text:
Get the news
Loading Your News...Log In or Subscribe to skip
Nation Now
Updated 4:09 p.m. EDT
- Grid
- List
High school cafeteria worker tried to stop gunmanHigh school cafeteria worker tried to stop gunmanRelative says victims were friends, cousins with gunman.
- Nation
- 11 hours, 30 minutes ago
Timeline: Wash., other deadly school shootings since ColumbineTimeline: Wash., other deadly school shootings since ColumbineA student opened fire at a high school north of Seattle, injuring several people, then killing himself, police said.
- Nation Now
- 1 day, 13 hours ago
Mama June's daughter: McDaniel molested meMama June's daughter: McDaniel molested meMama June's eldest daughter says she was the victim in Mark McDaniels' child molestation case.
- People
- 12 hours, 3 minutes ago
Experts: Quarantines may dissuade Ebola volunteersExperts: Quarantines may dissuade Ebola volunteersEbola has infected more than 10,000 people in eight countries.
- Nation
- 11 hours, 4 minutes ago
Cream singer Jack Bruce dies at 71Cream singer Jack Bruce dies at 71Bruce wrote, sang Cream's biggest hits including 'White Room' and 'Sunshine of Your Love.'
- Music
- 15 hours, 38 minutes ago
Ebola-free, Dallas nurse returns to North TexasEbola-free, Dallas nurse returns to North TexasDallas nurse Nina Pham — declared to be free of the Ebola virus — is back home in North Texas.
- Nation
- 9 hours, 46 minutes ago
Brazil votes for next leader after bitter campaignBrazil votes for next leader after bitter campaignCurrent President Dilma Rousseff is in a run-off with Aecio Neves.
- World
- 2 hours, 44 minutes ago
Slumping oil prices not slowing Texas boomSlumping oil prices not slowing Texas boomExperts say oil prices would have to drop far lower before U.S. producers hit the brakes.
- Business
- 7 hours, 56 minutes ago
Ebola-free nurse blasts treatment at airportEbola-free nurse blasts treatment at airportHickox returned to the United States on Friday after treating Ebola patients in Sierra Leone.
- Nation
- 13 hours, 31 minutes ago
Heat is on for Ukraine electionsHeat is on for Ukraine electionsKiev holds parliamentary elections Sunday amid an ongoing conflict with separatists.
- World
- 3 hours, 36 minutes ago
Millions volunteer for Make A Difference DayMillions volunteer for Make A Difference DayThe nation's largest day for volunteerism, Make A Difference Day helps millions in need
- Nation
- 1 day, 4 hours ago
U.S. condemns hanging of alleged rape victimU.S. condemns hanging of alleged rape victimWoman who stabbed her alleged rapist was found guilty of murder and executed Saturday.
- World
- 12 hours, 6 minutes ago
Lower oil prices push Russia toward recessionLower oil prices push Russia toward recessionLower oil prices threaten to push Russia's beleaguered economy closer to recession.
- Business
- 3 days, 11 hours ago
The week in picturesThe week in picturesPeople march during a protest in Caracas against the government of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
- Nation
- 1 day, 13 hours ago
Hillary Clinton: It's not businesses that create jobsHillary Clinton: It's not businesses that create jobsHillary Clinton makes a comment reminiscent of Obama's "You didn't build that."
- Elections
- 3 hours, 33 minutes ago
Turkey kidnap plot raises doubts about U.S. troop safetyTurkey kidnap plot raises doubts about U.S. troop safetyPlot targeting Syrian rebel commander funded by Islamic State, reports say.
- Nation
- 3 days ago
Need a break? Stop, click, play a gameNeed a break? Stop, click, play a gameChoose Solitaire, Sudoku, Minesweeper and more.
- Life
- 1 month ago
Map: View Islamic State strongholdsMap: View Islamic State strongholdsThe United States and allies launched airstrikes on areas controlled by the militant Islamic State group on the night of Sept. 22 and the morning of Sept. 23.
- Nation Now
- 1 month ago
Map: Ebola outbreaks worldwideMap: Ebola outbreaks worldwideWest Africa is battling the largest Ebola virus outbreak in history.
- Nation Now
- 1 day, 20 hours ago
USA TODAY staff social media postsUSA TODAY staff social media postsWhat USA TODAY journalists are saying about today's news on Twitter
- Nation
- 3 months, 3 weeks ago
USA TODAY SnapshotsUSA TODAY SnapshotsMartinsville magig
- News
- 3 days, 13 hours ago
Quiz: Test your knowledge of EbolaQuiz: Test your knowledge of EbolaHow much do you know about the Ebola outbreak? Test your knowledge with our quiz.
- Nation Now
- 2 weeks, 2 days ago
Latest health and wellness newsLatest health and wellness newsThe latest news on health studies, wellness tips and fitness advice.
- News
- 1 year, 9 months ago
A look at the career of Ben BradleeA look at the career of Ben BradleeWashington Post Vice President Benjamin C. Bradlee in his office at The Post in the Sept., 1995 photo. Bradlee, the retired executive editor of The Washington Post and one of the best-known journalists of his times, shares confiding moments in his memoirs, A Good...
- Nation
- 4 days, 7 hours ago
Daily editorial cartoonsDaily editorial cartoonsOct. 24, 2014
- Cartoons
- 1 day, 13 hours ago
Battling the Ebola outbreakBattling the Ebola outbreakWorkers from BioRecoveryCorp carry barrels from the apartment building of Ebola patient Dr. Craig Spencer in New York on Oct. 24.
- World
- 19 hours, 56 minutes ago
The day in picturesThe day in picturesFishermen pull the net during a traditional fish haul at Vrkoc pond near Pohorelice, Czech Republic.
- News
- 15 hours, 55 minutes ago
Photos of fall foliage from across U.S.Photos of fall foliage from across U.S.Morning fog lifts to reveal shades of autumn color on the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina on Oct. 4.
- Nation Now
- 2 weeks, 2 days ago
Election countdown: Politicians say the darndest thingsElection countdown: Politicians say the darndest thingsSometimes campaigns wander a little off-script.
- Elections
- 34 minutes ago
Britain's war in Afghanistan officially endsBritain's war in Afghanistan officially endsSome 453 British troops have been killed in the conflict.
- World
- 45 minutes ago
Today in History for October 26thToday in History for October 26thHighlights of this day in history: President George W. Bush signs USA Patriot Act; Henry Kissinger says 'peace is at hand' in Vietnam; Gunfight at the OK Corral takes place; Actor Bob Hoskins and 'Wheel of Fortune' host Pat Sajak born. (Oct. 26)
- Nation
- 1 hour, 28 minutes ago
Mapping the USA's diversity from 1960-2060Mapping the USA's diversity from 1960-2060The USA TODAY Diversity Index shows diversity has surged in the last 50 years and is expected to continue rising
- Nation
- 4 days, 16 hours ago
Download USA TODAY's Political Ad TrackerDownload USA TODAY's Political Ad TrackerWith USA TODAY's Political Ad Tracker, a new iPhone app, you can watch, read analyses of and weigh in on the latest ads in Senate, House and gubernatorial races across the country.
- Nation Now
- 1 month, 1 week ago
Infographic: Spread of the Ebola virusInfographic: Spread of the Ebola virusThe World Health Organization estimates that the Ebola outbreak in West Africa has killed nearly 4,500 people.
- Nation Now
- 1 week, 1 day ago
Quiz: What type of beer are you?Quiz: What type of beer are you?Quiz: What type of beer are you?
- Nation Now
- 1 week, 3 days ago
Which seasonal products really contain pumpkin?Which seasonal products really contain pumpkin?As pumpkin spice controversy hits a fever pitch, a USA TODAY Network graphic decodes popular products.
- Nation Now
- 1 week, 4 days ago
- KARE-TV, Minneapolis-St. Paul
- The Sheboygan Press
- The Star Press
- News Herald
- The Cincinnati Enquirer
- Stevens Point Journal
- The Reporter
- Journal and Courier
- The News-Messenger
- News Journal
- Wausau Daily Herald
- WZZM-TV, Grand Rapids, Mich.
- Indianapolis Star
- Telegraph-Forum
- Coshocton Tribune
- The Post-Crescent
- Battle Creek Enquirer
- Palladium-Item
- The Marion Star
- Times Recorder
- Marshfield News-Herald
- Lansing State Journal
- The Courier-Journal
- The Advocate
- Chillicothe Gazette
- Green Bay Press-Gazette
- The Daily Press & Argus
- Iowa City Press-Citizen
- The Des Moines Register
- Herald Times Reporter
- Times Herald
- Lancaster Eagle Gazette
- WKYC-TV, Cleveland, Ohio
- The Daily Tribune
- Detroit Free Press
- Oshkosh Northwestern
- KSDK-TV, St. Louis, Mo.
- Observer & Eccentric
- Kentucky Enquirer
- Springfield News-Leader
- St. Cloud Times
- WLBZ-TV, Bangor, Maine
- WCSH-TV, Portland, Maine
- Burlington Free Press
- Rochester Democrat & Chronicle
- WGRZ-TV, Buffalo, N.Y.
- The Journal News
- The Ithaca Journal
- Press & Sun Bulletin
- Poughkeepsie Journal
- Daily Record
- Asbury Park Press
- Home News Tribune
- Courier News
- Courier-Post
- The Daily Journal
- The News Journal
- WUSA-TV, Washington, D.C.
- The Daily Times
- The Daily News-Leader
- WFMY-TV, Greensboro, N.C.
- Asheville Citizen Times
- The Greenville News
- WATL-TV & WXIA-TV, Atlanta
- WLTX-TV, Columbia, S.C.
- WMAZ-TV, Macon, Ga.
- Tallahassee Democrat
- Pensacola News Journal
- WTLV-TV & WJXX-TV, Jacksonville, Fla.
- Florida Today
- WTSP-TV, Tampa, Fla.
- The News Press
- The Baxter Bulletin
- WCNC, Charlotte, N.C.
- WVEC, Norfolk, Va.
South Central
- Statesman Journal
- KPNX-TV, Phoenix, Ariz.
- Great Falls Tribune
- The Arizona Republic
- Reno Gazette-Journal
- Fort Collins Coloradoan
- The Salinas Californian
- KUSA-TV & KTVD-TV, Denver, Colo.
- Visalia Times-Delta
- Argus Leader
- Tulare Advance-Register
- Pacific Daily News (Guam)
- The Desert Sun
- KXTV-TV, Sacramento, Calif.
- The Spectrum
- Tuscon Citizen
- KNAZ-TV, Flagstaff, Ariz.
- KENS, San Antonio, Tx.
- KGW, Portland, Or.
- KHOU, Houston, Tx.
- KING, Seattle, Wa.
- KREM, Spokane, Wa.
- KTVB, Boise, Id.
- KVUE, Austin, Tx.
- NWCN, Seattle, Wa.
- WFAA, Dallas, Tx.


text:
ACC Tournament: Duke loses first game with Kelly
GREENSBORO — At the end of the regular season, all four of Duke's losses had come with a Ryan Kelly disclaimer in the fine print at the bottom of the page.
It turns out the Blue Devils are, in fact, human with Kelly in the lineup and showed it in Friday night's ACC quarterfinal loss to Maryland. The 83-74 defeat, due in part to a game-best 30 points from Maryland's Dez Wells, occurred after a 4-for-25 three-point shooting performance. Duke entered the game the top 3-point shooting team in the conference.
Maryland (22-11) was the first team to defeat Duke with senior wingman Kelly and it did it with Wells, a freshman, being the difference-maker.
"It's a hell of a thing," Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski said. "It's a phenomenon. That's what happens in the game. When people are put in a position where they have to win, they elevate."
Duke, who jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the last game of the regular season against North Carolina, fell behind by double digits early on and never led. Krzyzewski called timeout 90 seconds in, not recognizing the bunch that beat Miami and dominated its rival in the last two weeks.
"We weren't the Duke team that's played most of the season," Krzyzewski said. "Especially the last couple of weeks. I'm disappointed in our performance but I'm also very impressed with Maryland."
The Terrapins advanced to today's semifinal against North Carolina and gave their NCAA Tournament resume a much-needed polish. Wells, a Raleigh product and self-proclaimed "late bloomer," carried his team offensively, scoring in a variety of ways and hit all 10 of his free throws. After a 21-point night against Wake Forest, Wells looked like the second-best player of the tournament's first two days behind Boston College's Olivier Hanlan.
"He's had a good year and he's a really good player," Krzyzewski said. "In these last two games he's elevated himself to a really high level."
Maryland displayed the desperation it needed for a team fighting to keep playing meaningful games by shooting 51 percent for the game and outrebounding Duke 38-28.
Duke (27-5) cut its deficit to one at 47-46 but went cold again and never regrouped. Maryland had an answer for every run and scored on seven of eight possessions in the second half to lead by as much as 13.
"I felt we looked younger, fresher and more athletic the entire game," Maryland coach Mark Turgeon said. "I was happy to be involved in this game, for my young team, but to win it is huge for our program."
Duke's Seth Curry was 2-of-7 behind the arc while Kelly misfired on all six 3-point attempts. The Devils only hit one 3, thanks to Tyler Thornton, in the first half as they trailed 34-26 at the break.
"We got a lot of good looks but our offense wasn't sharp from the start," Curry said. "We weren't cutting hard, screening hard, things like that."
Duke fell behind 12-2 four minutes in, keyed by 3-pointers from Wells and Jake Layman.
Going up against 7-foot-1 Alex Len, Mason Plumlee scored 19 points and had a chance to tie the game when 12:34 left on a one-on-one down low but was called for an offensive foul on a turnaround jumper that went in. The Devils' 10-2 run stopped there and they never got closer as the Terps scored 17 of the next 23 points.
"To put a run together you've got to get stops," Plumlee said. "They seemed to always have an answer."
Layman, Len, Nick Faust, and Seth Allen all scored 10 points each. Rasheed Sulaimon netted 16 points off the bench for Duke.
Duke won the tournament in its last stop in Greensboro in 2011 but lost in the quarterfinals for the first time since 2007 Friday. The Blue Devils now must wait and see if they're still worthy of a No.1 seed in the NCAA Tournament and make a return to form.
"There is no time to start questioning things," Plumlee said. "But at the same time we have to right the ship going forward. This happens next week, we're done."

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Alerts and Important Information
All vehicles shall be completely self-contained (built into the unit at time of construction); including kitchen and toilet facilities. Gray water (sink and shower) and Black water (human waste - septic tank) shall be contained and disposed of at an authorized dump station. Vehicles that are not self-contained will not be allowed to enter the park for camping purposes.


text: Hardware Resources is the premier manufacturer of cabinet and furniture hardware. We have made a commitment to globally facilitate and revolutionize the concept of functional and decorative hardware in the best interest of our customers. We believe in quality, integrity, and reliability. We uphold the highest standards of service and responsibility in the industry. The unique focus of Hardware Resources is the customer.


text:
"Nescafe Dolce Gusto Single-Serve Coffee, Espresso and Tea capsules…"
The beginnings of Nescafe Dolce Gusto can be traced all the way back to 1930, when the Brazilian government first approached Nestle. Their coffee guru, Max Morgenthaler, and his team set out immediately to find a way of producing a quality cup of coffee that could be made simply by adding water, yet would retain the coffee's natural flavor. Today, you can enjoy a variety of great Nescafe Dolce Gusto products in less than a minute with one cup Dolce Gusto machines from DeLonghi.
Nescafe Dolce Gusto Capsules
- 1 - 1 of 1
- We Price Match!
This product has not been rated
Convenient! Quick! Versatile! Describes the DeLonghi EDG200T Nescafé Dolce Gusto Piccolo Single Serve Coffeemaker. Using the delicious line-up of Nescafé Dolce Gusto capsules (sold separately), you will be able to prepare gourmet coffees, lattes, cappuccinos, teas, iced drinks and more. With its small footprint and sculptured housing, the Piccolo is a welcome addition to any service counter. Ideal for kitchenettes, cubicles, dorm rooms or anywhere saving space is...
- 1 - 1 of 1
- We Price Match!


text:
- Antique Jewelry
- The Ages
- Engagement Rings
- Antique Rings
- Diamond Jewelry
- So Much More
Signed Belais Vintage Eternity Ring of 1929
From the hallowed halls of the renowned jewelers the Belais Brother of New York comes this 18k white gold eternity band. The entire surface of the band all the way around is embellished with an ornate and intricate pattern. The edges of the ring are accented with mille grain like decoration. Engraved to the interior is fancy script is "B.D. to A.W. 9-7-29".
Date: Circa 1929.
Measurements: 3/16 of an inch (0.5 cm) in length north to south on the hand. Weight of 2.8 grams (1.8 dwt).
Ring Size: US 8-3/4 (UK R; Euro or Int. Circum. 58.9 mm; Int. Dia. 18.7 mm; Japan over 17). Can be sized down using inserts but cannot be sized up. Ring sizing information.
Hallmarks: 18k; Belais; W. Engraved to interior (see description).
Condition: Excellent.
Origin: American.
Forms of Payment
- VISA and MasterCard, Discover and American Express credit & debit cards.
- Personal checks drawn on U.S. banks only - Please allow 7 business days for clearance.
- Money orders, cashier's and traveler's checks - Please allow 7 business days for clearance.
- PayPal.
Other Forms of Payment
Bank Wire - For international orders and orders of $5,000 and over. Please contact us for more details.
Layaway information and for full details see Payment Methods.
Same Day Shipping - Order by 1 pm CST M-F!
FREE for All U.S. Orders - Standard 2 Day Shipping.
FREE for All International Orders - Standard 2-7 Day Shipping.
Full details at Shipping & Insurance.
Complete Money Back No-Risk Guarantee
Our Guarantee
If for any reason whatsoever you are not completely satisfied with your purchase, we will refund the FULL purchase price including U.S. shipping if charged. Remember, there is no charge for our regular shipping service!
International Orders - Due to customs and paperwork requirements, return shipping charges cannot be reimbursed.
Return Procedure
- Notify us of your intention to return the item within three (3) days of receipt. You may contact us by email or by telephone.
- Please ship back to us within another two (2) days after we receive notification from you.
- As soon as the item is received, a full refund is issued to you that same day.
More details at Full Guarantee including gift giving options.


text:
PJD Photo Story
Bob Ginn
Competition Deadline: August 1
The Photo Story Competition provides an opportunity for PSA members to develop or explore one theme or subject in a deeper, more comprehensive manner by using a series of digital images or a layout of prints.
Digital Photo Stories may include music and/or narration but may not be longer than five (5) minutes. The maker's name must not appear within the Digital Photo Story, but should be labeled on the submitted disc. (See Royalty Free Music in Members Only area for suggested sources.)
Print Photo Stories may include a minimum of three (3) and a maximum of eight (8) individual prints, mounted on no more than two (2) mounting boards, 16 x 18 inches or smaller. Captions may be included on the storyboard and text, not to exceed 200 words, may be provided as narration to enhance the pictorial story line.
Each entrant may enter up to three (3) stories in each of the two (2) sections. No photo story may be entered that has won an award in a previous Photo Story Competition. A photo story may not be entered more than twice in the same format. A specific essay or travelette may be submitted to only one PSA division each year. The same essay or travelette may be submitted to another division's essay competition in another year.
A gold medal is presented to the best Photo Story and a silver medal is awarded in each section, one for the runner-up in the section from which the gold came and the other sliver medal for the best entry in the other section. HM ribbons are presented based on the number of entries and the discretion of the judges.
An entrant earning an Award receives four acceptances and two title credits in Photojournalism. Someone earning an Honorable Mention will receive three acceptances and two title credits in Photojournalism. These acceptances and title credits are not applicable beyond the fifth Star in Photojournalism. PSA Who's Who credit is not earned with acceptances from the Photo Story Competition.
Complete one online Entry Form for each Photo Story being submitted. Mail a Story Board, CD and/or DVD entry to the Director c/o Bob Ginn, PO Box 900, Guadalupe, CA 93434, USA. All entries from one member should be mailed together in one package.


text:
HOME MLB Milwaukee Brewers Gear Milwaukee Brewers Sweatshirts & Fleece (56 items) Product ID: 684487
Main Content
Defeat the cold with a "knockout" when braving the elements to show your support for the Brewers in this KO performance crew sweatshirt by Nike. It features a satin appliqué team name across the chest, an embroidered team logo on the left arm, Therma-FIT moisture-wicking technology and mesh ventilation panels, so no matter how heated the game gets you'll be cool enough to outlast the competition.
- 100% Polyester fabric
- Heat transfer satin applique graphics
- Imported
- Officially licensed MLB product
- Performance crew sweatshirt
- Quality embroidery
- Reinforced stitching on all seams and hems
- Rib-knit collar, cuffs & waist
- Soft fleece lining
- Therma-FIT fabric for extra warmth
Brewers Customers also liked:
Special event items are produced by manufacturers only after the outcome of a game or event. These are advanced sale items and will ship immediately after they are received in our warehouse.
Manufacturer direct items are shipped directly from the manufacturer. These items are not available for international or expedited shipping.
Customized items can be personalized with options such as your name, your favorite number, and/or designs. Some options may be limited by league rules.


text:
HOME College Arizona Wildcats Gear Arizona Wildcats Accessories Arizona Wildcats Accessories Toys & Games (22 items) Product ID: 1086531
Main Content
Let your child lay eyes on this Wildcats plush Hoodie bear first thing in the morning and your little one will know it is game day! This 8" teddy bear comes dressed in a cuddly team logo hoodie and makes a great gift for your future Arizona student. After an exciting Arizona game, your little Wildcat will fall fast asleep holding this adorable plush bear and venture into dreamland where he can imagine scoring the winning point for Arizona. This Wildcats bear will be a reminder that it is possible to turn any dream into reality.
- Handmade
- Imported
- Made of polyester fibers & plastic pellets
- Measures approximately 8" long
- Not intended for children under 4 years
- Officially licensed collegiate product
- Plush knit
- Team logo and colors
Special event items are produced by manufacturers only after the outcome of a game or event. These are advanced sale items and will ship immediately after they are received in our warehouse.
Manufacturer direct items are shipped directly from the manufacturer. These items are not available for international or expedited shipping.
Customized items can be personalized with options such as your name, your favorite number, and/or designs. Some options may be limited by league rules.


text:
Mathias Frank of the BMC Racing Team capped an impressive week at the Tour de Suisse with 12th place in Sunday's individual time trial, lifting him to sixth overall in the final standings.
Stage 6 Crash Costly
Frank's performance on his BMC time machine in the 32-kilometer race against the clock shot him up three places in the overall classification. The result made up for some of the disappointment Frank faced after crashing on Stage 6 and having to chase back on the race's toughest climb. "Had he not had that crash, I think we would have seen him on the podium here for sure," BMC Racing Team Assistant Director Michael Sayers said. Levi Leipheimer (Team Radioshack) was only 13 seconds off of Fabian Cancellara's winning time to unseat previous race leader Damiano Cunego (Lampre-ISD) and win overall.


text:
school resources
teacher resources
school finance & grants
Testing / Accountability
student assessment & ratings
standards, college prep & programs
data, statistics & research
News & Events
communications & calendars
Internet Safety HomeCommunicationOrganizations CyberbullyingPrivacyActivitiesPiracySecurity
In accordance with HB 3171, Section 38.023, the Texas Education Agency has developed and made available to school districts a list of resources related to Internet Safety. In the navigation bar above are links to various Internet Safety topics. Within each of the pages are links for students, educators, and parents. By nature of the content, this site and its information are constantly evolving; therefore, emerging content and resource URLs will be continuously added to this site. We welcome informative resource links from the community, educators, and professionals in the industry to make this a robust and comprehensive reference for everyone. Links and information may be contributed by sending an email to the contact link below.
Internet Safety Website Promotional Flyer (pdf)
For additional information, contact:
Educational TechnologyTexas Education Agency1701 North Congress AvenueAustin, TX 78701512-463-9400
Page last modified on 9/3/2014 02:25:06 PM.
Copyright Texas Education Agency (TEA) 2007-2014


text:
- $4.99 3-Day Shipping. Any Size Order! -
Main Content
Keep all the Jags fans in your gang busy during the off-season with a game of spirit-infused table tennis! This 5-ply wood paddle features a laminated tapered handle with grip, a rubber face and sponge foam backing.
- Made of wood
- Officially licensed NFL product
- Rubber grip
Jaguars Customers also liked:
Special event items are produced by manufacturers only after the outcome of a game or event. These are advanced sale items and will ship immediately after they are received in our warehouse.
Manufacturer direct items are shipped directly from the manufacturer. These items are not available for international or expedited shipping.
Customized items can be personalized with options such as your name, your favorite number, and/or designs. Some options may be limited by league rules.


text:
Quick news from Hawaii:
BMC triathlete Andreas Raelert finishes third at the Ironman world championship 2011! After 3rd place in 2009 and 2nd in 2010, the German put a third podium performance in as many appearances at the place of triathlon myth. Australian Craig Alexander won his third world ironman champion title, breaking the course record in 8:03:56 hrs. Second in Kona was fellow Aussie Pete Jacobs.
Having come from the Olympic distance, Raelert has been known to be a string swimmer and runner. In 2011, after switching to BMC, he broke the world record for the bike split in Roth during his first ride on BMC's brandnew timemachine01: 4:11:43 hours for 180k.
This year in Kona, Andreas Raelert had a controlled swim in the front pack. Out on the bike, he established himself in the front group of 6 riders until the half way mark before letting 6 athletes ride away some. At the second transition, he had a 8-minute gap on then-race leader Chris Lieto and 5 minutes on a group of strong runners including Craig Alexander and Marino Vanhoenacker. The marathon was to decide between winners and losers once again out in Kailua Kona in 40 degrees centigrade humidity. A day for iron bodies and carbon minds...
The marathon... started out well for Andreas Raelert. He quickly started to gain time on his competition while race leader Chris Lieto faded from the running shoe gun. It was Craig Alexander who appeared to be the one with the best chances for a win on the day. Too far behind after the bike leg appeared fellow gifted runners such as Andreas Raelert and Pete Jacobs. However, Andreas started to close up on Alexander little by little. He smelled his chance to win. On the final stretch called the Energy Lab, Andreas had to slow down. A furious pace in the early marathon stages paid toll. The road was open for Alexander to win his third title. And Andreas to swim, bike, and run to yet another gutsy and intelligent performance to third place.
Raelert Brothers insights from Kona to come... stay tuned.
Race results: kona.ironmanlive.com
BMC Facebook: www.facebook.com/bmcracing


text:
Nothing unites a campus like big-time college athletics. The traditions. The excitement. The Owl pride. At Temple, you can be a part of it all.
Our Division I teams have a long history of success in NCAA competition, and our student-athletes are known for displaying a high level of integrity and sportsmanship. No matter the sport or venue, our athletic teams will make you proud to be a Temple Owl.
Find schedules for your favorite Temple Owls teams, the latest scores and stats, team rosters, news and more at the official website of Temple University athletics. Learn more about Owlsports.
Varsity Sports
Temple's 19 men's and women's varsity athletic teams compete at the highest level of collegiate sports–Division I. In 2013, the university became a full member of The American Athletic Conference - one of the nation's elite athletic conferences. Inclusion in The American brings even more prestige to our athletic programs and excitement to our campuses. Learn more about varsity sports.
No matter your ticket needs, Temple has you covered. Single-game or season tickets, multigame packages or discounted group seating can all be purchased in person, by phone or online. Learn more about Temple Athletics tickets.
Owl Club
The Owl Club is committed to Temple's 19-sport varsity program and serves as the booster club to generate school spirit, increase attendance at sporting events, raise money for the department and build overall enthusiasm for Temple. Learn more about Temple Owl Club.
athletic facilities
From Ambler Field House to the Liacouras Center, Temple's facilities showcase our athletic talent. Learn more about Temple's athletic facilities.


text:
Book your room at L'Hermitage Hotel
A luxury, boutique hotel near Robson Street
In city center
L'Hermitage hotel is a 60-room luxury, boutique property located on Richards and Robson Street in the very heart of downtown Vancouver.
Complimentary amenities
Complimentary amenities include; outdoor heated salt-water lap pool and Jacuzzi; steam rooms; fitness Studio and a business centre. Each room includes complimentary wireless Internet access.
Plasma TVs, MP3 docks
All guestrooms feature Hypo allergenic pillows and comforter, bathrobes, safe, HD TV, Nespresso machine and marble bathroom with a soaker tub. Our Signature suites are equipped with Bosch kitchen appliances.Information missing or incorrect? Tell us!
At your hotel
At your hotel
In addition to an outdoor pool, L'Hermitage Hotel Vancouver provides a health club, a spa tub, and a sauna. Business-related amenities at this 4.0-star property include complimentary wireless Internet access, complimentary high-speed (wired) Internet access, a business center, and technology support staff. Meeting and conference facilities measuring 20 square meters include a board room for 12 people. This property also offers a Robson Terrace and multilingual staff. L'Hermitage Hotel Vancouver is a 100% smoke-free property (fines may apply for violations).
- 24-hour front desk
- Breakfast available (surcharge)
- Number of floors - 3
- Valet parking (surcharge)
- Concierge services
- 24-hour fitness facilities
- Dry cleaning/laundry service
- Elevator/lift
- Bar/lounge
- Rooftop terrace
- Luggage storage
- One meeting room
- Total number of rooms - 60
- Porter/bellhop
- Conference space size (feet) - 400
- Smoke-free property
- Business center
- Grocery/convenience store
- Tours/ticket assistance
- Free Wi-Fi
- Free wired high-speed Internet
- Library
- Multilingual staff
- Conference space size (meters) - 36
- Year Built 2008
- Number of buildings/towers - 1
- Steam room
- Outdoor pool
Stay connected
Available in all rooms: Free Wi-Fi , Free wired high-speed Internet
Available in some public areas: Free Wi-Fi , Free wired high-speed Internet
Park your car
Valet parking (surcharge)
In your room
- Air conditioning
- Phone
- Bathrobes
- Private bathroom
- Complimentary newspaper
- Cribs/infant beds available
- Designer toiletries
- Free local calls
- Hair dryer
- Daily housekeeping
- Iron/ironing board
- Coffee/tea maker
- Turndown service
- Deep soaking bathtub
- Complimentary toiletries
- Separate bathtub and shower
- In-room safe
- Desk
- iPod docking station
- Satellite TV service
- Free Wi-Fi
- Free wired high-speed Internet
- Down comforter
- Egyptian-cotton sheets
- Pillowtop mattress
- Plasma TV
- Espresso maker
The recreational activities listed below are available either on site or nearby; fees may apply.
L'Hermitage Hotel Vancouver has a full-service health spa nearby.
To make requests for specific accessibility needs, complete the "Special or Accessibility Requests" section of "Trip Preferences" when you book your hotel.
- Accessible bathroom
- Accessible path of travel
- Accessible parking
- In-room accessibility
The fine print for L'Hermitage Hotel
When you arrive
Minimum check-in age is 25
Check-in time starts at 4 PM
When you leave
Check-out time is noon
How you can pay
Accepted at this hotel: American Express, MasterCard, Visa
Your pets
Pets allowed, Maximum number of pets per room 1, Pet maximum weight in lb is 20
You need to know
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on hotel policy.
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card are required at check-in for incidental charges.
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges. Special requests cannot be guaranteed.
- The name on the credit card used at check-in to pay for incidentals must be the primary name on the guestroom reservation.
No rollaway/extra beds available
- Valet parking fee: CAD 25.00 per night (in/out privileges)
- Pet fee: CAD 30 per pet, per day
We should mention
This property's policy is to refuse certain bookings for the purpose of group events or parties, including pre-wedding stag/bachelor and hen/bachelorette parties. Only registered guests are allowed in the guestrooms. The property allows pets in specific rooms only and has other pet restrictions (surcharges apply and can be found in the Fees section). Guests can arrange to bring pets by contacting the property directly, using the contact information on the booking confirmation.


text:
The 76th PSA Conference has an exciting lineup of photo tours, workshops, programs, featured speakers, and social activities.
The conference is now taking place at the Albuquerque Marriott, in Albuquerque, New Mexico
Saturday, September 27 through Friday, October 3, 2014.
More information on the conference will be linked from this page.
The world-renowned Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta starts on Saturday, October 4


text:
Run Around Tight
$89.00 $49.99
This item is currently out of stock.
We made the Run Around Tight with details that make it a stand out for both style and function.
- space-dye colorblocking
- back waist stash pocket
- mesh ventilation behind knee
- reflective details
- interior draw cord waist
- non-chafe flatlocked seams
- moisture-wicking


text:
Canon FD 55mm 1.2 MOD - DIY EOS Mount - infinity focus and no f-stop loss by rnvk on Flickr.
Via Flickr:
I had this Canon F1 with great lenses, and Canon does not make a 55mm 1.2 anymore, so I started to look for a FD EOS mount adaptor, but all available make you lose 1 f-stop and infinity focus. So I though to my self, this has to work with the EOS if was a bit closer to the Body, so I tock the attachment ring and the aperture ring and made a EOS mount, the hard part was to find the right distance, but it worked! with this mod you can make any FD into EOS with no losses (but control over aperture), actuly, i dont think you will be able to put together the FD rings back…. very complicated… :)
Update in response to Arthur:
Hi Arthur, I used a mount from a broken 18-55 kit lens, i removed the extra EF-S part from it. than i enlarged the whole to fit the larger back element.
To mod the FD lens you will have to remove the mount ring and the aperture ring and whatever else is hanging(dont mess with the focus system.)
Then lock the aperture wide open, and use a lot!! hot glue to fix it on the mount(good becouse if you mistake you can re-do it), use Black take to make sure there are no light leaks.
And thats it
my site: www.rncreative.com
my blog: morethan140.com/
Follow me on Twittertwitter.com/rodolfonovak


text:
Enter code here:
Make their birthday celebration last all month long. Inside a chic keepsake glass jar, they'll discover 31 Kind Notes®, each with a special message of friendship. A terrific way to express yourself to someone special with a gift that brings them non-stop smiles. Each message is beautifully individually packaged inside the jar and finished with a lovely turquoise ribbon.
Kind Note Messages
Hope you're enjoying your birthday month!
I hope that your birthday is as wonderful as you are.
Don't count the years, count the blessings. ?Unknown
Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars. -Les Brown
Wherever you go, no matter what the weather, always bring your own sunshine. -Anthony J. D'Angelo
Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind. -Dr. Seuss
If opportunity doesn't knock, build a door. -Milton Berle
There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle. -A. Einstein
Life is a great big canvas, and you should throw all the paint on it you can. -Danny Kaye
Things which matter most must never be at the mercy of things which matter least. ? Goethe
Do what you can, with what you have, where you are. -- Theodore Roosevelt
Don?t frown because your smile is what lightens up the world.
What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us. -- Ralph Waldo Emerson
Enjoy the little things in life, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.
It's not what happens to you that determines how far you will go in life; it is how you handle what happens to you. -- Zig Ziglar
Whatever you find hardest to do, do with all your heart. ? Unknown
And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It?s the life in your years. -- Abraham Lincoln
The best way to cheer yourself up is to try to cheer somebody else up. -- Mark Twain
Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless. -- Mother Teresa
We must be the change we wish to see in the world. -- Mahatma Gandhi
To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment. -- Ralph Waldo Emerson
Rise above the storm and you will find the sunshine. -- Mario Fernandez
Let your mistakes be a comma, and not a period. ? Unknown
Kindness is a language which the deaf can hear and the blind can read. -- Mark Twain
Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift. ? Unknown
To the world you might be one person, but to one person, you might be the world. ? Unknown
Smile often, it makes people wonder what you've been up to. -- Satchel Paige
Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. -- Ralph Waldo Emerson
No one can make you feel inferior without your consent. -- Eleanor Roosevelt
The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart. -- Helen Keller
Of all things you wear, your smile is the most important.
Sign up to receive special offers and promotions from 1-800-FLOWERS.COM
International Delivery
, we have connected these accounts. You can now sign into 1-800Flowers.com anytime using Facebook Connect.
, we have connected these accounts. You can now sign into 1-800Flowers.com anytime using Google Plus.


text:
Meditation Pant
Meditate comfortably and glide through your day in this flattering pant
From studio to street, our easy-drape pant is the ultimate in comfort and style. Designed with an eco-friendly blend of super-soft, breathable fabric, its easy-stretch flowing cut glides effortlessly in a slimming silhouette. Pair with a loose fitting tee or tank to enhance your comfort. Made in the USA.
Meditation Pant Features:
- Slimming silhouette cut for flowing, natural comfort
- High-low leg opening adds interest
- Made exclusively by Gaiam
Fit: Classic
Measurements: 18" inseam; 10.25" front rise; 13" back rise; 15" width across waist at top (based on size medium)
Learn more about our sizing and fits with our Measurement Guide.
Material: 56% rayon from sustainable bamboo, 38% Sorona® French terry, 6% spandex
Care Instructions: Machine wash cold, gentle cycle with similar colors and mild detergent. Non-chlorine bleach only. Reshape and lay flat to dry. Warm iron if needed.


text:
XE Currency Converter
|US Dollar
|Moldovan Leu
Did you know?
EUR-USD lifted on an unexpected rise in the flash October Eurozone PMI estimate, which came in at 52.2 in the composite reading, up from 51.7 in September. This is a rare piece of good news for the euro and suggests that the economic picture isn't so grim. The euro punched back above 1.2650, making a high-so-far of 1.2671, which is just over half a point above the earlier low (itself a two-week low). However, we still think the euro is ... Read More ►
XE Currency Converter
The XE Currency Converter includes a currency converter, cross-rate table, and forex news to keep you up-to-date on your favorite currency pair. Visit the Currency Encyclopedia ►
XE Services
Get commercial grade currency rates for your business with the XE Currency Data Feed or transfer money internationally at competitive rates with XE Currency Transfers ►
XE Market Analysis
North American Edition2014-10-23 10:57 UTC
The dollar has traded mixed, making a 10-day peak against the yen at 107.64 after the BoJ auctioned debt at a negative yield for the first time on record, but losing ground to the euro, which firmed on an unexpected rise in the flash October Eurozone PMI estimate. The euro area composite PMI came in at 52.2, up from 51.7 in September, which is a rare piece of good news for the euro, suggesting that the economic picture isn't so grim as some have come to ... Read More ►
European Edition2014-10-23 06:47 UTC
The dollar traded marginally firmer for the most part. EUR-USD edged out a nine-day low of 1.2632, which is 15 pips below yesterday's low, and USD-JPY firmed to a peak of 107.35, two pips shy of yesterday's peak. A bout of yen selling was seen after the BoJ auctioned debt at a negative yield for the first time. NZD-USD dove sharply to an eight-day low of 0.7831 after New Zealand Q3 CPI came in at +0.3% q/q, below the median forecast for 0.5% q/q, which ... Read More ►
Asian Edition2014-10-22 18:25 UTC
The dollar was mixed in N.Y. trade on Wednesday, gaining ground against the euro, CHF and yen, while stumbling against the euro, and losing ground to the CAD following a not-so-dovish BoC policy statement. Talk of the ECB's plan to buy corporate bonds kept pressure on the euro, while USD-JPY held over 107 after U.S. CPI data, firmer Yields and a morning Wall Street Rally. Stocks later turned lowed, which took dollar-yen from its highs over 107.35, back ... Read More ►
Send a cheap money transfer ►
Looking to send money abroad? Transferring money online is easy with XE. Our service works with your bank and it's free to sign up.
- Free online quotes
- Competitive exchange rates
- No-fee money transfer options
- Bid for your preferred rate
Get a currency data feed ►
Need commercial grade rates for your business? XE Currency Data Feed easily integrates with your system and has guaranteed data delivery.
- 150+ global sources
- Rates for every world currency
- Accuracy with proprietary rates
- Choose frequency of updates


text:
I did some shooting on my side yard yesterday and played with my camera and filmed it.
I placed a chunck of blue tape on the wall for a reference point and forgot to oull it off...lol
So what would you all see that I might need to improve on?
Be honest, thanks.


text:
My Account
sign in
view map
This medium-height boot by Bearpaw has a thick T.P.R. outsole to make it perfect for walking in the snow or traversing rough terrain in any season. Featuring a cow suede upper and sheepskin blend padded footbed, this is a versatile and rugged boot.
Mobile Coupons


text:
Current NBC Shows.
Classic NBC Shows.
Best Sellers.
The Tonight Show.
Shop Classic NBC Shows
(13 reviews)
Ships within 1 - 2 Business Days
User Reviews
(based on 13 reviews)
of respondents would recommend this to a friend.
Best Uses
Feels too small
Feels true to size
67% (8 reviews)
(8 reviews)
Feels too big
Feels too short
Feels true to length
78% (7 reviews)
(7 reviews)
Feels too long
85% (11 reviews)
(11 reviews)
Reviewed by 13 customers
Sort by
Displaying reviews 1-13
Back to top
Small and weird fit
By SBTB Fan
from Boston, MA
About Me Casual Dresser
Comments about this product:
This sweatshirt is an odd fit, the material is very thick and stiff (Not conducive to the classic Kelly "off the shoulder" look). The body was tight and the length was long and the side seams are not centered. Will be returning it :-(
Bottom Line No, I would not recommend this to a friend
Was this review helpful? Yes / No
- You may also flag this review
Comment on this review
(1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)
By Ky
from Toronto, Ontario, Canada
About Me Trendy/Stylish Dresser
My sister was so happy when she received this sweater as a gift!
Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
Not as pictured
By Liza
from IL
The sweatshirt I received was not the same style as the sweatshirt pictured. The picture shows a loose fitting sweatshirt with cut off neck, sleeves, and waist band. But the sweatshirt I received had complete finished seams on all of the edges--the edges were not cut. It fit very snugly and was not the style of the sweatshirt Kelly wore on SBTB.
very pretty
By cookie
from Roseville, Michigan
i really like the sweatshirt even though its alittle too small but im keeping it anyway cause its so cute
Love it!
By kristi
from Mobile,AL
This was a great gift! My sister absolutely loved it! We never missed this show growing up, so it was very sentimental!
(4 of 4 customers found this review helpful)
Not As Pictured
By J
from New Haven, CT
I was expecting an over-sized, dolman style sweatshirt, like I remember seeing at the NBC store in NYC and like what is pictured here. What I got was a slim fit, boat neck sweatshirt with weird edges along the neck, waistband, sleeves, down the sides of the torso on each side, and diagonal across the collar bone on each side (it almost looks like patchwork)...none of which is pictured. I'm not sure what happened since the reviews I read (2012 + earlier), but something has evidently changed. I bought this as a gift for my sister, so all I can do is hope that she is satisfied with it and is comfortable in it, otherwise I will be returning it. I was planning on buying one for myself, but after what I received, I have definitely changed my mind.
Images shared by J
Bayside Tigers
Tags: Picture of Product
By Brit
from Philadelphia, PA
About Me Classic Dresser
I was under the impression from the photos and description that this would be identical to the style of Kelly Kapowski's Bayside sweatshirt from the TV Show. What I got was a fitted grey boatneck sweatshirt with the Bayside logo. Everything about this sweatshirt is fitted, including the sleeves. I am 5'3", 100 lbs and I thought by purchasing a size Medium that this would fit baggy and loose, similar to Kelly's on the show. This was the exact oppoosite of what arrived. I purchased this as a Halloween costume and if it had not arrived so close to Halloween, leaving me no alternative, I would have returned this purchase immediately.
Images shared by Brit
Tags: Picture of Product, Using Product
Bayside Pride Is Still Alive
By Nikki Gene
from Portland, OR
Growing up watching Saved By The Bell I always wanted a sweatshirt like Kelly's but my parents would have never allowed me to cut up my own clothes. Now that I am all grown up and was able to purchase this sweatshirt is amazing! I LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!
Very Soft
By Miss Runner
from Orange County, Ca
It will shrink! I like it!
By Lindsay
from Stamford, CT
About Me Stylish
Love this Sweatershirt, tons of compliments
great easy halloween costume!
By apple
from New York, NY
About Me Classic
i bought this for an office halloween party and it was such an easy costume to put together! Everyone loved it, super comfortable too!
Go Bayside!
By Lin
About Me Comfort-oriented, Practical, Trendy
Bought this product after seeing an episode wondering if they sold the sweater and they did! hahah I had to buy it! I love it. It's soft and warm. It is pretty thin but like I said, it really is warm. A bit short but if you put a tank under it's fine. Regardless I do recommend this sweater!
(1 of 2 customers found this review helpful)
love this!
By Christine
About Me Comfort-oriented, Stylish
I bought this because my boyfriend & I are going to be Zack & Kelly (from Saved by the Bell) for Halloween. This is an easy (and comfortable!) top for Kelly to wear! It is SO soft. I got a large, wanting it to be a little big and it looks & fits great (although it does stretch a bit after wearing it for a while). I would certainly recommend this!
Click here to see our Shipping Policy
Click here to see our Shipping Options & Charges
* For United States orders which contain media items, the Media only shipping rates below will apply for Standard shipping option.
** 2-Day and Next Day shipments are sent via Federal Express. Please note that '2-Day' and 'Next Day' does not include order processing time..
To find about other shipping zones, please click here.
Customer Service.
Newsletter Sign-Up.
Save 15% when you sign up for our store newsletter!Privacy Policy
My Account.
About Us.
Join Us On.
We Accept.
Order 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.Customer Service in the US 7 a.m. - 1 a.m. EST Monday through Friday
©2014 NBCUniversal. All rights reserved. Any use reproduction, modification, distribution, display or performance of this material without NBCUniversal's prior written consent is prohibited.
Powered by , Inc. ©2014 All Rights Reserved.
Delivery Agent, Inc. is the seller of all NBCUniversal Store merchandise and is solely responsible for all aspects of your purchase. NBC is not responsible or liable for any loss or damage incurred by you as a result of your dealings with Delivery Agent.
Enter Your Email Below
No Thanks
*Subscribers will be eligible to receive future promotional emails.
Privacy Policy


text:
Cadel Evans of the BMC Racing Team lost contact with the leading group in the final kilometers of Satruday's mountain-top finish at Tirreno-Adriatico Saturday and finished 73 seconds behind stage winner Chris Froome (Sky Procycling).
Evans 11th Overall
An attack by Alberto Contador (Tinkoff-Saxo Bank) with six kilometers remaining in the final climb to Prati di Tivo put several riders into difficulty, including Evans. "The guys were really good at delivered me to the bottom of the climb and then it was up to me," Evans said. "I'm not at the level of the best guys here at Tirreno this year, which, of course, is a little bit disappointing. But that's the way it goes." Froome made his race-winning move a kilometer from the top and soloed to the win. Michal Kwiatkowski, who finished fourth on the day, took the overall lead from his Omega Pharma-Quick Step teammate Mark Cavendish. Evans is 11th in the overall standings, 1:18 behind.
Ochowicz: 'Race Isn't Over Yet'
BMC Racing Team President/General Manager Jim Ochowicz, who was following behind the peloton in the team car, said the stage was relatively quiet until the final climb. "We were trying to set the speed up to make sure Cadel came into the climb in the right place but in our situation, Cadel just couldn't hold the front group." Ochowicz said with three days to go, there is still an opportunity for Evans to make up ground. "Tomrrow is not easy," he said. "I think we're going to see some change again in the GC potentially. Hopefully we'll see a different performance from us. The race isn't over yet. I think we're still fighting for the win here."
Listen to complete comments from Ochowicz on the BMC Racing Team AudioLine:
Cadel Evans fought hard to stay with the leaders on the finish climb. (©Sirotti.)


text:
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (May 9, 2010)-Bob Mieszerski, the longtime turf writer/handicapper now working as Hollywood Park's director of publicity, will be Kurt Hoover's guest on The Inside Scoop on Saturday, May 15 at Hollywood Park.
Mieszerski and Hoover will talk about the Jim Murray Handicap, the Preakness and other races on both the Hollywood Park and Pimlico cards.
Due to the early post time of 11 a.m., the Inside Scoop will commence at 10 a.m. at the Paddock Tote Board.
Copyright © 2009-2014, Hollywood Park. All rights reserved.


text:
Whimsical Kids Furniture
Whimsical Kids Art
Whimsical Kids Bedding
Whimsical Baby Bedding
Whimsical Kids Rugs
Whimsical Kids Lighting
Whimsical Kids Decor
Butterfly Garden Throw Pillow by Designers Guild
Add a whimsical touch to your daughter's room with the Butterfly Garden Throw Pillow from Designers Guild. Featuring aqua stripes and fluttering butterflies!
SIZE: 24" x 12"
Category: Bedding, Whimsical Kids Bedding
Join Our Mailing ListTO RECEIVE UPDATES AND SPECIAL OFFERS!
©2004-2013 Rosenberry Rooms, LLC. All Rights reserved. | 709 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh, NC, 27603
ecommerce enabled by fastpivot | PRIVACY POLICY


text:
school resources
teacher resources
school finance & grants
Testing / Accountability
student assessment & ratings
standards, college prep & programs
data, statistics & research
News & Events
communications & calendars
Word versionIMPORTANT ACCREDITATION INFORMATION
The purpose of this letter is to notify districts, including charter schools, that, under the authority of Texas Education Code (TEC) §39.116 and 19 Texas Administrative Code (TAC) §97.1055, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) will not assign accreditation statuses to districts for the 2012-2013 year.
TEC §39.116 and 19 TAC §97.1055 provide for the suspension of accreditation statuses during the period of transition to the accreditation system established under House Bill 3, Acts of the 81st Legislature, Regular Session, 2009. Pursuant to the TEA's House Bill 3 Transition Plan, the TEA did not assign academic accountability ratings for 2011-2012 in preparation for the transition to the new accountability system, the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR). Because student performance is a key indicator in the state accreditation system, and because that data is not available due to the transition to STAAR, the TEA will suspend the assignment of accreditation statuses until the 2013-2014 school year. For purposes of determining multiple years of academically unacceptable or insufficient performance, the academic accountability ratings issued for the 2010-2011 school year and the 2012-2013 school year are consecutive. 19 TAC §97.1055(a)(8). In addition, the accreditation statuses issued for the 2011-2012 school year and for the 2013-2014 school year are consecutive. 19 TAC §97.1055(a)(9).
Districts, including charter schools, that would have been assigned a status of Accredited-Warned, Accredited-Probation, or Not Accredited-Revoked for the 2012-2013 school year due to the ratings assigned to the district in the state's financial accountability system will receive separate correspondence from the TEA detailing required next steps. Subchapter EE of Chapter 97 defines the accreditation statuses of Accredited, Accredited-Warned, Accredited-Probation, and Not Accredited-Revoked and states how accreditation statuses are determined and assigned to school districts, including definitions, purpose, and oversight appointments. The commissioner's rules related to accreditation may be viewed at the Texas Administrative Code link available at http://ritter.tea.state.tx.us/rules/tac/index.html, and additional information regarding the assignment of accreditation statuses to districts can be found on the Accreditation Status homepage of the TEA website at http://www.tea.state.tx.us/accredstatus.
We appreciate the ongoing support of districts during the transition of the accountability systems. If you have questions, please contact the Department of Accreditation and School Improvement at (512) 463-5899 or via e-mail at email@example.com.
Michael L. WilliamsCommissioner of Education
Page last modified on 5/22/2013 10:53:32 AM.
Copyright Texas Education Agency (TEA) 2007-2014


text:
BMC Racing Team's Greg Van Avermaet finished runner-up to race leader Philippe Gilbert (Omega Pharma-Lotto) on Saturday's penultimate stage of the Tour of Belgium to climb into second overall.
Great Teamwork
"I hoped I could beat him (Gilbert) on a finish like that," Van Avermaet said after contesting the four-up sprint at the end of the 202-kilometer race. "Marcus (Burghardt) and the team did great work in the first part of the race to keep me out of the wind." Sunday's stage likely will not offer Van Avermaet a chance to make up the 15 seconds he is behind Gilbert. "It's a flat stage, so I think it's going to be a bunch sprint," he said. Michael Schär was in the breakaway all day and is now leading the "Rushes" classification. He will be wearing the red jersey on Sunday's final stage.
Giro d'Italia, Stage 20: Last Hard Day
Sestriere, Italy – On the final day of climbing at the Giro d'Italia, Johann Tschopp finished 15th for the BMC Racing Team while continuing his ascent up the overall standings into 16th. "I came to him on the last long climb and told him to try harder," BMC Racing Team Assistant Director Fabio Baldato said. "He responded well and had good motivation. He was better on the second part of the climb than the others." Vasili Kiryienka (Movistar) soloed to the stage win and Alberto Contador (Saxo Bank-Sungard) kept the lead.


text:
There is no comparison between a freshly-picked, grown-in-full-sun tomato and anything sold at a store.
I appreciate that stores are bringing in more choices, but they pale in comparison with what you can grow.
It is a great time to start tomatoes from seed or to plant starts from a nursery. When both the days and nights are warm, seeds can be sown directly into a prepared garden bed.
Preparations should include choosing a sunny location that has not recently had tomatoes, peppers, potatoes, strawberries or eggplant grown in it, and the soil should be amended with compost or a planting mix.
Choosing the variety of tomato you wish to grow can be a little daunting.
First decide which type — or types — you prefer: slicers (or globe), paste (or sauce) and cherry.
Frankly, any of them can work for just about any application — I've used all three kinds in salsa, and it always comes out great. But I don't know if I would recommend slicing cherry tomatoes for sandwiches.
Once you know the type of tomato you wish to grow, you can choose the variety. There are two sets of categories to work with.
One is whether to grow open-pollinated plants, such as heirlooms, or hybrid plants. One basic difference is you can save the seed from the open-pollinated tomatoes to grow the same variety again next season. The advantage of hybrids is that they are likely to have been bred to be more resistant to some of the diseases that can afflict tomatoes. There are other differences, but those are the main two.
The other choice is determinate or indeterminate. Determinate tomato plants grow to a certain size and stop, setting all the fruit at approximately the same time. This behavior is great for the home canner or large-batch sauce-maker. An indeterminate plant produces fruit until it is killed by frost, which is best for most home gardeners who wish to harvest tomatoes all season. Indeterminate tomatoes greatly benefit from staking or caging.
Tomatoes require regular watering, usually 1 inch to 2 inches a week, delivered on a schedule. Irregular watering can lead to blossom-end rot, which is characterized by fruits that are brown-black on the bottom.
With a little preparation and a few careful choices, every home gardener can enjoy a bounty of sweet, richly-flavored tomatoes.
• The Green Thumb is a column by Tracy's master gardeners. University of California-certified master gardeners are available to answer gardening questions from 9 a.m. to noon Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at 953-6112 or firstname.lastname@example.com. Questions for Heather Hamilton can be sent to email@example.com.


text:
You walk into daycare, toddler Emma in tow, and you can already tell that drop-off isn't going to be smooth. In fact, you'd like to drop off the planet right about now. The teacher greets you in her robe and slippers, and just as you start to wonder about her mind, you remember: It's Preschool Pajama Day.
When Emma realizes the mistake, the waterworks begin. A quick call to your husband yields one late-for-work daddy, but he saves the day by bringing a pint-sized pair of PJs for Emma. "Being a hero has its price," you tell him when he starts to complain, and then you give both him and your daughter a quick kiss, a weak smile and an apologetic shrug.
On the way out the door, your stomach growls and you remember that you also forgot to eat breakfast. Being a working mom is hard enough, but these morning transitions are killers.
"I've got to get it together," you mutter to yourself," or we're all going to fall apart."
If you are a working mom, you've probably been there — and made a similar vow not to go there again.
My goal is to help you layout some solid routines, spawn some organizational ideas and encourage you to plan ahead in order to avoid falling apart. I wish I could promise you that if you follow these tips, you'll never forget Pajama Day or be in such a hurry you forget to eat breakfast — but we're all human, and even the best of plans sometimes fails.
Your goal is not to create a perfect life devoid of bumps and interruptions; it is to smooth out what you can, create systems that help control the chaos and then learn to go with the flow when all else fails. A little humor, a little innovation, a little creativity and, frankly, learning the skill of "letting it go and blowing it off" is a big part of being a happier, more realistic and peaceful working mom.
The most trying times in your parenting life are probably the transition times: mornings, drop-offs, pickups, bedtimes — basically, any time you and your child are shifting gears and entering into a new environment. How can you help your child (nor to mention you!) navigate the transition times in your day?
Remember that kids thrive on routine and structure; they like to know what's coming next in their day. They tend to find security in predictable patterns and routines. Providing a way for your child to gain all understanding of how his day will go will eliminate some of the undesirable behaviors (tantrums in younger ones, lack of listening and cooperation with the older ones) that tend to rear their ugly heads during transition times.
One effective way of helping your child visualize what his day will look like is to create a picture chart that depicts the day's activities and the order in which they will happen (think of it as a child-friendly Dayrunner). Small children are not as concerned with what time things will happen as they are with the sequence of events, so having a visual picture of what comes next will speak to your child in a way he can comprehend, For example, for a child who attends preschool and is picked up after naptime, I would make a chart that describes his day with photos of the following: a sun, breakfast food, a toothbrush, shoes, a car, a school, blocks, a sandwich, a bed, then a picture of you and your child. This type of chart can be as elaborate or as simple as you want it to be, but the concept behind it is what makes it effective.
When you are planning your child's routine, thinking through what will happen on all average day allows you to come up with many ways to simplify your day, lessen your stress and make transitions tantrum free for you and your child. Here are some of my best tips for creating a transition-friendly routine:
Have a place for everything. Having a designated place for each child's items eliminates lots of morning chaos (and the added pre-caffeine stress) associated with last-minute search-and-rescue missions for lost shoes, homework, library books and so on.
Utilize a corkboard. Having a bulletin board by the front door that is used for school notices and the family schedule is a great visual reminder of what's happening and when.
Have a specific place for morning necessities by the front door. Getting Alex in the habit of leaving his packed backpack by the front door (or wherever your point of departure from the house is) at night will eliminate frantic morning homework hunts.
Pull out clothes for the next day the night before. Laying out Mandy's clothes the night before on the edge of her bed is one less thing to have to deal with in the morning, Then do the same for yourself — you'll save time and energy in the long run.
Use verbal cues to wind down activities, Phrases like "You have three more minutes to finish eating" or "We are leaving for preschool in five minutes" help your child prepare for what comes next.
Sing loud and proud. Creating songs for activities also helps kids to transition into them. Who wants to clean up? No one — until you burst into your rendition "Clean Up, Put Away," which is personalized to include the name of every child in the room. It works with older kids, too; they'll do what you want so you stop singing.
Keep goodbyes short, sweet and final. One of my pet peeves when I'm volunteering in the church nursery is the prolonged goodbye. You know the ones I'm talking about — the 15-minute goodbye that leaves Charlie screaming for Mommy, who then returns, unable to handle the tears. Sometimes the nanny in me wants to issue a time-out to Mom for making matters worse. I want to scream, "Leaving him is not an option — you are going to do it, and you know that when you peek around the corner in three minutes, he'll be fine. So stop prolonging your departure!" But instead I put on my happy nanny face and gently escort the mommy out the door, assuring her that I will page her if for some reason her son doesn't settle in the way he has every Sunday for the past two years. Week after week, I wonder if I am starring in an episode of a new reality show, "Drama Drop-offs" or something of the sort. This is all to say that if you've chosen a caregiver or caregiving situation that you trust, and if you are determined to have your child stay there, put on your happy face, appear to be confident and, with a relaxed smile, say you "See you soon!" and get going. The transition will go much more smoothly than you think.
"Call the plumber!" your husband yells from the basement. You begin to search through the junk drawer to find the plumber's business card from last year, when he installed the washer. You sift through the drawer and discover a dog-chewed yo-yo, pencils without erasers or points, Strawberry Shortcake stickers and a business card-from the dog walker. You sigh and think, There's got to be a better way.
One of the first things I do when I start a new position is to take inventory of all household-related and emergency contacts. There is nothing worse than being in a house that is not yours when the electricity goes out and you don't know which electric company provides power to the home.
Whether yours is a personalized list or a printout from my favorite home organization Web site www.homeconvenience.com, having a master list of all household-related contacts is a necessity. Grab a pencil and start your list: electric company, phone company, water company, heating company, plumber, electrician, mechanic, cable company, car insurance company, home insurance company, health insurance company. Include your account number, the name of the provider and the phone number. Head to Staples (or your favorite office supply store), grab a binder and some plastic page protectors and voilà! Information will never be lost in Junk Drawer Purgatory again.
It is also a good idea to include in the binder profiles for member of the family. This profile should detail vital information such as date of birth, medical conditions and phone numbers of physicians. Each profile can be as elaborate as you want it to be, listing anything and everything — from underwear sizes to ring sizes — if you are a lover of details!
Having a master family schedule is also a great way to eliminate household confusion. While on your trip to the office supply store, grab one of those oversized calendars and some colored markers (I prefer the dry-erase type). Assign each family member a color, and fill in the calendar with everyone's day-to-day schedule.
When assigning your colors, make sure you save one color to designate family time and then be sure to include time for family on your calendar (this is even more important as the kids get older and their activities leave everyone feeling disconnected). Once a week, try to plan something special to do as a family. Whether it is going for a weekend morning walk or taking a special outing to the park, having regularly scheduled family times will ensure that the ties that bind don't unravel amid the business of life.
Though mornings with kids can be hectic and unpredictable, you can always count on one thing to be the same: being greeted (as you come down the stairs for your first cup of java) by a trail of misplaced homework, followed by a sea of mismatched shoes that leads to one panic-stricken child (or husband!) who can't find what he needs to start his day.
If the midweek scavenger hunts have left you searching for a more manageable morning system, take a deep breath, find a cozy seat and get ready to receive a plan of action that will leave you searching for only one thing: a second cup of coffee to enjoy as your household is transformed from chaos to calm in three easy (okay, fairly easy) steps: 1) Prioritize. 2) Organize. 3) Activate. These three words are the lyrics to your new mental theme song. Repeat them often, as they are the steps to success when it comes to organizing your home (and your life!) in a way that eliminates the frustrating last-minute searches for the must-haves, enabling everyone to get out the door on time.
For today's working mothers, learning to prioritize is critical. In case you have any doubts about that, let's do some basic math. There are 168 hours in a 7-day week. Let's say you clock an average of 50 hours of work per week. You're down to 118 hours. Subtract 8 hours of sleep a night, and you're down to 62. Take away another, say, 7 hours of time spent in the car commuting to work and childcare, and 15 hours a week of meal preparation and eating. Now you're down to a mere 40 hours. Forty hours a week to manage a house (clean, do laundry, grocery shop), run errands, supervise homework, attend kids' activities, spend time with your spouse, go to church, make calls to or visit with friends and family, and maybe — just maybe — sneak in an hour to go to the gym or to soak in a bubble bath.
Doing the math may make you long for a midday nap, but when you recalculate the numbers, you can clearly see that there is no time for snoozing (at least not until you've got your plan of action in place). You need to prioritize today.
When working with families, I have found that part of the reason they run into so much trouble completing and maintaining household organization is that they fall to prioritize the projects that they take on. Take back-to-school season, for example. You go out and shop 'til you drop, buying all your kid's new school clothes in record time and on a record budget. You get home, satisfied with your excursion, and begin to put away the new fall wardrobe. Uh-oh, you think to yourself as you realize that there is no place to actually store, hang or put the new fall wardrobe. The closets and drawers are bursting with clothes that don't fit, clothes your child won't wear and even some clothes with their tags still attached.
As usual, hindsight is 20/20. You realize that organizing the current wardrobe (and taking an inventory of it before the big shopping trip) should have taken priority over purchasing new clothes.
For prioritization to have any real meaning, you need to have a clear objective. If your objective is to have a functional, usable closet, it needs to be organized. If your objective is to save money, you need to know what you already have so that you buy only what you need. If your objective is to bring home a new back-to-school wardrobe, you still need to have somewhere to put it.
Your objective could be a set of personal goals (to keep an orderly house) or a state of being (stress-free living) or even your family's personal mission statement — whether it is formal ("We put our faith and family first") or funny ("We don't believe in miracles — we rely on them"). The goal of prioritizing, then, becomes the means whereby you can achieve your objective with the least amount of effort, in the least amount of time. And as we've already seen, a working mom's time is limited — her hours are precious.
How exactly will you get all that needs to be done accomplished in a single day? You'll begin by setting some personal priorities that will put time on your side.
The cliche "There's so much to do and so little time" was surely coined by a working mother. One way to help prioritize household and home-management tasks is to make a daily to-do list (a simple yellow legal pad is my favorite to-do list tool). Spending five minutes a day making this list will help you save time over the long haul.
Your daily to-do list should have three columns: the "Must Do" column, the "Should Do" column and the "Would be Nice to Do" column. The "Must Do" column consists of items that need to be completed today; the "Should Do" column consists if items that need to be completed before the end of the week; and the "Would Be Nice to Do" column outlines the items that can wait until you have more free (ahem, unscheduled) time.
Once you've completed the list, keep it posted in plain view (the fridge or a kitchen corkboard work well). Delegate any items that you can delegate — maybe your spouse can stop at the pharmacy on his way home, or your daughter can walk the dog. Then check off the items as they are completed. Honestly, does anything on earth feel quite as good as checking off an item on a to-do list? (Okay, there are a few things — but not many … at least not for a task-oriented person like me!)
Now is also the rime to consult your budget to see if you can afford to hire out any of the tasks on your to-do list. In the professional world, they call this "outsourcing." Sometimes the cost of paying for personal shopping and errand running, housekeeping and dog walking are outweighed by the time you'll have to do other, more important, things. You may be able to hire a family employee (a retiree, a college student or a single mom) who is willing to do a wide range of tasks for a set hourly rate.
You can also begin to develop some long-range planning systems. For example, you can designate every Saturday as your official laundry day. Friday evenings are pizza out and grocery buying night. Saturday evening is date night. Sunday nights are family nights. Sunday afternoons and Tuesday evenings could be "Mom time." Having a designated day for designated tasks relieves a lot of stress. Case in point: When you pass the almost-full laundry basket, you can say to yourself, It will get done on Saturday. I'm now going to read a book and take a bath, guilt-free.
I hope you're realizing that you can use your many talents to make your household run as efficiently as your workplace. It's amazing how many professional skills can be adapted for home use. This is certainly one concept that working moms need to bring home, along with their paycheck.
If the thought of spending a Saturday afternoon at the Container Store is enough to make you volunteer to babysit your neighbor's three-year-old triplets (and their two dogs), I know just what you need. Stores that specialize in organizational items can make the organizationally challenged feel like an elephant in a china shop. You feel so out of place and overwhelmed that you just don't know where to start (or for that matter, how to use half of the gadgets and gizmos on display).
"Inch by inch, anything's a cinch" is the approach I take when helping working moms get used to the idea of organization — creating a place for everything so that everything will have a place.
Managing your own life is challenging enough, but when you throw in your kids and your spouse's schedules, even a Palm Pilot could burn out. One effective way of keeping track of who is doing what, when, is to invest in an oversized combination cork and dry-erase board. I suggest hanging one in the kitchen by the fridge — a place even your husband can't miss. You can pick up simple inexpensive ones at your local dollar store, or you can order more elaborate, custom-sized and framed (to match your decor) boards at www.artconceptstore.com (I've used this store before and love it!). Dry-erase boards are valuable because you can jot down notes, reminders and other important information in one handy place. And unlike Post-It Notes, your notes will never get lost.
Corkboards are a necessity for every busy family because they are multi-functional. You can tack up monthly calendars, school information and reminders, and printouts of emergency numbers.
Many websites offer free downloadable and printable blank calendars and phonebook templates (check out www.printfree.com). You can also hang keys on oversized push pins, jab your earrings in them when you come home from work (so that: your toddler won't have to resist the urge to pull them off and eat them) and tack up coupons you normally misplace shortly after clipping them from Sunday's paper. If you don't like the cluttered look of a corkboard, try placing it in the laundry room or another room that isn't frequented by guests but where you and your family can see and access it easily.
When you are streamlining your family's calendar, a computer-generated calendar can be very handy. If you have older children or a technology-savvy family, you may enjoy using an online program to sync all your activities and events. Homeconvenience.com allows you to enter your family's scheduling information and create a customized calendar. The service will also email or text message appointment reminders and allow you to sync your family calendar with your PDA (Microsoft Outlook also has a great calendar/reminder program).
Customize your family calendar with important activities and events, holidays and school closings, childcare arrangements, after-hours work commitments and other appointments (I recommend printing out the next two months and stapling them to the schedule for the current month). Using a different-colored ink for each family member will make it easier to identify at a glance who is scheduled to do what. If you're using a computer-generated calendar, you can change the font color or even highlight important dates as needed. Once your calendar is up to date, make a few copies and tack one on your corkboard, give one to your spouse, bring one to your office and keep one in the car.
In deciding what kind of calendar to use, consider what works best with your personality and be honest with yourself about what you know you will do. If you are a computer person, you'll probably enjoy the tech-friendly calendars. If you are more of a hands-on writing person, go with the dry-erase version. Basically, do whatever floats your boat, as long as you've got a functional calendar system to help you know who's floating when and where (and who needs to be rescued from the sea called over-scheduling).
Be sure to implement a family-wide policy when booking commitments outside of the normal day-to-day schedule: Every member should take the time to check the family schedule before committing to additional activities and events. If someone is caught off guard without a schedule in hand, they should respond with a default answer when asked about their availability. "I'll have to get back to yon" or "I need to check my schedule" will save you from having to reschedule events and appointments if you discover you're already committed.
Older kids will also benefit from having their own personal office space. Whether it's a corner table in the dining room or a spare desk alongside yours in the study, a space set aside for doing their homework will eliminate the much dreaded daily hassles associated with getting them to do their studies. Give them their own desk set, complete with pens and pencils, a computer station and their own "junk drawer" filled with some Mom-approved treats. You'll be surprised at how quickly your kids make their personal spaces their second homes.
Kids also seem to do better when they have a designated homework time. Some kids need a break to reenergize between school and homework, and others do better when they jump right in and get it out of the way. Figure out what style suits your child best, and come up with a consistent routine that everyone learns to respect.
I know I've said this before, but it's really worth repeating: In and Out boxes for each child are great for ensuring that important school or daycare notes and bulletins don't get lost in the backpack void. They are a true necessity for school-age kids, and for moms who are too busy to chase down permission slips and progress reports that need to be signed and returned to school. Pick a colored folder for each child (if you want to be super-coordinated, pick the same color that you selected for the child's "calendar ink"), and keep the folders in an easy-to-reach place. Be sure to keep the location consistent, and encourage your children to empty their backpacks as one o the first things they do when they return home from school or daycare.
Designating a place to store lunch boxes and backpacks is another way to eliminate the last-minute search for morning necessities (remember the "have a place for everything" habit?). Hall closets and foyer cubbies work really well as storage for the things that your children need to take to school or daycare each day. For elementary school-age children and younger, having a basket or bin in the front hallway closet is a good place to store shoes. If the closet is big enough, it can also be the storage area for their backpacks, jackets, winter accessories and lunch boxes. You can easily store hats and mittens in a basket on the closet floor or in a bag hung from a coat hanger on the closet rod. If space allows, you can install hook screws on the interior of your closet. Be sure they are strong enough to hold the weight of a schoolbag (those books and notebooks are heavy!). And don't forget that older kids can also benefit from having a designated place to store sporting gear or musical instruments.
You can also create your own bag in which to store your child's library books. On your next trip to your local craft store, purchase a canvas bag and some fabric paint, then write your child's name on the bag. Decorate it together with your child, and ask her to store her library books in her special bag (perhaps placed near her bedside table for nighttime reading) so that aren't left frantically searching for overdue library books mixed in with her own personal collection or school textbooks.
When on the go with kids, storing a little bit of everything the trunk of your car can be a saving grace. A change of clothes for each family member, a big beach towel (in case someone gets sick, or as a blanket in a pinch), snacks, bottled water and a roll of paper towels will come in handy. If you are the mom of younger ones, always keep two diaper bags ready to go: one in the house and one in the car.
Whenever you find yourself stressed, looking for the same thing again and again, whether it's a hairbrush, a backpack or library books, that's a signal that you need a system or that your current system needs an overhaul. Spend just a few moments asking yourself: How could I make this easier for myself? and What system/container/routine might solve this hassle? Then implement that system — you'll be so glad you did. Don't worry about organizing everything all at once; that's too daunting. Remember: inch by inch. Start with the situations that most often yield hair-pulling moments and tackle them first. Then, like me, you may find that being organized is such fun that it takes on a life of its own. To me, it's more than a hobby (actually, it's become my career!).
By now you may be thinking to yourself, My entire house needs an organizational miracle makeover! Sit back. Breathe deeply. While it's true that most of us could use a bit of help throughout our homes, there are a few key areas where you'll get the most bang for your buck (and your time and effort).
Bedrooms. Kids need a quiet place to settle down at the end of a busy day. Creating an organized environment in their bedroom will help your child to unwind, whether it is for a short afternoon break or before they hit the hay. This is one room where less clutter means less distraction. If you want well-rested kids, less distraction is what they need.
Creating an organized bedroom for your child will help keep his things neat and orderly and help him develop a genuine understanding of the importance of caring for his belongings. When you tell him to pick up his clothes, he will know that you mean to throw them in the hamper, not under the bed. And when he's trying to find his favorite baseball card, he won't have to look far, because it's exactly where it was supposed to be.
Ideally, the bedroom should be a fairly toy-free zone (except for books and stuffed animals for evening "wind down" time), but that's only if you have enough room in your home for a separate playroom for the kids. If you allow your child to have toys in her room (or because of space limitations you have no other choice), be sure to have a set policy that all toys get put away before bedtime. Shelving is a great way to store toys, but if your kid's room is lacking in that department, big baskets or bins are a good alternative
(Homegoods, TJ Maxx, Hobby Lobby, Ross and Marshalls are all great places to purchase oversized baskets at a reasonable price).
Having a hamper in your child's room will also promote good habits and foster independence. Be sure the hamper is child-friendly and easily accessible. Pop-up mesh hampers and laundry baskets work great for young kids and are often light-weight and easy for them to carry back and forth from the laundry room.
Placing a bin on the floor of your child's closet will give you a quick way to eliminate closet clutter. Toss in clothes that don't fit or clothes that your child just won't wear. At the end of each season, sort through the bin. Store what you need for another child down the road, and donate what you don't to a friend, family member or charitable organization that collects kids' clothing.
You can keep your kids' drawers organized by assigning a drawer for each type of clothing. Put socks and underwear in one drawer; nightwear in another; long-sleeved shirts in one and short-sleeved shirts in yet another; and pants in another. You'll have to tweak the drawer assignments based on the amount of dresser space you have. Once you get a system in place, keeping up with it is fairly easy.
Hanging clothes in the closet can make managing your child's wardrobe much easier. Hang clothes in groups, either by outfit or by item; then within each set of items, arrange by color. If you're dealing with clothes of different sizes, use a hole punch to put a hole about an inch from the top of a piece of 8.5 x 11-inch paper and then write the size on the paper. Slide a hanger through the hole and use it to divide the sizes. Regardless of what method you choose, be sure to select your child's outfit the night before and lay it out where your child can easily reach it.
When you're dealing with laundry for two or more little ones, it's easier to keep up with the volume by throwing in a daily load. But I'm a nanny whose workplace is at the home, so you may find that a twice-weekly routine works better for you. Still, you might consider using the washer as a hamper so that you don't get buried in dirty laundry. Whenever you change your baby or toddler, just toss the outfit in the washer. When it's full enough to do a load, all you have to do is add detergent and you're good to go.
Bath Time. Encouraging your child to have lengthy nightly soaks all fine and dandy for moms with one child, but when you're dealing with two or more, short and sweet is your survival code. If you're lucky enough to have a home with two full bathrooms, dedicate one as strictly for kids. In the closet or in the drawers of the vanity, store jammies and diapers, wipes and bath "flxings" for young ones. Older kids may like to hang their PJs on an over-the-door hook on the bathroom door. You'll also want to put a hamper in the kids' bathroom to prevent piles of clothing from building up on the floor.
If you're limited to a shared family bathroom, give your older children their own "space" to store their soap, deodorant and any other personal-hygiene items. You can also give older kids a small tote (like the one college kids use) and have them store it in their room.
When you have older siblings, you can use a kitchen timer to keep showers short. Younger children can be bathed in a clean and disinfected kitchen sink — this is especially time-saving for mothers of multiples. Store extra PJs, body wash, shampoo and towels in an out-of-reach area in the kitchen, and when it's bath time, be sure to have everything you need handy so that you never are tempted to leave your child unattended.
Photos. Organizing family photos is one of those overwhelming tasks that are often on the perennial to-do list. But until you get that rainy day when you can sit and organize your scrapbook or album, consider putting your collection of photos in a few photo storage boxes (shoe boxes will work well, too). As time permits, sort through your photos, placing photos from each year into their own box and labeling each box with its year. Then sort through each box using rubber bands or envelopes to divide photos by month, or season, according to your organizational preference. Clothing, scenery and activities should help you to "guesstimate" what was taken when.
Now that you have the backlog taken care of, put a system into place for processing new photos. As you print or place orders for new photos, be sure to order an index print and a digital copy of your photos on CD. Keep a photo storage box in the kitchen and, after the photos arrive, label them and place them in the box, in the order you receive them.
Whether you're a creative "scrapper" or prefer a more classic album, decide how you want to preserve your family history. Once your photos are chronologically sorted, you'll be able to add them to the album of your choice as time permits.
Once you develop a system, it's easy to keep up with. The key is to use a system that you find easy to maintain.
So now that I've shared some of my best, most practical organizational tips, it's time to put them to use. Whenever you start a new system or routine, it takes time to adjust. You will also need to tweak each system so that it fits the specific needs of your family.
Before you implement a new system, take a little extra time to get everyone on board. For example, if your kids are now required to put their shoes in a basket in the closet, sit down with them, discuss the changes and give them some time to get used to their new routine. If they are elementary school-age or younger, it's going to take daily prompting before they get the hang of the new way of doing things. As well, keep in mind that checklists (with pictures for pre-reading kids and words for reading kids) can help kids understand what is expected of them.
Consistency will determine how successful you will be in implementing a new routine or system. Resist the urge to give up on a new method. Give yourself a full three weeks before you rate the effectiveness of how your new routine works (remembering that it takes 21 days to change a habit). It may take some investment of time to get your plan into practice, but once your new routines are fully operational, the time and energy you will save in the long run are more than worth the short-term effort.
I have one boy and one girl that I often bathe together to speed up bath time. At what age should siblings stop bathing together?
A: It's really a personal parenting choice, but as soon as one of the kids expresses any hints that they are no longer comfortable, bathing together should stop. Often older siblings don't mind helping bathe younger siblings; particularly if they are the same gender. The preschool or early school-age years are often when many parents stop bathing kids together because their natural curiosity begins to kick in. Bath time can be a great tool for teaching kids that their bodies are special and only to be touched with their permission.
Q: My husband is such a picky eater. I plan out our meals in advance and do most of the cooking on the weekends, but when Wednesday comes along and I pull out chicken, my husband announces he wants steak. What can I do?
A: Getting your husband involved in the meal-planning process may help this situation. Let him know your weekly plan in advance and ask him for his input. Explain that preparing meals in advance allows you precious time with your family that you wouldn't otherwise have. You could also give him the responsibility of choosing the nightly meal from the already-prepared selections — that way, he can decide what's for dinner, within reason. Then again, you can always remind him that he's welcome to do the cooking!
Q: I have the kids on a great after-school schedule, but when my husband pops home from work early, the schedule goes down the drain. How can I get my husband to understand that we need to follow the schedule in order to get everything done?
A: Over a nice cup of cocoa after the kids go to bed, have a little chat with your husband. Give him kudos for being an awesome and involved dad, and then share with him all the things that need to get accomplished between the time the kids return from school and bedtime. Let him know that you've tried other ways, but the most effective way has been to adhere to a structured afternoon and evening schedule. Ask him to support you in implementing the schedule, and offer ways he can help keep things on track when he comes home early.
Q: At what age is it realistic to expect a child to pitch in and help out around the house?
A: Even from an early age, all kids can help out in some capacity. Even a toddler can help pick up her toys and put them in a basket. A two- to three-year-old can make her bed (if she has an easy-to-use, lightweight comforter), put her clothes in the hamper and put her toys away. A preschool-age child can help put away the groceries, sort the laundry and even with some of the cooking if he is closely supervised. Six- to eight-year-olds can fold and put away laundry and take out the trash.
Q: How much homework should my second-grader have? It seems like we set aside a few hours each night, and he still doesn't get all his work done.
A: A reasonable guideline for the amount of time a child should spend on homework is 10 minutes per night, per grade level. Therefore, your first-grader should have 10 minutes of homework, your third-grader 30 minutes and your seventh-grader 70 minutes. If you find your child is not able to complete his homework within the appropriate amount of time, speak with your child's teacher and let her know. Be sure that you have a clear understanding of what the teacher expects, as well as any classroom-specific homework guidelines.
Q: My home is too big to clean in one attempt. What is the best way to keep up with the mess?
A: Breaking the whole into manageable parts will help you better keep up with the cleaning. First, be sure that all family members (except the little, little ones) are keeping their bedrooms clean and tidy. It should be their responsibility to make their beds, utilize their hamper and empty their trash. Assign a day of the week to a specific task, such as mopping on Mondays and dusting on Tuesdays, or to a specific area, such as bedrooms or living areas. Deep-clean the bathrooms and kitchen weekly, while Wiping down the countertops on a daily basis.
Q: We have four kids. How can incorporate one-an-one time with each child during our bedtime routine?
A: You could have the children rest in their beds and wait as you make the rounds, reading a short bedtime story to each one. Staggering bedtimes and tucking in one child at a time is another way to sneak in a few mommy moments. You could also have a short time of prayer with each child before getting all the kids together for their nightly devotional. Also, let your husband tuck in your sons one night, while you tuck in your daughters. Then switch it up so that each child gets some personal attention from both of you.


text:
Contact details
A renowned self-catering property, Tír na Fiúise comprises three holiday cottages perfectly suited for families and couples of any age. The cottages are found in a peaceful rural setting near Lough Derg and Terryglass, County Tipperary.
Read more
Ireland.com uses cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue without changing your settings, we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies from Ireland.com.
If you're a visitor from the island of Ireland you may want to visit one of these sites… Otherwise proceed to Ireland.com


text:
Main Content
Every guy needs a classic button-up, one that tells everybody "Hey, I'm a put-together professional dude." Whether you pair it with cargos and a faux hawk or nice slacks and loafers, the Soul Brother button-up from Quiksilver will speak to your very soul. This straightforward button-up features a left chest pocket and a garment wash for softness. You can pair it with anything and still rock a look that's totally fresh.
- 55% Cotton/45% Polyester
- Garment washed for softness
- Imported
- Left chest pocket
- Rounded bottom hem
- Sewn-on logo tag
- Slim fit button-up
Quiksilver Customers also liked:
Special event items are produced by manufacturers only after the outcome of a game or event. These are advanced sale items and will ship immediately after they are received in our warehouse.
Manufacturer direct items are shipped directly from the manufacturer. These items are not available for international or expedited shipping.
Customized items can be personalized with options such as your name, your favorite number, and/or designs. Some options may be limited by league rules.