Hold up, you need some sunshine in your wardrobe.
Its definitely getting lighter in the mornings, its time to inject some Vitamin C into our wardrobes with some sprightly yellow pieces.
High street shops seem to have a pop of yellow everywhere, and we're finding ourselves drawn to the bright shade more than ever before. It may not be considered the most popular colour, but the pieces we're seeing are less highlighter-bright and more golden-meets-mustard - and that looks good on every skin tone.
Forget pastels, spring/summer 2018 is all about bold, bright paintbox colours with everything from Kermit green and zesty yellow to my favourite colour Pillarbox Red.
Go all out if you dare!!
Ok... sure each season brings with it a new 'it' colour (and there are only so many colours, right?) so yellow was bound to come back around some time. But this time, we're really hoping it sticks around for more than six months. Why? Because yellow is so underrated. And so wearable, even though it may not immediately seem so.
For a stylish approach, match your favourite denims with yellow bright tops, shirts finishing off with trainers, brogues or mules.
And if you are more on the subtle side, yellow does not have to be bold at all times; opt for a sweet ruffled dress in feminine lemon, it will go very well with all skin tones.
Cue a new colour obsession and wardrobe revamp for the summer. While there is no hard science to prove that wearing bright clothing can lift your mood.
Yellow has a reputation for being unflattering on most skin tones, but it's just a case of finding the right shade.
Olive and dark colourings will suit the bold neons and bordering on tangerine hues, those with fairer skin should look for lighter, lemony variations.
We saw them in key pieces in the '70s, however jumpsuits are going to be a staple item in our wardrobe this summer and I for one cannot get enough of this trend. There's going to be one for every taste and body shape.
Sportswear pieces and fabrics made appearances on the catwalk and high street shops in full looks or alongside skirts and silk dresses for a new take on athleisure, of which some said this fashion month marked the end. This summer, rather than going out in your workout clothes, be more creative and mix and match them with the less sporty items in your closet!
To remain in the theme of mixing and matching, another fashion trend we are loving this spring/summer 2018 is the mixing of different prints and patterns in the same outfit. This trend is pretty easy to follow: Use your creativity to put together different prints that are very different but somehow can go together.
Jun 29 Where Are They Now?


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Science in Focus: Evolving Immune Fighters in the Gut
By Christina Hueschen
A microscopic image of a mouse gut shows the intestine (running from bottom left to upper right in red) and immune tissue (green and capped by an oval structure shown in gray). The gray section is the germinal center. Image by Lauren Rodda
The inside of our small intestine teems with microbes – our gut microbiome – while just across a thin barrier, the immune system patrols and prepares for battle.
Science in Focus
This story is part of a series highlighting the beauty of science at UCSF and the groundbreaking research taking place behind each image.
"It's an intricate balance," said Lauren Rodda, a graduate student in biomedical sciences at UC San Francisco. "We want the nutrients from the microbes, but we don't want the microbes themselves to get across."
Rodda, working in the lab of Jason Cyster, PhD, captured that scene in a microscopic image of a mouse gut. The intestine runs from bottom left to top right and is packed with blue and red finger-like protrusions. Sitting adjacent is a dome of immune tissue, labeled green and capped by an oval structure shown in gray.
Rodda is fascinated by what goes on in that gray oval, known as the germinal center. Inside germinal centers, immune cells, known as B cells, compete to be the best at recognizing an invading pathogen – and only the most fit are selected to survive.
"The germinal center is this microcosm of natural selection that mimics what happens over eons, during the evolution of organisms," Rodda said.
Lauren Rodda
By undergoing this rapid natural selection in miniature, immune cells can keep pace with enemy viruses and bacteria that replicate and mutate by the hour to disguise themselves. Immune cell "evolution" is essential to our ability to fight off infections – that's why Rodda wants to understand how germinal center organization makes it possible.
Within germinal centers, microbe-fighting B cells mutate and proliferate in a compartment known as the dark zone. Then, they travel to another compartment called the light zone, where selection happens.
Rodda is especially interested in structural cells called stromal cells, which help set up these compartments and direct immune cell traffic between them. Stromal cells have to provide clear instructions to immune cells to coordinate the development of a healthy and effective immune response.
"In order for our immune system to function properly we need cells to move between compartments in a very organized and specific order, so that selection continues to refine the B cells' ability to recognize the foreign pathogen," Rodda said.
Our Most Popular (Yes, Mostly COVID-19) Science and Health Stories of 2020
A Genetic Shortcut to Help Visualize Proteins at Work

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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old-article 111645287193132 https://lifestyle.livemint.com story https://lifestyle.livemint.com News /news/talking-point/2018-fifa-world-cup-in-russia-try-out-soviet-era-canteens-for-cheap-and-authentic-meal-111645287193132.html
Home > News> Talking Point > 2018 FIFA World Cup: In Russia, try out Soviet-era canteens for cheap and authentic meal
2018 FIFA World Cup: In Russia, try out Soviet-era canteens for cheap and authentic meal
Why not swing by a 'stolovaya', a basic buffet-style canteen popular in the USSR for some traditional Russian grub?
/news/talking-point/2018-fifa-world-cup-in-russia-try-out-soviet-era-canteens-for-cheap-and-authentic-meal-111645287193132.html 111645287193132 story
A communal canteen in the village of Murashkino (the Knyaginino region) in the early 1890s. Photo: Getty Images
By Deepti Patwardhan
LAST PUBLISHED 10.06.2018 | 09:51 AM IST
When in Russia, eat like the Soviets. While the country's cuisine has taken off in recent years, with major cities like Moscow and St Petersburg dotted with modern restaurants, bars and bistros, there is still a nostalgic corner for the humble stolovaya.
In the erstwhile Soviet Union, these canteens, in factories, universities, schools and almost every workplace, were an essential part of everyday life.
They were opened to provide the vast populace in post-revolution Soviet Union with healthy food at a nominal charge. The canteens have now been updated to suit modern tastes, but remain an option for budget meals for locals and tourists alike.
They are self-serving, buffet-style eateries, usually with four tables, where you can carry all you want on a tray and pay at the end of the line. Most of them serve cheap beer, and might end up being ideal watering holes for football fans flocking to Russia during the World Cup.
Nowhere is the facelift more evident than at the Stolovaya 57, housed in the sprawling shopping complex GUM, which sits in the eastern corner of the iconic Red Square in Moscow. GUM is the largest shopping mall in Moscow, a glistening ode to capitalism in the heart of what was once the largest bastion of communism in Europe, and possibly the world.
The Stolovaya 57, which coexists comfortably with the luxury brands of the West, is a relic of the Soviet era sugar-coated with modernism. It serves traditional dishes like dressed herring, (borsch) beetroot soup, cabbage soup and blinis with large dollops of Soviet nostalgia.
Free soup at a church canteen in Moscow, 2001. Photo: Reuters
"Today's canteens are more like cheap cafés with some food options pre-cooked and sorted," says Moscow resident Boris Popov, who was born in Ivanovo.
"There are some canteen-styled fancier places with better food in the centre of Moscow and other cities that are oriented towards tourists. Also, a lot of business centres nowadays have canteens for the office workers, where you can eat lunch at prices lower than in the restaurants/cafés around."
The Russian revolution of 1917 had left the country reeling and famines were widespread. The Bolsheviks wanted to set up canteens to serve a dual purpose: to provide food to all layers of society and include women in the expanding workforce. Essentially, the drive towards equality, in socio-economic status as well as gender, began in the kitchen.
So stolovayas were meant to provide standardized, hygienic, scientifically proportioned nutritious meals.
In a January article headlined "How The Soviet Union Brought Culinary Equality To The Table", Anna Sorokina writes in Russia Beyond: "A working person had no need to eat a lunch at home. He could eat at a canteen in his factory or office, where all dishes were cooked according to the state standards (GOSTs), that regulated everything from the quantity of meat in the soup to the chemical composition of forks."
The canteen culture quickly caught on. In Moscow, the number of canteens rose from 881 in October 1918 to 2,350 in June 1919, according to historian Mauricio Borrero. Petrograd, now called St Petersburg, saw the numbers climb from 200 to about 700 in almost the same time frame. Overall, in two of the biggest cities in the country, they catered to a total of about 900,000 people.
In a May 2014 report, "How Russia's Shared Kitchens Helped Shape Soviet Politics", Russian culinary writer Anya von Bremzen has been quoted saying: "Bolsheviks were not into food. (Vladimir) Lenin was not a foodie. They saw it as fuel; they had to feed the workers. The Bolsheviks kind of wanted to eradicate privacy. And private hearth, private stove becomes very politicized."
In communist Soviet Union, these canteens were strictly places to eat, not to socialize. The interiors were often dank and the quality of food declined sharply after World War II. Meat and vegetables were not readily available round the year, so food was laden with fat and mayonnaise and Thursday was declared a "fish day". Also, rather than reducing the load of cooking, women ended up being employed at these industrial kitchens en masse.
"For many not-so-rich people, a lunch at a stolovaya is a fact of life, regardless of the age," says Peter Kozyrev, whose company Peterswalk has been organizing walking and bicycling tours of St Petersburg since 1996. "It's just older people who may be able to compare the choice and the quality of meals offered (now). Back in the Soviet days, there wasn't really a choice of anything—life was simple, predictable, and standardized across the country. Stolovaya ration was more or less the same anywhere in the country, with the same state-controlled prices and the same odour of overcooked food."
But Kozyrev is quick to point out that "those times are over".
Moscow residents lining up at a canteen in 1921. Photo: Getty Images
The break-up of the Soviet Union in 1991 led to a decade of chaos in the country. The subsidies to these canteens stopped and most of them shut shop as they could not compete with the cafés and restaurants. Communal kitchens in shared apartments became a thing of the past, giving people the mental and physical space to indulge in home-cooked food.
"The beginning of the 21st century saw somewhat a revival of the canteens but more in general form than the real spirit," adds Popov, a graduate of the London School of Economics.
These Soviet-era canteens now range from ones serving basic meals with no atmosphere to those with chic interiors and global cuisines. The ones in bigger cities now also label dishes in English.
So if you do find yourself in Russia, head over to a stolovaya for a spoonful of history, culture and economy in a bright bowl of borsch.
10.06.2018 | 09:50 AM IST
2018 FIFA World Cup | Soviet canteens | stolovaya | Soviet food | Russian food | traditional Russian food | football | 2018-fifa-world-cup | mint-india-wire


Home Forum News (Rea... "The RULES"—Ple... What to Expect—aka "Do's" and "Dont's"
What to Expect—aka "Do's" and "Dont's"
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Home World Funeral for a prominent Israeli Rabbi
Funeral for a prominent Israeli Rabbi
Many thousands attended the funeral Sunday for a prominent ultra-Orthodox Rabbi in central Israel.
Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky (94), was one of the most prominent scholars in the country's religious communities. He died Friday. Born in Pinsk (Belarus), he moved to British-ruled Palestine when he was a child. He was revered by many Jews and was one of few leaders remaining of the ultra-Orthodox Israeli community born before the Holocaust.
The city of Bnei Brak was where the rabbi, a predominantly ultra-Orthodox one, was laid to rest. It is located near Tel Aviv. According to Israeli media, more than 350,000 people attended his funeral procession from his house to a nearby graveyard.
For several hours, police closed highways in Israel's Tel Aviv area. Other main roads were also shut down. Authorities advised the public to avoid driving into the area in cars. According to the Communications Ministry, there would be a disruption in the cellular network due to heavy traffic. It advised people to make only essential calls.
Aerial footage showed huge crowds of mourners filling Bnei Brak's narrow streets, which ran blocks around the house of the deceased rabbi.
About 12% of Israel's 9.4million people are ultra-Orthodox. They follow a strict interpretation of Judaism with a strong emphasis on Torah study and the observances of tradition. Kanievsky and other prominent rabbis play an important role in community life. They act as arbiters in all matters.
Funerals are a central part of traditional Jewish life. Many mourners attend the funerals of important rabbis.
Kanievsky, despite not holding an official position in the non-Hassidic ultraOrthodox world, was considered a significant luminary. When he advised his followers that closing religious seminaries was worse than the virus, Kanievsky became a public figure. Later, he retracted his claims. Infected were raging in densely populated Bnei Brak.
Kanievsky's passing was covered in almost every newspaper in the country, including liberal Haaretz and ultra-Orthodox dailies such as Yated Neeman.
Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennet stated at the beginning of the weekly Cabinet meeting that Kanievsky's death was "a great tragedy for the Jewish people."
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Recap: VH1's "Love & Hip Hop Hollywood" episode 7 [VIDEO]
Home » Hip Hop News » Recap: VH1's "Love & Hip Hop Hollywood" episode 7 [VIDEO]
By DJ YRS Jerzy
Twitter sure did have a lot to say about "Love & Hip Hop Hollywood" last night. Honestly, it's a lot going on and the people can't stop watching the trainwrecks that are Ray J, Lil Fizz/Amanda, and Omarion's situation. Meanwhile, Soulja Boy and Nia Riley meeting with her father, Teddy Riley, was just hilarious.
Last night's episode was pretty much spoiled on Twitter, but there are plenty of people who will watch every VH1 rerun. The show got off to an explosive start, as the full attack of Ray J on Yesi Ortiz at Power 106 was released. After last week's episode, fans went in on Ray J for going off on Yesi Ortiz on Twitter and Morgan Hardman agreed 100%.
Love, fights, romance, and oh yeah… hip hop all took place last night. Yung Berg embarked on a new alliance with Teairra Mari and Hazel-E did her best to get him to commit to her… again. All in all, the show was crazy and there were at least three fights and one awkward conversation.
Watch the new episode of "Love & Hip Hop Hollywood" below:
Follow DJ YRS Jerzy on Twitter @IAMDJYRSJERZY.
Related Topics:hazel-e, lil fizz, love & hip hop hollywood, morgan hardman, nia riley, omarion, power 106, ray j, soulja boy, teddy riley, twitter, vh1, yesi ortiz, yrs jerzy, yung berg
Yung Mazi – "Ima Dog" [VIDEO]
Dave East – "All About The Money" [VIDEO]


Not typically an American child's favorite but preparing Caprese Salad this way I found my daughter loves it.
Forget sliced tomatoes – children think they look gross and they eat with their eyes as much as their taste buds (I still do this). I found Kiara loved eating cherry tomatoes as if they were fruit (skip the comments I know they are actually a fruit but children do not make that association) so I began to use these in my recipe for Caprese Salad.
I take cherry tomatoes red, yellow and any color I can find and cut them up into smaller slices usually 3 or 4 per tomato. Then I cut an onion into small slices, I preferred but if your child will eat onions most likely it is white or yellow. Next, I take fresh mozzarella and add small pieces to the mixture of tomatoes. I usually make a second bowl but use Goat Cheese instead. The final thing I add is fresh Basil cut into little pieces. Finally, I then drizzle Balsamic Vinaigrette ( I use Bolthouse Farms, you can use whatever brand you prefer ) over the mixture, stir and refrigerate for 30 minutes. Admittedly Kiara only eats the tomatoes and cheese but it is a start.
Safety Tips: If your child is young do not allow to use a knife to cut tomatoes or supervise. Use your best judgment on this one. Mini tomatoes are soft so a kid friendly butter knife can be used.


The Education Department's independent watchdog said Wednesday that it plans to investigate Secretary Betsy DeVos' decision to reinstate a troubled accrediting agency that was shut down by the Obama administration over allegations of lax oversight.
The department's inspector general is launching the review in response to a Dec. 17 letter from Sen. Patty Murray of Washington and Rep. Bobby Scott of Virginia, the top Democrats on congressional committees that oversee education, a spokeswoman for the inspector general told The Associated Press.
In their letter, the Democrats question how closely DeVos reviewed the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges, and they suggest that education officials exaggerated the group's support from others in the industry, which was a factor in DeVos' decision to reinstate it.
DeVos' Nov. 21 decision to revive the accrediting group has become a flashpoint in a broader debate over the regulation of for-profit colleges. Democrats say DeVos has been too friendly to the industry, while DeVos says the previous administration went too far working against it.
President Barack Obama's administration cut ties with ACICS in 2016, citing a "profound lack of compliance" with federal standards. The group had been accused of poor oversight after giving its blessing to for-profit chains including Corinthian Colleges and ITT Technical Institute, which both folded amid widespread allegations of fraud.
As evidence that ACICS had gained "wide acceptance" from others in the industry — a requirement for all accrediting agencies — the department said it obtained letters of support from nine other accreditors. But eight of those groups later denied offering support, prompting the department to issue an Oct. 15 correction that cited letters from four different groups.
"If the department used incorrect information to determine ACICS' compliance with federal regulatory criteria for recognition, then the department's review process and re-recognition of ACICS put students and taxpayers at significant risk," according to the letter from Murray and Scott.
The Dec. 17 letter also accuses the department of failing to examine ACICS's ability to monitor the finances of its schools. Murray and Scott cite the sudden closure of Education Corporation of America, a major for-profit chain that was endorsed by ACICS before it folded Dec. 5 amid deep financial trouble.


As I wrap up a month full of creative writing I am thankful for the writing space I have created for myself. Prior to this month I did a majority of my writing on the couch while my daughter played around me and with the background noise of television as a distraction. As I've grew to be a little more serious about writing I became determined to set up a routine that would be more conducive to a creative frame of mind without also robbing my daughter of precious time with her mother.
I created a small and simple office in the corner of the guest bedroom upstairs. It's a room with natural light and full of possibility. However, instead of wasting my creative energy on making the room a perfect conglomeration of design and decor I opted for a simple space that provided all the necessities for fueling my creativity. Currently this room is fairly un-decorated compared to the rest of the house and I find that working in an environment of minimalism is best for me. This space is a perfect retreat when I need to think. With the door shut it can be as quiet as I like it to be. And I'm also not distracted by bright colors or loud decorations.
My routine of writing has picked up a bit. As I mentioned in my post, Novel Update, I am stepping up my writing game between now and January 1 so that by the turn of the year my novel is totally drafted (round 1). Although my writing is demanding a little more time I'm also stubborn and refuse to let that time affect my daughter in any way. I am conscientiously choosing writing times that coincide with naps and her sleeping schedule. I am able to be present in the beautiful moments with her while still getting the time I need every day to knock out a couple thousand words of my novel. It's a perfect setup.
So today I am thankful for a family who supports me in my goals, the opportunity to work on creative projects, and the space I possess for getting lost in my story.
Lately, I've been on a bit of a YA reading hiatus. Most of the books I've been reading have been about writing and novel production. However, over Thanksgiving Break I really wanted to quench my thirst for a good YA novel and I found that in Eleanor and Park.
Rainbow Rowell has recently become a big name in YA fiction. Some of her books like Attachments, Eleanor and Park, and Fan Girl have been chart toppers and favorites among my students so I decided to track down a copy of Eleanor and Park and see what all this Rainbow Rowell hype was all about.
This story of unlikely love was extremely addicting. From the very first chapter I was hooked to the characters, Eleanor and Park. The two lovebirds met on the school bus when Eleanor moved back to Omaha, Nebraska. Park was a Korean kid and although no one really messed with him he was not a popular kid by any definition of the word. On Eleanor's first day of school the only empty seat on the bus was the one historically available beside Park. And it's when Park moved over (at first reluctantly) to make room for Eleanor that a friendship began to form.
Eleanor and Park would bond on future bus rides over comics and 80's rock bands. Park would bring new things to share with Eleanor each day because she was too poor to even own a pair of headphones. They both began to look forward to those bus rides, and one day it became clear that their relationship had moved from bus buddies to romance quickly.
Park lived a privileged life. His father was a war veteran who married a Korean woman and brought her home from war. His family was built around love and affection. Eleanor was one of five children who was forced every night to listen to the violence between her stepdad and mother. She didn't have two pennies to rub together. But Park gave Eleanor an excuse to wake up every morning and a reason to look forward to school. They begin to spend all day and every evening together as Eleanor used Park as an excuse to avoid the inevitable at home.
As their relationship developed Park began to learn about Eleanor's home life. He knew someone was bullying her at school, but when he discovered that she was bullied at home as well Park vowed to protect her.
This story is about how far two young lovers will go to protect one another. Full of heavy themes and real language this book was hard to put down. I really enjoyed this read and I look forward to some more Rainbow Rowell reads in the future.
There's something special about my dining room table. So many memories are made around such a pivotal piece of furniture. A couple of years ago I inherited my beautiful Ethan Allen table from my Great-Grandmother as she was moving into an assisted living community. Before the inheritance of such a treasured heirloom I had already formed fond memories of the piece. As a child I would visit with Grandma and we would share meals and snacks around the table. When I became a devoted coffee-holic in my teenage years we began to enjoy Starbucks Frappucinos and Fudge Doughnuts around that same piece. And now that I possess that legend of a table it's becoming a permanent fixture in the memories of my household.
It was around this table that we shared our first pizza in the new house. Sitting in the chairs about the table we fed our daughter her first spoonfuls of baby food and before long she would graduate to solids. At this table we have shared many conversations, delicious meals, and made countless family decisions.
Nothing is more important to me than family and we have been blessed to share so many special moments and memories around such a special dining room table.
Happy Thanksgiving to all of you special readers!
Take time today to quiet yourself and reflect on those things for which you are the most thankful. Be present today in your celebrations and savor every moment surrounded by your family.
From my happy little family to yours–Happy Thanksgiving!
1 Thessolonians 5:18- Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
Psalm 107:1- Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.
Today's topic: Write about the most terrified you have ever been in your life.
It was an early August afternoon. The sun's rays were bright and growing brighter as we made our ascent to the top of a Virginian mountain peak on part of the Virginia Turnpike. The thermostat in the car stated the fact that the temperature outside our air conditioned vehicle was 97 degrees Fahrenheit. Sam and I were carelessly singing along to some Top 40 radio station in the middle vehicle of the family caravan home from our vacation. The trip had been our final excursion before the arrival of our beautiful baby girl. I was eight months pregnant and already experiencing Braxton-Hicks. Even our doctor had recommended that we didn't take this final vacation due to some of the signs of preterm-labor I had shown the day before our departure. However, I was stubborn and wanted this last trip for myself. Who knows when I might get another opportunity to get away like this with my husband? I thought to myself.
We had been on the road for about four hours. We were behind schedule due to my frequent bathroom breaks. And we killed time between my timed Braxton-Hicks contractions by singing and talking about how our life was about to change in the next few weeks.
In a moment of panic Sam pulled off to the minimal road shoulder. The car was smoking so we both had to make our way out of the vehicle quickly. We found ourselves in the overgrown grass on the side of a mountain. Not sure if the car was going to catch on fire Sam helped me over the guard rail so we could get a safe distance away from the car. On one side of us sat our overheated car on the other side a cliff off the side of the mountain. It was hard enough to balance myself with all the added baby weight let alone at the steep incline of the mountain. Fear overcame me and I realized the reality of the situation. At this point we had lost vision of the rest of our caravan and it was just Sam, a smoking car, and me in the 97 degree heat stranded on the top of a mountain.
Sam cleared a place for me to sit in the grass while he called for a tow. I tried every method of calming myself that I could think of, but my contractions were picking up and gaining momentum. Each set of contractions made me panic more as I was spiraling into active labor. Sam was a few feet away unable to move because he had finally tapped into cell service. We quickly discovered that we were about fifteen minutes away from any other town and the tow truck wouldn't be there for about an hour. The best they could do was send a service vehicle to alert traffic that we had broken down so that oncoming traffic would move over to the left lane. That was more for their safety than ours as our car was still smoking.
About fifteen minutes later a vehicle from the local Department of Transportation pulled off to the side of the road with all the blinking lights and alarms they could use to alert the rest of the drivers on the turnpike of our dangerous vehicle and location. It was nice that the cars were no longer in the lane ten feet from me going eighty-five miles per hour. I was as far away from the road as I could be without toppling down the cliff and I could still feel the excessive wind from each passing car. Eventually the man emerged from his alerting vehicle and took one look at me and panicked.
The man and Sam decided to tell my parents who were waiting in the next town to come and get me. The guy waited with Sam until the tow truck got there an hour later. I know that I would not have lasted that other hour without going into full-blown active labor, so luckily my parents had decided not to continue the rest of the journey without us.
When I was finally in their car they cranked up the air conditioning. They drove me to a Subway in Wytheville, VA and I drank several bottles of water. After a little rest and fluid intake the contractions began to slow down.
Not long after my contractions were under control Sam finally met me in the restaurant. We were both safe and it was such a relief. I went on to carry Arianna for another month. She was born a little over a week before her due date in mid-September.
When I look back on this event in my life I see how God was protecting us. Things could have been so much worse, but God provided for a safe return home for all of us. I'm so grateful that my husband did not have to deliver my baby on the side of a mountain on the Virginia Turnpike.
Hey, guys! I know I've been a little short on my posts this week, but I have a lot of things going on to share with you to make up for lost time. I've continued to work on my Creative Writing Month posts. Most of my writings have made their way to my blog, but others have taken a temporary place of residence in my Writing Notebook. I still plan to carry out the plan through the remainder of the month so stay tuned for more creative writing posts over the next two weeks.
One reason that I've taken a little breather this week from my blog is because I have begun to evaluate some of my writing goals. As I look back to last year's resolutions I am reminded of my goal to finish a novel in a year. At the time it seemed like a ridiculous goal, but as I'm now 75% done with my novel I see that this is something within my grasp by December 31.
In order for me to meet this goal of mine I will need to be a little more diligent over the next month to make sure that I am carving out the necessary time from my schedule to make it happen. Over the past couple of days I've drawn out a plan and as long as I can work up the discipline to see it through I should be finished with draft 1 of my first novel by the end of the year! Amen!
First of all, please be in prayer for me and my family as I put myself into overdrive to see this happen. I plan to do most of my writing when my family is away or asleep, but still it is a huge undertaking on all three of us. I feel very strongly that this novel and its message are from God or else I wouldn't be pouring the time and effort into it that is required.
Second of all, I ask you, dear readers, to be patient. The content of my blog between now and December 31 may be shorter than normal. I don't want to simply be posting just to tick something off my to-do list for the day. The plan is to continue routine posts, but the routine may be a little less frequently than it has come to be lately.
Thirdly, After my novel draft 1 is finished I will be looking for some beta readers to help in the editing process. Please pray about whether you would like to be a part of that team to help take my rough draft to the next level. I will be assembling that team in February or March if all goes according to plan.
I have always said that my readers are such a blessing. Blogging has brought so many encouraging people across my path. Also, this blog has opened doors to several opportunities and conversations that may never have happened had I not stepped out in such a public way. I am so grateful and thankful for those who follow and read my blog and I can't wait to journey into 2016 with you all!
Have a blessed Thanksgiving week-for you I am thankful!
In the bustle of the season it is easy to neglect rest. There are so many potlucks, family gatherings, and gifts to be purchased. But in the midst of the busy schedules it is important to take time to dwell in the moment.
This Holiday season I vow to dwell in a place of peace. What does that look like?
To me, to dwell in peace means to not be overcome by the expectations of the season. Rather it means to live fully in each moment and to be present in the day to day interactions with friends and family. It means to not allow my schedule to dictate my life, but to put family as my first priority. Additionally, to dwell in peace means to fix my eyes on God and truly allow Him to lead my life and guide my path.
I have a tendency to stress myself out when there are several items on my priority plate, but this season my goal is to remain calm and trust the Lord to help me through each moment of every day.
After all, the point of the season is to relish time with family and friends and show gratitude for the people in life who mean the most.
Today's topic: Write about swimming.
I took a deep breath and plunged my whole self below the surface of the undulating water. The coolness surrounded every inch of my body and bid me to relax each muscle. As I held my breath I pushed off the ground below me with my legs and surrendered my body to the waves. The strength of my arms began to guide my unanchored frame through the tunnel they had created. Pushing aside all resistance I continued to press forward. Through the throwing off all my control I experienced tranquility.
Today's topic: Write about one of your grandparents.
I am extremely blessed. I have lived twenty-five years with four of the most supportive and kind grandparents. I couldn't just focus on one of these awesome grandparents today. I could also go on for hours about how each of them have shaped me into who I am today: Grandmothers who taught me what it means to be a strong and driven woman and Grandfathers who provided wonderful models for loving, successful men. All of them have taught me confidence and the importance of family. I am extremely blessed by all four of these amazing people.
Grandma Lois has taught me how to have pride in my home and family. She supported me in every endeavor and continues to keep up-to-date with each of her grandchildren even as life pulls us so many different directions. Grandma loves each of her grandchildren dearly and that is evident in her excitement each time we call or arrive in her home. She worked hard for many years as an administrative assistant and I've inherited some of her tenancies for particulars and detail-oriented behaviors.
Grandma Ann began to teach me what a beautiful woman truly was from a young age. She has always been a model of beauty on the inside and outside. I've learned strength, grace, and kindness from having her as a role model in my life.
Grandpa Tom may be in his early seventies, but can still whip youngsters in golf and table tennis. A few times a year he defends his title as Ping-Pong Champion at family gatherings by defeating my husband who is nearly fifty years his junior. He is a part of the Hall of Fame at the high school where he graduated as a three sport athlete: football, wrestling, golf.
Grandpa Harold recently was invited to a high school in southern Ohio to give a graduation address. His career in education helped me in my career decisions. When I had my first teaching interview I sat at his kitchen table the night before listening to his tips and wisdom for the next day. He coached me through what to expect and gave me pointers on what principals are looking for in candidates.
Today's topic: Write about the streets of your hometown.
Tall, brick businesses line the paved roads of my hometown. Each Victorian Giant stands guard over the sidewalk blocking the sun from the pedestrians who venture out below. These are the streets I've grown up on. A quaint town full of hidden gems and places that have become very much a part of me. People have come and gone in my life, but the streets of my hometown have virtually stayed the same. They are a constant, unmoving entity in life. Yes, businesses have changed or shifted locations, and the evils of fire have stolen from the town, but no other place in the world will feel as much a part of me as my first dwelling. My hometown.
As a child I walked these streets in tow with my parents. Clinging to their hands I visited shops, marched in parades, and strolled through the most beautiful parts of the town. As a pre-teen I cycled up the hills, through alleyways and toward the center of town with neighbors and friends. As a teenager I took to the streets again on foot, but now the city was my course. Instead of walking the cement paths I ran every inch of the city. I trained rigorously in my hometown. My blood, sweat, and tears have been poured over each block of town. In my college days I used these streets for driving. From college to the coffee shop, the grocery store, the parties. And now I continue the cycle as I trod through the city with my daughter.
To share my hometown and memories with my daughter is special. This is not her home or where I've chosen to continue my life, but it will always be home for me. For all the times my feet made contact and my eyes took in the wonders of the town I call it mine. Life has removed me from this place that I call home, but it will always hold a special place in my heart.
My hometown is where I go to remember childhood. Innocence. Who I truly am.


Gemini Moon Sign Mithun Rashi 2018 .
Year 2018 will keep you brave. Perhaps, you can be rich now. Any financial crisis that might have been bothering you will end at once this year. This will probably be a healthy year for a native of this star. To tell you the negative side of this year, there is a strong chance that you will be a man of greed. This points out that your mind may be on other' success. This says much for your character, and will become a serious problem for you if goes uncontrolled. Though, if you take your excessive greed it will help you to be a pride of family, you can be financially backing some of your friends.
Your striking character and talented speech are things of repute. Using these qualities you can try politics as a profession. Who can say? You can be a first class leader in this field. This 2018 should be spent culturally for you. Now, at this time, medical profession will also be proved to be beneficial. All the more you will be a famous man overnight. Though a man of status, you might be concerned with the sorrowful lots of other people. You are a man on whom people can count on blindly. A religious person, you will probably often see the whims at work in your mind. Whimsical mind and greed can make you fall in problem.
Being a person of bitter words, your mother may often engage in arguments with you. Yet, she will keep her dignity intact and would never yield to your shelter. Your friendship with your brothers will not be very amusing. Rather some bitter things may continue to disturb you men. This year you may suddenly discover your father as a new man. He will provide you with much help in job and professional career. His religious attitude may influence you a little.
For you, educational luck is quite at odds. Several reasons for this adverse situation can be detected, namely your own whims, or financial shortcomings. If you have medical profession as your family business then it will be a good decision to stick to it. And this year might also bring you immediate success in fields like astrology, practice of black magic.
It is certain that you are a religious man. Improvement will not deprive you now, but not in effect. Any kind of promotion in job may come late in your life this year. On the contrary, you might have a well established business now. Because of your discontent over your professional life, you will keep changing your job or business. Ranging from mine owner, to owner of iron factory or chemical factory, or to a simple peasant, you can have these varieties of profession. This will happen more than one time that you will leave one job and take up another.
Both legal and illegal ways may be your means of earning. You will own huge amount also in business of books, or as lawyer, or as an artist, and also as being a dealer of cattle, or as wine dealer. These last two ways might make you a billionaire quite unexpected by you. Right? Though a bit of monetary problem may rise but you seem to have a golden luck to make a narrow escape from loss every time.
In love relationship, this 2018 may quite riddle you up. You can have difficulties to make your mind in love. After meeting with several beautiful ladies it is really tough to decide you see! However, if you finally overcome this serious problem, then you will have a really educated, intelligent wife who is also a real beauty. With the lady of life it will be a good marriage for you. However, your wife has a chance of getting operated many times.
More or less a sound health is expected this year for you. But some common disease will make you suffer, like acidity, arthritis, short sightedness, very common cough and cold and so on. The most serious illness that will perhaps bother you this year is jaundice. To avoid accidental occurring, you should keep safe distance from both water and fire. However, after every kind of safeguard, one or two extremely harmful accident may come. It is to say you may have sixty five years of life.
According to astrological analysis, if you are a Gemini female, this following year would make you more attractive, talented, and may increase your bright intelligence. You as a female will suddenly become more philanthropic and would help people a lot. Soon you will have a personality that knows how to win the show. Though, your poor ability to manage your anger may bring to you a total bunch of problem. You should use your sharp personality and reduce your anger to reach your goals.
Literature is the perfect place for your talents, as you would soon become an imaginative person. Your excessive emotion and love of expression would finally find its perfect sphere in literature only. Adding to the list of superb female writers, you may begin writing poetry or prose. Talented as you are, you will find satisfaction also in medical practice or in studying philosophy.
It is said, and said quite truly, that female love is unconstitutional. And this saying will find an accurate expression in you. To avoid this you would try lot of things to keep you cheerful all the time. Saving money does not attract you much. You may take pleasure in cooking and feeding others. You have a chance of having a girl child this year. And lastly, be ready for some gynecologic illness.