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The Blog
TheAmy Allender Blog is where you can find all the latest projects, freshest faces, and most current happenings from Amy Allender and The Art of Living Project. Here, you'll find inspiration for everyday living, Christian devotionals, awkward moments, design inspiration, and tales of my misadventures as I navigate life in Minot, North Dakota {or, as I call it…Practically Canada.} I would sincerely love to have you follow along.
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Hello Again
Wanna listen to this post instead of reading it? Click here to listen to the audio version.
Hello again. It's been a while and I've got a lot to tell you.
Not in the sense that I know a ton and I'm smarter than you.
Or in the sense that I'm about to unload a TMI situation on you.
It's just that it's been a while, and a lot has happened and I've missed you and I've missed this. But we've got time. So, consider this an introduction to Amy Allender Bible Study Blog and resources.
Last time I really wrote, I was in New Mexico, after having moved away from Minot, ND. Things were good and I was good and it was hot as blazes. But a funny thing happened. Even though I was excited to write…nothing came out. It was like turning on an old rusty faucet. A few drips forced their way out, but nothing else came up. And the crazy thing was, I was okay with that.
That alone is a testament to God's goodness, grace and activity in our lives.
In the past, I would have been upset that no words came out. That I had nothing to say. I would have bought into the lie that without a "real" job or activities worth writing about that I was doing something wrong. I would have bought into the lie that I needed to share my life with others to affirm that things were good in my world.
Now, mind you, that's not the only reason I wrote, but it was a reason. It was a way of reminding myself that even though I didn't have a regular, real job…I was doing things, I was busy and I really did enjoy my life.
I don't know if that makes sense or it's just me.
Any way, back to New Mexico.
So when I wanted to go back to writing and nothing came out…instead of forcing it–or thinking I had to force it out…I was totally cool. God gave me a great season of peace and contentment, at least where blogging and writing has been concerned. Once we traded the Southwest for South Dakota, I started to feel the familiar panic set in of being in a new place with no business, few connections, and little direction.
BUT–instead of falling into my normal, natural pattern of discouragement and despair I did something different. You see, last year at this time I was fervently calling on the Lord for help and He showed up in a miraculous way. (I pinky promise I'll tell you about that later.) I saw God work, I knew He was for me and I wanted His guidance. So instead of pouting, I got to it. I decided that I wanted guidance and direction and His grace more than I wanted the familiarity of a post-move depression. (Being down in the dumps is no fun, but it is familiar, and tricks me into justifying bowls full of ice cream every evening.)
So I prayed with intention. I prayed with expectation. Not expecting God to give me a certain answer, but expecting Him to answer. I told the Lord the things that I love to do and asked Him if He'd like to use those skills–if in His great mercy He could release me from the fear preventing me from pursuing things that He created me to love…even if they don't seem like "real" jobs.
I prayed and I listened and somehow I scraped up enough self-discipline to truly wait on an answer.
And then it came.
Around January of 2017 I knew I needed to return to writing. Not in a rush, but in a strategic, planned, thought out way. It didn't happen with prophetic dreams, or from hearing a booming voice. I just knew with great peace that Ineeded to streamline the content I was writing, to write with purpose. The hardest part was feeling a calling to cut out some of the variety in my writing. Instead of writing about everything and anything, I knew God was calling me to write about Him and His Word. Instead of striving to re-start the photography/design/video/art teacher/artist business again…in an effort to generate some income and have some kind of answer to the ever-terrifying question: "So, what do you do…?"
God gave me peace and encouraged me to trust that He will provide. That writing about Him is a good answer to that question. God has given me so much freedom in my life and this was one more place that He freed me. He told me that I am free to pursue this calling, because this is a good calling, worthy because He gave it to me to pursue, and that my value is in His eyes, not my job title, anyway.
It's been scary. No other cute way to put it. But God has blessed me along the way. He gave me a day job, He gave me ministry opportunities, He gave me opportunity to teach art and use my design skills in new ways. God gave me time to rebuild, reflect, dream and redesign. I wish this was done sooner. The maintenance mode thingy said I would be done in early March. But early March became late March. Which turned into April 8th, then just "sometime in April." And somehow that was okay. Instead of beating myself up for failing or falling behind the schedule, I knew God was in control. I knew the website would be done when it was done and that He'd give me the words when it was time to start writing again.
These are those words.
I don't know that this is eloquent or even makes sense. But I'm so happy to be here writing and sharing life with you again. I hope this reintroduction hasn't put you to sleep. Unless you are listening to the blogcast version as you are drifting off in an effort to sleep–then I hope I've totally bored you and you are snoring by now.
Just kidding. Everyone knows my voice is anything but soothing. That's why I taught high interval training instead of yoga. The voice. And the flexibility. But I digress.
Now that you know a little bit about the last year, let me tell you what is coming up–God willing. You probably noticed that the site looks different. That's because I've totally redesigned with a singular focus in mind–getting folks excited and interested in the Word of God and knowing God more personally. To put it simply, I want you to leave here inspired by God, excited about His Word and motivated to walk in faith.
Bible study is like my all time favorite thing and I totally geek out over it. There is nothing more important than knowing God and connecting to Him. It's what we are all created to do. When we intimately know God, when our relationship with God is right…we are doing what we were created for. We live in purpose, with purpose. Truly knowing God and understanding what He says in His Word will change. your. life. Change it. Remodel it. Always for the better–always, always, always. I love everything about God's Word and I want others to know that joy too.
If you aren't excited about the Bible or have lost your fervor–check out this super awesome three-day kick start! It's a good place to start if your Bible is dusty and you wish you read it more…but it's also interesting enough for a well versed (pun intended) Bible geek to enjoy.
I've really tried my hardest to tailor the site's design with readers in mind. Here are some new, cool changes I think you'll appreciate. First, I am creating and offering special courses and studies and series (like that three day kick-start I just told you about!!) that will be delivered right to your inbox. These are resources just for you that will come right to you. I'll always tell you when a new tool or resource is available…or you can just check the resource page. And I'll never, ever spam you. The email kind, or the mystery meat kind.
Next, to help information really take root, or to help you think through complicated topics, I've got worksheets and workbooks on the way. I learn best when I can think critically, answer questions and write things down, and I know some of you do too.
One of my very favorite things is learning about culture, context, politics, and society of Biblical times. Knowing a little background can shed a used car-lot spotlight's worth of light on a passage that you've never understood before, or add a deeper level of meaning to a passage that you've read a million times. The Bible always has more to learn, more to tell us. In the coming days I'll write about history and context and I know your interest will be piqued!
Over the last year and a half I've learned a lot about God's character. This has been a HUGE game changer for me. I'm excited to share my experiences with you and examine Scripture to find the truth of who God is.
Now, you might be thinking–"Oh, man…this all sounds great, but I really liked reading Amy's posts before when she'd tell us all the random and embarrassing things she did." Never fear. I think our most powerful tool as Christians is our past experiences and testimony. My best testimony of God's goodness and active nature is evidenced in my own misadventures. I'm looking forward to continuing to share my life with you in the form of true to life devotionals that may cover anything from an epic battle with depression and anxiety to trying to tame a raccoon in our hollow apple tree and everything in between. Because every moment of every day–every victory and every hurt and every smile–all point back to a wonderful God. (And if you get really desperate for the old posts, they are safe and sound over here.)
Lastly, if you know me, you know I L-O-V-E audio books. And talk radio, and audio Bibles, and anything else that allows me to learn on the go. I know we already talked about my less-than-yoga-instructor voice, but if you want to be part of this community and just don't have time to sit down and read…I will record all blog posts and make them available for download. It'll be fun.
I guess what I'm saying in all this is–I hope my gifting in the realm of Bible geekery will be a blessing to at least one of you. I'm honored that you are here. I'm excited to learn with you.
Hello Again | 5.16.2017
5 Last Minute Ways to Decorate For Fall
It's been a while since I've posted. And I'm hoping to come to you with a big fat explanation of all the adventures that have been taking place here. Let's just say it has involved dead bats, a new house, endless woodwork to refinish, contractors, and sliding to the door Risky Business style {fully clothed, of course} to answer the door when I thought it was Derek…only to find it was a new neighbor {who I'm pretty sure thought I was 15.} It's been one awkward adventure after another.
But in the midst of the arrival of boxes and furniture, unpacking, and shifting furniture around to refinish fabulous hardwood floors…I was inspired by the lovely folks at Arhaus to put together a post about fall decor ideas. Now…you know I'm a fan of total transparency, so I'm going to be honest. My house is currently decorated with polyurethane cans, rags and step ladders. However, my family is coming from far and wide {Indiana and Wisconsin} to spend Thanksgiving with me, and I'll be a monkey's uncle before I let my house go decor-bare for one of my favorite occasions. So this year, more than any before, I'm relying on my easiest, quickest, most trusty fall decor methods to turn my middle-of-a-remodel abode into something more guest appropriate.
For fall and Thanksgiving {much like the other holidays} I like to decorate with things I have on hand or things that are easily accessible and shiftable after the season is over. Therefore, the five items I'm going to showcase today are all things I have around my house that I like to bring front and center in the fall. Let's go.
1. Wool Blankets. I love wool. It's a problem. And it's growing as I age. I love wool blankets and wish I was rich so I could buy every single one in the Filson, Pendleton and Woolrich catalogs. I consider them a good investment, since wool never goes out of style and will last lifetimes if properly cared for. {I like to tell Derek I'm buying heirlooms…} As soon as cooler weather starts to hit and leaves change, these puppies come out of hibernation. I fling them over an arm chair, stack them on a trunk or end table for easy access, and layer them up on beds. They don't have to match, they don't have to be perfect. Just the fuzzy, warm texture is enough to bring a sense of fall into your living room. And since they can be pricey, but do last a lifetime–keep your eye on online markets {like eBay}, estate sales and auctions, and flea markets to score wool blankets for a fraction of the catalog cost. Bonus, if you come across some that are damaged you can scoop them up and repurpose them into pillow covers for you couch throws.
2. Natural Elements. I love that fall starts out with a big burst of color. Then things start to fade out and we are surrounded by an awesome neutral pallet. For this reason, I'm into using natural elements and textures to decorate for this season. It's calming to have a house full of low-key tones after the brightness of summer and the colorful pops that come with the Christmas season. Really anything that let's you bring a piece of the season indoors is fine by me. A few of my favorites. include wood discs, golden paper leaves, burlap of all kinds, birch wrapped candles {not pictured above}, feathers of all sorts and leaves straight from the tree. Use these items to make wreaths, fill vases and mason jars, and accent any other arrangement you might be working on.
3. Silver and Pewter. Something about silver and pewter just sings about fall to me. While I think it's a little drab for summer, these items come front and center in the fall. Something about them reminds me of spooky Halloween stories, rustic pilgrim meals, and medieval feasts. Group weathered silver items together on an end table or as a center piece. Fill them up with leaves, feathers, mums, or nuts. If you are shopping, suggest looking for things that are a bit imperfect, have a matte or pewter finish, and are not cheap-chincy chrome. One of the best features of these items is that they are a perfect backdrop for nuetral-fall elements, then transition seamlessly to Christmas by filling them with lights, glittery ornaments and evergreen branches.
4. Vintage Books. Fall ushers in a time of early sunsets and long evenings spent indoors. I like to hearken back to a time before Netflix, when our grandparents and great grandparents spent evenings entertaining themselves with books. Reading stories aloud to one another, using the energy of their imagination to generate the images. In my house, it's mostly board games and movies after dark {at 5:30 or so}…but I like to give a nod to this old tradition by stacking up my favorite classics on end tables. Or using them as pedestals for my favorite pewter pitcher.
5. Nuts. Nuts get a category all their own–even though maybe they are a natural element. Transparency: I've had these nuts for years. We own a nut cracker. Each year I get a few fresh nuts for cracking. Each year, more get added to my "decor" nut box. Nuts are a conversation piece…because no one really knows how to crack them any more. Kids are hilarious when they try to break in. And they can give your Thanksgiving guests something to do while they wait for the turkey…without getting overly snacky. You can spray paint them gold. You can fill jars in all sizes for a centerpiece. You can put them out in a pretty bowl on the end table. You can add them to wreaths. You can buy them dirt cheap. Pick up a few from the grocery store, set them out for all to see–and just that easy…you've decorated for fall.
I want to extend a BIG THANKS to Arhaus for featuring this post and these ideas on their site! Be sure to check them out and see what's inspiring them this fall. They have super pretty furniture and lots of inspiring decor–I'm flattered to be included. {Disclaimer…Arhaus has in no way paid or compensated me for this post or these compliments.}
More soon,
Sam and Katie's Place | House Tour
**This space has been featured on Shutterfly's interactive album "How to Decorate a Small Living Room." Click over for more great ideas, cool spaces and inspiration from other talented designers and decorators.***
Tonight is a super special, super exciting night. And yes…it's very much night. My day has gotten away from me, but I simply couldn't wait one more day to write this post. I've had some busy days lately shuffling my suitcases and precious Panda kitten from hotel to hotel and Derek and I house hunt. Before you think I'm writing a big complainy post, hear me out. Yes, moving rooms has been a pain. But–pretty much every day I wake up and praise Jesus for the miracle of living in Rapid City. Seriously…I cannot believe I get to live here. The thrill of living in the Dakotas still hasn't worn off and I don't think it ever will!
Okay. But back to the super special night ahead.
Remember Sam and Katie? Their home was flooded in May after an unfortunate plumbing issue. You can read about that here. Long short version is that the house had to be nearly gutted–and they hired me to help them restore it's charm. My job included installing baseboards and trim, creating adorable house-age-appropriate window frames, helping choose paint colors, shopping for finishes, eating Dairy Queen on the deck, soliciting help from the church youth group, refinishing furniture, and making a million trips to Menard's.
Rooms completely refinished include two bathrooms, living room, basement living room, deck. The kitchen was only half pooped but we restored that as well.
Fine…enough of me talking your ear off. Let's take a tour!
Let's start outside. First of all, let me state that we didn't paint the siding. The color shift is from a super cloudy night shot versus a sunny afternoon shot. What we did do–paint and restain the deck/lattice, upgrade landscaping, add window boxes to the rail, paint the door/mail box/house numbers, upcycle old kitchen furniture to deck seating.
Living room? You got it! Look at this amazing transformation from gutted to completely finished! When Derek saw this photo just now he said, "Oh, is that their basement when it was gutted?" Nope. This is all photos of the living room.
Since this is an old home, Sam, Katie and I wanted to keep it's original charm–even though we were working with new materials {since the original finishes were a little soggy.} I think it turned out fabulous. Simple. It looks lived in. Classic.
Here's a little list of what went down. Drywall {not by me.} Painting, new flooring {not by me}, craftsman window trim, baseboards, upcycled vintage radio to blue-tooth speaker holder {that's like my favorite thing!! the old radio was totally gutted and Sam had the genius idea to use it to hold their speakers}, new lighting and lamps, refinished end table/fireplace/clock, reupholstered chair, cleaned up recliner, gallery wall.
Next, take a look at the kitchen.
In the kitchen I added craftsman trim to the beautiful window, painted the door, hung new lighting, hung vintage plates on the wall and created a custom piece of pallet art. The room also got a fresh coat of paint and a new floor.
The bathroom where this whole project began now looks like this:
I didn't have too much to do with this. Just a little help with the floor and paint. But it's too pretty to leave out. Don't you love that shower curtain?!
Last, let's look at the basement. Again, the whole space was gutted. Unfortunately, I forgot to get a total before photo. This is an image of the old closet after the drywall was finished.
Sam and Katie like to read, so one thing they requested was space for their books. Since this space was not going to be used as a bedroom, I converted the standard closet into a book nook. This gave them space for their library, a quiet place to read, and a cool place to hang out when the youth group kids come over.
These two are also super musical–so it was also important to give them space for their instruments. So in addition to the book nook, this room acts as a space for them to practice their music and play music together. I think their basement totally delivers. It's a perfect harmony of books, music and quirky style. All paired with lots of storage and {of course} pretty finishes.
There you have it. Isn't it just the cutest??! Every time Katie posts a photo on Facebook I just stare at it because the place is so pretty. I loved working with the homeowners to create a finished project–but I mostly loved this project because it let me work with friends!
Great work, team.
Chalked : Fireplace Redo : Product Review
Tonight I've got more from Katie and Sam's place. If you have a piece of furniture sitting around your house that you have been itching to paint, but are too nervous to dive in…read this post. I've used lots of refinishing techniques before…but tonight I'm telling you about a product I just tried that is simple to use and left me with fab results.
I really wanted their home to have a "lived in" look to it, which was kind of tricky…because on many of the rooms we were starting from scratch and building something totally brand new. One thing that really helped give their rooms some character was refinishing and repurposing pieces that they already owned {like that rad grandfather clock} and selectively buying new or new-to-them pieces that looked like they'd been around a while.
Through the process of creating that lived-in look…I refinished a lot of pieces. This was super fun and a great learning experience. I didn't tell them at the time…but I kind of guinea pigged with their items–trying new techniques and products to see if I could unearth a new product that I loved. And I did!
I could write an absolute love story about how much I adore Zinsser and Rust-oleum products. If you read my blog, you probably know I'm in love with these product lines. So when I was at Menard's {my home away from home} for the zillionth time that week…and a new, pretty end cap featuring a new paint line from Rust-oleum caught my eye…I was immediately itching like a kid with pox for a project to try it out on.
The product feature was a display for Rust-oleum's "Chalked" paint line. It's pretty, chalky colors that go on with the tenacity of chalk paint and dry to a smooth, chalky finish {something that hides flaws much better than a high gloss coating.} Paint comes in brushable cans that can be tinted to lots of colors or sprays that come in limited colors.
When Sam told me that he wanted their fire place painted {because he, like lots of us hates clashing wood tones} I knew this was the perfect opportunity to try out that Chalked line. I loved it. It was so easy to use. It turned out great. If you are thinking of refinishing your first ever piece of furniture…I highly recommend starting with this line–it was that easy to use and the results were outstanding.
Here's what I used. If you read the post on the grandfather clock–a lot of this will look familiar. Once you've got the basics you'll be set to refinish lots of pieces!
- Zinsser's deglosser. This strips away and dulls furniture's existing finish so you can repaint without sanding or fully stripping a piece.
- Bull's Eye 1-2-3 Primer. Although chalk paints claim to go on smoothly without primer or any kind of surface prep–I've always found that laying a base coat is a good idea. Your paint will go farther and the finish will adhere better.
- Spray paint nozzle. It costs like $2 and will change your life.
- Chalked in Chiffon Cream–When painting a piece of furniture "white" I always opt for a cream or off-white option. It hides dirt and feels less stark.
- Java Brown glaze–I had this left over from my cabinet redo several years ago. A little goes a looong way. You can also use wood stain if that's more readily available to you.
- Chalked clear top coat–to seal in your finish and protect its longevity.
I tried something new tonight–putting the instructions right on the image. Do you like? I'm kind of torn.
At any rate…it's just that simple. Follow all the instructions on all of the packages. Do this all in a well ventilated area–or outside on a not-windy day…it's pretty smelly, and it'll dry faster. I promise you. If you can follow instructions, you can do this.
The trickiest–most artistic–part is the glaze. But even that isn't too hard. I think glazing pieces makes a huge difference. Look at the difference between the painting and glazing steps. The glaze defines all the cool detailing on the mantle. Suddenly, the ridges and grooves that were all but lost when it was naturally finished stand out like the star of the show.
If you are spray painting something with a glass front–like this–be sure to fully tape/paper it off so it doesn't collect spray dust. Let 'er dry and bring it inside.
Have you used Chalked? What did you think? Is there a product you've tried and loved? If so…I wanna hear about it! {And NO–Zinsser and Rust-oleum don't give me any bribes for plugging their products. I just genuinely love them.}
Erik | Class of 2017
It's no secret that senior portraits are my absolute fave. And when it comes to shooting seniors, I try not to pick favorites. As the summer progresses I meet one awesome kiddo after another and every session seems to be better than the last. But this year, I'm in limbo–living in a hotel room on the Surface of the Sun. Away from my beloved Practically Canada and all the teens there that are so very, very dear to me. All in all, this summer has felt odd, with the lack of families to photograph and seniors and their moms to tell lame jokes to in an effort for a "real" smile. But alas, in a far away place called God's Country {northern Indiana} I traveled and photographed my one and only senior session of the season. My very favorite. Of all time. Ever. {At least for the next couple years.}
My precious cousin, Erik.
Does he approve of the word precious? I don't know and I don't care. He's precious to me and has been since the day I first met him in the hospital when I was 12 years old. He was precious when he would giggle as I cradled him like a baby when he was six, and too old for that. And he is still precious to me now. But mixed in with the precious–perhaps even over shadowing it–is handsome, smart, and adult. When I look at him now, I see the little one I knew and the man he is–it's a funny thing. Sometimes, in photographs I think he looks just like our grandfather. Sometimes when he laughs he looks just like he did when he was little and I didn't live many states away. Sometimes I think he looks so grown up that I must officially be old. Most times, I hate that I live so far away. Which is precisely why this session is just so darn special.
I'm terribly pleased and proud to be related to this one. He drums. He's smart. He built a computer {whhhatt??}. He's kind.
Okay. No more gushing. I promise. My aunt is probably crying by now–and I'd be lying if I told you that I didn't tear up at the beginning of the editing process. Let's look at these photos. The art of this moment.
Besides the fact that this session revolved around a family member, this session was super fun and special because I got to shoot it in some nostalgic places. Football is a pretty big deal in the little place called Jimtown and Erik is the Center Snare in our high school's drum line–which I guess is a pretty big deal {we never had a marching band when I was in school}…so we took the drum out to the field. It's a place saturated with music and cheers, a place that is iconic to every Jimtown Jimmie–and I'm so relieved we had the place to ourselves.
I know most of you aren't familiar with Jimtown…but those of you who are will recognize this place: The old gym. It stands in the center of our little township. Abandon, unused, across from the pizza place, full of asbestos. A place that looks a little haunted and mysterious. A place that looks downright awesome in photos.
You know that thing that drummers do…where they are constantly drumming on any surface they can find. Yeah, Erik does that. But it totally works. Because photos always look best when the person being photographed is caught in the act of being completely normal. Right?
Well that's it. Kind of. I'll be honest and tell you that I went totally overboard on this. Family…I loved every minute of this session…and you are about to receive a giant flash drive. Oops! I just couldn't narrow it down.
Happy Monday,
Not Your Grandfather's Clock
I start lots of thoughts and stories with the phrase, "Here's the thing…" And as hard as I've tried to think of another way to start this post, I just can't. So…
Here's the thing about really gutsy accent pieces. I find them very easy to create for other people…and I'm terrified to make one for myself. Is this because I'm a safe person? I don't know. I don't think my mom would use "safe" as the first adjective to describe me. It's probably that at heart I'm a big scardy cat of commitment. In my house, I stick to what I know–white, white and more white. Or–I just leave a piece untouched and spend
months years mulling over what color to paint a ratty old chair.
BUT–I'm a lot more brave when it comes to other people's things. Especially if they are confident, and bold, and hip enough to want a funky accent piece. Which is exactly the case with Sam and Katie.
Here's the other thing–usually it's the wife who wants furniture painted, and the husband is all, "…that's real wood! You can't paint that. I like how it is…" Not in this house! In this case Sam was the big, bold, furniture-painting, color-popping machine. When he told me they had an old grandfather clock that he wanted painted in a quirky color, I knew it'd be a fun project…but never in a million years did I imagine just how fabulous it would turn out. I think the moment when the last bit of paint was dry on this bad boy and I peeled off the last scrap of tape was a momentous moment in my life: It was a moment when I shed a little color fear and my eyes were opened to just how awesome something totally bold can be.
This is one of my most favorite things ever. For real. I want to make one for myself. Or steal theirs. Luckily–it was pretty easy. Here's how we did it.
Shopping List
Here is a handy list of all the supplies I used on this project. I got them all at Menard's {who should really be sponsoring this blog because I love them so much and I give them a lot of free advertising.} But I'm sure you can get most of this stuff at your local store.
I've conveniently listed the supplied in the order they are used. Just use one after the other {follow all package instructions} and you'll be good to go. Click the links and you'll be taken to the Menard's product page.
- Paint deglosser from Zinsser {I love their products and trust them all.}
- Bull's Eye Primer–it's formulated to stick to all surfaces
- Spray paint nozzle–this will change your life for $2.50
- Spray paint
- Rustoleum satin nickel finish spray paint
- Java Brown decorative glaze–I used the leftovers from my cabinet project
- Chalked clear top coat {can you guys tell I'm a huge fan of Rust-oleum?}
Find Your Piece
Step one is choosing a cool piece to accent. The clock came out especially cool because it's a very classic and formal piece in a totally unexpected color. That kind of juxtaposition makes for a great accent. They had this clock sitting around. They didn't love it. It wasn't getting used or looked at. It was a little beat up. It was not a family heirloom, so if it got messed up, they wouldn't be heart broken. All these factors add up to a good make over piece. {Especially for a beginner.}
Don't Skip Steps
If you want your paint project to last, don't skip steps and definitely don't skip prep! For something that's not going to get touched very often, or treated roughly you have a little more leeway. Since the clock probably isn't going to endure a lot of abuse, using mid-grade products and prep will do just fine. For something that will see heavy traffic–like a dining table–you'll want to go to extremes to make sure your finish isn't going to chip off.
First I dissembled the clock as much as possible–be super careful with the springs and gears, though! Carefully remove the head and doors and finial. Take out the weights and protect anything that you don't want painted with tape or paper.
Next, degloss the whole surface. Grandfather clocks are typically pretty shiny/glossy. Dulling that surface down will give you a clean surface to work with–and will help the paint adhere better.
Prime all your pieces using a brush. I did two coats of primer and a light sanding afterward to get rid of any drips or brush lines.
Now spray paint your surface. Seriously, get one of those spray nozzles if you don't already own one. In my ideal world, I would have been able to find a matte spray paint in the color we wanted…but it didn't happen. The end result of my spray painting left me with a very shiny, very Barbie-pink clock. To tone it down I added a few extra steps:
After the pink paint had dried {you might need two coats}, I went over the whole piece with deglosser again to get rid of the shine–just don't rub too hard, or you'll strip the paint. Then I sanded down the edges of the details {any curved piece, sides of doors, etc} to add a little wear to it and expose the dark wood tone below. Finally, I used the glaze to bring out the detail even further. Using a small paint brush, brush glaze {or use wood stain} into the crevices of the piece–then immediately wipe out the excess…leaving dark stain or glaze in the cracks. I also brushed and wiped glaze off of the sides of the clock to tone down the color a bit.
Then…while all that was drying, I went to work on the inside of the clock. We painted the inside using one of the paint samples that was not chosen for the living room walls {see discussion on paint samples here.} I sprayed the weights satin nickel, and carefully taped off the wood and also sprayed the face of the clock–the gold just didn't seem to fit with the funky new color.
After it's all dry, move it inside and bask in the glory of your clock. Awesome, right?
How to Pick Paint Colors | 5 Easy Steps
Can you tell me how to pick paint colors for my house?
Man, oh man, oh man, oh man. This is a million dollar question that I get asked all the time. And by million dollar–I mean, if I got paid a dollar each time I've been asked how to go about picking paint colors without regret…I'd probably have a million by now.
Not that I get tired of fielding this question. It's valid. And picking paint colors is super stressful! {At least for people who are afraid of commitment…like me.} If you've ever picked a color, and disliked it as you were rolling it on the wall, telling yourself, "Maybe I'll like it better when it's dry…" Or, "It'll look better when the whole room is painted…" only to hate it even more once it's dry and once you've dedicated a whole weekend to painting–you know the pain of picking poorly. If at all possible, it's best to avoid that situation all together. So here…is my very best advice for picking colors with no regrats….I mean, no regrets.
As you may remember, I started telling you about Sam and Katie's house. Long story short, there was an epic indoor floor and I was lucky enough to come on board {ahoy mateys!} to help with the recovery process. Since everything was ripped out {see before photos here} they had to start from scratch and pick wall colors for pretty much all their walls. Since their project is fresh in my mind, we'll use them as an example.
How to pick paint colors | Five easy steps
1. Know Yourself.
This is key when picking paint. Just know what you like. If you gravitate toward cool colors–stick to that. If you love white and cream and gray in sweaters and typeface and accessories, you probably aren't going to love waking up to a burnt orange bedroom. If you are completely indecisive, get to know yourself. Spend time making a Pinterest board {yes, I'm giving you this assignment.} Pin any room that you think has a pretty color. Pin cabinets that you like. Pin anything painted that strikes your fancy. Don't look back at the board until you've got a bunch of pins. Chances are, you'll see a theme. Proof? Here's mine. See a trend? And if you wanna cheat, you can just follow my board here.
2. Take Out the Guesswork
Once you kind of know what you like you need to find some paint. If you walk into a home improvement store and approach the rainbow wall of chips, you'll soon see that liking "gray" isn't as concrete as you once thought. Suddenly there are cool grays and warm grays. There's sidewalk, and moonlit path, and ethereal mood. Take some of the guesswork out by going to a paint store–where the employees deal only in paint. {I love Sherwin Williams for this.} There you'll easily find color pallets, premade, just for you. See SW's color pallets here. Pick the one that has colors most similar to your pinterest board. Colors within the pallet are all made to look good together, now it's just a matter of picking your favorites.
3. Don't Trust the Pictures
Paint pallets will often come with images of the paint color used in staged rooms. These are a good starting point–but don't trust the photos. Paint is keenly effected by light. The direction of light coming in to your windows. The placement of your lamps. The warmth of your lightbulbs. The strength of the sun in your zip code all effect how a paint color will actually look on your actual walls. It's all very sciency and light wavy.
Photos in the professional images are made to look perfect with flash bulbs and perfectly controlled lighting. You probably don't live on a photo set…so you'll need to shell out a few bucks for some sample jars.
Samples cost money–true. But they could also save you bigger money on wasting a gallon of paint that you hate. So, get out the cash {they usually run about $5 each}. And don't sweat the left overs. These are all colors you like anyway, so you can put them to use later on smaller projects. {I'll show you how to use them next week.}
When you sample, sample right. Put up a big swatch of color on every wall in the room you'll be painting. The color will look different on different walls. Keep track of what color you put where–I like to make a grid on the wall, and on a piece of paper. If there is a shadow {like under a kitchen cabinet} paint it there. If you can see from one room into another, paint where you can see the two colors coming together. You can see in the image above where we put samples for Katie and Sam. Once they are up–wait. Leave your swatches alone. Look at them in the morning. See how they look with your lamps on. See how you like them with over head lights on. Then decide.
4. Limit Yourself
A lot of variety is good sometimes. Like…in a workout routine or in ice cream flavors. When it comes to paint–limit yourself. Different paint colors will help define separate areas of your home–but too many colors will cause disunity and confusion, and an overall circusy feeling. And it's a lot of work and a lot of left over paint.
I like to stick to about four colors in a home. You can go bigger if you like. But four is a pretty safe area. There is some repetition which lends continuity–but there is enough variety to keep it interesting. I like to play it safe when it comes to color commitment. Then I get gutsier with smaller, more mobile things…accessory accents.
5. Accent Colors
Once you've got your walls done you can think about accents. If you are aching for a pop of color, decide on where you'd like it. Do you have an old piece of furniture you'd like to paint? Perfect. This can be an accent! Wanna paint your bland, beat up door? Perfect. Paint the inside too!
Go through a similar process. Look at colors you like. Grab a paint chip {the paper with the color on it} and tape it to the furniture/door/area your accent will live. Give it a day or two before you decide.
If you don't know where to start–start with a paint pallet…those often include accent ideas. Or make another Pin board. If in doubt, mustard yellow, peacock blue, and a toned down coral are always good "pop" pieces against a fairly neutral wall.
Happy painting! Did I miss anything? How do you pick your paint colors? Oh–and don't you love that clock?!! I'll show you how I made it happen tomorrow.
How To Tackle a Big Home Improvement Project
Have you ever faced a goal or wanted to start in on a big project, but were unsure of where to begin? I think most of us have been there. I know I've been there many times. But being unsure of how to start a big project, is no reason to avoid ambitious undertakings. I wrote a piece on tackling large goals for Start Up Mindset a while back–you can see the piece here. Today I'm going to talk about tackling a big home improvement project.
Whether your projects are big or small–when you've got lots of things that need to be done, it's tricky to find a good starting point and have the tenacity to get the job done. Today, I've compiled a list of five tips for tackling overwhelming home projects.
Yesterday I told you about Katie and Sam's tragic indoor flood. Since the water laid waste to most of their house, and the rest of it was already on the do-list, their home is the perfect case study for undertaking a big project.
1. Identify the most important things.
Take it from me, some parts of a project are much more fun than others. Picking out a new couch, potting plants, and hanging a gallery wall are all super fun and super rewarding. They offer instant gratification and rarely leave your mind frazzled or toes stubbed. But–these are not the most important components of your project.
Don't get side tracked by the stuff you find fun. Keep a rational mind. Look around objectively and decide what is most important to your day to day living.
For Katie and Sam, the absolute most important thing was getting their full bathroom up and running again. The flood displaced them from their home and they were unable to move home until they had a place to shower and a toilet to use.
Take care of the necessities first. A working bathroom. A water heater. Working appliances. Proper plumbing and working sinks. Safe, working lights. Fix broken windows. Take care of leaks.
2. Know your limits.
After you've decided on your priorities, think about your limits. Are you capable of putting in a new toilet? Do you know how to hang drywall? Can you safely and properly install new wiring? If vital parts of your project are outside of your scope–outsource them. Delegate. Years down the line when your wiring isn't catching fire and your pipes are intact, you'll be glad you trusted a pro–even if it did cost a little extra.
Another limit to think about is your time. Even if you can do these things–do you have the time? Can you commit to getting these things done in a timely manner, or is it worth the extra expense to have it done quickly, efficiently and professionally? Lots of folks want to be DIY-ers, but soon find out that home improvement takes a lot of time and projects can drag on much longer than expected. I believe in finishing projects–as well as starting them. It becomes cumbersome to live in a construction zone–if you don't have the skills {or energy/ability to learn the skills needed}, or time to commit, delegate.
At Katie and Sam's place they helped with lots of stuff and delegated lots of stuff. Proper flood clean up, plumbing, drywall/texturing, doors, trim and floor installation were delegated to contractors. They helped with painting, prep, shopping, electronic installation, etc. It was important to them that they project was done quickly and skillfully–so they outsourced the big stuff and some of the smaller things that they were capable of, but didn't have time to commit to.
3. Make a list of wants and objectives.
Outside of the things that must work and must be done to give you a functional home–home improvement gives you a lot of creative freedom. How do you want your rooms to be used? What do you want to do in your yard? What is important to you? Do you need space for entertaining? A place to read? Peace and quiet? A durable home that can endure the wrath of teenage shenanigans? Discuss these things and come up with a "dream sheet" of sorts. My list for a living room might look like this:
Durable furniture that I won't stress about getting dirty or dinged up, new floor, big rug, fresh window trim, wall mounted-floating TV, gallery wall, washable wall paint, cozy seating with space to add extra seating for large gatherings.
Once you know what you want out of your rooms you can get to work.
4. Work rooms from most visible to least visible.
I already covered starting with repairs that make your house safe and livable. Once your leaks have stopped and your wiring isn't threatening a fire, start improvements from the most visible rooms in your house to the least visible.
Start by tackling the room you spend the most time in–and where guests spend the most time. For me, this is usually our living room {a kitchen is usually a close second.}. Next up it's a common area bathroom. Then any other common space. Then outdoor entertaining space, bedrooms, and finally hidden storage spaces that only I lay eyes on.
5. Work top to bottom.
My dad taught me to work top to bottom when washing a car. My mom taught me to work top to bottom when cleaning the house–any dust that fell would be vacuumed up last. Now, I'm telling you–in your home, work top to bottom, outside in.
Take a look at what you are doing and execute it from the top down. Work from the outside–from the outermost part of your walls {for example: wiring/plumbing..things that go inside the walls–drywall–paint–trim–curtains}
First do anything that lies behind the wall–electric, plumbing, recessed shelving. Next tackle texture and painting from the top down, starting with the ceilings {if you are replacing the floor always do the painting before the new flooring is installed so you don't need to stress about spills}. Finally hit the floor.
Once you've got a floor, start working inward–add trim and baseboards before any permanent fixtures are installed {like a toilet, mounted TV or fireplace} so you don't have to work around them. After permanent pieces are in place tackle the moveable–furniture, rugs, curtains. Finally–breaking the pattern just a smidge–add the semi-permanent. I consider anything that will most likely not be moved often, but can be moved if needed–peg racks for coats, gallery walls, wall decor, etc. I put the semi-permanent up last because I like to see the furniture and rugs in the room first. And I like to have a place to sit down at the end of the day.
Indoor Flood | a tragic tale with a happy ending
Today I'm going to tell you a tragic story. But don't be scared. It ends well. Really well, actually. But it's still pretty tragic.
Here goes.
It's the wee hours of Easter morning. The sound of water wakes you up. Weird. You get out of bed to find that your bathroom is filling with water. Downstairs on the main level, water is raining through the fire alarm hookup in the ceiling. It's everywhere and starting to seep through the drywall. Obviously, you shut the water off–but things are already out of hand. The ceiling bows and eventually caves. Water is standing all over your new floor and the furniture. Slowly it drains through the floor vents in to the basement where it proceeds to ruin your freshly hung drywall and soak loads of things you had in storage. The damage reaches from the culprit bathroom upstairs, through the hall and carpet on the stairs…through the living room, part of the kitchen and most of the basement.
It's crazy, but it's true. It happened to Katie and Sam. But as I said, it ends happily and the journey from flood to finished is a great testament to the body of Christ. But first, meet Sam and Katie.
This is Sam and Katie. They are super fun and awesome. Pretty much as soon as I met these two during the incredible summer of 2013 I knew that I loved them and wanted to be friends. Maybe it was the way they eagerly consumed the bread sticks I'd made for dinner and had no qualms about carbs. Maybe it was that they are quirky in a way that I totally dig. Or their vast Biblical knowledge and passion for serving youth–hey me too! Regardless of what initially told me deep inside that we'd be friends…I was right. We did become friends. And I'm so glad. I'm so glad for these two and the hours we've spent serving together, playing games, carving pumpkin carving, and making gingerbread houses. I always say…"It's fun to have fun, but you've gotta know how." And these two definitely know how. {As you can see from the images above.}
Okay…here's a more professional image. And a couple more facts. Sam is our church's youth pastor. Katie has a day job that I don't understand…and also owns a WAY COOL singing telegram business. {Told you they are awesome.}
And just to prove that we really are friends…here's some photographic evidence. This is Katie and me–in the dorkiest helmets we could find–going horseback riding; and Derek with them at the annual pumpkin carve.
Just weeks before the big indoor flood {the root cause was traced back to an issue with the toilet–but I don't have all the details, since I was home asleep at the time of the crime} Katie and Sam took me out for Applebee's half-price-apps to discuss hiring me to finish up a few projects and do some decorating at their home.
Since they'd moved in {about a year ago now} they'd done some home improvement, but were looking for a savvy DIY-er with time on her hands to finish the job. They'd painted and installed some cute paneling and put in new flooring. They asked if I'd finish up the odds and ends of previous projects and spend some time pretty-ing and homey-ing it up for them.
At the time Derek was gone, already living on the Surface of the Sun {NM} and I was still in Practically Canada waiting for our house sale to close. I was fresh out of projects, no longer working, and going a little stir crazy. It was a match made in heaven.
After the flood, I was still up to help…but the project was now on a much larger scale. {Which was so fun for me–but a huge bummer for them.} Here's a few photos from the house.
The photos above are from the living room on the main level of the home and a couple of the basement {because I was confused when I made the collage.} The bathroom that caused the flood is directly above the half bath on this floor. As you can see, the drywall had to be torn out from the ceiling and some walls.
The walls that were only cut away half way up the floor are in the basement. The yellow walls are in the living room {looking toward the front of the house and away from the half bath.}
The house was cleaned up and sanitized by Servpro. And as the Lord would have it, a friend and fellow youth group volunteer works there. The drywall was installed by our church's tech director, Brandon {who does drywall professionally–and about a million other things on the side. Seriously, he's amazingly talented in everything from sound boards to woodworking and plumbing.}
See? I told you. The family of Christ working together.
When I arrived on the scene the drywall was up and our fist order of business was getting the upstairs bathroom back to working order so Katie and Sam could start living at home again. Second order of business? Picking paint colors {see the swatches?}
But we'll get to all that later. For now I think that's enough. I'm so very sorry that this happened, but I'm so very grateful that I had something so in depth to fill my final months in Minot…not to mention that I saw Sam and Katie just about every day, since I was at their house every day.
I learned a few new skills {you know I love that} and I sharpened a few others. And {my favorite} I had the honor of turning a house into something better than a building. It's cliche to say that I love turning houses in to homes. But it's true. There is nothing I love more than creating a space where people can feel totally comfortable and secure. A place they love spending time and love coming back to. A place that they like taking photos in and are proud to invite others in to. A place that is lived in and tells a story about the people who reside there. I love it. And I'm so happy to have been able to work a little magic {okay, a lot of magic} for people who are so very dear to me.
Spoiler. You won't believe how amazing it turned out. I won't show you the whole thing…but here is one more photo–to prove that this really, really does end happily, beautifully, and cozily. {This is in the living room!! Who is wanting to steal that couch?!}
Winter at Lake Tahoe | Off Season Adventure
I'm not sure where the phrase, "dog days of summer" comes from. I guess I could Google it. I probably will later tonight when a spare moment comes my way. At any rate, we all know what the phrase means. The long, super hot, end-of-summer days. I was in Indiana last week with the fam. The dog days were there–along with high humidity and no rain in sight. I'm back on the surface of the sun now–and you better believe the dog days are here too. The SMF {skin melt factor} is through the roof and the heat beats down from the sky and reflects up from the rocks and pavement.
That said, there isn't a better time than right now in the face of the heat to finally post up some drool-worthy images from a winter trip to Lake Tahoe I made while on a hiatus from writing.
I've been a lot of places, but this is honestly one of the most breath taking. I've never been in the summer, but I can attest to the joy that visiting Lake Tahoe in February was. The air is so clean and fresh it actually carries a scent of its own. The water is as clear as your contact lenses. The cool breeze will perk you up better than a strong cup of coffee.
I think my favorite part of Tahoe in winter is the temperature. There is snow on the ground, but we were totally comfortable in sweaters–no coats. It's a odd thing for a Practically Canadian to see snow without -20˚ wind chills!
Just prior to this adventure I invested in my first ever wide angle lens. And…as you can see from the images that follow–it was worth every penny. Now I'm pretty much obsessed with it. I love these images. The sky. The mountains. The snow. Oh, yes–and one of my very best friends to boot.
We visited South Tahoe–Megan {that's her in the adorable plaid scarf} lives in Lincoln, CA…so she acted as tour guide/chauffer.
Our trip was pretty short and sweet, but activities abound. Skiing, hiking, kayaking, canoeing…it's all here. We mostly walked and just took in the scenery–another perfectly good {and free} option. The photos above were taken off of the path that follows the shore near North Lake Blvd.
I think one of Lake Tahoe's best assets is the accessibility of it's beauty without a strenuous journey to see it. You don't need to backpack for days to bag these views. You don't need to endure sore muscles or a day pack to lay eyes on this treasure. It's just there. Visible. Breathtaking. For a person like me, who usually hikes, bikes or boats deep in to the wilderness to experience the wonders of nature and a bit of solitude–this was a refreshing excursion. We could just sit on a bench and gaze. Stroll the dock and gaze. Eat at a restaurant–and gaze.
And speaking of restaurants–we ate at Jake's on the Lake, which was a fantastic choice. It's stunning, the food is fabulous and if you go in the off season, like us, there will be seats near the windows so you can gawk at the lake while you eat.
image via Lake Tahoe this Week.
Image via. Check out this full weekend itinerary from zipcar.com {where the image above originally came from}.
**TIP** If you head to Tahoe, pop in to the visitor center to pick up a map and they'll slip you a coupon for a free slice of Hula Pie. It's ice cream based and HUGE–so share it! {Click on the image to go to their Yelp page for more images of their delightful food.}
After food we drove over to Emerald Bay, a must see {according to all the locals we talked to}. We started at the pull off and left the car, then walked the easy one mile down to the shore of the bay. {Less easy on the way back up…but still a very mild walk.}
Outside of one small family and a bride and groom taking bridal portraits, we had the whole place to ourselves. Have I told you how much I love traveling off season?! From here you can see Vikingsholm–a historic mansion {"castle"} on the shore. You can wander and walk around all you want in the winter, but tours of this gem only happen in the summer months.
image via the California State Parks website.


text: Hello cyber friends. I know I made an attempt to describe what happened to husband once before and life side-tracked me. I think I thought I was ready to talk about it and discovered that it was too painful. I'll give it another shot as I know sometimes reading the stories here helps people in ways that we can't imagine. husband was brilliant in math and science and worked for the state in a respected position. He did tell me that he had a history of mental illness and that he had been hospitalized 7 times. He had been diagnosed as schizophrenic, a diagnosis which he rejected. His explanation was that drugs and alcohol were responsible for his many hospitalizations. To his credit, he abstained from alcohol even to the bitter end. husband's official diagnosis was chronic depression. He tried pretty much every anti-depressant but they really didn't seem to help much. The last psychiatrist he used was a complete putz. Somehow husband convinced him that he needed concerta which he then abused. He would gobble it like candy and then run completely out with a resulting crash. Also, he was an insomniac and went through the rounds of various sleeping medications. (Gee, maybe the AD and concerta combo might be interfering with sleep.) The last year of his life, husband was experiencing chronic leg pain. Here's where I made an egregious error. He asked me if he could use marijuana to help alleviate the pain. I hated the idea for a variety of reasons, but I reluctantly agreed as long as he went out to the shed to smoke. I had lived with husband for 12 years and never seen him manic. Severely depressed, yes, often. He spent most of his time at home keeping the bed from levitating. Within a month or so of adding weed into the already poorly working medication mix, he started cycling. I mention the marijuana use, because it made husband SO much sicker. I was always one of the legalize marijuana proponents. Everyone I had ever seen use it was mellow, calm, and harmless. I considered it to be a better choice than alcohol after having seen so many bitter, angry drunks. Not so for husband. He became paranoid, delusional and suicidal. That summer I had planned to take the kids somewhere fun for a few days. husband wanted to stay at home to be left alone. The night before I was to leave, he threatened to kill himself while we were gone. I called the police. He willingly went to the psychiatric hospital. I took the kids away anyway and called often to check on him. When I brought him home, he seemed positive. I did note that everyone in the hospital seemed to like him which I thought was extremely odd. husband was an extreme introvert and for him to make a bunch of friends in a week's time seemed out of character. About a week later was the psychotic break. We were watching a movie which he did not seem to be able to follow. The woman in the movie was deliberately humiliating her husband publically, and husband got confused between me and what was happening in the movie. He thought I was the woman in the movie, and he was being humiliated. He locked the kids in the bedroom with him and told them I was "evil" and he had to keep them away from me. I managed to talk him into opening the door. I did not call the police that night, although, I now know I should have. Mental illness is confusing. I was terrified and befuddled and didn't really know what to do. The next day he went willingly with me to see his therapist. Again, no medication changes. (In summary, in the span of two weeks the man is suicidal and psychotic and we'll just keep those medications the same.) husband continued to spiral up or down depending upon your perspective. By Halloween night he had truly become weird. He was wearing a hat and sunglasses constantly and dancing everywhere. I had never even seen him dance before; he had always been serious, shy and stoic. The turning point for me was a simple trip to Radio Shack. husband was driving and got cut-off. He began tailgaitng a vehicle and then speeding down city streets, weaving in and out of traffic and running red lights. I begged him to slow down, easy child was in the car, and he said, "I am the best driver in the world. I can taste the road." We miraculously made it to Radio Shack without hitting anyone. I was shaking uncontrollably and holding easy child. One of the employees called the police. The responding officer did not believe husband was dangerous as he agreed to allow me to drive home. (taking a little break - will resume later)

subset: commoncrawl


text:
FORGET celebrity diets or fitness plans – placenta pills are the latest trend to sweep the world of showbusiness this year.
Amy Childs and Danielle Lloyd have both revealed they are fans of the pills. Here's the story…
But what are placenta pills and why do so many celebrities choose to take them?
What are placenta pills?
A growing trend is seeing some women send their placentas off to be made into capsules, while others drink the organ within hours of giving birth.
What is the placenta?
The placenta is an organ attached to a woman's womb lining during pregnancy.
The umbilical cord attaches the baby, who is growing inside a bag of fluid called the amniotic sac, to his or her mum.
Nutrients and oxygen are passed from the mum to her baby via the blood supply and into the placenta – which also produces hormones to help the baby develop, and protect the foetus from bacterial infections.
After the woman gives birth, the placenta becomes a messy waste product – passed out of her body, and often discarded.
In the encapsulation process, a placenta picker will come and collect a woman's afterbirth from the hospital – before chopping, drying and grinding it into pills which can be stored in a cupboard alongside your paracetamol.
Apparently, the pill option has very little taste – but the smoothies have a metallic aftertaste and, if cooked, the placenta's flavour is said to be similar to beef.
With the exception of sea creatures are some domestic pets, all mammals eat the afterbirth – leaving humans in the minority.
Several companies are profiting from the trend, with the London Placenta Centre charging up to £225 for capsules to be made.
Why do mums take placenta pills?
Some people believe that the nutrients passed from mother to foetus during her nine months of pregnancy are still packed inside the organ – and shouldn't be binned.
Eating the raw placenta could help the mum recover from giving birth and boost her strength while breastfeeding, according to the theory.
Some are convinced the pills prevent post-natal depression, encourage breast milk production, and provide a much-needed energy boosts for new mums.
The process is rife with controversy, because there is currently no firm evidence that eating the pills has any benefit.
Roger Marwood, of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, said: "There are no proven physical benefits in consuming a placenta, whether it is raw, in a smoothie or in capsule form.
"It may be full of protein, but it is unlikely to ward off postnatal depression, help you sleep, increase breast milk production or give you more energy."
But many mums disagree, and swear by the placenta pills.
Which celebrities have used placenta pills?
Back in 1998, TV chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall caused huge controversy when he fried up a new mum's placenta and served it as pate to 20 of her friends and family members, on a Channel 4 show.
But since then, the process has become less of a taboo.
Beauty-obsessed star Amy Childs, who runs her own salon in Essex, is now eating her placenta after having it turned into capsules.
Daniella Lloyd shocked viewers on Loose Women when she announced she is planning on eating her placenta after giving birth.
Kim Kardashian famously sampled the pills after the birth of Kanye's kids Saint and North West, in a bid to ward of postnatal depression.
Her sister Kourtney also took the tablets after the birth of her third child Reign Aston Disick – telling her millions of Instagram followers she would be sad when her 'yummy' and 'life changing' pills ran out.
WAG Coleen Rooney swore her pills left her bursting with energy after giving birth to third son Kit.
She added: "I slept really well and they helped to stabilise my weight after having Kit."
Atomic Kitten singer Natasha Hamilton, who announced her engagement last month, previously chowed down on her placenta - as did Mad Men star January Jones.
In January, Jamie Vardy's wife Rebekah was the latest celebrity to opt to have her placenta frozen and turned into pills - after the birth of their second child.
Rebekah, 34, believes the tablets will help her recover from giving birth to the footie ace's baby.
The wife of England footballer Jamie gave birth on January 10, and is looking to use the pills to help her get back on her feet.
'Nothing is impossible'Brave mum-of-one has told of her fightback after losing hands and feet to blood poisoning that almost killed her
'He'd been nipping up for a quickie'Pregnant mum fed up of sex noises from flat above devastated to find it was her FIANCE bedding other women… including one of her best mates


text:
Last time Postal Workers received a COLA was September 19, 2008
In January, the Consumer Price Index (CPI-W) rose to 633.176, well below the July 2008 index of 644.303 (upon which the last COLA increase was based). The CPI-W must rise above 644.303 before another COLA is due. After the final month of the six-month measuring period, the seventh COLA under the 2006 National Agreement and the Operating Services Agreement which would have been effective March 13, 2010 (pay period 07-10, pay date April 2, 2010), will be zero
source: APWU


text:
Siena Heights University dropping a class
Think about what career is best suited for you, and where you want to study. Request more information now.
Think about what career is best suited for you, and where you want to study. Request more information now.
Think about what career is best suited for you, and where you want to study. Request more information now.
Info concerning Siena Heights University dropping a class, and registering for elective lectures and seminars. As a student, your first stop should be the registrar's office, where you can pick up a free copy of both the academic calendar and course catalog, in order to find available credit classes that you may be interested in taking. It may surprise you that it's possible to enroll for a full-time course load, without having any 8am classes at all. Finally, check with the admissions office for assistance with prerequisites, tuition payment deadlines, and Siena Heights University class registration information. Please use the form above to request admissions info for Siena Heights University.
To keep your GPA as high as possible, study the schedule of classes carefully, and note the add/drop deadlines, as well as the requirements for changing a grade. If you get an incomplete, or worse a low grade, you can still retake the class, as some schools allow you to average the two grades on your final transcript. Challenge yourself by taking some courses outside your major to fulfill breadth requirements.
By purchasing lecture notes from a reputable source such as the student union, you can save time by not taking notes in class, and concentrate on paying better attention. You also can audit courses that you're interested in, but would prefer to skip exams and just listen in. Beyond degree requirements such as Siena Heights University class registration, you may consider Stephen F Austin State University test center for complementary electives to your primary course of study.
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text:
I'm so excited!
its so cute i love it !!@
Very cute
Great idea! I had never thought of that. Looks AbFab on your keepall!!
That looks really good on your keepall. Nice!
It looks gorgy.Congrats!
LVoe it!!
very pretty!! congrats!
very cute!!~
Wow that's really cute! Congrats!
so cute. congrats.
It's so cute! Congrats!
cute, congrats!
Very cute! Congrats!
Snazzy stuff!! Just remember to take good care of it


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I am pretty pale, but its naturally how I am, and I already have like yellowish/dirty blond hair. I was wondering what guys would think or if it would look OK if I dyed my hair like white/bleached blonde- LIke a platinum blond.
It would be this color: THIS ISN"T ME BY THE WAY. and my hair is longer
link hair/betaomicronalpha/Me/0826091649.jpg?o=80
Most Helpful Girl
your link doesn't work but agyness deyn is pale and has bleached hair-she looks awesome,BUT long,bleached hair tends to give off that slutty,generic look-don't blame me,it's just something I've noticed from what guys say about girls with long bleached hair who they barely know.11|00|0
the second link works... in the updated. Yeah, this is what I was worried about but I have more natural wavy hair and I definitely don't dress generically. Would that help disable that stereotype. It's so stupid I just want to dye my hair.
your hair will become almost completely straight after bleaching,just so you know. and yeah,you could probably avoid the stereotype,but I'm still not on board with your idea-you'll ruin your hair,my friend bleached her hair and now she has a bald spot,and her hair is very dry and brittle
Thanks for the warning, but I'll be careful around the roots. Plus I'm already blond so I don't need that much bleach or peroxide or whatever it is.


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Areas in Hong Kong :
Top 10 Most Read
- How to get from Bangkok to Siem Reap
- Bangkok Southern Bus Terminal
- Bangkok Immigration Office
- Bangkok Eastern Bus Terminal
- Asiatique - The Riverfront
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- Bangkok Victory Monument
- Koh Samui Immigration Office
- How to get from Siem Reap to Bangkok
Hong Kong Sky100 Observation Deck
Address: 100 th floor ICC Tower, Kowloon West, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2613 3836
Admission: 150 HKD Adult, 105 HKD child and 65+
Opening hours: daily from 10:00 till 22:00, last entry 21:00
How to get there: MTR Kowloon station
The Sky100 observation deck is located at the 100 th floor of the ICC tower in West Kowloon in Hong Kong. It is one of the latest attractions in Hong Kong, they opened in April 2011. At the Sky100 you can enjoy 360 degrees views of the Hong Kong area. The ICC tower is the fourth highest building in the world and the tallest in Hong Kong.
(Entrence at the Sky100 observation deck in Hong Kong)
The high speed elevators bring you to the 100 th floor in just 1 minute. The views from the Sky100 are simply amazing; especially at sunset when you can see the sun set in China. On sunny days you can enjoy a great view of the Hong Kong Island skyline and Victoria harbor; it is also a great place to enjoy the Symphony of Lights that takes place in the harbor every evening at 20:00.
(View of Kowloon an the Hong Kong skyline from the Sky100)
The Sky100 can be easily reached by public transport. Just take the MTR or the Airport Express to Kowloon Station. If you come from the direction of Kowloon you can take the bus line 77M. The entrance to the Sky100 is 150 HKD for adults and 105 HKD for children till 11 years and senior citizens (65+). A Family combo for 2 adults and 1 child is available for 365 HKD.
Website: Sky100 observation deck Hong Kong
View Hong Kong in a larger map
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Inter-state dynamics of invention activities, 1930-2000
We study the dynamics of the cross-section distribution of patents per capita for the 48 continental US states from 1930 to 2000 using a discrete-state Markov chain. We test for and find evidence in favor of the (knowledge) convergence hypothesis. The distribution of patents is converging to a limiting distribution that is significantly more concentrated than its initial distribution. States in the extreme are more mobile than states in the middle of the cross-sectional distribution and are likely to move to the middle. However, the rate of convergence to the limiting distribution is 'slow'. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
If you experience problems downloading a file, check if you have the proper application to view it first. In case of further problems read the IDEAS help page. Note that these files are not on the IDEAS site. Please be patient as the files may be large.
Volume (Year): 21 (2006)
Issue (Month): 8 ()
Pages: 1111-1134
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| Web page: http://www.interscience.wiley.com/jpages/0883-7252/
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| Web: http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/jcatalog/subscribe.jsp?issn=0883-7252 Email:
References listed on IDEAS
Please report citation or reference errors to , or , if you are the registered author of the cited work, log in to your RePEc Author Service profile, click on "citations" and make appropriate adjustments.:
- Sokoloff, Kenneth L., 1988.
"Inventive Activity in Early Industrial America: Evidence From Patent Records, 1790–1846,"
The Journal of Economic History,
Cambridge University Press, vol. 48(04), pages 813-850, December.
- Kenneth L. Sokoloff, 1988. "Inventive Activity in Early Industrial America: Evidence From Patent Records, 1790-1846," UCLA Economics Working Papers 499, UCLA Department of Economics.
- Kenneth L. Sokoloff, 1988. "Inventive Activity in Early Industrial America: Evidence From Patent Records, 1790 - 1846," NBER Working Papers 2707, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
- Kortum, Samuel & Lerner, Josh, 1998. "Stronger protection or technological revolution: what is behind the recent surge in patenting?," Carnegie-Rochester Conference Series on Public Policy, Elsevier, vol. 48(1), pages 247-304, June.
- Samuel Kortum & Josh Lerner, 1997. "Stronger Protection or Technological Revolution: What is Behind the Recent Surge in Patenting?," NBER Working Papers 6204, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
- Popp David & Juhl Ted & Johnson Daniel K.N., 2004. "Time In Purgatory: Examining the Grant Lag for U.S. Patent Applications," The B.E. Journal of Economic Analysis & Policy, De Gruyter, vol. 4(1), pages 1-45, November.
- Hall, Bronwyn H & Griliches, Zvi & Hausman, Jerry A, 1986. "Patents and R and D: Is There a Lag?," International Economic Review, Department of Economics, University of Pennsylvania and Osaka University Institute of Social and Economic Research Association, vol. 27(2), pages 265-283, June.
- Moshe Buchinsky & Jennifer Hunt, 1999. "Wage Mobility In The United States," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 81(3), pages 351-368, August.
- Moshe Buchinsky & Jennifer Hunt, 1996. "Wage Mobility in the United States," NBER Working Papers 5455, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
- Audretsch, David B & Feldman, Maryann P, 1996. "R&D Spillovers and the Geography of Innovation and Production," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 86(3), pages 630-640, June.
- Quah, Danny, 1993. " Galton's Fallacy and Tests of the Convergence Hypothesis," Scandinavian Journal of Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 95(4), pages 427-443, December.
- Quah, Danny, 1993. "Galton's Fallacy and Tests of the Convergence Hypothesis," CEPR Discussion Papers 820, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
- Catherine Co & Mark Wohar, 2004. "Technological convergence among US regions and states," Economics of Innovation and New Technology, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 13(2), pages 101-126.
- Carlino, Gerald A. & Mills, Leonard O., 1993. "Are U.S. regional incomes converging? : A time series analysis," Journal of Monetary Economics, Elsevier, vol. 32(2), pages 335-346, November. Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)This information is provided to you by IDEAS at the Research Division of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis using RePEc data.


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text: Card Tricks Card Tricks PLDZ-102 In Stock $ 1.29 USD Timm Miller Buy and Download > Description CARD TRICKSby Howard Thurston CHAPTER I. A FEW INCIDENTS IN THE LIFE OF HOWARD THURSTON, PREMIER CARD MANIPULATOR OF THE WORLD CHAPTER II. INDISPENSABLE "SLEIGHTS" CHAPTER III. THE CONTINUOUS FRONT- AND BACK-HAND PALM, WITH CARDS AND TRICKS IN CONNECTION THEREWITH CHAPTER IV. THE "THURSTON" SYSTEM OF EXPERT CARD MANIPULATION (NOW PUBLISHED FOR THE FIRST TIME) CHAPTER V. AN ENTIRELY NEW AND ORIGINAL COLLECTION OF MISCELLANEOUS CARD TRICKS, INCLUDING THE CORRECT METHOD OF PERFORMING THURSTON'S NEW RISING CARDS CHAPTER I.A Few Incidents in the Life of Howard Thurston. HOWARD THURSTON, the Premier Card Manipulator of the World, and known throughout Amer¬ica as "The Man who Mystified Hermann," was born at Columbus, Ohio, on the l0th of July, 1869, and is therefore now in his thirty-first year. Originally intended by his father-a gentleman of firm Christian principles-for the ministry, he entered the D. L. Moody College, in Northfield, Mass., and completed a course of five years' training. During this period he came to the conclusion that Providence had never intended him to go through life as a parson, and his natural love of Magic always predominated over his liking for the more serious subject he was studying. Upon graduating with honors from the College, very much against his father's wish he decided to adopt Magic as his profession. (How many other well-meaning enthusiasts have adopted this procedure, and with what result?) He did so, but found that there were already too many "all-round" Conjurers in the business. what damped his ardor at first; but, after cogitating for some considerable time, he decided to adopt a single branch of the Magician's Art, viz., Card Tricks. Then came many weary months of assiduous practice, the greater part of the time being occupied in a strict adherence to a special system of strengthening and giving additional flexibility to the muscles of the hands (a system which, much as I should like, I am not in a position to divulge), and after five years' traveling in America, presenting a Magical Entertainment of two hours in length in the smaller cities, Mr. Thurston first made his bow to a public audience as a Card Manipulator at the Fountain Square Theatre, Cincinnati, Ohio, in January, 1895. Since then his career has been one of unprecedented success and brilliancy. One of the chief characteristics of Mr. Thurston's act is his graceful stage deportment. No other living artiste, in my opinion (and I have witnessed the performances of the best Prestidigitateurs of the past quarter of a century) can compare with him in the incomparable manner in which he presents his tricks. There is nothing automatic about this Past Master of the Art. During the whole of his performance he is thinking, and always on the alert, watching for new ideas to occur to his energetic brain. Magic, like Literature is a double Art: Mechanical Magic is the Prose, while Sleight-of-Hand is the Poetry, and it is in this latter branch that this great artiste excels. Mr. Thurton's pièce de resistance is his celebrated Rising-Card Trick, with which he absolutely mystified that guardian of an honored name in the world of deception, HERMANN THE GREAT. CARD TRICKS by Howard Thurston CHAPTER I. A FEW INCIDENTS IN THE LIFE OF HOWARD THURSTON, PREMIER CARD MANIPULATOR OF THE WORLD CHAPTER II. INDISPENSABLE "SLEIGHTS" CHAPTER III. THE CONTINUOUS FRONT- AND BACK-HAN Direct Link http://store.payloadz.com/go/?id=236858 http://store.payloadz.com/details/236858-ebooks-entertainment-card-tricks.html Tags card trickssleight of handmagic Entertainment eBooks


text:
On Monday October 8th, Pride Alliance hosted "Getting A Grip: Mastering Your Sexuality" with clinical sexologist and sex educator, Megan Andelloux. Andelloux walked into the room full of students warmly welcoming her with cheer and applause. Andelloux arrived an hour late and responded by apologizing for her tardiness and seemed to express her appreciation of the crowd by smothering a table with condoms and lubricants for students to fondle and enjoy.
Throughout her presentation, Andelloux repeatedly encouraged the audience members, frequently telling them she wanted everyone to feel comfortable asking questions about sexuality and pleasure while also emphasizing the importance of sexual health.
"You can talk about sexuality and you will not die in the process," Andelloux said during the question and answer session.
Andelloux buried the idea of the elephant in the room.
"We don't ask questions about sexuality because we have been shamed [into not] asking." Andellous said. She praised those expressing bold comments and asking spirited questions that fall outside of normal comfort zones. "How can I prevent myself from queefing?" asked one audience member. Andelloux gave accolade and prizes to the brazen, anal beads and butt plugs to name a few.
Andelloux first visited Oswego 11 years ago but has returned several times for her talks, that some might deem controversial.
"I remember at her previous talks there's so much she talks about its really worthwhile to go again because there's so much to take in," William Taylor, a junior studying adolescence education said. "There is so many misconceptions about sex and what it is and all about all of the stuff that's related to it that we really need to hear from someone that knows what they're talking about."
Prior to the commencement of the talk, Oswego State senior studying anthropology, Mary Rodriguez gave her expectations for the event.
"I'm really looking forward to hearing her openness about sex you don't get much of that from anywhere," Rodriguez said. "I mean [aside from] most of the mainstream media but its hetero normative. And she likes to bring every sex into it its not just man woman having sex it's everyone that's having sex. I think it's really important [to educate college students about sex] because of the dynamic that college students are going into. They have so much freedom so it's really important that we educate them. You don't always have to be with a partner to have sex."
During the talk, Andelloux demonstrated how to put a condom on with your mouth. She also talked about the best types of lubrications and sent a bottle of Sliquid Swirl Green Apple Lubricant around the audience to taste and swatch.
Heather Negron a sophomore studying marketing explained that the most important thing Andelloux taught was the importance of communication.
"To have a good relationship the most important thing to do is talk. If you don't talk, how is your partner supposed to know what you want? You can also fulfill fantasies by just talking," Negron said.
Andelloux explained that the basics of sex education should be taught at an early age. Andelloux stressed the importance of sex education, and said "People were asking the same questions and we weren't talking about them openly. If this many people are asking the same damn question it means everybody is thinking them, mostly. So we should just start talking about it. The importance of sex education is simple. If people are sex educated, then the world can have safer, communicative and fulfilling sex.


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I was going for a harder more intimidating and grungey look. I have other pics of me you would probably think are prettier but this was how I was feeling. Do you like it? Or do I look bad?
Most Helpful Guy
I prefer your other pics - It might be the make up maybe a touch more colour
Thanks for MHO


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For over a thousand years, Russia's official faith has been Orthodox Christianity. In the year 987, Prince Vladimir of Kievan Rus (modern Ukraine; Russia's ancestor) decided that his country needed a religion. According to the chronicles of Nestor, he sent people to investigate the four faiths that were flourishing around his land and report back as to which they thought looked most enticing. His envoys visited the Bulgarian Muslims, but decided that any religion that forbade drinking alcohol was not for the Russians. They questioned Jewish religious leaders, but rejected Judaism as well. Of the two branches of Christianity available, they were most impressed with the Orthodox Church of Byzantium, where the beauty and mystery of the Orthodox Mass converted them to the faith; Roman Catholicism was thought too boring by comparison.
"it's hurrah for the Tsar, for Russia, for the Orthodox Greek faith!"
by JohannaTrew
Onion domes of the Cathedral of the Annunciation, Moscow Kremlin, Russia - Credit: Petar Milošević


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One day this past week I was real excited when I received in the mail a notice about an upcoming meeting of the Clarke County Republican Committee. Actually, I was somewhat surprised that the local Republican Party organization would waste the postage on someone who resigned as Chairperson of our local GOP to support a Democrat for mayor. That was more than two years ago, and until this past week, I had not received any newsletter, notice of meeting, or money solicitation of any kind. Nevertheless, it felt good to be back in the loop.
more Hamby columns
But the euphoric feeling of not being exiled any longer from GOP party communication faded fast. It seems as though the local Republican Party is going to be making some changes to their party rules.
Most of the changes are simple housekeeping measures, like changing the year listed in the rules from the 1900s to the current 2000s. However, there are a couple of changes that stand out, and one in particular seems to hit me in the face like a canceled Bozo pie.
For you see, the rules of the Republican Party stipulate that all past chair people are to become ex officio members once they are no longer chair of the GOP. Having been chair, I was listed as an ex officio member of the party. By being listed in name I at least had some connection to the party. But, the ''ties that bind'' will come undone with a proposed rule change that declares, ''Ex officio members shall include all past Republican County chairmen that continue to be a registered voter and remain in good standing with the Clarke County Republican Committee.''
Since I am still a registered voter in Athens-Clarke County, I can only assume that my good standing with the Republican committee may be in question. It probably has something to do with supporting a few Democrats during past election seasons.
I am wondering that since they are holding past chairpersons to this standard, will they also be requiring the ''good standing'' litmus test to all of the members and to any Republican elected official? One is probably arguing that members and elected officials are not in charge of the party. Be that as it may, they are as equally important, if not more so, especially since Republican elected officials are the most recognizable ones.
Furthermore, what constitutes ''good standing'' with the Clarke County Republican Committee? If it means not supporting Democrats, or causes generally deemed as ''liberal,'' then the Republican Committee should ask themselves some questions before making the change.
Is local Commissioner Linda Ford not in ''good standing'' with the committee for voting for a local tax increase? How about the Republican members who speak against the continued sprawl in Athens? Are they not in ''good standing''? It may be easier to jump the hoops from the Publishers Clearing House for the million dollars than it would be to remain in ''good standing'' with the local GOP.
Another proposed change has to do with adding four new positions to the executive committee. A new publicity chair is recommended. I can see where that would be needed. A corresponding secretary is also being proposed for a new executive committee position. And, as a sign that the Republican Committee is truly entering the 2000s, seats for an African-American and a Hispanic liaison at the executive table are being suggested for approval by the whole committee.
It is good to see the local Republicans developing this outreach program to minority segments of the community. Since this hand is being extended, does this mean that they will not bring up the racially divisive flag issue during the governor's race next year? Furthermore, are the Republicans reversing themselves on their affirmative action position by adding specific minority liaisons to their committee? What will these changes do to the ''good standing'' of the local Republican Party?
This article published in the Athens Banner-Herald on Saturday, June 23, 2001.
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Traveling Luck for Bell Spur, Virginia, United States
Where is Bell Spur?What's around Bell Spur?
Wikipedia near Bell Spur
Where to stay near Bell Spur
The timezone in Bell Spur is America/Iqaluit
Sunrise at 08:32 and Sunset at 18:33. It's Dark
Latitude. 36.6603°, Longitude. -80.5044° , Elevation. 814m
Weather near Bell Spur; Report from Mount Airy, Mount Airy/Surry County Airport, NC 28.5km away
Weather :
Temperature: 1°C / 34°F
Wind: 3.5km/h North/Northwest
Cloud: Sky Clear
Weather :
Temperature: 1°C / 34°F
Wind: 3.5km/h North/Northwest
Cloud: Sky Clear
Satellite map around Bell Spur
Loading map of Bell Spur and it's surroudings
Geographic features & Photographs around Bell Spur, in Virginia, United States
- cemetery;
- a burial place or ground.
- Bowman Cemetery (0.8km)
- Painter Cemetery (1.1km)
- Bowman Cemetery (1.6km)
- Daniel Stanley Cemetery (1.9km)
- Emmitt D Stanley Cemetery (2km)
- Stanley Cemetery (2.4km)
- Pilot View Cemetery (2.4km)
- Weddle Cemetery (2.5km)
- Culler Cemetery (2.6km)
- Terry Cemetery (2.7km)
- Marshall Cemetery (3km)
- Quesinberry Cemetery (3.3km)
- John Largen Cemetery (3.4km)
- Semones Cemetery (3.5km)
- Groundhog Hill Cemetery (3.5km)
- Bell Spur Cemetery (3.5km)
- Marshall Cemetery (4km)
- James Bowman Cemetery (4.2km)
- Bowman Cemetery (4.2km)
- Bowman Cemetery (4.3km)
- Bowman Cemetery (4.3km)
- Turman Cemetery (4.4km)
- Banks Cemetery (4.5km)
- New Bell Spur Cemetery (4.6km)
- Marshall Cemetery (4.6km)
- Jessup Cemetery (4.7km)
- Rome Cemetery (4.8km)
- Bowman Cemetery (5km)
- Marshall-Bowman Cemetery (5.5km)
- Puckett Memorial Cemetery (5.7km)
- Stone Mountain Cemetery (5.7km)
- church;
- a building for public Christian worship.
- Pilot View Church (2.4km)
- Bell Spur Church (3.5km)
- New Bell Spur Church (4.5km)
- Rome Church (4.8km)
- Raven Rock Church (5.4km)
- Worrell Church (5.6km)
- Stone Mountain Church (5.6km)
- Puckett Church (5.6km)
- stream;
- a body of running water moving to a lower level in a channel on land.
- Big Laurel Creek (0.7km)
- Pine Creek (2.8km)
- Quaker Branch (4km)
- Stone Mountain Creek (4.4km)
- Thompson Creek (4.6km)
- Greens Creek (4.7km)
- Potters Branch (5.7km)
- Straight Branch (5.7km)
- Local Feature;
- A Nearby feature worthy of being marked on a map..
- Bell Spur (0km)
- Bell Spur (3.6km)
- Blue Ridge Tabernacle (3.6km)
- Raven Rock (3.7km)
- Pilot Mountain Overlook (4.3km)
- school;
- building(s) where instruction in one or more branches of knowledge takes place.
- Pine Knot School (historical) (2.3km)
- Pilot View School (historical) (2.4km)
- Bell Spur School (historical) (2.9km)
Accommodation around Bell Spur
- dam;
- a barrier constructed across a stream to impound water.
- Dam on Headwaters of Squall Creek Dam (4.6km)
- Olde Mill Golf Club Dam (4.6km)
- ridge(s);
- a long narrow elevation with steep sides, and a more or less continuous crest.
- Squirrel Spur (4.4km)
- populated place;
- a city, town, village, or other agglomeration of buildings where people live and work.
- Belair Springs (5.5km)
- reservoir(s);
- an artificial pond or lake.
- Squall Creek Pond (4.6km)
- mountain;
- an elevation standing high above the surrounding area with small summit area, steep slopes and local relief of 300m or more.
- Groundhog Mountain (3.4km)
Wikipedia entries close to
Bell Spur
- Mabry Mill landmark landmark
- Cana, Virginia city city o
- Fancy Gap, Virginia city city o
- Flat Rock, Surry County, North Carolina city city o
- Mount Airy, North Carolina city city o
- Stuart, Virginia city o
- Toast, North Carolina city city o
- Francisco, North Carolina city city o
- Hillsville, Virginia city o
- Woolwine, Virginia city city o
- Patrick Springs, Virginia city city o
- White Plains, North Carolina city city o
- Woodlawn, Virginia city city o
- Pilot Mountain, North Carolina city city o
- Lawsonville, North Carolina city city o
- Flat Rock, Stokes County, North Carolina city city o
Airports close to Bell Spur
Smith reynolds(INT), Winston-salem, Usa (79.4km)
Hickory rgnl(HKY), Hickory, Usa (161.6km)


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Fever Clan is Recruiting!
Remember everyone we support most games that anyone would play below is a full list of games Overwatch, World of Warcraft, Starcraft 2, Hearthstone, League of Legends, Dota 2, Heroes of the Storm, Call of Duty, Battlefield's, Warframe, CS:GO, Evolve, Smite, ESO, DCUO, Rift, Minecraft, Rust, Path of Exile, Diablo 3, Runescape, Blades and Soul, Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn, Black Desert Online, ArcheAge, Elder Scrolls Online, Eve Online, Guild Wars 2, Wildstar, Star Wars the Old Republic, Skyforge, Dungeons and Dragons, Dragon Ball: Xenoverse, Fallout 4, Elders Scrolls: Skyrim, Minecraft, Civilization Series, Crusader Kings II, Hearthstone, Paladins: Champions of the Realm, Star Wars: Battlefront, Rainbow Six Siege, Battlefield Series, Dirty Bomb, Team Fortress 2, Call of Duty Series, APB Reloaded, Destiny, Evolve, Grand Theft Auto Series, Planetside 2,ARK: Survival Evolved, H1Z1, Infestation Series, DayZ, Rust, The Division consoles
So as you can see we support most games and more being added all the time. So apply today athttp://feverclan.com/forums/65-application-section.html