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People who are obese are 50% more likely to develop a common type of brain tumour known as a meningioma. This statistic was revealed in a new study carried out by scientists at the German University of Regensburg, and published in a recent edition of the journal Neurology.
The study, which looked at data from over 6,000 people with brain tumours, uncovered a striking connection between body mass index and an increased risk of developing meningioma. From their research the scientists found that patients who were classed as overweight were 21% more likely to develop this kind of tumour than people who fell in the normal weight spectrum. However for people who were classed as obese, the risk increased to 54%. Nevertheless, the researchers were quick to point out that obesity doesn't necessarily cause tumours of this type.
While there are currently 120 known types of brain tumours, the scientists concentrated their study on the two most common types of brain tumours, gliomas and meningiomas. Meningiomas occur in tissues called meninges, which cover the brain and spinal cord. Despite uncovering this correlation, the scientists are still not clear on why obese people do have a higher rate of meningiomas, although it is believed to be connected with increased levels of estrogen, insulin and other types of protein which control the immune system. Furthermore, the researchers believe that the correlation between obesity and certain cancers, such as meningiomas may have something to do with the type of tissue and the site of the cancer.
Exercise plays a large part in reducing the risk of meningioma.
While we all know the importance of regular exercise for keeping fit and healthy, this study found that exercise also had the effect of reducing the risk of developing meningioma. Patients who took part in the greatest amount of physical activity were found to be 27% less likely to develop a tumour of this type compared to the least active. This was true regardless of whether the patient was classed as obese, overweight or of normal weight.
The findings from this study are of particular importance as currently we know very little about the risk factors for meningioma, except that advanced age and being female seem to be the trigger. Fortunately, the outlook for patients with meningiomas is good, with a 65% survival rate.
What's Next?
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November's Newsletter
In this month's newsletter:
THANK YOU to everyone who attended the Liquor Control Commission hearing to oppose Candyland's liquor license. Way to show our strength in numbers!
The flower baskets have been taken down, and it's time to plan for next year's batch! You can donate online or hand a check to your block captain.
Don't forget to VOTE on November 6th. You can find you polling place HERE.
Lastly, remember to send your SINCERE THANKS to all veterans on November 11th.
This and more in this month's newsletter!

subset: commoncrawl


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Our Lady of Guadalupe
Born in Cuautitlan, Mexico, in 1474, the Indian Quauhtlatoatzin was
baptized by a Franciscan priest in 1525, receiving the Christian name,
Juan Diego. This was barely six years after Cortez landed in Mexico, four
years after the Aztec nation was conquered by Cortez, and 1 year after the
first dozen Franciscan friars arrived in Mexico City. Six years later, in
1531, one of the most famous Marian Apparitions throughout history was to
occur to an Indian peasant.
Fourth Apparition message 1: "Hear me and understand well, my son the least, that nothing should frighten or grieve you. Let not your heart be disturbed. Do not fear that sickness, nor any other sickness or anguish."
(Juan Diego had been concerned about the care of his uncle who was declared to be about to die by a doctor who examined him. After the apparition, the uncle was abruptly cured. Throughout the years there were many more miraculous cures including a 1545 outbreak of typhus, upon which an appeal was made to the Lady of Guadalupe.)
Fourth Apparition message 2:"My son the least, this diversity of roses is the proof and the sign which you will take to the Bishop. You will tell him in my name that he will see in them my wish and that he will have to comply to it."
(Juan was able to pick a variety of roses at a time after the early winter frost had killed all plants. Allegedly, the fragrant flowers could not be grasped by the bishop's attendants who reached out to touch them.)
The image of the Blessed Virgin appeared on the inside of Juan's cloak (tilma), a coarse cloth woven from cactus and customarily worn by the poor. Throughout the centuries, the cloak failed to deteriorate, surviving a 1791 acid spill and a 1921 bomb. Modern examinations of the eyes revealed the images of several people, thought to have been the Bishop and others who had witnessed the unveiling of the cloak.
It is thought that the dark-skinned image of Mother Mary as a virginal Native American girl helped the Spanish priests convert millions of Mexican Indians. After an extensive examination, the committee from the Holy See in Rome declared the apparitions seen by Juan Diego to be authentic, thus making the miracle one of a number of appearances of Mother Mary officially recognized by the Vatican.
Juan Diego died in 1548. Eighteen years later, an image derived from the Apparition was transported on the first formal expedition to the Philippines. In 1567 a new church, ordered by the Archbishop Montufar, was completed, and three years later the Archbishop Montufar sent an oil painting copy of the image of Guadalupe to King Philip II of Spain. The Spanish were well-known as extensive documenters, and in 1573, The "Primitive Relation" was written by historian Juan de Tovar, which he had transcribed from an earlier source. By 1746, Our Lady of Guadalupe had become the patroness for all New Spain from northern California to El Salvador.
In 1929, an image was discovered in the right eye of the image of the Virgin on Juan Diego's tilma. [In her left eye, but as we face her, it is the eye to our right]. Alfonso Marcue, official photographer of the old Basilica of Guadalupe in Mexico City, discovered an image of a bearded man reflected within the eye of the Virgin. At first doubting his own senses, Alfonso Marcue subsequently made many black-and-white photographs of the image. He then went to the authorities of the basilica with his finding, but was told to remain silent about his discovery. Out of respect for the church officials, he did. On May 29, 1951, the image of the bearded man, reflected in both eyes was rediscovered by Jose Carlos Salinas Chavez.
On March 27, 1956, Dr. Javier Torroella Bueno, an ophthalmologist, certified the presence of the triple reflection (Samson-Purkinje effect) characteristic of all live human eyes and stated that the resulting images of the bearded man were located precisely where they should be according to such an effect, and that distortion of the images agreed with the normal curvature of the cornea.
In that same year, Dr. Rafael Torrija Lavoignet, using an ophthalmoscope, studied the apparent human figure in the corneas of both eyes, with the location and distortion of a normal human eye, and found that the Virgin's eyes appeared "strangely alive".
In 1979, Dr. Philip Callahan took infra-red photographs of the image, which later indicated that the original image could not be shown to be a human work. That same year, while working at IBM in 1979, Dr. Jose Aste Tonsmann, a graduate of environmental systems engineering of Cornell University, scanned a photograph of the Virgin's face on the tilma and discovered at least four human figures reflected in the eyes. He theorized that Our Lady of Guadalupe not only left a miraculous image as proof of her apparition to Juan Diego, but may also have left some important messages hidden in her eyes that could not be revealed until new technologies would permit them to be discovered. The figures seem to be Indian Juan Diego witnessing or listening to the secret of three solar characters, Saint Peter of Rome, King Pakal of Palenque and Egyptian Pharaoh Akhenaton, apparently reflected in the retina of the eyes of Our Lady.
Another mystery surrounding the Virgin of Guadalupe was how the colored image of the apparition could have been impressed upon the simple cloak of a poor Aztec tribesman and how it could have lasted for centuries without deteriorating.
In 1990, Pope John Paul II performed the beatification ceremony of Juan Diego. Twelve years later, in 2002, Juan Diego was canonized.
In Mexico, Our Lady of Guadalupe is known as "La Virgen Morena" or "The brown-skinned Virgin". Her feast day is celebrated on December 12th.
There has been considerable controversy, derived from re-evaluations of the event, including that Juan Diego never existed and was an invention of the Bishop to aid in converting the peasants. In 1611, the fourth viceroy of Mexico, denounced the following as the cult of the Virgin of Guadalupe, a disguised worship of the Aztec goddess Tonantzin. The shrine at Tepeyac was popular but worrisome because people called the Virgin of Guadalupe, Tonantzin, and was a confusion in their minds with an Aztec goddess. In 1999, a study was commissioned to test the tilma's age by a researcher who had worked with the Shroud of Turin. Three distinct layers were found, one which was signed and dated. The original showed striking similarities to the original painting of Lady of Guadalupe found in Extremadura Spain, the second showing another Virgin with indigenous features. The fabric was hemp and linen not agave fibers as popularly believed. Another researcher stated that the painting had been tampered with, but disagreed with the conclusions, suggesting the conditions for conducting the study were inadequate. In 2002, an art restoration expert, examined the icon with a stereomicroscope and identified materials consistent with 16th century materials and methods. This contradicts earlier findings by Richard Kuhn (1900-1967), a Nobel Prize winner in chemistry, who had stated in his report of the tilma that it had not been painted with natural, animal, or mineral colorings.
Several other similar icons have appeared through Mexican history. In the town of Tlaltenango, Morelos, a painting of Our Lady of Guadalupe miraculously appeared in the inside of a box that two unknown travelers left in a hostel. The owners of the hostel called the local priest after noticing enticing aromas of flowers and sandalwood coming out of the box. The image has been venerated on September 8 since its finding in 1720. It is accepted as a valid apparition of an image by the local religious authorities.
The full message of the Virgin is still controversial because she spoke to Juan Diego in the Nahuatl language and it does not appear recorded in the Spanish translation of the Nican Mopohua Book, sanctioned by the Vatican.
An interpretation of the retinal images: "According to the IBM experiments, we are sure of four figures in the eyes .., however the test hides one more relevant figure who is the King Messiah and the Holy Spirit blessing a blind man and of course, the ancient message of the Prophecy which it seems to disclose the Announced Pole Shift of Mother Earth, perhaps in 2012 or later."
Free counters provided by Vendio.


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This Spring, Lindsay finished her degree in Nursing at UNBC in Prince George. In order to celebrate, the Richmonds organized a family trip to Cuba.
So not only is Lindsay deserving of a huge CONGRATULATIONS but I also have John and Vicki to thank for popping my international travel cherry! The time I spent in Cuba was such a blast. We took a guided trip into Havana which included a tour through the cigar factory and a long scenic walk through the city.
I don't speak Spanish but what few words I was able to retain got me around a little easier with each day. The staff at the resort were able to help me with a few tips to make my way to Matanzas for a photo excursion for an afternoon.
With every Cuban I met, they greeted me with a smile and handshake. When they recognized I was Canadian, they would shake my hand again. Cuba has a pretty special relationship with Canada that I was completely oblivious to before our visit.
Each portrait was shot with the permission of the subject yet their expression before the photo was taken slightly differed once the camera was up. Everyone was all smiles but once the camera was up, I would see a solemn and serious tone come across their face. There were still smiles on a few but for the most part the moment for a photo was a serious one as one man described to me.
I posted a million photos again - so enjoy.


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Our ability to reach one another and relate with our voices and stories and perspectives as women is a great gift in this internet age. What a gift to be able to feel the power of relation and a surge of inspiration and perseverance from one another in this way.
Below are a few clips and links to some posts I have enjoyed and resonated with this past week:
So I've been wondering if perhaps my gifts are best given elsewhere, elsewhen, elsewhy, and elsehow and perhaps the internet, so fertile with ideas, is also too flooded with pain for deep restoration to occur in the comments sections.
I've been thinking that "justice" seems so often to look more like punishment, banishment, perfunctory comments demonstrating ideological and semantic purity and smug performative positioning (I have behaved in all of these ways and still do, ugh), or earnest but ultimately futile shufflings of the capitalist deck where every single card pulled is the Tower, in myopic attempts to avoid locking horns with the irredeemability of Empire.
As if we can market our way out of this mess.
We can't.
~ From Rachael Rice's post 'On Cleaving and Collapse' - about many, many important things, and especially what it means to show up to these changing times.
Remaining creative in the face of the machine, she says, is vital. "You can't beat a bully at his own games. And I'm not talking about one particular bully here; it's energy. You have to out-create the destruction – it's the only way."
~ From an article on Tori Amos, a childhood heroine of mine. The article is called Tori Amos: 'Menopause is the hardest teacher I've met. Harder than fame.'
And just like that blogging went from grassroots to glossy.
What that meant for me, as a burgeoning creative entrepreneur, was that I started to leave myself out of my blog. (I know that may sound weird coming from a woman whose site literally has her name in it.)...
What started out as a loving and careful desire to focus on what was useful, relevant and inspiring became so restrictive that my blog didn't feel like my blog anymore. This thing that had been such a powerful and important part of my life belonged to "the business" Suddenly it felt like there was no room for me.
~ From Jamie Ridler's post today, "I'm Taking My Blog Back."


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I recently read the below quote on a blog written by a Christian brother named Arthur Sido:
The culture wars are over and the religious right lost. The casual immorality and confusion we see all around us speaks this truth loud and clear. Now is the time for the quiet way of the cross, a way that does not shout or seek power but also does not seek to hide or accommodate. Rather than seeking to blend in through capitulation or fighting for the last vestiges of political coercive power, we instead can follow a third way of quiet subversion via witness.
For some reason, these words really struck me.
If there were such things as "culture wars," are they truly over? And if so, the other way he mentions… I will admit that I've thought along similar lines as well. In fact, this is the essence of what I was trying to say HERE.
A quiet way. A way that isn't seeking power. A way that won't compromise. A way that isn't in any way hiding, but a way that knows it cannot coerce compliance to Scripture. A way that can be lived out regardless of what is happening around us.
Let's see. A way that is rooted in the marching forward in the Gospel of Jesus; that recognizes that what we see in culture is a result of unconverted souls, uncommitted hearts, undiscipled children, and the loss of a biblical worldview.
Truthfully, I've gone back and forth between, in moments of zeal, "we must vote the right people into office and things will change" and in times of frustration, "maybe the extreme separatist movements have it right." LOL! Yes, political change is needed, but that alone will not and cannot fix what is spiritually broken. Christian communities must be built...NOW!...and they must not hide that light under a bushel.
Brother Sido mentioned "the quiet way of the cross." I really like this language. I will not presume to know what he means, but might this mean that we:
- Preach the Gospel in our families, down the street and around world?
- Reject worldliness and pursue biblical holiness?
- Build godly families and disciple our children?
- Use money for the glory of God?
- Build churches that look more like the New Testament?
- Help one another think biblically?
- Do all these things in love?
Yes we MUST vote for godly leaders and yes we MUST cry aloud and spare not. But when we are finished in the voting booth and on the street corner, the work will continue.
Lest I am misunderstood, this isn't an issue of loudness or volume. As I implied in my book, the church hasn't lost her prophetic voice because we aren't loud enough; we've lost our voice because we don't preach and live the Bible and we haven't taught our children to do the same. We lost the "culture wars" because we abandoned the authority of Scripture in every area of life. We have, without much of a fight, assimilated carnal and humanist philosophies and applied them to home and church.
Now admittedly, this "quiet way of the cross" doesn't sound very sexy. It wouldn't be rooted in big events and hoopla. I would think it would primarily manifest in day to day holiness, kindness, meekness, and faithfulness. It would find its power in simple, Spirit-driven living that is anchored in a heavenward perspective. It would not hop from new thing to new thing. It would just live, love, and last until Christ returns or He calls us home.
It's becoming clearer---> A simple life of love and faithfulness. Of refusing friendship with the world. Of modesty and propriety. Of good, hard work. Of speaking the truth in love. Of Spirit-filled living. Of fellowship and hospitality. Of good missions work. Of making our voices heard, but then trusting the Lord to change hearts. Of supporting the local church. Of teaching and training children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. Of talks and walks and prayers and Gospel-preaching and discipleship and study and accountability and joy.
If this is what it is, I think I like it. :)


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The newest gourmet food market to arrive in Bogotá
In a nod to the ever-growing gourmet market trend epitomized by Madrid's Mercado San Miguel or London's Borough Market, Boho Food Market opened its doors in the Bogotá neighborhood of Usaquén. Presenting a model developed under the creative economy– a movement that encourages the trade of creative and cultural goods and services– Boho Food Market launched in September with a proposal that has already made a dent in Bogota's gastronomic and cultural scene.
The monumental space inside Usaquén Plaza was designed by art historian Laura Lombardi and architect-designer Sylvie Delesmontey, who focused on redefining the marketplace concept for Colombians while maintaining a connection to traditional street markets. Avoiding any resemblance to the supermarket aisle, Boho's design focuses on creating an open area featuring distinct food sections that allow for a direct exchange between vendors and customers, cutting out the middleman in favor of supporting small to medium producers. This also encourages a return to nature, with dozens of carefully selected local farmers and chefs offering their products at accessible prices.
With 4,000 square meters of space that includes an open marketplace and two more floors of carefully selected dining –you'll find anything from Colombian, Asian, Italian, Mexican, and vegan food to rotisserie, hamburgers, dessert, gelato, and even a cheese and wine bar– the initiative promotes quality, fresh food and supports emerging chefs, transforming the Bogotá food experience from a stale transaction to an immersive, didactic experience.
And just across the open plaza is Boho Expo, a permanent fair – concept store exhibiting local talent and featuring more than 130 design, fashion, and art entrepreneurs boasting the "Made in Colombia" brand. Be sure to look out for our post on Boho Expo soon. bohofoodmarket.com
Address: Cra. 7 #120-20, Bogotá, Colombia
Phone Number: +57 (1) 7447950
Follow them on Facebook/ Instagram: facebook.com/bohofoodmarket; instagram.com/bohofoodmarket


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LPA Photographers / Nick David / Nationwide
LPA Photographer Nick David continues his great work for Nationwide with this set of images from Wales. Shot on location in the picturesque Brecon Beacons, Nick's images perfectly capture a weekend away in the blustery terrain! We love Nick's ability to show genuine moments in his candid signature style. LPA Style's Claire Portman was on hand for hair and make-up - a tricky job with all that wind! Great team effort.


text: before i get started on tonight's particular marketing massacre, i will write a little. granted, i left this paper until just now, and i don't understand most of what i am about to model here. that's okay though. i will 'figure it out as i go along' as i woefully told my professor half an hour ago, as he visibly strained to leave his office hour. ahhhh okay. i'm still haunted by last night's dreams about accounting which went something like this: financial statements all over the bed. the numbers 113 and 5 in particular. the account - fixed assets. desperately trying to find the net of something. it not being a dream at all. until i realized it totally was. but then, couldn't go back to sleep. because i hadn't found the number! ugh. then more sleeping in stat. which i hate. because i still think i know what's going on. let's see. my cumulative exam grade for the semester is like...302 or something. that's for 5 classes. wait and then my 6th class sucks too. the marketing massacre? yeah.


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Aiming for the Top, Expert Tree Climbers Face Off in the Forest
In Competition for Arborists, Champ Came, Conquered And Won a Chain Saw
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Mark Chisholm craned his neck to peer up into the branches of a 110-foot tulip poplar, mapping out his plan of attack. A few minutes later, as a throng of spectators cheered, he scrambled up a slender rope and disappeared into the leafy canopy above.
For more than a quarter century, tree lovers have gathered once a year to compete in the International Tree Climbing Championships. It's the equivalent of the Olympics for professional tree trimmers, or "arborists" as they like to be called. Typically...


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- WiFi
- Car park
- Pets admitted
- Golf
- Rural
- Accessible
- Gym
- Business
Choose your room
Property Location With a stay at Inter Hotel La Chaussairie in Chartres-de-Bretagne, you'll be convenient to Fenicat Equestrian Center and ENS Rennes. This hotel is within close proximity of Parc Expo Rennes Airport and Cice-Blossac Golf Course.Rooms Make yourself at home in one of the 53 guestrooms. Complimentary wireless Internet access keeps you connected, and satellite programming is available for your entertainment. Bathrooms feature bathtubs or showers, complimentary toiletries, and hair dryers. Conveniences include phones, as well as desks and blackout drapes/curtains.Dining Take advantage of the hotel's room service (during limited hours). Quench your thirst with your favorite drink at a bar/lounge.Business, Other Amenities This hotel has 2 meeting rooms available for events.
Useful information:Other names for Inter-Hotel De La Chaussairie:
La Chaussairie
The Originals Rennes Sud La Chaussairie
The Originals Boutique La Chaussairie Rennes Sud


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My Boss Hates When I Call In Sick
Given that this is my first experience not being a salaried employee, I hadn't dealt before this year with the lack of paid sick leave. For most of my career I had at least two weeks per year. I didn't always use it, but it was nice to have when I did get a flu or even really bad allergies. Nobody wants to hear you deliver the news on the radio with a stuffed nose, but I noticed there were no complaints on those days when my voice dropped to a raspy low-alto.
Why now?
This year, though, I've been severely ill twice already -- this is the third round. It's puzzling, because I'm no longer in a workplace surrounded by potential virus-carrying colleagues (you know that wind screen you sometimes see in front of a microphone? it's a petri dish!), and I'm pretty sure my dogs didn't give me this flu.
After I canceled plans with a friend this week, she wrote back and said, "Sounds like you are not taking very good care of yourself." But I am! I make myself healthy meals, I run, I quit a job that was causing me stress... and yet, I've been sicker this year than any other in recent memory. About five weeks' worth of work-stopping illness just since the start of the year. Uncompensated, work-stopping illness.
Hiding the hack
So now that I've struck out on my own, it takes a toll not just on my health, but on my bank account. Days I don't work are days I'm not paid. And for the first time in my career, that means I feel pressure to work while I'm sick. I'm trying to squeeze in a few Skype interviews for the book I'm writing -- luckily, I found an app that records the interviews on a split track so I can take out my hacking. I'm supposed to fly to Chicago next week to deliver a speech, and I'm really hoping this bug doesn't keep me from doing so because not only do I enjoy speaking, but the event (Chicago Ideas Week) is an incredible networking opportunity.
And of course, there's this column, for which I'm paid based on page views. I don't write it, I don't get paid. I can only hope it goes as viral as the viral load in my body. So here I sit in my green sweats in front of the computer, bellyaching to you about my head aching. Sorry about that (cough). But work is work, right?
Hope you're feeling fit as a fiddle. Share your stories of work without sick leave in the comments section below and email me at email@example.com.
And come back here every Wednesday morning for my next post... next week, hopefully, from Chi-town.


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Have you been going back and forth on whether or not you should jump into the sexting game? While the concept of sending a super steamy pic might be no big deal to some, it's okay if you have a few hesitations -- or find yourself utterly clueless on what to do.
(If only there was some book for dummies. Well, there might be, but who wants to get caught with that in their shopping cart?)
Hoping to demystify your sexting journey today is sex and relationship coach Carmel Jones, who helps to navigate those in the dating game on her site The Big Fling. Here are seven sexting dos and don'ts you might want to consider before you hit send.
- Don't overthink it. "Women tend to overthink before they send a flirty text," reveals Jones. Look, this isn't a final exam; there's no need to cram hours of time and energy into attempts to perfect a sext message. Just take a deep breath, and continue on with life.
- Do be yourself. Why try to be something -- or someone -- you're not? The best sext you can send is one that reflects who you are. "You're probably not an adult entertainer, so don't pretend to be," advises Jones.
- Don't be so uptight. It's okay to poke a little fun at the situation. "I'm so turned on just thinking of you. Glad I brought an extra pair of underwear to work." You see, that's sexy and fun at the same time. Let your hair down and have a real go at this.
More from The Stir: 11 Perfect Examples of Sexting Between Parents (PHOTOS)
- Do opt for photos instead of words. Should you find it hard to think of the right words to send while sexting, that's okay. In fact, who the heck says you need to use words in the first place? Carmel recommends shooting over a selfie or a sexy photo of yourself. "We all know that perfect angle," reminds Jones.
- Don't be afraid of a little emoji love. "Never undervalue the power of an emoji when sexting," says Jones. You know, that winking face just might come in handy. (Hopefully the person receiving your sexts knows you mean business when you use it.)
- Do send what makes you comfortable. "I was dreaming about you inside me last night." Too much? That's okay; just send what makes you comfortable.
- Don't forget to build sexual tension. No matter what you do, make sure your sext messages are building up anticipation for the main event -- and we don't need to be reminded what that is. "Dip your toes into the water with something like, 'I've been thinking of you all day,'" says Jones.
Feeling kinky? Go get 'em, tiger.
(May the odds of a happy ending be ever in your favor.)
Image via nito/Shutterstock


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Oh, ha, you say. The alien. But know this, naysayer: The Weekly World News alien has accurately predicted the outcome of every presidential election since Ronald Reagan won in 1980.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Space Alien Predicts Obama Win
1 Comments:
- said...
I was surprised to see this, and following the link only increased my confusion as I found it really does appear to be a WWN article. My understanding was that the Weekly World News folded in spring-early summer of last year after a long and illustrious career of being the self-proclaimed "most dependable news source." I distinctly remember regretting not buying the final issue. Have they carried on in a purely online form? Can we still, electronically, learn of the continued adventures of Bat-Boy and his indispensible advice column?


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You are currently browsing the category archive for the 'Decor' category.
I gave a small peak at some fun center pieces I was creating for an event in California awhile back and am so excited that I can finally blog about it!
Dionne contacted me earlier in the winter about the event and gave me complete artistic freedom and trusted my vision completely.
Amanda & I had the best time hunting for fabrics, patterns, and papers that would mix & match together perfectly…we decided to stick with a pastel palette to make the brunch a combination of sweet & feminine, but we also made sure to use a lot of icy blues, soft purples, and even a vintage candy cane stripe to keep it wintery.
The event took place last weekend in SoCal at the Aroma Cafe and was hosted by the most adorable blogger I've ever met, Dionne Christiansen. Make sure and check out her blog, City of Dionne, where she talks about all things fun, pretty, and handmade!
The final product consisted of clusters of trees covered in paper & fabric flowers as the table center pieces, as well as flowers with name tags for each ladies' place setting- each one unique and a treat for them to take home and wear in their hair.
This was such a fun time for everyone involved and from what I can tell, the event was a huge success!
Thank you to Dionne for contacting us, trusting our vision, and having a blog full of eye candy I get to enjoy each and every day!
{all photos: Dionne Christiansen}
Amanda & I got asked to decorate an amazing event taking place in Southern California…a Blogger's Brunch hosted by the lovely Dionne, who has an adorable blog full of pretty little illustrations and inspiration.
More photographs and details on this event later…but for now here's a sneak peak at what we've been busy doing in every ounce of our free time…
A mix of paper flowers and fabric flowers? Yes, please!


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Nick Foles was cut from the LA Rams in July of 2016. He was told by the team, "Good luck, man. We hope you land on your feet." Land on his feet he did (spoiler alert: He was just named the Super Bowl LII MVP) but not until after many ups and downs over the course of the next 18+ months.
Kirsten and Susie discuss today about how we can support our teen athletes through their up's and down's in the world of youth sports.


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Richard Curran: Time for plain talking about who is to blame for tracker scandal
In the aftermath of the banking crisis - yes, the one that is on track to cost taxpayers and bank customers a net €32bn - we were told the problems in the sector were "systemic". In a way it meant that everyone was to blame, so therefore nobody was to blame.
We were also told about the "culture" in the banks that contributed to these rather expensive €32bn-worth of mistakes.
Well, the words "systemic" and "culture" cropped up again last week in relation to banks and the regulator. Central Bank governor Philip Lane was giving an update on his investigation into the tracker mortgage scandal. This is the one which saw more than 10,000 people charged the wrong interest rate by multiple banks at a final cost of up to €500m. Some lost their homes.
Lane told the Finance Committee there was a "culture in banks of interpreting mortgage contracts in favour of lenders and not in favour of consumers". Well that is a surprise and what a shocker that must have been when that was uncovered!
He added that there was a "systemic and widespread aspect to this".
Given that most of the banks operating in the Irish market were at it, you definitely could say that, Philip.
A bit like the Garda Commissioner and the breath tests, there is a time for plain language that spells out what happened here.
But who will carry the can? Were rules breached? Will heads roll? Well, the investigations are still ongoing and won't be complete until September 2017 at the earliest. Apart from having to look at close to two million mortgage accounts, there are question marks over the level of co-operation provided by the banks.
The Central Bank is conducting enforcement investigations in some cases. Curiously, in a week when his director of enforcement, Derville Rowland, said she had held discussions with gardai about certain matters, no formal report has been made to them.
In fact, Lane told the committee: "We may also commence other investigations, as appropriate, into other lenders and persons concerned in the management of such entities."
Justice moves slowly in financial services regulation.
The Central Bank intervened on this issue between 2008 and 2015 which resulted in 7,100 customer accounts affected by tracker issues being resolved. That was a positive outcome but why did it take that long before commencing a formal examination of the practice and its widespread use in 2015?
I have no doubt that thousands of tracker victims will get recourse and the Central Bank has done its job in that regard.
But we are none the wiser as to who is to blame, as in what executives and what levels in the banks, and whether they will pay any price.
Investigations under the Central Bank's Administrative Sanctions Procedure can result in disqualification of directors and personal fines.
We will have to wait and see what happens.
Perhaps it was all just one big industry-wide misunderstanding.
State cap on banker pay is starting to look outdated
Speaking of bankers, there is little room for misinterpreting the rules surrounding bank chief executive pay. Bank of Ireland chief executive Richie Boucher is retiring after nine years at the helm of the bank. His remuneration, at around €943,000 last year, was not covered by the State cap of €500,000 but his successor's might be.
Boucher's pay was agreed before the cap came into force.
The ridiculousness of this rule at this stage really came home during the week when it emerged that FBD chief executive Fiona Muldoon earned €900,000 last year running a financial services company with a market capitalisation of €273m. Boucher's Bank of Ireland has a market cap of €7.8bn.
If the State's 15pc shareholding can enforce the cap, despite Bank of Ireland having paid back all of the money it received from the State, then someone like Muldoon would be practically halving her earnings to take the job.
What sort of hit might an international banker be taking? It becomes all the more contentious when you see that AIB chief executive Bernard Byrne, overseeing one of the biggest bank IPOs in the world at the moment, is on €500,000 plus a pension top-up of €100,000.
His non-executive chairman, Richard Pym, earned €365,000 last year. The non-executive chairman of Bank of Ireland earned €490,000.
Most experts agree the banks began to get it hopelessly wrong on lending, wholesale funding, property, 100pc mortgages and executive pay, from about 2003 onwards. AIB chief executive Tom Mulcahy was paid €1.2m to run the bank in 2000 - 17 years ago.
It's a case of if 'it ain't broke don't fix it' at Breen's DCC
Someone who has been very well remunerated for their efforts is outgoing DCC chief executive Tommy Breen. He delivered a 664pc shareholder return during his nine-year stint at the helm of the distribution and services group.
Breen's pay shot up as he and his management team delivered for shareholders and the group, originally founded by Jim Flavin, became a FTSE 100 stock. Breen earned €4.4m in remuneration last year and his total earnings, excluding dividends, amounted to €19.4m since 2010.
He leaves with 220,000 shares in DCC currently valued at €18.3m. He has another 106,500 share options at various prices that are currently in the money.
Steady as she goes worked well for Breen at DCC and his successor, Donal Murphy, is another company insider who knows the business extremely well. If anything it has been a little too steady given the company's extremely low debt profile at a time when borrowed money is cheap. It is a conservative approach, with net debt standing at around £420m or just one times Ebidta. Murphy shouldn't go acquisition crazy but he might want to cut loose just a little. Meanwhile, company founder Jim Flavin's shareholding of 3pc of DCC is worth a tidy €220m.
Oireachtas committee hits the easy targets in health reform
When you have a broken system, it can often only make things worse to tinker around with it. Either you scrap it and start again, or be very careful about tweaking it.
This is certainly the case with the recommendation of the Oireachtas Committee on the future of healthcare that tax relief on health insurance should be scrapped.
The committee, chaired by Roisin Shortall, recommends that public money should only be spent in the public interest and for public good. That is a reasonable principle if you wanted to design a brand new health system.
But applying it to a €200 per year tax relief on health insurance will only backfire.
First of all, half of the population pay for private health insurance. The reason the figure is so high is not because they are all loaded but because the public system is so unreliable and poor.
Losing the tax relief could affect the numbers on health insurance. This would increase the burden on the public system. It would also ensure that fewer people are paying the community-rated private health insurance pot, which in turn would cause private cover to keep going up.
The State collects a levy on health insurance policies, so fewer customers would mean a fall in State revenue from the levy. Public hospitals are increasingly dependent on the income from private patients.
Surely it would be better to build model for a new system from the ground up. That might mean ensuring we had an adequately funded and efficient public system. That would cost a lot of money and require taking on some very tough public sector vested interests. That would be politically challenging.
Therefore the committee is taking an easy way out by penalising further, those it perceives to be well off.
Sunday Indo Business


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You might have heard by now, but there was a major hacking event over the past week. The PlayStation Network, where thousands of gamers congregate to play online, has been hacked. Yes, the 'hackactivist' group (that is, a group that using hacking to avenge perceived wrongs) 'Anonymous' hacked into the PlayStation Network, and apparently has stolen information about its users.
While Sony, the company that runs the PlayStation Network, does not believe that credit card data from its customers has been stolen, it is still cautioning its members to take appropriate cautions with their data, as "out of an abundance of caution we are advising you that your credit card number (excluding security code) and expiration date may have been obtained".
Pretty harrowing stuff, hunh? There's something about identity theft that gets the blood pumping in this modern age. Luckily, if you feel that you may have been a victim of identity theft, you don't have to sit back and wait for something to happen before you can act. Here are a few things you can do if you suspect you might be a victim of identity theft:
1. Put a Fraud Alert on Your Credit Reports: A fraud alert is when you alert the three credit bureaus (TransUnion, Experian, and Equifax) that your information may have been stolen, and that creditors should be concerned about requests for new sources of credit made in your name. Having fraud alerts in place will make it harder for any would-be identity thieves to use your information to open new accounts and otherwise use your identity to make a profit. It will last for 90 days, so if you are still afraid that your identity is at risk three months from now, you will need to renew the alert. It's not a sure thing, as creditors can ignore the presence of an alert and provide an identity thief with credit in your name; but it will limit the number of options that an identity thief has for getting credit in your name. And if they do…
2. Get Copies of Your Credit Reports: Placing a fraud alert will allow you to obtain a free copy of your credit report from each of the credit bureaus. If you order your credit reports and notice any fraudulent information, particularly any accounts or charges you don't recognize, you'll need to resolve them, and make sure that you check your credit report to make sure that it has been resolved.
3. Close Compromised Accounts: If you find that one or more of your accounts has been hacked (or that you have open accounts that you don't remember opening), you'll need to close them. Contact the companies in question, first by phone, but also by mail (using copies, NOT originals, of documents to support your claims), and explain the situation. Depending on the company's specific policy, you should be able to close the accountant (and reopen it, if you so desire, with new Personal Identification Numbers and passwords) without too much trouble, although you may have to put some more effort into the process.
4. Report the identity theft to the local police and FTC: You need to notify the appropriate authorities to let them know about the identity theft incident. By alerting the local police (or the police in the area where the theft occurred) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), you can let them know more about the situation and get the ball rolling on resolving the issue.
Hopefully, you won't find yourself in a position where you need to deal with identity theft, but if you do, there are ways you can limit the damage done and regain control of your life. Good luck!


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Paris Saint-Germain are prepared to test Arsenal's resolve over Alexis Sanchez by readying a £70million bid for the forward.
And rather bizarrely the Gunners supporters are relatively upbeat about it.
Now you'd think that a possible move from a team that can offer their best player Champions League football and the way out he so desperately desires would cause anger and heartbreak among the fanbase.
But it hasn't. Well, not exactly.
While Arsenal supporters don't want to see the back of the Chilean, who notched a staggering 24 goals and 10 assists in the Premier League last season, it seems that this deal could be the lesser of all the evils.
Sure, Arsene Wenger has made a promise to the supporters that Arsenal are no longer a selling club, so losing Sanchez wouldn't exactly help him win back the fans still skeptical about him being in charge.
But with Sanchez wanting a move away anyway, refusing to extend his current contract, which expires in 12 months, and - in theory - snubbing Manchester City if he choses PSG, it might just be the best thing for the club.
As many Gunners fans have pointed out, having an unhappy player in the squad is no good for anyone. He can disrupt the team and bring other players down.
If he's refusing to extend his contract then the alternative to selling him for a whopping £70million - enough money to buy an adequate replacement - is having an unhappy player for a year and then losing him on a free.
And finally, if he goes to PSG, as we said above, he's not going to a Premier League rival, or rather Manchester City, where a whole host of former Gunners players have ended up over the years.
Looking at it this way, it might just be a great bit of business for Arsenal, and it seems many of the fans are starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel.