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News • Forums • Join • Login
Welcome to the news page of the Star Wars New Zealand network.
From the selection of SWNZ Feature Articles (Dec 2005):
I find my lack of space disturbing.
I am not sure this is the largest collection of Vaders in captivity, but it should be in the top ten. It is a shining example of how far one can go with... ...MORE
The first episode of the new Star Wars: Rebels animated series has screened in the US (to a partial audience, via Disney's mobile service), but it looks like we've got dates for the NZ debut...starting this coming Friday on SkyTV's Disney Channel!
- Friday 3rd Oct 5pm
- Saturay 4th Oct 6:12pm
Keep an eye on the SWNZ Calendar for upcoming episode reminders.
Discuss this topic in the SWNZ Message Boards.
Matt G
The official, international Star Wars Reads Day events take place on October 11th this year. A number of New Zealand libraries are actively involved, including many around Auckland and Hamilton. The image above (click for full size) has details for the Parnell Library. Check the Facebook page of your local library to see if they have specific plans for this family event.
Matt G
The following interview with Ryder Windham has been contributed by Star Wars Cali (Colombia): English version, Spanish version.
Ryder Windham is a prolific writer about the Star Wars Universe. He is known for books like Star Wars: The Ultimate Visual Guide, Millennium Falcon: A 3D Owner's Guide, and more recently The Bounty Hunter Code.
Check out the SWORA website at www.SWORA.info, and their Facebook page at Facebook.com/The.SWORA.
Matt G
The Auckland Hobbies Fair, New Zealand's largest collectors fair for diecast models, model trains, collectable toys, model train layouts, working models, and sci-fi collectables (including, undoubtedly, Star Wars items), is coming up on Saturday 27th September.
Freemans Bay Community Centre
52 Hepburn Street, Auckland City
11.00am to 3.00pm
Entry: $5 per person (primary school children free if accompanied by adult)
More details can be found, and bookings made, via their website and/or Facebook page.
Matt G
If you want to stay up to date with the latest information on Star Wars product releases and availability around New Zealand, the best way is to sign up to the SWNZ Message Boards and keep an eye on the Store Reports thread.
Matt G
Over the years, we've had many people ask "how do you join SWNZ?" Being predominantly a news site, there wasn't initially really been a means to join per se, other than regularly visiting and/or contributing to the Star Wars New Zealand homepage. However, a couple of years ago we expanded the community aspect of SWNZ when we opened the SWNZ Message Boards (aka 'SWNZ Forums'), which are now integrated with the news site - by joining (and logging in to) the SWNZ community, you now have full access to the forums, and enhanced features on the news site, including private message alerts, a timezone-specific calendar and event alerts.
You can also plug in to the SWNZ community via Facebook, Twitter, Flickr and Tumblr.
Matt G
It's an incredible time to be a Star Wars fan. The internet is filled with news and rumours about the many releases Disney has in store for us, and the fan community is thriving like never before.
Sadly, amid all of this, there's a dark force rising. One of the most important features of the internet is the fact that it affords everyone a voice, but there are times when some voices become needlessly negative and - ultimately - toxic. I've recently witnessed some troubling examples of this within the Star Wars fan community, and felt it was time to break from my usually dispassionate posts to say something about it. After some careful consideration, I've found that everything really boils down to three main things that we as fans need to keep in mind:
1. If you love Star Wars, then you're a Star Wars fan. It's that simple. Star Wars fandom isn't an exclusive club. There's no entrance exam, and there's no required knowledge. You don't need to have read every Star Wars book, or played every Star Wars game. There's no such thing as a "true fan", and pretending that there is only serves to harbour divisions in the fan community.
2. Star Wars: Episode VII hasn't even been released yet. In recent weeks we've been seeing a lot of rumours of what might or might not appear in Episode VII. Most fans have met these with curiosity and excitement, but others have responded with scathing criticism - already writing off the film as doomed to failure. But this isn't fair. I've said before that there's every reason to have hope in Episode VII, and I stand by that position. At the very least, we owe it to the cast and crew of the film to wait until 18 December 2015 before we even consider passing judgement on it.
3. Whatever happens, "your" Star Wars will remain intact. I've often said that one of my favourite things about the Star Wars universe is that you're always free to take what you want, and leave what you don't. If you dont enjoy Episode VII, then that won't be a problem - you'll always have the original six films (or original three as the case may be). If Star Wars: Rebels doesn't float your star cruiser, then you're under no obligation to continue watching. The important thing to remember is that for some - or, hopefully, for many - these new additions will become as important as the classic films that we've all grown up with. While we might not like a particular entry in the saga, there will always be fans out there who genuinely enjoy and treasure it. Respecting that fact is what genuine fandom is all about.
Ultimately, we need to remember that we're all here for the very same reason: a deep and abiding passion for that galaxy far, far away. So long as we keep that in mind, and meet our fellow fans with kindness, the Star Wars community will continue to be as incredible as it's always been.
Archon Revuge
Alltop.com is an online service that aggregates RSS feeds from large news sites into topic pages so you can, at a glance, keep up to date with your favourite interests. Star Wars New Zealand is included in their Star Wars page - check it out at Star-Wars.AllTop.com.
Matt G
Fishpond.co.nz's range of Star Wars products covers most collectible types, including a number of harder-to-find, and/or older items (who knew that you could buy a Darth Vader Sleeping Bag or Lightsaber Toothbrush?) Don't forget that they offer free shipping (in NZ) too:
- X-Wing Miniatures Game: Rebel Aces Expansion Pack, $44.19.
- Star Wars Rebels Story and Activity Book, $9.99.
- A New Dawn: Star Wars (Star Wars), hardcover, $34.99.
- X-Wing Miniatures Game: Yt-2400 Freighter Expansion Pack, $35.88.
- Star Wars: Maul: Lockdown, paperback, $13.55.
- X-Wing: HWK-290, $18.21.
- X-Wing Miniatures Game: Z-95 Headhunter, $16.97.
- X-Wing Miniatures Game: TIE Phantom, $16.97.
- 3D Stamp Star Wars Set Cake Cookie Cutter Fondant Decorating Tools, $6.97.
- The Millennium Falcon Owner's Workshop Manual (Haynes Manuals), $38.76.
- Lego Star Wars: The Visual Dictionary, $30.36.
- Star Wars: Phonics Boxed Set, $15.99.
- Star Wars: Complete Vehicles, $42.99.
- Jedi Academy: Return of the Padawan (Scholastic), $15.99.
- The Last Jedi, paperback, $13.28.
Check out Fishpond's full range of Star Wars products by clicking here.
Discuss this topic in the SWNZ Message Boards.
Matt G
This year's Comic-Con International: San Diego saw a lot of buzz around Hot Wheels's new range of Star Wars-inspired cars. Sadly, its upcoming line of miniature Star Wars vehicles - one of the releases I was most excited about at SDCC - received far less coverage. The internet is a wonderful place however, and thanks to the fine folks at GalacticHunter.com we're now able to get our first look at this exciting new line (gallery link).
The vehicles aren't set to ship until Spring 2015, so the range on display at SDCC was understandably limited. Among those vehicles featured were a handful of X-Wings, TIE Fighters, Snowspeeders, an AT-AT, and the Millennium Falcon. The sculpts appear incredibly close to those from the now defunct Titanium Series line, so the glimpse of an entirely new vehicle - the Ghost... ...MORE
Archon Revuge
The countdown to Celebration Anaheim (April 2015) is well under way. A fairly large contingent of kiwis intending to head over are discussing plans jointly on the SWNZ forum... you can join in the conversation here.
And, in the meantime, you can check out SWNZ galleries from past Celebration events: Celebration 3 (2005), Celebration 4 (2007), Celebration 6 (2012).
Matt G
MightyApe.co.nz is a well-established local online retailer that has a great range of Star Wars collectibles and other products at competitive prices. They're now starting to list "Star Wars: Rebels" items. For the high-end items, you have the added benefit of avoiding international shipping and customs/duty fees. The following are selected items from their most recently available products (prices are correct at time of writing):
- Obi-Wan Kenobi Bust Bank, $39.99
- Bossk Pop! Vinyl Bobble Head Figure, $19.99
- Hammerhead Pop! Vinyl Bobble Head Figure, $19.99
- Goodnight Darth Vader, $21.99
- Star Wars, based on the original rough-draft screenplay, $26.99
- Star Wars Men's Bi-Fold Wallet, $29.99
- Star Wars Rebels: Rise of the Rebels, $10.99
- Jedi Academy 2, $18.99
- Star Wars Rebels the Visual Guide, $37.99
- Kenobi, $13.99
- Star Wars Saga Calendar 2015, $24.99
- LEGO Star Wars - Sandcrawler (75059), $599.99
- Lego Star Wars: These Aren't the Droids You're Looking for - a Search-and-Find Book, $27.99
- Mythbusters Season 8 Collection 2 (Includes Star Wars Special), $34.99
You can review their Star Wars selection at this link.
Matt G
Lots of new, interesting discussion is going on in the SWNZ Forums (www.SWNZForums.co.nz), covering all aspects of Star Wars collecting, general Star Wars discussion, and a Buy, Sell, & Trade section. The following are recently updated topics:
- Darth Vader Helmet Question....... ...MORE
- Introductions... ...MORE
- Wellington "Wretched Hive" SWNZ Meet-Up, October... ...MORE
- Star Wars fabric at Spotlight... ...MORE
- Store Reports / Latest Finds... ...MORE
- Don Post Deluxe ESB Darth Vader #45... ...MORE
- 'Star Wars Rebels' animated series... ...MORE
- Star Wars Reads Day, Oct 11th... ...MORE
Come on over and join in the conversation! Read the 'Welcome' message for more details.
Matt G
SWNZ affiliate iQ Toys is New Zealand's first online toy store (starting up way back in 1996). Their main utility for Star Wars collectors is their inventory of Star Wars Lego, but they also carry some Hasbro and other Star Wars products. On a more general note, if you're looking for gifts for children, their range of educational toys will give you much to choose from. All purchases from SWNZ affiliates help contribute to the ongoing costs of this website!
iQ Toys currently offer free shipping within New Zealand on orders over $99. Check out the following in stock Lego sets and other Star Wars products:
- LEGO Star Wars - Battle on Saleucami 75037, $34.49.
- LEGO Star Wars - V-Wing Starfighter 75039, $48.99.
- LEGO Star Wars - General Grievous Wheel Bike 75040, $48.99.
- LEGO Star Wars - Vulture Droid 75041, $48.99.
- LEGO Star Wars - Droid Gunship 75042, $97.99.
- LEGO Star Wars - AAT 75029, $17.89.
- LEGO Star Wars - TIE Interceptor 75031, $17.89.
- LEGO Star Wars - Star Destroyer 75033, $17.89.
- LEGO Star Wars - Death Star Troopers 75034, $24.49.
- LEGO Star Wars - Red Five X-wing Starfighter 10240, $364.99.
- LEGO Star Wars - Clone Turbo Tank 75028, $17.89.
- Star Wars: Supreme Colouring and Activity Book, $5.10.
- LEGO Star Wars - AT-AP 75043, $127.99.
- LEGO Star Wars - Jedi Defender-Class Corvette 75025, $172.99.
- LEGO Star Wars - Kashyyyk Troopers 75035, $24.49.
Matt G
The official reveal of the Episode VII Starfighter (and pilot) yesterday was a pleasant surprise. Discussion on and excitement about Star Wars 7 is starting to heat up. Join in the local conversations on the SWNZ Message Boards... ...MORE
Matt G
This week, Comic-Con International: San Diego rolls around for another year. SDCC usually brings a raft of announcements regarding our favourite franchise, as well as giving toy companies like Hasbro an opportunity to show off their latest wares. This year's convention is no exception, with a number of highly-anticipated Star Wars-themed events taking place. Sites like TheForce.net and Rebelscum.com will be keeping fans posted throughout the four-day event, and below youll find a guide for when these updates are likely to start trickling through. All event descriptions are taken from the official SDCC webpage, and times and dates have been converted to New Zealand local time... ...MORE
Archon Revuge
The following interview with Darren Marshall has been contributed by SWCP, Star Wars Clube Portugal: swccpt.blogspot.pt/../entrevistas-swcp-darren-marshall.html (English and Portuguese versions available).
Darren Marshall is a sculptor and design artist who designed the characters for the animated television series Star Wars: The Clone Wars. Prior to joining the show, Marshall had worked for ILM, and was approached by Dave Filoni, supervising producer of The Clone Wars, who had seen some of Marshall's maquettes and asked him to come work on the show.
Check out the SWORA website at www.SWORA.info, and their Facebook page at Facebook.com/The.SWORA.
Matt G
Please note, Amazon.com prices are in US dollars. The above product selection widget will not be visible if you are running an ad-blocker without SWNZ white-listed.
Matt G
You can follow SWNZ, Star Wars New Zealand on Facebook at facebook.com/StarWarsNZ. The following are the most recent posts, shares, and discussions that are going on over on that side of the SWNZ network:
- Server maintenance (by our hosting company) may cause some intermittent ... ...MORE
- Good to see Harrison Ford back on his feet - ... ...MORE
- Marvel's first three series SW comics series are entitled "Star ... ...MORE
- Official pics of upcoming Star Wars figures from Hasbro, shown at SDCC, via ... ...MORE
- Video of the full-sized Vader Hot Wheels car, to be shown at San Diego Comic ... ...MORE
- Some really exciting Episode VII costume and prop details were revealed ... ...MORE
- San Diego Comic Con coverage will ramp up from this Friday. Here is a ... ...MORE
- Donate to UNICEF and you could be in Star Wars Episode VII (plus, cool prop ... ...MORE
Matt G
Last month, we received word that Hot Wheels and Star Wars would soon be joining forces to release an entirely new range of vehicles. One line will include themed "character cars" (the first of which - Darth Vader - can be seen here). The second - and perhaps more interesting - line, will contain a series of distinct miniature ships with display stands.
As far as I'm concerned, this is fantastic news. While the characters of Star Wars are incredibly important, the vehicles of the saga have a special place in the hearts of fans and collectors alike. In the mid- to late-90s there were a number of lines offering up Star Wars vehicles in various scales. Over the years, however, things changed. First we lost Micro Machines, then Action Fleet, then finally the Titanium Series. For a while now, the only stalwart production of Star Wars vehicles has been in the 3 3/4" line - though even the release of these is sporadic.
The announcement that we may again see the release of smaller-scale Star Wars vehicles is incredibly exciting. Both Hot Wheels lines will be previewed at San Diego Comic-Con later this month, and I'll be waiting with baited breath to see what's on offer. If you're also excited by this development, then be sure to head on over to the dedicated SWNZ Message Board thread and discuss it with your fellow fans!
Archon Revuge
Temuera Morrison to return to the Star Wars Universe? Stuff.co.nz is reporting as much, referring to the first of the standalone/spinoff films that will interspersed between the Sequel Trilogy films. This information is not confirmed - in fact if you dig a little deeper, the source is merely a few additions to IMDB - but it is in the context of other believable information, making it a very interesting potential development.
Discuss this topic in the SWNZ Message Boards.
Related article: Temuera Morrison as Jango Fett (and Clones)
Matt G
Lots of new, interesting discussion is going on in the SWNZ Forums (www.SWNZForums.co.nz), covering all aspects of Star Wars collecting, general Star Wars discussion, and a Buy, Sell, & Trade section. The following are recently updated topics:
- Darth Vader Helmet Question....... ...MORE
- Introductions... ...MORE
- Wellington "Wretched Hive" SWNZ Meet-Up, October... ...MORE
- Star Wars fabric at Spotlight... ...MORE
- Store Reports / Latest Finds... ...MORE
- Don Post Deluxe ESB Darth Vader #45... ...MORE
- 'Star Wars Rebels' animated series... ...MORE
- Star Wars Reads Day, Oct 11th... ...MORE
Come on over and join in the conversation! Read the 'Welcome' message for more details.
Matt G
You can subscribe to the SWNZ, Star Wars New Zealand mailing list, in order to receive email notifications of major stories on the SWNZ website (service provided by FeedBurner.com). Simply click the email icon above this message...or click here.
Matt G
Many of us want to express our love for Star Wars with what we wear, whether it's your favourite character on a t-shirt, or a subtle tie at the office. Unfortunately, finding Star Wars t-shirts and apparel in local stores here in New Zealand can be a rare occurrence, and often the finds are in the children's clothing sections only. It is a lot easier these days to seek what you want on-line, with several major companies now shipping to New Zealand. There's variety to cover a huge array of favourite characters, and many companies are branching out from standard t-shirts to offer other apparel options like button-down shirts, dresses, leggings and socks. Here are some of the popular stores to check out that ship to New Zealand (shipping info approximate, based on examples at time of writing)... ...MORE
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This site is in no way sponsored or endorsed by: George Lucas, Lucasfilm Ltd., LucasArts Entertainment Co., or any affiliates.
Star Wars and all its characters are © and TM by Lucasfilm Ltd.
Website content © SWNZ, 2003-2014.
Website design by Matt G.


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Washington • Sen. Mike Lee will join fellow GOP leaders in speaking at the Conservative Political Action Conference outside of Washington next month.
The three-day conference starting March 6 is one of the largest gatherings of conservatives in the country and will feature speeches from Sens. Marco Rubio, Rand Paul and Ted Cruz, as well as Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie.
|Join the Discussion
|Post a Comment
"Sen. Lee has been a voice of the people and a true leader in the tea party movement," said Al Cardenas, chairman of the American Conservative Union, which organizes the conference.
Lee has spoken at the annual event three years running. The conference is held at Gaylord National Resort in Oxon Hill, Md.
Thomas Burr
Copyright 2014 The Salt Lake Tribune. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

subset: commoncrawl


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Taylor Swift wants fans everywhere to feel enchanted thanks to her brand new perfume, Wonderstruck. The new scent officially hits stores in October, but fans of Swift's Facebook page can sign up to receive an early sample. Those interested should act fast as the country superstar is only giving out a limited number and girlfriend has over 25 million Facebook friends.
Swift says that she was intimately involved in the creation of the perfume, which has hints of freesia, apple blossom, juicy berries, vanilla, honeysuckle, white hibiscus, golden amber, warm musk, and peach. Whew, that's a lot of scent in one little spritz! She also helped design the bottle, which is purple with a rainbow finish and includes several adorable golden charms.
Are you going to sign up for a sample? If you're only of the lucky few who gets one, let us know what you think in the comments!


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Italia: +39 02 249 59 120
USA/Canada Subscription Renewals: +1-866-221-0634
Join this webcast to learn how MySQL Enterprise Monitor enables you to improve the performance of MySQL and visually manage complex MySQL environments.
We will discuss:
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Interactive Q&A with MySQL consultants will be available throughout the webcast to help get you on the right track.
La pagina di registrazione On24 sarà aperta in una nuova scheda/finestra


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Lexus announced today that it plans to display two concept vehicles and six production vehicles at the 40th Tokyo Motor Show. The show will be open to the general public from October 27 to November 11 at the International Convention Complex (Makuhari Messe) in Makuhari, Chiba Prefecture.
The LF-Xh is a specialty SUV based on the Lexus design philosophy of L-finesse and equipped with an advanced hybrid system.
- The combination of a powerful body and elegant interior gives this next-generation SUV a dynamic look and feel.
- Application of "Lexus Hybrid Drive", which features a sophisticated fusion of superior environmental and power performance, seeks to achieve outstanding driving performance, quiet operation, high fuel efficiency and low emissions.
- All-wheel drive is backed by a V6 gasoline engine and high-output electric motor hybrid system.
- Total length: 4,800mm
- Total width: 1,895mm
- Total height: 1,650mm
- Wheelbase: 2,850mm


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Things Are "Serious" Between David Arquette And New Girlfriend
That's a direct quote from the Scream star himself.
This weekend, David Arquette and his new GF, Christina McLarty, made their red carpet debut at the Art of Elysium Heaven Gala in L.A. When cornered, the pair had only glowing things to say about their relationship and the future ahead of them
A wide-grinned David told reporters, "We're serious, but we're having fun." Meanwhile, Christina adds that they are "enjoying the moment, especially ones where they find themselves on the same coast. She's a New Yorker; he's firmly planted in L.A. But the lovebird are making it work, as Christina explains they are on a strict "no more than two weeks [apart] rule."
Wow! A bi-coastal relationship. And you guys are just starting out? That's going to be a tough one to keep up. Hope you're able to keep to the strict rule of yours.
Oh, and how does Courteney Cox feel about this we wonder?
[Image via WENN.]


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Riccardo Mariano designed the 'Istanbul Disaster Prevention + Education Centre' as a reflection of earth-related phenomena. The surrounding site lifts to form a volcano-like structure. From the inside, coloful lights pour upwards, a reflection of man-made energy. Although the nearby landscape contains a creek while the north has civil infrastructure, the building is located on a flat topographical surface allowing the low profile center to visually emerge.
The interior façade consists of drawings which were derived from a typical islamic pattern, based on the hexagonal grid, the system modulates the light, adding color as it passes through its different densities. The built-in light gets stronger as it gets closer to the top, allowing for it to be seen from a distance at night.
Structurally, every sector works as an independent entity connected to the next by cracks and joints. This principle is based on the observation of the geometry of fractures in solid material. Overall, the building is a fragmented mass made out of simple substructures. Outside, the gravel from the surrounding site is continued onto the façade. The material acts as installation for noise and temperature while visually tying the building into the landscape.
To commemorate the 9th Annual Skyscraper Competition, eVolo is publishing the Limited Edition Book "eVolo Skyscrapers 2" which is the follow-up to its highly acclaimed book "eVolo Skyscrapers". The 628-page book examines 150 projects received during the last years of the competition. Only 1000 copies are available worldwide.
-> EVOLO SKYSCRAPERS 2 - Limited Edition Book


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Join or Sign In
I love to quilt and embroidery. I have a long arm business and enjoy it very much. I also love to read in my spare time. I have two great dane dogs. I just starting knitting again and loving it.
Need Help? Visit our Help Center.
© 2014 Craftsy and Sympoz Inc.


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GreatSchools Rating
Teacher quality
Principal leadership
Parent involvement
The worst school my child has ever been too. She was bullied to the point of me having to withdraw her, because my concerns were ignored by the staff. Also there are numerous teachers that act like children themselves amd talk about Parents if a Parent voices their concern. Terrible, terrible school. I would never send my child back there again.
I have five Grands that have or are going thru Rollins, and I enjoy working with the staff as a parent. I have so much Fun starting off the Kids day with a smile & hello as they get out of their cars. I also stress the importance of seatbelts & working on Safety Thank You MIN. Edward Blount
my son is now in 2nd grade, he has been going to rollins since pre k, you couldn't ask for better teachers!!
Rollins is a wonderful school the teachers and the staff are wonderful people. I have two sons one who is still there and another who is now in middle school. My youngest son has some learning problems and everyone at Rollins goes above and beyond to help us with his problems. They are like our second family and we love them very much. Rollins is the best school in Richmond County in my opinion.
I rate Rollins as being one of the best Elementary Schools around. All three of my children have succeeded from there. There are some great teachers who are caring and really concerned about the childrens education.
Community ratings and reviews do not represent the views of GreatSchools nor does GreatSchools check their accuracy or verify the reviewers' identities. Use your discretion when evaluating these reviews.
The Community Rating is the school's average rating from its community members (e.g., parents, students, and school staff). The highest possible rating is five stars; the lowest is one star.
2160 Mura Dr
Augusta, GA 30906
Phone: (706) 796-4972
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Discover Author
Juliet Macur is an award-winning reporter at the New York Times, whose work has been anthologized in the Best American Sports Writing series. A graduate of Columbia Journalism School, she grew up in New Jersey and now lives in Washington, DC, with her husband, daughter, and Labrador retriever. This is her first book.
Copyright © 2014 HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
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If there is anything like anxiety and excitement, then wait until you become a father or mother expecting your very first bundle of joy. To be an expectant parent is to be in a mix of emotions. On one hand, you will be expressing feelings of joy and happiness and on the other hand, you will be dampened by the unknown and in no time, you may become tensed.
It must be said at this point that the way you prepare for your child is also quite instrumental to the delivery of such an offspring. To make sure that all goes well, here are some tips that you can make use of as a parent that is eagerly awaiting for the arrival of a bouncing baby.
The first step is aimed at reducing the tension that you have as an expectant father or mother. You can do this by ensuring that the mother who is heavy with the child goes for the various antenatal sessions on a regular basis. While going for antenatal services, you can also request for an ultrasound scan in other to ascertain the sex and number of the baby. This step is very important in the sense that once you know whether the child is a boy or a girl and you know you are not expecting twins, then your load of anxiety has been reduced by half.
Once the sex and number of the fetus has been ascertained, the next thing will be to start buying baby materials and accessories. Some couples begin such shopping as early as possible but you have to select a time that you will be comfortable with. Also, it is important for the mother to desist from strenuous activities in order not to injure herself or even the baby. In extreme cases, vigorous exercise on the part of the mother can lead to a miscarriage.


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Before he became a jihadist, Odiljon Pulatov would travel each year from Tajikistan to Moscow to earn money as a construction worker.
"The money I made was enough to sustain my family. But the last time I went there, I met different people, Tajiks and other [Central Asians]. They persuaded me that jihad is a must for every Muslim," Pulatov told EurasiaNet.org.
His nom de guerre is Omar al-Shishani (Omar the Chechen), and he has gained a fearsome reputation as a commander in the dreaded terrorist jihadi group, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. But al-Shishani is no Chechen. His birth name is Tarkhan Batirashvili, and he is a citizen of Georgia from the Pankisi Gorge, a remote corner of this South-Caucasus country.
There are few outward signs to indicate the Azerbaijani city of Sumgayit, a Soviet-era hub for the petro-chemical industry, is a seedbed of Islamic militancy. Shops and restaurants sell alcohol, and residents dress casually.
The mayhem and indiscriminate violence that define Syria's civil war could not crush their entrepreneurial spirit: yet for some Syrian-Armenian refugees, the shakedown practices that are part of Armenia's economic environment are more than they can bear.
When Olga Ladanova moved to Damascus 10 years ago to marry a Syrian citizen and start a family, she held on to her Kyrgyz citizenship. These days, her family credits her passport with saving their lives.
In 2013, as Syria's civil war raged, 23-year-old Samar Abaza opted, like hundreds of thousands of his countrymen, to flee his home for safety abroad. Yet unlike most of the estimated 2.5 million Syrians who are now refugees, Abaza sought to build a new life in Abkhazia, another contested land.
As the Syrian civil war nears its third anniversary, Azerbaijanis fighting for militant Islamic groups increasingly feature among those reported killed. While such reports are unsettling to officials in Azerbaijan, non-governmental observers in Baku believe the implications are limited for domestic stability.
SUZAK VILLAGE, Kyrgyzstan -- Mekhribbon has lived a mother's nightmare since she last spoke to her son by telephone during the summer.
She hadn't seen him since 2011, when he and five friends left their ethnic Uzbek village of Suzak in southern Kyrgyzstan for migrant work near Moscow.
These days in the small courtyard at the Pir Sultan Cemevi, a house of worship in Istanbul, a few women sit on benches, men stand around chatting and sipping tea, while children haggle over donated toys.
You can't blame people for being skeptical about the recently brokered US-Russian deal to contain the Syrian regime's chemical weapons. But when it comes to Syria, there are no clear choices. There's a lot not to like about either President Bashar al-Assad or the rebels who are trying to oust him.
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What sort of street is this? Find out who lives here, how much properties are worth, which businesses are based here, and demographic profile data about the area!
Sorry, we have no records of residential addresses within this postcode.
Chelsea Building Society - Building SocietiesTimbercombe House, Charlton Kings Business Park, Cirencester Road, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, GL53 8DZ
Telephone: 01274 740740
Charlton Kings Engineering Co - Steel FabricatorsCirencester Rd, Charlton Kings Indstl Est, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, GL53 8DZ
Telephone: 01242 255554
Area: GL53 8DZ
Area Type: Wealthy Neighbourhoods Nearing & Enjoying Retirement
These neighbourhoods are home to an older and often retired population some with school age children. They tend to live in spacious detached and semi-detached properties in exclusive suburban and rural areas and own two or more cars. In many cases they have paid up their mortgage and enjoy a high disposable income earned as directors or professionals. Although qualifications are lower than the Affluent Singles & Couples group, they still remain high. They are extremely serious investors, being nine times more likely to have substantial shareholdings than the average. They are well able to maintain repayments and so represent a low credit risk. They read the quality press.


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This photo card is great if you have lots of images you would like to use - 4 to be exact. There is room for three on the front of the card and one large one on the back side. The pine trees and green on green color palette makes this a great choice for the naturalist.
These are flat A7 cards (5"x7") digitally printed on a premium, extra heavy, cover stock. These cards come with unprinted white envelopes.
Please read our terms and conditions before placing your order. A color proof will be emailed to you within 2 business days of placing your order.
You will be prompted to upload your photo immediately after you finalize your order.
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So… a while ago, Jennifer and I had a lady duel. I owed her some kind of bowtie gif to make up for it.
I couldn't find a suitable Matt Smith bowtie gif that hadn't been pulled out a hundred times before, so I decided to solve the problem myself.
Jennifer, this dragon is wearing a bowtie for you.


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PART 1 of a month-long style, travel and surf diary in Australia.
How to pack for a month in a carry-on…
Yes- it is possible. The only things you'll be missing are the inevitable wait at the airport, bag fees, the gut-wrenching sound of wheels at your heels, the freedom of being able to skip around town prior to checking into a hotel, and possible luggage loss. Aside from that, you can fit everything you need for a trip in a bag that never has to leave your side.
To prove that it's possible to both pack light and look put-together, I'll be taking a month-long trip to Australia, packing only a carry-on bag, and updating you with via a daily style diary. I'll be posting style updates from Sydney, Melbourne and the Gold Coast, so I had to pack for both (slightly chilly) and warm weather.
My strategy: divide your bag into quarters:
1/2: Clothes, bathing suits
1/4: Shoes
1/4: Accessories
(I keep toiletries, my iPod, computer and books in a separate, small bag that's easy to get to)
What made the list of packing essentials:
- A Tunic
Bring a tunic dress that can be worn as a top, beach cover-up, or dress. Make sure to bring a layering tank or dress if it's sheer. My top picks: the L*Space Ava Poncho and the Gypsie Junkies Mimi Tunic.
- Maxi Dress
Like little cotton chameleons, a maxi dress can switch from casual to classy with the right accessories. Dresses that made my bag: a silk Indah dress, Gypsy Junkies tank maxi dress, and an Indah white cotton maxi dress.
- Pair of skinny jeans
Just one, really great-fitting pair will do.
- Solid layering tanks and tees
A few solid pieces for layering under sheer tops and dresses are essential. A few great essentials: a SWELL woven pocket tank and off the shoulder top.
- Tanks / Tops
You can fit about 100 chiffon tanks and tops in your bag. Consider these to be zero points- so like lettuce on Weight Watchers. A few of my picks: the SWELL Trails top and Spare Goletta wrap
- Beach Pants
One pair of printed or solid beach pants are great to have for lounging around. These Indah beach pants are unique enough to wear out.
- Denim Shorts
Like the skinny denim, just bring one pair of your favorite denim shorts.
- Bikinis
Take at least few bikinis. Best picks are ones that can double as tops to wear under tanks (or one-pieces that can be worn AS tanks) and dresses, and at least one good surfing top. If you're a boardshorts gal, add one pair of those to the list (Billabong makes some really cool short boardshorts). My top picks: a tan Mikoh top, 6 Shore Road one-piece, and rust Acaia bandeau and bottoms.
- Sunscreen, sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat
If you're going to be in the sun, you'll be happy you packed these: Nixon sun hat and Waterman's Face Stick
- Shoes
Flats, boots, sandals, wedges. One of each, and that's it. You could probably do without either the boots or the wedges, depending on your style and where you'll be going. What made my list: Frye Billy Boots, tan Billabong sandals, Frye mid-tops, and my favorite pair of tan wedges (similar to this BC wedge sandal below).
- Lightweight sweater
You'll have a jacket if it gets really cold, and hopefully some scarves in your accessories arsenal, so just one, light sweater will do. In my bag: yellow BB Dakota Sweater
- Jacket: wear this on the plane. This could take up about half a bag, so just wear it. You'll be happy you did when you realize airline cost cuts left you without a blanket.
- LOTS of accessories (leggings, jewelry, fun socks, skinny belts, scarves)
It may sound like a long list (or a short one if you're an over-sized rolly bag connoisseur), but trust me, packed right you can fit it all into one, 22" x 14" x 9", bag. Wear the jacket, boots, a scarf, and either denim or a maxi dress to cut down on the bulk.
"A, ahem. You forgot a board."
Remember, Aussies are a nice bunch- handing out smiles and Vegemite sammies like it's nothing. So make friends and borrow a board.
See the entire packing list: Travel Essentials
Then stay tuned- the Daily Style Diary starts this Sunday!
About the author: Nicki is the voice inside your…SWELL emails & social networks. See more from her Australia Style & Travel Guide HERE


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Kung Fu Rabbit is an upcoming Nintendo Wii U eShop release from Neko Entertainment. The game is scheduled to be released on May 2nd and features cute visuals with a bit of hardcore puzzling action. The release trailer above shows some of what you can expect to see in the game. The game offers up 70 levels of play and reminds me of a cutesy Super Meat Boy. What do you guys think? Will you be picking it up when the game is released?
Continue reading:


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What's The Best Practical Gift You Ever Received?
Reader Survey
I have this thing about gifts. They should either be totally random, but well thought out and never be something the recipient would purchase for themselves or they should be extra practical and be something they truly need but don't have the money to purchase them at this exact moment. For the most part I lean towards practicality and I'm curious, what's the best "down to earth" gift you've ever received?
Over the years I've received many great practical gifts from my folks. They're totally awesome at assessing the needs of a home and taking care of things. Last year they bought me an instant hot water heater (which isn't most girls dream practical item, but it was mine!) because our water lines are so long and showers or doing dishes were almost impossible.
When we were first married they bought us a new handheld shower head for our rental and we had no idea how much we'd be thankful for that, or that we'd quickly realize that our old one was so horrible.
Blankets? Socks? Tools? What was a great practical gift you received over the years? Do you like practical things because they take the stress off purchasing some necessities yourself or hate them because they aren't usually shiny or fun? Let us know below!
Image: Flickr member gcfairch licensed for use by Creative Commons
94 Comments
This year my brother is getting me a fire extinguisher for my kitchen (in white!) and a fireproof document box.
I'd rather have stuff like that then clothes or jewelry. :-)
shark steam mop, food processor ... anything for the kitchen!
I covet a power sander for Christmas, but will most likely buy it for myself. Best practical gift I recieved was a cast iron skillet.
Funny, I got my mom a handheld showerhead this year. She got a rain one for the other side of her shower, and both of the ones she has are pretty bad.
I always love getting things like blankets and calendars. My favorite little thing is socks. It's not something I love to splurge on, but for a gift, they're perfect.
Last year, my in-laws gave us 10% down on my husband's SUV. That's one of those things that I can't argue with at all.
my brought me an awesome wool blanket from Ireland one year, great for making the leather couch a bit warmer. The 3 cup food processor is also the best kitchen gift I've gotten, use it for everything from nuts to pesto to sauces to graham cracker crusts.
My boyfriend got me a shredder one year for my birthday (among other, more romantic things) and I loved it!
Heated mattress pad from my daughter. I never get into a cold bed. Thank you sweetheart. You are forgiven for your adolescence.
My new house is chilly and I have been promised a heated mattress pad which sounds like a dream! Also, in the past, the best picks have been a decent camera, the Americas Test Kitchen cookbook and a set of beautiful pottery serving bowls.
Last Christmas my Dad bought me a full set of henckle knives, I almost cried I have wanted them for so long and just couldn't bring myself to spend the money. He's the best!
We're buying a rug for the living room as a gift to ourselves.. I couldn't be more excited!
Hands down, mini shop-vac from my parents was the most useful gift ever.
Last year we closed on a house that needed total renovation on December 23rd. We'd poured our savings into the down payment so he got a toilet and I got windows. :-) (Plus a joint faucet, light fixtures, etc.) And yes, I wrapped them and put them near the tree.
Every year my mother gives me a family calendar as a Christmas gift. Its filled with special pictures from my previous years excursions. It's fun to see what we were doing last year around that month and I know I will treasure it even more when I am older looking back on them. Its a fairly cheap present to give someone but it has a whole lot of heart and thoughtfulness put into it.
Towels, crock pot, knives, sheets, down bedding, etc.. Useful but dull. I think the diamond earrings I got for my 22nd birthday were very practical; I certainly wear them a lot.
I'm getting a new cell phone this year, since the puppy chewed up my (3 year old) current one. :)
I got a circular saw as an early Christmas present and it was JUST what I wanted! So happy.
A winter coat from the boyfriend.
Really good soap, a box of beautiful blank cards, and cash.
My bright orange mixing bowls and (for my birthday, not Christmas but same basic idea) a set of good knives. My folks have also given me a set of pyrex baking dishes with plastic lids that I ADORE.
Another practical gift that I love: my mom has made me two crocheted afgans and a beautiful quilt (wall art variety, not for the bed). They're even more special because she made them herself.
The power drill hasn't been quite as useful but it's ever so much fun. Hehe.
My fiance (back when he was just my boyfriend) bought me a Dyson Animal for our first anniversary. He was worried it would be horribly unromantic, so he asked me before he bought it, but it has been the BEST THING. Now that we live together, we have three cats and the vacuum is indispensable. It also performs great on our hardwood floors as well as the carpets.
Other than that, I've gotten SO much use out of the nice chef's knife my father bought me five years ago for Christmas. It's not one of the super-duper nice ones, but it's well made and handles pretty much any chopping task well.
My honey gave me a Concord hammered pewter flask for my birthday a couple years ago. It's the best! And my mom gifted us an All Clad stainless saucepan that we show off when we talk about how wonderful bechamel sauces are.
Otherwise, practical gifts I've received have been low-quality or don't fit- boo.
great for hikes in the wither and summer or reading in bed :)
I realized this winter that I haven't had to buy a winter coat... ever. I keep getting them as Christmas gifts.
In Minnesota, that's very, VERY important.
4 tires for my car when I was in my early 20's. They were from my boyfriend. Not very romantic, but boy did my little Pinto need them!! One Christmas I could'nt make it back to NoVa (also in my early 20's), and I spend the holidays at my friends mothers house. I got up on Christmas morning and there were two packages for me under the tree. Warm sock in one, cotton 'underpants' (def not 'panties' haha) in the other. It was a sweet practical gift from someone that at the time did not have any money to spare. I always remind my friend that her mom gave me one of the best presents ever!
rowenta steam iron
A tabletop drill press! LOVE IT. Also have gotten an electric toothbrush and grind/brew coffeemaker. Practical is perfectly fine as long as it's QUALITY.
My boyfriend's brother gave me a food processor. Now I can't imagine how I was ever able to live without one.
For my first wedding anniversary I got a toilet. Not the most fun gift ever, but it was necessary.
Ah, memories. I suppose the most practical and the BEST Christmas present I have ever received was a 10" non-stick skillet and an iron with auto shut-off and a retractable cord. I had specifically asked for those items and was actually suprised that I received them. I still have both and miss my mom when I use them. I've also received a slow cooker, countertop grill and 4 tires. All great gifts. The older I get, the more I appreciate what I need versus what I want! And even better when I want what I need!
We bought a fixer-upper a couple years ago so practical gifts are a must.
The first Christmas it was table saw for him and I got a cordless tool combo kit. Last year he got a tile saw and I got a mitre saw. This year there is a router with assorted routers bits (for me) and a Kreg jig kit (for him) under the tree.
Even better than exchanging gifts we will use to make our house perfect for us? My husband thinks I am the coolest wife ever since I actually like getting power tools for Christmas.
The Christmas after moving into my new house (with 500' driveway) my parents bought me a snowblower - lifesaver!
My daughter bought me a professional strength hairdryer and I thank her silently every morning. And I, also, forgive her for her adolescence!
I got a bread machine once.
I got a fireproof safe one year.
I got my bed another year.
I asked for a food processor this year!
My parents think I'm crazy when I ask for stuff like this!
A commercial garment steamer. Seriously, everyone who has a job requiring them to dress in suits (or even business casual) needs one of these. I use it every day and it's saved me thousands of dollars over the years on dry cleaning .
Best gifts ever from my husband; a sewing machine, a vacuum cleaner, good knives, a computer, and a food processor. I would much rather have these than jewels any day. He is the best.
a really nice stainless steel trash can by simple human-- something i couldn't justify spending my own money on but appreciate every day
My brother gave me an entry level cordless drill. Hundreds of projects later it has finally died. I can't bear to toss it so it's been re-purporsed as a bookend.
I want a high efficiency toilet for Christmas!
I asked for and got a wonderful coffee maker for christmas last year.
This year I am 7 months pregnant and all I want for christmas is a car seat and stroller!!
We bought ourselves a food processor for Christmas last year instead of getting gifts for each other. Amazing.
I got a great 12-quart stockpot from my mom this year... I opened it early so I could use it to make wassail for our Christmas party!
My parents bought me an E-Pass and set up an account with $50 in it. Paid all my tolls for over a year, saved me a bunch of time, and kept from waiting in long lines. Now every time I go through a toll plaza I have a little smile on my face and think of the one gift I use all year long!
One year my mother-in-law got me a Vita-mix. It's one of my favorite gifts ever, as it was very practical and and I use it daily, but they're so expensive I could never justify buying one myself.
Food processor and a nice car snow scraper - they weren't things I would have bought for myself, but I use them ALL the time!
Dyson!! :)
I find it incredibly hard to get people to give me practical gifts. But, I'd rather someone else buy me something I don't want to pay for! So after 4 years of people saying no, I did some serious campaigning before my birthday and finally got that Dyson vacuum! I loved getting it too!
for 3 years i've asked for a power drill or a laser level, and no one will get it for me, because they don't think it's a proper christmas gift for a girl,
I got a first aid kit from my mom last year. My partner got a Sonicare from her.
10 years ago my mom got me my kitchenaid standing mixer. I still love it.
Haha, one year I got 3 rice cookers(all the exact same model) for Christmas, something that was meant to be useful, but I honestly never used them because they were crap.
It's the thought that counts :)
The best christmas present ever was when my husband (then boyfriend) had paid all my credit card debt off. I felt the lightest I had been in years!
my parents got me a peugot pepper grinder for my birthday this year. i was using a dinky old nutmeg grater that just wasn't up for the task. well done, mom and dad.
At the age of 30, and recently divorced - my parents got me Young Drivers driving lessons, and my freedom!
Though my former in-laws (who I wish I could have kept!) once got us an awesome plastic gargoyle and filled it with coins for doing laundry! Something a young, broke college couple REALLY needed!
I love the story of the warm sox and 'underwear' ..a girl always needs those and the mom was so sweet and thoughtful...I always include fancy 'panties' for my daughter with her gifts..I always 'joke' I'd love a pile of laundry quarters for myself ..bliss !
In my mid twenties, just after breaking up with the boyfriend who I had been living with, my youngest brother moved in for a few months and noticing that I was interested in cooking, tipped off my parents to get me a food processor for my birthday. I was gobsmacked... it was something I immediately loved (and was to use endlessly) but it hadn't been on my radar and I was touched by my 20 year old brother noticing something I hadn't yet recognized myself and by my parents picking up on this.
I still have that little Braun processor, many many years later. Makes me smile every time I pull it out of the cupboard.
I got a drill too! I always asked my sis and her bf to bring theirs when they come to visit so I could hang things. Her bf got smart and gave me my very own. Yay!
Flannel sheets. My boyfriend complained it wasn't a romantic pick, but I reminded him being cold wasn't romantic either.
one my best friend bought me a good bra. I bought her a macoroni pot
i always ask my mom for the practical stuff. A new blender one year, an immersion blender the next, a food processor...this year i asked for an electric blanket. our new house is so drafty!
i love practical gifts because if I want something shiny and fun, i usually just buy it myself without waiting for Christmas.
My mother in law got me a headlamp one year. During the winter, I keep it in my purse. When the power goes out (which it does a few times each winter), I may not know where the flashlight is, but I always know where my purse is!
Last year for Christmas my parents gave me a toilet :) I bought a condo 3 years ago in it's original 1968 condition, including a blue bathtub and toilet. I've been saving over the last 3 years to renovate and the toilet was a fantastic and thoughtful gift :) To keep with the theme, my parents also gave me a metal cat litter scoop hehe
well next year my husband says he's getting me a saw. after yet another "ooooh, please can you help me make this next year?!" (prompted this time by the white pvc wreath featured on at a few days ago), i think he finally cracked and decided i need to learn some practical skills!! :0)
Wow I've picked up some great gift ideas here! Especially the simplehuman trash can, iron with retractable cord, headlamp (reading in bed) and heated mattress pad.
Last year I received a sewing machine, but after the baby I didn't get a chance to use it. This year I've asked for (refresher) sewing lessons + craft books. I will be enrolling my Fiance in Writing courses as a surprise. He loves to write in his 'spare time'.
Snow tires (I live in Buffalo)!
When my husband was still my boyfriend, he bought me a very good breadknife. At the time I thought that was...strange, but then realized that he was buying me that I would use constantly, which is the point of a thoughtful gift. Thirty four years later, we are still happily married and that knife is still used every single day.
It might be this year: all I asked for is a Kitchenaid mixer. In Martha Stewart blue. ^_^
High-quality knives back when I was 21. Still have them to this day. In fact, all of the basics in my kitchen were gifts from the first several years of my 20s. I never could've afforded them on my own, and I love to cook.
Gift cards to my favorite stores. When I need or want something later in the year I always think of how the person who gave it to me made it possible.
I already got my gift for this year -- a new computer (iMac) to replace the one that died a sudden and unexpected death! Practical, lavish, and (his thing) TECHNOLOGY!
Funny story! When I was a teenager, a friend got married. I was FLAT broke. I had just bought myself an electric heating pad, still unopened. So, having nothing left to spend, I gave it to my friend as a wedding gift. Those tending the gifts table were aghast, stuck it under the table, pretended it didn't exist. But 20 years later she told me, no matter how odd it seemed as a gift, she still used and relied on that thing when aches and pains arose! You never know!
I agree with the original poster's philosophy. I always like to give one impractical whimsical gift my recipient won't expect and (hopefully) will love, almost as a joke. Some of them have been duds, but a few Big Hits. I'm pleased with this year's selections, we'll see which way they go!
In my 20's, people would give me warm bedding & it was always appreciated--an Hermes comforter; a set of flannel sheets; a royal purple polar weight sleeping bag.
The first Christmas my husband (then boyfriend) & I were together, my mother gave him a giant bag of bungee cords. We thought it was hilarious but bungee cords turned out to be a practical & useful gift.
My fiance bought me a dozen bars of my favourite soap, unexpected but gave me much delight over a long time.
Last year he gave me cashmere bed socks when our apartment was entirely unheated.
He died two months ago.
Catherine123, I'm so sorry for your loss. Please accept my sincere condolences. It must be very difficult to be grieving when people are celebrating around you. This post and the responses it prompted made me remember many acts of kindness and generosity from loved ones who are now gone from my life. I hope that you are comforted and warmed both by memories and kindness this difficult year.
I really enjoyed this post and all the comments. When I was in college and saving for a semester abroad, my parents gave me a huge supply of my HBC products - shampoo, soap, lip balm, cologne, razor cartridges, deodorant... everything. I was surprised, but it really saved me a lot of money I could then take on my travels.
My parents gave me nothing but practical for years. A good knife and a saucepan when I got my first apartment. A vacuum cleaner and a wool blanket when I moved to the east coast. A set of Japanese teacups when I was more established.
Lately, now that they're retired and I'm relatively solvent, dishtowels and cloth napkins are easy and modestly priced.
Every year my mum asks me what I want... She used to think I was weird asking for a chest of drawers or a piece of art... But I use the chest of drawers every day and love looking at the art and not only appreciating the fact that its beautiful but that it is also a kind gift from my mum. So far I have gotten a chest of drawers, microwave, fridge, bed, three pieces of art, a tv cabinet... I can't look around my house without thinking of my mum. My hubby refuses to buy me practical gifts. I asked for a washing machine one year and he still brings it up when he's annoyed with me!
There's really no joy like unwrapping a present, only to find that underneath the fancy paper is a giant, greasy cardboard box full of smoked pig's ears! Second to that was one of those pricey overstuffed dog beds- pretty much anything for the dog is the perfect practical gift.
My parents are getting me a laptop for Christmas this year (shhh don't tell them I know!), which is really practical considering I'm in college...but honestly I'm really excited to get the Fossil watches I picked out a month ago! Yes it's jewelry, but it's PRACTICAL jewelry! ;)
I guess I'm more a fan of the gifts that are on the unexpected/sorta funky side. Although none of my friends buy gifts for each other (we're all broke & in college!), my friend and I did go in on the perfect gift for her sister (also my friend) - eyelashes for her car's headlights! Although it's slightly crazy & on the verge of tacky, we're sure she'll love them!
Catherine123, I'm so sorry about your fiance. I can't even imagine how awful life must be for you right now. Sounds like he was a very thoughtful guy.
Although I have not gone through anything as earth-shattering as losing a partner, my parents died when I was in my teens and early twenties, so I know a bit about how hard the first few holidays are without a loved one. Be very good to yourself right now - grief is exhausting. Don't force yourself to go anywhere or do anything just to fufill someone else's expectations. Just indulge in whatever your guilty pleasures are, and make sure to get lots of sleep and exercise. The year we lost my dad, we had no energy or interest in decorating, cooking, going to church, or any other traditions. Mom, Sis, and I just ate hundreds of chocolate-covered cherrys, put a red bow on a houseplant, watched trashy tv, and went out for Chinese. So what if it seemed pitiful compared to another family's holiday - heck, it got us through Christmas and that was all that mattered.
Since then, we have kept the tradition of a red bow on a houseplant. I guess it just reminds us that no matter how much life sucks, we'll figure out a way to keep going.
To answer the original question about practical gifts, here are my top three:
1) On my 16th birthday, my dad brought me a breakfast-in-bed tray with tea, an english muffin, and a book about becoming a woman. I can't remember the title, but it was a compilation of advice from powerful and/or famous women, including some surprisingly candid advice about sex. Although some of my friends' parents threw them big Sweet 16 parties, I was not disappointed at all - breakfast in bed made me feel very loved, and the book had some information that was very useful to me at that stage in my life.
2) I work in a freezing-cold warehouse. Last year, my best friend got me luxurious silk long johns. I was so, so grateful!
3) Over my loud objections ("Real women know how to read maps!"), my boyfriend got me a GPS for my car. It has saved me so much hassle, especially when I am running late for an appointment at a place I've never been to before.
A drill! The best present that keeps on giving me ease, time, independance & ability year after year. Thank you to that boyfriend (who turned out not to be near as useful).
My brother has a long narrow country lot that goes down to a river in the back. We gave him and his wife some good radio walkie-talkies, so they could talk when one is down by the river and the other is up at the house and needs something. They're still using them several years later and they like them so much they gave us a pair back. They're great for roaming around at flea markets and when we go camping.
And this year, I've asked for one of those panda mini-washing machines for our tiny house.
Without a doubt, the GPS my husband got me for Christmas a few years ago was the best practical gift I've ever received. When I opened it I was like "um, yay?" and not very impressed. But as soon as I started using it I realized it was the absolutely most perfect gift anyone could have gotten me. I guess he knows me better than I know myself!
My bestie bought me a Dyson vacuum...excellent gift! (Though I normally prefer ultra-unpractical things, this was great!)
My wife and I got a floor steamer one year from her grandfather. It is amazing, and we use it way more than we ever thought we would.
I have received so many useful gifts over the years, I feel quite blessed. Bicycle (save the environment AND health), MacBook Pro, Sonicare toothbrush, fishtank heater... I gave my parents a Cuisinart and they have been using it for years and still comment about how useful it is.
One year my parents gave me The Joy of Cooking. I was just out of college, living on my own, and just getting into cooking. It's been a great resource to have; I even like skimming through to see what new recipes/methods I can find.
My dad proudly got me a label maker a few years back. So practical, and fits my nearly-OCD organizing personality perfectly. It does make me smile every time I use it.
A pooper-scooper. A really nice one- from my in-laws. Seriously. We have two big dogs and I use it all the time. But kind of hard to wrap.
My sister is good at this, she gave me both my garment steamer (fantastic convenience, saves a lot on dry cleaning), and a set of simple human kitchen cannisters.
My family is all about the practical gifts (drills and batteries make it into the Yankee Swap each year), but there is one family legend that reminds us all of the limits of practical gifts: My grandfather bought my grandmother snow tires one year (and nothing else.) He slept on the couch for a week.
The year I lived in an unrenovated historic house in downtown Charleston (which equaled $400 electric bills just to keep it at 50 degrees) my parents got me a down comforter. It was the best possible gift I could get that year!
My long-time boyfriend and I broke up over Thanksgiving, and I hadn't spoken to him in 6 weeks while I was out of town for training. I ignored all his phone calls and emails. But curiosity got the best of me when he went home for Christmas and left a voice mail saying that Santa had left me a gift on his doorstep, since he didn't know where I was. I went to check it out and found a hand-wrapped bread knife. I questioned the wisdom of getting an angry ex-girlfriend a knife for Christmas, but I had been saying for years that I wanted one. It did the trick and I called him for New Year's. A year later we used that very same knife to cut our wedding cake and we've been fightlessly married since!
Hello Kitty humidifier -- a pleasant cool mist jets out of the cat ears and the mid-section glows a soft purple -- practical and pleasant to look at, if you like Hello Kitty of course.


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As stated previously, Matt Hendricks has one of the most unique player types in the NHL. He is shootout specialist and tough guy. His work on the ice earned a deserved extension, but where he fits in the Caps' lineup at this point in time is still unknown. Whether it's the third line or the fourth line, Matt Hendricks is good to go. The stats and film will tell the story today.
Last season, his first full campaign in the NHL, he had 25 points on nine goals and 16 assists. He also had 110 penalty minutes. Washington is what some might call a new-age team. From a philosophical standpoint, they don't really believe in employing a tough guy. They are one of the teams not necessarily trying to remove that player type but not willing to sacrifice skill on the ice. Sure they gave away nothing for D.J King and used to have MMA fighter Donald Brashear, but if you look at where the Caps are now, they aren't sacrificing skill anywhere in the line up for toughness. Where does Matt Hendricks fit in? Everywhere!
GMGM (General Manager George McPhee) saw something in Hendricks and was right. He can play Capital hockey and still protect his teammates if it must be done. He's willing, which is what you need. Check out this fight. Exactly the type of team you need a good fight against sometimes.
FInally let's look at Hendricks' shootout skill. When Alex Ovechkin, Nick Backstrom and Alexander Semin are on your team it's hard to crack the primary shooter rotation. Matt Hendricks can win a game after those three don't, putting the puck in the net with surprising consistency. This is important in the modern NHL era. Shootout wins determine playoff positioning in many situations. While the league tries to prevent this, the overall standings are unquestionably affected by shootouts.
To the eye, Matt Hendricks has a lot of poise in the shootout. Poise is probably the most important attribute in that situation. One on One with the goalie is just about the easiest way for a player to score. If not flying down the ice too fast, a player can deke and change angles many times throughout the course of an attempt. Check this move.
RSS and share this blog for more insight on the Washington Capitals.


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Enter the total value of bicycles you want to insure
Triathlonguard - specialist insurance for Triathletes
Triathlonguard is very proud to be supporting Harry Wiltshire, a professional Triathlete who is currently competing in Ironman events around the world. Harry has provided insight in to the insurance needs of Triathletes to support us in the ongoing development of Triathlonguard and we look forward to supporting him through his 2014 season.
Triathlonguard is also the Official Triathlon Insurance Partner of a number of key events throughout 2014;
The London Triathlon and the Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research Blenheim Triathlon, the largest and second largest events in the UK respectively,
The Castle Triathlon Series, a series of Triathlon festivals at five stunning venues across the UK and Europe which are suited to all levels from elites to children and first timers,
The Brownlee Triathlon Series, two events at iconic venues, one in the south of England and one in the brothers' home county of Yorkshire.
The Jenson Button Trust Triathlon which is organised and competed in by the 2009 Formula 1 World Champion Jenson Button. It is held at the 5 star Luton Hoo Hotel in July and combines strong competition with a fun festival atmosphere.
Why choose Triathlonguard?
Our Triathlon Insurance product has been developed in consultation with Triathletes as well as those who work in the Triathlon industry to provide insurance for you and your equipment whilst training and competing, whether that is in the UK or abroad.
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CROWN POINT, N.Y.-Crown Point State Historic Site will host a meeting of Friends of Crown Point State Historic Site inside the site's museum on Saturday, April 10, 2-3 p.m.
Several people stepped forward to reorganize and reinvigorate the non-profit organization. Former members and new members from New York and Vermont are welcome. The public is invited to R.S.V.P. and attend the April 10 meeting.
Friends of Crown Point State Historic Site, Inc. was incorporated in 1985. The group, working closely with site management, provides support for the benefit of the site's mission to preserve its history and to serve the visiting public. Active members receive free admission to the site's museum and are eligible both to vote at the annual business meeting and also to hold office on the friends' board of trustees.
Physical changes at the site museum in 2009 included an impressive new video, a detailed new 3-D model with a sound-and-light show, an improved exhibit, improved parking, improved outdoor interpretive signs, a new kiosk, and new paths. Last year's French and Indian War 250th anniversary, Champlain Quadricentennial, and even the bridge demolition publicity, have raised the profile and public awareness of this site.
In 2010, Crown Point State Historic Site will publicly celebrate the 100th anniversary of its establishment. Members of the friends group can be a part of that.
Crown Point is a unique location, both geographically and historically. In 1734, the French military built an impressive stronghold here, Fort St. Fr d ric, with its tall limestone tower and its fortified windmill. A quarter-century later, when the British arrived, they built a larger fortress at Crown Point, starting in 1759. The limestone ruins of both the French-built fort and of the earthen walls and stone barracks of the British fort, located on a scenic point of land that juts into Lake Champlain, have remained largely unchanged since a devastating fire burned the British fort in 1773, two years before the start of the War for American Independence.
All who are interested in attending the April 10 meeting or in joining or re-joining the friends group are encouraged to send an RSVP to Crown Point State Historic Site, 21 Grandview Drive, Crown Point, N.Y., 12928-2852 or to RSVP the historic site manager by e-mail at email@example.com.
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Spanish at the Brentwood Community Association
1520 Northmount Drive NW
Tuesday, July 2, 2013 - 18:00
Thursday, July 11, 2013 - 19:00
Adults: $100 per 4 sessions (one hour each)
Lectures & Education
Come and join us at the Brentwood Community Association for Spanish for Travellers I on July 2nd, 4th, 9th and 11th. Materials are included. Classes will be from 6 p.m to 7 p.m. Private lessons are also available upon request at firstname.lastname@example.com
Traveller's Toolkit
- Calgary Maps
Calgary Weather
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Visitor Guide
View the Tourism Calgary Visitor's Guide online or download a version to your computerView Calgary Guides


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Mooseheads Are QMJHL Champions
For the first time in their 19 year history the Halifax Mooseheads are the President's Cup champions.
They won with a 5-1 win over the Baie-Comeau Drakkar and took the series 4-1 on Friday night.
A couple of hometown heroes were involved in the scoring as Cole Harbour, NS natives Stephen MacAulay and Nathan MacKinnon led the way with three goals between them with MacAulay getting two and MacKinnon one. Stegan Fournier and Jonathan Drouin had the other two goals; while Valentin Zykov scored for the Drakkar.
Following the game Drouin was presented with the Guy Lafleur Trophy as playoff MVP for his 35 points in 17 games.
The Mooseheads began the series with Baie-Comeau at home with a 4-0 shutout on Friday, May 3rd as Trey Lewis, Konrad Abeltshauser, Ryan Falkenham, and Fournier were the goal scorers.
Halifax took a 2-0 lead in games with a 4-3 win on Saturday thanks to goals from Abeltshauser, Fournier, MacAulay, and Matthew Boudreau; while Zykov, Carl Gelinas, and Petr Straka scored for Baie-Comeau.
The Mooseheads suffered their first loss of the postseason on Tuesday with a 3-1 loss when the series switched to Baie-Comeau. Gelinas, Zykov, and Gabryel Pacquin-Boudreau scored for Baie-Comeau; while Andrew Ryan was the lone Mooseheads' goal scorer.
Halifax put Baie-Comeau on the brink of elimination with a 7-4 win on Wednesday thanks to two goals from Martin Frk and singles from Lewis, Ryan, Abeltshauser, MacKinnon, and Drouin. Gelinas, Straka, Paquin-Boudreau, and Samuel Noreau scored for Baie-Comeau.
The Halifax Mooseheads will play their next game next Saturday night when they take on the Saskatoon Blades in their first game at the 2013 Memorial Cup in Saskatoon, SK.
QMJHL Releases Final Central Scouting List
On Monday the QMJHL unveiled the final Central Scouting List for the QMJHL Draft which will take place at the Georges-Vezina Arena in Chicoutimi on June 28th.
15 year old forward Nicolas Roy who plays for Amos in the Quebec major midget AAA league is the top ranked player for the draft this year.
For the complete draft list, click here.
Lemieux Named Vaughn CHL Goaltender of the Week
Baie-Comeau's Simon Lemieux is the CHL Goalie of the Week for the week ending April 28th.
He made 29 saves in the 2-1 win over Blainville-Boisbriand on Friday, April 26th.


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Gaia Collections
The Gaia Movement is currently operating clothing collections in the following areas:
The first Gaia Movement collection in the USA, started in 1999, the Chicago collection covers the greater Chicagoland area, Indiana, and Illinois.
Started in 2005, the Sacramento collection covers the area between Modesto to the south, Redding to the north, Vacaville to the west, and Auburn to the east.
The Fresno collection was started in 2010. It covers the central valley between Turlock and Bakersfield.
The first boxes in Louisville were placed in September of 2011. The clothing collection covers Louisville, Lexington, Elizabethtown, surrounding areas, and parts of southern Indiana.
Started at the end of 2011, the Nashville collection covers the Nashville metro area, Middle Tennessee, Chattanooga, Knoxville and parts of southern Kentucky.
Started at the beginning of 2013 the Memphis collection concentrated to the Memphis metro area, Germantown and Bartlett.
Portland, Oregon
Started in 2013, the collection covers the Portland metro area and central Oregon.


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We know that there are Facebook users still using older versions of the news feed so this post may not apply to everyone, but those of you that are concerned th
Washington DC-based management consulting, recruiting firm, Boxwood Executive Search announced today their expansion into Florida, establishing offices in the Tampa Bay area.
Coming up with a new update to post every day can become extremely difficult at times. Weekly specials stay the same week after week and your connections eventually get bored seeing such repetitive posts. Can you blame them? How bored would you get if you saw the same post from your favorite restaurant day after day after day?
What to do…. What to do?!
Well I guess you could start posting about local news. That works, right?
It does work, on occasion especially with breaking news, happy stories and must know updates, but don't turn your business social media platforms into local news media streams. There's a reason why we have local news.
You could start posting cat pictures.
Why not?! Cats live on the Internet so they might as well make a home on your Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, right? Once again…. It works on occasion, but don't make it the focus or topic of your message, unless you sell cat products. A great example of a good way to incorporate cats would be the following image.
You could share customer reviews and pictures.
This is a GREAT way to not only fill the void of nit having a unique update, but also a genius chance to brag about your company from the perspective of a very happy customer!
In the end all that matters is that what you post consistently positively represents your brand. If your posts consistently make your followers think WTF, you might need to rethink what you're posting and remember, you can almost ALWAYS find a creative way to incorporate your brand with breaking news, trends and memes. You just need to do a little brainstorming!
If you need help coming up with a content strategy feel free to shoot us an email at besocial[at]kimediastrategies[dot]com
- See more at: http://kimediastrategies.com/is-that-social-media-update-relevant-to-your-brand/#sthash.JY7MGRdW.dpuf
Facebook has been making some pretty great changes lately. Changes that could increase your marketing efforts and help you reach a whole new crowd of potential customers.
Hashtags on Facebook
Yes! Our hashtags on Facebook now do something more than just look silly. Think of all of the amazing searches you can do to see what people are talking about in relation to your brand.
Imagine what you could find by searching your company name like we did for one of our clients.
Picture Upload In Comments
You can now upload a picture as a comment to a post. How awesome is that? This is not available on pages yet.
Page Suggestions
These used to be hard to find, but are now nice and neatly placed to the right of your page where you would find upcoming birthdays and other information.
Are you happy to see any of these new features?
- See more at: http://kimediastrategies.com/a-few-changes-you-should-know-about-on-facebook/#sthash.lZUXwuz5.dpuf
Times have changed. It's no longer essential to get the best ad placement in your neighborhood newspaper to showcase your specials, deals and new menu items. No, print isn't dead, but there are more effective ways to get in front of this target in a more long term successful way. The Internet has provided a platform for many innovative companies to create applications and websites that attract YOUR potential customers. Are you a little curious?
Yelp is a crowd-sourced business review platform that has a lot of awesome and usually unknown features.
* The mobile app allows for geo based searching. You can see the menu, get directions and call right from the app on your phone.
* Businesses can set up check-in deals for those that wish to tell their Yelp (Facebook and/ or Twitter) community where they are dining.
* Everyone is a critic these days and Yelp knows this. They allow for you to draft up a review from your phone as you're eating your meal. (reviewers do need to log online to review and post fro ma computer)
* The analytics provided to the business show how many people searched, asked for directions, called and of course checked in at that location.
Why is Yelp important for restaurants?
Because your customers are telling you exactly how they feel about your service and their experience. If we listen we are only able to improve and attract more customers.
How should restaurants use Yelp?
Monitor for new reviews, encourage reviews from your customers via QR code campaign or other awesome strategies. Don't forget to incentivize potential diners by offering a check-in special.
Foursquare is a location based check-in tool that allows its users to see where their friends are, what's near to them, who is running check-in specials and of course check-in to let the world know where and what they are doing.
Some awesome business-end features:
- Businesses are able to (after they claim their location) create check-in, loyalty, friend and Mayor specials.
- Businesses are encouraged to utilize their update feature and list their specials or announcements for your Foursquare followers as well as those that check-in at your location.
- Businesses are able to link to Twitter and Facebook for seamless sharing.
- Foursquare provides amazing analytics including gender, number of monthly check-ins and your most recent and most loyal visitors.
Why is Foursquare important for restaurants?
Foursquare provides something that Yelp doesn't and that's a more game-like app for its users. Everyone wants to be Mayor of a business, right? I was once Mayor of Mayor Dick Greco's campaign HQ… That was a Mayorship to be proud of!
Foursquare also is integrated with Twitter quite nicely. You can see your recent visitors that shared their check-in to Twitter.
NEW FEATURE: Foursquare now includes the Twitter name of the business when a customer checks in and links to Twitter. Talk about a great way to encourage conversation and engagement!
How can a restaurant get started on Foursquare?
First… Claim your location. Once you've claimed it figure out what kind of specials you want to create for people when they check-in. Make sure you promote in your restaurant that you are on Foursquare and do have Foursquare check-in specials and be sure to update as often as you can with your day to day activities and specials!
Instagram is a photo sharing tool that comes complete with a ton of hipster photo filters to transform your images.
Why is Instagram important for restaurants?
Instagram is important for restaurants because food is HUGE online. People love sharing their food, taking images of their food and often can be swayed on a meal decision based on a social media connections reviews or pictures.
How can a restaurant get started with Instagram?
First you will need to download the app either from the Google Play store for Android or iTunes for iPhone/ iPad. Once you download the app you will be prompted to sign up. Be sure to connect your Twitter account (Facebook is not necessary for businesses) and within minutes you will be ready to start sharing mouthwatering images of your food.
Tip: Be sure to use hashtags for the best Instagram experience. If you're sharing a picture of a burger and you're a burger joint in NYC I would use the following hashtags: #foodie #NYCFoodie #Burger #NYCBurger #Instadelish #Instagood #NewYork #EatNewYork #DineNYC #NYC #NewYorkCity
Foodspotting is another mobile app that allows you to share images of your meal as you're indulging. You can upload your picture to the actual venue listing and share whether you had it or LOVED it and then leave a message like "Just had the most delicious #vegetarian burger ever!
How can restaurants use Foodspotting?
Right now there isn't really too much that restaurants can do on the actual site. You can definitely feel free to spot all of your dishes, but the gravy comes from crowd-sourcing images and reviews of your food directly from your customers.
Be sure to promote that you guys are watching Foodspotting, encourage a photo contest making use of unique hashtags for tracking. At the end of the day you want to give your customer a reason to share their delicious experience with the Internet, right?
Of course there are the regulars; Twitter, Facebook, Google+ etc…., but we wanted to give you some insight on 4 unique tools that many restaurants have yet to discover.
If you have any questions about these applications or would like to see how your restaurant can use them in their overall social media strategy feel free to email us at besocial [at] kimediastrategies [dot] com or fill out our contact form below.
Many still struggle with how exactly to measure and attribute success
Budgets for social media marketing are on the rise, with both B2B and B2C marketers proving they have generated leads and sales from their social outreach.
In its "State of Digital Marketing 2012 Report," Webmarketing123 found that 52% of US B2C marketers and 41% of US B2B marketers planned to increase their social marketing budgets in 2013, while an additional 46% of B2C and 56% of B2B marketers will keep them the same.
Facebook was the most popular site for B2C marketers, with 65% reporting that they spent money there. Only 40% of B2B marketers said the same of Facebook. However, 39% of B2B marketers spent money on LinkedIn, compared to only 23% of B2C marketers. Greater percentages of B2C marketers were using Twitter, Google+ and Pinterest than were B2B marketers. However, the difference for Google+, which has been popular for technology conversations in particular, was only 3 percentage points.
These investments in social sites are showing results. Two-thirds of B2C marketers (67%) said they had generated leads from Facebook, and 39% said they saw sales as a result of outreach on the site. This was compared to 39% of B2B marketers who reported leads and 19% who reported sales. For B2B marketers, not surprisingly, LinkedIn saw the most success, with 44% of marketers seeing leads and 23% seeing sales from the site.
Corresponding with other recent studies, the report also found that a percentage of marketers were still unsure if social media was contributing to leads (20%) and sales (40%). In order to continue receiving budget approval for social, however, marketers must prove their outreach is producing results, and many will experiment with different metrics and measurement tactics to do so.
Corporate subscribers have access to all eMarketer analyst reports, articles, data and more. Join the over 750 companies already benefiting from eMarketer's approach. Learn more.
Read more at http://www.emarketer.com/Article.aspx?R=1009352&ecid=a6506033675d47f881651943c21c5ed4#K0tB6DwQUrl67zeW.99


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Culinare 'Magican' Can Opener
Item No.3310089949
An essential for any kitchen drawer; this handy 'Magician' can opener from Culinaire is a must-have. In stylish white, this can opener comes with sturdy clamp function and a quick twist of the knob will have the lid off any can in seconds.
From Culinaire, this 'Magician' can opener comes with sturdy clamp function, easy twist knob and comfortable handles.
- These goods were on sale at the highest price from 22.04.14 to 28.04.14. Sold at the reduced price since 29.04.14.
- Size: 3.6 x 8.9 x 22.8
- Lifts and ejects lid
- Wipe clean
- 2 year guarantee
Deliveries are between 8am - 6pm, Mon - Sat.
FREE if you pay with your Debenhams card
FREE delivery on all orders over £30 (normally £3.99)
Deliver to store for collection ( 160 participating stores ) FREE
Debenhams is happy to exchange or refund your purchase within 28 days providing the goods are in a fully resaleable condition (including tags) and not within the exclusion policy*. This policy does not affect your statutory rights. You can return unwanted items either by visiting your local store (the fastest way to get a refund), by arranging a courier collection or returning by post. Exclusions apply to selected products. For instructions on how to return products and information on Debenhams refund policy visit the returns and refunds section of the website.


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The challenge
Set and Service Resources (SASR) helps national retailers and manufacturers recruit and hire quality temporary employees. Having a full database of candidates to choose from is critical to meeting SASR's clients' needs.
The staffing agency was looking for a cost-effective way to build their pipeline of candidates and increase the size of their database.
Snagajob's built-in community of millions of job seekers was just what SASR needed.
The solution
Snagajob worked with SASR to build an approach that would automatically pull open jobs from SASR's website and post them on Snagajob.com, opening the door to an entirely new audience of job seekers that the agency might not otherwise have been able to reach.
The applicants quickly began rolling in, and as job seekers applied to SASR's positions, they created profiles within the agency's system, exponentially increasing the talent pool the agency could choose from now and in the future.
In 2012, 38 percent of the profiles created in the SASR system came from Snagajob, representing more than 19,000 new candidates in the database.
"Snagajob hands down answered the challenge of building our database," said Cathy Plumb, director of recruiting and social media for SASR. "The more people we have coming into the database the more opportunities we have to make hires for our clients."
While Plumb was focused on increasing candidate volume, quality also played a part in defining success, and Snagajob candidates proved to be top-notch. Nineteen percent of hires made in 2012 came from Snagajob, a percentage only surpassed by internal referrals.
The results
Snagajob helped SASR not only increase their database volume, but also build a qualified candidate base. And, according to Plumb, the partnership delivered a third success:
"Many of Snagajob's younger job seekers are just at the beginning of their job search," Plumb said. "Even if they don't fit for one of our clients' jobs now, they might fit a need at some point and they will come to recognize SASR as a reliable source of temporary work. It's a branding win for us too."


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Parmesan Cheese Bites
Yield: 32 cheese bites
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 2/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper
- 1/2 cup butter or margarine, cut up
- 2 tablespoons milk
- Stir together first 3 ingredients in a medium bowl; cut in butter with a pastry blender until crumbly. (Mixture will look very dry.) Gently press mixture together with hands, working until blended and smooth (about 2 to 3 minutes).
- Shape dough into 2 (4-inch-long) logs. Wrap in plastic wrap, and place in an airtight container. Chill 8 hours, or freeze up to 3 months. (Thaw overnight in refrigerator.)
- Cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices, and place on a lightly greased baking sheet. Brush with milkM1Bake at 350° for 12 to 15 minutes or until lightly browned. Freeze up to 1 month, if desired.
My Notes
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Parmesan Cheese Bites Recipe at a Glance
- COURSE: Appetizers, Snacks
- CONVENIENCE: Entertaining, Freezable, Kid-Friendly, Make-Ahead, Portable/Picnic
- CUISINE: American
- MAIN INGREDIENT: Cheese
- DIETARY CONSIDERATION: Meatless
- COOKING METHOD: Bake
- OCCASION: Weddings, Birthdays/Anniversaries
- PUBLICATION: Southern Living
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Most Recent Articles In Financial
Latest Financial Articles
In a deal that caught retailers, analysts and competitors by surprise, Adidas-Salomon confirmed Wednesday that it will buy Reebok International for $3.8 billion in cash, creating an athletic giant to challenge Nike with more than $11 billion in sales and making the already wealthy Paul Fireman, chairman and chief executive of Reebok, even richer. Fireman and his wife own about 17 percent of Reebok's stock, meaning they would get almost $600 million just in share sales from the deal.
Fireman told WWD Wednesday that he will stay with the new company through the acquisition and then take on a different, more strategic role in the company and a successor from within will take over day-to-day operations.
"It wasn't an easy decision. I don't know if it will be harder to sell or harder later on to leave," he said in a phone interview about the sale, although he gave no time frame on when he might depart.
The acquisition immediately closes the gap between Adidas and Nike, which has sales of $13.7 billion, and solves the German company's long-running problem of how to grow in the American market. It also is expected to help Adidas and Reebok grow their apparel businesses, seen as a key to further expansion and an area on which both have placed an increased emphasis in recent seasons. Adidas has agreements with designers Stella McCartney and Yohji Yamamoto, as well as Missy Elliott, while Reebok works with stars such as Jay-Z and has apparel licenses for key sports leagues.
By acquiring Reebok, Adidas would almost double its sales in the U.S. Last year, Adidas had a volume of about $1.9 billion in the U.S., while Reebok's domestic sales were $1.6 billion.
The deal is valued at $3.8 billion, including the assumption of net cash of $84 million. The combined company will have revenues of about $11.1 billion. Under the terms of the deal, Adidas will pay $59 a share for all of Reebok's outstanding stock, a premium of 34.2 percent on Tuesday's closing price. Reebok shares soared 30 percent on the news, to close at $57.14, a 52-week high.


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We're back after a few Tumblrless weeks with 5 more Tumblrs for you to check out. This week's selection includes a healthy mixture of girls, wrestling, sneakers, design, and other things that are or were at one point a big part of your life. Follow this week's picks and post your Tumblr in the comments section below. Who knows, maybe you'll see yours here next week.
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