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James Woods/
Where did you grow up and when did you decide to become an artist?
I grew up in a small town outside of London called Fleet, and pretty much decided I wanted to be an artist when I was four years old, I think.
Did you go to an art school or are you self taught? What helped you prepare to become the artist we know today?
I went to a few actually. First off I attended The Arts University Bournemouth which is where I received a degree in Illustration. It was a pretty self directed school, but it gave me the animation foundation that I needed. I then spent a year at CalArts as a BFA1 Character Animator. I think, to a certain degree, all art schools require you to have the potential or drive to be self taught, since you only get out what you put in. Put in the time and it'll pay off. Working the bare minimum only wastes your time and money. I remember the most stimulating times were the days I would sit down in cafes and draw everyone around me. By being vigilant with my sketchbook quota, I saw myself improving by the day. It's a habit I wish I hadn't fallen out of, but I can't stress the importance of observational drawing/sketchbook upkeep to inform your creative pursuits later on. It's like a 'drawing gym'. Gotta workout those skills. As much as I felt like I learnt a lot during my schooling years, nothing quite prepares you for your first job because that's where the REAL schooling begins. I learnt immeasurable amounts during my first production with Paramount Animation.
What was the strongest influence you had when you were growing up ( artists, movies, cartoons, comics etc.. ) ?
When Jack drew Rose <3
Did you have a favourite subject to draw when you were a child and do you still have one today? If you do, what makes it so special?
I loved drawing Velociraptors and the Titanic. Like, I was actually obsessed. I had a weeklyTitanic magazine subscription that gave you little paper pieces of the ship, that allowed you to build your own when you collected them all. Maybe I should come around full circle and get back into that :S
From the initial client idea to the final work: what goes through your mind when you're designing and what is the method you use when starting a project? Could you describe it?
For the most part, I'm thinking about the director's needs and vision, addressing notes whilst trying not to lose the character's spark, and making sure the character can translate into a 3D medium. It really took me a while to get the hang of the production work flow, but at the end of the day, you're employed, for the most part, to serve and realise someone else's vision, and working with that in the back of your mind can help push the process along. Sometimes, it can feel as though you're a forensic artist, piecing together different features for a 'mugshot'. Other times you're like a casting agent, trying to find the perfect character to play the part. The only method I can really say I use, is just to draw from gut instinct. I'll start out very loose, and then work into a design, whilst trying not to forget the direction given. Tidying up a drawing can sometimes dull your initial punch. Don't let that happen.
What is your process in colouring your art and what type of tools and media do you use?
I'm still trying to figure that out myself :S. I mainly use flat colour with a little shadow or texture to spruce it up. My photoshop skills are borderline caveman. Someone please teach me.
What part of the creation process is the most fun and easy and what part is the hardest?
I guess, the very beginning and the very final stages are the most enjoyable and easiest. When you can be super rough, and also when you're adding the final strokes to an image. The middle part can get a little lost and noodley, but that doesn't have to be the case if you remind yourself of your motivation and focus. I find that character construction can be pretty hard. Making sure all the parts fit together, and work from every angle. That's when you have a solid drawing. But having a well informed character with a voice and story is when you have a solid design.
What is a typical day for you, and who are the people you work/collaborate with?
A typical day would consist of emails, a meeting addressing notes, work, food, work, food, sleep. I wish I could write something more interesting, but that's literally it. I've found that as a remote freelancer, I mostly just collaborate with the Director and Production designer. It pains me that I don't have any direct work buddies to peer over their shoulder and steal all their drawing secrets.
What are some of the things you have learned from other artists who you have worked with or whose work you have seen?
From the last production, I learnt the most about construction and volumes. Making a design work for 3D is one of the biggest assets you can have in your arsenal in today's techno anim world. It means there's more chance of your drawing actually looking like the rendered character. I also learnt a bunch from not limiting myself to 5 pretty drawings when I could provide 30 rougher, but more dynamic characters. Being too precious really doesn't fly on a production during the early stages at least, because 100s of drawings will be presented and only a handful will be useful. In some cases the character can suddenly be written out of the script.
Is there something that you have designed that you are most proud of?
Yes. He's small and he's red but that's all I can say :-l
What projects have you worked on in the past and what are you working on at the moment (if you can tell us)?
I worked for a short time throwing ideas around on the upcoming 'Moana' at Disney Anim, two unannounced features at Paramount and am moving onto a new secret feature in a week. I think it'll be my biggest project yet :s I also worked on an almond milk commercial and a Christmas spot for the National lottery
What is your longterm career goal and what would your dream project be?
To always love what I do. I don't want it to become a chore. Because it's a super fun job. Hopefully that will lead me to my dream job.
Working for a company or freelancing: what suits you best? And why?
Company means I get a little work family. Freelancing means I Skype with a smart t-shirt from the waist up, and Pjamas from the waist down.
What advise would you give to an artist who is dealing with an art-block? How do you boost your imagination and keep yourself creative?
I go through it A BUNCH! Which is probably why my blog is a little naked these days. But I try to go back in time and look at the first things that got me excited about animation. Or I separate myself entirely from drawing and wait for it to come back to me. Pushing it can sometimes make the block worse.
Concept art, animation, illustration, comics, there's so many options to choose from. When you're young, sometimes you know only one thing: you love to draw. What should a young artist take into consideration to make the right decision when choosing an artistic path?
To take it seriously. Because if you don't the person who does will speed ahead of you. It's a difficult profession to pursue and potentially very expensive too. Push through the struggles and rejection (I've been rejected more times than I've landed jobs), make as many mistakes as possible because they're the biggest lessons you'll receive (Make even more during school when it won't effect your pay-check ;) ) and surround yourself with amazing people. On a lighter note, do it because it's fun.
Many art teachers and schools suggest to their students that a commercial artist should always work in one consistent style if they wish to have a healthy career. In your own experience, do you believe this to be true?
Yes and no. A director generally picks you because they like your style and think you will fit with their vision. They want your flavour. But at the same time, try to adapt so that every artist's character can blend together. As a character designer, you aren't responsible for EVERY character in the film (you're usually assigned what the production designer/director thinks you'll be good at) so making sure there's an overall visual continuity is very important. In conclusion, find your voice, but let it wrap around the style of a job.
If you had to recommend only one art book (a comic book, graphic novel, children book, ''how to'' book) to a fellow artist, what would it be and why?
Gustav Klimt's 100 drawings book is super pretty.
Who are the artists who inspire you the most today and what are some of your favourite designs out there?
I love Miyazaki's sincerity. That's what makes his characters so good. I think he's the best. Klimt's life drawings have also informed me a bunch. Tove Jannson is super whimsically adorable. A bunch of fashion bloggers. Shape and construction is very prevalent in clothing design right now, which plays with the body more than ever. Great for silhouettes.
We have a soft spot for hand drawn animation, what is your opinion about the future of this art form?
Europe has a bunch of cool stuff going on. Luckily, 2D isn't limited to American shores.
Finally, Where can we see your art online and get in touch with you? How can we buy your creations and support your work?
My Tumblr blog ( jamwoods.tumblr.com ), my Portfolio ( jameswoodsportfolio.blogspot.co.uk ) and Instagram ( Instagram.com/jamwoodser ). Prints coming soon too :)))
Thank you James :)


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Welcome! The Career Development Office greatly values the relationships that we have formed and continue to form on a daily basis with legal employers around the world. Please see the sidebar to explore some of the recruiting services that we make available to employers free of charge. You may also contact a staff person for assistance by visiting the CDO Staff Directory.
Throughout the year, CDO schedules panels and events on a variety of practice areas and career-related issues, and we are always looking for alumni and other friends of the School of Law who will share their expertise and unique perspectives. The panels vary from year to year, but if you have particular areas of focus and would be willing to speak, please contact our office.

subset: commoncrawl


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On May 15, we did an event on the 63rd anniversary of the Nakba (check here). The event ran for 1 week and there were more than 100 people attending everyday. The event was covered by the local press and media and the US.
We would like to thank who all supported us and the sponsors
Boston.com (Link)
NorthEastern University (Link)
RoyaTV Report:
Aramram Report:
Some pictures from the event:


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Does the Over-the-counter
What if 91 of 100 quitters relying exclusively upon the over-the-counter (OTC) nicotine patch to help them quit were failing and relapsing within 24 weeks of slapping on that first patch? What if 98 or 99 out of 100 of those relying exclusively upon the OTC nicotine patch for a second or subsequent quitting attempt were smoking again within 24 weeks? What if, in truth, your chances of quitting on your own were greater than if quitting with the patch? What if the few who are quitting while wearing the patch are doing so in spite of it, instead of because of it?
How many times have you heard an over-the-counter nicotine patch commercial proclaim that the patch will "double your chances" of quitting? Is it true or is it false? Should we instantly believe everything we read or hear on television without investigating on our own? Experts tell us that smoking is killing half of all who are unable to quit while eventually crippling most lucky enough to survive. Are there certain representations in life that are important enough to invest the time needed to investigate and make up our own minds? I hope that you'll take the time to read the full text of some of the studies cited below and decide for yourself! Your very life may depend on it!
Double "your chances" of quitting? "Your" chances? What are your chances of quitting on your own and what are the pharmaceutical companies actually doubling? This article explores all of the over-the-counter nicotine patch study evidence that I have been able to locate. But before going further I feel the need to declare my beliefs and disclose my background. It's my firm conviction that the key to permanent abstinence is in each quitter developing a solid appreciation for the true power of nicotine. By taking the time to master the core withdrawal and recovery principles underlying years of chemical dependency upon nicotine, we can each short-circuit the agony of learning nicotine's true power through the school of hard quit knocks.
A recovered thirty-year three-pack-a-day nicotine addict myself, since 1999 I've worked to facilitate smoking cessation online at www.WhyQuit.com, and for the past year I've taught at local two-week clinics here in South Carolina, USA. All of my work since meeting Mr. Joel Spitzer in January 2000 (a thirty-year Chicago area cessation instructor) has evolved into abrupt nicotine cessation, with or without bupropion. In the almost three years since founding WhyQuit I've never taken a dime for my work, but then I am exploring ways to stay active in both smoking cessation and nicotine control for the balance of my life. The daily emotional rewards of helping others break free are tremendous!
It's my prayer that every smoker reading this article will not only seek answers regarding the truth behind the OTC nicotine patch, but that they will also invest the time needed to master the "Law of Addiction." In summary, there is only one simple rule that we each must follow in order to remain free for life. Just one day at a time, never put any amount of nicotine into our body again - NEVER TAKE ANOTHER PUFF!
Double "Your" Chances of Quitting Representations
Today is April 8, 2002. I just visited the website of the U.S. Surgeon General which states that the "nicotine patch - available ...over-the-counter ... will more or less double your chances of quitting and quitting for good." I visited the website of the UK's Department of Health which proclaims that the over-the-counter nicotine patch is "effective treatment that doubles rates for people giving up." I also visited the websites of two different patch makers. One asserted that the patch "can double your chances of quitting" while the other represented that it "can double yourchances of success."
Do the below cited medical studies and reviews support the conclusion that the over-the-counter nicotine patch will NOT double "your" chances of quitting? Do they support the conclusion that quitting on "your" own may be just as effective as trying to quit while using the OTC patch? Do the Hays and Davidson OTC patch studies provide evidence that quitters may have a 20% greater chance of quitting on their own than they would by using the OTC patch? Does the Tonnesen study provide evidence that those attempting a second or subsequent OTC patch attempt - alone without any cessation program of any kind - have almost a zero percent chance of succeeding? You be the judge!
Rebuttal Invitation
In fairness to the U.S. Surgeon General, the U.K. Department of Health, major non-profit organizations, and those companies marketing the OTC nicotine patch, I hereby extend to each the opportunity to email me (firstname.lastname@example.com) a rebuttal to the points and arguments made below. I will gladly include your rebuttal link here within this article. I ask only that you limit your reply to ANY efficacy evidence associated with the use of the over-the-counter nicotine patch by first time or subsequent users, the only subjects addressed in this article.
What are Your Chances of Quitting on "Your" Own?
Before looking at OTC patch figures it's important to establish a fairly reliable 24 week success rate for quitting on your own without any help whatsoever. What are "your" chances? The most exhaustive review of smoking cessation studies ever undertaken was published in June 2000 by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and is entitled "Clinical Practice Guideline - Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence."
The Guideline was compiled by a panel of eighteen leading experts, eleven of whom disclose prior financial relationships with pharmaceutical companies in Guideline Appendix C. Using a Table format, the panel meticulously reviewed, cataloged and combined similar studies in order to give us a single effectiveness figure, as well as a placebo or control group rate, for each method or component of cessation. The U.S. Guideline quickly became a world standard that was cited and relied upon by almost every government health agency on earth. Below is a summary of performance ratings for Guideline placebo and control groups.
USDHHS Tobacco Cessation Guideline, June 2000>
Table Topic Control Arms Rate A x R 11 Physician advice to quit No advice 9 7.9 71 12 Person-to-person contact No contact 30 10.9 327 13 Total contact time No minutes 16 11 176 14 Number of sessions Can't Use - 0 to 1 43 12.4 - 15 Various types of clinicians No clinician 16 10.2 163 16 Various numbers of clinicians No clinician 30 10.8 324 17 Types of formats No format 20 10.8 216 18 Number of formats No format 20 10.8 216 19 Number of types of self-help No self-help 17 14.3 243 20 Types of counseling/therapy No counseling 35 11.2 392 24 Acupuncture Placebo 7 8.3 58 25 Bupropion Placebo 2 17.3 34.6 26 Nicotine Gum Placebo 16 17.1 274 27 Nicotine Inhaler Placebo 4 10.5 42 28 Nicotine Nasal Spray Placebo 3 13.9 41.7 29 Nicotine Patch Placebo 28 10 280 30 Clonidine Placebo 6 13.9 83.4 31 Nortriptyline Placebo 3 11.7 35.1 Over-the-counter nicotine patch Placebo 3 6.7 20.1 TOTALS 210 11.53 2,423
The Guideline contains the above nineteen tables that have control group or placebo group 24 week cessation rates. Altogether, there were 210 different study arms. A single study can have more than one arm. For example, the 1997 Sonderskov OTC patch study contained two arms, one studying those using the 14-mg. patch, and one for the 21-mg patch.
If you multiply the number of arms within each of the nineteen categories by that category's U.S. Guideline average control group or placebo group rate, and then add up the results (2,422.9) and divide by the total number of arms (210), you're left with an average quitting on your own rate of 11.53% . If truly representative, 11.53% of all quitters quitting on their own will still be free at 24 weeks. Let's calculate a U.S. Guideline average a second way.
First, let's get rid of all of the placebos and use only those studies that had "on your own" control groups. If we use the same formula but this time remove all data from Tables 24-40 and then recalculate the remaining 138 arms using only Tables 11-20, the average control group rate drops a bit to 11.26%.
For good measure, let's address the apples to apples argument and remove all data from the "on your own" control groups (Tables 11-20) and then recalculate the remaining 72 arms using only Tables 24-40. The resulting placebo group 24 week success rate is a bit higher at 12.06%.
Is it fair to say that regardless of how we look at the U.S. Guideline data as a whole, that the average "on your own rate" is in the neighborhood of 11.5% at 24 weeks? Please keep this number in mind while we look at U.S. Guideline Table 40 which tells us the overall effectiveness of the over-the-counter nicotine patch.
OTC Patch Table 40 indicates that it looked at and combined three study arms and found that 11.8% of those wearing the OTC patch remained quit at 24 weeks versus only 6.7% for those wearing the placebo patch. Do two questions immediately come to mind? How can those selling the patch go on T.V. and proclaim to smokers around the world that the patch doubles "their" chances of quitting when the U.S. government's data indicates that the patch's 11.8% rate was almost identical to the overall Guideline on your own rate of 11.5%? The second question is, why did only 6.7% of the OTC placebo group quit for 24 weeks when we know that the average should have been in the neighborhood of 11.5%?
Is it fair to stop here and ask why the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is allowing OTC pharmaceutical companies to go on television and tell quitters that the OTC patch will double "their" chances of quitting when in truth quitters are quitting at almost twice the 6.7% rate that Table 40 indicates was achieved by the placebo groups? Is "your" chance the same as someone wearing a placebo nicotine patch in some university study? When pharmaceutical companies make such public marketing declarations, are they intentionally substituting a smoker's natural and normal ability to quit (on their own) with the dismal performance of someone wearing a placebo patch in an OTC patch study?
If true and the OTC patch is no more effective than quitting on your own - without any assistance whatsoever - have millions of quitters missed a golden opportunity to seek out a more effective means of quitting? In that the average smoker only has one quitting attempt every three years, how many thousands of lives are being lost by substituting placebo patch rates for the true on "your" own rates? Let's take a look at the studies themselves.
How Does the OTC Patch Compare to Our 11.5% On Your Own Rate?
There were two published OTC patch studies containing three arms relied upon in preparing Table 40. The third OTC patch study was published in November 1999, seven months before the Guideline was released in June 2000 but apparently too late for inclusion. The three Guideline OTC patch studies and their findings are as follows:
"Nicotine Patches in Smoking Cessation: A Randomized Trial among Over-the-Counter Customers in Denmark. American Journal of Epidemiology, 1997, Vol. 145, No. 4, at Pages 309-318 At 26 weeks 14-mg OTC patch 27% Placebo patch 23% At 26 weeks 21-mg OTC patch 11% Placebo patch 4.2% Efficacy and Safety of the Over-the-counter Transdermal Nicotine Patch as an Aid for Smoking Cessation Archive of Family Medicine, Vol 7, Nov/Dec 1998, at pages 569-574. At 24 weeks 22-mg OTC patch 8.2% Placebo patch 4.0% Over-the-counter Nicotine Patch Therapy for Smoking Cessation American Journal of Public Health 1999 Nov; 89(11), at pages 1701 to 1707. At 24 weeks 22-mg OTC patch 8.7% Placebo patch 4.3%
It should have been apparent to a sixth grade math student that the three comparable patch studies (for the 21-mg and 22-mg patches) had an average rate of just 9.3%, two full percentage points lower than our established quitting on your own rate of 11.5% . If true, why are governments around the globe helping sell an alleged means of quitting that to date has proven itself to be less effective than quitting on your own? Are our government and non-profit health bureaucrats lazy, dishonest, on the take, asleep at the wheel, or just plain stupid? Maybe it's me! Maybe I'm not reading these numbers correctly. Let's look inside the placebo patches for a moment.
Were the Placebo Patches Truly Placebos?
An immediate question that comes to mind is how the 21-mg and 22-mg patch placebo groups achieved 4.0%, 4.2% and 4.3% placebo rates when the average of all Guideline data indicates that 11.5% of smokers quitting on their own remain abstinent at 24 weeks. Is it possible to doctor or manipulate a placebo in order to make those using it fail at a rate almost three times higher than they would if they'd hadn't worn it? The average (4.2) is 7.3 percentage points lower than should have been expected (11.5%).
But before looking inside the placebo patches let's look at the normal withdrawal timing associated with abrupt nicotine cessation quitting. The half-life of nicotine in the human body is about two hours and within 72 hours physiological nicotine withdrawal peaks in intensity as the abrupt cessation quitter's blood serum becomes 100% nicotine clean. Cold turkey quitters normally begin sensing substantial relief within just 72 hours as they not only reach the peak of physical withdrawal's mountain, but also see the actual number of habit crave triggers encountered peak at an average of six.
The withdrawal anxieties of the first 72 hours can be tremendous but what if additional very small quantities of nicotine are put into a placebo patch so that the abrupt cessation quitter's brain dopamine circuits are never allowed to bathe for an entire hour in a zero blood serum nicotine level? What if instead their brain's dopamine neurotransmitters are forced to sense a very small quantity of nicotine arriving beyond the normal 72 hours? Could it alter the timing of peak anxieties? We're not talking about the nicotine levels necessary to establish dependency in the first place, but the minimum amount necessary to alter the intensity of cessation anxiety during and beyond the initial three days of abrupt cessation.
Is it possible to slightly extend or intensify the period of initial abrupt nicotine withdrawal by placebo manipulation? Could such manipulation be used by intelligent humans to guarantee that their product would always be at least twice as effective as the placebo, regardless of how poorly their product itself performed? I used to think that a "placebo" was defined as "an inactive substance or preparation used as a control in an experiment or test to determine the effectiveness of a medicinal drug," but not anymore!
Reading from the first study above, the 1997 Sonderskov OTC study, we learn that it was funded by Ciba-Geigy (the makers of the Habitrol patch), Ciba-Geigy provided four employees who provided instructions concerning the trial and distributed trial patches to the participating pharmacies, a Ciba-Geigy employee was in contact with the participating pharmacies at least once a week, Ciba-Geigy provided all active and placebo patches, the study was funded in part by Ciba-Geigy (page 317), and the study admits that Ciba-Geigy inserted an undisclosed amount of nicotine into the each placebo patch in order to "insure that the placebo patches were identical in terms of color and odor" (page 310).
Although the study admits that at 26 weeks there was "no significant differences in smoking cessation rates ... seen among smokers who started the low-dose nicotine or placebo patches," in regard to the 21mg patch arm only 4.2% of those using the placebo laced with an undisclosed amount of nicotine remained quit at 26 weeks, as compared to our U.S. Guideline average figure of 11.5%.
The 4.2% rate achieved by those wearing the doctored placebo patch falls almost mid-point between the 4.3% Hays OTC placebo patch rate and the 4.0% OTC Davidson placebo rate. Is this really science? Where was the FDA? With thousands of non-addictive dye colors and odors available to select from, why would any scientist select the substance being tested as a placebo masking agent? How much nicotine was fed to the placebo group and why wasn't the exact amount disclosed within the study? With billions of dollars and millions of lives at stake, where in the heck was peer review?
How widespread was this placebo doctoring practice and what levels of nicotine were used in each study? I emailed Dr. Hays, the primary author of the 1999 Hays OTC patch study in which the placebo group achieved just a 4.3% 24 week rate. I ask Dr. Hays if he had any of the placebo patches remaining from his study that could be tested and he indicated that he did not. I asked him if the placebo patches in his study had been laced with nicotine and he indicated that he didn't think so. But, in that he encouraged me to contact Elan in Ireland who he said provided the placebo patches, I didn't sense that he had much confidence in his answer. I immediately emailed Elan and they've yet to reply. Again, what kind of science is this?
The 1997 Sonderskov OTC study isn't the only nicotine patch study in which we know that those using the placebo patch were never allowed to bathe their brains in nicotine free blood serum levels. In the Campbell IA and Prescott RJ study entitled, " Transdermal nicotine plus support in patients attending hospital study " published in Respiratory Medicine in 1996 in Volume 90(1): pages 47-51, at page 48 it reads "Patients in the P [placebo] group received a transdermal formulation with a very low content of nicotine (13% of the active form), a dose which is conventionally felt to be too low to affect outcome. " Conventionally felt? Whose feelings and where is the published study?
In the Ahluwalia JS, McNagny SE, Clark WS. study entitled "Smoking cessation among inner-city African Americans using the nicotine transdermal patch" that was published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine (JGIM) in 1998 in Volume 13 (1): 1-8, at page 2 it reads, "Placebo systems contained a pharmacologically irrelevant amount of nicotine in the drug reservoir to mimic the odor of active systems but delivered less than 1 mg of nicotine in 24 hours." How many patch users know what pure nicotine smells like, and why would a placebo patch quitter know how an active patch quitter's patch smelled? It makes absolutely no sense!!
In allowing drug companies to market themselves based upon their own dismal placebo rates and not on objective historical performance standards (where such data exists), we not only deceive the public on life threatening health matters but we invite placebo manipulation by those with a financial stake in the outcome. Where is the study comparing cessation rates between the doctored placebo patch and the real placebo patch? Was that step skipped? This just doesn't pass the smell test!
Are OTC Patch Studies More Reliable than Earlier Patch Studies?
The three OTC patch studies, for the very first time, showed the world what the emperor was really wearing. The Hays, Davidson and Sonderskov studies mimicked real world quitting conditions in stripping away the medical universities, layers of study structure, one-on-one education, skills development training, counseling, telephone calls, study support, expense reimbursements, mileage reimbursements, appointment expectations, logs or record keeping, physical examinations, and all other motivational sources for which the nicotine patch had previously been able to claim credit.
Not only did these "pick it up and use it" studies make the nicotine patch stand on its own two feet, with the exception of 14-mg patch in 1997 Sonderskov study, the results were strikingly consistent. A multitude of earlier patch studies were seriously inflated by study protocols and education factors for which U.S. Guideline Recommendations 5 and 6 (education, counseling and support) should have received the bulk of the credit.
Until pharmaceutical companies began dreaming about huge profits associated with high volume OTC patch sales and the FDA got involved in OTC study protocols, we each had an excuse for not seeing what was happening here. Not anymore! While backing the nicotine patch car into the garage, we were never afforded a chance to look ahead, from the beginning, to see how much of the patch's effectiveness was attributable to other factors.
Once Elan and Habitrol decided to go OTC and requested studies that the FDA encouraged them to have pre-approved as to format, it was too late to shelve or hide the results. Instead, it was back to the "double your chances" argument which each of us had been conditioned to accept when we were achieving 22 to 25% rates at 24 weeks, while still dressing the nicotine patch in counseling, contact, telephone calls, education, motivation, skills development programs, and scores of other study protocols.
Are the 21 and 22 mg. OTC nicotine patches with an average quitting rate of just 9.3% less effective than the 11.5% rate achieved by those quitting on their own? If so, who knew this and why do they still remain silent while tobacco continues to kill at the rate of four million a year! Double your chances? Are profits really more important than human lives? Why are we allowing this! Before closing I have one more factor to throw into the mix. I call it the "Tonnesen Factor"
How Effective is the OTC Patch for Second Time Patch Users?
Not a single government, non-profit or pharmaceutical website that I've visited informs quitters of their chances or odds during a second or subsequent OTC patch attempt. Instead, they just keep pushing the patch and gum down the throats of every quitter arriving, without regard to their number of prior patch or NRT attempts. Keep in mind that we'll have four million tobacco deaths again this year! I would be willing to bet that tens of thousands who tobacco will claim during the next 365 days will have made at least two serious prior NRT cessation attempts. If the effectiveness rate of the patch drops substantially during second and subsequent attempts and we are all aware of this fact, do organizations advocating the use of NRT have an obligation to disclose this simple truth to those placing their dying faith into the endless stream of "double your chances" statements?
It's a 1993 study by P. Tonnesen and others entitled "Recycling with Nicotine Patches in Smoking Cessation" that was published in Addiction, 1993, Apr; 88 (4); at pages 533-539. This early patch study not only substantiates our 11.5% "on your own" U.S. Guideline calculation in that 12% of the placebo group quit for 26 weeks, it raises an alarming factor regarding recycling or second time patch users. One of the factors that the Tonnesen study attempted to determine was how failed patch users from a patch study one year earlier would perform during a second attempt at quitting with the patch. As the study summary (abstract) puts it "all of the subjects hadrelapsed in the group previously treated with the active nicotine patch." All of them - 100%
If in fact there is a massive group of quitters who are incapable of quitting via a gradual stepped-down nicotine withdrawal approach, as may have been evidenced by the 1993 Tonnesen recycling study, I can understand why the pharmaceuticals what to keep it quiet (profits) but why are major non-profit and government organizations like the ACS, ALA, ATS, AHA, RWJF, AMA, ALF, ASH, Truth, NHS, CDC, NIH, DHHS, and FDA not demanding that either additional studies be immediately undertaken or that adequate warnings be given to smokers? Why? Are we in this for show or to save life?
Keep in mind that we're not taking about an 11.5% chance at breaking free, a 6.7% chance or even a 4.2% chance. We're talking about organizations making public recommendations that may deprive a large class of quitters of almost all hope of success - a zero percent chance and a wasted opportunity. Are we going to play the blame game later, engage in finger pointing, or pretend that we couldn't read, when thousands of families begin asking "why," or are we going to get serious now about doing all within our power to immediately start reducing the carnage?
A Proven Alternative
For the longest time I looked into these issues not because I felt something funny was going on but because NRT marketing was neglecting to tell quitters that high quality local clinic programs around the world were achieving 25 to 40% 24 week cessation rates, and that the "best of the best" were consistently generating 24 week rates in excess of 50%. Great programs like Joel Spitzer's abrupt cessation Chicago two week clinic that has consistently generated one year rates near 52%, or the Ohbayashi program in Japan that just generated a 58% one year rate, will never be studied by those trying to sell an 9.3% chance of quitting for just 24 weeks by gradual nicotine withdrawal in the form of an OTC nicotine patch.
I'm beginning to believe that health bureaucrats are basically lazy humans who truly want to believe in the magic power of a box of nicotine products that they can leave outside their door. I know it's not good to stereotype folks or call names but I'm an open minded man whose opinions attempt to reflect the realities around him. Once I begin seeing health professionals get down in the trenches and dirty their hands in helping smokers break free by presenting the highest quality cessation education, motivation, skills development, counseling and support programs possible, my opinion will change.
It's challenging work walking into rooms full of smokers and presenting programs designed to help them reclaim their freedom, health and life expectancy. Instead of studying quality programs that consistently generate 40 to 50% 24 week rates and attempting to refine, improve upon them, and clone them on a massive scale, we've bought into these gradual nicotine withdrawal concepts in a very deadly way. It's time for those organizations taking the money to begin delivering results!
We don't have to wait three years for a smoker to move into the contemplation phase, we can put them there tomorrow. We don't have to wait for their motivation to ripen into reason when we have the tools today to accelerate expectations. We don't have to subject their dreams to methods guaranteed to produce 90% failure rates when we already have the means to make permanent abstinence more likely than not. If you're a government or non-profit health bureaucrat charged with finding ways to help those dependent upon nicotine break free, then I challenge you to roundup a dozen smokers, put them into a room, close the door, and begin your journey in learning what is and isn't effective.
A basic flaw in all the magic bullets and quick fixes to date, and those yet to come, is that they teach nothing. I fear that many of those who renamed nicotine "medicine" and redefined its administration as "therapy" would love to do the same with alcohol, cocaine and/or heroin. Above all else, chemical dependency is an intense forced long-term relationship that can become as real and profound in the mind as anyone's love for their mother. We call it junkie thinking. Once we're able to develop a pill or product that makes getting over mom's death easy, we'll be able to do the same with the millions of memories that bond the addict to their dopamine manipulating drug. Until then, it's time to roll up our sleeves and go to work in helping them each develop an understanding of the foundations upon which their dependency has been built.
I, John R. Polito, am 100% solely responsible for the content of this article and assume full responsibility for its internet publication. It had not been reviewed by any other person prior its internet publication on April 8, 2002, nor had any other person had any input upon its content. The views expressed here are my own, in my individual capacity, as a concerned nicotine cessation and control advocate.
John R. Polito
Nicotine Cessation Educator
Revised - 05/15/2002
Reference Links
1. Full Text Version of U.S. Clinical Practice Guideline, June 2000
2. Tonnesen 1993 Patch Recycling Study Abstract
3. Sonderskov 1997 OTC Patch Study
4. Davidson, 1998 OTC Patch Study
6. Campbell, et al. Respir Med 1996 Jan;90(1):47-51 - "Patients in the P group received a transdermal formulation with a very low content of nicotine (13% of the active form), a dose which is conventionally felt to be too low to affect outcome."
7. Ahluwalia JS, et. al., "Smoking cessation among inner-city African Americans using the nicotine transdermal patch" that was published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine (JGIM) in 1998 in Volume 13 (1): 1-8, at page 2: "Placebo systems contained a pharmacologically irrelevant amount of nicotine in the drug reservoir to mimic the odor of active systems but delivered less than 1 mg of nicotine in 24 hours."
March 21, 2002 - E-mailed all USDHHS Guideline Panel Members at the email addresses provided at U.S. Surgeon General's website, advising each of the above concerns.
March 21, 2002 - E-mailed the "Tobacco Cessation Guideline List of Supports at those e-mail addresses listed at the U.S. Surgeon General's website.
March 25, 2002 - E-mailed FDA advising it of the concerns raised above.
April 1, 2002 - Letter and e-mail from FDA indicating that info provided was being reviewed and upon completion a "detailed response of their findings" would be provided.
April 10, 2002 - Harry A. Lando, PhD, a U.S. Guideline Panel expert and the scientific editor for the "1988 Report of the Surgeon General: Nicotine Addiction" sends reply e-mail recommending that the issues raised be discussed in public.
April 10, 2002 - A link to the above article is posted at ASH UK's forum (ASH link since removed)
April 26, 2002 - 4th OTC study published (patch and gum) in Addiction, Volume 97, Issue 5, Page 505, May 2002, by Shiffman, Saul, et. al., and is entitled "Real-world efficacy of prescription and over-the-counter nicotine replacement therapy." I have only been able to review and obtain a cite to the study abstract (summary) but it presents the following twenty-six week factual findings:
May 8, 2002 - The FDA writes a reply letter in which its only substantive comment is that "[h]istoric quit rates may reflect a different population than smokers of today or smokers enrolled in recent controlled clinical trials." The letter does not attempt to explain how the natural ability of smokers to quit could have declined by 268% (from 11.% to 4.1% at 24 weeks) during the time period since the first OTC study was published in 1997, nor does it provide any evidence that quitters in the four OTC studies were any less motivated than quitters in prior studies. The letter does not mention the Tonnesen 1993 patch recycling study, nor does it mention the fact that placebo patches were admittedly doctored with nicotine. The FDA letter was prepared by Mr. Lee Lemley, FDA Policy Analyst, whose email address is firstname.lastname@example.com
- OTC nicotine gum (2,981 smokers) - 8.4%
- Rx nicotine gum (324 smokers) - 7.7%
- OTC nicotine patch (2,367 smokers) - 9.2%
- Rx nicotine patch (669 smokers) - 3%
May 11, 2002 - The FDA's written letter of May 8th was received on May 11th and I replied via e-mail a few hours later posing the same three concerns as I've posed all along (1- allowing NRT companies to redefine "your" chances; 2 - nicotine doctored placebos with no published doctoring study; and 3 - Tonnesen recycling without study follow-up). I also asked the following. In light of the fact that the FDA apparently no longer believes in its own Department's control group meta analysis table figures as published in the June 2000 Guideline, whether it was now the FDA's position that all abrupt cessation "on your own" quitters have only a 4%, 4.1%, or 4.3% chance of quitting for 24 weeks, and if not what is a quitters natural "on your own" chances at 24 weeks? I asked the FDA to cite any study comparing quit rates between abrupt cessation quitters and those being fed nicotine in placebo nicotine patches, and to cite any follow-up studies that were contrary to Tonnesen's 1993 patch recycling study findings.
May 11, 2002 - ASH UK, Directed by Mr. Clive Bates, one of the most vocal proponents of NRT in the world, deletes the discussion thread posted on April 10, and Mr. Bates then posts toanother thread (that has since been deleted) stating, "The unaided quit rate is about 3% success per attempt. NRT doubles that to 6%." It's my belief that Mr. Bates may have been citing some previously unpublished inside information regarding one year OTC NRT data. If correct, it not only continues to beg the question of doctored placebos and the resulting accuracy of his 3% one year figure, it does not address the NRT industry's total failure to either follow-up on the Tonnesen recycling findings with additional recycling studies or warn those using OTC NRT of their dramatically diminished chances. Mr. Bate's figures are also important in that they shed naked light on NRT by revealing that at best it provides benefit to just 3 in 100 quitters (6% patch group minus the 3% who would have quit without it). If true, why are world health leaders continuing to push a product that provides no long term benefit to 97% who use it? Is NRT an effective use of the extremely limited and precious funding resources being dedicated by governments to foster cessation?
|Knowledge is a Quitting Method


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MONTGOMERY – Alabama State Troopers investigated 23 traffic deaths during the Christmas and New Year's Day holiday travel period, which was from 12:01 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, to midnight Monday, Jan. 1, 2018. The total is significantly lower than the total from the same period in 2016, when Troopers investigated 31 traffic fatalities.
The fatal traffic crashes occurred in Autauga, Baldwin, Calhoun, Choctaw, Colbert, Coosa, Crenshaw, Cullman, Dallas, DeKalb, Escambia, Geneva, Limestone, Mobile, Russell, St. Clair, Shelby and Washington counties. Those killed were 16 drivers, four passengers, two pedestrians and one bicyclist. Of those who died in these traffic crashes, 20 were traveling in vehicles equipped with seat belts, but 11 of them were not using them. Nothing further is available on these crashes as Troopers continue to investigate.
Troopers did see five zero-fatality days during this holiday travel period – including Christmas Day and New Year's Day.
In addition, Troopers wrapped up 2017 with fewer traffic fatality investigations than the previous year. In 2017, Troopers investigated 598 traffic deaths, 73 fewer than 2016's 671 traffic deaths. Still, the motoring public is encouraged to drive responsibly: Buckle up, obey speed limits, avoid driving under the influence of alcohol/drugs, and avoid driving when distracted. Do pay attention to the task of driving, and #arrivealivealabama.


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The summer has fully gotten away from me. We had two weeks of camp and I was the director of one. I also wrote a cookbook.... well, really, I compiled the cookbook from family recipes for our 50th reunion anniversary and had a blast putting it together. We sold all 50 that were published and there will be more printed for those who were not there to get one.
They have recipes, family photos, some children's recipe stuff for things like play dough, bubbles, etc... some favorite scriptures, quotes and stories... it turned out great and I love that so many contributed to make it such a success.
My Daddy is the youngest of 12 children. Two of his four sisters are still living and they are 89 and 90 years old. My 90 year old aunt encouraged me about 5 or 6 times over the reunion weekend to write my own cookbook. She is so precious! She said, "I would be the first in line to buy it and read it!"
My life has just drastically slowed since camp and cookbooks are done. I am now working on a blogging calendar to start posting regularly again and have a whole slew of recipes lined up to work on. I am working on less sugar, more vegetables in our diet and more gluten free stuff for me. We will be planting a fall garden, too. I am very excited about that!
I love that I can be more "home and family" focused now, too. There is much more time for the domestic stuff. I am cooking, baking, sewing, crocheting, gardening. These are a few of my favorite things!
I am selling Pampered Chef stuff for a little extra money for things like music lessons and such for the kids. I will share my website and more information on that in a future post for you if you are interested in hosting an online party or just ordering from my page.
I have a ton of books lined up to read and many are farm and food related. There will be book reviews and recommendations. I am hoping to eventually have all my blogging right here on this site so my other Good Neighbors site will go dormant and just be a page to point here.
I have so many things I want to do and learn and share. I hope you will stick around for the adventures.
Right now, it is time to go and start some dinner for the family. Tonight it is homemade pizza and movies for us. We have had the first real rain of the year this past 24 hours and all the windows are open wide and it is cozy. We are taking full advantage of that tonight.
Thanks for reading! :)


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On 16 January 2008, Constellation Program Manager Jeff Hanley issued an internal agency memo wherein he asked a lot of people to adopt a series of Ares and Orion launch date slips.
Most significantly, he said that Ares 1-Y would shifted 12 months from September 2012 to September 2013.
At the time, NASA PAO denied that there was any 12 month postponement announced even though Hanley's memo went to more than 80 people across the agency announcing these changes.
Folks at NASA HQ were furious about getting this uncoordinated email (the one that PAO was downplaying) and Hanley was eventually ordered to rescind the memo.
NASA Administrator Mike Griffin was not happy about this topic during a Space Transportation Association (STA) breakfast presentation a few days later.
All of this arm waving and denials aside, it would seem that Jeff Hanley knew what was going to happen - eventually.
NASA sent Lockheed Martin a letter on 1 July 2008 asking that the company "develop a NTE value" for the several changes. One change was to:
"Update programmatic milestone dates to the following:
*AA-3 Flight Test is deleted
*Flight Test Objectives for AA-1 and AA-2 are unchanged
Compare these changes to those contained in Hanley's earlier memo. Look familiar?
NASA Internal Memo from Constellation Program Manager Jeffrey Hanley: Update to Constellation Program (CxP) Internal Launch Dates
"Pursuant to recent analysis of program resource execution plans, the Program is adjusting the internal launch dates for the CxP Flight Manifest as follows:
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First post-revelations photo of Tiger Woods surfaces as he's spotted at US rehab facility
Following his now infamous Thanksgiving car crash, and the subsequent revelations made about his private life, the shamed golf star has gone out of his way to stay clear of the spotlight, leading to mounting speculation as to his whereabouts.
But this week what is thought to be the first photograph of the dad-of-two, taken since the revelations, has been published.
A picture reportedly showing Tiger - wearing shorts, a T-shirt and a hooded top covering a baseball cap - walking in the grounds of a Mississippi rehabilitation centre has surfaced in the US.
The 34-year-old is said to have checked himself into the Pine Grove Behavioural Health and Addiction Services clinic in the remote town of Hattiesburg on December 30 – his birthday.
America's highest paid sports star is reportedly on a six-week Gentle Path programme for sex addiction, believed to cost around £37,000, according to a US news magazine.
Sources have said that he entered the clinic in an attempt to save his marriage to Elin Nordegren, 30, the mother of his two children; two-year-old daughter Sam and six-month-old son Charlie.
While others patients share rooms and undertake chores, Tiger is believed to have been granted his own chalet and has been excused from domestic jobs during his stay at the 24-bedroom facility.
And it is thought he is also receiving one-on-one treatment rather than group therapy.
The intensive six week course involves cognitive behavioural therapy, psychiatric consultations, shame reduction work and relapse prevention counselling.
Elin is expected to join in part on the therapy, joining his sessions during 'family week', which include a 'disclosure day'.
Officials at Pinewood would neither confirm nor deny Tiger's presence, although workers have been seen extending the facilities' exterior fence perhaps in an effort to increase security.
Earlier this week it was reported that Tiger - who apologised publicly to his wife for his "personal sins" - will be making a return to golf in the near future.


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Category Archives: Introduction
Spread the Love 2012
I have recently discovered I am a possible candidate for the 2012 Matrix Spread the Love Tour. I would like to thank Matrix for this opportunity. I know voting has not finished but I want Matrix to know I am thankful for even being considered. This is quite possibly the hardest thing I have ever worked for. I have reached out touched lives and actually made a difference! I am sure this is my calling, and I can't wait to go out and spread a little of my own love back to my community.
Welcome to Mere's Hair.
"Too bad all the people who know how to run this country are busy running taxicabs or cutting hair. "- George Burns
Welcome to my blog! My name is Meredith, but you can call me Mere. As a Physicist I am prone to doing experiments. So I decided to do a little personal experimentation where in I would prove to be the proverbial Guinea pig. Could I develop my skill and hone my ambition through self challenge and proper research to become a stylist that actually knew what I was talking about? You know, a regular Albert Einstein in the field of cosmetology!
I'm here to hurtle myself over new levels of difficulty in the wondrous world of hair. This blog has given me new doors to open and discover my abilities as well as act as a portal of helpful knowledge to others. Being a competitive person by nature, my blog will allow me to compete with myself through the development of new creations. Thus able to make comparison of older original photography to newer photos constructive. Compiling and organizing all of my ideas on this blog will also improve my ability to recall data I learned during this blogs' creation. By doing so I will increase my capability to function on a higher level in our current fashion focused society. You guys aren't merely here to be observers…I want you to participate in my metamorphosis as a person. You can help me moult my Caterpillar exterior to become a full blown stylist with wings! Heck you might learn something too. Enough with the opening statements, let's get down to the all things hot and hairy!


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Although we're more than willing to assist, we feel that the customer is in the best position to be the first line of defense and problem resolution. For this reason, we provide an array of training which is heavily focused on a "hands-on" approach.
A new or refreshed knowledge can keep you in a position to save your company from costly downtime.
We provide:


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Storytime for pre-school children. Listen to a story being told from our special story chair, make a themed craft.
Refreshments provided. Ages approximately 2 - 5.
Please note: This event only occurs during School Terms, not holidays.
This event is free, no ticket required.
For more information, please contact us
All pre-school children and their parents or carers are welcome to join us. We'll be reading from the best and brightest and most funny picture books in the library for your kids to enjoy and to inspire them to find books and reading fun!
You might also be interested in…many of our libraries also hold regular Toddler Rhyme Time sing-along sessions and Baby Bounce and Rhyme.


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Wednesday, 18 September 2013
Special Delivery
12 comments:
Stunning card! And the resin corner is gorgeous! Must add some of those on my next order. xReplyDelete
Ohhhh wow Becky wonderful your card.ReplyDelete
Hugs Astrid
oooh gorgeous card, I love the coloring and the image.ReplyDelete
hugs Annemarie
Awesome card Becky! So many gorgeous details!!!ReplyDelete
Becky this is adorable!!! Love the sparkle you've added to your image and the details are outstanding!ReplyDelete
Simply stunnign, Becky!! Fabulous colors and the details!ReplyDelete
Hugs, Sande xx
Wow I totally love this so much Becky all so pretty! Hugs Rebekah xxReplyDelete
Stunning! I love this adorable card:)ReplyDelete
This is so sweet, such a beautiful card xxxReplyDelete
This is gorgeous. Love all the details.ReplyDelete
This storch is growing one me :-) Beautifully coloured and embellished as always; love how you matched the filmstrip ribbon to the welcome sentiment. Hugz, SandyReplyDelete


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Price: $18.00
Publisher: Musica Russica
Gift Wrapping:
Sorry but this item is currently unavailable.
Please check back at a later stage.
The same superlative qualities that characterize the other recordings by the Male Choir of the Holy Trinity-St. Sergius Monastery Representation Church are applicable to this live recording of a Paschaltide concert given in the Great Hall of the Moscow Conservatory. Impeccable intonation, ensemble, and sense of expressive measure, reveal oft-heard musical settings (such as Vedel's Paschal Canon) as well as relatively recent additions to the repertoire (e.g. Ledkovsky's Paschal Stichera "Let God Arise"), in a heretofore unimagined variety of choral timbres and colors. Listeners whose impressions of Russian men's choirs have been shaped by the Don Cossacks, the Red Army Chorus, and the Monks of Holy Trinity-St. Sergius Lavra, will discover a depth of expression and subtlety that they never thought was possible. Titles and an introductory article are in Russian and English.--V.M.


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Micro Needling – Skin Med Spa
What is Micro Needling?
In essence, our process involves applying a natural numbing cream or to your face and then using a small roller that has very small needles to open up the pores on the very top layer of your skin. The great thing about this procedure is that it's totally painless and completely noninvasive.
What this procedure does is stimulate the collagen production in your face, which will allow your body to naturally heal and repair the damage that's been done from scars and other blemishes. This procedure also helps by making it easier for your skin to absorb products that can rejuvenate and revitalize your skin.
Santa Monica's Most Trusted Micro Needling Facility
There are many procedures out there which promise to take years off your skin. For some people it can be tough to sort out the legitimate procedures from the ones that do nothing. Luckily, there's a proven option out there that's quick and effective at removing blemishes. The effects of this treatment can give you that youthful look that will last. This procedure is called micro needling, and it's quickly become popular. Specially among the upper echelon of Hollywood and the business world.
How Does Micro Needling Work?
The short answer is Scientific studies have been conducted to test the effects of micro needling. Time and again, it was concluded that micro needling was super effective at stimulating the body's natural production of collagen. The even better part is that this process doesn't require you to inject anything into your body or do anything unnatural.
Non-Invasive Treatment
When it comes to looking your best, there are all kinds of procedures out there that promise to make you look 10 or even 20 years younger. Unfortunately, not all of these procedures can be trusted. You could potentially spend hundreds of dollars on a procedure, only to find that it's made no discernible difference.
Instead of taking a risk, you can go with the procedure that's been clinically proven to stimulate collagen and give your face a natural, youthful look. What's more, it does this in a totally noninvasive way that's absolutely painless.
Proven Results
Not all skin care professionals are equal. You'll want to go with a business with extensive experience in micro needling. This will need to be a business with proven results and a focus on the happiness of all of its customers. That business is Skin Med Spa. Get in touch with us today, and we'll be glad to get your skin looking naturally youthful.
While it can be tempting to save a few bucks and go with a set that you can use yourself, but you truly do get what you pay for. It's best to trust the professionals when choosing micro needling. You're simply giving your body a supercharge to do what it's already supposed to do. It's important to keep in mind, though, that studies have shown just the opposite for at-home micro needling kits.
Where Is The Best Place For Micro Needling?
If you find yourself searching micro needling near me chances are you found us. Skin Med Spa is the Best Place for Micro-Needling and offer this treatment at the Best Price. We are Located in Downtown Santa Monica just blocks from the beach, at 1333 2nd St. Suite 46 Santa Monica, CA 90401. Inside of the Salon Republic Building.
FREE Parking on 2nd St. in Garage 4. Best Med Spa Santa Monica, Venice, Brentwood, Westwood, Beverly Hills, Los Angeles / LA, Pacific Palisades, Marina Del Rey, Manhattan Beach, Culver City and West Hollywood. Call (310) 899-9000 To Book Free Consultation. For additional services Click Here.


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Chicago Music Store Posts "Do Not Ever Buy List" of Artists And Albums
We all have our likes and dislikes when it comes to music. It may even be said that a lot of people become very vocal as to a favorite ban or musical genre. Check out the list of "Do Not Ever Buy List" of albums and that was posted in a Chicago music store. Did your favorite band make the list?
The list was posted in Laurie's Planet Of Sound. "It's a legit list," says store manager Nick Myers. "That was stuff that had been here for a year or two, titles or artists that we can't sell. It's not our own personal taste."
The list went public on Facebook, and has caused more than a few good-natured debates among music devotees! Are any of your favorites on this infamous list? Maybe you have one to add?


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Chicago – Attorney General Lisa Madigan today announced that her office, 47 other states and the District of Columbia, have reached an agreement with Virginia-based AOL, LLC (AOL), requiring the company to make significant changes in how it handles cancellation requests and to provide refunds to consumers who tried but were unable to cancel their AOL service.
Madigan and other attorneys general began investigating AOL based on numerous consumer complaints alleging that overly aggressive AOL representatives solicited consumers to reconsider the decision to cancel and often offered them a free month of AOL service if they would agree to continue service. When the free month expired, however, some consumers who again tried to cancel said that AOL representatives persisted in pressuring them to stay with the company. Other consumers reported that they believed they had canceled their paid AOL service only to receive yet another AOL bill for one or more months after the supposed cancellation.
"In this agreement, we insisted that AOL put in place a framework that resolves existing consumer complaints and establish clear policies and procedures to prevent these problems in the future," Madigan said.
AOL has recently restructured its business model from paid monthly Internet service to free e-mail access in which current members can switch their paid e-mail accounts to free accounts. AOL customers who take advantage of the free e-mail access will need to obtain underlying Internet service or purchase dial up service from AOL.
As part of the agreement, the attorneys general worked to ensure that AOL customers will be able to take advantage of this switch to free email access. The agreement specifically requires AOL to allow those customers who wish to convert or cancel their accounts to have the option of doing so online. Additionally, the agreement requires that when current AOL members cancel or convert to free e-mail, AOL must clearly disclose the amount of time remaining on the account and any outstanding balance and must immediately provide the member with a confirmation number showing that they have canceled their service.
Under the agreement, AOL also must clearly disclose to consumers the terms of AOL's service before asking for a consumer's acceptance or requiring payment information when a new account is created or reactivated.
Madigan said AOL has been addressing consumer complaints through her office's complaint mediation process. While denying that it violated any laws, AOL has committed to continue to address consumer complaints as they arise and to provide refunds to consumers who were billed after they cancelled their AOL accounts.
Under terms of the settlement, AOL also has agreed to pay $3 million to the participating States. Illinois will receive $165,000 for use in investigating allegations of consumer fraud and providing consumer education.
States joining Illinois in the settlement include: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. The District of Columbia also joined in the settlement.
Bureau Chief Elizabeth Blackston and Assistant Attorney General Louis Gale are handling the case for Madigan's Consumer Fraud Bureau.


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I haven't posted anything in a while. A lot has gone on in the last year – a new house, a wedding (yes, mine!), a promotion and I've fallen behind on the blog. So what's causing me to post again? This DIY was too good not to share.
I'm being completely transparent with you here. This will be the facts and the experience exactly how it happened for me. Read it, take what applies, and hopefully if you are unhappy with your current countertops and are dying for a redo this blog will help you out.
I read dozens of blogs on countertop redos before choosing and completing my own (the benefit of waiting a year to finally bite the bullet and dive in to the renovation – by that time there was already a wealth of information online and several had lived with their countertops for long periods of time and could attest to the durability). After all the research here's a quick overview of what the project is going to entail:
1. $100-$300 depending on the square feet of countertop you're looking to cover, and depending on the amount of supplies you are going to need to buy (some of you may already have brushes, craft paint, and/or buckets).
2. A full weekend or split the project into a few hours per day for about a week 🙂
3. Skill with taping and prepping your work area
4. Some sort of primer ( all surface)
5. Your design paints/tools (we'll get more into this later)
6. Your high gloss sealant of choice. We went with Envirotex Lite which is a water clear reactive polymer compound. It cures to a thick, glossy coating in about 8 hours at 70°F, and reaches full strength and toughness in about 48 hours. As the company states, it's a durable, resilient material and requires no polishing to produce a high gloss. What's even better is that it usually only takes one coat to achieve your finish!
7. PATIENCE. You have to let the beautiful shiny top coat cure for quite some time… I read all different advice on the appropriate time to let it cure. In my experience it was dry to touch in 24-48 hours, but I didn't actually set anything back on the countertops for about a week to ensure it was hardened and leveled. After a week I even set my Kitchen Aid Mixer on the countertops (which is heavy) and had no problems.
Still with me?? Do you want to see this afterwards?!
Okay, then here's the supplies I chose to achieve the gorgeous white granite look I was going for:
1. Sandpaper to rough up the existing countertop before applying the primer. Honestly, I didn't use it too much just a light 'roughing' – so you may be able to skip it depending on the type of countertop you're starting with, I think ours was some lame linoleum in cream/white.
2. Plastic Tarp. Buy it in bulk. Even if you're an expert at painting and don't get paint outside your project area you will need the tarps to catch the dripping Envirotex off the sides of the countertops — and the whole point is to let it drip over. That's how it self levels and covers the edges.
3. Cheap work gloves – you don't want the Envirotex Lite on your hands.
4. Metallic Leaf – optional, but I'd suggest it. Do research on the type of granite you're shooting for – a lot of the high end granites have metallic flakes in them and some glitter.
5. Fine Glitter – see above. I went with a pearlescent sheen white glitter – please use a fine glitter and not a course chunky one which may make your countertops look more like a 2nd grade art project.
6. Foam brushes. I'd read on a few blogs that you can use these to spread the Envirotex or to paint your edges but they were so cheap I really stuck to options # and wouldn't recommend them. Actually my favorite spreading tools ended up being the 99cent plastic spreader things in the paint section so scoop up a few of these if you see them!
7. Natural Sponges. Buy a bunch! These are what you're going to use to create the granite patterns – look for different shapes and sizes.
8. Painters Tape. Keeps your edges clean and holds your plastic tarps in place.
9. Paint brushes and tray for the primer. Really use whatever type you like – I wanted a very smooth look so I got cabinet/door foam rollers in two sizes and used a Purdy small angle brush for edges and corners.
10. Plastic containers/pitchers. This is to mix your Envirotex Lite and then to pour over your counter tops. You're going to need a couple so you can keep mixing while one person is pouring! Unless you're working with a very small area… which we were not.
11. Craft Paints. Seriously — that's what you use. Cheap, Acryllic craft paints from your local craft store like a Michaels or Hobby Lobby. Try to pick colors that match the example granite you're going for! We used White, metallic silver, black, and a tan.
12. Some sort of primer ( all surface). I used a warm gray color, and honestly it's smart to go a little dark on this first layer it'll just spot through and add depth to your granite pattern.
13. Envirotex Lite. We bought 8 of the two bottle 2sq. ft. kits and used 6 for our kitchen, looking back at it I wished I'd used a little more up front but I was so nervous we'd run out! It covers pretty much exactly like the bottle and website say so just trust the Professional Tips.
14. A Partner (not pictured). The beginning and prep work you can tackle yourself but a friend really comes in handy for the Envirotex part at the end!
Okay, still with me? You're going to start by prepping your work area. Clear everything off the countertops!! And snap a nice 'Before' photo – so you can do the comparison once you're done and give yourself an amazing pat on the back. Or three. Here are our before shots:
THIS island is what drove me to try a DIY countertop. Besides that nasty little burn spot in the middle that I used to cover with a slate cutting board, any time people would set down their glasses it would stain the countertop. Even water. I mean, the water ring wouldn't wipe right off – you'd literally need to break out lifesaver Mr. Eraser every. single. time. LAME!
And now, tape it off like you would any paint project… make sure you have plastic tarps EVERYWHERE. Like a Dexter kill room. I didn't take any photos right after tarping, but here's after tarping and the layer of primer:
We even decided to do the little coffee nook that had white tile just to see how it would take the treatment – so here's a peak at that area primed and ready to go!
Alright… now comes the artistic part.
By now you should've already researched the type of granite you were looking for and know what you're trying for. Take out your natural sponges, acrylic paint colors, and paper plates. I squirted out my paints on the paper plates and got going with my first coat!
For the first (major) coat I used a white and a metallic light silver. Honestly, the hubs picked the light silver and I was shocked. I'm usually the glitter fiend… and he was so right! The one metallic paint pick thrown in with the other acrylic paint on the sponge added depth. He nailed it.
Here's what the first layer should look like as you go across the primer….
Can you already see the metallic paint glisten a little?
And this is going to be the difficult part for you. If you did the first coat right it's going to look pretty good at this point, and your husband may even try to talk you out of the next step "don't push your luck!!" but push your luck. The next few layers are what make it so realistic. I won't lie to you, it's going to look WORSE next before it gets better. That's because the next step is to add your accent colors. It kinda ends up looking spotted, like a funky Dalmatian… I really don't know else how to explain so… here's kinda what mine started looking like:
OMG I know — but I warned you!!!! Just be patient…. you still have another layer to go!
Alright, then once it dries you continue with the FINAL LAYER of acrylic paint. We ended up spanning this work over several nights during the week. I'd get home from work, do a quick layer of acrylic, and we'd eat dinner etc. It dries pretty quickly so you could probably knock it all out in a few hours but I was doing my best not to rush the project. The final layer should be a majority of the color you want to be your main color of granite. I went back to the white and metallic light silver combo.
When applying your natural sponge some tips are 1) Make sure the sponge doesn't get too lubricated with the paint because it will stop making a pattern!! You can always rinse it out and dry it with paper towels 2) Leave some of the DARK colors peaking through… in random sections. You'll use these to create depth and interest in the granite! Note: while the last layer of paint is still a bit damp lightly tap your super fine glitter in certain areas so that it'll stick.
I ended up using the 'depth' spots to decide where to apply my silver leaf. After the final layer of paint is dry, take some tweezers and apply flakes of the silver leaf down in various areas of the granite. There's not really a right or wrong way to do this, go back to the photos you saved of your 'wish list' granite and see how the metallic flake shows through. I tried to focus on adding 1-2 small leafs of silver in the 'deep' areas of my pattern.
Once you finish laying out all the metallic leaf pieces to your liking you're ready to go with the BEST step – the shiny sealant!
After reading about several options to seal your countertops I was sold on the Envirotex Lite even though its application sounded a little demanding because let's just be honest – the results are unreal y'all. Make sure both you and your partner have read the tips on the website for how to apply and that you've read through a couple of blog tutorials and watched a YouTube video or two and you should be good to go! I really liked this tutorial where they even detail using a blow torch to knock out any air bubbles that may form during application. I did not use a blow torch myself, but we did invest it a little Crème Brule torch like this:
It did the trick perfectly and I wasn't worried about burning/scalding anything.
I also liked the detail in this post and they used Envirotex Lite as well.
When you pour it on and spread it over the countertop you should see something like THIS:
Incredible, right?! That's when we knew we had made the right choice! The hardest thing is not to touch the top while it's drying. Well, actually, the hardest thing may be pacing around all the countertop edges in your kitchen after you pour and spread the Envirotex to ensure there are no hardening 'droplets' on the edges. Remember, you want the Envirotex to drip over the sides of the countertops because A: this is how it self-levels and B: you need the edges covered as well. The best tip I can give for the edges is to wait ~5min or more until the coating starts to feel tacky and slightly hardened, then go back over the edges with your plastic spreader tool. If you do this too early you'll have to make a second and possibly third trip around the countertops to ensure you got all the drips, but I promise the end result is worth ALL this work.
Now, remember when I walked you through the major steps at the beginning of the post and we ended with having PATIENCE?? You have to let the beautiful shiny top coat cure for quite some time… Once again, I read all different advice on the appropriate time to let it cure. In my experience it was dry to touch in 24-48 hours, but I didn't actually set anything back on the countertops for about a week to ensure it was hardened and leveled. After a week I even set my Kitchen Aid Mixer on the countertops (which is heavy) and had no problems.
I've seen plenty of faux granite makeover blogs with black/dark granite as well as some earthy tans but I hadn't seen a white version yet so if you have any questions on how I got the color I was going for feel free to leave a comment and I'll get back to you!!
Overall I'm even happier than I could've imagined with the result. When I first began this project, I had ideas of white granite to compliment my back cabinets similar to these pins:
And I ended up with this:
And a few close ups near the sink so you can check out the detail and edges…
We did decide to re-caulk along our back splash after the epoxy fully dried to give it a nice clean line. Now I just need to get up the guts to replace my backsplash one day!!
And if you were wondering how the treatment looks over plain white tile here's some snap shots of the little coffee nook we did with the same technique:
Basically you can still see the lines of the tile but you cannot feel the ridges because the Envirotex Lite self levels over the indentions. It looks like granite subway tiles to me!
And just to remind you of the difference it made in the total transformation of our kitchen!
**Update: We've lived with these countertops for four months now and no sign of wear and tear! They wipe down great with a simple Clorox disinfecting wipe, way easier to maintain than the sucky laminate we had before.
**Update: 2 years later – see what they look like NOW here.
I've shared a lot in this post, but I want to hear from you!
So tell me…. after reading all this, would you try faux granite tops yourself?!
In your dream kitchen, what type of countertops would you pick if cost wasn't an issue??
What's the biggest remodel you've tackled in your house so far?
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text: Producer Eazibitz steps on Harrysong's Under The Duvet Instrumental as it is really awesome. Download the Instrumental remake to Harrysong's recently released number "Under the Duvet" which is enjoying massive airplay across the country. Hit the studio with this beat and make a good cover out of this!Enjoy below. DOWNLOAD


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Trollbeads Leather Bracelet, Silver Knot Lock & Bead
If you're looking for a gift for a woman this Christmas, why not treat her to something from Trollbeads, as there really is something for everyone in their range.
They have a vast collection of beads including silver, gold, glass, brightly coloured and more subtle styles, and each has it's own story or meaning... much like a charm bracelet, they can be added to and changed as time goes on - a great little present idea for each birthday or Christmas. There are also plenty of bracelets and bangles to choose from to start off the piece. I have the leather bracelet as I wanted something a little more casual and different, but there are also silver and gold options to suit each person's individual taste.
I was sent mine from Joshua James Jewellery, but I've already been hinting to my family that they can help me add to the bracelet with some beads for Christmas! It's such a great way to receive something you want, yet still be surprised by which beads you receive.
Blue is my favourite colour, so I've decided to go for a blue and silver theme with mine... next on my wishlist are the Magical Winter Bead, Lucky Knot and silver Horses Bead.
With just over two weeks until Christmas, it's time to be ordering the last minute presents and Joshua James offer free next day delivery on their website, so you know it will be here in plenty of time... no panicking!
1 comment:
Oh i have never heard of this brand but the beads are gorgeous:) such a great present ideaReplyDelete
Eilidh from Velvet-Winter
Thank you for taking the time to read my blog.
I'd love to hear your thoughts... Leave a comment below!


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Nate Weitzel
Jan 1, 2001This route ascends the left side of the overhang, if you are facing the wall, not the right side as I wrote earlier.
Nate Weitzel
Aug 2, 2001Having not done Road Rash roof, I can't comment on that comparison. However, the feet are solid and the hands are really much better than they look. This crux section is definitely easier than Officer Friendly (11c) at the Wall of Justice and also easier than the other 11c/d routes on the Wall of Justice. There is a 12a on Anarchy Wall that is similar, Power Trip; however, the holds are less positive on Power Trip and so it seems harder.
Oct 1, 20015.11c ?
Nov 24, 2001Ahh. More arguments about grades. My pal Luke and I just did this one, and I'm in agreement with the 11b as it stands. In fact, I'm not sure there's a single 5.11 move on the route - but it's pretty sustained for a ways. Note that I'm one of those young, sassy idiots who sandbags for fun, and that I'm a nice 6 feet tall, which is good for the somewhat reachy traverse. YMMV.
With regard to strength, has the anonymous coward pulled off Anarchitect, or Chaos? How about leading Bachar-Yerian? Shut up you moron. Feb 5, 2002
I just want to say I'm not a purist. If drilling will get someone through what would otherwise be impossible, and climbers are the main user group of an area, I don't mind it. I don't even mind that many of Mr. Nelson's newer climbs are almost a full number grade soft. If he feels that's what the grade is, that's fine, wait for consensus to sort things out. What I have a huge problem with; however, is when someone drills pockets in something that will go naturally. I think that's weak. Very weak! If you can't pull it, I guarantee you there's someone who will do the job for you. LEAVE THAT JOB TO THEM. You won't get your name in the guidebook for the FA, but that's just the way the game goes.
Alan, mi amigo, I think we all appreciate your efforts to develop crags around the area, but when you drill climbs like Big Dog up, you do the climbing community a disservice, and you seem to think you're a hero for it. No kudos. You destroyed a good natural line, and that's unacceptable. Look at how many .12s there are in the canyon compared to .13s and up. Hard natural lines are a precious commodity, and if you drill them all down to your level, you will have destroyed the future of hard climbing in the metro area. For this, I have no thanks to give.
P.S. - Let's just say I can keep up with Mr. Drill Happy any day of the week.
boards2go.com/boards/board.… Feb 5, 2002
It is the "you're not strong enough to rate your own routes" attitude that I object to. Who cares if a route is rated incorrectly anyway? A lot of times the guy who puts the route in does it once, guesses a rating, and then moves on to the next route. If his guess is wrong, than don't blame him just because it shows up in Rolofson's guide book.
To be fair, Matt's comment implying that Alan puts up routes of poor quality is also bogus, unless you don't like the routes at Anarchy, Wall of Justice, etc. Anarchitect, Matriarch, Presto, Maestro, Ten Digit Dialing, Great Escape, Peer Review - have I named any bad routes yet?
Just because you object to a particular route or rating doesn't mean you should dis someone who on the whole has done a lot of good things for Clear Creek climbing.
Rich Feb 6, 2002
Feb 9, 2002Bob, I think Alan Nelson deserves all the criticism he gets. He deserves to get it as long as those routes stay in their present condition because the message they send now to every climber that knows about them is, "chipping will be tolerated by Colorado climbers."
Geoff Slater
Golden, CO
Mar 13, 2002I just redpointed this route today after working it for weeks. This route combines the best of both worlds in crimpy face climbing moves followed up by a powerful overhang. Whatever the grade, this is a fantastic route.
Richard M. Wright
Lakewood, CO
Sep 7, 2004What a kick. I may have been on Hot Dog with Alan at the FA or perhaps second ascent. Regardless, HD has a cool sequence in the hand traverse and nice movement at the end of the traverse. Two stars in Clear Creek.
Paul Hunnicutt
Boulder, CO
Not really stressed or too upset, but seems no need for any chipped or drilled holes on this entire wall (or anywhere). Would these climbs be soooo much harder without them? And even then - leave it for someone stronger. I much appreciated someone developing the cliff, but leave the rock natural for everyone to challenge themselves on. Truth is when I was up there climbing I couldn't tell anything was drilled...only read about it here.
I did think the move on the rail traverse was 5.11 actually. I didn't heel hook, well I did the first time and got too pumped trying to set it - I couldn't find a good spot. Then I just kind of campused along the rail, got my feet set and hit the good right hand gaston up high. The rest was not hard movement, just a bit pumpy. Not sure the extra anchors higher up add much...I'd avoid the risk of falling back onto the ledge while climbing up to them next time.
There is kind of a knee bar using a little horn for your right foot below the traverse section...if you need to rest here after the initial technical face. Mar 8, 2008
David Crockett
Chattanooga, TN
Jan 19, 2012Super fun route. You can kneebar before the pumpy traverse and get a no hands rest.
Feb 18, 2012Best 5.11 I have ever done! I love it! I guess the reason people think this might be 11c is because this route is beta intensive. I looked really closely at the holds and discovered good holds and beta to make this an easy route (5.11a/b). To make this route that easy, look for holds way back in the crack and figure out the beta between bolts two and four (hint: go out left on to a sidepull really close to the bolt on the other route and bump up on the crimps out right!).
Denver, CO
youtube.com/watch?v=43EPI2O… Sep 6, 2012
Curt MacNeill
Boulder, CO
Oct 18, 2012This route is awesome! I'm impressed after spending my first day at this crag recently. Fun place to go and just tick off a bunch of easier stuff too. Overall a great place to hang....
kevin murphy
Longtuckity, CO
Dec 24, 2012Yep, great route, steep and juggy.
Peter Lewis
Bridgton, ME
Aug 27, 2013Hey! Really nice job on that video clip. I used to live in Golden---and I miss being able to pull down all winter (although not always at this stout grade).
Kevin P
Oct 26, 2014Dude in the video looks totally relaxed. My ascent included a little more redlining and draw pulling.
Apr 27, 2016The bolt in the middle of the traverse is not placed well. The is a little of a bulge that will open the biner gate in a fall. Just place the biner with the gate facing right, and you will be fine.


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Today we deep cleaned a mattress that suffered from general soiling. We sanitised and deep cleaned the mattress with a product that also acts as a soil inhibitor and deodoriser. Additionally services we offer are: - Dust mite protection - Anti-allergy cleaning - Soft furnishing protection (prevents dirt, spills, stains from penetrating the fibre) Call…Read more
Carpet cleaning Oldham/Rochdale/Manchester
Very limited spaces available now before Christmas. I'm ready for a break!!! Wow your family and transform your carpets for Christmas. We have industry leading equipment and training to transform anything from carpet through to curtains. We are fully insured and fully trained for your piece of mind. 100% money back guarantee on all our…Read more
Slate cleaning and sealing Manchester
Last week we deep cleaned and sealed a badly stained slate floor in Swinton. Our process included using a high grit floor cleaning brush attached to a mono-rotary and a high alkaline cleaner, cleaning the grout lines with a brush in the process. We then rinsed and applied a sealing and coating remover to remove…Read more
Carpet & Upholstery cleaning Oldham and Manchester
We are getting booked up now, only two afternoon free before Christmas. We are running a SPECIAL OFFER at the moment, for December only: Have your three piece suite cleaned and we will clean your living room carpet absolutely free! Perfect time to freshen up your soft furnishing for the imminent arrival of family…Read more


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Happy Saturday! Looks like I've missed alot while in Boston these past few days. Blogger got a new look, huh? Now I have to start all over learning this new layout for blogger! Just when I was getting use to the old one - lol!
My Boston trip was fun - part pleasure, part business.
The below picture was taken at the Union Oyster House which is the oldest resturant in all of America!
The food (I ordered the salmon) was delicious!
And of course we had to visit the actual Cheers bar where the sitcom "Cheers" was filmed.
While in Boston, I received a text from my sister that my nephew/godson Aiden lost his first tooth! He was just so thrilled about it that he asked my sister to take a picture of him without his tooth and text it to me!
Enjoy your weekend!
Saturday, April 28, 2012
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
I'm a winner...
I'm so excited - I won a giveaway over at Cherrys Jubilee blog - you must pay her a visit! So much inspiration with her beautiful shabby chic style. Cherry is on the design team for Purple Onion Designs - and this month a few of the design team members were giving away stamp sets from the April release. I was one of the lucky ones who's name was picked on Cherry's blog. I won the sweetest stamp set called Sweet Offerings which features the cutest little bird called Peep. Below is a card Cherry made featuring Peep:
I do have a card to share with you tonight. No special occasion - just playing around in my craft room!
I do have a card to share with you tonight. No special occasion - just playing around in my craft room!
Saturday, April 14, 2012
Card Patterns Sketch 161
I finally had a chance to join in the challenge at Card Patterns. My son has a birthday coming up on May 6th but since I'll be gone on my cruise to the Bahamas I'd thought I would make his card and at the same time, enter it in the challenge. Here is the sketch:
How was everyone's Easter? I had my annual egg hunt for my sweet nephews. I laid out 100 plastic eggs which included 3 'golden eggs' all over my back yard. I filled the eggs with pennies, dimes, nickels and quarters along with wrapped starburst candies and jelly beans. They are so cute running all over the yard, filling up their baskets with as many eggs as they can! Some of my family came for dessert. This year my contribution to dessert was baby carrots. Baby carrots for dessert, you might ask?!! Well, take a look:
Aren't they adorable? They are chocolate covered strawberries! Wilton sells colored chocolate for melting and they happened to have orange! Saved myself alot of time not having to color it myself. I found this idea on Pinterest! Love that site - although I'm not as addicted to it as some folks I know!
I'm off to post my card over at Card Patterns - thanks for stopping in!
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