My 7-year-old and I were in the mood for a film last week. It was raining and he was getting over a week-long cold that had interrupted regular life to an alarming degree. I checked out the Direct TV listings and found the perfect movie for this damp, dreary situation: “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs.” I had seen the trailer, heard the grumblings from the Internet peanut gallery regarding classic children’s text and Hollywood’s treatment thereof, and I decided: this looks funny.

My gut instinct was correct. This is an animated spaz-fest of slapstick mishaps, mad-scientist catastrophes of grand proportions, and excellent voice work by Bill Hader, Anna Faris, James Caan, Andy Samberg, and (wait for it) Mr. T. With barely an educational platitude (other than: don’t mess with the environment by making giant food fall from the sky), Cloudy is concerned with backyard scientist, Flint Lockwood, who attempts to accomplish amazing feats in biology, but would really love a show of affection from his heavy-browed dad (played with epic emotional suppression by James Caan). Flint’s failure to succeed at anything through most of the movie makes it rather adult in scope, and also a tiny bit based in the real. Who among us has achieved worldwide fame and recognition?

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs’, introduces us to an ensemble cast of townies, including a sociopathic mayor (Bruce Campbell) who constantly ruins everything, a smart news reporter playing dumb in order to have a successful TV career (Farris), and an overreaching cop who wants to impress his son (a well-cast Mt. T). In a nod to the famous children’s book by Judi and Ron Barrett from which it’s based, there are raining foodstuffs.

The last third of the movie is a bit too frantic and might cause some anxiety in younger viewers. My son, in his viral haze, had trouble following some of the plotline during the chase scenes involving giant roasted chickens and a machine resembling a digestive system in the sky, but he laughed at it all anyway. We both did. We’re hopeless slapstick-humor enthusiasts and this film had our number.

For many places especially in business establishments like restaurants, background noise can range from a mild distraction to a frustrating inconvenience. This holds true for busy eating establishments where standard operational sounds can distract or annoy clients as well as lobbies of construction companies and other industrial type businesses. A simple waterfall fountain  can be enough to help block these noises, creating a calming white noise that will soothe and detract from sudden, loud sounds.

A current trend in interior decorating  is to use a indoor water fountain to bring the natural outdoor sounds of running water into the establishment.They create a soothing and relaxing atmosphere. A particular feature of many modern interior designers is to install the indoor wall fountains on or against the wall with a catch basin, as opposed to having the fountain stand alone. The wall fountain creates a charming waterfall effect. The basin contains a pump which circulates the water back to the top for a continual water cascade, making it a very economical way to save on water.

The idea behind using a fountain in this manner is to create a constant sound that will attract the attention of your ears and will keep you from noticing or being startled by the noise, either from other clients in the restaurant or in the kitchen, if you are situated near it. These fountains produce a constant source of white noise, which is exceptionally relaxing and can help people not only to sleep, but to concentrate or working or reading and even enjoying their meal while talking .

An indoor fountain can be great distraction for children and can truly offer many health benefits as much as an outdoor fountain. From the simple relaxation to the improved air quality that arises from a fountain’s natural humidifying property!

When you are in the food business, there is one person who always needs to be impeccably groomed – that would be your lead cook, the chef. Most restaurants associate themselves with the resident chef and during the olden days, the restaurant’s logo and name often had a picture or a caricature of the chef on it.

The chef we usually picture ourselves with is one who wears an all-white ensemble with a big white puffy hat. Nowadays, black aprons are as used as white ones, for practicality’s sake. A chef’s job is most always messy, and black would hide spills and stains very well.

Nowadays, black aprons are as used as white ones, for practicality’s sake. A chef’s job is most always messy, and black would hide spills and stains very well. Now there are a lot of chef apparel styles available. iD by Landau carries a complete line of apparel, even including chef pants, for the stylish chef. Chef pants need to have elastic waistbands, concealed side pockets, lightweight materials, and strong construction to ensure the trousers are built to last under repeated washings .

There is a collection of chef white jackets for ladies and men, and single and double-breasted designs to suit the needs of casual and a more formal attire.

What exactly do chefs need when it comes to their attire? From a sushi chef’s jacket in black with front pockets for utensils to full-size executive chef jackets with detailed piping for cuffs and collar and black pearl buttons. They also have jackets made from Coolvent fabric that moisture and heat away from the body as much as possible.

Self-love is essential.

I saw this post from a friend and that made me realize a little vanity (or self-love) would not hurt. It means you love yourself to take care of yourself FIRST. Make time for your needs FIRST so you can take care of other better. This is something I have realized in the last few weeks. It is easier said than done, because as a mother, there is a tendency to stop thinking about one’s self. Your heart is outside your body, it’s with your kids. But you need to have your individuality intact. You still need to grow, so your kids can look up to you better.

I am thinking of attending a cosmetology school in Tennessee when the kids are older. I have always loved dressing up and prettifying myself before, it would not hurt if I start now, ten years late

Ever wanted to try something different besides cooking and baking?

Try pottery!

And now that it is summer, you can even take your kids along with you so they can learn along as you learn the ropes of pottery! Working with clay together is a great way to get some good quality time with your children. AMACO/Brent  has materials and equipments like potter’s wheels for you and your kids. They even have a special category in their web site for kids! They have the balsa foam that cuts like butter, perfect for kids.

You can also buy replacement potters wheel parts and self-hardening clays if you already have them.

To get started with your clay pottery together, simply place a small amount of clay on your Brent pottery wheels. The key thing to remember when working with your clay is to make sure that it is always wet. If your clay isn’t wet enough it will make working with it rather difficult. Keep a small bowl of water nearby to dip your fingers in.

Here are some points to consider in getting pottery wheels for your children:

1. Size: How old is your child? Make sure the wheel is the right size and can handle the stress they might put on it over the years.
2. Durability:  Make sure you choose a quality kids wheel and don’t just settle for the cheapest one, otherwise you might wind up purchasing several wheels over the years.
3. Safety: Make sure you choose a kids pottery wheel that has all of the proper safety precautions.

Outdoor sheds have always been one of the solutions for storage problems. It can also mean additional space for the family, another place where a member of the family can explore and focus on their hobby – whether it be music, carpentry, sewing, etc.

The only thing left to consider is whether to invest on a custom built storage shed or buy a Duramax shed. Where I live it can get quite hot. If you live in the same type of climate, make sure you get shed plans which include roof venting. This will help prevent the heat from damaging the contents in the shed. Another decision you will need to consider is the longevity of your storage shed and whether it will need to be painted or treated every year. You won’t have this problem if you vinyl sheds. Vinyl sheds are tough and durable. These will not dent or suffer from rust, rot, or attract termites or mildew. What’s more, you will never need repainting one of their sheds because it really won’t undergo any discoloration. The sheds are indeed an all-weather one that will last for a life time. And do not worry about aesthetics either. Vinyl sheds now come in beautiful colors too so you will find one that will fit in your yard perfectly.

These types of sheds can now be built for your family’s needs!

Now, for example, if you have an RV or a boat that is only used depending on the season, a portable garage might work for you. Portable garages are custom-made shelters used for storing motor vehicles and other equipment. Not only will they store your equipment it will also protect them from harsh temperature, extreme weather conditions and for incidental scratches. They are easy to build and are available with sliding, zipper or roll-up garage doors. These structures can be custom-made if necessary. It is easy to put them up, and also one can take them down easily, as they are not permanent structures.

While I am dreaming of my white kitchen (Yes I still cannot get over it!), the husband has been looking at the expansive house plans available at HousePlansandMore.com. We discovered the site when we were looking for a nice design for an additional project for the house of an aunt. She wants to have a gazebo installed in her lawn just in time for her daughter’s 18th debut party which will be held at their home.

The one I saw at the site was perfect and even made me think of a scene in the Disney movie called the Princess and the Frog:

HousePlansandMore.com have been in the business for over 25 years so their experience and acquired expertise have been tried and tested (and vouched for) by several clients. They have in-house technical staff that can answer your questions design-wise and functionality wise and they have strong tie-ups with contractors and brokers when building your actual home is to took place (based on the house plan you decide from them). Also, it must be noted that their house floor plans are featured in over 30 home plan and project plan books and magazines! Their styles are varied and evolve and flow with the trends yet still maintaining good design and functionality. You can even consult them for special project like building additional decks for your home or if you would like cabin plans, they have them too!

”’John Hardy is an Example of Giving Back”’

Giving back to the community means doing your part to make the world you live in a better place. Many people do this through community service, helping or organizing a mobile meals delivery service or performing an act of kindness. Small, random acts of service are very common and make people feel more comfortable than other ways of selfless expression. Companies often join in helping with community efforts and reaching back to give more of their time and/or talent. Companies like John Hardy jewelery designers have done this by participating in events like Earth Day. It is in events like this where companies can contribute to a worthy cause and make a statement at the same time.

”’Making Various Contributions in Many Ways”’

It is often an expectation from companies that they participate in community giving efforts and contribute to several causes. Most large corporations have the financial means and resources to offer services to the community. In the Earth Day 2009 event, John Hardy jewelers celebrated the occasion by presenting a bamboo plant to each employee. Each plant represented the amount of carbon emissions (over eight tons) that would be offset if the employee nurtured the plant for one year. The 365 days worth of nurturing to the bamboo plant was also equal to the amount of electricity usage that it took to operate their Bali jewelry workshop.

”’A Company’s Responsibility is Clear”’

Companies that are sensitive to community responsibility and sustainability are very alert to what is going on around them and what needs to be done in the community or globally. Giving back in any way to the community is what many companies seek to make a part of their regular operations. It helps the recipients tremendously and benefits all those persons who are involved.