Sugar Samples
In 1979, Rapper’s Delight, by the Sugar Hill Gang, dropped. Produced by Sylvia Robinson on Sugar Hill Records, Rappers Delight sampled the iconic bass line that would make this an epic hit.
Eames
Founded in 1905 as the Star Furniture Co, Herman Miller Inc. is an American company that produces office furniture, equipment, and home furnishings, including the Aeron Chair, Noguchi Table, Marshmallow sofa, and the Eames line of furnishings. As part of the furnishing family, the Eames Shell Chair was designed on the principle of adaptability, offering various configurations to serve multiple applications and environments. It makes the chair a classic worthy of museum collections, living rooms, laundromats, lobbies, and cafés.
Where’s The Beef?
On a recent trip from South Carolina to Alabama, like all over the south, I saw a billboard sign for Chick-fil-A outside Atlanta, GA. At that moment, I exclaimed to my wife and daughter, “have you ever been to the original Chick-fil-A?” They said no, and neither had I. “Look it up! It has something to do with little or dwarf,” I told them. They thought I was out of my mind, but I knew the OG had something to do with these terms. Sure enough, she found The Dwarf House.
Cave In
Free and open to the public, White Gravel Mines became host to thousands per year, seeking the unique experience of touring an abandoned mine, only to exit having heard and seen the gospel. Each year, the mine transforms itself from the Easter experience, including vast amounts of artwork, lights, music, and scripture boards telling the truth of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus, to the Christmas experience using the same medium to tell the story of His birth.
Wordle
Recently I was introduced to the addictive word game, Wordle. It’s unique in that it’s a web-based game whereby anyone who plays tries to guess the 5-letter word of the day. The premise is that you have six attempts to guess the daily word. With each guess, the game will provide you with crucial details such as correct letter(s), letter placement, and a bank of used and unused letters to guide your next decision.
Bananagrams
Introduced and successfully launched at the 2006 London Toy Fair, Bananagrams is a modern classic played by millions worldwide in over 30 countries and 16 different languages. It’s fast, fun, exciting, and anyone can enjoy it, no matter their age or expertise.
Ornamental Origins
As with almost everything Christmas, Germany is the founding country that nearly all seasonal decor originates. Back in the 1600s and likely even before, German’s would add fruits and nuts to trees once their leaves fell off to symbolize the promise of spring to come. Then in 1605, a fur tree was brought inside and adorned with paper roses, candles, nuts, and fruits, which was groundbreaking, beginning the tradition we’ve come to replicate. Early ornaments were made out of whatever items the families had available to them, which promoted creativity no matter the financial perspective. Before lights, trees would be decorated with candles and bits of foil to reflect the room lighting, making the tree sparkle from any angle.
You Think You’re So Smart
Smarties Candy Company, formerly known as Ce De Candy Inc, was started in 1949 by Edward Dee in Bloomfield, New Jersey. Dee being a migrant from England, began producing candy rolls with one wrapping machine and one tablet presser, which was a repurposed pellet making machine. He supported education, hence the name Smarties, which was his encouragement for people to be smart. Today, tablet candy is mass-produced in Union Township, New Jersey, and Newmarket, Ontario, Canada, making over a billion candy rolls each year.
Mini-Me
In 2000, Frederik Braun was inspired by a railway model shop which provoked a rush of childhood memories. He reached out to his twin brother Gerrit and said, "We are going to build the world's largest model railway." Gerrit realized his brother was serious after receiving numerous enthusiastic and exhausting calls with new ideas. Although there would be tremendous technical and financial challenges, overall, they agreed, the project should be possible. They brought in a business partner, Stephan Hertz, and began spending their time substantiating their mutual dream and committing themselves to this risky adventure.
Gimme Proof
Proof Eyewear, started in Idaho in 2010 by three brothers from a milling family who wanted to build an eco-friendly wood consumer product to give back to the community. Since then, the company has continued to grow and expand, going from their garage to a globally recognized company within a few short years. Proof stands on three principles: heritage, sustainability, and giving back.
Row Together
Did you know rowing machines, also known as ergometers, use up to 86% of your muscles and provides a full-body workout? According to healthline.com a rowing stroke consists of 65-75% leg work and 25-35% upper bodywork. This makes it awesome for people of all fitness levels, especially a beginner like myself.
Pyramid Hill
Located in Hamilton, OH, lies an amazing outdoor museum meticulously filled with beautiful sculptures. Started back in 1987, a man named Harry T. Wilks bought a small parcel of land to build his pyramid home and slowly acquired adjacent parcels to create the 300+ acre park known today as Pyramid Hill. He spent his life clearing the acreage, building roads, creating wandering hiking trails, even developing small lakes to showcase a vast collection of monumental outdoor sculptures.
VINTERSAGA
In this season of Christmas, we made our gingerbread house from a kit purchased at IKEA, called the VINTERSAGA, Swedish for "a serene shelter from the winter cold." However, we modified ours to resemble something more in line with where we'd want to live. Hopefully, you'll find something creative and fun to make into a holiday tradition with your family.
Hygge Homes
We made a road trip to Ada, Michigan, on October 16th to see a fascinating custom home. As part of the local Parade of Homes, Nate and Becky of Hygge Custom Homes were surprised to get a visit from us to view their home. Once the surprise factor was over, we were treated to a personal tour, learning more about the "smart" aspects, enjoying the views each window afforded, and building a relationship with the builders.
Luke 5 Adventures
With the assistance of a unique bike, made especially for challenging terrain, the Joëlette makes hiking a reality for anyone with physical disabilities.
Stairway to Heaven
In 1881, in Santa Fe, New Mexico, the Loretto Staircase was built by unknown craftsmen, out of unknown wood species, with no nails and only a saw, a hammer, and a t-square, then vanishes without receiving payment.