Yellow House Views

I'm Coming...

2012-02-10T19:15:00.002Z

I'm gonna get here soon with my post. Wow...I can't believe that it was December when I said that I'd try to get here. I'm getting better at balancing so I hope that you'll come back to finally hear about my reading :-)

Have a great weekend!

The Beauty of a Wandering Mind

2011-12-28T22:48:00.005Z

We're all heading towards the end of another year...where does the time go? :-) I'm taking this time during the holidays to get caught up with my blogs and giving them the time that they deserve. I've been really behind with my blogging because of school, but my blogs are never far from my thoughts. I enjoy blogging so much. I was astonished to see that I haven't posted here since Halloween. I know that it's for a good reason, but I still don't want to leave my little corner of the internet empty for so long.

I've been giving my original blog some love over the past few days and now it's time for me to post here. As I mentioned before, this blog is supposed to be more for books and reviews and such. However, the reviews have creeped into my main blog. It's all good though. I like crossing boundaries from time to time :-)

Anyway, I'll be back here in a few days with a post about what I've been reading lately. I've mostly been reading textbooks and/or other literature. It has all been very eye opening and I'm learning so much. So next time, I'll let you know what I've been reading. I love to share what I like.

It just feels good to write here, right at this moment. It is a joy to just let my mind wander. I think that is the true vibe of this blog...just letting my mind wander a lot more than I do on my original blog. It is nice to have a place just to ramble if I want :-) So I hope you enjoy my ramblings and getting to see another side of me.

Thanks for reading this far ;-) And I'll be back with my next rambling post soon...

Happy Halloween

2011-10-31T01:05:00.001Z

Reclaiming My Views

2011-09-14T16:49:00.003+01:00

I haven't been writing here much for a while, so I want to get it going again. Since it's called Yellow House Views, I guess that I should be posting some views :) So I think that I'm gong to write some posts about what I've been reading. I LOVE books, so it will be fun to share what I've been reading...the good and not so good.

I'm going to be reading a lot for my upcoming courses, so I might share some of that here. And I'll post about other things I read or see. The original idea for this second blog was to offer up some views on other things that I'm thinking about which may or may not fit on my first blog. This was supposed to be a freer space, so I shall make that true. I need this right now :)

So if anyone is still reading this blog...watch this space!

Remembering

2011-09-11T10:10:00.002+01:00

Remembering those who lost their lives on 9-11-01, in New York, Washington, and Pennsylvania...

Fiat by Gucci

2011-06-30T11:07:00.005+01:00

I’ve been offered the opportunity to present a new collaboration to you all, my wonderful readers. Two iconic brands have come together to produce a great new car...the Fiat 500byGucci !

In celebration of the 150th anniversary of the unification of Italy and Gucci’s 90th anniversary, the Fiat 500 has been re-imagined as the 500byGucci. This special edition of the iconic Fiat 500 has been customized by Gucci in partnership with Fiat’s Centro Stile and brings together two of Italy’s truly respected brands.

This collaboration is a great achievement of true Italian style. It is the perfect marriage between style and craftsmanship. It is a sleek, contemporary car which comes in either a black or a white glossy finish, which is accented by the signature red-green stripe along the exterior. The red-green striping continues to the interior where it gives a stylish flair to the seats and seatbelts. Very cool!

Please visit fiat.co.uk/500bygucci and register to be kept in the know about this fabulous car! The Fiat 500byGucci will be available in the UK this summer. So if you’re in the UK, go by the website and check it out.

Now that I’ve told you a bit about it, I’ll give you my thoughts. I love that this is a case of style meeting superior craftsmanship and that it comes together to create a car that I’d love to drive. Gucci is a well-known iconic brand and I love that they are bringing a fashionable aesthetic to this adorable car. If I could drive this car anywhere, I’d want to drive it along the Pacific Coast Highway in California. I’d truly enjoy seeing that amazing coastline. It would be a pleasure to experience it in this nifty car. I think that this collaboration gives customers the best of both worlds...style married to the excellence of a great automobile.

Fiat

Fiat 500 by Gucci

Italian car

Sponsored Post

Cool Things for Music Fans

2011-03-01T15:56:00.001Z

Here's a cool video for all of you music fans out there!

The Golden Prince - Book Review

2011-02-12T23:33:00.004Z

A little while back, I did an introductory post about a book that I was sent for review. The book was, The Golden Prince, by Rebecca Dean. I know that it has been a bit of a gap since that intro post, but things have been very busy with me lately and it took me a while to finish the book. I wanted to give it my undivided attention and that has been hard to come by lately ;-) But I have now finished it and it was an enjoyable read.

This is a story of Prince Edward (Edward VIII) and his love for a commoner. The story is a work of fiction, but the story that is spun around this real prince is an intriguing read. The modern day story of Prince William and Kate Middleton interestingly parallels with this fictionalized love story of his ancestor.

The novel begins in 1911, when Edward is a young student, living a lonely and stifling life of duty. In a twist of fate, the Houghton family is brought into his life and he is enthralled. There are four Houghton daughters and Edward falls in love with Lily. Let the romance begin…

In the background of the story between Edward and Lily, we get to know the other Houghton sisters and get a glimpse into Edward’s life of duty. This book is very timely since the royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton is coming up in a couple of months.

I found this to be a pretty good read. I would have loved more spark between Edward and Lily though. This wouldn’t have been a book that I would have picked up on my own, but it was enjoyable once I got going. For anyone who is a die-hard royal watcher, this is the book for you! :-) Check it out and enjoy!

I will give The Golden Prince 6 out of 10.

Pick up your copy at Amazon.

Note: I’d like to thank FuelMyBlog for sending me this book for review!

RIP Teena Marie

2010-12-28T18:04:00.003Z

This is one of my favorite songs, but Teena Marie aka Lady T gave us so much more amazing music. She has passed away but she will never be forgotten by her many fans including myself...

The Golden Prince

2010-12-10T12:21:00.003Z

Recently, I’ve been given the opportunity to review a new book called, The Golden Prince by Rebecca Dean. I’m so excited! :-) This is a very timely book to read since we’ve recently been given the great news that Prince William will be marrying Kate Middleton in the spring of next year. Love is definitely in the air!

It’s very refreshing that Prince William is being given the chance to marry the girl that he loves and is not encumbered by the constraints of having to marry someone from an aristocratic background. It was so very different in the past.

The Golden Prince gives us a peek into that world of the past. The author Rebecca Dean, melds fact with fiction to explore the poignant situation of Prince Edward when, as a very young man, was denied personal happiness by not being allowed to marry the commoner he loved.

Oh how Edward would have envied his great grand-nephew William. And how different British history would have been if Edward, like William, had been given permission to marry the girl he gave his heart to as a young, idealistic prince.

I’m currently reading the book and will share my review of it soon. So please watch this space for my take on this exciting new book! It promises to be a cold weekend around where we live, so I think it will be the perfect time to snuggle up with a good book to read. :-)

And hey, if you’d like to get your own copy and race me to the finish, click here to pick up yours ;-)

What Would You Do With £40,000?

2010-11-12T18:38:00.006Z

Here’s a fun question to answer….

What would I do with £40 000? Well, like many of us, I could think of a lot of things that could easily eat up this amount or more and it is fun to think about just having a great time with it. But I guess that mine would be a very practical answer. I’d donate a couple of thousand to charity and I’d use the rest to put a down payment on building our house. “Stuff” would be cool, but a house of our own would rock for me and hubby.

My answer is quite practical, and I’m just daydreaming. However, PayPal is offering you the chance to ask yourself that question and go one step further. By simply buying anything using PayPal, you could be in with a chance of winning £40,000! And here’s the thing, the more times you buy, the more chances you get! This is a weekly draw so one lucky winner will be chosen each week, until December 5^th!

There are many well-known brands that accept PayPal and this is all perfect timing since Christmas is right around the corner. I’ve had a look around and I’ve found some really great items on offer out there. Since my answer to the £40,000 question was practical, it was fun to imagine treating myself. So here’s a list of just five of the many great items that are available which will give you a chance at the prize if you purchase them with PayPal. Click this link to find out more about how to enter.

My Five Picks:

ASOS Princess Peep Toe Court Shoe – available at ASOS

Paisley Print Tunic (from the Russian Princess Collection) – available at Next

Magimix Glacier 1.1 Ice Cream Maker – available at Next

PAPILI dark rinse indigo wash jeans – available at Ted Baker

Black Leather Trim Aviator Jacket ( hubby) – available at TopMan

So there’s something for everybody around the Yellow House here and certainly something out there for all of you! Check out the items above and so much more and have fun!

Terms and Conditions

Find out more

Enter now for your chance to win

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Interesting Video...Take A Look

2010-10-24T20:33:00.002+01:00

A Great Day Out Is Better With Pizza

2010-10-05T09:53:00.004+01:00

All of us these days are trying to save a penny or two, and there are many ways that families can enjoy a day out without breaking the bank. Back in the summer, Brit Boy and I took a trip up to London to visit the Science Museum in Kensington. One of the great things about the museums in London is that admission is free, and so a whole family can be entertained, whilst learning something at the same time without having to reach into their pocketbooks.

The Science Museum is very family-friendly and boasts several interactive exhibits which will keep both the kids and adults enthralled. Walking around the museum is like going back in time, whilst striding ahead to the future. There are various exhibits to wonder at ranging from NASA’s Apollo 10 mission, to a Ford Model T, to regular household appliances from yesteryear, as well as cutting edge technologies still in development. We had a really great day out and it is a place that is well worth visiting again.

Trekking around the varied displays certainly works up an appetite, and for those on a budget, Pizza Hut’s Kids Eat Free offer is a great money saver. For every adult main course or adult lunchtime buffet purchased, an accompanying child (under 12) can choose from either a FREE 2 course kids meal (includes a drink) or a FREE kids lunchtime buffet (includes pizza, pasta and salad). This offer continues until January 9^th, 2011 and you can find more details about the offer at http://bit.ly/a1DhgJ

Also, on the bottom of any Pizza Hut Restaurant receipt you will find an offer code. Enter this code at http://www.pizzahut.co.uk/familyadventures to get great deals on a wide range of family activities and adventures including holidays, theme parks, zoos and more. This offer is valid for UK restaurants.

Pizza is always a winner around the Yellow House, so I imagine that many others will find this deal irresistible, especially if they have kids to feed. So enjoy!

Pizza Hut

Kids Eat Free

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I'm Flashing Back Just Because It's Friday #3

2010-08-20T19:57:00.003+01:00

Happy Friday everybody! I'd like to share another entry in my series of Friday posts. Okay, this is another one of my all-time favorites from back in the day. This song is of course by that funky, funky group, The Commodores! This is another one of those songs that will get me dancing when I hear it. When this song came out, I was a little kid, but I had older brothers and sisters who played this great music all the time, so I became a great fan of this great music. My older siblings used to go to their concerts and I used to want to go so much, but I wasn't allowed. I wanted to be a grown up so much in the 70s. LOL. Anyway, I finally got my chance to see The Commodores when they played at Six Flags Over Georgia, so I was a happy, grooving kid ;-)

So check out "Brick House" and turn the volume up!!! :-) By the way, check out Lionel Richie on the sax! Enjoy your weekend!

I'm Flashing Back Just Because It's Friday #2

2010-08-06T15:32:00.004+01:00

So today I wanted to do another post in my series called, "I'm Flashing Back Just Because It's Friday". I was shocked to realize that it's been nearly a month since the last one, so I will have to remedy this situation and make these posts more frequent ;-)

Anyway, today I'd like to share another one of my favorite songs of all time. This one instantly takes me back to being a teen girl, dancing and singing around the house. Whenever I hear this song, I still have to stop what I'm doing and turn the volume up!!!! This song is by Evelyn Champagne King and her vocals are just amazing! Take a listen...to those who know this song well, enjoy the trip down memory lane and for those of you who don't know this song, have a listen and I hope you enjoy it. Have a great weekend everyone! ;-)

I'm Flashing Back Just Because It's Friday #1

2010-07-09T14:22:00.003+01:00

I've decided to start a semi-regular series here on this blog called..."I'm Flashing Back Just Because It's Friday" ;-)....long title, but I'm a bit wordy sometimes. LOL. This is one of my all-time favorite songs and it always gets me dancing. Enjoy and have a great weekend! :-)

Think Different

2010-07-02T19:56:00.005+01:00

It's been a while since I posted on this blog, but now that I'm back from my vacation back home and I'm in blogging mode again, I'd love to share something that I came across recently. This video features and is about the genius that was Michael Jackson, but it is also a wise reminder to all of the rest of us to look at our own lives and the lives of others. Please take a look and listen to the words. It's a short video, but it's very powerful :-) Enjoy!

One of My Favorite Songs

2010-05-26T21:18:00.003+01:00

So, I was doing one of my favorite things this afternoon...taking a stroll down memory lane on Youtube :-) It's amazing how songs can just instantly take you back in time like you're hitching a ride on a time machine.

I came across one of my favorites today. This song, "A Night to Remember", by Shalamar, always makes me happy and makes me want to dance just like I did back in the early 80s as a teen. Those were the days! ;-) Have a listen and enjoy!

In Tribute to Lena Horne

2010-05-10T17:31:00.000+01:00

Today I'd like to pay tribute to a lady that I’ve admired for a great portion of my life…Ms. Lena Horne. She passed away yesterday in New York at the age of 92.

Photo courtesy of AFP - Getty Images

When I was a little girl, I loved spending my Sundays watching the classic movies on television, especially musicals, from the golden age of Hollywood. I would watch and be transported to another world of beauty, make-believe, and elegance. I imagined myself dancing around with Fred Astaire or making an entrance like the great Bette Davis. I was absorbed into that world and it was part of my 'play' when I was growing up. It fueled my imagination.

Then one day, I saw her…Lena Horne, and I was a fan from that moment on (smile). There she was…elegant and beautiful and talented. She could do something that I wanted to do so much…she could sing! And she got to wear beautiful clothes while doing it…hey, I was a baby fashionista back then (smile).

When I saw Ms. Horne, I was pleasantly surprised to see a lady that looked like she could be a relative. I had always watched all of the MGM musicals and various movies and loved them no matter who was starring in them. But it was a revelation in my young life then to see this beautiful, talented lady on film who looked like me. She was rare then, as the first black performer to be signed to a long-term contract with a major Hollywood studio. So she was not only talented…she was a trailblazer too. Sadly though, she was held back in the 1940s, because of the color of her skin. She would perform one or two songs in various MGM movies that could be easily edited out of the film in order for it to be played in certain areas. What garbage I say! I should use the other word I thought of. LOL.

Anyway, she had two movies where she was given the spotlight that she deserved, in 1943, with all-black casts. She made “Cabin in the Sky” for MGM and was loaned to 20th Century Fox for my favorite, “Stormy Weather”. And one of her signature songs was the beautiful “Stormy Weather” that she sang in the film. Please take a look at her performance here. So no matter what she had to deal with, she is still going to be remembered always, and she triumphed despite the odds. I love that! I feel like watching “Stormy Weather” right now. I’m going to have to buy a copy somewhere (smile).

Besides her movie career, she was a very popular singer in elegant clubs, onstage, and on many recordings. In 1981, she was the toast of Broadway with her one woman show, “Lena Horne: The Lady and Her Music” , for which she won a Tony Award.

Photo credit - Christian Steiner/AP

I wanted to go to see her onstage back then, but I was a young teen who couldn’t be out on a school night (smile) and I didn’t have the money to go to New York. This was the time in my life when I couldn’t wait to be grown, so I could just go where I wanted, when I wanted. Of course I learned later, like we all do, that we shouldn’t rush growing up. But it was still fun to fantasize (smile).

I grew up as a typical child and teen of the 70s and 80s, with lots of love for my faves of those days…like Michael Jackson, Prince, and Madonna…just like a lot of kids my age. However, I also had lots of love for the ladies and gents who paved the way in those early days, not just as entertainers, but also as important threads in the tapestry of the American culture. They made change in their own way.

Photo credit: Garth Vaughan/AP

Lena Horne was a great performer, a trailblazer, and a civil rights activist also. I honor her memory today. Rest in peace…Ms. Horne. Thank you for shining your light in this world!

Five Tips For Choosing a Swimsuit

2010-04-23T17:08:00.007+01:00

Choosing a swimsuit can be a scary prospect, but it doesn't have to be. I’ve received some helpful tips from 6pm.com that will make the process of choosing just the right suit a little less painful for many of us.

According to 6pm.com, you should size up the situation and figure out what parts of your body you would like to accentuate and then be honest about those parts that you would like to keep under wraps :-) So here are five helpful tips from the stylists at 6pm.com.

Tip #1: Dark Colors and Prints - Depending upon your particular shape and whatever spots you want to accentuate or conceal, remember the following. Darker colors recede and thus make your silhouette appear smaller, while loud prints attract attention and make you look bigger.

Tip #2: For Larger Cup Sizes – Cleavage is a wonderful thing. And having the correct amount of support is key if you’re well endowed upstairs. Suits that have underwire or other built-in support are a great choice.

Tip #3: For Smaller Cup Sizes - Many swimsuits come with padding to flesh out the top half if you are smaller here. Also, there are styles that come with bejeweling or ruffles that can give the illusion of a larger bust.

Tip #4: Cute Ways To Conceal – If you’re wanting to conceal more, a tankini is a great way to accentuate your positives, while also doing a fabulous job of covering those areas that you want to mask, such as the dreaded muffin top :-)

Above: a tankini

Tip #5: Size Does Matter – Remember to try on a swimsuit one size up from your normal size. If the suit is too tight, the edges tend to cut into your body and create bulges and let’s be candid here ladies….it can also leave a painful mark when you peel your suit off. Not good :-) Now when the swimsuit fits a bit looser and comfortably, the skin is squeezed less and fewer bulges are created. Yay! Also remember to not get too loose of a fit or it may sag or slip and possibly show 'too much' when it gets wet ;-)

Sounds like some great advice! A great place to have a look at some great suits is 6pm.com. They are a great online retailer, offering a wide variety and super discounts on fabulous name brands, up to 75% off MSRP. So please check them out and have a fun summer!

Disclosure: I was sent this information by representatives of 6pm.com, however, I have not received any pay for this post.

Hot Deals #2

2010-04-14T16:54:00.002+01:00

I have some more hot deals to share with you all! This time I wanted to share some giveaways courtesy of the website Gather. This is a wonderful community that shares advice, expertise, and views on the stories that are making news each day. It’s a place where members can contribute content and if the content becomes popular, there is the opportunity to earn Gather Points, which can be cashed in for gift cards to places like Starbucks, Amazon.com, and Target or they can even be redeemed for cash through PayPal. This is a very cool site to join so that you can take advantage of all of the great giveaways!

So here are a few of the giveaways on offer at Gather currently. You can take a survey for a chance to win $500! This survey asks about your views of the news and how you currently get your news. Sounds very intriguing. Follow this link to find out more. Hurry if you want to enter this one, because the survey closes on April 16th.

Gather is also offering a chance to win a prize pack of four novels. For a chance to win, just answer a question, and then a drawing will be held to determine the winner. Hurry to enter this one too because the giveaway ends on April 16th. Please follow this link to join and enter.

And one last giveaway…Gather is also offering the chance to win a copy of Sergio Mendes’ new album entitled “Bom Tempo”. All that you need to do to enter this giveaway is to share who your favorite inspirational musician is. If your answer is chosen, you could win a copy of the new album. Gather is giving away five copies! There is a bit of time to enter this one because the deadline is April 28th! So head on over to Gather and give it a try...follow this link!

Enjoy yourself at Gather and good luck! :-)

Note: I have not been compensated for this post.

Happy Easter

2010-04-04T12:59:00.000+01:00

I just wanted to post a short Easter greeting to all of you who celebrate :-) I love the renewal of spring and recalling my memories of Easter when I was growing up. When I was growing up, we had Easter speeches that we did in church, which were short pieces of poetry that we performed in a special program on the day.

Those memories stay with me all of these years later because it was a time of simplicity and community. I'm glad to have had that experience in my life. Also, I love poetry, so getting to speak it in public was so fun for me, even though I was a shy child. But I simply came alive while I recited the words, because it was doing something that I loved :-)

So I hope that you all enjoy this day, whether you celebrate Easter or not. Have a glorious Sunday! :-)

Help Zappos to Help Haiti

2010-03-24T16:33:00.009Z

I’d like to share something great that I’ve found out about and it’s close to my heart because it is about helping others and it gives the whole family an opportunity to help. I’ve written here before about, Zappos, the online shoe and clothing shop and now I’d like to share a great fundraising opportunity that they are involved in.

Zappos, is committed to supporting fundraising efforts for the children of Haiti. In addition to their To Haiti With Love tee, Zappos has joined forces with the Life is Good brand.

Life is Good has always been about spreading the word of optimism. Continuing with this campaign, the brand has launched a national fundraising effort for children devastated by the recent earthquake in Haiti. The popular lifestyle and apparel brand has designed fundraising t-shirts featuring its smiling icon, Jake, proudly carrying a Haitian flag with the slogan “Optimism has no borders” .

Those of you who would like to help the cause can purchase a t-shirt on Zappos and help to support the children of Haiti. 100% of the profits will be donated to Haiti!!!!! Isn’t that great?! :-)

T-shirts are available in a variety of styles. Styles can be purchased in sizes for women, men and kids – so the whole family can show their support and will look great in these “feel good” shirts.

The women’s tee is available in long sleeve in a pretty light blue or pale green for spring.

The men’s tee is available in short sleeve and long sleeve in a variety of colors.

The kid’s tee is available in short sleeve in blue.

I love the fact that this gives the whole family an opportunity to help and gives kids a chance to learn about helping others. I just think that it’s so important to plant the seed of giving in the minds of children early in their lives. And I think that it helps their self-esteem because they feel their own power in changing our world. This ends up being a win-win situation for all of us :-)

So I hope that you will take a moment to go by the site and check it out and if you aren’t able to help right now, please pass along the link to the site to your friends. Thanks for reading! :-)

Note: I have not been compensated for this post.

Hot Deals #1

2010-03-11T15:26:00.012Z

Today is the first installment in my series of Hot Deals that I will share with you from time to time :-)

These days, everyone can use a bargain, so I wanted to share a deal that’s going on at 6pm.com. You may ask…what is 6pm.com???? Well, it’s the sister site of Zappos.com, the online shoe and clothing shop that you may be familiar with. The site 6pm.com also offers a variety of clothing and shoes at great prices.

Here’s the deal :-) They’re planning a week long spring wardrobe makeover sale from Sunday, March 14th to Saturday, March 20th! If you're up for a few new things for spring, this may be for you.

The sale includes apparel, footwear, belts, jewelry, bags, sunglasses and a whole lot more – with savings between 55% - 85% off! And the sale includes some familiar brand names such as Bandolino, The North Face, Reebok, New Balance and more! It’s all quite varied and I really enjoyed window shopping.

Is it called window shopping on the internet??? ;-)

So take a look if you have a moment and be sure to mark your calendars – because I imagine these deals will go fast!

Here’s a sample of what’s on offer…please click on the links to see more!

Sunday, March 14

Franco Sarto Footwear All Styles Up to 85% off This Week (above)

Via Spiga Footwear All Styles Up to 85% off This Week (above)

DC Footwear, Apparel, Bags & Accessories All Styles Up to 50% off This Week

DVS Shoe Company All Styles Up to 85% off This Week

Vans Footwear & Apparel All Styles Up to 60% off This Week

Monday, March 15

Patagonia Footwear & Apparel All Styles Up to 60% off This Week

The North Face Footwear, Apparel & Accessories All Styles Up to 55% off This Week (above)

Mountain Hardwear Apparel All Styles Up to 50% off This Week

Teva Footwear All Styles Up to 50% off This Week

Keen Footwear All Styles Up to 50% off This Week

Columbia Footwear, Apparel & Houseware All Styles Up to 65% off This Week

Tuesday, March 16

Tarina Tarantino Jewelry All Styles Up to 50% off Today Only

Handbags - Hobo Select Styles Up to 65% off Today Only (above)

Handbags - Clutch Select Styles Up to 75% off Today Only

Watches All Styles Up to 45% off Today Only

Sunglasses All Styles Up to 75% off Today Only (above)

Hats All Styles Up to 50% off Today Only

Belts All StylesUp to 60% off Today Only

Wednesday, March 17

Johnston & Murphy Footwear All Styles Up to 40% off Today Only

Dockers Footwear & Apparel All Styles Up to 40% off Today Only

Thursday, March 18

Bandolino Footwear All Styles Up to 85% off Today Only (above)

Friday, March 19

Ugg Footwear, Apparel, Bags & Accessories All Styles Up to 50% off This Weekend (above)

Deer Stags Footwear Select Styles $50 or less This Weekend

RSVP Footwear All Styles Up to 85% off This Weekend (above)

Saturday, March 20

Nike Footwear & Apparel All Styles Up to 60% off This Weekend

Adidas Footwear & Apparel All Styles Up to 50% off This Weekend

Puma Footwear, Apparel & Bags All Styles Up to 60% off This Weekend

New Balance Footwear & Apparel All Styles Up to 55% off This Weekend

Asics Footwear & Apparel All Styles Up to 55% off This Weekend

Reebok Footwear & Apparel All Styles Up to 85% off This Weekend

If you’re in the hunt for a few pieces for your spring wardrobe, I hope you have a happy shopping experience! :-)

Note: I have not received any money or compensation for this post.

Stillness Sessions "Imagine" CD Winner

2010-03-08T16:39:00.000Z

Well, today's the day when I reveal the winner of the Stillness Sessions "Imagine" CD. I had two entries and Brit Boy assisted me with the drawing.

Here's the video that I promised, showing our old school drawing technique ;-) You'll get to see Brit Boy's wonderful hands. And you'll also get to hear my voice...I know you've been waiting for that one. LOL. Anyway, here's the video.

Congratulation to Jacqueline! I will be getting in touch with you and arranging for the CD to be delivered to you very soon. Thank you to both Jacqueline and Rhonda for entering the giveaway!

Stillness Sessions Giveaway

2010-03-04T15:20:00.005Z

Thank you for coming over from my original blog :-) As I mentioned over there, I’m hosting my first giveaway here. Yay! So to celebrate this new blog and to commemorate the two year blogoversary of my original blog, I have a CD to be won by one of my readers.

Firstly, I want to tell you about the origin of my giveaway. I was contacted and presented with the opportunity to introduce the latest Stillness Sessions CD called “Imagine”, by world renowned spiritual teacher, Marlise Karlin. Please take a look at her website here.

I was also given the opportunity to listen in to her tele-seminar entitled, “Opening to Love”. I'll tell you about that in a minute :-)

To give you a bit of background on Marlise, she is a spiritual teacher who has traveled the globe, teaching people how to reconnect with their true essence to bring peace and balance back into their lives by experiencing “The Simplicity of Stillness”™.

Countless people from every culture around the world have attended Marlise’s programs and are attesting to the extraordinary benefits that her Stillness Sessions® have brought to their lives, from experiencing a sense of peace rarely felt, to finding balance and wellbeing, from releasing years of road blocks, to discovering what they really want out of life and how to create it.

Stillness Sessions™ are an experiential form of teaching designed to move people beyond the limitations and agitations of the mind and into their natural state of being. These journeys are accompanied by music and words infused with the profound energy and vibration of Stillness.

Here’s a link to sample the music found on her CDs.

I love anything that is about bringing more peace and connection with ourselves.

As I mentioned, I was also invited to listen in to Marlise’s tele-seminar last week and I must say, it was wonderful to listen to. It put me into a space of true calm and this is nice since we live in a world that seems to be spinning around us faster and faster all the time.

The session that I listened to was entitled, “Clearing the Roadblocks to Love”, and it was really intriguing. It’s about self love and opening the pathways in your life. There is a concept that she teaches called “3 Breath Awareness” that helps you tap into just getting still. It was very meditative for me. I think that I will call upon this technique often. My mind has a tendency to think of ten things at once sometimes, especially at 11pm when I’m trying to go to sleep :-) I really enjoyed the tele-seminar.

Therefore, I’d like to offer you, my readers, a chance to win a copy of Marlise Karlin’s latest CD called “Imagine”. So here’s how I’ll do this. The giveaway is open to US residents only,(sorry), due to shipping issues and the prize will be sent from the US. All that you have to do to be entered into the drawing is to leave a comment here at this post from today, March 4th until midnight PST (Pacific Standard Time) on the evening of Sunday, March 7th. Then we’ll do it old school and have Brit Boy to draw a name out of a hat and we’ll post a video of him doing so right here, just for fun :-) So if you want to see Brit Boy’s hand, come by and check it out ;-)

Once we get our winner, I’ll ask the winner to email me their address so that I can get the company in the US to mail the CD out. Good luck everyone!

Fashion Playtes

2010-03-03T17:59:00.000Z

This is my first post here at my new blog. I’m excited about the opportunity to write this blog and to explore other things separate from my expat experience. My original blog, From A Yellow House in England, is more about my day to day life and I really adore writing it, so it will still be going strong as always :-) .

Now, I’m venturing along an extra path, but I’m never too far from the Yellow House. I like the idea of having space for both in my life. One place to talk about my home life and the other to talk about everything else. At this new blog, I will write about things that I come across and would like to share or things that I’m asked to review. So I hope you’ll enjoy coming along with me on this journey. Now, away we go…

When I was a little girl, I used to love to draw pictures of dresses and different designs. I would dream about wearing some of the designs that I drew. I never got the chance to create any of my own designs in real life, but it was great to dream. It opened my mind to being creative and that was a good thing. A few days ago, I was presented with the opportunity to share a great new website with everyone. I think that it’s a wonderful idea and I’m proud to highlight it here.

The website is called Fashion Playtes and it is a new virtual design studio that empowers girls ages 6-12 to design and produce their very own clothing. The online platform let’s girls “play designer” and use their creativity to create custom clothes and accessories (complete with personalized labels!) that are delivered to their doorstep in just 3 weeks. One cute thing that I love about the site is the sound effect as you run your mouse along the tabs. It makes a twinkling sound. So cute! :-)

This is a great activity for moms, daughters, aunts, and nieces to enjoy together. It’s a great project to share. The site allows girls to see their unique ideas come to life with high-quality garments that they’ll be proud to wear. And the clothing can be produced and offered at a reasonable price. The designs are budget-friendly and make for an excellent birthday gift. This can also be a fun activity for a slumber party.

Fashion Playtes is a free site. Girls can design as many outfits as they like and then have the option of purchasing what they create. The site accepts payment from MasterCard, American Express, Visa, Discover and PayPal. Fashion Playtes ships to anywhere within the United States. They also will try to make arrangements for delivery elsewhere. They can be contacted to find out more.

Above: Some of the cute designs

The company, Fashion Playtes, was founded by Sarah McIlroy, who had a passion for designing her own clothing when she was a young girl. Her mother would help her bring her creations to life. This passion has never left her and now she is excited to offer girls the opportunity to create their own designs and also build their confidence and self-esteem.

Above: the company's founder Sarah McIlroy and her 7 year old daughter, who is wearing her own design

The company is doubling their design options for Spring/Summer and there will soon be two million design options to choose from. So there are a lot of options for tween girls to let their imaginations roam freely as they design their own looks.

Please visit this wonderful site. It’s a fun place for girls and a great place for their self-expression!

Note: I have received no compensation for this review whatsoever. I was approached to give the website a look and I was offered the chance to highlight it here if I wished. After visiting, I realized that this site was a great activity and a great creative outlet for girls, so I was excited to help get the word out!