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Wedding Trends and Tips for Styling Your Big Day
Neill advises his brides that the first step to styling their wedding day is to create a mood board. Personal style and taste is obviously important, but looking at wedding trends and fashions can help the bride choose a direction that will become a dream and soon a reality. In this blog post, Neill tells us about some of the wedding trends around this year and offers useful styling tips.
Choosing the style for your reception can be quite independant of the style of your wedding ceremony, especially if the sharing of vows will take place in a church or separate venue. So what's your reception style? Are you finding it difficult to decide? A good place to start is to make a mood board of what you like, based on what's on trend. And while you create your mood board you will see a theme and style develop. A mood board can be as large or small as you wish, with paper cuttings, bits of material, ribbon and jewellery... anything that appeals and blends in well together. While wedding magazines and the internet are great sources for inspiration, here are five fabulous on trend looks to help get you started.
1. Lush Botanical
A fresh green palette gives a bold yet elegant effect.
Greenery can change the ambiance of a space; plants such as ferns and succulents provide a textured architectural aesthetic that is difficult to achieve with flowers alone. Lush, green foliages work well alone, with Orchids or seasonal flowers; long trailing stems of Ceropegia, Senecio Rowleyanus or even Stephanotis - with its exquisitely scented little white flowers - can be unexpectedly romantic while birch bark and tall twigs marry well with a foliage theme. Blend florals with tactile foliage for a strong yet elegant look.
Photos 2, 10 by John Nassari
Styling tip:
Combine modern elements with botanical greenery to bring the outdoors in and offer softness to the design. The fresh colour palette features natural white – but you can add a dash of colour with lemons or cool gold brass elements.
2. Modern Romantic
Unashamedly pretty details set against a glamorous backdrop give your reception a grown-up-meets-girlie feel. Pretty means pastels and "fluffy" flowers like Peonies, Hydrangea, Roses and Spray-Roses with perhaps a trail of Jasmin...
Photos 4, 7, 12 by John Nassari
Styling tip:
Pantone's colour of the year is Rose Quartz and soft pinks are the colours of summer so blending soft pinks with other soft pastels is both modern and romantic.
3. Tropical Punch
Juicy hues when combined with brighter pastels give a vibrant look. Tropical punch of course inspires tropical flowers, and at Neill Strain Floral Couture, we adore exotic flowers. Orchids like Phalaenopsis, Vanda and Cymbidium are now available in an extraordinary range of unusual colours from our Dutch growers. We also love the exotic shape and bright colours of Gloriosa as you can see in the images below.
Photos 4, 6, 12 by John Nassari
Styling Tip
Bold colours and accessories are the key to this trend with your place settings reflecting your day. Beautiful cutlery and crockery are key. You could even use coloured tablecloths to reinforce the tropical feel.
4. Purple Reign
Brides often like to work with one single colour. If you have a favourite colour, don't be scared to use it to its full glory. A monochromatic colour theme, a single hue mixed with white or one other colour is most effective. Modern and striking, don't overlook the power of one colour.
Photos 5, 7, 8 by John Nassari
Styling tip:
Choosing your centre piece sets the tone for the whole reception. Tall and imposing or at eye level and intimate. Make it all about your favourite colour or flower and use in abundance. An opulence of monochromatic flowers is very elegant.
5. Golden Wonder
The classic combination of gilt and white never dates and spells elegance. It is vey popular in winter, around Christmas, and I adore mixing the gold with long stems of stunning white Orchids which look so beautiful at this time of the year.
Photos 1, 2, 3, 8, 11 by John Nassari
Styling tip:
Trends come and go but this will always be in vogue. When evening falls, gold glitters by candlelight.
I hope that the images of these trends and themes have now inspired you to start your mood board. My next tip is : Take a glass of champagne, make yourself comfortable with your favourite magazine and remember that anything to do with planning your wedding should be fun and exciting. It's all about creating the most beautiful day of your life...
Florally yours,
Neill x


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Pep Guardiola has admitted that Bayern Munich have drawn the worst opponent possible in the Champions League round of 16 against Arsenal as the clubs prepare to face one another for the second consecutive season.
The Gunners finished second in their Champions League group with Borussia Dortmund edging out the Gunners to take a huge advantage heading into the knock out stages.
As a result Dortmund will face Zenit St Petersburg in the next round while Arsenal must contend with the current champions as Guardiola continues his first season in charge of the wildly successful side.
But the Spanish manager has claimed that it is in fact Arsenal who boast the intimidating squad, insisting they were the one team Bayern were hoping not to draw as they prepare to defend their trophy.
"It will be the third time in my Champions League career to play against Arsenal and I know quite well Arsene Wenger, I know quite well his players," he said, according to ESPN.
"In the draw it was the most difficult team we could achieve, but I am happy because we know we are in the top we will have two good games so we need to win to qualify.
"They're winning the league, they have huge players – Ozil, Cazorla, Arteta, Mertesacker – they have a lot of World Cup players so they are a very good team and I am happy about that, to play the best teams is good, and we have to play good.
"In other openers you can play at not such a high level and we know with what happened at Bayern Munich last season when we were able to win in London, and then in Munich it was very different because they are very good in their ball positioning, they are able to play on the counter, so it's a tough game and we're going to prepare as much as possible to beat them."
Last season Bayern Munich and Arsenal faced one another in their last 16 tie and while Jupp Heynckes and his side were able to take a commanding 3-1 lead over the Gunners in London, Wenger's men made an unlikely comeback in Bavaria, winning 2-0.

subset: commoncrawl


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Wow, it's certainly been a while since I've sat down to say "hello" to all of you! How have you been? I've missed you!
First off, I'd like to give a big fat "Welcome" to all of my new followers and email subscribers. I know a lot of you hopped on this train because of the homemade peanut butter cups I made for Valentine's Day. I'm so thrilled you're here and I hope you stick around for a lot of great vintage home decor projects and many more yummy recipes to come!
Well, it's been an interesting couple of weeks around our nest, to say the least. For a family that rarely has anything major going on, these past few weeks have provided us with a few roller coaster rides. We've needed to make a lot of decisions in a very short period of time and none of those decisions seemed to come easy for us. Either my husband or I would be convicted in our decision and the other would be flip-flopping back and forth. Once the flip-flopper became convicted in their decision, whomever was originally convicted was now flip-flopping. It was like this with each decision that needed to be made. Luckily, there was no arguing. Just lots and lots of pondering, praying, weighing options and talking out pros and cons.
However, we have now arrived on the same page regarding every decision there was to be made. Whew! I thought it'd never happen. Have you ever experienced this?
One of the updates you might be dying to hear about is the farmhouse. We came to the conclusion that we love the farmhouse and all of the land, but it just isn't for us at this moment. The property just wasn't the right fit for us. I could never get over the sinking feeling I got every time we drove through the town. There's just something about it that doesn't feel right to me and if there's anything I've learned in this precious life so far, it's to listen to that little voice. So it may not be in the cards for us at the moment, but we can definitely see ourselves in one in the future. And we'd love it.
Another, more exciting, update is the semi-annual barn sale I'm lucky enough to be invited to has been scheduled for June 15th and 16th. These dates are perfect for me because it's one week before I'm due, but it's also not so perfect for me because it's one week before I'm due. Suffice it to say that I won't be heading down to the sale with my usual U-Haul filled with furniture. I may refurbish a piece or two and the rest of my booth will be a bunch of very exciting vintage-inspired treasures I'm working on. I'm even considering asking an antique dealer heavy hitter to partner with me for this sale . . . juuuust in case for some little reason I can't be there (you know, like giving birth) and also because I won't have as much inventory for this particular sale. No matter what, I look forward to this sale every time it comes around, and this Spring sale is no exception. It's going to be amazing!
Also, I'm considering changing this blog/business name. Of course the name B & B's Nest is extremely sentimental to me, but the punctuation in the name makes it difficult for search engines to find and I'd also like to simplify the name and make it more catchy like some of the big blogger guns (i.e., Miss Mustard Seed, The Lettered Cottage, Centsational Girl, etc.). I have a couple of names in mind and I may even bring them to you for voting. We shall see . . .
Well, that's all for the updates for now, Folks. And now that all of the crazy roller coaster rides are behind us, I'm busy gearing up for Spring and getting ready for some fabulous upcoming link parties:
Stay tuned!
Spring, you can't get here fast enough!
Americans who are facing divers health problem, such individuals can get medicines from the Web without order. To buy remedies online from a having a good reputation source is safe. People get millions divers medicaments online. Far-famed are medicines which are used to reduce treat hurt caused by cramp etc. There are varied other medications. What about how does cialis work and sexual heartiness problems? Likely every man knows at least something about Does Cialis Work. Also known as erectile dysfunction is defined as the inability to attain an erection suitable for intercourse. Luckily many problems with sexual heartiness can be solved. Sometimes men who drink excessively like amphetamines find it embarrassing to get an hard-on and turn to erectile disfunction medicines for a temporary solution. If you have unpleasantness getting an erection, it's vital to see a able health care professional before pursuing any sort of medicines. Do not take more of Cialis or any other medicament than is prescribed. Do not use out-of-date remedies. Take them to your local dispensary which will dispose of them for you.


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You can do maintenance through the UI, or generate a T-SQL script to run in SQL Server Management Studio.
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text: Business Intelligence is still often limited to only the statisticians and data analyst in an organisation. As a result, requests for end user reports often need to be satisfied by the IT team. As a result, what might seem like a simple request can often take several weeks or even longer while the report is scheduled with the existing workload. As a result, when a decision maker receives the required report the information is no longer relevant. Reporting needs to be self-service, just the way that having a tea lady on each floor in an office has been replaced with people making their own tea and coffee. When reporting is self-service, it allows decision makers, whether they are accountants or sales people, to start to mash-up structured and unstructured data to find further value opportunities. We have started to this concept of mashing up data with the ability for reports to be produced using GIS data even though this data is often sourced from outside the organisation. Who would have thought that companies would now be overlaying their reporting with external information such as public-transport timetables or counters on traffic signals to determine what the optimal inventory levels are? Providing flexible self-service reporting goes a long to solving the problem of data isolation. Do you allow your users to generate their own reports and combine corporate data with external sources? - Peter Ward


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Notable apps and app updates for October 16, 2015/
On a regular basis, Apple World Today posts a list of notable new apps or app updates that have been released. They may not necessarily be new, but they're popular and deserve mention. Here are today's picks for iOS and Mac OS X:
iOS Apps and Updates
Here's a fun app -- take any one of your photos, and add text, artwork and images to it with Over ($3.99 with in-app purchases). Over isn't new, but it has gone through a huge update in version 3.0 and it's being used to make everything from birthday cards, fancy tweets, Apple Watch backgrounds, and even recipes. Over runs on both iPhone and iPad, and a lot of the in-app purchases are free. Time to give it a try and put your artistic side to work.
Do you feel like you don't get enough notifications about the things that matter in your life? There's a solution for that. Hooks (free) is an app that sends you notifications from... well, a lot of different places. Want to know when a new episode of Game of Thrones has aired? Would you like to be notified when the Broncos win (or lose) a game? How about getting alerts of concerts by your favorite band? All of these, and more, are possible with Hooks. Oh, and it also has an Apple Watch companion app and it supports 3D Touch on appropriate devices.
Graphic designers -- why not do work when and where inspiration hits you? That's what Autodesk Graphic ($2.99) is all about. It's a fully functional drawing and illustration application for iPhone that you can use to start your drawings, then pick up on your work on Mac or iPad later. Drawing tools include a full-featured Bezier pen, shape creation tools, dimensioning tools, and more, and your images can be exported as SVG, PDF, PNG, PSD, JPG, GIF or TIF.
Mac apps and updates
Those Windows users always gloat -- they may not have much to be happy about, but they do have a really cool built-in Solitaire game. Well, it's not part of OS X, but Full Deck Solitaire (free with in-app purchases) is a beautiful game that will make your Windows buddies wish they had a Mac. The in-app purchases provide new games and extra animated backgrounds, and the app has a lot of happy users.
I'm the chef in our house, which means that I'm constantly on the lookout for new recipes to tantalize the taste buds of the picky eaters. To organize recipes on OS X (and also on iPad), I use Paprika ($19.99), a spicy app that lets you download recipes from hundreds of websites with a click, cross off ingredients when you're one with them and highlight the current step in a recipe, and store nutritional information from sites that provide it. You can even create meal plans, and sync all of the features with the iPhone and iPad versions of the app (available separately).
Yep, National Novel Writing Month is just around the corner (it's November, and we call it NaNoWriMo). One awesome tool for cranking out that novel that's going to make millions in just movie rights alone is Scrivener ($44.99), a time-tested app that's been updated for El Capitan that will get you organized and writing in no time.


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The Adelphi School of Social Work Hauppauge Center will be presenting a screening of the documentary La Americana, a true story of an undocumented immigrant's journey to save the life of her ailing daughter.
The documentary will be followed by a discussion panel featuring representatives from two local agencies dedicated to advocacy and improvement of the lives of immigrants here on Long Island.
We are pleased to collaborate with both SEPA Mujer and Long Island Immigrant Students Advocates to help educate our students, alumni and community about challenges faced by immigrant women, youth and families on Long Island. All students, faculty, staff, alumni and members of the community are welcome to attend.
Hauppauge Education and Conference Center
p – 631.300.4350


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Walter G. Batik Grey Cotton Napkins (Set of 4)
Walter G. Batik Grey Cotton Napkins (Set of 4)
This napkin set has been hand block printed by artisans in India.
- 50cm x 50cm
- Set of 4
- 100% Cotton
CARE INSTRUCTIONS: Wash before use. Cold machine wash, separately, delicate cycle. Use mild detergent. Do not tumble dry, soak or bleach. Iron at medium setting if necessary.
**NEW INVENTORY COMING - If a product is out of stock or there isn't enough available, contact us! We are constantly ordering additional product and new items may be on their way. Please contact us with questions regarding out of stock items and future availability!
sold out


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It all starts with our first meeting
We want to make sure we understand your goals and your current situation. We'd also like to get to know your business and how it works. This enables us to put a package together that will work for you.
Ultimately, we want to make sure that we are a good fit for your business.
Our consultancy packages give you access to a Digital Marketing Specialist. You can use expertise for phone and email support, review and strategy meetings, staff training and coaching and getting feedback on current marketing activity.
This is perfect if you want to manage your campaigns in-house. Perhaps you have a marketing person or team and just require a second pair of eyes or another person to bounce ideas off.
If this could work for you, get in touch to arrange that first meeting.
Need some external help to manage your campaigns? We can provide monthly management of Google AdWords campaigns, SEO and Email campaigns. We'll be hands-on and flexible to fit in with you and your existing team. Just let us know what you want to achieve and the budgets you have and we'll make the magic happen.
Sound good? Get in touch to arrange a cuppa.


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Israel's battle of the Burge
At a time when jihadists are not only slaughtering innocents, but also advancing their media war by using religious dupes in America to advance their political goals, it is distressing — catastrophic, really — to see Israel's old enemies in the American church continue to blame the victim.
Gary Burge, a professor of theology at Wheaton College, the storied evangelical institution in Chicago (and home of the Billy Graham Center for Evangelism), has penned another polemic that distorts the situation in Gaza.
Curiously, Palestinian apologists like Burge accept the label "evangelical" when in fact their ideologies align far more with mainline, liberal/leftist denominations. Others who fall into this camp are Tony Campolo, Brian McLaren, and Bill and Lynne Hybels. In fact, I believe they accept the evangelical label in order to dupe real evangelicals.
In an August 26 piece for The World Post ("A Partnership of the Huffington Post and Berggruen Institute on Governance"), Burge once again castigates Israel. An important initial reaction to note when reading "Gaza: Some Secrets Few Will Say Aloud" is that Burge never tells his readers that Gazans elected Hamas. An avalanche of such inconvenient facts is meaningless to a propaganda hack like Burge, whose animus for Jews and for Israel is now legendary.
(In a bizarre introduction to his post, Burge described sitting in a Phoenix airport and overhearing men advocate bombing Gaza "back to the stone age." Burge then decided to move a few seats over because: "Besides. This was Arizona and I was in 'conceal-carry' central." Did he really think he might be shot? This little aside allows Burge to caricature conservatives as wild-eyed loose cannons, literally.)
Much of what follows in his post is garden-variety Israel-bashing, as Burge begins by alleging that Israel, during the War of Independence, forced 750,000 Arabs from their homes. Comically, he cites Benny Morris and Ilan Pappe as authorities on this subject. No mention of the Jews forced from Arab countries in the same period, either.
He then gets into the numbers game regarding casualties since Operation Protective Edge began, telegraphing his lack of empathy over Jewish deaths: "And on the Israeli side: 67 (mostly) soldiers have died."
Burge ends that section of his post with this:
"The bottom line: Israel has been actively bombing Gaza for a long time."
Does Burge know this is factually not true? Would it matter if he did?
His next diatribe was especially odious:
"Israel also limited the importing of food and has been accused of calculating calories in order to keep Gaza's economy on the brink of collapse. To make life miserable, inexplicably at one point shaving cream and soda were blocked. And chocolate. Chocolate? Most of the tunnels that Israel decries are not 'terrorist tunnels' used to attack Israel. They are economic. They sneak in everything from cars to chocolate. I even saw a photo of donkeys coming through the tunnels from Egypt."
Wow. The charge about daily caloric intake is one also peddled by popular evangelical author Donald Miller. I've asked Miller many times for documentation, but he won't even respond. And notice that Burge frames it this way: "has been accused…" He knows that his war crimes allegation doesn't have to be true; he simply has to introduce the idea to a readership that doesn't need another reason to hate those dirty, scheming Jews.
(If anyone would care to inquire of Dr. Burge about the evidence for his claims, please consider my personal experience with him. A few times I've asked Burge to comment on a devastating critique of his Palestinian views, written by Malcolm Lowe. Burge dodged every inquiry. Why? Because the emperor has no clothes.)
Burge's "tunnel analysis" is equally absurd. Notice too that he "saw a photo…" He wasn't there, doesn't know if it's true. Besides, isn't it plausible that the donkey was being used to transport weapons?
The answer is yes.
Burge also tells us he has seen photos of children from Gaza who have been "shredded by Israeli shrapnel." I have two questions: how does he know the photos depict children killed by Israeli fire and not, say, children being slaughtered in Syria and Iraq? This type of propaganda device — it's called lying — is the stock-in-trade of jihadists who want to demonize Israel.
Burge is helping them.
My other question is, why doesn't Burge mention 4-year-old Daniel Tragerman, an Israeli boy shredded by shrapnel from a Hamas rocket?
The Wheaton prof asks one final question, and I'd like to answer it:
"What if the situation was reversed and Gaza was filled with Jews who were surrounded by an aggressive Arab army and a crushing blockade. Would the world's reaction be different?"
Yes, Dr. Burge, the reaction would be different. Rather than uninformed accusations against Israel, in your scenario, the world would react with something even worse than anger:
Chilling indifference.


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Beaumont/Port Arthur
The annual Beaumont Boys Bash weekend is set for April 14-17 with money raised supporting the Hughen Center, which is celebrating its 75th year.
The event begins April 14 at the MCM Eleganté with the wild game dinner with Zona Jones featuring celebrity chef Grady Spears, who is the official chef of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. Performing will be Andy Griggs and Daryle Singletary.
As I drove Chuck Berry from the Houston airport to his gig in Winnie, we found ourselves laughing at the times of the not-so-great 1950s.
The broad generous smile held his 84 years well. His big hands and 6-foot-plus frame stretched out and relaxed as we talked of trials and tribulations that beset his career. He was jailed at one time without charges, taunted by white club owners and got less than a penny a record during his 66-year tenure on stage.
Many musicians have had songs hit No. 1 on their respected music charts, but there aren't many that can claim that they've had three consecutive No. 1 singles, especially in country music.
Chris Young can.
From Murfreesboro, Tennessee, Young watched "Gettin' You Home (The Black Dress Song)," "The Man I Want to Be" and "Voices" climb the country charts to the top spot and all were off his sophomore album The Man I Want to Be.
Jesse Hasek is one of the most creative and intellectual people you will ever meet. Though his name may not ring an instant bell, his voice and work does the job. The Knoxville, Tennessee native is the vocalist for Universal Republic recording artist 10 Years that have released several singles including "Through the Iris," "Beautiful," "So Long, Good-Bye," "Actions & Motives" and "Wasteland," which reached atop of the alternative rock chart.
Mississippi is known as the "Birthplace of America's Music." Of course one of the first things that comes to mind is that Tupelo was the birthplace of Elvis and dozens of blues musicians honed their skills in the state including Sam Cooke, Bo Diddley, John Lee Hooker, B.B. King and Muddy Waters.Faith Hill, Mickey Gill, Jimmy Buffett and Jerry Lee Lewis also call Mississippi their home state.
Rockers Saving Abel have added their name to long list of influential musicians that hail from the southern Gulf Coast state.
While we harbor no disrespect for the Wall Street Journal who called us "that scrappy little paper from Southeast Texas," we prefer to think of ourselves as simple seekers of the truth. We're of the opinion that headlines and sound bites never tell the whole story. Our readers demand all the facts, facets and flavors of every story or event. And, they expect to be informed, educated and stirred to action.
For this week's New York Times crossword puzzle, pick up a copy of this week's The Examiner on newsstands now.


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The World of Felio Siby a Miami Based Boutique with a difference
July 6, 2018
The Felio Siby women's collection of bags and totes are all named after Dominique's family members. In addition to the existing set available, most items in the collection can be produced and tailored by material and color combination, according to the client's request. Each bag features a small Felio Siby motif or emblem, produced in handcrafted gold-colored metal. Inside each bag by Felio Siby features a silk material or suede inner layer, matching the exterior color, with one or multiple inside pockets that are branded with a Felio Siby emblem and essential for keeping wallets, jewelry and mobile phones secure. All women's bags, with the exception of Mika and Marie Celine, fasten with a sturdy metal zip. All bags are available to order online through Felio Siby or by visiting the Felio Siby boutique in Miami Beach.
Danya is currently the best selling and most popular women's bag in the Felio Siby collection. The unique and oversized design, with a three-tier flare on both sides, is both stylish and traditional for the shoulder and for carrying or perching on the wrist. Two individual metallic gold studs are each placed at the bottom of the handle strap on both sides to portray a touch of elegance. A small overstrap fastener in the center of the bag features a metallic gold Felio Siby motif. Danya is available in 100% plain Italian leather and comes in white, yellow, teal and fuchsia. A two-color plain leather combination is available too. Danya is also available in 100% Python or Crocodile, as well as Python/Leather or Crocodile/Leather combinations. The premium Danya Nubuck (leather and suede) collection is available in any color.
Anais is the most practical women's bag in the Felio Siby collection. The contemporary style of medium size carryall comes in 100% plain Italian leather. Modern day black with a red interior is a popular look, although the white and grey option proves to be fashionable for those sunnier destinations. A metallic gold Felio Siby motif is stitched on to the center-top position of the bag, which is easily fastened with a zip for complete security. Anais can be made to order in a variety of colors and continues to be chosen for its long-term weatherproof durability.
Felicia is one of the original designs available from Felio Siby, considered to be the sister and inspiration for Danya. The classic design, similar in size, features a two-tier flare on both sides and comes in 100% plain Italian leather with a stylish colored trim. A small overstrap fastener in the center of the bag points to a metallic gold Felio Siby motif placed at the core. In addition to being available in black, white or grey, Dominique Siby developed the idea of using the leather canvas of Felicia as the medium for a variety of creative illustrations, hand-painted by a local artist in Miami. Current designs include a black silhouette depicting a map of Africa, as well as a sinister-looking humanoid from a fantasy horror story.
Mika is a one-of-a-kind showpiece item in the Felio Siby collection, suitable for women who aim to make an impact when walking in to any room. Mika is a smaller size shoulder bag, available only in African Python and its traditional reptilian colors. The luxurious strap is a high quality gold-colored metal chain with a cushioned centerpiece that comfortably rests on the shoulder. Fixed to the shoulder strap is gold- colored metal tassel depicting a chic yet bold sophistication. In the center of the bag is a miniature gold metal plate with an engraved Felio Siby motif. A stylish beige suede interior features two inner pockets, one with a zip, and comes complete with a stitched leather badge featuring an additional Felio Siby motif carved in to the fabric.
Marie Celine
Marie Celine is considered the Premium Collection of bags for women by Felio Siby and is also a best seller alongside Danya. The standard size women's bag sits nicely on the shoulder or in the hand and features a flared outer section on each side, resembling the signature Felio Siby shape. The handle straps are fixed with two gold metallic buckles that compliment the gold metallic fastener that twists in to place at the very top of the bag. Beneath the fastener is the Felio Siby emblem, embossed in gold on to the material, giving the handbag a touch of premium elegance and subtlety. Marie Celine is the first women'shandbag in the Felio Siby series to be produced in the highest quality Alligator skin – portraying the most luxurious and sophisticated of styles in the collection. Colors available in Alligator include red, black and blue and the bag is also available with metallic studs fixed on to each side or without studs in the regular style. Marie Celine is also available in premium Ostrich skin.
Emma is a similar style of bag in the Felio Siby collection that mirrors Marie Celine. Named afterDominique's youngest daughter, the standard size women's bag, for the shoulder or carrying freely, is square in shape without the side flare. The gold metallic overstrap fastener in the center of the bag points to a metallic gold Felio Siby motif placed at the core. Emma portrays a conventional yet classic look, available in the highest quality Alligator skin with matching handles.
Mini Danya
The Mini Danya has been designed as a miniature scaled down version for carrying essential accessories during that special evening out or for meeting friends. The new Mini Danya features a three-tier flare on both sides, each providing exquisite miniature side pockets, and is designed as both stylish and traditional for carrying in the hand or perching on the wrist. Two individual metallic square gold-colored studs are placed at the bottom of each handle strap with the Felio Siby initials engraved to portray a touch of elegance. A small overstrap fastener in the center of the bag features a gold Felio Siby motif. The Mini Danya is available in 100% plain Italian leather in multiple colors. Variations of the Mini Danya in Python/Leather or Crocodile/Leather are unique combinations that are also available on request.
W: Felio Siby


text: A New Year's resolution is a rite of passage to many individuals. The beginning of 2018 will bring fresh hope for change or the continuation of one's good fortune. Whether you make resolutions or not, try and keep it simple so your goal can be attained. An easy and fun resolution is to adopt a fashion trend you have wanted to incorporate into your wardrobe but have been too afraid to try. Start with one or two pieces you have admired, then build and see how your style and individual confidence grows! Kiskadee staff will do it with you!


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If you've been diagnosed with an enlarged aorta, you likely have many questions about your condition: How big is too big? When should I be worried? What does "watchful waiting" mean? Are there any early warning signs before it bursts?
Most of the answers to these questions depend on a variety of factors, including your age and body size, medical history and the position and size of your aorta, among others.
University of Michigan Frankel Cardiovascular Center patient Bob Stephens found he had all of these questions and more when diagnosed with a total of five aortic enlargements.
"It's awfully scary, but you don't have a choice," Bob says. "When I was first told about my condition, it worried me, but I knew the U-M team of doctors was watching me closely, especially my abdominal aortic aneurysm, which was large." Bob admits that "watchful waiting" can be stressful, but "I knew I had the right people taking care of me."
Sizing it up
Bob's U-M cardiologist, Dr. Michael Shea, says he hesitates to use the word aneurysm when consulting with patients about an enlarged aorta, instead referencing an aortic dilation or a blood vessel issue. "It's a scary term," he says, "especially if a patient has a relative who has died from it."
Regardless of the terminology, when the aortic diameter is greater than 50 percent of what is considered normal for a patient, Dr. Shea says he begins to consider surgery. Watchful waiting, he says, is the typical protocol when aortic dilation is below 50 percent of "normal" for the specific patient. "But every case is different, which causes a lot of angst among patients."
For example, a patient with connective tissue disorders such as Marfan or Loeys-Dietz syndromes typically experiences ruptures at a much lower diameter than a patient without one of these conditions. A patient with a bicuspid valve may also experience rupture at a lower diameter. For example, a person with a 5 cm dilation and a bicuspid aortic valve is more at risk than a person with a 5 cm dilation with no underlying conditions. Overall, patients with these conditions, as well as those with a family history of aneurysm, would be considered for surgical intervention at 4 to 5 cm.
Cardiologists also consider whether the dilation is stable or growing. According to Dr. Shea, growth can range from 0.1 to 1 cm a year, with measurements done on a regular basis, beginning with a baseline evaluation via echocardiogram, CT scan or MRI.
Dr. Shea points out that many patients with a slow-growing aortic dilation never undergo surgery, but are monitored on a regular basis as a precaution to measure any growth.
Other important factors
Other risk factors that come into play include:
- Where the aortic dilation is located: chest (thoracic aortic aneurysm), abdomen (abdominal aortic aneurysm) or a combination of the chest and abdomen (thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm)
- Whether the patient is feeling chest pressure
- Whether the patient's blood pressure is under control
- Whether the patient is smoking
- The patient's overall lifestyle
Take the next step:
- Read frequently asked questions about aortic disease.
- Hear the story of a two-time aortic aneurysm survivor.
- Watch a video about one man's journey from Egypt to U-M for complex aortic aneurysm and valve surgery.
The University of Michigan Samuel and Jean Frankel Cardiovascular Center is a top-ranked heart and heart surgery program among Michigan hospitals. To learn more, visit our website at umcvc.org.


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The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien is a children's fantasy book that kicked the genre in the ass in a big way. Stories of far away, scary lands with magical beings have always been popular, just look at King Arthur and Merlin, but The Hobbit is special in the way National Lampoon's Vacation made family comedies special. Just putting the story on a road seemed to help bring new life.
To say the story has no flaws, however, depends on your willingness to read verse and give a shit about your characters. Many times the dwarves and other characters lapse into song that can be skipped over without losing story. Also, besides going from place to place, the characters do not do very much. There is an internal change, especially in the central character of Bilbo, but overall the party just goes from place to place, gets in trouble, then get saved. They do little except forward the plot with their own need to go somewhere. This is boring save the few times Bilbo hobbits-up and becomes more active, but even then it leads to little but an excuse for a dues ex machina device to come save the day.
The book was banned several times over the years, most notably in 2001 in Alamagordo, New Mexico where a Christian rights group held a book burning. The themes of friendship and striving against adversity were lost among those looking for witchcraft and "satanic themes," so the book has suffered. Overall, however, The Hobbit and the sequel series, The Lord of the Rings, have escaped most detractors due to the strong messages and obvious fantasy elements they contain. Hope, friendship, kindness, and general fighting against adversity for the greater good are themes we can all embrace.
2001 - New Mexico - Burned in Alamogordo outside Christ Community Church along with other Tolkien novels as satanic.
Doyle, Robert P. Banned Books: Challenging Our Freedom to Read. 2014
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"Dances and Dames"
Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0


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I Love Bugs!
A small boy with curly hair and a striped T-shirt sings an extended love song to insects, arachnids, arthropods, and more ("I love springy jumpy leapy bugs and slimy crawly creepy bugs"). The boy and the insects are shown closeup, outlined in expressive black ink, their surroundings rendered as flat, graphic greenery. Googly-eyed grasshoppers cavort through grass the boy parts with his hands to reveal slugs and caterpillars crawling across the soil. When his picnic is invaded by wasps who land on his jam sandwich, the boy says he likes them, too: "I love brightly-colored wing bugs and stripy swipey sting bugs." Most are common species, and young insect fans will be able to name them. But Dodd (Dog's Colorful Day ) is less interested in identification than in celebration. Well-meaning parents may offer this to a child who's ambivalent toward creepy-crawlies, and it would be a good choice; the friendly, slightly anxious looks on the faces of several bugs make it clear that they're nervous, too. But it's young enthusiasts who will like it most. Ages 3–5. (Mar.)
Release date: 03/01/2010
Genre: Children's


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Scala, Inc and its partners were recognized by the DailyDOOH for excellence in Digital Signage at The DailyDOOH Gala Awards hosted in London on Thursday November 27, 2013.
Scala Certified Partner IPC Digital Media received an award for best overall retail experience for their installation at the Tesco Off Lisence Store in Dublin. The Scala installation from Amigo at PwC also received an award in the category Best stadium/office building/corporate/hotel, hospitality or leisure install.
The Tesco Off License in The Merrion Centre in Dublin is Ireland's first state of the art digital signage solution. Using Scala to deploy the solution, IPC supplied and fitted unique stretched LCD screens that were custom installed into the shelving fixture at customer eye level. The use of eye level motion graphics coupled with low level audio created maximum impact and truly interacts with and engages with the customer, through the Scala digital signage engine. Scala was also used to design templates for temporary offers in both portrait and landscape format.
Colin Cashman (Tesco Merrion Store Manager) commented: "Digital Signage has made a very positive image within the store. It has given an interactive feel to the Off Licence, a modern feel. Customer feedback has been excellent. They like to touch the screen, they like the idea of being able to interact with it. They like the idea of being able to see the product on screen and it actually highlights where the actual product is within the off licence. The digital display unit has created a positive impact with customers and also with staff, it gives more of a theatrical aspect to the general Off Licence."
The installation from Amigo running on Scala software provided PwC with a dynamic, branded Media Wall. It provides PwC with a communications platform to inform clients and employees. PwC didn't want just a "video wall". The playlist is peppered with transitions that play to the unique attributes of MicroTiles – extremely high resolutions. The Media Wall is encased in dark Walnut veneered wood paneling – these transitions mimic the paneling making the screen hardware effectively "disappear". "Live" text, imagery and video sits within defined branded templates – the Media Wall allows PwC to manage playlists internally via technical development of a CMS giving access to playlists and schedules for PwC to populate.
Four other Scala powered installations were nominated for The DailyDOOH Gala Awards: Wendy's USA, Telenet SmartSpot (DOBIT), A40 Power Station (Storm Digital) and Volvic Juiced (MEC).


text: Dr Amal Ahmad Khair Lecturer in Accounting and Finance Faculty of Business, Law and Politics firstname.lastname@example.com +44 (0) 1482 463114 Before entering academia, Amal was an internal auditor at Malayan Banking Berhad (MBB) one of the biggest banks in Malaysia. She held this position for four years, giving her vital professional experience in the fields of accounting and auditing. After leaving MBB, she worked as a lecturer in accounting and auditing at a number of universities in Malaysia. She came to the UK to pursue her doctoral studies at the University of Essex. Research Research Interests Corruption / bribery Fraudulent accounting practices Auditing Ethics Corporate governance Publications Otusanya J, Lauwo S and Khair A, 'The Culpability of Accounting Practice in Promoting Bribery and Corruption in Developing Countries', International Journal of Economics and Accounting (2017) Hayati A, Khair A, Haniffa R, Hudaib M and Nazri M, 'Personalisation of Power, Neoliberalism and the Production of Corruption", Accounting Forum, 3 Star ABS, vol 39, issue 3, pp 225-235 (2015) Hayati A, Khair A and Sulaiman N A, 'Theories in Selected Academic Fields: Auditing and Governance', Selected Theories in Social Science Research, University of Malaya Press (2015) Full list Teaching Programmes taught on (2019) BSc (Hons) Accounting Degree Course BSc (Hons) Accounting Degree Course Accounting and Financial Management Accounting and Financial Management Modules list Financial Control (Undergraduate Level 6) Accounting and Finance (Full-time and Part-Time) (Undergraduate Level 4) Accounting and Finance for Managers (Singapore teaching) (MBA level 7) Management Accounting (Undergraduate Level 5) Research PhDs Dr Khair welcomes applications in similar areas to her research interests. Completed PhDs K Mohamed Yusof, Fraudulent Financial Reporting: an Application of Fraud Models to Malaysian Public Listed Companies (2016) S Al Subhi, Performance Audit in Public Sector: More Representative Approach (2016) Teaching awards and accolades FHEA Professional highlights Academic qualifications PhD (University of Essex) MSc (International Islamic University Malaysia) Bsc Hons (International Islamic University Malaysia) External roles Invited to be a reviewer for journals, Accountancy Business and the Public Interest and Journal in Islamic Accounting and Business Research Awards and accolades Grant secured IPPBM grant, principal investigator, Malaysian Institute for Research in Youth Development, 2012, £7,000 (equivalent to MYR 35,000). IYRES grant, joint investigator, Institute for Youth Research Malaysia, 2014, £4,000 (equivalent to MYR22,764). Grant, principal investigator, Malaysian Institute for Research in Youth Development, to conduct research on the perceptions and accountability of Malaysian youths studying abroad, £7,000 (MYR 35,000)


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Music lovers of all levels enjoy the benefits of our Musician earplugs. Custom made with a soft silicone material, the Musician earplug uses a flat attenuation or noise reduction filter to help you listen to the music that you love at a safer level. Unlike solid earplugs, Musician plugs retain more high frequencies, allowing you to hear the other musicians or listen to your fellow co-workers speak in a factory setting. These earplugs are also helpful as hearing protection when using chainsaws, lawn mowers, high speed drills, or other loud devices for short exposure times.
By the time you notice there is a problem, hearing loss has already occurred. Persona offers noise protection ear plugs to protect your hearing in workplaces where loud noises are generated from machines, engines, lawn mowers, noisy crowds, etc. They may also be used in domestic environments when loud noises are present.
These solid plugs provide at least 32dB attenuation (sound pressure reduction) across 125Hz to 8kHz, and up to 44dB attenuation at 8kHz. Workplace sound level measurements and hearing tests are recommended to determine the amount of attenuation needed.
Eardoc is one of the safest hearing aid dryers in today's marketplace. EarDoc does not require consumables such as desiccant beads or drying stones. Instead, it uses self-regulating heating technology that efficiently extracts moisture while protecting instrument tubing and batteries.
Eardoc is small enough for travel. It is extremely simple to use and includes a one-year warranty.
Hearing aid devices are placed in such a manner that it exposes the electronic portions of the device to moisture, dirt, sweat, and other elements that remain the main cause of damage or failure of all hearing devices. While hearing aid cases have improved resistance to these elements, hearing devices are still susceptible to damage from the elements.
Persona Medical has created a protective cover which prevents moisture and dirt to areas like battery compartments, ribbon cable programming slots, push button memory switches, direct audio inputs, and dual direction microphone ports. The new protective cover is made from a FDA approved medical grade vinyl and is custom shaped to fully encompass your hearing instrument. It also allows users to access the battery door with the greatest of ease.
By creating a transverse cut through the middle of the cover, such that the cover hinges, it allows the rear portion of the cover to be removed for powering the device and changing the battery.
Made with bright, fun colors, our Splash™ swim plugs help keep water from getting into your ears. You can choose from eight great colors or mix colors together for a really cool look, like favorite school or team colors. Whatever color you choose, our Splash™ swim plugs are a fun way to protect those precious ears!
Plus, they come with built-in insertion and removal handles!
Splash™ Swim Plugs:
• Float
• Easy to handle
• Fun & colorful
• Reusable
• Reduce the chance of ear infections
• Soft Silicone


text:
Focus on Learning and Ignore Distractions with 8 Productivity Tips/
Learning Requires Focus
Being productive and focused is the best way to learn. It's important to build habits that promote focus, otherwise you'll keep falling into the same mental traps.
I tend to live each day reading Twitter or Facebook. While social media sites can provide great insight on iPhone development news, they usually morph into giant time wasters. I often find myself up against a wall writing code, similar to writers block. When I learn something new and something is clicking or I just uncovered a huge bug there's an urge to ignore it and try something easy.
What do I do? I quickly type facebook.com and 20 minutes later I've forgotten the issue and watched several silly cat videos. Not only have I been unproductive, but I've lost critical temporal knowledge I had 20 minutes ago when the issue first started. I've lost time and knowledge that could have been better used solving the problem. Don't fall temptation for an easy way out. Stick it out, and if you're really lost then step away from the computer and your phone for a short walk.
8 Simple Rules for Productive Days
The easiest way to prevent these mindless excursions is to say no, or to set limits on when you're allowed to visit social media websites. Here are 8 rules that I try to follow each day.
- Write a todo list. I write it at night for the next day and keep it short (3-5 items). I can sleep easier and focus harder on exactly what is needed. It really feels good to cross things off a list!
- No email before 12pm. If I don't look at email my brain won't worry about responding until later in the day. This definitely helps me focus hard in the first 4 hours of my workday.
- No social media before 5pm. Again, this reduces the amount of "new" things my mind can think about. Doing so enables me to relax and just think about my current todo list.
- Drink lots of water. I find that I get headaches with too much coffee and not enough water.
- Exercise. Each time I stop exercising I lose energy and become overwhelmed with all the work I need to do. Exercise can really help me relax after a long day of work.
- Sleep. Setting a regular bedtime and morning wakeup time makes me fresh and ready to go. Without a regular interval it's easy to lose motivation and hard to wake up.
- Wear comfortable clothes. It's amazing how my mood instantly feels better in a soft shirt instead of a coarse shirt. Just thinking about the comfort makes me excited.
- Take breaks. I get tense at the computer, especially when I'm in the zone. To combat that I'm trying to relax more with frequent breaks. My favorite is just leaning over and touching my toes for 40 seconds. I also use BreakTime on my Mac.
What focus tips do you have?
Email me or comment below to share what works for you. Everyone's different and there's other things to try.
Need more motivation?
- Listen to Freakonomic's podcast called "The Things They Taught Me"
- Read "How to Rebuild Your Attention Span and Focus"


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Andrew Page
Certified Fitness Coach/Strength and Conditioning Specialist
Andrew is a professional strength and conditioning coach with over 12 years of experience. He has developed programs for NBA, EuroLeague, and the USA Olympic Team and has worked with corporate and individual clients from various backgrounds. Andrew received his coaching education at the University of Virginia department of fitness, nutrition, and wellness.


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Does your office/school/church/coven celebrate Meme Day? I went to high school in the late 90's, and back then we were still using the original, Richard Dawkins definition of meme as "an idea, behavior, or style that spreads from person to person within a culture," so on Meme Day from freshman to senior year I went as moral panic, "the Rachel," insistence that the SATs are culturally biased, and Islam, respectively.
Now, of course, "meme" means a picture of a cat with funny words on it or some other such image that the internet passes around. And Meme Day at school has changed, too; no longer are kids dressing up as saying "Gesundheit" when someone sneezes or Communism; it's all Salt Bae and Slenderman.
Here's a video of Meme Day at Olympian High School in Chula Vista, California from twitter user @h0neymami:
in case you havent heard, it was meme day at school today pic.twitter.com/FmMhsabkBo
— meme nic (@h0neymami) April 26, 2017
If you're a normie, here's an explanation of the memes featured:
This towering child-murderer is found Photoshopped into the background of images all across the internet, and also inspired two 12-year-old girls to try to stab one of their friends to death in an effort to impress him. The stabbing victim survived, meaning that Slenderman probably LOST respect for them.
Confused math lady comes from a Brazilian telenovela but has become popular all around the world because women are universally confused by math.
These come from a Photoshop blog but the kid in the video is actually just a thalidomide baby.
This is from a viral image of a cat wearing a lime peel helmet, which is basically the only real use for limes.
This is actually available on the menu at Gordon Ramsey's Democratic Republic of Congo location.
"You on kazoo" sounds like a drug PSA…and looks like one, too. It comes from this hallucinatory YouTube video:
This hashtag comes from fans upset that one of the characters in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid movies had been replaced by another actor. These movies are for three-year-olds.
Guy who sprinkled salt funny.


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New dinosaur species found in museum collection
A British palaeontologist has discovered a new species of dinosaur while studying fossils in a Canadian museum. Pentaceratops aquilonius was related to Triceratops and lived at the end of the Cretaceous Period, around 75 million years ago. Jim Drury has more. Credit to Reuters. PART MUST ONSCREEN COURTESY 'NICK LONGRICH' / ITN - RESTRICTIONS: TV: NO ACCESS ALL DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL CHANNELS DISTRIBUTED IN UK & EIRE ON SKY/VIRGIN/FREEVIEW; BBC/BSKYB GROUP : NO ACCESS WORLDWIDE ANY MEDIA; INTERNET: NO ACCESS.CO.UK WEB SITES AND ALL WEBSITES PRINCIPALLY TARGETED AT THE UK AND/OR EIRE; MOBILE: NO ACCESS WORLDWIDE; NO USE AFTER 30 DAYS ON ALL PLATFORMS - FOR RE-USE CONTACT SALES[AT]ITNSOURCE.COM


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Five companies in Greenville have made Inc. magazine's list of the 5000 fastest growing companies in the US.
Each year, Inc. publishes a list of the fastest-growing companies in the U.S. To be eligible, companies must be U.S.-based, privately held, independent organizations (not subsidiaries of larger companies). Rankings are based on revenue from 2006 (which must be at least $200,000) through 2009 (which must be at least $2 million).
This year's list contains three Greenville companies making their first appearance and two that moved up in ranking from their 2009 listing.
They are:
JH Global Services imports and distributes STAR brand electric golf carts, golfing accessories, and industrial products to dealers nationwide. It also offers outsourcing services to U.S. companies that want to have parts or products made in China, especially engineered metal products. It's 2009 revenues of $28 million made it 15th in the manufacturing segment. The company employs 35 people and has seen more tha. 300 percent growth over the past three years. JH was on the Inc. list last year at #2095.
TGA SOLUTIONS, located in Inman, is an IT services company. IT Services had the second most companies on this year's list with 607, and TGA Solutions was ranked 284 in the industry. TGA Solutions is also one of the 25 South Carolina based companies represented on the list. TGA is the only IT Services company in the Upstate of South Carolina that made the list out of the 10 advanced technology companies that are based here.
TGA Solutions empowers clients with custom cost-effective solutions to increase efficiency and security via software, hardware, virtualization, storage and data protection and recovery. With 30 years of industry experience, highly-trained engineers, and a reputation for quality customer service TGA has earned prestigious partnerships with top software and hardware providers. These include premier certified partnerships with Cisco, Microsoft and Dell, and they remain the only Citrix provider in Upstate South Carolina.
Fortis Riders provides chauffeur driven limousines for executives in 550 locations. Founded in 2000, the company had $3.1 million in revenue last year. In it's industry category of logistics and transportation it was 56th. The company has eight full time employees and has experienced a 66 percent growth over the past three years. Fortis Riders was on the list last year at #1907.
ADEX is a manufacturer of precision machined aerospace and energy components. Despite a slow economy, ADEX experienced more than 300 percent growth in revenue over a three year period, including expansion to a new facility, investment in new capital equipment, and adding over a dozen new employees. ADEX Machining Technologies is a one-stop supplier of high precision CNC and EDM machined prototypes and production components for the Aerospace, Defense, and Energy-Power Generation industries. ADEX's niche is 5-axis machining of tough exotic materials such as Titanium and Inconel, while holding tight tolerances of .0002 inches on complex applications up to 40" in diameter. Examples of the company's diverse applications include components and assemblies for military and commercial aircraft engines, rocket propulsion, helicopter hardware, and gas turbine combustion systems. ADEX is 148th in the manufacturing segment. The company had revenue of $4.6million - a 53 percent increase in three years. The company has 32 full time employees.
EDTS is a full-service technology consulting firm, specializing in networking, security, and managed services support services for businesses throughout the Southeast. The firm with 35 employees is based in Greenville and Atlanta, GA. EDTS is ranked 549th in the IT Services industry with revenue of $2 million and a 20 percent growth over the past three years.


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Set the time you'd like your coffee and the Grind Control will start the process on its own to ensure it's ready and waiting.
A clear and concise LCD screen shows grind setting, grind time and number of shots or cups you have selected.
From Brazilian to Colombian and Sumatran, adjust the grinder output to suit any bean from anywhere. Customize the grind size and coffee to suit your taste.
Delivers consistent and precise particle size for optimum flavor potential.
Brew directly into a large carafe, tall cup or travel mug with equal balance and flavor profile.


text:
Sunday, December 23, 2007
Temple Lights
Posted by Joe and Melissa Vega 4 comments Links to this post
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Sun Devil Wedding
Last weekend we went to a wedding for a guy that Joe has worked with for the past 3 years, Lou Sanchez. He is a HUGE Sun Devil fan and was actually the one that got Joe to buy his Sun Devil Season tickets. So Lou's wife surprised him by inviting the ASU cheerleaders and Sparky the mascot to come the reception for a few cheers!! It was very cool!!!
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
It really does snow in AZ
Sunday, December 9, 2007
Home Sweet Home
Sterling is amazing and we obviously couldn't do this without him! So anyone that is looking for a general contractor let me know because you won't find someone better than him. Not only does he do excellent work he has such an artistic eye and take a regular set of blueprints and turn your house into a masterpiece!!!!
Posted by Joe and Melissa Vega 3 comments Links to this post
Thursday, December 6, 2007
I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas
Well, this year marks the 1st year in 28 that I will not be spending Christmas in Ohio. I knew this day would come but it is still hard to accept. With all the decisions left in building our house there is no way we could leave out of town for an extended period of time. We still have so much to do and our deadline is fast approaching. We are anticipating moving in by February 1st, 2008. While I am beyond sad that I don't get to be with my family this year I know that it is virtually impossible for us to leave. So I will try to think of the positives about staying in AZ for Christmas.
1. I won't freeze to death!! My body is now acclimated to AZ weather and the cold is always so shocking!
2. I won't have to pay for plane tickets for Maddox and Fiona. As little as they are you have to pay for them to sit under your seat!!! They are a basically a carry-on you have to pay for:(
3. I will get to attend holiday parties with friends and co-workers. This is a stretch but I'm sure there will be some fun get togethers that we would otherwise be missing?!?!?!
4. We will get to spend time with Joe's relatives. Hopefully they will enjoy having us around! We'll get to see some of Joe's nieces and nephews we don't see as often!
5. I can't think of anything else...
Well 5 things are better than nothing I suppose.
So to Mom, Sara, Brian, Chris, David, Grandma, Grandpa, Tah, Bill, Delaney and Jordan I love you and I'm sorry we can't be there this year! And to Dad, Glenna, Anna and Bradley I'm sorry I never see you at Christmas:(
I do have to say Thank Goodness for Online shopping! I'm just hoping it all gets there in time:) That doesn't mean I'm done with my shopping though. Tick tock I don't have that much time left.....aghhh!!!! I'm not the best at making decisions so I often procrastinate my purchasing.
I've Been Dreaming of True Love's Kiss....
Last night some of the women and Young Women from church had a girls night and went to see one of the cutest movies ever....Enchanted!!!!! Literally my face hurt from smiling the whole time!!! If you grew up watching Disney Movies, love romance, enjoy songs, or like Patrick Dempsey (Dr. McDreamy) then this a movie for you!!!!! It really was so fun from the animation portion, the songs, the humor, and the twitterpation of course! Disney made this movie and they pulled components from so many of their movies to add to the charm of this one. I'm sure I missed some of the references but the ones I noticed were The Little Mermaid, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, King Kong, Bambi, and Snow White. If you haven't seen it yet you are missing out! I can't wait until it comes out on DVD!!!
Saturday, November 24, 2007
I Am Thankful For
Here are some pics of our fun week with the Watson's!
Joe carving the turkey
Right before the feast, thanks Austin for the pretty napkins. And FYI those bottles are sparking juice:)
Thursday, November 22, 2007
Happy Thanksgiving!
Friday, November 16, 2007
La Casa
Our house is kind of shaped like a U. So here is a pic of the curved foyer wall. Walls like this takes a lot of precision and skill so thank you guys!!
Posted by Joe and Melissa Vega 3 comments Links to this post
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Off the Hook!
Monday, November 12, 2007
Well, it has been over a week since my last post. Why?? Well my excuse is that our camera is broke. We have another camera but the one that fits nicely in a pocket or purse is broken therefore no pics are being taken. SAD! I had a feeling this would happen and this is why I debated starting a blog. So despite my lack of pictures I am going to ramble aimlessly so you have something to read.
Ok, last week...we had nutrition night for the Young Women at church. It was actually very interesting. But now I have to decide if I am going to take action. One thing she talked about was how bad aspartame is for you. That means no diet soda!! Aghhhhhhh!!!! That is a big step for me. I'm not out of control but I at least have one can a day...if not more. I know this is something I'll have to do when I'm pregnant but for now hand me another Diet Coke!
Friday night I went out to dinner with some girl friends to celebrate Jaimi Belinski's 29th birthday!!!! (I will post pics when Hilarry sends them to me:) ) 29 wow...that will be me next year. I like to remind Jaimi that she'll always reach those big milestone birthdays before me. It gives me some consolation at least! The food was ehhhh but the company was great! It is always fun to go out with the ladies and have good old fashioned girl talk!
Saturday morning Joe and I went out to look for counter tops and flooring with our contractor. As a lot of you know we are building a house in Gilbert. This project has seemed to take a life time but we are projected to move in the beginning of the year. Building a house on your own takes a lot longer but we are saving money in the long run. The real estate market isn't the greatest right now so we'll be renting our Phoenix house once we move to Gilbert. As excited as I am to move to a our new beautiful home I will be soooo sad to leave this house!!! I love the location....3 minutes from work, super close to downtown and central to everywhere we need to go. I will also be so sad to leave our ward. We have made such good friends at church. Hopefully we'll stay in touch with most of them but when you don't see people every week it is harder to get together.
Saturday was also a very sad day for the Buckeye nation. We actually lost a regular season game to Illinois????? Who knew it was possible. C'est la vie.
Sunday was a special day because Joe cooked Breakfast and Dinner!!!!!!!!! He did such a good job I told him he is welcome to cook more often. Not sure if that we'll happen but I'll DEFINITELY take what I can get!
Sunday, November 4, 2007
How to kill time...
Thursday, November 1, 2007
October is a phenomenal month!!! My birthday, college football, cooling weather, and Halloween are a few events that make this month one of my favorites!!! Who can say no to candy corn, caramel apples, ghosts and goblins. Every year when Halloween comes along I have high hopes for dressing up and going to a costume party....or better yet, throwing a party myself. But since I've been married Halloween comes and goes and we say "well maybe next year." So last night the only costumes in our house were worn by the dogs. They are so cute I wonder how I got so lucky with 2 darling dogs!!!
After we ran out of candy we decided to watch a "scary" movie. I'm kind of a wimp so I didn't want to watch anything too gruesome. We decided on The Ring which had me on the edge of my seat and screaming out loud when I saw it in the theater in 2002. This time....not so much. I kept waiting for the scary part...still waiting...
My Little Punkin
Joe, Maddox and Fiona....so cute!!!
Patiently waiting for trick-or-treaters
Why are my antenna's under my chin?? :)
Monday, October 29, 2007
Posted by Joe and Melissa Vega 2 comments Links to this post
Friday, October 26, 2007
Things that REALLY matter in life
Why is it that something like football can be something that can bond people for life and also something to tear relationships a part? I mean when you think about it, sweaty guys are manhandling each other trying to get an oddly shaped ball from one end of the field to the next. Nevertheless when football season comes I get those butterflies in my stomach. I really love everything about it!! The tail gating, the hot dogs, the pre-game rallying, the "heated" banter of the sports reporters. I love the face tattoos, beads, jerseys, and t-shirts. I love seeing the passion and creativity when it comes to representing YOUR team! I love the anticipation, the close calls, the interceptions, the victories, the tradition, the crunch of helmets crashing into one another. I can honestly say I LOVE everything about being a Buckeye!!!! While I did not attend THE Ohio State University for my college education I have a connection with this team as if it was my Alma Mater. Currently the Buckeyes are rated #1. Last season was a dream season for us....until the National Championship. It was an absolute blunder, a nightmare, a travesty. Truly the only explanation I can think is that aliens came down and invaded our players bodies! So to be ranked #1 again this season is a small miracle. I have faith in these guys that we can have another dream season. But the true test is the last game of the season vs the Michigan Wolverines. I hate them, I despise them and I honestly feel animosity when I even think of "that state up north."
But tomorrow I will be donning Maroon and Gold. My loyalty is not shifting I am not a traitor. I merely am supporting my husband and his love of the Arizona State Sun Devils. I love a good college football game and since we have season tickets I figure the least I can do is put on a t-shirt and enjoy a hot dog and chili.
So good luck tomorrow to the Buckeyes. Beating Penn State is something they can do in their sleep.
And also good luck to the Sun Devils. The more games then win the closer they come to playing the Buckeyes in a Bowl Game.
While this might cause a strain in the precious relationship between husband and wife.....we will cross that bridge when we come to it. One of us will need to be the bigger person and I can assure you that I will be there to comfort my husband when his team gets aannihilated:) (Shhhh...don't tell Joe I posted that)
1st Time Blogger
Well I have come to realize that I am behind the times on a growing trend. Everyone and I mean EVERYONE is blogging these days. Celebrities, politicians, wanna-be's, mom's, entrepreneurs, musicians, people with GREAT recipes, socialites, artists....everyone has something to say. I spend a lot of time on the Internet and find myself bookmarking these captivating websites. I'm curious as to what they have to say and what has sparked their interest enought to publish it for the world to see. I love hearing the latest gossip, fashion trends, doggy stories, the latest and greatest home decorating tips, etc. Now I'm not necessarily one to go jumping on band wagons....but....this one seems like something worthwhile. Hopefully our family and friends across the country might like to know what we are up to from time to time. I am not the best at calling or even emailing so here is my attempt to keep everyone up to date on the exciting adventures of the Vega family! Plus who knows, maybe someone out there might think what I have to say is interesting:)


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Young Love by Mat Kearney
here on Itunes
I had heard his songs. They are all over the radio and in stores. Catchy, uplifting tunes.
According to wikipedia, his songs have been featured on " the following television series: 30 Rock, Dirty Sexy Money, Kyle XY, The Unit, Without A Trace, Laguna Beach, The Hills, Bones, Jericho, Friday Night Lights, Wildfire, What About Brian, South Beach, 8th & Ocean, One Tree Hill, Scrubs, The Closer, NCIS, Life Unexpected, Grey's Anatomy and The Vampire Diaries. His song "Runaway" is featured on the Soul Surfer movie soundtrack.".
The thing is that, honestly, I never REALLY listened. When I did, I was impressed. There is an honesty and brilliance about his music. He is a person I'd want to know and share a cup of coffee with. Someone Id welcome into my home.
I enjoy this obvious hit:
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But what took me a minute to catch on too was that he's talking about life with his new bride and working out all the kinks and rhythms:
"Singing, hey mama, don't want no drama
Just a kiss before I leave
Hey lady, don't say maybe
You're the one that I can believe
Hey lover, don't want no other
Finger for my ring
I was also touched, and inspired by:
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You can read the lyrics HERE
He prefaces the song explaining it is his father's story. There is something so real and profound and honest about it. It's a story of breaking familial cycles. Of wanting more for your kids and family. Of one man's struggle and the hope found in the yes of a child and then becoming the man he wanted to be for him. It's not sad and doesn't make you angry: somehow he took this story and told it in a true and inspiring way. Love that.
Honestly, this CD has been playing in our kitchen, our living room, and our vehicle since it came in the mail. NON-STOP. It is good. It is fun. It has depth and appeals to everyone.


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Our Sustainability Guidelines
At Lissome, we work with innovative brands who share our values and produce with integrity and care. In our brand and product features, we look for a combination of the following elements – sustainable and healthy materials, fair working conditions, eco-friendly production processes, high-quality and local manufacturing, pre-loved and vintage items, and craftsmanship and handmade goods. When we showcase brands, we inform ourselves about how and where they manufacture and engage with their ethos.
Use of organic, recycled or eco-innovative fibres that are healthy for the environment and our own skin.
Guaranteed living wages, safe working conditions, voluntary overtime and freedom to unionise.
Use of low impact and low chemical processing and methods, natural dyes and minimal waste manufacturing techniques.
Support of independent, local businesses and strong, personal relationships between designers and local manufacturers.
Protection and support of the traditional skills and/or the ancient heritage of artisanal communities.
Promoting the reuse of those things that are beautiful and already exist in the world.
No animals are part of the product nor were used/harmed in the process of the making.


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Art Cashin says stocks are selling off today as the yield on the U.S. 10-year note continues to rise following good economic dataon jobless claims and inflation released this morning.
He also says traders are wondering if American consumers are in the "witness protection program" after Wal-Mart's warning today. "We can't find them anywhere."
Cashin, the UBS Director of Floor Operations at the NYSE, told CNBC's Bob Pisani at midday that the market could hold on, however, if the 10-year yield stays below 2.8 percent.
"Keep your eye on that 10-year yield, folks. That could be the leader."


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How the neighborhood came alive after getting a dog. For Internazionale.
Click on the images to enlarge.
Comics based on my experience as a juror in New York City. For Internazionale.
Click on the images to enlarge
About having a long distance relationship after my move from California to New York. For Internazionale.
Click image to enlarge.
My move from Los Angeles to New York. For Internazionale.
Click on image to enlarge
Chinese New Year reminiscing for the New York Times.
My summer living in Japan. For The New York Times "Summerscape" series.
Excerpt from a zine feature sheep, wolves, and corruption of the heart.


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Grilled Lemon Pound Cake with Peaches and Cream
- 2 cup cake flour
- 4 large peaches, sliced into 1/2-inch wedges
- vegetable oil, for brushing
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 0.25 cup fresh lemon juice
- 0.25 cup whole milk
- 6 large egg, at room temperature
- 2 cup sugar
- 2 stick unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 0.5 tsp salt
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 0.25 cup finely grated lemon zest, from 3 lemons
- lightly sweetened whipped cream
1. Preheat the oven to 325°. Spray a 9 1/2-by-5-inch loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray. In a medium bowl, whisk the cake flour with the lemon zest, baking powder and salt.
2. In a standing electric mixer fitted with the paddle, beat the butter with the sugar at medium speed until pale and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Scrape down the side of the bowl. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well between additions. At low speed, beat in the flour mixture just until incorporated. Beat in the milk, lemon juice and vanilla, scraping down the side of the bowl as necessary.
3. Scrape the batter into the prepared pan and bake for about 1 hour and 30 minutes, until the cake is golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Transfer the pan to a rack and let the cake cool for 20 minutes. Unmold the cake and let cool completely, about 3 hours.
4. Light a grill. Using a serrated knife, cut the pound cake into 10 slices. Lightly oil the grate and grill the slices over moderate heat, turning once, until toasted, about 2 minutes. Transfer to plates. Lightly oil the grate again. Grill the peaches over moderately high heat until lightly browned and tender, about 2 minutes. Spoon the peaches over the cake, dollop with whipped cream and serve.


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NCAA clears Marvin Bagley to play for Duke this season
Marvin Bagley III is eligible to play for Duke this season.
The school announced Friday that Bagley received approval from the NCAA Clearinghouse and will be eligible to play as a freshman at Duke this season.
"From the outset of this process, we were optimistic that it would end with the NCAA Eligibility Center certifying Marvin to compete for Duke University in 2017-18," Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski said in a statement. "We are thrilled for Marvin and the Bagley family. Their organization and efficiency were key to the successful conclusion of the certification process, as were the efforts of our Duke Athletics administration."
The 6-11 Bagley completed high school early a year early this summer and announced in August that he planned to play for Duke, picking the Blue Devils over Arizona and Southern California among other schools. A five-star recruit, Bagley was originally rated as the top player in the Class of 2018 before reclassifying to this year's freshman class.
Bagley enrolled at Duke last month and started classes on Aug. 28, the first day of classes for Duke's fall semester. The NCAA Clearinghouse completed an exhaustive background search of Bagley to determine his eligibility according to its academic and amateurism rules. Bagley attended three high schools, the last of which was Sierra Canyon High School in Chatsworth, Calif.
Steve Wiseman: 919-419-6671, @stevewisemanNC


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Terry Woster: When kids don't ask 'what could go wrong?'
I wrote recently about a doctor who still made house calls, which is cool, but I've been on the patient side of a house call to the doctor.
Actually, our younger son, Andy, was the patient. I played the part of the chauffeur or maybe ambulance driver. Nancy served as the EMT on the scene, keeping the patient stable during the transport. B.O. Lindbloom, now retired, acted as the receiving emergency-room doc, right there in his own home.
I'm not sure how old Andy was at the time — somewhere between old enough to know better and young enough to not think twice before trying something that should have made him say to himself, "Sure, what could go wrong with this?'' If you have raised a son or two, you know the age I'm describing isn't just a short phase. Sometimes it lasts for years, during which time you as the parent find yourself in conversations with your son that consist, on your part, mostly of comments such as, "Did you ever stop to think it might turn out poorly?''
Well, in this case, Andy was practicing the long jump in our family room. The place was short on runway, and the landing pit was just in front of the brick fireplace. (Sure, what could go wrong with that, right?) Olympic long jumpers on television have a way of kind of bouncing sideways out of the pit, which might have helped in the Woster Family-Room Olympics, although the brick was pretty much right up against the pit. In any event, the kid didn't even show a hint of bouncing sideways. He hit the pit and spilled forward, smack into the brick with his forehead.
On the bright side, I don't think he fouled the take-off. The way blood gushed from the gash above his eyebrows, though, I don't think you could legitimately call it a "clean'' jump. His mother, the nurse, took charge of slowing the flow of blood and inspecting the length and depth of the wound. I took charge of yelling generally unhelpful stuff. In a medical crisis, those are the roles she and I handle best.
With the bleeding stopped, Nancy called Doc, who said to bring the kid over to his house and he'd take a look. We did, he did, and I think it took some of those butterfly bandages, not stitches.
That call to the doctor's house wasn't the usual procedure when the kid had a mishap. Most times we wound up in the emergency room at St. Mary's Hospital. We did when another jet ski crashed across the one Andy rode, and when he put an elbow through the playroom window, and when he did a monster dunk on the playground, fell backward and smacked his head on the blacktop.
I showed up late for the jet-ski incident. Nancy handled the trip to the ER.
I was involved from the start in the playroom window deal. As I told the ER nurse, we were going one-on-one with a sponge ball and a stick-up hoop. Andy tried to make a move along the baseline, and I had to block him, right? Yep, and right into the window. Some blood spilled, but there was no permanent damage, except that we couldn't play ball in the house after that.
The playground incident was a whole different level of medical emergency. Andy and his big brother, Scott, were playing ball when it happened. Andy landed on the back of his head and lost consciousness. Scott ran across the street, where a former teacher said how pleased he was by the visit before Scott could describe the emergency. They called for an ambulance, and then Scott called me.
Nancy was due home in minutes, but I couldn't wait. In an age before cell phones, I scribbled a message about Andy, a fall, and the emergency room, cranked up my four-cylinder pickup and sped to the playground in time to jump the curb, turn around and follow the ambulance to the hospital. Nancy found the note and joined us.
One thing: Whether outpatient to the doctor's house or visiting the ER, we had great health care for the kid.


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Second Story is an innovation center pioneering new interactive experiences. They push the boundaries of storytelling for brands and institutions across digital channels—web, mobile, and installations—empowering audiences to connect and share.
The agency has been a pillar of the Portland creative community for almost twenty years, and we are thrilled to see their vision take form as one of our Put a Bird In It birdhouses for WeMake Celebrates.
We recently caught up with experience designer, Joe Carolino and the Second Story team to find out what they've been working on.
What attracted you to this project?
We were excited to collaborate on something with so few constraints that enabled us to both connect with Portland's creative community at large and benefit a cause we all believe in.
What are your sources of inspiration for this project?
We found inspiration in a wide variety of things, from puppetry to contemporary birding books, anatomical charts to mythology, past projects to current ones.
How is your birdhouse coming along?
We've had a great time with this project. Members of our studio's technology, content, and design teams all took part, each contributing something unique to the process. We had a lot of fun concepting and prototyping together, and we're excited about the final product!
If there is a theme, please tell us about it.
Our final concept was influenced by the form and function of a cabinet of curiosities, a precursor to museums that contained an assortment of objects and specimens intended to inspire wonder. As creators of interactive media, we live for moments of discovery, surprise, awe, and amazement, so the concept of the cabinet really resonates with us.
The collections the cabinets displayed were sometimes found in nature but sometimes completely fabricated, toeing the line between fact and fiction, truth and storytelling. We play with this idea quite a bit in our work (see our Vault of the Secret Formula project, for example), and we wanted to bring that playful spirit into the birdhouse.
The end result is a fun and whimsical showcase of imaginary avian creatures, each with their own tale to tell. An accompanying microsite will offer additional information about the weird and wonderful creatures we dreamed up.
What has it been like working with a 3D object vs. a more traditional digital design or illustration?
It was pretty comfortable for us, actually, since our digital work often has a physical component.
Put a Bird In It is raising funds to support art and music in Portland's public schools. What was your art + music experience like when you were a kid?
We're a studio full of visual artists, tinkerers, musicians, builders, filmmakers, and writers– suffice it to say, we were all heavily influenced by arts education when we were kids
Why do you think are art and music important for children?
Pragmatism is such an important part of adulthood that it's easy to lose sight of what our brains are really capable of. Arts education teaches us early on how to think imaginatively, how to see beauty in everything, how to hear music everywhere. Those lessons are the ones we can benefit most from carrying into our professional lives.
Albert Einstein said, "Creativity is intelligence having fun." We think that's exactly right.


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Thanksgiving in Ireland: what are employees doing to celebrate?
We spoke to some workers celebrating Thanksgiving about their plans for the day. Here's what they had to say:
Paul Adams, VP of Product for Dublin and San Francisco-based Intercom who raised $35million earlier this year. Previously he was Global Head of Brand Design for Facebook.
"We were founded in the US by four Irish guys and I worked for Facebook and Google in San Francisco – so we know how much Thanksgiving means to people over there and it became part of our lives.
"We're hiring at the moment as we expand 140 people in Ireland and I'm thankful we count a number of US citizens among that nationalities working on the team who have relocated to Dublin…so to let them know how thankful we are for their hard work we're joining in the celebrations and putting on a Thanksgiving dinner for all the staff, it's a relatively small thing but something you need to consider as a global company."
Kevin Olsen, Director of Pivotal Labs in Ireland who moved from Boulder, Colorado earlier this year. The company announced plans to invest €100m in Ireland earlier this month.
"I moved to Ireland this year with my family and the friendliness and people I have met has really made the transition easier. There's a mixture of young Irish and US people on our team working out of Dogpatch Labs and they're working pretty hard but we might go to a bar after work today to celebrate."
Tammy Contreraz, events and marketing lead for nearForm, a software company that employs 60 people in Tramore, Co Waterford.
"I moved here in the Spring from Silicon Valley and it's been amazing to work in a company like nearForm, that is full of people from different countries. Working in the seaside town of Tramore in South East Ireland towards building a global company is an amazing opportunity. I'm thankful for the new friends I've made in the company and the lifestyle change in this beautiful place!
"It's been amazing to keep pursuing my professional goals but with a different culture that's still ambitious but not at the expense of my personal life. There are things I miss – particularly more choice of sushi restaurants at home. My plans this year include celebratory pints on Friday and dinner with friends on Saturday, but at nearForm they are ever conscious of our global family and make sure these holidays are acknowledged and celebrated to make me feel at home."
Online Editors


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Three-time world cycling champion, Peter Sagan (27) gifted a customized racing bicycle, in Papal colors, to Pope Francis (81) on 1/24/2018 according to the The Local Italy.
In other Catholic Pedalphile news, more local to home, the 20th Annual Blessing of the Bikes, has a tentative date of Saturday 5/5/2018 at 9 am at The Cathedral of St. John the Divine (112th Street and Amsterdam Avenue, NY, NY). The event is free.
Here is an old Streetsfilm account of the event, in case you feel the 'call'.
"All Faiths (or lack thereof) Welcome"


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The Rip Curl Pro Portugal completed Round 4 this afternoon in punchy two-to-three foot (1 metre) waves at the backup venue of Belgas.
Event No. 8 of 10 on the 2010 ASP World Tour, the Rip Curl Pro Portugal executed the three-man, non-elimination Round 4 this afternoon with surfers pushing the boundaries of high-performance surfing and the event setting up for a possible finish tomorrow.
Jordy Smith (ZAF), 22, current ASP World No. 2, proved the form surfer of the day, netting a near-perfect 9.93 out of a possible 10 for an incredible aerial 360.
"That score didn't change my approach much actually," Smith said. "Jadson (Andre) and Owen (Wright) can pull big scores out at any moment. I knew I could ease up and needed a solid backup score."
One of the remaining threats in the hunt for the 2010 ASP World Title, Smith remains nonchalant when discussing his plans for the end of the year.
"It would be nice to win but there's more to life than just the title," Smith said. "It's an incredible opportunity for me to have for someone at my age and I'm just looking forward to the end of the year. I'm enjoying myself."
Kelly Slater (USA), 38, reigning nine-time ASP World Champion and current ASP World No. 1, dominated his Round 4 heat today, taking advantage of the non-elimination format.
"This round definitely allows you to relax and loosen up a bit for sure," Slater said. "Of course, winning today takes the pressure off a little bit and let's you bypass a round on the last day."
Adrian Buchan (AUS), 27, current ASP World No. 6, opened up today's action in incredible form this morning, dispatching of Matt Wilkinson (AUS), 22, and Michel Bourez (PYF), 24, en route to his advancement to the Quarterfinals.
"It's really fun out there but kind of hard to find the ones that really line up," Buchan said. "Matty (Wilkinson) and Michel (Bourez) were really getting frustrated out there, but I was just focusing on picking good waves and surfing them completely."
Jeremy Flores (FRA), 22, current ASP World No. 20, kept the European contingent progressing through the day, taking out his Round 4 bout and moving to the Quarterfinals of the Rip Curl Pro Portugal.
"It's all good," Flores said. "As long as I win heats, I'm stoked. I haven't had the best waves in the last few heats but today was pretty fun. The last few years, I've been trying add airs and fin throws to my repertoire and it hasn't been working. I've moved back to what I do best and it's been working really well for me. I'm stoked to be in the Quarterfinals and hope I can keep going."
Heat 1:Adrian Buchan (AUS) 14.77, Michel Bourez (PYF) 9.03, Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 5.50
Heat 2:Kelly Slater (USA) 13.60, Damien Hobgood (USA) 10.83, Chris Davidson (AUS) 6.08
Heat 3:Jeremy Flores (FRA) 14.07, Travis Logie (ZAF) 13.73, Patrick Gudauskas (USA) 10.17
Heat 4:Jordy Smith (ZAF) 17.16, Jadson Andre (BRA) 13.57, Owen Wright (AUS) 12.07
Heat 1:Michel Bourez (PYF) vs. Chris Davidson (AUS)
Heat 2:Damien Hobgood (USA) vs. Matt Wilkinson (AUS)
Heat 3:Travis Logie (ZAF) vs. Owen Wright (AUS)
Heat 4:Jadson Andre (BRA) vs. Patrick Gudauskas (USA)


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Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Shirley's Homemades Bakery
Who Went: Chelsey & Owen
Number of Visits: 1
What We Ordered: Bear Claw Doughnut and Danish
What It Cost: ~$5
What We Thought:
Let's be honest -- baked goods are given that name for a reason. They are good. Who doesn't love butter + sugar all rolled up into a pastry or bread product? Besides Gwyneth Paltrow of course.
Shirley's Bakery was our first ever breakfast out together, and we kept it pretty basic. I ordered the bear claw doughnut, and thought it was one of the best glazed-type doughnuts I've ever had. It was fresh and not too sickly sweet, and was quite large as well! Owen loves danishes, and he was more than satisfied with his choice. Sometimes danishes have that crunchy, dried-out glaze with some sad frosting on top, but none of those vague vending machine memories are found here (I'm not admitting anything here...).
What You Should Do: You should go. I keep wanting to go back there and try other things, but I already warned you about my breakfast issues earlier. Things on my to-try list include the rolls (supposedly the BEST for Thanksgiving) and the cinnamon rolls. As long as there are NO raisins in the cinnamon rolls. Raisins + cinnamon rolls is a serious abomination in my eyes.
Read other reviews here:
1 comment:
So, I just ran across your website today, thanks to Pinterest. Although I currently live on the other side of the world, when I return to the US, we often make a visit to UT county (husband's family). I anticipate us trying some of your reviewed locations.ReplyDelete
Now, for my two cents about Shirley's. I am not sure if you have been back since your initial visit a year ago, but you mentioned both the rolls and cinnamon rolls. Those are my two favorite things from Shirley's, and I have had my share. Back in the day, I had a roommate who worked there. Definitely get rolls, even just to eat on a road trip, and get not only the cinnamon rolls but the "sweet rolls." You can pre-order them (the day before) to make sure they are not out. They usually fly off the shelves early in the morning. I usually order a variety dozen. They have 4 flavors (orange, cinnamon, blueberry, raspberry) and they will make a dozen with 3 of each. You can choose vanilla or cream cheese frosting as well. Both delicious, but I prefer the cream cheese. Here's to serious carbs.


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Jonathan focused last week, appropriately in my view, on the ethics of the way in which Peter Gleick got documents from the climate-denying Heartland Institute. His conclusion is that as a scientist Gleick's deceptions to get the documents were unethical. A new column in The Guardian comes out in the opposite place, arguing that Gleick may have been justified in attempting to expose the denialists given the importance of the issue. But I have a different question that sidesteps the ethics question. Will the long-term effects of Gleick's move to expose the Heartland Institute's efforts to spread doubt about the science of climate change matter in efforts to persuade the American public (and politicians) that we need to dramatically cut greenhouse gas emissions?
For those who haven't followed it, here's the backstory. Gleick — a highly respected expert on water and climate change — impersonated a board member of the Heartland Institute in order to attempt to verify a document he says he received anonymously. His tactics worked in that he got the verification he was seeking and then anonymously forwarded the documents to journalists. He later admitted that he got the documents through fraudulent tactics. The Heartland documents show that the Institute receives money, including from the vilified Koch brothers (though their money apparently funds a non-climate project) and many energy companies and that the Institute's strategy includes a public education campaign to promote climate denialism aimed at school children. The Institute claims that one of the purloined documents is fake but tacitly admits that the others – -including a fundraising plan, are real. That plan includes a "Global Warming Curriculum for K-12 Schools" to produce materials that "isn't alarmist" about global warming. But much of the focus and outcry since the release of the documents has been on Gleick's admission that he falsely represented himself in emails as a Heartland board member.
Others have noted the parallels between the Gleick/Heartland incident and "climategate," the brouhaha that revealed emails stolen from researches at University of East Anglia that climate denialists claimed show that the science behind global warming is fradulent. Eight committees that have investigated the hacking scandal have concluded that the emails show no such fraud and that the scientific case for climate change remains strong.
What is of course striking about climategate is that the email hackers have never been identified and the moral outrage about the scandal has focused almost entirely on the scientists whose accounts were hacked. In the Gleick/Heartland affair, by contrast, a quick google of the incident finds all the focus on Gleick's behavior. Of course Gleick came forward and admitted his role and that admission has generated enormous press and criticism of him. We have never learned the identities of the climategate hackers. But the lack of equal condemnation still strikes me as wrong.
The larger fear is that the press will focus only on Gleick rather than on the behavior of the Hearthland Institute and its donors. And the even greater fear is that Gleick's behavior will have the same effect on public opinion that climategate did (see, for example, this study showing that climategate led to declines in trust of scientists and belief that global warming is real).
My guess is that the Gleick/Heartland affair will not have such a significant effect. I suspect — and could be wrong — that Gleick will provide plenty of fodder and red meat for the denialist community and maybe help Heartland's fundraising. But I'm guessing that the effects will be mostly short term and marginal. He admitted wrongdoing. He's been punished by his own institute and will likely see his own career suffer dramatically. He's been roundly condemned by scientists and skeptics alike. I think the story may have short legs. And I hope I'm right.


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