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Playing in the apartment complex where she lives isn't really that fun, says Matilda Stanley.
There, hundreds of apartments and houses surround a concrete courtyard that is railed off into sections, with concrete planters of neat green shrubs and terracotta pots of tiny trees.
It's not made for kids to play in. So instead, Matilda, 11, goes to nearby St Anne's Park to skateboard with her friends.
She's not sure exactly what she'd like to see in the apartment block, she says, looking down at the concrete courtyard. "It would be nice to have a playground here. Maybe some swings."
The block where Matilda and her parents live in Clontarf was built in the early 2000s, and government policy today is to encourage compact city living, and apartments that are for families with kids as well as singles or those without.
Yet when it gets down to detail, many planning applications for big blocks of apartments seem to take little account of the needs of children.
Down the Line
It's council policy to promote "the optimum quality and supply of apartments for a range of needs and aspirations, including households with children", says the current city development plan.
New residential development should be flexible to allow for changing circumstances, it says, "and sufficiently spacious with all the necessary facilities to provide a level of residential amenity attractive to families with children on a long-term basis".
Children's recreational needs have to be considered as part of communal amenity space within apartment schemes, say the Department of Housing's design standards, which take precedence over the council's rules and which developers have to comply with.
Children play everywhere, and any private open space should take that into account, they say.
Schemes with 25 or more two-bed or bigger apartments should have play spaces of about 85–100 sqm for children under six, with equipment and seats, within sight of the apartment building, the guidelines say.
Schemes with 100 or more two-bed or bigger apartments should also have play areas of 200–400 sqm for older children and young teenagers, they also say.
For developments that are specifically build-to-rent, though, the guidelines give more flexibility as to how much amenity space has to be provided – and space for different arrangements to be agreed by the planning authority and the developer.
Among the more than 10,000 build-to-rent apartment blocks granted permission in the last three years are 225 homes on Hole in the Wall Road in Donaghmede, which were approved in July 2019.
Among the amenities noted in the An Bord Pleanála's inspector's report is a recreational space of 133 sqm, and a children's play space of 36 sqm, both in the basement.
"I have doubt about its use and value as a recreational space being a basement room without access to natural light, although access to daylight would not be a prerequisite to accommodate the snooker and table tennis facilities indicated," said the inspector in his report.
"I consider it wholly unacceptable as a children's play area and not to be in accordance with the provisions for children's play" under the department guidelines, he wrote.
"In this regard, the scheme does not cater for the needs of children's play, including for older children and teenagers in terms of external space," says the report.
The inspector recommended that the appeal and planning application be granted but suggested a condition that before the developer start work, they submit to the council "full details and drawings of proposals for the appropriate provision of children's play facilities for children of all ages" – in line with the design standards for new apartments.
"To provide for an adequate standard of development in the interest of residential amenity for future residents," was the reason given.
In the end, An Bord Pleanála rejected the appeal – which meant that the application was granted under the original conditions set out by Dublin City Council, which didn't include any mention of extra considerations around play areas.
Dublin City Council didn't respond to queries sent Thursday as to whether or not any conditions around play were taken into account when granting permission for the application.
In November 2018, Midgard Construction Limited was also granted permission for a build-to-rent complex of 172 homes within Chapelizod, which included, alongside other amenity space, a children's play area in the basement of 29 sqm.
Dublin City Council granted permission for that, but noted in its grant that the general amenity area should be bigger, and the play area should be "more functional" and "provide for natural daylight and direct outdoor access for the whole area".
Midgard Construction Limited haven't responded to queries about the developments.
A Space to Play
In February, Matilda Stanley was chalking out a hopscotch grid on the ground close to her family's apartment in the Clontarf complex.
Her dad, Karl Stanley, popped his head outside to check on her, he says. "I saw my daughter, in tears, washing the paved area outside the block."
The complex's caretaker had told her to scrub it off, she says. "Cus it looked kind of messy," says Matilda.
"In his opinion," says Stanley.
Says Matilda: "I thought it was good."
Meanwhile, last October, the property managers in the complex where Catherine Legras lives in Kilmainham sent out a newsletter, asking if residents could take her children away from the apartments during the day to play.
"The noise levels from the children playing has reached an extremely loud level," says the newsletter. "We all have to understand that a majority of residents are working from home."
Legras has a day job and can't take her kids to nearby playgrounds during the day. "It was quite a strange request," she says.
She says that she has told her children, aged seven and nine, that they have to be quieter when playing with the handful of kids in the block. "But we've never forbidden them from playing. It's the only thing they have."
"I think it's very hard for kids to hear that neighbours are not happy with them, that they're not allowed to play," she said.
Design or Rules
Legras says she thinks her apartment block is a nice environment for kids. They play games on a grassy hill that slopes towards the Camac River and hide-and-seek around the four buildings.
"I think nowadays, we wouldn't have this garden. You could easily build another block," she says.
She wouldn't add a playground as there are some nearby, she says. As long as her kids can use the garden, it's enough for them, she says, even if it wasn't necessarily intended for kids.
Legras says it's more the rules she takes issue with. Apartment rules should take everybody into account and their situations, she says.
Before the pandemic, Legras hadn't heard complaints about children playing on the grassy hill, she says.
For Stanley and his family in Clontarf, both the apartment rules and the design of the complex seem hostile to children.
There's no explicit rule against drawing with chalk, says Stanley. But house rules say residents have to make sure the common areas are kept clean and tidy.
"It's an absolute mystery to me why a child's need and right to play has to come second to some desire for tidiness," says Stanley.
"You'd have to be a pretty miserable human being to see a little kid drawing on the ground and think, 'This needs to stop'," he says.
The property managers didn't respond to queries about the incident.
Since she was told to scrub up the chalk, Matilda hasn't really played out in the apartment block. Not many kids do, says Kali Dunne, Matilda's mother.
Nobody spends time in the social areas even though hundreds of people live in the complex, says Dunne. "There's not really much to do. There's no benches, there's nowhere to play or sit. No playground."
Dunne says the layout of the complex seems designed to stop socialising and meeting neighbours, says Dunne.
"It's hard to run into people," she says, because people go straight to the underground car park, and the entrances to the apartments aren't close to one another.
The family used to live in London in a block where kids played freely and residents could barbecue – which is also against the rules here, says Stanley.
Children have a right to play, says Stanley. "I grew up in Dublin, and then it was totally normal to play out on the road. You can't do that anymore, there's too many cars, it's too dangerous."
The Department of Housing's current apartment guidelines say that the noise that play areas – particularly play areas in central courtyards – can generate, can "diminish residential amenity", and this should be considered by designers.
It Could Be Different
Children need to play outdoors, says John McLaughlin, a Dublin architect and former director of architecture with the Dublin Docklands Authority.
"In order to develop they need to be able to test themselves, test their muscles, test their ability to climb, to slide, to fall," he says.
"Where are they going to do that? If it's going to be feasible for people to live in cities, we have to provide these things for people," he says.
The needs of kids aren't always considered by developers, says McLaughlin. They have to consider how many kids will live there, and what different age groups need.
Supervision for young kids, and distance from adults for teenagers, he says. "It's complex to cater for everybody."
Some large developments might be able to provide lots of different types of play areas for kids, but for others, they need to be available in the neighbourhood, he says.
Eoin Carroll, policy and communications manager for Co-operative Housing Ireland, said that playgrounds should be outside of apartment developments rather than inside, in order to ensure longevity.
Young children's playgrounds could start being used by teenagers if there aren't younger children moving into the apartment complexes, he says, which could be solved if the playground is public.
Private spaces aren't conducive to community, he says. Planning applications should instead offer to pay for a public area that would be managed by local authorities, he says, in order to avoid issues around indemnity insurance.
On Grand Canal Dock, Michael Ingle says his apartment block is perfect for accommodating kids to play.
His two children play frequently with a group of six other kids in the courtyard, he says."They've grown up together."
The playground in the private courtyard has a slide, a climbing frame, a roundabout, swings. It's beside offices at the end of the courtyard, away from the apartments.
The kids play chasing, tag and scoot on rollerblades and scooters all around the courtyard, and there's space to kick a ball around, he says.
McLaughlin says the apartments in Grand Canal Dock were required to have provisions for children's play areas by the Dublin Docklands Authority, which addressed the different scales of developments.
"I'm grateful. It's safe and secure," says Ingle. "I don't know what they're doing out there most of the time."
However, some neighbours have occasionally complained about the noise of the playing, says Ingle, especially since the start of the pandemic.
"I can understand why they would be bothered. Perhaps I would be bothered if I didn't have kids," he says. "But it's communal living. You have to put up with things you might not like."
Playgrounds benefit everyone in the apartment block, says McLaughlin. "The adults can get to know each other as well. It's not just the children who make friends – everybody makes friends."
If apartments are being designed with kids in mind, then conflicts about noise can be anticipated, he says.
Studies show that social distance is reduced due to children meeting in playgrounds and school, he says.
"It's like the same thing that people stop and talk to each other about their dogs or something," he says. "It's one of the things that bring people together."


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Going all out for Halloween can be fun. You spend weeks putting together an outfit. You plan an iconic Halloween party and send out invitations to everyone you've ever met. You hire a caterer and buy the most extravagant decorations. But as much fun as going all out for Halloween is, sometimes you just want to keep things low-key. Instead of hosting a party with a hundred people, you only invite a few of your closest friends. Instead of getting the party catered, you stick to a couple of bags of chips and candy. And instead of buying an expensive costume, you put something together at the last minute. Having a low-key Halloween party can be just as much fun as having an extravagant one. You just have to do it right. So if you're thinking of keeping things simple this year, check out these 4 ideas for a low-key Halloween party:
1. Have a Movie Marathon
Sometimes the best type of party is just inviting a couple of your closest friends over and binge-watching movies in your pajamas. And there's no better way to celebrate Halloween than watching scary movies, am I right? If you want to keep things low-key this year, a movie marathon is a great option. Get some popcorn and candy and tell everyone to wear a onesie costume. A movie marathon is also a good idea for a Halloween date night with your boo.
2. Spooky Dinner Party
A dinner party is another great option for those who love to cook but want to keep this casual this Halloween. Invite your closest friends for a spooky dinner party that they will never forget. A dinner party is easy to put together but is still a ton of fun. All you need to do is think of some spooky recipes to make and you'll be good to go. You can even serve the food in a cauldron if you're feeling extra eerie.
3. Make Bloody Mary's
Drinking a Bloody Mary on Halloween just makes so much sense. If you're looking to celebrate Halloween during the day this year, invite a couple of your friends over for a memorable brunch with endless Bloody Marys. Making a Bloody Mary is quite simple. All you need is tomato juice, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, and horseradish. Or you can just use a mix to keep things extra simple. You can also do a Bloody Mary bar and have your guests garnish their drinks with their favorite toppings. Nothing says low-key Halloween more than sipping on Bloody Marys with your besties.
4. Have a Costume Contest
Just because you're keeping this low-key this year doesn't mean you can't still dress up. Dressing up is an absolute necessity for Halloween, and one of the best ways to celebrate is with a costume contest. Just invite a couple of your friends over and make sure everyone comes in costume. Having a costume contest is a fun way to get in the Halloween spirit without having to plan an entire party. The best-dressed person will take home extra candy.
Halloween is a time to dress up in a costume, eat lots of candy, and spend time with your friends. But just because it's Halloween doesn't mean you have to go all out. You can have just as much fun while keeping things low-key. Any of these ideas are great ways to celebrate Halloween with a simple party. At the end of the day, if you're surrounded by people you love, you will have fun anywhere. And as long as you have lots of candy, too, of course.

subset: commoncrawl


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Archbishop Éric de Moulins-Beaufort, president of the Catholic bishops' conference in France (CEF), has defended the Church's compliance with state-mandated closings of places of worship to stop the spread of coronavirus, saying it did not surrender its religious freedom by doing so.
"The freedom of the Church (...) does not encourage the Church of Christ to claim privileges for itself," he said at the close of the CEF plenary assembly, which was held from June 8-10 via video conference.
"It is above all the claim of the freedom to live the love of God and the love of neighbor, to serve every human being, whatever their social condition, to choose chastity or conjugal fidelity, to prefer poverty to wealth, to strive to transmute the exercise of authority into service to the lives of others," the 58-year-old Archbishop of Rheims said.
This was a unique assembly for the 120 bishops of France. Their spring session was originally scheduled for March 31 to April 3 at their conference headquarters in the Marian shrine city of Lourdes. But it had to be postponed because of the COVID-19 crisis.
However, they held a daylong emergency session on April 24 to discuss the lockdown, which proved to be a test run with video conferencing.
During that meeting, the bishops discussed how they would be able to resume "not only liturgical ceremonies, but also the catechetical and charitable activities of the Church".
It is now clear that more time will be needed before everything can return to the way it was before. Thus, it was necessary to hold this week's plenary assembly before the beginning of summer.
Spiritual intensity during lockdown
The bishops held three days of discussions.
And Archbishop de Moulins-Beaufort began his closing speech by returning to the relationship between Church and State.
He had already elaborated on the issue in an extraordinary book-length open letter addressed to President Emmanuel Macron, Le matin, sème ton grain (Bayard/Mame/Cerf).
"The freedom of the Church is not the concern of political leaders in a regime of separation and it is easily forgotten. But the principle remains… and the Council of State remembered this," insisted the CEF president.
"The State is within its rights when it enacts health rules; it goes beyond its role when it seeks to determine how citizens shall implement these rules in the organization of their religious faith and the worship associated with it," he said.
The bishops spent much of their assembly discussing the COVID-19 pandemic and the lockdown.
They were also keen to underline the creativity and commitment of many Catholics during this long period, the meaning of which must be understood today.
"Lockdown has made it possible to live, or has forced us to live, these periods in their spiritual intensity. The efforts undertaken helped us experience the lockdown not as isolation, but as the opening of heart and mind towards others," Archbishop de Moulins-Beaufort said.
Communion and Charity
The CEF president acknowledged that some Catholics grew impatient and were anxious to physically gather together again for Eucharistic celebrations.
"What do we seek in sacramental communion, or rather what do we receive in it? Can it be dissociated from the 'sacrament of our brother or sister'?" he asked.
"The ardent desire for sacramental communion finds its full truth only by nourishing the charity that builds up the Body of Christ," the archbishop said.
As an example, he noted Archbishop Jean-Marc Aveline's report to the plenary assembly on charitable efforts by the Archdiocese of Marseille to assist the most vulnerable during the health crisis.
But Catholics are not the only ones who have stepped up, the CEF president pointed out. He paid special tribute to nurses and other healthcare workers.
"Those who have given of themselves in this way will perhaps, we hope, receive concrete signs of social recognition, whether through a new organization of hospitals or through salary increases," he said.
The archbishop invited parishes and dioceses to look back over the last few months and see what lessons can be learned from the lockdown. He said the bishops had already begun to address very concrete issues during their plenary, such as Church finances.
"Taking stock of the economic situation of our dioceses had been planned for a long time, but the health crisis and the economic crisis that accompanies it have made it even more necessary," he warned.
"Inter-diocesan solidarity is already exercised through a number of mechanisms. It will have to be intensified," he insisted.
The scourge of sexual abuse, a fluorescent light
During their June 8-10 virtual meeting the French bishops continued to look at the scourge of clergy sex abuse, an issue that has been a recurring theme in the last several assemblies.
"The revelation of these misdeeds has been a fluorescent light that has allowed us -- as bishops and with all the baptized -- to free ourselves from certain illusions; to be ever more clear on possible perversions of power, especially of a power recognized as 'sacred'; and to be more demanding with ourselves so that our personal behavior and our institutional functioning are truly inhabited and renewed by the charity of Christ," said Archbishop de Moulins-Beaufort.
The issue of abuse and the protection of minors will be studied at greater length during the next assembly in autumn when four separate working groups will present reports.
"We have decided to look theologically and spiritually at the mystery of iniquity," the president of the French bishop said, "and how it is possible that a tree bearing apparent good fruits can have a perverse root and produce even more bad fruits that are hidden."


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Irvine's Egg Salad Sandwich2014-12-16
- Cuisine: Good For Kids, Quick & Easy
- Course: Snack
- Skill Level: Easy
Recipe Info
- Servings : 2
- Prep Time : 10m
- Cook Time : 10m
- Ready In : 20m
Hard-boiled eggs. They're tasty, portable, and packed with great nutrition – what's not to love?
- 4 hard-boiled Irvine's Eggs, peeled and chopped
- 3 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 4 tablespoons celery, chopped
- 2 tablespoons onion, chopped
- Curry powder, to taste
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 4 lettuce leaves
- 2 carrots, grated
- 2 tablespoons chives, chopped
- 2 ciabatta rolls, split and buttered
Step 1
Mash up the chopped egg with a fork. Mix together egg, mayonnaise, celery and onion. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and curry powder to taste. Mix with a spoon.
Step 2
Make the sandwiches. Put a layer of lettuce on one slice of ciabatta, add some grated carrot, spread the egg mixture on top of the carrots and sprinkle with chives. Put the other ciabatta lid on top. Repeat for second sandwich.
Step 3
TO MAKE HARD-BOILED EGGS: Gently place the eggs in a deep, medium saucepan and fill it will cold water. Make sure the eggs are in a single layer, and at least 1 inch below the surface of the water. Add a half teaspoon of vinegar and salt to the water. Cover the pan and bring the water to the boil. As soon as the water begins to boil, remove the pan from heat and let it sit, covered, for 12 minutes. Drain the water from the pan, add cold water to cool the eggs and then peel them.


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What are the main Benefits Of buying Instagram followers
If you own a big brand or even a product line, you could potentially gain a massive amount of followers on Instagram without really doing anything special. The reason why this works so well is simple people love to be a trendsetter on their cell phones. Today this is all due to Instagram. With over 30 billion pictures viewed each day and seemingly growing, people love to be the next trendsetter on Instagram.
So if you own a big brand or an online business perhaps you are wondering how to earn money from a large Instagram audience. The answer is quite simple. You must create a brand or website account and then promote it on Instagram, to earn money from your followers. To do this right though, you need to make sure that you choose your Instagram audience wisely. You wouldn't want to market your business to an audience that would never buy anything from you, so you need to focus on the right audience niche audiences.
A good place to start is to look at the users that are most likely to purchase products from your brand. This way, not only will you target a specific type of audience, but you will also increase the chances of people purchasing your products. There are many people on Instagram that are both users and influencers, which makes it easy for you to find new, potential customers.
Another benefit of Instagram is that the platform allows you to interact with other users. For example, if you get followers who are the younger generation and they want to buy something off of you, then you can use Instagram to let them know about the deal. Also, the younger generation loves to post funny content, videos, and pictures, which can help you get followers as well. So not only can you promote your business using Instagram, but you can also interact with new customers and grow your brand at the same time.
Finally, the biggest benefit of Instagram is that it allows you to promote several different products, which can give you a huge amount of opportunity. If you plan on promoting more than one product, then you need to think about using Instagram hashtags. The reason why hashtags are beneficial is that it allows you to create valuable relationships with users on the platform that cares about what you are selling or promoting.
The big benefit of buying followers on Instagram is that there are a huge number of potential customers out there, which makes it easier to target an audience of buyers. The problem is that you don't want to promote more than you need. The problem is that there are some users on the platform who can be abusers when it comes to spamming others and this can hurt your business, so always be careful when selecting followers to target.


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Homeowners Guide to the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code
Please be advised that the following only serves as a guide for the PA UCC permit.
Many townships, boroughs and cities in Pennsylvania have amended the state's Uniform Construction Code (UCC) to impose additional, more restrictive requirements than those contained in the state law or the codes adopted by the UCC.
Each Municipality has been given a choice to opt in or opt out of administering and enforcing the UCC.
Each municipality that has and "opt in" to administer and enforce the UCC must have a designated Building Code Official.
Callery Borough is an opt in municipality. The Callery Borough Council by order of Ordinance 97 - AN ORDINANCE OF THE BOROUGH OF CALLERY, BUTLER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA, ADOPTING THE PROVISION OF THE UNIFORM CONSTRUCTION CODE PROVIDING FOR ITS ADMINISTRATION AND ENFORCEMENT ESTABLISHING A BOARD OF APPEALS adopted on November 1, 2004.
You must contact either the township office or the building code official to obtain
Information on whether the type of work you wish to perform requires a permit.
Permit applications.
Requirements for plans and construction documents required for the type of work you wish to
Permit fee schedules.
Inspection requirements.
Occupancy permits applications and requirements.
Please keep in mind that doing work regulated by the UCC without a permit will result in an enforcement action being taken against you by the municipality, and upon conviction, you may be subject to fines and penalties up to and including $1,000 per day of each violation.
Also, occupying a structure without a Certificate of Occupancy issued by the Building Code Official is a serious violation and will also result in enforcement action. Please do not occupy or begin using any structure without a Certificate of Occupancy!
If you fail to obtain permits, inspections and certificates of occupancy, it is very likely that you will have serious difficulties when you eventually try to sell your house or property, as all structures built since April 9, 2004 must have a legal certificate of occupancy.
By state law, you will need a permit, inspections and a certificate of occupancy for:
Any new house (one or two family dwelling)
Any addition to an existing house
Constructing a new one or more new stories on top of an existing house.
Increasing the perimeter of the existing house.
Installing a new manufactured home (HUD Code)
Installing a new modular home.
Relocating and installing a used manufactured home.
Any garage or carport that is attached to the house.
Any garage, carport, shed, or greenhouse that is not attached to a single family dwelling and is
1,000 square feet or larger (measuring the perimeter)
Any garage, carport, shed, or greenhouse that is not attached to a two family dwelling or
townhouse and is 120 square feet or larger (measuring the perimeter)
Enclosing a porch or patio.
Installing/building a sunroom or three season room.
Installing any deck that is more than 30" above ground level at any point around the perimeter of
the deck.
Installing any deck less than 30" above ground level if it has a roof/covering above it.
Installing an indoor or outdoor hot tub or spa
Constructing an in ground swimming pool (inside or outside).
Installing any swimming pool (including inflatable type) that has a water depth of 24' or more.
Installing a fence higher than 6'.
Installing any retaining wall higher than 4'.
Structural alterations to an existing dwelling unit (BCO will determine if the work you intend to
perform involves structural alterations).
Changes to an existing means of egress (exit door, stairs, handrails, guard systems, ramps).
Any portion of a dwelling or residential accessory structure that will be used for commercial
purposes (open to employees or the public). Examples include:
Professional offices
Business offices
Beauty shops, nail salons, barber shops.
Car or equipment repair.
Permits must be applied for and issued before any work may begin. All work performed on residential buildings and their accessory structures must comply with the most current edition of the International Residential Code, published by the International Code Council.
The Callery Borough Building Code Inspector is Professional Code Services. You can contact PCS by telephone at 724-449-2633 or visit their website
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Staining cabinets is a great way to give your kitchen cabinetry that deep hue aesthetic that makes it look much more impressive and expensive. If you want to turn that oak cabinet into cherry cabinets with a cherry wood finish, staining allows you to do it!
Kitchen cabinet staining is also very cheap and effective, making it a very popular way for homeowners to remodel their kitchen or get some pricey-looking kitchen cabinets on a budget. If you use the right color stain and equipment, it's easy to do it at home. On the other hand, if you wish to remove stubborn stains from wooden surfaces, you can read more about how to remove dark stains from wood here.
Why pay a pro if you can do it yourself?
Whether you're staining unfinished cabinets, coloring formerly-stained cabinet doors, or you just want to enhance the natural color of the wood, staining cabinets is an easy DIY project that turns boring cabinet boxes into vibrant focal points of your kitchen.
So, how do you stain kitchen cabinets?
Things You'll Need For This Project
Some of these things are optional or can be swapped out for everyday items you find in your work area or at the local hardware store.
There are multiple ways to stain cabinets, but this is what you need in most cases:
- Phillips screwdriver
- Sanding pad (or electric wood sander)
- Tack cloth
- Drip cloth (or newspaper)
- Wood scraps
- Foam brush
- 220-grit sandpaper (120-grit sandpaper optional)
- White cotton rags or old t-shirts
- Protective gloves
- Pre-Stain wood conditioner
- Painter's tape
- Wood Stain
- Wipe-on Polyurethane Top Coat
Everything on this list is pretty easy to find, but make sure you don't cheap out on the stains and top coats – you need to buy high-quality finishes if you want high-quality results.
How To Stain Wood Cabinets Yourself – 6 Steps
When it comes to DIY projects, this is one of the simplest projects with minimal prep work and some pretty fool-proof instructions.
Nonetheless, if you're not familiar with cabinetry and a woodworking project seems intimidating, consider getting help from an experienced friend or family member.
1. Prepare your cabinet surfaces
First things first, you need to do some basic prep work.
Unscrew the hinges and the fittings of the wood cabinets, using a system to make sure you know which cabinet door handle or hinge screw goes where. Some people use ziplock bags to separate their hardware, others use post-it notes to help them organize the cabinet door fittings.
If you see an adjustment screw that is used to adjust the height of cabinet shelves and doors, don't remove it – leave it be.
Once your wood cabinets are disassembled correctly, protect your home and work area with appropriate coverings. Drop cloths work great, but layers of an old newspaper can also be a cost-effective way to protect your home from dust and stains.
Find an area of your home that is suitable and well-ventilated – it's better to be safe than sorry!
2. Sand the surfaces with 220-grit sandpaper
It's not always necessary to sand your wood cabinets before staining, but it's generally a good idea. Sanding helps to clean the surface of the wood and make it slightly porous, helping stain color to sit in the wood grain more effectively. Read more on how to restain cabinets without sanding.
Using a sanding block and 220-grit sandpaper, sand the wood cabinets in the direction of the grain, helping to create a nice uniform appearance all around. Follow the direction of the grain for all the cabinets, going back over certain spots if necessary.
For this step, some people prefer to use 120-grit sandpaper for their first sanding and then go back over the wood with 220-grit sandpaper to really make the wood look perfect.
It's down to you.
Although we recommend using a manual sanding block for this step, plenty of homeowners will use an electric sander for this project, and that's 100% fine if you know what you're doing. Just make sure that the finish of the sanding is perfect, whichever way you do it.
Image credit: Kitchen Infinity Photo
3. Vacuum away sawdust & prepare for staining
After sanding, you're going to have a lot of stray sawdust from the wood. Use a "shop vacuum" to vacuum up any dust, and then use a tack cloth to get up the remaining dust without disturbing the cabinets too much.
If you're not familiar, a tack cloth is a special "sticky" cloth you can get from a hardware store – they're designed to pick up stray wood dust without damaging or scratching the surface of the wood you're working on.
You need to treat your cabinets with care!
Next, use some wood scraps of a similar size to prop the cabinet door up so it's not touching the drop cloth directly. This allows you to paint the top and the sides of the cabinet door easily. You could also use other objects such as large stones or unwanted small items of a similar size.
4. Apply wood conditioner with your cotton rags
Okay, now you need to cut your white cotton rags into 6-inch squares, or roughly around that size. If you've got an old white t-shirt, then cut that into 6-inch squares also. As long as you've got a small square of white cotton in your hand, then you're good to go.
Apply pre-stain wood conditioner to the rags, saturating them well. Most people ball up the rags to make the application easier.
Wipe down the cabinets with the conditioner, making sure you get it into all of the wood areas that will be stained. You don't have to be super-neat with the application, but make sure there is plenty of it and it is liberally applied.
Leave the conditioner for about 15-20 minutes (check the bottle for directions) and then wipe away any excess with a clean cotton rag. One coat will usually be enough, but feel free to apply a second coat if you think the wood needs more primer.
5. Apply wood stain in multiple coats
Using a foam brush, apply your wood stain color to the kitchen cabinets. Use painter's tape to mask off any areas of the wood that you don't want to get stained – there's no going back if you get stain color on an unwanted part of the cabinetry!
Apply the stain in the direction of the grain where possible, but you probably won't be able to tell as stains (especially oil-based stains) don't really leave brushstrokes behind. This is why it's so great for a DIY project like this.
Once the stain is applied, let it sit for around 5 minutes and then wipe away the excess stain using a cotton rag. You can leave the stain for longer than 5 minutes if you want, but the longer you leave it on, the darker the wood will get.
Be careful!
Generally speaking, it's a good idea to apply a few coats of stain and then see whether the wood color is dark enough after 5 minutes for each coat. This way, you can slowly darken the wood without going overboard and making the cabinets darker than you intended.
When your cabinets reach the right shade of color, remove the excess stain using a cotton rag and allow the wood to dry for 4-5 hours on average. Once the wood is dry, flip it over so you can stain the other side easily.
6. Use polyurethane for the perfect stain finish
Finally, it's time to use a finish to complete the look.
Take one of your white cotton rags and soak it in a wipe-on polyurethane finish product. Wipe the finish directly onto the stained surface, getting into all the little nooks and crannies of the wood design so the whole piece is completely saturated.
After finishing, lightly sand the wood with 220-grit sandpaper. Repeat this process around 3-4 times until the wood looks how you want it to. However, after applying the final coat, leave the wood as it is.
This is how you get the best result.
When you're done applying coats of finish, make sure that you allow the wood to dry according to the directions on the bottle. Some finishes dry more quickly than others, so it's important to know what type of finish you're working with (oil-based, water-based, etc.)
What is the Best Stain to Use On Kitchen Cabinets?
There are so many different stains and finishes you can use on your wooden cabinets, but how are they all different and what do they mean? Which stain should you buy for your cabinets?
Here we explain the basic difference between different stains you can use for this woodworking project.
Oil-based Stain
Oil-based stain is the most widely available stain product you're going to find. Very popular with DIY homeowners, oil stain is normally based in linseed oil.
This type of wood stain is easy to remove, which makes it perfect for a DIY project where you're not familiar with the overall process and mistakes can easily happen.
Oil-based stain should only be used with an oil-based finish, otherwise the 2 bases of the stain and finish can mix in unexpected ways that will ruin the facade of the cabinets.
Varnish Stain
Varnish stain dries hard, making it difficult to use if you're not a total pro at home DIY work.
This type of stain will show brush strokes and subtle markings if you don't apply it properly, so it's normally best left to a professional.
Varnish stain is very hard to remove once it's on the wood, so make sure you choose a color and finish that you really like!
Water-based Stain
Water-based stain is best used to stain cabinets that are also treated with a water-based polyurethane finish. As you probably know, oil and water don't mix well, so always match your stain type to your finish type.
As you'd expect, these stains dry fast, so they're best used by experienced people who know how to go about dealing with fast-drying stains.
The water evaporates away quickly!
You can get water-based products that use special slow evaporating solvents to lengthen the drying time, but you're best sticking to oil-based if you're new to this.
Gel Stain
When it comes to wood finishes, gel stain isn't the most popular product for sure.
However, if you're working with woods like pine that are prone to blotching and areas of discoloration where the color doesn't absorb into the wood properly, then gel stains are a brilliant tool to help.
The consistency of gel stain means that it sinks into the wood nice and evenly – this could make gel stains a good option for homeowners with limited DIY project experience.
Lacquer Stain
One of the least popular options, lacquer is VERY fast drying.
In fact, it's usually used by professionals in teams of 2 – one applies the lacquer while another goes behind them wiping the lacquer away very quickly.
As well as being very fast-drying, lacquer also has a very strong smell that requires lots of airflow and ventilation to disperse.
In most scenarios, you shouldn't mess with lacquer stains unless you're a pro or you're very experienced in DIY and you have a second person who can help you with the process.
How Long Does the Staining Process Take?
From start to finish, staining cabinet doors and frames will take around 15-18 hours including the preparation work, the process, and the drying time.
Generally speaking, you should allow for at least 24 hours in total. Remember that for cabinet doors, you need to allow one side to dry for 4-5 hours before flipping it over and staining the other side of the door.
Depending on your situation, it could take 1-2 days to fully prep, stain, and dry your kitchen cabinets.
Can You Stain Cabinets Without Sanding?
You can indeed stain cabinets without sanding them first, though the cabinetry needs to be in very good condition. If there are nicks, scratches, or dents in the wood, then staining them without sanding is a very bad idea.
If you're using gel-based stains, you might be able to avoid the sanding step here too. This is because gel-based stain color tends to soak into the wood very effectively despite different densities in the wood, so it's easier to make it look good with a prior sand.
Can You Stain Over Already Stained Wood?
Yes, you can stain over wooden pieces that are already stained.
Ideally, you should sand the stained wood surfaces first, treating them as though they're a raw piece of unfinished cabinetry.
Mixing two stain colors together (old and new) can actually be a great way to create an interesting unique color that creates a cool look for your project.
Is it Better to Stain Or Paint Cabinets?
Generally speaking, it's better to stain cabinets than it is to paint them.
This is because stained cabinets won't generally show scuffs, dents, and scratches once they've been bumped around in your kitchen for a few years.
On the other hand, painted cabinets can easily get scuffed and damaged over time, with paint chipping off to reveal the wood color underneath.
As well as being more durable than painted cabinets, stained cabinets are also much easier to create for beginners as a DIY project – you can make them look professional without needing a ton of experience or skill.
What Is the Most Durable Finish For Kitchen Cabinets?
Okay, so we've mentioned polyurethane topcoat finishes, but which one should you use?
There are many different finishes on the market depending on the effect you're going for and how much you're used to working with wood.
Here's the basic difference between the types:
Wipe-on Polyurethane
This topcoat is thinned with mineral spirits, so it tends to have a much runnier consistency than other topcoats in its class.
Usually, you'll want 3-4 coats of wipe-on polyurethane, wiping the product onto the cabinets with a cloth or cotton rag as the name suggests.
Wipe-on polyurethane is great for beginners because there are no obvious brush strokes or drips when applying the product, so you can do it pretty messily and no one will probably be able to tell.
Brush-on Polyurethane
As the name suggests, brush-on polyurethane requires a brush to apply it to cabinets, making it more difficult for beginners.
If you apply this type of topcoat poorly, you will be able to see stray brush strokes and drips much more easily.
As such, it's best left to experienced painters and DIY enthusiasts.
However, only 2 coats of brush-on polyurethane are required for your cabinets, so this overall process can be much quicker if you're skilled enough to apply this topcoat properly.
Satin vs Glossy Finish
You can get polyurethane topcoats in both Satin and Glossy finishes, depending on the look you're going for.
Satin-finished cabinets will have a more subdued and subtle shine to them, while glossy-finished cabinets will be much shinier and more noticeable in the room.
Depending on the room you're working with, your cabinets doors could suit either satin or glossy polyurethane. Ask an interior designer if you're not sure which one to go with for the aesthetic.
The Bottom Line – Is It Hard to Stain Cabinets?
It's not hard to stain cabinets if you know what you're doing!
Hopefully this guide has shown you that staining cabinets is a cheap and effective way to get a cool look for old cabinets or unfinished wooden cabinets in your home.
Compared to painting, staining your cabinets is actually pretty easy for a homeowner with no experience, hence the reason why staining your own cabinets is so popular with budget-conscious people. Staining your kitchen cabinets will transform your kitchen cabinets completely and add character to your kitchen.
Whether your stain your own cabinets or get them colored professionally, we hope you end up with the cabinets of your dreams that fill your home with charm and character. Good luck!


text: The crucial six inches. Do you ever question your perceptions? July 11, 2016 News Is it the most crucial six inches in any organisation? I refer to the six inches we put between ourselves and our perceptions. What do I mean? Our brain is producing perceptions all the time; it's what it does. The trouble is, most of our perceptions are only partially true; and many, are not true at all! Yet we believe them; we trust our perceptions to be telling us the truth about a person or a situation. And so we act on them with sometimes unfortunate consequences. 'I'm trying to make things better – but they're just getting worse!' The fact is, most of our perceptions are about as reliable as a drunk on a Saturday night; and it's a good day when we find the humility to realise that. If we can put six inches between ourselves and our perceptions – just a brief moment, a simple pause – we give ourselves space to reflect, to look at what's happening inside us. 'This is my perception. But is it the whole truth? Is it helpful?' No perception of mine has ever survived that simple questioning; and it's the difference between reacting to a situation, which inflames it… and responding, which brings a sense of holding and calm. Good managers respond, because they put a life-giving six inches between themselves and their perceptions. Aspire to three pauses in your day, in which, on each occasion, you notice a perception…and question it.


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Happy Thursday and welcome to another edition of From the Vault! In this blog series, I'm digging deep into my vault of patterns to find oldies but goodies to update with more recent fabric collections of mine.
Today, I'm bringing out Fresh Laundry. I love the vintage look of this quilt, especially when sewn up in soft colors. The original version was made with Fig & Plum, an early collection of mine that featured a softer color palette of dusty mauve, persimmon, stone, pear, and pond.
(The pattern also featured a second colorway using just the pond, pear, and cream prints for a soft and sweet wintry version.)
Later, we did a two-color red and white version for the Red & White Charity Quilt Show.
And a few years ago, Fresh Laundry was the featured pattern for my annual Vintage Halloween limited edition kit.
OK, so I guess I keep coming back to this pattern! Clearly it is a classic that stands the test of time. But I figured it was due for another refresh—only this time, in a brighter and more colorful palette, using Figs & Shirtings!
What a difference the color palette makes, right? Figs & Shirtings has cheerful vintage colors and prints that really shine in this updated version of Fresh Laundry.
I can just imagine this quilt hanging on a clothesline in the sun!
As you know, I love seasonal quilts as much as scrappy colorful quilts…and since I already knew that Fresh Laundry looks great as a Figgy Halloween quilt, I had to see how it would look as a Figgy patriotic quilt too!
I pulled out the red and blue prints from Catalina for this cheerful patriotic version. Catalina has a great range of blues, from deep royal to soft seaglass, and I wanted to put them all together for this one.
I can't decide which version I love more…so I will probably have to make both!
Giving Fresh Laundry these new colorways reminds me just how versatile this pattern is. I hope you're inspired to make your own version of this classic pattern!
You can find the PDF version of Fresh Laundry HERE and the paper version HERE.
Thanks for stopping by my blog today! I'll be back next time with a new take on another pattern from the Fig Tree vault.
This week's designer is Brigitte Heitland of Zen Chic and her block is…September 27, 2023
This cute ACORN GARLAND AND COASTER SET pattern was something I created for Moda Fabrics…September 25, 2023
These look awesome in both new colorways! I thought I liked the Figs & Shirtings version a lot…. but then the patriotic one brought fireworks on a summer night to mind…. hmmmm… I can't decide which one to make now either? lol!
The choice is hard!! 🙂
Hi Joanna,
I'm looking for backing for my Red & Cream BOM, I did't see anything in your shop. I appreciate your assistance.
Thank you very much. Have a great week.
Deb Belcourt
All we have is in the shop right now. Thanks,
Ні there! Thiss is mmy first comment here so I just
wanted to give a quick shout out and say I truly ennjoy reading youyr articles.
Can you suggest any other blogs/ԝebsites/forums that cover thе same topiсѕ?
Thanks ɑ lot!
Also vvisit my page … AWL settlement
I see how I want to use the rest of my Catalina! I hope I have enough of the all those great blues 😀
Thank you for the creativity and revisiting of older patterns with current fabric lines! Keeps my head buzzing, lol!


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The Effect of Illegal Immigration
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Immigrating actually means the act of non-native people moving to a new place to settle there, but illegal immigration is the act of living in a country without the country government permission and Lack of documentation is what makes illegal immigration illegal. Immigration has been in existence for a very long time. In the past few years immigration has brought new people from other parts of the world to the Unite State of America. These waves have been comprised of Western Europeans, Central Americans, Asians, Africans and other ethnic groups as well. The causes of immigration are varied and personal; the effects are still being debated and studied. Illegal immigration has been a problem for United States for a long time. This phenomenon is not new and thousands of illegal immigrants have come into US through either the Mexico border, the Pacific Ocean, or through many other ways.
Some people have entered the country legally through a visit visa, but decided to stay illegally, working in various places. This paper will explain some facts pertinent to effect of illegal immigration in the United States. Furthermore, illegal immigration has various effects on economy of America because illegal immigrants work less than average American citizen. For that reason, illegal immigrants are favored by business owners instead of hiring American citizen to do the same work. And the reason is that, illegal immigrants don't have to pay tax and their employers also do not pay their taxes, so the minimum wages law does not apply to them. Also, the illegal immigrants will do any job that they can find, because they do not have the education to do any high paying jobs. They have caused large effects on the United States, both economically and socially.
These effects can be considered positive or negative, depending on the view point of the individual. States with high population of immigrant are experiencing an economic drain on social services that are funded by tax-payer. Services which include low-cost health insurance or Medicaid, low income housing, and food stamps. Also, another problem is identity theft. This is not a problem that gets much attention in relation to illegal immigration, but the reality is that thousands of false social security cards, birth certificates, any documentation that can be used for identification is used; causing great hardship to the person whose identity is used. "Most often the working poor and Latino middle class are the victims, simply because U.S. Latinos have the same surnames and are easier to assume. There is also an underground industry printing some form of ID in just about every major city particularly in the southwest.
Many social security cards are printed with the illegal immigrant's real name with random social security numbers. Various government laws were broken. The reality is that many illegal immigrants with fake social security cards are working in different organization such as state jobs, public school systems, fast food industry, construction, building trades restaurant and hotel industry, college, universities and factories etc."(Benavidez, 2011).The illegal migrant laborers are subject to unfair wages and dangerous work conditions. Since they are not citizens, there is no authoritative body to advocate for their respective rights, which are essentially non-existent due to their illegal status. Any complaints on the part of illegal migrant workers regarding an employer's refusal to pay or an injury sustained on the job site can be quickly extinguished by a mere threat.
A simple threat to alert the authorities, potentially resulting in deportation, and as a result, it become an element of domination over illegal immigrants. Moreover, Due to overactive gang-related violence that takes place in the border of the United States and Mexico, which is subjected to dangerous and illegal activity such as smuggling of drugs, illegal funds, and human trafficking crossing the border on a daily basis they have full access to the United States. Since no security measures exists that demand a presentation of documentation upon entering the United States, no accounting for the quality of character, history, or crime records exist. Not only are illegal immigrants subject to gang violence and rampant human rights violations, but the presence of gang activity places American citizens in danger, as well.
Furthermore, the most common ways illegal immigrant enter the United States is by crossing ocean often a homemade boat or even a tube, some fly from their home country, they may illicit the assistance of a smuggler to help them attempt to illegally cross the border into the United States .they also try to cross the border into the United States by cramming into shipping containers and trucks, pay off corrupt authority figures to gain entry even though it often involve grave risk. Many illegal immigrants have fallen victim to drowning, exhaustion, and death due to natural conditions, such as expansive deserts and large bodies of water. So due to this entire act it is now becoming even more difficult to cross the border both for the citizens and legal immigrant. Due to the over growing population of illegal immigrant in the United States the citizens who are soldiers who have taken the responsibility of guarding the border of the United States have being hurt and killed.
According to the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service, the total number of illegal immigrant in America increases by 275,000 annually" (Hayes 2000). United States is host to an illegal population of whom the vast majority are Mexican or Hispanic in origin. These illegal and uninvited guests help themselves to jobs, education, welfare and unemployment compensation. Many whose wages are paid under the table pay. And they are easy prey for unscrupulous employers and politicians. Many undocumented immigrants can live their entire lives in the United States without being detected, provided they avoid any legal troubles. "It is estimated that over 11 million undocumented immigrants are currently living in the United States" (Howell 2006). There are many reasons to examine the nation's immigrant population and evaluation of the effects of immigration policy.
Also, the U.S. population primarily is growing as a result of births in the minority and immigrant communities. We do not like to think about it as it is a political correctness problem but there is stratification of labor, mostly along education lines, where the tough jobs in agriculture, manufacturing, and services are taken by those without recourse into the white-collar world of employment. Especially when these low paying jobs do not require language ability, immigrants historically have jumped at these opportunities as a way to get their foot in the door. The U.S.-born unemployed do not think first about having just any job to help plant their feet. They first think about what their wages will be. If you are here illegally, you clearly have a competitive advantage. Most of the Americans and the American officials are of the opinion that illegal immigration is bad for the country and it should be stopped completely.
"The immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA) implement a law that, in order to work in the United State the workers must complete an I-9 form and must be able to prove their authorization to work in the United States to their employers" (Howell 2006). When the illegal immigrants enter America, they do so without any papers or any authorization. This means that there is no record of where they came from or what sort of a background they have. They might be infected with a million diseases, such as polio, tuberculosis, etc. These diseases can spread and cause a lot of problems for the American citizens. On the other hand the immigrants are usually skilled labor and they help increase the local production of the United States, also when the businesses pay them lower than minimum wage, their costs go down, which means that the costs of production as well as the prices goes down, and these help the citizens of the United States.
The immigrants tend to send their US dollars outside America to their families, and this strengthens the value of the dollar, making it more valuable, thereby making the economy of US stronger. But Illegal immigrant is taking its toll on all aspects of their environment; they must be curved in order to save the United States wildlife and natural resources effectively. This controversial subject is applied to all Americans, which can happen in anyone's back yard. The illegal immigration epidemic is a growing problem in the United States and without additional awareness to this problem the environment and the natural wildlife could be permanently damaged or endangered with irreversible consequences. Fullinwider Robert once said "A nation without borders is not a nation." (Fullinwider 2005) In conclusion, with a depleted economy and a recession, today's labor market has become especially challenging.
The unemployment rate has risen, it now takes longer to find a job, workers either have ceased looking for work or accepted part-time jobs instead of the full-time jobs they were accustomed to .The immigration reforms are a good practice for both the immigrants, and more importantly, for the US. The illegal immigrants pose many problems for United State and they should not be allowed to enter in the first place. But since it is very hard to implement total security, steps should be taken to reduce the illegal immigrant inflow into United States and the first step is to implement and continue to emphasize on immigration reform. By staying in the US, they are spending each second doing an illegal act, just as their presence inside the US borders is an illegal act, so I don't believe they should be given a chance to live in America. Because the biggest issues facing America today is the alarming number of illegal immigrants living in the United States of America. They moved to America, worked in America, built their homes in America, and become American citizens through illegal process.
Benavidez, W. (2011). The negative effects of rampant illegal immigration into the United States. Fullinwider, Robert, (2005). "Affirmative Action", The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Spring 2005 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.),
Hayes, Ted, (September 25, 2000). "Illegal Immigration Threatens U.S. Sovereignty, Economy
And Culture," Insight on the News, 16, (36): 46
Howell, Llewellyn d. (July 2006). "Ironies of Illegal Immigration," USA Today, 135, (2734): 19


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Are you interested in contributing to a more sustainable world? Then your skills and experiences can find expression in the Green Industry. There are many routes to finding work in the gr[..]Read More ›
The African Leadership Institute is currently on a mission to raise successful business leaders in Africa who can solve complex problems, create jobs, and establish value for their stakeho[..]Read More ›
United States International University-Africa (USIU-Africa) has partnered with the Mastercard Foundation in its global Scholars Program. This initiative will offer academically talented yout[..]Read More ›
In the first part of the program, the degree of maturity of the startup in terms of collaboration will be checked. How far is the product development? What still must be done to develop a ma[..]Read More ›
About The coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic and worldwide lockdowns in 2020 has added another layer of complexity to the ongoing climate crisis. The Open University Business and Law Scho[..]Read More ›
UNDP, under the auspices of the "Plastic Waste Recovery for a Circular Green Economy in Ghana" project with funding from the Coca-Cola Foundation (TCCF) is launching the 2nd edition of [..]Read More ›
Unicaf offers one of the most generous scholarship programmes available today. With the financial support of Unicaf Scholarships and by utilising the Unicaf state-of-the-art digital learning[..]Read More ›


text:
We'll the first to admit it...not all dog apparel fits all dogs. The designs of Arf-Arf Bebe, as with those of most manufacturers, cater to specific breeds and body types. Most of the time the choices we make in sizing works well but not always. For those unique pooches, do not fear, Apparel Customization from Arf-Arf Bebe is here!
The process is simple
- Provide your dogs custom dimensions
- We send you a quick fitting for your review.
- You can approve the sample or request 1 free alteration.
- We send you the actual designer apparel customized to your precise measurements.
- We will keep your dogs specific pattern on file and use it on future purchases.
Terms & Conditions
- Additional alterations cost $29.99
- You must complete this process within 45 days
- Customization does not include the cost of the actual apparel or accessory
- Service only applies to Arf-Arf Bebe products
- Service only applies to one style of garment (i.e. dress or tank or tee, etc)
Made in the U.S.A.
More Images
Product Details
Name: Apparel Customization
SKU: aab-apparel-customization
Manufacturer: ArfArf Bebe


text:
"She will be a vital voice to advance the President and the Administration's priorities"
President Biden has appointed Erika Moritsugu as deputy assistant to the president and Asian American and Pacific Islander senior liaison.
The administration made the announcement on Wednesday, following weeks of pressure from Democratic Senators Tammy Duckworth and Mazie Hirono, who criticized the White House for its lack of AAPI representation.
"Moritsugu will bring her experience and expertise to the Biden-Harris Administration where she will be a vital voice to advance the President and the Administration's priorities," the White House said in a statement.
Duckworth praised Moritsugu's appointment, saying, "I applaud President Biden for swiftly addressing my concerns and creating a new senior-level AAPI liaison position at the White House."
"I know first-hand that President Biden will benefit from her counsel, policy expertise and strong relationship-building skills, especially as his Administration seeks to make sure AAPI leaders are present at the highest levels of government," she said, adding that Moritsugu's experience makes her uniquely qualified for the role.
Moritsugu had previously served as the general counsel for Duckworth and was a vice president at the National Partnership for Women & Families. Her role involved leading the organization's economic justice and congressional relations teams.
She was also previously an assistant secretary at the Department of Housing and Urban Development during the Obama administration.
In related news, the Senate has voted overwhelmingly in favour of advancing a bill on anti-Asian American hate crimes.


text:
«Tratamiento artroscópico de las lesiones intraarticulares benignas aisladas de rodilla que causan síntomas mecánicos.»
Metin Özalay, M.D. a b * [MEDLINE LOOKUP] Reha N. Tandoğan, M.D. b [MEDLINE LOOKUP] Sercan Akpýnar, M.D. a b [MEDLINE LOOKUP] Necip Cesur, M.D. a b [MEDLINE LOOKUP] Murat Ali Hersekli, M.D. a b [MEDLINE LOOKUP] Gürkan Özkoç, M.D. a b [MEDLINE LOOKUP] Mustafa Uysal, M.D. a b [MEDLINE LOOKUP]
Purpose: Most cases of knee locking and giving-way are caused by meniscal tears, loose bodies, or chondral lesions. Intra-articular benign tumors or tumor-like lesions can present with symptoms that resemble acute mechanical derangement. From a database of 2,200 arthroscopic interventions, 19 cases of intra-articular masses that presented with catching and locking symptoms in the knee were retrospectively analyzed. Type of Study: Case series.
Methods: Our review revealed 33 patients with benign intra-articular masses in the knee joint. Nineteen of these individuals had sought medical attention for mechanical symptoms of catching or locking. The other 14 patients had a variety of symptoms including pain, swelling, and limitation of knee motion, but did not have mechanical symptoms. Age, sex, history of trauma, knee pain and effusion, medical illnesses, physical examination, arthroscopic findings, and pathologic findings were noted.
Results: The average age of the 6 male and 13 female patients was 37.5 years (range, 18 to 58 years). Preoperative magnetic resonance imaging confirmed the diagnosis in 7 cases and 12 cases were diagnosed during knee arthroscopy. The mean follow-up time after surgery was 52.5 months (range, 6 to 120 months). Pathologic examination of the lesions revealed 15 cases of localized pigmented villonodular synovitis (79%), 1 lipoma arborescens (5%), 1 pseudocyst (5%), and 2 nonspecific synovial masses (11%). None of the lesions showed malignant transformation.
Conclusions: Solitary benign intra-articular lesions should be considered a rare cause of mechanical knee symptoms. Localized pigmented villonodular synovitis originating from the extensor mechanism or fat pad is the most common solitary intra-articular mass lesion in the knee and usually arises in the patellofemoral compartment. Recurrence has not occurred in our series, which includes 14 of 19 patients with greater than 24 months follow-up.
The Journal of Arthroscopic and Related Surgery. January 2005 Volume 21 Number 1


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Here's our security colleague Shannon with a donation of gardening equipment and seeds to Maxwell Information Centre.
The centre has come up with a great idea to help people get back in the garden with a tool and seed library. Hopefully this will encourage people to grow, share and swap seeds and ideas! I am super pleased that we could donate to this amazing cause.
– Yvanne, Asda community champion


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As previously mentioned, if you have any photos of the baseball team or the field or the stadium and you would like to see them on VTM, feel free to email them to me and that would give us some variety on the front page.
Sweep: Pretty good little weekend for the baseball club as they swept Oral Roberts in three games and won their single game against BYU (via Texas Tech, LAJ and DT).
Texas Tech gets an outstanding performance from freshman Dylan Dusek, who went 5 innings, allowing 3 hits, walking none and striking out 2. There were a handful of relievers that finished out the game and Ryan Moseley pitched the final frame, notching his first save of the year. Eric Gutierrez, Hunter Redman and Ryan Long all notch an RBI.
#26 in the Polls: Now that Texas Tech is 7-1, the Red Raiders have moved up to #26 in the NCBWA poll (via Texas Tech). The Red Raiders will have a single game against SFA on Thursday and then participate in the Houston College Classic at Minute Maid Park.
Long Named Big 12 Newcomer of the Week: Congrats to freshman Ryan Long for being named the freshman of the week (via Big 12). I've mentioned this before and I'll stop after this, but Ryan's dad delivered diesel to my dad's farm for a couple of decades. Really good family.


text: Jean Paul Gaultier Scandal is an overdose of pleasure. A delicious honey combined with the elegance of gardenia and with a sensual patchouli. Scandal is designed to break all clichés, offering something new and modern, and at the same time powerful and elegant. The key notes of the composition are blood orange, honey, patchouli and gardenia, which united share a creamy, earthy and balsamic gourmet effect, with warm, deep, woody undertones.


text: Zachary "Zack" Bradford Gibson 52, of Honoka'a, died in Hilo on November 4, 2018. He was born in Subic Bay U.S. Naval Base, Philippines. Celebration of Life: 12 noon on Saturday, January 19, 2019 at Honokohau Harbor, Kailua- Kona. Celebration of Life: 12 noon on Sunday, January 20 at Pu'u'ala Farms and Ranch, Honoka'a. SHARE ON FACEBOOK SHARE VIA EMAIL Our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased ADVERTISEMENT Explore more Search Records for Zachary Zack Bradford Gibson with Ancestry® Discover Zachary Zack Bradford Gibson Family Story with Ancestry® AncestryDNA® with Traits Discover Details of Your Family History - Search Records with Ancestry® Sponsored by Ancestry


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Can you please take a moment and tell our readers a little bit about your company?
I work at the Submarine Force Museum. We have the world's first nuclear powered submarine open for public tours, as well as a theater and many exhibits covering U.S. submarine history, and an archive available by appointment.
Can you please take a moment and tell our readers a little bit about your company? How did you originally find Trax? Who recommended you to our company?
I had been looking for an accurate replacement for our first-generation people counting system. Trax was the most cost-effective option, but also turned out to have the best technical support with the most advanced tracking method and ease of installation. This was a no-brainer.
What was the primary reason that you chose Trax?
Best value, amazing tech support, easy to install, and many tools available to our store manager with video tutorials teaching everything step by step. There was no downside to this decision.
Please tell us what your experience has been with our system.
Counting is easy and fast. Trax provides more information and tools than most managers will probably bother using, but I'd recommend taking the time to set everything up and use everything available to get the store running at its best. The store manager can access the program from a home computer or a cell phone. Trax takes photos, so you can quickly scroll through the thumbnails and turn off the double counts or counts of employees instead of sitting through hours of mind-numbing video wishing you could stab your eyes out.
What were you originally doing in your stores to track customer traffic and to follow up with unsold customers?
We were using a first generation IR system, which "worked", but parts regularly had to be replaced and accuracy was about 60%, so it was garbage. The only data available to the store manager from the counting system was people exiting the gift shop.
What reports do you specifically use and how do you use them?
We have two different uses for the system. The museum side only cares about visitor counts. The store manager hasn't really touched it yet, but I expect it to make her job much easier.
We have a money back guarantee of a 15-25% increase in sales and productivity… have you noticed any performance differences or increases?
We just installed it, so no. However, I can definitely say that we will have the most accurate possible system.
If someone called you about Trax what would you tell them?
Don't waste your time shopping around. You're just going to end up back here anyway. This is the best choice. Period.
Do you have any recommendations or ideas that would help us improve the overall TraxSales solution? If possible, could you attach a photo of the area in need of change or an example of the proposed ideas?
A heat sensitive camera option that tracks customer movement throughout the store over time and shows a color coded map of where they spend the most time, and how that changes throughout the day. This is a bit redundant because of the upboard system, but still maybe useful for product placement and arranging the store to better accommodate traffic patterns.


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Important Elements of a Strong and Effective Brand
There are many important elements of a marketing strategy. One frequently forgotten element of a successful strategy is taking the time to create a well-defined company brand. Essential for long-term marketing success, creation of a solid brand can at first seem a daunting task. It doesn't have to be. Building of a brand is not difficult when you pay attention to a few key marketing elements. Let's take a look at what some of them are.
What is a brand?
The first key to creating a powerful brand is to understand exactly what a brand is. A brand is a personality that identifies and shares the beliefs and core values of a company or endeavor. This can be accomplished with a number of commonly used items including company colors, tag lines, unique designs, fonts, logos, graphical creations, and slogans. A well-defined brand captures the attention of a potential consumer and portrays the unique identifiers associated with the business. A strong brand also should securely engage the attention of current clients while growing recognition, affinity and loyalty.
Consistency is essential
When it comes to brand effectiveness, maintaining consistency is of utmost importance. When engaging current and potential customers, there must be a palpable element of trust associated with your brand message. Just as with interaction between people, real trust cannot be achieved without consistency. Inconsistency, or a change in brand message, can be perceived by a potential client as a business changing what they stand for. Maintaining consistency also allows a brand to develop a depth of meaning and attachment that contributes to brand familiarity and brand recall, both of which are essential to business success.
Variation is necessary
Despite a clear emphasis on maintaining brand consistency, there is still plenty of room for variety within brand marketing pieces. In today's fast paced information superhighway world, variations in marketing content are not only desirable they are essential. While the consistent elements of your brand should firmly remain, the details surrounding them should be unique, inventive, and ever changing. Smart marketers use proper planning to determine what brand elements provide consistency, and what elements can be creatively modified without harming brand recognition.
Branding over time
Building a successful brand is a marathon endeavor. While many online companies come and go due to the ease of website and social media profile setup, the companies that stand the test of time are the ones that build brand credibility over long periods of time. Brand consistency builds fierce loyalty from repeat customers. Examples of powerful brands that were built over several decades include The Coca-Cola Company, The Target Corporation, and even the long-standing mom and pop dry cleaner that everyone in the community likes to patronize. A long running and well-established brand is like an old friend, and that is a hard habit to break.
Using varied consistency over a long duration of time can build a remarkably powerful and effective brand for your company. Take heed of these simple rules for brand building and in due time, you are sure to reap the results!
Maeyen Bassey
Latest posts by Maeyen Bassey (see all)
- Important Elements of a Strong and Effective Brand - July 7, 2015


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Enjoy the great outdoors again with our Anti Skeeter blend! Created to ward off mother nature's pesky, unwanted annoyances.
Anti Skeeter is perfect to take with you on a hike, bike, picnic or camp out. This all natural blend is formulated with essential oils that bugs loathe, but will leave you smelling great!
Take back your summertime fun... and smell good while you're at it!
Use anytime you might feel mother nature has interrupted your fun with irritating, unpleasant visitors.
Perfect for any outdoor activity; picnics, camping, hiking, biking, you name it!
Use our Anti-Skeeter roll on and apply to ankles, behind knees, low back, wrists, back of neck and temples.
This blend was formulated with 100% pure essential oils of
Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus)
Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
Peppermint (Mentha piperita)
Tea Tree (Melaleuca alternifolia)
Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)
Grapeseed Oil (Vitis vinifera)
Lemongrass has a lovely lemony aroma, very pleasing to our senses, but bugs (especially mosquitoes) can't stand it!
It is an excellent oil for those summer months when you want to enjoy the outdoors in peace without nature's unwanted guests.
Insects absolutely loathe the scent of peppermint because of its strong menthol undertones.
Keep bugs away and at bay while you enjoy its refreshing minty aroma. Peppermint also has a pleasant cooling effect, a double bonus on those hot summer days!
Thyme is another great essential oil for repelling bugs. Its fragrant aroma helps ward off a variety of annoying insects including mosquitoes, fleas, flies and beetles!
Recommended for external use only. Consult a qualified practitioner if pregnant, nursing or for a serious medical condition before use. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Breathe Easy is a specialized blend, uniquely formulated with specific essential oils to help target and relieve certain asthma symptoms, open up constricted airways, and may help decrease or even prevent future bronchial spasms.
Breathe Easy was also developed to help aid respiratory symptoms such as coughing, sneezing, itchy or sore throat, runny nose, watery eyes, and excessive phlegm.
To help open airways and relieve sinus & chest congestion:
Roll a small amount of Breathe Easy onto the palm of your hand, rub your palms together for 2 seconds, being careful not to get the blend on your fingers. Then cup your palms over your nose and breathe:
-in through nose, out through your mouth;
-in though mouth, out through nose
for 5-10 breaths.
You may also apply Breathe Easy to your chest & upper back (think lung area) and gently massage this blend into your skin.
Note: This is a supportive therapy and is not intended to replace any anti-asthma medications.
This blend was formulated with 100% pure essential oils of
Cypress (Cupressus sempervirens)
Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
Roman Chamomile (Anthemis nobilis)
Frankincense (Boswellia carterii)
Helichrysum (Helichrysum italicum)
Grapeseed Oil (Vitis vinifera)
Are you feeling completely burned out?
Maybe even exhausted?
Burnout is a special remedy created for those who have run themselves to the point of exhaustion.
This remedy is specially formulated to help nourish the nervous system and replenish the adrenal glands. This unique blend will give your body a gentle boost without overstimulating it the way coffee would, (which can place an even bigger burden on your body when you are already beyond just feeling 'tired').
Burnout remedy is both balancing and relaxing to the body and mind, nutritive to your entire system.
Roll a small amount of Burnout remedy onto your kidney area (think mid back on either side of the spine) and gently massage into the area.
[This is where your adrenal glands are located, on top of your kidneys in the mid back area.]
This blend was formulated with 100% pure essential oils of
Pine (Pinus sylvestris)
Black Spruce (Picea mariana)
Cedarwood (Cedrus atlantica)
Lime (Citrus aurantifolia)
Grapeseed Oil (Vitis vinifera)
Are you tired of lumpy, bumpy, dimpled skin? Do you suffer from those dreaded cottage cheese thighs?
You will be glad to know it is absolutely possible to reduce and even banish cellulite naturally with the help of essential oils.
Cell u Tone was created to directly target cellulite, help break it up and help stimulate the lymphatic system so your body can move it on out.
Feel comfortable in your skin again...
To reduce or eliminate cellulite it takes a little time, a little know how and a dedicated routine.
Self-massage: Gently massage Cell-u-Tone onto your 'problem areas'. Massaging the blend into the area for a few minutes will create heat, which will allow the essential oils to penetrate deep into the skin and help enhance circulation and the elimination of toxins, improving the look of those unsightly skin dimples.
Bath: Massage Cell-u-Tone into your 'problem areas' and take a long relaxing bath, gently massaging your cellulite areas while they are under water. The warm water from the bath will help the essential oils penetrate deep into the skin, and the water itself with also help push the essential oils deeper into the skin's tissue where they work to enhance circulation and promote the elimination of toxins. Relax and enjoy beautiful smooth skin!
Professional Massage: Take Cell-u-Tone to a certified massage therapist and have them massage the blend into your 'problem areas'. See if they are trained in Manual Lymphatic Drainage Massage (MLD). When combined with essential oils these massages can be very effective at reducing the appearance of cellulite over time.
This blend was formulated with 100% pure essential oils of
Grapefruit (Citrus paradisii)
Lemon (Citrus limonum)
Juniper Berry (Juniperus communis)
Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)
Lime (Citrus aurantifolia)
Black Pepper (Piper nigrum)
Grapeseed Oil (Vitis vinifera)


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How to Fix [ERROR] Unknown/unsupported storage engine: InnoDB
After playing around with my MySQL configuration file in my docker container, MySQL was throwing a weird error, and was failing to start. I checked the error logs and found an entry in the error log. [ERROR] Plugin 'InnoDB' init function returned error. [ERROR] Plugin 'InnoDB' registration as a STORAGE


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Your cervix is the lowest part of your uterus, extending into your vagina. Cells in the cervix are constantly changing. If those changes become abnormal, dysplasia develops. This may turn into cancer if left untreated. With regular Pap tests, however, dysplasia can be caught and treated early.
The circular cervix separates your uterus from your vagina and provides a passage for menstrual blood, sperm, and childbirth. During pregnancy, its muscular structure helps hold the fetus securely inside your uterus.
Date Last Reviewed: 2007-01-15T00:00:00-07:00
Date Last Modified:
Awesome. Highly recommend. I drive 2 hours just to see doctor Miller and staff. Well worth the drive.
Always treated well at Dr Millers office Love her bedside manner and staff is always pleasant.
As always very nice great doctor and great staff.
Dr.Miller is a great doctor.


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- hopelivesherexyz
Sunshine, Angels & Rainbows – I'm Feeling Rather Cheeky Today
Updated: Oct 20, 2020
'Triggers' seems too simple a word to describe how your whole world upends itself based on a small, unexpected event. I like this much better. Kind of feels like a slap too.
Post by Sheri Roaf


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A Thought on Setting Goals
For most people, goals are what drive us forward in time. While some of us take the time to sit down with pen and paper to list them out, others quietly keep their goals to themselves. There are also those whose goals exist only in their subconscious minds, the people who are unaware that whatever they're working toward is powered by something deep within.
I've found that having goals plays a significant role in my life. Setting goals and working toward them has been highly beneficial as I grow my career and move through life. I always have something to plan for and work toward. It's easy to feel like big dreams are impossible to accomplish, but goal-setting helps make large, intimidating aspirations more achievable. I set small goals and use them as stepping stones to my larger ones. I'm always surprised at what I end up achieving. Every time I accomplish something that I've set my sights on, I gain a little more self-confidence. The achievement gives me inspiration to aim for things that, at one time, I never thought were possible.
They're also good accountability reminders. It's humbling when you look back on a goal you set for yourself and realize you were supposed to accomplish much more than you did. You're able to see the changes you need to make if you're going to get where you want to be.
I don't feel like I need to have every moment of my life planned out, but setting goals does help guarantee that I'll experience things that I've always wanted.


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6 Days / 6 Nights
Horsemanship Clinic
2-3 Camp Moves
Final Night at Holiday Inn & Convention Center
Complimentary Photography
In spite of the overwhelming positive response we have received from most all of our guests, we have always wanted to offer a trip which would more closely represent our lifestyle exactly as it was during the turn of the century.
"Its too bad people couldn't spend a night or two in the Little Horn Cow Camp so they could see how it was," Dana would often remark when he would relate stories about his teenage years as the rider in the Little Horn Camp. "Cowboys like Dick Babbion and '44 Bill' have all left their mark on those of us who experienced their tenure at the cabin. To us, it's quite real. The cowboys of my father's generation, and his father before him, are nearly all gone now. Most are just a name in a story Dad would relate about his childhood in cow camp. I guess we too will someday become just a name in a story, and then, over time, events which seemed so important to us, becomes nothing at all."
"Now I realize that seems terribly empty but, to me this is the appeal of the Little Horn Cow Camp because it is here the stories and names live forever. Every time I step through the kitchen door and hear the creak of the aged wooden floor under my boots, I always expect everything to be exactly as it was the first time I saw it at age nine. It always is."
"In the dim light from the hissing gas lantern, my mind can see Dave Fuller in his old denim apron and brown leather bedroom slippers shoving another stick of firewood into the massive Monarch cook stove as he turns out another batch of horse-hair pad pancakes. Boy, could those things soak up the syrup. I watched him for years and could never figure out his secret. Sometimes he used milk, sometimes water, sometimes bacon grease, sometimes butter, and sometimes eggs but it never seemed to matter, they always tasted like horse-hair pad pancakes. Dave is gone now; he lost his battle with colon cancer in the spring of '99, but within the century old log walls of the Little Horn Cabin, he will live forever."
Here is what we have: we are offering ten spots for guests to accompany us on our CLEAN-UP RIDE as we re-ride the entire permit about two weeks after our September cattle drive. We will likely spend two nights at the Lake Creek Cabin, two nights at the Little Horn Cabin, and a night or two at the Dry Fork Cow Camp. Depending on the pasture rotation the days and nights spent at the individual cow camps may change from year to year.
This trip is wide open as far as the number of cattle and what we would be doing. In all likelihood you will be spending a couple nights in each camp as we ride the entire mountain allotment. These three camps range in elevation from 6,800 feet to over 9,000 feet. The beauty to this trip is that when you are finished riding for the day, we actually feed people in the cabin where it is warm and dry. You will still be sleeping in a tent though. After riding all day in cool to cold weather, it is nice to be able to come in, strip down to your shirt sleeves and have a meal in a warm comfortable cabin. One of the cabins is over 100 years old and the other has logs in it that came out of the original homestead built on the Double Rafter in 1887. When the Dry Fork cow camp was built in 1932 the original log cabin was dismantled and parts of it were loaded on a wagon and a team of horses pulled it to the mountain to reconstruct a cow camp in the Dry Fork. The wagon also had the original Majestic stove on it for the cow camp. It is pretty steep getting into the area they wanted to construct the cabin, and the weight on the wagon, overran the team causing serious enough injuries to have to put the team down!
My family was grazing the Dry Fork area before it became National Forest in 1890. Consequently we have lots of history and stories of the family in this area.
There will be many miles in the saddle. I do think you will find this trip quite unique because you will experience things few people will ever see. Again, we must limit this trip to ten guests so this trip is going to fill early. Don't wait.


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As we know, the mouth is a gateway to our body through which we intake all necessities of life. We can easily estimate the importance of dental care by knowing that carelessness in this matter would put our whole body at risk. We recommend reading more about RiverEdge Dental. For instance, if the entrance of something is not secure, that spot would probably be at more risk of harm. The same goes for our oral hygiene. A person is susceptible to many diseases if they have poor dental health. Some of the bad impacts of poor dental health are listed below.
Toothache And Tooth Loss
If you neglect your dental health, the first thing you would experience is toothache and then tooth loss. It's a famous saying by dentists that:
" You don't have to brush all of your teeth, just the one you always wanna keep."
Tooth loss affects your facial shape along with your gums. It might be possible that you look overage due to tooth loss. You will lose your smile eventually.
Cardiovascular Issues
When the plaque keeps on staying in the mouth, it causes the birth of bacteria, and with the passage of time, bacteria and plaque start mixing in the bloodstream, causing the narrowing of arteries and blood vessels. It can cause cardiovascular issues. Narrowing of arteries will ultimately result in an increased risk of stroke and myocardial infarction.
Respiratory Disorder
Patients already suffering from respiratory tract issues are more likely to get affected by bad oral health. Because bacteria travel through the bloodstream to the lungs causing severe bronchitis and increasing the risk of pneumonia, cleaning your teeth twice a day will ensure your safety and prevent any kind of bacteria and virus from entering your body.
Kidney Disorder
According to a study, people suffering from periodontal diseases are 4.5 times more at risk of getting infected by kidney diseases like stones, etc., which may even lead to kidney transplants. It all starts from your mouth and affects the whole body badly.
Risks Of Premature Birth
According to research, nearly 13% of babies are born prematurely. Premature babies face issues in breathing and infections. According to research, it has been proved that premature birth is associated with a mother's poor dental health. The mouth is most likely a site for infection; the mother's regular brushing and flossing would avoid such kinds of circumstances in the newborn.
Bad Breath
Poor dental health can lead to bad breath and the foul-smelling odor produced by bacteria in the mouth. Keeping yourself hydrated the whole day will help avoid foul-smelling. What can be done to remove this bad breath is to use a proper mouthwash. It removes debris and cleans the mouth of any kind of bacteria.
As discussed above, not taking care of teeth will lead to hazardous effects. Your teeth are one of the body's vulnerable parts, and anyone with bad teeth can go through many complications. Work on your teeth to get better health and hygiene. We recommend reading more about RiverEdge Dental or visit them. Visit your doctor regularly. Brush your teeth with fluoride-containing toothpaste as it would kill all the tooth-decaying germs.


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Recompression in Raylight can be avoided by mainly cuts-only editing
either with AVI files, or with MXF files in the timeline together
with the "Supress Recompression" option. In this case only effects
and transitions are recompressed.
What are the losses on effects and transitions that undergo recompression?
Download this example, a 2-layer Photoshop file:
The recompressed frame has about 1% RMS added noise and is nearly
indistinguishable from the original frame. To get similar results,
use the Native Frame Size option in Raylight, and set up your
projects with native frame size:
960 x 720 1.333 Pixel Apsect Ratio
1280 x 1080, 1.5 PAR
1440 x 1080 1.333 PAR (50Hz system)
Also be sure you are in Raylight Blue when rendering. Use the
Red/Yellow/Green frame marker option to make sure you are rendering
in Blue.
Go Back to


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Happy Cat T-Shirt
Soft-Touch Feel
100% Organic Ring-Spun Combed Cotton
Set-in Sleeve
Rib at Neck Collar
Here at NOM we care about the impact fashion has on the environment, therefore we are constantly striving to reduce our footprint. Currently, all of our current (excluding sale) T-shirts are made from 100% ethically sourced organic cotton.
First time NOM customer, couldn't be happier with my Happy Cat T-Shirt, the design is sick. Quality is second to none, well impressed. Just ordered a couple Tees from the other designers NOM have on board. Loving the 'Lighter galaxy' and 'perception' designs, fresh!! Looking forward to see what u guys come up with next!
Wow, thanks for your lovely feedback Andy. You look great in that Happy Cat Tee. Its was a pleasure to serve you - keep an eye out this week for Black Friday deals as we have something awesome coming your way!
Such a lovely T-shirt - great quality to the fabric and the design is wicked. I will be shopping at NOM again for sure.
Wow, thank you for your feedback James! We are super happy you like the t-shirt and cannot wait to send out your next order super fast!


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Whether you're celebrating a holiday or looking for an exciting way to pass the time, make it a memorable event with the help of Red Apple®'s missile fireworks.
A missile is a rocket-shaped, finned firework that shoots or whistles straight into the sky, raining pops and colorful sparks in its wake. Red Apple® missile fireworks are creatively designed by our in-house team, so they're one-of-a-kind and make for an unforgettable show.
Would you believe us if we told you the first missile was fashioned from a bamboo tube filled with gun powder? It's true. The Song dynasty needed a way to one-up the competition, so Chinese military engineers crafted the first flamethrower.
Consumer-grade missile fireworks have come a long way since the 10th century. Fortunately, there's no competition in your neck of the woods — unless you want to outdo the neighbors' light show. If you are competing, Red Apple® missiles will set your firework display apart from the rest thanks to our design team.
We make it our mission to craft the most vibrant and eye-catching fireworks on the market!
Missile fireworks are perfect for ringing in the New Year, celebrating the Fourth of July or keeping on hand to create your own set of Friday night lights. Pair your missile fireworks with comet, dandelion or chrysanthemum effects to create stunning finales or entertain your friends during a summertime barbecue.
However you intend to use them, make sure you prioritize having fun!
Missile fireworks are safe to use! Red Apple® fireworks meet the testing criteria of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). We always recommend you refer to and keep the warning and instruction labels nearby when using fireworks.
When firing missiles, make sure you're in a large, open field. Light the missile with a punk or firestick instead of a match, and avoid windy days.
P.S. We recommend a still, starry night for the best show!
We're a team of fun-loving, passionate pyros — and we know you are, too. When you work with our team, you join a family of fellow firework enthusiasts. Learn more about what it's like working with our team at Red Apple® on an order:
Ready to light up the sky? If you're searching for a missile firework that stuns and delights, Red Apple® offers a selection of missiles — from our single-shot, finned Sky Lab missiles to our crackling, multicolored Star-Spangled Saturn missiles. Place your bulk order today!