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First Time Mom's Guide: Save or Splurge Registry Items (Part 2)/
The moment you find out that you are expecting your first child it's like you turn into a shopping maniac. Searching high and low for every single item you think you'll need for the 1st year of life with this tiny little human. I know with our first I registered for everything under the sun from cribs to walkers (because a 3 month old totally knows how to use a walker at only a few weeks old). Thinking back and talking to new moms I realized that if you put a little strategy behind your registry items you can get exactly what you need for when you need it.
Here's the deal… instead of making the mistake most people make by registering for everything you will need the first year, just focus on registering for good quality items and only essentials. I know you think I'm crazy but bear with me so I can explain the why behind this madness! You may think its a little too much to put big ticket items on your registry, but if you have 3-4 of those on your registry and just the essentials like diapers, wipes, blankets, etc, people will be more than happy to put money towards those big items because they know you need them! So don't go crazy on gear you won't need for a few months. Being three kids deep, I've learned that investing in quality over quantity has really been a huge benefit when you have kids. Try to think long term. Do you plan on using these items alot? Are you planning to have more kids? If the answer is yes to both those questions then PLEASE invest in good quality registry items.
So here is my list of what you should save on and what you should splurge on.
My advice would be to search for a secondhand crib/bassinet. Most cribs are only used for 2-3 years and are kept in pretty good condition and bassinets are used for even less time. I just recently bought a crib for $50 in excellent condition that is normally $300 and got an awesome bassinet from a friend for FREE! So search those Facebook sites and you will be bound to find the perfect one!
I read an article a few months ago when searching for a mattress and it strongly suggested NEVER getting secondhand crib mattresses which I would have to agree with. With Winslow I never did any research regarding mattresses I just assumed that any mattress would work. When looking for a good quality mattress always look at the reviews and find one that is FIRM and SAFE for baby. I'm a huge advocate for breathable mattresses. When Kinley began sleeping in her own crib and rolling over at such a young age I was concerned that she wouldn't be able to breathe if her face got stuck from rolling over. I ended up doing alot of research and saw so many reviews of the Newton Crib Mattress and was sold! The first night in her crib I slept like the baby knowing that if anything where to happen, she could breath.
Here are my top Mattresses:
Thank the breastfeeding gods that pumps are now covered through insurance! This used to be a pretty big ticket item. You will definitely want to get a pump so that you can store up a supply for a rainy day or if you just need to get your nails done and leave the baby at home!
FYI... If you don't know yet there is a breast pump coming on the market within the next few months that is completely hands free and wireless. The Willow Pump allows you to wear the pump in your bra and isn't hooked up to anything! I really cant wait for this! Stay on the lookout, but be warned if you decide to purchase this one you will have to pay out of pocket a pretty large chunk of change.
Okay so this one is one of my pet peeves recently. I don't know why but I get super frustrated with Moms who buy strollers that aren't going to last them past a year. I mean think about it, that stroller gets toted around, thrown around and beat up on all day long. Wouldn't it make sense to invest in a good quality one! Also if you think about it, the majority of well made strollers have great warranties on them so if anything does break they are pretty good at sending replacements. My favorite brand of course would have to be Uppa Baby. It has the ability to convert to tandem which again is another benefit and something to think about if you plan on having more kids. I've taken mine on planes, cars, park, beach and on all sorts of terrain and it is still in pristine condition!
Here are my top Strollers:
Having just given birth to my third baby girl I can say that I'm so glad I never bought expensive brands for her to wear in the early months. Target and the Old Navy Clearance section will do just fine. They grow so fast and sometimes spit up on whatever they are wearing that you may get 2-4 uses out of an outfit before it's either ruined or they don't fit it any longer. So don't waste too much money on outfits, to be honest, for the last 2 months Aubrey has been in a diaper the majority of the time haha!
As a Mom you should never ever sacrifice the safety of your child. I don't think any Mom intentionaly would put her child in danger, but I also think that car seat safety is a huge deal and should be something that is not taken likely. All car seats must go through rigorous testing to be allowed on market. I think purchasing a car seat is more about preference when looking at what brand to buy rather than which car seat brand is safer.
Like I've said before, Baby is only going to get a few uses out of most of the items you purchase. It is best to save on the stuff that they will only need for a short time, rather than spending a ton. Swings and Bouncers I have found are one of the items you can definitely save on. Again, I'm huge on buying certain items secondhand because it saves you so much money! This is one of those items that if you can find secondhand you will be golden! Here are some of my favorite swings and bouncers!
1. 4 Moms
2. Skip Hop
3. Fisher Price
*Tip: Go for the smaller swings so that they don't take up a lot of room in your house and are easy to move. Baby will already be taking up room with his stuff, you don't want anymore clutter than needed.
Just the other day I bought a cheap ring sling because I wanted to test out if Aubrey would like being in one. Even though I bought it with the intention of not using it for a long period of time, I realized that having a good quality baby carrier is a must if thats something you want to do. The one I bought was horrible and the fabric began tearing only a few minutes of wearing it and adjusting the carrier. Here are some favorite brands and the most bought items among Moms (and for good reason, they last forever).
1. Ergo
2. Baby Bjorn
3. Solly Wrap
4. Wild Bird Ring Sling
I hope this helps to give a little bit of direction if you are a new mom searching for just the right items. It can be overwhelming when you look at everything that is on the market. My advice would be do your research and look at the reviews of those products before buying.
I would also love to hear what items you SAVED on and what you SPLURGED on!
Terah B.


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Lots of fun challenges to celebrate fall.
Here are a few to share with you.
Starting with this page..
On Just Imagine Crafts page I used Kreaxions Circle Cutter to cut the photo, mat it and
add other circular accents on the page. I used this page also for a challenge
at Cookin' Up Creations to create using many different shapes on your projects.
The background is stamped, chipboard sharps and some cute leaves.
Here are the close ups.
A mix of circles.
More circle rings and solid circles.
Also added Kreaxions Punch #923 to add punched border accent.
This challenge at Turtle Soup suggested we use the word clustered accent on our page.
It was a perfect pennant with twine accent.
This double used fun background misting, masking and some paint.
Lots of fun layers with even a patch of burlap and old ripped book page.
On this side of the page the challenge included using some blackboard looking accent... so
I cut a black accent and doodled using signo white gel pen.. and used a cute
variegated jillibean soup owl.
Also this month I have been making some cute cards.
This challenge at Memorable Seasons was to take a shape....
the acorn and rip papers to shape and fill the frame.
I then added more layers to give more texture using
variegated paper, some fun stitching and twine accent.
Thanks for your visit.. and hope to see you again soon.

subset: commoncrawl


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#IVD2017: Youth For Change Bangladesh win first prize at the Yothopia.Bangla Youth Video contest 2017!/
This week, youthtopia.bangla, UNV and UN Women held the Youth Video Contest 2017, in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The contest was set up to invite young people to act and share their ideas on how to prevent sexual harassment and to recognise the the contribution of volunteers during crisis. Youth For Change Bangladesh submitted a video in the category 'Act Now, Theme: Preventing Sexual Harassment Against Women and WON FIRST PRIZE!! The Young Change Makers Coalition also participated in the event and received special recognition. The day was a great way to mark International Volunteering Day 2017 and gave the opportunity for Youth For Change panel members to share inspiring stories on volunteerism. A massive well done to Youth For Change Bangladesh!
You can see the winning video here:
The team also submitted a second video, which was shortlisted in the finals, shows what happens when girls speak up:


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What an enjoyable evening we had at the Knock 'Em Dead Dinner Theater's production of "Oklahoma!" here in Boise. It was Robin's Birthday Evening Out. Such a joy! Here she is sitting by the fountain at the entrance to the theater. I do not normally "review" stage productions, at least not since my Martin College (Pulaski, TN) days or my Boise State University days. So this will be an exception.
If you want a night our with dinner, look to the right at the productions coming up. You really should try to make one of them. They are that good! Here is a hot link to KED's web site. And, according to Millie Boardman the Business Manager, there are still season tickets available. The Producer/Director – Scott Beseman. A superb job, Scott. You had so very much talent to work with. Your production crew also did a superb job.
Stephanie Santos (Laurey) has one of the most fantastic voices I have heard in a while. And Ben Clegg (Curly) has another exceptional singing voice. But then, all of the cast could keep on key and sing exceptionally well. The only bad comment about the audio that I will say is that at the tart of the show, the music over powered the voices, but that was soon corrected. And it was great to see the cast "go with the flow" when a glass unexpectedly broke and a bench fell over. Ben Clegg was clever enough to incorporate the over turned bench into the flow of the scene.
All in all, I will rate this a 4-Stars out of 5-Stars. No, not a big New York or San Francisco production, but an extremely well acted, sung, produced and directed musical here in Boise. Scott Beseman and his staff did an outstanding job ….. again! Don't miss these! And the dinner! Catered by Boise's own Le Café de Paris, it was very good. Again, my only comment is that I missed bread with my meal. Beer and wine are available with your meal. Look at what we had.
Fresh Garden Salad
tomatoes, croutons, cucumber, creamy herb dressing
BBQ Baked Chicken
Mashed Potatoes
green onions, bacon bits, cheddar
Garlic Green Beans
Apple Tarte
chantilly whipped cream, cinnamon
The one thing that I failed to mention is that we have known Scott Beseman and Millie Boardman since the 1980's. Robin and I taught them square dancing. And as a note, Scott has an awesome singing voice. Get him to do his interpretation of Boris Karloff's "Monster Mash". Close your eyes and just picture his routine. Sorry you were ill, Scott. We will see you at another production. Cheers! and Break a leg!


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The Risk Management Center (RMC) is under the organizational umbrella of the USACE Institute for Water Resources (IWR). Similar to the other IWR centers, RMC activities span across many business lines and other units in the Corps.
Engineering and Construction Integration
The RMC is active within the Engineering and Construction Community of Practice (CoP) and within some of the major CoPs under Engineering and Construction. The three primary CoPs that the RMC works with are the Geotechnical CoP, the Structural CoP, and the H&H CoP. For these three CoPs, RMC management and staff work closely with the CoP leads and Subject Matter Experts (SME) within each CoP. The RMC also works with the Mechanical CoP and Construction CoP.
Major Subordinate Commands and Districts
Major Subordinate Command (MSC) staff, District staff, and RMC staff mutually support each other to accomplish the Corps' overall dam and levee safety workload. The RMC leads activities to prioritize activities for all staff involved with these efforts. Led by an RMC facilitator, Districts field either partial cadres or full cadres to support risk assessments Corps-wide.
The RMC has working relationships with MSC Dam and Levee Safety Program Managers and Dam and Levee Safety Officers. The RMC works closely with the MSCs, particularly with Agency Technical Review and Independent External Peer Review activities.
The RMC has working relationships with District Dam and Levee Safety Program Managers and Dam and Levee Safety Officers. The RMC works closely with the districts on routine dam safety activities, Issue Evaluation Studies, and Dam Safety Modification Studies.


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Balance the heat of Summer with these 2 cooling poses!
Supta Baddha Konasana is an amazing pose to practice year long and is particularly cooling for the body and mind.
Place a block at desired height under far end of bolster to give a slight incline to add support to the spine. Sit with sacrum against the bolster and sit bones on the mat (or blanket for extra cushion) Butterfly your knees & bring the sole of your feet together, placing a rolled up blanket or a block under each knee for support. Begin reclining on the bolster. You can place a folded blanket under your head and another one over your belly and hips area to encourage relaxation.
Stay in this pose for 7-10 minutes.
Benefits of Supta Baddha Konasana
- Lowers blood pressure
- Decreases heart rate
- Decreases muscle tension
- Offers relief from fatigue and insomnia
- Reduces nervous tension and stress
- Relief from anxiety and panic attacks
- Increases overall energy levels
Viparita Karani is known for the calming effects it has on the mind and body.
Legs Up the Wall is a rejuvenating inverted pose that brings relief to the legs, feet, spine, and nervous system. It can be practiced at anytime although some school of thoughts say to avoid this pose during menstruation.
It can be practiced with or without props. I like using a bolster or a blanket under my sacrum, a blanket over my belly and sometimes one over my feet to ground my heated mind!
Benefits of Viparita Karani:
- Reduces Anxiety & Stress
- Aids with digestive problems
- Relieves Headaches
- Helps with high and low blood pressure
- Relieves insomnia
- Relieves migraines
- Helps with menstrual cramps & PMS


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Ready for you to relax, this gorgeous third floor apartment could be situated in any world class destination in terms of style and comfort but is even better as it has magnificent views of Cape Town.
This newly renovated North-facing apartment opens up into the modern open planned kitchen and dining room areas. The lounge and separate bedroom, lead onto the spacious balcony that boasts lovely canal water views.
Juliette 307 offers you a Queen sized extra-length bed with an en-suite bathroom with a walk-in shower and underfloor heating. The lounge sofa can be equipped with a mattress and extra bedding for a young child, if arranged with the Agent prior to arrival. The balcony is the ideal place to sit and relax after a day of sightseeing. Enjoy the views of the canal as you soak up the sun.
Both the bedroom and the lounge have a television and the apartment has a Guesthouse DSTV satellite package. The lounge television has a BluRay DVD player. The kitchen is well equipped for self-catering with all the modern appliances including a washer and dryer & dishwasher. There is a general swimming pool and a private pool with gym that can be accessed for a small additional fee.


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If you feel exhausted trying to keep up, disorganized and unable to focus, or disconnected from the people and things that really matter—you're not alone.
Life isn't meant to be lived this way. Life should be lived vibrantly.
You deserve to thrive.


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The Trials and Tribulations of Finding a Pink Coat Or maybe I should say the pink coat! Happy day, reader dear! What do you do when you find something you've been looking for? Do you "Yay!" and get on with it, or do you keep worrying over it and wait for a better one? The… Continue reading In the Pink!
Tag: Barry Schwartz
Saturday Share
Since we finally made it to the weekend, you may have a few extra minutes to surf, or maybe do some reading... Here are some of my recent favorites! Janice Riggs at The Vivienne Files is a woman after my own analytical heart! Check out her post-trip packing analysis from her recent trip to Dublin.… Continue reading Saturday Share


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We love cheese, and we love being one of the few shops in area to offer you a full selection of cheeses.
Our cheese case is always evolving and features domestic and imported cheeses, as well as a great selection of raw cheeses. We're slowly shifting our focus to cheese produced by American creameries and small production farms.
Our pates, charcuterie, smoked fish and snacks and sweets are the perfect complement to your cheese selections. We also carry all the essentials for a perfect cheese board: olives, sweet jams, savory spreads, mustards, crackers, and more!
We can create a totally unique, one-of-a-kind cheese platter for any party or event. Our cheese platters include an array of artisan cheese, cured meats, nuts, fruit, sweet spreads, savory dips, and olives. Our plates are garnished with fresh herbs, edible flowers, dried fruit, and spice. Our platters are perfect for everything from intimate gatherings, picnics and boat rides.
Prices vary, but we are happy to work with you depending on your budget, guest list, and preferred cheeses and crackers.
For more information please contact Amelia at email@example.com


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Get Help Today!
Young Lives Redeemed takes transitional age (18-25) emancipated foster youth off the streets and puts them on a pathway to stability and self-sufficiency. We seek to empower youth to overcome childhood trauma by facilitating engagement in mental healthcare and substance abuse recovery. We envision a world where no former foster youth are homeless or incarcerated and work collaboratively to change lives and create hope.


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Davos: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday met top global CEOs, including that of Schneider Electric and ABB Global, at the International Business Council event in Davos.
The world applauds 1.3 bn people of India at the @wef in #Davos appreciating the remarkable transformation in improving the business climate. PM @narendramodi interacting with the top global CEOs at the International Business Council event. #IndiaMeansBusiness pic.twitter.com/AfvfarnKGS
— Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) January 23, 2018
PM @narendramodi had fruitful meetings with the Chairman @SchneiderElec, CEO @ABBgroupnews and CEO, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board on the sidelines of @wef in #Davos. pic.twitter.com/vchYhziTSU
— Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) January 23, 2018
Always an honor to meet PM @narendramodi to continue our discussions about India's growth and development journey, and how ABB is contributing with its pioneering technologies. #wef18 @davos pic.twitter.com/t63WObUlaj
— Ulrich Spiesshofer (@ABB_CEO) January 23, 2018
Earlier, addressing the World Economic Forum, PM Modi talked about "serious" challenges and "grave concerns" facing the world, including terrorism.
Here is my speech at @wef. #IndiaMeansBusiness https://t.co/aNfEUmR5yZ pic.twitter.com/mRzY393fkH
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 23, 2018
Climate change and terrorism are grave concerns before the world, he said, while asserting that terrorism is dangerous but what is equally dangerous is the "artificial distinction" made between 'good terrorist' and 'bad terrorist'.
"Climate change is a huge threat right now, Snow in the Arctic is melting, many islands are sinking or are about to ink. Mahatma Gandhi's principle of trusteeship to use things according to one's need is important. He was against the use of anything for one's greed. We're today exploiting nature for our greed. We need to ask ourselves if this is our progress or regression," PM maintained.
PM Modi also said that issues of peace, security and stability have emerged as serious global challenges.
"Terrorism is dangerous. Worse is when people say there is a difference between 'good' and 'bad' terror. It is painful to see some youngsters getting radicalised. Many societies and countries are becoming self-centred. It seems that globalisation, as opposed to its definition, is shrinking. Such misplaced preferences can't be considered any lesser threat than terrorism or climate change. We must admit shine of globalisation is fading," he said.
At the same time, he noted that the last time when an Indian PM visited Davos in 1997, India's GDP was a little more than USD 400 billion, but now it has increased more than six times.
Referring to WEF's theme of 'Creating a shared future in a fractured world', he said the Indian philosophy of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' (the world is one family) has become more relevant in today's time to address fissures and distances in the world.
(With Agency inputs)


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Double Feature: Capitalism Kills (Thoroughbreds & Cheap Thrills)
Double features are a great way to watch movies. Well-selected double features complement each other like food and wine, bringing out hidden flavors or making you realize new aspects of something familiar. If you're ever in need of a keenly paired set of movies to screen, check out our handy pre-packaged Double Features category– complete with theme breakdowns, aesthetic comparisons, and honest commentary about which movie should be the leading feature.
Capitalism, as well as pretty much every other economic system, has been harvested for its satirical value for years. Movies like Magic Mike and The Big Short have done a solid job of highlighting the hypocrisy and rigidity of a capitalistic society in a pretty, half-naked, Channing Tatum's-body-moving-like-water package. Ok, so part of that only applies to Magic Mike, but you get my point; those movies explore issues without skewering them. Not the case with the films in this double feature, which skewer, roast, and serve up the worst parts of capitalism on a metal spike.
Lead Feature: Thoroughbreds (2018)
Thoroughbreds is a collection of some of our favorite things here at Back Row: female anxiety, sociopathic girls, mocking the ridiculousness of the "upper crust" world, and Anton Yelchin. The basic premise is two teenagers, Amanda (Olivia Cooke) and Lily (Anya Taylor-Joy), come up with a plan to murder Lily's stepfather Mark (Paul Sparks), who is trying to pack her off to military school. This is a story we've seen before on both the screen and sometimes in real life, but Thoroughbreds adds extra layers by setting the story in an extremely wealthy suburb of Connecticut and making one of the girls a straight up sociopath.
The girls formulate their plan, making a decision based on emotionless Amanda's recommendation that they find someone else to commit the crime when they're both out of town. They approach and eventually blackmail Tim (Anton Yelchin) into doing it for them. Tim's certainly never gone hungry, but it's made clear that he's from a more middle-class area (specifically Westchester, still pretty bougie), which he carries as if he grew up on the streets of the roughest neighborhood.
When Tim fails to follow through on their "deal," Lily takes matters quite literally into her own hands. She puts a plan into action to frame Amanda for the crime then tries to stop it by telling Amanda what she was going to do. Amanda decides to go along with the frame-up so Lily not only gets away with it, she gets everything else she wanted out of life as well.
To label Thoroughbreds as strictly satire would be limiting it. There are many satirical elements in it but it also plays pretty close to reality, especially in regards to the characterizations of the girls. What gives the movie its bite is that the cold, rational Amanda ultimately becomes more sympathetic than the fragile, emotional Lily. As Amanda says early in the film, not having feelings doesn't make her a bad person; she just needs to try really hard to be good. She's used to being an outcast, and has a sharp eye for seeing through the shit of the materialistic, affected world she's been raised in.
Lily, on the other hand, is influenced by everything around her very deeply, which includes Amanda. By the end, Lily has become a product of a caste system that delivered her into luxury, providing her with everything she wanted, as well as a product of Amanda's detachment. While Amanda navigated the world aware of what made her different, Lily has no such self-awareness. She wants what she wants, will stop at nothing to get it – she has never had to question why she shouldn't. As the film fades to black, she still doesn't.
Second billed: Cheap Thrills (2014)
While Thoroughbreds is a sharp, twisty movie with a few scenes of blood and violence, it is still one that most people can sit through. That might not be the case for this next one: the remarkable, cringe-inducing, stomach churning rollercoaster that is Cheap Thrills.
Cheap Thrills takes place over the course of one night, literally ending at dawn the next day. It revolves around Pat Healy's character Craig, an aspiring writer who's been working a day job as a mechanic to pay the bills for his family. He and his wife live in a modest apartment with their infant, and seem to be relatively happy together. The movie opens with them fooling around in bed together in a playful and sensual scene that's interrupted by their baby crying, which causes them both to laugh. There's no hint of them wanting to be disgustingly rich or regretting where they find themselves; they just want to be able to live comfortably. As is the case with most movies (and life), that is a dream too far. Craig finds an eviction notice on the door of the apartment as he leaves for work in the morning. Once at work, he is let go due to poor performance. He just can't seem to get the hang of a more physical, mechanical job.
Depressed, concerned, and now jobless, Craig heads to a bar where he runs into an old friend Vince played with slimey ease by the remarkable Ethan Embry. This is a bit of a side note but does anyone else remember Ethan Embry as an adorable, baby-faced little man in 90's teen movies? He has since evolved into playing dirty, sleazy, sometimes downright psychotic characters, and damn, is he good at it! He's easily my favorite part of this movie that I totally love.
Where was I? Right, so Vince and Craig are drinking and talking, complaining about how fucked up their lives are currently, when they're approached by Colin (David Koechner) and Violet (Sara Paxton) who tell them they've got a proposition for them. It's Violet's birthday and apparently they have a tradition of finding strangers to play a version of truth or dare in exchange for money, except it's all dares that are clearly escalating into craziness. The dares start low-key – who can take this shot first, who can get that cocktail waitress to slap them – before cranking up to more dangerous fare. Colin and Violet invite the two back to their house to continue the game. Naturally, this is where the night really goes off the rails.
The dares start getting hostile. Craig and Vince are pitted against each other, and with every proposition and pay-out, the two get angrier; not at the puppet masters pulling the strings but at each other. At one point, Vince gets Craig alone and tells him that he saw the safe where the couple keeps their money, it's unlocked, and he wants to rob them. This is a pivotal scene because, like Amanda in Thoroughbreds, it sets Vince up as low-down and slippery, while Craig tries to talk him out of it, maintaining his air of righteousness. Even before the "game" starts to get wild, Craig explains that everything he's doing is for his family, while Vince is only doing it for himself. This scene is supposed to be the clincher of that: even with the motive of family behind him, Craig won't stoop as low as Vince.
The robbery does not go off as planned but Colin and Violet offer to forgive the botched attempt and keep playing. Craig initially leaves after he gets enough to cover past due bills but returns soon after. He knows that once that money's gone, he's in the same situation so he's back to give himself some breathing room. The option of cutting off his pinky finger is floated for $25,000 but the two friends begin to undercut each other, offering to do it for less and less. Ah, the free market.
The natural escalation of the dares become gruesome. Severed fingers are eaten then vomited back up, small animals are accidentally killed then purposefully devoured, and eventually, Vince is taken aside by Colin and told that he can take all the marbles if he kills Craig. Vince's reaction is a mixed bag but, armed with a switchblade, he goes inside and looks to be making murderous moves. Finally, he puts the knife down, turns away from Craig and announces he's leaving, which is when Craig shoots him. At dawn, Craig leaves the house with Colin and Violet wishing him a fond farewell and returns home, giving us the arresting final image of a mangled, bloody Craig trying to comfort his wailing infant.
Aside from the scene where Vince tries to convince Craig to rob the couple, the final dare is a crucial moment for another reason. The two men have different weapons, so while Vince has to grapple with the idea of stabbing or slitting the throat of his friend, Craig only has to fire a gun. It's a less intimate and grisly way of killing; one that can happen from across the room and, if done correctly, can end a life in a manner of seconds. Like the scene with the pinky, this is a clear sharp jab at a rigged system, as both are offered the same options but with unequal tools.
Vince, like Amanda, becomes a more sympathetic character because they both understand the darkness in themselves and know how far they'll go. Craig and Lily get to a point of no return and seem to think that since they've come this far then they might as well keep going. It's the idea of "in for a penny, in for a pound" taken to an extreme. For movies that are skewering a system based on profit, that sounds like an apt philosophy.
Thematic similarities: Money, murder, class differences, morality
Aesthetic similarities: Clean and simple color schemes, dominate use of red, dark and light


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Following on from our Weissmies trip, Chris and I headed straight over to Zermatt to meet Erik and prepare for our planned Matterhorn ascent.
After a very hot and dry early summer, it was a bit of a shock to see the Matterhorn looking more wintery. A few teams had been summiting (or trying) but basically the mountain was in less than ideal condition.
Coupled with regular afternoon thunderstorms, it was definitely far from certain that we would be able to get very high on the mountain, but we had a couple of days to climb around Zermatt first.
We started off by catching the Klien Matterhorn lift and traversing the glacier to climb the 4000m Pollux. The conditions were pretty good, but the clouds were already starting to build up so we didn't hang around that long before climbing back towards the lift. It was very tempting to climb the neighbouring Castor as well, but by the time we got to the lift and down into Zermatt the storm was putting down some fresh snow up high.
The following day found us back up at the same lift with a traverse of the Breithorn planned. But as soon as we stepped out of the lift that idea was shelved. Very strong winds were blowing across the plateau and whipping across the tops, a committing ridge traverse wasn't a good idea! We settled for a variation of the normal route instead, which still involved a few minutes of ridge climbing, more than enough excitement!
After an easy afternoon in Zermatt resting, the next morning Chris, Erik and now fellow mountain guide Tim and I walked up to the Hornli hut. It was pretty quiet up there with none of the local Zermatt guides climbing yet due to the conditions.
Eight guides and their clients set off the next morning after the 4am breakfast and a very helpful and friendly atmosphere prevailed on the mountain. Conditions were actually pretty good, and we were sheltered from the wind. Some of the fixed ropes higher on the mountain were pretty icy, but apart from that it was fine.
We put our crampons on at the shoulder and as we came onto the summit slopes it did get pretty windy, we didn't spend long on the summit, just enough for the photos!
So congratulations Chris and Erik – top work.
The following day at the Hornli hut saw forty guides climb the mountain. Quite a contrast.


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A dump truck driver who struck and killed a teacher who was biking in Severna Park in July will not be charged, the Anne Arundel County State's Attorney's Office announced Wednesday.
Thomas Patrick Heslin Jr. of Severna Park, a 57-year-old teacher at the Severn School, was biking and ran a stop sign on Berrywood Drive at Baltimore-Annapolis Boulevard shortly after 3 p.m. on July 17, according to police. Heslin failed to yield the right of way to a dump truck on Baltimore-Annapolis Boulevard, police said.
The truck driver attempted to avoid hitting Heslin, but could not, police said.
The police investigation said Heslin had failed to stop, and the State's Attorney's Office closed the case with no charges against truck driver Ronald Dwight Bolin of Annapolis, said spokeswoman Heather Stone.
Heslin was married with two adult sons and taught Latin at the Severn School for 27 years, according to obituary information. He also coached swimming and golf and was inducted to the school's Athletic Hall of Fame this year.


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Dror Benshetrit Is Designing Entire Futuristic Communities in Turkey
Three years later, the metaphor yielded an autobiographical design: a vase that looks like it was shattered and put back together by someone with poor eyesight and a gallon jug of Krazy Glue. Benshetrit called it the Vase of Phases‑a reference not to an evolving emotional state but rather its multistep manufacturing process. Not everyone was convinced. "Some people saw it as an end-of-relationship present," he says, laughing. "Someone wrote that it's the perfect Mother's Day gift, an echo of all the china broken in family fights. For me, it's a kid losing his naiveté."
The vase comes in lustrous black or white—and so, invariably, do Benshetrit's shirts. Now 37, he's the embodiment of minimalist Manhattan chic: his pate is glossy, his body slim, his English shellacked with a light Israeli accent. After only a dozen years as a professional designer, he has leapt from self-revelatory housewares to large-scale architecture: Workers are just now finishing up his 3-hectare (7-acre) island redoubt, replete with subterranean and overwater residences, off the coast of Abu Dhabi. Already, he has reached the one-name plane of cool. His firm is called Dror, and that's how his 10 employees and innumerable collaborators refer to him too.
Wide Range
When the 6-foot-2-inch (1.9-meter) designer sits, he folds up like a multipurpose knife, but he doesn't stay that way for long. He jumps up as if spring-loaded to pop open a suitcase he designed, to flip open his collapsible Pick Chair one-handed or to demonstrate the simple-yet-versatile interlocking construction system he calls QuaDror. He gives off the same air of graceful efficiency that his objects do, a sense that he can switch at will from relaxation to frenzy and back again.
Today, Benshetrit specializes in just about everything. He has designed an expandable file folder for Target Corp. that retails for $5.99 and an entire fantastical neighborhood in Turkey. Some mornings, he arrives at his loftlike lower Manhattan office to refine a cleverly utilitarian object—a table lamp that transforms into a task light, say. He spends other days working out how the QuaDror system could be used to erect housing for disaster victims in a matter of hours. "Scale is not what makes things complex," he says.
Buildings and Products
Benshetrit has joined a tiny cohort of chameleons, like Marc Newson and Philippe Starck, who slip back and forth between the related-yet-separate worlds of architecture and product design. His success doesn't come from wide-ranging expertise—he's not even a licensed architect—but from the ingenious deployment of ignorance.
"I come from a place of naiveté," he says, "which allows me to ask questions and push boundaries." Free from received limitations, Benshetrit seduces experts by throwing himself at their mercy: "I set up a certain vision, which when you share it with people who really know what they're doing say, 'Are you crazy? We can't do that!' But slowly the idea becomes more and more intelligent."
Benshetrit vanishes and returns bearing a piece of luggage he designed for Tumi Inc. He strokes the shiny, faceted surface, which carries an echo of the broken vase but is structurally stronger than a flat plane. He reaches in and yanks a strap; miraculously, the volume of the carry-on increases by 50 percent. He pulls a second strap, and the case doubles from its original dimensions. He applies downward pressure, and the whole apparatus retreats to its starting size.
Producing Magic
Although he enjoys these little feats of prestidigitation, Benshetrit points out that producing magic is a laborious process of refinement, conducted at a workbench, not a computer. "We made 40 prototypes that failed," he says proudly. "The spring mechanism was wrong, or the material was wrong, or the magnetic clasp that holds a laptop in place was too resistant. We were shaving off micrometers of magnet."
Benshetrit grew up in Israel and graduated from the Design Academy Eindhoven, in the Netherlands, which he chose because it lets artistic disciplines bleed into one another. He considered staying in Europe but decided he needed a city that matched his high-speed metabolism and that wouldn't look askance at his fierce ambition. Besides, he didn't want to be a permanent outsider. "Here, everyone's a foreigner," he says, "and therefore nobody is."
It helped that he had a youthful uncle, emerging fashion designer Yigal Azrouël, who in 2002 was getting ready to open his first boutique in the suddenly incandescent Meatpacking District. Benshetrit lobbied for the job of designing the store and showered Azrouël with drawings. His dubious uncle kept interviewing other firms. "He said, 'You're not an interior architect,'" Benshetrit recalls. "I said, 'No, but I understand you.'"
A Team of Pros
Eventually, Azrouël came around and chose Benshetrit's design; his newbie nephew assuaged Azrouël's rising panic by recruiting a team of pros. "I realized that neither I nor my client had ever done a store before," Benshetrit says, "so we should be the only two with no experience." The result—a warm, dramatic harmony of weathered brick, bentwood furnishings and theatrical spotlights that made shoppers feel like stars—put both designers on New York's retail map. Benshetrit was still living on pizza and art-gallery-opening canapés, but he set up a studio in the store's basement and hired his first employee.
From the beginning, Benshetrit possessed strengths clients could easily appreciate. He approached design physically and empathetically, imagining a product the way a user might handle it, not the way a photographer would frame it for a catalog shoot. Benshetrit believed that objects should be able to transform themselves with ease. His combination of confidence and humility allowed him to ignore conventional wisdom but seek out expert advice. And he knew how to translate each visual idea into a brief and vivid, if sometimes perplexing, story, so that prospective clients could form a bond with an object even before he had drawn it.
Peacock Chair
Benshetrit points to his Peacock Chair, a fan of folded bright-blue felt. "This began when I was trying to get over a breakup and realized I had to let go," he says. "There are two ways of doing that. One is to build a wall and completely disconnect from your emotions. The other is to let yourself be free to feel and share what you're feeling." That thought put him in mind of the peacock, which fans its tail feathers for two diametrically opposed reasons: "Either it's a warning—'Stay away from me; I'm big'—or it's, 'Come and look at how beautiful I am!'" Benshetrit's chain of inspirations, from a broken romance to the defensive and mating postures of peacocks, is so idiosyncratic that the explanation feels less like a sales pitch than a dream. Suddenly, the chair has acquired a fresh emotional resonance.
Among Benshetrit's early admirers was Michael Shvo, another handsome, swashbuckling Israeli expat with an eye for inventive design. Shvo was a creature of the pre-recession boom years, a real estate superbroker with an intuitive sense of how to please the impossibly rich. The two men met in 2007 when Shvo was looking to evolve into a developer. "After spending 10 minutes with Dror, it was clear to me that his way of looking at things is completely different from anyone I've ever worked with," Shvo recalls. "And yet our beliefs are quite similar. Innovation is your insurance for success; that's how you create value."
Just Getting Started
Shvo asked Benshetrit whether he felt comfortable designing a seven-story building. With a mixture of bluff and bravado, Benshetrit said, "Absolutely." Three months later, Shvo called back to say the building was now a 25-story tower: 325 Lexington Ave., in the east 30s, a real estate no man's land Shvo wanted to jazz up.
"The whole reason I brought him on board was that he didn't have experience," Shvo says. "An architect who has done something a hundred times will deliver the same thing they've done a hundred times before." The model Benshetrit produced looked as though it had been made by a kindergartner sloppily stacking blocks.
The recession killed the project, but Shvo was just getting started. While the rest of the world was falling apart, he teamed up with United Arab Emirates–based developer Zaya to turn fishhook-shaped Nurai Island off mainland Abu Dhabi into a hyperexclusive development. Instead of hiring a proven pleaser of plutocrats, Shvo talked Zaya CEO Nadia Zaal into visiting Dror, even though at that point the designer hadn't built so much as a toolshed. Zaal gave Benshetrit eight weeks to come up with a presentation. The designer bought a six-pack of Red Bull from a bodega and embarked on an all-nighter.
A Piece of Nurai
Benshetrit began with the assumption that many of Zaya's presumptive clients could easily buy their own spit of sand in the middle of the Persian Gulf. Why would they choose a piece of Nurai instead? Because, he concluded, people preferred the illusion of isolation to the real thing.
Benshetrit imagined himself a lonely potentate standing at his bedroom balcony. "I don't want to see anybody or anything, but I do want to have a cigar with a neighbor," he says. "I don't want to see any servants, but I do want to turn around and find fresh towels." Benshetrit produced a series of airy, opulent hobbit holes and modernist overwater villas and then—because he couldn't travel to Abu Dhabi on an Israeli passport and make the presentation himself—e-mailed the whole thing off.
'He Wants to Build It'
"I got a call while I was in a taxi coming back from Art Basel Miami," Benshetrit recalls. "They said: 'We've shown your presentation to the crown prince. He wants to build it.' I just started laughing hysterically. A week later, I was sitting in a room with geotechnical, construction and you-name-it engineers, sweating as if I'd just come from a spinning class. I said: 'Guys, I'm not an architect. I have a vision and I would love to share it with you, but I don't know how to build it.' By saying that, I challenged them to make the idea a reality."
The 49 properties went on the market in 2008, even before construction had begun. Zaya sold every one—nearly $1 billion of real estate—in 72 hours. Still forbidden from entering Abu Dhabi, Benshetrit attempted to manage the project from a distance but wound up losing control. When he finally did visit Nurai—on a brand-new U.S. passport after first becoming a citizen—he was both exhilarated and disappointed. "They made some decisions that will ruin some of the experience, absolutely," he says, but he considers the project one more step in his process of continuous transformation.
A Moated Community
Although Nurai is essentially a moated community that relatively few will ever visit, it cemented Benshetrit's credentials as a visionary on a large scale. Which is why, in 2011, Turkish developer Serdar I˙nan invited him to Istanbul.
Prime Minister (now President) Recep Tayyip Erdog˘an had been considering carving a new waterway through the city, from the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara. The project would divert hazardous cargo from the city center, and it would dredge up vast quantities of soil—landfill with which to extend the overcrowded metropolis. I˙nan took Benshetrit around the city, pointed out its charms and dysfunctions and asked him to think of ways to use the dirt dug out of the future canal for a better Istanbul. "At that point, I realized I was actually going to get paid to create a utopia," Benshetrit marvels.
A Modern Cappadocia
Never one to duck a challenge, Benshetrit retreated to his studio and emerged with another concept straight out of Tolkien: a troglodytic minicity. A ring of six immense geodesic domes would occupy an artificial island. Inside would be offices, movie theaters, museums and multistory shopping malls. Outside would be terraced hillsides lined with apartments, like a 21st-century answer to the cave dwellings of Cappadocia, to the southeast.
There's something counterintuitive about placing private quarters in plain view and turning public functions inward. For Benshetrit, the gesture invokes dance. "It's like a circle of people holding hands," he says. "If we're after solitude and privacy, we face out. When we want to share, we face in."
Connecting Differently
Such an ambitious project is unlikely ever to be built. However, it did yield an intriguing way forward for cities. Instead of erecting vertical buildings on a horizontal site, Benshetrit envisions horizontal buildings on a vertical site, all linked by a circulatory system of power, water, data and pathways. "The usual relationship to infrastructure is like chips on a motherboard: selfish structures that take what they need," Benshetrit says. "I was trying to envision a way that they could connect differently."
As Benshetrit talks, you can imagine him pulling a strap in a single, graceful motion and then standing back to watch a village expand into a town and a town into a slumless megalopolis, where everything works and, with the right push, urban disorder is neatly stowed away.
source: bloomberg.com
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Other Local Sports
Ki-Be's Brundridge leads Wenatchee to WCL win
WALLA WALLA -- Corey Brundridge (Kiona-Benton, CBC) threw five innings of shutout relief and Wenatchee took advantage of four Walla Walla errors as the AppleSox beat the Sweets 9-3 in a West Coast League game before 1,100 fans at Borleske Stadium.
Austin Pentecost (Kennewick, WWCC) threw two innings of relief for the Sweets, getting tagged with a pair of unearned runs.
Wenatchee 030 300 300 -- 9 11 0
Walla Walla 100 020 000 -- 3 11 4
Allen, Brundridge (5) and Forbes; Dupart, Pentacost (4), Kerns (6), Richards (7), Clanton (9) and Stanfield.
Highlights--Moon (W) 2x6, 3 RBI; Forbes (W) 3x5; Bridges (W) 2x5, 2B; McIver (W) 2B; Brundridge (W) 5IP-3H-0R-1K; Martinez (WW) 2x4; Stanfield (WW) 2x4, 2 RBI; Yanizick (WW) 3x4.


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If you're in the market to buy a condominium, congratulations! Condos make a wonderful choice for potential homeowners looking to buy property without having to worry about the maintenance and upkeep of a house and yard. Condos are an especially popular choice in high-demand, high property value areas like vacation destinations and costly urban settings because they are usually more affordable than detached homes but, like all good things, condo ownership usually comes with a catch. Before signing on the dotted line, read through the below points to familiarize yourself with the potential pitfalls of owning a condo.
A condominium is usually a large property that is divided and sold as individual units. So compared to a single-family home, owning a condo means you own your unit and a portion of shared common areas, but you do not own the land on which the building is built.
The purchase price of your future home isn't the only cost you need to consider. You'll need to factor in the association fees that owners are responsible for, which cover maintenance of common areas and general upkeep of the property. Should there be a major repair needed and the funds to cover it aren't in the existing fund, you will be asked to contribute additional money to cover the costs. Also, unlike renting an apartment, you will also be subject to the property taxes on the unit.
A well-organized management or orderly association are key to ensuring a positive experience when living in a shared building. Request a copy of meeting minutes or any pertinent documents that relate to the management of the property. Are there any ongoing maintenance issues you should be aware of that you'll have to pay for down the line? When was the last time the association needed to dip into the reserve fund? How quickly are complaints and requests addressed? Research this information now, before it's too late.


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Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton suggested that her husband, former President Bill Clinton, could serve as the focal point for the effort to restore manufacturing in states that were suffering huge coal job losses, especially in Appalachia.
"I told my husband he's got to come out of retirement and be in charge of this," Clinton said, during a campaign event today, according to reporters who were present. She proposed a "Marshall Plan" type of program which would likely include heavy government spending in the area.
Clinton tried to express sympathy with coal workers in the state who had lost their jobs due to draconian regulation of coal by the Obama administration.
"Appalachian coal has taken a huge hit and it is something that I am really worried about," Clinton said.
That's a stark contrast from her remarks during a CNN town hall in March, boasting that she would put the coal industry out of business.
"We're going to put a lot of coal miners and coal companies out of business," Clinton said at the time.
Both Clintons have been disrupted on the campaign trail by angry residents protesting the loss of the jobs critical to the state economy.
She tried to portray herself as a big supporter of American manufacturing, in spite of herself and her husband's history of supporting trade deals.
"I am a make-it-in-America fanatic," she declared.


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Katie Bowden, President and CCO
Katie is an award-winning creative consultant with more than 20 years experience in marketing and brand strategy, creative development and project management.
She is an idea person - imagining the possibilities, stretching boundaries, building brand, and generating results for her clients.
She is author of two children's books, and is represented by a New York literary agent.
She is President of the Board of Directors for the Teen Resource Centre, a member of the Board of Directors for Family Plus, and a member of the Business Community Anti-Poverty Initiative leaders group.
Katie grew up in Toronto, went to university in Halifax, and now lives in Quispamsis with her husband and two teenaged sons.
Sean Payne, Account Director
Sean began his career in communications eight years ago, during which time he's had the opportunity to work on a variety of exciting projects throughout New Brunswick including public relations campaigns, media monitoring and media relations, creative campaigns, project management, communications planning, event planning and execution.
He spent his first five years in an agency setting, learning the trade and developing his skills by working for a number of clients in various industries. Sean then spent two years in the non-profit sector in a management role, putting his planning and prioritizing abilities to use every day by serving the needs of a number of internal clients. His recent return to agency is a welcome homecoming of sorts, as he enjoys the creative challenges involved with working on accounts that each have their own distinct project requirements.
Fairly new to home-ownership, Sean can often be found working away on this or that in his spare time; he is currently building himself a small deck overlooking the new back lawn.
Becky Mabee, Graphic Designer
With more than 16 years of experience as a graphic designer, Becky continues to pursue her passion every day, while settling for nothing less than pixel perfection. She has confidently produced a vast range of client projects, both in her previous roles and as our principal designer at Duke.
Immediately after graduation, Becky worked for an agency, and was then recruited to Ottawa where she joined the marketing team for a Canadian retail chain. After making her way back to the Maritimes, she began freelancing and working in the print industry.
Her portfolio includes comprehensive branding packages for service providers, restaurants, events, causes and more; she creates annual reports that beg to be read; her banners and posters display themselves with pride; and, all of her products are designed with the client's needs at the forefront.
In 2011, Becky won a "Saint John Heritage Award" for her Bourbon Quarter/Magnolia cafe signage designs.
When she's not in front of her mac, you'll likely find her seeking out the city's best coffee, digging in the garden, or binging on Netflix.
Jill Edgecombe, Account Coordinator
This is Jill's first position in her professional career after graduating with her degree in Marketing from UNBSJ. A Saint Johner born-and-raised, Jill grew up with three brothers on the west side, but now lives in Millidgeville. (That means she's still a west sider at heart.)
After graduation, Jill treated herself to a month in Europe where she explored Paris and Madrid, absorbing the culture and history, and expanding her perspective through the experience of international living.
In her role at Duke, Jill has enthusiastically taken charge of several client accounts, providing regular project estimates, social media planning and updating, collateral development plan management, website development, app creation, and a number of other services for our accounts.
Her organization, prioritization, and sense of humour have been excellent additions to the office.
When not at work, Jill enjoys spending time during the summer at the cottage on the St. John River; and, in the winter she assures us she'll eventually get back to the slopes.
Christianne Vachon, Translation/Linguistic Adaptation
Christianne has been translating in Saint John and area since 1991. In that time, she has worked on a wide variety of subjects, translating from French to English and from English to French.
She provides well-researched, terminologically consistent translation services for a wide variety of clients operating in business settings ranging from retail to high tech.
She also provides creative linguistic adaptation, helping some clients develop campaign materials that resonate with French-speaking audiences by translating idea by idea instead of word for word.
Christianne also offers bilingual meeting facilitation and emcee services, as well as on-mic audio recordings.


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A report on the findings of a probe by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament into the operations of the state owned National Housing Corporation (NHC) will soon be made public, PAC Chairman and Opposition Leader Mia Mottley revealed today.
While not disclosing a precise date for the release of the report, Mottley told the monthly business luncheon of the Barbados Chamber of Commerce and Industry at Hilton Barbados Resort this afternoon that the committee was currently wading through loads of documented evidence and would release the findings "at some point very shortly".
"The Public Accounts Committee has been working. There have been over 48 meetings. But in addition to that, we have evidence about four-foot high on the National Housing Corporation . . . and a report will come out at some point very shortly. We are going through the evidence now," she said, while stating that the committee needed much more support than it was currently receiving.
"You can't do these things on a part-time, voluntary basis and expect to make progress, and that's part of the difficulty," she said.
The PAC comprises Mottley as chairman, and includes Opposition parliamentarians Dale Marshall, Dr Jerome Walcott, and Wilfred Abrahams, as well as Government representatives Minister of Commerce and Small Business Development Donville Inniss, Minister of Tourism Richard Sealy, Attorney General Adriel Brathwaite, Minister of Agriculture and Water Resource Management Dr David Estwick, and senators Maxine McLean, Jepter Ince and Darcy Boyce.
Mottley revealed little to nothing about the investigation. However, back in 2010, during debate in the House of Assembly on a resolution to vest Crown land in the housing agency, she had pledged to investigate all contracts and projects awarded by the corporation between December 2008 and August 2010, following the sacking of then NHC chairman Marilyn Rice-Bowen, who had raised serious questions about the award process.
Three years later, Mottley asked the state entity to account for over $40 million received in monthly advances without parliamentary approval.
In 2013, as it investigated the advances to NHC from the Ministry of Finance, as well as a string of anomalies that were brought to light in its first public meeting, the PAC had summoned three top Government officials attached to the Ministry of Housing and the corporation following concerns expressed in the Auditor General's report about the submission of NHC audits for 2008-2011.
Under intense questioning from Mottley in the Senate Chamber, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Housing Ronald Bascombe, NHC General Manager Lanette Napoleon-Young, Financial Controller Carolyn Barton and Chief Legal Officer Henrietta Bourne-Forde admitted that the corporation had substantially increased its staff in the last six years, had rejected a bid by a construction firm in favour of another company charging $5 million more, and was insolvent.


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Out & About
Hey guys! Hope all is going well during the summer months. Just wanted to post a quick update about some projects we've been working on. As some of you may know, I'm also a licensed real estate agent. I work with Robin and Kevin Senter of Senter & Company in the Charlotte and Lake Norman area. Robin and Kevin are a dynamic husband and wife duo doing big things in the real estate market!
In the fall of 2014, Caroline and I met Robin while searching for out first home. She represented us in the purchase and building of a new construction home. Turns out Robin also banked where I was working at the time and we stayed in touch after our purchase. In 2016, she plucked me out of banking to help her and Kevin's growing business.
With the start of Caddy & Company, we have combined the two and created a new weekly video series called "Out & About with Senter & Company." Out & About is going to feature weekly guest people, businesses, organizations, non-profits and many more. The idea is to create awareness and help people get to know our surrounding community in the Lake Norman area which includes Huntersville, Cornelius, Davidson Mooresville and the greater Lake Norman region.
Our first edition featured Kevin chatting with Jill Swain of the Huntersville Chamber of Commerce. We then moved on to Neal at Innovative Speed Shop, Chaz with Churchwell Insurance and have three more coming down the line in the next few weeks! Head over to the Senter & Company Facebook Page to check out the video series! They drop every Thursday!


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MANILA, PHILIPPINES 22 October 2018 — The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has secured $108 million in funding from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) for its climate change projects, shoring up efforts to increase its climate financing for the Asia and Pacific region.
The new funding—comprising $71 million in grants and $37 million in concessional loans—was approved during the 21st meeting of the GCF board on 17-20 October in Manama, Bahrain, and will provide cofinancing support to three ADB-financed projects in Kiribati, Pakistan, and Tonga.
In Kiribati, a $29 million GCF grant, combined with a $15 million grant from ADB and grant cofinancing from the World Bank, will provide the entire population of South Tarawa with climate resilient water supply through a seawater desalination plant. A new solar photovoltaic plant will largely offset the desalination plant's demand for electricity. A rehabilitated and expanded water supply network will reduce leakages and ensure residents have access to clean water, while awareness raising in the community will contribute to the project's sustainability.
In Tonga, a GCF grant of $29.9 million, combined with a $12.2 million grant from ADB, will enable a shift away from the traditional reliance on fossil fuels toward a greater emphasis on a climate-resilient battery energy storage system and renewable energy systems. It will also support the construction of a mini-grid system in the outer islands.
The assistance for these three projects is on top of the $265 million in grants and loans previously approved by GCF for six ADB projects in Asia and the Pacific.
In its recently endorsed corporate strategy for 2030, ADB has made an ambitious commitment to address the climate challenge in the Asia and Pacific region, with a target of cumulative climate financing of $80 billion from its own resources in the 2019–2030 period.
More on this story can be found here.
Source: Asian Development Bank


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BD [on a Sunday afternoon]: So, do you want go on a drive somewhere to take pictures?
Me [no need to think about that]: Yeah, sounds good!
And from that point on I'm not hearing much, just gathering my stuff, throwing food at the boys, and picturing all the great pics I'll get from wherever we're going. Because Big Dude always knows the best places.
So, of course, I'm barely paying attention as Big Dude says something about going ahead and taking the minivan this time and if the place is any good, we'll take the truck and the dog next time. I mean, I heard him and all, but I didn't stop to question why he wouldn't take the van. Here's why ...
I guess he had a little off-road adventure in mind. Go figure. Down below, it's the rocks on the left that he had in mind that he wanted to get to. The railroad goes right by them, but no hard paved road. Next time we'll take the truck and the dog. :-)


text: What does a children's book have to do with war? Most people who have read the installments of "The Chronicles of Narnia" read them as a child or read them to their children. Like "The Hobbit" or a boatload of modern Disney movies, they are highly entertaining to most adults too, but are generally geared toward kids. The language is easy to digest; the content is relatively … [Read more…]


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Liquor Law Violation
5/10/2018 – 12:55 a.m.
Mitchell Hall
Closed Case
GW Police Department officers on patrol observed two students – one male and one female – on the rooftop of Mitchell Hall. Both students, who are underage, admitted to consuming alcoholic beverages. The students passed a series of field sobriety tests and GWPD asked them to leave the area.
–Referred to the Division of Student Affairs.
Unlawful Entry
5/10/2018 – 4:23 p.m.
Lerner Hall
Closed Case
GWPD officers responded to a report of a male individual in his mid-20s who was previously barred from campus. Officers made contact with him outside Lerner Hall, reminded him that he was still barred from campus and sent him away.
–No further action.
Theft II/Destroying/Defacing Structures
Unknown – Unknown
603 22nd St. NW
Closed Case
A male student reported to GWPD that his bedroom had been vandalized and two shirts were missing from his closet. Officers observed soy sauce coating the complainant's walls and a hole in the drywall.
–No suspects or witnesses.
Destruction of Property/Vandalism
5/11/2018 – 8:10 p.m.
Mitchell Hall
Closed Case
A student reported to GWPD that she heard her window break while she was inside her residence hall room. Upon inspection, officers found shattered glass on the floor but did not find anything inside the room that could have been thrown from outside to break the window.
–No suspects or witnesses.
Harassment: Email and electronic media
5/10/2018 – 9 p.m.
South Hall
Closed Case
A male student responded to GWPD that another student posted an inflammatory comment on a student organization Facebook page directed at him.
–Referred to DSA.
Liquor Law Violation
5/13/2018 – 3:05 a.m.
Public Property on Campus (22nd and F streets)
Closed Case
GWPD officers responded to a report of an intoxicated male student. EMeRG assessed the student and transported him to the GW Hospital emergency room for medical treatment.
–Referred to DSA.
Theft II/From Building
5/14/2018 – 2:45 p.m.
Gelman Library
Closed Case
A female student reported to Gelman Library staff members that her calculator was missing from her bag. The staff members filed a report with GWPD.
–No suspects or witnesses.
Drug Law Violation, Liquor Law Violation
5/14/2018 – 1:35 p.m.
The Dakota
Closed Case
GWPD officers responded to an activated smoke detector in The Dakota. Upon arrival, the officers smelled burning marijuana from inside the room. Housing staff conducted an administrative search, which yielded alcohol and drugs.
–Referred to DSA.
–Compiled by Dani Grace.
This article appeared in the May 21, 2018 issue of the Hatchet.


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In real Diddy ego trip fashion, the Bad Boy Records Founder,is reportedly suing BET along with Viacom for a fall during an awards show performance at the Microsoft Theater on Sunday.
According to Diddy's publicist, he believe the hole on the stage and that his fall was a publicity stunt for BET at his expense.
"It's funny how I magically fall into a hole after the whole UCLA episode. I'm not stupid, I am the king of marketing. I know BET's strategy and now they've gotta pay up, nothing's free when it comes to Diddy" explains Diddy.
According to the Bad Boy publicist, Diddy retained a lawyer and plans to take legal action. Diddy plans to sue BET and its parent company Viacom, for injuries inccured, along with pain and suffering for his humiliation. This is the second time Diddy has made headlines this month, following an altercation between he and an UCLA coach which led to his arrest.


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Wedding & BRidal Hair
You expect nothing but the best for your wedding day. No compromises, no excuses.
You are in expert hands with our specialists at Magnolia Avenue Salon. Your hair will be sensational. We guarantee that you will look your absolute best for the great occasion. Please call us for an initial consultation.
Step into the limelight with confidence, with a dazzling up-style from a "Magnolia Stylist." We love to style hair and consider it one of our specialties!.
Prices for an "Event Style" reflect the amount of time that it takes to create it, the level of difficulty and the expertise of the stylist
Starting at $75


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Last week I sold a sweet little book (and one that it was hard to part with) to a very appreciative customer on Etsy. She wrote about my books on her blog! I love the photos that she took of the little dos-a-dos planner/journal. Neat!
In other news, I'm making a whole lot of new weekly planners, even though the new year has come and passed. Check them out on Etsy.
Monday, January 26, 2009
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Coach Charters
Our quality coaches and vehicles can be chartered to accommodate groups of any size for occasions including weddings, social functions, sports, and corporate events. We offer service that goes the extra mile, and we cater to your individual needs.
Let us take care of the travel requirements for your next function, special occasion, sporting or social event.
With vehicles and drivers based in New Plymouth, Auckland, Wanganui, Palmerston North and Wellington, we offer premium charter services to all destinations throughout New Zealand.
Contact email@example.com
Coach Charters available
Our fleet of DELUXE coaches are available for group charters throughout New ZealandView Package
Get your free New Zealand travel brochure
- Detailed description & maps of our best tours
- Details and descriptions of a multitude of activities and experiences
- Overviews of our Family, Luxury, Self-Drive packages and Coach Tours
Simply complete the form and start planning your trip of a lifetime now!
You're well on your way to sun, sights and sites of New Zealand!
We've flicked you an email with a link to our best brochures. Check your inbox now.
If we can be of any assistance, please don't hesitate to get in touch – phone, live chat or email. We look forward to hearing from you and creating some memorable experiences for you.
Speak with you soon,
Kiwi Travel


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Special Needs Access Point (SNAP):
- Referral service for families and professionals to find services for children with special needs who are enrolled in a child care program
- The agencies you will be referred to are; Brampton Caledon Community Living, Erinoakids, Peel Children's Centre, Region of Peel Children's Services and The Ontario Foundation for Visually Impaired Children
- www.peelregion.ca/children/programs/special-needs/snap.htm
Ontario Early Years Centre/Parent Child Centre:
- Promotes healthy social, emotional, and educational development for children birth to six years old
- Provides support, resources and education that strengthen families
- Prenatal and Postnatal programs
- Postpartum support, resources and programs
- PEP Start Clinic
- www.cp-cc.org
PEP Start Clinic:
- Free drop-in clinic designed for families with children newborn to 5 years of age living in Peel
- Opportunity to consult with professionals from community agencies in Speech and Language, Parenting and Behaviour, Preschool Development, Infant Development, Health and Nutrition and Dental Hygiene
- www.cdrcp.com/pep/pep-start-clinics
Region of Peel Parent Workshops:
Workshops are held throughout the year at many locations. These training evenings include free childcare and a light supper. A variety of workshop topics related to understanding children's behaviour, parenting styles, mealtimes and tantrums are offered. These are a great opportunity to refresh your parenting skills and meet other parents in the community.


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May to present amendment to EU withdrawal Bill
PM to set out course of action if final Brexit agreement rejected or talks end with no deal
Former attorney general Dominic Grieve: there are three parts in the amendment he tabled. Photograph: AFP Photo/PRU
Theresa May's government will table a new amendment to the EU withdrawal Bill on Thursday setting out what parliament can do if it rejects the final Brexit agreement or if negotiations end without a deal. Conservative rebels warned the prime minister on Wednesday against reneging on promises she made to avert defeat in a Commons vote on the issue earlier this week.
The rebels say Ms May promised to consider all three parts of an amendment tabled by former attorney general Dominic Grieve which would require the government to come to parliament for approval seven days after an agreement is concluded.
If there was no agreement by November 30th, the government would have to move a motion in the Commons, setting out how it intends to proceed and seeking the approval of the house for that course of action. And if there was no Brexit deal by February 15th, 2019, parliament could direct the government on how it should proceed with the negotiations.
A Downing Street source said on Wednesday that the third clause in Mr Grieve's amendment, allowing parliament to direct negotiations if there was no deal, would not be included in the government's amendment.
Anna Soubry, one of the leading Conservative rebels, said Downing Street appeared to be going back on what the prime minister promised.
'Avoidance of doubt'
"For the avoidance of doubt, the PM said yesterday that clause C of Dominic Grieves amendment would be discussed as part of the new amendment to be tabled in the Lords. If the PM goes back on that there will be no agreed amendment that I can support," she tweeted.
"And I have to add that whilst I believe the PM is a woman of her word I voted in favour of the Lords amendment because I feared she would not be able to deliver on her promise because she won't see off the no-deal hard Brexiteers."
As MPs continued debating amendments to the EU withdrawal Bill on Wednesday, former chancellor Ken Clarke said an amendment that passed without controversy on Tuesday night would effectively keep the UK in the single market after Brexit.
The amendment, proposed in the Lords by former EU commissioner Chris Patten, says that Brexit must not "create or facilitate Border arrangements between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland after exit day which feature physical infrastructure, including Border posts, or checks and controls, that did not exist before exit day and are not in accordance with an agreement between the United Kingdom and the EU".
Irish Sea
Mr Clarke said the government had made a legally binding commitment to extend the needs of the Irish Border to the whole of the UK.
"So we're talking about Dover, and we settled that yesterday. We're not having a border down the Irish Sea, so the United Kingdom has got to negotiate an arrangement with the EU as a whole that has no new frontier barriers. So effectively we are going to reproduce the customs union and the single market, and the government will not be able to comply with yesterday's legal obligation unless it does so," he said.
There was uproar in the Commons chamber earlier when all MPs from the Scottish National Party walked out after their leader Ian Blackford was suspended for a day when he refused to accept the speaker's decision not to hold an emergency vote on the implications of the EU withdrawal Bill for the devolution settlement in Scotland.


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The Source of Light Center at University Presbyterian Church is an interfaith education center for those who seek to encounter the full dimensions of life and faith in the spirit of respectful curiosity.
Join us in exploring the worlds of religion, social justice, peace building, sacred text, ecology and family life in a Source of Light (SoL) Center class this year. In SoL Center classes, scholars and professionals share their knowledge and experience on a broad range of topics. They encourage open, respectful discussions and active learning. Persons of all religious backgrounds are welcome to participate. In the seventeen years since SoL Center was started (2001), over 10,000 participants have enjoyed its enlightening programs.
The SoL Center, overseen by an interfaith board of directors, sponsors both tuition-based courses and free programs throughout the year. The Center is underwritten by the members of University Presbyterian Church, by friends and sponsors throughout the community, by contributors to the SoL Center Endowment funds, and by tuitions paid by course participants. Scholarship assistance is available upon request.
The SoL Center is located at University Presbyterian Church, just north of downtown, 300 Bushnell at Shook, adjacent to the Landa Public Library and Trinity University.
The SoL Center came into being as a result of UPC's decision, in 1996, to build a new education building. Then-Pastor Elizabeth McGregor Simmons and church leaders decided to create an adult continuing education program to serve the greater faith community of San Antonio. Jack Jackson was the first director.
Looking back, it seems almost prophetic that the SoL Center was prepared to open its first season of courses at one of the most challenging moments in recent U.S. history. On September 11, 2001, 20 people who had enrolled in a class on the spiritual aspects of gardening began arriving just as the 9/11 tragedy was unfolding. With images of the imploding World Trade Center Towers dominating television screens, Pastor Simmons led an impromptu prayer service … and then the class went on.


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Snack Worthy
It's past 9pm and your stomach is growling. What do you reach for? Cookies? Chips? How about some almond butter or nuts! It's my favorite snack and so good for. Besides being a good source of protein most nuts provide heart-healthy substances like Omega-3 fatty acids, unsaturated fats (the good fat), and fiber. So dig in. Go for peanut butter or grab a handful of almonds. Just don't eat the whole jar or bag. In this case I grabbed a packet of Justin's Honey Almond Butter. It's portioned out and I won't be tempted to go back for more.


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The Patch Family | Bismarck, ND Family Photography
What a beautiful family! My first encounter with this great family was through the friendship of Autumn. From our very first meeting, she was so welcoming and friendly, and I think that's exactly how you could describe the entire group. This crew was such a pleasure to have in the studio, and I think it was such a fantastic Christmas gift! I hope these photos can bring laughs and become treasures for many years to come.
Thank you for letting me be apart of your family for an afternoon!


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We have chosen our lucky winner for the 10.5-inch iPad Pro
from Bunnings. Congratulations to…
We have chosen our lucky winner for the 10.5-inch iPad Pro
from Bunnings. Congratulations to…
We have drawn the winner of our A2 sized floral print from By The Horns. Are you the winner? Find out here!
We have drawn the winners for our "Principles of Home" Book Giveaway
We're proud to announce that we have launched our new website. We'd love to get your feedback. To thank you for your time, we will pop you into the draw to 1 of 50 twelve month subscriptions to Renovate Magazine. New Zealand's first and only magazine dedicated solely to home renovations.
Entrants were given the opportunity to guess what was in the closet and if they guessed right, they got an entry into the draw to win all that was inside. For clues, entrants could visit the Boston Wardrobes showroom on the corner of Boston Road and Nugent St to have a peep inside the closet.
Refresh offered you the chance to win bathroom makeover. The prize pack included: A choice of $6,500 worth of Englefield bathroom products, 6 hours with an interior designer, 12 litres of Dulux Wash and Wear Kitchen and Bathroom and Aquanamel Paint and $2,000 of a Registered Master Painter's time.
Entrants to this competition simply needed to tell one friend about Refresh Renovations to get an entry into the draw for a $6,000 Fireplace prize package. The more friends entrants told, the more chances they had to win!
Monier, the market leading clay and brick tile manufacturer and supplier in New Zealand, were considering whether they should bring the most recent Australian TV campaign over to New Zealand or develop their own advertisement specifically for New Zealand. As a sign of their appreciation for your feedback, they offered you the chance to win an iPad by reviewing the Australian ad and providing your feedback.
Refresh are the renovation specialists and are supported by some of the best known brands in the industry. We offered you the chance to win a top of the range Rinnai BBQ. The Rinnai Maxim S7SB.
In a Refresh newsletter, we offered recipients the chance to win a children's playhouse as featured in the Summer 2012 issue of Renovate Magazine.
A MotorEyes™ drive recorder will be your personal eyewitness on the road, designed to digitally record your journey whether they're great adventures you want to remember or accidents where you need to prove fault, MotorEyes™ is with you all the way. We also gave away five lady's pamper packs.
We gave people the opportunity to submit fun renovation pics to be in to win a Canon A3100 IS Bundle. The PowerShot A3100 IS features a 12.1 MP CCD sensor, 4x optical zoom lens and a 2.7 inch LCD screen making capturing more great renovation shots easy.
Would you like to arrange a no obligation meeting to discuss options and ideas?
or call us on
1 800 973 1744
Request more informationCLOSE CLOSE +


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Retro Babe Poppy Print Cami Dress
Looking for a cute summer dress? The Retro Babe Poppy Print Cami Dress is definitely a wardrobe essential, dress it up with heels and a bright bag or dress down with biker boots and a leather jacket. Give yourself a treat and channel your inner Gwen Stefani.
SIZES 8, 10, 12, 14 and 16 available
Fabric is 100% Polyester
Fit is true to size
Clare wears UK size 14, is 5'8 and is a 14, Gemma wears UK size 12, is 5'7 and is a 12. Jade wears a UK size 8, is 5'6 and is an 8, Sarah wears UK size 8, is 5'5 and is an 8.
£3.99 Standard 2 - 4 days delivery, through Royal Mail tracked and signed.
FREE standard delivery when you spend over £75 (UK only)
For detailed delivery information, please see our policy https://www.stylebutton.co.uk/delivery-information


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Porsche Trailer Hitch - Cayenne 2011-2018
This factory retrofit kit includes a manually detachable trailer hitch that accommodates a maximum braked trailer weight of 7,716 pounds, and a maximum tongue weight of 617 pounds (V6 models with a manual transmission have a lower towing capacity). This kit comes with a brake light module, wiring harness, and bolts necessary for installation. Comes with a 13-pin socket. Trailer plug mount and plug adapters are not included, see the related items below.
Fits all USA 2011-2018 (958 generation) Cayenne, Cayenne S, Cayenne Diesel, Cayenne GTS, Cayenne Turbo/Turbo S models (with trailer preparation package 1D8). If you want to verify compatibility with your car, contact us with your VIN number and we can check your Cayenne's options. Compatible with 2018 Cayenne models if they are the 958 generation.
Not compatible with Cayenne Hybrid models. Professional installation recommended, Porsche dealer activation required. Freight shipping is now required. Ground shipping only. 95804480091
Customer Ratings & Reviews
Be the first to rate this item!


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Sale Price
Fantastic Water Views AND Deeded access to Locke and Half Moon Lakes! Gorgeous kitchen with granite counters, Vaulted ceilings, 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, garage, fireplace, beautifully landscaped yard with retaining walls and stairways, 2 screened porches, large deck overlooking Locke Lake, Huge master bedroom with private bath, 2 mitsubishi A.C. units, and more!!
Property Type: Single Family
Price - Closed: 249,900
Rooms: 7
Foreclosed/Bank-Owned/REO: No
List Agent: Thomas Beauchemin
List Office: RE/MAX Synergy
Price - List: $249,900
Listing Status: Closed
Basement: Yes
Zoning: 03-208 LOCKE LAKE SB
Full Baths: 2
3/4 Baths: 1
Bedrooms: 3
Year Built: 1972
SqFt-Apx Total: 1,968
SqFt-Apx Total Finished: 1,968
Total Stories: 1
Seasonal: No
Total Baths: 3
Style: Chalet
SqFt-Apx Fin AG Source: Municipal
SqFt-Apx Fin BG Source: Municipal
SqFt-Apx Unfn BG Source: Other
SqFt-Apx Unfn AG Source: Other
Basement Access Type: Interior
SqFt-Apx Fin Above Grade: 1,200.00
SqFt-Apx Fin Below Grade: 768.00
Basement Description: Finished
Cooling: Wall AC Units
Electric: Circuit Breaker(s)
Heat Fuel: Oil
Heating: Hot Water
Water Heater: Off Boiler
Lot: 5
Garage Capacity: 1.00
Lot - Acres: 0.39
Garage: Yes
Flood Zone: Unknown
Garage Type: Under
Lot - Sqft: 16,988
Pre-Construction: No
Road Frontage: TBD
Water Body Type: Lake
Water Body Access: Shared Private
Construction Status: Existing
Water Body Name: Locke and Halfmoon
Construction: Wood Frame
Driveway: Paved
Exterior: Vinyl Siding
Garage Description: Direct Entry
Roads: Public
Roof: Metal
Sewer: Private
Water: Public
Deed - Book: 2899
Deed - Page: 0615
Map: 46
Assessment Year: 2017
Surveyed: Unknown
Taxes TBD: No
Tax - Gross Amount: 5,198.00
Covenants: Unknown
Area Sales
Similar Listings
The listing office is RE/MAX Synergy and listing agent is Thomas Beauchemin. The data relating to real estate for sale on this web site comes in part from the IDX Program of NNEREN. Copyright(c) 2019 Northern New England Real Estate Network, Inc. All rights reserved. This information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. RLS2000.com, Inc. and its subscribers disclaim any and all respresentations or warranties as to the accuracy of this information. The data was last modified on 12/18/2018 2:24:00 PM.


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So you've decided you want to host a fabulous Intensive, Event or Conference
- now what?!
I've put together the top 10 things, in order, that you need to consider so that you can begin to plan your perfect meeting, event or retreat!
1. Determine event goals and objectives.
To get started, first and foremost, you want to figure out your core goals and objectives.
This may sound like a no-brainer, but, so many people begin to hold meetings and events, because they like the thought of it, but as planning persists, they realize their goals and objectives weren't clear from the start, making the planning process far more difficult than it needs to be.
- Some things to consider:
- Why are you holding your meeting, event or retreat?
- Approximately how many people? Will this be a large or small event?
- How long will the event be?
- What will the meeting consist of
- What do you hope your guests will get out of this?
- Do you want to make money or break even?
- Is this an event for guest to learn? A chance to relax? A networking opportunity?
2. Decide on preliminary budget.
Based on your monetary goals for this meeting, It's important to understand your budget once you begin crafting the contents of the event and searching for a location, so that you can be realistic and match your venue with the amount you want to spend.
3. Decide on possible dates.
I always suggest that my clients figure out approximate dates before they decide upon a location so that they select somewhere geographically that matches their event's goal. For example, you probably wouldn't want to plan an event in Arizona in August or Florida during hurricane season. It does help to select a few date options, as if you're flexible, you may fall right into a great deal offered by the venue.
Also, consider your attendees. Based on their work and family schedule, would they be more likely to attend during the week or weekend? During the Summer or Winter?
Bonus tip: If you're looking for a deal, Sunday through Wednesday are a great choice, as most hotels are far less busy during these days, so not only will costs for rooms be less, but they'll also be more likely to be willing to negotiate terms of your contract in your favor.
4. Decide on possible location and venue.
There are of course thousands of beautiful cities and hotels across the US, but it's important to really remember the core goals and objectives of your event itself and what your guests really want.
Based on that, pick a few locations to focus on and then from there, consider venues.
Some things to think about:
- Will your guests want the option to explore outside of the hotel or hit the town in the evening?
- Would they prefer a resort type venue that allows for rest and relaxation?
- Will your guests be bringing their spouses or children?
- Do your guests prefer over the top luxury as found at The Ritz or modern and trendy like you'd find at a W hotel?
Bonus tip: Consider a date during a location's off peak season. Not only can you save money, but you're likely to explore the best a town has to offer, without the crowds.
5. Start a preliminary agenda and guest list.
Based on what you know your guests hope to get out of this event, begin to plan what each day will consist of. Meetings only? Some yoga or spa trips? Guest speakers? Workshops? Networking? Outside attractions?
I suggest that to get started, first plan for meals and then work out your daily agendas from there.
Bonus tip: Don't keep your guests busy every second, it's exhausting! Your guests will need time to unwind, check emails and check in with family. Allow for time in between big aspects of the meeting to shower, freshen up and even nap if they'd like.
6. Establish fees and policies.
Decide upon what you'll be charging your guests based on your objective of the meeting. Consider not only the costs of obvious items like venue and food, but little details that add up like their name badges, wifi, notepads and pens, shipping charges, meeting room fees, etc.
Also establish what your cancellation policy is. It must be perfectly clear to guests when they're registering exactly what is expected of them and what they'll get back if they do cancel.
Bonus Tip: Hotels have cut-off dates for reservations, but they sometimes may be willing to negotiate a closer date into your contract, if discussed ahead of time. There will always be those people who make last minute decisions, so you want to make sure you can accommodate when that happens.
7. Send and review meeting requirements to sites with requests for written proposals.
Be sure to include all of your meeting room requirements such as wifi, AV equipment and food and beverage needs. The more clear you are about what you need, the better your qualified responses will be. This can take time, so prepare to be patient. It may take up to 30 requests to get your perfect venue, based on your needs and budget. Also be sure to follow up, it will likely take multiple phone calls.
8. Conduct site visits as required.
I cannot stress enough how important this is! Never judge a hotel by their online photos. McDonalds makes those burgers look really good on the commercials, right?
Especially if it's been more than a year since their photos have been updates, you've gotta check in. Hotels change ownership and upgrades are being done all the time. You don't want your retreat being held while they are tearing up the lobby and redoing all the upgraded rooms!
9. Negotiate it all.
Trust me, hotels will attempt to nickel and dime wherever they can. There's an art to negotiating the rates you want for all that you need: hotel room blocks, food and beverage, AV, room drop fees, storage fees, resort fees, outside vendor fees, miscellaneous services.
Bonus tip: Everything is negotiable. Pick the top four things that are most important and work on those.
10. Sign off on final contract.
Some things you want to have in your contract:
- A good force majeure clause.
- All fees disclosed.
- Fair cancellation policy.
- No competition clause.
- No construction or renovation clause.
- Lowest room rate clause.
- No walk clause.
- Rebooking clause.
Get EVERYTHING you want in writing. Remember, the hotels contract is written to benefit them!
BONUS TIP: As soon as the contract's been signed, start building the buzz and getting people excited right away! It's never too early to get the word out!


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Hiya! I had a pretty good week. How did yours go? I am pretty excited about the super bowl. That seems very weird for me to say since I am not a sports person. I have watched the last few Eagles games and have been torturing my husband by asking him questions. He says he isn't annoyed but he also says I don't talk too much and I even think I talk too much. No more super bowl rings for you Tom Brady. Fly Eagles Fly! Here are some things to check out this week!
Please leave comments. I would love to read them! See ya next week!


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Last week, I was saddened to learn about a free Dave Matthews concert taking place in Denver. A few weeks earlier, it was a Don Diablo set at Echostage. This coming weekend, I will be missing out on a dear friend's wedding that I am heartbroken that I can't attend.
These are the sacrifices that we agree to as Peace Corps
Volunteers. Very early into the preparation process, we were reminded to prepare our personal lives for two years of living abroad. On the surface, this seems to simply mean saying goodbye and ensuring we have everyone's contact information in order so that we can keep in touch. This is an important piece of it, but it does not encompass everything.
Now that we are approaching a month in Rwanda, two things have happened. First, we trainees have started growing into our lives here. We better understand the routines and are more accustomed to this new way of living. Second, the worlds we left behind have started growing and moving on without us. Being told about these three events was just the first indicator that life has continued on in my absence. Soon I'll be missing memories made and jokes told and I, personally, will be missing many must-see concert events. Meghan's wedding is probably only the first in a string of major life events that I will not be able to be a part of.
It is painful. I wonder how missing these events will later affect my relationships with many of my friends; we will no longer share all of the important life memories that we've been making for so long. What does this mean in terms of how we talk to each other once I get home? Will it mean that we have more to share and will be able to chat for hours on end about all the things we've missed in each other's lives? Or will we have nothing to talk about because our lives have simply diverged too much?
I don't know when – or even if – I will have a good answer to these questions.
But, for the moment, I can find a way to also be content with having these unknowns in my life. While I (and my fellow volunteers) will continue to long to be a part of the events back home, life here in Rwanda has also continued to develop and there is so much to focus on here. I don't know that my awareness of this dichotomy in my life will ever really disappear over the next few years, but I will continue pushing forward in the hopes that I can make it all worth it.
Listening To: Bartender, Dave Matthews Band
Word of the Day: Murakoze cyane! (Thank you very much!)


text: Incredibly eager to join a team of professionals and utilize my 5 years of apparel design experience. I have led several team projects in which I have learned to delegate and work cooperatively with others. I have experience with wovens and cut & sew knits. I am fully proficient in Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator as well as Microsoft suite and have the ability to create CAD flats. I am currently looking to fill a full- time position in Design or Tech Design. Online portfolio: https://sarah-freeman005.squarespace.com