tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68367846206768738112024-03-15T18:09:32.138-07:00Bliss Images and BeyondBliss Images is located in Elizabethtown, PA and specializes in natural light portrait photography on location.
Erika Dupes, Photographer
blissimages@hotmail.com
www.blissimagesphotography.comAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09437769843134643241noreply@blogger.comBlogger145125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836784620676873811.post-5463154506008876192014-02-03T08:15:00.001-08:002014-02-03T08:35:13.061-08:00Valentine's Day PrintableIt is yet another snow day here in central Pennsylvania! The kids are loving it, of course. I am sure they will be complaining when the middle of June hits and they are still schlepping to the bus stop, but for now they are on cloud nine! I, on the other hand, am experiencing the winter blues. Yes, the snow is pretty when it first falls from the sky, blanketing everything in a crisp white wonderland...but, it doesn't take long to get old. Real old. The shoveling, the slipping, the dirty snow, the salt stains on the cars. It's doesn't stay pretty long, and in fact, just becomes one big annoyance! Ok, I know I'm whining, and it is unbecoming...but, seriously, I have never been more anxious for Spring.<br />
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So, on this snow day, we are working on the kids' valentines. I created them in Photoshop and had them printed inexpensively (like, $7.49 for 50) at <a href="http://www.vistaprint.com/freeship2014.aspx?dr=1&GP=2%2f3%2f2014+11%3a12%3a33+AM&GPS=3093693604&GNF=1" target="_blank">Vistaprint</a>. I wanted to do something other than chocolate or lollipops this year. I am attaching the .jpg if you would like to use it...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAkgCP7amfyByrEz6tMeA3im_sTv8jrGB4YeMkH7vRRjDpUS1FvLfS6oktCxNNx06wLssIrfyoVANnOBYvMp7PoyMVCQrecBtVV7UpNxv3RnqD5-1zYY9Ex6na0zf7i8Qc_geFek56mBhQ/s1600/Valentine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAkgCP7amfyByrEz6tMeA3im_sTv8jrGB4YeMkH7vRRjDpUS1FvLfS6oktCxNNx06wLssIrfyoVANnOBYvMp7PoyMVCQrecBtVV7UpNxv3RnqD5-1zYY9Ex6na0zf7i8Qc_geFek56mBhQ/s1600/Valentine.jpg" height="512" width="640" /> </a></div>
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I got those fun fonts free from <a href="http://www.dafont.com/" target="_blank">Dafont</a>. </div>
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And, you guessed it...I added a valentine pencil. I bought 3 dozen from Amazon (link at the bottom of page). </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9yQMMUUMEsROucliSu3KJum3q-nMyWki-K7CixvT_D6snkMwJSc1YhIxyMjQXBSXZ5nlSqZe-l07bUuFQKB5KVjyZzptWmAMYM8lIyA_GkCXyAOx9RhVdE3R6L2HLmJ4WVPk7P2M7JoKM/s1600/IMG_6599.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9yQMMUUMEsROucliSu3KJum3q-nMyWki-K7CixvT_D6snkMwJSc1YhIxyMjQXBSXZ5nlSqZe-l07bUuFQKB5KVjyZzptWmAMYM8lIyA_GkCXyAOx9RhVdE3R6L2HLmJ4WVPk7P2M7JoKM/s1600/IMG_6599.jpg" height="443" width="640" /></a></div>
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So easy and cute! And, it kept us busy for about 45 minutes...now, what will we do the rest of this snow day? <br />
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Stay warm my friends! :-)<br />
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Linking up to...<br />
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<a href="http://www.craft-o-maniac.com/2014/02/craft-o-maniac-monday-link-party-5.html" target="_blank">Craft-O-Maniac</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.creatingreallyawesomefreethings.com/" target="_blank">C.R.A.F.T</a><br />
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<br />
<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?t=bliimaandbey-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B00ARJU63U&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe>
<img align="left" src="http://i523.photobucket.com/albums/w351/laurenjh04/Premades%202/signature-3.png" style="border: 0pt none;" />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09437769843134643241noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836784620676873811.post-11683775306434384652014-01-21T08:53:00.000-08:002014-02-03T08:37:27.791-08:00Funky Girls Room When we purchased our house back in 2006, we had a 6 month old baby boy. At that time, a three bedroom house seemed plenty big...one more child and then we'll call it quits. Or, so we thought. :)<br />
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Fast forward 5 years and we welcomed our second little girl Avery, who we affectionately call "Oops Dupes." She joins Max and Emma to make our fun party of five. As you have guessed, our three bedroom house is now short a bedroom. Fortunately one of the rooms is a nice size and can accommodate both our girls, ages 6 and 2.<br />
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Last night, we moved little "Oops" out of her crib and into a big girl bed. It went more smoothly than I thought. She only climbed out a couple of times and eventually talked herself to sleep.<br />
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I recently bought these 24x36 engineering prints from Staples for a whopping $3 and some odd cents...man, I love that!<br />
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I think they look pretty cool and so do the girls, which I guess is the most important thing. :)<br />
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Have a wonderful day! We're stuck at home today, expecting up to 8 inches of the white stuff here in Central PA...I am over winter. The kids will be in school til August at this rate. ;)<br />
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Linking up!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.savvysouthernstyle.net/" target="_blank">Savvy Southern Style</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.craft-o-maniac.com/" target="_blank">Craft-O-Maniac</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.creatingreallyawesomefreethings.com/" target="_blank">C.R.A.F.T</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.thethriftyhome.com/" target="_blank">The Thrifty Home</a><br />
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</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09437769843134643241noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836784620676873811.post-29553768637466139352014-01-17T10:59:00.002-08:002014-01-17T10:59:34.907-08:00A Short Trip To The Northwest Will Bring HappinessMy husband and I just spent a long weekend in the Northwest, specifically, Maple Falls, WA. Our friends quite literally live across the road from a Canadian resident. That is just how north it is. My husband's best friend lives there with his wife and two children. The last time we were out there for a visit was for their wedding 10 years ago. But, we have all grown very close over those 10 years, even with the long distance. <br />
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Here we are, snowshoeing in Mt. Baker. What a beautiful place! <br />
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Before we left for the trip, I was pretty disgusted with the extra weight I had put on over the indulgent holidays. But, it wasn't until we got to Maple Falls that I really opened my eyes. <br />
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You see, the wife is a doctor and an all around fitness/health nut. She is also one of the MOST generous, caring, kind people I have ever met. So, I count myself very lucky to not only call her a friend, but to have spent so much time with her. She schooled me about my health and fitness and overall well being. <br />
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Saturday morning went like this...<br />
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Me: "What is that in your eggs?"<br />
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Wife: "Kale"<br />
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Me: "Really? I obviously need more help than I thought."<br />
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And, I got it. She introduced me to the My Fitness Pal app. This app is SO GREAT! It looked intimidating at first, but once you take a little tour through it, it's very simple to log. And, that is the biggest benefit by far since I started using it this past Tuesday when we returned. Logging every single calorie I put into my body has helped hold me accountable and helped me slim down my portions. What an eye opener that was...I was eating at least double the portion I should have. It also has a place to log your daily exercise. <br />
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I have a goal of 1700 calories a day...more allocated if I exercise. So far, at the end of every day, I have calories left over. Here is an example of a day for me.<br />
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Breakfast 356 cal<br />
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Egg Substitute 1/2 cup<br />
Raw Kale<br />
1 tbsp ketchup <br />
Coffee with Sugar and fat free creamer<br />
Medium banana<br />
1 tbsp peanut butter<br />
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Lunch 335 cal<br />
Chicken breast - Oscar Mayer 2 oz<br />
2 pickles<br />
Almond Nut Thins - 24 crackers<br />
Garlic Lovers Hummus - 4 tbsp<br />
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Dinner 420 cal<br />
Lean Italian Turkey Sausage - 1 link<br />
Barilla Gluten Free Pasta - 2 oz<br />
Tomato Basil sauce - 1/2 cup<br />
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Snacks 480 cal<br />
Protein shake (mixed berries, 1 1/2 scoops vanilla whey protein, water)<br />
Granny Smith apple large<br />
String Cheese<br />
Almond Nut Thins - 16 crackers<br />
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Cardio Exercise +514 cal<br />
Calisthenics - 45 minutes <br />
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So for the day, I had net calories 1,076 with 644 remaining. I eat breakfast first thing, then a snack mid morning, lunch about 12:30 pm, a snack about 3:30 pm, dinner about 6 pm and a snack about 7:30 pm. I am not left feeling hungry throughout the day. The hardest thing for me is being prepared. <br />
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I have lost TWO LBS since Tuesday, so I am jumping for joy! I hope I keep this momentum going. I feel excellent, better than I have in months. <br />
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And, this happens to be the fortune I received on Saturday during our visit...crazy, huh? And the truth! <br />
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Do yourself a favor and check out My Fitness Pal! Here's to a happy and healthy weekend, all! :)</div>
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<img align="left" src="http://i523.photobucket.com/albums/w351/laurenjh04/Premades%202/signature-3.png" style="border: 0pt none;" />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09437769843134643241noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836784620676873811.post-85107194043814191382014-01-09T07:50:00.000-08:002014-01-09T07:50:27.232-08:00Your Hair is Your Best AccessoryHair! GAH! Stupid, <i>stupid</i> HAIR! Can I tell you how much I love other people's hair? I love her hair...<br />
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And hers...<br />
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I even love hers...<br />
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What in the HECK am I to do with <i>my</i> hair? <br />
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This choice has been plaguing me for my entire life...all the way back to the "Should I get a perm?" days. Which, by the way, was <i>always</i> a bad idea. That answer should have been no. Every time! <br />
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Let me tell you, I have had all the styles...yes, the perm, the crimp, the bob, the shag, the pixie, the long and curly (to which my lovely cousin told me made me look like a Howard Stern doppelganger after the fact). <br />
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And to make it worse, now there are all of these YouTube tutorials on blowouts, curling, straightening. Tips on how to make it softer, fuller, longer. I have yet to find one that actually works the way "they" say it will. The truth is, I have thick wavy/curly hair. Yes, wavy/curly. This is perhaps the hardest hair to work with, because it is neither curly, where I could maybe use a diffuser and embrace the curl, nor wavy, where I could perhaps just let it air dry in the summertime and it would look just gorgeous, like in the magazine. No, if I do either of these things, it is a frizzy mess of strands that go every which way...very rarely the way that I intended them to go! <br />
<br />
This is my dilemma. While the shorter layered bob is easier, in that it takes less time to dry and style, the longer layered hair is easier to pull back, or put in those cute braids (which I can't do...must look up clever YouTube tutorial).<br />
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And, my last roadblock, and perhaps the hardest one to overcome, is my lack of the P word. Oh, that dreaded P word. Patience. I have none...and, unfortunately, I have passed this dynamic gene onto my oldest son and it drives me crazy. I have heard that those traits you have in common with your children are those that annoy you the most. Boy, is that ever spot on! Anyway...how to I wait patiently through the transition stages of letting this hair grow? <br />
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<br />
YIKES! Seriously, I am asking...please tell me. I need help. <br />
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<img align="left" src="http://i523.photobucket.com/albums/w351/laurenjh04/Premades%202/signature-3.png" style="border: 0pt none;" />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09437769843134643241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836784620676873811.post-61561923758234348992014-01-08T07:06:00.003-08:002014-01-09T06:59:40.967-08:00So Many Clothes...So Little Space!My 6 year old...well, to put it mildly, she oozes SASS! She knows what she wants, and unfortunately for me, that changes more frequently than I can keep up with. But, one thing is for sure...she keeps me moving!<br />
<br />
My mom and I took her to NYC last December with the big surprise being a trip to American Girl Doll Store. She was, in a word, overwhelmed. We walked in and she literally stopped. Didn't move an inch. I had to gently guide her to the dolls and everywhere else in the three story building. Looking back, this trip would have been much better had we done it in June, as opposed to Christmastime in the city. Lesson learned. But, she was taken aback by the size and beauty of the city.<br />
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We did come home with a doll that day, that she has since named Julie and has spent an awful lot of time at the bottom of the toy bin, unfortunately. That is, until about a week ago...she has been resurrected and it is now ALL THINGS JULIE! She <i>needs</i> new clothes, new accessories, etc. This could not have happened <i>before </i>Christmas?? Of course not. Well, I have held her off by telling her that Valentines Day and Easter are coming, and perhaps she will get a few clothes for Julie on those holidays.<br />
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I am however, working on a cute little spot all for Julie in the girls' bedroom. Here is the start...<br />
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I use this bed for photo shoots, but while I am not using it, Julie can rest comfortably. I think when the weather gets a bit nicer (-24 degrees with the wind chill yesterday), I am going to give the bed a makeover.<br />
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I thought long and hard about how to store her clothes. Considered a box, but the girl would have them all over the place looking for the perfect outfit. Then, my lightbulb lit and as a result...a towel bar closet for Julie.<br />
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I got the towel bar and little hangers at Amazon and it works perfectly.<br />
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<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?t=bliimaandbey-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B002YG3P6E&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe>
<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?t=bliimaandbey-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B004ILWB3Q&ref=tf_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe>
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The next step are accessories for Julie's space...so stay tuned for that. Not gonna lie, I love this stuff! It brings out my inner child. :)<br />
<br />
Linking up to:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.aglimpseinsideblog.com/" target="_blank">A Glimpse Inside</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.thethriftyhome.com/" target="_blank">The Thrifty Home</a> </div>
<br />
<center>
<a href="http://gingersnapcrafts.com/search/label/%7Bwow%20me%7D%20wednesday"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIqEFWLcGTP4wz-TPfVEpJz7Jae_NyKjCwjYC5NqFSctQmroVFMR-q4TKc8eEEnjb9R91qvdoD-lBgnDFZgZxDDdE9tilT_-UYMz4Q-dlWgnWFqaYRMvV3HHbh_Z6FRCRCeZ_-kJirWB7l/s1600/wow-me.png" /></a></center>
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<img align="left" src="http://i523.photobucket.com/albums/w351/laurenjh04/Premades%202/signature-3.png" style="border: 0pt none;" />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09437769843134643241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836784620676873811.post-62511837618403288942014-01-07T11:28:00.001-08:002014-01-07T11:46:34.031-08:00Balancing Act: It's time to tip the scalesHere's the situation...<br />
<br />
<br />
1. Three active kids<br />
2. One hardworking husband<br />
3. One insanely cute dog<br />
4. Two basketball practices a week<br />
5. Two gymnastics practices a week<br />
6. One religious education class a week<br />
7. Two basketball GAMES a week<br />
8. Two Zumba classes a week (that I lead)<br />
9. Expenses coming from everywhere<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">10. One tired but determined MAMA </span><br />
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I know, I know...I am not the ONLY mom on the planet to juggle. I realize this, but I AM a mom that is determined to make this all work while still contributing financially to the family.<br />
<br />
My first attempt is my photography business, <a href="http://blissimagesphotography.zenfolio.com/" target="_blank">Bliss Images Photography</a>. While I am moderately successful, this is by no stretch of the imagination making a huge impact on our savings account. After buying all the cool gear and spending a great deal of time on editing, we may have broken even in the four years I have done this. Although, I enjoy it immensely.<br />
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Attempt two...blogging. Here's the thing, I enjoy this very much, but it's not as simple as writing a clever post and clicking the send button. If this is going to be successful, I have to spend a decent amount of time on it.<br />
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While I have always prided myself on being a super multi-tasker, this decision is throwing me for a loop. I have proven that I can't do both. I am leaning towards focusing my efforts on blogging, while keeping my hobby a hobby (with the occasional paid gig). And, to those that are already on my schedule for 2014, no worries...I fulfill my obligations.<br />
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I wish I could shake the magic 8 ball and it would tell me the right thing to do for me and for my family. Time will tell, I suppose. I just hope we all come out on top.<br />
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Please, share your experiences, advice with me...I am all ears, I assure you.<br />
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Oh, and one more thing...God bless my husband, who puts up with his "Jack of all trades, Master of none" wife. He really has been so supportive. :)<br />
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UPDATE: I literally just posted this and my friend, Shelly sent me this. So, I bought it. I loved her on Full House, so let's see what advice she's got for me! :) <br />
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<img align="left" src="http://i523.photobucket.com/albums/w351/laurenjh04/Premades%202/signature-3.png" style="border: 0pt none;" />
<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?t=bliimaandbey-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B00H4ENAL6&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09437769843134643241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836784620676873811.post-43111782227631464872013-12-21T07:35:00.002-08:002014-01-07T08:47:50.143-08:00A Very Grinchy Christmas PartyLet me tell you this...nothing makes me more nervous than planning a party for elementary school kids. It is one of the scariest jobs. A 7 year old has little to no filter and they are brutally honest. I mean brutal.<br />
<br />
That being said, I have been thinking about this Christmas party for my daughter's first grade class for two months now, and I have been sweatin' it!<br />
<br />
The theme wasn't hard. My BFF, Natalie from <a href="http://www.aturtleslifeforme.com/" target="_blank">A Turtle's Life for Me</a> is a veteran at these parties and she threw a Grinch themed party a few years back that was adorable. I decided that I would give that a try. I mean, who doesn't love the story of the Grinch? <br />
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So, I set to work thinking about the afternoon's festivities. And, thank goodness for Pinterest, because I was all over that and it didn't disappoint. <br />
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The stations included<br />
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1. Pin the Heart on the Grinch<br />
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I did not get as elaborate as Natalie...she made a lifesize Grinch (laminated and all). I ordered this poster on Amazon and glued it to cardboard. :)<br />
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2. Grinch Bingo - made these bingo cards with Photoshop...love them. And the kids used M&Ms as markers.<br />
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3. Sum it Up with the Grinch - This, I found on Pinterest and just made copies. The game is pretty simple. Roll 2 dice and make an addition or subtraction equation with the numbers.<br />
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4. Pass the heart pillow (think hot potato) - I hooked up my iPod with Christmas songs - this is the station I thought they would have lots of fun at...the very first group, one of the boys said to me, "I don't like this game." Go figure! These kids are THE toughest critics!<br />
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5. Craft - Make Max the dog's antlers - I got this craft from Oriental Trading. I glued some of the pieces at home, because I knew that it would be a gluing nightmare otherwise. And, it still was. Some of the kids had trouble getting the still wet antlers into their backpacks. Oh well... the best laid plans, right?<br />
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After all of the stations were done, the kids grabbed a snack. Brownies, Grinch kabobs, goldfish and pretzels and I read them the book, How the Grinch Stole Christmas. They listened very attentively. Some of them even thanked me! :)<br />
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And, each of the kiddos took home a goodie bag, filled with a coloring page, candy cane and Grinch pills. One of the boys said, "how did you know this was my favorite flavor of candy cane?" LOL, lucky guess!<br />
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My daughter was so happy that I was there she hugged me no less than 20 times and really, that is the best thank you I can imagine. Merry Christmas!<br />
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Linking up!<br />
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<a href="http://www.craft-o-maniac.com/" target="_blank">Craft O Maniac</a><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09437769843134643241noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836784620676873811.post-43198585457905455102013-07-02T06:42:00.001-07:002013-07-02T06:45:01.333-07:00Accessories, Accessories...What a difference a little decorating can make, eh? I thought I'd take the stuff I have gathered and spruce it up a bit to get an idea of how it'll look. I tackled painting the kitchen on Wednesday and it looks awesome! Both the older kids were away, so I decided to "Carpe Naptime" and tackled it! :) When I get more free time and more energy I will paint more and post the progress! For now, check out these small transformations...<br />
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Just a bit more homey! :) And the work continues, stay tuned...<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09437769843134643241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836784620676873811.post-85802246692266104262013-06-20T15:42:00.000-07:002014-01-07T08:45:15.381-08:00We bought a Camper...and we're going Glamping! Oh my! Has it been a whole year since I have posted? Yup...life has been, in a word, BUSY! My youngest is now approaching two years old (time really does fly when you're having "fun") and Max and Emma are at the age where mom's van becomes their personal taxi to and from activities. I am exhausted a lot, but I also love it...a lot.<br />
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I have just been too busy with this little thing called life to keep up with this blog. But, with the addition of our latest venture, I have decided it must be shared with more than just my neighbors.<br />
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We bought a camper. Let me rewind about a year...we bought a pop up camper. My husband and my best friend since HS's husband work together and another co-worker was selling his pop up for a steal (or so they told us, because my bff and I are sooooo not the campers our husbands wish we were). So, they bought it, split it down the middle and my hubs and kids used it twice since then and their family used it maybe four times. After a few uses, it turned into, "it's a pain in the a&* to set it up," "mice are eating the material," and the all important, "WHERE do we PEE??"<br />
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So, when the prospect of upgrading came along from yet ANOTHER co-worker for yet ANOTHER steal, I have to say the other Missus and I weren't exactly jumping for joy...that is, until the Misters said, "and it has a bathroom."<br />
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SOLD!<br />
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So, we bought another camper. A 28 ft. camper. The kind you don't have to "pop up."<br />
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I made my husband aware that if we were buying this camper, that it would become my summer project. Meaning, I have been on Pinterest and found all sorts of super cute, shabby chic camper makeovers...some refer to as glamping. Glamping is more my speed, people. The bff and I are outdoorsy in that we like to drink on patios. To my surprise, he didn't care one bit that I wanted to get my decorating hands on it.<br />
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That is all that I needed...I scoured the house for some "stuff" that I was holding on to and went in search of crazy deals...and I hit the jackpot!<br />
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LOVE this sign...got this from friends of ours when we bought the pop up. But, alas, it's maiden voyage will be made in the new camper. <br />
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The clock was on clearance at Kmart...the tag says $12, but I walked out paying $4. Score! The birdhouse I found in my storage area...didn't even know I had it. Don't judge me.<br />
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Oh, the Coca Cola condiment holder...this is where the "red" started, because I bought this at Kmart for $2.50. Hoping to add some turquoise accents eventually. <br />
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Ok, who doesn't need Paula Deen potholders and towels in their camper? Seriously.<br />
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These are the shams that go with the comforter set that I saved when I redecorated our master bedroom. SO glad I did. :) It'll be like sleeping at the Four Seasons with these linens. "Shaggin Wagon?" <br />
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And, I am in LOOOOVE with my tin signs from Amazon. They were about $8 a piece, but I think I can hang them with the velcro command strips and they'll be just fine. It'll make it feel like home. After all, I want this to be our "home away from home." Who says a camper has to be all woodsy and dark? If you want this indoor gal to go anywhere, I am gonna have to make it so that I want to be there. <br />
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This is just the start, my friends...stay tuned for the renovations. We get it on Sunday, when we will park it in our driveway in our neighborhood so I can work on decorating for the next month or so. It's a good thing we are on our neighbors' good sides. :)<br />
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I am really excited! And I think my husband is happy that I'll be taking my decorating to the "guest house," at least for the next 60 days.<br />
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<img align="left" src="http://i523.photobucket.com/albums/w351/laurenjh04/Premades%202/signature-3.png" style="border: 0pt none;" />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09437769843134643241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836784620676873811.post-85239632715038696572012-07-20T08:14:00.004-07:002012-07-23T10:20:00.789-07:00FINALLY back to the Master!I cannot believe it has been MONTHS since I first posted about redecorating my master bedroom! I believe I may have been pregnant way back then and my baby is now a 10 1/2 month old! Aaaaah...how does this happen?<br />
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So, yes, I have been busy for the last few months, but it was seriously driving me nuts with the bedroom in limbo. But, I am back on the horse and ready to get these last few details done!<br />
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Here is the progress so far...<br />
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WAY back when, the bedroom looked like this...<br />
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I wanted light and bright...gray, yellow, crisp white (with a little turquoise thrown in here and there.)<br />
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My doors were an off white, with BRASS knobs...hated them. So, I painted them white and spray painted them an oil rubbed bronze to bring them into this century! Old door, EW.<br />
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New door...better!!<br />
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And, I love my His and Hers nightstands...just cut vinyl on the Silhouette, then painted over it and pulled the vinyl off. I distressed the edges a bit and voila. Reminds me of a hotel, and I like it!<br />
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These frames I bought at Kohls were $7 a piece. I just thought they were cool...<br />
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Definitely happy with the progress so far, but there is more to do...stay tuned!! <br />
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<a href="http://blissimagesandbeyond.blogspot.com/p/linky-parties.html" target="_blank">Linking up!</a><br />
<a href="http://makingtheworldcuter.com/2012/07/making-the-world-cuter/" target="_blank">Making the World Cuter </a><br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09437769843134643241noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836784620676873811.post-17993166056118357862012-06-13T07:44:00.001-07:002012-06-13T07:44:29.188-07:00Big RED PianoThis post will be plain and simple...because it really was SIMPLE! So much easier than I anticipated. I, like you, I am sure have seen SO many beautifully painted pianos recently. When a friend of mine was getting rid of hers, I offered $100 and we hauled it home. It definitely needed a makeover, as you can see!<br />
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I found the perfect color, Sundried Cherry from Benjamin Moore. I used a tinted primer, then painted three coats in a Satin finish and I think it was the perfect choice. Not too shiny, but I didn't want to have to use a polyurethane. <br />
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We decided to leave the area where the piano maker marked it alone. So, to tie everything together, I left the stool legs unfinished and used a chocolate brown paint to paint the stencils on the doors. <br />
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Seriously, I am in LOOOOOVE with our red piano!<br />
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<a href="http://blissimagesandbeyond.blogspot.com/p/linky-parties.html" target="_blank">Linking up!</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09437769843134643241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836784620676873811.post-22111281022749701352012-06-11T14:56:00.003-07:002012-06-11T14:56:48.668-07:00Candy Shop PartyMy baby turns five this month...and I love to throw parties! About six months ago, I decided on a Candy Shop Party. Particularly because I saw a picture of a lollipop tree. That was it for me! There was no turning back...<br />
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I made the lollipop tree...and then some. We had chocolate covered pretzels, peanut M&Ms, Mike & Ikes, gummie butterflies and Runts. I bought cute little bags to put the candy in and my mom found "E" napkins at Target. Perfect. Thanks to a friend of mine for loaning me the candy jars and scoops. They were absolutely PERFECT! The banner I made from scrapbook paper and ribbon.<br />
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I decided to go with these<a href="http://www.blissimagesandbeyond.blogspot.com/2012/05/theres-party-in-my-tummy.html" target="_blank"> Heath Bar Cupcakes</a> in mason jars to eliminate a huge mess...if you've ever seen a five year old eat a cupcake, you'll understand why! :-) For the beverages, mason jars filled with lemonade and paper straws. I dressed them up all up with some cute, coordinating ribbon.<br />
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I think the first thing I purchased were the Melissa & Doug Make Your Own Jewelry sets. They were around $3.50 a piece. I thought it was a great price and I love Melissa & Doug toys. I figured this would be the craft for the party. Something to keep the girls occupied for a while.<br />
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Then, I started on the favors. I decided to use my formula cans as holders. I dressed them up with some scrapbook paper, a bow and "thank you" cut out on my Silhouette. I think they turned out really cute! :-)<br />
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I got odds and ends at Target's $1 bins...some were on clearance for 25 or 50 cents. I got lip glosses, chapsticks that were candy flavored (i.e. jolly rancher, twizzler, skittles), notepads. And, I got some spa masks at the Dollar Tree to add. Then, I put candy necklaces and bracelets in a cute turquoise jewelry box...I thought they were really cute for not a lot of money. <br />
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After the girls made their jewelry, I took them outside for a game of Musical Candy (music included "Lollipop," "I Want Candy," and "Candy."). I cut out candy shapes and had the girls walk around them and like Musical Chairs, I simply picked one up after each turn until there was one winner. The winner took home cupcake bath soap and a lollipop foot scrubber. Cute!<br />
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Emma LOVED the party! I made her a video slideshow so she can look back on it, and maybe someday even show her little ones. <br />
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Later, we invited the family over and the adults had some yummy cupcakes...I let them eat them without the mason jars. :-) <br />
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The birthday girl was exhausted at the end of the night! Just love my little peanut...<br />
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Happy 5th Birthday to my first baby girl! :-) <br />
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<a href="http://www.blissimagesandbeyond.blogspot.com/p/linky-parties.html" target="_blank">Linking up!!</a><br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09437769843134643241noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836784620676873811.post-84110741481026316482012-05-21T09:20:00.000-07:002012-05-21T09:20:04.082-07:00Party Preparations...Can't believe my baby girl is turning five years old next month! Time is truly flying by. It's extremely bittersweet, but I know I am probably preaching to the choir about that. <br />
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For the big #5, we are throwing a Sweet Shop Party for my sweetie. I will have an array of delicious goodies for the girls to nibble on. I saw this cute little bouquet on Pinterest (of course) and the party wouldn't be complete without it. I bought a 6" styrofoam ball and used 4+ bags of Dum Dums on it. We'll be sucking on lollipops for the next year. :-)<br />
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Still have to work on a few finishing touches for the party, but it's going to be FABULOUS! Can't wait for my girly to enjoy it with her friends...<br />
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...to be continued. :)<br />
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On an unrelated topic, we ran the Warrior Dash this past weekend! While I would have liked to have been in even better shape, I did it! I finished in 1 hr. 16 min. The Warrior Dash is essentially a 5K through rough terrain, with 12 obstacles, finishing with jumping over fire and swimming through a pool of mud under barbed wire. It was incredible...challenging, fun, exhilerating and most of all, DIRTY! We loved it! We all had a blast. The others are already talking about next year...I am letting my body heal before making that decision. But, I am very proud of myself. :-) I still have some baby weight to lose and I have taken up yoga once a week in addition to strength training and cardio. I love it! I'll be posting more about it, specifically my Warm 60 class, Bikram yoga in 90 degrees...it's fantastic. Trust me!<br />
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Have a wonderful Monday!<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09437769843134643241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836784620676873811.post-40303302666972083352012-05-05T09:37:00.001-07:002012-05-05T09:37:39.066-07:00First Newborn SessionBaby Jayla was a bit more alert than we would have liked, but with a little patience and persistence, we got her to sleep for a brief amount of time, and I was able to get these lovelies. I love newborn babies...<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09437769843134643241noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836784620676873811.post-90825576131691727662012-05-05T09:34:00.000-07:002012-05-05T09:34:21.534-07:00Boys, boys, boys...This is by far one of my most favorite sessions to date! How cute are these guys...and the husband and wife are some of the nicest people I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. We had a gorgeous day for some pictures!<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09437769843134643241noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836784620676873811.post-92195277454760012202012-05-04T15:47:00.000-07:002012-05-04T15:49:09.518-07:00Mother's Day Photo Wood TransferMother's Day...it's a tough holiday. Let's face it. I am a mom, I have a mom and I have a mom-in-law. And, many, many a Mother's Day (particularly when I was a teenager) was spent driving early morning the day of, to get some flowers from the tent in front of the convenient store. Being a mom now has definitely made me more aware of the holiday, but I have been known to, in the recent past, drive to the flower tent the day of...I'm being honest!<br />
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But, not this year, no sir! I had a "light bulb" moment about a month ago. It was an unseasonably warm day, so I seized it and took pics of the kids with a chalkboard and the words "We <3 you." I have been wanting to try the wood block transfer with gel medium for a while now. This was just perfect.<br />
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They (one for Nonni, one for Grammy) turned out great!!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJtsms-XZF4gLxU0Wn_-6k0koHYCc1YYePZ_QLfbmPvk2hIcpWx6NPrDziUcCIqzUq8DUqiXMzBSk2UnmyxkPNdcUHg_XOo1FMp7vASEgZHfLtiiHkqL4VLyB5jd3xJofTVr3ek_s8ZOW9/s1600/bothsquareclose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJtsms-XZF4gLxU0Wn_-6k0koHYCc1YYePZ_QLfbmPvk2hIcpWx6NPrDziUcCIqzUq8DUqiXMzBSk2UnmyxkPNdcUHg_XOo1FMp7vASEgZHfLtiiHkqL4VLyB5jd3xJofTVr3ek_s8ZOW9/s400/bothsquareclose.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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BUT, not on the first try! Here is a serious word of advice...if you are planning to do this with any kind of text, you MUST make sure the text is written/typed backwards (mirror imaged) or your text on the block will be backwards. I ruined the first two that way...<br />
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Here is the actual picture I took.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhueZDaMJIbyOnGZNsKgqiGOKfw45rrPpKgvNdGJP6kt4KuKbnkfbYFbpRRxE9vdMykF9obz-cZMtHBdCKvjWasuMEKtZWFwgcC5kW0g7vEJOWag7hyphenhyphenTMjcSW0LFA8r9Yztj6daYShDyq2r/s1600/Grammyblock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhueZDaMJIbyOnGZNsKgqiGOKfw45rrPpKgvNdGJP6kt4KuKbnkfbYFbpRRxE9vdMykF9obz-cZMtHBdCKvjWasuMEKtZWFwgcC5kW0g7vEJOWag7hyphenhyphenTMjcSW0LFA8r9Yztj6daYShDyq2r/s400/Grammyblock.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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See, backwards. This way when you put the paper face down on the wood block, it will come out right. I really wish someone would have told me that! :-)<br />
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And, for the longer block, I had room to write Happy Mother's Day. (Poor baby girl got a knot of wood in her head - but, you can't win 'em all). :-)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq0wXvFYl15hfW71tweegYHlxc_zR91tYRvICKdsMvAeYHltqSUR6uUlZSwgscX2QNpqX0siECABzEuCNau2Whphm0gZLJH21mnIzYebd5Ke2TKWpw_j7HPjfqsLHuondrfbHB8ApCcMnM/s1600/HappyMothersDayclose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq0wXvFYl15hfW71tweegYHlxc_zR91tYRvICKdsMvAeYHltqSUR6uUlZSwgscX2QNpqX0siECABzEuCNau2Whphm0gZLJH21mnIzYebd5Ke2TKWpw_j7HPjfqsLHuondrfbHB8ApCcMnM/s400/HappyMothersDayclose.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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And, here is the one I actually printed...mirror image.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUZx_m624EbPx6V77_aM3aSxm5E4J6gVyqiPW-FLN2z5bxPmcLgHHqf9ta-P0ysRpwuxO_uqCAItAu1d2SGZgCRYV59Enqx8FJYd5Ej15SlhiNHGxuz_GCxMPLU6cmJwD-X8WnFnLPesFh/s1600/Happy+Mothers+Day.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUZx_m624EbPx6V77_aM3aSxm5E4J6gVyqiPW-FLN2z5bxPmcLgHHqf9ta-P0ysRpwuxO_uqCAItAu1d2SGZgCRYV59Enqx8FJYd5Ej15SlhiNHGxuz_GCxMPLU6cmJwD-X8WnFnLPesFh/s400/Happy+Mothers+Day.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I did this in CS5, so all I did was type my text, click on the "move" tool (plain arrow on left) and click image, image rotation, flip canvas horizontally.<br />
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I found a LOT of tutorials on these wood block photo transfers, but this one by <a href="http://www.petapixel.com/2011/10/06/how-to-transfer-a-photograph-onto-a-block-of-wood/" target="_blank">PetaPixel</a> is by far my favorite. And, I love the music, too! <br />
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So, there you have it!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyreKYTdrSb505CjSYfKJz5HIJOCJKXFIyJCSK6M66hHz732KfOJ7ylyikmTgOzuWpgoD-bHoh3vSUbKkSg82iNbrU9ToQCTGaiPSeZeSFNYB8euRzlAnheOa8ZXoZDtNAiLw2qYQdDEM2/s1600/Squareclose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyreKYTdrSb505CjSYfKJz5HIJOCJKXFIyJCSK6M66hHz732KfOJ7ylyikmTgOzuWpgoD-bHoh3vSUbKkSg82iNbrU9ToQCTGaiPSeZeSFNYB8euRzlAnheOa8ZXoZDtNAiLw2qYQdDEM2/s400/Squareclose.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Now, I am just hoping my mom doesn't decide to read the blog before May 13th! :-/<br />
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Hope everyone has a wonderful and fulfilling Mother's Day!<br />
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:-) ErikaAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09437769843134643241noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836784620676873811.post-54515284412714805182012-05-02T16:26:00.000-07:002012-05-02T16:30:06.434-07:00There's A Party In My Tummy..My daughter's 5th birthday is coming up and I am throwing her a candy shop birthday party. I have been busy planning the big day for about 6 months now...cause that's how I roll.<br />
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I've got the invitations, the favors, the decorations, the gift...just needed to figure out what to do for refreshments, namely the cake, or in this case cupcakes. I wanted to stick with the theme and found these Heath Bar Cupcakes in the Betty Crocker Big Book of Cupcakes. I bought this book at Amazon recently. You see I usually enlist my bff, Natalie over at <a href="http://www.aturtleslifeforme.com/" target="_blank">A Turtle's Life For Me</a> to make my birthday cakes and cupcakes. She's phenomenal, but also very busy these days with two blogs, a part time job, PTO meetings, and the list goes on and on. And, I have really wanted to try my hand at baking. I am pretty good at following a recipe, so when I found these yummy creations, I just knew that I had the perfect party cupcake! We are big Heath Bar fans in this house. :-)<br />
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And, I should mention that while I love cupcakes, they are perhaps THE messiest snack food known to man. So, when I saw this idea for a <a href="http://simplegirlathome.blogspot.com/2012/04/birthday-cake-in-jar.html" target="_blank">cake in a jar</a>, I basically jumped for joy! So, for the party, the group of girls will be enjoying their cupcake in a jar with a nice cool jar of lemonade...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1b49wEuFwogkOrl2GcbIhQUfPg03jWf-E1fIQXHLdS69HRfUQYo407F8WGDRx_oCguB9Q5zY6Yve1N-bew7q25YzFJ4MNgOCE-s_7Sk81hwICetQlbH90Mn7o_6N0ruJxLfmYNF66JXYv/s1600/Board.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1b49wEuFwogkOrl2GcbIhQUfPg03jWf-E1fIQXHLdS69HRfUQYo407F8WGDRx_oCguB9Q5zY6Yve1N-bew7q25YzFJ4MNgOCE-s_7Sk81hwICetQlbH90Mn7o_6N0ruJxLfmYNF66JXYv/s400/Board.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
So, here is the <a href="http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/chocolate-candy-cupcakes/eac5561a-828b-4d8c-a470-94f971cf7076#?st=6&term=heath%20bar%20cupcakes&ps=9&pi=9&fv=AND%28HasGridViewImage%3ATrue%29" target="_blank">Betty Crocker heath bar cupcake recipe</a>. I have also attached the Big Book of Cupcakes at the bottom. I can't wait to bake more cupcakes!!<br />
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Here they are going in the oven...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigknKxF91Otf5XoljZv1TBQNqlWXjV-4vIfMf5b1sosUo6JwFO-psBMxTVz3lJBK0Grz2_8TKUmnJclBfg6F2WZp6pCkhYJs44bzdPy1bXrQhzJgie-G2pHkVGWaiOf2wbKb5YPuKe_po4/s1600/beforebaked.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigknKxF91Otf5XoljZv1TBQNqlWXjV-4vIfMf5b1sosUo6JwFO-psBMxTVz3lJBK0Grz2_8TKUmnJclBfg6F2WZp6pCkhYJs44bzdPy1bXrQhzJgie-G2pHkVGWaiOf2wbKb5YPuKe_po4/s400/beforebaked.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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And coming out of the oven...the center will sink a bit while cooling.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA7MgIodgQ1sIh5WeHlNM_JEcxB6LJ4-JYcrW0blD5wueXke6Mx8QXgxAe7f0nl2LAvxMNa44Vl2gzWIj1ugbifmcnsBCrws0Cqnm1cChtyoC6Z4c30tSOfQT-BXi1158NIrfeAGdNWG-q/s1600/baked.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA7MgIodgQ1sIh5WeHlNM_JEcxB6LJ4-JYcrW0blD5wueXke6Mx8QXgxAe7f0nl2LAvxMNa44Vl2gzWIj1ugbifmcnsBCrws0Cqnm1cChtyoC6Z4c30tSOfQT-BXi1158NIrfeAGdNWG-q/s320/baked.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The whole family gives these two enthusiastic thumbs up! The recipe makes 18 cupcakes, so we shared them with our neighbors, because it would be very dangerous to keep 18 of these in our home! :)<br />
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Happy Hump Day!<br />
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:) Erika<br />
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<a href="http://blissimagesandbeyond.blogspot.com/p/linky-parties.html" target="_blank">Linking Up!</a><br />
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<iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=bliimaandbey-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=0470906723&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1<1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09437769843134643241noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836784620676873811.post-31467395971397447582012-04-30T15:08:00.002-07:002012-04-30T15:08:46.691-07:00Swizzle...it's what's for dinnerMy mom used to make "Swizzle" for dinner, and it was a definite favorite in our home. She just mixed up ground beef and onion on the stove top. She added some seasonings for flavor, mostly salt and pepper. How simple, right? That's the beauty of Swizzle! It is a quick and easy meal for the busy family. <br />
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Now 35, with three kids, I am making my own version of Swizzle, which I'll share with you. I am sure that there are families out there that have their own concoctions and call them by a different name, and that's the other beauty of Swizzle...you can make it your own, and even call it a new name if the spirit moves you! :-) <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPifUaEe97xFjgNLeey074Nh1bHly3QY5gYLmz13sa64N2K_AY6TPmq4aSWDfzUS7DJ7hnEJDF1X4i0y4JNIxZKMaLyCeVtCNCIMj3NmBT5Z_k9eVnA9OMnNzNzBnf92fukcTwjOdvNJpL/s1600/Table.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPifUaEe97xFjgNLeey074Nh1bHly3QY5gYLmz13sa64N2K_AY6TPmq4aSWDfzUS7DJ7hnEJDF1X4i0y4JNIxZKMaLyCeVtCNCIMj3NmBT5Z_k9eVnA9OMnNzNzBnf92fukcTwjOdvNJpL/s640/Table.jpg" width="512" /></a></div>
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My Swizzle goes a little something like this...<br />
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1 lb. ground turkey<br />
1 Onion sliced<br />
<br /> Add the ground turkey and onion to your skillet and cook on medium heat. Drain.<br />
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Place back in skillet and mix in<br />
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3 cloves garlic, minced<br />
1 1/2 Tbsp Worchestershire Sauce<br />
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Let simmer on stove top for a few minutes to let the ingredients mix together.<br />
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Once it's good and mixed, add<br />
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1 can diced tomatos (I like the italian flavored tomatos) drained.<br />
1/2 cup Parmesan Cheese<br />
1/2 Tbsp Italian Seasoning<br />
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That's it!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIVxLM3oqPm5giEMUodxpqsG0UJcN5Vd7A05hlffCi5_a6eJPTEdXTcKfw5KUVgnj9TrvnxJMsKnPdDrYxxmN2lgYtjJEpHEKowbQt3Vcj3dmk66ZCGTZLHkzxt6U-ENswSwx4XxMXXlSE/s1600/Close+up.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIVxLM3oqPm5giEMUodxpqsG0UJcN5Vd7A05hlffCi5_a6eJPTEdXTcKfw5KUVgnj9TrvnxJMsKnPdDrYxxmN2lgYtjJEpHEKowbQt3Vcj3dmk66ZCGTZLHkzxt6U-ENswSwx4XxMXXlSE/s640/Close+up.jpg" width="512" /></a></div>
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I paired mine with brown rice and a mixed green salad. The best part? My kids love it! :-)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQm2secrDZq1As8iT44nRTLJNtZlVmF8ns_xJfjsPNGHaWM05T3-k7qAQTlqgs9Mt76IMrbycUBawoAEZdjx1QjrDc9iyqENXjmM3VfRcC3GxXilP8we8ngZCZxkK_LQLFpC5WIs-99QyP/s1600/Close+landscape.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQm2secrDZq1As8iT44nRTLJNtZlVmF8ns_xJfjsPNGHaWM05T3-k7qAQTlqgs9Mt76IMrbycUBawoAEZdjx1QjrDc9iyqENXjmM3VfRcC3GxXilP8we8ngZCZxkK_LQLFpC5WIs-99QyP/s400/Close+landscape.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Soooo, the question is...what's in your Swizzle??<br />
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<a href="http://blissimagesandbeyond.blogspot.com/p/linky-parties.html" target="_blank">Linking Up!</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09437769843134643241noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836784620676873811.post-47710746451081720182012-04-26T06:32:00.001-07:002012-04-26T06:32:15.602-07:00Journey Back to Me - SLOOOOWI haven't written about my journey, because it's been in a word...SLOW! I don't want this to be a venting post, but there may be parts that are precisely that. I don't want to pay for a therapist, so sorry readers, you're it! :-)<br />
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Life is hectic...and, wonderful, rewarding, a blessing, all that mushy stuff, but really it's freaking hectic! I have barely enough time to shower, let alone get by flabby butt to the gym. I have resorted to planning out EVERYTHING! I thought I was a planner before, but I was merely a poser. These days, I plan our meals for the week (and go to the grocery store at the beginning of the week and just get what we need FOR THAT WEEK), my gym visits (which are few and far between), my laundry, and our general schedules (haircuts, snack days for school, extracurriculars, etc). And, to make it even more complicated, I do this around my hubby's insane work schedule that varies from week to week. Let me attempt to lay this out for you in a hypothetical two week period. <br />
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Week One - Hubby works night shift (M, T, W) - 6:30 pm - 6:30 am - So, I can go to the gym on Monday morning, Thursday afternoon and Friday morning. I'll typically make fresh meals on four nights and we'll eat leftovers two nights and eat out or order pizza once. For the laundry, I do Max's laundry on Mondays, Emma on Tuesdays, Avery Wednesdays and ours whenever I can get to it! :-)<br />
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Week Two - Hubby works Day shift (M, T, W) - 6:30 am - 6:30 pm - So, I can work out Thursday and Friday, and the weekend if the spirit moves me (yes, I could probably go to the gym on M, T, W night after 7, but I am not a fan of working out right before going to bed, and let's face it, the kids need baths and snacks and all the other stuff that comes with a bedtime routine, it's just not practical). Insert 4 fresh meals, leftovers, laundry...yada, yada, yada. <br />
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And, the schedule varies from there...one week he'll work training, which is 7 am - 3 pm (T-F), then night shift (TH-Sun), then day shift (TH-Sun). It's crazy! We've been doing this dance for 11 years now and I have had my fill. There is talk of him going to a regular schedule sometime this year, which would mean 6:30 - 2:30 M-F (insert bright light and a choir singing) and I PRAY for it every night. It would help us all in so many areas, one big one being our moods. Lately, we have been at each other for everything...finances, kids, my photography and blogging (as in, I am spending too much time and money and not getting enough in return). It's wearing us both down. And, to be honest, I remember us being this way the first year or so of Max and Emma's lives, too. Throwing a baby into the mix just makes us more on edge and "snappy" at each other. <br />
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I think we both know that we will get through this hurdle, but it doesn't make it any easier when you are living it day to day. <br />
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We try to take time for ourselves. For instance, we just spent the weekend at the beach with two of our closest friends and had a really great time. But then we were thrust back into reality on Sunday with two wild and crazy kids and a baby that is smack in the middle of teething. Believe me, I am so grateful for the time we had to unwind, but I almost think it amplified our reality when we returned. You know what I mean? <br />
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I really hope that I don't come off as being ungrateful, because I am so blessed for what I have. And, most of the time, I am fully content with my life...but, there are those small moments when I wish elements of it were different. I am not happy at all with my body, now 8 months post-pregnancy, and I do think that has so much to do with my mood. Just can't seem to bounce back. I have been drinking green smoothies for the last month and I do feel great (I can tell a difference when I don't drink one), but it hasn't helped in weight LOSS. I need to lose at least 15 lbs to feel like myself again. And sporadic gym visits just isn't going to do that for me. I am no good at dieting, and to be honest, once I would stop the diet, I would go right back to where I was, so I would rather take longer and eat right and exercise. <br />
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I am still doing this Warrior Dash in less than a month...I am hoping the excitement of the day will push me through it. It does look like a lot of fun, but I ran around our neighborhood the other day and thought I might die...I am still sore from it. Running on pavement is extremely different than running on a treadmill. I don't feel ready for the Dash, but damn it, I'm doing it!<br />
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So, to sum it up...I am blessed with a wonderful husband, three beautiful children, a roof over my head and much more. We have just hit some bumps in the road. We will get through this, I know that. But, it's a hard road to navigate. Truthfully, I am hoping to look back at this post in a few months time and think, look how far I have come...<br />
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Wishing you all a relaxing day...:-)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09437769843134643241noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836784620676873811.post-45596224532294556762012-04-25T07:17:00.000-07:002012-04-25T08:50:14.512-07:00Bright and Airy<br />
I bought this piece of furniture six years ago for $125 at a local flea market. It is such a solid piece of furniture, I just couldn't pass up the deal. I decided that it needed a facelift recently...here is the after.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqVE1f-DzTabuy9t4oNrdWquZQYZw7hf05FC7mPtWga_GKAmhDZIOowukABKOnZ82FHjVho7FGSlshxl6FWGPD_uV8n_iG7_qOhlALekHum9R_tWel98ANvjW6iJPiq9Ww4ppiQViJSrtr/s1600/Buffetfull_1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqVE1f-DzTabuy9t4oNrdWquZQYZw7hf05FC7mPtWga_GKAmhDZIOowukABKOnZ82FHjVho7FGSlshxl6FWGPD_uV8n_iG7_qOhlALekHum9R_tWel98ANvjW6iJPiq9Ww4ppiQViJSrtr/s640/Buffetfull_1.JPG" width="425" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsXWTyYosJavFMmb0sC0_hDzliJ10MFo3Rn3DeLF7txRdv9QNkO1AYlpNvYlfMz1dzSjakGpe7xXqKh3_kSvoQTyoSLm7E_tX1uCCdhCyLS8CIKLH__WOpod6ClzuRukuLAiGB62cbMb6q/s1600/Buffet1_1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsXWTyYosJavFMmb0sC0_hDzliJ10MFo3Rn3DeLF7txRdv9QNkO1AYlpNvYlfMz1dzSjakGpe7xXqKh3_kSvoQTyoSLm7E_tX1uCCdhCyLS8CIKLH__WOpod6ClzuRukuLAiGB62cbMb6q/s400/Buffet1_1.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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When I bought it, I was really into black, distressed paint, so that's what I did and I have really liked it for the last six years. I haven't touched the original hardware...toyed around with the idea of spray painting them, but I think I like the original...they are so weathered and make me think about how long this piece has been around and I like that. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2HjmaL3RaGowDUx35rL4jS1DQcwAZpTzbWMkcBgnWvAnKLAgb6fjtwstLSpTijoGk_RFww2GXAXBNh1TaT3tGYKxQF9zuh0E-jVCLrqQIz8jMTh1oJ6thmeYVJyxXFhO9UWbNLilDcEKL/s1600/IMG_0759.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2HjmaL3RaGowDUx35rL4jS1DQcwAZpTzbWMkcBgnWvAnKLAgb6fjtwstLSpTijoGk_RFww2GXAXBNh1TaT3tGYKxQF9zuh0E-jVCLrqQIz8jMTh1oJ6thmeYVJyxXFhO9UWbNLilDcEKL/s400/IMG_0759.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div>
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But, I was looking around the other day and really thought the great room (family and dining) could use a brightening! So, I did it! The day before we were leaving to go to the beach for the weekend. I have fabulous timing and my husband thinks I am nuts (I'm starting to buy into it). Little did I know this would take a coat of primer, THREE coats of paint and two coats of polyurethane! OY! Oh, and did I mention that I decided to paint the dining room table, too? That bright idea came when I had primer left over from the buffet and didn't want it to go to waste (it was the last bit of primer we had on hand). Anyway, fast forward a week later and I really do love the pieces. It makes it so much brighter and airier in my home. </div>
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Here it is during the massive undertaking...:-) </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsW4OUDABbkmoPx_xYYB63zxq7ss8tjNZvpHSREXjso8lHdZaVtRa9iYS4Gy81mTsKedeiTi99_pApGZElR0WUj3T0Q8Gp1Bm3jfZr-jSFhdLfyAOgKhKnY_fmAdqfgb8AlUv3c3qcn6iM/s1600/Nohandles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsW4OUDABbkmoPx_xYYB63zxq7ss8tjNZvpHSREXjso8lHdZaVtRa9iYS4Gy81mTsKedeiTi99_pApGZElR0WUj3T0Q8Gp1Bm3jfZr-jSFhdLfyAOgKhKnY_fmAdqfgb8AlUv3c3qcn6iM/s400/Nohandles.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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And, here are some shots of the finished product...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6_QFeJt4zpalS1hBl_p-EWY43P50zTW7GhrquohjX48shI6TRDiW5TFlclwJ4wNSgFRIB4MErRMOzCbql-ShsLdTcYhLDCx_yITX3LsLpKZl3AG76qARwWKAfOhYSbBYq47ipDRPFYjRl/s1600/Storyboardbuffet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6_QFeJt4zpalS1hBl_p-EWY43P50zTW7GhrquohjX48shI6TRDiW5TFlclwJ4wNSgFRIB4MErRMOzCbql-ShsLdTcYhLDCx_yITX3LsLpKZl3AG76qARwWKAfOhYSbBYq47ipDRPFYjRl/s400/Storyboardbuffet.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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And some of the table...don't worry, I will be working on white chairs and a bench to match! :-)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9wOk9ssEWaO6TUiqp-0LYDXgX4xJANaqqNm7_C-aVY2N3PGjsJ4iNHPL41z2vLm_gV444W2mXgkz_2xpLNqMoaSwZh63h5jHTYV5ewaoFBYBUuVRJcwmBGvruBhumx_ToAJl_0MN1V6hK/s1600/Tablestoryboard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9wOk9ssEWaO6TUiqp-0LYDXgX4xJANaqqNm7_C-aVY2N3PGjsJ4iNHPL41z2vLm_gV444W2mXgkz_2xpLNqMoaSwZh63h5jHTYV5ewaoFBYBUuVRJcwmBGvruBhumx_ToAJl_0MN1V6hK/s400/Tablestoryboard.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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See those black bookshelves in the background...wanna paint them white, too. My TO DO list is never ending! I know you can sympathize with me...wish there were more hours in the day!</div>
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<a href="http://blissimagesandbeyond.blogspot.com/p/linky-parties.html" target="_blank">Linking Up!</a></div>
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<br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09437769843134643241noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836784620676873811.post-43437931590720542772012-04-23T08:25:00.003-07:002012-04-23T08:25:27.051-07:00Boys will be boys!<div style="text-align: center;">
I haven't posted in a while, my life has been in a word, overwhelming! Some days I am not sure how we stay afloat. Between school, extracurricular activities, the baby's needs, running errands, cleaning, cooking and the photography business, there is very little time to blog. :-( So, I thought I would combine the last two for this post. </div>
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I recently took some photos of such a wonderful family at one of my favorite settings. They have been threatening to move this barn for years now and it hasn't happened, so every time I take pictures here, I am so thankful. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwhDy7-dIEYmkdzB1KQXoed6CMMdEk-hwSyi3geFXv3EAhLU0mW5z2bqDZJojGOaHtrAkxlhlZ6YgC2MNbeU6AzuRke-4HS-rBOM763Oyd2TPVfCadsuaPvrAcFMeXtqi28FWuzzusXmjf/s1600/starbarnlogo_1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwhDy7-dIEYmkdzB1KQXoed6CMMdEk-hwSyi3geFXv3EAhLU0mW5z2bqDZJojGOaHtrAkxlhlZ6YgC2MNbeU6AzuRke-4HS-rBOM763Oyd2TPVfCadsuaPvrAcFMeXtqi28FWuzzusXmjf/s400/starbarnlogo_1.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6rxSDGL1YQCy7iGOyuNQP7DTlVxXjTlLmUDq3BIybfQz6txbHmTdz-dIVXWmEVHkX8p_PWqZVD0704BrXloL1gJj8Y1EvJvSo_I-pTj1kSCFeTV3erSKOuKrUHeksjTXeJtg5KZU1KOni/s1600/Kissinglogo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6rxSDGL1YQCy7iGOyuNQP7DTlVxXjTlLmUDq3BIybfQz6txbHmTdz-dIVXWmEVHkX8p_PWqZVD0704BrXloL1gJj8Y1EvJvSo_I-pTj1kSCFeTV3erSKOuKrUHeksjTXeJtg5KZU1KOni/s400/Kissinglogo.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgStVMACgdcDaSwwXveM1k_gXRQQrZx4nVCSkFrflvjExEeTPm1rHRNkywhznbLYmsT8IXlQx_oQa84FmanElBMVtpZzX4zlo6S9K-jnFKVmw7waA2HaMJ-_bjsuTwDMnoenAOwEScDJkRC/s1600/Blackandwhitehuglogo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgStVMACgdcDaSwwXveM1k_gXRQQrZx4nVCSkFrflvjExEeTPm1rHRNkywhznbLYmsT8IXlQx_oQa84FmanElBMVtpZzX4zlo6S9K-jnFKVmw7waA2HaMJ-_bjsuTwDMnoenAOwEScDJkRC/s400/Blackandwhitehuglogo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFf9KAHBxpt3buZTJ3-wYLiVEjdlBlhKHx3Bgflm1cq6UIMXen75gUVwhuE4YvAX60XQIFoYtS-6qncupRMYaHlGOqp9GpND_TBhbNxECXHFvvCrM2Pm4CM-WtwUKBUv0np4H-wO_OZQQd/s1600/10x20boys_1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFf9KAHBxpt3buZTJ3-wYLiVEjdlBlhKHx3Bgflm1cq6UIMXen75gUVwhuE4YvAX60XQIFoYtS-6qncupRMYaHlGOqp9GpND_TBhbNxECXHFvvCrM2Pm4CM-WtwUKBUv0np4H-wO_OZQQd/s400/10x20boys_1.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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I have been painting some furniture, so I will have a crafty post up really soon...promise! :-) Until then, have a wonderful day everyone! </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09437769843134643241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836784620676873811.post-32340738642595720692012-03-28T15:16:00.003-07:002014-01-07T08:37:58.542-08:00Miniature Decorating<div style="text-align: center;">
I have been known to say, "If I could do it over again, I would have gone to school for Interior Design." I just LOVE design and decorating. My "go to" channel on the TV is none other than HGTV. I will watch ANYTHING on that channel. But, alas, we cannot turn back time and truth be told, I am very happy to be where I am and to decorate my house more than the average person and to bug the hubby to paint more often than he'd like. :-) </div>
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Imagine my utter elation when I stumbled upon this <a href="http://blog.landofnod.com/honest-to-nod/2012/02/try-this-bookcase-dollhouse.html" target="_blank">inspiration for a homemade dollhouse</a> on Pinterest from Honest to Nod. I happened to have a bookshelf shaped like a dollhouse that my MIL bought my second born when she was a toddler. As of late, it has just been a "catch all" for odds and ends, not really serving its intended purpose. SO, Mommy got a decorating project...and boy, did she have fun! Who knew decorating in miniature could be so rewarding?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKGYswGpqdvpSPiPU8VQodV5NQkRRo2Uc7tuZ1AmMYTHHPESs1HGooQyi_j07y5t6X3G-9IypJxU-fYc6C6ARN4m4IZAwO0WIiMyI2vEajFnx6VcIb7WnxyZ3DEQG4kDez5Tx1PiN0xOpT/s1600/BeforeAfter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKGYswGpqdvpSPiPU8VQodV5NQkRRo2Uc7tuZ1AmMYTHHPESs1HGooQyi_j07y5t6X3G-9IypJxU-fYc6C6ARN4m4IZAwO0WIiMyI2vEajFnx6VcIb7WnxyZ3DEQG4kDez5Tx1PiN0xOpT/s400/BeforeAfter.jpg" height="250" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8GvnLnLEHgKQRoZ3JNwbp5Z7NdfpGP_rR2E0BEIBaSHG-E3ozZ6DSjTUORkKmg2_Nos36sUI8wluNMba6b46Q491VHt3-BOglhjA-MA-vlokwIjnHMjCHedWBXYfDbd5ppaVubY91YVl7/s1600/After.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8GvnLnLEHgKQRoZ3JNwbp5Z7NdfpGP_rR2E0BEIBaSHG-E3ozZ6DSjTUORkKmg2_Nos36sUI8wluNMba6b46Q491VHt3-BOglhjA-MA-vlokwIjnHMjCHedWBXYfDbd5ppaVubY91YVl7/s640/After.jpg" height="640" width="512" /></a></div>
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Like the inspiration, the wallpaper (aka scrapbook paper) is the show-stopper, I think. These were all hand-picked by my client, my favorite and fabulous four year old, Emma. Just hung with double-sided tape...such a great idea, because if she's anything like her mom, she'll want to change out the wallpaper often. :-)</div>
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First up, the kitchen/dining room on the top. This is actually the only area that I needed to purchase furniture for, so I found a Melissa and Doug set on Amazon for a reasonable price.</div>
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Oh, and I went crazy with my new Silhouette...crazy I tell you! But, that was a huge part of the fun! The utensils, the chandeliers, the furniture on the wall...all vinyl cut with the Silhouette. It doesn't end there, trust me. Those clocks you see on the wall, they are from Oriental Trading. I bought them for a past project, and I am so glad I remembered that I had them. There is a clock in every room, set to 6:15 pm...time picked by the client. :-)<br />
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The floor in the kitchen was just done with acrylic black paint and painters tape. Don't look too close, it is anything but precise. Hehe</div>
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Heading down a floor, we come to the bedrooms. The girls room on the left, the Master on the right.</div>
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The rest of the furniture in the house is from a little dollhouse Emma got when she was two. You should see how small this house is...but, I think the furniture works in a house this size, too. And, it's in great shape, and I won't be too worried if Avery (7 months) gets a hold of it. More vinyl dressers and what's a girly room without a Girls Rule sign? </div>
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And, this could be my most favorite part of the entire house...I printed tiny, tiny little pictures of the kids on the printer and then used the Silhouette to cut frames for them. How cute are they??</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwKO6OZP9zzBZL90qBQbmzkLlmk-F_c6W_HtTKjgR5ktoKT9FNUjC5Op32PE65v58tItxFmf__HWIeJ2EpWdwkDAnVGFqYjH7t5xMU2U72bwnKQqptjFu9SGLwSnTKUy2Lb7BEvV1dYfRk/s1600/Littlepictures.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwKO6OZP9zzBZL90qBQbmzkLlmk-F_c6W_HtTKjgR5ktoKT9FNUjC5Op32PE65v58tItxFmf__HWIeJ2EpWdwkDAnVGFqYjH7t5xMU2U72bwnKQqptjFu9SGLwSnTKUy2Lb7BEvV1dYfRk/s400/Littlepictures.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></div>
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The bottom floor houses the Living Room and Office/whatever room the client wants it to be. </div>
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I even knit a throw blanket for the family...I am telling you, I was getting a little out of control! :-)</div>
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And, I couldn't leave the exterior bare...that would just be so wrong, seeing all of the hard work we did on the interior. Curb appeal is important, am I right? </div>
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I may add some bushes or flowers, but for now, this will do quite nicely. </div>
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Now, you may notice there is no bathroom in the house...I thought long and hard about this, but I just could not fit the commode into the plans. So, my answer to Emma's question, "but, where can they pee, Mommy?" The outhouse of course!</div>
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It's easy to see this was a fun project...it was awesome working with my little girl and making her happy. Her eyes got big every time I would add something new. I hope that she keeps this and that she and her sister have many years of blissful imaginative play with this. I don't think I will ever be able to part with it. </div>
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She likes it...she really, really likes it.</div>
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<a href="http://blissimagesandbeyond.blogspot.com/p/linky-parties.html" target="_blank">Linking up!</a><br />
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<a href="http://theshadyporch.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Rock N Share</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.thecraftyblogstalker.com/" target="_blank">The Crafty Blog Stalker</a><br />
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<center>
<a href="http://www.creatingreallyawesomefreethings.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Monday Funday" src="http://i1109.photobucket.com/albums/h435/thatswhatchesaid/MondayFunday.png" /></a></center>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09437769843134643241noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836784620676873811.post-84072317765760419872012-03-13T14:37:00.000-07:002012-03-13T14:37:06.156-07:00Compilation of vacation pics<div style="text-align: center;">Instagrams, instagrams...all I ever hear about is instagrams for the iphone!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Well, I'm a Droider, and I keep hearing that they are "working on" Instagram for the Droid, but I have yet to see the app...BUT, I am here to tell you fellow Droiders (if you don't know yet), there is a free app that's almost as cool!! Lomo Camera...I had an awesome time with this app yesterday on our trip to Inner Harbor, Maryland.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Here are some pics</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/AVvXsEjYY3_pcW2ojJWM-tea9CgXM83_XUr7E9LCAO8Dtqd0Ujz9KFz-2xy7Bwf9Gf_VKJF1gQifhyphenhyphenBKpn2a_pyiSeoWBThKr0v1gb_rOLYau8OakUY3o_foW75RYproNGwFnbWzFpcEmKzsLIWk/s1600/2012-03-12-15-07-08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span id="goog_221598441"></span><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYY3_pcW2ojJWM-tea9CgXM83_XUr7E9LCAO8Dtqd0Ujz9KFz-2xy7Bwf9Gf_VKJF1gQifhyphenhyphenBKpn2a_pyiSeoWBThKr0v1gb_rOLYau8OakUY3o_foW75RYproNGwFnbWzFpcEmKzsLIWk/s640/2012-03-12-15-07-08.jpg" width="640" /><span id="goog_221598442"></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS1m42oofAn_Ot63YPBwl9J-vSBN_8b_-lCz_W9JJXnzknjqq_rJUKyPihAg7d0OFiaVTt-hcXgQENF60Pt9Jyyv9-QvSAty_pfxplu8KQM-f2n8pUMJqe_TeE1zJ1eEcDZ4v0HzcriF3_/s1600/2012-03-12-15-19-24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS1m42oofAn_Ot63YPBwl9J-vSBN_8b_-lCz_W9JJXnzknjqq_rJUKyPihAg7d0OFiaVTt-hcXgQENF60Pt9Jyyv9-QvSAty_pfxplu8KQM-f2n8pUMJqe_TeE1zJ1eEcDZ4v0HzcriF3_/s640/2012-03-12-15-19-24.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6W7HeMw7VDN-GHryjDhu2oTgOR1fnCbr3l5VqCAK-iwfwuTuD1dgiufxS49UgGB-ub5sn3IuMJCd-5UbvWcALhChBGQm32T_YoIEHDSWJX7hrEogwQ-t1Xx8Gma9n4EUhOi3rjhGbkz6z/s1600/2012-03-12-13-53-02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6W7HeMw7VDN-GHryjDhu2oTgOR1fnCbr3l5VqCAK-iwfwuTuD1dgiufxS49UgGB-ub5sn3IuMJCd-5UbvWcALhChBGQm32T_YoIEHDSWJX7hrEogwQ-t1Xx8Gma9n4EUhOi3rjhGbkz6z/s640/2012-03-12-13-53-02.jpg" width="640" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">We decided to surprise our two older kids with a trip just for them yesterday to the National Aquarium in Baltimore. We got the total experience tickets, which included the Dolphin Show and a 4D Planet Earth movie. Then, we visited three historic war ships and ended our day at Phillips seafood house. It was an outstanding day! Well, until we left all of our souvenirs in the parking garage...thank goodness for online gift shops when stuff like that happens. We went from being the Best Parents of the Year to the Worst Parents and back to the Best Parents...whew!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Anyway, I had a blast snapping pics and wanted a way to commemorate the day, so I made this 11x14 of all the Lomo Camera pics taken throughout the day...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">Now we'll always remember the day!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><img align="left" src="http://i523.photobucket.com/albums/w351/laurenjh04/Premades%202/signature-3.png" style="border: 0pt none;" />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09437769843134643241noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836784620676873811.post-74153293134583774282012-03-08T14:53:00.000-08:002012-03-08T14:53:43.595-08:00The Journey: Being Selfish<div style="text-align: center;">I have heard it SO many times..."You have to take care of you in order to be a better mom to them." And I would nod my head and say, "I know, I know." But, truth be told...you just can't do that in the first six months of a baby's life. Unless you happen to have a non-colicky, sleep-through-the-night, nothing phases me at all kind of child. Then, maybe you can start before the 6 month point. But, for me, this 6 month milestone marks a time where I can actually spring into action instead of just nodding.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I actually thought I would wait until Avery was a year old to take her into the gym. I didn't want her catching anything or getting hurt. You know, all of those paranoid mom thoughts were running through my over-imaginative brain. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Then, last week, as I had just gotten out of the shower and put my second outfit of the day on, only to get spit up on again (consequently leading me to my third outfit) and Emma was screaming, "Max, you are the WORST big brother ever," because he wouldn't play house with her anymore, and Max was running around acting like he was in a Pokemon episode making the noise of something I am convinced only another six year old boy would understand, I realized that I had HAD it! Mama needs some alone time to clear her head on a regular basis...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I have been going to the gym, but I have been going to the gym that is right down the street from my house because it's $10/month...but no childcare. Which means, I have to work around my husband's crazy work schedule to fit any workouts in. It's OK for occasional times when he's home and I need to get something in quick, but I need something more scheduled. I work well on schedules.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">This is when it dawned on me that I should get my butt back to the gym that I used to teach Zumba at twice a week, a great gym with great childcare. WHY was I not doing this for myself? </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I had some trepidation, believe me..."how will Avery do, will she cry when I leave, will they be able to pay adequate attention to her needs." OY...I really need to worry a LOT less. Turns out she was absolutely fine...she was with her brother and sister and four (yes, four) other children. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Best part, I was able to clear my head while I ran/walked a 5K in 38 minutes. Not a great time, I know, but I'll get there. I didn't collapse, so I was happy! I haven't done a full 5K since I ran an organized one in October of 2010. The Warrior Dash is in two months. I'll get there. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I plan to go to the gym on Tuesday and Thursday mornings as a regimen from here on out. And, if I can get any other workouts in during the week, that will be a bonus. As long as the kids are doing fine, I can get a one hour workout in and we are all better off because of this. I gotta tell you, I am a much more patient mommy when I can get these workouts in. :-)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">This realization that I need to be a little selfish to be better all around is a small victory in my journey and I had to share!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<img align="left" src="http://i523.photobucket.com/albums/w351/laurenjh04/Premades%202/signature-3.png" style="border: 0pt none;" />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09437769843134643241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836784620676873811.post-49064737587770594252012-03-05T08:25:00.000-08:002012-03-05T08:25:42.779-08:00Handmade Housewarming<div style="text-align: center;">We have friends who unfortunately, and so sadly, lost their house to flooding in the Fall of 2011. It was the "100 year flood" here in southcentral PA and it devastated a part of my home town.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">By the grace of God and some help from family and friends, they are about to move into a new house. :-) I knew that I wanted to make them something, so this is what I came up with. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I recently bought a damask stencil for my master bedroom accent wall from <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/64074289/damask-wall-stencil-elegancia-allover" target="_blank">Royal Design Stencil</a>. I just love it and knew that it could be perfect for this project, too.</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/AVvXsEjd4IptvioV-QtpW1Bz-fgustwuvzb253XrTOSMA6exnxjSUQi-p4aPeXh0dXs7V4uhoJ4GNH6vB0WFCyBQJEYsJ795j6rtU6c5OiiTcsccUPx-_r82L28RTKm0U2Oglc3FVqNDNifP_ogK/s1600/Straighton.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd4IptvioV-QtpW1Bz-fgustwuvzb253XrTOSMA6exnxjSUQi-p4aPeXh0dXs7V4uhoJ4GNH6vB0WFCyBQJEYsJ795j6rtU6c5OiiTcsccUPx-_r82L28RTKm0U2Oglc3FVqNDNifP_ogK/s320/Straighton.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I had a piece of wood that I bought from AC Moore a long time ago. So, I painted it white with latex paint in an eggshell finish. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Then, I mixed two Folk Art metallic acrylic paints to reach my desired color...light gray/silver. The colors are Pearl White and Metallic Gunmetal Gray.</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/AVvXsEg9v3btpjwbdBH5EYdfg2zgJnwYpS-cVPq78-feJrwi_vBE_OAgHNEsk0WyR3tbDha46YXf_yPPD5sB2lxfQsVggXeE9fmb-ynNXHAP4NdOiu-PzLyCfV1kn-626-1Dap06WxK-6daG-e_p/s1600/030512073915.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9v3btpjwbdBH5EYdfg2zgJnwYpS-cVPq78-feJrwi_vBE_OAgHNEsk0WyR3tbDha46YXf_yPPD5sB2lxfQsVggXeE9fmb-ynNXHAP4NdOiu-PzLyCfV1kn-626-1Dap06WxK-6daG-e_p/s320/030512073915.jpg" width="285" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I used a sponge brush to stipple on the paint. Next, I cut out a vinyl "W" in Iskoola Pota font and placed it in the middle. Two coats of matte finish polyurethane and it's complete.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">This was really easy and I think looks very elegant. A perfect housewarming gift!</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/AVvXsEgm0J5QqKmEmd14SXWIFTYfiACfqPytCXZ0qrcIFrcL97uRFmd4WBEyWmbdbdkbqa3OaALNeKT4K-6Lz-Or5muyPQBe4dB9vR9kwPaLzN8LrSx5rD7_bpN8Ibae9SvnAk8FSnmswC3bGiMv/s1600/closeup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm0J5QqKmEmd14SXWIFTYfiACfqPytCXZ0qrcIFrcL97uRFmd4WBEyWmbdbdkbqa3OaALNeKT4K-6Lz-Or5muyPQBe4dB9vR9kwPaLzN8LrSx5rD7_bpN8Ibae9SvnAk8FSnmswC3bGiMv/s320/closeup.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"> Here you can get an idea of the metallic paint...</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/AVvXsEhNk6WWmY0ujkqUrE3MpKoHlnpZPPh7R1ylGHnJyaAlnN9ojBLHAfLzG5F53nC1NlOzSeZb1bzUuZ4nKqqJb3AMLLcsRFhsFGHMvC-39vQb74co_rzEpC9jvAy2bZ7WK6n0Ghgau16DkkdS/s1600/Showpearl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNk6WWmY0ujkqUrE3MpKoHlnpZPPh7R1ylGHnJyaAlnN9ojBLHAfLzG5F53nC1NlOzSeZb1bzUuZ4nKqqJb3AMLLcsRFhsFGHMvC-39vQb74co_rzEpC9jvAy2bZ7WK6n0Ghgau16DkkdS/s320/Showpearl.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="http://blissimagesandbeyond.blogspot.com/p/linky-parties.html" target="_blank">Linking Up!</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<img align="left" src="http://i523.photobucket.com/albums/w351/laurenjh04/Premades%202/signature-3.png" style="border: 0pt none;" />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09437769843134643241noreply@blogger.com6