text:
More Articles
How Maria Menounos Found Out She Had a Brain Tumor and Her Important Health Advice
In 2017, while her mother Litsa was battling stage four brain cancer, TV and radio host Maria Menounos found out that she also had a brain tumor.
We spoke with Menounos in her Access Hollywood dressing room as part of our Stronger Women interview series just six months after the surgery to remove the benign meningioma the size of a golf ball.
How Did Menounos Discover She Had a Brain Tumor?
After feeling lightheaded and experiencing terrible headaches, blurred vision and speech issues, Menounos said she finally went into see her doctor for what she thought might be an ear infection.
"I went to the doctor," Menounos explained. "And he said: 'Let's do a full physical since you're here.'" When I hear 'physical' I kind of cringe, but I went through with it."
And it ended up being a smart decision to go through with it!
"If I hadn't gone in for a physical, I would have never realized that I had a brain tumor and we would have never discovered it," she said. "I hadn't gone to see a primary care physician for a physical in at least 8, 9 or 10 years."
According to Menounos, when our cars make noise, we take them to the mechanic, but when it comes to us and our own bodies making noise, we say, "Shhhh! I don't have time for you! I'm busy! I have so many responsibilities!" We need to make that time for ourselves.
"My body was making noise for at least a couple of years," she explained. "I kept telling people around me. People were saying, 'Maria, no one works harder than you — you're just tired.' So I believed them."
Watch the full exclusive interview:
What Is Her Important Health Advice?
Menounos told us about the message she wants to share: If something isn't right, go to the doctor and get it checked.
"I think it's really important to get this message out to women — and to people in general — that you have to focus on your health," she said. "Why are we focusing so much on work and our careers and yet you can't do any of it without your health?"
She has become a Rally Health Ambassador to help teach people the small steps they can take toward a healthier life, and she points out that getting your annual physical is one of them.
"What I love about Rally is that they incentivize people to take control of their health — they will pay you to get screened," explained Menounos.
Getting screened for health issues that run in our families is incredibly important.
"When I heard 'You have a brain tumor,' I was like 'OK, I've been here before,'" she said. "My mom got diagnosed a couple of months ago, and I didn't really learn my lesson 100% then, but really why are we running ourselves so ragged?"
Why Is This Message Especially Important to Women?
"Women are just so wired to be everything to everyone and nothing to themselves, and I was too," explained Menounos. "It took its toll on me, and I don't want people to have to learn the hard way."
Menounos pointed out that women have become extreme in how much they take on and do.
"I look at J.Lo and she's working so hard! And if she can do it, I can do it!'" she said. "I've pushed my body to the limits. And I don't think I'm lesser because I don't want to do as much. Focusing on my health overall is more important to me right now."
Because she experienced such a serious wake up call about her own health, Menounos is telling women that taking the time to listen to our bodies and get check-ups needs to be non-negotiable. And she said the message is resonating. "Wherever I am," Menounos explained, "Women are saying: 'I needed to hear this! I needed to hear it's OK not to run myself ragged!'"
According to Menounos, a lot of women feel like they need an excuse to take care of their own health and wellness needs.
"I was talking to my cousin recently and she's having all these different health issues and I said, 'Are you waiting for something horrible to happen to actually change your life? Or do you want to just learn from other examples like me?'"
It's Essential to Get the Best Medical Opinion (and a Second Opinion!)
To illustrate the importance of researching your doctor's credentials and getting multiple medical opinions, she told us about a woman who contacted her recently through her radio show.
The woman told Menounos: "I've just found out I had a brain tumor because of your story and I'm so thankful and I'm going to have surgery."
When Menounos asked, "Did you get a second opinion?" The woman said no.
Then she asked, "Do you know how many surgeries the doctor operating on you has performed?" The woman said no.
Menounos connected the woman to Stand Up to Cancer to get her another medical opinion. "Now they're sparing her hearing nerve," she said. "She's 37 and they were going to take her hearing nerve! Because she reached out to me we were able to give her some good advice and get her to another doctor and now she's going to be able to hear her children!"
She reminds us to remember that researching and making sure you have found the best, most qualified doctor is essential.
"You want the best mechanic to work on your car," she explained. "Whatever the job is you want the best! Your health should be the same thing."
What Is Her Self-Care Routine?
Menounos said she meditates every day or almost every day.
She told us she loves the guided meditation called The Soul Sync. "It's this woman and she guides you through the 16 minutes — rather than just having to sit there and try to keep clear thoughts which isn't that easy for me," she said. "She guides you and tells you what to do, and by the end she says 'OK, open your eyes.' And I'm like 'No, it feels too good!'"
Keeping stress to a minimum is her top priority.
"As rough as this year has been, I do see it as such a gift and such a blessing," she explained. "I feel lucky that I'm healthy and they were able to get [the tumor] out. I'm leading this new life where I'm so much happier and calmer."
Menounos ended 2017 by marrying Kevin Undergaro, her boyfriend of 20 years, in a surprise ceremony on live TV on New Year's Eve in New York City's Times Square. Their parents, including her mom Litsa, were standing by their sides.
See more of LIVESTRONG's Stronger Women interviews.
About the Author
JESS BARRON is Editor-in-Chief and GM for LIVESTRONG.COM, a leading healthy lifestyle website with more than 32 million unique monthly viewers. In addition to LIVESTRONG, her writing has appeared in Entrepreneur, Fortune and MyDomaine. She has been interviewed about her advice for female entrepreneurs by Inc., HuffingtonPost and FabFitFun. Jess has appeared on MSNBC, CNN and ABC News and has been a keynote speaker at Health Further and a panelist at SXSW, Create & Cultivate and Digital Hollywood. Follow Jess on Instagram and Twitter at @jessbeegood!
"It's this woman and she guides you through the 16 minutes — rather than just having to sit there and try to keep clear thoughts which isn't that easy for me," she said. So I believed them." Watch the full exclusive interview: Menounos told us about the message she wants to share: If something isn't right, go to the doctor and get it checked. Focusing on my health overall is more important to me right now." Because she experienced such a serious wake up call about her own health, Menounos is telling women that taking the time to listen to our bodies and get check-ups needs to be non-negotiable.


text:
The itinerary below is designed for people, who either have less time but want to get higher than Pokhara to view the Annapurna range in all its glory. It may also appeal for those not that interested in trekking as such, but would like to experience village life and the local culture along with the fabulous mountain views.The trek starts and ends in the lake side town of Pokhara.
A. Itinerary in Detail (8 Days)
Day 01 : Arrival in Kathmandu/ Welcome from the airport / transfer to hotel / introduction program and briefing about the trip / overnight Kathmandu.
Day 02 : A full day's sightseeing of the Kathmandu Valley to include all important heritage sites / Afternoon pre-trip discussion regarding the trek /overnight Kathmandu
Day 03 : Drive by luxury bus to Pokhara / beautiful scenery along / approx 6 hours / transfer hotel / exploration around / overnight Pokhara
Day 04 : Approx one hr drive to Phedi 950m / trek to Dhampus 1560m / approx 3 hrs / Overnight Dhampus
Day 05 : Early morning stunning mountain views / trek to Sarangkot 1720 m / approx 5 hrs / a great place to observe scenery / Entire Annapurna range, Dhaulagiri, Machhapuchhre, Pokhara valley, Phewa lake , Seti river etc/ overnight Sarangkot
Day 06 : Trek down to Pokhara / transfer hotel / exploration around / overnight Pokhara
Day 07 : Drive back to Kathmandu / transfer to hotel / overnight Kathmandu
Day 08 : Transfer to airport / fly back home or onward destination
Trip Cost: USD 985 per person for an entire trip
Cost Includes
- Accommodation in Kathmandu on bed and breakfast basis as per the itinerary
- City tour in Kathmandu with guide by private car
- Entry fees when sightseeing in Kathmandu
- National Park Trekking/Entry Permit
- Trekkers' Information Management System (TIMS) registration fee
- Round trip/ internal flights/ overland transport / if needed / as per the itinerary
- Accommodation in guest houses/lodges during the trek
- Three meals (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner) a day during the trek
- Qualified and experienced trekking guide and porter services
- Transportation, accommodation, meal allowance, equipment and insurance for trekking staff
- All the official paper work and all the applicable government taxes
- Airporttransfers for internal flights
- Sleeping bag, down jacket and rucksack if required
- Airport pick-up on arrival and drop-off on departure
Cost Excludes
- Meals other than breakfast when staying in hotels
- Personal expenses and bar bills
- Clients' travel insurance
- Tips and gratuities
Important Note and Optional Activities
Please note: All the trekking itineraries are flexible and can be revised in order to best meet your requirements i.e. your time, interests etc. Please make contact with us if you have any special requirements or interest.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Dragonfly Foods has been nominated for Best Vegan 'Meat' at the VegfestUK Awards 2017. This celebrates the very best of a vegan way of life in the UK every year.
At Dragonfly Foods, we pride ourselves on manufacturing terrific tasty tofu. Our tofu is all handmade the traditional Japanese way here in the UK. All our products are organic, free from gluten, dairy, eggs, GM ingredients, all artificial colourings and preservatives making them suitable for vegans and vegetarians. For this reason we're really happy to have been nominated for the VegfestUK Awards and hope that you place a vote for us!
Since its inception in 2007, the awards have been celebrating the highlight of the year for many vegan businesses, organisations, projects and people, with tens of thousands of votes cast each year. Categories involved range from food and bodycare, to clothing and magazines, on top of vloggers, online resources and much more.
The VegfestUK organisers added, "We're thrilled to be once again bringing back our much-loved vegan awards in their 10th year of existence. These awards bring to the fore the amazing achievements of many individuals and groups in making vegan living as fun, accessible, dynamic and healthy as possible – without our quality nominees, living vegan would be more difficult than it is nowadays, so let's give all our nominees a big round of applause. Best of luck to all of them in the upcoming month's voting as we expect many of the 17 categories to be close calls."
You can vote for us at the link below:
Voting will close at midnight sharp on Sunday 1st October 2017. Meanwhile, an update on voting will be released under the "Awards" section on the Vegfest Express online vegan magazine www.vegfestexpress.co.uk
The awards results will be announced at the presentation ceremony to be held on Saturday 21st October 2017 (time TBC soon). This will be at Level 3 of Olympia London, as part of a huge VegfestUK London 2017, with the award trophies presented to the winners at the ceremony.
The official hashtag for the VegfestUK Awards 2017 is #VegfestUKAwards2017
The Awards Ceremony adds to a fantastic and buzzing VegfestUK London 2017, which will consist of up to 300 stalls, a Vegan Food Village with 23 global caterers, a Vegan Health Summit, a Vegan Athletes Summit, an Easy Veganism area, an Animal Rights Summit, a Radical Veganism corner (Saturday only), an Environment, Food & Sustainability Summit (Sunday only), a Vegan Comedy Corner, a Cinema, an Activists Corner, Cookery Demos, a Living Raw Zone, a Teen Zone, a Mature Zone, a Kids Area plus Live Music.
Advance tickets to the event are on sale at www.london.vegfest.co.uk/tickets They are priced at £12 for adults and £8 for concessions, plus small booking and transaction fees. Limited quantities of tickets are available on the gate at £15 for adults and £10 for concessions. Kids under 16 can enter for free.
We'd love to see you at the event & we hope that you vote for us in this years VegfestUK Awards!


text:
January 17, 2020
Nature provides us with 3.85 billion years of free, open source R&D, and that puts the greatest opportunity of the century at our finger tips.
Submitted by: Guest Contributor
Posted: Feb 22, 2013 – 09:00 AM EST
Series: Noble Profit: Bridging the Gap Between Making Money & Doing Good
Tags: sustainability, environment, sustainable development, nature, gil friend, noble profit, climate change, branding, marketing, pr, innovation
Editor's Note: Three weeks ago, we debuted a new channel on CSRwire with Noble Profit to focus on short video interviews with key leaders in the sustainability field. These interviews share insights from corporate leaders who are actually creating profitable sustainable business practices and adopting clean tech, dispelling the myth that zero harm costs more.
Through these conversations, Noble Profit will explore the question of value, providing unique insight into today's trends with inventors, investors, sustainable business experts, and thought leaders. This week's interviewee: Gil Friend, Founder, Natural Logic, Inc.
How do you help companies take sustainability deep, uncovering and capturing the massive value that embedded sustainability can deliver?
In this video interview, Gil Friend discusses how he applies the lessons of natural systems to provide the tools for systematic change. By looking systemically across the entire business and its value chain, he explains, by redesigning fundamental value propositions and how they're delivered, he finds that companies are "amazed at the innovation, brand value and greater profit they can generate."
"Nature provides us with 3.85 billion years of free, open source R&D, and that puts the greatest opportunity of the century at our finger tips."
Take a look!
Learn more:
Friend is a featured speaker at the GreenBiz conference in San Francisco. To attend GreenBiz and meet/learn from Gil Friend, visit http://www.greenbiz.com/events/greenbiz-forum
Dig deeper and learn more about Gil Friend and Natural Logic. Visit www.NatLogic.com
Follow us at Twitter.com/NobleProfit. Register at Noble Profit to gain valuable insights in related topics. Noble Profit is brought to you by Creative Entity Org and Creative Entity Productions created by Amy Seidman.
To syndicate this content, visit our channel on CSRwire.
The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by CSRwire contributors do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of CSRwire.
04 Jun UN Sustainable Development Goals – Rather than Corporate Opportunity Are SDGs Used for Greenwashing?
23 May Do Your Company's Sustainability Efforts Support Financial Performance?
16 May From Growth Mindset to Ethics and Data Privacy Mindset
10 Jan CSE Forecasts Top 10 Sustainability Trends for 2018
20 Nov Holiday With Purpose: Working to End Gender-Based Violence in Fashion Supply Chains


text:
Ayaan Hirsi Ali is a research fellow at the Hoover Institution and founder of the AHA Foundation. She served as a member of the Dutch Parliament from 2003 to 2006.
She was born in Mogadishu, Somalia in 1969. As a young child, she was subjected to female genital mutilation. As she grew up...
The Challenge of Dawa: Political Islam as Ideology and Movement, and How to Counter It
The Hoover Institution hosted "The Challenge of Dawa: Political Islam as Ideology and Movement, and How to Counter It" on Wednesday, March 22, 2017 from 5:00pm - 7:00pm EST.
A Century Of Ideas: Battleground Of Perception: Countering Threats To Free And Open Societies
Repression and authoritarianism are not merely phenomena of the historical past. Today, we are engaged in a fundamental battle of free and open societies against repressive, closed systems. This panel will address the nature of such threats and discuss the identities of freedom's adversaries, their goals and strategies, and what can be done to defeat these threats across government, the private sector, academia, and civil society.


text:
When bugsly is traveling, you can reach her via email.
Today we drove from The Bay of Plenty to Brian and Jean's farm. Since we last saw them, their cows have had many calves. Some of the newborns are very quiet but others chew at your legs for milk. They were soft and came in all colors ranging from red to brown and white.
It was great to see Brian again.
We drove the rest of the way to Auckland and checked into our hotel. We spent the rest of the day relaxing and unpacking.
Hi, Bugsly! I am really looking forward to checking in with you when you return. You have had so many adventures, and I am glad milking cows was one of them! It will be interesting to hear what your Mom is planning to do with all those tomatoes....hmmmm! Love, Mary
There are three types of "Kiwi's" in New Zealand. Kiwi birds, Kiwi fruit and the New Zealanders call themselves "Kiwis"!
Want more information? Check out my brothers blog travelingmichael.com


text:
Elder Scrolls IV Oblivion Archive
Elder Scrolls IV Oblivion – Guide to the Five Best WeaponsPosted on October 26, 2011 | 2 CommentsAs you can probably tell from my first article, I'm a big Oblivion fan. I'm writing this article to inform you on my top 5 favourite Weapons for Oblivion- Elder Scrolls IV. You can enchant your weapons so they can be stronger and deal more damage. They can Drain Magika and Personality. The possibilities are very much Endless. 1. Elven Longsword My Favourite weapon would probably have to be the Elven Longsword because of the amazing looks and it gives a fair amount of damage to a foe when you strike them. 2. Dwarven Claymore The other night I was Goblin Hunting in a derelict mine and I found an Elven Claymore which happened to […]
Elder Scrolls Oblivion: Part 2?Posted on December 9, 2010 | 2 CommentsBethesda Softworks had claimed that another Elder Scrolls Oblivion quest based game was not in the works and that the studio was concentrating on other games for the time being. Now news has leaked about a potential Oblivion SEQUEL which would continue the storyline where it left off in the last game.


text:
Seeking for toys for our dogs can be enjoyable, but be careful what you select to acquire for him. Why We Picked It: This one particular-size-fits-all toy earned 4.4 out of five stars on Amazon, and enchants dogs with its soft and squeaky functions. My dog's all-time favourite treat-dispensing dog toy is the Buster Cube It is produced of a challenging plastic, like the IQ Treat Ball dog toy — which is one more popular alternative in this category — but it cannot come apart in the course of play like the IQ Treat Ball. The upsides are a lot: First, you can adjust the challenge level, making it simpler or tougher for your dog to get the treats out. This is especially fantastic for relieving boredom when your dog is left house alone! For the ultimate challenge, freeze a stuffed Kong ahead of giving it to your dog.
Why We Picked It: A perfect toy for small dogs, the Mini East Toss Ring earned 4.six out of 5 stars on Amazon. Why We Picked It: A stationary toy created of sturdy nylon cord, the toy earned 4.5 out of 5 stars on Amazon. Watch as well, for toys that have a squeaker in it. It sounds fantastic to the dog, but watch for any breaks in the toy where the squeaker is located. With no stuffing, the toy is much more likely to withstand higher wear than most plush toys. Be positive that the box is low sided sufficient to let your pet access but sturdy and tall sufficient to securely include all the doggy chew toys. My two dogs have a laundry basket exactly where all their toys go. I would enjoy them to place their toys away. I wanted to make her a dig box but I did not want to put sand in there like a book talked about.
They're each by PetQwerks: the Talking Babble Ball dog toy and the Animal Sounds X-Tire dog toy. You want your pooch to be extremely clear on which box is the one particular that holds his really personal toys – what box in your property he's allowed to dig about in, and what is off limits for chewing and play. Why We Picked It: An indestructible toy, the Tough Bone chew toy received a rating of four.3 out of five stars on Amazon.
Staying physically active can hold your dog from gaining weight, and the stress that puts on puppy joints at bay. Why We Picked It: A toy typically utilized by K-9 units and other dog-instruction personnel, it scored 4.three out of 5 stars on Amazon. So, as long as you know ahead of time that your dog is not an extreme chewer, there are 2 talking dog toys that I especially like.
To combat this potentially destructive behavior an individual extremely smart invented the notion of doggy chew toys. There are a lot of actually beautiful dog toy storage boxes out there, but for young dogs and dogs who are just starting their education, I'd suggest going with a toy box that's fairly hard, simple to clean, and not quite pricey, as the toy box itself is probably to get dragged about and utilised as a dog toy. Inspect every single toy just before providing it to your ferret, and eliminate any modest pieces that could pose a threat to your ferret! Built for medium to large dogs, this chew ball characteristics a center cavity to sweeten the toy with your dog's favorite treats.


text:
Quite a long time ago, I featured a dish of pig's 'trotters' that was served to me as 醬豬手 at a restaurant in Ottawa. As the trotter is not a cut that had ever appeared locally, I decided to try a similar recipe with the hock, rather than the feet, employing the same Chinese 'Red-cooking' technique I have illustrated in many posts. Eventually, back in March of 2013, I did so in a dish I presented to you as Red-Cooked Pork Hocks, as part 2 of my series on Master-Sauce cookery. Recently, however, I came across a package of pig's trotters at our local supermarket and I snapped them up to use in the following preparation…
- 1 1/2lbs. Pig's Trotters;
- 6 cups water (more or less);
- 1 cup Light Soy;
- ½ cup Sugar;
- 2 Scallions;
- 2 cloves Garlic;
- 6 thick slices of fresh Ginger;
- 2 dry Red Chilies;
- 1 stick Cinnamon;
- 1 Star Anise (optional);
- 1 pod Black Cardamom.
You can play with the flavoring ingredients as much as you like. You may wish, for example, to increase the number of chilies, or add a tablespoon or two of Sichuan Peppercorns, or their oil, as I do in my Red-Cooked Beef recipe. Here, I have made the Black Cardamom and the Star Anise optional ingredients. The former is not a common addition but I like it and did use a pod. The latter, on the other hand, is very commonly used in Red-Cooking (and thus listed here) but I don't care for it much and have omitted it in the actual cookery.
Here are the pig's trotters I purchased. I was a little dismayed that the butcher chose to halve the trotters lengthwise rather than leave them whole but one advantage is that it allows you to see the underlying placement of bones etc. It also made my further cutting of the pieces a little easier.
It is very important to blanch the trotters in boiling salted water for a few minutes and then rinse them well in cold water afterwards. The Chinese do this especially to remove the raw, bloody taste they find unappealing. This is not an issue for me, particularly, but the process helps keep the sauce from getting 'muddy' with flecks of detritus.
To cook, add the trotters to a pot along with the water and flavorings and then bring everything to a gentle simmer over a low flame. Avoid letting it boil and let cook slowly for about two hours, or until you can poke a chopstick through the skin without too much difficulty.
It is a good idea to skim the surface periodically and remove the frothy scum that accumulates. This is less critical than when producing a soup-quality stock, for example, but it will help keep the resultant sauce nice and clear.
Afterwards, remove the trotters and allow them to cool before cutting into smaller sections for the table. Don't make them too small as they will be more likely to fall apart during the final cooking step.
When you are ready, heat a splash of oil in a suitable pan over very high heat and add the pork pieces. When they are sizzling nicely, begin adding some of the braising sauce a ladleful at a time and reducing it over high heat until it thickens. How much you add, and how much you reduce, is up to you. For a main course dish to be served with rice, you may add quite a bit and not reduce too thickly, while for an appetizer sort of preparation, as pictured at the start of this post, you can use as little as a cup or so and let it bubble down to a syrupy glaze. Either way, plate and serve while still piping hot.
As for the rest of the sauce, you can re-use it for further red-cooked dishes (with each use improving the flavor) or use some for stir-fry sauces, and some, perhaps with other additions, for dipping sauces. I actually plan to use some of mine as a dip for some dumplings later in the week….


text:
Le Mont St Michel is a young brand with a long history. Specialized in everlasting Workwear since 1913, the brand is taken over in 1998 by Alexandre Milan which turns it into a urban & modern fashion label, still in line with the functional soul coming from its workwear legacy.
Alexandre Milan added to this legacy his own family craftsmanship - which is almost as old : the legacy of Les Tricotages de L'Aa ("Aa Knitting Factory"), factory founded by his great grandmother in 1919. The brand's design studio is still located in the very same beautiful location of the Monthorin Castle in French Brittany, where we meticulously store decades of textile archives: a genuine treasure when it comes to inspiration which and which we revisit for each collection.
(Working days)
Up to 14 days after purchase.
(CB, Visa, Mastercard / Paypal / Apple Pay)


text:
The People, Performance and Development Committee's remit includes policies on staff pay & conditions, arrangements for consultation with unions, resolving disputes and promoting development and training. The Committee is also responsible for appointing and dismissing chief officers.
The Council's Constitution sets out the terms of reference for the Committee, detailing their remit in greater detail.
Support officer: Joss Butler.
Postal address:
Room 122
County Hall
Penrhyn Road
Kingston upon Thames
Phone: 020 8541 9702
Email: email@example.com


text:
Blogger Outreach Tip (No Gray Matter Required)
October 10, 2011 | By admin+ | No Comments
Sometimes luck blesses us with an unexpected treat; like when the unknown person in line before you at the coffee drive-thru pays for your drink. Most of the time—we need to invest time, money, or effort to get what we want, or to where we want to be. So if you're waiting for luck to bring an A-list blogger to your brand's door, you'll likely find yourself getting pretty thirsty. You're much better off making it happen by identifying online influencers and employing blogger outreach tactics.
But that doesn't mean finding online influencers needs to be really hard. Check out this no-gray-matter-required tip for identifying online influencers, from Stacey Politi on Mashable (also posted on American Express OPEN Forum):
Stacey shares that website "Help a Reporter Out (HARO)," compiles lists of reporter and blogger queries, looking for expert insight to complete their stories and blog posts. Requests can be sent directly to your inbox from all sorts of influencers, including biggies like The Huffington Post.
What are your thoughts on incorporating blogger outreach into a social media strategy?


text: Robert Goldschmidt is a Founding Director of Cumberland Place with over twenty years' investment management and financial services experience. Prior to setting up Cumberland Place, he was responsible for a large team undertaking complex client financial planning for one of the leading organisations within the industry. A Chartered Financial Planner and holder of the Investment Management certificate, Robert enjoys helping clients plan, invest and manage their assets to achieve their lifetime goals. He is a keen triathlete and cycles to work every day, and is married to Sue with two grown-up children.


text:
Hello all! Things are finally starting to warm up in Saskatoon but I am still restricted to my patio for pictures because everywhere else is full of snow and mud! Today I decided to work my mom's 1980's boots into an outfit because I love them. They remind me of Stevie Nicks' boots! Layering with scarves and long cardigans is really fun and is a great way to show off many articles of clothing. I am wearing:
Shirt: Cheap Monday
Cardigan: Forever21
Scarf: Garage
Jeans: American Eagle
Necklace: American Eagle
Boots: Vintage
– Tiara


text:
Since the Oscar nominations were announced, a controversy has overtaken the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences over the apparently consistent exclusion of minority and black actors in the awards' acting categories. Again this year, like in 2015, all of the actors up for awards are white. As a result, director Spike Lee and actress Jada Pinket Smith have said they won't attend the ceremony on February 28 at the Dolby Theater. And David Oyelowo, who was snubbed last year for his performance in Selma, described this year's omissions as "unforgivable" in a speech on Monday night honoring the Academy's president, Cheryl Boone Isaacs. So, how bad was the problem this year? Were there no credible candidates for nominations? Is there merit to the hashtag #OscarsSoWhite?
"It was by far the whitest Oscar nominations I can recall in recent memory. It is as lily white as they come." That's editor at large Lynn Hirschberg speaking in W's podcast, available to listen below and for subscription on iTunes. Hirschberg goes on to say that there were scores of strong contenders that were inexplicably overlooked: Straight Outta Compton, Mya Taylor in Tangerine, and Michael B. Jordan in Creed.
Instead, the only person to be nominated from Jordan's critically acclaimed and commercially successful film was - drumbeat - Sylvester Stallone.
"Stallone couldn't get arrested a month ago, days ago even, and now Sylvester Stallone is the frontrunner for Best Supporting actor," Hirschberg says. "I find that narrative both delightful and so Hollywood. They love a comeback and they love a comeback in something they already know. I mean, how many times has he played Rocky Balboa? The man has been in the desert. He's been, in a cosmic sense, Leo [DiCaprio] in The Revenant. He's been mauled by bears, and now he will have his moment."
Hirschberg also tackles the absence of Star Wars from the nominations, the man crushes among the Best Actor nominees, and why Brie Larson is likely to walk away an Oscar winner.


text:
Special Order
A perfectly tropical blend of coconut and lime. Drift away to a day spent lounging in a cabana on the Santa Barbara coastline.
An elegant glass tumbler filled signature soy wax, essential oils and premium phthalate free fragrance. Unlike traditional paraffin candles that pollute the air we breathe, this soy blend burns clean and long.40-60 hours burn time.


text:
Nollywood star actress, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, says she is 38 years old and not afraid of growing old. Omosexy as she is popularly called, made the statement while fielding questions from fabmumng.com at the Lagos launch of Ghandour Cosmetics. Omotola, who has been the brand ambassador of the company for three years spoke about her marriage, career and much more.
On aging, she said, "I am 38 years old and I am not scared of growing old. But even if I was 51 that is not the point even small children now have grey hairs. The point is in life I think we should all embrace who we are. I think if people are sufficient in life they feel like you are achieving you won't even be afraid of age. But when you look back in life and you think have not achieved anything you will feel like time is running by then you will be afraid of aging. But if you are contented in life and know that all fingers are not equal and you are where you are meant to be because you could actually be six feet below. That you are alive and healthy in itself is enough reason to celebrate."
On her 20th wedding anniversary, she had this to say.
"I am just thankful. I am married to my friend, my destiny supporter. There is no relationship without its challenges. 20 years and some people said OMG you guys must be without stress. I just want people to know that if you are determined to do it in life and you are determined to make it you will make it. You have troubles generally in life with your parents, with your siblings so it's a normal thing. Don't use every opportunity of a quarrel in a relationship or with your spouse to justify the fact that everybody says marriage is hard. It is not any harder I think than any other relationship we have in life with your business partners or with your siblings. I understand that there are some relationships that have more challenges. If there is any form of abuse involved I think they should find their way out quickly but if there is no abuse or any other thing you can hang in. Leaving that I have had good times with my spouse, just be friends that's what matters most.


text:
St Mark ACT - Youth Meeting
What's this service about?
7:30-8pm - Bible Study
8-8:10pm - Agpia prayer
8:10-8:40pm - This week's topic
8:40-10pm - Games and fun activities
When do we meet up?
Youth Meeting
Every Friday from 7:30pm to 10:00pm
Every Friday from 7:30pm to 10:00pm
What's coming up?
News Feed
2 items in news feed. News Feed is only available to logged in users.
Please login to view latest news feed.


text:
Fire & Spice are sending out FREE samples of their tasty jalapeno garlic sauce and an accompanying recipe book so you can put it to good use! Just enter your contact details to claim yours.
Click 'GET FREEBIE' and scroll down to find the online form. Pop your information in the spaces provided and hit 'request sample'. You'll receive a sample sachet of the sauce as well as the recipe book.
We're sure you'll be cooking up some tasty treats with these freebies. Samples are limited so make sure you claim yours now!


text:
For the previous three years, watching "Game of Thrones" as a reader of George R. R. Martin's Song of Ice and Fire novels has been like attending an incredibly traumatic family reunion after years away. Sure, it feels odd that the Stark girls grew that fast, and after finding ourselves in a corner with someone like Shae, a character we never really get to know in the novels, she turns out to be fascinating.
The things that are different, or not quite as we pictured them, only serve to deepen our sense of the familiar. This is the same story about the poison of patriarchy and the toxins of inequality, only a whole lot worse. Even if I have known what was coming next, as I suspect many of us think we do for the rest of this season, it still has been hugely satisfying seeing Joffrey and Margaery's wedding unfold in a grand social panorama, or to watch Arya at her needlework. Among its many other accomplishments, the casting work Nina Gold and Robert Sterne have done for "Game of Thrones" is impeccable.
Tonight, though, was totally different. Many of the things that happened in "Oathkeeper" happened in "A Storm of Swords," but we are seeing them from radically different perspectives. "Game of Thrones" is now deep in a story that does not happen at all in the books, in which Ramsay Snow's murderous henchman Locke infiltrates the Wall to try to try to track down Ned Stark's heirs, while Bran Stark and his protectors have fallen into the clutches of the very mutineers Jon has gone off to fight. And we saw something that never shows up in Martin's novels: a gathering place for the White Walkers, deep beyond the Wall. We are off book — off the map, even — and I love it.
These diversions do what they have always done, of course: deepening our understanding of the story Martin first laid down for us. In Missendi's language lessons with Grey Worm, we learn more about the trauma of the people who were sold in Slaver's Bay, and about the impulses that will guide Dany's tenure as Queen. Dany may enjoy being greeted as "Mhysa," but what binds men like Grey Worm to her so deeply is her impulse to crucify the men who enslaved the Unsullied and call retribution justice.
In King's Landing, hearing Bronn's stories about his relationship with Tyrion gives us some perspective on how obvious Tyrion's tie to Jaime is, even to outsiders with no access to his thoughts. Learning that Olenna Tyrell seduced her way to a marriage she preferred over the one that had been arranged reinforces our sense that she is fun, while her confession to Margaery demarcates her ruthlessness. And watching Margaery seduce her next husband-to-be by recognizing that a boy Tommen's age wants the promise of sex in the future, but the reality of a kiss on the forehead in the present, is a testament to her psychological acumen.
The new plots serve this purpose, too. When Locke arrives on the Wall, slipping in amidst the chaos, he tells a story about inequality and injustice that Jon is likely to fall for. "I was a game warden in the Stormlands," Locke explains. "Fed a prized partridge to my hungry kids." Rather than lose his hand, Locke says he chose the Wall, and Jon believes him.
It is one of the virtues of the Night's Watch that it offers a sort of plea bargaining in an otherwise profoundly unjust legal system. But one of its greatest risks is that it offers the same deal for men who are victims of savage inequality, and those who are a part of Westeros' toxic sexual culture. Karl, one of the lead mutineers at Craster's, embodies both of these strands. He gives the order that Craster's wives should be raped "'til they're dead." And when Bran falls into his lethal custody, he cracks the Stark boy across the face, telling him "See, where I come from, common like me slaps a little lord likes you, I'd lose my right hand. But we're a long way from home, aren't we?" When entirely justified class resentments twine into a braid with the lawless environment beyond the Wall, and a sense of extreme sexual entitlement, the results are ugly.
Westeros has seemed frightening and unpredictable before. But knowing that I can no longer count on the books to signal when I should brace myself for a wedding massacre or a lost hand suddenly puts me in the same position as the characters. That this has happened when Bran is facing savage danger, or Jon is warming to a cunning foe, is particularly unsettling. We are all balanced in a tower window or at the lintel of the Moon Door in the Eyrie now.
This post would not be complete, of course, without a discussion of the ways in which a significant deviation from Martin's novel affects the show's going forward. Whatever Alex Graves, who directed last week's episode, thought he was putting on screen, for most viewers, Jaime Lannister is a rapist now. The conversation between Jaime and the woman who was his sister and his lover, and is now also his victim, is not quite as frank as this very funny rewrite of the scene. But I thought it was a powerful evocation of what lies between them now. Cersei told Jaime earlier this season that she was drinking more because of what her life has become, and he does not question it when she brandishes a full glass of red at him now. The subject of their discussion is ostensibly Tommen's security, now that he is king. But the real issue is whether Jaime respects Cersei's wishes, and her attempt to regain control of the dynamic between them. "Why did Catelyn Stark set you free?" Cersei murmurs in disgust. "I've been wondering for months, ever since that great cow brought you back to the capitol." Cersei's real question is what she got back. Joffrey, Cersei's oldest son with Jaime, died on Jaime's watch. Jaime refused to give Cersei what she wanted in the immediate aftermath of Joffrey's death. And Jaime raped her."You've always pitied him. Our poor little brother," Cersei tells Jaime bitterly. "Abused by the world, despised by his father and sister. He'd kill us all if he could. I want four men at Tommen's door, day and night. That will be all, Lord Commander."
It is a striking, curt little speech, and it leaves unsaid what could be a fascinating dynamic between the pair. Less interesting than the gap between the showrunners' and director's description of the rape scene is the one between Cersei and Jaime. Disturbing as it might be, it seems entirely possible that Cersei believes she was raped, while Jaime believes that what happened between them was consensual.
She cannot resolve that, or any of the other unresolved things that lie between them. But Cersei can shut a certain gate on their relationship. By addressing Jaime as the Lord Commander, by turning away from him, Cersei imposes a formality on their relationship. It is a paltry thing, but this is the authority that remains to her as former queen regent, the little power she can claim as Tommen's mother. When you play the game of thrones, you win or you die. But that maxim does not mention how painful and protracted your life can become before it ends.
Less altered from the novel is a subsequent scene in which Jaime gives Brienne of Tarth his Valyrian steel sword and a set of armor, charging her to use both to bring Sansa Stark home. But the shade of the sept falls over their exchanges, too: Jaime frequently looks away from the clear gaze of the woman who has come to believe in him, and who pledges to uphold not just her honor, but his own.
When Brienne rides away with Podrick Payne, Jaime sees his honor going with her. Now that Cersei has abjured him, Jaime is left with himself for company, and the account of himself that he writes in the Book of Brothers. When Bronn knocked Jaime to the dirt with his own, gold-plated hand, the sell-sword could not have possibly known how right he had it.


text:
Scouting pays off as geese can't resist decoys
The Associated Press
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — On a cold, blustery morning, Ryan Guffey and Nick Lisec could sense that they and their hunting partners were in for a memorable day of goose hunting.
Tucked inside layout blinds at the edge of a cut cornfield, they could see hundreds of Canadas packed on a small farm pond in the distance. All the hunters had to do was wait for those birds to fly out to feed.
"In this part of the state, there are clusters of crop fields," said Guffey as he hunted near Perry Lake in northeast Kansas. "When you can find water near some crops, you have a good place to hunt.
"They aren't going to fly far when they want to eat."
Guffey and Lisec, who run the Wings over Kansas Outfitters guide service, started by doing plenty of scouting, seeing which fields the geese were using, then asking for permission to hunt there. Then in the predawn hours on the day they were going to hunt, they pulled their trailer onto a hilltop and unloaded 12 dozen goose decoys and began arranging them to resemble one huge flock of feeding birds.
By the time they met their hunting partners for the day, Steve Liles and Jeff Anderson, the trap was in place. They finished up by piling corn stalks on top of the layout blinds and even atop a small blind for Lisec's black Lab, Ammo.
Then the wait began.
At first, the geese were in no hurry to leave the pond. But when the hunters heard a roar of wings mixed with loud honking, they went on alert.
The hunters' calls cut through the wind, and one flock turned. The birds cupped their wings and descended, occasionally tipping as they caught gusts of cold wind.
They glided over the decoys and began to drop. That's when they were greeted by a round of shotgun blasts.
Ammo raced out of his blind and over the hilltop and retrieved the first of three fallen Canadas. Seconds later, he had brought all of the birds back to Lisec, and the hunt was off to a good start.
"That was beautiful," said Liles, who lives in Peculiar, Mo., and has guided in the past himself. "Those birds worked just the way you want them to.
"Good calling, good dog work, the birds decoying — that's what makes this field hunting so much fun."
And there was more fun to be had.
In fact, from 8:30 a.m. on, there were few lulls. Wave after wave of Canada geese worked the large decoy spread and provided ample shooting opportunities. Guffey and Lisec even managed to call one flock of snow geese, flying at nosebleed heights, down for a look at the decoys, and the hunters took two birds.
By the time the action finally slacked, the four hunters were carrying 10 Canadas and two snow geese to their vehicles — proof of another successful winter hunt.
"With this mild winter we've had, we don't have the numbers of Canadas down here that we usually do at this time of the year," said Guffey, 25, who lives in Perry, Kan. "But we've still had some good hunts.
"The key is scouting; keeping on top of the birds and finding out which fields they are using. It's been even more important this year because with so much open water, the geese have been scattered out.
"But if you can find a hot field, you can get into some good hunting."
That was the case on this day. After several days of scouting, Guffey and Lisec had the geese patterned perfectly.
"These geese have been doing the same thing every morning," Lisec said. "They'll break off from another large group of birds on another pond, fly here, then fly out to feed in this field. They're working it pretty hard."
Guffey and Lisec are careful not to put too much pressure on one field. They are mobile, doing a lot of scouting to make sure they have plenty of options. Once they have permission to hunt those private crop fields, they revolve their hunting sites from day to day.
That formula works. Guffey and Lisec have been guiding waterfowl hunters since September, when the teal season began. They've been shooting ducks and now geese since.
They had a memorable season of water hunting for ducks, guiding customers to many opportunities both on the water and in fields when the mallards flock together to feed. Now they are looking forward to the last days of the goose season when cold fronts can drive large flocks of birds into Kansas and produce fantastic hunting. The season is now open and will run through Feb. 12 for Canadas and light geese; the whitefront season will reopen Saturday and run through Feb. 12.
For both Guffey and Lisec, that's cause for excitement. They are both longtime waterfowl hunters.
Guffey got his start with his dad, tagging along to hunt rivers, fields and small water, such as the marsh they own below Perry Lake. Guffey started his guide service two years ago, then was joined by Lisec last year.
Lisec grew up hunting waterfowl in Nebraska, where he developed an affection for hunting Canada geese and ducks on the Platte River. The hunting could be spectacular there, he said, but he's also had plenty of good days in Kansas.
"I love this field hunting," he said. "It can be a lot of work, putting out as many decoys as we do. We believe in putting out large spreads at this time of the year.
"But it's worth it when you see a flock of 25 to 30 birds cup up and drop down on you. A lot of the shots we're taking are just 20 yards away. And that's fun when you can get them in that close."
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.


text:
Seems with travel down, Miami landmark Jungle Island is, like everyone else, sitting on a thin wallet these days. As is the hip, new thing to do, the attraction will ask the government for some money. The City of Miami will take up the measure tomorrow.
According to Miami Today, Jungle Island execs want their $400,000 yearly rent deferred for two years, as well as an $800,000 subsidy from the city. This isn't the first time Jungle Island has had trouble. In 2004, the attraction stopped paying a $28 million loan meant to help the park move from Pinecrest to its fancy new Watson Island facility. Eventually the county and the city stepped in to help.
Although it would be sad to lose something as cheesy and iconic (iron-icon?), it seems Jungle Island has bitten off more than it can chew financially, and I just don't see how the endeavor can be turned into a profitable entity. Then again, the folks they're asking money from just gave the Marlins a few billion dollars in subsidies, so what's $2.4 million for some parrots?
If you like this story, consider signing up for our email newsletters.
You have successfully signed up for your selected newsletter(s) - please keep an eye on your mailbox, we're movin' in!
[Miami Today: Jungle Island bailout could run Miami $2 million]


text:
Student: Noel (16), Long Island
Program: Saturday Live 2011
Precollege Courses: HAR 016 : Fashion Art for Fashion Designers & HAP 026: Sewing for Fashion Designers
A black dress with a leather tank that is open down the middle with black lacing. The skirt is "destroyed" and asymmetrical made of tulle.
Describe your personal style.
I love all kinds of styles, one day I'll be bohochic, the next day I'll wear all black with electric blue pumps. I love anything that is unique and can express how I'm feeling. Every day when I get dressed, I use my clothing to express myself.
Where do you go on breaks from class?
During the breaks I love going to Buffalo Exchange; they always have the most unique things there.
What are your favorite things about FIT?
I love FIT because here I feel like I can finally express myself through fashion. At FIT, people understand my love for fashion.
Who or what inspires you?
Alexander McQueen! I love how he was not afraid to rebel against the norm. His clothes show beauty in things that may not traditionally be seen as beautiful. I get inspired by people and nature. I love looking into other cultures or going on walks to find inspiration.
What do you want to do after college?
When I graduate I want to travel the world. I dream of being a fashion designer and using nameless women and men as models. My goal in this life is to use my passion for the fashion world to help all those struggling through neglection and poverty.


text:
Oh hey there. Looks like it's been a hot minute since I've dropped in and I swore I would never be that person to just "check in" buuuuuut here I am. Where have I been? Location wise it's stayed the same – New York/East Coast. There was an itty bitty trip to California last weekend – my first in 6 months – but more on that later. The point is that I haven't been very present on the blog and I'm trying to work out what that means for me. My job is one of the many million in the world that requires me at a desk underneath fluorescent lights. While it's a good environment, it means that I don't always have the drive to come home and plop down to sit in front of another screen. I know that I don't have to apologize for not posting but it was really making me feel guilty. So, this is me posting to tell myself it's ok not to post all the time. 🙂
Tag Archives: Boston
Running the Cape ~ Ragnar Cape Cod
So, Ragnar Relay Cape Cod. Where do I even begin? The fact that I ate more bread in a four-hour period than I had in two weeks (I'm talking heavenly delicious blueberry granola bread from When Pigs Fly)? Or that I got a total of 3 hours' max of restless sleep? Or that I had three of the hardest runs in my life (or last four years) and pretty much was crying on leg #3, my second 9.6 trek? Or that I had an absolute blast and couldn't stop laughing the entire trip?
Yeah, I don't know where to begin either so let's just start at the beginning. As I mentioned last Friday, I had completed a few of these Ragnar Relays in the past. As a matter of fact, I completed the Wasatch Back Relay, which was the inaugural Ragnar (it started back in 2003). When you tell someone that you are voluntarily paying to run between 15-22 miles and sit in a car for 24+ hours, they will probably think you are insane. I tried again and again to explain what would happen and why it was fun but it turns out you can't comprehend what will go down on one of these trips – no matter how many posts and articles you read – until you have completed one.
BAA Marathon 16 + NP The Book
So you already know that I was up in Boston this past weekend to watch the Boston Marathon. There also happened to be this thing called the November Project book that launched last week and has been a pretty big deal. Ok, maybe just a big deal to those involved in one of the various tribes. Anyways, here's a little recap of what's been going on in my NP world.
On Sunday afternoon I met up with my friend Emma and Jackie to drive up to Boston for the marathon.
^^ I had just eaten my breakfast smoothie but agreed to a quick pitstop in Harlem (all the way up in 151st street…exploring a new hood) for some Mexican fare. All three of us went for some version of carnitas, which was a solid choice. Emma's burrito was a little more than we could manage but it was a good attempt.
We made it to Beantown around 5 or so, dropped off Emma and went to explore Cambridge. We were actually staying with one of the Boston NP members and I have to say, what a darn cool group of people to have in your life. Our tribe had done the same thing for the New York Marathon where we created a google doc listing out people that were offering space to stay and those who were looking for housing.
Later that evening, we met up with our pal Jess (who happened to be running the marathon!) for dinner at Cambridge Common. I may have eaten my entire weight in nachos, so it was a good thing that I wasn't running extensively the next day.
^^ The next morning Jackie and I ran about 4 or so miles to the destination workout and wouldn't you know, we got to pass by both the Wednesday and Friday workout locations – Harvard Stadium and Summit Ave. The Harvard steps are still on my bucket list, but a view from a far was good enough for this trip.
^^ If one knew other tribe members, they went up to one another, embraced and reconnected. The rest of the tribes sort of stayed in their own little groups (t#juniorhighdance). Then we bounced (promptly at 6:28), did some sprints, played tag, and did a bit of a group challenge workout – this time mixing up tribes and forcing us all to meet new people. Guilty moment – I don't remember most of the names of the people that I met. I am terrrrrible with names and it's certainly something I need to work on.
^^ Post workout where Brian (the one with the bib) went off to casually run a marathon (a race that happened to be his 9th Boston and 74th marathon!) The rest of us dispersed to eat and shower before heading to the Mile 18 cheer station.
It sure was one hell of a race to watch. This was the third marathon that I have spectated and I give all the credit in the world to those people running. This was also a different breed of race since a majority of the runners had to qualify in order to get in (*there are bibs for charities as well) That meant that they are SPEEDY and 100% beast mode. The weather was glorious for spectating, but a temperature in the high 60's and low 70's left some runners struggling. For many, it wasn't the race that they had expected or had hoped. But, they made it and most finished, so that in itself is a major accomplishment.
Video Collage of Mile 18
>> https://twitter.com/ohanaloverun/status/722122687296966656
^^ We may not have run 26.2 miles but between running to the workout, the workout, and walking around the course, this was a solid day of mileage.
YouTube (via Fox News) ~ November Project Leaders Brogan and Bojan came up to New York to talk about about the release of the NP_Book as well as participate in a little North Face Athletics workout in Central Park. What's hilarious (to me) is that so many people follow the two of them (and many other leaders) so we obviously know where they are traveling and often feel as if we know them personally. Then, when you actually are right there asking for them to sign the book, you find yourself a bit speechless and thanking them (in a very cheesy manner) for starting this movement. Or maybe that's just me. Cool.
^^ Now here we are, back to the Wednesday grind at Gracie Mansion. Today's crafty caption was "suns out buns out". If you're interested in checking out the hype, come meet us Friday at Chelsea Piers (6:28a) and next Wednesday at 102nd St. footbridge (UES) at 5:28a/6:28a.
"The reason I joined the Tribe was the unique combination of fitness, community, respect, love, and most importantly inclusion." – Bart Yasso (Chief Running Officer of Runner's World magazine)
Boston Bound for Marathon Monday 2016
Here we are with yet another Marathon Monday and another Patriot's Day in the books. To be honest, I don't think I really knew or fully understood the importance of the Boston Marathon before I moved to the east coast. Sure, I ran but I wasn't immersed in the running community and was not friends with anyone who had run the race. It's the oldest consecutively run marathon and obviously known as one of the most prestigious in the world. (source*) People normally spend months training for a marathon. But for the Boston Marathon, you may end up spending months and even years first qualifying and then running Boston. But, with all that hard earned blood, sweat, and tears, it's sure a race to remember.
Now that I've lived out here for 2.5+ years, I've seen the race on TV (well on my computer…same thing) and it's about time that I see it in person. I managed to clear my schedule, submit my PTO, and find a crew willing to trek up from NYC to watch and cheer our friends on. Carpe diem.
Last year I just so happened to be in the area, but was actually visiting Cape Cod with family and didn't get to see the race. I did however run to Boston's Friday workout on Summit Avenue (no joke those hills are killer) and saw plenty of runners shaking it out on Sunday before our train back to NYC.
Some people say that the only way you should be able to run Boston is by qualifying. It's the thing to do for the bragging rights and something to prove you are a true runner. Not so fast. Part of me would love to participate and race in such an established event, however since I still have yet to run a marathon, the verdict is out if I'll be in any place down the road to qualify. (*women 18-34 must run 3:35 and with so many speedy people, they pretty much need a few minute buffer to ensure acceptance).
Boston means so much more to people and while there will always be the speedy crew, there is also the option to participate in a charity and help fund raise for a well-deserving organization. Quite a number of charities actually provide training and support programs in exchange for raising money. Below is just a glimpse at one such program by Bain Capital.
Here are some articles related to the marathon, including a very well written tribute after the '13 bombing by Emily Faherty
Huffington Post ~ "Heartbreak in Boston"
Runner's World ~ Boston Marathon
~ "A Brief History of the Boston Marathon" ~
~ "Boston – It's Time to Run Again" ~
WSJ.com ~ "Why A Fast Time Might Not Fly for the Boston Marathon"
BAA.com ~ "History of Qualifying Standards"
Today has already started on the right foot with a Boston NP Destination Deck workout and we're off to cheer on our friends and so many others running in today's race.
"Toeing the starting line of a marathon, regardless of the language you speak, the God you worship or the color of your skin, we all stand as equal. Perhaps the world would be a better place if more people ran." – Dean Karnazes
Celebrating More Good Times in NYC ~ Year 2 ~
With that, year two is complete in the NYC. Boom. This happens to be the second-longest I have spent in one place (third if you count when my parents and I lived abroad in England – but I was just a baby). As I went to write this post, I was amazed at how much has and hasn't changed in a year. The groups of people I hang out with, the things I like to do on the weekend (hello run + brunch), and just taking a look back at year one in the Big Apple and I already feel that much more mature and accomplished.
Most of my friends at NP joke that I'm not really the 24 year old I claim to be. I guess that can be a good thing, right? Some days I act wise beyond my years and maintain a bedtime of 10:30. Other days, I continue to freak out about my future, if what I'm doing is right or enough, and all those other 20-year old stresses. I think this post from Katie Wanders about her first year as a transplant, sums up life perfectly. It's not easy and there are ups and downs. Thanks to technology, we can phone home (probably too often…sorry mom), document our adventures (but try not to get caught up in FOMO or "grass is greener" syndrome), and find pretty much any activity or job we would like. I'll spend another day to ramble on all of that, but for now, here's to a fabulous two years in the city and at least one more!
Forewarning, this is a long post with LOTS of pictures.
Towards the end of my first year in the city, I started going to a little thing (or big thing) called November Project. I've talked again and again how it's been part of the glue that keeps me sane in this city. Who knew that just showing up to one workout could really lead to so much fun?
Quick hop, skip, and a jump to visit my friend Laura in her San Francisco hood and then meet up with a college friend – Alexis – for a little time in Seattle. Ok, not exactly "NYC" recap, but still, good times.
A little bit of time in the wilderness (hey hey Appalachian Trail!) goes a long way. The gal directly behind me actually ended up spending three or so months on the trail hiking from one end to the next! I think I'll pass on that bucket list item. Maybe portions of the PCT (Pacific Crest Trail)…maybe.
Paying tribute at the recently completed 9/11 Memorial
A SPLENDID trip down to Washington D.C. where I spent the weekend with my grandma Nance and family friends in Maryland. We had a hoot walking around a couple museums, soaking up some time in the suburbs, and overall hilarity that ensues with this family.
That time New York recreated the Friends cafe for its anniversary. I can now say that I have finished all most of the episodes from seasons 1 to 10. Honestly, I got a little bored with it all and resorted to watching every other episode when one of the roommates had it on.
^^ All the pumpkin and all the Chobani. Did you know that the SOHO store even lets you keep the bowls?? Maybe I need to make another trip soon.
Fall trip to Beantown where I was able to visit the November Project Mother Tribe for HILLS FOR BREAKFAST. Now the question is if I can make it to the epic Wednesday Harvard Stadium workout.
More Boston Travels (a delightful trip around the city despite the rainy weather!)
I LOVE SETH MYERS. Unfortunately he is married. But we got to see him live in person and see his show, so I still consider myself lucky. Still working to get into see Jimmy Fallon (and one day SNL)
^^ The very first race that I ever volunteered and needless to say I am HOOKED. I signed up as a part of November Project's #mile14 takeover, working from 6:30ish until 2. I was exhausted to say the least. Of course not as tuckered out as those runners but boy, screaming and handing out water/gatorade for that long does wear you out.
^^ THE ONE AND ONLY NP PICTURE DAY. This was around the time I really started to focus on my plantar faciitis and give it a rest. I ran PR day and took this picture, which I love but my family members do not. Oh well, you can't always win.
^^ Aren't the lights and decorations at Macy's beautiful? They really do make you believe there is magic during this season. Of course not pictured (as well) are the hundreds of pushy people flocking to THE holiday store in the city.
^^ Volunteering as a seat filler (you sit down at the tables if – and only if – the very important people have to use the loo or leave) at the CNN Heroes event at the Museum of Natural History. Outfit of the day by LOFT. I love me some cheetah and leopard print. 🙂
Nice little visit from Mom and family friends 🙂
~ HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM NP AND ME TO YOU ~ Let the gosh darn cold season begin. We may be smiling above but we were freezing our rears off on the Randall's Island footbridge.
Here we are at one of the many Saturday runs out of NYRR (New York Road Runners) – some of my friends in the front including miss Ali. You know, I do love my weekend runs but I never would have given myself enough credit to go out and choose to run in the cold. That is, unless my countless running buddies were also going along with me. Fingers crossed we can make it work again this year!
^^ Work trip to Chicago had me thinking "ok, if I fly out Tuesday I can make it to a Wednesday AND Friday workout. Brilliant". Of course it ended up being -16 on both days. Oh fun fact – I used to think that 59F was COLD. Yeah, good times.
Drinks out with the girls at a local speakeasy – Dear Irving. I can thank Lindsay for moving out to the east coast and encouraging us to go out and explore more of the night life 🙂
^^ My NP buddies who are ALSO born on the very best day…May 6
Rain or shine, November Project all the time.
Took a trip with the grandparents to Cape Cod. They flew out for a little rest and relaxation on the brisk east coast and were kind enough to let me tag along.
Trip down to Philly for the Broadstreet 10 Miler. Love that Alex is rocking her red, white, and blue grassroots gear.
Guess what? We are all born on the very same day (but different years). So much love. And on Wednesdays, we wear pink.
In May, I took about a week and a half to visit my sister abroad in Copenhagen, Denmark and from there, we took on Scandinavia! A little time on the roller coasters of Tivoli (Copenhagen)
To crushing a half marathon in Goteborgs, Sweden
Celebrating CNN's 35th anniversary with free swag and a couple of my best work buddies.
Farmborough Country Festival ~ June 2015
They say rain is a good thing. I say thank goodness for sheltered performances. We stuck it out under the tent until it was time for Brad Paisley to perform. Then we ran our way across the bridge to the subway and home (completely soaked). Got to love country.
^^ That time I decided to sign up (twice) for a skeeball league. Not only did I perfect the art of throwing a skeeball, but I made a few solid friends along the way. Like I said, we may not have the perfect relationships all the time, but people certainly do come into your life at different times and for different reasons.
#runtoeat … 9 miles and a doughnut ice cream sandwich later
^^ Celebrating Zara's birthday at quite possibly the most fabulous rooftop in the city – Gallow Green. Sure, it's in the worst location (subway wise) but too perfect with all the planters and excellent drink combinations.
A trip down to Baltimore to visit a good friend. Sarah knows her stuff – running, ice cream, and how to spend a good Friday night.
Mic drop.
Summer isn't complete without America's favorite past-time. LET'S PLAY BALL! But let's also be realistic, if this were a National League game, I'd be rooting for my boys in blue (Dodger Blue) all the way.
Making the most of summer streets with Marnie. We powered through 8-9 miles that day (a lot for me!), saw all the sights, picked up a free coconut water, and a couple of green juices.
Please summer, don't leave us.
Congrats if you made it to the end of this post. You're a trooper. I always enjoy looking back at my posts, my pictures, and those old-school scrapbooks. Reminiscing and remembering, considering how things may look differently a month or few years down the line. We change and we evolve. We have amazing adventures and days that bore us to death. But even though the sun sets in one area (hello gorgeous Central Park sunset), there's still a bright new day (and year for that matter) ahead. Let's power on to make each moment worth our while and embrace the good as well as the not so good.
"Character may be manifested in the great moments, but it is made in the small ones." – Phillips Brooks
Running Boston
A few people thought that from my Instagram posts, that I was running the Boston Marathon last week. No, I just happened to be in the city on Friday and Sunday and was able to enjoy the festivities. There is something magical about being in the city during this race weekend that makes you want to run a marathon. Folks, that's months of training, maybe even years of training and even a bit of pure luck if you can get into the Boston Marathon. Sure, it may be a crazy dream but I would love to run it one day.
Back when I started to run cross country, I just wanted to place for my team. Later on I happened to be one of the faster runners but that's not really saying much for our division. I also managed to graduate right before my sister and her teammates annihilated each and every one of my times.
In college I ran for fun and I started to get more competitive. I ran a number of half marathons, just with basic road running as my training. No diet adjustment, no strength workouts, and no speed training. Then I joined November Project and started to think about running a marathon. So many other people do it, why can't I? Certainly I could break 4 hours. But what about qualifying for Boston? It seemed that if I didn't run fast enough, I wouldn't be a worthy runner. That's 1) not true and 2) who knows what the future holds. Running is competitive but should also be about celebrating everyone that is out there pushing their limits.
As you may pick up from my pictures, I'm not exactly built with the typical slim-speedy-marathoner body. Even if I were to stop eating my mug cakes (probably should do that anyways) and clean out my diet (which is already filled with vegetables soooo sugar is the remaining culprit), I don't think I'll ever look like Kara Goucher or Shalane Flanagan. I still want to run a marathon and I still want to run Boston.
So now, with that all in mind, let me take you through some Boston moments as seen by yours truly prior to the 2015 Boston Marathon.
Blue and yellow adorned almost every building near the finish line (and the church). There were flower beds filled with blue and yellow colors, tulips, and so much more.
As seen on my run to NP Boston (Summit Ave hills). Aren't these adorable? I almost fell in love with the town, enough to consider living there one day. But then I realized I couldn't survive the winters. Not by a long shot.
While the trip to Boston had been planned a few months back, I was able to arrive on Thursday night, perfect for a quick jog around town and November Project workout on Friday morning. I even happened to run (literally) into my NP_NYC friends Brian and Mary, both of whom were running in Monday's race!
Groups upon groups of people out and about, running the course, running through parks, and soaking up all that sunshine.
Even Mrs. Mallard took her little ducklings out for a shake-out run prior to the marathon. Aren't they adorable with their little spring hats?
Then there was the actual running and viewing of the marathon itself. I had a few friends lined up to race and decided to watch and track them online. BAA had this amazing little setup where you could track the runners and their various paces throughout the entire course! They even had little running figures map out where exactly each runner was. Nifty, right?
Each one of them (and the thousands of others) crushed it. I really was quite in awe of so many people running their hearts out. A special shout-out to my family friend Mia who ended up running 3:25 and is a truly awesome person. Well deserved!
Of course following any large sporting event, there are articles, slideshows, and interviews with the top names. The other day I read Shalane's take on her race and something she said really resonated with me.
What goes through your head? When a race is going so wrong, why keep going?
SF: In life you can't expect everything to go your way, every single time. You never know what's going to happen up front sometimes when there's a battle going on—sometimes they come back your way.
Running has truly become an identity and a best friend. I love the feeling of running a race and the excitement from all the runners around you. I love talking about training (or at least getting ideas about training since mine is often called "fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants") and I love that feeling of accomplishment you get after working out. Call me crazy, that's fine, but it's a lifestyle and I love it.


text:
Who We Are
We are a comprehensive landscape services business serving Northeast Florida for more than 30 years. Offering both commercial and residential solutions to your property needs with expert advice and reliable service.
Commercial Services
Ground Maintenance
Comprehensive landscape maintenance services you can rely on.
Keeping your business' landscape hydrated takes constant focus and skill we are able to provide to each of our customers.
A properly nurtured and nourished landscape has an unmistakably healthy glow.
Pest Control
We know a few things about North Florida's unique pest-related challenges, and we're here to help!
"I wish I had called Christmas Décor of Northeast Florida years ago. They did all the work while our family spent the season enjoying the holidays."
"Our guests were enchanted with the way our property looked all evening – especially around the pool. And the dramatic lighting around the trees was a big hit."
"After a storm, I heard from LCI just to see if we needed any repairs. That's the level of proactive service I appreciate!"
"I barely recognized my own yard. Your crew did a great job."
"My family loves how the walkways, fire pit and outdoor kitchen blend with the surroundings. We practically live in the backyard now!"
"The crew members who service our property always do a thorough job and they're always respectful and helpful."
"Christmas Décor of Northeast Florida thought of everything. From design and installation to maintenance and removal, we didn't have to lift a finger."
"Our new, coordinated hardscape makes our whole property more inviting – and adds lasting value."
Residential Services
Add lasting versatility and beauty to your outdoor environment, with custom-installed pavers and blocks.
Keeping your landscape hydrated takes constant focus and skill we are able to provide to each of our customers.
Landscape Lighting
Stand out in the darkness with professional, distinctive outdoor lighting.
Holiday Decor
Beautiful holiday displays installed by our fully trained, award winning crew with no effort to you.


text:
Anthony Vaslin is the new Managing Director at Coople
Anthony Vaslin has been hired as the new Managing Director of the just-in-time staffing platform Coople (Schweiz) AG in Switzerland.
Anthony Vaslin has been appointed as the new Managing Director Switzerland for Coople (Schweiz) AG since January 2018. He is joining from ricardo.ch, the leading online marketplace in Switzerland where he most recently served as Chief Revenue Officer and Head of Customer Operations.In his new management role, Anthony Vaslin is responsible for Coople's operations throughout Switzerland and will bring his digital marketplace expertise to help accomplish the firm's scaling ambitions. Previously, the native Parisian was in the M&A division of Goldman Sachs in London and worked, amongst other, as a consultant at Accenture across Europe and Asia. Anthony Vaslin studied Finance at HEC Paris, holds an MBA from the University of Chicago and is a lecturer at the International Finance Institute in Zurich. The 39-year-old resides in Zurich with his wife and three children.
Vaslin commented: "It is obvious that the world of work is undergoing a major process of change and clearly, we are still in the early stages of how sectors and companies use digital technologies to improve their HR Operations. I'm very excited to join Coople at this stage of its development. The company and its founders have laid out a great vision and they are leading the way in creating a large-scale, efficient platform that facilitates direct, real-time connections between companies and workers. As a result, we already see distinctive new lifestyles that begin to take shape. This is only the beginning. I'm confident that it will be an exciting journey".
Viktor Calabrò, Founder and CEO of Coople is also excited about the journey: "We are more than happy to have Anthony on board, especially since he comes from a prestigious house like ricardo.ch. There he proved that he is capable to handle a highly competitive market, facing competitors like e-bay or amazon, with his experience and knowledge. We are confident to continue our journey of growth with Anthony and expansion and look forward to it."


text:
Problem of Evil Part 3
Senior Fellow
Rivendell Institute at Yale University
Part 3 of a trilogy. Greg considers the evidential version of the Problem of Evil, and gives a response on behalf of someone who believes that God exists. This involves considering whether God might have a good reason to allow bad things to happen.
SEP: The Problem of Evil
Philosophy Talk: Problem of Evil
MIT Open Courseware Lecture Notes: Problem of Evil


text:
What's New :
how to register
Becoming a Delegate
If you are interested to be one of the delegates at the University Scholars Leadership Symposium, you must complete the online application form. For online applications, the administration fee of USD $30.00 must be submitted through PayPal together with your completed online form.
Administration Fee
The administrative fee of USD $30.00 will be collected from online applicants before their applications are reviewed by the Selection Committee. The amount will be deducted from your Registration Fee should your application be successful. We will refund the full administrative fees minus the PayPal charges to unsuccessful applicants. Please take note that the administration fee will be non-refundable if you decide to withdraw your participation.
Notification of Successful Candidates
If your application is successful, you will receive an official response from the Selection Committee within 7 to 10 working days from the date of your application. Selected candidates need to confirm their attendance by paying the registration fee within 21 days from the date of notification. Failure to make the payment in full within the stipulated period will mean that you have decided to officially withdraw your application.


text:
Traders including our own Tim Seymour believe the global recovery is back on. Are you a believer?
Of course, you could argue Tim's point - some of the "usual suspect" stocks tied to global growth, such as Exxon, Alcoa and Monsanto are underperforming big time this year.
Who can settle our dispute?
Seems like a good time to talk with Cliffs Natural Resources CEO Joseph Carrabba. What's his outlook on global recovery?
Watch the video and find out now!


text:
During my recent trip home to Stockton, I noticed that crime was the topic of conversation with nearly everyone I talked with. Cousins, aunts and uncles, friends all at some point discussed how crime was getting out of control. And it's true; Stockton is facing a huge problem with spiraling crime rates. As dismaying as these conversations were, it gave me reason to think about the ways in which smart growth policies could affect public safety in Stockton and how good planning could potentially stem crime. Instinctively, this notion may not make sense: How can the way you plan a neighborhood be good or bad for crime? Well, there are a lot of factors that go into public safety and municipal resources that have a lot to do with urban planning. While it is difficult to pinpoint exactly how growth and development can manipulate these issues, there is a fairly large body of evidence that does suggest planning that incorporates tenets of good urban design can have a positive effect on public safety. Today I would like to discuss the implications of such strategies on crime rates and public safety. When considering the city's growth in the future, Stockton leaders would be smart to consider how their decisions may affect public safety for all Stocktonians.
First, let's debunk some myths about density and crime..
A common question urban planners face has to do with crime. Why build densely? We don't need to give criminals easy access to potential targets. If you pack more people into an area, there are more homes to burglarize, cars to break into and people to rob. In an earlier post, some commentators worried that dense development downtown would just be a magnet for crime. This is a natural response. The 40 year flight to the suburbs trains us to believe escaping the central city makes us safer. If we surround ourselves with fewer people, then there should be fewer people that will rob us. Any infill attempts in older neighborhoods will just fall victim to criminals and vandals.
So, do lower-density neighborhoods keep us more safe from criminals? Not really. There turns out to be a large amount of literature showing that there is no real difference in crime rates when it comes to the density of neighborhoods.
A study in Irving, Texas found no correlation between density and crime rates. Using spatial analysis techniques (using GIS), the researchers found that higher-density areas did not exhibit higher-levels of crime because of their density. The study did find that the crime that opponents of density claim is there is actually correlated with socioeconomic conditions, not density itself. Building densely does not foster higher crime rates on its own.
On the other hand, there is literature that contradicts the argument that higher density leads to less crime. In Baltimore County, researchers discovered that the theory of "more eyes on the street" used when advocating for higher density did not hold true. Violent crimes actually had no correlation to density. When taken together, we find that density is not directly correlated with crime rates, either positively or negatively. So, at the very least, dense development does not make public safety worse off.
While we know density and crime are not correlated, some studies do point out that there are clear benefits in terms of public safety when it comes to smart urban planning. For example, a sample of 911 calls for service done in Phoenix, a city that sprawls much like our own, found that the demand for police services for apartment complexes was nearly half of the demand from single family houses. In Tempe, an even larger sample of calls showed that apartment units needed 14% less service than single family houses. Furthermore, an Urban Land Institute report on Greenwich, Connecticut found that higher-density homes (i.e. apartments, townhomes) are significantly less likely to be burglarized than their single family counterparts. These studies serve as evidence that building communities that incorporate the right mixture of housing can help mitigate against dwindling public safety resources.
In a city facing police staffing shortfalls and budget problems, single home developments, particularly those that expand Stockton's footprint, stretch our already thin public safety net to the brink. When we build on farmland, officers have more ground to cover without the necessary resources to ensure that this new coverage on the outskirts does not come at the expense of residents in established neighborhoods. However, smarter development that incorporates a mixture of apartments and townhomes (preferably with infill development) creates less ground to cover for officers (and for that matter, firefighters).
I want to make it very clear: the answer to Stockton's crime troubles is NOT density. Building better communities is not some sort of magic bullet that will magically improve public safety for everyone. There are clearly several other factors at play when it comes trying to control crime in our city. However, I do believe that quality urban planning does play a role in public safety and at the very least, does not make the city more dangerous. In the future, as we decide how the city manages growth, we should consider the impact our decisions will have on the city's ability to provide public safety services to all of its citizens. If we keep building single family homes and expanding the city's footprint, our already taxed police department will be challenged to serve not just these new areas, but everyone else in the city. As the research shows, housing on the periphery might feel safer, but Stockton's outward expansion actually takes away services for existing neighborhoods, making everyone worse off.


text:
After a frustrating year on the tenure-track job hunt, my eyes are still on the prize, and I've learned that sheer will might be the most important quality required for this career track.
My posts are presented as opinion and commentary and do not represent the views of LabSpaces Productions, LLC, my employer, or my educational institution.
Please wait while my tweets load
How AAAS and Science magazine really feel about sexual harassment cases in science
Evolutionarily speaking, human babies are very interesting. Because we have such large brains, we're born a lot earlier than most mammals, in terms of development. For instance, when a horse is born, it begins to walk almost immediately. In contrast, human babies need almost a year to reach this milestone. As a result of our early delivery, human babies find adjusting to life outside of the womb very difficult, especially with regards to sleep. All newborns require frequent feedings until their stomachs mature, especially when breast-fed, and wake every 3-4 hours for a meal. On top of which, many newborns experience what's sometimes referred to as the "Fourth Trimester", during which their immature nervous system leads them to cry for several hours at specific times of day (usually in the evening), a behavior referred to as colic. Calming colicky babies involves a variety of soothing techniques - including swaddling, white noise, and swinging - which are usually required for the newborn to find sleep.
Monkey started out doing the sleep thing really well. He quickly transitioned from his bassinet in our room to the crib in his nursery. This was very useful for mom and dad since half of Monkey's sleep time, like most newborns, was spent in noisy, grunting, whiny REM sleep. Crib-sleeping went very well for the next two weeks, and we slowly transitioned Monkey out of his swaddle. I would wake up 3 times a night to feed him, and he'd go back to sleep almost immediately after being laid back down.
And then, something changed. Monkey's sleep intervals drastically shortened, and he'd wake 4-5 times a night. We transitioned Monkey into his bouncer, which has a vibration setting on it that Monkey loves - I imagine this is the infant version of the Brookstone Massage Chair. We'd set the vibration on it when we laid Monkey down, and he'd drift off into peaceful 3-4 hour naps at night.
And then, about a week later, it changed again. Monkey started waking up after 20 or 30 minutes, about the same time that the vibration program ended, and we'd wander into his nursery and re-start it. You can probably see where this is going, which makes you smarter than me and Hubby... By the end of last week, Monkey was back to sleeping only 30-minute to 1-hour intervals, making sleep impossible at night and turning my days into an endless cycle of very short naps, crying, feeding, and diapering. On Saturday night, we moved Monkey back to his bassinet and swaddle, both of which worked wonders - for one night only.
We're now trying to get Monkey to put himself to sleep in his bassinet, instead of letting him fall asleep in our arms while he's feeding. We still hold and comfort him when he cries, but we put him back down as soon as he's calm. This method required a double-team strategy from me and Hubby last night. We tagged each other in when we needed a break, each enduring endless rounds of feedings, putting Monkey down, and picking him back up to comfort. I took the midnight to 5am shift since Hubby had work today. The Monkey finally went down on his own a couple of hours ago, in his bassinet, next to me on the couch.
Needless to say, I'm exhausted this morning. I was getting this kind of sleep the first week, but I was also on an adrenaline high - nothing could dampen my mood. After 5 weeks of increasing (although fragmented) sleep, though, I'm not sure I can return back to this minimal sleep pattern. The graph below clearly demonstrates that the amount of sleep I get is inversely proportional to how much I cry during the day (you had to know I'd eventually convert this into data).
I'm going back to work on Friday. I simply cannot cry in the lab. I'm not expecting 8 hours of sleep, and I'm not picky how I get my sleep - a couple of 3-hour intervals or a single 4- or 5-hour interval would be just fine. But 5 hours of standing next to the bassinet waiting for Monkey to cry just won't work. The graph says it all.
This post has been viewed: 854 time(s)
I can remember this exact same issue. I spend many nights walking around with Mini-G when she would only sleep if I was holding her. I know it sucks, but this WILL pass. Do what you can to get through this (I spent many nights sleeping on the sofa holding Mini-G so she wouldn't wake up). And if you have to cry at work, that is OK.
One thing (unsolicited advice, please ignore if you want!): Don't get sucked into feeding every 30 min at night. This can be a difficult habit to break and painful, according to my wife who did the BF. That being said, I will reiterate what I said earlier: do whatever you need to do in order to make it through this week. Next week will be a whole different ballgame.
Don't get sucked into feeding every 30 min at night.
Agreed completely, Gerty. Last night was the first night he's been up this much since that first week, and I refused to feed him more often than once every 2 hours. Every time I do anything for him at night, I think "do I want to be doing this when I'm back to work?" I even hated resorting to the bouncer a couple of weeks ago, but I felt like it was more important for him to get sleep at that point. He's gotten so much bigger now, though, and I know he's okay waiting a little while. It's just a matter of how strong Hubby and I can be when Monkey's got our backs against the wall!!
I love the chart! I hope Monkey calms down and you get some decent sleep intervals soon. We had to feed my foster daughter with an eye dropper for the first few months but we had a lot of help.
Your question, 'do I want to be doing this when i'm back to work' is brilliant. It's OK to cry at work but I agree, not crying is better.
Be strong!
Hi Dr. O:
Thanks for sharing your experience and boy can I say that I FEEL YOUR PAIN!!!!! I had my first kid during my last year in grad school and the second wee one was born about a year into my postdoc. With my first kid, I struggled. I was always asking myself "why won't this f@%$ing kid sleep?!?!?" She, like your little monkey, enjoyed "napping" in 30 - 60 minute intervals throughout the day and night and this went on for about 10 months. Needless to say, I was stressed, fragile, and pretty much zonked all of the time (I actually did cry during my practice thesis presentation - luckily it was just in front of my lab mates). I was always reading up on the latest sleep studies for infants, often trying the techniques recommended in "The Baby Whisperer" or "The Happiest Baby on the Block." No matter what I tried, she kept up her habits and only time helped to heal this tired mommy.
Just about when the sleep thing was taking a turn for the better, I found out I was preggers again. But, this time, I did not read any parenting books nor did I take any advice from the all too willing peanut gallery. I just did what I felt was the right thing to do for that particular moment in time. I did't have any preconceived expectations for any of it because I realized that, in retrospect, it brought more stress on me and my husband to try and make this kid adapt to what was supposed to be "normal." So, even though #2's sleeping habits were no better than the big sis, I was much more able to cope. Sure I felt tired but what worked for me was a change in my mindset and not necessarilty a change in the parenting routine.
I know that I am not offering any groundbreaking advice but I do sincerely hope that you find rest in some way! And, as it turns out, if you cry in lab, there is a really good chance that your mates will understand.
It's hard, and chronic sleep fragmentation and deprivation are both bad for the brain, but just hold on and it will get better someday. I remember when six weeks seemed like an interminable eternity away, and now my BooBoo will be a year in a week and a half!! Not that this helps you right now, but someday this will all be in the past, hah.
Here is what worked for us (from the book linked below)--shortening the awake interval during the day, starting with only being awake for ~45 min at a time, after which I would bounce her back to sleep in her little bouncer while I worked on the computer. The awake interval gradually increased to 1.5-2 h by 10-12 weeks, then 2-3 h by 6 months, then two 1.5 h naps a day at 9 am and 1 pm by ~8 months (I was amazed by the accuracy of the Weissbluth guy on this). (of course, she's a light sleeper so she only does one 30 min nap at daycare, so weeknight evenings suck, but weekends and non-daycare days she gets a great nap schedule in and can sleep through the night).
There are so many books with different philosophies, but I gotta say this one is the one that has actually worked the best for us:
Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child
Oh also, more anecdata for ya: since she was 4 weeks old, her bedtime has been 7 pm--even though she didn't seem to "want" to go to sleep at that time, that was when we did the swaddling/singing/nursing to sleep thing and after the first few weeks of it feeling really pointless, it finally took. She has been going to bed at 7 pm like a dream ever since (even though we've had plenty of re-wakings, etc. along the way).
Hi, Dr. O! I don't know if I've dropped by to congratulate you on Monkey's arrival yet. If not- congrats!
My first baby was an extremely crappy sleeper, there's just no other way to say it. And I got through OK. You will, too. I wrote lots of lists to make up for the fact that my memory was destroyed by lack of sleep.
Did anyone warn you about the 6 week growth spurt? If I'm reading your chart right, sleep went to hell at about 6 weeks post-partum, which is right on schedule for the growth spurt. Both of my girls nursed pretty much non-stop for 2-3 days during their 6 week growth spurts. It sucked, to put it mildly. That we make 6 weeks the end of our paid maternity leave in this country is just a cruel joke.
Anyway, you've already discovered that baby sleep is not at all linear. I won't presume to offer advice, because I think every baby and every family is different, and we all have to find our own way. But- the next big growth spurt is at 3 months. And then there is another one at 6 months.
Also, you might find the developmental information in Bedtiming, by Isabel Granic and her husband whose name I can never remember, useful. It has helped me figure out when to try to improve sleep this time around. Between that, the fact that my second baby is a much better sleeper, and my generally more laid back attitude this time, sleep is less of an issue this time. Which isn't to say we're sleeping through the night- we aren't. But we're doing OK.
@Jeanne, Arlenna, Cloud - Thanks for the advice and book recommendations. Last night went a million times better than the night before, although it did take 2 hours to get him down after his 3:30 am feeding. But he got two 4 and a half hour "naps" in, so I got lots of sleep too!
Just wondering if you started swaddling the Monkey again? We swaddled one of my twins until she was 5 or 6 months old. It seemed to calm her down and being wrapped up signaled "time to sleep." Might be something easy to add to your routine. Plus, I know of several moms who swear by the miracle blanket (http://www.miracleblanket.com/index.htm).
And congratulations on the birth of Monkey (late to the party, I know). Hope your PIH symptoms have disappeard with his joyful arrival.
Cricket, we have been swaddling for the past week...he busts out of it sometimes (we use the velcro ones, and he still finds his way out). This helps some, we think, but I'm not sure how much longer we'll use them since he's slept pretty well even when he's broken out of them. Thanks for the congrats too. The PIH cleared up after a couple of weeks, before my delivery. My BP was a little high during the birth, but nothing to worry too much about. I'll have my 6-week appointment on Monday to make sure it's come back down!
I like your graph. :)
Someone once told me, "Whenever you figure out a child's sleep pattern they go and change it.", and in my experience that's been spot on. Growing, teething, illness, nightmares - all always seem to throw a wrench in the works. On the plus side that means that they grow out of the annoying phases eventually!


text:
ok so i know it is a little cliché but Amelie has still got to be one of my favorite films ( you cant start disliking things just because everyone agrees its brilliant too right? ). Well yesterday i had an exiting trip to the opticians and whilst choosing my new frames got to take four snap shots of myself to compare, photo-booth style. It just made me remember how lovely that type of photography is and how lovely the film Amelie is too. Well i'm off to make more owl badges and valentines cards for my stall tomorrow. Have a great weekend! xoxo
Posted by Tigerlilly Quinn at 10:09
Labels: amelie, beautiful photography, photo booth, Steph DeSage
No comments:
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)