Sweet Yellow Bird

A Separation

2012-01-16T15:49:00.001-07:00

The modern Iranian movie I posted about, up for several international awards called 'A Separation', will be playing at the Princess Theatre beginning Feb. 3!

Be there or be square.
The Official Site: http://www.sonyclassics.com/aseparation/

Persian Love Cake

2011-12-31T16:04:00.003-07:00

Persian Love Cake

This is how it looks on kokocooks.blogspot.com

This is Mariah's version...it was so pretty, and it was delicious. It has a very delicate taste, with crushed cardamom (which I had on hand, whole cardamom seeds, I'm happy to say) and rose water (which I also had on hand, direct from Kashan, Iran, the rose water capital of the world).

Best Blog Ever!

2011-12-30T17:35:00.003-07:00

http://turmericsaffron.blogspot.com/

Go there, quick!

Here's a sample, Mariah and I are making this for Birthday dinner for Mark and Manochehr tonight:

Slivered Almonds & Barberry Stew

(Khoresh Khalal Badam & Zereshk

Ingredients:
Serves 4-6

1 1/2 pound meat (lamb, beef ), washed and cubed
1 cup slivered almonds, lightly toasted
1 cup dried barberries, picked over, rinsed, can be found in most Persian grocery stores
1 cup yellow split peas, picked over, rinsed (optional)
1 large onion, thinly sliced
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 tablespoons of tomato paste
1/2 teaspoon turmeric
1/3 teaspoon cinnamon
1/3 teaspoon crushed saffron dissolved in 2 tablespoons of hot water
1-2 tablespoons rose water (optional)
Oil
Water
Salt and pepper to taste

Method:

Lightly toast the almond slivers in a dry pan for 3-5 minutes over medium to low heat. Set aside
In a small frying pan lightly saute the barberries in 1-2 tablespoons of oil over medium heat for a few minutes. Set aside.
In a small pan saute the tomato paste in a tablespoon of oil for 2-3 minutes over medium heat. Set aside. This step is optional but it improves the taste of the stew.
Heat 2-3 tablespoons of oil in a large pot, saute the sliced onion over medium heat until translucent, add the garlic and saute for another 2-3 minutes then add the turmeric. Stir well to blend every bit of onion and garlic with turmeric powder.
Add the meat and brown on all sides. Add cinnamon, salt and pepper to taste, blend well.
Make some room in the center of the pot by pushing the meat and onion mixture to the side of the pot and place the split peas in the center and fry them for a few minutes. This will harden the peas and gets rid of their raw smell. You may also cook the split peas separately with two cups of water and add them to the stew half way through cooking if you prefer.
Scoop in the tomato paste and pour in enough water to cover meat and to come about two inches above.
Cover and cook for 30 minutes on medium to low heat, add the almond slivers, mix well, cook and cover for another 20 minutes. Add water if needed.
Add barberries and saffron, stir well, taste and adjust seasoning. Cook for another 20-30 minutes until meat is tender and the flavors are well blended. Pour rose water in the last 10 minutes of cooking.

Serve warm with rice, pickles (torshi), fresh herbs and yogurt.

A Seperation

2011-12-30T15:15:00.000-07:00

A House Divided by Exasperation

By A. O. SCOTT

Published: December 29, 2011

“A Separation,” a tightly structured, emotionally astute new film from Iran, begins with a couple, at odds and in distress, arguing in front of a judge. Simin (Leila Hatami) wants to leave the country with her daughter, Termeh (Sarina Farhadi), and Simin’s husband, Nader (Peyman Moadi), insists on staying at home in Tehran to care for his frail and elderly father, who suffers from dementia and needs constant attention. Quite possibly there is more at issue than practical domestic arrangements — there are hints of suppressed anger in Nader’s demeanor, of long-simmering exasperation in Simin’s — but an Iranian courtroom may not be the best place to discuss intimate marital matters.

More About This Movie

A Searing Family Drama Reveals a Human Side of Iran (December 22, 2011)
ArtsBeat Blog: An Iranian Hit, but No Preconceptions, Please(September 30, 2011)

Enlarge This Image

Habib Madjidi/Sony Pictures Classics

Kimia Hosseini, left, and Sareh Bayat in "A Separation."

Nor, given that country’s strict censorship codes, is an Iranian film. But “A Separation,”written and directed by Asghar Farhadi (and Iran’s official Oscar submission), does not feel especially constrained. It is a rigorously honest movie about the difficulties of being honest, a film that tries to be truthful about the slipperiness of truth. It also sketches a portrait — perhaps an unnervingly familiar picture for American audiences — of a society divided by sex, generation, religion and class.

The partial split between Nader and Simin is only one of the schisms revealed in the course of a story that quietly and shrewdly combines elements of family melodrama and legal thriller. Because Nader refuses to agree to a divorce or to give the legally required permission for his daughter to travel abroad, he and Simin find themselves at an impasse. She goes to live with her parents, and he hires a young woman named Razieh (Sareh Bayat) to help look after his father.

Razieh, who arrives with her young daughter, has an anxious, plaintive manner, and her apparent unreliability brings minor irritation and then outright chaos into Nader’s life. Before long — and as a result of events I will leave for you to discover — Nader is back in court, embroiled in long arguments with Razieh and her husband, Hodjat (Shahab Hosseini), an unemployed shoemaker laden with debt and seething with resentment, humiliation and angry piety.

The conflict between the two families, which often turns on forensic details and uncertain recollections, is inflamed by social tension. In Hodjat’s eyes Nader and Simin are part of a corrupt and entitled elite, arrogant and irreligious and full of contempt for an ordinary working man like him. And their attempts to be reasonable, compassionate and polite betray an unmistakable condescension, which Mr. Farhadi tacitly endorses by making Hodjat such a brute.

There are moments when the humanism of “A Separation” feels a bit schematic, as if the characters were pulled from a box of available types rather than painted in the shades of life. But there are also scenes that draw power from the subtlety of the performances, in particular the quiet, watchful portrayal by Ms. Farhadi (the director’s daughter) of a girl who is at once central and peripheral to the drama unfolding around her. Termeh, shy and studious, is desperate to please her parents and terrified that her family will collapse. Her parents, and the audience, continually overlook the intensity of her feelings, which nonetheless pervade the film, along with her unspoken hope that everything will work out in the end.

The outcome is less important to Mr. Farhadi than what leads up to it, and the film is remarkably deft in capturing the petty, cumulative frustrations of modern city life. In addition to their weekly quota of quarrels and brooding silences, Simin and Nader must contend with work (she is a doctor, he has a job in a bank), their daughter’s schooling, Tehran traffic (a touchstone of recent Iranian cinema) and an officious and sometimes chaotic government bureaucracy. Daily life is a cycle of waiting, nagging, negotiating and looking for a place to park, much of it carried out with frayed and weary decorum. Even when everything seems to be falling apart, people try to mind their manners.

Because self-control seems to be, in this setting, both a deeply ingrained habit and a public virtue, eruptions of feeling — some of which come close to physical violence — arrive with special force in “A Separation.” And they leave a knot of ethical and philosophical questions that may make the walk home from the theater as argumentative as the film itself. Most of the characters’ behavior is viewed with sympathy and skepticism, and the frequent bouts of legal wrangling invite endless interpretation of every aspect of the story. Somehow it is all perfectly clear, and yet at the same time tantalizingly and heartbreakingly mysterious.

“A Separation” is rated PG-13 (Parents strongly cautioned). A lot of difficult grown-up stuff.

A SEPARATION

Opens on Friday in New York and Los Angeles.

Change Your Words

2011-12-28T20:53:00.001-07:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_popout&v=Hzgzim5m7oU

Frothing Happiness

2011-12-07T23:14:00.001-07:00

Wow, this gizmo really froths! It's wonderful! I microwaved the froth afterwards for 30 seconds...to warm it up. Delicious! Mine is red; it also comes in orange. Tonight I made myself a wonderful herbal latte with warmed froth and Chai latte topping from Steeps. Available at The Bay.

One of the Best Days of My Life Today!

2011-11-24T22:00:00.001-07:00

If you were there, you know why:) We experienced a truly happy day at the temple with lots of loving family in attendance. Saturday will be equally wonderful as we go to the temple to witness the sealing of Eli, Jen, and Isabelle. Such happy times, and the whole time I was there I had thoughts of my husband attending the temple, and when we got together afterwards, so had Jen, Tim, and Eli!

More Persepolis - Homeschool Day

2011-11-09T03:35:00.001-07:00

You are welcome to visit - when you see 'Home School Day' the pics are actually for me to use for my homeschool day with my grandchildren - but you are welcome to have a look:)

Xerxes Tomb

The grand road leading to and from Persepolis, which is actually called Takhte Jamshid in Iran.

Yummy drink that cools, and faloudeh ice cream.

The hole for a door hinge! It's huge! A hinge this size for a massive door.

Pillow Talk

2011-10-27T21:29:00.001-06:00

I just received this pretty, handmade pillow, as a GIFT, from Margaret, the sweet lady that made my quilt.. You don't see that everyday…an online transaction with a follow up gift mailed separately to your doorstep! Margaret said that she was going to make me a matching pillow, even though our transaction was was completed in full. A few weeks later (today) this lovely gift arrived, wrapped in pretty paper, with a brand new pillow insert included! You can't beat that kind of service. I hope that if you are ever in need of a beautiful, handmade chenille quilt that you contact Margaret for a quote. I posted about the quilt here: http://sweetyellowbird.blogspot.com/2011/10/ingrid.html

Margaret's email is: gleefullest@yahoo.com

Bean Stew

2011-10-24T19:07:00.000-06:00

Another delicious recipe:

Easy in ready in no time:

Ground Pork Sausage (I just bought the kind that looks like ground beef, in a meat package, you could substitute frozen meatballs, fresh ground turkey, beef, whatever - the sausage meat balls were REALLY good though and we don't even eat much pork).

Form the meatballs, and brown in the bottom of a large saucepan. While they are browning, peel and slice the carrots, and fennel (I watched a youTube video to see how in the world to cut up a fennel/anice bulb; it's easy as it turns out. Here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LW0OCAnBYq8). When the meatballs are browned on all sides, throw in the veggies, and kind fo toss them around with the meatballs to cook up a bit.

Add 2 cups of Broth (beef or chicken depending on your meatballs), diced tomatoes, and one-two cans of Beans (the recipe called for Canelonni [white] beans, but I used mixed beans). It depends on how much you like beans - we love them, so we used two. Add salt and pepper. Simmer for 20 minutes, to heat through.

Add sliced fresh Basil, to garnish, and a sprig of the fennel tops. Serve with rustic bread.

Hope you likey:)

Jordan

2011-10-23T00:07:00.003-06:00

I didn't get a photo (dang), but we had some serious fun with Jordan yesterday - it was a real delight to catch up with him. Every once in a while we see either Jordan or Colton here in Edmonton, and we love it, truly! We all had fun, playing 'Apple' with our numerous apple devices - Jordan showed me a few tricks, and watching Top Gear as Mark's prisoner... you guys, we love you so much - and really enjoy your visits:)

Korean Beef & Rice

2011-10-22T23:57:00.001-06:00

This was made in 29 minutes...and is from a Pampered Chef cookbook. I'm not usually a huge fan of these little P/C books, but this book is really terrific. The photo could have been better, but we decided to take a photo a little late...but you get the idea. Delicious. Here is the recipe:

• Flank steak (this is important, and I learned something here...flank steak is not expensive and can be tough - the trick is to cut it in strips against the grain - which is the goal with any steak - and it is wonderfully tender this way, It's quites striated, if that makes sense.

3 T soy sauce ( we like the sweet Korean style - especially for this recipe)
1 T sesame oil ( necessary -don't skip_
1 t sugar (or substitute)
2 cloves of garlic, minced.

• Make this sauce, and then pour over the beef strips in a bowl to marinate while you get the rice started.

• Make jasmine rice. Once it's on the go... chop the green onion, and peel the carrots (see below)

• Peel 2-3 medium carrots, then continue to peel, making long carrot curls. Place in bowl of ice water til you are ready to serve them.

• Cook the beef, by heating 1-2 T vegetable oil and adding the beef in a single layer. Leave undisturbed for 2 minutes on one side, then turn over and cook the other side another 2 minutes. While you are cooking beef, microwave 1/2 of frozen peas.

Serve in a pretty rice bowl; rice topped with beef, green onion, been sprouts, peas, and (drained) carrot curls. Super easy, fresh, and really, really good.

Siri Quotes

2011-10-20T22:57:00.002-06:00

Siri, what is your favorite color?
"My favorite color is... well, I don't know how to say it in your language, it's sort of greenish, but with more dimensions."

Who makes the best cell phone?
"Your're kidding, right?"

Siri, I love you.
"You can't."

I don't know what you said.
"If you say so."

When is iPhone 5 coming out?
"Everything you need to know about Apple products you can find at the Apple website, and Apple stores are everywhere."

OK
"I'm ok, if you're ok."

What do you look like?
"Shiny."

Ritzy Misfit - Customer Service Extraordinaire!

2011-10-19T15:21:00.001-06:00

Ritzy Misfit

extraordinaire (epicene, plural extraordinaires)

extraordinary, out of the ordinary

These guys (ok, I think they are all girls) mean business when it comes to customer service! I would almost say they will dog you til you are satisfied, till you are more than satisfied, til you are thrilled! But they are even cooler than that...here is what you will get when you shop Ritzy Misfit:

• On trend, unique, handmade, high quality jewelry, at a reasonable price
• Possibly the best customer service I have ever had
• Customized designs
• Celebrity sitings wearing your new jewellrey:)

Here are some samples:

RITZY MISFIT - -
The original hand stamped wax seal pendants

As all of our pieces are made from scratch by hand, please allow 2 weeks from payment until shipment + adequate time for delivery.

No one is perfect, but we are all beautiful. These pendants give the feeling of being beautiful, unique and rough around the edges at the same time. My work reflects the wonderful, flawed idiosyncrasies in us all. And it makes us breath-taking.

Ritzy Misfit has recently been seen on:

Bachelor Pad, on ABC worn by Krisily (mini with pink crystal)
The Bachelorette, worn by Ali herself! (see other listings for examples)
Kendra Wilkinson from the girls Next Door, seen in this listing
And Jillian Harris on 2009 Bachelorette. (turquoise J)
There have also been many other unconfirmed sightings on amazing people!

This listing is for a stunningly original pendant; melted and stamped by hand. They are then rubbed, sanded and buffed until at the peak of imperfect perfection!

They are each one of a kind pieces of art. No pendant can be replicated.

The personalized initial pendant is my ultimate best seller. It can be made into any letter you choose.

The “flaws” or “blemishes” or “imperfections” that I adore turn out to have a few degrees of roughness. For me, the rougher the better. Like myself. Ü

There are approximately 3 categories of “character”.

PLEASE READ before purchasing:

CHARACTER:
The first level of character is almost perfect. These are almost completely round, and even around the edges.
The second degree has more character, or flaws (which I personally love) and may be less perfectly round, and more rustic looking.
The third degree has a lot of character, in the way of roughness, (not sharp), inconsistencies, and uneven overflow of metal. Many of these are my ultimate favorites.

I own the kelly green 'E' and a pretty lock in yellow. I love them both! I am wearing the green initial pendant right now:) Note in the samples, how they can be customized as to color and color intensity, and degree of character...more smooth, to more organic in shape. Please visit Ritzy Misfit at http://ritzymisfit.bigcartel.com/ (cheaper prices at this site) or on Etsy (for a higher price) at http://www.etsy.com/shop/RitzyMisfit.

Earthquakes - Wednesday Class

2011-10-19T02:46:00.002-06:00

Lincoln

2011-10-18T11:41:00.001-06:00

Source: modernhepburn.tumblr.com via Britta on Pinterest

Nail of the Day

2011-10-17T03:44:00.002-06:00

Copper Penney by Revlon

Democrats

2011-10-14T01:20:00.003-06:00

Jared and I laughed so hard tonight when Bill O'Reilly quipped the following on tonight's edition of 'The O'Reilly Factor':

"The philosophy of the Democratic party is to take the money, and then throw it out the window."

The Brown Pelican

2011-10-13T14:41:00.000-06:00

More Brown Pelican info for Jane, Charlie, and Jacob. We learned about the Brown Pelican today, and here is more information!

It will be fun to listen the sounds they make, their song, and their call. See below:

Overview

Brown Pelican: Large, unmistakable seabird, gray-brown body, dark brown, pale yellow head and neck, oversized bill. Black legs, webbed feet. Feeds on fish by plunge diving and scooping them up with pouch. Powerful flight alternates flaps with short glides. Flies close to the water in straight line.

Range and Habitat

Brown Pelican: Pacific, Atlantic, and Gulf coasts north to Nova Scotia, occasionally found inland. Preferred habitats include sandy coastal beaches and lagoons, waterfronts and pilings, and rocky cliffs.

Sounds and Calls:

Listen to Call

Brown Pelican Voice

Voice Text

Generally silent

Interesting Facts:

A group of pelicans has many collective nouns, including a "brief", "pod", "pouch", "scoop", and "squadron" of pelicans.
The Brown Pelican can hold about three gallons of water (and fish) in its pouch. They have air sacks beneath their skin and in their bones that make them very buoyant.
The Brown Pelican incubates its eggs in an unusual manner; it covers them with its webbed feet. This practice was detrimental to the species when the pesticide DDT was in common use. This pesticide caused thinning of the eggshells resulting in so many broken eggs that the species became endangered.
Though adult pelicans may consume as much as four pounds of fish per day, they do not compete with sport or commercial fishermen because of type of fish they eat.

TOMS Shoes

2011-10-11T03:00:00.001-06:00

The One for One Movement

In 2006,

American traveler Blake Mycoskie befriended children in Argentina and found they had no shoes to protect their feet. Wanting to help, he created TOMS, a company that would match every pair of shoes purchased with a pair of new shoes given to a child in need. One for One. Blake returned to Argentina with a group of family, friends and staff later that year with 10,000 pairs of shoes made possible by TOMS customers.

Why Shoes?

Many children in developing countries grow up barefoot. Whether at play, doing chores or going to school, these children are at risk:

•A leading cause of disease in developing countries is soil-transmitted diseases, which can penetrate the skin through bare feet. Wearing shoes can help prevent these diseases, and the long-term physical and cognitive harm they cause.

•Wearing shoes also prevents feet from getting cuts and sores. Not only are these injuries painful, they also are dangerous when wounds become infected.

•Many times children can't attend school barefoot because shoes are a required part of their uniform. If they don't have shoes, they don't go to school. If they don't receive an education, they don't have the opportunity to realize their potential.

An Important Post....on Polish

2011-10-10T23:28:00.000-06:00

Ok, so it's not that important, but I do love this color. It's called Ingrid, by China Glaze, and it's a very wearable soft minky brown with a subtle gold fleck. It's not an 'I'm not really sure I can wear this out' kind of brown, though to be truthful I would wear any brown out nowadays. The lower photo is the more accurate photo of the two.

Yesterday (and the day before) I was sick, (today not too bad - the fastest cold recovery ever!) and had to amuse myself whilst laying around all day, which was astonishingly easy to do! I rearranged my Fall lipsticks (swapped them with the Summer hues - so Summer is now in the drawer), likewise my perfumes...(goodbye for now to 'Beach' and 'Bronze Goddess') and hello to Burberry, and Flower Bomb.

What else did I do...I posted on my blog numerous times, I watched multiple conference talks...and General Relief Society talks...loved Elder Oaks talk, all of them really. I slogged down copious amounts of herbal tea with FRESH honey, and Buckley's™.

Today I was all a whirl of activity, feeling better, I caught up with all kinds of mundane but satisfying tasks like tacking a hook on an under garment that needed sewing, cleaning out my kitchen drawers, righting a white washer load that had gone pink, counting out the missing china pieces that I would like to order, attempting to cream my newly acquired honey, and the like.

We moved some trees around today too, and dear hubby would come and get me to look at each new move... he loves trees, and our trees in particular. A birch that had been banished to our tree graveyard (where we move sick and perhaps dying trees, but sometimes they are just Charlie Brown trees) revived whilst there, as they often do (it's a magical tree graveyard) and is now resplendent in our front yard. It's golden and beautiful...I will take a photo tomorrow and post it.

Glorious Chenille

2011-10-10T01:34:00.002-06:00

A wonderful lady, Margaret from Etsy and eBay, make this lovely chenille quilt for me from blocks of different neutral chenille. I sent her the backing which I found at a local store and then ordered from a store near Margaret to have mailed to her...it adds to the vintage feel of the quilt. Margaret spent tons of time setting and resetting the blocks to get them perfect. I was looking for a very neutral/yellow pallet, and she came up with the perfect combinations. Shep rovides top notch communication and will collaborate with you until you are happy with the layout, providing oodles of pictures and ideas. I will link her email address herre when I get her permission:) Margaret stitched her name into the back, in a kind of cross stitch which I think is so cool, as her 'signature'. Love. It.

Here is Margaret's email address: Margaret Dwyer gleefullest@yahoo.com
She can also be found at: CaterpillarClothCollections.com

iSad

2011-10-09T17:02:00.004-06:00

Who Says There is no God?

2011-10-09T17:02:00.001-06:00

Bees & Honey

2011-10-08T23:13:00.000-06:00

I am the first to admit that we are late to the party when it comes to the honey extraction process; we should have started in August, but we took out two frames to make room for the feeder frame, in preparation for winterizing the hive, and there was tons of honey on those two frames, so we let it drip/strain into an enormous bowl. Since this is our first year, we were super excited, and with some practice we hope to do a lot better next year with timelines. I am reading the book Beekeeping in Western Canada by D.C. Murrell and D.N. MacDonald.

We were very fortunate to have maintained our hive over last winter, since it was so long and cold - I hope we will be so fortunate again this year, as with a little time, I think I am better understanding the process of beekeeping. I would really be sad to lose my crew now!

BTW - Mano was stung on the foot today - he says it was a good experience because it's his first sting. He was decked out in head to toe beekeeper gear, except for no socks in his shoes! You have to laugh. Now he knows what it feels like. I have only been stung once in my life, that was ages ago - as a tweener.

Lastly, how did we get into bees? I have to thank Eli - he brought over the whole set up for Dad for Father's day last year - it was a super cool gift. We like everything about it!

PS We ended up with 11 jam jars of honey! It smells and tastes heavenly!

THE BEE.

Like trains of cars on tracks of plush
I hear the level bee:
A jar across the flowers goes,
Their velvet masonry

Withstands until the sweet assault
Their chivalry consumes,
While he, victorious, tilts away
To vanquish other blooms.

His feet are shod with gauze,
His helmet is of gold;
His breast, a single onyx
With chrysoprase, inlaid.

His labor is a chant,
His idleness a tune;
Oh, for a bee's experience
Of clovers and of noon!

Emily Dickinson

My outdoor pool, and my indoor pool...

2011-10-05T12:16:00.000-06:00

Hearst Castle, in San Simeon, north of Sal Luis Obispo, Ca.

California

2011-10-05T10:58:00.000-06:00

These pics are for homeschool with Janey, Charlie and Jacob...even Scarlet b/c she was interested in Dolphins:) They are not to look below the Cabrillo statue for now - next week we'll go on to Tidepools and the Brown Pelican. Then we want to cover the topography and weather, earthquakes, and maybe some conservation from the San Diego zoo. I loved spending time with the kids learning! I will think more too about how I can include each one,maybe do some one on one.

Elder Dallin H. Oaks 'What Think Ye of Christ?'

2011-10-05T00:55:00.002-06:00

Pumpkin Smoothie

2011-10-04T10:57:00.000-06:00

The recipe for this smoothie came from 'Crazy Miss Tammy" - uppiesbeads59 on YouTube. I check in with her for smoothie ideas and beauty talk for 50 year olds:)

Pumpkin Smoothie

1 C almond milk (Silk unsweetened)
1 C pumpkin (pure, canned, COLD - so from the refrigerator)
1 scoop vanilla protein powder (optional)
1 T ground flaxseed
1 frozen banana
1 t vanilla (1/3 of a whole vanilla bean - whole if an option)
1/2 t (or to taste) agave nectar (I use honey)
dash cinnamon, fresh nutmeg, sea salt

Blend, blend, blend:)

Dryer Balls!

2011-09-30T00:53:00.002-06:00

My B-Day gift was waiting for me when I arrived home from vacation - I can count on Sarra for a unique Etsy find - and this birthday was no exception! Here is the etsy seller's address: http://www.etsy.com/listing/62450757/wool-dryer-balls-a-late-evening-in-the, for these beauties.

They come in lots of color combos, and they really do work! Here is the low down from the seller:

These Dryer Balls do a number of wonderful things:

1. They are an eco-friendly alternative to the conventional dryer sheet.

2. They do more than a dryer sheet by pulling the moisture out of your clothes so you don’t have to run your dryer as long, saving you time and money.

3. They reduce static just like dryer sheets do.

4. They soften your clothes like liquid fabric softener when they’re bouncing around your dryer. Fabric softener has harsh chemicals that make your clothes soft and also increase the flammability of your clothes putting you at risk of a dryer fire - not fun!

5. They’re wonderful cat and dog toys when they “accidentally” make their way out of the dryer!

6. They’re made of 100% wool so they’re safe for babies to learn about colors and as a counting tool, they love the texture!

7. They’re absolutely WONDERFUL for cloth diapers! They keep them soft and clean without the harmful chemicals in conventional dryer sheets.

LOVE THEM!

Birthday Love

2011-09-09T12:47:00.003-06:00

I had such a wonderful B-day; hearing from friends and family all day, and then spending a super great evening with my family. I had dinner out, 2 lunches out, flowers, ice cream cake, and some nice time with my hubbie who was home for my birthday. I'm still kind of basking in the sunshine of that day:)

Here's some of the thoughtful gifts I received:

Sweet Yellow Bird

A Separation

Persian Love Cake

Best Blog Ever!

Slivered Almonds & Barberry Stew

(Khoresh Khalal Badam & Zereshk

A Seperation

A House Divided by Exasperation

By A. O. SCOTT

Published: December 29, 2011

More About This Movie

Related

A Searing Family Drama Reveals a Human Side of Iran (December 22, 2011)

ArtsBeat Blog: An Iranian Hit, but No Preconceptions, Please(September 30, 2011)

Habib Madjidi/Sony Pictures Classics

Change Your Words

Frothing Happiness

One of the Best Days of My Life Today!

More Persepolis - Homeschool Day

Pillow Talk

Bean Stew

Jordan

Korean Beef & Rice

Siri Quotes

Ritzy Misfit - Customer Service Extraordinaire!

Earthquakes - Wednesday Class

Lincoln

Nail of the Day

Democrats

The Brown Pelican

More Brown Pelican info for Jane, Charlie, and Jacob. We learned about the Brown Pelican today, and here is more information!

Overview

Range and Habitat

Listen to Call

Voice Text

TOMS Shoes

Why Shoes?

An Important Post....on Polish

Glorious Chenille

iSad

Who Says There is no God?

Bees & Honey

My outdoor pool, and my indoor pool...

California

Elder Dallin H. Oaks 'What Think Ye of Christ?'

Pumpkin Smoothie

Dryer Balls!

Birthday Love