Month: March 2013

Bake Sale No. XY

Published by Sula H.

We love bake sales. Simply because they give us the pleasure of enjoying some of the comforts we’ve known from home. And tonight, it was one of these days again – one of these, rare, wonderful, and yummy occasions to join a long line of fellow teachers (and students) who are willing to indulge themselves for the sole purpose of supporting orphans in the area (which is the reason why these bake sales are organized in the first place). And what a wonderful reason it is to get a couple of extra sweet treats when you know it’s all for a good purpose and not really only to spoil yourself and put on a couple of extra pounds …

Light My Way

Published by Sula H.

You may remember the issues we’re having with the lights. (I talked about it some time last year.) Well, that same issue continues. And you know that there’s an issue the moment you step into our hallway. Why? Because at times you have to feel your way to our doors. Because the light bulbs love to quit their jobs just as frequently as is the case with the light bulbs we have in our apartments. These days, we’re still lucky, though. Because – as you can see – there’s still enough light to give you at least an idea of where you’re going. As that’s not always the case, I consider myself lucky these days.

Quite the Scare

Published by Sula H.

I’m not against technological advancements. Not at all. But I’m also not someone who needs to ride the waves of every technological advancement there is. Hence,  I was used to the fact that everyone loved to make fun of my cell phone, because it was so old and in such poor condition. But I didn’t mind. Seeing how I was used to do anything but calling others and sending messages with my phone, I never saw the need to get a new one, let alone a smart phone. Last year, however, I decided to take a big step and go smart phone. And quickly I began to wonder how I had ever managed with my simple shabby old cell phone. Even just a couple of days ago, I talked to a family member about how thankful I am for the phone I have now since I use it for all sorts of things, not just phoning and messaging. But then something happened the other day. Something dreadful. Something that gave me quite the scare! It …

The Thing with the Shoes

Published by Sula H.

Shoes are nasty affairs around here. Everyone knows that. It’s because the streets are pretty nasty since grown men love to spit and little children love to use them, the streets that is, as bathroom. It is for this very reason that I’ve instated a rule for any visitors of mine, and for myself: the no-shoe-policy. A sign at my door promptly informs everyone endeavoring to enter my domain to please take off their shoes. And of course, I keep a bunch of my own shoes strewn right across my entrance so as to make people not miss the point. And yet, it fascinates me, how people still manage to be totally oblivious toward the fact that while persons are welcome to my home, their shoes certainly aren’t, because as much as I wonder how that happens, there are still plenty of times when I discover a pair of shoes that made it from the streets straight into my home.

scrapbook layout

Behind the Scenes: 6 Ways of Re-using Templates

Published by Sula H.

I love drawing inspiration from templates. See, the good thing about templates is that they are so versatile. You don’t have to work with a template just once and then it’s kind of an old shoe. It’s not. Working on the creative team of a template designer (Cindy Schneider), I’m always amazed to see all the different ways my other team colleagues are using the same templates. The sky is the limit. So, in other words I’m saying: use your templates more than once to take full advantage of them.   6 Ways of Re-using Templates Option #1 | Flipping & Rotating Obviously, the easiest way to re-use a template is by flipping or rotating it. When you do that, you’ll be amazed at how differently the page will look, and unless someone studies the two layouts in question very hard, no one will be able to tell that you’ve used the same template twice.   [border ]   Option #2 | Using Different Kits, Topics, Events Another way of making sure no one realizes …

Early Sunday Morning Surprises

Published by Sula H.

Sunday mornings. Not everywhere do they stand for sleep-ins and lazy mornings, for quiet and solitude. Here, they certainly don’t. The other day, I woke up to a surprise … a rather unpleasant one at that! I woke up to heavy banging, to voices shouting all over the place, and to the clanging of metal against metal, and it dawned on me that the workers were at it again. At it in ways I wish they weren’t. And when I looked outside, I knew what was going on. I guess, for the next couple of weeks I’ll have to deal with people talking on the other side of my walls, sounding as if they’re standing in the room with me just the same. Bye-bye lazy sleep-ins, bye bye quiet and peace.