tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76315917150330022652024-03-05T05:33:05.463-08:00Observations of an Amateur HousewifeAmateur Housewifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10169017745626760182noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7631591715033002265.post-5545916714132980022014-03-23T19:35:00.002-07:002014-03-23T19:35:41.453-07:00And HE Shall Direct Thy Paths...<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It has been 2 years since I last posted on here! Wow, 2 years full of surprises and changes and amazing things. My blog has since moved, and has a new direction, with a little of the same flavor as this one. If you'd like to check it out, it can be found at <a href="http://www.coffeewithsprinkles.com/" target="_blank">Coffee With Sprinkles</a>. Thank you so much for stopping by, hope to see you at my new home!</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Proverbs 3:5-6</i></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding; In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths. </i></span>Amateur Housewifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10169017745626760182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7631591715033002265.post-82429601722040499522012-06-14T14:52:00.001-07:002012-06-14T14:57:30.194-07:00Got Spinach?<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-pZPg8YX5AOg/T9pc-xCTeCI/AAAAAAAAAxQ/5o-CQdQ7Vi0/s1600-h/IMG_5542%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><span style="color: #004000; font-family: Verdana;"><img alt="IMG_5542" border="0" height="515" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/--0SBg2IGkhs/T9pc_cRNFtI/AAAAAAAAAxY/DaizPdQhmWY/IMG_5542_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_5542" width="450" /></span></a><br />
<span style="color: #004000; font-family: Verdana;">Sorry, couldn’t resist using the most over-used catch phrase ever! <img alt="Smile" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-smile" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-SyqLSbH4KCE/T9pc_1G3EWI/AAAAAAAAAxg/qiHGY2AibDU/wlEmoticon-smile%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none;" /></span><br />
<span style="color: #004000; font-family: Verdana;">Just another quick spinach smoothie post! </span><br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Y-LG6U_0ubw/T9pdAWkDn2I/AAAAAAAAAxo/6Glaouf3zbk/s1600-h/IMG_5534%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><span style="color: #004000; font-family: Verdana;"><img alt="IMG_5534" border="0" height="701" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-NpPrm5zOtvg/T9pdA49HjCI/AAAAAAAAAxw/SESBYl2gA0M/IMG_5534_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_5534" width="455" /></span></a><br />
<span style="color: #004000; font-family: Verdana;">This one turned out a gorgeous deep reddish plum color, and tasted awesome.</span><br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-IEclwKIomh8/T9pdBpFC_mI/AAAAAAAAAx4/elxPMxgzPOA/s1600-h/IMG_5539%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><span style="color: #004000; font-family: Verdana;"><img alt="IMG_5539" border="0" height="377" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ux4yxpTlvug/T9pdB4EuuaI/AAAAAAAAAyA/iCu1ChHx7ek/IMG_5539_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_5539" width="458" /></span></a><br />
<span style="color: maroon; font-family: Verdana;"><strong>It contained:</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: maroon; font-family: Verdana;"><strong>8 oz. Frozen Mixed Berries</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: maroon; font-family: Verdana;"><strong>Ice</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: maroon; font-family: Verdana;"><strong>A Banana</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: maroon; font-family: Verdana;"><strong>1 c. Water</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: maroon; font-family: Verdana;"><strong>1 c. Grape Juice</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: maroon; font-family: Verdana;"><strong>Loads of Spinach</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: #004000; font-family: Verdana;">There was a little bit left over, so we made Spinach Popsicles, which the kids were thrilled about and enjoyed immensely. </span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1_wtqVC1IQ5bPIbP20YteY-qVo7IUnuyyQc5ts2TV4yYqAJKFlQBmVpTnCKv-4fNvghxn4d7pJkFnaf4wqdhbxtxscNx-zMCY0lm9ZPAh1LnS8H_veDs6f1yjc0RcbcfIiEcwx3lF7DRx/s1600-h/IMG_5596%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><span style="color: #004000; font-family: Verdana;"><img alt="IMG_5596" border="0" height="606" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-datOI7IevOk/T9pdC4QKHfI/AAAAAAAAAyQ/eTLB-ExolBU/IMG_5596_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_5596" width="430" /></span></a><br />
<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-zfVWeIOGzKs/T9pdDiYfStI/AAAAAAAAAyY/qZOlKN-nT_I/s1600-h/IMG_5603%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><span style="color: #004000; font-family: Verdana;"><img alt="IMG_5603" border="0" height="676" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-UR2l4O7L-4U/T9pdEb7z1JI/AAAAAAAAAyg/DsqUPMs5ZCM/IMG_5603_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_5603" width="438" /></span></a><br />
<span style="color: #004000; font-family: Verdana;">Warning! They make a mess! Everyone had to change clothes afterwards.</span><br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-BUAyoMFED6o/T9pdE-1zC0I/AAAAAAAAAyo/D_Pa5Xx463Q/s1600-h/IMG_5605%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_5605" border="0" height="405" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-fqA4joHK5EM/T9pdFRf8-nI/AAAAAAAAAyw/OVpn5_9oCPw/IMG_5605_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_5605" width="534" /></a>Amateur Housewifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10169017745626760182noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7631591715033002265.post-53287205861220861732012-06-05T12:11:00.001-07:002012-06-05T12:17:33.830-07:00Tea Party<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Yesterday, a very nice tea party took place in our backyard.</span><br />
<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-lfsvtDL6LNc/T85ZpnpzxxI/AAAAAAAAAts/e0kwSahHjnw/s1600-h/IMG_5513%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img alt="IMG_5513" border="0" height="381" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-50o6-IxsK94/T85Zq9BEraI/AAAAAAAAAt0/9NV2lZsL7J4/IMG_5513_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_5513" width="490" /></span></a><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">There were a few highly distinguished guests.</span><br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-9F89EXuLhx8/T85ZrlHoWII/AAAAAAAAAt8/y-1gCOEocDA/s1600-h/IMG_5475%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img alt="IMG_5475" border="0" height="407" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-OBOkakdaTJU/T85ZsBtAIEI/AAAAAAAAAuE/K1AoWIXbBGQ/IMG_5475_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_5475" width="495" /></span></a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-uFSG2US3v8I/T85Zs5sgjbI/AAAAAAAAAuM/wAXyE3XjGuo/s1600-h/IMG_5474%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img alt="IMG_5474" border="0" height="366" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-3cih1IZ0FYs/T85ZtN-xRhI/AAAAAAAAAuU/24Z8ZGclIGA/IMG_5474_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_5474" width="497" /></span></a><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And one party crasher, who was politely invited to stay.</span><br />
<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-t2tfg74D09s/T85ZuTYunKI/AAAAAAAAAuc/x9rknDbntLs/s1600-h/IMG_5468%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img alt="IMG_5468" border="0" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO4p88BypA24opXFoE5Zll013KUyDBDmBsqhhX1PsU3PmZaxG7i298PuSkEsDZLZdhQfkZC8S3Dzqu7lTT-nov2CI-Ive3poTwiBij-v4gS6tRWOVvSJn1l1-R9D6Z1VnmSq4dLbqBiW6U/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_5468" width="511" /></span></a><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The tea started quite simply,<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyrKGgfrKUxVWZVDN0l6CCWAZSUK88AwVSLCci1il3ycHIaLReBvcAMwexeRunTBkRbHAbtqCOjNo5YjLxVCN-SGY0L_BtsQi4CqWLujznaz2UzX_BUu1M6zRGzKYzaiTD7D24f9-Kbf__/s1600-h/IMG_5463%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_5463" border="0" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOMs9WWzwRRkJcZvaxl4yUBWCDyqI0jskFLVuqDfLfspuFjRN91J__w7jNDyR-1IlPfcmNCRr6B9T7YA_OoF2hBaqk5576iEca_LEtqg_ciA_p26C3QSWlM19UR9pWtFEw4HYJwmeH4oQw/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_5463" width="495" /></a></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">But soon grew into a rather elaborate affair. </span><br />
<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ALXr_4vyejU/T85ZxTo-LAI/AAAAAAAAAu4/SdvOWQNVSDc/s1600-h/IMG_5497%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img alt="IMG_5497" border="0" height="410" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-oPTPsWkqOW4/T85ZyLU615I/AAAAAAAAAvA/JFsZyjlea7Y/IMG_5497_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_5497" width="499" /></span></a><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">There was an elegant centerpiece,</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzJBIBLhcPYTQWpO33IZ7qINdCunvDeCpaIeIqPqIpqSdvRGly8r0pWAEcvS0crnA7_6_uufssiBFIKMvoJ3nWIEcT7XgYtXwGBZNGEpMQ7AWrAha4i8D9sHa6R6ldCEqPZuQ6VUgTkSgb/s1600-h/IMG_5512%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img alt="IMG_5512" border="0" height="387" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-g52b1bLhyvQ/T85ZzEml-XI/AAAAAAAAAvQ/jO749x18y_4/IMG_5512_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_5512" width="501" /></span></a><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Fine china place settings,</span><br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ZxKb_9tq2ic/T85Zz1YDG9I/AAAAAAAAAvY/kH9Jhr0IHcg/s1600-h/IMG_5500%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img alt="IMG_5500" border="0" height="409" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO4nsy_sMDLyo9PG98tct2_pIAg2yYp0fD-JGpbdAZTWa0DhgOtZclcfraWT1QkcQoYNObmaCrfvAJx1YWq0tbavspHLTBvGLoqVYOT7eFgOyDXOO-Lz07ky7mfq3WhPs2ac5YseqPuV6I/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_5500" width="498" /></span></a><br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Q2-X4fGbRWo/T85Z1IM-9SI/AAAAAAAAAvo/FuFzz82Vlbs/s1600-h/IMG_5501%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img alt="IMG_5501" border="0" height="391" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-zTWycE-7KDo/T85Z1gz6jPI/AAAAAAAAAvw/jIJTZ0qMAZQ/IMG_5501_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_5501" width="506" /></span></a><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And expensive hors d'oeuvres. </span><br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-DJ2iQsr1mH4/T85Z2Wd5kwI/AAAAAAAAAv4/kq1KexN-8PM/s1600-h/IMG_5504%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img alt="IMG_5504" border="0" height="421" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-YHfncmwEfm4/T85Z2xavd4I/AAAAAAAAAwA/BF1Xaz7STg0/IMG_5504_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_5504" width="512" /></span></a><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The guests were on their best behavior--</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo9nyFpFV_I1CWDnJGX-EwmPR8TTDQG_JpiVE5XdnbnaMdX212gysBevFw-gApWXAcOVFuQgeX1MUWFboX9We_kfZhLniUfbz89gDtPSrfHeNKUdou_c-srfCMCE5AfggEKZsrfncuvbGT/s1600-h/IMG_5480%25255B9%25255D.jpg"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img alt="IMG_5480" border="0" height="354" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-iSRhp86F-7M/T85Z4IVhyrI/AAAAAAAAAwQ/LSesIOM9Le4/IMG_5480_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_5480" width="513" /></span></a><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Except for one, who still needs to learn a few manners.</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe_mQYT_xJyb8hFq3v7Wghjn7AcubQkuxkF8_Om0yhDQTUmUyqQvtjYUStVplNSoLQN5HnN7JboSQzTniuSRuXR44UJymIbwlFbo-vTQYqU1xiSk8SEabJhLzRlrWxx4bYYAds_wCZ3vAw/s1600-h/IMG_5508%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img alt="IMG_5508" border="0" height="644" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-nvImfQ2OpvE/T85Z5adF44I/AAAAAAAAAwg/NEI4oHhmZc8/IMG_5508_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_5508" width="495" /></span></a><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">A lovely time was had by all.</span><br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-SIyShM9IoQM/T85Z6AMQ1WI/AAAAAAAAAwo/RuYyr8QK-N4/s1600-h/IMG_5472%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img alt="IMG_5472" border="0" height="337" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-eZHaEuc0bwM/T85Z6rEw7FI/AAAAAAAAAww/aVdY7HU2VxA/IMG_5472_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_5472" width="488" /></span></a>Amateur Housewifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10169017745626760182noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7631591715033002265.post-36604970557990094422012-06-04T12:16:00.001-07:002012-06-04T12:16:56.440-07:00Porch Project -Sneak Peak-<p><font color="#008000" size="4" face="Verdana">Getting a lot done on our <a href="http://ahousewifeblog.blogspot.com/2012/05/springy-stuff.html" target="_blank">back porch</a>. Still have plenty to do, but here's a little peak at what I've been up to.</font> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB6uFX9YWrJNkM5o_aKmZaGy-gjah25NvKcNX6dhMAWxnhmEp2Kp_yxNTalb3eRpFxXkFDsB92pKd9qmxMeQRjOhDRdV2a9iH_tIOAs6xC4OmmAA2X9sO0AIdAEU4G8XvwcXj9zZ5AdxQj/s1600/IMG_5418.JPG"><font color="#008000" size="4" face="Verdana"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB6uFX9YWrJNkM5o_aKmZaGy-gjah25NvKcNX6dhMAWxnhmEp2Kp_yxNTalb3eRpFxXkFDsB92pKd9qmxMeQRjOhDRdV2a9iH_tIOAs6xC4OmmAA2X9sO0AIdAEU4G8XvwcXj9zZ5AdxQj/s640/IMG_5418.JPG" width="600" height="452"></font></a> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpSmod5pr8O4ld1jQHeNNBgapXXPG1RWdtN46041jzx_Uec3sAWia0GV5KqaK-XvlunVMfOB7Dcsstqf9TH6IZBukQT0NY3fmxWxvMQQiLWmyDXE792LZK23JlqAwrKxj1pPjOC40s0RWR/s1600/IMG_5431.JPG"><font color="#008000" size="4" face="Verdana"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpSmod5pr8O4ld1jQHeNNBgapXXPG1RWdtN46041jzx_Uec3sAWia0GV5KqaK-XvlunVMfOB7Dcsstqf9TH6IZBukQT0NY3fmxWxvMQQiLWmyDXE792LZK23JlqAwrKxj1pPjOC40s0RWR/s640/IMG_5431.JPG" width="590" height="447"></font></a> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOtJR1Zc6q_83RGd_d-JAnNjBhHdwiwy5AQ3T6WmWBC4UuesY4Xtd-HuBqJ9Jv_SYBrXwZz5M5RL5KJqUkxPIul8UEE7VOA4vJ1i_1z6-p2p_QJHEgzZXDfblKjaPkmwfC66YvQFbLKgPE/s1600/IMG_5448.JPG"><font color="#008000" size="4" face="Verdana"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOtJR1Zc6q_83RGd_d-JAnNjBhHdwiwy5AQ3T6WmWBC4UuesY4Xtd-HuBqJ9Jv_SYBrXwZz5M5RL5KJqUkxPIul8UEE7VOA4vJ1i_1z6-p2p_QJHEgzZXDfblKjaPkmwfC66YvQFbLKgPE/s640/IMG_5448.JPG" width="579" height="388"></font></a> <p><font color="#008000" size="4" face="Verdana">I’m hoping to get it power-washed and painted before July! </font> Amateur Housewifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10169017745626760182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7631591715033002265.post-53963189811079447972012-06-04T11:13:00.000-07:002012-06-04T11:54:34.571-07:00Early Summer Monster Smoothie<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We had a Blueberry-Raspberry Monster Smoothie on Saturday, and it came out such a deep pretty purple color, I had to post a few pics. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcAL7oQK4KHR1sEAx92d9JjDbljntGxKf_XXzQyTIC5XOM_b8l2UBDp3az8BrJ73vEbIqXRMlDaaewgFbc5ld9QLp84rkmZE9R-XP10BYegJ8xWFnahCiEKSbjtUccZshTKXu4dVZvogQB/s1600/IMG_5408.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcAL7oQK4KHR1sEAx92d9JjDbljntGxKf_XXzQyTIC5XOM_b8l2UBDp3az8BrJ73vEbIqXRMlDaaewgFbc5ld9QLp84rkmZE9R-XP10BYegJ8xWFnahCiEKSbjtUccZshTKXu4dVZvogQB/s640/IMG_5408.JPG" width="426" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We used fresh blueberries left over from <a href="http://ahousewifeblog.blogspot.com/2012/05/trifle-epic-fail.html" target="_blank">Memorial Day's trifle</a>, and frozen raspberries. It was gooood. </span></span></div>Amateur Housewifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10169017745626760182noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7631591715033002265.post-72542599535387934752012-05-31T12:29:00.001-07:002012-05-31T13:01:23.599-07:00On Growing<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">We’ve been spending most of our time outside lately, the kids and I. </span></div>
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-JPSz4XmDU34/T8fGPGzbUiI/AAAAAAAAApI/UTNaWXALKKQ/s1600-h/IMG_5364%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><img alt="IMG_5364" border="0" height="371" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-kiG9-D1MVLM/T8fGPsHkfcI/AAAAAAAAApQ/DrWJ7ic4YbA/IMG_5364_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_5364" width="551" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Making bouquets.</span></div>
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-QKnaXIqmBQ0/T8fGQCURqgI/AAAAAAAAApY/zFOAU9qCMbU/s1600-h/IMG_4757%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><img alt="IMG_4757" border="0" height="661" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-woxMcvXRF_Y/T8fGQswwFwI/AAAAAAAAApg/4dlhM-kpN88/IMG_4757_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_4757" width="477" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-3dnIMpRKtj8/T8fGRV9HtrI/AAAAAAAAApo/yGeQt5Wgrrs/s1600-h/IMG_4798%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><img alt="IMG_4798" border="0" height="647" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Vpyqcj2lls0/T8fGRy6jChI/AAAAAAAAApw/1IEYA66bOxs/IMG_4798_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_4798" width="471" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Chasing winged insects…and catching them sometimes!</span></div>
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Fv30OS7GrVg/T8fGS98xIOI/AAAAAAAAAp4/92cCkwHw3pY/s1600-h/IMG_4898%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><img alt="IMG_4898" border="0" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqUdscAiACSWmjLpxtbx5nx6loavtxwfnk8SWmfdxlT8GeK0DnGcA2iH_7UiC9idKd_DbZlueuOqyOUzJwkvE-q3vRCTTBkyXFn8b1hwNB0F1MrCfVDJe1ykvvuC3XWVKe_i5myrz1pXTg/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_4898" width="479" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Discovering grass and clover.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-gbXrfu1_N2___OEbsV6Gyp9jpta4x9KYa8RvgrIGKu_RYOMR9grdg_fmi-B5OgNyjE3dPs_oQoRK1-iOVjyH1n9N7ed-mwakZllkSAfqC8AKXNBIOSldRUnKuX0z6xHrSuEO8s7CO_UO/s1600-h/IMG_4855%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><img alt="IMG_4855" border="0" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB-BThSXe-6rAQ_1i4SOF-_F0Ox-DsFNgrowd8O4srRwaLMep-mhM40_ULiE55LPVJzuwRypo-h5MN-he_dfUjnoO98eP9G9O4sFL-wC_1rVSO-IBEenwDYWXoihQ6pey5lkrKbm3XQh1w/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_4855" width="489" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Planting a little garden.</span></div>
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-E1cOpAQzVmQ/T8fGWLPAzCI/AAAAAAAAAqY/O6YEKdl0FuY/s1600-h/IMG_5205%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><img alt="IMG_5205" border="0" height="367" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-mnEIW2RmThs/T8fGWluWpyI/AAAAAAAAAqg/fzn2fEH2EQo/IMG_5205_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_5205" width="496" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-vjfEvLTuRhc/T8fGX3Y67SI/AAAAAAAAAqo/V7g0v0XT_SU/s1600-h/IMG_5270%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><img alt="IMG_5270" border="0" height="421" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Z9LwnGiINfc/T8fGYYuGLgI/AAAAAAAAAqw/yqG3K54BcUE/IMG_5270_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_5270" width="512" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">And me just looking. Watching my children be children. </span></div>
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ewNA0fP2znU/T8fGZTK-MII/AAAAAAAAAq4/uy6JV0XQINg/s1600-h/IMG_5266%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><img alt="IMG_5266" border="0" height="376" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-DdHHdhx4SdE/T8fGaFqFAII/AAAAAAAAArA/NLPdsqorRlE/IMG_5266_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_5266" width="511" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">I haven’t been getting a lot done inside, but...I’m really not missing much.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif07K253ZJxQpha_I12JZKdJMOQVmFYw1sBa_GnzHgzZsYtsO-kPFa2zpFM2W4W5NpJGO2Prdtp7k_he6XawO_-I06Nmg7y0cq6ilcDNgM_7B075cg5ey3Jdx-ZQgHp9XmqtEl6b-NH0rP/s1600-h/IMG_5276%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><img alt="IMG_5276" border="0" height="568" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBlQj6zG4IuyME23Si7gWDDLOMeKJwGfj_fylPh450A_4fnZzJwUQ6mci7sS0OWc-6v-WXuuSzaNItzevLdpSWNRcu_gepKh8MEB5tQzcg0aiRsPDeZLx3UnbXFk4XuVO1de2AFRDajzlp/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_5276" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">I don't <b><i>want to miss anything.</i></b></span></div>
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-cG-4AtprxQw/T8fGbvOpOAI/AAAAAAAAArY/uuI_oyZDHy4/s1600-h/IMG_5305%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><img alt="IMG_5305" border="0" height="547" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-DmC71mI6pNk/T8fGcU9ZmxI/AAAAAAAAArg/u5liZa4cLJk/IMG_5305_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_5305" width="403" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Because it grows so quickly, this little garden of mine. The busier I get, the faster it grows.</span></div>
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-xzVZ2KVuUT8/T8fGdEa1ttI/AAAAAAAAAro/QuBybtZcBHc/s1600-h/IMG_5016%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><img alt="IMG_5016" border="0" height="625" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-4poG0ZreSVU/T8fGd8u8yNI/AAAAAAAAArw/ittNgIXXnzY/IMG_5016_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_5016" width="373" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">And if I don’t look now, I’m going to miss it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQbvinkOoX-LxCBDhFfSiz1D7_A1gQ-5mvQOg9VYHG675aFS-u2ycAXp8zMTQg9_PpR5qvQMotOasxBSE3SASPZ68SBOgCNw3CmLObNy4dP8cCMgoKU6Rg0tKLenFXBkW8DM3JSelolEy9/s1600-h/IMG_5309%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_5309" border="0" height="388" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-fJ_DnQRgi1g/T8fGfJZ-M7I/AAAAAAAAAsA/I0G22NtRsBo/IMG_5309_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_5309" width="562" /></a></span></div>
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-6QrEoygepww/T8fGgMK55GI/AAAAAAAAAsI/45M9dtoPX58/s1600-h/IMG_5332%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><img alt="IMG_5332" border="0" height="564" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVbD35qHWOyITKwxLGH9xYHqJPNqlTrpOCUwj28_U9-dgGmxXgz054rA1qtidi1gUveUtyFXD4Pt71MttNJpr9xlx5jJZ92ARatvyjUldFrzqnFp3ezHwjSR6uDqTu4Vf5IHB0kaTyrDBm/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_5332" width="443" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">So lately, I’ve just been watching it grow. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><i>Today, I'm linking up to Denise In Bloom.</i></span><br />
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<a href="http://www.deniseinbloom.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Denise In Bloom" border="0" height="125" src="http://www.thecottagechick.com/deniseinbloom/wp-content/themes/dibserenity/images/dib-blogbutton.jpg" width="125" /></a>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>Amateur Housewifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10169017745626760182noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7631591715033002265.post-16215827278077002272012-05-29T12:46:00.001-07:002012-06-05T13:01:18.348-07:00Rainbow 6th Birthday<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In the weeks leading up to her birthday, Lily was on quite a rainbow kick. Rainbow works of art were coming home from school almost every day.</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivRX_BrDA6U_BnSLyrRFrfuFyuMdEYiDuwJIgMKfbXJ9REVUpecfBpqEOmqET_SWLRmMNZ6FwP1aQYhAMUgtcWu5ju48PF5BJSS7jO3pSHC0A5XKkYLt7f9ouAZnBS-xWo3mEDc2cHDInD/s1600-h/IMG_4093%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img alt="IMG_4093" border="0" height="506" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-WUi6VsHMVRI/T8UnQJYXCoI/AAAAAAAAAlY/FM_PipxXRHg/IMG_4093_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_4093" width="373" /></span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So when I showed her all the gorgeous rainbow cakes popping up on <a href="http://pinterest.com/aleassa/party-ideas/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a>, she definitely wanted one for her birthday! I was happy to oblige…do you know how much fun it is to plan a rainbow party, even a small one? So much. That’s how much. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Her day started with a wake-up surprise hanging all over her room.</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAj0cY0U2ZtJCQrEcEJu45RfHaCrNav66J5kYLYpspwHSMILXRdNIhiT1OlNuooUmvZDSWvAJmK4Xw-Zujz-q7DH0i4pNhtXJHYcggevDi2OZnBPIglAr8rXDySLmo4GxAPKTr9X08Nuqt/s1600-h/IMG_4077%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img alt="IMG_4077" border="0" height="409" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-yzXBsq0AIRs/T8UnRjhBH5I/AAAAAAAAAlo/IOY8_Ne1Ev0/IMG_4077_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_4077" width="456" /></span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And a rainbow treat with breakfast.</span><br />
<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Hi5HYk1TaTM/T8UnSKIStZI/AAAAAAAAAlw/Ry1P_pC2QzY/s1600-h/IMG_3970%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img alt="IMG_3970" border="0" height="357" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-akQlAtNC_nI/T8UnS7PIRwI/AAAAAAAAAl4/qPSUw7XbN3U/IMG_3970_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_3970" width="248" /></span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Party guests this year we limited to family which kept the day stress-free. Bowling and playing outside with cousins made for an easy and enjoyable day!</span><br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-WQ_nvXQLh68/T8UnTbOAFNI/AAAAAAAAAmA/rysF-ljZGxQ/s1600-h/IMG_4015%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img alt="IMG_4015" border="0" height="661" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-vcLRlvpuvBM/T8UnTwkXIqI/AAAAAAAAAmI/TakEMtmuZxw/IMG_4015_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_4015" width="401" /></span></a><br />
<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-O56DBgQecl4/T8UnUiLqEMI/AAAAAAAAAmQ/KRYUJtEF4Hs/s1600-h/IMG_4048%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img alt="IMG_4048" border="0" height="307" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-KwKvQYh2jNk/T8UnVKRg4HI/AAAAAAAAAmY/JI-ZdQuCAFY/IMG_4048_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_4048" width="476" /></span></a><br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-IS4WKINSwOg/T8UnVxCkx6I/AAAAAAAAAmg/fbrQVtMlhUw/s1600-h/IMG_1693%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img alt="IMG_1693" border="0" height="565" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDIoDiA15atUeKFjVwSZSHPsK82btCRGVQ8h4dzN5WY5yJ3OfAU9yRDFoEFMYmwnIh0tg1Akg5Y07QdXVyrycZDX-nwzC9E_OG3m6F2wvHK0an6L5M20izFxkEZTrAhctxi2vT6jF1uZ4W/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_1693" width="368" /></span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Her favorite cake on my pinboards was <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/107664247311929119/" target="_blank">a plain white one</a> using skittles and marshmallows for the rainbow. Being the <a href="http://ahousewifeblog.blogspot.com/2012/05/trifle-epic-fail.html" target="_blank">dessert-impaired</a> person I am, I used the <strike>hardest-to-ruin</strike> least-complicated <a href="http://www.thetshirtdiaries.com/2011/11/rainbow-cake-tutorial.html" target="_blank">recipe</a> I could find! </span><br />
<strong><span style="color: #c0504d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #c0504d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I used:</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #c0504d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2 White Cake Mixes (Meijer Brand, because I’m cheap like that) (NO, I didn’t make it from scratch, are you kidding me???)</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #c0504d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #c0504d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Food coloring in 6 colors of your choice</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #c0504d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #c0504d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2 cans of Fluffy White Frosting</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #c0504d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #c0504d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">3 (or as many as you have) round cake pans (I did not actually have any cake pans, so I bought a set of 3 disposable ones for like 2 bucks, and they worked great).</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #c0504d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #c0504d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Large Bag of Skittles</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #c0504d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #c0504d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Marshmallows</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #c0504d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #c0504d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Directions: Mix the cake according to the package instructions. Divide equally into 6 bowls. With food coloring, create a different color in each bowl. Pour contents of each bowl into separate cake pans. Bake according to package instructions. When completely cool, carefully stack each layer, separating each layer with white frosting. Frost outside of cake and decorate as desired. And voila!</span></strong><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/--6G40eWO4Ow/T8UnXFNCo_I/AAAAAAAAAmw/4ViM2Y_hdRE/s1600-h/IMG_3981%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_3981" border="0" height="521" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU2FygFpsP4keqnf2Yfx8DlH37xHa8QSUFpdj6YKWAAMmmamTgMozqCRuvnOK0LA9FO6afvmk_ieuM25qTyE8aW__eoAjf7WRPn_crNVf-_qT6IQvxNS4-nkF-4JscrW51IHQYR1McWVzC/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_3981" width="503" /></a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You have a very tall, and very impressive 6-layer cake! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-te4p5elCMJg/T8UnYrwxNMI/AAAAAAAAAnA/IIGDlfik9dc/s1600-h/IMG_3975%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_3975" border="0" height="537" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-m4CHegJhItY/T8UnZG0sMJI/AAAAAAAAAnI/Dp75CbpDspg/IMG_3975_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_3975" width="491" /></a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This was actually VERY easy, even for me. It was time consuming, (3-4 hours) but worth it. The hardest part was frosting the sides--trying to hide the gaps in between each layer. And the best part? The look of surprise on everyone’s faces when I cut into it! Even my chef brother-in-law was impressed, AND didn’t know it was a cake mix! (way to go Meijer!)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGIaw7sne-Mg8NVq2cXg52LB4exYk7_B2pKRisR5anMEl2YGoaKwKSmKgppu-WTaU02awoO8eLGsL3eGZotrUEnGHAUewqVrNgb0sl2ev-9l76HQmqdYge-SZWJpPpRNEp1KfcxpI5b7rm/s1600-h/IMG_4111%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_4111" border="0" height="437" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-OiaZwljxn8A/T8UnaiJ1agI/AAAAAAAAAnY/M5A2fG3upGg/IMG_4111_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_4111" width="529" /></a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-QVjwV729JxE/T8Unbali52I/AAAAAAAAAng/paKDooOYZak/s1600-h/IMG_4112%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_4112" border="0" height="451" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Mlp0qgm-Q28/T8UnbzS-1lI/AAAAAAAAAno/svcJtLjQNW4/IMG_4112_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_4112" width="534" /></a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We made the day a little more memorable by hanging some fun rainbow décor in the dining room.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGLqzq-XiwkC4ZkML-HjNV2Mse4ymFEPgpm6VV46-S5PWYOTCcQ4JreI6Qbtd_tecC-YA8tOi55vYk1Mfc5aYCr7p-koHSZyGg2xO3qx14rJTK76LGStblkOcD9SRRiG_mpd16k99EkLUO/s1600-h/IMG_3997%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_3997" border="0" height="428" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-wp9SjN1C7h4/T8UndAFiH4I/AAAAAAAAAn4/InDkYTPFDCk/IMG_3997_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_3997" width="554" /></a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The rainbow sky was created from crepe paper streamers and blue wrapping paper. It was supposed to cover the whole top half of the wall, but apparently the wrapping paper company thought $4 for 2 yards of paper was a fair price. :/</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The birthday girl couldn’t have cared less about the skimpy wrapping paper though, she loved it all. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs1UO8LZNNGbquuqUpxfBFQeCZ1Vj0psuDRdmXcJ4lqCjhlGbGb4MQxB3ioXNeubSZlRYWGZpMdIv8NwVKhUqQvjcZG0Fvi6nJ1y6Mw1LNvnEXBnHoSwbp6NwjoHzU2EzCsHzq1VX1VGRi/s1600-h/IMG_3996%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_3996" border="0" height="438" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-5hgYymUukW4/T8UneR9cXkI/AAAAAAAAAoI/NM8sH5k2HwY/IMG_3996_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_3996" width="533" /></a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So did her brother.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-7-MW3wHL_Bw/T8UnfLnVdsI/AAAAAAAAAoU/HwaR7U6N8-I/s1600-h/IMG_1704%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_1704" border="0" height="527" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn4VUeU1p6uLE6rgQC9yU511KYFZO5tVwPlMKtyb6thNDdJZLmCB0zQynAJXTuKyqTJNVsjma4VNcP4rbRwFWnlO9u4T_4RQOoe5AqBU06V97NwPP7iz6LAl5PBoyIAIo8KTbvMVZYS69a/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_1704" width="388" /></a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Until he knocked the cake over…</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-_IjfTctAXEo/T8UngVKDqqI/AAAAAAAAAok/2z1GAYH-CpU/s1600-h/IMG_4115%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_4115" border="0" height="404" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-VwK0f9SEzMg/T8Ungztf_bI/AAAAAAAAAos/vU1Nc3lakEc/IMG_4115_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_4115" width="504" /></a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Luckily, the candles had already been blown out, and everyone had already had some cake.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-oqnlkmQFWDI/T8Unhgn-y_I/AAAAAAAAAo0/9FTRJ3yt1Ro/s1600-h/IMG_4105%25255B9%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_4105" border="0" height="563" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK6UXBGOw2g3uWNrWgESSmzEOI-9S7JMpWZ0xNBcbffX6nKScFcwcdqBiPUGkwOKGJYKU-rGJkAhOPM-r82AjXl_jrA8bbWycwrxgDi2F1VvcFJUgBFaQWfwCE33oN8yjeNIUtmFcRF8Sf/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_4105" width="440" /></a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And even though I wish she would slow down a bit with this growing up business, I love knowing that her birthday was fun and memorable. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8AydFH4416gWDxdLP8trxCNUoYWpr6SPu8T7i304pZHo2lo7k_BT211_XkiICn57u6GWjfYoGDzMKAhJUbl2LHxWmWEOcF2qtK9krTyYvSZMOjq5QUxr580P42KMDuCTWB5yuF5uv4O99/s1600/Lilys6thBirthday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8AydFH4416gWDxdLP8trxCNUoYWpr6SPu8T7i304pZHo2lo7k_BT211_XkiICn57u6GWjfYoGDzMKAhJUbl2LHxWmWEOcF2qtK9krTyYvSZMOjq5QUxr580P42KMDuCTWB5yuF5uv4O99/s640/Lilys6thBirthday.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Anyone else made a rainbow cake or something similar? I’d love to hear about it! </span>Amateur Housewifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10169017745626760182noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7631591715033002265.post-23154156382121418232012-05-29T08:21:00.001-07:002012-05-29T13:12:04.629-07:00Trifle Epic Fail<span style="color: #223a75; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">Our church holds an annual Memorial Day Picnic on the Sunday beforehand.Its always a ton of fun. Pigs are roasted overnight, everyone brings a dish according to their last name, we listen to some great music from the talent in our church, and play games (or watch our kids play games) outside. There’s even a fishing tournament. </span><br />
<span style="color: #223a75; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="color: #223a75; font-size: small;">Whenever we bring a dish according to our last name, somehow I always end up in the dessert category. This is really ironic, because I cannot bake to save my life. The fact that I pulled off Lily’s</span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue;"> <a href="http://ahousewifeblog.blogspot.com/2012/05/rainbow-6th-birthday.html" target="_blank">rainbow birthday cake</a></span><span style="color: #223a75;"> was a small miracle really. Being well aware of my limitations, I usually just buy something. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="color: #223a75; font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="color: #223a75; font-size: small;">This year, though, armed with all of my Pinterest “expertise” I thought I’d attempt to make something. A decorative patriotic trifle, pinned from</span><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><a href="http://fancyfrugallife.blogspot.com/2012/05/4th-of-july-tifle.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: small;">Fancy Frugal Life</span></a><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span style="color: #223a75; font-size: small;">looked easy enough. It didn’t even require baking!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="color: #223a75; font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqraodLsDo0rDNkJZ1cCUbU3_d0S7a7mrr5wI7YWWqpCS7O2gV4CfMMoCEogPn8V7OZHdvGd2dJuWPrC_pv137Y05KJ_6KdPUkGfPTLFpxqqTYhTxOQfKLEuGt67WtGH5cW2avyQQ0GTc9/s1600-h/60869032434040996_UvXW5Q3p_f%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: small;"><img alt="60869032434040996_UvXW5Q3p_f" border="0" height="493" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-JUBtCVqQotU/T8TpEblGnoI/AAAAAAAAAjg/kmM0dj45g24/60869032434040996_UvXW5Q3p_f_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="60869032434040996_UvXW5Q3p_f" width="361" /></span></a><span style="color: #223a75; font-size: small;"> </span><span style="color: red; font-size: small;">(This picture comes from <a href="http://fancyfrugallife.blogspot.com/2012/05/4th-of-july-tifle.html" target="_blank">Fancy Frugal Life</a>, you should definitely head over to her site to find lots of awesome ideas!)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="color: #223a75; font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #223a75; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">Just cut some star shapes out of store-bought cake, squirt some whipped cream out of a can, add some fruit, and you’re done. Easy! Ummm, right. For normal people maybe. But if you are dessert-impaired like me, you will end up with sad little stars like this:</span><br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-INtV7Xwg5uE/T8TpFUoLa8I/AAAAAAAAAjo/6YbRBpiaNp8/s1600-h/IMG_5096%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><span style="color: #223a75; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;"><img alt="IMG_5096" border="0" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigGCATTnr2bxLhlTKBSwSDghm3aVPjHxvBGZMIfd0rCrHutySekjFnD3UBXP5FkI23nqzZXZJsu6rmQYv5g3BFvfA79okkfXvROmCvCdRa_e4ykMEodmkh9rm-V6E-CaRBiG1yF2di70Rt/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_5096" width="501" /></span></a><br />
<span style="color: #223a75; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">And after 15 minutes spent cutting out 7 stars, you will just take that cake and rip it into a bowl of cake chunks like this:</span><br />
<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-fWlyq0DA5w0/T8TpILBhrQI/AAAAAAAAAj4/j3YUMDM_HMI/s1600-h/IMG_5099%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><span style="color: #223a75; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;"><img alt="IMG_5099" border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2dVrzFtMb1L3IfKXszdBLwM2pUsbQ5Ewf8HJT8rCuKjFTho1In_t3z7RqoPRtgCln6N_9oUL2Pb-a91sPYMEipmaaifbqvnYG6ID4AbTDj_Xw44XsL3x1OeXViQGQQZAin7z4NLzy9loV/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_5099" width="518" /></span></a><br />
<span style="color: #223a75; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">You will attempt to arrange it into pretty, decorative layers in spite of the shredded cake:</span><br />
<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-hRf62QGqryI/T8TpLptBk8I/AAAAAAAAAkI/vUDuhyyuEsQ/s1600-h/IMG_5108%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><span style="color: #223a75; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;"><img alt="IMG_5108" border="0" height="537" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-YjnEQ5I7WGI/T8TpMhNtBDI/AAAAAAAAAkQ/fkV3fnMotRA/IMG_5108_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_5108" width="530" /></span></a><br />
<span style="color: #223a75; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">Then you will swallow your pride and take it to the picnic anyway, because after sampling it:</span><br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-SKjFJGAL45s/T8TpgJFUvLI/AAAAAAAAAkY/L9pDG4G2ZP8/s1600-h/IMG_5097%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><span style="color: #223a75; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;"><img alt="IMG_5097" border="0" height="545" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC6Oyl5yp-eI4ETlTXNpO3OxaPZTX5CnvNOmljPdYfrDUstIizLtDXRWx70J1zfUXcWmYbC7CgYgOXrzS1j7sfTUr0k4oxP6lc2NjuNRX9ygVgGWhp7qPTUmZnbGxhEnR4BlIfbC9jGQ6K/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_5097" width="406" /></span></a><br />
<span style="color: #223a75; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">you know it tastes scrumptious.</span><br />
<span style="color: #223a75; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">So it was pretty much a fail in the presentation department, but at least it was a yummy one.</span><br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/--5NC3axm08g/T8Tphi_e6uI/AAAAAAAAAko/QNLprYoz52o/s1600-h/2012-05-29%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><span style="color: #223a75; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;"><img alt="2012-05-29" border="0" height="466" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-GVmZmKAGAUg/T8Tpj9jkrjI/AAAAAAAAAkw/P0-4WKgg-38/2012-05-29_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="2012-05-29" width="625" /></span></a><br />
<span style="color: #223a75; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">I had leftover ingredients, so I dumped it all together again the next day for our family cookout. It really made a perfect dessert after a big meal on a hot day: light, fluffy and fresh. </span><br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-zgpa4Hk3IwY/T8TpknAO05I/AAAAAAAAAk4/CTbnY-Ld18Y/s1600-h/IMG_5109%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><span style="color: #223a75; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;"><img alt="IMG_5109" border="0" height="445" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ZZUBb1k20as/T8Tpk1H1AkI/AAAAAAAAAk8/4tcpOMnxpL0/IMG_5109_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_5109" width="576" /></span></a><br />
<span style="color: #223a75; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">I will definitely be making it again this summer!</span>Amateur Housewifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10169017745626760182noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7631591715033002265.post-8153620955694670912012-05-25T16:14:00.001-07:002012-05-31T19:14:51.898-07:00High Chair With 9 Lives (or at least 3)<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-dHkvpJhoFmo/T8ASA2Rw6zI/AAAAAAAAAe0/xTlDAlfxPB8/s1600-h/BLOGSTUFF%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img alt="BLOGSTUFF" border="0" height="412" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-BYuFxV8JfLk/T8ASBYiN1ZI/AAAAAAAAAe8/1xvGQlSo6Sg/BLOGSTUFF_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="BLOGSTUFF" width="553" /></a><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A long, long time ago, on a Wordpress blog far, far away, <a href="http://aleassa.wordpress.com/category/home-decor/" target="_blank">I blogged about this old wooden high chair</a> I refinished. Back in 2009, my in-laws had found it second hand for me, because I really wanted one. (I have really awesome in-laws.) At the time, I sanded it down and painted it black. Those were the dark ages before I discovered the magic of spray paint (I have no idea why this blog is starting to sound like a medieval fairy tale, its totally unintentional), and I painted it with some cheap basic black paint and a brush.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> It took f.o.r.e.v.e.r. All those little nooks and crannies, ugh! </span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-0L_QbylZcZQ/T8ASB06BilI/AAAAAAAAAfE/o1fEC_NAxeg/s1600-h/dscn3419%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="dscn3419" border="0" height="335" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-z87F5p6-L7o/T8ASCNhBGII/AAAAAAAAAfM/rP-Oi-xdO7Y/dscn3419_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="dscn3419" width="231" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-hHJOod0BgOg/T8ASCaW_KkI/AAAAAAAAAfU/0og-HOBYoTE/s1600-h/dscn35431%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="dscn35431" border="0" height="333" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-20ZVpWEH5I0/T8ASC8wsl5I/AAAAAAAAAfc/-iM-4yLrfso/dscn35431_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="dscn35431" width="246" /></a></span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I really liked it when it was done! </span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But it was weirdly sticky. The thing never dried! It stayed sticky for the next year or so that I used it. Everything stuck to it, it never looked clean, it was awful. I was happy to put it in the shed. </span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Fast forward to 2012. I have another little guy who is outgrowing his bumbo thing and needs a high chair! <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-tOpIXtWZeTY/T8ASDUSOrxI/AAAAAAAAAfk/bX7t5dGvGHQ/s1600-h/IMG_4894%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_4894" border="0" height="298" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-35ni0QQz_oU/T8ASD5MYCqI/AAAAAAAAAfs/TFcYb7ZjrJw/IMG_4894_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_4894" width="386" /></a>(No worries, the bumbo thing is strapped to the chair very securely.) </span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So I dragged the high chair out of the shed and looked it over. Lookin’ kinda sad, huh? <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-jVn9WzjOHYA/T8ASEwmX8uI/AAAAAAAAAf0/RUysigMkDZM/s1600-h/IMG_4895%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_4895" border="0" height="396" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-lwizt_PUQiE/T8ASFgZshpI/AAAAAAAAAf8/rGDjbdTGZL0/IMG_4895_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_4895" width="513" /></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Ig54jZh3LMo/T8ASG84w-0I/AAAAAAAAAgE/O9oPSt0_OcM/s1600-h/IMG_4896%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_4896" border="0" height="403" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-sHKM8SexHlA/T8ASHWbWqLI/AAAAAAAAAgM/V985UBZQf1k/IMG_4896_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_4896" width="512" /></a></span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So I bought $3 worth of black spray paint from Walmart. I still had lacquer left over from the <a href="http://ahousewifeblog.blogspot.com/2012/05/springy-stuff.html" target="_blank">porch project</a> we’re working on. <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ECu0kGv7TF0/T8ASIBvKCTI/AAAAAAAAAgU/6i1jxRz3nfs/s1600-h/IMG_5028%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_5028" border="0" height="661" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-2ylUlU2JBN0/T8ASIiwVmpI/AAAAAAAAAgc/7c9wl5W6inY/IMG_5028_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_5028" width="481" /></a></span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After scrubbing it with Dawn dish soap and roughing it up with a sanding block, 20 minutes later I had a freshly spray-painted high chair. Have I mentioned that I love spray paint? SO FAST!!! </span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I got a little nervous though, because after letting it dry for a good hour, it was STILL STICKY! NOOOO!!! Thankfully, after a coat of lacquer, and letting that dry, it was no longer sticky. Phew! You can heave a sigh of relief now.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now it looked better, but… I still wasn’t happy with it. <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-1ZnMTxokyas/T8ASJeWFQtI/AAAAAAAAAgk/Yy1MfoGVCOk/s1600-h/IMG_5037%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_5037" border="0" height="427" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-K_qKJz923FA/T8ASJ44Hw5I/AAAAAAAAAgs/MpAIX9rIwaE/IMG_5037_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_5037" width="535" /></a></span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The finish seemed kind of dull, and I could see drops of Lacquer. (I love spray paint, but I’m not crazy about spray lacquer.) </span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">SO I stared at it awhile. Because that’s what I do. I stare until an idea pops into my head. And its a good thing an idea DID come, because that poor high chair, through no fault of its own, was about to get the ol' heave ho. </span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> If you’re still reading, its about to get good, so hang onto your hats. Or seats. Or whatever. </span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I wanted to hide those dull spotty spots, or at least distract from them. So I grabbed this fabric I bought recently for the <a href="http://ahousewifeblog.blogspot.com/2012/05/springy-stuff.html" target="_blank">porch project.</a> Its vinyl outdoor fabric for 2.97/yard at Walmart, (and easy to clean I'm thinking.)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWBDsi_edwH3KQU7W27DdvIrt9AXMfWjFxRFOWKwUbD_wGM7cES5U8tBYh63nc50vPG1pZKC1gh29oLU5C2ZgXiqa0o-b3JXapH3my-d_anDdcNuT359KlEPD6mnAGSK7gsUHFRMN5UZOE/s1600-h/IMG_5060%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_5060" border="0" height="384" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-rxhprfwnumk/T8ASLtPp4CI/AAAAAAAAAg8/gSRJWuOWmp8/IMG_5060_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_5060" width="497" /></a></span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I also grabbed some scissors, tissue paper, a pen, and my Elmer’s spray adhesive. </span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Placing the tissue paper over the tray, I traced an outline of the tray.</span><br />
<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-WZgxYhAlwxE/T8ASMNcLg2I/AAAAAAAAAhE/SK51qC-GbhU/s1600-h/IMG_5041%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img alt="IMG_5041" border="0" height="400" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-GXSlpaT1FIg/T8ASM7FQZOI/AAAAAAAAAhM/FB2PBMNkStU/IMG_5041_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_5041" width="518" /></span></a><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I cut it out, and using it as a pattern, traced the same shape on my fabric.</span><br />
<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-z_y120QPBsE/T8ASNCinPDI/AAAAAAAAAhU/NgmcVAIztCQ/s1600-h/IMG_5042%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img alt="IMG_5042" border="0" height="634" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0GawkWP_Qli9qrbLqzQTtrH84DA33xfBhBmsotTIRgXoZcxG8uVZfg2qrYtmUCR0DiVipSJbhnNJ5pIG_uc_BMjh6WBgHHWWfE5hQdhf2qGZTqHtH9UUkgzOC9FAk8XHh3DlFIScn-sL8/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_5042" width="463" /></span></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguy5HjG_eK52D-BHMWQAR__aeBNyOLAq7thND8bFhY2vWy4DeLKgCaZsayd0tF14tLv8EfpjtIN4rJfybztRXc2Tf9LoCyxjFWz7kRmUDZG16Sawj3h6w6KbC2syyWbrSUC7rjgDvUR5Nl/s1600-h/IMG_5043%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img alt="IMG_5043" border="0" height="363" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-DnbNibqynDY/T8ASPDdupWI/AAAAAAAAAhs/RtX-kUpuwQk/IMG_5043_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_5043" width="470" /></span></a><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I cut that out, then sprayed it generously with one of my favorite things:</span><br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-TJWGnZvCd6k/T8ASP4V7kPI/AAAAAAAAAh0/bBuoalLlL5E/s1600-h/IMG_5045%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img alt="IMG_5045" border="0" height="371" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-xfm5OriQouo/T8ASQV5MTtI/AAAAAAAAAh8/NaYoSdBdpdI/IMG_5045_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_5045" width="480" /></span></a><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Elmer’s Spray Adhesive. I let it sit for about 30 seconds, then carefully adhered it to the tray, rubbing out any air bubbles and making sure it was nice and smooth. </span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Since this particular fabric was vinyl outdoor fabric, the fuzzy cotton backing left me with a problem:</span><br />
<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-czZ2qsI7kgY/T8ASRK0NmdI/AAAAAAAAAiE/y8HPUv73l4g/s1600-h/IMG_5047%25255B9%25255D.jpg"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img alt="IMG_5047" border="0" height="397" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-OWnqICXMQqI/T8ASRrk6jCI/AAAAAAAAAiM/cyURKn8-7Nw/IMG_5047_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_5047" width="514" /></span></a><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It turned out to be an easy fix though. I just took the edge of my scissors and traced around the edges, and the fray came right off.</span><br />
<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-NnpO6GvKdm0/T8ASSjyJHDI/AAAAAAAAAiU/gYVMJdUUDCU/s1600-h/IMG_5048%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img alt="IMG_5048" border="0" height="410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJUVHAGNWx3IyozJ-Td5jg0jXL6QG9n2iIcfQd0d9v-KduyhQ5XeVxlm174dInS8ihURusmJvPaedY8tUZE6qe10aTdNUItzDfT5vF5v8bQT4qmUfo03p_mvNYpFGL7EaugsKqw7RF_GdR/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_5048" width="531" /></span></a><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I repeated these steps for the seat of the high chair, coated the whole thing once more with another layer of lacquer and:</span><br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Jc8vIF9dIso/T8ASUNFsQkI/AAAAAAAAAik/79UAYNftUyE/s1600-h/IMG_5049%25255B13%25255D.jpg"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img alt="IMG_5049" border="0" height="729" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-_dbwraUpgaI/T8ASUw9aJWI/AAAAAAAAAis/reDS_qAu2_A/IMG_5049_thumb%25255B7%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_5049" width="499" /></span></a><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Can you hear it? Those angels singing the Hallelujah Chorus??? Oh wait, that’s me. Because I don’t know about you, but I absolutely love it! </span><br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-D9spx-pd55w/T8ASVpAyJOI/AAAAAAAAAi0/516w8ckwDSI/s1600-h/IMG_5056%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img alt="IMG_5056" border="0" height="591" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-hgR9zljAVnQ/T8ASWfCqfnI/AAAAAAAAAi8/3IK4U_yEMd8/IMG_5056_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_5056" width="505" /></span></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRiaOv94a2mAd60OIJG_-yxDUl3ZfWOdoU92G5wLYmFUHoDlx1rla942aWYRSt3xwSVvduS-dD6mvUjwxQS1sGEL_C2GKGjGeY_fl0BZBXU3MGI7420jBRm3fB0Q4ral5OfFsdx3jGDUre/s1600-h/IMG_5058%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img alt="IMG_5058" border="0" height="671" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1FShrnMDF5t2EffBnO5cM6SpEZZG7J63d-E_0UnuHAyM8TczOusNQAfq9JofFmjA6f3qbkYC7N_mrOCdNh4idu6ymRE9gYGhuPZIJL5KejUqvOBQHEjduPAKF8pnidBm0OtLr7X2xPZpI/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_5058" width="460" /></span></a><br />
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This project only took me about an hour and a half, not counting the work I did on it back in 2009. Does this make you want to go spray paint something or what? If I can pull this project off, believe me, you can too!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This post is linked up with The Homemaker's Challenge!</span><br />
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<center><a href="http://homemakerschallenge.com/%22" target="_blank"><img alt="Homemakers Challenge" src="http://homemakerschallenge.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/hc-button.png" /></a></center>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Amateur Housewifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10169017745626760182noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7631591715033002265.post-57852022727426251352012-05-20T13:36:00.001-07:002012-05-20T13:54:06.010-07:00Pinned & Did–The MONSTER Edition<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #004000;">This year we’ve been working on improving our health, being good stewards of our children’s health, gaining more energy, etc, etc. In searching </span><a href="http://pinterest.com/aleassa/pins/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Pinterest</span></a><span style="color: #004000;"> for healthy recipes, I came across many of these Green Monster smoothie recipes, like <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/107664247311425118/" target="_blank">this one I pinned</a> about 6 months ago from lindawagner.net. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXWgpnNt5Yom67qIRa9dQiJChYFk8ElBkZeGlPrIDmYEmGIakGb395ROmxDY-QCQKxcDsKYQXydpFfBezpVKYsAXJH3y8Lfb_iaxbkOziur2WCwWZM1vtm5WqFREiPBSq_e11Bs5ya-gyH/s1600-h/107664247311425118_6NePP0OC_f%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><span style="color: #004000;"><img alt="107664247311425118_6NePP0OC_f" border="0" height="368" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-6PUFHL-LtTs/T7lVxOKdiSI/AAAAAAAAAcU/B2sz9CfFdyA/107664247311425118_6NePP0OC_f_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="107664247311425118_6NePP0OC_f" width="479" /></span></a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #004000;">Either you think that looks really cool, or you think that looks really gross. I personally thought it looked…intriguing. <img alt="Smile" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-smile" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-0cZC-6j01PM/T7lVxSd6t3I/AAAAAAAAAcc/CEv5LY_cLCI/wlEmoticon-smile%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none;" /> Could that possibly taste good? A fruit smoothie stuffed with spinach or kale that looks like something out of a Dr. Seuss book? Really? Everyone in blogland was raving about how delicious and awesome they were, but that doesn’t necessarily mean anything. I mean, sometimes the emperor really isn’t wearing any clothes, if you know what I mean. Anyway. </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJRDZAhyphenhyphenFh3qSE8xLa-fygkhzJobgAuVIQWVJkaYFA9LSrFXdNQ0QgHJHaXHQcxfa0Ey_tipbpgumqcAwQQsu7fsQuu8kn51I8g_35u1Jf0-3NM-sElvcEI66hlOpkjh4HgPf30pleJMt2/s1600-h/IMG_4253%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><span style="color: #004000;"><img align="left" alt="IMG_4253" border="0" height="303" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-zoP2TtZzjUw/T7lVyLAY_EI/AAAAAAAAAcs/1KxsX5DaAV0/IMG_4253_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; float: left; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_4253" width="225" /></span></a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #004000;">I tried several different recipes that I pinned. Most of them seemed to involve these basics: a banana, greek yogurt </span><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-k6-AORpa9-8/T7lVyvGRYDI/AAAAAAAAAc0/zsBu5OZ-vCw/s1600-h/IMG_4255-002%25255B10%25255D.jpg"><span style="color: #004000;"><img align="left" alt="IMG_4255-002" border="0" height="134" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-CosPv77B0ZA/T7lVy8izxvI/AAAAAAAAAc8/DHqwsGulGLc/IMG_4255-002_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; float: left; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_4255-002" width="172" /></span></a><span style="color: #004000;">(which we did NOT like, and that’s probably a good thing, because that stuff is EXPENSIVE, hello!), frozen fruit, a green leafy vegetable, a liquid of some sort, and often ice. They usually didn’t turn out the pretty bright green that you see in the above photo. More like a muddy, brownish, swamp color. </span><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-VFy_k2Szwb4/T7lVzrK-ngI/AAAAAAAAAdE/nqmSBfocmlw/s1600-h/IMG_4260-001%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><span style="color: #004000;"><img align="right" alt="IMG_4260-001" border="0" height="184" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-nhxk3SGSPYM/T7lVz5PdCNI/AAAAAAAAAdM/D9jO8YnfJ1I/IMG_4260-001_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; float: right; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_4260-001" width="244" /></span></a></span><br />
<span style="color: #004000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">They were pretty tasty, definitely energizing, and definitely healthy! And bonus: the kids LOVED them! But honestly, Adam & I didn’t LOVE them. Until we invented our own recipe. Now we LOVE them too. Here’s how we make ours. You might LOVE our recipe too, or you might say “Ehhh” and come up with your own. But you should definitely try it! </span><br />
<span style="color: #004000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We have 2 variations of the same recipe: one is strawberry, the other is peach. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi28IdQFq8GDGcIHZIahaqUlwyUC7UWnFDXEFuCMGSh1vg2TSRPRIYz0fgKodydlSS7IRqzAYosjPi0Ut5SItZcnOsKbX0kGFOliTcpNiA5oORCuBRSBXQ99KXGxM23grlsXSQoMZhfkUeR/s1600-h/IMG_4430%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><span style="color: #004000;"><img alt="IMG_4430" border="0" height="182" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-WjAVDkTgUH8/T7lV1ky9FPI/AAAAAAAAAdc/tfyl3jbFmqk/IMG_4430_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_4430" width="255" /></span></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ciCJgRErSsY/T7lV2X85JaI/AAAAAAAAAdk/R-OEDpIvPzE/s1600-h/IMG_4460%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><span style="color: #004000;"><img alt="IMG_4460" border="0" height="182" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-eepIDWIszI0/T7lV2khcMJI/AAAAAAAAAds/cfuJf3ezcOo/IMG_4460_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_4460" width="244" /></span></a></span><br />
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<span style="color: #004000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Peach or Strawberry Green Smoothie:</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #004000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>1 Banana (its helpful to freeze these ahead, since bananas spoil so quickly)</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #004000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>1 container Strawberry or Peach Yogurt (don’t buy sugar-free unless you want something loaded with aspartame and food coloring.)</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #004000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>1-2 cups frozen strawberries or peaches</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #004000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>1 cup ice </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #004000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>1/2 cup liquid (water works fine, or you can use apple juice, we just use water; for the peach we used orange peach mango juice which was really good)</b></span><br />
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<b><span style="color: #004000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Stuff the rest of the blender with Spinach or Kale or something similar. (We prefer Spinach over Kale. It blends up really smooth, you can’t taste it, and there are no little leaf particles in the smoothie.)</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #004000;"><b><br /></b></span><b><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-apXVzUqpwAs/T7lV3MEcZPI/AAAAAAAAAd0/OfMUGL8XYMo/s1600-h/IMG_4464%25255B9%25255D.jpg"><span style="color: #004000;"><img align="left" alt="IMG_4464" border="0" height="361" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivnZPu-pY9CTUDFzdA_Z_AidZJdU7wcKi6hyp8o-eRY8_VcbsC_o_yhZahRD4NdFwr0YMOm6B9yNT5TW_g89ttECmoWMcQ_Hzw8SjsM-LQMJvMIFeQnyqxDz6p63DPYhh9ap0oees25aP0/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; float: left; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_4464" width="231" /></span></a></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #004000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Blend. Blend. Blend. </b>If it doesn’t blend easily, add a little more liquid.</span><br />
<span style="color: #004000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Serves 2-4. When finished, this fills our blender about 1/2 full, which we split 4 ways.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #004000;"><br /></span><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-tXhXqApBPrY/T7lV3_0foyI/AAAAAAAAAeE/sDEPbM6MGMY/s1600-h/IMG_4465%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><span style="color: #004000;"><img align="left" alt="IMG_4465" border="0" height="190" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-y5KE06zHD14/T7lV4cBsNVI/AAAAAAAAAeM/ooi2yAP6l_M/IMG_4465_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px; display: inline; float: left; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_4465" width="200" /></span></a></span><br />
<span style="color: #004000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The peach one comes out a nice, Dr. Seuss-y green. </span><br />
<span style="color: #004000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We’ve been having them for lunch. I usually have a hard boiled egg with it, for some extra protein, and honestly, it really fills me up. And makes me feel so healthy. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #004000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And yes, that is a box of donut holes sitting next to the blender. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #004000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Try to pretend you didn’t see that. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #004000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Things we have learned while making Monster Smoothies:</span><br />
<span style="color: #004000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1. Greek Yogurt has a strong aftertaste that gives me the shivers. I know, I am so un-trendy.</span><br />
<span style="color: #004000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="color: #004000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2. Milk in any form dilutes the fruity flavor, making it bland. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #004000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">3. Adding Peanut Butter makes it taste like a PB&J sandwhich…I wasn’t a fan. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #004000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">4. Baby Max does not like the blender and will cry hysterically until its done. <img alt="Sad smile" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-sadsmile" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-LRrEND1ld2c/T7lV4s7htuI/AAAAAAAAAeU/ENccPASE5zU/wlEmoticon-sadsmile%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none;" /></span><br />
<span style="color: #004000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Long story short: these are worth the effort, so try one and see if you don’t like it. </span><br />
<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-XXgGVAVc6Tk/T7lV4zI_VAI/AAAAAAAAAec/S4IG0uH1h6Y/s1600-h/IMG_4467%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><span style="color: #004000; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img alt="IMG_4467" border="0" height="620" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-zzlpxAgSg2o/T7lV5dAcqaI/AAAAAAAAAek/j8cmP2M6LJg/IMG_4467_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_4467" width="447" /></span></a><br />
<span style="color: #004000; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>My Pinned & Did grade for Green Monster Smoothies: A+</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: #004000;"></span>Amateur Housewifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10169017745626760182noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7631591715033002265.post-49322986407021896472012-05-16T14:03:00.001-07:002012-05-16T14:15:35.185-07:00Springy Stuff<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We've had a gorgeous Spring this year. Lots of rain, but not an unbearable amount like previous years. After 7 years of little to no yard, I <b>cannot tell you</b> how much I appreciate having a pretty backyard for my kids to play in!!! I love to go sit out on the porch and watch them play. Jackson gathers me beautiful little weed bouquets, Lily runs around trying to catch butterflies, Max bounces in the exersaucer, the birds sing, the grass grows, the ice melts in my glass...you get the idea. Life is good. :)<br />
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The porch does need a little TLC, so I'm excited to have a project to work on this summer while we're outside.<br />
<span style="text-align: justify;">I started a couple of weeks ago, by painting our existing outdoor furniture. By furniture I mean plastic chairs we've picked up at yard sales. We also had a small round table and chairs that aren't technically outdoor furniture, but I figured with paint and some good coats of sealant they'd work. I wanted something bright and fun, and decided on a color palette of Leafy Green, Black, White and a little Fuchsia. The fuchsia is really an afterthought, after finding these gorgeous fuchsia peonies blooming in the yard yesterday. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK3YKvhuP3BxJdZbEO25dimtjvvjwt-u8tsY7W42BT3xDmmIog17I_U8fxfh7fznXZqh5jScXuQkXIR9Uq0RfvAsECK0pT1xl9Y6I7JswtyhuDvz14KBaZySWSbzwabgifb9WjnThorCyd/s1600/Captured.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK3YKvhuP3BxJdZbEO25dimtjvvjwt-u8tsY7W42BT3xDmmIog17I_U8fxfh7fznXZqh5jScXuQkXIR9Uq0RfvAsECK0pT1xl9Y6I7JswtyhuDvz14KBaZySWSbzwabgifb9WjnThorCyd/s400/Captured.jpg" width="400" /></a>So far, all I've done is spray paint the chairs and table. The chairs were painted with Rustoleum Satin paint in "Eden". Each chair took approx. 15 minutes, and 1 1/2 cans of paint, give or take. I also ended up looking like Shrek by the time I was done. (And may I also just say right now how incredibly ANNOYING it is to try and format the images into these blogger blog posts????)<br />
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Anyway. I LOVE the color. You can't quite tell in the pics, but it is the exact shade of the leaves on the trees. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHCKptMRl04enmoEPzwh4JQJAcvfUKeRktZF1iEYNnGpzGxjuNdA5Y85DFPCAa3kiJlPg282YAo9Ar6DvpEsyqkWZonSOIvB9CEvNOJSkYCQVn_7p1aM66KFBHHuK2gRi0Iz1diCYAFPiq/s1600/IMG_4537.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHCKptMRl04enmoEPzwh4JQJAcvfUKeRktZF1iEYNnGpzGxjuNdA5Y85DFPCAa3kiJlPg282YAo9Ar6DvpEsyqkWZonSOIvB9CEvNOJSkYCQVn_7p1aM66KFBHHuK2gRi0Iz1diCYAFPiq/s640/IMG_4537.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
The table and a loveseat type bench were sprayed black. I sprayed several coats of lacquer on the wood furniture, and to be honest, I'm not crazy how that turned out. Its fine on everything but the black tabletop. It came out all blotchy and uneven. See how it looks kind of wet in the last picture? It isn't supposed to look like that. :/ I'm going to have to brush on regular lacquer to make it look nice. Other than that, I'm very happy with it. At any rate, its much more fun to sit in and look at now! I plan on sewing chair pads and a few throw pillows out of this black and white damask fabric,<br />
and somehow working in the fuchsia color...maybe with piping or something, I don't know.<br />
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Next up: fix the splotchy table top, make cushions, paint the porch white, and put in new screens!<br />
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I'll be posting pics when its all done. In my imagination, it looks awesome. We'll see. And hopefully it won't take all summer. :)<br />
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<br />Amateur Housewifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10169017745626760182noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7631591715033002265.post-43692852087690991192012-04-23T20:17:00.000-07:002012-05-20T18:22:56.734-07:00Pinned & Did -- Heatless Curls<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: purple;">Over the last few months I have pinned several heat-less hair curling methods on my <a href="http://pinterest.com/aleassa/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a> boards. I've tried three different methods on my daughter's hair, and I thought it might be helpful to someone if I posted the results of each of these methods. My daughter's hair is pretty thick and heavy, medium texture with a slight wave to it. It does not hold curl well at all. In two methods her hair was very long, in one method it was about 3 inches past her shoulders. </span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;"><b>1. <u>Sock Bun Curls</u></b> -- I really had high hopes for this one. <b>You can find the tutorial <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/107664247312067721/" target="_blank">here</a>.</b> It seems to work great for a lot of people. Basically you roll the slightly damp hair up in a bun with a sock, and sleep on it over night. In the morning you should have wonderful curls that last for 2 days. This only takes about 3 minutes once you get the hang of it. On Lily's hair, though, it basically curled her hair under. It did give her a lot of extra body, and I really liked that she didn't have that bed head part in the back of her hair. Plus, the bun looked super cute! I've tried this a few times, with variations like leaving her hair wetter, putting gel in it, putting mousse in it, and the results are always the same. Maybe her hair is just the wrong texture for it or maybe it isn't layered enough. Oh well. I will probably still do this in her hair when I want to avoid the bed head look. </span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;"><b>My Pinned & Did Grade for the Sock Bun: C+ due to lack of curl.</b></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH_OjrGJMH1ps8PGvrUbKmoN9Bjnl2pYaWb_SIoVuyrmZ700EnJadDhGiiW0S-Lqru43EyTx-kXytLdlDv4AqYsvRpr11_3ZvcSNyhGy8-zonGqQ6qzZU31S1qw_9gYms6uxlSdGXim4AW/s1600/PINNED+DID.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: purple;"><img border="0" height="552" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH_OjrGJMH1ps8PGvrUbKmoN9Bjnl2pYaWb_SIoVuyrmZ700EnJadDhGiiW0S-Lqru43EyTx-kXytLdlDv4AqYsvRpr11_3ZvcSNyhGy8-zonGqQ6qzZU31S1qw_9gYms6uxlSdGXim4AW/s640/PINNED+DID.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: purple;"><b>2. <u>Headband Curls</u></b> -- this one works by wrapping the hair around a headband and sleeping on it over night. <b>You can find the tutorial <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/107664247312067747/" target="_blank">here.</a></b> I had a little trouble at the end, when wrapping her hair (which was shorter in this one) around in the middle. It just didn't want to stay in and kept popping out. I finally secured the ends with a ponytail holder and that held it. It took about 5 minutes. The next morning, it was frizzy-straight on top and quite curly underneath. I think maybe the top layers or her hair were not damp enough. After a couple of minutes touching up the top layer with a curling iron, it looked pretty cute. Also, the curls stayed in for most of the day, which is VERY unusual for her! The next day her hair was wavy with a slight curl at the ends. Overall, I liked this, and it didn't take very long, which was nice. Next time I'll try it when her hair is a little more damp. </span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;"><b>My Pinned & Did grade for Headband Curls: B+</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;"><b>3. <u>Twisty Bun Curls</u></b> -- I can never remember what these are actually called, so I just call them twisty buns. ;) For this one, I twisted her slightly damp hair into 5 or 6 super tight little buns, taking care to place them high enough up on her head that it wasn't uncomfortable to sleep in. I also made sure I did not have a part on the back of her head. <b>You can find the tutorial <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/107664247311567380/" target="_blank">here.</a></b> I LOVED how these turned out! Super curly, all I had to do was a little bit of de-tangling with my fingers, and the TEENIEST amount of touch up with a curling iron (like 1 minute) and it looked beautiful! This was my favorite look of all the methods I've tried, although it did take the longest to do--about 15 minutes plus the touching up the next day. The curls stayed in for about 2 days. </span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;"><b>My Pinned & Did grade for Twisty Bun curls: A+</b></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgePoA88bbQdZhoNUx_0GHHiphKo_lEmxUnhhOb-HY4HLMlVtUIxBCZM2djGfApWpsfLkYzysQZOZujMUe0C6JUNTQJAhttGlq0CgLQBc3QNeNhXLp8YCBvl5e75xsUzVOoLF5YSLcj3RHo/s1600/PINNED+DID1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: purple;"><img border="0" height="564" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgePoA88bbQdZhoNUx_0GHHiphKo_lEmxUnhhOb-HY4HLMlVtUIxBCZM2djGfApWpsfLkYzysQZOZujMUe0C6JUNTQJAhttGlq0CgLQBc3QNeNhXLp8YCBvl5e75xsUzVOoLF5YSLcj3RHo/s640/PINNED+DID1.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: purple;">That's it for today, thanks for stopping by!</span>Amateur Housewifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10169017745626760182noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7631591715033002265.post-28689153616228037722012-04-17T12:23:00.003-07:002012-04-18T10:25:39.099-07:00Lily's Room Rearranged and Almost Done<span style="color: #6aa84f;">I finally got Lily's room re-arranged in a way that fits the room and everything we wanted in it. We had to move the vanity out because I needed to use it in the Master Bedroom, (no counter space in the bathroom, oh well). I did have to promise her though that she could have the vanity back someday, and we came up with an idea that worked a little better for her age anyway. Here are some pictures of what it looks like now. There are a few things that would be nice to add, like a bed skirt, a rug, and maybe a pillow on the little toy box seat. I'm trying to decide about the collage wall, do I want to add to it, to fill up the whole wall, or leave it the way it is? What do you think? Enjoy the pics!</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoiDDC-W1ZRXtmQnQy8lbVXEW_TCrRyNZvyFkc2ADhC0txcwL2khjw1yh81LqzRo9h-ZH73gY9qQ5r5AecVBRMo33ef8LNKs2Xcyd7EuaD4F8Xs_xyc49IgORfMDMBMl6r3ZICAoCgX7nN/s1600/IMG_3658.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoiDDC-W1ZRXtmQnQy8lbVXEW_TCrRyNZvyFkc2ADhC0txcwL2khjw1yh81LqzRo9h-ZH73gY9qQ5r5AecVBRMo33ef8LNKs2Xcyd7EuaD4F8Xs_xyc49IgORfMDMBMl6r3ZICAoCgX7nN/s400/IMG_3658.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"> (Pardon the crooked bed. The frame is a little warped and needs fixed!)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9y9-h26KLwx5Rm6-wS3D1fsgGyWW7j5lFV5huk3V8s-NT1P-80tzLs4oA_2c30BcpU0s_I4wLHpJ1szWEUFATLMn_WIVkjlypfR8Wyv0aLXALtOTQAIaHdGAUF8Hi-b8O_AK6nlxHVuvs/s1600/IMG_3671.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9y9-h26KLwx5Rm6-wS3D1fsgGyWW7j5lFV5huk3V8s-NT1P-80tzLs4oA_2c30BcpU0s_I4wLHpJ1szWEUFATLMn_WIVkjlypfR8Wyv0aLXALtOTQAIaHdGAUF8Hi-b8O_AK6nlxHVuvs/s640/IMG_3671.JPG" width="433" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">To learn how I made this hanging fabric lamp, go <a href="http://aleassa.blogspot.com/2011/11/successful-and-not-so-successful.html" target="_blank">HERE.</a> The butterflies I found at Meijer, I think they still have them. I found the cute little paper mache birds at Michael's and just spray painted them yellow. Oh, and the little dresser used be to 70's orange wood, but after 30 minutes and 2 cans of white spray paint, I think it looks a lot better. Maybe I'll switch out the knobs, if I get around to it someday.</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqb7PgIYM60vYOrbZhibydPoMkPhJkTpNURlhA-JbSQWUPN4FCzMCu_ufvSVd7SZLTK7XmdHx9n1VmjyIbKYoHRMLbnYvDa46NO5OLHLNknEBRGDABrZHJ4cPs-Mcuc0ZidL96EPY-hBgo/s1600/IMG_3659.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqb7PgIYM60vYOrbZhibydPoMkPhJkTpNURlhA-JbSQWUPN4FCzMCu_ufvSVd7SZLTK7XmdHx9n1VmjyIbKYoHRMLbnYvDa46NO5OLHLNknEBRGDABrZHJ4cPs-Mcuc0ZidL96EPY-hBgo/s640/IMG_3659.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="color: #6aa84f;"> The Princess Silhouette is a silhouette of Lily that I made inspired by <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/45720327/cameo-princess-silhouette-vinyl-wall?ref=sr_gallery_22&ga_search_query=princess+silhouette&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_ship_to=US&ga_search_type=handmade" target="_blank">this vinyl decal</a> on Etsy. It just reminded me so much of Lily, and I thought it would be neat to have her face be the silhouette. I love it! </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7WVZmVT1vfB8P6a8Dw-Qg7-FWcKlp5SCdm81GLyHw5zxJmlebNLE-sawDWe3LMckKPuaM9u4-4Mn3Ng4DsOy3MAQm0UpEhz9IupFp8H0QjFS6iquZu2fbQZX1j4uoTyMoXhtzDEPWPHtQ/s1600/IMG_3501.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="clear: left; color: #6aa84f; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7WVZmVT1vfB8P6a8Dw-Qg7-FWcKlp5SCdm81GLyHw5zxJmlebNLE-sawDWe3LMckKPuaM9u4-4Mn3Ng4DsOy3MAQm0UpEhz9IupFp8H0QjFS6iquZu2fbQZX1j4uoTyMoXhtzDEPWPHtQ/s640/IMG_3501.JPG" width="426" /></span></a><span style="clear: left; color: #6aa84f; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7WVZmVT1vfB8P6a8Dw-Qg7-FWcKlp5SCdm81GLyHw5zxJmlebNLE-sawDWe3LMckKPuaM9u4-4Mn3Ng4DsOy3MAQm0UpEhz9IupFp8H0QjFS6iquZu2fbQZX1j4uoTyMoXhtzDEPWPHtQ/s1600/IMG_3501.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">These magnet trays were made by spray painting Dollar Tree serving trays. I hung them by gluing loops of ribbon on the back with E6000 glue. They are really a handy place to hold her dress-up dolls, and she also uses them for tea parties! And of course the yarn wreath was inspired by my ever-growing </span></a><a href="http://pinterest.com/aleassa/for-the-love-of-wreaths/" target="_blank">Pinterest Wreath Board</a>.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7WVZmVT1vfB8P6a8Dw-Qg7-FWcKlp5SCdm81GLyHw5zxJmlebNLE-sawDWe3LMckKPuaM9u4-4Mn3Ng4DsOy3MAQm0UpEhz9IupFp8H0QjFS6iquZu2fbQZX1j4uoTyMoXhtzDEPWPHtQ/s1600/IMG_3501.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><br />
</span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7WVZmVT1vfB8P6a8Dw-Qg7-FWcKlp5SCdm81GLyHw5zxJmlebNLE-sawDWe3LMckKPuaM9u4-4Mn3Ng4DsOy3MAQm0UpEhz9IupFp8H0QjFS6iquZu2fbQZX1j4uoTyMoXhtzDEPWPHtQ/s1600/IMG_3501.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE5mcnbQMyuPbfLoY5Bb_WYN4-M5JoOKLsucGMRvX5A11jHY4Qr0byThn_pKrfY44x3CnRKu2q2avvz2tMhYkBPeEFpmv2bfLULNp2adMwoji9Q6uCizUQeFklDeFM5k2JaDZghET5yzcg/s1600/IMG_3666.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE5mcnbQMyuPbfLoY5Bb_WYN4-M5JoOKLsucGMRvX5A11jHY4Qr0byThn_pKrfY44x3CnRKu2q2avvz2tMhYkBPeEFpmv2bfLULNp2adMwoji9Q6uCizUQeFklDeFM5k2JaDZghET5yzcg/s640/IMG_3666.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">The banner was made by hot gluing scrapbook paper to ribbon. The paper tray and basket were both spray-painted, they used to be black. The pink mirror was taken off an old orange hand-me down dresser and spray painted. That funny looking jar is home to "Rainbow", Lily's betta. Looks like Rainbow's bowl could use a cleaning...that mirror too...someone should really do that...</span> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><br />
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</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxRnhj7Y2mb0Dv_m7vUSeBasWSHkIQwYvpCmGoarJCQyjadzuR9cSojL3hzZjQWQ69Y5lbH8IqIVZuv3mWXBnIB216OQxjdhYif9EBrFeBXuhZkOimmc9qxhZ9TKTOUVU0vVltUhcKsjkd/s1600/IMG_3665.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxRnhj7Y2mb0Dv_m7vUSeBasWSHkIQwYvpCmGoarJCQyjadzuR9cSojL3hzZjQWQ69Y5lbH8IqIVZuv3mWXBnIB216OQxjdhYif9EBrFeBXuhZkOimmc9qxhZ9TKTOUVU0vVltUhcKsjkd/s400/IMG_3665.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Before putting these cheapo shelves from Walmart together, I used spray adhesive to glue Michael Miller Dandy Damask fabric to the back board. They still look like cheapo shelves, but now they are CUTE cheapo shelves. To hold coloring books, pencils and crayons, I mod-podged scrapbook paper over formula cans and a cereal box. I'm glad I could use those pricey formula cans for something!</span> </div><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><br />
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</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"> That smudgy mirror is just embarrassing. What do you think about this collage wall...should I add to it, or leave as is? I plan on putting Lily's name in the large oval hoop somehow, and probably putting something in those empty frames too. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Overall, Lily and I both love the room, and it makes me happy just to look at it! When its clean. Which it isn't right now. So I guess I'll just look at these pics instead...</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Have a great day everyone! :)</span></div>Amateur Housewifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10169017745626760182noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7631591715033002265.post-8617147837608300292011-11-01T13:49:00.000-07:002012-05-31T18:40:04.346-07:00Scrappy Lampshade DIY<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">My 3rd trimester I kind of went into a "nesting" craze, fueled by Pinterest and moving into a new <strike>canvas</strike> house with all kinds of new rooms and empty walls to decorate. I do not recommend moving while pregnant. If it doesn't drive you insane, it will likely drive your husband insane.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">The kids rooms were my main focus this summer, and Lily's room especially. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">After painting and curtains and everything, the room still needed something, some *bam* object that would tie in all the colors: aqua, pink, and white with pops of yellow and green and make them all make sense.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">When I saw this lamp over at <a href="http://thepleatedpoppy.com/2011/02/scrappy-lampshade-tutorial-and-long-story/" target="_blank">The Pleated Poppy</a>, I knew it was perfect, since I had a ton of scraps leftover from the throw quilt I made for her bed. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">So, I found a shade at St. Vincent's for a couple of bucks. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7NEoLTBTmBv4oLQzfcCwvhs-ufpvCkZJeHiD7K_YSBRdu8CAMtXMT_gmSWq-8AwxpUIfArGdSFD7DABhOdZgFYrtsfQx5u46Wl6o9esRwc2RQcAZ9o47vx_DORxlXYIsj4HLxj2-5Fao2/s1600/IMG_1537.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7NEoLTBTmBv4oLQzfcCwvhs-ufpvCkZJeHiD7K_YSBRdu8CAMtXMT_gmSWq-8AwxpUIfArGdSFD7DABhOdZgFYrtsfQx5u46Wl6o9esRwc2RQcAZ9o47vx_DORxlXYIsj4HLxj2-5Fao2/s400/IMG_1537.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">I ripped it apart, much to the shock and dismay of my husband, who didn't know what I had planned. (You'd think he'd be used to me by now!) </span></div>
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<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Then I tied and tied and tied and tied. And tied. I used all my scraps and it took forever.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkolExesqqzhahwh6s15LCKV1zb_e8BzhiuVMp-zzuDdRHDb38ybsznUTPDCuB9VqZNNRbWIqdiglhy9FF93yywF7ogl8ryO7qnoJgq9v8kN2FOhQ-KoiCJBNRGCRqSn9GtyXbBmD5P2c8/s1600/IMG_1540.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkolExesqqzhahwh6s15LCKV1zb_e8BzhiuVMp-zzuDdRHDb38ybsznUTPDCuB9VqZNNRbWIqdiglhy9FF93yywF7ogl8ryO7qnoJgq9v8kN2FOhQ-KoiCJBNRGCRqSn9GtyXbBmD5P2c8/s640/IMG_1540.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">But I love it! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Cost of this Project: Approx $15</span></div>
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<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Shade: $4</span></div>
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<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Fabric for Shade: $0 (scraps)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Swag Lamp Kit: $10 at Home Depot</span></div>
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<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Fabric to cover the chain: $1 at Walmart</span></div>
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<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Go to The Pleated Poppy (linked above) for a full tutorial!</span></div>
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<br /></div>Amateur Housewifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10169017745626760182noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7631591715033002265.post-33454457955566174932011-05-08T21:48:00.000-07:002012-06-07T12:17:13.921-07:00Beauty and the Box<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">At some point in their lives, usually at a young age, most women are given a pretty little box. The box can come from many different sources. A mother or grandmother. A father. A boyfriend. A circle of girlfriends. A TV show, magazine, or music video. Some boxes are bigger than others, but usually, they are pretty small. You may keep yours on the bathroom vanity, or carry it around with you everywhere you go.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbm8I2fOezrgLKWkr6h5cwxp2bsDDEW1K2LhB3rlhmOP33qM0TcRDDdhNnH1X1g_eo8EnhAErlaYGm2owHDAP8p0JCmKxBjTRWezXwlmd9IjhmKnvMmbzZB0pUp6PAHGKMIMoL9Pd7a6hx/s1600/dress-size-chart.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbm8I2fOezrgLKWkr6h5cwxp2bsDDEW1K2LhB3rlhmOP33qM0TcRDDdhNnH1X1g_eo8EnhAErlaYGm2owHDAP8p0JCmKxBjTRWezXwlmd9IjhmKnvMmbzZB0pUp6PAHGKMIMoL9Pd7a6hx/s1600/dress-size-chart.png" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Contained in the box is its owner's personal ideal of beauty. The box is small, because usually it consists of only one thing, one tiny detail...a number. Maybe a dress size, measurements, or the numbers on a scale. And every day, or even several times a day, the box is opened. Every time the person looks in the mirror, goes shopping, or finds themselves in a crowded place, they take the box out and compare themselves to what's inside.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"How do I measure up today?" they wonder. "How long before I reach this level of beauty that will make me happy with myself?" They may feel a twinge of guilt, disappointment, frustration, or envy before they put the box away.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And so it goes, every day. A constant struggle to find the personal happiness that can only be found in the perfect dress size.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As I raise my daughter in a society that revolves around image, I can't help but want better for her. I want her to know that personal beauty is so much more what than can be stuffed into a tiny box. It isn't about how small her waist is or isn't, or how flat her tummy is or isn't. It bothers me to hear teenage girls talk about how many calories they ate that day, or how they need to go on a diet, always with this self-loathing in their voices as they stare at their image in the mirror, hating what they see and wishing they could just measure up to some shallow ideal of beauty.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Who teaches them this? These are girls that grow up in church, in Christian homes. Shouldn't they be learning that they are "fearfully and wonderfully made"? Shouldn't they know that the image they are staring at with such disgust is a work of art, created with care by Someone who thinks they are beautiful? Shouldn't they know that happiness comes not from a constant focus on self, but a forgetting of self?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It makes me sad to hear little girls worry so much about their appearance. It bothers me to hear ladies my own age, who are all so pretty just the way they are, talking about "just 5 more pounds" or how much better they looked before they had kids. It drive me nuts to hear grandmothers and great-grandmothers talk about how they "really shouldn't" eat dessert because they want to slim down! I'm all for being healthy, but if you haven't accepted yourself by the age of 70, you never will! And moms, if babies gave you a bigger tummy or hips, hey, don't be embarrassed, you worked hard for those! There's nothing wrong with looking like a mom, you are one! ;)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Health is important, yes. Eating nutritious foods, getting adequate exercise and fresh air, these are all good things. But diet and exercise for the sake of...what? Being skinny? Measuring up to some lame standard of beauty that the fashion and diet industry says we have to look like?<i> (((Who made them so smart anyway? Maybe it has to do with the fact that the more money you spend on their weight loss products, the more money they make off of you?)))</i> That's not healthy or good. It's wrong! When it comes right down to it, it's nothing but pride. Pride is not beautiful.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">These are just my thoughts on things I'm working on personally. It isn't easy, I would be a hypocrite to say that I don't struggle with all of these things. I'm no supermodel, it's HARD to look in the mirror and be happy with what I see. I was raised in the same society as everyone else. But the longer I am a mom, the more mindful I am of what I'm teaching my daughter. Every time I look in the mirror discontentedly, comparing myself to a number, every time I say "Ughhh, I'm so fat!" or "I'm so ugly!" my daughter is learning. I'm shaping her ideal of beauty. <b>She's taking away from me the idea that the worth of a woman is measured by nothing more than a reflection in the mirror. </b>I think she's worth more than that. A lot more.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Maybe we should think <i><b>outside of the box</b></i>. Throw the box away. Broaden our perspective. Teach our girls that they are beautiful the way they are! It takes more than words to teach. If I tell my daughter "You are so pretty just the way you are" and then turn around and say "If I could just lose 10 pounds I would look so much better" what have I taught her? I've taught her that <i>everyone else</i> is fine the way they are, but not me.<i> I </i>can do better. <i>I </i>can improve on what God made. Wow, if that isn't nasty pride rearing its ugly head in my mirror, I don't know what is. And pride does not look good on<b> anybody</b>.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #001320; line-height: 22px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Psalm 139:14-15 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.</span></i></span><br />
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.</span></i></div>
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<a href="http://www.deniseinbloom.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Life In Bloom" border="0" height="163" src="http://www.deniseinbloom.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/LIB150button.jpg" width="150" /></a> <span style="color: purple; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Linking up with Life in Bloom today!</span></div>Amateur Housewifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10169017745626760182noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7631591715033002265.post-21742342417877513922011-04-18T05:50:00.000-07:002011-04-18T05:53:57.374-07:00Pumpkin Pattern<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I saw this adorable little pumpkin hat pattern, I definitely want to make one for our little fall "Punkin"! Isn't it cute? Even if we have a girl, can't you just see it with with a tiny green tutu? It ALMOST makes me wish for Fall. Almost. Except that I am ready for cold weather to be <b>over</b>, not starting. (Will summer ever come???) </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've been taking knitting lessons every week, I don't know if I will have the skills to make this by September or not, but I'm going to try! (I have yet to finish a decent washcloth, so we'll see, haha).</span><br />
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<img alt="My poor little babies!" src="http://images4.ravelrycache.com/uploads/melissa/15760256/DSC_0321_medium.JPG" /><br />
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<a href="http://blog.innerchildcrochet.com/?p=411">http://blog.innerchildcrochet.com/?p=411</a>Amateur Housewifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10169017745626760182noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7631591715033002265.post-37913669920456007872011-04-15T20:14:00.000-07:002011-04-15T20:14:34.659-07:00The SugarBow Shoppe -- Making Life Sweet<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6ZKPj4e2Nu-_UevxbZvkShDmdTKMEfa_7V_M7QKUJodpQ6CfMu_87tN3WJBMcYmwugCPI-AOwXi5War0BeHGVW2h-CHEkTIYIHOWcNIdd9izE0oadXa9yUvdNlllfZJyH_SNsKhMVoFU9/s1600/33734_448782119595_166356459595_5239371_4250528_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6ZKPj4e2Nu-_UevxbZvkShDmdTKMEfa_7V_M7QKUJodpQ6CfMu_87tN3WJBMcYmwugCPI-AOwXi5War0BeHGVW2h-CHEkTIYIHOWcNIdd9izE0oadXa9yUvdNlllfZJyH_SNsKhMVoFU9/s320/33734_448782119595_166356459595_5239371_4250528_n.jpg" width="213" /></a>Since I have my own blog, why not use it for free advertising right? ;)<br />
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If you are interested in sweet hair accessories for your little girls or even yourself, check out my Facebook page and become a fan! <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-SugarBow-Shoppe/166356459595">https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-SugarBow-Shoppe/166356459595</a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"> If that link doesn't work for you, just search SugarBow Shoppe in the FB search engine. There you can view my current listings and <b>spread the word</b>! </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc1P3WKUYugqBY4RpvH_CE-8SIhfp8C75QRiQoZAeadP2zoUD1IvjSdqcotXifyR6PCo39Sh_mYmV097HrT_Ghxzp_jHHKcg_HHx7rgGtw81s_Ot0Tbvieneu8GNthsJD3xJuSr-36tvx2/s1600/IMG_0709.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc1P3WKUYugqBY4RpvH_CE-8SIhfp8C75QRiQoZAeadP2zoUD1IvjSdqcotXifyR6PCo39Sh_mYmV097HrT_Ghxzp_jHHKcg_HHx7rgGtw81s_Ot0Tbvieneu8GNthsJD3xJuSr-36tvx2/s320/IMG_0709.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">I also have a domain at etsy.com, see link below, where my items are available for purchase at <b><i>insanely</i></b> competitive prices. (Hmmm, that sounds like a used car salesman, but I really do have good prices!) <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/SugarBowShoppe">http://www.etsy.com/shop/SugarBowShoppe</a></div><br />
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Headbands, bows, rosettes, and hats are all available, and I take custom orders for people I know. I LOVE doing it, so look me up!<br />
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Thanks for your time!Amateur Housewifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10169017745626760182noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7631591715033002265.post-92220663177289712732011-04-14T12:20:00.000-07:002011-04-19T14:02:21.611-07:00Regarding The IFB Cult as seen on 20/20<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you haven't watched or heard about the 20/20 episode last week "exposing" "THE IFB Cult" go to www.abc.com and watch it. Oh boy, I have soooo much I want to say about this subject. Actually, I have said a lot about it all over the web, haha. Some people make me so mad! But I'm just going to narrow it all down to one little statement:</span><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Revenge-colored blinders do not allow truth to be seen. </span></b><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'll be the first to admit that many Baptist churches drop the ball on issues like the story Tina told. But not ALL of them, and probably not most of them either. And the group telling this particular story have an AGENDA folks. And it's not good! But regardless of whether the stories portrayed on the program have an element of truth to them or not, these people are on a witch hunt, and they don't care if they bring down innocent people so long as they get their revenge on the people who hurt them. And I'm guessing they probably don't appear on shows like 20/20 for free? </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I wouldn't trust Jocelyn Zichterman with a 10-mile pole. I don't know why, I'd never even heard of the woman before last week, but she has an agenda no doubt about that. She is not someone who has anyone's best interest at heart. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After reading everything I can find on the subject, all I can see is that: </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. This is a nationally known story; if Pastor Phelps really had obstructed justice by covering up a rape, why isn't HE in jail? Why isn't HE a person of interest in this case? Why would he make his paper-trail public if he had something like that to hide?</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. There is no such thing as "The IFB Denomination". Independent Baptists are just that...independent. It's not "The Baptist Church" like there's "The Catholic Church" or "The Mormon Church". Each church is its own entity, and not every church agrees or shares the same standards as another church. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3. If Baptist doctrines repress women, why are there more women than men in church? </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4. I would be the first to stand up and yell for Pastor Phelps or ANY pastor to resign, go to jail, apologize, if he really covered up sexual abuse in his church. It's a pet peeve of mine actually, churches brushing things under the rug to save their reputations. But looking at the evidence, it doesn't appear that he did that. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">5. Independent Fundamental Baptists defy any modern notion of a cult. Think about it. If a person decides they don't agree with the ideas of a particular cult, what happens? The cult leaders hold something over their heads, making them afraid to leave, something such as loss of salvation, loss of children, loss of life. But if I wanted to quit attending an Independent Baptist church right now, I could! Nobody is going to say I'm no longer saved, I won't go to Heaven, or even hint at it. I wouldn't fear for my life or my family's life. People would be disappointed. I might lose some friends. But that's about it. How does that in any way remotely resemble a cult? Absurd. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I found these websites to be extremely informative:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://dl.dropbox.com/u/5416470/Fallacies%20of%20Logic%20-%20An%20Analysis%20of%20ABC%E2%80%99s%20%E2%80%9C20-20%E2%80%9D%20View%20of%20IFB.pdf">http://dl.dropbox.com/u/5416470/Fallacies%20of%20Logic%20-%20An%20Analysis%20of%20ABC%E2%80%99s%20%E2%80%9C20-20%E2%80%9D%20View%20of%20IFB.pdf</a></span><br />
<br />
and <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.drchuckphelps.com/">http://www.drchuckphelps.com/</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://theologshmeolog.wordpress.com/2011/04/11/not-a-specific-statement-to-specific-ifb-cult-watchdogs-but-a-caution-for-all-of-us-as-we-battle-sin-in-our-local-churches/#respond">http://theologshmeolog.wordpress.com/2011/04/11/not-a-specific-statement-to-specific-ifb-cult-watchdogs-but-a-caution-for-all-of-us-as-we-battle-sin-in-our-local-churches/#respond</a><br />
<br />
Woops, I wasn't going to rant, but I guess I did.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></b><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b><br />
</b></span>Amateur Housewifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10169017745626760182noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7631591715033002265.post-12539704449687902432011-04-05T13:11:00.000-07:002011-04-05T13:21:04.437-07:00Happy Birthday Easter Lily<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUOJOxdi6Eb4baUIavpj_RVr78Zf5vH6il6EQZuZp-Lb6f9w03hM1re_yqQBc_iQP8Pg-gte-28s71KZlXNENnP4eGzSOO5QIZ2DjUZmTq3a-QE8NRapP0QPABgUzZuxwDmc_2yrm6jLSS/s1600/56793_10150277356285077_810515076_15179798_6040773_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUOJOxdi6Eb4baUIavpj_RVr78Zf5vH6il6EQZuZp-Lb6f9w03hM1re_yqQBc_iQP8Pg-gte-28s71KZlXNENnP4eGzSOO5QIZ2DjUZmTq3a-QE8NRapP0QPABgUzZuxwDmc_2yrm6jLSS/s320/56793_10150277356285077_810515076_15179798_6040773_o.jpg" width="244" /></a>It's hard to believe that today is my oldest baby's 5th birthday! This birthday seems like such a big deal to me. This is the year she will no longer be called a "preschool age child", no longer fit in the clothes from the "little kid" section of the store, no longer have to take a daily nap (except on Sundays, because as we told her, even God took a nap on the seventh day!). She'll be starting Kindergarten!<br />
<br />
And she has also announced that now that she is 5, she will NOT be scared of the McDonald's play-land with the shaky rope bridge. We'll see about that one. I told her we'd try it sometime, but I have squeezed and crawled through that ridiculous play-land filled with rude and unruly children on too many rescue missions to try it again anytime soon.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiASUEhIJfyO1Ea2ajV-gsdCx1nDUJuQHxCZBJlpHeObpr7xfd6Ioug7QCs_n59jR4u3L5FueebeEOz9X6VqlNdym2n-985JTX7t8up2oRrBPgGG_wRgWV_5mHv_lJ1HOpeXD4vst1BLxXN/s1600/n810515076_3090798_4398.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiASUEhIJfyO1Ea2ajV-gsdCx1nDUJuQHxCZBJlpHeObpr7xfd6Ioug7QCs_n59jR4u3L5FueebeEOz9X6VqlNdym2n-985JTX7t8up2oRrBPgGG_wRgWV_5mHv_lJ1HOpeXD4vst1BLxXN/s320/n810515076_3090798_4398.jpg" width="239" /></a>The five years since we brought her home from the hospital have gone by so fast. I remember looking down at her little round newborn face and being gripped with sudden and total panic at the thought of being responsible for this tiny life. What was I going to DO?! How was I going to keep this helpless little thing alive?!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPtoTo_iEOQfmKNUksqzpWGkZ-yTygYJeaunJO3NVQ8H2RAl6vGTEDxDFWE9hNEqifYINjl6PjfM8LSuNclla7xiK_XRKadyS-nwqU3paNc55VcKMhjIH9YZnRBKINZ4lCXvcgRS72t4G8/s1600/n810515076_3090797_4085.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPtoTo_iEOQfmKNUksqzpWGkZ-yTygYJeaunJO3NVQ8H2RAl6vGTEDxDFWE9hNEqifYINjl6PjfM8LSuNclla7xiK_XRKadyS-nwqU3paNc55VcKMhjIH9YZnRBKINZ4lCXvcgRS72t4G8/s320/n810515076_3090797_4085.jpg" width="320" /></a>But somehow, we have made it through five years already, and I am so thankful for the time that God has given us with our amazing, artistic, expressive, funny, beautiful daughter. Thank you God for each moment!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Q4z45CR5yiphpgopQ7FH1kDZaLwEmsAtLzM7tZ7ANavQYf7rblluOO4if8DMan-a4s3L1MQts2SNmgXv4LsuSDw6KzuRYUkOUfIqr2zS8jMRV81gXWHuvsosKSQCdxaXWp6MjR-Eox_3/s1600/iPhone+Pix+208.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Q4z45CR5yiphpgopQ7FH1kDZaLwEmsAtLzM7tZ7ANavQYf7rblluOO4if8DMan-a4s3L1MQts2SNmgXv4LsuSDw6KzuRYUkOUfIqr2zS8jMRV81gXWHuvsosKSQCdxaXWp6MjR-Eox_3/s640/iPhone+Pix+208.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> Happy Birthday Lily, and may you have many, many, many more!</span></div>Amateur Housewifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10169017745626760182noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7631591715033002265.post-72692718946834920302011-03-30T07:33:00.000-07:002011-03-30T07:33:43.798-07:00"Here's Looking at YOU Kid"<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So I was going through my canned goods cupboard yesterday, and way in the back I see these 2 eyes looking at me over the top of a can! The only animals we currently own are goldfish and water snails, so I knew it was not a family pet. It freaked me out a little, but I decided to be a big girl and get whatever it was, out. I gingerly moved the can and found...a POTATO, with a root/eye that had sprouted 7 inches tall and had 2 round horns sprouting from the top, just like two beady eyes! Scared me to death! lololol I thought maybe I should save it and plant it or something, but potato eyes have always given me the willies, so I threw it away. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I should </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;">have taken a picture though. :)</span>Amateur Housewifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10169017745626760182noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7631591715033002265.post-5726766811366473592011-03-18T11:45:00.000-07:002011-03-18T11:45:14.015-07:00NEW BLOGSPOTWell folks, this blog probably looks kind of awkward right now, because I just moved over here from Wordpress. No big important reason really, except that Wordpress has such *boring* backgrounds, and I wanted a pretty blog! So there you see the depth of my vanity.<br />
<br />
I couldn't figure out the import/export stuff, so I just copied and pasted all my previous posts from Wordpress over to here. That's why the dates are all off. Anyway, just thought I'd update my loyal fans! (hi mom!)Amateur Housewifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10169017745626760182noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7631591715033002265.post-71485647781992322612011-03-18T11:41:00.000-07:002011-04-14T13:31:52.941-07:00Picnik-y Spring<h2 style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 187, 187); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; color: #555555; font-family: tahoma, verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -1px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">March 2011</span></h2><div style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.8em; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 0.5em;">Yesterday was gorgeous. We don’t see too many warm AND sunny days ’round these here parts. Did you know that it is either raining or snowing 1 out of 3 days in this city?! It’s true. Might as well live in the rainforest. Not too many people know about this particular rainforest, but it's very, very REAL. </div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.8em; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 0.5em;">Clouds and I don’t get along very well. I mean, I like a cozy, rainy day just as much as the next person. Good book, hot chocolate, cozy spot on the couch, all that nice stuff. Every couple weeks or so, that would be nice. But when you get one, MAYBE two sunny days out of every week, it starts to wear on your nerves. A <strong>lot</strong>. Last summer we had a “drought”. It only rained once a week. Everyone was praying for rain. Crazy. lol</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.8em; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 0.5em;">But I didn’t start this post to complain about the weather. I do more than enough of that. <img alt=":)" class="wp-smiley" src="http://s2.wp.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif?m=1299305440g" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 0px; position: relative;" /> As I was saying, yesterday was gorgeous! Sunny, springy, warm! The kids and I didn’t get anything done all afternoon (except for getting the van cleaned out, which it needed desperately). We just played outside and took pictures, and while they were “napping” I had fun editing them on Picnik, my favorite toy. I love that thing! And it’s free, gotta love that!</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.8em; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 0.5em;">It’s dark and cloudy again today, but Happy Almost Spring everyone!</div><div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_285" style="background-color: #f3f3f3; border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-bottom-left-radius: 3px 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px 3px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-top-left-radius: 3px 3px; border-top-right-radius: 3px 3px; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, verdana, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center; width: 665px;"><a href="http://aleassa.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/img_0506.jpg" style="color: #226699; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" class="size-large wp-image-285 " height="510" src="http://aleassa.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/img_0506.jpg?w=655&h=510" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative;" title="IMG_0506" width="655" /></a><br />
<div class="wp-caption-text" style="line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0.8em; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 0px;">Searching for Caterpillars</div></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.8em; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 0.5em;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.8em; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 0.5em;"><a href="http://aleassa.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/img_0494.jpg" style="color: #226699; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-286" height="819" src="http://aleassa.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/img_0494.jpg?w=631&h=819" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; position: relative;" title="IMG_0494" width="631" /></a></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.8em; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 0.5em;"><br />
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</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.8em; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 0.5em;"><a href="http://aleassa.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/img_0521.jpg" style="color: #226699; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-287" height="596" src="http://aleassa.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/img_0521.jpg?w=655&h=596" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; position: relative;" title="IMG_0521" width="655" /></a></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.8em; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 0.5em;"><br />
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</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.8em; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 0.5em;"><a href="http://aleassa.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/img_0522-1.jpg" style="color: #226699; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-288" height="655" src="http://aleassa.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/img_0522-1.jpg?w=565&h=655" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; position: relative;" title="IMG_0522-1" width="565" /></a></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.8em; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 0.5em;"><br />
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</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.8em; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 0.5em;"><a href="http://aleassa.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/img_0523.jpg" style="color: #226699; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-289" height="819" src="http://aleassa.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/img_0523.jpg?w=631&h=819" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; position: relative;" title="IMG_0523" width="631" /></a></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.8em; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 0.5em;"><br />
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</div><div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_290" style="background-color: #f3f3f3; border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-bottom-left-radius: 3px 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px 3px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-top-left-radius: 3px 3px; border-top-right-radius: 3px 3px; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, verdana, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center; width: 576px;"><a href="http://aleassa.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/img_0534.jpg" style="color: #226699; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" class="size-large wp-image-290 " height="819" src="http://aleassa.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/img_0534.jpg?w=566&h=819" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative;" title="IMG_0534" width="566" /></a><br />
<div class="wp-caption-text" style="line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0.8em; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 0px;">Hooray for Spring!</div></div>Amateur Housewifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10169017745626760182noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7631591715033002265.post-81385845740599204262011-03-18T11:39:00.000-07:002011-03-18T11:39:03.058-07:00Pastrami A +, Pickles F-<h2 style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 187, 187); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; color: #555555; font-family: tahoma, verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -1px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 1.8em;"><a href="http://aleassa.wordpress.com/2011/03/07/pastrami-a-pickles-f/" style="color: #555555; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;" title="Permalink to Pastrami A +, Pickles F-">Pastrami A +, Pickles F-</a> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">March 2011</span></h2><div style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.8em; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 0.5em;">Well I’m not a foodie or a chef, I don’t even watch those crazy cook-off shows, (although I do think Cupcake Wars is kind of fun to watch). But I was so proud of myself today that I had to post a picture. I am finally getting past the morning sickness phase of this pregnancy and feeling like a real person again! So for lunch today I actually <em>prepared</em> food to eat, instead of rummaging like a zombie through the freezer for pizza pockets and corn dogs to heat in the microwave. Adam has been talking about pastrami a lot lately, (pregnancy sympathy cravings???) so I got some at the deli on our last grocery trip. Did you know turkey pastrami is only 3.99 a pound?! How did I not know that? We have been missing out on all of this pastrami goodness because I didn’t even know there was such a thing as TURKEY pastrami. Like I said, I’m no foodie, but I think it tastes the same. And I’m guessing it’s better for you since it’s made from a bird instead of a…cow? pig? Something like that.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.8em; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 0.5em;">Anyway, yay me. Big pat on my back. For making it through my first 11 weeks of pregnancy without anyone in the house getting food poisoning or starving. And to celebrate, here is a picture of what made Adam very happy today when he came home for lunch.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.8em; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 0.5em;"><a href="http://aleassa.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/img_0402.jpg" style="color: #226699; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-276" height="187" src="http://aleassa.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/img_0402.jpg?w=300&h=187" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; position: relative;" title="IMG_0402" width="300" /></a> Not too shabby, even if it is made with basic wheat bread and served on a paper plate. Hey, I may be up to making a sandwich, but I don’t want to waste my energy on dishes if I don’t have to! <img alt=":)" class="wp-smiley" src="http://s2.wp.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif?m=1299305440g" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 0px; position: relative;" /></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.8em; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 0.5em;"><a href="http://aleassa.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/img_0406.jpg" style="color: #226699; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-277" height="204" src="http://aleassa.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/img_0406.jpg?w=300&h=204" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; position: relative;" title="IMG_0406" width="300" /></a> The only thing missing was pickles, which I actually got out, but was very bummed to discover out that the brand I bought was NOT good! Yes, I am a stereotypical pregnant lady with pickles this time around, and Mt. Olive Baby Dill Pickles did not make the cut!They taste like, well, olives! They don’t even smell like pickles. They did not even CRUNCH. Not good.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.8em; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 0.5em;">I guess I will just go back to Great Value baby dills, they taste great. (I just really wanted the little tiny pickles, and Mt. Olive were the only ones I could find.) ANYWAY, have a great day everyone!</div>Amateur Housewifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10169017745626760182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7631591715033002265.post-81689983264025872992011-03-18T11:38:00.000-07:002011-03-18T11:38:01.688-07:00Dream House or Dream Home<h2 style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 187, 187); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; color: #555555; font-family: tahoma, verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -1px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 1.8em;"><a href="http://aleassa.wordpress.com/2010/04/25/dream-housedream-home/" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #226699; font-weight: normal; padding-bottom: 2px; text-decoration: none;" title="Permalink to Dream House/Dream Home">Dream House/Dream Home</a> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">April 2010</span></h2><div style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.8em; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 0.5em; text-align: center;">It’s fun to dream…if I could put together the perfect “dream house” for our family, it would probably look something like this.<a href="http://aleassa.files.wordpress.com/2010/04/perfection.jpg" style="color: #226699; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-252 aligncenter" height="222" src="http://aleassa.files.wordpress.com/2010/04/perfection.jpg?w=300&h=222" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; position: relative;" width="300" /></a></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.8em; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 0.5em; text-align: center;">It would have a family friendly and serene kitchen:<a href="http://aleassa.files.wordpress.com/2010/04/photo_video_30292394826577502763873_medium.jpg" style="color: #226699; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-253 aligncenter" height="300" src="http://aleassa.files.wordpress.com/2010/04/photo_video_30292394826577502763873_medium.jpg?w=225&h=300" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; position: relative;" title="Photo_Video_30292394826577502763873_medium" width="225" /></a>(minus the birdhouse…indoor birdhouses aren’t really my style).</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.8em; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 0.5em; text-align: center;">The open floor plan would be spacious–but not too big–with a warm, rich color palette:<a href="http://aleassa.files.wordpress.com/2010/04/photo_video_288665208_orig.jpg" style="color: #226699; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-254 aligncenter" height="225" src="http://aleassa.files.wordpress.com/2010/04/photo_video_288665208_orig.jpg?w=300&h=225" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; position: relative;" title="photo_video_288665208_orig" width="300" /></a></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.8em; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 0.5em; text-align: center;">Lily’s room would be picture perfect:<a href="http://aleassa.files.wordpress.com/2010/04/photo_video_2263167770924349038262_medium.jpg" style="color: #226699; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-255 aligncenter" height="200" src="http://aleassa.files.wordpress.com/2010/04/photo_video_2263167770924349038262_medium.jpg?w=300&h=200" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; position: relative;" title="Photo_Video_2263167770924349038262_medium" width="300" /></a></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.8em; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 0.5em; text-align: center;">And Jackson’s room would probably be something along these lines:<a href="http://aleassa.files.wordpress.com/2010/04/photo_video_73d204fb-ae0f-42b3-b4f4-34884c52f4a2_medium.jpg" style="color: #226699; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-256 aligncenter" height="300" src="http://aleassa.files.wordpress.com/2010/04/photo_video_73d204fb-ae0f-42b3-b4f4-34884c52f4a2_medium.jpg?w=199&h=300" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; position: relative;" title="Photo_Video_73d204fb-ae0f-42b3-b4f4-34884c52f4a2_medium" width="199" /></a></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.8em; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 0.5em; text-align: center;">The master bedroom and bath would be an oasis of peace and relaxation: <a href="http://aleassa.files.wordpress.com/2010/04/hdivd1013-traditional-bedroom_lg.jpg" style="color: #226699; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-257 alignnone" height="225" src="http://aleassa.files.wordpress.com/2010/04/hdivd1013-traditional-bedroom_lg.jpg?w=300&h=225" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; position: relative;" title="hdivd1013-traditional-bedroom_lg" width="300" /> </a><a href="http://aleassa.files.wordpress.com/2010/04/photo_video_166036132_medium.jpg" style="color: #226699; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-258" height="225" src="http://aleassa.files.wordpress.com/2010/04/photo_video_166036132_medium.jpg?w=300&h=225" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; position: relative;" title="Photo_Video_166036132_medium" width="300" /></a></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.8em; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 0.5em; text-align: center;">And the ceilings would be oh so wonderfully high!</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.8em; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 0.5em; text-align: center;">While we’re dreaming how about an outdoor living area?<a href="http://aleassa.files.wordpress.com/2010/04/photo_video_20821880806997796218845_medium1.jpg" style="color: #226699; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-260 aligncenter" height="225" src="http://aleassa.files.wordpress.com/2010/04/photo_video_20821880806997796218845_medium1.jpg?w=300&h=225" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; position: relative;" title="Photo_Video_20821880806997796218845_medium" width="300" /></a></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.8em; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 0.5em;">Okay, back to reality. In reality, our house looks nothing like this. In reality, I have purple countertops, a yellow bathtub, and popcorn-textured ceilings that I can practically touch if I stand on my tiptoes. In reality, my house is–beautiful.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.8em; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 0.5em;">Beautiful because it is filled with the people I love most in the world. Beautiful because it is decorated with my son’s toy cars on the floor, and my daughter’s fingerprints on the mirror. And because our dreams are here.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.8em; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 0.5em;">Every family has dreams. For us, our greatest dreams revolve around each other and where God wants us to be. We are so amazingly blessed. We don’t deserve to be taken care of, to have a roof over our heads, beds to sleep in, shelter from the heat and cold. And yet, here we are surrounded by all of these things and more, simply because God has provided them for us.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.8em; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 0.5em;">Sure, a “dream <strong>house</strong>” would be nice. But if I had to choose, a dream <strong>home</strong> is even better. And that’s really what I’ve got.</div><div><br />
</div>Amateur Housewifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10169017745626760182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7631591715033002265.post-80236205917833696472011-03-18T11:36:00.000-07:002011-03-18T12:49:26.215-07:00My Corner of Perfect<h2 style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 187, 187); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; color: #555555; font-family: tahoma, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 1.8em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -1px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
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</div><div>February 2010</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.8em; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 0.5em;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.8em; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 0.5em;">In the corner of the United States, on the corner of Bridge Vista and Selah Loop, there is a yellow house with a star on</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.8em; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 0.5em;"><img alt="" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-235" height="208" src="http://aleassa.files.wordpress.com/2010/02/kdk_1294.jpg?w=300&h=208" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; display: inline; float: right; margin-bottom: 2px; margin-left: 7px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 4px; position: relative;" title="kdk_1294" width="300" /></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.8em; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 0.5em;">top. A little gate with a trellis over it welcomes family and friends, and invites them to step into a place where life slows down and becomes a little less complicated. Several years have passed since I visited, but I go back there just about every day.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.8em; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 0.5em;">My grandparents’ house holds many memories for me. Neither big nor small, it’s the perfect size. Inside, there is a kitchen, dining room, living room, two bedrooms, a fireplace, a woodstove, and an attic. Outside, past the surrounding porch and patio, you will find a cherry tree, an apple tree, a peach tree, a walnut tree, numerous flower beds and a vegetable garden.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.8em; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 0.5em;">My dad and his sister grew up there. At the age of 18, he married my mom in that house. Later, when my mom’s illness put her in the hospital for months at a time, my family moved in and my grandparents took care of us while my dad worked. Years later, Adam & I had our wedding reception under the walnut tree.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.8em; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 0.5em;"><a href="http://aleassa.files.wordpress.com/2010/02/n810515076_3220828_1951.jpg" style="color: #226699; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-241 alignleft" height="199" src="http://aleassa.files.wordpress.com/2010/02/n810515076_3220828_1951.jpg?w=300&h=199" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; display: inline; float: left; margin-bottom: 2px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 7px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 4px; position: relative;" title="n810515076_3220828_195" width="300" /></a></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.8em; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 0.5em;">As a kid, I could often be found in that walnut tree, reading a book. I loved everything about that house, especially the yard. I would spend hours wandering around outside, playing with kittens or baby chicks under the porch, walking barefoot in the garden, or exploring the fruit cellar. I remember drying my hair in the sunshine on hot summer mornings, watching Grandpa mow the lawn or Grandma water her flowers. I hope I get to see Lily and Jackson running in that yard.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.8em; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 0.5em;">I loved the yard best, but the attic was a close second. It was my dad’s room when he was a boy, and when we moved in it became mine. Dozens and dozens of beautiful porcelain dolls lived there, as well as all the various knickknacks and collectibles Grandma had acquired over the years. I loved exploring through old dressers and trunks, daydreaming in the window at the top of the stairs, and sleeping under heavy old quilts on the white brass bed.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.8em; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 0.5em;">Biscuits and gravy on cold mornings, summer evenings on the patio, Mariners games on the radio, yard-saling with Grandma, fresh cherries from the tree, Grandpa in his wood-working shop, tulips and daffodils in the spring, ivy and roses and pansies all summer, fresh sweet corn every August, sunflowers as high as the roof, the smell of fresh-cut grass every Saturday, home-canned grape juice, birthdays and Christmas and beans and cornbread…it’s always been that way, at least as long as I can remember.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.8em; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 0.5em;">Now, grandma’s memory is fading. Dementia. She’s not very old, only in her sixties. Grandpa just had another surgery to remove cancer. It scares me a little, to think that things might change. I know everything else changes, and people get older or move away, and nothing stays the same– and that’s okay. I’m used to that. But not them. Not that place. That can’t change.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.8em; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 0.5em;">I guess it is rather childish of me to hope it will always be there, unchanging, waiting for me forever. But I hope it does. I don’t know what I would do without it—the only thing in my childhood that never changed, never got sick, never moved away. I have a great life where I’m at, and I don’t wish for my childhood back, or anything silly like that. I just want it to stay right where it is, where I can always go back–to my little corner of perfect.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.8em; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 0.5em;"><em>Yesterday’s slipping,</em></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.8em; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 0.5em;"><em>Slipping away.</em></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.8em; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 0.5em;"><em>Time’s swiftly running,</em></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.8em; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 0.5em;"><em>Leaving Today–</em></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.8em; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 0.5em;"><em>Racing ahead of</em></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.8em; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 0.5em;"><em>Those golden days,</em></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.8em; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 0.5em;"><em>Forgetting about</em></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.8em; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 0.5em;"><em>My little place</em></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.8em; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 0.5em;"><em>Where the sun shines warm</em></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.8em; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 0.5em;"><em>On sweet green grass,</em></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.8em; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 0.5em;"><em>Where pansies nod, and</em></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.8em; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 0.5em;"><em>Wink as you pass.</em></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.8em; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 0.5em;"><em><br />
</em></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.8em; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 0.5em;"><em></em></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.8em; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 0.5em;"><em>Come back, Yesterday.</em></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.8em; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 0.5em;"><em>Today, stand still.</em></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.8em; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 0.5em;"><em>Wait just a minute,</em></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.8em; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 0.5em;"><em>Time, stay until</em></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.8em; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 0.5em;"><em>A lock be set ‘round</em></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.8em; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 0.5em;"><em>My little place</em></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.8em; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 0.5em;"><em>To stay for all time—</em></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.8em; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 0.5em;"><em>The same, always.</em></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.8em; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 0.5em;"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-large wp-image-236" height="517" src="http://aleassa.files.wordpress.com/2010/02/kdk_1285.jpg?w=645&h=517" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; display: inline; float: left; margin-bottom: 2px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 7px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 4px; position: relative;" title="kdk_1285" width="645" /></div><div class="meta" style="border-top-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; clear: both; color: #556677; font-family: tahoma, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 0.9em; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.8em; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 5px; text-align: left;"><span class="date" style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://aleassa.wordpress.com/2010/02/01/" style="color: #226699; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">February 1, 2010</a> </span><span class="postedby">Posted by <a href="http://aleassa.wordpress.com/author/aleassa/" style="color: #226699; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" title="Posts by Aleassa">Aleassa</a> | <a href="http://en.wordpress.com/tag/living-life/" rel="category tag" style="color: #226699; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" title="View all posts in Living Life">Living Life</a> | <a href="http://aleassa.wordpress.com/2010/02/01/234/#comments" style="color: #226699; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" title="Comment on My Corner of Perfect">9 Comments</a> <span class="editlink">| <a class="post-edit-link" href="http://aleassa.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=234&action=edit" style="color: #226699; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" title="Edit Post">Edit</a></span></span></div>Amateur Housewifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10169017745626760182noreply@blogger.com0