tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48568259623561941622024-02-06T21:14:56.576-06:00Southern Charmed LifeUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856825962356194162.post-55571204288695421152017-10-20T02:02:00.000-05:002017-10-20T02:14:28.082-05:00'Easy Peasy' Crockpot Baked Potato Soup<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #666666;">So cooler weather is starting to show itself around here... FINALLY! This past week brought a little bit of a chill so my oldest requested one of his favorites, Baked Potato Soup. I happily whipped it up, because it's EASY PEASY Y'ALL! I've picked bits from a couple recipes I've pinned & for the most part, just fell into a general recipe to go by.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">Some great things about this recipe are:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">-ingredients needed are CHEAP.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">-easy to remember what to get to cook it on a whim.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">-at our house (for now) we get a meal and usually enough for another night of leftovers.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">-can easily be frozen to be warmed up later.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">I don't pretend to be a chef, but I am a Mom of soon to be FOUR, three of which are boys... so hearty, affordable & easy are a winner in my book!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">You'll Need:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">* You can remove/add or change ingredients such as sour cream, onions etc as your family's tastes fit!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">- 1 (30 oz.) bag of southern style hash-brown frozen potatoes</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">- 2 (14 oz. cans) chicken broth *I use a larger box, just easier & less to open LOL!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">- 1 (10.75 oz.) can of cream of chicken soup</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">- salt & pepper to taste</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">- 1 8 (oz.) package of cream cheese</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">- 1 package of bacon (cooked, cooled & crumbled)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">- 1 handful of green onions, chopped</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">- 1/2 of a sweet yellow onion chopped </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">- garlic to taste ( I use the jarred kind & usually roughly a tablespoon or so)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">- sour cream (for topping)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">- 1 bag original Velveeta shredded cheese</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">- loaf of french bread or a baguette</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">Prep:</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666;">- Cook, cool & crumble the bacon (you can do this later in the day while soup is cooking or at beginning and add the bacon to 'stew' in the soup.... your call!</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666;">- I almost always use a crockpot liner, makes life a little easier for this Mama. But sometimes I forget to put in on & start dumping! If you're like me, do that now!</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666;">- Set cream cheese package on counter to soften.</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666;">- Chop your onions ahead of time if you want.</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666;">- If time and stuff on hand permits I like to warm a little butter in a small pan and cook my sweet or white onions along with my garlic. Doesn't take long, just a minute or two until fragrant.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666;">- Dump the hash-browns, chicken broth, cream of chicken soup, 2/3 of the bag of Velveeta, 2/3 the cooked bacon in crockpot & cook on low for 4-6 hours.</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666;">- I always set my cream cheese on the counter to soften and then add it 30 minutes or so before serving.</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666;">* I usually just stir the ingredients to mix them a bit to begin with & then you can honestly walk away until 30 minutes or so before serving. I use a potato masher to occasionally stir/mash... but again, that's not a necessity. If I'm home & around I will... otherwise it cooks just fine regardless.</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666;">- At that '30 minute before done' mark add your cream cheese, green onions, salt & pepper (if needed/taste test) and just stir a bit.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666;">For Plating/Topping:</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666;">- I usually heat the oven up & prepare some bread of some sort. This stuff is AH-MAZING with warm, buttered french bread or a crispy baguette!</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666;">- The other 1/3 of green onion, Velveeta, bacon & sour cream I usually set on the island so the fam can add what they'd like to their bowls.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666;">That's it... really that quick & easy... and I promise YUMMY! This recipe fills my large crockpot & as I said you can make probably a meal two times over for a family of 4 or even split it in half and freeze some for a later date. This is a great thing to whip up on a limited grocery budget, limited time, or just if you are craving something warm & will stick to your ribs. The brands I use don't specifically matter. I've used all generic/budget brands such as Great Value from Wal Mart and it's still just as good. I shop there and HEB, the pic was snapped after a quick HEB trip. I only suggest sticking with Velveeta because, well, it's Velveeta & nothing tastes like it to me! The list of HITS at my house for the entire family isn't huge, there's usually one or two people that could take it or leave some stuff... but this ALWAYS gets me two thumbs up.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666;">Scoop it up & enjoy!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666;">P.S. if you decide to eat it as a leftover option, it's even yummier the second day!</span><br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856825962356194162.post-62612081925385957112017-10-06T19:42:00.000-05:002017-10-20T02:12:57.998-05:00Idle Hands...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #666666;">It's been a bit since I've hopped on here... lots has happened around here, as it always does, HA! But I'll share more on all that stuff later. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">But on a serious note this post has honestly taken me AGES to write up. I've written it out, gotten too emotional, erased it... walked away from it. Thought about it, prayed about it... and in the end, here I am giving it another 'go'.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">My last post was all about our youngest, Jack's, birth story. But there was another chapter that unfolded during my 20-week anatomy scan/ultrasound and lasted a good 2 weeks, but I've just now gotten to where I don't get anxious thinking about it.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">This story has a happy ending, but it's more about the period of limbo, a lot of worry, a test of faith & keeping my heart, head and hands as busy as possible.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">Another little part of why this was such a testing time, was that like most people's lives, it wasn't the only thing we had going on. We were extremely stressed with selling our first home that had been a rental property for quite a while as well. And let's just say we got far from a fair shake on that deal, but we were backed into a corner. We actually had amazing tenants in it, but they were ready to buy a home of their own and we were really wanting to start the process of doing the same, the house had to go. We got the house fixed up and on the market I believe in April. After a good handful of hopeful offers and negotiations we had a deal that was sticking, but we got a horrible appraisal, the prospective buyers were not wanting to start over with new financing and we were between a rock and a hard place financially and it was now mid-August. We ended up closing the deal, after wiping out every bit of savings and borrowing from an Aunt & Uncle, we closed and could finally sleep and eat. This was after literal weeks of attempting to work with our mortgage company that couldn't get their crap together enough to get us an exact payoff before closing... it was a guessing game & we were so tired! They wouldn't give us the figure over the phone, they would 'ball park' it but I'd call the next day to double check and it was a completely different amount than previously quoted. They would NOT fax or email the title company either and would only snail-mail a payoff, but that pay off only lasted 3-5 days from the day it was requested and they kept sending it to the house which we hand't lived in for YEARS and it'd get returned because, DUH we didn't live there! I don't at this moment remember the day of the week we closed, but I want to say Thursday or Friday. We were exhausted in every sense of the word, SPENT emotionally, physically & financially. But we were free from that house & mortgage and we were so relieved. So there ya go, take a deep breath... and prepare yourselves because at this moment we were firm believers that Murphy's Law was real, and we were raw...</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">That following Monday morning we had our 20-week ultrasound and were so excited to get a peek at our little Jack, and that alone had us in high spirits. With my two previous pregnancies Mike had not been able to attend because of work commitments, but he was there for this one. I remember being a little irritated because he was on his phone non-stop... I don't remember the situation, but I do remember he was stressed and he's a project coordinator that manages a few aspects within the small company he works for, and at that time they were very busy and he was firing off e-mails quicker than they were coming in.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">This was my third time and his first with the BIG ultrasound... so in his defense the hair on his arms didn't stick up quite as quickly as mine did.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">The tech came in and was all smiles, friendly and we made small talk. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">The usual... are we wanting to know the sex etc? Which we already knew from the blood test.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">And we got situated, shirt rolled up, pants rolled down... I remember it was the first time I had worn my new maternity pants and I remember the nude stretchy panel and looking down at this round belly as she squirted that warm gel and quickly found his little heartbeat. His image cleared and focused and he was going to town in there. She made comments about his already visible hair... we could even see eyelashes on the screen. She got right to business after that taking measurements and entering digits. Meanwhile Mike had stepped back and was handling something on the phone. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">I remember my view moving from him over to the tech's face and she looked very concentrated... I think she noticed and in a nonchalant way smoothly turned the screen to where it wasn't really visible to me... her chatter and excitement pointing out features quieted. I think at this point because the room was dark and the light of the screen shifted, Mike stepped forward and little by little the tech was starting to speak up...</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">'Well, his feet look great, there's no issue there.'</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">'His pallet is well formed, that's great.'</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">'Nose & Lips look good'</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">'Heart looks good.'</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">'His overall measurement is right on.'</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">All these little things I don't remember even being mentioned with Kaleb or Emma... as she spoke, the hair on my arms stood up. I could taste the cereal I had that morning high up in my throat... something was off...</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">'I'm going to get the doctor real quick, be right back.'</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">She cleared the screen and I remember telling Mike that I hoped everything was OK. He brushed it off, of course he had not been to one of these yet... so nothing was odd to him. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">But as we waited I remembered the lady at the front desk rescheduling my OB appointment that morning as we came in because my doctor was needing to head up to the hospital for a c-section. So for the tech to need to grab her before she left was worrying me.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">They came back in & I could tell Dr. D was one foot out the door. I don't remember her saying much other than a quick 'hi' and she started looking at some images and told the tech 'yes, I see it.'</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">They turned the screen towards us and she pointed out a decent sized spot on one side of his brain. She explained it was a plexus choroid cyst, could mean nothing, but was also a marker for two pretty serious issues... Trisomy 18 (Edward's Syndrome) & Trisomy 21 (Down's Syndrome). I had done the screenings for genetic issues and there wasn't an issue flagged there, but she did suggest doing another test if I chose. I think once the terms were shared my brain kind of went in overdrive... the next hour or so was kind of a blur. Mike's plans to go back to work were off now, and we went straight to the clinic to have this other test done. I was so jittery we had to turn back around to get my lab order because I had forgotten it in the room.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">Knowing my husband, he doesn't worry without proof... but I was so worked up. I made the mistake of Googling the words on the lab slip, and also both of the possible syndromes... Down's didn't terrify me, as I knew plenty of kiddos live very fulfilled lives, but<br />Edward's Syndrome terrified me. It was most times fatal in utero, there are not many physical characteristics, but baby doesn't mature/grow as it should and if I remember right, there are substantial heart and or brain issues. I could live with an 'imperfect child', but the idea of saying goodbye to a child I hadn't yet met broke me. That whole 'Murphy's Law' thing was so heavy on my mind as well... we had not had any good luck in so long, I was sure the streak was still going strong!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">The phlebotomy tech had done all my work up to this point and he was the one there that day as well. I'm usually very friendly & after the first time meeting him, made it a point to be extra nice because my first impression was he was having a bad day or just wasn't a big fan of his job. But after that first visit, he seemed to always smile back and maybe he enjoyed having someone a little upbeat to deal with when it was my turn. But in the short time between being called back and him coming in and asking for my papers, he must have read the worry all over my face. He was quiet as well... when it was done and I stood up to gather my purse he gave me a hug and a pat on the back. That was the last time I saw him and I'm not sure since he sees so many illnesses and probably worried faces, that to him I was just another one, but I was thankful he acknowledged my worry. They told me that my doctor would be calling them with results and I would hear something in like 10-15 days, I don't remember.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">When Mike & I headed to the stairway I remember stopping and crying... that hallway was so hot, all windows and sun shining in... he stood a step of two below me and let me lean in on him cry a minute. He was so calm about it. That's Mike... I'm the emotional one, he's the collected one... Thank God for that!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">We went to eat and we went home... I remeber laying down in our room and just sleeping for a while.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">Emma had dance that Wednesday and I went to drop her off, but didn't go in... I was just a wreck still and I didn't want to be there if I had a crying spell. I went down the road and popped in a little shop and bought some lotion and went back to the car. Mike called to check on me... I vented about how worried I was and he responded with 'Whatever it is, it is... Jack is our Jack. Regardless of if he's perfect or not. We should get started on his room. Let's go get paint after you get home.' In that moment I was frustrated but knew to a degree he was right & talking me down... because I will wreck myself with worry and he knew I needed a project.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">So we started on Jack's room and decided to try doing a hounds-tooth accent wall. It could be easily painted over when we moved, which we knew was a possibility, but it was the project that was the blessing. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">Planning, taping, painting... we'd get home from work and eat dinner, get the kiddos in bed and spend a few hours in that nursery. Working on that wall was therapy... I'd find myself lost in the process and for a while, my head wasn't full of worry, my hands were busy besides Googling scary medical stuff.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">The days I spent at my shop,were not really very focused. I'm sure I called the doctor's office near twice a a day just curious if results had come in.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">Eventually the phone rang and it was them with results... all levels were normal, from what they could tell without an amnio, which I didn't want to do anyway, we were good. She said that we would look for the cyst at the 30-week ultrasound and go from there. I remember her saying 'sometimes they just disappear.'</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">By the grace of God... that's exactly what happened. And he was born healthy and a whole other level of 'priorities' set in. My way of thinking about a lot of things were different from this experience on. Jack was a game-changer for sure, but all in a good way.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">But a few weeks after his birth we found ourselves preparing to move... and I was painting over that wall. Wasn't sad to, in a way erase it, but a little bummed to see the final project go. That wall and painting project kept me sane. It gifted Mike and I hours of sometimes quiet time spent just together waiting for a phone call... and when we brought our sweet Jack home & I rocked him in that room, I'd look at that wall and smile.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">Thank God for answered prayers & thank God for my husband that did his part by keeping my hands far from idle.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">(little peek at Jack's nursery)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">I have my 20-week anatomy scan with baby #4 this coming Friday and I think in a way to settle my nerves I finally forced myself to get this down... I'll be going to this one alone most likely since Mike will be leaving early that morning for a trip with Kaleb. Here's to hoping all goes smooth... I have faith it will!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666;">PS, I'll hopefully get myself in gear here soon & share Jack's lumberJACK first birthday & catch this little blog up on the upcoming baby as well!</span><br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856825962356194162.post-77288458174459431342017-01-19T23:57:00.000-06:002017-01-20T00:45:48.906-06:00Jack Be Nimble, Jack Be Quick...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">(the infamous Facebook check-in status LOL!)</span></div>
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I have finally tucked in my little ONE YEAR OLD for the night, cleaned up the kitchen & walked away from the laundry to sit down and write this out. <br />
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I want to preface this post by saying... it's a birth story, so if birth isn't your thing, just scroll on by or jump to another post. And if birthing babies is your thing, sit & read a minute.<br />
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Ironically, my oldest asked me during dinner tonight, "Mom, what was something you always wanted to be or do but you've never done. Career wise?" Easy, labor & delivery nurse. It's always amazed me... women's bodies, delivering babies, the process, new life, pink wigglies. But I've never been able to commit to the school aspect of it. I had Kaleb at 21, and the three years before that I was playing Mom to my sister & taking care of my Grandma who was battling cancer. So I guess I've just always been one to take care of other people, nursing always appealed to me, but it just wasn't in the cards. And that's totally OK with me. The one thing I've always aspired to be is a Mom, as good of a Mom as I could be. And I've never been able to pull away from that role in a way that fit going to school seriously. And to be honest, the few times I starting thinking about going back down that path, I was reminded by friends who are nurses just how brutal the hours are when you start out & just how much time you sacrifice from your family. I just couldn't do it... God bless nurses, I'll say that!<br />
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Alright, so let's start with my 37 week checkup. At that visit everything was looking PERFECT with Jack & myself. Minimal weight gain, great blood pressure, baby was growing great & no swelling or issues. Now, the doctor I was seeing for this pregnancy was different than my doctor who delivered Kaleb & Emma. We had moved from Alvin to North of Houston & I had my little shop to try to run this go round. So I just rolled with the punches & decided to continue to see the doctor I had seen for my yearly exams. The plus to this was her office was literally a mile from my shop & the hospital she delivered at was within a 5 minute drive. PERFECT. So, during this visit she brought up the subject of induction & I explained to her that I had been induced with the two previous pregnancies & I would like to let this last one take it's course if all looked good. My 38 week checkup went just as smooth and again the subject of induction was surfed over by us both. She did mention that the norm now with induction was to really only entertain the idea after 39 weeks & it was really only if I was showing signs of distress or baby had grown too large in her opinion. None of that was happening. But I was getting impatient. My check ups were always on a Monday. It was the one weekday my shop was closed so it always just fit well into my schedule & routine. <br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">(me at 39 weeks preggo on the Monday of my appointment)</span></div>
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So, here we are the Friday night after my 39 week checkup, so 39 weeks & 5 days. That Friday & Saturday night I had woken up having some contractions, but nothing ever really stuck. They were strong enough to wake me so I would get up to pee, get a drink and re-adjust & they'd calm down. I knew my uterus knew what it was supposed to do, but it had been a hot second since the last time it 'stepped up to the plate', so to speak. I'll say this, pregnancy in my 30's compared to pregnancy in my 20's was a whole other ballgame. The last two weeks of this pregnancy I could have fallen asleep literally doing anything, I was EXHAUSTED ALL THE TIME. I was convinced I was anemic, although my doctor jokingly told me 'No, hun, You're just not 24 like you were last time.' So that Friday night I started spotting, or after Googling & reading up on my What To Expect When You're Expecting, 'bloody show' had commenced. Again, third baby... but I hadn't experienced this with K or E, so I was a little anxious. According to Google (LMBO) if it wasn't my first pregnancy & delivery it usually means you will have an onset of labor within the next 24 hours. YIKES! So I had been told two things, #1 my doctor wasn't on call that weekend & #2 it was only actual labor if contractions had been continuous for at least a solid 30 mins with spacing regular or shortening in time. So I kept my cool & just was on 'high alert'. I think I had asked my doctor at least 5 times if I would KNOW it was labor or not. She laughed each time pretty much & answered with 'Oh you'll KNOW, trust me.'<br />
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Emma had dance Saturday afternoon & we just kind of took it easy Sunday. Straightened up the house, made sure K & E's bag to take to the hospital were packed so they'd have lots to keep them busy & I sat in Jack's nursery & re-packed his bag & checked mine again. We were kind of nervous because the downside to letting labor come on it's own, was that we don't have any family near & we knew that K & E would be coming to the hospital with us when labor started & we had been told they couldn't be in the room. That alone made me very anxious. I couldn't quit thinking about how on Earth I'd labor my baby while worrying about my older two. But that's life, babies come when you aren't ready & everyone tends to survive. <br />
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So Monday I go in for my 40 week checkup... I'm feeling pretty sure she's going to check me & send me to the hospital. I explain the activity with contractions & apologize because I've been wearing a pad since Friday night. TMI I know. But I warned you! I should add, I had a horrible cough that had hung around since Thanksgiving pretty much. But when you're THAT pregnant you can't take any good meds lol! I kept thinking about the stories you hear about women going into active labor & they didn't know their water had broken & all I kept thinking was, "With these damn pads on I won't even know if it breaks! Well, she had me assume the position & I hadn't progressed hardly at all... She said maybe if she was feeling generous I may have dialated a centimeter since the week before. COME ON?! That's it?! So, we made a plan of attack.. I was scheduled for induction that Thursday because she wasn't on call that coming weekend & I was uneasy letting me go past 41 weeks. I've heard too many stories of really hard labor & deliveries. I left feeling a little defeated, but a healthy baby in the end is all you really want anyway, so it was what it was. <br />
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Tuesday, Mike called to see if I wanted to meet for lunch. Only problem was all TWO pairs of my maternity jeans were in the washer... it was either my regular jeans or pajama pants! I should add, I also had a sink full of dishes, the slipcovers off my couch, bed un-made & I think I may have had a roast in the crock pot. But I decided to meet him anyway. What's one last lunch date sans baby?! I waddled into Rudy's BBQ with a hair tie in my jeans button-fly, no kidding. I made the joke that these jeans would quite possible squeeze Jack out... maybe they are what did the trick after all. After lunch I went up to the shop. Because I'm a 'Type A' person & it was Tuesday, so I had it in my head that tomorrow, Wednesday, would be my last FREE DAY & I wanted to take the day off & just relax. The printer had been giving my part time girl, Hannah, a headache so I wanted to get it working correctly. I also had some packages to ship off and I wanted to make sure to get change from the bank & make a deposit before I headed home. During that car ride, contractions started. I'm going to say I probably ran errands from about 5:15-6 & I started tracking them on the car clock. They were getting to the point where I couldn't really count, so I was just looking at the time & coaching myself what 4 mins etc from the current time would be. They were like clock work, starting at about every 5 minutes and by the time I dropped the change off at the shop & waddled back into the car, they were down to a solid 4. I messaged Mike to just get dinner in the oven for the kiddos & make sure they were ready because I was thinking this could be IT. When I got home I had to wait for a contraction to subside while I sat in the car & then waddled inside. They were at a point where it was easier for me to stop walking & talking to work through them. I got upstairs & took a quick 'neck down' shower & drank the cold Gatorade Mike had brought up. I told myself I'd lay down & see if they calmed, but I couldn't lay down... I was uncomfortable. Mike had hopped in to take a quick one, because I KNEW he'd be wishing he had if this was actually labor. <br />
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We loaded up in the car & left the house about 7. Contractions were about 3-4 mins apart at this point, but water hadn't broken & I wasn't really hurting, just cramping. But they were constant & definitely uncomfortable. Mike dropped me & the kiddos off at the hospital door & parked. We walked inside & waited for him by the elevators. And (I'll never forget this), I coughed really big & got this odd feeling. Like touhed my pants to see if I had peed, feeling. 9 months pregnant with my third baby & full of Gatorade... it happens. But remember that pesky pad!? Anyway, we went up to L&D & buzzed. Mike cracked a joke about how his wife was having a baby & were we in the right place etc. Mike has always made me laugh... and I think we pretty much were trying to make light of the situation because we were so anxious. K & E had to wait in the waiting area, which I hated. But there was security & it was 7:20 & empty except for them. Apparently 7 PM is shift change, and I was the only woman in triage. So I had two nurses, the one leaving & the one coming on shift. I was told to change into a gown & leave a urine sample and come out clothes free from the waist down. I remember looking in that little cup & thinking 'hmmm, there's stuff floating in there, that's odd'. So I came out carrying it & sat it on the table & proceeded to lay down on the bed. The nurse asked me the typical questions of my last exam, where the doctor placed my current progress etc & asked me to make my heels touch & drop my knees... I kid you NOT, that nurse barely began to examine me when 'WOOOSH' came my water. She kept apologizing & we just started laughing. At least we weren't in limbo any longer... it was baby time! She told me I was a loose 4, probably closer to a 5, but she didn't want to stretch me & get me moving too quick. I was taken to a delivery room while they got theings organized & got me checked in officially. At this point I asked to bring my big kiddos in & she THANKFULLY obliged. So Kaleb & Emma came in and we just explained the machines & what was going on... they were so so excited. We were inundated with questions of 'how long till he gets here?' Because of the timing of our arrival and the shift change, the computer in the room wasn't even on & the monitors she had placed on my tummy weren't hooked up. I felt like I had to pee constantly so I asked if we could take them off until they were ready to hook them up. So it was about 7:45/7:50, a dark, quiet, and cool night. We had our two big kiddos there with us & were just so calm & excited. By this time we had called Mike's parents to let them know it was for sure labor & they could head our way. I had called & messaged a handful of people there were lots of well wishes going around. The nurse popped in to explain that my doctor wasn't on call, and the on call doctor was at dinner & she had instructed the nurses to not give me any Pitocin & just let me labor on my own & that she'd call back about midnight to see how I was progressing. I wasn't in any pain & we were comfy... so she went back to gather some more supplies & get set up for what we thought was going to be a quiet night of me laboring. <br />
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I really don't have a great timeline as to how the next couple of hours progressed. I do know I have a very high pain tolerance & had not gotten anything for pain & Mike has told me his version and swears I hardly did more than some moans... but I just kept my eyes closed & worked my way through the contractions. I do know at one point she checked me & I was at an 8, almost 9 & I asked for something to take the edge off. Things were moving so fast by this point I just couldn't have gotten anything anyway. She phoned the on-call doctor who had decided to go ahead and head in. Another nurse came in about 9:45 & I was in the thick of some strong contractions. At one point I remember actually feeling Jack drop down. They checked me again & at this time Mike decided to walk the kiddos out to wait for his parents in the waiting room. We knew they'd be getting there any minute, but he didn't want the kiddos there for the actual delivery.. They're older & smart, but I also know seeing Mom in pain & the sight of blood etc may be too much, even for kiddos as mature as them. <br />
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So I was now at a 10, no meds so far, holding a baby in, & was told that the on call doctor wouldn't be there in time, but they were pulling a doctor in who was finishing up a C-section down the hall. In that position, I really didn't care who, if anyone was down there LOL! Mike had practically delivered Emma anyway, so I knew we didn't have any time to split hairs. I know during one contraction I attempted to close my legs & one of the nurses pushed them back open... Jack was born during that next contraction. This doctor I had never met before, came in shortly after Jack was delivered by the nurse & introduced himself, shook my hand & congratulated me. He laughed & made the comment that 'I don't waste any time.' I joked that 'I warn the nurses every time... I labor quick!' <br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">(picture snapped by Mike, moments after birth)</span></div>
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Sweet Jack was cleaned up & handed to me... It sounds crazy, but he became REAL in that moment. There was a period of a lot of worry about his health & I think I put up a wall so to speak, not intentionally, but in that second it came down & I was handed this perfect dark haired baby boy. He nuzzled right onto my chest & followed my voice. I know we got a few minutes with him before Kaleb & Emma were brought in. Mike was eager to introduce them & apparently during labor he had been texting Kaleb & my mother in law keeping them up to speed. Time-wise it worked out that they stepped off the elevator about the time Jack had arrived. So, perfect timing! <br />
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Kaleb & Emma were in love immediately! They've been smitten with him since the second they met him & he just adores them. They play so great with him, are both such huge helpers & boy does he light up when he sees them! We worried about the age gap this time around, but it's been beautiful! I've had them close & I've had them spaced out & I wouldn't change the way our crazy three kiddos worked out one bit!<br />
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So to summarize Jack's birth:<br />
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Natural onset of labor.<br />
Arrived at the hospital at 7:20<br />
Water breaks at 7:30<br />
Jack is born at 10:03<br />
100% natural/uncomplicated delivery.<br />
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Jack WAS nimble & Jack WAS quick LOL!<br />
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I wouldn't have believed ANYONE had they said that I would get my wish of experiencing going into labor on my own, non-induced, & delivering naturally with no intervention... and in about 2 1/2 hours. Especially considering I had seen the doctor the day before & she was convinced we'd have to 'beat him out of there like a raccoon in a bush'! <br />
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All I can say is I am so amazed by a woman's body & all it can do. We are amazing creatures that can create, grow, nurture & deliver a brand new life... it's beautiful! Jack did have to stay some extra time after I was released due to jaundice... but that's a whole other blog post & I don't feel like tapping into all those emotions tonight..<br />
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So we have survived the first year... full of life, and change... tough stuff & beautiful moments... I am so grateful that this sweet boy is ours! Next weekend we get to pull on some plaid & celebrate this first year with him in 'lumberjack style'! Can't wait!<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856825962356194162.post-50937880694591332212017-01-18T21:02:00.001-06:002017-01-18T21:04:35.484-06:00Due...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS2eTKiNJN-xeQ4ytcgrYbkTUyBtAw06eT0n5X6x2hjmc6i18WnHkPqWXA5eCam0uyIho1ftmXuRXLVG3jhOyO3l5uxaOKVx6s95MisOeWmUDNZnBnf_18n_D3HexugynsiEMquO86JfI/s1600/Murphy5-4983+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS2eTKiNJN-xeQ4ytcgrYbkTUyBtAw06eT0n5X6x2hjmc6i18WnHkPqWXA5eCam0uyIho1ftmXuRXLVG3jhOyO3l5uxaOKVx6s95MisOeWmUDNZnBnf_18n_D3HexugynsiEMquO86JfI/s400/Murphy5-4983+copy.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">365 days ago, he was due... </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Jack's due date came & it went. I felt, wholeheartedly, he would be coming earlier. My OBGYN had made comments about the idea of induction after 38/39 weeks, & my other two were induced a week early. But, alas, here I was at my appointment, exactly 40 weeks pregnant, DUE, and had made no dilation or effacement progress from the week before. Which was kind of defeating because I had contractions off & on and started spotting that past Saturday. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Part of me wanted so much to speed it up... I couldn't wait to hold him! She had danged the carrot that was induction the last two visits, but my weight & blook pressure were perfect. I physically had no complaints except at this point all I wanted to do was sleep... Literally, All. The. Time! But part of me was relieved when we decided to let him come on his own terms. Kaleb & Emma had both been inducted. Kaleb due to blood pressure & swelling, and Emma I'm not even sure what the reason was... I had been sent in for a NST (non-stress test) & was sent home with orders to return the next morning. This was different... the last pregnancy. The last baby. The last time I'd get kept up at night feeling a baby move and stretch in my tummy. Any Mama can tell you, it's more intimate than anything else... And little did I know that night would be the last night I'd sleepily get up to pee for the millionth time. and that next morning would be my last one with my full round belly. I thought maybe he'd just stay in there until they kicked him out... and I was beginning to be ok with that idea too. I made a joke with the doctor, as she was examining me that last time to just beat him out like a raccoon in a bush... we both laughed. But she patted me on my leg and sent me home with a plan in place to be induced that Thursday. Boy, was I in for a surprise just one short day later!</span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I haven't said much about my pregnancy, or the immense stress & worry we felt for a good few weeks. I'll chat more about that later. It's kind of like a car wreck... you may survive & come out the other side, sometimes no broken bones, but very shook up... you find yourself taking a different route just to not have to feel your heart speed up. That's me... my heart races when I think about it... </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">But I'll try to write out Jack Grayson's birth story tomorrow... just a teaser, it's a SHORT one!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #999999; font-size: x-small;">(Maternity Portraits by Sharla Jahnke Photography)</span></div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856825962356194162.post-21683715962096108072017-01-08T19:17:00.001-06:002017-01-08T19:17:48.486-06:00Enough...<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">So, it's been a good long bit since I last sat & blogged. I contemplated just starting all over, but that's not real... getting caught up in life, checking out, growing, changing & settling back down & picking up is real!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Six years is a long gap. There's been quite a bit of that 'real life' that I've weathered in that span, and well... I feel like this blog of mine is therapeutic. I'm the kind of person that just feels better if I get my thoughts down, document my projects etc. I think I do a better job of having proof of progress made & accountability. If anyone finds my journey interesting, then WELCOME!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I'm declaring 2017 to be the year of 'ENOUGH'... no big stressful life changes, just letting life be enough with no high expectations.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I've always been a creative person, type 'A' & at times that can let me feel very overwhelmed, stressed & feeling less than... but when I look at these three little people I am reminded that I am blessed beyond measure & what I'm doing in life is more than enough...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">'Lord, I ask not for wealth or povertly. I pray only for enough.' Proverbs 30:7-9</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">May your 2017 be all that you pray it is... hugs y'all!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEg1BrfMRXcQ16Dq5Q9ylspg1f5kqgkNVoN1o9AATZYxKOztg7WufN8Er07GzgHHx5otLaof9wxk1EyttwRESHK6SSYkXvpryvBnDfvTc9xewcqNI_nMI9oqh-app3FqxsHPeA=" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img align="center" border="0" src="http://i55.tinypic.com/212xp4o.png" style="border: 0px currentColor;" /></a>
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</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">1. Don't be so self-critical... the opinions of those you think matter now really don't at all.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">2. Don't be afraid to speak your mind, as you get older it gets easier to do, but a head start would have been nice.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">3. Spend more time outside soaking up the fresh air & smelling Grandma's lillies... Your life will get too busy to slow down & just relax & the smell of those yellow lillies will get harder to remember.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">4. I promise you that it seems to matter so much now... but the boys that break your heart won't matter when you're 28.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">5. Never forget your first kiss or your first heartbreak... you'll learn LOTS from both.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">6. The age/color/model of the car that picks you up from school doesn't matter... the person driving it is priceless... cherish those car rides now.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">7. Ask her how to cook saurkraut... I know you think it's gross, but it's a heritage thing & you'll wish you knew so you could teach your kids.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">8. Those "friends" that aren't that loyal now will grow up to be just as un-loyal later in life, so don't waste energy or emotion... it'll save you a lot of time & heart ache.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">9. Don't be so heartbroken on Mother/Daughter or Father/Daughter functions... You'll be a parent that makes up for it in the end.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">10. Instead of pouting because you get drug along to ANOTHER ANTIQUE STORE... relish it. The stories, smell & history will be fond memories later.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">11. Don't be so aggrivated at your little sister... she looks up to you... be a role model.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">12. You're going to meet a sweet & handsome guy soon on a blind date... don't let your ages scare you... he's "the one", you just lucked out & found him earlier than most:)</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">13. Pay more attention at football, soccer & baseball games... you're going to have a son & you're going to need to know the rules.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">14. Don't ever call yourself chubby or tolerate anyone else doing it either... You'll reach an age where you realize your body is capable of carrying a child & becoming a mother... You'll appreciate the body you had "back then".</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">15. Close your eyes & memorize the smell of black coffee... you'll smell it when you think of your Grandpa.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">16. Be appreciative of your first car... Yes it is a boy's truck, but it does the job.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">17. Take more pictures... you'll wish you would have later.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">18. Spend more time in the garden with her... you'll want to plat a garden later but think you have a "black thumb".</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">19. I know you hate math... but try harder, it doesn't get any easier in college.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">20. Value those that value you now... They're still going to be around when you're 28... so treat them well.</div><br />
<img align="middle" src="http://i55.tinypic.com/212xp4o.png" style="border: 0;" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856825962356194162.post-17998105771884972332011-10-03T23:28:00.000-05:002011-10-03T23:28:33.490-05:00Le Papier Studio<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;">There is nothing more classic than a silhouette... Vana Chupp, owner of Le Papier Studio has taken the timelss art of silhouettes & given them a modern twist. I was lucky enough to have her create the custom silhouette of {Aidan Grace} when the re-branding was started. I am in love with it & could not have asked for anything that captured my Kaleb Aidan & Emma-Grace more perfectly!</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnn6-lAtVgeFmFUPcKKn0nhX8TUede5paA3JuXB8YHSd-jjuBgqDXKgByXRMv_SIovT9v3m3wBbuxlMqkEfWbR996m0bh9UImXL2KyuijhJRgM85gKR09jW8EVO_mkGsuTk8lV4FXMJOw/s1600/ag_postcard1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnn6-lAtVgeFmFUPcKKn0nhX8TUede5paA3JuXB8YHSd-jjuBgqDXKgByXRMv_SIovT9v3m3wBbuxlMqkEfWbR996m0bh9UImXL2KyuijhJRgM85gKR09jW8EVO_mkGsuTk8lV4FXMJOw/s320/ag_postcard1.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"> </div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;">Professionally trained as an architect, Vana Chupp has always been artistically inspired by the sweet and simple moments in life. Her craft was born with the birth of her beautiful boy Nikolas. Documenting her son's milestones by cleverly capturing his personality, emotion, playfulness and essence, she began using silhouettes to tell her own life story. It's a love story - continuing to blossom, with Nikolas as her muse. Coming full circle, Vana was able to combine her passion and artistic expressions and share it all with you!<br />
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In 2008 Vana launched her dream job; Le Papier Studio, a small woman-owned business that expresses creativity and inspiration, all the while giving her time to fulfill her most important job; being a mom. Le Papier Studio specializes in illustrating unique custom silhouettes. Vana's charming and intimate custom silhouettes will capture your heart and symbolize your treasured memories for years to come. We work with you to design and illustrate the people, pets, and special moments in your life using your photographs. From invitation and stationery sets to birthday gifts and valentine ideas, Le Papier Studio would love the opportunity to transform the apples of your eye into artistic heirlooms.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;">Vana offers a wide variety of precious pre-created silhouettes as well as does them as a custom piece. With the holidays fast approaching you need to hop on over to her website (<a href="http://www.lepapierstudio.com/">Le Papier Studio</a>) & check out all she has to offer! My favorite is her new silhouette jewelry... </div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiivbxoiOD8NkuMf9CjwKUNTzllGue5o-VKs6246v4r9MTSxHjsdr4u3N806OcfZ2sCcrelsYsyrY0Ucn93zeKkTZ4bvtw1ufD-5tj86dbLWBb2tYppK3E6Vk_KJ4nlVVCY-lEmxyNWpgI/s1600/294210_10150388569415935_178979985934_10283062_798554935_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiivbxoiOD8NkuMf9CjwKUNTzllGue5o-VKs6246v4r9MTSxHjsdr4u3N806OcfZ2sCcrelsYsyrY0Ucn93zeKkTZ4bvtw1ufD-5tj86dbLWBb2tYppK3E6Vk_KJ4nlVVCY-lEmxyNWpgI/s320/294210_10150388569415935_178979985934_10283062_798554935_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;">As well as her website, you can find her on etsy (<a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/lepapierstudio?ref=ss_profile">Le Papier Studio on ETSY</a>) or pick up her published book...</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5dkELSmrD_vYBCYozHJL3zjylB1INSzJ1Ro7oOqs1RV9l6UyU3g44V5bORwUxcJg-bLCy9h6jgavMJwisfqAivuS2gfgnQRFeZHj6_chWJs2chyphucOQ5oBaHCBXmWm-ku1Pt9YWl1o/s1600/silhouetteart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5dkELSmrD_vYBCYozHJL3zjylB1INSzJ1Ro7oOqs1RV9l6UyU3g44V5bORwUxcJg-bLCy9h6jgavMJwisfqAivuS2gfgnQRFeZHj6_chWJs2chyphucOQ5oBaHCBXmWm-ku1Pt9YWl1o/s1600/silhouetteart.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"> Don't be jealous... I DO own a signed copy!</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;">I know I'm going to be ordering my share for Christmas... so take those photos & contact Vana today for your custom item. I hope you all love her work as much as me!</div><br />
<img align="middle" src="http://i55.tinypic.com/212xp4o.png" style="border: 0;" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856825962356194162.post-56395564249488641202011-09-26T13:34:00.002-05:002011-09-26T13:44:49.992-05:00Luv-Me-Knot Boutique<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;">My first "Mom-preneur Monday" features my sweet friend Ariane Macnevin, the creative mind behind <a href="http://www.luvmeknot.com/">Luv-Me-Knot Boutique</a>. I can vouch for Ariane's work... she is nothing short of amazing & so creative! Her business is booming & I think I'm pretty lucky to call her a friend. Luv-Me-Knot offers gorgeous bows & clothing... Please take some time to check her out here... <a href="http://www.luvmeknot.com/">Luv-Me-Knot Botuique (website)</a>, here... <a href="http://www.facebook.com/luvmeknot">Luv-Me-Knot Boutique (facebook)</a> & her etsy/read to ship here... <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/luvmeknot?ref=ss_profile">Luv-Me-Knot (etsy)</a>!</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;">She just made her NEW Christmas items available, so you better order while you can! How cute is this?!?</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_OUxb5HVpGWMoBAOsMTLVMO8_Yayu_QblLDqbOlKkir-Yr1VOQgKwh6y4wJnpUBVmk3Hwb7YQobllvca0o4YfV1hTTs79bTipyhPbKw0yswWrtjQQgmLb8Tp9t7g6Q7t5SUe0dweGw04/s1600/luvmeknot1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_OUxb5HVpGWMoBAOsMTLVMO8_Yayu_QblLDqbOlKkir-Yr1VOQgKwh6y4wJnpUBVmk3Hwb7YQobllvca0o4YfV1hTTs79bTipyhPbKw0yswWrtjQQgmLb8Tp9t7g6Q7t5SUe0dweGw04/s320/luvmeknot1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">You can order the Snowman Monogram Top & Bow </span><a href="http://luvmeknot.com/item_869/Snowman-Monogram-Top.htm" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">HERE</a><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">!</span></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">If you're interested in being featured please e-mail me at esther@aidangrace.com... I would love to learn more about you & your business!</span></div><br />
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<img align="middle" src="http://i55.tinypic.com/212xp4o.png" style="border: 0;" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856825962356194162.post-15235996424959907302011-09-23T13:58:00.000-05:002011-09-26T13:45:02.676-05:00{Mom-preneur Monday} Intro<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: left;">Hey ya'll! </div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: left;">Yesterday on my sewing break, aka, lunch I thought of a brilliant idea & want to share it with you. First off let me say that in 2007 when I gave birth to my second child, my daughter, Emma-Grace I desperately wanted to find a way to stay home & for us as a family to still be financially stable. My pregnacy was followed by a job change for my hubby & my "part time/ hobby" gig quickly became a necessity. When I made my first craft supply shopping trip I had no clue that just a couple short years later I would be contacted by Southern Lady Magazine's editor. She was impressed with my work & I was selected to be featured in the Mother's Day Edition 2010. What an amazing opportunity!</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5nwzHHM_AB2N4XwNrh6D09mRumeZ_xZoKGurGbI0oY6FZi4MdzKKkMn0tb9fkXJ8pVKyudgOZEmkSbR7k1hB0dLTZ4b7NVVIM3cZm0ZQAXrv3W-bhMthGUAukA6jNmmQDrkzQHRq3PLE/s1600/Southern+Lady+Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5nwzHHM_AB2N4XwNrh6D09mRumeZ_xZoKGurGbI0oY6FZi4MdzKKkMn0tb9fkXJ8pVKyudgOZEmkSbR7k1hB0dLTZ4b7NVVIM3cZm0ZQAXrv3W-bhMthGUAukA6jNmmQDrkzQHRq3PLE/s320/Southern+Lady+Cover.jpg" width="235" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: left;">When you start a business as a hobby & it grows quicker than you ever imagined, it's an amazing feeling knowing that every day that you go to "work" you're building your own dreams... what you do or don't do directly effects your aspirations & your family. I was blessed to have a supportive & understanding family that backed me 100%... they still do! My business was grown on late nights after my baby went to sleep, and I wasn't alone... that's how a lot of Mom's start their business... it's late nights, sacrifice, & asking yourself a LOT of hard questions. Being a WAHM still comes at a cost, the benefits are great, but you have to put in the work & time. </div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: left;">During my growth as Diaper Diva Boutique I realized that this business is full of all kinds of women. I have made some true friendships; some with women that live states away, but I can pick up the phone & call to vent to or run an idea across... and I can trust them 100% We all started somewhere... that's what this is about. </div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: left;">In 2011 Diaper Diva Boutique officially grew into Aidan Grace Boutique... it hasn't been an easy change, and it's kind of like starting from scratch again. That being said, I have slowed down & realized that a lot of female business owners reach a point where they forget where they started... their ego gets ahead of their talent & the connection with other Moms gets lost along the way. I was a Mom who started just like every other successful "Mom-preneur" has & I want to help inspire & encourage other women who put in those late nights & long hours... all in the dreams that they will "make it" one day too. {Mom-preneur Mondays} will be a mix of stories of how businesses started, dreams were set in motion & where they are now. Some up & coming "new" WAHMs will be introduced & hopefully we can all connect & share. After 3+ years in business I have a list of great, sweet women I will be introducing you to over the next few Mondays, but I would love to hear from you as well. Maybe you're starting out, or maybe you've been around a while & want to share your story & some tips... please e-mail me at esther@aidangrace.com with the subject {Mom-preneur Monday} & look forward to hearing from you!<br />
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My first {Mom-preneur Monday} post will be this Monday, September 26th!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
<img align="middle" src="http://i55.tinypic.com/212xp4o.png" style="border: 0;" /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856825962356194162.post-43378479358895076512011-09-01T16:29:00.002-05:002011-09-01T16:35:50.481-05:00Sangria anyone?<div style="text-align: center;">Peach Sangria anyone?<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV-hT4NX43kmigjyevIxWVIHR0LxmDUwc8MJb1XKQIbz0z-LqWRAOwuiHQPAPu6wYONwvUSEGFlJP27R3XI5x3hORQICA6g6RW5mu8g5QruDMJ4gUjO1krkGvPvENoTMiw5tDJ_jK16cM/s1600/sangria-53.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV-hT4NX43kmigjyevIxWVIHR0LxmDUwc8MJb1XKQIbz0z-LqWRAOwuiHQPAPu6wYONwvUSEGFlJP27R3XI5x3hORQICA6g6RW5mu8g5QruDMJ4gUjO1krkGvPvENoTMiw5tDJ_jK16cM/s320/sangria-53.gif" width="214" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
OK... I am newly addicted to <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/">Pinterest</a> & stumbled across two recipes for homemade Sangria.</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">This one: Peach Sangria via <a href="http://thebostondaybook.com/2011/04/peach-sangria/">'The Boston Day Book'</a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNVaEcVGeb4sgQ-P_HG8A8SegUJ56dV4uHfpXeMfRWafBeJ4E7aupQ8dl9O8thR556ll0_avrn0pzVYSkT3xKH3VbI6qJ16SkSj2nIObaQ7TvlqIr66W78fvCVnlVqDkNer33IJdqkyJc/s1600/peach+sangria.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNVaEcVGeb4sgQ-P_HG8A8SegUJ56dV4uHfpXeMfRWafBeJ4E7aupQ8dl9O8thR556ll0_avrn0pzVYSkT3xKH3VbI6qJ16SkSj2nIObaQ7TvlqIr66W78fvCVnlVqDkNer33IJdqkyJc/s1600/peach+sangria.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">& this one: White Sangria Sparkler via <a href="http://lindawagner.net/blog/2011/07/skinny-girl-cocktail/">'Linda Wagner'</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJs_sKqvj9ORv7TKTcKBngmC0j4pSF-7dqdAWDmxOpGU59U-B7kDyV8hTAunx46oRkK5gi7LdvuWSrmlmyjpXG2AAZvppdYrKJMMEfkyvXshxXivNmwEGl2lp7T81AGf1ZNlgKt6vuLs4/s1600/white+peach+sangria.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJs_sKqvj9ORv7TKTcKBngmC0j4pSF-7dqdAWDmxOpGU59U-B7kDyV8hTAunx46oRkK5gi7LdvuWSrmlmyjpXG2AAZvppdYrKJMMEfkyvXshxXivNmwEGl2lp7T81AGf1ZNlgKt6vuLs4/s1600/white+peach+sangria.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
Well, I read & re-read both recipes & decided I was going to have a go at it but change it up. Here is my recipe & I won't lie... it's YUMMY, YUMMY, YUMMY!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZXvq9nT5wZLQAJFkU_HsZ8kWEpb5ND0D3XRaCUbljgFMRpvcvh7IbLKVo8WnNNTzsvqA8zNeIHVm1q1_CMKKQDO9791r3y0v72l3_HEwhRDTWoh3HJkhYKEybplOOhVXOzFUqLt1csW0/s1600/sangria-28.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZXvq9nT5wZLQAJFkU_HsZ8kWEpb5ND0D3XRaCUbljgFMRpvcvh7IbLKVo8WnNNTzsvqA8zNeIHVm1q1_CMKKQDO9791r3y0v72l3_HEwhRDTWoh3HJkhYKEybplOOhVXOzFUqLt1csW0/s320/sangria-28.gif" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
You'll need:</div><div style="text-align: center;">1 bottle of white wine</div><div style="text-align: center;">1 cup *not pictured* peach (or flavor of your choice) schnapps</div><div style="text-align: center;">1 lemonade concentrate</div><div style="text-align: center;">1 liter of club soda *chilled</div><div style="text-align: center;">&</div><div style="text-align: center;">fresh fruit of your choice</div><div style="text-align: center;">*I used a white peach, regular peach, strawberries, kiwi & grapes<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYJ0c8Lwc5WYExyX-Uh18y2cRHHXMYruZ3Dr8oIPMDR_jCInjEx0BfZ_Wn8juOsDvELPP97Ft7NT36ybFWsSdh0L2gZZr6D6cXOXNTEDxU7kU-s1ZdLZlRVdhqLN_VEzR-mUz1p6ntPBY/s1600/sangria-31.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYJ0c8Lwc5WYExyX-Uh18y2cRHHXMYruZ3Dr8oIPMDR_jCInjEx0BfZ_Wn8juOsDvELPP97Ft7NT36ybFWsSdh0L2gZZr6D6cXOXNTEDxU7kU-s1ZdLZlRVdhqLN_VEzR-mUz1p6ntPBY/s320/sangria-31.gif" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
I used a gallon plastic pitcher to store mine in over night & a fancier glass pitcher for serving at the party the next day.</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">Wash & cut your fruit & add to your storage pitcher, then add your bottle of white wine, cup of schnapps, & lemonade concentrate. Stir. Then pop your lid on & store in the fridge overnight (or at least a few hours).<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUL3ptv0KgQTsg6G4xuQVdeCs-ek4WOlpsU4qDfjz1jlBXWmHEzGDqPw1u_5OWIj6IeADvspPAbeqCU8SV0SHeFk4RNumYzM_BhpupWgg8FgavGbdiP8AfvPblDfo9-d5PLbQGWFQ9a7k/s1600/sangria-32.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUL3ptv0KgQTsg6G4xuQVdeCs-ek4WOlpsU4qDfjz1jlBXWmHEzGDqPw1u_5OWIj6IeADvspPAbeqCU8SV0SHeFk4RNumYzM_BhpupWgg8FgavGbdiP8AfvPblDfo9-d5PLbQGWFQ9a7k/s320/sangria-32.gif" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU2yxo8mHnCrRWKU-nozfxNiAhLRczQ_ouSaO5Uf1FAmSgF8Uo1CWQ8FPlbUHHpBB100i6NOh0DN1zMwdH0bl1GMOywnzN0b9mu5P3jaUvJ7oOQ8UTpYH6lYZfeh4rNeFQQgFwVYUQRvA/s1600/sangria-35.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU2yxo8mHnCrRWKU-nozfxNiAhLRczQ_ouSaO5Uf1FAmSgF8Uo1CWQ8FPlbUHHpBB100i6NOh0DN1zMwdH0bl1GMOywnzN0b9mu5P3jaUvJ7oOQ8UTpYH6lYZfeh4rNeFQQgFwVYUQRvA/s320/sangria-35.gif" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
I used this wine:<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK3HUpOAYguB8c0KPLnKxGFGqnXnRsRTwJECqYkJzTLNfIjN-q2W01KvE4-gylHh1mnC0yLm3WI_6Qzp0OKADt-R2u7g4MYGbw-OMuPcw06j04v1-8M92FSDhZoSkuDjpIzqHAUxrQdS4/s1600/sangria-25.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK3HUpOAYguB8c0KPLnKxGFGqnXnRsRTwJECqYkJzTLNfIjN-q2W01KvE4-gylHh1mnC0yLm3WI_6Qzp0OKADt-R2u7g4MYGbw-OMuPcw06j04v1-8M92FSDhZoSkuDjpIzqHAUxrQdS4/s320/sangria-25.gif" width="204" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
Partly because I think the label is cute... not that "versed" on wine, but a fan of anything cutesy. And it turned out delicious... so I lucked out! Come on... it's too cute! PS, found it at HEB.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">When you're ready to serve simply pour your mixture into your fancier pitcher if another is being used & then pour your club soda & stir again.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">DONE.<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVpGDAPf3fMDk6sLbHsQAdH97toyy3xr7Vrl4sSF6-8QJkuJAPV4oQawQjsGuHA3X_6tp8VnRPJ2MhRT0O0TGUuJoyw4K2cDfgbcJudBci3zvsxx1RH2hqm-MTB4fMK7W_C6z3GktglNw/s1600/sangria-57.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVpGDAPf3fMDk6sLbHsQAdH97toyy3xr7Vrl4sSF6-8QJkuJAPV4oQawQjsGuHA3X_6tp8VnRPJ2MhRT0O0TGUuJoyw4K2cDfgbcJudBci3zvsxx1RH2hqm-MTB4fMK7W_C6z3GktglNw/s320/sangria-57.gif" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
WARNING: I do NOT drink hardly ever & two glasses made me have to sit down. I may or may not be a wimp, but the other ladies who tried it gave it two thumbs up & said it had a kick. In my opinion, it had a delicious fruity taste & the club soda add just enough fizz. This would be a PERFECT summer party drink... for some reason I keep thinking Baby Shower, but that would be no fun for Mom-To-Be, although I'm sure you could use your noggin & adapt it to be a "Virgin" cocktail.</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">Hope you all give it a whirl while it's still HOT outside... call your girlfriends over, lay by the pool & bottoms up!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img align="middle" src="http://i55.tinypic.com/212xp4o.png" style="border: 0;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856825962356194162.post-33364483861552616242011-07-28T10:27:00.002-05:002011-08-24T12:54:41.148-05:00{Some Lovely Advice}<div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">Life is not always easy, & believe me... it's not always perfect. There are days that go amazingly according to plan & days when it goes completely off course. But all in all, it's a great thing to be reminded of a few things. Who knows... maybe today is one of those days for you, where it's going completely off course & this may be just what you needed to hear.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrFcO2HgPIxhLpbYVIdMBgCUG_kexQiJ9ysDYFDo5Y2HC0yu3tnJfDMBtBFrhc3temG4iCyI7y94HQaPhXfsf7CXEmBYHN3zc9JzGzie3jFm8rFCqdGoEowcd_aF0iEvztxA3lDVhRnmg/s1600/Inspiration7..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrFcO2HgPIxhLpbYVIdMBgCUG_kexQiJ9ysDYFDo5Y2HC0yu3tnJfDMBtBFrhc3temG4iCyI7y94HQaPhXfsf7CXEmBYHN3zc9JzGzie3jFm8rFCqdGoEowcd_aF0iEvztxA3lDVhRnmg/s1600/Inspiration7..jpg" t$="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">{Health}</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk2hCfoZXEXPXSfeNkO5CXwdgokMWNmXU8_IlaRuk97DA02FBZyNIJmF-egJSRxGUsFXLrxBsUecVAvMI8-eVIX2EtOMtBOqboqVRF622u7A5Hp8Q0o6yyDMgKqVf3cRgspm-QZG6_o7A/s1600/166812_482544352594_54209502594_6486797_7936405_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk2hCfoZXEXPXSfeNkO5CXwdgokMWNmXU8_IlaRuk97DA02FBZyNIJmF-egJSRxGUsFXLrxBsUecVAvMI8-eVIX2EtOMtBOqboqVRF622u7A5Hp8Q0o6yyDMgKqVf3cRgspm-QZG6_o7A/s1600/166812_482544352594_54209502594_6486797_7936405_n.jpg" t$="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">1. Drink plenty of water.</div><div style="text-align: left;">2. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.</div><div style="text-align: left;">3. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.</div><div style="text-align: left;">4. Live with the 3 E’s - Energy, Enthusiasm and Empathy</div><div style="text-align: left;">5. Play more games.</div><div style="text-align: left;">6. Read more books than you did in 2010.</div><div style="text-align: left;">7. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.</div><div style="text-align: left;">8. Sleep for 7 hours.</div><div style="text-align: left;">9. Take a 10-30 minutes walk daily. And while you walk, smile.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">{Personality}</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4w6ZCH8F60hPnsRTUj0VpQKDXRem-GVWkRLZR9oDPlWdIBRQj7vtbN6kus4spQllPNyiyweVqICcsZj7DIkM9tMVL4BXkKGJXlJtc3DwuAjr-ruQLbonpIIY9ewOoezh1Zt4c0X0dHtM/s1600/Inspiration8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4w6ZCH8F60hPnsRTUj0VpQKDXRem-GVWkRLZR9oDPlWdIBRQj7vtbN6kus4spQllPNyiyweVqICcsZj7DIkM9tMVL4BXkKGJXlJtc3DwuAjr-ruQLbonpIIY9ewOoezh1Zt4c0X0dHtM/s1600/Inspiration8.jpg" t$="true" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">1. Don't compare yourself to others, you have no idea what their journey is about.</div><div style="text-align: left;">2. Don’t have negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.</div><div style="text-align: left;">3. Don’t over do. Keep your limits.</div><div style="text-align: left;">4. Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.</div><div style="text-align: left;">5. Don’t waste your precious energy on gossip.</div><div style="text-align: left;">6. Dream more while you are awake.</div><div style="text-align: left;">7. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.</div><div style="text-align: left;">8. Forget issues of the past. Don’t remind your partner with his/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.</div><div style="text-align: left;">9. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don’t hate others.</div><div style="text-align: left;">10. Make peace with your past so it won’t spoil the present.</div><div style="text-align: left;">11. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.</div><div style="text-align: left;">12. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class, but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.</div><div style="text-align: left;">13. Smile and laugh more.</div><div style="text-align: left;">14. You don’t have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">{Society}</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_AaO6Z_5-aKxiY6rL_05kGbhuAKqC9ZZw4eLjBUXyH5y2-B4YMyVO1wKz7KIfaX9IJ1VXc44eqKvgT3Tz7xdjb2oWAABOb7w0bcdY0LnY-uIsCy1_NsicGT7zp6oV0V8prteo7xB6p4k/s1600/165140_1703483798795_1588983517_1557193_411083_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_AaO6Z_5-aKxiY6rL_05kGbhuAKqC9ZZw4eLjBUXyH5y2-B4YMyVO1wKz7KIfaX9IJ1VXc44eqKvgT3Tz7xdjb2oWAABOb7w0bcdY0LnY-uIsCy1_NsicGT7zp6oV0V8prteo7xB6p4k/s1600/165140_1703483798795_1588983517_1557193_411083_n.jpg" t$="true" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">1. Call your family often.</div><div style="text-align: left;">2. Each day give something good to others.</div><div style="text-align: left;">3. Forgive everyone for everything.</div><div style="text-align: left;">4. Spend time with people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6.</div><div style="text-align: left;">5. Try to make at least three people smile each day.</div><div style="text-align: left;">6. What other people think of you is none of your business.</div><div style="text-align: left;">7. Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">{Life}</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzW2jvga83kHLgwOdEgKxx5SUkLVdPonIj6y9RRk5DoXfkH_PNtQBibi1l66F4ERMKkyrRI0l-FYCY6ncPooaLJZOEJDVrnWYS3KGbfKxC0C4NyIbaT7uJXnOz-Xqy6zge0rm99mrOYks/s1600/Inspiration2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzW2jvga83kHLgwOdEgKxx5SUkLVdPonIj6y9RRk5DoXfkH_PNtQBibi1l66F4ERMKkyrRI0l-FYCY6ncPooaLJZOEJDVrnWYS3KGbfKxC0C4NyIbaT7uJXnOz-Xqy6zge0rm99mrOYks/s1600/Inspiration2.jpg" t$="true" /></a></div><div align="center" style="text-align: left;">1. Do the right thing!</div><div style="text-align: left;">2. Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful or joyful.</div><div style="text-align: left;">3. However good or bad a situation is, it will change. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.</div><div style="text-align: left;">4. The best is yet to come.</div><div style="text-align: left;">5. Your Inner most is always happy. So, be happy.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">{My Personal Mantra}</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoad9kVXT7NpSU3NxZCBk1oF83yKQabiEWvUVdguEkAClLaBlG7oiVe5arHJCB29lf4nMeRY1SySxVz0ys7p-OsDyZz81GIm3WF5crQgOyW053xY67nacYZlInIZFJ4y7Z6SDDiRLz5pc/s1600/Inspiration6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoad9kVXT7NpSU3NxZCBk1oF83yKQabiEWvUVdguEkAClLaBlG7oiVe5arHJCB29lf4nMeRY1SySxVz0ys7p-OsDyZz81GIm3WF5crQgOyW053xY67nacYZlInIZFJ4y7Z6SDDiRLz5pc/s1600/Inspiration6.jpg" t$="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdujpxFNbLlZtkgGPBBNGGadv3XUFCX_xSoA0Su5Dcmyr0RUP3gGlHQkbVJDF9TdhVcpYbQIx7PbLqNP8q5CEOrEQG6kqiJWApFzyqibdCWLPvdzAY05NCyZt6_Qh9DqgdfMwh1Ke4lCE/s1600/signature.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdujpxFNbLlZtkgGPBBNGGadv3XUFCX_xSoA0Su5Dcmyr0RUP3gGlHQkbVJDF9TdhVcpYbQIx7PbLqNP8q5CEOrEQG6kqiJWApFzyqibdCWLPvdzAY05NCyZt6_Qh9DqgdfMwh1Ke4lCE/s1600/signature.png" t$="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856825962356194162.post-47185096608700515472011-07-26T10:59:00.001-05:002011-07-26T11:03:18.829-05:00{Bloom Lamp}<div style="text-align: center;">Well, working on the house has been an ongoing project & prbably will be for a while. I am a big beliver in letting the room & time help decorate, meaning I don't run out & buy everything needed & throw it together. I start with a piece of two that inspire the room idea, then paint & furniture placement, followed by leaning pictures & decor against the wall & moving it around before ever tapping a nail with a hammer. I move around & change things often before they find a home. Besides it's your home, as Oprah & Nate say it's needs to rise up & greet you when you come in as well as reflect who you are. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">The kid's rooms have been the focus over the last few weeks. They are both lacking window treatments & pillows, but the machine has been taken up with <a href="http://www.aidangrace.com/">{Aidan Grace}</a> orders here recently. I believe next week I'll be able to get some projects of my own done for the house & the kiddo's upcoming birthday party. Emma needs her dance bag finished before that starts up in August too. But all in good time. After refinishing a dresser & an armoire her room is really coming together. Her room may be my favorite room in the house... I may just move in:) Anyway, I thought about doing this lamp shade a while back & it was an easy project so I thought I would share. Here goes:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><strong>You will need:</strong></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitlM05nx2l0s1I-Dqjrg_KoT1VLqim7_04OlQconHuqGtZTxmRRJrMCAj2K_HbjrLaDAv8M-igTV7ouMpk4_VHQP0exJo2N610NalnIoSAzRh4CpdPKdxjYlwgjd7uMR6_lazax1dC3gA/s1600/001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitlM05nx2l0s1I-Dqjrg_KoT1VLqim7_04OlQconHuqGtZTxmRRJrMCAj2K_HbjrLaDAv8M-igTV7ouMpk4_VHQP0exJo2N610NalnIoSAzRh4CpdPKdxjYlwgjd7uMR6_lazax1dC3gA/s320/001.jpg" t$="true" width="214" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">A lamp of your choice (this was in Kaleb's nursery, we've had it forever) & a plain shade ($5 at Wal Mart). I would suggest a solid color just because bits of it are inevetably going to peek through, so you don't want some crazy pattern showing.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0OxRY0JHgsz-yBYlSSPCoaSpZRuAXVCtreMX8sxlczBIRbBxmSRwBzgLuM557FTHMLWVXbCLiPKoMXNFqicDyb6yY8t4hH3Z1LfziEeZLASUjIxODjpHWtZHB6ZVgV2dJuKr6Vyf0lYk/s1600/006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0OxRY0JHgsz-yBYlSSPCoaSpZRuAXVCtreMX8sxlczBIRbBxmSRwBzgLuM557FTHMLWVXbCLiPKoMXNFqicDyb6yY8t4hH3Z1LfziEeZLASUjIxODjpHWtZHB6ZVgV2dJuKr6Vyf0lYk/s320/006.jpg" t$="true" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Some artifical flowers. These are two pregrouped bouqets from Hobby Lobby, origionally $16 each, on sale half price. I selected one that has peach tones & one that has pink. I also bought two small tea rose stems .98 each to fill in any bare spaces at the end. You will want to use nippers (*shown next) to trim the flowers off of the stems.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjTo-OWZKOivYFZLL7IQ2uZyc3B3-3Clk52C3Nuan-6O-xkdnseqLV26Jht-JBrBdwL-KuOkTzTnzQPJgG1k1ocEcBREKdB62brAds10g_34AhWIv7TKQ3YpKkY3Nqpl4Cx5Jg77fViSE/s1600/010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjTo-OWZKOivYFZLL7IQ2uZyc3B3-3Clk52C3Nuan-6O-xkdnseqLV26Jht-JBrBdwL-KuOkTzTnzQPJgG1k1ocEcBREKdB62brAds10g_34AhWIv7TKQ3YpKkY3Nqpl4Cx5Jg77fViSE/s320/010.jpg" t$="true" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">LOTS of glue sticks... I used all of these plus ended up grabbing two more from the Sewing Room before I was done & wire nippers or a pair of sharp scissors.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><strong>Now you're ready to create your shade:</strong></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"> I suggest placing your largest flowers first & working your way down in size. I stuck my little pink tea roses on at the very end to cover up any "bare space" left. The end result is a super fabulous flower covered {Bloom Lamp}. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit73ZKqfScNrIU2wQB_k7gT1CPo6bIharifm_HSPqsHRaQv0lyqAd01wbwHeXXZulcUun9d0ht9D2bhuvdpE98RBaSlCUFaQiIuPWYdl7qKZ0qQDE-Jrhadwo6NPagTYAaYGrbx7VXsUA/s1600/014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit73ZKqfScNrIU2wQB_k7gT1CPo6bIharifm_HSPqsHRaQv0lyqAd01wbwHeXXZulcUun9d0ht9D2bhuvdpE98RBaSlCUFaQiIuPWYdl7qKZ0qQDE-Jrhadwo6NPagTYAaYGrbx7VXsUA/s320/014.jpg" t$="true" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhswCf585jPytT9IcJ9p5EhWwdgDfy4km1aUe7l1oM1iS3UtzCzfiMbue-mm8zM_35XofP8G6NZ8T3wl_leV5S-JVt-WrbP8atEcqdC2oQiHI_IJXtV3iDFynFy7BwH6BEHe1dBZDBZ7To/s1600/013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhswCf585jPytT9IcJ9p5EhWwdgDfy4km1aUe7l1oM1iS3UtzCzfiMbue-mm8zM_35XofP8G6NZ8T3wl_leV5S-JVt-WrbP8atEcqdC2oQiHI_IJXtV3iDFynFy7BwH6BEHe1dBZDBZ7To/s320/013.jpg" t$="true" width="214" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwr75WZFtgerBGleh-nW7KpC8aZ1IWAbCNT2otYBn1ArXMEQY9I9BuvBhlyYkJY9vxm65eoQSCf4eIt0x6h9lyAlhcAC4KgSlHHqDuENY6RxRx9B0zFdaP1EtRnddCUa3TCNEgEVQCNJ0/s1600/015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwr75WZFtgerBGleh-nW7KpC8aZ1IWAbCNT2otYBn1ArXMEQY9I9BuvBhlyYkJY9vxm65eoQSCf4eIt0x6h9lyAlhcAC4KgSlHHqDuENY6RxRx9B0zFdaP1EtRnddCUa3TCNEgEVQCNJ0/s320/015.jpg" t$="true" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0WTU0600tuFr7M-sQ_lzGMWuzVOXRqcWXvNTd0Zeqg8xbZLhHjam5pcxPRZgyP11L41RlVkdPWoEkGhkpJOf942tqmXMAfoTqJFqQD6S-X1H8xSNZ7ZesTnJGNqAOJewDspEN-CXpd7I/s1600/016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0WTU0600tuFr7M-sQ_lzGMWuzVOXRqcWXvNTd0Zeqg8xbZLhHjam5pcxPRZgyP11L41RlVkdPWoEkGhkpJOf942tqmXMAfoTqJFqQD6S-X1H8xSNZ7ZesTnJGNqAOJewDspEN-CXpd7I/s320/016.jpg" t$="true" width="214" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> I think it would be cute done in just petals as well. But this really just added a little wow factor to Emma's room. Look how sweet when it was all finished & in her room...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiInSJQXtMt3m_lkDPcD326DBhxaj93zhvDE-LFkuQg5jWbvXgYiTk70mhJux-_Sl3_cpiESn6Iv3TJ69P0fQq7JvLWi3Rkvg486H7Qm7t2Uhv7cQA-sGgvHtUF3C5sSCZ8r08-IE5wajU/s1600/031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiInSJQXtMt3m_lkDPcD326DBhxaj93zhvDE-LFkuQg5jWbvXgYiTk70mhJux-_Sl3_cpiESn6Iv3TJ69P0fQq7JvLWi3Rkvg486H7Qm7t2Uhv7cQA-sGgvHtUF3C5sSCZ8r08-IE5wajU/s320/031.jpg" t$="true" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">One of my favorite pics of my two munchkins... That's Emma at one week old & Kaleb is feeding her a bottle... he's been in love with her from day one... for the most part:)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Here's a pic of it lit, I love how the light bounces off of the varnished diamonds.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJxLff5naRpaREWvP8cts4CI_MlvwFzyEvgxV-UlS2y2ipaEwh-39sDjIi4jB96QVq-R7mHYkCZB8zDgUHYfUVsh4wxpY-zp0jIVGcRD3Q6sLjLAGoAvIRTkVRvnAUnS4xu0De7HknyPU/s1600/022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJxLff5naRpaREWvP8cts4CI_MlvwFzyEvgxV-UlS2y2ipaEwh-39sDjIi4jB96QVq-R7mHYkCZB8zDgUHYfUVsh4wxpY-zp0jIVGcRD3Q6sLjLAGoAvIRTkVRvnAUnS4xu0De7HknyPU/s320/022.jpg" t$="true" width="214" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Here are a couple pics of her room with the new armoir done, the dresser is done to match as well, but I will share more pics as I move on with her room. Her little side table... should I paint it a dark pink or leave it cream... decision, decisions!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj842hIQ8Ta2Cy99I0ClNOOFdUo15cj0VUczE719Zd6YZniKuptVNNMkfGJeu3_tXMSMZWEIi35IFYiBIDw6njrmg8HJhfyHh7U04Vph1nhSdB9Pt9k1fr8PnZykm6ioNFxajnEhZZubiE/s1600/029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj842hIQ8Ta2Cy99I0ClNOOFdUo15cj0VUczE719Zd6YZniKuptVNNMkfGJeu3_tXMSMZWEIi35IFYiBIDw6njrmg8HJhfyHh7U04Vph1nhSdB9Pt9k1fr8PnZykm6ioNFxajnEhZZubiE/s320/029.jpg" t$="true" width="214" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFBqrX8_2ePIQjeTXXNRlr4934hQORoHMamv5EOS4wWHv-FGrqY8vW6BRAFcvjLQCNkwbirqXT9DQiaYa8E76H64Ix7gSjvZFZyKmEssdsSBcR_rlBoS1H5YZ1S9ZAimHsWIZ4OUzEh3g/s1600/026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFBqrX8_2ePIQjeTXXNRlr4934hQORoHMamv5EOS4wWHv-FGrqY8vW6BRAFcvjLQCNkwbirqXT9DQiaYa8E76H64Ix7gSjvZFZyKmEssdsSBcR_rlBoS1H5YZ1S9ZAimHsWIZ4OUzEh3g/s320/026.jpg" t$="true" width="214" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img align="center" src="http://i55.tinypic.com/212xp4o.png" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856825962356194162.post-4238229285768768252011-07-18T16:26:00.002-05:002011-07-18T16:29:57.464-05:00{Moo...}<div style="text-align: center;">Are these cute or what?!? I made 'em!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwJuaqN1vhXyxQBryzpgZcnKG4gi-KldZwBX4yw4iHY7a_Ky_8P-Qm1MTpfvIXeU4i762O-GKRmPyiTKIBpLyv3trLFcE8nL7U6erckzECen0dmqm6c_9pG5P9PzJU6coktBzz8Bjig-g/s1600/046.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwJuaqN1vhXyxQBryzpgZcnKG4gi-KldZwBX4yw4iHY7a_Ky_8P-Qm1MTpfvIXeU4i762O-GKRmPyiTKIBpLyv3trLFcE8nL7U6erckzECen0dmqm6c_9pG5P9PzJU6coktBzz8Bjig-g/s320/046.jpg" width="214" /></a></div><br />
OK, I like to brag as much as the next girl... especially when it's a project and it turns out FABULOUS!!! Friends of mine may know I really enjoy baking & I like learning new things... so when hubby came home with the Bakerella Cake Pops book I was excited & frozen with fear a bit. I had followed her blog & had added the Fan Page on Facebook... but aside from the regualr ol' cake balls I hadn't attempted anything crazy. Here's Bakerella's 'Cow Pops'</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj90gvAVVCvSzPAlk5r3PNiAffHruiXzC_HImi0TPkjECYqzpBs7vJD1RQeC7JFRmeyKNBy8g0JrepmPm4G-s4m8TYQFr9yT-GUhinaooYZEQ7LptrDqSbwfD3Eh941dOaHvCJ_73xl3Dw/s1600/040.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj90gvAVVCvSzPAlk5r3PNiAffHruiXzC_HImi0TPkjECYqzpBs7vJD1RQeC7JFRmeyKNBy8g0JrepmPm4G-s4m8TYQFr9yT-GUhinaooYZEQ7LptrDqSbwfD3Eh941dOaHvCJ_73xl3Dw/s320/040.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Well, hubby's office decided to do something special for the boss man's birthday & boss man likes cows & hay & all that fun stuff. My husband being the comic he <em><strike>is</strike></em>... thinks he is, thought it would be comical for me to come up with "cow patty" cookies as well. So, the end result were Bakerella's Cow Pops & my own little cow patty cookies, or smooshed cake balls covered in chocolate & covered in toasted marshmellows & toffee crunch:)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Here's the final product... not too shabby, & believe it or not, they weren't SUPER hard, they were just plain hard, but completely do-able! *I couldn't find pink M&M's as Bakerella suggests using so I just colored some fondont & made my own little noses;)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUgU_1HhAdF6gySGiCXN3L_CrCCR9LI7vkMojRmDiWqENwP6zo-QZrlItCzLDeRdvaPJGFPelvutaefv_El1sAMULSL2Q-RfjkCHvaSow9A473pKK3RZ1pfrzA53aTmtDaz2atbs233YM/s1600/044.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUgU_1HhAdF6gySGiCXN3L_CrCCR9LI7vkMojRmDiWqENwP6zo-QZrlItCzLDeRdvaPJGFPelvutaefv_El1sAMULSL2Q-RfjkCHvaSow9A473pKK3RZ1pfrzA53aTmtDaz2atbs233YM/s320/044.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD4uwcT2-F-rA0llEfe1BnM45NZ0BKFFM_HQMfSydPlS516l4CUWkCGOHDpZ7zgS3j2voM0WccFxsFdEB5mj_oz_N1ADN5cugN5t7y8fo4cPCVmQClWG_fblutnEnRkcpiO8ZxULoCcwE/s1600/047.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD4uwcT2-F-rA0llEfe1BnM45NZ0BKFFM_HQMfSydPlS516l4CUWkCGOHDpZ7zgS3j2voM0WccFxsFdEB5mj_oz_N1ADN5cugN5t7y8fo4cPCVmQClWG_fblutnEnRkcpiO8ZxULoCcwE/s320/047.jpg" width="214" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And lastly, the "cow patty" cookies lol!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWC9v5vx7ks_dLNRDoVuEl-tqzhdPtb5Z6uDZv0TkVAM9unAQ-Hi5ET6g1KFB39LTSHJcF1v1VIKR2c23dLAzBqTU0-QY5Z1Pz5EuYNmTopEutOXWleDMZ8mkSfPuXIeZGEfXVumDul2k/s1600/052.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWC9v5vx7ks_dLNRDoVuEl-tqzhdPtb5Z6uDZv0TkVAM9unAQ-Hi5ET6g1KFB39LTSHJcF1v1VIKR2c23dLAzBqTU0-QY5Z1Pz5EuYNmTopEutOXWleDMZ8mkSfPuXIeZGEfXVumDul2k/s320/052.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7JmIsXljrXBRh3Rp_VygnFzf0ffENCZ5VaSzz-iYhf-9bhcqiQieF8nFwE13XDDAKTEqAJByYDDhGKjGJXCr1YExbm0nemMVAqEwbEkToyd_2T3X-HMLZchUstJxYL4eB43KP8przYSk/s1600/050.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7JmIsXljrXBRh3Rp_VygnFzf0ffENCZ5VaSzz-iYhf-9bhcqiQieF8nFwE13XDDAKTEqAJByYDDhGKjGJXCr1YExbm0nemMVAqEwbEkToyd_2T3X-HMLZchUstJxYL4eB43KP8przYSk/s320/050.jpg" width="214" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">When I'm not swamped with Aidan Grace {A Children's Botuique} work I tend to bake... well, honestly, baking calms me, so occassionally I need to take a "baking break" just to keep me sane. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Make sure to check out <a href="http://www.bakerella.com/">{Bakerella}</a> for some fabulous ideas &/or get the hubby to get you this book:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-89wfzFtHccKjWZXsYPhqJgXmY7eswvYxZydvlSKPdGZGopVCLu7_EkbkUVxT7CxiOuDH1e8GAlka6QuAWGsrLe9pFEuhQU1UZidiprtIB2bTaB_rXhSvNkHfgenjR_OxW8eNYbX9LCI/s1600/041.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-89wfzFtHccKjWZXsYPhqJgXmY7eswvYxZydvlSKPdGZGopVCLu7_EkbkUVxT7CxiOuDH1e8GAlka6QuAWGsrLe9pFEuhQU1UZidiprtIB2bTaB_rXhSvNkHfgenjR_OxW8eNYbX9LCI/s320/041.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">PS, If you look at her site, there's a 'Bakerella' shirt & I admit to wearing that too... only to bed... ok, annnnd grocery shopping, yard work, date night, j/k... no date night:)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<img align="center" src="http://i55.tinypic.com/212xp4o.png" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856825962356194162.post-44988119076872369942011-06-15T21:17:00.003-05:002011-06-15T21:22:26.215-05:00Confessions<div style="text-align: center;">Lately, it dawned on me that only a few people know the "real me"... I think a lot of people think they know me, but they'd be surprised. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieqdudl1_0HF2sBDPQBQxOU-aoqtA9PmdiRVgCzfT0D64xupFxApCeiZDebjtNA435orBUqVIUeeUrpjIVXCpuTpkzP_sg1IugALP6setd7c57DzAhtCxE9_bd5bFprVV7KdKdC2YqBoo/s1600/untitledgrandma.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieqdudl1_0HF2sBDPQBQxOU-aoqtA9PmdiRVgCzfT0D64xupFxApCeiZDebjtNA435orBUqVIUeeUrpjIVXCpuTpkzP_sg1IugALP6setd7c57DzAhtCxE9_bd5bFprVV7KdKdC2YqBoo/s1600/untitledgrandma.jpg" t8="true" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">I love daylilies... They are so simple... Just perfect. And you have to get up early to appreciate them.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I've always loved baking, even if some of the time what I create you wouldn't want to eat. The process is super fun;)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I don't like The Jonas Brothers, but I will sing along <em><strike>loudly</strike></em> in a very mature manner to Miley Cyrus or 'Barbie Girl'. On another extreme I LOVE Dixie Chicks & Johnny Cash... Cowboy Take Me Away... lalala!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I don't think people who constantly post Christian songs or post bible versus make them Christians... The way in which they live their lives & treat those around them should reflect that.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">My favorite book of all time is White Oleander by Janet Fitch... Shows how the blood you call family really doesn't have to define who you are. You can choose to live a different life.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I could eat Ramen Noodle everyday... that is until while away at college I HAD to eat it everyday... now I have to be in the "mood" for it.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">My favorite color has always been pink... always will be too. But now I'm a grown up, so I tone it down;)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I would love to be super wealthy... not Oprah wealthy... but wealthy enough to where we would never have to "want" for anything... that being said, the things money can't buy are my most prized posessions.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Growing up I always longed for a family... now I realize that's just what I had... just didn't know it.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">My sister was my best friend growing up & now that we're grown I think we're more strangers... breaks my heart.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I still have the same best friend that I had in 4th Grade... I LOVE her!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I would love to buy an old Southern Farmhouse & completely restore it & have a cow & some chickens... I already have names picked out... "Loretta Hen", "Wyonona", "Naomi", & a couple roosters... "Dwight Yolk-um" & "Earl". I would sit on my front porch swing & drink sweet tea from my Mason Jar.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I can try to be "healthy" & watch what I eat for a period of time, but I have an addiciton to Dr. Pepper that always comes back to get me!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I know Nate Burkus is gay, but he sure is yummy:)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I LOVE antiques, but hate things that smell "old"...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I am guilty of brainstorming up projects that take up more time than I really have... so I have a good bit of fabric & crafting supplies to keep me busy on a rainy day.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I love my children & want a big family... but I would prefer them to marry orphans... I do not want to share my Grandkids or Holidays. Just kidding! But seriously, that would be nice wouldn't it? :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I LOVE decorating & LOVE photography... neither of which I will ever do professionally but I really enjoy both!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Paula Deen is my idol! That woman makes you want to cook everything in butter & not even think twice about it. Think I may be her for Halloween.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I never thought at 17 I would go on a blind date with a handsome guy that worked dairy & produce & end up marrying him at 18... oh young love!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I LOVE the fact that I wear my Great Grandmother's wedding ring set... it's over 100 years old & everytime I look down at my ring finger it reminds me that I do have some history & at how similar my taste is to hers... good taste runs in the family:)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I think my husband is pretty amazing... he goes above & beyond... & seeing him with our kiddos makes my heart smile.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"> The days I gave birth to my two kids were the most amazing days... they are the most prized possesions of mine, even though I know some day they will grow up & not need me so much. They make me so proud & amaze me daily with their wit & humor.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">What are your confessions?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<img align="center" src="http://i55.tinypic.com/212xp4o.png" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856825962356194162.post-17419177151337163122011-06-10T11:03:00.002-05:002011-06-10T13:09:26.601-05:00Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Ok, so we've been pretty busy with getting settled into the new house & I've been busy at trying to run errands etc. while NOT getting lost in a new area. On that note... Thank God for my iPhone & Google Maps!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The first weekend we had the keys (and no kids) we decided to tackle painting & heavy cleaning. This house needed both pretty bad. Aside from cleaning the kitchen from top to bottom, all 1800+ square feet recieved a fresh coat of paint. The entire house besides the laundry, bathrooms & Emma's room got a coat of Glidden's Whispering Wheat; it's a perfect neutral beige & it really warmed the whole place up. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsa7W2ahqiyVqeENigbWF73qFHcIOMsk_PeEdJZqPzU-wyJ3yjX_hrPuIaAml1qdXL2GVam1JBEYaXR-5xBgJuozmvnBQKyAKd5vtBQ9Gw7IhBUiZ1Nlcsn2T8Ghhlqr0gCI_9-gXspeA/s1600/lr2728896-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsa7W2ahqiyVqeENigbWF73qFHcIOMsk_PeEdJZqPzU-wyJ3yjX_hrPuIaAml1qdXL2GVam1JBEYaXR-5xBgJuozmvnBQKyAKd5vtBQ9Gw7IhBUiZ1Nlcsn2T8Ghhlqr0gCI_9-gXspeA/s1600/lr2728896-5.jpg" t8="true" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">{Before}</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">(HAR photo)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-UkVhTpsMIeVkEiUwAYVZsrSBbPG3I6ObYLvQrV7nuuYpQjkgAo91Ox9PZ7LXcrbgRCOUXv30F2E1OBosfsYiMpbREjnUtrOjda4Pnq5AAlqLknWCUlV0sSMFR9CbHTAnotsAJIWc2Cs/s1600/living+before.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-UkVhTpsMIeVkEiUwAYVZsrSBbPG3I6ObYLvQrV7nuuYpQjkgAo91Ox9PZ7LXcrbgRCOUXv30F2E1OBosfsYiMpbREjnUtrOjda4Pnq5AAlqLknWCUlV0sSMFR9CbHTAnotsAJIWc2Cs/s320/living+before.jpg" t8="true" width="214" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">{After}</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Wow! What a little bit of paint can do!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">We wanted to add a little personality to the kiddo's rooms with one wall each done special & decided on red baseball stripes for Kaleb's (since his room is Astros) and a girly pink (Glidden's Cream Rose) for Emma. Just pink was a tad boring so I flipped through my "Dream House" binder & decided on diamonds. The idea came from a photo of a bathroom with the walls finished in white & yellow diamonds. I thought why not try varnish? I was shooting for just a subtle distinction between a flat enamel & some gloss. What I got was flat enamel & then some... The varnish dried with a hint of yellow/golden tones but it had a handpainted finish to it. Hard to explain... but goregous!! It was a big project to tackle... I had done my research & passed it along to my hubby. But hubby did what hubbys do best... he ignored the blog links I had e-mailed him & decided he'd figure it out & it "couldn't be that hard". </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCH0K2RATnHs2khsA71OAuvJDyDxLIuv81O0YnhspKQI9S2H_CaixRozsbyy76789ZxSlQgTYgG2XrTzNwik9l1k5MsGFi5woE_8QTa7G16BbBiHo9oe-fxVT13xCnrBr0vJeQnRAFZuI/s1600/emma.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCH0K2RATnHs2khsA71OAuvJDyDxLIuv81O0YnhspKQI9S2H_CaixRozsbyy76789ZxSlQgTYgG2XrTzNwik9l1k5MsGFi5woE_8QTa7G16BbBiHo9oe-fxVT13xCnrBr0vJeQnRAFZuI/s320/emma.jpg" t8="true" width="320" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">With blue painter's tape in hand & on the wing of a prayer we dove in head first. Our... eehemm, his first attempt was to use a straight edge & start from one corner. Problem there was you would easily see pencil marks through the varnish when finished & if we erased the pencil before painting, we might as well just wing the whole thing. So, attempt #2 was to measure the wall dimensions & divide evenly then tape off... well about half way through that we discovered that you can NOT tape off all diamonds because there will most definitely be a 1" or whatever size tape you use, mark between all diamonds. So third time is the charm? Attempt #3 yielded hubby sitting for 20 minutes or so drawing out a detailed sketch of where to tape (above or below our measured dots) and which diamonds to paint in which order. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAzm9mo8eWB0QF3It0Pk_74xMAFpEVgEaIwlNMgPf_yss-3LzTodxR4siOA5r5_v99EMv0hvarBZTR3SzGosyWgBjglGB1HnFGId6hSy6ZWrfnya0yt9Y3AZb0_4wMKzllRiQE7rHFhxU/s1600/emma2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAzm9mo8eWB0QF3It0Pk_74xMAFpEVgEaIwlNMgPf_yss-3LzTodxR4siOA5r5_v99EMv0hvarBZTR3SzGosyWgBjglGB1HnFGId6hSy6ZWrfnya0yt9Y3AZb0_4wMKzllRiQE7rHFhxU/s320/emma2.jpg" t8="true" width="320" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">By about 3 am we had diamond wall round one of two painted... we crawled in bed & the next morning I nervously peeled the tape off... Knowing I would have to follow the dots mentioned above & the already painted diamonds to create the second (every other diamond) round of diamonds to paint. Hallejuiah, it worked! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_qoE-JMMBSzTD-fB6rVl3NtogaSDfcZQ4jNq-iGnHPQg3vdVvfSCSOVtFlb00rf4KfmCluOfyqUDm2TZ4Y_d49V6pAGHKPjiWK2jikjjUYXqWjBbPnQl5M-z0nVSvfiFwOe9AI7x4lys/s1600/emma4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_qoE-JMMBSzTD-fB6rVl3NtogaSDfcZQ4jNq-iGnHPQg3vdVvfSCSOVtFlb00rf4KfmCluOfyqUDm2TZ4Y_d49V6pAGHKPjiWK2jikjjUYXqWjBbPnQl5M-z0nVSvfiFwOe9AI7x4lys/s320/emma4.jpg" t8="true" width="214" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">{Round 1 Painted}</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie6_4o_x9PxLjikHZUoc14u44zEKb5xi_Zzmb5qrqLEOAcz1k6DN_DPDsI-Kw_HwM4PkwyXEscf3qbql1hFqLZpHBcFyQ3rKtW-5Sj-UBVkG2orHMvvECDxQIqfVlvzz35OAtAjHGheFk/s1600/emma9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie6_4o_x9PxLjikHZUoc14u44zEKb5xi_Zzmb5qrqLEOAcz1k6DN_DPDsI-Kw_HwM4PkwyXEscf3qbql1hFqLZpHBcFyQ3rKtW-5Sj-UBVkG2orHMvvECDxQIqfVlvzz35OAtAjHGheFk/s320/emma9.jpg" t8="true" width="214" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">{Round 2 Taped & Paitned}</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdd4mobLOWckJcVyb2-Kts3QT8US8oO8SgAwEIjCebxsdqsiSbSRDPGa7NjVH4GVG2Wy43nEVSHC6QwA5Cd4tbIOGgB54ovqxQdbw_1fqQioMzSD30Mw-3XWJNUDtTwgV9LxAAag0Yfts/s1600/emma10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdd4mobLOWckJcVyb2-Kts3QT8US8oO8SgAwEIjCebxsdqsiSbSRDPGa7NjVH4GVG2Wy43nEVSHC6QwA5Cd4tbIOGgB54ovqxQdbw_1fqQioMzSD30Mw-3XWJNUDtTwgV9LxAAag0Yfts/s320/emma10.jpg" t8="true" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">{The wall finished}</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_LZFGFG8ppNQDGpjN_cpe1nH0TK1oYyUdWZ2hvyhNNPT7BB4Nwru8LwStHZEusaGjxew6jT9mD53yJYta3v5cqhY4Ug2ruBmLeerZiaoWGyD_W_LFw_aIjFfEUGKqvHR3j3KAGQaoW2Y/s1600/emma11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_LZFGFG8ppNQDGpjN_cpe1nH0TK1oYyUdWZ2hvyhNNPT7BB4Nwru8LwStHZEusaGjxew6jT9mD53yJYta3v5cqhY4Ug2ruBmLeerZiaoWGyD_W_LFw_aIjFfEUGKqvHR3j3KAGQaoW2Y/s320/emma11.jpg" t8="true" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">{One more pic just because}</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">I have carefully packed this little sheet of paper away for any future projects involving diamonds!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><em>My tips:</em></strong></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">-Meausre well & find your center point</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">-Helps to divide your wall space in half & then divide in half again etc. instead of measuring & starting from one side... NO WALLS are ever square, so this hides the imperfections well.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">-Decide how many rows of diamonds you want, I chose 3 & where you want the point of interest to fall. I decided on a diamond right above Emma's headboard.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">-After taping & before painting stand back & think it over... pay attention. If we would have painted after our first taping I would have trashed the whole idea!!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">-If your super sweet, amazing hubby decides to tackle this with or for you... be prepared for the "you owe me so big's" Because hubby says next time I want diamonds, he'd rather buy me some;)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><strong><em>* I found </em></strong><a href="http://designdazzle.blogspot.com/2009/06/how-to-paint-argyle-wall.html"><strong><em>this blog</em></strong></a><strong><em> to be really helpful! I just changed it up & didn't do argyle.</em></strong></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">We have not taken on decorating their rooms too much just yet. But when I get that part done I will post some pics. I am working on weeding through what I have to work with to see what will be used & what will be 'Garage Sale' items. Emma needs new bedding, I have a dresser I need to re-do & Kaleb has a bed that his Daddy built for him we need to move in. But we are still sleeping on his mattress. I repeat the mantra: "All in good time"... Emma's room is a good bit smaller than Kaleb's but has a good amount of character & Kaleb's room has a window seat that runs the entire length of one of his longest walls... still thinking about what to do there. Blinds are slowly being replaced upstairs because the ones that are here are damaged & dirty beyond just cleaning them.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Still have a LOT of projects on the horizon:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Purchase a couch & make slip cover for my seatee</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Hang curtains we brought from the old house</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Decorate Emma's Room</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Decorate Kaleb's Room</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Re-do 2 dressers</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Make curtains</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Make window seat cushion</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Build our new bed</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Decorate our room</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Find kitchen table </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Do trim work in laundry room & bathroom</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Do something about carpet in powder room downstairs (why oh why put carpet in a bathroom?!?)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">and the list goes on...</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I will be taking pictures & sharing the experience as we go. But I thought this was a pretty good first project to share:) </span></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">With moving to a new area, the Summer home with the kiddos & some spare time, we'll see how much we get done!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Diamonds are a girl's best friend... but a husband's worst nigtmare... literally! :) LOL!</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<img align="center" src="http://i55.tinypic.com/212xp4o.png" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856825962356194162.post-13188912872820035882011-06-01T17:23:00.000-05:002011-06-01T17:23:25.106-05:00Cedar Lane<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Tomorrow, of 12:30 pm we will officially be Tomball-ians lol! Driving around town today it kind of hit me that I'm actually leaving Alvin. I can get borderline too sentimental... so I apolagize in advance. And I know that we're only moving an hour or so away... so we will be able to visit friends & family pretty often. That being said I took mental note of the places that I will miss. Thanks to my childhood not being all that "storybook"... there are a lot of memories that were made in a little yellow brick house on Cedar Lane. After my Grandma, the woman who raised me passed away, it's nice to be able to drive by the house I grew up & created lots of fond memories in when I am missing her. When I hear Miranda Lambert's "House That Built Me" I seriously tear up... that house built me! In that house I learned patience, manners, self-worth, responsability, & a lot of cooking, baking & needless to say sewing. I remember her yellow floral couch & rocker, the sliding top table where all her sewing supplies were stored, the little kitchen where we rolled out cookies & her blue bedroom where I often slept just to be by her. I drove by that house today & stopped to snap a pic with my phone... just to have in case I get homesick again over the next couple weeks. Alvin will always be home. I graduated from the same High School as her & my hubby did too. The little grocery store in town was where Mike & I met... him in produce & me on the checker line;) </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I thought I would share my little yellow house on Cedar Lane with you all too...</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3-FXbJUMOCjG7IE0pJ6iWJi9iDiGkK6o3rEXD5Pko9_83gN9vIm6_MSvOpFUfaPYRSUftQ_P-a3BHoEWdU_nddnjJbYzBucFbHJLHQF0mlK6Ssg8caKOjpI3B38Ishnot8OeyIgVZ86c/s1600/cedar+lane.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3-FXbJUMOCjG7IE0pJ6iWJi9iDiGkK6o3rEXD5Pko9_83gN9vIm6_MSvOpFUfaPYRSUftQ_P-a3BHoEWdU_nddnjJbYzBucFbHJLHQF0mlK6Ssg8caKOjpI3B38Ishnot8OeyIgVZ86c/s320/cedar+lane.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Yes, it looks a little shabby... a LOT shabby, but this is not how it looked growing up! The yellow bricks have all been removed, her flower beds FULL of daylillies, & her hot pink azaila bushes are gone... but that was home. That drive way is where I learned to ride my bike & that window on the left was my room... I pinky swear I NEVER climbed out of that window... ever:)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Anyway, tomorrow is the 1st day of a fresh start & the beginning of some new memories for my kiddos. The "place" you grow up in matters... but not near as much as the people & the love that place holds inside. So, make memories, live life, roll some sugar cookies & remember... it's the little moments they are going to remember.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<img align="center" src="http://i55.tinypic.com/212xp4o.png" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856825962356194162.post-77082683927705165442011-05-25T09:09:00.001-05:002011-05-25T09:24:55.223-05:00Home Is Where The Heart Is<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">We're getting to close to our moving day & I am so excited about the new begenning on the horizon. Our journey started not long after my husband started a new job when I was about 6 months pregnant with our 2nd child, Emma-Grace. It was a scary time, but we knew that it was a change that needed to happen. I should also add that we had literally JUST purchased our first home & had no intention of moving anytime soon. It was always assumed we would just live our days out & raise our children in our home town. There's something comforting knowing that when you're homesick you can simply drive by the house where you grew up, or take your kids to the park where you spent lots of evenings swinging on the swings talking about the future with the boy who ended up being your husband. Over time, his job evolved & he spent more of his day in an office & less in the "field". He even spent some time working in Brazil (lucky)! But as time went on, we began entertaining the idea of moving closer to his job. How would we accomplish this? Option one was to sell the house & move. Option two was to just wait it out. Well, we were terrified of selling & trying to relocate while our oldest was in school. So we kind of combined the two ideas... With a LOT of consideration of our options we decided to lease our house out, and move in with the husband's parents until the end of the school year. Well, we're here at the end of the school year & days away from getting the keys to our new home. It's a bittersweet move... away from the family we have close & some great friends... I know it will take a ton of stress of my husband not having to make that long drive ( 1 - 1 & 1 /2 hr.) each way for work. That's more time with us & less time driving... we've never lived this close to his job before. But at the ages are kids are, it will be a huge blessing to be able to work our lives around them more... and they will see their Dad a lot more! Needless to say we are excited... me about having a house to make a home, having my office & studio once again & the kids to have their own rooms again... and without saying the husband has had a countdown of how many more "drives" he has left. We are looking forward to all the great changes... they say home is where the heart is & my heart is with my family... and our family will be spending a lot more time together.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Keep an eye out for some before/after posts & little home projects I'm going to tackle along the way. The first project will be painting the entire inside of the house... we'll start to tackle that this Friday.</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimivZ826Vp8OP7KfQUWJxvAN2-vPQZuxNP-YTE6o_FDv9HXddK_a4XSB-xMXuaaos7cODaLmPqkJpUl7g9Kgax0VrKi6bSV3fO3AVqJcVzXmJaM88U3mGVtn0I9IWe3C05AYnw_EaVduA/s1600/lr2728896-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimivZ826Vp8OP7KfQUWJxvAN2-vPQZuxNP-YTE6o_FDv9HXddK_a4XSB-xMXuaaos7cODaLmPqkJpUl7g9Kgax0VrKi6bSV3fO3AVqJcVzXmJaM88U3mGVtn0I9IWe3C05AYnw_EaVduA/s1600/lr2728896-1.jpg" t8="true" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">{our new home}</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<img align="center" src="http://i55.tinypic.com/212xp4o.png" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856825962356194162.post-84527841707680164192011-04-10T16:24:00.005-05:002011-04-10T19:31:46.047-05:00{Bluebonnets 2011}<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So, today me & a girlfriend headed out to the only Bluebonnets we could find here around Alvin. Living here, we don't get the kinds of knee-high fields full of Bluebonnets that a Southern Girl dreams of wading through... & that paired with an early bloom left us with a few patches. But all in all I think we got some good shots. I've been wanting Bluebonnet Pics of my kiddos for as long as I can remember... but with a girlfriend to snap some of us & me to snap some of her & her girls... a short car drive & our cameras in hand we got these:) Not bad for two Moms, our cameras & 50mm! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6k6JMdGXctAQysuSQCSpKhIuLGI8BjwffNWQt4MhVqCE6joeUUkMjXfa7yYaDeZ3RKWFa0pNmpmPN6eBMdMQeXrZlnjaI_zLk6fAp4jdT9e7NLtDTWlN-lfawzL1IYX5mn5lVCL8J5eA/s1600/208094_1323672627830_1711305178_554943_4063307_n+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6k6JMdGXctAQysuSQCSpKhIuLGI8BjwffNWQt4MhVqCE6joeUUkMjXfa7yYaDeZ3RKWFa0pNmpmPN6eBMdMQeXrZlnjaI_zLk6fAp4jdT9e7NLtDTWlN-lfawzL1IYX5mn5lVCL8J5eA/s320/208094_1323672627830_1711305178_554943_4063307_n+copy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Me & my babies walking along the trail hunting for a good patch...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhotSMzOa30ogiVUJC7k64InC018LScjjhKZdUE7q9oUZTPTmhZbjc8BViGKX3R9XT2qSK-EqKGL_WN_-cxaE99gwvhRJRxYHoFf3DAab7r15pJKzj_TRdry2dmgEhI9cMcmk_b1mijBOY/s1600/076.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhotSMzOa30ogiVUJC7k64InC018LScjjhKZdUE7q9oUZTPTmhZbjc8BViGKX3R9XT2qSK-EqKGL_WN_-cxaE99gwvhRJRxYHoFf3DAab7r15pJKzj_TRdry2dmgEhI9cMcmk_b1mijBOY/s320/076.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Kaleb & Emma-Grace showing me the Bluebonnets...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC-dofZQEsE1Z03wv21d2TzrpTxXHqXzmH19NHPG3FKr8vQFC8kdsm-PO8QUT4Iz3a_Evy2CNf_s6v2Ui6HYGmZgszfIgwvqxkbOa5_RgMhmaog4946y3O64bjvPCKeMWjLTh0ken9SiU/s1600/097b%2526w.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC-dofZQEsE1Z03wv21d2TzrpTxXHqXzmH19NHPG3FKr8vQFC8kdsm-PO8QUT4Iz3a_Evy2CNf_s6v2Ui6HYGmZgszfIgwvqxkbOa5_RgMhmaog4946y3O64bjvPCKeMWjLTh0ken9SiU/s320/097b%2526w.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Kaleb is getting so big & handsome!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfeNefAO1mAR4z06wr2jOpaWS0jxO3m1aJx0KIyVEuzZ2Nx1bssxUuAEHSHhHSFU54av4cPnLYT69jHVJOwGQx21MrVE3iX8jSKn9nBTyFtJV8H-Rg7x_zxq5DJ2ez0g2Yeg63IcsWUb0/s1600/098b%2526w.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfeNefAO1mAR4z06wr2jOpaWS0jxO3m1aJx0KIyVEuzZ2Nx1bssxUuAEHSHhHSFU54av4cPnLYT69jHVJOwGQx21MrVE3iX8jSKn9nBTyFtJV8H-Rg7x_zxq5DJ2ez0g2Yeg63IcsWUb0/s320/098b%2526w.jpg" width="214" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> I LOOOVE B&W photos & I added a touch of sunshine to these to warm them up:)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigFA-yhCoJiespPIkE9EQz1bP7G1ztk_0a7VghxupuF1xLZX8QwQM3oLK2carFIZnMywlGnsavIEeuB3iOTq3QU11FkSupTfiCi0GeHTjkhrOi2UXJA2XzYaUObW5x83YUyw7LK6S7E94/s1600/100.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigFA-yhCoJiespPIkE9EQz1bP7G1ztk_0a7VghxupuF1xLZX8QwQM3oLK2carFIZnMywlGnsavIEeuB3iOTq3QU11FkSupTfiCi0GeHTjkhrOi2UXJA2XzYaUObW5x83YUyw7LK6S7E94/s320/100.jpg" width="214" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Here's a color one.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDf4_retf7iISZbEP_mruFM38gJbhllj7jv6PEjEHmoYKn4dpySHKnUwwyQTl8E9bKVKoDOhM-ehpl8swAteZBVSMJEnLQv56g7jB7FjuBwYToncB3Co0xI6bQ8p1PNLb_drGCvCTnNzc/s1600/215305_1323673227845_1711305178_554946_1072307_n+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDf4_retf7iISZbEP_mruFM38gJbhllj7jv6PEjEHmoYKn4dpySHKnUwwyQTl8E9bKVKoDOhM-ehpl8swAteZBVSMJEnLQv56g7jB7FjuBwYToncB3Co0xI6bQ8p1PNLb_drGCvCTnNzc/s320/215305_1323673227845_1711305178_554946_1072307_n+copy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">My girlfriend shot this one of me snapping pic of my babies... love it!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Hope everybody had a great weekend! The new website will be opened back up soon; you'd never think there was so much to change just in changing a name lol!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Check out {www.aidangrace.com} to see the new site design!</div><br />
<span id="goog_1012086752"></span><span id="goog_1012086753"></span><br />
<img align="middle" src="http://i55.tinypic.com/212xp4o.png" style="border: 0pt none;" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856825962356194162.post-13372382714882370582011-04-05T20:23:00.000-05:002011-04-05T20:23:20.599-05:00Pretty As A Picture...<div style="text-align: center;">Yep... I admit it... I've been a bad blogger here lately! My initail goal of one or two posts per week definitely fell short since February. But as they say it's not a failure until you quit trying; so I'm going to try this again! :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">With us still staying with our in-laws while we work on selling our house (which is currently leased out) & relocating to (Spring, Texas). I'm Thankful for the free creative time I've had over the last few months. I'm free to attempt things I haven't before & I may not be great at it all... I LOVE attempting or trying *see above lol! So, along with baking, re-finishing some furniture & actually building some furniture... I have been attempting to learn a bit more about my camera. Considering my work at home business & having small kiddos... learning how to capture a good portrait will not only benefit business wise, but I will get some good pics of my babies along the way!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I thought I would share a couple of my favorite images with you guys that I've taken so far. These three are black & white... but it is my all time favorite processing. My most cherished photos have always been in black & white or sepia. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><strong>What do you think?</strong></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggdVuBkpK-3P_c6IUgae9WvG7Q9BF66hfWimN5B2aYvcWPEUNoly_L3xYJ3iaOZ32zA8KuqY3w12GGWEk90lcGxxDSniMDKe-SX6zKjjKLubUtSgoS4Q4X0rTz4HeS0C3VQm9Jo1s2r7c/s1600/DSC_0004+copy+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggdVuBkpK-3P_c6IUgae9WvG7Q9BF66hfWimN5B2aYvcWPEUNoly_L3xYJ3iaOZ32zA8KuqY3w12GGWEk90lcGxxDSniMDKe-SX6zKjjKLubUtSgoS4Q4X0rTz4HeS0C3VQm9Jo1s2r7c/s320/DSC_0004+copy+copy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I should add that the 1st pretty little face is my Emma-Grace... We were at a Large Animal Vet's for a Cub Scout outing, but still a really sweet shot!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Je2OdrdiqjEFHNO-4nvftaWMjwOzp-yFMRO3hw7-K322yZ-FPDu7caqtG48Iq-0VbAwPep9o2PdubJofFAavEcY42n0IFRHDt1IgjLsfEBp_sOavPxX4FJK1OR50G2uYLzKubepF0jM/s1600/DSC_0079-1+copy+copy+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Je2OdrdiqjEFHNO-4nvftaWMjwOzp-yFMRO3hw7-K322yZ-FPDu7caqtG48Iq-0VbAwPep9o2PdubJofFAavEcY42n0IFRHDt1IgjLsfEBp_sOavPxX4FJK1OR50G2uYLzKubepF0jM/s320/DSC_0079-1+copy+copy+copy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This was a little sister of another Cub Scout... isn't she a doll?!?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8RbowqW9Rx2_l4unzeMFzkFdZ5lRx1YWWb_rGF1d1XmeGhJiHw6h5bIuZtT9jOypmgtuHe5OoT891PXbNMi4c9ZnU3YJvk2VQF77IDU5L9tpAIYpUUAfrZgVTdSb2toKYGkw_910Kr5A/s1600/Snider+Shower+064+copyag+copy2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8RbowqW9Rx2_l4unzeMFzkFdZ5lRx1YWWb_rGF1d1XmeGhJiHw6h5bIuZtT9jOypmgtuHe5OoT891PXbNMi4c9ZnU3YJvk2VQF77IDU5L9tpAIYpUUAfrZgVTdSb2toKYGkw_910Kr5A/s320/Snider+Shower+064+copyag+copy2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc3wI8gsTS_kou-L1xrsE7UybKcuk6B4eehfgXRtTm4X4Fmahg0UCxWQ_phPXdxOR3UDt2xplTX3xEc82C9HJKW5oc-niss9i_NYcustCuo6EUEorwbi51bOXbWF4XbRaK0I_azho7UXs/s1600/Snider+Shower+120.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc3wI8gsTS_kou-L1xrsE7UybKcuk6B4eehfgXRtTm4X4Fmahg0UCxWQ_phPXdxOR3UDt2xplTX3xEc82C9HJKW5oc-niss9i_NYcustCuo6EUEorwbi51bOXbWF4XbRaK0I_azho7UXs/s320/Snider+Shower+120.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">These two images are a mother & daughter duo... both goregous! Top is Mom with her two girls & bottom is "Yaya" with her grand-daughter, Charlee... too precious! These two were taken this past Saturday while I was photographing a baby shower for the family.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Anyway, photography goes hand-in-hand with what I have to accomplish daily... Paying, trading & waiting & more waiting for photos to use on my site proves to just make my job that much harder. At least I am getting the hang of my camera & honestly, it's pretty fun too!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">As I venture into this new hobby I will post some shots along the way... please feel free to critique or praise as you'd like, I'd love to hear your thoughts.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">PS, I promise to be better about blogging:)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span id="goog_1216499731"></span><span id="goog_1216499732"></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img align="center" src="http://i55.tinypic.com/212xp4o.png" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856825962356194162.post-84543970689956198342011-02-01T09:25:00.002-06:002011-02-01T09:32:21.832-06:00Spice Cake Cupcakes & Cream Cheese Icing<div style="text-align: center;">Last Friday my hubby's office celebrated a birthday & I am always looking for an excuse to bake something... So I asked Laura (the birthday girl) what kind of cupcakes she wanted. Her answer: Spice Cake with Cream Cheese Icing! Yummmm...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">So I set out to find a <strike>good</strike> great recipe for homemade cream cheese icing & of course I hit up my #1 kitchen lady Miss. Paula Deen to find a <strike>great</strike> amazing one! Bingo! Here's the <a href="http://www.pauladeen.com/recipes/recipe_view/red_velvet_cupcakes_with_cream_cheese_frosting">Cream Cheese Icing Recipe</a> if you want to take a swing at it... it's super easy & de-li-cious.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf0pWDMKcXzapsP7YWdw4f_60fMmPHoz70A5QtNBenUHsyj5tnTnLeNcliD6WjrLtfzc4l0xvXGUcP2yjvo8vM8MjlpeCyh59_yq87lNgc3VzZipNVofRD38W4zpsTsbY4gwb446wFln8/s1600/DSC_0005-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf0pWDMKcXzapsP7YWdw4f_60fMmPHoz70A5QtNBenUHsyj5tnTnLeNcliD6WjrLtfzc4l0xvXGUcP2yjvo8vM8MjlpeCyh59_yq87lNgc3VzZipNVofRD38W4zpsTsbY4gwb446wFln8/s400/DSC_0005-1.jpg" width="267" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">I'm a simple girl most of the time when it comes to baking... unless it's a bread recipe I tend to stick to boxed cake mixes. I don't claim to make cakes from scratch, so no worries here! I have more fun doing the "fun" part... making them purdy!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">Here's my finished product! No worries... I won't judge if you lick the screen:)</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizeACGhS09M0jqFVvF5u_155acNePEB_6lV55HPQ0OQnkvgMJztIvtGurEXl2A2WLBfdmpBSRujKBC-5ECmryCvEnSM6aHX-espj3E87hq6Phs0xz7RhK-ebQXybq0erCpthiBo5pJMRg/s1600/DSC_0019-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizeACGhS09M0jqFVvF5u_155acNePEB_6lV55HPQ0OQnkvgMJztIvtGurEXl2A2WLBfdmpBSRujKBC-5ECmryCvEnSM6aHX-espj3E87hq6Phs0xz7RhK-ebQXybq0erCpthiBo5pJMRg/s400/DSC_0019-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">Thanks to Miss. Paula & my 1mm Wilton tip the result was a happy "Birthday Girl" who claimed they were the best cupcakes she had eaten to date... SCORE!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><br />
<img align="center" src="http://i55.tinypic.com/212xp4o.png" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856825962356194162.post-25050219066299515932011-01-25T11:34:00.003-06:002011-01-25T12:45:20.023-06:00{Mama's makin' cornbread... naughty cornbread!}<div style="text-align: center;">Shhh.... don't tell! I have been really good with my new diet & exercise plan. Except for the fact that I'm just not a myself unless I have just baked or cooked something or I have something in mind I want to try. That's the hard part of being "healthy" or trying to be; you're not supposed to think about food! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">But Kaleb's school hosts a teacher's luncheon day once a month to spoil the teachers a bit... this month is chili & fixins'... yummo! So I asked a sweet friend if she could suggest any good cornbread recipes, since this is my first month to join in on the fun I'm just bringing a side. But I wanted it to be yummo too.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Well, <a href="http://www.ourbestbites.com/">Our Best Bites</a> was what was suggested. We both love the recipes on this site... dunno why </div><div style="text-align: center;">I didn't think of looking there first lol! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Anyway, my 1st attempt at "Naughty Cornbread" was a delicious success! </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr83xHEXxKz0NoEmsKQbQv3hLonkI5t2VTWfWcMYGSw_ywBB-zrgJQ8-RnkFLyIn9KxMtrs8CQNjFXC0_L0spScjmQhfVkl_aji4kiGcp3_fnul5jcaq_h626QylRzTM7gxd-CfaL4Mp4/s1600/DSC_0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr83xHEXxKz0NoEmsKQbQv3hLonkI5t2VTWfWcMYGSw_ywBB-zrgJQ8-RnkFLyIn9KxMtrs8CQNjFXC0_L0spScjmQhfVkl_aji4kiGcp3_fnul5jcaq_h626QylRzTM7gxd-CfaL4Mp4/s400/DSC_0001.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I won't lie... I ate this one! But.... I did the healthy thing & used 'Promise' spread instead of butter. That off-sets the calories right?!?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here's a close-up:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpbUVkno-mv6HHvzQm0zhOuAnuhF2Od4-8JzU0TOJVU37KkH9SzhlKBczMCMayz5pJnBzNl0MWwQaLuawQXXovNbDTT7DmEBv8LEq9qZmT42Bw80VrRZy2v2glxspiTVnKcIqN7mrOBFw/s1600/DSC_0004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpbUVkno-mv6HHvzQm0zhOuAnuhF2Od4-8JzU0TOJVU37KkH9SzhlKBczMCMayz5pJnBzNl0MWwQaLuawQXXovNbDTT7DmEBv8LEq9qZmT42Bw80VrRZy2v2glxspiTVnKcIqN7mrOBFw/s400/DSC_0004.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It really is DELICIOUS!!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">If you want to make your own, just follow this <a href="http://www.ourbestbites.com/2008/10/naughty-cornbread.html">{link}</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">P.S. You should pre-order your OBB Cookbook... I did as a gift to myself at Christmas:)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Happy Baking!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i55.tinypic.com/212xp4o.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img align="center" border="0" src="http://i55.tinypic.com/212xp4o.png" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856825962356194162.post-43775535938165595512011-01-24T10:37:00.000-06:002011-01-24T10:37:28.802-06:00{Rainy Day}<div style="text-align: center;">Today is one of those days when you just want to light a good candle, or crank up your Scentsy warmer, turn on the oven to make something sweet, maybe do some sewing or crafting... just because of the weather. And that's exactly how I plan on spending my day! Kaleb is in school so he can't join in, but I do cherish the slow-paced days when I can just enjoy the time with my "Mini Me" & do some girly stuff while I can.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Last night while the hubby & kids were watching the Game Plan (super cute movie!)... I was watching from afar while cutting pieces & going back & forth to sew. End result was an adoarble V-day skirt, and Emma ended up pulling up her little chair to watch me work. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Isn't it cute?!? I have enough material to make one more up to a size 4T if anyone is interested.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn5TVjlyLhLEPy4GnlE6YOvJlRfozj5lYxA2JmvLekMYYvuoOOvvPk39X9Q442ilMR9ob4YT8CWgPREmOaMvlAv6aWT55esA9YOTUUuIueoCq-YDPLBE4JsLvqlqAD48TDsJbDlVCYL14/s1600/DSC_0001-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="276" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn5TVjlyLhLEPy4GnlE6YOvJlRfozj5lYxA2JmvLekMYYvuoOOvvPk39X9Q442ilMR9ob4YT8CWgPREmOaMvlAv6aWT55esA9YOTUUuIueoCq-YDPLBE4JsLvqlqAD48TDsJbDlVCYL14/s400/DSC_0001-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyhl2KB23q8FaIpdzLY8hfhdO04rhpdLAlyTGTCNnpmcFxhy-c_vWyhIs7_S1p6moUzJidNL34idkGdBVebvD63k5rE-gk3aMlVYICyxQv2rcFTqYL0SuDM6maUwnI6Ski_gDMESePJRo/s1600/DSC_0004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyhl2KB23q8FaIpdzLY8hfhdO04rhpdLAlyTGTCNnpmcFxhy-c_vWyhIs7_S1p6moUzJidNL34idkGdBVebvD63k5rE-gk3aMlVYICyxQv2rcFTqYL0SuDM6maUwnI6Ski_gDMESePJRo/s320/DSC_0004.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I know I may sound as if I am in a time warp or something, but I tell the hubby all the time how I pray that Emma enjoys some of the "homemaker" things I enjoy... like baking, or sewing. I'm not saying I wouldn't be over the moon if she became the 1st female President either. But doing these things with her just makes my heart smile. I fondly remember baking with my Grandma, or her letting me practice with scrap fabric while she was working on a project. This past Christmas I made a little apron for my EmmaLou & I just beam when she has it on & has her little dollies set up for a "cupcake party".... I admitted she was a "Mini Me", her dolls prefer carbs over tea lol!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">So today we are going to make some yummy cake balls for orders & do some more sewing. Because on rainy days it just puts you in the mood for it!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Hope everyone has a blessed Monday & if you're down in my neck of the woods, enjoy the rain; light a candle, put Sweet Home Alabama in the dvd player & maybe bake something. Enjoy this beautiful rainy day & take advantage of it!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i55.tinypic.com/212xp4o.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img align="center" border="0" src="http://i55.tinypic.com/212xp4o.png" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856825962356194162.post-70018415804526901502011-01-24T00:06:00.000-06:002011-01-24T00:06:48.063-06:00{Pinewood Derby 2011}<div style="text-align: center;">Well, it's late Sunday evening... almost Monday. But I just got done doing some sewing & editing some pics I took over the weekend & thought I would share a bit.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Saturday Kaleb raced in the Cub Scout Pinewood Derby & he had so much fun! I know boys are hard-wired for fast cars, but it really was pretty neat to see these little wooden cars zoom down the track on nothing but momentum. Kaleb's car was inspired by a roadster design & he wanted it to be a "pretty cherry red"... so here it is... #20.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhfKb5Fuz3k4dOeDWahyphenhyphendT7C-UhyphenhyphenQ4rY-2eC5ylA7EQjtGbCZhO5ycUiQB6Z-SOSzNkx15Uo0AXyBwS3nIUtWf6yncVF8yOSb1XnRX0Z4z7V6Z1jOpjkZxGM2F1o6-xjD0L6eE8uAjS7A/s1600/DSC_0018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhfKb5Fuz3k4dOeDWahyphenhyphendT7C-UhyphenhyphenQ4rY-2eC5ylA7EQjtGbCZhO5ycUiQB6Z-SOSzNkx15Uo0AXyBwS3nIUtWf6yncVF8yOSb1XnRX0Z4z7V6Z1jOpjkZxGM2F1o6-xjD0L6eE8uAjS7A/s320/DSC_0018.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">He didn't place, but had a lot of fun cheering on his buddies... one of which did:)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After the regular races was the Crash Derby... which I didn't know about, but we could have brought a second car to smash up, or you could smash the car you brought. Kaleb beign a bit "Type A" like his Mama refused to crash it because he wanted to display it. Fair enough. I've decided I will be the official designer of "Crash Derby Car 2012" & I am thinking it needs to be PINK... only kidding!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMlIqQLu44J5mOs-IzRZHtDzw_p2AByQuVLShwnashmoinEPgQ9ueLHaqnE22GEHBsPlFQqFCp8LUuXCo_qFSnFkQSKsA1StdMIhBFDwiDAa62HqO-xEowd7DTt9SVB99EXyr3t-jLNMQ/s1600/DSC_0097.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMlIqQLu44J5mOs-IzRZHtDzw_p2AByQuVLShwnashmoinEPgQ9ueLHaqnE22GEHBsPlFQqFCp8LUuXCo_qFSnFkQSKsA1StdMIhBFDwiDAa62HqO-xEowd7DTt9SVB99EXyr3t-jLNMQ/s400/DSC_0097.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Look at that action shot! In the out of focus background you can see my crew... The boys enjoyed the crashing more than the racing I'm pretty sure anyway. Emma kept busy organizing & re-organizing her Hello Kitty purse, sorry, no action shots of that:)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Here's the car that won "Best Design"... The General Lee. I told you I was Southern lol!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihMK3er73VacKvaUYk0zkCNFSjqqf1A82FJ8RMGeAjLX7hXZhAxmCr8NQBn5w_wjdVGMQvBQ4yxgdpDUOtj8FyDTrlhGXK_IM0AnFo2Tk-bIm2-jr_yYZXExrB3vkYAXpeUS6agYb1_nE/s1600/DSC_0110.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihMK3er73VacKvaUYk0zkCNFSjqqf1A82FJ8RMGeAjLX7hXZhAxmCr8NQBn5w_wjdVGMQvBQ4yxgdpDUOtj8FyDTrlhGXK_IM0AnFo2Tk-bIm2-jr_yYZXExrB3vkYAXpeUS6agYb1_nE/s400/DSC_0110.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">And here's Justin's car, simply sharing because I think it's a pretty good shot:)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCkprpiws0YUuZh5A9Gg6eaxTGSen2uDJNTVwzjwO8lNd4OhbLOX5OzIARyAEZYBJyRWQ4TLCvzpRXAaeI_qKDJTonkNfWyvERxlKSNPbsCRj5rBWuxoA6CeQius_RVTJ6ditXPm7-I7c/s1600/DSC_0019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCkprpiws0YUuZh5A9Gg6eaxTGSen2uDJNTVwzjwO8lNd4OhbLOX5OzIARyAEZYBJyRWQ4TLCvzpRXAaeI_qKDJTonkNfWyvERxlKSNPbsCRj5rBWuxoA6CeQius_RVTJ6ditXPm7-I7c/s400/DSC_0019.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">PS, Way to go Justin! (He placed)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Hope you guys & gals all had a fun & productive weekend... we did & there's more to share, but I'll save that for tomorrow!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">One last pic... I know, I know... he's soooo handsome:)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4-heJc5apij1r8_tBJOuWKBUZoB_8N9Mm1rFGDoCMsOWNIEZH2hcfLQT_WGFaQMxNToNXE-oed7V7nzEm2dgGUI0gzll-mcq7q-ukSq0v8Jo788_wQYszVhfO3u1S5TLkkPzhoR8jRBE/s1600/DSC_0012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4-heJc5apij1r8_tBJOuWKBUZoB_8N9Mm1rFGDoCMsOWNIEZH2hcfLQT_WGFaQMxNToNXE-oed7V7nzEm2dgGUI0gzll-mcq7q-ukSq0v8Jo788_wQYszVhfO3u1S5TLkkPzhoR8jRBE/s400/DSC_0012.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I love my little... I mean big, Tiger Scout!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img align="center" src="http://i55.tinypic.com/212xp4o.png" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856825962356194162.post-88554395834060186172011-01-22T17:25:00.000-06:002011-01-22T17:27:09.037-06:00Mommy of 2!<div style="text-align: center;">Wasn't planning on posting over the weekend, and believe you me... we've already had a productive one & it's only 5:16 pm on Saturday lol! Anywho, I swung by my PO & to my delight my "Mommy of 2" top from Miss. Pam (If The Bow Fits Boutique) was sitting in there waiting on me. I officially feel a bit like a celebrity now...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Isn't this just the cutest shirt?!? I mean, what Mommy doesn't deserve to spoil herself every once in a while, even if it does advertise that your a "Mommy"... oh well, I'm a proud Mommy!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVoFB1n6mQW8mY81O7hZHPNxu8tgGkJUvCixfWRe37GcUPNGQXMwBM321soBZI5OtmYS3zVOFK_4f6yGdzj3DL21T5iwwumkJJ1tLJn2HrJ_vYt4ZYhnjmsn38-9yNu8l6_sZHjQ10ItE/s1600/mommy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVoFB1n6mQW8mY81O7hZHPNxu8tgGkJUvCixfWRe37GcUPNGQXMwBM321soBZI5OtmYS3zVOFK_4f6yGdzj3DL21T5iwwumkJJ1tLJn2HrJ_vYt4ZYhnjmsn38-9yNu8l6_sZHjQ10ItE/s320/mommy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I know... I know... now you must get one too! Just visit <a href="http://ifthebowfits.com/item_172/Black-Long-Sleeve-Mommy-of-Tee.htm">HERE</a> & order yours! She's got some of the trendiest... fashionable "Mommy goodies" along with some other great items for kiddos!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Thanks Pam!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i55.tinypic.com/212xp4o.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img align="center" border="0" src="http://i55.tinypic.com/212xp4o.png" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856825962356194162.post-84009060443985808362011-01-21T17:38:00.003-06:002011-01-22T17:44:14.841-06:00{Persue}<div style="text-align: center;">I hope all of you have a {fabulous} weekend! We have lots to do around here with the two munchkins, but I just LOVE this & had to share... </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKYNsMKOEkfgX6v2CcqOOdmBFmlif3ZOh7aRc6LnNGierU-LAoMvlNCIX2Z3ed9n_vmofVU6PIuabeuC6S1QP89U37lZYmZoTHrjGcGB2eS3pHALVOmeN-U2uUPimYb6jpVDO1eHo0bHY/s1600/happy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKYNsMKOEkfgX6v2CcqOOdmBFmlif3ZOh7aRc6LnNGierU-LAoMvlNCIX2Z3ed9n_vmofVU6PIuabeuC6S1QP89U37lZYmZoTHrjGcGB2eS3pHALVOmeN-U2uUPimYb6jpVDO1eHo0bHY/s400/happy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Here's to your "pursuit"!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i55.tinypic.com/212xp4o.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img align="center" border="0" src="http://i55.tinypic.com/212xp4o.png" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0