Monday, June 19, 2017
Looking ahead Mexicos President to Visit
Looking ahead Mexicos President to Visit

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Monday, June 12, 2017
Looking for a job in Inclusive Elementary Education at a very cool university Were looking for candidates!
Looking for a job in Inclusive Elementary Education at a very cool university Were looking for candidates!
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Saturday, June 10, 2017
Looking for the perfect pair of Jeans
Looking for the perfect pair of Jeans

Its been awhile since I last bought a pair of jeans. So my mission this week is to find and purchase the perfect pair of jeans. Actually two jeans, one for use with high heeled shoes and one for use with flat shoes. Therefore, I have done some research on this subject:
Petite size: choose straight leg, no boot cut, no cuffs
Tummy Troubles: choose a mid-rise that hits across the belly, not above or below it.
Large Hips: mid-rise, straight or trouser leg which falls from the hips to create a longer-looking leg line
Big Booties (Derrière): Stay away from back flap pockets or back pockets with heavy embellishment or embroidery and find a rise that fits properly in the crotch. Flare leg openings helps to slenderize your body.
Here is what Oprah had to say on her show entitled Genius Jean Makeovers
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The most important thing to look for when trying on jeans is the "rise" or crotch area. You dont want any pulling, puckering or extra fabric up front. Also, you will want to make sure your new jeans flatter your booty, hips and thighsif theyre too big in the waist, a simple alteration can make them look custom-made for your figure. After only seven attempts, Oprah found her perfect fit in a pair of AG "Club" jeans! "I love these jeans because the crease helps to lengthen," Oprah says. "And even with the cut its not so low that when you sit, it rises down and you see your crackthats very important to me."
Oprahs jeans (pictured above) are the perfect length for her as they go all the way down to the bottom of her high heel in the back. But if your aching feet are pleading for a flat shoe, dont you dare roll up your denim. Every woman should have a second pair of jeans thats ideal for flat shoes. So ... the next time you hear from me on this topic will be the day that I locate my perfect pair of jeans and you may even catch a glimpse of me in them if my new scanner helps out in this process.
With the help of my technically blessed daughter, I was able to add music to my blog yesterday. Hope yall enjoy your visit here and have a good week everyone!!
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Thursday, May 25, 2017
Looking for Algal Oil with Near Infrared Light
Looking for Algal Oil with Near Infrared Light
A new method has been introduced for telling which strains of algae are likely to be any good for turning into biofuels based on Near Infrared (NIR) spectroscopy. The near infrared spectrum runs the range of wavelengths 800 - 2500 nm, and is therefore just below the region of visible light but above the usual mid-infrared, at 2,500 - 30,000 nm. The discovery of infrared radiation is attributed to the British/German Astronomer Herschel, who also wrote 24 symphonies. However, NIR only came to practical use in the 1950s as an analytical device. NIR is less sensitive than normal (mid) IR but can penetrate samples more easily meaning they need less analytical preparation and in the case of algae can be examined in their raw state.
Algae very considerably in their composition, and while some varieties contain around 50% of their weight of oil, others hold as little as 5%. Not only this, but the "oil" should contain a high level of fatty acids to be converted into biodiesel: triglycerides rather than phospholipids.
The NIR method is highly specific for the detection of different kinds of fatty acids and it is intended to develop a database of fingerprints for different fatty acid components in algal biomass, with which to analyse actual algae. The method offers the promise of a rapid and precise screening of algae directly rather than the existing time-consuming, cumbersome and error-prone means for analysing algae, and may prove pivotal in the development of a putative fuel industry based on algae.
Related reading.
"Striking algal oil," Chemistry World, By Anna Lewcock. http://www.rsc.org/chemistryworld/News/2010/March/12031001.asp
"Oil from algae; salvation from peak oil," C.J.Rhodes, Science progress, 2010, Vol. 92, 39-90.
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Thursday, April 20, 2017
Looking Fashionable a in Pink Wedding Dress
Looking Fashionable a in Pink Wedding Dress

Looking Fashionable a in Pink Wedding Dress
Looking fashionable in a pink wedding dress is easier than you might think. Pink can help you seem both feminine and flirty, and the color is almost universally flattering. Where white might make you look pale and washed out, pink can help you look healthy and flushed with love. Before you jump on the pink bandwagon, however, there are a few pitfalls to avoid. Pink, when done wrong, can seem the opposite of fashionable. In fact, sometimes the wrong shade of pink can be simply devastating. Read on to find out how to pick a pink winner.
Creamy Pink
Dresses that contain just a kiss of pink are quite popular, especially since Reese Witherspoon wore a pink-kiss wedding dress on her big day in 2011. These dresses may even look white at first glance, but a closer look reveals the pink thats layered beneath. Often, these creamy pink dresses have multiple layers and theyre cut with big, romantic skirts. These dresses are easy to find at both Davids Bridal shops, or you can look online at Pronto and see an extensive selection of light pink, romantic wedding dresses. Since these dresses are just barely pink, no additional adjustments are needed to complete the outfit. Theyre bound to look great with anything else you might choose to wear.
Romantic Pink
Many designers, including Reem Acra, are designing pink wedding dresses with lace details and fitted silhouettes. These are dresses flappers would have swooned for, and theyre perfect for a retro wedding. At-home designers are also picking up on the trend, and youll find several choices at Etsy. Pair these dresses with other retro touches such as cameos, peonies and jazz music.
Pink Details
If you love pink but cant convince your wedding party to accept your choice, add pink to a few details in your wedding dress. No one will be the wiser, and youll add a bit of color and elegance to your wedding day. Ask your dress designer to give you a pink ribbon at your waist, instead of a boring white sash. Substitute pink roses on your wedding dress, instead of white roses. Pull off the look by adding a touch of pink to your veil and dying your shoes a delicate touch of pink. Adding a strand of pink freshwater pearls to your outfit may help you pull everything together.
Pinks to Avoid
Much as you might love magenta or deep pink, this color isnt a traditional choice and it may offend some of the more traditional members of your wedding party. In addition, some deeply colored wedding dresses contain big skirts and dramatic details. Add up a bold color with dramatic styling, and you may end up with a look thats tacky and a bit silly. If you simply must add magenta to your wedding, drape your bridesmaids in the color and add magenta to your bridal bouquet. Youll be surrounded by the color you love, but you wont run the risk of looking foolish on your important day.
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Wednesday, February 22, 2017
Looking at Work in Grayscale
Looking at Work in Grayscale
Lee Kaloidis, whom Ive referenced a few times in this blog, has created a Flickr album of his Whale Songs series, showing it in grayscale as well as in color. He says:
I would not say that a painting cant be successful if color if it is not successful in black and white, but it does seem like a good tool for looking at your work in progress. Seeing your work minus the strong language of color allows you to see things you wont see otherwise. This is similar to seeing your work from a distance, through a camera lens, or on a computer screen. It gives you a different view, which can be revealing.Im posting the Whale Songs in gray scale so that I have a record of them. But also because studying paintings in gray scale is fundamental to the way I work and why I do so much work in black and white, and anyone whos interested in my work should know that. Throughout every painting session Im studying gray scale photos of the piece as it develops. I know if a piece is articulate, balanced, well-constructed, legible, and engaging in gray scale it is fundamentally sound. Color is a strange thing and is a little like money in that it distorts clarity of vision and judgment, and so it is good, IMO, to be able to remove it from the equation in order to assess things at a distance that is free from the distortions of the sensational.
I just did a few grayscale versions of some 8"x8" print/collages to see how they looked:




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Looking for otters
Looking for otters

Life continues to be hard and crap.
And then it is funny and beautiful.
Then sad and frustrating.
And then,
sometimes,
you get to see some otters.
Otters make me ridiculously happy.
I am trying to look for the otters in each and everyday...
Little bits of awesome peeking out from behind the backs
Of all the hard work.
Have you seen any otters today?
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Tuesday, February 21, 2017
Looking Down March Self Portrait Challenge
Looking Down March Self Portrait Challenge
My blogging buddy, Amy from While Wearing High Heels, has a great self-portrait challenge each month. I was excited to participate for the first time and loved the theme for March - Looking Down.
This is me today, looking down.
Its playtime and Im looking down at my little man whos enjoying the color matching game I made him earlier this week. He is my creative muse and it makes my heart smile to see him playing happily with something I made for him. Before Jake I never finished my creative projects. I would get too caught up in thinking that Im not an artist and that my projects had to be perfect to be finished. Jake has made me realize that my projects dont have to be perfect, they just need to be fun.
Ah, its nap time. A chance to sit down and rest for a moment. I actually need to work on a marketing project for a client but I take a quick break to look down at my laptop keyboard and start this post. Im feeling a bit stressed thinking about the laundry I should be folding and the mail that seems to be accumulating on our kitchen counter. Sometimes I feel like there is just not enough time in the day. The minutes are rolling by too quickly. How do I stay in the precious present?
Woohoo, I am blessed with a long three hour nap. This rarely happens. We are playing outside in the front yard and Im looking down at my toddler son who has turned our makeshift truck ramp into a toddler ramp.
Its now almost 10:00pm and Im beyond ready for bed but I want to finish this post as I give you a glimpse into my everyday life. These photos arent perfect and neither am I, but I do my best to create my life the way I want it while enjoying the moments I have looking up, down and all around.
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Monday, February 13, 2017
Thursday, February 2, 2017
Looking good but needs a gnome
Looking good but needs a gnome
If not a gnome, some other little nicknack, maybe a little red mushroom, an owl, or deer...
I started this little moss terrarium a couple weeks ago after reading through this post, which has lots of cute pictures and great information throughout. I found this jar at a thrift store, and thought it would be perfect! Kade and I took a walk to collect our little specimens.... rocks from the road by our house, 3 different kids of moss, and a cute little lichen... baby fern??... that I had to practically climb a tree for. Surprisingly, the hardest thing to find was soil. We finally used a stick to dig a hole in the hard pebbly ground, and a couple inches down was some nice damp soil. We carried everything back home in our pockets, with our hands stained green and dirt under our fingernails.
That was the fun part for Kade. I cant wait to see it in a couple more months, once it starts really growing. Once it was all put together (I think maybe I used too much soil?), I excitedly showed it to Kade, who shrugged his shoulders and said, "its not doing anything. Its bored."
I think maybe a little miniature character to live in this mossy forest would spark his interest and imagination. Any ideas where to get such a thing?
Im thinking it would be REALLY fun to make these for Christmas presents... I just dont know if its the kind of thing certain people would appreciate. I know some that would, but a few I am not sure of. I dont want them to think, "thanks so much for the old jar of dirt and weeds". Some people might not get it, you know?
OK, so my terrarium isnt looking that beautiful yet, but here are some I found on Etsy which I am SO tempted to buy! I want them so badly! I could cover every windowsill, table top, and bookshelf with these... there are even ones to hang up on a wall or wear around your neck!! Take a look at some of my favorites:
Vintage casserole dish terrarium from madebymavis
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