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dustedmagazine · 4 years ago

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Various Artists — Soft Touch Express Vols. 1-3 (Trax Only)

Soft Touch Express Vol. 1 by Trax Only

Stop me if you’ve heard this one before: When the pandemic settled in and quarantine kept everyone home, New Orleans-based party promoters Trax Only were left with a lot of time in the space where DJing and socializing might’ve been. The collective — Kathi Kniess, Brett Labauve (Bouffant Bouffant) and Mark Louque (Father Figure/FFigure) — were caught in the anxious state of energy without direction, creativity in fits and bursts but nowhere to put it. There was a lot of napping.

But as 2020 went on, the idea of a compilation slowly, intriguingly came together. Now, with the release of three mini-albums in March and the delivery of a 90-page risograph-printed zine to accompany them, Trax Only has not just a musical manifesto for its wild nights out, it has a snapshot of dance music’s stalled months, too.

As Kniess says in the zine’s final pages, “the quarantine had a silver lining: There was more time to focus on production. Why not provide a digital platform for this output and bring along other queer producers we love and admire?” After six years of promoting dance nights featuring a mix of names passing through — I recognized Egyptian Lover, Horse Meat Disco, Octo Octa and Rayna Russom at a quick glance of the thank yous at the back of the zine — that took cues from the cities they loved (New York, Berlin, Chicago, San Francisco, etc.) and incorporated them with their own homespun party-making mentality, they now had a chance to give back.

And how they’ve delivered. Trax Only may be based in New Orleans, but as these compilations show, its reach extends far beyond the bayou: Of the 21 producers featured across these three volumes, only five are based in the Big Easy. There’s representation from locales near (Atlanta, Memphis) and far (Los Angeles, Portland, New York, Berlin), and the ground covered isn’t just in where perspectives or where the musicians are from, either: The sonic territory slowly blooms as you listen through each volume.

The music centers itself with house in the restrained future cruisin’ of Ruth Mascelli, Olive T, Jacob Meehan, DJ NSA and a deep house queens’ anthem from Love Letters, but it also covers a great deal of ground beyond that broad umbrella. Shaun J. Wright’s “I Pray How My Ancestors Prayed” is an ideal opener for what’s ahead and could easily be envisioned as the opener to any set, a stripped back, drums-forward number with just the barest hint of keyboard and a tense vocal intoning the title. Sappho and Jon Damon Boucher’s “I Want You” is an early highlight, its chorus airing out over a swooning harmony and a surprisingly busy percussive clattering that, once you hear, you can’t take your ears off trying to pick it apart. Bouffant Bouffant’s “Night Blue” is another, featuring piano and what sounds like bongos and a dubbed out melodica.

Sfireman’s “All Right” that closes out Vol. 1 is one of the set’s more interesting sonic outliers, a 16-bit videogame soundtrack clocking in at less than three and a half minutes that makes for the shortest track here. But it opens things up a bit for the second and third volumes, which feature the malfunctioning robotics of FFigure’s “Self Checkout,” Marceaux Marceaux aka z72.52’s appropriately named light breaks throwback “Time Warp,” the acid of Juana’s “1E Strategy” and Ephemera’s cosmic wandering “Lava Lava.” Indeed, Vol. 3 might be the most eclectic and hard-hitting of the bunch, peak-hours energy exuded by Bézier’s jacking “Vocalise,” the dark techno thumper from Ariel Zetina on “Security Theatre,” the outright fastest bpm of the bunch on Jasmine Infiniti’s “iono” (so fast that the track can’t seem to stop itself, truncating abruptly at the finish), and the sample-happy (Flava Flav most prominent among them) “People in the House” from Good Xtreme to close.

Credit is due in part here to the mastering done by Lucia Martinez aka DJ Saskia, a producer in their own right who’s helped forge a coherent vision for the label and, as an added bonus, offers suggestions for a home studio starter kit. Though she has no tracks present on these volumes, their deft touch behind the boards is evident and each track comes through clearly.

The Soft Touch Express volumes are a cogent representation of club culture’s frustrated id. The biographies, interviews and essays are engaging and enlightening, but there’s no mistaking what’s absent, that raw ache, that irrefutable yearning for the soft touch of another, that desire to commune in what is still one of humanity’s few remaining egalitarian spaces: the dancefloor. Humans funking together is what this stuff is all about, and say what you will about its effectiveness as a motivator for dishwashing, there’s no denying where it belongs — and what’s absent in these songs and across the pages of this zine is, well, us. At the precipice of a possible return later this year, Trax Only has gifted us a moment of reflection, what it means to care about partying and what a better world might sound like amid the sweat and smoke when our bodies finally, gratefully return to one another.

Patrick Masterson

#Soft Touch Express Vols. 1-3 #trax only #patrick masterson #albumreview #Dusted magazine #kathi kniess #brett labauve #mark louque #dance #dj #new orleans #club culture #queer

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lightthewayofficial · 5 years ago

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Chapter One: Atticus

The Parish family have been in the service of the Klaus Foundation since 1853. Queen Victoria and King Albert, both partial to a Christmas celebration, had countless serving staff to make their holiday as spectacular as possible, William Parish being amongst them. Bill had shown a particularly commendable demonstration of seasonal good-will when he’d saved Queen Vicky from being set alight by one of the Christmas tree candles. Saving the British Monarchy from being burned alive was very much considered in line with the Christmas spirit, and he was thus knighted by the reigning Santa Clause (at the time, this was Georg Klaus II).

Parish continued to serve the British Royal Family into his old age. Whilst his children did not receive work within the palace, they were offered a coveted place at the Klaus dinner table and an invite to the Boxing Day Ball every year. After Bill’s daughter, Molly, managed to quickly avert a Christmas pudding related crisis- rather too much brandy, rather a lot of bushy beard in proximity of the pudding’s flame- it made sense for Georg II to employ the Parishes permanently. The Klaus Foundations’ fire-putter-outers. Today, the most recent generation of Parishes has recently hung up his fire hose, though, disappointingly, he didn’t get much of an opportunity to use it.

His son, Atticus Parish, is currently stepping off the District Line at High Street Kensington to meet his girlfriend, Saskia Harper-Smith. He is ready for a cigarette after a long day of photocopying, and he’s absolutely bloody starving, because a Pret-a-Manger crayfish salad may be delicious but it certainly isn’t filling.

I am that man. Enough of the pretentious third person- I am Atticus Parish. And if I have to spend one more day at that Advertising company, I may just start tearing the photocopy machine apart bit by bit, and throw all the pieces across the office. I feel like I could easily revert back to my caveman days if I slip, even just a little. One more ‘are you busy, Atticus? Could I trouble you to print 300 of these flyers?’ and I’ll be a monkey flinging poo at the zoo enclosure window.

Usually, the Christmas spirit is enough to pick me right back up. These past few weeks, I’ve seen Kensington High Street putting up its lights, colouring its shop windows with stockings and wrapping paper, litter the streets with after-school and after-work shoppers. It’s nice. I can smell cinnamon when I walk past Starbucks. I can wrap my scarf closer around my neck and sink into that seasonal feeling that usually has butterflies fluttering in my belly. Typically, I’m that person who’s sickeningly festive and starts playing Michael Buble in October.

What can I say? It runs in my family.

But there’s something different this year. And the year before that. And before that. Really, it’s since I left University. It’s like, whatever little switch that I have in my brain that automatically flicks on when 1st December rolls by has gone faulty. The fuse has tripped and I can’t turn it back on. These past few years I’ve been fumbling in the boiler room cupboard searching for the bloody thing with a little torch, and I just can’t find it.

Actually, I don’t think that feeling is just reserved for my missing Christmas Spirit. This disorientation has been a general feeling for a while. Sometimes, it seems like every single twenty-something year old feels the same.

An ambulance screams down the High Street. Boys in their school uniforms trapse out of Sports Direct, unable to afford any of the shoes they’ve had their eyes on all year. I turn left and step in a puddle that smells suspiciously of beer and piss. That’s just the fragrance of London.

I put in the keycode for Saskia’s apartment building, opposite the Indian Restaurant that I always have to go to to pick up the food because Saskia’s called shotgun. I take the steps one by one, very slowly, and I open the flat door with my key.

Saskia is home. This is unusual. She sits on the dogleg sofa with her tight-clad feet tucked under her bum. She extends a cigarette towards me before I even get to ask her how her day was.

I take the cigarette. She’s staring at the page of her book. “How was your day?” I manage to ask.

“Oh,” she sighs, in the way that says, oh, you know. Shit as usual. “Wine’s open on the counter.” “Brilliant.” I see the bottle of Campo Vecchio open on the black, marble top counter. I walk past Saskia’s abandoned Leboutins, towards the bedroom.

I leave the door open behind me as I remove a suitcase from our shared wardrobe and begin to throw in random pairs of underwear.

I hear movement on the sofa.

“What are you doing?” she asks, as if she already knows.

“I’m going to The North Pole,” I reply, a bit giddily.

“Don’t be daft.” I can smell her cigarette smoke, and it reminds me that I haven’t lit mine. I take a lighter from my jacket pocket and light the cigarette dangling between my chapped lips. “You haven’t told them you’re coming.”

I pause, pyjama bottoms in hand. “That’s true. I haven’t been back in about fifteen years. It’d be rude to turn up unannounced, wouldn’t it?” “It’s less that,” Saskia calls casually. “I’m sure they’ll be slobbering all over a Parish, back in the good old NP. It’s more that you might not have a job waiting for you there.” My packing slows as I begin to fold my pyjamas carefully. I tap my cigarette on the closest mug; the ash was very close to burning a small hole through my tartan PJs.

“Ever sensible. What would I do without you, Sas.” “Well, you’d better start thinking up the answer to that fast. Pole’s a long way away, sweet.”

I come to a stop then. Slowly turning around, I measure the view of my girlfriend, sat in her minimalist living room with smoke drifting around her straightened, dark-brown hair. She’s still burrowed in her book.

“I’m sorry, Sas.”

That makes her put down her book, looking at me over the back of the sofa with a frown. “What on Earth are you apologising for, Atticus? You and I both know we don’t love each other that way.” At this point, Saskia’s blunt delivery shouldn’t come as a shock. It does, even now, even after knowing her for five years. “I know. I mean. We’ve spoken about it. But that doesn’t make it less rubbish that I’m up and leaving.”

She turns back to her book.

“I’d rather you’d go if it’s your gut instinct, Attie. Your gut’s always been a good guide.”

“Only when you need help choosing from the takeaway menu.” She doesn’t laugh. I laugh to myself a little, though.

“What made you decide this now?” she continues. “You could pop back to your apartment and get some proper clothes. You haven’t left an awful lot here.” “It just struck me as I was walking through High Street Ken.” “Ah. The horrible commercial aspect of it all?” I’m on hands and knees, rummaging under Saskia’s bed. She has some of those amazing vacuum pack things with a few of my winter jumpers in. I pull one of the packs out and it’s rock hard, like a sachet of compressed cocoa powder.

“Sort of,” I say, voice coming out strained as I try and open the vacuum nozzle. “It’s just-” I pop the nozzle open, and it wheezes like an air mattress. “All the stuff in the news. The horrible political situation. Ice caps melting.” “Mmm.” “And what people need most is hope, a light to guide them, and instead it’s iPhones and Build-a-Bears.” “I like iPhones.” “And I like Build-a-Bears,” I continue, opening the vacuum bag and finding my warmest Edinburgh Woolen Mill knitted item. I have a fair few. “I’m not diminishing the power of a good present, of those little gestures. Of those things in life that make you happy. But the world is just so much more complex than our parents ever made it out to be, and now-”

There’s a thud from the apartment upstairs. The neighbours’ toddler has just started walking, and she keeps bumping into things. The comes a shrill cry as she registers that she’s fallen over.

“Now,” I continue, “even when there’s good intentions behind it, even when these material things are helpful or fun or good, or whatever, it’s hard to forget that it’s probably been made in some sweatshop. Or that the company that came up with it isn’t paying any taxes- or it’s burning down the Amazon Rainforest. Or that one action figure is wrapped up in layers of pointless plastic packaging.”

A deep breath. And then I fold a second jumper and put it in the suitcase.

“Oh. Sorry- mind if I steal your suitcase, Sas?” “No. Has all of this only just occurred to you? And when did you become such a pessimist, Atticus Parish? I’ve never known you to talk like this, and quite frankly it’s terrifying.” I’m searching through my shirts. Why don’t I own any turtlenecks? “I know, it really is terrifying.” “Does this mean that you’re officially pursuing the Parish family business at Klaus Foundation, then?” “I suppose it does.” I zip up the suitcase.

“I’m.” There’s a pause, and I hear here close her book whilst I’m zipping. “I’m happy for you, Atticus. It’s always mattered to you, spreading hope and joy and all those sorts of things. Much more of a natural at Christmas spirit than me.” I’ve forgotten my toothbrush. My voice echoes in the bathroom as I say, “How would you know? You could be a natural. You’re a Smith who’s never wielded a blacksmith’s hammer before. Have you ever wielded a hammer, Saskia Harper-Smith?”

“No, and I daresay I never will.”

I pull the heavy suitcase off the bed- I packed too many shoes, but never mind- and I suddenly catch my reflection in the full-length mirror. Red curls getting too long, nose still red from the cold outside. Looking more energetic than I have in a long time- which is only, really, the sort of thing you notice when you’ve been particularly sluggish for a long time. Suddenly, I feel like I don’t have the time to stop and think about all of this.

The sound of the suitcase rolling on the polished concrete floor is horribly loud. Saskia is standing, cigarette put out, only halfway finished. Her large eyes look suddenly larger and more childlike than they ever have before.

“Look after yourself, thank you,” she demands.

“Of course, darling.” I bring her into a hug. She doesn’t typically like them, but I do, and she acquiesces today. I feel her skinny hand pat me awkwardly between the shoulder blades.

“I don’t really know what I’m doing,” I mumble into the material of her cardigan.

There’s barely a beat’s hesitation before she replies, “Yes you do.”

✨✨✨✨

It’s been a very long time since I’ve been on the boat to Håperg.

This close to Christmas, it’s frankly irresponsible that I’m on this boat close to the darkest, coldest time of the year- and it’s remarkably lucky that these kind people have offered to take me. But here I am, and here they are, and I’ve done my best to offer them some of my tea from my flask as a thank you but they just smile and shake their heads politely.

Seagulls screech overhead. I’m always amazed by how far-out seagulls fly- I don’t know enough about their eating habits to understand what they’re doing here. They’re probably thinking the same of me. The water occasionally splashes over the side, though the current isn’t that bad. It’s the ice that’s the problem, and I can’t shake off that unsettling feeling that we’ll just be the miniature version of The Titanic and end up sinking out here. When I came out here as a child, I didn’t really think about my own mortality so much. Now, I’m looking around and all I see is the receding shoreline of Spitsbergen and the sun failing to reach the horizon, that weak, pinkish glow dusting the clouds. It’s a bit terrifying.

It’s perfect here.

I remember how much I loved it the first time, when I was six; the second time when I was ten. My lasting memory of both visits is the taste of chocolate and the cold scraping up my lungs. I loved it here, I loved seeing where my father came to work four months of the year. I won’t ever fully understand why he tried to put me off it, and I won’t understand how he almost succeeded.

I close my eyes and breath in, and let the gentle rock of the boat silence my thoughts. The old engine roars and the seagulls continue to sing. I watch the ripples in the water, the pink and the stars reflected in the mirror sea-surface.

It takes a good couple more hours for the boat to moor. The ocean is eerily still, the wind whistling in a high-pitched shriek. It picks up the ice in the air and whisks it around. It’s pitch-black out here now, as it will be for the next few months of the year. And this would be a frightening place, if not for the glittering lights of Håperg in the distance. Like fallen stars on the horizon. It’s just as welcoming as I remember it, an atmosphere of comfort and safety that could almost make you forget how unbelievably cold it is. And how many days it’s taken to get this far from London.

The two men who’ve brought me here from Spitsbergen busy themselves with docking safely. One of them takes my suitcase, completely ignoring my inarticulate complaints- complaints that are essentially just me waving my hands about uselessly. The other hums something tunelessly to himself, unknotting some rope and, amazingly, pulling away his fur-lined hood. These men are made of stronger stuff than me.

The step from the boat to the ice is high. The ice is slippery. I wobble in my descent and make a bit of a tit of myself, but that’s to be expected.

“First time, yes?” The man with my suitcase asks. I feel terrible, I had asked for his name, but he didn’t give it and I’m too awkward to ask again.

“Yes. Wait, no, sorry. This is my third time. But, the first in a very long time. I came as a child.” Through the flickering whisps of fur, I see the wincing expression of a young man. “Good. You remember the cold.” “Oh yes, hard to forget,” I call out over the wind.

We walk for a minute or two through the snow- no idea where- and I learn that his name is Jakob. He learns my name. He asks whether I’m expected at Klaus Lodge, and I say no. His jovial laugh makes me wonder if I’ve made a terrible mistake. How incredibly presumptuous I’ve been, just turning up like this.

Jakob comes to a stop by a shed and some parked sleds. The poor sod still has Saskia’s bright pink suitcase in his hand as he whistles loudly with the other, thumb and forefinger in his mouth. At first, I have no idea what he’s trying to summon. It’s dark and the flakes of ice in the air make it hard to see anything except for Håperg’s distant lights. But then, I see them. They bound over and I can hear their excited yelps.

“Huskies!” I cry like a boy.

My new friend laughs. “You like dogs, I hope.” “I love them.”

I watch them run over, though I have no idea where from. There’s eight of them, and the front two are grinning with their tongues hanging out and breath blooming in clouds. There’s snow spraying around them like they’re jumping in puddles. And honestly, I haven’t felt such childlike joy in years.

They crash to halt and run circles around us, yelping in excited, high-pitched cries as they jump up at Jakob. He pays them no attention, walking soberly towards the sled and expecting them to follow, which they do. They’ve been trained well, even if huskies tend to be a little bit bonkers. That much I remember. One of the front runners is wagging his tail so hard the whole back half of his body is swinging from side to side.

“Blåbær will take you there.”

I run my gloved fingers through the frontrunner’s fur. He turns to nip playfully at me, perhaps also a bit defensively, before sniffing my hand and rubbing his face on my shoes. “I take it you’re Blåbær,” I call out to the dog over the roar of the wind.

“He is best.”

I couldn’t agree more.

Jakob loads me and my silly suitcase onto the sled so that we’re lying down in front of the handle and reigns. It makes me feel like a piece of luggage. And then I watch him hook up all the huskies, standing diligently in line and occasionally chattering to each other. And then I feel him take his stand at the helm.

And then we’re off, and I get just the smallest amount of whiplash from the sudden start. I also get a faceful of snow from the huskies’ paws. It’s in my eye, which hurts a lot, and it melts in my mouth, too. I cling onto the suitcase. The mountains start to take shape through the flurry. I look up- the stars are watching our journey to Håperg. And- my God. The Northern Lights. They’re doing a Mexican wave above our heads in greens and yellows and blues, like an 80s synth dream.

Something about it all has my heart radiating, making ripples of rightness through my chest. It has taken me too long to come here.

At least I’m here now.

#light the way #christmas #original fiction #story #lgbt

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hellsfavor · 7 months ago

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"tell me why you don't think some guy or girl is completely head over heels for you and you refuse to notice it?" kimberly asked with no ill intention. there was a heavy distinction between them; saskia was boy pretty while kimberly was girl pretty. eyes were glued on her friend constantly, but it was almost a blessing because kimberly couldn't imagine without having an anxiety attack. "mercy, the millions of roses you get and random deliveries with little handwritten notes." shivers were sent down her spine, giving her a slight ick from the thought of it. "you're a walking juliet and every man is your romeo."

"you made me look like i'm about to walk on a runaway, i love it." right, she had completely forgotten the speech she was given by the bar owner. " almost killing a man with the straps of my purse is considered a crime, apparently.'" shrugging at the thought, kimberly made her way over to stand in front of the mirror with the red dress. "it wasn't a great bar, we call that luck." oh, how she adored the fashionista clothing that was provided by her. "the black one with those pretty heels? are you planning to give heart attacks? my cpr license just expired."

Saskia couldn't help but roll her eyes slightly at Kimberly's words. "I swear, no takebacks. But I don't even think there is "the one" for me, I'm having way too much fun getting free drinks."

Putting away her makeup, she zipped up the small bag before handing Kimberly a mirror to see herself. "God, how could I forget that? I'm pretty sure we're banned from that bar now," she laughed, moving to her closet to grab the dress. "The dress it all yours, I was probably gonna wear the black one, the one that really hot guy said looked good on me. I don't wanna clash with you, that would be a disaster."

#‧₊˚⊹ : social experiment: reply #resplendentdare #‧₊˚⊹ : she makes the world a tolerable.﹙ kimberly & saskia﹚

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myallywynn · 5 years ago

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Executive Insights with Saskia Groen In’t Woud – CEO of Damco

Executive Insights is a series by Shipping and Freight Resource that provides ongoing insights and thoughtful analysis enriching the knowledge of the readers with what is happening in the shipping, freight, maritime, logistics and supply chain industry..

Executive Insights is also a chance to pick the brains of industry veterans, leaders and enablers..

In this edition of Executive Insights, we caught up with Saskia Groen In’t Woud – CEO of Damco, one of the leading global freight forwarders in the world..

SFR : “A woman in a man’s world“……………………. Do you think this saying has changed much since you entered the business world and holding a C suite position like you are now..??

I see the changes in things like where work meetings are held, the activities that take place after dinners and so on.

Behaviour is much more inclusive and moderate compared to what I recall in the 1990’s.

In the office, there is definitely more consciousness on behaviour and less ‘tough aggressive’ characteristics and much more on holistic performance.

That makes it much easier to consider performance and opportunities on merit and not solely on network.

SFR : From managing and supplying cement to possibly carrying cement, how has the transition been for you from commodities to shipping..??

Interesting!! There is much the shipping industry could learn from cement – how to achieve customer value management for a perceived commodity is something the cement industry does well; and a second example is the cement industry installed scrubbers over 20 yrs ago – many of the problems we face now in shipping have been addressed by others before, which makes for rich learning grounds.

One big difference however is going from a high margin capital intensive business to running a low margin high SG&A focused business. It does require a different set of skills and nuances.

SFR : Out of the several challenges facing the shipping and logistics industry which one would you pick as being the toughest to overcome and why..??

Future relevance – as the confluence of digital solutions, increasingly evolving customer relationships, customer demands for better environmental and operational performance and the constant cost drivers mean we all need to be thinking several steps ahead to remain both relevant and competitive.

SFR : The IMO announced “Empowering Women in the Maritime Community” as the World Maritime Theme for 2019.. Do you think enough is being done to raise the profile of women in this important industry..??

I get a sense people are trying, but like many industries, we lose women at that critical middle management level and we are not seeing enough candidature of women to progress from middle to senior management – particularly in non-traditional roles.

The right intentions are there, but I’m not sure we fully understand why this is and how to constructively address it. My personal view is it has a lot to do with the way we work. Progression often involves relocation or work hours that can conflict with family priorities.

SFR : There are several people seeking jobs in our industry.. As an industry leader and employer, what are some of the points that the job seekers need to bear in mind when applying for positions.. Maybe even some tips for them..??

This can be quite a ‘washing machine’ industry. I am surprised at how frequently people move from company to company. I question what are they bringing to me that is new and innovative that they didn’t have in their last company.

I would love to see much more customer experience orientation – people have had experience running logistics for customers and move over. I also would love to see more leaders.

We have loads of people with huge depth of tactical knowledge, but few who can really lead and influence groups to make a difference. That commitment to seeing full management cycles through to the delivery of results through people is so important.

SFR : What drives your business philosophy as head of Damco and how do you see Damco progressing in this era of digitalisation and digital freight forwarders..??

It all starts with really, really understanding your customer and then wrapping your business around that – from sales, to operations, to finance, to HR to product… everyone owns the customer experience. My overarching philosophy is to do everything with grace and care.

For us in Damco, as we progress with our digital journey, it is about putting digital improvements and the information it generates into the hands of our people. They are best placed and empowered to own the customer experience.

We know what we are good at and it really is the personal relationship combined with strong industry knowledge that comes together for a loyal and rewarding customer relationship.

This is a 115 year old business that has a remarkable ability to continue reinventing itself. That is 100% down to the relationships with customers and staying in tune with that.

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darlingsteps · 6 years ago

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Why kids aren’t expensive

I know kids can be ‘expensive.’ So, for reference, our kiddos are still little and this post is probably more applicable to those with young children (8 and under).

Growing up, you always hear about the costly burden of having kids. But the truth is, they really aren’t as expensive as people would lead you to believe. You see, I made a horrible mistake when I was just a teen and cost, along with fear, were the deciding factors in my response.

So, here are some thoughts…

This is for you.

• Kids are mostly free if you don’t mind paying attention

1. Kids play with nearly anything & expensive toys aren’t necessary at all. We first need to erase the lies our culture and mainstream media has embedded into us. Then, we can begin to cultivate creativity and show genuine gratitude for what we already have. Don’t underestimate yourself.

2. Use your creativity to make and play with whatever’s lying around. Use what you already have! Or use google/Pinterest to help give you some ideas. There’s no shame in this! We’ve all been there. Some of us just aren’t born with natural creativity…ahemm *cough cough*

Save your toilet paper rolls for crafts

Re-use those delivery boxes (large appliance boxes are the BEST)

Use your pots & utensils as instruments

Save (safe) packaging from any food items (may need to wash some. But think…tea boxes, yogurt/baby food cups etc)

Dance with music (Youtube for the win: Check out: Saskia’s Dansschool)

Exercise together (remember those simple exercises from elementary gym classes?) (Bonus: Youtube again: Cosmic Kids. They are absolutely fantastic for this)

3. They will use their imagination if you support it

• Opt for outdoor play because whether or not you have the energy to gather everyone up and out the door- It will always be easier to clean the ‘outdoors’ off of them than to clean up the mess they’ve made indoors. Trust me on this. Fo’ real.

Play ‘What time is it, Mr. Fox?’

Tag

Hide & seek (I’d only opt for this in the confines of a SAFE gated home/community WITH LIMITS…yea yea, call it no fun/paranoia…what have you! I found myself in unsafe compromising situations as a kid by no fault of my own. I know the dangers thank you very much)

Dodgeball

Need more ideas? Have a look here.

• They grow way too fast, use thrift shops

1. It’s no surprise that children grow fast. But in case you aren’t aware- babies grow out of their clothing about every 2-3 months from age 0-12 months. Thereafter, it could be about every 6 months, once they turn 4/5, I find it’s about once a year or maybe its just my kiddos?! (Note: sadly, these estimates don’t include shoes 🙁 Kids regularly outgrow their shoes and at a much faster rate or just wear them down super duper fast)

2. Doesn’t make much sense to pay full price here.

• Go natural

1. Opt to make things from scratch or go the natural route.

Here are some ideas:

• Use cloth diapers instead of disposables

• Use castile soap for all your ‘soapy’ needs (body wash, shampoo, laundry etc)

• Use old rags or buy new ones really cheap to use as wipes

• Or make your own wipes using paper towels

• Use coconut oil and baking soda as toothpaste

• Use water and hydrogen peroxide as a mouthwash

• Use vinegar and lemon as your primary cleaning agents

• Don’t use body creams, opt for oils instead

They don’t need things. They need YOU

Our children need our attention, our love, our nurturing and there isn’t anyone more qualified on the planet to do this than us!

And when all is set and done and our children are having children of their own…the only things that would have mattered…the only things they will remember….are the memories, experiences and time we took to parent them. To guide, teach and love on them.

What are your thoughts? Write a comment below letting us know how you save money with your kiddos

The post Why kids aren’t expensive appeared first on Darling Steps.

from WordPress https://www.darlingsteps.com/why-kids-arent-expensive/

#Finances #Kids #Moms

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normangazzetta-blog · 7 years ago

Text

Listening To Reviews Of The Very Best Ergonomic Home Office Chairs And Stools

Best Kneeling Chair blog releases its review of ergonomic kneeling chairs and why they are growing in popularity. More information can be found at http://bestkneelingchair.eu/kneeling-chair.

Earlier today, the bloggers at the Best Kneeling Chair website published a thorough and unbiased consumer review of it's range of ergonomic kneeling chairs. The conclusion being that while most people put up with being tied to a rigid, standard office chair, the active sitting design of a good ergonomic kneeling chair gently tilts your pelvis forward and encourages a natural, dynamic, aligned spine. This can help reduce pressure on your spinal discs and prevent additional strain on your neck, shoulders and back, ultimately saving unnecessary time off work. The best sellers in the ergonomic kneeling chair range come with extra padding and faux leather seating as standard but unfortunately are not affordable for everyone at twice the price of a regular office chair that you might find in Ikea or Argos. While other mass produced office chair review sites often focus solely on promoting just the good qualities of a product in order to make affiliate sales, the Best Kneeling Chair blog strives to tell the complete story prominently showing both the good and bad reviews. Kieron Penrose, Managing Director at one of the leading ergonomic chair manufacturers, Ergo Design Europe (EDE), said "Our reputation is massively important to us. If we don't tell the truth, we serve no purpose. If people can't trust us, then we will fail in our mission to help back sufferers and office workers who want all the benefits of better posture, improved circulation, and higher concentration levels despite having to have prolonged periods at their desk or computer. That's why we don't betray our principles and offer all our range of chairs via Amazon.co.uk where you can read every customer's review, warts and all!" The following extract makes a good summary of why ergonomic chairs are growing in popularity: People are more and more aware of the health concerns linked to prolonged and static seating. We become restless and tense when we have to sit still all the time. Ergonomic kneeling chairs encourage movement, keep your core engaged and improve your posture. Ergo Design Europe was founded by husband and wife team, Saskia and Kieron Penrose in 2016. We got the idea for the product when we saw the need for an affordable, high quality, kneeling chair that would support people's posture and well-being rather than detract from it because of unwittingly sitting for hours a day on a mass-produced, standard desk or office chair sourced from the lowest bidder!. Since it first went online, Amazon.co.uk has published 18 reviews on products in the EDE range and aims to make the minefield of choosing the best kneeling chair a lot easier to navigate, with its reviews, ratings and links to popular alternatives at all price points. Kieron Penrose also adds "For any consumer wanting to check the legitimacy or a review, or know if they can trust the source, I advise you that there should be some criticism for just about any product. You can't please all the people all the time, even with the benefits of 48 hour delivery offered by trusted sites like Amazon, with their return and refund guarantees." More pictures, FAQs and reviews of EDE's ergonomic range kneeling chairs can be found at: https://www.amazon.it/Ergo-Design-Europe-Rocker-Parent/dp/B07236KZNW

youtube

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caroliistew-blog · 7 years ago

Text

Choosing The Very Best Ergonomic Home Office Furniture

Best Kneeling Chair blog releases its review of ergonomic kneeling chairs and why they are growing in popularity. More information can be found at http://bestkneelingchair.eu/kneeling-chair.

Earlier today, the bloggers at the Best Kneeling Chair website published a thorough and unbiased consumer review of it's range of ergonomic kneeling chairs. The conclusion being that while most people put up with being tied to a rigid, standard office chair, the active sitting design of a good ergonomic kneeling chair gently tilts your pelvis forward and encourages a natural, dynamic, aligned spine. This can help reduce pressure on your spinal discs and prevent additional strain on your neck, shoulders and back, ultimately saving unnecessary time off work. The best sellers in the ergonomic kneeling chair range come with extra padding and faux leather seating as standard but unfortunately are not affordable for everyone at twice the price of a regular office chair that you might find in Ikea or Argos. While other mass produced office chair review sites often focus solely on promoting just the good qualities of a product in order to make affiliate sales, the Best Kneeling Chair blog strives to tell the complete story prominently showing both the good and bad reviews. Kieron Penrose, Managing Director at one of the leading ergonomic chair manufacturers, Ergo Design Europe (EDE), said "Our reputation is massively important to us. If we don't tell the truth, we serve no purpose. If people can't trust us, then we will fail in our mission to help back sufferers and office workers who want all the benefits of better posture, improved circulation, and higher concentration levels despite having to have prolonged periods at their desk or computer. That's why we don't betray our principles and offer all our range of chairs via Amazon.co.uk where you can read every customer's review, warts and all!" The following extract makes a good summary of why ergonomic chairs are growing in popularity: People are more and more aware of the health concerns linked to prolonged and static seating. We become restless and tense when we have to sit still all the time. Ergonomic kneeling chairs encourage movement, keep your core engaged and improve your posture. Ergo Design Europe was founded by husband and wife team, Saskia and Kieron Penrose in 2016. We got the idea for the product when we saw the need for an affordable, high quality, kneeling chair that would support people's posture and well-being rather than detract from it because of unwittingly sitting for hours a day on a mass-produced, standard desk or office chair sourced from the lowest bidder!. Since it first went online, Amazon.co.uk has published 18 reviews on products in the EDE range and aims to make the minefield of choosing the best kneeling ergonomic chair a lot easier to navigate, with its reviews, ratings and links to popular alternatives at all price points. Kieron Penrose also adds "For any consumer wanting to check the legitimacy or a review, or know if they can trust the source, I advise you that there should be some criticism for just about any product. You can't please all the people all the time, even with the benefits of 48 hour delivery offered by trusted sites like Amazon, with their return and refund guarantees." More pictures, FAQs and reviews of EDE's ergonomic range kneeling chairs can be found at: https://www.amazon.es/Silla-mecedora-ergonómica-de-EDE/dp/B07236KZNW

youtube

0 notes

ellecarliit-blog · 7 years ago

Text

Listening To Reviews Of The Very Best Ergonomic Office Chairs

Best Kneeling Chair blog releases its review of ergonomic kneeling chairs and why they are growing in popularity. More information can be found at http://bestkneelingchair.eu/kneeling-chair.

Earlier today, the bloggers at the Best Kneeling Chair website published a thorough and unbiased consumer review of it's range of ergonomic kneeling chairs. The conclusion being that while most people put up with being tied to a rigid, standard office chair, the active sitting design of a good ergonomic kneeling chair gently tilts your pelvis forward and encourages a natural, dynamic, aligned spine. This can help reduce pressure on your spinal discs and prevent additional strain on your neck, shoulders and back, ultimately saving unnecessary time off work. The best sellers in the ergonomic kneeling chair range come with extra padding and faux leather seating as standard but unfortunately are not affordable for everyone at twice the price of a regular office chair that you might find in Ikea or Argos. While other mass produced office chair review sites often focus solely on promoting just the good qualities of a product in order to make affiliate sales, the Best Kneeling Chair blog strives to tell the complete story prominently showing both the good and bad reviews. Kieron Penrose, Managing Director at one of the leading ergonomic chair manufacturers, Ergo Design Europe (EDE), said "Our reputation is massively important to us. If we don't tell the truth, we serve no purpose. If people can't trust us, then we will fail in our mission to help back sufferers and office workers who want all the benefits of better posture, improved circulation, and higher concentration levels despite having to have prolonged periods at their desk or computer. That's why we don't betray our principles and offer all our range of chairs via Amazon.co.uk where you can read every customer's review, warts and all!" The following extract makes a good summary of why ergonomic chairs are growing in popularity: People are more and more aware of the health concerns linked to prolonged and static seating. We become restless and tense when we have to sit still all the time. Ergonomic kneeling chairs encourage movement, keep your core engaged and improve your posture. Ergo Design Europe was founded by husband and wife team, Saskia and Kieron Penrose in 2016. We got the idea for the product when we saw the need for an affordable, high quality, kneeling chair that would support people's posture and well-being rather than detract from it because of unwittingly sitting for hours a day on a mass-produced, standard desk or office chair sourced from the lowest bidder!. Since it first went online, Amazon.co.uk has published 18 reviews on products in the EDE range and aims to make the minefield of choosing the best knee chair a lot easier to navigate, with its reviews, ratings and links to popular alternatives at all price points. Kieron Penrose also adds "For any consumer wanting to check the legitimacy or a review, or know if they can trust the source, I advise you that there should be some criticism for just about any product. You can't please all the people all the time, even with the benefits of 48 hour delivery offered by trusted sites like Amazon, with their return and refund guarantees." More pictures, FAQs and reviews of EDE's ergonomic range kneeling chairs can be found at: https://www.amazon.it/Ergo-Design-Europe-Rocker-Parent/dp/B07236KZNW

youtube

0 notes

domifiisch-blog · 7 years ago

Text

Picking The Very Best Ergonomic Office Furniture

Best Kneeling Chair blog releases its review of ergonomic kneeling chairs and why they are growing in popularity. More information can be found at http://bestkneelingchair.eu/kneeling-chair.

Earlier today, the bloggers at the Best Kneeling Chair website published a thorough and unbiased consumer review of it's range of ergonomic kneeling chairs. The conclusion being that while most people put up with being tied to a rigid, standard office chair, the active sitting design of a good ergonomic kneeling chair gently tilts your pelvis forward and encourages a natural, dynamic, aligned spine. This can help reduce pressure on your spinal discs and prevent additional strain on your neck, shoulders and back, ultimately saving unnecessary time off work. The best sellers in the ergonomic kneeling chair range come with extra padding and faux leather seating as standard but unfortunately are not affordable for everyone at twice the price of a regular office chair that you might find in Ikea or Argos. While other mass produced office chair review sites often focus solely on promoting just the good qualities of a product in order to make affiliate sales, the Best Kneeling Chair blog strives to tell the complete story prominently showing both the good and bad reviews. Kieron Penrose, Managing Director at one of the leading ergonomic chair manufacturers, Ergo Design Europe (EDE), said "Our reputation is massively important to us. If we don't tell the truth, we serve no purpose. If people can't trust us, then we will fail in our mission to help back sufferers and office workers who want all the benefits of better posture, improved circulation, and higher concentration levels despite having to have prolonged periods at their desk or computer. That's why we don't betray our principles and offer all our range of chairs via Amazon.co.uk where you can read every customer's review, warts and all!" The following extract makes a good summary of why ergonomic chairs are growing in popularity: People are more and more aware of the health concerns linked to prolonged and static seating. We become restless and tense when we have to sit still all the time. Ergonomic kneeling chairs encourage movement, keep your core engaged and improve your posture. Ergo Design Europe was founded by husband and wife team, Saskia and Kieron Penrose in 2016. We got the idea for the product when we saw the need for an affordable, high quality, kneeling chair that would support people's posture and well-being rather than detract from it because of unwittingly sitting for hours a day on a mass-produced, standard desk or office chair sourced from the lowest bidder!. Since it first went online, Amazon.co.uk has published 18 reviews on products in the EDE range and aims to make the minefield of choosing the best kneeling office chair a lot easier to navigate, with its reviews, ratings and links to popular alternatives at all price points. Kieron Penrose also adds "For any consumer wanting to check the legitimacy or a review, or know if they can trust the source, I advise you that there should be some criticism for just about any product. You can't please all the people all the time, even with the benefits of 48 hour delivery offered by trusted sites like Amazon, with their return and refund guarantees." More pictures, FAQs and reviews of EDE's ergonomic range kneeling chairs can be found at: https://www.amazon.fr/Ergo-Design-Europe-Rocker-Parent/dp/B07236KZNW

youtube

0 notes

jimmurphy971-blog · 7 years ago

Text

Ergonomic Chair Critic Assesses 4.4 Star Rating On Amazon UK

While other mass produced office chair review sites often focus solely on promoting just the good qualities of a product in order to make affiliate sales, the Best Kneeling Chair blog strives to tell the complete story prominently showing both the good and bad reviews.

Kieron Penrose, Managing Director at one of the leading ergonomic chair manufacturers, Ergo Design Europe (EDE), said “Our reputation is massively important to us. If we don't tell the truth, we serve no purpose. If people can't trust us, then we will fail in our mission to help back sufferers and office workers who want all the benefits of better posture, improved circulation, and higher concentration levels despite having to have prolonged periods at their desk or computer. That's why we don't betray our principles and offer all our range of chairs via Amazon.co.uk where you can read every customer's review, warts and all!” http://www.nbc-2.com/story/38071656/ergonomic-chair-critic-assesses-44-star-rating-on-amazoncouk

The following extract makes a good summary of why ergonomic chairs are growing in popularity:

People are more and more aware of the health concerns linked to prolonged and static seating. We become restless and tense when we have to sit still all the time. Ergonomic kneeling chairs encourage movement, keep your core engaged and improve your posture.

Ergo Design Europe was founded by husband and wife team, Saskia and Kieron Penrose in 2016. We got the idea for the product when we saw the need for an affordable, high quality, kneeling chair that would support people's posture and well-being rather than detract from it because of unwittingly sitting for hours a day on a mass-produced, standard desk or office chair sourced from the lowest bidder!.

Since it first went online, Amazon.co.uk has published 16 reviews on products in the EDE range and aims to make the minefield of choosing the best ergonomic chair a lot easier to navigate, with its reviews, ratings and links to popular alternatives at all price points.

Kieron Penrose also adds “For any consumer wanting to check the legitimacy or a review, or know if they can trust the source, I advise you that there should be some criticism for just about any product. You can't please all the people all the time, even with the benefits of 48 hour delivery offered by trusted sites like Amazon, with their return and refund guarantees.”

More details and the links to Amazon buyer's unbiased reviews of EDE's ergonomic kneeling chairs can be found at http://bestkneelingchair.eu/kneeling-chair

Contact Info: Name: Thomas Penrose Email: [email protected] Organization: Ergo Design Europe Address: Cheltenham, Glos GL51 7TF, United Kingdom Phone: +44-7787-577256

For more information, please visit thei Amazon store: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ergonomic-Kneeling-Computer-Promotes-Orthopedic/dp/B072PS2C33

Source: PressCable

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marcwallker-blog · 7 years ago

Text

Ergonomic Chair Blog Assesses 5 Star Rating On Amazon UK

The following extract makes a good summary of why ergonomic chairs are growing in popularity:

More details and the links to Amazon buyer's unbiased reviews of EDE's ergonomic kneeling chairs can be found at http://bestkneelingchair.eu/kneeling-chair

Contact Info: Name: Thomas Penrose Email: [email protected] Organization: Ergo Design Europe Address: Cheltenham, Glos GL51 7TF, United Kingdom Phone: +44-7787-577256

For more information, please visit thei Amazon store: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ergonomic-Kneeling-Computer-Promotes-Orthopedic/dp/B072PS2C33

Source: PressCable

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darlingsteps · 6 years ago

Text

Why kids aren’t expensive

I know kids can be ‘expensive.’ So, for reference, our kiddos are still little and this post is probably more applicable to those with young children (8 and under).

So, here are some thoughts…

This is for you.

• Kids are mostly free if you don’t mind paying attention

Save your toilet paper rolls for crafts

Re-use those delivery boxes (large appliance boxes are the BEST)

Use your pots & utensils as instruments

Save (safe) packaging from any food items (may need to wash some. But think…tea boxes, yogurt/baby food cups etc)

Dance with music (Youtube for the win: Check out: Saskia’s Dansschool)

Exercise together (remember those simple exercises from elementary gym classes?) (Bonus: Youtube again: Cosmic Kids. They are absolutely fantastic for this)

3. They will use their imagination if you support it

Play ‘What time is it, Mr. Fox?’

Tag

Dodgeball

Need more ideas? Have a look here.

• They grow way too fast, use thrift shops

2. Doesn’t make much sense to pay full price here.

• Go natural

1. Opt to make things from scratch or go the natural route.

Here are some ideas:

• Use cloth diapers instead of disposables

• Use castile soap for all your ‘soapy’ needs (body wash, shampoo, laundry etc)

• Use old rags or buy new ones really cheap to use as wipes

• Or make your own wipes using paper towels

• Use coconut oil and baking soda as toothpaste

• Use water and hydrogen peroxide as a mouthwash

• Use vinegar and lemon as your primary cleaning agents

• Don’t use body creams, opt for oils instead

They don’t need things. They need YOU

Our children need our attention, our love, our nurturing and there isn’t anyone more qualified on the planet to do this than us!

What are your thoughts? Write a comment below letting us know how you save money with your kiddos

The post Why kids aren’t expensive appeared first on Darling Steps.

from WordPress https://ift.tt/2FSxX0h via IFTTT

#IFTTT #WordPress

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normangazzetta-blog · 7 years ago

Text

Ergonomic Chair Review Site Assesses 5 Star Rating On Amazon UK

The following extract makes a good summary of why ergonomic chairs are growing in popularity:

More details and the links to Amazon buyer's unbiased reviews of EDE's ergonomic kneeling chairs can be found at http://bestkneelingchair.eu/kneeling-chair

Contact Info: Name: Thomas Penrose Email: [email protected] Organization: Ergo Design Europe Address: Cheltenham, Glos GL51 7TF, United Kingdom Phone: +44-7787-577256

For more information, please visit thei Amazon store: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ergonomic-Kneeling-Computer-Promotes-Orthopedic/dp/B072PS2C33

Source: PressCable

0 notes

caroliistew-blog · 7 years ago

Text

Ergonomic Chair Blog Assesses 4.4 Star Rating On Amazon UK

The following extract makes a good summary of why ergonomic chairs are growing in popularity:

More details and the links to Amazon buyer's unbiased reviews of EDE's ergonomic kneeling chairs can be found at http://bestkneelingchair.eu/kneeling-chair

Contact Info: Name: Thomas Penrose Email: [email protected] Organization: Ergo Design Europe Address: Cheltenham, Glos GL51 7TF, United Kingdom Phone: +44-7787-577256

For more information, please visit thei Amazon store: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ergonomic-Kneeling-Computer-Promotes-Orthopedic/dp/B072PS2C33

Source: PressCable

0 notes