tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10963144768932392912024-03-05T06:34:51.271-05:00MI AveBritish expat finding her way and life in Michigan, USARachaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17128754833604987577noreply@blogger.comBlogger988125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1096314476893239291.post-79530632534210592632016-04-06T10:32:00.001-04:002016-04-06T10:32:40.955-04:00REVIEW: Trying Out Daily Burn<br />
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<a href="https://scontent.fdtw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xaf1/v/t1.0-9/10847944_10152998407772323_3360120433359326299_n.png?oh=548f93fe13e0a301f22efeff1d74acf0&oe=578DB63B" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://scontent.fdtw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xaf1/v/t1.0-9/10847944_10152998407772323_3360120433359326299_n.png?oh=548f93fe13e0a301f22efeff1d74acf0&oe=578DB63B" width="400" /></a></div>
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While fitness is not a thing I would typically go out of the way to mention, having talked about signing up for Daily Burn throughout my <a href="http://miavenues.blogspot.com/search/label/Small%20Things">Small Things</a> posts and occasionally on Twitter and getting the odd interesting remark and comment, I thought I would come to share my first nine weeks using the program.</div>
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If you're not familiar with <a href="http://dailyburn.com/">Daily Burn</a>, what is it? Basically DB is an online fitness program, comprising 16 different programs from expert trainers alongside offering a live daily workout. DB also offers meal plans, recipes, supplement recommendations to lifestyle tips. Workouts tend to last between 15 to 45 minutes depending on the program. Streaming online and or through TV steaming services, currently the first month is free, then it's $12.99 monthly.</div>
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So tomorrow actually marks the final day in the True Beginner program that me and Joe have been working through for the last nine weeks. It's a program that takes you right back to the basics, and for someone who's never loved, enjoyed or even worked out really it's the best place it start. It combines and rotates between cardio, strength, mobility and core workouts, every couple of weeks inching up the challenge level. Without having access to scales for the first couple of weeks I can't say how much weight I've lost during this workout, which actually probably works out for the best. Yes, I've lost weight but it's also made me aware of other improvements, I feel stronger, I'm much more flexible, more stable and I can do exercises (planks, push ups) that I couldn't do before. But more importantly, it's made me feel awesome inside and out. In fact it's started an inner revolution for me. I never thought I'd come to enjoy exercise.</div>
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The last couple of weeks we've started exploring the Daily Burn 365 workouts. The 365 workout's is perhaps the part of DB you might have seen advertised - each day there's a brand spanking new 30 minute workout shown live (at 9am EST) and on demand throughout the day with a different trainer. These are far more intensive than the True Beginner workouts but it was time to try pushing ourselves, mix things up a little and they are certainly shows I'm going to try and join in live on weekdays because they make me feel great.</div>
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Like True Beginner there's a library of workouts that you can challenge yourself too, they typically seem to last between 16 days up to 3 months depending on which you choose and are at a variety of intensity levels from beginner to expert. Whether you like yoga, Pilates, what to work on your core or even dance workouts. There really is something for everyone, you can mix it up day to day, do it whenever you fancy and at your own pace. </div>
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So I thought I'd string together a quick list of pros and cons about DB:</div>
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<b>Pros:</b></div>
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<li><b>You don't need to be an expert - </b>there is something for everyone regardless of fitness level, strength, experience and interest. <b> </b></li>
<li><b>Not needing lots of fancy equipment</b>: basically (for the True Beginner and DB365 sessions) you need a sturdy chair, most likely a towel and maybe a yoga mat (which I ended up buying for like a cheap $8). You don't need fancy weights, lots of equipment. Just yourself.</li>
<li><b>Mixing it up</b> - I know lots of people love YouTube for exercising, but I just could never stick to it. One on one with the trainer, not having that variety just wasn't working for me. Daily Burn offers that variety, it mixes it up for me, I don't have to remember what I did or didn't do yesterday or last week. It makes you feel included, makes it different. </li>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/dailyburn/photos/pb.184534047322.-2207520000.1459952037./10153980628652323/?type=3&theater">Source</a></td></tr>
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<li><b>Modifications </b>- workouts pretty much always offer a modification to work to your level of strength. While you're encouraged to push yourself, you're encouraged to do it to your own level and workouts nearly always come with various ways to achieve your goals. </li>
<li><b>Positively</b>: going on from the above, the trainers and community (which I'll speak to later) everyone is positive and not in a patronizing manner. You're encouraged, you're made to feel welcome, that you're worth this. This is a big big biggie for me.</li>
<li><b>Streaming options </b>- I love that you can stream it through the website, on your phone, the app and steaming devices. It makes it so portable. But especially because you can stream it through devices like the Roku I can stream it full size on my TV. </li>
<li><b>Website</b> - the website is really easy to use which is pretty important when it's an online based service. The website is also full of interesting articles - offering tips on exercise, the aforementioned recipes and lifestyle tips. </li>
<li><b>Community </b>- the DB community seems to be pretty active through <a href="https://www.facebook.com/dailyburn/?fref=photo">Facebook</a> and through the webchats around the 365 program. You seen regular faces in the workouts and the trainers are pretty awesome in making you feel included and part of the team. </li>
<li><b>Recipes </b>- I can never have enough recipes I will be honest
but I could probably do with some on the healthy side. The Daily Burn
has a collection of recipe inspiration for all kinds of meals and
drinks. </li>
<li><b>Improvements </b>- nine weeks in, like I mentioned I'm feeling stronger, I've improved my balance, I can do exercises I couldn't before and I'm feeling positive. </li>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/dailyburn/photos/pb.184534047322.-2207520000.1459951992./10153989939812323/?type=3&theater">Source</a></td></tr>
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<b>Cons:</b></div>
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<li><b>Can't use Paypal</b>. Biggest issue of all for me. I rely on using Paypal pretty much constantly for being able to pay for apps online, to me it's just easier and I don't have the hassle or the fear of typing in card details. But Paypal sadly isn't an option for monthly payments. Sucks. </li>
<li><b>Playing the wrong day</b> - granted I'm not sure if is this more of an issue with DB or because we stream it through our Roku, but often loading the app through the Roku it'll want to reshow the work out from the previous day. Which all means logging on through the computer, clicking the correct show, loading it a little, logging back through the app on the Roku to get it streaming </li>
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I guess only being able to think of two cons is pretty awesome.<br />
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I have a goal in mind for what I want to achieve with DB and I believe it's going to get me there. For me, the fact that the program has me excited for the next session when I'm worn out and tried after the day's workout, for me says something huge. For me, it means it's working and it's something I'm actually off to stick with.<br />
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So there you have it, i'm a full DB convert and I love it.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Rachael </span></div>
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Rachaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17128754833604987577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1096314476893239291.post-68618791368989793402016-03-28T11:09:00.000-04:002016-03-28T11:09:43.727-04:00LIFE: Photo an Hour March 2016<div style="text-align: justify;">
If you didn't think the year was flying by already, well it's rolled around to another <a href="http://miavenues.blogspot.com/search/label/Photo%20An%20Hour">Photo an Hour Link up</a>, to remind you just how quickly the months are passing us by. Sundays are typically our lazy days, we may pretend to be adults and get dressed, poke some DIY, do the weekly shop. This week we were enchanted by the blue skies and headed to the zoo for a wander and then flopped back on the sofa and went back to being lazy.
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Sunday began with a late start to the day (10am) the usual coffee, cereals and catching up on a couple of pages of my new read - The Witches, which as you probably might have guessed is all about the Salem Witch Trails of 1692. Then I finally got around to opening up the Easter package from the homeland - some yummy looking Harry Hopalot chocolate figures from Thorntons. </div>
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I lost track of time when we were actually at the Detroit Zoo when it came to live updating, but hey I was having too much fun. With blue skies and warm temp, it was a perfect day to visit, loads of animals were up and playing around, especially fun to watch the young Chimpanzee's climbing and jumping off rocks and rolling down hills. </div>
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Fun for hobby time - cross stitching a Michael Powell design titled Garden Shed that will eventually end up upon a birthday card, and of course coloring in one of my favorite books - Unicorns Are Jerks. Because Unicorns fart in elevators, on purpose, if you didn't know.</div>
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5pm was time for tea! Some yummy homemade egg fried rice with lots of veg and crab. Then watching Windows decide it wanted to update. Had I know this earlier, this would probably have been achieved hours earlier. Yawn. </div>
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Then we ended the day, well more like 7pm (because my phone was dying) at failing to do our workout. Failing because we were still too knackered and achy from doing two cardio/core workouts on Saturday. We tried. That's the important thing right?!</div>
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So that was pretty much our Sunday. If you like random stuff like this, tag along on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/miavenues/">Instagram</a>, where I try and post more of the same, random shit! </div>
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How was your Sunday?</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Rachael</span></div>
Rachaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17128754833604987577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1096314476893239291.post-16422497509982669862016-03-21T12:12:00.003-04:002016-03-21T12:12:52.078-04:00LIFE: That Time a Brit Went to the Supercross<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/78285075@N03/25842585132" title="Supercross by LOTS4, on Flickr"><img 800="" alt="Supercross12=600" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1567/25842585132_81f08bb927_c.jpg" width="800" /></a>
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Saturday saw the Monster Energy Supercross come to Detroit which some of Joe's family came to see (and brought us tickets) to tag along and watch at Ford Field. Personally, while I'm a country girl, the only time I can stand dirt under my nails is when I'm working in the garden. Country sports, like anything involving motorbikes is not really my thing, but I tagged along, and anytime I can try and squeeze a blog post about something oh so American, then why the hell not share my random British thoughts.</div>
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Random thoughts like - why do they play the American national anthem at every sports event?! (not something we really do, or would probably care to do in the UK). Why do they then try and turn said anthem into a pop song?! Why is everyone at this event, so very white?! I came to the conclusion early enough into it that I'm not really hillbilly, countryside enough for such things. I'm happy to wallow in suburban excess, happily. </div>
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But anyway, AMA Supercross is an American motorcycle racing held between January and May in various venues (typically baseball and football stadiums). Founded in 1974, Supercross is an offshoot of Motocross - the difference being Supercross uses off road bikes on man made tracks with jumps, obstacles and tight turns (Motocross using natural terrains on closed courses). When the championship hits Detroit, it finds it's home at the Lion's Ford Field and becomes one of the few venues were the track layout runs into the stands. Various pre-races make up the afternoon and main event - various sizes of bike engine, even a kids race. You have the Monster Energy ladies with hardy anything on waving heat and time signs around and races that last up to 20 laps. </div>
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I guess it was a different way to spend a Saturday night. I did get to cheer on a Brit in one race who was propping up the back, sigh. It was fun being inside Ford Field for the first time. Getting another sports team plastic cup to add to my every growing collection (alongside my <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/_-SVYcvv28/?taken-by=miavenues">Sparty</a> and <a href="http://miavenues.blogspot.com/2014/04/life-harlem-globetrotters.html">Harlem Globetrotter</a> ones). Indoor fireworks and fireballs are always fun. Constantly coughing because of the smell of petrol/gas, feeling very small and anxious as 46k plus people are leaving, overpriced downtown Detroit parking spaces, not so much. </div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/78285075@N03/25662797480" title="Supercross by LOTS4, on Flickr"><img 800="" alt="Supercross12=600" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1598/25662797480_aed738c413_c.jpg" width="800" /></a>
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While I'm coming more to grips and understanding American sports. I think I would have preferred watching the Lions getting their ass handed to them, or anything March Madness related. Guess I've left my countryside ways long ago.</div>
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How about you? A fan of Supercross?</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Rachael</span></div>
Rachaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17128754833604987577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1096314476893239291.post-177593394234989302016-03-17T10:00:00.000-04:002016-03-17T10:00:08.012-04:00LIFE: Small Things #12<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/78285075@N03/25202617454" title="smallthings12 by LOTS4, on Flickr"><img 800="" alt="smallthings12=800" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1577/25202617454_cb1df2d097_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><br />
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With the clocks jumping an hour forward last Sunday here in the US, there's a extra sense of spring in the air. The days are getting warmer and longer, bulbs are popping up everywhere and more and more birds are chirping and fluttering in to garden for a nosy. Oncoming spring also means the arrival of annoying weather like three hour long thunderstorm early Wednesday morning, I always forgot how hideously loud the bangs and booms are in Michigan. </div>
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The promise of spring has created a little bit of inner peace within myself. This week in particular I feel I might be getting somewhere with my stress and there's lots of plan making to be doing. </div>
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So without further-ado, here's an assortment in no particular order (order being overrated) of random small, but happy things.<br />
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<li>Getting my Brit fix while popping to the store that has a decent British international section - this trip calling for Wetabix and salad cream. And no, sadly to everyone who thought I ate them together when I <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BCyuJCXvv7X/?taken-by=miavenues">shared this on instagram</a>, I don't. </li>
<li>Talking about British food, <i>those </i><a href="http://miavenues.blogspot.com/2016/03/food-hold-on-brits-are-coming-with.html">scotch eggs</a> from One Eyed Betty's.</li>
<li>Finding Tubi TV on our Roku which has a sizable collection of British shows, even ones more recent then Netflix. Even better it's FREE!</li>
<li>Said Tubi TV also has a couple of Transformer shows on which makes the OH happy.</li>
<li>Speaking of TV, the second seasons of Happy Valley and Dinotrux popping up on Netflix - happy TV days indeed. </li>
<li>Reading - <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13050383-midnight-in-peking">Midnight in Perking</a></i> and<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23014679-the-other-daughter"> <i>The Other Daughter</i></a><i>.</i> </li>
<li>Starting out new tradition of (homemade) taco Tuesday, even making my own guacamole and taco sauce (playing with all the spices!!) for the first time. </li>
<li>Talking of spices, turning an old spice rack into a nail polish holder. Sometimes those Pinterest craft ideas actually work.</li>
<li>Lots of spring bulbs popping up around my garden - tulips, daffodils and flowering crocuses. Especially excited for the bulbs showing in the two new flower beds I dug lining out front path last year. </li>
<li>Cuddles on the sofa with Joe and Eddy - purrs all round.</li>
<li>Cats and paper bags, which are nearly as good as empty boxes. Also getting an empty box and now not being able to remove it from the living room because the cats love it.</li>
<li>Onto god knows what week of using Daily Burns True Beginner workout (for everyone who has asked, I will be doing a review/round up once we finish this program) and getting a lot stronger. We started kickboxing which week and it's AWESOME!</li>
<li>Also starting Pilates, which ached and killed me, but fun all the same. </li>
<li>Finishing my crochet wreath! </li>
<li>Ordering lots of seeds for the garden - herbs, flowers and even going to attempt to grow cacti!</li>
<li>1940's radio. I'm sick of constant Trump & US election talk on the radio, so I spend most mornings chilling out to the <a href="http://www.1940sukradio.co.uk/">1940's UK radio station</a>, which suits me perfectly. </li>
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And everything I came remember, and if you made it to the end of the list, well congrats to you!<br />
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What's been rocking your world?<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Rachael </span></div>
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Rachaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17128754833604987577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1096314476893239291.post-43946420876920218152016-03-10T10:00:00.000-05:002016-03-10T10:00:00.280-05:00FOOD: Hold On The Brits are Coming ... With Their Scotch Eggs<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/78285075@N03/25202352689" title="scotch eggs by LOTS4, on Flickr"><img 800="" alt="scotch eggs=450" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1561/25202352689_709cceb1be_c.jpg" width="800" /></a>
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Think about stereotypical British food and scotch eggs may top your list, or at least come close, perhaps alongside pork pies, fish n chips, sausages rolls and even mushy peas. Surprisingly, scotch eggs are making a fast experience in pubs and eateries in Metro Detroit of all places outside of your British themed pubs. </div>
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I have to be honest here, from leaving the UK to this March, I haven't eaten a scotch egg (or sausage rolls, bakewell tart .... it's an endless list). Hearing about the tend, reading all the restaurant reviews, well it was making this Brit hungry. </div>
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But what on earth is a scotch egg I hear you non British folk cry?! Well take a boiled egg, wrap it in sausage meat and breadcrumbs, fry away and there you go. One scotch egg. Typically us British eat it as is hot or cold. It's often considered a picnic food, a snack or have with your lunch. Here in the US it's appearing more and more on menu's as an appetizer, a snack to have with your beer often served hot with a dipping sauce - think ranch, a hot sauce or mustard.</div>
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While the history of the scotch egg is a little up in the air - no ones really too sure of it's origins. Fortnum & Mason, the London department store happen to lay claim to them having invented them back in 1738. Others argue they have a more Indian cuisine background. Either way the British have laid claim to them and we just love to eat them.</div>
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Scotch eggs have become so much of a popular, perhaps we could say hipster food that <a href="http://detroit.eater.com/maps/best-detroit-scotch-egg">Eater dedicated an entire list to finding them in Metro Detroit</a>. One such place was <a href="http://oneeyedbettys.com/">One Eyed Betty's </a>- a gastopub with lots, and lots of beers, pinball machines and as it happens awesome tasting food - including their scotch eggs - yippie! (they even have crispy Brussel sprouts as an appetizer too - apparently loving their random British foods). Served with a hot sauce, they were everything I could have wanted and hoped a scotch egg could be, and more. </div>
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Whether this is a growing tend across the US, who's to say? Maybe it's because they are a kinda quirky hand food, great to share, easily eaten and enjoyed with a beer and kinda like an all day breakfast food. I've personally seen them pop up on a menu while eating at the British (no surprise there) themed <a href="http://www.piperspub.com/">Piper's Pub</a> in Pittsburgh, PA. Back in January 2014 the <a href="http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2014-01-23/features/chi-scotch-eggs-20140123-20140123_1_egg-yolk-sausage">Chicago Tribune published a piece</a> on the scotch eggs increasing menu presence with the rise of the small plate restaurant. But I'm just happy they're more readily available on my doorstep. </div>
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So I guess alongside my adventures in hunting out fish n chips, I have another British food stuff to eat, enjoy and as always, compare.<br />
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Any excuse for eating out ... any excuse ...<br />
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Places mentioned:<br />
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<a href="http://oneeyedbettys.com/"><b>One Eyed Betty's</b></a>: 175 W. Troy St, Ferndale, MI, 48220<br />
<a href="http://www.piperspub.com/"><b>Piper's Pub</b></a>:<b> </b>1828 E. Carson St, Pittsburgh, PA 15203<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Rachael </span></div>
Rachaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17128754833604987577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1096314476893239291.post-54715148115302613982016-03-07T10:00:00.000-05:002016-03-07T10:00:37.048-05:00CREATIVE: Getting My Craft On<div style="text-align: justify;">
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The last couple of weeks has been met with a super urge to be rather crafty and get my hands messy. Be it playing around with lots of thread, paper, rooting through tins of vintage buttons to daydreaming about a whole variety of projects. If you follow me on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/miavenues/">Instagram</a> you might already be aware of the million and one crafty projects I seem to have on the go at any one time (and perhaps be sick of me sharing them) but for those of you who haven't noticed them, or wanted more information, I thought it would be fun to do a little round up and see how I get along over the year ahead.</div>
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So we'll start with crocheting!</div>
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The last week has actually seen me picking up a crochet hook for the
first time in a good couple of months. I go through fits and starts when
it comes to crocheting, I don't really find that there is a lot that I
want to do with this craft but when that urge comes along, I gotta roll
with it.</div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/78285075@N03/24941983803" title="small things by LOTS4, on Flickr"><img 800="" alt="small things height=450" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1691/24941983803_a5c52fc7db_c.jpg" width="800" /></a>
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My mam always loves to mail me vintage crochet patterns of doilies, table cloths and random house decor that was popular, I'm just a sucker for collecting all the patterns I will be honest because I have nightmares of them being thrown away and lost forever. That and I'm just a sucker.<br />
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Anyway ... knowing I have a pile of old crochet thread collected from estate sales, I thought I'd get around to getting back to crocheting some doilies. I guess you might have to have a vintage heart to still find a love and or need for doilies like I use them, but with all the vintage odds and ends we have around our house, they suit everything just swell. </div>
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So I'm working on a small mat from a dressing set, it'll be about 12" in diameter once completed (pictured above) and comes from what appears to be a 1950's Penelope pattern booklet called Household Crochet.
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/78285075@N03/25475972801" title="small things by LOTS4, on Flickr"><img 800="" alt="small things height=400" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1560/25475972801_a7177992cb_c.jpg" width="800" /></a>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.redheart.com/free-patterns/april-flowers-wreath">Finished image source</a></span></div>
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Rolling with the crocheting urge, a crochet flower wreath has been on my must make list for far too many years to think about. I finally picked up a couple of unused Styrofoam wreaths at an estate sale last year and well, it was time to get cracking. Using <a href="http://www.redheart.com/free-patterns/april-flowers-wreath">this pattern from Red Heart</a>, everything is just made up of a collection of different flowers, different colored yarns and vintage buttons. All second hand, all being reused which I love!</div>
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As for the cross stitching, that's going as well as ever. I've started rotating my projects, working on each for a week at a time to make sure non of them are getting neglected, which I'm guilty of doing when I get my head set on a piece that I'm really enjoying.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/78285075@N03/25542558246" title="cross stitch by LOTS4, on Flickr"><img 800="" alt="cross stitch height=488" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1624/25542558246_54e986ac8e_c.jpg" width="800" /></a>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://shop.theheartscontent.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=197">Finished image source</a></span></div>
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So I'm working on Flossie, a design from The Heart's Content. I don't normally tend to fall for stitching people even though such designs are rather popular in the stitching world. But Flossie always looked a fun piece, she's on the time consuming side with all the dress details, but I love how she's turning out. </div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/78285075@N03/25450125532" title="cross stitch by LOTS4, on Flickr"><img 800="" alt="cross stitch height=400" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1516/25450125532_be1f169e20_c.jpg" width="800" /></a>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://www.pinterest.com/pin/387520742909808381/">Finished image source</a></span></div>
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Taking me back to the seaside is my little harbor town piece that comes from issue 237 of Cross Stitch Collection. With mismatched houses, little fishing boats and smelly seagulls, every time I dig this piece out it takes me back to all the small fishing towns of North Yorkshire and everywhere else it could be around the UK coastline. Eventually it'll be hung up in our bathroom - once both are completed. Like Flossie, it's a slow piece to stitch, measuring 13" square there's a lot of detail going on, but it's cheerful and fun all the same. </div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/78285075@N03/25201146709" title="cross stitch by LOTS4, on Flickr"><img 800="" alt="cross stitch height=400" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1463/25201146709_63081b4246_c.jpg" width="800" /></a>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://m.flickr.com/#/photos/worldofxs/12810892503/">Finished image source</a>. </span></div>
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Finally I gave in and added a third main piece into my rotation - a UK sampler by Emma Congdon from issue 214 of World of Cross Stitching Magazine. Again another bright and cheerful piece that reminds me of the homeland. It's such a fun design to stitch, I'm aiming to change some pieces around, I don't particularly like the "love" plate so I might add in some Yorkshire roses or make some reference to East Yorkshire and the like but I'm still on the fence about what I might do, or if I will. </div>
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With my cross stitching bag parked next to the sofa, it's a constant reminder of all the projects I would love to get done. I'm aiming to stitch an anniversary design for the MIL, lots more birthday and Christmas cards, there's a Little Red Riding Hood piece I've been eyeing and a super colorful "it's a wonderful life" design I'm itching to start. </div>
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As always, there's more projects then I'll ever have time for!<br />
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Have you been getting your craft on lately?<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Rachael </span></div>
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Rachaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17128754833604987577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1096314476893239291.post-77097416204199102502016-03-03T08:50:00.000-05:002016-03-03T08:50:45.970-05:00LIFE: Small Things #11<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/78285075@N03/25351896582" title="small things by LOTS4, on Flickr"><img 800="" alt="small things height=800" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1701/25351896582_4f8dd11ba0_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><br />
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They say March loves to come "in like a lion and out like a lamb" well it's pretty much living up to that saying this month in Michigan. From 60F weekends followed by snow emergencies, howling winds and back to blue skies, it's hard to keep up. In a funny comparison, recent snow showers in the old home land was being shared on Facebook of "lots of now", I think it barely measured an inch. Oh the perspective that moving to Michigan provided me when it comes to everything snow and winter. </div>
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But that hint of something a little warmer, of those richer blue skies and the promise of bulbs popping up in the garden has got me feeling a little warm inside, and crafty, very crafty. So here's the latest small things pile of joy;<br />
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<li style="text-align: justify;">Everything hummus related - just pure joy in a pot</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Managing three weeks of Daily Burn. Which for me is a big deal (it's an exercise work out thingy for those not in the know) because of my high laziness and stubbornness. While it's making me walk like John Wayne and ache in places I never knew I could ache, hopefully it's all doing some good. </li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Getting lots of crafting in starting with making some card (birthday and mothers card), it always fun to mess around with paper, glue and washi tape.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Lots of new coloring books - apparently coloring book addiction is real. I'd highly recommend the Taste of Home Color magazine coloring book if you fancy something cheerful, cute and cheap (it's like $4.99 bargain!). </li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">I finally got my hands on two of Theo Nicole Lorenz's coloring books - <i>Unicorns are Jerks</i> and <i>Dinosaurs at Wor</i>k both highly humorous and quirky. I really need to add her <i>Mer World Problems</i> (think first world problems for mermaids) too. </li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">While many expats get food parcels, I get coloring books - yes another coloring book. This really fun book filled with vintage themed designs called Bygones. </li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Reading some great books - Judy Blume's <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23899174-in-the-unlikely-event"><i>In The Unlikely Event</i></a>, <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8755549-boneyards">Boneyards</a> </i>(Richard Bak)<i> </i>and currently <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13050383-midnight-in-peking"><i>Midnight in Perking</i></a> (Paul French). </li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Picking up a crochet hook for the first time in months and messing around with some vintage patterns. </li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Productive tidying up organizing days (aka throwing stuff in lots of pretty boxes and making everything look tidy). </li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Starting a fabulously colorful new cross stitch project all about the homeland! </li>
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So that's pretty much been my world, lots of crafting, coloring and good times.<br />
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How are things with you?<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Rachael </span></div>
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Rachaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17128754833604987577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1096314476893239291.post-38181016201912618482016-02-29T15:38:00.000-05:002016-02-29T15:38:49.936-05:00READS: February's Graphic Novels<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1414845473l/18659623.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1414845473l/18659623.jpg" width="246" /></a>These monthly round ups of my graphic novels are fast becoming one of my favorite regular posts and it's been great to receive such positive feedback them the last couple of months or so.<br />
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So let's get to the point - here is February's round up by starting off with my favorite read of the month! </div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18659623-through-the-woods" target="_blank">Through the Woods</a> by Emily Carroll</div>
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Remember all those bedtime stories of your childhood featuring mystical and eerie dark woods? Of lurking shapes, unexpected happenings and the abyss? </div>
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Well <i>Through the Woods</i> perfectly captures that horror, that mystery through the five unsettling tales that come to make up this graphic novel. Every tale ends on a cliffhanger which forces your mind into overdrive for hours after. As for the art work, it's as fantastic and as creepy as the tales themselves.<br />
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I'm not normally spooked by books, but yeah this one made me feel a little jumpy afterwards. </div>
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<a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1411022689l/18225810.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1411022689l/18225810.jpg" width="136" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18225810-sisters" target="_blank">Sisters</a> (Smile #2) by Raina Telgemeier</div>
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After reading and loving <i><a href="http://miavenues.blogspot.com/2016/01/books-on-graphic-novels-my-top-reads-in.html">Smile</a> </i>by Telgemeier, I set out to read some more of her works. As the sequel to <i>Smile</i>, <i>Sisters</i> features Raina and her relationship with her little sister Amara. A sister she longed for yet their relationship has always been tense. Set during a family road trip from San Francisco through the Colorado Rockies for a family reunion, tension between their parents and a the addition of a baby brother. <br />
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Being an only child, I can't relate or speak to how well Raina speaks of sibling relationships but it was still an engaging read. The ending was a little flat with lots of things hanging in the air, but I'm hoping the story will continue in the future. </div>
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<a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1347763739l/1782504.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1347763739l/1782504.jpg" width="130" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1782504.The_Magical_Life_of_Long_Tack_Sam" target="_blank">The Magical Life of Long Tack Sam</a> by Anne Marie Flemming</div>
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I have to admit to not having a clue who Long Tack Sam - one of China's greatest magicians was when picking up this book. Born in 1885, Sam went onto become a magician, a key act in vaudeville, a restaurant owner, to world traveler in case you didn't know either. </div>
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Now his great granddaughter brings his life to color in this graphic memoir, pretty much a companion to the documentary of the same subject. Which is part of the problem. While I really loved the addition of photographs of Sam and his act, his family etc, stills from the documentary were blurry, still covered with the documentary subtitles. The author herself admits to not being good at drawing so we're left with stick fingers It felt messy and rushed. The story and life of Sam was very interesting to read, but I feel it would have been better has a straight forward non fiction biography. </div>
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<a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1397153220l/18444218.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1397153220l/18444218.jpg" width="153" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18225810-sisters" target="_blank">How to be Happy</a> by Eleanor Davis </div>
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First things first, the various forms of artwork in this graphic novel is phenomenal, from pencil drawings to lush watercolors, it all brings you right into each of the short (some very short) tales that comprise <i>How to be Happy</i>. But that's where all this positive talk ends. Some tales felt far too obscure that they just didn't make sense, it lacked a sense of flow and felt very disjointed throughout. </div>
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Weeks on, I still don't really know what to think about this book. It seemed to be missing a point - (<i>maybe that is the point)</i>?! Even the author narrates that the book is not about how to be happy. Hmmm.</div>
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<a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1330157763l/13436373.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1330157763l/13436373.jpg" width="137" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13436373-drama" target="_blank">Drama</a> by Raina Telgemeier <br />
This happens to be one of those teen graphic novels that is matched with a <i>lot </i>of controversy for featuring a gay character. The book isn't about being gay, it's not even the main character who happens to be gay. Because apparently teens shouldn't be reading about such things ... but if you have trouble finding this book, that might be why.<br />
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Anyways, so this is my second Telgemier book within one review - (you can tell I really like her work can't you?!) about purple haired Callie (so jealous of her hair) - one of the set designers for her schools drama production who comes to struggle with production wise, friendship challenges and boys. It's a great little humorous graphic novel, full of wonderfully vivid artwork, a diverse cast and a nice little story line. <br />
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<a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1435843806l/22554204.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1435843806l/22554204.jpg" width="130" /></a><br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22554204-lumberjanes-vol-1" target="_blank">Lumberjanes</a> Vol 1. (#1-4) Beware the Kitty Holy by Noelle Stevenson, Grace Ellis, Broke A. Allen and Marta Laiho<br />
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I'll openily admit to sneaking Lumberjanes into this lot of reviews. I know there's not too much of a clear line between comics & graphic novels, but I've been trying to keep them separate*. My justification is reading Lumberjanes in the volume format. Anyway to the important details - The Miss Quinzilla Thiskwin Penniquiqual Thistle Crumpet's (how awesome is that for a name!) summer camp is the setting for five best friends and all their adventures. Think coming across three eyed foxes in the middle of the night, falling into caves and supernatural animals. If you're a fan of <a href="http://miavenues.blogspot.com/2016/01/books-on-graphic-novels-my-top-reads-in.html">Nimona</a> - plot and style (also by Noelle Stevenson) you'll love this tale, it's funny, it's engaging and cute, plus it's filled with rad artwork. I can't wait to pick up volume 2! <br />
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So that was my graphic novel reading for February, read any? Loved, liked, hated any of them?<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Rachael</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">*otherwise I would be swamped with reviews and you would all be yawning at your screen. But if you're interested my favorite monthly comic book reads are Ms Marvel, Captain Marvel, Spider Gwen, Pasty Walker AKA Hellcat and The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl. You can tell I'm a Marvel fan can't ya?! Maybe that's all a post for another day ...</span></div>
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Rachaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17128754833604987577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1096314476893239291.post-25873859720351878492016-02-25T09:20:00.000-05:002016-02-25T09:20:09.603-05:00FOOD: Mad Hatter Afternoon Tea<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/78285075@N03/24871391261" title="Mad Hatter by LOTS4, on Flickr"><img 800="" alt="Mad Hatter height=450" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1641/24871391261_351d5494ea_z.jpg" width="800" /></a><br />
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All things Alice in Wonderland greet you once you step inside Birmingham's <a href="http://www.madhatterbistro.com/" target="_blank">Mad Hatter</a> bar and bistro. From the doorknobs, to walls of mirrors, clocks and the red & black upholstery and furniture throughout, you'll feel like you just fell down a rabbit hole and earned yourself a spot for some delicious afternoon tea for your troubles. </div>
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It has been far, far too long since our last afternoon tea adventure to <a href="http://miavenues.blogspot.com/2015/02/snapshots-hauntings-afternoon-tea-at.html" target="_blank">The Whitney</a> and after coming across Mad Hatter on a visit to Birmingham in December, the bar and bistro ended up on our to try list. Feeling a little homesick, Joe booked us a reservation for afternoon tea a couple of weeks ago. </div>
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Everything Mad Hatter is very whimsical but without going too overboard. Table are adorned with pretty mismatched tea cups and saucers. Tea is presented in quirky teapots and food is severed upon traditional three tier serving platter to round things off. </div>
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With our teacups filled with hot cinnamon spice tea, it was time to dig in. We started with the traditional finger sandwiches (think cucumber with minted cream cheese, artichoke, smoked salon and caper - my favorite and roasted pepper and hummus) all small, but all very filling.</div>
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Now, as with my fish and chips adventures in the US, I always love to see how the US takes on and caters British food traditions to the American market. Scones being one of them - because you know as Brits, we're rather picky about them. According to the menu the scones presented are the choice of the chef, we were served chocolate chip and poppy seed. Probably not something you'd see on traditional afternoon tea back in the homeland. Served with mascarpone cheese and lemon curd, I have to be honest, they were delicious and make a nice change from the norm. </div>
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To finish things off, the top tier was filled with wonderfully cut and presented fresh fruits surrounding a selection of cakes - chocolate brownies, lemon tarts and a wonderful Oreo dessert.</div>
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Everything is served with your choice of tea. With fourteen regular teas, alongside decaf there's probably something for everyone from the Mad House Blend, Chocolate Mint to say Chinese Flower to name but a few. We even purchased a caddy of the Hot Cinnamon Spice to take home with us it was so delicious. Even better, you can try multiple tea blends throughout your stay. </div>
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For $24 per person, you'd be hard pressed to find something so delicious and well serviced (our server was both friendly and very attentive throughout our stay). The venue is also a bistro and bar and it has me very tempted to return, for more tea drinking and the rest of their menu. </div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/78285075@N03/25170359816" title="Mad Hatter by LOTS4, on Flickr"><img 800="" alt="Mad Hatter height=400" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1476/25170359816_b0d38fef9b_c.jpg" width="800" /></a>
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Plus anywhere with a chandelier comprised of tea cups and spoons is a winner in my book. </div>
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<a href="http://www.madhatterbistro.com/" target="_blank"><b>Mad Hatter Bistro</b></a>: 185 N. Woodward Ave, Birmingham, MI 48009. </div>
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Afternoon tea by reservation 11am - 3pm. </div>
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Are you a fan of afternoon tea?</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Rachael</span></div>
Rachaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17128754833604987577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1096314476893239291.post-37940509305150892082016-02-22T09:00:00.000-05:002016-02-22T09:00:01.536-05:00LIFE: Photo an Hour February 2016<div style="text-align: justify;">
Saturday marked an unseasonably warm winters day here in the depths of suburbia of Detroit. Somewhat welcome after long cold days, of being able to put aside the hat, the gloves, get outside in the garden, sadly these things never seem to last. The day also marked February's <a href="http://miavenues.blogspot.com/search/label/Photo%20An%20Hour" target="_blank">photo an hour link up</a> - a somewhat routine Saturday for us after taking a break from the DIY in the bathroom fix up (mainly because we can't decide on what to do with the floor). So what else did we get up to inside of playing adults ...
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With blue skies overheard, waking up to birdsong and temperature not in the minus numbers, 9am was looking rather pretty as we started up the car and headed forth for a morning of hitting some state sales. By 10am were we'd hit a couple of estate sales including one in which the second floor was just full of vintage clothing from the last century - dresses, purses, sweaters, shoes to linens, you name it. I had to resist buying all the scarves - a big weakness of mine.</div>
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But I did buy two of the scarves, so 12pm was seeing me giving them a bit of a wash. I often seem to miss an hour during the day, 11am was that, I think we were heading home with hungry tummies, too hungry to snap a picture of nothingness. After a quick lunch and cleaning the scarves, it was time to make the most of the unseasonable weather (1pm) and have a quick tidy up in the garden and spotting some life in the process.<br />
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With estate sales done, chores done and the gardening done, time to get stitching. I've been working on this seaside piece for a couple of months and it always reminds me of quaint seaside towns of the homeland. So sofa, cross stitching and going between Hulu and Netflix was the plans for the afternoon. Once 3pm came around, it was time for a brew - hot cinnamon spice tea. Delicious. </div>
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4pm yeap, still stitching ... until 5pm rolled around and the hungry tummies returned. Too hungry to say no to Taco Bell. Another of those weaknesses. </div>
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Still sofa bound and trapped under a purring kitty and reading some more of <i>The Unlikely Event</i> that you might remember me mentioning in <a href="http://miavenues.blogspot.com/2016/02/life-small-things-10.html" target="_blank">Thursday's small things post</a>. Over half way through and it's turning into quite the page turner. I missed 7pm sweating away exercising away to Daily Burn which no one needs to see a picture of. Which lead to 8pm and digging my way through my kitted up cross stitch projects wondering which one to add into my rotation. It took me until Sunday to finally decide on a UK themed design. Seriously picking between cross stitch projects is far too hard. </div>
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The rest of the night was pretty much cheap wine, anime and more reading.</div>
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It's great having a nice back catalog of photo an hour link ups so I can look back on what we were <a href="http://miavenues.blogspot.com/search/label/Photo%20An%20Hour" target="_blank">doing last year for the link up</a> - a day of record store poking, bacon sarnies and of course Taco Bell. </div>
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How was your Saturday?</div>
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Rachael</div>
Rachaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17128754833604987577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1096314476893239291.post-20889208237665934582016-02-18T09:18:00.002-05:002016-02-18T09:18:36.126-05:00LIFE: Small Things #10<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/78285075@N03/24989932182" title="SmallThings10 by LOTS4, on Flickr"><img 800="" alt="SmallThings10 height=450" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1579/24989932182_7fe6f7ebee_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><br />
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The lighter evenings are starting to appear and oh my, do they make me wish and long for spring even more. To be able to push open the windows, see daffodils starting to drop their brightly colored heads in the breeze and awaking to morning birdsong. Michigan winters make those days feel so far away. Granted our winter this year hasn't been as cold, or as snowy, but there's only so many days in the minus numbers I can handle although it's always the perfect excuse to curl up on the sofa with the TV remote and a good book. </div>
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In other news various happy things, and somewhat a sneak peek of things I'll eventually get around to sharing here on the blog;</div>
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<li>Lovely five day long weekend extending into Presidents Day with the OH although it always does result in me being confused about the day of the week afterwards. Right now I have no idea if it's Wednesday or Friday ... when it's actually Thursday.</li>
<li>Gorgeous afternoon tea at the <a href="http://www.madhatterbistro.com/" target="_blank">Mad Hatter Bistro and Tearoom</a> in Birmingham (review to come).</li>
<li>The last week or so has actually been all about tea - afternoon tea, buying some fancy spiced cinnamon tea, Persian tea. All the tea. </li>
<li>Seeing Deadpool early Friday morning. The humor was right up my street and it was a brilliant adaption of the comic book. Villains were a little on the weak side but I'll get over that. Also probably features the best Stan Lee cameo. </li>
<li>Also public service announcement - stay to the end of Deadpool, because you know, extra scenes and all. I'll never understand people leaving early ...</li>
<li>Speaking of spring I may have spotted some bulbs poking up in the back garden - I also may be really wrong and they are just weeds. Or now dead because of the chilly week we just had. </li>
<li>Rushing out to buy a load of wings from <a href="http://detroitwingco.com/" target="_blank">Detroit Wing Co</a>., after hearing your favorite radio hosts (Valenti & Foster on 97.1 The Ticket - yes oddly enough my favorite radio hosts are on a sports talk station - what is happening to me?!) talking about chicken wings for four hours. Four flipping hours, who couldn't say no to wings after four sodding hours?!</li>
<li>Mexican hot chocolate treat for our adulting ongoing DIY adventures from <a href="http://www.atcafeconleche.com/" target="_blank">Cafe Con Leche</a>.</li>
<li>Waving at my favorite Detroit building while drinking that Mexican hot chocolate - the Fisher Building. Gorgeous. </li>
<li>Stitching a little wild flower seed packet design for a forthcoming birthday card. </li>
<li>Reading two awesome books - <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22450859-the-boston-girl" target="_blank"><i>The Boston Girl</i></a> and <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22749750-the-turner-house" target="_blank"><i>The Turner House</i></a> - both I'd highly recommend. </li>
<li>I'll probably say the same about Judy Blume's <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23899174-in-the-unlikely-event" target="_blank"><i>In The Unlikely Event</i></a> which I've just started reading. 70 odd pages in and very intriguing. </li>
<li>Oh and lots of graphic novels but I'll get to that in my monthly graphic novels review dump don't you fear. (*whispers*) it features - <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18659623-through-the-woods" target="_blank"><i>Through The Woods</i></a>, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22554204-lumberjanes-vol-1" target="_blank"><i>Lumberjanes</i></a> and <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18225810-sisters" target="_blank"><i>Sisters</i></a>. </li>
<li>Finally getting all that stubborn old bathroom floor tile up, hammered out some concrete and replaced some floorboards. Getting overwhelmed with all this adulting points atm. We even hired a nail gun and didn't kill ourselves in the process of using it.</li>
<li>Paczki Day! Joe sneaked out early on Fat Tuesday/Shove Tuesday to grab some paczki's from <a href="http://miavenues.blogspot.com/search/label/Dutch%20Girl%20Donuts" target="_blank">Dutch Girl Donuts</a>. Delicious! What's a paczki you ask?! Well I <a href="http://miavenues.blogspot.com/2014/03/life-paczki-day.html" target="_blank">talked about them a couple of years ago</a>.</li>
<li>Signing up for Daily Burn (a fitness workout over the internet, TV whatever you got - if you have Hulu you'll probably know their annoying adverts about leg day) and actually using it somewhat regularly. </li>
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That's probably the most bullet points of happiness I may have ever achieved on my small things posts. Does help I'm bullet pointing three things daily that made me happy in that mission to work and overcome my stress issues. Ah well happy days indeed. </div>
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How are things with you?<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Rachael</span></div>
Rachaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17128754833604987577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1096314476893239291.post-192062363837351362016-02-11T09:00:00.000-05:002016-02-11T09:00:09.140-05:00BOOKS: The Start Where You Are Journal<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/78285075@N03/24810145656" title="Journal by LOTS4, on Flickr"><img 450="" alt="Journal height=450" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1446/24810145656_e5ae3b5248_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><br />
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If I could sum up my intentions for 2016 it would be <i>restful. </i>Especially<i> restful </i>in mind. For the last ten years, perhaps more I've had a brain that won't much to my increasing despair stop thinking, panicking, overthinking, stop. </div>
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I stumbled across Meera Lee Petal's <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24611808-start-where-you-are?ac=1&from_search=1" target="_blank"><i>Start Where You Are Journal</i></a> while flicking through page after page of books claiming to solve all my problems. Perhaps it was the gorgeous cover, the bold colors, but probably more of the notion of opening the pages and starting that quest for mindfulness and "self exploration" finally ticked the box.<br />
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The journal is comprised of around 50 or so questions, suggestions, projects and the like, each with it's own bold and wonderfully colorized water-colored illustrated quotations from Thomas Jefferson, Roald Dahl to Shakespeare and other figures, writers and artists alike. And while I'm not someone who is big on quotations, they all seem fitting to the following work page. Such questions and prompts as drawing self portraits using colours and patterns, coloring in world maps to listing sources of happiness are designed to set you upon the path of navigating the daily chaos that is life. </div>
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The questions and projects are simple enough that you don't feel like you're digging too deep in learning about ourselves. In fact it's a very quiet and completative journal, it's simple in reminding us that by taking the time to spend five or so minutes to come to know ourselves better, we're not only appreciating the world, our dreams but ourselves.<br />
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Which is probably why, after several weeks I'm still working my way though my self-exploration, unlike other previous journaling attempts. Which for me, is a bit of a big deal and the reason why i'm even sharing it on my blog. I'm not normally one to take stock, reflect, like I mentioned, I'm not a restful kind of person. But this journal, fitting in the prompts, reflecting on the quotations, it's helping me get there. </div>
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What is your journaling story?</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Rachael</span></div>
Rachaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17128754833604987577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1096314476893239291.post-10278785253364869462016-02-08T09:00:00.000-05:002016-02-08T09:00:08.230-05:00CREATIVE: A Room Without Books <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/78285075@N03/24450387829" title="bookmark by LOTS4, on Flickr"><img 800="" alt="bookmark height=470" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1448/24450387829_84aeac4732_c.jpg" width="800" /></a>
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Hunting around estate sales all the time, I often come across random old pieces and bits I gather to add to my craft collection. Basically a box of random odds and ends might one day might find a purpose and use. A couple of pages of perforated plastic being such a random thing. Perforated plastic seemed to be the tend of 1980's crafting, people would make magnets, tissue box covers, bookends you name it. It wasn't until I re-found a design for a bookmark stitched on such a plastic I thought about giving it a go myself and finding a more modern use for it.</div>
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The design, which originally appealed in the October 2014 edition of Cross Stitch Collection, was stitched upon black plastic with all white text. Unfortunately with my plastic being see-through there was a need to stitch in a background but also gave the perfect excuse to go through my thread scraps and get colorful. </div>
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So my first cross stitch project of 2016
became a lesson in perforated plastic stitching of a quote to appeal to
my bookworm and hoarder side. I have to admit, for such a small design it demanded more attention that I would have originally thought. Also stitching on plastic is apparently a bit of a pain, it turned out to be much more "floppy" than stitching on fabric and there is the added fun of it's ability to start snapping and breaking. Which it did, twice. So it's not perfect, it's been super-glued back in place at one point, but I was too invested with it at that point to give up. That and I still like how it turned out. </div>
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Oh and that quote - "a room without books is like a body without a soul" is just an awesome excuse to decorate the house with books, don't you think?!</div>
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What have you been crafting lately?</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Rachael</span></div>
Rachaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17128754833604987577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1096314476893239291.post-57515260120385171002016-02-05T09:00:00.000-05:002016-02-05T09:00:23.627-05:00LIFE: Small Things #9<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/78285075@N03/24521946570" title="small things by LOTS4, on Flickr"><img 800="" alt="small things height=800" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1672/24521946570_66d0e22da1_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><br />
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This last week or so has been all about adulting (whether you love or loath that term). From fixing a slump pump to trying to fix a wobbly toilet it's all been a bit challenging of late. So while little things can caused the biggest frustrations but then on the flip of a coin, they can be the happiest. </div>
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<li style="text-align: justify;">This <a href="http://www.today.com/pets/toledo-zoo-welcomes-new-addition-watch-mother-polar-bear-snuggle-t69966" target="_blank">clip of the new arrival at the Toledo Zoo</a> - the cutest little polar bear cub. Hopefully we'll make a trip down to see it once spring arrives.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Working on my "<i>Start where you are"</i> journal.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Starting and being hooked into a new (to me) anime show - Inuyasha. It's one of those anime with hundreds and hundreds of episodes so I've got something to entertain me for a long while.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Getting my<i> Stress-Less Workbook</i>, stress being an odd thing to be happy about but hopefully working through this workbook might help me deal with this thing that is taking over too much of my life.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Smashing up 1950's stubborn bathroom mosaic floor tile is very theraputic, even if it turns my arms into jelly and you only make slow progress. It's actually kinda sad to be turning it up but it's seen better days. </li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Which has all meant learning some more DIY, kinda looking forward to laying some new tiles I will be honest even though I have no clue about tile laying. </li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Agent Carter being back on the screen - one of my favorite shows. </li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Making two awesome new recipes this week - a chicken chili in the slow cooker (so handy this winter) and a <a href="http://realfood.tesco.com/recipes/tofu-curry-with-mushrooms.html" target="_blank">mushroom tofu curry</a>, equally delicious. </li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Cross stitching some more of "Flossie" (the lady cross stitcher) for the first time since before Christmas and longing for lighter days to cram more stitching in. </li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Coming home from the library with a pile of books. </li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Lots of kitty cuddles and purrs.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Having beautiful handwritten recipes falling out between the pages of vintage cookbooks (always a winner). </li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Finishing my first cross stitch project of 2016 - <i>another </i>bookmark - you can't have too many.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Watching our cats being excited by empty boxes and new paper bags to play with and in. </li>
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How is everything with you?</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Rachael </span></div>
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Rachaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17128754833604987577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1096314476893239291.post-4972842307905395292016-02-01T09:00:00.000-05:002016-02-02T12:53:32.865-05:00READS: Janurary's Graphic Novels<div style="text-align: justify;">
After all the great comments (thank you muchly) from sharing my <a href="https://draft.blogger.com/previously%20http://miavenues.blogspot.com/2016/01/books-on-graphic-novels-my-top-reads-in.html" target="_blank">favorite graphic novels I read in 2015</a>, I thought I would turn it into a monthly feature. Like I mentioned previously, knowing where to start with graphic novels can be a little daunting, and whether you've never picked one up or you're a seasoned reader, maybe you'll welcome some more suggestions to add into your reading list.</div>
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Each month, I'll feature one, or like this month, perhaps a couple of my favorite graphic novel read and everything else I came across. This time we're actually getting started two graphic novels that Joe brought me for Christmas. He's awesome in getting the memo to add to my collection. </div>
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<b>Read(s) of the Month;</b></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23995491-lady-killer" target="_blank">Lady Killer</a> by Joelle Jones & Jamie S. Rich</div>
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Enter Jose the quintessential 1950's American housewife, cooking the meals, looking after the children and being the prefect wife. She has, on the surface the perfect life. But a life that has a hidden dark side, Jose happens to also be a killer for hire. But what happens when someone happens to want the killer killed?!</div>
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<i>Lady Killer</i> is on point for a number of reasons, the artwork, the gritty dark humor and the plot leaves you craving more and more with the turn of every page. Not to mention lusting over Jose's killer wardrobe. </div>
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I long for news that Jose will make an appearance in another series. As someone who spends a lot of time between the pages of many a 1950's cookbook finding them new homes, it's often easy to wonder about the lives of such a housewife, even better to daydream about their naughty side. In fact I loved this novel so much, Jose was my phone wallpaper for a while (before going back to Dragonball Z's Bulma, she has my heart). </div>
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<a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1424452275l/24980111.jpg" target="_blank">The New Deal</a> by Jonathan Case</div>
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Dark Horse publishers were on point with their late 2015 graphic novels, alongside <i>Lady Killer</i>, <i>The New Deal</i> saw it's release. Set during Depression hit New York is the backdrop to glamorous hotel (the Waldorf Astoria no less) based crime novel. When Nina, our beautiful and charming fem fatale checks in for a stay sparkles a series of mysterious jewellery thefts most felt by the bellhop, Frank and Theresa, a maid. </div>
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Admittedly the 1930's is my favorite era of history and <i>The New Deal</i> is a great glimpse into the race relations and class misconceptions of the time. All too quickly are the employees blamed for the thefts particularly Theresa, the black maid who happens to be in my perspective more of the lead protagonist than Nina.</div>
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<b>And the rest;</b></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18465566-this-one-summer" target="_blank">This One Summer</a> by Mariko Tamaki & Jillian Tamaki </div>
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Spanning a vacation to Awago Beach, <i>This One Summer</i> captures Rose a girl on the verge of teen-hood and battling with her parents constant fighting. Meeting up with Windy - the sister Rose never had they find themselves entangled in local secrets . </div>
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The artwork in <i>This One Summer</i> is what sets this book apart - monochromatic in it's purpley blues and whites it's simple but eyecatchingly detailed and really pulls you in and brings everything to life. But the plot, well that's the one down side, it plods along not really doing much of anything. By the end, I was actually wondering what the purpose behind sharing this story was. Because for a summer of personal growth, firsts and exploration, I don't particularly think either of the two girls particularly changed.</div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6398040-a-d" target="_blank">AD New Orleans After the Deluge</a> by Josh Neufeld</div>
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<a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348799216l/6398040.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348799216l/6398040.jpg" width="320" /></a>Taken from a webcomic <i>AD </i>[...] depicts the horrors and humanity faced by six survivors of Hurricane Katina when it hit New Orleans in 2005. Featuring the real experiences of a doctor drinking it up in the French Quarter, Denise, who faced surviving in the Superdome and Abbas battling to keep alive and braving the storm on the roof of his store <i>AD</i> [...] follows it's characters through the hurricane to it's aftermath and lingering effects years later. </div>
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<i>AD</i> brings to life the human tale, of making last minute decisions between staying or evacuating. Of political decisions and of the ultimate power of Mother nature. Speaking with survivors and those facing the hurricane on the ground, Neufeld challenges the misconceptions of black thugs, rape and murder, instead showing the positive human actions particularly within the Superdome which made little headlines after the disaster which makes well worth a read. <br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26135825-fun-home" target="_blank">Fun Home - A Family Tragicomic</a> by Alison Bechdel </div>
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<span id="freeText15537335273344996006">Alongside <i>Are You My Mother?</i>, Bechdel's adult graphic novel <i>Fun Home </i>is often a graphic novel you'll find upon those "must" read lists. Sadly I just couldn't get into it. It was perhaps a bit too repetitive, the narrative flies around, it felt labored, far from engaging and left me irritated. </span></div>
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<span id="freeText15537335273344996006"><i>Fun Home </i>happens to be a graphic memoir, one depicting Bechdel's relationship with her late father. The author sets about exploring the legacy of having a closeted father, and who may or may not have killed himself soon after she came out as gay in college. </span></div>
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<span id="freeText15537335273344996006">In honestly, it's not often I finish a book not really caring about it. But this was one of them. </span></div>
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<span id="freeText15537335273344996006"><br />What have you been reading lately?</span></div>
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<span id="freeText15537335273344996006"><span style="font-size: large;">Rachael</span></span></div>
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Rachaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17128754833604987577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1096314476893239291.post-35636058230657840582016-01-25T09:00:00.000-05:002016-01-25T09:00:00.972-05:00FOOD: From Tarts to Tacos<div style="text-align: justify;">
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Moving to America opened up an whole new world of cuisine, especially Mexican food. Whether it's cheap and cheerful fast food or authentic dishes from <a href="http://miavenues.blogspot.com/search/label/Mexicantown" target="_blank">Mexicantown</a>, Mexican food has found a special, and happy place in my stomach. </div>
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We were looking for a new place to try out for date night and the idea of platters of tacos I admit was what won me over in trying out <a href="http://miavenues.blogspot.com/search/label/Ferndale" target="_blank">Ferndale's</a> Imperial a fully serviced bar and all things Mexican restaurant.<br />
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To picture Imperial, think of California street tacos in a bar playing Johnny Cash.<br />
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It's bare bones, it's simple, it has a touch of rock n roll.<br />
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And tequila. Lots of tequila.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/78285075@N03/23697433173" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Imperial by LOTS4, on Flickr"><img 800="" alt="Imperial height=600" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1702/23697433173_7af3939382_c.jpg" width="800" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hot dogs and tacos.</td></tr>
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Up front you're greeted with a communal seating arrangement, with long wooden tables to share, make new friends and chat the night away. If a more private, darker feel is your jam there's the same but small wooden tables over looking the patio.</div>
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Food is presented family style - everyone's order on the same place adding to friend making atmosphere. Perfect too for a date night, perhaps a little awkward those not too comfortable
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While the menu is on the small side, what they do do, they do it well and also have separate menus for late night and brunch. The Sororan hotdogs (particularly the Bakersfield being my favorite bite of the night). While many may be put off paying for chips and any of the salsas they do, for around $2 - $5) they are well worth the pennies.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Detroit Tart (left) & Whiskey Sidecar Cocktails</td></tr>
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In comparison to their food menu, they have an extensive drinks list particularly when it comes to beers and liquor. But with a great selection of $8 - $10 cocktails I was happy to try them out. And if tequila is your liquor of choice, you'll find some great picks. My favorite being the Detroit Tart - great in name and taste.<br />
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<b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/imperialonwoodward/timeline" target="_blank">Imperial</a></b> : 22828 Woodward Ave, Ferndale MI 48220 </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Rachael </span></div>
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Rachaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17128754833604987577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1096314476893239291.post-16649676626804076132016-01-21T09:54:00.000-05:002016-01-21T09:54:23.255-05:00LIFE: Small Things<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/78285075@N03/24411948312" title="smallthings by LOTS4, on Flickr"><img 800="" alt="smallthingsheight=" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1582/24411948312_2ca5f6beae_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><br />
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It certainly hasn't been a good couple of weeks for Michigan when it comes to the news what with the ongoing Flint water crisis and the Detroit Public Schools sick days. Winter has finally decided to make an appearance too - although much more on the chilly side than snow fall. So today, more than ever there's a need to look for the positive in life and the first <a href="http://miavenues.blogspot.com/search/label/Small%20Things" target="_blank">small things post</a> of 2016. </div>
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<li>Getting <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BAe_EwSPv2r/" target="_blank">my new specs</a> - I can see (better) again!</li>
<li>Speaking of new specs that means I can get back into sewing, although my return has been on the slow side. I've been working on a <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BAkjLTYPv4u/" target="_blank">bookmark</a>, stitching on perforated plastic for the first time which has been a fun little challenge.</li>
<li>The slowness of my stitching has been the result of being overloaded with coloring books. And treating myself to a couple of new ones. The Vive Le Color series is ideal if you love patterns and small details from around the world - I'm working on the <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BASc9a7Pv_J/" target="_blank">Japan book</a> at the moment, which is full of fish and cherry blossom - beautiful!</li>
<li>Then I happened to treat myself to the Dover "<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BAvF7CHvvwD/" target="_blank">Cityscapes</a>" publication, ooops.</li>
<li>Oh and then refinding a <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BAhtyt4vvwB/" target="_blank">1970's Beatrix Potter coloring book</a> I picked up at the end of last year at an estate sale. It had never been started and it's just full of all my favorite characters. It's the one coloring book i'm not rushing with! </li>
<li>Sharing some <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BAS_O0VPv1j/" target="_blank">super yummy tacos and hot dogs</a> from Imperial (review to follow).</li>
<li>Putting up some new shelving for my office come craft room - finally getting a little more organised in the process.</li>
<li>Then decorating the edges of said shelving with lots of <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BAuTgyAPv5x/" target="_blank">pretty washi tape</a>. </li>
<li>Finding a fantastic <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BAUwrbTPv-1/" target="_blank">cheese grater lamp shade</a> in a kitchen down in Hamtramck while at an estate sale - genius! </li>
<li>Those <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BAnT_Dbvv4j/" target="_blank">fish n chips</a> from Scotty Simpson's - followed by a super yummy (and huge) slice of lemon meringue pie. Delicious!</li>
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BTW if you want to help Flint residents during this ongoing water crisis (long story short lead contaminated water) - <a href="http://michiganradio.org/post/how-you-can-help-people-flint-during-water-crisis#stream/0" target="_blank">Michigan Radio put together a great list of ways to donate</a>. </div>
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What's been rocking your world?</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Rachael</span></div>
Rachaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17128754833604987577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1096314476893239291.post-80721260238095841382016-01-18T10:00:00.000-05:002016-01-18T10:00:14.899-05:00LIFE: Photo An Hour - January 2016<div style="text-align: justify;">
Saturday rolled around with no particular plans in mind. January is always a slow and cold month for estate sales, so we're rather hit and miss about them. But still, I'd be looking forward to joining in with the first <a href="http://miavenues.blogspot.com/search/label/Photo%20An%20Hour" target="_blank">Photo an Hour</a> link up of 2016 with a plan of just seeing what fell into place.
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With no aforementioned plans, the morning started with a cup of coffee and finishing of a page in my Vive Le Color Japan coloring book - a particular favorite recent purchase of mine. An hour later by the time 10 am rolled around, I was adding in some more of the black background to my stitched bookmark I've been working on. </div>
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With some not every water tight plans in the making, we decided once 11 am rolled around to have lunch early (a cheese toastie for me, a toasted sarnie for him) and a pile of tomatoes on the side. Noon actually saw us picking up Joe's first ever pair of glasses and an hour later we were back on the road traveling to Ikea, that magical place. </div>
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It's probably a good thing we don't live on the same side of the metro region that Ikea reside, because I'd probably be in there every other week. We planned to pick up some odds and ends and get an idea about some new cabinets for Joe's Transformer collection. Ended up buying a load of shelving for my office come craft room. 4pm marked a stop on the way back home to my favorite fish n chip - Scotty Simpson's in Brightmoor. This place happens to be the best fish n chip shop I've come across since moving to 'merica <a href="http://miavenues.blogspot.com/2015/03/food-scotty-simpsons-fish-chips.html" target="_blank">(see previous review here</a>) nothing beats their fish n chips, even if the chips are on the skinny side. They also make the most delicious pies. Most people will probably avoid the place because of the area, but I love it there. </div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/78285075@N03/23797084943" title="Photo An Hour by LOTS4, on Flickr"><img alt="Photo An Hour" height="600" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1695/23797084943_548f16109c_c.jpg" width="800" /></a>
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5pm and back home saw me working on the jigsaw puzzle that is was putting together two lamps from Ikea, like seriously, is there nothing that can be just put together in two steps from that place?! All that yummy food though and being lazed out for the day left me on the sofa catching up with the internets happenings and watching Invader Zim, as you do. </div>
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Trying out the Darth Vader comic book series while catching up on some episodes of Ghost in the Shell before popping into a very relaxing bath by 8pm with some whiskey on the rocks and a rather fizzy bath bomb. The rest of the evening was back on the sofa, curled up in pjs catching up on the Abominable Bride episode of Sherlock Holmes, with even more whiskey.<br />
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How was your weekend?!<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Rachael </span></div>
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Rachaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17128754833604987577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1096314476893239291.post-24608643568875260562016-01-14T09:00:00.000-05:002016-01-14T09:00:00.394-05:00BOOKS: On Graphic Novels & My Top Reads in 2015<div style="text-align: justify;">
When the wind chill is -17C outside, there's nothing better then reaching for a good book to snuggle under a blanket with. More and more, i'm reaching for a graphic novel to read.<br />
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For me adding graphic novels into my reading was one of the best decisions of 2015. However it was also a bit daunting. Unless you really know where to look, recommendations for graphic novels aren't always the easiest to come across, and because there's so many to pick and choose from, it's a challenging to know where to begin. </div>
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So I thought I'd share some graphic novels I found to be the most accessible in 2015, ones that are eye opening into the genre whether you've been reading graphic tales for years or want to reach out and pick that first book off of the shelf. </div>
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<b>Ninoma by Noelle Stevenson</b><br />
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Based on the authors acclaimed webcomic, <i>Ninoma</i> follows the adventures of a subversive and impulsive shapshifter. Featuring dragons, girl power, science and people with awesome names, Ninoma befriends and becomes the sidekick of villian Lord Ballister Blackheart. Going on to cause a whole lotta trouble, Blackheart and Ninoma set out to prove to the kingdom Sir Amroisuis Goldenloin of the Institution of Law Enforcement and Heroics aren't as heroic as they make themselves out to be.<br />
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For every girl that wanted to be out fighting dragons, saving the world and dealing with secrets, Nimona is a lead protagonist that world of books really needs more of and she sure does kick some ass. <br />
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<span id="freeText4087800419995670341"><br /><b>Smile by Raina Telgemeier</b></span><br />
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<span id="freeText4087800419995670341">Based on Telgemeier's childhood experiences, <i>Smile</i> recounts her frequent trips to the dentist and everything it entailed from braces to surgery, headgear to retainers after tripping, falling and injuring her two front teeth in 6th grade. </span><span id="freeText4087800419995670341">Throw into the mix the everyday dramas that come to make up the daily life of a teenage girl be it confusing boys of friendship fallout's and <i>Smile</i> is a funny read that will take you back to your own childhood. </span><br />
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<span id="freeText4087800419995670341"><span id="freeText3911558983898806760">While it's probably aimed for young teens/early adult readers I certainly still enjoyed and related to her experiences. </span></span><br />
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<b><span id="freeText4087800419995670341"><span id="freeText3911558983898806760">In Real Life by Cory Doctorow</span></span></b><br />
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<span id="freeText4087800419995670341"><span id="freeText3911558983898806760">Continuing our female lead graphic novels, IRL features Anda is a teen who just loves to play the multiplayer role-playing game Coarsegold Online. An online world Anda uses to relax, be herself and make friends across the globe. But after befriending a gold farmer (a character illegally collecting valuable objects) the avatar of a poor kid from China, Anda begins to question right and wrong and how such online matters became a lot more complicated when real life is also involved. </span></span><br />
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<span id="freeText4087800419995670341"><span id="freeText3911558983898806760">Combining friendship, gaming, female empowerment and poverty IRL is a great insight into the friendships of the gaming world. </span></span><br />
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<span id="freeText4087800419995670341"><span id="freeText3911558983898806760"><b>Maus Vol I and II by Art Spiegleman</b></span></span>
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<span id="freeText4087800419995670341"><span id="freeText3911558983898806760">Comprising of two volumes, <i>Maus</i> documents the true story of a Jewish survivor of Nazi Europe through the words and art of his son, Art. Be it capturing life in Poland before WW2 and the struggles of coming to terms with being an Auschwitz survivor, <i>Maus</i> is a must read in understanding the personal toil and horrors of the war. Told in a world were Jews are mice, tormented by the Nazi cats, these two volumes are a masterpiece in their genre. They are touching, they make you think and they made me cry. </span></span><br />
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<span id="freeText4087800419995670341"><span id="freeText3911558983898806760"><i>Maus</i> is an emotional read and a truly poignant story. </span></span><br />
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<b><span id="freeText18303871052920485766">Saga (Vol I through V, ongoing) by Brian Vaughan </span></b></div>
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<span id="freeText18303871052920485766">Falling in love can be tricky at the best of times, but falling in love with someone on the opposite side during a galactic war might be pushing it. <i>Saga </i>through it's gorgeous artwork<i> </i>welds a sexy love story with fantasy <i>and </i>science fiction, telling the tale of a young family fighting to survive and find their way in the world as the universe fights around them. </span><br />
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<span id="freeText18303871052920485766"><i>Saga</i> is possibly breaking the mold in becoming one of the graphic novels although it's really more of a comic tbh, to break into the mainstream - popping up on various blogs. It may come over a little weird at times, but it's well worth exploring. I'm two volumes into the tale and looking forward to getting around to reading the rest.</span></div>
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<b>Persepolis Vol I & II by Marjane Satrapi</b><br />
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Fantastic autobiography capturing her Iranian childhood. <i>Persepolis </i>(vol I and II) explores the contradictions between home and public life during the Islamic Revolution (1979) and the Iranian war with Iraq. <i>Persepolis</i> is an eye opening and sometimes hard read, depicting the struggles and personal costs of fundamentalism, repression, war and politics through the eyes and laughter of a child. Vol II continues documenting the struggles of migrating and growing up away from the homeland and the attempt to create a sense of belonging - something I can certainly relate too. <br />
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Depicted through black & white cells, <i>Persepolis</i> captures a raw and honest look at growing up under repression and being an outsider in another country.<br />
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Because of accepting more of my inner nerd and throwing it out into the blog world, I'm hoping to get around each month to share some more interesting graphic novel based reads in hoping to spread the word about this awesome format.<br />
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Have any thoughts or recommendations?! Leave them in the comments!<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Rachael</span></div>
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Rachaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17128754833604987577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1096314476893239291.post-78259163567060088242016-01-11T09:00:00.000-05:002016-01-11T09:00:03.013-05:00SNAPSHOTS: The Detroit Industry Murals <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/78285075@N03/16671486800" title="DIA by LOTS4, on Flickr"><img alt="DIA" height="600" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8608/16671486800_2c09a72634_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><br />
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Some of the most awe-inspiring pieces of artwork you'll ever see can be found within the Detroit Institute of the Arts (DIA). Walking through the gallery you'll step inside a glass ceiling atrium - Rivera Court and be surrounded by four walls displaying 27 panels capturing Diego Rivera's <i>Detroit Industry Murals</i>. These murals completed between 1932 - 1933, are considered to be one of Rivera's most successful works and one of the best examples of Mexican mural art in the US. You might of heard of Rivera's wife too - the infamous Frida Kahlo.</div>
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<i>Detroit Industry Mural</i> captures the 1930's daily life of the Ford Motor Company downriver plant, River Rogue. The north and south walls show the plant workers, whereas the east and west walls which are inter-spaced by arches and doorways show the journey of life. But also of the manger overseeing everything alongside a worker. Both are given equal stature and status. </div>
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The equality Rivera prescribed to worker and manager reflects his Marxist ideals. He was an artist who believed art belonged both on and in public space rather then hidden away in private galleries. But it wasn't only his Marxist beliefs that caused controversy when this piece was revealed - people were shocked at the depiction of workers of all races working alongside one another to the nudes which were named pornographic rather then artistic, some even called it blasphemous. </div>
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I'm not sure the photographs capture just how huge and how incredible these murals are they are certainly worth spending time sitting and taking everything all in. It's even more incredible when you take note that it took Diego only 11 months to complete. <a href="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=103337403" target="_blank">NPR </a>have a great little article and video showing Diego actually painting the mural, and of course you can see more full images of the work on the <a href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&cad=rja&ved=0CDQQFjAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dia.org%2Fart%2Frivera-court.aspx&ei=OInsUbTCMpWx4AOQjoDYBQ&usg=AFQjCNFWUI0eLL9w0rmvCLVV5Yi6PmcziQ&sig2=fhakFOvMfb2hZ7-mIVhosA&bvm=bv.49478099,d.dmg" target="_blank">DIA </a>website.<br />
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This is one of those pieces, one of those things in life that will sure make you feel small.
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Rachaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17128754833604987577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1096314476893239291.post-53509803015850520382016-01-08T09:00:00.000-05:002016-01-08T09:00:08.904-05:00LIFE: Grab a Cuppa Tea, Lets Have a Catch Up<div style="text-align: justify;">
So before I jump into the deep end of back to somewhat normal blogging, I thought we'd just have an easy chit-chat about everything that happened since the last time I properly shared a post back at the start of December. Truth be told, nothing much, but enough to ramble on about for a short while so here goes.</div>
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Christmas was quiet which is just how we like it. We hacked the ham to pieces to fit it into the slow cooker (and used this yummy recipe) and had enough leftovers to feed a small army. In fact I still think there's some bourbon vanilla cranberry sauce kicking around in the far flung corners of the fridge. I did manage to sneak a quick pep at Detroit's Christmas tree down in Campus Martius, one day I'll wrap up enough to get up close and person with it. Although I didn't manage to grab a photograph of the tree this year, Detroit was looking all sparkly and festive. <br />
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Speaking of Christmas, the last stitching finish of 2015 - and the last piece of stitching I've done was a pretty "Have Yourself a Merry Christmas" from the 2013 (I think ...) edition of Cross Stitcher Magazine. I'm actually on a self imposed ban when it comes to cross stitching until I get my new glasses which is kinda hard.<br />
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So no stitching has led to lots of reading and lots of coloring in - mainly because they don't cause too much eye strain at least. In fact most of Christmas Day was spent coloring in. It's true what they say about coloring in being a great stress reliever, it's certainly helping me a lot. And when I haven't been coloring in, I've been reading - working my way through an endless library of Marvel comics and some great graphic novels I've come across or received for Christmas gifts.<br />
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I'm thinking of talking more about books on the old blog, particularly graphic novels, but honorable mentions for great reads since <a href="http://miavenues.blogspot.com/2015/12/life-small-things.html" target="_blank">my last Small Things post</a> go out to; <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18185525-the-shocking-story-of-helmuth-schmidt" target="_blank">The Shocking Story of Helmuth Schmidt</a> by Tobin GT. Buhk, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17204095-eleanor-park" target="_blank">Eleanor & Park</a> by Rainbow Rowell, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20701984-el-deafo" target="_blank">El Deafo</a> by Cece Bell, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23848559-furiously-happy" target="_blank">Furiously Happy</a> by Jenny Lawson, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23566909-the-marvels" target="_blank">The Marvels</a> by Brian Selznick, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6393631-smile" target="_blank">Smile</a> by Raina Telgemeier, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16148398-saga-1" target="_blank">Saga</a> v1 & 2 (that's all my library has at the moment boo) by Brian K. Vaughan.<br />
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Yeah I've read a few very good books lately - if you have any book recommendations leave them in the comments! <br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/78285075@N03/23566715803" title="Michigan Radio by LOTS4, on Flickr"><img alt="Michigan Radio" height="600" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1570/23566715803_d0b69bcf6f_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><br />
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We became sustaining Michigan Radio members during the winter pledge week. To give a bit of background for non American's National Public Radio (NPR) stations predominately run on listener donations. Plus here it's so it's hard to find news sources in America that tend to not have political bias, and Michigan Radio does the job for me. So we became members, set up our monthly donations (which I urge you to support your own local NPR stations) and ended up with a huge bistro mug that holds enough coffee to bathe in.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/78285075@N03/23566722193" title="Burgerby LOTS4, on Flickr"><img alt="Burger" height="600" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1512/23566722193_9ecd2f8b5e_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><br />
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December also saw us eating out at some new places to me at least (<a href="http://www.socialhousegrille.com/" target="_blank">Social House</a> - West Bloomfield and <a href="http://librarypub.com/" target="_blank">The Library</a> in Novi) and a return to my favorite burger joint, well one of my favorite places in all of Detroit - the <a href="http://mercuryburgerbar.com/" target="_blank">Mercury Bar</a> down in <a href="http://miavenues.blogspot.com/search/label/Corktown" target="_blank">Corktown</a>. Because December seems to be all about eating and then eating some more. I also had a great cup of Mexican hot chocolate from <a href="http://www.atcafeconleche.com/" target="_blank">Cafe Con Leche</a> for a Christmas Eve treat down in <a href="http://miavenues.blogspot.com/search/label/Mexicantown" target="_blank">Mexicantown</a>, damn that stuff was tasty! <br />
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So that was my December for the most part. January is kicking itself off in it's chilly Michigan way and I'm excited to get back into blogging. <br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Rachael</span></div>
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Rachaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17128754833604987577noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1096314476893239291.post-70898244626111771532016-01-05T09:00:00.000-05:002016-01-05T09:00:21.329-05:00BLOG: Mi Ave, an Introduction<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/78285075@N03/24176619535" title="miave by LOTS4, on Flickr"><img alt="miave" height="477" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1461/24176619535_5fe4e2ea0d_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><br />
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You might have noticed things look a teeny tiny bit different around here. After thinking about the future of my blog for the last month or so, I thought the answer to get my spur back into the hobby might be to freshen things up, to dust the corners lets say. Dusting is dangerous however and led me to changing my name, and therefore changing the URL. </div>
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2015 marked the 5th year of my blog, which previously had two other names, but always the same, and really long URL. While I wanted to make the jump to removing the blogspot, having being so indecisive and on and off with the hobby the last couple of months, I didn't want to make too many steps all at once.</div>
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But nevertheless, my blog, formally <i>Dear Ms Leigh</i> has a brand spanking new name - <i>Mi Ave</i>. </div>
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<i>Mi Ave? </i></div>
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Let me explain the name - in part it's a reference to my location, in part it's a play on words. The biggest part is that it lets me merge lots of things together under the same title and find away a little longer from having a defined "niche". So basically yes, <i>mi </i>is a silly play on the word my, ave, being short for avenue - think journey, think the streets and the adventures that life takes you along. But MI is also short for Michigan when you're mailing out your letters. Take MI and turn it into Michigan, add the Avenue and you get one of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Route_12_in_Michigan" target="_blank">Detroit's historic roads</a> (actually a road with some of my favorite eating joints but that's another tale). I get away with speaking about <i>mi </i>life, <i>mi </i>adventures, <i>mi </i>Michigan, <i>mi </i>Detroit. Oh it's endless. </div>
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<i>Looking ahead</i></div>
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So aside from fixing and finishing all the bits and pieces, and all those links that need updating, <i>Mi Ave</i> will be pretty much the same as before, as I mentioned the blog name lets me get away with lots of rambles. I may post a little less. I may post a some more about books. Probably throw more Detroit posts that I use to hold back. Who knows, I'm just going with the flow for now. </div>
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<i>On the side</i></div>
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I've been rather lazy when it comes to catching up, commenting, engaging with you all and you're own blogs. I'll be the first to admit that. Stress has been my big issue and blogging was making me stressed too, so I abandoned it in a ditch. I'm also struggling with my eye sight and my days involve far too much computer time as it is so I've had to limit my hours in front of a screen, but I'm hoping to get back into the swing of things once I get my new glasses. </div>
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<i>Socially</i></div>
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To reflect all the new changes, I've hopefully got around to bringing (for the first time ever) all my social media under the same name(s) - MIAvenues upon <a href="https://twitter.com/MiAvenues/" target="_blank">Twitter</a> and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/miavenues/" target="_blank">Instragram</a>. Hopefully the moving y'all over on <a href="https://www.bloglovin.com/blogs/mi-ave-14628767" target="_blank">Bloglovin</a> worked and I'm not just talking to myself.<br />
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So now I totally feel out of the loop with everyone's lives, feel free to update me in the comments because I'm a nosy bugger!<br />
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Rachaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17128754833604987577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1096314476893239291.post-43627640670948709122015-12-04T10:32:00.002-05:002015-12-04T10:32:47.234-05:00LIFE: Small Things<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/78285075@N03/23362466702" title="smallthingsDec by LOTS4, on Flickr"><img alt="smallthingsDec" height="800" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/689/23362466702_63c79df0f5_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><br />
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Hello hello. How are you all? Everyone getting in the Christmas spirit?! Life here has been a mix of 5" of snow, road trips, lots of turkey and candied bacon. These small things posts always get me into the swing of blogging although I haven't done one since October - oops. I actually haven't done much blogging since October ... moving swiftly along ... here's to the happy list </div>
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<li>Loving Jessica Jones - although we haven't binge watched it like we did Daredevil - it's a little bit too dark for me to binge in one go, that I want to make it last. I love how they've adapted Jessica for the screen, taking the darkness in a different direction. I'd highly recommend reading Alias (although perhaps not if you don't like curse words) which focuses more on her being a PI than perhaps this adaption is showing. The Pulse - which focuses on her life a couple of months after Alias when she works for the Daily Bugle is a fun read too especially if you want to get some more gossip on the whole Jessica, Luke Cage (who's getting his own show) relationship. </li>
<li>Enjoying a fantastic brunch at <a href="http://www.eatbakn.com/" target="_blank">Bakn</a> in Carnegie PA - also loving their name, and if you love bacon it's well worth checking out.</li>
<li>Finishing and hanging my cross stitch advent calendar all ready for December - used up some of the left over chocolate from Halloween. </li>
<li>Thanksgiving dinner - delicious! </li>
<li>Making friends with other people's kitties.</li>
<li>Seeing Pittsburgh's Christmas tree.</li>
<li>Getting my fish & chip fill at my favorite place for my British fix - <a href="http://www.piperspub.com/" target="_blank">Piper's Pub</a> along Carsen St, Pittsburgh.</li>
<li>Chocolate covered <a href="http://www.sanderscandy.com/Chocolate-Covered-Snack-Collection-p/27026-p.htm" target="_blank">espresso beans from Sanders</a> - oh my word they are good! </li>
<li>Cashmere scarves = weakness</li>
<li>Sticking up our Christmas tree, living in the US it seems a lot more acceptable to stick your tree up early, I can live with that. The cat's trying to eat said tree, not so much. </li>
<li>Making lots of cross stitch Christmas cards - I only tend to send them to family members - or at least family members that'll appreciate them but they are fun to stitch. </li>
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How's things with y'all?<br />
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Rachaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17128754833604987577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1096314476893239291.post-83370946843049388032015-11-23T09:14:00.002-05:002015-11-23T09:14:20.470-05:00LIFE: Photo An Hour November 2015<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/78285075@N03/22797565307" title="Photo An Hour by LOTS4, on Flickr"><img alt="Photo An Hour" height="600" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/654/22797565307_2ed326915b_c.jpg" width="800" /></a>
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Oh hey everyone. I know I've been a little absent from the whole blogging thing. I don't think I've been near anything blog related in about two weeks and apparently I haven't shared anything here for the entirety of Noevember. As of right now, I'm not really sure of the future of my blog, I'm not really sure if I've reached the point of calling it a day or just drawing it right back and just writing whenever whatever. It's all a little up on the air.<br />
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But <a href="http://twenty-something-sherbet.blogspot.com/search/label/Photo%20An%20Hour" target="_blank">photo an hour</a> was calling and well, it's hard to not join in. </div>
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Saturday was actually the first proper snowfall of the winter 2015-2016 season with a predicated 8 or so inches of the white stuff, but I think we ended up getting about 5". It was also a day of trying to get on top of all our boring adult chores, think changing oil in the car, putting the window insulation up, hanging curtains and getting a start on Christmas shopping kinda day. Followed by cross stitching, hot dogs, whiskey and everything from Jessica Jones to the Mindy Project. </div>
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Rachaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17128754833604987577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1096314476893239291.post-89999115425435270442015-10-30T10:00:00.000-04:002015-10-30T10:00:01.872-04:00SNAPSHOTS: The Cincinnati Zoo <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/78285075@N03/21959983732" title="Cincinnati Zoo by LOTS4, on Flickr"><img alt="Zoo" height="600" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5697/21959983732_8ac3e0c2b2_c.jpg" width="800" /></a>
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After our <a href="http://twenty-something-sherbet.blogspot.com/2015/07/ohio-cincinnati-zoo.html" target="_blank">first visit in July, the Cincinnati Zoo</a> fast became my favorite. It's wonderfully laid out, the exhibits are huge and they do a great deal of work behind the scenes at helping reintroducing species back into the wild - to the point it's often considered the sexist zoo for all the breeding programs that help repopulate wild populations. So when we had a long weekend just after my birthday, I couldn't really turn down a road trip back there. </div>
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It's always great returning to the zoo after a couple of months (one of the reasons why I love my Detroit Zoo membership) those lion clubs were getting so much larger and daddy Lion was back in the exhibit, Tofu the baby Red Panda was out and about, those baby Flamingo's were just as big as their parents. Plus we managed to catch a glimpse of those animals we missed the first time around - like the crazy cute Sloth to those calling the Gibbon island home. Plus the zoo is home to my favorite <a href="http://twenty-something-sherbet.blogspot.com/2015/07/ohio-penguins-at-cincinnati-zoo.html" target="_blank">penguins</a> - those baby blue ones and with the cooler weather overhead they were being adorably active - splashing, swimming around in their pool. <br />
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Rachaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17128754833604987577noreply@blogger.com0