approach the act of writing with nervousness, excitement, hopefulness, or even despair – the sense that you can never completely put on the page what's in your mind and heart. You can come to the act with your fists clenched and your eyes narrowed, ready to kick ass and take down names. You can come to it because you want a girl to marry you or because you want to change the world. Come to it any way but lightly. Let me say it again: you must not come lightly to the blank page." – Stephen King
What you put into your chosen skill is directly proportionate to how much you want to succeed.
That is the crux of the matter. Your efforts = exactly how much you want to succeed.
So how serious are you? This is all a corollary of your mindset. How do you approach your craft? Are you a professional? Because professionals show up. They don't make excuses. Or are you someone who just dabbles? Is this a hobby for you, or do you consider yourself "aspiring?"
How you approach your game will be reflected in your actions, which will subsequently determine how successful you will be. There is a saying in gymnastics – where the head goes, the body will follow. So if you want to succeed, you can't half-ass it. You have to treat the entire process with respect. Look at any legend and examine just how seriously they are about their craft. Do you think Tiger Woods makes excuses to get out of working on his swing? Tom Cruise watches one movie every day, not just for pleasure, but to dissect the art of film-making, of acting.
Professionals do not take their fields lightly. If you are wondering why you're not getting results, you might not be serious about them. If you go into it thinking it's just a hobby, you'll never treat the process like it matters. Make it your priority. The hardest working person I know, actor Jeff Bosley, spends every moment doing something conducive to his goals. He studies, he hits the gym without fail (no matter how tired he is), he seeks out any opportunity to act and improve his skills. He is the yardstick by which I measure champions. This is why he succeeds where many I know fail.
Successful people are all in. They burn their ships behind them, leaving no choice but to succeed or die. Are you willing to burn your ships?
"When you want to succeed as bad as you want to breathe, then you will be successful." – Eric Thomas
2. You Don't Have Discipline
"The first and best victory is to conquer self." – Plato
True champions don't skip out on practice. They show up early. They stay afterwards. While their friends are out partying, they're studying the game. When everyone else is waking up, they've already started producing. This is what sets the champions apart from the mediocre. And it is a natural consequence of taking one's trade seriously. Contenders know that in order to become champions, they must be as disciplined as those they want to beat.
"With self-discipline most anything is possible." – Theodore Roosevelt
One of the most infamous scenes in film is when Rocky Balboa wakes up at four in the morning, drinks a glassful of raw eggs, then goes on a run. He does it because he wants to win. He wants to beat Apollo Creed. And he knows that discipline – the self-control it takes to raise himself up to Apollo's level – is a necessary element to reach that goal. In fact, discipline is the key ingredient towards achieving any goal. It's obvious by the look on his face that he would love to stay and sleep in, but he doesn't because he has a hunger for success.
"Suffer the pain of discipline or suffer the pain of regret." – unknown
It is foregoing what you want now in exchange for something greater later. So you must have some sort of goal in mind. Specific goals are better than vague ones, but having a goal will give you something to work towards and help you stay focused and motivated. Discipline is the ability to do what needs to be done, even when you don't want to. So bring some work ethic to the party already. Create habits that can carry you through the things that aren't so fun. Keep your eyes on the goal so you remember it's all worth it.
"I hated every minute of training, but I said, 'Don't quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.'" – Muhammad Ali
As a writer, having discipline will greatly contribute to the amount of words you put to paper. Chuck Wendig recommends just 350 words a day. Stephen King writes 2000 words a day. I watched author Richard Thomas report 12,000 words one day while working on his latest novel, The Breaker. This is the difference between a champion and someone who just does something kinda sorta because they want to call themselves something. "I'm an actor/writer/cage fighter." Don't be one of those guys, be the real deal. And it's okay to start small to develop habits and expand them over time. But true champions don't make excuses. They figure out what they want and they do what it takes to get there.
"You are what you repeatedly do. Excellence is not an event, but a habit." – Aristotle
3. You Don't Have a Goal or Objective
"People with clear, written goals accomplish far more in a shorter period of time than people without them could ever imagine." – Brian Tracy
For fighters, the answer is clear: beat the next person they put in front of you. Same thing for any other sport. It may seem like champion athletes have an advantage there, but it's more complicated than that. Yes, the obvious goal is to beat the next team, but how? No matter what the answer is, deciding on that answer becomes the mini goal. Because champions not only set high goals, they also break them down into steps. A runner may want to beat the record. That's a lofty goal.
Basically, you need to know where you're going, or you'll just end up wasting time that could have been better spent. Having a goal helps you keep focus. Having a plan towards reaching that goal provides a clear route you can use so you don't get lost along the way. It is a fact that people who write down their goals drastically improve their chances of success over those who don't. In fact, in a Harvard MBA study, they found that the 3% who said they wrote down their goals later made 10 times the money of the other 97% combined. Writing the goal down solidifies it, makes it real.
Defining a goal is the first step of the journey. It will be easier to lay out a plan for reaching that goal if you know what it is. Then you can break that goal down into easier steps. That's how productive people get more done. They break up large tasks into smaller ones. This helps you stay on task over the long haul, plus you get to celebrate reaching each benchmark.
As a writer, these goals are usually in line with a project. How many words do you want to write? How long do you want it to take? How many words is that per day? You can also set a specific time for writing and make that your goal. I like to work in scenes, or small chunks. Could be just a conversation one day or a setting description the next. Small goals are always easier than large, daunting ones, and they keep us moving forward instead of stalling.
"Goals are dreams with deadlines." – Diana Scharf Hunt
4. You Don't Practice
"When you are not practicing, remember, someone somewhere is practicing, and when you meet him he will win." – Ed Macauley
In Outliers, Malcolm Gladwell gives us the dirt: it takes 10,000 hours of deliberate practice to become a master at anything. While there have been numerous detractors of the claim, experts still say practice is essential for improvement. The debate seems to surround whether or not practice is all you need. Since practice only makes up 10% of the suggestions in this article, it's obvious which way we're leaning. If you are not a prodigy, it stands to reason that you are not the best at what you do starting out. Becoming the best does not happen magically if you don't do anything about it. There is no end to improvement. Even the most skilled champions continue to practice. The blade cannot sharpen itself.
"If you don't practice, you don't deserve to win." – Andre Agassi
What I want to iterate here is that if you're not practicing your art, craft, sport, whatever, it's going to take you a lot longer to achieve mastery. The most renowned artists did thousands of sketches in order to master their arts. Champion kickboxer Joe Lewis would do a thousand strikes a day after kicking the bag for one hour. Eddie Van Halen would play his guitar for hours a day as a teen. Legendary basketball player Larry Bird would throw 500 free throws a day, even while on crutches. How are you supposed to get better at what you do if you don't practice?
"To practice any art, no matter how well or badly, is a way to make your soul grow. So do it." – Kurt Vonnegut
This is what it takes to be a champion. They practiced harder than their competitors. They wanted to be good, and they understood that one does not get better by chance or magic or wishful thinking. Through practice they were able to improve and, eventually, be better than their peers or opponents. As a writer, practice means anything from writing actual stories, blogs, articles, to learning new vocabulary words, to figuring out new ways to use words, to learning more about grammar. The intent is to become better at your craft, whatever that may be, so whatever you are doing for practice should be to that end.
What are you doing towards mastering your craft? What else could you be doing to put you closer to your goals?
"I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times." – Bruce Lee
5. You Don't Study the Competition
"If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the results of a hundred battles." – Sun Tzu
Watch any movie about a sports team who accomplished the impossible and there will be footage in there of the coach watching footage of the rival team. Like in Miracle. Or Rudy. Or Moneyball. Picking it apart. Analyzing. The same thing goes for any other sport. Bruce Lee used to watch hours of footage of the boxing greats to dissect their movements. Studying every nuance. Athletes do this to learn their opponent's strengths and weaknesses. This doesn't just apply to the competition, it applies to anyone you want to emulate. Be like the musician who listens to the radio and tries to recreate the sounds coming out of it, or the comic artist who scrutinizes every panel to learn new tricks on lighting, perspective, inking. Many beginning artists recreate the drawings they see in their favorite comics. Politicians study the debating skills and positions of their opponents.
Learn by examining what others are doing. This is what Stephen King meant when he said, "If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot." So read. A lot. Study it. Pay attention to how others are doing things. Notice what works and what doesn't. Examine every nuance. Search for weakness that you can avoid in your own work. Take notes. Read negative reviews and you'll start to see patterns on what makes a story weak or hated. Then avoid doing those things yourself. And just like the champion martial artist whose learning takes her across multiple styles, read across all genres. A good story transcends typecast, as you will come to see.
Be like the athlete who scrutinizes footage.
"Know yourself, and know your opponent. They are never as strong as you think, and never as weak, either." – Carlos Newton
6. You Don't Study Your Craft
"You have to learn the rules of the game. And then you have to play better than anyone else." – Albert Einstein
Ask any pro football player if they know the playbook. Chances are that they know it inside and out. Other athletes are known to have amassed huge libraries of books on things pertaining to their field of study. Anything they can get their hands on. They want to soak up any knowledge that will help them advance their skills or their strategy. By the same token, take any successful entrepreneur and it is certain they have read dozens of books on business. You can tell because many of them make their own recommended reading lists. Anything to gain an edge.
This is why many athletes later become coaches or commentators after they retire. Yes, they love the game and don't want to leave, but they are also experts, many of whom spent most of their lives learning every facet.
"I am still learning." – Michaelangelo
Pick any profession in the world, no matter how erudite or simple, and there is a training period where one must learn how to do that job. If you wanted to be a doctor, you would have to go to medical school. You'd study diligently for years. Even a fast food worker learns how to work the point of sale system, the kitchen equipment, the drive-thru, the damn mop station. So it doesn't matter what the job is. Learning is a component of it, and that applies to any phase. If you want to be the best, you study. You're constantly learning. The world of sales presents an excellent example of this concept. Top salesmen study the art of the deal from any medium they can get a hold of: books, motivational CDs, seminars, teleconferences on communication, you name it. Because they're invested, their livelihoods depend on it.
They take it seriously (see item number one). They've burned their ships behind them and have only one choice: to move forward.
Champions are constantly trying to improve their game. They know there is always something else to learn. So study the craft. Learn everything you can. There are millions of free articles out there. Get books from the library. Find online courses and workshops, attend seminars if you can, writing groups. Anything you can get your hands on. That's what champions are doing. They devour information and knowledge.
"You can practice shooting eight hours a day, but if your technique is wrong, then all you become is very good at shooting the wrong way. Get the fundamentals down and the level of everything you do will rise." – Michael Jordan
7. You Don't Play
"The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it, keep looking. Don't settle." – Steve Jobs
Remember how I said Eddie Van Halen used to play his guitar for hours as a teen? He loved it. Couldn't get enough of it. Bobby Fischer has said that all he ever wants to do is play chess. Bruce Lee loved to fight. Picasso would not stop drawing. In fact, he is estimated to have produced around 50,000 pieces of art. You can't do that unless you love it. Have you ever known a drummer? They drum on everything, all the time. With their hands, with ink pens, in the air. It gets annoying sometimes. But they can't help it. They love it. It's how they get good. Practicing what you love does not seem like practice.
So if you don't love what you do, then the question becomes: why are you even doing it?
A lot of writers hate writing. They force themselves to do this thankless thing that doesn't bring them any joy. And for what? Some people simply want to be called a writer. Or an actor. Or a model. They derive their validation from a title. Just like some people will become doctors or lawyers for the money, only to find out that they hate it. If you can't enjoy the art of it, if you are unable to do something without it being a chore, you should consider doing something else. People who develop the discipline to achieve the highest levels of their art are able to do so because they have a deep love for what they do. I don't imagine Bobby Flay would be a chef if he didn't love food. What if Eric Clapton was never in the mood to play his guitar? Or if Mia Hamm never felt like kicking a ball around?
"Choose a job you love and you will never have to work a day in your life." – Confucius
Champions love their profession, and they live for it. Artists doodle. Grapplers are always down to roll with you. Comedians are always telling jokes. They do it for fun, all the time. If you have to force yourself to do something, maybe it's not for you. If you don't love what you do, have the self-respect to move on from that which does not suit you. If what you used to love has become a chore, try to focus on what made it so alluring in the first place. Rediscover the magic. There are lots of things you can do to get back to that place. But the bottom line is that you need to be honest with yourself about what you really want. How much do you really love what you do?
Relationship coaches will tell you that when someone is in love with you, it shows through in their actions. They make efforts to be with you. They don't flake out on you. You can tell. If you're getting mixed signals, they're just not that into you. If you really loved your craft, you'd make an effort.
8. You Don't Believe in Yourself
"To be a great champion, you must believe you are the best. If you're not, pretend you are." – Muhammad Ali
If you don't believe in yourself, how do you expect to achieve anything? Do you think it's just going to happen by accident? If you don't think you're worthy of the distinction of champion, you aren't. No one ever became the best in their field by thinking they were worthless. They might not have believed they were the best in the world, the number one, but they certainly had the confidence it took to achieve whatever they set out to do. Bruce Lee knew he could beat anybody, as did Muhammad Ali. Whether that was true or not, they believed it. Picasso claimed he could draw like Rembrandt as a child. These people just knew.
Let's look at the inverse, which is sometimes easier to put into perspective. Picture someone who doesn't think they can accomplish something. What happens? They won't even try! What is the point? Even if they do manage to get motivated to do something, the thought of inadequacy still pervades and infects their actions, so they never take things seriously unless something happens to cause a change in mindset. If there is one thing we learned from Napoleon Hill in Think and Grow Rich it's that thoughts are things.
We all experience setbacks and we all get disheartened along the way. The trick, then, is figuring out how to get back in the zone.
The only limitation to what we accomplish are those we place upon ourselves. Everything else is an excuse. Don't allow fear to paralyze you into inaction. You have to be willing to take risks and face failure. It's not the failure that defines you, it's what you do after that. Do you quit? Or do you press on? Self-confidence need not be some elusive, cryptic force. You have to feed it. Starve the inner naysayer. Whether you think you can or you can't, you're right. Henry Ford said that. You only need one person to believe in you to be a champion. That's you.
"Courage is like a muscle. We strengthen it by use." – Ruth Gordon
Confidence isn't something you need to be born with. But it is something you need if you want to be a legend. Work on increasing your confidence.
"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." – Eleanor Roosevelt
9. You Don't Have a Coach
"Learn of the skillful; he that teaches himself has a fool for a master." – Benjamin Franklin
In his bestselling book, Mastery, Robert Greene describes the importance of apprenticeship. Having a mentor enables you to glean information directly from those who have achieved mastery before us. Having a mentor will enable you to not only learn the valuable material that will help you improve your craft, but they will help you push your own boundaries. They know what your flaws are and how to get you out of your own way. They won't allow you to slack off.
Luke would never have become a Jedi had it not been for Yoda. Daniel had Mr. Miyagi. Rocky had Mick. Kirk Hammett learned from Joe Satriani. Isaac Asimov mentored Gene Roddenberry. Quentin Tarantino credits Elmore Leonard with being a mentor.
There are thousands of examples. You would be hard-pressed to find someone who rose to the highest level of their profession who didn't acquire a mentor or coach along the way. Every top-tier athlete has a coach. Every Olympic team has one. Why do they need one if they're at the top of their game? Coaches fulfill a vital role in the development of champions. They are teachers, advisers, motivators. Friends. A great coach helps you transcend yourself and achieve your full potential. Why limit yourself? A coach can see things you cannot, will hold you accountable, will keep you pointed in the right direction. If the best in the world have coaches and mentors, doesn't it stand to reason that everyone else needs one even more?
For writers, this person could be your agent or your editor. If you need help finding someone who can fill this role, start expanding your social network. Join a forum, find a meetup or writing group near you, hit up a seminar or workshop. Hell, take a risk and write your favorite author or screenwriter. You never know.
"I absolutely believe that people, unless coached, never reach their maximum capabilities." – Bob Nardelli, CEO, Home Depot
10. You Don't Have Training Partners
"You fight by yourself, but you didn't get that way by yourself. It's a team sport and everybody helps you get where you're at." – Nate Diaz
Every champion has training partners, whether they're a wrestler, a chess grandmaster, a tennis player, or a musician. In the first examples, the sparring partner is obvious – their opponent. They can pit their skills against those of another. It would be very difficult to master wrestling, for example, without a training partner. Obviously. And any coach will tell you it's best to have a variety of partners, as each person offers a different training experience, keeping you well-rounded.
You need feedback and you need someone to challenge your skills, which enables you to constantly improve. You have to keep your skills sharp. To learn new things. You have to put yourself in front of other people. People who can make you better.
As writers, getting feedback is essential. It is hard to be objective about our own work. We know what we want to say. We know the story. We can't see that some things don't make sense. We miss typos. We fall in love with characters or exposition and we include things that don't belong, things that serve no purpose. This is why we need other people to read our work before we put it out there. Beta readers. People who won't just tell you what you want to hear. People other than your mother.
You want to pick people who will challenge you the most. Don't just pick people who give you praise. That would be like Kobe Bryant only going one on one with kindergartners. The object is to get better, because everybody wins that way. You get better, you learn, the reader is entreated to a better experience, you sell more stuff, your kids get nicer things. All because you picked the right people to be on the bus.
Find people to critique your material. Strive for quality. The best ones will make you want to pull your hair out. But you'll be better for it.
"You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with." – Jim Rohn
What are you doing to become a champion?


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Will the Real Digital Natives Please Stand Up?
We assume that most students are "digital natives" and will naturally understand concepts and issues surrounding technology, but in my experience with freshmen, this isn't always the case. After spending the past week doing a unit on Global Digital Citizenship with students in which they created PSAs using iMovie and Photo Booth, I was reminded of this. Not only do students struggle with knowing the important issues surrounding technology (very few could go much deeper than cyberbullying or obesity from playing too many games), but they did not have the skills to gather the appropriate materials online or use the two programs being introduced and weren't willing to problem solve to figure it out. So what do we really mean when we say our students our "digital natives" and how should this influence our teaching?
Sitting in a recent tech training session, I was reminded once again of the prevalent attitude of students as "digital natives" and the effect this misconception could have on the classroom and educators. The trainer, after walking a group of teachers through the technology, made a remark in passing akin to "oh, but your students will be able to do this already." This assumption is akin to saying that students will be able to compose a symphony or write a Petrarchan sonnet simply because they've been exposed to music and language in their environment. If teachers take on this assumption, the results are frustration when they find that students don't in fact know what the teacher needs/expects them to know, dismay if they think the gap between the natives and the immigrants will be too wide to be bridged, or lack of properly prepared students because they were expected to somehow have already absorbed the knowledge from their environment by virtue of being born post 1990. A child may be able to pick up a language from hearing it spoken around them without formal grammar lessons, but technology is not a language. There is also a big difference between being able to post pictures to Pinterest or download a song from iTunes (skills they are fluent in) and being able to evaluate research online or skillfully manipulate the myriad, ever changing tools our digital world throws at us.
A recent Economist article "The Net Generation Unplugged" argues "Only a small fraction of students may count as true digital natives, in other words. The rest are no better or worse at using technology than the rest of the population." Other scholars writing in the British Journal of Education Technology in 2008 point out that due to variations in economics or abilities, there may be as wide a range of differences within those classified as being "digital natives" as there is between digital natives and digital immigrants.
All of this is not to say that we shouldn't examine how technology can reach students and improve our educational methods. But let's go into 1:1 education knowing what we're really up against so we can best serve the students.
Sources: "The Net Generation, Unplugged." Economist (London, England) Vol. 394, No. 8672. 06 Mar 2010: 10. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 08 Mar 2012.
Posted on 8 March 2012, in Digital Citizenship and tagged Digital Native. Bookmark the permalink. 4 Comments.
I like these analogies, particularly the one regarding US citizenship. While persons born in the US are very familiar with US customs and culture, how many of them could pass the exam that all immigrants applying for citizenship must take?
Our students are comfortable in a digital environment, but don't come hard-wired from the womb with step-by-step instructions for all possible software or internet situations.
A situation I encounter repeatedly is helping my students evaluate the results of a Google search. While their first assumption is that all information can be found on the computer, they don't necessarily know how to select search terms that will lead in the right direction. They also need help and guidance in evaluating the search results. The idea of examining sources for credibility, purpose, bias, and so forth is not new at all. We are simply teaching the same skills we have always taught in a different venue.
It's easy to see where these misconceptions are coming from; this commercial from Sprint (and particularly the bit I've started the video at) is a prime example of something we see every day, whether it's on TV, in a restaurant, or in our own homes.
I wanted to emphasize something that resonated with me: "…weren't willing to problem solve to figure it out." Problem solving is the key to digital proficiency. Computers have come a long way, and whereas 15 years ago you had to know HTML to make a website, I'd place money on the fact that most teachers here (myself included) wouldn't know how to make simple hyperlink without a processor doing it for us!
And that's the great thing about how computers and technology have evolved; they're meant to be intuitive. They're designed to be easily figured out. We need to encourage our students to take those steps.
p.s. I've put in some HTML; hopefully if they don't work I'll be able to edit/delete my post, but if they don't and I can't….

subset: commoncrawl


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Curtis12355 needed a new logo design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 79 designs submitted by 18 freelance designers.
Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church
Here's our mission statement: Good Shepherd exists to make disciples of Jesus Christ who connect with God, grow in faith and serve in love.
And a bit more explanation: We're a 50 year old church that has, historically, done things like our founders did 50 years ago. Which, of course, hasn't always worked really well. That said, we want to find a way to move forward while respecting our past (if that's possible!).
So on the sliders below I've essentially relayed where we're hoping to go. We're Feminine, Mature, Luxury, Classic, Serious, Quiet, Complex and Subtle. So we'd like to become a little more Masculine, Young, Economical, Modern, Playful, Loud, Simple and Obvious.
I've attached our current logo.
Our mission statement includes connecting, growing and serving. So there's a three-ness to it. That maybe something cool to incorporate? I've also attached a symbol of the Trinity, a historical image used throughout church history to point to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Also, we're a Christian church, so a cross may be good too?
Though I'm not sure both of those could necessarily work together.
Find out how a design contest works or learn more about our logo design services.


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Cancer is complex and its treatment generally requires coordination among different sub-specialties such as radiation oncology, medical oncology, hematology, surgical oncology, pathology, radiology, palliative care, nutrition and others.
Our specialists meet weekly to discuss the condition of each of our patients and their cancers. For each patient, they develop a comprehensive, highly-individualized treatment plan that is designed to achieve the best possible outcome, and they closely monitor the progress of that treatment to allow for rapid adjustments, as warranted. This includes treating medical conditions that may not be related to your cancer.
Patients and their families often meet with their entire team during a single visit, making it easier to understand all aspects of diagnosis and treatment recommendations. Our team remains in close contact with patients and their referring physicians throughout treatment and beyond, because we put a premium on comfort, convenience, access to information and monitoring our patients' progress once initial treatment is complete.


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I can't believe I almost forgot to re-post this very important Christmas recipe. I had a couple of grim years where there was no trifle for me as we couldn't find a gluten free sponge that would stand up to soaking in sherry and being submerged in jelly. Proper old school trifle is my favourite desert, I don't know why exactly but it ticks all the boxes required in a sweet to make me sigh contentedly as I reach for a second helping.
Chiffon cake is great to make with Gluten Free Flour and is the closest thing I can find to the sweet, light, dry trifle sponges that we bought and used every year for Christmas Trifle. Trifle is the one Christmas food tradition I could not do without, steeped in sherry, set in proper jelly and topped with custard and then a layer of whipped cream it is the perfect desert to follow Christmas dinner.
This quantity will make enough for two trifles and as the sponge freezes beautifully you can make it well in advance of Christmas Day. If you don't feel like making two trifles use the second half of the sponge for Tiramisu, I guarantee it will be delicious.
1 & 1/3 cup Doves Farm Gluten Free Self -Raising Flour
1 & 1/2 cups caster sugar: use I & ¼ cups for the cake batter, and use ¼ cup for the egg white
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
6 tablespoons cool water
1/4 cup sunflower oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
6 eggs separated
Preheat the oven to Gas 4/ 180 /350°F.
• Line a deep roasting dish with parchment paper
• Sift the Gluten Free plain flours, 1 1/4 cups of the caster sugar, baking powder and salt together twice into a large bowl.
• In a separate bowl, beat the egg yolks with the water, oil, and vanilla until smooth.
• Add the egg batter in to the flour mixture and fold in until smooth.
• In a clean dry large bowl whisk the egg whites to the soft peak stage, then add the remaining 1/4 cup sugar, continue beating but stop before you reach the stiff peak stage or your cake will shrink.
• Use a rubber spatula or large flat spoon to fold one-quarter of the egg whites into the cake batter to loosen it slightly, then gently fold in the remaining whites , be gentle but keep going until there are no streaks of egg white visible.
• Pour the batter into the lined roasting dish.
• Bake for forty to fifty minutes until the top springs back when lightly pressed and a cake tester inserted in the centre of the cake comes out.
In my house there are a few traditions around the trifle. The trifle and custard are usually made by my brother who is so precious about this desert that he makes it himself just to make sure the job gets done. The process often begins after Midnight Mass and a few festive tipples, if he has one tipple too many then my Mum will step up. The trifle is made with two packs good old fashioned Birds Raspberry or Strawberry jelly, dissolved as per the instructions on the packet. The sponge is sliced in to inch wide fingers, split and sandwiched back together with jam. The jammy fingers are dipped in to a saucer of sherry and then layered in the trifle bowl with two sliced bananas. The dissolved jelly is poured over the sponge and the trifle is left to set.
While the trifle is setting it is time to make the custard, if you do not feel like making your own custard there are plenty of good pre made gluten free custards on the market.
Once the trifle has set and the custard cooled, pour the custard over the trifle and place in the fridge until you are ready to serve. Just before serving whip some cream to soft peaks and dollop over the surface of the trifle.
Cold, soft and sweet this desert is perfect after a heavy Turkey and Ham dinner with all the trimmings and although I do love a traditional Christmas Pudding I prefer to leave that for a late evening treat to enjoy while watching a Christmas Movie in front of the fire.


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Date: 04/07/2009
Views: 3650
Nicely colored with detailed scenes around the margins. California and Australia (New Holland) show the usual errors for the period.
Below are links to free images that are sufficient for most web purposes. To license much larger images of this and/or similar world maps for editorial or other purposes go to the World Map page at: alamy.com/lbx.asp?1087656.


text: Need an Excel file with all of your invoices exported for end of the year record keeping? Look no further than your Blinksale Account page. Simply click your Account link after logging into Blinksale and use the Excel button to download an Excel file with a list of your sales. Best wishes to you and your business as you start the new year!


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Brawl Stars is a new game from popular mobile game developers. If you want to get a lot of virtual resources in this game, then you need to know some nuances. You must control the whole team, which competes with a team of rivals in various labyrinths and locations. The main goal of each user who reads this article is to find a Brawl Stars hack. And you are very lucky.
Bonus codes for Brawl Stars for Android and Ios:
- Satchel of Gems - bs*RQspUto
- Bucket of Gems - bs*PCn9V1i
- Crate of Gems - bs*lx3vPqL
No, in our article there is no hacking, but we have secret codes that will make the gameplay more interesting and bright. What is the principle of the operation of these codes? Everything is very simple. The developers used them to test the game. You also have the opportunity to enter these codes to increase the number of virtual means. In the game store you can see the resources that you can buy for real money, but using codes - you will do it quickly and for free. They are proof of payment.
Soon, Android users will also be able to enjoy this game and enter cheats Brawl Stars. But this will have to wait a few months. If you are an experienced player, then most likely, you already have your own strategy, which helps you to overcome the difficulties in the game correctly. If so, then you already have a trump card and you have privileges in the game. If you are a beginner, the best way to improve the game level is to enter secret codes.
Review of the game, the secrets of passing and getting crystals:
You already know that the main game currency in the game is crystals, in order not to spend almost seventy dollars on their purchase, you can use codes without downloading mod Brawl Stars. That is, you risk nothing. You do not need to download suspicious files or endanger the mobile device and personal data.
You are part of the team. Fight for the crystals and get many wins. To do this, buy weapons and raise the level of your characters. In addition, you need to ensure that you have a large number of coins, chips and elixirs. Get a lot of experience in the game and you will be able to win players online. But before that you need to practice and learn how to correctly enter cheats. Share this information with your friends on social networks and get instructions.


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Sunday, June 7, 2009
FS122 meets Banana Split Sunday!!!
Congrats to Kisa for being this weeks Featured Stamper #122!!! Kisa has a wonderful gallery and I had a hard time deciding which card to case, but ultimately I ran with this card!!!
Casing this card gave me the chance to combined my card with today's Banana Split Sunday - Pattern Frenzy Challenge!!! You have to use at least 3 different Pattern Paper on your card!!!
Here are the changes I made according to the casing rules:
I used different colors and Designer Paper, different image, added some Ribbon and I tweaked the layout a little bit.
The Designer Paper is from Making Memories - Chloe's Closet Collection. My card base is Very Vanilla.
The image is Country Girl from the Sarah Kay Collection. The 2Redbananas store is selling this super sweet image too!!!
I inked it in Memento Black first and then colored it with these Copic and Prisma Markers - E00, E47, R08, R27, B34, YG91, PM-121, PM- 124 and PM-132.
After the coloring I took the PTI Vintage Cream Ink Spot and distressed it around the edges of my card!!! Next I added Brown Gingham Ribbon and attached them with Copper Brads.
At last I created the row of Copper Brads on the bottom - voila!!!
Hope you are diggin' out some out your unloved or loved Pattern Paper and play along?!?
Check out what the rest of the team has created - Cassie, Deb, Jeanette , Denise, Teresa, Wendy and Jami.
Have a wonderful remaining Sunday and I'll be back later in the afternoon to announce the winner of the Blog Candy Giveaway!!!
28 comments:
- Unknown said...
One of my fave Sarah Kays!! Love all those copper brads and the dotted papers!! And that gingham is just perfect for a little country girl!
- June 07, 2009 3:35 AM
- Chris Olsen, Glowbug said...
You did such an incredible job coloring this image Silke and combining the 3 different pattern papers!! Especially love the country gingham. Gorgeous creation yet again!
- June 07, 2009 5:35 AM
- Robin Kirkpatrick said...
Very nice card, Silke. Great coloring job and choice of papers!
- June 07, 2009 8:16 AM
- Joanne (jojot) said...
what perfect dp's you chose for this country gal.....and even with the 3dp's you were able to keep it in your signature clean style...tfs
- June 07, 2009 9:16 AM
- Connie M. said...
This is so very adorable, Silke...your coloring is amazing!!
- June 07, 2009 9:46 AM
- Dawn Easton said...
GORGEOUS Silke! Your image is coloured beautifully....wowzers girl!
- June 07, 2009 10:10 AM
- Lovely Linda said...
How DIVINE is this!!! I am loving it!! Perfect image and those papers are stunning with it! Silke - you are an amazng artist - each card is just amazing - how do you keep up with yourself! LOL!!
Now about your Blog Candy - can you please make the next one acrylic or unmounted stamps so they are light to post overseas....your fan base in Australia is devastated - LOL! All the best to the winner!!! SOB!!!
Thanks for inspiring Silke...each day you 'bring more to the table!' Thanks!!
- June 07, 2009 10:39 AM
- Betty Wright said...
Silke this is gorgeous!!!! Love the colors and patterns!!!! The sponged distressing is fabulous. Your coloring is wonderful!!!! Beautifully done!!!
- June 07, 2009 10:44 AM
- Simone said...
Phänomenal, Silke!!! Zum Knutschen schön! :-)
LG Simone
- June 07, 2009 11:04 AM
- Yvonne Hagane said...
Its a fabulous card, Silke!! I love Sarah Kay images and this is just perfect!
Hugs, Yvonne.
- June 07, 2009 12:46 PM
- Cindy Haffner said...
She is darling, love the layout!
- June 07, 2009 1:07 PM
- Jackie Pedro said...
Darling, Silke! Love the mix of colors and patterns!!
- June 07, 2009 1:44 PM
- Teresa said...
Love that patch work look of your papers, fun card.
- June 07, 2009 3:44 PM
- Janice M said...
Adorable!! Love your coloring
- June 07, 2009 6:58 PM
- Wendy said...
This card is so precious. I love the papers and brads and the image is adorable.
- June 07, 2009 8:05 PM
- Grace said...
Silke I loved this card on SCS and I just had to come see it again!!! LOVE this image and how beautifully you have colored it and love the dps! Gorgeous creations!!!
- June 07, 2009 8:26 PM
- Sabrina Jackson said...
Silke, do you remember growing up that there was a time when everything was Sarah Kay? Girl, you've nailed it to the "T" right here my friend. Your image looks just like the originals. Your coloring is out of this world!!!! Hugs, Sabrina
Ps.: Wir muessen unbedingt Telefonnummern austauschen :D:D:D
- June 07, 2009 8:51 PM
- Christi Flores said...
Silke-what a wonderful CASE!
- June 07, 2009 9:11 PM
- ~Lori Roop said...
She's adorable Silke! Nice coloring too!! :)
- June 08, 2009 10:36 AM
- Laura (scrapnextras) said...
Adorable image and great mix of colour and pattern! Love all the brads and the ribbon!
- June 08, 2009 10:48 AM
- Denise Marzec said...
LOOOOOVE those Sarah Kays and the papers you paired with this cutie are PERFECT! VERY sweet card, my friend.
- June 08, 2009 3:11 PM
- strawberry fields said...
gorgeous card...sweet image
fiona x
- June 08, 2009 4:05 PM
- strawberry fields said...
gorgeous card...sweet image
fiona x
- June 08, 2009 4:05 PM
- strawberry fields said...
gorgeous card...sweet image
fiona x
- June 08, 2009 4:05 PM
- Tosha Leyendekker said...
This is just precious Silke!! Love the brads! And your coloring is fabulous!
- June 09, 2009 1:05 AM
- Stamp and Smile said...
This card is darling Silke! Such a sweet country girl enjoying her day... Fun DP's!! Cuttie Patootie... SMILES! :)
- June 09, 2009 1:09 AM
- Ashley said...
SUper adorable, Silke! Love your coloring! Hugs, Ash-
- June 09, 2009 2:09 PM
- Jessie/knightrone said...
Very cute!! I love that image!!
- June 10, 2009 1:55 AM


text:
La Trobe University, the AFLPA and Beyondblue present research and individual stories of courage at an exclusive panel event aimed at reducing the stigma around discussing men's mental health.
Moderated by: Nick Dal Santo, 300 game ex-AFL player
Panel: Andrew Thorpe (Beyondblue), Dr Paul O'Halloran (La Trobe University), Jake Edwards (Outside The Locker Room).
Tea and coffee provided at the conclusion of the panel discussion.
Panel Event
Date: Thu. 27 July 2017
Time: 10am – 11:30am
Venue: Odeon Room, La Trobe University, Melbourne Campus, Plenty Road, Melbourne.
Register: Please register via Eventbrite.


text:
Shop now
A sweep of this hard-working lid primer is all you need to banish shadow creasing, fading and transfer and keep your eye look fresh and flawless. This featherlight formula boasts a subtle white shimmer to instantly illuminate lids and amplify your shadow looks. Enriched with natural mineral pigments to brighten and absorb excess oils, aloe vera to replenish moisture and arnica to de-puff.
Water, Glycerin*, Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera) Leaf Juice*, Polyglyceryl-2 Oleate, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate, Coco-caprylate, Jojoba Esters, Rosa Canina (Rosehip) Seed Oil*, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil*, Dimethicone, Mica, Vanilla Planifolia (Vanilla) Bean*, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf*, Arnica Montana*, Matricaria Chamomilla (Chamomile) Flowers*, Phenethyl alcohol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopherol.*Certified Organic Ingredients.


text:
There is this email that has been floating around about an informal poll being taken on Bay Farm in response to the Ron Cowan development land swap thingamajig. At this point the whole proposal has taken on this epic weirdness that someone needs to come up with a good acronym for all the moving parts. Adding to the cluster is this informal traffic survey that is being done by a "coalition of your neighborhood home owner associations."
So this whole week during the morning commute Harbor Bay Isle HOA staff will be taking a "finger survey" to figure out where people are going in the morning. If you are confused about what a finger survey is, here are excerpts from the email describing the reasoning behind using this methodology:
The survey will be taken of all drivers on Island Drive who will be asked to indicate where their immediate destination is by a show of fingers.
Part of the reason for this unusual tactic is to quantify what many in our community suspect, that most of the drivers stuck in the congestion are trying to either get someone to school in time and/or are trying to get to work on time, and that these drivers may not realistically have other options such as leaving at different times, and/or relying on car pooling, more car pooling, bicycling, walking or riding public transportation to these destinations. A driver's vote by fingers alone should not add any delay to the traffic flow, as opposed to conducting an oral survey, or even handing drivers a survey to complete and return, a process that usually results in a poor level of participation.


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We just received a fresh foot of snow in the Chilcotin Mountains, making our 500 km of trails especially inviting!
On the drive to the Chilcotin Holidays Guest Ranch, we stopped to check out some fresh cougar tracks and Kevan Bracewell, owner of the ranch, showed us how to determine the size of the mountain lion by putting an index finger into one of the toe prints. The cougar that had made these tracks was a big one. Unfortunately, we didn't get to see the cat itself because it had come through long before we got there. Kevan explained that the cougar was hunting for mountain sheep, some of the 150-head herd living along the mountain slopes that we had seen earlier, feeding along the side of the Highway.
But we did watch a lone wolf crossing a frozen lake. Other wildlife that may be sighted by a watchful wildlife spotter driving a snowmobile are moose and mule deer.
Chilcotin Holidays believes that every encounter with nature, no matter how brief, has the potential to change a life. We live this belief by offering unparalleled wilderness access as a solution for society's extreme disconnection from nature. Come and experience driving a snowmobile at our wilderness ranch!


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Key Stage 4
English Language GCSE is an essential qualification to have and underpins your achievement across all subjects. It is also very stimulating as you are able to take part in debates, prepare and give presentations. You will develop your writing and speaking skills to a high standard and the set texts are interesting and thought-provoking. English Literature is an additional qualification that all students are entered for and is designed to develop your analytical skills. It complements the English Language GCSE whilst at the same time improves your understanding of literature. Results in this subject are very good.
Both subjects prepare students for achievement in any subject but a particular interest in either language or literature can lead to a career in journalism or education. However a 'C' grade in English is a requirement for any university or college course and most apprenticeships ask for it as well.


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Lepisorus clathratus (C. b. Clarke) Ching var. clathratus
Determined by: Xianchun Zhang, May 2012
Crevices of large boulders in hard packed soil with mosses. Colonial; rhizomes brittle, easily broken.
|D. E. Boufford, B. Bartholomew, D. A. Eaton, X. H. Li, R. H. Ree, B. Xu, J. P. Yue, J. W. Zhang & X. X. Zhu
|1 August 2009
Copyright 2009 David Boufford [Edit image] [View original in new window][center]


text:
I do remember your previous store. I'm a long time scrapbooker and have dabbled with mixed media quite a bit. I am not an artist by any stretch of the imagination but playing with kits like this makes me feel like one. I'm an RN living in western NY state near Rochester.
I just found you all! Beautiful products. I love doing mixed media art @TinaJewelsCreations
Hello, my name is Logan Wilhelm. I am a scrapbooker, play with mixed-media, love TN planners and build dollhouses! The inspiration on the internet, YouTube, Facebook and though clubs such as Bad Girls Couture fuel my imagination! Looking forward to checking out the gallery to see what everyone does with these gorgeous kits!!
Hi Logan) Glad to get acquainted! I admire the doll houses, it's like being in childhood … exciting. I also love scrapbooking and home decor. Also I sew dolls and Vintage Teddy bears. I will be glad to see your work in the Gallery. The November whale is something incredible!
Tina, glad to get acquainted))) I'll be glad to chat about mixed media art. It's hard for me to let go of my head and do it without thinking, my mind interferes with me. How do you cope with this?
Hello Bonnie! I'm from St. Petersburg from Russia. Glad to get acquainted) I like to see how from one set of bad girls get so many completely different beautiful works. Add your work to the gallery!
Welcome ladies!!
Hi everyone! I'm Ashli and excited to be here!!! I live just outside of Atlanta with the hubby and four girls and a dog 🙂 I love gardening, art journaling, scrapbooking, coffee, and pajamas. On any day that order is subject to change – lol.
Welcome, everyone! Looking forward to getting to know you all and see your projects! 🙂


text:
Electric carmaker Tesla Motors said on Thursday it would offer two slightly lower-priced versions of its electric Model S sedan, starting at $66,000 in the U.S. market.
The current Model S starts around $76,000 and is often delivered to customers at a price of about $100,000.
Prices are before tax incentives are applied.
The new versions, the rear-wheel drive Model S 60 and the all-wheel drive Model S 60D, will have slightly less range than the Model S already sold. The Model S 60D starts at $71,000 in the U.S. market.
The newer models will have a range of more than 200 miles, Tesla said in a statement.
Read More: Tesla Plans to Sell 500,000 Cars in 2018
The Model S 60 and Model S 60D will be sold with a battery pack with a capacity of 75 kilowatt-hours, but will be limited to a capacity of 60 kWh. Tesla said owners will have the option to get a software upgrade to allow the car to have a capacity of 75 kWh and the longer range it provides.
Analyst Joseph Spak of RBC Capital said the upgrade option will cost $8,500 at purchase or $9,000 after purchase.
A 60 kWh battery has an estimated range of 218 miles for the rear-wheel drive Model S 60 and 210 miles for the Model S 60D, Tesla'a website shows.
The upgrade to the 75 kWh battery pack will add about 40 miles of range to each model.
Tesla in 2012 offered a 60 kWh Model S version priced starting about $70,000 but it was discontinued last year. Tesla says the two newer Model S versions offer more capabilities than the discontinued one.
Tesla has said it will produce between 80,000 and 90,000 electric cars in 2016 and that it can make 500,000 by 2018. Most of those are expected to be Model S cars. In the first quarter, Tesla produced 14,820 vehicles, of which 12,851 were Model S and 2,659 were Model X sports utility vehicle.
Tesla plans a new car, the Model 3, which is to be a more affordable sedan, starting around $35,000, to go to market in late 2017.
Tesla shares on Thursday morning were down 0.7% at $233.94.


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Posted on 29th August 2014 by Media Relations
At just one month old, Nkosi the male Giraffe calf at Taronga Western Plains Zoo is definitely growing in confidence each day.
In the mornings, it is not uncommon to see the newest member of the herd galloping around the adult Giraffe. The adults watch on as Nkosi gracefully gallops amongst them, covering plenty of ground with his long legs.
Like any newborn, Nkosi experiences bursts of energy, followed by quiet time, where he often picks a spot near the fence to sit down and have a rest.
Nkosi has recently started mingling with the herd for short periods of time across the day and this will only increase as he continues to grow.


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Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Have you ever happened upon someone during their weakest moment and helped them through it? Has anyone seen you during a vulnerable moment? Did they lend a hand or turn away?
Who is Sy Sperling and what does he have to do with helping?
We would all like to be solid rocks in the river however, we aren't. We are loose stones tumbling with the current.
Are you being true to yourself? Is your persona true to others? When given the opportunity would you do the right thing for the right reasons no matter what others think? The point is, start being
who you truly are. Accept your faults and embrace your weaknesses. The longer you fight the flow; and who you truly are, the longer Continue reading Episode 06 – The Value in Helping


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Click on image to enlarge
'Octo-birr Spectacle'
8.5 x 11 high quality, signed print – $25
Each numbered print is personally signed by the artist!
#3 – Octo-birr Spectacle (1/1/14)
This was my second piece finished while at Coffee Creek Correctional Facility in Oregon. The items I used to work on this piece were a coffee cup for a larger round design, and my prison I.D. I also used a shampoo cap for the smaller round shapes. My SID # (prison ID #), name and other personal information is hidden in this design.
"Octo" means 'eight', "birr" means 'impetus' or 'momentum of design', and "spectacle" means 'to look upon something grand or amazing'.


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That's a wrap on Abertoir 2016! We've celebrated horror old and new, experienced a whole host of events, and commemorated a street from a bygone age - but now, even our recreation of 42nd Street has been cleaned up and Disneyfied...alas! A tremendous thank you to each and every one who made the festival a success this year – in particular our amazing audience! We really wouldn't be doing it if it wasn't for you! See you again next year…?
Published in Latest news


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If you have a question you can use the simple email form here to drop me a line.
Doubleclickittofixit.com Laptop and MacBook Repair
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text: Alleged Killer's Mistake: He Spit on a Sidewalk Geovanni Borjas accused of raping, killing 2 women in 2011 By Arden Dier, Newser Staff Posted May 31, 2017 9:45 AM CDT 34 comments Geovanni Borjas (Los Angeles Police Department via AP) View 2 more images (Newser) – For more than five years, a killer has been on the loose in California. No longer, say police. Authorities in Los Angeles say they've arrested a man believed to have raped and killed two women, then dumped their bodies near freeways in 2011, reports the Los Angeles Times. Michelle Lozano, 17, disappeared on Easter of that year before her naked body was found stuffed in a plastic container off a freeway. She had been raped and strangled, reports the Times. Then a day after Christmas, 22-year-old Bree'Anna Guzman—who lived less than a mile away from Lozano in Lincoln Heights—left family members to go to a drugstore and never returned. Her body turned up a month later off a freeway. She had died of blunt force trauma to the head. In 2014, police announced the killings were related, but the biggest break in the case came Thursday, when authorities said they'd arrested Geovanni Borjas, 32, per FOX 11. Police say a search of a statewide DNA database showed Borjas' father was a relative of the killer. Officers soon eyed Borjas—who has a domestic violence restraining order against him—and collected his DNA when he spit on a sidewalk. Police say the sample was an exact match to DNA collected in both the case of Lozano, who was acquainted with Borjas, and Guzman, who visited a medical clinic where he worked. At a hearing Tuesday, Borjas pleaded not guilty to two counts of murder, two counts of rape, and one count of kidnapping. He is being held without bail. (Familial DNA solved this murder.) View 2 more images My Take on This Story Report a story error Show results | 2% Hilarious 14% Intriguing 7% Depressing 65% Brilliant 12% Scary 0% Ridiculous


text:
625 New York Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11203
Phone: 718-493-2363
We have a 20,000 sq. ft. Nursery One of Brooklyn's Largest!
Description: Emerald 'n Gold is a bushy shrub. Leaf form is oval, toothed and evergreen. This cultivar bears bright green leaves with broad, bright yellow margins that are tinged pink in winter. The flowers are not showy, are greenish-white appearing in early summer. The fruits can be quite showy, borne in fall, they are white capsules that dehisce to expose the bright orange seed. This plant tolerates a wide range of soil conditions, and high moisture, except swampy, full sun to full shade and pH tolerant. Native to China, introduced in 1907.


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Chocolate fat bombs are the perfect way to keep sugar and carb cravings away. They have a wonderful rich taste full of coconut oil, cocoa and tahini, to give a smooth texture.
Chocolate Fat Bombs
Are you over your fear of fat? If you are hungry do you reach for carbs, protein or a healthy fat? Fat bombs are the secret to keeping hunger at bay. Remember these 2 vital points – before you increase your healthy fat intake you MUST lower your carbs otherwise you are back on the standard American diet (SAD) which is high fat and high carbs AND the fat you eat must be a healthy fat, coconut oil, butter, extra virgin olive oil, etc.
Fat bombs are kept in the fridge until you want to eat them, otherwise the coconut oil will melt or soften. You can make them as a dessert or just to keep when hunger strikes.Chocolate Fat Bombs. Perfect to keep carb and sugar cravings away.
What flavour of fat bomb/dessert you would like to make. Add a comment below ::
Chocolate Fat Bombs
- 125 g coconut oil
- 25 g cocoa powder unsweetened
- 1 tbsp granulated sweetener of choice or more, to your taste
- 2 tbsp tahini paste
- 25 g walnut halves, to decorate
- Warm the coconut oil until melted.
- Add all the other ingredients (except the walnuts) and allow to cool slightly so the ingredients don't settle and sink to the bottom of the fat bomb..
- Pour into ice cube trays and refrigerate until semi set.
- Once almost set, place a half walnut on top of each fat bomb.
If you love my chocolate fat bombs, why not try these.
How to give up sugar - FREE 5 day mini course
Discover how to give up sugar for life! Sign up for my FREE 5 day mini email course.
- See how sugar is hiding from you
- Learn to eat out and stay sugar free
- Snack smarter
- See what's in my pantry
- Keep the momentum going and live sugar free for life!
- Get secret discount codes for subscribers only.
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text: When you're visiting San Francisco, it's hard to miss the cultural experiences that are around every corner. Much like any other major city in the United States, San Francisco is bustling with creative artists, musicians, poets and explorers - and they all come together every years during the SF Arts Festival. This year's performances begin in May with Kitty in the Lane, Amnesia and more - all unique stories that have captured international audiences' attentions and are now making their way into our backyard. Experience and engage with unique storytellers who all have an original perspective on the world during this year's San Francisco International Arts Festival from May 21 - June 7, 2015. Hosted at Fort Mason Center, with free buses to the area, you'll love all the variety that any of the events provide. With opening reception featuring "Bearing Witness: Surveillance in the Drone Age" to a session with Allison Lovejoy of "The Seven Deadly Pleasures" - experience it all with tickets now available. The San Francisco International Arts Festival celebrates the unique spirits of the human being by bringing together a global community of artists and patrons. Their mission is to bring together world-renowned artists, performers and musicians to the Bay Area, either through collaborative works with local artists or simply performances during the annual event. Over the past 12 years, more than 150 art ensembles from the Bay Area have joined the cause, with another 100 partners presents, coordinating and producing shows.


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We're giving away 300 FREE bottles of Faith in Nature Grapefruit & Orange Shower Gel.
Infused with notes of grapefruit and citrus, this energising favourite is the perfect wake up call. Pour under running water for a blissful bath or pop into your shower as an everyday essential.
Here's how to claim your free shower gel:
– Add Faith in Nature's Grapefruit & Orange Shower Gel to your trolley (there're only 300 bottles up for grabs).
– Place an order worth £40 or more, for delivery before 8/11/2018.
– Add the following voucher code as you check out: Sorry we're all out of freebies!
– We'll deduct the cost for the first 300 customers to redeem each voucher (please note that only one Faith in Nature Grapefruit & Orange Shower Gel voucher can be used per order, and cannot be used in conjunction with any other voucher).


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We accept the following credit cards for online payment: VISA®, MasterCard®, Discover®, and the American Express® Card.
In order to provide you with the best possible security we have updated our bill pay process. Please enter your Invoice # and payment amount. You will have an opportunity to confirm this after clicking "Pay Bill" and then you will be directed to our secure payment processing engine hosted at Authorize.net.
Through use of BPM's secure web based portal, your electronic data and documents are instantly accessible from anywhere in the world. BPM's client portal utilizes the highest benchmarks of online security and provides you a convenient and secure way to access your documents. Highlights of the client portal include:
CLIENT LOGIN (Individual and Business Document)
ACCOUNTS PAYABLE (Bill.com)
TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS SUPPORT (www.Zendesk.com)
Ashwani leads BPM's Risk Assurance and Advisory Services Group and has over 17 years of experience providing internal audit, risk management, regulatory compliance and controls related services. He has served in leadership roles in internal audit and compliance at several large organizations, including PwC, Molina Healthcare and Deloitte & Touche, LLP. He joined BPM from PwC where he served as Managing Director of Risk Assurance. Prior to PwC, Ashwani was Head of Internal Audit at Molina Healthcare with enterprise wide responsibilities of internal audit, SOX compliance and enterprise risk management. Ashwani's expertise allows him to work with executives and Board of Directors to optimize the role of internal audit, risk and compliance functions.
His expertise includes: Internal audit strategy & implementation, Sarbanes-Oxley readiness & compliance, enterprise risk management (ERM), corporate governance, COSO 2013 framework & implementation, fraud risk assessments, IT security & privacy strategy & assessment, own solvency risk Assessment (ORSA), NAIC model audit rule, ERP/system implementation reviews, process and organization re-engineering, regulatory compliance, HIPAA compliance and HITRUST.
Verma's family has a passion for traveling, especially internationally. They attempt to visit at least two different countries every year.


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Wilson Reagan, 40th President of the United States
Keepers of the peace
I'm delighted to be here on this glorious day of hope and promise. It is indeed an honor to have the privilege of speaking to you today and to receive an honorary degree from this distinguished institution.
Surely my service record alone can't explain my presence here. More than half a century ago I was made a 2nd lieutenant in the Horse Cavalry Reserve. That's hardly enough to warrant the honor you do me today.
But I do have to confess to you that during my presidency, I had an idea that I could never get anyone to support—I wanted to reinstate the Horse Cavalry in the armed services.
Frankly, my being here cannot be based on my academic achievements either. Yes, it's true that my alma mater—Eureka College—awarded me an honorary degree 25 years after my graduation. That only aggravated a sense of guilt I'd nursed for 25 years. I've always suspected the first degree they'd given me was honorary. Truthfully, I am very proud to receive this degree today and my prayer is that I can somehow be deserving of it.
It is a special pleasure to address the graduating class of 1993, as together we mark the culmination of The Citadel's sesquicentennial year. My goodness—one hundred and fifty years. Has it really been that long? It seems like only yesterday that Colonel Harvey Dick and I were watching the first 20 members of the Corps of Cadets report for duty.
You know, the military college had been created that past December, and we weren't quite sure how things would turn out. I remember asking him, "Colonel Dick, do you think these original knobs will make the grade?" Well, a week later, 10 of them were serving confinements, the other 10 were finishing up tours, and all 20 had turned in at least one E.R.W. You see, some things never change. Come to think of it, I seem to recall the colonel was even driving the same station wagon around Charleston. The only difference was that back then, that wagon had real horsepower
Seriously, on my way to Charleston I took a peek at "The Guidon" which they tell me is the bible of the knobs. The more I read that little booklet, the better I like it. For example, I learned the three permissible knob answers: "Sir, yes, sir" and "Sir, no, sir" and—I liked this third one best of all—"Sir, no excuse, sir." By golly, I think, we ought to send the entire U.S. Congress down here to learn answer number three.
Then I read this friendly advice in the book: "When you receive an order, carry it out to the best of your ability. Never argue or offer suggestions which you think might be better. This is not in your best interest." Well, it seems to me that The Citadel has a few things to teach the Cabinet and the Executive Branch, too! In fact, maybe we should just put the whole federal government through cadet training!
But then I remembered the last time the Corps of Cadets and good people of Charleston decided the federal government was taking too active an interest in their affairs. Before you knew it, Cadet George Haynsworth and the other boys behind the gun had fired the famous first shot at the Yankee steamer, Star of the West. Well, we all know what happened after that. As I recall, it took a good four years before everything calmed down again. Just think of the E.R.W. those fellas would have had to write!
In fact, of course, the boys behind the gun served valiantly the cause to which they had pledged their devotion. In this, they exemplified a Citadel tradition—a tradition that would transcend the divisions of our nation's bloodiest internal struggle, and inspire generations of future cadets to courageous service to a nation reunited.
The Citadel's roll of honor today stretches unblemished from the Ardannes to the 38th Parallel, from Grenada to the Persian Gulf with name after name of those who have served our country bravely in time of war—names like General Charles Summerall, General Mark Clark, and your current president, General Bud Watts. Yes, countless soldiers have distinguished themselves on fields of valor and are part of the century-and-a-half tradition of duty and honor we celebrate today.
But for me, there is one name that will always come to mind whenever I think of The Citadel and the Corps of Cadets. It is a name that appears in no military histories; its owner won no glory on the field of battle.
No, his moment of truth came not in combat, but on a snow-driven, peacetime day in the nation's capital in January of 1982. That is the day that the civilian airliner, on which he was a passenger, crashed into a Washington bridge, then plunged into the rough waters of the icy Potomac. He survived the impact of the crash and found himself with a small group of other survivors struggling to stay afloat in the near-frozen river. And then, suddenly, there was hope—a park police helicopter appeared overhead, trailing a lifeline to the outstretched hands below, a lifeline that could carry but a few of the victims to the safety of the shore. News cameramen, watching helplessly, recorded the scene as the man in the water repeatedly handed the rope to the others, refusing to save himself until the first one, then two, then three and four, and finally five of his fellow passengers had been rescued.
But when the helicopter returned for one final trip, the trip that would rescue the man who had passed the rope, it was too late. He had slipped at last beneath the waves with the sinking wreckage—the only one of 79 fatalities in the disaster who lost his life after the accident itself.
For months thereafter, we knew him only as the "unknown hero." And then an exhaustive Coast Guard investigation conclusively established his identity. Many of you here today know his name as well as I do, for his portrait now hangs with honor—as it indeed should—on this very campus; the campus where he once walked, as you have, through the Summerall Gate and along the Avenue of Remembrance. He was a young first classman with a crisp uniform and a confident stride on a bright spring morning, full of hopes and plans for the future. He never dreamed that his life's supreme challenge would come in its final moments, some 25 years later, adrift in the bone-chilling waters of an ice-strewn river and surrounded by others who desperately needed help.
But when the challenge came, he was ready. His name was Arland D. Williams, Jr., The Citadel Class of 1957. He brought honor to his alma mater, and honor to his nation. I was never more proud as president than on that day in June 1983 when his parents and his children joined me in the Oval Office—for then I was able, on behalf of the nation, to pay posthumous honor to him. Greater love, as the Bible tells us, hath no man than to lay down his life for a friend.
I have spoken of Arland Williams in part to honor him anew in your presence, here at this special institution that helped mold his character. It is the same institution that has now put its final imprint on you, the graduating seniors of its 150th year. But I have also retold his story because I believe it has something important to teach to you as graduates about the challenges that life inevitably seems to present — and about what it is that prepares us to meet them.
Sometimes, you see, life gives us what we think is fair warning of the choices that will shape our future. On such occasions, we are able to look far along the path, up ahead to that distant point in the woods where the poet's "two roads" diverge. And then, if we are wise, we will take time to think and reflect before choosing which road to take before the junction is reached.
But such occasions, in fact, are rather rare—far rarer, I suspect, than the confident eyes of one's early twenties can quite perceive. Far more often than we can comfortably admit, the most crucial of life's moments come like the scriptural "thief in the night." Suddenly and without notice, the crisis is up on us and the moment of choice is at hand—a moment fraught with import for ourselves, and for all who are depending on the choice we make. We find ourselves, if you will, plunged without warning into the icy water, where the currents of moral consequence run swift and deep, and where our fellow man - and yes, I believe our Maker—are waiting to see whether we will pass the rope.
These are moments when instinct and character take command, as they took command for Arland Williams on the day our Lord would call him home. For there is no time, at such moments, for anything but fortitude and integrity. Debate and reflection and a leisurely weighing of the alternatives are luxuries we do not have. The only question is what kind of responsibility will come to the fore.
And now we come to the heart of the matter, to the core lesson taught by the heroism of Arland Williams on January 13, 1982. For you see, the character that takes command in moments of crucial choices has already been determined.
It has been determined by a thousand other choices made earlier in seemingly unimportant moments. It has been determined by all the little choices of years past—by all those times when the voice of conscience was at war with the voice of temptation—whispering the lie that it really doesn't matter. It has been determined by all the day-to-day decisions made when life seemed easy and crises seemed far away—the decisions that, piece by piece, bit by bit, developed habits of discipline or of laziness, habits of self-sacrifice or of self-indulgence, habits of duty and honor and integrity—or dishonor and shame.
Because when life does get tough, and the crisis is undeniably at hand—when we must, in an instant look inward for strength of character to see us through—we will find nothing inside ourselves that we have not already put there.
And you know, it turns out that much the same thing is also true for our country. Indeed, I believe this is especially so in the most crucial area of all—America's ability, when necessary, to defend her citizens and her freedoms, and her vital interests by force of arms. For here, too, the crisis is often upon us in an instant. Here, too, our instincts and character must be equal to challenges we can scarcely predict. But here, even character and instinct will not be enough. We must also have the tools—the military capability—ready in advance of the crisis that may demand their use.
Yes, it's true that today the world is a different, better place than it was a decade ago, but it is not an entirely safe place. A multitude of terrorists and international hoodlums are working night and day to do us harm. U.S. troops have been called into action over a dozen times in the last four years. And dozens of deadly conflicts still plague the globe, from central Europe to the former Soviet Union to the Middle East.
Yet, our nation is calling the watchman down from the tower. There are some who want to send Paul Revere into retirement. And I fear it is much too early for that.
By the mid-1990s, defense spending will be well under four percent of our economy. That's down to pre-Pearl Harbor levels. Some members of the blame-the-military crowd in Washington want to cut defense even faster—almost recklessly. They think military weapons and, yes, military people are somehow akin to warmongers.
But just recently we've seen an incredible example of the great humanitarian duties performed by the U.S. armed forces. You don't hear too much about it from that blame-the-military crowd, but I think history will record it as one of the great humanitarian projects of our era. Not too long ago, our forces went into Somalia, a country suffering from daily violence and intense starvation. I'm sure you remember the horrifying pictures on television of the starving children there. Our country made the bold and difficult decision to take the lead in this effort, and our troops were sent because it was the right thing to do. They performed brilliantly and restored order to that desperate country, and when the mission was successfully completed, they came home. It was a proud moment for our country and I, for one, commend those young heroes for their valor.
Senator Dick Lugar of Indiana has put it simply and put it well, "The role of the United States should be to lead the world. Our country has the wisdom, the political will, the military capability, and the economic strength to perform that role better than any other."
I would add only this: it is freedom itself that still hangs in the balance, and freedom is never more than one generation from extinction.
Some continue to think of the world's best military as a laboratory for social experiments. Well, I'm here to tell you that nothing could be further from the truth. We are at peace today and we have that peace through strength, and you, our military, are the providers of that strength. Most importantly of all, you are not wagers of wars, but keepers of the peace.
I'm tired of listening to those naysayers—I heard them often during my own years as commander-in-chief. Our military buildup, we were told, threatened a dangerous escalation of tensions. Our deploying of Pershings and cruise missiles in Europe would destroy any hope for negotiations with the Soviet Union, they said. Our insistence on S.D.I. would scuttle the I.N.F. Treaty. And what kind of fool would call the Soviet Union an evil empire, and say that communism was destined for the ashheap of history?
You know, I have to wonder, just how many times do some people have to be wrong, on so many crucial points, before they start asking themselves a few questions? But you know what some of those critics are saying today? Some of the same people who said our policies were doomed to failure because the Soviets were supposedly too strong are now trying to argue that our policies made no difference because the evil empire was doomed to collapse no matter what we did! Looks to me like it ought to be time again for knob answer three — "Sir, no excuse, sir."
Today, having achieved the victory over communism that some said we were foolish to even seek, America faces the question of military preparedness in a post-Cold War era. And we are hearing some of the same old voices of the blame-the-military crowd, but they're uttering a slightly different message. Before, their theme was that American military might was too costly and too dangerous. Now, they claim that it is too costly and largely unnecessary—that danger is past and the war is won.
It is said that the price of freedom is eternal vigilance. And I'd like to offer several reasons why we must stay strong militarily:
First, despite the spread of democracy and capitalism, human nature has not changed. It is still an unpredictable mixture of good and evil. Our enemies maybe irrational, even outright insane—driven by nationalism, religion, ethnicity or ideology. They do not fear the United States for its diplomatic skills or the number of automobiles and software programs it produces. They respect only the firepower of our tanks, planes and helicopter gunships.
Second, the Soviet Union may be gone, but even small powers can destroy global peace and security. The modem world is filled with vulnerable choke-points—military, geographic, political and economic. The actual lives at stake may be few in number. But, in an era of mass communications, a well-aimed assault can topple governments, cause economic dislocations and spark international conflict. Iraq came close to taking over two-thirds of the world's oil reserves. Terrorists have attacked airplanes, boats, government buildings, the Olympic games, and even the World Trade Center.
Third, technology—for all its blessings—can enable new enemies to rise up overnight. Scientific information flows to ambitious dictators faster than ever. The research and development cycle for new products has shrunk from ten years to five years to two years or even shorter. Technology turns the world upside down. When I was a boy in Illinois, Henry Ford and the Wright Brothers dominated the global marketplace with their marvelous machines. But I was not long out of college when Adolf Hitler's sophisticated tanks and bombers over-ran Europe. Nazi Germany also built the first jet plane and it became frightfully close to inventing the atomic bomb before we did.
The Soviet Union was devastated by Hitler's invasion in the early 1940s. Yet the communist nation quickly rose from the ashes and developed the hydrogen bomb. And few people expected Iraq to recover so quickly from its horrendous war with Iran in the 1980s.
And who can predict what will be the blitzkriegs of tomorrow? Nearly two dozen nations will be able to produce ballistic missiles by the year 2000. On top of that, thousands of nuclear weapons and poorly paid nuclear technicians float around the former Soviet Union—available to the highest bidder.
Over the past few months, we've heard quite a few odd announcements coming out of Washington. Just this week, the new administration announced plans to slash the Strategic Defense Initiative program. They have been all too eager to denounce this program for years and they have been proven wrong, time and time again. I am quite proud of the S.D.I. program we launched a decade ago. I feel it played an instrumental role in our victory over communism. Now, I may not be a Rhodes Scholar, but I do know this, if we can protect America with a defensive shield from incoming missile attacks, we should by all means do so. And if the new administration in Washington thinks we are no longer at risk, they need to open their eyes and take a long, hard look at the world.
The Romans warned long ago, "Let him who desires peace prepare for war." Washington would echo these words in the very first State of the Union Address, reiterating to his countrymen one of the simple truths of the ages — "to be prepared for war is one of the effectual means of preserving peace." Yet it seems we must re-learn this lesson time and time again, often at terrible cost. I know.
In my eighty-two years, I've seen America drop her guard time and time again — and each time with tragic consequences. In 1916, Woodrow Wilson won the election on a promise that he would keep the nation out of war. Shortly afterwards, an unprepared America was sucked into World War I. In 1940, President Roosevelt won re-election on a peace platform. That peace platform soon crumbled under the bombs of Pearl Harbor. After World War II, we disarmed virtually overnight. Before you knew it, our army was being pushed around by ragtag troops in Korea. And later, the Soviets shocked us by launching Sputnik and by invading Afghanistan. Today, the United States dominates the world arena. Once again, our noble first instinct is to seek peace. And that's why America needs the brave and skilled soldiers of The Citadel more than ever. Just in case.
As General Colin Powell, my former national security advisor and now chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has noted, we need a powerful military that can solve small problems before they become big, bloody ones.
We cannot allow another Saddam Hussein to grab every oil patch in the Middle East.
It would be difficult to sit on the sidelines in Bosnia and watch the slaughter of innocent men, women and children and allow war to spread elsewhere in Europe. For let us not forget that that is the exact place that the first World War began.
When I was about your age, President Roosevelt said we had "nothing to fear but fear itself." Today, in much different times, our prosperous nation has little to fear but complacency itself. We must stay strong and flexible. We must keep our powder dry. And this venerable academic institution has an historic obligation to preserve the liberty of America.
Savor these moments. Keep these memories close to your heart. Cherish your families and friends because we never know what the future will bring. Live each day to the fullest. Because it is you who will lay the solid foundations of a free society.
You are ready to build the homes, the neighborhoods and businesses of the 21st century. A noble defender of freedom. General Douglas MacArthur, knew well the qualities of a soldier patriot. During the desperate early days of World War II, when our victory in the Pacific was by no means assured, he wrote a prayer for someone he loved dearly—his young son. Perhaps it could have been written by any father or mother here today.
Here is part of the general's prayer, "Build me a son, 0 Lord, who will be strong enough to know when he is weak, and brave enough to face himself when he is afraid. One who will be proud and unbending in honest defeat, and humble and gentle in victory. Build me a son whose wishes will not take the place of deed; a son who will know Thee—and that to know himself is the foundation stone of knowledge.
"Give him humility, so that he may always remember the simplicity of true greatness, the open mind of true wisdom, and the meekness of true strength.
"Then, I, his father, will dare to whisper, 1 have not lived in vain.'"
Cadets, live each day with enthusiasm, optimism, hope and honor. If you do, I am convinced that your contribution to this wonderful experiment we call America will be greater than we ever imagined.
In closing, let me say that nothing made me prouder as president than America's young people in uniform. And no decision was ever more difficult for me to make than the times I ordered our military forces into action. Each time I issued such an order, I reminded myself that it wasn't just a nameless, faceless soldier I was dispatching, but a child of loving parents; the partner of an adoring spouse; or perhaps the parent and provider for some happy children. I reminded myself that if things should go wrong, and casualties did occur, it wouldn't just be a day of flag-draped coffins coming home.
There would permanently be empty chairs at family tables, vacant seats in little league baseball bleachers, and teary-eyed explanations to young children about why their mommy or daddy wouldn't be coming home again.
So I felt then, as I feel now, America owes a special thanks to those who are willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for their country. We must honor them and respect them, not just when they are in battle, but every day they wear the proud uniform of our country.
When I met with each of my successors prior to beginning their presidencies, I strongly offered a bit of personal advice. I told them, even though you don't wear a uniform, as president you are the commander-in-chief. And when you are saluted by a member of the Armed Forces, don't just smile or wave. I said, stop and salute them back. And, from what I've seen, they've followed that advice.
So today, as an old cavalry officer and your former commander-in-chief, I hope you will allow me once again to show you how proud I am.
you, again, for having me here today. Congratulations and God bless you.


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Simplicity's Champion: Environmental Visionary Duane Elgin
By Martina Tyrrell
In 2009, Ecologist Magazine listed Duane Elgin among its top ten visionaries with 'big ideas for a better world'. Since the 1970s, Elgin has articulated a philosophy of simple living practiced by growing numbers of people around the world.
I came across Elgin's ideas last year. The sailor Teresa Carey gave an eloquent TED talk about her reasons for choosing a life of 'voluntary simplicity'. I had never heard the phrase before and its philosophy resonated with what I was attempting to achieve in my own life. A few days later I plucked a book about sustainability from a friend's bookcase. The final chapter was titled 'Voluntary Simplicity'. A lifetime of not encountering the concept, and now twice in one week.
I read the chapter, written by Duane Elgin, and half a page in I thought to myself 'How come I've never heard of this guy before?'
In books, blogs, online articles and on his website, Elgin writes eloquently and enthusiastically about voluntary simplicity, a philosophy and practice of living that is sustainable and life-affirming, that leaves a light touch on the Earth while being mindful and meaningful. He writes with the pace and punch of a visionary, whose ideas are simple yet profound.
Born in Idaho, Elgin's philosophy of simplicity took shape in the early 1970s when he was a staff member on the Presidential-Congressional Commission on Population Growth and the American Future. In 1976 he co-authored a report entitled 'Voluntary Simplicity' for the Stanford Research Institute. Later, he expanded this into a book of the same title, first published in 1981. Revised editions were subsequently published in 1993 and 2010.
Elgin's philosophy of simplicity is, well, simple. Economies and lifestyles embedded in practices of consumption are at the root of both our current environmental crisis and global inequality. We cannot wait around for these crises to be averted by the actions of government or industry. Instead, each of us must effect change in our own lives – change that improves our quality of life and lessens our demands on the Earth and its other human and non-human inhabitants.
He writes of eight inter-related forms of simplicity:
- Uncluttered simplicity: cutting back on the material and non-material complications and trivial distractions in our lives and focusing on essentials.
- Ecological simplicity: recognising that non-humans also have rights and, therefore, choosing ways of living that touch the Earth more lightly.
- Family simplicity: placing the well-being of our families ahead of materialism and finding and being positive role models for our children.
- Compassionate simplicity: feeling a strong sense of kinship with others, no matter how geographically distant, and choosing a path of cooperation and fairness.
- Soulful simplicity: approaching life as a meditation and consciously tasting life in its unadorned richness.
- Business simplicity: contributing to a healthy and sustainable economy through green business innovation and employment.
- Civic simplicity: contributing to a sustainable public life and finding new approaches to governing ourselves.
- Frugal simplicity: cutting back on spending in order to increase our financial freedom and more consciously choose our path through life.
These eight practices of simplicity allow us to simplify our lives and thus engage with the Earth and our fellow inhabitants with greater compassion, kindness and wonder. It is a life-affirming choice, for ourselves and for the planet. Elgin writes (2010, p. 17) 'with conscious simplicity, we can seek lives that are rich with experiences, satisfaction and learning rather than packed with things'.
Elgin is quick to dispel the many misconceptions regarding simple living. Simplicity does not mean poverty. Unlike poverty, simplicity is a choice, and it is a way of life that is rich in experience. Simplicity does not mean rural living. Irrespective of where we live, we can make conscious choices regarding consumption, family life, civic duty and business innovation. Simplicity does not mean ugly living. On the contrary, as Leonardo da Vinci wrote, 'simplicity is the ultimate sophistication'. And simplicity does not mean economic stagnation. In the face of environmental and social crises, innovative economic approaches are necessary.
In 2012, Elgin launched Great Transition Stories, a non-profit organisation dedicated to understanding and inspiring societal transition.
For forty years, Duane Elgin has been a conduit of simple living. He has observed and gathered the life stories of individuals who strive to live lightly, and he has synthesized these into a theory and philosophy of voluntary simplicity. He continues to articulate and give voice to the 'leaderless revolution' of simple living.
For more information about Duane Elgin and voluntary simplicity, go to http://www.GreatTransitionStories.org
Martina Tyrrell is an environmental anthropologist, sailor, home educator and writer. She blogs about family life aboard her sailing boat at http://carinaofdevon.wordpress.com
Category: Featured Articles, Lifestyle Choices, People & Solutions


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When it comes to your personal financial information, it's better to put in the work to keep it safe and secure rather than deal with the hassles of its theft or loss. You can take some steps to ensure your personal financial information is available when you need it and kept far away from prying eyes.
Online Digital Storage
In this technological age, online digital storage can be a tremendous convenience for the everyday consumer. Google Drive is one example of a free service that allows you to store and access your personal financial files from any Internet-enabled device. You may also opt to go with subscription-based services that automatically back up personal files on your computer. NovaStor, Carbonite and Backblaze are a few subscription-based online storage providers that offer an added layer of encryption to protect your personal financial information. Your financial institution may also offer online services for storing sensitive data.
Safe Deposit Box
If you're not a fan of online digital storage, you can save and store your personal financial information the old-fashioned way. Safe deposit boxes have been around for ages, and most financial institutions follow strict security measures to protect the contents. You may store social security cards, wills, trusts, insurance paperwork and income tax returns inside. Banks normally charge a rental fee for the box and may insure the contents. Combine hard-copy storage with encrypted cloud storage to make sure you're covered no matter what.
Lock Box
A lock box can serve as an at-home complement to your bank safe deposit box. You can place copies of the documents that you keep at the bank in your lock box for safekeeping. Look for a fireproof version that uses a combination lock rather than a key so that only you or someone trusted with the combination can open it.
Before selecting a method of storing your personal financial information, consider when and how often you may need access to these documents. A safe deposit box at a bank may not be accessible on a weekend, for example. When it comes to online or cloud-based storage services, you'll want to understand how they protect or safeguard your data. If your data is not encrypted or password-protected, you may be at risk for identity theft.
Photo Credits
- Keith Brofsky/Photodisc/Getty Images


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Movers & Shakers: NHI's Executive Vice President of Finance
By Kourtney Liepe, Senior Housing News
Creating Results, a full-service strategic marketing consultancy firm, hired Kimberly Hulett as the company's executive vice president.
Hulett brings over 10 years of experience to her new role with Creating Results, where she will be responsible for helping the company better meet the needs of its expanding client base. Most recently, Hulett was nice president of marketing and sales at Lifespace Communities, where she oversaw the not-for-profit senior living provider's strategic marketing, sales and communications initiatives. Prior to that, she worked as the director of community relations for Sunrise Senior Living and director of sales and marketing for Western Reserve Masonic Community, and she founded her own consulting firm.


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Exploring Food and Wine with Corner 103
Corner 103 is all about the experience of exploring Sonoma wine and food pairings together. At the end of your wine tasting, you will be able to impress your friends with the weather of wine knowledge. During our Sonoma wine tasting experience, guests will be exposed to seven wines from different American Viticulture Area's (AVAs) located throughout Sonoma County. Guests will explore these AVA's and learn what wine varietals grow best in each, tasting through the wines. In addition, guests will learn how to taste wine, what glass it should be served in, the correct temperature in which it should be served, and how wine and food work together to bring out distinct flavor characteristics.
We have created this page as a reminder of what you'll learn during your Sonoma wine tasting experience, that way, you can refresh your memory before hosting your own party with your friends!


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Enter to Win a Stainless Steel Photo Engraved Key Chain for Father's Day!
* Key chain is Stainless Steel * Item can be engraved on both the front and reverse side. * Perfect For Father's Day or a Bridal Party Gift. * Ships in 1-2 Business Days * Engravable Plate is measures 1 Inch Wide x 1 3/4 Inch Tall