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Yoni Health: Foods For Vaginal Health
Vagina. Vulva. Vajayjay. Coochie. Cookie. Hooha. Lady parts. No matter what you call it, your space down there, is more than just a channel for your monthly visitor, sex and birth.
What if I told you that your beautiful lush vulva is an amazing source of power and sacredness? In Sanskrit this feminine life force energy is called a Yoni, which translates to sacred space or womb space.
Just like the rest of your body, this high vibrational center is worthy of your love and energy. This means we must treat her right! Reverence for your womb goes beyond the realms of badass self care. Self care, as you know, is truly non-negotiable from castor oil packs, self pleasure, massages and jade eggs. Trust me, I can go on and on here but let's stick to nourishing your womb through food.
Your Yoni is part of your endocrine system, providing necessary hormones that regulate your menstrual cycle, mood, attitude towards life, fertility and more. Nutrition (a building block for hormonal health) is a delicious way to worship your sweet self while activating your inner potential as a radiant woman. When you work in sync with your body's rhythm, pair it with nourishing and high vibrational orgasmic foods, you co-create a healthy, loving womb that is just ready.
The recipes below are two of my favorites to help get those natural sensual juices flowing. When I take care of my yoni, I feel like a more empowered woman. I notice that pleasure becomes more of a priority for me. I feel vibrant and everything from my cycle to sex to my projects feel soul centered. And if you needed another reason besides vibrancy and feeling freakin' awesome, how about adding something new and delish to your repertoire?
Yoni Bliss Bites
Makes 10 balls
Total time: 5 minutes
What you need:
8-10 medjool dates, softened (soak for a few minutes in warm water)
¼ cup raw almonds, pumpkin seeds, brazil nuts, cashews (your favorite mix is cool)
2 tablespoons coconut oil
2 tablespoons goji berries
2 tablespoons hemp seeds
1 teaspoon your favorite adaptogen (chaga, cordyceps, maca)
1 teaspoon moringa powder
¼ cup dark tart cherries, unsweetened
¼ cup dark chocolate chunks (optional)
Dates are a naturally sweet treat loaded with vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients like fiber, iron, and B vitamins. The manganese in dates support the production of sex hormones. Hello balanced cycles!
Maca is one of the most beneficial adaptogens you can take for your hormonal health. It supports the endocrine system for overall balance and support and it's a great natural energy booster that helps stimulate the sexy! Similar to maca, cordyceps (a medicinal mushroom that's non-hallucinogenic, and may make you glow slightly) aids in immune function while enhancing sexual function. Supplement your coffee consumption with cordyceps for a subtle energy boost without the jitters.
Goji berries are a great source of antioxidants and are delicious. Especially when paired with cacao! When consumed regularly they can boost sexual desire and improve sexual performance.
Moringa is great for digestion, improves vitality, reduces risk of UTI, used as a natural aphrodisiac to boost sex drive and performance. It is a rich source of the amino acid tryptophan and helps produce the "feel good" hormone serotonin.
How you make it:
Combine your awesome ingredients in a blender or food processor. Pulse until your mixture start to come together.
Grab ½ tablespoon sized portions and form into bite sized balls.
Each your blissful sexy bites either immediately or store in an airtight container in the fridge.
The combination of adaptogens, with the essential fatty acids you get from brazil nuts, almonds, pumpkin seeds and cashews equals a nourished yoni!
Golden Glow Elixir
Serves 1
Total time: 5 minutes
What you need:
1-2 heaping teaspoons of turmeric powder
1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger
1 pinch of ground black pepper
1 pinch of Himalayan pink salt
1 cup of almond milk or 1 cup of coconut milk
1/2 tablespoon of raw honey
Optional: 1 teaspoon of ashwaganda, 1 tablespoon of grass fed butter/ghee
Ginger helps keeps the body warm, which is ever so important for your womb! She likes to be warm! It fires up the digestive juices while soothing inflammation.
Turmeric offers many anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. It's a super-food in itself and a staple in my household. This golden goodness helps combat PMS by turning on your happy hormones while reducing the production of pain causing hormones. Hello happy period and relaxed body!
Pepper aids in increasing circulation, improving the immune system, healing respiratory issues and helps better absorb nutrients.When paired with turmeric and a healthy fat (like ghee or grass-fed butter) you activate the curcumin (the important compound of turmeric responsible for that golden glow), which then can be directly absorbed into the bloodstream. How awesome is that?
Ashwaganda is known to be one of the most powerful herbs in Ayurveda and is known for its rejuvenating properties. It helps manage stress, fatigue, low energy levels, improves concentration and mood swings caused by hormonal imbalances. When taken regularly it's also great for your libido. Who's ready to feel juicy?
How you make it:
- Bring your cup of milk to a boil (you are welcome to use dairy milk, this is what traditional Indian recipes call for and what my relative do.)
- Whisk in turmeric, ginger and honey.
- Lower heat and simmer for 2 minutes.
- Allow to cool for a minute or two before pouring into your blender and adding ghee/ashwaganda.
- Sip & feel sexy!
Now, you don't have to go and eat every super-food that exists out there. Maybe choose one or two things and take notice as to how you feel. How do you feel during your period? How do you feel when you're ovulating? How do you feel when you orgasm?
The goal is for you to make yourself a priority. Make your womb health, vaginal health and your yoni health a priority and watch the glowing goddess emerge from your being. The sexiness you exude will be amazing and contagious.
About the Author...
Guramrit LeBron is a multi-passionate lover of life who radiates realness and all things holistic health & wellness. This badass combination fuels her passion for cooking, yoga, meditation and spirituality. Guramrit is a Holistic Health Counselor who places a strong emphasis on self-love and self-care and ways to infuse love and gratitude into all aspects of daily life. Guramrit is author of the cookbook, Yogi Eats: A Delicious Journey to Nourishing Your Soul, a manual for inspiring others to infuse yogic principles into their lives while also utilizing their kitchens as a hub for wellness.
Are you interested in working with a Health Coach who understands what it's like to be completely overwhelmed, overweight, and exhausted? I'm your girl!
I know what's like to want to practice self-care but not have time. What's it's like to care about your eating habits, weight and lifestyle but not have direction or someone to keep me accountable. And let's just say it's much easier when you have someone on your team.
Check out my services and let's arrange your FREE Wellness Consultation today!


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iPhone 5c (Verizon) Review
Colorful, plastic design feels sturdy; Bright display; Excellent camera; Well-designed OS with timesaving features
Storage not expandable; Small screen
Apple's iPhone 5c features a colorful case and operating system, along with a solid camera, making it a compelling sub-$100 smartphone.
Apple's iPhone just got a splash of color. While it has the same internal components as last year's iPhone 5, the new iPhone 5c comes wrapped in a brightly colored plastic shell. Available for $99 in one of five bold hues, the 5c also runs iOS 7, Apple's equally colorful operating system, which is more functional than its predecessor. Overall, the iPhone 5c is easily one of the top smartphones selling for less than $100.
Many times, when a smartphone has a plastic back, it feels cheap: it flexes, picks up fingerprints easily and generally seems like it won't last the length of your contract. Not so with the iPhone 5c. Reinforced with a steel frame that also acts as an antenna, the 5c feels durable. It's not the kind of premium feature you get with the metal 5s, but this handset still doesn't scream "budget."
And it's colorful! Re-embracing a trend the company started with the iMac 15 years ago, Apple offers the iPhone 5c in five colors: Blue, Green, Pink, White and Yellow. Those choices don't approach the multitude of options available for the Motorola Moto X, but there's plenty of variety for the majority of consumers. Cleverly, the default background image on the phone's screen matches the device's exterior.
If you want to further customize the 5c, Apple also offers six cases (in Blue, Green, Pink, White, Yellow and Black) for $29 each, which complement or contrast with the color of the 5c itself. We're not fans of the way the holes look on the back of the case, but some may not mind.
The bottom of the 5c has one speaker port, along with its Lightning connector and 3.5-mm headphone jack.
At 4.9 x 2.33 x 0.35 inches and weighing 4.65 ounces, the iPhone 5c is slightly larger and thicker than the iPhone 5s (4.87 x 2.31 x 0.3 inches) and 0.7 ounces heavier. The Motorola Droid Mini (4.81 x 2.41 x 0.35 inches) is slightly wider but a touch lighter, at 4.5 ounces. While a larger 5.2 x 2.5 x 0.36 inches, the aluminum-bodied HTC One Mini is a lighter 4.4 ounces.
Still, we found that movies, games and Web pages all rendered well on the iPhone 5c's display. Thor's crimson cape was richly saturated, and we could make out the detailed scrollwork in Asgard while watching "Thor: The Dark World."
With a brightness of 505 lux, the iPhone 5c's display is about 100 lux brighter than the smartphone average (397 lux) and also well above the HTC One Mini (422 lux). But the Droid Mini was far brighter, at 540 lux.
Although it has only one speaker on the bottom, audio from the iPhone 5c sounded just as good as the iPhone 5. U2's "Beautiful Day" rang out clearly, and there was a sufficient amount of bass, even though this is a smartphone. However, the speaker's placement can be problematic if you're holding the phone in landscape mode. When playing games such as "Infinity Blade III," we often covered the speaker with our right index finger, completely blocking all sound.
The iPhone 5c's keyboard has a slightly different look with iOS 7. It's just as accurate as before, but with a thinner font. One small annoyance is the vague indication when caps lock is on: the arrow on the key goes from an outline to being filled in. We'd much rather see the letters on the keys themselves change. Also, there's no Swype-like tracing option or predictive text function, as you'll find on Android keyboards.
New function accompanies the new form, too. A Control Center, activated by swiping up from the bottom, gives you quick access to settings such as Airplane Mode, Wi-Fi and music, as well as the camera, calculator, flashlight and timer apps. Too bad you can't add your own shortcuts here, too.
Another feature prompts the question, "Why bump when you can AirDrop?" Like its OS X version, this feature lets you wirelessly transfer files between iOS 7 devices using Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. We transferred a photo from one phone to another in less than a second. However, we just wish we could use this feature to send files to our Mac as well.
In all, iOS 7 is a welcome update, but Apple still needs to catch up to Android in a few areas. For example, we wish we could open two apps side by side and add apps to the lock screen. We'd also like icons that were more interactive (like on Windows Phone 8).
MORE: iOS 7 Full Review
The iPhone 5c has essentially the same components as last year's iPhone 5 -- Apple's A6 processor -- so it wasn't surprising that the two turned in similar scores on our benchmark tests.
On Geekbench, the iPhone 5c's score of 1,281 was below the smartphone average of 1,806, but bested the Droid Mini (1,253) and the HTC One Mini (838).
The 5c was responsive when we were opening and closing apps, or playing movies and games. Our playthrough of "Infinity Blade III" was smooth, and the 5c kept up with our sword slashes and parries. However, the phone loaded the game in an average of 21.1 seconds, about 7 seconds slower than the iPhone 5s (13.6 seconds).
A 1080p video shot of passing boats on the Hudson River was crisp; we could make out plenty of details in the Manhattan skyline. But the microphone picked up nothing but wind noise. We do like that Apple added a second shutter button, so you can take still shots while recording video.
[sc:video id="oyMHE1cTqTIfLbSlUPkAocFG7UpAC5lL" width="575" height="398"]
MORE: 25 Best iPhone 5c Apps
Siri now gives you the choice of male or female voices; the app now also checks what people are saying on Twitter and uses both Wikipedia and Bing as sources for searches. Siri can also activate features, such as Wi-Fi or Airplane mode. Doing this takes a touch longer than just going to the Control Center, but it's nice to have options.
The App Store can also leverage your location. When we tapped Near Me in our office, the list of apps that appeared included a number of public transit apps. No, the Maps app still doesn't have subway or bus routes.
4G Performance
In the downtown section of Jersey City, N.J., we saw excellent throughput on Verizon's LTE network. When we used Speedtest.net, the iPhone 5c averaged 13.6 Mbps downloads, with highs of 25.79Mbps and a low of 5.38 Mbps. Uploads were fairly good, too, averaging 3 Mbps, with a high of 4.78 Mbps and a low of 1.2 Mbps.
In New York City, however, the 5c didn't deliver 4G-like results. In the Flatiron District, this phone averaged a measly 1.6 Mbps for downloads and 0.18 Mbps for uploads.
Battery Life
MORE: 10 Smartphones with the Longest Battery Life
In addition to the five color options, consumers can purchase the iPhone 5c with 16GB of storage for $99, or 32GB of storage for $199. As with all of Apple's phones, the storage is not expandable.
Like last year's model, the iPhone 5c is an excellent smartphone. And while its display is not as high-res as the Droid Mini's or HTC One Mini's, the new iPhone outlasted both those phones on our battery test. Overall, the iPhone 5c is a smartphone that combines good looks, a slick OS and a top-notch app selection, making it one of our favorite sub-$100 smartphones.
- Top 10 Smartphones
- Best & Worst Smartphone Brands 2013
- Smartphone Buyers' Guide 2013: 7 Things You Need to Know
|Alternate Carriers
|Alternate Carriers
|Alternate Carriers
|Phone Display Size
|Display Resolution
|Form Factor
|Candybar Touchscreen
|OS Family
|Operating System
|iOS 7
|Apple A6
|Processor Family
|Apple A6
|Internal Memory
|Memory Expansion Type
|Display (main)
|4 inches/1136 x 640
|Display (secondary)
|Bluetooth Type
|Bluetooth 4.0
|802.11 a/b/g/n
|Front Camera Resolution
|Camera Resolution
|Audio formats supported
|Audio formats supported
|Audio formats supported
|Talk / Standby Time
|3.5mm headphone
|4.9 x 2.33 x 0.35 inches
|4.65 ounces
|SAR Rating (Head)
|SAR Rating (Body)
|Company Website

subset: commoncrawl


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Post2 Programs Overview
Postsecondary Pathways — also known as Post2 — has four primary programs.
All programs share the same goal — connect students to their future!
TX College Tours
Since 2008, we have provided TX College Roadtrips through open enrollment, as well as custom charters.
To allow more students to participate in these life-changing tours, we created the nonprofit, Postsecondary Pathways.
In 2019, we are especially excited to offer special interest and "strand" tours!
Post2 Guidebooks
Our guidebooks are distributed free to more than 1.5 million high school students across Texas.
Each one is carefully curated to be a launching pad to explore different postsecondary pathways: selecting a college, earning credentials, launching a career, and finding internships.
Post2 Connections: Student Activities
Our innovative Post2 Connections initiative works to dramatically increase secondary student participation in established programs, such as: Mock Trial, Robotics, Mathcounts, Cyberpatriots, JSA, Model UN, Economics Challenge, HOSA, Thespians, Junior Achievement, 4-H, and dozens of others.
Our passion for Post2 Connections is best expressed by this video from the Alliance for Student Activities.
Real Civics
Through our Real Civics programming, students have incredible opportunities to directly participate in their community in a variety of leadership roles.
In addition to original programs — such as TX Emerging Leaders and The New Hampshire Primary, Real Civics helps to connect students and educators to programs and internships at the state and national levels.


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I've never had a cause. And, not in a cool James Dean kind of way.
There's just never been anything that I've really gotten behind.
It's not that I don't care about stuff and it's not that I'm not against evil things. Sure, I care about starving kids. Sure, I hate cancer and poverty. I've just never really adopted a cause as my own.
Well that's about to change because I think that having a cause and standing for something would make me more awesome.
There are few causes closer to my heart and nearer to my wallet than reading so I've decided to start my own literacy campaign. Authors Steven Luna and Alex Kimmell also believe in literacy and helped me out in filming our first PSA.
Please watch the video below and share it with your friends. Together, with your help, we can end literacy.
Wait, that's not right.
You can lead the fight against illiteracy right now by reading one or all of our books.


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There seem to be a lot of famous 'steps' in the world. Everyone who visits Rome has to climb the Spanish Steps. When I was at the Batu Caves in Malaysia there were brick-like steps, lots of them. Then there are the infamous steps up the mountain in Mach Pichu, Peru.
It's very interesting to me that people will travel across the world to climb mountains, ascend famous staircases and do whatever it takes to make it to the top of these world famous monuments and yet – sometimes we don't take the necessary steps to live our dreams and get things done.
If you want to make it to the top of the Spanish Steps you will have to take 135 steps. If you want to claim victory and say, "I ascended the stairs at Batu Caves!" you must take 272 steps. If you want to conquer the mountain at Machu Pichu you will end up taking 1,900 very skinny steps! (Yes – Nineteen hundred)
You know what the toughest step to take is? Your next one – and what's true is – it's only tough – IF – you are going after something that matters to you and you're afraid.
vIt's easy to take the steps that distract you from your dreams. We can have 'just one more' donut if we're on the steps to our next diet. It's easy to say, "I'll have just one more beer and I'll cut back tomorrow." When we utter or even think about the word 'tomorrow' we are consciously choosing to take a step away from our dreams.
Let's look at one more thing about the Spanish Steps – since they are the smallest of our three examples today. To stand at the top – step number 135 – you have to take the first step. If you feel so inclined you can take two or three steps at a time but ultimately you have to take each step to get to the top.
It's also interesting to note that you have to take the steps in a specific order.
Many people want to achieve their dreams by getting to the TOP STEP as fast as they can – that is admirable – but sometimes it's delusional.
Let's say you want to raise $40,000.00 to expand your dream. Do you simply go to potential investors and say, "Can you please loan me $40K?" You could do that but the likelihood of you receiving the money is remote – VERY remote.
You must ask yourself, "What are the steps I need to take to generate enough interest so people would think about investing?"
STEP ONE – Build the vision of how amazing your end result will be and how it helps people.
STEP TWO – Do a business plan that shows potential investors how their money is going to be safe, how it's going to be used and how it's going to grow.
STEP THREE – Make a list of people you know who may be interested in supporting you as you grow your dream and your business.
STEP FOUR – Make a phone call and ask three questions:
- May I have your permission to speak with you about a business idea, a personal dream that's important to me?
- Do you still invest in new ideas that have the potential of a good return?
- If you like what you see would you be in a position to invest some or all of what I need to make it happen?
The above questions are just a guideline to show you – THERE ARE STEPS IN THE PROCESS – you don't just go and blurt out "Can you give me $40K?"
What about your dream? Imagine yourself standing at the top of your mountain. Feel the freedom. Let the sense of accomplishment wash over your whole body. Feel the gratitude from all of those that you have helped. Your smile is seemingly permanently etched on your face. You did it!
So now, in order to achieve that dream…
What is the first step? And the next?
REALIZE THIS – every step you take is either TOWARD your dream or AWAY from it. It's always your choice.
Here's to THE NEXT STEP – It's the ONLY ONE YOU CAN TAKE!!!


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$29.90 $15.00
Cool Swimsuits and Cool Swimwear
Shop Hot Topic's cool swimwear collection for all the latest styles. With cool swimsuits to choose from, including pop culture swimsuits and fashion swimwear, you're guaranteed to make a splash both in and out of the water. Our selection of cool swimwear includes plus size bathing suits, cool swim trunks, cover-ups and more. Browse a variety of bikini tops and bottoms to find a matching set or mix and match the styles to create a unique look of your own. With plenty of cool swimsuits to choose from, including Little Mermaid swimsuits, Lilo and Stich bathing suits and other Disney swimwear, Hot Topic will keep you looking fresh all summer long.


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sold out
Radiant Triangle Drop Earrings
from 75.00
I love stud earrings, but I totally understand some people just can't handle the studliness... so I created this beautiful earring in a dangle version!
Delicately pierced and light as a feather, these earrings radiate positive energy, and so will you when you wear them. Inspired by hand painted geometric textile patterns.
Earrings hang approximately 1.5" (35mm) from the ear hole, and the triangles measure 1/2" (1.4 mm) wide, 3/4" (2 cm) long, and just over a millimeter thick.
Available in solid sterling silver or brass, and both come on a sterling silver ear wire.
***Please note: This item is made to order so please allow 2-3 weeks processing time. ***


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"There are only two people in art that matter. There's the creative individual and the person experiencing it. Everything else is an artificial filter. This is a way for me to share my work with you without any filters whatsoever." -Otis Gibbs
It's pretty simple really. I'm excited to be making my seventh record and I'd like you to be a part of it. You've always been there for me in the past by coming to shows, buying CDs, T-shirts and photographic prints, and I'm extremely grateful. The only thing different about this new record is I'm asking for your support on the front end.
For the last seven years or so, I've been fortunate to be able to feed my family by making records and touring throughout Europe and parts of the USA. I've done this with no ties to the music industry whatsoever. None of this would be possible without the support of folks like you. The good part about this is I don't have to answer to anyone except the listener. I make whatever records I want without any interference from industry types. The bad part is, we pay for everything out of pocket. Amy and I live simply and within our means, but an unexpected surgery wiped out the savings we had set aside for my next record. That's why we decided to start this campaign.
We'll be thankful for whatever we are able to raise here, but 20 grand is our goal. That will pay all of the expenses to make the record and still leave a modest promotional budget.
Things have been growing organically over the last few records thanks to heavy touring and you guys telling your friends about me and my music. However, some extra promotional dollars would make it a whole lot easier to get the word out. Anything above our goal of 20 grand will allow us a lot more flexibility with the promotional budget, a chance to re-press a couple of records and maybe even put out some vinyl.
We've tried our best to put together some packages that will fit everyone's budget. With your help, I'm confident that this will be my best record yet.
Thank ya kindly,
Risks and challenges
After making six indie records over the last twelve years, Amy and I have learned to live within our means and to not over extend ourselves. I'm also one of the more stubborn people you've ever met. You can rest assured that we'll have no problem completing this project on time and on budget.Learn about accountability on Kickstarter
Funding period
- (31 days)


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The Cottonwood Heights Police Department promoted Sgt. Scott Ricks to the rank of master sergeant during City Council meeting on Aug. 22. Bailey Goodart and Bailey Snyder were also introduced as police support specialists during a work session that same evening.
We congratulate Master Sergeant Ricks and welcome both Baileys to the CHPD family.


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Featured Destination: Marrakech/
Mandarin Oriental, Marrakech
Our Exclusive Amenities for 2017-2018
- Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
- Daily buffet breakfast, for up to two in room guests
- $100 USD equivalent resort credit to be utilized during stay (not combinable, not valid on room rate, no cash value if not redeemed in full)
- Early check-in/late check-out, subject to availability
- Complimentary Wi-Fi
Marrakech, Morocco
For over 1000 years, the Jemaa el-Fna square has been a meeting place for all of life – head here after dark for the full atmospheric experience, where crowds gather around dancers, musicians, acrobats and storytellers, and Marrakchis eat at the food stalls. In the daytime, escape the heat with a visit to the subtropical Jardin Majorelle. Created by French painter Jacques Majorelle, this small but lush garden was bought in 1980 and restored by Yves Saint Laurent. There are numerous beautiful and historic sites, such as the 19th century Bahia Palace, but for a modern contrast, also keep a look out for examples of Marrakech's burgeoning street art scene.
Of course, a visit to Marrakech without stepping into its labyrinth of stalls (buy slippers, rugs, and the city's famous black soap) would be an oversight. But there is also a wealth of interesting stores and highly skilled artisans to discover outside the Medina. Guéliz has international brands and local heroes. Yahya, run by a London-born Moroccan designer, makes exquisite one-of-a-kind homewares such as lighting and decorative art using traditional jewellery-making techniques. When you are ready to dine in style, Nomad in the Medina is the place to be. Find a small alleyway with an unassuming door and tiny sign, and you will be rewarded for your adventurousness – get a table on one of the several levels of outdoor candlelit terraces and enjoy contemporary Moroccan dishes. It is a wonderful place to enjoy the sunset over the Medina.
Mandarin Oriental, Marrakech
With the Atlas Mountains as a backdrop and a series of serene ponds as a centerpiece, Mandarin Oriental, Marrakech lies nestled in an abundance of olive groves and landscaped gardens, beautifully scented with jasmine, night-blooming cestrum and over 100,000 fragrant roses. Only 10 minutes from the city's famous Medina, this elegant, contemporary resort feels a world away in terms of serenity, with just 54 luxurious villas and nine spacious suites, a world-class spa and excellent dining overseen by celebrated chef Meryem Cherkaoui.
The 54 villas, which start at a luxurious 3,096 square feet, are a smart mix of Moorish and Berber stylings, and each centers on a heated pool. The nine suites are equally sublime with spacious living areas to stretch out. All guests also enjoy privileged access to the Royal Golf Club and its 27-hole course. Additionally, the serene spa is the ultimate holistic oasis, with high arched ceilings, long corridors built from red brick and a stunning sun-drenched ornamental pool leading off reception, providing the perfect backdrop for its long list of treatments and therapies.


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"Elimination" Diets
The word elimination can conjure up some negative feelings. The first one that comes to mind for me is deprivation. Eliminating things sounds like a chore, it sounds hard, it sounds like no fun. But elimination diets are also the most cost effective and revealing dietary evaluation tools that we have. And for good measure, since we are talking about digestive health – elimination can be ridding ourselves of… toxins and what have you.
Elimination Diets ARE NOT:
- Deprivation Diets
- Chicken and Rice Diets
- Starvation Diets
Elimination Diets ARE:
- A tool to help you identify dietary triggers
- A chance to remove potential allergens and reset
- An opportunity for your body to heal
A lot of people tend to think that this means you are going to be eating rice for a month. Well, that is not so – in fact there isn't really one elimination diet. One of the major elimination diets in the world of functional medicine is the six-food elimination diet that takes out the top 6 allergens from your diet. The idea in any elimination diet is to take out the possible culprits that you are evaluating intolerance to, and then assessing reaction to the diet, and then reintroducing, or testing your tolerance to the things that you had removed.
In the case of the 6-food elimination diet you are taking out: wheat, dairy, soy, corn, fish, and nuts. These are the most common allergens. Even though you would not use type of tool to test for a food allergy, these allergens are common triggers of dietary intolerances. Taking them all out of your diet at once allows your body to have a clean slate so that when you test them one at a time you can figure out what is causing you trouble. The six food elimination diet is one popular (though admittedly difficult to implement) therapy for Eosinophilic Esophagitis. This is also the basis of the popular Whole 30 diet.
There are many other styles of elimination diets. One of the most popular ones in my practice is the low-FODMAP diet which is also a type of elimination diet that takes out fermentable carbohydrates to evaluate intolerance to those groups of carbohydrates.


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20.03. - 31.07.2011
Chernobyl is the name of a small city in the Ukraine which everybody knows. Twenty five years ago it became notorious for the biggest civilian nuclear catastrophy. Today the melt down of Block 4 of the nuclear power plant is surrounded by a 20 mls wide "zone", an area which is prohibited to the public. Andrej Krementschouk a young russian photographer explored the "zone", met their inhabitants and documented the traces of their lifes. The city of Prypjat is demolished, abandoned and sunk into a neverending sleep. The villages seem to be overpowered by nature which crawls over the relicts of the civilization. But people are living in the middle of this devastation. People who cannot afford to find another place to live than the one they owned already before April 26th 1986. They demonstrate to us how precious their homeland and its beauty is and that there is almost nothing which takes away their will to protect it.
Kehrer Verlag will publish two books by Andrej Krementschouk:
Andrej Krementschouk: Chernobyl Zone I; (April 2011)
Andrej Krementschouk: Chernobyl Zone II (Mai 2011)


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Security Pair Work to Protect P2P Users
Check Point Software Technologies Inc. and McAfee.com Corp. this week have announced new P2P security initiatives, taking different tacks in their quest to catch up to the boom in file-sharing applications.
The security vendors are more than a little late to the P2P party. Applications such as Napster, Kazaa, Grokster and others have been popular with music-loving Internet users for several years, and many users take advantage of their employers' high-speed connections to download files at work.
This activity not only eats up expensive bandwidth, but also presents several potential security problems. Chief among these issues is the possibility of a worm or virus burrowing into the corporate network via an infected file downloaded from a file-sharing network. There have been several viruses in the last year that specifically targeted P2P applications.
To defend against this threat, McAfee.com over the last week has announced partnerships and distribution agreements with several of the largest P2P file-sharing networks, including Kazaa, Grokster and BearShare. Each of the services will include the company's SecurityCenter client in downloads of their own software.
Users will have the ability to purchase or get a free trial of McAfee.com's other products as well.
For its part, Check Point on Wednesday announced that it is adding technology to its FireWall-1 product that will control P2P and instant-messaging applications. Using the company's stateful inspection technology, the firewall can separate P2P and IM traffic from other HTTP traffic and apply granular inspection and access control to these applications.
The new functionality will be included in Feature Pack 3 for FireWall-1, available in September.
Related stories:


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The free site, which is expected launch on February 18, will feature games, cartoons, and music, all showcasing Macromedia technology with sound and animation, according to company sources. SegaSoft and Broderbund also will provide "exclusive content" to the site, along with Sony's Columbia TriStar Interactive unit. The company has registered an address for Shockrave on the Web, but it only is accessible through a secret password.
A company spokeswoman declined comment.
In the online entertainment market, a new and updated Rolling Stone network also is gearing up for launch on February 16. It stems from Rolling Stone's previously reported merger with JamTV in December.
Online entertainment is booming on the Web and creating moneymaking potential because of its growth. Until now, Macromedia's role has been to provide the technology to companies such as Disney. Now it is taking a more high-profile approach.
Macromedia chairman Bud Colligan also sits on the board of directors of CNET: The Computer Network, publisher of NEWS.COM.


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When The Lights Go Out At The Riviera Hotel
Every year Mobile Beat Magazine hosts DJ Conference in Las Vegas. It's a 4 day event where DJ/MCs from all over the world get together, sit in on seminars during the day and late night "Seminars" at the nightclubs.
You might be asking where this event takes place. The Riviera Hotel on The Strip has been home to the seminars for many years. There are many adjectives to describe the old fashioned casino. Some call it classic, a dump, historical, a huge building that smells like an old ash tray.
Honestly, there is a lot of great history inside The Riviera walls.
Movies filmed there include:
Ocean's Eleven (1960)
Casino (1995)
Showgirls (1995)
Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997)
Vegas Vacation (1997)
Performers include:
Frank Sinatra
MC Hammer
Elvis Presley
The Village People
Luciano Pavarotti
The Riviera will be closing its doors on May 4, 2015 and will be torn down to make way for more convention space.
While the hotel maybe rundown - It has been a teaching ground for many DJ/MCs and the entertainment industry. We at Sound In Motion have learned a lot at the seminars and have made MANY new friends all over the country. Oddly enough we do get asked about events in other cities and states. So it's not uncommon for us to suggest some of the other companies that we have relationships with in those markets.
While we are sad to see The Riviera go, we are happy to know the DJ Show will go on next year at another location in Las Vegas.


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Booking & Payment Instructions
Please complete the Vacation Rental Agreement and return this with the appropriate payment. Please make check payable to Shannon Demma and mail it to the address listed below:
Shannon Demma, 1105 Rodriguez Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95062
If you would like to pay by credit card (Visa or MasterCard), you can submit a booking request via our HomeAway listing. We offer an online booking option through HomeAway. Please proceed to our HomeAway webpage and click the "Request to Book" button. They will walk you through the booking process.
Important Policies
To avoid any confusion, we like to explain our reservation, payment, cancellation and security deposit policies:
CHECK IN - 3:00pm
CHECK OUT - 11:00am
A fee will be deducted from the Security Deposit for late check out.
Payment & Reservations
A $500 deposit is due upon booking your reservation (we will hold the reservation for 6 days if you are mailing check), the remainder of the payment is due 45 days prior to your arrival date. If booking within 60 days of arrival, the full amount is due upon booking. If your second installment is not received by 45 days prior to your arrival date, then your reservation will be canceled. Once you have made a reservation, we will send you a rental agreement and payment instructions via email. You have 7 days to return to the rental agreement and the deposit or appropriate payment (or if paying with credit card, we ask for payment upon booking).
We accept personal checks (30 days prior to reservation date only), money orders, and direct bookings via VRBO/HomeAway, which accommodates credit card payments.
Should you need to cancel a reservation, email or written notice must be received no less than 45 days prior to your scheduled arrival date, otherwise you will forfeit all rental sums paid to date unless we are able to re-rent the property. If the reservation is canceled more than 45 days in advance of your scheduled arrival date, we will return all monies paid. If you cancel your reservation 45 days or less from your scheduled arrival date, we will attempt to re-rent the property. If we are able rent the property for the same amount, we will provide a refund. If we do not succeed in re-renting the house, we can only refund the security deposit of $500. Refunds for cancellations are given only when, and if all of the dates you have rented are re-rented.
Maximum Occupancy
6 Adults and/or children
Refundable Security Deposit
A refundable security deposit of $500 is due at the time of booking. Provided there is no damage to the property, the house, its contents, or excessive cleaning required, all of the security deposit will be returned to you within 14 days of your departure. Should any portion of the deposit be withheld, an itemized list and documentation of damage will be returned along with any remaining deposit balance.
Once we receive your final payment, we will send a confirmation including the code for the keyless entry system and information about what to bring.
We hope you to make your stay a comfortable and pleasurable stay at our home. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions.
Courtesy Rules
- Please treat our house like it was your home – please use it, do not abuse it. Any missing, damaged or broken items will be deducted from your deposit. Any additional cleaning that is needed beyond our standard three hour cleaning will be deducted from your deposit.
- Smoking is NOT permitted in the house – if smoking is detected, none of your security deposit will be returned. Feel free to smoke in the yard, however please clean up afterward.
- Rinse off sand prior to entering the home – there is a hose in the trash bin area and an outdoor shower provided to rinse off.
- Be courteous to the neighbors. Do not use the hot tub after 10:00pm.
- Be mindful of noise levels. There is a noise curfew starting at 10:00pm to 8:00am. No parties are allowed in our home.
Thank you for taking care of our home! We hope you enjoy our home as much as we do!
Pet Policy & Rules
We welcome friendly, well behaved dogs at our home. We ask that you follow these guidelines while your dog is vacationing at our home.
- Prior written permission from Owner is required for all pets. At this time, we only allow dogs at home, unless we provide written approval otherwise.
- Pets must be kept on a leash, in a cage, or otherwise kept under control at all times. Pets should NEVER be left unattended in our home. If you are leaving for a day and don't want to take the pet with you, you must put it in a local kennel or find alternative solutions to leaving the pet alone at the Premises.
- Occupants and Guests must clean up after their pet. This includes properly disposing of all waste material. If any waste material is found on the property, a portion of the security deposit will not be refunded.
- As we have a small yard, please walk your pets and let them relieve themselves in a public place. We also ask that you clean up after your dog on the beach - this is a special beach for us, and we want to keep it clean.
- Pets are not allowed on furniture. Any evidence of pets on furniture may incur extra cleaning fees.
- All pets must have current vaccinations (including rabies). Heartworm preventative is highly recommended.
- All pets are to be treated with Advantage or similar topical flea and tick repellent three (3) days prior to arrival. Fleas and ticks are rampant in this area and can cause harmful/fatal illness to humans and animals. All items above are the sole responsibility of the Occupant.
- Owners assume no responsibility for illness or injury to pets while at the Premises. We are not responsible for any pets that get out of the yard.
- Vicious, dangerous, or aggressive Pets will not be tolerated. Any such Pet with a tendency or disposition to attack other domestic animals or humans without provocation is not permitted at any time.
- Any complaints from neighbors regarding excessive noise or other nuisances may be cause for immediate termination of the lease and forfeiture of the tenant's entire security deposit.


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Bathroom Reno
Tiles: 1) 2) 3) 4) // Knob // Towel // Image 1 // Image 2
We are in the initial stages of gutting our bathroom. It's a tad overwhelming. Being first-time homeowners, we've never had to do anything other than cosmetics to a house so this task feels a little daunting.
I've been scouring various bathroom places on my mornings off, sitting at night looking through brochures and pinterest and speaking to fitters to gauge what the first steps are.
The bathroom we have is top-to-tail in tiles. Tiles on the floor and every single wall in the room. TILES EVERYWHERE. Having to clean a bathroom that has so much tiling has definitely put me off the idea of it going forward. We are toying with the idea of vinyl tiles on the floors. I love the encaustic look (something neutral that we won't get sick of in 5 years) but it's tres expensive, and ceramic tiles can be cold. Vinyl tiles are easier to clean, softer on foot, less expensive and easier to change if needs be. Does anyone have any experience with vinyl in a bathroom? I know it's a bit old-school but I'd love to hear your pros and cons if you do.
I love the idea of an L-shaped bath - mainly because we don't want to put in a separate shower (more stuff to clean. Are you sensing a theme?), so having the L-shape gives us a little more room for showering in the tub. We are considering only tiling in the bath/shower area (probably a basic metro/subway tile with grey grout) but would also consider good quality PVC cladding (again, so easy to clean) in a really clean crisp colour. How ancient do I feel having 'ease of cleaning' as one of my top criteria for making house decisions?! I just hate it so much.
We are hoping to have a simple vanity unit made to fit an undersunk sink with some hard-wearing marble or granite encasing it. I'd like to use the same marble/granite material lined up on the wall as a backsplash for the sink as well. I love the idea of the sink area being much more functional as a unit including storage rather than just a sink.
In terms of accents, I am really drawn to simple, earthy tones with beige, grey and navy with lots of plants and an airy feel. I spied those lovely crackled knobs in B&Q and we already have a bunch of the towels I've shown above - as well as some of these Nate Berkus towels that I picked up in Target when we were in the States over Christmas.
So, all thoughts & advice is totally welcome - have you done a bathroom reno before? What are your top tips, regrets or best decisions?


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An American Gourd Story
Follow the Drinking Gourd is an African American Spiritual, a religious folk song. The song was thought to be a code of directions for slaves trying to escape Slavery in the South who traveled to freedom across the Ohio River in the North. Although it was a song, it had practical implications. The lyrics supposedly gave the slaves directions out of the South, ideal seasons to cross the Ohio river (Winter since it was frozen), and the best routes to take to freedom. The 'Drinking Gourd' symbolized the Big Dipper which points North. But, the slaves also carried gourds filled with water on their migratory escape to the North. In order to migrate, a person needs water to drink. Other parts alluded to the Underground Railroad. Folklore has it that Slaves sung this song to each other knowing it had directions to freedom. Historians have dismissed this folklore as fakelore. Sifting out Fact from Fiction is inherent in Folklore. But, a good narrative or story lives forever whether it is true or not. It doesn't matter because the impact of the song has been far reaching. Though many have disproved the song's validity, the lyrics have inspired many agents of change over the decades. The words have inspired generations of activists and communities. It was a story and song that was used in the Civil Rights Movement and is used today to teach about liberation. Following the Drinking Gourd is a profound metaphor that still resonates today with all the Issues of Racial inequality that our Country is being forced to examine. Fluidity and Freedom.
Living in California, there is a rich history of gourd Stories in the Native American Traditions. I am interested in how the Gourd intersects Race in America. Inspired by The Way Things Go, by Fischli and Weiss, and the inherent 'mobility, chance, serendipity' that their piece represents, my work in the exhibition will explore the chance and serendipity of the Gourd through vessels, moving water, migration, landscape, astronomy, narrative, light, and freedom with some humor and hope, loosely drawing on the folksong Follow the Drinking Gourd.
Terri Friedman, 2015.


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Pulling on my heartstrings. Please donate a single book (at least) to make a huge difference in the lives of children on the outside looking in.
UPDATE-Children's authors and lit lovers are giving BIG to help kids of incarcerated parents!
MARCHing Books to Kids launched just over a week ago, and children's authors are already making a big impact. Thanks to all of you who have donated books and told others about the initiative.
The number of kids with incarcerated parents has increased nearly 80% in the last 20 years, according to data from the Bureau of Justice Statistics. More than 2.7 million children have a parent who is incarcerated, and parents of another 10 million children have been incarcerated at some point. The experience can be profoundly difficult for children, increasing their risk of living in poverty and housing instability, as well as causing emotional trauma, pain, and social stigma.http://www.americanlibrariesmagazine.org/article/reading-inside
But, through programs like the Visiting Nurse Services of Iowa Storybook Project, some of that stress melts away when kids are able to…
View original post 360 more words


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Morlen Sinoway is Chicago's premiere Retailer for Quodes furniture.
Quodes a Dutch design oriented company founded in 2006 which offers contemporary interior products "with a soul".
Our main product focus is placed on storage units, but our collection also contains some smaller beautifully designed items such as a stool, side tables, mirror and ceramics.
QUODES Product catalog


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NEW YORK -- Shares of Stamps.com jumped Friday after posting strong third-quarter results and raised its guidance for 2012.
Revenue from its PC postage business grew 20 percent during the quarter on greater revenue from small businesses, enterprise customers, and customers with high shipping volumes. Net income far surpassed Wall Street estimates, and Stamps.com raised its net income and revenue forecasts for the full year.
Shares of the online postage retailer climbed $3.22, or 14.8 percent, to $25.02 in midday trading. The stock has lost about 35 percent of its value from its 2012 high of $33.29, which it reached in early February.
Net income totaled $7 million, or 42 cents per share. A year ago it earned $4.5 million, or 30 cents per share. If special items like relocation costs and stock-based compensation are excluded, Stamps.com said its net income rose to 50 cents per share. Revenue increased 17 percent, to $29.1 million, or 24.9 million. PC postage revenue grew to $27.2 million.
Analysts expected the company to post net income of 38 cents per share and $28.4 million in revenue, according to FactSet.
For the full year Stamps.com Inc., based in El Segundo, Calif., is forecasting adjusted net income of $1.55 to $1.75 per share and $110 million to $120 million in revenue. Its previous estimate called for net income of $1.35 to $1.55 per share on $107.5 million to $117.5 million in revenue.
Analysts expect net income of $1.61 per share and $115.5 million in revenue on average.


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- Telecoms Consultancy
- Business Coaching
- Product Management
- Project Management
- Prince2
- Transformational Change
- Financial Planning
- Mobile Networks
- Global Data Networks
- Communications
- Troubleshooter
- Product Planning
- Device Development
- Mobile Services
- Conferencing
- Business Case Production
- Mentoring
- Team Coaching
- Executive Coaching
- Strategy
- Strategy & Planning
- Personal performance
- Technology Consulting
- Project Recovery
- Troubleshooting
I am an independent consultant working in the UK providing interim business, telecoms and IT services to UK and Global companies.
I have long track record of successfully managing and delivering IT and Telecoms products and services. I work with integrity to motivate and manage my teams, to plan and then deliver hi-tech products and services, increasing revenue and customer satisfaction. I am a good communicator and negotiator doing whatever is necessary to achieve a positive outcome to deliver on my product roadmaps. I have successfully defined, developed and launched many new fixed and mobile services (including at MCI WorldCom, Orange, O2, Vodafone, Motorola & Hutchison). I have a very strong technical background (and have an Electronics and Physics degree) in addition to extensive strategic planning and business development skills. This has given me the insight to successfully plan and then deliver services in challenging environments including fixing Vodafone's broken TV and VOD service and fixing customer and supplier relationships at Hutchison to enable the successful delivery of a major network migration. I always engage closely with customers and stakeholders alike, helping prevent conflict and to ensure a smooth delivery.
Henry Hancock Associates Ltd
Consultant / Business Coach1 - 5 Employees 1999 - Current
My assignments include:
Hutchison:- Took over a stuck project, fixed customer and supplier relationships and successfully migrated three m2m, MVNOs from Three UK onto Hue's Global MVNE platform
Vodafone Group:- Managed the feature enhancement and expansion of Vodafone's Global IP-VPN network into new countries to achieve strategic and business goals.
Vodafone Enterprise / SAS Managed IT Service:- Developed the business case for SAS's 48 hour Rapid Deployment System to be introduced into Vodafone UK's IP-VPN delivery service.
Vodafone UK:- Planned and managed the rationalisation of 36 major OSS infrastructure platforms and migration of 12 to a new Teradata BI platform.
Vodafone Group:- Global responsibility for Vodafone's conferencing services, fixed a stuck "App development" project and launched this and the conferencing service to global enterprise customers.
Oxfordshire County Council:- Advised the management team and developed the business case for a competitive bid for government funding for Electric Vehicle charging.
Vodafone Group:- Management and improvement of their Global TV and Video platforms in 21 Vodafone European and partner networks.
Vodafone UK: Product Owner of TV and Video - fixed a failing service (increased revenue from £200K/month to £1M/month) and then handed over to permanent staff.
Motorola:- Developed a new TETRA hand-portable public-safety radio.
O2:- Managed the development of a new O2 branded Mobile Phone, produced the device technology roadmap and developed a new commercial music service.
Vodafone UK:- Responsible for managing and improving their Consumer Mobile Internet service, launching of the HSDPA service and development of apps their pricing strategy.
Orange:- Developed and launched a new innovative Business Mobile Data service in record time.
Nokia System Integration Centre:- Managed a mobile content-delivery system defined sales collateral and trained sales teams.
MCI WorldCom:- Managed their European Wholesale Data Services including the introduction of new products and training of European sales teams.
Permanent Employment:
Securicor Communications:- Senior Management Team Managing 9 Telecommunication Companies
Ericsson Ltd:- Marketing Fixed and Mobile Network Infrastructure - Sold two turnkey GSM networks and a Satellite Paging system to BT Mobile.
Education History
BSc Hons Electronics and Physics
London University
Prince 2 Project Management


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The First Art Newspaper on the Net
Established in 1996
United States
Tuesday, September 24, 2019
Last Week
Special Photos
Exhibition explores the facts and fiction surrounding the most famous road in America
Travels for minorities along the famed Route 66 wasn't always a safe endeavour as seen in this image of the exhibition 'Route 66: The Road and the Romance' at the Autry National Center of the American West in Los Angeles, California. Connecting Chicago to Los Angeles, the 2,400 mile-long highway known as Route 66 was a witness to history and a symbol for America on the move, the exhibition runs until January 4, 2015.
U.S. Highway Route 66 is both a physical road and a romantic notion, comprising experiences and ideas that are real and imagined, historic and contemporary. Route 66: The Road and the Romance explores the significance of our nations most famous highway and demonstrates why it is still known as the Main Street of America. On view at the
Autry National Center of the American West
through January 4, 2015, this is the first exhibition to consider Route 66 from a national perspective.
Connecting Chicago to Los Angeles, the 2,400-mile-long highway was a witness to history and a symbol for America on the move. Featuring more than 250 unique objects, Route 66: The Road and the Romance travels the iconic road from its inception in 1926 through the drama of the Great Depression to its heyday as a travel destination and eventual displacement by the Interstate Highway System. The exhibition concludes with a contemporary look at the road and the movement for its preservation.
Route 66 presents historical artifacts from institutions and private collections across the United States, many never before displayed together. Notable examples include the oldest existing Route 66 shield, an early Jackson Pollock landscape painting, a Ford Model T engine, a ten-foot twin visible gas pump, the handwritten page from The Grapes of Wrath manuscript that introduces the Mother Road, John Fords Best Director Oscar for the film version of The Grapes of Wrath, renowned Dust Bowlera photographs, Woody Guthries guitar, the original typewritten scroll of Jack Kerouacs On the Road, and a classic 1960 Corvette.
I have fond childhood memories of summers in our 1950 Ford, said W. Richard West, Jr., President and CEO of the Autry. Every other year, we would take Route 66 from Oklahoma, where I grew up, to California, where my moms relatives lived. I loved the journey and I am delighted that the Autry is presenting this exhibition. Through a dizzying array of objects, artifacts, artwork, film, music, and more, it highlights a diversity of storiesfrom Chicago through Indian Country all the way to Santa Monicaand represents the opportunities and struggles that define the American West.
The exhibition was created by Jeffrey Richardson, Gamble Curator of Western History, Popular Culture, and Firearms at the Autry and Jim Farber, project advisor and contributing curator.
Although it was primarily in use for only a few decades, popular culture and a sense of nostalgia firmly established Route 66 as a powerful symbol of twentieth-century America by the time it was officially decommissioned in 1985, said Richardson. The hope is that after seeing this exhibition, visitors will leave with the notion that there is still a lot of work to be done but that there is now a concerted effort to document and preserve what is considered one of Americas great resources.
The Roots of the Route
The exhibition opens with an overview of the major industrial and technological changes that radically altered American life and paved the way for a national network of roads. Energetically supported by local boosters and bicyclists, the Good Roads Movement advocated for improved roadways, which were mostly unpaved when it began in 1880. Artifacts of this effort include an 1895 Columbia bicycle and a sign from the National Old Trails Road. Legislated in 1896, Rural Free Delivery initiated a public postal system, noted here with a mailbox from 1900. As the automobile replaced railroads as the chief mode of transportation, a new American landscape emerged, dotted with oil rigs and gas stations, motels and billboards. Thomas Hart Benton captured the era in his painting, Boomtown. The section concludes with the establishment of Route 66 in 1926 featuring many of the signs and promotional materials that helped make it the "Main Street of America.
The Mother Road
In this section, artifacts and newsreel footage relate the extraordinary hardships of the Great Depression and Dust Bowl era, when weary refugees traveled Route 66 in search of a better life. The Mother Road features a variety of paintings and photographs reflecting their plight, including iconic photographs by Dorothea Lange, Arthur Rothstein, and Horace Bristol. California was marketed as a promised land, even though many migrants met police Bum Blockades at its borders. The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck was and remains an accurate portrayal of these times, and this section details the inspirations for the novel and subsequent film.
Among the countless travelers on Route 66 was charismatic musician Woody Guthrie. The highway imbued Guthries public persona as he gave voice to the Depressions downtrodden. On view are one of his Martin guitars, along with hand-drawn lyrics and sketches, and various personal effects. Visitors may also listen to selections from his acclaimed Dust Bowl Ballads.
Often overlooked, the New Deals impact on economic recovery along Route 66 closes out this section, with the roads improvement and nearby new buildings, bridges, and parks creating millions of jobs. The newly paved highway was an important military transport route during World War II.
Another Roadside Attraction
Another Roadside Attraction explores Route 66 in its golden age, as increased tourism and a growing car culture turned the highway into a major thoroughfare and vacation destination. The postwar boom and increased consumerism are illustrated through promotional materials the average traveler would have seen on the road, including a complete set of Burma Shave signs, a Phillips 66 gasoline pump, and a large contemporary neon sign. Songwriter Bobby Troup immortalized the highway in the song (Get Your Kicks On) Route 66, and the map he used to drive the highway is featured. The catchy song turned Route 66 into a national phenomenon and even engendered a TV series. However, objects in this section probe beyond the romance of the road. Native American stereotyping is seen in promotional souvenirs and African American segregation is exposed in signs and travel guides that identify sundown townsplaces not to be caught in after dark. In addition, newspapers give evidence of the treacherous accidents that inspired the Bloody 66 moniker.
The emerging youth generation, including the rebellious Beats, also made use of the new highways. Jack Kerouacs On the Road embodies their thirst for freedom. Never before seen in Los Angeles, Kerouacs manuscript, a 120-foot-long, single-spaced typed scroll, is on display alongside a digital version that provides complete access to its contents.
End of the Trail
In 1956, Route 66 was effectively bypassed by the Interstate Highway System. In this final section, the popularity of Route 66 is further diminished by air travel and by the allure of attractions such as Disneyland and Las Vegas. The commercial exploitation of Route 66 by multinational chain stores, restaurants, and motels also eroded the unique appeal of the road. Ironically, the first McDonalds was opened along the route in San Bernardino in 1940. The exhibition documents the degradation of the road and its surrounding businesses with pieces of asphalt from the original roadway and several photographs from Ed Ruschas Twentysix Gasoline Stations (1963) set alongside Jeff Brouwss stark 1991 updates of the same sites.
The decline of Route 66 is portrayed in the Pixar Animation Studios film Cars (2006), which introduced the highway to a new generation. The historic remains they encountered along the road, such as the rusting tow truck that inspired the popular character, Mater, captivated the films creative team. This section unveils their creative process from early research photos to sketches, models, and storyboards.
Finally, the exhibition finishes with examples of the work of the National Park Service and preservationists to restore and revive the roads rich history and heritage, an ongoing process initiated in 1999 with the enactment of the Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program. Visitors will also be able to share their experiences and thoughts about the highway by filling out postcards and placing them on a Route 66 map.
Today's News
August 6, 2014
6,500-year-old skeleton newly 'discovered' by archaeologists at the Penn Museum
Accreditation panel decides to exclude Northampton Museum and Art Gallery and Abington Park Museum
Fundació Joan Miró organizes exhibition featuring 112 works by Miró, in Santiago, Chile
Museo del Prado releases statement related to the 885 works reported missing
Yuri Andropov birth centenary evokes nostalgia for Soviet hardliner and his harsh treatment of dissidents
Chuck Jones, legendary animation director, is the subject of new exhibition
Inaugurated only 25 years ago, the 'Grande Arche' of Paris falls into sorry state
Exhibition explores the facts and fiction surrounding the most famous road in America
John Singleton Copley portraits reframed at the Baltimore Museum of Art
Cantor Arts Center appoints new Curator of the Arts of Africa, Native America and Ancient America
New artist commission by Krijn de Koning now open at Turner Contemporary
The New York Public Library offers pop up reading room outside iconic 42nd Street building
Dreweatts & Bloomsbury Auctions to offer the late Dennis Brown Collection of Gauge 1 Locomotives
Skinner, Inc. announces two-day auction of American furniture & decorative arts
Aspen Art Museum 2014 ArtCrush benefit raises $3 million
Turkey announces pavilion by Sarkis for the 56th Venice Biennale
Micheal Mabry's Delta art on display at the Ohr-O'Keefe Museum
ArtPrize announces 2014 particpating artists and venues
Glossiness of Uncarved Jade: Solo exhibition of Cui Ruzhuo (III) explores Cui Ruzhuo's Journey of Creation
Guns for William Waldorf Astor and Indian general go with a bang at Bonhams
Global Video Art Series continues at the Jewish Museum with 'Sights and Sounds: Israel'
Malaysian shamans brave Islam's ill winds
Most Popular Last Seven Days
Holocaust 'masterpiece' causes uproar at Venice film festival
To be unveiled at Sotheby's: One of the greatest collections of Orientalist paintings ever assembled
Bender Gallery features paintings by up and coming Chicago artist Michael Hedges
Lévy Gorvy exhibits new and historic works by French master in his centenary year
Artificial Intelligence as good as Mahler? Austrian orchestra performs symphony with twist
Fascinating new exhibition explores enduring artistic bond between Scotland and Italy
Exhibition explores the process of Japanese-style woodblock production
Robert Frank, photographer of America's underbelly, dead at 94
The truth behind the legend of patriot Paul Revere revealed in a new exhibition at New-York Historical Society
Hitler bust found in cellar of French Senate
Digital Art
Special Photos
Special Reports
Featured Stories
Art Fairs
Art Quiz
3D Images
Last Week
Ignacio Villarreal
(1941 - 2019)
Editor & Publisher:
Jose Villarreal
Art Director: Juan José Sepúlveda Ramírez
Royalville Communications, Inc
Founder's Site.
The most varied versions
of this beautiful prayer.
to a Mexican poet.
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Milano Blog/
These are all of the blog posts created to start off the Milano blog customized to their brand voice and directed toward a luxury audience. The three pages focus on style, travel and gift giving.
Gift Giving
A Gentleman's Guide to Valentine's Day
Guys, we know that dropping hints for Valentines Day gifts doesn't necessarily improve our chances of getting what we want. Your razor sharp minds are compartmentalized and focused. You don't have time for generalities and nuances. However, taping a picture of our favorite piece of jewelry to the mirror that you are sure to see during your morning grooming, steals the romance and mystery away. It means more to us if a little thought is put into it.
Many guys want to buy their lady love a special piece of jewelry for Valentine's, but they are terrified of buying the wrong thing. Hopefully, our handy gift guide will help you out. If you know your lady's style, then you can easily find something she'll like. If she is a fashion chameleon and changes her look up daily, well, you're in luck. You can't go wrong picking from multiple styles!
Even better, many of these pieces are affordable and under $250, so you can still have enough left over to take her out somewhere fun!
Say, "I Care" with Cuff
My boyfriend once asked me if I wouldn't mind taking my phone with me when I took my dog for a walk at night. It wasn't so he could call or text at his convenience, but so that I could reach him in case of an emergency.
Just because I'm the stubborn independent type or because I embrace feminism doesn't mean I need to be careless about my safety.
After all...
According to the National Crime Victimization Survey, which includes crimes that were not reported to the police, 232,960 women in the U.S. were raped or sexually assaulted in 2006. That's more than 600 women every day.
The most recent statistics gathered by the Bureau of Justice Statistics show that,
...women age 24 and under suffer from the highest rates of rape.
With these somber statistics in mind, giving the gift of smart technology, like CUFF, isn't to be looked at as a matter of one partner controlling another.
Smart jewelry, like CUFF, could save a life with its ability to notify friends and family in an emergency. The technology also allows the set up of text and call alerts from designated contacts. The jewelry would give her the freedom to enjoy activities without always worrying about keeping her phone directly on her person (because, let's be honest, not all outfits come with phone size pockets!). With alerts set, she can enjoy her time, but also be available to who she chooses at her convenience.
So, this Valentine's Day, if you want to give a gift that truly says, "I care." give the gift of CUFF.
Do You Make These 4 Jewelry Cleaning Mistakes?
Jewelry is an investment. Even if a piece's design becomes out of fashion, the gems and the metal will never go out of vogue.
Therefore, it is important to take good care of your jewelry.
Many probably think those little jars of "at home jewelry solution" or taking it to a professional, who will drop your jewelry into an ultrasonic cleaner, is the best course of action.
Unfortunately, an easily made mistake could ruin your jewelry forever.
The following are four of the most common mistakes made in jewelry cleaning and how you can avoid them.
1. Using the wrong cleaning techniques for your particular piece.
It is important to know what your jewelry is made of.
Believe it or not, the way you clean jewelry with gemstones and/or diamonds is different than the way you clean pieces without.
Some metals even require different techniques.
For example…jewelry cleaning cloths are specifically designed to properly clean and restore the luster of specific metals like copper or gold.
A soft bristle toothbrush can also work wonders to pull out pieces of dirt or debris from hard to reach nooks and crannies.
2. Using the wrong solution
Once again, this mistake falls under the problem of not knowing what your jewelry is made of, and it getting you into trouble. Gems with porous surfaces such as…
· Pearls
· Opals
· Coral
· Shell
· Bone
…will easily absorb harsh chemicals and detergents.
With these gems, a cleaning cloth and warm water are all that's needed.
Non-porous gems like diamonds, rubies, and sapphires, can be cleaned via the following techniques
-Drop your dulled diamond jewelry in a bowl of fizzing Alka-Seltzer water for about 5 minutes, then remove and wipe with a soft jewelry cleaning cloth.
- Soak in hot soapy water for about 10 minutes, then remove and clean with a soft bristled brush, and dry with a soft cloth
For plain gold or silver jewelry with no stones:
- Soak the piece of jewelry in 1/2cup warm water & 1/2 cup of ammonia(baking soda), for about 10 minutes.
- Remove from the solution and gently wipe with a soft cloth
- Let it dry
3. Using Ultrasonic Cleaning on the wrong Gems
You're probably thinking to yourself, "Well, fine, I'll just take it to the professionals and have them put it through an ultrasonic cleaner. That must be the best way, right?" Or perhaps you've bought a small ultrasonic jewelry cleaner for your home. While this may seem like the ultimate solution, just like the others, it may not work for every piece you own.
Emeralds are often oiled to give them a more lustrous look. The sound wave induced vibrations of the ultrasonic cleaner and the steam bath after will often strip the emeralds of their oil giving them a cloudy look. In addition, most porous gemstones will not fare well under this abrasive cleaning technique. Some silvers and coppers will likewise not benefit. Diamonds that have been treated in order to remove inclusions in the stone will also become damaged from the ultrasonic cleaner or high pressured steam clean.
4. Storing your jewelry improperly
Last but not least, storing your jewelry improperly can cause damage and prevent the pieces from remaining clean. Keep items in separate bags (cloth or plastic) and pearls should always be hung. Avoid exposure to harsh cleaning, hair or pool chemicals as well.
January Garnets
The color of January's birthstone is reminiscent of December's very popular Christmas holiday. However, the vivid red garnet is better suited for January, than the month prior. Why? The vivacious red gem was revered by ancient Egyptians as the "gem of life." It is believed to bring its wearer peace, prosperity and good health to their home.
The tantalizing red color of this gemstone symbolizes fire and power in mythology and was also seen as a source of protection for its wearer. It's no surprise that this stone has been found in the graves of warriors from Rome to Sumeria as it was believed to protect against injury and demise.
More legends and history attribute victory, truth, purity, friendship, faith, and protection to the stone. In fact, the intense red stone has been, at times called the "Gem of Faith." Furthermore, January's birthstone is said to provide awareness, commitment, insight, regeneration, and counteracting black magic, negative forces and dark energies.
Seeing how January is the first month of the New Year, the protective power of the garnet is a much welcome talisman.
Squeal Worthy Gifts For Your Flower Girl
I've only been the flower girl at a wedding once when I was little, but the significance of the event at the time was not lost on me. I felt pretty important. Not only did I get to wear a beautiful dress and feel like a princess for a day, but I also got to sprinkle rose petals on the aisle for the bride. Since the flower girl is often the opener of the wedding, most brides probably don't realize what a big deal this is! After all, they have enough on their minds.
So, what do you give your sweet little helper? Here are five gift ideas that are guaranteed to be squeal and giggle worthy.
Make-up Bag
As she watches you and your bridesmaids get ready, help her get in on the fun. Don't just give her kiddy make up, but the sample sizes of the adult stuff. The tiny sizes are perfect for little fingers, but just enough to make her feel like one of the adults.
Monogrammed Robe
You have your "Bride-to-be" robe or jacket, why not get her one too, but with her title? Make it extra special by adding her name!
Polaroid Camera
Let her know that even though there may be a professional photographer around, you are equally excited about whatever moments she captures. The instant process of the camera will be sure to up the silliness fun!
Snack & Play bag
This can be customized to any age. Hand her a cute tote bag with activity books, games, and snacks that are more kid friendly than what may be available.
No matter what age your flower girl is, she will always appreciate a bit of sparkle like these cute stud earrings and animal inspired necklaces. Here at Milano Jewelry, we have plenty to choose from!
The Complexities of a December Birthday
Anyone with a December birthday knows that this very busy holiday month is the worst. Did you know that from the 1st of November until the 15th of January, there are approximately 29 different holidays celebrated? Wow! Now try adding your birthday to the mix.
Most December birthdays get shorted in the gift department with family and friends sheepishly admitting, "This is your birthday and [insert holiday here] present!" Well, that's no fun!
So, if you have a December birthday to buy for, give them the ultimate all-in-one gift. One that surpasses all holidays. Buy them their birthstone in a stunning setting, offset by dazzling gems.
Even if your recipient doesn't have a December birthday, its birthstone, blue topaz, makes an excellent gift for a variety of fun reasons. For instance, did you know that blue topaz is called "the lover of gold" and brings the wearer wealth and money? Or that it can relieve stress by stimulating a brighter life outlook for its wearer? What a perfect gift for one of the most stressful months of the year!
Know someone who loves to travel? Blue topaz is said to protect those stricken with wanderlust from homesickness and danger. What if they are an artist or creative type? Blue topaz increases one's intuition and appreciation of beauty. The increased awareness allows the wearer to see the big picture and how it relates to the minute detail needed to create a work of art.
All in all, the blue topaz gemstone will surely impress your friend or loved one. Check out our collection, now!
Are You a Pick-Pocket's Dream?
Many of our stores are in cruise port locations and when traveling "cruise style" individuals have more down time than if they were traveling by air or train.
So many parts of your trip are taken care of for you. You aren't schlepping from restaurant to boutique, to tourist attraction, or public transportation every day of your trip.
Most of your meals, drinks and activities are planned and prepared for you. When you get to port you have more opportunities to roam, but when relaxing on a cruise ship, you are allowed to let go a little more.
Most travelers, when sightseeing in an unfamiliar country, don't bring along expensive jewelry, but many bring expensive electronics for staying in touch and taking photos. When you're away from home, travel vouchers, credit cards and cash are usually always on hand, making you a pickpocket's dream.
The extra downtime afforded by cruise travelers also may mean they feel relaxed and comfortable enough to bring more expensive jewelry, to wear during fine dining experiences and evening deck strolls.
No matter how you travel, here are some tips to keep your valuables safe.
1. Hey is that Kim Kardashian?
This is an old, but very effective technique that works in crowded locations. A group of thieves will cause a commotion, either a fight, or a fall, or a spill that will cause others to look away from their belongings, allowing their comrades to pull items from unsuspecting individuals. Another technique of distraction is to start yelling that there is a pickpocket or thief in the area. Women will instinctively touch the jewelry on their person in order of value and men will do the same with their pockets. Since a man's suit can easily have up to ten pockets, the thieves now know what areas to target first.
Women: If you want to check your belongings, quickly search your area to ensure you haven't dropped anything, without touching your person. Go to a secluded place, like a bathroom, away from the crowd if you want to physically check the items.
Men: If you are carrying cash, split the denominations up into several pockets. If you are carrying $100 in cash, and have five or six pockets, put a $20 in each. That way, if a pickpocket manages to pull one pocket, they will only get $20, instead of the full $100.
Both: When it comes to cards, cash, or IDs, keep these in a money belt. This secure elastic holder fits under you clothes.
2. Grab and Run.
Many thieves will look for the easy opportunity. If you are getting on a crowded bus or train, or sitting in a restaurant, not having your pockets or handbag secure can cost you. Thieves can take off with a bag or slit the pocket of your pants and run off the moving vehicle or leave the restaurant before you can.
Ladies: Make sure your handbag has a flap that covers the main opening or a zipper.
Never leave your handbag hanging on the back of your chair or next to you. Keep it in your lap or between your feet.
Don't ever leave your purse in a shopping cart.
Always know where your credit card is. When done using it, put it back in your wallet or purse, never a pocket.
Men: tie a thick rubber band around your wallet. Making it harder to steal.
If you are in an airport, and want to take a siesta while on a lay-over, attach your luggage to you or keep it between, or under your feet. No thief will want to risk you waking up and catching them in the act.
The most important thing to remember is that nothing will guarantee that you won't be a victim, but being aware and taking cautious measures will ensure that you are harder to steal from. Thieves want the easiest target and steal, if you make things more difficult for them, they'll move on to the next target.
5 Ways to Pack Light For a Cruise
One of the many advantages of taking a cruise is not needing to schlep your suitcases from destination to destination, hotel to hotel. Your belongings can stay in one location during your entire trip rather than being dragged on and off trains, buses and in and out of taxi cabs.
What a relief!
So, packing for a cruise must be the easiest traveling task in the world, right?
…well…not so much…
Cruise packing comes with its own difficulties that may tempt you to over-pack. Since you are most likely going to be taking a flight to the cruise port and back home, the last thing you want to do is to have a check-in bag that could get lost or damaged.
Here are 5 quick tips to ensure you pack lite, pack everything you will need, and enjoy your trip worry free.
Multiple Climates
Even if all of your ports are tropical locations, packing only tank tops, bathing suits and shorts will not be enough. Sea towns can be unexpectedly chilly when a strong wind rolls through, you never know how cool the evenings will get and dining halls aboard ships are notorious for cranking up the A/C.
· Pack thin layers
· One or two sweaters/fleeces can be worn multiple times
· Onboard laundry may not always be available and if it is, it can be costly. Bring either a travel size bottle of Febreeze to refresh your garments, or a small bottle of detergent that you can use to wash your clothes in your cabin shower.
· Make sure you have adequate shoes for walking or hiking. Flip-flops will not always be enough.
Dress Codes
Many cruises have formal dinner options, and while not everyone gets decked out in full tux or formal gowns, it is an option. Some cruises provide tux rentals, but most dress codes allow more casual options that make room for cocktail or resort wear.
· Men don't always need a jacket or tie, but a collared shirt and slack will do (look for those made in non-wrinkled materials, like Docker's brand.)
· If multiple formal nights are available that you want to attend, accessories are the easiest way to make an outfit go a long way. Jewelry, scarves, and shoes, and different ties for men are smaller to pack.
· Women should opt for a little black dress or a dress in a solid color that can easily be accessorized.
Depending on the countries you are traveling to, pay attention to the culture there. Certain dress codes may prevent you from enjoying all there is, if you are unprepared. In Muslim countries, women are often required to cover their heads and shoulders. In most European countries, the dress code is often fancy, where jeans and sneakers are not allowed and men need a suit-jacket or blazer.
Some onboard activities may also have certain clothing requirements like socks for trampoline or other bounce related activities. Athletic shoes may be required for certain sport related activities. Check your cruise line for these requirements and come prepared. These items can often be purchased onboard but for a much inflated price.
Speaking of buying items onboard at an inflated price, be very detailed about the travel size toiletries you bring.
· Can your shampoo and body-wash be one and the same?
· Do you have an extra memory card for your electronics?
· Do you have plug in strips so everything can charge when needed?
· If you need to use a hair-drier, most cruises have very weak ones in the cabins or none at all.
· Make sure you bring band-aids, ointments (for cuts, bites, and burns), sunscreen, and painkillers (acetaminophen, ibuprofen, etc.). Women should bring feminine napkins, just in case.
As with any trip, you are definitely going to want to bring something back, but if you are already attempting to pack lite, you may be worried that you won't have enough room.
Never fear!
Here's a solution!
Back a foldable duffle or bag. Many come neatly packaged in their own satchels and you can most likely fit several in your bag. Just remember, that once filled, those will be extra bags you'll need to carry.
Documents & Precious Items
These won't take up much room, but are extremely important. Keep them on you and easily accessible at all times. Carry a money belt with you, instead of a wallet or purse to put passports, ID, immunization records, insurance cards, and any other valuables you don't want lost or stolen. Pick-pockets can spot a tourist away. Also, depending on where you are traveling, check the rules on all destinations and ports. You never know what documentation may be required to enter or rent things in town (for instance, if you wanted to rent a bike to cover more ground at a specific port.)
New Year Style 2016!
Winter 2016 has started off unseasonably warm across the nation in many places. While many may lament the the odd temperatures, we say, "If you can't beat 'em, join 'em!" Why not embrace warmer temps with a look that will easily transition you into spring when the time comes?
Slouchy boy-friend jeans will help us feel comfortable as we work through our holiday indulgences and back into our bikini-ready bodies while this light cardigan with adjustable sleeves will keep us warm, but not too hot. Worried about appearing too slouchy? Balance things out with a cute fitted white tank or tee underneath.
Best, yet, these grey wedge booties will satisfy your winter boot yearnings while still keeping you cool.
Then there's the jewelry...
White diamond stud earrings and Chyrsalis stackable bangles are a fun way to keep your look elegant and fun.
Best of all is the techwear from Cuff.
Want to control how and when you are reached?
What about emergencies?
Cuff jewelry puts you in control and allows you to keep your phone in your handbag or somewhere unobtrusive while you enjoy your time hands free and worry free.
Only be alerted to texts and phone calls of your choosing.
Notify authorities and family with a press of a button in emergencies.
Coming this year...
Keep track of your health data too! Set Goals. Count Steps. Measure Calories!
Winter Trend Report
As adults we often get fewer gifts under the tree or around the menorah to unwrap, and more cards and cold hard cash. While the lack of personalization can, at times, be disappointing, we at least have the pleasure of catching those "after holiday" deals and buying pieces we actually want. Additionally, depending upon where you live, you may have another 4-5 months of winter weather ahead of you. So, with money and gift cards burning a hole in your pocket book, what's a girl to do? Here are a few trend ideas pulled from the 2015 Fall/Winter runways.
The lace trend is still going strong, but the mood has turned dark and enchanting. Designers like Riccardo Tisci for Givenchy, Altuzzarra, Valentino, and Alice + Olivia played with black lace, high necklines, even higher slits, puffed sleeves, and ruffled silhouettes. The Victorian concept of demure conservatism was turned on its ear by the unlined lace and the body hugging seams. Milano's 0.50 ctw Brilliant Diamond Drop Earrings in 14K white gold compliment the ardent, yet coy nature of the Neo-Victorian look.
This is one of those "essential" trends much like the statement boot, black pump, and white blouse. Every woman should have a pantsuit in her closet. Of course, if you can get a bespoke one, even better. The trouble is that most bespoke tailors don't study the female form and aren't adept at creating those one of a kind pieces that move with us and hide our perceived "flaws". Fortunately, designers like Chloe, Sonia Rykiel, and Stella McCartney are adept at draping the female form. They know how to take a typically masculine piece and still keep the lines soft and feminine. Another easy way to remain chic in a style mostly geared toward men is to wear jewelry with sensual curves like these Milano pieces.
Designers further evolved the statement coat trend of last year by adding length. Who wouldn't love an extra layer of warmth around the legs? Especially if one is wearing a dress or skirt. Calvin Klein, Chanel and Dries Van Noten were the perfect structural designers to embrace this trend. Just like these design houses, who value clean lines and exquisitely simple silhouettes, Milano's 4.74 ctw. Sterling Silver Pearl & Diamond Pendant creates a statement of class.


text:
- The two times I tried to kill myself (as in moved past the "screw this, I want to die" phase, into the counting and swallowing pills phase), the repercussions and physical after-effects were exhaustingly prohibitive.
- If there was a legal, non-painful method of suicide, like voluntary euthanasia for the mentally strapped, I would have chosen it.
- If it wasn't for logisitical concerns about my cats, and the aforementioned after-effects of overdose, I might still have chosen a non-legal, painful method.
- Given points one through three, and given that I'm still here and still showing some semblance of fight, maybe I need to accept that I'm still here
By that I mean, trying to make some plans and encourage the tiny unfurlingness of dreams. After all, I would hate to think I stuck around in this life just to exist in a mechanical stupor with no big picture. You know??


text:
Contemporary Romance
Release Date: May 8th 2016
Crazy Beautiful Series, Book #2 (each book can be read standalone, but reading in order is recommended)
Kelley Brooks is saving herself for Prince Charming.
Ryan Blake, while charming, is definitely not a prince.
Always straightforward and realistic, Kelley Brooks and Ryan Blake know they are not right for each other. Kelley believes in fate and waiting for "the one" while Ryan prefers maintaining distance and control with unattached one-night stands.
But after indulging in a single, meaningless wedding hookup, unexpected circumstances force them into one hell of a complicated situation.
After agreeing to a fake engagement, both Ryan and Kelley must confront their pasts — and true feelings — causing them to question everything they thought they knew about family, commitment, and most importantly, love.
A lie brought them together, but will the truth tear them apart?
And what the heck does happily ever after really mean, anyway?
**This books is for readers over the age of 18 due to strong language and explicit sexual content**
I can't even begin to describe how much I loved reading this one! The story line and characters are the bomb! The flirty, sexy, witty banter and internal dialogue made this story an absolute delight to read. Just the whole realness and rawness of the "situation"…GAH!!! I just can't even. OMG! It's sweet, soulful, spirited, sexy, madly addictive and will swoon the panties right off ya! HOLAAY! I'd totally scrunch the cheeks right off this book and maybe give it a lil hump de hump action. I. Am. In. Love. With. This. Book. HARD! – April W.
"The author shows a talent for drawing in the reader, for crafting a story that is witty and smart, and funny and sweet, where Crazy Beautiful grabbed my attention, it's follow up Mad Addiction had me grinning like a goon, desperate for more of these characters that I couldn't stop thinking about. Engaging from the first page, captivating to the last line, Mad Addiction quells the theory that the follow up never measures up to the first, for an author who is new to book world, she has cemented her place on my MUST READ list." – Glass Paper Ink Bookblog
"I definitely recommend this series and look forward to more from this fantastic author!" – Meghan K
Jessica has a unique style that spoke to my heart, my soul and my funny bone! The characters she's created keep you invested in their future and the storyline had me sucked in after the first few pages! – Bex, Read. Love. Review.
I don't want to say too much about the book, because I don't want to spoil it, but if I was to offer one piece of advice, it would be: do yourself a favour and pick up this amazing book by Jessica Serra Huizenga, I truly believe she's a name to watch in the literary world, and it won't be long until we're all talking about and recommending her books to everyone we know. – Tamara, Read. Love. Review.


text:
No more Hollywood nights in those Hollywood hills for Rick Wagoner. General Motors is pulling out of its longtime sponsorship of the Academy Awards leaving ABC without one of the event's biggest sponsors.
"GM has long been one of ABC's biggest spenders for the Academy Awards spending $110 million for Oscar commercials over the last 11 years; $13.5 million for the 2008 Oscars," writes CNBC's Julia Boorstin in her blog Media Money.
"Needless to say, with high gas prices crunching consumer spending GM has been pulling back on its overall ad budget. But it's shifting its focus away from traditional TV ads -- it also pulled out of this year's Emmys -- and toward online ads which give a more carefully measured return on investment," Boorstin says.
Oscar's Top 5 Advertisers In 2007:
Procter & Gamble
Verizon Communications
General Motors
Time Warner
Source: TNS Media Intelligence
It seems strange to me that GM doesn't want the largest audience outside the SuperBowl, muses an astonished Guy Adami.
I think General Motors' ad budget might have been a little bloated, adds Jeff Macke.


text:
My 24-year old flat mate started dating for the first time last year. With no idea of what to do, she surprised her boyfriend with a somewhat unconventional technique, prodding his penis when in fact intending to give him a hand job. After cackling a bit, I asked her if she had ever watched porn. She hadn't, and she had never discussed sex with friends. Her ideas about sex came mainly from films (which are PG-13) and fuzzy memories from biology class.
Last month, a series of textbooks 'Cherish Life' aimed at primary school and secondary school students led to heated debate about the state of China's sex education. Primarily adopted by 18 primary schools in Beijing mainly attended by the children of migrant workers, it has been in print since 2010. But after a mother from Hangzhou posted pictures from the books on Weibo, (China's hybrid of Facebook and Twitter) a ruckus ensued.
'Foreigners have sex when they're 13, so of course they need to have sex education in primary school. While I'm all for educating them (our children) to protect themselves, is there a need to be so open?' says Li Shu, on Zhihu (China's Quora). This is by no means the first time that sex education has caused an uproar. A sex education training class attended by over 400 teachers in Shandong province, led to protests outside the provincial centre's Education Bureau, demanding a list of attendees be released and for them to be relieved of teacher status.
I encountered similar opinions myself when teaching English Literature to Chinese students wanting to study abroad. A Streetcar named Desire, a classic GCSE text was considered too 'mature' for the 14-year old I was teaching. While the mother in question was perfectly nice and clearly wanted her daughter to have a Western education, she hesitated when it came to a literary work with themes of sex and power.
It is natural to want your children to have your values – people generally consider themselves good people and want their children to be made in the same mould. Many of these worried parents married their first boyfriends. I know my parents did. When I was dating my first boyfriend my mother told me to wait for six months before having sex to make sure 'he was the one'.
But this conservatism extends from private family life to the public arena. Some schools order boys and girls to keep a distance when walking together. And while studying at Tsinghua University last year, I found dorms for local students were separated by sex and no visitors were allowed after 11pm. Many couples would book a hotel for a night. But others resorted to other means. One student who declined to be named, said he had personally witnessed a couple touching each other underneath the table in a café near the dorms. Another mentioned seeing condoms on the football pitch.
The government seems reluctant to do more than issue guidelines and tacitly support publishers. People's Daily, the government's official mouthpiece took a positive slant on the affair, interviewing children's education specialists and allowing them to speak about the merits of sex education. 'Cherish Life' is in line with 2008 Ministry of Education guidelines which state that primary school students should have a grasp of pregnancy, basic knowledge about growing up, and where they come from. But without standardisation, glaring holes in sex education will remain. While a businessman based in Beijing considers 'sex education in primary school a bit early' he also says only around a quarter of the women with whom he has had sex actively ask him to use a condom.
Many sexually active friends of mine, do not tell their parents anything about their relationships. Over one and a half years of life in Beijing, I have met people who are more sexually open than many of my Western friends. But I have also met people who live in Sanlitun, Beijing's nightlife centre, who have never stepped over the threshold of a club or dated. Currently both government and China's young people seem to be avoiding a facedown with protective parents. Until they do, the next generation will be learning about sex from porn and trial-an-error.


text:
As Accounts Payable Manager for Dixon Advisory USA, Tatyana implements and manages accounting processes that ensure accurate billing, invoicing and payment through harmonious interactions with partners, vendors and various Dixon departments. Tatyana also loans her meticulous eye and sharp attention to detail helping to complete job cost analysis and overall account reconciliation for the organization.
"Attention to detail is a critical skill in accounting and I practice it every day reviewing invoices and bank transactions. It's also important to be willing to take a step back and look at the bigger picture – seemingly small transactions often have a big impact on other operations."
Tatyana began her training in the world of real estate at K&R Realty, a real estate development company based in New York, in the role of Maintenance Coordinator—what we would call a property manager today. In this role, Tatyana supported tenants across ten unique multi-family buildings with repair requests, day-to-day maintenance issues and general customer service. When an Accounts Payable Coordinator position—which more closely aligned with Tatyana's education and career goals—opened up in the company, she quickly accepted and had soon advanced to become an Accounts Payable Manager.
Tatyana received her Bachelor's degree in Business Management and Finance from Brooklyn College where she graduated with honors. She is currently pursuing her Master's degree in Business Administration. In her spare time, Tatyana enjoys traveling and running marathons, sometimes simultaneously.