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Welcome to More Than Pixels

An eMagazine formed from different IMVU Groups

Want to see your group listed? Contact AnikaNight at morethanpixelsemag@gmail.com. You can also leave a comment on site.

Welcome to the January Issue of “More Than Pixels”

January is the start of a new year, sometimes new relationships, renewing old ones, and making promises we hope to keep through out the year. Have you made a promise? Re-acquainted yourself with an old friend? What about new ones? As the new year kicks off sometimes it is nice to see things from the past, present and future, with this thought in mind, this months issue is a collection what we have done, are doing now and a glimpse into what is to come. Nothing is ever certain but good friends, cherished memories, and I hope love. Enjoy the January issue of “More Than Pixels”.

About Us

More Than Pixels an eMagazine is made up of various NON-RP IMVU Groups. Any Group is welcome to join this venture visit our IMVU Group Page at More Than Pixels eMag. More Than Pixels is a proud supporter of the CancerAwareness IMVU Group Endeavor. You can visit and learn more about this group at Cancer Awareness IMVU Group

In this Issue

Find out about the Upcoming Events Hosted by the our Contributors.

You can learn how you can help Support the Fight against Cancer at the Fourth “Cancer Awareness” Gala.
See the Cancer Awareness Gala Poster….

Real Advice about Real Life from Open Advice

Read a note from our Developer Columnist Sens and find out how you can ask her about developing on IMVU.

See who entered the CFA December Picture Contest “Thanksgiving”. Find out about the next contest and how to enter.
A Tribute to our Furry Family Members.

Check out the fun photos taken from the events.
Find some delightful recipes in our monthly food column.

What’s coming up in the February 2011 Issue of “More Than Pixels”

A Chance to Win a Gift from one of our contributing developers.
A Special thanks to our Website Developer.

Upcoming Events Hosted by the our Contributors.

Click the Links below to find out each groups theme.

Bliss is Beauty

Cancer Awareness

Charlie’s Fallen Angels

Dreams of Silk

IMVU Glamour Girls & Associates, Inc.

Naughty Pixels

Cancer Awareness Gala Poster

Top 10 New Year’s Resolutions

By Albrecht Powell, About.com Guide

New Year’s Eve has always been a time for looking back to the past, and more importantly, forward to the coming year. It’s a time to reflect on the changes we want (or need) to make and resolve to follow through on those changes. Did your New Year resolutions make our top ten list?

1. Spend More Time with Family & Friends

Recent polls conducted by General Nutrition Centers, Quicken, and others shows that more than 50% of Americans vow to appreciate loved ones and spend more time with family and friends this year. Make plans to meet up with friends for an evening of comaraderie at a favorite Pittsburgh restaurant or take the family to one of these popular Pittsburgh places for family fun. Work shouldn’t always come first!

2. Fit in Fitness

The evidence is in for fitness. Regular exercise has been associated with more health benefits than anything else known to man. Studies show that it reduces the risk of some cancers, increases longevity, helps achieve and maintain weight loss, enhances mood, lowers blood pressure, and even improves arthritis. In short, exercise keeps you healthy and makes you look and feel better. Why not make this the time to start getting in shape for one of these popular Pittsburgh Area Charity Walks, Runs or Rides?

3. Tame the Bulge

Over 66 percent of adult Americans are considered overweight or obese by recent studies, so it is not surprising to find that weight loss is one of the most popular New Year’s resolutions. Setting reasonable goals and staying focused are the two most important factors in sticking with a weight loss program, and the key to success for those millions of Americans who made a New Year’s commitment to shed extra pounds.

4. Quit Smoking

If you have resolved to make this the year that you stamp out your smoking habit, over-the-counter availability of nicotine replacement therapy now provides easier access to proven quit-smoking aids. Even if you’ve tried to quit before and failed, don’t let it get you down. On average, smokers try about four times before they quit for good. Start enjoying the rest of your smoke-free life! Even Allegheny County is trying to go smoke-free, and it’s taken them a few tries as well. Locally, there are a variety of free support services, hotlines and smoking cessation classes to help you kick the smoking habit.

5. Enjoy Life More

Given the hectic, stressful lifestyles of millions of Americans, it is no wonder that “enjoying life more” has become a popular resolution in recent years. It’s an important step to a happier and healthier you! Consider one of Pittsburgh’s holistic healing centers for products designed to bring balance to your body, mind and soul. Or just get out and try something new! Take up a new hobby or try your hand at skiing. Go to a theater performance, or head to the local spa. Pittsburgh offers a wealth of artistic and recreational activities to meet just about anyone’s wishes.

6. Quit Drinking

While many people use the New Year as an incentive to finally stop drinking, most are not equipped to make such a drastic lifestyle change all at once. Many heavy drinkers fail to quit cold turkey but do much better when they taper gradually, or even learn to moderate their drinking. If you have decided that you want to stop drinking, there is a world of help and support available. Pittsburgh Alcoholics Anonymous offers meetings throughout the greater Pittsburgh area. There is also a Pittsburgh group for Parents of Teenage Alcohol and Drug Abusers. There are also a number of treatment-based programs, as well as support groups for families of alcoholics.

7. Get Out of Debt

Was money a big source of stress in your life last year? Join the millions of Americans who have resolved to spend this year getting a handle on their finances. It’s a promise that will repay itself many times over in the year ahead.
More: Find a Financial Planner in Pittsburgh

8. Learn Something New

Have you vowed to make this year the year to learn something new? Perhaps you are considering a career change, want to learn a new language, or just how to fix your computer? Whether you take a course or read a book, you’ll find education to be one of the easiest, most motivating New Year’s resolutions to keep. The Community College of Allegheny County offers a wide variety of “lifelong learning” courses, and local YMCA’s offer great recreational training for beginners of all ages. Most local colleges and universities offer distance and adult education programs. Or if the arts are more your thing, places such as the Carnegie Museum of Art and the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts offer adult studio classes.

9. Help Others

A popular, non-selfish New Year’s resolution, volunteerism can take many forms. Whether you choose to spend time helping out at your local library, mentoring a child, or building a house, there are many nonprofit volunteer organizations that could really use your help. The Pittsburgh Cares organization makes it easy by connecting volunteers with projects to fit practically any schedule. Or if your time is really in short supply, maybe you can at least find it in you to donate the furniture, clothing and other household items that you no longer need, rather than leaving them out by the curb to fill up our landfills.
More: Volunteer Opportunities in Pittsburgh

10. Get Organized

On just about every New Year resolution top ten list, organization can be a very reasonable goal. Whether you want your home organized enough that you can invite someone over on a whim, or your office organized enough that you can find the stapler when you need it, these tips and resources should get you started on the way to a more organized life. Pittsburgh has quite a few professional organizers who can help you reduce the clutter in your life and find peace in your home. Professional Pittsburgh organizer Patty Kreamer even offers a a six-month But I Might Need it Somday! ecourse.

Resident Developer Sens

Welcome to the last column in 2010
This time i would like to fucus on advertising your products. Many people think by making your catalog pics animated will attract buyers. WRONG! most times people skip looking at your product because of a animated catalog pic. One of the reasons for it is that it takes a long time to load the page so they can look at it. I am one of those people that don’t bother looking at the product when the catalog pic is animated, frankly i personally find it annoying. It’s the skil of photographing your products and displaying their uses more than making a pretty catalog pic. Find a good program to photograph your item, even tweek them but don’t animate your catalog pics.
Remember its not the picture that you are selling but the actual item. You can add effects to your page to make it more attractive and it will show that you put time and effort into your developing. Most of all, remember this. it’s not always the advertisement through a pic that sells the item, it’s the previous customers that sell your items. If they have a good experience shopping in your catalog, they will recommend you.So put your time and effort where it belongs and make sure people have a easy access to your catalog page.

Please don’t be shy with sending topic requests and comments.

Until next month,

Sen

View Sens Catalog at
http://www.imvu.com/shop/web_search.php?manufacturers_id=25434686

Wild Animal Poem

An excellent poem about a mother wolf defending her baby cub.

A Mother Cries ©Amber Huether

The wolf howls in the darkness,
She lets the wind carry her cries.
Her silhouette on a hilltop,
The moon reflected in her eyes.
The agony she carries, the pain.
At her feet, the lifeless cub she bore.
In the animal kingdom it’s the circle of life,
Nothing less and nothing more.
The moon casts down its sympathy,
As it blankets around her rabid soul.
Nature defenseless against man,
An innocent life that white man stole.
As her howl travels,
The hunter stops dead still.
For the hunted often holds revenge,
An angry mother, ready to kill.
Her silhouette no longer rests under the moon,
It runs through the old forest trees.
Her legs swift, much faster than the hunter.
His cries carry through the breeze.

Photos Of Events!

JerZG

Re: **Fondest GGA Memories** new

January 01, 2011 02:04AM

My fondest GGA memories… hmm. There’ve been so many. I must say that among the top of them would be my surprise birthday party back in ’08. Jazzetta and ceeayecee arranged for a custom room and furniture to be derived as a gift for me, and held the party in it. And, I never found out!!!… lol I was truly honored.In more recent times, however, I’d have to say that a function held for another group was very special to me. We somehow started sharing real life pictures of ourselves and our family members, and truly got to know one another a lot more than previously. We all became much closer that night. It was really touching and amazing to get to know the people behind the avatars so much better. Although it wasn’t an actual GGA function, everyone in attendance was a GGA member. So to me, it was a very fond GGA moment…

Eggplant Parmesan with Crisp Bread Crumb Topping

* Recipe by Ethan Stowell

This eggplant Parmesan is all it should be: delicate slices of fried eggplant nestled in a bright, tangy tomato sauce, layered with gooey fresh mozzarella. The best part is the exceptionally crisp topping, made with dry bread crumbs.

Ingredients

3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus about 2 cups for frying
1 onion, finely chopped
3 garlic cloves, very finely chopped
Two 28-ounce cans whole, peeled Italian tomatoes, drained
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
8 small eggplants (1/2 pound each), cut lengthwise 1/2 inch thick
3 tablespoons coarsely chopped basil
1 pound lightly salted fresh mozzarella, thinly sliced and torn into small pieces
1 cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
3 tablespoons dry bread crumbs

Directions

In a large skillet, heat the 3 tablespoons of olive oil. Add the onion and garlic and cook over moderate heat until tender, about 5 minutes. Using your hands, crush the whole tomatoes into the skillet. Bring to a simmer and cook over moderately low heat, stirring occasionally, until the sauce is very thick, about 25 minutes. Transfer the tomato sauce to a food processor and puree until smooth. Season with salt and pepper.
Meanwhile, in a very large skillet, heat 1/4 inch of olive oil. Season the eggplant slices with salt and pepper. Working in several batches, cook the eggplant over moderately high heat, turning once, until golden on both sides, about 8 minutes per batch; add more olive oil to the skillet between batches. Drain the eggplant slices on paper towels.
Preheat the oven to 400°. Spread 1 cup of the tomato sauce in a 9-by-13-inch glass or ceramic baking dish. Arrange one-third of the fried eggplant slices in the baking dish and sprinkle all over with 1 tablespoon of the chopped basil. Top with one-third of the torn mozzarella and sprinkle with 1/3 cup of the grated Parmigiano-Reggiano. Repeat this layering twice. Sprinkle the bread crumbs all over the top of the eggplant Parmesan. Bake in the upper third of the oven for about 45 minutes, until the top of the eggplant Parmesan is golden and the tomato sauce is bubbling. Let stand for 15 minutes before serving.

Make Ahead

The assembled eggplant Parmesan can be covered with plastic wrap and refrigerated for up to 1 day. Bring the eggplant Parmesan to room temperature before baking.

Notes

This dish is extremely versatile. The eggplant can be sliced lengthwise or crosswise before it’s fried. In addition, the eggplant Parmesan can be baked in a glass or ceramic baking dish that is round, oval, rectangular or square.

Serve With

Green salad and crusty Italian or peasant bread.

https://www.amexpubbooks.com/?obj=annual2010hwss

Sparkling Pomegranate Punch Food & Wine – Recipes

Three-Cheese Mini Macs Food & Wine – Recipes

What’s Coming Next?

Its Valentines Next Month So how about some romantic tips? Delectable Chocolates? And More Fun from the Contributing Groups of More Than Pixels eMag!

Win this RUG!!! From RC421

More Than Pixels monthly trivia give away.

This month on behalf of Cancer Awareness, one of the More Than Pixels eMag affiliate groups, RC421 will be giving away the cancer awareness rug to the first 3 people giving correct answers to the following 3 questions.

1. Name the cancer and the color associated with ribbons for the month of January?

2. What is the typical test preformed to check for this type of cancer?

3. According to the National Cancer Institute what is usually the cause of this type of cancer?

Email your Answers to morethanpixelsemag@gmail.com or you can send a Message on IMVU to Avatar: AnikaNight

Continued Thanks to Our Web Development!

We at “More Than Pixels” want to thank Dee of Personalized Marketing & Promotions for the continued website development, graphic creation & support. Learn more about Personalized Marketing and how you can hire them for your next venture at http://personalizedmarketing.info

Eggplant Parmesan with Crisp Bread Crumb Topping

Recipe by Ethan Stowell

Rate & Review

See our wine pairings below

Pairing Suggestion

Bright Chianti Classico.

Buzz up!

Eggplant Parmesan with Crisp Bread Crumb Topping

ACTIVE: 1 HR 30 MIN
TOTAL TIME: 3 HRS
SERVINGS: 8

MAKE-AHEAD
VEGETARIAN
STAFF-FAVORITE

Ingredients

3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus about 2 cups for frying
1 onion, finely chopped
3 garlic cloves, very finely chopped
Two 28-ounce cans whole, peeled Italian tomatoes, drained
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
8 small eggplants (1/2 pound each), cut lengthwise 1/2 inch thick
3 tablespoons coarsely chopped basil
1 pound lightly salted fresh mozzarella, thinly sliced and torn into small pieces
1 cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
3 tablespoons dry bread crumbs

Directions

In a large skillet, heat the 3 tablespoons of olive oil. Add the onion and garlic and cook over moderate heat until tender, about 5 minutes. Using your hands, crush the whole tomatoes into the skillet. Bring to a simmer and cook over moderately low heat, stirring occasionally, until the sauce is very thick, about 25 minutes. Transfer the tomato sauce to a food processor and puree until smooth. Season with salt and pepper.
Meanwhile, in a very large skillet, heat 1/4 inch of olive oil. Season the eggplant slices with salt and pepper. Working in several batches, cook the eggplant over moderately high heat, turning once, until golden on both sides, about 8 minutes per batch; add more olive oil to the skillet between batches. Drain the eggplant slices on paper towels.
Preheat the oven to 400°. Spread 1 cup of the tomato sauce in a 9-by-13-inch glass or ceramic baking dish. Arrange one-third of the fried eggplant slices in the baking dish and sprinkle all over with 1 tablespoon of the chopped basil. Top with one-third of the torn mozzarella and sprinkle with 1/3 cup of the grated Parmigiano-Reggiano. Repeat this layering twice. Sprinkle the bread crumbs all over the top of the eggplant Parmesan. Bake in the upper third of the oven for about 45 minutes, until the top of the eggplant Parmesan is golden and the tomato sauce is bubbling. Let stand for 15 minutes before serving.

Make Ahead

The assembled eggplant Parmesan can be covered with plastic wrap and refrigerated for up to 1 day. Bring the eggplant Parmesan to room temperature before baking.