tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75046597256424583612024-03-12T19:22:01.536-04:00Seashells and SilverKimberlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218772609602287535noreply@blogger.comBlogger90125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7504659725642458361.post-49788933446596781392015-04-02T17:57:00.001-04:002015-05-23T16:49:47.077-04:00Bea's Planned Home Birth Story<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioPUE4Bs5MRbnJ3D5LhWQNLJUsWtNCsf_mHm4mYpSB-BPFSjy5fl4yi3z05ZUJfePdD4UqJcHfkBzF35pR12g5737pEbUzOwmClm_SXdPLUy4MCxD642k5Y5uJBB0zfar1oHBoGvk8a21W/s1600/IMG_3082.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioPUE4Bs5MRbnJ3D5LhWQNLJUsWtNCsf_mHm4mYpSB-BPFSjy5fl4yi3z05ZUJfePdD4UqJcHfkBzF35pR12g5737pEbUzOwmClm_SXdPLUy4MCxD642k5Y5uJBB0zfar1oHBoGvk8a21W/s1600/IMG_3082.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Monday, November 25, 2013-Due Date <br />
<br />
9:20 pm I go to the bathroom to pee and feel an extra spurt of liquid that I know is not pee...my water had just broken. I start crying because I do NOT feel ready for this baby to come; I was sure I had several more days (Madeline was 13 days late); I still had so much to do to get "ready" (what does "ready" for a baby look like??); I had NOT practiced my Hypnobabies like I was supposed to, and I didn't want the money and time spent to be a waste (it wasn't!).<br />
<br />
Bless Walt, he comes in from the garage and can hear me crying, and though we are not the couple who normally hangs out together in the bathroom, he comes in to find out what is wrong. He gives me a hug and says, "You are ready for this."<br />
<br />
10:45ish pm I am in bed listening to a couple Hypnonbabies tracks and trying to get to sleep. Walt is asleep in no time, and I am trying really hard to turn off the nervous energy I am feeling so I can go to sleep. A little while later I feel a gush of liquid; thankfully we had put the water proof mattress cover on our bed a few weeks prior, and I was laying on a chux pad. I think, "Ok, no need to wake up Walt, I'll just get up and get cleaned up myself." But I wait too long and soon there is another gush of liquid and then another and I am soaked and the pad is soaked and I'm pretty sure the sheets are getting wet.<br />
<br />
12:15 am I wake Walt up to help get me and the bed cleaned up. I get in the shower while he changes the sheets and gets a new chux pad.<br />
<br />
12:45 am Back to bed and listening to another Hypnobabies track. <br />
<br />
12:52 am I feel the first pressure wave (Hypnobabies term for contraction) deep in my pelvis. I wasn't even sure it was a pressure wave because it was so deep in my pelvis which is not where they started with Madeline's birth. After the third or fourth one I tell Walt and he starts timing them.<br />
<br />
1:12 am I feel like I might need to go to the bathroom, so I go sit on the toilet for a few pressure waves.<br />
<br />
1:23 am I am so tired and would really like to sleep, but the waves increase in intensity pretty quickly, and I can't just breathe through them while lying down. So I try being on all fours in bed, squatting, standing and swaying, and I start humming (really low in my throat) through the waves.<br />
<br />
1:38 am I feel nauseous and ask Walt for a bag just in case. He puts a few drops of peppermint essential oil in the bag for me to inhale and that keeps me from getting sick.<br />
<br />
1:45 am Back to the toilet. I keep feeling like I need to go to the bathroom, but when I get to the toilet nothing happens. I sit down and it hurts and I get up and feel like I have to go, so I sit down and it hurts. This seems to cycle around for a bit.<br />
<br />
1:52 am Back to bed to try to rest. I alternate between being on all fours during pressure waves and laying down between waves.<br />
<br />
2:16 am I am back in the bathroom to pee. At some point I cross the bathroom to the tub and get down on my knees and hang over the edge of the tub swaying my hips and making very low sounds as needed. Eventually I am hanging on to Walt (arms around his neck, face buried in his neck or shoulder) while either sitting on the toilet or standing in front of it.<br />
<br />
In the months leading up to Bea's birth I had been mostly confident I could manage my fear and stay calm, but it was tough as the pressure waves were so intense and we were an hour or so into a process I was sure would last at least another 8-10 hours (Madeline's labor was about 45 hours). I was really battling fear, but knew that I had to stay calm and loose as tension would makes things feel even worse. I was quoting II Timothy 1:7 (God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind) over and over and forcing myself to breathe deeply and evenly and make low noises (to keep my throat open and loose) if needed. At one point I definitely thought, "Maybe we should just go to the hospital and get a c-section," and if I had been at the hospital I probably would have been asking for the pain medicine.<br />
<br />
All this time Walt has been talking and texting with our midwife and doula. Both were at other births. <br />
<br />
2:34 am Midwife texts that her assistant should arrive any minute. She had already told her back up midwife to head our way.<br />
<br />
2:42 am Midwife assistant is here and checks Bea's heart tones; she sounds good.<br />
<br />
2:53 am Walt lets doula know we are ready for her to come. The client she is with is still in labor so she sends her back up.<br />
<br />
2:54 am I am dancing/swaying with Walt through the pressure waves. Using horse lips to help keep me from pushing; I really wanted my body to spontaneously push, so I held off as long as I could with any pushing on purpose. And also I just knew we had a while to go, so pushing so early would just exhaust and frustrate me.<br />
<br />
3:20 am Somewhere around in here the backup midwife arrives. She offers to check to see how dilated I am, but I have no desire to know, so I decline. She and the midwife assistant ask if I think they have time to set up the birth pool and would I like them to do that. I am pretty sure we have quite a ways to go, so I say I think there is time, and I would like them to set up the pool. Later I find out that they were pretty sure there was not enough time; the backup midwife described me as catching my breath with some of the waves like I was starting to get a pushing urge. But, bless them, they started setting the pool up! What a great team we had!<br />
<br />
3:29 am Suddenly there is a head! And I am saying, "There's a head! Somebody catch it! Catch it!". I have a death grip on Walt as we are still standing and swaying next to the toilet, so the backup midwife rushes in from the bedroom where they were just uncurling the hose for the birth pool and holds Bea's head and shoulder.<br />
<br />
3:31 am The rest of Bea is born and the backup midwife hands her to the midwife assistant who is standing by with a towel. The cord is shorter, so they can't bring her to my chest, but they get me sitting down and put her on my belly. I have a gush of blood shortly after she is born when the placenta releases. The cord pulses for a few more minutes and when it stops they clamp and Walt cuts her free.<br />
<br />
We decide to see if we can get the placenta out (Madeline's placenta took another 13 hours to come out after she was born...my body took a break to sleep for the night and then it came out first thing the next morning). I feel like standing and it comes out easily with a couple pushes.<br />
<br />
About this time my midwife and her other assistant arrive along with the backup doula. I have quite a team around me! Bea and I get in the bath tub to hang out and rinse off. We go get in bed for a bit for a bottom check (no tears!) and Bea nurses for the first time. They do the newborn exam: 9 pounds 2 ounces!<br />
<br />
The team really wants me to pee to make sure all is working well. I am feeling a bit lightheaded so we use a rolling office chair to get me from the bed to the toilet; once on the toilet nothing happens so I get in the tub to see if the water will help me relax. Finally after 30-45 minutes of trying I pee and have no trouble walking back to bed.<br />
<br />
Walt and I could not believe we had a baby after only 2.5 hours of labor! My doula pointed out that my Hypnobabies training probably helped me make it through the first stage of labor without even really noticing it. The gushes of fluid around midnight were probably from contractions...and I couldn't even feel them! Woohoo!<br />
<br />
I have to say that even though the last 2.5 hours of labor quickly became very intense, I don't think I could actually call it pain. It was uncomfortable (and did I mention intense?), but not painful. I credit the things I learned from Bradley training with my first baby and Hypnobabies and Ina May Gaskin's Guide to Childbirth among many other resources that emphasized relaxation and working with the body for giving me tools to manage a very intense time without losing my cool to fear. And Walt; sure glad I had my man to literally cling to.<br />
<br />
So there is Bea's birth story!Kimberlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218772609602287535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7504659725642458361.post-7726049486960096742010-09-13T09:31:00.004-04:002010-09-13T11:14:03.543-04:00Weekend Recap<span style="font-family: verdana;">Busy Weekend!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Friday night we had dinner with the neighbors. They shared delicious halibut they caught on their recent trip to Alaska. We also had mac and cheese and caesar salad, and I brought </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.squidoo.com/dump-cake-recipe">Cherry Pineapple Dump cake</a><span style="font-family: verdana;"> and vanilla ice cream for dessert.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Saturday we loaded up the neighbor's truck with tailgating supplies and 6 of us headed to the K-State/Missouri game. We snagged a parking spot in view of the jumbo tron, set up the canopy and enjoyed the game from the comfort of our camp chairs with plates full of smoked brisket (oh yes, even the smoker came along), potato salad, </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2009/10/healthy-delicious-spinach-and-cannellini-bean-dip-football-snacks-parties.html">spinach and cannellini bean dip</a><span style="font-family: verdana;">, guacamole, taco bean dip, sugar cookies shaped like footballs and </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.collegefootballhistory.com/kansas_state/history.htm">Powercat heads</a><span style="font-family: verdana;">, chocolate chip cookies and </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/bettycrockerrecipes/3307399156/">smores bars</a><span style="font-family: verdana;">.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">This was my second tailgating experience ever with last week's catered meal at Walt's company's tent being my first, and I must say I'm hooked. There is something so festive about sitting under the tent watching footballs flying through the air and seeing so many people out enjoying themselves. I am quite enjoying K-State's signature purple. It makes this girl happy to see the parking lots, people, vehicles and everything else you can imagine blanketed in such a lovely color as purple.</span><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi21I-gqgdbhDtzNFn5W4HgnWzo8PlInlc2zZ3HwtEH01OnDjD4dwBcV53w2PMzgLc5d_dNhgTyb0tkN4_r2IXlR2oW9LQkEzIwsTZip-0IVuWhItSLUfrgzx6Aza_1ljuPd7wgSrS6NAfq/s1600/K+with+Jenny.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi21I-gqgdbhDtzNFn5W4HgnWzo8PlInlc2zZ3HwtEH01OnDjD4dwBcV53w2PMzgLc5d_dNhgTyb0tkN4_r2IXlR2oW9LQkEzIwsTZip-0IVuWhItSLUfrgzx6Aza_1ljuPd7wgSrS6NAfq/s320/K+with+Jenny.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516415300749528962" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: verdana;">Stadium, jumbo tron and lots of purple visible in background!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Sunday Walt went fishing with a neighbor (can you tell that we landed in a great neighborhood with fun people?), and I used the morning to relax with some tv. In the afternoon I walked the 2.6 miles to </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.radinascoffee.com/">Radina's</a><span style="font-family: verdana;"> in Aggieville for a fancy coffee drink. Only when I got there I was so hot and thirsty that I couldn't stomach the idea of a coffee drink, but water and a raspberry lemonade granita sounded just right. I pondered the idea of walking 2 miles any time I feel the need for a treat; this could be the beginning of a great workout plan. Walt picked me up on the way home for a total of 4.86 miles walked.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">We rounded out the day and the weekend with a couple German beers with the neighbors to start our Oktoberfest mini tour at </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.oldchicago.com/">Old Chicago</a><span style="font-family: verdana;"> and pizza and pepperoni rolls from </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.hy-vee.com/">Hy-Vee's</a><span style="font-family: verdana;"> Italian Express.</span>Kimberlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218772609602287535noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7504659725642458361.post-38735335487268861492010-07-12T22:48:00.002-04:002010-07-12T23:11:39.989-04:00Summah-timeIt's July. In Kansas. Which is not as hot as July in South Carolina yet, and for that we are extremely grateful. <br /><br />Here's a quick update:<br /><br />We moved to Kansas. Manhattan, Kansas, in fact. January 26 we loaded up a U-haul and hit the road, pulling over long enough to drop a sweet pup at the cargo area of the Atlanta airport, so he could fly to his new home in Tucson, Arizona, where we hear he is extremely happy playing with his new doggie friend Oscar the boxer mix (I think!)!<br /><br />January 28 we pulled into our new driveway in frigid Kansas. The wind blows a whole lot in Kansas during the winter, by the way, which we did not realize until we moved there. And it makes it significantly colder than a South Carolina winter. Brrr.<br /><br />Almost 6 months later here we are still in Kansas and loving it. We miss our family and friends and church and small group, but we feel like we are right where we need to be right now and that is a blessing.<br /><br />Oscar, the dachshund, had to be put to sleep Wednesday, March 10, 6 weeks after we moved. It was so very sad; he had a tumor that kept him from eating or drinking and there was nothing that could be done to improve his quality of life. It happened very quickly; the tumor was suddenly big enough to bother him and he was put to sleep the next day. I still hadn't found a job, so it was very hard to lose my little shadow who kept me company every day at home. I am thankful he didn't languish and suffer.<br /><br />We have since gained a cat, Molly. She is very fluffy and quite affectionate, and while she isn't Oscar she is lovely to have around. I quite like her.<br /><br />The girls we were caring for last fall went home December 22. I enjoyed the peace and quiet, but I missed them! They are with us this summer; we are going on our fourth week of summer fun and, boy, now I wistfully dream about the peace and quiet sometimes :) But we are so glad they are here! We have been to the splash park (free! I love Manhattan, KS!), several playgrounds, the recycling center (anything can be an adventure, right?), the farmer's market and the Hawaiian ice stand several times. We still need to visit the zoo and the new city pool with the big slides. And we need to eat a lot more ice cream.<br /><br />Tonight I made an amazing dinner. Not necessarily because I am amazing, but because I had amazing recipes to use. We had:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2010/06/healthy-delicious-white-bean-and-mushroom-ragout-recipe.html">White Bean and Mushroom Ragout</a> over polenta; I used the instructions for polenta from <a href="http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2010/03/vegetarian-polenta-with-a-leek-and-mushroom-ragu-recipe.html">this recipe</a>. I just used some whole grain corn meal I had on hand, and it worked wonderfully.<br /><br />Oh. my. goodness. It was delicious. The girls loved it. Hubs and I loved it. It was flippin' delicious. I will be making this again.<br /><br />I miss you bloggy folks. I gotta get my bloggy mojo back.<br /><br />Happy Summer!Kimberlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218772609602287535noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7504659725642458361.post-87111336699226988822010-03-31T11:45:00.000-04:002010-03-31T12:46:18.745-04:00Birthday!<div><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Wow...if I wait 3 more days then I can say I took a 5-month hiatus from my blog whereas blogging after 4 months and 20-something days makes it totally obvious that I was just a slacker. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Now you know the truth. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Stuff happened, and I'll blog about that later, but first here's a post that has been languishing in my drafts folder since about November 20.</span></span><br /><br />------------------------------------------------<br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">7 weeks ago we added 2 younguns to our house. And we're all still alive to tell about it.</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">One morning last week during the rush out the door to school I reached the zenith of my desire to inflict bodily harm on a certain 7-year-old, and I don't just mean a simple spanking. I wanted to hurt that kid. You will be proud to know that I didn't.</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Really I don't know that you should be proud; I'm an adult, so giving in to my desire to inflict bodily harm cannot be an option...unless I'm inflicting my own bodily with harm by eating a cone full of ice cream for lunch...which I did today (*bliss). You will be relieved, maybe, or less likely to call the authorities if I go on to say that instead of inflicting bodily harm I dropped her off at school...ha, take that, kid.</span><br /></div><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">And I simmered down and that was a good thing.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">November 6 was my 28th birthday! 28...sounds so weird. Its been 10 years since my age had an 8 in it. And a lot has changed since then. But I don't feel so different, you know?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Hubs decided to make me a birthday dessert. You may remember the </span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://seashellsandsilver.blogspot.com/2008/11/my-birfday.html">picture perfect chocolate cake</a><span style="font-family:arial;"> he made last year. I had forgotten all about it until I saw it again on the blog. That's why I need a blog. So I can remember all the sweet things hubs does for me.</span><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb2g_jplFzFe8xbP6bZ65OV1GnRWLuK8z2jyUC7xguFLCr1kFmb1AAYSqam8PVFkgxynav6fkEkWps_KNrrCHJr2CHIC8OPHU2NfmD7yIpYNkSEaMOZ52NPkFHCjcgFzOlkxoTWTroao6t/s1600/pie.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb2g_jplFzFe8xbP6bZ65OV1GnRWLuK8z2jyUC7xguFLCr1kFmb1AAYSqam8PVFkgxynav6fkEkWps_KNrrCHJr2CHIC8OPHU2NfmD7yIpYNkSEaMOZ52NPkFHCjcgFzOlkxoTWTroao6t/s400/pie.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454833837812274162" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">He asked what I wanted; I produced the recipe for </span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://www.bhg.com/recipe/pies/pumpkin-chocolate-cheesecake-pie/">Pumpkin Chocolate Cheesecake pie</a><span style="font-family:arial;"> from my way-too-extensive recipe file (recipes go in, but do they ever come out...).</span><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEZ9OAwjs3BgiM6YZ6FmFMNCKnWbfI2KYGSUUAJsTiiCkSZAvQQCIczZoesnBYwgfanLxU5Zwc2x1zEAVmPV_hW0xDKX7e14cjmGymx8uSev3N_NJnERc9Hy1WEtOAa8iZNMP1hPo1UDD0/s1600/Kfo+show+pie.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 333px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEZ9OAwjs3BgiM6YZ6FmFMNCKnWbfI2KYGSUUAJsTiiCkSZAvQQCIczZoesnBYwgfanLxU5Zwc2x1zEAVmPV_hW0xDKX7e14cjmGymx8uSev3N_NJnERc9Hy1WEtOAa8iZNMP1hPo1UDD0/s400/Kfo+show+pie.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454833828812625938" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">He made it happen!</span><span style="font-family:arial;"> It was SO good!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Yes I shared it with the girls.</span><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLto-pEER9cbE4d7XsKRkkiFJ802RKPHuh6CxqJU8KbKzk7Jr5fSH8b8s197-Ptn8UC3tk4eToAAePOVGUJac-2_xb0dIli4NZJMELVHAGpNSM4hXOXOXYqEkPuUzKGWY0ytCnmF1JUb_g/s1600/Chelsea+eatin+pie.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 322px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLto-pEER9cbE4d7XsKRkkiFJ802RKPHuh6CxqJU8KbKzk7Jr5fSH8b8s197-Ptn8UC3tk4eToAAePOVGUJac-2_xb0dIli4NZJMELVHAGpNSM4hXOXOXYqEkPuUzKGWY0ytCnmF1JUb_g/s400/Chelsea+eatin+pie.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454833826911008498" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">But only the tiniest slices ever.</span><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD4sO5TIPDL4IxOLBSN4IpI1uKt1UDre3CbSFX6uoCBFMyOC6zw6pyz5ENlnwCIfW-xPhIIZppim-b93zKBcA-ljnwnRm-Z5JPIZmKumx5kYNS40zcP4JNmW5tsZ6ask5yuv1eOBTat8ER/s1600/Shania+eatin+pie.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 354px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD4sO5TIPDL4IxOLBSN4IpI1uKt1UDre3CbSFX6uoCBFMyOC6zw6pyz5ENlnwCIfW-xPhIIZppim-b93zKBcA-ljnwnRm-Z5JPIZmKumx5kYNS40zcP4JNmW5tsZ6ask5yuv1eOBTat8ER/s400/Shania+eatin+pie.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454833631668902722" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Refined sugar is not good for our kids, folks. I had to eat it all...for the good of the children...</span><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9MQ0eZxzSQcAIswTXu7r3gkL6MxSIwox6agPz3pT8sMuKbo-Vpmq4Pj_bf2plaoGUudh10gTlOGTWnTt2Qm4BGqyLMXdXmfX55g5KuRPmQQapdxxnJNLhbCWemWJxt6qMb5KP8kcISHrl/s1600/Walt+eyeing+pie.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 374px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9MQ0eZxzSQcAIswTXu7r3gkL6MxSIwox6agPz3pT8sMuKbo-Vpmq4Pj_bf2plaoGUudh10gTlOGTWnTt2Qm4BGqyLMXdXmfX55g5KuRPmQQapdxxnJNLhbCWemWJxt6qMb5KP8kcISHrl/s400/Walt+eyeing+pie.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454833626209888082" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Because he made it I let hubs play with a piece...</span><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI8OLlejEFFuk0rJnVXPQg3F1mVFHQFP8CbctCA2F80M8L2DfobW9eHxCBcnO9FV54sXqxpO6hbrPlhUejqzDmid7639vTyOHtTEmVpQbfZXRKCLTTHBi_A947y16I7wxhlfVULNIZnOGt/s1600/Walt+eatin+pie.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 398px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI8OLlejEFFuk0rJnVXPQg3F1mVFHQFP8CbctCA2F80M8L2DfobW9eHxCBcnO9FV54sXqxpO6hbrPlhUejqzDmid7639vTyOHtTEmVpQbfZXRKCLTTHBi_A947y16I7wxhlfVULNIZnOGt/s400/Walt+eatin+pie.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454833619485610162" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Poor scared pie.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">"They" say that you should photograph slices of things with the point facing you, as if the food were looking at you (do I want my food looking at me?), so that the viewer feels connected with the item in the photograph.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwnqAMXQBZZhmhNSIfKzDFtiV850I58ByzOLcwOgtSQqv3pOnA6TsIXkCgDVnb6fkEnfaujXmTwOobEk9m-K1voIPT6lvreq63o3IsXFRtO_qVPVcbD9Yo8D4tYxbzvb7fOpD2kiRRPpfT/s1600/bday+pie+slice.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 326px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwnqAMXQBZZhmhNSIfKzDFtiV850I58ByzOLcwOgtSQqv3pOnA6TsIXkCgDVnb6fkEnfaujXmTwOobEk9m-K1voIPT6lvreq63o3IsXFRtO_qVPVcbD9Yo8D4tYxbzvb7fOpD2kiRRPpfT/s400/bday+pie+slice.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454833616562477986" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">This piece of pie is almost looking at you...its looking at something over your left shoulder.</span><br /><br /><div> </div><div> </div>Kimberlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218772609602287535noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7504659725642458361.post-46804739190632850662009-11-03T11:22:00.004-05:002009-11-03T11:46:10.301-05:00A Kinder, Gentler Halloween<span style="font-family:arial;">Bank situation solved: 2 empty Polaner All Fruit jelly jars (it doesn't have high fructose corn syrup in it...can you send sypathetic thoughts to hubs? sometimes I think I drive him crazy when the grocery list has more do-not-buy notes on it than actual items I'd like to purchase for us to eat) washed out, de-labeled, slots punched in the lids. I decided I wanted the girls to see the money in their banks and thereby perhaps be motivated to save it. Homemade banks working for now!</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Actual conversation between...um...our "friends" this weekend. Yes, our friends related this story to us. This in no way, shape or form happened in our car...you believe me, right??</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Person #1: You do realize you put a plastic bag on a 7-year-old's head?</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Person #2: You do realize you left a 7-year-old with a plastic bag on her head in the car while you picked up the hot-n-ready pizza and Crazy Bread at Little Caesar's?</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Person #1: ...shutup...no more pizza for you</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">So what had happened was...S was Snow White and we used some of the Halloween hair color in a can to make her red/orange hair black. And, while this hair color seems semi-permanent on skin and bathtubs, it sits on hair like a fine powder threatening to "poof" off at the slightest provocation. </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">So in order to keep it under control on the car ride home from the fall festival at church one of the adults in her life may or may not have given her a Bi-Lo grocery bag to put over her hair.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">And the other adult may or may not have left her and her 5-year-old sister (a red and yellow sunflower) in the car while picking up dinner at Little Caesar's. I have it on good authority that they were alone all of 10 minutes...and that they are both alive and well today...</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Please don't call whoever gets called about kids alone in cars with plastic bags over their heads...my "friends" would be so bummed.</span>Kimberlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218772609602287535noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7504659725642458361.post-85831297405448970122009-10-20T13:39:00.001-04:002009-10-20T13:44:40.630-04:00You're 3 feet tall and still pick your nose; you don't scare me...much<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGYBPDMv2Hk4sruD9oHoG49UXomNOYeGxAbdhiiMF0apOpUC_NBdUHBJmFQAC8TIm_ptPlfVZj4tB4gHJyfqk44wyhLYR_eqsfJmzCLuL-SpuYy94gVwOuXo5RPADN6Vei2pboSyS7LK1i/s1600-h/piggy+bank.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394735783668292082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGYBPDMv2Hk4sruD9oHoG49UXomNOYeGxAbdhiiMF0apOpUC_NBdUHBJmFQAC8TIm_ptPlfVZj4tB4gHJyfqk44wyhLYR_eqsfJmzCLuL-SpuYy94gVwOuXo5RPADN6Vei2pboSyS7LK1i/s400/piggy+bank.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#3333ff;"> (Note: We want to get the girls started on an allowance, so they are going to need a bank of some sort for saving their quarters. These are $5 at Old Navy and are serious contenders, but then I start to think about it:</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#3333ff;"></span><br /><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#3333ff;">Ooo! Sparkly piggy banks! They'll love these! </span></em><br /><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#3333ff;"></span></em><br /><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#3333ff;">Wait a minute...they are both going to want pink...and it's going to be a pain to try to keep up with whose pink bank is whose. Hmmm...maybe I make the pink one a special reward?...no, that could totally blow up in my face.</span></em><br /><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#3333ff;"></span></em><br /><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#3333ff;">Ok, I'll get the pink sparkly one for myself, and I'll get silver and green for them...or would they like silver and gold better...<br /></span></em><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#3333ff;">Why is this so hard! If only they had a purple one! Then I'd be set! Yeesh, this parenting thing is hard.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#3333ff;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#3333ff;">I still don't have banks for them.)</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Oy, what a two and a half weeks it has been.<br /><br />Friday, 10/2: S and C move in.<br /><br />Monday, 10/5: S and C go to their new school and hubs and I suddenly become responsible for two little girls with HOMEWORK...I thought I was done with homework when I got that diploma a few years back...<br /><br />Friday, 10/9: We celebrate one week with the girls with dinner at Pizza Hut! This is the first meal S and C have eaten outside of school or our house all week...this makes me happy! We are meanies and only give them water to drink, not the requested Mello Yello and pink lemonade...can you imagine?? Now relax, there will be plenty of time for sodas later...<br /><br />Saturday, 10/10: We eat lunch at Sonic where they have their weekly desserts. S has a chocolate sundae and C has a strawberry sundae. We visit mom-in-law in the hospital. Her best friend is there and offers to watch the girls while we get more clothes from their house and buy school supplies. $84 later...we are appalled. C really needs 20 glue sticks?! Are they eating them for snack or something?!?! We buy 6 glue sticks, with 3 going with each girl. And when we get back to the hospital...C proudly brandishes the Dr. Pepper she's been given. See, I told you sodas would show up somewhere.<br /><br />Tuesday, 10/13: I realize that I am reaching a breaking point. I haven't yelled or snapped at anyone yet, but I can feel its not far off. I start to take everything personally...I'm SURE S is taking 4 hours and 92 gallons of water to brush her teeth because she KNOWS how much it irritates me. C interupts me while I'm talking to the neighbor because she KNOWS steam will come out of my ears. I tell everyone who will listen that my full-moon transformation is about to happen and they better stop me or stand back. I pray...a LOT. I truthfully answer the woman who has been in the hospital for 3 weeks (mom-in-law) when she asks me how its going. Woman in Hospital is so comforting and encouraging...I feel like a selfish, whiny, brat. Dang it...<br /><br />Wednesday, 10/14: I pour it all out to my mom, and she talks me down from the ledge. Lets me know it's ok to feel annoyed. Tells me not to beat myself up. The girls get in the car after school, and I am, very unexpectedly, a new woman. Go ahead, say my name 327 times, challenge each and every boundary I've given you, tell me a few fibs and definitely tell me how, since you've eaten chicken livers before and you don't have good taste, you really can't eat the mushrooms in the lasagna...I can take it.<br /><br />Wednesday is not a breeze, but hubs and I handle it. Thursday morning is not a breeze, but hubs makes the lunches and has them waiting in the fridge, and we got to school early enough for me to walk C in...she'd been asking me to for 2 days.</span><br /><p><span style="font-family:arial;">Sunday, 10/18: We are finally ready for church only to look at the clock and realize we'd have to take the girls to their classes late as the current sermon series isn't appropriate for them (The Elephant in the Pew; this week's focus: pornography). I've done the late thing and its one thing for me to do it to myself, but I really really really want to avoid doing it to them, so we decide we aren't going. I'm feeling grumpy and guilty about this and I tell hubs I'd like for us to do something together to enjoy the beautiful fall day. Being the amazing hubs he is, he finds a local hiking trail all of 15 minutes from our house, and we spend a lovely couple of hours throwing rocks in the lake, picking up leaves, looking at colorful mushrooms and hiking through the woods in the gorgeous sunshine. My soul is recharged.</p></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Can I just be a witness that God is good? Talking to wise people, praying like crazy and working together with my man results in postponed full-moon transformations and much happier Insta-Temporary Parents.<br /><br />WE (using our huge network of support and leaning on God) CAN DO THIS!!</span>Kimberlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218772609602287535noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7504659725642458361.post-40913153487616098782009-10-01T14:30:00.005-04:002009-10-01T14:32:39.078-04:00The ball is rolling...<div style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 10px; MARGIN-LEFT: 10px"><a title="photo sharing" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/moiht/3318220278/"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT: #000000 2px solid; BORDER-TOP: #000000 2px solid; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 2px solid" alt="" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3664/3318220278_d70da338b8_m.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px;font-size:9;" ><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/moiht/3318220278/">Mr. Bouncy Ball!</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/moiht/">moiht</a></span></div>...or bouncing, as it were.<br /><br />We met with the guidance counselor at S & C's current school earlier today. The meeting went so well! She was very helpful:<br /><br />--C is in montessori which has limited spots, and we wanted her to be able to return to montessori when they move back in with mom-in-law. Counselor said she didn't see that being a problem; yay!<br /><br />--We wondered about the best way to ease them into living with us and going to a new school. I wondered about driving them an hour one way to their old school for a few days after they moved in with us. Counselor said since they know hubs and me and have stayed at our house, they would probably be fine starting in their new school right away. We'll drive them by the school this weekend to show them where they'll be, and they should be much more comfortable Monday morning. Yay!<br /><br />We talked to the new school today, and they will be ready for the girls to start Monday. We meet with the counselor at the new school tomorrow afternoon to make sure everything is in place.<br /><br />And tomorrow evening we'll be moving two little girls into our pink guest bedroom (the one with the snot on the walls).<br /><br />Looking forward to the adventure!<br clear="all">Kimberlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218772609602287535noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7504659725642458361.post-34138931998009489312009-10-01T07:00:00.001-04:002009-10-01T07:00:07.582-04:00The Ghost of Christmas (Presents) Yet to Come<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT2hyphenhyphenzVWpPgtpxp0YxZFLqt82Q-WOk6rDqr_e8Zcznf4kd-Lkp9MephwddrGrDqsbk17RF1u-Z0Oe7OxbK7qhA0G_0TlAn3tDan77HGZTgrogyT2xJe8JkMgcNIou2OAuVAW4yETHzkdaR/s1600-h/christmas+tree.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387370656054541026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT2hyphenhyphenzVWpPgtpxp0YxZFLqt82Q-WOk6rDqr_e8Zcznf4kd-Lkp9MephwddrGrDqsbk17RF1u-Z0Oe7OxbK7qhA0G_0TlAn3tDan77HGZTgrogyT2xJe8JkMgcNIou2OAuVAW4yETHzkdaR/s400/christmas+tree.jpg" border="0" /></a><em><span style="font-family:arial;">(Picture: </span></em><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/fotomaster/72205722/"><em><span style="font-family:arial;">aMacHan</span></em></a><em><span style="font-family:arial;">)</span></em></div><br /> <span style="font-family:arial;">I've been thinking ahead to Christmas...which is only 84 days away!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">We don't always get S and C stuff for their birthdays and Christmas as they have so many toys already. In the past we have avoided giving stuff by giving experiences. One year we took them to </span><a href="http://www.monkeyjoes.com/"><span style="font-family:arial;">Monkey Joe's</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;">; last year we took them to the </span><a href="http://www.georgiaaquarium.org/"><span style="font-family:arial;">Georgia Aquarium</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;">; I still owe S a trip to a tea room for her 6th birthday...and she turned 7 this past August...it's official: I'm the worst sister-in-law ever.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Anyway, I've been brainstorming what to give the girls for Christmas, and I think I've got it: a trip to see The Nutcracker Ballet!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Its in early early December, and it might be just the thing for S & C! They love all things pink and princess-y and The Nutcracker has all that plus some excitement, too.</span><br /><br /><div><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/davidyuweb/2256786877/in/set-72157603886455368/"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387370652748620114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtfiitgIvzCzZdJEyy5ougz8rwRVzZEFWkFQ5SusbOSFnhJGcAbVmbGGqHD1Nnoaw65slZ_eD6WkHWAxlraq02KhWtoAl4SnLYY0gWWkVO1YZW-Mu5K-3Zat7k7lpBbQQOFIVZx5lruAZe/s400/ballet.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"><em>(Picture: </em></span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/davidyuweb/2256786877/in/set-72157603886455368/"><span style="font-family:arial;"><em>daviduweb</em></span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"><em>)</em></span> </div><div>.</div><div><span style="font-family:arial;">I mean, just look at this picture. What pink-princess-loving little girl wouldn't be beside herself with delight at a night of ballerinas in tutus?!?</span></div><div><div><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">I was introduced to the story of <a href="http://www.nutcrackerballet.net/html/nutcracker_story.html">The Nutcracker</a> very early in life, and I love the story, the ballet, the music, all of it to this day. I can see us getting all dressed up for the ballet and going somewhere for hot chocolate and dessert before...I would have loved that as a little girl! Shoot, I would that love that <em>now </em>as a big girl.</span><br /></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;">On the other hand the SC Children's Theatre is putting on the play Dear Santa, and it sounds pretty cute...and it could give the ballet a run for its money...</span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:arial;">...</span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:arial;">...</span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:arial;">But I'm just so excited about the Nutcracker!!</span></div></div></div>Kimberlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218772609602287535noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7504659725642458361.post-72706439793803665292009-09-30T14:37:00.006-04:002009-09-30T15:42:07.083-04:00Great Expectations and other fantasies<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lovedaylemon/1129690859/in/set-72157601458392446/"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387346831219579618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 346px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTkFxJGfMkLUcqN8ElKtzwtUiyipunD_3AEQtghpqT6tuuzF-BTlvOwI6HQMWhjL3F2cciwXIEq-DpAZziGC9MLoe-Ppr9jSsVIUWUlR-V7ChUYISt5Ra02giTPWQXvtvo5TSJTks_hT-C/s400/kids+party.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:arial;">(Picture: </span></em><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lovedaylemon/1129690859/in/set-72157601458392446/"><em><span style="font-family:arial;">lovedaylemon</span></em></a><em><span style="font-family:arial;">)</span></em></div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Thank you so much for your encouraging comments on <a href="http://seashellsandsilver.blogspot.com/2009/09/god-is-good-or-seeing-his-hand-in-crazy.html">my last post</a>. It's so cool to send something out on the web and have other people respond; it makes my day!! Thank you!</span> <span style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">My mind has been racing making plans for the time S and C come stay with us.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">I have such GREAT expectations for their time in our home. Here is a list of what I want to do:</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">-Set up routines: morning, after school, bedtime</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">-Cook together</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">-Let them choose a couple recipes each month to make.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">-Give them household responsibilities appropriate for their ages (5 and 7).</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">-Read aloud a chapter per day from a chapter book most days of the week.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">-Read them a bedtime story each night.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">-Watch very little tv.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">-Pray with them everyday.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">-Learn about God every day.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">-Feed them healthy foods for the majority of their meals with us (I'm expecting there to be a pizza night or two...or three).</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">-Engage them in some sort of physical activity most days of the week--walks around town, trips to the park, tossing a ball around...got any ideas for me??</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">-Encourage their creativity and their desire to learn (this is a bit vague...I need some concrete strategies).</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">-Listen to them.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">-Chill out and enjoy them.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">I feel somewhat hesitant to share all this with anyone because I hear parents so often say things like, "You'll see when you have kids of your own, " and giving the impression that its foolish to have expectations of doing much more than shoving food in mouths and playing chauffeur. I don't want to resign myself to the idea that there will be no time to have fun (like the kids in the picture above are having)!</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Do I need a reality check? Do you have some advice or wisdom regarding day-to-day life with kids? I need it!!</span>Kimberlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218772609602287535noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7504659725642458361.post-38012183260629536692009-09-28T11:52:00.006-04:002009-09-28T12:43:19.356-04:00God is good: Or "Seeing his hand in the crazy times"<div align="center"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mathsoup/3356885919/"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386556957268959778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieolO1iBVYDtPOWNRa4b1kg7w9WqK3SvL45-0AGJDaQ8wj4RE7oOUsMnHSWipDFdDEK7Uvm4qr6X-_1r82r5tbIrhSYw0mxXzCmVumElY08-w8YrtBJhu6xYZiFonUnvwF6TdWIYMVKHhq/s400/balloon.jpg" border="0" /></a> (<em>Picture by </em><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mathsoup/3356885919/"><em>caity sparkles</em></a><em> via Flickr</em>)<br /><br /><br /><div align="left"><span style="font-family:arial;">So you see that </span><a href="http://seashellsandsilver.blogspot.com/2009/09/close-encounters-of-kid-kind.html"><span style="font-family:arial;">last post</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;">, there? Where I talk about what a great weekend we had with some precious little girls? Yeah, that one. I wrote it last Monday and had it set to auto-post Tuesday morning. Ummm...</span></div><div align="left"><br /></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:arial;">Those little girls may be coming to live with us for the next few months. </span></div><div align="left"><br /></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:arial;">Their mommy broke her leg Monday evening. She is also Hub's mom and single mom to these two girls she has adopted from within the family.</span></div><div align="left"><br /></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:arial;">When she got to the hospital she found out she was diabetic.</span></div><div align="left"><br /></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:arial;">Surgery to put a plate and pins in the leg on Tuesday evening went very well. But they didn't like how fast her heart was beating. So Thursday they sent her to the bigger hospital nearby for a heart catheterization.</span></div><div align="left"><br /></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:arial;">Friday during the heart cath they found blockage in the heart and immediately sent her in for emergency triple bypass surgery.</span></div><div align="left"><br /></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:arial;">Her birthday was Saturday (see festive picture above).</span></div><div align="left"><br /></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:arial;">She is doing very well. She got to talk to her girls by phone yesterday for the first time since that eventful Monday night.</span></div><div align="left"><br /></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:arial;">When a leg is broken the patient walks using crutches or a walker, putting much of the weight on the arms and none of the weight on the broken leg for 8 weeks. </span></div><div align="left"><br /></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:arial;">When a patient has their chest opened up for surgery they cannot put more than 5 pounds of weight on their arms for 6 weeks. </span></div><div align="left"><br /></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:arial;">Her unbroken left leg needs to seize the day and really come through for her. I'm believing in YOU, left leg!!</span></div><div align="left"><br /></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:arial;">Thankfully my God is a very big God, way bigger than the problem of figuring out rehab with only one weight-bearing limb.</span></div><div align="left"><br /></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:arial;">My God takes the very bad situation of a broken leg and uses it to help doctors find diabetes and heart disease lying in wait, undetected, ready to do their worst when least expected.</span></div><div align="left"><br /></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:arial;">My God prepared hubs and I for the possibility of taking care of two of the cutest little girls you'll ever see. I was driven to find out ways to make their weekend stay the best it could be. Now I know who was the Driver.</span></div><div align="left"><br /></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:arial;">My mother-in-law, Hubs and I have been surrounded by love and support from our friends and family. So many people have been to the hospital to see her or wait with us during surgery. More people than we can count are praying for her. She'll need every prayer she can get.</span></div><div align="left"><br /></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:arial;">She'll need a lot of fight in her to get through the coming weeks. But she can do it. Her God is bigger than everything she's about to face.</span></div><div align="left"><br /></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:arial;">Romans 8:28 says, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." I see God working the crazy things that have happened these last few days to Mom-in-law's good because she has given her life to him, put her trust in him, and she loves him.</span></div><div align="left"><br /></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:arial;">So the girls might be staying with us until their mom can take care of them again by herself.</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:Arial;">.</span></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:arial;">By the way, yesterday I discovered snot wiped on the wall of my pink guest bedroom right next to the futon bed where the girls slept...the futon that has a full box of tissues on the arm next to where their heads were. Bless their hearts; I will be discussing with them how that will never happen ever again.</span></div></div>Kimberlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218772609602287535noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7504659725642458361.post-90567049815151138412009-09-22T07:00:00.002-04:002009-09-22T11:37:21.503-04:00Close Encounters of the Kid Kind<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS38YstYSXZp_xxpRSrXZX1RrekiO68WLFUyEX2oRYyaFBhK-yRSCJW2M5STW4moZudjWhaTD-eUxvtxzOzjezKsp9zZg5vHVda2iC6J_VQx6C_CSP7V7rglrUsOCxuEiL5FFK8W-a8Lne/s1600-h/easter+dresses.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383976547100855090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 297px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS38YstYSXZp_xxpRSrXZX1RrekiO68WLFUyEX2oRYyaFBhK-yRSCJW2M5STW4moZudjWhaTD-eUxvtxzOzjezKsp9zZg5vHVda2iC6J_VQx6C_CSP7V7rglrUsOCxuEiL5FFK8W-a8Lne/s400/easter+dresses.jpg" border="0" /></a><em><span style="font-family:arial;">S and C in their Easter dresses April 2009. Picture by me.</span></em> </div><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Be warned: this post is definitely of the rambling discussion/analysis type.</span><br /><br /><p><span style="font-family:arial;">This past weekend Hub's little sisters came to stay with us: S is 7 and C is 5. It has been over a year since they stayed last, and that last visit was more of a battle than a fun time with cute little girls. I was determined that this visit would be better. </span></p><br /><p><span style="font-family:arial;">I did my homework. We really like </span><a href="http://abc.go.com/shows/supernanny"><span style="font-family:arial;">Supernanny</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> Jo Frost, and we take notes for the future when watching her show; we used her house rules, naughty seat and bedtime routine. I went online and found some strategies for getting kids to eat food that is good for them. I also wanted to spend more time with them than I did last time, so I decided to involve them in whatever I was doing: meal prep, chores etc. I felt armed and ready.</span></p><br /><p><span style="font-family:arial;">And the weekend was great! </span></p><br /><p><span style="font-family:arial;">We went over the house rules as soon as we got home on Friday, and I only had to remind them once or twice about the rules the rest of the weekend. No one had to sit on the naughty seat all weekend. The bedtime routine worked very well, though I think I'd like to have a very small nightlight in their room next time and an option for separating them if they won't settle down and go to sleep.</span></p><br /><p><span style="font-family:arial;">When it came to mealtimes I used the philosophy I found in a comment on </span><a href="http://www.momversation.com/episodes/are-your-kids-bad-eaters"><span style="font-family:arial;">this</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> Momversations blog post: We (the adults) decide what and when, they (the kids) decide if and how much. I also resolved to have them as involved as possible in making our meals because I know my palette expanded once I started working with ingredients and cooking for myself.</span></p><br /><p><span style="font-family:arial;">We made black bean and cheese quesadillas, hummus and pasta salad chock full of veggies. They helped cook on the stove top, practiced their cutting skills (supervised of course), used the microwave, used the food processor, tasted the ingredients. They were excited to be involved, and I was glad we could spend time together in a way that made all of us happy (I have forgotten how to enjoy the fine art of playing dolls, so a lot of time spent that way would be very hard on me).</span></p><br /><p><span style="font-family:arial;">There were zero mealtime battles this weekend. They were given a plate containing one or two bites of each of the foods we were having with the meal and told that they could eat if and what they wanted to, but anyone wanting seconds of anything had to present a clean plate. And there was no bribing with dessert because there was no way we were subjecting ourselves to those little cuties hopped up on sugar. They had about 3 ounces of chocolate milk Sunday morning and that was it for the sweet stuff.</span></p><br /><p><span style="font-family:arial;">Last night when we met Hub's mom to hand them over she said, "Kimberly, why are they wearing mismatched clothes!!" I told her that was one area I left to them; we were so strict otherwise we had to at least let them decide what to wear. And we <em>were</em> strict as far as I (a women who has no children of her own) can tell, but the boundaries resulted in a fun weekend in which they knew what was expected of them, and we were all free to enjoy each other.</span></p><br /><p><span style="font-family:arial;">Was it a perfect weekend? Goodness, no. Someone (I'm pretty sure I know who) drew on the car seat with white crayon; someone blew her nose on Hub's towel (after being told repeatedly to use a tissue, not her bare finger), lied about it and only admitted to it after a very calm, yet serious, heart-to-heart about trust and responsibility (as in once you blow your nose on someone's towel you need to put it in the clothes hamper and get them a new towel); they poked and bothered each other etc. Basically they were 5 and 7-year-old kids.</span></p><br /><p><span style="font-family:arial;">Was I perfect? Goodness, no. The one time when the naughty seat was not an option and the situation was particularly intense I threatened spankings on bare behinds unlike any spankings they had ever previously received. Hubs let me know later he thought that was a bit extreme. I agreed. I was very calm and spoke in even, measured tones when delivering this threat and thankfully they did not test me, but I'm sure I can come up with a better alternative should that particular situation come up again.</span></p><br /><p><span style="font-family:arial;">I told Hubs that while they have certainly matured since we last spent a lot of time with them, I'm pretty sure I have changed more than they have which was key to us having an enjoyable weekend.</span></p><br /><p><span style="font-family:arial;">As enjoyable as it was Hubs and I were definitely beat when it was all over...glad to see 'em come and glad to see 'em go :)</span></p>Kimberlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218772609602287535noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7504659725642458361.post-30417430558603639992009-09-18T12:11:00.008-04:002009-09-21T13:53:49.440-04:00Baby Pictures<span style="font-family:arial;">I've mentioned my <a href="http://seashellsandsilver.blogspot.com/2009/04/and-they-say-theres-no-hope-for-our.html">brother</a> before. He's a pretty good guy and doesn't deserve what I'm about to do. But am I going to let that stop me?</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">While in Arizona <a href="http://seashellsandsilver.blogspot.com/2009/08/how-bout-them-cowgirls.html">last month</a> my grandma scanned a few of her pictures for me:</span><br /><br /><a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2452/3931219261_0c06d2162f_o.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 411px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 309px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2452/3931219261_0c06d2162f_o.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:arial;">There's little bro with dad and me. That wrinkled forehead tells me he's thinking away on something important. Maybe the formula for world peace.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">See that woven couch we're sitting on? When I was little I loved to take my safety scissors and cut threads and pull them out of the woven pattern. It did not occur to me that I was vandalizing property. It was just something fun to do! Right along with the scratches little bro and I put on the hood of car using metal poles (I have no idea what they were from) to scrape off the ice one winter...we just knew we were being the most helpful children ever.</span><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2582/3931210631_545889955f_o.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 312px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 486px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2582/3931210631_545889955f_o.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> Brother's face here says, "Oh god, grandma...why are you standing there taking pictures? This maniac you left me alone with put a bow on my head. Save me...please...for the love of all that is good". Circumstantial evidence points to me planting the bow, but that bow looks way too perfect to have been made by a 6-year-old...could there have been Mom-involvement here?<br /></span><br /><br /><div><br /><div><a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3091/3931987558_dff6d6f51b_o.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 426px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 313px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3091/3931987558_dff6d6f51b_o.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">"Mom, I know I'm just a fat little baby boy and I can't talk yet, but please tell me you see the desperation in my eyes. She's making me look at her jewelry!! I should not be subjected to this torture just because I can't walk away." You can see just to the left of my arm a section of upholstery that had an encounter with me and my safety scissors.<br /></span><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2613/3773186799_932d54e893_b.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 512px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 443px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2613/3773186799_932d54e893_b.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;">And here he is some 21 years later, graduating college. So proud of you bro!</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;">.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;">I am very blessed that we are close. I guess he forgave me for the hair bows and the jewelry and that time I dressed him up in my dance class outfit...he was just the prettiest little 3-year-old in that ruffly skirt, I couldn't resist. :D</span></div></div></div></div></div>Kimberlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218772609602287535noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7504659725642458361.post-31186882921158130102009-09-16T14:37:00.005-04:002009-09-16T15:00:32.159-04:00A little of this, a little of that<span style="font-family:arial;">I'm here today with a meandering post of pictures taken with my phone.</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdBDakHir2QNHulkmP084kZfKg24sr5H-bfC377444WlZOBVkkkUyLGmlPwnNkWRF9ORnd9rtPOc2MJavqHSbQmBQSAfLZc1ZQ1EP_iyKll69AJZNGAE0cM2aGW_w-afxOxa1XDBgow376/s1600-h/oscar+pillows.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382136442350847010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 357px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdBDakHir2QNHulkmP084kZfKg24sr5H-bfC377444WlZOBVkkkUyLGmlPwnNkWRF9ORnd9rtPOc2MJavqHSbQmBQSAfLZc1ZQ1EP_iyKll69AJZNGAE0cM2aGW_w-afxOxa1XDBgow376/s400/oscar+pillows.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">Here we have Oscar. He is an at-least-6-year-old dachshund (we got him from a shelter and couldn't be sure of his age then and people are always saying he looks older, so maybe he is). Here is Oscar's morning routine:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">-Get out of little dog bed beside people bed</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">-Follow Kimberly to see if food will be immediately served.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">-Sit and stare at Kimberly to see if this will induce her to immediately serve food</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">-Give up; find the softest possible place on the couch</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">-Move only when food is served</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">When he's really full of himself he likes to make a small complaining "uhhhhh" sound just under his breath if you disturb him when he is in such a state. Like, if you ever so softly stroke his silken ears...he goes "uhhhhhhh...uhhhhhhh...." with each breath to make it clear that you are surely causing him mental and emotional, if not actual physical, pain. He is spoiled, and its a mystery to me how he got that way.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">I love me some Oscar.</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO-9sKyjamGSqAU5bxxxJRsVnprG7n-5I4EsTZ9VxwPAbkmAWafFtxXel-lNLWg_me4khrkKKxQ10441q_0KVdzOgwmknDMiles0dRonuHywqEoesawz2TsTgmS1mO5r1DW6cdh51fWaKU/s1600-h/unfortunate+boy.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382136438021615394" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 291px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO-9sKyjamGSqAU5bxxxJRsVnprG7n-5I4EsTZ9VxwPAbkmAWafFtxXel-lNLWg_me4khrkKKxQ10441q_0KVdzOgwmknDMiles0dRonuHywqEoesawz2TsTgmS1mO5r1DW6cdh51fWaKU/s400/unfortunate+boy.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">We saw this product in a store that was going out of business. Anything look strange to you?</span></div><div></div><div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje4jO11LH8zyS343ZBFyeTL9ILeaF-CDTD_oV18DAUm3LadrAVuSHFoumvT2lOgpMsa3kn-HeCUSfaqpsZehTF_1Z_DJjpw5PQO06dbcvy1JDr-6J7YMDPjVTQVQuAiB35AZ1vDThvFvLf/s1600-h/boy+close.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382136431132472930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 352px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje4jO11LH8zyS343ZBFyeTL9ILeaF-CDTD_oV18DAUm3LadrAVuSHFoumvT2lOgpMsa3kn-HeCUSfaqpsZehTF_1Z_DJjpw5PQO06dbcvy1JDr-6J7YMDPjVTQVQuAiB35AZ1vDThvFvLf/s400/boy+close.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> How about the 4-year-old with the mustache? Maybe he's in some sort of a costume, but that isn't readily apparant to me, so I rate this picture "Weird".</span></div><div><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6eI56AlaFKI1cIjcwDwtbWz91AkxPSUvwCUJSOSRLpR8q43GuM3d4u1-FnRqlEFjrhRm5VIImtMC9zwdaYZErVqTUyk0kbXhZls26vDDPUDZnDNlW5pC4Qvc9u7IhSvQbuYF7QLHBaV0M/s1600-h/pink+car.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382136422633483250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 235px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6eI56AlaFKI1cIjcwDwtbWz91AkxPSUvwCUJSOSRLpR8q43GuM3d4u1-FnRqlEFjrhRm5VIImtMC9zwdaYZErVqTUyk0kbXhZls26vDDPUDZnDNlW5pC4Qvc9u7IhSvQbuYF7QLHBaV0M/s400/pink+car.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">My favorite colors as a little girl were pink and purple. Can you imagine the hyperventilating had I seen this car way back when? (On the right just behind The Pink and Purple Wonder you can see the front quarter panel of my beloved light blue Blazer. Aren't you glad I told you?)</span></div><div><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg70_GZvovKQvzLucfMDH3jtlR5z2z7CYJ9Xm2LL1c7OoThDz6MX_TX7B0LOmWSrgxKclAESRfMm73v-90rs7DXkJW_3o9210SjTNCdlH_3QCR1hz_Npx_jhUGRQtO1b2jlXPd3qfHOaD5U/s1600-h/scallop.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382136413965930786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 333px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg70_GZvovKQvzLucfMDH3jtlR5z2z7CYJ9Xm2LL1c7OoThDz6MX_TX7B0LOmWSrgxKclAESRfMm73v-90rs7DXkJW_3o9210SjTNCdlH_3QCR1hz_Npx_jhUGRQtO1b2jlXPd3qfHOaD5U/s400/scallop.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">This was enjoyed by Walt and me this past Saturday at the delectable </span><a href="http://www.gritsandgroceries.com/"><span style="font-family:arial;">Grits and Groceries</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;">. This is:</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;">.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;">Miss Linda's Scallops: Pan Seared in a Lemon Caper Sauce with Cheese Grits, Mushrooms and Chopped Bacon.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;">.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;">Yes, all those words need to be capitalized in order to convey the delicious-ness of Miss Linda's Scallops. They were preceded by Hattie Mae's Tomato Pie and followed by a slice of chocolate chess pie. Can I please go back next Saturday and every Saturday after that??</span></div></div></div></div>Kimberlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218772609602287535noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7504659725642458361.post-33382760356111612812009-08-05T10:33:00.005-04:002009-08-15T19:08:00.060-04:00How 'bout them Cowgirls...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxh5l2pcRDM9TmVPrwTU87Rr2Io9w4pQQkeHrZ8Yuh5I5R-CV4HVBSUc4PGC7I7Mr4PgYRnSpjqis9_vfSSzz77QomMGWO4TDWOTaiuICMFXp_M6jodM132Y6aTqxUbQFPewkluCzSGKSb/s1600-h/Cowgirl.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370330656966879618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxh5l2pcRDM9TmVPrwTU87Rr2Io9w4pQQkeHrZ8Yuh5I5R-CV4HVBSUc4PGC7I7Mr4PgYRnSpjqis9_vfSSzz77QomMGWO4TDWOTaiuICMFXp_M6jodM132Y6aTqxUbQFPewkluCzSGKSb/s400/Cowgirl.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;">Despite my daydreams of being a cowgirl that title really has nothing to do with me or what I'm doing except that I am in...</span> </div><div></div><div></div><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg35yBGorvaSpcbSCRGgvimD8CS4LS09oh2jUwVJAb9tfzGe11tmNEG4tDWIrh-HX7dNQgqSEe9rVmftuh_RvNDHaG8-fEhdLchTmGrZCs9tHlFIPIB-xXjo0iCxBabbqGHXPu2hDYRi2Y/s1600-h/Gma+purse.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370327957584913186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg35yBGorvaSpcbSCRGgvimD8CS4LS09oh2jUwVJAb9tfzGe11tmNEG4tDWIrh-HX7dNQgqSEe9rVmftuh_RvNDHaG8-fEhdLchTmGrZCs9tHlFIPIB-xXjo0iCxBabbqGHXPu2hDYRi2Y/s400/Gma+purse.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">(This is my grandma's purse) </span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;">the <strong><span style="color:#ff6600;"><em>Wild West</em></span></strong> visiting my wonderful grandparents for a week.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;">.</span><br /></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;">They live in the honest-to-goodness desert: sand, saguaro cactus, cholla (pronounced "choy-uh") cactus, all manner of other cactus, bunnies, quail, javalinas (wild desert pigs), coyotes and a high yesterday of 111 degrees. I love the desert, even in August!</span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;">.</span><br /></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;">I've been tagging along with Grandpa on his 6 am two-mile walk. This is not stroll, folks; we were pushing a 15-minute mile pace. Don't think that sounds fast? Go outside and try it, and then let me know what you think. And then turn 79 and tell me what you think. He is in better shape than I am!</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;">Here's a bit of what we see on our walk...</span> </div><div></div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6HMEoIaLNK2uooI_LeWZGdG7mBAhtXeGc9mSUYAfILjeTJ03gngJzu7lx-0xFKZRcqFmp2uDICyVDR3bYPvtRls5IutdKZXlkREbkZsfbs-ptgGrXwl-IaklNXrfpaf2P9QZ34RLrNB8/s1600-h/Tues+AM+landscape.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370327949188790338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 140px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6HMEoIaLNK2uooI_LeWZGdG7mBAhtXeGc9mSUYAfILjeTJ03gngJzu7lx-0xFKZRcqFmp2uDICyVDR3bYPvtRls5IutdKZXlkREbkZsfbs-ptgGrXwl-IaklNXrfpaf2P9QZ34RLrNB8/s400/Tues+AM+landscape.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">And a bit of our dinner last night...</span><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht_cLMfQg67bgI17a-Y-1sUfwBI6DwXZmwsa1T1P2WLNUyRVENbeq6qKv7rD8DsUM6tDDTHP8_Wp6HgP-TUtzwbY0GMgzXpz9RUMQciIV4SV3ntXRTurLF5cCB2vOYLHQKk5hug7R4siI/s1600-h/Tues+dinner+fruit.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370327944021810418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht_cLMfQg67bgI17a-Y-1sUfwBI6DwXZmwsa1T1P2WLNUyRVENbeq6qKv7rD8DsUM6tDDTHP8_Wp6HgP-TUtzwbY0GMgzXpz9RUMQciIV4SV3ntXRTurLF5cCB2vOYLHQKk5hug7R4siI/s400/Tues+dinner+fruit.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">And here's Aflac.</span> </div><div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVHI6NHphf18Mwm44dp_kLcnGd6tWuI0wsuIU-ZFJ9p7XZxGK0V_1qGa654n863YZKxgaieqh7BJOjXyAMwICkdtuEWgWtUF9pemYdVLxQmHjP4R68B4xRCa0L7lz4m2v5dKnA3LnNpG8/s1600-h/Aflac.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370327935555102098" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 349px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVHI6NHphf18Mwm44dp_kLcnGd6tWuI0wsuIU-ZFJ9p7XZxGK0V_1qGa654n863YZKxgaieqh7BJOjXyAMwICkdtuEWgWtUF9pemYdVLxQmHjP4R68B4xRCa0L7lz4m2v5dKnA3LnNpG8/s400/Aflac.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:arial;">He earns his keep bobbing around the pool dispensing chlorine to keep the water nice and sparkling clean. He was up for a performance review, so we went for a post-dinner dip to conduct research. He's doing a great job.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Yes, I could get used to life in the desert. Except they did tell me the power was out for 20 hours a few weeks ago...so as long as I had a generator on hand to keep the AC running, I could get used to life in the desert.</span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Kimberlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218772609602287535noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7504659725642458361.post-71091604102046505372009-07-20T10:32:00.008-04:002009-07-30T22:11:01.893-04:00Viva Las Vegas!<span style="font-family:arial;">I recently ran away to Vegas for almost two action-packed days. A college friend got married at the Flamingo hotel, and I had to be there! From her <a href="http://seashellsandsilver.blogspot.com/2009/02/pink-saturday.html">pink save-the-date card</a> to her pink invitation (pictures to come!) to our stay in the Flamingo Hotel (how much more pink does it get??) it was a wonderful love-filled weekend.</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">I left my house at 4:06 am to head to the airport where a pirate was waiting at my gate. I am not kidding you. Here's the only picture I had the nerve to take with my phone:</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfJ4Lm2CHw12bXhVFjz3Ha5ebyJyeNJP9w0BH4aLNdTE6tC8J7y70d1_zQsVpxbxufwv7xekbATNmNFXfbtGsCbNxMnKEdet0Q0aoNh9vc5vnBLINlRNLndZ_QMwev2KfMmDVrzNsF_xg/s1600-h/Pirate.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363484252618435890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 224px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfJ4Lm2CHw12bXhVFjz3Ha5ebyJyeNJP9w0BH4aLNdTE6tC8J7y70d1_zQsVpxbxufwv7xekbATNmNFXfbtGsCbNxMnKEdet0Q0aoNh9vc5vnBLINlRNLndZ_QMwev2KfMmDVrzNsF_xg/s400/Pirate.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">From his black hat complete with jaunty pheasant feather over his long red hair in multiple braids to his slouchy leather boots he was a PIRATE! We finally started boarding the plane, and as I got closer to my aisle seat (18-D) who do you think I spied sitting in 18-F? Have you ever flown to Minnesota with a pirate two seats over?? Someone sat down between us otherwise I might have actually worked up the guts to ask him if he was a real pirate or only pretend.</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">My connecting flight to Vegas had me next to a grandfatherly Asian gentlemen who used to go gamble in Vegas 5 times a year...but now he only goes once a year or so...can you say HIGH ROLLER. (Although, why was he flying coach...) He was very nice and bought my lunch for me (you know those airplanes charge you to for everything now...pretty soon we'll have to put in a quarter to use the bathroom on board), and he and his son had the driver from their hotel drop me off at the Flamingo which saved me $12 on a shuttle van. Ladies, I promise I was on high alert and didn't just go with these guys without really making sure I felt ok about it...I was praying under my breath the whole time, and I didn't feel God trying to warn me it wasn't safe.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">I got to the hotel and met up with the bride-to-be and a couple other friends around 1:30 pm VEGAS time, and we got lunch at Burger Joint right there in the Flamingo.</span><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdRJnXh41mMynOWI31o0wxf1qWfXfmdMvgTjxbPPX541P5F8PIdLQkJ6OJx3jMRXwvh-njKtMc5kFNBkWRs0X0LHH1NsQOhb0Bsr7SPfAop3LuciLISunDj6rB0-jkS-p7JmXlWsK4NEU/s1600-h/Burger+Joint+sign.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363481784950672882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 315px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdRJnXh41mMynOWI31o0wxf1qWfXfmdMvgTjxbPPX541P5F8PIdLQkJ6OJx3jMRXwvh-njKtMc5kFNBkWRs0X0LHH1NsQOhb0Bsr7SPfAop3LuciLISunDj6rB0-jkS-p7JmXlWsK4NEU/s400/Burger+Joint+sign.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;">I had the salmon burger with cucumber dill relish and sour cream on a homemade pesto bun...yes, it was sooo good.</span> </div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSd1IQFg2yZNL2oyUPnDiTdWtblJ6wgKQBudM1KTkHHEVeSdRKSNW31QUb_IV5vzBgNMgQg-TPMIgJXgd1t5tsYOwWAdhnbnptkMXwq-UpdRTz_vggs9zpOxCDU2M8F7Dg99FX1NpUx78/s1600-h/Salmon+burger.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363481781966160914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 308px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSd1IQFg2yZNL2oyUPnDiTdWtblJ6wgKQBudM1KTkHHEVeSdRKSNW31QUb_IV5vzBgNMgQg-TPMIgJXgd1t5tsYOwWAdhnbnptkMXwq-UpdRTz_vggs9zpOxCDU2M8F7Dg99FX1NpUx78/s400/Salmon+burger.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;">Then it was time to lay around one of the Flamingo's pools--there were at least 3--all of which were crammed with TONS of people hanging out. And the water was FRIGID. Of course the high temperature for the day was over 100, so in comparison to the air temperature warm water would probably have felt frigid. After we waded around and lounged on our chairs for a while it was time for dinner. The bride and groom treated all their wedding guests in town Friday night to dinner and cocktails at <a href="http://www.bahamabreeze.com/">Bahama Breeze</a> just down the street from the Flamingo. I can't even tell you how much fun we had combing through the extensive cocktail menu, reading about all sorts of fruity concoctions, picking what we wanted and then passing each around the table for samples. I had a caipirinha, a lemon hurricane and half of a mojito. They were SO good! The buffet dinner was also delicious, and by the end of the night I couldn't eat another bite. </span></div><br /><div><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">We hung out with the bride for a while after dinner. I know what you're thinking: bachelorette craziness in Vegas, right? Wrong. I for one was pretty much less than zero fun for the bride. A bunch of us ladies took her to Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville (also in the hotel) for drinks on the patio overlooking the Strip. I was still full from dinner, so I didn't get anything to drink, but the tiredness finally hit me and I felt like such a zombie that when a friend ordered chips and salsa I ate some to see if they would help me wake up/actually be fun. Incidently the chips and salsa were very good, and I highly recommend them if you ever find yourself at Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville. They did not help wake me up, so about 10:30 two of my roomies and I headed back up to the room to rest for a bit. We rejoined all the ladies in the bride-to-be's room around midnight and then about 1 am I had to call it a night. As I dragged myself in bed around 1:15 am it dawned on me that with the 3 hour time difference it was now 4:15 am at home, and I had been up for 24 hours (minus a 1-hour nap at 11 pm)!! I am just not fun enough to do that kind of thing anymore. </span></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;">Wouldn't you know my eyes popped open at 6:56 am Saturday morning...our room full of 4 ladies was up, dressed and ready to go by 8 am. We were SO proud of ourselves. We went with the bride to the Paris hotel for breakfast at <a href="http://www.monamigabi.com/">Mon Ami Gabi</a> and oh-my-gosh it was SO good. I definitely want to go back when hubs and I make our Great Las Vegas Adventure Trip of a Lifetime.</span> </div><br /><div><br /><br /></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu-DLJwWSaCErASliYvQWmMgYDM5eHFPmPtGbms7vcI40vAR7JQOiu2omydGV94ZVz2dtVfvDLOD80_1XBDh8jM7y0SMuC4VMkLvcZqzV5SMSpSyokOIZvKRLEKuuNH2y8QucTvUqICyc/s1600-h/Mon+Ami+Gabi.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363480822139041618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu-DLJwWSaCErASliYvQWmMgYDM5eHFPmPtGbms7vcI40vAR7JQOiu2omydGV94ZVz2dtVfvDLOD80_1XBDh8jM7y0SMuC4VMkLvcZqzV5SMSpSyokOIZvKRLEKuuNH2y8QucTvUqICyc/s400/Mon+Ami+Gabi.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">I had the eggs benedict special which consisted of a perfectly toasted, chewy english muffin topped with lobster, roasted yellow pepper, poached egg and tarragon hollandaise sauce. Oh. My. Goodness. So good. Even the hashbrowns which looked pretty normal tasted fantastic.</span><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7iemGu0-5kkU2eJfw8s_3aahanq-oNELdV0QIBoAT3x-JxkRX5QCD_53QKk6Ly-rPvKIHuOkjimY8IR_HvrzwB_pr7K-dxxV52gY0viWOQ9EcQkezLoQKhtfKDRMwl9bK8VukD1wySv8/s1600-h/Eggs+benedict.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363480819667635794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 293px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7iemGu0-5kkU2eJfw8s_3aahanq-oNELdV0QIBoAT3x-JxkRX5QCD_53QKk6Ly-rPvKIHuOkjimY8IR_HvrzwB_pr7K-dxxV52gY0viWOQ9EcQkezLoQKhtfKDRMwl9bK8VukD1wySv8/s400/Eggs+benedict.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">I got to have some of this lusciousness, too. I can't remember the exact description but the words "carmelized" and "berries" were used along with a couple other seductive adjectives. And there was creme fraiche involved, too.</span><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoWmB3W5ZFKVf6z7ND2iZIHPU7eNsndILAVaOQGfR8t8WPobmm0cPsCVQk29BfPJE6pbobs_Fq7kTY2bR37lAjW0GiqsdF3B7-rJonksFpiBvN-dgI8elWPnNWmIPUve8MXWfMOZ3sqQQ/s1600-h/Berry+Skinny.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363480813581783474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 330px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoWmB3W5ZFKVf6z7ND2iZIHPU7eNsndILAVaOQGfR8t8WPobmm0cPsCVQk29BfPJE6pbobs_Fq7kTY2bR37lAjW0GiqsdF3B7-rJonksFpiBvN-dgI8elWPnNWmIPUve8MXWfMOZ3sqQQ/s400/Berry+Skinny.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;">These were the Skinny Pancake special to supplement the other types of Skinny Pancakes on the menu. Wonder how skinny I'd be if I had these with any sort of regularity.<br /><br />While we digest our delicious breakfast I'll take a break and bring you the rest of the Excellent Vegas Vacation very soon. Fun stuff!</span></div></div></div></div></div>Kimberlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218772609602287535noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7504659725642458361.post-86719319711913704192009-07-09T08:19:00.007-04:002009-07-09T10:40:11.085-04:00Summer time, Beach time!<span style="font-family:arial;">Between the craziness and the laziness my blog is suffering from major neglect. I still love you, blog! I still love writing and reading!</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Here's a little update: We went to the beach! Last week was a furlough week for us and what better to do during a week when one is not being paid than to go somewhere and spend money!?! Not much is better, that's what! We tend to go to places where there are lots of things to see and do (Savannah, Seattle, Chicago, Asheville, etc), but this year we decided we wanted to go somewhere warm where we could sit around and not be pressured to see/do/eat everything. We settled on Myrtle Beach after we went to Priceline, bid on and won four nights at the Sheraton Convention Center hotel 2 1/2 blocks from the beach for $55 a night!!! Can you believe that deal!!!</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">We swam and sat under a big beach umbrella and watched people and watched the Wednesday night fireworks at the 2nd St. pier and ate and hit TJ Maxx and Ross on the way in and went to MagiQuest (I read about this online and, being a Harry Potter fan, SO wanted to go...hubs humored me, bless him...we were definitely the only people over the age of 12 without kids in tow)...</span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVZt_XnHdKUuRE6-urULvI2iQzBdNpmOr-biffbPk6Ci2pZuuqFjlSnszuq1vtk9u2JkUtUvp06WCdkmshCebzs-0s4jVub2bRh5L7Og7F8ub-02OEBUiwSZRCJgovwm7-Eii0Zo9mAHM/s1600-h/magiquest.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356453630485194274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVZt_XnHdKUuRE6-urULvI2iQzBdNpmOr-biffbPk6Ci2pZuuqFjlSnszuq1vtk9u2JkUtUvp06WCdkmshCebzs-0s4jVub2bRh5L7Og7F8ub-02OEBUiwSZRCJgovwm7-Eii0Zo9mAHM/s400/magiquest.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">The 2-story castle at MagiQuest</span></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">(Photo: </span></em><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lickyoats/2778699488/"><em><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">lickyoats</span></em></a><em><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">)</span></em></div><div></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:arial;">...and went clubbing one night (we discovered techno music makes for super fun dancing; for real!) and cruised Ocean Boulevard looking at all the hotels and houses and got "HOT NOW" Krispy Kreme doughnuts and went shag dancing at Fat Harold's...it was such fun, and we can't wait to go back. I have lived in South Carolina my entire life and have never been to Myrtle Beach that I know of (except a 2 night stay 9 years ago at Garden City Beach just down the road). I'm glad I've remedied that problem.</span></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;">I really enjoyed driving along Ocean Boulevard looking at the larger fancy houses and smaller fancy houses and cute beach cottages on the north end and hotel after hotel afterhotelafterhotelafterhotel (really, its crazy) on the south end, many of which have that kitschy-retro vibe and have been around for years. My favorite was the...</span></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcCCqvtEARGtR9jMcvqxJCO7f_adTGbIGrO8LY7daPPr5hXotmUwDXkUbtpe5kzfYw6k4adUosGdDQrpFFgcJ2kcqLqfw1mdmuICFgVlfGM2JcSP3_2W2C8mbptR3P_QexGWMKwHWhwsw/s1600-h/sea+dip.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356447059758439426" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcCCqvtEARGtR9jMcvqxJCO7f_adTGbIGrO8LY7daPPr5hXotmUwDXkUbtpe5kzfYw6k4adUosGdDQrpFFgcJ2kcqLqfw1mdmuICFgVlfGM2JcSP3_2W2C8mbptR3P_QexGWMKwHWhwsw/s400/sea+dip.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"><em>(Photo: </em></span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/caryscott/3480821269/"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><em>Cary Scott</em> <em>Photography</em></span></span></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"><em>)</em></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;">Cutest sign!</span></div><br /><div></div><div></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;">This trip only increased my love for the beach. I just know that someday I will have my own dreamy little cottage by the sea, and until then I will fill my house with shells and sand and these beauties that I can make with my own two hands...</span></div><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCHOfO8VbcyTd3fIpoExtDtPKSdQwSr7RnytFvl4rHkH3W9fR6wgCuUEjLmUaGd6w2HQUoaKvMUbPEr_4lWFWrTY2NWpGlzXB9bS7Fi0F4YfSeGShIi79sY7W2QI9cFVGp7-__bSZbcfY/s1600-h/beach+wreath.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356447053022267570" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCHOfO8VbcyTd3fIpoExtDtPKSdQwSr7RnytFvl4rHkH3W9fR6wgCuUEjLmUaGd6w2HQUoaKvMUbPEr_4lWFWrTY2NWpGlzXB9bS7Fi0F4YfSeGShIi79sY7W2QI9cFVGp7-__bSZbcfY/s400/beach+wreath.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> <em><span style="font-size:85%;">(Photo and wreath: </span></em></span><a href="http://frugalfarmhousedesign.blogspot.com/2009/06/life-ring.html"><em><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">Paint, Decorate, Design on the Cheap</span></em></a><em><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">)</span></em></div><br /><br /><br /><div align="left"></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn95friB86VVBxd0TTdzQ6GLhbksJRygMiDzlSjjnv2xt4FzsUL4TgSeoSiWqTFevGg2UYVlS-jZuT9b2DzFSFdS-uucnRy_pUU39knkW7kolDCKL4zmqmxxPLM4YbBXSnnS0mhd6cO-Y/s1600-h/shell+wreath.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356447048415335234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 269px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn95friB86VVBxd0TTdzQ6GLhbksJRygMiDzlSjjnv2xt4FzsUL4TgSeoSiWqTFevGg2UYVlS-jZuT9b2DzFSFdS-uucnRy_pUU39knkW7kolDCKL4zmqmxxPLM4YbBXSnnS0mhd6cO-Y/s400/shell+wreath.jpg" border="0" /></a><em><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"> (Photo: </span></em><a href="http://heatherbullard.typepad.com/heather_bullard_collectio/2009/06/hello-summer.html"><em><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">Heather Bullard</span></em></a><em><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">)</span></em></div><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><div align="left"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><br /><div align="left"></span></div><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Cindy has a tutorial for making a shell wreath like hers.</span><br /><br /><div align="center"><em></em><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXFOFr8xcONWCZiZlrncRQXrL-EpAtGO8y5A_1qLmPv7Jz0VBP5VG0gEatj_giGxqnudvxDb01T3NyaXfQalBbBXhJQZ_dV-jl4ua_Ploy2pdqKXDSSbBeUs0cf26xQp_xtWxpRpevx7I/s1600-h/shell+wreath+how-to.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356447041871650658" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXFOFr8xcONWCZiZlrncRQXrL-EpAtGO8y5A_1qLmPv7Jz0VBP5VG0gEatj_giGxqnudvxDb01T3NyaXfQalBbBXhJQZ_dV-jl4ua_Ploy2pdqKXDSSbBeUs0cf26xQp_xtWxpRpevx7I/s400/shell+wreath+how-to.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> (<em>Photo and wreath: Cindy at </em></span></span><a href="http://romantichome.blogspot.com/2008/08/how-to-make-seashell-wreath.html"><em><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">My Romantic Home</span></em></a><em><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">)</span></em></div><br /><div align="left"><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><br /><div align="left"><span style="font-family:arial;">In other news I'm very excited to be going to Vegas(!!) for my </span><a href="http://seashellsandsilver.blogspot.com/2009/02/pink-saturday.html"><span style="font-family:arial;">friend's</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> wedding this weekend. Yay for weddings! I've never been to Vegas, and this will be a very short trip, so I will definitely have to go again and take hubs with me.</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:Arial;">.</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:arial;">Here's hoping you are having a lovely summer time!</span></div>Kimberlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218772609602287535noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7504659725642458361.post-90934489620968002552009-06-25T23:46:00.004-04:002009-06-26T00:23:33.771-04:00In the Good Ole Summertime...<span style="font-family:arial;">Ah, summer.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Time for a little bit of this...</span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPGku3S-LI3gpyIv2v_fCs39IxA78502QaOzAMstmJy9zmmhJE3ZD5RX2tpDG4QAc3UWTWVLtlbeP1KKUH-pQ2kv4p4c7xEuRjCFTMPy6aAk8dLQOKP5v0DlPSYT8z_-hZ96CiQTbuJi8/s1600-h/Close.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351479881146807874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPGku3S-LI3gpyIv2v_fCs39IxA78502QaOzAMstmJy9zmmhJE3ZD5RX2tpDG4QAc3UWTWVLtlbeP1KKUH-pQ2kv4p4c7xEuRjCFTMPy6aAk8dLQOKP5v0DlPSYT8z_-hZ96CiQTbuJi8/s400/Close.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzi1RIjLE1v1BfkxphYr-ncd5uqFNX8BW-05KJUCYGPlQDDuaOTTK3tfAe2zJrxgbR8wFSVr-DZUPl8JmbY-7snwloPsB6WWyF-60plGBjN9ve0oeTSTHO_8EEpvu4ns9_qvD_jPTn7_4/s1600-h/single+berry.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351479875272601122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 366px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzi1RIjLE1v1BfkxphYr-ncd5uqFNX8BW-05KJUCYGPlQDDuaOTTK3tfAe2zJrxgbR8wFSVr-DZUPl8JmbY-7snwloPsB6WWyF-60plGBjN9ve0oeTSTHO_8EEpvu4ns9_qvD_jPTn7_4/s400/single+berry.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">from our local strawberry patch sliced, sugared and eaten with Blue Bell Homemade Vanilla ice cream (the only vanilla I've ever wanted to eat plain).</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;">.</span></div><div></div><div></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;">Perfect time for this...<br /></span><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgThX8EKtoSzyBEIVCHI9riDoDbs2-FRsMmu9nAK0usBi_v8WOxP8paH85cDy6X1pS9Jj_cWS9o04Ax_grA_Nrs-POmeml6J1KDmNt8ly7NLZIuTMf2Xwa8L2YEvb3cWofsnjdU-Li4fHo/s1600-h/Squash+fennel+rice+salad.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351479874435085106" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 323px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgThX8EKtoSzyBEIVCHI9riDoDbs2-FRsMmu9nAK0usBi_v8WOxP8paH85cDy6X1pS9Jj_cWS9o04Ax_grA_Nrs-POmeml6J1KDmNt8ly7NLZIuTMf2Xwa8L2YEvb3cWofsnjdU-Li4fHo/s400/Squash+fennel+rice+salad.JPG" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:arial;">Squash that hubs grew (yay, hubs!) and grilled with olive oil, salt and pepper; and </span><a href="http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Fennel-Rice-Salad-239244"><span style="font-family:arial;">fennel rice salad</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> I made (the leftovers were great; I didn't have scallions so I left them out). What a lovely summer meal.</span></div><div><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">The other night we realized it was time for this, too...<br /></span></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjycMYY4G-V0euWkqPmQxs3My7Tat2IxAwNmKxVzozmG4uBs0m7itYt39mokJEkNNPR8kd62q-AOI-5jZj7eepMpru1u52qDbh7DwLmSEcPKoGnFy9r4WFTyQNiXlk7dRovGJDT6wVxrrs/s1600-h/Fried+tomato-squash.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351479865536255682" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 226px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjycMYY4G-V0euWkqPmQxs3My7Tat2IxAwNmKxVzozmG4uBs0m7itYt39mokJEkNNPR8kd62q-AOI-5jZj7eepMpru1u52qDbh7DwLmSEcPKoGnFy9r4WFTyQNiXlk7dRovGJDT6wVxrrs/s400/Fried+tomato-squash.JPG" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:arial;">Green tomatoes and squash from our garden fried up just right by the Mr. YUM!! Hubs, have I told you lately you're the best hubs ever?<br /></span><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKmv3B9f-LPTauWH0j8huUR5dYQwR7u-6RKyfykrlrUFb6-Jq7ZTY_fxzqatNhOFl7me4CsbwLOkZW5gnU4tcWclQaXMzRtB5cj5ffUU7F4mLokgG9g8uCb-T012dylp9txH4L76K6W-U/s1600-h/Squash+platter.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351479864357854546" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 272px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKmv3B9f-LPTauWH0j8huUR5dYQwR7u-6RKyfykrlrUFb6-Jq7ZTY_fxzqatNhOFl7me4CsbwLOkZW5gnU4tcWclQaXMzRtB5cj5ffUU7F4mLokgG9g8uCb-T012dylp9txH4L76K6W-U/s400/Squash+platter.JPG" border="0" /></a> <div></div><div></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;">This plate is ALL hub's doing: squash and green tomatoes he grew and then turned into fried green tomatoes (with some jarred marinara sauce), fried squash, grilled squash and squash casserole.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;">.</span><br /></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;">Is this man good or what??!</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;">.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;">Summer + Hubs makes for a very lovely time indeed.</span></div></div></div></div>Kimberlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218772609602287535noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7504659725642458361.post-56736081791211491502009-06-18T08:59:00.008-04:002009-06-18T09:41:42.518-04:00Blog posts I've enjoyed<div align="center"><em></em><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11339081@N07/2811141563/"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348661359310245090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 306px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVpuHm-EY46ah9xWsTxxyKKAa-6QSDnJ6PI0BNuVCdoQkL2iX3tkNAzVRqMEaPFSLWU2iwQOxF6MU0-SCWPq7wLV-K_HCnMMOAdv5tuIaoWm9kManS6NtBQ77lXNryYWlMht7QbVACDbY/s400/clock+3.jpg" border="0" /><span style="font-family:arial;"> <em><span style="font-size:85%;">(Picture: ___Ally via Flickr)</span></em></span></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div> </div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:arial;">Where does the time go? I have so many projects to do and pictures to take and posts to post...for now I'll share a round-up of some posts I have really enjoyed recently:</span><br /><br /></div><div align="left"><br /><a href="http://unclutterer.com/2009/06/04/surprise-benefits-of-an-uncluttered-life/"><span style="font-family:arial;">Surprise benefits of an uncluttered life</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> -- this is hub's and my goal in housekeeping. We want to have a comfortable house for us and one that is ready for guests whenever they should appear. We are still working toward this!</span><br /></div><div align="left"><br /><a href="http://unclutterer.com/2009/05/27/do-you-have-a-big-but/"><span style="font-family:arial;">Do you have a big 'But...'?</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> -- there are excuses for anything and everything in life. Nothing changes when we use excuses, but the potential for great things to happen when excuses are let go is just too big to ignore. I am working on getting rid of my big 'But...'!! Literally and figuratively!</span></div><div align="left"><br /><a href="http://unclutterer.com/2009/05/23/everyone-can-learn-to-be-organized/"><span style="font-family:arial;">Everyone can learn to be organized</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> -- there is hope for me! Actually I've come a long way from where I used to be, and this post is very encouraging as I continue on my quest for organization in all areas of life.</span></div><div align="left"><br /><a href="http://unclutterer.com/2009/05/21/are-you-an-unclutterer/"><span style="font-family:arial;">Are you an unclutterer?</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> -- not fully, but I'm working on it! Clutter can take on many forms, and I don't want to fool with any of them.</span><br /></div><div></div><div><br /><br /><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKsxs-k_Q2E8q1wOf3ZUYl9_Zq0uInHf8_g8d19zDUEQPVtQ1wb5TFLDqXL3riMHaTw6dd0Ksx6r-uusqCUaHVnwqFhRixoSOXvVcYdBc780nAyZwyI-aljNHq4HvyNJ-Gxn7-v9RTp84/s1600-h/bird_cage_country_living_1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348656208516140626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 309px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKsxs-k_Q2E8q1wOf3ZUYl9_Zq0uInHf8_g8d19zDUEQPVtQ1wb5TFLDqXL3riMHaTw6dd0Ksx6r-uusqCUaHVnwqFhRixoSOXvVcYdBc780nAyZwyI-aljNHq4HvyNJ-Gxn7-v9RTp84/s400/bird_cage_country_living_1.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span><a href="http://mysweetsavannah.blogspot.com/2009/05/for-birds.html"><span style="font-family:arial;"><em><span style="font-size:85%;">(Picture: Country Living via My Sweet Savannah)</span></em><br /></span></a><br /><br /><div align="left"><a href="http://mysweetsavannah.blogspot.com/2009/05/for-birds.html"><span style="font-family:arial;">~for the birds~</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> -- Oh, how I love bird cages! This post has some great eye candy.</span></div><br /><br /><div align="left"><span style="font-family:arial;">You never know what will inspire you next. Keep your eyes open and notice the little things!</span></div></div><br /></div>Kimberlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218772609602287535noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7504659725642458361.post-44722349066527978302009-06-02T08:44:00.008-04:002009-06-02T17:04:18.319-04:00Oh, the conviction<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_OueM-7wu2NgpbW4Hh84n4OcYIlcCbJU9eCDeeLa31KIIJaL-2lSTHwTV9HfLJeyc4lvqErb9HdKQsiZAKqcxJMO-gRpfub2YeqYtMfEG451MJ2cqa4f8gT1YCtSrMki80oU8HdSHSKQ/s1600-h/scale+tomato.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342720703676980578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_OueM-7wu2NgpbW4Hh84n4OcYIlcCbJU9eCDeeLa31KIIJaL-2lSTHwTV9HfLJeyc4lvqErb9HdKQsiZAKqcxJMO-gRpfub2YeqYtMfEG451MJ2cqa4f8gT1YCtSrMki80oU8HdSHSKQ/s400/scale+tomato.jpg" border="0" /></a> (Photo credit: <em><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/fensterbme/241478156/">fensterbme</a></em>)<br /><div align="left"><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">So I got on the scale several weeks ago after not getting on the scale for several months because of a dead battery. The scale's dead battery, not mine. And I was NOT pleased with what I saw. And I already knew I'd been eating too much and that my clothes were feeling tight, so the number shouldn't have been a surprise, but don't we hold out hope that things will be different than we know them to be? In so many areas of life? I do. I still walk in the door after work hoping my fairy godmother has dinner all ready for us.</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">So I'm back to weighing in once a week, monitering my portion sizes and my calorie intake and fitting in exercise where I can. I still eat pretty much whatever I want; I just have to pay attention to how much I eat.</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Several weeks ago I signed up for daily "Devotion for Dieters" emails from </span><a href="http://www.crosswalk.com/"><span style="font-family:arial;">Crosswalk</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> (they have all sorts of daily devotionals), and today's was REALLY good. Let me share it with you:</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">June 2</span><br /><br /><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">1 John 3:2-3</span></strong><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><em>Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.</em> </span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Sometimes we fool ourselves into believing that to be like Jesus means to act like Him or think like Him or pray like Him, and we ignore that we should try to look like Him, too. We don't know that Jesus was thin, but we can be confident that He was not overweight, because He preached moderation and denounced gluttony. He cared for Himself, and He called others to care for themselves, also. How wonderful it would be to be able to stand face-to-face with our Lord and to mirror Him in both His spiritual and physical perfection!</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><strong>Today's thought:</strong> When people look at me, I want them to see Jesus!</span><br /><br />---------------------------------------<br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Yikes! Is that clear and specific or what! </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Here are some sites that I've found to be very helpful in my journey to learn about health and proper nutrition:</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><br /><a href="http://mypyramid.gov/"><span style="font-family:arial;">My Pyramid</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> website</span><br /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Program-Eating-Feeling-Living/dp/0785265678"><span style="font-family:arial;">What Would Jesus Eat</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> by Dr. Don Colbert</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">God, help me to drink my water today and savor my food and partake of the proper amount. I want people to see Jesus when they look at me!</span> </div></div>Kimberlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218772609602287535noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7504659725642458361.post-11040170806710364802009-05-30T09:12:00.007-04:002009-05-30T09:43:37.134-04:001 Year of Pink Saturday!<span style="font-family:arial;">Happy 1st Birthday, Pink Saturday! Beverly made Pink Saturday a group event one year ago, and aren't we glad? Check Beverly's site </span><a href="http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com/my_weblog/2009/05/happy-birthday-pink-saturday-may-30-2009.html"><span style="font-family:arial;">How Sweet The Sound</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> for tons more posts on pink! </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">I took a stroll through my archives to see what I could find...</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr6lkhVZiVhxkd0kT9LK9b7r7jXn6lR-2st_g5sWN_I_7VhHr_dQw80Aqf1FIurY9lHGKRlWQYSvF6qv8H6A6rpKTL10SeFTBwflL-lm3CWdCeY5osND53g3xysTx351qUa5Lg9z5W-Dk/s1600-h/suitcase+estate+sale+6-07.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341610803022761298" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 296px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr6lkhVZiVhxkd0kT9LK9b7r7jXn6lR-2st_g5sWN_I_7VhHr_dQw80Aqf1FIurY9lHGKRlWQYSvF6qv8H6A6rpKTL10SeFTBwflL-lm3CWdCeY5osND53g3xysTx351qUa5Lg9z5W-Dk/s400/suitcase+estate+sale+6-07.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">June 2007: Pink suitcase, estate sale near Cross Hill, SC. I love how the light reflecting off the suitcase is turning the concrete pillar behind it pink. The lady who owned this suitcase also had...</span><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVrVtcMFKw049pJNTmAn-M-085xjhJhPx8QeznoGTy-R2fzLpTiVuEa-Jv-7dZQG6D7xNNxxtMglcOGMnDhk3YUO_w5V8WCtGQW7eNLhAfNCKM1EnqPBMK4xg9UUuItnnIpa4GjQ9hS_I/s1600-h/Pink+Purple+kitchen+estate+sale+6-07.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341610799087267362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 204px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVrVtcMFKw049pJNTmAn-M-085xjhJhPx8QeznoGTy-R2fzLpTiVuEa-Jv-7dZQG6D7xNNxxtMglcOGMnDhk3YUO_w5V8WCtGQW7eNLhAfNCKM1EnqPBMK4xg9UUuItnnIpa4GjQ9hS_I/s400/Pink+Purple+kitchen+estate+sale+6-07.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div><span style="font-family:arial;">A pink and purple kitchen! What a fun lady! This part of the house was closed to the public, so I got the best picture I could from a distance, and I'm pretty sure I got fussed at :)</span> </div><div><br /><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwx2YR-IQdLqNnAbrlBt7qOR2S9uVSw2kla1YyKfcscSOXzZsZZhE8o1N2e4Wavwd7AYLDcN3T5khtvtZZ4KAmWCT3RXuPpDj5ON28w1ZBut-KmE0lIp0VR6CxWMAu_aC9s3Ek32c8VHo/s1600-h/Sun+8-19-07+Palo+Alto+farm+mkt.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341610791952908594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 254px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwx2YR-IQdLqNnAbrlBt7qOR2S9uVSw2kla1YyKfcscSOXzZsZZhE8o1N2e4Wavwd7AYLDcN3T5khtvtZZ4KAmWCT3RXuPpDj5ON28w1ZBut-KmE0lIp0VR6CxWMAu_aC9s3Ek32c8VHo/s400/Sun+8-19-07+Palo+Alto+farm+mkt.JPG" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:arial;">Sunday, August 19, 2007: Orchids at the Palo Alto, CA farmer's market. </span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span><br /><br /></div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqgJpDq61mI7goXCkVkvAY2BElkQHVJlNKkNYTFIcA_DtbtKPNOFMag_QpOYSa4fPTX0d9L0zsHW9lwaC8-4HpDUDNE8XyfKZoT1unYNyYOseMV0F5ug6uFAwLrOgRkdI4krKnYZscogw/s1600-h/Glads+Farmers+Mkt+Oregon+Thurs+8-16-07.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341610786069321042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 324px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqgJpDq61mI7goXCkVkvAY2BElkQHVJlNKkNYTFIcA_DtbtKPNOFMag_QpOYSa4fPTX0d9L0zsHW9lwaC8-4HpDUDNE8XyfKZoT1unYNyYOseMV0F5ug6uFAwLrOgRkdI4krKnYZscogw/s400/Glads+Farmers+Mkt+Oregon+Thurs+8-16-07.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><div><div><div><div><span style="font-family:arial;">Thursday August 16, 2007: Glads (I think) at the Medford, Oregan farmer's market.</span></div><div><br /><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmwBthhXZgLCk5PMs-5y2EjSbC7mA1o-VlVFiX0OoSuxhSQBuBem9qt_8QbCWh_QyB1ro5ZwW4DhZNCcGL5n8bzghbT_zQXuw6ik8sxx89Ik4O1KFWR4tCWOakWixwP7pplPaX3zAVl-o/s1600-h/Walt+bday+crown+11-07.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341604753827425378" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 276px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmwBthhXZgLCk5PMs-5y2EjSbC7mA1o-VlVFiX0OoSuxhSQBuBem9qt_8QbCWh_QyB1ro5ZwW4DhZNCcGL5n8bzghbT_zQXuw6ik8sxx89Ik4O1KFWR4tCWOakWixwP7pplPaX3zAVl-o/s400/Walt+bday+crown+11-07.JPG" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:arial;">November 2007: The Birthday Queen, I mean, hubs trying out a wonderful pink product at Swoozie's in Greenville, SC.</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;">May 30, 2009: Hubs will have his revenge in this life or the next when he finds out I've posted this picture.</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;">What a wonderful Pink year its been! Thank you, Beverly!</span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Kimberlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218772609602287535noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7504659725642458361.post-91285604841682033492009-05-26T22:31:00.000-04:002009-05-26T22:30:48.276-04:00Easter Egg Garland Swap<span style="font-family:arial;">Jennifer of </span><a href="http://artrageousafternoon.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family:arial;">Artrageous Afternoon</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> hosted an Easter Egg Garland swap several months ago, and after a great and yet-to-be-posted experience with a Valentine card swap I jumped at the chance to trade more paper art. We each decorated 5 eggs and sent them to Jennifer who shuffled them up, put them into banner form with a ribbon and teeny clothes pins and sent them back.</span><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSqfdbw2QShjGMgKb8zTBw0oytq8Jjh9flkRtZFMzZuUBxjVl6bqDCm5m043ADHIO7PJyf7RFd5dmVbToH8QPYEzgcoIHc3_Gt60XIIRqtEWeUB1MvHRlwQYRCYX8k1uWN8ZwZh0oP6JQ/s1600-h/Banner.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340273562463595906" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 170px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSqfdbw2QShjGMgKb8zTBw0oytq8Jjh9flkRtZFMzZuUBxjVl6bqDCm5m043ADHIO7PJyf7RFd5dmVbToH8QPYEzgcoIHc3_Gt60XIIRqtEWeUB1MvHRlwQYRCYX8k1uWN8ZwZh0oP6JQ/s400/Banner.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdL9ieh-4Bq2ms8jKhDO-Lq8QPWsnr8aI0WB0GhbUBQ6r61xE06aE8PCmweCIpBSM7ZSwWYRNJcj6ED1crsBwN1syA-B_CoX4owLd6lx3kRpiGMnGbs81B0xKXQpSl5BPnsh0G3GqGrNc/s1600-h/Red+flower.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340273556524569394" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 307px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdL9ieh-4Bq2ms8jKhDO-Lq8QPWsnr8aI0WB0GhbUBQ6r61xE06aE8PCmweCIpBSM7ZSwWYRNJcj6ED1crsBwN1syA-B_CoX4owLd6lx3kRpiGMnGbs81B0xKXQpSl5BPnsh0G3GqGrNc/s400/Red+flower.JPG" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:arial;">By Amy Wald</span></div><div align="center"><br /><br /><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha8MNRFXMQwz1tyZZRUaV0s5-El-5MQT968uiw5UZkvbSO8Hfi7svU_qdEaPmsalxeBUYT8GUBo0QW1apMg_TxR6uUTAy0eYvkiKWGg8ontn0uH0uVam1ov5Byy6TXPRE5bgISDv-SLiU/s1600-h/Side+1.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340273553508194866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 273px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha8MNRFXMQwz1tyZZRUaV0s5-El-5MQT968uiw5UZkvbSO8Hfi7svU_qdEaPmsalxeBUYT8GUBo0QW1apMg_TxR6uUTAy0eYvkiKWGg8ontn0uH0uVam1ov5Byy6TXPRE5bgISDv-SLiU/s400/Side+1.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">Who made this one?? It wasn't signed!</span> <span style="font-family:arial;">And they went all out decorating side 1 and...</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghl5dZrnIYCoDWf2OAF91-cKSYEwzVcoYeVuM9YbMZFHd9_HOL8i8zzfE2nmYnb2C5BlXW0CHMHSl_3-v9WEuKqE7h1qe_ubC0FQgISylw9c_OOTojjPJ9MleYW2TgZ2Y8QhwX2WBMLgs/s1600-h/Side+2.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340273549768352258" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 279px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghl5dZrnIYCoDWf2OAF91-cKSYEwzVcoYeVuM9YbMZFHd9_HOL8i8zzfE2nmYnb2C5BlXW0CHMHSl_3-v9WEuKqE7h1qe_ubC0FQgISylw9c_OOTojjPJ9MleYW2TgZ2Y8QhwX2WBMLgs/s400/Side+2.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> Side 2; lovely!<br /></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOOD0eCpZ7Lweun_S0KbYbtgZI4u1t_YjG_V82QMYd_zYimBnY-lHbA9a7Sm5LIwS6paBm7-mNXwBeydjYFwyVefBZh8lOK8JNPLMedZLU5_CTkhW4NDQ22Vzo4pAUsW19WdOLLjlD5Ds/s1600-h/Lace.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340272930339095906" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 310px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOOD0eCpZ7Lweun_S0KbYbtgZI4u1t_YjG_V82QMYd_zYimBnY-lHbA9a7Sm5LIwS6paBm7-mNXwBeydjYFwyVefBZh8lOK8JNPLMedZLU5_CTkhW4NDQ22Vzo4pAUsW19WdOLLjlD5Ds/s400/Lace.JPG" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:arial;">By Melinda of </span><a href="http://melindasfabricfancies.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family:arial;">Melinda's Fabric Fancies</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;">; </span><a href="http://melindasfabricfancies.blogspot.com/2009/03/easter-eggs-and-trip-to-zoo.html"><span style="font-family:arial;">here's her post</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> about some of the eggs she made.</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjje9b_fNPiOfa8-oS65rDWUOKRyIeUXhs9U3o1U3mGx7wP_Yxy8COAspc7nFamAp5IftEIiIJ78UtSLaLK4NtmCRzRSxz1lfyptBki8OqonGYjE9cvw1NHcx1h-iBqSAeZ8m2_iKwZPt8/s1600-h/Felt+banner.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340272924241216514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 360px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjje9b_fNPiOfa8-oS65rDWUOKRyIeUXhs9U3o1U3mGx7wP_Yxy8COAspc7nFamAp5IftEIiIJ78UtSLaLK4NtmCRzRSxz1lfyptBki8OqonGYjE9cvw1NHcx1h-iBqSAeZ8m2_iKwZPt8/s400/Felt+banner.JPG" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:arial;">By Joanna of </span><a href="http://sweetfinds.typepad.com/"><span style="font-family:arial;">Sweet Finds</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;">; </span><a href="http://sweetfinds.typepad.com/sweet_finds/2009/04/egg-swap.html"><span style="font-family:arial;">here's her post</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> about the eggs she made.</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy5wuMt7cZ3u4oshlxgxOkm5tqoVcjP_7htnqT-iyGeCbf1z-pEdaLtGYtr3k3H5Xge_owyZQZ8wk1nDnw1PJB5X8Mz-1ee1OALpdXn3vtxMbopxHgCAravyVKJbVT8aaIZxP5CkWVJFM/s1600-h/Pink+glitter.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340272921642021634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 330px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy5wuMt7cZ3u4oshlxgxOkm5tqoVcjP_7htnqT-iyGeCbf1z-pEdaLtGYtr3k3H5Xge_owyZQZ8wk1nDnw1PJB5X8Mz-1ee1OALpdXn3vtxMbopxHgCAravyVKJbVT8aaIZxP5CkWVJFM/s400/Pink+glitter.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">Who made this one??</span></div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><span style="font-family:arial;"><div align="left"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Here are the eggs I contributed to the swap.</span> </div><div><br /></div><div align="left"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifathqQ-XKcPtAmIjPWIT2jnEUcXZlDkqq8E_uDnIIMjHnoQ1vWvNEl5fm27pfSlLgFwCrXxbqYMdP7v2jxe8WvJbO0lV9vd_HvNbNqxK9A2YV2zyUfH52z4oIRGzqNRzvZZZUK3T0_OQ/s1600-h/Eggs+I+made.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340272915406472530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 195px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifathqQ-XKcPtAmIjPWIT2jnEUcXZlDkqq8E_uDnIIMjHnoQ1vWvNEl5fm27pfSlLgFwCrXxbqYMdP7v2jxe8WvJbO0lV9vd_HvNbNqxK9A2YV2zyUfH52z4oIRGzqNRzvZZZUK3T0_OQ/s400/Eggs+I+made.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">I had to make a 6th one for me to keep of course! As you can see I tend to be pretty precise in my paper art; I'm working on being a bit more relaxed and free form. It's a process, and I'm excited to see where I end up!<br /></span><div></div><div></div><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;">I wish that all the artists had labeled their Easter eggs; as you can see there are couple that were blank, so I have no idea who to thank.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;">.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;">This was such a fun swap and now I have a wonderful piece to add to my Easter and spring decor. Thanks to Jennifer and to each of the talented ladies whose lovely Easter eggs I received!</span></div></div></div></div></div>Kimberlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218772609602287535noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7504659725642458361.post-81791464143150080572009-05-23T10:00:00.001-04:002009-05-23T10:01:58.173-04:00Pink Saturday/Majestic Feathers Tag Swap<span style="font-family:arial;">Happy Pink Saturday! </span><a href="http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com/my_weblog/"><span style="font-family:arial;">Beverly</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> has the full list of bloggers posting about pink this Saturday, so check it out!</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Jenny of </span><a href="http://fatedfollies.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family:arial;">Fated Follies</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> hosted the Majestic Feathers Tag swap calling for tags, and I quote, "decorated with fancy birds, royal hues, crowns and majestic notions." Oh that sounded fun, so I had to sign up!</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCN_OyylaAW38z2RZNKdQ0ZMXyLT7Yb-jPPQmPbahqbnPSdYyY1M9fJUy45KTP9t1CdMCfhY6ietRm4QmZkATp2EbXIr7lqvZssNHolvo4dpdlEXj5i1V7a1qJngtos0AFmH89lPeNP9Q/s1600-h/Group.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339016827527129970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 326px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCN_OyylaAW38z2RZNKdQ0ZMXyLT7Yb-jPPQmPbahqbnPSdYyY1M9fJUy45KTP9t1CdMCfhY6ietRm4QmZkATp2EbXIr7lqvZssNHolvo4dpdlEXj5i1V7a1qJngtos0AFmH89lPeNP9Q/s400/Group.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">I envisioned deep purple tags decorated with peacocks in royal blues and teals, sporting real feathers in their tails. I bought a bundle of peacock feathers on Ebay and was so excited until I noticed the (not so) fine print: they would be shipping from Hong Kong...and would arrive in about 2 weeks. Plan B! I found some fluffy white feathers and sparkly pink crowns had me envisioning bright yellow and pink tags featuring white birds. Of course these tags evolved in the creative process as art projects do and I ended up with these which I really like:</span><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNwhNOIQlYHV1FymtOnfYebPgpOBfH65uTUOj9zPUGfDVnHMp-EnryX6rfgo8MqwxZaejhID94XNvK9GuocB_ym260FZB9DP2Ve2bzpAjum2pg8X62QYVgv_lGVb34EMdsudZw4oDDAY4/s1600-h/Single.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339016822297875618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 239px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNwhNOIQlYHV1FymtOnfYebPgpOBfH65uTUOj9zPUGfDVnHMp-EnryX6rfgo8MqwxZaejhID94XNvK9GuocB_ym260FZB9DP2Ve2bzpAjum2pg8X62QYVgv_lGVb34EMdsudZw4oDDAY4/s400/Single.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">A little pink castle on the back of each tag livens up my contact info (written in pink, of course).<br /></span></div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7wT8D7d0BvOhc10S0T8n62d8cOgcuW3GTpkZfka_U3YCZ4kgrBR0HIqx96Vqf3enc70vZ6T-Y7RnFAggyxkEmTIcQCZ9iTDJu_OGNedXJzPoeXtP36iZFJAKUabel-YoXAeOiMQigW_k/s1600-h/Back.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339016820499767906" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 340px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7wT8D7d0BvOhc10S0T8n62d8cOgcuW3GTpkZfka_U3YCZ4kgrBR0HIqx96Vqf3enc70vZ6T-Y7RnFAggyxkEmTIcQCZ9iTDJu_OGNedXJzPoeXtP36iZFJAKUabel-YoXAeOiMQigW_k/s400/Back.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">I can't wait to receive the tag booklet of 12 tags each done by a different artist!</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;">.</span></div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div></div><div><div><span style="font-family:arial;">These tags show that the inclusion of other colors can actually serve to enhance our beloved pink. Doesn't it look even happier and more vibrant next to the cheerful yellow and the snowy white? I think so.</span><br /><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4TbxNWdZqkFgVEp7SI5OtburMliLYLtWmPqfiUd4K1iD81Pg8lIoyaONC1PRgPSRoz9QKH-T04hvMNPOVaBZJFeFb41KPiBCjAPekY65zzuEi3o7ZOYTdjRTbJYP0YurX4UhKF8GMVpo/s1600-h/Group+side.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339016813950814530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 284px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4TbxNWdZqkFgVEp7SI5OtburMliLYLtWmPqfiUd4K1iD81Pg8lIoyaONC1PRgPSRoz9QKH-T04hvMNPOVaBZJFeFb41KPiBCjAPekY65zzuEi3o7ZOYTdjRTbJYP0YurX4UhKF8GMVpo/s400/Group+side.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div><div></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;">Happy Pink Saturday!</span></div></div></div>Kimberlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218772609602287535noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7504659725642458361.post-12985283919006109432009-05-22T18:34:00.004-04:002009-05-26T10:05:05.465-04:00Mother's Day 2009<div align="left"><span style="font-family:arial;">Before I start this Mother's Day post I need to recognize today, May 22, as a very special day and say Happy Birthday, Mom!</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:Arial;">.</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Now on to the Mother's Day Brunch 2009 recap!</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:Arial;">.</span></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO68rlxWoltb4Tirs1Bt4L4mzq2rMNWVbRZ7o8vlfNAmNhMCaZj7koE0cC7KiAUgSd38dL-K986Tt956CclNeCUXaUWapQX-vWiujqRSy0tacmjZUDJbIOUkKlpPVGGHTehcrXPFMaysM/s1600-h/Mom+n+kids.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338780333714758450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 330px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO68rlxWoltb4Tirs1Bt4L4mzq2rMNWVbRZ7o8vlfNAmNhMCaZj7koE0cC7KiAUgSd38dL-K986Tt956CclNeCUXaUWapQX-vWiujqRSy0tacmjZUDJbIOUkKlpPVGGHTehcrXPFMaysM/s400/Mom+n+kids.JPG" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:arial;">The brother, the mother, me</span></div><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">This past Friday saw another yummy Mother's Day brunch and a very fun day for my mom and me.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">We had:<br /></span><a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/bobby-flay/half-and-half-with-lemonade-ice-cubes-recipe/index.html"><span style="font-family:arial;">Half and Half with Lemonade Ice Cubes</span></a><br /><a href="http://simplyrecipes.com/recipes/blueberry_maple_breakfast_bake/"><span style="font-family:arial;">Blueberry Maple Breakfast Bake</span></a><br /><a href="http://www.elise.com/recipes/archives/001718cardamom_citrus_fruit_salad.php"><span style="font-family:arial;">Cardamom Citrus Fruit Salad</span></a><br /><a href="http://thym-thym.blogspot.com/2009/04/colors-of-spring-les-couleurs-du.html"><span style="font-family:arial;">Kale with Pinto Beans and Roasted Red Peppers</span></a><br /><a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/bobby-flay/sage-mustard-breakfast-sausage-recipe/index.html"><span style="font-family:arial;">Sage-Mustard Breakfast Sausage</span></a><br /><a href="http://simplyrecipes.com/recipes/ricotta-mascarpone_mousse_with_balsamic_strawberries/"><span style="font-family:arial;">Ricotta-Mascarpone Mousse with Balsamic Strawberries</span></a><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">It was all delicious! My notes for next time:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">--The lemonade tea was a bit tart for me, so I would increase the simple syrup by another 1/4 to 1/2 cup. I didn't leave enough time for the ice cubes to freeze, so they were a bit liquidy. Next time I will make the lemonade and the ice cubes a day ahead. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">--The blueberry maple bake was SO easy, SO delicious and looked very impressive; I assembled it the night before and put it straight into the oven an hour before lunch. I want to try it with whole wheat bread next time.</span><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm_yEqRhsCDZZx6O9y9L27pgmwObwtGwbPPNHY7-rip3SX9upcjWlRsq8W_7uz526VC2SRKL96pVuTLZKUE2IteePO3JkyT1iH5rpb4laRKCpfNbROsoDeXS1GPGRP7OQ_kaFUIjtzfF4/s1600-h/Blueberry+bake.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338780330075718786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 372px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm_yEqRhsCDZZx6O9y9L27pgmwObwtGwbPPNHY7-rip3SX9upcjWlRsq8W_7uz526VC2SRKL96pVuTLZKUE2IteePO3JkyT1iH5rpb4laRKCpfNbROsoDeXS1GPGRP7OQ_kaFUIjtzfF4/s400/Blueberry+bake.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">--Instead of cutting up all the fruit for the citrus salad I took a shortcut and mostly used drained canned fruit: citrus salad, red grapefruit and mandarin oranges. I did actually section one navel orange myself. The salad was great; yay, canned fruit! Next time I would make the salad the day before.<br /></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD87APgPkYxdOkDJ7PMKC5mYKM4718Men9TJ6ePPzlg17pGOSOsAmfol9yUvdrngnDdeVfntDNd_QhybCfsIf9TWDASRPlfG39aPsRPtcc5vfhY-q2vhXwZn7gtVlGE_JkeLWLdFnQnrI/s1600-h/Fruit+salad.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338780327074624210" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 323px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD87APgPkYxdOkDJ7PMKC5mYKM4718Men9TJ6ePPzlg17pGOSOsAmfol9yUvdrngnDdeVfntDNd_QhybCfsIf9TWDASRPlfG39aPsRPtcc5vfhY-q2vhXwZn7gtVlGE_JkeLWLdFnQnrI/s400/Fruit+salad.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">--This kale dish is SO good. I made it for dinner a couple weeks ago and both hubs and I liked it. I am always looking for ways to make our vegetables interesting and yummy, and this recipe is GREAT. Mom likes veggies, so I thought she might like this (she did!).</span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTD5cQDEATEc7rcunF823Bv2xdjp20AAj5bou-Ixcxq-KH-h335N06J9jiuI3JgvS1ilNcV52qjDBADcQf4Kuf1DgVcJhmHwNa6zN00YEtidT1YNu20qQ7GkYs8cVtgGrjb7eXm0uXL7M/s1600-h/Kale.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338780047582641506" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 337px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTD5cQDEATEc7rcunF823Bv2xdjp20AAj5bou-Ixcxq-KH-h335N06J9jiuI3JgvS1ilNcV52qjDBADcQf4Kuf1DgVcJhmHwNa6zN00YEtidT1YNu20qQ7GkYs8cVtgGrjb7eXm0uXL7M/s400/Kale.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">--Sausage was easy and yummy. I used powdered sage as my local store didn't have fresh sage. Next time I will either make the meat mixture a day ahead and cook the sausage right before lunch, or cook the sausages a day ahead and heat them up before lunch.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">--OH MY GOSH...ricotta-mascarpone mousse + balsamic strawberries = HEAVEN. Absolute heaven. I had some of the left over strawberries and mousse for breakfast Saturday AND Sunday...so ridiculously good. This is a simple dish, and it looks all frou frou and impressive. And in case I didn't say, its delicious.<br /></span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxVcDSVVD5cHF1mLqOrWHjYBEfckunB4a0cH4Vziph3Uc5s_vL3-YQ5CzugQMGnWNxIudu5SZqmVLp7jI9_KNNjV0jspOXUnecrYVB952Eu_WDuK_ldXC08tDicvggPO5epVT9ZUsCwXI/s1600-h/Strawberry+mousse.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338780040152518706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 349px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxVcDSVVD5cHF1mLqOrWHjYBEfckunB4a0cH4Vziph3Uc5s_vL3-YQ5CzugQMGnWNxIudu5SZqmVLp7jI9_KNNjV0jspOXUnecrYVB952Eu_WDuK_ldXC08tDicvggPO5epVT9ZUsCwXI/s400/Strawberry+mousse.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">--Each time I host a dinner I see myself improving. From absolutely wigging out and darting around getting not much of anything done to this time working steadily without wigging out, I'm getting closer and closer to having the food on the table when I want to with an absolute minimum of stress. This time I made a timeline detailing when to do each step in the whole process, but I didn't plan enough time in for prep work (chopping things, etc...I chop really slowly), so I will give myself more wiggle room in my next timeline. I also left myself too much to prepare the day of the brunch. Next time I will prepare as much of the food as possible the day before, so that the day of I have very little to do and can spend more time on the details (presentation, table decoration etc).</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">.</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">The little brother ("little" as in he turned 22 this year) came a bit early and hung out as he had to race back to work. Sadly Dad had to work, so he didn't make it to lunch. Hubs, mom and I had a relaxed time over our lunch talking about all sorts of things. Hubs took mom on a tour of our two vegetable gardens. Mom and I talked and looked at my blog; I let her read the entire first page before I told her no more, she could read my blog at her house, we had to go have fun now :) I presented her with a little gift bag containing a Mother's Day treat, and she wanted me to take a picture before she opened it, so we ended up outside on the front stoop. She wanted one of the pots of begonias I had planted to be in the picture, too (I swear, she's just about the cutest woman you will ever meet...she really takes delight in the small things like a pot of begonias her daughter managed not to kill), so she ended up sitting on the front stoop next to the pot. After a couple pictures I came and sat down as she opened her little treat (chocolate covered cherries from Italy! she loves choc covered cherries).</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">There we were sitting on the stoop looking out over the yard that is luxuriously shaded with not 1, not 2, but 3 of the cutest trees you'll ever see. The sky was blue with a few puffy white clouds, the birds were singing and a breeze was blowing. Cue another one of those moments where you just have to feel grateful for all God has given you.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">.</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">After we tore ourselves away from admiring the lovely day, I introduced her to Schwartzentruber's Bakery here in Abbeville; we left with danish for dad, wheat bread and slices of homemade cake (I got pound cake with lemon icing...it was soooo good). Then we trolled through our local video place and after much consideration we came away with Twilight (she hadn't seen it and wanted to). After a short drive around Abbeville we made one last very important stop: the ice cream shop. Can it really be girls' day without ice cream present? Ice creams in hand we headed home and settled in for the movie before she headed home. It was a lovely, lovely day! I don't remember the last time we spent time doing whatever we wanted without much of a deadline. I think she really enjoyed herself, and hopefully she felt very loved and celebrated.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Here we are; and the begonias, too :)<br /></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSzg0391o3xN9aa8iIVGJQCzRc-z-eqaWQPQROKn2asrzAA5NXNVyVFg5oHth2iJhJT7J68CUMCdwayqcptDdB1X6gf7H8IqkPvI8puMemB54tlcvggC6swps4GI-7I3z86IYwQ_8-DIY/s1600-h/Mom+me+begonias.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338780039472041730" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 254px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSzg0391o3xN9aa8iIVGJQCzRc-z-eqaWQPQROKn2asrzAA5NXNVyVFg5oHth2iJhJT7J68CUMCdwayqcptDdB1X6gf7H8IqkPvI8puMemB54tlcvggC6swps4GI-7I3z86IYwQ_8-DIY/s400/Mom+me+begonias.JPG" border="0" /></a>Kimberlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218772609602287535noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7504659725642458361.post-83776417148669420722009-05-21T13:18:00.004-04:002009-05-21T13:34:47.015-04:00Animal Abuse<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQkbnkfA4G9FqJ6OYP7QJQAOilumBAjQyjELAGXassj2FPgrwtUnswQu3HOUQ_9KIBL6U84AfJ6Ox8EVeG82cz6LshsG6UhPaunGddyH4rNcUeotm1HhgRhVGD4Q0I4iVI9gKR479vsNw/s1600-h/dog+chain.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338330130781171090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 336px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 248px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQkbnkfA4G9FqJ6OYP7QJQAOilumBAjQyjELAGXassj2FPgrwtUnswQu3HOUQ_9KIBL6U84AfJ6Ox8EVeG82cz6LshsG6UhPaunGddyH4rNcUeotm1HhgRhVGD4Q0I4iVI9gKR479vsNw/s400/dog+chain.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div><div></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;">Why is this dog wearing a chain and padlock around its neck?</span> </div><br /><div></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;">This dog was playing with another dog in the parking lot at work as hubs and I left for lunch today. It was not a very big dog, maybe 30 pounds or so, and the chain was big. It looked to be a Pit Bull mix and the other one, who seemed to be wearing an actual collar, looked like a Beagle mix with a smidge of Basset Hound. Both dogs came right up to us when we whistled and were only too happy for us to love on them for a couple minutes.</span></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;">Of course my mind jumps to dogfighting and assumes that this chain is evidence that this dog is being trained to make its owner money, because that is something that I have learned recently does happen in our area. I just don't understand how someone could treat an animal with so little respect. Gabby of Sweetest Pea recently talked about </span><a href="http://sweetestp.blogspot.com/2009/05/mercy-person.html"><span style="font-family:arial;">her soft spot for animals</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;">, and I could identify. It really hurts to think of animals who suffer at the hands of those they should trust to care for them. This type of activity happens when the rest of us do nothing; please check out the <a href="http://www.hsus.org/">Humane Society's website</a> to find out if there is anything you can do to help prevent animal abuse in your area.</span></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;">Maybe this dog's owner simply thought it would be cool to replace this sweet pup's collar and tag with a chain and padlock. Again I ask, why?</span></div>Kimberlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218772609602287535noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7504659725642458361.post-15366623320854933972009-05-16T10:37:00.004-04:002009-05-16T11:24:04.397-04:00Pink Saturday: NYC Blooms Pink<span style="font-family:arial;">Happy Pink Saturday! </span><a href="http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com/"><span style="font-family:arial;">Beverly</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> has a round up of all the bloggers participating, so go check out more Saturday pinkness.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">In April 2008 I visited New York City for the first time for a very short weekend business trip. My colleague and I arrived early on Friday so that we could squeeze in a few hours of sightseeing, and walking down 5th Avenue to make our lunch reservation at </span><a href="http://www.gramercytavern.com/"><span style="font-family:arial;">Gramercy Tavern</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> (absolutely delicious, can't WAIT to go there again), we stumbled upon Madison Square Park just across the street from the Flatiron Building. And we found these lovely trees in bloom:</span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifrdlM7eRetpO8bWZ4fxzgYxfbRNOWLqoPMsEwlX6PwO9PE6iGogSlYBNapkPvxzmuMSmEhgZZMJ2DN6qc8dc2f-qgfTO0PNJSOlxfTFA9X4H8PHBTza84cZ1iVys5DBow3cY3-ca9shQ/s1600-h/Pink+tree.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336437641721967282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 288px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifrdlM7eRetpO8bWZ4fxzgYxfbRNOWLqoPMsEwlX6PwO9PE6iGogSlYBNapkPvxzmuMSmEhgZZMJ2DN6qc8dc2f-qgfTO0PNJSOlxfTFA9X4H8PHBTza84cZ1iVys5DBow3cY3-ca9shQ/s400/Pink+tree.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Huge branches of light pink blossoms were hanging right over the sidewalk, so we both had to stop and take pictures.</span></div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-aZWVpVdzN6Tj_pT2pUch6GUAeAO00StJuMTzL9Uoa80cuxBij5PbYzmJeYdVGe2MDinR-WEB8M0_92l8zvXYn-aoTuJoJnIrcYnIIT9Xu7RXmu8f5rtT1xX52DcYyFW-NfquUFrn9a4/s1600-h/Blooms+close.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336437634988712610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-aZWVpVdzN6Tj_pT2pUch6GUAeAO00StJuMTzL9Uoa80cuxBij5PbYzmJeYdVGe2MDinR-WEB8M0_92l8zvXYn-aoTuJoJnIrcYnIIT9Xu7RXmu8f5rtT1xX52DcYyFW-NfquUFrn9a4/s400/Blooms+close.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div><span style="font-family:arial;">This picture doesn't show it, but the sunlight coming through the branches was SO beautiful...I had one of those moments when I am so full of whatever beautiful thing I'm looking at and so happy to be alive.</span><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;">Just around the corner from Gramercy Tavern we wandered into this florist shop. They had so many interesting and gorgeous flowers and, to their credit, they had their bases covered with some amazing pink blooms.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;">A peony, maybe?</span></div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhquDR30EYBOIzxoC4qsp4IrccZ6h2Y6f5TTINUArVqceXcEK9fdJ0qf7kUdvOg2uQyPAyxzsqq3i4huKSfg7l6cr4VYtN2mL6CBP3xqqxLfkbKxs2tMjyxHFUr9nKyyE98075Ot0SS9PE/s1600-h/Peony+close.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336437629759425170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 338px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhquDR30EYBOIzxoC4qsp4IrccZ6h2Y6f5TTINUArVqceXcEK9fdJ0qf7kUdvOg2uQyPAyxzsqq3i4huKSfg7l6cr4VYtN2mL6CBP3xqqxLfkbKxs2tMjyxHFUr9nKyyE98075Ot0SS9PE/s400/Peony+close.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Are these ranunculus? Whatever they are, they are gorgeous!</span></div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrnx-C-TrfRhPx4Kf8fS1QtIOjLGpK-PDFyDY8WMkA8nFJu6uoUiwuZXBJnOg0AE_MQnVmmmgc4q0NhwXTvG67EmAHh0_z3mhESSnid4ByhYRuxp-gQy63Ev5GxUs4Ks9-5QCde_A1ycU/s1600-h/Bright+pink+close.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336437630615139698" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrnx-C-TrfRhPx4Kf8fS1QtIOjLGpK-PDFyDY8WMkA8nFJu6uoUiwuZXBJnOg0AE_MQnVmmmgc4q0NhwXTvG67EmAHh0_z3mhESSnid4ByhYRuxp-gQy63Ev5GxUs4Ks9-5QCde_A1ycU/s400/Bright+pink+close.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div> </div><div><span style="font-family:arial;">Have a wonderful Pink Saturday!</span></div></div></div>Kimberlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218772609602287535noreply@blogger.com11