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Should You Invest? Opportunities You Can't Ignore
No matter what age you are it is never too early in life to consider investing for your future. There will be many occasions when you need a little money for you to live the lifestyle you want. One of the first times in life when an investment would be handy is for a college or university fund. Often, our parents put some money away in savings to earn interest or find an investment opportunity to help the cash grow to a sizeable fund.
Of course, education is an investment in itself. But when you are looking to grow a cash pot, there are plenty of options. You might be looking for a way to raise a deposit for your first house. Many people use tax-free savings accounts to do this. It is also possible to make short-term investments in the stock market that may help you grow your initial cash sum. Of course, this is not a risk-free way to invest your money.
Growing your cash quickly will always require an element of risk. Some people like to invest in a business they can grow rapidly and sell on at a profit. One way to do this is to flip a website. Flipping has become a term used to describe buying any business or product, improving its value and then selling on. You might restore a classic car, renovate an old house, or increase traffic to a website.
lisasolonynko photographed this image
As an alternative to investing in stocks and shares, you might consider investing in gold or silver. As with the stock market, there are no guarantees you'll be able to sell it on for a higher price later on. But investing this way requires less work and effort than doing up a house! This kind of investment may require you to sit on your purchase for quite some time before making any money.
Eventually, you may have a family and want to support your own kids through university. The earlier you start, the bigger the pot you can grow. Savings can earn a modicum of interest when you use a good savers or tax-free savers account. Some families prefer to use a Trust fund. This is often managed by a third party company that could invest it in products, stocks or shares you may not always know about. However, it may be a way to guarantee a cash lump in the future.
Self-managed super funds have become a popular way to invest in your retirement. Pension funds are not always as fruitful as one might hope. Not everyone feels confident they can self-manage their finances in this way. The Blueprint Wealth SMSF division is one place you can find an easy to follow guide explaining how to work with this kind of super fund.
There will be many occasions in your life when you may benefit from having a good lump of cash behind you. Some investments require regular injections of cash, like a pension fund. Others need a one-time sum that may be big or small. If you're interested in financing your future, it can be a good idea to ask your financial advisor what options are available to you. Don't leave it too late!
Category: Investment


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Breaking in to existing communities is hard. I've had the huge advantage over the years of being the Minister or the candidate or the staff person, putting me at the centre of the conversations the community engages about its mission and activities. If you are the one tasked with coming up with plans and people are turning to you for ideas on who should do what you connect with a wide range of people, most coming to you before you go to them. I've always felt extroverts have a decided advantage in these roles, we may not be as good a listener as the introvert but we connect more easily and draw energy while we do it. Still, even for extroverts breaking in is hard work.
There are two factors that play themselves out in this breaking in period, one is the way communities become very stagnant when there is a lack of new blood to organization. You hear echoes of this in phrases like "we've never done it like that before" and "Joe has always done that, Mary usually works at that job." It is very, very hard to break in, much less be heard, in such a community. Two, newcomers today come to community with very high expectations from communities. Years ago all you needed to cope with was a newcomer's expectation that this new community would be as warm and open as the last one but now there is the added pressure of as age that places the individual at the centre of her/his world, that communities exist in some way to reinforce how special and important we are. If new communities are not jumping over themselves to celebrate the arrival of the new person this can leave the impression that some other community might be a better fit.
And so that dance of the newcomer as s/he attempts to break in is crucial to the quality and quantity of the community. Communities die much, much quicker and with almost a cruel indifference when this dance is not recognized and addressed. I tried to imagine that feeling and I immediately went back to an experience of going to a provincial AGM of a political party I had a prior relationship with years ago. It was like I was invisible, no one talked to me, I wandered around this large hotel lobby seeing hundreds of people, all happy and engaged and I could not break in. I saw faces I recognized but I did not want to interrupt so I moved on. Eventually I just left. That experience, more than any other, is likely the reason I have never returned to a political gathering, and will likely not run for office again.
And yet that experience is similar to the kind many new people to church find when they walk into the building on a Sunday morning. Is it because the church is ill equipped to know how to welcome? Is it because we as newcomer expect the church to fall over themselves to meet us (After all the theme of our culture since the 60is has been that we are beautiful, amazing, brilliant and special, all of us. That's what we heard in school isn't it?) or is it because the church is so complacent in its own traditions that it has failed to understand how to absorb new life? A little from column A and a little from column B…
I've been criticized for not offering a program or workshop or strategy on how to transform a church so that it addresses this "breaking in" challenge. I plead guilty. Where I have had success at this work it has come less in a strategy I developed as a consultant and more as witness who modelled the kind of interest we need to take in each other to breed this kind of community that welcomes and celebrates the newcomer. My "strategy" has been to be visible in to preaching about, in writing about, that nexus point when we and the other connect over mutual discovery. I can think of no other way to build a community that grows and engages than to do what the Apostle Paul did when we encouraged early Christians to rejoice in their diversity and explained to them that "imitating" this strategy was the best way to be a Christian community.

subset: commoncrawl


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The world's two largest markets for public relations both bounced back from a 5% decline in fee income in 2009 to record a double-digit recovery in 2010.
Despite presenting overall growth for the UK in 2010, the ICCO report did suggest that public sector work in the UK decreased on the back of government spending cuts, while the private sector began to invest and generate new revenues for consultancies.
According to the findings released yesterday, the UK witnessed a 13% increase in overall fee revenue, a figure similarly reflected by PRWeek's Top 150 PR Consultancies 2011 report, which showed the average growth for a PR agency in 2010 was 9.24 per cent.
Meanwhile, US consultancies posted an average 11% increase in overall fee revenue, with both the UK and US showing strong improvements to profitability - the UK by an average of 30%.
The annual report, which surveyed 24 countries worldwide, showed positive growth in most regions, with the exceptions of Croatia and Ireland, which presented fees shrinking by close to 15% each on the back of public and private spending cuts.
Brazil and Russia led the growth margins with 23% and 17% increases in revenues respectively, supported by strong economic expansion in their countries.
The ICCO World Report 2011 includes data from national PR trade associations in 24 countries spanning Europe, North and South America and Asia-Pacific.


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Life Drawing Workshop with Rebecca Venn
9:30-2:00 (includes break for lunch)
$40.00 members, $45.00 non-members
Rebecca Venn is recognized for her exquisite drawings of nudes and has been the winner of several of our art exhibits. The workshop is a great introduction to life drawing or a way to hone your skills without the commitment to a weekly class. It will be broken into 2 two hour sessions - one with a female model, the other with a male. The workshop is limited to 15 participants.
To reserve your spot, please send a check,
payable to Racine Art Guild, to:
Sarah Andersen, 3816 Warren Circle, Racine, 53405


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When Comfort begets Speed
We took the machine which led the Merida Bahrain Team to clinch 53 podium wins in their inaugural year out for a spin.
The Merida Bahrain Team was founded in 2017. Supporting every great cycling team is a range of great equipment. These machines eventually trickle down into the market, and as such, the merger between Bahrain and Merida has brought all of us a great selection of Merida-Bahrain Team frames.
The team at Merida is known to push innovation, surpassing the latest bicycle aerodynamics trends and ergonomics. A ride out with the Merida Reacto Bahrain Team 2018 frame confirms that they are not slowing down anytime soon.
The Reacto is Merida's aerodynamically fine-tuned road bike, taking cues from time-trial bikes and built into a versatile road bike. A perfect option for triathletes and cyclists looking for reliable speed on long tracks. The ride is as aesthetically pleasing as it is aerodynamic. Finished in a deep navy and Bahrain flag colours, red and white.
The Reacto is Merida's aerodynamically fine-tuned road bike, taking cues from time-trial bikes and built into a versatile road bike.
Cables running through the downtube will check off any speedster's first world problems, but with a second look, you'd be wondering if your favourite mechanic forgot to mount rear brakes. They wouldn't forget something like that (I hope).
Fret not, the rear brakes seat right under the seat tube, behind an extended bottom bracket used to shield wind. A slimmer seat tube and seat post is also featured on the super bike. Every detail of this beast is engineered for maximum aerodynamic ability.
An aerodynamic setup is usually accompanied by a stiffer ride, and demands for a highly seasoned rider to appreciate it on long rides. However, S-Flex technology on the seat post improves comfort and delivers a pleasant riding experience for you.
Overall, we are very impressed with the thought put into the riding experience. The setup climbs extremely well, and the Vision Metron 6D handlebar ensures confident handling on flats and descents. Just watch out for the crosswinds, and we can't wait for what the Merida-Bahrain powerhouse will bring us next.
Related Media:


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Is it just me, or does this red chair look like it has the Detroit Red Wings logo on it??? I took this photo inside the abandoned china factory outside of Pittsburgh. This is a great bando spot.
To view a larger version, click HERE
Don't forget to check out my photo galleries. I recently updated them.


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I worked as one of three event techs at the Secret Lives history conference recently in Leicester, UK. What an experience….exhausting! Fascinating! Fun!
A great range of talks and some wonderful people. Some talks by amazing public figures like Emily Brand, Nick Barratt and Janina Ramirez, all of whom were absolutely captivating speakers when they shared their slice of history.
I also had some really insightful conversations with people there about their own experiences in searching for or discovering intriguing stories about their own families or those of others in their work as genealogists. All in all a great experience, although I'm definitely not giving up my day job as a freelance writer slash PhD student to become a technical person (of any kind) anytime soon…..


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CLITHEROE'S match against FC United was abandoned tonight after the floodlights at Shawbridge failed.
More than 2,000 supporters were at the Unibond League game when the lights went out midway through the second half.
After a lengthy delay to try to fix them, the referee had no option but to call the game off.
The sides were drawing 1-1 at the time.
Clitheroe now face an investigation by the league.


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Cardsharing exchange using the Gbox protocol
Exchange C to C
08-09-2019, 19:50:51
Gbox exchange all caids EURO...
05-07-2019, 21:44:36
meo local full caid 1814
13-05-2017, 10:57:14
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Complete and accurate referencing of the sources you use in your work is essential. Referencing is a requirement of all academic writing for two important reasons.
- It enables your readers to locate the sources you have called upon, so that it can be verified that you used the material in an appropriate and accurate manner.
- It acknowledges the sources of the material you used that is not your own, so preventing any charge of plagiarism against you.
Referencing requires meticulous note taking and record keeping while you are gathering material from academic literature, and you must also be consistent in the way you add the details to your own documents. If you have to go back and alter your references further into your study it could involve a great deal of additional work.
Find out more on the OU library's referencing and plagiarism area.
Harvard referencing system
The OU generally uses the Harvard referencing system, which uses brackets within the text rather than footnotes and endnotes. However, do check your study guide in case another system is preferred, and make a point of confirming with your tutor fairly early on that you are referencing in the required manner.
The benefit of the Harvard system is that you only include essential reference information in the actual text (the citation), with full details held in a reference list or bibliography.
Organising your bibliography
In the bibliography, each type of source is presented in a particular way, so articles from journals can easily be distinguished from chapters in books, and so on. The texts listed in your bibliography should appear in alphabetical order by author's surname, then within that by date of publication. Your textbooks can be a useful model for organising a bibliography.
Remember that you only need to include a reference to the sources you used in your writing; sources you have looked at but haven't referred to don't need to be included.
Electronic referencing
You can organise your referencing using electronic resources, which enable you to create bibliographies automatically, directly import references from databases, and safely store your references.
To find Library training sessions for electronic referencing, visit the Online training sessions website.


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Thank you for being our valued customer. Today, we'd like to share our exclusive interview with Kaoru Ayabe, the co-founder of 750 Myrtle Diner located in Brooklyn, New York.
750 Myrtle Diner opened in May of 2015 with the concept of providing high-end quality food and service in friendly, casual fashion. Their menu changes daily to provide the freshest, seasonal dishes.
Please take look below to read how they utilize our tableware to cater to their customers with innovative and eco-conscious mindset.
1. It's very unconventional to use paper plates to serve the customers. How did youcome about using WASARA products for your restaurant?
Connecting with our restaurant concept, we were looking for something that represents casual dining, but at the same time keep the chic vibe. When we found WASARA products, it was the perfect match. We fell in love with the elegance it provides.
Once the idea became a reality, 2 problems with using paper dishes came up; 1. Using paper products may be more costly than using porcelain plates. 2. It creates a lot of trash and is not healthy for the environment.
However, after doing some calculations, we found out that using WASARA actually is more cost-effective. It cuts cost on labor, water bill, detergents and purchasing/leasing dish washing machine. Second issue resolved itself with WASARA products eco-conscious development.
The numbers added up, it's earth-friendly, and it's unique branding. These three key points gave us the green light to open a restaurant using WASARA products.
2. What are the top 3 benefits of using paper ware instead of porcelain plates?
- Earth-Friendly (less water & chemical usage)
- Cost-Effective & less storage space required
- Unique Branding
3. What does "operating an eco-conscious business" mean to you?
For 750 Myrtle Diner, being eco-conscious is very important. Having a Japanese Background, we always were taught not to waste anything. Our Menu changes daily so that we do not waste any parts of the ingredients we use; every part of everything we use end up being in some sort of a dish. This is impossible to do if there is a set menu.
As a restaurant, we try our best to serve our customers the best dishes possible, and as a business, we try our best to serve the community and the environment in the most eco-friendly way possible.
4. What are the most common feedbacks you received from your customers (on being served with paper ware)?
"wow this is? That's crazy!"
"do you re-use these?" we explain we don't, but is eco-conscious "wow that's smart!"
5. How does using WASARA products affect your employees?
Operationally, it's easier for them to carry around the WASARA plates than the heavy porcelain plates.
Thank you so much Kaoru for sharing your story.
All photos by UNIQUE LAPIN PHOTOGRAPHY


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Abu Jinapor donates Brass Band to Yapei – Kusawgu NPP Youth
As part of New Patriotic Party (NPP) activities in Yapei-Kusawgu constituency of the Northern Region, the Youth of Yapei last Wednesday received a set of brass band donated by the Deputy Chief of Staff, Abdulai Jinapor.
The presentation was done by the regional Youth Organizer Alhassan Ghana together with his constituency Youth Commander Issahaku Musah.
The regional Youth Organizer thanked the youth and everybody especially the Deputy Chief Of Staff for his relentless efforts in developing the party in Gonjaland and beyond.
He cautioned the youth to handle the brass band with care to ensure its durability.
The party took to the principal streets of Yapei in great merriment as they visited polling station executives.
The excitement of women at the toll booth was overwhelming.
The Nasara coordinator and his deputy, the woman Organizer, second vice chairman, chief Jawupewura, Hon Malik Mankir and some polling station executives and opinion leaders in Yapei town all joined the jamboree through town.
Source: PROSPER AGBENYEGA


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First Market Plaza 1991
To create a new public plaza on Market Street, the east-west center line of San Francisco, provided Zimmerman with an important opportunity for a civic project. But this was a highly complicated site on which to build: under Market Street is the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) system and the Hetch Hetchy reservoir pipelines, as well as street drains, electrical vaults, and utility lines common to most streets.
Tishman Speyer, owners of the building at 525 Market Street, and Zimmerman had to navigate the elaborate and detailed city council and San Francisco Arts Commission requirements and their many meetings and inspections. The site requirements included a fountain, extensive seating in all parts of the plaza, and not moving the existing large stairway to the upper level. This was in lieu of allowing Tishman Speyer to include the decommissioned alley on the west side of the property into the new plaza. Zimmerman's solution for the project was to create a series of outdoor rooms to accommodate the eccentric footprint of the new plaza.
During the construction of the project, the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake occured. Everything that had been built was torn down and re-engineered to more stringent standards as that part of the city had suffered devastating destruction.
The completed project includes an area fronting Market Street with lush plantings in semi-circular plant beds. These structures have seating on both sides. Along the street face there is a semi-circular landscape area large enough to include trees and shrubs. The two granite-block waterwalls face one another to make the largest of the "rooms." Seating is provided by the steps that rim the lower pool of the north waterwall and the stone benches along the center of the space. It should be mentioned that the waterwalls were designed to have minimal water flow (or some years none at all) because of the frequent water shortages in California. Beyond the staircase to the south of the plaza there is another large landscape area of trees and shrubs surrounded by seating.
San Francisco, California
Granite, water, landscape materials and seating on 14,000 square foot plaza on Market Street
Art Commission of San Francisco
Tishman Speyer Development Company
Landscape Architect: Cheryl Barton, EDAW;
Stone supply & fabrication: Cold Spring Granite Company;
Fountain engineer: Dr. Gerald Palevsky


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|You are here: Home > Article Marketing > Articles Outsourcing | Outsourcing Article Writing Template | Freelancer.com
Articles Outsourcing | Outsourcing Article Writing Template | Freelancer.comPosted By: Alan Lim
Articles Outsourcing | Outsourcing Article Writing Template | Freelancer.com
In one of my blog POST on article marketing and its benefits located at this link :
I did mention of a good place where articles outsourcing could be done at a reasonable price. This is where the website Freelancer.com comes in where all kinds of outsourcing could be found, including outsourcing article of course.
However, before you outsource article writing to any of the freelancers available at Freelancer.com, it is imperative that you do the proper keyword research so that the articles written will be more Search Engine Optimized (SEOed) and can rank better and higher in the search engine. This is important so that with higher ranking and the possibility of getting your articles ranked in the first page of the search engines means more traffic to your website from the articles resource box which has a back link to your website.
To recapture the idea of keyword research with the Micro Niche Finder Keyword research tool, it was explained also in an earlier POST at this link:
In addition, the concept of SEO and what is it all about is also layout clearly in the following link:
With the above information, you should be ready to carry out your articles outsourcing. But wait, most people will ask, how can I start and write a project in Freelancer.com to specify exactly what I want the articles to look like so that it will have all the features mentioned above, i.e well SEOed articles? Below is an article writing template that I have been using and I thought that I would like to share with you. This is how I would write my projects when outsourcing article in Freelancer.com
Start of Template
Project Title : Making Money Online Articles
Description of Project :
I need 10 unique articles to promote my website (link: xyz.com) for SEO purpose. The website is all about making money online. So, all articles written should be related to this theme. The articles should have the following features:
100%original articles, focusing on the following keywords:
1. Keyword 1 ( 1 article)
2. Keyword 2 ( 1 article)
3. Keyword 3 ( 1 article)
4. Keyword 4 ( 1 article)
5. Keyword 5 ( 1 article)
6. Keyword 6 ( 1 article)
7. Keyword 7 ( 1 article)
8. Keyword 8 ( 1 article)
9. Keyword 9 ( 1 article)
10. Keyword 10 ( 1 article)
All articles should be 100% original, unique (not re written type) and high quality and I have the copyright of the articles to my name and should not have any complaints from any article directory I have submitted to that it is not original. It should also pass copyscape.
Each article must have a summary at the beginning and an attractive resource box pointing to my webpage tempting readers to visit my webpage for further information.
Any further suggestions also appreciated as long as these articles can have SEO purpose and can drive traffic to my website.
In addition, each article title, summary and resource box must be attractive and include the keyword.
Article body alone must contain 450-500 words. In addition, the keyword has to appear strictly between 3-4 times only in the article body.
All articles written must have the following format and sequence:
1. Title (40-70 characters including spaces)
2. Article Summary ( 2-3 sentences)
3. Article Body (450-500 words)
4. Resource Box
let me know if there is any questions
thanks and best regards
Your Name
End of Template
Above is just a template I used when I do my articles outsourcing. You are welcomed to copy and modify it to suit your needs. To see an example of what an outsourced article of mine look like, check out the below link:
Please feel free to comment on the above POST and I would like to hear your views.
|Filed Under: Article Marketing Tagged with article writing template, articles outsourcing, outsource article, outsource article writing, outsourcing article
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41 Responses to "Articles Outsourcing | Outsourcing Article Writing Template | Freelancer.com"
It is very c'mon to fail to define ur requirement properly. The end result is poorly written article. This is definitely a good guide for people looking to outsource their article writing.
Hi Alan,
I've not started any article outsourcing and is wondering how to go about it. This sharing has definitely provided me with good ideas of how to go about doing it. It's great that you're sharing the template that you're using. You're an awesome giver and person!
Many Thanks,
Spot on with this write-up, I really suppose this web site wants way more consideration. I'll most likely be once more to learn way more, thanks for that info.
Do you mind if I quote a few of your articles as long as I provide credit and sources back to your site? My website is in the very same niche as yours and my visitors would certainly benefit from some of the information you present here. Please let me know if this alright with you. Thanks a lot!
Posts like this bihrgetn up my day. Thanks for taking the time.
You're a real deep thinker. Thanks for sharing.
Your answer was just what I needed. It's made my day!
I must admit I wasn't sure what article outsourcing was so I had to do a little bit of searching at first. So to see if I got it right you tell someone else what you want in an article an they write it for you? It looks like from your template you could get pretty specific. I wonder though do people get upset if there is to many specifications? I guess if your really wanting the money you will be more inclined to work with your client.
Howdy this is somewhat of off topic but I was wanting to know if blogs use WYSIWYG editors or if you have to manually code with HTML. I'm starting a blog soon but have no coding know-how so I wanted to get guidance from someone with experience. Any help would be enormously appreciated!
Article outsourcing is a really valuable tool that bloggers and online business runners can turn too when they are pressed for time, or just lack the motivation to write up a batch of new articles. As a blogger myself, I know it can sometimes be irritating to think up a new and interesting (much less unique) article topic. Outsourcing seems like it could be a really useful method to go about acquiring these things, without the long hours being put in by yourself.
I must say this template could really help in article outsourcing. Pointing out specifically what you need for those articles is a good way to get better results from the writers. Thanks for suggesting that Micro Niche Finder Keyword tool! I think I also need that one. Thanks a lot for the template!
This is a great guide. I had heard of article marketing before, but I hadn't really seen how it could work for my business. But by enhancing my site's visibility under each of my targeted keywords, I will get more traffic to my site. The Micro Niche Finder Keyword research tool would be a great help too!
I was very encouraged to find this site. I wanted to thank you for this special read. I definitely savored every little bit of it and I have you bookmarked to check out new stuff you post.
Thanks for posting the example letter. I would like to get into outsourcing some of my work, but don't know where to begin. I'll start with your advice! Micro Niche keyword finder sounds like a good idea as well, that way I know what to ask for.
Outsourcing work is always a questionable business practice, however in the context of online business and specifically article writing; it definitely seems like an undoubtedly positive job that can be created by bloggers and people who are starting up or already running a steady online business. One difficulty for so many people running a business is thinking up new articles, especially if you want to constantly update your website with fresh content. A website like freelancer is great as it can bring together good writers and good websites to create something even better!
Hi! I just want to tell you that I found this blog really useful to me. I will visit this blog regularly to read more.
First, I wanted to let you know that I had stumbled upon your website some months ago, and have been following fairly regularly. I have even tried some of the products you mentioned in this article, and there is a very evident reason why they are reoccurring. You post really good products, and they are very relevant to the online marketing world. Freelancer.com is definitely another website I will be checking out in the future, for reasons you already documented here. Writing articles for my own blog can become very tedious, though I enjoy writing myself. There is only so much one person can really do, especially if you need a lot of content.
Alan, thanks again for putting up all the relevant and important information on this blog and also really appreciate your effort and sincerity of wanting to help people like me.
I have used Freelancer.com in the past, and have had some great experiences with it. It really takes a lot of the effort that it takes to create new articles out of the website runners hands, which in turn can lead to a lot less time needing to be spent cooped up in front of the computer. It can also allow you to work on other more behind the scenes operations that you may not have had a lot of time to work on as well. Really great site! Alan, your blog POST have greatly bring convenience and good information for many people. Keep up the good work.
I've never really tried outsourcing using Freelance.com. Well by the looks of it, it seems a good site to outsource especially if you have the right template. I always want to my articles to not only have great contents but will also drive more traffic for my site. Thanks for this post.
Thanks in regard to your sharing
Howdy! This is kind of off topic but I need some advice from an established blog. Is it tough to set up your own blog? I'm not very techincal but I can figure things out pretty fast. I'm thinking about creating my own but I'm not sure where to start. Do you have any ideas or suggestions? Many thanks
Good Article! Excellent read and informative.
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It's super blog, I want to be like you
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Join us for another fun, educational, and supportive meeting where members and guests fill various roles, each one giving you the opportunity to develop and practice a key skill such as listening, evaluating, organizing, leading, and of course... speaking. You will learn how to make professional presentations, to think on your feet, speak persuasively, add humor, connect with your audience, and much more!
Back to All Events
Earlier Event: June 27Copy of Toastmasters Daybreakers at Hub101
Later Event: July 10Customer Retention Analysis in a Subscription Meal Delivery Service


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MLWR wins over Two Harbors
February 8, 2018
In the intense February 2 boys basketball game against the Two Harbors Agates, Moose Lake/Willow River Rebel Adam Dragicevich led all scorers with a stellar performance, amassing 20 points. This was the first game back for the Rebels after Cloquet ended their seven-game winning streak. The Rebels won 66-48.
The Rebels entered the game with an overall record of 10-9. The Rebels led through both halfs. Avery Kosloski and Brady Watrin rounded out the Rebels' point total, scoring 12 and 11, respectively. Thomas Gulso, Avery Kosloski, Mason Olson and Ryan Barret all showed their accuracy by scoring three-pointers.
The Rebels' next opponents at home are the Barnum Bombers on February 9. They are then on the road for their next three games, before they return home February 20 to take on Proctor.


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September 19, 2010: Last day to see works of artists such as Abir Karmakar, Sachin Karne, Sashidharan at an art show, Amongst the Others at Osmosis Gallery.
September 20, 2010: Head to Jehangir Art Gallery for Revelation- an exhibition of latest paintings by Hemraj.
September 22, 2010: Hop over to Intercontinetal to try their special vegetarian fare, including Jain choices- Tarkari Bazar.
September 24, 2010: Treat yourself to western classical symphony by The Symphony Orchestra of India at Jamshed Bhabha Theatre, NCPA at 7pm.
September 25, 2010: The famous play Vagina Monologues is being staged at Palladium, Pheonix Mills at 6pm.
September 26, 2010: Laugh your way at Comedy Store, Palladium with ace stand-up comedians Paul Thorne, Mike Gunn and Phil Nichol.
September 28, 2010: Contribute to the unique art and luxury auction being held at Taj Mahal Hotel- Treasure Trove to help children with special needs.
September 29, 2010: Watch for Second-Hand -Emotions, a play revolving around immature relationships and intimate encounters at Prithvi Theatre.
September 30, 2010: Go for A Guy Thing, an english play by Michael Puzzo and directed by Akarsh Khurana at Prithvi Theatre. Timings: 5, 7 and 9 pm.
October 1, 2010: Enjoy the two-day annual festival featuring four vocalists from various gharanas at Experimental Theatre, 6.30 pm.
October 4, 2010: Last day to savour the mouthwatering Lebanese food prepared by Chef Jihad at Mabruk, Sahara Star.
October 5, 2010: Lovers of western music, head to NCPA for a concert by Endellion String Quartet as a part of the Beethoven String Quartet cycle.
October 7, 2010: Enjoy timeless performance by the graceful Odissi dancer Ayona Bhaduri at NCPA.
October 8, 2010: Complete your festive shopping at the Diwali Fair showcasing a wide range of products and gifts at THE CLUB in Andheri.
October 9, 2010: Only Until the Light Fades: Love in Dance & Poetry, a Bharatnatyam performance by Alarmel Valli at Tata Theatre.
October 10, 2010: The two-day parent-child dance workshop part of Nakshatra Dance festival ends today at NCPA.
October 13, 2010: Dance to Hip Hop, R&B and Ragga tunes at Mint Hip Hop Night, Velvet Lounge, Renaissance Hotel Powai Lake.
October 14, 2010: Last day to enjoy free complimentary sizzling brownie at 49 grills, the rooftop lounge at Juhu Residency Boutique Hotel.


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Paralympic Champion, World Champion, World Cup Champion, X Games Champion
Over the last 25 years I have raced on every monoski ever built. Skiing technique as well as monoskis have developed immensely over these years. Many times I have reached the limit of what a sled can do. Fortunately, this has often coincided with the introduction of new and improved sleds. This happened again this last season when I switched to a DynAccess Torque 2.
The DynAccess Torque monoskis (Torque 1 and Torque 2) were developed by a very strong engineering team. They design their sleds the way advanced vehicles are designed, using suspension geometries, frame stiffnesses, springs and shocks tailored to the specific needs, just as done for racecars or dirt bikes. There are some very special requirements on advanced racing monoskis, such as:
– VERY STIFF FRAME so all body motion translates directly into ski motion. This allows a very quick turn-in, excellent edge hook-up, precise control of the turn shape while in the turn, and a snappy exit. It also reduces any tendency of "flutter" at high speeds. Flutter is a phenomonon where forces from the snow-ski are coupled with flex of the frame; it is avoided by having a very stiff frame,
– A SUSPENSION GEOMETRY that is tailored for the mass distribution of the skier and the stiffness of the snow-ski. A well designed suspension geometry will drastically reduce or eliminate foot-bounce and other problems which lead to poor edge control and loss of speed,
– A SPRING that can be exactly matched to the skiers weight, skiing agreesiveness, snow conditions, and discipline. It is key to match spring rate (usually measure in lbs/in) to body mass; a light skier needs a soft spring and a heavy skier needs a stiff spring. I change my spring rate for every event as well as snow conditions, using a stiffer spring in tech and a softer spring in speed,
– A SHOCK ABSORBER that is tailored for monoski applications. Shocks for motorcycles (road or dirt) and mountain bikes are not optimal since the micro-terrain for those is absorbed by their pneumatic rubber tires. On monoskis there are no tires and all micro-terrain is directly transmitted to the shock and then to the skier. DynAccess early on assembled a suspension team, including multiple engineers from Penske Racing Shocks, and they developed a special monoski shock with outstanding properties.
Apart from these requirements the monoski should naturally have sufficient adjustability to fit the skier comfortably, be very strong and durable, have large bearing surfaces, a strong seat bucket, etc. Regarding adjustments, the strong footrest and center of gravity (moving forwards or back on the snow-ski) are the two major requirements. The added bonus of ride height adjustability makes it possible for every rider to find their optimal height.
So how does the Torque 2 ski? The first thing that struck me is that it is higher than any other monoski in the Paralympic circuit. One would think that this would make it unstable, but that is not the case as anybody who had demo'd it has learnt. The height makes it possible to angulate the monoski further than any other ski. We often video tape our training runs and studying my runs frame-by-frame it is seen that I often angulate more than 70 degrees. My bucket hits the snow between 73 and 74 degrees. A more angulated turn is faster with less energy loss. Further, the height makes getting on a chairlift very easy. For most chairlifts I only need to push myself up 1/2″ or so.
After the height, the next thing I noticed when I started skiing the Torque 2 is its quick response. Other reviews have said that it turns on a dime and it is certainly true. The connection between my body and the snow-ski is very precise. As soon as I make a turn initiation with my upper body the ski responds. In most other monoskis there is a delay while the frame flexes. Such a delay is lost time and lost energy. The Torque 2 is the quickest ski edge-to-edge that I have ever skied.
The third thing is the firm hook-up and edge control. There is no tendency to lose an edge even in very high-G turns. This is the result of suspension geometry, frame stiffness, and the unique shock. The Torque 2 will carve better than any other monoski.
Fourth, the shock swallows a lot of terrain. As mentioned the shock was specifically developed for monoskis and the shock curves are quite unique. During my first training camp with the Torque 2, twelve days in Vail in October 2013, there were a lot of hard ruts in the race courses and all my team mates remarked extensively over how hard it was. I could see the ruts but not feel them. The Torque 2 just ate the terrain. The suspension would keep the snow-ski firmly planted on the bumpy snow and transmit only a nice even pressure to my body.
There is a lot more to be said about the monoski, and I am still learning how to push it farther. I just spent five days with DynAccess' chief engineer tweaking my ride. During these five days, we did run after run after run, tweaking spring rate, ride height, rebound damping, high and low speed compression damping, center of gravity location, etc. At the end of these days I had a monoski that would turn quicker, give me better shape control through the turn, release energy in a more controlled fashion exiting the turn, and providing a more stable run at high speeds. The Torque 2 is the only monoski on which I have not reached its limits.
I only wish DynAccess would have been around years ago. Monoskiing would be light-years ahead of where it is today. Thank you DynAccess I love my new Torque 2.
Paralympic Champion, World Champion, World Cup Champion, X Games Champion,
156 Wins and counting, 82 MPH Fastest Clocked Speed, Syncro Ski World Champion
1st Monoskier to Drop into Corbet's Couloir
AND Satisfied DynAccess Customer


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Canadore College presents a showcase of emerging talent from their Digital Cinematography program.
Total runtime: 1hr 45min
Comedy Short, 6:40
by Tyler Watson
He's an inter-dimensional weirdo and he's coming for you.
Closing Time
Comedy Short, 3:50
by Rain Tae
Time travel has its complications.
Short Drama, 6:50
by Ben Faria
A street fighter grapples with the inner demon that defines him.
Short Documentary, 3:00
by Morningstar Derosier
What love for animals can teach us about living.
Pure Bliss
Short Drama, 6:20
by Ky Bryski
Bliss both giveth, and taketh away.
Known Associates
Comedy/Mockumentary Short, 5:00
by Lauren Bennie
The Known Associates believe they are one of the best bands in North Bay.
Drama/Experimental Short, 7:40
by Catherine Orr
A slick fashion film about a young man searching for artistic meaning.
Short Drama, 13:00
by Eric Robillard & 3rd year DigiCine class
A writer attempts to describe what makes love work.
How to Tell Rachel I Love Her
Short Comedy, 5:00
by Maxime Lauzon
Lucas realizes today is the day he needs he needs to tell her.
I am BOBBY
Short Documentary, 4:40
by Sydney Lee
What can make-up do for defining an identity?
Short Comedy, 2:50
by Matt McNeil
Martin J Smith has a full life ahead of him.
Flood Blow
Short Comedy, 17:30
by Matt Close & 3rd year DigiCine class
A miracle drug that stops the bleeding gets used for nefarious purposes.
Short Comedy
3:45, by Jordan Hewitt
Should Chip listen to the voice in his head? Steve thinks so.
Daze of Dreams
Short Comedy, 18:30
by Aaron Martini & 3rd year DigiCine class
Dylan is a day-dreamer who, through the help of his girl-crush, finds a way to stop them from becoming real.


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Why Should You Protect Your Brand's Image Using Social Media Monitoring
It doesn't really matter if your business only operates offline, whether you want it or not, people are most probably talking about you in the online world. Comments that people post on social media, blogs and forums can be beneficial to how people perceive your brand, but if negative, they can also be really harmful. What's more, there may be scammers out there, who will want to use your online presence and gain something for themselves from that by pretending to be you online
That is why it's so important to keep your finger on the pulse and monitor social media in order to protect your brand's image. The best way to do that effectively is by using a social media monitoring tool, like Unamo Social Media, and set up proper keywords that will enable you to see all mentions relevant to your brand protection efforts. In such a way you can find mentions, which can jeopardize users' positive perception of your business. These can include:
- Negative opinions about your brand or service on different channels
- Negative comments on your social media channel
- Interactions between your customers and your company's impersonators
- Various comments written by and on fake social media accounts
Thanks to social media monitoring you can find those, react fast and that way save your brand's reputation from being ruined.
Which Keywords to Pick in Order to Mitigate Brand Reputation Crisis
You should be monitoring different keywords based on the goals you want to achieve.
Finding Negative Opinions about Your Brand or Service on Different Channels
In order to find mentions with negative sentiment, which comment on your brand you need to first establish if your brand's name is unique or if it's a common word.
Protecting a Brand Name Which is Unique
If it's unique, like "Positionly" or "Caffe Luxxe", i.e. it doesn't have a certain meaning, you can just input it into the monitoring tool as your main keyword. Remember, however, about possible typos. People tend to type in the keywords fast and sometimes they may not be sure of the correct spelling, so if you input only the correct version of a keyword, you might get limited results. Therefore, make sure to add all spelling variations of your brand name as separate keywords. You can easily check the misspellings in Google Search Console. Take a look at the Positionly's results in the tool:
What can also happen is that people may not sure if your brand name is spelled as one word, as in e.g. GoEuro. In this example it's best to monitor both versions, "goeuro" and "go euro", to not miss any mention.
Protecting a Brand Name Which is a Common Word
Now, it all becomes more complicated if your brand's name is a common word.
Let's take the most famous example here, which is the Apple company, and say their Social Media Team want to monitor the brand. They need to configure their topic in such a way as to get the most accurate mentions, i.e. least spammy results. In order to achieve that, what they have to focus on is adding keywords that have to appear with the main keyword (called related required keywords) and those that when standing next to the main keyword, will delete the mention from the mentions feed altogether (called related excluded keywords.)
By monitoring "apple" you will get all types of mentions, from looking for apple juice, through finding best pesticide for your apple trees, to contacting a girl, who's name's Apple. The possible results are endless. That why it's so important to "despam" your feed by adding related and excluded keywords. There's also a third-level to narrowing your results, namely the ability to add globally required/excluded keywords. These will help you in tailoring your results even more.
For example, if you put:
- "apple" as the main keyword
- "software", "computer", "inc", "company" etc. as related required keywords
- "juice", "tree", "pie", "pear", "bite" etc. as related excluded keywords
- "mac", "iOs" as globally required keywords
You will get those mentions that contain: apple + software and/or computer and/or inc and/or company + mac and/or ios
The list of course goes on (with what you want and do not want to appear in the mentions feed), so persistence is key here. Getting to the point when your account is free of spam is an ever-ending task and rather impossible to be fully achieved. You can, however, get to the point where the results and mentions you see are really configured precisely. Remember to keep adding/excluding related keywords, excluding unrelated authors, selecting only specific channels etc., then checking the feed, and adjusting the topic again.
Being Up-to-Date with Negative Comments on Your Social Media Channels
In order to see what's going on your social media channels and react fast when a detrimental comment emerges, the best solution is for you to monitor your profiles in a social media monitoring tool. In Unamo Social Media, for instance, you can choose whether you want to monitor your Facebook, Instagram, Youtube or Twitter account (or maybe all of these). You can then always narrow the results by adding keywords or by monitoring only main posts or comments.
Note: If the profile doesn't show up on the list it may be unavailable; either was set as private, or the name has been changed.
Catching Impersonators and Fake Social Accounts Before They Reach Your Audience
There may be situations when somebody wants to use your credibility, reach and traffic to their own advantage by impersonating you and your company. If that's the case you have to make sure that when such thing happens, you'll be the first to spot and stop such behavior.
Monitoring just your brand name is a good idea, but you can also try to go deeper by adding a domain name as a keyword. Let's take "Caffe Luxxe" as an example; in order to see mentions for their domain, you could just input www.caffeluxxe.com as a main keyword. This, however, is your domain, and impersonators may be actually trying to drive your traffic to their website, not yours. Considering this may be the case, putting a keyword like "caffe luxxe com", can give you some good results, like caffeluxxe.com, www.caffeluxxe.com, caffe-luxxe.com, caffe.luxxe.com etc., where some domains can be fake. A scam can be crouching also on really similarly looking sites, like cafeluxxe.com, caffeluxe.com, caffeluxxe.net etc.
That is why it's so important to monitor your brand in order to catch a fraudulent account before it does any damage to your company's image. A good social media monitoring tool, like Unamo Social Media, will allow you to see mentions in real-time. This will help you in spotting any suspicious action as soon as it takes place.
In order to minimize potential risks, make sure to:
- Create your brand's accounts on all social media platforms, even if you do not plan on using them. This will make the impersonator's job at least a bit harder.
- Buy the URL with different extensions, like .net or .org
- Report a fake social account, once you spot it
It's crucial for you to protect your brand, especially in the age of social media, where people are interacting with each other 24/7. In order to be up-to-date with anything going online regarding your brand and the way people perceive it, make sure to monitor it on a regular basis. In such a way, you'll be able to avoid an image crisis that can really hurt you and your business.


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In a highly afluent London Road in Thornton Heath, Tomatinos serves traditional Italian pizza, made with traditional Italian ingredients, cooked in a wood fired clay oven. We also have Italian cured meats and cheese available to buy from the Deli, where you can also drop in for coffee and biscotti.
The pizza served in Tomatinos, is exactly the same as the pizza you can eat on the streets of Italy, using the same traditional Italian ingredients and adopting the same authentic cooking method.


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The Department came into existence towards the end of 1983, believes in inter- departmental and inter- institutional collaborations. The department is awaiting clinical research unit to be established in collaboration with the clinical department or having its own clinical unit.
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D)
=> To provide specialized clinical services for Neurosychiatric disorders particularly when diagnosis needs to be confirmed.
=> To provide information on study state plasma levels of psychotropic drugs for Clinical Management, Dosage Scheduling, Side Effects, Toxicity, Over dosage and Poisoning.
=> To provide therapeutic drug monitoring.
=> To establish pharmacokinetic database for psychotropic drugs for the Indian population.
Department of Psychopharmacology
Hosur Road,
Bangalore - 560029,
Phone: +91-80-26995111
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- This event has passed.
Human Trafficking 101 at Olive Knolls Church of the Nazarene
April 17, 2018 @ 6:00 pm - 8:00 pmFree
Please join us for a free Human Trafficking 101 training in the upstairs Teen Room of Olive Knolls Church of the Nazarene at 6201 Fruitvale Avenue on April 17th, 2018 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
The training is for anybody wanting to learn more about human trafficking and about our volunteer opportunities at KCAHT.
For more information call (661) 615-2001 or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/kcaht.


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"We should seek not a world where the black race and the white race live in harmony, but a world in which the terms black and white have no real political meaning." - Ta-Nehisi Coates
When I approached the idea of honoring Black History Month, I thought that the concept of using KXSC's voice was long overdue. It was only about two years ago that KXSC even started an R&B genre department, yet so much of our programming has always been dominated and led by African American artists. Whether it be heavy metal, hip-hop or even techno, the presence of African Americans in music is deeply rooted. I feel a responsibility to acknowledge this and spread awareness. In the midst of such a turbulent time in our country's history, we continue to see artists speak up for injustice. The controversial jailing of Meek Mill has spurred a national conversation on black incarceration. Rappers have aligned with Colin Kaepernick to protest our country's racial narrative on police brutality. Women of color take their place in the feminist and #MeToo movements. None of this is new, but it is finally being broadly recognized on a national level.
While KXSC is NOT the Black Student Assembly, we are an organization that serves the greater community. We influence others, voice opinions, and encourage thought whether we intend to or not. Music is so much more than a vehicle for enjoyment; it is a teaching tool. From NWA's "Fuck Tha Police" to Jimi Hendrix' anti-war rendition of the Star-Spangled Banner at Woodstock, there is an underlying message that music provides. It is a narrative to our lives and so often, black artists have spearheaded these movements, often taking risks that could continue to jeopardize their safety, careers, or place in society. Too often, this story remains untold.
This ends now.
I want to make it clear: this is not an attempt to say what KXSC is doing or not doing. However, when I look at our station and what we have done for our DJS and staff of color, there is a clear separation and work that is still to be done. I hope all will see addressing this as a very positive action. KXSC is the one place on campus that I know regardless of race, sexual orientation, religion, or socioeconomic background, I can be myself and feel welcome. I know this to also be true for others. However, it is also a place where I notice that on staff, there are only three people of African American descent. The number of black DJs is comparatively limited as well. Are we the most diverse? In some ways, yes, but in other ways, no, and we know this. We are not claiming anything, because we know that we have work to do, and we are eager to do it because we WANT to be a place of diversity.
As we go through Black History Month, KXSC will feature playlists and blog posts in addition to contributions by current and past DJs and staff members. I encourage everyone to listen thoughtfully and facilitate valuable Black History discussions throughout the month. We will continue to highlight music and acknowledge the profound impact African American people have had and continue to have in music, on culture, and in our world.
The world comes together through music.
Lani Renaldo, R&B Genre Director


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Monday, June 29, 2009
Raspberry Picking
What a great day to be out in the fields picking berries! I love it on the farm, it is so peaceful :) The sun felt great but totally made me fall asleep on the way back :D
3 comments:
- Sonia ;) said...
Pretty pictures.
Sonia ;)
- June 30, 2009 at 7:40 AM
- JUNKER JANE said...
:) Thanks Sonia, it was a great day!
- July 1, 2009 at 10:16 AM
- Ylime said...
Great pictures! I run a Kruger's Farm group over on Flickr for no other reason than my family has such fun at that place and I love looking at other people's fun family pictures. I'd love it if you'd add these. :) Looks like it was a lovely day. We were out of town last weekend, but I can't wait to do some raspberry picking.
The Handmade Experiment
(my word verification is pingies - Pingy the Emiguin used to be a nickname of mine. funny!)
- July 1, 2009 at 10:27 AM
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Another one of these near and dear to my heart sessions! I have lost count now of how long I've known her... I've lost count of how many beautiful memories we've cherished together! Capturing her little one was just so incredibly special to me. Love you so much N family!!!!
Fairfax Mini Newborn Session
After so many requests I have been offering Mini-Newborn sessions for clients in the Northern Virginia area. Its great for anyone that doesn't want a lot of images, just a few for announcements and you can still book these and capture them from the comfort of your home.
Northern Virginia - Newborn Photography Session
Another sweet newborn baby boy session from this summer :-)
Fairfax Newborn Baby Girl Session
I can't believe how quickly some of these babies are growing up... its only when discussing 6 month or 1 year sessions I'm realizing a blog post is way over due.
Here are a few favorites from this session.
Alexandria Newborn Photography
In home sessions are perfect when you don't want to pack a diaper bag and leave the comfort of a familiar space. I love to capture both the posed shots of babies in props as well as lifestyle images of little ones in Mom & Dad's arms as well as siblings. This session in Virginia was perfect and I was so glad the weather allowed for some beautiful outdoor family images.
Fairfax Newborn Photography - Baby Girl
Eek I'm too nervous to even see how far behind I am on blog posts. But rather than doing the math... I figured I would attempt to at least post a few. Here are a few favorites from a newborn session last year. So many smiles from this little baby girl made this session so much fun to edit :-)
Fairfax Newborn Photographer
Fairfax, Virgnia Newborn Photographer
One more post for today. This lifestyle + posed newborn session is one of my favorites. I love the colors and I especially love this little man's nursery.
Northern Virginia - Newborn Session
Northern Virginia Newborn Photography
I love in home sessions especially when my clients have such an amazing outdoor space. Here are a few favorites from this Newborn Session.
Loudoun County - Newborn Photography
Can't believe its already October! I had hoped to get caught up on my blog posts last month. While its not absolutely to keep a blog up to date, I find that those looking to book me get a better sense of what a typical session might look like rather than simply a couple favorites. It is also nice to have more recent work on the website so here is an attempt to get some what caught up today.
This post is from a Mini-Newborn session from a few months ago. I was surprised at how many wonderful images we were able to capture in a short time period. I've since started offering Mini-Newborn sessions for all those interested.
Thanks for stopping by.
Howard County, MD - Newborn Session
Can't believe its already October! I had hoped to get caught up on my blog posts last month. While its not absolutely to keep a blog up to date, I find that those looking to book me get a better sense of what a typical session might look like rather than simply a couple favorites. It is also nice to have more recent work on the website so here is an attempt to get some what caught up today.
These are a few from an in home newborn session in Maryland. Thanks so much for stopping by :-)
Baby Girl S - Virginia newborn photography
I have so many favorites from this session that it truly is hard to narrow down to a few favorites to share. Here are some of my absolute favorite posed + lifestyle captures.
Loudoun County - Newborn Session
Another blog post for today! This little baby boy did so well for his session and I love the colors used for his session. Here are a few of my favorites including some really heart melting family shots.
Northern Virginia - Newborn Session - Baby Girl
On a roll here :-) Blog post number 3 for the day!
And on that note.. probably over sharing from this baby girl's session. I just have a hard time narrowing down the parent images. So many favorites!
As a Disney fan myself, I loved incorporating the hand made button art this little doll's aunt made for her nursery.
Thanks for stopping by!
Maryland Newborn Session - Baby Boy
Determined to share some images from my session on this blog today. I love doing blog posts when time allows as clients can see a variety of images from a session rather that just a favorite one or two.
These are a few of my favorites from this baby boy's session. The family images from this session are some of my favorites. I absolutely love the warmth.
Baby V - Howard County, Maryland Newborn
It's been well over a month since a blog post... summer sessions have kept me so incredibly busy that the blog has been throughly ignored :-( Time for some catch up posts.
Here are a few of my favorites from this family of 4's newborn session.
Newborn Baby Girl - Loudoun County, Virginia
I love to share these posts with people that follow my work and prospective clients mainly because they get to see what a typical set of images from any session look like. The galleries and sneak peeks are wonderful but to visually see the variety of images and colors one gets out of a session is definitely helpful.
I love the lifestyle/parent shots from this session... they were so simple yet beautiful... the neutral backdrop makes them and their emotions pop out and your eyes go straight to them.
Thanks for being here...
Baby Girl Newborn Session - Northern Virginia
Its hard not to post EVERY single capture from this session... Baby girl L was so good for her session and in such good caring hands with big sister. Usually the siblings make me work so hard but this little ones big sister was so sweet, gentle and helpful throughout our session.
Here are a few (ok a LOT) of my absolute favorites.
Baby girl - Newborn session - D.C.
If you've been following my work for some time, you know how much I love capturing my newborn babies in their homes. Some for obvious reasons like making it easy on parents, easy to feed and change baby as often as needed... but one of my other reasons is that I LOVE to capture the family images in the baby's nursery or other parts of the homes. I always get a sense of warmth and coziness from these images.
This blog post is the perfect example of just that... we got some beautiful posed images of baby girl by herself as well as some beautiful pictures of baby being cuddled and kissed by Mom & Dad. The best part the backdrop for these images wasn't a studio style set up but it was the heart filled gorgeous nursery that Mom put so much love and thought into.
Here are a few images of both part of the session.
Northern VA - Newborn Session - Baby Boy
Here are some sneak peeks from this handsome little man's newborn session.
Fairfax Newborn Photographer, Northern Virginia
I've really been enjoying playing with various color combinations for all my recent newborn sessions. I'm glad I get to use my creativity and vision to create something custom for my clients as well as capture some of their creativity and vision that they poured into their little one's nursery. Being able to capture both posed and lifestyle images allows my clients to have a nice variety of pictures in their gallery. Not to mention, you truly get to see how little my little clients are when being cuddled by Mom and Dad :-)
Here are a few of my favorites from a recent session in Northern Virginia. Thanks for stopping by!


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For Sale, Reduced R1,000,000 - Residential, Townhouse
If you are looking for a bargain, this is it!
Magnificent buy, close to all amenities needed.
A small complex consistent of only 14 units.
This 3 bedroom, 2.5 Bathroom is a corner unit.
Large living area which give a feeling of space.
Big garden with a lot of trees.
Pet Friendly.
Very secure with burglar bars.
This property won't last long in the market.
Call Jacques now to view!
Should you not find your dream home on the Jawitz Bloemfontein website please do feel free to contact us. Give us your preferred features, budgets, and area that you would like to own or rent your family a safe and comfortable house. We will do everything in our power to assist you in finding the right home for you.


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Ball organizer Dick Mayer stands behind the ticket booth for the 1951 Huckster's Ball, surrounded by the candidates for Miss Huckster. Above the booth are blown-up reproductions of the tickets showing the time and location (Officer's Club on Sunset Boulevard), along with photos of celebrities who may be attending.
Click tabs to swap between content that is broken into logical sections.


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What does hearing loss have to do with my child's speech?/
One of the first questions we always ask when seeing a patient for the first time is when their last hearing screening was, and do they have a history of ear infections.
It seems obvious to us that hearing and speech are linked, after all, we are Sound SPEECH and HEARING clinic. Lets explore how big of a role hearing plays in speech and language development.
How big of an impact does a mild hearing loss or prolonged periods of fluid build up from ear infections have on your child's access to sounds and language?
There are actually a few key ways that hearing loss impacts speech and language development when children are unable to access all the language around them. Specific effects of hearing loss on speech and language can be reflected in difficulties with:
- Vocabulary
- Delays in expressive and receptive langauge
- Sentence Structure
- Speaking
- Academic Achievement
- Social Functioning
The most noticable of these difficulties that we see here at Sound is often the impact hearing loss has on a child's speech sounds. Children with hearing loss often have difficulty with those sounds in speech that are quieter than others ("s", "sh", "f", "t", and "k"). This can lead to them not including them in their own speech, making them more difficult to understand.
So what can we do?
Research shows that individuals with hearing loss that receive early intervention are often able to reach the speech and language levels of their age matched peers. So if you suspect your child is having listening or hearing difficulties such as needing directions repeated, not looking when you say their name, or are difficult to understand, don't hesitate to bring them to an audiologist to test their hearing!


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Reflect smoked mirrored tall chest of drawers
Reflect smoked mirrored tall chest of drawers
product code: 145344
product code: 145344
Mirrored furniture is a classic design, but Reflect is given a contemporary twist with this smoked glass effect. With four drawers for optimum storage space, this chest of drawers will be at home in any room of your home.
Smoked mirrored glass, wooden frame
h110cm : w80cm : d45cm
- rapid delivery available
Interest Free Credit - See what the cost will be
On display in these stores
Milton Keynes | Enfield | Rugby | Hove | Brent Cross | Southampton | Oxford | Basildon | Tottenham Court Road
This range is also displayed at
Basildon | Birmingham | Bolton | Brent Cross | Cardiff | Croydon | Derby | Glasgow Tollcross | Edinburgh | Enfield | Hove | Manchester | Milton Keynes | Nottingham | Oxford | Paisley | Reading | Rugby | Sidcup | Slough | South Ruislip | Southampton | Tottenham Court Road | Lakeside
More info
Additional dimensionsDrawer h22cmTechnical infoMirror glass can withstand heat up to 80 degrees for up to 30 minutes. Comes assembled. Heavy Item. Please note: Due to the weight of this item it is not suitable for click & collect from store. Please make sure access to the property is suitable given the size of this item. For further info, please call us on 0345 675 9090.
We will accept returns on any unwanted items for up to 14 days.
If your item is faulty or damaged just call us and we'll sort it!
• Nationwide delivery to most UK postcodes and usually within 5 days.
• Please note: Due to the weight of this item it is not suitable for click & collect from store. Please make sure access to the property is suitable given the size or weight of this item. For further information, please call us on 0345 675 9090


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Find your voice. Tell your story.
Story and Soul is a teaching community for writers of all levels. Join us for workshops, retreats, individual guidance, and a real-life approach to the joy, challenge and madness of the writing life.
Dani Shapiro in conversation with Emma Roberts and Kara Preiss of Belletrist.


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Weekly Unpack | Ep. 20
Presented by MAAP
Stanley Street Social Podcast takes our living room confabulations to the microphone - subscribe on: iTunes, Cast Box, Radio Public, Pod Chaser or however you consume your podcasts.
Talking points:
BinckBank Tour
Aus Worlds Team
Tour de l'Avenir
Vuelta Espana Squads and stages


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The Darkness Between The Stars
a note from the artist
The feeling of being summoned is a lot like that of being chased. It's a feeling of connection to something mysterious with intent toward you. I feel that intent, sometimes, when the stars send spears though a broken sky. I feel the stars themselves sometimes, when I clear my mind and match my intent to the universe's will toward me. I feel the gravity of the stars pull on me from center mass, like a gentle tugging from my diaphragm, a hook in my soul, lifting me up. Then I break contact. I allow my mind to flood and weigh my soles to the cold ground. The truth is that the darkness between the stars does frightens me, inspiring a sort of pleasurable terror when I contemplate it.
Edition of 50
About the prints: I print on a premium substrate that is unparalleled in depth and luminosity. The material refracts light in such a way that light travels laterally through the paper as well as reflects to the audience creating a brilliant effect that many mistake to be rear illumination. Each print is then face mounted to acrylic and sandwiched to a protective backing. The artwork is then framed or a recessed mount is added to the back to float on the wall. I offer Tabacchino and other handmade framing options. Darkness is only available as a 21"x36" piece. Below are examples in 4" frames with and without liners. More arrangements are available. Liners are available in Black, White, Beige. See FRAMES in the menu above for more frames and liner options.


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Camphor, White Essential Oil
100% pure and natural, steam distilled White Camphor Essential Oil. Refreshing and reviving in nature.
Free UK Delivery When You Spend £25 Or More
White Camphor comes from the same tree as Ho Leaf Essential Oil. It has a much more penetrating odour than Ho Leaf. In aromatherapy, the scent of Camphor is considered stimulating and uplifting. When used in a diffuser it will fill the room with the refreshing aroma and help to clear the mind.
With similar properties to Eucalyptus Oil, White Camphor can be used in massage. Blended with a carrier oil, it has a cooling effect leaving your body refreshed and revitalised. It is a very powerful essential oil so ensure you dilute it before applying topically.
You can use White Camphor in homemade self-care preparations. Can be used in your homemade self-care formulations like massage oils, skin and hair care products. It lends itself to balms and massage bars where a cooling effect is desired.
Certified cruelty free and vegan friendly.
Dilute at a percentage of 1% of the finished blend, 1ml of essential oil (approx. 20 drops) to 100ml of carrier oil. Do not use undiluted on the skin. Consult your doctor or midwife before using during pregnancy.
Add a few drops to your diffuser or oil burner and immerse yourself in the invigorating and uplifting scent of White Camphor. Try combining it with other essential oils to create your own energising diffuser blend.
Blend it with a carrier oil, Almond (#215), Grapeseed (#210) or Coconut (#203) are all good choices and massage it on your body if you are looking for a cooling sensation.
As with any new product always conduct a patch test before first use.
100% White Camphor Essential Oil
Cinnamomum camphora
Country of Origin
Characteristic camphor, fresh, powerful, penetrating. Top note
Extraction method
Steam distilled from the wood of the tree. The oil is then fractionated into 3 factions, white, yellow and brown. Only White Camphor should be used.
Frequently Bought Together
- £3.49
Cardamom Essential Oil£7.99
Clove Bud Essential Oil£3.99


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Signals vs. Noise: How to Interpret What Consumers Are Telling You
Get our new Consumer Journey eBook at the end of this blog article.
We hear a lot about all the noise being thrown at consumers in the way of marketing messages. Every day, they're being bombarded with advertising, social media updates, content, commercials, and more from brands desperate to get their attention.
But with the noise marketers create, we've developed a problem of our own. All our marketing messages are reaching customers, to be sure, but customers send signals that we need to interpret in order to nurture leads. The problem is, there are simply too many signals to know what to do with.
A Complicated Journey to a Sale
Consider today's buyer's journey. Where in the past, there was one, maybe two steps between introducing a consumer to a product, and then getting the subsequent sale, there are now dozens of touch points as consumers flip from one device or channel to another. Savvy marketers must be able to not only connect with potential customers on each channel and each device, but also deliver content most appropriate to where a buyer is in the journey.
And yet, all these touch points create a massive number of consumer signals being emitted from consumers. It's frustrating. According to the recent report released by RadiumOne and the Mobile Marketing Association, The Impact of Mobile Signals on the Consumer Journey, 66% of marketers say they are not confident that they have identified the most critical signals in their customer's journey.
That means we're putting out a lot of effort to reach our customers…and yet we're not sure if we're succeeding.
Focus on What Matters…To You
The truth is, only a fraction of these consumer signals matter, and what another company measures may be unimportant to your team. The important thing is to identify the signals that best indicate results for your marketing efforts. Here are some of the buckets of signals that might factor into your metrics and analysis.
Mobile: The Next Marketing Frontier is Here
Mobile marketing is no longer futuristic; it's reality. And yet, with it comes a ton more data. In fact, 80% of marketers say that data has grown significantly or exponentially due to mobile data. And so it becomes a challenge to determine which signals, such as app use and in-app purchases, you need to read.
Sharing Behavior: If It Wasn't Shared, Did It Actually Happen?
Social media continues to provide — pardon the pun — social proof of a brand's reach. Consumers are both searching for content from brands as well as sharing it, so understanding the value of these signals may be key in your campaigns.
Content Engagement: Creating Real Value for Consumers
Simply creating informative content is only one part of the equation; you then need an audience for it who will read it, click it, and share it. Measuring these signals can give you better indication of which topics or articles are really reaching your audience.
Customer Data: How Can You Make the Experience Better?
Some of the best signals to measure are those of actual customers. What are they buying? How long are they spending on your site? What page did they exit on? All of this information helps you provide a better user experience on your website.
Campaign Data: Looking at the Big Picture
While you may get more granular with the signals you examine in your marketing efforts, you also need the big picture of your campaign. What worked with it? What failed? Use this insight to shape future campaigns.
Match the Message to the Stage in the Buyer's Journey
Once you brush away the extra signals that you don't need to pay attention to, you're left with gold. Use that data to really align your marketing strategy with what your customers want. But go one step further: realize that each lead is in a different step in the buyer's journey, and that your marketing will need to be tailored to each segment.
Let's use the example of a website that sells luxury purses. For those just beginning to research solutions, you can focus on providing useful general information. You'd write articles about the lifetime value of a luxury purse, or how to care for one. Once a buyer gets to the next phase, she's considering what brand to buy. That's where you want to target your message around how your purses compare to the competition. Maybe they're handmade by little Nonnas in the Italian Alps. Finally, in the decision stage, you need just a light nudge to get people to buy from you. Maybe that means sending a special offer via email.
When you match the message to the stage in the journey, you line up your efforts with what a lead needs at that moment. From there, you assess the resulting signals, lather, rinse, and repeat.
The amount of signals out there is daunting, yes, but if you cut through the noise, you can get right to what really matters to your customer.
Download our New eBook: Deciphering Mixed Consumer Signals
For a deep-dive into this topic we invite you to download our new consumer journey eBook, Deciphering Mixed Signals – How to Cut Through the Noise to Elevate Your Marketing Strategy, so you can better understand the importance of identifying and leveraging the right consumer signals, using predictions for media campaigns, and how to activate campaigns that drive real ROI.


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Heavy rainfall in Sudan has continued since last Wednesday in the Khartoum area of Sudan causing the destruction of thousands of homes in the region. Largely unreported by the media, tens of thousands of people remain displaced by the floods without access to shelter, food, and other necessities.
Call of Hope has been working to spread the Gospel to the people of Sudan for over 40 years, and today they are in desperate need of our help. Call of Hope frontline workers are responding to this crisis by offering:
- Blankets, tents, and shelter for families
- Food parcels
- Medicine and basic health assistance
- A team of volunteers to distribute aid and assist flood victims
- Prayer, trauma counseling, and the Gospel message
Call of Hope frontline workers are currently on the ground responding to both Christian and Non-Christian families who are in need of your prayers and support. With your help, we can physically assist flood victims, strengthen the body of local believers, and share the empowering message of the Gospel to Muslims.
Would you give a gift today to partner with us in helping those who are displaced and in desperate need of our help?


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"Can You Speak English?"
by Natalie Wee
Because beached animals know sand
will smother any open mouth. Because
a body in motion knows the ground. We
alit shore clean of the sea we wove through.
We throated harsh American accents
& muzzled breathing, only to be offered
a name half-pronounced. Haunting,
they called me, instead of Huan Ting. A single
exhale dislocating phantom from girl. At the next
checkpoint, fluorescent menaces Mama's dark hair
with the violence of incoming headlights. She
fumbles, the stutter of birthing an unwanted
child to a pallid land that does not know it—each
precious syllable a stillborn. A precious age
bent before capricious white guards, praying
for a shadow that wouldn't break when held up
to where the sun sets. Even before the ocean's
edge, sediment was mama's first caesarian:
monuments planted by men who came, saw &
castaway. So she knifed a belly made for
kinder songs, sewed her tongue backwards.
Until she could not drink but held clay behind
teeth for daughters to build stairways out of.
Until they took to walking & forgot flight.
How a mother tongue becomes only that
which she guards alone. How its usurper, birthed
from an arrow-wound, invents absence via entry—
how this rotten tooth festers & demands
to be spat—how both a well-aimed question &
any instrument of torture require satisfaction
to cease their patient cutting. & now I wear my
mother's skull, sour the native tongue with swallow.
You, Haunting. Where are you from?
& salt propheting a graveyard of stones,
my pockets weighed with beach.


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NBA Star Jason Kidd's Off-Season Plan: More Yoga!
Written by mindbodygreen
July 6, 2011
38-year-old NBA star Jason Kidd just won his first title with the Dallas Mavericks. So how will Jason be prepping for next season? Yoga!
He tells Dime magazine about his off-season plans:
"Probably a lot more yoga, a lot more golf. If there's a long lockout, this will probably give a kind of preseason type retirement situation, if you look at it that way too. Those are maybe some of the things, maybe play tennis, but pretty much just work out and get ready for the season."
We vote for more yoga over golf and tennis, but we'll take it!
Ready to learn more about how to unlock the power of food to heal your body, prevent disease & achieve optimal health? Register now for our FREE web class with nutrition expert Kelly LeVeque.


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Then there is Johnny Depp the celebrity, who puts on the pubic persona for publicity appearances, interviews, red carpet walks, etc. - and that persona is almost as much a character as the roles he plays in the movies. I suppose a lot of us do that as well when circumstances dictate it, put on our best behavior etc. And then there is Johnny Depp the actor who is the celebrity playing a character role for the movie camera.
I agree that the public persona can be seen as yet another character an actor plays; we've certainly seen a bit of this in many of Johnny's interviews. He definitely comes across as real, and charming, but just as obviously he is not sharing everything (or even most things). It is a boundary issue, and like many boundary issues, can be easily misinterpreted.
Being able to create a character is a gift, but I don't think it should come with the obligation of responsibility for the audience's mental stability.


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Primrose Hope
Recently we have been keeping a secret. After 5 devastating losses last year, we decided to keep it secret that we were going to try again. When we fell pregnant straight away (as we always do) we still kept it to ourselves. This time we were doing things differently. Things were going to turn out differently this time.
And for 8 glorious weeks things were different. Despite anxieties niggling away, we were calm, content and happy. Everything seemed to be going well, from the initial really strong pregnancy test at 10 DPO (we didn't get that with any of our losses last year) to the utter exhaustion. I was most definitely pregnant. One of the tricky things about keeping it quiet was my belly. Having been pregnant so many times, it's like my belly wants to show off how quickly it can get into belly shape. I started wearing spanks to try and keep it under wraps and put my baggiest clothes on. This hasn't been jumper weather at all but I've had to throw on a jumper when we've popped to people's houses just to cover the very obvious bump. Now I know this is all bloat, but the shape of my belly when I am pregnant is undeniably pregnant.
I'd given up caffeine, alcohol and refined sugar in the run up to this pregnancy in order to prepare my body and get healthier. It also meant that people didn't question me not drinking. This was handy because this baby went to a wedding in Cornwall, a Pizzup in London, a local festival on my birthday … all occasions when I would normally drink but this time declined.
As time ticked by, my thoughts wondered forwards. This baby would be born just after the new year. It was going to bring a fresh hope to Christmas. I would have my winter baby and Christmas wouldn't focus on George's due date. I would be able to use some of the winter clothes I bought for George. Excitement grew. But still we kept our secret. I actually tried not to think too far ahead but I was fixated on getting to 12 weeks and being able to share our news. Come mid July everyone would know.
I ate really healthy food.
I didn't gain weight.
I drank lots of water.
I had all of my vitamins on time each day.
I had gentle exercise.
I was going to prove that my body could do it. I was going to fix everything and have a baby.
Then, at 7 weeks 3 days we went for a reassurance scan. We were offered an early scan because of our history. We were nervous but hopeful. We took Boo along as we hadn't even told our family about the pregnancy. Boo had started to cotton on anyway due to my frequent visits to the bathroom and afternoon slumber on the sofa. Before we went for the scan, we told Boo what was happening. She was very excited. I was worried. I didn't feel right telling her. But I also knew that this pregnancy would turn out just fine. We had got further than we did with George – by now I was bleeding with George. This would be fine. The scan would be fine.
The silence in the scan room was devastating. It felt like the sonographer looked for hours. Eventually, she turned the screen to me and said here is your baby and here is the heartbeat.
Joy filled my heart.
We did it!!!
Then I noticed a dark pool above the baby. Was there a twin? I had joked it was twins. Was I right? No, there was a large haematoma. A bleed. A haemorrhage. It surrounded the sac protecting the baby. And then I noticed that the baby looked rather small.
What does baby measure?
The joy was sucked out of the air. The room shrunk.
George measured 6.3mm at 7 weeks 3 days. They told me my dates were wrong but I knew they weren't. George had a heartbeat but then it stopped. This baby was too small. This baby was not going to make it.
The sonographer was shocked by my change in attitude. They were confused. This was a good scan. It's a viable pregnancy! There is a heartbeat! These haemorrhages are common. No problem!
We were ushered to a side room where we met the wonderful counsellor who has seen us after many of our other losses. She understood what the sonographers didn't – it felt like history repeating itself . She said all the right things, she understood and she put a plan in place. Go home and rest. See the consultant next week. Have a scan the week after.
Once home, our care free, calm life changed. I was afraid to move. I began checking for blood and to my horror, 4 days later, blood started to come. A little at first but after a day standing, I had a big bleed. I told myself it was just the haemorrhage (and SCH). It was to be expected. It was normal. I still felt pregnant. I still had a fuzzy head. I still felt sick and tired. I phoned the EPU and they asked me to come in the next morning just to check. This time, we told the grandparents that we were pregnant and asked them to have Boo while we had our scan. We still didn't tell them what was happening. Saying it out loud seemed like bad luck. We had to keep everything positive.
We drove to the hospital in silence, occasionally asking each other if we were OK. We told each other it would be fine. I told M that I felt that the would say baby measured 5mm now and had no heartbeat. But I knew that was just my fears speaking.
Baby measured 5.8mm. Baby had no heartbeat.
I'm very sorry, I can't find a heartbeat.
A scream tore through my body and roared out of me. The tears that fell in that moment were primal, raw pain. I knew what I was being told and it tore my heart apart. It broke me.
With George, we didn't get a scan picture. They don't give pictures so early. This time I demanded a picture and wanted time to look at the screen and see my baby. My baby who had now gone. It was clear that something had gone very wrong for baby. A pocket of fluid had formed around her and a bulge protruded from her side. My poor baby. I'm so glad I had the presence of mind to ask questions and get a picture. For me, that's a huge comfort.
Again in a side room, we sat and sobbed. I wanted to name the baby to make it easier to tell Boo. I wanted Hope to be part of her name (I always felt she was a girl) but wanted her first name to be floral. M chose Primrose. It is perfect.
Primrose Hope came into our lives and restored hope. She took away our anxieties and fears. The only thing she knew was love. When I fell pregnant this time, I felt calm and that feeling hasn't left me. We are grieving. We are devastated. But we are grateful.


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Nature and animals inspire me. As do people and music. I love looking at other peoples illustrations and illustrators of yester years. I love books and talking books. Theatre and dance humans are amazingRead More
ThirteenRedShoes: Talking to Somebody
Lisa Stewart has taken some of her very precious time to join us today for Talking to Somebody. Many thanks Lisa, I am thinking of you and your family.Read More
Chapter One: Dynamic Duos: A Case Study
Author Lesley Gibbes and publisher, Ana Vivas (Scholastic) were first-up, chatting about the highly successful picture book, 'Little Bear's First Sleep'. This is a gentle bedtime story about a bear cub embarking on his first long winter sleep.Read More
An Illustrated Year 2013 Calendar - About Lisa Stewart (Miss September)
This divine image by Lisa Stewart was the first I allocated to a month in An Illustrated Year 2013 As soon as Lisa sent me 'Koala', I knew that it belonged in September, Save the Koala Month.Read More
Picture That: Illustrators On Food
Today I'm featuring the touching, lively and beautiful work of Lisa Stewart, illustrator and musician. Lisa's illustrated seven books, including five picture books and two illustrated books. And I'm thrilled to say that we are collaborating on an illustrated story together, to be published later this year.Read More
Behind The Studio Door by Books Illustrated
Hello I'm Lisa and this is what you can see behind my studio door.Read More
Bushland Lullaby Blog Tour
Today we're interrupting illustrator Lisa Stewart in her light-filled home studio to chat about the delightfully soft and textured illustrations she created for the must-have new picture book for parents and grandparents, Bushland Lullaby, by author Sally Odgers.Read More


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Saguaro, Sunsets & Stones
Tucson Treasures
I have dreamed about going to Tucson for years! The landscape, nature and and photographic riches were all calling to me.
I finally got the opportunity to experience this haven with my life-long friend Anuschka, who was going to the world famous Tucson Gem & Mineral Show (the largest mineral event of its kind in the world!). She was there on a mission to find treasure for her amazing store in Colorado: the very hip BloomDenver.com
I couldn't wait to shoot the famous giant saguaro cactus, sunsets, and glittering jewels!
The African Village
After a totally relaxing day at the lux JW Marriott Tucson Starr Pass & Spa (talk about immersive pampering!) - Anuschka and I headed to the Gem Show. Our first stop was the amazing African Art Village.
The Tucson gem show has over 40 different mini installations throughout the city. My favorite by far was the African Art Village. It's a tent city made up of hundreds of vendors and places to eat....all straight out of Africa. I loved it! Glowing gems, monumental sculptures, bronzes from Bénin, antique beads and masks from across the continent! All of this served up with a heaping helping of traditional African cuisine and treats. Totally natural and real if you ask me!
Heaven on Earth
The next morning I ventured out into the desert at 5AM. My goal: shoot a stunning sunrise - and the massive Seguaro Cactus! (Saguaro is the Indian word pronounced "sah-wah-ro.)
My first stop was Saguaro National Park - naturally! I barely made it there as there were so many spectacular sites along the way. I ended up pulling over every 10 minutes to photograph several of the monolithic, massive Seguaros (which grow to over 40 feet in stature!).
I can't believe I didn't run off the road along the way. I was mesmerized by the lunar landscapes and flora around me!
A photographers dream!
Nature always has a way of biting back and telling you who's boss though! And my adventure in the desert was no exception.
On my second day I was besieged by one of the Cholla Cacti - the great white sharks of Sonoran Desert!
I didn't even know they could bite! I was warned though....a fellow hiker, Bob, cautioned me to watch for the "jumping chollas". I thought he was joking (what the hell was he talking about?) ...but seconds later I brushed up against one of the most feared plants in the desert - the afore mentioned Cholla!
I was a complete victim of this monster. A piece of the plant instantly broke off and lodged in my hand! And it bit deep --the spines are still lodged in my hand three weeks later!
I didn't let any of this stop me from shooting though. The landscapes were simply too powerful and captivating.
Desert Dining
As I recovered from my injuries the next morning - I headed to the hipster café: Times Market. Part restaurant, deli, coffee bar and market - it's a popular spot with the Tucson arts crowd.
I loved the place. A great vibe - and fab cappuccinos! The breakfast menu features a list of imaginative gastronomic treats including: Avocado & Ricotta Toast, Champignon Monsieur, Tamal Breakfast Plate, and Morning Pizzetes. I can't wait to go back to sample more of this hotspot's delights!
Sand Murals
You can't escape visiting Tucson without encountering some of the wonderful wall art installations. It's all funded by the local municipality. Local artists are given grants to spice up neighborhoods with massive building murals. These treasures pop up around every corner - and were a wonder to spot!
What a fantastic place to visit: Tucson. Breathtaking landscapes, astonishing vistas, great people, and magnificent food! Who can ask for anything more. I will be back as soon as my hand heals!


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Changing colors - with a brush!
There is a way to chenge a whole item, like a dress, from blue to red as a mass change. That's another feature in Photoshop we'll cover later. This one is a brush, and it comes in very handy.
After you choose the Color Replacement Tool (brush) you then pick the color you'd like the brush to paint.
The example below shows a model's hand with orangish finger nails. Everything else in the shoot was pink so they stood out pretty badly.
Now, the problem with just painting with a brush is that it doesn't blend in the way light hits something like nails. You have a lighter area, darker area, as well as shiny spots from lights if it is a reflective polish.
This brush will pick up on the color you are wanting to replace as soon as you touch that color. In this example, as soon as the brush touched the oranges color it knew that was what needed to change to pink, my selected color. The edges still need to be watched because it'll still paint all over. But, with a fair amount of ease I painted over her nails and changed them to pink.


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New Dominas Coming to The English Mansion
We have three very different leading ladies making their debut very soon at The English Mansion…all natural born dominas, fierce angels who enjoy toying with men and have their own unique style and interests within female domination.
Here at the English Mansion we have no fixed rules about what constitutes femdom – it can be empowering, psychological, worshipful, sexual, fetishistic or downright sadistic with infinite other permutations. We give dominant women, switches and our dominatrixes a free rein and let them just indulge in what they most enjoy.
Mistress Courtney is a beautiful petit, cultured, prodom based in Manchester but making frequent visits to London. She is always immaculately attired, elegant, stylish and smartly coiffed. A classic Mistress to worship and serve.
More Info Here
Mistress Scarlett Black is a gorgeous, sensual, approachable prodom with many years of experience based in the East Midlands, UK with her own well-equipped chambers. Specialising in strapon/anal play and role play scenarios. More Info Here
Miss Tiffany Naylor is a lovely leggy young prodom who is exploring her dominant side, while also being a foot fetishist and lover of strapon play. Based in Milton Keynes in the UK. More Info Here
You'll be seeing more of them at The English Mansion very soon.


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In 2006 after making my best friends bridesmaid dresses I decided to make myself a flapper dress with matching jacket to wear to her wedding. At the time I worked for Hancock fabric. I got a great discount plus back then you could make model garments. Model garments are garments made by employees, supplies are all free although the garment must remain on display in the store for 6 weeks. It was a great perk of the job and it's how I learned so many new skills so fast.
This dress consisted of drop waist bodice, 3 full circle skirts, fully lined, 12 pin tucks in the bodice, wide big bowtie sash and 12 covered buttons for the side closure.
Behind the scenes shot-This is the only picture of the jacket I made to go with the dress. This is my friend Jessie that modeled the dress in 2009 for Ladyfest. I used a Sewing with Nancy pattern and I lined it with fabric left over from the dress. I only installed one side pocket because at the time I though pockets were too challenging.\n\nPhotos by Seth Stephens and the lovely model is my sister Sarah Wonderling.
Tracy McElfresh
Latest posts by Tracy McElfresh (see all)
- Hand Stitching in Sewing Tips in Under a Minute w/ Tracy McElfresh - September 18, 2019
- The 30 Minute Dress - September 16, 2019
- Working With Shifty Fabrics in Sewing Tips in Under a Minute w/ Tracy McElfresh - September 11, 2019