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~But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.~Philippians 4:19~
~This scripture has been a real encouragement to me and I hope it will encourage you as well!~
~Have a Happy and Blessed Sunday!~
My tongue is a pen of a ready writer…..
~But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.~Philippians 4:19~
~This scripture has been a real encouragement to me and I hope it will encourage you as well!~
~Have a Happy and Blessed Sunday!~
(pics from Google and Pinterest)
I always say, "It gets worse before it gets better!" Also, when one door closes God has a way of opening another one!
No weapon formed against you shall prosper,
And every tongue which rises against you in judgment
You shall condemn.
This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord,
And their righteousness is from Me,"
Says the Lord.~Isaiah 54:17 KJV
~Have a Happy and Blessed Sunday!!~ 🙂
Pride goes before the fall . . . but what comes after?
Darbury, England, 1814
Amelia Barrett, heiress to an ancestral estate nestled in the English moors, defies family expectations and promises to raise her dying friend's infant baby. She'll risk everything to keep her word—even to the point of proposing to the child's father, Graham, a sea captain she's never met.
Tragedy strikes when the child vanishes with little more than a sketchy ransom note hinting to her whereabouts. Fear for the child's safety drives Amelia and Graham to test the boundaries of their love for this infant.
Amelia's detailed plans would normally see her through any trial, but now, desperate and shaken, she examines her soul and must face her one weakness: pride.
Graham's strength and self-control have served him well and earned him much respect, but chasing perfection has kept him a prisoner of his own discipline.
Both must learn to accept God's sovereignty and relinquish control so they can grasp the future He has for planned for them.
~My Review~
*A story sure to be loved by all Regency fiction fans!*
Time & Place- November,1814~Darbury,England,
Heroine-Amelia Barrett Hero-Graham Sterling
I had fallen in love with this story from when I had first read it. It was such a decent and adventurous story. It wasn't boring at all! It's a story full of faith, love,devotion,romance,and a little suspense in the mix as well. I really like when the characters in the book are traveling from place to place in the book or if there's a pursuit between the good guys and the bad guys. How awesome is that? I can truly say that Amelia Barrett reminded me of a Jane Austen heroine and Graham Sterling was such a *dashing* hero worth reading about. To be quite frank, I think that Graham Sterling reminded me a whole lot of Captain Wentworth in Persuasion. *SIGH*
I discovered this lovely story last year and I've treasured it ever since! I couldn't pass up the opportunity to own when I saw it at this store(click on the link below). They have so many discount book to choose from and I was very surprised when I saw a huge selection of christian fiction. There's one catch though, these books are not like this year's release's but they have sales on books that have been out like a year or more. They have everything from classics to nonfiction. As far as I could see,the christian fiction and classics were from $1.99 to no more than $8.00 from what I could gather. I didn't price the nonfiction. The prices that I mentioned were pretty good prices to me compared to $15. If y'all know anywhere that you can get great deals on books PLEASE leave a comment below! There's nothing like owning a book that you love so that you can read it over and over again! YOU CAN CLICK HERE TO SEE IF THIS STORE IS IN YOUR AREA.
"The Heiress of Winterwood" had such brilliant and vibrant writing that it was just AMAZING!!! This story will keep the reader guessing which is AWESOME. I totally recommend this book to all regency and Jane Austen fans! (5 stars)
Happy Reading Y'all!! 🙂
Willowgrove Hall is full of secrets, but soon everything hidden is brought to light.
Cecily Faire has a secret—and she intends to keep it. But when she arrives at Willowgrove Hall to serve as a lady's companion, she comes face-to-face with the only person who knows the truth about her past.
As the steward of Willowgrove Hall, Nathaniel Stanton is dedicated to serving those around him. Nothing escapes his notice—including the beautiful new lady's companion. He is certain the lovely Miss Faire is hiding something, and he determines to uncover it. But Nathaniel has a secret of his own: he is the illegitimate son of Willowgrove's former master. Falling in love was not part of his plans . . . until he meets Cecily Faire.
When Willowgrove's mistress dies, everything changes. Fear of exposure forces Cecily to leave under the cover of darkness, embarking on a journey to finally find her long-lost sister. When the will is read, Nathaniel's inheritance makes him question his future plans. Cecily and Nathaniel are forced to make decisions that will change the course of their lives. Is their love strong enough to survive?
For the first time, ten years after her abduction from her Salt Lake City bedroom, Elizabeth Smart reveals how she survived and the secret to forging a new life in the wake of a brutal crime
On June 5, 2002, fourteen-year-old Elizabeth Smart, the daughter of a close-knit Mormon family, was taken from her home in the middle of the night by religious fanatic, Brian David Mitchell and his wife, Wanda Barzee. She was kept chained, dressed in disguise, repeatedly raped, and told she and her family would be killed if she tried to escape. After her rescue on March 12, 2003, she rejoined her family and worked to pick up the pieces of her life.
Now for the first time, in her memoir, MY STORY, she tells of the constant fear she endured every hour, her courageous determination to maintain hope, and how she devised a plan to manipulate her captors and convinced them to return to Utah, where she was rescued minutes after arriving. Smart explains how her faith helped her stay sane in the midst of a nightmare and how she found the strength to confront her captors at their trial and see that justice was served.
In the nine years after her rescue, Smart transformed from victim to advocate, traveling the country and working to educate, inspire and foster change. She has created a foundation to help prevent crimes against children and is a frequent public speaker. In 2012, she married Matthew Gilmour, whom she met doing mission work in Paris for her church, in a fairy tale wedding that made the cover of People magazine.
~My Review~
This book was such an inspiration. I had first heard of the story when I had watched the movie. Having read the book,I was deeply moved by how strong Elizabeth Smart's faith was throughout this whole ordeal that had happened in her life. It was truly heartbreaking with how she wrote about how she was kidnapped from her family to only endure countless times of brutal abuse of every kind from both of her captors. I was shaken by her story by just reading it.
I was inspired how that she determined in her mind that whatever it took, she was going to live to see her family again. Her faith in God wasn't broken no matter what she went through. I really admire that she still held on to her faith even through that bad of a situation in her life. She knew where she stood and held on to that.
I was also amazed of one instance in the book that she wrote about how she was going hungry and thirsty because her kidnappers couldn't move freely about at that time and a miracle happened. One night she described that she was really thirsty and she looked and there was a cup of water from out of nowhere. Now her captors were asleep and they were all in the same tent asleep. I was amazed by the miracle. It was really something.
Also in other reviews, I gathered that some readers didn't really appreciate how the story was written. To me, I think that she probably just took the standpoint of telling the story to where people who in or escaped an abused situation can really relate. I'm glad that I had the opportunity to read this awe-striking book. Not only was my eyes opened to how this world could be filled with creeps and they do anything to put your life in danger, but it showed me how that God can work through any situation no matter how hopeless it may seem.
I'm thankful that she didn't stay in bondage to the memories to the horrific cruelty but she wholeheartedly shared her story so that others in abuse could know that there is hope no matter what the situation. She's poured her life into helping others who are in her past situation with programs like AMBER ALERT. I was inspired and really amazed by the story of Elizabeth Smart. (5 stars)
*I wouldn't recommend this book for younger children. Many instances of violence,sexual abuse, and drug use are mentioned not in a whole lot of detail at times but it's still mentioned.*
If you grew up on corner-store treats, memory lane is paved with Ho Hos, Yodels, Oreos, and Ring Dings. And while your taste buds may have grown up a bit, chances are you still crave these classic flavors. Now you can re-create the lunch-box delights that made you the envy of other kids, with all-natural homemade versions.
After much obsessing and experimentation, Jennifer Steinhauer has cracked the code for 70 iconic treats to re-create in your own kitchen. There are cookies with a perfect crunchy base for cream filling, snack cakes with frosting so thick you can peel it off all at once, candies dipped in chocolate and dusted with sugar, and ice cream pops so juicy that they drip down your arm. A self-taught baker, Jennifer had no interest in complicated techniques or chemical gunk, just easy hacks that break down and remaster these throwback snacks.
So go ahead—treat yourself to your own homemade version of these favorites:
• Samoas, Pecan Sandies, Chips Ahoy!, and other classic cookies
• Nutter Butters, Mint Milanos, Oatmeal Creme Pies, and other sweet sandwich cookies
• Twinkies, Drake's Coffee Cakes, Devil Dogs, and other snack cakes
• Fig Newtons, Lemon Mini-Pies, Strawberry Pop-Tarts, and other fruity, filled treats
• Soft Pretzels, Pizza Pockets, Funyuns, and other salty, savory snacks
• Cracker Jacks, Goo Goo Clusters, Candy Dots, and other candy favorites
• Orange Creamsicles, Strawberry Shortcake Ice Cream Pops, Nutty Buddies, and other frozen treats
~My Review~
When I first saw this book, I was like, hmm… this looks very interesting! I'm all for the idea of creating a replica of a famous treat and it thus being a healthier version of the treats we all love to "devour" every once in a while. This book does exactly just that with the author providing tried and true recipes of your most treasured delectable treat. Also, with me being a kid from a hugh family, it's wonderful to have recipes that I can bake in bulk so that everyone will have the chance to enjoy them!
As the book says,those delicious treats that you enjoyed way back when or even those treats that you cherish now can be made and relished at home! How sweet is that? I really loved the fact that the author tried and tested every recipe in this book so that it would be close as it could to the real Little Debbie Cake or the Twix snack. That's what I call dedication!
Her pictures are just so delectable! I love it when a cookbook adds as much pictures as it can because if I'm baking something, I want to know what the end result should look like. I also love the fact that her recipes are very easy to follow along as I baked. That was awesome! Another great feature about this book was that the author added many,many good tips that would help the cook know how to make the recipe better. I personally learned a lot and that's something I'm very thankful for because I'm always looking for better ways to improve my cooking or baking.
Oh.My.Goodness! I tried the "Oatmeal Creme Pies" recipe. Wow! I can't begin to tell you how good it was! It was a melt-in-my-mouth experience for sure! I was spellbound. I'm a very big fan of the "Little Debbie Oatmeal Pies" and to have a recipe I can make at home is just awesome! Even my biggest critics gave a thumbs up for this recipe! It restored my confidence in baking again! The version of "Oatmeal Pies" in this book tasted so much more healthier and fresher than the original! They had a very good taste. I did make a little bit of the cream for the recipe to go in the middle and it was good as well. I did however mostly use Marshmallow Fluff in order to save time and it was still good!
Though I thought something was wrong when my Oatmeal Pies weren't as dark as a normal Oatmeal Pie, it still had a very soft and moist flavor. So don't be alarmed if your pies don't brown as much as the original because it's okay! I just didn't want them to burn but maybe next time I'll try to leave them in the oven a little bit longer. You won't regret baking this because it was the BOMB! I can't even explain it! It tasted like an organic and fresh Oatmeal Pie. It wasn't sugarless either but it was just right! 😉
I was just amazed at all the recipes the author included in this book! It was from various recipes including, Homemade Oreos,Ice Cream Sandwiches,Twinkies,and Ice Cream Nutty Buddies! All homemade, without all the extra added sugar and stuff like that. REALLY AMAZING!
I'm glad that I had the opportunity to read this book and I can assure y'all that this cookbook will be used again in the future! I really recommend this book to any one who's looking for delectable and satisfying treats that the whole family can have fun making together at home. (4 stars)
(I love Chocolate and Mint! It's so tasty. There's also a recipe on how to make mint thins in this book!)
Happy Reading Y'all!!! 🙂
~Author Jennifer Steinhauer~
*I was provided a copy of this book from Blogging For Books for this review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own*
Dangerously Good Historical Fiction
embracing God's perfect design
Reviews and giveaways for Christian fiction and sweet, clean fiction. Bringing readers information on great stories and connecting authors with their readers.
Concocted Musings
a mixed up blog about a lot of different stuff
Jesus loves you! Do you know Him?
The Bloggers' Award for Excellence in Faith-Driven Literature
looking for truth
the simple life of me.
Where Thoughts Speak
Clearing our heads by recreating the stories in our minds
The Ramblings Of An Author
hope for the tired and weary
Love and Faith in Fiction
My Quiet Time with God


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One of the simplest ways to know another tradition is to experience it, to connect with it for a chronic period. We wish training abroad to be a central component of the Babson experience to further students' understanding of financial and social value in a global context. The Study Abroad workplace strives to connect its diverse neighborhood of scholars, college and staff with international opportunities that may change their educational and professional lives and drive transformation of their personal improvement.
Studying abroad is an thrilling, challenging and rewarding experience that transforms college students and opens doorways to new alternatives in life. Research overseas is a transformative and life changing experience; study concerning the causes and benefits of examine abroad. We even have assets that can provide help to to correctly advise your students eager about education abroad.
Nick is a graduate Journalism student from Inwood, WV. Throughout his 2016 Spring break, Nick traveled with the Global Medical and Dental Brigades to rural Nicaragua.Click on beneath to learn extra about Nick's expertise and his travels overseas. However now its altering which is a good sign however still loads of jobs require Swedish language proficiency.

subset: commoncrawl


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- Dr Phil Hammond
- Comedy
Writer, broadcaster and GP as well as the subversive medical consultant for the satirical Private Eye.
"Laugh, love, shout and reclaim our NHS. Ditch the market, cherish the carers, fund the frontline, avoid the harm, kill the fear, tell the truth, use the evidence, inspire, collaborate, recover, die gently. Are you in?"


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Because of the mess out here 'err day:
Too many parents/guardians in the AM bustin' U-turns, parking in the drop off zones and chillin', mixing it up with the buses, and walking up to school with their kids cutting through the lines of cars dropping off instead of using the safely marked crosswalks.
I e-mailed the principal last week and he suggested joining a PTG meeting, the first of which just HAPPENS to be tonight.
All I ask is they put out cones to direct traffic, and notify the drivers how to navigate the lot like a human being.
I hate adulting.


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Career Colleges » Minnesota » Trades and Careers » Architecture
Looking for accredited career colleges, technical schools, and universities in Minnesota offering Architecture degrees. An architecture degree will give you the education to work in the art and science of building design.Minnesota's college students enjoy life in an affordable and beautiful state, with thousands of lakes offering endless chances for ice fishing, boating, or just lazing about in the water. It is also filled with beautiful forests and agricultural lands dotted with small family farms. Minnesota is a very decent place, with friendly people, little pollution, and a low crime rate. You should definitely think about Minnesota as you make your educational plans.
The grass is always greener on the other side. This well known clich? applies very well to talented professionals. Those who choose an occupation that is more analytical in nature wish they had a more creative job. Many creative types yearn for some sort of analytical thinking as a way to ground themselves. This problem obviously stems from our need as humans to vary our day to day lives. This need often manifests itself in belonging to organizations outside of work that engage different parts of the brain. Some people are able to find professions that are balanced both creatively and analytically. One of these professions is architecture.
Architecture is an art from based in practicality. Architects design buildings that have to serve a purpose. People generally have to live and work in these spaces. Architects have to be analytical in order to design safe buildings that will stand the test of time. They also are challenged creatively because their clients often want unique and distinct buildings.
If you want to become and architect, you may want to enroll in one of the many architectural programs throughout the country. Earning a degree in architecture will take some time. Skilled designers and mathematicians must spend time researching past architectural periods, understanding the construction process, and creating their own style. Architectural programs prepare students for future apprenticeship and internship programs and help them create their own design portfolios. These portfolios are used as resumes as graduates look for jobs
Find more schools to match to your needs.


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Lausanne's tuition is designed to fund high level educational and program opportunities, hire and retain talented faculty and staff, and maintain a campus that will enhance the experience of all learners, ultimately preparing each individual for college and for life in a global environment. Our hope is to give as many students as possible the chance to experience Lausanne's International Baccalaureate curriculum, global community, and collegiate campus, while maintaining the small class sizes that enhance each child's experience and relationships with peers and faculty. When Lausanne's tuition can provide so much, we hope it also will not hinder opportunities; therefore, each year we work closely with applicants and returning students to provide impactful financial assistance awards enabling them to attend Lausanne.
Lausanne offers a need-based financial assistance program for qualifying students in grades 1–12. Due to the limited number of spaces in Early Childhood (PK, JK, SK), we are unable to offer financial assistance until students enter first grade. Applying for financial assistance at Lausanne is a simple process. Assistance is based on the financial need established through a third party called Student & School Scholastic Services (SSS).
This is a CONFIDENTIAL PROGRAM and only the Financial Assistance Committee will review your personal financial records or know of any award granted. All financial assistance awards come directly from Lausanne's operating budget. Lausanne does not receive any funds from the government or outside resources to support those families applying for financial assistance.
In this current economic climate, it is important for you to know that we have a large number of applicants to consider. With a limited amount of funds we will need to be very careful with distribution of monies available as we try to help as many students as possible benefit from a Lausanne education. Therefore, it is important that families complete and submit all required documents in a timely manner to be considered.
The deadline to be considered for first-round awards is December 31. We hope you will also go ahead and begin your enrollment application so we can help your family make an informed decision with our first-round acceptances. An award will not be extended until acceptance has been made.
2019-20 Admission Fees & Tuition Payments
Apply For Financial Assistance Here
Parent Guide To SSS
SSS Parent FAQ
1. Complete the admission application process. You must be extended an enrollment contract for the upcoming school year to be presented with a financial assistance award.
2. Complete the financial assistance process. This includes completing and submitting the online FAST application (Applications will be available for the 2019-2020 school year beginning in October), paying the $43 application fee, and uploading your current year's taxes by December 31st and filing your next year's taxes by April 1st. Please note, this a third-party fee and is non-refundable.
3. Submit the Letter portion in FAST. This is required of all families.
4. Submit your new year's taxes by April 1 to the financial assistance office. Email is preferred with a PDF attachment, but copies can also be submitted and uploaded.
If an enrolled student should need to withdraw, the financial assistance award will still be applied to the remaining tuition owed, but the student will be obligated to the contractual withdrawal obligations and procedures.
Contract Agreement: If Lausanne receives from the parent/guardian written notice, delivered by hand or by certified mail/return receipt on or before March 1 indicating intention not to enroll the child at Lausanne for the next school year, then the parent/guardian shall be released from tuition and fee obligations applicable to the school year except for the nonrefundable deposit and matriculation fee. After March 1, the parent/guardian is obligated for full tuition and fees as specified in the Tuition Payment Schedule. No release from tuition or fee obligations will be allowed except for the withdrawal terms as set forth in this contract. Should a student withdraw, transcripts will not be released until full payment is received.
Policy for Financial Obligation of Moving Families for the Next School Year: Should Lausanne receive from the parent or guardian written notice, delivered by hand or by certified mail/return receipt, notification of their intent to move more than 75 miles from Lausanne Collegiate School after the March 1, deadline date of withdrawal, the financial obligation of the parent shall be modified as follows following official notification of the move from a third party (letter from employer or other):
What is TRP?
The Tuition Refund Policy is a financial protection for each family's tuition investments. It is required for all first-time students, all financial assistance recipients, and anyone choosing the 10-month payment plan. In the event of a student withdrawal, the TRP can allow for a 60% refund of the remaining tuition. It is highly encouraged for all families to have TRP.
What is included in the Activity Fees
For PK–4th Grade: ArtsFest/SportsFest T-shirt, assignment book, books, class T-shirt, class parties, classroom materials, daytime field trips and transportation, newsletters, recorder, snacks, standardized testing, transcript, yearbook, rest-mat and chair bag, as needed in each grade.
For 5th–12th Grades: ArtsFest/SportsFest T-shirt, fine art fees (Michelangelo, supplies, band shirt, music/chorus/acting/photo fees), language workbooks and online fees, novel fees, PLAN/PSAT testing fee, science lab fees, textbooks, transportation for local field trips, and yearbook.
What is not included in the Tuition and Fees?
Items Not Included in the Tuition and Fees for All Students: AfterCare, after-school enrichment programs, athletic uniforms/equipment/fees, school pictures, Conservatory, English as an Additional Language Program (EAL), individual class supplies, tutoring, and optional items.
For 5th–12th Grades: Calculators, English as an Additional Language fees/tutoring, International Baccalaureate (external) testing fees, laptops, out-of-town and class trips, senior graduation fees, software/accessories, and items not specified in "Items Included" above.
Lausanne will do it's best to help you during the process. Listed below are a few points that might help you better understand the way funds are distributed:
Lausanne will consider the assets of both natural parents, if living, before making any award and cannot be bound by the assertion that one parent has disclaimed responsibility for educational expenses or that a court has ordered or failed to order payment by a spouse for a child's education.
If parents are separated or divorced and both parents contribute financially to the applicant, a separate FAST application must be completed by both parents. Lausanne will also need copies of both parent's W-2s and tax return documents. If the custodial parent has remarried, we will consider also the assets of the stepparent, bearing in mind the obligations of that stepparent to his or her own natural children.
According to the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association (TSSAA), Lausanne is not able to offer more financial assistance than the family qualified for through FAST. If a family is given more than they qualified for, then the student is not eligible to participate in varsity sports. This policy is subject to all families regardless of their grade level. In addition, if a family is 60 days past due on their billing, that student is not eligible to participate in varsity sports.
Our operating budget is 100% funded by our tuition, activity and lunch fees. If a student is accepted to Lausanne, families will be asked to sign and submit contracts and deposits with initial enrollment. The first enrollment contracts for new students are extended in mid-February and will be extended on a rolling admission basis until placement is no longer available. Financial assistance awards are extended at the same time enrollment contracts are extended. Re-enrollment for returning students takes place on an annual basis in January through an online process that includes submitting a new contract and deposit. Our admission team and business office are always happy to talk families through our tuition payment schedules and financial assistance opportunities.
The following is tuition for the 2019-2020 school year.
PK: 5 Full Days
JK/SK: 5 Full Days
Grades 1-4
Grades 5-12
To enroll, a deposit is due with a signed contract (per student). An Early-Bird deposit discount of $300 is applied to deposits received by the contract deadline at 4 p.m.
Friday, February 1: Returning/Current Students
Friday, March 1 (or contract deadline): New Students
If receiving financial assistance, payment plan installments will be adjusted to reflect financial assistance awards. Note: The tuition refund policy (TRP) is required of all financial assistance recipients. Lunch and activity fees are required. Financial assistance is only applied to tuition.


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In the Amalgamated Lifts Limited Club Santacruzense de Londres put themselves into pole position for the league championship, as they beat Sabanoh 97 who had been top of the table since 13th November, 3-2 at Coldharbour Sports. Vitor Abreu, Joel Ramos and Abel Viera with the goals for the Portuguese side. Elsewhere Long Lane gained 3 points without kicking a ball as New Life couldn't field a side, and won't be able to fulfil their remaining fixtures.
In the Senior Division it was the same story for Junior Reds Spartans who failed to raise the players to play Woolwich 90.
Division One had more success, with Abbey Wood and New London going head to head for 2nd spot. It was New London who came out on top thanks to two goals from Jason Hammett, and one from Tyson Holmes-Lewis to seal a 3-2 win and claim the runners up spot in Division One.
Two games in Division Two to finish off the fixture list saw Advent Royals beat Mottingham Forest 4-0 thanks to two goals a piece from Malasa Kaloshie and Conor Mansfield, while Vanbrugh hosted Bayswater RK and lost 8-2. No goalscorer credits for either side due to FT not being completed.
Cup Semi Final Action in the Bert Holloway Cup, saw Phoenix Knights edge past Mottingham Park Rangers 3-2 thanks to goals from Jack Cox, James Groom and Andrew Ridgers to face Turk Ocagi Limassol Russellers in the final after they edged out Eltham SF 2-1 thanks to goals from Habeeb Eniola Ajani & N'Diri N'Dili.


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In the inaugural episode of "Your Insurance Connection Podcast", CLH Insurance President, Chuck Hembree, discusses CLH and what makes the agency unique.
Below is a transcript of the episode, modified for your reading pleasure. For more information on the topics discussed in the episode, see the links at the bottom of this post.
* * *
Grant FINLEY: Welcome to the inaugural episode of Your Insurance Connection Podcast. I'm your host Grant Finley and I'm joined today by the President of CLH Insurance, Chuck Hembree. Chuck, how are you today?
Chuck HEMBREE: Doing well, thank you.
FINLEY: Good, good. Well, I sincerely want to thank you. It's always great to have the man himself join us, especially for the inaugural episode –
HEMBREE: "The man himself." (laughs)
FINLEY: So thank you very much for taking some time out of your day. I thought we could start off this podcast, since it's the very first one, by diving into what CLH Insurance is all about, how it got started, the background and just get into that. So, if you could maybe just start with a brief synopsis of CLH Insurance and what the agency provides I think that would be a good jumping off point.
HEMBREE: Well, this is exciting because this is our 55th year and any entity, any organization is always built on the back of the folks that came before it and we're the recipients of the great, hard work that they've done and the same here is true with CLH Insurance. It started and my entrance into insurance was when John Clark approached me and I was not interested in twisting people's arms or interrupting them during dinner and he said, "Well, that's not how we approach our clients" and I thought, "Well how else do you sell insurance?" He said, "Everybody has to have insurance – it's a necessity. Wouldn't it be nice if you could trust the person that you were talking to, that they weren't just selling you something but they really had your best interest in mind, that they were knowledgeable and they were helping you make intelligent decisions" and that's what we've tried to really build on. It's really – it may be cliché, but trust and integrity. A lot of things that are disappearing in some of our industry arenas today and that's really what we want to build on.
FINLEY: Yeah, and even in the mission statement it kind of touches on how it's educational, we're trying to make sure that the customers that we work with are informed or educated so they can make the best decisions for themselves and so I think that speaks volumes.
HEMBREE: Well, mission effects our service. We do have that mission statement and we try to filter what we do in selling and in and servicing, particularly in servicing and through that helping our clients make intelligent insurance decisions. Not making the decisions for them but helping them understand pretty complex policies. Again, it's become a commodity because everybody has to have it, but it's very complex and we want to help them understand what they have and why they're making the decisions that they are. So that means that we have to know our products well, we have to stay on top of insurance education, and not just be insurance sellers.
FINLEY: So, another caveat, if you will, to what CLH Insurance is all about is it's an independent agency and it's a "Trusted Choice" agency. Can you talk a little bit about what a "Trusted Choice" agency is for some of those who may not be familiar with the term?
HEMBREE: Absolutely, and if I can back up, I'd like to look at what an independent agent is. Both independent agents and direct writers in the insurance industry are valid forms. Now, one is not legitimate and another one illegitimate. An independent agent just means we represent multiple companies rather than have one specific company offering and because of that, we have relationships and connections with many entities. We can provide kind of a concierge services of going out on behalf of our clients and looking at - not every company – that would be a misstatement, but the companies we're contracted with and at least they're eight to ten standard, good, solid companies. Hartford, Travelers, Allied, EMC – names that you know. We're able to work with them and then if we have needs beyond that, we have the ability to go worldwide so we can affiliate with the Lloyds of Londons, we can affiliate with those types of situations so we can bring our clients what they need.
FINLEY: So, let me just jump in real quick there. So would it make sense then to say that I could come to CLH and I could get my car insurance through Travelers and my homeowners insurance through Hartford? I can kind of mix and match different companies through you with whatever is going to fit my current situation?
HEMBREE: We can tailor it to what you need. Now, we also know the market well enough that sometimes it is best to put it all with one company because of discounting packaging but at least we're doing that for you so that you can see upfront here's what this company has to offer versus this company, with the ones that we're aligned with. A common misconception we find is because we're independent agents and we're doing this shopping for them that we're going to cost extra. There is no extra cost for doing this. We receive commission on the policy that we sell, we don't collect another fee upfront from you and so there is no cost downside to dealing with an independent agent versus one that might represent just one company.
FINLEY: So the customer is paying the same –
HEMBREE: Exactly.
FINLEY: Whether it's with the big company or it's with the independent agency?
HEMBREE: That's right and if you think about it, I've heard "Well there's a higher cost factor if you're an independent agency because there's a middle man. Because they pay us commission." Well, with a direct writer, they're still getting paid a salary. Where's that money coming from? There really isn't a difference, we just call it a commission when we're dealing with an independent agency. Now, you asked a second question about "Trusted Choice" and we are a "Trusted Choice" agency and we're proud of our affiliation. Their motto is "a person, not a policy" and they hold us to a pledge of performance that we have to write in order to become a member of theirs and there are several parts of that but what I really wanted to hit is that we're going to provide 24 hours, seven days a week service for our customers. So if you call after hours to our agency, you'll not only get in to leave a voice mail but there will always be an emergency number that you will be able to talk with a live person, pretty much every time that you get there and we'll handle the emergency that has come up or the question that you have. I find that people don't seem to abuse that. They're not calling me at three in the morning asking, "Hey, could you look over this billing statement?" No, it's usually because they really need it and we're happy to oblige. The other thing we promise that we do is return your phone calls and your emails promptly and in a timely manner, and that's important today because we're making decisions and you're having to work on the fly. People are busier than ever and we need to respond to them as best we can and we promise that we will tailor it to your needs and not to our needs. That's one reason "Trusted Choice" was so natural for us because it fit with what our mission statement was going to be. So nationwide you can look us up as a "Trusted Choice" agency. That we adhere to that pledge and we're going to be held to that standard.
FINLEY: So then, what are the various lines of insurance that CLH provides?
HEMBREE: I'll qualify that: we're an all lines agency. So we handle personal lines for our customers, commercial lines, and we even do life, accident, health, major medical – so we're an all lines brokerage. However, every agency has their strengths and they have their weaknesses and we choose to go in the areas that we have strengths. So, Life, Accident and Health, we'll affiliate with those that we think and in the metropolitan areas that we do business in, have the largest networks and the largest and best services available for our clients. And again, we're an independent agent so we're not looking at just one or two in property casualty or in life, accident and health – all of those. We do have niches though. We concentrate a lot in the not-for-profit sector, social services sector, because we developed an expertise in that and so we deal a lot with churches, colleges, schools, daycares, chambers of commerce, drug rehabs, and we do a really good job of that and yet it doesn't keep us from writing the retail, hardware store, or the contractor that we know works well. So we have the ability there but that's where we found a specialty and are able to do a good job as an agency there. As far as personal lines, we have great, "A" rated, strong financial companies that are going to give you some good choices along the line. And then finally with life, accident and health, we represent the major ones and this is an extremely volatile area right now with the ACA or Obamacare and there's lots of changes in there. We're very well positioned to help people with the decisions they need to make.
FINLEY: Chuck, I think that's going to wrap it up unless there's anything else you'd like to just get out there real quick about CLH Insurance or a final word from you?
HEMBREE: Well, the reason that we're an independent agent, the reason we are a trusted choice agency, the reason we do want to hit our mission is we want to be your insurance connection and can do a good job of that and hope that our current clients see that , we think that they do, and we hope that new clients will consider us as that.
FINLEY: Great. Chuck, thank you again for taking some time today and sitting down with us for this inaugural episode of Your Insurance Connection Podcast.
HEMBREE: Thank you, Grant.
Your Insurance Connection podcast can be heard on iTunes and Stitcher or by visiting clhins.com/content/podcast. If you like what you've heard you can support this podcast by rating and/or sharing it on your social platforms. CLH Insurance is a "Trusted Choice", independent agency servicing Missouri, Kansas and Illinois. For more information on CLH Insurance, visit clhins.com or call 636.391.0700 to speak with an agent. Until we connect again, thanks for listening.
Show Notes - Where you can learn more about the people and ideas discussed in this episode.
CLH Insurance
Chuck Hembree, President of CLH Insurance
Independent Agent
Trusted Choice
Lloyd's of London


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TémoignagesVoici ce qu'ont dit d'anciens participants de ce cours...
Excellent overview on laser micromachining. Well structrured and organized. Excellent course.
One of the best day courses attended. Excellent.
The subject was explained clearly to a wide range of audience. Tutor is certainly expert on the subject.
Very pedagogic. Thank you!
I got the overall picture + more. Thank you!
Laser Micromachining
Objectifs du cours
This course is primarily aimed at introducing the basic concepts of laser micromachining and allowing participants to appreciate the practical elements involved in undertaking laser micromachining tasks. It is suitable for those with a basic interest in microsystems, MEMS and general micro-manufacturing and does not require a deep knowledge of mathematics or physics. The course includes numerous videos and examples of high precision laser micromachining.
Public cible
The course is aimed at engineers, technical managers and those interested in gaining a wider understanding of laser micromachining systems, techniques and applications.
- Introduction to lasers & optics
- Current status of laser micromachining
- Basics of laser ablation
- Types of lasers used in micromachining
- Laser micromachining systems
- Optics for laser micromachining systems
- Laser micromachining techniques
- Industrial applications of laser micromachining
- Emerging developments
Informations et inscription
1 day
Langue du cours
Informations et inscription
Langue du cours


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This Week At Bloc: 23 April
Another week and another packed week at BLOC! Free gigs and club nights Monday to Sunday...
Monday, 23 April
The Blas Collective
Celtic Connections glitterati treat us to a night of traditional Scottish music, avoiding the obvious fact that "Scottish Music" should now probably just be a comedy kazoo.
Tuesday, 24 April
Gender Roles + Pillow Talk
Bombastic Brighton trio Gender Roles hit Bloc hard with their scuzz-fuelled, punk, emo GARGANTUAN sounds. Support from Pillow Talk,
Wednesday, 25 April
Voronoi + Bishop
Instrumental Rock of the Apocalypse from Leeds with support from Glasgow's Bishop.
Friday, 27 April
Shake Appeal (club)
The trio welcome you all to gather at the House of Bloc, for the finest in rock n' roll, rockabilly, punk, garage, punk n' roll, rhythm & blues, sleaze rock, wham bam glam & 60's girl group sounds
Drinks will be had, rugs will be cut & requests duly ignored
Saturday, 28 April
GONZO Indie Disco (club)
Our quest to bring epic nostalgia back in the form of all things MTV2 (pre-trash) and 120 Minutes continues. Welcome to the best Indie Disco in Glasgow.
Sunday, 29 April
Bloc+Jam Open Mic
For the last few years Bloc+ has been running one of Glasgow's most popular and consistently high-quality open mic nights, thanks largely to Jamie Sturt and friends, not to mention our incredibly gifted and facially pleasing clientele. The gear is all ready to go so, if you're fed up spending Sunday nights with your Monday night fear, then head on down!
Thursday, 26 April
Stretched: Eye Blossoms + Ewan Laing
Stretched is Glasgow's most innovative night and it returns this month with the brain child of saxophonist and composer Martin Fell, Eye Blossom.


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EMOTM for 15 minutes:
Back Squat, 3 reps
50-40-30-20 and 10 rep rounds of:
*Get out you notebooks, we have done this one before! Beat your old time!
If you haven't heard of the Crossfit Journal by now, you should have! We have had some blogs in the past talk about it, and how it is a great source for just about anything you can think of Crossfit. There as an article posted not too long ago titled "The Glassman Chipper" which reflects back on a bunch of great articles published from way back in 2002 or so. Everyone is worth a read and will help you expand your knowledge. You can find them all here: http://journal.crossfit.com/2016/05/the-glassman-chipper.tpl
By Sean Mackey


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TES volume 10, no. 1 will be available in June 2011.
TES Volume 9, Number 2
Where this (View PDF) appears full-text documents in PDF format are viewable using the free Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Table of contents:
1. Editorial
2. Linking Medicinal Plant Production with Livelihood Enhancement in Bangladesh: Implications of a Vertically Integrated Value Chain
Deadline for papers for volume 10, no. 2 is June, 2011
Articles should be submitted to Bente Kjærgård and Henning Schroll, TES


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Sleeps: 20 | Bedrooms: 6
The charming Old Polo Estate, located on 5 acres in the heart of Coachella, just one mile from where the Annual Coachella Fest, Stagecoach, and Desert Trip are held. This convenient location can accomidate 300 people for your wedding, corporate or family event. This private venue sports a three hole golf course,a 1,500 square foot pool, extensive entertaining areas, and many large grassy areas.
Home sleeps 20, has 4.5 bathrooms, a gourmet kitchen and a large game room. Home has been professionally decorated. Home is well suited to accommodate large groups. Don't miss the opportunity to stay at this wonderful estate with your family and friends.


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Updates to Anti-Social Media
New York Times: Facebook Has Identified Ongoing Political Influence Campaign – "Facebook announced on Tuesday that it has identified a coordinated political influence campaign, with dozens of inauthentic accounts and pages that are believed to be engaging in political activity around divisive social issues ahead of November's midterm elections."
Commentary from The Register: Facebook deletes 17 accounts, dusts off hands, beams: We've saved the 2018 elections – "Yeah, that'll do the trick, Mark"
Facebook's own blog post: Removing Bad Actors on Facebook
Luana Pascu: GDPR directly impacts Facebook, 1 million European users lost
The Register: UK 'fake news' inquiry calls for end to tech middleman excuses, election law overhaul "British lawmakers have been told to create tougher rules for social media giants claiming to be neutral platforms, establish a code of ethics for tech firms, and plump up the UK's self-styled "data sheriff"."
Roger Thompson (Thompson Cyber Security Labs): Ok, this was scary – a disquieting example of how much more information is 'publicly available' than you probably think. Even scarier is the question of how much publicly available information is actually accurate.
Updates to Cryptocurrency/Crypto-mining News and Resources
Graham Cluley: Steam game Abstractism pulled after cryptomining accusations
The Register: 'Unhackable' Bitfi crypto-currency wallet maker will be shocked to find fingernails exist – "A crypto-currency wallet heavily promoted as "unhackable" – complete with endorsements from the security industry's loopy old uncle John McAfee and a $350,000 bounty challenge – has, inevitably, been hacked within a week."
Bleeping Computer: Massive Coinhive Cryptojacking Campaign Touches Over 200,000 MikroTik Routers – "Security researchers have unearthed a massive cryptojacking campaign that targets MikroTik routers and changes their configuration to inject a copy of the Coinhive in-browser cryptocurrency mining script in some parts of users' web traffic." Lengthy analysis by Trustwave: Mass MikroTik Router Infection – First we cryptojack Brazil, then we take the World?
Updates to GDPR page
The Register: India mulls ban on probes into anonymized data use – with GDPR-style privacy laws – "Thought having your call center in India was a good idea? Maybe not so much now"
Luana Pascu: GDPR directly impacts Facebook, 1 million European users lost
Updates to Internet of (not necessarily necessary) Things
[Many of the Things that crop up on this page are indeed necessary. But that doesn't mean that connecting them to the Internet of Things (or even the Internet of Everything) is necessary, or even desirable, given how often that connectivity widens the attack surface.]
Pierluigi Paganini: Tens of flaws in Samsung SmartThings Hub expose smart home to attack
""Cisco Talos recently discovered several vulnerabilities present within the firmware of the Samsung SmartThings Hub." reads the analysis published by Talos."
The SANS OUCH! newsletter for August offers basic but generally sensible advice on Smart Home Devices. "There is no reason to be afraid of new technologies but do understand the risk they pose. By taking these few simple steps you can help create a far more secure Smart Home."
Updates to Mac Virus
Android and OneDrive, and iOS-targeting phish
David Harley


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Mother In-Law
Posted by Bryce Wend on July 27, 2009
THIS is my mother in-law.
So here's the thing about Patty, she is one of the most amazing grandparents I have ever met.
She loves her grandchildren more than life itself sometimes. Personally I think it's because she is so young at heart herself.
It's a privledge to call her my mother in-law.


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Book Now
Orchid Static Caravan – Talacre Beach
No date defined
Click on the available dates within the calendar to book your stay now.Check availability
Click on the available dates within the calendar to book your stay now.
The Orchid is a static caravan with an abundance of space making it perfect for families searching for a little more room in their accommodation. This caravan has one double bedroom and one twin bedroom, room for up to four guests.
The caravan is centrally heated and boasts a range of essentials including a microwave, TV, DVD player, welcome pack and a selection of kitchen utensils.
You will also have access to the extensive facilities which are on offer at the five star rated Talacre Beach Resort. Some of the amazing facilities that Talacre Beach has to offer include an indoor tropically heated swimming pool, with free swimming lessons for your children, a steam room, sauna and jacuzzi if you're looking for relaxation, and not to forget a state of the art gym!
Gas and electricity included
Bed linen and duvets
Double glazed
Beds made up on arrival
Access to 5 star holiday park facilities
Iron with ironing board (£15pw)
Please note before making your booking with us that pets & smoking aren't permitted whilst staying in the static caravan.
The Orchid static caravan is perfect accommodation for families looking to experience one of the best holiday parks in North Wales without breaking the bank. If you've got any questions you'd like to ask about this particular accommodation or any of the other static caravans and lodges which are available for hire at our 5 star park, then please feel free to contact a friendly member of our team at any time.
Once you've experienced what we have to offer, you may find that you simply don't want to leave. Luckily you don't have to, thanks to the holiday home ownership options that we have available at Talacre Beach. You can contact a member of the Darwin Escapes ownership team to discuss this by clicking here.
Hoseasons' 2015 Relax & Explore Wales Finalist.
* Images are typical of the Orchid accommodation and interiors may vary slightly
All prices are subject to availability and may change. Final price will be verified at the point of booking.
Orchid Static Caravan – Talacre Beach
No date defined
Includes discountBook now on Hoseasons
Act fast! Pricing and availability may change soon!
If you would like to view any of our additional accommodation at Talacre Beach Resort, click here.
If you're interested in this accommodation and would like to find out more, please get in touch and we will do our best to answer any questions you may have.Contact us
Keep up to date with all the latest news and offers from us via the feed below. Be the first to hear about our competitions and offers.
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It gets worse. In a recent study done by a professor at Pennsylvania State University, it was found that most Americans believe that Native Americans are either assimilated, or extinct.
He conducted an extensive study of the way Native Americans and Native American issues were framed by the "big three" television networks — ABC, CBS and NBC — between 1990 and 1999. He said that during that timeframe the three networks produced 175,889 news reports. Of those, a combined total of 98 reports were about Native Americans or Native American issues.
Sanchez said the majority of those stories were framed by stereotypical 18th century imagery, such as Native Americans in buckskin clothing riding horses and wearing traditional headdresses.
"Why is that important? Because it makes people believe American Indians haven't progressed," Sanchez said.
Sanchez said the least common type of story were those representing 21st century Native Americans in a positive light." [emphasis mine].


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I wish I could crave God the way I do sugar. After all, craving God would be so much healthier and I wouldn't keep going up a dress size. I'm ashamed of putting my priorities upside down. In fact, sugar is like poison to somebody who has fibromyalgia--like I do. It increases overall pain and I am feeling it!
It's like Paul said when he talked about doing the things he shouldn't, and not doing the very things he should. He was upside down spiritually, just like I get upside down with my own cravings. Gee Willies! My one salvation is craving to sing His praises more than to eat cupcakes. I joined the choir at my church a year ago and it has been such a sweet time to practice and then to help lead the congregation in glorious songs about our God. We've even done a one night revival at a sister church in Gaffney that was so much fun.
Christmas is coming in less than 3 months and we will soon start working on that special music. We can't wait to get our mouths around the new choral tunes. Our choir has grown tremendously in the last year, and we're having trouble squeezing all of us into the loft. (Maybe others have been eating too many cupcakes, too?)
Well, I hope the rest of you are NOT running to get something sweet after hearing about my downfall. Go do...5 leg lifts, 4 sit-ups, 3 jumping jacks, 2 windmills, and drink fruit smothies with few'r calories (to the tune of "The Twelve Days of Christmas").
Pray for my resolve to return to normal and for sugar to be a poor substitute for the real meat of God's word!
|Compliments of www.whfoods.org
Linda B. Greer


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A fine deep brown over maroon over frost vase with a short neck and ovoid body. The vase is masterfully cameo cut in the round with a panoramic vista of trees, mountains, and a lake with islands and outcrops. Condition: light age and use wear; nothing further found - if you have any questions about this item, contact me. Seller operates a 100% purchase price money back returns policy if not completely satisfied. Circa 1910-20, Cristallerie de Pantin, France, signed "deVez" pseudonym for the company art director, Camille Tutré de Varreux. Article measured in centimetres and rounded to the nearest quarter inch. Height 12cm/4.75in.
Free shipping/postage to a UK address. Please contact us for exact costs and delivery options to all other destinations.


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NEW YORK and TORONTO, August 23rd, 2018 – Media veteran Jonathan Penn is joining Sampler, the leading digital product sampling network. Penn will be bringing 20 years of digital media expertise to the team as he joins as VP of Sales and Customer Success.
"When I first heard about Sampler, I was immediately captivated," noted Jonathan. "The product solves such a clear problem and once I met the team, I just knew I needed to be part of it."
Since 2013, Sampler has worked with hundreds of brands and operated campaigns in as many as 17 countries. The company's customer list includes major brands like Kimberly-Clark, Unilever and Nestle. Traditionally brands have handed free product samples randomly on street corners or in grocery stores but more and more brands are seeking more targeted strategies. "The time is now." Founder Marie Chevrier says, adding: " As more and more retail decisions are made online, distributing product samples digitally should be part of every CPG brand's media plan and the market is realizing it".
Jonathan comes to Sampler from Tremor Video, where he was National Director of Sales. Prior to Tremor he held senior sales roles at Turn (an Amobee company), Involved Media, TheStreet.com, and AT&T.
As Penn explains: "brands don't 'spray and pray' their digital media; they use robust data behind their planning and execution to ensure each impression reaches a qualified potential new consumer. Why shouldn't brands apply the same execution towards their product sampling initiatives? Using Sampler, you can now cost-effectively target the right audience and deliver them a trial of your product that increases conversion and creates loyal customers. It's a no brainer."
Jonathan's deep knowledge of media and the network he brings with him will open new doors for Sampler. :"Sampler's foundation has been built on the team's deep understanding of the retail and consumer packaged goods industries. But what we're building is so much more than product sampling." Marie Chevrier, Founder and CEO of Sampler says. "Brands leverage us to get more out of their media spend on major online publishers like Snapchat, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. Bringing more media expertise to the team is going to help us move faster on this major opportunity."
Jonathan will be joining Sampler's New York office and will be expanding Sampler's presence in the US market aggressively starting as early as next week.
Sampler Logo:
Marie Chevrier Headshot:
For more information or to schedule an interview contact:
Kelly Stewart
Phone: 1- 877-241-7413
Email: email@example.com


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Barriers to Exit/
Barriers to exit are obstructions that hinder a business from exiting a market. The firm may consider the existence of these barriers when initially deciding whether to enter a market, which could cause it to never enter the market at all. Several examples of barriers to exit are:
A local government requires a business to stay in the market, because its goods or services are considered to be for the benefit of the public. For example, an airline may be required to keep servicing a small local community, even though there are few customers in the area.
A firm has invested a significant amount in the market, which it will lose if it exits the market. This is a sunk cost, so it should have no bearing on management's decision to leave the market, and yet it is commonly included in the decision.
Massive closure costs would be incurred as part of the exiting process. For example, a mining firm would have to spend large amounts for environmental remediation when it closes an open pit mine. Or, the government may mandate that significant payments be made to any employees whose employment would be terminated as the result of a facility closing down.
When there are barriers to exit, a company is more likely to continue offering goods or services, even though it may be losing money or making only a small profit on each sale transaction. When there are several firms in the same situation, there are too many competitors, so profits are likely to remain low or nonexistent.


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Having a professional financial expert to manage your money for you is always a relief; especially if you're not market savvy. This is why we have mutual fund houses or the Asset Management Company (AMC). This article covers everything you need to know about an AMC or fund house.
- What is an Asset Management Company?
- How does an AMC manage the funds?
- On what basis should an investor choose an AMC?
- Are Fund Houses as reliable as banks?
- Role of SEBI & AMFI in AMC's operations
- What are the SEBI & AMFI guidelines for AMCs?
- Where does the AMC stand in the overall mutual fund structure?
1. What is an Asset Management Company?
In simple words, an Asset Management Company manages money collected from diverse investors. A fund house decides when, where and how to invest this money. Its decisions will be in line with their stated investment goals. So, they choose to invest in asset classes like equities, stocks, shares, bonds, securities, and cash equivalents accordingly.
The fund manager first evaluates various metrics like market risks, industry risks etc. and then make a decision that can meet their investment goals. For instance, a debt fund invests mostly in bonds and government securities to keep the risks minimal. But an equity fund mainly focuses on equities (shares) of companies. The ultimate aim here is to make profitable investment decisions that will give investors maximum returns.
2. How does an AMC manage the funds?
When you invest with an AMC, you are purchasing a portfolio they offer. The company is principally responsible for driving the mutual fund and make decisions that benefit the investors. Under the leadership of an asset manager, it invests the money in line with the trust deed and the financial objective of the scheme. The process is broadly listed below.
a. Asset Allocation
Every mutual fund comes with a definite financial aim or a theme – this helps the asset manager to shortlist and decide on which asset to invest in. For instance, many debt-oriented funds put no more than 20% of their assets under management in equities. Or a balanced fund may choose to invest only 60% of assets in equities. This is asset allocation – one of the crucial decisions a fund manager has to take daily.
b. Research and Analysis
Building a portfolio rides on plenty of in-depth studies daily. Analysts study the market, micro and macro-economic aspects and fund performances regularly, and pass the reports to the manager. He makes decisions that can help the company beat the benchmark and rise above its peers (apple to apple comparison). Then the fund manager takes the final call on stock selection, which decides the fate of the fund.
c. Portfolio Construction
An AMC will have a slew of researchers and analysts who report their market findings and trends to the fund manager. Based on these findings and investment objectives, he chooses which securities to buy, sell, or whether to hold them. This is how a company builds a portfolio, which depends predominantly on the experience and expertise of the manager.
d. Performance Review
Even with disclaimers in the fine print, an AMC faces a lot of flak from the investors and trustees, if it cannot justify its investment decisions. For instance, the company must provide unitholders with information that have a direct impact on their holdings. It must also send regular updates on sales and repurchases, NAV, portfolio details etc. to investors.
3. On what basis should an investor choose an AMC?
While an AMC follows the investment objective of every scheme before investing, you still need to check its vintage and track record. So, understand everything about the team you are trusting your hard-earned money. Market savvy investors can also look at the performance history of various schemes managed by the company during market ups and downs.
The points given below can be the main parameters for you to select a fund house.
Assess price & value:It is normal to get hooked on the price before buying something. Of course, we are not telling you to get rid of that habit. Before selecting an AMC, pay attention to its value. For instance, if you are earning less from a fund, then it makes little sense to buy a fund, however cheaper it is.
The reputation of the AMC: A fund company does not earn its status in a day. Example, a company only makes a reputation after giving consistently good performance for say, 5 or 10 years. Go through reviews, talk to other investors and check if the past performance has been consistent.
Fund manager's credentials: An AMC is what a fund manager is. For instance, no fund company will hire a manager with less-than-impeccable expertise for fear of losing their customers. Nowadays, it is easy to find how a fund manager has managed assets in the past.
Fees vs commission: It is advisable to choose an asset management company that charges a fixed fee, rather than commission. This means you will have some idea of how your expense ratio will turn out to be.
4. Are fund houses as reliable as banks?
There is a widespread notion that mutual funds are not as safe as bank accounts or schemes offered by banks. People fear that AMCs can get shut down at any time. This is because banks are visible to all and regulated by RBI. However, people often overlook the fact that mutual fund companies are also under the purview of RBI and the Finance Ministry and hence quite safe.
The sponsor or the trustees appoint an AMC for managing the pool of funds. The AMC charges a fee and acts under the supervision of the trustees, who are in turn regulated by SEBI. The primary reason for this is to ensure objectivity and transparency. So, you can go ahead and invest your money in mutual funds to build long-term wealth while saving on taxes.
5. Role SEBI & AMFI in AMC Operations
An Asset Management Firm acts under the supervision of the board of trustees. But they are answerable to India's capital market regulator,Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI). The Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI) is another statutory body that addresses investors' grievances. Every fund house must comply with the set of risk management guidelines by SEBI and AMFI.
While SEBI is a government body, mutual fund companies have formed the AMFI. Together, they strive to keep the functioning of the industry ethic-driven and transparent. RBI also plays an essential role in regulating AMCs, if a bank is one of the sponsors. Finally, the Ministry of Finance works as the authority for all these regulators.
6. SEBI and AMFI guidelines investors should know
Below are some of the practices and guidelines for mutual fund companies that SBI, AMCI, and RBI mandate.
a. An AMC shall not act as the trustee of any mutual fund
b. The company shall not invest in any of its schemes unless full disclosure of its intention to invest has been made in the offer documents
c. They shall submit quarterly reports of each year on its activities and the compliance with these regulations to the trustees
d.Key personnel of an AMC should have a clean record (not convicted of any economic offence)
e. The Chairman of AMC should not be a trustee of any mutual fund
f. The AMC should have a net worth of not less than Rs. 10 crores
7. Where does the AMC stand in the overall mutual fund structure?
The Government of India and RBI formed the Unit Trust of India (UTI) in 1963 to regulate mutual fund industry in India. Later, when the government permitted public sector banks and institutions to set up mutual funds, the need for an impartial regulator arose. As a result, they passed the SEBI Act (1992) and made AMCs integral to the mutual fund structure.
To understand the functions of an AMC better, you must know where the AMC stands in the mutual fund structure. All the entities mentioned in the box work in tandem to create different mutual fund types catering to different investors.
|Forms a trust and appoints the board of trustees
|Regulate the mutual fund while adhering to SEBI and AMFI
|Asset Management Company (AMC)
|Takes a call on which fund to sell/buy/hold and engages in the buying and selling of securities
|Responsible for holding and safeguarding the mutual fund units
|Registrar and Transfer Agents (RTA)
|They are the record keepers
In short, AMC's position or rank in the AMFI is an essential factor for any investor. It sounds like too much work, right? This is why ClearTax offers you well-researched and handpicked portfolios from the top fund houses in India. Go for one that suits your investment goals and risk profile to build wealth while saving on income taxes.


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Our second open ocean crossing in 6 months, meet the new Trilogy ohana crossing crew who will be sailing our brand new Trilogy 1 back from St. Croix to Maui! With 4-6 weeks of ocean life ahead of them, morale is high and excitement is even higher…Read More
Read all about our March Blue'Aina with Aloha Kayaks Maui (a returning sponsor!) and a non-profit that is near and dear to our hearts, Eat Less Plastic! Epic sunshine, views of the West Maui mountains, and crystal clear waters made for a perfect reef cleanup out on the water!Read More
Come along with us on 4-day adventure with the February 2019 Seabury Winterim! With squid dissections, sailing lessons, coral surveys, and more, the Trilogy team helped to deliver a week of learning and adventure for these bright-eyed students that is sure to be a fabulous memory for years to come.Read More
A stormy start to our winter season here in Maui cut us a little break for our February 3rd underwater reef cleanup with Trilogy's Blue'Aina and the Malama Kai Foundation! With some extra whale watching fun to boot, our volunteers set sail to Olowalu Reef for a day full of sun and fun (and cleaning!).Read More
Each year, Blue'Aina devotes one trip during Maui's winter months for citizen science and education, typically focusing on the thousands of humpback whales that visit our warm waters. Kicking off 2019, our January Blue'Aina was hosted aboard the Trilogy I and delighted volunteers, non-profit recipients, and our sponsors to one truly epic educational Whale Watch!Read More
The annual December Lana'i ocean & land Blue'Aina was a roaring success, blessed with beautiful sunny weather, eager volunteers, and 15 bags of trash collected! Read all about our fabulous sponsor and non-profit organizations, and our little surprise welcome into Manele Harbor on Lana'i!Read More
A day filled with inspiration and aloha, for our September Blue'Aina reef cleanup we partnered with ocean-loving non-profit, Love the Sea, and the Westin KOR - back for an impressive third sponsorship! Full hearts (and full trash bags) make for a genuine Blue'Aina success.Read More
Read about the exciting new partnership between Trilogy's Blue'Aina campaign and our friends at Eat Less Plastic, a team of researchers and voyagers dedicated to changing the future. As they embark on a four month long journey through the South Pacific, their research teams (plus a new addition!) will gather microplastic samples and conduct other ocean water testing in an effort to do their part to better our beautiful Earth.Read More
Our September Blue'Aina reef cleanup brought dolphins, sunny skies and all the aloha! This beautiful day in our tropical little paradise was a much needed outing after August's threat of Hurricane Lane. We love this 'aina with all our hearts!Read More
What does sunshine, 60 volunteers, coral reefs, and sailing have to do in common? Our June Blue'Aina, of course! Read all about our featured June non-profit organization, the Sierra Club Maui, and our generous sponsors, the Westin Nanea Ocean Villas and Trilogy Excursions, as we set sail up the coast of West Maui to the historic Cliff House!Read More
When traveling to the Hawaiian Islands and other tropical locations, there's a good chance you will jump into the big blue. Even if you have no plans to snorkel around coral reefs, you still make an impact on marine ecosystems.Read More
Unlike humans, dolphins are conscious breathers, so they rest half of their brain at a time. Imagine sleeping with one eye open in a state similar to that of a daydream.Read More
We lucked out with sunny skies, lots of smiles, and the most positive attitudes aboard our May 6th Blue'Aina event. Read about our underwater reef cleanup at Coral Gardens, with our sponsor, Trilogy Excursions, and our non-profit recipient for May, the Malama Kai Foundation!Read More
Coral reefs are underwater ecosystems, hosting over thousands of marine organisms. They come in blues, reds, yellows, browns, greens, and purples, making the ocean floor a rainbow. Despite looking like rocks, corals are a living invertebrate.Read More
Always wanting to malama the aina, Trilogy Excursions has been a long time participant in Earth Day events, and for the last 5 years, the Fairmont Kea Lani has personally requested an Earth Day Blue'Aina, sponsoring the non-profit Hawaii Wildlife Fund.Read More
Despite the rough weather this winter, we were thankfully met with the flattest, calmest of seas and sunshine. Our corporate sponsor, Skyline Eco-Adventures brought some eager volunteers to our sold out cleanup day, along with their donation of $1,000 to non-profit Punana Leo o Maui.Read More
High five, its vacation time! As you begin to dream of mai tai's on the beach and how many swimsuits to pack for Maui, we want to introduce you to a new (heartwarming) trend that's hitting the travel industry today – Voluntourism!Read More
Our March Blue'Aina cleanup began with some unfortunate stormy weather that threatened to affix a raincloud over our day, but even that was no match for our volunteers' outpouring of Aloha spirit. Sponsored by: Lehualani Center. Donation recipient: Kimokeo Foundation.
Read More
Early last week, we took to the seas (and land!) again for our February 4th Blue'Aina trip, hosting the non-profit organization Oceanwide Science Institute, and sponsored by one of our repeat favorites, Aloha Kayaks Maui.Read More
On January 7th, our 48 guests boarded Trilogy with extreme excitement for our first Blue'Aina of 2018 - a recurring trip that has become such a crowd favorite that it sold out months in advance! Sponsored by Trilogy, their donation was made for the second year in a row to the Whale Trust Maui, a local non-profit organization. Our food for the day was graciously donated by CJ's Deli & Diner.Read More


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Genesis 9:19-24 King James Version (KJV)
19 These are the three sons of Noah: and of them was the whole earth overspread.
20 And Noah began to be an husbandman, and he planted a vineyard:
21 And he drank of the wine, and was drunken; and he was uncovered within his tent.
22 And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brethren without.
23 And Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it upon both their shoulders, and went backward, and covered the nakedness of their father; and their faces were backward, and they saw not their father's nakedness.
24 And Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his younger son had done unto him.
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Fire On The Plains
Fire On The Plains
Fire On The Plains is from my first series of original wildfire paintings, 2009-2010. This is a favorite and is finally available as a print! Fire on the Plains won first place over all art departments and mediums in the Brigham Young University Annual Juried Student Art Show in 2010. It was also selected and exhibited at the Springville Art Museum's Spring Salon in 2010, in Springville, Utah.
This landscape features a desert scene and intense wildfire smoke full of energetic colors. A reminder of nature's elements and strength, this piece will bring energy and awe into your space.
Printed with archival ink on flat fine art quality printing canvas by our wonderful local printer.
PRINTED TO ORDER--please allow at least 2 weeks from the time you order before your print is shipped.
If you're interested in a custom size or want a print on stretched canvas please contact me personally and I will be happy to work out the details with you.


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It's no secret that affordable housing is no longer a GTA problem, but rather a provincial problem. In 2011, Ontario passed Bill 140: Strong Communities Through Affordable Housing Act, mandating that all cities changed zoning to allow 2nd suites in single family homes. In 2016, they started to put their money where their mouths are – allocating $178 million with Ontario's Long Term Affordable Housing Strategy.
Here's the thesis of this strategy:
"Building on the 2016 Ontario Budget investment of $178 million over three years, the government is making a long-term commitment to stable funding that will continue its transformation of the housing system. "
How You Can Benefit
So as a homeowner or an investor, how can you benefit? Although this strategy is geared towards helping the most vulnerable, this is by no means a handout. It is clear from the language of the documentation that it is an investment – in the private sector. In other words, YOU. If you are willing to put in some effort, you can make quite a bit of money.
At the heart of this strategy is a renewed focus to provide affordable housing with 2nd suites.
"Second units – self-contained living units within detached and semi-detached houses, townhouses, and accessory structures – are widely recognized as one of the most affordable forms of rental housing. The government is introducing legislation and proposing regulatory amendments that would, if passed, reduce the complexity and cost of developing second units in new homes and provide more affordable housing options to Ontarians.
We are proposing to require municipalities to provide development charge exemptions for second units in new homes, and amend the Building Code standards to reduce unnecessary costs to building second units."
Essentially this means that homes with legal 2nd suites will be very valuable as part of the mandate.
So the strategy for you is very clear – here are the steps. You can choose to wait it out for an incentive in your area, or simply take advantage of the policy environment that is conducive to creating 2nd suites now:
- Convert single family homes to ones with legal 2nd suites
- Rent one or both units out and gain extra cash flow
- Benefit from the overall increased value of the property
- Refinance and take equity to repeat the process, or
- Sell, take profits and repeat the process to make more money
In a few years, be debt-free, mortgage-free, and create more wealth using this strategy and do what's important to you with your time (at the end of the day – time is what we're after right?)
Engagement Of The Private Sector
It appears the province recognizes that in order to get the job done, they must engage the private sector. Earlier this year, the Housing Policy Branch of the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing issued a Proposal to Encourage Small Landlords to Provide Rental Housing seeking feedback from investors and landlords. Although their focus is on the tenancy process, they also wanted to help the process related to using 2nd suites as a form of affordable rental housing.
Being deeply involved in the 2nd suite conversion process, I jumped at the opportunity to share my 2 cents. Although cutting through the bureaucracy and red tape involved with conversions is a complicated process, I saw this as an opportunity to immensely improve it. Plus it helps that I absolutely enjoy helping clients with consultations and designs of amazing 2nd suites using existing spaces, increasing the value of the property, and providing an excellent form of affordable housing for those in need. A win-win-win.
I encourage you to also contribute. As homeowners and investors we have to push for the types of housing that we want. You can review the proposal on the link above and send an email to email@example.com. If you want an idea on how we can improve the process (and if you have few extra minutes to kill), you can see my letter below.
Admittedly, many of my suggestions are pie-in-the-sky requests. But hey, like Elon Musk's strategy, aim to colonize Mars, and if you end up with the Moon, it's a win. In your life and career, don't be afraid to push for more, even if you land short, you've done much better than most people!
Sonya Rolfe
Manager, Residential and Commercial Tenancies Unit
Housing Policy Branch
Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing
Dear Ms. Rolf,
Firstly, thank you for your initiative in engaging the private sector for input.
My feedback is in relation to the process involved with creating new secondary suites, as well as converting existing illegal secondary suites in single family homes.
As a consultant and designer to homeowners and landlords on constructing legal, safe, healthy, and comfortable second suites, I recognize the importance of the private sector to provide affordable housing options to support the province's Long Term Affordable Housing Strategy (LTAHS). In this respect, it is important to make the process as simple and straightforward as possible for these homeowners and landlords to create these options, while doing everything properly and not cutting corners.
Throughout Ontario cities, we have a great deal of well built low density neighborhoods that are close to business cores that are not being utilized to its full potential. Many of these neighbourhoods have great infrastructure built around them that can sustain a much greater amount of density. The private sector has the ability to transform these into thriving higher density communities that can both address affordable housing for low and medium income families as well as re-invigorate economic activity, but they need greater support from municipalities and the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing.
With Bill 140 – Strong Communities through Affordable Housing Act, 2011, the province has taken a big step in the right direction. However, leaving the entire process of legalizing the secondary suites to each municipality have resulted in the process being extremely difficult for homeowners and landlords, discouraging them from providing the solutions legally, or attempting to entering the market for properties with secondary suites at all. Many of these individuals are clients of mine. Some of the issues include:
Outdated local by-laws that are not conducive to creating secondary suites in the low density housing stock indicated above (e.g. side-by-side parking requirements).
Secondary suites defined as new use spaces, therefore creating difficulty in conversion process in order to comply with the Ontario Building Code.
Lengthy process for minor variances with Committee of Adjustments
Difficulty in permit approval process due to inconsistencies in information internally within building departments (e.g., disagreements between plans examiners and inspectors due to interpretation of building codes).
Examiners, inspectors and other staff at various municipal building departments who are unfamiliar with code requirements specific to secondary suites (e.g. not familiar with Part 11 compliance alternative).
Convoluted system between various municipal departments to determine where to go for conversion of existing units (e.g. Depending on municipality, homeowners are advised to contact Building Department, Municipal Licensing and Standards, or Fire Services).
Expensive fees associated with changing function of property. (e.g. parkland dedication fees, development fees etc).
I believe we can all agree that with secondary suites, issues such as fire and electrical safety, and maintaining integrity of homes and neighbourhoods are very important. But certain by-laws, as well as property and occupancy standards create unnecessary barriers. These types of added difficulties discourage homeowners from going through the proper channels to doing things properly. That is likely a big reason why most secondary suites are illegal, unsafe and poorly constructed.
Below I have some recommendations to improve the process, and make it easier for homeowners to ensure that secondary suites are legal and built properly. This benefits everyone including:
Owner-occupied homeowners (ability to afford property, by renting a portion of home)
Landlords (profitable business for them)
Low and medium income households (an affordable solution compared with an entire single family home)
Municipality (e.g. revenue generation from permit applications, service fees for additional garbage collection, etc)
Local businesses (contractors, retailers, etc)
I recognize that many of the items listed below are covered under the Building and Development Branch of the Ministry, as opposed to the Housing Policy Branch, but are nonetheless important to achieve the LTAHS mandate. I also recognize that recommendations below may not be realistic or achievable overnight, but should be something we can strive for to improve the process.
By-laws should be reduced to eliminate difficulty in use of existing older properties (e.g. side by side parking requirements, front yard landscaping ratios, property line setback requirements, etc).
Further expansion of Part 11 Compliance Alternative section of the OBC to be more specific to secondary suites (primarily basement suites) to eliminate property and occupancy standards that don't affect safety of individuals, but is rather an issue of comfort. These may include ceiling height, spatial requirements for rooms, and natural lighting requirements. For example, a family who is unhappy with the room sizes, will not choose to rent that apartment.
For second suites that are utilizing spaces of existing structures (e.g. basements) as opposed to new construction (second floor additions, rear additions), many of the space constraints should be "grandfathered" into current use instead of being considered new construction, similar to how units existing prior to 1994 are considered legal non-conforming.
Dedicated personnel (either at municipal or provincial level) that is very familiar with requirements specific to secondary suites to provide consistency during permit approval and inspection process.
Reduction in overall development fees for landlord and homeowners to encourage investment.
By improving the process, we can incentivize the private sector to do things the correct way. This maintains the integrity of the property, preserves its value, improves tenant profiles, and protects the community where it resides.
Moving forward, to address affordable housing issues and increased density into the core areas of various Ontario cities, I believe we will need to provide additional urban intensification solutions in addition to secondary suites. These might include conversion of single family homes into triplexes, creation of laneway homes, additional properties on existing lots, and various other innovative housing arrangements. Many of these new solutions are already implemented in many cities across North America to address new realities, and I believe it's important for Ontario to also be part of the innovation.
Being a solutions oriented individual, I would be happy to participate in moving things forward to create a true win-win for all parties involved. If there is any need for further input, please don't hesitate to contact me.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Andy M Tran
Suite Additions Inc.


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Stay Classy, RVA!
**I wrote this on my last night in Richmond but I didn't get internet until just now, so here it goes!
It's 10pm and I'm sitting in my apartment wondering where the hell time went. Where did the last three years go? I moved to Richmond in the summer of 2011 because there was a piece of my heart missing that only living in a city could fill. I wanted the excitement, the danger, the lights, and everything that comes with living in a city, including the traffic. Richmond grew on me so quickly that I knew I was home. Before I go any further, let me put a disclaimer out there that I am only moving two hours away, but it's still not the same. Richmond has so much character that only people who live here can explain. There's just something about the city, the James, and the people that create this community that's impossible to duplicate.
I'm so excited to be moving closer to the ocean and Jon, but that doesn't come without a huge ache in my heart over leaving this city. There's always something to do, to see, to go, and I'm going to miss so much about this place that only pictures will have to suffice.
I've listed my top three below but my secret first place winner will be the food!
1. The Culture
I swear, Richmond has some insane festivals. There is literally a festival for anything and everything and there was usually one every single weekend in the warmer months. Being able to bike or walk to the heart of these events was absolutely amazing. I always had something to go do or see but I deep down, I always thought that Richmond used any excuse for a reason to drink... I'm not complainin'! Brown's Island, Belle Isle, Tredegar, Monument, and Maymont, all of those iconic places so near and dear to my heart. I'm going to miss heading to Belle Isle to tan on the rocks but give up after an hour because there are wayyyy too many people trying to sunbathe on tiny rocks.
2. The People
Okay, so the giraffe isn't a person but it was still a funny picture to add. Also, not all of my Richmond friends are included in the pictures above but sifting through more RVA pictures will probably make me tear up again so I can't do it. Those will have to do.
I've made so many friends here in RVA, some that I will forever keep, some that I am better off without. However my life would not be the same without either of them. They say that the friends you make in college are the friends you keep for life and while I could argue that point, there's definitely a good deal of people here in Richmond that have a huge impact on my life.
3. The Sights.
This is probably my biggest one of all. If you have ever visited Richmond just for a day, you have never truly seen this city. It's absolutely gorgeous. I had the privilege to live on the top floor of a building in the heart of downtown and capture some of the most beautiful sunsets I have ever seen in my life. Honestly. I have never ever seen sunsets like the ones in RVA, some of them literally brought me to tears. (If you haven't noticed by now, I'm super emotional)
The night lights were also my favorite part of the city. Seeing the buildings light up at night still to this day makes me appreciate my time living here. I guess it takes a certain person to think a bunch of bricks and cement is beautiful but I truly do. It's the main reason I chose to move to Richmond! I spent countless days by myself and some with Max just exploring places that I had never been to. While RVA is pretty sketchy, it's extremely beautiful and the best spots are usually the ones you have to search for. I didn't include ALL of my favorite spots like Texas Beach, the Pipeline, Church Hill, and the canal walk because again, I don't want to go searching for them. But if you're visiting Richmond, I highly suggest you put them all on your list to see!
All in all, It's been an awesome three years Richmond, I am going to miss every square block about this city. However, every good thing has to end so that a better one can begin and I am so so so excited to begin the next chapter of my life in Virginia Beach. I fully plan to adapt to the beach lifestyle as quickly as possible with the purchase of a surfboard and a new bikini ;) ANYONE who knows me knows how much I am dying to be near an ocean and even if that means putting up with Hampton Roads traffic, it's a price I'm willing to pay for permanent salty air.
Until next time...


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In the Bones02:05
Eric Vain
In the bones it is naked, and the future's getting wet
When the hands impress the master
You can feel it in his sweat
Hey! Pain!
There is no whispering it
Hit the ground, feel it louder, licking love up of the floor
Once a king, now a stranger
What's your price to be adored?
Hey! Pain!
There is no whispering it
© 2019 ERICVAIN.COM. All Rights Reserved.


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Join Janet Benton at the Bucks County Book Festival for a fiction panel. Check back later to learn more about this event. You may also learn more at the Bucks County Book Festival website.
Back to All Events
Earlier Event: October 14Adath Jeshurun Sisterhood
Later Event: October 16Springfield College, Springfield, MA


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55,885 kilometres of flying in one month – a new personal record
As I was flying home to Melbourne yesterday, I added up all the flights I had taken during the month. It was 15, which in itself is not unusual, it is in fact on the low side; it was the distance that hit me. The 15 flights totalled 55,885 kilometres (about 1.4 times around the equator) and meant that I had slept in 8 time zones during the month.
This is the price you pay as we try and take our knowledge-based services, BIcalculator, PolicyComparison, RiskCoach and ContinuityCoach, worldwide.
The very positive reaction we are receiving makes it all worthwhile but anyone who thinks that flying is in the least bit glamorous or fun has got it all wrong. I am convinced there are people in small rooms whose sole job it is to see how they can make flying more uncomfortable than it was the day before.
I now have a week and a bit in my office, which I am looking forward to and will use to catch up on some much needed paperwork before heading off to Queensland for an ANZIIF Masterclass on ISR, followed by training sessions and public lectures in the Northern Territory.
I continue to get some great questions and now hope to find time over the next week or so to post at least some of them and my answers. Please keep them coming.
The main thing that has kept me going was the very warm reception that my winning the ANZIIF Lifetime Achievement Award has received. I have been staggerred by the emails, cards, phone calls, texts, invitations to meals, kind words spoken at functions and people coming up to me at airports, and even in the street, to say how pleased they are. Thanks to you all. It has really surprised me. Words cannot describe how moving this has all been. Thanks to everyone who has taken the time to write or say something.
One response to "55,885 kilometres of flying in one month – a new personal record"
I love the way you wrote this article. This is wonderful. I do hope you intend to write more of these types of articles. Thank you for this interesting content!


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First off, congratulations to Carey for winning the Miss Universe Malaysia 2013 title!
I was rooting for Natalia and was a tad disappointed that she didn't win the title but both Carey and Natalia were my favourites so it's all good.
I'm so proud of FashionValet for being the main presenter of the show. It feels so good to be part of something like this and part of such an awesome company and team.
All of us at FV got invited to the Miss Universe Malaysia Finale Gala Night. It was my first time attending a live TV show event and it was definitely an eye opener for me.
After work at 5.30 p.m we all rushed out of our office, all clad in our evening gowns and suit ready to brave the massive traffic jam.
When you're stuck in traffic and you have nothing else to do, what do you do?
Take a test shot of yourself. :)
Come on, it's the best way to make sure you don't look like a clown when someone else is taking your picture. It's a perfectly legitimate reason to take pictures of yourself!
|Balqis and I
After an hour or so, we finally reached our destination in Setia City Convention Centre. The whole area was so modern and beautiful. It reminded me of the suburbs in Melbourne where there's a huge mall in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by trees and plenty of parking spots!
Sam and I.
Sam was so kind to drop us from and back to the office. He made sure both Balqis and I got in to our car safely before he left.
Le sigh, so lucky to be surrounded by kind hearted people.
We were all there waiting to be seated but it took a while for the hall to be ready so we took pictures instead.
Lots and lots.. and LOTS of pictures!
Here are some pictures of my awesome FV team! #fvteam
|The bosses
|My chinese gf Jasmine and I.
And then the show began.
We were seated somewhere in the middle behind a whole platform of photographers. It was pretty impossible to see the stage but thank God for the screen projector.
The show kicked off with a bikini runway show which wasn't aired on TV. I have to say, all of the contestants have a pretty smacking body! They all looked so good in their itsy bitsy bikini.
Fashion Valet sponsored most of the clothes for the event, including the MC's dress by Syomir Izwa.
|Will Quah and Julie Woon
They are all so beautifully designed. So much hard work and effort went on behind the scenes to get all of these dresses. I'm so glad it was all worth it in the end. The girls looked stunning in these!
|The girls clad in INNAI, PU3 and Mimpikita gowns.
My favourite dress would the one that Carey is wearing. I love the whole Grecian Goddess vibe that the dress exudes. I think I might just get Nurul from Mimpikita to make one for me.
More pictures from the night!
|Our gorgeous model, Intan and I
|My Fucshia ring
|Balqis, Nani and I during the commercial break.
That's all the pictures from the event. It ended close to midnight and we were all so tired by then but I'm glad I got to be part of it. Everything was great except for the food, which was quite blah, but let's not go into details with that one.
What I wore for the event:
|Dress - Seduce
Necklace - Janelle (currently sold out)
|Gold skull ring -Fuchsia
|Bag- Marc Jacobs
Shoes - Tony Bianco
|Not my Prada clutch
Hope you enjoyed reading this post!


text: December 30, 2016 Michael Guggenheim Robot Theory December 30, 2016 Michael Guggenheim Robot #1 This is a wood sculpture by John Ross, an Indiana Artist with a studio in the Stutz Building, Downtown Indianapolis, IN. We are working together on a project he created called Robot Theory (and updates are in progress). Michael Guggenheim