Blisstree

Do You Love Aprons?

Chloe Findlay-Harder — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 09:31:11 PDT

If you love to collect, sew or wear aprons - today is the day for you!

The Apron Goddesses are holding a one day “Aprons, Aprons Everywhere” event today, Thursday, July 16th. Bloggers are invited to take a picture (or a dozen pictures!) of their favorite apron. You can add your photo, name and link to their Mr. Linky and then have fun checking out everyone else’s favorite aprons.

There are so many great apron patterns on the market these days too. Simplicity has some real charmers, from the contemporary #2932:

How about a sassy retro apron? This one is pattern #2592:

How about apron Christmas tree ornaments (pattern #2748)? Actually, I would keep them up all year round

images: Simplicity Patterns

Post from: Blisstree

Do You Love Aprons?

Sale on Sexy Items at Jimmyjane

Kelli DesRochers — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 09:29:08 PDT

If you are looking to add a little spice to your sex life at a good price, Jimmyjane’s Semi-Annual sale started today. The sale features a wide selection at up to 50% off. Jimmyjane is a high-end brand that believe sin a combination of pleasure and good design (form and function!) and a commitment to sexual well-being. They have the highest technology in their products, but they also look really great too. This is definitely one of those stores where you look at the products and say , “That is a really beautiful and ergonomic…vibrator!?”

I was excited to recognize a few of these items from sexy women’s TV shows like “Sex and the City” and “The Real Housewives of Orange County.”

If you’re not ready to go completely out of your comfort zone and try some of the crazier items, they also have a beautiful collection of scented candles and beautiful massage stones.

Contour M + Afterglow Sensory Set $40.50

This set stimulates multiple senses with a gentle candle, warming scented massage oil, and a perfectly shaped ceramic massage stone. Not too scary, but definitely sexy right?

Check out the rest of the range of products on sale at Jimmyjane.

Post from: Blisstree

Sale on Sexy Items at Jimmyjane

Is Your Style Causing You Pain?

Marijke Durning, RN — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 06:30:29 PDT

Women can be their own worst enemy sometimes. The fashions that we put up with can cause pain and even disfigurement if we’re slaves to certain fads. We don’t have to look too far back to learn about women who were disfigured in the name of beauty. For hundreds of years, the practice of foot binding was common place in China. The idea was to bind the feet of young girls to form them into tiny, more desirable feet. The practice only ended in the early 1900s.

Although not as dramatic as foot binding, we can’t say that we don’t do harmful things to our bodies anymore, all in the name of beauty. Just look at the precarious high heels that many women wear that are known to cause problems like hammertoes and bunions.

Believe it or not though, it’s not just shoes. Doctors are discovering that even tight, so-called skinny jeans can cause pain and nerve damage. The tight clothing presses on a nerve that goes down through the groin and into the leg, causing numbness and/or pain. To understand how this happens, click on the TV screen below to watch a CBS news clip where Dr. Jennifer Ashton discusses what can happen:

~~~

Images: PhotoXpress.com and iStock.com

Post from: Blisstree

Is Your Style Causing You Pain?

UNESCO adds 13 New World Heritage Sites

Mary Jo Manzanares — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 03:04:00 PDT

UNESCO has recently added new sites to its list of World Heritage sites. A World Heritage site is a place of either great physical or cultural significance. Thirteen new sites have been added to the list, two natural sites and 11 cultural, bring the total list to 890.

Here’s what’s been added:

Wadden Sea - Germany and the Netherlands
The Dolomites – Italy
Stoclet House – Belgium
The Ruins of Loropeni – Burkina Faso
Cidade Velha, Historic Centre of Ribeira Grande – Cape Verde
Mount Wutai – China
Shushtar, Historical Hydraulic System – Iran
Sulamain-Too Sacred Mountain – Kyrgyzstan
The Sacred City of Caral-Supe - Peru
The Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty – Republic of Korea
The Tower of Hercules - Spain
La Chaux-de-Fonds (Le Locle watch making town-planning) – Switzerland
Pontcysylite – United Kingdom

One site was removed from the list, the Dresden Elbe Valley in Germany. The reason? The construction of a 4-lane bridge.

You can view the entire list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites here.

Photo credit: FaceMePLS @flickr

Post from: Blisstree

UNESCO adds 13 New World Heritage Sites

15-year-old Pilot Sets Aviation Record

Peggy Rowland — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 23:02:37 PDT

Watching the video below of Kimberly Anyadike, I’m struck at how motivated, inspired and just plain sweet this young pilot is. At 15, Anyadike is thought to be the youngest African-American girl to pilot across the country.

She flew 7,000 miles from Compton, CA to Newport News, VA, and back in 13 days. I’m barely brave enough to handle being a passenger in a plane, so the fact she piloted a plane across the country at such a young age is astonishing to me. Anyadike took aviation lessons at Tomorrow’s Aeronautical Museum, an after-school program for disadvantaged youth.

According to the CNN interview on the video (and transcribed online), Anyadike wants to become a cardiovascular surgeon one day. I think she can handle it!

(Image via stock.xchng)

Post from: Blisstree

15-year-old Pilot Sets Aviation Record

Ten Ways to Green Your College Experience

Jennifer Chait — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 22:04:59 PDT

With fall right around the corner young adults and older adults everywhere are getting ready for college. College can be a good experience, but it can also be a wasteful one. Here are 10 tips for greening your college experience this fall.

Green your college: It’s a little late, but if you haven’t chosen a school yet, learn how to find your perfect green college with listings of the most sustainable colleges in the U.S. and Canada or see how your college choice stacks up. Also see Kaplan’s list of 25 green colleges, or Sierra Club’s list of 10 climate change savvy Cool Schools.
Green your dorm: Take a look at these handy shopping lists; the Green Dorm Shopping List, the Eco Dorm Decor & Storage Ideas List, or read How To Green Your Dorm Room.
Green your course of study: Learn about the hottest green careers before you plan your classes and find schools that offer environmental college programs of your choice.
Green your backpack: Three good green eco-backpack choices… Ecogear Genius series; Simple Overload; Voltaic solar bags.
Green your laptop: Learn about how to buy a more eco-friendly pc and the most eco-friendly electronic companies to purchase your laptop from. Also learn 10 Easy Ways to Run Your Laptop Without Electricity, and see simple ways to green your overall computer use.
Green your meals: If you’ve got the option choose organic and vegetarian options at the cafeteria or on the go. Because you’re busy it’s smart to stock up on healthy green essentials or you’ll forever be making tracks to taco bell - not healthy or green. See Dorm-Sweet-Dorm’s green and healthy food care packages for snack ideas. See some easy and healthy one pot meal options. If you’re taking your lunch with you choose a waste-free lunch bag like Built NY’s lunch tote.
Green your actions: View Grist’s guide to eco-activism on campus.
Green your supplies: See ten green back-to-school supplies and visit The Green Office for everything else you need.
Green your sex: SEX! Ok folks, you meet a lot of people in college - it can be exciting and well, you know. BUT just because you’re hooking up doesn’t mean you can’t hook up in a green and safe minded style. See Planet Green’s ultimate (and safe) guide to greener sex.
Green your blog: Snag a new read as you embark on college life. One excellent college minded green blog is Green Student U.

[image via stock.xchng]

Post from: Blisstree

Ten Ways to Green Your College Experience

Thursday Thirteen - 13 Quilting Terms

Mary Emma Allen — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 22:00:29 PDT

Here’s a quick quiz for you…13 quilting terms. Are there any you don’t know?

Binding
Feather stitch
Batting
Mixed media
Blind stitch
Calico
Quilting bee
Embellishment
Felting
Stitch in the Ditch
Grandmother’s Garden
Yo-yos
Batik

Of course, there are many, many other quilting and fabric terms. However, it’s interesting to see how much we know when we see various words and ideas used in this art field.

What are some you’d add to a list you’d make? Were there any you didn’t know here?

Image: sxc.hu

Post from: Blisstree

Thursday Thirteen - 13 Quilting Terms

Best 15 Water Parks in US

Peggy Rowland — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 21:31:09 PDT

With sticky heat across much of the US right now, you may be looking for some cool and exciting fun. Of course, if you have kids, they probably already know all about the top water parks.

Budget Travel recently compiled a list of the Top 15 Water Parks in the US, and they span across the country.

Included in the honor is Water World, Denver, CO — a 67-acre water park where you can journey into the dark to confront dinosaurs. Water World’s website tells you exactly what thrill level to expect on rides, and you can even watch a short video to demonstrate the rides.

Wet ‘n Wild Emerald Pointe, Greensboro, N.C. is another top pick. Their website brags they have something for everyone, from tots to seniors. Plus, Wet ‘n Wild Emerald Pointe is the biggest water park in the Carolinas.

Kalahari Resort, Sandusky, Ohio also makes the list as one of America’s largest indoor water parks. At Kalahari Resort, you’ll be surrounded by tropical plants and covered by a clear Texlon roof that allows in the sun’s rays.

For the full list of top water parks in the US, visit Budget Travel’s article online.

Are you planning on visiting a water park this year? Before you go, check your water park’s website. Many water parks offer online coupons and deals.

(Image via flickr ishrona)

Post from: Blisstree

Best 15 Water Parks in US

The Astor Center in New York City

Linette Gerlach — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 20:59:49 PDT

Last week I wrote about the 7th Annual Gourmet Institute coming up this fall. Today I want to feature the Astor Center, one of the venues where the Gourmet Institute will be held.

The Astor Center is located in NoHo’s historic landmark De Vinne Press Building, and is home to classes and events based around the pleasures of the table with some of the finest mixologists, chefs, educators, oenophiles and gourmands in the world.

The Astor Center features several classes each months, some of the classes you can attend there in July include:

Vodka - History in Liquid Form! ~A hands on class where you can learn about the history of Vodka and the spirit world.
Snouts, Trotters, Ears & Tails with Ryan Skeen~ Celebrate the pig, and learn how to use every piece of pork.
Drinking Stars: Pairing Dom Pérignon with Sushi

The Astor Center is where old and new meet. It’s located in New York’s historical Greenwich Village, but the center itself features state of the art green technology for their presentations and classes.

You can find out more information on their part in the upcoming Gourmet Institute, and their classes at the Astor Center website.

Post from: Blisstree

The Astor Center in New York City

Labor Day and Back to School

Katelyn Thomas — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 18:46:51 PDT

Can you believe that the stores are already setting up for back to school? We used to go back after Labor Day, but this year, it looks like the kids are all going back beforehand. I guess that is why all the school supplies are on sale already, huh? Anyway, I think this guy heard the news and was in shock:

Back to school sales already? Are you kidding me?

Seriously, what do you think about the way we get rushed through summer and right into fall by all of these stores pushing sales when the holiday is only halfway over? I really liked the way Labor Day wrapped up the summer with one last fun party before we were back to business when I was a kid. And do the kids really learn enough to make up for the lack of extra fun time or do they just stare out the window and make plans for Labor Day?

Photo: K. Thomas

Post from: Blisstree

Labor Day and Back to School