This is Ms. Annie.

She is turning 109 years old and she still drinks a glass of wine on Friday.
Basically, she's living her best life.

Three Decorating Rules When Decorating With Coastal Themed Accent Pillows
By Coastal Decor  On July 31, 2018 Leave a comment

When you’re looking to give your home a coastal theme, the easiest way to start is by adding beach themed accent pillows. Accent pillows come in a variety of different colors, fabrics, and bold graphic prints. You can choose from many different coastal styles. Accent pillows are an easy and inexpensive way to bring seaside decor into your home. However, just because they are easy and inexpensive doesn’t mean that every pillow will go with an established look. When decorating with accent pillows, there are three rules to know that will help give you the beach chic home decor of your dreams.

1. Have a Plan

It’s important that before you start buying any accent pillows that you plan for your overall coastal decorating scheme. Study your existing furniture, is it beach themed furniture? Do you have any wall art? What about the colors or patterns on your existing sofa and chairs? What are they like?

Once you’ve determined what you have, next determine what complements and contrasts with it. Most often you’re looking for a contrast instead of something that blends in. For example, if your sofa is a light color or has a delicate pattern, you may want to go with a coastal themed accent pillow that has a single bold graphic done in a powerful color, like a red crab for instance.

2. Odds are Better than Evens

The next rule for seaside decorating with accent pillows is that odds are more often better than evens. Specifically, if you’re looking to put accent pillows on the sofa or couch, then you may want to consider five: Two large accents pillows, two medium ones, and one small one.

The smallest pillow should be the most distinct pillow, with the most interesting texture or the boldest graphic. You need something that will set it apart from the other pillows and draw attention to it. Even though it is small, it’ll make a big statement.

The pair of large pillows in this example should be the most subdued. This can be accomplished with color or with a fine delicate pattern, like small white seahorses on a blue background for instance.

The medium pair of pillows should contrast with the large pillows, but still complement them. For example, if the large pillows have small graphics (like the seahorses mentioned above), then the same graphic, only larger, would work for the medium pillows. Such as a single large seahorse against a blue background.

You don’t need to rely strictly on color or pattern alone to make this contrast; it can also be achieved with distinctive fabrics such as burlap, cotton or woven.

3. KISS- Keep It Seriously Simple

Above all, the number one rule in chic home decorating with seaside decor is to keep it simple. We’ve already mentioned that you don’t want to have more than five pillows on any single sofa or couch. Loveseats should have 3 or 5 pillows, while large chairs or recliners will look great with up to three. A basic chair should have one pillow. While all pillows should be somewhat similar and complimentary to one another, they should not necessarily be the same pillow.

Be bold when you pick your pillows, experiment with different colors, patterns, shapes, and textures. Look for pillows to provide a sharp contrast but still look good together. That’s the real secret of decorating with coastal style accent pillows.

People
Sweden's Prince Alexander Celebrates 3rd Birthday with an Adorable New Portrait on Instagram

Prince Alexander of Sweden's 3rd Birthday Portrait

Happy birthday, Prince Alexander! (Or “grattis på födelsedagen!”)

The oldest child of Sweden‘s Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia turned 3 on Friday, and the royal family marked the occasion by releasing a cute new portrait of the little prince. They are also parents to 1-year-old Prince Gabriel.

In a close-up shot, Alexander tilts his head as he gives a sweet smile to the camera while wearing a blue sweater featuring an owl. He appears to have inherited his father’s curly locks and dark eyes.

“Our beloved Alexander, big congratulations on your 3rd birthday!” the photo by Josefine Persson is captioned on Carl Philip and Sofia’s joint Instagram page, complete with a red heart emoji.

The Swedish royal family’s Instagram also shared the photo, writing: “Today Prince Alexander fills 3 years!”

Five facts about Queen Elizabeth II as she turns 93

London (AFP) - Britain's Queen Elizabeth II celebrates her birthday on Sunday, marking 93 years in the public glare.

Here are five facts about Britain's oldest and longest-reigning monarch.

- Longevity -

Over 80 percent of Britons have not experienced life under any other monarch, having not been born when Elizabeth ascended the throne on February 6, 1952, according to the UK Office of National Statistics.

She has reigned over 14 prime ministers, coming to the throne during the tenure of Winston Churchill.

She has also met with 11 of the 12 US presidents in office and signed more than 3,500 bills into law.

On her birthday, the Queen will be 11 years and four months older than any British monarch in history, and at 67 years and 74 days, will be the longest serving by three years and 224 days.

- Birth -

The Queen was born on April 21, 1926, at 17 Bruton Street in London's upmarket Mayfair neighbourhood, which is now a high-end Chinese restaurant whose signature dishes include "Roasted silver cod with Champagne".

She has another official birthday on the second Saturday in June, to celebrate the landmark publicly.

The double birthday tradition was started by King George II in 1748, who wanted to have a summer celebration.

- Animals -

The monarch has been an animal lover all her life, and is particularly fond of horses and dogs.

She has owned more than 30 corgi dogs, her favourite breed, and even invented a new breed, the dorgi -- a cross between a corgi and a dachshund.

She inherited several thoroughbred racing horses after her father King George VI died in 1952 and her rides have won more than 1,600 races.

The 93-year-old has also owned an elephant, black jaguars and a crocodile -- all gifts that were looked after in zoos -- and due to arachic laws, still owns all unmarked mute swans and "royal fish" in Britain, including dolphins and sturgeons.

- Tax -

Although not legally obliged to pay tax, Elizabeth chose in 1992 to start voluntarily paying income tax on her private earnings amid public grumblings about the cost of restoring the family's fire-damaged Windsor Castle.

- Tech savvy -

Despite the tradition and pomp of the family, the Queen has been comfortable with developing technologies ever since serving as a truck mechanic in World War II.

She sent her first email in 1976, sent a message taken to the moon by astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin in 1969, first tweeted in 2014 and made her first Instagram post last month.

Her 1953 coronation was the first to be televised and, in 2012, her annual Christmas speech was made available on podcast.

Crete, Greece

Crete is the largest island among the numerous Greek islands. It lies in the southern Aegean Sea, at a crossroads between Europe, Asia and Africa. It covers an area of 8.336 square kilometers The length of the island is 260 kilometers but its shore-length is four times that—1.046 kilometers. At it widest point it is 60 kilometers wide, and at it narrowest it is only 12 kilometers wide. There is a high mountain range, consisted of three different groups of mountains, that crosses the island from west to east.

The White Mountains, with their highest peak at 2.453 metres, are the group on the west side. The Mountain of Idi (or Piloritis), with its highest peak at 2.456 metres, is in the middle of the island. In the east of the island is the Dikti Mountain that is 2.148 metres high at its highest point. These mountains have many plateaus that are fertile and very important to the people living there, like Lassithi, Omalos and Nid, and a lot of valleys and small plains as well.

The largest and most important plain is that of Messara, between the mountains of Piloritis and Asterousia, in the southern central part of the island. Among some of the beautiful sights that these mountains have to offer are the caves of Diktaion and Idaion, and the gorges like the famous Gorge of Samaria. Apart from its mountainous parts with their villages, Crete also has a plentiful variety of other features, like its long sandy beaches, the rocky bays, quiet coves and the exciting beach nightlife. Most of the days during the year are sunny and the climate is one of the best and mildest in Europe.

Crete’s varied and rich landscape offers exhilarating and invigorating experiences to those who enjoy nature. The enchanting radiance of this place, the wonderful and otherworldly quality of the light here, the contrast between the sharpness of the mountains and the openness of the seas, the abundant wildlife, the plants and flowers unique to this island—it is more than a good enough reason to visit.

As it is the largest island off the coast of Greece, it is quite expected a very popular travel and holiday destination. This island is like a country within a country. It has its own history, folklore and traditions. It is considered the birthplace of Europe’s oldest civilization—the Minoan culture, that existed 4,000 years ago. Crete is a renowned historical, archaeological and cultural site. Over the course of its history it has suffered Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Saracen, Venetian and Turkish influences. All this makes up a very rich and varied human heritage, available for the enjoyment of everyone wishing to visit.

Crete has many well developed tourist areas capable of catering to the needs of visitors. There are many resort hotels and a lot of smaller properties offering more secluded accommodation.

The cuisine is a great delight, with the flavours of wild herbs, the fresh fruit, the world’s best olive oils, the seafood and the delicious cheeses. The small towns and the people living there celebrate life at every opportunity and it is not rare for a tourist to chance upon a wedding or another festive occasion and enjoy the local way of life. Crete’s people are more then hospitable and have a strong tradition of welcoming visitors. All this guarantees a completely satisfying and unforgettable experience.

Taurus
APR 20 - MAY 20

You like to set a high bar for yourself and you're driven to reach it.
However, its prudent to embrace the reality that it takes time and persistence to make a dream come true.
Of course, there will be some disappointments along the way, but deep down you are made of tough stuff. It takes talent, many helping hands, and plenty of hard work to make a difficult job look easy. Your singular focus sets you up for success.

Celebrity
Buckingham Palace responds to report Prince Harry, Meghan may move to Africa

As Prince Harry and Meghan prepare for the birth of their first child, a new report claims the couple may raise their child for some time outside of the U.K.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are reportedly considering heading on a “sabbatical” for six months. Their likely destination is Africa, a place close to both of their hearts.

“I think they're looking to go abroad for extended periods of time, most likely to Africa, to take roles overseas working and living a bit to give them a little freedom,” said ABC News royal contributor Roya Nikkhah, who broke the story of Meghan and Harry’s possible move in The Sunday Times.

"I think the feeling is Harry and Meghan do have global appeal ... why not send them somewhere they can make a real impact?," Nikkhah continued, noting that Africa includes many Commonwealth countries. "They are the rock stars. Why not send them abroad?"

Africa is where Harry, 34, whisked Meghan, 37, away a few weeks after the couple's first date in 2017.

"I managed to persuade her to come and join me in Botswana and we camped out with each other under the stars," Harry said in his post-engagement interview with Markle last year. "She came and joined me for five days out there, which was absolutely fantastic, so then we were really by ourselves, which I think was crucial to me to make sure we had a chance to get to know each other."

Harry also included Botswana in Meghan's engagement ring. The main stone in Meghan's ring is sourced from Botswana, while the diamonds surrounding it are from the jewelry collection of Harry's mother, the late Princess Diana.

Harry has also said in previous interviews that Botswana will always have sentimental value to him because Africa is where he and Prince Charles and Prince William went to "get away from it all" after Diana's death in 1997.

Harry also established his charity, Sentebale, in the African country of Lesotho in 2006 after first visiting the nation two years earlier during his gap year as a teenager.

Buckingham Palace issued a statement after the news broke in The Sunday Times, calling reports of future plans for Harry and Meghan "speculative."

“Any future plans for The Duke and Duchess are speculative at his stage. No decisions have been taken about future roles," the statement said. "The Duke will continue to fulfill his role as Commonwealth Youth Ambassador.”

Prince Harry was spotted Sunday attending Easter services with other members of the royal family, including Queen Elizabeth II and Prince William and Kate, at St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle, where he and Meghan wed.

Meghan did not attend. She has told well-wishers she is due in late April or early May.

Meghan's mom, Doria Ragland, is said to be close by her side at the couple's newly-renovated home, Frogmore Cottage.

Over 113,000 pounds of ground beef recalled due to E. coli fears

A Georgia-based company has recalled more than 113,000 pounds of ground beef over fears of E. coli contamination, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS).

K2D Foods announced on Tuesday a voluntary recall of its 24-pound vacuum-sealed packages containing raw "ground beef pucks," which were produced between March 26 and April 12, 2019.

The possibly tainted food items bear the code "EST. 51308" inside the USDA mark of inspection and were shipped to restaurant distributors in Georgia and Florida.

The recall is categorized as a Class I by FSIS, meaning it is a health hazard situation "where there is a reasonable probability that the use of the product will cause serious, adverse health consequences or death."

Restaurants that purchased these products are urged not to serve them and instead throw them away or return them to the original place of purchase.

Common symptoms of an E. coli infection typically appear within three to four days of exposure to the bacteria and may include diarrhea, severe stomach cramps, vomiting and, occasionally, a low-grade fever, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Though most people recover without treatment within five to seven days, more serious cases can be life-threatening and may require hospitalization.

Glamour
How Meghan and Harry Are Handling Baby Sussex’s Debut Shows the Start of a New Era

hroughout her pregnancy, it was clear that Meghan Markle intends to try and have as private a life as possible for Baby Sussex. The family will always be in the spotlight, of course, but she and Prince Harry took a big step to avoid the noise by moving out of London to live at Frogmore Cottage in Windsor. "I think one of the real reasons they're moving to Windsor is to get out of the goldfish bowl that is Kensington Palace," royals expert Katie Nicholl told Glamour at the time. "They're escaping to the country to have more privacy."

Now that the baby is here, Meghan and Harry seem to be sticking with the plan. After the palace announced the child's birth on Monday, May 6, through a standard Instagram post, the Duke of Sussex gave a short update to the press. Alone.

In the interview he revealed that the couple won't debut their baby or the name until two days from now. And they'll notably do so from their home in Windsor, not as soon as they're discharged from the hospital—which Prince William and Kate Middleton famously did for all three of their kids.

For many moms, myself included, it’s a refreshing change for the royal family. Kate’s postbirth photos have been criticized in the past for, uh, not exactly being a realistic depiction of the postpartum experience. These photos of Kate, below, were taken a few hours after Prince Louis was born, and she looks like she's on her way to a breezy brunch.

While I totally get that Kate might want to get a photo opportunity over with so she can go home and relax with her family in solitude, I find myself breathing a sigh of relief that Meghan opted out. Waiting two days for a photo might seem like a small difference, but I know every hour really does count in those first few days after having a baby. Right after I gave birth, my midsection was too sore to even wear the sweatpants I had brought to the hospital. By the time I went home, though, I could wear jeans. I think Markle is smart (and, honestly, more relatable) for allowing herself and her body some time to rest and recover.

Which is why it was also great that Harry—and Harry alone—delivered the update on the family’s behalf. For one thing, I hope this meant Meghan got a few precious minutes to herself while all the attention was on Harry’s speech. I know from experience that having even a few moments alone after birth goes a long way toward helping recharge your exhausted body.

For another, you can see in Harry’s absolutely joy-filled interview that he is truly in awe of his wife and the incredible physical feat that is giving birth. He even marvels that “how any woman does what they do is beyond comprehension.” It's refreshing and progressive to see a new father, and a royal one at that, acknowledge how much freaking work it takes to have a baby.

I'm not alone in my opinions. "It feels private but also inclusive," one Twitter user wrote about the birth announcement. "Well done Sussexes." Another wrote, "I swear I think Prince Harry is a feminist—the way he honored his wife and his abiding respect for what women go through was so sweet."

Celebrity
William and Kate 'can't wait' to meet Baby Sussex, welcome Harry to 'sleep deprivation society'

Kate and William at the Cutty Sark in Greenwich [Photo: Getty]

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are yet to meet the latest addition to the Royal Family, but are “absolutely thrilled” for Meghan and Harry.

William, 36, and Kate, 37, had a joint engagement at the Cutty Sark in Greenwich on Tuesday afternoon to launch The King’s Cup regatta.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex welcomed a baby boy at 05:26 on May 6, 2019.

When asked about his new nephew, William said: "Obviously thrilled, absolutely thrilled, and obviously looking forward to seeing them in the next few days when things have quietened down.”

He joked: "I'm very pleased and glad to welcome my own brother into the sleep deprivation society that is parenting."

When asked if he had any pearls of wisdom for his younger brother as a father of three, William laughed and said: "Plenty of advice, plenty of advice, but no I wish him all the best and I hope the next few days they can settle down and enjoy having a newborn in their family and the joys that come with that."

The Duchess of Cambridge added: "It's such a special time, obviously with Louis and Charlotte just having had their birthdays, it's such a great time of year to have a baby, spring is in the air."

Kate continued: "As William said, we're looking forward to meeting him and finding out what his name's going to be, so it's really exciting for both of them and we wish them all the best.

"These next few weeks are always a bit daunting the first time round so we wish them all the best."

William and Kate are parents to George, five, Charlotte, four, and one-year-old Louis. They are also the uncle and auntie of Kate’s sister Pippa Middleton’s first child Arthur in October 2018.

The Prince of Wales is also yet to meet his new grandson. He and the Duchess of Cornwall are at the start of their four-day tour of Germany.

Speaking in Berlin, Prince Charles said: “We couldn’t be more delighted at the news and we’re looking forward to meeting the baby when we return.”

The Prince of Wales is handed a soft toy for his new grandson
by German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier during a meeting in Berlin
[Photo: PA]

The Queen, 93, has also commented about the latest addition to the firm.

The Duke of Edinburgh, 97, made a rare appearance with the monarch at a luncheon for members of the Order of Merit on Tuesday afternoon.

Prince Philip retired from public duties in summer 2017. In January this year, he was involved in a car accident close to the Queen’s Sandringham estate in Norfolk.

His Landrover collided with a Kia at the junction of the B1439 where it meets the A149.

The duke was uninjured, but the driver of the Kia, a 28-year-old woman, suffered cuts to her knee while the passenger, Emma Fairweather, 46, sustained a broken wrist.

It was confirmed by Buckingham Palace that Prince Philip had surrendered his driving licence.

The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh at the Members
of the Order of Merit luncheon at Windsor Castle
[Photo: PA]

The Queen was quizzed about the latest addition to her family by one guest.

"Life is good for Your Majesty?" she was asked.

The smiling Queen replied: "Yes, thank you."

"Congratulations. Another great grandchild!" the guest added.

The Queen replied: "I know."

She was then asked how many she had before replying "eight".

Proud new father Harry [Photo: PA]

A statement announcing the birth on Monday read: “The Queen, The Duke of Edinburgh, The Prince of Wales, The Duchess of Cornwall, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Lady Jane Fellowes, Lady Sarah McCorquodale and Earl Spencer have been informed and are delighted with the news.

“The Duchess’s mother, Doria Ragland, who is overjoyed by the arrival of her first grandchild, is with Their Royal Highnesses at Frogmore Cottage.”

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex and their baby son are expected to make their debut as a family of three on Wednesday.