The Most Famous Silhouette

One large circle with two smaller circles on top in the appropriate place...
This, , might be the most well-known silhouette in the world. Let's go through this week's wordless Wednesday with Mickey. My kids love it as much as I did when I was a kid!

Museum's Greatest Collection

Walking, thinking, watching, listening...visitors to the museum distinguish by country, culture, race or religion. All museums have quite the collection of people.

Beach Night-A Quiet Sea You've Never Seen

These pictures were taken at the Sunny Isle Beach, Miami. Most don't try to capture the beauty of the beach after the sun goes down, this is definitely another point of view enjoying the beach life.





*Photos taken by intern, Ken*

Celebrate Grandparent's Day!

Some of you may have celebrated this unofficial holiday last weekend with your grandparents, but if you didn't know National "Grandparents Day" is celebrated every year on the first Sunday after Labor Day. If you missed it, and want to have an excuse to get together to celebrate with your family you may have another chance... in Japan, people celebrate their version of grandparents day on the third Monday of September (9/20) as the "Respect for the Aged Day". Well, it’s never too late no matter what day of the year, grab your kids and head over to Gramma's house! Here are some great little gift ideas for grandparents day...

Is Grandma and grandpa coming to you? Surprise them by breaking out the family recipes and make them a delicious meal. Nothing feels better than having your family together enjoying a homemade dinner.

Maybe you can get them an iPod filled with music your grandparents would enjoy. Pick their wedding song, the favorite album they drove you crazy with growing up, or hey, maybe your grandparents are hip and like Lady Gaga. I am sure either way this would be a fun gift from the grand kids!

Forget buying the card, make one! Grandparents are always proud to hang a handmade card on their fridge no matter what age their grand kids are. Get creative... what its not Van Gogh? or Hallmark? Believe me in your grandparents' eyes this is their grand-kids' "masterpiece"!

Think about useful things your grandparents will need this Fall. Perhaps some Fall accessories like a stylish new scarf, hat and gloves set.

Purify your indoor air... Naturally :)

Although we aren't all born with the "green thumb", some of us want to live healthier, and somewhat "greener" these days so making the attempt at a greener thumb may pay off. NASA actually discovered (with help from the ALCA) that houseplants can actually help to purify the air indoors.

While NASA was trying to figure out how to purify the air for extended stays in orbiting space stations, they learned that certain houseplants can purify common pollutants from the air- which was a huge tip for those of us still here on Earth! Whether or not your house is new or old there are several contributing factors to potential air pollutants- air conditioning, heating, and synthetic building materials, etc. With most new buildings/homes they are created air tight to be more "energy efficient". Although being energy efficient is spectacular, you are not getting the freshest, cleanest air possible. So give your green thumb a go, what a better way to purify the air for yourself and your family- and you will have some beautiful greenery inside to help you deal with the upcoming fall weather.

Here is a list of some of the common houseplants that are the most effective at removing indoor air pollutants...

1. Philodendron scandens `oxycardium', heartleaf philodendron

2. Philodendron domesticum, elephant ear philodendron

3. Dracaena fragrans `Massangeana', cornstalk dracaena

4. Hedera helix, English ivy

5. Chlorophytum comosum, spider plant

6. Dracaena deremensis `Janet Craig', Janet Craig dracaena

7. Dracaena deremensis `Warneckii', Warneck dracaena

8. Ficus benjamina, weeping fig

9. Epipiremnum aureum, golden pothos

10. Spathiphyllum `Mauna Loa', peace lily

11. Philodendron selloum, selloum philodendron

12. Aglaonema modestum, Chinese evergreen

13. Chamaedorea sefritzii, bamboo or reed palm

14. Sansevieria trifasciata, snake plant

15. Dracaena marginata , red-edged dracaena

*For an average home of under 2,000 square feet, the study recommends using at least fifteen samples of a good variety of these common houseplants to help improve air quality. They also recommend that the plants be grown in six inch containers or larger. (But I think starting out with one or two to get the hang of having plants is a great start- your collection of plants can then grow from there!)