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(I preached this sermon today for Park Presidio United Methodist Church. In addition to the scripture reading (below), we also read Wendell Berry's The Peace of Wild Things.)
Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. He fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was famished. The tempter came and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread." But he answered, "It is written, 'One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" Then the devil took him to the holy city and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written, 'He will command his angels concerning you,' and 'On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.'" Jesus said to him, "Again it is written, 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'" Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor; and he said to him, "All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me." Jesus said to him, "Away with you, Satan! for it is written, 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.'" Then the devil left him, and suddenly angels came and waited on him. (Matt 4:1-11)
Sometimes, when I listen to Bible verses in church, I feel like I'm watching a 15 minute clip of a movie. Even if I've seen the movie before, it can be hard to remember where that one scene fits in the larger story. This text in particular is one that I'm so used to hearing read in church that I sometimes forget how it relates to the rest of the story of Jesus' life. So, before looking at our gospel reading, I wanted to take a minute to refresh your memory about how this story relates to the rest of the Gospel of Matthew.
Right before Jesus entered the wilderness, he encountered John baptizing people in the Jordan river and telling anyone who will listen that the Messiah is on his way. Jesus followed the crowds to John in order to be baptized. The moment John saw Jesus, he recognized him as the Messiah. He originally refused to baptize Jesus at all, saying that he's not worthy to baptize someone so powerful, but Jesus eventually convinced him to baptize him anyway.
When Jesus was finally baptized, the gospels tell us that the sky opened, a dove descended, and a voice from heaven said "This is my beloved child, in whom I am well pleased."
It was then that Jesus understood God's plans for him. He saw John calling him the promised one, and heard the voice of God naming him as beloved, and he responded to that life-changing event by going into the wilderness, where he would be tempted by the devil.
Traditionally, many Christians have often seen this story as being like those fairytales about children who get lost in forests: Hansel and Gretel, Goldilocks, Little Red Riding Hood. Jesus goes out into the wilderness, where he meets the Big Bad Wolf–the devil– and narrowly escapes. The wilderness is seen as frightening, far from the protection of God and occupied by demons.
But I think we miss the point of this story if we try to turn the wilderness into something threatening or evil. To me, this story isn't about the dangers of the wilderness, but the necessity of it.
I think that part of the reason Christians have sometimes read this story as being about a threatening wilderness is because of the ways that modern Christianity has demonized the wilderness. In the United States in particular, there's a belief that the wilderness is something that needs to be tamed, or subdued. Nature is often thought of as uncivilized, compared to the "civilization" of cities. So, it makes sense that we would understand the wilderness as an evil force threatening the goodness of Jesus.
But it's important for us to remember that for much of Jewish and Christian history, the wilderness was understood to be a sacred place where we could go to encounter the holy. For centuries, ancient Hebrews climbed mountains to be closer to God. That's why the book of Exodus tells us that Moses climbed Mt Sinai in order to receive the 10 commandments. Before we had temples or churches, mountains were understood to be the dwelling place of God.
And of course, the Genesis story is clear in its statement that the wilderness–the earth–is a good and beautiful place. The story of creation begins with God forming water and land and plants and animals and declaring all of these things to be good. Adam and Eve are placed in the garden and are told to enjoy the plants and animals that surround them. It is only after Adam and Eve disobey God and are thrown out of the Garden of Eden that humanity loses that close communion with nature. The scriptures are clear in their insistence that the creation is good, and that people can know God on a deeper level by communing with nature.
That, I think, is why our scripture reading for today begins: "Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness." It was not the devil that led Jesus into the wilderness, but the spirit. The wilderness was not a place apart from God. It was a place Jesus went to encounter the divine more fully.
Catholic theologian Elizabeth Johnson says that the Holy Spirit is the part of God that is present to us in in our lives here on earth. To Johnson, there is nothing good that we can experience on this Earth that doesn't come from the Holy Spirit because the Spirit is the part of God that remains down here with us, in our lives and our loves and our struggles.
Johnson argues that if the Spirit is that part of God that dwells here on Earth, then it must have played an important part in creation. She points out that Early Christians used to call the Holy Spirit the "life-giver" and believed that this spirit had played crucial role in the forming the earth.
Johnson calls the Holy Spirit the Creator Spirit, and she sees this Creator Spirit as being particularly at work in nature. I believe it's that Creator Spirit that carried Jesus into the wilderness, and that remained with him there. The Spirit who had created the earth—the wilderness—as a reflection of God's glory and who knew that the wilderness was where God dwelled in the most intimate way.
The Creator Spirit sent Jesus into the wilderness precisely because it was a safe space, a sacred space. Away from the distractions and noise of Galilee. A place where he could find himself. Where he could dwell in the presence of the spirit and discern his future and his call.
To spend time in the wilderness, literally and figuratively, is a crucial part of what it means to be human. Literally, we need time to be alone in the wilderness, to get to know ourselves as being (what Mary Oliver calls) 'part of the family of things.' To see our place in the tapestry of God's creation.
Figuratively, we also need to find our own inner wilderness. We need to encounter the Spirit in that still, small place in our souls. We need to learn how to feel comfortable in the silence, without the distractions of TV, crowds, sometimes even our own friends and family. It is in that lonely stillness where we are most able to know ourselves as being beloved by God.
In fact, spending time in the wilderness is important because it is among nature that we are better able to discover our own inner wilderness. In the stillness of nature, we are finally able to, in Wendell Berry's words, "rest in the grace of the world" and know ourselves as free. By going into the wilderness, we are able to learn about our own inner wilderness. We have the ability to learn peacefulness from the peacefulness of nature.
Now, I want to be honest: encountering our inner wilderness can be difficult. There is a very good reason why our culture has given us so many distractions: TV, facebook, fattening foods. It is hard–really hard– to be alone with ourselves. To sit in silence. To sit in prayer. Maybe one reason our culture seems so determined to destroy the wilderness– through oil drilling and coal mining and deforestation—is because we're so scared of our own inner wilderness. Psychoanalyst, poet and storyteller Clarissa Pinkola Estes says that "It's not by accident that the pristine wilderness of our planet disappears as the understanding of our own inner wild nature fades."
In the wilderness, we are forced to encounter the truth of our lives, and the truth of what God requires of us. It's scary, and unpredictable. It makes us feel vulnerable. And frankly, sometimes we'd rather stay distracted.
Last Wednesday marked the start of Lent, the Christian season of fasting. This year, I made two commitments for Lent: The first one was to give up caffeine. The second, was that I would sit in silent prayer for at least 15 minutes a day. Now, you don't know this about me yet but I really love my coffee. I normally drink multiple cups a day, and it's definitely a thing that I rely on to get through days when I haven't gotten enough sleep. So, these last 5 days of giving up coffee have been hard, but they have been nowhere near as hard as adding that 15 minutes of prayer into my life. I have had trouble getting into a routine, I have had trouble finding room in my busy schedule. But most of all, I find myself resistant to it. Sometimes, I just don't want to deal with the silence. To be alone with God. To honestly take stock of how I'm feeling, and reflect on whether or not I am living into God's plans for me. My inner wilderness can be scary. Maybe yours can be, too.
Because, as Jesus knows, if you spend enough time in the wilderness, you're going to have to wrestle with demons. It was in the wilderness where Jesus had to face the devil. In the silence of the wilderness, he was faced with the reality of his own temptation to use his powers selfishly. The wilderness is a frightening place not because it's evil but because it forces us to be honest with ourselves, and to face our own demons.
But it's only through wrestling with our own demons that we can learn how to defeat them. Our demons are always there: demons like feeling inadequate, unloved, selfish, or being overly dependent on a person or a substance. Our demons haunt us, and if we try to ignore them we end up letting them win. But when we meet our demons in the silence—in our own inner wilderness— we have the power to defeat them. It is only when we are willing to encounter our own demons face to face that we can stop being held prisoner by them and we can live into God's fantastic plans for us.
We need the wilderness because we need to sit in silence. We need to sit in silence because we need to struggle with our demons. We need to struggle with our demons so that we can be freed from them and grow into greater relationship with our God.
And of course, we don't have to struggle with those demons alone. The Creator Spirit—the Holy Spirit—led Jesus into the wilderness but did not abandon him there. The spirit stayed with him, cared for him as he wrestled with his demons. The spirit stayed there, whispering in his ear the same words that had been given to him at his baptism: 'You are my beloved child. In you I am well pleased.' And finally, when the devil left, the spirit brought angels into the wilderness to care for Jesus. Throughout his temptations, Jesus was never really alone.
And it's the same for us. If our wilderness is the place we go to struggle with our demons, it is even more the place we go to meet our God. To struggle in the wilderness means to try to grow more deeply into our relationship with God. So, even if the wilderness can sometimes seem scary—if it can seem scary to be alone with ourselves—we shouldn't fear it because it is in the wilderness where we are able to fully encounter the God that loves us and that will never abandon us. It is in the wilderness where we are really able to hear God whispering in our ear: "you are my beloved child. In you I am well pleased."
After his time in the wilderness, after all the praying and struggling and silence, Matthew tells us that Jesus left the desert finally ready to begin his ministry. Ready to live into his mission. And, I think, his ministry couldn't have happened without that wilderness time. Because the wilderness for Jesus—and I think for us—can be a sort of cocoon. A place where we go to reflect, and pray and discern our future before taking that next big step in our lives. Before crossing over from what life has been, to what it could be.
This scripture is traditionally read the first week of Lent to remind us that, like Jesus, we will be spending 40 days fasting and in prayer. Lent was created by the church to mirror the time Jesus spent in the wilderness, and to give us the opportunity to sit in the wilderness with him as we reflect on the meaning of his life and death, and await his resurrection on Easter.
So, this Lent, I invite you to find your own wilderness space. I hope that you'll spend some time going out into the forest, the beach, golden gate park—or just your own backyard. Wherever you can get lost in what Wendell Berry calls "the peace of wild things." Where you can feel a part of the glory of God's creation.
And regardless of whether you ever make it into the forest, spend some time sitting with your own inner wilderness. Meditate, sit in silence, go to a restaurant by yourself. Sit in your own wilderness, and wrestle with your own demons. Spend some time reflecting on how beloved you are by God. Sit in silence, allow yourself to be uncomfortable in it. Like Jesus, make your wilderness a sort of cocoon for yourself this lent, and wait to see the ways that it will transform you.


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Elderly Services
When City Harvest Community Services Association was established, one of the first communities we reached out to was to the elderly. As early as 1997, volunteers started doing visits at older estates, such as one-room units at Dakota Crescent.
Starting with needs analysis, medical escort, home cleaning, meals and grocery delivery to those in need and a simple befriender's program, our work with the elderly expanded upon our first partnership with the South East Community Development Council (SECDC) in 1999. It is from this collaboration we went from serving 211 beneficiaries in 1997 to 1,366 beneficiaries in 2015—an effort made possible by a team of 4 staff and 40 volunteers. Our longstanding partnership with SECDC and grassroots leaders in the Mountbatten area also paved the way for the birth of the House of JOY Centre in 2011.
House of Joy Centre
"JOY" stands for "Joining the Old and the Young". The Centre focuses on preventing social isolation among the elderly through increasing interactions between the old and the young. We believe deeply in preventive services, targeting to reach those at risk before they fall through the gaps. With an emphasis on assisting the elderly achieve holistic wellness, our programs fall into 3 categories:
Developmental Programs
Such programs aim to stimulate the mind and provide avenues for the elderly to stay healthy. The focus is on getting the elderly on the track of lifelong learning and continual engagement. This includes weekly health or learning based programs such as Chess, Chair Yoga, Conversational English and Rummikub.
Social Service Programs
This includes counselling and case management services for those elderly in need. We also run social learning programs for the elderly, such as thematic movie screenings with focused discussions, or support group sessions that address topics on life in the community are held on a regular basis.
Community Programs
Beyond a weekly visitation program to the elderly, festive parties are held to celebrate public holidays and special occasions with the senior citizens, particularly those who are living on their own. Outings are also organized to bring beneficiaries to various places of interest in Singapore, or even to sites of learning so as to provide a bridge for the elders to stay part of the changing times. Regular interest group activities also provide an avenue for diversional therapy as well as the cultivation of new passions.

subset: commoncrawl


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Thank you and I look forward to working with you soon.
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Tell Us Your Story and Follow Your Path
Talking and telling stories is an ancient form of human connection and healing. Counseling is talking with a trained professional in order to gain self-understanding and to promote desired change. Maria Droste Counseling Services exists because we believe everyone deserves access to affordable and compassionate psychotherapy and counseling.
Our volunteer staff of licensed professionals (Psychologists, Clinical Social Workers, and Mental Health Counselors) share a commitment to creating a supportive, safe, and accepting therapeutic environment where every client has the opportunity to engage in a process of self-understanding that leads to growth and change.
Maria Droste Counseling Services is known for its culture of service, caring, and hospitality. Sponsored by the Sisters of the Good Shepherd, we are named for Maria Droste (1863-1899), a Good Shepherd Sister known for her ability to console those who came to her in pain. We are guided by the philosophy that a person is of more value than a world, and work in a context of profound respect for the dignity of each person who comes to us.
Those who come to Maria Droste Counseling Services are often struggling with life problems at home, at school, at work, in relationships, or within themselves. They may experience a range of difficulties: depression, anxiety, bereavement, trauma, addiction, or low self-esteem. They can expect to be received with kindness, empathy and understanding.
We welcome individuals and couples as clients regardless of race, religion, gender, nationality, ethnicity,


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A couple of evenings ago I decided that it was time to have a go at gelatin printing. A while back I downloaded Rayna Gillman's workshop Gelatin Monoprinting, and on Thursday evening I prepared the print plate and watched Rayna's workshop for inspiration.
As for the plate, I used a packet of Dr. Oetkers leaf gelatin, as that was the only brand I could find in my local supermarket. I used all 10 leaves in the packet with half a litre of water, which made the mixture slightly more concentrated than what the manufacturer recommended. I poured boiling water into a tin and mixed in the leaves, which had been soaked in water for about 10 minutes. The leaves melted instantly and made a lump and bubble free gelatine plate.
The gelatin print plate
As for Rayna's workshop, I found it very entertaining. I kept bursting out into laughter, because Rayna's approach is so far from the way I normally do things. I'm more like the people she refers to as neater and more organised. Not the back-to-kindergarten type. Or at least that's what I thought.
The gelatin plate is ready for action.
I put it on an old book cover (The Laws of Finland, as it happens -
I have my sources) in case I needed to move it about.
In action, though, the Truth is revealed. Or let's put it like this: now I know what Rayna means. There's something about gelatin printing that brings out the hidden kindergartener in you. After the initial disappointment with the results of my printing, it didn't take more than 5 prints before I was applying the paint with my bare hands, not caring if the paint got under my nails. I thoroughly enjoyed smacking and rubbing the wobbly print plate, and there was something deeply satisfying about the messiness of it.
I quickly discovered that I liked working with a stencil, and I particularly liked the effects of ghost prints, so I made a whole series with the same stencil.
Stencil printing, paint applied with fingers (a little too much paint on this one)
Ghost print. I like the ethereal and distressed look of this print.
Stencil printing. I placed the stencil so that the side which had paint on it from the last print was facing upwards. I like the contrast between the smooth background and the more textured area from the paint-coated stencil.
Another ghost print. I really like them.
Unfortunately the gelatin plate started to disintegrate a little too soon. After 5 prints the top layer of one corner came off, after 10 prints I was scraping off chunks of gelatin from my prints and after 15 prints I decided to call it a day. Perhaps this is normal. I have no idea how long a gelatin plate is supposed to hold up. But the next time I will try to add a few more gelatin leaves, as the plate did seem a little soft to me.
The print plate has done its job and big chunks of gelatin have come off
in the process. I made some of the cracks myself to create texture,
when the print plate was falling apart anyway.
Now I just need to figure out how to make the paint permanent. According to Rayna, ironing on gelatin is not advisable (apparently it smells, and there's also a risk of burning), so I will let the paint cure for a few days, carefully wash off the gelatin and then hit the print with an iron.
A collection of the prints I made


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1 Why not get your mom started on a great series that you like? Books are always great gifts! Don't know where to start her? How about these (hover to see descriptions!:
2 If mom's not that into fiction, but loves to bake, check out the oh so cute, oh so affordable Cupcakes! book that Amazon has on sale for $1.30. I recently got my copies and have to say the cakes look yummy and are totally fun.
3 If you're not comfortable picking out a great book for mom, why not try this adorable ribbon bookmark, or one similar from Denileeo Designs? It retails for just $6 plus $2 shipping, and that's international! (less shipping if you're in the US) There are plenty more designs to pick from, just click the pic below and it'll take you to the listing.
4 Into doing your own handmade gifts? Don't forget about the post where we featured the Craftzine method of turning a beloved yet decrepit old book into a groovy journal! Make one for mom, but make sure you get permission before you rip apart any of her books.
5 I'm thinking a bouquet of flowers paired with a book off your mom's wishlist would make an amazing gift too. Mom doesn't have a book wishlist? You still have time to chat her up and find out what's on her to-read radar. And then, when you see her, talk to her, chat her up via IM, with her on Mother's Day, convince her to sign-up for Goodreads. (or LivingSocial's Visual Bookshelf on Facebook, or whatever reading website you're using these days...) What better gift than to be able to keep tabs on what's going on in your literary life and be able to interact with it?
6 Mom into nonfic? Lots of them are. Enter to win this five-pack of Nonfic titles from FSB Media (thanks guys!) by entering your details into the form below, as always, if there's a title you don't want, just check it off of the form. (hover on the titles to see descriptions) Oh, and we won't tell if you keep them for yourself either. It'll be your little secret ;o) (this bundle is worth close to $80 if bought from Amazon and over $110 in stores)
|Mark whichever ones on the form off that you ARE NOT interested in, and we'll give them to a runner-up!
CTRL+click this link to open form in a new tab


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A last week I wrote "Windows 7 is getting closer", and one of the readers on the Universities blog posed the question about Application Compatibility – their point was that they used over 450 applications, so couldn't we test them all to check they work on Windows 7. (I'm wondering if 450 applications is a record – do schools use that many?) Hopefully it's no surprise to learn that we can't do all of that, but that there's been a big focus on overall application compatibility in Windows 7 – back to both Windows Vista and Windows XP.
Later today, Mark Russinovich is hosting a worldwide roundtable on Application Compability that you might want to join in. As it is a single event for the whole world, it is at 7pm our time tonight, but I've had a look at the telly schedule and there's nothing exciting on (thank goodness Britain's Got Talent has finished – for so many reasons!).
Here's the blurb:
"Windows 7 is approaching fast and from the application standpoint is very similar to Windows Vista. We're going to examine Windows 7 application compatibility not only from the perspective of moving from Windows Vista, but also for those coming from Windows XP. Join us to discuss the most common challenges around application compatibility when coming from a legacy operating system, why changes were made along the way, compatibility technologies inside the OS and methods for getting incompatible applications to run on Windows 7. Along the way we share tips and tricks, demonstrate free tools to analyze and fix applications and answer your specific questions about application compatibility live."
You can attend using this link – just logon a few minutes before 7pm: https://ms.istreamplanet.com/springboard
As part of the "virtual" experience, you may submit your questions about Windows 7 Application Compatibility to the panel live during the event—or submit questions in advance to firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Are you experienced with working within an SEN school? Do you have any experience with working with pupils on the autistic spectrum? A Primary SEN School in Rochdale are looking for a SEN Teaching Assistant on a temporary contract to start from January covering a member of staff who is off due to sickness.
Our partner school situated in Rochdale are seeking a SEN Teaching Assistant who is looking for a temporary position in an outstanding school, with a possibility that a longer term position may occur.
Do you have a passion for making a difference in the lives of young people during their education? Do you have experience working with KS1 and KS2 children with additional needs? If you aim to pursue a career in supporting children on a 1:1 basis in an outstanding school in North Manchester, this job may be perfect for you.
*** Previous SEN experience
*** Working as a SEN Teaching Assistant on supply
*** Working with ASC pupils
*** Paid experience
Teaching Personnel is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. All candidates must undertake or have undertaken a valid enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. Full assistance provided.
All applicants will require the appropriate qualifications and training for this role. Please see teachingpersonnel.com/faqs for details.
All pay rates quoted will be inclusive of 12.07% statutory holiday pay.
For details of our privacy policy, please see teachingpersonnel.com/privacy-notice


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Description (straight from Everyday Speech):
Our story based approach provides a context for learning language - giving the words meaning rather than simple imitation and memorization. Let's Use Language promotes literacy and provides an excellent starting point for further discussions and learning beyond the scope of the story.
Each lesson comes with interactive Q&A to stimulate discussion and measure retention. After reading the story, users answer 5 questions focused on the skill at hand. Custom illustrations accompany each question and provide additional context.Features (from Everyday Speech):
Let's Use Language allows users to easily create their own stories and lessons, complete with Q&A! You can even use your own pictures! Turn any paper-based lesson into an interactive experience your students will love! Write stories with your class for an all-inclusive learning experience, or turn a field trip into a story starring your students! Users can also add questions to existing stories and lessons.
The app also features a great settings menu, where you can learn more about Everyday Speech, share the info with a friend, check out other apps from Everyday Speech, and turn on/off text-to speech!
Overall, I really like this app. I loved that I already knew how to use it because it's the same format as their other app (Let's Be Social). Even if I hadn't known how to use it beforehand, it would have been extremely easy for me to figure out. My students enjoy the story format, so this app definitely gets and holds their attention! I really like that it covers multiple areas of language and that there are a lot of stories per skill set.
So in summary...
What I love:
-It was developed by SLPs.
-It goes along with the Common Core.
-It is extremely easy to use.
-It is story-based, which peaks student interest.
-It has a wide variety of stories for each skill set, and the stories are applicable to our students.
-You can add your own lessons or skill sets.
-There is an option to have the app read the story, questions, and answers.
-It can be used with a lot of different students--those with autism, those with language disorders, those who are learning English.
What I would love to see in a future update:
-The app mentions that it is based on Common Core, but it doesn't list which standards are used. I would love for the specific standards targeted to be listed after the title of that section. For example, list the related vocabulary standards after the title. This will allow for the SLP to connect their IEP goals with the standards more easily. I also don't know the rules about using the standards, so this may not be possible.
Would you like this app? It is available NOW on iTunes for $9.99!
Everyday Speech was super generous to donate TWO codes for lucky readers to win. Enter the giveaway below! Good luck!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Note: A code for the app was provided for my review. No other compensation was received. All opinions expressed are mine.


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- Navigate to https://moodle.brynmawr.edu/login/index.php
- Enter your BMC username (without the "@brynmawr.edu) and password — click Log in
- All of the courses you have access to are listed on the left side of the screen under "My courses." Locate and click on the course titled "InfoSecEdProgramFYS2018" to enter the course.
If you experience any trouble accessing or navigating the Infosec Education Program, contact the Help Desk at email@example.com or x7440.
Further Information
What does participation entail?
The InfoSec Education Program consists of two components: viewing a series of short videos (created by SANS: Securing the Human) that focus on core information security topics and completing the Information Security Mastery Assessment. The assessment, which consists of multiple choice questions and interactive scenarios, is designed to allow you to self-evaluate your mastery of the Information Security Competencies. All materials are delivered via Moodle (the College's learning management system) within the Information Security Education Program course (see instructions below for accessing the course). Completing the full program will take about 40-50 minutes to complete. Once you've completed the program, you'll be awarded the InfoSec Competencies Mastery Digital Badge; please allow up to 48 hours to receive the badge via Moodle.
How do I complete the program?
Instructions for navigating and completing the materials are posted within the Information Security Education Program Moodle course.
Be an InfoSec Master!


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text: Jergens has a line of skincare products. They offer Natural Glow, daily moisturizers, crema, oils, and cleansers. The Natural Glow line gives you a perfect glow that you wait all summer to achieve, without the sun damage and time it takes to tan. Jergens line of moisturizes provide the hydration your skin needs each and every day. For a complete five point transformation to firm, hydrate, illuminates, evens, firms, and corrects your skin, try the BB Body moisturizer. Jergens Crema collection offers three body moisturizers with either she butter, aloe vera, or coconut milk. Jergsen offers a shea beauty oil that combines Shea Butter and Argan oil to complete your moisturizing routine. The Jergens cleansers clean your skin and moisturize. Pick up Jegsen moisturizing products with these amazing coupons and savings.


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I know false lashes can be a huge pain in the butt to deal with, especially for beginners! I remember the first time I attempted false lashes it cost me 30 minutes of my time, a red eye, and a few strands of my own lashes. It was not a pretty sight. Eye lashes are all about trial and error. Just practice, practice, practice! Here is a step by step video on how to apply false lashes.
What You'll Need:
- Eye lash adhesive
- tiny scissors
- Black liner
- Mascara
- Compact mirror
- Lash curler
- Thin makeup brush
The lashes I used in this demo are Model21 #3M28 .
Model 21 eyelashes sent these to me, and I wanna give some to you! Check out my facebook post and comment on the post for your chance to win a pack of Model 21 eyelashes. I will be announcing 3 winners at random TONIGHT Wednesday September 22nd, 2010 on my facebook page. Good Luck!


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I did an interview over at the HAND drawing collective blog,
this is an excerpt from the lovely writeup they did for my work:
"Her dreamy small-scale works are marked by a vibrant pastel palette and whimsical hand-drawn characters making their way around cosmic found-image landscapes. Children scale magic mountains, gather wood, flaunt tribal masks, ride rhinos, and feed their animal friends amidst teepee villages which cast patterned shadows in the sun. We'd love to live vicariously through any of her charming, free-spirited creations."
read the interview here
read the interview here


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John Stonestreet and Ed Stetzer discuss the disappointing executive order on religious freedom and how the battle for religious freedom must first be won in the culture. They also discuss Ed's Washington Post article about the decline of Mainline Protestantism (and how math is math and doesn't care about our feelings), and, in the wake of another tragic police shooting, what makes each human life precious.
Comment Policy: Commenters are welcome to argue all points of view, but they are asked to do it civilly and respectfully. Comments that call names, insult other people or groups, use profanity or obscenity, repeat the same points over and over, or make personal remarks about other commenters will be deleted. After multiple infractions, commenters may be banned.


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Areas of focus:
Our inspiration
Education is the constant process & pursuit of knowledge about oneself and the surroundings to develop a perspective that would be wide, accepting & refreshing. With the ever growing population, the importance of education has grown manifold and has become one of the sole differentiators towards a better way of life-be it respect, status or wealth. The current education system though suffers from the following problems:
Lack of passion for teaching
There is a huge dearth of quality teachers as teaching is not looked upon as a rewarding profession. Teaching becomes a means of only imparting and not learning alongside that.
Just because the demand is high and people have a lack of right information, education is seen not as a platform to enlighten and nurture young minds but more as a platform to money making.
Lack of holistic guidance, proper information and direction leads to confusion, illusion & stress on the part of the students as well as parents.
Access to quality mentoring and facilities is limited to very few. Most students do not have access to even the basic facilities, leading to the ever increasing gap between the haves and have-nots
Core Team & People
Co-founder & CEO: At IIT, Rajiv started the Technology Transfer Group to transfer technologies from the academia to the industry. After graduating from Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, IIT Kharagpur, Rajiv worked as a consultant in the domain of Business Analytics and Intellectual Property . The exposure in the corporate arena along with internships at premier institutions like IISc Bangalore, IIM Calcutta, NJIT USA, TUT Finland, Rajiv gained important insights in technology, management and education to start Edudigm Education in 2009. He brings in oodles of positive energy, perspective and creativity to lead the Strategy, Business Development, Teacher Training & New Product Development at Edudigm. His strong interpersonal skills are not just limited to people but extend also to the realm of atoms, molecules and bonds – with whom he shares a special chemistry. Rajiv believes in the power of dreams and aspires to make a significant impact in bringing about a positive transformation of the educational landscape of India.
Co-founder & CTO: A graduate in Mechanical Engineering from IIT Kharagpur, Manish leads the Content and Technology Development at Edudigm. A reticent person who believes that action speaks louder than words, Manish's expertise ranges from an atom to nuclear reactors to differential equations. He can memorize up to 16 digit numbers by hearing them once, calls people by their mobile numbers and credit card numbers. An active sports person, Manish has been involved in guiding students directly through classroom programs as well as over the web. His humble background has been a great motivator for him to spread education to remote places in the country.
Besides, the co-founders, Edudigm has a team of trained faculty members supported by individuals looking after the Operations, Marketing and Human Resource.


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liushan wrote:Is V6 going to start soon in the near future? i had a look at the forum, and the newest post is about mid year of 2014, and now it's already 2015.
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Find Gifts For Women In Selbyville With A Mary Kay Consultant
If you need present ideas for a special occasion, let Mary Kay help you come up with the perfect gift for the women in your life. In Selbyville, you won't have to brave the mall to find a present. Just connect with your Selbyville Mary Kay Independent Beauty Consultant. Sometimes deciding what to buy for friends and family can be hard, but for women who love beauty products, makeup and perfumes, Mary Kay gifts are a treat that brighten any occasion. Whether you choose items from our colorful makeup collections, spa-inspired skin care indulgences, signature perfumes, or a ready-made gift set, Mary Kay has something for every woman's style. Contact your local Beauty Consultant who specializes in gifts for women. Your Selbyville Consultant has the expertise and advice to help you find the right present.


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We don't normally feature men's shoes here at The Fashion Police because, damn, but men's shoes are boring. Aren't you glad you're a girl? (Unless, of course, you are a man, in which case, "Hi!" and "This post's for you.")
Anyway, in order to resolve this sad state of affairs in men's footwear, Manolo Blahnik, he of the "so pretty you'd cut off your own arm for a pair" women's shoes decided to venture into the world of men's footwear. It was a plan that seemed like it couldn't possibly fail, for after all, Manolo Blahnik is:
a) A man himself
b) Is Manolo Blahnik
Why, then, we wonder, did Manolo decide to come up with a a pair of blue suede slingbacks? And animal print thongs? (The red brogues we'll let him have. We have no quarrel with the red brogues.) I mean, do you know any men who regularly wear slingbacks? No, me neither. Although, maybe the world would be a more interesting place if they did, hmmm?


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Staff at a leading manufacturer in Peterborough are celebrating after the firm secured a multi-million pound grant.
Perkins Engines, in Eastern Industry, has been awarded £13 million to help develop innovative off-highway diesel engine technologies.
It will help the creation of about 175 jobs over the next three years.
The award comes from the Advanced Propulsion Centre to support the development of innovative technologies for the engines that are exported worldwide.
Mark Stratton, general manager Perkins medium engines, said: "This collaboration is focused on engine performance, fuel economy and exhaust emission improvements."
The award is part of a £25.1 million project led by Perkins' Peterborough facility and delivered in partnership with the Coventry office of DENSO INTERNATIONAL UK, Loughborough University, Imperial College London and CMCL Innovations in Cambridge.
Mr Stratton added: "As the construction and industrial diesel engine market continues to demand improved fuel consumption, the project will focus on meeting this need while delivering low CO2 technologies on the next generation of engines.
"As well as advancing CO2 reduction technologies, around 175 jobs will be created by the partnership between now and 2018."
Acquired by Caterpillar in 1998, Perkins is one of the world's leading suppliers of off-highway diesel and gas engines in the 4–2000 kW market, developing and delivering dependable power solutions to construction, agricultural, materials handling and electrical power generation equipment manufacturers around the globe.


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Open Ended Questions Summary. The numbers after each statement represent the number of times that this response was mentioned.
Q. 6 Which types of application ………. should be approved?
Library 3
Restaurant/café 2
Semi-detached housing 2
Apartments 2
Terraced housing 1
Stepped apartments on hillside 1
More variety of shops 1
Homes for rent 1
Shared ownership for people over 50 1
Use existing developments 1
Hollins Lane for allotments and current allotments for
low cost housing 1
Youth centre 1
No large developments 1
Any within sensible guidelines 1
Each application should be judged on its own merits 1
Is there a demand for business units? 1
Q. 7 Which group of Arnsiders ……have housing needs?
Don't know/Not aware of any 3
Sheltered housing but with extra care 1
Disabled people particularly young and families 1
Shared ownership for people over 50 1
No social housing for single people working full time 1
People living/working away who cannot afford to come home 1
Provide housing for anyone except 2nd home owners 1
Q. 8 ………which open spaces should be preserved?
Briery Bank field 9
The Common/behind Redhills 9
Saltcotes's field 3
Station field 3
Field next to low cost housing on Briery Bank 3
Mustn't lose the (present) open spaces/all open spaces 3
Allotments 2
Arnside Moss 1
Roads off Silverdale Rd 1
Hollins Lane 1
Station Yard 1
Don't know 1
Q. 9 Which …………children's facilities should be provided/extended?
Youth club/centre 4
Survey families with children 2
Sports scheme 1
Improve recreation facilities on playing field 1
Youth activities 1
Already sufficient pre-school places 1
Plenty of facilities already 1
Has this question been discussed with the school 1
Don't know 1
Q.10 Suggested site for library
Spar shop 40
Memorial field 22
Tennis courts 23
Old telephone exchange 19
Top of Briery Bank 20
E.I. car park 10
W.I. Grounds 7
Westworth's 5
Promenade 3
Lower Promenade 4
Ashmeadow grounds 4
Station Field 3
Station Yard 2
AONB Office 2
Cemetery Chapel 2
Convert house in centre of village 1
The Common 1
In a church room 1
Disabled access 4
Q.11 Chamber of Trade ……..How should it function?
Group to maintain local shops/trades people 3
Traders/Shopkeepers 3
Traders and residents/tourists 3
'Chamber of trade' 1
Group with fair-trade 1
List of economic skills of residents 1
For greener initiatives 1
Local promotions buy local 1
Arnside Village Association (society?) should be the
basis to include all traders 1
Need is for a few affordable, purpose built tenancies 1
Discuss development of future business premises 1
A mini chamber of trade or community association
including businesses, residents and second home owners 1
Trade and commerce – anything that encourages talking 1
Ensure views of village met – combine skills, expertise
and ideas 1
Informal quarterly meetings & reps on APC & APPT 1
Long term residents and traders – village overwhelmed by
newcomers on the council 1
Independent of APC 1
Affiliate to existing Cumbrian groups 1
A decision for traders themselves 1
On a community basis – needs to act as a mouthpiece for
local investment – contact with local govt. etc 1
How many traders has Arnside got? 1
There was one before – not productive/didn't work 2
Q.13 Which areas of the village do you believe need to be improved?
Mend potholes 6
Road surfaces 12
Dog waste bins 7
Street lighting 6
Cut back hedges 3
Overhanging branches on Silverdale Rd 5
Extra cardboard recycling container 2
Plastic recycling at door or recycling centre 3
Paint/refurbish prom clock 3
Station parking 3
Disabled access to station 2
Path round to shipyard 3
BT building 2
Clean roads/road verge sweeping 2
Improve foreshore car park 2
Restore/extend yellow lines 2
Disabled access to library 1
Bus shelter provision 1
Coastguard building 1
Footpath needed from fire station to Scholes Drive
Footpath on top Silverdale Road 1
Footpath Black dyke to Swinnate
Maintenance of walls alongside roads and footways 1
Signs at Milnthorpe from M6 direction showing Arnside 1
Signs for walkers (tour of Arnside) 1
Signage on approach to village combined with gardens
(sponsored by companies) 1
Beach Walk café in danger of collapsing 1
20 mph where no footpaths 1
Cemetery looks run down 1
Ban notices on tree trunks 1
Part time linesman (lengthsman?) 1
Steps on lower promenade 1
Pier railings need mending 1
Fill in sides of pier 1
Salt Orchard Road when icy 1
Promenade gardens 1
Gardens outside Beach Walk café 1
Village benches need maintaining 1
Public toilets on playing fields 1
Fee car parking 1
Prevent jet skis & windsurfers on estuary 1
Stop litter near Fish & Chip shop 1
Between Swinnate & Briery Bank 1
Clear up deer faeces 1
Prohibit cyclists on embankment 1
Public toilets near alarm dangerous 1
Extra double lines on Station Road 1
20 mph on Chippy Bend 1
No more bright street lights 1
Cut verges later, for wild flowers 1
Q.14 Approve of youth shelter?
What is wrong with the shelter on the promenade? 1
Q.15 Approve of youth shelter on playing field?
Too off the beaten track 1
Q.16 Other improvements to bus services
Late night from Lancaster 3
More frequent services/more buses 2
Able to use "Now' card on 8.05 am service 1
Q.17 Which ………result in using train more frequently
Improved parking facilities 5
Improved bus to train connection 3
None hardly at weekends 1
Guaranteed cycle space on all trains 1
Last train in the evening too early 1
Q.18 ……..Alternative to current station parking arrangements
Station Field 44
Part Station Field 67
Station Yard 51
Access to Station Yard 55
Parking at rear/station building 10
Improve foreshore car park 3
Encourage foreshore parking 3
Connect foreshore to Barrow platform 9
Better access/for disabled 3
Access to both platforms without bridge 2
Access to rear of station 6
Car park/car park nearby 2
Parking attendants 2
One way traffic flow 2
Compulsory purchase for car park 2
Permanent traffic lights on Station Road 2
Better Access/for disabled 3
Drop-off point 1
Shuttle bus 2
Less parking on Station Road 1
Ashmeadow grounds 1
Carr Bank Lane 1
Free Park and Ride 1
Should walk to station 1
Network Rail supply staff to carry luggage 1
Q.19 ……..problem with parking ……..location for a car park
Station field 45
Part Station field 48
Upgrade/extend foreshore car park 35
Visitors to use foreshore 1
Better signage for the 'beach' car park 37
Station Yard 23
Pay and display 8
Charge visitors for parking 9
Car park behind station 3
No coach parking on prom 2
Enforce regulations 2
Small car park in field 1
Field on Milnthorpe Road 2
Widen prom 1
Below the prom 2
No camper vans or caravans on prom 1
Ashmeadow grounds 1
Silverdale Road (part of Ashmeadow grounds) 1
Redhills Road 1
The Common 1
Gravel end of W.I. 1
The school in summer 1
Designated parking area for locals 1
Encourage residents to use garages/driveways 1
Lancaster!! 1
Parking problems apply to residents as well 1
More car parking will only add to congestion 1
Insoluble 1
Parking problem with cross bay walkers & high tides 1
Q.21 …………More parking restrictions
Avery's/top of Orchard Rd and Silverdale Rd 9
Silverdale Road 6
Double yellow lines on Silverdale Road 2
Between Avery's and prom 1
No parking opposite allotments 1
By Park 16
Enforce existing restrictions 13
No parking on Station Road 12
20 mph speed limit/if monitored 6
Speed bumps on Church Hill 1
Speed bumps on Redhills 1
Speed bumps on prom 1
Speed bumps not 20 mph 1
Speed bumps Cemetery 1
Traffic calming Silverdale Road 6
Flashing reminder signs 5
On prom – brow of hill/ by The Gallery 2
Restricted parking on prom 1
Single parking on prom 1
Parking meters on prom 4
Pedestrian crossings on front 3
Briery Bank residents use their car park 1
Outside affordable housing Briery Bank 1
Top of Briery Bank 3
Black Dyke Road 1
Double yellow on Black Dyke Road 3
Remove on street parking/where off road available 3
No parking on pavements 2
More/restore yellow lines 2
Paint white line top of Pier Lane at road junction 1
Church Hill at Pier Lane a death trap 2
Pull in spaces on Station Rd wrong at garage end 1
Orchard Road 1
Another disabled space on prom outside chemist 1
Pay and display 1
No 20 mph/not necessary 7
20 mph not enforceable 1
20 mph would cause accidents 1
Enforce the 30 mph and the 40 mph to Sandside 1
Prosecute drivers who park on pavements 1
No campervans overnight 1
Keep village as it is 1
Impossible to achieve 20 mph with current parking! 1
No real problems 3
Q.21 ………… One-way or access only
One way system 5
One way anticlockwise 3
One way clockwise 5
One way Silverdale Rd to station 2
One way railway bridge to fountain 16
Hollins Lane 3
Hollins Lane one way 3
Hollins Lane access only 7
Access only a good idea 1
No/Not required/flow okay 6
Not required if car park on Station field 1
One way scheme ludicrous 1
One way scheme would cause accidents 1
One way would encourage speeding 1
Who will enforce 1
No speed bumps 1
No 20 mph 1
Speed max 30 1
On street parking Church Hill impossible for emergency vehicles 1
Further Ideas and Comments
Parking and Traffic
Charge for parking/pay and display 7
Stop overnight/parking of motor homes on prom 3
No Parking meters 1
Traffic wardens visit more often 2
Stop abuse by disabled drivers who park on double yellow lines 1
Dedicated station car park a priority/car park for station/behind station 3
Sort out parking on Station Road/lay-by/off –road parking Station Rd 4
Black Dyke for parking 2
Organise/refurbish foreshore car park 2
Pay for foreshore car park 1
Day long parking should not limit access to village 1
Designated parking for coaches 1
Crack down on people who park on pavements 1
Double yellow lines blind corners Church Hill and Orchard Road 1
1 hour parking discs for residents 1
Present parking for visitors adequate 1
Pedestrian crossing prom/Station road 5
More pedestrian crossings 1
Speeding a concern 1
Flashing speed signs 1
Flashing speed signs Black Dyke Road 1
Speeding on Black Dyke Road 1
Speed bumps Albion to P.O. 1
Speed limit/bumps Church Hill 1
Speed limit/bumps Silverdale Road 5
Speed bumps uncomfortable 1
Traffic Control 1
One way system 1
One way system inconvenient 1
Analyse traffic accidents last 10 years because of excessive speed 1
Concealed entrance signs 1
Mirror on Briery Bank – Stoneycroft Drive 1
Possible road widening on prom 1
Mini roundabout/stop sign Black Dyke/Briery Bank 2
Proper road markings on housing estates 1
More visitors should come by public transport 1
Phone if you need help with parking/traffic (previous experience) 1
No need for 20 mph/enforce 30 mph 8
No 20 mph – unworkable 1
Speed restrictions only as good as enforcement 1
More facilities for young people/children 2
Youth club needed/Activity centre for youth 4
E.I. ideal for after school club 1
Make spar shop into a gym 1
Pursue new playground 3
More inspection of play equipment and remove if necessary 1
Multi-wheel park or MUGA on field 1
Multi-purpose sports area for young people 1
Parish Council support for skatepark 1
Skateboard park detrimental to area and nearby properties area 2
Council should not support/insure skateboard park 1
Is there still a need for skateboard park? 1
Skateboard park benefits a minority 1
Subsidize activities and courses for youth 1
Parents should encourage children to engage in local activities 1
Meeting point for youth with CCTV &cyber café 1
Youth shelter instead of multi wheel park 1
Youth shelter would encourage drugs 1
Youth shelter should be supervised 1
Worried youth shelter would lead to anti-social behaviour 2
Library on memorial playing field 1
Disabled access to library farcical 1
Access to library for pushchairs 1
Extend library opening times 1
Library at Westworth's 1
Use old Spar shop for library and cybercafé 1
More buses, more regularly 1
Extra bus stop Black Dyke Road 1
Old system of tokens for buses, trains, car parking better than current 1
Ring and ride scheme as operated in Lancashire 1
Right of way through Station Yard 1
Access to southbound platform of station 1
Access to trains for pushchairs 1
Luggage lockers at station 1
Complain to Transpennine re useless shelter and information boards 1
Information boards on station still not working 1
Make station fit for those not so active e.g. bag carriers 1
Remove old boatyard and create amenity (e.g. picnic area/local history) 4
More allotments/split allotments/pass unattended allotments quickly 4
Annual village fete/carnival 2
Footbridge over viaduct 2
Swimming Pool 1
Cycle route along estuary footpath 1
Annual event where village organizations can promote themselves 1
Play area for old people 1
Public toilets on playing field 1
Keep Arnside surgery – no poly clinics 1
More litter bins 4
More skips at recycling 2
Better re-cycling facilities needed 1
Bring back re-cycling for glass and paper 1
Empty re-cycling bins more regularly 2
Household collection for plastic and cardboard 1
Dog fouling – heavier fines, CCTV, campaigns, stronger notices.
enforcement, more bins 8
Dog mess in Ashmeadow grounds 1
Dog fouling on foreshore not good for children playing 1
Vandalism – photograph and publish in Messenger 1
More policing to stop vandalism 1
More police/community officers on patrol 1
Lock public toilets at night 1
Street lighting on Redhills Road 1
More modern street lights 1
Repair and move solar light on Black Dyke 1
Supplier of 'eco-light' on Black Dyke should be sued remove and put
in conventional light 1
Cut back hedge on lower Church Hill /Silverdale Road 2
Enforce cutting back of vegetation- branches sticking out at edge of
road – dangerous 1
Footpath by railings on prom 2
Pedestrian walkway (cantilevered) from Pier to fountain) 1
Improve quality of pavements 1
Footpath Silverdale Road 2
Improve pavements–create safe walking/cycling Fire Station to cemetery 1
More pavements – Church Hill, Black Dyke Rd, Silverdale Road 1
Improve pavement on Station Road 2
Footpaths made of stone not tarmac 1
Make footpath 502026 safer 1
Road drains blocked 2
Cemetery deserves some TLC 1
Paint BT building 1
Paint railings (pier?) decorative colours 1
Notice on end of pier – seats for sitting down not fishing tackle 1
Railings on path (from coastguard to Redhills) need maintenance 1
Preserve village and leave things as they are 1
Paint dropped kerbs white to inform owners of parked cars so that
disabled can use them 1
What causes the scum on the foreshore at high tides – should it be
monitored? 1
Housing and Open spaces
Land opposite station best location for development 2
Preserve open spaces 1
Too many second homes 1
No further building on Hollins Lane – safety issue 2
Do not want any development to change Arnside overall character 1
No more housing until parking problem solved 1
New houses built should not be able to be sold as second homes 1
Increase in no. of homes needs to be looked at in relation infrastructure 1
Affordable housing 1
Affordable housing for couples working in area not single parents or
unemployed 1
Affordable housing for single people who work in Arnside 1
Shared equity housing for local people e.g. 2 castles properties 1
Need independent housing for elderly – something between sheltered
and nursing home 1
Action to get/make more use of empty shops occupied 4
Grocery shop on prom 2
More variety of shops 2
Develop local businesses 1
Encourage more small businesses 1
Craft workshops on boatyard or BT building 1
Maintain shops in village – not everyone has a car 1
Charity shop on prom 1
Restaurant/bistro in village 1
Village website to offer services or opportunities to lend equipment 1
Emphasis on usual problems – parking, affordable housing (questions) 1
Some questions biased 1
When the plan is reviewed ensure that short term gains do not undermine
the long term sustainability and preservation of Arnside 1
Village must develop and grow to retain youngsters 1
Need to look to the future whilst retaining Arnside as a good place 1
Plan doesn't focus on activities e.g. ramblers 1
More joined up thinking with surrounding parishes 1
Questionnaire lacks ambition and doesn't deal with the big issues –
lower carbon emissions, no plastic bags, no more parking for visitors 1
A.E.I. money could solve most financial problems in village 1
Not much changed since last survey 1
Well designed questionnaire 2
No need to encourage visitors 1
Council Tax too high as it is 1
Thank you to the Parish councillors and volunteers in the village 1


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FAQ < Walk through the Site > Our Mission Statement
Who We Are
We have over 20 years of experience in helping Christian artists produce great sounding albums, songs, and arrangements, as well as finding their true potential, calling, and the right course for their music ministry.
We're experienced with client needs, working on a deadline, fixing problems, and providing services like MP3 demos and overnight approvals.
Our producers are not just studio engineers, but amazing songwriters, arrangers, and consultants, who can help guide your project and career as you seek to grow to a new level of music and ministry.


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These are the two photos that prompted me to start saving inspirational pictures in a folder on the desktop. These cabinets are almost exactly what we're looking for, I love the subway tile backsplash (although we want our to be something like the light sage green from Ann Sacks), and we definitely want that much open space above the sink. Great, warm colors in the second photo, and the picture rail is what inspired us to use one to tie the dining room and kitchen together as one big room (which we'll call The Food-Making and Eating Place, naturally). Plus, the person who posted the second picture built that table himself. Talk about inspiration – whoah.
Archive for July, 2008
Folder of inspiration: oxymoron?
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged cabinets, craftsman, dining room, inspiration, kitchen, renovation, tile on July 31, 2008|
Endless Summer
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged craftsman, dining room, kitchen, painting, victorian on July 30, 2008|
That small paint card is called Endless Summer – it's a very tranquil blue, and Missy the Color Queen says it's perfect because it doesn't have any gray or green in it. We're planning to paint the dining room Endless Summer, and since we want it to feel integrated with the kitchen, we're carrying the color through the kitchen's soffets* and back wall. The flowery trim would have come down already, but I don't think the red goes all the way up to the ceiling and we don't have a can of it downstairs.**
I priced 2″ trim at Menard's yesterday, and the picture rail I want to put up is going to be a pretty small investment ($0.25/ft for 90′ of paint-grade trim). It'll be the height of the soffet-ceiling intersection in the kitchen, but also run all the way around the dining room at that height. Having the floor, paint, and picture rail all be the same will go a long, long way toward tying the two rooms together.
We're aiming for the craftsman ideal – large, open rooms of usable family space. With that in mind, I really, really wish we had a breakfast nook. The natural place for it would be under the window at the far end of the kitchen, but we want to open that wall up with a french doors and build a small deck off the kitchen. I realize a deck isn't a traditional craftsman feature, but the extra windows will make the kitchen explode with light and we love to grill. Consider it a nod to contemporary life.
Here's a picture from our first walk-through of the house (April 16th, according to the filename). Missy's dubious of the decor, but the rooms clearly have potential.
*which will eventually come out to make room for extra-tall cabinets. I think they were only added so there wasn't an open space between the tops of the cabinets and the ceiling, so they aren't structural.
**The previous owners very helpfully left extra cans of all the interior and exterior paint – y'know, just in case we wanted to paint more trim magenta. I shouldn't kid – it was really nice to have extra hallway paint after we took down the upstairs border. And we can use the actual column paint on the porch to cover up the concentric rings of color at the tops and bottoms.
TG Woodworks
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged craftsman, entry, furniture, stickley, table on July 29, 2008| 1 Comment »
Travis at TG Woodworks (or "comprising TG Woodworks", since it's just him as far as I know) is building an entry table for us, and since he probably isn't reading this, I'm going to gush just a little bit. We showed him some pictures of what we were looking for (straight out of the Stickley catalog, basically) and he was right on board. I think he really enjoys building for someone that knows a little about what they're after and why – we chatted about through-tenons, fuming, the magic ratio, all kinds of furniture-nerd stuff. The difference is that he has all the skill, experience, and tools to actually do something with the knowledge.
And the something he's doing for us is stunning – quartersawn white oak, traditional joinery, and zero metal. Seriously – not a single screw, nail, bolt, nut or washer. He doesn't even like to use dowels if he can avoid it. The corbels (the curved supports under the edges of the top) are put on with 9″ long blind tenons. Travis said Stickley used to attach his corbels with dowels, but he wants to do just a hair better.
If you click the picture of the table when it's dry-fit together, you can see one of the long tenons on the front left corbel. It's not pushed in all the way because the tolerances are so tight he was worried it wouldn't come back out. There's no reason it shouldn't last multiple centuries, so we'll pass it down to Josie, who'll pass it down to her children, who we hope will deliver it through many more generations.
Travis was kind enough to send some in-progress pictures from his workshop, and Missy and I took a few of our own when we drove there to talk about stain (and to ogle it, but officially to talk about stain).
Here's the pile of lumber that will magically (or possibly not, I haven't really seen Travis work in person) become our table. He said he's been holding the lumber for a few years, just waiting for the right project to come along. I'm glad we're worthy, because it's perfect. Just stellar ray-flakes in the grain – the kind of thing you can only get from a tree that grew slowly over 150 years. The tree grew on a farm near Poy Sippi, Wisconsin (about 30 miles from here – when we say we want to use local materials and craftsmanship, we really mean it) and blew over in June 2001.
You can really see the rays when the top is glued up and planed. Travis planed it by hand because he was worried the machine planer would strip off the rays.
Here's the table with the pieces all cut, mortises drilled, and tenons shaped. Travis said he still has 4-5 days of sanding (!!!), then he'll put it together with glue, stain, and finish it. It was rock-solid when he dry-fit it together for us, so once the glue sets and the wood picks up some moisture from our house, it'll feel like the table was carved from a single trunk.
If I told you what we paid for it, you'd (pardon my French) dirty your drawers. Do yourself a favor – if there's a piece of furniture you were thinking about buying from Pottery Barn, World Market, or Crate + Barrel, give him a chance to give you an estimate first.
He's going to deliver it late this week or early next, so keep an eye out for an update. I need to give the refinished floor another coat of stain and a couple coats of poly-urethane before it gets here. Can't have such a beautiful table sitting on a half-finished floor!
Enter at will
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged craftsman, entry, floor, foyer, hardwood, refinishing, renovation, victorian on July 28, 2008|
A house's entryway (or foyer – even vestibule – depending on your level of pretension) should give guests a sense of your home. It should be welcoming and comfortable and accommodating and all that, but it should also reflect the homeowners' design philosophy somewhere in its long list of duties.
We want our farmhouse to reflect the ideas of simplicity, honesty and craftsmanship (as opposed to what the house represents now – frilliness, affectation, and gingerbread cutouts). Since we're lucky enough to have an actual entryway and not just a door that opens into a room, our job is to make sure that 7'x7′ space introduces our house properly.
Or at least properly introduces our future, de-victorianized house.
Fortunately, we started with a good shell. The knick-knack shelves, golden umbrella bucket, and fancy wrought-iron left with the sellers, leaving us with a beadboarded cube.
The flooring was green and white vinyl tile, which held on tight and left plenty of evidence. Fortunately, a couple weekends with a sharp chisel and adhesive remover made quick work of it. Sanding took care of the rest (and yes, I should have been using a floor sander. And probably a mask. In my defense, it's a tiny little entryway). I stained with Minwax Provincial, which looked like a medium golden-brown on the can, but showed much darker on the floor. Missy likes the color, though, so it's all good in the Division Street hood.
Our entry table (which deserves a post of its own) should be here in the next week, so I'll need to put on another coat of Provincial and a couple coats of poly to seal it.
Then it's on to the doors. The screen door is getting a new screen and new paint, but most importantly, surgery to excise the victorian spindles. We've always wanted a naturally-finished front door, so I'm also going to unholster my heat gun and strip the exterior side of that. The inside is beautiful and it's a solid-slab door, so I'm pretty confident there's something attractive under the paint. Assuming a 26×28 piece of glass isn't outrageously expensive, I'm also going to try my hand at replacing that. The glass in there now is a starburst/firework pattern that offends my delicate sensibilities.
What does a classic farmhouse welcome mat look like?
Not destruction — de-Victorianization
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged craftsman, farmhouse, renovation, stickley, victorian on July 22, 2008| 4 Comments »
I've been chronicling new-house projects on Josie's blog for the past few weeks*, but after reading great renovation sites like Prairie Box and Bangor Bungalow, I decided to separate the baby from the house and start a renovation blog. (Missy's note: Under no circumstances will the baby be separated from the house.)
We live in a 108 year-old traditional farmhouse that the previous owners Victorianed the pants off of. Or, in the spirit of Victorian design, the previous owners Victorianed three different colors of pants onto the house, added lace curtains to the pants, and covered them in boldly-striped wallpaper.
Our goal is to de-Victorianize this house and return it to its roots. We plan to use salvaged materials (or failing that, local materials) wherever and whenever possible, and to do the vast, vast majority of the labor ourselves. It's a twofold goal – we're trying to do these projects with a skeletal (sometimes nonexistent) budget, and we want to reflect Stickley's Craftsman ideals of local materials and workmanship done by hand.
Our guiding aesthetic principles as we de-Victorian are simplicity, honesty, quality worksmanship, and connection to the land. It's a farmhouse after all (a farmhouse in the city still has a farmhouse's soul), and those are solid, traditional farm values.
As crazy as it sounds, in some ways I'm a little disappointed that we didn't start from the painfully low places that other folks do. The inspector called our place one of the best 100+ year-old houses he's seen, structurally speaking, so as much as we hate some of the aesthetic decisions of the previous owners, we applaud them for being excellent stewards. That doesn't mean we don't hate the faux-wood-grain paint on the upstairs woodwork or slightly fear the stove light cover made from an old coffee can, but you're not going to see pictures of us ripping out subfloors or adding a third story.
I shouldn't promise that. Let's just see where this goes.
*From oldest to most recent, those posts are here, here, more over here, some more here, a little more here, and here. Oh, and here. Not quite done – here too.


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I have a confession….I love mysteries. It is a major thrill for me to guess whodunit along with the protagonist of the story. I had seen various advertisments about Gone Girl. Since I had never read Gillian Flynn's work before I decided to try this book. I am glad that I did.
Gone Girl is about a Nick and Amy Dunne who are about to celebrate their 5 year wedding anniversary. Until Amy disappears. Immediately Nick Dunne becomes the prime suspect in her disappearance. This story has a lot of similarities to the real life high profilec murder cases of Scott Peterson and Drew Peterson who ultimately were convicted of murdering their wives.
Nick steadfastly proclaims his innocence even though the evidence continues to pile up against him. The story takes quite a few twists and turns which I won't spoil for those who haven't read the book yet. You may find yourself rooting for an unlikely character after certainly details are revealed. Gone Girl is not a straight forward mystery where everything is as it seems. It is more like the story of the highs and lows of this Nick and Amy Dunne's marriage from when they first met until their fifth year wedding anniversary. One of the major takeaways from Gone Girl is …do you really know the person you are married to/in a relationship? Or do you know a version of themselves they want you to see?
Next week the film version of Gone Girl is going to be released in theaters. I am definitely to going to see it. It will be interesting to see how the film compares with the book. Either way I will be posting my thoughts on film vs book. Until then feel free to leave comments on this post.


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Hello! Today we're sharing never before seen images from our Jenna Rose shoot, which was originally featured in Issue 3. For the full story, check out the original feature here!
Note: All photos were taken by and are the property of Erin Monett of Ever Images. Get more from Erin via her awesome site! Getting married anyone? Look her up!!!
We're also announcing the winner of our recent Woolly Pocket giveaway! Congratulations to Mali, who entered via the Pure Green Blog. You will have five days to claim your prize, after which a new winner will be chosen. Email info{at}puregreenliving{dot}com to claim! Hooray!


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Monday, 22 July 2013
A British prince is born
An hour ago it was announced by the British royal court that the Duchess of Cambridge gave birth to a son at St Mary's Hospital in London at 4.24 p.m. BST (17.24 CEST). The Prince, whose name has not yet been announced, is third in line to the British throne and it is the first time since 1901 that there are direct heirs to the British throne in three generations. The infant Prince is the first grandchild of the Prince of Wales and the third great-grandchild and first great-grandson of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip.
2 comments:
- Anonymous24 July 2013 at 05:45
Small correction: the new prince is 3rd in line, not 4th.ReplyDelete
Yes of course, that was a hurried typo (fourth generation, third in line) - thanks for pointing it out.Delete
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Dr. Elsie L. Scott
My father was different from most black fathers in my small hometown in Louisiana. He wore a white shirt and a bow tie every day. He did not eat "greasy" food after 2:00 p.m. because he said his body would not digest it before he went to sleep. He drank herbal teas before they were marketed, and he promoted walking and physical exercise before it became the norm. He read a lot and did not buy us a television because he said it was the "ignorant box." He talked about civil rights for black people to anyone who would listen.
He did not drink, smoke, dance, go to clubs, curse, gamble or even play cards. Yet, he was well respected in our hometown to the point that when he walked down Levee Street (the block where the nightclubs were located), even the winos straightened up and hid their bottles as they spoke to Rev. Scott.
With a "saint" as a father, it was not easy growing up. All the boys were afraid to try to "court" me because they were afraid of my Daddy. When I went to parties and started dancing, I would hear people saying, "I didn't know Rev. Scott let her dance". Other children would be surprised to know that I knew all the words to the top ten hits. One girl told me that she thought that all we did was sit around the house and read the Bible.
Beyond my father's religious "sainthood", he was the Moses of the civil rights movement in our section of the state. He was not afraid to speak out for the rights of black people. He refused to back down even when he was harassed, his family threatened, crosses burned near his house, his office burned down and he was shot.
At the time I was growing up, my father's activism and its negative impact on our lives was not appreciated by me. I longed for normalcy–whatever that was. I knew I wanted to be able to sleep at night without worrying about someone bombing our house. I knew that I wanted a life where I did not have to jump every time the dogs started barking. I did not want to answer any more threatening phone calls. I blamed my father for staying in Louisiana and subjecting us to all of these things. I once told my father that I did not know why he married and had a family because we were all suffering for his fight. I had to go to college before I could truly appreciate why it had to be my family that made the big sacrifice.
Beyond Daddy's civil rights involvement, he was always helping others. We developed a spirit of service from observing Daddy. From the time we were very young, I remember my father taking us to visit the sick and the people in nursing homes. I remember him taking us to the parish prison farm to visit people there. Even though I did not like the smell of the nursing homes, I felt good going to visit (We also went without our parents) the seniors because for some, this was the highlight of their week. I developed my zeal for justice from watching my Daddy advocate for those who had been unjustly incarcerated. My father never went to law school, but he studied law books so he could provide legal advice to those who did not have the money to hire a lawyer (or who did not trust the advice they were receiving from the white lawyers).
My father taught us sharing. I remember my father coming to my closet asking me to take some of my clothes and give to a family that had lost everything in a fire. He and my mother taught us to be kind to everybody regardless of their station in life, so we were always sharing even though we did not have a lot.
Daddy taught me the lesson of not letting others control you through finances. He paid for everything with cash because he knew credit could be used by the white people to control him. He did not want to have anything that would compromise his ability to lead and his involvement in securing rights for black people. As a result, we never had a new car, but our family had no debt.
I grew up to embrace some of the values instilled in me through the teachings of my parents, but most of all through the examples they set. Of course I never embraced Daddy's social values of not dancing and social drinking, but I did adopt his health and fitness values, and the spiritual and service values will always be with me.
My father liked to talk politics and enjoyed a spirited debate about politicians and issues. He would probably OD on all the political shows that are now on television. I inherited my interest in politics from him. I remember arguing with him about integration–that he had fought for–and Black Power–that I had embraced. Despite our different world views about the way we could achieve equality, he respected my opinions. When my brother was arrested and expelled from college for "inciting" students to riots again conditions at his college, Daddy was his biggest supporter. He fell out with some of his political friends who refused to stop the unfair prosecution of my brother.
It was not easy growing up the daughter of Rev. Scott, but I survived and I am a better person for all that I learned from him.


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The most exciting part of my international trip has arrived. This evening, I'm heading from London to visit Singapore and, if my visa arrives on time, Beijing.
I'm looking forward to the trip both professionally and personally.
Professionally because I want to get a glimpse of what competition in the Far East is like, and personally because it's the first time that I'm going to both of these cities. I had only visited Hong Kong before.
Both cities are 5 hours ahead of Istanbul, so my daily blog posts will be published around 5 hours earlier than usual each day.
Also published on Medium.


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Short showreel updatePosted by Matt Grover at 1:32 pm
I've uploaded a slightly updated short showreel to my various profiles (YouTube, Facebook, MySpace, Ovi etc) as well as to my main website, www.mattgrover.me.uk. The one on there's iPhone compatible too! ;)
Pownce it!
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Raspberry - eLiquid Flavor
You would think that the name alone would describe this flavor, but rest assured it's not your ordinary e-juice flavor. We use more flavoring than our competitors and only the highest quality flavorings for our juices. Try it. Compare it with another brand. You'll taste the difference we promise!
41 Reviews
Leon S. Mar 14, 2018Great flavor. Quick shipping, good products. Like all the flavors I have tried so far.
good tastemichael mosier Jun 05, 2017I enjoyed the flavor of this, yet it didn't seem to hold up that well at higher wattages.
True tasteLetitia Wall Sep 24, 2016Was afraid this one would have a candy taste, was very pleasantly surprised it did not. Flavor holds up in airy tank as well. Can hardly wait to put in SXK kayfun v5. Will be sublime!
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There's an old urban phenomenon taking on a new form in and around Manhattan, and you have probably seen it, even if you didn't know exactly what you were looking at. Consider the now-famous three-block section of Bleecker Street that runs between West 11th Street and West 10th (that may not sound like three blocks, but it is). With its immaculate rowhouses and lush trees, it could be Paris, and it now has the shops to prove it. There's a Lulu Guinness store, filled with $400 gold suede heels, and a block over there's Cynthia Rowley's flagship store, with her pink metallic shoes and diaphanous dresses. NYU students flock to Intermix to buy slinky-hipster fashion on their parents' credit cards, and there's a Robert Marc store with chunky architect-style eyeglasses. Ralph Lauren has two stores facing each othermen's and women'sand Marc Jacobs has a rather amazing three stores, all within eyeshot of each other.
For years, these blocks were more or less indistinguishable from the long eclectic mess of Bleecker, studded with delis, laundromats, a bricked-up dentist's office, and a handful of sleepy antiques stores. But four years ago, it began to rapidly transform after Marc Jacobs opened up his first shop. Within a year, the stampede was on, as high-end retailers sensed a Hot New Thing and rushed to grab a piece of it. Now Vanity Fair gushes over how chichi the strip has become (the new Nolita), and Upper East Siders wander down with their nanoscale dogs to browse the $800 handbags. Young, hip mothers push Bugaboos and sift through cashmere sweaters after lunch. On the weekends, the tourists and out-of-towners descend in droves. As do the celebrities: Julia Roberts and Scarlett Johansson and Sarah Jessica Parker, a local who is practically a fixture.
Real-estate agents shake their heads in amazement. Soho took fifteen years, says Gene Cordano, a Halstead agent. This only took three. Cordano says he gets calls every day from retailers begging him to find them space down on Bleecker. To them, merely being in the Village isn't meaningful anymore. They want to be part of those three blocks, and those three blocks only. It's so European, says Khajak Keledjian, the owner of Intermix, who fell in love with it while Rollerblading nearby. It just feels like a cohesive whole, says Cynthia Rowley, who's even moving into an apartment a few blocks away. It feels like a neighborhood.
More precisely, it's a microneighborhood, and it is now the defining trend of New York real estate. In the world of Manhattan business, the idea of a big, overarching district like Soho or Chelsea or the West Village has lost distinction. When retailers want to create a zone of hipness these days, they synthesize it from much, much smaller atoms: a couple of blocks. Hell, maybe only a single block. Examine almost any area of Manhattan these days and you'll find it balkanized into a set of breakaway microneighborhoods, each one proclaiming its unique character. The Village has arguably broken into a cluster of microneighborhoods: the sex-shop strip of Christopher; the restaurant corridor of West 4th Street; Westbeth, the early-adopter theater-artist zone on Bethune, a whole neighborhood named after two blocks, says Seth Kamil, founder of Big Onion Walking Tours. Meanwhile, down in Soho, Furniture Row has sprung up on Broome Street. In Brooklyn, tiny Dumbo has gone from being a weird acronym to a bona fide brand. The speed at which the microneighborhoods emerge has accelerated so quickly that some have already faded into historysuch as Silicon Alley, which briefly occupied a stretch of the Flatiron district.
Soho took fifteen years to become a handbag colony. Bleecker took only three.
In her 1978 book Metropolitan Life, Fran Lebowitz argued that New York was becoming so wildly upscale that individual blocks around it would soon be given their own names, like feudal lands. (She helpfully coined terms like Bejelfth for a stretch of West 4th between 12th and Jane.) That isn't a joke anymore. It's unbelievable how fast people slap identities on these tiny strips, Kamil says. It's sort of a philosophical question: When is something discovered'? When does it officially exist? When someone thinks of a name for it? And indeed, these microzones can seem almost like parodies of Manhattan's love of exclusivity. James Sanders, an architect and the author of Celluloid Skyline, a book on New York in the movies, remembers scoffing in 1995 when he heard about a friend registering SiliconAlley.com. I remember at the time thinking, Whatever. But in retrospecthe laughsthat would have been a useful thing to have.
In a very real way, microneighborhoods are an aftereffect of Manhattan's explosive gentrification in the nineties. It used to be that a real-estate agent or a retailer could discover a dowdy neighborhood, clean it up, and give it a fresh new name. By the turn of the millennium, though, pretty much every corner of Manhattan had been colonized. Genuinely discovering a full neighborhood is no longer feasible. The only thing left to do? Carve up existing neighborhoods into ever smaller fragments.
Susan Fainstein, a professor of urban planning at Columbia, says what's happening now is a rediscovery of side streets, because the big avenues of Manhattanonce home to many smaller retailershave been flooded with chains. So the little street takes on a new appeal, she says. Microneighborhoods are also, as observers drily note, very much a creature of real-estate opportunism. It's people in real estate creating interest in an area, says Kent Barwick, president of the Municipal Art Society. It's like with Nolitait got that name for no good reason, really. With real estate, a little renaming helps a lot.
While the trend has obviously been fueled by an overheated marketnot to mention today's rampant cult of brandingit is neither purely artificial nor entirely new. The neighborhood that's only one block long is a Manhattan tradition, a natural artifact of a city so tightly packed that people refer to good and bad blocks as if they were entirely different worlds, even if they're next to each other. The city has a history of tightly clustered strips of like-minded shops, like the guitar stores lining West 48th Street, or the chess purveyors on Thompson Street near NYU. You could almost map out New York by its clusters, new and old. There's a lineup of wedding-gown stores that have bloomed on East 9th Street, near Third Avenue, and a set of hipster nightclubscomplete with velvet ropesthat have sprung up in the previously dilapidated stretch of Ludlow Street south of Houston. A microhood of Korean restaurants line 32nd Street, near Fifth Avenue, and photography stores have long clustered on 17th and 18th streets between Fifth and Sixth avenues. And as Brooklyn has gentrified, it has produced a bumper crop of microneighborhoods, from the high-end kitsch furniture shops lining Fifth Avenue in Park Slope to Smith Street's dining corridor, to even a blocklong Arabic renaissance on Atlantic Avenue west of Fourth Avenue, where Afghan shops hawk Islamic texts and clothing.
Many people think that a retailer would like to be the only one of its kind, that you'd like to be the only shoe shop on the block or the only jewelry store on the street, so you don't have competition. But it's quite the opposite, says Matthew Bauer, president of the Madison Avenue Business Improvement District. Retailers flock together precisely because it creates buzz that delivers business; the ability of shoppers to zip from store to store brings in more traffic, which more than compensates for the increased competition. Bauer recently helped bring together a microneighborhood of crystal boutiques on Madison around 58th Street, and is attempting to rebrand it as the crystal district. According to Sanders, this phenomenon is part of the amazing self-organizing ability of Manhattan. It's a fundamentally anti-suburban idea.
See map of Bleecker Street: A tour of three microneighborhoods on one street.


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I recently had quite an incredible lunch at a two michelin star restaurant just outside San Sebastian. This same restaurant is on the World's 50 Best list, raising its Basque head at number 7. My companions were 15 Australian and British middle aged, middle-high income diners, with an Austrian thrown in for good measure. For some of us, it was our third night in the region, and by the time we had finished our 18-course lunch, most had declared that they preferred the pintxos they had eaten down in the old town over previous days.
Have you had that same experience, where you have shelled out the big bucks for a stupendous meal at a much-hyped restaurant, only to leave bereft of dosh and disappointed in both your own palate and the reviewing system that placed it on such a lofty pedestal? It's more common than you'd think.
The reason why many people do not love what are deemed to be the best restaurants in the world is actually quite elementary when you ponder who submits these reviews and ratings – a set of complicated, experienced diners. Not only do they dine out often, but they are fortunate enough to have patronised many of the most exclusive restaurants in the world, and are usually au fait with complex techniques and forms of ethnic cuisine you've never even heard of. Restaurants that hit the top of the lists are therefore more likely to possess the following traits:
- They serve novel food. Molecular cuisine might be on the wane, but there are many other ways to spark the interest of someone who has tasted everything. Technique, presentation, combination of ingredients will be peculiar to this establishment only. It might be modern or ancient, but it will always be new right now.
- The menu will involve many courses. It's the best way for a kitchen to display a wide range of talents. Imagine a scoreboard where all the boxes need to be checked – if there are 15 different dishes on the menu, and the diner gets to try them all on the same day, they will see just how clever Chef is.
- They have something unique going on with the ambience. Bentwood chairs, white linen and candlelight won't catch the eye of someone who has seen this 1000 times over. These places will combine contemporary lines with cultural expression, be in a barn, overlooking a cliff, accessed by a hall of mirrors, be ridiculously tiny, be grandiose, be like your own dining room.
- They are the worst kept secrets. A link between discovering the unknown, chasing up a good lead and not wanting to be the only one left not to try a place bring professional reviewers. Then, of course, there is the demand for reservations, which leave a high percentage of diners out of the loop, but still seeking satisfaction. Normal people want to know about the places they can't go, just as much as the places they can. Reviewers oblige.
- They are tied to their environment. Apart from unique food and atmosphere, there will be some reason that people want to travel to this place (three Michelin stars is defined by "Exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey"). This could involve a heavy use of unusual local ingredients, a way the kitchen clings to custom of the past, or a service technique that can't be found elsewhere. This will be more than the decor and the view, and sometimes might be hard to put your finger on.
After many years of eating out all over the world, I've discovered that I'm not really a three-star myself. Instead I hover somewhere between one and two, with a penchant for the odd Bib Gourmand. I've wasted hundreds of dollars and euros of travel money by eating at some exceptional places that have failed to sate me. There are of course, some that have been ethereally good, but others I find weird – food that is experimental and interesting but just doesn't taste good. Some 3-stars are pretentious, I feel like I don't belong in them, or they strike me as ridiculous or cliche. Some venues fill me to the brim with sights, sounds and calories, and I feel overwhelmed and ill after the experience.
So I'd suggest that before you next open your Michelin Guide (or similar), you take into account the following. Review yourself – if you like these things, go for it. If not, book with caution. Don't feel bad if you're not 3-star, you're in good company.
- 3 Stars – prohibitively expensive, experimental, complex, elegant and possibly pompous, difficult to get into, run by a big-name chef, waiters that are great at their job but can be condescending, menus that are enormous but full of tiny bites, other diners will be nonchalant fatcats, celebrities, die-hard gourmets or young men about to propose.
- 2 Stars – expensive, unusual, can be posh but more likely to be quirky, run by a keen young chef or old-school classic, eager and intelligent wait staff, must be booked well in advance, often a choice of a la carte or degustation, other diners will be chefs, savvy food travellers, local businessmen, couples having anniversaries, groups having a gourmet night out.
- 1 Star – less expensive in the main and often a bargain, commonly traditional or possessing a distinct local flavour, local patriach or up-and-coming chef, casual and slightly less experienced (than 2or 3 star) but efficient waitstaff, a la carte menus with good seasonal specials, other diners will be middle class locals, old fashioned travellers with money sense, family groups.
So how many Michelin stars are you?