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Heart of Dread: Frozen by Melissa de la CruzHowdy Bookdictives, I'm back from my book break! After a slew of mediocre books, I took some well-deserved time off. I knew I was out of my slump when, all of the sudden, I decided to read not one, but two books over the course of four days.
The first book I read was the one that took me three out of those four days. Normally, you'd think a reviewer would want to avoid reviewing books they've rated at one- or two-stars on their blogs (as opposed to GR), but I'm not like most reviewers!
Last month, I had a one-star NA that I only talked about on GR, but now I bring to you...my first one-star YA of the summer!
Book: Heart of Dread: Frozen by Melissa de la Cruz and Michael Johnston
Rating: 1/5 stars
Bookdictive Categorization: Utter crap.
Okay first off: Hola, mucho confusing title. Every time I went to pick up my Kindle, I would think, "Heart of...Frozen...Frozen Heart?" and then that song from Frozen would start playing in my head.
|Fun story: I used to joke this was the best song on the soundtrack and now it's the ringtone that plays when I call one of my bff's on her cell. Frozen Heart>>>>Let it Go amirite?
Right away we get this really confusing flashback of the MC, named nat in my really awful mobi version (unless she actually goes by nat, not Nat. Seriously, was this thing edited????) escaping from some sort of facility/mental asylum/dystopian testing center. Eventually she decides to hire Wes the Mercenary and his ragtag group of street rat ex-military teenagers to get her to the Blue, the mysterious fabled land where the sky is blue and there's birds.
Okay, some confusion is to be expected. But after processing this, I thought back to Chapter One, with its barrage of lingo, terms, and acronyms. I, who have read all of the Song of Ice and Fire books, couldn't keep up with everything. It was like because of the two genres, de la Cruz kept tennis balling back and forth between them. But this isn't ASoIaF, and you don't have 1,000+ pages to learn the lingo. So two chapters in, you've gotten:
"Mages' marks...the marked children could do things--read minds, make things move without touching them, sometimes even predict the future. Enchanters, they were called, warlocks, "lockheads" and "chanters" in the popular slang." Never mind that you don't hear those terms again, because it's not important apparently. Then, down the page, even though they were mentioned in the first five pages with no explanation: "...sylphs, a race of beings of luminous beauty and awesome power."
There's also some "smallmen" which is a
In fact, here's some more examples of things-that-aren't-important-but-are-somehow-vital-to-the-story-and-yet-almost-never-talked-about-again, plus just general inaccuracies:
-Textlish, which is introduced in this great sentence, "...textlish--which had been compared to Egyptian hieroglyphics by bygone intellectuals and academics--had been invented by a couple of kids with their handhelds before the Big Freeze. The latest rBes, or "reading-Based entertainment," were all composed in textlish." I'm sorry, what? rBes? How is that even pronounced?
-The money system, called watts, or credits if the author chooses. Mentioned only as either ransom money (10,000 watts) or measly amounts like one watt, these don't serve much of a purpose because this world is deprived of natural resources and yet somehow, people find money to gamble in New Vegas. And apparently, they're made of platinum. Because a monetary system made of platinum in a frozen dystopic world makes sense.
-The time when Nat dresses up as a rich trophy wife "with the help of a video blog and a few silver coins from Wes' stash" called a tai tai so she can single-handedly enter into a high-stakes poker game in K-Town (which I'm pretty sure stands for Korean-Town, which has taken over what was once L.A. I guess) to win back Wes' fastest ship in the
-The military not knowing how to upgrade any sort of system, just maintain it. Okay.
-Nat finally having this random flashback about wanting to kill one of Wes' mercenary friends, sparking a memory of her three year old self wanting to kill a neighbor's mean kid. But move along, it's really not important.
-How a guy who turns out to be a traitor but he's just a young boy like the rest in this godforsaken world so cut him some slack ends up dying and no words on his behalf are said. Nat describes the scene when he dies at the hands of some friendly-yet-deadly sea monster-dragon, "Daran was one of their team, but there had been no words spoken...no blessings, but then, perhaps he had not been worthy of any. The dead couple had given their lives for their friends, but Daran would only have brought death to his team." SORRY, didn't realize that there is only black and white, and that the value of a human life is only who has helped who, and who hasn't.
-The giant reveal of the giant secret that none of us knew Nat had about Wes' long-lost twin sister until a few pages before. I have to write the whole exchange because it's just one quick, confusing paragraph:
""...our specialty was people." He clenched his jaw and tossed his cards to the floor. "No. No. Don't tell me that. You had nothing to do with Eliza!" "I'm a monster...I...hurt people...your sister..." He shook his head, tears coming to his eyes. "Your sister is dead, Wes. Because of me. I killed her." "No!" "The night you described, the fire that came from nowhere, the fact that there were no remains...oh god, Wes, the things I used to do...the things they made me do...the things I can do..." "no, Nat, no! You had nothing to do with that!" He took her hands in his fists. "Look at me. Listen to me! It wasn't you. You had nothing to do with that!"" This is all within the last 18% of the book. I read that whole exchange THREE TIMES because I couldn't make sense of it. But Nat is the most special snowflake in Frozen and so of COURSE there's blind acceptance of her past because Wes loves Nat even though he's consumed with the loss of Eliza, the girl more important than ANYTHING else in this awful, trash-filled frozen world of bleakness and despair.
-The epic ending that all the other reviewers seemed to think was "exciting" and "suspensful " and "thrilling" and blah blah IT LASTS FOR FIVE PAGES WITH ALMOST NO DETAIL!!!!! I don't get it! I FINISHED THIS BOOK. I DESERVE A BETTER END BATTLE. Not this random dragon that appears out of the ocean, which I'm forced to accept is actually Nat in dragon form (wth????). The dragon that can talk to her, tells her that she has this bogus long-lost name that she "knew about all along" because even though she never had any idea she had this connection, she's a mage so WHO CARES! IT IS THEREFORE IMPORTANT!
At the end of my notes, I wrote this, and still stand by it: I just don't know what this book is about. Obviously I see the themes, but now, at the end, suddenly it's about dragons? What happened to all the hype about the Blue? There's never any backstory in this. Why are things a certain way, but then reason is shrugged off and Nat is suddenly able to fly, etc. Where's the timeline of events? I have no clue how the Blue can be discovered, but then it not be important, and then Wes leaves Nat there (a thinly veiled way to set up Book Two), all within less than a page.
This book was so terrible. I really loved de la Cruz's Blue Bloods, which came out right after Twilight and I reread almost as many times in 2007. I read the Ring and the Crown, which fantastic but was decent. I even read The Ashleys, her book series that read like Gossip Girl but for middle schoolers. Melissa de la Cruz has proven that she CAN do PNR, but what she's really talented at is the type of removed, omnipotent voice that is prevalent in series like Gossip Girl and the A-List. With no jewels, opulence, and teenaged drama to focus on (even the Ring and the Crown had it, and that was historical fiction!), her writing is just...bland. Her plot falls to pieces. It's like she saw Disney's Frozen, decided that dystopia is hot right now, but didn't care enough about her characters or her world-building to devote the time and energy to it. That's where I think the random bits of fantasy come in. Like she just said "whatever" and published this mess because she wanted another book on the shelves. Read her other works, but don't read this one.
***a galley of this was sent to me by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, and in no way reflects the views of the publisher or author***


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Happy New Year! I hope your 2015 will be a brilliant year, and I also hope we will have a more peaceful year ahead everywhere on the earth.
I have picked three winners of the giveaway at RANDOM.org, by generating a set of three numbers between 1 to 51. The numbers are 16, 30 and 47
and the winners are Lynn(the first Lynn), Sharon, and Melanie Y, who have left comments in the respective orders(excluding my reply in the comment section). Please contact me at yoshicomo(at)gmail(dot)com with your mailing address if your have won the prize. Congratulations to the winners, and a very big THANK-YOU to all of you who entered the giveaway!
As for myself, I still have one more day before I get back to my work from our new year holiday. I've been knitting a pullover (I'm a 100% seasonal knitter) for some days and would like to finish it in a week or so... sewing not much, but I will post about the faux fur jacket very soon. It is pretty much funny thing when worn. It can be amusing to look at, I think. Said that, I'm having a problem with writing about it to tell the truth, because it is made of faux fur. I had a very memorable incident about this material maybe 10 years ago in London in December at Royal Albert Hall after the concert when all of us audiences were slowly moving towards the exits pushing each other slightly politely but hoping crowd's faster flow. Well... the story makes my writing even slower. I hope I will manage to write it up.
Happy sewing to you!
Talk to you soon,

subset: commoncrawl


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Friday, April 12, 2013
April 12
16 comments:
Virginia just rocks! Everything she does is magic!ReplyDelete
I love the cards and lovely layout.
There's enough inspiration to last me a month!
Thank you!!
You are so lucky to have Virginia on your team! Her designs are always fresh and trendy! The amazing balls stamp is er, dare I say, amazing??ReplyDelete
Virginia is amazing! Love the splatters on the black and the layout is gorgeous! Those vellum flowers are wonderful!ReplyDelete
fabulous projects.. I esp love the RAD card. wow that is cool!ReplyDelete
Virginia's projects are fabulous as always. I love the colors and eye catching details!ReplyDelete
Virginia's projects are amazing.. loving those cards and that layout is outstanding.. love it all..ReplyDelete
Wow! Wow! Wow! Virginia...awesome cards and layouts!!ReplyDelete
Love 'em all! :) Great designs, colors, creativity!!!
Virginia has really out-done herself with all of these wonderful stamp sets...WOW! How lucky can you get to have her on your team...genius pairing of new stamps with 'On Trend' elements and design!!!ReplyDelete
Oh yeah my socks are OFF!!! Virginia's projects are awesome! I am swooning over the last one especially, so many pretty details and trendy too!ReplyDelete
Absolutely gorgeous projects! I am loving the splattered black tickets, but that layout is just adorable! Great photo, great stamping, loving the vellum flowers. Sweetness!ReplyDelete
Virginia, you've done yourself proud with this trio of creations. the splatter on the 1st card is fabulous...and I'm a sucker for rainbow anything from the second card. The LO is gorgeous...love those vellum flowers.ReplyDelete
gorgeous cards from a super talented designer! that layout is phenomenal!ReplyDelete
That layout is beautiful! I love vellum.ReplyDelete
GREAT cards V...Your LO is so interesting to look at SO many Lovely elements!ReplyDelete
So awesome, all are well done! My favourite is the page layout. So girly and cute!ReplyDelete
Great projects by Virginia, but the lay-out is really a WOW!ReplyDelete


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Drypers » Your Stage » Pregnant » Relationships and family »
There are many strategies to finding the perfect name Some parents wait to see their baby first, some devour every name book they can lay their hands on, others pick something that reflects their religion or ethnicity, while still others choose the name of a favourite sports hero or entertainer Some believe a recognisable and easily-spelt name will make life easier for their offspring, whereas others feel just as strongly that unusual spellings, or even a made-up name, will distinguish their child from the crowd
But most parents simply pick names they like
The name you choose will certainly say more about you than it does about your baby
Here are some tips:
1 Your family tree is a good place to start when compiling a list of possible names
2 If you want to acknowledge a favourite aunt or grandfather but you're not fond of their name, use it as a middle name or choose a modern variation
3 Some parents come up with a shortlist of two or three names, then wait until they meet their baby before making a final decision
4 Be aware that what's cute for a baby might not be appropriate for a grown-up guy of 21
5 It can be helpful to check out the meaning of the names you're considering
6 Think about how the name will sound, both with and without its middle names If you've got a long, unusual surname, you might prefer a short, simple first name, and vice versa
7 A good test is to stand at the back door and shout the name a few times, as though calling your child in from play
8 If you and your partner can't agree on a name, try a compromise: one of you gets to pick the first name and the other the second name, or maybe he gets to choose if it's a boy and you can pick if it's a girl
9 By all means invite family and friends to make suggestions However, many parents avoid unwelcome negative comments by keeping their final choice secret until after the birth
Written by Drypers Malaysia
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While this wasn't a beer bought during the holidays, I figured it was the perfect time to enjoy one of my favorite beers of all time, Enigma from New Glarus Brewing. Sweet, tart, sour, and incredibly complex, this beer shows why people outside the cheese state think so highly of this brewery. Enigma is easily one of my top 3 favorite beers of all time.
Not to be outdone, I shared a bottle of the elusive 120 Minute IPA from Dogfish Head. This 18% behemoth was surprisingly drinkable, and showed an incredible balance of hops and malt. This was the perfect beer to follow up such a fantastic whiskey with. It was a short visit, but as always, great to see Pat, Jenn, and Zoe again, and of course be able to share some amazing drinks.
All 3 of these guys know how to brew great beer, and are all a lot of fun to hang out with. I really enjoyed "Tip the Cow" Expresso Milk Stout. It was smooth, creamy, and roasty. I thought it was exceptionally balanced. I would also highly recommend their Cocoa Mint Stout, Brewed x 2, and Ambidextrous IPA, and really everything else they have to offer, you just can't go wrong there. http://www.singlespeedbrewing.com/
When we left the brewery, I gave Dan his goody bag of Toppling Goliath beers, some home brew and a few other local brews. I wasn't ready for what he put in my car in exchange. I guess it pays to be friends with a brewer, but this was a bit over the top! Thanks Dan for your generosity, I will try to even things out next time around. Cheers!
Follow me on Twitter: @Crinkletalk
Untappd: Crinkletalk


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Monday, April 3, 2006
Bean Counting
Top row: Bacon, Black Pepper, Blueberry, Booger, Buttered Popcorn
2nd row: Cherry, Cinnamon, Dirt, Earthworm, Earwax
3rd row: Grape Jelly, Grass, Green Apple, Lemon Drop, Rotten Egg
4th row: Sardine, Soap, Toasted Marshmallow, no Tutti-Frutti, Vomit
No one has been brave enough to try the more unusual flavors.
The beans gave me a brain wave. A couple years ago, I did a favor for a Japanese colleague and she did the obvious (to her, anyway): she gave me a narrow length of unhemmed cotton cloth. Although machine-made, it's a traditional handloom size, about 34 cm (13.5 in) wide and 90 cm (35.5 in) long, with neat selvedges and a charming edamame (soybean) print. I finally know what to do with it: while others have been busy deciphering the mysteries of the Ferragamo bag, I knit up a SoHo Sling*. The bean print will make perfect trim and pockets. And the flower pin from Good Girl Purl is the perfect spring accessory for it.
The pattern appears in Bags: A Knitter's Dozen, but I got it as a freebie at Knit Out New York. Basically, the bag is a knit tube as tall as it is wide, with the top zipper rotated 90 degrees from the bottom seam (which forms a tetrahedron, if you must know).
Knitting the tube was basically mindless. I used a jumbo ball of crochet cotton that had been languishing in stash, Aunt Lydia's Denim, tweaking the pattern to make a bigger bag in a smaller gauge than specified, casting on 140 stitches. The crochet cotton made a somewhat coarse fabric with a soft drape – a strange combination of characteristics that would be horrible for a sweater, but is just right for a sling bag.
There will be a brief pause in assembly whilst I find the right zipper, lining, interlining, and findings. The bag in the pattern is not lined, but bean-counter that I am, I prefer a more finished turnout.
* For those who don't know New York City, SoHo stands for South of Houston Street, Houston being pronounced house-ton, not hyus-ton. It's one of the trendy parts of the city. The fabulous Purl and its new sister store, Purl Patchwork, are in SoHo.
8 comments:
- Stephanie said...
You're too funny. I can just see you counting the beans. :) For some reason the idea of Bacon flavored candy just grossed me out. I couldn't get past that gross out to even think about Vomit flavor.
- Mon Apr 03, 08:45:00 PM EDT
- Ina said...
LOL. Alternatively, I suppose one could say the beans have been Sorted, if that seems more canonical.
This happened because an incautious taster tried a buttered popcorn bean (comment: "EUW! It tastes like a buttered popcorn jelly bean!") and demanded all beans be Sorted. Mysterious selective disappearances followed.
It just goes to show how important it is to READ. ;)
- Mon Apr 03, 09:39:00 PM EDT
- Petra (good girl) said...
Yeah! I was thinking the flower was perfect for a spring purse! I am so glad to see you agree. Now I have to make myself one!
As for the Bertie's Botts... the Pirate and I got some right when they came out and immediately started daring people to eat them. Ended up having to try a few ourselves. I believe the Pirate accidentally tried an earwax and almost lost it. Grass and Dirt taste remarkably like grass and dirt! HAHAHA!
- Tue Apr 04, 10:13:00 AM EDT
- Mia said...
I can honestly say that I have tried the following flavors -dirt, grass, black pepper, and sardine. Let's just say that the grass was greeny, dirt was ?!?!, and the last two left such an awful taste that I refused to try any more of the fflavors. Although, I have heard that booger isn't too bad but they guy who said this has very questionable taste in food to start with...
- Tue Apr 04, 01:46:00 PM EDT
- bethanie said...
Grass was ok. Dirt was icky. Booger really isn't bad - it doesn't taste like much.
- Tue Apr 04, 02:31:00 PM EDT
- alison said...
Okay, so am I the only one who just ate the beans out of the box without looking? I was watching the movie, you know!! They're all pretty true to their name. Vomit is definitely the worst. I ran out of soda and had to stop eating the beans just in case I got a vomit one again.
Ooooh, love that flower pin! It's going to be great on that bag.
- Tue Apr 04, 03:18:00 PM EDT
- Tracey, in MI said...
my sons would resolutely confirm the 'AUTHENTICITY" of each disgusting flavor.....
I'll stick with chocolate, thank you very much..
although--- I have to admit- my kids think vosages haute chocolates--- are disgusting--- but I love them!
- Wed Apr 05, 06:20:00 PM EDT
- Allyson said...
The black pepper is interesting but the gross ones are really gross be prepared when you try them.
- Mon Apr 17, 12:33:00 PM EDT


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Since the networks derive most of their income from advertising sales, we're interested in what this will eventually mean for the ad community.
Westinghouse's planned takeover of CBS should pump some new life into the No. 3 TV network, strengthening its lineup of owned and affiliated stations. Westinghouse Chairman Michael H. Jordan called the combination a "broadcasting powerhouse" and vowed to "restore CBS Television to its historic position as the No. 1 TV network." Advertisers will benefit from a more competitive, innovative CBS.
Also attractive to advertisers are some of the ramifications in the Disney merger with Cap Cities/ABC, especially the likelihood of one-stop shopping for synergistic media/promotion buys. Most marketers and their agencies still have a long way to go in integrating media and non-media marketing efforts, and enticing offers from this new conglomerate would help. Disney also can enhance the programming for ABC, especially in children's time slots, providing a better environment for advertisers.
On the minus side: Will the advertiser with a modest buy on ABC be pushed aside in favor of a marketer willing to buy network time and a magazine schedule built around a sweepstakes promotion that includes free Disney cruises? Will infomercial makers be advised what production company to use in order to assure clearances? The experience of Fox, the network already part of a media conglomerate and affiliated with a Hollywood studio, so far would allay such fears.
So let the new owners wow Wall Street today, and paint rosy scenarios for the future. But advertisers and the billions they spend on the networks should also command a lot of attention. They will have to be shown that the new Disney and new Westinghouse are not only bigger but better.


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Student Portal
The four-year programme of the BA Interior Architecture/ Furniture Design consists of three phases: the propaedeutic phase, the main phase and the graduation phase. Each phase has a specific mission. The line followed by these missions is that of crosspollination (Year 1), depth and connection (Years 2 and 3) and positioning (Year 4). This chronological structure is elaborated into four learning tracks, which constitute the domains that are addressed in each of the study years. These four domains are
The curriculum is based on principles of experimentation and research. In each study year, research (by design) focuses on a specific area or current topic, based on a solid historical and cultural foundation and the potential efforts for interpreting and integrating this basis in design.
The Design domain is the main component and represents the basis of the study programme. It has a thematic structure. Particularly in the first year, the conceptual framework has a simple structure, so that students can learn to question everyday concepts. Interior Architecture focuses on four areas of design: Private interiors, Public interiors, Urban interiors and 3D objects. Starting from the second year of the Furniture Design programme, the following design areas are addressed: Private objects, Public objects, Urban objects and 3D objects. On class days, students work on projects in the academy's workshop spaces, supervised by tutors but also independently.
The autonomous exercises, investigative studies and free studies (of form) within this domain are conducted in a laboratory- like atmosphere. What distinguishes this domain from the design projects is that this programme component is dedicated exclusively to 'making'. In this domain the process phases applied in the design exercises, from analysis to design, are explicitly thrown overboard: the focus here is on the process, instead of on the end result. Based on a particular approach or method, students create, visualise and experiment. The aim of Morphology is to learn how to investigate, get to know and master the phenomenon of space and form using a variety of resources, media and applications. The manner of expression is partly determined by the medium or approach. The integration of visualisation is another important component. Within the domain of Morphology, extensive attention can be paid to such topics as light, texture, relief, form, acoustics and sound, colour and scent.
The domain of Media and Materials revolves around basic skills and tools. The focus is not necessarily on the literal mastery of these skills, but on discovering and learning how the skills can be applied and used within the design projects. This domain should thus be seen as both a source of inspiration and a trigger. In this regard, media, techniques and materials constitute a domain of expertise and research. The skills addressed in this domain include 2D and 3D hand drawing, model building, photography, graphic design, textiles and ceramics, 2D and 3D computer drawing, rapid prototyping, augmented reality and image processing. The teaching and mastery of techniques and skills are never ends in themselves and do not represent the primary learning objective. This domain also involves working and thinking in a cross-disciplinary way, transcending the boundaries of each design discipline. This study component gives students a comprehensive introduction to all the departments and the wealth of facilities/workshops within the institute.
This domain comprises theoretical instruction in the form of tutorials and working assignments relating to art criticism, architectural theory and design theory. Special lectures and excursions are also organised. The department of Interior Architecture and Furniture Design has its own lecture programme consisting of 18 lectures per year. The lecture programme provides an additional theoretical impulse to the programme, and is tailored to reflect the themes and topics of that year's ongoing curriculum as much as possible. A direct link between the year theme and the programme of lectures and films (as well as the Academy-wide Studium Generale) reinforces and supports both the theoretical framework in general and, more specifically, the curriculum of each semester. Plenty of young, up-and-coming artists and designers are invited to speak and students organise a film or a debate at the end of each lecture.
Excursions and trips are a fundamental aspect of the study programme. The propaedeutic phase (Year 1) begins with an introduction week, which includes an excursion. Foreign or domestic excursions are organised once a year as part of the annual excursion week. The final examination starts with a workshop organised either in the Netherlands or abroad. The main programme is supplemented by several smaller subject-based theoretical and professionally-oriented excursions, trips and visits to museums or exhibitions. The curriculum is based on principles of experimentation and research. In each study year, research focuses on a specific area. A solid historical and cultural basis and the ability to interpret and integrate it in the design process can generate fruitful results.
The Individual Study Track (IST), which is required for all students beginning in the second study year, is aimed at expanding the depth and breadth of the programme. The condition is that the content of the track reflects the programme's current design exercise and that this demonstrable connection to the IST can be assessed in the final assessment of the design exercise. How the study load and the associated credits are allocated for this purpose is decided in consultation with the supervisor. Several options are available in this regard, including taking a minor course at Leiden University or one of the introductory courses that are offered within the Academy. In addition to elective courses, students can also use the IST to add depth to their studies by focusing on the fundamental courses in greater detail or by choosing from the Academywide range of interdisciplinary Research Labs that are organised by the various departments. The IST is accompanied by a study plan, which must be approved by the supervisor. Both the coach and the study advisor assist students in drawing up this plan. The coach provides guidance throughout each study year, and the study advisor maintains an overview of all the study years. The coaches encourage students to work across disciplines as much as possible, and to make use of all the available expertise, facilities and workshops.
In each year of the main phase, 12 ECT credits are reserved for the IST. For general information on the IST, please refer to the general section Study Information > IST.
During the first study year, the following core concepts play a central role: crossdisciplinarity, scanning, experimentation, (broad) orientation and confrontation, design, learning by doing, interaction and social networking/student mix. In the propaedeutic phase, maximum use is made of the institute's workshops and facilities, exposing students to all possible methods of development and production. Interaction with the other disciplines offered by the KABK is also encouraged during this phase.
The propaedeutic phase is one of asking questions, exploring, experimenting and observing, in addition to becoming aware that art and design (along with art education) always involve creating in relation to thought (and vice versa). Project-based instruction plays a central role. Each semester, students work on two main projects, which involve design exercises composed in different phases. Project work takes place during a concentrated period of 16 weeks. In this study year the Morphology domain comprises four blocks. The rest of the weekly curriculum is largely devoted to the design projects. In the first year, the domain of knowledge and context (and thus the theory) consists of three main components:
1. Architectural theory Concepts and frameworks, contemporary and current situation and context.
2. Design theory Concepts and frameworks, contemporary and current situation, graphic design, visual art and context. During the Media and Materials domain first-year students receive a thorough introduction to all departments and to the wealth of facilities/ workshops available throughout the Academy.
3. Research & Discourse All Bachelor students at the KABK take the module Research & Discourse during the propaedeutic phase. The KABK also organises a Studium Generale for all students. In addition, a lecture series is organised by the department three times a year. Each series consists of six lectures on a particular topic (usually related to the department's chosen year theme).
Core concepts in the main phase are forecasting, back-casting, visionary thinking, dreaming, the future, and the here and now. The curriculum seeks to forge links to contemporary issues in both the national and international arena - to connect to the real world and to the students' individual position within this theme (Who am I?).
The second year is the phase in which students deepen their existing skills, gain insight into the profession and become aware of their own intentions, which lay at the basis of their work and work processes.
Having been introduced to their chosen field, the Academy and the workshops during the propaedeutic phase, students use this basic knowledge in the second year to adopt positions in assignments of greater complexity. The reality of the professional field and the specific areas of attention it comprises are examined in greater depth. At the same time, students are urged to start formulating a vision and a dream for their future as a designer. Students are expected to demonstrate a greater degree of initiative, and they are challenged to develop and use their own personal preferences.
In the second year, students of Furniture Design and Interior Architecture follow separate design curricula. Although the projects are structured in the same way, the approach and content is tailored to the specific field. At the same time, this similar structure also offers opportunities for collaboration. The other domains are followed jointly by the second-year students.
In the second year, students are required to take two obligatory Morphology modules. The research component within both the design courses and the Morphology Labs increases with each study year. The courses offered by the department in the context of the Individual Study Track (IST) programme include modules known as Research Labs. These are also offered Academy-wide, giving them a more inter-disciplinary character.
The aim of the IST, which is compulsory for all students from the second year onward, is to add depth and breadth to the study programme. The condition is that the content of the track reflects the programme's current design exercise and that this demonstrable connection to the IST can be assessed in the final assessment of the design exercise.
Students who wish to use the IST to add depth to their studies can choose to lay greater emphasis on the fundamental courses, make a selection from the KABK-wide range of interdisciplinary Research Labs and introductory courses, or choose to take a minor at Leiden University. The IST is accompanied by a study plan, which must be approved by the supervisor. Both the coach and the study adviser guide students in drawing up this plan.
The domain-specific knowledge and context of the second year consists of three main components:
1. Art appreciation Through visits to exhibitions, museums, galleries, contemporary platforms for art, architecture and design, projects in the city, art in public spaces and buildings
2. Architectural theory Concepts and frameworks, contemporary and current situation and context, anthropology and sociology (main theory course for students of Interior Architecture)
3. Design theory Concepts and frameworks, contemporary and current situation and context, anthropology and sociology (main theory course for students of Furniture Design)
In the second year, Architectural Theory and Design theory are both linked to the project-based design courses and assignments on Mondays or Tuesdays, thus providing students with direct theoretical input and motivating them to delve even deeper into the theory. This constitutes an initial impulse for the development of individual preferences and original research. In addition, separate lectures and tutorials are programmed for each course, corresponding to the respective research topics. In the second year, within the framework of Interior Architecture and Furniture Design and the theory of architecture and design, attention is also paid to the anthropology of space and its usage, thus teaching students to regard our relationships with spaces and objects from an anthropological and sociological perspective. Space and object are investigated and experienced from a variety of perspectives, including from a spatial perspective (public and private), a user perspective (visitor, housekeeper), an action-related perspective (often culturally determined), a behavioural perspective (social and other types of behaviour) and the scripts that take place or should take place within them), and a sensory perspective how does it smell there?). The use and development of empathy plays a major role in this regard.
Core concepts in this part of the main phase include the following: reality check, skills, knowledge, practical and professional experience, employee vs. entrepreneur, internship and projects from internal studio/lab/workshop or external collaboration with the professional field, industry, authorities, companies and social organisations.
During this phase, students focus on developing their own work and individual approaches, which are expressed in personal questions or problem statements. The interaction between the artistic and the social environment also plays an important role in this phase.
The third study year mirrors the structure of the second year, with an additional focus on the links to professional practice. The exercises within the design domain attempt to add depth by specifically addressing the malleability of the designs. Students become aware of the consequences that result from a developed concept in terms of construction, materials and costs by carrying out a 'reality check'. The practical exercises constitute an important aspect of the third-year curriculum. Students work on real assignments for external clients, in which implementation and realisation of the project within budgetary frameworks and a strict schedule play an important role. Such direct links to practice are also made through presentations in the Netherlands and abroad, including the annual presentation at the Salone del Mobile in Milan. Students are encouraged to work across disciplines as much as possible and to draw heavily upon the expertise, facilities and workshops available within the KABK. The Media and Materials domain and Knowledge and Context domain are explored in depth by focusing on specific themes and techniques. These over-arching topics emerge from the year theme, which often relates to a specific social context, and also provide direction in the other domains. In semester 5, each student writes an internship plan. In semester 6 students gain experience of professional practice in the form of an internship at a carefully and individually selected national or international design or architectural firm.
The capstone of the main phase is the memento, an assessment portfolio prepared during the second and third study years.
Core concepts: manifestation, body of work, statement and portfolio, additional research, additional depth, essay/thesis, and collection building.
In the graduation phase, students focus on developing their individual position. The students determine their place in the professional field, manifesting this through their body of work, statement and portfolio. Additional depth is pursued through an essay and/or thesis.
The students create their own interior architecture or furniture collections, master the associated techniques and are able to present their collections in a convincing manner. The primary goal of the final phase, which culminates in a final examination, is to allow students to demonstrate their qualities as designers. This implies that they must be able to convert their ideas into concepts, architectural solutions, furniture and product solutions, form, material, technique and detail, in the context of one or more assignments. Examinations in Interior Architecture or Furniture Design consist of the following components:
1. Collection Creating a design or multiple designs that address the entirety of the interior architectural or furniture collection or related collection in the broadest sense of the term. This is accomplished within thematic and self-developed assignments that allow the intensive realisation of an interior or furniture collection, whereby the thematic or locational context of the collection is presented to students in the form of the over-arching year theme. Individual students select their own independent positions within the design exercise, demonstrating that they are capable of applying the relevant techniques and skills needed to realise their designs optimally, based on the knowledge and experience gained in domain of media and materials.
2. Research by Design Research by Design expresses the student's personal design attitude. This design and research component is an extension of previous study projects that have been realised within the domain of morphology and/or the Individual Study Track.
3. Theoretic Research One important aspect of the final phase is the theoretic research project: an essay (in a visual or written form) and/or thesis in which students are expected to position themselves and to reflect critically on the discipline, fascinations and the relationship to their own collections. The essay/ thesis explicitly addresses the knowledge acquired within the domain of knowledge and context. Individual students are expected to adopt specific positions with regard to current theories of architecture and design and position themselves within the current debate.
4. Body of work Candidates must include previously realised designs and research (from preceding study years) in their complete final presentation and collection.
5. Entrepreneurship and the working landscape Final examination, exhibition and the presentation of the collection. Another important aspect of the final phase is students' visual and verbal presentation of their collection, in which they are expected to position themselves and to reflect critically on the discipline, fascinations and the relationship to their own collections. In the Academy-wide course Entrepreneurship, the students apply practical knowledge acquired during the lectures in a real-world setting through fictitious case studies. (Questions that are addressed include: How do I get assignments? How do I make invoices? How do I send invoices?) Students display and present their collections to the outside world in a variety of ways, for example through their portfolios or by creating their own websites and setting up PR and social media campaigns.
The student portal www.kabk.nl/ia is the central instrument of communication for and by the department. News, practical announcements, curriculum, assignments, class schedules, calendars, task descriptions or other course information are placed on the portal.
The current and latest versions of the exercise structures for each study year are available via the IAFD student portal: www.kabk.nl/ia.
Assignment structures form the framework within which lecturers construct their assignments and curriculums. This working method ensures that a current, relevant and customised curriculum can be offered each semester.
The appendices of the assignment structure list the specific assignments structures and curriculums for each course per semester. These resources are available for download by students and lecturers. Lists of required, recommended and further reading are included in the curriculums and specific assignment. The assignments for each semester are also listed on the Downloads page (the last page of the portal).
Each semester, students work on two main projects, which involve design exercises consisting of different phases. Students can engage in project work during a concentrated period of 16 weeks. On Tuesdays or Wednesdays, the work domains are Morphology, the IST and the Academy-wide Research Labs. The rest of the weekly curriculum is largely devoted to the projects. Students usually receive theoretical instruction on Thursdays. The Media and Materials domain is scheduled on Fridays, focusing on a more autonomous exercise of skills.
Interior Architecture
Interior Architecture
Interior Architecture
Interior Architecture
Past event


text:
"Today Zune, Microsoft Corp.'s end-to-end music and entertainment service, announced jointly with Fania Records the availability of a custom collection of Fania albums consisting of never-before-digitally-released productions. For the first time, the Fania collection will be digitally remastered and available exclusively on Zune Marketplace. The collection will include legendary artists such as the Fania All-Stars, Hector Lavoe, La Lupe, Celia Cruz, Ricardo Ray and Bobby Cruz, Cheo Feliciano, Mongo Santamaria, Bobby Valentin, and many more."The Fania Records digital collection is available at http://www.zune.net/musica.
Monday, September 29, 2008
Zune Marketplace Exclusive
Although the Zune service is down for scheduled maintenance (Monday, September 29 from 12:01am Pacific Time) making Zune Social, Zune.net forums, and Zune Marketplace offline for up to 48 hours, an interesting announcement was made today by Zune Marketplace:
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text:
|Leslie Robinson at Shelter
4 August 2017
Message from Leslie Robinson
3 comments:
- Anonymous said...
Did Ramana ashram provide you with any help? I hope they did.
There is a posting on Tiru Facebook page of the dogs that are being hit with sticks and killed by security guards in Ramana Ashram. I agree with the post that some employees in the ashram are very loving to animals and some absolute brutes. They behave that way with the sadhus they are feeding as well with our money.
Dear owner of Arunachala Grace, I hope you will allow this comment on your blog. If we all withhold our donations to Ramana Ashram until they ensure that all employees treat the sadhus and the dogs well, then we may have real impact for the love of Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi and to Arunachala
- August 16, 2017
- Meenakshi Ammal said...
Dear Anonymous:
As per your request I am posting this comment on Arunachala Grace. I rarely go to the Ashram and have no personal knowledge of how either dogs (and other animals) or even Sadhus are treated at the Ashram.
Leslie Robinson's email address is:
He would be the best person to answer your comments. Please get in touch with him.
- August 16, 2017
- Anonymous said...
Considering he has come on you lovely blog to ask for donations for his amazing charity, please can he look up the facebook page for Tiru live where a westerner has expressed her shock at how Ramana Ashram treats its dogs.
I have personally seen the boys serving food to the sadhus act in rude, arrogant ways. I have seen it and the poor sadhus just stomach it because really, what can they do.
We can do something by with holding our donation dollars. Otherwise the karma will come to us because we are enabling ramana ashram to use the power they get with OUR donation dollars and ill treating the sadhus and the animals.
Please devotees who are still in Tiru please bring it to the attention of the ashram management. If you are afraid of the repercussions, atleast tell them that their behaviour is making the rounds of the internet.
- August 18, 2017


text:
It's scoundrel time. Americans in large numbers are looking for change. Those in power are feeling threatened. So the leaders of Congress line up to appeal not to our better angels but to our most foul demons.
Consider what the right-wing majority that controls the Congress has done in the last week.
First, they took care of themselves and tossed out the most vulnerable. They approved a pay raise for themselves even as the leaders of the House of Representatives refused to allow a vote on raising the minimum wage for America's poorest workers.
The minimum wage hasn't been raised in nine years. A full-time worker cannot lift a family of three out of poverty. The same majority that abolished welfare and required poor, single mothers to go to work now ensures that the pay they receive will condemn them to remain in poverty. They are full of pious righteousness, but they are deaf to the basic teachings of Jesus Christ.
It's scoundrel time.
And even as they were condemning minimum wage workers to poverty, they were pushing to give the wealthiest handful of families a $1 trillion tax break. The House passed and the Senate is now considering a bill that would essentially gut the estate tax, a tax that applies to only the wealthiest 1 percent of families whose estates are worth millions. To protect this Paris Hilton tax break, and balance the budget, they have to raise taxes and cut services to poor, working- and middle-class Americans.
"Only the little people pay taxes," hotel heiress Leona Helmsley once said. And now the Republican Congress is trying to turn her disdain into law. Scoundrel time.
Then they shafted those left in the shadows. The extreme right in the House refused a compromise adopted by the Senate and endorsed by President Bush on immigration. The Senate plan would increase enforcement at the border and on employers but give law-abiding immigrants without legal papers a path for citizenship. That would help an estimated 12 million people not only gain dignity but also empower them to resist the employers that exploit them.
Instead, Republicans decided to have show hearings across the nation this summer — hoping to stoke sufficient anti-immigrant fury to gain votes in the fall. And then, in the lame duck session already scheduled for AFTER the elections — mark my word — if the president stands firm, they will pass the same comprehensive compromise they refused last week. Scoundrel time.
But that wasn't enough. The same desperados then blocked renewal of the Voting Rights Act. They objected to provisions suggesting that ballots be printed in languages spoken by significant minorities in a district. Eager to posture about "English-only," they blocked renewal of the basic law protecting voting rights in districts with long histories of discrimination.
This is simple-mindlessness. Legislators should be encouraging Americans to learn languages, not posturing about an English-only country. And as ever, they are fulminating about a nonexistent threat. The reality is that the current immigrants are no different than previous generations. They are intent on their children gaining the opportunities offered by this society — and eager for them to learn English. Our worry should be those Americans who only speak English, not the next generation of immigrants, many of whom will speak two or three languages, including English.
A renegade neo-confederate fringe balked at federal government oversight of voting changes embodied in Section V of the Voting Rights Act. All these Southern states have to do to earn exemption from the act is to stop the continuing discrimination in voting that we saw in Florida in 2000, in Ohio in 2004 and in Georgia today.
But none of this has been sufficient to calm the nightmares of the conservative majority that fears Americans may be catching onto their act.
So, Sen. Bill Frist — the multi-millionaire leader of Republicans in the Senate who has voted regularly to benefit the stocks he holds in what he falsely claimed was a blind trust — decided last week that the Senate should focus on an amendment to ban flag-burning. Why? No good reason other than to allow Republicans to show they are willing to trample the First Amendment in order to pontificate patriotically. Scoundrel time.
American soldiers are mired in a bloody occupation of Iraq amid a civil war of growing violence. The newly elected prime minister of that country proposes an amnesty that would forgive those who participated in the "national resistance" against American soldiers. Our soldiers are putting their lives at risk to protect a government that would pardon those who are shooting at them.
And the DeLay-Frist Congress is committed to sustaining the occupation, fighting it with other people's children and the next generation's money, while blocking renewal of the Voting Rights Act, denying an increase in the minimum wage, locking law-abiding immigrants into second-class status, posturing about flag burning and marriage. Shame on them to go down in defeat this shabbily. And shame on us if by some chance these scoundrels can stoke enough hatred to save themselves from getting the boot in November.
The Rev Jesse Jackson Sr. is founder and president of the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition.


text:
I really, really like Japanese Sweet Potatoes.
I was on the way to work one morning and stopped into this Cambodian market along PCH, looking for bananas (I eat a lot of them with peanut butter!).
I used to drive all the way to Torrance to pick these up from one of the Japanese markets there. I was pretty shocked to find these here. The cashier/manager of the store was getting all stoked that >I< was stoked, then he went on to tell me they also carried Okinawan sweet potatoes as well.
I think they're also called Asian Sweet Potatoes as well.
Just wash, then dry thoroughly.
Poke the hell out of them with a fork.
Put in the oven. Maybe with tinfoil underneath it.
350 degrees for 1.5 to 2 hours, until the sugars start dribbling out the fork holes.


text:
What you are saying about the primary Locals differ in leader choices, share concerns
By: MICHELLE REIFF Review Staff firstname.lastname@example.com, Staff Writer
With the primary election only days away and few contested local races, residents of the Ephrata and the surrounding area are focused on the nation's presidential race.
Four candidates have been campaigning and engaging in heated, televised debates for months in hopes of securing the Republican nomination. Vying for the opportunity to challenge Democratic incumbent President Barack Obama this fall have been Newt Gingrich, former speaker of the House of Representatives; Mitt Romney, former governor of Massachusetts; Ron Paul, U.S. representative for Texas's 14th Congressional District; and Rick Santorum, former U.S. senator representing Pennsylvania.
Although still appearing on the ballot because of deadlines, Santorum announced just over a week ago that he has withdrawn from the race. The winner in the most states this primary season so far, Romney is in the lead. However, Gingrich and Paul have not conceded, keeping the fire in the race going as April 24, the big day, for Pennsylvania, grows closer.
As in any election, opinions and issues at hand vary. The Ephrata Review took to the downtown streets this week to find out what the community had to say.
New mother Carolyn Kirschner, restaurant manager Ben Emerson, Janice Long and Shirley Reese, all of Ephrata, as well as Stevens resident Samuel Stoltzfus and veteran and Reamstown resident Clarence Martin shared their views as they headed to their responsibilities on a breezy spring Tuesday morning.
Although their choices for the leader of the nation vary as they prepare to head to the polls, the six local residents had similar concerns regarding employment, healthcare and education. Here's what they had to say:
Ephrata Review: Which presidential candidate do you like and why?
Kirschner: I go more the Republican route. I will vote for Romney or Ron Paul.
Emerson: Obama, because I don't think he got a fair shake the last time. I think given the time and tools he can do it right.
Long: President Obama. I think he's trying and just needs more time. We can't expect people to get things accomplished in a short time.
Reese: I don't want Obama. I'd rather have someone else because he's just not doing it the way he should.
Stoltzfus: Since I became Christian I believe we need to pray for our government. If you look at our nation, it seems to be degrading pretty fast.
Martin: I think we ought to have a new president. I'm not happy with what is happened in Ephrata and what is happening elsewhere; they took all the factories out and there is no room for anyone.
Ephrata Review: What current issues matter most to you?
Kirschner: I am pro-life all the way around. I've been a counselor at a crisis center and I've seen both sides. It's the choice you've made so you need to deal with the consequences.
Emerson: As a parent, I mainly care about healthcare and education issues.
Long: Jobs for Americans. It needs a lot of improvement. We need to keep jobs in the country.
Reese: We need better help with jobs.
Stoltzfus: (I am against) a law that you have have health care — it shouldn't be pushed that you have to have health care. I feel like personally it's not a free country anymore. We don't have freedom of speech anymore.
Martin: I would like to see someone get jobs going again.
Ephrata Review: What do you think about Santorum dropping out of the race?
Kirschner: If someone's going to drop out it's probably better. They may be dropping out for reasons they're not telling. I wouldn't want them to be president if they don't want to be there.
Emerson: It doesn't really affect my decision. I'm glad he didn't get any further.
Long: It wasn't a surprise. Romney would have received the nomination anyway.
Reese: It could have made a difference in getting Obama out of there.
Stoltzfus: I don't think that it makes much of a difference.
Martin: It gives one of the others a better chance.
Local contested races include: three Republicans competing for the nomination for representative in the General Assembly District 37 — Stephen Black, Barry McFarland and Mindy Fee.
Candidates vying to be delegates to the Republican national Convention District 16 include: Michael Brubaker, Robert Walker, Evgenia Sheaffer, Ben Sheaffer, Ann Womble, Clifford Frick, Rodney Miller, Andrew Gibson and David Dumeyer. Alternate delegate choices on the ballot are Marilyn Schnee, Ben Bradley, John Lawrence, Daniel Lafauci, Ethan Damme and Jason Scoppettuolo.
Democratic National Convention District 16 delegate choices include: Harriet Smith, Mike Sturla, Vaughn Spencer, Sally Lyall, J. Richard Gray, IsamacTorres-Figueroa and Marcy Power.
Last but not least, this spring's primary includes election of Republican committee members. Although the Ephrata/Cocalico committees have no contested races, Ephrata Republican Committee Chairman Glen Beiler Jr. encourages those visiting the polls to vote for these two-year terms.
For those who do not know the duties of the Republican committee, Beiler explains: "Basically we interview and endorse qualified candidates for both local and county positions, school boards, borough council, township supervisor and get together as a county to endorse county offices such as judges."
Beiler adds that committee members are present at the polls on election day and send letters encouraging area residents to vote.
The Republican committees are divided by school districts.
In addition to Beiler, the current Ephrata Republican Committee members are: Lorna Ravegum, Lloyd Zeiset, Hope Stayer, William Ives, Lois Eaby, Melvin Weiler, Susan Rowe, A. Anthony Kilkuskie, Jolene Weaver, Chad Weaver, Tom Zeager, Janice Breneman, Chad Stauffer, Robert Landis, Marjorie Hornberger and Robert Miller.
Members of the Cocalico Area Republican Committee are Chairman Barry Weaver, Alecia Kloiber, Henry Kloiber, Rodney Redcay, Susan Dissinger, Margaret High, Daniel Burton, Seeran Eve Mizii, Michael McGee, Paul Keller, Deborah Keller, Betty Weaver, Terry Bergman, Karen Laudenslager, Leon Eby and Elsie Eby.
The polls will be open on Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Randall O. Wenger, chief registrar/chief clerk of Lancaster County Registration and Elections, announced the launch of an online sample ballot viewer on April 5. To see the sample ballot, visit co.lancaster.pa.us/elections and use the link on the election information page or go directly to ballots.co.lancaster.pa.us. More PRIMARY, page A18 Before voters step into the voting booth next Tuesday, here's what to expect… President of the U.S.
(vote for one)
Barack Obama
Newt Gingrich
Mitt Romney
Ron Paul
Rick Santorum
U.S. Senator
(vote for one)
Joseph Vodvarka
Bob Casey Jr.
David Christian
Marc Scaringi
Steven Welch
Tom Smith
Sam Rohrer
Attorney General
(vote for one)
Kathleen Kane
Patrick Murphy
David Freed
Auditor General
(vote for one)
Eugene DePasquale
Frank Pinto
John Maher
State Treasurer
(vote for one)
Robert McCord
Diana Irey Vaughan
Representative in Congress
District 16
(vote for one)
Aryanna Strader
Joseph Pitts
Representative in the
General Assembly District 37
(Clay Township vote for one)
Russell Stahley
Stephen Black
Barry McFarland
Mindy Fee
Representative in the
General Assembly District 99
(Ephrata and Akron boroughs and Ephrata Township vote for one)
Gordon Denlinger
Delegate to the Republican National Convention District 16
(vote for not more than three)
Michael Brubaker
Robert Walker
Evgenia Sheaffer
Ben Sheaffer
Ann Womble
Clifford Frick
Rodney Miller
Andrew Gibson
David Dumeyer
Alternate Delegate to the Republican National Convention District 16
(vote for not more than three)
Marilyn Schnee
Ben Bradley
John Lawrence
Daniel Lafauci
Ethan Demme
Jason Scoppettuolo
Delegate to the Democratic National Convention District 16
(vote for not more than six – up to three men/three women)
Harriet Smith
Mike Sturla
Vaughn Spencer
Sally Lyall
J. Richard Gray
Isamac Torres-Figueroa
Marcy Power
(vote for one man and one woman)
Akron Borough – East
Lloyd Zeiset
Lorna Ravegum
Akron Borough – West
Glen Beiler Jr.
Hope Stayer
Ephrata Borough- First Ward
William Ives
Lois Eaby
Ephrata Borough- Second Ward
Melvin Weiler
Ephrata Borough – Third Ward
A. Anthony Kilkuskie
Nancy Fay Clark
Ephrata Borough – Fourth Ward
Chad Weaver
Jolene Weaver
Clay Township – North
P. Thomas Zeager
Janice Breneman
Clay Township – South
Chad Stauffer
Ephrata Township – Lincoln
Robert Landis
Ephrata Township – Murrell
J. Tyler Zerbe
Marjorie Hornberger VOTE
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Ted Stehman says:
Doreen says:


text:
Hello my dearies!
Wish you all a prosperous Diwali. I hope all of you are geared up for the festival of lights. I really love the family time, the festivities and of course the Pooja. Not to forget about the gifts we get and give. So, what are you planning to give to your loved ones? I have some cool ideas that you could try. These are convenient to give, and are quite in demand. They would also make you appear unique and special when you give it to your loved ones.
So let me share here the gifts I am considering this year and may be you could share your views:
Spa vouchers
Yes! They might seem a little odd to few people but these are like totally awesome. I mean I don't mind receiving them from my family or friends then why I should shy away from receiving them either. Rather these would mean relaxation and happy moments for the person you give to. I am considering it for my mom and mom-in-law.
Shopping vouchers
This is an idea I had been contemplating for my friends. This is something you can gift and make the person choose the attire or accessories or may be perfumes etc. by choosing themselves on your behalf. Many retailers have started their vouchers and are easy to grab.
Recycled products
These are quite eco-friendly and are definitely trending. You are able to get packed set of products like soaps, creams that are good for the skin and are definitely good to give to your loved ones.
Fab Bag or Envy Box Subscriptions
With the festive season on you can definitely try this for your loved ones. Buy them subscriptions for the initial period.
This is definitely a superb way to show your love and warmth specially to women.
Home-Made chocolates
Most people are moving towards home-made chocolates that are sold through online or stall channels. These are good options against the ready made packaging that you get at the retail shops. If you yourself can make the chocolates at home nothing like it!
Hand-made Diyas
This might appear common but you cannot help as it is the festival of lights we are talking about.
Loads of options are available in decorative lamps and these are definitely good to be gifted.
Online gifts
Of course with the entire e-commerce world beaming with options to gift, you sure can gift your loved ones something from there. This is the most convenient option as you need not mug yourself in the traffic to get the gift yourself. Agreed that meeting personally is the best option but it is definitely not viable in today's world when traffic mars you from such emotions.
I hope you identify with the problem of traffic and the solution I gave you.
These options as I suggested are all in consideration of the things we think about and the things we actually are able to manage on Diwali. All these gifts are not bounded by time and reach rather you could instantly order them and sit back and relax. The idea of meeting can be taken care of by video calling options and you could be with your loved ones in your own way.
Hope you liked the ideas. Do share your opinions.


text:
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text:
Hannah stares at the diamond ring on her finger. Her hopes for a wedding fade as Logan puts off the date. Does he love her anymore? Should she hand him the ring and move on? Should Hannah stop praying for a fiancé with no faith?
Logan hopes to save his sister from her addiction while helping his father raise his young niece. With his life in turmoil, Logan's dreams vanish. One night, his sister holds a knife to Hannah's throat and robs her. Will Hannah forgive him? What will he do with Joy, his sister's child? Where can he turn for help?
The Love Is Series from Prism
Ebook $3.99
Buy on Amazon
Read Lisa's review
A brief interview with the Author
Penny, what do you love about this book?
Writing this book gave me the opportunity to use one of my favorite settings. I grew up along the Jersey Shore, not far from a town with a small amusement park. I spent many happy hours as a child enjoying the rides and later when my daughters were young, hubby and I took our girls to the same amusement park. We used to laugh and say they all learned how to drive on the bumper cars. The amusement park employed many local teenagers during the summer and while my daughters didn't work there, many of their friends did. It was--and still is--very much a family place and to me an idyllic setting for a story. The dunes, the sand, the sky, the water, the beach, and the honky-tonk of the boardwalk are the essence of summertime on the Jersey Shore.
Introduce us to your main character.
There are two main characters in the book, the hero, Logan, and the heroine, Hannah. The story is told from each of their points of view. Logan and Hannah met in college. When they graduated, Logan asked Hannah to marry him. However, he gets a job at one end of the state, while Hannah gets a teaching job near the home where she grew up along the shore of New Jersey. The distance and Logan's troubles erode their relationship. Logan's sister is addicted to drugs. His ailing father takes care of his sister's daughter. Logan helps his father as much as he can, but winds up putting off his wedding and rarely visits Hannah. She wonders if she should give the engagement ring back to him. With a lack of faith, Logan struggles to handle all his difficulties on his own while Hannah's formerly solid faith is tested along with her love for a man who isn't the same as the the man who once promised her forever.
Share something you learned while writing this book.
I learned about tattoos while writing this book since the heroine's cousin is a tattoo artist. I have never wanted to get inked, though it is quite popular with many people--young and old. Daughter #2, who is an artist, has always felt it's better to use a t-shirt to show off your designs or opinions. Right before the book was released, I was diagnosed with Stage 1 breast cancer. After a lumpectomy, I was treated with radiation and as part of that, I got tattooed. The tattoos are very small, freckle-sized dots used to aid technicians in targeting just the right spot. But I definitely felt the needle go in when I was inked. I can't imagine what it's like to have a large area of skin tattooed with a very elaborate design. While the skill of a good tattoo artist is impressive, everyone needs to be aware that there are those who tattoo people without proper knowledge and safety measures. Be careful when shopping for a tattoo.
What are you reading now?
At this very moment, I'm reading St. Patrick of Ireland, by Philip Freeman. Daughter #1 handed it to me last week and it's appropriate for the season. I've always been intrigued with the Irish, since my great grandparents came to this country from Ireland. My great grandmother had nine children, the oldest was my grandfather. The entire clan reminded me of a bunch of leprechauns. They were witty, but devout, and always interesting. Recently, my uncle had a DNA test done and found that not only was he very much Irish, but there was a bit of Viking in him, too, which shouldn't be surprising. :-)
The next book I'll read will be one by a Prism Book Group author. You'll have to wait and see which one I pick. It's tough making a choice because they're all excellent.
~Lisa: St.Patrick sounds great. I'll have to check that out. We were surprised to find a bit o' the Irish, too, in a DNA test.
What's next for you?
I've been working on a sequel to my Patriot series titled Patriot's Courage. It's set in 1794 in Ohio Territory. I added more than 24,000 words to the manuscript during the month of February in a writers' challenge. There's still plenty of writing to go before the book is finished, but I've been having a great time with it. I love history and delving into the era has fascinated me.
I also have to get to work reissuing four of my contemporary Christian romances which were originally published with Awe-Struck many years ago. My fingers will be busy for quite a while.
~Lisa: Good! I love your Patriot series. Best wishes.
About the Author:
Penelope Marzec started reading romances at a young age even though her mother told her they would ruin her mind, which they did. She became hopelessly hooked on happy endings. She is a member of the New Jersey Romance Writers, the Liberty States Fiction Writers, and EPIC. Winning the EPPIE award twice for inspirational fiction, she has also been a finalist in the same contest. Her paranormal, Irons In The Fire, was a nominee for a Romantic Times Reviewers Choice award.


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I guess I last posted in December 2012. Not much has happened since then, but here's a quick recap: new car, new baby, new job, new house. Looking back now I guess we've been a bit busy.
It's naptime for both kids now, i.e. the perfect opportunity for me to pick up toys and vacuum up crumbs so that Molly won't eat them as she crawls around, empty the dishwasher, reload the dishwasher with all the dishes piled on the counter, finally clean the bathrooms (we have TWO now!), finish taking care of the laundry, maybe dust the piano, and .. oh forget it.
I'm sitting on my ever-expanding bum browsing pinterest and sipping coffee (cup #3 for the day - I used to be a one cup a day kinda gal. The first child added a cup and the second child added another cup). And now, as you have undoubtedly figured out, I am blogging.
I think I spend more time getting Molly to surrender to sleepiness than she actually spends sleeping. So by the time she's asleep, chores are the last thing I feel like doing. It's like a duel: her eyes grow heavy as I rock her back and forth wildly -- point for me. She flails to keep herself awake and socks me in the nose -- three points for her. Bonus points if she gets hold of my hair and actually pulls some out.
Motherhood is amazing.
No, but really, it is. Earlier today I spread an old comforter in the grass in our lovely backyard and let Molly crawl all over me while Maxwell ate lunch at his little picnic table. Beautiful breeze, nice cloud cover so I didn't have to worry TOO much about the possibility of sunburn (although, if you haven't noticed, my children and I are pasty and can burn even by moonlight) ... we watched the fleets of crickets bouncing around the yard and listened to Maxwell's moving rendition of "Let it Go" for the umpteenth time.
It was really a great two and a half minutes. Probably the best part of our day so far. Until now: nap time.
And now here I sit, enjoying a moment of peace before a certain boy screams, "Mommy I have a booger on my finger and I need you to get it!" or a sweet baby girl starts crying because her tiny tummy never stays full long enough for a good nap.
I guess that's where I'll end this. I really need to get back to pinterest and finishing planning our new decor. I may actually have to become a DIYer. I know how to weed now, so anything is possible. Stay tuned.


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PET Dairy
PET Dairy's commitment to producing quality, great-tasting dairy products goes all the way back to 1885, when Swiss immigrant, John Meyenberg, brought a revolutionary process for canning milk to the small town of Highland, Illinois.
His company was called the Helvetia Milk Condensing Company. It quickly gained a reputation, particularly in the South, as a substitute for fresh milk where there was little refrigeration, and as a safe, wholesome and convenient baby food. When the company began packaging the condensed milk in baby-sized cans in 1894, the employees nicknamed the package "pet" evaporated cream, and that's how the PET brand was originated.
In 1929, Helvetia purchased a fluid milk processing plant in Johnson City, Tennessee, and The PET Dairy Products Company was founded. Soon after, the company acquired their first ice cream plant in nearby Greeneville, Tennessee.
PET Dairy grew quickly, as a number of other dairy operations were promptly acquired and new plants constructed. And, with the help of some innovative marketing - including popular radio shows and even a line of children's books devoted to PET products - PET became a household name in the South, as did classic products like PET Brown Mules.
Rapid technological advances in transportation and refrigeration allowed PET to expand, delivering PET fresh products to more and more customers.
PET Dairy holds the same commitment to bringing customers the freshest, best-tasting dairy products possible. And with PET products being sold all across the South today, more people than ever are falling in love with PET.
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