tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34391937729668910522024-03-13T21:07:33.282-07:00The Lonely SockThe Lonely Sock is a blog created primarily to launch my upcoming independent magazine, with some of the articles featured online. Between publications however, The Lonely Sock will be a place to showcase my arts and crafts, discuss the issues I will ultimately write about in my magazine, and blog a little bit about my daily life as an aspiring artist and writer. I would particularly like to blog about my attempts to reach the goals I set for myself at the beginning of the year.Lilly Briarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00966737406515696652noreply@blogger.comBlogger58125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3439193772966891052.post-14961464715771170032014-10-26T14:04:00.002-07:002014-10-29T16:13:02.177-07:00Spectacular SOCKS! - Spreading The News About Socktober<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">Welcome to a very overdue segment of <strong><span style="color: #cc0000;">Spectacular SOCKS! </span></strong> I have gone a long time without posting another segment, and I really wish I could have posted this one sooner as October is almost over. Nevertheless, I thought it was still worth including this information about <strong><span style="background-color: #f9cb9c; color: #783f04;">Socktober.</span></strong>
Socktober is a sock-drive for the homeless. According to the website,</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong><span style="color: #b45f06;">"Socktober was launched by Kid President creator Brad Montague four years ago. It’s a movement to get kids and grown-ups to help the homeless in an easy, fun way."</span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I've posted some videos below, and for more detailed information on the sock-drive and how you can get involved visit their website:</span></div>
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</span><a href="http://soulpancake.com/socktober/"><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">http://soulpancake.com/socktober/</span></a></div>
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I think this is a great idea. I would like to point out that this is an American charity, and as far as I know there is not a Canadian branch. I would love for us to start a sock-drive of our own, and though I am quite late posting this, it's not too late to contribute to charities and homeless shelters for the winter.</span></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="329" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/0sbG-172e_Y" width="646"></iframe>
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<br />Lilly Briarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00966737406515696652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3439193772966891052.post-65656663393983620502014-10-25T20:44:00.001-07:002014-10-25T22:47:57.741-07:00Halloween Party 2014 - Crafts, Jack O' Lanterns, and a few thoughts ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TUpxTUGHL7g/VExMM1F9RDI/AAAAAAAAA6o/u6PsDcCH6dY/s1600/DSCN2061.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TUpxTUGHL7g/VExMM1F9RDI/AAAAAAAAA6o/u6PsDcCH6dY/s1600/DSCN2061.JPG" height="470" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-size: large;">When it comes to Halloween there's so much I
could write about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I'd love to talk
about the origins of Halloween and how hypocritical it is that so many condemn
it as something evil due to its pagan origins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I remember one girl at my high school telling me that if I really knew
how Halloween began I wouldn't celebrate it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Well, as far as I know, Halloween was thought to be the easiest day for
fairies and the souls of the dead to cross over into the mortal world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And while it may seem a bit scary to think
that trick-or-treating came from the practice of bribing the otherworldly
beings with food so they would not harm the living, I think it's worth noting
that departed loved ones were thought to revisit their homes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A quick <strong><span style="color: #0b5394;">Wikipedia</span></strong> search reveals that people
would set a place at their dinner tables to welcome family members who had died.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Keeping in mind that these are the customs of
a people from a very different time, place, culture, and lifestyle, I would
think October 31st was a day that reminded people to show their ancestors the
respect they deserve, but also a day that comforted the grieving, making them
feel as if their loved ones were not far away, and ultimately reminding them to
appreciate their loved ones who were still living.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: large; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I could go on and dissect individual
statements people have made denouncing Halloween, or examine the very false claim
made by my cabdriver just yesterday that Halloween is only celebrated in North
America. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I could launch into a critique
of Halloween-related movies, or comment on why my city's newspaper always runs
an article around this time of year about the Halloween "slut rule" discussed
in the 2004 film <em><strong><span style="color: #741b47;">Mean Girls</span></strong></em> - but I won't.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As I've said previously, Halloween for me is about creativity, so this
very late post will be about my projects from last Halloween:</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: large; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-size: large;">The following are some<strong><span style="color: #b45f06;"> Halloween Rose Magnets</span></strong> I
made using 2-sided scrapbooking paper, orange and black ribbon, refrigerator
magnets, and hot glue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ARn4igXgxy8/VExIbyndLeI/AAAAAAAAA4U/HIWtbnwXkZ0/s1600/106.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ARn4igXgxy8/VExIbyndLeI/AAAAAAAAA4U/HIWtbnwXkZ0/s1600/106.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ARn4igXgxy8/VExIbyndLeI/AAAAAAAAA4U/HIWtbnwXkZ0/s1600/106.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></span></a><br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ARn4igXgxy8/VExIbyndLeI/AAAAAAAAA4U/HIWtbnwXkZ0/s1600/106.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span> </a><br />
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-T32RIiH27qQ/VExIb-WT1qI/AAAAAAAAA4Y/XzlGbO_zP2Q/s1600/105.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-T32RIiH27qQ/VExIb-WT1qI/AAAAAAAAA4Y/XzlGbO_zP2Q/s1600/105.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></span></a><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-size: large;">To make the roses I followed instructions
found on <strong><span style="background-color: #e06666; color: white;">Pinterest</span></strong>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hot glued them in
place, glued 2 strips of ribbon onto each magnet, and then hot-glued each rose
onto a magnet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I only managed to make 6
roses, and some of them I gave out with candy to trick-or-treaters. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: large; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I also made an assortment of <strong><span style="color: #b45f06;">Halloween Bookmarks</span></strong>
to give out with candy to trick-or-treaters.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: large;">Again, I used Halloween scrapbooking paper as well as some patterned orange scrapbooking paper and black cardstock.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I used assorted ribbon, craft border scissors, a glue stick, and a pumpkin stamp.</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qwssaHll1o0/VExhBsXqs6I/AAAAAAAAA7c/Ts0bfnitGeY/s1600/halloween%2Bbookmarks.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qwssaHll1o0/VExhBsXqs6I/AAAAAAAAA7c/Ts0bfnitGeY/s1600/halloween%2Bbookmarks.png" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mt6wcsVyuUc/VExi4PWCytI/AAAAAAAAA8I/GHezH9Bi3fY/s1600/Halloween%2BBookmarks%2B9.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mt6wcsVyuUc/VExi4PWCytI/AAAAAAAAA8I/GHezH9Bi3fY/s1600/Halloween%2BBookmarks%2B9.png" height="480" width="640" /></span></a><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-92zvnlJTg_g/VExi4f2yCnI/AAAAAAAAA8M/Y6B9Gwjz-m8/s1600/Halloween%2BBookmarks%2B8.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-92zvnlJTg_g/VExi4f2yCnI/AAAAAAAAA8M/Y6B9Gwjz-m8/s1600/Halloween%2BBookmarks%2B8.png" height="400" width="300" /></span></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lB1rrzuX8IA/VExiBgps2nI/AAAAAAAAA7s/us6q3HoWZ2Y/s1600/Halloween%2BBookmarks%2B3.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lB1rrzuX8IA/VExiBgps2nI/AAAAAAAAA7s/us6q3HoWZ2Y/s1600/Halloween%2BBookmarks%2B3.png" height="400" width="191" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-size: large;">The
last of my projects for the year was my <strong><span style="color: #b45f06;">Harvest Witch Jack O' Lantern</span></strong>, whose
witch hat I constructed out of potpourri and hot glue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: large; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I
also used some potpourri pieces for the eyes and tongue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The following are some pictures of the
pumpkin in various stages.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-size: large;">A<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">s you can probably see, I hammered tiny nails into the pumpkin and then glued some potpourri pieces onto the nails.</span></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-omdzlVFJu6o/VExH9_gVZRI/AAAAAAAAA20/DvEmCp46IYk/s1600/094.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-omdzlVFJu6o/VExH9_gVZRI/AAAAAAAAA20/DvEmCp46IYk/s1600/094.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></span></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-S78jvN8-0u4/VExH_ThLgyI/AAAAAAAAA3A/pzcLnY8XHoA/s1600/093.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-S78jvN8-0u4/VExH_ThLgyI/AAAAAAAAA3A/pzcLnY8XHoA/s1600/093.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></span></a><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: large; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">It wasn't the safest or most secure method of
attaching parts to the pumpkin, but I've discovered in the past that
hot-gluing directly onto the pumpkin does not work well. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> </span> </span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-l_PHCufDMlU/VExIVU0D8cI/AAAAAAAAA4A/n-qDPot9H-I/s1600/101.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-l_PHCufDMlU/VExIVU0D8cI/AAAAAAAAA4A/n-qDPot9H-I/s1600/101.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></a><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-K7Z1owDNx6Q/VExIiOREFqI/AAAAAAAAA4s/vbpyk9w3wJc/s1600/108.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-K7Z1owDNx6Q/VExIiOREFqI/AAAAAAAAA4s/vbpyk9w3wJc/s1600/108.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></span></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kHWX5rTD898/VExIHDndYKI/AAAAAAAAA3U/6WZDZtBo20o/s1600/096.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kHWX5rTD898/VExIHDndYKI/AAAAAAAAA3U/6WZDZtBo20o/s1600/096.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SwWSpWepdrM/VExIOLMpuEI/AAAAAAAAA3o/kbHWDo7FKh8/s1600/098.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SwWSpWepdrM/VExIOLMpuEI/AAAAAAAAA3o/kbHWDo7FKh8/s1600/098.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></span></a><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-size: large;">When undertaking any project it always helps
to have moral support and mine came from my constant helper - although I
suspect this photo captures her attempt to take credit for my work.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Q4miGnqOgFU/VExIdjwBsSI/AAAAAAAAA4k/acCMnIKKGQM/s1600/104.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Q4miGnqOgFU/VExIdjwBsSI/AAAAAAAAA4k/acCMnIKKGQM/s1600/104.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PtvarZX0jZc/VExIVPaxnzI/AAAAAAAAA38/0obMt8gvc6o/s1600/103.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PtvarZX0jZc/VExIVPaxnzI/AAAAAAAAA38/0obMt8gvc6o/s1600/103.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IauTSdGbGSM/VExIpKaSNlI/AAAAAAAAA5A/5ZbfpVYVyHg/s1600/109.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-size: large;">It's kind of hard to stay made at her though
...<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-57n-qdo8erc/VExI3bTZ-tI/AAAAAAAAA6U/0ggaOyGnkT8/s1600/126.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-57n-qdo8erc/VExI3bTZ-tI/AAAAAAAAA6U/0ggaOyGnkT8/s1600/126.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></span></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CPs9c_ybQb4/VExI3TegtSI/AAAAAAAAA6Y/Xh4RqkMLyYA/s1600/125.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CPs9c_ybQb4/VExI3TegtSI/AAAAAAAAA6Y/Xh4RqkMLyYA/s1600/125.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: large; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Happy Halloween!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YHgE2On-gag/VExIHnmE2WI/AAAAAAAAA3Y/aLOkYUdM5W4/s1600/097.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YHgE2On-gag/VExIHnmE2WI/AAAAAAAAA3Y/aLOkYUdM5W4/s1600/097.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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<!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F-T32RIiH27qQ%2FVExIb-WT1qI%2FAAAAAAAAA4Y%2FXzlGbO_zP2Q%2Fs1600%2F105.jpg&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-T32RIiH27qQ/VExIb-WT1qI/AAAAAAAAA4Y/XzlGbO_zP2Q/s1600/105.jpg" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F3.bp.blogspot.com%2F-l_PHCufDMlU%2FVExIVU0D8cI%2FAAAAAAAAA4A%2Fn-qDPot9H-I%2Fs1600%2F101.jpg&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-l_PHCufDMlU/VExIVU0D8cI/AAAAAAAAA4A/n-qDPot9H-I/s1600/101.jpg" -->Lilly Briarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00966737406515696652noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3439193772966891052.post-18260980125492286952014-10-23T03:52:00.003-07:002014-10-23T04:06:25.414-07:00Halloween Party October 25, 2014 - Hosted By A Fanciful Twist<span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Hi
everyone ... it's certainly been a while! Now that I finally have a new
and functioning computer of my own I am hoping to blog more often. In
fact it's a goal of mine - I find it so disappointing when I come across what
looks like an interesting blog only to discover its most recent addition was
more than a year ago. I still have projects to show, experiences to tell,
movies and TV shows to analyze, thoughts and opinions
to discuss, political and world-views to push on people (just kidding)
and socks to enjoy so I would to keep my blog from looking abandoned
to potential readers.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p3MrEeaRi9o/VEjdF7bwOmI/AAAAAAAAA2Q/suDY36SJAfw/s1600/Halloween%2BBlog%2BParty%2B2014%2Bby%2BA%2BFanciful%2BTwist.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p3MrEeaRi9o/VEjdF7bwOmI/AAAAAAAAA2Q/suDY36SJAfw/s1600/Halloween%2BBlog%2BParty%2B2014%2Bby%2BA%2BFanciful%2BTwist.png" height="320" width="256" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Having
said that, I am hoping to join in the upcoming <span style="color: #b45f06;"><strong>Halloween Blog Party</strong> <strong>on</strong>
<strong>Saturday</strong>, <strong>October 25, 2014</strong></span> hosted by <span style="color: #741b47;"><strong><span style="background-color: #ead1dc; color: #666666;">A Fanciful Twist</span></strong> </span>as I love <span style="color: black;">Halloween</span>!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As far as I'm concerned <span style="color: black;">Halloween </span>is the most
creative holiday that I know of.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not
only can you bake festive desserts and decorate your home inside and out as you
would for Christmas, but you can carve Jack O' Lanterns, make masks, sew
costumes, experiment with strange hairstyles, and try new makeup and cosmetics like
false eye-lashes and fake tattoos.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">While
I'm rather late joining in, I really hope I can be a part of it, and I can't
wait to see what other participants will post.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>See you then!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Lilly Briarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00966737406515696652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3439193772966891052.post-59452626308768923632014-02-15T13:22:00.001-08:002014-02-15T13:22:44.508-08:00Doctor Who Valentine<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I've been meaning to do some fan art for a long time now, particularly <strong><span style="color: #0b5394;">Doctor Who</span></strong> fan art. The other night I finally had an idea for a <strong><span style="color: #cc0000;">Doctor Who Valentine</span></strong> that only a <strong><span style="color: #0b5394;">Whovian</span></strong> will understand:</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-abqZlzcMsHM/Uv_Ox58sLCI/AAAAAAAAA1U/w50O1_0eoMU/s1600/Doctor+Who+Valentine+Front+and+Back.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-abqZlzcMsHM/Uv_Ox58sLCI/AAAAAAAAA1U/w50O1_0eoMU/s1600/Doctor+Who+Valentine+Front+and+Back.bmp" height="460" width="640" /></a></div>
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The front of this card, I based on an image from the Season 7 episode <em><span style="color: #0b5394;">"The Power of Three."</span></em> <strong><span style="color: #0b5394;">Whovians</span></strong> should remember that <strong><span style="color: #0b5394;">Kate Stewart</span></strong> held a scanning device in front of the <strong><span style="color: #0b5394;">Doctor</span></strong> which showed that he did indeed have two hearts. What better to use as the cover of a Valentine, than a scanning device showing the <strong><span style="color: #0b5394;">Doctor's</span></strong> two hearts? They may be anatomically correct hearts inside a human body, but they're still hearts!<br />
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I found the image the hard way: I put the DVD in the computer, clicked on the episode, and went directly to the scene in question and paused it at just the right moment. I then took a picture of the heart scanner on my phone. The picture I will include here, however, was taken from <strong><span style="color: #a64d79;">Tardis Data Core</span></strong>:<br />
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<a data-ved="0CAUQjRw" href="http://www.google.ca/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=w-pMWKU0ztHlVM&tbnid=77UqM1Mz1ERD8M:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Ftardis.wikia.com%2Fwiki%2FBinary_vascular_system&ei=edL_UrimFqab2QWf04HoDw&bvm=bv.61535280,d.aWc&psig=AFQjCNGEx1IdHJzfe14B-Q-ZeHuh7OwTtg&ust=1392583652576002" id="irc_mil" style="border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img class="irc_mut" src="http://static1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20120924043025/tardis/images/1/11/Binary_vascular_system.jpg" height="233" id="irc_mi" style="margin-top: 0px;" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Image of <span style="color: #0b5394;"><strong>Kate Stewart's</strong></span> Scan from <em><span style="color: #0b5394;">"The Power of Three"</span></em> taken from<strong><span style="color: #741b47;"> </span><span style="color: #a64d79;">Tardis Data Core</span></strong></span><br />
<a href="http://tardis.wikia.com/wiki/Binary_vascular_system"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">http://tardis.wikia.com/wiki/Binary_vascular_system</span></a><br />
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On the back of the card I wrote <span style="color: #990000;">"Happy Valentine's Day"</span> and based the letters on the <strong><span style="color: #0b5394;">Doctor Who</span></strong> font. In addition, I decorated the back of this card, with letters from the <span style="color: #0b5394;"><strong>Gallifreyan</strong></span> alphabet. As a guide, I used this image of the <strong><span style="color: #0b5394;">Gallifreyan</span></strong> alphabet from <strong><span style="color: #a64d79;">Science Fiction and Fantasy Stack Exchange</span></strong>, a <em>"a question and answer site for science fiction and fantasy enthusiasts."</em><br />
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<a href="http://fc07.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2011/156/8/5/the_doctor__s_name_by_sculcuvant-d3i372o.jpg"><img alt="Circular Gallifreyan" src="http://i.stack.imgur.com/qWPou.jpg" height="141" width="400" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Image of Gallifreyan Alphabet Copied from <strong><span style="color: blue;">Science Fiction & Fantasy Stack Exchange</span></strong></span><br />
<a href="http://scifi.stackexchange.com/questions/4034/how-many-written-forms-does-the-gallifreyan-language-have"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">http://scifi.stackexchange.com/questions/4034/how-many-written-forms-does-the-gallifreyan-language-have</span></a><br />
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Well, I hope fans will get a kick out of it, and I'm hoping to do some more <strong><span style="color: #0b5394;">Doctor Who</span></strong> fan art in the future. I'd love to read any comments, criticisms, or suggestions for future projects. And of course, I'd love to see anything you've made as well.Lilly Briarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00966737406515696652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3439193772966891052.post-63287402421188606912014-02-02T14:21:00.002-08:002014-02-02T14:37:33.128-08:00Sylvester The Cat Gives The Finger ... Merry Christmas Children!<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-voEBfqBFbfI/Uu68MQjVl6I/AAAAAAAAA0s/x2xu7CeBE4Q/s1600/20140128_011548.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-voEBfqBFbfI/Uu68MQjVl6I/AAAAAAAAA0s/x2xu7CeBE4Q/s1600/20140128_011548.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a><br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-voEBfqBFbfI/Uu68MQjVl6I/AAAAAAAAA0s/x2xu7CeBE4Q/s1600/20140128_011548.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-voEBfqBFbfI/Uu68MQjVl6I/AAAAAAAAA0s/x2xu7CeBE4Q/s1600/20140128_011548.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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This is just a quick post to share some pictures that I thought were funny.<br />
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Recently I spent an evening officially putting away all things Christmas - late I know, but when you have Fibromyalgia you take longer to do things than you normally would. The artificial tree was already disassembled and put away thanks to my brother, but the tree ornaments remained loosely in a single cardboard box. You see, the day my mom took down the ornaments I wasn't feeling up to going to the basement and bringing up the proper containers for the ornaments, so my mom stored them in the box temporarily and set them aside for me to sort and return to the basement when I felt ready to handle the job.<br />
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When I finally did feel up to putting everything away the task took a lot longer than I intended thanks to the vile bitch that is Fibromyalgia, but through all the drudgery I discovered something new about a very old ornament. While handling a very old, very beat-up-looking ornament of <strong><span style="color: #b45f06;">Sylvester The Cat</span></strong> I noticed he appears to be <strong>giving the finger</strong> to someone behind him! Observe:<br />
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Now, I know you could argue that the picture of <strong><span style="color: #b45f06;">Sylvester's</span></strong> front below clearly shows that he only has 4 fingers (or digits, given that he's a cat) and therefore can't technically put up his middle finger, but I would argue that that doesn't mean he would never <em>want</em> to. After all, if a character with 4 fingers has reason to give the finger, he or she would certainly do so in their own way.</div>
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And let's face it: what else could he possibly be doing? Just randomly pointing upwards? What makes more sense to you?</div>
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A) a cartoon character well-loved by children, now in the form of a Christmas ornament is pointing upwards for no apparent reason</div>
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B) a cartoon character who constantly gets his ass kicked by a bird for the amusement of children, now in the form of a Christmas ornament, is turning his back on the cruel, sadistic children and is flipping them the bird (get it?).</div>
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Study the photos, and his facial expression, and you tell me ...</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-00ZNOQAyLF8/Uu7EI1gV7AI/AAAAAAAAA1A/IHyanr9yUBE/s1600/Sylvester+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-00ZNOQAyLF8/Uu7EI1gV7AI/AAAAAAAAA1A/IHyanr9yUBE/s1600/Sylvester+2.jpg" height="384" width="640" /></a></div>
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<!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F-voEBfqBFbfI%2FUu68MQjVl6I%2FAAAAAAAAA0s%2Fx2xu7CeBE4Q%2Fs1600%2F20140128_011548.jpg&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-voEBfqBFbfI/Uu68MQjVl6I/AAAAAAAAA0s/x2xu7CeBE4Q/s1600/20140128_011548.jpg" -->Lilly Briarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00966737406515696652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3439193772966891052.post-59210575408300975742013-12-20T01:34:00.001-08:002013-12-20T01:47:53.312-08:00DIY Christmas Ornaments From Old Toys<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JXj2jvXGH4E/UrQAFzyTS4I/AAAAAAAAAzo/ddff9tG2_oo/s1600/136.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JXj2jvXGH4E/UrQAFzyTS4I/AAAAAAAAAzo/ddff9tG2_oo/s400/136.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Since Christmas
is only a few days away I thought it would be a great time to share some
Christmas ornaments I’ve made.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As you
will see, they’re very simple to make but I’m still proud of the idea and the
finished product.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a side note, I
think this would be a great project for someone who is spending their first Christmas
away from home and doesn’t want to spend a lot of time and money shopping for
decorations. Of course it would also be a great project for parents to do with young children.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Even as an
adult I still associate Christmas with toys. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I still remember many of the toys I received from
Santa Claus as a child and I’m sure many of you do too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is for this reason that I think old toys
make wonderful Christmas tree ornaments – they are as much a part of Christmas
as snowmen, reindeer, angels, and bells, and seeing them on the tree brings
back memories of childhood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact,
just as I was describing my craft idea to my mom, she started telling me about
how she loved playing with ABC blocks as a child.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She never had any when she was young, so
whenever she would get to school she would go straight to the blocks and began building
a castle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She even showed me how she
constructed it!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">ABC Block Ornaments</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">For this
project you will need the following:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">- <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a hot glue gun</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>assorted ABC blocks</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>scissors</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>butter knife (or other item to press ribbon
onto the hot glue)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>ribbon or string*</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"></span> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">*<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you prefer, you can use metal Christmas
tree hooks instead of the ribbon or string.</span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><strong>Step 1<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Cut
approximately 6 inches of ribbon and fold it so that the two ends are
together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you like, you can even tie
the two ends.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><strong>Step 2</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Using the
hot glue gun, add enough hot glue on the top of an ABC Block so that it will
secure the ribbon to the block.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><strong>Step 3<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Quickly press
the two ends of the ribbon into the hot glue and use a butter knife to flatten
the ribbon, ensuring that the glue will secure it to the block.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Repeat the
process with the remaining blocks, or if you like you can make some
adjustments. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gluing the ribbon to the
corner of the block as opposed to the top creates a slightly different affect.</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SYO8PL3q2CM/UrQAGJrt7BI/AAAAAAAAAzs/7iqJZf9SMhw/s1600/135.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SYO8PL3q2CM/UrQAGJrt7BI/AAAAAAAAAzs/7iqJZf9SMhw/s320/135.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">You can also make some ornaments using two or
even three blocks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I add a second
or third block, I like to use different colours and I stack them so they are at
slightly different angles.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-s5UHl_rmlA8/UrP__4iwbzI/AAAAAAAAAzg/Nkde9POZWYE/s1600/134.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-s5UHl_rmlA8/UrP__4iwbzI/AAAAAAAAAzg/Nkde9POZWYE/s400/134.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">You can
follow the steps above using other kinds of toys.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I made more ornaments using Legos and I’m
also happy with the result.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Again, I
think this would look great using an assortment of colours and sizes.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fPWOwai1iIM/UrQOxxNn3aI/AAAAAAAAA0Q/OMr_fghGQtI/s1600/20131220_013102.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fPWOwai1iIM/UrQOxxNn3aI/AAAAAAAAA0Q/OMr_fghGQtI/s400/20131220_013102.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L05yYWbAzeM/UrQOxdkh3RI/AAAAAAAAA0M/C8pndgo-aKo/s1600/20131220_040350.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L05yYWbAzeM/UrQOxdkh3RI/AAAAAAAAA0M/C8pndgo-aKo/s640/20131220_040350.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">If you don’t
have any old toys that can be used for this project I would suggest looking at
a dollar store or second hand store – after all, you are purchasing these items
as raw materials, so it wouldn’t make sense to buy brand new toys.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are lots of other toys you can use to
make Christmas tree ornaments, such as:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">- puzzle
pieces</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">- crayons</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">- toy cars</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">- toy
airplanes</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">- small
dolls</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">- small
teddy bears</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">- doll house
furniture</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">- toy tea
cups (preferably plastic)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">- action
figures<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The only
other suggestion I can make to improve your ornaments is to have a special
helper participate in your festive projects.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I realize some will not have the option of including a special friend,
but with a helper like mine, I didn’t exactly have the option <em>not</em> to include
her!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Well, that’s
it for now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I welcome any comments or
suggestions and as always, I’d love to see pictures of your own crafts so feel
free to send me a link.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can also
send me a link to anything similar you think I would like.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hope everyone has a great Christmas and, if I don't write back for a while, a happy New Year!</span></div>
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Lilly Briarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00966737406515696652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3439193772966891052.post-90914854821806045102013-11-13T20:09:00.001-08:002013-11-13T20:09:09.967-08:00Christmas Gift-Wrapping Projects<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">It’s been so long since I’ve posted anything
I’ll be surprised if I still have any readers!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This last year has been pretty stressful and chaotic, which might
explain the disappearance of my urge to write.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I hope to start writing more often though, since I definitely feel I have
a lot to say.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">For some people it’s still too early to start
thinking about Christmas, but since getting a head start in November takes some
of the pressure off shoppers, I think it’s a good time to start a Christmas
post.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">When it comes to special occasions such as
Christmas, I take gift-wrapping very seriously.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I buy gift wrap that has just the right colours, colour-combinations, shades,
designs, and sheen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bows, ribbons, and
gift tags are also quite important, so I search for the unique and attractive
in the right colours as well, but I also try to make sure they compliment the
gift wrap.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">In addition to ribbons and bows I started to add other embellishments to the gifts and I find that this creates an elegant effect.</span></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p>The first present is wrapped in a shiny paper that I chose because it is multicoloured and contains the colours associated with Christmas: red, green, and gold.</o:p></span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-epYvstHUzig/UoREDKLfMDI/AAAAAAAAAw8/r40UrpEIy6A/s1600/514.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-epYvstHUzig/UoREDKLfMDI/AAAAAAAAAw8/r40UrpEIy6A/s400/514.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I topped this gift with two artificial poinsettias, artificial red berries, and a metallic red icicle, all of which I purchased from Dollarama.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since green is the dominant colour in the gift wrap, red decorations stand out and pick up the red stripes in the paper.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I believe the shininess of the berries and metallic ornament also compliments the metallic paper.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since the icicle is a Christmas tree ornament I chose the gift tag shaped like a Christmas tree bulb which is red and shiny in keeping with the rest of the embellishments.</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QpI0GgwF2dA/UoREkyhnN0I/AAAAAAAAAxc/0fHwKB_tsLw/s1600/515.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QpI0GgwF2dA/UoREkyhnN0I/AAAAAAAAAxc/0fHwKB_tsLw/s400/515.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">I used the same items to decorate the next gift, but wrapped it in a very different paper.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This metallic silver actually contains poinsettias in the design but very little red, so for this embellishment I used three poinsettias and slightly less berries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Again, I think the shiny items compliment the gift wrap nicely.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BtnCVnMl7M0/UoREd4KEBcI/AAAAAAAAAxE/sET1UvFQJp8/s1600/507.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BtnCVnMl7M0/UoREd4KEBcI/AAAAAAAAAxE/sET1UvFQJp8/s400/507.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">To hold everything together, I strung the small ribbon from the gift tag through the red icicle and poinsettia and tied them to the wire stems of the berries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It may be simpler to use a hot glue gun to attach the items together, and then to attach the whole piece to the gift.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Scotch tape will hold the piece to the gift, but as it is much heavier than a regular bow, it can easily come off.</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tS2BTTTrsBw/UoREeSrxCQI/AAAAAAAAAxI/oCmhFrdX0Jw/s1600/506.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tS2BTTTrsBw/UoREeSrxCQI/AAAAAAAAAxI/oCmhFrdX0Jw/s400/506.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">For the next gift, I used a red gift wrap with gold swirls which I really love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-b5nFWCFtorI/UoREfvmqYbI/AAAAAAAAAxQ/JxH0PngJYQI/s1600/508.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-b5nFWCFtorI/UoREfvmqYbI/AAAAAAAAAxQ/JxH0PngJYQI/s400/508.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">To compliment the gold swirls I used three pieces of wired gold ribbon and a tiny bouquet of artificial gold roses and pinecones.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I tied each ribbon around the stems of the bouquet and carefully taped them down </span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">onto the present.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Yy9lbO5aCrc/UoREwWWWvlI/AAAAAAAAAyE/f3AdOD8jqkU/s1600/519.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Yy9lbO5aCrc/UoREwWWWvlI/AAAAAAAAAyE/f3AdOD8jqkU/s400/519.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Cambria;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BtnCVnMl7M0/UoREd4KEBcI/AAAAAAAAAxE/sET1UvFQJp8/s1600/507.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BtnCVnMl7M0/UoREd4KEBcI/AAAAAAAAAxE/sET1UvFQJp8/s1600/507.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"> </a><br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BtnCVnMl7M0/UoREd4KEBcI/AAAAAAAAAxE/sET1UvFQJp8/s1600/507.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"> </a><br />
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I then tried to shape all six strands of ribbon, and attached a gold gift tag.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was disappointed that the gift tag contained the colour blue instead of, say, red, but that’s what it’s like to be a crazy perfectionist gift wrapper.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nes00_KKdH8/UoRElEB-cYI/AAAAAAAAAxg/kUUmDMhgMc8/s1600/509.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nes00_KKdH8/UoRElEB-cYI/AAAAAAAAAxg/kUUmDMhgMc8/s400/509.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">The last gift might be my favourite.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love this wrapping paper: it contains all the Christmas colours and is designed with colourfully swirled tree ornaments.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bbaoUvuIIGk/UoRErPivCxI/AAAAAAAAAxs/xEmgjel-b5s/s1600/516.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bbaoUvuIIGk/UoRErPivCxI/AAAAAAAAAxs/xEmgjel-b5s/s400/516.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Cambria;">To embellish this gift I used items to match every colour in the paper – gold pinecones pick up the gold swirled ornaments while the red berries, bulb, and gift tag pick up the red of the paper.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The white swirls of the round gift tag nicely set off the white swirls of the round ornaments, and the tiny green design on the bulb matches the overall green of the paper.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-T4XkgZpg_Ws/UoREsCHZyaI/AAAAAAAAAx0/h3S0Yw_xe30/s1600/518.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-T4XkgZpg_Ws/UoREsCHZyaI/AAAAAAAAAx0/h3S0Yw_xe30/s400/518.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"></span> </div>
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span> <span style="font-family: Cambria;">The piece is held together by two gold ribbons that I threaded through the ornament and tried around the stems of the berries and pinecones.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Again, taping it down may not be the most secure choice due to the weight of the bulb and berries.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aJTiJAvXuqw/UoREt60L0bI/AAAAAAAAAx8/95Q8pUq7ppA/s1600/517.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aJTiJAvXuqw/UoREt60L0bI/AAAAAAAAAx8/95Q8pUq7ppA/s400/517.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">As you can imagine, these were the only gifts
I wrapped last year – the rest were deposited into gift bags and topped with
tissue paper.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t like giving
presents in gift bags, as I believe seeing a wrapped present, ripping off the
paper, and opening the box create a suspense that a gift bag can’t
produce.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But when you are a creative
perfectionist who can spend a whole hour wrapping a present and you also suffer
from the chronic pain of fibromyalgia, you learn to alter your standards.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I’d love to read any comments on my gift
wrapping and I’ll take any suggestions you might have for this year’s
presents.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d also love to see pictures
of anything nice you’ve wrapped or links you’d like to share about
gift-wrapping ideas.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Lilly Briarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00966737406515696652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3439193772966891052.post-89919236432695771602012-09-02T08:27:00.000-07:002012-09-02T08:27:12.060-07:00
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Okay, I know I was going to write in a lot sooner given my
previous post.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To make a long story
short, the following predictions from my previous post came true to some degree
when my sister visited last:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>5, 12, 17, and
21.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Claudia will be coming again for
Thanksgiving in October, and the same predictions stand for this future visit.</span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Moving on now, this last week my family has been playing
host to a guest, a small lady with blond hair, brown eyes, a white beard, and a
constant desire to play in my backyard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Her name is Nala, and she is a Jack Russell whom we are dog-sitting
while her owner is away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I should note
that not everyone in my family has agreed to having Nala as a guest this week –
to be honest, my Mom agreed to this without actually taking into account that
the rest of us did not consent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My
brother voiced his dissent as did I, my father who dislikes animals to begin
with actually though we were joking about babysitting a dog for a week, and my
cat Madison wasn’t even consulted.</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hL5WfwK6vfQ/UEN6GQ61BOI/AAAAAAAAAt0/sU-gGDnOUoQ/s1600/Nala.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hL5WfwK6vfQ/UEN6GQ61BOI/AAAAAAAAAt0/sU-gGDnOUoQ/s320/Nala.jpg" width="236" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yxn4g9lI5GU/UEN6BOWMZnI/AAAAAAAAAts/FPZ2BEpSND8/s1600/Madison.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yxn4g9lI5GU/UEN6BOWMZnI/AAAAAAAAAts/FPZ2BEpSND8/s320/Madison.jpg" width="239" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Anyways, we were told that this dog slept all day, didn’t
need to be walked, and only expected to be played with for about five minutes
per day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Apparently the rest of the day
this dog sleeps.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This information we
were given turned out to be completely untrue, as this dog wants much more
attention than her owner seems to be giving her, but the worst part of this
week has been that our cat has taken refuge in the basement for almost seven
days now!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Madison used to spend time
with at least one of us when we would pursue our hobbies, as demonstrated by
this photo in which she is has claimed my fabric, but we’ve hardly seen her at
all this week because every time she hears the dog coming she runs back to the
basement.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Today is Nala’s last day here, but unfortunately I don’t think
Madison even realizes that Nala will be leaving at all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It seems that the longer Nala stays, the more
depressed Madison is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Which brings me to
the climax of this post:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>it turns out
that my cat likes to express her depression through song, particularly the
piano in our basement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This morning when
Nala was playing loudly and violently with one of her toys, Madison could be
heard playing very low depressing keys from downstairs as if to say, “Who do
you honestly like better, that wild and unsophisticated dog who takes out her
frustration by acting rabid, or someone who can use her frustration to compose?”</span></div>
Lilly Briarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00966737406515696652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3439193772966891052.post-38992775849338147732012-04-04T16:39:00.000-07:002012-04-04T16:39:26.978-07:00Predictions for the Week of My Sister Claudia's Visit<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Tomorrow my evil sister Claudia will be
arriving from out west.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She will be
staying with us for Easter, from <strong>April 5<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> – April 11<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup></strong>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Claudia has always been difficult from when
she was little – even my mother would say so.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She has treated my brother Geoffrey and I like garbage all our lives,
and whenever she visits it’s like a tornado of anger, rage, anxiety, temper
tantrums, and guilt trips sweeps through our home.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I should clarify a few things right now:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">1)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Claudia
has recently become a psychologist.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">2)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With
any dispute we have, she uses her education in psychology to justify anything
she does and make anything we say or do appear wrong.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">3)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m
positive that Claudia is a narcissist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve
been reading a lot about narcissism, and I believe she has at least 8 out of 9
characteristics of a narcissist.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">4)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Everyone in my family has health problems – me, my brother, my mother,
and my father.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everyone but
Claudia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And Claudia is the LEAST
understanding person because she has never had to deal with illness or
disability.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And because narcissists lack
empathy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">5)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
has an extremely inaccurate view of our levels of disability and the challenges
they can cause.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This may in part be
because she hasn’t seen us for about 2 years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Regardless, seeing us and seeing all that we can’t do will be a rude
awakening for her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most likely though,
she will accuse us of not trying hard enough.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">6)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
has been pressuring us for years to go and visit her out west.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We try to explain how impractical this is
given our health problems, but she refuses to believe it and/or claims that it
is all due to not taking good enough care of ourselves.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">7)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
is extremely controlling.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">8)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My
mother claims that Claudia has matured a lot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This of course is based on phone conversations and nothing more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That said, Mom is still very nervous about
Claudia’s visit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">9)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When
my brother and I talk to Claudia on the phone, we’ve both noticed that she is a
lot nicer, yet we both get the sense that she is trying with all her might to
hold back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In other words, Geoffrey and
I both think her agreeableness is just an act.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">So, now that you are briefly caught up, the
following is a list of predictions I am making regarding what will take place
from the time Claudia arrives tomorrow till the time she leaves on the 11<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am getting them in writing and posted
online so that if any come true, I can prove to my family that I had predicted
them before her arrival.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is not to
say that I anticipate all of my predictions to come true.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am simply trying to cover any and all
possibilities.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"><strong>Predictions for the Week of Claudia’s Visit<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">1.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Claudia
will object to me biting my nails and/or tell me that my nails are gross.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">2.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Claudia
won’t know how to turn on the TV or put on a DVD.</span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">3.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If
me or my brother can’t sleep at night and get up to watch TV, Claudia will yell
at me and my brother to turn down the TV.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This may lead to a fight.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">4.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Claudia will talk, yell, or try to annoy me when I’m watching TV - probably
during something good like a documentary that won’t be on again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">5.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Claudia will recommend that we eat organic fruits & vegetables and
this could start an argument/fight when we try to explain that they are too
expensive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If she then buys some for us
and we don’t eat them, there will be an even bigger fight.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">6.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Claudia
will ask me and my brother to go to dinner with her and when we say no due to
legitimately not feeling well, she will:</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>start fighting with us and/or throw a temper tantrum<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>B)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>accuse us of not taking good enough care of ourselves<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>C)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>get
mad and declare that we just don’t want to go with her, which will partly be
true<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>D)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>tell
us that the reason we don’t feel well enough to go out is that we are not
motivated enough<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">7.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When Claudia finds out that I have pain in my chest and trouble
breathing, she will freak out and won’t believe that it is actually related to
my Fibromyalgia, which it is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Regardless
of how much I fill her in on the subject, she will secretly believe that I have
some kind of heart condition, and thus my diet must be dangerously flawed, just
like the rest of me and my life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">8.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If
I’m able to go on a walk while she’s here, she will excitedly offer to come
with me, as she feels that exercise and nutrition are her areas of
expertise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I tell her as nicely as
possible that I prefer to go alone, that it’s my “me time,” she will get upset
and possibly start a fight.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">9.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
will want to use my Wii Fit, or she will want us to do Wii Fit together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I don’t want to, this will start a fight.</span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">10.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Claudia will either borrow my things without asking, or she <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">will </i>ask only to start a fight when I
refuse to lend her my things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some
things she might take include:</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 19.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">A)<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">my shampoo
and conditioner<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 19.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">B)<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">my make up<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 19.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">C)<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">my socks –
WHICH IS ABSOLUTELY FORBIDDEN!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 19.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">D)<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">my shirts
and possibly pyjamas as they will be very roomy<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 19.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">E)<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">my curlers
or spoodles<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 19.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">F)<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">my
hair-bands, elastics, other hair accessories, face mask, face soap<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 19.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">G)<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">sweaters<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">11.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When
Claudia sees that my fatigue keeps me from helping out around the house or
doing anything with her, this will start a fight in which she lectures me to
stop doing things that she thinks cause my fatigue, even though said things are
unrelated.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">12.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Claudia will try to convince me not to repaint my room, remove the
carpet, and refinish the hardwood floor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She will want to know why it’s so important to me in the first place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since I will most likely refuse to tell her,
this will start a fight.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">13.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If
Claudia notices that I neatly underline passages in books I read, she will
wonder why and possibly try to convince me that I shouldn’t bother, because
it’s not like I’m studying the book for school.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">14.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Claudia may try to convince me to take distance education courses at the
university, especially if she sees that I am able to read once in a while.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I explain that my concentration is
unpredictable and that I probably won’t be able to make deadlines, she will
show very clearly that she isn’t satisfied with my explanation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This could start a fight as well, as she will
not understand why I can read some books and not do reading for school.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">15.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If
Claudia takes a shower she won’t clean out the tub and this will start a huge
fight.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">16.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Claudia will lecture me, my mom, and my brother Geoffrey about the
amount of Coke we drink.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">17.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Claudia will try to convince me, my mom, and my brother to get rid of
stuff that we want to keep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This could
start a huge fight.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">18.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Claudia will complain about how crappy our telephones are and nag us to
get new ones.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">19.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Claudia will either complain about my mother’s driving, refuse to let
Mom drive her anywhere, or suggest that Mom’s license be taken away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This will really hurt my mother’s feelings
and, of course, start a huge fight.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">20.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Claudia
will start a fight about how much time my brother and I spend in the house, and
won’t accept that it is due to our pain and fatigue.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">21.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Claudia will get extremely frustrated with my mother for always falling
asleep on the toilet at night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Claudia
will not be able to keep her awake at night and will get angry that the alarm
Mom uses doesn’t work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She may attempt
to buy my mother a better alarm, but if this also doesn’t work, Claudia may
suggest that my mom should be in a nursing home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If not, she may suggest that this extreme
drowsiness is due to one of my mother’s medications and try to convince her to
stop taking something that she actually needs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">22.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Claudia will get extremely frustrated with my mother for falling asleep
in front of the TV or while beading.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This too will cause a fight, especially if my mom refuses to go to
bed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There will be an even bigger fight
if my mom is drinking tea in this drowsy condition, in which she can spill it
all over herself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">23.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Claudia will want to use our digital camera, and thus will be angry when
she finds out that the battery is broken and we have not yet bought a new one.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">24.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Claudia will want to use my laptop and will be angry when I refuse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She will ask why my brother is allowed to use
it but not her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will explain that
we’ve made an agreement, in which he will help me repaint my bedroom in
exchange for use of my laptop, but she will still be angry.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">25.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Claudia will be angry that our desktop computer in the basement is
broken, and will nag us to plug in her old computer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If Dad refuses, Claudia will nag me about
this, as she feels I am the one in the family she has the most control
over.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since it is not my computer and I
have my own, she will be wasting her time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">26.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At
some point during her visit, she will be so exasperated with us for something,
and will declare that she shouldn’t even have come.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">27.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Claudia will try to convince my family to move out west with her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Apparently she has already mentioned it to my
mother before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She will claim that the
nice weather and scenery will help us with our health problems, and that if she
lives nearby she can help us with things like chores.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Okay, that’s it for now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After she’s gone I’ll try to write to let you
know which ones came true.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wish me luck,
and wish my family luck as well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>Lilly Briarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00966737406515696652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3439193772966891052.post-91450795115774299622011-12-17T20:22:00.000-08:002011-12-19T20:49:49.079-08:00Unique Christmas Gift Ideas ... With A Twist!Since I haven’t blogged in a while and Christmas is coming up, I thought I might recommend some last minute Christmas gift ideas.
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">1. <u><strong>Ad Nauseam: A Survivor’s Guide To American Consumer Culture</strong></u></span>
<br />
Edited by: <strong><span style="color: #990000;">Carrie McLaren and Jason Torchinsky</span></strong>
<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_LoQaptNNwE/Tu1lMPdfeiI/AAAAAAAAAtE/SNjNncCjS5A/s1600/Christmas+blog+article+1.5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_LoQaptNNwE/Tu1lMPdfeiI/AAAAAAAAAtE/SNjNncCjS5A/s1600/Christmas+blog+article+1.5.jpg" /></a><br />
I am half-way through reading this book and I love it! Originally I almost decided not to purchase this book because I discovered that it was a compendium of material from Stay Free! magazine, which I had never read nor heard of for that matter. I assumed that this book would not be appropriate for me as I am unfamiliar with the magazine, but I am extremely glad that I took the chance and bought it. I especially enjoy reading it now in the month of December – somehow reading a book about the tactics advertisers use sell products and the negative affects the media can have on society feels a little bit like rebelling against the commercialization of Christmas!
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: blue;">Indigo.ca</span> price: $15.16
<br />
<span style="color: blue;">Amazon.com</span> price: $11.49
<br />
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">There are
probably many other books that are enlightening about advertising and the
media.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would recommend buying such a
book for someone, but as this is the only such book I have read, this is the
only one I can recommend by name.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe
you can even find one that talks specifically about the commercialisation of
Christmas!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Somehow, a book about the
media and advertising seems like an appropriate, albeit a tongue-in-cheek, gift
to give.</span></div>
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<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2. <strong> Humanitarian
Gifts</strong></span></span></div>
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<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><em>World Vision</em></strong>
is a humanitarian organization that focuses on emergency relief, education,
healthcare, economic development, and the promotion of justice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is one organization through which individuals
can sponsor children, and during the holiday season, people can buy a gift for
individuals and families in need.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many
of these gifts such as goats, pigs, and chickens, can allow families to become
self-sufficient.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Other gifts besides
animals and agriculture involve healthcare, education, shelter, water, and business.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The gifts vary in price range, and some will multiply,
as businesses and organizations will match your donation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can give this gift yourself, or if a
friend or loved one is willing, you can give the gift in their name.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can even make a request on your Christmas
wish list for a friend or family member to buy such a gift in your name.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">For more
information, and to browse the Gift Catalogue, visit the following website:</span></div>
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<a href="https://catalogue.worldvision.ca/Gifts/Forms/Home.aspx?mc=4267225&lang=en"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">https://catalogue.worldvision.ca/Gifts/Forms/Home.aspx?mc=4267225&lang=en</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><em>World Vision</em></strong>
is not the only humanitarian organization that is accepting gifts this holiday
season.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you would like to find
another organization, you can try <em><strong>UNICEF</strong>, <strong>OXFAM</strong>, <strong>The Red Cross</strong></em>, and probably
many others.</span><br />
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">3.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <strong><u> </u></strong></span><strong><u>The Lump of Coal</u></strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong><u>The Latke Who Couldn’t
Stop Screaming</u></strong></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Author:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="color: #990000;"><strong>Lemony Snicket</strong></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZBkac_U8jjU/Tu1lQuuhZYI/AAAAAAAAAtM/SdVaphK77Z0/s1600/Christmas+Blog+Article+2.5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZBkac_U8jjU/Tu1lQuuhZYI/AAAAAAAAAtM/SdVaphK77Z0/s200/Christmas+Blog+Article+2.5.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3RvxmNt-Rto/Tu1gUM36_zI/AAAAAAAAAqs/w_sSScjdFSk/s1600/Christmas+Blog+Article+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3RvxmNt-Rto/Tu1gUM36_zI/AAAAAAAAAqs/w_sSScjdFSk/s200/Christmas+Blog+Article+3.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Though I am
an adult, part of the reason I love Lemony Snicket’s children’s books is
because they are unlike ANY books I read as a child.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not only are they hilarious, but he is the
first writer I have ever read that really does the unexpected and challenges
conventions – not just in terms of plot or characters, but in what the audience
expects.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For example, I once read a book
by him in which I discovered that there was something funny written in the
small print of the copyright page.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t
know about you, but I certainly don’t think to read the copyright page of a
book to see if there is something funny hidden in it, and that’s why I think it
is such a brilliant idea!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s like a
DVD Easter Egg, except in a book!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When
it comes to subverting the reader’s expectations, these children’s books are no
exception.</span></div>
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</div>
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<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">An Excerpt
from <strong><u>The Lump of Coal:</u></strong></span></div>
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<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #990000;"><strong>“The holiday
season is a time for storytelling, and whether you are hearing the story of a
candelabra staying lit for more than a week, or a baby born in a barn without
proper medical supervision, these stories often feature miracles.”</strong></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Written by: <strong>Lemony Snicket</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Illustrated by: <strong>Brett Helquist</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="background-color: white; color: blue;">Amazon.ca </span>Price: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>$10.82</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: blue;">Amazon.com </span>Price:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>$10.39</span></div>
</div>
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</div>
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<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">An Excerpt
from <strong><u>The Latke Who Couldn’t Stop Screaming</u></strong>:</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
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<br />
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Calibri;"><strong>“It is very
frustrating not to be understood in this world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If you say one thing and keep being told that you mean something else,
it can make you want to scream.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But
somewhere in this world there is a place for all of us, whether you are an
electric form of decoration, peppermint-scented sweet, a source of timber, or a
potato pancake."</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Calibri;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br />
<span style="color: black;">Written by: <strong>Lemony Snicket</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: black;">Illustrated by: <strong>Lisa Brown</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: blue;">Amazon.ca</span> Price: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>$10.47</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: blue;">Amazon.com</span> Price:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>$6.11 and up</span></div>
</span></div>
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<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Both
storybooks are humourous and appropriate for the holidays, the second even
teaching about the history of Hanukah, despite its label as a Christmas story.</span></div>
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</div>
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</div>
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<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">4.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><strong>Think Geek</strong></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><em><strong>Stuff For Smart Masses</strong></em> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://www.thinkgeek.com/">www.thinkgeek.com</a></span></span></span></div>
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</div>
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<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I discovered
products from Think Geek when I was doing an online search for products I’d
seen on The Big Bang Theory.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love the
things Leonard and Sheldon have such as a shower-curtain with the periodic
table of elements – very appropriate for two physicists!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I should note that I haven’t yet purchased anything
from this website, so I am not recommending these products or the website from
personal experience; I’m simply recommending them as products I find
interesting and unique.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For example:</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wCcht-uqKXs/Tu1gahsVnzI/AAAAAAAAAq0/O1r_--cewY4/s1600/Christmas+Blog+Article+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wCcht-uqKXs/Tu1gahsVnzI/AAAAAAAAAq0/O1r_--cewY4/s200/Christmas+Blog+Article+4.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Gingerdead
Men Cookie Cutter</strong> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>$4.99 </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">5 inch
gingerbread cookie cutter with skeleton impression!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This could be a fun gag gift for doctors,
nurses, surgeons, chiropractors, physiotherapists, X-ray technicians, or maybe
just someone you shop for who can appreciate something out of the ordinary.</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IOYWytg7RLg/Tu1gxYK82RI/AAAAAAAAArc/XmNJkKyXzbM/s1600/Christmas+Blog+Article+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IOYWytg7RLg/Tu1gxYK82RI/AAAAAAAAArc/XmNJkKyXzbM/s200/Christmas+Blog+Article+6.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Caffeine Mug</strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>$6.99 </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"> 8 oz coffee mug with a diagram of the
caffeine molecule!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Obviously this would
be appropriate for coffee connoisseurs (and by that I mean addicts).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This would be especially appropriate for
those caffeine lovers who have some knowledge of chemistry.</span></div>
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</div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Giant Plush
Microbes</strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>$8.99 each</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ixa06N6jSeU/Tu1gt9nSbWI/AAAAAAAAArU/MdENbRbPf0g/s1600/Christmas+Blog+Article+13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="185" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ixa06N6jSeU/Tu1gt9nSbWI/AAAAAAAAArU/MdENbRbPf0g/s200/Christmas+Blog+Article+13.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Stuffed animals
for people who like science!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I saw
these I fell in love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I do not own any
of these myself but I do hope one day to start collecting these adorable
microbes such as E. Coli, Cough, Flesh Eating Disease, and Bad Breath!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is also a Red Blood Cell, Brain Cell,
Nerve Cell, Stem Cell, and – possibly my favourite of the cells – a Sperm Cell
and Egg Cell!</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rDxVi6qnjiQ/Tu1gnpF1lZI/AAAAAAAAArM/gDvWcOWDAgw/s1600/Christmas+Blog+Article+12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rDxVi6qnjiQ/Tu1gnpF1lZI/AAAAAAAAArM/gDvWcOWDAgw/s200/Christmas+Blog+Article+12.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>I think these are so cute,
funny, and creative that I not only want them, but I actually wish I was the
one responsible for the creation of this product.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It isn’t often that I think something is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">that</i> great.</span></div>
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</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Someone
interested in science and biology might enjoy these lovable creatures, as well
as people with a strange or morbid sense of humour!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For a list of the microbes available, click
the following link:</span><br />
</div>
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</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<a href="http://www.thinkgeek.com/interests/giftsunder10/6708/?pfm=holiday2011_galacticgiftsunder10_1_6708"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">http://www.thinkgeek.com/interests/giftsunder10/6708/?pfm=holiday2011_galacticgiftsunder10_1_6708</span></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">5.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><strong>The Unemployed Philosopher’s Guild</strong> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><em><span style="font-size: large;">The
Unexamined Gift Is Not Worth Giving </span></em></strong><a href="http://www.philosophersguild.com/"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></a><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.philosophersguild.com/">www.philosophersguild.com</a></span><a href="http://www.philosophersguild.com/"></a></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">P</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">roducts
from this website have a similar quality to those from <strong>Think Geek</strong>, but they
seem to differ in that <strong>Think Geek</strong> seems to cater to lovers of science and technology,
<strong>The Unmployed Philosopher’s Guild</strong> seems to cater more to lovers of the
humanities such as literature, history, philosophy, psychology, etc ...</span></div>
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nz5KPulo-UQ/Tu1g0U5GwjI/AAAAAAAAArk/JOjQxaUh7gQ/s1600/Christmas+Blog+Article+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nz5KPulo-UQ/Tu1g0U5GwjI/AAAAAAAAArk/JOjQxaUh7gQ/s200/Christmas+Blog+Article+7.jpg" width="180" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I should
note that I did purchase a product from this website in the past.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I purchased a pair of <strong>Freudian Slippers</strong> ($24.95) for
my sister Claudia as a congratulatory gift for achieving her PhD in
psychology.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For those who don’t know, Freudian
Slippers are a pun on the term <span style="color: #990000;">“Freudian Slip”</span> which is an error in speech or
action that unintentionally reveals unconscious thoughts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As for my experience with the website, when the
slippers arrived they were slightly defective in that only one slipper had
spectacles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I telephoned the
company and explained the issue the company sent me a free pair of the same
product free of defects.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I did not have
to pay for the delivery or return the defective pair.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is for this reason that I give the company
a very positive review.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Here are
some examples of products from this site that could make great Christmas gifts:</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rxd6qV4xavk/Tu1g3107oPI/AAAAAAAAArs/aC7tlGAzYS8/s1600/Christmas+Blog+Article+8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rxd6qV4xavk/Tu1g3107oPI/AAAAAAAAArs/aC7tlGAzYS8/s200/Christmas+Blog+Article+8.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Lab
Cutters</strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>$15.99 </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Each set of cookie cutters contains a beaker,
a flask, a test tube, and an atom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like the
cookie cutters from <strong>Think Geek</strong>, these would be appropriate for someone who
likes to bake and decorate cookies during the Christmas season, especially
someone with an interest in science and chemistry, or perhaps just someone with
an unusual sense of humour and a taste for the unexpected!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Get it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>A <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">taste</i> for the unexpected
...?</span><br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vKz0Fn-HZs4/Tu1g7pZUqwI/AAAAAAAAAr0/bw1LPB1Qp6o/s1600/Christmas+Blog+Article+9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vKz0Fn-HZs4/Tu1g7pZUqwI/AAAAAAAAAr0/bw1LPB1Qp6o/s200/Christmas+Blog+Article+9.jpg" width="180" /></a>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Wonderland
Passport Notebook</strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>$3.95</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This comes with travel tips and an official
passport information page!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Other
Passport Notebooks include <strong>Oz, Neverland, Camelot, The Garden of Eden, Paradise,
Hell, Nirvana, Utopia, Pangaea, Plato’s Republic, and The Unconscious</strong>! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love the diversity of this product.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think it’s a creative and fun idea for fans
of the appropriate works of literature and like the <strong>Giant Microbes</strong> from <strong>Think
Geek</strong>, this is a product I wish I developed myself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love that this item seems to blur the
boundaries between reality and fantasy/literature.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gtB4V9OpYpY/Tu1g_ejypsI/AAAAAAAAAr8/tHMytg_N6vI/s1600/Christmas+Blog+Article+14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gtB4V9OpYpY/Tu1g_ejypsI/AAAAAAAAAr8/tHMytg_N6vI/s200/Christmas+Blog+Article+14.jpg" width="180" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O2f8_cG2SX8/Tu1hD5uAJuI/AAAAAAAAAsE/H8WSCGnwltw/s1600/Christmas+Blog+article+15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O2f8_cG2SX8/Tu1hD5uAJuI/AAAAAAAAAsE/H8WSCGnwltw/s200/Christmas+Blog+article+15.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Now tha</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">t I am noticing all the potential passport destinations, I am
starting to wonder if I should have decided against the book I bought for my
sister Claudia, and instead presented her with the passport to Hell. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hmm ... that still might be suitable for
another time.</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4svN1eoIkw4/Tu1istwcNWI/AAAAAAAAAsc/k71s3bWV9t8/s1600/Christmas+Blog+Article+17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4svN1eoIkw4/Tu1istwcNWI/AAAAAAAAAsc/k71s3bWV9t8/s200/Christmas+Blog+Article+17.jpg" width="133" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">6. <strong>Philosophy and Pop Culture Series</strong></span> <br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When I enjoy
a work of fiction, I usually think it’s so great that I have to spend time
analyzing it and picking it apart to find out what important messages it has in
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ask my brother Geoffrey.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He knows I can’t watch a TV show or movie
without over-thinking it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But if you ask
me, a work of fiction is truly great if it can be dissected and analysed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For anyone who thinks likewise, I recommend
the Philosophy and Popular Culture Series.<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Cfc3pgBaVVQ/Tu1hLspi8pI/AAAAAAAAAsU/uWn_1HgGiLc/s1600/Book+Reviews+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Cfc3pgBaVVQ/Tu1hLspi8pI/AAAAAAAAAsU/uWn_1HgGiLc/s200/Book+Reviews+6.jpg" width="133" /></a>I get a lot
of enjoyment out of these because I feel like they really talk a lot about the
major issues in the respective works.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>For example, <em><u><strong>Mad Men and Philosophy</strong></u></em> discusses a lot of real issues in
advertising that come up on the show and <strong><em><u>True Blood and Philosophy</u></em></strong> discusses
prejudice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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Similarly, I
think there is also a Psychology and Pop Culture Series, of which the only book
I currently have is <strong><em><u>The Psychology of Harry Potter</u></em></strong>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can definitely recommend this book, as well
as <strong><em><u>A Taste of True Blood:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Fangbanger’s
Guide</u></em></strong>. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think all of these works are
available at Amazon.com and Amazon.ca, and I also purchased some from Chapters.</div>
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Even if the
TV and book fans you know aren’t particularly analytical, I would still
strongly recommend such analytical works to a casual reader who might be a big
fan of a particular series or novel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
chapters are essays written by individual authors about diverse topics, and
reading each chapter in order is not necessary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Not only do I get a lot of enjoyment out of these books, but I think
they allow me to appreciate their respective works of fiction even more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also hope that they inspire people to think
critically about the works of fiction they enjoy and to think deeply about what
messages those works teach their fans.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">7.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><strong>Homemade Mixed CDs</strong></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">If you know
how to make a mixed CD using your computer and have whatever programs are
necessary to do so, one great personal gift you can give a loved one is a mixed
CD with a particular theme.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For example,
if know someone who truly appreciates laughter – or someone you think should
lighten up a little – you could make them a <strong>comedy CD</strong> filled with funny songs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For sources of funny songs you can look into
<strong><span style="color: #990000;">Saturday Night Live</span></strong>, <strong><span style="color: #990000;">South Park</span></strong>, and comedians <strong><span style="color: #990000;">Adam Sandler</span></strong>, <strong><span style="color: #990000;">Sarah Silverman</span></strong>,
and <strong><span style="color: #990000;">Mario Cantone</span></strong>.</span></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">NOTE:</span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #990000;">Try to
arrange the songs in a suitable order, and be sure to make a nice album cover
for the CD case.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t forget to write
out the list of songs on the inside sleeve of the cover either, unless of
course you would like them to be a surprise.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Other
possible themes for mixed CDs include songs from the <strong>50s, 60s, 70s, </strong>or<strong> 80s</strong>,
<strong>songs to listen to while exercising</strong>, <strong>relaxing songs</strong>, and <strong>love songs</strong>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">If you would
like to make a mixed Christmas CD for a friend or loved one, here are some of
my suggestions for songs to include:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Calibri;"><strong>1.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Trim Up The Tree (How The Grinch Stole
Christmas)</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">2.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mr. Grinch (How The Grinch Stole Christmas)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">3.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whoville Theme (How The Grinch Stole
Christmas)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">4.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We Are Santa’s Elves (Burl Ives- from Rudolph
The Red-Nosed Reindeer)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">5.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jingle Jingle Jingle</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">6.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Christmas Time Is Here (Charlie Brown
Christmas)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">7.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>12 Days of Christmas (The Muppets)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">8.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nuttin For Christmas (Shirley Temple)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">9.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Marshmallow World (Darlene Love)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">10.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Christmas (Darlene Love)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">11.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What Christmas Means To Me (Stevie Wonder)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">12.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Someday At Christmas (Stevie Wonder)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">13.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Feed The World (Band Aid)</span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;"><strong><span style="font-family: Calibri;">14.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Chanukah Song (Adam Sandler)</span>
</strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Calibri;"><strong>15.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Snoopy vs The Red Baron (The Royal Guardsmen)</strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Calibri;"><strong>16.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Step Into Christmas (Elton John)</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">17.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Last Christmas (George Michael)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">18.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>O Holy Night (South Park)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">19.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Christmas Time In Hell (South Park)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">20.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mr. Hanky The Christmas Pooh (South Park)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">21.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wonderful Christmas Time (Paul McCartney)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">22.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Happy Christmas (John & Yoko)</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Well, these
are my only ideas for now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hope they
were useful, though I think it may be a little late in the holiday season for
them to be of much help for this year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If anyone has any comments or criticisms I would be glad to read them,
along with any other unique gift ideas.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In case I
can’t write again until after the 25<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup>, Merry Christmas, and Happy
Holidays!</span></div>
</span>Lilly Briarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00966737406515696652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3439193772966891052.post-80186707917209383942011-10-31T17:31:00.000-07:002011-10-31T17:38:39.629-07:00Halloween Songs!For today’s Halloween post, I am posting what I think are great Halloween songs. If anyone is considering making a Halloween-themed mixed CD to play at parties, or simply to put them in the Halloween spirit, I think these songs are for you!
If for some reason the music videos that I have added from <strong><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">YouTube</span></strong> will not play, please do a <strong><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">YouTube</span></strong> search yourself and listen to these songs. <br />
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I will start with a great song by a friend of mine who covered a song originally by <strong><span style="color: #e69138;">Smoosh</span></strong>. This is <strong><em>"The Quack"</em></strong> by <strong><span style="color: #e69138;">Invisible People</span></strong>:<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/QNPcENRUWHQ" width="420"></iframe>
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It would be impossible to make a list of great Halloween songs without including something from <span style="color: #e69138;"><em><strong>The Rocky Horror Picture Show</strong>.</em></span> There are probably many other great songs to choose from the 1975 film starring Tim Curry and Susan Sarandon, such as <strong><em>"The Rocky Horror Theme", </em></strong>and <strong><em>"Over At The Frankenstein Place".</em></strong> But for now I am simply including <em>"<strong>Sweet Transvestite"</strong></em>: Enjoy!<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/bc80tFJpTuo" width="560"></iframe>
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I love this song by <strong><span style="color: #e69138;">The Guess Who</span></strong> whether it's Halloween or not. The lyrics to<strong><em> "Shakin' All Over"</em></strong> are somewhat ambiguous - they can be about the fear of love but coupled with the music they imply to me of fear of something much spookier!<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/DWqnibJckyg" width="420"></iframe>
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I love <strong><em>"Little Red Riding Hood"</em></strong> by <strong><span style="color: #e69138;">Sam the Sham and the Pharoahs!</span></strong> There's something sinister about this song that makes it perfect for Halloween. I think the popularity of werewolf costumes and Little Red Riding Hood Costumes make this song very appropriate!<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/cdVVLbe1rfY" width="420"></iframe>
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This song was recommended to me by my brother Geoffrey, who informed me that it was featured in the 1978 film <strong><span style="color: #e69138;"><em>Halloween</em></span></strong> starring Jamie Lee Curtis. This is <strong><span style="color: #e69138;">Blue Oyster Cult</span></strong> with <em><strong>"(Don't Fear) The Reaper:"</strong></em><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ClQcUyhoxTg" width="420"></iframe>
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Fans of HBO's <strong><span style="color: #e69138;"><em>True Blood</em></span></strong> will certainly recognize <strong><em>"Bad Things"</em></strong> by <span style="color: #e69138;"><strong>Jace Everrett</strong>.</span> This song is used as the theme for the show and plays during the graphic opening credit sequence. If you ask me and my mother, the singer actually sounds like Bill Compton, the vampire who dates Sookie Stackhouse!<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/t0eQL5R3bw4" width="560"></iframe>
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This is another song introduced to me by my brother Geoffrey, who informed me that most songs by this group are appropriate for Halloween! The one featured by <strong><span style="color: #e69138;">The Cramps</span></strong> here is called <strong><em>"I Was A Teenage Werewolf:"</em></strong><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/UJvchUhJl4A" width="420"></iframe>
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The next song comes from first album, <em>Static Age</em>, by <strong><span style="color: #e69138;">The Misfits</span></strong>.<em><strong> "Teenagers From Mars"</strong></em> is a great Halloween song because its lyrics are dark and the subject matter is that of extra terrestrials - teenaged extra terrestrials! It combines science fiction with young people, and much of Halloween celebration is geared towards minors!<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/OCa3_HmytsI" width="420"></iframe>
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And finally, we have the 1978 song<em><strong> "Werewolves of London"</strong></em> by <strong><span style="color: #e69138;">Warren Zevon</span></strong>. What I find interresting about this song is the catchy, upbeat melody coupled with both goofy <em>and</em> graphic lyrics! It reminds me of the sadistic humour of many horrific villains.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/1MRu8N2K0NY" width="420"></iframe><br />
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Of course, there are always the classics ... <strong><em>"The Monster Mash"</em></strong> by <strong><span style="color: #e69138;">Bobby "Boris" Picket and the Cryptkickers</span></strong> from 1962, <strong><span style="color: #e69138;">Michael Jackson's</span></strong> <em><strong>"Thriller"</strong></em> from 1983, and <strong><span style="color: #e69138;">Ray Parker Jr.'s</span></strong> <strong><em>"Ghostbusters"</em></strong> from the 1984 film. You might also want to include <em><strong>"Haunted House"</strong></em> from 1963 by <strong><span style="color: #e69138;">Jumpin' Gene Simmons</span></strong>, <strong><em>"Purple People Eater"</em></strong> from 1958 by <strong><span style="color: #e69138;">Sheb Woolley</span></strong>, and even <strong><span style="color: black;"><em>"Love Potion #Nine"</em></span></strong> from 1953 by <strong><span style="color: #e69138;">The Clovers</span></strong>. I would also include <strong><em>"Do The Hippogriff"</em></strong> by <strong><span style="color: #e69138;">The Weird Sisters</span></strong> from <span style="color: #e69138;"><strong><em>Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, </em></strong></span><span style="color: black;">and <strong><em>"The Jitterbug"</em></strong> from a deleted scene in <strong><em><span style="color: #e69138;">The Wizard of Oz,</span></em></strong> performed by <strong><span style="color: #e69138;">Judy Garland</span></strong>.</span><br />
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Use your imagination, and have a wicked Halloween!Lilly Briarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00966737406515696652noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3439193772966891052.post-30417721556522763452011-10-29T23:34:00.000-07:002013-11-13T18:12:43.401-08:00A Witches Tea Party Under The Halloween Moon: Wrapping Halloween Presents<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mkWhQ3JqR0E/TqzrQJMQT3I/AAAAAAAAAok/BJJIaH0ajWo/s1600/DSCN1911.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mkWhQ3JqR0E/TqzrQJMQT3I/AAAAAAAAAok/BJJIaH0ajWo/s640/DSCN1911.JPG" width="640" /></a><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">For part 4 of my Halloween-themed blog posts
I would like to begin posting my contributions to “A Witches Tea Party Under
The Halloween Moon.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For my first
contribution, I am posting unique Halloween gift-wrapping ideas.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">Halloween Gifts<o:p></o:p></span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">As far as I am aware, most people do not give gifts at Halloween other than candy, but for guests at Halloween parties, this could be a great way to give party-favours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After all, a wrapped present has an air of mystery – the concealing wrapping paper causes suspense in the recipient, and Halloween is all about mystery and suspense!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">For my gift-wrap projects I used <strong>Halloween tissue paper</strong>, but you can also use <strong>Halloween Scrapbooking paper </strong>or experiment with <strong>cardstock</strong> and <strong>construction paper</strong>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For my first present I used orange tissue paper, and once wrapped I decorated it using a<strong><span style="color: orange;"> rubber pumpkin stamp</span></strong>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To compliment the black ink I topped the gift with a black bow.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">For my next gifts I used <strong>Halloween</strong> <strong>Muffin Papers</strong> to create elaborate bows.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">For the first bow I made several slits along the creases of the muffin papers with concentric circles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I taped one of these to the centre of the wrapped gift and topped it with some stacked muffin papers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some of them I attached right side up and some upside down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<o:p></o:p><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-G1QolSksiYE/TqzqUdPIPrI/AAAAAAAAAnU/t3Xoi4Knzvc/s1600/DSCN2088.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-G1QolSksiYE/TqzqUdPIPrI/AAAAAAAAAnU/t3Xoi4Knzvc/s400/DSCN2088.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
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In the centre I attached one of the slitted muffin papers that I had curled with scissors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>This effect can be achieved using the same technique with scissors for curling ribbon. <span style="color: orange;"><strong>You can experiment by using all curled muffin papers, fold the slits in zig-zags instead of curling them, of using a combination of curled and zig-zagged muffin papers</strong>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">For my last gift, I wrapped the box using plain white tissue paper, and cut the centres out of several of the skull muffin papers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">Some I cut and curled with scissors – again, similar to curling ribbon – while I taped the ends of the others together. </span></span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">After creating a
long, curving spiral of the creased paper, I rolled them up into a coil,
keeping the centre higher in a similar manner to a flower.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="color: orange;"><strong>You can experiment by using images from Halloween stationary or scrapbooking paper, or even stickers. You can also use black, white, or orage streamers to make the bows, or use a combination of coloured streamers.</strong></span></span></span></div>
Lilly Briarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00966737406515696652noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3439193772966891052.post-6971702806068988942011-10-23T20:09:00.000-07:002011-10-23T20:10:14.382-07:00Halloween 2011 Blog Party Hosted By Frosted PetuniasI'm just writing a quick post to say that I am planning on participating in <strong><em>Frosted Petunias'</em></strong> Halloween blog party, entitled <strong>"A Witches Tea Party Under The Halloween Moon" </strong>which takes place on October 29th and 30th.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-x-ZQxvRBMxI/TqTVBrBxKpI/AAAAAAAAAnE/0rLON_VdTdk/s1600/Blog+Party+for+Halloween.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="388" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-x-ZQxvRBMxI/TqTVBrBxKpI/AAAAAAAAAnE/0rLON_VdTdk/s400/Blog+Party+for+Halloween.png" width="400" /></a></div>
You can reach the party's website by clicking on the icon to the right of my page, or by clicking on the following link:<br />
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<a href="http://halloweenmoontea.blogspot.com/">http://halloweenmoontea.blogspot.com/</a>Lilly Briarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00966737406515696652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3439193772966891052.post-63681459404467468252011-10-22T20:15:00.000-07:002011-10-22T20:37:00.092-07:00Halloween Jack O' Lanterns from 2010<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">My internet was down for a few days so I was
unable to continue my Halloween themed blog posts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nevertheless, I will continue today by
posting photos of my <strong><span style="color: #e69138;">Jack O’ Lanterns</span></strong> from last Halloween.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hope you like them, and I hope you will
feel free to leave any comments, suggestions for future<strong><span style="color: #b45f06;"> </span><span style="color: #e69138;">Jack O’ Lanterns</span></strong> I
could carve, links to websites with great pumpkin-carving ideas, and even links
to photos of your own work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Enjoy!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><strong><span style="color: #e69138; font-size: large;">Mad Scientist Performing Unwanted
Brain-Surgery</span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I got the idea for this when browsing the toy
section of<span style="color: #38761d;"> </span><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><strong>Dollarama</strong></span>. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There I came
across 2 sets of doctor kits entitled <strong><span style="color: #76a5af;">“My Family Doctor,”</span></strong> which contained
plastic stethoscopes, syringes, microscopes, medicine bottles, and even toy
surgical tools.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since both contained
slightly different items, I bought both.</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6zqiht8Ei_0/TqN_ugTddOI/AAAAAAAAAlI/9nggiNW1ZHw/s1600/DSCN2074.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6zqiht8Ei_0/TqN_ugTddOI/AAAAAAAAAlI/9nggiNW1ZHw/s200/DSCN2074.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-n8x7ycVJdMg/TqN_zk_3_8I/AAAAAAAAAlQ/tNpeU-Haxzc/s1600/DSCN2078.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-n8x7ycVJdMg/TqN_zk_3_8I/AAAAAAAAAlQ/tNpeU-Haxzc/s200/DSCN2078.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Eog3rWm-nJw/TqN_gjCUrhI/AAAAAAAAAlA/5NYoZiUXaY0/s1600/DSCN2131.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Eog3rWm-nJw/TqN_gjCUrhI/AAAAAAAAAlA/5NYoZiUXaY0/s320/DSCN2131.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">To create the <strong><span style="color: #e69138;">Mad Scientist</span></strong>, I carved 2
small holes beside each eye so that the round eye-glasses could be
attached.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It seemed appropriate to use
the round eye-glasses, as every mad scientist I could picture seemed to wear
round eye-glasses. <strong>Dr. Finkelstein</strong> from <strong><em>A Nightmare Before Christmas</em></strong> is a perfect example.</span></div>
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4Y7I8ESzIcA/TqN_-mfXUgI/AAAAAAAAAlY/6JPzw5izQsw/s1600/Dr__Finklestein+Halloween.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4Y7I8ESzIcA/TqN_-mfXUgI/AAAAAAAAAlY/6JPzw5izQsw/s320/Dr__Finklestein+Halloween.jpg" width="211" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I attached a small <strong>gourd</strong> for the nose and 2 larger
<strong>gourds </strong>for the arms using <strong>metal skewers</strong>, and to attach the syringe and scalpel
I used clear <strong>Scotch Tape</strong>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">To make the syringe look more authentic, I
took it apart and inserted a metal skewer through the hole to use as a needle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I secured the skewer in the tube or barrel
using the clear <strong>Scotch Tape</strong> and replaced the blue plastic pump.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">For the <strong><span style="color: #e69138;">Brain-Surgery Victim</span></strong> I simply cut a
hole in the top of a small pie pumpkin so that if compared to a head, it would
look like the top part of the skull was removed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Using a black Sharpie marker, I drew a
frightened expression which included a quivering, screaming mouth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I then filled the hole with the seeds and strands
or “brains” from my other pumpkins. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #e69138;">Cinderella’s Pumpkin Carriage<o:p></o:p></span></span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">After designing and carving this
Cinderella-inspired coach, I enhanced the design by outlining the holes with a
black Sharpie marker and adding green Glitter-Glue for a more magical effect.</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LtkPE0v2pRk/TqOA5SjfkKI/AAAAAAAAAmg/RyVUKeX5y8E/s1600/DSCN2141.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LtkPE0v2pRk/TqOA5SjfkKI/AAAAAAAAAmg/RyVUKeX5y8E/s320/DSCN2141.JPG" width="239" /></a><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I included 5<span style="color: #e69138;"> <strong>miniature pumpkins</strong></span> in the design
– 4 for the 4 wheels, and one which I cut in half to use as a seat for the
driver and a platform for the footman.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Attaching those 2 halves was very difficult, and in the process I tried
a combination of toothpicks, <strong><span style="color: black;">Popsicle sticks</span></strong>, and a <strong><span style="color: black;">hot glue gun.<o:p></o:p></span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">For the wheels I drew a design with a black
<strong>Sharpie</strong> marker on the tops of 2 miniature pumpkins and used them for the wheels
on the back (left) side.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Similarly, I
drew an alternate design on the bottoms or the remaining 2 miniature pumpkins
and used them for the front (right) side wheels.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On these, I also added a dab of the green
<strong>Glitter Glue</strong> to what would be the axils of the wheels.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I connected the wheels using green <strong>Pipe
Cleaners</strong> which I twisted and coiled to give the appearance of vines.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0sXYOqCSQmU/TqOA_PMbiWI/AAAAAAAAAmo/lmd0yefOBSw/s1600/DSCN2139.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0sXYOqCSQmU/TqOA_PMbiWI/AAAAAAAAAmo/lmd0yefOBSw/s320/DSCN2139.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I found an <strong>artificial green vine</strong> that I
attached to the stem using a hot glue gun, and also attached some <strong>artificial orange-glitter
maple leaves</strong>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I thought the orange-glitter
leaves alluded to the fairy dust that accompanies any spell, such as the spell
a fairy-godmother might cast on a pumpkin to turn it into a temporary vehicle
for a deserving scullery maid.</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-K9nSdHptKl4/TqOBEuTR73I/AAAAAAAAAmw/rwgrJGE0CdU/s1600/DSCN2138.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-K9nSdHptKl4/TqOBEuTR73I/AAAAAAAAAmw/rwgrJGE0CdU/s320/DSCN2138.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I was very happy with both pumpkins, and I got a lot of compliments on both. As I expected, girls were more impressed with <strong><span style="color: #e69138;">Cinderella's Pumpkin Carriage</span></strong> while boys were more impressed with the <strong><span style="color: #e69138;">Mad Scientist Performing An Unwanted Brain Surgery</span></strong>. Though both took a lot of work I was glad that everyone could appreciate at least one of my projects.</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KDRf9hjlt88/TqOAfc736oI/AAAAAAAAAl4/i9gNJmRQ-18/s1600/DSCN2143.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KDRf9hjlt88/TqOAfc736oI/AAAAAAAAAl4/i9gNJmRQ-18/s320/DSCN2143.JPG" width="239" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Jk1b2bhXgNQ/TqOAotQjYUI/AAAAAAAAAmI/EcYjDw2pehs/s1600/DSCN2136.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Jk1b2bhXgNQ/TqOAotQjYUI/AAAAAAAAAmI/EcYjDw2pehs/s320/DSCN2136.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />Lilly Briarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00966737406515696652noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3439193772966891052.post-33446208510061618342011-10-03T21:36:00.000-07:002011-10-03T21:37:01.080-07:00Halloween Skull Wreath<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kGuYHtAtFys/ToqJr1rpk7I/AAAAAAAAAk0/ViV8zoDFirQ/s1600/DSCN2037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kGuYHtAtFys/ToqJr1rpk7I/AAAAAAAAAk0/ViV8zoDFirQ/s640/DSCN2037.JPG" width="476" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">This is another one of last year’s Halloween
craft projects.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I made this skull wreath
using a <strong>“Floral Craft Ring”</strong> from <strong><span style="color: #660000;">Michaels</span></strong>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> A wreath form would probably work just as well, as would a home-made cardboard ring. </span></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9VTdUxx3q2c/ToqJkNT43EI/AAAAAAAAAkw/t0PrOy2n8H8/s1600/Halloween+Blog+Post+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9VTdUxx3q2c/ToqJkNT43EI/AAAAAAAAAkw/t0PrOy2n8H8/s320/Halloween+Blog+Post+4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Using a <strong>Hot Glue Gun</strong>, I attached several assorted <strong>plastic skulls</strong> which I
had collected the year before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I chose
to buy many of them<em> after</em> Halloween because the prices were marked down, and I
tried to buy them from various stores to so that some could look slightly
different than others in shape, size, and colouring. For example, you can see that the 2 examples of plastic skulls below are not identical:</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-p5b4ILKxfHU/ToqJX1YCGsI/AAAAAAAAAkk/wHCMCmn_2XY/s1600/Halloween+Blog+Post.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-p5b4ILKxfHU/ToqJX1YCGsI/AAAAAAAAAkk/wHCMCmn_2XY/s200/Halloween+Blog+Post.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8KwlQwiFv6E/ToqJcDeL79I/AAAAAAAAAko/F_QP97S2wAk/s1600/Halloween+Blog+Post+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8KwlQwiFv6E/ToqJcDeL79I/AAAAAAAAAko/F_QP97S2wAk/s200/Halloween+Blog+Post+2.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">I would suggest looking for them at <strong><span style="color: #660000;">Michaels</span><span style="color: #660000;">, Wal Mart, Shoppers Drug Mart Dollarama</span></strong>, and other dollar stores.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Before gluing anything, I attached a <strong>think black
string</strong> through one of the holes in the <strong>Craft Ring</strong> and tied it firmly so that it
can be used to hang the wreath on a hook.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>After doing this, I glued <strong>3 large foam skulls</strong> from <strong><span style="color: #660000;">Michaels</span></strong> around the stringed hole,
covering the surface and the string.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I then began
gluing the rest of the smaller skulls around the ring, making sure to cover the
surface of the ring, and using the various kinds throughout.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I attached them at different
angles, and sometimes would glue one on top of the others – this was
useful for covering any areas where the frame was still showing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">It is not neccessary for the wreath to be symetrical ... just have fun with it!</span></div>
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Lilly Briarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00966737406515696652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3439193772966891052.post-45237501613702490932011-09-26T16:09:00.000-07:002011-09-26T16:11:09.129-07:00Halloween Pumpkin-Decorating Project<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ndMiYTs4JxM/ToEDihfBuDI/AAAAAAAAAkc/nbCkWqzlIW0/s1600/DSCN2067.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ndMiYTs4JxM/ToEDihfBuDI/AAAAAAAAAkc/nbCkWqzlIW0/s400/DSCN2067.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I’ve been working on some Halloween crafts
pretty early this year, so I wanted to start blogging about Halloween crafts
and decorating ideas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To start with, I
am posting photos of 3 miniature pumpkins I decorated last year with black pens
and Sharpies.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I liked this project a lot because:</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HkizMb3hp38/ToEDnrfBp8I/AAAAAAAAAkg/GjUDrXFYgVU/s1600/DSCN2072.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HkizMb3hp38/ToEDnrfBp8I/AAAAAAAAAkg/GjUDrXFYgVU/s320/DSCN2072.JPG" width="239" /></a><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>there
was no mess and therefore n</span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">o clean-up required<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>since
the pumpkins were drawn on and not carved, they lasted much longer than a
traditional carved Jack-O’-Lantern, which would begin to rot after only a few
days.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>due
to their durability it was not necessary to finish the project quickly, which
meant that I could<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>work on a single
pumpkin a little bit every day<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the
small pumpkins were very light, took up very little room and did not require a
large working space, making it easy to complete this project in front of the
television</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the completed project worked really well as
an indoor Halloween decoration either grouped together or placed individually next
to other decorations such as potion bottles<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>they
could also be used as seasonal centrepieces for dinner tables during the season<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Instructions<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For
the 3 pumpkins shown here, I drew on the pumpkins with a pencil very lightly,
as I found it difficult to erase any mistakes if the pencil was too dark.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When happy with the design, I traced over it
in black marker.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For
2 pumpkins, I drew elaborate vines, which I thought was appropriate given that
pumpkins grow on vines.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To
draw the vine stencils can be used, but I found it much easier to copy the
stencils or just improvise my own design rather than using stencils to trace a
design on the pumpkin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can also use
a pattern or design you already like as a guide and attempt to copy it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the
last white pumpkin I drew a spider-web pattern, drawing the vertical lines
inside the pumpkin’s natural grooves, and then gently drawing curved horizontal
lines connecting them, each spaced further from the last.</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tBKZNOZ6mKE/ToEDZ804oOI/AAAAAAAAAkY/JjdaoCKTROk/s1600/DSCN2071.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tBKZNOZ6mKE/ToEDZ804oOI/AAAAAAAAAkY/JjdaoCKTROk/s400/DSCN2071.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Last but not least, I also drew on this
Butternut Squash in the black marker, to make it look like a ghost.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was extremely simple, as I simply drew 3
elongated, tear-like ovals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2kBgigazXRM/ToEC07RDxYI/AAAAAAAAAkU/oHt0BUKkqHU/s1600/DSCN2134.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2kBgigazXRM/ToEC07RDxYI/AAAAAAAAAkU/oHt0BUKkqHU/s320/DSCN2134.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">Further Suggestions<o:p></o:p></span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Instead of using just a black marker try using glitter-glue as a
substitute, or create a design in black marker and embellish it with glitter-glue.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Instead of drawing on miniature pumpkins, try doing this with large
pumpkins as a substitute for the traditional carved Jack-O’-Lantern.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Try drawing
on something besides pumpkins, such as various squashes and gourds.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">- Try painting the small pumpkins different shades of orange, white, or even black! You can even use several different colours on one pumpkin!</span></div>
Lilly Briarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00966737406515696652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3439193772966891052.post-19513089192515673722011-09-06T00:00:00.000-07:002011-09-06T00:59:25.511-07:00ExerBeat for Wii Fit by Namco Bandai<div><div>I haven’t written in a while because I’ve been extremely fatigued. My goal for this summer was to make over my bedroom, but my fatigue has made this impossible. I hadn’t even celebrated my 26th birthday in July because I was never feeling well enough. In fact, I opened my presents on Sunday night – September 4!<br /><br />Though I haven’t had a chance to use all of my presents yet, I was able to test out the gift that I wanted the most – <font style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><strong>ExerBeat</strong></font> by <strong><font style="color: rgb(204, 153, 51);">Namco Bandai</font></strong>.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iyEj9zIb7lw/TmXN-JiLQXI/AAAAAAAAAjw/G6rB8vFjZf8/s1600/Exerbeat%2B1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; width: 188px; height: 261px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5649147775201001842" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iyEj9zIb7lw/TmXN-JiLQXI/AAAAAAAAAjw/G6rB8vFjZf8/s320/Exerbeat%2B1.jpg" /></a><br />According to my Rheumatologist, the only proven treatment for <strong>Fibromyalgia</strong> is frequent aerobic exercise, and that I can start very slowly at 5 minutes aerobics per day. It was my 2011 New Year’s Resolution to make daily aerobics my top priority, and with <font style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">my <strong>Wii Fit</strong> </font><font style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">and</font><font style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </font><strong><font style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0);"><font style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Wii Fit</font> <font style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Plus</font></font></strong><font style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> I</font> became very close to reaching my goal. I felt that I was really improving, that my pain was more manageable, and that my energy had improved. Of course, I did incorporate other activities into my aerobics such as taking a trip to the mall as an opportunity to walk around some afternoon, or going on walks outside in the summer. However, <strong>Wii Fit </strong>made it possible for me to complete some aerobic exercise when stores were closed or when the weather was either too hot or too cold to go on walks. This is why I made it a priority when making my birthday list to ask for another exercise game for the <strong>Nintendo Wii</strong>.<br /><br />Since I only had 2 opportunities since opening the gift to test out the game, I cannot give an in-depth review here today, but I can say that I am very happy with it. If I can write a better review at a later date, I certainly will.<br /><br />Users of <strong>Wii Fit </strong>or <strong>Wii Fit Plus </strong>will probably find <strong>ExerBeat</strong> easy to adjust to, as there are many similarities. For example:<br /><br />1. With <strong>Wii Fit’s </strong>instructions appear on the screen in a speech bubble spoken from an avatar of the <strong>Wii Balance Board</strong>. Similarly, <strong>ExerBeat’s</strong> instructions appear in a speech bubble spoken from a music note by the name of <strong>Rhythm</strong>. <strong>Rhythm</strong> recommends a short tutorial. I watched this the night I got it and would recommend it.</div><div><br /> </div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a7cpQ9BHBIk/TmXOj7wXsVI/AAAAAAAAAkA/tjPQFKqZnkc/s1600/Exerbeat%2B3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 266px; height: 190px; float: left; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5649148424337469778" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a7cpQ9BHBIk/TmXOj7wXsVI/AAAAAAAAAkA/tjPQFKqZnkc/s320/Exerbeat%2B3.jpg" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bQUe4D5MizI/TmXOT0L547I/AAAAAAAAAj4/lZd0Iu7ika4/s1600/Exerbeat%2B4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; width: 288px; height: 167px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5649148147427566514" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bQUe4D5MizI/TmXOT0L547I/AAAAAAAAAj4/lZd0Iu7ika4/s320/Exerbeat%2B4.jpg" /></a></div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bQUe4D5MizI/TmXOT0L547I/AAAAAAAAAj4/lZd0Iu7ika4/s1600/Exerbeat%2B4.jpg"></a> </div><div><br /> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div>2. With both <strong>Wii Fit</strong> and <strong>ExerBeat</strong>, activities are presented in a similar layout and not all activities are available to users from the beginning. With both games only certain activities in each category are available and the rest must be earned or “unlocked” by completing the activities that are already available. I like this feature of both games because it gives users a sense of achievement, rewarding them for their completion of various exercises.<br /><br />3. Both <strong>Wii Fit</strong>, <strong>Wii Fit Plus</strong>, and <strong>ExerBeat </strong>incorporate humourous and creative exercises into their menus. My favourite <strong>Wii Fit </strong>game is <strong>Penguin Slide</strong>, in which my avatar or Mii is dressed in a penguin costume, standing on an iceberg and surrounded by an audience of penguins who seem to be cheering me on as I try to catch as many fish as possible. Similarly, there are funny and creative games on ExerBeat that involve twirling pizzas and fending off pirates!<br /><br />4. Both <strong>Wii Fit Plus </strong>and <strong>ExerBeat</strong> measure the approximate amount of calories burned and measure the intensity of the exercises in METS. They also both have charts or graphs to measure how much time users spend working out each day, the option to set personal goals, and a calendar that can be stamped so that users can keep track of their progress.<br /><br />5. The <strong>Wii Fit </strong>and <strong>ExerBeat</strong> menus are very similarly organized. The <strong>Training</strong> menu of <strong>Wii Fit </strong>lists activities in the following categories:<br /><br />Yoga -------------------------(15 activities)<br />Strength Training ----------(15 activities)<br />Aerobics ---------------------(9 activities)<br />Balance Games -------------(9 activities)<br /><br /><strong>Wii Fit Plus</strong> provides 15 additional activities, as well as 3 additional Yoga activities and 3 additional Strength Training Activities.<br /><br />Similarly, the <strong>Exercise</strong> menu of <strong>ExerBeat</strong> lists activities in the following categories:<br /><br />. Dance Exercise<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7j_ymVtGSRM/TmXPdD-cBDI/AAAAAAAAAkQ/9DMJnMoyESM/s1600/Exerbeat%2B2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; width: 260px; height: 192px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5649149405796500530" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7j_ymVtGSRM/TmXPdD-cBDI/AAAAAAAAAkQ/9DMJnMoyESM/s400/Exerbeat%2B2.jpg" /></a><br />. Martial Arts<br />. Body Conditioning<br /> . Party Fitness<br /></div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><p><br />Unlike <strong>Wii Fit</strong> however, the first 3 categories branch out into further, more specific categories from which you must choose:</p><p>. Dance Exercise ---------> Aerobics / Hip Hop / Latin Dance<br /> <br />. Martial Arts ------------> Boxercising / Karate / Karate Forms<br /><br />. Body Conditioning ----> Stretching / Yoga and Pilates<br /><br />This means that, while <strong>Wii Fit</strong> might provide 15 different activities each in Yoga and Strength Training, <strong>ExerBeat</strong> provides about 15 activities in all 8 sub-categories! So if I am correct, this is the breakdown of what Exerbeat offers:<br /><br />. Dance Exercise</p><p>- Aerobics ----------> 20 activities<br />- Hip Hop ----------> 20 activities<br />- Latin Dance ------> 20 activities</p><p>. Martial Arts</p><p><br />- Boxercising ------> 20 activities<br />- Karate ------------> 20 activities<br />- Karate Forms ----> 10 activities<br /><br />. Body Conditioning</p><p>- Yoga / Pilates ----> 10 yoga, 10 pilates = 20 activities<br />- Stretching --------> 10 activities<br /><br />. Party Fitness ------> 5 activities<br /><br />Now, I must stress that I am not criticising <strong>Wii Fit </strong>or <strong>Wii Fit Plus </strong>for lack of variety. I intend to use both <strong>Wii Fit Plus </strong>and <strong>ExerBeat</strong> together. I am simply praising <strong>ExerBeat</strong> for its variety for my particular needs, and for my Fibromyalgia, variety of aerobic exercise is a major need! I also think that my familiarity with <strong>Wii Fit</strong> and <strong>Wii Fit Plus </strong>has allowed me to begin using <strong>ExerBeat</strong> without much difficulty. For example, I am somewhat used to having to follow certain visual cues with the Wii Remote in order for the game to register the accuracy of my movements.<br /><br />I hope to use <strong>ExerBeat</strong> to complete some aerobic exercise a little bit every day, and hopefully build stamina little by little, and decrease pain and fatigue in the long run. I’ll write about any progress I make whether with the Wii game or without, and as usual I welcome any comments or recommendations for similar games.</p></div>Lilly Briarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00966737406515696652noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3439193772966891052.post-32235002094351184172011-07-28T17:32:00.000-07:002011-07-28T17:44:13.452-07:00My Amazon.com Review of "Emotional Vampires"<div><div><div><font style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">The following is my review of the book <strong><font style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">Emotional Vampires: Dealing with People Who Drain You Dry</font></strong> by </font><font style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0);">Albert J. Bernstein Ph.D. </font><font style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">I gave the book 1/5 stars.</font><br /><font style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);" size="5"></font><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 230px; height: 230px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634568163941558578" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-23yB8VvwUHU/TjIB5FJ2KTI/AAAAAAAAAjo/f4GLPSy9Soc/s320/emotional%2Bvampires.jpg" /><br /><font style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);" size="5">Insulting, Ignorant, and Arrogant<br /></font><br />The only way I was able to gain insight from this book is by taking it with a grain of salt. I started becoming sceptical of the claims in this book when I read the following statement on page 97:<br /><br /><font color="#660000"><font style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);" color="#660000">“Histrionic vampires invented sexual harassment, both doing it and suing for it.”<br /></font><br /></font><font color="#993300"><font color="#000000">This is unbelievably offensive to anyone who has ever been sexually harassed, which is considered a form of abuse. This claim is similar to the myth that victims of rape were “asking for it.”<br /><br />Apart from making such offensive statements, the author also insults various professions. For example, in the chapter on Narcissism, he states on page 146-147:<br /></font><br />“To begin with, the process is called ‘creativity’ only when it generates ideas that are useful, convenient, and cost-effective. The rest of the time it’s called ‘being weird’ or ‘having a bad attitude’ ... Creativity means seeing things differently than other people, and it means believing that your vision is better than what’s already there. Nothing could be more insensitive, irreverent, annoying, threatening, and well, Narcissistic.”<br /><br /></font>To the Albert J. Bernstein, everyone in the creative professions such as artists, inventors, and writers are narcissists. Not only is his definition of creativity full of errors – for example, lots of talented, creative people such as Agatha Christie and Vincent Van Gogh actually think their work isn’t any good – but the Narcissists I’ve known were the LEAST creative people in the world! They spent more time trying to project an image that society would accept and admire judging the quality of things by the standards of society, and criticizing anything unique and creative than actually doing or developing anything creative.<br /><br />If I had to guess, I would say that this author is either jealous of people in the professions he criticises, or deeply misunderstands them and has no desire to truly understand them, and thus feels the need to “diagnose” them.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N2A8JQkdurY/TjIBqyB4_pI/AAAAAAAAAjg/zh9FOiujNe0/s1600/emotional%2Bvampires%2B2.gif"><img style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; width: 173px; height: 283px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634567918289747602" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N2A8JQkdurY/TjIBqyB4_pI/AAAAAAAAAjg/zh9FOiujNe0/s320/emotional%2Bvampires%2B2.gif" /></a><br />Other than the occasional advice on how to respond to “emotional vampires,” I think the best thing about this book is the illustrations – I would like to see more of the artist’s work, but oddly I cannot find the name of the illustrator anywhere in the book. Could this be due to Dr. Albert J. Bernstein’s obvious dislike of creative people?</div></div></div>Lilly Briarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00966737406515696652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3439193772966891052.post-72805102770062113262011-07-16T14:00:00.000-07:002011-07-28T17:44:13.459-07:00The Shocking Truth - What a 26-Year-Old Girl Really Wants For Her Birthday<div><div>Yesterday was my birthday ... I am now 26. About a month ago, I typed out my birthday list for my family and posted it on the fridge. No sooner had I done so than I immediately began to regret not adding certain requests. It occurred to me to reprint the list with the necessary amendments, but I concluded that I had already asked for so much that it wouldn’t be practical to add anything more.<br /> Nevertheless, I have had a lot more time to think about what I want for my birthday in the last month, and feel that I should definitely list my desires somewhere. So here it is – for anybody curious about what a 26-year-old girl really wants for her birthday, keep reading for some shocking insight:<br /><br /><font style="color: rgb(204, 153, 51);" size="5">What A 26-Year-Old Girl Really Wants For Her Birthday<br /></font><br /><strong>1. PEACE AND FUCKING QUIET!</strong><br /><strong></strong><br />For the last few days, this has been what I have wanted more than anything else in the world and the one person who constantly refuses to give me this gift is my mother. I love my mother very much and I know that she loves me too. But she is getting longer and longer-winded and, for some reason, louder and louder! I would give anything to not have to hear the conversations she has with my dad in the kitchen while I am in my bedroom with the door shut trying to sleep.<br /><br /><strong>2. A Brain for My Dad</strong><br /><br />This is something I have wanted since the age of 9 or 10, the age where it really dawned on me just how ignorant and thoughtless my father actually is. After watching a documentary a few days ago, I told my dad about what I learned – apparently every atom in our bodies was once inside a star that exploded. This means that we are literally made of stardust! I thought this was amazing, so I informed my dad of this newly learned fact. I should have guessed that he wouldn’t believe it. He thinks that God created the world in 7 days, that we came from Adam and Eve, that evolution is untrue, that science is “a lotta bullshit,” and yet continues to take his medication, use light bulbs, surf the web, and drive an automobile. Yes ... science is a lotta bullshit ... it never gave us anything useful!<br /><br /><strong>3. A Limit Placed On My Dad’s Sneezing</strong><br /><br />Everyday my dad has sneezing fits at least twice. And these fits contain 10 or more sneezes. If they were politely covered up or relatively quiet I would not have such a problem with this. But when my dad sneezes it sounds like he’s screaming! Is that really necessary? I realize people can’t control their sneezes, but couldn’t they control their voice to a certain degree when sneezing? Every time he sneezes, I want to loudly yell <strong>“SHUT UUUUUUUP!”</strong><br /><br /><strong>4. Laws Passed Regarding Annoying Commercials</strong><br /><br />I am starting to think that annoying commercials are dangerous to the sanity of the public, not to mention prejudiced against the elderly and people with health problems. Anyone unable to work or participate in certain kinds of activities might spend a great deal of time in front of the television. While the programs available may be annoying themselves, the commercials that interrupt them make me want to brutally destroy the television! They are loud <strong>(Gillette Fusion Proglide)</strong>, repetitive <strong>(DejaView shows)</strong>, sexist <strong>(Axe Hair Products)</strong>, poorly acted and scripted <strong>(Bump It)</strong>, mind-numbingly stupid <strong>(IntelliEAR)</strong>, obnoxious <strong>(ShamWow and Slap Chop)</strong>, and lastly, by using excerpts of popular songs they ultimately “promote” their product by ruining a song for the public forever <strong>(Swiffer)</strong>. Some senior citizens like my mother and people with disabilities like me and my brother rely on television at times when we are too tired or physically unable to occupy our time otherwise. It’s bad enough that the shows available appeal to the lowest common denominator, but to subject us to these mindless commercials is unusual cruelty. I wouldn’t be surprised if long-term exposure to these ads actually kills more brain cells than dangerous drugs. I think there should be strict laws passed against mindless, meaningless, boring, loud, repetitive, ads and that if a commercial breaks a law no more commercials for that product can be aired. If anyone could pass such legislation as a birthday gift to me, I would be forever grateful.<br /><br /><strong>5. Better Quality Programming</strong><br /><br />While I do not despise television shows as much as the commercials that molest them and their viewers, I do long for better quality programming. I want more documentaries about diverse topics aired all day every day: like I said, some people with health problems may rely on television to occupy their time so only airing complete garbage is insulting and cruel. Some people are smarter than to be satisfied with The Jerry Springer Show, which is really just the modern-day equivalent to the barbaric carnival freak shows of the past. Here are the following TV shows that I do enjoy – executive producers take note:<br /><br /><strong><strong<em>><em>;- Great Thinkers Of Our Time (The Mark Steel Lectures)<br />- History Bites<br />- Art Attack<br />- Twin Peaks<br />- LOST<br />- The Twilight Zone (1950s)<br />- True Blood<br />- Pushing Daisies<br />- Mad Men<br />- Doctor Who<br />- Daria<br />- The Big Bang Theory<br />- Alienated</em></strong<em><br /><strong<em></strong<em><em><br /><strong<em><strong></strong></strong<em></em><strong></strong><br />6. Cameron Diaz and Julia Roberts to Stop Smiling On Camera</strong>Okay, I get that these two actresses are famous and attractive, and I get that they appear in chick-flicks. I also get that they have nice smiles and everything but, after a while, seeing their lovely smiles ALL THE TIME lowers their uniqueness. Every time I see a commercial for a dumb chick-flick featuring one of these women, I feel like the voice-over should really just say <strong>“See <em>this</em> guy make <em>this</em> girl <em>this</em> happy!” </strong> Alternatively, the voice-over could also say, <strong>“You probably identify with this girl so if you see this movie, <em>this</em> is how happy it will make you feel!” </strong>Even scenes not shown in the ads seem to show these actresses unnaturally happy at moments in the film that don’t seem to be that special! Am I the only one who’s noticed this?!<br />There are probably other actresses who could show their teeth a little less also.<br /><br /><strong>7. Prohibition on Re-making Old Movies</strong><br /><br />Apparently some people are way too cool to like any entertainment that was not created this year. Anything old is just disgusting! Well, that attitude is really great for business because that means that the movie, fashion, music, and television industries can recycle anything and still make money off of it! Think about it: if the public is too cool to try and watch older movies such as Halloween, Clash of the Titans, and King Kong, then studios can re-make them employing famous actors of the day and using modern special effects and technology. Then the movie-goers will automatically assume that the hotter actors and better affects mean that the film will be worth seeing, that it would be like taking something old and crappy and making it better! Well ... it’s not. For those of us who can appreciate older movies and aren’t so easily distracted by special effects and beautiful people it feels like HARDLY ANY MOVIES ARE BEING MADE.<br /> Think about it. Imagine for a moment that there was a portion of the public that did not want to see ANY re-made movies and ONLY preferred the originals ... think of how little a selection of movies at the theatres there would be for such an audience! People who are unafraid of entertainment from the past still deserve to have movies geared towards them. If a studio re-makes a film, I think they should have to re-interpret or add something to it so that those of us who enjoyed the original can still enjoy the re-make.<br /><br />I think that’s all for now. If I can think of any more birthday list amendments I will certainly add them.</div></div>Lilly Briarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00966737406515696652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3439193772966891052.post-5012486939708233482011-07-01T13:30:00.000-07:002011-07-01T16:19:58.928-07:00Dr. Keith Ablow and Fox News Smear Bill Maher<span style="color:#660000;"><span style="color:#000000;">The clip I am discussing can be viewed at the following</span><strong> YouTube</strong></span><span style="color:#660000;"> </span>link:<br /><br /><br /><p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53p0_ZlCCR4&feature=mh_lolz&list=WL79479D6CCED517CC">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53p0_ZlCCR4&feature=mh_lolz&list=WL79479D6CCED517CC</a><br /><br />I don't actually watch <span style="color:#660000;"><strong><em>Real Time With Bill Maher</em></strong></span><span style="color:#000000;"> and I DEFINITELY do not watch <strong><span style="color:#660000;"><em>Fox News</em></span></strong>,</span> but I was stunned at the above clip that someone posted on the HBO website.</p><br /><p>I would like to point out the following observations:<br /><br />1) The news reporter couldn't even properly name Bill Maher's documentary! He called it "<em>Religiosity</em>," while it is actually called <span style="color:#660000;"><em><strong><span style="color:#660000;">Religulous</span></strong> </em></span><span style="color:#000000;"><em>-</em> it is a portmanteau of the words <em>"religion"</em> and <em>"ridiculous."</em></span></p><br /><p>2) The psychiatrist, Dr. Keith Ablow, states that Bill Maher is <strong><span style="color:#cc9933;">"not affiliated with life at all."</span></strong> How can a living person NOT be <em><strong><span style="color:#cc9933;">"affiliated"</span></strong></em> with life? He has life, he works with living people, he lives in a society of living people ... am I missing something?</p><br /><p>3) Keith Ablow claims that Bill Maher hates or <strong><span style="color:#cc9933;">"has it in for" women.</span></strong> If Bill Maher is in favour of abortion, how does he HATE women ... it sounds like someone pro-abortion is in favour of women being able to make their own choices. It also sounds like he would very strongly care about women, as women who live in areas where abortion is not legal still seek abortion from people who are unqualified to perform them. This means that <strong><span style="color:#cc9933;">20 million unsafe abortions are performed every year</span></strong> in places where it is illegal, and each year <span style="color:#cc6600;"><strong><span style="color:#cc9933;">67 000 women die due to complications from these procedures.</span> <span style="color:#000000;">With these statistics in mind, I'd say that anyone in favour of legalizing abortion is actually "pro-women" and"pro-life" for that matter, in the sense that legalized abortion performed by qualified doctors could prevent many deaths. </span></strong></span><br /><br /></p><br /><p><a href="http://www.who.int/reproductivehealth/publications/unsafe_abortion/9789241596121/en/index.html">http://www.who.int/reproductivehealth/publications/unsafe_abortion/9789241596121/en/index.html</a><br /><br /></p><br /><p>4) Maher didn't call Bristol Palin a <strong><em>"slut"</em></strong> for being <strong><em>"horny."</em></strong> It doesn't seem like he is implying that there is anything wrong with being <strong><em>"horny."</em></strong> But this supposed psychiatrist is! <strong><span style="color:#cc9933;">Ablow practically said that if any women have sex <em>because</em> they are horny then they are sluts!</span></strong> It's obvious to me that Bill Maher is just trying to point out the fear and shame people have of sexuality and sexual feelings. I doubt he would be making fun of this if the young woman simply acknowledged that it's not practical for everyone to wait to have sex until they are married -- after all, not everyone ends up getting married!<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#cc9933;">Bill Maher didn't actually criticize or make fun of Palin for being "horny." It seems he was doing kind of the opposite - criticizing her for feeling the need to hide the natural urges every human being has.<br /></span></strong>To Dr. Ablow on the other hand, use of the word "horny" implies that she is a slut ... therefore implying that only sluts get horny. A slut is supposed to be someone who sleeps with MANY people, not just one, but this doctor is implying that a girl doesn't even have to sleep with a man to be a slut ... she just has to have the desire to sleep with a man to be a slut.<br /><br />I hope no young girls saw this, because obviously Keith Ablow is the one who is ANTI-WOMEN.<br /><br />I also thought the alternative Ablow suggested was hilarious - he pointed out that Bill Maher could have phrased her not as being horny, but as HAVING FEELINGS for the boy. Let's get serious for a minute: if people only had sex WHEN they wanted to express their love for someone, they wouldn't do it that often. Married people would stop having sex after the first year of marriage! When one partner would try to initiate something the other would say, "It's okay honey, you don't have to prove to me that you love me ... I believed you the first time." Even married people sleep together often because they are horny!<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#cc9933;">It's because of people like Keith Ablow that this young girl felt the need to cover up consciously consenting to sex before marriage. As a comedian, Bill Maher was pointing out the silliness of this kind of attitude, and as conservatives the news station and doctor had to re-validate and re-inforce this attitude. </span></strong></p>Lilly Briarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00966737406515696652noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3439193772966891052.post-20340275643303658182011-06-13T00:44:00.000-07:002011-06-13T01:38:54.620-07:00Spectacular SOCKS - LittleMissMatched<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZFhMcvQ8IwA/TfXBNChwkKI/AAAAAAAAAjQ/QViGXIE1Grc/s1600/DSCN1963.JPG"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 299px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617608539975487650" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZFhMcvQ8IwA/TfXBNChwkKI/AAAAAAAAAjQ/QViGXIE1Grc/s400/DSCN1963.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br />Once upon a time when I was in high school, I was getting ready to leave for class when I noticed that my only 2 pairs of socks clean each had one sock with a hole in the bottom. It just so happened that both pairs were of the same brand, so it occurred to me that I could literally wear the mismatched socks - one sock from each pair - and my feet wouldn’t know the difference. Ever the nonconformist, I did just that – I chose the intact sock from each pair and wore them to school, not caring whether anyone noticed I was wearing two different socks. In fact, I was actually proud of this fashion innovation and pointed it out to my friend Sarah while changing for gym class. Ever the tightly-wound conformist, Sarah scoffed at me for making what she considered an uncool fashion faux pas. Well, in this segment of <strong><span style="color:#660000;">Spectacular SOCKS</span></strong>, I would like to point out that my supposed fashion faux pas had made mainstream fashion with <span style="font-size:130%;color:#660000;"><strong>LittleMissMached</strong></span>!<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 375px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617608407080667042" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oXmzhlHQgBE/TfXBFTdKh6I/AAAAAAAAAjI/cm8-xFdFRXA/s400/DSCN1959.JPG" /><br />I discovered <strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#660000;">LittleMissMached</span></strong> while browsing the children’s section in <strong>Chapters</strong> at <strong>Devonshire Mall</strong>. Being a sock enthusiast, I was immediately drawn to a spinning rack displaying packages of socks. <strong>To my amazement, the packages did not contain pairs of <em>identical </em>socks, but a trio of unique socks! Talk about lonely socks!</strong> I bought the following 2 pairs for $10.00 each:<br /><br /><br /></span><br /><div><span style="font-family:verdana;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 299px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617608155127817778" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oG4kWiWD1Hk/TfXA2o27JjI/AAAAAAAAAjA/5v_fOntgSio/s400/DSCN1965.JPG" /><br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 299px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617607933394486290" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QOJ4GyUJm8Q/TfXApu1lBBI/AAAAAAAAAi4/ZGnd3lcjaoI/s400/DSCN1967.JPG" /><br /><br />At first I thought <strong>$10.00</strong> was a bit pricy for 3 unmatched socks, but then I considered that with each package the buyer receives 3 different options for combining the socks, and thus with each package really contains 3 pairs of socks! Observe:<br /><br />3 socks in a package: Sock A, Sock B, and Sock C<br /><br />The following combinations are optional:<br /><br />Sock A + Sock B = 1st mismatched pair<br />Sock A + Sock C = 2nd mismatched pair<br />Sock B + Sock C = 3rd mismatched pair<br /><br />Three combinations of mismatched pairs of socks can be made – and if you choose to alternate which sock you wear on which foot, you can even argue there are six possible combinations per package!<br /><br />I visited the website <strong><span style="color:#660000;">LittleMissMatched</span></strong> which you can reach at the following link:<br /><br /></span><a href="http://www.littlemissmatched.com/"><span style="font-family:verdana;">http://www.littlemissmatched.com/</span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;"> </span></div><br /><br /><div><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Apart from socks, the website offers apparel for girls and women. You can shop according to which clothing items you are looking for such as <strong>T-shirts</strong> or <strong>Pajamas</strong>, or browse the various <strong><em>Collections</em></strong> like the<strong><em> <span style="color:#660000;">Zany</span></em></strong> collection. Zany boasts that it includes every colour: <span style="color:#660000;">“You’ll never have to choose one colour over another!”</span> while <strong><span style="color:#660000;"><em>Kooky</em></span></strong> includes complimentary colours: <span style="color:#660000;">“Opposite colors attract when it comes to our Kooky stuff!”</span> Another collection called <strong><em><span style="color:#660000;">Preppy Zoo</span></em></strong> is </span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="color:#660000;">“a colourful zany twist on bold animal patterns!”<br /></span><br />I love the other socks they have available, not to mention the accessories such as <strong>Duffel Bags</strong>, <strong>Tote Bags, Flip Flops, and Water Bottles</strong>.<span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><strong><span style="color:#660000;">What I love the most besides the patterns and designs themselves, is that the patterns on the accessories actually correspond to the patterns or designs on the socks!</span></strong> This means that if there is a particular pattern or set of designs you like in the set of 3 socks, you can buy other items with these same designs! The <strong><span style="color:#660000;">Zany Black Backpack</span></strong>, for example, matches all three patterns of stripes, polka dots, and stars in my black set of socks. So while your socks may not match each other, they can certainly match your purse and flip flops! </span></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vXbDoQkUlXQ/TfW__00a2BI/AAAAAAAAAiw/4UNeeu0bx7M/s1600/Sock%2BBlog.jpg"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 284px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 279px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617607213445732370" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vXbDoQkUlXQ/TfW__00a2BI/AAAAAAAAAiw/4UNeeu0bx7M/s320/Sock%2BBlog.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></div></span></span><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jW3QSzZzUVY/TfXEQ3AeLNI/AAAAAAAAAjY/DAam7PXuYDs/s1600/DSCN1967.JPG"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 285px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 198px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617611904137440466" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jW3QSzZzUVY/TfXEQ3AeLNI/AAAAAAAAAjY/DAam7PXuYDs/s200/DSCN1967.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">There is also a <strong><span style="color:#660000;"><em>Bed and Bath</em></span></strong> section on this website that offers fun and “zany” items for <strong>girl</strong>, <strong>baby</strong>, and <strong>toddler</strong> bedrooms.<br /><br />While I love the products available on this site, I have a few very large complaints and I greatly hope this store will work on changing them:<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><strong>Complaint # 1<br /></strong><br /><strong>This store ships within the U.S. only.</strong> It ships to all 50 states and to Puerto Rico, but does not ship to Canada – which means that I cannot order anything from this website, no matter how much I love the products. This is a shame, as I am obviously a big sock enthusiast.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><strong>Complaint # 2<br /><br />This store only gears its products to girls and women.</strong> Perhaps it is apparent in the name of the store, LittleMissMatched, but I was a little bit disappointed that they have no products geared towards boys and men. Some products in the Bed and Bath section that for toddlers and babies seem to be targeted at boy children, but I am merely assuming this because the colour blue is featured. This seems a little bit disappointing, as the products for girls have such a variety of colour. Even if the products for boys have a slightly different colour palette, I think they should be just as bright and colourful. I would love to see more products on this website marketed to boys and men – from socks and apparel to accessories and bedding.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><strong>Complaint # 3<br /><br />This store does not carry plus-sizes.</strong> Even though products are labelled as being for “Girls and Women” <strong>the largest size available in clothing is a size 16, which is meant for a woman with a 27 inch waist, 32-33 inch chest, and an overall weight of 101-110 pounds.</strong> If this store was only targeting <em>children or girls</em>, I would not necessarily have as big a problem with this. The labels on the website, however, specifically say that the apparel is for <strong><em>"girls and women"</em></strong>. Furthermore, even if the products were geared to children and teens only, I would still like to see plus sizes available for them.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">In conclusion, I love the idea of selling mismatched socks. I also love the fun colour combinations, patterns, and designs available. The variety is great, and I love the different collections. I also love that, while the socks may not match each other, they can match other accessories available. Still, I would love this store so much more if I was able to order the products from their website and have them shipped to my home in Canada. And of course I would prefer to be able to wear ALL of the products, including the clothing, which is not available in my size. <strong>If anyone from</strong> <strong><span style="color:#660000;">LittleMissMatched</span></strong> <strong>is reading this, I love the products from your website, and if you can make your products available to Canadians you can be sure that I will be your first Canadian customer. If you can broaden your apparel to include plus size clothing, I will most likely spend even more money buying the clothes from your website. I am willing to bet that other Canadians and plus size women will do the same, and if you make a line of products aimed at boys and men, you will probably gain even more customers! </strong></span><br /><br /><br />That's all for this segment of <strong><span style="color:#660000;">Spectacular SOCKS</span></strong>. If anyone has any comments, please feel free to share them, and if you have any suggestions for more <span style="color:#660000;"><strong>Spectacular SOCKS</strong></span> blogposts and reviews, please let me know.</span>Lilly Briarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00966737406515696652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3439193772966891052.post-85342453419762208742011-04-24T13:58:00.000-07:002011-04-24T16:29:03.172-07:00Easter Crafts<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 299px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599258225641623538" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3orEaC1WWo8/TbSPsKkNj_I/AAAAAAAAAg8/zXEH-BAlLIM/s400/DSCN1732.JPG" /><br />Above are four wooden hanging decorations that I bought unfinished from <strong>Dollarama</strong>. Unfortunately I do not have "before" pictures to show what they looked like before I painted them. I found them last year in the seasonal section of the store which usually includes craft decoration supplies partaining to the holliday or season. I painted them using Acrylic craft paints, some of which can be found at Dollarama as well in the craft section.<br /><br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">Baby Chicks<br /></span><br /></strong><br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kk2q8AHt1lk/TbSQQ8kFLwI/AAAAAAAAAhU/vtW8CCdpuzk/s1600/DSCN1739.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 299px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599258857538137858" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kk2q8AHt1lk/TbSQQ8kFLwI/AAAAAAAAAhU/vtW8CCdpuzk/s400/DSCN1739.JPG" /></a><br /><br />I chose to use colours typically associated with Easter and Spring such as pale pinks, purples and yellows, Lime Green, and Turquoise Blue. Though pale shades are often used in Easter decorations, I also included darker shades of pink, purple, yellow, and green because all shades are usually found in nature. Easter is closely associated with the beginning of Spring and end of Winder, new life, and thus with nature itself, so I thought it was important to include other shades typical of flowers, grass, the sky, etc ... I also outlined or drew features such as eyes using a dark, inky pen after the paint was dry.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PRqNNvT5_1k/TbSQHPlR8mI/AAAAAAAAAhM/e4SgJduyo8o/s1600/DSCN1738.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 299px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599258690844750434" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PRqNNvT5_1k/TbSQHPlR8mI/AAAAAAAAAhM/e4SgJduyo8o/s400/DSCN1738.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">Close-Up Images</span><br /></strong><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jD2wh6exlv4/TbSRvJyOcnI/AAAAAAAAAiM/JFX342KvmI0/s1600/DSCN1755.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 271px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 365px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599260475994829426" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jD2wh6exlv4/TbSRvJyOcnI/AAAAAAAAAiM/JFX342KvmI0/s400/DSCN1755.JPG" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MJids4thWpY/TbSRnSxdixI/AAAAAAAAAiE/_fwbsfN0G8o/s1600/DSCN1756.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 274px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 365px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599260340968590098" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MJids4thWpY/TbSRnSxdixI/AAAAAAAAAiE/_fwbsfN0G8o/s400/DSCN1756.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">Easter Bunnies<br /></span></strong><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><div><br /></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 299px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599259171647433570" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-H2FSj1f0fhM/TbSQjOtkq2I/AAAAAAAAAhk/59w4cNDuIoc/s400/DSCN1742.JPG" /> </div><br /><br /><div>For the Easter Bunnies I outlined eyes, noses, whiskers, and other details with pencil before going over them in pen. I chose to give them a cartoonish rather than realistic appearance. I also chose to use two different shades of green for the grass to add more colour. I added some flowers to the background of one decoration to make it more colourful. Since the shapes of all four decorations are those of the Easter Basket, I painted the basket handles each with three different colours of stripes. While the stripes don't actually look woven like a basket, I do think the colours chosen give the right effect. If I could redo the pieces, I would probably choose shades that compliment each other more for the handles, and would paint the stripes to look woven in the stile of baskets.</div><br /><br /><div><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 299px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599259046735415170" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DAaOQscXDvs/TbSQb9YOh4I/AAAAAAAAAhc/3I5Tz_AFG20/s400/DSCN1741.JPG" /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">Close-Up Images<br /></span></strong><br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Bq5GY2tPNwQ/TbSRc4Ic64I/AAAAAAAAAh8/bA36k-EWBwA/s1600/DSCN1748.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 277px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 374px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599260162018569090" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Bq5GY2tPNwQ/TbSRc4Ic64I/AAAAAAAAAh8/bA36k-EWBwA/s400/DSCN1748.JPG" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Xz6dZ0bSu6Q/TbSRSW3iDZI/AAAAAAAAAh0/CL0DHc4I9TY/s1600/DSCN1747.JPG"></a></div><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Xz6dZ0bSu6Q/TbSRSW3iDZI/AAAAAAAAAh0/CL0DHc4I9TY/s1600/DSCN1747.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 279px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 373px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599259981290540434" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Xz6dZ0bSu6Q/TbSRSW3iDZI/AAAAAAAAAh0/CL0DHc4I9TY/s400/DSCN1747.JPG" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Xz6dZ0bSu6Q/TbSRSW3iDZI/AAAAAAAAAh0/CL0DHc4I9TY/s1600/DSCN1747.JPG"></a></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Xz6dZ0bSu6Q/TbSRSW3iDZI/AAAAAAAAAh0/CL0DHc4I9TY/s1600/DSCN1747.JPG"></a></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Xz6dZ0bSu6Q/TbSRSW3iDZI/AAAAAAAAAh0/CL0DHc4I9TY/s1600/DSCN1747.JPG"></a></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Xz6dZ0bSu6Q/TbSRSW3iDZI/AAAAAAAAAh0/CL0DHc4I9TY/s1600/DSCN1747.JPG"></a></div><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><div><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 299px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599258413051306322" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4y8ESO9VDPk/TbSP3EuKYVI/AAAAAAAAAhE/1mWr8jA6Jao/s400/DSCN1735.JPG" /><br /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Lilly Briarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00966737406515696652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3439193772966891052.post-46440086773839029892011-04-01T19:03:00.000-07:002011-04-10T12:05:14.832-07:00Why I Love Wii Fit!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uEVJ9KJC0SA/TZal0VUUvlI/AAAAAAAAAgs/5Kl8u9c5Xk4/s1600/Wii%2BFit%2B3.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 224px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590838305921220178" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uEVJ9KJC0SA/TZal0VUUvlI/AAAAAAAAAgs/5Kl8u9c5Xk4/s400/Wii%2BFit%2B3.jpg" /></a> <span class="Apple-style-span">Greetings fellow bloggers! I have taken a sabbatical from writing about the fascinating world of socks to put most of my energy towards physiotherapy. To be specific, I have been told that the best treatment for my <b>Fibromyalgia</b> is daily aerobic exercise, and so for the last 3 months I have been exercising daily using my<span class="Apple-style-span"> <b><span class="Apple-style-span">Nintendo Wii</span></b>.</span></span> <br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 264px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590838468361096162" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-l5lDYL1D8ns/TZal9ydAi-I/AAAAAAAAAg0/R0gI_JjZXwQ/s320/Wii%2BFit%2B2.jpg" />I have had <b><span class="Apple-style-span">Wii Fit</span></b> for a long time now, but have only been able to use it regularly since the start of the new year. For the last two years the game was sitting in our living room closet barely used, and I felt wasteful and guilty for having asked my parents for it in the first place. But now that I have started a new medication, my energy and motivation is greatly improved, so I am now able to be more proactive about my condition. Now that I am actually physically capable of exercising regularly, I am so thankful that I had the <b><span class="Apple-style-span">Wii Fit</span></b> waiting for me. For the last 3 months I have been completing my aerobic activity using <b><span class="Apple-style-span">Basic Step</span></b> <b>and <span class="Apple-style-span">Advanced Step</span></b>. <b>Originally I was only able to complete</b> <b>15 minutes of aerobics per day</b>, <b>repeating the 3 minute <span class="Apple-style-span">Basic Step</span> workout 5 times. Now I am able to complete 35 minutes of aerobics per day, repeating the 3 minute <span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">Basic Step</span> </span>5 times and the 5 minute <span class="Apple-style-span">Advanced Step</span> 4 times.</b></span></div><br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Z6-dwDdgz84/TZakie_2h0I/AAAAAAAAAgU/tXRgf567ERU/s1600/Wii%2BFit%2B4.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 369px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 294px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590836899770435394" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Z6-dwDdgz84/TZakie_2h0I/AAAAAAAAAgU/tXRgf567ERU/s400/Wii%2BFit%2B4.jpg" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UwvcXfvyhlU/TZalN_4l_cI/AAAAAAAAAgc/gICYtnh_TYg/s1600/Wii%2BFit%2B5.png"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 298px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590837647332736450" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UwvcXfvyhlU/TZalN_4l_cI/AAAAAAAAAgc/gICYtnh_TYg/s320/Wii%2BFit%2B5.png" /></a></b></span></div><br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span">I should note that I have never been much of a “gamer,” the only video game I had any real experience with was <b><span class="Apple-style-span">Super Mario Bros. 1</span></b> released in 1985.</span></div><br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span">And when I asked my parents for a <b><span class="Apple-style-span">Nintendo</span></b> console for my birthday, I only wanted one that I could use to play the old <b><span class="Apple-style-span">Super Mario</span></b> games from my childhood. So basically, when I ripped off the wrapping paper and found the strange, unfamiliar <b><span class="Apple-style-span">Nintendo <i>“Wii”</i></span></b>, I was actually quite disappointed.<span class="Apple-style-span"> <b><span class="Apple-style-span">I also felt pretty stupid that the included game disc included what I thought to be childish games. <span class="Apple-style-span">Tennis? Golf? Bowling?</span> Who wants to sit in their living room hitting</span></b></span></span></div><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 300px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 235px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590837928423734658" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AyLk8vnCdT8/TZaleXB6PYI/AAAAAAAAAgk/eU8cQAKQXto/s320/Wii%2BFit%2B7.jpg" /> <br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><span class="Apple-style-span">balls back and forth by pressing buttons with their game contro</span></b></span></span></div><br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><span class="Apple-style-span">ls!? I might as well play the old <span class="Apple-style-span">Pong game from 1975!</span></span></b></span></span></div><br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b></b></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span">Not being very tech-savvy, I had no idea at first that this console came with a motion-sensor, and thus game play involved actually exercising with the Nintendo. I felt rather stupid upon discovering this, as I had actually shouted at my parents for buying me such a boring, childish game.</span></b> I decided to try to find out more about the games that were available for this console, and came across <b><span class="Apple-style-span">Wii Fit </span></b>and its accompanying balance board. I immediately recognised that this could be useful in my rehabilitation from <b>Fibromyalgia</b> and discussed this with my parents. After many wild-goose chases for the recently released product, my father finally came home with one and my mother and I were overjoyed. When I registered my information on the game while awkwardly learning how to use this new-fangled technology, I became very quickly discouraged. My <b><span class="Apple-style-span">Wii Fit </span></b>age wasn’t too bad, but I was informed of my weight in such a way that you would think I was as obese as it was possible to be! <b><span class="Apple-style-span">Furthermore, when I actually attempted the 3-minute <span class="Apple-style-span">Basic Step</span>, I felt stupid for even thinking I was capable of using this device to exercise in the first place! Clearly this was designed for complete jocks who had no physical health problems and who probably coasted by at university on football scholarships.</span></b> After such discouragement, I didn’t touch the gadget for months. I did get it out occasionally, however, to try to complete the aerobic exercise necessary for my eventual independence, and each time it was with the intention of using the device regularly at 3 times per week at the very least. Despite my good intentions, I had only used my <b><span class="Apple-style-span">Wii Fit</span></b>, on average, once a month for the last 2 years! Now, that’s all changed.<b> <span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">This year I have used my</span> <span class="Apple-style-span">Wii Fit</span><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span">almost every day for the last 3 months – almost 90 days in a row. I have used it more in the last 3 months than I have in the last 2 years. This really reaffirms for me that my lack of physical activity has not been due to laziness – despite what the average ignorant asshole destined for Hell seems to think – but that it was simply a matter of being on the wrong medication. Now I know that no matter what insecure girls with body image issues try to convince me of, I am truly hard working when it comes to my health and fitness, and any lack of work on my part is due to legitimate problems that caused legitimate obstacles. In other words, the insecure girls who hate their bodies who have actually pressured me to exercises might as well have pressured a quadriplegic to stop being lazy and taking the elevator, and to take the stairs in order to heal their paralyzed limbs.</span></span></b></span></div><br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"></span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span"><b></b></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">Though I am not yet completely able-bodied, I feel tha</span>t</span> <span class="Apple-style-span">Wii Fit</span> <span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">has helped me a lot with my Fibromyalgia in the short time that I have been using it</span></span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">.</span> <b><span class="Apple-style-span">I love this game for the following reasons:</span></b></span> <b><span class="Apple-style-span">1. Users can easily see their improvement over time, which is extremely encouraging as it shows evidence that practice has been effective.</span></b></span></div><br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><b></b>The motion sensor, <b><span class="Apple-style-span">Balance Board</span></b>,<b><span class="Apple-style-span"> <span class="Apple-style-span">Wii</span></span></b> <b><span class="Apple-style-span">Remote</span></b>, and <b><span class="Apple-style-span">Nunchucks</span></b> can register your movements, and thus determine your accuracy in each activity. Your accuracy is then used to determine your score, which is then shown to you on a <b>top 10 list of your best scores</b>. So each time you attempt a specific activity, you can see how your accuracy compares to your previous attempts. Seeing your score improve is evidence that your accuracy has improved and thus users can feel that they have achieved results. Even an improvement by 3 or 4 points from one day to the next is evidence of improvement. This is extremely important to me because I have never felt that practicing a sport or physical activity has led to improvement of my skill or fitness. Perhaps this is because I have always had physical problems, but I always felt to some extent that exercise was futile. With <span class="Apple-style-span"><b>Wii Fit</b></span>, I always see even the most minor improvements. <b><span class="Apple-style-span">2. </span><span class="Apple-style-span">Wii Fit</span> <span class="Apple-style-span">rewards users for their accomplishments and completion of various activities by making available new activities or harder versions of the exercises.</span></b> This allows users to feel a sense of accomplishment and reward, while allowing for some variety and novelty in the activities. <b><span class="Apple-style-span">3. Several </span><span class="Apple-style-span">Wii Fit</span><span class="Apple-style-span"> activities are creative, fun, and humourous, which allows users to have fun while exercising. Fun and humour should never be under-estimated!</span></b> One of my favourites is a game called<span class="Apple-style-span"> <b><span class="Apple-style-span">Penguine Slide</span></b></span>, in which the user’s avatar is dressed in a penguin costume and has an audience of cheering penguins who are all very supportive and encouraging! The game takes place aboard a floating, wobbly ice berg, on which the user must shift their weight from the right foot to left and so on in order to catch as many fish as possible. The music alone makes this game worthwhile, but the fact that I am surrounded by penguins who seem to be big fans makes me smile every time I play this game! Watch a demo of <b><span class="Apple-style-span">Penguine Slide</span></b> by clicking on the screen below. <iframe title="YouTube video player" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/OCZMJJAjL-k" frameborder="0" width="640"></iframe><b><span class="Apple-style-span">4. </span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">Wii Fit</span> </span><span class="Apple-style-span">games can allow users to participate in existing sports which the user may never have played, and may never get the opportunity to try.</span></b> <b style="COLOR: rgb(204,153,51)">One aerobics activity I often played is called </b><b><span class="Apple-style-span">Rhythm Boxing</span></b><b style="COLOR: rgb(204,153,51)">. I enjoyed this because I have never before taken boxing lessons or even an aerobics class that involves the use of a punching bag! For people like me who have health problems, this is a wonderful feature, as some of us cannot often leave the house any time we wish!</b></span></div><br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b></b>I would also like to note that a famous character with a famous health problem has been known to use a <span class="Apple-style-span"><b>Nintendo Wii</b></span> for just this reason. Fans of <b>HBO’s</b> <i><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><span class="Apple-style-span">True Blood</span></b> </span></i>may recall the scene in which <b>Vampire Bill Compton</b> is seen on a bright sunny day on what appears to be a golf course. At first this is quite confusing, as the vampires of <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span">True Blood</span></i></b> cannot go outside during the day as the sun burns their skin. As the camera slowly zooms out, viewers see that Vampire Bill is not playing with a real golf club, but is holding a <span class="Apple-style-span"><b>Wii Remote</b></span>, and that he is actually in his living room playing <b><span class="Apple-style-span">Wii Golf</span></b>, and it is in fact night time. <b>Even <span class="Apple-style-span"><i>True Blood</i></span> vampires use the <span class="Apple-style-span">Nintendo Wii</span> to exercise and participate in activities that their condition would otherwise render impossible!</b></span> You can see <b>Vampire Bill Compton</b> playing with his <b><span class="Apple-style-span">Nintendo Wii</span> </b>in the <span class="Apple-style-span"><i><b>True Blood</b></i></span> clip below: <iframe title="YouTube video player" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/5bUi6jukZ_E" frameborder="0" width="480" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><span class="Apple-style-span">5. My favourite thing about </span><span class="Apple-style-span">Wii Fit</span><span class="Apple-style-span"> has to be that it gives me something to look forward to each day.</span></b></span><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 142px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590836005540035250" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hhE_26Qr_rI/TZajubuterI/AAAAAAAAAgM/DNvrY_svhb4/s200/Wii%2BFit%2B1.jpg" /> <br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span">This might seem a little bit silly to some people, but the combination of the above </span>4 qualities make <b><span class="Apple-style-span">Wii Fit </span></b>the highlight of my day. It makes me feel good to see that I improve in each activity, and it makes me feel good to think of how much more aerobics I can do each day compared to when I first started. I love the novelty of the activities, and this is why I eventually purchased <b><span class="Apple-style-span">Wii Fit <i>Plus</i></span></b>. This has <b>15 additional activities</b>, and I am trying not to try all of them right away so that I'll have something new to master. The fun and humourousness of the activities is also important to me because I do not often get to go out and have fun in the same ways that other young people my age do. Often, just discovering a new activity or option about the game can be entertaining, though other young people who are more used to video games may not find these new discoveries as amusing as I do. And of course, I get to feel good about knowing that everyday I am doing something to improve my health and ultimately lead me to be more able-bodied and independent. But in the meantime, <span class="Apple-style-span"><b>Wii Fit </b></span>is allowing me to make up for experiences I wouldn't otherwise be able to have right now, such as <b><span class="Apple-style-span">Boxing</span></b>, <b><span class="Apple-style-span">Kung Fu</span></b>, and <b><span class="Apple-style-span">Skiing</span></b>.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><b>In conclusion, I would just like to say that people often comment on our use of technology, expressing a fear that we are in fact becoming to dependent on technology. I don't deny this. But if the wheel is an early development of technology, then this means that the wheel chair is in fact a product of technology. Wheelchairs are a product of technology that make it possible for people with disabilities to be mobile and allows for a degree of independence. For people with certain disabilities, the wheelchair is an extremely important piece of technology. So while I agree that our increasing dependence on technology is disturbing and often unnecessary, I will also be the first to say that, for those who are not perfectly able-bodied, technology makes it possible to experience life and remain independent - whether it is the wheelchair aiding in mobility, or a video-game that simulates sports to aid in physiotherapy and rehabilitation from a health problem.</b></span></div><br /><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span">Maybe reliance on technology is only disturbing when we are able to live comfortably without it and its use ultimately causes us not to use our own abilities and thus to eventually lose them altogether. But maybe technology should be praised when it makes it possible for us to do what we otherwise could not and aids in our health and independence. Maybe the key to judging whether a piece of technology is beneficial or harmful is to determine whether it leads to <i>dependence</i> or<i> INdependence.</i></span></b></div><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><i></i></span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span">To learn more about Wii Fit visit </span></b><a href="http://wiifit.com/"><b>http://wiifit.com/</b></a>Lilly Briarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00966737406515696652noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3439193772966891052.post-64649422003086698442011-01-31T14:03:00.000-08:002011-01-31T14:28:20.840-08:002011 New Year's Resolutions<div><span style="font-size:180%;">Okay, the following is my new list of New Year's Resolutions for 2011, and I plan to record the progress of my following these goals right here on The Lonely Sock! Here goes:<br /></span><div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="color:#cc9933;"><strong></strong></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="color:#cc9933;"><strong></strong></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="color:#cc9933;"><strong></strong></span></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="color:#cc9933;"><strong></strong></span></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="color:#cc9933;"><strong>1. Have Fun!</strong><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_-LrDvbJFOvw/TUcy8b9xHpI/AAAAAAAAAfo/3VVNDLiyIG8/s1600/Book%2B2.jpg"><span style="font-size:180%;"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 186px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 212px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568475478147276434" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_-LrDvbJFOvw/TUcy8b9xHpI/AAAAAAAAAfo/3VVNDLiyIG8/s320/Book%2B2.jpg" /></span></a><br /></span> Everyday, read the entry from <strong><em><span style="color:#660000;">The Almanac of the Infamous, The Incredible, and The Ignored</span></em></strong> by <strong>Juanita Rose Violini</strong>. </span></div><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span></div><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span></div><br /><br /><p><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span></p><br /><br /><p><span style="font-family:verdana;"></p></span><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div><br /> Everyday, read the entry from <strong><em><span style="color:#660000;">This Book Will Change Your Life</span></em></strong> by <strong>Benrik</strong>, <span style="color:#660000;">and actually attempt as many tasks as possible</span>!<br />--> Record progress on blog and join Benrik cult! <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_-LrDvbJFOvw/TUcyw2o1ViI/AAAAAAAAAfg/9cSdzrCQWrs/s1600/Benrik%2B2.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 180px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 215px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568475279148799522" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_-LrDvbJFOvw/TUcyw2o1ViI/AAAAAAAAAfg/9cSdzrCQWrs/s320/Benrik%2B2.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br /><div><br /> Go to a different restaurant, cafe, or bar, every 1-2 weeks!<br />--> Record progress on blog and evaluate restaurants.<br /></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div><br /><strong><span style="color:#cc9933;">2. Improve Fibromyalgia – Become Physically Independent!</span> </strong></div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-LrDvbJFOvw/TUc2j_ooF-I/AAAAAAAAAfw/W65wXadULfA/s1600/Wii%2Bfit.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 128px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568479456272062434" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-LrDvbJFOvw/TUc2j_ooF-I/AAAAAAAAAfw/W65wXadULfA/s200/Wii%2Bfit.jpg" /></a><strong><br /></strong> Exercise daily, mostly with Wii Fit or other Nintendo Wii exercise programs. <div><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_-LrDvbJFOvw/TUc20rto_HI/AAAAAAAAAf4/jF6RMGCRO8A/s1600/Wii%2BRemote.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 146px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 151px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568479742982159474" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_-LrDvbJFOvw/TUc20rto_HI/AAAAAAAAAf4/jF6RMGCRO8A/s200/Wii%2BRemote.jpg" /></a></div><div></div><div> Abstain from Fast Food, Soft Drinks, Candy, and other Junk Food.<br /><br /></div><strong><span style="color:#cc9933;"></span></strong><div><strong><span style="color:#cc9933;"></span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="color:#cc9933;"></span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="color:#cc9933;"></span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="color:#cc9933;"></span></strong></div><span style="font-family:verdana;"><div><strong><span style="color:#cc9933;">3. Be Creative!</span></strong><br /><br /> Complete 1st issue of magazine.<br /> Make crafts using reused and recycled materials.<br />--> Post pictures of all on blog along with instructions<br /> Design, sew, and paint original clothes.<br />--> Post all clothes on blog.<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#cc9933;">4. Read More!<br /></span><br /></strong> Record books or essays read on blog and briefly discuss/review.<br /> Record all books I plan to read on blog. </span></div>Lilly Briarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00966737406515696652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3439193772966891052.post-43320526567315647202011-01-22T17:34:00.000-08:002011-01-22T19:26:07.615-08:00Ads For Proactive Solution Insult Your IntelligenceI have to speak out about this. <strong><span style="color:#660000;"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Proactiv</span> Solution</span></strong> commercials totally insult the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">public's</span> intelligence! Maybe I'm just noticing this because I've become so interested in <strong>AMC's</strong> <strong><em><span style="color:#660000;">Mad Men</span></em></strong>, a show about an ad agency - but I have been paying a lot more attention to ads lately, particularly those that use ridiculous tactics.<br /><br />Ads for <strong><span style="color:#660000;">Proactiv Solution</span></strong> feature celebrity endorsement, but it’s clear that the endorsements are scripted in such a way that they specifically use and rely on the public’s perception of that celebrity – even if those perceptions are false. It’s as if <strong><span style="color:#660000;"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">Proactiv</span> Solution</span></strong> knows that many people identify celebrities with the characters they play and their portrayals in the media, and thus assumes that <em><strong>everyone</strong></em> is ignorant enough to do so.<br /><br />For example, one ad features actress <strong>Jenna Fischer</strong> who plays receptionist <strong>Pam Beasley</strong> on <strong>NBC’s <em><span style="color:#660000;">The Office</span></em></strong>. Her character is one who works nine to five, Monday through Friday at a desk in an office. Her character is one who has to get up early, get ready, drive to work and be there at a specific time just like many average working people. Now, I’m not saying that actors and actresses don’t have to do this as well while they are filming, but I think their schedules might be a tad different than average people.<br />If you watch her <strong><span style="color:#660000;"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">Proactiv</span> Solution</span></strong> commercial below, <span style="color:#660000;"><strong>you will see that Jenna Fischer emphasizes the <em>time</em> she has had to spend in the morning concealing her acne.</strong> </span><strong><span style="color:#660000;">I find this odd since it implies that she has a regular nine to five, year-round job that she has to wake up early to get to. She’s an actress ... even if she does have to wake up early to get to her job, there is a make-up artist at the set who puts make-up on for her when she gets there ... she wouldn't even be putting on her own make-up!<br /><br /></span></strong><iframe class="youtube-player" title="YouTube video player" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/CwICZ_8VXnU" frameborder="0" width="480" type="text/html"></iframe><br /><br />It's clear to me that <strong><span style="color:#660000;"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">Proactiv</span> Solution</span></strong> assumes that the public will see the receptionist <strong>Pam Beasley</strong> from <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">Dunder</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">Mifflin</span> rather than the actual actress who plays her, and is actually counting on the public to have such a misconception in order for their ad to work!<br /><br />So far, I think every annoying <strong><span style="color:#660000;"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error">Proactiv</span> Solution</span></strong> commercial has done this, however subtle.<br /><br />For example, one version with singer <strong>Avril <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-error">Lavigne</span></strong> states that she<span style="color:#990000;"><strong> <span style="color:#660000;">"doesn't let acne push her around."</span></strong></span><span style="color:#660000;"> <strong>Of course she doesn't! She's wearing a leather jacket in this ad, so <em>obviously</em> she's really tough!</strong></span> Even people who don't know much about her know that she's been seen in "tomboyish" and punk clothing, which people probably associate with nonconformity, boldness, and toughness.<br /><br />Usually when companies use celebrity endorsements, it seems like they aim the ad at fans who might wish to be like those celebrities, and thus people who know a little bit about that celebrity. Proactiv is doing the opposite. The ads are geared to everyone, so they rely on assumptions the public makes about specific celebrities due to their portrayals in the media, the characters they play, the clothes they wear, or the way they appear in magazines.<br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#660000;">Bottom Line: I've been somewhat curious to try Proactiv Solution myself but every time I see one of their commercials I realize I can't bring myself to give money to a company that assumes I'm stupid enough to associate celebrities with stereotypes.</span></strong>Lilly Briarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00966737406515696652noreply@blogger.com1