tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5871542377200730682024-03-05T06:54:01.938-08:00Everything EvieJust a touch of everything.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06896366926667139866noreply@blogger.comBlogger69125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-587154237720073068.post-14559470880661865332016-07-21T09:39:00.000-07:002016-07-21T09:39:03.276-07:00Clean Skillet Lasagna<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2pyeVq8PoFbHvEdECa3KlwFQqt1ecYTZ6D1wylFlMkQtV3vAtxEZDQ33SiDnkfVlIeDAhbiz63-aArcOL7euM9dRyGrZIdUAv6vWU5hsiIDAKOQHmDrIvdy3-rIkWVKBegBKkSJ_uxmfw/s1600/IMG_6975.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2pyeVq8PoFbHvEdECa3KlwFQqt1ecYTZ6D1wylFlMkQtV3vAtxEZDQ33SiDnkfVlIeDAhbiz63-aArcOL7euM9dRyGrZIdUAv6vWU5hsiIDAKOQHmDrIvdy3-rIkWVKBegBKkSJ_uxmfw/s640/IMG_6975.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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I've seen these recipes on Facebook before but had never made skillet lasagna until I found it in a cookbook my daughter brought home from 4-H. Since I can be lazy in the kitchen from time to time, it's still not my favorite way to make lasagna. That would be in the crockpot because I don't have to precook the noodles. However, I do like the skillet method second best because you don't have to heat up the oven which means I can make it in the summer, too. </div>
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Lately I've been up to my elbows in yarn (yes, literally) and in the middle of some major changes with my crochet "business", so this post is going to be short and sweet.</div>
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Here's what you need for the clean version: whole wheat lasagna noodles, cottage or ricotta cheese, Parmesan cheese, mozzarella cheese (grate your own! don't buy the pre-shredded crap!), frozen spinach (thawed), Italian seasoning, and homemade clean <a href="http://everythingevieblog.blogspot.com/2014/08/recipe-roundup-1-spaghetti-sauce.html">spaghetti sauce.</a></div>
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So basically your typical lasagna ingredients. </div>
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One thing that I like about this recipe is the spinach. Sometimes we make this our meatless meal for the week and I use plain sauce but since the spinach is in there it still has extra flavor. And sometimes I use meat sauce and still add the spinach. Either way, it's an easy way to sneak some veggies into your kid's dinner. The original recipe also suggests using broccoli instead of spinach, but we have never tried that. </div>
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First step (and most annoying) is to cook your noodles according to the directions on the box. While those are cooking, mix together your ricotta or cottage cheese, half of your parmesan cheese, and italian seasoning. </div>
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Once your noodles are cooked, you are going to layer everything in the skillet. DO NOT turn on your skillet until all the layers are done. </div>
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Spread half of your sauce on the bottom of the skillet and place 4 noodles on top.</div>
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Spread half of the cheese mixture over the noodles...</div>
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...and then add half of the spinach (or broccoli). </div>
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Sprinkle half of the mozzarella cheese over the spinach and then repeat the layers with the remaining ingredients: noodles, cheese mixture, sauce, spinach, mozzarella.</div>
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Sprinkle the remaining Parmesan cheese on top and cover with the lid or aluminum foil.</div>
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NOW turn on your burner to medium-low and cook until the cheese is melted (usually about 20 minutes).</div>
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Once the cheese is melted, turn off your burner and let it stand for about 5 minutes before serving. </div>
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There you have it, lasagna without the hot kitchen or oven! Cook up (or microwave like me - see? lazy cooker here) some veggies and you have a nice clean, balanced dinner. </div>
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I supposed the only downside to the skillet version of lasagna is that it's not as pretty and it doesn't come out in perfect little squares. But honestly....does it really matter what it looks like going down when it all comes out the same? Ha.</div>
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Hope you enjoy the recipe and are having a great summer!</div>
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<u><span style="font-size: large;">Clean Skillet Lasagna</span></u></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Ingredients:</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-size: small;">8 whole wheat lasagna noodles</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">1 1/4 tbsp Italian seasoning </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">24 oz of clean spaghetti sauce (or jar if you don't want clean)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">1 (15oz) carton of ricotta or cottage cheese</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">10 oz of frozen thawed spinach OR cooked chopped broccoli</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese </span></li>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Directions:</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-size: small;">Cook the noodles according to the directions on the box. Drain and set to the side.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">In a small bowl, mix the ricotta/cottage cheese, 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese and Italian seasoning.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Spread half of the sauce on the bottom of a deep-dish skillet and lay 4 noodles on top.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Spread half of the cheese mixture over the noodles. Top with half of the spinach/broccoli.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Sprinkle half the mozzarella cheese on top of the spinach. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Repeat layers with remaining ingredients: noodles, cheese mixture, sauce, spinach, and mozzarella cheese.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Sprinkle with the rest of the Parmesan cheese. Cover with a lid or aluminum foil.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Turn on stove to medium-low and cook until the cheese is melted. About 20 minutes.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Turn off burner and let stand for 5 minutes before serving. </span></li>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06896366926667139866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-587154237720073068.post-45093175231918569292016-07-01T13:15:00.001-07:002016-07-01T13:15:11.582-07:00How The West Was Fun<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp75J-2Ba3yBWGGzfYZ8MB-lPzvt_GPSODxC-e-ooB4E5kMA6eFyZHl037bEe5CAZWfr_0Wd4iIHeOuBqqaDdEwHQ_CL03Fxw3pRgvXDsPJHZJsZK8H8k00QsGEm-9UJu_DYqfoJ_ReALE/s1600/IMG_7018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp75J-2Ba3yBWGGzfYZ8MB-lPzvt_GPSODxC-e-ooB4E5kMA6eFyZHl037bEe5CAZWfr_0Wd4iIHeOuBqqaDdEwHQ_CL03Fxw3pRgvXDsPJHZJsZK8H8k00QsGEm-9UJu_DYqfoJ_ReALE/s640/IMG_7018.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking out over Casper, Wyoming</td></tr>
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Family vacations are something else, right? You spend forever saving your money, planning, prepping, and packing. You most likely travel some great distance by plane, train, or automobile. (see what I did there?) You spend a week seeing all the sights, visiting family, or whatever your vacation was intended for...and when you get home you are exhausted and need a vacation. Irony, anyone? </div>
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But of course, we wouldn't trade it for the world. The memories made and the things experienced on these trips make the spent time, money, and sanity well worth it. </div>
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This summer our family went on our first vacation in almost four years. In the first few years of our marriage we went on a trip every year. It wasn't a thing, it just happened that way. But the last few years of life circumstances (a miscarriage, job change and almost moving, another job change, and then a baby) kept us from going anywhere. But this summer we finally made it! My grandparents live in Casper, Wyoming so I rarely get to see them and in the last year my grandpa wasn't doing too well. Thankfully, he was moved to an assisted living facility and is thriving there. Thank you, Lord! But it was definitely our goal to get out to see them and that part of the country. My husband had never been there and my girls were too young to remember the last time there were there. Plus, my grandparents had yet to meet our little boy. </div>
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So after saving our pennies for a year, off we went!</div>
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I really didn't share much of our trip on Facebook, so I decided to do a blog post with the highlights for anyone that was interested! So be prepared....this is going to be a lot of pictures!</div>
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We left just as the sun was coming up and our goal was to make it to
North Platte, NB for the night. It was about 8 hours and we gave
ourselves 10 to get there. Traveling with a baby is no joke people. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBGRGHal1ePtI9u-jTH4z7rL1y_-apGwWeuyk0oCFWTv6BDER8Td2clR9ykk0GQhQYpCN8Zheo_7jOeQTFGIN9U58XXBLpzKUd2Gri7AqSxCXdYj1yJHHlNd9adKwAv44NSPrOJ6cD4qEp/s1600/IMG_9451.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBGRGHal1ePtI9u-jTH4z7rL1y_-apGwWeuyk0oCFWTv6BDER8Td2clR9ykk0GQhQYpCN8Zheo_7jOeQTFGIN9U58XXBLpzKUd2Gri7AqSxCXdYj1yJHHlNd9adKwAv44NSPrOJ6cD4qEp/s640/IMG_9451.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm still impressed that I got us all in this picture.</td></tr>
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Our first pit stop was in Iowa at the World's Largest Truck Stop.....seriously, who knew? </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij7WfAobcTcMybBUQ6q70hpkdAg6KBDwmf_Acfg4LCZ7g9yZumsTcX0ejT03w1aPZ57cuFfTNxP59vjknd5iF6JFV13zLEi-Id-CURf7gxDIbZZ8czcZld99sm8jIUhqOQByJYHQrbpYb8/s1600/IMG_9445.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij7WfAobcTcMybBUQ6q70hpkdAg6KBDwmf_Acfg4LCZ7g9yZumsTcX0ejT03w1aPZ57cuFfTNxP59vjknd5iF6JFV13zLEi-Id-CURf7gxDIbZZ8czcZld99sm8jIUhqOQByJYHQrbpYb8/s640/IMG_9445.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yay! We get to pee now!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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Luckily, the first day of driving was uneventful. Bennett did AMAZING in the car, what a little trooper. We made it to North Platte right at dinner time, grabbed a pizza and hit the pool. We ended up being in a hotel that was right next to a brand new Veteran's Memorial that wasn't open yet, but you could walk around the outside and look in. It was a really nice surprise for our first night of vacation.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0s2Vd_808ZL4pKHyK2-XiRenk6B2LCCWR6Ox4jgdou5uMmshXwo2TJo64e_hP_YTs0aDzyJqAKDge6rI1nCxDFvWnTS1Gk4a6rsGuajB8sMltL5DtnPSsURWcqwxWrssa89qer9ZNQZwf/s1600/IMG_9470.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0s2Vd_808ZL4pKHyK2-XiRenk6B2LCCWR6Ox4jgdou5uMmshXwo2TJo64e_hP_YTs0aDzyJqAKDge6rI1nCxDFvWnTS1Gk4a6rsGuajB8sMltL5DtnPSsURWcqwxWrssa89qer9ZNQZwf/s640/IMG_9470.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nebraska sunrise. Soooo pretty....now where's my coffee?</td></tr>
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We made to Casper in pretty good time. Wyoming was a welcome sight after traveling through Iowa and Nebraska. Seriously....at least Iowa has corn. Nebraska is just...so, so flat.</div>
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The day after we got to Casper was Memorial Day. I'm going to take a minute with this. I've never gone to a Memorial Day service of any kind. In all honesty, it wasn't until my husband joined the military that I <i>really</i> thought about what this day means. We went with my grandparents to a service at a Veteran's cemetery in Casper and it was such an experience. They had flags on every grave. They had large flags of each military branch posted all outside the chapel. Dozens of Patriot Guard Riders were stationed along the road holding flags. The service was so moving. A senator, a mayor and a few veterans spoke. They recognized veterans of each war (my grandpa is WWII), current service members, and the families that had lost someone in service. That was when I found out I was sitting next to a woman who was a Gold Star Mother, which means she lost a child in a war. When she stood up the tears poured down my face. I just cant imagine. I gave her the biggest hug when the service was over because I had no words to offer. </div>
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I <i>highly</i> recommend that someday, before you light up the grill, you go to an actual Memorial Day service and take your kids. Let them see what it really means to sacrifice for this country. We can all use the reminder from time to time. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flags on the graves at the Veteran's Cemetery in Casper, WY</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Patriot Guard lining the streets with flags</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and one of my favorite veterans</td></tr>
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We were in Casper for about five days and while there we did a bit of sight seeing. We went to the National Historic Trails Interpretive Center, which is really cool interactive museum of the pioneers that traveled through the Casper area. It gave us a great history base for some of the sight seeing we would be doing the next few days. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Moms only get to be in selfies.</td></tr>
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Next we went to Independence Rock which is a giant rock that was a significant stop on the Oregon and Mormon trails. If the travelers could make it to this rock by the fourth of July, then they knew they would make it to their destination before winter set in. The fun part about the rock is that you can climb all over it. We saw many people all the way at the top or going up and over to the other side. The kids wanted to eat lunch at the top....but mom and dad kaboshed that.</div>
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We decided to hike around it instead, I would guess it was just about a mile. But with a baby on your back and a <strike>whiny</strike> 6-year-old...a mile can feel pretty long. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Man, my husband looks hot with our baby on his back.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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The other interesting part of Independence Rock is that as you walk around, you can see where people carved their names and the year into the rock. There were soooo many names that are well over 150 years old.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Names and years carved into the rock by pioneers.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI318uRw7nCuiVWxz6jf6sa2_A09DH90KYwrbXTFfDa9Vw9OfZTmUZjGurdGbNB3GNVwDxJJLHuS98-DLOzqIIhm0RNNZgcTf-U3XXyyde4LUuSnFLxZYfAooSafPds9PYzSxlG7ibe6es/s1600/IMG_9637.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI318uRw7nCuiVWxz6jf6sa2_A09DH90KYwrbXTFfDa9Vw9OfZTmUZjGurdGbNB3GNVwDxJJLHuS98-DLOzqIIhm0RNNZgcTf-U3XXyyde4LUuSnFLxZYfAooSafPds9PYzSxlG7ibe6es/s640/IMG_9637.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Family selfie at Independence Rock! My selfie skills really amaze me sometimes...</td></tr>
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That day we also went over to the Mormon Hand Cart Visitor's Center which is Devil's Gate.</div>
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The story there is the Mormon's were being persecuted in the Midwest so they bought handcarts (basically small carts that they pulled rather than a horse) and headed out to Salt Lake City. When they got to this part of the country, they saw Devil's Gate which is a giant hole in a mountain that allowed them to pass through rather than around and make it Independence Rock. All of the history was really quite interesting. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrnaSH22bzkginJOPyxgXKkFsWujLldCOvzF2dI3u36jAezxy_G9wvBuDTrpSF-DM6GSfUpzoIEppQNFr3TONM2tM4aY11xJD016BGWrIiM-McmxZ4oloQQPMov_sr7YKDPXbHkKjp5L9X/s1600/IMG_9651.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrnaSH22bzkginJOPyxgXKkFsWujLldCOvzF2dI3u36jAezxy_G9wvBuDTrpSF-DM6GSfUpzoIEppQNFr3TONM2tM4aY11xJD016BGWrIiM-McmxZ4oloQQPMov_sr7YKDPXbHkKjp5L9X/s640/IMG_9651.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View of Devil's Gate from the Mormon Hand Cart Center.</td></tr>
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Other than sight-seeing, we mainly spent time with my grandparents and swimming in the hotel pool. Although, I spent half of my time hiding in the hotel bathroom waiting for Bennett to fall asleep at nap time. Again...the joys of traveling with a baby!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0000ee;">Meeting his great-grandson for the first time.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3N-nsGRF7jvxYYKMbw8oe8YchycjgKYgDjbKjiaXMeYeqnDPKs0Y5kT0eTL5www6AyKPsQQc_Ot_GJ-YvAzob7XbR1sr0IcMyGwVCgBSGD-n3e0wy-3FKJFVeOOKDPPXkLIIrpaP_bgOf/s1600/IMG_9680.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3N-nsGRF7jvxYYKMbw8oe8YchycjgKYgDjbKjiaXMeYeqnDPKs0Y5kT0eTL5www6AyKPsQQc_Ot_GJ-YvAzob7XbR1sr0IcMyGwVCgBSGD-n3e0wy-3FKJFVeOOKDPPXkLIIrpaP_bgOf/s400/IMG_9680.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grandpa with half of his great-grandkids</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIKr4P9LD8Haw3KGDBjwnjlpO4eE82WnSMnrzpcObbH0h5Y0h-qk0uTuR0l84jc51cFx0JsRmGFcZylx6wSiUKIXDDafq9_FofXvFkf1yzCUMNslbai3NC40CMh7aO8Vr3i6y0IezTA5zZ/s1600/IMG_6994.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIKr4P9LD8Haw3KGDBjwnjlpO4eE82WnSMnrzpcObbH0h5Y0h-qk0uTuR0l84jc51cFx0JsRmGFcZylx6wSiUKIXDDafq9_FofXvFkf1yzCUMNslbai3NC40CMh7aO8Vr3i6y0IezTA5zZ/s400/IMG_6994.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The girls with Grandma and Grandpa and the Memorial Day Service</td></tr>
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Finally we said our goodbyes and headed north. It was pretty hard saying goodbye for me. The reality is my grandparents live 1,000 miles away and they aren't getting younger. My grandpa is for sure done traveling, so if I am able to see him again it will only be if I can make it back out there. That was a hard pill to swallow. But I'm glad we finally made it and were able to spend lots of quality time with them. </div>
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We left from Casper and headed to Rapid City, SD via Devils Tower, Crazy Horse, and Mount Rushmore.</div>
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First stop was Devils Tower. I had visited all of these monuments as a kid...but you definitely forget how amazing they are!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaRuRy4iA2kbFewL45l51iDI7NWhEP-INvpMcGkmjkGGydJu19BroqDBvcUR8hnsxdTTlO6aqEqQCydPt7rROPwnB4aGp9IzPfm6mK0dr0EckuNY4bYiUgLJHy76EEfL1m2tfz4t8EOS1U/s1600/IMG_9701.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaRuRy4iA2kbFewL45l51iDI7NWhEP-INvpMcGkmjkGGydJu19BroqDBvcUR8hnsxdTTlO6aqEqQCydPt7rROPwnB4aGp9IzPfm6mK0dr0EckuNY4bYiUgLJHy76EEfL1m2tfz4t8EOS1U/s640/IMG_9701.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Devils Tower in Wyoming</td></tr>
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It was also more fun as an adult because I actually was interested and cared about the history of everything.<br />
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At some point, Jillian decided she needed pictures of her "holding up" all of the monuments...she keeps us laughing, that's for sure.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiJfYfVhVDgm6o7mRJaY-x-nhKcHrvklQgK_nBHerJdhKjR00__emTYBqsBFRSY-Z6zW-rm3gOkQ0ZZRQ3eNjkQHDXrZ3Lw-QPN1HIJVbXlhNkX3RiqMNmfJIDqGvRC4iEMlJfm9eDvZ8o/s1600/IMG_7065.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiJfYfVhVDgm6o7mRJaY-x-nhKcHrvklQgK_nBHerJdhKjR00__emTYBqsBFRSY-Z6zW-rm3gOkQ0ZZRQ3eNjkQHDXrZ3Lw-QPN1HIJVbXlhNkX3RiqMNmfJIDqGvRC4iEMlJfm9eDvZ8o/s640/IMG_7065.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Check out how strong my kid is.</td></tr>
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If you can believe it, people actually climb this thing! Insanity. There was a guy climbing it while we were there. I did learn that on the top, there is an entire ecosystem, so if you make it to the top, you are only allowed to walk around the edge and not on the grass or plants. I never would have thought that was up there! </div>
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On the way in and out of Devils Tower, you drive through a Prairie Dog Town. They are so cute! And they just sit there and stare at you. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Is that made of....wooooood? Wait, that's a woodchuck.</td></tr>
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We went on from there to the National Black Hills Forest and the Crazy Horse Monument.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They went that-a-way!</td></tr>
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I'll say again that I'm glad to come back as adult. I remember the monument but I didn't remember the museum or any details. Unfortunately, because this is a privately funded project, it really hadn't changed much from the last time I was here. Right when we arrived we got to see some Native children doing a cultural dance called Hoop Dancing. These kids were 5 years old and up and they were invited to dance there that day. They were very talented!</div>
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The next day we made it to Mount Rushmore. It was a beautiful morning with not a cloud in the sky. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mount Rushmore with the flags of each state/territory in our country.</td></tr>
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It wasn't as busy as I thought it would be, which was nice. We watched an informative video about how they carved it, toured around the visitor's center, and we bought the obligatory mug and fridge magnet. </div>
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We also had a fellow tourist take a family picture...I'm pretty sure he wasn't American because he didn't speak English very well and looked really annoyed when I asked him to take our picture. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr2n7SzPu2Z48eftmL86ypsfA2JfMhHEAYPDymXrpTQchfrWocng1tcs_iq6ctzA6EpTfPhVMlq9D0SVd9NgVHCW8c7TzLl7N1_LwJ673tfoFRaqXHdHOt6NX4qvbm30emEWaZohYDR7yZ/s1600/IMG_7097.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr2n7SzPu2Z48eftmL86ypsfA2JfMhHEAYPDymXrpTQchfrWocng1tcs_iq6ctzA6EpTfPhVMlq9D0SVd9NgVHCW8c7TzLl7N1_LwJ673tfoFRaqXHdHOt6NX4qvbm30emEWaZohYDR7yZ/s640/IMG_7097.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So...are we photobombing them? Or are they photobombing us?</td></tr>
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And here's Jillian holding them up.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Bt1JH7pvxcpdSMgBNtWrCXAQKkesGmpKl6Kmt8Adrup21LBj4p0CB2BbS9JS7lgXJfG-L8i6r_GUisYePgs8kX52cr41m1cyV68h-URDgAij9bGKWBHVURmNwS6_1hEvLwdErNxL-5iL/s1600/IMG_9737.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Bt1JH7pvxcpdSMgBNtWrCXAQKkesGmpKl6Kmt8Adrup21LBj4p0CB2BbS9JS7lgXJfG-L8i6r_GUisYePgs8kX52cr41m1cyV68h-URDgAij9bGKWBHVURmNwS6_1hEvLwdErNxL-5iL/s640/IMG_9737.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seriously, the muscles on this kid...</td></tr>
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After Rushmore we continued East. We were headed to Michell, SD for the night. Oh yeah, that's right. The home of the Corn Palace. On our way to Mitchell, we stopped at the infamous Wall Drug. We wandered around and looked at all of the fun things, had lunch and homemade ice cream, and then met a woman working there whose son was also in the Coast Guard and is stationed not far from Chad. You just never know who you will meet! While we were waiting for lunch, I read the story of how Wall Drug got started. It was an interesting story of faith and ingenuity. Google it!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzGhTgR4PXIYwv7qT2YG3FmbpcNjKKyyA8JYFr7rCVC24-I4t7T3debSTBsBFpQzfkzMkUvP8-7Hx5WoL2X8mQcFOJDB6x33eKm3R__FMbBXjUa-jW4NQVZ6c_RYaOwdbN64Q-nUHdqUIR/s1600/IMG_7141.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzGhTgR4PXIYwv7qT2YG3FmbpcNjKKyyA8JYFr7rCVC24-I4t7T3debSTBsBFpQzfkzMkUvP8-7Hx5WoL2X8mQcFOJDB6x33eKm3R__FMbBXjUa-jW4NQVZ6c_RYaOwdbN64Q-nUHdqUIR/s640/IMG_7141.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The girls and Annie Oakley. They forgot their guns. </td></tr>
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We spent way more time at Wall Drug than we planned and were behind schedule, but with the Badlands just 7 miles away, we couldn't skip it. Chad had never been there and really wanted to see it, so we went for it. And it was so worth it! I regret that we didn't have more time to explore and climb around...but with a baby it was probably best to just drive through. We will be back though!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Is this where that guy got stuck and had to cut off his arm?</td></tr>
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It amazes me that something this massive and beautiful is right here in our country. Especially when living in the land of corn and cows, it's easy to forget all our country has to see! God is an amazing artist and sights like this remind me how big He truly is!</div>
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We did just a little bit of climbing around.... </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Don't back up!</td></tr>
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....and of course Jillian had to hold them up. I really did try to explain that it wouldn't work with this, but she wasn't interested.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I mean, now she's just showing off. </td></tr>
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As we were driving through we saw a buffalo far off, some rams grazing on grass, and lots of prairie dogs. As we were driving through the endless hills, I threw up a prayer asking for God to let us see one animal on top of a hill. Of course, everyone in the car laughed at me but I didn't care. And then a few miles later, I spotted a big ram sitting on top of a hill. It almost completely blended in with the scenery but I spotted it and yelled at Chad to stop the car. Thankfully I have a somewhat decent zoom on my little Canon and I got a snapshot of him. Plus, I got to prove to my family that I wasn't stupid for asking God for something so small. Win for mom!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was my "happy dance" moment.</td></tr>
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We finally made it to Mitchell at 9:30pm and the waterpark at the hotel closed at 10:00. So we did the fastest shuffle to get our stuff in the room, swim suits on and get the kids to the pool. It also meant we ate dinner at 11:00pm. You know what? It was totally worth it. The kids had a blast with their dad for 20 minutes on the waterslide, we ate cold pizza for dinner, and it reminded me that sometimes you just have to go with the flow and live life.</div>
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We obviously woke up late the next morning, so the last day of driving proved to be long. And Bennett was beyond done with traveling. But luckily we had a fun pit stop for dinner at our friend's house in Iowa. They were so sweet and made dinner for us. I can't even tell you how nice it was to eat a home cooked meal after 9 days of vacation food! We finally made it home about 4 hours later than we planned, but none of us cared.</div>
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It was a long, fun, exciting, exhausting trip and I'm so glad we took it. The kids did great in the car, Jillian didn't complain as much as we expected and Liv was a huge help with Bennett. Now that I crochet, I didn't mind Chad doing most of the driving, so that fight wasn't there this time. I mean, look at all the crochet I got done!!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivqvQCkGH359oYAp5lPSV2VxtYicduZCigPp8dsrHqEJVJ-812M2DHu4qWwn-YIPzarAwEtUUtPtAc9DO7Kwe842Ww0HqFljvBxEcxdWJBPw4Fnc6C4mkTiSxNDFXBxCfpcPb7u0SAz3g0/s1600/IMG_9787.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivqvQCkGH359oYAp5lPSV2VxtYicduZCigPp8dsrHqEJVJ-812M2DHu4qWwn-YIPzarAwEtUUtPtAc9DO7Kwe842Ww0HqFljvBxEcxdWJBPw4Fnc6C4mkTiSxNDFXBxCfpcPb7u0SAz3g0/s400/IMG_9787.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just call me lighting fingers.</td></tr>
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I had two takeaways from this vacation: I'm done with vacations with a baby. I'm glad we did it, but I have no need to do it again...and...our next vacation will be grown ups only and tropical.</div>
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I hope you enjoyed the pictures and stories from our trip, and if you've never been to this part of the country I highly suggest you get there!</div>
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Here's a few extra fun photos. :)</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ5bY6IV7naw30PXcLUTyEMr-yekgVdUFm1LMNw9OraU_VRWNl_SLDV2ROkxQEkoQDQc97TEM7xOTwSbwn2qtRf6KcgEaRQoQKlHdVn8-gXnjY95BuOwR4YJSFr302YwFJRA5gHEcbGGxD/s1600/IMG_7118.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ5bY6IV7naw30PXcLUTyEMr-yekgVdUFm1LMNw9OraU_VRWNl_SLDV2ROkxQEkoQDQc97TEM7xOTwSbwn2qtRf6KcgEaRQoQKlHdVn8-gXnjY95BuOwR4YJSFr302YwFJRA5gHEcbGGxD/s640/IMG_7118.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look at that FACE! And I love the hat making his ears stick out!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx4DHmI7a71Gx7STfzmzN2fcgKrus0SoD2W6xnMgiHH7q3i-eNnKDwvIv8Oqn-RLGjNoHWEpZS7Itsln9WAkHi8nqgJyDdazXTkpnueMgAvs0yRCdrZ-hGUgoUqt07wjSwip6hHWuaf7UT/s1600/IMG_9597.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx4DHmI7a71Gx7STfzmzN2fcgKrus0SoD2W6xnMgiHH7q3i-eNnKDwvIv8Oqn-RLGjNoHWEpZS7Itsln9WAkHi8nqgJyDdazXTkpnueMgAvs0yRCdrZ-hGUgoUqt07wjSwip6hHWuaf7UT/s640/IMG_9597.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This will be the picture from our next trip....only with sand and palm trees in the background.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSCfI7IbKwm1XRQKbU6-c8U05PqHIYn1S-Cik2dN59ZiVXCZzD2EDzkTa4wDWmB3gB-JM4Aj56iQl3VISeT8KGy-f6tFpIsYaM0oc-1NQCkZiJMIC_4Z1OTcSq1MaM1BZxvGaBFobNlWdn/s1600/IMG_7125.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSCfI7IbKwm1XRQKbU6-c8U05PqHIYn1S-Cik2dN59ZiVXCZzD2EDzkTa4wDWmB3gB-JM4Aj56iQl3VISeT8KGy-f6tFpIsYaM0oc-1NQCkZiJMIC_4Z1OTcSq1MaM1BZxvGaBFobNlWdn/s640/IMG_7125.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Entertaining the baby while waiting for lunch!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOFFhAFQX6DmFa7d3fzIo6ZO_3nAz8pa-pJkE59RjiihP_h6Y-oTLHVBg0P5vu9Y8AE9DmX80XVfZlleje0UagWYjc_MzDSSutCQ-Qc-MHVjUrnyU93xcqgyzOsFIjSlI9t6zCLHh8qFEf/s1600/IMG_7053.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOFFhAFQX6DmFa7d3fzIo6ZO_3nAz8pa-pJkE59RjiihP_h6Y-oTLHVBg0P5vu9Y8AE9DmX80XVfZlleje0UagWYjc_MzDSSutCQ-Qc-MHVjUrnyU93xcqgyzOsFIjSlI9t6zCLHh8qFEf/s640/IMG_7053.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just call her Laura Ingalls!</td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06896366926667139866noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-587154237720073068.post-58018875937606273082016-06-22T13:57:00.000-07:002016-06-22T13:57:01.882-07:00Crochet USA Cozy Pattern<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuL4PjIM4ZeMZmr4mpN_LBsNM5OrzRU-nZELDuoyL41_vO_MhSORxas4_WWW4BPKrGrKp4YS18YJfn6ayhCoB8Nnw6PTqqk5FJnsEU7t3r7I7QT3VCMt0xtdeQKI5D4jPdU7tJ6CT8-J10/s1600/IMG_7315.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuL4PjIM4ZeMZmr4mpN_LBsNM5OrzRU-nZELDuoyL41_vO_MhSORxas4_WWW4BPKrGrKp4YS18YJfn6ayhCoB8Nnw6PTqqk5FJnsEU7t3r7I7QT3VCMt0xtdeQKI5D4jPdU7tJ6CT8-J10/s640/IMG_7315.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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A couple of months ago I bought some red, white, and blue yarn on sale...but I had no idea what to do with it. I was too busy in May to play with it for Memorial Day so I made sure to make time for it before the 4th of July. </div>
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The first thing I actually made was a flag wreath.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ_3wJXeHN9GA5AYAS5CQ3qzhuHOEFDh-CO4oBCHlCkiwJYvggPhtzRGJNS8dwBksLPqmcgsu8yKnCO5FzZnhzDK6ZP9msGTc7lhP47eFJ9WVn28owGSin9JZUwzM5QkIJgueu3tKwwYVc/s1600/IMG_9991%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ_3wJXeHN9GA5AYAS5CQ3qzhuHOEFDh-CO4oBCHlCkiwJYvggPhtzRGJNS8dwBksLPqmcgsu8yKnCO5FzZnhzDK6ZP9msGTc7lhP47eFJ9WVn28owGSin9JZUwzM5QkIJgueu3tKwwYVc/s640/IMG_9991%255B1%255D.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pattern from <a href="http://www.petalstopicots.com/2013/06/american-flag-wreath-crochet-pattern/" target="_blank">Petals to Picots</a></td></tr>
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I had plenty of yarn left when I finished the wreath, so I decided to make a couple cozies. I looked around for a pattern and found a couple I liked...but then I just decided to play around with the yarn and see what happened. </div>
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Well what happened was I made my own cozy!</div>
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After I was done and liked how it turned out, I thought why not write it down? I've done this before, played around with a pattern and made up my own, but I never wrote it down. And then when I want to make it again... I have no clue what I did. </div>
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I'd really love to test the waters of writing my own patterns and I think this is a simple and easy way to start. And festive!</div>
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Ok, so here it goes....since this is my first attempt at writing a pattern, if you find a flaw PLEASE comment and tell me so I can fix it!! </div>
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It would be much appreciated!</div>
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<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">USA Can/Bottle Cozy</span></u></b></div>
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Skill Level: Easy</div>
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<b>Materials:</b></div>
<ul>
<li>Yarn: <b>Two</b> strands regular worsted weight yarn, acrylic or cotton (cotton is better for sweating cans) in red, white, and blue - you will use <b>two</b> strands of blue and one strand of red & white together </li>
<li>Hook: K (6.5mm) & B (2.25mm)</li>
<li>Yarn needle</li>
</ul>
<b>Stitches:</b><br />
<ul>
<li>CH - chain</li>
<li>SS - slip stitch</li>
<li>ST/S - stitch(es) </li>
<li>SC - single crochet</li>
<li>HDC - half double crochet </li>
</ul>
<b>Gauge:</b><br />
<ul>
<li>3 HDC = 1 inch</li>
</ul>
<b>Using one strand of red and one strand of white:</b><br />
<b> </b> <br />
Start with a magic circle (if this is new, here is a great <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7GHTfXaz2E" target="_blank">tutorial</a>)<br />
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Row 1: CH 1, 6 HDC into magic circle; join with SS to first ST and pull tight (6sts)<br />
R2: CH 1, starting in the <i>next</i> ST (not the one you SS to) 2 HDC in each ST; join with SS to 1st ST (12sts) <i>- see images below for detailed examples of my joining method</i><br />
R3: CH 1, *2 HDC in next ST, 1 HDC in next ST* repeat from *; join with SS (18sts)<br />
R4: CH 1, *2HDC in next ST, 1 HDC in next two STS* repeat from *; join with SS (24sts)<br />
R5: CH 1, <b><i>in back loop only</i></b> 1 HDC in each ST; join with SS (24sts)<br />
R6-10: CH 1, 1HDC in each ST; join with SS (24sts)<br />
<b>Change to TWO strands of blue:</b><br />
R11-13: CH 1, 1 HDC in each ST; join with SS (24sts)<br />
<b> </b><br />
<b>If you are making the cozy for a can then skip Row 14, finish off and weave in ends.</b><br />
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R14 (for a bottle): CH 1, 1SC in each ST; join with SS to 1st ST (24sts)<br />
Finish off and weave in ends.<br />
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For the stars I did two different options:<br />
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For the bottle cozy I used the stars from the wreath, only I used a 2.25mm hook. Here is the link to that pattern: <a href="http://www.petalstopicots.com/2013/06/american-flag-wreath-crochet-pattern/" target="_blank">Star Pattern from Petals to Picots</a><br />
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For the can cozy I just stitched little stars randomly on the blue.<br />
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I think they both turned out cute!<br />
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Here are some pictures to help with my joining method:<br />
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<b>Image 1:</b> This is the end of row 2<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKrq4Mj6wLumI44p1-QYYyF90X3C47KUQ9M7GaYVEIsJQgfmuY1Kd8ocI5R6pa9V4P73JtS_8wgJttcdTUzV80mFzO3yYGmoQIx-uHsrz3-qPKhzuPPVw4EbhTSw_YIDT_pdxJWgGhiSki/s1600/IMG_0001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKrq4Mj6wLumI44p1-QYYyF90X3C47KUQ9M7GaYVEIsJQgfmuY1Kd8ocI5R6pa9V4P73JtS_8wgJttcdTUzV80mFzO3yYGmoQIx-uHsrz3-qPKhzuPPVw4EbhTSw_YIDT_pdxJWgGhiSki/s640/IMG_0001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b>Image 2:</b> Skip the chain one and slip stitch into the 1st stitch of Row 2.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvZQYryQlUYL3gzFLr5IeByl6ZuFIHsOCKHVFDGSDCnJA2a54I57xDacDzoqlplAzbq6XlZgmZuLoS-eZsgcsSv8PchTQ8gsx6y5cv0wIOWiERLwuYjfZrsMIltf22TVT6iKD9lHDx8bYO/s1600/IMG_9999.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvZQYryQlUYL3gzFLr5IeByl6ZuFIHsOCKHVFDGSDCnJA2a54I57xDacDzoqlplAzbq6XlZgmZuLoS-eZsgcsSv8PchTQ8gsx6y5cv0wIOWiERLwuYjfZrsMIltf22TVT6iKD9lHDx8bYO/s640/IMG_9999.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b>Image 3:</b> Joined with a slip stitch into the first stitch of that row.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHAheIxQU_w3oKZz3EgcxEdRLBEIhttMSV-ZabFSpznYPrdn83mgdJXxBBiALof1M-vVrgtLGxGTNtIX6IbW6z8xY9WiA_r2qL-WhbPHI_Tx7XniInMEUPMc9LcPrg2xEpacTebOEHDa-Q/s1600/IMG_0002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHAheIxQU_w3oKZz3EgcxEdRLBEIhttMSV-ZabFSpznYPrdn83mgdJXxBBiALof1M-vVrgtLGxGTNtIX6IbW6z8xY9WiA_r2qL-WhbPHI_Tx7XniInMEUPMc9LcPrg2xEpacTebOEHDa-Q/s640/IMG_0002.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b>Image 4: </b>Starting the next row - Chain one and the first stitch of the next row goes into stitch #2 of the previous row. You slip stitched into stitch #1.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih2S2P3PZobMGU9Vz7SPgM8qFDVdikQ4YiaWgaIvsevZ4R2E-Q9mH0BPS-lOLip-KzmB0cYrdy150yL0greSU98I4Id7fOuIt2X-Q1FdplEWaRJiqTjClLS5RmZRNzd4CqXFcwE0jRsyxN/s1600/IMG_0373.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih2S2P3PZobMGU9Vz7SPgM8qFDVdikQ4YiaWgaIvsevZ4R2E-Q9mH0BPS-lOLip-KzmB0cYrdy150yL0greSU98I4Id7fOuIt2X-Q1FdplEWaRJiqTjClLS5RmZRNzd4CqXFcwE0jRsyxN/s640/IMG_0373.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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I hope that's not too confusing. I think I came up with this as a mixture of other methods I saw in patterns. I like it because it doesn't leave a noticeable seam and it's pretty easy once you know what you are doing. </div>
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Please comment or email me with any questions or if I missed a step or stitch and I will fix it asap.</div>
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Happy Fourth of July! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3pg2kPyRGNiu_Rno53wAK3D35XosOW8WwaSFkDt6V0ae-8CkAetvtxT1OYfXJdD5_pAcS0MiNEJdUey9VIZIdrhD_imqqMiovfBChEbJrjxvIZZ9dmEaivtv1RpGkyMn4ipnISUH0SjMn/s1600/IMG_9994%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3pg2kPyRGNiu_Rno53wAK3D35XosOW8WwaSFkDt6V0ae-8CkAetvtxT1OYfXJdD5_pAcS0MiNEJdUey9VIZIdrhD_imqqMiovfBChEbJrjxvIZZ9dmEaivtv1RpGkyMn4ipnISUH0SjMn/s640/IMG_9994%255B1%255D.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06896366926667139866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-587154237720073068.post-85543163669936843302016-06-08T08:43:00.000-07:002016-06-08T09:22:06.043-07:00Ka-Bob's Your Uncle<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilnN1tBiw3adETPAfnaO9-RZAyyVPxqN7cpsF95vdOqUrmcd4Ms0P3JOJZJei2keV59Gd-XLviTInhdP9_bOKfk8qAeG21OVXndjSxpL7UyRw_HIgq6gT1BARoyOfphRWp1f9iEue7u5_i/s1600/IMG_7212.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilnN1tBiw3adETPAfnaO9-RZAyyVPxqN7cpsF95vdOqUrmcd4Ms0P3JOJZJei2keV59Gd-XLviTInhdP9_bOKfk8qAeG21OVXndjSxpL7UyRw_HIgq6gT1BARoyOfphRWp1f9iEue7u5_i/s640/IMG_7212.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Breakfast Fruit Kabobs</td></tr>
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Our family just discovered kabobs.</div>
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Maybe you are already familiar with these skewered wonders, but we were not. Of course I've seen them plenty and a fruit kabob is nothing new, however I've never actually <i>made</i> one.</div>
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We recently returned from a nine day family vacation and try as we may, we all ate terribly. I mean, we could have done worse...but there was definitely a lot of food and some fast food. Half way through the week, we were all feeling the effects. We decided not to stress about it while on our trip but once we got home...no more.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiY3VBsb5UZ-URvrlf9xFznaoTBcL-UgPiM_JOyyUoiDdMyt7XZNsMbQ2ZERtWybFImpCPB17KU2kFPK-yGRJg-8jyOy1CNfAu1Wb9Tx3EnaVHQ0oRhDlK7vXtd8Ok16SpOwngFNaW7PKO/s1600/IMG_7097.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiY3VBsb5UZ-URvrlf9xFznaoTBcL-UgPiM_JOyyUoiDdMyt7XZNsMbQ2ZERtWybFImpCPB17KU2kFPK-yGRJg-8jyOy1CNfAu1Wb9Tx3EnaVHQ0oRhDlK7vXtd8Ok16SpOwngFNaW7PKO/s640/IMG_7097.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Take a wild guess where we went.... ;)</td></tr>
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I'm still working on getting the baby weight off and hubby has a uniform to fit into and needs to make weight for his next PT test. He's never had to worry about it before, but this time I think he's sweating it a little. I'm not gonna lie...my first thought was "Welcome to my world!". </div>
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So now that we are home I'm driving the clean-eating train once again. I'm pretty close to getting us back to 100% clean, all I need to figure out is what to do for bread and having enough snacks around for the summer. </div>
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In trying to find some new healthy recipes for dinner, I was inspired by an account I follow on Instagram - <a href="http://www.instagram.com/100daysofrealfood" target="_blank">100 Days of Real Food</a>. I've posted about her recipes before. Her name is <a href="http://www.100daysofrealfood.com/" target="_blank">Lisa Leake</a> and she has a great website full of clean, real-food recipes for the whole family. I had to revisit my <a href="http://everythingevieblog.blogspot.com/2013/08/clean-back-to-school-lunches.html" target="_blank">Clean Lunches Post</a> (that was also inspired by Lisa) because I now have three kids to feed every meal and I couldn't remember anything other than peanut butter. I swear the third kid deleted some memory brain cells....</div>
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On Lisa's IG account I saw her post some kabobs that had pork, red onion, and peaches. It looked SO good and I thought the flavors sounded like they could be delicious, so once we got home from vacation I bought all the ingredients and some bamboo kabob sticks. </div>
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Luckily for us, before we made these a friend advised me to soak the sticks in water so they didn't catch on fire...genius. I'm really glad she told me that, because that is <i>exactly</i> what would have happened and it would have been frozen pizza for dinner. </div>
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I don't know how Lisa did it, but I didn't put any seasoning on the onion or peaches and I only sprinkled some salt and pepper on the pork. Then I threaded them on the bamboo sticks.</div>
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I shoved as much stuff on there as I could! And a word to the wise...soak your sticks for a long time. I soaked mine the whole time I was prepping the food and two of them still caught on fire towards the end.</div>
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I wish I could describe how amazing these smelled!</div>
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I wanted dinner to be easy and healthy so along with the kabobs we made foil packs. I just threw in whatever I could find: red potatoes, yellow pepper, and carrots. I chopped them and tossed them all with olive oil, Italian seasoning, and some garlic powder. Then wrapped them up in foil and put them on the grill. They turned out perfect! You definitely need to do the foil pack first - that takes 30-40 minutes to cook and the kabobs only took about 10-15.</div>
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You absolutely have to eat a bite with all three ingredients to get the full flavor of this dish. The peach, onion, and pork together is<i> ridiculously</i> flavorful. </div>
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It was a delicious dinner that even the kids loved, plus totally clean and guilt free. Winning!</div>
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Since there were 100 skewers in the pack I bought, I decided to have fun with the kids' other meals.</div>
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We had lunch kabobs with tomatoes, ham, and cheese:</div>
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And then breakfast fruit kabobs with banana, strawberries, grapes, and bluberries:</div>
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I served these with a toasted bagel half spread with peanut butter. </div>
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Not totally clean, but like I said...we are getting there.</div>
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Now that we've discovered the wonder of the kabob...the possibilities are endless! If you have any great kabob combos, please share!</div>
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Thanks for the tasty meal and inspiration Lisa!</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06896366926667139866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-587154237720073068.post-24725666200767448612016-05-18T11:57:00.000-07:002016-05-18T11:57:47.118-07:00What a Difference a Year Makes<div style="text-align: center;">
A year ago today I was sitting in a hospital bed hooked up to tubes and medicine that were supposed to help get my baby to make his appearance in this world. My dear little nugget had held out for a whole week past his due date and if you saw me at that point, you would understand how badly he needed to come out. I'm telling you, he <i>really </i>needed to come out. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was 39 weeks. He cooked for TWO more weeks.</td></tr>
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After birthing three children, I have come to the conclusion that I have what I call a "cervix of steel". Nothing's getting through that sucker without modern medicine. If we had let all of my pregnancies go naturally, I probably would have birthed three 2-year-olds.</div>
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I had been induced two times before this, thanks to my over-achieving cervix, so I knew the drill. Be there super early, sign the papers, get hooked up, and away we go. </div>
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Contractions.</div>
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Water breaks.</div>
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Push.</div>
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Baby born.</div>
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All the feels.</div>
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Home in two days.</div>
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Wham, bam, thank you doctor.</div>
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Only this time it didn't go the way I planned. </div>
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Everything was on track. The contractions were coming pretty good, sometimes two at a time, and were getting to the point that I couldn't talk during them. We were <strike>patiently</strike> waiting for the doctor to come check me and break my water so I could get an epidural (Yes. I get epidurals, I get induced if necessary, and I wasn't able to breastfeed. So all you Judgy McJudgersons can just judge away with your badself.) and then were hoping to have a baby that evening. </div>
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When the doctor came in, he decided to break my water. About 16 minutes later, we had a baby. </div>
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When my water broke, for some reason the baby went up instead of down. I felt that something weird happened but wasn't sure what it was, and then the doctor hung around the monitor and watched it for a minute. That made me nervous. What I later found out was that he was waiting for the next contraction to see if baby would come down the way he was supposed to. They had me turn a little to the side to help him come down (I still had no idea what was going on). With the next contraction came all the chaos. Instead of baby coming down, my umbilical cord came out.</div>
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Like OUT.</div>
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On the bed.</div>
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And then baby came down on top of it, cutting it off. </div>
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I felt it happen, and I knew whatever it was wasn't good, but I still had no idea what was going on.</div>
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The doctor literally jumped on the bed and put his hand up inside to lift the baby's head off of the umbilical cord. My husband told me that the doctor said "Cord" and all the nurses started <i>flying</i> around the room. A nurse came over and replaced the doctor holding the baby's head up and he informed us that we were going to do an emergency c-section. The nurse climbed on the bed, still holding baby's head inside me, and they flew me down the hall to the operating room. Because it was an emergency, they had to knock me out. And my poor husband was left in the hospital room still trying to comprehend what just happened. </div>
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Here's what I remember:</div>
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The doctor jumped on the bed and shoved his hand up inside me and started talking to me. I'll give him that he stayed calm, but he was trying to explain what happened while all these nurses were running around the room and I was feeling some serious pain. I didn't hear a word he said. I looked at him and said "Stop, tell me what is going on right <i>now</i>." and he said "We are taking you for an emergency c-section.". My stomach dropped. My heart was pounding, I was still clinging to the side of the bed from when they had me turn earlier. My muscles started shaking. The nurse came and replaced the doctor and they started wheeling me down the hallway with my legs wide open and a nurse's hand up my crotch keeping my baby alive. All the way down the hall all I could do was say Jesus' name over and over in my head. It was the only thought that would form because I was so scared. They wheeled me in the operating room and had to lift me onto the table. </div>
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Have you ever literally felt like a beached whale? I imagine that's what it feels like...</div>
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Once I was on the table, there were people everywhere and they were doing all kinds of things to me. And all of it hurt. I can't even describe the pain. I had no epidural yet so I felt <i>every single thing</i>. At one point it felt like 5 people had their hands inside me. It was as close to feeling violated as I pray I will ever get. I actually cried out in pain several times, which I have never done before. I could hear doctors talking and one was talking to me, telling me to look at him and they were going to put me to sleep. All I could think was "Make it stop. Please make it stop!" Finally, they put the mask on and I fell asleep.</div>
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When I woke up my husband was there. He told me we had a beautiful, healthy little boy. And then he told me that in the process of the c-section, the doctor accidentally cut the side of his head with the scalpel. He had 6 stitches, but he was going to be just fine. </div>
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I was so out of it that I just said "okay".</div>
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When I was ready, they moved me to my postpartum room. On the way, they stopped at the nursery so I could meet my little boy. He was perfect and looked just like his sister.</div>
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Honestly, the rest of that night is a blur. I remember holding him for the first time. And I remember my parents coming in the room. My husband had called them as soon as they took me back for the c-section. I remember at one point it was just my mom and I and when I looked at her I just started crying. I couldn't hold it in anymore. </div>
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Everything hurt.</div>
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I missed it.</div>
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I missed him being born.</div>
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Nothing went the way it was supposed to.</div>
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He had stitches in his head.</div>
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I had experienced pain like I never had before.</div>
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I just needed to cry.</div>
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But he was perfect. He was beautiful. He was so awake. He would just lay and stare. And I was so thankful for all of that.</div>
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The next few days in the hospital were pretty rough. The recovery from an emergency c-section with local anesthetic and a vertical incision is worse than a planned c-section. It was painful and slow and to top it off I fought off a UTI for two weeks. It was at least a month before I felt like a human being again. But I got there with the help of my family and a lot of really great friends.</div>
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There's a bit more I could share about that first month, including another trip to the hospital and struggling with breastfeeding, but I wanted to share the birth story. People, women especially, can be so unforgiving when they don't agree with something, and thanks to the internet, anyone can say anything they like regardless of how it might make a person feel. So this is <i>my</i> story and I'm not ashamed to say that I was induced three times after going over my due date each time, I would have <i>totally</i> gotten an epidural again if I had the chance, and I tried my hardest to breastfeed but it just didn't work out. </div>
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Sometimes things don't go the way we plan. When I signed those papers in the morning giving them permission to perform a c-section if necessary, I didn't even flinch because I never expected it to happen to me. But it did, and I thank my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ that I still came out of it with a healthy baby. Some mamas don't. And my heart <i>breaks</i> for them. I pray that they find solace in knowing Jesus has his arms around those babies.</div>
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Now it's a year later and my silly, smiley, healthy, happy boy is sleeping upstairs. He has brought so much joy to our family and I can't imagine if we didn't have him. </div>
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All of those things make it hurt a little less to think back to all that we went through to get him here. Three years ago we suffered a miscarriage at 16 weeks. (You can read about it <a href="http://everythingevieblog.blogspot.com/2015/01/i-got-my-hindsight-checkedit-was-2020.html" target="_blank">here.</a>) I was so broken by it I swore I was done having kids. Thankfully God changed my heart. Then my pregnancy was long and not easy. And of course we made it through the story I just shared with you.</div>
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I'm not saying my story is worse or better than anyone else's, but it's mine. And through it all I give God the glory. There are no promises that we won't see pain and hard times in our life. Being a follower of Christ isn't a hallpass to get through the world. It just means that when we experience life's hardships and struggles, we have a hope to hold onto and an awesome God in our corner. It still hurts to look back at these experiences, my muscles kept shaking as I relived this while writing, but my pain is lessened because I believe that God has a purpose and a plan for my life and for the life of my son. </div>
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And I can't wait to find out what that is.</div>
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Happy Birthday Sweet Boy. </div>
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<i>"Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him." ~James 1:12</i> </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06896366926667139866noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-587154237720073068.post-22666114737352214152016-05-16T12:03:00.001-07:002016-05-16T12:03:56.502-07:00Wacky Chocolate Cake<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtTkFFfDX63yLqqFdhmVN0D7OuDwIBh0hS7E6Ec7T5lAue7DkWuMYrC1HGyxNcUSqgO2Jf2F6RpfKkZJ5nyXwFXMeA_zTfzjWm4zJD3UsLykJ_56-2ZlVF3gqjXTotqM4GJ9ew_PQc5CZd/s1600/IMG_6873.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtTkFFfDX63yLqqFdhmVN0D7OuDwIBh0hS7E6Ec7T5lAue7DkWuMYrC1HGyxNcUSqgO2Jf2F6RpfKkZJ5nyXwFXMeA_zTfzjWm4zJD3UsLykJ_56-2ZlVF3gqjXTotqM4GJ9ew_PQc5CZd/s640/IMG_6873.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Last week we had a dinner to go to and I was asked to bring dessert. I usually have a box mix in the pantry for such occasions, but since we are slowly working towards 100% clean eating again, I didn't have one this time. </div>
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This chocolate cake recipe quickly came to mind.</div>
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It's another great recipe out of the <a href="http://everythingevieblog.blogspot.com/2013/02/check-me-out-i-made-soup.html" target="_blank">Mayo Clinic Kids' Cookbook.</a></div>
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I will state right away that this recipe isn't clean. It uses white sugar. However, the rest of the ingredients are pretty good, and it's egg free if that's an issue for your household. My plan is to play with the recipe and figure out how to get it completely clean. Once I do, I'll make sure to post it!</div>
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It's called "Wacky" because of how you make it. But maybe it's called wacky because that's how you feel after baking with your kids...</div>
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Well, lets find out!</div>
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Here's all the ingredients you need:</div>
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Most of these are things you already have in your pantry. The only change I made so far is using olive oil instead of canola oil. I use just a little bit less than the recipe calls for. It makes for a very moist cake! For anyone not used to buy whole wheat pastry flour, you will most likely find it in a health food section of your regular grocery store. </div>
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The absolute best thing about this recipe is the clean up.</div>
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No. Bowls.</div>
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Or mixers. </div>
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I know, right?!</div>
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You just dump all your dry ingredients right in an <i>ungreased</i> baking dish.</div>
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Yes, you read that right.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVM20bxE9bGUQ5bb4KzJe5r-pFxQKOxHbss7F8mFKfT8eNfJCW0BzHW96ZqBddUI5GVVULWxJ5zaK9ctA_jbXPdadnivZHfz_ua_vKOddmqES5I6m9PP-eZJvXe4qGyjmirxSSDvgtaok-/s1600/IMG_6845.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVM20bxE9bGUQ5bb4KzJe5r-pFxQKOxHbss7F8mFKfT8eNfJCW0BzHW96ZqBddUI5GVVULWxJ5zaK9ctA_jbXPdadnivZHfz_ua_vKOddmqES5I6m9PP-eZJvXe4qGyjmirxSSDvgtaok-/s640/IMG_6845.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Boom.</div>
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Whisk the dry ingredients together. Yes. Right there in the pan.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSCS1B3Ui6FYMZ02wO7HCflfTqPr8D8YpAduA4-TtATz8J95KV1AWnaIv2eAdQvGf05ZM0bb4RKg6HKaTB-Ryv25a-sk6nP_tljvaU8WhCahseI4ziFD6w4CDq_QfUe0YgLL8fx5ofjCfa/s1600/IMG_6847.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSCS1B3Ui6FYMZ02wO7HCflfTqPr8D8YpAduA4-TtATz8J95KV1AWnaIv2eAdQvGf05ZM0bb4RKg6HKaTB-Ryv25a-sk6nP_tljvaU8WhCahseI4ziFD6w4CDq_QfUe0YgLL8fx5ofjCfa/s640/IMG_6847.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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*Notice my amazing baking helpers*</div>
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I mean, how do you make wacky cake without some wacky helpers?</div>
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Once it's all whisked up, take a wooden spoon and make three holes in the mixture.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZEQrPvWFi1zzv4R1t1iEAP8IREBJrw40usDlmIZmuOXuKlRMYdEo65T-msrnfy1rszyuuDoV2Bj4nmYX80qUTzdnG2I31uCf0ckvKYNjiWM1ImxNfb7_UGpSE8yqXVEWNpUVxMyCGGbkm/s1600/IMG_6848.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZEQrPvWFi1zzv4R1t1iEAP8IREBJrw40usDlmIZmuOXuKlRMYdEo65T-msrnfy1rszyuuDoV2Bj4nmYX80qUTzdnG2I31uCf0ckvKYNjiWM1ImxNfb7_UGpSE8yqXVEWNpUVxMyCGGbkm/s640/IMG_6848.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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This is where the kids have fun. </div>
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In each hole you pour a different wet ingredient: vinegar, vanilla, and oil.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoQLv2iNeLDL50JekgY1EamXYEhdyZtruOzecyxOt8bRQr1UCiz6sb0tYto32v5HfWXh0lwvoVKTLFqdpqnTB6igdpgEUtlAlaGHmf9bLIXAZpowNLVhGmzsXylRnAN_ZxJcTArePAOtF6/s1600/IMG_6851.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoQLv2iNeLDL50JekgY1EamXYEhdyZtruOzecyxOt8bRQr1UCiz6sb0tYto32v5HfWXh0lwvoVKTLFqdpqnTB6igdpgEUtlAlaGHmf9bLIXAZpowNLVhGmzsXylRnAN_ZxJcTArePAOtF6/s640/IMG_6851.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Now pour in the water and whisk everything together until the dry ingredients are completely mixed in.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5A2JXqUnjrZhJwYPi2DK__Wfgxl179ICB0iYmJAKJwJMxAYzJ-sXpWxUqojpsfxCOOIJujLijLrdHnV3ebDTMiIUEHvxjMRuGNoetwihv2suy0RvqgiqgLLxIIaha1Vqip4nC-_5EFnGA/s1600/IMG_6856.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5A2JXqUnjrZhJwYPi2DK__Wfgxl179ICB0iYmJAKJwJMxAYzJ-sXpWxUqojpsfxCOOIJujLijLrdHnV3ebDTMiIUEHvxjMRuGNoetwihv2suy0RvqgiqgLLxIIaha1Vqip4nC-_5EFnGA/s640/IMG_6856.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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*Again, notice the whisking by my fabulous helper*</div>
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Make sure to get in all the corners, and I even take a spatula to wipe around the edges.</div>
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This is what your batter should look like:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe9-dFcSBbVqcF66JKyNuzSiS_wrrrmIN8jocjAS15CZiSR5Oz0YY4SHEr03eXS1ja9kMIi3p10zlK5RoNnVm4rAURbjtnNtJLuOekLhKNd0gZgnkuFpewttFTUJqIuDzhz-LKtpclCEfT/s1600/IMG_6859.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe9-dFcSBbVqcF66JKyNuzSiS_wrrrmIN8jocjAS15CZiSR5Oz0YY4SHEr03eXS1ja9kMIi3p10zlK5RoNnVm4rAURbjtnNtJLuOekLhKNd0gZgnkuFpewttFTUJqIuDzhz-LKtpclCEfT/s640/IMG_6859.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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This batter is different than regular cake batter. Because of the pastry flour, it's more of a spongy consistency, so don't let that worry you. </div>
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The downside to not using bowls is the edges of your pan get a bit dirty...but I know some of you obsessive cleaners will wipe all of that up. I'm not that ambitious.</div>
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Pop 'er in the oven at 350 degrees for about 25 minutes.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9XlPAhU29ipMroqIRbayG42Do76Ytyzr1366e0GgTKrPiEco4ZV1isSVrDsHc3k9A3CsxNSVrbvtEwGNz3Y_IYl_rcoRsIvwKAXjdX1t-IsbDqfTKqqMWxVgO9ZDtPOD3anAleV1rwTsX/s1600/IMG_6860.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9XlPAhU29ipMroqIRbayG42Do76Ytyzr1366e0GgTKrPiEco4ZV1isSVrDsHc3k9A3CsxNSVrbvtEwGNz3Y_IYl_rcoRsIvwKAXjdX1t-IsbDqfTKqqMWxVgO9ZDtPOD3anAleV1rwTsX/s640/IMG_6860.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Ok, so I may have forgotten to take a picture <i>before</i> we started "taste testing" it...</div>
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This cake is rich enough that you don't need frosting, another plus for watching your calorie</div>
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intake. </div>
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Just sprinkle some powdered sugar on top and dig in! </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9srDnt6QUXQJVxixu-_5X4HZEcqSWM8RjieMfAgpeOzfUixOwnyKK7KEbB9GMPyFo60oaPRhJg_fHUdHgjATR-RjqulpfhuHCjbsajRlnQe9sLFh2kAymVnyZeA7iMD20q5n7x-vDQNkh/s1600/IMG_6865.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="464" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9srDnt6QUXQJVxixu-_5X4HZEcqSWM8RjieMfAgpeOzfUixOwnyKK7KEbB9GMPyFo60oaPRhJg_fHUdHgjATR-RjqulpfhuHCjbsajRlnQe9sLFh2kAymVnyZeA7iMD20q5n7x-vDQNkh/s640/IMG_6865.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That's Oliver. He's a fun guy. You should <a href="http://www.cb2.com/oliver-lemon-water-skis-appetizer-plate/s584004" target="_blank">check him out.</a> </td></tr>
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<u><span style="font-size: large;">Wacky Chocolate Cake</span></u><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">3 cups whole wheat pastry flour</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">1 cup sugar</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">3 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">1/2 tsp salt</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">2 1/4 tsp baking soda</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">1 Tbsp vanilla</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">2 Tbsp vinegar </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">1/2 cup canola oil (I use baking olive oil)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">2 cups water</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-size: small;">Preheat oven to 350 degrees.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Pour all dry ingredients into ungreased 9x13 in baking pan. Whisk together.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Make 3 holes with a wooden spoon. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Pour vanilla in one hole, vinegar in another hole, and oil in the last hole.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Heat water in the microwave for 3 minutes (or until it's boiling) and then pour over the ingredients. Whisk them all together for 2 minutes or until thoroughly mixed. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Bake for 25-30 minutes or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Cool cake on cooling rack. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Sprinkle powdered sugar, cut, and serve. </span> <br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06896366926667139866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-587154237720073068.post-69807040192667417862016-05-11T13:43:00.001-07:002016-05-11T13:43:34.727-07:00Homemade Salsa<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNNxV23fUa9ytFkvvDWBof9NeY1a-Lj5UpLvokMSAo_cvVpA7hfsmjY7wGOul3WiXX3mPYtMaid1M5NjDadfEYMvS4Df8xPRx3fMTOxIY1UbWWRqfSJboULuZXPzOtYOaOwnpe27LTRPu9/s1600/15232602017_cc45296967.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNNxV23fUa9ytFkvvDWBof9NeY1a-Lj5UpLvokMSAo_cvVpA7hfsmjY7wGOul3WiXX3mPYtMaid1M5NjDadfEYMvS4Df8xPRx3fMTOxIY1UbWWRqfSJboULuZXPzOtYOaOwnpe27LTRPu9/s1600/15232602017_cc45296967.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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If you are a regular reader (which is what...two posts a year?), then you know that in the past I have not been a green-thumb kind of girl. I grew up with a mother that I believe has 10 green fingers. Our house was filled with plants, we had a vegetable garden (that was my dad's project), and always had pretty flowers outside. I just didn't appreciate those things as a child...</div>
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Finally at 30-years-old, I tried my hand at the "plant thing". I figured if I have kept two kids alive this long...how hard can plants be??</div>
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I started with a flower garden a couple years ago and it actually did really well. I was very proud of that accomplishment. However...somewhere in August I stopped watering and weeding...so it took on more of a jungle-esque look. But some of them made it to the end of the season!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGLog9-iiq9Ybb9HTYNSJBmwsK1ZXmtiagmaEfG_7dnYjAKtfWj2X6jOUpLo3KTmul9TTYBugaMTonW0GPtuEyFE7YJt_6cHmP4SN0umAWqDrb_6F1AXCcAMc3bLGz1lAvrIeuZUY3uxdl/s1600/IMG_3624.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGLog9-iiq9Ybb9HTYNSJBmwsK1ZXmtiagmaEfG_7dnYjAKtfWj2X6jOUpLo3KTmul9TTYBugaMTonW0GPtuEyFE7YJt_6cHmP4SN0umAWqDrb_6F1AXCcAMc3bLGz1lAvrIeuZUY3uxdl/s640/IMG_3624.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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With how well the flower garden went, I fully intended on trying a vegetable garden the next summer.<br />
That is, until this little cutie made his arrival in May.<br />
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<br />Needless to say, a vegetable garden did not happen that year. I was just a tad busy.<br />
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Instead I continued to raid my friends' gardens and take whatever handouts I could get with no shame. <br />
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This year a garden crossed my mind...but in all honesty, since May of last year I feel like I've been playing catch up with life. So I knew a garden was beyond my capabilities.<br />
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One day a few weeks ago my mom was babysitting and she bought me a couple tomato plants, weeded my whole flower bed, and planted them for me. Have I ever mentioned how great my mom is?? So I now have two tomato plants! Woohoo!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjusPXwL3sFugmbcTj7W_kwR1H_BRWFO4KrGmTqdE1DcyX4HneyurxyzD2qB0Yin8rR5kYHoW0Aiw6ZpnCIjqI1qa4zdkoyNwxsB-j7_F6BBN_tDDMkHgrKQfNSSNmrImIRkQRWWvopHi9D/s1600/IMG_9258.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjusPXwL3sFugmbcTj7W_kwR1H_BRWFO4KrGmTqdE1DcyX4HneyurxyzD2qB0Yin8rR5kYHoW0Aiw6ZpnCIjqI1qa4zdkoyNwxsB-j7_F6BBN_tDDMkHgrKQfNSSNmrImIRkQRWWvopHi9D/s640/IMG_9258.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Since <span style="font-family: inherit;">my mom already did all the work of weeding the flower bed, I <span style="font-family: inherit;">deci<span style="font-family: inherit;">ded to plant some flowers. This year due to budget and time constraints, <span style="font-family: inherit;">I planted flower seeds. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This was about a week ago.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So far I have learned I'm not a very patient person...</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I</span>n prep<span style="font-family: inherit;">aration o<span style="font-family: inherit;">f my <span style="font-family: inherit;">potential future <span style="font-family: inherit;">plethora</span> of tomatoes<span style="font-family: inherit;">, I thought I'd post a <span style="font-family: inherit;">great rec<span style="font-family: inherit;">ipe for home<span style="font-family: inherit;">made sals<span style="font-family: inherit;">a. I don't <span style="font-family: inherit;">claim that <span style="font-family: inherit;">this is better than any other homemade recipe, but <span style="font-family: inherit;">I made it last year and <span style="font-family: inherit;">thought it was really flavorful. I found it <span style="font-family: inherit;">at</span> <a href="http://After a miscarriage, he has been a huge blessing to us. But with a baby comes the baby weight. Yaaaaaaaay…so back to the beginning I go. I’ll have to read my own blog to remind myself of how I ate, exercised, and lost the weight last time. Up and down, up and down is the name of my game. But that’s the hand I’ve been dealt so that’s what I’ll play with" target="_blank">Kim's Healthy Eats</a>.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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However, <span style="font-family: inherit;">I was politely informed it was<span style="font-family: inherit;"> not</span> nearly hot enough. Thanks hubby.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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I already had almost all the ingredients. Believe it or not, I had never bought a jalapeno pepper before. So that was a fun experience of trying to act like I knew what I was doing at the grocery store. The recipe calls for 2-3 and since I had no experience with them, I stuck to two. Which was not good enough for my fire-breathing husband. I'm pretty sure I could pour a bottle of Tabasco in and it still wouldn't be hot enough. (insert eye roll here) <i> </i><br />
<i>Some</i> of us that also like to eat salsa <i>also</i> enjoy having taste buds left after eating it.<br />
Next time he will just get his own special batch that will probably melt the container I store it in. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1VQ__G9NXCn6QJU60s2QmyyvGhhWm7WgOsoDVbv7FQu906gQZFmmuItC3pJsSwqos_7Zm5y-pbT-V5FJKg_nLIv2fozYSjzuCRdHYvlZH0zIKqatIZYiPZxAmF7dEDRSTx5t9phY67wzW/s1600/IMG_6233.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1VQ__G9NXCn6QJU60s2QmyyvGhhWm7WgOsoDVbv7FQu906gQZFmmuItC3pJsSwqos_7Zm5y-pbT-V5FJKg_nLIv2fozYSjzuCRdHYvlZH0zIKqatIZYiPZxAmF7dEDRSTx5t9phY67wzW/s1600/IMG_6233.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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It's really quite simple.<br />
Roughly chop up all of your ingredients.<br />
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I put all the veggies and cilantro in a bowl and then tossed them with the vinegar and lemon juice.<br />
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So pretty!<br />
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Toss it in your food processor (or blender).<br />
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Then pulse it until it's the consistency you like.<br />
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Donesies.<br />
So simple and easy. And so yummy!<br />
I don't know about you, but no salsa tastes better than fresh salsa.<br />
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I kept a large portion for us in a plastic container in the fridge. And then passed some on to friends in some jars.<br />
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I'm really looking forward to making more this summer with my own tomatoes.<br />
Finger's crossed I can keep them alive!<br />
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<u><span style="font-size: large;">Homemade Salsa</span></u></div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-size: small;">3-4 lbs tomato (I say any kind, the original recipe says red/yellow grape tomatoes)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">1/2 small red onion, peeled</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">2 or 3 small jalapeño peppers (or 10 if you are my husband)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">1 clove garlic, minced</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">large handful of cilantro</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">2 splashes of red wine vinegar (around 1/2 tsp)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">1/2 lemon or lime juiced</span></li>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Roughly chop tomatoes, onion, and peppers.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Add all ingredients to food processor or blender.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Pulse until desired consistency. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Enjoy! </span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06896366926667139866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-587154237720073068.post-49810282215371941842016-05-01T14:35:00.000-07:002016-05-01T14:35:48.340-07:00Crochet Sunburst Granny Square Blanket<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8HvoDttE2UqLPimHp4lDS59Jptk_PwE9lxTKq_4prYzta1l1zMeQCedeC-JYw-xC3C1UtJ8zCNCETHZv49CcLAK1P6esiuvMg6XB-xcLNfwh3mCQA5dNlfIk_DsYUgBonY459WP6r-I2m/s1600/IMG_9049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8HvoDttE2UqLPimHp4lDS59Jptk_PwE9lxTKq_4prYzta1l1zMeQCedeC-JYw-xC3C1UtJ8zCNCETHZv49CcLAK1P6esiuvMg6XB-xcLNfwh3mCQA5dNlfIk_DsYUgBonY459WP6r-I2m/s640/IMG_9049.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span id="goog_532261502"></span><span id="goog_532261503"></span><br />
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<span id="goog_532261502">Talk about a labor of love. </span></div>
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<span id="goog_532261502">I started this blanket in January of 2014. </span></div>
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<span id="goog_532261502">I had only been crocheting for about 7 months and I got it in my head to make a full size blanket. I had made two baby blankets up to that point, but not an adult sized one. </span></div>
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<span id="goog_532261502">A friend had started a granny square project around that time so that inspired me to try out the granny square. I had honestly avoided it because I was new to crochet and...well...it's called a <i>granny</i> square. It made me think of old lady blankets. But when I started looking around on Pinterest I saw that I was so very wrong! Oh, how naive my newbie crochet self was. </span></div>
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<span id="goog_532261502">In January of 2014 I started out with this. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5KmvyWVGyf6mhH7xMZS5OxofY6Q330oe6WBRoYrfesYBrZv54Woo96KW4SfpJIr3v4ZE980LPhyphenhyphenxAISZ5QgS62q5wch-voCKLeyLbj40azhcMbX3_bGt3-TntdgoTSbNqbsY_i6pDImGs/s1600/IMG_2738.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5KmvyWVGyf6mhH7xMZS5OxofY6Q330oe6WBRoYrfesYBrZv54Woo96KW4SfpJIr3v4ZE980LPhyphenhyphenxAISZ5QgS62q5wch-voCKLeyLbj40azhcMbX3_bGt3-TntdgoTSbNqbsY_i6pDImGs/s640/IMG_2738.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span id="goog_532261502">I knew I wanted gray and bright colors. </span></div>
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<span id="goog_532261502">At that point we thought we were moving (*spoiler - we were wrong) so I was planning on living in a rental house with white walls that I wasn't allowed to paint.</span></div>
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<span id="goog_532261502">This blanket was going to be my splash of color against the white walls. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDL2W_j2YTt-vOlaMFuLF3oHoKaWsMN02Q_oX3jIN6-9c2tVYgkcZy8XTOqntVs9XdxjusKFurH5L2YqCnMdGMTBPOlS7L31rzMwsokDDbRD3m-6HyRw_tFhoBI4gSNgKJNycxibZcSz8e/s1600/IMG_2748.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDL2W_j2YTt-vOlaMFuLF3oHoKaWsMN02Q_oX3jIN6-9c2tVYgkcZy8XTOqntVs9XdxjusKFurH5L2YqCnMdGMTBPOlS7L31rzMwsokDDbRD3m-6HyRw_tFhoBI4gSNgKJNycxibZcSz8e/s640/IMG_2748.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span id="goog_532261502">I had no plan when I started except dark gray background, light gray with sparkle in the middle, and a color. I just pulled whatever colors I had in my ever-growing stash and started making more squares. </span></div>
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<span id="goog_532261502">Eventually I had a whole lot of squares. Like stacks. I laid them all out on my bed, got a pencil and paper and mapped out a plan. I came up with diagonal stripes of each color. I originally wanted to do spontaneous/sporadic colors everywhere, but I was trying so hard to make it spontaneous it was looking very calculated. Backfire. </span></div>
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<span id="goog_532261502">I decided stripes were better. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmx10UU0ODwpSvFTdJegnWGjBNuDxT4h516fe4wcypFSoc58AHX6jkc2ITKW5gdsBudNEvcFpbwFL9G7yPWCgqFE52wjzAxKYmm0zlexPOOOAPh2AZ9p7q1ZqetTapLv4VAWqmlMnl2Jag/s1600/IMG_9086.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmx10UU0ODwpSvFTdJegnWGjBNuDxT4h516fe4wcypFSoc58AHX6jkc2ITKW5gdsBudNEvcFpbwFL9G7yPWCgqFE52wjzAxKYmm0zlexPOOOAPh2AZ9p7q1ZqetTapLv4VAWqmlMnl2Jag/s640/IMG_9086.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span id="goog_532261502"> </span></div>
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<span id="goog_532261502">Over the next two years, these squares went back and forth between sitting in organized stacks on a shelf and actually being added to. At some point I realized I had to figure out how the heck to connect them. I tried a couple different methods I found online and finally settled on just slip stitching them together. I love how easy it was and how the finished product looks with the slip stitch join. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikIuoG-QvgexKV4yyOaMZhfzpM7cX1mGUhyphenhyphendmO3iZK60JWAQpIvic_KyMKLvi64tIggT-18Ip5Aye37cb6SdAYj_mpH1HdSQTwcazuuP5r6lHc0iXJCgJc0HB5XbJqvK0H6n9yS7Iv7tHf/s1600/IMG_9085.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikIuoG-QvgexKV4yyOaMZhfzpM7cX1mGUhyphenhyphendmO3iZK60JWAQpIvic_KyMKLvi64tIggT-18Ip5Aye37cb6SdAYj_mpH1HdSQTwcazuuP5r6lHc0iXJCgJc0HB5XbJqvK0H6n9yS7Iv7tHf/s640/IMG_9085.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span id="goog_532261502">This blanket has spent the majority of it's life either folded up behind the couch or laying on the back of the couch half stitched together. </span></div>
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<span id="goog_532261502">I added a couple more rows last year when I was pregnant and quickly realized that if I wanted it to be a full size blanket....I had a <i>lot</i> of work left to do. So back behind the couch it went.</span></div>
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<span id="goog_532261502">In the last few months I've made some progress with my little crochet hobby/business. I was inspired by all the fabulous people on Instagram to make a ripple blanket with my yarn stash. (I'll post that another day) I finished it surprisingly fast and after I was done I had a thought of "oh yeah....maybe I should finish that other blanket...".</span></div>
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<span id="goog_532261502">I made the executive decision to join the rest of it, slap a border on it and call it good. </span></div>
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I found the <i>perfect</i> border...and then the pattern turned out to be a complete pain. It may have been ripped out a couple times.</div>
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<span id="goog_532261502"> </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPvYIntgBQL8YZcOPi0B6k0AV0TupgfUBJhs2LX5eXhpw0UNDw0kCndEeCIQ-Stv1Qa1GcCLQLMxqe0_9lKzl50EPt2oFlDRDvTkOkTZkcqHt_ciwxHK8-0oH-Ue3cKBbl0sT_JcesnAhT/s1600/IMG_9012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPvYIntgBQL8YZcOPi0B6k0AV0TupgfUBJhs2LX5eXhpw0UNDw0kCndEeCIQ-Stv1Qa1GcCLQLMxqe0_9lKzl50EPt2oFlDRDvTkOkTZkcqHt_ciwxHK8-0oH-Ue3cKBbl0sT_JcesnAhT/s640/IMG_9012.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span id="goog_532261502"> </span></div>
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<span id="goog_532261502">Remember when I said "labor of love"? </span></div>
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<span id="goog_532261502">But finally I figured it out.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyfSpP7qmTxiNYnBBqVjhAxx31TFQnC-lmy3xrsNOCLJ09tMQZIKhb5WZNpnhMjpmXYyuKeCdk7QSCpnyb21PuuY86To5nY8FRwN2TDrH8JKOX50ks7P-TvpWs0XC42Nn5pQO7l5uy2og6/s1600/IMG_9028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyfSpP7qmTxiNYnBBqVjhAxx31TFQnC-lmy3xrsNOCLJ09tMQZIKhb5WZNpnhMjpmXYyuKeCdk7QSCpnyb21PuuY86To5nY8FRwN2TDrH8JKOX50ks7P-TvpWs0XC42Nn5pQO7l5uy2og6/s640/IMG_9028.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span id="goog_532261502"> It was a great day when I weaved in the last end on this project.</span></div>
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<span id="goog_532261502">Two years and 4 months later.</span></div>
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<span id="goog_532261502">And now it can lay on the back of my couch fully finished. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgacDcVvQk6Hszl8jWuoJfVvmIyZaFwBrIUEKrvXi5nhyphenhyphent90T4PiSZxXyecxUOym88h4NNrdRPCDd71STgZDeSRlmIaT0IUvSDRE4MavkE-OSmZskU7ewdYsdaDemJwC-0qzhsjSoFD8kqM/s1600/IMG_9041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgacDcVvQk6Hszl8jWuoJfVvmIyZaFwBrIUEKrvXi5nhyphenhyphent90T4PiSZxXyecxUOym88h4NNrdRPCDd71STgZDeSRlmIaT0IUvSDRE4MavkE-OSmZskU7ewdYsdaDemJwC-0qzhsjSoFD8kqM/s640/IMG_9041.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span id="goog_532261502">Granny Square Pattern ~ <a href="https://edascrochetroom.wordpress.com/2011/04/29/sunburst-granny-square-tutorial/" target="_blank">Sunburst Granny Square</a> </span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06896366926667139866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-587154237720073068.post-74879016707023988162016-04-27T12:00:00.000-07:002016-04-27T12:00:26.377-07:0031 Days of Decluttering<div style="text-align: center;">
Towards the end of last year, I was feeling rather overwhelmed and...well...claustrophobic. After adding a tiny human and all of his tiny human things to my average size house, by the end of the year I was all... "That's it! We're moving! I can't live here anymore!". In my defense, it felt like every time I turned around I was tripping/stepping on a toy, animal, or a person. And I was.</div>
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So when my sister (review: ex-sister-in-law but also BFF so for all intents and purposes, "sister") emailed me some blogs about organizing and decluttering, I ate them up. I liked this particular calendar for 31 days of decluttering from <a href="http://www.simplystacie.net/" target="_blank">Simply Stacie.</a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtZX_3in6gqZ2mmJnAuxQqiOEg1umUh2hYda0aKvyFaLWnVLRBYfwDXIWYriVmS3G0sSIjlxeYv0Drog245c3XKuZL0lnM-WqXk4FMhitXzzcDZam-3AkrxTHkanB0-yd61Ta7vu6BC0xH/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="494" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtZX_3in6gqZ2mmJnAuxQqiOEg1umUh2hYda0aKvyFaLWnVLRBYfwDXIWYriVmS3G0sSIjlxeYv0Drog245c3XKuZL0lnM-WqXk4FMhitXzzcDZam-3AkrxTHkanB0-yd61Ta7vu6BC0xH/s640/FullSizeRender.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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It was only a couple days until January, so I went through my usual list of possible reasons why I shouldn't or couldn't actually do this. When none of them panned out, I half-heartedly committed to it. (Does anyone else do this, too? Or is it just me?) But over the next couple days I started planning how I was going to go about it, and then I started to get excited about. I decided to post it on my Facebook page and post regular updates on what I was decluttering, and invite people to do it along with me so I could have some accountability. While everyone else was heading to the gym, I was busting out my duster. My sister was doing it, too, so I roped her into posting some pictures as well, and as the month went on, a couple other friends joined in and posted some pictures. It was great to have the support and encouragement. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-BNduX72N2_V1O7vOkX-R6vuiq8Qxa2PbUvPc8TH2_7sAWVAAQoA122tLDslg4Aef36T0tBvPGYgynKyNG2qBx3oarGmg_piFZMRAyW16eLp3esqRwYH92-IfMPDk_TIAq128MVe9YsdG/s1600/CB113F46-281F-4E69-A16A-FCBE3682D03E.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-BNduX72N2_V1O7vOkX-R6vuiq8Qxa2PbUvPc8TH2_7sAWVAAQoA122tLDslg4Aef36T0tBvPGYgynKyNG2qBx3oarGmg_piFZMRAyW16eLp3esqRwYH92-IfMPDk_TIAq128MVe9YsdG/s640/CB113F46-281F-4E69-A16A-FCBE3682D03E.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day One ~ Christmas stuff </td></tr>
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I have to say, Day One was probably the best result and the most satisfying. I managed to get 11 boxes of Christmas stuff down to 6. SIX! I know my future self will thank me come this Christmas. I shouldn't take all the credit though...as you can see, I had some help.</div>
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Some days on the calendar I had to modify: we only have one bathroom, we don't have a linen closet, I barely use makeup so I had nothing to clean out, etc. Instead of those things, I added things I wanted to get done, or gave myself an extra day on the garage or basement.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0-XPxZsNraaMJbNjlZIqWDLWMlXM9MmnS9noTvrd3ellZJIgs50rEnslJCO07wW_p2sFLNBWoCDLT_v_KIqUdu4ZD2CRLPbb0-u1kfTCLbbWmGGSLpJo-_-eX5ibC-rUQrNGZAGZ7qr-D/s1600/IMG_7995.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0-XPxZsNraaMJbNjlZIqWDLWMlXM9MmnS9noTvrd3ellZJIgs50rEnslJCO07wW_p2sFLNBWoCDLT_v_KIqUdu4ZD2CRLPbb0-u1kfTCLbbWmGGSLpJo-_-eX5ibC-rUQrNGZAGZ7qr-D/s640/IMG_7995.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day 3 ~ Panty</td></tr>
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I loved the feeling of cleaning something out and then seeing it so clean and organized the next time I opened the door or drawer. It was refreshing.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT-jsDEA-7ZNWplk7vyYExelQL1VdCQ7iL65qP8zOmN37eOO348tD1dd-jHvuKrTOHiM8ISJfrlsIi4FzhuhHIrktZ0XIsK9Xw5CtmlP0fnIfzK3WbbOBkPAmtK-lPr1793inlAhyAPSRe/s1600/IMG_8055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT-jsDEA-7ZNWplk7vyYExelQL1VdCQ7iL65qP8zOmN37eOO348tD1dd-jHvuKrTOHiM8ISJfrlsIi4FzhuhHIrktZ0XIsK9Xw5CtmlP0fnIfzK3WbbOBkPAmtK-lPr1793inlAhyAPSRe/s640/IMG_8055.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day 11 ~ Bathroom</td></tr>
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By now you are wondering..."It's April...does any of this still look this way?" Well, yes and no. A lot of areas are still decluttered and some have gone right back.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaloVGSxl5-6wRYUxIJhBWcfGD2PRVq5IfStey_BjcCAT_mba7UrlzZQ1rs4I2zlNIQpYDJOLdbVg-vwz7JGa9E-kyA8imsx0x9iPEF_P_f_MAvveYDKmXN8bnEbJQAJi_FC4J4-7dv_jl/s1600/IMG_8020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaloVGSxl5-6wRYUxIJhBWcfGD2PRVq5IfStey_BjcCAT_mba7UrlzZQ1rs4I2zlNIQpYDJOLdbVg-vwz7JGa9E-kyA8imsx0x9iPEF_P_f_MAvveYDKmXN8bnEbJQAJi_FC4J4-7dv_jl/s640/IMG_8020.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day 7 ~ Desk/Office Space (Or cabinets in our case)</td></tr>
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I will admit that our "office" area looks just like the 'Before' picture again...but I hold on to the fact that the inside is still more organized and the trash was thrown out. Unfortunately, the part everyone sees is crazy messy with school papers and bills and whatnot. Meh.</div>
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If you want to see all the pictures I posted, you can see them on my Facebook page ~ <a href="http://www.facebook.com/everythingevie" target="_blank">Everything Evie</a>. </div>
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Come the end of January, this was what the calendar looked like. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9klXQYpAyWv4VDwUCaGwxSfFpFW1a3fXGrLAuOtactj7M1LSg-CNpeRDaOPN7QorHVAdxm81CmmOFSBT-bPVAKg_B-wmJ7ha1uiQPgMeiTaUP6iR3mrAjulMO6NoaXteBzKNNcmKYM0ut/s1600/FullSizeRender%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9klXQYpAyWv4VDwUCaGwxSfFpFW1a3fXGrLAuOtactj7M1LSg-CNpeRDaOPN7QorHVAdxm81CmmOFSBT-bPVAKg_B-wmJ7ha1uiQPgMeiTaUP6iR3mrAjulMO6NoaXteBzKNNcmKYM0ut/s640/FullSizeRender%25281%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I didn't get every single day done. I mean, it was January and I don't have a heated garage so yeah...no thanks. As far as paperwork, toys, and computer storage...well, the latter just makes my head hurt. So. Many. Pictures. </div>
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I did keep the calendar because I fully intend on completing it. I just can't say when exactly. </div>
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I'd say the biggest take away I got from this experience was shock at the amount of trash and junk that came out of my house. The pile on the curb on trash day one week was just downright embarrassing. We live in a world of more, bigger, and better and it's so easy to get caught up in that. It was very eye-opening to really scrutinize whether we <i>needed </i>that item or not and I do feel much better after clearing out those unneeded items. Not a lesson I will soon forget. </div>
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Needless to say, I got over my "We're moving" tantrum. I love my house and after decluttering and reorganizing some things, we fit in it quite nicely. I do still trip over the occasional toy, pet, or person, but at least now I can breath when I get up again. </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06896366926667139866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-587154237720073068.post-61790033879545709422016-04-20T17:22:00.000-07:002016-04-20T17:37:02.792-07:00Back In The Saddle<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Hi!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">It's been so long since I wrote a blog post...I almost forgot how to do it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Type the words and click "publish"<span style="font-family: inherit;">, right?</span> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Shouldn't be too hard. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">So the last time I posted I was having a <a href="http://everythingevieblog.blogspot.com/2015/09/yep-another-one-of-those-days.html" target="_blank">pretty bad day.</a> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">No worries, today is a good one.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Today, I'm getting back in the proverbial saddle. On which horse, you might ask? Well all of them, of course! Hi, have you met me? I always take on too much! And then I procrastinate and whip it all out at the last minute. Ahhh, it's like college all over again. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Ok, I jest. But I do take on too much at times and I definitely have an issue with procrastination. But I'm working on it....tomorrow. I've been participating in a community Bible Study on The Best Yes by Lysa Terkeurst. It's all about seeking, learning, and using God's wisdom to help make decisions that are best for you and your family. It's been a great resource lately. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFJYBxq9yRfTPBicb6FGjiDnmNYT695BHrnJBh6z8kY9EnKuDYIQbqq61O0PUm5cZJ5wpTCTRpaDj29ppMdNGsWIVGVfv292rCCO4URyraHuYEKUu58bu4yOq0zddkKM4S_DJlsfO4YYW5/s1600/cover.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFJYBxq9yRfTPBicb6FGjiDnmNYT695BHrnJBh6z8kY9EnKuDYIQbqq61O0PUm5cZJ5wpTCTRpaDj29ppMdNGsWIVGVfv292rCCO4URyraHuYEKUu58bu4yOq0zddkKM4S_DJlsfO4YYW5/s640/cover.jpg" width="434" /></a> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> <span style="font-family: inherit;">T</span>he first wise decision I need to make is for myself. It's getting back in gear with taking care of my body. If you've followed my blog, you know that I've been here before. If you are new, then the gist of it is I've been up and down in weight my whole life. Three kids really helped...mainly in the UP areas. About <span style="font-family: inherit;">3</span> years ago, I worked extremely hard and lost around 60 pounds. Well between two pregnancies, one being full-term, I gained back about 40. So this is where I am today. On the one hand, I'm glad I didn't gain back the whole 60, however I surely don't love the 40 I did find again. My baby is approaching one year old and while for the last year I've be able to maintain the same weight (huge win in my opinion!), it's time to start working on losing that extra 40 pounds again. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">So to reach this goal, I'm starting out small and working my way up. This week I decided to start walking. The weather is nice and I'm only shooting for 30 minutes a day. Then each week I will add 5 minutes. I am trying to do it right away in the morning after the older kids get off to school and after baby has his breakfast. That way it's done and I can't talk myself out of it. (Because I'm <i>really</i> good at that) I also called up a friend and asked if she wanted to walk with me once a week, so I have a little bit of accountability there. As far as food goes, like I said before, I<span style="font-family: inherit;">'m </span>starting small. I'm increasing my water intake by drinking 2 liters of water a day for now, and then will increase as I go. I'm also just cutting out junk. I'm not mentally ready to go full-blown Jillian Michaels yet...so I'm just skipping the processed sugar and trying not to eat a crap ton of food in one day. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">At <span style="font-family: inherit;">this point in my life, </span>I have to go at my own pace or else I will get overwhelmed and give up. I have to keep reminding myself that I've done it before: once the easy, way with pills and B12 shots, and once the right way, with a healthy lifestyle. I <i>can</i> and <i>will</i> do it again. The <i>right</i> way.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Another wise decision (I hope) is growing my little "business". I have continued doing my crochet and I still love it. I've been crocheting for almost 3 years now and I am still learning so much! I've had plenty of people ordering fun things and I've continued to participate in a local vendor fair, plus this last Christmas I added another vendor fair. In the last few months, I've also had my items placed in two local shops! That has been really exciting. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwpL3J9yHUJmA6pdSz-uK00IijVyhrx2tFWxdUEEJjYsxP2UfSTkkBEDghOOSDC1USwK5ePsoKKaegk53PLSGi2ggALCQt7hREsHzKdBzkM8YJQQdR8FC0ec5Up3aDUmD2kfBk5B-o3huy/s1600/IMG_8866%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwpL3J9yHUJmA6pdSz-uK00IijVyhrx2tFWxdUEEJjYsxP2UfSTkkBEDghOOSDC1USwK5ePsoKKaegk53PLSGi2ggALCQt7hREsHzKdBzkM8YJQQdR8FC0ec5Up3aDUmD2kfBk5B-o3huy/s640/IMG_8866%255B1%255D.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My first full-size crochet blanket. :)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">But now I'm at a crossroads...do I keep things as they are or do I push forward and keep trying to grow? I know what I want to do, but I'm afraid of failing. I've been on the fence for probably 5 months, going back and forth with the pros and cons, and waiting for someone else to make up my mind for me. Well today I finally made up my mind. I'm going for it. I don't know what that looks like yet, but I have some ideas. The thing that finally pushed me off the fence was on Instagram.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNIbt3XqLLjfad5tjvML1NgbufIHC6GjhaYxip-vKxN7UOXPme4TR9LT2gyIrgVt8Cx-HkMJu01ka5abW8aNMkAZob04Dc5o_JCkc70RvFqWTmS2FuligdBPzrQc36n513CT17MUAwWTbw/s1600/IMG_8938%255B1%255D.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNIbt3XqLLjfad5tjvML1NgbufIHC6GjhaYxip-vKxN7UOXPme4TR9LT2gyIrgVt8Cx-HkMJu01ka5abW8aNMkAZob04Dc5o_JCkc70RvFqWTmS2FuligdBPzrQc36n513CT17MUAwWTbw/s640/IMG_8938%255B1%255D.PNG" width="360" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">A month ago I de<span style="font-family: inherit;">cided to <span style="font-family: inherit;">start a new Instagram account just for my Everything Evie stuff. I <span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">proceeded to</span> f<span style="font-family: inherit;">ind</span> an amazing world of crochet and yarn I never knew existed! *squeal* It's such a supporti<span style="font-family: inherit;">ve and inspiring community!</span></span></span></span> There is a project called The 100 Day Project. Basically, you commit to doing something (whatever you choose) for 100 days and you post a picture on IG each day with your own made up hashtag. That way at the end of the 100 days you can go back and look at the progress you made on that thing. I wasn't going to praticipate because I was afraid I'd give up (do you see a pattern here?), but then I talked to my friend who she said she was doing it and it gave me the courage to try. So I decided my project is going to be growing my business. For the next 100 days, I'm going to do one thing each day to work towards growing my little network whether it be my crochet, my blog, facebook page, instagram, or any of that crazy social media stuff. I figure if I work at it every day for 100 days, and it still goes nowhere, then I have my answer.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Day One of the 100 days is this blog post. Check!</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggKo3F1eaoOh2rxL6O0gMJqPxpe5KwT_7c9iRm8ub4d7ujj8olOoEdxJi0y5h9a4PriRrXqhRXKeWi_C8OxGPVMMZ4fdEffZAZ6-aDJ1gMJ2Wk1ww-Wo_FBOAbQ95r5mJq3PRc-iwPnZhD/s1600/IMG_8943%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggKo3F1eaoOh2rxL6O0gMJqPxpe5KwT_7c9iRm8ub4d7ujj8olOoEdxJi0y5h9a4PriRrXqhRXKeWi_C8OxGPVMMZ4fdEffZAZ6-aDJ1gMJ2Wk1ww-Wo_FBOAbQ95r5mJq3PRc-iwPnZhD/s640/IMG_8943%255B1%255D.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Day One pic on Instagram</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I'd say the last wise decision that I've made is to get back on track with pursuing God. <span style="font-family: inherit;">In the past few months </span>I've made a commitment to reading my Bible every morning. I'm taking my own pace at reading the WHOLE Bible, and right now I'm one book away from finishing the New Testament. I may only get a chapter<span style="font-family: inherit;"> or two</span> read each morning, but I make sure I do it every day. I also have Bible studies that I've been doing and I've made myself complete the whole thing. Even if it's not on time, I still go back and finish the previous week before moving on. In the past I would just skip the lessons or not even finish the study. That's where I have been...but I want to keep moving forward, too. I want to listen to more podcasts, read more books, memorize more verses and just dig in deeper with God. <span style="font-family: inherit;">Continually seek His wisdom.</span> But most of all I need to spend more time in prayer. It's an area where I know I'm lacking and I know God keeps nudging me to do better. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">So there you have it, a recap of my last few months and a glance into the future of what I h<span style="font-family: inherit;">ope to accomplish. <span style="font-family: inherit;">After proof-reading this post, I learned two thin<span style="font-family: inherit;">gs about myself: I am easily deterred if I think I could fail and I like to go at my own pace. Hmmm, <span style="font-family: inherit;">I might have to work on one of those...</span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span>I'm starting the weight loss journey all over again, so this time you can go through it <span style="font-family: inherit;">with me<span style="font-family: inherit;"> <span style="font-family: inherit;">rather<span style="font-family: inherit;"> than when I started this blo<span style="font-family: inherit;">g after I already did it. Luck<span style="font-family: inherit;">y you!<span style="font-family: inherit;">And hey,</span></span></span></span></span></span> <span style="font-family: inherit;">i</span>f you are doing it too, then maybe we can encourage each other! <span style="font-family: inherit;">I also think that by being somewhat transparent about my hopes for my little b<span style="font-family: inherit;">usiness venture, <span style="font-family: inherit;">maybe I'll be held accountable to not give up when it gets confusing or hard. </span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Either way, I'm curious to see where I go and what I <span style="font-family: inherit;">accomplish...at my<span style="font-family: inherit;"> own pace. Ha.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">If you want to <span style="font-family: inherit;">follow alon<span style="font-family: inherit;">g with the 100 day journ<span style="font-family: inherit;">ey on Instagram, find me at <a href="http://www.instagram.com/" target="_blank">everything.evie</a></span></span></span> and <span style="font-family: inherit;">the hashtag #100daysofeverythingevie.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06896366926667139866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-587154237720073068.post-91808891881428510952015-09-25T10:31:00.002-07:002015-09-25T10:50:42.695-07:00Yep, Another One of THOSE Days...<div class="yiv3212942407p1" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1443196697349_2291">
<span class="yiv3212942407s1" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1443196697349_2290"></span></div>
<a name='more'></a><span class="yiv3212942407s1" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1443196697349_2290">Sometimes
being a mother is the most fulfilling, rewarding, most-wonderful job that you
could ever imagine having.</span><span class="yiv3212942407s1" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1443196697349_2290"> And sometimes it's also the most frustrating,
depriving, rage-inducing, soul-sucking thing you have ever experienced. How,
in one day, you can go from loving a little person so much your heart
might explode to being so frustrated with them that you just want to put your
fist through the wall, I will never understand.</span><br />
<div class="yiv3212942407p1" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1443196697349_2291">
<br /></div>
<div class="yiv3212942407p1" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1443196697349_2291">
<span class="yiv3212942407s1" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1443196697349_2290">I really try my best to be real, especially on
platforms such as social media or my blog. I mean, what's the point in faking it? I recently posted this picture on Facebook.</span></div>
<div class="yiv3212942407p1" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1443196697349_2291">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQMc23OtpJD_9Ys6BYDeN6szOgpSXG-KQd6YdlbLK8S7mt1IkB7xbjIg0rrXdXK52zFQhrndQ1OLL9OLsa74rZT85ciAXRo_IfvvHlBRhi9YmboaZwNVYdg5htpfT91yM4tINuDmiouwNB/s1600/IMG_7057.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQMc23OtpJD_9Ys6BYDeN6szOgpSXG-KQd6YdlbLK8S7mt1IkB7xbjIg0rrXdXK52zFQhrndQ1OLL9OLsa74rZT85ciAXRo_IfvvHlBRhi9YmboaZwNVYdg5htpfT91yM4tINuDmiouwNB/s640/IMG_7057.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="yiv3212942407p1" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1443196697349_2291">
<br /></div>
<div class="yiv3212942407p1" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1443196697349_2291">
<span class="yiv3212942407s1" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1443196697349_2290"> My daughter had quit cheerleading at the football game and was crying for me just because. Daddy was at drill and thankfully my sister was there to help. This picture, however, was taken after she threw an epic fit over not getting a sucker and I told her we were going home. So I got to be "that" mom. I put it on Facebook because we are all always posting perfect pictures. Not that that's bad, of course we want to put our best foot forward....but sometimes reality is a nice breath of fresh air in the social media world.</span></div>
<div class="yiv3212942407p1" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1443196697349_2291">
<br /></div>
<div class="yiv3212942407p1" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1443196697349_2291">
<span class="yiv3212942407s1" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1443196697349_2290">So I'm writing this in the
interest of letting all the other mothers out there know that they are
not alone. I have a four-month-old baby, a five-year-old and a
10-year-old. They are all in completely different stages of life and all
simultaneously dependent on their mother in completely different ways. In the same house we have: a hormonal, prepubescent, pre-teenage girl that needs lots of attention; a new-to-kindergarten, no-longer-the-baby, overly tired 5-year-old girl
that needs lots of attention; and now we've added a four-month-old that only wants to play and have himself rocked
every moment of the day because he's a baby and that's what they do...and
also needs lots of attention. And I'm not even going to get into the
husband who works hard all day to provide for his family, who also
needs lots of...ahem... attention. *wink wink*</span></div>
<div class="yiv3212942407p1" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1443196697349_2291">
<br /></div>
<div class="yiv3212942407p1" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1443196697349_2291">
<span class="yiv3212942407s1" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1443196697349_2290">Do you know who else needs some attention? Me. And I don't even want it from other people. I just want to give myself some attention. Paint my toes...take a nap...read a book...TAKE A FREAKING SHOWER.
But instead of being able to give myself some attention, I just give my
attention to others over and over and over and over and over on a daily basis. And
most days that's OK. Most days I can handle all of that with no problem and still feel like a fulfilled, happy wife and mother. There are days I get so frustrated with my
baby who won't sleep, but then he smiles at me like this... </span></div>
<div class="yiv3212942407p1" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1443196697349_2291">
<span class="yiv3212942407s1" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1443196697349_2290"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja64W0NrkWyI8Hp_Zek6XXGWkdCpVdavLbnLUlgmAGLUFrmF1t7nEBTOU1LQGOwADbtTgchdkbiHe8GqPjSyoxFb19TYrTlsOIEfMlrkSq9SSYNoxX6arPeL8EkHpPLBsScn5KT68d5JHa/s1600/IMG_7046.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja64W0NrkWyI8Hp_Zek6XXGWkdCpVdavLbnLUlgmAGLUFrmF1t7nEBTOU1LQGOwADbtTgchdkbiHe8GqPjSyoxFb19TYrTlsOIEfMlrkSq9SSYNoxX6arPeL8EkHpPLBsScn5KT68d5JHa/s640/IMG_7046.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No joke. I was so frustrated with his non-stop crying, I laid him down and he did this. Little Turd.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="yiv3212942407p1" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1443196697349_2291">
<span class="yiv3212942407s1" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1443196697349_2290"></span><span class="yiv3212942407s1" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1443196697349_2290"></span><span class="yiv3212942407s1" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1443196697349_2290">...and my heart
melts and everything is OK. But then there are days when he gets up five
times in the night, he won't sleep, he won't take a nap
unless I'm holding him, won't swing or bounce or play, and I have about 100 million other things that I
really need to do. <i>Those</i> are the days I'm talking about. The days when I finally get to
have breakfast <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" rel="nofollow"><span class="yiv3212942407s2">at 10:00 AM</span></a>, all I really want is a piece of toast and there is no bread. In fact,
there is not only just no bread... there are no eggs, no cereal, no nothing
because you need to get groceries and you fed the rest of your family
before yourself. These are the days that you completely lose it. Over a
piece of toast.</span></div>
<div class="yiv3212942407p2">
<span class="yiv3212942407s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="yiv3212942407p1" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1443196697349_2604">
<span class="yiv3212942407s1"></span><span class="yiv3212942407s1" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1443196697349_2603">It's
days like this that you throw
your baby in the car (not literally, people) and drive 6 miles to the next
town to get a McDonald's bagel sandwich and a hot coffee. And when the girl in the drive-thru tells you they no longer carry bagel sandwiches, you are kind of a bitch to her even though you know it's not her fault. It's
ridiculous, a waste of gas and money, and you may have ruined that poor girl's day...but so completely necessary for
you to keep the little bit of sanity you have left. (Well, not the being bitchy part. Don't do that. That was really wrong of me.)</span></div>
<div class="yiv3212942407p1" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1443196697349_2604">
<br /></div>
<div class="yiv3212942407p1" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1443196697349_2604">
<span class="yiv3212942407s1" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1443196697349_2603"></span><span class="yiv3212942407s1" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1443196697349_2617">These
are the days when Murphy's Law takes over. Need to get the bills done?
The computer won't work. Hungry? There's no food. Baby finally sleeping?
The dog barks. Try to take a nap? You can't sleep. Cooking dinner? You
burn your fingers. Want to write a blog post? Your internet WILL move like molasses. And so on.</span></div>
<div class="yiv3212942407p1" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1443196697349_2604">
<span class="yiv3212942407s1" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1443196697349_2603"><br /></span></div>
<div class="yiv3212942407p1" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1443196697349_2608">
<span class="yiv3212942407s1" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1443196697349_2607">The
only way to get through days like this is when you're having a meltdown
and your mom happens to call, answer the phone. Let her talk you down.
Or if your husband's working late and you just can't take it anymore, hand him the baby when he walks in the door, get in the car and go to
your friend's house until you calm down. (And perhaps drink all of her wine.) And when the baby just won't
stop crying, you are exhausted and starting to get angry...put him in
the crib, shut the door and walk away. I say all these things because
I've had to do all of them this week, and I will probably have to
continue to do them so that I can survive this period of my life. </span></div>
<span class="yiv3212942407s1"></span>
<span class="yiv3212942407s1"></span>
<br />
<div class="yiv3212942407p2">
<span class="yiv3212942407s1"></span><span class="yiv3212942407s1" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1443196697349_2614">This
post isn't a "poor me" post. It's a "real me" post. It isn't an I-have-it-so-much-worse-than-my-husband post. It's an I-have-it-different-than-my-husband post.
And it's definitely not an I-have-it-worse-than-you post. It's most likely an I-have-it-the-same-as-you post. </span><span class="yiv3212942407s1" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1443196697349_2600">I
said I was writing this so other moms would know that they're not alone. I
realize now that that's a lie, I'm writing this for myself. So that <i>I</i>
know that <i>I'm</i> not alone. Because days like this you feel very alone...</span></div>
<div class="yiv3212942407p2">
<span class="yiv3212942407s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="yiv3212942407p2">
<span class="yiv3212942407s1">Well wait, you say. Aren't you a Christian? Don't you have Jesus you can lean on? You're not <i>really</i> alone....</span></div>
<div class="yiv3212942407p2">
<span class="yiv3212942407s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="yiv3212942407p1" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1443196697349_2598">
<span class="yiv3212942407s1" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1443196697349_2597">You're right, but...Christianity is not always roses. If someone told you that
accepting Jesus as your Savior would mean that your life wouldn't have
any problems and you would always be happy, then you my friend have just
bought a bridge. Just because you have a savior doesn't mean your life
is always going to be perfect. I would love for this post to be one of
the ones that says </span></div>
<div class="yiv3212942407p1" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1443196697349_2598">
<span class="yiv3212942407s1" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1443196697349_2597">"this was going so horribly and then I read this
Bible verse and God made it feel all
better". But it is not. There are days that you just feel hopeless and
like nothing is going right and it never will. The only redeeming factor
is that there <i>IS</i> hope because you <i>DO</i> have a savior. So I <i>will</i> keep going because <i>do </i>love my life...I just don't love all of my days. And today is one of those days.</span></div>
<div class="yiv3212942407p1" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1443196697349_2598">
<br /></div>
<div class="yiv3212942407p1" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1443196697349_2598">
<span class="yiv3212942407s1" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1443196697349_2597">As I wrote this post, it occurred to me that I wrote a similar post a couple years ago...but it IS the kind about hope and Bible verses...so if you need that hope, then <a href="http://everythingevieblog.blogspot.com/2013/04/one-of-those-days.html" target="_blank">read this.</a> And if you are wondering why I'm writing another post about having a bad day...because it's my blog and I can cry if I want to.</span></div>
<div class="yiv3212942407p1" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1443196697349_2598">
<span class="yiv3212942407s1" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1443196697349_2597"><br /></span></div>
<div class="yiv3212942407p1" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1443196697349_2598">
<span class="yiv3212942407s1" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1443196697349_2597">Just to reiterate that I DO truly love my life and family...here's one more picture.</span></div>
<div class="yiv3212942407p1" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1443196697349_2598">
<span class="yiv3212942407s1" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1443196697349_2597"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGLUGy6tPGYQJOhmwZEuEMccn4dSDi_Aowpx0pP80OZ3TlRPyRrLirjbgmcKG5zYrotFbuhULxqoTvkT8a8fdwd6NYeZzUC8K_Pdk12sKoP4TNaOkuTM89GFtrFg2OUjHtr03sezgDT__x/s1600/IMG_6841.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGLUGy6tPGYQJOhmwZEuEMccn4dSDi_Aowpx0pP80OZ3TlRPyRrLirjbgmcKG5zYrotFbuhULxqoTvkT8a8fdwd6NYeZzUC8K_Pdk12sKoP4TNaOkuTM89GFtrFg2OUjHtr03sezgDT__x/s640/IMG_6841.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First Day of School Selfie</td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06896366926667139866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-587154237720073068.post-56639733973630052462015-07-28T15:41:00.000-07:002015-07-28T15:41:43.394-07:00Hand-Painted Wood Sign<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This was a whole new venture for me...so I thought I'd share what I learned!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnEtEYjTR9fyl7kJZPqT0JZg3yCK_MvBMyfgFNg1BNtA1opEfEoS7CGYt24KXz_z8K-qwjNWAYc2nN8AXSjWjKxZuQsBRYBNkXMYQl19n0nxOrKci3LvNReUNepJXht81L0BabolfU0Z9O/s1600/IMG_6522.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnEtEYjTR9fyl7kJZPqT0JZg3yCK_MvBMyfgFNg1BNtA1opEfEoS7CGYt24KXz_z8K-qwjNWAYc2nN8AXSjWjKxZuQsBRYBNkXMYQl19n0nxOrKci3LvNReUNepJXht81L0BabolfU0Z9O/s640/IMG_6522.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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Last year I decided to paint my laundry room. My husband got a new job and we no longer had to move, so within a week of him moving back home, I had LOTS of plans for our house. </div>
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And first on the list was the laundry room. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0aFIDIV8kxrJGMo_dK1jFmdRQAyNxvM3IC7jaJV8NPSIw40Ee83XiokJcmt-gSSxRpV_Mar2MwvXrtJ1MBZQNhCb-UxlfUiCq-0hcdseuEabiI_2h1C7L1MydJvOlGvRmYY48m0E1qnsa/s1600/IMG_4345.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0aFIDIV8kxrJGMo_dK1jFmdRQAyNxvM3IC7jaJV8NPSIw40Ee83XiokJcmt-gSSxRpV_Mar2MwvXrtJ1MBZQNhCb-UxlfUiCq-0hcdseuEabiI_2h1C7L1MydJvOlGvRmYY48m0E1qnsa/s640/IMG_4345.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Our laundry room is also a heated back
porch that was added on to the house a while back, so one wall is still
old siding. This is the AWESOME shade of green our house was at one
point in time...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieomP7nNYUlIbIBg_ZaVciARmky3Mo8vyMZvaAO-FNE99m-RAJlSksk0vBaNAuiRSuGAVGlSKy-AbwOksaOWvbYWW1_9UiDSrgQLItrbTB0PwGiQCI0jJ4M26SKCTTWJQKaHMAt3heW8Ir/s1600/IMG_4346.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieomP7nNYUlIbIBg_ZaVciARmky3Mo8vyMZvaAO-FNE99m-RAJlSksk0vBaNAuiRSuGAVGlSKy-AbwOksaOWvbYWW1_9UiDSrgQLItrbTB0PwGiQCI0jJ4M26SKCTTWJQKaHMAt3heW8Ir/s640/IMG_4346.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Yikes.</div>
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We found this lovely shade behind one of the shelves we took down. That
sucker was nailed, screwed, and glued to the wall well enough to
withstand any tornado that threatened it. It was lots of fun trying to
take it down. Just ask my hubby! </div>
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All I did to the room was paint the walls, remove a couple shelves and rearrange some things. I bought a new hamper and rug and that was good enough. Of course, I had grand plans of moving the washer and dryer to another wall and having my hubby build some shelves around them with a counter on top...that was a year ago... </div>
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Here it is all painted and put back together.</div>
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Nothing fancy, but it's a little prettier. </div>
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Going back to the old shelf that we pried off the wall...</div>
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Once we got it down and I saw it, I knew I could use it for something. I didn't know what yet, but something would come to me. I liked how it was beat up and old looking, but not like the new stuff you can buy that is made to look "old".</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilTNTqCYCm6mLDBF3dTjVAbsfZ33XgH-VPoKFsBQh3sNVDJfpm7SrZ18X_8GsTWnvT0rPPLn_xrY1vUDugAPxyLeJHdTgzgU1LbzR5QFSdWvqbDtIlhxLWR1mAjNJVkEOdpBBN-focYdCB/s1600/IMG_6268.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilTNTqCYCm6mLDBF3dTjVAbsfZ33XgH-VPoKFsBQh3sNVDJfpm7SrZ18X_8GsTWnvT0rPPLn_xrY1vUDugAPxyLeJHdTgzgU1LbzR5QFSdWvqbDtIlhxLWR1mAjNJVkEOdpBBN-focYdCB/s640/IMG_6268.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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It sat in the garage for a while until it came to me. Our dear friends, Marcie and Dennis, that have the farm we like to hang out at were building a new house and I wanted to make Marcie something for a house-warming gift. I finally decided to make some kind of wall decor with the shelf. I knew of a Bible verse that was special to their family and I happened to have yellow paint left from the laundry room (Marcie's favorite color) and with that I had a plan.</div>
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However...</div>
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I always saw these cute homemade signs on Pinterest that people would make with fancy machines that cut out letters or shapes. Or they were super talented and could just paint it free-hand. Well I had neither of those abilities, so I researched other ways to make wood signs. I found a few different methods and decided to try two. </div>
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First I had to print out my verse in the fonts I wanted to use. It took a few tries printing out the right sizes and making up my mind on the fonts, but finally I had something I liked. </div>
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The next step was to shade the back of the words. I borrowed a graphite pencil from my daughter's drawing kit and used that for the shading. It worked a little better than a regular pencil, but you could still use a pencil. </div>
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Before I made the large sign, I wanted to practice. My front porch is always a disaster after school but this year we installed hooks for all the children to hang their coats and bags. So I made name signs to place above each hook so everyone had a designated space. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMWWg8rmfuHA8RYRFIgIGrQG1FCpmSrNyN8wBniu7o7ewXktBzRJWIKbe3kanamKV0DjDUA6o1eHQ7bMObVUTeV2rWsLqykiiI9WtYumaa4iSZTN2sEed_PuNeyON4EH00nX1G4CUceCly/s1600/IMG_6259.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMWWg8rmfuHA8RYRFIgIGrQG1FCpmSrNyN8wBniu7o7ewXktBzRJWIKbe3kanamKV0DjDUA6o1eHQ7bMObVUTeV2rWsLqykiiI9WtYumaa4iSZTN2sEed_PuNeyON4EH00nX1G4CUceCly/s640/IMG_6259.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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I shaded the backside of each letter on all of the words and names.</div>
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It was A LOT of shading....</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgji_k7mR2I_6D0bYSO15Q-VDcD8UJ6WFvLFLLUUqsFAGvuKfH7E1iqNz8x4PSruQIfJ_ghWum329tTIyChNfvW5qWh_csIlVWo_8dMVczONwuQ1JiC9xAN5YP4dezpOQtfpISb-3lqSsFh/s1600/IMG_6261.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgji_k7mR2I_6D0bYSO15Q-VDcD8UJ6WFvLFLLUUqsFAGvuKfH7E1iqNz8x4PSruQIfJ_ghWum329tTIyChNfvW5qWh_csIlVWo_8dMVczONwuQ1JiC9xAN5YP4dezpOQtfpISb-3lqSsFh/s640/IMG_6261.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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After all the words and names were shaded, I laid the paper face-up on the wood I was using. Once it was where I wanted it, I taped in place. </div>
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Then I took a pencil and traced each letter, pushing pretty hard, in order to transfer the shading on the back to the wood.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKjCXMLGHxJvPPEsXSnFBrx8wTeUj71afmud90T5RbsIzTMMMKs1VBby7JzM2DChf7PtZuqbaVY3B1KCqzH6iAF6icZpRHT8L8mvkYZmcqfb4q-iDh5QCfXvsYbmp38qIq4DMuHBylseK7/s1600/IMG_6262.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKjCXMLGHxJvPPEsXSnFBrx8wTeUj71afmud90T5RbsIzTMMMKs1VBby7JzM2DChf7PtZuqbaVY3B1KCqzH6iAF6icZpRHT8L8mvkYZmcqfb4q-iDh5QCfXvsYbmp38qIq4DMuHBylseK7/s640/IMG_6262.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br />Once everything was traced, I carefully pulled the paper off and this is how it looked. </div>
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Now this is where my two projects differed. I had two methods I wanted to try: painting or coloring.</div>
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The easier of the two was coloring. I bought bright colored Sharpies and tried coloring in the letters on the names for the porch. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZlb14FZb4tqKen7DqROjo1cwTeN-KgBFi3IW7sBPxgmef1suOauEWinAY44slyU8Jzm28sF-pMt_4eUGQ405dFf2no1figVKu2ZG63M4_WgSV5L1vQJ2v_4cuvT8Kdh6v5OvMwBCmKDHM/s1600/IMG_6266.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZlb14FZb4tqKen7DqROjo1cwTeN-KgBFi3IW7sBPxgmef1suOauEWinAY44slyU8Jzm28sF-pMt_4eUGQ405dFf2no1figVKu2ZG63M4_WgSV5L1vQJ2v_4cuvT8Kdh6v5OvMwBCmKDHM/s640/IMG_6266.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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It was rather easy and the colors were pretty, but you could definitely tell it was colored with marker.</div>
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One other negative about this method (This is will give away how long ago I meant to blog about this....) is that I did these a year ago and they are now very faded and don't look good at all. </div>
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The other method was to paint the letters. This made me nervous because I'm not a painter. I don't feel like I have control over the brush and I'm kind of a perfectionist with this stuff and I knew I'd mess up. But I knew I had to try it on the big board because it would look better. </div>
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The next step for the wall hanging was to prep the shelf. I wiped it down, sanded it, wiped it again, spackled all the holes, primed it twice and gave it two coats of yellow on both sides. </div>
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I then placed my words, taped them down, and began to trace them.</div>
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After getting it all traced, the next step is to let it sit around your house for 4 months and do nothing. Okay, not really, but that's what I did. In my defense, I was very pregnant and very over anything that wasn't a necessity to my or my family's survival. So sat it did until a few weeks ago when my newborn slept through the night for the first time. I had so much energy that day I decided to conquer my painting fear and just do it. </div>
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I used acrylic paint and a tiny paint brush, all of which I got pretty cheap from Hobby Lobby. The nice thing about acrylic paint is that it cleans up easy with water, so if I did make a bad mistake it was relatively easy to fix. The only tip I can give you for hand painting the letters is slow and steady. I took my time and just tried as best as I could to stay within the lines. I did have to do two coats on most of the colors, but the second coat was much easier and faster than the first.</div>
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That's about it! It was a long process (even without the 4 month procrastination) and it took patience, but it was worth it. It barely cost me any money and it was made by my hands which makes it even more special. It was supposed to be a Christmas gift...then Christmas came and went. Then it was going to be a gift when they moved into the house...that came and went. So it ended up being a Merry ChristmasBirthdayMoveInJustBecauseILoveYou gift in the middle of the summer. </div>
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Now that I've tried painting, I'm not as afraid of it anymore. I am even thinking about making something for myself that is similar...but first I need to find another old shelf...</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06896366926667139866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-587154237720073068.post-32708786815103697892015-07-12T14:54:00.000-07:002015-07-12T17:26:28.634-07:00I Got My Hindsight Checked...It Was 20/20: Part Two<div style="text-align: center;">
I should really have learned by now NOT to put in writing when I will be posting my next blog. If you read <a href="http://everythingevieblog.blogspot.com/2015/01/i-got-my-hindsight-checkedit-was-2020.html" target="_blank">Part One</a>, you know that this was supposed to be posted "tomorrow". Well, as you can see, "tomorrow" turned into six months later. </div>
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I'm also learning that blogging regularly is not my strong suit...</div>
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Six months. </div>
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So many things can happen in six months. </div>
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I'm beginning to wonder if God planned for me to be a huge blogging procrastinator so that I'd have more time and experiences to reflect on and help shed light on a situation. </div>
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I suppose I'll ask him someday. </div>
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I do think he planned for me to write this today. My life has been...a bit chaotic in the last two months, which I'll get to later, (Don't worry, it's a good chaotic!) and my quiet times have fallen by the way side. In all honesty, it's been months since I sat down with God and just had time with Him. For the last few days I kept feeling the nudge and finally today I answered. I woke up early, grabbed my Bible and Jesus Calling, made some coffee and took up residence in my "happy place". I opened up Jesus Calling to today's date and stopped short. </div>
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At the top of the page I had written "D&C 2013".</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWjHfLJeMav6nDAws4NaTRxJpUx3eiGppIcKT_Y_QuxxR6HMv8oEQnCTbT4r59YPiG9-3t5kN0-H5g00_ujJNlov61czaVcivcJwLYQN_LBG695k52UnnY-dMwDfJwOMk6nQBLP1o6Beki/s1600/IMG_6452.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWjHfLJeMav6nDAws4NaTRxJpUx3eiGppIcKT_Y_QuxxR6HMv8oEQnCTbT4r59YPiG9-3t5kN0-H5g00_ujJNlov61czaVcivcJwLYQN_LBG695k52UnnY-dMwDfJwOMk6nQBLP1o6Beki/s640/IMG_6452.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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It was like someone smacked me.</div>
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Oh my gosh, is that today?!</div>
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How did I miss that??</div>
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Did I really forget that two years ago today, I lost my baby?</div>
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Of course, I didn't forget. You can never forget something like that. But in the chaos, I didn't realize that these were the days two years ago that I found out my baby was gone. </div>
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What kind of chaos would cause you to forget that, you ask?</div>
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This kind. :)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYtHzzuQkKJZ4eZo-fSskr0mf00ZPfs_di3UXqGpr0f7toObbUnqaUjqq8VEi-dUFDAWdUox4mVhUzeDb_9V0Ekhi2EIs_q6b_inFvYm1TfbBpvpPKqzNTa1lVEsw4ZaftOmbp-Tk3apHi/s1600/IMG_6130.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYtHzzuQkKJZ4eZo-fSskr0mf00ZPfs_di3UXqGpr0f7toObbUnqaUjqq8VEi-dUFDAWdUox4mVhUzeDb_9V0Ekhi2EIs_q6b_inFvYm1TfbBpvpPKqzNTa1lVEsw4ZaftOmbp-Tk3apHi/s400/IMG_6130.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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It is my great pleasure to introduce you to Bennett John Moring. </div>
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He was born on May18, 2015 and, despite some hiccups, was perfect in every way.</div>
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So, as you can see, the last 8 weeks have been a good chaotic. An amazing chaotic. The best chaotic I could ever ask for. But in the chaos...I did forget what day it was.</div>
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I find it NO coincidence that God was telling me to come to him the last few days. And it is NO coincidence that <i>today </i>is the day I finally obeyed. He didn't want me to miss it. I also had decided to begin a Bible study by <a href="http://www.angelathomas.com/" target="_blank">Angela Thomas</a> called <a href="https://squareup.com/market/angela-thomas" target="_blank">Stronger:Finding Hope In Fragile Places</a>.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1vS0V8JfrqvzkcXczVUdnfQLlWT8uxWkXhO4JMQG6Il-ix-ySMobE4Tt-k9HQ8SJWOIJJTFqw0PqUB5d-fwMsIcq5JQ7zNx2ZnqznkVDb2LHJeAZyFYj0_ez8YUgaOqz2SjMZbtpYN4Jn/s1600/original.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1vS0V8JfrqvzkcXczVUdnfQLlWT8uxWkXhO4JMQG6Il-ix-ySMobE4Tt-k9HQ8SJWOIJJTFqw0PqUB5d-fwMsIcq5JQ7zNx2ZnqznkVDb2LHJeAZyFYj0_ez8YUgaOqz2SjMZbtpYN4Jn/s400/original.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I had started it in May of 2014 but never finished, and a visit with a friend yesterday reminded me of it so I decided to re-start it. </div>
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It's all about God's awesome strength and learning to live in that strength. Again, it's NO coincidence that as I re-read Day One in the study, I was able to look back at the last two years and see how God's strength was what got me through it all. </div>
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How can you NOT believe in God??</div>
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I left off last time at January of 2014, hoping for a better year. </div>
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In February came the next marriage hurdle. It was our anniversary weekend and we were attending the <a href="http://loveandrespect.com/" target="_blank">Love and Respect Conference</a>. Basically, through us learning and conversing with each other we found out we had more hard things to face and work through. It was a huge reality check for me. And we had just worked through the issue from October. Oy. But thankfully we were both committed to making our marriage work and we were able to heal and move on, despite not living together because of my husband's job. </div>
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Once again, just when things were looking up, tragedy struck again. In April we found out that my husband's brother was having an affair. Devastating doesn't even begin to cover it. It tore our family apart. My sister-in-law had become my best friend and watching her go through all the pain and loss was so hard. And trying to understand what was going on with his brother was very hard and confusing. It was many, many months of hurt feelings, misunderstandings, not talking...it put pressure on other relationships in the family as well. Ultimately, he decided to stay with the other woman and they ended up getting divorced, which was so sad to watch. We kept praying they could reconcile, but it wasn't meant to be. All of our lives have been changed forever because of this and while it's been hard to accept, my husband and I had to make hard choices that were to the benefit of our little family unit. We still love both parties as family, but our priority has to be our marriage and children. If you want to read about my SIL's journey through divorce and being a single mom, check out her blog - <a href="http://www.krystle8402.blogspot.com/2014/09/starting-over.html" target="_blank">Mommy Diaries</a>.</div>
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I can definitely say that watching all of that happen over the last year has strengthened our marriage ten-fold. Now when he leaves his dirty socks on the floor or doesn't pick up after himself, I still get annoyed, but I'm not as quick to pick a fight over it. He is a hard working, loving man that does everything he can for me and his children...and that makes me fall in love with him over and over again.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At Hubby's surprise 30th birthday party!</td></tr>
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And now, the story begins to look up.</div>
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(And all the people said AMEN!)</div>
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In August of 2014, my hubby found a job that is 10 minutes from our house. It was a stretch financially, but our one prayer had been for God to put our family back together and this job would accomplish that. So we accepted and just trusted God with the finances. Hubby moved back home and has thrived at his new job! </div>
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Amazingly, in August I also got pregnant. </div>
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Funny how that happens when you LIVE with your husband.... </div>
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I'm not going to lie, it was pretty stressful until I hit about 20 weeks. I was always anxious at doctor appointments or with any little pain that came along. The morning sickness was pretty bad, too. But once we hit 20 weeks, we were pretty confident everything would be okay and we announced it to the world. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJscFi55ca2JUqh48mTensdBdyWAqx-wkKxev-V66eid6QRAvUGLPqE3aS1PdOiw9YNbzK4y0GxRsqOEcYyqVuMqzEq7WAjiwPib7f2UOKTPJyvgTiLoTK6EHkD3ri-7c17_Lq1NZdO4-c/s1600/Happy+Circles+2+Back.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="462" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJscFi55ca2JUqh48mTensdBdyWAqx-wkKxev-V66eid6QRAvUGLPqE3aS1PdOiw9YNbzK4y0GxRsqOEcYyqVuMqzEq7WAjiwPib7f2UOKTPJyvgTiLoTK6EHkD3ri-7c17_Lq1NZdO4-c/s640/Happy+Circles+2+Back.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo and Card by <a href="http://www.moreygirl.com/" target="_blank">Heather @ Moreygirl.com</a></td></tr>
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Fast forward to May of this year and this little guy showed up!</div>
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That was another trying experience...but I'll share that another day.</div>
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I've learned a lot over the last couple years. You always say that family is the most important thing, but after going through major life trials like a miscarriage, family separation, marriage troubles, and a hurtful divorce in the family, it <i>truly </i>makes you rethink your priorities.</div>
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I know for a fact that I could not have gotten through it without Jesus Christ. I dove into my Bible and soaked up everything I could. I made devotions a priority because I <i>needed </i>them to be able to face the day. I wrote down every verse that I thought would help me and then I worked on memorizing them. When I would start to feel anxious or angry or depressed (and I don't use that word lightly) I would recite a verse over and over in my head:</div>
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<i>"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer."</i> Romans 12:12<i> </i><i> </i></div>
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<i> </i>One time, I started having an anxiety attack over something that had happened. I grabbed my journal and fell to my knees right there and just started reading out loud every verse I had written down. Over and over until I felt like I could breath again. I cried it out, said a prayer asking God to help me, dried my tears, got up and went back to my day.</div>
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I couldn't have gotten through it without God. I am a firm believer that everything happens for a reason. God has a purpose for everything...good or bad. Sometimes we get to find out that reason and sometimes we don't. But no matter what He is in control. </div>
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<i>"The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song."</i> Psalm 28:7</div>
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We all have trials. We all have pain. But we don't have to suffer alone.</div>
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<i>"For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, do not fear; I will help you."</i> Isaiah 41:13 (this is one of my favorites)</div>
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He hears your cries just like he hears mine. And I use present tense because I'm not out of the woods. There is a saying that if you aren't in a storm, you are either coming out of one or going into one. Right now I'm coming out...but I know there will be more down the road. Of course I would never choose to have the bad experiences I've had, but I do choose to learn from them. I have been repeatedly assured that no matter what comes my way, I can count on my Savior to help me through it. </div>
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<i>"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance."</i> James 1:2-3</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My world. <3</td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06896366926667139866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-587154237720073068.post-82707072974815042992015-01-12T15:50:00.001-08:002015-01-15T10:01:34.500-08:00I Got My Hindsight Checked...It Was 20/20: Part One<div style="text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Via Pinterest</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">According to my </span>blog, I posted a whopping 6 posts last year. </div>
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I can hear you now "Wow!...Overachiever!...She's really got her act together!"<br />
Hahahaha, I know! I'm so awesome! (Insert sarcastic eye-roll here) </div>
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Blogs are great for many reasons: you can share knowledge of things you learn, teach skills, share life experiences. But personally, writing a blog is also great for being able to look back at your past and remember. Before starting this post, I went back and read my first blog for 2014. If you would like to read it, <a href="http://everythingevieblog.blogspot.com/2014/01/fighting-my-fears-and-finding-hope.html" target="_blank">click here.</a> I briefly stated that 2013 was a very rough year and I had learned to lean on God to help carry me through the hard times. I also said I had hope for the new year, that things would start to look up. </div>
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Well, as they say...hindsight is 20/20.</div>
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Unfortunately, things did not look up. In fact, the hits just kept coming. 2014 was almost equally as bad a year as 2013. I don't regret having hope last January, because without hope, where would we be? I have Jesus, so I will always have hope. But sometimes God has different plans for our lives than we do.</div>
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It's taken me until now to be able to sit down and write about all of these things...but I'm ready.</div>
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So let's do this. </div>
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In July of 2013 I had a miscarriage. It was a very thought-out, prayed-over, and planned pregnancy, so when we lost it, it was devastating. I was 16 weeks when I started having some complications and we found out the baby was gone. The baby measured only about 12 weeks, so for 4 weeks I walked around not knowing what had happened. I struggled so much with God over that. Why would he let me go four weeks thinking everything was ok, making plans, announcing it to almost everyone...when it was already gone? I had a lot of anger over the fact that I waited and prayed over even getting pregnant for a <i>long </i>time and truly felt like it was the right thing...how could I have been so wrong? I ended up needing to have a D&C. That was an awful experience...sitting in a waiting room forever...then a hospital room...I remember waking up afterwards in recovery and there was a baby crying in another part of the room. It just kept crying and all I wanted was for it to shut up. It was like torture. That summer is pretty much a blur. I spent most of my days sitting on my front porch either staring out the window or scrolling through Pinterest. I had taught myself to crochet right before the hospital visit, so I threw myself into crocheting anything. Somehow I made it through the summer and school was about to start so I willed myself to start functioning again.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjapELustteB_ZDBlYtUo3ss03pqwVbAqrq0wEvDptZYkApIkhmDPBJluVfZvj0qA9QLnhfAbATmGeffxSpw69AE_ondsK44Bj3NjOYEf2-6Iak6pcKMDQB4CsOykN0W8uUYHev0alyAFzk/s1600/IMG_1730.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjapELustteB_ZDBlYtUo3ss03pqwVbAqrq0wEvDptZYkApIkhmDPBJluVfZvj0qA9QLnhfAbATmGeffxSpw69AE_ondsK44Bj3NjOYEf2-6Iak6pcKMDQB4CsOykN0W8uUYHev0alyAFzk/s1600/IMG_1730.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was my summer "happy place" and still is my favorite place to sit and read or do devotions.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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In August, my husband found a new job in a new town about an hour and half away from where we were currently living. He had been looking for a new job for a couple years so when this job presented itself we couldn't say no. It was a great opportunity so we put our house up for sale. He moved to the new town and was staying with friends, while the kids and I stayed behind to sell the house. We ended up living apart for 10 months.</div>
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Longest. 10. Months. EVER.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyjJQQAbavriyShwLNqRbs4DTACDemF6THQakmPmqfMCp5l5FZ0jNm4i4ZtSTQ440fLU61FwjJNTVtOc63FeOTcelkeW8owXW884WzIuIYq2s5NNqtz69WDaYxdGcSUNg4Y9iNtLlAXC-V/s1600/IMG_3701.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyjJQQAbavriyShwLNqRbs4DTACDemF6THQakmPmqfMCp5l5FZ0jNm4i4ZtSTQ440fLU61FwjJNTVtOc63FeOTcelkeW8owXW884WzIuIYq2s5NNqtz69WDaYxdGcSUNg4Y9iNtLlAXC-V/s1600/IMG_3701.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Visiting Daddy on a weekend and being silly. :)</td></tr>
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Enter another period of questioning God and not understanding why. Why did he make this job SO perfect and everything seem like it was falling into place...except that our house wouldn't sell? Why couldn't there have been a job in our area? Why make us move? For 10 months I watched other people sell houses, build houses, move to new ones and we were stuck. In the midst of that 10 months of not living together, we had some larger hurdles to overcome in our marriage. It's not easy being happily married and not living in the same household! In October of 2013, on a Tuesday, we hit our first major hurdle. About 30 minutes after this hurdle presented itself, I found out my best friend's father had died suddenly and tragically. It was a terrible day I'll never forget. </div>
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Before you get too depressed reading this, I will say even though it didn't seem like it, God was there. Before all of these bad things had happened, I had made plans with my other best friend to go to a <a href="http://www.lproof.org/" target="_blank">Beth Moore</a> conference. (If you haven't heard of her, click the link and be amazed by this ministry. That woman is truly touched by God.) The conference was the weekend after that Tuesday, which I truly believe was NOT a coincidence. Directly following the conference were the services for my friend's dad. I attended that conference a <i>very </i>broken woman, unsure of how to get past my struggles and be strong for my friend who was going through a devastating period in her life. I had a night of insomnia where I laid in a hotel room begging God to just give me sleep. I had nothing else, why would he take my rest from me too? Why?? What did I do to you, Lord?? That night I completely surrendered to Him. I had nothing and I was no one without Him. I had absolutely no clue what the future held and I was done trying to figure it out. I gave my journey in life over to him. </div>
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The next day at the conference, something amazing happened. I sat there listening to the amazing teachings of Beth Moore, ugly-cried my way through the worship time, and still felt unmoved. During a break, I silently sat next to my friend. Just sitting. All the seats around us cleared out as other women went to stretch their legs or use the restroom. As I sat there, a woman walked down the row in front of me, stopped and turned to me. I wish I could tell you verbatim what she said...but I was so in shock that I hardly knew what was happening. She proceeded to tell me that all morning she had felt like God was telling her to come talk to me. She didn't know why or what I was dealing with, but she knew she was supposed to tell me that God heard my prayers and that he had an amazing journey for me. She told me that he loved me and he heard me. I just started bawling...and so did my friend. I hugged this stranger so tight and just cried and said thank you and I never saw her again.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv9bEuzXgAbKwAgjYL4eCzl2NJ2bYglLheIf69YNv_bod3koE44kgtRVOfl8053NNAt0v6r4SQ7iYedy3Q_1kPpYkthfR9ehILzgi0KiAt0YeznltElLSULw-7zjXD52hHhzeKO4NUpCOx/s1600/IMG_2189.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv9bEuzXgAbKwAgjYL4eCzl2NJ2bYglLheIf69YNv_bod3koE44kgtRVOfl8053NNAt0v6r4SQ7iYedy3Q_1kPpYkthfR9ehILzgi0KiAt0YeznltElLSULw-7zjXD52hHhzeKO4NUpCOx/s1600/IMG_2189.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">10,000 women learning and worshiping together with Beth Moore.</td></tr>
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It wasn't the answers I was looking for. It wasn't a detailed map of my future. But it WAS a clear message that told me He was still with me and he was listening to me. It was <i>exactly</i> what I needed. It gave me the strength to put aside my own personal struggles for the next three days as I helped my friend and her family through the terrible loss they had suffered. </div>
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Now we are at January 2014 and the post I reference at the beginning. See why I was ready for that year to be over? And why I was clinging to the hope of a better year? It was all I had!</div>
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It was an extremely hard year and I swear on my life that Jesus is the only one that got me through it. It had been almost a decade since I had been in a place of complete dependence on Him. And that is not an easy place to go back to. </div>
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Hopefully this isn't too dismal and "Debbie-downer" for anyone reading this. If it is, then your life must be pretty awesome to not have trials that truly test who you are as a person and a Christian. </div>
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I decided to break this into a two-part blog post since there is so much to get through. I pray that if you are struggling through a rough time in life, these posts might give you some hope to hold on to for tomorrow. It took me a year and a half to be able to write down that I had a miscarriage...but I finally did it. And tomorrow's post will probably be harder to write. But I want people to know they are not alone, and if anything, tell just one person that Jesus is there for you. </div>
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I hope you'll come back for "the rest of the story."<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06896366926667139866noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-587154237720073068.post-75823784555915067182014-10-02T16:47:00.000-07:002014-10-02T16:47:19.892-07:00Flying Solo<div style="text-align: center;">
Have you ever let your fear of something control you? No matter how small?</div>
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For example, I have always wanted to get a pixie haircut. They always look so cute on everyone I see. But I have yet to do it because I'm afraid I'm the one it will look terrible on.</div>
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Obviously, that is a very small fear. And not a big deal. As humans, it's our nature to doubt, question, and be afraid of things that are unknown because that's what a sinful world looks like. But as a Christian, we have a rock that we can stand on and break those fears down. Whether as small as getting a haircut or as big as moving your family across the country, Jesus is and always will be our strength. Says so right here:</div>
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<i>"The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song." Psalm 28:7</i></div>
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Today the fear that is messing with me is that in two days I'm trying something for the first time alone.<i> </i>And all I can do is think about all the things that could go wrong.</div>
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2 days and counting. </div>
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I have 2 more days until I fly solo for the first time at a vendor fair.</div>
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Last year, I shared my experience with being a vendor at my first vendor fair in <a href="http://everythingevieblog.blogspot.com/2013/10/just-girl-and-card-table.html" target="_blank">Just a Girl and a Card Table</a>, merely months after learning how to crochet in the first place. </div>
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It really was a great experience that was largely due to the amazing people that helped me out in many ways. </div>
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This summer, I was having fun making all kinds of new things: blankets, baby items, coffee cozies. You would be amazed at the things you can make by crocheting. Seriously.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLcmK2PQPhfbtBYf2PB10X_hJkFGLnMuhVQbbDZ4d4XIAOtcUFrkruxEqZacdJUt3-s9f2HZTUbNadZu19hMm4m8dq6XQukSdJcphHXF-_F-eyjH296juUSW0v4WTZvakv31i6ZQPG7B1E/s1600/IMG_6301.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLcmK2PQPhfbtBYf2PB10X_hJkFGLnMuhVQbbDZ4d4XIAOtcUFrkruxEqZacdJUt3-s9f2HZTUbNadZu19hMm4m8dq6XQukSdJcphHXF-_F-eyjH296juUSW0v4WTZvakv31i6ZQPG7B1E/s1600/IMG_6301.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All the fun baby things I made this summer. So...much....cuteness....</td></tr>
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I knew that Spoon River Drive was coming, but I was scared of doing it alone so I just pushed it out of my mind. For quite a while, I used the excuse of not wanting to spend the money on it. But in reality, I was just super nervous to do it alone. </div>
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I would have to get my own tent (which I don't have), tables (which I don't have), displays (which I don't have)....do you see a pattern here? I pretty much am still the Girl with a Card Table, just different merchandise this time. </div>
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And all the doubts came flooding in. What if no one buys anything? What if I spend the money to do it and don't make it back? What if I look like a silly little girl with a card table???<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH9M7z4As5sLw3C1gzj4RMfpWQ3Slh54qUyB58LHP4JZfBMNwlpjWxmpmErSu6vA3qrGhfjEoUwKy0TKXoz78aRi83FE9wVdGgSms2ZDaUhZNJFuJTmNoOJMPUj5AeQzhXZPZJkgBQuOwV/s1600/IMG_6300.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH9M7z4As5sLw3C1gzj4RMfpWQ3Slh54qUyB58LHP4JZfBMNwlpjWxmpmErSu6vA3qrGhfjEoUwKy0TKXoz78aRi83FE9wVdGgSms2ZDaUhZNJFuJTmNoOJMPUj5AeQzhXZPZJkgBQuOwV/s1600/IMG_6300.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of my half done projects that have been laying around for a while....</td></tr>
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Finally, push came to shove and I decided to suck it up and do it. </div>
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That was three-ish weeks ago.</div>
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Slowly, things have fallen into place. Once again, my amazing friends come to the rescue. My friend, Heather, is lending me her canopy. I'm going to borrow tables from my church. My mom and husband found some display stuff at their jobs that I can borrow. And then I went to Dollar Tree and just had to get creative. </div>
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In the meantime, I have been crocheting my fingers to little nubs. I'm probably going to end up with arthritis or carpal tunnel...but hey, no pain no gain, right???<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7hcjdu3M1cvEq_CP4eL8JH-7WT4hfFtVOokQ81gmkgfLqQ-5T9s3EvCLdloBQ6x82wsDynMydqHk2KIvCNJFbLUwjhYZjZTYvZm0gqVYgK9uE38k6AB_tTf-SGaqHApcqfN0ioh3tcUQ0/s1600/IMG_6296.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7hcjdu3M1cvEq_CP4eL8JH-7WT4hfFtVOokQ81gmkgfLqQ-5T9s3EvCLdloBQ6x82wsDynMydqHk2KIvCNJFbLUwjhYZjZTYvZm0gqVYgK9uE38k6AB_tTf-SGaqHApcqfN0ioh3tcUQ0/s1600/IMG_6296.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I had to lay everything out on my bed today, to try and collect my sanity.</td></tr>
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For the last couple weeks, I have been very excited about this. My mom is going to come hang with me (and help with the kids) both weekends and my sister (ex-in-law....? "Sister" is all that matters) is going to come up and help out one day, too. </div>
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But I have to admit, with it being two days away...the doubts are rearing their ugly heads. What if it downpours like last year and everything gets wet? What if the wind blows the canopy over and all the stuff off the table? What if....what if no one likes my stuff???</div>
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What if??</div>
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Thankfully, I believe in Jesus. And it's moments like these, when my brain is bring ridiculous and worrisome over trivial things, that I turn to Him.</div>
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"<i>Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of it's own." Matthew 6:34</i></div>
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<i>"For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you." Isaiah 41:13</i></div>
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<i>"Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed." Proverbs 16:3</i></div>
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Good grief, I'm ridiculous.</div>
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After all the things that I have been through in the last year and half of my life...I'm going to spend my time worrying about the weather? And if people will like my things? </div>
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Time to put my big girl pants on, take hold of my God's steady hand, and commit this weekend and next to Him.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_bgRlBBwLUTAC7Pw3x6liAJBtNW8CTqiYR77FW4aSTnfNURcSpDfnLOMnmAZFgcEp6yhLB1sL-jD8ecsaTLO_dkdievZNCgzWqpWm4yiTzQjxHj4mVEjs8HfOm5XEKFVml4Mo3Eo9L5fu/s1600/IMG_6295.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_bgRlBBwLUTAC7Pw3x6liAJBtNW8CTqiYR77FW4aSTnfNURcSpDfnLOMnmAZFgcEp6yhLB1sL-jD8ecsaTLO_dkdievZNCgzWqpWm4yiTzQjxHj4mVEjs8HfOm5XEKFVml4Mo3Eo9L5fu/s1600/IMG_6295.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All packed up and ready to go. We'll see what happens!</td></tr>
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If it rains? Oh well. If the tent blows over? I'll just pray it doesn't break because it's not mine. And if I sit there for four days and no one buys a thing? Then so be it. I'll make different stuff next time.</div>
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God has given me a gift in the ability to crochet and the fact that I enjoy it so. It may not be a gift that is going to win over hearts for the Lord, but it's a gift nonetheless and I'm not going to let fear stop me from using it. </div>
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So today I will take a deep breath, switch a load of laundry, and get back to work organizing the chaos that is my living room right now. I will make what I can make, and just trust that it will be good enough. And instead of concentrating on all the things that could go wrong, I'm going to focus on all the things that could go right. Like having a lot of fun! Oh, and definitely getting to eat the BBQ Pork Nachos from Hickr'y Stick. And maybe a lemonade shake-up. </div>
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Wish me luck! I look forward to giving you an account of this year's experience!</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06896366926667139866noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-587154237720073068.post-75958465811042593142014-09-30T08:41:00.000-07:002014-09-30T08:41:07.460-07:00Oven-roasted Sausage and Potatoes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijwiLgNMQsjWHg95M-lFxd2wh0Zkc7fwHKJ3JGMNzUpFOg7a0uGd4nuzTS3Z5hg5FNaAayMgguniK3FhM-TFB4I32CVrH4Txb3pMJta7I9HgbqwMVtbDjUPyOmQdWbTP_kQ6BC6M33J-H6/s1600/15287621232_c76c8b3454.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijwiLgNMQsjWHg95M-lFxd2wh0Zkc7fwHKJ3JGMNzUpFOg7a0uGd4nuzTS3Z5hg5FNaAayMgguniK3FhM-TFB4I32CVrH4Txb3pMJta7I9HgbqwMVtbDjUPyOmQdWbTP_kQ6BC6M33J-H6/s1600/15287621232_c76c8b3454.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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Ok, Sausage Fans. </div>
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Here it is. The recipe. </div>
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I would love to start this post off with how the weather is cooling off and it's starting to feel like fall. How I have my fall decorations out and the fall-scented candles burning. How I've made pumpkin dip and homemade applesauce from our trip to the orchard....</div>
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HOWEVER.....it's kind of hard to do when you live in the Midwest and it's 84 degrees on September 29! I had the AIR on yesterday! WHAT?!?</div>
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I digress. </div>
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I posted a picture of this recipe on my Facebook page when I made it for the first time. I had many people contact me about the recipe and comment on how good it looked. </div>
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I would say this is one of the most popular recipes I've found so far.</div>
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Right behind the <a href="http://everythingevieblog.blogspot.com/2013/10/fiesta-salad.html" target="_blank">Fiesta Salad</a>.</div>
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My husband has been home for almost two months now and I have slowly gotten back into the swing of cooking throughout the week. Maybe just a night or two of noodles and cheese or frozen pizza. However, I have caught a break to some degree. Now that harvest has started, my husband doesn't come home until later, so I don't feel quite as much pressure to whip up a fabulous dinner. </div>
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In all honesty, Chad is not hard to please. I think I could make grilled cheese and he'd still love it. He's very good at complimenting my cooking. I've trained him well...</div>
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This meal is extremely filling and equally delicious. I have made it twice now, the second time because my husband specifically requested it. The kids love it. I love it. </div>
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Win for Mom!</div>
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The other nice thing about this recipe is that it's easy to throw together and easy to clean up.</div>
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Ok, let's do this. </div>
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Here's what you need: </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWGWBiAGY4UPWkCKOVJdCsJrb3L3dh1uyzv77EysZUNFyGggoblhWHRvb_xeb7c19UY_6mMLyjGHsEJPCeorM0CkG3jNLXj0BZUUho1D5S820BXkCx8lzqGSV5T1smHPvmJvgAIoBOHiwg/s1600/IMG_6285.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWGWBiAGY4UPWkCKOVJdCsJrb3L3dh1uyzv77EysZUNFyGggoblhWHRvb_xeb7c19UY_6mMLyjGHsEJPCeorM0CkG3jNLXj0BZUUho1D5S820BXkCx8lzqGSV5T1smHPvmJvgAIoBOHiwg/s1600/IMG_6285.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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Sausage - any kind (I use kielbasa - you can get it at Aldi!), potatoes (we like red, but you can use any kind), sweet peppers, onion, banana peppers, olive oil, rosemary, and creole seasoning.</div>
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First preheat your oven to 400 degrees. Line a large cookie sheet with tin foil and make sure the cookie sheet has a decent sized lip on it. (This helps with the easy clean-up.)</div>
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Time to slice and dice. <br />Slice the sausage into bite-sized slices. You can do it the fancy way (using a "bias"cut - or a diagonal cut) or just slice it. Either way, it all tastes the same and looks the same coming out. (ha!)</div>
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Then cut your potatoes into 1/2" chunks. I leave the skin on. </div>
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Next, slice up the onion and peppers into long skinny strips. </div>
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Nicely done. Moving on. </div>
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Place all the ingredients on the cookie sheet. Drizzle the olive oil over them and then use your hands to toss them and get everything nicely coated. Come on! Time to get your hands dirty People</div>
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Next, sprinkle some salt and pepper and the spices (if you choose to use them) and then place the slices of banana peppers on top.</div>
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It's...so...*sniff*...pretty.</div>
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Time to pop that sucker in the oven and bake for about 30 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender. </div>
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I feel like Homer Simpson looking at a donut...</div>
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So the first time I made this, I used the foil. The second time I forgot and just sprayed the sheet. I HIGHLY recommend using the foil. It makes clean-up much easier and I felt like the potatoes cooked better. They didn't get as burnt around the edges using the foil.</div>
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I also chose to use the seasoning. The first time...waaaaaaay too much rosemary. Ack. So I backed off a little with that the second time. And as for the creole seasoning....well, if you are anything like you are saying "What the heck is that?". I had to google it. It's basically just a mish-mosh of a bunch of different seasonings that you can use on pretty much anything: meat, potatoes, vegetables, soups, etc. </div>
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Like many things, you can buy it or make it yourself. I just made it because that was easier and here is the recipe I used - <a href="http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Creole-Seasoning-Blend/" target="_blank">Creole Seasoning</a>.</div>
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P.S. this recipe makes A LOT of seasoning, so make some room in your spice cabinet...or maybe cut the recipe in half. In retrospect...I wish I had done that. </div>
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Well, there it is. One of the best dinners I have come across to date. I hope you all enjoy it as much as my family does. </div>
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And feel free to get creative! Try different seasonings or vegetables and let me know if you find another great combination!</div>
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<u><span style="font-size: x-large;">Oven Roasted Sausage and Potatoes</span></u></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Original Recipe from <a href="http://www.piarecipes.com/2014/02/oven-roasted-sausages-potatoes-and.html" target="_blank">Piarecipes.com</a></span></div>
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<ul>
<li>1 bell pepper - sliced</li>
<li>1lb package of sausage - whatever kind you prefer</li>
<li>4-5 potatoes - whatever kind you prefer</li>
<li>3 tbsp olive oil</li>
<li>1 small jar banana peppers</li>
<li>1/2-1 onion, sliced</li>
<li>salt & pepper</li>
<li>2 tsp dried rosemary (optional)</li>
<li>1 tsp creole seasoning (optional) </li>
</ul>
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. <br />
Line large cookie sheet with tin foil. Make sure to use a sheet with a "lip".<br />
Slice sausage into thin slices.<br />
Cut potatoes into 1/2" chunks.<br />
Slice peppers and onion into long strips.<br />
Place all ingredients on cookie sheet and drizzle with olive oil. Toss with your hands to coat everything.<br />
Add salt and pepper and seasoning, if you are using it.<br />
Place banana peppers on top.<br />
Bake at 400 degrees for 30 minutes or until potatoes are tender. <br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06896366926667139866noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-587154237720073068.post-66233084253574640552014-08-28T14:23:00.000-07:002014-08-28T14:23:14.473-07:00Recipe Roundup #1: Spaghetti Sauce, Cucumbers and Onions, and Zuchinni Bake<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUUhaHGmFPpx62IPljCs4N-W-Lf_eAqZW9Io76BCGsLYgsJ7AdhUf_Ex2EJZOETgtdGuzCdwYjD5l1W7Av2tWMPHho7w-JUHPqxttV6NzeZWQOWFrZuOOvIiE1NNEHrL8DzOdg5pL1Tk8k/s1600/15062166862_6aa07aa895.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUUhaHGmFPpx62IPljCs4N-W-Lf_eAqZW9Io76BCGsLYgsJ7AdhUf_Ex2EJZOETgtdGuzCdwYjD5l1W7Av2tWMPHho7w-JUHPqxttV6NzeZWQOWFrZuOOvIiE1NNEHrL8DzOdg5pL1Tk8k/s1600/15062166862_6aa07aa895.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
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Over the last few weeks, I've been blessed by several friends giving me produce from their gardens. At one point I had zucchini, squash, red onions, tomatoes, green beans, corn, and blueberries. I decided to freeze the blueberries for later, but all the rest I found some recipes for.</div>
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So this post is a roundup of a few of the recipes I found to use up the veggies. I didn't alter any of them in any way so I thought it would be fun to just put them all in one place and add links to the original recipe. This way, I can still add in my experiences with making all of this. </div>
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Ready? Here we go.</div>
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<u><span style="font-size: large;"><b>1. Crock-pot Spaghetti Sauce</b></span></u></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Original Recipe: <a href="http://iowagirleats.com/2012/08/22/crock-pot-spaghetti-sauce-with-omg-garlic-bread/" target="_blank">Iowa Girl Eats</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"> </span><u><span style="font-size: large;"><b> </b></span></u></div>
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This sauce is pretty darn amazing.</div>
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Iowa Girl got it right!</div>
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The only thing required outside of the crock pot is to brown ground hamburger (or turkey).</div>
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When I made this, I chopped up my onion and cooked it with the meat. Our family can handle onions if they are cooked. The only other thing I did differently than Iowa Girl is I did not use a can of crushed tomatoes. I had a TON of fresh ones, so I chopped those up in to decent sized chunks and threw them in the crock pot. I still used the tomato sauce and paste, but I think the fresh tomatoes gave it a fresher taste. I wish I could tell you how many tomatoes I used...but I just eyeballed it.</div>
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After browning the meat and onion, you throw everything in the crock pot and let it cook on low.</div>
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So easy!</div>
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My crock pot cooks fast, so I cooked it on low for 3-4 hours. The first time I made this, I made it as written. It made about half a crock pot, which was perfect for one meal. So the second time I made it, I doubled the recipe, which filled the crock pot, and then I split it into two freezer bags. I laid the bags flat on a cookie sheet and placed them in our deep freeze. Now I have two batches of sauce that just need to thaw for a spaghetti dinner.</div>
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This sauce truly is delicious. The meat literally melts in your mouth and the flavor is full and wonderful. My favorite part is probably the added butter. Who would have thought of that? I think it just adds a little something to it. If you freeze the sauce, don't add the butter yet. Add it when you are reheating the sauce in a sauce pan to be used for dinner. </div>
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Great sauce and great freezer meal!</div>
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<u><b><span style="font-size: large;">2. Cucumbers and Onions</span></b></u></div>
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Original Recipe: ??????</div>
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So, apparently this has been around for ages. But I was not a cucumber, nor an onion fan, as a child. In fact, I'm still working on it as an adult. I don't mind onions (cooked), but I'm still not a huge fan of cucumbers. </div>
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We've been spending a lot of time at our friend's farm this summer, and I've been introduced to good old farm cookin'. I love how she just throws it all together out of thin air. So every time we've had dinner at the farm, I've been taking mental notes.</div>
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This recipe is something she ALWAYS has in the fridge, and when I found out my husband loved it, I decided to give it a try. It's pretty easy and I'll admit, it's pretty tasty, too. (I even ate the onions! Look Ma, I'm all growed up!)</div>
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All it is is cucumbers and onions in a vinegar-sugar-water mixture. </div>
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That's it!</div>
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I'm sure the majority of you are reading this thinking "duh!". But I didn't know about it, so I was excited and I wanted to share it for anyone else that is sheltered like myself. </div>
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To make it you mix equal parts vinegar, sugar and water. </div>
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So if you use 1 cup of vinegar, then you use 1 cup of water and 1 cup of sugar.</div>
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(Now, I never said this was a healthy recipe!) </div>
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You can eat it right away, but it's better to let them sit in the mixture for a few hours in the fridge so they can absorb the flavors and get nice and cold.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u><b>3. Sour Cream Cucumbers</b></u><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Original Recipe: <a href="http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/sour-cream-cucumbers?keycode=ZPIN0814" target="_blank">Taste of Home</a> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Another quick cucumber and onion recipe if you are tired of the one above or, like me, just have a crap-ton of cucumbers to use up.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"> It's very similar, but uses sour cream. In all honesty, I like the vinegar-sugar-water mixture better, but this one is still good. I wanted to share because everyone's palettes are different and some of you may really like this!</span></span></div>
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All you have to do for this recipe is whisk together the ingredients: sour cream, vinegar, sugar, and pepper. Then toss the cucumbers and onions in the mixture and refrigerate for four hours. </div>
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I will say this, these didn't make the BEST leftovers, so this might be a good recipe for a church picnic or family cookout.</div>
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On Pinterest, I saw a similar recipe to this one, but it uses dill. I LOVE dill, so I think I will give that one a try, too. I'll let you know if it's any good!</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u><b>4. Zucchini-Squash Bake</b></u></span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Original Recipe: <a href="http://www.kalynskitchen.com/2011/07/recipe-for-easy-cheesy-zucchini-bake.html" target="_blank">Kalyn's Kitchen</a> </span></div>
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I had zucchini coming out my EARS. My friend was giving some away, and she stood on my porch and handed me a zucchini that was, I'm not kidding, <i>bigger than my cat.</i> </div>
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This was the perfect recipe to use up some of that zucchini. That one...gigantic...zucchini.</div>
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<br />My husband was gone for work for about 10 months. The day he moved back home, I made a completely homemade-from-scratch dinner just for him. (No, I'm not bragging...this was the first time I cooked in....well, 10 months.)</div>
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I used the spaghetti sauce I shared above, made some homemade bread sticks (another farm recipe!), and found this zucchini bake to put with it. </div>
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I was in such a tizzy trying to throw all of this homemade stuff together and time it for right when he got home, I didn't even think it take pictures of anything...until we sat down to eat. So the only picture I have of the bake is on my plate. And it didn't stay there long. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDUetpWTdjmxUsfS57ZFVQxIB8R_i2ja_inyK0Z8hhgTlLcieNLb7DH9Jx2akBTydGbiB29S0kRn7hbU05Elou5-h09myBRUsZvHOOoAkK1f2ac2Hee0__FSHv5q_hk_Bioq9N0OqmcLXL/s1600/IMG_4324.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDUetpWTdjmxUsfS57ZFVQxIB8R_i2ja_inyK0Z8hhgTlLcieNLb7DH9Jx2akBTydGbiB29S0kRn7hbU05Elou5-h09myBRUsZvHOOoAkK1f2ac2Hee0__FSHv5q_hk_Bioq9N0OqmcLXL/s1600/IMG_4324.JPG" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
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I'm hungry just looking at this. He's been home a month now....I'm think it's time for round two. </div>
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I'll share the breadstick recipe another day. Homemade, easy, and they almost taste like Olive Garden's breadsticks!</div>
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Mmmmmm breadsticks.....</div>
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Focus, Evie.</div>
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For this recipe you need the veggies, some olive oil, basil (fresh or dried), thyme, garlic powder, and cheese. You can also throw in green onions if you like. I didn't have any in the fridge so I didn't use them, but I would definitely like to try it next time. </div>
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Toss the veggies in the olive oil and spice mixture, spread in a greased baking dish, and bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 min. Sprinkle cheese on top and bake for another 10 minutes to melt the cheese.</div>
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It went great with the spaghetti dinner and it made pretty good leftovers the next night. The webpage also has a printer friendly version, so it's really simple to print the recipe for your collection.</div>
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Well, that's it for now! I hope you like some of these! I made a few other recipes, but they either needed some modification or they were just so good they deserve their own post. So you'll see those pop up eventually. </div>
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I've had a lot of fun find recipes to use up all these fresh veggies. Enough so that I plan to try a garden out next year. (This is big deal people. Green-thumb is NOT my middle name.)</div>
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Wish me luck! </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06896366926667139866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-587154237720073068.post-61074025771419704342014-08-21T17:41:00.000-07:002014-08-21T18:27:52.183-07:00DIY Front Porch Facelift<div style="text-align: center;">
For the last year, I thought we were moving. So all of my long-term dreams for my house were put on hold. </div>
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*sigh*</div>
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BUT...</div>
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Three weeks ago my husband moved back home! And now that we are NOT moving (happy dance!), it took all of but 48 hours to start a project. As I was posting pictures of my painting projects on Instagram, my friend <a href="http://www.moreygirl.com/" target="_blank">Heather</a> teased me saying "Chad is home and it's PAINT ALL THE THINGS?!?"</div>
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Um, Heck yeah!</div>
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I finally painted my laundry room...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitUUL7ijPmpJxDNByXyCYAMYVB25Af1qnChaj0y1OYqepM6Y97Y8dRAzYWZwxaJPwtzy4Df-bbnqSSZ2bU8XmrPoKDkn6x9TbE4PJ6qZ2hxHkz8zjPujevjmkfB2f1OKFibc6JNfoIml95/s1600/IMG_4349.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitUUL7ijPmpJxDNByXyCYAMYVB25Af1qnChaj0y1OYqepM6Y97Y8dRAzYWZwxaJPwtzy4Df-bbnqSSZ2bU8XmrPoKDkn6x9TbE4PJ6qZ2hxHkz8zjPujevjmkfB2f1OKFibc6JNfoIml95/s1600/IMG_4349.JPG" height="640" width="480" /> </a></div>
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....painted my front door...</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAonxL03ZT78M0VgU-Grs-Xm_uvTUGq3WcBtWFdZssJUe63KHUSjDji8sPID0qtsGBG1fHL8jRHj6kH13mrXsEE2_pBdUdgv1ZsBx0I7Di6BZrmitMZu1fR_YjkFUX79JaQWLZQWAztBag/s1600/10598652_298080733698132_246613663_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAonxL03ZT78M0VgU-Grs-Xm_uvTUGq3WcBtWFdZssJUe63KHUSjDji8sPID0qtsGBG1fHL8jRHj6kH13mrXsEE2_pBdUdgv1ZsBx0I7Di6BZrmitMZu1fR_YjkFUX79JaQWLZQWAztBag/s1600/10598652_298080733698132_246613663_s.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sorry for the picture quality, I had to steal this off of my Instagram.</td></tr>
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.....gave a couple things in my kitchen a spray paint face lift...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCLC7hYBMxzKKmrsHAXT8htv6V7g5oXP-0eAPYNz7JDn91CpL5tjRB6qRg8gk54CT4oBc3XkYsjCBpGPXhur6z327Rzw-gBWRPfC4nCiau0E0gwnCZ1yvy9AdDh_93DoUJOmA5ynOe2qh5/s1600/IMG_4394.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCLC7hYBMxzKKmrsHAXT8htv6V7g5oXP-0eAPYNz7JDn91CpL5tjRB6qRg8gk54CT4oBc3XkYsjCBpGPXhur6z327Rzw-gBWRPfC4nCiau0E0gwnCZ1yvy9AdDh_93DoUJOmA5ynOe2qh5/s1600/IMG_4394.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsQ7vte_QnkCOMdjzJn61kif1BMUmgCKC30h5faqpfNUgY_FQxRbEe31ppfGq8Z_nq91m8Y6bETxN1uXK6vnY3yeL2qikh0KEAD2E2zJMhidYiBfW7kWtTg5V01UDWjlw3y38VcBxqIaAL/s1600/IMG_4396.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsQ7vte_QnkCOMdjzJn61kif1BMUmgCKC30h5faqpfNUgY_FQxRbEe31ppfGq8Z_nq91m8Y6bETxN1uXK6vnY3yeL2qikh0KEAD2E2zJMhidYiBfW7kWtTg5V01UDWjlw3y38VcBxqIaAL/s1600/IMG_4396.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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....and last but not least, I finally finished the front porch.</div>
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Last spring I was sick and tired of my ugly front porch. It's a three-seasons porch that had dark green indoor/outdoor carpet and dark wood paneling. </div>
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It had to go.</div>
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I didn't get great "before" pictures because I wasn't really thinking about it. I was too excited to get started to think about making a nice looking blog post. So here are some of the ones I did get before and during the transformation.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgF5UqP8hD65Q4l21na8HzunvaP0g-0cxjEIRWOOe8usfoks3eGQKPQGoyWC9cF1811sdzZXcX6wTdLlGnQcQoPa0MtUHaBOmHFeDvLlbjVuCQ6eIxwtbhDl2n5vDVHj7GvifvU466WK3I/s1600/IMG_5344.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgF5UqP8hD65Q4l21na8HzunvaP0g-0cxjEIRWOOe8usfoks3eGQKPQGoyWC9cF1811sdzZXcX6wTdLlGnQcQoPa0MtUHaBOmHFeDvLlbjVuCQ6eIxwtbhDl2n5vDVHj7GvifvU466WK3I/s1600/IMG_5344.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">See? Dark paneling. Blech. And a bulky shelf/coat hanger because we have no coat closet. Oh the joys of a 100-year-old house. :D</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNuOySNrdTorvdWo2DgMly8_hTEvLnOGfcarVeqmm_DhAgFC4Zj_UtPaPW-0VUlM7AEw_OUKZMTmybo4iWXsv9jwTTpxqSMm3k88KynzzMcf4cahsp9RfiPvknIQauxO9FA-h_lq7hq9oK/s1600/IMG_5342.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNuOySNrdTorvdWo2DgMly8_hTEvLnOGfcarVeqmm_DhAgFC4Zj_UtPaPW-0VUlM7AEw_OUKZMTmybo4iWXsv9jwTTpxqSMm3k88KynzzMcf4cahsp9RfiPvknIQauxO9FA-h_lq7hq9oK/s1600/IMG_5342.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is obviously when I started priming.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM74JufXX2l7oEDxBeGsIFGyFiixmbwyIaxkLExgy6y8bM3rup0lUlglfwT1xzD6ILhHlgKsO4BYIBMyfexAMSo4gYtunfj9oh5Jn4fYRI7kg0PO29U-0VuOE6sH9lsSxmqJaeq1KKGBWt/s1600/IMG_5343.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM74JufXX2l7oEDxBeGsIFGyFiixmbwyIaxkLExgy6y8bM3rup0lUlglfwT1xzD6ILhHlgKsO4BYIBMyfexAMSo4gYtunfj9oh5Jn4fYRI7kg0PO29U-0VuOE6sH9lsSxmqJaeq1KKGBWt/s1600/IMG_5343.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is a dark photo, but it gets the point across. DARK. Dark and depressing. No thanks!</td></tr>
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Once I got all the walls AND trim primed with two coats, I had Chad rip up the carpet. (JOY!!)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvCHfM-cWthV9oRNz4wLUc6ZEarcmLnSRAKz1xdNAXZAf_IaQ9Ypmr4C3_PAX8kRHLK_VICcq0n-ptcpbo2aYlPqhi_QGx2eqQrqys7Wu5ejo5Zglx99qmpQ6jLkKTg6HISiEmJW9W5j1a/s1600/IMG_1400.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvCHfM-cWthV9oRNz4wLUc6ZEarcmLnSRAKz1xdNAXZAf_IaQ9Ypmr4C3_PAX8kRHLK_VICcq0n-ptcpbo2aYlPqhi_QGx2eqQrqys7Wu5ejo5Zglx99qmpQ6jLkKTg6HISiEmJW9W5j1a/s1600/IMG_1400.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRMtBVeSyx3L9xBXIB1MGq3S8z_XpuD88zs2wtSEfhWIxkSElwWnDngyfryJ8leKokXoJKzmPZjZJYoCKFohvzMWhYixkAgBkUKOQ3oY5m4YOrz8ZqRB1ToOQWxHja6L5t70ddZFYtBT9y/s1600/IMG_5346.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRMtBVeSyx3L9xBXIB1MGq3S8z_XpuD88zs2wtSEfhWIxkSElwWnDngyfryJ8leKokXoJKzmPZjZJYoCKFohvzMWhYixkAgBkUKOQ3oY5m4YOrz8ZqRB1ToOQWxHja6L5t70ddZFYtBT9y/s1600/IMG_5346.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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Carpet is gone and in the trash! Let the mama rejoice!</div>
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On to painting. After two coats of primer, I moved on to two coats of paint. White for the trim and a yellow called "Nectar" for the walls. Painting over dark paneled walls...not my favorite task.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhPLJdXHbiBL1f3MNUAL4z8AAuJM8qEuK4Wc4GJ4aB5RZz1lmZnLXEFWtx2I8uzGdpjFfe6EOMArZVOvKOBuNhKenXjLV72iB1qehfsWGzqE7dZ0hoaJQ8hTg4BoLL0tGFxB3_bBraIabg/s1600/IMG_1653.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhPLJdXHbiBL1f3MNUAL4z8AAuJM8qEuK4Wc4GJ4aB5RZz1lmZnLXEFWtx2I8uzGdpjFfe6EOMArZVOvKOBuNhKenXjLV72iB1qehfsWGzqE7dZ0hoaJQ8hTg4BoLL0tGFxB3_bBraIabg/s1600/IMG_1653.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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I picked the yellow based off of my navy blue front door. The outside of our house is painted blue with white and navy blue as accent colors, so I wanted to keep the blue door. And while we are a Coastie family, I don't have any nautical decorations in my house. But I do like the yellow and navy combo so I went with it. </div>
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Yellow is a tricky color in my opinion. You have to get just the <i>right </i>yellow. Too pale and it washes out, too bright and people have to get out their sunglasses. Well, boy did I find it! In case you didn't notice by the pictures above, this Nectar yellow is my new color crush. I used it in the laundry room and the inside of my front door. I'm in love!</div>
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Look at how pretty! So sunny and happy!</div>
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The last major step was putting in the floor. We got really lucky (as far as our checkbook goes) because around the same time we were doing this, my in-laws were remodeling their kitchen. So they graciously gave us the flooring from their kitchen. It was still in good shape and was almost exactly the amount we needed. Win! </div>
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Now that the hard part is done...time for a little trip to Pier One aaaaand...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfnjv5YkgeoJC8c6Gdh-6XBd8TkJWpX9ehzYNwIaInnWKet4qm3cYns3aQq6eLDlmg6xJwbDNCnd4cPI4v8IKFrlngnU4LXDjdJe5DYyYuRKK1RvGpcxf4nZNaWqFN9L9IXMphswjz5n5V/s1600/IMG_1730.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfnjv5YkgeoJC8c6Gdh-6XBd8TkJWpX9ehzYNwIaInnWKet4qm3cYns3aQq6eLDlmg6xJwbDNCnd4cPI4v8IKFrlngnU4LXDjdJe5DYyYuRKK1RvGpcxf4nZNaWqFN9L9IXMphswjz5n5V/s1600/IMG_1730.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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BA-BAM. Summer sale at it's finest. </div>
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This porch facelift turned out to be a huge blessing-in-disguise because just two short weeks after the it was finished, we endured a hardship. This porch became my "happy place". I sat here many days that summer trying to make peace with what we were going through and teaching myself to crochet. To this day, it is my go-to place for my morning coffee and devotional - minus the winter months of course. It is just such a warm and happy room now.</div>
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I had more plans for this space, but once the For Sale sign went in the yard I crossed those plans off. </div>
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However...as you know, we did NOT move...so onward!</div>
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Both my girls will be in school this year and then we have a couple friends coming over after school as well, so I knew I needed to have a space for them to put all of their coats, backpacks and shoes. </div>
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Oh, a Pinteresting we will go... </div>
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I found lots of options via Pinterest but I finally settled on making a coat rack wall. </div>
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Remember this wall?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNuOySNrdTorvdWo2DgMly8_hTEvLnOGfcarVeqmm_DhAgFC4Zj_UtPaPW-0VUlM7AEw_OUKZMTmybo4iWXsv9jwTTpxqSMm3k88KynzzMcf4cahsp9RfiPvknIQauxO9FA-h_lq7hq9oK/s1600/IMG_5342.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNuOySNrdTorvdWo2DgMly8_hTEvLnOGfcarVeqmm_DhAgFC4Zj_UtPaPW-0VUlM7AEw_OUKZMTmybo4iWXsv9jwTTpxqSMm3k88KynzzMcf4cahsp9RfiPvknIQauxO9FA-h_lq7hq9oK/s1600/IMG_5342.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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Puuuuuuurfect. </div>
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Some measuring, planning, and a trip to Menards later...my wall was going up.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_iHth_I8MZxyIa3vbzAiMOzqQdkOr7dU9EXvbcCAMPBtGk1As24f2Ob-2cuzA4Sghft1xQO5GlbZvFP5ABkFBW0dTJwbq4S-OHkby_Kk4mg69ZURCROpfkxv_m433D-1lswq6EGuAr8cN/s1600/IMG_4385.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_iHth_I8MZxyIa3vbzAiMOzqQdkOr7dU9EXvbcCAMPBtGk1As24f2Ob-2cuzA4Sghft1xQO5GlbZvFP5ABkFBW0dTJwbq4S-OHkby_Kk4mg69ZURCROpfkxv_m433D-1lswq6EGuAr8cN/s1600/IMG_4385.JPG" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
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Have I ever mentioned that I love having a hubby that can do stuff like this??? I asked him to build me a wall...and he did. He is so cool!</div>
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Here it is with all the wood up.</div>
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I bought some coat hooks and planned to stagger them. I had him put a shelf up top, too, for decorations and/or lost items.</div>
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I also decided it would help the chaos if I designated each space for each child. We had some leftover wood so I found an easy way to make a wood sign without needing a Cricut or Silhouette machine (cuz those are too rich for my blood). I made a little sign with each child's name and placed it on their spot. I actually have a project started (yes, another one) using this method and when that is done, I'll post it on here. </div>
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Ready? Here's the finished product!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2fJLFGRhTUyZXbYyx3O2crdJMfumsEDRh-g6pL-oq7JXVhXkBiZxhRb5Pe1sRGVMzUof4FfgiLzMsfxqqpEov-0ajHVSvtH9yZlyAGhru93AKGxXe7jj42-HO-6PdapeQw3IP0unkMsdQ/s1600/IMG_4470.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2fJLFGRhTUyZXbYyx3O2crdJMfumsEDRh-g6pL-oq7JXVhXkBiZxhRb5Pe1sRGVMzUof4FfgiLzMsfxqqpEov-0ajHVSvtH9yZlyAGhru93AKGxXe7jj42-HO-6PdapeQw3IP0unkMsdQ/s1600/IMG_4470.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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What do you think?? </div>
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I'm totally in love! No more backpacks on the floor, shoes being thrown around, or lunchboxes getting lost. I'm still toying with the thought of putting a bench or two for the kids to sit on, but I might just buy a couple shoe rugs instead. I'll wait until the messy weather comes to make that decision.<br />
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As for my decorations, I got lucky there, too. Basically, I wandered around my house and found things that had no home and put them up there.<br />
The wire baskets were used by my mom for the girls' Easter baskets this year. I put my gardening stuff in one and the other is empty for any future lost gloves or hats.<br />
The "It Is Well" sign is one that I found at Hobby Lobby (With the 40% off coupon!) a few months ago. I bought it thinking it would go up in a rental house somewhere but had yet to find a home for it in this house.<br />
The lanterns were a clearance purchase from Michael's last summer. I originally had them on the windowsills on the porch.<br />
The "M" was made by Jilly a couple years ago at daycare and used to hang on the door.<br />
And then I just grabbed some random candles sitting around my house. It all got thrown together in a day, but I think it turned out pretty cute, and now all those things have a home!</div>
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The best part about all of this, from beginning to end, is that it didn't cost a ton of money. It was the cost of a few cans of paint, some wood, coat hooks, and my decorative stuff. Of course, we were lucky and didn't have the cost of the flooring, but we were prepared to pay for it. That would have been the most expensive part. It was more blood, sweat, and tears than it was money. Painting an entire room (walls and ALL woodwork) FOUR times is a lot. A LOT. </div>
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So there you have it!</div>
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My front porch facelift.</div>
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From this:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNuOySNrdTorvdWo2DgMly8_hTEvLnOGfcarVeqmm_DhAgFC4Zj_UtPaPW-0VUlM7AEw_OUKZMTmybo4iWXsv9jwTTpxqSMm3k88KynzzMcf4cahsp9RfiPvknIQauxO9FA-h_lq7hq9oK/s1600/IMG_5342.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNuOySNrdTorvdWo2DgMly8_hTEvLnOGfcarVeqmm_DhAgFC4Zj_UtPaPW-0VUlM7AEw_OUKZMTmybo4iWXsv9jwTTpxqSMm3k88KynzzMcf4cahsp9RfiPvknIQauxO9FA-h_lq7hq9oK/s1600/IMG_5342.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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To this:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLCA2xHZg_btkyoVe9nKzGgsT5WhsS5dTk5cAnbeC6UyFXRhFoGSD3S9U66HEBRTQ7tC0PAyMgb1PMZnOrOOMmpL1ln5bQ6H_bqwruw1iD_MMOVJqbvwpxAF1KN6GUmXKRw_kXxnVq_bdY/s1600/IMG_4469.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLCA2xHZg_btkyoVe9nKzGgsT5WhsS5dTk5cAnbeC6UyFXRhFoGSD3S9U66HEBRTQ7tC0PAyMgb1PMZnOrOOMmpL1ln5bQ6H_bqwruw1iD_MMOVJqbvwpxAF1KN6GUmXKRw_kXxnVq_bdY/s1600/IMG_4469.JPG" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
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Do you have any DIY facelift stories to share?</div>
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I'd love to hear them! We are staying in this house for awhile and there are plenty more things to do!</div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06896366926667139866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-587154237720073068.post-39833724108050199282014-08-08T12:54:00.001-07:002014-08-08T12:54:43.131-07:00Chicken and Salsa Skillet<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsrXjYznIZlk6_EhQtvye2QCk6JdaP3I1LC0cSoxqsctSM86ce2eIG3XX4AwoJZ1SHja8QcGUNCZn-kZgcmi-eXpTscil1WNTFX3tv-rHIusU174ldyz63uaCmLCEA5-4ld2IfPlALKK6n/s1600/14674520720_a702e0d3de.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsrXjYznIZlk6_EhQtvye2QCk6JdaP3I1LC0cSoxqsctSM86ce2eIG3XX4AwoJZ1SHja8QcGUNCZn-kZgcmi-eXpTscil1WNTFX3tv-rHIusU174ldyz63uaCmLCEA5-4ld2IfPlALKK6n/s1600/14674520720_a702e0d3de.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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Hi!!!!</div>
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Hey, I'm back! Where did I go? That's a great question, and when I have an answer for that, I'll let you know. </div>
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The last year and half has been such a whirlwind for me and my family. Up and down...and down again...and down again...and now I am cautiously hopeful that we are on an upswing. </div>
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I've composed a million blog posts in my head explaining the last year to all of you. And since all of those thoughts are still swirling in my head, I'm going to set them aside and just return to blogging with an awesome recipe to use up those over-flowing garden veggies. </div>
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I do not have a garden. (Gasp!) I have never had a green thumb...most things I planted in the past died. And I don't have house plants because my darling cat eats them. Even the fake ones. Seriously, any silk flowers in my house are in wall-mounted vases. She WILL eat them. </div>
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This year, we had our house for sale (part of the swirly, whirly, long story) and I decided to try planting flowers in the flower bed to spruce up the curb appeal. If they all died, oh well. </div>
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Surprisingly, they lived! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOnoEfkUhQoWh8d3ifaSyx6Y2pZPBflJRrZ4Oiq2BZTM6LMjEugZExewgwIU4eHh5Cc59Vy-_JnfLzqa45WbsE9KKExhid3PMgzwrarkN7Czb7GvbJRao67gJeQQ7KSCucI-whXJA2G07k/s1600/IMG_3623.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOnoEfkUhQoWh8d3ifaSyx6Y2pZPBflJRrZ4Oiq2BZTM6LMjEugZExewgwIU4eHh5Cc59Vy-_JnfLzqa45WbsE9KKExhid3PMgzwrarkN7Czb7GvbJRao67gJeQQ7KSCucI-whXJA2G07k/s1600/IMG_3623.JPG" height="300" width="400" /> </a></div>
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These pictures are from right after they were planted. Today, they are thriving!</div>
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Win!</div>
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After this small success, my hope is that next year we will try a vegetable garden. But until then, I will just continue raiding the gardens of all my friends.</div>
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This recipe is very easy to throw together and is pretty healthy. It's great for the nights that you work or have games to get to. (Because it's August...and we have to start thinking about school schedules...sigh...) </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJDaOp-4PP6NPVnbTPdAkxRXPIuipTCKEA0JFYSc1lVgwbwOW9MkFC5FIvSpBota4JU0_H-1MLLJXXK761r7j-orDmDf07ZqVWU3jKH8CMwScUe77Or9qCZQ-D0sM2ZU58CDPYF47wSBcA/s1600/IMG_5824.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJDaOp-4PP6NPVnbTPdAkxRXPIuipTCKEA0JFYSc1lVgwbwOW9MkFC5FIvSpBota4JU0_H-1MLLJXXK761r7j-orDmDf07ZqVWU3jKH8CMwScUe77Or9qCZQ-D0sM2ZU58CDPYF47wSBcA/s1600/IMG_5824.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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The ingredients are chicken, pasta, salsa, corn, green pepper, and cheese.</div>
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Cook your pasta according to the directions on the box. We use whole wheat pasta from Aldi that is less that $1/box.</div>
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Cut up boneless, skinless chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces and start cooking the chicken in the skillet with some olive oil for about 2 minutes. Stir in salsa - you can use any salsa. We are big fans of <a href="http://shop.wildtree.com/catalog/cfProduct_Detail.cfm?p=10697" target="_blank">Wildtree Fiesta Salsa Mix</a>, but today I made homemade salsa for the first time. It's marinating for 24 hours, so I can't tell you yet how it turned out...BUT if it's good, it will be posted ASAP. I'm overly excited about this salsa...</div>
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Next, stir in corn (canned, fresh or frozen) and chopped green peppers. Bring to a boil and then simmer on med-low heat for 10 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through. Make sure to stir occasionally so it doesn't burn. </div>
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Drain the pasta and stir into chicken mixture.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtoSEDMdlFmkAnM4K8h5inef9GMSJUrDZ4gWZ4Q8iJg7TVhv_VPzqRFUzhqALG1yPHJKcsCoagflVZMfJY7zarVqIC5Du5IeA3ubZ6mAbvod7tCZ7S7DluKwwfC2A6gH9yP1T3-Tn2_mwF/s1600/IMG_5834.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtoSEDMdlFmkAnM4K8h5inef9GMSJUrDZ4gWZ4Q8iJg7TVhv_VPzqRFUzhqALG1yPHJKcsCoagflVZMfJY7zarVqIC5Du5IeA3ubZ6mAbvod7tCZ7S7DluKwwfC2A6gH9yP1T3-Tn2_mwF/s1600/IMG_5834.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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Good grief, that looks amazing. In all honesty, I haven't made this in awhile. These pictures are from a few months ago...It just never made it to the blog. Just keepin' it real.</div>
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I'm thinking this will be on the menu next week. </div>
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Sprinkle cheese on top and cover to allow cheese to melt.</div>
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This night I tried out roasting green beans to go along with the meal. I just tossed some fresh green beans in olive oil, garlic salt and Parmesan and then roasted them in the oven. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmY4KD0Dk6neeI_nOtSVgWYo_FWnu_x82gJ7lnhNzpq_LNphNRhMZuFmUUCch5tr3FTVvK7y2g4XPKm7fVQOSxkl-0kdVCvE1EPqG-6z0GMzx31pHUV91QIY1BfGz9YqTyzRSN5Pt0L6As/s1600/IMG_5832.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmY4KD0Dk6neeI_nOtSVgWYo_FWnu_x82gJ7lnhNzpq_LNphNRhMZuFmUUCch5tr3FTVvK7y2g4XPKm7fVQOSxkl-0kdVCvE1EPqG-6z0GMzx31pHUV91QIY1BfGz9YqTyzRSN5Pt0L6As/s1600/IMG_5832.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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More honesty here...I have yet to master the art of roasting vegetables. It seems like it should be a pretty simple task compared to all the other ways to cook vegetables...but I just haven't been able to figure it out. Every time I've tried they turn out...well..let's just say... not awesome.</div>
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So if anyone would like to share the secret that I'm missing, please do!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtUvKPEtbeRE1G1_JlmgiKbM_HsHLyg4LnvG4qLKuNMJJ5vVxcxvI_9HpsbX0MJSV-cTeX1FQjIsvslQNTFkV2z0S7WDWSRU7WlyH1EaC2oFrcfLOjD33h-umopzZpZdhUo7sCWnZ9a6_S/s1600/IMG_5835.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtUvKPEtbeRE1G1_JlmgiKbM_HsHLyg4LnvG4qLKuNMJJ5vVxcxvI_9HpsbX0MJSV-cTeX1FQjIsvslQNTFkV2z0S7WDWSRU7WlyH1EaC2oFrcfLOjD33h-umopzZpZdhUo7sCWnZ9a6_S/s1600/IMG_5835.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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There it is. An awesome chicken skillet and some so-so green beans. </div>
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Thanks for sticking with me despite my year-long absence. </div>
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You guys are the best!</div>
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<u><span style="font-size: x-large;">Cheesy Chicken and Salsa Skillet</span></u></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">recipe from www.kraftfoods.com</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-size: small;">2 cups whole wheat penne pasta, cooked</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">1 Tbsp olive oil </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">1 1/4 cups salsa</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">1 cup corn, frozen (or fresh/canned)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">1 large green pepper, chopped</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">1 cup shredded cheese of your choice (we like colby jack)</span></li>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Cook pasta as directed on box.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">In a large skillet, heat olive oil and add chicken pieces. Cook for about 2 minutes. Stir in salsa, corn, and green peppers. Bring to a boil and then simmer on med-low heat for about 10 minutes or until chicken is cooked through. Stir occasionally. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Drain pasta. Add to chicken mixture and stir. Sprinkle with cheese. Remove from heat and cover. Let sit until cheese is melted.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"> </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06896366926667139866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-587154237720073068.post-74653666321465984072014-01-14T09:39:00.000-08:002014-01-14T09:39:47.060-08:00Fighting My Fears and Finding Hope<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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{<i>I had a blog post planned for today
with a great soup recipe for these cold days. But as I began to type, my
thoughts kept going in a different direction. It didn't take me long to
figure out that God had a different plan for this post....I hope it
touches someone.</i>} </div>
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Happy New Year! </div>
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Oh that was two weeks ago?</div>
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With every new year comes new resolutions; Lose weight, eat better, exercise, read my Bible, stop hiding in the pantry eating donuts.....</div>
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Well, I'm sorry but I like donuts.</div>
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Do I need to do all the other things I listed? Oh yes...yes, yes, and yes. But instead of putting all kinds of pressure on myself to do those things that are really a struggle every day of my life, I'm needing a different kind of resolution this year. </div>
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I don't know about you but I'm glad 2013 is over. That was an incredibly trying year for myself and my family. Now that we are 2 weeks into 2014, I'm beginning to have hope for the future again. Our trials are far from over, and there were quite a few months that I had really lost hope that things would ever get better. And while they have yet to really get "better", God is helping me find some hope again....slowly.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYrJ0SaobX4EFgWXdHvCIxCRYeD2Ta5GLciHI2CxHd7mIZIAPORMX5ikQBeRPk6PQaLY8d3c177HjPNxI9D2KRs2x1B2pDGtw6ak437BQnaMJ4_T-HD0Y2tzFSU3MC9h0-AG3uKpbwv5fA/s1600/1012804_10202999098440648_1597198565_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYrJ0SaobX4EFgWXdHvCIxCRYeD2Ta5GLciHI2CxHd7mIZIAPORMX5ikQBeRPk6PQaLY8d3c177HjPNxI9D2KRs2x1B2pDGtw6ak437BQnaMJ4_T-HD0Y2tzFSU3MC9h0-AG3uKpbwv5fA/s640/1012804_10202999098440648_1597198565_n.jpg" width="640" /> </a></div>
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This was at the top of my Pinterest home page 15 minutes after finishing a devotion about hope.</div>
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What's that God? Yep. I heard you this time.</div>
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After I got the "hope" message, He sent me a message on trust. </div>
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"<i>When I am afraid, I will trust in you." </i>Psalm 56:3 </div>
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When I am AFRAID.....that's what it is. Fear. The thing holding me back from being hopeful and trusting that God has it all under control is fear. I didn't realize this until our pastor had us write down the one thing holding us back from moving on to a better year. It was my fear. Fear of the unknown, fear of making the wrong decision, fear of the consequences of those decisions, fear of failing....the list goes on. </div>
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But in the midst of the fear, I have been reminded in the last couple days that not only do I need to remain hopeful for the future, but I need to put my full trust in God to carry me through. </div>
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Let me clarify. I'm not trusting that He will make my life perfect and wonderful; I am trusting that He will <i>carry me through it.</i> I have no idea what's ahead of me. In an instant everything I have could be gone. <i>I</i> could be gone. But what ever is in store for myself or my family, I have to trust that He is here with us and carrying us the whole way. And when you have the trust...it makes it easier to hope. </div>
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During one of my trials this year, my dear friend Marcie at <a href="http://www.mustardseed2.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">The Mustard Seed</a> gave me a devotional called Jesus Calling. It was given to her during a very hard time in her life and she knew it would help me. But I wasn't ready for it then. A week ago, I decided I was ready to try it. It's a daily devotional for each day of the year and the words are written as if Jesus was the one saying them. It also incorporates Bible verses to look up.</div>
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<img alt="Jesus Calling: Enjoying Peace in His Presence - Devotions for Every Day of the Year - By: Sarah Young
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It has hit the mark every day. Hope. Trust. Trust. Trust. One day
that I read it, my eyes stopped seeing the actual words and it was like
God took a big stamp and stamped "TRUST ME" on the page. It didn't
matter what the devotional was saying, I read "Trust Me". </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcrg0TcluTIKGM1AL10WjrpA94QEQhax7cxrsK1KbeBSMzYI5G9PrdQ2Gz52xHUwdFnBJqKiIkTRCzkffQUB3CzDjUC8se6SnkmilQk1kIX6wqa4Fe39M_Ppxvmu_mUlRfP-jt3MoNwLYb/s1600/photo(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcrg0TcluTIKGM1AL10WjrpA94QEQhax7cxrsK1KbeBSMzYI5G9PrdQ2Gz52xHUwdFnBJqKiIkTRCzkffQUB3CzDjUC8se6SnkmilQk1kIX6wqa4Fe39M_Ppxvmu_mUlRfP-jt3MoNwLYb/s640/photo(1).JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Insert from Jesus Calling by Sarah Young</td></tr>
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But Lord, it's so much easier said than done! I can say that I trust him, but to actually <i>do </i>it? That takes work. Whenever I start to worry about the future, I need to trust him. When I begin to dwell on the past, I need to trust him. When I have a day that I feel like I can't even get out of bed......I need to trust him. </div>
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I'm still in the midst of my trial. But when I started this devotional, I literally didn't have the energy to hope that things might work out someday. It was exhausting to think about because it seemed so unlikely. But I just kept reading. Each morning I set my alarm 30 minutes before the kids get up so I could start my day with Jesus, and believe me it has not been easy! I am NOT a morning person. The first day I fell asleep sitting up. Talk about humility....Sorry God! I didn't mean to fall asleep in the middle of our conversation! Even though it's still hard to wake up, every day I do I can feel little rays of hope creeping in. Ever so slowly, but they are there. </div>
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I wish...oh, how I wish I could sit here and tell you that in the end everything worked out beautifully. And maybe someday I will be able to say that. I share this with you because so many times people gloss over the hard times in life. They plaster on a smile and tell everyone they are fine. But I'm hoping to break that mold with authenticity. I am a real person, with real fears, real trials, real hopes and heartbreaks. But I also serve a REAL God that loves me no matter how imperfect and broken I am. </div>
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You want to know what today's devotional says?</div>
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"Do not be ashamed of your emptiness. Instead, view it as the optimal condition for being filled with My Peace. It is easy to touch up your outward appearance, to look as if you have it all together. Your attempts to look good can fool most people. But I see straight through you, into the depths of your being." (Jesus Calling by Sarah Young, pg. 15)</div>
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You want to know the crazy part? I literally <i>just</i> read this for the first time. Right now. My alarm didn't wake me up this morning, so I had yet to do my devotional today. </div>
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Do you have chills? Because I do!</div>
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<br />Let me leave you with this. </div>
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"<i>For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." </i>Romans 8:38-39</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwou6RdqcKC5_Bh8aY2aLfAsY7qbOTQCBXKw0gTmllFyLtg3HVGHUvYUEr3KjsFrsG-m6v5h_68yz8LQlkq-d1KX4cD6i9P2Pid_FYcgiHaq26DEGy29UH3SveYXyU5x2Pg_IlqU26RbqA/s1600/Jesus+holding.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="522" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwou6RdqcKC5_Bh8aY2aLfAsY7qbOTQCBXKw0gTmllFyLtg3HVGHUvYUEr3KjsFrsG-m6v5h_68yz8LQlkq-d1KX4cD6i9P2Pid_FYcgiHaq26DEGy29UH3SveYXyU5x2Pg_IlqU26RbqA/s640/Jesus+holding.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Trust Jesus. Have Hope in Jesus.</div>
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Those are my resolutions this year. Not by choice, but by necessity.</div>
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If you are having a similar time in life right now, or have had one in the past, please share your story! My only purpose in writing this is to reach out to other people that need to know they are not alone. And friend, you are NOT alone!</div>
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I highly encourage you to get this devotional and do your best to read it every day. I've only been at it for a week and it's already changing me for the better. Well, GOD is changing me through the book. </div>
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You can order it <a href="http://www.christianbook.com/jesus-calling/sarah-young/9781591451884/pd/451884?kw=jesus%20calling&mt=e&dv=c&event=PPCSRC&p=1018818&gclid=CKum-fSB_rsCFQISMwod0woAVA" target="_blank">HERE</a> for $8.</div>
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God Bless you this year....and here's to hoping and trusting that it will be better than the last. </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06896366926667139866noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-587154237720073068.post-1127471431224364252013-12-11T06:52:00.000-08:002013-12-11T06:52:01.731-08:00Eggs a Go-Go<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEoiktVMXdvHPXOcWOBiooNZTP-Oq56wbo6kAXkZqkI_PkGkdFYP0XUuCAYyemJzEs4WlMXAY53u8CfA2SiHkJVleHpceyWIAjLf5qXVuMrrpXKRTUNfQLBExyjdV5Yj8uKnr1zTxislE6/s1600/11323681724_017a70b668.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEoiktVMXdvHPXOcWOBiooNZTP-Oq56wbo6kAXkZqkI_PkGkdFYP0XUuCAYyemJzEs4WlMXAY53u8CfA2SiHkJVleHpceyWIAjLf5qXVuMrrpXKRTUNfQLBExyjdV5Yj8uKnr1zTxislE6/s640/11323681724_017a70b668.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Here is another fabulous recipe out of the <a href="http://everythingevieblog.blogspot.com/2013/02/check-me-out-i-made-soup.html" target="_blank">Mayo Clinic Kids' Cookbook</a>.</div>
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Easy and delicious - the best kind of recipe. </div>
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I don't really like the name of it, because I don't get it...but that's the title in the book and the kids think it's cool...which I suppose is the point seeing as how it is a cookbook for kids. Ok, so I guess now I get it.</div>
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Because it has lots of eggs and green veggies in it, I feel like this can be served as breakfast <i>or</i> a breakfast-for-dinner meal...which is what I did. I figure it's still fun for the kids to eat breakfast food for dinner and I don't feel guilty feeding them sugary syrup before bed. I don't know about your kids, but mine do not need the extra energy at the end of the day....they have plenty of their own. </div>
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This recipe is also a great way to sneak some veggies in their diet. It has spinach (which is almost tasteless in this), green peppers, and onion. I couldn't believe it when my 3-year-old stabbed a piece of onion with her fork and asked "what's this?". I told her it was onion, she ate it and said "I like onion!". I almost fell off my chair. Even <i>I </i>don't like plain onions. </div>
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The point being, even if they say they don't like something, if you can sneak it in and get them to try it again and again, they may find one day that they do like it. Hey, I figure it's worth a try!</div>
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It's ridiculous how easy this is.</div>
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All you need is 6 ingredients - eggs, spinach, green pepper, onion, milk, mozzarella.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Y4SLPcra8yH1yLlZgzrVLLz2XAsPhFaYIG07n3tVdb6tEkXk4JNQhLxKnY4xCxX1eA2ItoPYCB3tGYRTeICWOXIis8LES-WVlHg1nVzjKeFVwn0EG6RjHh1yW1bY1iTVUyIPTEsxMUTZ/s1600/IMG_6047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Y4SLPcra8yH1yLlZgzrVLLz2XAsPhFaYIG07n3tVdb6tEkXk4JNQhLxKnY4xCxX1eA2ItoPYCB3tGYRTeICWOXIis8LES-WVlHg1nVzjKeFVwn0EG6RjHh1yW1bY1iTVUyIPTEsxMUTZ/s640/IMG_6047.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Throw defrosted and drained spinach in a bowl with chopped green pepper and onion.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg341EDwC-otTN7P-ugfBDivcGCcSst3SpZCN93_wXfDkY_tIu6UfOUsCaNfm3gUyAB2Rflu8NDuuEMN903InOR2o7zRnKTFFQ9rVcQagHRJzj9_782l2RuKJRGNuoZ6BN2Nycy5Me0f1IR/s1600/IMG_6048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg341EDwC-otTN7P-ugfBDivcGCcSst3SpZCN93_wXfDkY_tIu6UfOUsCaNfm3gUyAB2Rflu8NDuuEMN903InOR2o7zRnKTFFQ9rVcQagHRJzj9_782l2RuKJRGNuoZ6BN2Nycy5Me0f1IR/s640/IMG_6048.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Add your eggs, milk, and shredded mozzarella to the bowl and whisk all ingredients together.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhppiB_kJdmOGafqLrny-rRZcZtbS3cxC9apcIP1_URkdHzbtxylyOgyu9FgubIngxwI6iA8upfDafWoFhwQS9aZEUFaZ-wzihts6A8CEG8cg8wdkTxaHIqzBz7c89kRZRTUiZwPTmQOG4F/s1600/IMG_6050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhppiB_kJdmOGafqLrny-rRZcZtbS3cxC9apcIP1_URkdHzbtxylyOgyu9FgubIngxwI6iA8upfDafWoFhwQS9aZEUFaZ-wzihts6A8CEG8cg8wdkTxaHIqzBz7c89kRZRTUiZwPTmQOG4F/s640/IMG_6050.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Line a muffin pan with foil muffin cups and coat with cooking spray. </div>
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Pour 1/4 cup egg mixture into each cup.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0SwBd5WfKCEC5goXZ2KaiuCv_MZr2KEW1Vgv24KDRRBq-qFtVWQqs6YdMGku2QfQ936SQYHi6pliCg0cFpXb_Oyft17hSp5onEwu5jnq_XcbGNTX9n3T5KPD1eGTHXv-kRGPrQnvAJOeI/s1600/IMG_6054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0SwBd5WfKCEC5goXZ2KaiuCv_MZr2KEW1Vgv24KDRRBq-qFtVWQqs6YdMGku2QfQ936SQYHi6pliCg0cFpXb_Oyft17hSp5onEwu5jnq_XcbGNTX9n3T5KPD1eGTHXv-kRGPrQnvAJOeI/s640/IMG_6054.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Bake at 350 degrees F for 20 minutes. </div>
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Insert a knife in the middle of several cups - if it comes out clean then they are done. If not, cook for another 3 minutes and check again.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg96jLTuu-6rcfeGda-GVhkr_KG4ALu52NKTBa2tLLcziKfjdQ9lIii02U8CbFkyHd7pIYzpPVZli1-Nv17K34cezA2sx7BjSa4bzXuFRrykGq8XPYp6vbJgLGVRSSHM6hppXOxok1xk4cv/s1600/IMG_6055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg96jLTuu-6rcfeGda-GVhkr_KG4ALu52NKTBa2tLLcziKfjdQ9lIii02U8CbFkyHd7pIYzpPVZli1-Nv17K34cezA2sx7BjSa4bzXuFRrykGq8XPYp6vbJgLGVRSSHM6hppXOxok1xk4cv/s640/IMG_6055.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Oh yeah...that looks GOOD.</div>
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Serve with some fruit, toast, juice...whatever breakfast-y foods your family likes! </div>
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I did make a couple changes to the original recipe. The original called for egg substitute....I'm sorry, but yuck. I like real eggs. </div>
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It also called for 16 oz of frozen spinach. I don't know about you, but getting my kids to each veggies is not always the easiest thing. I felt like 16 oz was A LOT of spinach, so I just used one box of Green Giant frozen spinach, which was 9 oz, and that was plenty. </div>
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Lastly, I added milk. I grew up with my mom putting milk in our eggs which makes them fluffier. So I decided to throw some milk in there.</div>
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This went over so well with my girls, they both had the leftovers for breakfast the next morning.</div>
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Cooking Win!</div>
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<u><span style="font-size: x-large;">Eggs a Go-Go</span></u></div>
<ul>
<li>9 oz package of frozen chopped spinach</li>
<li>1/4 cup diced green bell sweet peppers <i>or</i> finely chopped broccoli florets</li>
<li>1/4 cup diced onion</li>
<li>2 cups eggs - I used 9 eggs</li>
<li>1/4 cup milk </li>
<li>3/4 shredded reduced-fat mozzarella cheese</li>
</ul>
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line muffin tin with foil muffin cups and coat each cup with cooking spray.<br />
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Microwave spinach on high for about 2 minutes. Squeeze out excess water.<br />
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Put spinach, green pepper, and onion in a large bowl.<br />
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Add eggs, milk, and shredded cheese. Whisk ingredients until combined.<br />
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Pour 1/4 cup of egg mixture into each muffin cup. If there is leftover mixture, pour it evenly into each cup so they all have the same amount.<br />
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Bake for 20 minutes. Insert knife into the middle of several muffins - if nothing sticks and it comes out clean, they are done. If not, bake for another 3 minutes and try again.<br />
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Serve when fully cooked.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyiMaNJMkoZZYSoBcoN0nk4c9_HlzUm5u2SpqAvfDEgRGCFwf3e2Ga8hS3vmjczKT_oDDzo8EIMJknePsPQbM8UiSeK6WJABs_rzNobIhjImHOnhXfy91-NXfjEMi9Ih7kdtw80w-CKeDC/s1600/11323687984_c3b6403bd9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyiMaNJMkoZZYSoBcoN0nk4c9_HlzUm5u2SpqAvfDEgRGCFwf3e2Ga8hS3vmjczKT_oDDzo8EIMJknePsPQbM8UiSeK6WJABs_rzNobIhjImHOnhXfy91-NXfjEMi9Ih7kdtw80w-CKeDC/s640/11323687984_c3b6403bd9.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06896366926667139866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-587154237720073068.post-69645316678978635512013-12-04T11:08:00.000-08:002013-12-04T11:08:02.077-08:00DIY Advent Calendar<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj__z9YHTQkZQdfP1u5_fE0seuyz0ynwojcTFg30ZmoVqffD4wWoJNsmK4TWxtfFvVeN9LaYFTW7LLUrwfOafp8FJf3S6iP_UncW4BRZFZT-Py1jjbPztLmy3J-sZ0wAec0dDNNClvVbqyW/s1600/11208855313_689f65b587.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj__z9YHTQkZQdfP1u5_fE0seuyz0ynwojcTFg30ZmoVqffD4wWoJNsmK4TWxtfFvVeN9LaYFTW7LLUrwfOafp8FJf3S6iP_UncW4BRZFZT-Py1jjbPztLmy3J-sZ0wAec0dDNNClvVbqyW/s640/11208855313_689f65b587.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<br />This Christmas I'm striving for a little more than usual. </div>
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We currently have our house up for sale and so due to that and the need to acquire a new house when we sell ours, we are keeping Christmas on a smaller budget this year. </div>
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Aside from the smaller budget, I was feeling the desire to get back to basics - the basics of Christmas. Forget the stuff, the deals, the decorations, the food, the stress, the money, the traveling, the craziness....and remember what this holiday is <i>really</i> about - the birth of Jesus Christ. </div>
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We always celebrated Advent when I was young. We had a spiral book that had bible verses and stories in it for each night of advent, and then we would light a candle each week like some churches do. I remember enjoying those nights very much. Sitting around the dining room table, reading about the birth of Jesus and drinking hot chocolate. </div>
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In all honesty, I have been a bit of a slacker at Christmas time. We don't get the kids super excited about Santa, we don't do the Elf on a Shelf thing, and I always would remind the kids that we were really celebrating Jesus, but that's kind of where it ended. I went through the motions; focusing on decorating the house, coming up with the perfect gift for each person, and coordinating our schedule so we would see all the family. Of course, Jesus was a part of our holiday every year, but I was failing at making Him the center of it. </div>
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So this is the year for a change. </div>
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Through some very hard trials, I come to the end of this year searching for more, <i>needing</i> more, of Him. And realizing that my children need Him as well. It's not enough to just go to church on Sunday and expect the pastor and Sunday School teachers to teach my kids about God. </div>
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It starts and ends at home. </div>
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The buck stops here my friends. </div>
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And so this year I decided to get the Advent tradition going again. I found a list of Bible verses on Pinterest to read leading up to Christmas and thought it would be perfect. The kids were excited about reading the verses, but I wanted them to have the fun of the anticipation of what's coming tomorrow. So I came up with this DIY Advent Calendar.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Veb5MDsThZyME1ZDee2-ARr9Dmo3dlktizvdW-76VKYeZM6mDpK6Y1dTJRklJq8P1XmVuhN9dkKeVaQYBOM35rBD8eikslcKmgc0m4vOGH770RcAzjlA2TvnywsWQwZePYK43qL9dvax/s1600/IMG_6042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Veb5MDsThZyME1ZDee2-ARr9Dmo3dlktizvdW-76VKYeZM6mDpK6Y1dTJRklJq8P1XmVuhN9dkKeVaQYBOM35rBD8eikslcKmgc0m4vOGH770RcAzjlA2TvnywsWQwZePYK43qL9dvax/s640/IMG_6042.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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It took some time to make, but it was pretty simple!</div>
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I used foam poster board, Christmas scrapbook paper, red cardstock, double sided tape, stickers, a ruler, and a pencil.</div>
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Thanks to Hobby Lobby's 40% off coupon and their continuous sales, the whole thing cost about $15!</div>
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I measured the poster board and divided it into 5 rows and 5 columns. And then I measured out a square that would fit in each section. My paper squares measured 3"x4".</div>
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I didn't want to draw any lines on the front of my board so I just eyeballed it when I taped them down. I'm not too much of a perfectionist and I just really wanted to get it done, so I did my best. </div>
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I cut slivers of the tape and taped three sides, leaving the top of the square un-taped so I could slip paper inside later. </div>
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For the numbers, I got really lucky! I was planning on buying number stickers to number each day but I found a piece of scrapbook paper that had all the numbers written in really neat ways, so I cut out each number and taped those onto each square. They gave it a completely different look!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNpULfMJ3o-GqQ4Yk4386eXdretDLbuXmrtiCpKJbOlI1dZ8xWjrSLSCfugcL1wtEq-FpCS7s19Pwu74xpc1fZVKKqkH16kx7WY7IPxDoLbENibtofmr35QqBx2-EkxYh9v4L8a42LVUSK/s1600/IMG_6039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNpULfMJ3o-GqQ4Yk4386eXdretDLbuXmrtiCpKJbOlI1dZ8xWjrSLSCfugcL1wtEq-FpCS7s19Pwu74xpc1fZVKKqkH16kx7WY7IPxDoLbENibtofmr35QqBx2-EkxYh9v4L8a42LVUSK/s640/IMG_6039.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Once all the squares and numbers were taped down, I cut up red cardstock paper and wrote a verse on each one. Then I decorated the slips with some fun stickers just to give it a little more surprise for the kids. </div>
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Some of the stickers are Nativity stickers and I put those sporadically throughout all the days....leading up to the 25th when Jesus is born.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiKwmNA0SQsXxB99LLs_5lCDWSGKzxOdcPZhP_YNo-9RdzeiVows6UUT48bRcP2HqtqD5S0CEc88v0mf-MtPDVAoENMvdh06EiZKLWUFQib6MgZnmiPK28T9xDLUwKo-A9Iu5y2CAw0Uwe/s1600/IMG_6041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiKwmNA0SQsXxB99LLs_5lCDWSGKzxOdcPZhP_YNo-9RdzeiVows6UUT48bRcP2HqtqD5S0CEc88v0mf-MtPDVAoENMvdh06EiZKLWUFQib6MgZnmiPK28T9xDLUwKo-A9Iu5y2CAw0Uwe/s640/IMG_6041.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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To hang it....well...I poked a hole in the back of the foam and hung it on a nail. What can I say? I'm not fancy.</div>
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I'm so excited about the calendar. It turned out really cute and fun, and it will be reusable for the years to come. </div>
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But most of all, I'm really excited about doing Advent with my girls. We have done three nights so far and I am already seeing the benefits of doing this. All three nights, 30 minutes before bed, we have sat down together and read the verses for that day. After reading the passage, we go back and look at each verse and I make sure they understand what it means. There has been no TV on before bed like usual, and they haven't missed it so far. (Yay!) Reading these verses together has opened the door to questions that my daughter has never asked before and history she hasn't learned about yet. </div>
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It is only the 4th of December, so it's not too late! If you don't want to make a board, at least let me encourage you to read these verses with your family each night this month.You will be amazed at the things you will learn while trying to teach your children. I promise you won't regret it. </div>
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What are some other ways that you have come up with to keep Christ in Christmas?? Please share!</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06896366926667139866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-587154237720073068.post-13274432546588634872013-11-19T10:49:00.000-08:002013-11-19T10:49:59.773-08:00Pumpkin Spice Granola<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwuoD630yhwkvkInmxU7KYmKlpf0dsp9pYzpD4Ayc7sLCMzQ2-y8kEGnYHp2CRA9Q-OYsC0anHU1PadYWXs3kH0BvHS7zKw_eQMmQkkJS8QiFlOBuPxzng-zpSe6vsXRpEKt8VJlhcQe4X/s1600/10947156634_a874508d46.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwuoD630yhwkvkInmxU7KYmKlpf0dsp9pYzpD4Ayc7sLCMzQ2-y8kEGnYHp2CRA9Q-OYsC0anHU1PadYWXs3kH0BvHS7zKw_eQMmQkkJS8QiFlOBuPxzng-zpSe6vsXRpEKt8VJlhcQe4X/s640/10947156634_a874508d46.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Now that I've discovered there are <i>multiple</i> flavors of granola, I knew I had to make a pumpkin granola. 'Tis the pumpkin season, right?</div>
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This recipe is not as overwhelmingly flavorful as the <a href="http://everythingevieblog.blogspot.com/2013/10/apple-spice-granola.html" target="_blank">Apple Spice Granola</a>, but it does have a nice subtle pumpkin flavor to it. I prefer my granola crunchy and this recipe is very crunchy. If you ask my daughter however, she was not a fan of the crunch factor. I also enjoyed the walnuts and cranberries instead of almonds and raisins that I put in our regular granola. It was a nice change!</div>
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The original recipe was almost perfect, I just had to swap out the brown sugar for the honey/molasses mixture. </div>
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It is made just like the other granola recipes: Mix the dry ingredients in one bowl, and whisk the wet ingredients in another bowl. </div>
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Pour wet mixture over oat mixture and stir until everything is coated. </div>
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Once all the ingredients are mixed, pour out on two parchment paper-lined cookie sheets and bake at 325 degrees for about 40 minutes. </div>
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Make sure to stir granola every 10 minutes or so, and I also switch the racks so they cook evenly. </div>
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Ahhhhh, can't you just smell the pumpkin-y deliciousness??</div>
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After granola cools, mix in the cranberries and nuts. The original recipe had pepitas in it because the creator has a nut allergy. Fortunately we do not have any food allergies, so I decided to nix the pepitas and throw in chopped walnuts. SO GOOD. You could really throw in any nut - pecans would be fantastic, too. </div>
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Ok, confession time. </div>
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While I was making granola this morning, I was getting irritated because it is time consuming to make all of this clean food when I could easily go out and buy a box of granola. I had a lot of things to do today but if I didn't make granola or muffins, the kids would have to eat eggs for breakfast for the third day in a row. But I had to remind myself that I know <i>exactly</i> what is in this granola and <i>exactly</i> what is going into my family's bodies when they eat it. It honestly did make me feel better. And that can go for anything; eating, discipline, home schooling, etc. There is definitely a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction when you remember the root of why you are raising your family the way you are. </div>
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This also brings me back to the verse I have posted on this blog -</div>
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Colossians 3:23 "<i>Whatever you do, work at it with all of your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.</i>" (NIV)</div>
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It made me feel better to think about the good I was doing my kids by making this food for them. But ultimately I need to remember to rejoice in Lord with the things I do and do them with an attitude of working for God; not myself, my husband, or even my kids. </div>
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So let me encourage you that when the day gets to be too much, remember <i>why</i> you are doing what you are doing, praise God for the ability to do it, and then ask God for a little help. </div>
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He's listening.</div>
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<u><span style="font-size: x-large;">Pumpkin Spice Granola</span></u></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><u><a href="http://www.twopeasandtheirpod.com/pumpkin-granola/#_a5y_p=1018760" target="_blank">Original Recipe by Two Peas and Their Pod</a> </u></span></div>
<ul>
<li>5 cups rolled oats</li>
<li>1 tsp pumpkin pie spice</li>
<li>1 tsp cinnamon</li>
<li>1/4 tsp nutmeg</li>
<li>3/4 tsp salt</li>
<li>1/2 cup honey w/ molasses</li>
<li>1/2 cup pumpkin puree</li>
<li>1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce</li>
<li>1/4 cup 100% pure maple syrup</li>
<li>1 tsp vanilla</li>
<li>3/4 cup dried cranberries</li>
<li>1/2 cup nuts (walnuts, pecans, etc)</li>
</ul>
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper. <br />
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Whisk wet ingredients together in medium bowl.<br />
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Mix oats and other dry ingredients, minus the cranberries, in a large bowl.<br />
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Pour wet mixture over oat mixture and stir until all the oats are coated.<br />
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Spread oats over cookie sheets. Bake for 40 minutes - taking out and stirring every 10 minutes.<br />
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Let cool. Add cranberries and nuts. Store in air-tight container. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06896366926667139866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-587154237720073068.post-43163143479650155242013-11-13T06:38:00.000-08:002013-11-13T06:38:37.805-08:00How To Cut a Pepper<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheg9EWAWUF9d_nlb0t5QExEroV2O3-nLz028lvwns8MfGNowwwJJCxxlSJK85M1YIGrymYVQtXUbDmc4m-VmJWkGNyE00mYsS_1RVlWKfALKGrYoUWVXk0bdAqr82095kSFQujRyJS1Q6S/s1600/IMG_5985.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheg9EWAWUF9d_nlb0t5QExEroV2O3-nLz028lvwns8MfGNowwwJJCxxlSJK85M1YIGrymYVQtXUbDmc4m-VmJWkGNyE00mYsS_1RVlWKfALKGrYoUWVXk0bdAqr82095kSFQujRyJS1Q6S/s640/IMG_5985.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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I saw this on a cooking show a while back. Maybe it's something that you already know, but I didn't so I figure there might be someone out there that would enjoy this kitchen tip.</div>
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We eat a lot of peppers these days. I throw the green ones in with cooking a lot of the time and then I recently got the kids eating the sweet peppers for snacks. We love the <a href="http://www.wildtree.com/catalog/cfProduct_Detail.cfm?p=10191" target="_blank">Dill Dip</a> from <a href="http://www.wildtree.com/" target="_blank">Wildtree Herbs</a>. If you want it to be clean then instead of using mayonnaise you can use "vegannaise"- the vegan counterpart. (Don't scoff, it's actually pretty good!) It's a little pricey, but we had previously cut out mayonnaise so by only using it for this dip and the occasional recipe, one jar lasts a long time. Anyway, with some of the Dill Dip, my girls eat veggies like they are candy. Win!</div>
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Usually when I cut up peppers, I cut around the stem with a small knife and then try to pull the core out. It works, but it leaves seeds all over the inside and can be messy.</div>
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Then I saw this method and when I tried it, it worked wonderfully! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqThYghdWEN925G9aKVTlguZLCVyqvjAz4CuHSTRorcERshDNo0-uyd4MZpd589BUqwI7g_ogU6bln_2aN7KDR1hpNs2LrbkvgDsG_Ee59UpXVZ0QoLsDD2hQkRVJYouT6oUUDJYPnBEpg/s1600/IMG_5986.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqThYghdWEN925G9aKVTlguZLCVyqvjAz4CuHSTRorcERshDNo0-uyd4MZpd589BUqwI7g_ogU6bln_2aN7KDR1hpNs2LrbkvgDsG_Ee59UpXVZ0QoLsDD2hQkRVJYouT6oUUDJYPnBEpg/s640/IMG_5986.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Slice off the top and bottom of the pepper.</div>
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Using a small knife, cut around the core separating it from the meat of the pepper.</div>
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Pull the core and all of the seeds (hopefully still attached) out of the pepper.</div>
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Toss the core and it's time to slice!</div>
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Cut in half and then slice or chop away. </div>
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That's it! Pretty easy and no seed mess.</div>
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Now get some Dill Dip and let your kids go to town.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06896366926667139866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-587154237720073068.post-87024568526870944452013-11-11T11:26:00.002-08:002013-11-11T11:26:29.242-08:00DIY Laundry Stain Remover<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I've been waiting a while to make this stain remover. I still had some of my store bought stuff left so I had to wait until it was all gone and then I obviously wanted to use it and make sure it worked before blogging about it. </div>
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I didn't even mean to post it now. I thought I still had some store stuff left and when I went to do laundry this afternoon, I found out that my dear husband (whom I love so much) had used the last of it and never told me. He also didn't know that I wanted to keep the bottle to re-use, so I had to go digging through the laundry room trash can....have you ever done that before? The <i>laundry</i> room trash? *shudder* Nasty.</div>
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BUT I found it, washed it off, and put it to use. All is well with the world and my husband is saved from the dog house. </div>
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Luckily, this recipe is extremely easy to make, so it wasn't a huge inconvenience to have to throw it together in the last minute. I was able to whip it up, spray it on, throw the laundry in and get back to racing my 3-year-old with laundry baskets. </div>
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I found this recipe on <a href="http://www.mykitchenescapades.com/" target="_blank">My Kitchen Escapades</a> - she mostly has food recipes but she also has some pretty good cleaner recipes.</div>
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Here is the link to the original recipe: <a href="http://www.mykitchenescapades.com/2010/09/homemade-shout.html" target="_blank">Homemade Shout</a>.</div>
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All you need is ammonia, dish soap, baking soda, and warm water.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhed_9j5OcL6tt4PeuEfn8-IGekPXi53Fx5rfU1TBq6Enl54myAXk9gVC7uiuTpQcYD2f495zuuPotmpMAZjN11GfYqUzeCcQutoJvZGJwbxPua6XEYjdchne8mwmfjKOERzgj_zWpOb63a/s1600/IMG_6008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhed_9j5OcL6tt4PeuEfn8-IGekPXi53Fx5rfU1TBq6Enl54myAXk9gVC7uiuTpQcYD2f495zuuPotmpMAZjN11GfYqUzeCcQutoJvZGJwbxPua6XEYjdchne8mwmfjKOERzgj_zWpOb63a/s640/IMG_6008.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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This is another great recipe that is easy on your wallet, too. The dish soap was less than a dollar and you use about 2/3 of it. The ammonia is a few bucks, but you barely use any. And baking soda is pretty cheap, too. I've learned to just stay stocked on baking soda, ammonia, and vinegar because I almost always need them for any of my cleaning recipes. </div>
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Mix these three with warm water and pour in your spray bottle.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ7rIAikhY4xGhhnfPtR7J6ITCF3GsUB74rAXhKG7F2KXwysfval4IYBCqb-liJe0J_Q69aMqXZq0OG6v4pI-XeRmb1N68ZLkG9bdEVTcTSGWuXCFQuIt1a0Y5cwhpM8gT0dVfg6pkkNYS/s1600/IMG_6009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ7rIAikhY4xGhhnfPtR7J6ITCF3GsUB74rAXhKG7F2KXwysfval4IYBCqb-liJe0J_Q69aMqXZq0OG6v4pI-XeRmb1N68ZLkG9bdEVTcTSGWuXCFQuIt1a0Y5cwhpM8gT0dVfg6pkkNYS/s640/IMG_6009.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<u><span style="font-size: x-large;">DIY Laundry Stain Remover</span></u></div>
<ul>
<li>2/3 cup dish soap</li>
<li>2/3 cup ammonia</li>
<li>6 Tbsp baking soda</li>
<li>2 cups warm water</li>
</ul>
Mix together in medium bowl. Pour into spray bottle. Spray on stain and wash as usual.<br />
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Shake up the bottle before spraying on stain due to baking soda settling on the bottom.<br />
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DO NOT use on anything washed with chlorine bleach due to the ammonia. <br />
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I'm very happy with this recipe!</div>
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It was easy and cheap to make and it got the stain out. Plus, it's one more thing to cross off the list of crap I spend too much money on. </div>
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Next up....internet service....who has a recipe for that???</div>
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