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I am extremely lucky to do what I do every day.
That being said, becoming an illustrator is not a big game of chance. I'm a firm believer that success as a working artist is just a splash of luck, a little bit of talent, and a lot of hard work and persistence.
"Making it" is a matter of PRACTICE and TIME. Lots of people say that the odds are slim you can make a living as an artist, but that's only because most people are lacking one of those two elements. Do both, and your odds go up greatly. Granted, some people might have to practice harder, and others may need more time, but I believe most people can do it if they have enough drive.
Artists go through different stages. How you succeed depends on how you move from one stage to the next.
Stages of an Illustrator:
The Beginner
Symptoms: Your work is probably not very good. You have little or no training and lack basic drawing and color skills.
This is where everyone starts. Most people stay here because they are too self-conscious, unconfident, or uninterested to try. But if you have a knack for art at all, it's not too hard to move ahead.
Cure: Go to school, or take side classes. Study other artists and how they work. Find artist friends and learn from each other. Draw like crazy.
Not Quite There
Symptoms: You have potential. You were probably the "art kid" in school and you like to doodle. You have a passing knowledge of art supplies and mediums, but maybe don't have a grip on how to use them yet. You like to experiment. Your art is all over the place. You might be good in one area, but have obvious gaps elsewhere (e.g. you're great at drawing but can't color, or you can draw a human character but have trouble illustrating it in different settings or situations)
If you set out to find work at this stage, you will probably receive rejection after rejection, or no response at all.
This describes just about any art student, a lot of new graduates, and many artists just starting out who have little working experience in this industry. It can be very discouraging for those who set out to be illustrators, and then can't find any work.
It is very easy to get stuck in this stage. I would say this is what happened to a lot of those failed artists you hear about. I think this is because lots of people put themselves through rigorous training, go to college, take classes, or attend workshops. They think they are ready and they think they're art is up to snuff, when in reality they need a little more polish.
Cure: Build a portfolio of finished work. Create about 10-15 images that you can be proud of (and I don't mean make 10-15 images; I mean make more like 20-30 images or more until you've made about 10 really good ones). What do you do when you've done that? Do it AGAIN, replacing the entire portfolio you had before. Keep repeating that until you are out of this stage.
When I got out of school, I probably went through 3-4 complete overhauls until I was happy. I may not update my portfolio as often these days, but I am still working to make it better piece by piece. On the other hand, I see artists out there who have work on their websites that was obviously made for a class. You will NOT get very far this way.
Symptoms: You have competent skills as an artist, but your style may be weak, generic, or unoriginal. You have trouble staying consistent; one or two of your images might be fantastic, others really bad, and a lot somewhere in between. You receive an occasional illustration job but not nearly enough to make a suitable living, or you get consistent work but it is low-paying unexciting work.
Congrats! If you are hireable, then you've convinced at least a few people to pay you to draw. You've crossed the divide between wannabe illustrator to actual working artist.
A lot of artists are living in this stage. The main struggle these artists are probably having is STYLE. You might have a passable "look" to your work, but it's not really strong enough to stamp your name to it. Or maybe you can't decide on a direction to take your work, and your style is inconsistent or weak.
Cure: There is no other way out of this stage but to DRAW LIKE CRAZY. Keep rebuilding that portfolio. Also, experiment with mediums, study other artists' work, and absorb everything you can.
Pretty Okay
Symptoms: You receive regular work. You are pretty comfortable with your style, but there's room for growth. Most people can look at your work and can tell that you made it. Most of the images you create don't come out horrible because you are confident in your process and know how to fix mistakes. However, though you're getting a lot of work, it might not be very exciting. Your style might become too automatic and generic, which causes you to fall into ruts.
Most artists who are making a full-time living making art are probably here. A lot of good artists stay in this stage throughout their careers.
However, when you get into making regular client work, you have to be careful with repetition, fast deadlines, stress, and time. You might wake up one day and find that months have passed since you've made a painting you were proud of or excited about. When drawing is your work, it can be difficult to remember that drawing can be FUN!
Cure: MAKE time to draw/paint for yourself. Draw things you enjoy. Make your own projects and share them. If your portfolio doesn't show the type of work you want to do, rebuild it.
Symptoms: Receives regular work, most of it exciting. You can't wait to start working in the morning. You have a strong, stellar style. You might even get lots of awards.
Cautions: Don't let it go to your head. Draw and paint and create every day. Work to keep your portfolio growing. Keep making stuff that you love.
I think we all can dream of reaching this goal.
I do a lot of work because it pays the bills, and most of it is not that exciting. I try to make up for it by doing things like webcomics and sketch challenges. I fill my portfolio with the kinds of images I like painting, not just anything that looks good. Things like these might not give you scads of great work right away, but it will move you in the right direction. For example, a few months after starting my sci-fi webcomic, I got hired to draw a story because it had an alien in it. It still wasn't a very exciting job, but the subject matter was an improvement.
It doesn't matter what stage you think you are in – you can always work your way out of it. Just give it enough time and practice.
And don't rest on your laurels once you reach your goal. You can weave in and out of the stages in any direction, progressing forward one minute while getting thrown backwards in the next.
If you feel you aren't making it as an artist, re-evaluate yourself and where you stand. Are you as far as you think you are? Are you putting in the work and the time?


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Paper + People is a blog about the Smith College Museum of Art's collection of over 18,000 prints, drawings, and photographs. Here you will find a diverse array of posts written by museum staff, students, scholars, and other paper enthusiasts about anything pertaining to the collection.
Any works you see featured here are available to view by appointment.
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Collecting 101
SCMA launched a new course in January 2011 called "Collecting 101." Designed to be an introduction to the issues and practical matters of collecting for an institution, "Collecting 101" allowed students to directly participate in researching and purchasing a work on paper for the SCMA collection.
During the inaugural teaching of the course, twelve students (representing all classes) learned about the SCMA's policies and aspects of collecting in general. They also learned about printmaking, as the works to be considered for purchase were contemporary prints. As a group the class assembled a list of important criteria to consider while deciding on their purchase, which included the work's educational value from an interdisciplinary perspective, that the work be intellectually stimulating and visual appeal, and that it fit well into the current collection.
On January 13, the class hosted Jamie Miller, Master Printer and Program Director at the Lower East Side Printshop, who introduced eleven possible choices of contemporary prints for purchase. After narrowing the field to four items, students researched and presented purchase proposals, arguing the merits of each print.
Competition was fierce, and all of the proposals were well argued and presented. The final work selected, Dread Scott's Boom BOOM!is the first work by the artist to enter the SCMA collection. "Collecting 101" will be offered again in January 2012.
Jamie Miller and students in "Collecting 101" consider selected works from the Lower East Side Printshop, January 2011.
Monday, December 5, 2011
David Becker Day
December 11, 2010 was declared "David Becker Day" by the outgoing Governor of Maine John Baldacci. Personally, I think David Becker Day should be an annual observance, and I, for one, plan to celebrate it every year.
For those of you not familiar with David, he was the Pamela and Peter Voss Curator in the Department of Prints, Drawings, and Photographs at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and a notable independent print scholar. The national print community lost a valued member with David's premature death in November 2010. He was devoted to the study of prints and illustrated books; his alma mater, Bowdoin College; issues of social equality; and his adopted home, the state of Maine.
David was also a mentor for young curators. At the beginning of my career at the Portland Museum of Art in Maine, he was a role model for me; someone who loved prints as much as I did and who never tired of sharing both his considerable knowledge and loans from his exceptional collection. He was an active participant in virtually all of my professional firsts: first exhibition (as an advisor and lender); first catalogue (as a contributor), as well as my sponsor for membership in the professional print curator's organization the Print Council of America. But even more than this, he was the kind of curator (and person) I wanted to be: knowledgeable, exacting, curious, generous, and kind.
In 2002 David donated several works to SCMA in honor of his mother, Helen Pillsbury Becker, a member of the class of 1928, including this lovely Bléry.
The Large Burdock is one of a series of four large plant studies that Bléry created based on his observation of plants in the forest of Fontainebleau, France. This particular impression of the print features significant additions in black and brown ink, which indicates that it was a trial proof pulled in between states (most probably between the second and third of five states). Working this way allowed the artist to re-think areas of the composition by drawing directly upon a printed impression. One of the major alterations in the final state of the print was the change of the tree in the background from an oak to a beech.
This print will always remind me of David. Its formal beauty, quirky rarity (although a fine printmaker, Bléry is hardly a household name), and subject matter capture some of the things he loved: the study of graphic processes, 19th century French prints, and nature.
So, how should you celebrate David Becker Day? Visit a museum (one excellent option is to visit the MFA Boston to see Two Masters of Fantasy: Bresdin and Redon, on view until January 16). Or, visit your local print room, such as the Cunningham Center, choose an object you love and spend time looking at it closely. Learn something new. Share it with others. Read a book. Spend time outdoors. Donate to a cause you feel passionate about. Have dinner with friends. Enjoy yourself to the fullest.
I don't think that David would approve of my suggestion that we create a modern-day "saints day," in his honor (he was too modest for that), but I'm positive that he would support the idea that everyone take the time for these activities.
I hope you all have a wonderful David Becker Day.
Monday, November 21, 2011
The Guerrilla Girls
Guest blogger Karysa Norris (Dartmouth College '12) was a participant in the 2011 Summer Institute in Art Museum Studies (www.smith.edu/siams). She also served as the 2011 Brown SIAMS Fellow, a four-week internship in the Cunningham Center for the Study of Prints Drawings and Photographs.
One day during the Summer Institute in Art Museum Studies, our Teaching Assistants Betsy and Jason brought us to the Cunningham Center to discuss issues of sexism and racism in art museums.To aid in our discussion, several prints and posters by the Guerrilla Girls were on display. I knew that a lot of the work had been produced in the 1980s and 90s, so I assumed that much of it would be outdated or irrelevant. As we perused the collection, however, one print in particular immediately caught my eye: Top Ten Ways to Tell if You're an Art World Token from the Most Wanted collection. The first two examples made me smile: "Your busiest months are February (Black History Month), March (Women's History), April (Asian-American Awareness), June (Stonewall Anniversary) and September (Latino Heritage)" and "At openings and parties, the only other people of color are serving drinks." I immediately wanted to grab the nearest person, point, and say, "That's me!"
Guerrilla Girls. American, 20th century. Top Ten Ways to Tell if You're an Art World Token, from Guerrilla Girls, Most Wanted 1985-2006, 1995. Lithograph printed in black and grey on paper. Purchased with the gift of the Fred Bergfors and Margaret Sandberg Foundation. SC 2006:44
Far from being irrelevant, this 1995 print made me feel that my disappointment in the lack of diversity in museums was validated. I have only been a part of the museum world for a few short months but I have never been as aware of my minority status as I was while touring the museums of New England with SIAMS. Not one of the professionals we met with had an ethnic background similar to my own, and I was suddenly hyper-aware of how overwhelmingly white the art historical field is. Even at my home institution, the only faculty member of color is, not surprisingly, the professor of Asian art. Although I was happy to know that other people are aware of the issue of diversity, I was simultaneously saddened that it didn't seem like much had changed in the past 16 years. Museums and art history departments are still largely dominated by upper-class white women, and it is still far too easy to see an individual of a different ethnicity or background such as myself as a "token" staff member.
I wasn't the only one in the class who had a strong reaction to these protest posters. The Guerrilla Girls jumpstarted a conversation on diversity that continued long after our session with Betsy and Jason was over. I'm not exactly shy about bringing up topics of sexism and race with my peers, but having voices from women speaking about them for over twenty years supporting me certainly made my points more compelling!
Martha - 15/12/2011
Final TestOn 12/15/11.
Martha - 07/12/2011
Second Test 12/7/11This is a seocnd tes on DEW.
Martha - 06/12/2011
Test comment 12/6/11This is a test.


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"impressed with the behind the scenes attitude and professionalism..." - RMB Autoparc (Service)
I have had my car serviced repaired and mot'd here excellent service . They also collect and drop off if required. I have also been there in connection with my work and am impressed with the behind the scenes attitude and professionalism.


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No MPI distribution found
I'm facing this problem when starting a new parallel simulation with the 64bit version of Star CCM+ 4.04 on a 64bit Windows OS, although all the necessary packages have been installed. If I'm trying to do the same with the 32bit version everything is fine without any error messages.
Is there a chance of telling me, where the proper environment settings have to be placed at? Is there something like a settings file? I've been searching for hours without any results and it's really bugging me that I cannot fix it.
|All times are GMT -4. The time now is 18:46.


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I was designing a simple sign, using the Impact font, using a v-carve toolpath.
When I look at it in the design or in the simulation, it looks exactly as I'd expect. When I save the gcode and actually run it in Carbide Motion, it produces the word I expect - but in a completely different font. I don't understand how this could happen.
What came out of the Shapeoko :
What was in Carbide Create :
Any ideas?
I don't know why that would happen but in the picture you posted the simulation is showing what you ended up with.
what was the depth of cut on the trial peice you milled?
Looks like you got the taper angle wrong for the endmill — you're using a much pointier endmill, which hence, is not removing as much material — for Carbide Create.
What he ended up with looks like an entirely different font being cut. The end result is definitely not Impact.
EDIT … Ok looking closer I can see that what Will said above is probably what happened.
I believe the actual tool size is not the same as what the tool is in CC. CC thinks you are using a smaller or different angle bit. If you are using a 90 deg V set it to 45 deg, a 60 deg to 30 deg…ect
Yeah, it does exemplify different aspects of how letterforms were developed.
Folks who are curious about this sort of thing should read Fra. Catich's work on the Roman letterforms and the origin of the serif, and Jan Tschichold's books on alphabets, and F.W. Goudy's book on the alphabet, and Warren Chappell's The Living Alphabet, and Albert Kapr's The ABC Book, and Oscar Ogg's The 26 Letters (which was one of the first books I can remember reading).
Aha. It IS the same font, you are right - it just didn't cut deep enough. That makes a lot of sense.
I think the angle was correct - it is supposed to be 60 degrees and that's what I have set - but I think the flute length is wrong. I guess I'll get out the micrometer and measure it and see if it behaves better if that is all right.
This is the bit, for reference : http://www.leevalley.com/en/wood/page.aspx?p=30212&cat=1,33084,46168,69435,46175&ap=1
Thanks everyone
Wait… I just saw this message. You need to halve the angle in CC? So if I am looking at this bit (http://www.leevalley.com/en/wood/page.aspx?p=30212&cat=1,33084,46168,69435,46175&ap=1) with its 60 degree angle, I need to say 30 degrees in CC?
yea, check the angle in CC on the V bit and divide the bit angle by 2. Here is the 60 V on mine.
setting for this
Yes, you have to define it as a 30 degree angle and the width at the top of the cutting part has to be at least as wide as the strokes of the letters being cut.
I'm looking at the first pictures again and see that the width of the letter strokes (assuming the grid squares are .25") are just under .75" wide. Looking at the bit that was used it appears to be perhaps only .5 wide at the top of the V so it wouldn't be wide enough for that job. Also thinking that if the bit angle was entered as 60 degrees then the software would be calculating for a bit that was 120 degrees.
So i was dead on in previous post just didnt word it right i supose lol


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Thursday, April 26, 2012
Those Places Thursday: Cascade Postcards
I love using historic photographs and postcards to understand what a community looked like when my ancestors lived there. A few historic groups have made an effort to make those images available. The Rootsweb site includes postcards from the early 20th century. The Tri-County Historical Society includes a variety of photographs as part of their "Hidden Pages" section. Also, check out Ebay. There are a wide variety of postcards listed for sale. You may find your ancestor's home or business listed.
Posted by Bryna O'Sullivan at 12:00 AM
Labels: Cascade Postcards, Those Places Thursday
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|Professional Automotive Repair Technical Discussions for January 17, 2015
International Automotive Technicians' Network (iATN) - Members Only
|(Also Available: All, Asian, Chrysler, European, Ford, GM.)
|Vehicle Owners: If you are seeking an automotive repair professional to service your vehicle, visit the iATN Repair Shop Finder.
Open Help Requests for European
|Help Request
|2005 Audi A4 Quattro 3.2L Mechanical VIN: WAUDG78E25
Hey guys iam working on an a4 and was wondering if any one came across the procedure to re silicon the camshaft carrier do the timing chain have to come apart ?. I can't get the valve cover gasket till Monday and cuts needs the car don't want to disable and al...
Fixes & Summaries for European
|2001 Saab 9-5 2.3t 2.3L oil pressure
I assume this one is fixed. R&R oil pan and valve cover and cleaned the head and timing cover area like Justin in N.C. said ran for while and r&r oil pan again,lite out for now.
|2003 Volvo S40 1.9L timing VIN: YV1VS29553
Thanks everyone, you guys information it was very important for me, this is how we fix this:(remember, my camshaft sprockets, it wast apart)align the mark on the crankshaft, with the mark on the oil pump, them install the volvo alignment tool to the rear of th...


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Alistar Build Guide by leddiable
Not Updated For Current Season
This guide has not yet been updated for the current season. Please keep this in mind while reading. You can see the most recently updated guides on the browse guides page.
Thank You!
Your votes and comments encourage our guide authors to continue
creating helpful guides for the League of Legends community.
Tanky Tanky
Alistar Build
Support Role
Starting items.
First re-call with less than 1000 gold.
General build example.
Core items vs AD heavy teams.
Core items vs AP heavy team .
Ability Sequence
Not Updated For Current Season
The masteries shown here are not yet updated for the current season, the guide author needs to set up the new masteries. As such, they will be different than the masteries you see in-game.
Threats to Alistar with this build
|Such a squishy target early game.
Notes : it could be easier if you are new with Ali to take W out of quick cast, Cast it only when the target is in range in case you want to combo with Q.
Combo one : W ( when in range ) and HOLDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD Q.
Combo two : Flash > Headbutt ( W ) > then Pulverize ( Q ) Used mainly to push a target into the turret.
Combo three : Flash > Pulverize ( Q ) > Then Headbutt ( W )
Combo four : Headbutt into the wall, then Pulverize.
Howeverrrrrrrrrrrr it's not wise to waste your flash, specially if your adc is pushing the lane.
Pros / Cons
Pros :
1- Insane CC kit
2- Very strong Early and late game ( Specially after level 6 )
3- With his ulti he should simply be tankier than the tankiest tank lol.
4- Can be helpful with almost Every adc.
5- Can be a very good combo with yasuo.
6- You can easily dive under turrets after level 6.
7- You can legally Moooo at your enemies.
Cons :
1- He is a little hard to use.
2- Early game he could be considered to have high cooldowns.
3- His combo at lvl 2 would cost you 130 mana.
4- He needs experience to time your heal in order to deny opponent's farm.
Team Work
1- Considering that you are the TANKIEST with a very good combo to engage, You should be engaging first.
2- Who to target? Usually the biggest threat to your squishy targets. which are Adcs and Assassins.
Weak Synergy vs Very good Synergy.
Weak Synergy
Strong Synergy
Every other ADC not mentioned means they have an average synergy ( would do well if the adc knows his/her skills )


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Mr. Tom Samra, USPS Vice President, Facilities, has rendered his final decision on the Berkeley post office. The Postal Service will relocate retail services from the building, and it will soon be put up for sale. You can read his statement here.
In a related development, the Postal Service filed a motion with the Postal Regulatory Commission to dismiss the appeal to stop the relocation of the historic Bronx General Post Office.
Neither the decision on Berkeley nor the motion on the Bronx comes as a surprise. The Postal Service will not be swayed from his plans to sell historic post offices. Community opposition doesn't matter, the pleas of elected officials don't matter, and legal arguments by attorneys and historic preservations don't matter either.
Appeals concerning the Berkeley relocation were filed by Congresswoman Barbara Lee, Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates, State Senator Loni Hancock, State Assemblymember Nancy Skinner, the Berkeley Architectural Heritage Association, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the National Post Office Collaborate, Ford & Huff Attorneys at Law, Save the Berkeley Post Office, the Gray Panthers of the East Bay, and approximately fifty postal customers. The appeals just didn't matter.
At this point, Mr. Samra's final decision statements are pretty much boilerplate. He reviews the concerns raised by the appeals, and dismisses each in turn. The impact on the community, he says, will be mitigated by locating a new retail office in a convenient location. Besides, as Mr. Samra reminds us, 40 percent of retail revenue comes from sources other than a post, which presumably means that many people don't need a post office anyway.
He says that allegations that the Postal Service has failed to comply with the National Environmental Policy Act, the National Historic Preservation Act, and so on, are not relevant because it is premature to consider such legislation. The Postal Service has only decided to relocate the post office; it will deal with these other matters later.
The bottom line, says Mr. Samra, is that the Postal Service's financial condition requires it to take steps like selling the Berkeley post office, and that's about all there is to it.
His final decision ends, as it always does, with a declaration that "this is the final determination of the Postal Service with respect to this matter, and there is no right to further administrative or judicial review of this decision."
Obviously, simply declaring that his decision cannot be reviewed by the courts does not make it so. It will be up to the courts to decide whether they want to review his decision. We shall see.
(Photo credit: Berkeley post office interior; Bronx post office interior)


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When you are on your feet the whole day, whether for business or pleasure during hot spring and summer days you need some cool, light and comfortable footwear. Although there are many brands and styles of shoes with those desirable features, we still choose other more stylish and uncomfortable shoes, simply because they look better. A clear example are the Toms. These lovely light shoes are made from fabric and have flat soles, so they are comfortable and won't make your feet feel like they're in an oven. Aside from that, the brand has a humanitarian "one for one" policy, meaning that for every purchased pair, another is given to children in need. Yet, we'd choose to wear flats or other shoes because Toms are too plain and dull looking, unless you look at them as an empty canvas that you can turn into your unique creation. So, take your old Toms or buy yourself a new pair and refashion them, like in these 10 cool Toms tutorials.
Marker Drawn Toms
Since Toms are made from a canvas-like fabric, the easiest thing to do to refashion them is to paint them, or in this case draw on them. Take a permanent marker, choose a design you like and transfer it on your plain Toms. The neat drawn Toms can surprise you.
Spray Painted Toms
Maybe you're not very good at painting, but it takes practically no skill to spray paint your Toms. Simply make a stencil in the shape you want or, like in this case, take a doily, cover the Toms and spray it with whatever paint you want. Instant makeover.
Thanks to today's smart phones we are able to photographically record every moment of our lives and share them on instagram. Now you can use those instagram photos to make your one-of-a-kind insta-Toms with some glue and this tutorial.
Embroidered Toms
Painting or gluing photos onto your shoes is nice, but if needlework is more your forte, then you can make yourself some lovely embroidered Toms. Here is an embroidered dandelion to give you some inspiration to make whatever you like.
Pearl Toms
Toms are not shoes that you could call fancy and even if you aren't able to wear heals, Toms would be your last choice of shoes for a more classy gathering, unless you give them a bit of glam and class by turning them into pearl spattered Toms.
Fabric Toms
Those who have Toms know how comfortable they are and have probably worn them into the ground. If you're one of them and don't want to break in new pair of shoes here is how you can "reupholster" your old mono-chromed Toms with new colorful fabric.
Toms Makeover
Give your beloved damaged Toms a makeover. With a few supplies like some peel and stick sheets, some lace and a few hours of your time, you too can have an awesome looking pair of Toms like this one.
Rhinestone Toms
Many times
simple is better, like in this situation, where with just a few well placed rhinestones and some silver nail polish you get a very classy variation of the Toms that you'll have no trouble wearing at more formal and special occasions.
Wedding Toms
Speaking of special occasions, nothing tops a wedding and every bride-to-be must be warned that although high heels are lovely, there is no chance that you can last in them the whole day and night. So, have a spare fancy footwear like these beautiful wedding Toms with lace and flowers.
Sequin Toms
So far we've suggested making your Toms classy with pearls, lace, rhinestone and even nail polish. But, if you're pressed for time, we suggest you try these sequin Toms that will take you just a few minutes to make and a lot, lot longer until you get tired of them.


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In a study of 65,000 headlines, Outbrain found that the average click-through rate on headlines with negative superlatives (e.g., "worst") was 63% higher than clicks on headlines with positive superlative ("best," "biggest," "greatest").
A few theories why:
- Positive superlatives have become clichéd through overuse.
- Negatives are more intriguing because they're unexpected and surprising.
- Negatives tap into our insecurities. Using negative words like "stop," "avoid" and "don't" work because everyone wants to find out if there's something they're doing that they should stop.
8 Successful Headlines—and the Psychology Behind Them [Ragan.com]


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text: There are many symbols and images out there that we recognize who they are and the meaning. When we see an image of an apple with a bite taken from it, we recognize it as the logo for Apple/Mac computers. However, when we see the snakes around a rod, we recognize that as a logo… Read more »


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Khoresht-e Fesenjoon (Chicken Pomegranate Stew)
خورش فسنجان or Khoresht-e Fesenjoon is one of the most praised Persian dishes and elicits the typical " Fesenjoon? Akh joon! " or "woot woot" as we say in English. Tasting it one time will have you pining for more. I will guarantee that.
This is a classic version of Fesenjoon, but there are some regional variations, with the use of hazelnuts and almonds in walnut's stead. Most city people don't know that walnuts are enclosed in a green, leathery, fleshy husk, which is inedible and must be removed. My great aunts from Azar Shahr, Tabriz, owned a beautiful walnut orchard, where, after burning my hands a couple of times, I learned that playing with fire wasn't worth the fun.
Just like any other Persian dish, cooking is slow and steady to facilitate the blending of different tastes and release of the oils from the walnuts. This combined with pomegranate paste, makes for a velvety stew to die for.
Please, do not substitute pomegranate syrup with pomegranate juice, as they are two very different ingredients.
Ingredients (serves 4):
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut in small chunks
- 1 large onion, peeled, finely chopped
- 2 cups shelled walnuts (or more)
- 1/2 cup of pomegranate syrup
- 1-2 Tbs sugar
- 1/4 tsp turmeric
- 1 Tbs flour
- 1/4 tsp cinnamon
- oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Water
Time~ Prep: 1 hr Cook: 1-2 hrs
- In a frying pan dry roast the walnuts over medium-low heat (~ 5 min). Stir frequently. Allow to cool.
- Grind the walnuts in a food processor, but leave some chunks behind. Return back to the frying pan.
- Add in pomegranate syrup and 2 cups of water, mix well and simmer for 30 minutes on low heat. Stir in the flour during the last few minutes. Set aside.
- In a large pot, saute chopped onions in enough oil on medium heat 'til translucent (~ 5-10 min), add turmeric and stir 'till fragrant (~ 1 min).
- Place the chicken pieces in the pot and cook until golden brown on all sides. Season with salt, pepper and a dash of cinnamon.
- Pour the pomegranate walnut mixture into the pot, mix well, if needed add more water to cover all the chicken pieces bring to a boil on high, then lower heat.
- Cover and simmer for 1-2 hours for a thick and full-flavored stew.
- Fesenjoon should not be runny so as time passes adjust the cover to allow more moisture to escape if needed.
- Add the sugar towards the end in increments, take care not to shred the chicken, and adjust for a sweet and sour balance to your liking. I like mine more on the sour side.
– Serve over aromatic white rice (Basmati). Garnish with pomegranate arils, cilantro or basil.
– Leftovers taste even better.
Tashakkor mikonam (Thank You) for your diligence! Now dig in.


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Every book listed has made a drastic change in my own life. You will never find something we do not personally believe has potential to change your life as well.
Arguably one of the best self help books of all time. This book is nearly 70 years old and the principles still hold true to this day. If you read the blog, you will see me reference this book countless times, proving that I truly believe this book can change your mental health if you apply the principles within the book.
If you struggle with anxiety or depression get a copy of this book ASAP. It very well may be the best $7.99 you ever spend
If finances and debt are the root of your unhappiness, this book is an absolute must-read. Another timeless classic that has helped millions of people change their lives. Many of the principles in this book revolve around making money or "accumulating riches" but they are still practical for other areas of your life.
Kyle Maynard was born without any arms or legs and still went on to accomplish things most able bodied individuals can never dream of.
Many people facing depression or anxiety may relate to a lot of the obstacles Kyle Maynard had to overcome throughout his life, yet Kyle's mindset is one we should all aim to mirror. Kyle is an inspiration and someone to emulate.
This book is super easy to read and hard to put down. The Power dives into the law of attraction and how being more optimistic in every area of your life will change your world like you never imagined possible. Sounds like voodoo, works like a charm.
This list is ever expanding and will be updated as time goes by. In order to recommend something I have to spend the time reading and applying it. Check back every few weeks to see if there is something new!
Affiliate disclosure: Purchases made through the links provided offer me a small commission. This comes at no extra charge for you. This is how the blog supports itself and continues to grow :). I appreciate your business and would gladly answer any questions regarding these products via the contact form.
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Have you stepped into the Handwork room recently? There are at least a dozen newly made fifth grade socks on display on the bulletin board above the fireplace. They're a tribute to those students who, four short years ago, made and held knitting needles for the first time. Wrist warmers are also appearing now, as second projects take shape.
There's been a new friend in many of our Handwork classes this year. Mrs. ElissaUram has been our new volunteer assistant. Mrs. Uram saw the Post Gazette article about our school last March and contacted us. She had just learned to crochet (she taught herself!) and used crocheting to rehabilitate her injured wrists to full recovery. She understands what it's like to struggle to learn new skills and is an understanding helper to many students.
With her help, the Fourth Grade students learned to piece fabric scraps using a paper pattern (paper piecing) and made Valentine cards and bags.
The Third Grade is quickly approaching the turning of their crowning projects—the Third Grade hat. Crocheting is easy for them
now, but they remember last spring when it seemed like the most unnatural task their teacher had ever asked of them. Sometime soon there will be a school-wide Hat Parade, featuring the new creations of the Third Grade.
And have you been hearing rumblings close to the ground? There are gnomes about to take form in the Second Grade Handwork classes. The little industrious creatures are taking shape and have assisted the students in their learning to purl. If you see a Second Grader, ask about how their gnomes are coming!


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Healthy, Safe Tips to Jump Start Weight Loss
We promote focusing on healthy living rather than solely on weight loss – too many people can form obsessive thoughts and behaviours around weight loss (plus, have you heard of being skinny fat?). However, this is the term most people are searching so here you go with answers to one of the most popular health and fitness questions!
Healthy weight loss directly results from consistent (specific) habits that in turn increases metabolism. If you don't already know or need a reminder, metabolism makes up all the chemical reactions in your cells that sustain life.
Metabolism has two main categories:
- Breakdown of organic matter to provide energy.
- Building up of components, which uses energy for these processes.
When we're talking about weight loss, metabolism is the rate of which your body burns fat. With a high metabolism, you're burning fat while you sit there and read this post!
Tips to Boost Your Metabolism & Weight Loss
If you follow these tips consistently, you WILL increase your metabolism (unless you have an underlying health issue). The trick is to make these into daily habits. Why? Read: Routine, Routine, Routine.
- Avoid alcohol and dairy. This is the first tip Gidon (owner of G Force) shares with new clients who are looking for fast results in their health and fitness goals. Alcohol depletes muscle gains while dairy cannot be properly digested in humans because we lack the digestive enzymes. For more on this, read The 2 Most Important Nutrition Tips for Accelerated Results.
- Avoid sugar. This is another substance that gets in the way of weight loss. Mainly because it holds no nutritional value – it's empty calories! It also stimulates your nervous system and shuts down your immune system for a short time (how long depends on how much you've consumed). Relaxing is integral to weight loss (more on this below) and a strong immune system is necessary in both recovery and avoiding ill-health which will derail your efforts in building healthy habits. An article that might help with this tip as well as #3 below is Diabetics Know A Thing or Two.
- Avoid processed foods. You are literally up made (your cells) from what you eat (read: You Are What You Eat) – do you want to be a Cadillac or a junker? Processed foods are difficult for the body to metabolize due to the chemicals and so they slow down metabolism. Here is the Easiest Nutritional Guideline Ever.
- Avoid Emotional Eating & Eat to Boost Your Metabolism. Emotional eating is also hard on your metabolism because it usually involves the wrong foods at the wrong times and in the wrong amounts. (For more on this read: The Weekend vs. The Weekdays.) Healthy eating habits are essential to increasing your metabolism. Bottom-line here is eat smaller meals and snacks about every two hours. For more healthy eating habits read: Part 1 & 2 of How to Control Overindulgence & Stop Overeating and Get Satisfaction, Not Fullness.
- Increase Your Water Intake. Good old fashioned H2O has zero calories and transports nutrients, oxygen and energy throughout our bodies. It is absolutely essential to a fully-functioning, optimal metabolism. Read Hydration Hacks for tips. We suggest that you proactively hydrate – meaning, sip on water throughout the day and add more if you're going to be active. Don't wait until you're thirsty because it'll be too late. Read Are You Mistaking Thirst for Hunger? for how the hunger/thirst confusion contributes to weight gain.
- Perform More Interval Training. With this exercise method, which is the way G Force trainers roll, you burn more calories and speed up metabolism because you're working both fast and slow twitch muscles. Check out why interval training is king and an example of it in Why Interval Training is the Most Effective Approach.
- Improve Your Sleep. Getting the right amount and quality of sleep affects weight loss and your metabolism mainly because it affects hormones (that either help you gain weight or lose it). Read Rest & Recover Your Way to Better Health for exactly how sleep affects your weight loss efforts and a few tips in how to improve your sleep. Sleep deprivation can also affect your behaviour throughout the day as we tend to reach for unhealthy substances to keep us going when we're sleepy (which in turn affects sleep that night).
- Practice Stress-Management. Like sleep, stress affects our hormones that either help us to lose weight or gain it. Check out these posts for tons of stress-management tips: Manage Your Stress & Avoid Illness, 10 Unusual Stress-Management Tips and An Introduction to Meditation.
- Drink Green Tea. There are numerous studies showing that green tea helps weight loss, hence the sudden influx in the market with green tea extracts. Green tea boosts metabolism through the EGCG antioxidant found in it, which has been shown to increase the effects of fat-burning hormones and significantly so (like 17% more!) when paired with exercise. Read this article by AuthorityNutrition.com for more details and links to the studies.
There you have 9 healthy, safe ways to boost your metabolism and kick start your weight loss efforts. We invite you to read all the links contained in this article for additional information and tips to help you with increasing your knowledge and attaining your goals.
If you find all this overwhelming, hiring a good personal trainer can make it much easier for you to plan how you'll tackle your health goals using this information. They will also guide you through the process at your own pace while still challenging you. Contact us for a free consultation.


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MM on Revlon Eyeshadow at CVS!
CVS has Revlon eye shadow singles for 3.19 (everyday price)
They are B1G1 50% off this week
Buy 1 @ 3.19
Buy 1 @1.60
Subtotal: 4.79
Use (2) $3.00/1 Revlon Eye Cosmetic Product – 5-15-16 SS (exp 05/29/16)
Make sure you buy other things to absorb the overage as they will not give you cash back!
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Half a Year Home: The difficulties and delights at the end of a tour.
I realise with some trepidation that it's now approaching one year since we peddled 'Telia the Tandem', hot, sweaty and somewhat relieved to Australia's East coast and in so doing ended the two year cycling phase of our honeymoon journey. It has now also been six months since we finally returned 'home' to the UK, to the place where it all started, and began embracing the aftermath of our journey.
'Aftermath' sounds as if we're in the wake of some kind of huge storm – one that's picked up all that had once been settled and secure, shifted it around and left behind an entirely different landscape. In so many ways this is exactly how life has felt these past few months. Despite returning to our place of origin, familiar in so many ways, it's nevertheless apparent that this is in fact another new landscape for us to navigate our way through, only this time without the simplicity and identity of two wheels below us and the added unfamiliarity of being a more individual undertaking for us both. Following years of being no more than just a few feet apart, we're now having to learn to contend with our own challenges and adventures once more. Alice in undertaking a gruelling and intensive masters course in physiotherapy and Pete in setting up his own business: 'Adventure Pedlars' (more on this to come…) and finding freelance work.
Since our initial amazement at the most basic comforts a more settled life can provide; that we need not carry all of our drinking water with us on a daily basis but instead let it flow from taps (and be flushed down the toilet no less!); that a simple chair can feel like the height of luxury because you're not sat on the floor; that we have a home of our own that's not made out of canvas (and that has an oven!); that we have actual possessions like books, records, bikes, clothes, shoes and a dog!; that we have regular access to multiple varieties of cheese… and that speaking to a friend or loved one is no more difficult than picking up a phone or driving down the road; we've now become somewhat more accustomed to the ways of a 'normal' life (you'll no longer find me staring, dumfounded in a supermarket aisle, at thirty different varieties of washing powder wondering what's gone wrong with the world…). Nevertheless we do our best to remember that these things, now seemingly so basic are in fact a great privilege, one that the majority of people on this planet can still only dream of (and one that may well not remain ours forever..).
Another huge privilege for us has been to re-discover this most varied, beautiful, cultured and crowded little island. A dazzling winter's day, a proper pint of proper beer, bleak moorland, a thronging live music venue, a warm fire in a country pub, drizzle, hedgerows, pies, leafy woodland singletrack, bluebells, crags, summertime barbecues and above all a sense of belonging, of history and of rootedness that you get from no longer being a stranger in a place.
Three years ago we borrowed a quote from T.S Elliot that read: "We shall not cease from exploration and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time". Now, having tested the concept literally, thoroughly and to the best of our ability, we can say that, in so many more ways than we'd first imagined, it is true.