tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-212289192024-03-07T10:54:49.861-05:00Call Me Badgerjthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11565824986946758808noreply@blogger.comBlogger744125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21228919.post-77733490702067092682012-11-20T21:52:00.005-05:002012-11-20T21:52:54.822-05:00Redirection<div style="text-align: center;">
Welcome! Anyone who was routed here from a recent Associated Press article about DIY Advent Calendars may want to click<a href="http://callmebadger.blogspot.com/2011/01/handmade-holiday-2010-part-nine-gifts.html" target="_blank"> here</a> and see the original post and accompanying photos:</div>
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http://callmebadger.blogspot.com/2011/01/handmade-holiday-2010-part-nine-gifts.html</div>
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Thanks for visiting!</div>
jthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11565824986946758808noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21228919.post-59719392160895469012012-03-26T22:37:00.000-04:002012-03-26T22:39:06.406-04:00Passions<div style="text-align: center;">
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3 Reasons I'm Glad I Wasn't Born In The Victorian Age</div>
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1. Indoor Plumbing</div>
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2. Central Air Conditioning</div>
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3. Lobotomies</div>
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The first 2 seem reasonably self-explanatory, so I'll move on to #3.</div>
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I have long contended that had I been born in a different age, I would have been institutionalized for "nervousness". Possibly a lobotomy would have ensued.</div>
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I am a woman of passions.</div>
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My passions are what propel me to make an <a href="http://www.callmebadger.blogspot.com/2011/01/skirt-tutorial-roundup.html">entire wardrobe</a> of skirts for Bella instead of just one or two at a time.</div>
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They drove me to sell over $1000 worth of furniture and belongings over the summer, leaving not a single drawer, closet or space in our home untouched. Then I redesigned every room of our house on paper complete with measurements and source lists.</div>
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My passions make me create and sew an entire <a href="http://www.callmebadger.blogspot.com/2011/04/travel-bags.html">arsenal of tools</a>, a veritable sweat shop for a trip with the girls.</div>
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They inspire me to create<a href="http://callmebadger.blogspot.com/2006/06/lolas-legacy.html"> Lola's Legacy,</a> a charitable service in honor of my first child.</div>
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However-</div>
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These passions also caused me to break down in dramatic sobs at Timm's family reunion last summer when I was totally overwhelmed by the closeness and chaos of 31 people in one house. </div>
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They drove me to a lot of illicit and ill-advised behaviors in response to my first diagnosis with depression.</div>
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My passions make me physically recoil from another human touch at the end of a long day with kids.</div>
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These passions drive me to way too much thinking, circular and obsessive. </div>
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That's the thing I've discovered- you can't have one without the other. Not with me, anyway. With the spark and ignition of inspiration, ideas, extrapolations and sympathies comes anxiety, mood swings, despair and "nervousness". I have long blamed myself for these polarities in my personality, even using them as evidence of unworthiness and believing that I could somehow control it, or turn it off if only I were better. My inability to do so only furthered my beliefs that I was fundamentally 'bad'. Unlovable. Unworthy. Crazy.</div>
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And this is me <i>on</i> meds. Seriously. </div>
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But I have this crazy plan to try and accept the good with the bad. Roll with the punches and be grateful that at least I have these passions. To appreciate the thrill of inspiration when it hits and endure the lows that will inevitably come, knowing that they are both parts of the sum.</div>
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And the sum is me.</div>
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Not good or bad.</div>
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Both.</div>
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A figurative crazy jumble of good intentions, strong opinions, varied emotions and a little too much introspection and self-derision. </div>
<br />jthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11565824986946758808noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21228919.post-53896109111188272042012-03-23T14:25:00.000-04:002012-03-23T14:25:40.949-04:00Doll House<div style="text-align: center;">For Christmas last year, Timm and I decided to make the girls a dollhouse. A sweet dollhouse that would shape their dreams of domestic bliss, imprint indelibly in their memory, and later fight over as adults. Their fighting over it now as children should have been obvious to me, but it turned out to be a bonus. We didn't actually build it from scratch, as we originally planned. A couple years ago we found a dollhouse, 85% completed, on the side of the road complete with the kit instructions and supplies to finish the rest of the house.Unbelievable. It has sat in our garage awaiting our attention until a few months ago. We peeled off old wallpaper (Timm), did a ton of sanding and painting, and built new columns and railing to replace the gingerbread ones supplied in what was obviously supposed to be a Victorian kit. The rest of it was mostly just decorating. Oh, and building furniture.</div><div style="text-align: center;">My main inspiration was <a href="http://domesticblissnz.blogspot.com/2011/07/mousehouse-dollshouse.html">this dollhouse</a>, which leaves me speechless every time I look at it. Which I did often during the construction of ours. If I had more time and money, it would be more fully furnished and decorated, but as it were this was already a combined Christmas present between parents, grandparents, and aunts and uncles. So for now, this dollhouse has tapped out.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTzPxsG2NfLqjbs6m3Ur_DHX-pM-ldzOOK3WUYbNTZMp-yNPabdtZ9WPHfgYkVXLotsHp_0B6DR1MUKjNp6Bg2l8r_nyJTleCdNjCxr1GEtwPdrfwXpTZTBXUvOpPzG-Esvpki/s1600/Picture+112.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTzPxsG2NfLqjbs6m3Ur_DHX-pM-ldzOOK3WUYbNTZMp-yNPabdtZ9WPHfgYkVXLotsHp_0B6DR1MUKjNp6Bg2l8r_nyJTleCdNjCxr1GEtwPdrfwXpTZTBXUvOpPzG-Esvpki/s640/Picture+112.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Let's go inside, shall we?</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;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHiSkVfyzcFH73aYRQc8gLeHUATsIu6y04aKKe8IrdxcaKDMcsesKVloRenr9iln7P0NjaxMa9A-6bkHBlAtU16VYo1NAsWXgZCgCrrlwObSvSsPN9o8ZrSgyZMkYAHrQuYgHa/s1600/Picture+093.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHiSkVfyzcFH73aYRQc8gLeHUATsIu6y04aKKe8IrdxcaKDMcsesKVloRenr9iln7P0NjaxMa9A-6bkHBlAtU16VYo1NAsWXgZCgCrrlwObSvSsPN9o8ZrSgyZMkYAHrQuYgHa/s640/Picture+093.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">The Living Room.</div><div style="text-align: center;">For all of the wallpapers and rugs, I used scrapbook paper. All of the wallpapers are from Hobby Lobby, purchased recently. The rugs are old scraps I had on hand and Mod-Podged to the floor. The bookshelf, desk and chair are from ebay. The 'vase' is a painted wooden bead. Timm made the couch, and I made the pillows.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Oh, and those pink wooden blocks? They're minimalist chairs. I found some just like it on a <a href="http://www.prdminiatures.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=40_42&product_id=97">Mid-century/Modern miniatures website </a>(yes, that exists-) for $25. Per cube. For a 2" wooden cube. Yeah, so we made our own. That website by the way, has amazing miniature furniture that you probably didn't know existed. I didn't anyway. However, I don't think it's typically designed for small hands and their imaginations- I think they're designing for more of the serious miniature hobbyist. For instance, if I bought <a href="http://www.prdminiatures.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=40_42&product_id=120">this beautiful $180 sectional </a>that I wish I had in my own living room, I would stand and strictly supervise all play. (More than I already do-) I would employ a guard to protect it when I was unavailable lest my devious children attempt to play with it without my gentle reminding presence.</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/AVvXsEi2xI8gMKSwUhazyNFsUJ7wSK7UpDIINyef5W2YsfmnS1YaJtNRyrvZsADq2HhjqetM7blnddbkSY2-h9KvQNVj0hoDgj-ozagoiwnBXPrQL6Fi4BHb1wMQ0_27SO4uYGCQZW4s/s1600/Picture+095.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2xI8gMKSwUhazyNFsUJ7wSK7UpDIINyef5W2YsfmnS1YaJtNRyrvZsADq2HhjqetM7blnddbkSY2-h9KvQNVj0hoDgj-ozagoiwnBXPrQL6Fi4BHb1wMQ0_27SO4uYGCQZW4s/s640/Picture+095.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Which brings me to another point. Everything is glued down. Now I know what you're thinking- 'Wow, how controlling, obsessive and neurotic can you be?' So? What's wrong with that? But here's my defense: 3 year olds are not known for their dexterity, deft hands, and delicate approaches. Not mine, anyway. I knew that if I didn't, everything would be broken and/or lost within days. I did not slave away for so many hours just to have it destroyed so quickly. And as you can see from my referenced website above, doll furniture can be really expensive. (Plus, let's face it- my daughters just don't quite have my design sensibilities yet. If I left it to their design, they'd have that furniture every which way in uncoordinating combinations, unflattering configurations, and really, just downright contrived. I mean to preserve the integrity of the design. Because you know I thought a lot about that.) You're probably still thinking- 'How much fun can it be for them to play with a dollhouse with everything fixed in place?' To which I rely, 'Probably more fun than playing with an empty one because you broke and lost everything.' Also, in my defense- It is the furniture and a few other items that are permanently affixed- they still bring in plenty of other play things to mix things up. And one last item in my defense- on Christmas day, Fiona broke the only 3 things in there that I hadn't glued down yet. Case in point.</div><div style="text-align: center;">If you think I sound defensive, possibly due to my outlined defense, I am. Some people think I am a little too controlling. I don't really see why.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMEGuGnKcGlzc4bszvAVHz2AKMycX1AdaVQprITpQNn454j6K1JbvGsfwumBBbSEm4HzPz5weR9mDl5jQvg-SWnm4K7pNYTdc6TKOCIAvGVzhcyxsjcLTvlZu2_jmLNxmSGD0J/s1600/Picture+097.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMEGuGnKcGlzc4bszvAVHz2AKMycX1AdaVQprITpQNn454j6K1JbvGsfwumBBbSEm4HzPz5weR9mDl5jQvg-SWnm4K7pNYTdc6TKOCIAvGVzhcyxsjcLTvlZu2_jmLNxmSGD0J/s640/Picture+097.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieavGZxra3ma85fYkLzk9_LR6XDGS30BEhCBkk6heMf8TPhyphenhyphenFVxH4xc0USRgDdK5mxiOWOhR7EM9OPqw76anoPU4kNm20oDAJHf4Vg-bRirD6-VZDRkW33iTL1T5wxzTfdx3dh/s1600/Picture+094.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieavGZxra3ma85fYkLzk9_LR6XDGS30BEhCBkk6heMf8TPhyphenhyphenFVxH4xc0USRgDdK5mxiOWOhR7EM9OPqw76anoPU4kNm20oDAJHf4Vg-bRirD6-VZDRkW33iTL1T5wxzTfdx3dh/s640/Picture+094.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I had a really hard time with some of the furniture- namely couches and beds. The problem is, those widely available are either way too traditional, or as you saw before, way too expensive. I found some that I thought would work with a little reupholstering from me that I ordered on a website. 2 days before Christmas it became evident that that furniture was not coming, so I asked Timm to whip some up. I think I ended up liking his even better- very simple indeed, but pleasing to me. I sewed all the pillows and the like.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5j9irB6_hYu2BZBvDOQvShpYS304Q1gaXg0sbVeRoCP6cWIPlx0-kXJLSHiZGGjA_-4_jGSYcV3vKKFNKTFQq1vv8tTXPL8G6JHv8jGT7zORTgBOc6RL9qOR2dMAK9hznAy6Y/s1600/Picture+096.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5j9irB6_hYu2BZBvDOQvShpYS304Q1gaXg0sbVeRoCP6cWIPlx0-kXJLSHiZGGjA_-4_jGSYcV3vKKFNKTFQq1vv8tTXPL8G6JHv8jGT7zORTgBOc6RL9qOR2dMAK9hznAy6Y/s640/Picture+096.jpg" width="480" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">A little nook. Furniture from eBay, the books from Hobby Lobby. After much deliberation, I decided to affix the chair legs to the floor, but allow the chair to swivel. Fiona broke it.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">And here is our modest kitchen.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRt3XGzZKfDG8x-V_h4wWWL7Z7s_OGM9NbATUA2n05rwbFs2wFrZ7nSTXtPsK6E3k2MPWRJftoU8ddpuZyqU2uAq0DCYozjRoiBZ8MWyr7cefb0xQ-kS-jwq46gEz0BzROkC5p/s1600/Picture+098.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRt3XGzZKfDG8x-V_h4wWWL7Z7s_OGM9NbATUA2n05rwbFs2wFrZ7nSTXtPsK6E3k2MPWRJftoU8ddpuZyqU2uAq0DCYozjRoiBZ8MWyr7cefb0xQ-kS-jwq46gEz0BzROkC5p/s640/Picture+098.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">All of the furniture if from Hobby Lobby, as are the pots and pans, and cuckoo clock (Which I painted pink)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I did not glue the oven and sink doors closed but I seriously considered it. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2gPMNPHi81eaFkQoCq558m0cLMuQQhsPVVRnJrd6XM7bI8RoNERLQjk_lInVbFLrZF7DA7_y5fgRGVrcDWQ3xm1Mqym1on1tMl5kSPH9j2s8-vjaXat2FRImxyzYLX82CsRlD/s1600/Picture+099.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2gPMNPHi81eaFkQoCq558m0cLMuQQhsPVVRnJrd6XM7bI8RoNERLQjk_lInVbFLrZF7DA7_y5fgRGVrcDWQ3xm1Mqym1on1tMl5kSPH9j2s8-vjaXat2FRImxyzYLX82CsRlD/s640/Picture+099.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Oh wait, that little table is from eBay, along with the food items and the kumquat tree. (!)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ORMEKGtF1WltqT4Z8aS5Pjl5yFkCMyZVC-nE1sAfw1AFOK4GvyrP-FnUXAbgptIQyQIEURPCvSKYmVuYVCWwEyg2n9_ko02elpG7ke-Uw1SsQd8-TQ1jFp3vU2r8o8MiOU3e/s1600/Picture+100.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ORMEKGtF1WltqT4Z8aS5Pjl5yFkCMyZVC-nE1sAfw1AFOK4GvyrP-FnUXAbgptIQyQIEURPCvSKYmVuYVCWwEyg2n9_ko02elpG7ke-Uw1SsQd8-TQ1jFp3vU2r8o8MiOU3e/s640/Picture+100.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV0JsI6H0krb8huh1ewJheAA37PCZxXUwzES3QmTPCD5EGf9bG8Tvm9-xK-ccADy239d7w3vdHBAB_BPI82ZQQ5yM0skS1cPbFbCZcnIFB3Y0f45QyYG8uqVMRzMIA3jjRQav-/s1600/Picture+101.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV0JsI6H0krb8huh1ewJheAA37PCZxXUwzES3QmTPCD5EGf9bG8Tvm9-xK-ccADy239d7w3vdHBAB_BPI82ZQQ5yM0skS1cPbFbCZcnIFB3Y0f45QyYG8uqVMRzMIA3jjRQav-/s640/Picture+101.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I love the kumquat tree- I have always wanted a small citrus tree in my kitchen. I think I might be able to manage that much gardening.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The 'Master' Bedroom</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNs2JQD8386kivmgIiZSlivr44yc0WWKbFuxZUVgz-LFnGS4ENdvQrW7BYhfd22Dr65GoMrYvUlFhCGkCsOZp_a4NH0gsQp5KbG91uetX-EJLNAUsx6Xi3In82eSsWEys4LGbu/s1600/Picture+102.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNs2JQD8386kivmgIiZSlivr44yc0WWKbFuxZUVgz-LFnGS4ENdvQrW7BYhfd22Dr65GoMrYvUlFhCGkCsOZp_a4NH0gsQp5KbG91uetX-EJLNAUsx6Xi3In82eSsWEys4LGbu/s640/Picture+102.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The silhouettes are scrapbook stickers from Holly Lobby, the frame is one I bought from Hobby Lobby and painted. Shelves and tv are from eBay.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6zfdhx6hjqdRmNED5paC004XGLVNUZaWwf2uxaA7Ph_OoL51VtkAU8zXTJpPaMNQXLa59MxtDRcbOXkABkhX3w0WC1CNelxrgRtDY8ETJM3_-jzXiySzMpaUvhrF1I3kZF0dQ/s1600/Picture+103.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6zfdhx6hjqdRmNED5paC004XGLVNUZaWwf2uxaA7Ph_OoL51VtkAU8zXTJpPaMNQXLa59MxtDRcbOXkABkhX3w0WC1CNelxrgRtDY8ETJM3_-jzXiySzMpaUvhrF1I3kZF0dQ/s640/Picture+103.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg94KMBacXkgkdnrizCvfAFN0We6aplQdX7BSlUYSZIiXl-GqnatWGzN9muOW0wvgxGtAFubyz80oGQNpJu3THAnOQRctZu9W5DQYOiFYd4mvdnBrxM5aVSFvDgi7AT3x6pBjYe/s1600/Picture+104.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg94KMBacXkgkdnrizCvfAFN0We6aplQdX7BSlUYSZIiXl-GqnatWGzN9muOW0wvgxGtAFubyz80oGQNpJu3THAnOQRctZu9W5DQYOiFYd4mvdnBrxM5aVSFvDgi7AT3x6pBjYe/s640/Picture+104.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Excuse this dresser (from HL). I found out on Christmas Eve that it didn't take spray paint too well. Out of time, I decided to leave it for another undetermined time.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfafVX8boBKHazUZcIfP_x2cAZ_yvjsrYa0-e49JMuxpZk6vu_6rHQ9xFp6u6OnQ9xwSWnKW4aYFLf47URVTC-IPfEOpoXZYlFvtlxcav2yKxJR5olXoKn0aKnrG9PmQOGO-n2/s1600/Picture+105.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfafVX8boBKHazUZcIfP_x2cAZ_yvjsrYa0-e49JMuxpZk6vu_6rHQ9xFp6u6OnQ9xwSWnKW4aYFLf47URVTC-IPfEOpoXZYlFvtlxcav2yKxJR5olXoKn0aKnrG9PmQOGO-n2/s640/Picture+105.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">The Kid's Room</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX3WgX6qFzGrkv6S0aXFhMWc8dSwDfuzzjw_2cq900O3DDczKHwo1crlapOTLdwRVskT4mJau0YocxK36XiWr-SzrzOV9XUBbco_HFQWxOiGEXXuVQWzovhi6kjWcNmW9KxP1V/s1600/Picture+106.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX3WgX6qFzGrkv6S0aXFhMWc8dSwDfuzzjw_2cq900O3DDczKHwo1crlapOTLdwRVskT4mJau0YocxK36XiWr-SzrzOV9XUBbco_HFQWxOiGEXXuVQWzovhi6kjWcNmW9KxP1V/s640/Picture+106.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The furniture (besides the bed) are from eBay, as well as the book rack. I made the bulletin board.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq8cgtYNZLm1D1ELvRMj5ile0SJldh3ciLShYSU1zOJCWXAAfjEmE4g1foWrw1jd5kalOv-PF2k8z-NDsOqNU86XqUGOttzlLLqXwvOotLqc55J6A3aCbU7aroDFRVN1VVr_Wl/s1600/Picture+108.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq8cgtYNZLm1D1ELvRMj5ile0SJldh3ciLShYSU1zOJCWXAAfjEmE4g1foWrw1jd5kalOv-PF2k8z-NDsOqNU86XqUGOttzlLLqXwvOotLqc55J6A3aCbU7aroDFRVN1VVr_Wl/s640/Picture+108.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I appropriated some small items to furnish the kid's room, i.e. the elephant and the ball. Seeing as they were permanently adhered, it didn't go over too well with Bella. At least I reached my goal of having one of my kids cry over their main gift on Christmas day. I promised to resupply the items. </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/AVvXsEis3T_eQDcngSWyi33w4EEykg0urkmtOESqDcqKcQOGZDD_NRvzUOfaNwlBDsthwoxNNCavwBYpO4kpyczQlq4C5HUGzQ19NsJHS21W81k0h8msgLoWKbd9m-ZPdfbihQtSByLF/s1600/Picture+107.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis3T_eQDcngSWyi33w4EEykg0urkmtOESqDcqKcQOGZDD_NRvzUOfaNwlBDsthwoxNNCavwBYpO4kpyczQlq4C5HUGzQ19NsJHS21W81k0h8msgLoWKbd9m-ZPdfbihQtSByLF/s640/Picture+107.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">The pennant is a scrapbook sticker.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTpUpla2buR8M0aCwYJXDZJwSdXBJSFBIjhJEDXpIbJFe3Y_lLmXuyVwArjYXdg2J_YXX7mfkwAl977O3CapNa1go7kIpHCb7vdFwiRFDNNuD9csBjO8RUqT5myN5vae8w3NnP/s1600/Picture+121.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTpUpla2buR8M0aCwYJXDZJwSdXBJSFBIjhJEDXpIbJFe3Y_lLmXuyVwArjYXdg2J_YXX7mfkwAl977O3CapNa1go7kIpHCb7vdFwiRFDNNuD9csBjO8RUqT5myN5vae8w3NnP/s640/Picture+121.jpg" width="640" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I love this chevron fabric, so I stitched along the lines to define it. A real quilt for the dolls!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAcwNjEE7r2Bq25RKrumf_oj63qwrFPbhJBNjMm1SnSek773YLmkWHqmqJt3k_nHz3BkuZwtu7QirFYxLGTIsslRwwaLNkkbDNFAL6ul7HYuaTvCOdLaa7pkeEwKux3CHOeB_k/s1600/Picture+120.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAcwNjEE7r2Bq25RKrumf_oj63qwrFPbhJBNjMm1SnSek773YLmkWHqmqJt3k_nHz3BkuZwtu7QirFYxLGTIsslRwwaLNkkbDNFAL6ul7HYuaTvCOdLaa7pkeEwKux3CHOeB_k/s640/Picture+120.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">And that's the house. We haven't done much with the top floor yet, but it's destined for a play room. I just sewed a couple of tufted floor cushions for the little alcove and called it good for now.</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/AVvXsEiY45OVqAB7d2SS1CCUB34gNDCBnlTCgmqkd4z-qJLnkaRaaqrEunTyPLQ4jHIWhxSAT9gM4Okx0nugr6xrEuV53HRKdSGyyOOvoCKFD-vPK4WfGAkvaPPFg_l-peOSPY_A1Y1h/s1600/Picture+113.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY45OVqAB7d2SS1CCUB34gNDCBnlTCgmqkd4z-qJLnkaRaaqrEunTyPLQ4jHIWhxSAT9gM4Okx0nugr6xrEuV53HRKdSGyyOOvoCKFD-vPK4WfGAkvaPPFg_l-peOSPY_A1Y1h/s640/Picture+113.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Exterior</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/AVvXsEgzWPsxWD1iSqRzUnkNJXRwm29XbZiM5NAkz7ZFW-m5T-USYl7WND338LQ-1650uEKyGepWxsW15PvhyphenhyphenlGkv6RtxO9uqFFTYcjCdcYWV6N0fEogVYNqpec0dPJTg9vLJWyboFaH/s1600/Picture+114.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzWPsxWD1iSqRzUnkNJXRwm29XbZiM5NAkz7ZFW-m5T-USYl7WND338LQ-1650uEKyGepWxsW15PvhyphenhyphenlGkv6RtxO9uqFFTYcjCdcYWV6N0fEogVYNqpec0dPJTg9vLJWyboFaH/s640/Picture+114.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRxCBC2RXbRDZ12mx9aKw8ojhJDVT4UHPGmnNnjnNBWcitqAKMJ3Qc7Qhm3EuyWbzU1xVqAq27xhjvvHVlLngl5njVDLWKFIEMjXpWz8f3mu9ZlSnoOs_Cwjpi7wE_VnTk47TZ/s1600/Picture+115.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRxCBC2RXbRDZ12mx9aKw8ojhJDVT4UHPGmnNnjnNBWcitqAKMJ3Qc7Qhm3EuyWbzU1xVqAq27xhjvvHVlLngl5njVDLWKFIEMjXpWz8f3mu9ZlSnoOs_Cwjpi7wE_VnTk47TZ/s640/Picture+115.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We found some Martha Stewart glitter paint that was absolutely perfect for mimicking the look of a real roof.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUNBwIq0bEUUhEuydhLMszfBZdEnssPIb-1Q3aTdmLS4ObaI85469tGQVAUjhThehFsGWmTeFz8PM3sTO38WK6Zr_FmHOSb4zsJRap7GBxVk2ln4boEwdp-Iu_gTJ8QYlls5RB/s1600/Picture+118.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUNBwIq0bEUUhEuydhLMszfBZdEnssPIb-1Q3aTdmLS4ObaI85469tGQVAUjhThehFsGWmTeFz8PM3sTO38WK6Zr_FmHOSb4zsJRap7GBxVk2ln4boEwdp-Iu_gTJ8QYlls5RB/s640/Picture+118.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">And lastly, we bought a coffee table from Ikea for about $30 and put some casters on it. A perfect fit.</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/AVvXsEh9j2V9qwc45UWZg4QlBopMpPK2rDSIjzrTp4gcA9Sso-BTHtZxZyKjKejdhiohJPy-I0wVTcBkwm1N5_juIQc4PHV9gp88vaGVdBCxWvXVX_LhBQzhC5yPR7KlaxwfNuYFAs5K/s1600/Picture+123.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9j2V9qwc45UWZg4QlBopMpPK2rDSIjzrTp4gcA9Sso-BTHtZxZyKjKejdhiohJPy-I0wVTcBkwm1N5_juIQc4PHV9gp88vaGVdBCxWvXVX_LhBQzhC5yPR7KlaxwfNuYFAs5K/s640/Picture+123.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Fortunately, it was received as warmly as we hoped. It is a great size for their mini La La Loopsy dolls who populate the abode.</div><div style="text-align: center;"> Go handmade!</div><div style="text-align: center;">(With the aid of many mass-produced items...)</div>jthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11565824986946758808noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21228919.post-56834104681122335562012-03-09T23:03:00.000-05:002012-03-09T23:03:47.548-05:00Some New Looks<div style="text-align: center;">My red hair was quite the great divider- those who liked it were effervesent in their praise, and those that didn't studiously avoided the subject all together. My mom was one in the latter camp- one who never spoke a word of it, but you could easily intimate her derisive feelings. So, when word reached her that I was ready for a change, she readily offered to pay for whatever would erase the ill-effects of my shot at individuality and self-expression, as a 30-year old woman.</div><div style="text-align: center;">So this was 2 weeks ago, a very faded version:</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/AVvXsEgEumAAd61EH9q8E9kCDWP_cUvIAwEH11uXZabvvP9Kz-5tlxtiAdkrzLBdUd61yc63NOVr7YtMe3W7KSJ4ZvSoi8p2b2rkM24xPOb1aKsFCEsfvoQ92gPGzEeZQP0Xsld11w2-/s1600/Picture+012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEumAAd61EH9q8E9kCDWP_cUvIAwEH11uXZabvvP9Kz-5tlxtiAdkrzLBdUd61yc63NOVr7YtMe3W7KSJ4ZvSoi8p2b2rkM24xPOb1aKsFCEsfvoQ92gPGzEeZQP0Xsld11w2-/s640/Picture+012.jpg" width="480" /></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/AVvXsEjJQlWXwdwAczXxXekSiuJ1EGtxuge6d0Sqqbkb8lIEo0ALE5LNnxpUBhXkF0_Y0EJNyd0STzGVDkyFQS9wmnS_k6XmF3xWdtopnyDzq2IKAqGRwOxUW3QXc5WPVHZ_tHhkOQ2B/s1600/Picture+013.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJQlWXwdwAczXxXekSiuJ1EGtxuge6d0Sqqbkb8lIEo0ALE5LNnxpUBhXkF0_Y0EJNyd0STzGVDkyFQS9wmnS_k6XmF3xWdtopnyDzq2IKAqGRwOxUW3QXc5WPVHZ_tHhkOQ2B/s640/Picture+013.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">This is today. Darker, monochromatic, and shorter. I alternate between straight and wavy, but wavy wins more days because this is what it looks like when I do nothing. I take a shower, let it dry for couple of hours and then add some product to reduce frizziness. Can't beat that!</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/AVvXsEjxfOOMPemsR456KnAxux7OZdsTqC2duphA87H8-WD2rw5tiB86GYwhAlBHx0I6Zf5hvV0C4fSKsS8RsPBv4nyxt8uljVY1X6zRXna4_xVY5OQLbSQB_EDu9rAfZ6ONLn4y_PpL/s1600/Picture+074.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxfOOMPemsR456KnAxux7OZdsTqC2duphA87H8-WD2rw5tiB86GYwhAlBHx0I6Zf5hvV0C4fSKsS8RsPBv4nyxt8uljVY1X6zRXna4_xVY5OQLbSQB_EDu9rAfZ6ONLn4y_PpL/s640/Picture+074.jpg" width="640" /></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/AVvXsEgi3yxQmZneXFrm430voJdWHPBz97zJELBaYAKjlhnYHDb9LUecMG-AzGt03DFB8GtKRkN17tp3dhAnsA3gvlbALf_rCIPDP1o-2LQqZm7kIUyX60M5IAy3EsjRsFocx9oKUnQ3/s1600/Picture+085.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi3yxQmZneXFrm430voJdWHPBz97zJELBaYAKjlhnYHDb9LUecMG-AzGt03DFB8GtKRkN17tp3dhAnsA3gvlbALf_rCIPDP1o-2LQqZm7kIUyX60M5IAy3EsjRsFocx9oKUnQ3/s640/Picture+085.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Remember, I'm all about making laziness work for me.</div><div style="text-align: center;"> There have been a lot of other changes around the house in the last few months, and I thought I might finally document these. So first up will be the girl's room, which they now share. It is a small room, so because of the bold paint and the large furniture, I tried to keep the rest of it pretty simple and uncluttered.</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/AVvXsEhxSk6unMlcajWB-HSzuaMz9_IynkM3QBEcl4_QUpurbyQTG9D5vqYMFH73B3gfDd-UVZfTB9S3xQQpl4Bogp6xOoBtQ6dfprNfTSbR13Xlli6JXEXTxQnitmPvXqgvoEUBvFXj/s1600/Picture+021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxSk6unMlcajWB-HSzuaMz9_IynkM3QBEcl4_QUpurbyQTG9D5vqYMFH73B3gfDd-UVZfTB9S3xQQpl4Bogp6xOoBtQ6dfprNfTSbR13Xlli6JXEXTxQnitmPvXqgvoEUBvFXj/s640/Picture+021.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">This is my favorite part of the room- I found this mid-century reproduction (from the 80's) on Craigslist for $50. Of course, when I bought it is was oak, reeking of smoke, and had doors on either end. It took a lot of primer, sanding and paint, but I am smitten. I love it. Plus, it's over 6 feet long, so it holds a lot of clothes for 2 girls.</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/AVvXsEinL00TVTwGxQnBdsMAjYwc70AK_hDczcYE-m7XzWwxBELYCosEM_pqSFImRHxs0eIt_vtVq3Gw8govrNQCxF7ztQRWf6W5i7QL_MVnSclrMQ1HsL0flYUSa8RzyFkaUhNxQPOp/s1600/Picture+022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinL00TVTwGxQnBdsMAjYwc70AK_hDczcYE-m7XzWwxBELYCosEM_pqSFImRHxs0eIt_vtVq3Gw8govrNQCxF7ztQRWf6W5i7QL_MVnSclrMQ1HsL0flYUSa8RzyFkaUhNxQPOp/s640/Picture+022.jpg" width="480" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"> (The view when you come in the door)</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/AVvXsEikpqtfKyz24BqzQVj7pmWyXWfxEVS6kAvmS5CjJVfGOXRoJTCP-iHkezSZGNojmpWum_8oyeZAdcqSwb8JtXmECJmarkFfoAygvgl_WXJ1DK6VXgaoigVC-VDX7TVX7qN4rvhq/s1600/Picture+023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikpqtfKyz24BqzQVj7pmWyXWfxEVS6kAvmS5CjJVfGOXRoJTCP-iHkezSZGNojmpWum_8oyeZAdcqSwb8JtXmECJmarkFfoAygvgl_WXJ1DK6VXgaoigVC-VDX7TVX7qN4rvhq/s640/Picture+023.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Love.</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/AVvXsEh9dGlUSaDWJnTyvRkzkClRCTQ_mbAkRA9tYtyZL-uhqC9VzRThWR0vTXcZst5EO6gQNp8kGqy0A-fyqBL3009V1KCna_PIW2nWxyQDgzToAxMxxfsrA-mizGqVLk6lJSVsYqEC/s1600/Picture+024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9dGlUSaDWJnTyvRkzkClRCTQ_mbAkRA9tYtyZL-uhqC9VzRThWR0vTXcZst5EO6gQNp8kGqy0A-fyqBL3009V1KCna_PIW2nWxyQDgzToAxMxxfsrA-mizGqVLk6lJSVsYqEC/s640/Picture+024.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Above it is a collection of frames which includes various prints, both purchased and printed for free, photos of my 3 girls and their favorite toys, and my favorite, a study of a wildebeest mid-chew. I took it at a Charlotte favorite family spot, the Lazy 5- Ranch, often referred to as the 'redneck zoo'. I loved the fine details of the hairs on his muzzle, the long string of spittle spanning his upper and lower jaws- I just love it. How many places can you display the giant maw of a wildebeest? Not many. Perhaps some would say none- but I love it. It's detail, it's whimsy.</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/AVvXsEgpq9TzoIRc7D7p87j7bV8Ln6MqtK666Af1dmJ_xZgyV15qaBJ-3nLk3KdNAKmmKmg319eqiM_fqnZx9O8fCmxBotrn2jDZQ_l4XT_O-6GdWY4iy7peLjfdIlhAKTLxN-GKJ-jl/s1600/Picture+028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpq9TzoIRc7D7p87j7bV8Ln6MqtK666Af1dmJ_xZgyV15qaBJ-3nLk3KdNAKmmKmg319eqiM_fqnZx9O8fCmxBotrn2jDZQ_l4XT_O-6GdWY4iy7peLjfdIlhAKTLxN-GKJ-jl/s640/Picture+028.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">This owl is another favorite- it was obviously a hideous production of the 70's when I found it at Goodwill, but armed with my trusty companion spray paint, voila! Beautiful. </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/AVvXsEjhS_0Ipw2-hz122e2NwNXY6cLLgA2VQ2V5xQx4m7X9qmLkYJm38LR1hfY7lB8TSnPtRMXFFeTlqay8y3bUBsmszaeEvGHgPH_YxpDNuhb8OkH9whemoj04e9PdzT26b3BcxjLw/s1600/Picture+031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhS_0Ipw2-hz122e2NwNXY6cLLgA2VQ2V5xQx4m7X9qmLkYJm38LR1hfY7lB8TSnPtRMXFFeTlqay8y3bUBsmszaeEvGHgPH_YxpDNuhb8OkH9whemoj04e9PdzT26b3BcxjLw/s640/Picture+031.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Timm built bunk beds for the girls, and I outfitted them to be what I would have loved as a child. A perfect little personal cave that could hide you from the rest of the world, with all you need inside: books, a light, and a curtain to close around you.</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/AVvXsEiu_E45dH0P0SpYJqEP97-QYYfLR2uFmWX9czKRpYks37ESPRDhtS9twDQDzTaap00zC19LJ4Ga5XGxyipgQjjtWORdElt8WFbt703QVQGJcZ4QF3BetN9_5yHYqDs87-Nr_ovn/s1600/Picture+037.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu_E45dH0P0SpYJqEP97-QYYfLR2uFmWX9czKRpYks37ESPRDhtS9twDQDzTaap00zC19LJ4Ga5XGxyipgQjjtWORdElt8WFbt703QVQGJcZ4QF3BetN9_5yHYqDs87-Nr_ovn/s640/Picture+037.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Each bed has a bedside light, a small bookshelf, and a wire with clips for favorite artwork or photos.</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/AVvXsEgIYF5WlGuOYjCNfYCo6nGDEuFVBjDph25v_FKPprDEgai4FxgDwaXaoxnNQo2bbGz2gnx5nobtaox34kflvycz2IY3gTczr8aOPIX9MLzGLpYa8YC4abmNpCiFk2QlcT2-YOyt/s1600/Picture+039.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIYF5WlGuOYjCNfYCo6nGDEuFVBjDph25v_FKPprDEgai4FxgDwaXaoxnNQo2bbGz2gnx5nobtaox34kflvycz2IY3gTczr8aOPIX9MLzGLpYa8YC4abmNpCiFk2QlcT2-YOyt/s640/Picture+039.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I was able to sew and line both curtains all with fabric I had on hand. (I used 2 old green twin sheets for the linings)</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/AVvXsEj2kQnsYza4sVT_eUI24lAhHYKu1U0Kp882BxUlSdeKnCIQVBTNqj6tEde0oRnzqe7pbs1aVP_rYCck-LF3dcoVkuuDiXA-MGaMNFLM043J3HekiCeWdPoDlIGueNfrFzFnvbCV/s1600/Picture+040.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2kQnsYza4sVT_eUI24lAhHYKu1U0Kp882BxUlSdeKnCIQVBTNqj6tEde0oRnzqe7pbs1aVP_rYCck-LF3dcoVkuuDiXA-MGaMNFLM043J3HekiCeWdPoDlIGueNfrFzFnvbCV/s640/Picture+040.jpg" width="640" /></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/AVvXsEgXLmkW48TY18b9_ONqZv2QwtgerMLdJ_7kHzUJ0HT8xQ9i1cIZKxq0qrBMC6AHqmrEQEiZeQ0PIUh0PLBtlTikXeANV-3moxIHKd1kziyItxZ1I0QwH6-DVpXg_D7LkpFeuXZQ/s1600/Picture+042.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXLmkW48TY18b9_ONqZv2QwtgerMLdJ_7kHzUJ0HT8xQ9i1cIZKxq0qrBMC6AHqmrEQEiZeQ0PIUh0PLBtlTikXeANV-3moxIHKd1kziyItxZ1I0QwH6-DVpXg_D7LkpFeuXZQ/s640/Picture+042.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;">I love me some pretty patchwork of vibrant fabrics.</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/AVvXsEgz22PXC0mC2B3E9Co53wjjoxCUR78iFsCOYwLAUNfVYwInHWMxo8tqxEQDpWuMuusRgglltBYBQ_Bua-OSwWP2df5Bp-e6g_eEqzhEnzgiYqPBkM5at55oIfl0jakYixd77VKT/s1600/Picture+043.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz22PXC0mC2B3E9Co53wjjoxCUR78iFsCOYwLAUNfVYwInHWMxo8tqxEQDpWuMuusRgglltBYBQ_Bua-OSwWP2df5Bp-e6g_eEqzhEnzgiYqPBkM5at55oIfl0jakYixd77VKT/s640/Picture+043.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;">We used a curtain hanging system from Ikea to hang them so they would pull all the way around the 2 open sides of the beds.</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/AVvXsEhza6a0PXTFufTLc2ei32QL_e6FSsk2UKjnbICOpGklvsGTTuWXoqb-wp-ECi_R-iIq6mUOs0BDWaImSRwXscfip6SsHY2U7G83xz8D7mt7ewvWqvuM2jdLpM0AUbiiK_G9rSfT/s1600/Picture+044.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhza6a0PXTFufTLc2ei32QL_e6FSsk2UKjnbICOpGklvsGTTuWXoqb-wp-ECi_R-iIq6mUOs0BDWaImSRwXscfip6SsHY2U7G83xz8D7mt7ewvWqvuM2jdLpM0AUbiiK_G9rSfT/s640/Picture+044.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">(Curtains closed)</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/AVvXsEgKBSMyHVWRsD4BlDJczJgWxd-QnYx2KexKQxXz6XrMFv-UZmQSOORv5T5JdGkwf2xqEJdGV9v5ns6GDz0LQ30O-aNbIDKcbr0icMINn9gYR05L8XHZVdB64fB5EiS-CVOHWWxx/s1600/Picture+045.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKBSMyHVWRsD4BlDJczJgWxd-QnYx2KexKQxXz6XrMFv-UZmQSOORv5T5JdGkwf2xqEJdGV9v5ns6GDz0LQ30O-aNbIDKcbr0icMINn9gYR05L8XHZVdB64fB5EiS-CVOHWWxx/s640/Picture+045.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">(Curtains open)</div><div style="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/AVvXsEjkaaHLtkV7fpxR8gwXU_wTF9O5gVIRF70j72t0bFdARtt2GH9fSEqTqEAnzD_Of7QeF5ZvSGma6jTbPKC7DdA-r0tRKnhW4ccD6KtOhjlJUV0271k70Xcmb45qvoxrG8EXLkP7/s1600/Picture+046.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkaaHLtkV7fpxR8gwXU_wTF9O5gVIRF70j72t0bFdARtt2GH9fSEqTqEAnzD_Of7QeF5ZvSGma6jTbPKC7DdA-r0tRKnhW4ccD6KtOhjlJUV0271k70Xcmb45qvoxrG8EXLkP7/s640/Picture+046.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">(Cozy)</div><div style="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/AVvXsEgd55M1NucsJc5UFu21R9XjgWvdIcIPe07CSavaF0f6Q27KZKIAZrOqXWtbSM1DK4znGIhRKZRJD4HJBIYkxBfZwzKUWLCc_AsQZbJffpHZPlcfb2Py6JHEmQCVQRzyvw23iJzL/s1600/Picture+049.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd55M1NucsJc5UFu21R9XjgWvdIcIPe07CSavaF0f6Q27KZKIAZrOqXWtbSM1DK4znGIhRKZRJD4HJBIYkxBfZwzKUWLCc_AsQZbJffpHZPlcfb2Py6JHEmQCVQRzyvw23iJzL/s640/Picture+049.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I love this little wall-hanging metal doohickey we use for their scriptures.</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/AVvXsEhG-YrEvK784s724dE2E7tI_WIdl-vpnbAYXQfxffa-_kGxGfDm2PN3YdBoga2-_zGvzwD0MdZpcD-gD74YxBQQKOkXYQa4korE9EN70HNJbwkLxxyWIK0Udvowh_3f7YUp39Go/s1600/Picture+050.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG-YrEvK784s724dE2E7tI_WIdl-vpnbAYXQfxffa-_kGxGfDm2PN3YdBoga2-_zGvzwD0MdZpcD-gD74YxBQQKOkXYQa4korE9EN70HNJbwkLxxyWIK0Udvowh_3f7YUp39Go/s640/Picture+050.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I used a Command hook on the side of their dresser that faces the wall so I could inconspicuously hang their cd books for nighttime listening.</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/AVvXsEhLQbn4yUk3eyXNhy261FZhcKHwy-mvMeIfPfeMbkMGqXYAGxP9n1iIgVDNkrpiZ0to2wZks_Rhg9HQjhBYEiYc1iPIFd9BEJ5DyEHi6lsf-x5cG2Kz86u89qKlQF8MRey04q4y/s1600/Picture+055.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLQbn4yUk3eyXNhy261FZhcKHwy-mvMeIfPfeMbkMGqXYAGxP9n1iIgVDNkrpiZ0to2wZks_Rhg9HQjhBYEiYc1iPIFd9BEJ5DyEHi6lsf-x5cG2Kz86u89qKlQF8MRey04q4y/s640/Picture+055.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">And of course, this little pretty for their door. </div><div style="text-align: center;">I am very pleased with the transformation of what used to be Fiona's nursery, and with their transition to sharing a room. That leaves what is now termed the play room, or Bella's former bedroom. </div><div style="text-align: center;">The last few months have brought a few other improvements around here, which I hope to document shortly.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I love the team that Timm and I make- between both of our vision and know-how, we can really bust out quite a few projects- and now that he's home more with his new job, we've had the time. So more to come.</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/AVvXsEjJQlWXwdwAczXxXekSiuJ1EGtxuge6d0Sqqbkb8lIEo0ALE5LNnxpUBhXkF0_Y0EJNyd0STzGVDkyFQS9wmnS_k6XmF3xWdtopnyDzq2IKAqGRwOxUW3QXc5WPVHZ_tHhkOQ2B/s1600/Picture+013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div>jthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11565824986946758808noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21228919.post-15638300998913843462012-02-02T20:03:00.000-05:002012-02-02T20:03:23.268-05:00Veritable Landfill<div style="text-align: center;">H'Meh.</div><div style="text-align: center;">(My temporarily partially-paralyzed face) </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjduOXeqVLvX8asXp5g3vnxlx6cQmfpYDE9Y6BUzQlbVTzX1-syWF970Eg7qFW0NW0Dhasn_GTyXzVBJ47mHCiIurcJtTZhRQYhU45v4qwoLhR0S-Ol3qx2dZ2lecruv2ZMDcoR/s1600/misc+053.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjduOXeqVLvX8asXp5g3vnxlx6cQmfpYDE9Y6BUzQlbVTzX1-syWF970Eg7qFW0NW0Dhasn_GTyXzVBJ47mHCiIurcJtTZhRQYhU45v4qwoLhR0S-Ol3qx2dZ2lecruv2ZMDcoR/s640/misc+053.jpg" width="480" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
So between less-than-perfect BYU health insurance and my complete lack of insurance from Timm's previous job, I estimate it had been at least 6 years since I last saw a dentist. Maybe even as many as 8. I do not practice <i>perfect</i> dental hygiene, but I brush and floss. I didn't even think much about it until I lost a filling a few months ago, before our new health coverage took effect. I made sure to floss it religiously since it kind of hurt and there was a gaping hole for food to accumulate in, but it was still about 4 months before I saw the dentist. Naively, I thought this would be the only problem. Maybe because I hadn't sat in a dentist's chair for many years, but I assumed since I had no pain in my mouth and my teeth looked good and white that there were no problems. In fact, the thought of other dental woes didn't even cross my mind until the dentist came in and started piercing my gums with a very sharp instrument, muttering notes to his hygienist for practically every tooth. It sounded something like "Number 13, possible RC, number 14 likely RC & other alphabetical dental codes that I didn't understand and don't remember..." Suddenly I thought- He really has a lot to talk about. Really, every tooth? You can't just skip one? I don't really know what you're saying, but I think you might be a little overly critical. And no, that does not feel like a "little pressure." It feels like you are poking tender gum tissue with the very sharp instrument that you indeed, are poking me with. I saw it. It's very pointy.</div><div style="text-align: center;">They couldn't even clean my teeth. I had to have the entire appointment devoted to a consultation. My results were not good. Turns out 'RC' stands for 'Root Canal' which in hindsight, makes perfect sense.He showed me a lot of fancy high-tech pictures of my teeth and pointed out all the dark, black shaded areas that were decay. He pointed out the roots of my teeth and how those ominous darkly shaded parts were dangerously close to those roots. He spoke of various degrees of severity in decay, from 1-4, all of which I had several times over. He showed me a visible hole in one of my teeth, aside from the one that had lost a filling. He pointed out under the wire cemented to my teeth where the floss failed to reach. Finally he gave me a detailed treatment plan that spanned many pages, included many stages over a period of time, and involved way more money than I could ever hope to afford to my evidently grossly neglected dental care. I was on the verge of tears, and I think the shock of it was the only thing that kept those tears from spilling over.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I took my veritable landfill of a mouth and left feeling chastised, embarrassed, poor, and discouraged. Who has teeth like this? Meth heads, illegal immigrants, homeless people, and people living in abject poverty, that's who. (Or so I decided in my traumatized state. No offense to these societal subsets- it's just that I'm not one of them. Or am I? I suppose with my teeth already in the state they're in, I could finally take up meth and ignore at least one of those nasty side effects.)</div><div style="text-align: center;">I returned for a cleaning, then later a cavity fill times two, which led to a visit to the endodontist to preform 2 root canals. (The first of several, apparently.) That used the entirety of my annual allowance from my insurance, with $350 left over. We got my teeth their first credit card to cover the balance, and now I am supposed to get crowns for those two teeth which will cost me $1900. Which I am not doing. I know, it sounds crazy. It probably is crazy. But the manager at the dentist office said I could probably get by with only the 'core buildup', whatever that is, until <i>next</i> January when my insurance rolls over. Yeah, a year from now. The core buildup will only cost a few hundred dollars, on my teeth's fancy shmancy new credit card, of course. Then we can move on to the many more teeth that need attention, and hopefully arrest their deterioration and prevent root canals for the rest of the lot. </div><div style="text-align: center;">In summary, after six entire visits, I will have 2 of my teeth mostly repaired. We have a long way to go.</div><div style="text-align: center;">A highlight however, was having 8 full hours of numbness for half of my face, stretching to include part of my eye. These pictures were taken a few hours in, when a bit of it had worn off. I gave Timm no small amount of pleasure as I talked, and best of all tried to smile or laugh. He would laugh almost to the point of tears every time, insisting that I take my hand away from my mouth in self-consciousness. A couple of times through the day I would proclaim, "Timm! I think it's wearing off!", then flash him that winning half-smile. He would patronizingly reply, "Almost..." before laughing again. It made him especially giddy if I would mumble, "I have a few <a href="http://callmebadger.blogspot.com/2012/01/crazy-person-literally.html">disorders</a>" out of the corner of my semi-functioning mouth.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Good times.</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/AVvXsEhryi8LRA2H61Qu4vHMCQQpg5oxxA1WhqVl4RBfpM4WDcOgMGuCM15OIEnfbA4ZBOPPXdQFGxa0R-YbWP4X2bcdeKy3A0FuOxC8OtaEn3CkJktXEYRMF_1vB90IfkBJv4pHTzaP/s1600/misc+054.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhryi8LRA2H61Qu4vHMCQQpg5oxxA1WhqVl4RBfpM4WDcOgMGuCM15OIEnfbA4ZBOPPXdQFGxa0R-YbWP4X2bcdeKy3A0FuOxC8OtaEn3CkJktXEYRMF_1vB90IfkBJv4pHTzaP/s640/misc+054.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">In other good news, I have now been avoiding chewing on the left side of my mouth for going on 5 months, and with any luck I will continue to do so for another year until I can afford the crowns! It is a skill I am proud to cultivate.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjduOXeqVLvX8asXp5g3vnxlx6cQmfpYDE9Y6BUzQlbVTzX1-syWF970Eg7qFW0NW0Dhasn_GTyXzVBJ47mHCiIurcJtTZhRQYhU45v4qwoLhR0S-Ol3qx2dZ2lecruv2ZMDcoR/s1600/misc+053.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div>jthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11565824986946758808noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21228919.post-18057251254230188362012-01-19T19:57:00.000-05:002012-01-19T19:57:45.863-05:00Crazy Person, literally.<div style="text-align: center;">What we have here is one of those good news/bad news situations.</div><div style="text-align: center;">The kind where it's hard to tell which is which.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">First, some background.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Obviously I have been absent for a few months. Part of that was just busy with projects and some hypomania after Timm got his new job. That eventually slid into a muddied, deliberate avoidance of blogs in general. I told myself it wasn't because I was depressed, knowing that avoidance of any and all social contact is usually my number 1 sign of depression . I also wasn't emailing, or talking on the phone. I had gone from running 25 miles a week, to not having laced up my running shoes in over a month. Pretty much just going to church on Sundays, and maybe grocery shopping on Saturdays. 5-6 days a week were spent in my pajamas all day, sleeping as much as possible, and steadily putting on weight. (12 pounds since Thanksgiving to be specific.) The only time I put my foot out the door was the unavoidable trek to the bus stop each morning at 7:30. In all honesty, I wouldn't even have bothered to do that except that it's much easier to have Bella at school all day. (That and truancy laws.) Sometimes I didn't shower for that many days at a time either. Full disclosure.</div><div style="text-align: center;">After you've spent 6 days straight in your pajamas, haven't left the house, and worn a path into the carpet from bed to couch to fridge and back, it's hard to deny that you might, just maybe, be depressed. Especially when you're daily routine involves sleeping on the couch every morning after dropping your eldest off at the bus stop while your youngest patiently absorbs a lot of Netflix-streamed tv.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Unfortunately this scenario is nothing new to me. I have been dealing with major depression all of my adult life. It's really quite tiresome and boring. So armed with my fancy new health insurance, I decided to go see a psychiatrist for the first time in over 4 years to try and see if we could find a different treatment than the one I've been on for so long. I didn't feel very good about the appointment or her opinion, so I sought a second opinion and waited 3 months to see a different doctor, which I finally did this week. Which leads me to the good news/bad news portion of this post.</div><div style="text-align: center;">The good news is that I probably do <i>not </i>have Bipolar II Disorder, as I have long suspected that I did and researched. </div><div style="text-align: center;">The bad news is that I do show symptoms of the following disorders:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Obsessive Compulsive Disorder</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Generalized Anxiety Disorder</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Major Depressive Disorder </b></div><div style="text-align: center;">and last but not least</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Eating Disorder NOS </b>('Not Otherwise Specified')</div><div style="text-align: center;">You know, your typical OCD/ADHD/Anxiety-ridden massively depressed person with an eating disorder.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I got that diagnosis in Provo before moving here, but conveniently forgot about it until I had the pleasure of reading over my psychiatry records in detail. Hey, if anything can pull you out of a debilitating depression, it's reading over your medical assessments and lack of progress over several years from the perspective of a trained mental health practitioner.On a good note, she did indicate that I was very attractive. (That was of course one line mixed in paragraphs upon paragraphs about my obsessiveness over food, weight, body image, and self-worth.)</div><div style="text-align: center;">Right.</div><div style="text-align: center;">So for now not much has changed. This doctor agreed that I am probably nor Bipolar- II or otherwise. I see him again in a month and I sure hope we can make some changes so I feel alive again. Which is not to say that I am sad- those blessed individuals with no experience with depression probably don't understand that. Probably because of the antidepressants I've been on for years, I do not currently have a sad depression. It's the bored apathy that is wasting me. The inability to find any purpose in showering, dressing, or leaving the house. So in the meantime, I'll try to suck it up and make the tiny goals that brand-new mothers and invalids make each day- For tomorrow: shower, dress, and make the bed.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I also read a bit in my files about my Eating Disorder (NOS), which I'll explore in another post. In the meantime I'm planning on going to Weight Watchers tomorrow, perpetuating my 'ED (NOS)'. I'm trying to remember the therapeutic benefits of writing, and will thusly torture anyone reading with an account of this roller coaster.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Good times!</div>jthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11565824986946758808noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21228919.post-58969845403705316872012-01-11T15:36:00.001-05:002012-01-11T15:38:43.816-05:00She Says<span style="color: lime;">Me</span>: Wasn't it fun to have the Lees over for dinner last night?<br />
<span style="color: red;">Bella </span>(age 6): Yeah. Want to know what we played?<br />
<span style="color: lime;">Me</span>: Sure.<br />
<span style="color: red;">B: </span>We acted out a scripture story!<br />
<span style="color: lime;">Me</span>: Ohh, that sounds fun! (thinking. Oh my gosh- they are such dorks.)<br />
Which one did you act out?<br />
<span style="color: red;">B:</span> The Man Possessed By Evil Spirits.<br />
<span style="color: lime;">Me</span>: Oh dear!<br />
<span style="color: red;">B:</span> What 'Oh dear'?<br />
<span style="color: lime;">Me</span>: Nothing. Who played what parts?<br />
<span style="color: red;">B:</span> Well, Mia was Jesus.<br />
<span style="color: lime;">Me</span>: Okay, who was the man possessed?<br />
<span style="color: red;">B:</span> Well there was only one boy!<br />
<span style="color: lime;">Me</span>: I don't know, Mia played Jesus, so...<br />
<span style="color: red;">B:</span> Truman was the man. I read the story while they acted it out.<br />
And I was a pig.<br />
<span style="color: lime;">Me</span>: Aha.<br />
<span style="color: red;">B</span>: We used hangers on Truman to be the chains he was tied up with that he could break out of.<br />
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(She really like to read the simplified, illustrated scriptures. She chooses an extra scripture story for her story each night, then often takes them to bed and continues reading. Oh dear.)jthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11565824986946758808noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21228919.post-24462634626175765882011-11-01T11:12:00.000-04:002011-11-01T11:12:40.250-04:00A Halloween TraditionSometimes in the hustle and bustle of costumes, candy, and everything else that goes on for Halloween, it is easy to forget the simple pleasures that nature can provide. I am pleased to announce that, in what has become a beloved annual tradition, the giant orange mushrooms are back in our backyard for the 4th year running. So bright, so cheerful, so bio-luminescent, just plain perfect.jthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11565824986946758808noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21228919.post-5194540224228185982011-10-27T22:20:00.002-04:002011-10-28T11:03:43.986-04:00Slowly Starting Back<div style="color: red;">** The following post was written by my husband, as he hijacked my blog last night while I slept. He was so sick of not seeing anything new on my blog he took it upon himself to write something. Hence, the " I look forward each day to seeing his beautiful face and just basking in the glow of his presence" to name one incidence. Doubtless he is hoping that I will now be forced to follow through documenting the things he has listed. We'll see. I am a stubborn sort.**</div><br />
Don’t get too excited that I am posting something new, this is not groundbreaking material. I just anted to get out a brief overview of some of the topics I have in mind to blog about in the near future. I think that writing them down will help me follow through with it.<br />
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First, you may be asking “Where has Jessie been?” For the most part, I’ve been right here. The biggest thing we’ve had going on is all the changes with Timm’s new job. Saying that it has been nice to have him home more doesn’t quite cover it. I don’t know if I have any language that can. I am more in love with him every day. He is the most stable, gentle, loving person in our house, and I just don’t know how we function when he isn’t around. I look forward each day to seeing his beautiful face and just basking in the glow of his presence.<br />
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We have also been super busy working on our house. We have moved the girls into the same room (Fiona’s), which also involved a new dresser (Craigslist), a new bunk bed (built by Timm), reworking the closet to make room for more cloths, extra storage, careful culling and a myriad of other changes. That left Bella’s room open which we are planning to make over into a combination toy room, reading room, and guest space.<br />
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I spent countless hours sorting through everything we own, and I now claim the title “queen of culling.” We sold a lot of things online (Craigslist again), and had a yard sale with total profit around $1000.00. Sweet.<br />
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In the living room, we have installed some bookshelves, which are fabulous, and have plans for a ladder. Yes, you read that correctly, we will have a ladder. In our house. We will have a ladder inside our house. Like a library, but in our house. I know.<br />
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I got a new 12 foot long workspace in my studio. I can’t even begin to imagine projects big enough to use a space like that, but I’m sure I will eventually.<br />
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There's a lot more to write, but like the title implies, I just want to get a little start and build up from there.jthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11565824986946758808noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21228919.post-81096338717861276012011-09-27T19:17:00.000-04:002011-09-27T19:17:49.991-04:00FeaturedAlright, alright- I know, I took a near summer-long blogging hiatus, but it's coming to an end, I promise. I have stacks of titles of blogs to come, many photos, many projects both major and minor in all stages of completion, and it is all coming- but first, <a href="http://www.ohdeedoh.com/">Odeedoh</a> featured <a href="http://callmebadger.blogspot.com/2011/05/bellas-book-party.html">Bella's Book Party </a>today, so as if you haven't seen enough of it already,<a href="http://www.ohdeedoh.com/ohdeedoh/my-party/best-kids-parties-books-reading-my-party-bella-charlotte-nc-157084"> check it out!</a><br />
Oh, and if you're visiting from Ohdeedoh, Welcome! I usually post more regularly. I have excuses for this time around. They're coming too.<br />
And the name of the bog is actually just 'Call Me Badger'- it's just that they last time I updated my banner was the spring. Pooh.<br />
Stay tuned!jthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11565824986946758808noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21228919.post-16509384597477641552011-08-17T13:35:00.000-04:002011-08-17T13:35:50.102-04:00Good Question<div style="text-align: center;">Hey guys, <a href="http://www.ohdeedoh.com/">Odeedoh</a> is featuring my '<a href="http://www.ohdeedoh.com/ohdeedoh/good-questions/safe-way-to-display-3d-hand-foot-molds-good-questions-153980">Good Question</a>' today. Take a look at the link, and leave a comment on their site if you have a good suggestion!</div><div style="text-align: center;">Thanks :)</div><br />
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jthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11565824986946758808noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21228919.post-42963120486469633662011-08-13T16:19:00.000-04:002011-08-13T16:19:03.645-04:00A History of Pests<div style="text-align: center;">When I die, let it be said that I have a respect for <i>insecta</i> of all kinds. My respect is primarily reserved to those who observe the unspoken edict that they remain out of doors, never crossing the threshold of our home. I can identify the purpose and usefulness of some of these insects, and understand that they play a role in nature. There are a few that are anomalies, such as the mosquito, that serve no purpose other than to spread communicable diseases and itching welts- but I hear there are insects that are actually beneficial if not entirely innocuous. I reserve a hallowed place for one type of insect in my home, however. One that is not really an insect at all really, an arachnid. I leave the spiders to their peace so that they may aid me in my mission to eradicate the actually bothersome insects.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Before we moved here, my cousin Cathryne warned me that North Carolina was home to more insects than anywhere in the nation, some of them as large as birds. She learned this from a stint she spent in Chapel Hill. She claimed she could not even sit in the grass for fear of the many classes of insects that threatened to overtake her. I waived away her concerns, believing that she and I must be cut from a different cloth. She was right. In fact, depending on the time of day, you can hear a veritable roar of cicadas that quickly becomes background noise, part and parcel of living in the South.</div><div style="text-align: center;">However. </div><div> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Once said insects cross into my territory- into a carpeted, air-conditioned, civilized world-all bets are off.</div><div style="text-align: center;"> For the most part, our home regularly only houses the human and feline species, but occasionally something else sneaks in. I can't really blame them- especially in August, but that doesn't change the fact that they are entirely unwelcome. </div><div style="text-align: center;">I will now chronicle for you our history of pests in this home:</div><div style="text-align: center;"> Only twice since we moved here 4 years ago have I seen a cockroach- big, black 2-inch suckers that scurry and flee to the shelter of the underside of the couch or my sink drain. That's not bad for 4 years, but both of these incidences incited a near riot of one. I sat perched on my couch, which I quickly became afraid of, imagining it's many insidious and invisible predators that prey on dead skin cells and my peace of mind. Suddenly, I lived in a tainted world. All porous surfaces were suspect, and could I have afforded it, I would have hired a fumigator, ordered all new furniture and carpet, a Kirby cleaner, and a deep-cleaning team of specialists within the 5 minutes of sighting the cockroach. Alas, I was left to buy copious amounts of roach bait, clean compulsively and keep the name of an exterminator on hand should I sight another one. </div><div style="text-align: center;">One of my cat's many faults is that they cannot eat without spilling cat food all over the floor. This may have something to do with the fact that all of Smeagle's tiny front cat teeth have fallen out, he has recently lost an incisor and a molar, and his remaining teeth are so plaque-encrusted it sometimes makes closing his mouth difficult. Nevertheless, they spill their food all over the floor, which sustains a large colony of the tiniest ants in the world who keep a steady track from the cat food to my window sill.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Once I discovered some very small larvae-looking things in the bottom of a rank laundry basket where damp clothes may have been collecting for longer than is advisable. Repulsed, I whisked them into a collection jar, and started my research, afraid for bed bugs. They turned out to be carpet beetles, which after my reading I was convinced would be the ruination of our home and family. I vacuumed religiously and kept better up on the laundry which were my only defenses against them. </div><div style="text-align: center;">I have seen and heard mice in my kitchen so many times I disregard it now. I've actually only sighted one once, but I am convinced that everything I hear from that vicinity is a mouse, hellbent on bringing my insanity to full fruition. As with the other pests I have battled, I go straight for the big guns. Had these mice been found in nature, I would smile at their small, cute natures and leave them to themselves. But once again, once they enter into my home, all I can think of is vanquishment at any cost. Mouse traps and carefully placed mouse poison. Incidentally, my cats are completely useless against these pets. Never once have they caught a mouse, though they sometimes lay in wait, studying a corner of my kitchen which always makes me uneasy. Once, several years ago, Dobby caught a fly by one wing in her mouth, then eating it, earning her the nickname of 'Ninja Cat'. That has been the whole of their usefulness in their 7 1/2 years.</div><div style="text-align: center;">A few weeks ago, Timm came home from Scout camp and dumped his bag on the living room floor. Later that day, a small blue-tailed lizard was seen racing through the living room. This variety is often seen sunning on our front porch, making a hasty retreat as soon as you open the door. This was the first time I had seen a reptile in this home. Smeagle darted after it, causing Bella to sing his praises whenever possible to allay Timm's threats of turning him into 'Smeagle bacon'. I picked it up, it comically clamped down on my finger, and I released it outside. I blamed it on Timm's scout bag, but I'm really not so sure.</div><div style="text-align: center;">The next week, I was in the kitchen when Fiona came to me, wide-eyed saying: 'mama! There's a fwogda wiving woom!' (Or, 'Mama, there's a frog in the living room!') I chided her 2-year old imagination and moved to inspect. There, in close proximity to our dryer, was a frog, completely covered in lint. His eyeballs were so coated with it that he struggled to close his eyes and I had to thoroughly rinse him in the kitchen sink before returning him outside. I will admit, that one still mystifies me.</div><div style="text-align: center;">All of this evidence, collected, sounds horrifying. It makes me out to be a slovenly, unkempt and unsanitary person. That I might be, but our home is not. It's not perfect, but most of the time I like to think my house is cleaner than many others. As an example, I sweep my kitchen at least 3 times a day. This is in part because I have small children who eat like Cookie Monster, and because I cannot abide the feeling of crumbs underfoot. After the cockroach debacle, I further intensified my sweeping initiatives. My point is, I am not living in the deplorable conditions this evidence would suggest, and there is no need, at this time, to contact Child Protective Services.</div><div style="text-align: center;">And then. Then.</div><div style="text-align: center;">The whammy.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Lice.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>jthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11565824986946758808noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21228919.post-9600304698171392722011-07-28T14:15:00.001-04:002011-07-28T14:17:18.438-04:00Machine Washable<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/AVvXsEg5RgI-mOeR3BI_rp-K0LWUpoWIkBZ5387BohgW6z7rzRKeSJP5NbsNcPpWcQq25aQw9JkNlgX7_gYZbC3pWRtKqM8HGqkpLweFLV-_sDaip-YHUQH2DuWrhzC7XIA_KN-d2irE/s1600/machine.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5RgI-mOeR3BI_rp-K0LWUpoWIkBZ5387BohgW6z7rzRKeSJP5NbsNcPpWcQq25aQw9JkNlgX7_gYZbC3pWRtKqM8HGqkpLweFLV-_sDaip-YHUQH2DuWrhzC7XIA_KN-d2irE/s320/machine.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I don't have a lot of 'nice' things. Don't get me wrong- I have cute things, they're just not usually very high quality. Anything nice that I do have is almost certainly a gift or a hand-me-down from my mom. I've always said that were it not for my benefactor, we'd have cinder block bookshelves and bed sheets stapled to the windows. Because of her, my home has never reflected how truly poor we might have been at the time. I was raised in a very nice home and was quite accustomed to fine things, but as I ventured out in a poorly disguised version of 'living on my own' I became more and more aware that my adult life would probably not mirror the example I had as a child. I was not raised in wealth, nor was I particularly spoiled, but I never had to go without and I could usually have what I needed. Our homes were not small, and they were always beautifully appointed. </div><div style="text-align: center;">I went through a series of progressive adjustments once I left the comparative luxury of my parent's home and became accustomed to the fact that I would lead a simpler lifestyle. My lack of expensive things originated from the lack of money necessitated to buy high quality things, but fortunately for me it has also become a choice of lifestyle. I have definite opinions, styles, and preferences, but I have found that they can almost always be accommodated without spending a lot of money. Because I was fortunate enough to be raised in beautiful and creative environments I learned to create those spaces myself. There are times when something may warrant spending as much as you can afford, when you are buying an investment piece or something substantial where cheap just won't do, but many more times when it is just not expedient to spend exorbitant amounts of money unnecessarily. </div><div style="text-align: center;">I'm also very casual. I don't own or even want china. I don't care about a formal dining room. I don't care much for anything formal in fact. And clothes? Getting dressed up and accessorized once a week for church is fulfilling enough for me. The rest of the week I am usually happy in jeans or even stretchy pants unless an occasion warrants otherwise. Sometimes I work hard and sweat profusely, staining my clothes. I get down on my hands and knees and get to work, in whatever I'm wearing. I have to scrub toilets and bathtubs. I clean litter boxes and wipe bums. I need clothes I can move in, and that will not cost me an arm and leg to repeatedly throw in the washer and dryer- or worse, dry cleaning! (the horror) And sometimes I drip ice cream down my front, or more often I drop food into my cavernous cleavage. Sometimes I don't find it until I change my clothes at night when it falls out of my bra.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I also have kids. As a new mother I was aghast to find dry clean-only baby clothes! I don't want silk covered chairs that I have to cover, again, when they are in use to protect the silk. I don't want fabrics that will stain and ruin with the very threat of little fingers approaching and that will stain once again as I try to clean them. I don't want delicate drapes that will tear the first time one of my errant children plays in them despite my repeated threats of bodily harm if they should do so. I want something I can repeatedly throw in the wash and know it will come out alright. I want a clean home as well, and feel satisfied by washing something and then drying it in high temperatures, erasing and killing whatever may be there, real or unreal, seen or unseen.</div><div style="text-align: center;">A long time ago as I was washing my living room pillows for the umpteenth time, I realized that I live a 'machine washable life', and I like it. I think you could aptly describe my whole life with that term: Machine Washable. Sensible, practical, durable, affordable, but still cute. Something that might get dirty frequently because you really <i>use</i> it, sharing it with people in your life, but is easily remedied, coming out clean again and again- if not a little worse for the wear. </div><div style="text-align: center;">That's me- Machine Washable. My person, my home, my lifestyle.</div>jthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11565824986946758808noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21228919.post-29812716621729528842011-07-17T23:35:00.000-04:002011-07-17T23:35:12.430-04:00Week In Repose<div style="text-align: center;">I think this last week might have been a first for us- we had an entire week together at home, with no work obligations whatever. We had nowhere to be, nothing to do. So, being an almost-agoraphobe, that's what we did: go nowhere, do nothing. Mostly. </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/AVvXsEgZ7oqd2VO65THP6gGPEDUbmJjn0o7s4fzBUXEB4LrisQacVVdENVODzHvGWTndE-V4iVrprNyWS1ZlhvmyZ1zdL9lGYqent5PoyyMpwgIfTJ6s4fPeSVLrbMjQQVxdU-EsQSbn/s1600/july11+012.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ7oqd2VO65THP6gGPEDUbmJjn0o7s4fzBUXEB4LrisQacVVdENVODzHvGWTndE-V4iVrprNyWS1ZlhvmyZ1zdL9lGYqent5PoyyMpwgIfTJ6s4fPeSVLrbMjQQVxdU-EsQSbn/s640/july11+012.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">(I'm still red. Update: The public is divided. Studies show that 22% of people think I'm inappropriate, 36% don't care, and 56% of people think I'm rad.)</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/AVvXsEiJ689tyfS5RsmrQMPWXY8ONPpZuNmJy6vSSOwbaCvEj2jIL_x2flzlVp7qkOFsw6KpsgFPsXK4gU7g8G2aVdXcDSzAotRh6_RSRtqQdPZO_q1Aj_9TGeq2IWku9TFaiXWCOMMV/s1600/july11+024.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ689tyfS5RsmrQMPWXY8ONPpZuNmJy6vSSOwbaCvEj2jIL_x2flzlVp7qkOFsw6KpsgFPsXK4gU7g8G2aVdXcDSzAotRh6_RSRtqQdPZO_q1Aj_9TGeq2IWku9TFaiXWCOMMV/s640/july11+024.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">{My half-up 'do looks a little swirly from above.}</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/AVvXsEggz2zszWX1kUjh9l0hngmprGbnDcBjiQzJZmX6bKAqwFqfW5-_vzhm_yTX6rOw3weDo62Ak3EubGb8yRusMB5oKAFvXldDIrwXoTavCRjHb2xeKnc7z8LsV1Nx7qmYDrpNZH2H/s1600/july11+027.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggz2zszWX1kUjh9l0hngmprGbnDcBjiQzJZmX6bKAqwFqfW5-_vzhm_yTX6rOw3weDo62Ak3EubGb8yRusMB5oKAFvXldDIrwXoTavCRjHb2xeKnc7z8LsV1Nx7qmYDrpNZH2H/s640/july11+027.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">One day we melted down old crayons and poured them into candy molds to make rainbow crayons in various shapes. I've wanted to do this forever, and I don't know why it took this long to do.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Saturday was our big family date. (Timm finally got a paycheck in the mail yesterday that we had been waiting for, so we treated ourselves to a day of debauchery.) </div><div style="text-align: center;">First up: IHOP. I had New York cheesecake pancakes. Seriously. Cheesecake chunks in the pancakes, with whipped cream, strawberries, and strawberry syrup.</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/AVvXsEjXPawDJ9FK-RixfyZoNVnCMrPVLrCgnWcaHjnzcWgwfpOD-Of2KcHFcVxXx_bTgTFKX5faZTx7OQ2hyphenhyphenoDrEN9Ezxh-A-so1Mjwx76h0Zc7hv2-YfCVklBwSYt6gAgay3-y6oH2/s1600/july11+031.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXPawDJ9FK-RixfyZoNVnCMrPVLrCgnWcaHjnzcWgwfpOD-Of2KcHFcVxXx_bTgTFKX5faZTx7OQ2hyphenhyphenoDrEN9Ezxh-A-so1Mjwx76h0Zc7hv2-YfCVklBwSYt6gAgay3-y6oH2/s640/july11+031.jpg" width="640" /></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/AVvXsEi3tYkR9pbzctP7DaHwfQ1RIM-F2pr3mrKSp3lySyo6o9H1GQpT6ONvEE04gn7Ster5sUFvMn0wuPN_8I0Z6p6kZakUBOVoYPxt1IfLWK-ESlq06rT52gmmbAVhkZksSBKV7h3K/s1600/july11+035.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3tYkR9pbzctP7DaHwfQ1RIM-F2pr3mrKSp3lySyo6o9H1GQpT6ONvEE04gn7Ster5sUFvMn0wuPN_8I0Z6p6kZakUBOVoYPxt1IfLWK-ESlq06rT52gmmbAVhkZksSBKV7h3K/s640/july11+035.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">{Overhead florescent lighting: Universally flattering.}</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
Afterwards we walked next door to a new (to me) used bookstore I had never seen. Molly and I had previously gone down to an area called Plaza Midwood to go to the <a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1890441781">used bookstore</a><a href="http://callmebadger.blogspot.com/2010/06/you-say-its-your-birthday.html">/cat adoption center</a>, but I loved this one! The setup was awesome, and the kids were entertained the whole time. We could have gone there for the whole date and they would have been happy.</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/AVvXsEgHYfmelGkiWXygxHHgLo52BdwJn5XC4FpQWnQkVl_zzAra-v0PrvdLfqnHkS4X7vQKOjZPyj-AUPNFX_g-EEE5v7SGROvTAXTPbeBvUtku4xdHb1WkMSCw2BTpQwREhvHyneZP/s1600/july11+040.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHYfmelGkiWXygxHHgLo52BdwJn5XC4FpQWnQkVl_zzAra-v0PrvdLfqnHkS4X7vQKOjZPyj-AUPNFX_g-EEE5v7SGROvTAXTPbeBvUtku4xdHb1WkMSCw2BTpQwREhvHyneZP/s640/july11+040.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Bella entertained Fiona with puppet shows in their theater while we shopped.</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/AVvXsEgxV-yrwQRD0nPgEjrvZVyNKq_PvJErvGhyICade4yreJT3kyKllS9wCEYCcEFK_2RU8QKwh64LRbEjLbYC0BTtPJSHimPFzPk_dmx616kfnNm6kij7bL3i1W8N7gIgQWCVB1iU/s1600/july11+042.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxV-yrwQRD0nPgEjrvZVyNKq_PvJErvGhyICade4yreJT3kyKllS9wCEYCcEFK_2RU8QKwh64LRbEjLbYC0BTtPJSHimPFzPk_dmx616kfnNm6kij7bL3i1W8N7gIgQWCVB1iU/s640/july11+042.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Timm was dismayed that I was photographing him sitting in a child's school desk.</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/AVvXsEiOYnc54oKchdUzvI1pbGGAQehlNt1bsYy-cIGs6DP-Rib8fzgQvLC3iKtouf7IjdZ2-zQ1g1aDlcmRNFAzkXNh6lLn5t1HO9UecgNfxlbz4_CprJR06iS656Ztr2rmRC5NAnrw/s1600/july11+044.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOYnc54oKchdUzvI1pbGGAQehlNt1bsYy-cIGs6DP-Rib8fzgQvLC3iKtouf7IjdZ2-zQ1g1aDlcmRNFAzkXNh6lLn5t1HO9UecgNfxlbz4_CprJR06iS656Ztr2rmRC5NAnrw/s640/july11+044.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Okay. Here's where it gets good. Earlier in the week, Timm had attended the premier of Harry Potter 7 Part 2. For the occasion, he made himself a new wand. (Because of course he already had an old wand that he made-) He also made one for Hayden, Blake, and their cousin Paul, with more on order. He is like a kid with a new toy- he brings his wand everywhere. Everywhere. He holsters it in his pocket and requested that maybe I sew a compartment within his pocket that is deeper to accomodate the length of the wand. I had to shame him into leaving it in the car, and not bringing it into IHOP or our next destination.</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/AVvXsEhgTqYKZNCYkCh5w1_1oCIz6n7vLJUpYriES9EuElJsjFwG9UkEI57DmLfxqyfscTWSVpTKVPEXfACcPB4ACLydMMB9gL0xjqK7_ad4YBsq56E5Y_pYssUAduLkVw3n1xmI-siv/s1600/july11+048.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgTqYKZNCYkCh5w1_1oCIz6n7vLJUpYriES9EuElJsjFwG9UkEI57DmLfxqyfscTWSVpTKVPEXfACcPB4ACLydMMB9gL0xjqK7_ad4YBsq56E5Y_pYssUAduLkVw3n1xmI-siv/s640/july11+048.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">He drove with his wand readied at all times. Obviously. As we rode he brandished it casting various spells on passersby and other cars. He prounounced 'Avada Kedavra!' on Scar in the Lion King, causing his ultimate demise. When fires ravaged the plains of the same movie, Timm was ready with 'Aguamenti!', dousing the fires with life-saving water. Coming up behind a pedestrian on the side of the road he waved his wand and shouted 'Expelliarmus!', disarming the thug before he could do anyone harm. He made sure that Bella knew he had just disarmed this potential threat. Along the way he made up several of his own spells to suit his needs at the time.</div><div style="text-align: center;">So I made him leave it in the car when we went bowling.</div><div style="text-align: center;">And holy crap! Bowling's expensive! Nearly $50 for the whole family. Sheesh.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I think we might have bowled together once when Bella was younger. I had no real recollection of the experience, so when Timm took his turn, his highly stylized professional form took me by surprise. It looked so polished and practiced. Then when the ball started to veer sharply to the right, heading straight for the gutter, I snorted audibly. He threw the ball with such confidence and panache that when it started to sail straight for failure I couldn't restrain myself. But then something amazing happened: As it rolled along the edge, straddling the bumper and the lane, it took an abrupt turn as though he willed it to do so (even though he left his wand in the car) and spun in the other direction to knock down a bunch of pins. The next time he did it again to get a spare, and several times he got a strike. I was astounded and humbled for laughing at him. He was giddy that after 8 years of marriage he still had secrets.</div><div style="text-align: center;">This series shows his form, but not the incredibly veering ball.</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/AVvXsEhPzEhIaKz1ZkVvM3D8YfaEk0s-7cBh9eaMlKgdkKPl-19Jqc3CRaJlvGfjN9f9g0OReODW8iCF2RC1AFysnawSrfZUU-LeQSMPJJrGmi9sRlRBBKyaw52bMbDkC2oz-PRloCJz/s1600/july11+071.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPzEhIaKz1ZkVvM3D8YfaEk0s-7cBh9eaMlKgdkKPl-19Jqc3CRaJlvGfjN9f9g0OReODW8iCF2RC1AFysnawSrfZUU-LeQSMPJJrGmi9sRlRBBKyaw52bMbDkC2oz-PRloCJz/s640/july11+071.jpg" width="480" /></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/AVvXsEhydTRSo__6LL-5nz_4p-7CsC-N9KWGT1DHUORrKhyphenhyphenyexeeEqLok7NJfrt6_Fd09h4f4VliPzr_6sVdWSiCTxtXgiT14kueIZ-Hmpi0NIIqO_FboSBsH8mD7g5dOknEamUmPUhj/s1600/july11+072.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhydTRSo__6LL-5nz_4p-7CsC-N9KWGT1DHUORrKhyphenhyphenyexeeEqLok7NJfrt6_Fd09h4f4VliPzr_6sVdWSiCTxtXgiT14kueIZ-Hmpi0NIIqO_FboSBsH8mD7g5dOknEamUmPUhj/s640/july11+072.jpg" width="480" /></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/AVvXsEiUNC-z4vzH628vRGzxutDxAcVboAdzxAU8CN_4-vXpbCLP4B8X6rxTjVt9541yZYEPcrq2ib4azk06tE3mCImExoIE97RmEDsEPFsSBZ7INwaJU5CkXHECb7otglXOvjfB1fgX/s1600/july11+073.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUNC-z4vzH628vRGzxutDxAcVboAdzxAU8CN_4-vXpbCLP4B8X6rxTjVt9541yZYEPcrq2ib4azk06tE3mCImExoIE97RmEDsEPFsSBZ7INwaJU5CkXHECb7otglXOvjfB1fgX/s640/july11+073.jpg" width="480" /></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/AVvXsEjMeNsY0SDZNhUhn_f65BpWi5eASg7sEx8DKo1rN2E4WyzO6dQEJHZE-el6wzuMoEhowbdNvsxDmkyHJ3wJ5rugoJHXlhjBSs6PhKvHZsJLXuU38rMzSQLVaYO_EDTRyGggIslm/s1600/july11+074.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMeNsY0SDZNhUhn_f65BpWi5eASg7sEx8DKo1rN2E4WyzO6dQEJHZE-el6wzuMoEhowbdNvsxDmkyHJ3wJ5rugoJHXlhjBSs6PhKvHZsJLXuU38rMzSQLVaYO_EDTRyGggIslm/s640/july11+074.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I have to say, I was suitably impressed. Especially since he did in unaided by magic.</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/AVvXsEj02iNuArrlfAyEB_-Fou9b95XQlH8wrEBebYregDQY6JtsL9HVn2i9OU91_a0wxocVoBnwS4x-cfWkPTJ-o88hhN18CZ-O-iN6taB8xyPrzjNxnT-4UvzPCvikkzVdMd8JtdW1/s1600/july11+118.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj02iNuArrlfAyEB_-Fou9b95XQlH8wrEBebYregDQY6JtsL9HVn2i9OU91_a0wxocVoBnwS4x-cfWkPTJ-o88hhN18CZ-O-iN6taB8xyPrzjNxnT-4UvzPCvikkzVdMd8JtdW1/s640/july11+118.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">{Helping Bella}</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/AVvXsEi9nMNczHrjufp_2g3PnNH_7IEdpAtKlol14u4GROHLehOjHMhOfuWwq6eOOhuBResimh0jIcma39QapLH5zV-jpK0UpiN1YGI6T9AxCkzxUceoLOmUoacMYvsiBtkRMdXAEoQm/s1600/july11+126.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9nMNczHrjufp_2g3PnNH_7IEdpAtKlol14u4GROHLehOjHMhOfuWwq6eOOhuBResimh0jIcma39QapLH5zV-jpK0UpiN1YGI6T9AxCkzxUceoLOmUoacMYvsiBtkRMdXAEoQm/s640/july11+126.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This picture is so blurry but I love the expression of glee as she runs back from her bowl. She insisted on doing it all herself- she would heave the ball onto the lane where it landed with an impressive and solid thud, then roll, impossibly slowly, down the lane. It inched so painfully slowly to the end of the lane, it's all you could do not to audibly groan. When it finally reached its target, even the pins seemed to fall in slow motion as her ball tapped them over. She was thrilled.</div><div style="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/AVvXsEgvbacs24jmPtQ5Dfa9NQYksKcDRxZ92hddvCnyqhaJWl5AMqJSg4tNIfMgydivgLdoAc4vdG1mwW3tZNv5QIQonsJIV7zVGgc9yYB2GqSc3IRT1asPhmo4TYT9kQpTP-USDJSE/s1600/july11+145.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvbacs24jmPtQ5Dfa9NQYksKcDRxZ92hddvCnyqhaJWl5AMqJSg4tNIfMgydivgLdoAc4vdG1mwW3tZNv5QIQonsJIV7zVGgc9yYB2GqSc3IRT1asPhmo4TYT9kQpTP-USDJSE/s640/july11+145.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Fiona made her own fun.</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/AVvXsEgQJakaQ5trQ1V6dMEVpReN4jcuU-lk61CGQMlaoBwtUbotDnXw7OOPGHO5IpluiHq-hnYKFoecAD67ZNZrgvycCKdGqIFYQag6er-rvpkufMbkC5b442SLX3QnCUGbV1W984i-/s1600/july11+158.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQJakaQ5trQ1V6dMEVpReN4jcuU-lk61CGQMlaoBwtUbotDnXw7OOPGHO5IpluiHq-hnYKFoecAD67ZNZrgvycCKdGqIFYQag6er-rvpkufMbkC5b442SLX3QnCUGbV1W984i-/s640/july11+158.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="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/AVvXsEhMkxrIxHnvQh3GgRE72L2vegbbu9BbH6RUyEEKKHYlfpYYr2tw17JvaIvFQtWely9Bc-WV6wI2fbdpCO8qxNwytZD9cEezC5TyU1XL4YVgmKTjvdqYVpc4_8JLr3jdy-dl5113/s1600/july11+161.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMkxrIxHnvQh3GgRE72L2vegbbu9BbH6RUyEEKKHYlfpYYr2tw17JvaIvFQtWely9Bc-WV6wI2fbdpCO8qxNwytZD9cEezC5TyU1XL4YVgmKTjvdqYVpc4_8JLr3jdy-dl5113/s640/july11+161.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">This impish look and tilt of the head, right here, is what wins you over every time from Fiona. This is evidence of the skillfully crafted charm she has honed to manipulate you. She has wiles that make you endure, even cheerfully, her antics and demands and rulings. She really has a knack.</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/AVvXsEhS4nlr0nZ20YvYxdG-PYmYlw9D5dvgAWAOdQwCVwuizN_r648RTJhqpSDCri_YIZM6h8-vxbJE1vezL2jZ3cTwifL0MZ8GcstiyE_2Nvmcy8nJxv2Ex1WckbII4rKaRzMK3q__/s1600/july11+162.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS4nlr0nZ20YvYxdG-PYmYlw9D5dvgAWAOdQwCVwuizN_r648RTJhqpSDCri_YIZM6h8-vxbJE1vezL2jZ3cTwifL0MZ8GcstiyE_2Nvmcy8nJxv2Ex1WckbII4rKaRzMK3q__/s640/july11+162.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Those bowling shoes were so cute on little feet and those skinny and chubby legs respectively.</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/AVvXsEgZc14QqKePfW1_RbyJOeCQaSomNA_8A8MXKAeG1OvH86uv-NsKSHigDtq3X8Dv4FpuVqEzt6dQQQ36uSYt7RjDstm6dRPQ0Anh3BT3bKBsCM-9kSwMTWxi_o6_IQgGx5xYvDuP/s1600/july11+164.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZc14QqKePfW1_RbyJOeCQaSomNA_8A8MXKAeG1OvH86uv-NsKSHigDtq3X8Dv4FpuVqEzt6dQQQ36uSYt7RjDstm6dRPQ0Anh3BT3bKBsCM-9kSwMTWxi_o6_IQgGx5xYvDuP/s640/july11+164.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">So that was Saturday.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Over the week I was also commissioned by my children to draw Dobby several times. I really love to draw, and used to do it constantly as a child. I used to say I was going to go to art school. I need to find ways to practice this lost love in my 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/AVvXsEivhnavdh0aYyJZxzUIZf1uB31CS1ErVUmT-ZeYTUq53sDYi_Tenk3ARIA5brB_kniVKbj4DiYJwOOV-ImY1DiSotPx9DpPwe1UiH0T0Ehj86MCAFHU6sWcN4qSX-cvcwoqthzY/s1600/july11+177.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivhnavdh0aYyJZxzUIZf1uB31CS1ErVUmT-ZeYTUq53sDYi_Tenk3ARIA5brB_kniVKbj4DiYJwOOV-ImY1DiSotPx9DpPwe1UiH0T0Ehj86MCAFHU6sWcN4qSX-cvcwoqthzY/s640/july11+177.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Before church on Sunday I put a Coke (Zero, of course) in the freezer to quickly chill. This is what I was greeted with upon my return from church:</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/AVvXsEivXXoLIaiCqwNE-aAEgb2uiuOdQCnxhbDqCO4QLFI95yCd2LJEFNlN1v9Dzq5oQH6VbEc7mYFqT9D3Doo5Mlx-HqVTH62yWaQ5ZITP2oyo1_kp4syGx8FLBbOcocpma5uOBck6/s1600/july11+166.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivXXoLIaiCqwNE-aAEgb2uiuOdQCnxhbDqCO4QLFI95yCd2LJEFNlN1v9Dzq5oQH6VbEc7mYFqT9D3Doo5Mlx-HqVTH62yWaQ5ZITP2oyo1_kp4syGx8FLBbOcocpma5uOBck6/s640/july11+166.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I forgot about it, obviously.</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/AVvXsEhI33DdxvkFtViZ7ykzhwxZIfA8SVq1CEhgc4xK1cqWwG_981KTvoW1DkSfUpzBnZF-Tar1i80HcOdPGozll6rbQldVLz94HnQ2uNKeo_FkVNo4lC9jFiVzeC50biKwC1KtoVJx/s1600/july11+171.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI33DdxvkFtViZ7ykzhwxZIfA8SVq1CEhgc4xK1cqWwG_981KTvoW1DkSfUpzBnZF-Tar1i80HcOdPGozll6rbQldVLz94HnQ2uNKeo_FkVNo4lC9jFiVzeC50biKwC1KtoVJx/s640/july11+171.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">One of my very favorite things. And Fiona's. Probably due in large part to many prayers, Bella loves to read. She reads all the time, anywhere and Fiona is a happy audience most of the time. I. Love. It.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ7oqd2VO65THP6gGPEDUbmJjn0o7s4fzBUXEB4LrisQacVVdENVODzHvGWTndE-V4iVrprNyWS1ZlhvmyZ1zdL9lGYqent5PoyyMpwgIfTJ6s4fPeSVLrbMjQQVxdU-EsQSbn/s1600/july11+012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">Timm starts his new job tomorrow, so we will be sad to lose him during the day, but will happily accept his new paycheck.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>jthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11565824986946758808noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21228919.post-18362466163722577422011-07-14T23:44:00.003-04:002011-07-15T13:48:50.956-04:00A Teacher's Fate<span style="font-size: x-small;">Associated Press </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXPdAFjW7lsth6on9_1Qe5pC4TIR9kZ6NLroox9Fo8EoH4D_36Nk2D44PzugMk7cEjHX7Y6TzlUGOwLWX6rBSZbwVjlzlNh4JCSRlfku_Rmfnednmfos9YtkiYeXKYc0UfCuTZ/s1600/T+Reunion+130.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXPdAFjW7lsth6on9_1Qe5pC4TIR9kZ6NLroox9Fo8EoH4D_36Nk2D44PzugMk7cEjHX7Y6TzlUGOwLWX6rBSZbwVjlzlNh4JCSRlfku_Rmfnednmfos9YtkiYeXKYc0UfCuTZ/s640/T+Reunion+130.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">photo taken in St. George, Utah- April 2011</span></div><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">"I think these turned out okay, honey", she says as she closely inspects a dish from the dishwasher, putting it away. Conscientious homemaker? Maybe. These days the dishes need a closer look since they're washed without dishwasher detergent. "I just put the dishwasher on the sanitize anti-bacterial setting and hope for the best!" says Jessie Tanner, 30 of North Carolina. They've recently hit a rough patch, but nothing they haven't seen before. "Well, we're on our last 2 rolls of toilet paper, we don't have any dishwasher detergent, I think we might have one more load of laundry soap, and I've got about 25 baby wipes left.What else? Yesterday the last cup of milk we had froze so I poured ice chips over my cereal and waited for it to melt a little. Oh, and we used our last pocket change to buy a small bag of cat litter, cause you can't really get by without that!"</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">What has landed the Tanners in this financial blight? Are they among the 9% of unemployed Americans in this country? Hardly. Timm Tanner, 32, has worked at least 2 jobs for the last 10 years. One of which used to be a high school teacher, and not just any teacher but 'Teacher of the Year'. A very talented teacher, one that has been recognized by his students, his peers, and his superiors. So what happened? When the Tanners moved to North Carolina 4 years ago they knew what they were in for. Teacher's salary schedules are public information, and shows you your entire career in a table projecting the next 30 years. There are no secrets, and the future doesn't look exceptionally bright for teachers in America. Worse still if there is a salary freeze, which has been in effect since Timm's first year teaching. At year 4 he is still making the same salary he did when he started, with no end in sight. There is no telling when the freeze will be lifted, and he will never resume the same year's salary that he is entitled based on the schedule he was hired on. The Tanners have one car, their two daughters Bella, 6, and Fiona, 2, qualify for Medicaid and Jessie hasn't had health coverage in 4 years. At times they've even qualified for food stamps, though they haven't used them since moving to North Carolina, despite Timm working as many as 17 hours a day. Such is the plight of teachers in America. Even for 'Teachers of the Year'.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">"I told her just to enjoy this last time we'll have to go through this. Right now we have less than a dollar in our bank account, our credit cards are overdrawn and our gas tank is on empty. But this is the last time!" explains Timm. "I just took a job with Carolina's Healthcare and start next week." Timm has left teaching high school and instead will be training physicians in technology applications- a major loss to public education, and doubtless a disappointment for his returning students in the fall. "I have to take care of my family, number one, and I can't continue to do that this way." Timm explains.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">This isn't the first time a teacher has left education for (literally) greener pastures, and it won't be the last. There is little incentive for talented teachers to enter the teaching field, and even less for them to stay. Until this country changes it's priorities and pays teachers a salary commensurate with their worth and their abilities, it will continue to happen in increasing numbers. Timm's new job is a perfect example. With Carolina's Healthcare, he will start at a salary 50% more than his two jobs combined, working one job with hours that will leave him with time for his family, and the money to take care of them. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">"We're really excited to move onto this next phase in our lives. And to go grocery shopping!" Jessie exults.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">*No details in this article have been exaggerated </span> </div>jthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11565824986946758808noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21228919.post-42410273424500295772011-07-08T22:03:00.000-04:002011-07-08T22:03:45.337-04:00An Outline of Events From 6/4 through 7/6<div style="text-align: center;">(or, where I've been for a month) </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="color: lime; text-align: center;">Introduction: Summer Hits Hard</div><div style="color: lime; text-align: center;">I. I turn 30.</div><div style="color: lime; text-align: center;">II. I continue my running career</div><div style="color: lime; text-align: center;">III. Timm gets a new job</div><div style="color: lime; text-align: center;">IV. Summer Fun</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: lime;">Introduction: Summer Hits Hard</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"> By way of explanation, summer came. I was plodding along, going about my usual business, when Wham! school was out and Bella was home every day. All day. Were you aware this happened every June? Cause it kind of sidelined me. Here's the thing: (I say 'Here's the Thing' a lot, I think.) Social interaction drains me. (I am an almost-agoraphobe after all) Even when the social interaction is enjoyable, fun, and energizing, when all is said and done, it drains me. I only recharge in solitude. (As grandma used to say, solitude is restorative, and it is) So suddenly, Bella was home everyday and I was thrust back into full-time motherhood of two small girls who bicker and squabble at least as often as they play cooperatively. And Fiona, she alone could wear out an army in a day. She never stops, never slows, never quiets. It's go, go, go, and yammering away all day. So anyway, I found that my days with the girls were about all the social interaction I could stand. At day's end, when they were finally in bed, I just wanted to be alone and bask in my own company. No emailing, no commenting, no blogging, no phone conversations- I was done. Tapped. And for 2 1/2 of those weeks Timm was out of town, so it was single motherhood for me. Yikes. But I've taken a month and adapted a bit. So here we are.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="color: lime; text-align: center;">I. I turn 30.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I did, last month. June 18th. Thank you to all who sent well wishes and notes and gifts! It was a wonderful birthday. It had the makings to be disappointing because Timm had to leave town the morning of my birthday. Luckily, my parents came into town the day before so I got to spend it with them. It is wonderful to be with your mother on your birthday- especially when you have my mother and she takes birthdays seriously. I even got to go on a rare date with Timm the night before he left. The day of my birthday I spent with mom and Linda, doing the kind of things I rarely do, namely: shopping, a spa pedicure and out to lunch. Then we went out to dinner with Linda's family. All in all, it was a great day, a great milestone birthday. I highly recommend celebrating with your mother whenever possible.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="color: lime; text-align: center;">II. I Continue My Running Career</div><div style="text-align: center;">I've continued to run 3 times a week for the last few weeks and I love/hate it. Running is a fickle, fickle friend. Two days ago I ran for 2.5 miles and I felt like I was floating on air. It was amazing. Tonight I ran 2 miles and I felt like someone was hitting me with a hammer the entire, arduous time. Terrible.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Some of the highlights: when I got my spa pedicure the woman asked me if I was a runner, judging from a purple toenail. When I answered her in the affirmative, it was one of the best days of my life. Plus, it was my 30th birthday, so win-win.</div><div style="text-align: center;">A few days previous, I had to relieve some of the pressure in that toenail by stabbing a sewing needle under my nail bed. Repeatedly. Like, all the way down the whole nail bed. The weird thing is, it didn't even hurt.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Tonight, the toenail fell off. I thought I had salvaged it, but nope. I have a good 'nail in training' going on now. That's actually what they call the nail bed underneath that toughens up and eventually grows out to be a regular nail, months later. I feel validated.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="color: lime; text-align: center;">III. Timm gets a new job.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Yep.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="color: lime; text-align: center;">IV. Summer Fun</div><div style="text-align: center;">Just kidding! </div><div style="text-align: center;">I'll tell you about the job now. It's pretty freakin' exciting if you're Jessie Tanner. Which I am. So I'm pretty freakin' excited.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Fortuitously, proving that it's all in who you know, Timm got a job with Carolina's Healthcare. The Young Mens President he is a counselor to gave him a heads up about an opening as a trainer for physicians. It's still unclear to me what exactly he will be doing, but it involves training physicians in technology. Or something. What I do know, is that for the first time since I met Timm 9 years ago, he will only be working 1 job. One solitary, splendid job. (He has always worked between 2 and 4 jobs. 4.) I also know that it will be a 50% increase over our previous sad salary. We don't even know what it will be like, but we plan on seeing a lot more of each other, having a family day together once a week, paying off some debt and eventually even, dare I say it, saving some money. He starts on the 18th, so we have a week together before he begins his new career.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">And in the mean time we are keeping busy with all kinds of summer fun. Which I will try and detail and chronicle as the summer days wear on.</div>jthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11565824986946758808noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21228919.post-52761290057270506882011-07-07T21:53:00.000-04:002011-07-07T21:53:17.916-04:00Back In Action...<div style="text-align: center;">With a new look:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR2h3sT1-ReCSqzQ2qoEh5DfXJakocHz6Vr8qiVzJBJNOtulVyaEjQA0Ppd5vvfWh1Deeo7xLFAqLRNtptq5oPl2G0JQr9mfwytVHICUp2hp8KSwtqiAdO5Rzbg4rIq91LFaGj/s1600/temp+765.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR2h3sT1-ReCSqzQ2qoEh5DfXJakocHz6Vr8qiVzJBJNOtulVyaEjQA0Ppd5vvfWh1Deeo7xLFAqLRNtptq5oPl2G0JQr9mfwytVHICUp2hp8KSwtqiAdO5Rzbg4rIq91LFaGj/s640/temp+765.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Funky hair and hair colors are nothing new to me. I have had almost every color, natural and otherwise. I've been a bright blond, burgundy red, near black and every combination in between. I've had bright blue and hot pink streaks. I've rocked a faux hawk, cut my own hair, and usually worn it in a short pixie or a grown-out version. When we moved here 4 years ago I had 2-3" panels of blond in my naturally dark hair. So I like having fun with my hair.</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/AVvXsEhIaKzeHislD-EskU6lYL8wJhVHd44IJ9aAilvZlHhSZDBl5qJQd9pQc7Wx7ItjB6L_d8fOMhcbetGMM-jCNgMvEmrkIHLhL7iBBOvpkvGbW6BZP2HW4bBRGO6S3QpfnSJCsaWE/s1600/temp+770.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIaKzeHislD-EskU6lYL8wJhVHd44IJ9aAilvZlHhSZDBl5qJQd9pQc7Wx7ItjB6L_d8fOMhcbetGMM-jCNgMvEmrkIHLhL7iBBOvpkvGbW6BZP2HW4bBRGO6S3QpfnSJCsaWE/s640/temp+770.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I have very conservative values, but my style is a little more edgy. The problem is, I don't usually feel like my exterior accurately reflects how I feel. Now before you think I'm talking like a teenager, yearning to find expression in rebellious manifestations like piercing and tattoos, consider this: everyone has a style. Everyone tries to express themselves in the way they present themselves to the world, whether it be through clothing, accessories, shoes, hair, or home decor. Everyone has a style they feels represents them and makes them comfortable, whether or not they show that to the world. If you doubt this is the case, imagine that you couldn't wear your own clothing. Imagine if I, or your mother, or your neighbor, or the frumpy person who sits behind you in church got to pick out your clothes. And do your hair and makeup. I'd bet that you would not feel entirely comfortable in that style. It may be a paper bag-shaped house dress, or thigh-high boots, or Birkenstocks. Chances are, one or more of those things makes you cringe. So what difference does it make if my manifestation is in my hair color or my style of dress?</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/AVvXsEij8MrDTRC5A_sh4FrmS6ZgXWRCwn5W-RlSdUyo6QFMxNDptnsu_EWZgqBBVBHZKbFUrskpLjtoThpLvp8qZbs1oPBfHPhp6E36MxZjO46ztSIkUrdu1Z_l1vo7Aaz20c_2-147/s1600/temp+772.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij8MrDTRC5A_sh4FrmS6ZgXWRCwn5W-RlSdUyo6QFMxNDptnsu_EWZgqBBVBHZKbFUrskpLjtoThpLvp8qZbs1oPBfHPhp6E36MxZjO46ztSIkUrdu1Z_l1vo7Aaz20c_2-147/s640/temp+772.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">It's not like I emblazoned an enormous tattoo across my chest, proclaiming my allegiance to the Dark Lord.</div><div style="text-align: center;">(Which was plan B if I didn't do the hair color.)</div><div style="text-align: center;"> I totally get that most people might not feel comfortable doing this to their hair and some think it looks downright stupid, however, there shouldn't be a judgement of character attached to it. Having bright red hair does not make me any less mature, any less committed to motherhood, or the gospel. It just makes me feel good. It's fun. A harmless, temporary, and reversible bit of fun that has no ramifications or effect on my spirit or my person.</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/AVvXsEiUJcNP_sf3yrWm_L06OtAFPEYCdLy9HBrjVCaopqUgNluy0b1LdBRJ-eNHmvno3V6J95vewlqrfaoHvg5WuOnb30hqO9MDvfUHr5bE9rGfGSo16V5Zn2A-4rm_uPLv39xARAxW/s1600/temp+758.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUJcNP_sf3yrWm_L06OtAFPEYCdLy9HBrjVCaopqUgNluy0b1LdBRJ-eNHmvno3V6J95vewlqrfaoHvg5WuOnb30hqO9MDvfUHr5bE9rGfGSo16V5Zn2A-4rm_uPLv39xARAxW/s640/temp+758.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">So can't a girl have bit of fun?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I've opened up a poll on my sidebar so that you may answer anonymously. I'm really curious. I like it regardless, but I'd like to get a good idea for what people think. go ahead, give me what you've got. Even if you never comment, consider casting your vote.</div><div style="text-align: center;">And next time, very shortly, I will attempt to explain my one month absence from blogging. But first, let's get this hair thing out of the way.</div>jthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11565824986946758808noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21228919.post-23530067471175004862011-06-02T22:00:00.001-04:002011-06-02T22:00:01.181-04:00I Can Do Hard Things<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Here's the thing: I am not naturally athletic. Not by any stretch of the imagination. In fact, I think my peak athleticism was in 6th grade when I was the girl to beat, among both sexes, in short sprints. I had a pretty mean slap shot in floor hockey as well, both in gym class with Mr. G, and in my basement where my brother and I may have broken a window a time or two. Ah, the glory days. I suppose I'm one of those nearly middle-aged people reminiscing about their athletic prowess in their school-days. Elementary school days.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">At any given moment, i would much rather read a book than exert myself in any way. I would also rather, at all times, be inside the comfort of my climate-controlled air conditioned house fully furnished with couches than to be outside for almost any reason- where temperatures fluctuate, humidity wraps itself around you like a smothering cloak, things are forever swarming and crawling on you. I think Denise said it best when describing our family, "We're low-level recreators".</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">However, from as early as I can remember, I've envied runners. I always assumed that running was something that required a specific gene- you either had the gene and were therefore a runner or were capable of becoming a runner, or you did not. I fit squarely in the latter group: I definitely did not have the gene. I remember watching Law & Order over the years, and determining if I could outrun my attacker. Sadly in every instance I was forced to stop, doubled over, hands on my knees as I tried to catch my breath and my attacker inevitably overcame me. I could never escape someone in pursuit of me. So I resigned myself to envy and sloth.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">It's not that I never tried; I remember several times as a teenager trying to get out there and improve my run: walk ratio, but it was just so hard. And even after 3 or 4 tries I still didn't seem to see rapid improvement. It was still hard. It still made my lungs burn and my feet feel like they were encased in cement blocks. I was an imposter- who was I fooling? I could try and run, but I would still never be a <i>runner.</i> Genetics were against me, and genetics combined with fat legs and a propensity towards laziness were formidable opponents indeed.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I don't know when my mindset changed, but I think about 2 years ago when Fiona was a few months old, I got it in my head that I was going to try again. I know I will never be a talented athlete- I can't play any sports and do not relish any activity where a ball is flying towards my head. I do not enjoy the thrill of exercise. I find it all boring, tedious, and hard. However- I thought through hard work and perseverance, I could train myself to run. You don't necessarily have to have any skill to run, you just need to work hard. And lazy though I might be, I am also quite tenacious. It's one the strange dichotomies of my personality. (Hence, the Badger. Badgers are nothing if not tenacious.)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">What appealed to me so much about running was the <i>honesty</i> of it. It was so simple, so clear cut, unpretentious, not contrived. It was hard, but I saw through many examples of former non-runners, it was something you could learn to do. It was solitary. Running took me somewhere, both in my mind on on my feet. Exercise is not a social activity for me. I run to escape. I run to run away from my family. When I run, I am both running towards something, and running to escape something. Only this time it's not an imaginary predator from Law & Order- I am running to escape the pressures and stresses of domestic life. Smotherhood. I am running away from the role of mother and caregiver and running towards myself. While I am running I leave it all out there so that when I return I am ready again. Ready to be the mother. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">6 months ago I was able to run 3 miles at a stretch (albeit very slowly) several times a week. I don't think that I will ever be especially skilled at running, or ever very fast. But the fact that I am running at all, is a huge accomplishment for me. The exhilaration and pride I feel after a run when I have pushed myself to the limit and given everything I have is unrivaled with anything else I have ever done. Running 3 miles was impossible, and I proved to myself that I could do the impossible. That I could change who I was and who I wanted to be. That I could do hard things. And if I could learn to run 3, why not more?</div>jthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11565824986946758808noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21228919.post-86993918326370730912011-06-01T22:12:00.001-04:002011-06-01T22:16:33.399-04:00Sweaty Romance<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I recently rekindled an on-again, off-again romance.</div><div style="text-align: center;">We haven't had any contact for about 6 months, and even then it was spotty, although our last encounter was also at it's peak intensity. </div><div style="text-align: center;">We had an abrupt break up, but I've been toying with the idea of a rendevous for a couple of months now.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Monday it happened.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I ran.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Or, "ran", rather.</div><div style="text-align: center;">For precisely 15 minutes.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Then I walked for about 45 more after that.</div><div style="text-align: center;">The sad thing is, my "run" is about as fast as my walk, only I pick my feet up higher, it's a hell of a lot harder and it hurts more.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Tonight I repeated the humiliation, but this time endured for precisely 16.5 minutes. (I'm trying to increase my time by roughly 10% each time until I get back up to where I was, albeit briefly, 6 months ago.)</div><div style="text-align: center;">Music is vital. It's what keeps me from thinking about about the pain, discomfort and how much time I have left for the <i>entire</i> time. It knocks it down to about 90% of the time. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Disclaimer: Sometimes the music is running only. Something I would never listen to otherwise, and I cannot guarantee the content or subject matter of any of it. An asterisk denotes a running only song, so don't judge me.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Monday's playlist:</div><div style="text-align: center;">The Garden- Mirah</div><div style="text-align: center;">Foundations- Kate Nash</div><div style="text-align: center;">*We Run This- Missy Elliot</div><div style="text-align: center;">Run (I'm a Natural Disaster)- Gnarls Barkley</div><div style="text-align: center;">Beware of the Boys- Panjabi MC</div><div style="text-align: center;">*Forever- Chris Brown</div><div style="text-align: center;">*Come Baby Come- K7</div><div style="text-align: center;">Going On- Gnarls Barkley</div><div style="text-align: center;">*Kickstart My Heart- Motley Crue</div><div style="text-align: center;">Them Girls- Run DMC w/ Fred Durst</div><div style="text-align: center;">*Whoomp! (There it is)- Tag Team</div><div style="text-align: center;">Break My Stride- Mathew Wilder</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Today's playlist:</div><div style="text-align: center;">All This Beauty- the Weepies</div><div style="text-align: center;">Nothing in My Way- Keane</div><div style="text-align: center;">Runnin' Down a Dream- Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers</div><div style="text-align: center;">Gone Daddy Gone- Gnarls Barkley</div><div style="text-align: center;">The Distance- Cake</div><div style="text-align: center;">Bang and Blame- REM</div><div style="text-align: center;">Everyday is a Winding Road- Prince</div><div style="text-align: center;">I Won't Back Down- Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers</div><div style="text-align: center;">The Song Remains the Same- Led Zeppelin</div><div style="text-align: center;">Shiny Happy People- REM </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Today is also a special day for us. It's National Running Day. So to commemorate, I went to our local running store, Run For Your Life, and got some expert advise on shoes. To make our newly rekindled love/hate romance official, I laid $100 down on new shoes.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">We have another date on Friday!</div><div style="text-align: center;">Eeee!</div><div style="text-align: center;">(Exhausted, dizzy, and chilled is how you're supposed to feel after an amazing date, right?)<br />
(Also, on our first date, I was warned that I have to drop 50 pounds pronto for this to continue. Something about he doesn't want to keep lugging around the extra weight. Maybe something about an image to protect as well. Relationships all have a give and take, right?)</div>jthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11565824986946758808noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21228919.post-62719509897465882522011-05-31T12:04:00.000-04:002011-05-31T12:04:03.170-04:00Bella's Book Party<div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Here's the thing: I have a lot of opinions about kid's birthday parties.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I don't do characters.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I won't send kids home with a bunch of crappy trinkets their parents either have to find a place for or surreptitiously throw away.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I also won't send them home with tons of candy they will relentlessly beg their parents for.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I don't want a dozen kids bringing a dozen presents for my birthday child on top of everything they've already received from us, grandparents, aunts, uncles, family friends.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I don't think you need to spend a ton of money for kid's parties, and I still think simple is best.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Handmade is best.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Creativity is best. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I want them to reflect genuine values or interests that we have.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> So that said, here is the party I put together for Bella. I am fortunate that she is tractable and still trusts all my ideas. I just pitch my idea with excitement, and she's on board. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And thus, the book party was born. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: red; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Invitations:</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/AVvXsEjh87cn_20cYVI4THzhTHjVS0N5Abj-zaLyA0WwHeQDUAnE4z5c06jihCgsopm0e5hIB1e40YT6G_tp55hda3vg_KYxwt8s0VS62OFQge2bzQsrYNSKTHlNpmsQIzE5GlTPuq7I/s1600/bookparty+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh87cn_20cYVI4THzhTHjVS0N5Abj-zaLyA0WwHeQDUAnE4z5c06jihCgsopm0e5hIB1e40YT6G_tp55hda3vg_KYxwt8s0VS62OFQge2bzQsrYNSKTHlNpmsQIzE5GlTPuq7I/s640/bookparty+001.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I bought a few children's books at Goodwill for buy one, get one free and ended up using them for many things for the party. First, I cut and then sewed them into simple flap envelopes for the invitations. For fun and interest I mixed and matched the front and backs of the envelopes from different books.</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/AVvXsEhiLEOOLprZnQ4mJzCxEkM_6xqo8nGz2lswbNKP9gs4ws9G9_L5fyePcJlJoSDEpBea9NSzhCDNHO0j8A8rAHTpeAVEXAwSM5O9SjI2rFQG-S2WzYhfONwd7L54WfcON0dxpRNU/s1600/bookparty+003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiLEOOLprZnQ4mJzCxEkM_6xqo8nGz2lswbNKP9gs4ws9G9_L5fyePcJlJoSDEpBea9NSzhCDNHO0j8A8rAHTpeAVEXAwSM5O9SjI2rFQG-S2WzYhfONwd7L54WfcON0dxpRNU/s640/bookparty+003.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">The actual invitations were downloaded and printed from Family Fun <a href="http://familyfun.go.com/parties/by-the-book-987289/4/">here </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/AVvXsEjhfARp0Kg5JuPV0gY1eUUhT6HSn-BJW-a0MqT_kAJxhwDpdFDZooPzNfadZtUkG_vLZi0Wpo0vQwCCYSehAxeqLnzEjPog3OHrbwcD6JFdrByqpqaK-kLXojSufY1ulvjHvPbG/s1600/bookparty+005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhfARp0Kg5JuPV0gY1eUUhT6HSn-BJW-a0MqT_kAJxhwDpdFDZooPzNfadZtUkG_vLZi0Wpo0vQwCCYSehAxeqLnzEjPog3OHrbwcD6JFdrByqpqaK-kLXojSufY1ulvjHvPbG/s640/bookparty+005.jpg" width="640" /></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/AVvXsEh_VpbpQNK_0PRbYSgQPuvuLb4mDTty7lO1ySKSi3B_Nm5VU0Jj4HoOcxKiWlhpAy5DVGrN0bsaPkWYw4rXfDzs6b0sVf7MTcGads3E9EGhKqzIF7O-IIeQjQy5EC0IvhyTHBPi/s1600/bookparty+008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_VpbpQNK_0PRbYSgQPuvuLb4mDTty7lO1ySKSi3B_Nm5VU0Jj4HoOcxKiWlhpAy5DVGrN0bsaPkWYw4rXfDzs6b0sVf7MTcGads3E9EGhKqzIF7O-IIeQjQy5EC0IvhyTHBPi/s640/bookparty+008.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="color: red; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Decor: </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrBTmglsQwnDMkhbqHDbK_zxJCXYTWB3X9Fk_IfoFZP4agWmRIlnWH23hmOMoylamrzv7yEn-NClXw2baSf9XZJgE0p5-5TigX97QbZGlitna8vrdv5zLc-cEscWm6j1ofrK8B/s1600/bookparty+069.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrBTmglsQwnDMkhbqHDbK_zxJCXYTWB3X9Fk_IfoFZP4agWmRIlnWH23hmOMoylamrzv7yEn-NClXw2baSf9XZJgE0p5-5TigX97QbZGlitna8vrdv5zLc-cEscWm6j1ofrK8B/s640/bookparty+069.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I relied mostly on books and other props we already owned for the decor, and used pages from the books I bought at Goodwill to make several banners with some bias tape.</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/AVvXsEh68JRc1Pz5qMxHJz8fCQVHzqE38woZ7ozoE3uleFRbFbBMLEfHETWIhfJ3QGieGmcq_mU3HNq9z9jW_ZCgEtvn4yp3BFZEmorhInJor5pqOTfJpBzML4L8meT4z0wwdrUgqF3R/s1600/bookparty+042.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh68JRc1Pz5qMxHJz8fCQVHzqE38woZ7ozoE3uleFRbFbBMLEfHETWIhfJ3QGieGmcq_mU3HNq9z9jW_ZCgEtvn4yp3BFZEmorhInJor5pqOTfJpBzML4L8meT4z0wwdrUgqF3R/s640/bookparty+042.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">(Doll I made and an elephant <a href="http://www.mtolivier.blogspot.com/">Michelle</a> made for Bella's birthday)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnUQZr-c16HWIuu9fUqOB9T70GeOSna6J4fcU6F_XNYZiJCt6ZFQnC3JpHeupzBvYoyztZ-4kug3PBG6wrpHL2AokoQG4ACjEIoNIFWGjS8Zt8a0hEmuYL-RtBjqSWRCp1Y0Rb/s1600/bookparty+047.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnUQZr-c16HWIuu9fUqOB9T70GeOSna6J4fcU6F_XNYZiJCt6ZFQnC3JpHeupzBvYoyztZ-4kug3PBG6wrpHL2AokoQG4ACjEIoNIFWGjS8Zt8a0hEmuYL-RtBjqSWRCp1Y0Rb/s640/bookparty+047.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I just piled books onto a plate rack in my kitchen and then strung it with a mini book page banner I made with some thin double-fold bias tape.</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/AVvXsEhltuSdcxh6txzcqxboYs7HqbUuCAXd-bSa_TGHlCSVGrPAAAQ6zAAqbWDZ5_fgt2YgtFZcuqdfScSV23KfQkMxfKGcKcKsoUB9MJiccjP0U_s2YlsRIUCOyqYaj6CsbfjxZfN3/s1600/bookparty+054.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhltuSdcxh6txzcqxboYs7HqbUuCAXd-bSa_TGHlCSVGrPAAAQ6zAAqbWDZ5_fgt2YgtFZcuqdfScSV23KfQkMxfKGcKcKsoUB9MJiccjP0U_s2YlsRIUCOyqYaj6CsbfjxZfN3/s640/bookparty+054.jpg" width="640" /></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/AVvXsEhk36MsHRiZxXVbBlmSbtzJesN20Q-DVkzVcXr3ZAf5CexEmYsbOkpJ9UOmhwiYt1yUQvIfGCBCXZVCZq1Dhc2xpXTiTTzGAULw6XMY7PPS-_6PNy-2esjikfySVc7YUG6B2in-/s1600/bookparty+051.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk36MsHRiZxXVbBlmSbtzJesN20Q-DVkzVcXr3ZAf5CexEmYsbOkpJ9UOmhwiYt1yUQvIfGCBCXZVCZq1Dhc2xpXTiTTzGAULw6XMY7PPS-_6PNy-2esjikfySVc7YUG6B2in-/s640/bookparty+051.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I made this banner from inspiration <a href="http://www.minieco.co.uk/sewn-paper-garland-2/">here.</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I love the way it twirls and spins all the time. It's like art in motion.</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/AVvXsEg7abDZQIMP_HhechZgXf_gT11wjK8vkhBOwS_t1z1oBreen0moQabhEM1WSr2WfBwCuzlFMLZ6ioa4TAQoi0xAWdYZJ0uzqSLTyOCISXanLceC1EJWfeFp5o06j_SVsBGuMl9S/s1600/bookparty+104.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7abDZQIMP_HhechZgXf_gT11wjK8vkhBOwS_t1z1oBreen0moQabhEM1WSr2WfBwCuzlFMLZ6ioa4TAQoi0xAWdYZJ0uzqSLTyOCISXanLceC1EJWfeFp5o06j_SVsBGuMl9S/s640/bookparty+104.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Above the window I made a 'Happy Birthday Bella' banner with a scrabble font, with a large book page pennant banner beneath that.</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/AVvXsEjJK5R1XKkM0lMq0wKcoc-PQRupf-PYeSYvpFL25We9LlqsQtuurjAYPpqc37izKoSFIQHh0tm-2NTXYHgWHRHbS2bDCfUiW6H33Vl47hm7XDdk1ykUM2q-RlwE-lp0sXNCzNRU/s1600/bookparty+087.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJK5R1XKkM0lMq0wKcoc-PQRupf-PYeSYvpFL25We9LlqsQtuurjAYPpqc37izKoSFIQHh0tm-2NTXYHgWHRHbS2bDCfUiW6H33Vl47hm7XDdk1ykUM2q-RlwE-lp0sXNCzNRU/s640/bookparty+087.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">And under that, a book page wreath from <a href="http://livingwithlindsay.com/2009/11/librarians-please-avert-your-eyes.html">this tutorial</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigcBCyZRErOpW5DHiJQA0X21xrbuO16ZB-eqZ-VW-_f79gwU0zQclAwvJ0FR0miri5_VY83apKnn1FNH_62qd5vFPcbe6fTp8RNsyAjcAsP3MiR_zSLrWPIapYQHYN847xlapl/s1600/bookparty+098.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigcBCyZRErOpW5DHiJQA0X21xrbuO16ZB-eqZ-VW-_f79gwU0zQclAwvJ0FR0miri5_VY83apKnn1FNH_62qd5vFPcbe6fTp8RNsyAjcAsP3MiR_zSLrWPIapYQHYN847xlapl/s640/bookparty+098.jpg" width="640" /></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/AVvXsEijAGPNZ-4QX207a1iNHgj8hur7ypwZ_QjfZaiP0OJxzHp_PlGc4bP3mQNArPEDCyO9q5d5BQ5C33glLrV2eIfYZznqsyo6A1-N2vFdrEyQjnbJDsyR5iUYg1tgP2zOwM3wXUFT/s1600/bookparty+101.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijAGPNZ-4QX207a1iNHgj8hur7ypwZ_QjfZaiP0OJxzHp_PlGc4bP3mQNArPEDCyO9q5d5BQ5C33glLrV2eIfYZznqsyo6A1-N2vFdrEyQjnbJDsyR5iUYg1tgP2zOwM3wXUFT/s640/bookparty+101.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Warning: It took forever to make. And it's still not done. I had to stop because of time constraints and I ran out of hot glue. This was by far the most time consuming part of the party preparation.</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/AVvXsEi_cj3yhOmCPPGL-XmVA4fpNngCSlXmCANk20vvOeyiUn6efRlO0FCbPifu9HBmu1nKfYtYUkbj7LlpL1eczIxl-O2hcF1IpkLDrRTSv4_m53IJ3j_pZ2uprgIalci9CBakGN4-/s1600/bookparty+095.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_cj3yhOmCPPGL-XmVA4fpNngCSlXmCANk20vvOeyiUn6efRlO0FCbPifu9HBmu1nKfYtYUkbj7LlpL1eczIxl-O2hcF1IpkLDrRTSv4_m53IJ3j_pZ2uprgIalci9CBakGN4-/s640/bookparty+095.jpg" width="480" /></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/AVvXsEiV8by4Tg7ZZ9Kd-VQik6gsXnSSgPMUeWXl4vzTwdhZRCf_G3yY9RX0V-iYj0Zc0vtd85cQbwxcn3pSNr4CuDvV9zuYmwr0BH-HuHW-GowFYsGNe4az4uyWphV2zGbGj3_wA4D3/s1600/bookparty+030.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV8by4Tg7ZZ9Kd-VQik6gsXnSSgPMUeWXl4vzTwdhZRCf_G3yY9RX0V-iYj0Zc0vtd85cQbwxcn3pSNr4CuDvV9zuYmwr0BH-HuHW-GowFYsGNe4az4uyWphV2zGbGj3_wA4D3/s640/bookparty+030.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: red; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Activities:</span></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/AVvXsEgF-fonNZY1VtKvR75D8Ljah1eY6vGQFEcUZraV_S-tYSBvWm0JVyXUdQN8Bv85D_9gF2GJPIjs-WheZ4q0GDNpDfCumJixg4p4weHcoz4lcZPMKyt8qAQR-jTAqlY3XB6snBJE/s1600/bookparty+031.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF-fonNZY1VtKvR75D8Ljah1eY6vGQFEcUZraV_S-tYSBvWm0JVyXUdQN8Bv85D_9gF2GJPIjs-WheZ4q0GDNpDfCumJixg4p4weHcoz4lcZPMKyt8qAQR-jTAqlY3XB6snBJE/s640/bookparty+031.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I set up the table with some activities to keep the kids occupied while we waited for everyone to arrive. It generally takes about 20 minutes for everyone to arrive and I can't stand having a dozen kids run helter skelter all over my bitty house. I put out a bowl of scrabble tiles for the dual purpose of cuteness and manipulatives for the kids, and was surprised how much they played with them, spelling words.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZKsn6_w5QKG1UGzDSKkVIiWZ0n1UiX-fkKBCgcxlmccRq6wC786tVUY60UNxtuobjr3B3jlmy1WCw1E7mxPrHBAA7V-ZKArWmf2ZaLVI1hyXt9qsUkbSZfR7HMVHviGHv3vZQ/s1600/bookparty+038.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZKsn6_w5QKG1UGzDSKkVIiWZ0n1UiX-fkKBCgcxlmccRq6wC786tVUY60UNxtuobjr3B3jlmy1WCw1E7mxPrHBAA7V-ZKArWmf2ZaLVI1hyXt9qsUkbSZfR7HMVHviGHv3vZQ/s640/bookparty+038.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I printed out kindergarten-level word searches (a favorite of Bella's) and some Dr. Suess coloring pages to keep them busy. They loved them!</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/AVvXsEj5Dqkae2drMqwnH6AMmJKfHjJxtQ9xslIthbQjV6MG0ulmmnjvpSWH5kv2SRBdJyzzhKhusQU6IQ2lmZnbtoodiDw808mNSxNWUC2vVgMicjNKr-zxRgvjrCHGVL_6UFStrkzL/s1600/bookparty+036.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Dqkae2drMqwnH6AMmJKfHjJxtQ9xslIthbQjV6MG0ulmmnjvpSWH5kv2SRBdJyzzhKhusQU6IQ2lmZnbtoodiDw808mNSxNWUC2vVgMicjNKr-zxRgvjrCHGVL_6UFStrkzL/s640/bookparty+036.jpg" width="640" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After everyone arrived, I split the kids into 2 groups. One group stayed at the table and made bookmarks, all with craft supplies I had on hand: markers, foam stickers, scrapbook paper, paper flowers, ribbon, and rubber stamps and ink.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju4l6CYkOQzJEa1wXwKOVzXXq6hrD31PIwQ-Nz6ypIhnbpaVuMbJFAIOafcwbTomQ-zpP-VUPSS1VjaZGbRoNsC5ukaZZDPfLYc7UgXnKlgKzwP8QeTo5vx7AGbuoGWIuKTfAg/s640/bookparty+033.jpg" width="480" /></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/AVvXsEh5ulbAhyphenhyphenaSVXnE2UUukghhqX8MbSE1zlnUF6Cijvzr09nwPCV13PNdOV8mN1Js1yQAjiIZ-sl_UOTY9ISaFi0sMgZdkImk3LFn5m9zQtYyIe_DOYvT8pZU3VNMgyUOJLb_Bx4V/s1600/bookparty+034.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ulbAhyphenhyphenaSVXnE2UUukghhqX8MbSE1zlnUF6Cijvzr09nwPCV13PNdOV8mN1Js1yQAjiIZ-sl_UOTY9ISaFi0sMgZdkImk3LFn5m9zQtYyIe_DOYvT8pZU3VNMgyUOJLb_Bx4V/s640/bookparty+034.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Meanwhile, I helped the other group with a 'Book Treasure Hunt' I made up. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx8UlMyOujKkko-aGHv7pj9JXdS3qKHs2hTejxMmgu6sIgGluQm6Dy2qK7LtbxxtEAyIX9E1_vzK9AF3cD5hCHozN9BKrwKzxvCTbXjUfCSV4oZn9_EAv5LHDa9EkFkJmMBMcC/s640/bookparty+017.jpg" width="640" /> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I started by exclaiming that books were all treasures- of knowledge, imagination, adventure, and experiences and that we were going to find some of the treasures in these stories.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR5gI2UN9FV4_nBhOXDgMjtB3CMrGy0RX4dhHSnxlZPWGZuRDr8_1iNZLgulgyHDXl5dYrVR5wF5LiuXF7qovquWb79gNd-bO1La1eknc688lj0Ah5HgAVWgQv31IWRZRUTZUB/s1600/bookparty+027.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR5gI2UN9FV4_nBhOXDgMjtB3CMrGy0RX4dhHSnxlZPWGZuRDr8_1iNZLgulgyHDXl5dYrVR5wF5LiuXF7qovquWb79gNd-bO1La1eknc688lj0Ah5HgAVWgQv31IWRZRUTZUB/s640/bookparty+027.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I made up 10 different clues that I glued in the back of each book. For instance, the first clue was "This friend should not be about while your mother is out!" (The Cat in the Hat) I gave them the first one, so the next clue was in the back of The Cat in the Hat and they had to work together to figure out all 10 books in order. Sometimes they could guess from the title, sometimes someone had read the book, and sometimes I had to nudge them in the right direction.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF2T0gHfF8GigSM1kHMY9ftFFToQ4zGSig1B4XVT9WVpfGRhVO7NjOnCUwQl0p-OXA2u6X1-8ScgfOJ0K7Qr8K563YPAZU0_JeGbJnyns0VC4MJ2gfX7qLrJSts4O1AGj40hsN/s1600/bookparty+020.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF2T0gHfF8GigSM1kHMY9ftFFToQ4zGSig1B4XVT9WVpfGRhVO7NjOnCUwQl0p-OXA2u6X1-8ScgfOJ0K7Qr8K563YPAZU0_JeGbJnyns0VC4MJ2gfX7qLrJSts4O1AGj40hsN/s640/bookparty+020.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">It was definitely most fun for the kids who were proficient and liked reading. (Bella loved it.)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxAuAm1W0oJoRHK2YwaVRrr4FHFIuld07Capxp7NEZVbc78jtWtToG6DDHABuLHuXHFjFRPTDnn73VfkT-KqDoOlXW7QYzYIsC6QaqDomlwaXPMG9ZhsOWPFLiEmdETfIYqoUC/s1600/bookparty+024.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxAuAm1W0oJoRHK2YwaVRrr4FHFIuld07Capxp7NEZVbc78jtWtToG6DDHABuLHuXHFjFRPTDnn73VfkT-KqDoOlXW7QYzYIsC6QaqDomlwaXPMG9ZhsOWPFLiEmdETfIYqoUC/s640/bookparty+024.jpg" width="640" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I made these nerdy treasure maps to try and reinforce my somewhat contrived idea. At each number they wrote in the name of the book for that clue.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Their 'treasure' at the end was their favor bags. (More on those later-)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj01zMzELTK55swCEWUtTotn7VcN-Wj89bzfy-8c_sqoz35LYSthgh0PXCtM9_WG6Mj8B5G4cYvEkyemzC7qZLkbRF-GBDEL3q-P0dIhuc3ee1BL6wcMn1UyX2BTquLI-WxTijI/s1600/bookparty+021.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj01zMzELTK55swCEWUtTotn7VcN-Wj89bzfy-8c_sqoz35LYSthgh0PXCtM9_WG6Mj8B5G4cYvEkyemzC7qZLkbRF-GBDEL3q-P0dIhuc3ee1BL6wcMn1UyX2BTquLI-WxTijI/s640/bookparty+021.jpg" width="640" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The third activity was probably their favorite.We played a book version of a cake walk. I scanned and printed full page book covers of some of our favorite books. I also printed smaller versions, like these fit on a sheet of paper. I laminated the full-size sheets and used them for the spots for the kids to stop on. I used the smaller ones folded in a paper bag as the 'call books'. (They moved around the books to They Might Be Giants album, 'No'.)</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/AVvXsEgl85MZ88F5sHdOT7IhcctvafbCfr2G9yl5G5segGEFyvxTC3HqFzV7LFzWEtS-lOv65sLb8-UGUPoUkk_0XZxpDWqUXyTLWcWTGzKXePRE_S_aaDaOUE3ImlgZ5Zjggna3jC16/s1600/bookparty+010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl85MZ88F5sHdOT7IhcctvafbCfr2G9yl5G5segGEFyvxTC3HqFzV7LFzWEtS-lOv65sLb8-UGUPoUkk_0XZxpDWqUXyTLWcWTGzKXePRE_S_aaDaOUE3ImlgZ5Zjggna3jC16/s640/bookparty+010.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The best part was when their book was called, they each got to pick out a book to open. On the invitation, I asked the parents to bring a wrapped book for a book exchange in lieu of a gift. They were so excited to pick out a book and that everyone had a gift to open at the party. I was thankful for meaningful gifts for each of the kids and that Bella wasn't left with a pile of cheap toys she doesn't need.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZKsn6_w5QKG1UGzDSKkVIiWZ0n1UiX-fkKBCgcxlmccRq6wC786tVUY60UNxtuobjr3B3jlmy1WCw1E7mxPrHBAA7V-ZKArWmf2ZaLVI1hyXt9qsUkbSZfR7HMVHviGHv3vZQ/s1600/bookparty+038.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: red; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Food:</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-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Once again, I kept it simple. I love when I see huge dessert buffets at parties on blogs, and I love dreaming of various treats to make and how to arrange and display them. However, I don't want to spend a ton of money and more importantly, I don't want to feed the kids 50 kinds of sugar.</span> </span></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/AVvXsEjHCRvnTqzMPEvKD0NtHJmeThhP-8F4VQUTb6PMNZE9JsSrK2aDRYIDAEfxGes5eR6RRB74Kl1sBCbMmJW825Whubp4vY1xo7lzsAjN2RATCHzZoppI19FYCnoEVtONYPHgjxEs/s1600/bookparty+040.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHCRvnTqzMPEvKD0NtHJmeThhP-8F4VQUTb6PMNZE9JsSrK2aDRYIDAEfxGes5eR6RRB74Kl1sBCbMmJW825Whubp4vY1xo7lzsAjN2RATCHzZoppI19FYCnoEVtONYPHgjxEs/s640/bookparty+040.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Small water bottles, covered in old book paper.</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/AVvXsEjfcfqA4SHerhXlMJlH7ZRxI-tStv4rNMBlPaPf4KujZ2wPAHHkZUrU7O2nercro2zDlxLm-4qeTipJCc2WISkeyRrL21SsfkNqhQPtxSp5D6Tg5PywPGVrw5LHqnfZh6gwWbQk/s1600/bookparty+041.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfcfqA4SHerhXlMJlH7ZRxI-tStv4rNMBlPaPf4KujZ2wPAHHkZUrU7O2nercro2zDlxLm-4qeTipJCc2WISkeyRrL21SsfkNqhQPtxSp5D6Tg5PywPGVrw5LHqnfZh6gwWbQk/s640/bookparty+041.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I ended up making cupcakes and a cake because I wanted to make sure we had enough. There were 13 kids and I wanted leftovers of my favorite cake in the world.</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/AVvXsEgFehbkHbR22IMUHRLt4TEMP3iw_cmEOd-A4Ul_wEa1HpeB8Bf3VbLjb951GnG4wJztUiL99a_aQXaB8cWylU8o89DHWTSZUNk3O8psdAUFOCq4fuX9NaR_9pagE10iQ5Y55Uq7/s1600/bookparty+055.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFehbkHbR22IMUHRLt4TEMP3iw_cmEOd-A4Ul_wEa1HpeB8Bf3VbLjb951GnG4wJztUiL99a_aQXaB8cWylU8o89DHWTSZUNk3O8psdAUFOCq4fuX9NaR_9pagE10iQ5Y55Uq7/s640/bookparty+055.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">For the cupcakes I used the thumbnail versions of the book covers we scanned and used them for cupcake toppers.</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/AVvXsEhNcBTrhlyrwDRGVzXOW-yx7bs0wZfILzePCk-ot5dbNx15ey3Zqqagnhn1Z1xnjqyMjpDU-ugg5E7YhRnCsNgHj7IRJ-pRHe_7joEHqhwD8vTYjXGE6br1t6rJMPI02OuRSmhB/s1600/bookparty+057.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNcBTrhlyrwDRGVzXOW-yx7bs0wZfILzePCk-ot5dbNx15ey3Zqqagnhn1Z1xnjqyMjpDU-ugg5E7YhRnCsNgHj7IRJ-pRHe_7joEHqhwD8vTYjXGE6br1t6rJMPI02OuRSmhB/s640/bookparty+057.jpg" width="640" /></a></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/AVvXsEg7BECwEMrhLFUH4QTpu2sfgGRMqfTYb88R913vAGQz5SwAzyNpC-Mfbohj1-dcVZBPU1Yu1BUitRzFkliUlKYGAM7xp9dfqDsZYZXlr9tdIWtL1fTnU6dX0KAXS-XjnVg4yUd5/s1600/bookparty+063.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7BECwEMrhLFUH4QTpu2sfgGRMqfTYb88R913vAGQz5SwAzyNpC-Mfbohj1-dcVZBPU1Yu1BUitRzFkliUlKYGAM7xp9dfqDsZYZXlr9tdIWtL1fTnU6dX0KAXS-XjnVg4yUd5/s640/bookparty+063.jpg" width="640" /></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/AVvXsEhID980o8xg7BqIWarNN9DxIsMAR4gve0L96EvmwU-HuT0zh1A1j2jtcYr8xtxGKFBAUc6XPx4LiOxFNJcqhXxkEKUKq1laqHHAhqnrBO5AlLbZfF4AOu6YzfIkxN2maY3P_8kd/s1600/bookparty+066.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhID980o8xg7BqIWarNN9DxIsMAR4gve0L96EvmwU-HuT0zh1A1j2jtcYr8xtxGKFBAUc6XPx4LiOxFNJcqhXxkEKUKq1laqHHAhqnrBO5AlLbZfF4AOu6YzfIkxN2maY3P_8kd/s640/bookparty+066.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: red; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Favors:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7abDZQIMP_HhechZgXf_gT11wjK8vkhBOwS_t1z1oBreen0moQabhEM1WSr2WfBwCuzlFMLZ6ioa4TAQoi0xAWdYZJ0uzqSLTyOCISXanLceC1EJWfeFp5o06j_SVsBGuMl9S/s1600/bookparty+104.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCz7O0JaQuocJCK8Sr1qKW7t5_6jLaXwocELJDHOTIGK94Qu0rQLLfMYvT7j_AriRLDajAWbGmOfxMQLeYavImZdIbWYtdSZtQIlgRkZIhLdTrGCjoY3rMkYmSoLP70ECaj0Sb/s1600/bookparty+105.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCz7O0JaQuocJCK8Sr1qKW7t5_6jLaXwocELJDHOTIGK94Qu0rQLLfMYvT7j_AriRLDajAWbGmOfxMQLeYavImZdIbWYtdSZtQIlgRkZIhLdTrGCjoY3rMkYmSoLP70ECaj0Sb/s640/bookparty+105.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I cut off the bottom of a paper bag and sent it through my printer to put my quote on it. Then I zigzag stitched the bottom closed, and after filling it with goodies, stitched the top closed.</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/AVvXsEghf4QgLVEG9nBVWAqWKVn-A4DZnmDv0FAw2hFmCvVvQK-3z-Tb5VansNAMefWaBp4XsoiqenW9qqtYyFf2eCXP8Ihs71R-PKVXDK4p4Lnz3eMmlye94lE5aEI2OSdf5JynquBy/s1600/bookparty+107.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghf4QgLVEG9nBVWAqWKVn-A4DZnmDv0FAw2hFmCvVvQK-3z-Tb5VansNAMefWaBp4XsoiqenW9qqtYyFf2eCXP8Ihs71R-PKVXDK4p4Lnz3eMmlye94lE5aEI2OSdf5JynquBy/s640/bookparty+107.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I bought some Dr. Seuss pencils on Amazon, printed some bookplates from<a href="http://lavendersbluedesign.blogspot.com/2010/07/free-diy-bookplates-printable.html"> here</a> and made some bags of 'Book Worms'. (Just enough of a treat that they won't be begging for it for days on end, and bookplates and pencils that they can actually use. Plus a new book!)</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/AVvXsEhyIT27-yZHjuEs-WtNuMQfl-kPQMWQMAqE3xmWezmpE5UWqH8N6FlYMFxEja2-jTqrvXgCDPXQmGlSnKPBIb0SmM7ZRyRzqtqJO-lF61ruv25uFLI6vyC78XStVhXQHhJ9JE0n/s1600/bookparty+108.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyIT27-yZHjuEs-WtNuMQfl-kPQMWQMAqE3xmWezmpE5UWqH8N6FlYMFxEja2-jTqrvXgCDPXQmGlSnKPBIb0SmM7ZRyRzqtqJO-lF61ruv25uFLI6vyC78XStVhXQHhJ9JE0n/s640/bookparty+108.jpg" width="640" /></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/AVvXsEiqynhHueczvP1kDaiColfSHslV9fEnljbTDClW89aDsDiwKoCIf2AllCTXRy9rd_H__ZS__JoAHo1cZF8_o8-oHipJoFNA9Bgzqs4D9Psm2lymZGd3tX0aT7XzobhatSEAcP0z/s1600/bookparty+111.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqynhHueczvP1kDaiColfSHslV9fEnljbTDClW89aDsDiwKoCIf2AllCTXRy9rd_H__ZS__JoAHo1cZF8_o8-oHipJoFNA9Bgzqs4D9Psm2lymZGd3tX0aT7XzobhatSEAcP0z/s640/bookparty+111.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">And the grand total for the whole party was $53.37 total. Not too bad!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Best of all, Bella had a great time with her friends. I gotta say, it's a whole lot of work for an hour and a half party! It made me think, what have I started? I've done a party like this for the last 4 years, but I don't think I can do one every year for both of my girls! Not that I have any shortage of ideas though...I already have 3 or 4 ideas I'm batting around for next year.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>jthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11565824986946758808noreply@blogger.com32tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21228919.post-47668225913594355512011-05-29T23:10:00.000-04:002011-05-29T23:10:16.661-04:00Coming Soon<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge5bqeqNUxZ3F1ticFeJexYAwjr7ea_3oTvqqNHIoutphk1OSUyjZqTEwAaQHcCU2guitsTUhvgm3AHVxYQRg03i-2AzQpP-rVjYHe-VAETL884jedz1hzUtvIF5BDZavybych/s1600/bookparty+050.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge5bqeqNUxZ3F1ticFeJexYAwjr7ea_3oTvqqNHIoutphk1OSUyjZqTEwAaQHcCU2guitsTUhvgm3AHVxYQRg03i-2AzQpP-rVjYHe-VAETL884jedz1hzUtvIF5BDZavybych/s640/bookparty+050.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Yesterday we had Bella's Book Birthday Party, and I think it went very well. It was cute, anyway. I have loads of pictures and details of the whole event to come, so stay tuned!</div>jthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11565824986946758808noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21228919.post-16477372693291438042011-05-25T12:38:00.000-04:002011-05-25T12:38:47.357-04:00This Girl<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/AVvXsEjqbRW0ajUNlMb1kwRwdUUIdwl3UKcVWfQed_51b1byHrS97ZCWRvtJSxO6fn9OtlwUtFB5GKldrrazxHWaNXHUeMDHulZauoqQEu1GYPQFYLc15sqoqiV5EfsAluycQYQ3VCMD/s1600/temp+353.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqbRW0ajUNlMb1kwRwdUUIdwl3UKcVWfQed_51b1byHrS97ZCWRvtJSxO6fn9OtlwUtFB5GKldrrazxHWaNXHUeMDHulZauoqQEu1GYPQFYLc15sqoqiV5EfsAluycQYQ3VCMD/s640/temp+353.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Sigh.</div><div style="text-align: center;">2 weeks ago this girl was almost 100% cute.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Just last week she was cracking me up and melting my heart by calling out "Heavenly Father loves me, mom! Heavenly Father loves me, mom!" when she woke up in the morning and from her nap. Yelling, at the top of her lungs.</div><div style="text-align: center;">This week, she is choosing to act the 2-year old part very well. To the fullest. A fully fleshed out 2-year old character.</div><div style="text-align: center;">She's always been quite a character, a lot pf personality. She's always been stubborn and opinionated. But now, she is in full force. She wants to do everything by herself, her way, on her terms. She does not take kindly to any suggestion, request or compromise.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Tantrums and timeouts abound.</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/AVvXsEg0_Dz389ptiN8VTCrn1PdEm2oPG3sAFFnoZXuJlI-dBmc8WTbC30GNyUjT-70_JIvfHBpYvbgda6es7HHf847-MiAGsgs1ZG5qjG0jSprwfcjbKtjCxCmLLgMpGiTnxN68V5mt/s1600/temp+348.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0_Dz389ptiN8VTCrn1PdEm2oPG3sAFFnoZXuJlI-dBmc8WTbC30GNyUjT-70_JIvfHBpYvbgda6es7HHf847-MiAGsgs1ZG5qjG0jSprwfcjbKtjCxCmLLgMpGiTnxN68V5mt/s640/temp+348.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqbRW0ajUNlMb1kwRwdUUIdwl3UKcVWfQed_51b1byHrS97ZCWRvtJSxO6fn9OtlwUtFB5GKldrrazxHWaNXHUeMDHulZauoqQEu1GYPQFYLc15sqoqiV5EfsAluycQYQ3VCMD/s1600/temp+353.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div><div style="text-align: center;">It's no accident that parenthood is an <a href="http://lds.org/family/proclamation?lang=eng">essential part </a>of our development, purpose, and exaltation. There are so many lessons that cannot be learned any other way. There is no other relationship that can approximate the parent-child relationship, and I say this all from my vast 6 years of experience as a mother. But seriously, in only 6 years I have learned (or more likely just begun to learn) lessons and character traits and patience that I couldn't have learned in any other way. Parenthood is a crash course in many things including selflessness and compromises and it is not for the faint of heart. So naturally, I daily feel that I am not up to the task and there must be some mistake in allowing me to be responsible for the raising of these children.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Fiona is putting me through the ringer right now. It is making me examine every request and directive that comes out of my mouth and constant assessment of my priorities and what is really important. I am choosing my battles, as they say. The problem is, I am stubborn like a 2-year old myself. I want to fight all the battles. I want everything to be important to me. I want to take stand on every issue, to teach a lesson, a value, a skill, to make a point. Unfortunately that is all more than counterproductive with Fiona, it is damaging and threatens our sanity. I am having to let a lot of things go, relinquish control, disregard what others might think and take a lot, a lot of deep breaths.Basically, I am having to overcome all of my natural inclinations. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Is it nap time yet?</div><div style="text-align: center;">(That is, until she finally learns to climb out of her crib. Say a little prayer for me.)</div>jthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11565824986946758808noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21228919.post-45906926774363344892011-05-22T11:16:00.002-04:002011-05-22T13:05:51.293-04:00Birthday Badge<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8INz9pW5L66efpxWvTf2K1QLwkwatU6DjXQdHoeU1z-cAViTYo7wbGIpR1cqdUHvfB5TueFFUB1Ik1WijPECAazUAZO-bMy8GmXW_wgLX5sZCr_UITmtYO1JkyW1LqujbdRpe/s1600/make+015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</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/AVvXsEiAdkE9jNXfJe8QWG6p_MxTEF_Ww3A3HarnVoLZAG4shfaZ8m2sL9ipEUAlYMIuhcLCPaUa0KOGziS_WpklrB278fL3XL13DykwPmfQ3xgurdPgcwPwrdjnr6OBeDJsBLg9V7fU/s1600/make+018.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAdkE9jNXfJe8QWG6p_MxTEF_Ww3A3HarnVoLZAG4shfaZ8m2sL9ipEUAlYMIuhcLCPaUa0KOGziS_WpklrB278fL3XL13DykwPmfQ3xgurdPgcwPwrdjnr6OBeDJsBLg9V7fU/s640/make+018.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Friday was Bella's 6th birthday, and for the occasion I made her a birthday badge. I took pictures as I went and thought I'd share them with you!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8INz9pW5L66efpxWvTf2K1QLwkwatU6DjXQdHoeU1z-cAViTYo7wbGIpR1cqdUHvfB5TueFFUB1Ik1WijPECAazUAZO-bMy8GmXW_wgLX5sZCr_UITmtYO1JkyW1LqujbdRpe/s1600/make+015.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8INz9pW5L66efpxWvTf2K1QLwkwatU6DjXQdHoeU1z-cAViTYo7wbGIpR1cqdUHvfB5TueFFUB1Ik1WijPECAazUAZO-bMy8GmXW_wgLX5sZCr_UITmtYO1JkyW1LqujbdRpe/s640/make+015.jpg" width="480" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Here's what you'll need:</div><div style="text-align: center;">a Crystal Light lid (or similarly sized piece of plastic or cardboard)</div><div style="text-align: center;">Fabric scrap at least 5" in diameter</div><div style="text-align: center;">(2) 3" scraps of batting </div><div style="text-align: center;">1/4 yard pleated (or ruffled) quilt binding (you can buy this by the yard in the fabric section of your craft store)</div><div style="text-align: center;">(2) 5" pieces of ribbon, 1.5" wide</div><div style="text-align: center;">3.5" scrap of felt</div><div style="text-align: center;">9" ribbon, 1/4" wide</div><div style="text-align: center;">Flat back craft pin</div><div style="text-align: center;">hot glue gun</div><div style="text-align: center;">clear-drying craft glue</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">(note: whenever I say to 'glue' something, I am referring to hot glue, except for the one instance when I specify clear-drying craft glue) </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Begin by making your birthday message. I chose to embroider 'birthday girl' (in the font 'Elise') because I wanted both of my girls to be able to reuse this year after year. Alternatively you could do several other things: cut their birthday number from felt and glue it on, cut and glue a felt monogram, stitch either of those things, or use fabric markers to write your message.</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/AVvXsEhk-7zSZNfjvUKHY6nUFWld6cxvz45abhQnWqfsC83UP_6XdnIQO-zTbFSEd4IcyFI-aVv-0uv1BjCY6jQjTCoucPcKNS1_gOltfjss1nQFe8Nvv94fIxqzQCMLM0-ZwW_8e8X1/s1600/make+001.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk-7zSZNfjvUKHY6nUFWld6cxvz45abhQnWqfsC83UP_6XdnIQO-zTbFSEd4IcyFI-aVv-0uv1BjCY6jQjTCoucPcKNS1_gOltfjss1nQFe8Nvv94fIxqzQCMLM0-ZwW_8e8X1/s640/make+001.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After you've prepared your birthday message, trace your Crystal Light lid lightly with a disappearing fabric pen or a pencil, so you can make sure the placement is correct. Then cut around that line about an inch on all sides.</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/AVvXsEhTjCqGtYA4e3ClMCI70m7cUfFkP8ilCture9KTE8swTyVubVre-KvjGxnSGX_knosYjBvphJ0eyJUDsreoE8reOFVlD1ME_cGtb3JsLg_fnE58EgTRQDbjjEMeXuYNIQTFB4WJ/s1600/make+004.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTjCqGtYA4e3ClMCI70m7cUfFkP8ilCture9KTE8swTyVubVre-KvjGxnSGX_knosYjBvphJ0eyJUDsreoE8reOFVlD1ME_cGtb3JsLg_fnE58EgTRQDbjjEMeXuYNIQTFB4WJ/s640/make+004.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Cut your batting into (2) 3" circles. (This is just approximate- you want it to fit on the lid.) Glue one of the pieces to the outside of your Crystal Light lid. Set the other one aside for now.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7uBuMu-rI3SF4ADQggz24WnZHkxO7XjMttP8UGfC44HRls-M7LKw7RY4FmhbMQTsyv8KNscgxkQRB9iFjpIS_vX2_yLYNNgVc_8o78o3yFR-62CQiccCVooVYzPLHYTHUHIqL/s1600/make+002.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7uBuMu-rI3SF4ADQggz24WnZHkxO7XjMttP8UGfC44HRls-M7LKw7RY4FmhbMQTsyv8KNscgxkQRB9iFjpIS_vX2_yLYNNgVc_8o78o3yFR-62CQiccCVooVYzPLHYTHUHIqL/s640/make+002.jpg" width="640" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Now we are going to glue your fabric onto the lid, covering the batting. First glue the sides of the lid, working on opposite sides to ease the fabric onto the lid until you gave gone all the way around. It will look like this:</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/AVvXsEgDqSIyzWbyB3iTEb_ota8MftSq1K7CiJRH-UA2Og99dtTckC409nz6KZSSTR88Cb20CrliIssfXt_hWG_1gIO8tKyWzgIIEdJUgdDAZR9nAGSolo67anFyvHk8ndupnBzXO-DN/s1600/make+006.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDqSIyzWbyB3iTEb_ota8MftSq1K7CiJRH-UA2Og99dtTckC409nz6KZSSTR88Cb20CrliIssfXt_hWG_1gIO8tKyWzgIIEdJUgdDAZR9nAGSolo67anFyvHk8ndupnBzXO-DN/s640/make+006.jpg" width="640" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Then go around, gluing the excess fabric to the lid.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After that is glued down, glue your other batting circle to the inside of the lid.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Next, we're going to glue the pleated quilt binding to the inside of the lid, covering the batting you just glued down. Instead of the pleated quilt binding, you could also ruffle a ribbon or a piece of knit fabric. Glue it to the back of your lid, working your way around, making sure that you overlap the ends about 1/2" to ensure coverage and to hide your ends. You're going to be gluing the stitched portion of the binding, so that the pleats still show in the front, like this:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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/AVvXsEj7uBuMu-rI3SF4ADQggz24WnZHkxO7XjMttP8UGfC44HRls-M7LKw7RY4FmhbMQTsyv8KNscgxkQRB9iFjpIS_vX2_yLYNNgVc_8o78o3yFR-62CQiccCVooVYzPLHYTHUHIqL/s1600/make+002.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUlU3p0q1VWU2N2bF6rZuGjyN8uuRnp-3lRgOWsYSx5EmZGm3VuO5oVHKf4yGw28E19IjlHG_eAk6Atq8zwqBkRmV4X-UHh1KfQLFiErrG3nPpvRNnm-xn9akSXKL6vYoxHkJG/s1600/make+008.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUlU3p0q1VWU2N2bF6rZuGjyN8uuRnp-3lRgOWsYSx5EmZGm3VuO5oVHKf4yGw28E19IjlHG_eAk6Atq8zwqBkRmV4X-UHh1KfQLFiErrG3nPpvRNnm-xn9akSXKL6vYoxHkJG/s640/make+008.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Now it will look like this from the front:</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/AVvXsEh1MzyAdomyhdRnIe2qwwBWHBWGJLpPM1zhTHAjw_bfCBSVIFVicrXggXLqIt3rtuSTy-K904R9lc7tEXYyE4_aJKhjRPOtNParHVLwzKE2M4DtZWsBy0AGw-3fAs4xqOCAqtvS/s1600/make+007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1MzyAdomyhdRnIe2qwwBWHBWGJLpPM1zhTHAjw_bfCBSVIFVicrXggXLqIt3rtuSTy-K904R9lc7tEXYyE4_aJKhjRPOtNParHVLwzKE2M4DtZWsBy0AGw-3fAs4xqOCAqtvS/s640/make+007.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Notch your (2) 5" ribbons, and glue them to the back of the badge so the notched ends are on the bottom, overlapping like this:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></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/AVvXsEiUBK4JtLbqlYRVDzMT3otG8OYfpNRK9IW0d3j1HiNkU0rl6CNTj9NvL0TdfyZ2ce3tQAUVUOOQqkxt-oZLZdwXC5Wh3LJC9Nacx23WxkiJVspLlxnmHjlK1NriI5vw7BLDRZbw/s1600/make+009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUBK4JtLbqlYRVDzMT3otG8OYfpNRK9IW0d3j1HiNkU0rl6CNTj9NvL0TdfyZ2ce3tQAUVUOOQqkxt-oZLZdwXC5Wh3LJC9Nacx23WxkiJVspLlxnmHjlK1NriI5vw7BLDRZbw/s640/make+009.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Almost done! Now cut your felt scrap into a 3.5" circle, and glue it to the back of your badge so it looks nice and neat. Then hot glue your flat-backed pin to the middle of the felt, making sure it lies horizontally so the badge will hang the right way. (Notice the pin is parallel to the ribbons at the bottom)</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/AVvXsEjcQoOEN2eejYVsndKr5F2K2EODr_fy2JIDHRsKYShIgHVUEejXZUGAUH6ZrvC_RmHbr2csIx9-Da3Oa9gzcRckBWpma0QLBCL7GeMlGJsvL8jAJOiUIIBk6cw22me26OUjp379/s1600/make+010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcQoOEN2eejYVsndKr5F2K2EODr_fy2JIDHRsKYShIgHVUEejXZUGAUH6ZrvC_RmHbr2csIx9-Da3Oa9gzcRckBWpma0QLBCL7GeMlGJsvL8jAJOiUIIBk6cw22me26OUjp379/s640/make+010.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">After I finished it, I decided to glue a small 1/4" ribbon the the side of the badge, hiding any tucks or bulges that may have occurred when you glued the fabric around the back. I used clear-drying craft glue (Aileen's) for the trim. Then if you have a product like Fray-Chek, lightly apply it to the edges of the notched ribbons, to what else, prevent fraying. Otherwise you could very carefully apply a small amount of craft glue to the edges of the ribbon.</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/AVvXsEiQpXg3vS9UjPYzN7XenVfOIG1qVrLtZ97wG0_siETB0QQbzQ3hgLXGJqkfRCMoZ8SMvzJAohBRPUfvWjj_eCIpEnsvGoLYei8kCmL6-ZTy1hcDfb-xC7VJwvmpEEuFkDr7kDDw/s1600/make+012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQpXg3vS9UjPYzN7XenVfOIG1qVrLtZ97wG0_siETB0QQbzQ3hgLXGJqkfRCMoZ8SMvzJAohBRPUfvWjj_eCIpEnsvGoLYei8kCmL6-ZTy1hcDfb-xC7VJwvmpEEuFkDr7kDDw/s640/make+012.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Voila!</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/AVvXsEjWSgCK4jXjhT_vBeeUK552rXhFED-66HT-FYFB6AP1XDUxB8DOL-VSZ6tVrwt0kxx4CL4ssvMm-iIiOO6dLk9TAraAaon-BBs8_lbd_Xf64EvpwyX1HbXgkaQrvjhyphenhyphensU_9gvtP/s1600/make+019.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWSgCK4jXjhT_vBeeUK552rXhFED-66HT-FYFB6AP1XDUxB8DOL-VSZ6tVrwt0kxx4CL4ssvMm-iIiOO6dLk9TAraAaon-BBs8_lbd_Xf64EvpwyX1HbXgkaQrvjhyphenhyphensU_9gvtP/s640/make+019.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Your birthday girl or boy is ready to announce to the world that it is their birthday and receive their deserved accolades and praises.</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/AVvXsEh3q1sKkYgsfwWKNFMiiFLnGFoYqZtEbYpP7GTkimt4XemewCeJoNdJoxaGyytD-QQehYCXGQGHqIZ7mbAkGWaRrqFNky8KHcH0eq59USfZ1_0RGJLLfu9RUdIbfg7ViVuRlSep/s1600/make+014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3q1sKkYgsfwWKNFMiiFLnGFoYqZtEbYpP7GTkimt4XemewCeJoNdJoxaGyytD-QQehYCXGQGHqIZ7mbAkGWaRrqFNky8KHcH0eq59USfZ1_0RGJLLfu9RUdIbfg7ViVuRlSep/s640/make+014.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Have fun, and let me know if you make one!</div><div style="text-align: center;">Bella's party is next Saturday and I will share all the details, possibly with printables.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWSgCK4jXjhT_vBeeUK552rXhFED-66HT-FYFB6AP1XDUxB8DOL-VSZ6tVrwt0kxx4CL4ssvMm-iIiOO6dLk9TAraAaon-BBs8_lbd_Xf64EvpwyX1HbXgkaQrvjhyphenhyphensU_9gvtP/s1600/make+019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
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</script>jthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11565824986946758808noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21228919.post-5197216999514746742011-05-20T02:00:00.002-04:002011-05-21T08:58:37.257-04:00Blog Hopping: Quick & Easy Dinner<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJoNKaD6RfBnls9y-hmDExSMwd2tI8WWTiCcp_5LFAXFqiUGW4pVLVbNRxma5qM4z8JmtgG7EejDZoGN3H7h4N8WrnS7fmDGWu0ypLnvZSMcMm1yaPxUFp25Df6AqrNAHAq2Gu/s1600/Blog+Hopping+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJoNKaD6RfBnls9y-hmDExSMwd2tI8WWTiCcp_5LFAXFqiUGW4pVLVbNRxma5qM4z8JmtgG7EejDZoGN3H7h4N8WrnS7fmDGWu0ypLnvZSMcMm1yaPxUFp25Df6AqrNAHAq2Gu/s640/Blog+Hopping+.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mirandawalker.blogspot.com/">Miranda </a>(of Narrating Life) and <a href="http://www.sherbetblossom.com/">Hannah</a> (of Sherbet Blossom) asked me to participate in the kick-off of a new series they're doing called 'Blog Hopping'. Each month they will feature several different bloggers posting on a theme to introduce us all to some great blogs. I'm flattered and thrilled to be participating.</div><div style="text-align: center;">This month's inaugural theme is 'Quick & Easy Family Dinners'. I immediately knew what I was going to share, but I cannot take any credit for the recipe. Although, to be fair, I never come up with my own recipes. I consider myself to be a good cook, but I am not skilled enough to invent my own recipes. The best recipes I have often come from my grandma and other family members. I can take it as a guarantee if Denise, Michelle, my mom, or grandma has made it. This recipe is another one of those family recipes that I remember growing up with. When one of us was wondering (and possibly whining) about what to make for dinner, Denise purportedly said:'Parmesan Chicken, duh!' It's that kind of recipe. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Now this is not your typical parmesan chicken smothered in marinara and cheese. Its lighter, easier, and much, much faster than that.</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/AVvXsEiz37mSNPZ8EI92KtEEyG9q-QG5qezsZ-tssbRpvyTpD98kW4WmqG2AP4Xo6e9y2I9tD70hhmZWKIzLeUDBAQzbZJHrfRThBbKKX8P_zE8gTkivswjwfLc0pK7uWxYcIbeqNszh/s1600/temp+736.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz37mSNPZ8EI92KtEEyG9q-QG5qezsZ-tssbRpvyTpD98kW4WmqG2AP4Xo6e9y2I9tD70hhmZWKIzLeUDBAQzbZJHrfRThBbKKX8P_zE8gTkivswjwfLc0pK7uWxYcIbeqNszh/s640/temp+736.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Gather your ingredients. The original recipe calls for:</div><div style="text-align: center;">4 boneless skinless chicken breasts <br />
1/2 c. fine dry breadcrumbs <br />
1/3 c. grated parmesan <br />
1 1/2 t. salt <br />
3/4 t. pepper<br />
1/4 c. melted butter<br />
2 T. lemon juice<br />
1 clove garlic, minced<br />
minced parsley<br />
paprika</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">(I was out of lemon so I substituted lime. Also it should be noted that while I will buy generic parmesan, I stick to good, name brand butter.)</div><div style="text-align: center;"> I made it even easier. I nixed the salt, pepper, and parsley and substituted seasoned breadcrumbs for the plain breadcrumbs. So to be clear, I used:</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">4 boneless skinless chicken breasts <br />
1/2 c. seasoned dry breadcrumbs <br />
1/3 c. grated parmesan <br />
1/4 c. melted butter<br />
2 T. lemon juice<br />
1 clove garlic, minced<br />
paprika </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Blend breadcrumbs and parmesan in one bowl. Combine butter, garlic and lemon juice in another.<br />
Dip chicken into butter mixture, then crumb mixture, coating well. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Roll chicken and place seam-down in an 8x8” baking dish. Pour any remaining butter mixture over the chicken and sprinkle with paprika. Bake at 350 degrees for about an hour. </div><div style="text-align: center;">(My oven in hot so it takes more like 40 minutes.)</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/AVvXsEgq7YK-cvLRHPHeD6YWDE4Gp_BpZXeky1CcEmcDbxqF0Et9ZbTUdLH76ftlEhkdJtpPsVMjj_A6f7yMn5Yn6zw6p82f4z-Ck-6Kolq6GCB3UpPwDenCWGqN_OOP0uG2EOCU2MDR/s1600/temp+741.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq7YK-cvLRHPHeD6YWDE4Gp_BpZXeky1CcEmcDbxqF0Et9ZbTUdLH76ftlEhkdJtpPsVMjj_A6f7yMn5Yn6zw6p82f4z-Ck-6Kolq6GCB3UpPwDenCWGqN_OOP0uG2EOCU2MDR/s640/temp+741.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">When I made this the other night I chopped some sweet potato fries that cooked in the oven while the chicken baked, and microwaved some frozen snow peas. Easy! Brown rice also goes great with this, but I'm the only brown rice-lover in my household.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><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/AVvXsEhWsAgCQqItVpLQD0KHmN1Z020Ntq4LUSrur5c5-So1f-VYaMwXv3tAN7doNfljlvjFsmolZmgiy_LWwaMe4abWH9UXih2mlIa2DTUEEme0heB1cnLUrTr0AZX0ToEB-rlv-fc1/s1600/temp+738.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWsAgCQqItVpLQD0KHmN1Z020Ntq4LUSrur5c5-So1f-VYaMwXv3tAN7doNfljlvjFsmolZmgiy_LWwaMe4abWH9UXih2mlIa2DTUEEme0heB1cnLUrTr0AZX0ToEB-rlv-fc1/s640/temp+738.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">(We always eat on salad plates.)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">This is a perfect chicken dish to make when you have nothing else planned or when you need to take dinner to someone. It's easily doubled, and quite the crowd-pleaser so just go ahead and double it when you make it. You'll want leftovers.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Now hop over to these other great bloggers and their easy family dinners:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.sherbetblossom.com/"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 13px;"></span></span></a><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.sherbetblossom.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1305851699_1">Hannah</span></a> </span></div><div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mirandawalker.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 13px;"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1305851699_2"> Miranda</span></span></span></a><br />
<a href="http://www.theoldsfamily.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 13px;"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1305851699_3">Cathy</span></span></span></a></div><div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 13px;"><a href="http://www.whateverdeedeewants.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1305851699_4">Dianna</span></a></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 13px;"><a href="http://our-everyday-art.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1305851699_5">Jaime & Emily</span></a></span></span></div><div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 13px;"><a href="http://jpcreativedesign.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1305851699_6">Jessica</span></a></span></span></div><div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 13px;"><a href="http://www.cafejohnsonia.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1305851699_8">Lindsey</span></a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 13px;"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1305851699_8">Thanks for playing along, and thank you Hannah and Miranda! </span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz37mSNPZ8EI92KtEEyG9q-QG5qezsZ-tssbRpvyTpD98kW4WmqG2AP4Xo6e9y2I9tD70hhmZWKIzLeUDBAQzbZJHrfRThBbKKX8P_zE8gTkivswjwfLc0pK7uWxYcIbeqNszh/s1600/temp+736.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div>jthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11565824986946758808noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21228919.post-53480221660677116712011-05-14T22:19:00.000-04:002011-05-14T22:19:26.859-04:00Utah: Family<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">One of the best parts of this visit was time with <a href="http://www.emtothemax.blogspot.com/">Emily</a>! (Or 'Llamaly', as those in the inner circle know her.)</div><div style="text-align: center;">I have to say, Emily is just one of my all-time favorite people. (As are her mother <a href="http://buyitineverycolor.blogspot.com/">Denise,</a> and her sister <a href="http://smallandtrivial.blogspot.com/">Charlotte</a>) Isn't it fortunate when you can say that about your family? I love that I love my family. (The women especially) I love that I count them among my chief inspirations, examples, and friends.</div><div style="text-align: center;">So back to Emily. I've loved Emily since she was a little girl. We are ten years apart, which is how far apart Michelle and I are, so I have lots of memories of her as a girl. I visited Denver annually, and lived briefly with Grandma a couple of times and have many fond memories of her. She has grown into one of the most splendid people I can imagine! She is equal parts entertaining, charitable, hard-working, intelligent, tasteful, stylish, and plain good company. She is easy and enjoyable to have around.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Simply stated, I was really glad I got to see her as much as I did. I didn't mean for that to turn into an Emily gush, but there you have it. If you know her, you get it.</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/AVvXsEiSPqxvaqTUuv7wKXlL36jBKmDr59Aqktd6uzzO-9T3O-vELSPRYsv88SciZKsOgENTpwNmvrL3UfjGsgHnYQlnEn8E2s2Fd83SD_qwX8zOPd8coDXPupHB4hX7Y6waozXOcTqA/s1600/temp+366.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSPqxvaqTUuv7wKXlL36jBKmDr59Aqktd6uzzO-9T3O-vELSPRYsv88SciZKsOgENTpwNmvrL3UfjGsgHnYQlnEn8E2s2Fd83SD_qwX8zOPd8coDXPupHB4hX7Y6waozXOcTqA/s640/temp+366.jpg" width="640" /></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/AVvXsEip5_Lau3gvh8aBVHoGZ6RUWxHmds_wTjiytsYUDl1W6QY9m_3GyF9zJGhmM2Zp3mYZAR__OGKVgMlMNi89KykldUbtgYV21UI-sLaaHi3X9P7IgrnVO9DAXPHiLuIOAKPTcuUR/s1600/temp+369.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip5_Lau3gvh8aBVHoGZ6RUWxHmds_wTjiytsYUDl1W6QY9m_3GyF9zJGhmM2Zp3mYZAR__OGKVgMlMNi89KykldUbtgYV21UI-sLaaHi3X9P7IgrnVO9DAXPHiLuIOAKPTcuUR/s640/temp+369.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">We baked a lot while she was there, specifically these<a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/9333720/"> Samoas bar cookies</a>, <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/14952271/">Peanut Butter Cup Caramel Shortbread Bars</a> and these wonderful <a href="http://recipeschezmoi.blogspot.com/2010/12/peanut-butter-pretzel-chocolate-chip.html">cookies</a> of Michelle's. Incidentally, should any of you endeavor to make either of the bar cookies, may we offer a piece of advice? Make your own caramel. It probably should go without saying, but homemade caramel will really be your best bet. Both recipes call for melted Kraft caramels, but we unanimously agreed once hardened, they are way too tough and chewy in a bad way. Once again, homemade trumps all.</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/AVvXsEiBxJU-tdYSfoFFBw_wybwx2OiKHdmTmovU-o5a2iEtI7WTa3g_BiBHYBXMlC2oFPzD3cZ6_A4wkbmW4dXQhgocPf9sWZmuYIEC3QVVytDgbSsTIAzgGPE-r_5-5YBlwoFeDPMz/s1600/temp+433.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBxJU-tdYSfoFFBw_wybwx2OiKHdmTmovU-o5a2iEtI7WTa3g_BiBHYBXMlC2oFPzD3cZ6_A4wkbmW4dXQhgocPf9sWZmuYIEC3QVVytDgbSsTIAzgGPE-r_5-5YBlwoFeDPMz/s640/temp+433.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Emily treated us all to giant fountain drinks: Coke Zero for me, of course.</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/AVvXsEiF5FBYZPzSI1QncQnrGEpkk5sNMl4cD9v0KazUWX3h1AS9ths0f7yCnwIfEM-2UzOSCU1pgwVbZ2Wip2DZ6s6dRK6oeEks1axWW5TGKnU7FmSkjsNDwHypRbvAW_6htKYQZFiX/s1600/temp+429.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF5FBYZPzSI1QncQnrGEpkk5sNMl4cD9v0KazUWX3h1AS9ths0f7yCnwIfEM-2UzOSCU1pgwVbZ2Wip2DZ6s6dRK6oeEks1axWW5TGKnU7FmSkjsNDwHypRbvAW_6htKYQZFiX/s640/temp+429.jpg" width="480" /></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/AVvXsEj3l2P6fxibgGqzD6DdZkzMMn1huG7t8Jhn_fPTZpMCXaIIh4YVRqwbiADjoWinvbAbeNDlZazUuawq2xWijV2dswoJJBi8sNhgJsTbfcAgtdXQqkJxfs-5lvtV6WH139mWKilV/s1600/temp+428.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3l2P6fxibgGqzD6DdZkzMMn1huG7t8Jhn_fPTZpMCXaIIh4YVRqwbiADjoWinvbAbeNDlZazUuawq2xWijV2dswoJJBi8sNhgJsTbfcAgtdXQqkJxfs-5lvtV6WH139mWKilV/s640/temp+428.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> (A staple where Emily is concerned.)</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/AVvXsEhOfWvLVf_tE6lLY2vRLDnu-dqL7I3YcIrYAOpoYZdiX48-UWAifK5KT4rM2WM7kptukBlTrQB6sjshORUBuoX7EvXXeC-VZ6X2rV0UsTFY-bhuBJO44Pt8tRw9quMoqYqMf-3h/s1600/temp+413.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOfWvLVf_tE6lLY2vRLDnu-dqL7I3YcIrYAOpoYZdiX48-UWAifK5KT4rM2WM7kptukBlTrQB6sjshORUBuoX7EvXXeC-VZ6X2rV0UsTFY-bhuBJO44Pt8tRw9quMoqYqMf-3h/s640/temp+413.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I took this picture for Timm to show Emily's pathetic version of a wand. I know what some of you are thinking- any version of wand is pathetic for someone over the age of 10. However, among this Harry Potter-loving sect, it is not unusual to have a wand commissioned and handmade by Timm. I know Charlotte has one. So I found this knobbly little twig a sad excuse for a wand, especially when she has a wand maker in the family. Timm: take note.</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/AVvXsEjf_AYZHNGqcagu_nz_ClcTRXb2gwJsAgOtGChQjVaerNW-CLRzOlWUsws4mp7tV3QrD56ycNxByWYkA2bR8HzhoCNvl4C3lNheqLd84RUN6tvPGbKC_fJ2dchisHxrRcoCXGNi/s1600/temp+417.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf_AYZHNGqcagu_nz_ClcTRXb2gwJsAgOtGChQjVaerNW-CLRzOlWUsws4mp7tV3QrD56ycNxByWYkA2bR8HzhoCNvl4C3lNheqLd84RUN6tvPGbKC_fJ2dchisHxrRcoCXGNi/s640/temp+417.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Happy Emily at Cafe Rio, with only one final to go the next morning.</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/AVvXsEj3l2P6fxibgGqzD6DdZkzMMn1huG7t8Jhn_fPTZpMCXaIIh4YVRqwbiADjoWinvbAbeNDlZazUuawq2xWijV2dswoJJBi8sNhgJsTbfcAgtdXQqkJxfs-5lvtV6WH139mWKilV/s1600/temp+428.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgoOPzvaaIl9fB46zrOGL2w1getsjGtanw492WR6VJOpD3aZdV9zmXGIhjdPn3CoE56aS0HvF4hW-SsZz5hF_Jv_UmOppYpylSLUTpSC3i9AI6BuMaHbaJ8VjWmV0sdpKBlmNw/s1600/temp+324.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgoOPzvaaIl9fB46zrOGL2w1getsjGtanw492WR6VJOpD3aZdV9zmXGIhjdPn3CoE56aS0HvF4hW-SsZz5hF_Jv_UmOppYpylSLUTpSC3i9AI6BuMaHbaJ8VjWmV0sdpKBlmNw/s640/temp+324.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I was also able to see Michelle's in-laws Mim and Bob, who as Jill put it, might possibly be the nicest people on the planet. I love seeing them! They have always been so supportive and sweet to me, and they are only my sister's in-laws. Within a few minutes Bella started calling them Grandma and Grandpa, so apparently they make everyone feel that accepted and loved. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Every trip to Utah's just full of people to see!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF5FBYZPzSI1QncQnrGEpkk5sNMl4cD9v0KazUWX3h1AS9ths0f7yCnwIfEM-2UzOSCU1pgwVbZ2Wip2DZ6s6dRK6oeEks1axWW5TGKnU7FmSkjsNDwHypRbvAW_6htKYQZFiX/s1600/temp+429.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div>jthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11565824986946758808noreply@blogger.com5