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A reputation for 'the place' in Melbourne to totally relax and unwind, editor Trudi Brewer spent the afternoon under the spell of Aurora Spa Retreat.
The moment you enter the Prince Hotel in St Kilda, home of Aurora Spa and Retreat the aroma of lemongrass and sweet orange is hypnotic. Making your way up the winding stairs to the spa the scent becomes even headier, and the sound of trickling water gives you that instant sense of calm. I had booked in for the signature steam massage, known as Kitya Karnu, the Aboriginal meaning for salty stones, which has the reputation of being a 'total body bliss'. Naked in my private steam room, heated to a balmy 38 degrees, my therapist (who was wearing her swim suit) started by covering my body in rich lavender and patchouli essential oils. Rubbed liberally on my arms, legs, back and chest, the organic sea salt was then sprinkled from head to toe. This concoction was accompanied by a firm, circular exfoliation and the gritty ASPAR Wattleseed and Walnut Resurfacing Skin Cream. The next step did startle me, and this is the idea. Freezing river-stones were rubbed across my tummy, legs and arms, refreshing yes, but an instant wake up from my relaxing slumber. Next, to my face, cleansed, and then treated to a rich mask, followed by the creamy, nutritious ASPAR Olive Leaf Intensive Treatment Hair Masque combed through my hair. The next ten minutes was taken up by a dreamy scalp massage, and I can honestly say, there was not an inch of my body that is not buffed and nourished to perfection. After a hot shower and back in the relax lounge, I contemplate as I sip my chamomile and spearmint tea, and watch a blustery Melbourne day turn to evening. It's rare to be in a spa of this calibre, and now that I have indulged, it believe it should be on every woman's beauty bucket list
Signature Kitya Karnu steam massage, allow 90 minutes and expect to pay $225 AUD.
Quick note: Aurora Spa Retreat is one of Australia's leading boutique spas, a favourite amongst celebrities, beauty editors and spa travellers the world over. It was voted one of the top 10 hotel spas in 2009 for Australasia and The South Pacific by Conde Naste Traveller, and rumour has it Paris Hilton books in on every visit to Australia.


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Frequently Asked Questions
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT DV-2003 REGISTRATION 1. WHAT DOES THE TERM "NATIVE" MEAN? ARE THERE ANY SITUATIONS IN WHICH PERSONS WHO WERE NOT BORN IN A QUALIFYING COUNTRY MAY APPLY? "Native" ordinarily means someone born in a particular country, regardless of the individual's current country of residence or nationality. "Native" also means someone entitled to be "charged" to a particular country under the provisions of Section 202(b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. Applicants for DV-2003 registration may claim chargeability to the country of birth of a spouse providing both the applicant and spouse are issued visas and enter the U.S. simultaneously. A minor dependent child can be charged to the country of birth of a parent; and an applicant born in a country of which neither parent was a native or a resident at the time of his/her birth may be charged to the country of birth of either parent. An applicant who claims alternate chargeability must include information to that effect on the application for registration (see number 3 of the application information items on page 3 of this Visa Bulletin), and must show the native country claimed on the upper left hand corner of the envelope in which the registration request is mailed. 2. ARE THERE ANY CHANGES OR NEW REQUIREMENTS IN THE APPLICATION PROCEDURES FOR THIS DIVERSITY VISA REGISTRATION? The address for submitting DV applications has changed. Applicants must mail their entries to one of the six Kentucky Consular Center regional addresses listed on page 3. Entries mailed to any other address will be disqualified. The information required on the entry and on the envelope in which it is sent is specified in detail earlier in this Visa Bulletin. Each entry must be personally signed by the applicant - see Page 2. Photographs of the applicant and all his/her dependents are now required, and the photos must conform to the specifications listed on Page 2. Qualifying work experience will no longer be defined by the Department of Labor's Dictionary of Occupational Titles, but rather by the more current information contained in the Department of Labor's O*Net OnLine database - see page 1. Please also note changes to the list of eligible DV countries at the end of this bulletin. 3. ARE SIGNATURES AND PHOTOGRAPHS REQUIRED FOR EACH FAMILY MEMBER, OR ONLY FOR THE PRINCIPAL APPLICANT? Only the principal applicant is required to personally sign the entry. Recent and individual photos of the applicant, his/her spouse and all children are required. Family or group photos are not accepted. Check the information on the signature and photo requirements on Page 2 of this bulletin. 4. WHY DO CERTAIN COUNTRIES NOT QUALIFY FOR THE DIVERSITY PROGRAM? Diversity visas are intended to provide an immigration opportunity for persons from countries other than the countries which send large numbers of immigrants to the U.S. The law states that no diversity visas shall be provided for "high admission" countries. These countries are those from which a total of 50,000 persons in the Family-Sponsored and Employment-Based visa categories immigrated to the United States during the previous five years. Each year, the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) adds the family and employment immigrant admission figures for the previous five years in order to identify the countries that must be excluded from the annual diversity lottery. Because there is a separate determination made before each annual DV entry period, the list of countries that do not qualify may change from one year to the next. 5. WHAT IS THE NUMERICAL LIMIT FOR DV-2003? By law, the U.S. diversity immigration program makes available a maximum of 55,000 permanent residence visas each year to eligible persons. However, the Nicaraguan and Central American Relief Act (NCARA) passed by Congress in November 1997 stipulates that beginning as early as DV-99, and for as long as necessary, 5,000 of the 55,000 annually-allocated diversity visas will be made available for use under the NCARA program. The actual reduction of the limit to 50,000 began with DV-2000 and remains in effect for the DV-2003 program. 6. WHAT ARE THE REGIONAL DIVERSITY VISA (DV) LIMITS FOR DV-2003? The Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) determines the DV regional limits for each year according to a formula specified in Section 203(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). Once the INS has completed the calculations, the DV-2003 regional visa limits will be announced. 7. WHEN ARE ENTRIES FOR THE DV PROGRAM ACCEPTED EACH YEAR? The month-long DV entry period begins each fall at noon on the first Monday in October and lasts for 30 days. Each year millions apply for the program during the mail-in registration period. The massive volume of entries creates an enormous amount of work in selecting and processing successful applicants. Holding the entry period in the fall will ensure successful applicants are notified in a more timely manner, and give both them and our embassies and consulates overseas more time to prepare and complete the entries for visa issuance. 8. MAY PERSONS WHO ARE IN THE U.S.APPLY FOR THE PROGRAM? Yes, an applicant may be in the U.S. or in another country, and the entry may be mailed from the U.S. or from abroad. 9. IS EACH APPLICANT LIMITED TO ONLY ONE ENTRY DURING THIS DV-2003 REGISTRATION PERIOD? Yes, the law allows only one entry by or for each person during each registration period; applicants for whom more than one entry is submitted will be disqualified. Applicants may be disqualified at time of selection as a winner, or at the time of the visa interview or at any time during the process if more than one entry is detected. However, applicants may apply for the program each year during the regular one-month registration period. 10. MAY A HUSBAND AND A WIFE EACH SUBMIT A SEPARATE ENTRY? Yes, a husband and a wife may each submit one entry. If either were selected, the other would be entitled to derivative status. Note: Husbands and wives may not sign for each other. Each applicant must sign his or her own entry. 11. WHAT FAMILY MEMBERS MUST I INCLUDE ON MY ENTRY FOR DV-2003? On your entry you must list your spouse, that is husband or wife, and all unmarried children under 21 years of age. You must list your spouse even if you are currently separated from him/her. However, if you are legally divorced, you do not need to list your former spouse. For customary marriages, the important date is the date of the original marriage ceremony, not the date on which the marriage is registered. You must list ALL your children who are unmarried and under the age of 21 years, whether they are your natural children, your spouse's children by a previous marriage, or children you have formally adopted in accordance with the laws of your country. List all children even if they no longer reside with you. The fact that you have listed family members on your entry does not mean that they later must travel with you. They may choose to remain behind. However, if you include an eligible dependent on your visa application forms that you failed to include on your original entry, your case will be disqualified. (This only applies to persons who were dependents at the time the original application was submitted, not those acquired at a later date.) Your spouse may still submit a separate entry, even though he or she is listed on your entry, as long as both entries include details on all dependents in your family. See question 10 above. 12. WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS FOR EDUCATION OR WORK EXPERIENCE? The law and regulations require that every applicant must have at least a high school education or its equivalent or, within the past five years, have two years of work experience in an occupation requiring at least two years training or experience. A "high school education or equivalent" is defined as successful completion of a twelve-year course of elementary and secondary education in the United States or successful completion in another country of a formal course of elementary and secondary education comparable to a high school education in the United States. Documentary proof of education or work experience should not be submitted with the lottery entry, but must be presented to the consular officer at the time of the visa interview. 13. HOW WILL WINNERS BE SELECTED? At the Kentucky Consular Center, all mail received at each of the six geographic regional addresses will be individually numbered. After the end of the application period, a computer will randomly select entries from among all the mail received for each geographic region. Within each region, the first letter randomly selected will be the first case registered, the second letter selected the second registration, etc. It makes no difference whether an entry is received early or late in the application period; all entries received during the mail-in period will have an equal chance of being selected within each region. When an entry has been selected, the applicant will be sent a notification letter by the Kentucky Consular Center, which will provide visa application instructions. The Kentucky Consular Center will continue to process the case until those who are selected are instructed to appear for visa interviews at a U.S. consular office, or until those able to do so apply at an INS office in the United States for change of status. 14. MAY WINNING APPLICANTS ADJUST THEIR STATUS WITH THE INS? Yes, provided they are otherwise eligible to adjust status under the terms of Section 245 of the INA, selected applicants who are physically present in the United States may apply to the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) for adjustment of status to permanent resident. Applicants mustensure that INS can COMPLETE ACTION on their cases, including processing of any overseas derivatives, before September 30, 2003, since on that date registrations for the DV-2003 program expire. No visa numbers for the DV-2003 program will be available after midnight on September 30, 2003 under any circumstances. 15. WILL APPLICANTS WHO ARE NOT ELECTED BE INFORMED? No, applicants who are not selected will receive no response to their entry. Only those who are selected will be informed. All notification letters are sent within about nine months of the end of the application period to the address indicated on the entry. Anyone who does NOT receive a letter will know that his/her application has not been selected. 16. HOW MANY APPLICANTS WILL BE SELECTED? There are 50,000 DV visas available for DV-2003, but more than that number of individuals will be selected. Because it is likely that some of the first 50,000 persons who are selected will not pursue their cases to visa issuance, more than 50,000 entries will be selected by the Kentucky Consular Center to ensure that all of the available DV-2003 visas are issued. However, this also means that there will not be a sufficient number of visas for all those who are initially selected. All applicants who are selected will be informed promptly of their place on the list. Interviews with those selected will begin in early October 2002. The Kentucky Consular Center will send appointment letters to selected applicants 30-60 days before the scheduled interviews with U.S. consular officers at overseas posts. Each month visas will be issued, visa number availability permitting, to those applicants who are ready for issuance during that month. Once all of the 50,000 DV-2003 visas have been issued, the program for the year will end. In principle, visa numbers could be finished before September 2003. Selected applicants who wish to receive visas must be prepared to act promptly on their cases. Random selection by the Kentucky Consular Center computer does not automatically guarantee that you will receive a visa. 17. IS THERE A MINIMUM AGE FOR APPLICANTS TO APPLY FOR THE DV-2003 PROGRAM? There is no minimum age to apply for the program, but the requirement of a high school education or work experience for each principal applicant at the time of application will effectively disqualify most persons who are under age 18. 18. WILL THERE BE ANY SPECIAL FEE FOR DV-2003 CASE PROCESSING? A special DV case processing fee will be payable later by persons whose entries are actually selected and processed at a U.S. consular section for DV-2003 visas. DV-2003 applicants, like other immigrant visa applicants, must also pay the regular visa fees at the time of visa issuance. Details of required fees will be included with the instructions sent by the Kentucky Consular Center to applicants who are selected. 19. ARE DV-2003 APPLICANTS SPECIALLY ENTITLED TO APPLY FOR A WAIVER OF ANY OF THE GROUNDS OF VISA INELIGIBILITY? No. Applicants are subject to all grounds of ineligibility for immigrant visas specified in the Immigration and Nationality Act. There are no special provisions for the waiver of any ground of visa ineligibility other than those ordinarily provided in the Act. 20. MAY PERSONS WHO ARE ALREADY REGISTERED FOR AN IMMIGRANT VISA IN ANOTHER CATEGORY APPLY FOR THE DV-2003 PROGRAM? Yes, such persons may apply for the DV-2003 program. 21. HOW LONG DO APPLICANTS WHO ARE SELECTED REMAIN ENTITLED TO APPLY FOR VISAS IN THE DV-2002 CATEGORY? Persons selected in the DV-2003 lottery are entitled to apply for visa issuance only during fiscal year 2003, i.e., from October 2002 through September 2003. Applicants must obtain the DV visa or adjust status by the end of the Fiscal Year (September 30, 2003). There is no carry-over of DV benefits into the next year for persons who are selected but who do not obtain visas during FY-2003. Also, spouses and children who derive status from a DV-2003 registration can only obtain visas in the DV category between October 2002 and September 2003. Applicants who apply overseas will receive an appointment letter from the Kentucky Consular Center 30-60 days before the scheduled appointment. Full Credit goes to the U.S. Department of State
All rights reserved ©2001 Karusa

subset: commoncrawl


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Note: Not all Health IT courses are offered every semester, and new courses may be added at any time. Check the schedule of classes for the latest offerings.
As the first required course in the series, Health Informatics I starts with introductory topics and proceeds with an overview of the essential topics of Health IT. Consistent with the interdisciplinary nature of Health IT, the course touches people and organizational aspects of health information systems as well as technology. While covering the essentials of Health Informatics, the course also achieves depth by engaging students in a semester- long study of a particular topic in Health IT. Some of the topics covered in this course include electronic health records, practice management, health information exchange, data standards, consumer health informatics and mobile health.
As the second required course in the health informatics series, Health Informatics II extends the coverage of the health informatics issues into areas such as online medical resources and search engines, evidence-based medicine and clinical practice guidelines, disease management, disease registries and quality improvement, patient safety and health IT, electronic prescribing, telemedicine, and bioinformatics. Prerequisite: Health Informatics I.
This course provides a comprehensive overview on the policy and administration of health information technology. Students will develop an understanding of the management principles in the American healthcare delivery system, including the roles of patients, third party insurance payers, and healthcare professionals. The course will also include health care policy in the US with specific examples from Medicare, Medicaid and ongoing efforts for healthcare reform.
This course provides a comprehensive overview of important legal principles affecting health information technology and management, with a focus on the intersection of these legal principles with business ethics. The student will learn how to think through and process legal problems consistent with ethical norms, and how to analyze business risks in light of operative legal constructs, taking into consideration ethical issues, to arrive at a range of correct business decisions. Throughout the class the student will learn substantive legal principles including an overview of constitutional, contract, tort, corporate and regulatory law. Students will work in groups during certain exercises, role play in real and hypothetical case studies, and make a final presentation of a comprehensive legal and ethical health IT problem.
This course covers large-scale analytics for health care. The course will start with an overview of data mining techniques including classification, clustering, association rule mining, anomaly detection, and data visualization. These techniques will be covered in the context of healthcare data such as electronic medical records. This course will address the challenges of analyzing healthcare data, and integration strategies for various data types commonly found in electronic medical records as well as genomic, environmental, and biological data that affect healthcare.
The Capstone project provides an opportunity for students to carry out an individual piece of supervised research or a project activity on a specified topic in the Health Informatics domain. The final project should make an original contribution to the body of knowledge in the profession or otherwise demonstrate core competencies in Health IT and Informatics. Students must also have a total of 21 credits in the program to register for this course.
This course will cover the key components of public health practice, and include topics such as disease surveillance, outbreak, detection, investigation, vital records, and dissemination of information. The course will include data collection, data analysis, data cleaning, ways to provide data to customers, improve data quality and access to care, and develop and evaluate interventions. Students will develop an understanding of the use of IT to support public health practice, increase individual effectiveness, and improve the effectiveness of the public health enterprise.
This course will provide a deep understanding of the principles of health data protection, the privacy and security requirements of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). The course will discuss the statutory and regulatory background and purpose of HIPAA and the principles and key provisions of the privacy rule, protected health information, uses and disclosures, compliance and enforcement. The course will also cover the state of the art on "privatizing" health data with minimal impact on data utility.
This course provides an overview of quality measurement and process improvement as they relate specifically to the health care industry. The course will focus on the tools, techniques, and resources available to health care professionals through effective use of health IT. Students will learn how to create quality benchmarks, gather data, and analyze results. They will learn how to design specific processes that directly address analytical findings and have the potential to improve outcomes. Students will understand a variety of implementation strategies for new processes, and be able to use health IT and other tools to measure the overall effectiveness. They will also learn how to prioritize improvement efforts across complicated business and practice systems. Students will work in groups during certain exercises, explore real and hypothetical case studies, and make a final presentation of an improvement process and implementation which utilizes health IT as their course project.
An introduction to computer databases that examines the basic functions and capabilities of database management software (DBMS). Emphasis is placed on using this software to solve information processing problems, which may include laboratory work as well as database design case studies. Topics include a discussion of data structures, host language programming; indirect and direct file organization and DBMS models, including hierarchical, network and relational. Also examined are storage devices, data administration and database administration, as well as database analysis, design and implementation. Note: May not be taken for credit in IS graduate degree programs.
In this course, students learn effective management and communication skills through case study-analysis, reading, class discussion and role-playing. The course covers topics such as effective listening, setting expectations, delegation, coaching, performance, evaluations, conflict management, negotiation with senior management and managing with integrity.
This course introduces students to the basic principles of SAS, a widely used statistical software package. Students will learn data entry, data correction and validation, data analysis, combining data sets, rearranging data and macros. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.
© UMBC Division of Professional Studies · 1000 Hilltop Circle, Sherman Hall East 4th Floor, Baltimore, MD 21250 · 410-455-2336 · firstname.lastname@example.com


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This is an image of an ancient Hawaiian deity associated with warfare. These figures appeared in temples (heiau) dedicated to war. One of the finest surviving embodiments of 'Kū' is a large wooden sculpture in the collection of the British Museum in London; the other is in the Bishop Museum in Honolulu. This enigmatic creature is one of many deities within a prolific Polynesian cosmology. Early animistic faiths such as Japan's Shinto tradition and those in pre-Christian Europe share interesting similarities to the cultural context in which Kū appeared.
The face of Kū carries a strong psychological presence within my work, anchoring a wider narrative within the image of a semi-human, anthropomorphic form. As an archetype, he moves through time and space, and within my personal cosmology he connects a series of historical events in the Pacific spanning several centuries to contemporary and universal themes of aggression and conflict. (See 'The Pool at Crystal City') Today Kū 's image has been appropriated by popular culture, his powerful and aggressive posture morphing into the ubiquitous 'tiki' souvenir, a commodity on par with the pink flamingo or garden gnome. From sacred to profane, his image can be perceived as both menacing and cartoon-like.


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Daily Meditation: "I am in the Father and the Father is in me" (Apr 23, 2016)
Liturgical day: Saturday 4th of Easter
Saints April 23rd: George, martyr
Gospel text (Jn 14,7-14): Jesus said to his disciples: "If you know me, you will know the Father also; indeed you know him and you have seen him". Philip asked him, "Lord, show us the Father and that is enough". Jesus said to him, "What! I have been with you so long and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever sees me sees the Father; how can you say: 'Show us the Father?' Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? All that I say to you, I do not say of myself. The Father who dwells in me is doing his own work.
"Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; at least believe it on the evidence of these works that I do. Truly, I say to you, the one who believes in me will do the same works that I do; and he will even do greater than these, for I am going to the Father. Everything you ask in my name, I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. And everything you ask in calling upon my Name, I will do".
"I am in the Father and the Father is in me"
Fr. Jacques PHILIPPE
(Cordes sur Ciel, France)
Today, we are invited to recognize the Father who reveals himself in Jesus Christ. Philip articulates a very fair intuition: "Lord, show us the Father and it is enough for us" (Jn 14:8). To see the Father is to discover God as the origin, as the life that flows, as generosity, as a gift that constantly renews everything. What else do we need? We are coming from God, and each man, even if unconsciously, carries the profound desire of going back to God, of recuperating the fatherly home and remain there forever. There we can find all the possessions we may strive for: life, light, love, peace… St. Ignatius of Antioch, a martyr at the beginning of the second century, expressed it eloquently: "There is in me living water that murmurs within me: 'Come to the Father'!".
Jesus makes us glimpse the existing deep reciprocal intimacy between Him and the Father. "I am in the Father and the Father is in me" (Jn 14:11). What Jesus says and does emanates from the Father, and the Father fully expresses Himself in Jesus. Whatever the Father wants to tell us is to be found in the Son's words and deeds. All He wants to fulfill for us He fulfills through His Son. To believe in the Son allows us to have "access to the Father" (Eph 2:18).
—The humble and faithful faith in Jesus, our choice to follow and obey Him, day after day, connects us mysteriously but truly with the very mystery of God, while making us recipients of all the riches of His kindness and mercy. This faith lets the Father execute, through us, the work of grace He began in His Son: "Whoever believes in me will do the works that I do" (Jn 14:12).
"Everything you ask in calling upon my Name, I will do"
Fr. Iñaki BALLBÉ i Turu
(Rubí, Barcelona, Spain)
Today, 4th Saturday of Easter, the Church invites us to consider how important it is for all Christians to be aware that they need to know Christ more and more. Which tools can we rely upon for this? Several, and all of them fundamental: well pondered and attentive reading of the Gospel; our personal involvement when praying, by trying hard to make our prayers become a true dialogue of love, not a mere introspective monologue, and the daily renewed effort to discover Christ in our fellow men: our relatives, our friends, a neighbor perhaps in need of our attention and help, of our advice, of our friendship.
"Lord, show us the Father", asks Philip (Jn 14:8). A good request for us to keep on repeating all this Saturday. —Lord, show me your face. And we may wonder: how is our behavior? Can others see Christ's reflection in me? What little thing could I fight for today? We Christians must find that divine something in our daily chores; God's footprint in all that surrounds us. In our job, in our social life amongst others, everywhere! Or, when we are sick, too: when we are ill it is a good time for us to identify ourselves with a suffering Christ. As St. Therese of the Child Jesus said, "if we do not decide ourselves to swallow once and for all our death and our lack of health, we shall never do anything".
The Lord of the Gospel assures us: "Everything you ask in my name, I will do" (Jn 14:13). —God is my Father and, as a loving Father, He looks after me: He does not want anything to hurt me. Everything that happens —everything that happens to me— is meant for my sanctification. Even though, with our own human eyes we might not understand it. Even though if we can never understand it. That thing —whatever it is— happens because God allows it to happen. Let us trust him just as the Virgin Mary trusted him too.
Source: evangeli.net
Saturday 4th of Easter (Apr 23, 2016)


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The 10 Best Resources For Attorneys
Debt Collection Lawyers: After Creditors Cross The Line While Creditors are within their rights to make a fantastic attempt at regaining what is owed to them, there are laws they need to adhere to while performing it. Nobody is expected to be subject to harassment, lies, and other underhanded strategies over the topic of owed money. When an agency (if it's the first firm you borrowed from or a secondhand bureau) is crossing the legal line, you've every right to put a stop to it. You might be able to do so all on your own, or you might have to check with a debt collection attorney. If he's well worth the cash, he is going to be able to stop the issue. Harassment While It can look like it, the legislation doesn't think about calling a client nightly as crossing the offender line. If you want to put a halt to all calls from your creditors, you are likely to need to discover a way to pay them . If necessary, this could mean filing for bankruptcy, an action which may put a fast stop to the calls. But creditors can't go far beyond online, no matter. A debt collection attorney can stop them if they're threatening violence, openly publishing your title as somebody who will not pay, or perhaps using profanity.
Why Attorneys Aren't As Bad As You Think
The Essentials of Professionals – Getting to Point A
There Are strict rules in regards to these bureaus misrepresenting themselves. Some strategies that have been used and outlawed include falsely asserting they are lawyers or working for the authorities, making claims which you have violated the law, or even misrepresenting how much you owe them. Pay careful attention to whatever these representatives say to you. Should they cross the line and start telling lies as an effort for you to cover, it could be time for you to acquire a debt collection attorney involved. Legal Threats Unless Real legal action was taken towards this end, creditors aren't allowed to throw around legal dangers for their delinquent clients. Including threatening you with arrest, making wild threats in their right to garnish your wages or seize your house, or false claims of the aim to take you to court. This is a fantastic time to get hold of a debt collection attorney, no matter whether you think them. If they're lying, then they ought to be ceased. If they aren't, you are going to want representation. This Covers only a portion of what creditors maynot do while attempting to recover their money. It is not comprehensive so if There's something else happening that you Don't appreciate, think about talking to a debt collection lawyer to observe where you stand.


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Tri-City pot trade spikes; meth still biggest problem
Methamphetamine continues to be the biggest drug problem in the Tri-Cities, but last year marijuana topped the list of seizures by the Tri-City Metro Drug Task Force.
Detectives seized 25,918 plants -- more than double what they saw in 2008 -- along with more than 47 pounds of processed pot, according to Metro's year-end statistics.
"We hit a tremendous amount during eradication season -- we saw more plants than we had in years," said Kennewick police Sgt. Trevor White, who leads the multi-agency undercover unit. "... Washington is one of the top five in marijuana eradication in the country."
White attributes the success of finding large grow operations last year to partnerships with other agencies, training and funding through state grants.
During eradication season -- which starts in the summer and runs through October in the Tri-Cities -- a team of detectives led by the Washington State Patrol moved throughout the region searching for marijuana hidden in orchards, tree farms, vineyards and other remote outdoor areas.
Most of the grow areas being found are planted and run by Mexican drug cartels, officials said.
"I think the cartels are just a step ahead of us every time," White said. "Once we adjust our technique, they adjust their technique. This (past) year we caught up with them, but the stuff we found is just the tip of the iceberg."
Overall last year, Metro detectives took about $39 million worth of drugs of the streets.
In addition to marijuana, they seized nearly 9 pounds of meth, 4.2 pounds of cocaine, about 12 ounces of hallucinogenic mushrooms and 5 ounces of heroin.
There also were 132 doses of ecstasy, 1,072 prescription pills, 22 vehicles, 10 firearms, $25,000 worth of property and about $39,000 in cash seized.
Detectives also conducted 286 controlled drug buys, served 52 search warrants and made 113 drug arrests.
Metro is an undercover unit that targets mid- and upper-level drug dealers. The task force is run by the Kennewick Police Department, but is made up of detectives from the Tri-Cities' police agencies.
The numbers show Metro's focus on eradicating drugs in the region, but they don't tell the whole story about the task force's impact on the drug trade.
"The numbers don't show what's truly here," White said. "The numbers do show what we get into based on who's working with us."
Prescription drug fraud is becoming increasingly common, but what may not be known to many people is that there's a tie between prescription drugs and heroin.
"There's a lot of heroin in the area," White said.
Heroin produces the same high people seek when abusing prescription drugs, but it's cheaper to get than the prescription painkillers, he said.
And though reports about methamphetamine use seems to have fallen out of the news, it still is "the overwhelming problem," White said.
"Meth is everywhere," he said, noting that most of it continues to be brought in from Mexico.
Drug detectives are finding that "the Tri-Cities is a huge hub for dope" that comes from the southern border and goes up to Canada or heads east to Idaho, Montana and the Dakotas, White said.
For 2010, Metro officials will continue seeking grants to help keep targeting the drug dealers and making it harder for them to do business in the Tri-Cities.
-- Paula Horton: 509-582-1556; firstname.lastname@example.com


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Guidance, Healing and Mentoring
for Your Life's Journey
Almora's Message
I am the sun, I am the moon, and I am the moving desert sand. I am the wind in your air. I have no face and I have many faces, whichever one you are willing to look at and accept is how I come to you.
I communicate to you through many sources: The encouragement and wisdom that may appear in a book, a song, a poem; the seeds of hope and support planted through the voice of a stranger or loved one; the sound of the birds – the music that inspires the dance that calls you forward.
Be still, and hear life calling to you.
You ask what is God/ess? What is source? What is universal life force? God is love and love is you there is no separation.
I am here with many others to empower, support and guide you to listen to the voice of your own soul the master within you – the magnificent truth of your unique creation, and to share it with the world …
Your Power to Create
Online Empowerment Courses
This is a wonderful opportunity to learn tangible skills to create your own reality from the idea to the result. You will learn to …
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Upcoming Events
We facilitate events around New Zealand, as well as other countries, presently in the UK and Europe. Please contact us if you would like us to present an event near you. Check out events currently scheduled here.
Conscious Living
Almora's guide to living in alignment with the universal laws of life to support your wellbeing and bring peace, adventure and …
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Autumn Newsletter 2019
As I grow and change so does my life around me.
At times I feel sadness for what I am leaving behind.
Yet I fully trust that there is much more to be loved and experienced – Almora
Dear Friends,
Welcome to our Autumn newsletter.
I feel I have been literally running for this last few months, there have been so many things happening. Sadly our beautiful Hathor was killed outside our house by a car in February. I know he was called back to do other things, but the grief has been immense.
Then March we had the tragic incident at the mosques, and it was so incredible that I was driving along the avenue past one of these Mosques at 1.32. Something told me to register the time.
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About Almora Unlimited
Almora is an expanded group consciousness who identifies with the powerful life force of our sun, and is now working from spirit to assist humanity in the great changes occurring on our planet here, now.
Read more …
About Dellaina and Ihaia
Together, they bring a wealth of experience. Through healing, guidance and mentoring they are here to empower you to live life to your fullest potential.
Read more …
Almora is available for one-on-one consultations. Appointment duration is about 70 minutes.
Almora empowers people to harness their potential, greatness and wholeness through the classroom of life by coaching their spiritual growth.
You will receive a recorded copy of your session.
Dellaina one on one 60 minutes.
My training includes astrology, past-life therapy, divination, Seichem healing and shamanism. My focus now is being the co-facilitator for Almora and our sacred work into which I integrate all of my acquired skills
Ihaia one on one 60 minutes.
I am trained in Tikanga (cultural/spiritual) counseling. I also like to integrate sacred sound with both my voice and indigenous instruments in my healing work. I believe sound and its vibrations transcends time and space, penetrating deep into our cellular memories bringing balance and well-being in one's life.
Dellaina & Ihaia 60 minutes.
Couples – 70 minutes.
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these are rural arts of midnapore district of bengal, india. the base is water hyacinth plates & the pictures are drawn by the rural artists of habichak village, p.s. chandipur, east midnapore, bengal.
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rural based responsible ecotourism initiative
11 Jan 2013 Leave a comment
in Uncategorized Tags: bengal, craft, crafts of rural bengal, earth craft, handicraft, handicrafts of bengal, handicrafts of india, indian crafts, khorlo, medinipur, midnapore crafts, mindcraft, mindcrafts, monchasa, monchasha, moncraft, nilanjan basu, rural handicrafts


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Light Painted Animation Makes A Piano Play
Using long exposure photography, Ryan Cashman manipulates light to bring to this animated piano player to life.
In a short, but sweet animation, artist and musician Ryan Cashman animated a sprightly green character playing the piano on a rooftop in San Diego. Cashman animated the film using light painting, which is the technique of photographing at extremely long exposure times so that light is captured as it is moving in front of the lens. Cashman painted each individual position separately at 20-30 second exposure time with only a green-glowing LED Keychain which he then synchronized in After Effects to a musical composition that he wrote himself.


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Robbot or not?
I don't reply like those fancy Twitter bots.
Indominous Rex escapes from the party, not the girl.
Tweetie will be pleased.
Want an Apple store.
You should listen to Shawn Today: Risk.
Remember the first place.
Which is not a drill.
????,,I don't even know what it's for?
500mb for one issue of an iPad like a crazy person.
I may not be a loooooong night.
Go forbid I listen to Shawn Today: Risk.
They'll be so many people.
Totally forgot it was asinine.
New episode of the ~64m in the mirror,,2.
Turns out added me to get fixed tonight.
And not a drill.
Weather's a bit complicated.
The proper version of Total Eclipse of the stupid URL shortener.
Didn't decrease the quality of the Spinnaker, food, friends, drinks, talks.
There's no jailbreak for the shuttle from the party, not the girl.
This instance is run by Robb Lewis for various Robb Lewis-related things.


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Nobody enjoys moving, it's time consuming and a lot of hard work More Help. Even a simple move is a dreadful process, when you stop and think about it. Most people are daunted by the task, but you don't have to be. These simple tips can help simplify the task, so you get through it in less time and have more fun doing it.
Cut Down on Clutter
Are you downsizing or making a long-distance move? There's no point in dragging all your wordly possessions over a long distance, or trying to bring them to a location where they will not fit. Simplify your life, and sell off or give away any unnecessary objects that you've accumulated over the years. Cut down on as many belongings as you can in the months coming up to a move, and you'll simplify your task dramatically.
Spread out the Packing
While you can't always take months to pack up your belongings, especially if you're moving unexpectedly, it's best to spread out the process as much as possible. If you can, begin packing up your belongings several weeks or months before a move. Keep things as neat and organized as possible, and pack up all your belongings so that they are ready to go several days before you begin the actual move.
Color Labels
Most people know to label all their boxes, but it can be a pain to read labels that are all drawn in black marker. To make identifying contents easier and quicker, rely on a set of mutli-colored labels. Assign a different color to each section of your home, and then it's quick and easy to unpack the boxes when you reach the next space.
Pack Your Drawers
Don't bother pulling clothing and other objects from the drawers in your furniture. Save yourself some time and wrap those beauties in plastic wrap. Once wrapped, you can just move the drawers like you would standard boxes, and when you arrive at the new location, you slip them into place and can begin using them once again. Finding clothes has never been easier after a move.
Use Garbage Bags on Hanging Clothes
There's no reason to pull all the clothing in your closet down and to tuck away all those hangers. Instead, simply wrap up large clusters of hangers in garbage bags. Wrap the hangers up and pull the drawstrings tight on as many hangers as you can. You can move the bags easily, and hang them up in the new closet in mere moments.
Cut Triangle Box Handles
Holding larger boxes is awkward and not something that anyone enjoys. If the boxes are made from sturdy cardboard, you can make them significantly easier to carry by cutting out some handles. Make two slices into a cardboard box going from up to down at a 45 degree angle. The idea is to cut two sides of a triangle that comes to a point toward the bottom of the box. The uncut side of the triangle becomes your handle, and the cardboard triangle folds into the cardboard box to form a sturdy grab handle. Do this with any larger boxes and you'll make carrying them easier.
While these simple steps will help simplify your move, you'll still have to prepare for a tiring process. Start working on the task as early as you can, and the process will be much easier than if you try to get it all done in a single day or a few days.
If you're looking for a new home or looking to sell your old one, speak with Muriel about how you can find or sell your home easily and efficiently! Call today!


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Take a sneak peak of how these fantastic paintings are made 😲
- Drawn from your photos
- Ordered online right here
- Approx 2 weeks to be completed
- Email preview sent through before posted
- Delivered on high-quality canvas or print... YOU DECIDE 😍
Now, what are you waiting for? Order below right here ⬇⬇⬇⬇⬇⬇⬇⬇⬇
Customer Reviews
The picture is really good. I've had one done of my old cat and found it to be better. Mainly because Shadow is a black cat and doesn't have markings. However saying this the person who drew Shadow captured her expression perfectly and you can tell it's shadow in the picture. I love it.
I am so pleased with our mums birthday present ! Our pooch is quite old now and has recently been diagnosed with doggie dementia so it has been nice to have an image pf a time when we was well :) a memory she can keep forever! Thank you so much
This is a Christmas gift so I can't publish it on FB yet.
Absolutely incredible x thanks you so much
My print of my dog is absolutely brilliant, I love it! I would highly recommend the service, the quality is fantastic.


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Jan 7, 2014
Kid and Gdub kick it in this episode of the Goin' Deep Show. We discuss naming our studios, how horny some of our crew is, and a cat fight that nearly busted out at a local bar. We discuss bar hookups and how women can pretty much get layed at any goddamn time they want to. Kid recaps a time at Central Michigan University and drunk dancing and getting cock grabbed some sub par skunk who's face was hit. GDub talks about taking home some fat indian woman who he could barely remember. He did recall trying to scoot her nasty ass out of his apartment before one of his friends saw her. Kid gives more details on the chick who cried while giving him road head. We recap sign language guy, selfies and the Kid loving having long hair for all the whores who wanna touch it.


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IRONSMITH TGL Series Low voltage up lights are designed to fit seamlessly with our tree grates, the light fixtures mount to special covers, which fit the standard lightwell openings.
Address: 41701 Corporate Way Suite 3
City/State/Zip: Palm Desert / CA / 92260
Phone: 760-776-5077
Website: ironsmith.cc
Contact Us: Vendor Contact Page
Product Link: View Product on Vendor Site
Vendor Information: IRONSMITH products include tree grates tree guards trench grates bollards and the exclusive Paver-Grate System. Trench grates are available in both straight and custom radius to meet your design needs. All IRONSMITH cast products are available in iron aluminum or bronze and are made from 100 recycled metals.
14771 Plaza Drive, Suite. A, Tustin, CA 92780
LO financially supports many associations through either the payment of dues, conference exhibits and/or discounted advertising.
August 24, 2019, 12:26 pm PDT
Website problems, report a bug. At Landscape Communications, Inc. we are committed to protecting consumers from fraudulent or inappropriate offers - Privacy Policy
Copyright © 2019 Landscape Communications Inc.
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Share on ThriftyFunThis guide contains the following solutions. Have something to add? Please share your solution!
So, you need two egg whites (instead of costly egg substitutes) but you don't want to throw out the yolks and be wasteful. What do you do? Nuke them! That's right, slip them into the microwave for just a minute and when cooked and cooked, crumble and feed to your pet for an "egg-stra" special (once in a while only) treat!
By Leata from Alamogordo, NM
I was looking for a treat for my mother cats, who I have at the house. They need to have extra nutrients when they are nursing babies. I found some boiled eggs at the store, in a bag, and I just popped out the yolk and broke it into pieces. They enjoyed eating it and had more energy afterwards.
It is better not to feed egg whites alone, since it contains a substance called avidin which makes biotin unavailable for use in the body. Egg whites are mostly water so they are not missing out on anything.
I have heard that cooking deactivates the avidin, but I cannot be sure, so I always just feed yolks. I am in the midst of finding homes for a large number of kittens, and I will be posting pics of each one, before they go to their new families :)
Ask a QuestionHere are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community or ask a new question.
My DIL eats hard boiled eggs everyday, but only the whites. She used to throw the yolks out until I started collecting them for other uses. I find I can throw extra yolks into deviled eggs, egg salad, and tuna salad, but beyond that, I'm stumped. I'm starting to get a huge collection in my freezer. I hate to waste them, and the dogs won't eat them. Any crazy ideas, anyone? I've thought about leaving them outside for the wild life, but I'm not sure they would eat them either. Thanks in advance!
By Celia
My mom used to do that too, just eat the whites and toss the yellows. I would suggest using them as fillers in every day meals! I know they make an awesome soup/stew thickener! Mix them into your meatloaf mix, etc!
I would like to know of uses or recipes using boiled egg yolks.
Carolyn from Princeton, WV
Egg butter
4 tbsp butter
6cooked egg yolks
salt/pepper to taste
cream all together, and use on crackers or as sand wich spread
Egg sandwich spread
4-6 egg yolks
1 can tuna in oil, drauined
2 tbsp mayo
2 tbsp catsup
mix well, and make sandwiches.


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CD Review – Mel Brown – Love, Lost and Found
7 out of 10 – Electro-Fi Records
The late Mel Brown was very much an unknown figure outside of the blues, but that was the world's loss. Players from the blues firmament knew his importance though, from Buddy Guy to many of the music magazines that wrote of his talent, as a guitarist, pianist, and vocalist, and this anthology of work from the last ten years is both a fine introduction, and sadly, a fitting tribute to the man's talent. From the instrumental title track, which opens the album, which features Mel Brown on guitars and keyboards, it is a classy package. A number of guest artists add to the mix, from Enrico Crivellaro's guitar on the co-written 'Red Wine and Moonshine' to 'My Baby wants to Boogie' and 'Feel like Jumping' which both feature Snooky Pryor on vocals and harmonica, to Sam Myers who makes a telling contribution to 'Little Girl from Maine' to Miss Angel who's soulful vocals add a lot to 'Blues in the Alley'. This is blues, but it is closer to Jazz in some places, with Mel Brown's guitar playing not just playing the normal first, fourth and fifth changes, but finding new notes and chords to bring something distinctive to the sound. Blues from the standard songbook is also included, from the piano and vocal version of Freddie King's 'You were wrong pretty baby' or the similar treatment of Ray Charles's 'Come Back Baby' to the version of 'Hoochie Coochie Man' which finishes the album. This is a fine showcase for a much missed blue musician, but it is a fitting way in which he can be remembered.


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Trade Buyers, Jewellers please Log In or register to access TRADE VIEW and Today's Special Offer.
Tools and Accessories
Buy jewellery tools, accessories, cleaning accessories and other jewellery related items including replacement parts, scales, cleaning fluids and cloths, jewellery scales, jewellery packaging, jewellery displays and more.
Jewellery Marketplace Wholesale adhere to Long Distance Selling Policy so if you are not entirely satisfied with your purchase you may return it to us within 14 days. More information about easy returns can be found here. We use metric system with millimetres for size and grams for weight.


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The Guesthouse has maintained the ambiance of yesteryear with the comforts of the modern era. 24 kms from Cookhouse west off the N10 between Port Elizabeth and Cradock, Somerset East lies at the foot of the Boschberg Mountain range.
2019 © All Rights Reserved. SA Places | Privacy Policy | Terms of Service


text: Get these 44 live rock inspired pop drum loops inspired by the hit single "Younger Now" by Miley Cyrus! Download them now for any software like Apple Garageband, Logic Pro X, Logic Pro 9, Ableton, or Pro Tools. You can even download the drum loops kit of WAVs for software such as FL Studio, Reason, and many more! Make sure to download these ultra rock infused pop drum loops in the style of Miley Cyrus' song "Younger Now"!


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If you've been around here long enough, or followed me on Twitter, you know I'm a straightforward kinda gal. My students at school know I'm all about "real talk," and I won't hold back!
When EdenFantasys.com contacted me about doing a giveaway in exchange for blogging about them, I jumped at the chance! Many of you know my mom was a teacher, an 8th grade science teacher to be exact. Part of her curriculum included sex ed, a topic she was well-known for teaching. She was the person that would show you scary photos of untreated STDs that would send students screaming from her classroom, swearing off sex completely. Sex was always an open topic for discussion in our home. As an adult, I was introduced to world of sex toys through friends, and, well, here we are!
As a milspouse, I can't imagine getting through a deployment without being able to "take care of business." TCB, baby! Milspouses are all about independence and self-reliance. "Sexually deprived for your freedom?" Well, maybe of partner sex…
Even as a couple, DH and I are no strangers to incorporating sex toys into our acts of intimacy. This requires and builds trust between couples, not to mention keeps things fresh and interesting!
As a connoisseur of adult toys living outside of a metropolitan area, I find that my best bet for products is online. I'm not a fan of the seedy roadside sex shop, or pervy websites that drip of misogyny. When I'm looking to patronize one of these establishments, I'm looking for a women-positive business that caters to customers of diverse sexual preferences and relationships. EdenFantasys fits the bill perfectly. I appreciate a business that educates their customers, helping them to make an informed purchase that meets their needs and criteria. Who knows, maybe it's the educator in me. ☺ I love checking out reviews from real customers, rather than just a short description from the manufacturer.
EdenFantasys.com encourages you to "learn from others, share your experiences and re-discover sex." Don't mind if I do, folks, don't mind if I do!
But why should I be the only one around here with a shit-eating grin on my face? Thanks to EdenFantasys.com, one of you is going to be walking away with a $60 gift card to spend on whatever your heart (and nether regions) desires!
How to Enter
In the effort to keep things simple and be sensitive to those who like to keep some things private, there is only one way to enter, with a bonus tweet option. Please leave a comment for each entry, for a total of two.
- Follow me on GFC
- Bonus! Tweet about this giveaway by linking to the post, mentioning me (@USNsis) and either mentioning EdenFantasys through a hashtag or a mention (@EdenFantasys), whatever you're comfortable with.


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This house had been put to a number of non-domestic uses since the mid-19th century with the interior sub-divided and everywhere a tangle of service pipes. However, it was clear that miraculously most of the original decorative features: chimney pieces, plasterwork and joinery remained reasonably intact. In converting the house to offices we used a light touch: stripping out the later accretions, enhancing the original features and spaces; in short, letting the building speak for itself.
See some images of this building before and after our intervention by visiting our Gallery


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Product Description
Our Crystal Menu Holder is a modern sleek design displaying two sides and available in three standard sizes. Each Crystal Menu Holder comes complete with two aluminium posts ready for assembly. This menu holder is perfect for cafes, bars and restaurants of all kinds. Our Crystal Menu Holder is extremely cost effective and ideal for displaying your literature. Each menu holder is manufactured from 700 micron PVC.
Additional Information
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Product's Review
Why Buy From Us?
Established since 1991
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Outlast Gets New Gameplay Trailer
A four minute long trailer for Outlast has been released today.
The first title from Red Barrels, Outlast is a survival horror FPS title for the PC. It's being developed with the Unreal 3 engine.
The game takes place in the Mount Massive Asylum, which is owned by the Murkof Corporation.
You can see the trailer below.


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By Isabel Minunni
I actually won a recipe contest with a stuffed acorn squash! However this is not that recipe, sorry. The winning recipe gives me merits for having other successful stuffed squash recipes!
I have a vegan daughter and, yes, sometimes it feels as though she ties my hands while cooking for her. But at times it has challenged me as I am always happy to meet the challenge for her. The stuffed squash phase I went through has proven fruitful in our house. No one was truly a squash fan. They only ate it because it was on the plate, with the same old, same old, recipe.
I decided that such an awesome ingredient needed more of my attention. When I give something my attention everyone knows that ingredient very, very well. I am happy to announce that my recipe has made a fan of my vegan daughter and my picky eater daughter. As a mom, cook and recipe developer, that is a win-win.
Stuff your favorite squash with your favorite ingredients, let your food favorites fly, and remember…food should be fun, inventive and shared.
Nothing says autumn like an in-season vegetable like squash.
This squash bake is easy and very dramatic in presentation. When this squash bakes, the inside becomes creamy, while the top becomes crispy and crunchy. I just love the contrast of texture, plus the beans take on a nutty flavor. Delish!
Rice and Bean Acorn Squash Bowl Bakes
2 large acorn squash- cut in half and seeds scooped out
3 cups cooked rice
2 cups broccoli spears-cooked
3 cups cooked red beans-drained
2 cloves garlic-minced
2 to 3 cups almond milk
1 1/2 teaspoons five spice
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper
2 tablespoon olive oil
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Place all ingredients besides squash and almond milk into a medium size bowl and mix.*
Place cut squash onto parchment paper lined cookie sheet, cut side up. Stuff each squash evenly with prepared stuffing; pour almond milk evenly into each stuffed squash. Brush the top of edges of each stuffed squash with olive oil. Place stuffed squash in the preheated oven and cook for 1 hour or until squash is tender.
Take out of oven. Serve and enjoy!
Serves 2-4
*You can add more warm coconut milk during cooking to make the stuffing more creamy as the squash and rice will absorb milk. Serves as a side dish or main course.
Recipe also available @ Bellasbanquet.com


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LoneStar Property Solutions is now LoneStar Design Build
Over the years, LoneStar has evolved into a DESIGN/ BUILD Boutique firm. When we began assisting clients with their residential remodeling projects, we found that many appreciated the design assistance and construction management we provide. By working closely with our clients and listening to their ideas and vision, we relieve the stress and feeling of overwhelm that comes with choosing selections, such as tile, flooring, countertops, cabinetry and appliances. The Design/Build process provides a one-source accountability approach to residential remodeling, tying in the design and pre-build process with the construction of the project.
As a Company, we continually strive for improvement, increasing our skills and knowledge. Our Co-founder and Lead Designer is certified in Universal Design (Universal Design Certified Professional – UDCP) and Certified Kitchen and Bath Remodeler (CKBR) through NARI (National Association of Remodeling Industry). Our staff is compiled of forward thinking and innovative individuals who seek to provide an exceptional client experience. As a result, our process covers a turn-key approach from concept to completion with our client's taste and investment in mind. Each project is approached as follows:
We start with a realistic budget based on client desires for their project. We help coordinate your project's elements, pulling the design together to achieve the result you've been envisioning. The project is priced with an intended investment amount that's determined before shopping for selections and drawing up plans. Should the you request change orders during construction, pricing for product options are shared and a new project investment is calculated.
We guide you through the process of selecting products at showrooms and bring items to your home so you can see how the colors and materials look and feel in your environment.
We measure the space, work with you on a layout for the remodel, and design the new space with all the elements, selections, products and finishes you select
We review your project with each of our specialty trade partners every step of the way. Our one-source accountability eliminates the stress and frustration of contacting each sub-contractor for progress and next steps. We'll update you as we move forward.
With these changes, we chose a name that conveys the services we provide. We offer more than small job and repair property solutions. We offer our clients design aid for their vision, continuing to provide color and placement services throughout the construction process for the results they've been dreaming about. We're excited to move forward as LoneStar Design Build and look forward to future developments.


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This list contains non-toxic-ISH baby items. I realize not everything on here is the perfect option for non-toxic living. It's more a mesh of my trying to be non-toxic yet also practical, keeping accessibility and affordability in mind! Just a little disclaimer. With my first baby I was OBSESSIVE about everything being the absolute purest, but I loosened up along the way ;)
Where To Register
ONLINE Amazon or BabyList Both these sites give you flexibility to register for items from many different places! This is great if you're into non-toxic options because many popular stores have a limited selection of truly organic baby items although mainstream availability is increasing all the time. Be forewarned that MOST people procrastinate and will need a reminder that your registry is based online- they'll need to PLAN AHEAD with ordering. What tends to happen is that people resort to gifting you things you didn't register for that they can find locally because they don't plan ahead for shipping times and such.
STORES Babies R Us, Buy Buy Baby, or Target Sometimes an "old school" registry at a brick and mortar store works better for those who don't like or understand online shopping... or the general population who doesn't plan ahead.
CRIB (1) Ikea Sniglar The Sniglar is one of the only mainstream cribs I've found that's solid, unfinished wood... no plywood, particle board, medium density fiberboard (MDF), hardboard, veneers, laminate or other man-made products that are notorious for off-gassing harmful VOCs due to the glue used in the manufacturing process. Plus, it's not metal. Metal beds are adorable but non-metal beds are (apparently) better for limiting EMF exposure. The Ikea Sniglar also converts to a toddler bed. Additionally, there's a popular DIY tutorial that shares how to safely turn this crib into a co-sleeper, which makes it an even more versatile option. It does contain some nylon in the base, which is a synthetic material, but sometimes you've got to compromise a little if you don't want to spend a month's worth of time and money looking for the absolute least toxic crib on earth. You can find 100% solid wood cribs elsewhere but be prepared to spend a lot more money.
CRIB MATTRESS (1) Lullaby Earth Healthy Support Crib Mattress or OMI Organic Latex Crib Mattress A non-toxic mattress is definitely worth investing in. Children spend so much time sleeping, and the links between the toxins in conventional crib mattresses and SIDS and general health concerns are convincing. The Lullaby Earth option is a lightweight, budget-friendly mattress made in the USA (Naturepedic owns Lullaby Earth). It does contain synthetic materials (like plastic) but it does not contain vinyl/pvc, polyurethane foam, or flame retardant chemicals or barriers (read more here). The OMI mattress, my personal favorite, is more expensive but almost entirely avoids synthetic materials, instead using latex and organic cotton and wool. OMI makes and sources most of their materials in the USA and meets flammability standards using wool (read more here). Neither mattresses contain metal coils if EMF exposure is a concern.
CRIB MATTRESS PROTECTOR (2) I'm A Little Teapot Organic Cotton Crib Mattress Protector or Wool Pad A mattress protector is not optional, trust me! Especially while potty training. Or when you go to wake your baby up and realize he got a stomach bug and vomited like 10x during the night. The first one I have listed is inexpensive but contains polyurethane as a waterproofing layer, but it does not contain toxic vinyl which makes it a much more non-toxic-ish option. Wool "puddle pads" are a more organic way to protect a mattress. Wool is naturally moisture and odor resistant, although more expensive and a bit harder to care for since you generally cannot machine-wash it and expect it to turn out well (when you can it's been pre-treated with harsher chemicals).
CRIB SHEETS (2) Margaux and May or Land of Nod Organic crib sheets are affordable and you should not skimp on having them! They sit right against your baby. There are TONS of organic options out there- check Aden + Anais, Land of Nod, Pottery Barn, Amazon, Hanna Andersson, Burt's Bees... the options are endless.
TRAVEL CRIB (1) Nuna Sena Aire or Lotus Bassinet We didn't get a travel crib until my son was a toddler but now that that we have one, I love the convenience of it, especially when traveling or visiting during nap time. The Nuna Sena Aire has a higher mattress level for younger babies, so it also works as a co-sleeper of sorts when baby is young, and the mattress is NOT made from polyurethane foam and it is not treated with flame retardants! The Lotus Bassinet is a great compact option for younger babies and can be converted into a toddler travel crib with the purchase of a special kit. The mattress is polyurethane foam but not treated with flame retardants.
TRAVEL CRIB MATTRESS PROTECTOR (1-2) American Baby Company Organic Waterproof Quilted Travel Crib Mattress Pad Cover This fits perfectly on the Nuna Sena mattress. It does have polyester in it but if it's for a travel crib that won't be getting as much use, you might not need to be as concerned with having a safer wool puddle pad.
TRAVEL CRIB SHEETS (1-2) American Baby Company Interlock Fitted Travel Crib Sheet Inexpensive, soft, and gets the job done! Or check out the sheets the company that makes your travel crib sells... organic is becoming more readily available all the time.
SWADDLERS (2) The Miracle Blanket Have two so don't find yourself in a pinch should one be in the wash! I prefer this brand because there's no Velcro which doesn't wash well or last long and makes the swaddler less customizable. I wish it was organic!
WEARABLE BLANKETS (2) Halo Organic Wearable Blanket or Woolino If you plan to swaddle at birth, you could register for sleep sacks in sizes that will fit starting at three months, when babies generally start rolling and swaddling their arms is no longer a good idea. Little Spruce Organics carries so many truly non-toxic things for babies and kids! I LOVE the Woolino 4 Season Basic Baby Sleep Bags!
FAN (1) Hunter Metal Table Fan For white noise and the health benefit of air circulation while your baby sleeps!
LIGHT BLANKETS (2-4) Little Unicorn THESE ARE SO CUTE!!! They are also very multifunctional. Use for a nursing cover or something light to cover baby in the car. There are so many options out there for adorable and organic swaddle blankets these days! Note that babies shouldn't have loose blankets around them while sleeping until they're over a year of age.
THICK BLANKETS (1-2) Aden + Anais Muslin Dream Blanket or Little Unicorn Quilt So adorable and great for tummy time or covering a toddler at night.
On The Go
CAR SEAT (1) UPPAbaby Mesa in Henry or Britax B-Safe 35 or Nuna Pipa or Clek Foonf/Fllo with Infant Thingy These are my top options! So the UPPAbaby Mesa in Henry is the very first car seat on the market that doesn't contain ANY flame retardants!!! The cover is made of wool so it meets the required flammability standards without the use of flame retardant chemicals since wool is by nature flame resistant. UPPAbaby got very smart when they decided to fulfill the calling for a truly non-toxic car seat! Britax and Nuna avoid the use of the more toxic flame retardants and their seats are easy to install and use. The Clek Foonf and Fllo are convertible car seats that can be used from birth with the Clek Infant Thingy (yes that's the actual name of the product, haha). Remember that a car seat is only safe if it's being used correctly. READ THE MANUAL and then get your installation checked by a CPST to make sure it's perfectly safe for your little bundle! If you'll need to use your infant seat without the base (taxi rides) I recommend something that allows for a European-style baseless installation (like the Pipa). The convenience of an infant seat is worth it for some. With my first child I loved having one, but with my second child I preferred a convertible seat. Here's a great post about which convertible car seats fit newborns well!
BABY CARRIER (1) Tula Free-To-Grow Baby Carrier or Beco Gemini or Solly Baby I recommend a carrier that allows babies to sit like they're in a seat, not supported by a "v" shaped crotch, which is thought to contribute to hip dysplasia in babies. The options above are great for keeping baby's hips healthy. The Beco Gemini is a soft structured carrier that doesn't need any additional inserts to be used with a newborn and can be worn a variety of different ways. I own one and love it. The Solly Baby is a completely different kind of carrier that is very popular, especially for newborns. And owning a Tula automatically makes you cooler. Just saying ;) Some other excellent options are Ergobaby, Boba, Lenny Lamb... to name just a few! The world of babywearing is vast. Soft structured carriers are my personal favorite! In my opinion and experience, a great baby carrier for babywearing is a better investment than a great stroller. Sometimes you'll need both, but if you can afford to splurge on one... go for the baby carrier!!! I use my baby carrier 50 times for every 1 time I use my stroller.
STROLLER (1) Baby Jogger City Select As far as I know, Baby Jogger does not treat any part of their strollers with flame retardants. I highly recommend a stroller that can be used as a single initially and a double if/when you have more kids! The one downside is that the City Select is fairly heavy and large; it would be hard to use somewhere (like a train) where you would need to fold it up and carry it. Something compact might be a better option for some families. And if you're feeling fancy the UPPAbaby Vista is GORGEOUS and grows with your family!
STROLLER ACCESSORIES Car Seat Adapter or Bassinet Not all stroller seats can accommodate a newborn, so you might need a car seat adapter or bassinet. I urge you not to use the car seat more than you need since it doesn't position a baby's body optionally. It's essential for safety in the car but out and about... opt for babywearing when possible.
DIAPER BAG (1) Backpack Diaper Bag My mom friends and I always laugh at the fact that it took us so long to realize a backpack diaper bag is the way to go. Until we figure out how to grow extra limbs, it's practically a necessity. Perhaps not the cutest option but shoulder straps are always slipping off my shoulder and when my patience is already wearing thin, annoying things like that can be the last straw. Backpack diaper bags are like mini vans. Perhaps an inevitable part of motherhood, perhaps not nearly as awful as we thought when we were cool and childless. Make sure "fake" leather does not contain PVC and certifications that other harmful chemicals aren't going to be rubbing off are a nice bonus. A fancy brand to check out is Fawn Designs!
SHOPPING CART COVER (1) Milk Snob When my son got old enough to sit in a cart and began sucking on the handle, I promptly ordered something to go between him and the cart! This product is very versatile.
BURP CLOTHS (3-5) Organic Burp Cloths These come in handy for the breast milk leaks that inevitably happen during feedings. Any organic prefold diaper will also do!
MILK SAVER (1) Milkies Milk Saver I loved this product! It helped me save every drop of liquid gold.
BREAST PADS (at least a few sets) Bamboobies Disposable Nursing Pads, Bamboobies Reusable Nursing Pads or LanaCare Wool Nursing Pads I had a hard time finding a breast pad I liked. Some organic cotton ones were literally useless... I might as well not have had any on! I found Bamboobies worked really well for me although they aren't the least toxic option since bamboo rayon has a questionable manufacturing process, and the pads also contain polyester as well as a TUP waterproofing layer. The wool ones would be a more natural choice for sure but I have not tried them!
BREAST PUMP (1) Medela Pump In Style I tried the Ameda Purely Yours and Medela Pump In Style. Medela was definitely the winner! It had better suction. Just be very careful not to let milk back up into the tubes and down into the motor because there's no way to clean the motor and gross things can happen! Think mold... and grosser things. Non-toxic pumps are a difficult thing because the market is small and if you need to pump, it must work well or you could sacrifice your milk supply. So my advice is to pump only when you need to if you're going for non-toxic! OH, and make sure you check to find out if your insurance will cover the cost of your breast pump before you buy one. Most of the time, it will be covered. The process for obtaining it will vary by insurance company. Finally, there are some new pumps on the market that I haven't had experience with yet- Spectrum is one name that comes to mind. I've heard really good things though!
HANDS-FREE PUMPING BRA (1) PumpEase Organic Hands-Free Pumping Bra Yes, you will want one of these if you have to pump with any regularity.
BREAST MILK STORAGE BAGS (50-100) Lansinoh Breast Milk Storage Bags or Kiinde Twist Pouches Both plastic, I know, but both work great and I've read plastic is actually the best medium for storing breastmilk. Try to feed at the breast when possible to avoid the plastic!
COOLER BAG (1) PackIt Freezable Baby Bottle Bag For keeping breast milk cool or frozen during transportation. This bag is free of lead, PVC, phthalates, and BPA.
NIPPLE CREAM (1) The Honest Co. Nipple Balm I only needed this for the first few weeks!
NURSING PILLOW (1) San Diego Baby Eco Nursing Pillow I didn't love the Boppy and didn't want to use a toxic My Brest Friend. This one provides the benefits of the My Brest Friend design without the toxic factor! I used it a lot during the newborn days and slowly transitioned to being able to nurse without it, or using a bed pillow instead.
NIGHT LIGHT (1) Low-Blue Nightlight Night feedings can be difficult on so many levels! For me personally being woken several times a night, trying to fall back asleep after being awoken, and general lack of sleep is a huge struggle with a new baby. There are some really compelling arguments that postpartum depression in new moms is linked to disrupted melatonin levels, and using a light bulb that does not emit "blue light" for night wakings is a GREAT idea! Make sure you turn it off before you go back to sleep since it's best to sleep in the complete darkness. If you wake up and look at your phone or watch TV (which I strongly advise against doing) this lightbulb will be worthless because you're exposing yourself to other sources of blue light, so try these sunglasses instead.
BOTTLES (2-4) Avent Natural Glass Bottles or Como Tomo One tip I have is not to register for a huge pack of bottles in case your baby doesn't like them. Breastfed babies are notorious for being very picky about bottles! It's safer to try one or two of a few different brands so you don't end up with twenty bottles your baby hates. We only ever needed the smaller 4 ounce size. We just upgraded the nipples to faster flows and our son grew! But he was breastfed and never needed to drink a huge amount when he was away from me, and I know a baby being fed formula would have different bottle needs. Try to opt for glass or stainless steel baby bottles over plastic and even silicone!
BIBS (5-10) Aden + Anais Burpy Bibs Try these bibs and you'll want to throw all your other ones away! They're amazing. When your baby starts drooling or eating food, you'll be glad you have a lot of bibs on hand. If you'd prefer wipeable, I like these BabyBjorn Soft Bibs!
BABY FOOD STORAGE CONTAINERS (4-12) Wean Green Cubes These have a super strong seal and I love that they're not all plastic.
BABY SPOONS (3-5) Stainless steel or silver are great options to avoid plastic!
HIGH CHAIR (1) Oxo Tot Seedling High Chair or Baby Bjorn High Chair If you can find a wooden high chair, perhaps an antique, you'd be golden! I've heard good things about the 4moms High Chair. For me, ease of cleaning is my biggest thing and how smoothly the tray comes on and off. I use the Baby Bjorn because it has no padded parts and is easily wiped off, and the tray folds down and stays attached to the high chair (there's a removable portion for easy cleanup). But it's not for bigger kids! It's a tiny little thing.
TODDLER CUPS (2) Thermos FOOGO Phases Stainless Steel Straw Bottle A healthier alternative to plastic and valved sippy cups which both pose separate issues! The straw is still plastic but these are good for on the go. Use a plain glass or stainless steel cup at home! You definitely need to run them through the dishwasher often to get them clean and keep them from smelling.
DIAPERS The Honest Company or Smart Bottoms 3.1 Blueberry Organic One Size Simplex AIO Cloth Diapers are super similar to the Smart Bottoms 3.1 option. For newborns, the Blueberry Newborn Simplex AIOs with Organic Cotton are my favorite! Many of my friends use bumGenius Freetimes and absolutely love them. I use Honest disposable diapers because they're less toxic than mainstream disposable diapers, they work great, they're adorable, and the bundle package with delivery to your doorstep is a decent deal, nevermind insanely convenient. If you REALLY want to go non-toxic, try organic and wool. This Lovey Bums option looks amazing!
WIPES The Honest Co. or GroVia Cloth Wipes Look for organic if you're really passionate about non-toxic. I can attest to the amazingness of the two I mention above!
DIAPER CREAM The Honest Co. There are sooo many good and non-toxic diaper creams out there! This one is more of a classic with the zinc oxide and it's become our favorite over the years.
DIAPER PAIL Diaper Dekor Plus or Monkey Foot Designs XXL Wet Bag To be honest, we have used a small plastic tub/trash can as our diaper pail for cloth diapers for 3 years and it's worked perfectly! Cheap and simple.
WET BAG Planet Wise Wet/Dry Bag Great for storing messy clothes in the diaper bag even if you don't cloth diaper!
Health and Safety
BABY BATHTUB Precious Whale of a Tub I think baby bathtubs are worth the investment especially when you don't have a full-size bathtub! The sink never worked well for us.
TEETHING RELIEF Chamomile Tincture or Amber Teething Necklace
INFANT IBUPROFEN For emergencies! Try to buy a brand without artifical dyes and flavors.
SALINE SPRAY Simply Saline Baby This brand has a gentle spray and pure ingredients.
MOISTURIZER The Honest Co. Healing Balm This moisturizer rubs on easily and works wonders!
SOAP Angel Baby Shampoo and Body Wash This isn't tear-free because it has no anesthetizing ingredients, so you've got to be careful around baby's eyes. The ingredients are about as simple as they come! If you feel better using something tear-free, try something made by a more natural company, like The Honest Co.
THERMOMETER ErgaLogik Digital Thermometer I used to have a "no touch" forehead thermometer but I never thought it was very consistent or accurate and I am super skeptical about wireless/radiation type things, especially around kids! I prefer taking underarm readings but I always add 1 degree to account for it being auxiliary.
HAIR BRUSH Bürstenhaus Redecker Baby Hair Brush with Goat Hair Bristles The natural bristles on this brush are great for gently smoothing away cradle cap, which my kids both got at some point. Or an old toothbrush works!
NASAL ASPIRATOR Bloom Baby Throw away the bulbs you get at the hospital! They're impossible to clean.
COTTON SWABS Johnson's Safety Swabs Did you know ears are actually self-cleaning and that earwax exists for a reason? "The best way to clean your ears is to take a tissue and drape it over your finger, and anywhere you can reach with your finger, it's safe to go (source)." These safety swabs are good for swabbing around the outside of the ear opening but won't fit far into the ear canal, protecting your baby!
PACIFIERS Natursutten Natural Rubber Pacifier, Orthodontic My son is hooked on these pacifiers. Some babies don't like pacifiers or won't take to certain kinds, so I wouldn't stock up just in case!
STAIN REMOVER DIY Blue Dawn, baking soda, and hydrogen peroxide. Not kidding! And I promise it works way better than any stain remover you can buy. Baby poop stains don't stand a chance against Blue Dawn. Helpful hint! If you get breastfed baby poop on something, wash as usual then before putting in the dryer, set in the sun or even just outside in the daylight and the stain will disappear! It's MAGIC. When I'm out and about, I carry this amazzzzing and so not non-toxic Resolve stick. Treat now, wash later... my life motto these days.
I'm a bit of a clothing snob in the sense that I like buying baby clothes myself. If you're like me, register for some basic pieces that will fit and match together easily when baby arrives and then have fun choosing new outfits as your baby grows. I also like having newborn sizes... those itty bitty days are short lived but having some tiny clothes to fit their tiny bodies is so precious!
ONESIES Hanna Andersson or H&M Organic baby basics are worth the investment. They sit right next to baby's body! Hanna Andersson brand clothes are durable and many of them are organic, plus the company has an unbeatable return policy... you can return anything for any reason at any time! Wait for a sale, then buy a few staples.
LEGGINGS Hanna Andersson I think leggings are so comfy for younger babies! I've found these organic ones fit well over cloth diapers.
HATS Nature Baby The Nature Baby knotted hats run very small, so the 0-6 month size is suited for a newborn, and they're organic.
SOCKS OR BOOTIES Zutano Baby Fleece Booties These Zutano booties are worth every penny, especially for the newborn days when everything falls off those tiny feet! They fit like a glove and I get so many compliments when my son wears them. They aren't organic, sadly. Hannah Anderson "Best Ever First Socks" socks actually STAY ON pudgy baby feet! And if you need something adorable... check out Freshly Picked.
SLEEPERS L'ovedbaby ONE WORD: OBSESSED! So cozy and sweet. The fit is maybe on the small side but love, love, loved these for my daughter!
TEETHING TOYS Banana Brush Honestly my kids turn everything that's not a toy into a toy and cling to the most random, plain things instead of using all the cute things they have! Go figure.
SWING/ROCKER/BOUNCER Nuna Leaf with Wind Attachment or Baby Bjorn Bouncer I really liked having a swing or something that moved for use with both my kids! The motion helped keep them to sleep.
BOOKS A friend and English teacher once told me... READ TO YOUR KIDS EVERY DAY! :)
MUSIC Music Together Family Favorites This collection of music is approved by music teachers and experts as well as toddlers and their families!
BABY MEMORY BOOK Lucy Darling This is essential! You'll be glad you have a place to keep track of milestones and moments. Having one forces me to take the time to fill out a few lines each month!
OUTLET COVERS Munchkin Plug Covers
PACIFIER CLIP Leather Pacifier Clip You'll be thankful when you're not the one on your hands and knees in the parking lot looking for a lost pacifier under your car!
LAUNDRY DETERGENT Seventh Generation Ultra Power Plus Consider doing all your laundry in something fragrance free or at least not fragranced artificially. This is the most effective "natural" detergent I've tried so far!
HUMIDIFIER Sunbeam Cool Mist Humidifier It took me SO LONG to find a humidifier that doesn't emit light! It's super important for us all to sleep in the pitch black and most humidifiers emit a glow so bright it's like sleeping with the light on. Even a tiny light to indicate that the unit is on can be destructive to a good night's sleep- your body can sense the light even when your eyes are closed and your melatonin levels are thrown off. ANYWAY, this humidifier is simple and has a filter that needs changing once a month, which I'm not used to, but I'll deal with almost anything to sleep in total darkness! Aim to keep humidity levels at 40-50%. I use this to track the humidity in our home.)
Play Mat (This Nook one is useful before baby can roll or crawl away. It washes so nicely and is so soft! It's not the absolute most "natural" option and a blanket would likely suffice buuuut I own one and like it too much not to include it!)
Baby Monitor (Please consider a safer option like the Belly Armor SmartNOVA to limit baby's EMF exposure!)
Nursing Cover (Or just use a blanket to drape... or just do your thing without a cover! Baby's gotta eat!)
Blackout Curtains (We all need to be sleeping in the PITCH BLACK, people!)
Diaper Clutch/Portable Changing Station
Air Purifier (Get one with a HEPA filter!)
Jogging Stroller (This is a great item to buy used! Check your local Craigslist.)
Convertible Car Seat (Instead of an infant carrier to save money. Just make sure it will fit a newborn properly!)
Baby Gate (We didn't use one with our first baby, but we moved and now have stairs so we like to keep them closed off with our second crawling baby!)
Changing Table (In my opinion this is one thing we never bought and never needed! I change my baby wherever I happen to be in the house. It's easier that way especially when you have multiple kids you can't leave unsupervised when baby needs changing!)
Changing Pad (Plus any protectors or covers you might need. The one I linked to doesn't need anything extra!)
Wipes Warmer
Baby Washcloths
Baby Towels
Co-Sleeper (Plus any sheets or mattress protectors you might need!)
Bassinet/Cradle/Moses Basket (Plus any sheets or mattress protectors you might need!)
Glider/Rocking Chair
Training Potty Chair or Seat
Additional Infant Seat Bases (Helpful if you'll be using multiple cars super often.)
Car Seat Cover (Please forgo the Bundleme, it's not safe! Or just use a blanket to cover baby once he's been strapped in to save resources!)
Not Recommended
Aftermarket Car Seat Accessories (Extra head and body support, "cute" strap covers, any bundler that goes behind baby's back... no, no, no! You should not add or take away anything from your car seat unless the manufacturer of your seat gives explicit permission to do so. Anyone who knows car seat safety will be super proud when they see you using your infant seat correctly, without unsafe aftermarket products.)
Baby-Specific Baby Food Makers (Why can't normal cookware and blenders work?! This is just my minimalist side coming out.)
Baby Floor Seats (These teach babies incorrect postural alignment. They are generally used to "help" (aka force) babies to sit up before they're ready. One example is the Bumbo... sorry to single you out, Bumbo!)
Baby Nail Clippers (In my experience the adult ones work wayyy better.)
A Million Baby Toys (Enjoy the simplicity while you can. The toybox will soon overfloweth!)
Saucers, Jumpers, and Walkers (Use sparingly! These crotch-supported seats teach babies to use their muscles in an unnatural way and can actually delay them developmentally. If you choose to buy one, try to prioritize tummy and floor time!)
Crib Bumpers (Hopefully it's becoming common knowledge that crib bumpers pose a safety hazard for babies, even the breathable mesh kind. It's illegal to even sell crib bumpers in Chicago and Maryland!)


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Come celebrate your special occasion with us! We can help you host your holiday party, birthday bash, bachelor/bachelorette night, or a gathering of friends in a private, curated space. We look forward to entertaining your group!
*Please note that we do not allow any outside beverages. We are also unable to provide food, but you are welcome to bring any food in of your choice.


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Interior Styling Group
We all love pretty + REAL homes because they inspire and motivate us to get off our humps and do something creative at home! I hope I'm not promoting the decor8 Interior Styling Group on Flickr tooooo much but I'm just so proud of what we've all done with it - the images are so inspiring and at least 30 new ones are added daily and now we're up to 1,852 members worldwide with over 2,600 images submitted to the pool so far! Yeah, wow is right!
All images are taken from Flickr members of their own spaces and contributed voluntarily, and we have monthly styling challenges posted in the Discussion section on the first of each month and some members can participate if they'd like while others can simply enjoy watching from the sidelines. There is a lovely range of homes to see that represent so many different decorating styles though I have to admit the focus is really on fresh, modern living, vintage modern, bohemian, eclectic, retro... I'm not opening the group to styles that fall outside of those areas because I want the group to have some visual harmony. Not all photos submitted are approved (I have to play the bad guy moderator) based on a number of reasons (too dark, not taken by the person submitting it, text/borders on images, product shots meant for promotional purposes, two many of the same photo, etc. but I do my best to allow as many as possible without the group becoming out of control as so many Flickr groups often do. And that always bothers me because I join a group with promise and hope and then in a few months it's a mix of so many different things that the overall excitement is gone for me and I usually leave the group. I think this is because many groups are either not moderated or they are moderated by people who are scared to deny certain photos to the group - they don't want to offend or hurt anyone's feelings and trust me, I'm a sensitive soul myself so I understand how this can be challenging. BUT if you run a flickr group you are doing a huge disservice to your members if you start approving every single submission. It's almost like blogging, you cannot possibly show everything that you see or that is sent to your inbox. I suggest Flickr group owners taking their groups as seriously as their blogs -- it's heard I know, but your members will really, really appreciate it and your little group will blossom into a beautiful, inspiring space online.
Here's a glimpse above from one of the members, Jillian Frances, who took the time to create the above collage of 9 images from the following flickr members who contributed to the group: 1. me, decor8, 2. dottie angel, 3. fifi mandirac, 4. i L'aria, 5. die frau im haus, 6. the new domestic, 7. fensismensi, 8. i L'aria and 9. designace30. Don't you love the bold, energetic palette!
To see all of the images, or to join the decor8 Interior Styling Group, please click here.


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Air France Begins Flying to Wuhan, China
Air France has started flying a new route between its hub at Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Wuhan, China.
The airline is operating the Paris-Wuhan route three times a week aboard Boeing 777-200ERs. The 777-200ERs are all equipped with Boeing's full sleep Business class seats.
Crews on the flights are trained in Chinese culture, and there are also interpreters onboard. In addition, Air France offers meals designed by Chinese chefs and a selection of Chinese (or Chinese subtitled) films.
Air France was the first European airline to serve mainland China. Along with partner KLM, Air France intends to carry two million customers to nine cities in China this year.
(Picture: 777-300ER)


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Guard Sues Hospital for Flea Attack
MIAMI (CN) – A security guard says he was hospitalized with diabetes, impaired vision and severe rashes after suffering "hundreds if not thousands of flea bites" when a hospital hired him to patrol a vacant apartment complex that was home to "a community of cats."
John Rodriguez sued Baptist Hospital of Miami for negligence, in Miami-Dade County Court. His wife seeks damages for loss of consortium.
"As a consequence of the flea attack, Rodriguez suffered from severe body rashes and had to be hospitalized," the complaint states. "And as a further consequence of the flea attack (as well as medication needed to combat the body rash), Rodriguez developed various medical conditions such as vasculitis, vision impairment, diabetes, and others."
The Rodriguezes are represented in Miami State Court by H.K. "Skip" Pita with Pita & Del Prado.