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Today sees the launch of the British Fashion Council's dedicated mens fashion weekend so I thought I'd better take some time to focus on men's fashion for a change!
NEWGEN MEN began in September 2009 and has since become instrumental in raising the profile of emerging British designers and the first ever male-only fashion week London Collections: Men is running from 15th – 17th June, kick starting the Menswear calendar with a showcase of British brands and businesses. This event has developed from the popular Men's day at London Fashion Week and gives male fashion its own focused event and will emphasise both the creative and commercial importance of Britain's brands and emerging talent as well as the rich British cultural landscape that continues to the inspire and improve the success of the fashion industry in the UK.
Caroline Rush CEO of the British Fashion Council, commented "We're delighted to be supporting six of London's emerging menswear talents this season, with special thanks going to TOPMAN for their continued and on-going support of the NEWGEN MEN initiative. This announcement kick-starts the countdown to the launch of our dedicated menswear showcase, London Collections: Men, and is the perfect opportunity to celebrate Britain as a leading force in menswear and capital of emerging talent."
At London Collections: Men you can expect to see refined tailoring by menswear designer Lou Dalton, Knitwear from fashion collective SIBLING, high quality crafted pieces by Christopher Raeburn and even jewellery from Andrew Bunney. So I'll be keeping an eye out to gain inspiration for hubby's Autumn/Winter wardrobe and I hope to be able to update you on some of my favourite looks from NEWGEN MEN in subsequent posts.


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ELITE bags are an innovative yet simple technology to protect and store grain. Every season farmers, schools, institutions and even businesses store grain. And every year they suffer infestations from pests, which destroy 10 to 20 percent of the inventory. These bags solve this issue by killing the pests, helping to save nearly every bit of grain the farmers work so hard to grow.
To learn more about ELITE Bags, their purpose and their impact, check out the infographics below.
Here is a training video we put together to teach farmers how to properly use ELITE Bags. (Note: The video is entirely in Kiswahili.)
Here, the video is being shown on a large vehicle that travels throughout Kenya, providing agricultural training to remote communities. This is made possible through a strategic partnership with TechnoServe, another nonprofit working in East Africa to alleviate poverty. Every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from September through mid-December in 2014, the video was played in a different rural area. A complete demonstration (with audience participation) followed the airing so that farmers were able to practice what they were taught. This hands-on experience is a vital step in the process to transfer head knowledge into applied experience.

subset: commoncrawl


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It looks like you're putting on some weight. A snack here, a snack there. It's starting to show. But, I'm not talking about your physical appearance. There's a new form of obesity — one caused by digital junk food. We're online all the time. We fragment our attention between a million things. We work when… Continue reading
Author Archives → Tim Metz
How to read more, today
Successful people read a lot. Warren Buffett, Mark Zuckerberg, Oprah Winfrey, Elon Musk: they all read. This is not surprising. Picking up a book allows you to connect directly with a great mind (assuming you're reading a good book, that is). But most of us don't read all that many books. Depending on how you… Continue reading
The way we're working is broken, but we can fix it
We're still working in a manner designed for factories at the turn of the 19th century, even as digital technology has completely changed the nature of the work we do. The jobs of the future won't be industrial, they're digital, so why are we still working like it's 1899? In a guest post for Blinkist,… Continue reading
Why Saent is a remote company
Working from home, a coffee shop, or even a remote tropical island all sound fantastic. Combined with the entrepreneurial dream of owning your own business it might even be heaven. But here's what building a remote company is really like. Saent is just over two years old now and has been a distributed company from… Continue reading
Consistency is the key to lasting behavior change
I often get asked, "what is your number one productivity tip?" The answer is consistency. Arriving at this answer did not come easy. I have been interested in productivity for almost a decade. I've read countless books and research papers on the topic. I've tried tons of apps and other tools. I've received some training… Continue reading
Are you taking enough breaks?
Taking breaks at the right time and for the right amount of time is a key to the healthy work rhythm that Saent encourages people to follow. Breaks are important for a number of reasons, and not taking them can lead to stress, burnout, poor productivity, and poor work quality. In this guest post at… Continue reading
What we learned designing our conversational interface
We announced Saent's first conversational user interface in a blog post in January 2016. Now almost a full year later, we've gone through several iterations on that initial design and learned a lot along the way. In a guest post on the InVision blog, I talk about what we did right and what we did… Continue reading
Is digital obesity the health problem of our future?
Author William Powers makes a convincing call to disconnect from our devices and the internet more often in his 2010 book "Hamlet's Blackberry." He argues our devices, for all the good they bring to our lives, also cause a measure of harm. With the digital party just getting started, his ideas at the time were… Continue reading
The 30 Minutes of Focus Challenge: What?
In parts I and II of this series on "The 30 Minutes of Focus Challenge" we covered the why and the how. But now that you have that half hour of uninterrupted time per day, what can you do with it? You might already have some ideas about what to use this time for, but… Continue reading
The 30 Minutes of Focus Challenge: How?
Now that you understand the why of our 30 Minutes of Focus Challenge (see part I), it's time to look at the how: how can you carve out half an hour of completely uninterrupted time when you're under constant attack from notifications, social media, and email? The Saent desktop app can help. Start with Saent's… Continue reading


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But not with anything interesting enough to blog about. But I will share a quick story.
Sometimes on weekends we get donuts for breakfast. We go in our pj's, and the kids go along, and we spend the whole way there talking about what kind of donuts we're going to get, even though we always get the same kinds. And the whole way home we talk about how good the donuts make the car smell, and how we can't wait to get home and eat them.
The problem with donut weekends is that over the months, the number of donuts we get has grown. Originally it was a plain cake for me, and a plain glazed for Husband, and a chocolate glazed for The Boy, and a cinnamon twist for Middle Daughter. But then we discovered the donut place also sells kolaches, so Middle Daughter and I had to get sausage and cheese kolaches. And then The Boy decided he really wanted two donuts. And then Middle Daughter couldn't decide between a cinnamon twist and some donut holes, so why not get both?
So this past weekend, instead of getting four little bags of donuts, I asked if we could just get them in a box. Which was very exciting to The Boy. He got to carry the box to the car, and hold it in his lap on the way home. And as I'm driving, I hear him pipe up from the back seat, Mom! I feel like I'm holding a treasure chest!!
Busy busy busy
But not with anything interesting enough to blog about. But I will share a quick story.
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text: SPV operate nationwide across the UK from its Head Office in Aldridge, Walsall. Specialising in all forms of Shopfitting, Refurbishment and all aspects of associated building works. SPV's management team have a wealth of retail and commercial knowledge and we consider ourselves to be specialists in our field and have maintained working relations with our clients for over 30 years. Since SPV was established we have built up an impressive client list by continuously providing them with the quality and completion to budget and programme which they require. SPV, believe that our approach to the contract sectors we work within, including the quality of our staff, and the supply-chain we partner with, together with our organisation's experience and methodology, we can provide our clients with the first class service required to carry out and complete their projects to the high standards their business expects. We are committed to providing our clients with a safe environment, which we will be responsible for creating or be involved with from an early stage, at the same time ensuring that all legislative and corporate requirements are met. This will be achieved through: Careful attention to detail and planning of all works activities. Working to and exceeding Health & Safety Regulations. Identifying and taking immediate and appropriate action at the first sign of a threat to standards or programme (including immediate consultation with the Contract Administrator / Client where appropriate). Our experience to date has shown that many of our clients, consultants, subcontractors and suppliers share our values, and we wish to be associated with them and enjoy the benefits which can be derived from their common approach. Our Services include: Design advice, 2D Auto-Cad, 3D visualisations. Space Planning, Interior Design & High Quality Fit-outs. Bespoke Shop-fit Systems, Partition systems, & Suspended ceiling systems Bespoke Joinery & Manufacturing Building works & Structural Alterations. Mechanical & Electrical design & installation, Including Data and telecom. Supply & Installation of Quality Office Furniture, Bespoke Joinery & Moves management. Soft furnishings: inc – floor-coverings, Wall-coverings, Window blinds & furniture


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Who We Are
Since 2006 MIGHTYminnow has been a powerhouse Bay Area web development company. We are a tight knit group of talented web developers, designers, UI/UX professionals, project managers, and all around great people.
Our founder, Kristin Long, is a Bay Area based web developer and technology trainer who started building websites in 1998. For 15 years she has been helping nonprofits, small startups, entrepreneurs, educational institutions and large companies create and maintain professional web sites. With her diverse background in website design and development, Kristin can help you create a site with a smart, savvy image that will help your company or organization succeed and grow.
Kristin is also an Adobe certified web developer and an Adobe certified instructor specializing in Dreamweaver & WordPress development (including how they work together). She has presented for the past five years at Adobe MAX (Adobe's annual conference) and she sat on a panel at SXSWi in 2011 to talk about the challenges facing web developers and evolving mobile technologies.
What We Do
We build websites. We build great websites that meet all of our clients' needs and that make us proud. Whatever your budget, whether you want custom design and development, a template based website, or a website that you build yourself, you can be sure MIGHTYminnow will work with you to create something you love that won't take a huge budget and team of nerds to maintain.
On every project, we strategize to make sure our clients can update and expand their websites after launch. We take extra steps to make maintenance as easy as possible. When our projects launch, we put in the time to train our clients so they have the confidence and the skills to take care of business, while still being available to them for support and guidance.


text: Getting A Great Deal On Your Next Hotel Reservation Posted in Travels by On October 11, 2017 Almost everyone stays at hotel at some point, whether it is a trip for work or pleasure. Whether your stay involves business or pleasure, you must know what you are doing when it comes to selecting a hotel. This article has advice Read More The Basics You Need To Learn About Hotels Posted in Travels by On October 8, 2017 How many times have you heard people say that their vacation was great, except for the terrible hotel accommodations? Your hotel is a huge part of your vacation. You have to pick the right spot for the best experience. This article is Read More


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Friday, October 09, 2009
THANKSGIVING COMES FIRST - Thanks To You
Well, I'm off! You knew that, though, so let me tell you something you didn't know.
I'm leaving. MY WIFE and I will be on vacation for 9 or 10 days. Therefore, if you ever had any plans for breaking into our house, now is the time to do so. If you rob us, would you please take the boa constrictor? He's been nothing but trouble ever since he got to be 12 feet long. Now that he's reached 17-and-a-half... Oh! And don't mind the greenish cloud hovering over the bedroom. That's just a little chemistry experiment I was conducting involving cyanide. By the way, would you please say "Hello!" to our neighbor, Sergeant Wilson of the Watertown Police, and thank him for bringing in our mail every day? Heck, he may even be in the house when you get there, so you might not have to make a special trip next door. If he isn't there, though, and the snake appears a bit chubby, would you turn the snake upside down and kind of shake him? If a badge falls out, I'd appreciate it if you'd call a vet. Thanks!
Before I go, let me tell you about the most wonderful people in the world. Everybody mentioned below has done something to help further the Thanksgiving Comes First cause. I truly can not adequately express my thanks. This means so much to me, and all of you are so kind, I... I...
[tears copiously flow from Jim's eyes]
I'd go on, but I'm getting the snake wet. Here are the places you should visit during my absence.
Desmond Jones directed me to a past post of his that is in the spirit.
Dr. Grumpy has an open letter to President Obama asking that something be done.
My Dedham News, a friend from past campaigns, comes through again.
Ananda Girl at Oodles Of Funch gives us the good write up!
The entirely lovely Thimbelle from Creeping Towards Normal
My good buddy, Buck, from Exile In Portales (unfortunately, a fellow recipient of much recent dental pain, bless him) has posted this.
My Darker Gray Friend, Michelle, at The Surly Writer has written a somewhat bittersweet piece. Go there and cheer her up!
My buddy from The Great White North, Jazz, at Haphazard Life has posted this wonderful piece. I especially like the cartoon.
Diana, from Garden On The Edge somehow managed to work in the subject on her gardening blog, God bless her!
3GirlKnight at By God's Good Grace! has certainly graced me.
Brinkbeest, who is wonderfully Dutch, and thus, while in sympathy, has more of a desire to see Sinterklaas come first, which you'll understand when you read it.
Uncle Skip (not really MY uncle - he just calls himself that) at Rants And Musings has this post. He wants Halloween to come first. I'm down with that, too.
Sarah, at the whimsically-named Que Sarah Sarah, has the logo posted on her sidebar.
It will take many hundreds or thousands of blog postings to make an impact on some of the dolts and cretins who are running major corporations these days. This is a wonderful start, but please urge your readers to do something - anything - to push things further. Putting the logo up is always helpful, even if you don't do a posting of any considerable length.
If I've missed anyone's posts or other contributions to the fray, my apologies. Please drop me a line and tell me about your stuff. I'll make amends.
Anyway, I really do thank you. I'll be back on October 20th. The following will be closer to the truth with each passing day...
Soon, with more better stuff.
[The lovely photo at top was stolen from Meadowmere Resort. If that's what their table looks like, it surely must be a grand place! Why not go there?]
33 comments:
- Michelle H. said...
Thank you for the mention. You know I'm there to fight the MAN with this cause. Have a great vacation!
(Sorry, I'm not shaking the boa. Sergeant Wilson will have to fend for himself.)
- 9:21 AM, October 09, 2009
- Brian Miller said...
have a great trip suldog...you have a way of making breaking in a little less inviting...or maybe more like an adventure..lol. Will hit a few of these links to check out the cause. safe travels.
- 10:36 AM, October 09, 2009
- Jazz said...
Well hell. We'll be gone together. I'm off to CA on Sunday. YAY for vacations!!!
- 11:00 AM, October 09, 2009
- Jenn said...
Have a great vacation! Hope you go somewhere fun where there are no red & green decorations up yet! The countdown is on, I'll be posting mine in just 23 days. Hope it has the same impact then because I am in agreement with Uncle Skip about Halloween :-]
- 11:01 AM, October 09, 2009
- Angie Ledbetter said...
Hope the vaycay is all you and THE WIFE want it to be!
- 11:02 AM, October 09, 2009
- Uncle Skip, said...
Thanks for the mention.
Hindsight tells me that I totally forgot about Columbus Day, which is kind of important, too.
BTW - does anyone know how many uncles there are on the Web?
- 11:06 AM, October 09, 2009
- i beati said...
They are allowing you to ramble at talk back ..good thing sandy
- 11:38 AM, October 09, 2009
- Ananda girl said...
Ha! Thanks for the link. It was a fun rant for me.
Once again I find that I am sad that I live on my end of the country and not nearer... I'd just love to see that snake!
Enjoy your vacation. Have a blast with "MY WIFE".
- 12:22 PM, October 09, 2009
- Eddie Bluelights said...
Have a great trip, Jim.
Sorry I have been off cuircuit for a while so to speak - been up to my neck in roasts - please to report the smoke is clearing and I shall start writing and commenting again soon.
I will have a look at your latest postings - made a comment last night but it disappeared into hyperspace to the little green men - they will not possible understand it ~ Eddie
- 12:44 PM, October 09, 2009
- Carolina said...
LOL about your burglar-scare-off. If I understand it correctly, Michelle is going to pay your snake a visit ;-)
Thanks for calling me wonderfully Dutch. The truth shall be told, I'm both ;-) Hope you have a wonderful vacation.
- 2:08 PM, October 09, 2009
- lime said...
have a great time!
- 4:13 PM, October 09, 2009
- Gennasus said...
Enjoy your vacation. We'll miss you.
- 4:58 PM, October 09, 2009
- Jeni said...
And this post and all the comments reminds me that I have been a bit (an understatement, to be sure) lax in doing up my own "Thanksgiving First" post too. Gonna have to get cracking on that and do it soon.
Have a great vacatio -and a well-deserved one too.
- 5:18 PM, October 09, 2009
- Ribbon said...
Wishing you a wonderful holiday and I look forward to meeting your snake :) heeheehee!
Ribbon :)
- 9:30 PM, October 09, 2009
- Thumbelina said...
You do this campaign so well! I just gotta see the dutch one. Going over now...
Enjoyn your holiday!
(Hope the snake doesn;t eat your lion cubs. Who's taking care of those? Or is it sgt Wilson?)
- 8:49 AM, October 10, 2009
- Teacher's Pet said...
I hope that you and your wife have a restful and happy vacation. Have a safe trip there and home.
Thinking about you....
- 6:44 PM, October 10, 2009
- Sniffles and Smiles said...
Will miss you, Jim...Hope you and your wife have a wonderful and relaxing time!!! BTW, where is that Thanksgiving First Badge...I want one...I'm going to look around your site as soon as I post this comment... All the best to you, my friend! ~Hugs, Janine
- 7:12 PM, October 10, 2009
- Hilary said...
Shaking the boa sounds disturbingly reminiscent of your "What I Learned in High School" post...
Have a great holiday. Looking forward to hearing all about it when you get back. Be safe. :)
- 10:49 AM, October 11, 2009
- Kathryn Magendie said...
I am behind and don't know what's happening! but! I am on my way today to visit those blogs *smiling*
And if I break into your house, do you have chocolate? otherwise, I won't bother....
- 12:15 PM, October 11, 2009
- Kathryn Magendie said...
oh and have FUN!
- 12:15 PM, October 11, 2009
- Merisi said...
Oopsie, not that I had any intention of breaking in, I just happened to find the door open! ;-)
Enjoy your vacation! :-)
- 4:25 PM, October 12, 2009
- Woman in a Window said...
Top security at your place. Nice. I hope it works! Enjoy your time and in the meantime...what have I missed while I've been rearranging my life? Thankswhaty?
- 8:54 PM, October 12, 2009
- Daryl said...
Hope you and The Wife have a fabulous time wherever it is you've gone ..
- 12:07 PM, October 13, 2009
- Ali P said...
OOooh Oooh Suldog, check this song out!
Happy Autumn!
- 2:32 PM, October 13, 2009
- Selina Kingston said...
Oh! That's a shame. I've only just found your blog and thought it was rather good.
Was it something I said??
- 8:02 AM, October 14, 2009
- Shrinky said...
Have fun, but hurry back, we're missing you!
- 12:39 PM, October 14, 2009
- Sniffles and Smiles said...
Just checking in to see if you are back yet!!! Miss you. Hugs, Janine
- 3:49 PM, October 17, 2009
- Shammickite said...
oooo wonder where you went?
- 10:02 PM, October 18, 2009
- Chris Stone said...
Have a great holiday!
*I'm still mulling over a post about Thanksgiving.*
- 11:51 AM, October 19, 2009
- Shammickite said...
Yep, it wuz me, guilty as usual.
- 3:09 PM, October 19, 2009
- Suldog said...
Thank you! The 1913 was one I didn't have yet, so I owe you a good favor. Just ask.
- 3:58 PM, October 19, 2009
- ♥ Braja said...
About time you bloody well got back.
OK I admit, I didn't realize you'd gone....
- 8:05 PM, October 19, 2009
- Shammickite said...
Funny that you should find it in Canada!
- 8:18 PM, October 19, 2009


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Beds: 6Baths: 7m²: 682
Price: EUR1460000
Category: Residential For Sale
Property Location: Cabo Roig, Alicante, ESP, Spain
Property Type: Villa
Full Description: Outstanding modern villa located only steps away from the beach. The property of 240m2 comprises of four double bedrooms with fitted wardrobes, four fully tiled bathrooms, spacious kitchen, large living/dining area. Large terraces, private swimming pool, bbq area and landscaped garden. 1238m2 plot. Wide range of services in the area including restaurants, bars, shops, vets, doctors, dentists etc.
Cabo Roig is located on the Orihuela Costa, the superb seaside resort of Cabo Roig & Campoamor is a popular location for holiday makers visiting this beautiful area of Spain. Having a good range of facilities and a couple of wonderful sandy beaches Campoamor is a perfect spot for a family holiday, for re-location or just for a chill-out weekend. Easily reached from both Murcia and Alicante airports makes it an ideal location. Cabo Roig/Campoamor enjoys a wonderful warm Mediterranean climate and is ideally located to access a number of 'Blue Flag' beaches, some fine marinas, three nearby golf courses at Campoamor, Villamartin and Las Ramblas and is handy for all the bars restaurants and shops on the famous Cabo Roig strip.
Bus service – Every day throughout the day up to Alicante and down to Cartagena city
Alicante Airport – 55km
Murcia Airport – 25km
Cartagena City – 50km
Nearest Hospital – 9km
Nearest School – Choice of public & private schools closeby
Chersun Properties are a family run business based in the city of Cartagena, Murcia and have been established since 2005. We pride ourselves in our excellent reputation and offer a personal, friendly one to one service guiding you through the whole buying process to purchase your dream home in Spain. We will provide you with all the answers to your questions about buying property in the Costa Calida and Costa Blanca regions. We have a wide variety of new developments, private resales and bank properties to choose from. Email us now on email@example.com
Floor Size: sq meters
Plot Size: sq meters
Year Built: 0
Bedrooms: 4
Full Bathrooms: 4
Half Bathrooms:
Updated on June 24, 2019 at 3:38 pm
Beds: 6Baths: 7m²: 682
Beds: 6Baths: 7m²: 682
Beds: 10Baths: 10m²: 1200
10 months ago
Beds: 10Baths: 10m²: 1200
10 months ago
Beds: 5Baths: 3m²: 372
Beds: 5Baths: 3m²: 372
Beds: 11Baths: 10m²: 1305
Beds: 11Baths: 10m²: 1305
Detached Modern Villa, REF – ORI143, Cabo Roig, Alicante - , Cabo Roig, Alicante, Spain
Detached Modern Villa, REF – ORI143, Cabo Roig, Alicante - , Cabo Roig, Alicante, Spain


text: The ideas and design of bus stations varies from state to state. Everyone is very aware that the most popular sport in Brazil football and therefore their individual bus stations are designed in the shape of a football goal. In Japan, the inspiration for the design of bus stop received from various fruits and vegetables such as lemon, strawberry, melon … Enjoy the funny and unusual design bus stop.


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Amazon is trying to make its newest tablets appeal to more budget-conscious consumers by offering Amazon customers the chance to pay for a Kindle Fire HDX or Kindle Fire HDX 8.9″ in quarterly installments, rather than having to buy the whole tablet up front. Buyers will pay a quarter of the device's purchase price, plus any applicable sales tax on the device's full purchase price and any shipping costs.
Of course, the devil's in the details: buyers are limited to one installment plan Kindle at a time, and if they miss a payment, they risk losing access to the media they have on their tablet, and even losing their Amazon account altogether.
Still, the installment plan means that customers who might otherwise look at Amazon's more budget friendly Kindle e-reader might instead reach for a tablet. And while the Kindle Fire HDX might not be the perfect business machine, it does well when it comes to consuming content.
Then, once someone has gotten their hands on a Kindle, recent research shows they spend 55 percent more than customers who don't own one of the company's tablets.


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Riviera Revival
Bring a high summer vibe into your home with beautiful blinds and shutters in vibrant summer shades.
Grey is the hottest neutral around, but with so many shades to choose from, how do you decide on just the right one? Luckily our new collection of Faux Wood blinds has all bases covered with an exciting selection of gorgeous grey shades - from subtle flecks to light-diffusing silvers, blue-greys and mattes.
In this article we focus on the different grey shades in our new collection and give you our suggestions for creating beautiful interiors with stunning grey Faux Wood blinds.
Pebbly greys
Natural Stone is the subtlest grey in the collection, combining misty grey flecks over a creamy base. The result is a warm shade that reflects the light to create different moods throughout the day. In this stylish bathroom, the blue-grey marble tiles echo the colour blending and textured grain of the blinds, while the bath and hand basin bring out the lighter undertones. An industrial style copper lampshade creates tension and adds warmth to the cool scheme.
Seashore shades
Shell is a warm shade which blends taupe undertones with a fossil grey grain for a mid-tone finish. To demonstrate the difference in tone, we've used the Shell Faux Wood blind in the same bathroom as above. You can see how the warmer shade gives the room a more cosy and intimate feel. Add fluffy latte towels, rattan laundry baskets and wicker plant holders to bring a natural ambience to your space.
Silvery moon
If you're looking for a true-grey shade, then Lunaire is the perfect choice. Featuring a dark grey grain over a light grey base, Lunaire has soft blue undertones which can be dialled up or down, depending on your design preferences. In this moody bedroom we've used dark navy and black accents to add a sense of drama to the neutral palette, while luxurious faux-silk cushions and warm woollen throws help to keep things cosy.
Potting shed
Beachwood is a mid to dark tawny shade which feels inherently warm. The slats have a character feel and work well in retro schemes and period properties where you want to create an aged effect. Beachwood has a slightly yellow undertone, so also looks great with warmer, off-white shades. In this stylish conservatory, the blinds create a rustic feel which helps to bring together the elegant soft furnishings and the outdoor elements within the room.
Stormy skies
Smoke is a mid-grey shade with cool undertones for a striking finish. Combine with clean blue, white or green tones to give your décor a blast of freshness, or try darker shades of charcoal, olive and navy for a sultry, cocooning feel. In this stylish kitchen, the industrial style bar stools and dark wood accessories contrast sharply with the traditional shaker style kitchen units and fresh green walls. The cool tone of the kitchen blinds helps to bridge the gap between the contrasting styles to create a coherent scheme.
Bring a high summer vibe into your home with beautiful blinds and shutters in vibrant summer shades.
Find out how to keep your blinds looking great with regular cleaning and maintenance.
Browse our latest Wooden blinds collection and create chic spaces using the natural warmth of wood.


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In the year 2015 life and responsibility truly rose up with force, which meant that film had to take a back seat. If you discount the two film festival weekends, I saw fewer movies this year than any other since this blog began. So although I still watched a bunch of stuff and, as befits the completion of another yearly cycle, have created a series of arbitrary lists I'm aware they could have looked very different if I'd managed to catch things like Sicario, Carol, White God, Hard To Be A God or Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2.
I also managed to dodge plenty of bullets as I streamlined my cinema choices appropriately, though one area where I still saw most releases was children's movies. The teenager is on the cusp of leaving this kind of thing behind but although her personal film of the year was Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials she still has a hankering for all those talking animals. One thing our journey through the world of the U and PG showed this year is that there's far more opportunity for experimentation in the multiplex if you make a kids movie.
Tbe Good Dinosaur was a psychedelic Western including a full blown hallucinatory drugs sequence, Shaun The Sheep was completely dialogue free leading to ninety minutes of surreal, abstract cinema and Minions was the most experimental of all, offering a kids movie with no hint of following dreams, resisting peril or being true to yourself just good clean comedy throughout.
Of the films I did see this year, the ones on this list clearly stood out. As usual to accompany the cinema list there's also a list of the best I saw on the little screen, an area where I have not been particularly selective with my viewing. With less time available to watch films I really need to cut back on the shit, this didn't happen in 2015 though so there's a list of that too which is where most of the swear words are.
10 Favourite New Films That I Saw On A Cinema Screen
1: Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Is my favourite film of the year, and not because it's a Star Wars movie. It's
here because the old fashioned trope of goodies v baddies is repurposed for a
pulce racing catalogue of thrills packed with funny moments that never come of
as crass, loaded with characters you get behind, care about and root for (good
and bad, a feat in itself) and that slaps Hollywood gender conventions across
the face. The fact that it also effortlessly taps the nostalgia bone without
resorting to needless nods and winks simply cements its position at the top of
this list.
2: Whiplash
Positively crackles with energy as a pair of riveting performances portray shithead vs. shithead in a viscious battle of wills that also generates the best soundtrack of
the year.
3: Mad Max: Fury Road
A relentless catalogue of insanity and explosions given much needed visceral heft by
exhilarating stunt work
4: It Follows
Teenagers facing the unwelcome onset of adulthood get reminded of the disappointing finitude of their
existence by the simple brute mechanic behind the most base of
stalk and slash movies.
5: Inside Out
The finest kid's cinema of 2015. All of Pixar's usual trademarks - laughs, wonder and anthropomorphism, tethered
to a remarkable emotional roadmap of the developing human mind. Should be
compulsory viewing for anybody who has to have any form of contact with a
child. So everybody.
6: Ex Machina
Playfully plays with audience expectation whilst offering up a searing
indictment on all humanity.
7: High-Rise
Ben Wheatley continues to excel as he offers up a woozy, slow motion collapse
of society in a retro-modern skyscraper. Like Cronenberg on presposterously high doses of
cough medecine.
8: Night Fare
This year's Frightfest finest offered breathless pursuit, an iconic antagonist
and a final curveball that elevated all that came before it.
9: The Visit
I've said some nasty things anout Shyamalan on this blog. And i stand by them
because he's made some serious shit, so quite where this came from is mind
boggling. Not only has as he managed to make a good found footage movie at a
time when the sub genre is slowly dying, but he uses the form to plumb
scatalogical depths that I've never seen before in the multiplex.
10: Ant-Man
Marvel's formulas are now transparent in their application but their secret weapon is their knack for humour, good characters and the untapped mass of cosmic weirdness that permeates their publications. Ant-Man has all of
that in spades and stands with Guardians as one of the comic gargantuan's
5 Favourite Films I Watched On A Little Screen
1: The Pianist
Polanski's frank tale of WW2 atrocity is untouchable. A stunning movie.
2: Enemy
A beautifully ambiguous doppelganger tale with my favourite ending of the
3: Duke Of Burgundy
Acts as a counterpoint to all that 50 shades nonsense as the more wearisome
side of bondage and submission is examined against a gorgeous recreation of sumptuous
eighties european cinema.
4: Trick 'r Treat
An overlooked gem that evokes the best of Creepshow and Tales From The Crypt
whilst bringing a new tiny icon of its very own into the pantheon of horror
5: Spring
The most Lovecraft film of the year.
10 Shittest Films
1: Some Kind Of Hate
Takes on the very sensitive issue of self harm and deals with it in the most
unforgiveably, crass and insensitive way possible. Even when you strip away everything that is apallingly offensive, what's left - dialogue, acting, story is all complete arse. An awful
2: Terminator: Genisys
Inconsistent, dull witted bollocks that seeks to remind you what was great
about the original movies before shitting giant Jai Courtney shaped turds all
over everything.
3: Chanbara Beauty [Oneechanbara: The Movie]
Cheap, tacky and fucking shit
4: Giallo
Truly incompetent film making from a past master. Laughably dire on every
5: Jurassic World
So because everybody is bored with looking at a T-Rex scientists go on to create a T-Rex with arms that can make itself invisible? The dumb fucks deserve to die.
6: Jupiter Ascending
Note to self; if you need a pair of talking heads to appear every ten minutes
to explain your nonsensical sci fi bullshit then it's probably not worth making. I bet everybody who voted for Redmayne's oscar felt embarassed when they watched this.
7: Pitch Perfect 2
Absolutely no plot to speak of, characters randomly appearing and disappearing with
no real reason and the acapella perfomances that gave the first film its hint of charm are
now luducrously over choreographed, overblown and have no real excuse to be present in the film. It's not like this even had much to live up to and still it fell flat on its face.
8: Citadel
Could have been a well thought out ambiguous supernatural thriller till some bellend felt the need to shoehorn a ridiculous plot twist in that makes the
entire endeavour crash and burn horribly.
9: Taken 3
Frenetic, blurry editing that disorientates and confuses meant I had no fucking
clue what was going on, where anybody was or why anybody would want to make
another Taken movie.
10: Fantastic Four
Poor old Josh Trank just wanted to use Fantastic Four as an excuse to make his
distinctly mediocre debut again, a bad idea really. The studios realised this too late but that
didn't stop them meddling as much as possible, an very bad idea really. Eventually this abortion got squeezed out into cinema screens, and the worst idea was going to see it.
Sorry it's late, I'll do better next year. Raise a glass etc.
Thursday, 31 December 2015
Wednesday, 30 December 2015
House [Hausu]
Psychedelic insanity that flips between OTT gore and a very Eastern version of hilarity. Will almost certainly have been watched by a young Takashi Miike and I wouldn't be surprised if it was an influence on Raimi's Evil Dead. Which isn't to say it's up to the calibre of either of these masters but still an interesting curio nonetheless.
Posted by McK at 01:25 1 comment:
:| The East
Tuesday, 29 December 2015
Daddy's Home
Could have been a touching comedy except that it suffocates under the exponentially huge level of shit generated by teaming Will Ferrell up with Marky Mark and it's not funny.
Posted by McK at 01:14 No comments:
Sunday, 27 December 2015
Die Hard
This year the teenager learnt the festive joys to be had from watching John McClane engage in quippy swearing with ruffled German terrorists and then tug jagged chunks of glass from his lacerated feet. At the end she asked 'So in which one does he lose his hair?'
Posted by McK at 02:54 No comments:
:| Christmas, The Monster
Tuesday, 22 December 2015
A Christmas Horror Story
Clearly made as a portmanteau movie with three directors but then weirdly edited in to one long narrative that fluctuates wildy in pace and tone. Best described as shit.
Posted by McK at 23:51 No comments:
Monday, 21 December 2015
Star Wars: The Force Awakens [IMAX 3D]
Posted by McK at 19:06 No comments:
Sunday, 20 December 2015
Thursday, 17 December 2015
Wednesday, 16 December 2015
Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge Of The Sith
Lucas finally manages a decent Star Wars movie, he still drops a few clangers but overall he gets to the point and delivers.
The teenager declared it her favourite of the prequels, her best reaction was probably when the huge double lightsabre battle finale swung into action and she calmly pointed out that everybody involved was in the later movies, therefore nobody died and there wasn't really anything to worry about.
Posted by McK at 23:24 3 comments:
Sunday, 13 December 2015
Silent Night, Deadly Night 5: The Toy Maker
Another stand alone story unrelated to the rest of the series, this time about a toy maker called 'Joe Petto' and his son 'Pino'. Despite the main twist being given away by character's names it still manages to build to an admirably deranged finale with a genital-less human size doll dry humping some poor actress before having a bad time on the end of an axe.
Posted by McK at 01:10 No comments:
Saturday, 12 December 2015
Santa Claws ['Tis the Season]
The co-writer of Night Of The Living Dead directs this tawdry excuse to vent his old man's obsession with young ladies revealing their chest area. The killer's weapon is laughably ineffectual, no fucker can act and everything looks like it's been framed by somebody taking a series of extremely shit Christmas holiday photos.
Posted by McK at 00:04 No comments:
Wednesday, 9 December 2015
Eighties throwback that is most enjoyable when it's invoking the manic energy of Joe Dante at his finest. Unfortunately it's unable to invoke Dante's skill at navigating the weird grey area that exists between being a kids movie and being a grown up one, resulting in the occasional jarring flat note.
Posted by McK at 00:06 No comments:
Wednesday, 2 December 2015
Star Wars: Episode II - Attack Of The Clones
Two films carelessly plaited together. The first is an OK story about Obi-Wan doing a bit of spying, the other is a breathtakingly shit tale about Anakin Skywalker and the woman who falls in love with him despite his constant demonstration that he's an emotionally stunted psycopathic twat.
The teenager spent most of this one alternating between complaints about Anakin and queries as to how much was left to watch.
Posted by McK at 20:46 4 comments:
Saturday, 28 November 2015
The Good Dinosaur
I'm at a loss as to how such disparate elements can still carry Pixar's emotional heft. It's a Western only with intelligent dinosaurs as the main characters, the landscapes are breathtakingly photorealistic whilst the dinosaurs themselves are basic, plastic cartoons. Whether it works is in no doubt however, as at the end I turned to find the teenager reduced to a blubbering wreck forcing the words 'Saddest kids film ever' through a substantial quantity of snot.
Posted by McK at 21:44 2 comments:
:| Pixar, The Monster
Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace
The flaws run too deep for this to ever be considered a good movie but only the most committed of cynics can deny that it's likeable, at the end of the day for every 'Yippee!' there's an awesome lightsaber moment.
Charlotte's reactions this time round were mostly incredulous, i.e. "THAT'S Darth Vader?" or "Why would somebody's mum let them go off to certain death in space? They have a nice home already" or "Is that thing going to be in the whole movie?" at Jar Jar.
Although when she acted indignant at the idea that young Anakin could destroy an entire spaceship with one shot, it did give me the opportunity to tell her that the shot was one in a million and he is a kid.
Posted by McK at 12:32 5 comments:
Sunday, 15 November 2015
Inseminoid [Horror Planet]
The large crew of a spaceship, that looks suspiciously like some caves in the UK, are killed by a woman who has been raped by an alien with a giant glass tube for a penis and who then goes on to give birth to two oversized Kinder Egg toys.
Posted by McK at 23:26 5 comments:
Saturday, 14 November 2015
The Hand That Feeds Death [La mano che nutre la morte/Evil Face]
A very Italian attempt to create a gothic horror tale about graphic skin transplants using a series of incongruous props, costumes and sets clearly left over from an old Western movie.
Posted by McK at 00:13 No comments:
Friday, 6 November 2015
Anguish [Angustia]
As the end credits rolled I found myself watching an audience, who had watched a film about an audience getting seriously freaked out by an exaggerated, tripped-out version of Psycho, a large portion of which involved a madman terrorizing an audience as they watched a film about dinosaurs.
Posted by McK at 22:20 1 comment:
:| King
Saturday, 31 October 2015
Trick 'r Treat
Posted by McK at 20:57 1 comment:
:| Anthology
Friday, 30 October 2015
Layer Cake
A film where stuff happens so that ten minutes later a character can explain why it happened whilst they paste in thick layers of convoluted backstory. Then the heavy handed editing slaps you about for a bit till more stuff happens.
Posted by McK at 13:42 No comments:
Saturday, 24 October 2015
The Sacrament
The glacial pace of Ti West perfectly married to the insidious dead-eyed creepiness of wayward cults. Would make for a stunning triple bill if it were sandwiched between Martha Marcy May Marlene and Red State.
Posted by McK at 12:11 No comments:
The Last Witch Hunter
Over-inflated baby update: Vin Diesel's skin now exhibits a waxy, rubbery tautness, his face only capable of the briefest of smirks before snapping back to the look of fierce concentration required to will his flesh into holding under the strain of such immense levels of air pressure.
Posted by McK at 00:23 No comments:
Friday, 23 October 2015
Crimson Peak
Del Toro once again smothers his sumptuous, visual flair in stagey, amateur dramatics that made me wish he'd go back to making Spanish language films instead.
Posted by McK at 16:46 No comments:
Monday, 19 October 2015
The Bloodstained Lawn [Il prato macchiato di rosso]
A tale of aristocrats stealing the blood of society's riff-raff that would dearly love to be biting social satire rather than the hopelessly deranged nonsense it actually is.
Posted by McK at 19:43 3 comments:
Sunday, 18 October 2015
Star Wars: Episode VI - The Return Of The Jedi [1997 Special Edition]
Despite Yoda's freakishness Empire clearly struck a chord that A New Hope did not, for on the following night the teenager insisted on watching Jedi. So it was my turn to huff and tut through the nonsense as Charlotte became captivated by soap opera dynamics and Ewoks.
As an added bonus Lucas' motivation for messing with Anakin's ghost became crystal clear, when she asked if that was meant to be vader, why did he look like that? I answered "That's what the prequels are about" and she is now insistent that we watch the prequels.
Damn it.
Posted by McK at 18:32 6 comments:
Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back [1997 Special Edition]
Still the best of the series by a long shot, even the special edition additions are non-intrusive, all given a fresh edge of hilarity by Charlotte's hopelessly over the top reaction of pure terror every time Yoda's puppet appeared.
Posted by McK at 10:34 2 comments:
Sunday, 11 October 2015
Bone Tomahawk
Posted by McK at 17:28 2 comments:
Take Me To The River
Huge quantities of heavily loaded, tension filled dialogue give way to a slow burning finale of extreme discomfort.
Posted by McK at 01:14 No comments:
Saturday, 10 October 2015
11 Minutes [11 minut]
I was expecting something deep and profound, what I got was a microcosm of human existence that suggests that, at any given time in any given place, loads of random stuff is happening, which the more I think about it is actually incredibly deep and profound
Posted by McK at 23:53 No comments:
When Marnie Was There [Omoide no Mânî]
Ghibli's last is the usual masterclass in gorgeous animation but their recurring themes of lost spirits, rememberance and personal growth jar against the very English Gothic of the source material.
I'm not familiar with enough Korean history to know how much of this kind of thing actually went on and how much of it is just thirties American Gangster tropes embedded in a Korean period piece.
I do know it started well, clipped along at a pace before the last 20 minutes dribbled out like a wet fart.
Posted by McK at 17:26 No comments:
Posted by McK at 10:13 1 comment:
Friday, 9 October 2015
As Above So Below
Although it would make for a considerably more abstract viewing experience, I can't help but feel that this would have been greatly improved if they had used expensive computer technology to remove all the main characters.
Posted by McK at 00:01 No comments:
Thursday, 8 October 2015
Dead Snow 2: Red vs. Dead [Død snø 2]
Posted by McK at 23:53 1 comment:
:| Zombies
Tuesday, 6 October 2015
Them [Ils]
A supposedly true story about a young couple fending off a touch of home invasion, only their home is inexplicably a sprawling country estate that has been built just across the woods from a comprehensive sewer system.
Posted by McK at 23:40 No comments:
Sunday, 4 October 2015
Hotel Transylvania 2
Enjoyed it, but Samurai Jack was quite a while ago now and I can't help but see this sequel-that-nobody's-really-fussed-about as a waste of considerable talent.
Charlotte enjoyed it too. She doesn't give a flying fuck about Samurai Jack though.
Posted by McK at 23:51 No comments:
Atomic: Living In Dread And Promise
An assemblage of existing film sources that tells us very little we didn't know about nucear threat whilst Mogwai provide an appropriate soudtrack.
Posted by McK at 11:47 No comments:
Friday, 2 October 2015
Blood And Black Lace [Sei donne per l'assassino/Six Women For The Murderer]
Bava was no fool, he knew the best part of the popular yellow jacketed thriller novels of the time were their lurid covers. So he used the full force of his baroque mastery of light and shadow to create a sumptuous moving montage of them that formed the Giallo template and reverberated through over 50 years of Slasher cinema.
Posted by McK at 23:41 No comments:
Wednesday, 30 September 2015
90 minutes of treading water sandwiched between the finding and opening of a box that makes everything dissolve into flashy video-game hardware demonstration.
At one point the teenager said 'I'd forgotten how much cool stuff happens in this film', which gave me an opportunity to do the Bruce Willis Slow Head Turn, so not a total loss.
Posted by McK at 20:23 No comments:
Sunday, 27 September 2015
The Canyons
Effortlessly veers between tedium, banality and monotony. Quite an achievement given it's written by the author of American Psycho, directed by the writer of Taxi Driver and features a failed child star and America's most popular male porn actor engaging in a distinctly uncomfortable foursome with two naked randoms. Everybody must have tried really fucking hard to make everything this boring.
Posted by McK at 23:29 No comments:
Wednesday, 23 September 2015
The Visit
Posted by McK at 22:41 No comments:
Monday, 21 September 2015
Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope [1997 Special Edition]
There's enough child left in the teenager for me to realise a parental dream by taking my offspring to the new Star Wars in a few months but first she has to watch the originals.
We set out to watch the theatrical originals and, as she huffed and tutted through the interminably slow droid dialogue, I warned her of the age and clunkiness of the 40 year old special effects. Unfortunately the DVD sputtered to a halt on Tatooine and I had to swap it out for the Special Edition instead. At the first Dewback Charlotte pipes up with 'I see what you mean about these old effects they're shocking', so I explained about Lucas' additions and from that point on she pointed out every bit of shit tacked on CGI with 'Bet he added that too'. Then, during the final Death Star battle, she pointed at every X-Wing pilot who wasn't Luke and said 'He's going to die'.
I'm still making her watch the new one.
Posted by McK at 22:11 8 comments:
Sunday, 20 September 2015
Demons [Dèmoni 2... l'incubo ritorna]
A surprisingly cohesive, Italian attempt to stuff Evil Dead into an apartment block that ends in the usual spectacular, Italian carnage.
Posted by McK at 22:36 No comments:
:| King
Saturday, 19 September 2015
Chanbara Beauty [Oneechanbara: The Movie]
Not sure who's made the biggest mistake here, the people who thought it was a good idea to make a video game about a japanese cowgirl who kills zombies in her underwear, the people who thought they should adapt it into a shitty, badly made film or me for sitting through such utter fucking bollocks.
Posted by McK at 00:24 No comments:
Friday, 18 September 2015
Likeable historic irreverence made all the more enjoyable by strong reverberations of Python.
Bonus points too for exposing the teenager to a generous helping of Shakespeare's finest lines.
Posted by McK at 23:58 No comments:
Wednesday, 16 September 2015
The Maze Runner
Not the Hunger Games clone I'd envisioned, more a teen version of Lost that would have passed me by if Charlotte hadn't physically sat me down and insisted I watch it.
Thanks marketing people, you bellends.
Posted by McK at 23:47 No comments:
Saturday, 12 September 2015
De Palma's career began with clumsy misappropriation of European cinema and forty years later absolutely fuck all has changed.
Posted by McK at 10:08 3 comments:
Saturday, 5 September 2015
Kiki's Delivery Service [Majo no takkyûbin]
A handbook for children who are about to begin the journey into adulthood on how best to go about it.
Posted by McK at 21:48 No comments:
:| Ghibli, The East, The Monster
Tuesday, 1 September 2015
Frightfest 2015 Reflection
Frightfest comes of age in its sixteenth year and I mean this quite literally. Year on year the festival becomes slicker and slicker allowing it to stand shoulder to shoulder with any other major film festival. The pay off for this maturity, though, is the party atmosphere that always suffused the screenings of old has moved elsewhere, and if you're a curmudgeonly, antisocial misanthrope who really doesn't want to 'banter' in the 'bar area' then it's now pretty much altogether absent.
The cinema screens are now solely the domain of the films themselves, there was no surprise announcements,no surpise giveaways, no sneak previews (A Soska sisters video intro appeared at one point and then they showed us a trailer. Thanks ladies) and very few short films (I saw 3, none of which were up to much). The only pre-film viewing to be had was the various skilfully edited advertising montages for Film4, The Horror Channel and Arrow, all of which preach to the converted. At least they varied them this time so I didn't get 24 of the same nailed into my brain. But then I never came to Frightfest for the bonus bits, they were just a bonus, and if I really wanted this stuff I understand that it's mostly been tucked away in the Duke Mitchell Party which takes place in one of the Discovery screens on a Saturday night, but y'know... curmudgeonly, antisocial misanthrope, so fuck that.
The main films once more cycled through the main screens in groups of three and a vast majority had QnA sessions afterward with people involved in the making of the film. These sessions tended to be more vibrant and illuminating if you got the film makers on their first screening and felt a bit 'going through the motions' if you got them on their third, which is to be expected. Of course if a film was the last of the night there was no QnA, and some directors managed to dodge a bullet because of this (I'm looking at you Some Kind Of Hate).
The Discovery screens only showed their films once this year, which meant more commitment if you really wanted to see one. It also meant that there was more choice than ever if a Main screen pick didn't tickle your fancy. And it was worth diving in, I saw eight on the Discovery screens - three of which are in my Fest top 5. Of the main screen films I missed, only A Christmas Horror Story is getting universal praise out there so I guess I'll be watching that at Christmas instead.
In years gone by themes have tended to present themselves that illustrate the modern horror landscape. This year the prevalent theme appeared to be constantly screaming and banging on doors. In some films it was the protagonists, in some it was the antagonists and sometimes it was both (Hi Summer Camp). Don't get me wrong, screaming and banging on doors is a staple of horror and I expect to see it a lot, but it's not scary or disturbing, just irritating,and it'd be nice if film makers began thinking a little bit outside the box or at least paid a bit more attention to their scripts and sound design.
Which sounds like I'm griping and I'm not. Overall the films were a blast and even the shit ones were a joy to see projected on a big screen (with only the one exception). Like last year I struggled with a top 5 and because I didn't want anything to be left out I caved and did 10 instead. So, lists:
10 Favourites;
1) Night Fare
2) They Look Like People
3) Over Your Dead Body
4) Aaaaaaaah!
6) We Are Still Here
7) Bait [The Taking]
8) Turbo Kid
9) Tales Of Halloween
10) Rabid Dogs
5 Not Favourites
1) Some Kind Of Hate
2) Cherry Tree
3) Inner Demon
4) Stung
5) The Entity [La Entitad]
My thanks to this year's Frightfest companions Ed, Ali, Jim and Greg as well as all the lovely folk I engaged in unecessary conversation to kill time before a film started. Thanks also to the organisers for maintaining such an impressive event. Twelve months to go till the next one...
Posted by McK at 12:59 2 comments:
:| Frightfest, Reflection
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Keanu Reeves & Eli Roth's Thriller 'Knock Knock' Looks Awesome!!!by Red Zeppelbon on Aug 31st, 2015
Hey guys, Jana here,
Keanu Reeves has always made some intriguing choices when it comes to the films he's in and 'Knock Knock' is no exception. It comes from director Eli Roth who co-wrote the project with Nicolás López & Guillermo Amoedo.
When a devoted husband and father is left home alone for the weekend, two stranded young women unexpectedly knock on his door for help. What starts out as a kind gesture results in a dangerous seduction and a deadly game of cat and mouse. Co-starring as the tempestuous seductresses are Lorenza Izzo and Ana de Armas, who join forces to grant a married man his wildest fantasy into his most terrifying nightmare.
Once you hear Roth's name you know it's going to be an excellent horror pic, but the trailer paints it as little bit more of a thriller. It's billed as both, so I can't wait to see the movie and find out what horror elements are included. It hits the big screen October 9, 2015. I'm so excited for this!


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We're not the first people to understand how George R.R. and J.R.R. relate to one another as they contribute to the popular understanding of fantasy tropes, but it WAS weird how many times The Lord of The Rings trilogy was evoked during Season 6's blockbuster episode "The Battle of the Bastards"...
I know, I know - "fellbeasts" - but c'mon.
Of course, Aragorn was being brave and noble, Jon was just being stupid (and doing the one exact thing that Sansa told him not to do).
The main difference being, at least Gandalf TOLD Aragorn that he was going off to find the Rohirrim and to look for them at first light, whereas Sansa DIDN'T EVEN MENTION TO JON THAT SHE WAS GETTIN' LITTLEFINGER TO BRING THE KNIGHTS OF THE VALE (the only full Westerosi army that had not been decimated by the War of the Five Kings) INTO THE FRAY.
Somewhere, Eddard Stark is looking down fondly on Wun Wun's death and not really knowing why this all seems so familiar.
In both cases, it's hard not to smile and feel nothing but pure warmth and joy in your heart, finally seeing everyone finally get exactly what they deserve.


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Kabul [Afghanistan], Feb. 4 (ANI): At least two women have been killed and five others injured in a roadside explosion in Afghanistan's Gelan district.
Tolo News quoted Ghazni officials on Sunday as saying that the incident took place on Saturday after a civilian vehicle hit the Improvised explosive device (IED).
The injured were rushed to the hospital for medical assistance.
The victims were the members of the same family. (ANI)


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Tag Archives: Lake Okeechobee
The Nezumaa Rat
Here is some recent footage of the Nezumaa Rat, the same bait we feature in Southern Trout Eaters, on Lake Okeechobee. Gives you a good feel for the wild and feral action of the bait. Rat baits get bit. Check … Continue reading
Posted in Nezumaa Rat Tagged Lake Okeechobee, Nezumaa Rat, Southern Trout Eaters Leave a comment


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In the flags interface, as this question and its answer indicate, it is possible to view the full post by clicking on the drop-down arrow.
In the /review interface, it is possible to view the full post by clicking on the "review question" or "review answer" link, which reveals the full post.
It seems strange to me that these two tools do the same thing in two different ways. Additionally, I think the folding interface used by the /review tools is preferable, for the following reasons:
It is more in keeping with the current design of the main site, since it works in basically the same way as comment folding.
It is more intuitive, because as you skim flagged answers and see one you want to examine in more detail, your eye is already at the bottom of that post. It takes just a fraction of a second more time to find the arrow and mouse to it than it would to mouse to the end of the post preview.
It is less ambiguous. It's not immediately obvious (to me) what the drop-down arrow above does if you click on it. On the other hand, the "review answer" links follow a simple "click on me to do what I say" idiom.
Would it make sense to modify the flags interface to use folding? A link that says "review post" or simply "view post" would probably be fine. Other options: "view full post", "view question" and "view answer", "view full answer", and so on. Something like this:
The main downside I see is that it makes the flags interface less compact. That doesn't bother me; but then, it may be that diamond mods see the same thing, and need a compact view.


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Cognitive Challenges
I started this article just after the Winter Solstice of 2012 and set it aside. Today I was stirred by a newsletter from an old friend, J. Hamilton, and was inspired to respond. Upon reviewing this material, I found I'd already written a response to our cognitive challenges. Funny how that happens sometimes. Something caused me to put it on pause back then and leave it as a draft. Now, my work was made easy and with minor additions, fits the need. The response is to the perception that we are unable to respond to the problems we face as a planetary civilization.
I know folks mean well in their display of contradictions, the outer display of their cognitive dissonance, unaware of how transparent it is and in denial of its reality in how they communicate. They don't mean to confuse and obfuscate. Right? We separate through conspiracy and phenomena transmitted through the grape vine, the Internet. Few check to see what the vines are growing in and whether the quality of their fruit is even worth tasting, let alone ingesting. So what of the dark cabals? What of the believers? What of harmony among people and planet?
By that I mean the juxtaposition of the good vs. evil governments. WE all live and work in the same world here on Mother Earth, right? Stop being a spectator stuck in front of the computer or the tube, believing and passing on propaganda meant to continue the obfuscation. Millennials are forcing evo-leaps in social architecture that challenge authority on every level, from transparency in personal and professional environments to feeling entitled to live in a world free of fear (at least from each other) to exploring their celestial heritage as a natural part of maturity. They don't see good or evil. They are more Taoist in their philosophy; they witness desirable and undesirable results.
Perhaps we [humans] are exactly where we need to be and that humanity or the world's population is perfectly situated for the next phase of natural selection or what we might even call 'evolution' in the sense that we must grow or die. Our previous methods haven't worked, but we keep trying to do the same thing and expect different results. The U.S. has led the way with behavioral patterning on a societal scale that affects the global village. It's okay that we didn't know the long term effects of our earlier behavior. Is there a 'pause button' that we can collectively push so that we can get a grip on learning how to get along?
Father Sky looks upon Mother Earth and the Children of the Sun wondering when the suns will shine and show in humanity's progression. The world is changing, for some way too fast and way too slow for others. It is changing and as arduous as change is, we must meet the challenge in every moment and rise to our best behavior. Seems we need to create a new myth, embrace a spirit of truth, live as one people. We know the truth; the effects of love. Isn't it time we lived it? "Easier said than done," you might say, and you would be absolutely right. Is there anything more appropriate or called for in the New Time?
The classic drama of ancient legends and myths plays itself out in the physical world on myriad levels, yet we know not how to walk between worlds, recognizing reflections of ourselves in each and embrace both, balancing our own polarity. Is it so necessary to use terms that imply separation, without understanding. We know better. What affect is truly in place when everything is part of the ONE REALITY we share? We can imagine a Mobius strip as the spirit/mind of our soul being, two twisted circles of dynamic energy becoming one as we traverse the path, remaining unaffected. If you got that, the rest is 'easy' on the road less traveled.
The protagonist and the antagonist are ever present in the minds of humans, perceiving the world around them from this dualistic point of view. "Trust God, but lock your car," is a good one. Knowing what we do about the affect and effect of thought on our reality, the obvious question arises: What affect would the awareness of this natural polarity (apparently) have on an individual? On partners? On groups? On organizations? On Dancer? On Prancer? We sure like Rudolf for his light-heartedness. Imagine what the Giver Of Data could offer our perceptions; reality expanded beyond our wildest dreams. Can we conceive, perceive and receive?
As one walks between worlds, seeking ways to bridge them for the benefit of all, this place of observing polarity is quite useful. It allows one to 'see' and 'hear' as a conscious being; aware of the disturbance, but not bothered by it. What does a viewing of life through the lens of a belief system offer? Does it allow one to walk between worlds and choose where to enter as prompted by the inner knowing of leadership by conscience, the core of ethical and moral behavior? Probably not; fear-based behavior is a common response to something outside [it], even manifestations unknown spark fear in believers.
Ghandi offered this, 'Be the change you wish to see in the world.' It is important to be aware of the polarities in human nature and in order to ascend; we are compelled to act in LOVE. What does that mean? We open up, become vulnerable in our trust guided by discernment and lose whatever fear necessary to surrender to the indwelling spirit. True love evolves through relationships and into beneficial collaborations that synergistically elevate the status quo on both sides in the dualistic framework.
It is the willing acceptance of 'what is,' the reality of each desire for a 'better' world. It is only the view of how to accomplish this that is incongruent. Einstein said we cannot fix problems with the same thinking that caused them. We can opt for a better view, a new living awareness. What would happen if this awareness brought about the ability to transcend the current conditions? What if life could get better simply by shifting views a bit? What could it hurt, really?
This seems like a very idealistic proposal: to rise above one's bias and prejudice and connect with the 'enemy' in love. Again I'm reminded of Jesus' admonition 'to love thine enemy.' And paraphrasing… if they are thirsty, give them water; hungry, give them food… Buddha said, "Anger will never disappear so long as thoughts of resentment are cherished in the mind. Anger will disappear just as soon as thoughts of resentment are forgotten."
Isaac Asimov made a clear point, "It is change, continuing change, inevitable change, which is the dominant factor in society today. No sensible decision can be made any longer without taking into account not only the world as it is, but the world as it will be…This, in turn, means that our statesmen, our businessmen, our every man must take on a science fictional way of thinking." Even Mohammed said, "To overcome evil with good is good; to resist evil by evil is evil." Hello…. is there anybody in there…. just nod if you can hear me….. is there anyone at home? Pink Floyd
I'm reminded of the piece on the wall next to my desk that goes like this, "In the spirit of Zen everyday life is the contest. There must be awareness at every moment – getting up in the morning, working, eating, going to bed… that is the place for the mastery of self." And I suppose it is in that awareness that we seek balance, to understand the root of our dualistic predilection and to change it – returning to faith, love, trust and all things good.
Sure it won't be an easy journey or happen in your physical body this time around, maybe, yet our reunion with Creator as Divine Kin around the world is inevitable. So why fight it? Perhaps the Star Families are maintaining a distance, communicating with a few covertly while displaying evidence of intelligence (crop circles) so obvious we'd be fools to deny it. True leaders of the 21st Century will work for the benefit of mankind by learning how to achieve balance between the worlds as neither one can be destroyed – harmonized not simonized.
It is not clear what results you can expect, only that we are called to action with pure hearts and purposeful passion to assist in this global transformation toward harmony among people and planet. Recent events and continued hardships only edify the real need for change. Masses only change when enough individuals do, proving their notions through demonstrable methods and results. It's far from easy or simple, yet it is easy and simple. The paradox of truth prevails once again. Wow, what a concept!


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A Nintendo promotional book seems to reveal that production of the Revolution console is well underway. One picture shows a number of console cases in crates or boxes. This would suggest that the production process has started.
Links to a number of scans from the book were posted on the Gaming Age forums and originate from a Japanese Geocities page by someone called J-Stamp. In total, there are 38 scans. One image shows what seem to be early concepts of the Revolution controller and analogue stick attachment. Another shows a Japanese shelf with a number of Nintendo consoles in it with obviously wrong sizes. Both the Gameboy Micro and the Revolution are far too big compared to the Gamecube. Whatever the reason for that, the scans must still be authentic. To fake all 38 of them would have been a daunting task for anyone. Also, the Mario logo shown on the back (and pictured above) is the most recent one used by Nintendo. It appeared on their Christmas cards in 2005.
Here are links to all of the scans:
Picture 1, Picture 2, Picture 3, Picture 4, Picture 5, Picture 6, Picture 7, Picture 8, Picture 9, Picture 10, Picture 11, Picture 12, Picture 13, Picture 14, Picture 15, Picture 16, Picture 17, Picture 18, Picture 19, Picture 20, Picture 21, Picture 22, Picture 23, Picture 24, Picture 25, Picture 26, Picture 27, Picture 28, Picture 29, Picture 30, Picture 31, Picture 32, Picture 33, Picture 34, Picture 35, Picture 36, Picture 37, Picture 38The last scan shows a CD-ROM or DVD included with the book, entitled ´Tokyo Gameshow 2005 TGS Forum Keynote Speech´. This may suggest that the book is older. In that case, the console cases could have been from a preliminary shipment. However, if the book is old, then why have the scans only surfaced now? I believe the book could still be recent and the cases may be a real indicator of the console´s production process.
Source: Gaming Age forums, J-Stamp
Thanks to: Product_Number_18


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Mary Uche, Emeka Amakeze
May 24, 2015 – "Nollywood Actresses Sleeps With Producers To Get Movie Roles" – Mary Uche Confesses
Check out what upcoming Nollywood actress Mary Uche said about the challenges she and many other ladies are facing in Nollywood today;
"Challenges are everywhere. I wouldn't say it is just me going through challenges. Sometimes you look at the industry and you feel sad. You know this is your passion and you know why you came into the industry but all of a sudden, you see some people that you know are not just good and have no business acting getting all the roles especially at auditions. T
hen you keep asking yourself 'what's up?' But the truth is that some of them, like they say, offer money. Others offer their bodies, that is just it. And then you see yourself lagging behind. But I still believe that when you know who you are, you will stick to your guns and remain focused. I keep telling people that staying focused is key. You also need to know what you can do and be prayerful."


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The first look at the new Mission Belt Co agreement for NCAA-themed belts came via my Sports Illustrated post. To check it out, go to SI by clicking here.
Monthly Archives: September 2014
Ballpark Quirks: Catwalks and rays highlight Tropicana Field
My Sports Illustrated Ballpark Quirks series heads south to Tampa Bay where Tropicana Field is short on atmosphere and big on quirks. Read more via my SI story here.
Surfing documentary searches for the perfect wave
The new surfing documentary 'Strange Rumblings' searches for the perfect wave—and everything else surfing related—in extreme locations, some never before shot. I chatted with director Joe G to learn more. Read about it via my Sports Illustrated article here.
Mizuno plays with materials to make golf irons high tech
The interplay of titanium and steel forges in a new way with Mizuno's latest golf iron offerings. Learn more via my Sports Illustrated article here.
Stadium Spotlight: Carving out Sun Devil Stadium in a desert
As Arizona State looks ahead to a new Sun Devil Stadium, my latest Stadium Spotlight hones in on the history and future of a stadium carved into the desert. Take a look at the story via my Sports Illustrated article here.
The recovering athlete: Plane design
Aviation design firm Teague worked with Nike to design a team plane aimed at helping athletes recover faster. I chatted with Teague designers to learn what goes into the perfect team place. Learn more via my Sports Illustrated article here.
BMO Field expansion will add seats and a roof
Toronto's soccer-specific stadium will receive a major overhaul in the coming two years. Check out more about the details and design via my Sports Illustrated article here.
First look at Golden State arena doesn't go over too well
The Golden State Warriors and architectural firm Snøhetta unveiled some architectural drawings of the new NBA arena and things didn't go so well for them, with the toilet comparison coming up quite often. Read more via my Sports Illustrated post here.
Stadium Spotlight: Wrapping in tradition at Nebraska's Memorial Stadium
My college football Stadium Spotlight series for Sports Illustrated continues this week with a look at the tradition of Memorial Stadium in Lincoln. From the architecture to the fans, the roots run deep. Check it out via my Sports Illustrated series post here.
Ballpark Quirks: Going to the office in Arlington
If you're looking for some baseball-friendly office space, Globe Life Park in Arlington has what you need: an office building built into the ballpark. The latest in my Ballpark Quirks series for Sports Illustrated investigates the design of the venue. Take a look via my SI story here.


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Interpod R&D Leads to GRC Hybrid Base
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Interpod are constantly looking at new ways to innovate our offering. This led to the research and development of our state-of-the-art GRC Hybrid Base. Glassfibre Reinforced Concrete is one of the most versatile building materials available to architects and engineers today, providing a heightened level of strength in comparison to traditional concrete.
By encapsulating this high strength material in a steel case, Interpod have created the most durable prefabricated bathroom base on the market. The base is ideal for high-use, premium environments such as residential apartments and hotels, however it can be incorporated into any project. The Interpod team are keen to continue delivering the premium flooring technology to projects throughout Australia in 2017.
To find out more about our GRC-Hybrid Base, please contact Interpod today.
- Posted on by Interpod


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CHICAGO, Sept. 22, 2016 — The American Bar Association has rolled out a new web program, ABAFreeLegalAnswers.org, to give income-eligible users the ability to pose civil legal questions to volunteer attorneys.
September 20, 2016
ABA launches free legal Q&A service to broaden access to justice opportunities
The new service, a virtual legal advice clinic, is now available in eight states — Connecticut, Louisiana, Mississippi, New York, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Virginia and Wyoming — with plans to have service available in the majority of states by the end of this year.
Geared to expand legal services for low-income communities, users of the service will have to meet income eligibility guidelines applicable to each state. While expanding access to legal services, the ABA Free Legal Answers program also expands pro bono opportunities for attorneys in a convenient way to match their schedules.
"Free Legal Answers is a no-cost, online version of the walk-in clinic model where clients request brief advice and counsel about a specific civil legal issue from a volunteer lawyer," ABA President Linda Klein said. "It is an important part of the ABA's efforts to expand access to legal services to low-income communities. With our partner states, the program also provides significant pro bono opportunities for lawyers. It's a real win-win."
The ABA initiative draws from some existing programs while helping state partners implement new ones. Tennessee, for example, has successfully operated its program for six years. The Virginia State Bar recently initiated its own program as part of the ABA initiative, and more than 170 attorneys statewide have indicated interest in participating.
Nationally, attorneys can volunteer their services to existing and future participating state programs by clicking here. ABA Free Legal Answers is a project of the ABA Standing Committee on Pro Bono and Public Service.
Software developers at Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz PC in Memphis, Tenn., created the site of ABA Free Legal Answers. The initiative is generously supported by AT&T, Baker Donelson, FedEx Ground, International Paper, Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP, Pilot Travel Centers LLC, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., the ABA sections of Business Law and Litigation and others.
With more than 400,000 members, the American Bar Association is one of the largest voluntary professional membership organizations in the world. As the national voice of the legal profession, the ABA works to improve the administration of justice, promotes programs that assist lawyers and judges in their work, accredits law schools, provides continuing legal education, and works to build public understanding around the world of the importance of the rule of law. View our privacy statement on line. Follow the latest ABA news at www.americanbar.org/news and on Twitter @ABANews.


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Recipe Index
Kitchen Charts
Cooking Basics
Add Your Recipe
Blood Orange Sherbet
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 cup water
2 cups strained blood orange juice
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
2 teaspoons finely-grated blood orange zest
2 tablespoons orange-flavored liqueur or vodka (optional)
3 large egg whites, beaten until stiff
Combine sugar and water in a small saucepan and heat until sugar is melted and mixture is clear. Remove and chill.
In a glass bowl, combine chilled sugar syrup, orange juice, lemon juice, zest and liqueur. Mix thoroughly, then fold in the egg whites using an over-and-under motion. Continue folding until no egg white streaks remain in the mixture.
Pour mixture into an ice cream maker and freeze until firm, according to manufacturer's instructions.
Makes about 1 1/2 pints.
Sherbet and Sorbet Recipes
Recipe Goldmine


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Muffuletta Sandwich and a Picnic
I love picnics. They are perfect for my favorite method of eating – snacking, really. Good for cheese, a crusty baguette and some fruit for "health" purposes. Even when it's warm out I don't mind sitting on blankets in the grass – it's just nice to get fresh air regardless. Husband hates picnics as it turns out. He does not snack for meals. He doesn't like sitting on the ground. He doesn't like sweating if it doesn't involve yard work or tailgating.
Regardless, last week we picnic-ed with friends for a concert at the Arboretum. It all turned out great in the end, mostly because husband got to sit on a bench instead of the ground and he thoroughly approved of our picnic meal. I made a muffuletta sandwich, which is a perfect travel sandwich. First, there is no mayo. Second, it gets better the longer it sits – the olive salad has time to really marinate the bread, making it most delicious a few hours after it's made. Also, they're huge so it's great for sharing.
Muffuletta Sandwich, adapted from Saveur
3/4 cup chopped cauliflower florets
Bring cauliflower, oil, oregano, thyme, carrots, celery, and 3 tbsp. water to a boil in a 2-qt. saucepan over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, covered, until vegetables are just tender, 10–12 minutes. Transfer to a medium bowl and stir in olives, peppers, vinegar, salt, and pepper; let cool. Note, you will have more olive salad than needed for one sandwich.
Slice bread in half horizontally. If thick, pull out some of the "insides" of the bread. Spread olive salad on bottom piece of bread. Layer meats and cheeses, then top with more olive salad. Top with other piece of bread. Wrap in plastic wrap. Ideally, make this and put it back in the fridge for 2-3 hours (or overnight even) before serving. Cut into quarters.
Picnic for those who do not consider cheese and bread a "meal"
Muffuletta Sandwich
Spicy Pasta Salad with Tomatoes, Smoked Gouda and Basil (yes, this has mayo – but we only packed what we would eat up, and didn't let it sit too long before we ate. If you don't know what time you'll eat, opt for an oil and vinegar based dressed pasta salad instead.)
Strawberry Abita and Rosé
Ideal Picnic for those who do consider Cheese a Meal
Aged Cheddar
Salami or Dry Chorizo
Strawberries and Grapes
Asian Peanut Noodles
by Elizabeth
Asian food is a funny thing for me. I don't eat it terribly often, but a couple times a month I get intense cravings for sushi/fried rice/pad thai/other generic popularized Asian food. And most of the time, once I actually obtain said craving, it's not as good as I wanted it to be. (Maybe bc I most often get sushi or noodles from Central Market, which is after all – gasp – just a grocery store?)
And this problem is especially bad when I try to make Asian food. It's just never quite right, and I'm not familiar enough with the ingredients to try to fix the recipe as I go. In fact, I got all the ingredients for these noodles, then put off making it for the better part of a week, then made it and still didn't have it for lunch the day I planned because I was dreading the disappointment of mediocre Asian food. I finally ended up eating it out of desperation one night after I got stuck at work, then stuck at the gym, and was starving at 8 pm.
OMG these peanut noodles were so good. So good I had to immediately tweet about them and I couldn't wait to eat the leftovers for lunch the next day. This never happens with Asian attempts.
Bonus: this was a super quick recipe, especially if you (kind of) plan ahead and have leftover chicken and noodles waiting for you in the fridge.
Asian Peanut Noodles
Makes enough for 2 small or lunch-sized portions, Adapted from The Cozy Apron
2 cups cooked linguini (I used whole wheat)
1 cup sliced cabbage (Tip: get this from the salad bar if you don't want a whole head of cabbage)
1/2 cup shredded carrots (ditto)
1 chicken breast, chopped into small pieces
2 green onions
1 tablespoon minced cilantro
Sweet and Spicy Peanut Sauce
2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 1/2 tablespoons honey
1 1/2 tablespoons peanut butter
1 clove garlic, minced very fine
1/4 teaspoon Sriracha sauce (or to taste)
Mix dressing ingredients in a small bowl. If you don't like spicy sauces, use less Sriracha, or add more if you like it hot.
In a 4-cup or larger bowl, toss all ingredients together. When ready to serve, add dressing and toss to combine. You might not need all of the dressing. Serve cool or room temperature.
Raw Brussels Sprout + Fennel Salad with Goat Cheese
by Emily
Spring has taken its good sweet time to come in New York City, but after an insultingly long winter, any glimmer of warm, sunny weather means a trip to a patio for a glass of wine and snack al fresco! Lured in by a 'Patio Open!' sign, I dropped in Gottino in the West Village last week and helped myself to a wonderful shaved Brussels sprout salad and glass of rose. Since it was so good and I had all the ingredients on hand (we are Brussels sprouts addicts, as you know) I of course had to go home and make my version! While we are still easing into spring up here, I think this is a lovely salad to help bridge that gap. Add nuts, substitute shaved Parmesan instead of goat cheese, and toss in a lemon vinaigrette to help welcome spring and, eventually!, summer.
Raw Brussels Sprout + Fennel Salad with Goat Cheese
1 small bunch Brussels Sprouts, shaved or pulsed in a food processor
1/2 fennel bulb, thinly sliced or pulsed in a food processor
fresh goat cheese or shaved Parmesan
lemon juice
olive oil
dash of mustard
kosher salt & pepper
walnuts, if desired
Whisk equal parts lemon juice and olive oil in a small bowl. Add a dash of mustard and kosher salt and pepper to taste. Toss in Brussels sprouts and fennel to dress. Add raw walnuts and toss to coat.
Note: this is a raw salad. If you prefer, blanch vegetables and toast walnuts. Otherwise, enjoy with a glass of wine to help with digestion.
The Friday Find: Derby Days
Between Cinco de Mayo and the Kentucky Derby this Saturday, this weekend is the perfect time to celebrate! Whether you watch the races this Saturday, save up for Margaritas on a patio this Sunday, or manage both, we have some Derby themed selections to kick off the weekend and help you keep it all very stylish!
Thematic Hat // Monogrammed Mint Julep // Bulleit Kentucky Bourbon // Mint Tote // Coral Pintuck Dress //Iomoi Cocktail Napkins // Patent Wedges
Cinco de Mayo Entertaining!
by Elizabeth
Here in Texas, we love Cinco de Mayo. Perhaps unreasonably so, but regardless it's the perfect reason for a little soiree. Recently I've seen two fresh takes on Cinco de Mayo decor that I just loved – probably because they both were a little less "Tex-Mex" than you typically see.
Channeling Contessa posted her Cinco de Mayo spread last week (top left). I love the vibrant, almsot girly colors she used. These darling melamine plates from Anthropologie and some Sheridan French cocktail napkins would provide a similar look. I'm kind of obsessed with the white lace tunic too, I think it would be a perfect hostess outfit.
Camille Styles also posted a Cinco de Mayo party that looked so fun I wished my girlfriends and I had been there. The table had a bit of a desert feel to it, complete with my new favorites – succulents. Keep it simple – Guacamole, Grapefruit margaritas and this fabulous centerpiece (via Meg Biram) would help you recreate the look!
Update: Vintage Seagrass Dresser
I am excited to share my freshly painted Vintage Seagrass Dresser with you! While I still have some touching up to do, I think the white paint has made a dramatic difference. The piece now looks fresh, but still with a little vintage charm with the brass pulls.
I really love how the pulls pop against the white and how my dresser doesn't match the honey wood floor anymore. It took a lot of paint and coats to get this far, so I need to find a rainy day when I can muster the energy for that one last touch up coat. While I still have some work to do, I think it's come a long way!
I used no VOC paint from Benjamin Moore and I highly recommend it (with Benjamin Moore and any other paint line). You give up the toxic paint smell without giving up the performance of nice paint, it is win-win.
My petite New York City bedroom is very narrow, so I could only get a shot of the whole thing on my iPhone, but hopefully this still illustrates it's great new look.
The Friday Find: Sail Away With Me
Whew, this week has been a crazy one! Let's all take a mini mind vacation and sail away into the turquoise sea, shall we? Happy Weekend Friends!
Apparently, my new trick for not becoming bored with potentially blah foods (couscous, rice and beans, brown rice) is to add vinaigrette. I really wish I had figured this out earlier, because I probably could have gotten on the quinoa/ farro/ bulgar bandwagon years ago if I knew adding a vinaigrette would make whole grains infinitely more appealing. (I realize couscous is not a whole grain, but it's the same principle.) Really, it's just like dressing a traditional salad – and who would ever eat raw greens without a drizzle of something? While the vinaigrette does make the dish a tad more caloric, I say who.cares., because olive oil is good for you, and there is no good reason to eat boring food.
*also, this is a "real life" photo. I eat out of paper bowls and use plasticware every day for lunch because our office has no kitchen. I guess I could stash a real bowl at the office for blog photos, but that would be a bit too creepy for my style. Kind of like the time I came to work with pizza dough rising in my purse.
Couscous with Almonds, Scallions, and Feta with Apricot Vinaigrette
adapted from Real Simple, serves 4
1 10 oz box couscous (I used garlic olive oil flavor) or about 4 cups leftover couscous (extra points for whole wheat, although I used regular)
4 scallions, minced
1/3 cup sliced almonds
1/3 cup crumbled feta
1 tablespoon apricot or orange jam
3 tablespoons white wine vinegar
3 tablespoons olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste
Prepare couscous according to package directions. Mix in scallions, almonds and feta. Drizzle dressing over (you might not want to use all of it) then toss to combine. Serve slightly warm or at room temperature. Fresh black pepper finishes the dish nicely.
The Friday Find: Soda Streaming
I received lots of lovely gifts for my birthday. From doodles to the kindest of cards to practical, everyday tools, I felt very special on my 30th birthday! I feel compelled to add one of those gifts to our Kitchen Gadget Friday Find two weeks ago: The Soda Stream!
Pictured above on my faaaabulous new graphic letterpress coasters (thank you, co-blogger Liz!), making soda at home has become part of my regular routine. Whether hydrating in the morning or giving my cocktail a little spritz in the evening, the soda stream is definitely making my life and outlook on blah water way more bubbly. This gadget splurge is definitely Deux Maisons approved.
Easy Entertaining: Rosemary Centerpiece Edition
by Elizabeth
Last Saturday we had an impromptu dinner at our house with our neighbors. When we couldn't decide where to go out, we decided to stay in – I ran to Central Market for pre-marinated lemon rosemary pork loins to grill, one couple brought appetizers, and the other brought a salad and couscous. Worked out beautifully! (as in, delicious and easyeasyeasy.)
One of my favorite parts of entertaining is setting the table – and it gave me the perfect excuse to use my new napkins from Zara Home obtained in Madrid. I didn't have any fresh flowers in the house – so off to the yard I went with my eye on the giant rosemary plant that is currently trying to take over our driveway from its happy home in the flower bed. I just snipped some branches and put them in petite vases. I kept them small since I knew we wouldn't have a ton of room on the table, but the touch of green really brought some life to centerpiece.
I ended up loving this make-do "floral" arrangement. Not only do I always have a surplus of rosemary, I also liked that it mimicked the flavors and mood of the meal – simple and light. Other ideas for a last minute centerpiece might be:
Bowl of lemons, oranges or limes, or even two small bowls
Whatever herbs you have on hand
Sprigs of Boxwood, holly, or whatever bushes you have in your yard
Azaleas, roses, or any kind of flowering shrub (if you're lucky!)
2 single flowers in a tiny vases
And if you have nothing green, just use lots of mini votives!