tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63262152012480187082024-03-05T17:55:19.579-05:00Growth Chart MomentsA wife and mother rambles her way through life, taking time to notice her family's Growth Chart Moments.Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13091206341249617247noreply@blogger.comBlogger241125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6326215201248018708.post-84837507551464328332012-04-19T10:46:00.001-04:002012-04-19T10:46:24.444-04:00Getting My House Ready to Sell–Tips and Tricks<p align="justify">We have been on the market now for almost 3 weeks and we have had 6 showings.  After every showing, we receive feedback via email.  There is an 8 question multiple choice form the realtors fill out that gives us an indication of how the house showed, if the buyer is really a potential buyer, and if there is anything we can do to improve our home.  Every response has been excellent.  Our house shows perfectly –from curb appeal to cleanliness.  The only problem is the schools and the neighborhood.  Big inner city school system is not what most home buyers are looking for.  But we’re hopeful that the right buyer will come by and love our home and buy it up quickly.  We’ve been in the top three for 2 different showings, so I’m sure it won’t be too long now.  Fingers crossed. </p> <p align="justify">In the meantime, I’d love to show you some of my little tips and tricks on how I keep my house show-ready or at least easy to get show-ready in no time at all. It’s things that I will keep doing whenever we move to our new home, since it leaves your home spotless and beautiful in just a few quick steps.  Who doesn’t want that? </p> <h1 align="justify"><font color="#c0504d">Trash</font></h1> <p align="justify">No one wants to see your dirty trash when they look through your home.  I’ve come up with some quick tips for keeping our trash tamed. </p> <p align="justify"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-7Uk9d-mv7yQ/T5Ak6XoeG6I/AAAAAAAAa14/5nFAgsWGdc4/s1600-h/P4190316%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="P4190316" border="0" alt="P4190316" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-iL-WIqjJ8L4/T5Ak7LcrEKI/AAAAAAAAa2A/N5czueM5eSE/P4190316_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="353" height="469" /></a></p> <p align="justify">I have put all of my little trashcans from the bedrooms and bathrooms in the basement crawlspace.  I’ve always been bad at emptying those things on a regular basis anyway, so I got rid of them for showings.  Now, I just hang a Kroger bag over the handle.  When the showing comes, I take the bags with me and either throw them out in the outdoor trashcan or throw them in the van to bring back later. </p> <p align="justify">My recycling days are on hold for now.  I used to hang a trash bag in my laundry room (which is right off of my kitchen) to hold our recycling trash.  We don’t have to sort our recyclables when we take them to the recycling dumpster.  Everything goes in the same dumpster, which makes it really easy on me.  But, now that I have to keep my rooms clean, I stopped recycling.  That’s one last bag I have to worry about grabbing before a showing, and one less hook I need to have on my laundry room wall.  I can’t wait to start recycling again.  </p> <h1 align="justify"><font color="#c0504d">Laundry</font></h1> <p align="justify">No one wants to see your dirty laundry when they look through your home. </p> <p align="justify"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-86WomN_wwtQ/T5Ak8YEr1ZI/AAAAAAAAa2I/5vo1z1PbdfA/s1600-h/P4190318%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="P4190318" border="0" alt="P4190318" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-nbljadQ69Ds/T5Ak9GYq4AI/AAAAAAAAa2Q/pxYszF5RD94/P4190318_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="353" height="469" /></a></p> <p align="justify">On a regular basis, I keep two laundry baskets on my closet floor (one for darks and one for lights) and one in my son’s room.  On a showing day, I will grab those three baskets and put them in the back of my van.  I’ll then make sure to vacuum the floor where the baskets were to get the marks off the floor. </p> <p align="justify">The other bit of laundry we have is towels.  On my master bathroom door, we have three hooks over the door with three towels hanging there.  I take those down (hooks and all) and plop them in a wicker hamper that is slightly hidden beside my dresser.  After the showing, I put them back up to make sure they don’t get mildewy</p> <p align="justify"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-rzEpJJF7KyA/T5Ak9yECSNI/AAAAAAAAa2Y/Me_c9Ya_Kv0/s1600-h/P4190319%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="P4190319" border="0" alt="P4190319" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-lFk-k4SQOec/T5Ak-s9N3dI/AAAAAAAAa2g/a778JWbuk3I/P4190319_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="353" height="469" /></a></p> <p><font color="#c0504d"></font></p> <p><font color="#c0504d"></font></p> <p><font color="#c0504d"></font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000">This picture reminds me that I also run through the bedrooms and make sure all the dresser drawers are completely shut before we leave. I think I have a disease.  I leave dresser drawers open just a little all the time.  </font></p> <h1 align="justify"><font color="#c0504d">Makeup and Bathroom supplies</font></h1> <p align="justify">No one wants to see your hairbrush, makeup, or shaving cream when they’re trying to picture themselves in your space. </p> <p align="justify">I have a big problem with having too much STUFF.  One area where this is evident is my makeup and hair supplies.  Who knows why I need to have so much to choose from, especially since I use the same few items every day.  Getting my toiletries wrangled was probably my most rewarding cleaning/de-cluttering project in this whole house-selling adventure.  </p> <p align="justify"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-hLo8hdEdjxk/T5Ak_R8db6I/AAAAAAAAa2o/z9rswJ7NmkU/s1600-h/P3300332%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="P3300332" border="0" alt="P3300332" align="left" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPj6LTv9aRxwo_VCgYwqjMXt1PxXdvuru0YcM1sxCh9oGEaxIDvOzRcYbeNn2TMI5WX1DFL8blTEFklAH5Wv0B-MggmrTh7voG4zXZ1FXXz2Vxhbj0_446NZun3z2QGsS7igmYnsp3KzjC/?imgmax=800" width="345" height="469" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-g56s_4fiBEc/T5AlA9QwjVI/AAAAAAAAa24/CUVpgrza0G0/s1600-h/P3300331%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="P3300331" border="0" alt="P3300331" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-tHvBbt9nPOA/T5AlBtKyaWI/AAAAAAAAa3A/5BBY6ULC-vc/P3300331_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="353" height="469" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-XF5ONcc_wLA/T5AlCmV26FI/AAAAAAAAa3I/_tjlpyzOlQE/s1600-h/P3300335%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="P3300335" border="0" alt="P3300335" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-34IqXKZf5TM/T5AlDUIK9hI/AAAAAAAAa3Q/abZNZrIqBXw/P3300335_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="391" height="301" /></a></p> <p align="justify">I now have a basket under each sink for my daily items and figured out a way to store the rest neatly.  I organized and de-cluttered my hair stuff (like bobby pins, ponytail holders and clips) and organized my machines (like flat iron, hair dryer and hot rollers)  Thanks <a href="http://pinterest.com" target="_blank">Pinterest</a>! </p> <p align="justify"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Rmdo-Vgox3Q/T5AlETMc00I/AAAAAAAAa3Y/AZWrxx6jhMc/s1600-h/P3300328%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="P3300328" border="0" alt="P3300328" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-zRnoMwcJc_M/T5AlGXL9H1I/AAAAAAAAa3g/pcM0JUSWIys/P3300328_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="624" height="469" /></a></p> <p align="justify">My makeup was a bit trickier for me.  Included in my ‘makeup’ was my lotion, deodorant, and many makeup supplies.  They used to sit on my dresser, but after getting rid of some of my clothes (we donated a LOT last month) I ended up having a free drawer in my dresser.  I put my supplies in little baskets and they all fit neatly into that one drawer.  Now, I can take them out when I need them and hide them away when I’m done.  It makes me just a little giddy each time I hide my baskets away.  I really do love being organized. </p> <h1 align="justify"><font color="#c0504d">Finishing Touches</font></h1> <p align="justify">I change out the bathroom and kitchen towels for ‘show towels’.  I bought two kitchen and three bathroom hand towels that look new and fluffy.  It cost me about $10 for all of them.  I put them under the sinks or in a cupboard in between showings, and my family knows they are not to use the new towels for their hands.  Ever. </p> <p align="justify"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-pk_-0yrws90/T5AlHsLE6QI/AAAAAAAAa3o/bbv7QLCaxIo/s1600-h/P4010347%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="P4010347" border="0" alt="P4010347" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-XsCY-_-qnk8/T5AlIMn9cBI/AAAAAAAAa3w/e91x9jzGLDw/P4010347_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="624" height="418" /></a></p> <p align="justify">Before each showing, I make sure I have one or two nice bouquets of flowers in my kitchen.  I buy the $5 bouquet from Kroger.  These things last weeks if you take care of them.  I re-clip the ends after a few days and put them in fresh water.  I may crush up an aspirin someday too.  My mother says it keeps flowers living longer. </p> <p align="justify"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-bAauEvjC3D0/T5AlJGNJedI/AAAAAAAAa34/47KULId9neU/s1600-h/P4080435%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="P4080435" border="0" alt="P4080435" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-3kyqCa4jcb0/T5AlJixh8LI/AAAAAAAAa4A/Hnnpmt4URrU/P4080435_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="314" height="469" /></a></p> <p align="justify">One of my friends recommended baking some cookies before a showing so your house smells like freshly baked cookies.  I did that for the first showing, but now I find that it’s too much work for me to do that every time.  Instead, I leave out a bowl of candy.  So far it has been jelly beans (thanks <a href="http://growthchartmoments.blogspot.com/2011/04/easter-egg-coloring.html" target="_blank">Easter</a> candy sales!) </p> <p align="justify">I leave every single light on in my house (downstairs) when I leave for a showing.  I also open all the blinds and let as much light in as I possibly can.  Besides the obvious reason for leaving all the lights on (getting it as bright as I can in here), I have another reason for leaving the lights on.  All the lights in the living room are on a <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Wireless-Controlled-Electrical-Outlets-Included/dp/B006GXZ94C/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1334845813&sr=1-2" target="_blank">remote control switch</a>, and I don’t want there to be any confusion trying to get the lights on when they come in the house.   </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-WK3rwjzjgqY/T5AlKavkZXI/AAAAAAAAa4I/ighzRZ81E-Y/s1600-h/P3290319%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="P3290319" border="0" alt="P3290319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzPco1od0PzKOpAYlN0h8qk8vfsiahCrXKfazC_G1QY7Wg_XkepI1LVzSzGczXE42qSmR2RHYJnUpXGCTgjjgZa__t1SJokrt69CtyxxqkxH_ao3QolcBgVoWw2ivryNVn4pcbEWK4Gazo/?imgmax=800" width="624" height="226" /></a></p> <p align="justify">Another reason I leave all the lights on is to show off my under-cabinet-lighting in my kitchen. If they don’t look, they might not know that it’s there. (oh, and we’ve fixed the dangling cord, so it doesn’t dangle anymore)<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-xBsLhUDfZXI/T5AlOBbBQOI/AAAAAAAAa4Y/TODW0o4PV7E/s1600-h/P2270634%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="P2270634" border="0" alt="P2270634" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC3-X8cB-5oGUZBCW9Zx0HAQRFPO1YbEbx7sn91BlNuOp9mFsfO2DGYK7iyM8VgK8s5KZIg59l9m_a3q9M3Nz7WFNDcSAq7WNPtcqZ3EfUEONjAbI5R3MZCetNQkI1Z_oaKOImVh8gpHBc/?imgmax=800" width="531" height="409" /></a></p> <p align="justify">When everything has a place, cleaning up before a showing goes quickly and smoothly.  It doesn’t stay clean and spotless every day, but it can get clean and spotless in just a few hours (including mopping the floors) when a showing is scheduled. I just hope someone makes an offer soon.  I’m noticing the diligence with which I used to keep the place clean is starting to wear off.  If I go 4 days without a showing, it may take a bit longer to get it back into tip-top shape, but it’s still doable.  </p> <p align="justify">What other tips do you have for keeping your house ‘show-ready’?  Do you live in a house that is always ‘show-ready’?  </p> Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13091206341249617247noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6326215201248018708.post-33863822080522672172012-03-12T08:56:00.000-04:002012-03-12T08:56:00.609-04:00Getting My House Ready to Sell–Toys<p align="justify">If you have at least one child in your house, chances are you have enough toys to entertain 10 children at one time. At least that’s how it is in our house. Let me show you some shameful before photos I dug up from my files to show you just how bad it is in our house when it comes to toys: </p> <p align="justify"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-MgAXJoofuy8/T1kBSMaG4sI/AAAAAAAAZP4/MmXe5W17_Hg/s1600-h/P1270001-1_thumb4%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="P1270001-1_thumb4" border="0" alt="P1270001-1_thumb4" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-cXYqaZXQDjs/T1kBS3J7ToI/AAAAAAAAZQA/L8BmbVKsK7Q/P1270001-1_thumb4_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="664" height="289" /></a></p> <p align="justify"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-oXh-QAGeepg/T1kBTSoXDxI/AAAAAAAAZQI/xgomMuPOZZQ/s1600-h/P2050114_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="P2050114_thumb" border="0" alt="P2050114_thumb" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-UQj-dhCyeVk/T1kBUI1fS5I/AAAAAAAAZQQ/LhRNcgvY1mE/P2050114_thumb_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="624" height="469" /></a></p> <p align="justify">There are a LOT of toys. Because we have so much space in the living room, we tend to fill it up with a lot of stuff. The biggest fear I had going into this house selling adventure was “what do we do with our toys!?” I couldn’t see how I was going to make it so that Jack could keep his toys, and we could stage this house for selling. Being at home all day, every day makes it impossible to keep a house clean. Toys are out as soon as the boy gets up in the morning. My challenge was to figure out a way to be a stay-at-home-family but not get the place messy. </p> <p align="justify">In order to be ready to show our house in a moment’s notice, we consolidated, stored, and donated a LOT of toys. Here is what we were left with at the end of the day. </p> <p align="justify"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-4GXYbnRb6LQ/T1kBUgZOYPI/AAAAAAAAZQY/1dU0syQ4oCk/s1600-h/P2270646_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="P2270646_thumb" border="0" alt="P2270646_thumb" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-s13p9mOVDf4/T1kBVP3nOfI/AAAAAAAAZQg/fGqTxy3N0hE/P2270646_thumb_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="624" height="469" /></a></p> <p align="justify">I can grab this box with all the little boxes inside of it and easily take them to the basement crawl space or even to the back of the van when we leave the house. Jack knows where everything is, and he now knows that if he gets something out, the last toy’s he played with need to be returned. It doesn’t always happen like this, but it does help. </p> <p align="justify"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-HqZISwfmpzQ/T1kBVt_MNNI/AAAAAAAAZQo/7a0IDtR3Gws/s1600-h/P2270648_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="P2270648_thumb" border="0" alt="P2270648_thumb" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-3cT0fcO6s0M/T1kBWc2_F3I/AAAAAAAAZQw/37DstFGkhio/P2270648_thumb_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="624" height="469" /></a></p> <p align="justify">We also have this ‘corner’ of the room with toys. It is also easily grab-able and stored in the basement at a moment’s notice. </p> <p align="justify"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-mu6ENjdlNW0/T1kBWwkm_mI/AAAAAAAAZQ4/yBlHUZBK-Nk/s1600-h/P2270653_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="P2270653_thumb" border="0" alt="P2270653_thumb" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-0KkuZ7TtVos/T1kBXUGkTUI/AAAAAAAAZRA/UiKO8xq3QbI/P2270653_thumb_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="378" height="508" /></a></p> <p align="justify"></p> <p align="justify"></p> <p align="justify"></p> <p align="justify">His big trucks have been parked in the room along various walls at different times, but I finally consolidated them into one ‘garage’. Having just redone our floors, our closet hasn’t yet gotten filled with random things, so I had the space to park the big machines in there. Jack thinks it’s fun to park them in their garage. </p> <p align="justify">I’ve had to do some hard weeding out of toys. Jack loves trains. He loves his <a href="http://www.fisher-price.com/fp.aspx?st=5750&e=thumbnail&pcat=geotraxgeoplaces" target="_blank">Geo Trax</a> that he’s gotten from his cousins, but we decided to box them up and store them in the basement for now. I think they may make a few appearances before we move out of here, but they’re not out ALL.THE.TIME like they used to be. There are two other train/car tracks that are still out for him to play with, but they fit in smaller boxes, so they’re allowed to be up here.</p> <p align="justify">I have to admit that baby toys take up MUCH MORE space than toddler toys. Matchbox cars and planes can be put in a small plastic bin. However, a bouncer, swing, baby gym and whatever this is called: <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-PKGVpzBwXEE/T1kBX35qqLI/AAAAAAAAZRI/9HlD_mfet4I/s1600-h/DSC09380_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSC09380_thumb" border="0" alt="DSC09380_thumb" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-wSTg7x1CHZU/T1kBYjARfII/AAAAAAAAZRQ/XN8dcKt9bd4/DSC09380_thumb_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="624" height="469" /></a>take up much more space in a home. I’m not sure what I would have done if I had to deal with these toys in my home. (For now, they’re in our basement crawl space)</p> <p align="justify">There are other things we’ve done in our living room to make it bigger, cleaner, and nicer, but those are not so much toy-focused as they are furniture removal. I’ll do a separate post on those whenever we finish staging our living room. Once the carpet is done upstairs (I’m typing this while the carpet guy is doing our carpet today), I’ll be able to get more ‘after’ photos from our rooms upstairs as well. We’re moving right along on this house selling adventure! Thanks for joining me on my journey.</p> Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13091206341249617247noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6326215201248018708.post-77218729565843738992012-03-09T11:14:00.001-05:002012-03-09T11:17:41.885-05:00Foto Friday–On the Water<p>Last month, we took a trip down to Florida to visit Jack’s Grandparents.  While it did take 2 days to drive from Ohio to Florida, it was not a hardship at all.  We were on the Gulf side, between Sarasota and Ft. Meyers, FL.  The weather was PERFECT and BEAUTIFUL.  We spent a few days at the beach (where I got sunburned badly), one at the big aquarium in Sarasota and the rest of the time just enjoying the company.  I love that my In-laws are Snow Birds.  I think I may join them next year.  </p> <p>Here are some of my favorite pictures from the trip.  You can be sure there were a ton more than this, but I thought I’d pick my favorites for this post.  I did run them through Photoshop, but the only touch ups I did for any of them was auto levels/color/contrast.  I didn’t do anything fancy at all.  I didn’t feel that they needed anything.  Maybe I’ll play around with them another day. </p> <p>The surf was exceptionally strong (high?) the first day we were at the beach.  This guy was taking advantage of the good surging conditions.<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-bMZcIZaPooo/T1osIHzcE2I/AAAAAAAAZRY/XxYgVIaa59o/s1600-h/P2200479%252520copy%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA " border="0" alt="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA " src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-GHmuLdV0IiI/T1osIpgxL6I/AAAAAAAAZRg/IViBkIgSMsI/P2200479%252520copy_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="624" height="469" /></a></p> <p>These are my in-laws.  I loved how they look as they’re taking a walk on the beach. Of these two very similar photos, I couldn’t decide which I liked better, so put them both on here. </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/--kjHDjwEqCY/T1osJug2OiI/AAAAAAAAZRo/NpriKjKHDjs/s1600-h/P2230572%252520copy%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="P2230572 copy" border="0" alt="P2230572 copy" align="left" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-KomPJQMBjgA/T1osKszvseI/AAAAAAAAZRw/ud6Nc9OJKZ8/P2230572%252520copy_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="327" height="467" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-FMGpYPMk3ok/T1osLbBC2uI/AAAAAAAAZR4/YRWaiQCLf5o/s1600-h/P2230573%252520copy%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="P2230573 copy" border="0" alt="P2230573 copy" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-txRjWt9XMaQ/T1osL_9gdMI/AAAAAAAAZSA/GLfRSNDRglU/P2230573%252520copy_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="313" height="469" /></a></p> <p>After the grandparents finished their walk, they said they’d watch Jack while Rick and I went for a walk on the beach.  What a great time.  I want to remember what it feels like to walk in the surf and sand.    </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-dp9KQlW39c4/T1osMkL6vuI/AAAAAAAAZSI/U0Mpsh3W3Ew/s1600-h/P2230605%252520copy%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA " border="0" alt="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA " src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-0HDkjBj1ke4/T1osNCnO0CI/AAAAAAAAZSQ/K4eW6yuZef0/P2230605%252520copy_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="469" height="508" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-nRz2FPetpPM/T1osOCU99vI/AAAAAAAAZSY/DE2ojJgIrcE/s1600-h/P2230622%252520copy%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA " border="0" alt="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA " src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ihVCwKEVTDo/T1osO4JMBlI/AAAAAAAAZSg/h5qfynAUzqg/P2230622%252520copy_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="624" height="469" /></a></p> <p>This Egret looks so regal sitting on the pier waiting for his next meal – an accidental drop by a fisherman perhaps? The Herron was ready at a moments notice.  Or maybe he just enjoyed watching the fishermen on the pier like we did. </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-sXhNV1n-6tQ/T1osPukUqSI/AAAAAAAAZSo/3noCBg2HDvM/s1600-h/P2230640%252520copy%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Eagret (sp?)" border="0" alt="Eagret (sp?)" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-KnwoPULguO4/T1osQRB19aI/AAAAAAAAZSw/cjmlBVjgC9g/P2230640%252520copy_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="624" height="469" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-pXNF5A4hDRM/T1osRb4k-II/AAAAAAAAZS4/yK1tq8ufilQ/s1600-h/P2230653%252520copy%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA " border="0" alt="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA " src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-dnzsFfwlL9s/T1osR7oQKiI/AAAAAAAAZTA/lyFyaGeUB78/P2230653%252520copy_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="624" height="469" /></a></p> <p>The last night of our vacation, we went to the beach to watch the sunset.  It was a cloudy night, so the sunset wasn’t all that impressive, but the subtle color in the clouds were still beautiful.  I’ll definitely miss the beach!</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-xPyskmLb8yQ/T1osSo2pRTI/AAAAAAAAZTI/vbIPIytPh4I/s1600-h/P2230702%252520copy%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="still had a pretty sky" border="0" alt="still had a pretty sky" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-v92__X7ac54/T1osTFFlaaI/AAAAAAAAZTQ/9WgphO3_6dA/P2230702%252520copy_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="624" height="469" /></a></p> <a href=" http://photograph4life.blogspot.com" target="”_blank”"><img style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" src="http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff320/Lawill/flowerbutton-1.jpg" /></a> Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13091206341249617247noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6326215201248018708.post-23462051103699339472012-03-08T12:30:00.001-05:002012-03-08T12:30:28.888-05:00Getting My House Ready to Sell–The Kitchen<p align="justify">Well, Folks.  I’ve been absent again from blogging.  This time I have a VERY good excuse.  We’re getting our house ready to sell!  We haven’t liked where we are living for years, so this was a long time coming.  We can now move away from this house and neighborhood without fear of losing money in the deal. </p> <p align="justify">There’s just one problem.  <strike>We</strike> I have a lot of junk.  I mean A LOT!  I’d like to blame Jack and all his toys, but really it’s all me.  It’s all stuff that I have acquired over the years and haven’t been able to let go of.  Really, do I need to keep the dozen <a href="http://www.skintimate.com/" target="_blank">Skintimate</a> shaving gel samples I got 12 years ago from a school P.E. kit?  If I haven’t used them by now, I need to get rid of them!</p> <p align="justify">Much of my cleaning out so far has been just that.  Getting stuff out of my house that has no purpose.  The <a href="http://www.goodwill.org/" target="_blank">Goodwill</a> donation site guy is going to know me by name soon.  I went twice in one day, because I had so much stuff and couldn’t fit it in one load.  (and I drive a minivan, people!!)</p> <p align="justify">While I’m cleaning out and making our house market-ready, I have learned a few tricks.  I thought I’d share them with you.  I can’t say yet if these tricks work for selling a house or are even any good, but I can say that they have made a huge difference in keeping my house clean so far.  (once you look past all the boxes of course)</p> <p align="justify">Let’s start with the kitchen.  Here is a before picture of my kitchen.  Aye-yai-yai!!</p> <p align="justify"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-r_w42PHuSec/T1jsg3ql5zI/AAAAAAAAZMI/eee4sHNXFfo/s1600-h/P5190061%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="P5190061" border="0" alt="P5190061" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-hYrk6rosEiY/T1jshlg4YJI/AAAAAAAAZMQ/6eWOzzYPemA/P5190061_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="624" height="469" /></a></p> <p align="justify">This picture actually came from last summer.  But fear not, this is how awful my kitchen looks on a daily basis.  When I have company, it looks a bit better than this, but there’s still a lot of stuff on my counters that I’ve had to deal with.  Let’s talk about what I’ve done so far. </p> <p align="justify"><font size="5">Cutting boards</font> – you can’t really see them in the before photo, but they’re back in the corner, on the counter, to the left of the Cuisinart.  I finally got those off my counters and into a cupboard above my (broken) microwave.  I had to clean out some stuff from that cupboard that I wasn’t using, but it freed up an entire cupboard for me to use.  My mom took the baker, and some pottery that hadn’t been used in 6 years.  (Sorry mom, since you bought some of those for me!)</p> <p align="justify"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-dI0VC5utanY/T1jsieAqlHI/AAAAAAAAZMY/4DaItAxt4d0/s1600-h/P2270645%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="P2270645" border="0" alt="P2270645" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-wVN-1WO3274/T1jsit4tadI/AAAAAAAAZMg/xtZPfAEhPik/P2270645_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="624" height="469" /></a></p> <p align="justify"><font size="5">Recipe boxes</font> – My <a href="http://growthchartmoments.blogspot.com/2011/08/recipe-boxes-prettifiedsorta.html" target="_blank">pretty recipe boxes</a> that were sitting on my counter to the left of the stove (the before picture was taken before I covered them with pretty paper) also got put up in that same cupboard above the microwave. </p> <p align="justify"><font size="5">Tool caddy</font> – I had two big/FULL kitchen tool caddy’s on my counters.  I use just about every gadget in those caddies too.  So instead of getting rid of it all, I put my most used tools in a drawer, left a few big spatulas and a whisk in the pretty crock, then loaded everything else that comes out every once in a while into a canvas ‘box’ that sits in my pantry.  It’s really inconvenient to have to dig through the box to find the can opener, but it makes my counters MUCH neater, so I can live with it until we move.  I put my unused tool caddy in storage.  I’ll be bringing it back out when we move!</p> <p align="justify"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-py1EqhJt1bw/T1jsjhx3HEI/AAAAAAAAZMo/dzKYQlJwlK4/s1600-h/P3080657%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="P3080657" border="0" alt="P3080657" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-9cCWozzB_A8/T1jskAsjzII/AAAAAAAAZMw/DgbPwvUhgFc/P3080657_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="624" height="469" /></a></p> <p align="justify"><font size="5">Food processer and Dutch oven</font> – I am fortunate enough to own a BIG Cuisinart food processor and (since this Christmas) a HEAVY Dutch oven.  I love them both, and use them pretty regularly.  Up until this move, they’ve been sitting on the counter or stovetop full time.  I moved them both to my pots and pans cupboard after weeding out pans that I don’t use anymore.  (a big ‘spaghetti pot’ as we call it usually sits inside the Dutch oven, but it’s being used right now)</p> <p align="justify"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-yXVJUcvrvjE/T1jsk9NmypI/AAAAAAAAZM4/0EA7PIsaDS8/s1600-h/P3080656%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="P3080656" border="0" alt="P3080656" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-NefB2r_dEuo/T1jslSt79vI/AAAAAAAAZNA/AM7BpsQGIMY/P3080656_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="375" height="504" /></a></p> <p align="justify"><font size="5">baking canisters</font> – I bake pretty often.  Well, maybe I should say I use baking ingredients (flour, sugar, brown sugar) often.  I make bread, desserts, and I use sugar in our oatmeal most mornings.  But they were ‘clutter’ on the counter, so I had to figure out a way to get them out of there.  I ended up putting them in the pantry.  It’s pretty convenient that we just redid our floors, and I had to clean out the pantry completely during that process.  My pantry was pretty organized when I started this kitchen clean up, so I had extra space to fill up in the big pantry.  </p> <p align="justify"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ZPDgBYf9SoU/T1jsmKeH3oI/AAAAAAAAZNI/1Fc6iDoVLVc/s1600-h/P3080661%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="P3080661" border="0" alt="P3080661" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-BYmAYdZS5Ks/T1jsmlq3gJI/AAAAAAAAZNQ/69zGKkj-twc/P3080661_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="353" height="469" /></a></p> <p align="justify"><font size="5">Fridge </font>- I have a lot of pictures on my fridge.  Every time I clean it off, I think I’m not going to clutter it up again,  but it always ends up cluttered.  This time I took off ALL the magnets and put them in a Ziplock bag to be brought out again once we move.  I also had to clean off the top of the fridge.  That happened when we redid our floors.  I had recently cleaned out all the medicine from the cupboard next to the stove (don’t they say NOT to put medicines next to the stove???) and put the container turn-about in there.  </p> <p align="justify"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-2-zWBvcoNE0/T1jsnOWYPXI/AAAAAAAAZNY/zkM1YTWjKig/s1600-h/P2270637%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="P2270637" border="0" alt="P2270637" align="left" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Z00TzxGvKNg/T1jsnsHGKMI/AAAAAAAAZNg/jOHGEzDoBCQ/P2270637_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="353" height="469" /></a></p> <p align="justify"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-17BDLJhe1M0/T1jsogrU66I/AAAAAAAAZNo/ukkQJPhXBBk/s1600-h/blog%252520%25252711%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="blog '11" border="0" alt="blog '11" align="left" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-jmc77bnES3I/T1jspDIAQfI/AAAAAAAAZNw/FLOJyasbglw/blog%252520%25252711_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="463" height="300" /></a></p> <p align="justify"> </p> <p align="justify"> </p> <p align="justify"> </p> <p align="justify"> </p> <p align="justify"> </p> <p align="justify"> </p> <p align="justify"> </p> <p align="justify"> </p> <p align="justify"> </p> <p align="justify"> </p> <p align="justify"> </p> <p align="justify"><font size="5">Island organized</font> – I have no pictures for now, but trust me when I say that I can make my island clear of clutter.  I have a mail center now that collets the mail, receipts, notepads, and random paper clutter.  It sits in the middle of the island and can be taken with us when we have showings. I just haven’t taken a picture of it yet. </p> <p align="justify">So do you want to know what my kitchen looks like now?  Here is a (bad) photo of what it looks like when we’re on top of our game and ready to show. (I’ll have to do something with the loaf of bread, but for now, it stays there).  I purchased some “display” towels that will be hung when we go out for a showing.  </p> <p align="justify"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-O2EXajNJc98/T1jspz-9KoI/AAAAAAAAZN4/5rl7gRdNJUI/s1600-h/P2270635%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="P2270635" border="0" alt="P2270635" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-_DqgJA3-mQ8/T1jsrv6BtnI/AAAAAAAAZOA/rLWpC-Vp3H0/P2270635_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="624" height="469" /></a></p> <p align="justify">Let’s see the dramatic before and after of this one again! <br /></p> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-f0kLJvt1i_8/T1jssPQpBXI/AAAAAAAAZOI/FrFwRmWr3n0/s1600-h/05%252520May%2525202011%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="05 May 2011" border="0" alt="05 May 2011" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-QOSX8SMJKCo/T1jss0QAeOI/AAAAAAAAZOQ/Bz3JfFKQXUA/05%252520May%2525202011_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="624" height="392" /></a> <p>I’m pretty proud of my cleaning and decluttering accomplishment.  This seemed like an insurmountable task!  I’m glad I have at least ONE room in my house ready to go! </p> <p>As for the next posts on how I’m organizing other spaces in my house, I may be lacking with the ‘before’ pictures.  I’m not upset about that (since it means I don’t have to show you how BAD it all was), but it would have helped with the "wow factor” when you see how I’ve organized some other spaces.  </p> <p>Until next time!</p> Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13091206341249617247noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6326215201248018708.post-7823787851227079512012-02-03T18:39:00.001-05:002012-02-03T18:39:02.092-05:00Foto Friday–Hands<p align="justify">I’ve been out of this Foto Friday thing for a while.  It’s fun to join in, but I just haven’t taken the time to do it in a long time.  This week’s theme is HANDS.  </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-UrCxRggWwOE/TyxwDeZ35lI/AAAAAAAAYbk/GnmPnJwb7dw/s1600-h/P1200238%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="P1200238" border="0" alt="P1200238" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-OZjKQhJgHKA/TyxwD9UqylI/AAAAAAAAYbs/-FsTks4oIUI/P1200238_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="624" height="418" /></a></p> <p align="justify">This picture was from last month, but I took the same picture last year.  If I don’t lose that little front loader, I’m planning to take this picture every year. Here’s what we have so far: </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-k0iZVt8RrMo/TyxwEUSGn-I/AAAAAAAAYb0/Y1MgH1DBRQ0/s1600-h/1%252520January%25252020121%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Not a TON of difference yet, but it's there." border="0" alt="Not a TON of difference yet, but it's there." src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-BZ-RCpG8JLU/TyxwFf4BZbI/AAAAAAAAYb8/xnA2NeZUm3g/1%252520January%25252020121_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="624" height="417" /></a></p> <p align="justify">Click on over to Lori’s blog to see other Foto Friday entries for this week.  Have a great weekend!</p> <p><a href="http://la-lashomedaycare.blogspot.com/" target="”_blank”"><img style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="Photobucket" src="http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff320/Lawill/flowerbutton-1.jpg" /></a></p> Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13091206341249617247noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6326215201248018708.post-84781581205789479792012-01-30T08:43:00.000-05:002012-01-30T08:43:00.549-05:00An Interview With a Three Year Old<p>Recently, <a href="http://growthchartmoments.blogspot.com/2012/01/jack-is-3-and-few-growth-chart-moments.html" target="_blank">Jack turned 3</a>.  Did you know that he also turned into a little man?  He says thinks like “that’s unfortunate!” and “How in the world did that get there?”  His vocabulary is incredible, and I love having conversations with him.  </p> <p>After catching up with my favorite blogs in my Reader, I saw that a <a href="http://kandmbaby.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">bloggy friend’s</a> daughter just turned 3 this month as well.  She did an <a href="http://kandmbaby.blogspot.com/2012/01/happy-birthday-hailey-bellle.html" target="_blank">interview with her daughter</a> and plans to do this every year to see how things change.  I love that idea, and I’ve seen it around other places and have been meaning to do this before.  Here is my interview with Jack, my just-turned-three year old. </p> <p><b>1. what is your favorite color?</b> <em>Green</em></p> <p><b>2. what is your favorite toy?</b> <i>John Deere</i></p> <p><b>3. what is your favorite fruit?</b> <em>Grapefruit (really? it’s not the blueberries or strawberries you ask for EVERY DAY?)</em></p> <p><b>4. what is your favorite t.v. show?</b> <i>John Deere or Winnie the Pooh (I asked it twice, and got two different answers)</i></p> <p><b>5. what is your favorite thing to eat for lunch?</b><em>  grapefruit (again, really?)</em></p> <p><b>6. what is your favorite outfit?</b><i> John Deere pj’s  (he doesn’t own any)</i></p> <p><b>7. what is your favorite game?</b> <i>Marbles (he just finished playing a magnet marble game that he never plays)</i></p> <p><b>8. what is your favorite snack?</b> <i>fish crackers (I never buy these, but he knows about them!!)</i></p> <p><b>9. what is your favorite animal?</b> <i>fish or zebras (I asked it twice as well, and the answers were different each time)</i></p> <p><b>10. what is your favorite song?</b> <i>I can’t say </i></p> <p><b>11. what is your favorite book?</b><i> Otis (By Loren Long is currently on loan from the library. It’s about a tractor) </i></p> <p><b>12. who is your best friend?</b> <i>Roo (from Winnie the Pooh)</i></p> <p><b>13. what is your favorite cereal?</b> <i>Frosted Mini Wheats (he likes to eat just the frosted part)</i></p> <p><b>14. what is your favorite thing to do outside?</b> <i>play in the mud (we don’t play outside all that often)</i></p> <p><b>15. what is your favorite drink? </b><i>milk</i></p> <p><b>16. what is your favorite holiday?</b> <i>Christmas (I’m surprised he knew what holiday meant)</i></p> <p><b>17. what do you like to take to bed with you at night?</b> <i>Pooh</i></p> <p><b>18. what is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast?</b> <i>Frosted Mini Wheats (really?  Not the pancakes you ask for EVERY DAY?)</i></p> <p><b>19. what do you want for dinner on your birthday?</b> No answer</p> <p><b>20. what do you want to be when you grow up?</b> <i>A TRACTOR!!!</i></p> <p>The final answer was my absolute favorite answer of all time.  I love my little tractor boy!</p> Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13091206341249617247noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6326215201248018708.post-40402571426095119452012-01-28T15:36:00.001-05:002012-01-28T15:36:29.586-05:00Three Sisters A Shop<p>Have I ever told you how many cousins Jack has?  He has 8 cousins.  This may seem like a standard amount of cousins to grow up with, or it may even seem like very few to you.  But to me, it seems like a lot.  Until I was in high school, I had 2 cousins.  TWO! And they were about 16 years older than me.    Then, 20 years ago, my youngest cousin was born, and I now have a total of 3 first cousins.  That made for very small family gatherings growing up.  </p> <p>Jack will grow up with different family dynamics.  Thanks to my sister, he has two cousins on my side of the family.  And thanks to my husband’s sister and brother, he has 6 cousins and counting.  Our family gatherings with Rick’s side of the family are much bigger (and louder) than my side.  Here is a look at all the cousins on that side:</p> <p> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-RpSKB6Z0hc0/TyRcRTYzQuI/AAAAAAAAYPo/bsre27hHgo8/s1600-h/PB240109%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="PB240109" border="0" alt="PB240109" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-k3hZJz7CNi8/TyRcRgk69wI/AAAAAAAAYPw/tpLK_CkqqQI/PB240109_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="624" height="469" /></a></p> <p>Aren’t they beautiful?  (pardon the littlest girl’s skin…she had fun putting ‘makeup’ on that day with some markers she found) Thanks to our newest member, the boys aren’t so out numbered like they used to be!  It’s going to be fun watching those boys grow up together. </p> <p>The three oldest girls are possibly the most creative girls I know.  They are also the most talented girls.  They write, draw, paint, take pictures, knit, crochet, and who knows what else?!  The oldest has a passion for all things British.  She is planning to study in England someday (hopefully at the end of this year). That isn’t cheap, as we all know, so she and 2 of her sisters have created an Etsy shop to sell their creative wares. This will help her (and any of the others if they can someday) get to England to study and work. </p> <p align="center"><img src="http://img2.etsystatic.com/iusb_760x100.8944926.jpg" /></p> <p>Want to see what they make? Here’s a sample: </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-XdUV_Cfm0VA/TyRcSoegkrI/AAAAAAAAYP4/Mrge8z__lwE/s1600-h/Fullscreen%252520capture%2525201282012%25252030203%252520PM.bmp%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Fullscreen capture 1282012 30203 PM.bmp" border="0" alt="Fullscreen capture 1282012 30203 PM.bmp" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ywRZmworx3A/TyRcTMKqYMI/AAAAAAAAYQA/3LDZYMj2y08/Fullscreen%252520capture%2525201282012%25252030203%252520PM.bmp_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="560" height="562" /></a></p> <p>Look at how cute these little dolls are!  Aren’t they adorable?</p> <p><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/86402840/crochet-dolls-celeste" target="_blank"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" border="0" alt="Crochet Dolls - Celeste" src="http://img2.etsystatic.com/il_570xN.287316302.jpg" /></a></p> <p>And these little animals.  So sweet!</p> <p><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/87206665/esmeralda-cloth-elephant" target="_blank"><img style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" alt="Esmeralda Cloth Elephant" src="http://img2.etsystatic.com/il_570xN.290493798.jpg" /></a></p> <p> </p> <p>They also make paper crafts like these flower  balls. They’re bright and fun!</p> <p><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/82313723/flower-balls-circus-parade-collection" target="_blank"><img style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" alt="Flower Balls - Circus Parade Collection - Set of 6 Flowers" src="http://img0.etsystatic.com/il_570xN.272813712.jpg" /></a></p> <p>These notecards are all personally hand drawn by the youngest of the three sisters. </p> <p><img style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" alt="Hot Air Balloon Note Cards - set of 5" src="http://img2.etsystatic.com/il_570xN.294690666.jpg" /></p> <p>Head on over to <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/ThreeSistersAShop?ref=seller_info" target="_blank">Three Sisters A Shop on Etsy</a> to check out everything they have to offer.  I’m so proud to be their aunt, and I couldn’t be happier to advertise for them here.  I can’t wait to hear all about her trip to England…we’ll be able to swap stories then!</p> Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13091206341249617247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6326215201248018708.post-21912087661185643642012-01-18T10:08:00.001-05:002012-01-18T10:08:04.431-05:00Jack is 3! (And a Few Growth Chart Moments)<p align="justify">Jack had a birthday last weekend.  I can’t believe my little guy is 3 already!  Here is a collage of his 3 birthdays</p> <p align="justify"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-YxZ8daE3BAs/TxbgPC1F5pI/AAAAAAAAYGQ/he9gZRYbR8g/s1600-h/1%252520January%2525202012%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="1 January 2012" border="0" alt="1 January 2012" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-lDStwxoeNJk/TxbgPkcp1kI/AAAAAAAAYGY/TgJoNF42jiM/1%252520January%2525202012_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="688" height="469" /></a></p> <p align="justify">We had a very small celebration the morning of his birthday.  Rick and I had decorated the kitchen after Jack was in bed, and we laid out his many presents for him to see when he came downstairs in the morning.  He was surprised, that’s for sure.  </p> <p align="justify"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-JncC-j8azRQ/TxbgQIyjtzI/AAAAAAAAYGg/KNil9RGr9II/s1600-h/P1130109-001%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="All ready for his birthday!" border="0" alt="All ready for his birthday!" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-k3cB_OvETxc/TxbgQ12Hu6I/AAAAAAAAYGo/kcF609lPdgo/P1130109-001_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="423" height="568" /></a></p> <p align="justify">We don’t do a big Christmas – only three presents each – but we love to do big birthdays.  Actually, I should rephrase that. We don’t do a big Christmas for JACK, but do do big birthdays for JACK.  When it comes to us, we still do birthdays pretty low key. It’s so fun to lavish Jack with presents!  It’s also hard to resist the toys in the toy aisle when everything you look at shouts “Jack would LOVE this!”  So, we over did it.  I’m not worried about it. </p> <p align="justify"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-pGboGOcVE_Y/TxbgRjqi-mI/AAAAAAAAYGw/kQSE9ZvLfTM/s1600-h/P1130113-001%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="LOTS of presentts. We spoil him on his birthday, that's for sure!" border="0" alt="LOTS of presentts. We spoil him on his birthday, that's for sure!" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-oDo9vHCX4oQ/TxbgSKZwfQI/AAAAAAAAYG4/b500yt8LH2s/P1130113-001_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="688" height="460" /></a></p> <p align="justify">The other big part of Jack’s birthdays is the cake.  We love being ‘creative’ with his cakes.  When I had a minor computer crash last year, I lost very few photos.  We were really lucky.  But the one set of photos that we did loose were last year’s birthday pictures.  So, if you want to see our AMAZING (well, impressive perhaps, but amazing, I’m not sure) train cake from last year’s birthday, please check out last <a href="http://growthchartmoments.blogspot.com/2011/04/train-cake.html" target="_blank">year’s birthday post</a>.  We were pretty proud of that one. This year I found a cake on <a href="http://pinterest.com" target="_blank">Pinterest</a> that I knew had to be Jack’s birthday cake this year.  The <a href="http://fredellicious.blogspot.com/2011/09/my-baby-turns-2.html" target="_blank">original</a> is so much prettier than mine, but ours turned out much better than I thought it would.  This was a super easy cake to put together!</p> <p align="justify"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-mDXjJIlQVgc/TxbgS4PieHI/AAAAAAAAYHA/7-8Fo-ept3g/s1600-h/P1140182%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Birthday cake" border="0" alt="Birthday cake" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-K3fIyfk1MDo/TxbgThV8dhI/AAAAAAAAYHI/sDhsxEy-0y4/P1140182_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="624" height="469" /></a></p> <p align="justify">The fun part was that the inside was a surprise- it was construction colors.  If you go to the original link, you can see how much better hers was.  And you can see a picture tutorial on how to make the diagonal cake design from one of her links.  </p> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-CC3GCbV8C5I/TxbgUZh64PI/AAAAAAAAYHQ/GOEfNCWIRgk/s1600-h/P1140202%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Construction zone cake" border="0" alt="Construction zone cake" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-JmMJhb9EYDY/TxbgU3-71RI/AAAAAAAAYHY/eEGFXHm1daM/P1140202_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="624" height="469" /></a> <p>The best part is that Jack loved it.  He wanted to help the backhoe dig up the cake. </p> <p>Jack’s such a big boy now.  He’s completely <a href="http://growthchartmoments.blogspot.com/2011/09/potty-traininga-huge-growth-chart.html" target="_blank">potty trained</a> – even at night.  He talks up a storm, using words and phrases like “I realized I had the wrong one..” and “I’ve been thinking about ….”  He uses utensils like a champ when he eats .  He listens to chapter books at bedtime now (<a href="http://www.magictreehouse.com/" target="_blank">Magic Treehouse</a>). He wants to do everything himself and he’s usually pretty good about doing it right.  He helps us cook and even puts the toothpaste on his own toothbrush without smooshing too much out on the brush.    We’re very proud of him and hope we haven’t ruined him yet in his first three years.  Hopefully he’ll get a little brother or sister this year.  That was our hope last year, but it looks like this year will be more likely.  Fingers are crossed! </p> <p>HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JACK!</p> Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13091206341249617247noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6326215201248018708.post-29955725455162449822012-01-17T17:14:00.001-05:002012-01-17T17:14:16.086-05:00Time For My Bi-Annual Junk Drawer Cleaning<p>It’s amazing to me that I let something get so messy and leave it so messy for YEARS.  Who does that???  Almost two years ago I wrote a post about how <a href="http://growthchartmoments.blogspot.com/2010/03/what-does-your-kitchen-junk-drawer-look.html" target="_blank">I cleaned my junk drawer</a>.  In that post, I mentioned how I had cleaned it out a few years before, but that it had gotten out of hand over time.  So, I have to assume that every two years I will clean out this junk drawer.  At least It gets cleaned.  Eventually. </p> <p>Here is the before THIS time: </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-LsLneMOPxW8/TxXysIrNmFI/AAAAAAAAYFw/YSwQLS3oRNA/s1600-h/P1090214%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="P1090214" border="0" alt="P1090214" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-mHeTmn5sOwM/TxXysjr4KOI/AAAAAAAAYF4/xWAXWIc3O48/P1090214_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="541" height="414" /></a></p> <p>I think I see the trays in there from last time I organized. </p> <p>After cleaning everything out and throwing a lot away, here is the after photo: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN1tzsvOFrFGXWS4rYjzKqbQbxqNyq6KCP2zBwG6lm-r7y6wIHSOUkckj0W75qSOX_rON_uI4xdzQUPPDzW9Kul47-yj60oTAIhPukGp8HjXKGddjqONQzMFV4dVboJT-XKZVGKNcfIuP_/s1600-h/P1090215%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="P1090215" border="0" alt="P1090215" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-j-_dawDgd4A/TxXyt3MG7uI/AAAAAAAAYGI/2XNNERZCXxU/P1090215_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="536" height="417" /></a></p> <p>I think it’s even better than the after photo from last <strike>year</strike> time.  The two jars are what I love the most.  One jar holds twist ties and the other holds gumbands.  Raise your hand if you know what gumbands are!  (put your hand down, Mom.  I KNOW you do!)</p> <p>I know you come here for riveting posts. Glad I could provide for you.  </p> Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13091206341249617247noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6326215201248018708.post-68738790507637026602012-01-16T20:07:00.001-05:002012-01-16T20:07:44.974-05:00Change of Scenery<p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Gisha">I’m finally coming to terms with the fact that, while I really like my blog theme and layout, it’s time for a change.  I am going to call this “done” for now, even though I’ll probably tweak it some in the days or weeks to come.  I’d love to incorporate my old header with some new inspiration.  I wonder if I’ll ever figure out what that means and how to do it.  I’ve got some ideas up my sleeve, but the time must have fallen out.  </font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Gisha">Thanks for still hanging around.  Just think….you can say, “I’ve been here since she had that busy so long ago.”</font></p> Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13091206341249617247noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6326215201248018708.post-26334258560596927352012-01-12T12:07:00.001-05:002012-01-16T13:57:18.774-05:00I’m Not Dead! (And Our Floors Are done)<p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Gisha">I don’t think there were too many people out there wondering if I’d actually died or not, but I’m sure someone other than my mother was wondering if I was ever going to blog again.  I am! </font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Gisha">I’d like to get back into a sporadic-regular blogging schedule, but we’ll let that work itself out in the future.  I have tons of stuff (by tons I mean about 5) to blog about, but I haven’t had the motivation to actually sit down and get any of it into word form.  </font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Gisha">Anyway, I thought I’d update you on our floors.  They’re done!  They were done before Christmas, which meant we were able to host our annual family Christmas Eve celebration with my sister’s family and our mom.  I LOVE that Christmas get-together.  I love them all, really, but because this is the only one I host, it seems more special to me I guess.</font></p> <p align="justify"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-s4_ZnbysB1k/Tw8TTb7d3EI/AAAAAAAAX9M/iBtGqv8FFnU/s1600-h/PC240134%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="PC240134" border="0" alt="PC240134" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-a3JDpNH2cwg/Tw8TT_zMOBI/AAAAAAAAX9U/lQcVjppR5nc/PC240134_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="394" height="264" /></a></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Gisha">Here is a look at our floors in the few Christmas pictures I could find that showed off our floors. I never took a really great AFTER picture, so these will have to suffice.  </font></p> <p align="justify"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-7OSreGzt8TE/Tw8TUuGV0JI/AAAAAAAAX9c/IpJ0BMTTzEY/s1600-h/PC100295%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="YAY!!!" border="0" alt="YAY!!!" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-KO61rTyyCCA/Tw8TVBa0q4I/AAAAAAAAX9k/MsCSZCX7qck/PC100295_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="393" height="296" /></a><font size="3" face="Gisha"></font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Gisha">This was the night that we actually finished.  I was in love.  We have since changed out the metal registers for wooden ones. </font></p> <p align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv0Gx30PwgwphL8rUzA50eSWuK3nJwjP9o9_ELMhYfem0XB2t6vT-WDjEiL55qU7FTNRV3D7ErD5h4yqluy69MkShIpx8BcUNxV8ood0CfTVBGvSsk5V1AMg-4aGumYYhn-wsLX1gaTW6-/s1600-h/PC240173%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="PC240173" border="0" alt="PC240173" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-yWH_gTGOeQo/Tw8TWPcGq4I/AAAAAAAAX90/VlTSl5qbkkU/PC240173_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="393" height="296" /></a></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Gisha">Here is the widest shot we have from our Christmas Eve party.  Those are my sister’s boys.  Jack (and the rest of us) LOVE them!   You can see how our dark coffee table and our dark secretary (in the back to the left of the tree) look with our dark floors now.  I like it. Though, I have my eyes on a light beige shag rug (that I’m hoping comes way down in price soon) to put under that coffee table. </font></p> <p align="justify"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-vQXrQa1Bd-M/Tw8TWj-8VSI/AAAAAAAAX98/0w7UG6k6IKY/s1600-h/PC250213%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="PC250213" border="0" alt="PC250213" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/--ivVDva4eTA/Tw8TXJTHQNI/AAAAAAAAX-E/GW1-m9SEmv4/PC250213_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="300" height="408" /></a></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Gisha">This is our Christmas morning.  You may notice an absence of presents under the tree.  We usually stick to the rule of 3 presents for each of us, but this year, Rick and I decided to count our floors as our gift to each other, so we didn’t get gifts for ourselves.  I love how, on Christmas morning, I asked Jack “It’s Christmas morning, do you know what that means?” and his response was “Yeah!!  We get to get out the train!!”  </font></p> <p align="justify"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-_ZaLMmVEboc/Tw8TXd0ptNI/AAAAAAAAX-M/5AmeV0_Djow/s1600-h/PC300151%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="PC300151" border="0" alt="PC300151" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Mvkqo1BEDFQ/Tw8TX62-FTI/AAAAAAAAX-U/MmCWNI_Cubc/PC300151_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="289" height="389" /></a></p> <p align="justify"></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Gisha">This last picture is blurry.  Too blurry to show as a good picture on a blog – unless you’re trying to show the length of the new floors you just put in, and you’re trying to protect the identity of the <a href="http://plasmacar.com/" target="_blank">Plasma Car</a> thief in our house.  It also does a good job of hiding the clutter in our kitchen.  </font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Gisha">We love our floors, but it was HARD WORK putting them in.  It took about a week (or 2) longer than we expected, and we had two big situations that required us to pull up floor that had already been laid.  It was very interesting ad frustrating.  </font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Gisha">Thanks for still hanging around my blog to see if I’m alive.  I appreciate all my readers, even the ones who never comment.  If you are so inclined, please leave me a comment today saying that YOU’RE alive, so I know if anyone other than my mother reads my blog.  I have missed you, blog friends! I hope to be around more often on your blogs as well as writing more posts for my own blog. </font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Gisha">Happy 2012!</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Gisha"></font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Gisha"> </font></p> Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13091206341249617247noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6326215201248018708.post-11066439513024919362011-11-23T10:38:00.001-05:002011-11-23T10:38:04.945-05:00What’s Been Going On?<p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Gisha">Well, here’s a picture (or 11) of what’s keeping me away from the computer these past few days.  And it’s also what’s going to keep me away for the next few days.  Maybe weeks.  Who knows how long this will take….</font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Gisha">This is my living room furniture.  All in one big ‘pile’. </font></p> <p align="justify"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-IKTaA4Dinjs/Ts0TOjuBP7I/AAAAAAAAXmg/MneW_XuDPsE/s1600-h/PB200035%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><font size="3" face="Gisha"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="PB200035" border="0" alt="PB200035" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-tiWR9t23kZM/Ts0TOw0Xh-I/AAAAAAAAXmo/8NIoMq_oCmc/PB200035_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="393" height="296" /></font></a></p> <p align="justify"><font face="Gisha"><font size="3"><strike>We’re </strike> Rick’s pulling up all our carpet to put down new hard wood laminate flooring.  </font></font></p> <p align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifXt994ARw5ehjPDeXOLXfH19xFTATqjDle2Gbt7joK5uj7lILptmq0utjKLjFjjGerA6mzoP4196d6C5Hs2CfgsS1HLhNT1ex4_spGVbzJ55_9mAcNnqV1Tg7Np2ItsHfQbkndJklUImK/s1600-h/PB200036%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><font size="3" face="Gisha"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="PB200036" border="0" alt="PB200036" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-m_9OfxciY3g/Ts0TPwlrvxI/AAAAAAAAXm4/mkDP_AAGpqE/PB200036_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="393" height="296" /></font></a></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Gisha">We’re putting the same flooring all throughout our first floor, which means the kitchen will be next.  While the floors are up in the kitchen, I’ll be painting the walls.  </font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Gisha">Yellow.  One of these yellows.  (the colors are crappy in the picture)</font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Gisha">Oh, and maybe one day painting those cabinets a nice creamy white color. Maybe.</font></p> <p align="justify"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-20mTFjnxG2g/Ts0TQV_LOGI/AAAAAAAAXnA/GHniz831LCI/s1600-h/PB190025%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><font size="3" face="Gisha"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="PB190025" border="0" alt="PB190025" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-pjY4FvHcyxc/Ts0TQw8h5VI/AAAAAAAAXnI/3UKqtRqQR-E/PB190025_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="223" height="296" /></font></a></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Gisha">While we’re in a state of mid-construction, Jack is forced to wear his new boots.  He LOVES his boots, so that isn’t a hardship.  </font></p> <p align="justify"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-EhHg8blXgbQ/Ts0TRLVtlDI/AAAAAAAAXnQ/d3qCfljIkXg/s1600-h/PB210037%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><font size="3" face="Gisha"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="PB210037" border="0" alt="PB210037" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-rEn3jPmb1ok/Ts0TRsTSRZI/AAAAAAAAXnY/9p0h9CriHDE/PB210037_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="302" height="407" /></font></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-KHBLdyhH6CI/Ts0TR-DqsXI/AAAAAAAAXng/uPsy0DYhtIo/s1600-h/PB210049%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><font size="3" face="Gisha"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="PB210049" border="0" alt="PB210049" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-GGpfcL8E3Ok/Ts0TSaESR1I/AAAAAAAAXno/HqL_TVdII54/PB210049_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="292" height="393" /></font></a></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Gisha">While the sub floor is showing, I decided to write out some scriptures.  We’re supposed to stand on the word of the Lord, right?</font></p> <p align="justify"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-tR9G1p2Fsr4/Ts0TS9KncsI/AAAAAAAAXnw/d1b38KrK_6c/s1600-h/PB210070%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><font size="3" face="Gisha"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="PB210070" border="0" alt="PB210070" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-v92I8IYk4j0/Ts0TTHORirI/AAAAAAAAXn4/Sn2uZ5DWK-A/PB210070_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="393" height="296" /></font></a></p> <p align="justify"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-6kKRtTzNeMM/Ts0TTohsGjI/AAAAAAAAXoA/alZulds2Fl8/s1600-h/PB210087%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><font size="3" face="Gisha"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="PB210087" border="0" alt="PB210087" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-tQxFDB6JxRg/Ts0TT1STHMI/AAAAAAAAXoI/vg-VGtjxlak/PB210087_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="393" height="296" /></font></a></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Gisha">Now, everyone who ever walks on our floors, and anyone who ever owns this house will be standing on a firm foundation.  </font></p> <p align="justify"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-aHEPii0gAAA/Ts0TURTSWqI/AAAAAAAAXoQ/nSpuvaan-50/s1600-h/PB210089%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><font size="3" face="Gisha"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="PB210089" border="0" alt="PB210089" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQdacUfrmI-aL09pWV8nCq1MZOj7pzH9xF8fpSvXyA4XfCfNdvJJ7nUI7bTN6AbjA8w_3GVX-3RVkY5LJdWv1_Pk0Ckc6u0Trv7hdrIUn4gwyghSAmgeSu02xNSe-_FrIdV2CE9U5q9z8o/?imgmax=800" width="322" height="434" /></font></a></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Gisha">Jack wants to help with EVERY step.  He’s a pretty good helper too.  Rick is *mostly* patient with him., too.</font></p> <p align="justify"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-me6DVFkGD8Q/Ts0TVS9jCnI/AAAAAAAAXog/i16quH7oMgU/s1600-h/PB220091%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><font size="3" face="Gisha"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="PB220091" border="0" alt="PB220091" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-keA3Vl5D9m8/Ts0TVgFf35I/AAAAAAAAXoo/jIaS8vMvVQY/PB220091_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="308" height="415" /></font></a></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Gisha">He was the first one to walk on the new floor. </font></p> <p align="justify"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-YDdZ_cwgHmA/Ts0TWIvQUcI/AAAAAAAAXow/h2-eNxGhxFY/s1600-h/PB220095%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><font size="3" face="Gisha"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="PB220095" border="0" alt="PB220095" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-nV2oi2GjMlY/Ts0TWatfPcI/AAAAAAAAXo4/fxn-btW1Wjw/PB220095_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="393" height="296" /></font></a></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Gisha">He even got to help pound in the boards.  What a good helper!</font></p> <p align="justify"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-YfeO3s63I3I/Ts0TWp8nleI/AAAAAAAAXpA/hb8Ad4H-s8Y/s1600-h/PB220100%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><font size="3" face="Gisha"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="PB220100" border="0" alt="PB220100" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-kFmQDIvcUls/Ts0TXBtEfcI/AAAAAAAAXpI/sG767IpgywM/PB220100_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="326" height="439" /></font></a></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Gisha"></font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Gisha">Someday, hopefully before Christmas, I’ll show you our AFTER pictures.  I can’t wait!  </font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Gisha">Yes, we’ll have mismatched woods in our home.  I can live with that!</font></p> Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13091206341249617247noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6326215201248018708.post-1318758773797581452011-11-18T09:55:00.001-05:002011-11-18T09:55:30.771-05:00Happy Friday to You<p><font size="3" face="Gisha">I have a few pictures for you today.  </font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Gisha">This week’s theme for Foto Friday is “silhouette”.  (which I never spell correctly the first time!)  I was going to take a new picture of Jack this week for this prompt, but I <strike>was too lazy</strike>  decided to pick one from my archives instead.  This is one of my favorites.  Jack was 6 months here. My little virtuoso.  </font></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-RVAZDbqVwdw/TsZx2AVqx9I/AAAAAAAAXlE/Kzl7werxenw/s1600-h/DSC075907.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSC07590" border="0" alt="DSC07590" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-9ioAP5h4ESo/TsZx2WzscvI/AAAAAAAAXlM/AX_wJLM-bBI/DSC07590_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="393" height="296" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://la-lashomedaycare.blogspot.com" target="”_blank”"><img style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="Photobucket" src="http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff320/Lawill/my-button.gif" /></a></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Gisha">A friend of mine (and her friend) started a new photo challenge. This one has prizes, so I thought I’d get over my fear of submitting photos alongside REAL photographers and submit one this week. I like to support my friends, so I’m only partially in it for the prizes.  Here is my best photo from this week. </font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Gisha">Since we live very close to a military airport, we see a LOT of KC135s and C5s.  They routinely do “touch and go’s”, which is when they come in for a landing, but just touch down, then go back up in the air again.  They’ll circle around and do that over and over again.  Each time, this is the view that we get. (This is a C5 –the largest airplane in operation)</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-E4YxWe74XMk/TsZx22Hw6iI/AAAAAAAAXlU/ShH1mRUCEw4/s1600-h/PB170035%252520copy%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA " border="0" alt="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA " src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ySgGssrJUL4/TsZx3EycsII/AAAAAAAAXlc/ZLB-1z41f3c/PB170035%252520copy_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="393" height="296" /></a></p> <p align="center"><img src="http://i885.photobucket.com/albums/ac55/markdayton58/FPotWeek/mkbutton.jpg" /></p> <center> </center> <div align="justify"><font size="3" face="Gisha">And here is a picture “just because.”  Last weekend, we went to Gramma’s to watch the OSU game.  (they lost in OT)  At one point, Jack and Gramma both had on their Ohio State scarves and were reading a book together (during commercials I’m sure – Gramma’s a big Buckeye fan).  I thought the image was super sweet and wanted to share it with you today. </font></div> </a> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-x2Myfhh6BME/TsZx4OuQyOI/AAAAAAAAXlk/yf3wL0bpO3g/s1600-h/PB120015%252520copy2%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA " border="0" alt="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA " src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-tPPpwdnnyUM/TsZx4qRiYpI/AAAAAAAAXls/9-cP7yavUW4/PB120015%252520copy2_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="393" height="296" /></a></p> <p><font size="3" face="Gisha">Have a great Friday!  And a really great weekend.  </font></p> Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13091206341249617247noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6326215201248018708.post-81217261540868914872011-10-31T09:49:00.000-04:002011-10-31T09:49:00.402-04:00Squirt Gun Art<p align="justify"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-I12KUBqD4yQ/Tqxm97IZetI/AAAAAAAAXBc/7qOhCeQEClg/s1600-h/PA180172%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="PA180172" border="0" alt="PA180172" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-88ZK4_Ltrbg/Tqxm-eqEbiI/AAAAAAAAXBk/r53X_OVThm8/PA180172_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="393" height="296" /></a><font size="3" face="Gisha">I <a href="http://mummamadeit.blogspot.com/2011/08/painting-with-twist.html?showComment=1313415136415#c4183305922418995005" target="_blank">saw this on a blog that I read</a>, and I thought it looked like a lot of fun. Since Rick likes to go shoot his guns, I thought Jack would be excited to shoot his own guns at a target. </font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Gisha"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-a1SkE8g5RrU/Tqxm_L56OVI/AAAAAAAAXBs/9BFfJNiGJp4/s1600-h/PA180170%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="PA180170" border="0" alt="PA180170" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Bwc8esVt254/Tqxm_ceKr4I/AAAAAAAAXB0/EKE7qX6JYls/PA180170_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="393" height="296" /></a></font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Gisha">I did this once with just Jack in our backyard and it didn’t turn out so well.  Mostly because I didn’t follow the directions. That’ll happen.  I used water with a little bit of food coloring in it instead of just food coloring.  The result was a very pale color left on the paper.  You could barely see it.  </font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Gisha"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-3cQYjYr0Y7Q/TqxnADJRbOI/AAAAAAAAXB8/tqTgWmaFr1g/s1600-h/PA180168%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="PA180168" border="0" alt="PA180168" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-zb9_ZbswyGA/TqxnAaQmoyI/AAAAAAAAXCE/1tzDsAEHiT0/PA180168_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="393" height="296" /></a></font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Gisha">This time, when Cage and Jack got together for their most recent <a href="http://growthchartmoments.blogspot.com/2011/07/art-shirts.html" target="_blank">Art Date</a>, I changed things up and got a much better result.   Instead of using water and food coloring, I used water and tempera paint.  It made for a much bolder color on the paper.  Since I only had three squirt guns, we used yellow, blue, and red paint.  Obviously, if you try this at home, you can use any colors you want to use.  </font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Gisha"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-gN4qeNC4R1c/TqxnBIVU5WI/AAAAAAAAXCM/Oup6xe6V4n8/s1600-h/PA180166%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Cage and Jack painted with squirt guns today" border="0" alt="Cage and Jack painted with squirt guns today" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-BSCm6NJYHhM/TqxnBnXtJRI/AAAAAAAAXCU/lbLY0FGgidE/PA180166_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="393" height="296" /></a></font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Gisha">It was a fun activity for the boys to do.  It was definitely a workout for their fine motor skills and eye hand coordination.  Luckily, they didn’t get too much paint off of the paper.  At least, I hope they didn’t! </font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Gisha"></font><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-qdBrffdv6q8/TqxnCXEOXrI/AAAAAAAAXCc/bU6YIgc-qEk/s1600-h/PA180175%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="PA180175" border="0" alt="PA180175" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-fAH4mpEJ_VM/TqxnCjs4TyI/AAAAAAAAXCk/baawaEz9bz4/PA180175_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="393" height="296" /></a></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Gisha">Thanks, Bekah, for letting us come over and have another Art Date with you!  We can’t wait until next time.  My <a href="http://pinterest.com/awallace/crafts-for-jack/" target="_blank">Pinterest board</a> is filling up quickly with ideas for our little guys. </font></p> Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13091206341249617247noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6326215201248018708.post-43135454105526722042011-10-30T14:20:00.001-04:002011-10-30T14:20:42.786-04:00Scripture, Snapshot, & a Growth Chart Moment<p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-n2BxWrC0Rl0/Tq2VeOUsMII/AAAAAAAAXCs/QKu9kla4qk8/s1600-h/PA290164%252520copy%252520copy%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Jack cleaned out his toys and donated all these toys to other little boys who don't have toys." border="0" alt="Jack cleaned out his toys and donated all these toys to other little boys who don't have toys." src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-gWh76H9bFcs/Tq2Veh-LixI/AAAAAAAAXC0/4qYRz_i1jlw/PA290164%252520copy%252520copy_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="393" height="296" /></a></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Gisha">Yesterday was a HUGE Growth Chart Moment for Jack. We cleaned out his big toy box. and donated toys to <a href="http://www.goodwill.org/" target="_blank">Goodwill</a>.    While we picked through every last truck, train, and car, I asked if he wanted to give it away or keep it.  More times than not, he said “give it away!” I told him that there were other little boys who didn’t have any toys who might like to have the ones he didn’t want anymore.  Little did I know how generous my son is!</font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Gisha">If I had to guess, I’d say that 3/4 of his toys were placed in the ‘give it away’ pile.  </font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Gisha">One toy he chose to put in that pile made me tear up a little.  He has a toy Mack from the movie Cars who he plays with All.The.Time.  He has a Lightning McQueen that goes with it (Mack’s trailer opens up for Lightning to drive up into).  When he put Mack in the ‘give it away’ pile, I said, ‘But you play with this all the time!  What about lightning?  Where will you put him now?”  He looked up and said, “Oh yeah!” He then ran to get his Lightning McQueen race car and put it in the pile with Mack.  I guess they go together.   He made me cry a bit with that one. </font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Gisha">For clarity, I kept saying “you know, you’ll never see these toys again.  Ever.”  He didn’t seem to care about that.  He kept saying that other boys needed toys to play with.  </font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Gisha">I have a lot to learn, and I think he will be the one to teach me!</font></p> <center><a href="http://katielloydphotography.blogspot.com/search/label/Scripture%20and%20a%20Snapshot"><img border="0" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4152/5005740786_2337690f81_m.jpg" width="196" /></a></center> Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13091206341249617247noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6326215201248018708.post-34285017263432485592011-10-28T07:24:00.000-04:002011-10-28T07:24:00.571-04:00Foto Friday–Kids & Fall<a href="http://la-lashomedaycare.blogspot.com" target="”_blank”"><img style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="Photobucket" src="http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff320/Lawill/my-button.gif" /></a> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Gisha">I didn’t take any new pictures this week for this prompt, so I had to go back into my archives.  In truth, I didn’t actually TRY to take new pictures this week.  I immediately thought about these pictures that I love, so that’s what I’m sharing.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Gisha">*Picture Overload* </font></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQFZOXq9OvAMHiAuF9JA7QJhL3dRWPyeI47rarkG6oGMFyNZCKJ-6hiHRE_8sKJ9kxFOsfR5BKiaxFrq7OLij6TejhxfRLuuc-8Y1I8T16YPXa-OtVRux8H9GeQleuL-KmdHZ265u_2Wjs/s1600-h/Untitled-1%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Untitled-1" border="0" alt="Untitled-1" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-pPbUkbxcM2E/TqcAOI1vZuI/AAAAAAAAW4Y/mPOeqEVPrK8/Untitled-1_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="393" height="296" /></a></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Gisha">Jack’s first Halloween.  9 1/2 months old. Our LIttle Jack-O-Lantern.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-wqvRdBpICqs/TqcAO2WLv_I/AAAAAAAAW4g/V9ZEmi-gBWA/s1600-h/DSC00126%252520copy%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSC00126 copy" border="0" alt="DSC00126 copy" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-QNmU5uIG3fk/TqcAPcCziwI/AAAAAAAAW4o/An6H4ubMgL4/DSC00126%252520copy_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="393" height="296" /></a><font size="3" face="Gisha"></font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Gisha">Jack’s first fall. Oct 2009. 9 months old. </font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Gisha"></font><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-O41ONWA-NLE/TqcAP6MqR-I/AAAAAAAAW4w/NdxL6n6j5AI/s1600-h/DSC00108%252520copy%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFuk7kBYercgKcyt6HvQ7mtmOUj4qfMC7sVvF98eJIC_I-hvNEfF_0uv57B3xURxE67EdaC5qJ9LWGZkmA1aJrZOk50KUeuWx6FMeWUye_-clc_3kf8MQcZd0XWwIREs-PVD5JcTxiCWs_/?imgmax=800" width="393" height="296" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-aFRzswfLd2M/TqcAQjn9FyI/AAAAAAAAW5A/HRYzGsDMLmM/s1600-h/DSC00116%252520copy%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="" border="0" alt="" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-jIDmPLYPxc8/TqcARJv_2YI/AAAAAAAAW5I/bAmM9ciJB6c/DSC00116%252520copy_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="394" height="253" /></a></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Gisha">One of my all-time favorites of Jack.  9 months. Oct. 2009</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-2kEeoSk2NiQ/TqcARhM-EzI/AAAAAAAAW5Q/WbTwod8pQtY/s1600-h/DSC00090-2%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="" border="0" alt="" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-OzsWaEQFWdo/TqcASJUCJBI/AAAAAAAAW5Y/rG9eS0JeKKc/DSC00090-2_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="393" height="296" /></a></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Gisha">Fall 2010.  21 months</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-RWREGH0cHxc/TqcASo115II/AAAAAAAAW5g/jYjIQm8ZiiQ/s1600-h/DSC05178-PS1%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="" border="0" alt="" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-LNFQDR2yJzU/TqcATG__HZI/AAAAAAAAW5o/0Zthwob13Wg/DSC05178-PS1_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="326" height="439" /></a></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Gisha">I like to call this one “mom of a boy.” This (like all of these pictures) was before I got a new camera.  My little 5 year old Sony Cybershot was a pretty good camera-I didn’t do any editing to this one.  </font></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAqX8OQHKVCsgDrP5VyZcMEBZs8roncwXfSvYMTX4Il0cglVUln8Lu9Kd5Q3L_X3c_IQEtiuVfkUmKP4x-XLXZ0qusBTlJUZsACYb8_iS2N4IP1nzPLryBjYdVj_azvyxN9z4W9VHPtCdQ/s1600-h/DSC05397%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSC05397" border="0" alt="DSC05397" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-2KL4TQ0n8Co/TqcAT9KYNfI/AAAAAAAAW54/zEun9YKj9iM/DSC05397_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="393" height="296" /></a></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Gisha">Jack’s 2nd Halloween.  Same Costume.  That’s called “getting your money’s worth!” Oct 2010.</font></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDFPtfi2qQE-JIuJvnIVIZNhqFSkxGj_GgGu4kDspWEr7iNsDeWk16El_xN8JXv6GA56U-x4gf8GmKmeMLjYpsEs4USgU0TKQ6NXrjquA5VuCu3gBWnYscVEHJGlO0CTMdUwGlfYLhqqYA/s1600-h/DSC05665%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Cute little Punkin'" border="0" alt="Cute little Punkin'" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-TGr6OCODSRg/TqcAU0CEeGI/AAAAAAAAW6I/G_ljNCvbAKo/DSC05665_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="319" height="430" /></a></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Gisha">Last year we went to a pumpkin farm that had a corn sand box.  Jack loved it.  This editing is pretty funky for me, but I like how it makes the corn look soft and fluffy. </font></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Kgu18bJFmiw/TqcAVUPt-tI/AAAAAAAAW6Q/f8Ko3Z2tLO4/s1600-h/DSC05504%252520copy%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSC05504 copy" border="0" alt="DSC05504 copy" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-gVB_tpvjet4/TqcAVj9ghwI/AAAAAAAAW6Y/JO6tpRkFleU/DSC05504%252520copy_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="393" height="296" /></a></p> Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13091206341249617247noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6326215201248018708.post-33298109492116304992011-10-27T12:44:00.000-04:002011-10-27T12:44:00.504-04:00Healthified Stuffed Shells & Roasted Broccoli<p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Gisha">This is what I had for dinner last night.  </font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-vE8WYdmJ4zg/TqbnfjZCPLI/AAAAAAAAW3g/fc1Dy9CDYrM/s1600-h/PA1402163.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="PA140216" border="0" alt="PA140216" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-KGoI4CAU6G0/TqbnfxYeXcI/AAAAAAAAW3o/STEWCGRgP2M/PA140216_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="393" height="296" /></a> </p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Gisha">Doesn’t it look delicious???  It’s one of my new healthy recipes I’ve recently <a href="http://pinterest.com/awallace/healthy-recipes/" target="_blank">pinned</a>.  It’s actually supposed to be Sausage Stuffed shells, but I bought ground turkey and ground sirloin, so that’s what I use.  It also has hidden carrots in it, so it’s a good one for sneaking veggies into your kids or husbands who don’t get enough veggies. </font></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijqwfEQkayC8SFkukUP7u5JXj7cgqOKyqIkIS4PUkC4whCI62h1JnVyO_TOhTlANmFLiCdntEfmjpuHiQB3KV7hn35aCQJbkv622jBNLUeHsMrqv6ugiI6ZBZnIrRFo6ZBS7s3vL3oi8qK/s1600-h/PA1402174.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="PA140217" border="0" alt="PA140217" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-VyVvAAy9lEo/TqbnhLVWAXI/AAAAAAAAW34/EjEdkEgI6mw/PA140217_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="327" height="441" /></a></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Gisha">Have you ever roasted broccoli?  It is one of the easiest things in the world to do.  If I can, I roast all my vegetables for dinner. They taste divine roasted!  It’s getting more expensive to buy fresh produce, but whenever I do bring home fresh peppers, onions, broccoli, cauliflower, or asparagus I roast them in the oven on my stone.  </font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Gisha">If you’re a <strike>lazy cook</strike> mom pressed for time, you should totally try this.  Just throw the veggie on the stone/baking sheet, drizzle some olive oil on them, sprinkle as much salt and pepper as you want, and stick them in the oven at 350 for 30 minutes.  Really.  It’s a Fix and Forget it type of meal.  I have been known to put chicken breasts or pork chops on the stone beside the veggies and cook them all together.  30 minutes later you have an awesome dinner with practically no energy put into it.  My kind of cooking!</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-IIy41OiER1s/TqbnhvX-jVI/AAAAAAAAW4A/QrIfeUqWqoM/s1600-h/PA1402184.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="PA140218" border="0" alt="PA140218" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-rijdkskL2y4/TqbniDAWoTI/AAAAAAAAW4I/QUlZMhumL-k/PA140218_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="341" height="459" /></a></p> <p><font size="3" face="Gisha">This recipe is copied straight from Eat Better America, with my notes in red.  It’s a very yummy, pretty healthy dinner!</font></p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://www.eatbetteramerica.com/Healthified/sausage-stuffed-shells.aspx" target="_blank"><font size="5">Healthified Sausage-Stuffed Shells</font></a></p> <p>24 jumbo pasta shells (from 12-oz box) <br />1 lb lean Italian turkey sausage, casings removed <font color="#ff0000">(ground turkey/beef)</font> <br />1 container (15 oz) light ricotta cheese <br />2 cups shredded reduced-fat Italian cheese blend (8 oz) <br />1 box (9 oz) Green Giant® frozen spinach, thawed, squeezed to drain <br />1/2 teaspoon dried basil leaves <br />3/4 cup finely shredded carrots (1 medium) <br />1 jar (25.5 oz) Muir Glen® organic Italian herb pasta sauce <font color="#ff0000">(Kroger brand pasta sauce)</font></p> <p>1 Heat oven to 350°F. Spray 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish with cooking spray. Cook and drain pasta as directed on package, omitting salt.</p> <p>2 In 10-inch nonstick skillet, crumble sausage. Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until no longer pink; drain.</p> <p>3 In medium bowl, stir ricotta cheese, 1 cup of the Italian cheese blend, the spinach and basil until well mixed. Stir in carrots and sausage.</p> <p>4 Spread about 1/2 cup of the pasta sauce over bottom of baking dish. Spoon about 3 tablespoonfuls sausage mixture into each pasta shell. Arrange shells, filled sides up, on sauce in baking dish. Pour remaining pasta sauce over stuffed shells. Spray 15-inch piece of foil with cooking spray; cover shells with foil.</p> <p>5 Bake 40 minutes. Uncover; sprinkle with remaining 1 cup Italian cheese blend. Bake uncovered 5 to 10 minutes longer or until cheese is melted.</p> <p><font color="#ff0000">*serving size is 2 shells</font></p> Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13091206341249617247noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6326215201248018708.post-84820433388179593502011-10-27T12:33:00.001-04:002011-10-27T12:33:18.731-04:00Thank You, Kim!<p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Gisha">I love my bloggy friend <a href="http://www.momtriedit.net/" target="_blank">Kim</a>.  She has taught me a lot about photography and photoshop.  I just finished reading her post <a href="http://www.momtriedit.net/2011/10/editing-2-photos-together-for-right.html" target="_blank">here,</a> ran to open my Photoshop, and created this!  </font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Gisha">It’s been 6 years since Rick and I went on our honeymoon.  We stopped at a very large store that he LOVES on our way out of the state.  I made us take these two pictures with the hopes that one day I would figure out a way to join us into one picture.  6 years and 2 months later, I finally figured out how to do it!</font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Gisha">Thanks, Kim!</font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Gisha">Before: </font><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-v6HUpQZS_0w/TqmHvG3-YmI/AAAAAAAAW6k/Qi4omDvflWg/s1600-h/Wedding%252520and%252520Honeymoon%252520089%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><font size="3" face="Gisha"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Wedding and Honeymoon 089" border="0" alt="Wedding and Honeymoon 089" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgAVd3-wcL0af5Z83YU_D6AtOOrwLEwA0uAOw2S0WYHT-EbnbOsXhnoZVreEezHZHPvL4-JkhTZ0_aZeM9l8EtrKt3S8OjYOHlDqNFQkHsxRW5HgmG7EttISDPt6eemgiChtpUKF9iPHk9/?imgmax=800" width="320" height="431" /></font></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-FYMcbqQKXfE/TqmHwCWzMNI/AAAAAAAAW60/xVrYCbmn5L4/s1600-h/Wedding%252520and%252520Honeymoon%252520088%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><font size="3" face="Gisha"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Wedding and Honeymoon 088" border="0" alt="Wedding and Honeymoon 088" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-DFxF6-41M24/TqmHxDN6mKI/AAAAAAAAW68/0pxBng64I_4/Wedding%252520and%252520Honeymoon%252520088_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="323" height="435" /></font></a></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Gisha">After: </font></p> <p align="justify"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-P-j6Nvi6Kx4/TqmHx3sfZnI/AAAAAAAAW7E/fefDj_L8D1Y/s1600-h/Wedding%252520and%252520Honeymoon%252520089%252520TOGETHER%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><font size="3" face="Gisha"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="" border="0" alt="" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ATjxsb_43zo/TqmHzVPu5KI/AAAAAAAAW7M/A7he5Y1h898/Wedding%252520and%252520Honeymoon%252520089%252520TOGETHER_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="322" height="434" /></font></a></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Gisha"></font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Gisha"></font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Gisha"></font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Gisha"></font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Gisha">Layer masks.  Who would have thunk it?</font> </p> <p align="justify"> <font size="3" face="Gisha">(I did this pretty quick, but it’s pretty good.  I’d do a little more fixing before I printed it, but this is all the time I had)</font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Gisha">Thanks, Kim!</font></p> Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13091206341249617247noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6326215201248018708.post-22412868763145342822011-10-25T07:54:00.000-04:002011-10-25T07:54:00.753-04:00April Date Night–in September<p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Gisha"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-xkE8--5KNLw/TqWmcuaCTJI/AAAAAAAAWzM/u01zz2fraYc/s1600-h/P9250177%252520copy%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="I've seen better days, but here we are." border="0" alt="I've seen better days, but here we are." src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ESbHrtO7HZY/TqWmdJtLHCI/AAAAAAAAWzU/Y7M1igBKiU8/P9250177%252520copy_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="393" height="296" /></a></font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Gisha">So we stopped dating each other. I love my husband, and he loves me, but we’re homebodies.  I had no idea this ‘<a href="http://growthchartmoments.blogspot.com/2011/01/date-night-1.html" target="_blank">one date a month’</a> idea was going to be so hard to do!  I’m sure I have new readers since January, so go check out our <a href="http://growthchartmoments.blogspot.com/2011/01/date-night-1.html" target="_blank">first date</a> this year and see what I’m talking about.  </font></p> <p align="justify"></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Gisha">We’re not doing so well with our date nights.  The April ticket kept staring at us from the wall calendar, but we never planned anything.  (our <a href="http://growthchartmoments.blogspot.com/2011/07/triple-date-night-recipe.html" target="_blank">March Date Night</a> didn’t happen until July) It’s either because we’re too cheap to hire a sitter or buy dinner, or it’s because we’re too lazy to plan anything.  I bet it’s a good mix of both.  </font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Gisha"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ0uSCldyHOzXygcNvRXf5vhal910Bn9VfiPnIzMzqJVjPOggLpOsafOcm-ENL2vNi0NFd1DkFVny0erbP8QwiCrW5L__5hZTG2-vfS9u20rHZXtWQ8QPYax3VESJSmqvrJ-mVkDOnrET0/s1600-h/PA170230-1%252520copy%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Happy day at the zoo" border="0" alt="Happy day at the zoo" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis6J0X1-fTew2s80nYR3KWaMJCa8x1ZjKvU1HSXEcjljjDIVqxzdBmClW4_2aVv55GMKO_bDncLnvnLJxEaqIe7y74j-ZVT9iezgyodtuUCq80L08dVKYdg-DmUetO0cZ1M1vykv-rFDp_/?imgmax=800" width="393" height="296" /></a></font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Gisha">For our April date (that happened in September), I decided to plan something really fun.  I found a site called <a href="http://www.thedatingdivas.com/" target="_blank">Dating Divas</a> that has a ton of great ideas for dates.  I found most of them to be more appropriate for extroverts or groups, but there are a few floating around their site for the introverts like <strike>Rick</strike> us.  <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-yCddBSIUzbI/TqWmey6qe-I/AAAAAAAAWzs/ut3ZxIeY65s/s1600-h/P9230005%252520copy%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA " border="0" alt="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA " src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-I5FwjsbzIG0/TqWmfXA_CCI/AAAAAAAAWz0/qxfPlZEnemk/P9230005%252520copy_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="393" height="296" /></a></font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Gisha"><font size="3" face="Gisha">I decided to use their <a href="http://www.thedatingdivas.com/tara/the-bookstore-date/" target="_blank">Bookstore Date</a> idea. I printed their cards and didn’t tell Rick what we were doing until we were enjoying our elegant desserts (McDonald’s ice cream cones) in a romantic atmosphere (sitting in the truck in the parking lot). We really know how to do up <a href="http://growthchartmoments.blogspot.com/2011/01/date-night-1.html" target="_blank">date night</a> right! </font></font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Gisha">Once you’re in the bookstore, you search out certain types of books and bond over them.  It’s really fun.  Here is a BRIEF description of the tasks.</font></p> <p align="justify"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-FW98lv1DDrA/TqWmf95lE8I/AAAAAAAAWz8/3wGxarozJ-Y/s1600-h/P9230009%252520copy%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA " border="0" alt="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA " src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-iQYWGkb4lq4/TqWmge2-I-I/AAAAAAAAW0E/5vsh61Swa6I/P9230009%252520copy_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="301" height="405" /></a></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Gisha">First, we found some recipes that we would like to fix for our spouse sometime.  I’m pretty sure we’ve forgotten all about these recipes and they’ll probably never get fixed, but it did prove that we know each other well.  I picked an enchilada dish for him and he picked a lasagna dish for me.</font> </p> <p align="justify"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-NyR298dCrPI/TqWmg2e7HnI/AAAAAAAAW0M/GJieG0SrX10/s1600-h/P9230010%252520copy%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA " border="0" alt="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA " src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-dw9MXN2ZnyI/TqWmhRHYRGI/AAAAAAAAW0U/RladxqbMm8s/P9230010%252520copy_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="393" height="296" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-bY9xm6jyo0A/TqWmh5cOXMI/AAAAAAAAW0c/OF9ph4mn0AA/s1600-h/P9230019%252520copy%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA " border="0" alt="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA " src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-6YaDALHMnmU/TqWmiPisHRI/AAAAAAAAW0k/lHuDIzwxVSo/P9230019%252520copy_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="223" height="296" /></a></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Gisha">We needed to find children’s books that we remembered from our childhood, but that our spouse hadn’t read before. That was tough!  This is Rick’s book he found for me.  </font></p> <p align="justify"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-5TkG4qr-Lc0/TqWminLulsI/AAAAAAAAW0s/btnJGiSJ55c/s1600-h/P9230025%252520copy%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><font size="3" face="Gisha"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-5TkG4qr-Lc0/TqWminLulsI/AAAAAAAAW00/XNDJHzuQ8YM/s1600-h/P9230025%252520copy%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA " border="0" alt="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA " src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-5pGLe1U0Ee0/TqWmj0P8VrI/AAAAAAAAW04/ucZ5XLX8Yto/P9230025%252520copy_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="265" height="357" /></a></font></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-2oJQdGjV3Ss/TqWmkl68vlI/AAAAAAAAW1A/dB5Yiyowh1c/s1600-h/P9230028%252520copy%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><font size="3" face="Gisha"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA " border="0" alt="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA " src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-97gxRZifPM4/TqWmk7x2GII/AAAAAAAAW1I/Mir7Z4qd9Lo/P9230028%252520copy_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="393" height="296" /></font></a></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Gisha">And this is my book I found for him.  I couldn’t believe he’d NEVER heard of this book.  The whole time I was reading it, I couldn’t stop thinking about what a ‘downer’ this book is.  I’m surprised that I remembered it so well.</font>  </p> <p align="justify"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-b6p1xDs1BG4/TqWmllPta6I/AAAAAAAAW1Q/YPJVL9EV6H8/s1600-h/P9230027%252520copy%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA " border="0" alt="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA " src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-U5j_1YVHhkM/TqWmmNaeQJI/AAAAAAAAW1Y/lvSWs3wb75g/P9230027%252520copy_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="393" height="296" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-nvBTf1WvdCM/TqWmm0HAdoI/AAAAAAAAW1g/_Y_mKM4B5mw/s1600-h/P9230030%252520copy%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA " border="0" alt="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA " src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-kZHhmaALJx4/TqWmnLqY8YI/AAAAAAAAW1o/esWOtn3Ptxw/P9230030%252520copy_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="393" height="296" /></a></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Gisha">Another thing we had to find was a book on somewhere we’d like to go someday.  I’ve been to Great Britain  before, but I’d LOVE to go back.  I do believe it’s my favorite place in the entire world.  I especially fell in love with Wales and all its castles.  (The castle on the Wales book I’ve actually been to).  </font><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-oGEATRSgxCQ/TqWmnzyOBjI/AAAAAAAAW1w/XQhHXBOQfqo/s1600-h/P9230032%252520copy%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA " border="0" alt="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA " src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-AlDJApiJTI8/TqWmoefpklI/AAAAAAAAW14/hlP6IE0Gs4w/P9230032%252520copy_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="393" height="296" /></a><font size="3" face="Gisha">. </font><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-s0zk7Ly6Cs8/TqWmo6ATNxI/AAAAAAAAW2A/sLujZlBqWoA/s1600-h/P9230034%252520copy%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA " border="0" alt="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA " src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-4_o8OLiaQug/TqWmpSxqjGI/AAAAAAAAW2I/2vC9bonEOkQ/P9230034%252520copy_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="223" height="296" /></a><font size="3" face="Gisha"></font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Gisha">Rick would LOVE to go to Ireland. He wants to see the country and visit the home of Guinness.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Gisha"></font><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-23yuo-unFps/TqWmqcltVSI/AAAAAAAAW2Q/At0T0bC3Obw/s1600-h/P9230035%252520copy%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA " border="0" alt="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA " src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-WYmEEM6j5ZI/TqWmqp-Xw3I/AAAAAAAAW2Y/uK9qg2U3gvA/P9230035%252520copy_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="393" height="296" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-8GCPiGlAqpY/TqWmrnwyj0I/AAAAAAAAW2g/Whrn7vc6RS0/s1600-h/P9230037%252520copy%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA " border="0" alt="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA " src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-bV45C1uzhjc/TqWmr7Gh_HI/AAAAAAAAW2o/CJiUdL0BUTg/P9230037%252520copy_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="393" height="296" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ghrk7w-juV4/TqWmskTHaVI/AAAAAAAAW2w/f3BaCQp1oNs/s1600-h/P9230038%252520copy%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA " border="0" alt="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA " src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-lUDzfAgxFOs/TqWmsy-bqWI/AAAAAAAAW24/KOt2EX5i75I/P9230038%252520copy_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="393" height="296" /></a></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Gisha">Finally, one of the tasks was to find a book that made you laugh.  That was much harder than I thought it should be.  After several failed attempts with some joke books, this book finally hit the mark.  It is so funny what text messaging autocorrect will create.  I recommend this book if you don’t mind a few bad words and you want a good belly laugh.</font>  </p> <p align="justify"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-OOooiC4RPbc/TqWmtr-kHLI/AAAAAAAAW3A/eibET49Ptxk/s1600-h/P9230039%252520copy%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA " border="0" alt="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA " src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-CzVTNqXnmm4/TqWmt8dshUI/AAAAAAAAW3I/Qsy92ePf_uc/P9230039%252520copy_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="267" height="359" /></a></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Gisha">This date was just what we needed.  It cost a whopping $3 for the whole evening (thanks to Gramma watching Jack), and it was a great time to just be together and reconnect.  Rick appreciated the thought that went into planning the date, and he said he’d try to plan the next one.  I’m not holding my breath, and I kind of already have the next one planned.  (Movie night to see <a href="http://www.courageousthemovie.com/" target="_blank">Courageous</a>).    </font></p> <p align="justify"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-yxYkWjJ5jxk/TqWmuaQjDoI/AAAAAAAAW3Q/VOIDHGRUzoo/s1600-h/P9230006%252520copy%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA " border="0" alt="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA " src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-5ToFDdPs3Xk/TqWmuo26TSI/AAAAAAAAW3Y/zs_UWvyXAUA/P9230006%252520copy_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="393" height="296" /></a><font size="3" face="Gisha"></font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Gisha"> </font></p> Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13091206341249617247noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6326215201248018708.post-5087304047104752452011-10-24T07:09:00.000-04:002011-10-24T07:09:00.159-04:00How I freeze Corn on the Cob<p align="justify"><font size="3"><font face="Gisha"><font face="Gisha">It seems that all my posts recently have been about food.   I’m obsessed with food.   I will say that I have food on the brain a lot recently, because I’m watching my calorie intake.  And I’ve lost a lot of weight from just limiting my calories.  Someday I’ll blog about it, but it seems that whenever I blog about <a href="http://growthchartmoments.blogspot.com/2011/02/one-plate-wonder.html" target="_blank">weight loss</a>, I put it right back on –darn that Satan!!  So, when I’m good and ready, and prayer protectioned up, I’ll post about how I’m losing weight for real this time.  (<a href="http://growthchartmoments.blogspot.com/2011/03/down-15-up-2.html" target="_blank">Last time</a> didn’t work for me.) </font></font></font></p> <p align="justify"><font face="Gisha"><font face="Gisha"><font size="3">*I know this post is untimely, seeing as how corn is now out of season, but I’ve never been timely before.  Why start now?</font></font></font></p> <p align="justify"><font face="Gisha"><font face="Gisha"><font size="3">On to the work! </font></font></font></p> <p align="justify"><font face="Gisha"><font face="Gisha"><font size="3">I love corn on the cob.  Whenever it is on sale, I buy as much as I can get.  Usually I fix it every night for a week, we’re totally bloated, and fed up with corn for the season.  This year, since I was watching my calories, I couldn’t eat as much in a sitting as I <strike>like to</strike>  used to.  So, if I didn’t want to throw away the corn, because it had gone bad in my fridge, I had to come up with a way to store it.  </font></font></font></p> <p align="justify"><font face="Gisha"><font face="Gisha"><font size="3">Most people now are shaking their heads and saying, “duh, Manda, why don’t you just freeze it??”  Well, it took me a while to figure this out, but that’s just what I did.  I looked up how to freeze corn, found out it’s a bit of a process, but totally worth it, and began the work. </font></font></font></p> <p align="justify"><font face="Gisha"><font face="Gisha"><font size="3">Even though corn is done being on sale in the grocery stores, the <a href="http://growthchartmoments.blogspot.com/2011/10/apple-picking-applesauce-canning.html" target="_blank">big apple farm</a> we went to a few weeks ago still had fresh ears for $.050, so I bought a dozen.  It’s not the best price of the season, but it beats what it could be I guess. </font> </font></font></p> <p align="justify"><font face="Gisha"><font face="Gisha"><font size="3">Here is what’cha do:</font></font></font></p> <p align="justify"><font face="Gisha"><font face="Gisha"><font size="3">Get a pot of water boiling, shuck your corn, and get an ice water bath ready. </font><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Flfb8USpoDw/TqCOZKTZz6I/AAAAAAAAWxs/ZWxnviLy0Jk/s1600-h/PA1602193.jpg"><font size="3"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="PA160219" border="0" alt="PA160219" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-g_7HvwM1VwU/TqCOZbDBBhI/AAAAAAAAWx0/-JgejF6ynIE/PA160219_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="393" height="296" /></font></a></font></font></p> <p align="justify"><font face="Gisha"><font size="3" face="Gisha">Drop in a few ears of corn at a time, let them boil for a few minutes, then drop them into the cold water bath to stop the cooking process. I boiled them for about 6 minutes.  If you’re doing this for the first time, you may want to look up the actual time you’re supposed to boil them. </font></font></p> <p align="justify"><font face="Gisha"><font face="Gisha"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Nr8VfeFWhO8/TqCOZyXe9eI/AAAAAAAAWx8/bP8J8WV3xdU/s1600-h/PA1602203.jpg"><font size="3"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="PA160220" border="0" alt="PA160220" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-69zI8ndEnVw/TqCOaYnHNpI/AAAAAAAAWyE/OmZhUS2DHEE/PA160220_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="393" height="296" /></font></a></font></font></p> <p align="justify"><font face="Gisha"><font size="3" face="Gisha">Cut the corn off of the cob, separate the kernels, then lay them out on a parchment lined baking sheet.  </font></font><font face="Gisha"><font face="Gisha"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-7IIHqdKDW3E/TqCOa4TvKNI/AAAAAAAAWyM/4kbdPOQe7GA/s1600-h/PA1602213.jpg"><font size="3"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="PA160221" border="0" alt="PA160221" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-anf3-HRhW9k/TqCObItKWHI/AAAAAAAAWyU/qsGKwRTRMK8/PA160221_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="393" height="296" /></font></a></font></font></p> <p align="justify"><font face="Gisha"><font face="Gisha"></font></font></p> <p align="justify"><font face="Gisha"><font face="Gisha"><font size="3">Save an ear for your toddler who won’t stop asking you for corn on the cob RIGHT NOW.  He LOVES ‘cob on corn’ as he calls it.</font><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-dTVgIlwxjBQ/TqCOb5r_36I/AAAAAAAAWyc/wJ2PKePNDtA/s1600-h/PA1602243.jpg"><font size="3"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="last corn on the cob of the season from Lynds" border="0" alt="last corn on the cob of the season from Lynds" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ZD9BI2cVBgo/TqCOcOuE9AI/AAAAAAAAWyk/2Kyna3UDK7Y/PA160224_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="393" height="296" /></font></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-YR0QDcxydyw/TqCOchjyLZI/AAAAAAAAWys/lqIzaxESWpQ/s1600-h/PA1602253.jpg"><font size="3"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="PA160225" border="0" alt="PA160225" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-dsgiW7JoUGA/TqCOcwEw53I/AAAAAAAAWy0/lBQVUs5MMro/PA160225_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="393" height="296" /></font></a></font></font></p> <p align="justify"><font face="Gisha"><font size="3" face="Gisha">Stick the baking sheet in the freezer for a few hours, or overnight, or for a few days if you’re like me and forget they’re in there. </font></font></p> <p align="justify"><font face="Gisha"><font face="Gisha"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-OCJgZKg1aME/TqCOdhYWbAI/AAAAAAAAWy8/Oqiq0NaRlnU/s1600-h/PA1602293.jpg"><font size="3"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="PA160229" border="0" alt="PA160229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6GA3SGE7qGpvmBPydU6A-NLSDq0oUaN_4VjLwPKUOzdBx1mLYNoyhQHPQexuipBvfs_RVCRGxlDdkzD6xcMqAWxeVD9M7AxEw6iXPM2y8UUjgVNKKV1yrS-OEo5kKrX_vQfDsZLZRWe__/?imgmax=800" width="393" height="296" /></font></a></font></font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Gisha">Once they’re frozen, break them up and put them in a big ziplock bag.  I use a straw to suck out the extra air from the bag when I’m putting something like this in the freezer.  It’s almost like vacuum packing it, but not. Close enough.  </font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Gisha">I froze broccoli and green beans this summer like this too.  I boiled them for about 3 minutes, then froze them the same way.  I froze bell peppers as well, but they don’t need to be blanched, they can just be chopped and frozen.  </font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Gisha">I would love to say that I have a huge stock of fresh frozen veggies waiting for me to use this winter, but unfortunately, we’ve eaten it all up already!  I need to make sure this corn lasts into the winter. </font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Gisha"> </font></p> Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13091206341249617247noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6326215201248018708.post-5480500719753101812011-10-21T07:56:00.000-04:002011-10-21T07:56:00.611-04:00Foto Friday–Orange<a href="http://la-lashomedaycare.blogspot.com" target="”_blank”"><img style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="Photobucket" src="http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff320/Lawill/my-button.gif" /></a> <p><font size="3" face="Gisha"></font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Gisha">Oops, I missed last week. I’m sure I’m the only one who noticed, but I’m still sorry about it. </font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Gisha">This week’s theme is Orange.  I walked around my house and found orange things to take pictures of, since our leaves turn yellow in our backyard, and I’m without a vehicle to even go out and look for orange. </font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Gisha">So here they are, unedited and simple.  </font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-p6dadJhwWfw/TqCLLRQNheI/AAAAAAAAWw8/Z15d3aHn1Js/s1600-h/PA200164%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="PA200164" border="0" alt="PA200164" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-KyPVJlAgy80/TqCLL83jtVI/AAAAAAAAWxE/k00nXG5C3QE/PA200164_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="393" height="296" /></a></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Gisha">This is Jack’s new dump truck.  You can tell that it’s not actually NEW.  It’s just new to him.  His cousins played with this truck 10 years ago, my sister and I played with it 30 some years ago, and my dad played with it (its original owner) 60 years ago.  Like most hand-me down toys, Jack broke it within a week –I’m not sure how these toys can last years and years, but then when they get to Jack, they break or get lost in 2 days.  *sigh* Anyway, Rick fixed it and it’s like ‘new’ again.  Maybe Jack’s kids will play with it someday. </font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Gisha"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-n4RXs7A_0Ng/TqCLMcwqFKI/AAAAAAAAWxM/wOULegHlgEE/s1600-h/PA200168%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="PA200168" border="0" alt="PA200168" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-LQqEF46zI8c/TqCLM-fhbbI/AAAAAAAAWxU/8FdBtre6bHs/PA200168_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="393" height="296" /></a></font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Gisha">This pumpkin is new to me.  I just bought it from a craft fair last weekend.  I never go to craft fairs, and when I do, I rarely buy anything for myself, but this weekend I went a bit crazy.  It didn’t help that my best friend’s mom made it and I love her like my own mother, so I HAD to buy it.  </font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Gisha"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-5d-Lv5HEh94/TqCLNSLO2MI/AAAAAAAAWxc/x1Gv8JC6A7w/s1600-h/PA200173-1%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="PA200173-1" border="0" alt="PA200173-1" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-rcZO0H3A8w0/TqCLN7acRaI/AAAAAAAAWxk/qS2RBWwVxHo/PA200173-1_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="393" height="296" /></a></font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Gisha">Buying this pumpkin was life changing for me.  Really.  When I got home, I realized I had nowhere to put it.  Every surface in my home is full of clutter.  So, in trying to find a spot for my new –and only- fall decoration, I de-cluttered my home.  I mean REALLY de-cluttered. <font size="3" face="Gisha">Let’s just say that this dry sink was unable to have a big pumpkin sitting in it like this last week. In fact, I’m pretty sure I haven’t seen the inside of the sink like this in 5 years!</font> Mostly I  just de-cluttered my kitchen, but MAN does it feel good!!  Maybe I’ll blog about it someday.  I didn’t take any ‘before’ pictures, but I can pull up just about any picture in my files and call it a before.  </font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Gisha">Have a great weekend!</font></p> Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13091206341249617247noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6326215201248018708.post-1290545012310097642011-10-20T12:23:00.001-04:002011-10-20T12:23:29.515-04:00Apple Picking & Applesauce Canning<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh02ZkHVPDc90Rk4maJurlX6_IIsOGIlmuHNQSNG1BvdgyVjhtyuxFLS-Sw8qUpaBbMH1RiLwGIAwckFdwLDvNQ_1lgUrIJymGrO9Fbaxr6r0gtO59n0quDTJVukiRscNRVxkoeLkkqfMj_/s1600-h/PA080119-copy3.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Melrose Apples (Official Apple of Ohio)" border="0" alt="Melrose Apples (Official Apple of Ohio)" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-HmRWv2S0TI4/TqBK5t7DnnI/AAAAAAAAWvA/_VzjDKkgr_M/PA080119-copy_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="393" height="296" /></a></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Gisha">A few weekends ago we went apple picking.  We didn’t know what to expect, since this was the first time we’d done any apple picking as a family.  BOY was it busy!!  There were so many people that we almost turned around and went home.  But I really wanted to make applesauce, and I really wanted to create a family memory, so we soldiered on.  </font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3"><font face="Gisha"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-koNszo_iaRw/TqBK6hO5_mI/AAAAAAAAWvI/MELfah7YEpo/s1600-h/PA080118-copy4.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Apple picking at Lynds Farm" border="0" alt="Apple picking at Lynds Farm" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Z7xF7VBK40I/TqBK61cRoEI/AAAAAAAAWvQ/WrKjjSpvu2E/PA080118-copy_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="309" height="416" /></a></font> <p align="justify">After driving to the correct part of the orchard (this is a BIG farm), and taking one bag from the attendant –a 20lb capacity bag – we made it to the part of apple picking that is actually picking apples.  </p> <p align="justify"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-E0O9XaxKjvM/TqBK7ZWLkwI/AAAAAAAAWvY/Dy9BQ6K2X0g/s1600-h/PA080123-copy3.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="PA080123 copy" border="0" alt="PA080123 copy" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-moGy6rxA0k4/TqBK70GIM0I/AAAAAAAAWvg/6KChBQU2SiE/PA080123-copy_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="393" height="296" /></a></p> <p align="justify">We were picking Melrose and Suncrisp apples this day.  <a href="http://www.applejournal.com/use007.htm" target="_blank">Melrose</a> apples were developed at Ohio State University, and they have become the official state apple.  They are delicious!!  They’re tart, juicy, and perfect.  Of course, when you go to pick apples, you have to try out the goods.  </p> <p align="justify"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-jjUqL7Bvaag/TqBK8Za1pgI/AAAAAAAAWvo/oRTYJ_VPXHU/s1600-h/PA080128-copy3.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="PA080128 copy" border="0" alt="PA080128 copy" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-w-TDfMW7WEI/TqBK8lImTaI/AAAAAAAAWvw/S8h19XvBzF4/PA080128-copy_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="393" height="296" /></a></p> <p align="justify">When I tasted a Suncrisp apple, I have to say that I liked it just a bit better.  It’s amazingly delicious.  While the Melrose is a cross between a Johnathon and a Red Delicious, a Suncrisp is a cross between a Golden Delicious and a Cox Orange Pippin (never heard of that one).  It was a bit tarter, just as juicy, and still a great eating apple.  I have had a love affair with Honeycrisp apples for a few years now, but this one surpasses my honeycrisps in flavor for sure. </p> <p align="justify"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/--DJH9yamfMo/TqBK9N1lZbI/AAAAAAAAWv4/mH3OyeTBedM/s1600-h/PA080131-copy3.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="They were SO GOOD. This one was a Suncrisp." border="0" alt="They were SO GOOD. This one was a Suncrisp." src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-e_39J0YGOwc/TqBK9pvqLKI/AAAAAAAAWwA/MEH-GL10WKQ/PA080131-copy_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="393" height="296" /></a></p> <p align="justify">When I got home, I washed the apples and stored them in a jumbo ziplock bag in my crisper drawer.  Eventually, they were going to become applesauce.  A few will become pies, but those won’t happen until Thanksgiving.  I’m hoping they store well like they say they do. </p> <p align="justify"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-O7yBRJEjJCc/TqBK-PhmmgI/AAAAAAAAWwI/KXxy3xqAzSE/s1600-h/PA080139-copy3.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="PA080139 copy" border="0" alt="PA080139 copy" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-4T7ZBhrKBmM/TqBK-ZFMUGI/AAAAAAAAWwQ/-aZp-aqzhAs/PA080139-copy_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="393" height="296" /></a></p> <p align="justify">Last weekend (after another trip to the farm to buy 3 more pecks – does 4 pecks equal a bushel?  That’s how many I ended up with) I set into making applesauce.  I LOVE homemade applesauce.  There is nothing like it, and it’s so stinking easy!  If you don’t take into account the time it takes to peel, core, and chop the apples before getting them into the pot.  </p> <p align="justify"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ZolES6jnjII/TqBK-5Fy_jI/AAAAAAAAWwY/g8WOp7j43YY/s1600-h/PA170230%252520copy%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="PA170230 copy" border="0" alt="PA170230 copy" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-5Lgn0EcAGz8/TqBK_aExykI/AAAAAAAAWwg/-dJUaMTULR0/PA170230%252520copy_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="393" height="296" /></a></p> <p align="justify">After 2 hours, and help from Rick, I filled to overflowing two crock pots. (Thanks, <a href="http://diaryofadisciplinedmom.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Heather</a> for letting me borrow yours!!) I add some sugar – around a half cup, though a full cup makes it so much better – then sprinkle the top with cinnamon.  Mix it all up with about a 1/2 cup of water) and let it cook on low for about 8 hours.  My house smelled SOOOOO good!!! At the end of the 8 hours, I took a ricer to the sauce just to make sure it wasn’t too chunky.  </p> <p align="justify"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-3KHssqHD3BE/TqBK_znQYPI/AAAAAAAAWwo/9aFh1kVUEdw/s1600-h/PA200171%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="PA200171" border="0" alt="PA200171" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-BgyZNQYybjA/TqBLADBP8SI/AAAAAAAAWww/33aeqseEkQ8/PA200171_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="311" height="419" /></a></p> </font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Gisha">This was my first attempt at canning anything.  (Thanks, Heather for letting me borrow your canning equipment!) I must say, if there was a fly on my wall watching me can, it would have died of laughter.  I can’t say I’m all that good yet at judging how much water should be in the big canning pot.  The floor got a good soaking from the boiling water that was displaced by my 6 cans.  My feet were pretty soaked as well.  </font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Gisha">You’ll notice there are no pictures of me actually canning.  It was just too big of a mess to think about grabbing my camera to document the hilarity. </font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Gisha">I ended up with a total of 10 quarts of applesauce from about 3 pecks or 20lb bags.  I have another peck left to make sauce and enough apples pulled out from my first trip to make 2 pies (I hope).  There are a TON of apples in my house!  </font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Gisha">This applesauce is the most divine thing I’ve ever tasted. If you ever find yourself with 8-10 apples (or 100lbs), please take the time to peel, core, and chop those apples, throw in some sugar and cinnamon if you want and make applesauce.  It’s REALLY something everyone should experience.  </font></p> Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13091206341249617247noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6326215201248018708.post-33744384692776636192011-10-12T10:08:00.001-04:002011-10-12T10:08:20.264-04:00Healthy Recipes<p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Gisha">I was posting recipes here for a while, then I dropped off the recipe bandwagon.  I don’t love to blog about recipes, but I do love to share yummy food, so I’ll do a quick cheater recipe blog post.  </font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Gisha">These are the recipes I’ve been trying out lately on our low calorie diet.  They’re pretty yummy.  (you can click on the pictures to be taken to the recipe)</font></p> <p align="justify"><a href="http://www.kraftrecipes.com/recipes/fish-vegetable-casserole-116093.aspx" target="_blank"><font size="3" face="Gisha"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="image" border="0" alt="image" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-6dzVBJ37b2s/TpWfRN5yPrI/AAAAAAAAWn0/uJlfZNUou2o/image%25255B8%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="355" height="242" /></font></a></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Gisha">This is </font><a href="http://www.kraftrecipes.com/recipes/fish-vegetable-casserole-116093.aspx" target="_blank"><font size="3" face="Gisha">Kraft’s Fish and Vegetable Casserole.</font></a><font size="3" face="Gisha">  It was pretty tasty, though, I would never have thought about putting something like this together.  I ended up changing some basics of it, so I can’t say what the original recipe tastes like, but the skeleton of it that I used worked well with my changes.  It calls for red peppers (I used green), onions, white fish (I used Swai), tomatoes (I forgot to add these), Italian dressing, and red potatoes (I used sweet potatoes because that’s what I had on hand).  And then it’s all topped with mozzarella cheese (I used a Mexican blend because that’s what I had).  It did call for cilantro, but none of us really like cilantro, so I left it out.  I think this dish would be great with chicken or pork as well.  </font></p> <p align="justify"><a href="http://www.eatbetteramerica.com/recipes/30-minutes-or-less/honey-mustard-glazed-pork-chops.aspx" target="_blank"><font size="3" face="Gisha"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="image" border="0" alt="image" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-2x3m9rJ0Sz0/TpWfSCnoj4I/AAAAAAAAWn8/BzXybQ39z9E/image%25255B9%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="359" height="267" /></font></a></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Gisha">This next recipe is one of our favorites now.  </font><a href="http://www.eatbetteramerica.com/recipes/30-minutes-or-less/honey-mustard-glazed-pork-chops.aspx" target="_blank"><font size="3" face="Gisha">Honey Mustard-Glazed Pork Chops</font></a><font size="3" face="Gisha"> from Eat Better America is now our go-to recipe for quick and yummy dinners around here.  We’ve had it twice in the last week.  You just sear the chops real quick, then add a mixture of honey, mustard, ground cloves, onion powder, salt (or onion salt if you have it)  and pepper to the chops and let them cook for about 10 minutes.  It’s that easy.  I usually roast some broccoli or do a mixed veggie on the side.  YUM!</font></p> <p align="justify"><a href="http://www.canyoustayfordinner.com/2010/10/28/healthy-beef-and-bean-enchiladas/" target="_blank"><font size="3" face="Gisha"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="image" border="0" alt="image" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-JTgJMDDqvhY/TpWfTScgpZI/AAAAAAAAWoE/634JhR_Mw34/image%25255B13%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="393" height="296" /></font></a></p> <p align="justify"><a href="http://www.canyoustayfordinner.com/2010/10/28/healthy-beef-and-bean-enchiladas/" target="_blank"><font size="3" face="Gisha">Beef and Bean Enchiladas.</font></a><font size="3" face="Gisha">  This is our other OH MY GOSH IT’S AMAZING recipe.  We fell in love with this recipe as soon as it crossed our lips.  I haven’t made it again yet, but I will be making it as soon as ground beef goes on sale again.  That’s how I roll.  I don’t like beans, so I was a little leery of this one, but I didn’t even notice the beans in there when I was eating it.  It’s another super easy recipe.  Sauté the peppers and onions, brown the beef, add the  seasonings and beans, then wrap everything up in tortillas.  Put some salsa in a pan, lay your wraps in the pan, then cover with salsa and cheese.  Bake and enjoy!  Really.  It’s so super easy and so super yummy.  I used low carb tortillas last time, but I’m going to use my homemade ones next time. </font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Gisha"> </font><a href="http://petitelefant.com/how-to-home-made-tortillas/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+petitelefantcom+%28petit+elefant%29" target="_blank"><font size="3" face="Gisha"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="image" border="0" alt="image" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-uk1WHvR8Jbs/TpWfU-2vLQI/AAAAAAAAWoM/ouquQLZYSDI/image%25255B17%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="394" height="283" /></font></a></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Gisha">That leads me to this final recipe I’ve tried recently.  I like tortillas, but I don’t love them.  They usually have a harsh taste to them that I just can’t describe.  But it leaves me reaching for the hard tacos instead of the tortillas on taco night.  I decided to try my hand at </font><a href="http://petitelefant.com/how-to-home-made-tortillas/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+petitelefantcom+%28petit+elefant%29" target="_blank"><font size="3" face="Gisha">homemade tortillas</font></a><font size="3" face="Gisha"> and WOW are they good!  I could eat the whole batch in one sitting I’m sure!  That strange, harsh taste is not there at all. Flour, salt, baking powder, water,  & oil.  That’s all.  Now, I do have to admit that they take a lot of work to roll out super flat, and my arm muscles were given a workout when I made my batch, but they really are worth it. </font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Gisha">There ya go!  I hope you try something listed here.  They really are yummy.  Let me know what you try – I love to hear other’s reactions to what I think is yummy.  Oh, and if you’re looking for more healthy recipes, you can check out my ever growing <a href="http://pinterest.com/awallace/healthy-recipes/" target="_blank">Healthy Recipe Pinboard</a>.  If you need an invite to join <a href="http://pinterest.com/" target="_blank">Pintrest</a>, let me know and I’ll get you started.  it’s addicting, but oh so helpful when you want to find really great ideas.  </font></p> Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13091206341249617247noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6326215201248018708.post-68282488546076581052011-10-08T22:19:00.000-04:002011-10-08T22:19:00.302-04:00Fall “Easter” Eggs<p><font size="3" face="Gisha"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ruVlk_NKKqI/TokcJeDUIkI/AAAAAAAAWlY/MxRFNzsP68w/s1600-h/P9260217%252520copy%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA " border="0" alt="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA " src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-O3a1TchQi0I/TokcKOlaaiI/AAAAAAAAWlc/J9SpWHYk6Cg/P9260217%252520copy_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="393" height="296" /></a></font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Gisha">The other day I hard boiled eggs like I do every few weeks, and I decided that Jack and I were going to color eggs again.  We did it for </font><a href="http://growthchartmoments.blogspot.com/2011/04/easter-egg-coloring.html" target="_blank"><font size="3" face="Gisha">Easter</font></a><font size="3" face="Gisha"> and loved it, so why not do it more often?  I chose fall colors this time (yellow, orange, green and brown) and I think they turned out great!  </font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Gisha">I started out with my tools :</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Gisha"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-qgorMCvKIRE/TokcK_RjQkI/AAAAAAAAWlg/VjzTqVRu0Ws/s1600-h/P9260190%252520copy%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA " border="0" alt="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA " src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-_DeJt27FA1g/TokcLOwVILI/AAAAAAAAWlk/5l5fOvgUC3w/P9260190%252520copy_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="393" height="296" /></a></font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Gisha">The paper towel roll cut up into little egg drying stands works best if they’re not glued together.  For the colors, I followed the ‘recipes’ on the back of the food color box.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Gisha"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-89fkKCGHCYM/TokcLwKrusI/AAAAAAAAWlo/bjcOu7eYX0M/s1600-h/P9260196%252520copy%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA " border="0" alt="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA " src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-mG9NApI9yHE/TokcME3eIfI/AAAAAAAAWls/BrW_zlaNcA4/P9260196%252520copy_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="393" height="296" /></a></font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Gisha">One egg must have had a crack in it when I put it in the pot.  We didn’t color this one, but it sure was fun to eat after we were done coloring the rest of the eggs. </font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Gisha"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-FVhpIV9burM/TokcMpHOUyI/AAAAAAAAWlw/yQc7Ob7FaJY/s1600-h/P9260212%252520copy%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA " border="0" alt="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA " src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-HdAhAVOVjpA/TokcND26fvI/AAAAAAAAWl0/8TKjsPSmCcw/P9260212%252520copy_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="336" height="457" /></a></font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Gisha">I have a feeling we’ll be dying eggs for every holiday coming up.  Thanksgiving will be the same, but Christmas may look a tad different.  </font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Gisha"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-sqkwin5p42A/TokcNXe0LhI/AAAAAAAAWl4/usD4mxoaW_0/s1600-h/P9260216%252520copy%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA " border="0" alt="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA " src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-qCuqaOKSx_4/TokcN-m4u0I/AAAAAAAAWl8/XS7P4cethbA/P9260216%252520copy_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="346" height="466" /></a></font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Gisha">I’m linking this up with </font><a href="http://la-lashomedaycare.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><font size="3" face="Gisha">La-La’s Home Daycare</font></a><font size="3" face="Gisha"> Holiday Kid Craft link up.  Hop on over to see what other holiday crafts have been posted.  </font></p> <a href="http://la-lashomedaycare.blogspot.com/" target="”_blank”"><img style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" src="http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff320/Lawill/HolidayLinkup.jpg" /></a> Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13091206341249617247noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6326215201248018708.post-86035879727041333482011-10-07T10:08:00.001-04:002011-10-07T10:08:41.832-04:00Foto Friday–Machines<a href="http://la-lashomedaycare.blogspot.com" target="”_blank”"><img style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="Photobucket" src="http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff320/Lawill/my-button.gif" /></a> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Gisha"></font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Gisha">This was my suggestion, and it was SO hard to narrow down my pictures to just one.  So I didn’t.  I like that I can do that with this prompt. </font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Gisha">A few weeks ago, they repaved our road.  It was a great day for Jack!  We walked around the neighborhood and watched the truck pull the ‘box’ along behind it, laying down the ‘slurry’.  Real technical terms here. </font></p> <p align="justify"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-IkAPFnzNZJg/To8H19zlA9I/AAAAAAAAWnc/mu8oof8qAvQ/s1600-h/P9130101%252520copy%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><font size="3" face="Gisha"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA " border="0" alt="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA " src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-jA8R20SRvhw/To8H2TJfGeI/AAAAAAAAWng/YAJUUpoFgs0/P9130101%252520copy_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="393" height="296" /></font></a></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Gisha">They truck ran out of mix right in front of our house, which means they had to leave the box here and go fetch another truck that had more mix in it.  You know what that means….I ran over and started taking pictures of the box like it was a supermodel! The workers (who were still there waiting for the new truck to come) were a little confused about why I was taking pictures.  One even asked me, “what are the pictures for?”  I said “I just like to take pictures, and how often is one of these things in front of my house?”  He wasn’t seeing how it was a picture-moment.  </font></p> <p align="justify"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-foJHQ4eKhKc/To8H3vHqcuI/AAAAAAAAWnk/vOzrcRoR_0U/s1600-h/P9130099%252520vibrance%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><font size="3" face="Gisha"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="It's dirty with slurry" border="0" alt="It's dirty with slurry" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-vfIyV1X4qlM/To8H4Q4ZJ7I/AAAAAAAAWno/Er-xo1_JLgY/P9130099%252520vibrance_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="357" height="486" /></font></a></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Gisha">In all honesty, when I suggested the theme Machines, I was thinking more about the machines we have laying All.Over.My.House.  Jack has a few loves, the biggest being machines.</font> </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-_O0-YYMxULk/To8H5v8UwzI/AAAAAAAAWns/ilpbQwYMRh4/s1600-h/P7070075%252520copy3%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Think he has enough machines?" border="0" alt="Think he has enough machines?" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-j6uwhNADI8M/To8H6B6cn9I/AAAAAAAAWnw/HErUBxgKgLA/P7070075%252520copy3_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="393" height="296" /></a></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Gisha">I hope you have a great weekend.  Rick took off work today, and he doesn’t have to work on Monday, so it’s a four day weekend in our home!  I wonder what we’ll do (besides doing some laundry and grocery shopping)</font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Gisha">(Don’t forget to click on the Foto Friday box to go see other pictures of machines.)</font></p> Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13091206341249617247noreply@blogger.com4