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Tuesday, January 18, 2011

GCC Presents: Laurie Faria Stolarz

I know I owe you a report from my writing retreat. The short version is that it went well and I'm sticking with the bartender book, but it is proceeding a little bit more slowly than I'd hoped. My goal is to have a draft that is good enough to send to my agent on March 1st. But ummmmm as soon as I got home things slowed down. I kinda forgot how hard to write the chapter I've reached was going to be. Once I get back on track, I'll get a proper retreat blog up.

But while I was gone, one of my girlfriends from the Girlfriends Cyber Circuit celebrated the release of her new book and I did want to wait any longer to share my interview with Laurie Faria Stolarz with you!

Let's find out about her latest book, DEADLY LITTLE GAMES:

High school juniors Camelia and Ben have discovered a powerful bond: they both possess the power of psychometry, the ability to see the future through touch. For Ben, the gift is a frightening liability. When he senses a strong threat or betrayal, he risks losing control. Camelia’s gift is more mysterious. When she works with clay, her hands sculpt messages her mind doesn’t yet comprehend. Before either one has a chance to fully grasp their abilities, a new danger surfaces, but this time, Camelia is not the target. Adam, a familiar face from Ben’s past, is drawn into a puzzle he can’t solve. . . and his life is on the line. As the clues pile up, Camelia must decide whether to help him and risk losing Ben or do nothing and suffer the consequences. But in these games, who can be trusted?

And now let's get to know Laurie!

Laurie Faria Stolarz is the author of Deadly Little Secret, Deadly Little Lies, Deadly Little Games, Deadly Little Voices, Project 17, and Bleed, as well as the bestselling Blue is for Nightmares series, which has sold nearly 750,000 copies worldwide. Born and raised in Salem, Massachusetts, Stolarz attended Merrimack College and received an MFA in creative writing from Emerson College in Boston. For more information, please visit her Web site at www.lauriestolarz.com.

Q: Please tell us what your new book is about and what inspired you to write it.

Laurie: I wanted to write a story where the main character has to struggle with the idea of falling in love with someone who could potentially be dangerous. I tinkered with this concept in the first three books of my Blue is for Nightmares Series [(Blue is for Nightmares (Llewellyn 2003), White is for Magic (Llewellyn 2004), and Silver is for Secrets (Llewellyn 2005), as well as in Bleed (Hyperion 2006)]. In Bleed, in particular, there’s a young male character who was convicted for the murder of his girlfriend. His next relationship consists of pen pal letters he exchanges with a young girl while he’s in prison. Without giving too much away, the relationship is briefly pursued once he is released, but I wanted to bring this concept to another level.

Additionally, I wanted to continue experimenting with the supernatural (which I also use in my Blue is for Nightmares Series as well as in Project 17), showing how we all have our own inner senses and intuition, and how with work we can tap into those senses and make them stronger.

I started researching different types of supernatural powers and discovered the power of psychometry (the ability to sense things through touch). The concept fascinated me, and so I wanted to bring it out in a character, showing how sometimes even the most extraordinary powers can also be a curse.

Lastly, I wanted to apply these concepts to be part of a series. I love the idea of growing a main character over the course of several books.

Q: If there was a soundtrack for your book what are five songs that would be on it and how do they relate the story?

Laurie: I actually had a contest going last year that involved this very question. You can see the winning playlists here.

Q: Who were some of your inspirations to become a writer or the inspirations that keep you writing? Feel free to include other authors, teachers, parents, or people in other creative fields, whoever is an inspiration to you!

Laurie: I was inspired by one of my college professors. I was a business major as an undergrad, so I didn’t have a lot of room for English courses. But I filled one of my open electives with a creative writing course, taught by MaryKay Mahoney at Merrimack College (MA). Even though I loved to write, I never imagined that I could actually become an author as a profession. She really believed in my work, and told me that I owed it to myself to pursue my passion for writing. Nobody had ever said that to me before, and I honestly feel it made all the difference. I’m also continuously inspired by other authors, filmmakers, and screenwriters. In grad school, I was so lucky to be able to work with some amazing authors including Lisa Jahn-Clough, Jessica Treadway, and Steve Almond.

Q: Even though music plays in so heavily into my storytelling, I rarely can actually listen to it while I'm writing. Can you? How does music fit into your writing process?

Laurie: I use music to help when I need to get into a particular mood to write a scene, but otherwise I find it too distracting. Once the scene is done, I need to shut the music off.

Q: What is next for you? What are you working on now?

Laurie: I’m currently working on DEADLY LITTLE VOICES, the fourth book in the TOUCH series.

1 comment:

Liana said...

that books sounds really interesting. awesome interview!


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Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Work-In-Progress Wednesday: What I've learned about backstory from watching TV

So, as I mentioned in my latest Teen Fiction Cafe post, I watch a lot of TV. I feel guilty about it sometimes, especially when it cuts into my reading time, but I consider television to be a much better storyteller than it used to be. I barely watched anything in the mid to late 90s, I even spent most of the early 2000s scoffing that it was all reality crap. But then I realized there were some incredibly well-written programs out there. (There is some fun mindless entertainment, too, and I definitely indulge in that because everyone needs to unwind.) Suddenly I found myself more engrossed in TV than movies because I get to enjoy a longer story arc. And even though I spent years riding the whole "TV kills brain cells" train, I've actually found myself learning a ton from my shows lately. It's like a free--or I guess cost of my cable and Netflix subscriptions--education in pacing, character development, dialogue, and more.

Since I love to write nuanced characters, who the reader will either love to hate or will love but be frustrated with at times because they are REAL people living in shades of gray rather than black-and-white and making poor choices at times, those are the kinds of shows I seek out. That's why I love Mad Men and it's a large part of the reason why I've managed to watch two seasons of Sons of Anarchy in less than two weeks. Seriously, I watched half of season three on Sunday alone. It was insane. I spend a lot of time pondering the characters and how the writers make me empathize with people I would normally dislike and keep me going on the roller coaster ride with the characters I do like even when they make one bad choice after the next, but character development is something I'd like to think I'm pretty good at... I have a bunch of tools for it anyway.

On the other hand, my biggest weakness as a writer is backstory. It probably goes hand-in-hand with the character development thing. I know so much about my characters and have fleshed out their history in such a big way that I can't help bringing it into the book. Without fail, every time my critique partners get back to me on a manuscript, they ask if I can somehow trim the backstory. It is the bane of my existence. Not them saying that because they are almost always right, but the trimming. Ugh. Especially with this book because there is so much history, not just for my character but for her entire family.

I noticed a really interesting thing while I was watching Sons of Anarchy though. We were thrust into the lives of these interesting, insane characters in this motorcycle club which obviously has a lot of history. Plenty of hints were dropped about the past, many of which caused me to turn to my husband who has already seen the first four seasons of the show and ask questions. Of course, he'd always shake his head at me and tell me to be patient. (And let me just say that gentle reprimand occurs a lot in our marriage!) So I kept waiting for the flashbacks, like the ones we got in Mad Men as Don Draper's secret history was revealed. But three seasons into the show and I've yet to get a single flashback.

This frustrates me a bit because A. I'm impatient and B. I'm so character history obsessed, but for the most part it leaves me in awe. There is still backstory on Sons of Anarchy, it's a show with rich characters who have a lot of history, but it's only given to us in the moment. We learn about the past through dialogue. The past comes up when it's relevant to show, like when someone's former lover shows up. Still, these are places where I would be tempted as a writer to pause and let my character reflect via flashback, but on SOA they never do. You learn all you are going to learn from what the character's say, write (there are some voice over monologues from Jax's dead father, but we only get those when Jax is reading things his father has written), and from the expressions on their faces, body language, and physical reactions.

And I am fucking jealous.

I don't think I'd be capable of doing this. Definitely not with the book I'm currently working on and the other ideas I have also seem too drenched in character history to pull off something like what SOA does. But one day, dammit. It will be a goal.

For now, I just am going to have to rely on my CPs and a bunch of handy highlighters when I finish a manuscript so I can look at where I've gotten too backstory heavy and how I can trim and redistribute. However, when I can I will be trying to find ways to get history across in a scene/through dialogue. And for those of you who struggle with backstory and are RWA members, do check out the recent Romance Writers Report for an interesting article about how to cope with your oversharing habit.

What about you? Do you have backstory issues or tips for dealing with it? And what TV shows have taught you what kinds of writing tricks?

Jen84 said...

I have to say I also watch way too much tv, mainly Supernatural, NCIS, Gilmore Girls and my cousin and I are currently watching all of Buffy again but I had never really considered it as useful with writing. Next time I watch an episode I will be looking out for helpful things that before I may have missed!
I have the ooposite problem with backstory, I tend to not include enough. Because I know my characters I forget that other people don't and I am yet to find a solution for this...
Thankyou for the tip Stephanie :)

Stephanie Kuehnert said...

You are welcome, hope it helps! I'm into Buffy and Supernatural too right now. And the Gilmore Girls was a big inspiration for me last year :)

Adrianne said...

I had someone read a story I've been working on and their critique is that there wasn't enough backstory. It's hard to find a balance. You want to let readers in but you don't want to create so much that they're all, "Why, Hello, Mr. Exposition!"

I'm so late to a lot of scripted TV. I just finished Lost, and Supernatural is next on the list.

Stephanie Kuehnert said...

Yep, Adrianne, that is so true. It usually takes me until the revision phase to get things right because I need to see the whole story to know where the backstory belongs. Enjoy Supernatural! I'm loving it. I haven't watched Lost, but it's on the list for someday!

Wendy said...

Hey Stephanie!

It's been ages since I've been at your blog. It's cool to know you're making progress with all your projects.

Oddly enough, these last few days, I've been thinking the exact same thing you wrote about in this post. While SoA inspired your thoughts on anti-heroes, I have just begun watching The Shield and that show inspired mine.

The main character on that show is as grey as you can get. He does some really heinous things, but yet you still can't help but root for the guy. Kurt Sutter, the guy who wrote or co-wrote most of the scripts for The Shield is the writer/exec producer of SoA. While he doesn't seem to dispense a lot of writing advice, he's still an interesting guy to follow on Twitter.

I read an article on anti-heroes on TV and how it's a relatively a new thing (supposedly started with The Sopranos).

I can't think of any stand out YA novels that include this kind of character. Granted, teens aren't necessarily running guns, cooking meth, intimidating rival gang members, etc, but I would love to read a YA novel in which the character is likable, but does the cross the line. If any book suggestions come to mind, let me know.

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36 Following

Stephanie's books and other things

I like books. I like art. I have opinions.....you've been warned.

Currently reading

A Clash of Kings
George R.R. Martin
The Rich and the Rest of Us: A Poverty Manifesto
Tavis Smiley, Cornel West
The Wind Through the Keyhole (The Dark Tower, #4.5)
Stephen King, Jae Lee
Master Strokes: Watercolor: A Step-By-Step Guide to Using the Techniques of the Masters
Hazel Harrison
The Mad Art of Caricature!: A Serious Guide to Drawing Funny Faces
Tom Richmond (Illustrator)
Salvaged - Stefne Miller Aawwww come on! "Stefne"? Really? First StephEnie Meyers mother basterdised my name and now Stefne? That's not even the correct amount of sylables!


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Project News

Florence County Judicial Center Scheduled to Open Early 2018, Featuring Historic Courthouse Square

Stevens & Wilkinson reveals specifics of architecture, engineering and interior design planning and development Florence County, S.C., residents can expect as new judicial center project progresses toward completion. Columbia, S.C. – August 7th, 2017 – Stevens & Wilkinson, a full-service architecture, engineering and interior design firm based in Atlanta and Columbia, S.C., announced in July the

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Darla Moore School of Business building earns LEED Platinum

Columbia, S.C. (Jan. 12, 2017) – The University of South Carolina’s Darla Moore School of Business building has earned LEED Platinum certification, the highest certification awarded by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). Championed by Darla Moore, for whom the school is named, the building opened in August 2014. It is the first public building in

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Clemson University Core Campus Precinct Designed as New Multi-faceted Complex

The completed project represents a vibrant cross-section of campus life, capturing and manifesting the best of the “Clemson experience” for students.  COLUMBIA, South Carolina (December 2016) – Stevens & Wilkinson, a full-service architecture, engineering and interior design firm based in Atlanta and Columbia, S.C., recently completed site planning, architectural, and engineering design for Clemson University’s new

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Architectural Innovations for Immersive Learning Environments in K-12 Schools

New forms of architecture design for K-12 schools are creating in-depth, adaptive and flexible learning spaces for students with diverse and changing learning needs. There is a growing surge of activity focused on developing new learning environments in response to demands for increased interaction, collaboration, connectivity, engagement, and community. This movement is spearheaded by the need

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Former Georgia Archives Building Demolished

  Sunday, March 5, 2017 – In a controlled implosion, which took place shortly after 7 a.m. on Sunday, March 5, the former Georgia Archives building was brought down by a demolition crew to make way for Governor Deal’s new state courts facility. An estimated 1,400 people looked on as the crowd shouted, “Fire in

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Georgia State University’s new College of Law building gives rise to the next generation of learning and law

By Don Eberly, president and CEO of Eberly & Collard Public Relations | civil + structural ENGINEER August 2016 Issue In today’s competitive college and university environment in which higher education leaders seek to enroll and engage top-ranking students, the Georgia State University College of Law is broadly recognized as a prominent institute of learning. With a long-standing

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Cigar Factory Embarks On A New Life

Despite a false start and an arduous approval process, the resulting authenticity was worth the effort. By Commercial Architecture | Commerical Architecture’s Featured, Windows & Doors Section, July/August 2016 Issue “I tell the young architects in my office, sometimes projects can take seven years from start to finish,” said Ron Stang, AIA, LEED AP, and chairman of the

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University Green Building ‘Once-in-a-Career Opportunity’ for PE

By Eva Kaplan-Leiserson | National Society of Professional Engineers – PE Magazine The Challenge: The University of South Carolina has long been a leader in green building. In 2004, it opened the first green residential hall in the US. And the university’s new Darla Moore School of Business, which opened in fall 2014, is in the

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South Carolina business school on track to be region’s first net-zero energy commercial building

The project is part of a large DOE initiative to develop more buildings that can generate as much energy as they consume. By John Caulfield, Senior Editor | Building Design + Construction Magazine August 2015 Issue Later this year, the newest building at the University of South Carolina’s Darla School of Business expects to achieve LEED Platinum certification

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New Library Architectural and Building Engineering Design Honors Vernacular Style with State-of-the-Art Functionality

Stevens & Wilkinson announced the completion of the design and construction of the new Milton Library in Milton, Ga. The new 25,000-square-foot, one-story building has been deemed a figurative living room for the North Fulton community. Stevens & Wilkinson’s conceptualized design for the library included local vernacular style, natural materials, open floor plans with oversized windows,

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St John the Baptist Church, Edlington

Service times
Restoration project
Photo gallery
Forthcoming events
Thank you
Contact details

Introduction to St Johns

St. John the Baptist Church in Edlington is a thriving Anglican Church at the heart of this close knit community.

It is a church that is:

  • Warm and welcoming

  • Very active in the community

  • A Church of England church

  • Welcomes new members

  • Has traditional values

  • In the Diocese of Sheffield

The church of St. John the Baptist, Edlington is a registered Forward in Faith parish under the sacramental care of the Bishop of Beverley, having passed Resolutions A, B & C which means that only male priests are able to preside at the Mass.

Father Stephen Edmonds is the Parish Priest, and would welcome new visitors to the church.

If you want to know more about St John's Church in Edlington, or have a question then click here to contact us.


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Bible Study - Acts of the Apostles

Sat., May 13, 2017 10:30am ·

All are welcome as we explore some prominent New Testament figures from the Acts of the Apostles. You will be introduced to individuals who stand out in the initial evangelization of the Good News, notably Peter and. Paul, Philip the Deacon, Stephen, Cornelius, Barnabas, Lydia, Aquila, Priscilla, and Timothy.

Fr. Jack Hurley conducts this Bible study on Saturdays, May 6 & 13, from 10:30am to 11:45am, in the East Conference Room. Bring your Bible!


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"No man can become rich without himself enriching others"
Andrew Carnegie

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

ETF Trading Report: Grains, Small Cap ETFs in Focus

English: fireworks seen across the at Washingt...
English: fireworks seen across the at Washington, D.C., USA. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
As we advance in stock tips, U.S. stocks had a choppy session to open up the week as a lack of news kept investors focused on China growth concerns and worries over Washington D.C. policies. As a result, the Dow and the Nasdaq both fell by about 0.4% while the S&P 500 slumped by 0.2% on the day. No one sector really stood out during Monday’s session, although investors did see strength in the basic materials segment and a number of pharma and utility names. Meanwhile, some consumer companies along with a number of industrial goods makers, saw weakness, while JPM led the financials lower, losing about 2.7% on the day (see Beware These Three Volatile Financial ETFs). Investors did see small inflows into the Treasury bill market as the 10 year saw yields slump by about two basis points on the session. Commodities, on the other hand, continued to rebound as strength was seen in oil (but not natural gas), while grains were solid performers once more, led by 4.0%+ moves in both the corn and the wheat markets. For ETF volume, trading levels were depressed once again across the board. Major equity products traded about half their normal volume, while investors saw similar levels in many major emerging market and commodity products as well. ... Continue to read.
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Thursday, 29 August 2013

David and Goliath

I am now within weeks of finishing my dissertation and two years of postgraduate study, but I have been able to get some paint on my brush during times when I need a break from describing victims of mustard gas. During one of these stints I managed to finally tackle the last of my Triples stash. I had picked up several KV-2s and a T-26 Flamethrower tank by Zvezda all in 1/100 scale. as with all the Zvedza kits, they were easy to put together and a pleasure to paint. I've yet to come across a bad Zvezda kit. Enough waffle, onto the pictures.

I have four of these beasts. That will be enough as they were only used in small numbers on the front anyway.

I'm looking forward to seeing how much devastation that 152mm gun will bring...

And David; the T-26 Flamethrower tank. I only found one of these on the stalls at Triples, but again, that's enough for my needs.

That's all for now, thanks for looking!!

Monday, 26 August 2013

It Ain't Half Hot, Mum

I have been away for the weekend touring Holland, Belgium and the UK with the band Goat Leaf, but before I left I finished off my first British battalion for the Malaysia campaign of 1941/2. The OOB came from the excellent Japanese World War II Scenarios (Volume Two) Malaya by A. Michael Sayce which is specifically for Rapid Fire. I got my copy from Cavalier Books.

The unit consists of:
HQ = CO + 6 figs (1 x Boys A/T rifle, 1 x 2" mortar)
3 x Infantry Companies, each with 8 figures (1 x SMG, 6 x rifles 1 x Bren)

All the figures are from the Peter Pig Eighth Army Range, which is the correct uniform that the men would have worn before it changed over to the jungle pattern, later.

I followed the Flames of War guide to painting the Eighth Army, but added a dark green helmet instead of a sand coloured one.

The battalion is a much smaller unit than their Japanese opponents and has far less firepower, but I guess that adds to the challenge. I have a couple more of these units plus some 2 pounder A/T guns to finish before I can get a game with them, but it won't be far off now. Thanks for looking!

Wednesday, 21 August 2013

1/35th Deutsches Afrikakorps Panzer IIg

I have just put the finishing touches to the 1/35th Tamiya Panzer IIg which I have been building for the last couple of weeks. I varnished the entire thing to protect it, but I think it dulled the paint job too much. Oh well, lesson learned... It was mounted on a base from these people and I think it will make a nice addition to the rest of my models:

I hope you like it as much as I do! Thanks for looking!

Sunday, 18 August 2013

1/35th Tamiya Panzer II WIP pt.3

I found an hour to paint up the four Afrika Korps figures that go with the Panzer II which I am currently building. I used a combination of the following Vallejo paints procured from a list I found on TMP.

Uniform: Yellow Ochre 913, Khaki 988, Desert Yellow 977
Webbing: Sand Yellow 916
Helmet: Tan Yellow 912
Boots: Red Leather 818

I painted each figure with a different uniform combination, just to break up the unit. DAK uniforms suffered very badly in the harsh conditions, plus extra supplies were also taken from British and Italian stocks, so this mix is reasonably correct and gives the men a rag-tag feel.

They await their equipment, but that is the next stage and shouldn't take long. There is a distinct lack of detail on the figures, being old Tamiya models, so they look a little basic. At least that is my excuse for the shoddy paint jobs...

Other than that, I have added stowage to the Panzer. I bought a set of Panzer II resin stowage from Legend. I found it on Ebay for about £7 including postage from Hong Kong! It's nice stuff and I didn't use it all up, so there's plenty for my next tank!

I have a base that I will mount the tank and figures on over the coming weeks. But, as always, that is in the future... Thanks for looking!

Wednesday, 14 August 2013

1/35th Tamiya Panzer II WIP pt.2

Despite having deadlines hanging over me like the sword of Damocles, the Panzer II project is inching forward. I had got the lower half of the hull and the turret finished in this LAST POST.

Since then I put the decals on the turret and the lower hull half and began work on painting the upper hull, as well as the wheels. As this was an experiment with Maskol, I used more of it on the lower hull on some areas that I had melted to look damaged. These included the front right mudguard, the right panels and left hand rear mudguard and I was rather pleased with how it turned out:

Then it was just a quick case of adding the wheels and tracks and the whole thing was finished, a lot quicker than I thought as well!

You'll notice that the tracks don't actually meet up properly, this is a fault with the kit and I will have to cover this up when I come to finish the base which this tank will sit on eventually. But apart from that little niggle, the kit was a nice one to build.

Rear view:

Top view:

I still have the stowage to add, then the four DAK figures need painting and the base making. So there's quite a way to go, but thanks for looking!

Sunday, 11 August 2013

1/35th Tamiya Panzer II WIP

My modelling and gaming has taken a nosedive in the last week or so as I realised I have less than six weeks to write 12,000 words of sense about gas warfare, but even so I have managed to sneak in the occasional hour of dabbing some paint about.

This Panzer II was bought for me at Christmas by a friend and I am trying to make a dent in my to build pile, so this was top of the list. It's an ancient Tamiya DAK Panzer II. It comes with four infantry figures and a tank commander, who I won't be using as I want the tank to be buttoned up. The kit was simple enough to go together, only taking a couple of hours one evening, although it did remind me that there are much better kit manufacturers out there than Tamiya...

Then the painting began, slowly. I gave it a base coat of Vallejo German Grey to serve as an undercoat. I wanted it to have damaged areas that would show this paint underneath where scratches and bumps would occur, so I took this opportunity as my first attempt at using Humbrol's Maskol.

With the Maskol applied to the areas I wanted to be chipped and it was painted in Desert Yellow. This was then inkwashed with Chocolate Brown and dry brushed with Dark Sand. I've never painted a DAK vehicle before, either, so I was kind of thinking on my feet with the colour scheme.

Then the Maskol is simply rubbed off to create a chipped effect.You can see it in this photo and the one above on the bend of the bottom of the hull and around the housing for the driving cog.

I didn't go wild with the chips as this was my first attempt, but I'm happy with the result I got.

I'm happier with the turret and the areas of wear and tear showing through.

I have yet to start the top half of the hull and the wheels, they are both pretty big jobs, so it may wait for a while...

In keeping with a desert theme, I bought twenty of these palm trees off Ebay (they are actually for my forthcoming Malaysia campaign). They look a bit basic and ugly now, but I will paint them up and see how they turn out. It should be an easy task to turn them into something usable.

That's all for now, but thanks for looking!

Thursday, 8 August 2013

It's Done, Finally!

It's taken over a year to finish, but I have finally, finally, finally finished the Eduard 1/48th Pfalz DIII kit.

The plane and pilot were finished a while ago but I was just waiting a long time for a display board to be delivered. Unfortunately, when it arrived it was the wrong size! So I had to order another from these lovely people, which fortunately came very quickly and was the right size!

I added a piece of textured grassed paper to the base and then added more Woodland Scenics grass using PVA and an old brush. First the thicker clumps:

Then a thinner spread of grass over the rest of the area:

Finally I fixed the plane and pilot in place with Superglue and Bob's your Aunty's live-in-lover:

I'm pretty pleased with how it turned out, I have learned a lot during the process of building this and am looking forward to starting on the Roland CII I have had tucked away since Christmas...

Today is also the 95th Anniversary of the Battle of Amiens where the British Expeditionary Force took the lessons it had learned the hard way over the past three years and smashed through the German lines with a combination of scientific artillery fire, combined arms operations and tactical superiority. It signalled the beginning of the end of the First World War with the 100 Days campaign and was a major Allied victory that is all but forgotten today.

Remember them.

Sunday, 4 August 2013

The Battle of Verkhopenye, 8th July 1943

A long while ago I put together the forces for the Rapid Fire scenario the Battle of Verkhopenye, 8th July 1943, the full German list can be seen HERE, the Russian one HERE. I'd played this scenario before as the Russians, but had lost, so this time I wanted to play as the Germans and see how I did.

I invited Dean, Dane and Ninjasaurus Rex over for a re-fight. Ninjasaurus cried off; he'd probably been hoodwinked into going swimming with his wife, or something. But Dean and Dane were up for it and Dean appeared in a typically nerdy t-shirt:

The Germans control the road junction at the bottom of the picture and have to defend it against what looks like a swarm of Soviet tanks. I was allowed to set up anywhere in the bottom three quarters of the board.

I gave Dane control of the four StuGs as he is new to the game and spread the rest of my forces across the wooded areas and the buildings. The StuGs took position on the right flank to cover the open areas there.

I also placed the PAK40 in the woods to cover the large open area on the right flank should anything get past the StuGs.

The Russians were placed across the top of the board, a heavy concentration of tanks of the 200th Tank Brigade were positioned on their right flank, in the completely opposite side that we had placed our heavy guns...

The two sides started the game in contact but the first rounds of German fire were ineffective, so the 200th Tank Brigade took advantage and started pushing forward past the pockets of resistance.

On the Soviet left flank the Motorised Battalion set off at speed, covered by the SU-122 and SU-76:

Yet two of the StuGs made short work of them as they rounded the hills:

Meanwhile, the German AA gun on the hill was looking particularly exposed.

In return for their success the two StuGs came under Katyusha battery fire, which had little effect!

I pulled the AA half track back out of danger down the road, whilst the StuGs stood their ground in the centre. A few shots were exchanged between the Soviet field guns and German half tracks at the top of the field:

Meanwhile, the 200th Tank Brigade was still exchanging shots with the Germans in the woods:

The Russian left flank then took a mauling from the 120mm Mortar and Wespe batteries: Two of the trucks were destroyed along with some casualties on the battalion's SMG companies:

Forward elements of the 200th Tank Brigade pushed past the resistance in the woods and started to take position against the four StuGs:

But not without casualties as accurate fire from the StuGs reduced their number by one:

It wasn't all one sided though, one StuG was destroyed, another heavily damaged and a third lightly damaged!

And it still wasn't over as the Katyusha opened fire again!

There was some German success at the top of the table, the two Russian field guns had been knocked out as had their M3 Scout Car transport:

And on the German right flank the PAK40 and half track were making a mess of the advancing Motorised Battalion, which had now debussed.

There were two M3 Grants attached to the 200th Tank Brigade and they were busy chasing off a half track and making mincemeat of another:

Yet more Katyusha fire fell, but this time it fell short and was ineffective, but the StuGs failed their morale roll and routed off the table! In one fell swoop we'd lost our heaviest forces!

Another half track burned in the woods from more Russian anti-tank fire:

However, one of the SdKfz 250s seized the initiative and advanced on the Katyusha battery, quickly dispatching it.

The German forces were pulled back to the location of the road junction to make the situation more difficult for the advancing Russian tanks:

A bad morale result saw the Motorised Battalion flee the field, yet the Soviet tanks were also heading down the central road to outflank the remaining Germans:

The retreating Stummel fired on the advancing tanks but with no effect:

But the PAK40 on the right flank made his presence felt by knocking out a T-34:

Russian fire damaged two SdKfz 222s and destroyed the third. I depressed the guns on the Wespes and started firing over open sights at the Soviet tanks:

Then the Red Airforce suddenly appeared over the battlefield! The Airacobra made a mess of the German 120mm mortar:

But all was not lost from my point of view as the PAK40 claimed another T-34. Very little beats a well emplaced anti-tank gun...

It suddenly felt like Russians were swarming everywhere as the M3s got in behind the Wespes, but not before one had heavily damaged a T-34:

One of the Wespes was destroyed by accurate anti-tank fire:

In the air the P39 started looking for its next target:

Until my Henschel HS-129 appeared and the two began fighting for supremacy in the air:

There was more firing from the Russians, but with little effect:

The remaining Wespe damaged another T-34, this was the tipping point: A failed morale roll on the 200th Tank Brigade saw them routing back towards their own line! The Germans had held their position!

It was very close, but I think a realistic result. There was still a lot of German units in the woods and buildings around the road junction. By this stage the 200th Tank Brigade were unsupported and had lost three vehicles to German fire along with two heavily damaged, so there is no wonder their morale collapsed.

This is the second time I have played this scenario, when I took the Russians I only got about half way down the field before the advance was halted, so in this case Dean did better than me. We both agreed this was a difficult game to win as the Russians although this one came very close!
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About Me:  I am so lucky to have a job that I love and look forward to coming to everyday. Teaching is my passion. My grandmother always told me “If you love what you do, you will never work a day in your life”. Prior to teaching Second Grade here at St. Patrick School, I worked in special education and behavioral disorders. I graduated with my B.A. from Worcester State University, and am currently in the process of completing my M.E.D. at Salem State University. My goal is to create lifelong learners who a thirst for knowledge. I love to read with my students and encourage them to travel to places you cannot get to by boat, train or plane. Reading takes you to places you cannot even begin to imagine.

  • Reading
  • Cycling
  • Crafting
  • Writing

  • B.A. in Communications

Obtaining Masters of Elementary Education

Anything involving my family.

Memorable Teaching Moment:  My most memorable teaching moments would be the last day of school, my first year here at St. Patrick School. All of us were hysterically crying. You would think that the students would be eager to go start their summer vacation, but they didn’t want to leave. It’s a wonderful feeling to develop such a strong bond, and relationship with both the students and their families.

Favorite Quotes:

“You have plenty of courage, I am sure.” Answered Oz. “All you need is confidence in yourself. There is no living thing that is not afraid when it faces danger. The true courage is in facing danger when you are afraid, and that kind of courage you have in plenty” – L. Frank Baum, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.

“Don’t you know that everybody’s got a Fairyland of their own?”- P.L. Travers,  Mary Poppins

“A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies. The man who never reads lives only one.” George R.R. Martin, A Dance with Dragons

Contact Me:

Nicole Dalamangas – Academic Support Director/Teacher


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At Home

Home as a concept is much deeper that simply ‘house I live in’ – it encompasses a sense of connection to place, of belonging, of feeling secure and ‘at home’ in a place.

This project brought together a number of very different groups and perspectives to explore these notions and participant’s experiences of creating a sense of being at home.

At Home was facilitated by two highly respected Aboriginal artists – Vicki West from Tasmania and Maree Clarke from Victoria. Vicki and Maree engaged with a number of different communities including the Northern Suburbs Community Centre in Mowbray and various refugee groups to create a public space installation in Princes Square which incorporated textiles, images and night time projections.


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Tuesday, 27 November 2012

NYC Launch December 7th at Bergen Street Comics!

So excited to be formally announcing our NYC launch for Strumpet 2, Friday Dec. 7th at Brooklyn's truly quite fabulous Bergen Street Comics.

Three Strumpets, Ellen Lindner, Robin Ha and Kat Roberts will be present - come along and get your copy of the brand-new Strumpet!

Bergen Street Comics is located right by one of Brooklyn's biggest train stations, Atlantic Avenue/Barclays Center, so you can take an express Q, N, 2, 3, 4, 5 or a slow-as-molasses-but-quite-lovely R train to your destination.  It's walkable to some of Brooklyn's best restaurants and bars - we're partial to Bark, right next door, as well as cute luncheonette Bonnie's.

This is Editrix Ellen's birthday party, too!  There will be a raging afterparty in honor of our leader's special day.

See you on December 7th!

Thursday, 15 November 2012

Strumpet 2: Our London Launch at Orbital Comics

The Strumpet & Ink+Paper Launch Party

Wow! What a bash! Our London launch at Orbital Comics was a great success, bringing together The Strumpet, the artists who make it possible, and those who love them - plus some awe-inducing celebrity guests! Sharing with our friends at ink+PAPER made the night even better - not to mention that it was a great privilege!

Our NYC launch will take place at Bergen Street Comics on 7th December, after which The Strumpet - and ink+PAPER 3! - will be available in our Etsy shop.

This weekend (17-18th November) you can catch up with a limited supply of Strumpets at Thought Bubble, located in Leeds and ranking very high up the list of must-visit UK comix festivals.

The Strumpet & Ink+Paper Launch Party
Comix stars Gary Northfield (Derek The Sheep), Darryl Cunningham (Psychiatric Tales, Activate!) and newly minted Strumpet Myfanwy Nixon talk ink+PAPER.

Many, many thanks to Orbital Comics, located in London's high-drama West End, for their hospitality and generosity with the booze. Karl, Camila, Chris, James, Liz, and all the other staff were phenomenal (and it's Camila's lovely photos we have to remember the night by - check out her Flickr set here.

Thanks again to all of our Kickstarter pre-order folks - some of whom we were lucky enough to meet at the launch - we couldn't have done it without you!

Some fun photos...courtesy of Camila Barboza! Look for her by her full name on Flickr...

Andy Poyiadgi, Karrie Fransman and Gareth Brookes
A Strumpet and her pals: Issue 2 contributor Karrie Fransman (The House That Groaned, Guardian, Times of London) and two fine gents - Andy Poyiadgi (Teapot Therapy), and Gareth Brookes (The Black Project).

Maartje Schalkx, Tobias Tak and Mike Medaglia
Issues 1+2 Strumpet Maartje Schalkx joins forces with the prodigiously talented Tobias Tak and Comics Gosh!p (London's premier comics reading group) leader Mike Medaglia.

Tanya Meditzky
A Strumpet in Motion: Issues 1+2 contributor Tanya Meditzky (The Man Who Clapped, Two Sentences).
Ellen Lindner
Head Strumpet Ellen Lindner prepares for the first purchase of the evening.
The Strumpet & Ink+Paper Launch Party
Head Strumpet Jeremy Day, two-time Strumpet Patrice Aggs (The Boss, Count Karlstein), and Myriad Editions boss Corinne Pearlman share a laugh at our launch.

The ever-helpful - and ever-cheerful! - Stephen Betts, head of Comix Influx.

Sarah McIntyre, Mary Talbot and Megan Donnolley
Honorary Strumpets Dr. Mary Talbot (Dotter of Her Father's Eyes), Sarah McIntyre (Vern and Lettuce, You Can't Eat a Princess) and Comica organiser Megan Donnolley, assembled into a lovely pyramid of Lady Comix Power.

The Strumpet & Ink+Paper Launch Party
A happy customer...

Paul Gravett
Internationally renowned critic, curator, festival organizer and Comica godfather Paul Gravett (1001 Comics, Great British Comics).

David O' Connell
The very fetching David O'Connell (Tozo, Monster and Chips), editor of ink+PAPER. Flanking him are John Aggs (The Boss, John Blake, Robot Girl) and comics professor-in-training John Miers.

Thanks so much for coming, London! See you in New York!


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Welcome to Stag Table Tennis Academy.
Learning Ping Pong made easy with international standards.

Tournament Update

Home  /  Tournament Update

The 15TH Stag Table Tennis Academy Tournament received an overwhelming response from the participants across the state. It is amazing that this year we have received total of more than 920 entries in various categories and more than 990 matches will be played in the next 4 days during the championships at St. Paul’s High School, Hyderguda.

Chief Guest Rev. Bro. Pratap Reddy graced the occasion and inaugurated the tournament by lighting the lamp along with Bro. Sudhakar Reddy, Principal St.Paul;’s High School, Mr. Mir Khasim Ali, Arjuna Awardee, Mr. P Prakash Raju, Senior Vice President TSTTA, Mr. P. Chenchuramaiah, Life time President, TSTTA. Rev. Bro. Pratap Reddy addressed the gathering with the message that as Table Tennis is the fastest ball game in the world and so the players will be trained to take quick decision and act immediately. He also said that the table tennis players will automatically trained to handle mental and emotional challenges which will help them to become good citizens.

Winners of Inter School Team Championship winners

Inter School Boys Team – Finals
Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan ‘A’ Bt Meridian ‘A’ 3 – 2
Inter School Girls Team – Finals
Bhavan’s Sainikpuri ‘A’ Bt Secunderabad Public School ‘B’ 3-1
boys-winnerInter School Boys - Winner
boys-winnerInter School Girls- Winner

STTA concluded one more year of hosting the State Ranking, Inter School & Inter Institution Tournament successfully.

It was a great weekend for STTA at the 15th Annual STTA Telangana State Ranking tournament as they claimed the Men’s Singles, Junior Boys & Sub-Junior Boys tittle.

The men singles final was a superb encounter with T Sai Praneeth from Vijayawada taking on the reign champion Vighney Reddy from STTA. Eventually, Vighney Reddy won in four tight sets. Vighney Reddy kept his nerve in the fourth set and got off to a strong finish and grew confident to take the tittle.

The Women singles final knock out was between the two Junior players, K. Spoorthy from Vijayawada and M.Mounica from GSM. Things had not looked good early on for Mounica as she scraped through as runner up and Spoorthy claimed the second title in the tournament. Final score K. Spoorthy bt. M. Mounica 11-8, 11-4, 11-9, 11-5, 11-9.

The Youth Girls finals were equally impressive K. Spoorthy overcoming M. Mounica in the sixth set had looked to have the upper hand through the majority of the match. However, Spoorthy’s determination saw her fall over the line with some stunning final points to win the tittle. Final score K.spoorthy bt. M. Mounica 10-12, 11-2, 9-11, 11-4, 11-3, 11-6.

It was K Spoorthy who put up a brilliant performance in the women category who won two tittles, Women Singles & Youth Girls and finished 2nd in the Junior girls. Hence she went on to win the `Best Player – Female’ Award for this tournament.

In the Men category, Md Ali from STTA claimed the `Best Player – Male’ Award for his stupendous performance. He dominated with his extraordinary performance in the Junior Boys final. He beat Harsh Lahoti (YMCA) 4/0 which itself was a straights sets win. In the Men category, he upset Naveen & Vishal in the Pre-Qtr & Quarters stage and lost to top seed Vighney Reddy in the semi-finals.

Congratulations !! Wish you all the very best for the upcoming tournaments.
boys-winnerR Kazol – Cadet Girls Winner
boys-winnerG. Ayushi Cadet Girls – Runner-up
boys-winnerB. Vishnu – Cadet Boys Winner
boys-winnerNagasravani – Sub-Jr. Girls Winner
boys-winnerHari Krishna – Sub-Jr. Boys Winner
boys-winnerSFR Snehit Sub-Jr. Boys – Runner-up
boys-winnerKVV Vaishali Junior Girls – Winner
boys-winnerK Spoorthy Youth Girls Winner
boys-winnerM Mounica – Youth Girls Runner-up
boys-winnerK Vivek Vardhan – Youth Boys Winner
boys-winnerT.Sai Praneeth – Youth Boys Runner-up
boys-winnerK Spoorthy – Winner Women Singles
boys-winnerM Mounica – Women Runner -up
boys-winnerVighney Reddy – Winner Men Singles
boys-winnerT Sai Praneeth – Men Runner -up
boys-winnerBest Player – Female K Spoorthi
boys-winnerBest Player – Male Ali Mohd.


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iGuzzini - 45' parallelo

The concept behind this simple, but intriguing fluorescent light fitting is a staggered arrangement of the key components at 45º. The resulting combination of a compact volume and low profile of only 51 mm with uniformly illuminated surface provides the architect with unique new possebilties of application. Especially in spaces where the light fitting cannot be integrated flush into the surfaces, an alternative appealing solution can now be offered.

Produced as an aluminum extrusion with co-extruded diffuser and end caps in injection molded plastic, is available in a silver finish.


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The wild cat moves across the thick jungle on a cold misty night. It's slender body gliding through the sleepy forest , a sparkle in it's eye. It's both daunting and alluring ; changing colour with the changing sky. Label Shikha Malik's latest A/W Winter collection is all about authentic block prints created from scratch

Poochki has been one of my favourite go to homegrown brands and I am thrilled to have been a part of their latest Autumn Winter 2017 collection. For someone who wants to learn and write about ethical/ sustainable fashion Poochki is the right place to start. The new collection is inspired from the shape of

This post isn't about how to restyle your white shirt, it isn't about how to wear it in multiple ways - it's really about thanking the humble white shirt for just "hanging" in there and coming to my rescue when I had a closet full of clothes but nothing to wear. What's a better way

You know how Usher found Justin Bieber on Youtube? That's exactly how I found Tanvie Hans on Instagram- with a stroke of luck and God smiling upon me -handing me my best project yet. Meet Tanvie Hans. An ordinary Delhi girl with extraordinary talent. She says she's always been a tomboy and naturally athletic, it's

Being the daughter of an Army Officer; the title resonates with me. I have been brought up in more than thirteen cities and towns across the country, making tons of friends around the world and experiencing different cultures. Each city leaves an imprint- small or big they shape your personality. From the boisterous Bathinda to

For summers step into looser silhouettes and lighter fabrics. The only way to survive this apocalyptic heat is to invest in statement making, comfortable and breathable fabrics. Often termed as the H silhouette it has a softer approach and looser shapes. Linens, Cottons, muslins and light weight knits are the right pick for this season.

Pantone might have crowned Green as the colour of the season but it's red that is stealing hearts everywhere. From Streetstyle to the runway everyone seems to be under the spell of this powerful colour. Today, shades of scarlet are linked with power, aggression, and sex – from the vermilion of the British Queen’s royal regalia

I know it's not summer yet but I can't wait to get back into my linen dresses and bright colours! This post is dedicated to dreaming about popsicles and to actually  being one. Poonam Bhagat's SS17 evokes just that feeling- of being a human popsicle (delicious and fun ). From shift dresses to cute button


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From the Inspiration Files

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

For once I know where I found these... check out --" Pinterest is a place to catalog the things you love."

Now I'd like a house to decorate, please.

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stylist shops: June 2014

Wednesday, 25 June 2014

Currently Coveting

This embroidered Topshop bag is top of my must-have list this summer. It looks like something you'd pick up in a flea market in Bali, without having to venture outside the M25.
And while I'm imagining myself on the beach, here are a few extra beach bag essentials....

Plus no trip to the beach is complete without a good book, A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry is a beautiful, heart wrenching story of life in India during the 1970s - full of rich cultural and political history and characters you'll feel like you've known all your life.

Monday, 23 June 2014

Sale Shopping

Dear readers, I must apologise for my disappearance of late. I've been spending every spare minute working on my house renovation which is requiring decisions to be made on an hourly basis - which is pretty traumatic for someone who can't make decisions!
Once things start to get finished I will post some pictures on here as everyone loves a 'changing rooms' style before and after - and you can check out a couple of pictures of the kitchen which went in this week over on my instagram (@rachelingram14).

Now, sick of spending all my hard earned money on grouting and floorboards, I've been trawling the internet for some sale purchases to cheer me up as I remain homeless! If you have to live out of a suitcase at least make it a suitcase full of wonderful things....

First on the wish list are a pair of pointy flats that will carry me through to winter:

A statement sweatshirt is still on my 'to buy' list to throw on with denim shorts on cooler summer evenings....

And a few summer wardrobe updaters:

My final and ultimate sale finds come from the mecca that is &OtherStories on Regent Street. I could literally buy the whole store - but I've left some for you too. Check out the sunglasses - they're a fashion insider's high street trump card (as well as H&M and ASOS sunnies).

Friday, 13 June 2014

New Season Shopping : Dana Levy

Many years ago I worked at Red Magazine assisting their Fashion Editor on fashion pages and photoshoots. My job was to source all the clothes for the shoots she would style, and we would then fill suitcases and jet off round the globe shooting them on models, making beautiful pictures.

One time this editor asked me to get some colourful, beaded bracelets in for a summer florals story and I contacted a jewellery designer I had seen stocked in Liberty - Dana Levy. Dana's jewellery was a resounding hit on the shoot, such a hit in fact that not only did we shoot it in pretty much every issue of Red for the next few years, I have since shot it for every magazine I have ever worked for after that! Dana's jewellery is not only in the pages of Glamour Magazine monthly, but adorns every fashion and beauty editor at the magazine too - she really is an insider's secret weapon.

So, the dilemma was, to share or not to share?! Part of me wants everyone to know about her cool, fashiony-without-trying styles and wear-all-summer-long pieces, but part of me wants to keep her to myself!

Ultimately though her jewellery is too good not to rave about, so here is a little look at some of the current summer collection, all available at

Click the images to shop the pieces or visit for more styles.

Tuesday, 10 June 2014

Summer Wedding Dressing

It has begun!
The season is upon us.
Our diaries are full of them, Facebook is full of them, love really is in the air.
But what happens when you have 6 weddings in one year and a limited budget for buying shiny new things? You don't want to end up spending everything on evening wear you can only wear a couple of times before everyone's 'seen it already'. Seasonal clothing budgets are far better suited to expensive handbags and overpriced Chanel espadrilles.

So, in the words of Mrs Doubtfire, HELP IS ON THE WAY DEAR.
I've trawled the WHOLE WIDE WORLD for you (read: internet), to give you my pick of the best summer wedding dresses at the best, accessible prices....

First up, these high street buys have an expensive looking bang for very little buck! Colour is a great way to make maximum impact, my personal favourite evening dress is just from H&M but in a neon yellow colour it really stands out.

The alternative to the evening dress comes in the form of a tailored bandeau jumpsuit this season - the best being Topshop's version (£60) which comes in both blush and black.
I'd suggest buying both!

Halston Heritage is especially good for full length gowns at around the £200-£300 price mark. I've mentioned new brand Self Portrait on here before but they deserve another mention for great affordable evening wear.

DKNY's collections keep getting better and better, and this invisible strap plunging back dress speaks for itself. Yes the price is a little steeper, but this dress will last the distance, and in black you can get away with wearing it more frequently without people noticing!

Richard Nicoll, Helmut Lang (and Theysken's Theory) are always brands I look to for fun, offbeat evening dresses that don't feel too grown up.

Whistles has pulled out all the stops this season and this silver top and skirt combo feels more current than a dress, but still has evening appeal. Plus you have the added bonus of being able to wear the two separately in a more casual way - skirt with a white tee and converse for work, slip top with a pair of boyfriend jeans and Birkenstocks.

Top 5 places to pick up a dress:
1. The Outnet - Net-a-Porter's little sister The Outnet is a discounted designer dreamland filled with well edited selections of top brands for majorly reduced prices. Find a Philip Lim mini for 65% off - or even an Oscar De La Renta gown for 70% less than it's retail price.
2. Bicester Village - Similar to The Outnet, Bicester is the perfect place to find an amazing designer evening dress at up to 90% off. Evening wear doesn't really follow the trends too closely so who cares if it's last season's Valentino if it's totally beautiful?
 3. H&M - Check out their bi-annual collections of premium pieces which tend to sell out in a matter of hours so you need to be on the ball! (check out a post I did on this summer's collection here). They always have a couple of amazing evening dresses and usually for under the £100 mark. Their 'Conscious Collection' usually throws another couple of great dresses in the mix too - so sleep with one eye glued to the site.
4. ACNE - I've mentioned their evening wear before but it really is simple, minimal, fuss free and - well - just cool.
5. The Sales - Summer sales really are the best place to find an amazing eveningwear bargain. Harvey Nichols is my personal favourite as they have such a good buy, and the mark downs are great too. A little heads-up,  Matches sale starts on Monday (16th) so I would guess that Harvey Nicks, Harrods, Selfridges and Net-a-Porter won't be far behind.

Monday, 9 June 2014

Stylist Shops : Mango part two

As the season of skimpy dresses and fine cotton layers approaches, I was drawn back into a shop I've already shopped on Stylist Shops, by the amazing summer-wear edit in its windows.
When it comes to summer clothing I simply can't resist Mango's selection of bohemian basics -  that Isabel Marant feel at high street prices.
So lets see how I got on...

This white 70s style maxi dress (£117, size 10) is the perfect summer party piece (apart from weddings - no one likes the other girl in long and white at a wedding!).  Casual and understated yet totally elegant this dress runs a little large to size so I would suggest sizing down. It is sold out online but still available in Mango stores.

This black linen dress with rope detail (£29.99, Small) is that easy, throw on dress you bring out every time you don't know quite what to wear.  It comes in a variety of colours so you could probably get away with wearing it at least three times a week without people talking about you behind your back.

It's hard to see from my pictures the delicate beading on this embroidered tunic dress (£49.99, Medium), but it's the kind of detail that makes this dress look way above it's £50 price tag. Throw on with this seasons Birkenstocks, et-voila!

I'm not normally a fan of the 'girly dress', but this strapless floral piece (£19.99, Small) is more 'summers strolling through the lavender fields in a French farmhouse' than frilly princess. And for £20? A no brainer! Fits a little small so I'd suggest sizing up.

The final dress on my Mango-does-dresses-like-no-other Stylist Shops today, is this perfect crochet white tiered sundress (£34.99, Medium) Now, not only do I love it because it is a shameless rip off of this Isabel Marant dress I've ogled all season, but I also love it for its easy-breezy wearability. Can't you just imagine walking the cobbled streets of a Greek island in this dress, carrying a straw basket?
Now, dresses chosen, it's time to book a holiday.

Shop Mango online at

Check out 5 more magnificent Mango moments....

Sunday, 8 June 2014

Prada Kisses

I took my trusty old Prada lip print dress out for a whirl this week. It's such a girly dress and so not 'me' that I tried to casual it up with a pair of New Balance trainers, See by Chloe leather jacket and a Uniqlo check shirt tied around the waist. Worn with my trusty Lulu Guinness stripe bag that seems to go with everything I wear at the moment. Im so enjoying using a pouch instead of a huge tote, everything is so easy to locate, although I do need to trawl a canvas bag full of essentials around with me at the same time!

Friday, 6 June 2014

New Season Shopping : Laurence Dolige

There's a brand I've had my eye on for a while now, a brand so low key you'll be hard pushed to find a stockist, but so cool you'll buy the whole collection once you do.
Parisian label Laurence Dolige is the discerning girl's Sandro or Maje, the insider's Isabel Marant, delivering cool classics with a twist in the way that only the French really can.

The Autumn Winter 2014 collection launches end of July and I have a sneak preview of what's in store for you - think chunky turtlenecks, suede coats, checks, sequins and stripes, worn all together.
Browns, burgundies and greys are this fall/winter's key colours and Laurence Dolige hasn't missed a trick with a colour palette an aesthetically appealing mix of autumnal tones .

Shop the Spring Summer collection still online here, and wait with baited breath until you can indulge in corduroy and tailoring from Fall Winter.

Monday, 2 June 2014

Stylist Shops : Free People

If there's one brand that personifies the girl I want to be for summer, it's always American bohemian brand, Free People
Floaty dresses, perfect lace and 'picked it up at a vintage market' designs - Free People simply churns out those 'where did you get that?' pieces all season long.
I've always seen Free People as a bit of an industry secret and stocked up each time I visited the States for shoots, but the secret is out and lucky for the UK they recently launched their new website. With a huge selection of product shot on gorgeous models, the site offers free delivery for orders over £75 plus (the best part) no duty charges at all.
So, in honour of this, I headed over to their stunning head office hideaway on a mews street in Marylebone to shop the collection for you....

First up, a summer staple for me, the peasant blouse (£138, small). Although slightly pricey, the design on this is great, it looks authentic rather than 'high street vintage' and it also has an elasticated neckline so can be worn off the shoulder too. The cut off denim shorts (£58, 26) fit like denim shorts aughta - slouchy and unevenly frayed like you chopped them up yourself this morning.

If there's one thing I love, it's a white summer dress, and no one does these better than Free People. I totally fell for this beautiful lace dress (£168, small) with victorian detail, the perfect holiday throw-on.

Next up, the printed jumpsuit (£98, small), yet another thing I fell in love with from Free People which is pretty impressive as I normally steer well away from prints.
It fit slightly slouchy up top with a drawstring waist to size, and was light enough that you could throw it on over a bikini on holiday to venture out for lunch.

This off the shoulder printed dress (£98, small) would look perfect stretched out on a picnic blanket in the park this summer. It's got that throw-on easiness that I'm always looking for in summer dressing.

For days when your sartorial inspiration is Princess Jasmine, only this jumpsuit will do. A low scooped back keeps it feeling sexy (rather than The Genie) and the print is a perfect vintage washed paisley. It sadly isn't online yet, but I am assured it will be on there within the next week or so - so keep an eye on the What's New tab!

My final try-on at FP HQ was this amazing midi length white dress (£138, small) in the softest cotton with perfect intricate embroidery. Paired with this season's ubiquitous Birkenstocks, this would be the ultimate weekend dress.

This week also marks the launch of Free People's June campaign featuring one of my favourite models - Erin Wasson. Having recently interviewed Erin myself for Glamour magazine, I am a super-fan of her laid back, tomboy attitude and totally amazing style - so the pairing of her AND Free People is a dream!
She told me when we spoke how she loves shopping in vintage stores all over America from LA to Austin (and Brick Lane market in the UK) - so it's no surprise she's such a fan of the brand.
Here are a couple of snaps of Erin rocking Free People to inspire you to make even more summer purchases...


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Apples To Apples

Victory is mine.  For the first time in maybe a decade, I have managed to get some of my homemade applesauce jarred and into a canner before my family can eat it all up.

Yet more preserves artistically posed with fresh fruit...

I peeled apples all day for those 7 little jars of sauce, you know.  I read online that 21 pounds of apples should result in 7 QUARTS of applesauce - I used at least that amount and ended up with only those 7 pint jars plus another 3/4 of a quart that my family got their hands on.  Meaning, my yield is only a little more than half of what it should be.  I don't know what I am doing wrong here.

I am currently reading a memoir called A Fort of Nine Towers: An Afghan Family Story.  It's written by someone who grew up in Afghanistan during the late 1980's and 90's.  Let me tell you, it has made me even less sympathetic toward any complaints emanating from my offspring.  Brian had the temerity to make a face when I told him to take out the garbage tonight.  "Listen," I said, "it's not as though you have to dodge sniper bullets in order to reach the trash can."

I don't know why that kid always looks so confused when I talk to him.

Signing off here, folks - I have to try to get to bed before midnight one of these days.  The menopause fairy seems to have doused me with extra insomnia dust lately.  As if my face isn't looking haggard enough...

  1. That applesauce looks BYOOOTIFUL. I am just a wee bit jealous.

  2. Congrats on getting the applesauce canned!

    I wonder when your kids are going to start hiding the books you are reading...

  3. Don't peel or core the apples. After they've cooked, put them through a grinder/strainer and you'll have a much greater yield. Plus, no peeling.

    The sauce looks beautiful!

  4. I never ever get what the recipe calls for when I can. I'm like you - if it calls for a certain amount of quarts then I will always get that amount in pints - even though I always use more ingredients than they call for. It never fails! So annoying - especially when you work all day for a few measly pints. But, it's better than dodging bullets in Afghanistan I suppose!

  5. Those are beautiful.
    Menopause fairy...insomnia dust... you are singing my song!

  6. Everyone is making applesauce, so I joined the chorus singing, "Ow! Ow!" Because I burned my hand checking to see if the Crock-Pot was heating up, that's why. Maybe I will take an artful photograph of my applesauce with a red hand in the foreground. :-D

  7. Canning..oh dear God, you have me contemplating whether or not I should learn how to make and can applesauce because it looks so good!

  8. I never peel my applesauce apples (although I don't toss the cores in). I slice + chunk and at the end, I use my stick blender. More nutritious that way too--because the skins are included! Making a fresh batch is super easy and I do it often for dinner.

  9. I'm going to check out that book! But I'm pretty sure that sometime before I do, I'll use your line with my own kids. Garbage day is Sunday. I feel it coming.

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Wednesday, October 14, 2015

Where I Am From

In Where YOU From? From Sioux's Page, Sioux says,

“I would love for you to comment and write a line--or two or three or a stanza--about where you are from.”

I am from proud parents who expected me to try my best I in anything I did.
I am from a time when respect was given to teachers and law enforcement.
I am from schools where learning was challenging and fun!
I am from books that could let me escape to places and worlds unknown.
I am from nature that shows me that God is all around me.
I am from people who surround my life with love and make me think I am capable of being anything I really want to be and do anything I really want to do.

I think this would be a fun activity to do with my students. It would make them see a link from their past to their present.

Where do you come from? Please share.

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Duct Tape Selling: Think Like a Marketer—Sell Like a Superstar (Portfolio Hardcover, 2014)

I just started this incredible book! I think you would get a TON our of it. Come join me as we learn together!!!

Many of the areas that salespeople struggle with these days have long been the domain of marketers, according to bestselling author John Jantsch. The traditional business model dictates that marketers own the message while sellers own the relationships. But now, Jantsch flips the usual sales approach on its head. It’s no longer enough to view a salesperson’s job as closing. Today’s superstars must attract, teach, convert, serve, and measure while developing a personal brand that stands for trust and expertise. In Duct Tape Selling, Jantsch shows how to tackle a changing sales environment, whether you’re an individual or charged with leading a sales team. You will learn to think like a marketer as you: Create an expert platform Become an authority in your field Mine networks to create critical relationships within your company and among your clients Build and utilize your Sales Hourglass Finish the sale and stay connected Make referrals an automatic part of your process

As Jantsch writes: “Most people already know that the days of knocking on doors and hard-selling are over. But as I travel around the world speaking to groups of business owners, marketers, and sales professionals, the number one question I’m asked is, ‘What do we do now?’ “I’ve written this book specifically to answer that question. At the heart of it, marketing and sales have become activities that no longer simply support each other so much as feed off of each other’s activity. Sales professionals must think and act like marketers in order to completely reframe their role in the mind of the customer.”


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Friday, September 28, 2012

Rainbow Butterfly Cake

Today's post is one we had a lot of fun doing! A really great friend ours is celebrating her birthday today, so we decided it was about time we made her a cake! She wanted white cake, which I thought would be the perfect time to finally try out the rainbow cakes I've seen floating around the internet! I've also been obsessing over these sugar butterflies, so we decided to kill two birds with one stone.

I won't go into too many details about how we made the cake because it was pretty straight forward. The cake was white cake tinted with food coloring until it was the shade we wanted. The frosting was cream cheese frosting, which you can find the recipe for here. As for the butterflies, I think we'll make a tutorial sometime in the future. Now on to the cake because we're just so excited with how it turned out!

The cakes cooling off. I thought they looked like play dough.

The uncovered cakes while I was stacking and trimming them.

We tried to go with a tree bark sort of texture.

Ai was making the butterflies while I was baking! This is usually how we work, I'm the baker and she's awesome at decorating!

The butterflies while they were drying.

More butterflies!

Ai's piping skills are phenomenal!

We arranged the butterflies so that they spiraled upward in the order of the rainbow.

Since the cake was round, it was utterly impossible to get all the butterflies in the picture! >_<

Beautiful blue butterflies!

Transporting the cake was difficult! The poor butterfly on top decided to lay down! lol It was our fault for not giving the butterflies enough time to dry.

The inside of the cake!

We were so happy that the cake cut beautifully!

That's all for this week folks! October is coming, which means we'll be working on Halloween costumes!!!! Happy baking and crafting! ♥

Saturday, September 22, 2012

T-shirt Scarves and Pinterest Addiction

Sorry there hasn't been a new post in two weeks! I've been too busy with my new Pinterest addiction! I'm just kidding (but actually I'm not! hahahahaha). So I jumped on the Pinterest bandwagon only recently because I knew it would send me down a deep never-ending vortex of craft and recipe ideas and admittedly I was terrified of this! Ai has been on for a couple of months now and I finally caved last week and signed up. And I was right about how terrifyingly addictive it would be, but I have to admit that I am completely in love with it!

With the blog, we had only begun to scratch the surface of how creative everyone was out there in the world. Since joining Pinterest, I've come to appreciate just how incredibly talented and brilliant people are! There are so many wonderfully amazing ideas out there and I love how Pinterest has broadened everyone's horizons!

Anyway, I fell completely in love with all those t-shirt scarves that everyone was doing because they seemed easy and super cute! Long story short, I got carried away and rummaged through the whole house looking for everyone's old shirts. Out of all the tutorials, this is hands down the best one out there. Be sure to watch the video it really helps to understand how to do it properly.

I told you guys I got carried away. I went nuts and tried to look for all sorts of colors.

I really love the way these drape and they actually do keep your neck warm!

A few tips about making these:
  • I've seen people asking about whether or not shirts with print on them would work. I tested this out and the answer is no, especially if the screen printing is really thick. The pieces just don't seem to curl right if there's a thick layer of writing on it.
  • The bigger the shirt, the more ropes you'll have.
  • If you want a chunkier scarf combine a few shirts.
I really liked the braided scarves too. There's a few tutorials out there, but I decided to write one up because this I did mine in a completely no sew method.

You should be able to click on the picture to see the instructions better.

That's all for this week folks! I'm so happy that fall is finally here, it's my favorite time of the year! Happy crafting!♥


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From Frumpy To Fashionable: Great Style Tips That You Can Utilize

Fashion can be more attainable for you in your life. Just because an item is listed somewhere as hot or trendy doesn't automatically make it right for you. Your personality and preferences are unique to you, and only you should make the choices about what you wear. The following article will provide you with some tips on how to cater your fashion desires.

If you want to buy a new cologne or perfume, try a sample from the store first. Spray the scent on, and wait around fifteen minutes. Smell to see how it interacts with your own natural scent. Just because you like the way, it smells on another person does not guarantee that it will have the same scent on you.

A good fashion tip is to select your clothing for the day based on color. You don't want to step outside with your shirt and shorts clashing because they're complimentary colors. Experiment with different color combinations and see which colors you like and which color combinations you don't like so much.

A good fashion tip is to select your clothing for the day based on color. You don't want to step outside with your shirt and shorts clashing because they're complimentary colors. Experiment with different color combinations and see which colors you like and which color combinations you don't like so much.

Create a unique style that is all your own. Many people follow the trends set by others, but truly original fashionistas develop their own sense of style. Having a comfortable personality is key, and when you create your style, you'll be praised on it's originality.

Take advantage of the summer fashion season. The summer is the most open season when it comes to fashion. There are very few colors that are frowned upon, and the style options are usually endless. Wear the craziest colors and funkiest styles that you can think of while you can. When it comes to smear fashion, anything is possible.

Wear clothes that flatter your body type. Just because something is in style does not mean that you should wear it. Every style was created with a certain body type in mind. For example, skinny jeans were not made to make people look skinny; they were made for people that already are thin.

Subscribe to at least one fashion magazine or newsletter, so you stay current with fashion trends. If this is done, knowing what each season is going to bring and being the forefront of fashion among your friends is easy.

simply click the up coming webpage need certain apparel items to make their wardrobe complete. Dress slacks and hemmed jeans are two valuable items to always have. A final feature of your wardrobe should be a simple black dress that is just right for special occasions.

Keep your clothing after it goes out of style. Clothes come in and out of style very quickly. You can also have them to share with your children for their retro day at school or for Halloween. There are many uses that you will find from the clothes that you keep over the years.

Wear age appropriate clothing. It's something some women don't want to let go of, but there comes a time when a super-short skirt is no longer flattering. Pay attention to how your clothes set you off through all stages of your life, and it will serve you well. The good news is that there are some clothes that look great on older women that younger women can't pull off, so there is always something fashionable to look forward to.

Shop at your local resale shops and garage sales. Being fashionable does not mean spending a thousand dollars on an outfit. You can use pieces that are no longer in style and create a new style by putting them together. With all the big-box stores out there you can do this to be original.

Avoid gaping button-down shirts with a bit of velcro or tape. For a permanent fix, sew small strips of hook-and-loop between the buttons across the bust of the shirt. If you aren't handy with a needle and thread, you can also use small pieces of double-sided tape. Be sure to remove it before washing the shirt, though.

Probably the most important tip is to always be comfortable in whatever you are wearing. You may be wearing the most glamorous dress at a party, but if you aren't comfortable in this dress, people are going to notice. This is why you should pick out an item that feels good on you. Do not forget to smile and let your personality shine through!

One great fashion tip is to layer your neck wear. This look has stood the test of time and can be applied to just about any sort of neck wear such as chains, pearls, or beads. You can do this with matching or contrasting pieces, depending on just what look you are going for.

For a fun and simple daytime look, wear your hair in a casual up-do. Use an accessory that coordinates with your outfit to hold most of your hair in place. Allow some gentle pieces to fall out and frame your face. You will feel cooler, and look casually appealing to everyone!

When you look in your closet and can't find anything to wear, it's time to take stock and clear out the old to make way for the new. Donate or sell anything that you haven't worn in a year or more. Also get visit the following page of items that no longer flatter your figure.

When selecting a swimsuit, there are many things you can do to minimize figure flaws and emphasize the right parts of your body. For instance, if you have bigger hips, emphasize your legs and accentuate your small waist by wearing a suit that is cut high on the thigh. Look into more options for swimsuit wear as well.

When purchasing sneakers, shop for ones that are comfortable and fit like a glove. You should also ensure that the arch in the shoe fully supports the arch in your foot. Another consideration to take into account when purchasing sneakers is to know the pronation of your foot; most salespeople can assess your foot and guide you to the proper shoe for your pronation.

You might only hear certain individuals around you obsess about how they look or the latest fads and styles. However, everyone thinks about their fashion when they look in the mirror in the morning. Keep in mind all that you read here so that you can dress and look your very best.

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Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Baby Ice Cube
First baby of 2009. Born at -20 then dropped to -22. She was born at midnight. If you look at her ears they were frozen.
Within five minute she was covered with ice. So she was put a jacket on and brought into the house. She is now with her Mom.
We just had two more born in the ice and snow. Not in the nice warm little house or on all the hay. I think those Moms try to make it as hard as possible. Very difficult bunch of girls. Both ladies who had are Movie Stars and boy do they act like it. So my husband came home to a goat and two doves in the house. I think he is getting used to it. He does not even acknowledge them anymore.
We were at hockey awards last night. All the kids won awards. Nish went up three times. She won two awards ad a prize for an hour. massage. Miss Hyacinth won goalie for junior girls. She was the first won to go up for the night. Then Dalt he won MVP for Bantam house. Sam won ambassador for Atom Development. Tanisha won most dedicated and time keeping award. Then her prize.The coaches said really nice things about all of them. I did feel a bit awkward as I had to go up each time to take photo's. I went up nearly every group. I do believe I went up one of the most:)
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Anonymous said...

that's a big healthy looking baby.
I guess they will be coming steady now. Nice pi of the lamb in the polar fleece.

Sunflower Farm said...

Yes it is a good size. the next two are not quite as big. It is so cold for them.

freshisle said...

So precious!
It's still cold here too. Our farmers are saying it will be a late shearing.

Sunflower Farm said...

Winter is dragging out. It is just so cold. I wonder what our summer will be like.