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Friday, 20 August 2010
Challenge 32 - Winter Wonderland...
63 comments:
The DT cards are beautiful. Wow...ReplyDelete
Absolutely stunning DT inspirationReplyDelete
here is the link to my card
Hugs Kate xx
Fabulous DT cards, Singing along with you :D XXXReplyDelete
Here is my card Great DT samples xReplyDelete
I actually made two cards for this challenge and couldn't decide which I like best so you can see them both on my blog. Thanks again for a great challenge.ReplyDelete
My goodness, What a Great Challenge. All the DT cards are beautiful. Hugs Rita xxxReplyDelete
Great theme and DT cardsReplyDelete
Hugs Jane x
Here's my card
"In the meadow we can build a snowman :D XXXReplyDelete
Lovely DT cards. We must have been on the same wavelength with the challenges this week. Here's mine Marianne xReplyDelete
Another week and another great challenge, you certainly keep us on our toes girls. Here is my card for this weeks wonderland challange.ReplyDelete
Hi ladies - fab challenge! Love all your gorgeous DT cards. Here's mine:ReplyDelete
- Anonymous20 August 2010 at 18:32
Here is my first card! from Lucy (aged 10)XReplyDelete
Thanks for another great challenge. My card is hereReplyDelete
Here is my entry to this weeks challenge. Gorgeous wintry cards for the DT. XReplyDelete
Hello great DT cards mine is hereReplyDelete
Another great challenge and I just the DT cards too :)ReplyDelete
Lynn xx
Ooops almost forgot :(ReplyDelete
Here's my card post :)
Wow fantabulous cards!! Love the theme, my card is hereReplyDelete
Claire xx
Great Challenge this week and fabby DT work.ReplyDelete
here is my entry
here is my entry: http://annescardchallenges.blogspot.com/2010/08/carolers.htmlReplyDelete
Great Challenge fab DT work;ReplyDelete
Here is my card
Fab DT samplesReplyDelete
Here is my card
What a great selection of cards ladies. Well done. My little entry is :-ReplyDelete
Lots of inspiration here!! You can see my tag hereReplyDelete
Fabulous challenge and DT cards girls! You'll find mine hereReplyDelete
Thanks for looking
Ann x
Another fab challenge ladies.ReplyDelete
here's my card
Hi everyone, those are great cards! Here is mine, I tried to create and Easel card!ReplyDelete
xx Zoe
Thanks for the inspiration - JeanetteReplyDelete
Another great challenge - thank you. Here is my contribution this week:ReplyDelete
Gorgeous DT cards!ReplyDelete
Helen x
Here's my card
Great DT cards this week ladiesReplyDelete
Heres mine
hugs shell xx
Another great week girls and some fantastic DT cards - I especially love Ann's encaustic card; brilliant. You can find my card here.ReplyDelete
fab dt cards.ReplyDelete
my card
Beautiful cards ladies. Here's mine xxxReplyDelete
Hi, Great inspirational DT cards! Thank you. This is my post http://amanoamano-miria.blogspot.com/2010/08/skating-on-winter-wonderland.html#comments. Hugs. MiriaReplyDelete
All the cards are just beautiful this week. Sorry I'm a tad later than usual, lots going on at home. But Here's MineReplyDelete
Great DT cards ladies. Mine is at this linkReplyDelete
my second card, i'm on a roll nowReplyDelete
it's here - http://purple-crazy.blogspot.com/2010/08/christmas-2.html
heres mine - http://purple-crazy.blogspot.com/2010/08/christmas-3.htmlReplyDelete
What fab DT cards. I love this challenge.ReplyDelete
My card is here
Hugs Sharon x
Beautiful cards ladiesReplyDelete
here is my card
huggies lindyloo
Hey there, great cards from the DT - Here's my card.ReplyDelete
Fabulous cards and love the theme :-)you can see my card hereReplyDelete
Lols x x x
p.s ,, any chance of using a Linky ,, much easier :-)
A WONDERFUL challenge! Last week I sat looking through my stamps and found the textstamp saying "walking in a winter wonderland!, I wondered when a challenge like that would come - and here, one week later it is! Spooky :)ReplyDelete
Here is my card to the challenge:
I am well ahead with my cards this year...lolReplyDelete
Heres my entry http://dawniesden.blogspot.com/2010/08/xmas-in-pink.html
here's mineReplyDelete
Great inspiration! Beautiful cards. hope mine fits the bill!
Good eveningReplyDelete
Gorgeous DT cards! Thanks for a great challenge.
Here's mine
Lisa x
You girls really had some wonderful inspiration for us this week, but for some reason this one kind of stumped me, but here is my effort.ReplyDelete
Here's my card
Great challenge fab DT cards. janexReplyDelete
here is mine
- Anonymous25 August 2010 at 12:46
Lovely theme once again and lovely DT cards!!ReplyDelete
Here's my card
hugs Samantha :0)
Blanking on how to do the linked word thing so here is my blog address:ReplyDelete
A fabulous challenge and totally superb DT cards.ReplyDelete
My entry for this weeks challenge can be found
Carole x
Wow a busy week for you this week, you will find mine HereReplyDelete
Jenny x
Love the cards. Here's mine.ReplyDelete
Loved the themeReplyDelete
Here is mine
We have another card from Pattie who has had difficulties uploading her card.ReplyDelete
This is the link
here is mine again ladies. put it in wrong place sorryReplyDelete
thanks for looking Love Cynthia x
I know I'm late but better late than never, eh?ReplyDelete
Here's my card.
A great challenge and lovely cards by the Design Team! Best wishes Karen xReplyDelete
Here is my card : http://scrappydoodledoo.blogspot.com/2010/08/winter-wonderland.html
Thank you for a great challenge. Here is my card The DT creations are mind blowing.ReplyDelete
Love Susan


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VIP guests, such as Presidential and Elite Thunder Rewards members, may receive personalized concierge services and special attention from a casino host. VIP club services are usually based on play, subject to availability, and also may include hotel suite accommodations, limousine, special access to performances, priority seating at select restaurants, invitation-only tournaments, gaming offers and 24-hour dedicated phone assistance. A Team Member in the host office or hotel lobby would be happy to provide you with more information, or you can call casino VIP Services at 800-822-6182.
Born in Glendale and raised in South Lake Tahoe, Brian joined Thunder Valley carrying an extensive resume in the gaming industry. Brian worked as a VIP Services Manager with one of Tahoe's most prominent casinos where he trained new VIP service departments nationwide.
Brian joined Thunder Valley Casino Resort as a Casino Host in May of 2003, just prior to its opening, and has since been promoted to Executive Casino Host.
Languages: English
Cathi was born in Lake County and raised in Kelseyville and earned a bachelor's degree in liberal studies with an emphasis in comparative cultures from California State University, Chico.
Before coming to Thunder Valley Casino Resort, Cathi spent 15 years in the casino industry, specializing in a variety of fields and occupations such as VIP Services and Casino Host, Events and Promotions, and Player Development.
Greg was born and raised in Pennsylvania, then relocated to Salt Lake City in his teens. He attended the University of Utah before moving to Reno and working in the casino industry there. Greg worked his way up through several Food and Beverage Management positions to VIP Services as a Casino Host in 1997. He then moved to Roseville to be part of the opening team at Thunder Valley in 2003, where he serves as an Executive Host. Greg enjoys traveling, wine tasting, skiing and gardening.
A California native, Leif grew up on the beaches south of Los Angeles, where his love of the ocean began. While attending California State University Long Beach's School of Business, Leif decided the world was calling him and he began his travels.
After experiencing life throughout 28 countries, he settled in Chicago and began working in the service industry, including casinos. With 3 teenage boys, a beautiful wife, a new home and a Shiba Inu named Fox, spare time is an oxymoron. However, if given the time, boating is Leif's passion.
Kevin moved from China to the United States in 1991, and joined Thunder Valley Casino Resort in 2006. He brings with him over 10 years of restaurant experience and is also a part-time student at the California State University, Sacramento, pursuing a bachelor's degree in civil engineering.
Languages: Cantonese, Taishanese, Mandarin and English
Kevin 是一九九一年从中国搬到美国来的。他二零零六年開始在发达谷工作。他有十年的餐館經驗,而且现在在California State University, Sacramento读土木工程。Kevin会讲英文,广东话,台湾话,和普通话。
Mary is an Executive Casino Host. Born and raised in Oakland, Mary Guon relocated with her family to Sacramento in 2005 and joined Thunder Valley in 2007. She worked as a hostess in Koi Palace (now Red Lantern), then transferred to Player Development as a Casino Service Agent.
She is also currently pursuing a bachelor's degree as an international business major at Sacramento City College. When she's free, Mary loves spending time with her grandmother, who resides in the Bay Area.
在灣區奧克蘭出生和長大的,Mary在2005移居沙加緬度與她的家人住,並於 2007年加入發達谷。她開始在Koi Palace 被聘為 Hostess,然後轉移到Player Development VIP Service發展作為賭場貴賓服務員。後來,她晉升為賭場 Casino Host,而她擁有在客戶服務和客戶關係的豐富經驗。她也是目前正在攻讀學士學位程度作為國際企業管理。在她的業餘時間,Mary喜歡逛街, 購物,旅遊,和與她居住在灣區的祖母相處。
Languages: English, Cantonese, Taishan
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For all other inquiries regarding this service, a Guest Services representative would be happy to assist you at (877) 867-7111.
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subset: commoncrawl


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The Ugly Duckling
about the contributors
The Ugly Duckling
Thanks to Colin Dexter for reading this story for KidsOut.
One fine summer's day Mother Duck found a lovely spot under a willow tree by the pond to lay her eggs. She nestled down and waited for them to hatch.
After what seemed to her a long time they began to crack which was very exciting.
First one little fluffy head appeared and she called him Oscar.
Then a second little fluffy head appeared and she called her Maya.
Then a third little fluffy head appeared and she called him Henry.
Then a fourth little fluffy head appeared and she called her Katie.
"Oh what sweet babies I have" she said "what a lucky mother I am. But what has happened to the fifth egg I sat on?"
This egg was bigger than all the rest and showed no sign of cracking. So, telling the ducklings to be patient and play where she could see them, Mother Duck settled down on the fifth egg.
Days later, much to her relief, a tiny crack appeared in the egg. Slowly it grew bigger and bigger until POP, out came the ugliest ducking she had ever seen.
"Oh dear, oh dear" she said "what can have happened? He doesn't look at all like his brothers and sisters; he's much bigger and he's all grey and straggly".
The other ducklings looked at him "Yuck" they said "what's that?"
"Now, now" said Mother Duck "don't be nasty, he can't help what he looks like. He's your brother and I'm going to name him Jonathan".
Mother Duck led them onto the pond for their first swimming lesson. As they floated onto the water all they could hear were comments and whispers:
"What a funny looking duck!"
"Where did he come from?"
"I haven't seen one like that before".
"Is it smelly as well as ugly?"
Poor Jonathan, he couldn't bear it and felt very lonely. His brothers and sisters wouldn't let him play with them. However much Mother Duck tried to encourage him, and tell him that she loved him, he just wanted to hide away.
So one day he decided that the only thing to do was to run away. That night, when all the others were fast asleep, he crept down to the pond, swam across to the other side, and set off to find a pond of his own.
For many days he wandered, but every time he thought he'd found somewhere to stay he heard more whispers:
"What an ugly chap"
"Have you ever seen a beak like that?"
"That's such a long neck you could tie it in a knot"
Poor Jonathan. He was very sad.
Early one evening, as he was moping along, he heard a strange magical noise that seemed to come from the sky. Looking up he saw the most glorious sight he had ever seen.
"I wish I could fly up there with those beautiful birds" he thought. What he had seen was a flock of swans flying overhead.
On and on he went until he came to a river. To his surprise, the strange birds he had seen in the sky were there floating majestically on the glistening water. He hid behind some reeds ashamed of his ugly body. Jonathan couldn't take his eyes off these graceful white swans.
Suddenly, one of the swans caught sight of him peering out from the reeds and swam across to him
"Good evening young sir" he said bowing his neck "may I ask your name?" Because swans are very polite.
Jonathan was too overcome to speak, his beak dropped open but no sound came. No-one had been that nice to him before.
He took a deep breath and tried again "Ppppppplease sir, mmmmy nnname is Jjjjjjjonathan".
"Well Jonathan" said the swan, "why don't you come and join us, it's a beautiful day for a swim".
"Bbbbut you ddddon't want to be seen with me; I'm so ugly" said Jonathan.
"What nonsense" said the swan "whatever makes you think that? Just look at yourself in the sparkling water".
Jonathan bent his neck and looked down. To his astonishment he saw, not an ugly grey duckling reflected in the river, but the most beautiful, graceful white swan.
"Is that really me?" he asked, forgetting to be nervous.
"Of course" answered the swan, "who did you think it was?"
Jonathan explained how everyone had been so nasty to him and the swan listened sympathetically.
"Well, you're not ugly now" he said "you're one of us".
"Oh, how lucky I am" said Jonathan happily.
From that day on Jonathan lived with his new friends on the river. Never again did people say horrid words about him. Each evening as the swans flew over the pond his brothers and sisters would look up at the sky little knowing that one of them was the brother they had made so unhappy.


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Today (10th May) will see London host an audio-visual experience built around a concept and line up curated and headlined by Cult Of Luna, featuring 5 Pelagic Records artists: TOW / The Old Wind, pg.lost, Abraham, God Is An Astronaut and Cult of Luna of course.
In this podcast (link below), CoL's Johannes talks in-depth about the band, the festival itself, as well as interviewing Tomas from The Old Wind.
The stage times as well as full details of the festival, including the confirmed lineup which includes the likes of Jesu, God Seed and Amenra, stage times and where you can get tickets is also there.


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Mr Blair, who is Labour's most successful leader after winning three elections, warned the party to keep out of its "comfort zone" and give voters a clear vision of policies to create jobs rather than simply funnelling anger at "Tory cuts".
However, Mr Miliband hit back, declaring that New Labour had been "wrong" and that the country needed to "move on" from the "old solutions" offered by Mr Blair.
Mr Blair, who turns 60 next month, made what amounted to his most significant intervention in domestic politics since leaving office in 2007 to critique Mr Miliband's leadership.
Writing in the New Statesman magazine, his thinly-veiled attack focused on Labour's recent plans for tougher limits on immigration and its continuing opposition to the coalition's welfare cuts.
The party must not "tack Right on immigration and Europe, and tack Left on tax and spending", he said.
The former Prime Minister said Labour risked abandoning the political centre ground and returning to the dividing lines of the 1980s as a party of protest, a move which would damage its electoral prospects.
"The Labour Party is back as the party opposing 'Tory cuts', highlighting the cruel consequences of the Conservative policies on welfare and representing the disadvantaged and vulnerable," Mr Blair wrote.
"The paradox of the financial crisis is that, despite being widely held to have been caused by under-regulated markets, it has not brought a decisive shift to the Left.
"But what might happen is that the Left believes such a shift has occurred and behaves accordingly," he said.
"The ease with which it can settle back into its old territory of defending the status quo, allying itself, even anchoring itself, to the interests that will passionately and often justly oppose what the government is doing, is so apparently rewarding, that the exercise of political will lies not in going there, but in resisting the temptation to go there."
Some of Mr Blair's most pointed comments concerned Labour's economic policy under the Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls. He called on the party to provide a clear vision for creating jobs and economic growth.
Voters "want to know where we're coming from because that is a clue as to where we would go, if elected," he said.
Mr Miliband hit back at his former leader, insisting that he was taking Labour forwards "not backwards".
Asked about Mr Blair's article during a local election campaign visit, Mr Miliband said: "I always take Tony Blair very seriously, but I think what the Labour party's doing under my leadership is moving on.
"I'm leading in my own way and I think that's what's most important," he said.
"This is a Labour party not saying we got everything right in the past – I'm proud of the last Labour government, but I think we got some things wrong."
Grant Shapps, the Conservative Party chairman, claimed Mr Blair had admitted that Labour was not "credible" as an alternative government under Mr Miliband.
"Ed Miliband and Ed Balls have opposed every single difficult decision this Government has taken to fix the problems that Labour left behind - on welfare, on immigration and on the deficit," Mr Shapps said.
"The only plan Labour have is more of what got us into this mess in the first place - more spending, more borrowing and more debt."


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Create an Account - Increase your productivity, customize your experience, and engage in information you care about.
1st & 2nd Grade Football - Mini Husky Pups
This program focuses each week on a different football skill followed by games such as flickerball, interception, and many others. No football equipment required. T-shirt included with fee.
3rd & 4th Grade Football - Mighty Huskies
A tackle football program. Games and scrimmages are played weekday evenings (typically Thursdays) and/or Saturday mornings. Practices are held when coaches schedule them. Players meet their coaches at the first practice.
5th & 6th Grade Football - Junior Huskies
A tackle football program. Games and scrimmages are played weekday evenings (typically Mondays) and/or Saturday mornings. Practices are when coaches schedule them.
Equipment needed for 3rd through 6th grade football: *NEW THIS YEAR - helmets will be provided (they must be turned in at the end of the season). Players must provide:
View youth schedules.


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Business / Agriculture / Market Basket: Average quantities of consumables, including U.S. farm foods, purchased per household for a given base period, used to compute an index of retail prices.
Search Google for Market Basket:
Market Verb Synonyms: market-place, exchange, Stock Exchange
Market Noun Synonyms: demand, customer base, call
Market Adjective Synonyms: shop, store, bazaar, supermarket, superstore
Business / Finance / Marketable Securities: Securities that can readily be converted into cash, including government securities, bankers' acceptances, and commercial paper. MORE
Business / Finance / Marketability: A negotiable security is said to have good marketability if there is an active secondary market in which it can easily be resold. MORE
Business / Finance / Market-On-Close (MOC) Order: An order to trade stocks, options, or futures as close as possible to the market close. MORE
Business / Finance / Marketable Title: A clear, reasonably incontestable title to a piece of real estate that is good for transaction purposes. MORE
Business / Finance / Marketed Claims: Claims that can be bought and sold in financial markets, such as those of stockholders and bondholders. MORE
Business / Agriculture / Marketing Assistance Loans: Nonrecourse loans made available to producers of wheat, feed grains, upland and ELS cotton, rice, soybeans, and minor oilseeds under the Agricultural Market Transition Act provisions in the FAIR Act o MORE


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The Role of the Fire Marshal
The AOFAQ Level 2 Award in the Principles of Fire Safety and the Role of the Fire Marshal is a course designed to provide the underpinning knowledge for learners to operate safely in the workplace with regards to fire safety.
With our fire trainers being members of the Institute of Fire Engineers and Institute of Fire Managers, this interactive course provides employers with a programme which assists them in proving due diligence and demonstrates their legal commitment to staff training as required by the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
The excellent interactive course is aimed at staff who have been recently appointed or intend to be appointed as a fire marshal/warden in the workplace.
Our operationally experienced fire safety team take students through the following content:
- Introduction to Fire safety in the workplace;
- The principles of Fire risk control;
- The use of fire extinguishers;
- Fire safety legislation;
- Fire behaviour;
- The role of the Fire Marshal.
Multi choice questions test the knowledge which, on successful completion, will enable students to be certificated and act as Fire Marshals.
Comments around the best aspects of the course have included:
"Barry was one of the best trainers I have had."
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Contact Us Now
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Teeth Whitening Options for a Brighter Smile
Yellowish or discolored teeth can be unsightly. Yet certain habits like drinking coffee everyday and smoking can lead to yellow/discolored teeth. In most cases, people with stained/discolored teeth become self-conscious and shirk social occasions that require close personal contact. People with less-than-perfect pearly whites can do something about it, though. In the contemporary age, there are various teeth whitening options in and around Sheffield to choose from.
There are commercial teeth whiteners ranging from toothpaste whiteners to teeth whitening pen, to laser teeth whiteners. The downside of opting for high-tech methods like laser is that it can cost a bundle of money.
Alternatives to Teeth Whitening
The alternative is to try some home solutions. There are natural teeth whiteners like orange peel or banana peel that can be rubbed on teeth to eliminate enamel stain; and baking soda mixed with juice of a half lemon. A healthy diet with veggies and fruits can also help prevent stain on teeth.
What most people with severely discolored or yellowish teeth do is get their teeth whitened in a clinic by a dental specialist. A dental practitioner will normally examine the patients teeth first, and recommend professional cleaning or removal of all deposits before scheduling a teeth whitening session. This is not only for oral hygiene reasons, but also because unclean teeth, or surface stain may obstruct a whitening agent.
There are some teeth whiteners on the market, like strips, but these may irritate the gums. On top of that, there are certain products that leave an unpleasant aftertaste or sticky residue. Some individuals who want teeth whiteners that offer ease of use are enticed to try D-I-Y teeth whiteners. Products like this are offered online, and may come with a free trial offer but it's probably a better idea seeking a Sheffield professional instead.
Offhand, home teeth whiteners may seem hassle-free and small enough to carry around wherever a person goes. The more practical option, of course, is to do the teeth whitening at home. All it takes to have teeth that are several shades lighter is to use the gel applicator, rinse off, and let the products active ingredients do their work.
For the budget-conscious who may be a bit queasy about going to a dental clinic, a teeth whitening pen may be the most suitable option. Whichever method you choose, be sure that it will not damage your teeth enamel. If you have long been enduring the repercussions of stained or discolored teeth, it is time to take action. Check out the home teeth whiteners in the market and begin flashing a brighter, more confident smile.


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That's it for today! Tomorrow I go play ukulele for a Uganda benefit and then grab ma maman from the airport!
a final major project by Bonnie Kate Wolf
That's it for today! Tomorrow I go play ukulele for a Uganda benefit and then grab ma maman from the airport!
And now for some words of wisdom from Bonnie Kate!
I thought it would be appropriate to write a semi-serious blog this time, because normally I'm all "rainbowmagicflyingtrout"! But I do actually take life seriously. I went through my list of backer blog requests and rediscovered Darien, who'd asked I give some words of encouragement to daughter Maya, who is very interested in fashion design.
I actually wanted to be a fashion designer when I was about 14. I went to the Academy of Art University in San Francisco for two summers to study fashion (both design and illustration as well as fashion construction, photography, and life drawing). There, I had an absolute blast. Fashion is fun! It's full of colors and patterns and enthusiastic people. I designed collections and constructed garments.
Mostly, I loved drawing clothing and people. Sewing, I wasn't so hot on, but I knew I needed to sew to be a fashion designer. So I kept at it because that was my goal, and I was never going to give up on something I loved. I'd started taking art classes at my high school and was experimenting with media.
Around the same time, I'd discovered collage art and computer art. I LOVED making icons and avatars out of photographs like such:
Earlier on, my parents had told me that it was kind of a waste of time. Now don't get me wrong. I have very supportive parents (who read this blog) but I would spend hours in front of the computer. I didn't go outside. Not unless I had to go sailing for P.E. However, the more I experimented with this genre of art, the less I thought about being a fashion designer. I started making collages with real materials like such:
I began painting and drawing and creating digital work; soon the days of being a fashion designer were over. I'd realized my passion wasn't for the pretty models (while I still love drawing gorgeous ladies more than most things) or for creating fantastic dresses (even though I'd love to design my own clothes) it was for telling stories though art and design. I loved creating something that told the viewer a little bit about someone's life. Maybe that's why I love theater? Maybe that's why I tell my campers stories while we knit. (Yes, I do teach knitting in the summers.) I love to talk (as anyone who's met me will say) and I love to tell stories, which is why I've settled (at the moment at least) on illustration. Illustration is about communicating a story, in my opinion, and I love all the forms of illustration beyond anything else. More than fashion. More than graphic design. More than knitting, even.
If I hadn't done fashion, and graphic design, and even digital collages of celebrities, I wouldn't have found illustration and I would probably be working towards my other job interest: law. Seriously, I would love to be a lawyer. If I hadn't found art, I'd be prosecuting. But luckily for criminals everywhere, I found art, even if it took a while to get here.
So Maya, you're probably wondering what that exactly has to do with being a fashion designer; I didn't end up in fashion design. It's about doing what you love and what makes you happy and allowing the things that make you passionate to push you onward into new things. Fashion is an absolute blast and give it everything you've got for as long as that makes you happy. If, as you're fashioning, you realize that 'hey, I really love the patterns most of all', you may discover surface design. Maybe you really enjoy designing accessories and you start becoming the next Jimmy Choo (very cute, very expensive shoes and you could so go there).
Be enthusiastic. Be brave. Allow yourself to flow from one medium to another while you're young and exploring life.
But most importantly, be happy.
Tags: academy of art university, africa, art, australia, bonniekate, countries, design, equirectangular, fashion design, graphic design, india, kickstarter, knit, knits, knitting, knitting the world together, life, london, london college of communication, madagascar, map, projection, south america, south pacific, sunshinechilddesigns, the arts, wisdom, world
Visit Molly's blog here: http://mollomarknits.blogspot.com/
She's got lots of pretty knitting pictures and great information from her senior thesis!
Hi guys! You may have been wondering if you could come see the show. Of course you can! The private view is going to be fantastic, of course. There will be art and free alcohol, so come along and see the show! if you can't make the show on Monday, you can also come see my work (and everyone else's) Tuesday through Thursday (we take it down on Friday, so if you come then, you may see me if you come before 10, but it will be a madhouse and I don't suggest it).
Important: If you come Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday, you need to tell the security at reception that you're there to see the Foundation Final Show (if you bring the invite, that should get you in) because they're quite strict about getting into college, but the show is open to the public, so just tell 'em you're there for the show.
Also, if you read my last kickstarter update, it's important to note that the dates have changed. It opens to the public on the 16th, not the 9th.
Any questions and you can email me!
"What cage?"
The cage the map wraps around! Oh yeah, baby; it's a cylinder!
Like what you see? Come back tomorrow for an update about the kinds of yarn I used! AND how I got started knitting!
Lastly, if you are as hungry as I am…
Click that lovely picture to get your hands on some vegan, wheat-free chocolate fruit bars! And if you can also try Whole Foods to find them (in Marin, San Francisco, and Arizona). Om NOM.


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California Attorney General Kamala Harris' office recently reached a settlement agreement with online education company K12 Inc. and the California Virtual Academies, the 14 online charter schools the company manages in the state.
But the accord has been anything but harmonious.
The attorney general had accused the company of misleading parents in claims about student success and parent satisfaction, inflating student attendance, on which public funding is based, and somehow coercing the nonprofit charter schools it manages into bad contracts. Yet, after a lengthy investigation, it settled with K12 and the CAVA schools for $6 million in reimbursement costs for the office's investigation and $2.5 million to settle a private lawsuit about attendance calculation. Under the terms of the agreement, K12 admitted no wrongdoing or liability but agreed to various reporting, staff training and other business practice reforms.
In one of the most contentious provisions, the company agreed to expunge $160 million in "balance budget credits." The attorney general characterized this as "debt relief," which K12 vehemently rejects, describing the credits essentially as subsidies to offset the costs of its services to schools when those costs would otherwise exceed revenues. Given California's education funding environment, the company never expected those credits to be repaid, it said.
The attorney general's investigation always smacked more of politics than legitimate concerns over the quality of educational services provided. The Wall Street Journal characterized it as a "mugging" and an example of "thuggish government." It is probably no coincidence that the investigation came shortly after the California Teachers Association launched a campaign in 2014 to unionize K12's charter schools and K12 challenged the union petition. That union support would be very important to Harris in her hotly contested U.S. Senate race with Rep. Loretta Sanchez. In June, the union-dominated California Public Employee Relations Board certified the CTA, ordering the CAVA schools to collectively bargain with the union.
"There is a reason families keep coming to our programs and it's because we are committed to deliver valuable education services within the laws and rules of every state," K12 CEO Stuart Udell said in a statement.
If students and their parents are happy with the company's services and continue to use them, the state has no legitimate grounds to step in and intervene. K12 touts customer satisfaction surveys that show that 92 percent of parents say their children have benefited academically from the K12 curriculum. This should be the ultimate test schools should have to pass.
The sad truth is that public schools answer to the whims and agendas of teachers unions and politicians, not students and their parents. Policymakers should be embracing competition and new educational technologies and business models that offer students and their parents more options and greater flexibility to tailor educational services to their needs, not trying to destroy them while propping up status quo.


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|Picture: Innenhof der Alhambra, 1892Painting by Adolf Seel (1829-1907)
Wikimedia commons
Nuit Andalouse starts with a sort of stripped down, elegant gardenia and cool violet, green notes contrasted with a zesty orange. This is not the usual big white floral burst which is the start of most orange, this is more elegant and muted. As Nuit Andalouse developes, the flowery notes gets sweeter and deeper, but not as sweet and liqueur-ish as in By Kilian Sweet Redemption, this is a natural, floral, nectar sweetness. A restrained and almost dry in texture musk is present in during the whole drydown, contributing with a slight hay-ish impression. The whole impression of Nuit Andalouse is that of a transparant but not at all cologne-ish orangeblossom fragrance.
|Picture: The Deluxe falcons of Parfums MDCI,
there is also a plain version
Photo: PR Parfums MDCI (c)
Those who like lovely and uplifting orangeblossoms such as L'Artisan Parfumeurs Seville à l'Aube, Robert Piguet Blossom, Maison Francis Kurkdjian APOM Femme and Oscar de la Renta Granada will probably also like Nuit Anadalouse.
Rating: 4
Updated rating November 2015: 5
After more wearings since the review this one has grown and I have to adjust the rating as it's a very versatile and beautiful orangeblossom with excellent longevity, on fabric for weeks.
Notes: Orange, violet, green notes, gardenia, ylang-ylang, rose, orange blossom, vanilla, sandalwood, musk, amyl salicylate (light flower/cutted gras musk note)
PS: Parfums MDCI offers generous 12 ml bottles in the samplesets on their website


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This is the perfect (and healthy) lemon pie for a spring or summer day. The best part — it's guilt free and it tastes absolutely delicious.
- Pie crust (store-bought or homemade)
- 2 large eggs
- 1 can fat-free sweetened condensed milk
- 1/2 cup lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons lemon zest
- Light whipped cream (homemade or store-bought)
Step 1: Combine eggs, condensed milk, lemon juice and lemon zest. Mix thoroughly. Pour filling into a prepared pie crust.
Step 2: Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Cool pie then place in fridge overnight.
Step 3: Using a can of light whipped cream, decorate the pie (I made stars around the perimeter of the pie. You can also cover the entire top of the pie with the whipped cream stars.) Pro-Tip: Only put the whipped cream on the pie immediately before serving. Otherwise, it will melt in fridge if left overnight.
Recipe adapted from Weight Watchers.
NEXT: Check out more dessert recipes.