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Getting error-free data across a high-speed serial interface can be a challenge, whether that interface is a Gigabit Ethernet physical layer connecting a client to a router, or a low-voltage differential signaling port sending high-definition video content to a monitor. However, by determining the quality of the serial channel through bit-error-rate (BER) testing to establish the error rate, and using eye patterns to provide a visual representation of the stability and margins of the physical channel, you can maximize the data-transfer speed while minimizing the number of errors.
From a user's point of view, the fundamental performance metric for a digital communication system is the bit-error rate (BER). Generally, users are more interested in the digital information than in the causes of information loss. (Information loss and the improvement of methods for data transfer are left for engineers to figure out.) For users, the simplest and most accurate test for overall performance of a communication system remains the BER test, which provides in a single statistic a useful gauge of fidelity for the entire system.
Unfortunately, BER testing has some drawbacks: the equipment needed for measurements tends to be expensive, the effect of process and temperature on signal timing can give false readings, the test time is directly proportional to test quality, and low BER readings provide no indication of what caused the problem. Again, users focus on how well the system works, but improving the system is a job for engineers.
Many designs (non-wireless) target a BER of one per trillion (BER = 10-12) \[1\]. With all of the trillions of bits moving around the Internet, it would be beneficial to further improve on this number. Yet despite the complexity and the time and cost expended to perform a valid BER test, such tests provide no clue as to the causes of information loss. BER tests are great for users, but engineers intent on understanding the cause of a bit-error problem frequently use another tool that adds an analog supplement—eye diagrams—to the digital BER tests. However, the analog domain doesn't have the luxury of error checking and error correction that's possible in the digital domain.
Eye diagrams have become ubiquitous among digital communication/network engineers, especially since the advent of digital oscilloscopes. After looking at several eye diagrams, a trained communications engineer can often make an accurate guess as to the source of the problem. Eye diagrams have been used to gauge the performance of digital transmission systems since the days of RS-232 communications, and they continue to provide guidance and suggest routes to improvement. Forty years later, digital communication protocols still use eye diagrams to judge signal integrity.
USB specifications require an eye diagram to meet certain rise and fall times, as well as timing-jitter tolerance \[2\]. Digital broadcast television uses 8-vestigial sideband modulation (8VSB) to produce an eight-level eye pattern for estimating performance. Similarly, eye patterns on high-speed Ethernet and Sonet networks can provide visual feedback to digital diagnostic tools that can help pinpoint potential performance problems. Now, many BER-test manufacturers are adding eye-diagram capability to their machines \[1\].
Eye Diagram Measurements
The distinct advantage of eye diagrams over the BER test is the indication of the source of problems and paths for improvement. Eye diagrams are produced by sampling random data streams and then superimposing the samples in every trigger interval. Because each sample is random, the superposition produces all sorts of patterns and their permutations on top of each other, producing what faintly resembles an eye (Fig. 1).
In the early days of analog oscilloscopes, engineers sketched jitter variations using various input signals \[3\]. Today's digital scopes perform this task while providing additional capabilities. The CSA8000 from Tektronix, for instance, lets you set the length of time for sampling (persistence), take a histogram for timing jitter and amplitude variation, and list statistical data for each parameter, such as the mean, median, and standard deviation. In short, it gives you the precise quantitative data necessary for statistical purposes in estimating the BER. The CSA8000 normalizes statistical data as Gaussian variables.
In an ideal channel with no timing jitter, the transition point occurs at the same instant in every time interval. Due to jitter, however, there's some variation in the transition point (Fig. 2). Jitter consists of random jitter (RJ) and deterministic jitter (DJ). Random jitter is unbounded, and can be described by a Gaussian random variable. Deterministic jitter has many sources, and is bounded. The histogram in Figure 2 measures total jitter (TJ), which is the sum of random jitter and deterministic jitter (TJ = RJ + DJ).
Various techniques are available for isolating the random component of jitter. Both random jitter and deterministic jitter should be taken into account when estimating the BER. However, n othing beats the accuracy of a full-blown BER test. Therefore, eye-diagram estimates should not be used as substitutes for a BER test.
BER Estimation Using Eye Diagrams
Lab experience tells us that an open eye indicates low data loss and smooth operation. Thus, an ideal eye diagram is one in which every transition point occurs at the same instant with respect to every trigger interval. Functionally, we can represent that requirement by an ideal impulse function (Fig. 3). The actual random jitter, which causes the transition points to vary in time, can sometimes be described by a random variable. The most common modeling of random jitter is Gaussian. We model the variation as Gaussian random variables because real systems model well with Gaussian distributions \[1\]; the mathematics for Gaussian random variables are easily understood; and many digital sampling scopes (such as the CSA8000) normalize the data into Gaussian statistics.
Continued on Page 2...
Due to jitter, the transition point can be represented as a probability and represented by the Gaussian probability density function (Fig. 3, again). In another approach, you can model the sampling points as Gaussian random variables and find the conditional probability of error. Both methods give the same answer. The probability density function (PDF) for a2 in Figure 3 is:
, (1)
where a2 is the mean transition point, z is the random variable, and s is the standard deviation or RMS value. To find the probability that our random variable has no errors, integrate Equation 1 over the limits shown. The probability of error then becomes the area under the curve (Fig. 4). That area represents transitions by a2 that are sampled as a1 or a3, or transitions of a1 and a3 that are sampled as a2.
The area under the curve for random variable a2 is:
The total probability of error is the sum of the two equations multiplied by 2. A factor of 2 shows up because of the conditional probability associated with a1 and a3, which we assume is symmetrical with respect to the conditional probability of a2.
To solve for the probability of error for a2, the integral in Equation 4 has limits from sampling point a1 to infinity, and from sampling point a0 to negative infinity. Due to symmetry, this equation simplifies to Equation 5. Graphically, it represents the area shaded under the curve in Figure 4:
You may have forgotten how to solve Equation 5, but (thankfully) you don't have to. The CSA8000 histogram gives you statistical data normalized as Gaussian random variables. Gaussian statistics are easy to use because you need only two parameters: the mean and the standard deviation. Usually, you can reduce this to a single parameter by normalizing the mean to zero (Fig. 5).
The standard deviation represents random jitter, and you want (ideally) to separate random jitter from the deterministic jitter. To do that, you must feed a known pattern into the system and then cancel out the random jitter by averaging the known samples. We assume the noise and random jitter behave as Gaussian random variables with zero mean, and therefore an average of the samples cancels out the random jitter, leaving you with only the deterministic jitter. You can then modify the standard deviation to include the deterministic jitter, and proceed with an estimate of the BER using the new standard deviation. For a more detailed analysis of the computation of random and deterministic jitter, see reference \[4\].
Once the standard deviation is found, you calculate the number of standard deviations from the mean to the next sampling interval as the z number. Then, statistics will give you the probability as a function of distance from the mean (Fig. 6). Due to exponential drop-off, 6-sigma (6s) gives a probability of error close to one in a billion, while 7-sigma comes close to one in a trillion.
Continued on Page 3...
If a sigma table isn't available, you can solve Equation 5 within the proper limits by an approximation. You can normalize Equation 5 to zero-mean Gaussian by making a substitution:
Let .
Then dz = sdu, and Equation 5 simplifies to Equation 6:
For random variables beyond 3-sigma, the equation (fortunately) can be approximated:
Equation 7 can then be used to estimate the bit-error rate given a single variable (x). The value of x is the mean distance from the transition point to center, divided by the standard deviation (Fig. 7).
Figure 8 shows an eye diagram based on the CSA8000 oscilloscope and a histogram taken at a transition point. The histogram gives statistical parameters such as the mean and standard deviation, shown on the right. The mean is normalized to zero, and the distance from the mean to the next sampling point, obtained through the use of cursors, is measured to be 710 ps. The standard deviation shown is 69.83 ps. The value of x is 10.2, and if you plug that value into Equation 7, it yields an estimate of the bit-error rate.
If you solve for the BER in Figure 8, you get an error probability that's infinitesimally small. We have to remember that an open eye like that of Figure 8 indicates good signal quality across the channel. Different data rates can have the same BER, if the limitation is in the clock-data recovery (CDR) circuitry of the receiver. (The above analysis doesn't take into account the jitter tolerance of the CDR circuitry.) Otherwise, bit errors are also caused by factors that include amplitude noise, bandwidth limitations, and signal distortions like overshoot and undershoot. As an engineer, you must understand the limitations of an estimate and know how to interpret it.
Zeeshawn Shameem, customer applications engineer, received a BSEE from the University of California at Los Angeles. He can be contacted at [email protected]
1. Strassberg, Dan, "Eyeing Jitter," EDN, pp. 42-52, May 2003.
2. "Universal Serial Bus Specification Revision 2.0," pp. 131-165, April 2000.
3. Lauterbach, Michael, "Getting More out of Eye Diagrams," IEEE Spectrum, pp. 61-63, March 1997.
4. Application Note 1181, "Measuring Random Jitter on a Digital Sampling Oscilloscope,"http://www.maxim-ic.com/appnotes.cfm/appnote_number/1181, September 2002.5. Sklar, Bernard, "Digital Communications Fundamentals and Applications 2nd Edition," pp. 105-136, January 2001.


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The Value of Transparency
Parts one and two of this series (March and April 2017 issues, respectively) addressed how direct trade transactions, traceability, and transparency all add different values to the supply chain for different types of coffee buyers.
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Proteins are the main building blocks of the body. Protein is in your muscles, bones, skin, hair, and virtually every other body part or tissue. It makes up the enzymes that power many chemical reactions and the hemoglobin that carries oxygen in your blood.
As for our diet; protein plays an important part in any healthy lifestyle. The amount of food from the Protein Foods Group you need to eat depends on age, sex, and level of physical activity. Most Americans eat enough food from this group, but need to make leaner and more varied selections of these foods. USDA MyPlate is encouraging people to vary their protein routine.


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Experience of a lifetime as part of a Dual Degree Program between IIM-Udaipur and Purdue University
The first thing that crossed my mind when I landed in Purdue as part of the dual degree program between IIM-Udaipur and Purdue University is the gigantic infrastructure of the Institute. There were huge blocks of each of the departments, the Purdue Memorial Union, the recreational centre, the football stadium and many more such blocks. The campus is extremely picturesque and very well maintained. In fact one can just roam around the campus the whole day to get astonished with the incredible beauty and green pastures all around.
On the academic front, initially it was surprising to have just 1 or 2 classes throughout the day. I guess coming from an IIM setup, I was used to a rigorous schedule throughout the week. But this gave me an opportunity to be involved in so many other events happening at the campus such as industrial visits, networking sessions, club events, company information sessions, cultural functions and social get-togethers. The unique thing about education in the West is the significance given to Networking. There are in fact formal networking events held with peers, alums, recruiters and other B school participants. These network platforms gave me an awesome opportunity to grow my connections and learn from new professional friends I made over time. Today I am proud of connections across the globe and confident of getting assistance in any part of the world. I was also fortunate to be a part of the career fairs at Purdue. WOW, what an experience it was. It was the first time I saw and understood what a career fair is actually about. I was bewildered to see lines of recruiters who had set up their stalls in the Purdue campus. The best thing about these fairs was the numerous goodies such as company merchandise, gifts, chocolates, foods and drinks that the companies distributed. It was huge fun. The recruitment process here is also different from the process at B schools back home. Having been fortunate to be part of numerous interviews at Purdue campus, I figured out that the focus here is on behavioural aspects, culture fit, adaptability and one's passion for the organization. One's motivation and enthusiasm for the organization really played the most important role apart from the culture fit showcased by your networking skills. I think that is the reason companies focus on formal and informal networking events and company information sessions. Most of the recruitment processes at Purdue comprised of 4 rounds at campus for final selection and in case of consulting opportunities there was a whole day's final discussion at the company office in Chicago or any other nearby location.
In terms of academics what stoop out in Purdue was the methodology of teaching. Some of the professors graded as per one's contribution in blogs and social media. WOW, this was something new for me as the academic evaluation back home in IIMs is totally different. Considered as one of the best schools globally in Operations, Supply Chain and Analytics, Purdue gave me the incredible opportunity to learn and unlearn from some of the best professors in this domain. One of the aspects that are noteworthy is the numerous opportunities to learn from outside classroom activities. There are numerous events such as case competitions, simulation challenges, poster competitions, quizzes that give you an opportunity to showcase your talent and thereby earn some big money. In this regard, I was fortunate to get selected as one of the top teams in both "C.K Prahalad case competition" and "Global Operations Conference Case competition" at the Ross School of Business at University of Michigan. These events gave me a fantastic opportunity to meet participants from Wharton, Kellogg, Chicago Booth, ISB and Penn State as well as network with dignitaries from industry, politics and academics. During this period of time, I was fortunate to get experience the fall colours and that experience was amazing. It literally cannot be described in words.
Last but not the least let me share with you the concept of Tailgate here. Tailgate is the name given to the pre-event for the American football games in which the B school teams participated. Participants of Purdue gather outside the stadium and set up their booth as a support to the team. The environment at the Tail gate is absolutely that of a picnic with food, drinks, games and gossip. It's a life time experience and one should definitely experience. Even alums and families of Purdue participants travel a long distance to be a part of the Tailgate as a source of support to the team. Here the passion for one's school is incredible and that is showcased by the school's merchandise's, regular events with the current participants/alums and regular connect sessions happening across the globe.
Another unique event here is what is known as the "Socials". During this 1 hour weekly event all the participants of the school assemble over food and drinks. All the important announcements, discussions by the school administration are held during this gathering. The representatives of the various clubs let participants know of their various forthcoming events. It is indeed a fantastic event as all information can be disseminated through one platform.
All in all when I look back today over my Purdue experience, I am fortunate to have made connections across the globe. The learning in terms of getting to know culture of various countries has been priceless. I can vouch today that this dual degree program experience has indeed evolved me and led to a holistic learning. The education experience was world class and it was sheer pleasure to learn the next and best practices from some of the best professors across the globe. The courses at IIM-Udaipur and Purdue were also well synchronized and that gave me an opportunity to make the best of both the experiences. The courses at IIM-U gave exposure on general management courses whereas in Purdue it was the focus on Operations, Logistics and Supply Chain.
About the author: Biswarup Das is a participant of the Dual Degree Program between IIM-Udaipur and Krannert School of Management at Purdue University. As part of this program, he is concentrating in Operations, Supply Chain and Analytics. He did his summers with Cummins, India where he was part of the Supply Chain Functional Excellence team. He is also part of the 3 member Corporate Relations and Placements team at IIM-Udaipur. Prior to joining this program, Biswarup Das worked for around 5 years in Strategic Consulting and Project Management.
Read more about IIM Udaipur here
Follow Biswarup at maverick007.insideiim.com
Read all stories by IIM Udaipur at iimu.insideiim.com


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Slow Down To Speed Up
We're all under increasing pressure to achieve more in less time. But working harder and faster isn't always the answer.
Not everybody dreams. Or rather, not everyone is aware they do, which is pretty much the same as not dreaming at all. I'm one of those people that dreams quite vividly, on quite a regular basis as a matter of fact. But I've never had a dream like this before…
You know the type of dream I mean. It's the kind of dream you only see in a bad movie with a cheesy script and a Hollywood ending. It's a dream with a clear message or some kind of sign. Which just so happens to be the message or sign the dreamer needs to hear right at that moment and can apply to their life the very next day with miraculous effect. Can't say I'm much of a believer when it comes to dreams like that.
And yet, I had one of those dreams recently. A dream with a message so clear it was like walking down London's Oxford Street and seeing your name in bold caps and flashing lights in every shop front window. The words beneath were simple enough. But the impact of the message was surprisingly powerful.
So there I am at the start of a swimming race. I'm not sure which competition but it's an important one. Standing on the starting blocks of a fifty metre long pool I'm poised and ready, focused on just one thing: getting to the other side as quickly as humanly possible and winning the race. The crowd is blurry in my peripheral vision, but my ears are alert, waiting for the umpire's whistle.
I fly through the air. When I hit the water I swim so hard and fast it's as if my very survival depends on it, as if I've been training for this race my whole life. I don't need to think. My body knows what to do. But I am thinking. I'm thinking that everybody else is going faster, and they're all going to beat me. I can't let that happen.
I swim harder and faster, thrashing my limbs with a monster's fury. The muffled cheers from the crowd mix with the pounding of my heart, so when the voice speaks for the first time I hardly hear it. It gets louder and louder, clearer and clearer. "Slow down" it says, gentle but insistent. "If you want to go faster, slow down".
Don't ask me who's voice it is I have no idea. Which makes my immediate acquiescence all the more surprising. "Slow down" says the voice. So I do.
The fact that I won the race with ease matters less than the way I won it. You know when you watch Olympic swimmers doing backstroke? How they bob up and down with the rise and fall of the water, gliding smoothly and seemingly effortlessly and yet at an extraordinary speed? Well, suddenly that was me: weightless, effortless, and unbelievably, astonishingly fast.
Funny, I'm really not much of a swimmer. Well I swim well enough, but it's not something I love. I always felt I had to work harder at it than everyone else, to get the same results.
Come to think of it, that's kind of been my attitude all my life. Work harder, you have to do more to keep up, even more to excel or exceed. Those of you who feel like imposters, who lack confidence or question your ability on occasion, you guys know what I'm talking about it.
But the message I was receiving was pretty clear: Less is more. Slow down to speed up. If you want to get ahead, sometimes it helps to stand back, to let go, to do less.
As I digest the message I start to make sense of it. And as brains are want to do, mine leaps at the opportunity to connect similar messages I've received recently: a recent podcast from bestselling author of The Four Hour Week, Tim Ferriss, discussing the Minimum Effective Dose (the minimum amount of input required to produce the desired output); Pareto's Law, also known as the 80/20 principle, whereby 80% of our results are shown to flow from just 20% of our efforts; the increasing number of high achievers that consider meditation – the practise of being still and doing nothing – an integral part of their success (Oprah Winfrey, Ray Dalio, Arianna Huffington and countless top executives worldwide).
Slow down, to speed up. It doesn't get more counter-intuitive than that. Surely we need to work harder, faster and longer to keep up, let alone get ahead? If we slow down aren't we going to miss something, or worse, get left behind?
My experience proved otherwise. I had my swimming dream at a time when I was juggling more balls than I could count. I was getting up earlier and earlier (5.30am soon became 5.a.m, which all too easily became 4.30 a.m.) and still there weren't enough hours. What I learned from that dream, and from the changes I subsequently made to my way of working, was that the way to achieve more was to deliberately slow down, occasionally maybe even to stop. So now, this is what I aim to do.
If what you're thinking as you read this is "I'm too busy to slow down" then here's a thought for you: it's said that people who think they are too busy to meditate should meditate three times as much as those who claim to have the time. So the busier you are, the more important it is that you stop.
There's an old adage that says 'awareness is curative'. It means becoming aware of an issue can be enough to drive the change necessary to solve it. So that's my advice to you this week. When you find yourself working harder and faster to meet deadlines, or multitasking to meet the many demands on your time, simply notice. Notice the speed of your pulse, the adrenalin pumping through your veins and your shallow breath; notice your thoughts ping-ponging from one problem or issue to the next, the physical tension in your body, your ever weakening attention span; notice the speed at which you're trying to get everything done, and ask yourself: what would happen if I slowed down, even just for a minute?
Do you race through the day boomeranging from task to task without pause? Do you think it's possible to be more effective by slowing down? I'd love to hear your thoughts or personal experiences.


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Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency by Douglas Adams
I am VERY picky about the science fiction I read and watch. I don't like most of it. Actually, I DETEST most of it. I love Adams' stuff, though. It's sorta sci-fi!lite. It's more about character interaction and hilarity than actual sci-fi and I'd even put this particular book in a fantasy/paranormal category rather than sci-fi. It's not really them, either but now I'm rambling.
This book has hilarious characters and all the witty one-liners that you expect from Adams but a solid plot is thrown in for good measure. More than that, it's just plain fun to read. I didn't like this as much as Hitchhiker but I'm definitely looking forward to the sequel, The Long Dark Tea Time of the Soul.


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Welcome to our new web site!
To give our readers a chance to experience all that our new website has to offer, we have made all content freely avaiable, through October 1, 2018.
During this time, print and digital subscribers will not need to log in to view our stories or e-editions.
Lula's Louisiana Cook House is a 40-minute drive away in downtown Owosso.
Don't let that stop you. Strap on your road trip shoes, burn a little non-renewable fossil fuel and make haste for Lula's. As I said in my April review, this place has the tastes and aromas of Cajun and Creole cuisine down to an art. Gumbo, red beans, rice, andouille sausage and fishermen's stew. All of it is excellent. Don't ignore the charcuterie either, a generous sampler dish with house smoked meats from pork belly to duck rillettes.
By all means, save room for dessert. The bread pudding with whiskey infused sauce and cinnamon spiced apples is by itself worth the trip.
Two unlikely looking places in this town serve some remarkable smoked meats: Gump's BBQ and Capital City BBQ.
Gump's resides on a dead-end street behind a car wash on Lansing's near south side. The smoked ribs and other smoked meats display the pit master's cherished "smoke ring" huddled beneath the crisp exterior, a true sign of slow smoked authenticity. Its Carolina style sauce with strong hints of vinegar nicely complement the smoked meats.
Capital City BBQ apparently was spawned by a cell phone store, or so I am told. The phone store is still there, joined at the hip with this little restaurant that creates memorable smoked meats and some belly-busting Vietnamese fare.
I recommend any of the smoked beef brisket dishes or the baby back ribs. They sometimes have smoked meat loaf, which I am dying to try. And don't ignore the Vietnamese sandwich, Banh Mi. I chose a Banh Mi with pulled pork and Cole slaw tucked between two ample baguette slices. Terrific.
And since we're talking Asian inspired food, I suggest another road trip, this one in Williamston. Thai Nation has a massive menu with 70 different sushi rolls from which to choose. It's the tempura dishes that stole the show. Shrimp tempura udon is a hot noodle dish in rich broth. The tempura-fried shrimp arrive as a side dish. Pile the shrimp into the noodle-broth combo, and you have an amazing, satisfying meal in one bowl.
Appetizers worth ordering include a shrimp tempura and cucumber topped by tuna and avocado; and an outstanding soft shell crab, also served tempura-style.
For vegetarians, the age dashi (ah-gay-dah-she) tofu is a must-try appetizer.
Some honorable mentions of 2017:
— The Original Steakhouse Philly at Steakhouse Philly Bar and Grill. This sandwich has it all: Shaved sirloin with grilled onions and slightly melted provolone cheese all piled between slices of chewy baguette.
— Bob's Way Mac & Cheese at Beggar's Banquet. Three cheeses are melted and mixed with the pasta, then juicy blackened chicken and bacon are tossed on top.
—Tuna Nicoise salad at Dusty's Cellar. Generous hunks of seared tuna (but still rare inside) are festooned with capers, olives, diced potato and roasted red peppers.SHE ATE
By GABRIELLE JOHNSON LAWRENCE
While I don't always love heavily sauced food, sometimes a well executed condiment can make or break a dish. For my 2017 retrospective, I want to tell you about five of my favorite condiments in the area, those little things that add a new dimension to a favorite dish.
Zaytoon is one of our absolute favorite places to grab a healthy dinner and I like to load my chicken shawarma with tons of toum, better known as garlic sauce. This white paste is ubiquitous among our many Middle Eastern restaurants, but Zaytoon's is especially potent, which I like. My clients and colleagues might disagree with that, but I'm just over here trying to fight off vampires.
I love the chorizo and cheese quesadillas at El Oasis taco truck, corn tortillas make my heart sing, and I never eat them without dipping each bite into a little tub of salsa verde. It isn't too spicy and won't leave you sweating, but it cuts through the richness of the meat and cheese and brightens the flavor of the quesadilla while also brightening my entire outlook on life.
I know that I've beaten you over the head with my love for Tavern 109's pear pizza, but the unsung hero of my favorite Williamston restaurant is the champagne vinaigrette salad dressing. It's tangy, without making your eyes water and doesn't it sound fancy? On top of the spinach salad, it gives a perfect balance to the bacon, apples, pecans, and red onion.
To me, homemade ketchup screams attention to detail. The spicy version at The Dolson drove that point home. So many places profess to be a "scratch" kitchen, but their ketchup is Hunt's and their potatoes are formerly frozen. None of this at The Dolson. Paired with their well seasoned, crispy fries, the ketchup is a winner.
Saddleback BBQ red sauce. I would bathe in this, if that wasn't totally unacceptable and disgusting. I've loved this sauce since the first time I had it, during a housewarming party at our old house. I've loved it on burnt end tacos, smoked chicken, and brisket sandwiches. I've loved it on wings, fries (don't knock it) and to add depth of flavor to macaroni and cheese. It's a slightly sweet BBQ sauce, but has a kick from the addition of black pepper.
2018 promises to be just as delicious, with new restaurants to try: Batter Up Bistro, Bowdie's Chophouse, places to anticipate: Punk Taco and Mr. Taco to name a few, and a sweet little addition to my family, anticipated any day now. Here's hoping that our local favorites continue to innovate and delight even the pickiest of palates.


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The British Virgin Islands Health Services Authority wishes to invite the Virgin Islands community to make an appointment to have a guided tour of the new Peebles Hospital.
Tours are offered every Thursday, from 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm. Interested persons are kindly asked to call 852-7511 or email email@example.com.
The duration of each tour is estimated to take an hour and a half. Persons are encouraged to wear comfortable shoes for their convenience on the day of the appointment.


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Building Loyalty Between Siblings
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Sibling conflict is one of the most painful problems parents experience everyday. But don't just accept it as normal. Children can, and should, be taught to get along. In this practical and encouraging workshop, Molly shares biblical parenting principles to teach children how to honor God and each other in the sibling relationships.
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This page is about a terrible book, a compilation of three others. Even the title is terrible. Could be worse. At one time I called it Social Techs? What I had were three halfway decent novels, The Green Family Chronicles, Technological Fantasies, and Harmony and Matching. There problems with all of them.
Each of these books contained a single organization which changed the world beyond recognition. I realized that this was most unlikely, and came up with the notion of a combined book in which the three organization start up independently and work both side-by-side and in competition. Without any regard for making a publishable book, I tried combining the three books into one, reconciling their timelines. Unfortunately I left in all of the absurdities of all three.
Though I have begun work on a new novel, I am taking the time to do one last revision of Social Techs, throwing out almost all of the absurdities and adding material to soften the more offensive parts. I hope the result is readable.
The writing which led to Social Techs was important to me. It arose to meet a challenge, a very real challenge, made by several people who all asked me to explain my theories in fiction. I failed, but I learned a lot in the process.
I think that my current views on social technology are mature and sophisticated, worthy of consideration by anyone interested in the subject. If so, it is only because of writing these books. Unfortunately, the final compilation novel didn't reflect or include much of what I had learned by writing its components. The revised version to come out later this year will do so.


text: Large thin and sweet skinned bright orange fruit has tart, juicy flech. Also known as Changshou or Jiangsu kumquat it is popular in Japan and China where it is highly esteemed. Thought to be either a hybrid between kumquat and mandarin orange or between two different kumquat species. Naturally dwarf and compact tree is very ornamental. Has larger and broader leaves and fruit than other kumquats. Delicious eaten fresh and also good for marmalades and jelly. Hardy zones 9-11.


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Total undergraduate enrollment: 1086
Total institution enrollment: 1398
School type: 4-year private, not-for-profit
School classification: Baccalaureate Colleges--Liberal Arts: These institutions are primarily undergraduate colleges with major emphasis on baccalaureate programs. They award at least half of their baccalaureate degrees in liberal arts fields.
Eastern Mennonite University
1200 Park Rd
Harrisonburg, VA 22802
(540) 432-4000Website
Male undergraduate population: 42%
Female undergraduate population: 58%
Undergrad visible minorities: No Data
Degrees Offered: Associate's, Bachelor's, Postbaccalaureate certificate, Master's, First-professional degree


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Q is for Queens University BelfastQPosted by Eddy Rhead Fri, January 13, 2012 16:58:50
Ashby Building, Queens University, Belfast
Cruickshank and Seward
A bit tenuous this one but a great building by the Manchester practise of Cruickshank and Seward. It also displays many of the characteristics of its other buildings from the period in Manchester such as the Renold Building, Arthur House and the Roscoe Building.
- Comments(0)//a-z.manchestermodernistsociety.org/#post43


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The third title update for Monster Hunter: World has arrived on Xbox One and PlayStation 4, bringing with it the Empress of Flame, Lunastra.
"Thanks to the help from all the hunters of the Fifth Fleet, the ecosystems of the New World continue to thrive and flourish," Capcom writes. "Incidentally, this bloom of bioenergy also makes it a very welcoming spot for all manner of species. We've seen it happen with the arrival of Deviljho and the resurgence of Kulve Taroth, and now another Elder Dragon is on its way: Lunastra."
Lunastra is more aggressive than her male companion Teostra, and has the capacity to alter the environment around her, covering it in fire. The Empress of Flame can also team with her mate Teostra and bond with him to unleash devastating attacks.
This new Elder Dragon's arrival has also triggered a change in the Elder Dragon ecosystem leading to sightings of more powerful Tempered Elder Dragons, known as "Arch-Tempered Elder Dragons."
Finally, players will be able to use the materials gained from defeating Lunastra to create two new armor sets and a new armor set for Palicos.
Read the full patch notes here.
Monster Hunter: World is available now on Xbox One and PlayStation 4, with a PC release to follow this fall.


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LONDON — The BBC is looking to pair up with a video-on-demand partner to extract more value from its TV archives.
BBC Worldwide, the pubcaster's commercial arm, is eyeing a number of VOD players to fund and set up a joint venture that will allow Beeb viewers access to one of the largest programming libraries in the world. That could entail taking a stake in an existing VOD company — such as Video Networks or Yes TV — or partnering with a cable operator.
Also on the agenda is teaming with other content providers to offer the even more attractive proposition of a "Best of British" archive.
"The BBC expects to be the catalyst which will make the proposition sufficiently compelling, but it can only be strengthened by content from other channels," said Jeremy Mayhew, BBC Worldwide director of new ventures and strategy.


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Master in Economics
Economics focuses on explaining the behavior of different economic agents, such as households, companies and general government. The aim is to describe, explain and model the modern market economy. Economics helps us to understand how markets are working and how we can affect their behavior through economic policy. Economics provides answers to questions like; what are the sources of economic growth as well as what is the connection between inflation and interest rates. Economics is also widely employed in investigating different field-specific issues covering topics from environmental applications to industrial organization. Economics is one of the few areas of science where the annual Nobel Prize is awarded.
Economics provides knowledge and skills which are required when working in demanding specialist and executive positions in corporations, governmental agencies or third sector organizations. A student who receives the master degree in economics is allowed to use the title economist.
Oulu Business School's Master's program in Economics (ME) is a two-year program offering expertise in a wide range of specializations in economics. The studies are comprised of micro and macroeconomics, quantitative methods and elective field-specific courses such as international economics and finance, growth, environmental and energy economics, industrial organization and regional economics. The quantitative nature of the ME ideally suits those who have studied economics, finance, accounting, natural sciences (e.g. mathematics) or engineering. The ME program also gives a good basis for further academic studies at the postgraduate level.
Occupational Profiles of Graduates
The job markets for economists are typically broad. The occupational profiles of graduates include demanding specialist and executive positions as well as research and teaching positions both in domestic and international corporations, governmental agencies or third sector organizations, amongst others.
Why Choose Oulu?
Oulu Business School - International Students from Oulu Business School on Vimeo.
Program taught in:
See 14 more programs offered by University of Oulu »
(for non-EU/EEA students, see Scholarships and Fees)


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No Judgment
Heather King offers a simple lesson on judgment:
The surest way to stop judging everyone around us is to take our own moral inventory. Looking at our resentments, secrets, and fears will give us so much material to work with we won't have time to nose into other people's business.
I judge others for the simple reason that I refuse to face my own woiunds. I ignore them; I fight them; but I will never accept them. And in doing so, I am ultimately rejecting a part of myself.
No wonder peace is so elusive.
But if I can learn how to accept my wounds--my shame, my self-loathing, and my insecurities--I will learn how to be free to love.
Ponder the following Scripture verse until your mind and body are fresh, calm, and free:
"Do not judge, so that you may not be judged." (Matthew 7:1)
Review your day for moments when you felt disturbed, afraid, angry, anxious, or hopeless. As they come to mind, focus on the details of the moment. What were you doing? Where were you? Who was with you?
Focus on one moment in particular. Accept your feelings from this moment as they are. Do not explain, dismiss, or justify your feelings. Let them be. Hold them with compassion by observing these feelings without judgment.
Bring this moment before the Lord. Show him your wounds, and let him show you his. Allow his grace, his love to flow into you through your wounds.
Look toward tomorrow; how might you be more accepting of yourself? How will showing yourself love, mercy, and compassion help you accept others without judgment? Ask the Lord for the grace to accept yourself and others as you are.
Close with a simple Amen.


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The Barking Lot is a regular weekly feature of This Just In…Written by my lovely wife, Jennifer and me. It opens with the weekend dog walking forecast followed by the main blog from dog lover, Jennifer. Then it's DOGS IN THE NEWS and our close. Enjoy!
THE WEEKEND DOG-WALKING FORECAST: We grade the weather outlook for taking your pet outdoors.
TODAY: Partly cloudy with a 40% chance of afternoon storms. High of 78. "A"
SUNDAY: Partly cloudy. High of 83. "A"
Speaking of dog-walking…
Now, here's my lovely wife, Jennifer with this week's main blog.
Any dog owner can laugh at the above cartoon, but also shake their head in sympathy and agreement. Just the other day I asked our Franklin mayor Steve Olson how their dog Bella (an absolutely adorable Dachshund) does during the fireworks. His response? "Not real thrilled. Usually goes into my closet and hides under the shirts." Sadly this is typical for dogs during the Independence Day holiday.
Last June this news story reported on a new prescription medicine that could solve your dog's noise-aversion anxiety. Sileo was taking the canine world "by storm" for a species that can't stand the very thought of them. Launched in time for the Independence Day celebrations across America, vets & their patients promoted the prescription in their own special ways.
Perhaps you haven't heard of this medicine in time to help your dog THIS year. Or perhaps you'd like to wait until you hear more about it, including additional success stories. I completely understand. In that case, there are still plenty of easy-to-follow tips to help your dog during America's Birthday Celebration. Check out the Dodo's list of helpful hints.
If you have any anecdotes to share about how you keep your dog happy and calm during these stressful times, please feel free to share in the comments section.
Happy Independence Day to all the Barking Lot readers and their faithful four-legged friends!
—Jennifer Fischer
Thanks, Jennifer!
Time now for DOGS IN THE NEWS, canines that made headlines the past week.
Research finds 1 in 3 American cats and dogs are too plump.
In Portland: Why Am I Seeing So Many Homeless People With Dogs?
What One Woman Did for a Homeless Man's Injured Dog Will Make You 'Aww.'
Martha, newly crowned as 'World's Ugliest Dog,' finds a home in Sonoma County.
People are now getting hair inspiration from their dogs.
So your dog works as a model? Don't quit your day job.
"The best darn dog in professional baseball." Meet Jake.
"I Wanted a Family Member, Not a Handbag." Who said it?
Speaking of dogs and baseball, Charlie wrote this column for TODAY.com. See if you can pick out a Milwaukee angle.
"Cat films are better than dog films." See if you agree with this columnist.
HERE'S OUR DOG PHOTO(s) OF THE WEEK:
There's Another Dog Maternity Shoot, and This One Is the Cutest Yet.
And here's Kyla with the new family dog:
From the American Girl shop in Chicago.
Kyla is holding Goldie, an apricot poodle.
Dad is ecstatic.
We close as we always do with our closing video, from Rabbit Hash, Kentucky.
WDRB-TV reports.
And one more.
At a recent Vienna Chamber Orchestra concert in Ephesus, Turkey, a wandering dog came onstage during a performance of Mendelssohn's Italian Symphony No. 4.
A very slow-moving, sandy-colored Labrador finds himself onstage. The orchestra kept playing and the dog was a good boy.
That's it for this week.
Thanks for stopping by.
Please forward this to other dog lovers you know. We'd appreciate it.
See ya, BARK, next Saturday morning!


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These deeds were reported as recorded by the office of Marion County register of deeds:
Dorcas D. Calvert, trustee, to The Calvert Family Partnership, trustee's deed; Tract 1: part SE/4, 17-20-4; Tract 2: NE/4 except, 20-20-4; Tract 3: part SW/4 and N/2 SW/4, 17-20-4.
Leland G. Suderman and wife to Leland G. Suderman, trustee, warranty deed; Tract 1: part W/2 NW/4, 27-20-2; Tract 2: west 6 feet of south 483.84 feet of south 1807.59 feet of E/2 NW/4, 27-20-2.
David P. Mueller to Andrew J. Hajek, warranty deed; undivided ½ interest part SW/4, 21-17-3.
Bruce L. Plank and wife to Errol Wuertz Jr. and wife, warranty deed; NW/4 SW/4, 5-21-2.
Viola Baker Suderman Revocable Trust, by trustee, to Ervin D. Ediger and wife, trustee's deed; Lot 2, Block 1, Dahl's Centennial Addition, Hillsboro.
Christel J. Crater and husband to James R. Miller, quit-claim deed; part NE/4, 17-18-2.
Merle Flaming and wife, by power of attorney, to Vincent L. Schroeder and wife, warranty deed; Lot 15, Wildin's Addition, Marion County Park and Lake.
Marion National Bank to Gary Carpenter and wife, warranty deed; Lot 7, Zeller's 2nd and Lot 5, Echo Lane Subdivision all adjacent to Marion County Park and Lake.
Gilbert Roy Mayes and wife to Margaret L. Cook, trustee, warranty deed; Lots 3, 4, 5, Schlotthauer Subdivision No. 4 adjacent to Marion County Park and Lake.
Deborah L.M. Cook and husband to Richard H. Vogt and wife, warranty deed; W/2 Lot 11, Original Town, Marion, and undivided ½ interest in west stone wall on E/2 Lot 11.
Tampa State Bank to Laura Bryant, warranty deed; part NE/4, 25-17-2, 2 tracts.
Kevin Kenneth Timmermeyer to Kimberly Timmermeyer, quit-claim deed; part N/2 NE/4, 18-21-3.
Reimer Leasing, Inc., et al to D. Driggers, Inc., warranty deed; NE/4 SE/4 except, 4-20-2.
Charles L. Abrahams and wife to Brad Abrahams, warranty deed; Lots 1 and 2, Block 3, Vogt's First Addition, Hillsboro.
Roger J. Frans and wife to Bernadine E. Obermeyer et al, quit-claim deed; W/2 of Lot 141 and east 37½ feet of Lot 143, Miller's Second Addition, Marion.
Andrew W. Johnson and wife to Anne S. Cox, quit-claim deed; Tract 1: SE/4, 26-19-3; Tract 2: SW/4, NE/4 and SE/4, 31-20-4, except part lying east of Sunflower Road; Tract 3: NE/4 and SW/4, 16-19-5; Tract 4: N/2, 25-17-1; Tract 5: N/2 NW/4, 4-21-4; Tract 6: SW/4, 26-19-5, except public highway.
The University of Kansas to The Kansas University Endowment Association, quit-claim deed; Pritz A Unit: E/2 W/2 NE/4, 30-18-5; Pritz B Unit: SE/4, 30-18-5, W/2 W/2 NE/4, W/2 NW/4 SW/4, SE/4 NW/4 SW/4, all in section 29-18-5; R.W. Heise A Unit: W/2, 32-18-5; R.W. Heise B Unit: E/2, 32-18-5.
Ira I. Penner and wife to Gerald J. Wiens and wife, warranty deed; N/2 of Lot 12, all of Lot 13, and south 39 feet of Lot 14, Block 14, Freeborn's Addition, Marion.


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- Contact Person: Mr. Hillton Xie
- View Contact Details
100% Waterproof 10-30V LED Truck Indicator Lihgting
|Payment Type:
|L/C,T/T,D/P,Western Union,D/A
|Min. Order:
|500 Piece/Pieces
|Delivery Time:
|40 Days
Basic Info
Model No.: LTL1351A
LED Quantity: 12
Function: Indicator Lights
Approval: ADR&E4
Material: UV PC Lens
Lead Lenth: 0.35M
Voltage: 10-30V
Power: 1.5W
Additional Info
Packaging: white box or blister
Productivity: 5000/Month
Brand: Groupstar
Transportation: Ocean,Land,Air
Place of Origin: China
Supply Ability: 5000/Month
Certificate: TS16949
Product Description
LTL1351A,an LED rectangle tail indicator light,which gets installed on commericial vehicles,such as semi-trucks .tanker trucks or buses.The light body material is UV PC lens and rubber ring,and it has 2 wires out to connect with power supply,the lead lenth is 0.35M.And,it consists 12pcs SMD LED so that it gets super bright and low energy consumption.Now it has ADR/E4 approval.Normally the light warranty is two years .
- Engry Saving,Low Temperature, Satble Output
- Long Service Life,Good Performance
- Customer's Design and Logo are accept
- High stability, light is small;
- Voltage:10-30V
- Power: 1.5W
- Function: Indicator
- Lead length:0.35M
- LED QTY:12 pcs super Flux led
- Lens type:UV PC,ABS plastic body
- 100%waterproof and long life span
Looking for ideal Truck LED Indicator Light Manufacturer & supplier ? We have a wide selection at great prices to help you get creative. All the E4 Truck Lighting are quality guaranteed. We are China Origin Factory of Indicator Trailer Tail Lighting. If you have any question, please feel free to contact us.
Product Categories : Truck Trailer Lamps > Truck Tail Lamps
- Products( 0 )


text:
Kurian AW, Ward KC, Howlander N, Deapen D, Hamilton AS, Mariotto A, Miller D, Penberthy LS, Katz SJ. JCO Published online April 9, 2019 [ePub ahead of print].
Radhakrishnan A, Henry J, Zhu K, Hawley ST, Hollenbeck BK, Hofer T, Wittman DA, Sales AE, Skolarus TA. Cancer Medicine. Published online April 5, 2019 [ePub ahead of print].


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Men's Golf
Eagle Golfers Headed For So Cal Regionals
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Mt. San Jacinto College
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Eagle Golfers Headed For So Cal Regionals
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Interested in playing golf at MSJC? Contact us.
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The MSJC men's golf team went 6-2 in the Pacific Coast Athletic Conference Finals on Monday to finish second in the final league standings, earning them a trip to the Southern California
The Eagles came out of the gates quickly in the 36 hole event held at El Camino Golf Club as they went unbeaten at 4-0 in the morning round. MSJC then held on in the afternoon to take third place in the day's second round which was good enough for a 2-2 mark. MSJC ended conference play with a record of 33-15 which tied them for second place with Palomar. After the PCAC tie-breaker was applied to the standings the Eagles were awarded second place and a spot in the post season.
Richard Schweitzer capped off his stellar regular season by not only tying for medalist honors in the conference finals after shooting back to back 73's, he also earned Conference Golf Athlete of the Year honors for his PCAC best 73.7 scoring average. Schweitzer, a sophomore from Hemet High School, edged out Matt Schmitt of Desert for the top honor. MSJC's Kieran Blundell also helped the Eagles cause on Monday shooting 77 in the morning and 73 in the afternoon round. Blundell propelled himself all the way into third in the final conference individual standings with a league scoring average of 74.5. Sam Proctor joined Blundell on the All-Conference team by shooting 76-82 Monday and finished the conference schedule with the PCAC's 8th best scoring average at 76.7.
Vincent Brunet turned in an 89 and a 78 on Monday while Tyler Galleher had a 76 and an 84 on the day for the Eagles. Bernardo Campos carded a 79 in Monday's first round and an 87 in the second.
The Eagles will return to El Camino Golf Club on Monday May 8th for the Southern California Regionals. MSJC will be joined by PCAC team champion College of the Desert, who finished with a conference record of 41-7.
Final PCAC Standings
MSJC Individual Honors
1. Desert 41-7 Richard Schweitzer-PCAC Male Golf Athlete of the Year
2. MSJC 33-15 (won tiebreaker) Kieran Blundell-All PCAC
3. Palomar 33-15 Sam Proctor-All PCAC
4. Cuy 11-37
5. El Co 2-46
The MSJC men's golf team qualified for the So Cal Regionals May 8th by coming in second place in the final PCAC standings. Richard Schweitzer (left) was named the Conference Player of the Year after recording a scoring average of 73.7 for the conference season.
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What's this?
This bicycle, with its threadbare tyres, has become a mobile truck decoration shop. The brightly coloured stripes are stuck on to the side of trucks and wrapped around their bars, and the pom-poms and tinsel are hung off side mirrors. Along with elaborate and beautiful designs that are carefully painted on by hand, Indian trucks are often spectacular to look at!
It's a good idea to set up shop here as Om Bana Temple is on a national highway and hundreds of trucks pass every day and night. Drivers are likely to make a stop here to pray for a safe journey.
To read more about Om Bana (known as the motorcycle temple), see my previous post here: Marigolds at Om Banna – a temple with a motorbike
Where's this?
Om Bana Temple, on National Highway 65 between Pali and Jodpur, Rajasthan


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Your Custom Text Here
Find Adine on Ravelry HERE.
Adine is based on a favorite stitch pattern that appeared on both my Bonnie Banks Shawl and Bonnie Banks Wrap! A sweater built with a lot of ease, but fitted in the sleeves for an effortless and comfortable pullover. It has options for both 3/4 length sleeves and a sleeveless version.
Body is worked in the round from the bottom up to the underarms, where fronts and backs are divided. Increases are made at the shoulder to "tilt" the shoulder slightly for a more flattering fit. Short rows are worked across the shoulders on front and back before bind off. Shoulders are seamed and then stitches picked up for sleeves, which are worked from the shoulder to the wrist. Stitches are picked up around the neckline for ribbing.


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Set with two rows of dazzling diamonds, this undeniably elegant 9ct gold ring is crafted with a beautiful polished finish.
Normally available in sizes P to Z
- Birthstone
- April
- Diamond
- 0.1 carat
- Material
- 9ct Yellow Gold
- Stone shape
- Round
- Stone style
- Multi stone
- Stone type
- Diamond
- Width
- 0.6 cm
Delivery & Returns
At H.Samuel we offer a range of delivery options to suit you:
- Free Standard Delivery available on orders of £49 or more
- Free Express Delivery available on orders of £500 or more
- Free Click & Collect to over 300 H.Samuel stores in the UK
For more Delivery Information click here
Returns policy: you can return items to us by post or in store within 30 days for a full refund or exchange.*
*We cannot refund or exchange pierced jewellery, e.g. earrings, if they have been removed from the original sealed packaging due to hygiene reasons.
For our full returns policy click here.
Help Centre
For assistance with your purchase, visit our help centre for advice & tips so you can buy confidently with H.Samuel.


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I'll be on the Philly station WMMR Wednesday morning at 9:30 Eastern time (7:30 Mountain, dagnappit, so I'll be drinking my coffee early) talking astronomy and probably the book with hosts Preston & Steve. They have a Listen Live option on the site, so click it and hear me shill the book, rather than just read me shilling the book. Their website has a "morning zoo" look all over it, so maybe I'd better have two cups of coffee.
Don't forget, on Friday, Nov. 14: I'll be in Second Life with Michael Stackpole, too.
Update: I made some fun of the Phillies in the interview. Let me be clear: I have no idea if the Phillies are awful or not, as I haven't watched a pro game in years (long story). It was a joke. I love Philly cheesesteaks, and Bassett's ice cream (srsly), and George Hrab. So Don't hurt me.


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In February Amelie entered an on-line competition at home to make a figure of any of the characters from the Wallace and Gromit films. Amelie chose to make Wallace and Gromit in one of their famous poses and here it is! I am sure you will agree that it is indeed an amazing piece of art work...well so did the organisers of the competition. Amelie received a runners up certificate and a number of prizes and she has had over 5000 'likes' on the competition website.
Well done Amelie, we are very proud of you and you obviously have talented career ahead in the world of art.


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Video produced by Katrya Ly and Sebastian Luna
Video produced by Katrya Ly and Sebastian Luna
by Linh Nguyen, Staff Writer
For only the third time in Fountain Valley history, the wrestling team has a female member.
"Everyone encouraged me, like, 'You'd do so good,'" said Angie Vu ('18). Continue reading
Video produced by Katrya Ly, Mimi Giang, and Sandy Hawryla
Video produced by Katrya Ly and Dustin Tran
by Katrya Ly, Editor-in-Chief
Photos by Heather Kim, Photo Manager
Are you torn between nerding it out on Edison Nerd day or dancing to the beat of the 70s Dress Up day? Fear not, Barons! Baron Banner has put together three outfits that capture the essence of the 70s Edison Nerd. Continue reading
by Katrya Ly and Kristie Hoang, Editors-in-Chief
On Tuesday, an upset student removed a Bell Week poster reading "Edison girls don't shave," and has since drawn mixed attention from the student body. Continue reading
Video produced by Katrya Ly and Johnny Bernardin


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Here's a message from LilyAnn about her upcoming featured designer deals and activities.
I'm so excited to be the Featured Designer for the first half of December. I have some fun activities planned. Hope you could join me.
Go HERE at SNP for all the details.
Here are some fun activities...You could earn up to $7.00 to use at my store.
1- Add a layout or two to my gallery using my products
2- Comment on layouts in my gallery
3- Blog about one of my kits on your blog or FB page
4- What kind of kit would you like to see me make?
5- Use mini in layout.
6- Bingo Friday Dec. 7th 8pm EST
To end my time as Featured Designer, I'm hosting a Speed Scrap. I'll have a template as a participation prize.
Saturday, December 15, 7 pm CST (5 pm PST, 6 pm MST, 8 pm EST)
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
New kit: Thankful by Mommy Made This
There's a fun and pretty new fall kit call Thankful by Mommy Made This available at Scraps N Pieces.
I made two different layouts with it already.
I made two different layouts with it already.
I also made a quickpage from the second layout, which you can download HERE.
Posted by auntbeffy at 10:21 AM No comments:
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
All Ears Templates
Here's a new set of digital scrapbooking templates from A Fish Design. They'll be available November 15 at her Scraps N Pieces store HERE. They were so quick and easy to use, I've already done a layout with each of them:
Posted by auntbeffy at 8:56 AM No comments:
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This salad dressing base allows the user to have better control over the fat and calorie content as well as be preservative free. To make two cups of dressing, mix 1-2 tablespoons dressing base with 1 cup buttermilk and 1 cup mayonnaise. For a lower-calorie version, substitute low fat mayonnaise or low fat sour cream. In addition, this ranch spice is tasty sprinkled on cooked vegetables. Our family has a particularly fondness for tossing some of the powder on diced baked potatoes, especially when they're baked around a roast chicken.
This ranch mix contains: Tellicherry black pepper, kosher flake salt, granulated garlic and onion, msg, minced green onion, red and green bell pepper bits. Sodium content: 673.05 mg per teaspoon; 21.92% sodium


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Address: 2508 Boros Road
City: Burlington
State: Ontario
Square Feet: 2400
Bedrooms: 2+2
Bathrooms: 2+1
Basement: Full (Partially Finished)
Additional Features:
Aboutowne Realty
The five senses are an incredible thing. Smell and taste are two of the most powerful tools at evoking emotion. But sight must not be forgotten. After all, what you see can have an incredible impact on how you feel. Even more so, color can inevitably influence how you feel on an everyday basis without you ever really noticing. Which is exactly why incorporating the most appropriate hues into your own home can have a profound effect on how you feel (or would like to feel) while completing a specific task.
"Color can have a tremendously powerful influence on people's lives," explains Sally Augustin, PhD, an environmental/design psychologist and the principal at Design With Science. "I see a lot of people who are scared of it, who create one white space after another." But, she says, you shouldn't be afraid of the rainbow. In fact, you should embrace it. "Color is a fantastic tool to utilize in interior design. You can create a mood in a room instantly with the use of color, especially when utilizing it on your walls and in your accessories." Here, Augustin details the best hues to add to the most common rooms in your home and the feelings they evoke.
It's no secret that certain colors influence you to eat a little more—and a little less. In fact, a 2012 study out of the Cornell Food and Brand Lab found study participants, who had a low contrast in color between their food and plates—for example, mashed potatoes on a white plate— served themselves 30 percent more food than those whose plates and food were high contrast in color. That same study found that the color of one's placemat and tablecloth had the same effect. The same can be said for wall color, says Augustin. "Warm colors, generally, do seem to make us feel a little hungrier. They get our appetites flowing," she says. "You can use this information in one of two ways: if you have children who never eat and weight isn't an issue for you or your partner, you might want to make spaces like your kitchen or breakfast nook a warm color like an orange or brown. On the other hand, if someone tends to overeat, you would want to avoid those warm colors and opt for cooler hues such as blues and grays."
The bedroom is meant for sleep and relaxation and, as such, says Augustin, you want to avoid colors that will excite you such as a color in the red family. "Because of our cultural associations, we view blue as a calming and relaxing color," she says; however, if a pale blue is not what you're looking for, Augustin recommends a "color that's not very saturated but relatively bright. A sage green with lots of white or a dusty blue with lots of white mixed into it are perfect for the bedroom."
Pantone is the authority on color. In fact, the color-system company's forecasted color of the year is so closely watched that industries beyond interior design—think fashion—look to it as one of the biggest trend-setting announcements of the year. Here's a look at the last five years of colors that Pantone has deemed the "it" hue of the year.
2017: Greenery
Get ready to see plenty of this fern-colored hue as the current color of the year dominates trends.
2016: Rose Quartz and Serenity
Pantone says they chose this pink-and-blue duo to evoke feelings of warmth and tranquility.
2015: Marsala
The company notes that this warm wine color is ideal in a kitchen or dining room.
2014: Radiant Orchid
This shade of purple has fuchsia and pink undertones. The company suggests pairing it with deeper hunter greens, turquoise, teal, or even light yellows.
2013: Emerald
This jewel-tone green hue is ideal in accessories such as dinnerware, or in an entryway or foyer, dining room, home office or library, or a powder room.
If you have a home office, you know that it's oftentimes a place to brainstorm ideas. Research shows that green can actually get your creative juices flowing. Like the bedroom, Augustin recommends "a sage green that isn't very saturated in color to achieve that ideal balance that enhances creativity without over-stimulating you."
Need a burst of energy to crank out that workout? Go red! "Seeing the color red gives you a burst of strength," explains Augustin. "If you have a place in your home where you work out, paint the wall you're looking at red to have that burst of strength while you exercise."
When designers Jacy Painter Kelly and Kerri Robusto were first approached by their home builder client to design the interiors of a model home that was about to be completed, the design duo jumped at the opportunity. For the last few years, the friends turned design partners (they founded 431 Designs) have completed the interiors for several model homes in North and South Carolina, so the task was nothing new to them. They were familiar with creating eye-catching designs that combine comfort and style while sticking to a budget.
But unlike the duo's previous model-home projects, which required designing for a potential family, this time the client requested the interiors appeal to an empty nester demographic. "That was who their market research said would be the potential buyer, so that's what we had to run with," explains Kelly. Though it was a different type of homeowner they would be designing for, they knew they could easily create a seamless design that appealed to not only empty nesters, but growing families, as well.
The first order of business: choosing a color palette. "We really wanted to focus on [the] Sherwin-Williams color of the year at the time: Coral Reef," says Robusto. "It's such a fun color to use and incorporate into a home." Without hesitation, the designers added bold doses of the color throughout the entire home starting with the downstairs living spaces. "We fell in love with the drapery fabric in the family room and went from there," says Kelly of the chinoiserie-inspired pattern. "The draperies have a lot going on in them so we wanted to balance them with fairly solid and neutral furnishings." Organic materials coupled with semi-modern metallic accents throughout the home help balance the boldness of the coral such as in the family room where a wooden console and gold geometric fireplace screen anchor the space.
The kitchen exemplifies the designers' coupling of these same materials with the coral. Chunky wooden counter stools balance the colorful valance above the kitchen sink and the rug in the dining area, while silver accents are strewn throughout in the form of stainless-steel appliances and pendant lights over the island. "This space is completely open into the family room so it needed to keep the same tone found throughout the rest of the home," explains Kelly. "It's a great mix of reclaimed wood with some glam pieces."
Upstairs, the designers were more adventurous with the coral, painting the master bathroom walls in the vibrant hue while white subway tiles and counters offer a fresh, modern juxtaposition. In the adjacent master, Robusto and Kelly kept the base neutral and added in pops of color with the geometric-print rug, which anchors the bed and provides some interest and an
additional layer to the design. Mirrored nightstands provide an instant glam factor to the aesthetic without overdoing it. "It's a pretty casual room and design so those mirrored nightstands just really elevated the style of the room," says Kelly.
If working with color sounds daunting, you may be inclined to ditch the color wheel and keep it neutral. But remember that color gives character. Here, Robusto and Kelly detail their interior color pitfalls—and how to avoid them.
The Easter Egg Effect
Color is fun. But too much of anything can be no good. "Having different colors in each room or too many different colored accent walls can be very busy and overwhelming," says Robusto. "Use different shades in the same family instead."
Far Too Light
You jumped the first hurdle of utilizing more than a single hue in your home. But you can always go a bit deeper—with your shade, that is. "Generally, most people are afraid of dark paint," says Robusto. "But in the right room conditions and decor, a darker paint makes a bolder statement."
Attention to Detail
Color doesn't always have to mean paint. "You can use pops of color in textiles like drapery, throw pillows, and rugs, as well as the art," says Kelly. "I think the trend is moving toward a bigger mix of neutrals now that there are so many textures being used on furniture and soft goods."
The duo had the most fun decorating the entertainment room. A custom-made sectional with piping in the coral hue is the star of the room while the peacock feather patterned fabric on the window treatments really amplifies the color in the space. "It's such a fun room to relax in and entertain in," says Kelly. "And who doesn't love a zebra rug?" Throw pillows in various patterns and textures add yet another layer of detail to the space.
Overall, the designers—and, most importantly, the client—were thrilled with the result. "It really appeals to not only the empty nester, first and foremost, but it's still a fantastic design for families," says Robusto
Steven Favreau, president of Favreau Design, longed to move to the French countryside. But with family in his hometown ofBoston, and offices in both Boston and San Francisco, that kind of move presented a logistic challenge. In 2011, he found his solution in a 5,000-square-foot home that was built in 1832 and set on twenty-five acres in the beautiful countryside of Chelsea, a small farming town in Vermont. "I love American history," says Favreau, "and decided to redo the home with a contemporary attitude, but with a nod to the period."
Favreau enjoys designing in the tone and voice of a period rather than catering to the absolute historic details of an era, seen here in the formal dining room:
Renovating a historic home is a great undertaking that often includes making unexpected structural and whole-house updates. "The electrical situation was so bad, I was concerned that a fire was very possible. We had to repair that immediately," he explains. "And we found that a wall between the kitchen and dining room was putting pressure on the floor and causing the house to slowly sink into the basement." He knocked the wall down and put in an enormous beam in the kitchen for support. The floor stopped sagging and slowly settled into its proper height.
The floors were the original pumpkin pine. Because the floorboards were textured and hand hewn, Favreau had them sanded down by hand to retain the aged details. They were then stained a dark espresso color, given a satin finish, and topped with a wax coat. On the walls, six layers of wallpaper were removed and the plaster was reskinned. Favreau maintained everything he could from the original architectural details. Moldings, five wood fireplace surrounds, the banister, and even the old hardware were carefully refurbished. The trim was painted a creamy white. Once these basic foundations were laid, the color—amazing, intense, intoxicating color—was introduced.
Favreau found photos dating from the 1800s that showed the foyer with stripes on the walls. He wanted the foyer to be dramatic and jolt the senses, but he also wanted it to be part of the whole. So he took bits and pieces of the foyer decor and incorporated them into the rooms surrounding the foyer. "The home is one [book] and each of the rooms is a chapter," he explains.
He found mother-and-daughter artistic painters in town who accomplished the phenomenal striping on the foyer walls. "I had seen wonderful wallpaper with stripes, but it was no longer available. So I designed a similar stripe pattern using brown, fuchsia, and white paint," says Favreau. "The painters astoundingly painted the stripes by hand!" A faux-leopard stair runner and white, faux-animal mounts lend a touch of whimsy.
The dining room off the foyer was papered in fuchsia with a pattern that is reminiscent of stacked plates. Favreau purchased the traditional chairs at an auction, then added bright-teal paint and the candy-striped upholstery. "I like a contemporary feel, but love antiques," he admits. The cushions are in a purple crocodile-patterned material. In contrast, the table has a serene industrial feel. And the ceiling and rug offer a calming touch in subtle cream tones with patterns that mirror each other.
The 1865 portrait over the fireplace is of Aaron Davis, a former Chelsea postmaster and one of the very early owners of the house. In fact, the estate is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the Davis House.
The living room is much more subtle in its design approach than the dining room. The walls are a calm, sky-like color by Benjamin Moore called Palladian Blue. But as quiet as the room is visually, Favreau felt it just called for some orange. He designed the furniture, which is upholstered in gray faux-chinchilla framed in a bold medallion print by Pindler.
The designer kept the kitchen muted on purpose. "As much as I love pattern and color, I never want the design to go too far," he says. "I used a wallpaper that has a wonderful pattern created by the end cuts of logs and gives the room an indoor-outdoor feel. It reminds me of the firewood piles found all over Chelsea." The kitchen cabinets are reclaimed furniture pieces that came together over time. The island is supported by a printmakers' chest with small drawers for storage. The overall tone is calm and light, but Favreau couldn't resist a little color play. "We have a dog named Hubble and Chelsea is the county seat so it's a shire," he explains. "I did an arrangement of multicolored letters spelling out the name of the house 'Hubble Shire Farm' in the eating area."
Favreau's biggest challenge in creating this design was logistics. "I was living full time in San Francisco and working with a local contractor in Chelsea," he says, smiling. "The entire renovation was done by e-mail, phone, sketches, and photos sent back and forth between us." The result: a bold and courageously colorful design that still voices the historic tone of the 1800s.
ABOVE: Favreau's love of pattern and color bring the master bedroom to life. The wallpaper is Autograph by Andrew Martin (andrewmartin.co.uk), a soft ecru base color covered with subtle autographs of people who have been famous through the ages.
This is a lovely twist on the traditional chicken and vegetable bowl as this recipe uses harissa powder or paste to add a little flair and flavor to the chicken. Harissa is an aromatic and spicy chili paste or powder that is traditionally used in African or Middle Eastern cooking but has become quite popular in the West in the last few years. Harissa is now easily found in most markets and makes a nice change in flavor to curry or sriracha. In addition to the ingredients I've included in this recipe, I often include wilted greens, spinach, tomatoes, green onions, radishes, and mandarin oranges.
Makes 2 bowls
In a sauté pan over medium-high heat add the 2 tablespoons of oil. Season the diced chicken with salt and pepper and then toss with the harissa paste or powder.
Add the seasoned diced chicken to the sauté pan and cook until the chicken is browned and cooked through. Transfer the chicken to a platter.
In a small food processor or blender, add the avocado, lime juice, ¼ cup chopped cilantro, garlic, olive oil, and white wine vinegar. Pulse until the dressing is smooth. Season to taste with salt and pepper. If you'd like the dressing a bit thinner in consistency, add 1 to 2 tablespoons of water until you've reached desired consistency. Set aside.
To assemble, place one cup of warm rice into each bowl. Top with cooked chicken, carrots, zucchini, red pepper, pineapple, sunflower seeds, and fresh cilantro. Drizzle with the avocado lime dressing and serve immediately.
Noodle salad bowls are the perfect lunch or dinner bowl; they combine the comforting texture of soba noodles with an array of fresh ingredients. Top the ingredients with this plate-licking spicy peanut sauce and you'll find yourself adding this beautiful bowl to your regular menu rotation. I make this Asian noodle salad bowl with all or just a few of the ingredients, depending on what I have on hand. Sometimes I simply throw a handful of baby greens in the bowl and top with sliced mushrooms, sliced green onions, and sesame seeds. It is also delicious with grilled or pan seared Gulf shrimp, tofu, or tempeh. Whatever I put with it, this beautiful Asian noodle bowl is always a favorite at my kitchen table.
Makes 2 bowls
In a food processor add the peanut butter, chili sauce, lime juice, vinegar, hoisin sauce, olive oil, and 2 tablespoons warm water. Blend until the sauce is smooth and creamy. Add additional water to thin the sauce if desired. Season to taste with salt if needed.
To assemble the salad bowl, place about 1 cup of noodles in each bowl. Top with the carrots, red pepper, mung beans, green onions, radishes, basil, cilantro, sesame seeds, and avocado. Drizzle with the spicy peanut sauce and serve. Serve with extra sauce for the noodles.
Quinoa's nutty flavor lends itself delightfully to an array of ingredients, and it pairs especially well with Mediterranean flavors. Here I've used fresh herbs such as mint, Italian parsley, and basil along with other unmistakable ingredients including Kalamata olives and sun-dried tomatoes for a culinary adventure for the palate.
Makes 2 bowls
Rinse the quinoa under cold water until it runs clear.
Add the quinoa to a pot and then add the water and one tablespoon salt. Stir and then heat to a boil, turning it down to a simmer. Cover with a lid and let it cook for about 10 to 15 minutes. Take it off the heat and let it sit for another 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork and then stir in the fresh mint and Italian parsley and chill in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes to 1 hour.
To make the vinaigrette, whisk together the lime juice, honey, mustard, olive oil, and white wine vinegar. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
To assemble the bowls, divide the chilled quinoa into two bowls. Top each bowl with sun-dried tomatoes, cucumbers, artichoke hearts, Kalamata olives, and crumbled feta. Drizzle with the vinaigrette and serve.
The Gardens of Northern India
For garden travelers, it's a mistake that India is not on the radar screen. At the same time that Henry VIII was sitting on the throne of England, Babur, the first great Mughal emperor, was conquering India and creating magnificent gardens there. Several of his heirs continued the great garden tradition he pioneered and local maharajas imitated the style. The result is a rich selection of gardens to visit in Northern India.
In Delhi, Humayun's Tomb is a must-see destination. Commissioned in 1565 by the widow of Mughal Emperor Humayun, this mausoleum is the first of the grand dynastic tombs built by the Mughals. The tomb is set at the center of a twenty-six-acre garden, which is designed in the traditional Persian Charbagh (four-fold garden) style. The garden is divided into four main parts by walkways and flowing water. The play of fountains adds life and motion to the scene, while the still waters of the reflecting pools mirror the spellbinding architecture of the mausoleum.
Ironically, it was an Englishman who designed Delhi's other superb Mughal-style garden. Sir Edwin Lutyens was commissioned to plan the new capital of India in Delhi and to design some of the key buildings, including Rashtrapati Bhavan, the official residence of the president of India. Lutyens also designed the gardens of Rashtrapati Bhavan, which are open to the public only in February and March. There, visitors can enjoy the series of lushly planted garden rooms, including the Musical Garden, Mughal Garden, "Purdah Garden," and Sunken Butterfly Garden. Make your reservations well in advance.
Guests at the Jai Mahal Palace Hotel get the benefit of the eighteen acres of beautifully landscaped Mughal gardens, which were created with the advice of Elizabeth Moynihan. Wife of the late Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan, a former U.S. Ambassador to India, she authored the book Paradise As a Garden: In Persia and Mughal India.
Just a forty-minute drive from Jaipur is the magnificent Amer Fort. In addition to the multi-columned diwan (Hall of Audience), mirrored mosaics, elaborately decorated gates, and royal apartments, there are two important gardens. The first is Kesar Kyari Bagh, meaning saffron garden. It was built around 1600 for the women of the harem to enjoy looking down upon from their rooms high in the hilltop palace. The terraced garden on Maota Lake appears to be floating. Block-pl
anted beds outlined by pale-marble partitions form an intricate pattern of stars and geometric shapes. On moonlit nights, the marble appears to glow, illuminating the lacy pattern against the dark plants.
Inside the palace precincts is another patterned garden. Similar in design to Kesari Kyari, but much smaller, it features a central fountain shaped like an eight-pointed star.
A day-trip distance from Jaipur is the charming village of Samode, where garden lovers come to see Samode Bagh, a 250-year-old walled garden. One of the oldest functional Mughal gardens in Rajasthan, the long water channel with its forty-two fountains provides cooling refreshment. If you fancy more time there, stay on the grounds at the Samode Bagh Hotel, or live like a maharaja and splurge on the nearby 475-year-old Samode Palace.
Perhaps the most famous landmark in the Indian subcontinent is the Taj Mahal, which was commissioned in 1632 by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahān to memorialize his beloved wife Mumtāz Mahal. The mausoleum and Persian Paradise gardens are now a UNESCO World Heritage site for being, "The jewel of Muslim art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world's heritage."
Set in a valley surrounded by mountains and graced with seven lakes, Udaipur is indeed a scenic, romantic spot. And two of the gardens here are worth a special visit.
The first is the courtyard garden in the Jag Mandir or Lake Garden Palace. Accessible only by boat, the setting in the middle of Lake Pichola is sublime, especially at sunset. Enjoy the boxwood parterre garden with its grove of frangipani trees as well as the views across the water of the floodlit City Palace and the Taj Palace Lake Hotel.
Just two kilometers outside the city's north gate is Saheliyon Ki Bari (Garden of the Maids). Built in the early 1700s as a place where the ladies of the royal household could retreat from palace intrigue, the lush plantings are embellished with tiered and elephant-shaped fountains, beautiful lotus pools, and marble pavilions.
Steeped in history and created by fascinating, powerful rulers, the gardens of Northern India are inspiring places to go to rejuvenate the spirit as well as enjoy the rich legacy of the Mughal Empire.
Photography by ©iStockphoto.com/Jui-Chi Chan, ©iStockphoto.com/Elena-studio, ©iStockphoto.com/Leadinglights, ©iStockphoto.com/MVorobiev, ©iStockphoto.com/SoumenNath.
Standing in the center of this garden, you'd be hard-pressed to believe you are in Dallas, Texas. "This is a complicated lot. There's about twenty feet of grade change, which is unusual for Dallas," says Harold Leidner, owner of the Dallas/Fort Worth-area firm, Harold Leidner Landscape Architects. "The property feels secluded because of the grade changes."
The hilly property was only a wooded lot when Leidner was first brought into the project. The house planned for the lot was a Mediterranean design, and the homeowners asked for gardens to match that style.
Leidner explains how he created the garden to complement the home. "It's done through connection of spaces and style. The garden is rustic and relaxed. It fits into the natural area but still has a lot of organization and structure."
In addition to the style, the homeowners made other requests. "She really loves flowers and things that bloom. He likes
fireplaces and fire elements," says Leidner. Both wanted lots of greenery and a series of paths and unique gardens to dot the hillside.
The ability to entertain large crowds was also on the couple's wish list. The lower area of the lot is expansive enough to host grand parties, but includes enough intimate spaces to make it feel cozy. The pool provides a key entertaining space and is the focal point of the garden. The water presents a shock of blue amidst all the greenery. Pavers divided by grass create a diamond pattern that softens the hardscape. A spa tops one end of the pool, and a water feature on the spa's edge flows continuously.
Next to the pool is a cozy sitting area that's framed by a pergola. A massive wood burning fireplace is the centerpiece, and on either side of the fireplace are pots that have been converted into gas fire features. With an extended fall season and few harsh winter days in Dallas, the fire features are useable from October to April.
The mature tree canopy shades the garden, letting in dappled sunlight. A series of terraces circle the lot and lead up from the pool. Each terrace overflows with colorful azaleas and flowers that can be changed to match the seasons. Tulips, impatiens, geraniums, and pansies all take turns showing their seasonal colors.
On the other side of the pool, a stone staircase leads to a higher grade in the garden. The handrail mimics a grapevine, and the rail serves a practical purpose but looks organic, creating the illusion that it grows out of the stairway.
Informal paths lead from the lower areas up the terraced hills. Smaller, intimate gardens are found along the way. "Each space is like an individual room. As you walk up the paths, there are smaller intimate places that you can stop along," says Leidner. Some of the gardens are hidden behind ornate doors. In a few spots, Leidner uses mirrors to play tricks on the explorer. "The mirrors hang on the fence and it looks like there's a hole there. They hang high enough that you don't see your own reflection but you do see the reflection of dozens of trees beyond you," says Leidner. It's an illusion that makes the garden seem to go on forever.
A wooden bridge and a shack are structures that add character to the landscape. Both look as if they have been there forever. The bridge provides a pathway across the creek found on the property, and the shack serves as a storage shed.
Earth, air, water, and fire merge naturally in this landscape, yet there's an underlying plan that unifies the garden. "There's a strong organization to this design," says Leidner. "That may not be evident as you walk through it, which is really what you want. The garden appears soft and loose, but when you view the plans on paper, everything is laid out on axis lines. The vistas and views are controlled lines, but all of it is softened by greenery."
Hardscape lends structure to gardens. You need elements such as paths, stairs, and walls for practical reasons. But sometimes hard edges intrude on the natural look that you love about your home's outdoor spaces. Consider the following techniques from Harold Leidner to soften your garden's hard edges.
Plant in the space between pavers. Paving stones don't have to be surrounded by dirt, stone, or cement. Instead, plant grass, moss, or other low-growing ground cover. This technique visually softens the flat surfaces and provides a cool place to step if the summer sun makes the stones too hot for bare feet.
Insert planting pockets. In the dry stack stone walls surrounding this property, Leidner intentionally left pockets where he could insert plants. "If you didn't have greenery coming out of the walls, it would feel like a concrete jungle," he explains.
Mimic natural shapes. Another trick Leidner used in this landscape was to insert manmade elements with natural shapes. A prime example is the stair handrail shaped like a grapevine. "It looks like tangled vines, but it's all steel," he says. "It's almost a piece of art."
If there's one food trend every cook can get behind, it's bowl food. The comforting presentation is also delicious and easy to assemble. Combine fresh ingredients with a few pantry staples and you'll get a beautiful bowl of food with loads of flavor. These recipes can be prepared for one or more servings (just multiply accordingly), and many of them can be adjusted to suit you and your family's tastes and favorite ingredients. So I've listed options for every meal that can be made to feed two or ten.
Most people top their oatmeal with fruit and spices, maybe granola and yogurt, or just good old cinnamon and butter. But have you ever tried oatmeal as a savory dish? It's just as delicious served savory and it pairs beautifully with veggies, cheese, meat, poultry, and eggs. In addition to this lovely savory oatmeal bowl recipe, I often serve savory oatmeal with wilted spinach and feta, ham and cheese, maple sausages and eggs, and steamed broccoli with cheese. Just a few more examples of the versatility of savory oatmeal.
Makes 1 bowl
Place the warm oatmeal in a bowl and top with crumbled bacon, fresh spinach leaves, diced tomatoes, shredded cheddar, chopped chives, and seeds.
Top with a poached or fried egg and serve.
Smoothies rule in my house, and a new trend that hit my kitchen recently is smoothie bowls. Putting a smoothie in a bowl allows for more toppings and creativity along with making the meal (or snack) a bit heartier and more satisfying. This acai smoothie bowl is a bit thicker in texture than a regular smoothie and it's filled with fresh flavors; it's a refreshing and delicious way to begin the day. Additional (yet optional) ingredients I often include on top of my smoothie bowl are sunflower seeds, flax seeds, fresh bananas, fresh raspberries, strawberries, blackberries, fresh mango, papaya, pineapple, diced pears, chopped nuts, or shredded coconut.
There are many ways to top an oatmeal, ancient-grain, or smoothie breakfast bowl. Try adding some of the following fresh and delicious ingredients to the top of your next breakfast bowl. There are endless tasty options, but here are just a few to get you started.
Makes 1 bowl
In a Vitamix or smoothie blender, add the frozen berries, frozen banana, acai powder, coconut milk, and raw honey. Add the yogurt if using. Place the lid on top of the blender and pulse until ingredients are nicely pureed into a smoothie. If the smoothie is too thick, add a little more milk. If the smoothie is too thin, add some more frozen berries.
Place the smoothie in a bowl and top with granola, fresh blueberries, hemp seeds, star fruit, and any other optional toppings. Serve immediately.
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Cloud 9 Pancake Mix
Light and fluffy with a hint of sweetness. Made with whole grain oats and white whole wheat flour, our pancake mix makes a nutritious, wholesome breakfast that doesn't compromise on flavor or texture. They turn out perfectly every time, so you can rely on them for a delicious breakfast your entire family will look forward to.
- No hydrogenated oils
- No preservatives
- Non-GMO Project Verified
- No corn syrup
- No artificial colors or flavors
- Certified kosher
Baker's tips & twists on the mix
- To make a smaller batch: Combine just half the mix with 1 large egg, 1 cup milk, and 2 tablespoons oil or melted butter.
- For a lower-fat preparation: Substitute 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce, cottage cheese, or plain (not Greek-style) yogurt for the oil or melted butter.
Here's what our customers say
I have to say, The Cloud 9 Pancake Mix is light & fluffy right out of the box. I replaced the butter an or vegetable oil, with coconut oil. Delicious! I will definitely buy these again, and again. Thank you King Arthur Flour for donating a portion of the proceeds to Feeding America. Another great reason to buy King Arthur Flour ProductSandy
Love this mix. The pancakes are more dense then your typical pancake, but still taste great. Has quickly become my favorite pancake mix.Caitlin
Our new Essential Goodness mixes are making an impact! Working with Feeding America® — the nation's largest organization dedicated to fighting domestic hunger — we donated more than 2.5 million meals in the first two years of our program. But we won't stop there. In the coming year, we guarantee a minimum of 500,000 more. The more mixes you buy, the more we give. Together, let's give new meaning to baking for good.
$0.10 helps provide 1 meal secured by Feeding America® on behalf of member food banks. King Arthur Flour guarantees a minimum of 500,000 meals (monetary equivalent of $50,000) between 7/1/2018 and 6/30/2019.
Meet the Family: Try all of our Essential Goodness mixes
- Everyone's Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix
- Sour Cream Coffeecake Mix
- Lemon Bar Mix
- Cinnamon Sugar Puff Muffin Mix
- Vanilla Bean Cheesecake Bar Mix
- Malted Milk Chocolate Cupcake + Frosting Mix
- Ancient Grain + Cranberry Super Slice Bread Mix
- Coconut Cupcake + Frosting Mix
- Double Chocolate Cookie Mix
- NEW! Super Grain Pancake Mix
- NEW! Protein Pancake Mix
- NEW! Gingerbread Cake + Cookie Mix


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by Liz Tarnof
San Diego Informer visited the San Diego County Fair this year. For 2015, the fair's theme is "A Fair to Remember." Before you hit up the games, rides, and fried food, make your way into the theme exhibit hall as you enter the fair. This is truly where you will get all your fair information and more. The exhibit hall provides fun facts about other fairs around the world, beautiful images of our own Balboa Park and even a gigantic bust of the Statue of Liberty.
As always, the San Diego County Fair never fails to delight young and old. With such a vast array of things to do, behold, taste, and enjoy, one can spend all day there. For the knick knack lovers, the "as seen on TV" enthusiasts, or for the person that wants to find and or try something new, the exhibit halls are where you want to be. Head yourself over to the Bing Crosby Hall, O'Brien Hall or the ironically named Exhibit Hall to get your money's worth of practically everything possible.
For the thrill seeker, there are the rides. Not only does SD County Fair provide rides such as roller coasters and gravity defying contraptions, they also have bungee jumping as well as the terrifyingly fun Sling Shot ride. Try them out if you dare! You could always play the games…oh the games. So many to choose from, and the game attendants are always there trying to wrangle you in. And once you're in, trust us, you're deep down the rabbit hole. If games aren't your thing, there are plenty of concerts and shows going on throughout the day.
We know what you've been waiting for, and that's to hear about the food. Well, do not fear; San Diego Informer tried out many different fair delicacies ranging from Bacon Cheese Bombs, foot long corn dogs, deep fried Oreos and Klondike Bars, BBQ ribs and more. Chicken Charlie's, one of the most popular food stands (now turned into restaurant, dear lord), boasts fried….well…fried anything. This year's specialty is the friend SlimFast bar. An unhealthy contradiction if we've ever seen one! SD County Fair is your one stop shop to eat amazingly strange and unheard of foods. You can't leave without trying something!
So, if you're looking to buy a car (yes, they have new Chevy's and Toyota's for you to check out), purchase a unique souvenir, learn about your cities history, or just have plain fun, get to the fair before it's over. The fair will run until Sunday, July 5th. Tickets are available through a bevy of outlets, it's best to check out SD County Fair's own website for great deals. If there was ever a time to make memories with your friends and or loved ones, it's now!
For more information, please visit http://www.sdfair.com/ or https://www.facebook.com/sdfair.


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5 of the best places to eat and drink in Tbilisi
Food-savvy travelers know that Tbilisi is one of the most exciting places to eat and drink. Here's a look at five of the best establishments to do so. Georgia is perhaps best known for its mountainous wine regions, where bumper crops of grapes are harvested each year, and its celebrated hangover cure: khashi, a soup […]Read more