tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70421730040781549212024-03-06T23:57:46.704-07:00A DOUBLE SHOT OF ESPRESSO...AND OFF I GO!LORIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04314893632154039405noreply@blogger.comBlogger95125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7042173004078154921.post-22143871607437117142011-05-05T22:58:00.002-07:002011-05-05T23:02:35.452-07:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRC73yXlsIBKuZ81IYeLTI-4nRIX7t7SEnbDNX7fPuy7rtwMxp9RZ8Oj2IZ-4x9Gp4_gtr_UrXTa0204TZhi1R8iJnzM9QY2LXruM3tqDUGyL-_vlPuhQu_GD6WqXK3Gv_eEoVlBIIa8g/s1600/trainwreck.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 257px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRC73yXlsIBKuZ81IYeLTI-4nRIX7t7SEnbDNX7fPuy7rtwMxp9RZ8Oj2IZ-4x9Gp4_gtr_UrXTa0204TZhi1R8iJnzM9QY2LXruM3tqDUGyL-_vlPuhQu_GD6WqXK3Gv_eEoVlBIIa8g/s320/trainwreck.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603479519664979842" border="0" /></a><br />I just got smacked up-side my head with something going about a hundred miles an hour. I believe its name was MondayTuesdayWednesdayThursday. I never even saw it coming.LORIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04314893632154039405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7042173004078154921.post-79008655308960121982011-01-28T18:58:00.004-07:002011-01-28T19:15:59.510-07:00This week was a doozy! We got hit on one side by strep throat and the other side by troubles with<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">F G<br />A R<br /> L A<br /> L D<br /> I E<br /> N S<br />G<br /></div><br /><br />But, hopefully, antibiotics will fix one, and more study time will fix the other! It's so hard to find a balance...work, school, sports....and then there's always showering. Luckily, I can do that in 7 minutes or less, if necessary.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3HcrG-VjFqm1mgCm-ZQ7o87B5CTLjnjfGmq7xjtnhHdMjOPSi3CEPIfBHAnQ-6MDXFcW28h62J3y5iHrTNOWDdJB1ASnAW_YgAEn5ZfZSGYEKXJV8kHCN0najvexMjq1H-oBF3ujcPWs/s1600/thumbnail.aspx+live+to+tell.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 132px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3HcrG-VjFqm1mgCm-ZQ7o87B5CTLjnjfGmq7xjtnhHdMjOPSi3CEPIfBHAnQ-6MDXFcW28h62J3y5iHrTNOWDdJB1ASnAW_YgAEn5ZfZSGYEKXJV8kHCN0najvexMjq1H-oBF3ujcPWs/s320/thumbnail.aspx+live+to+tell.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567425323665089538" border="0" /></a><br />Off to read Live to Tell by Lisa Gardner. Good book so far; I read lots of her books this summer on my Nook. Love the Nook! I bought this one, though, in REAL. LIVE (okay, not live). PAPER. So much work, turning those pages. Oh, how the Nook has spoiled me!LORIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04314893632154039405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7042173004078154921.post-66590673343851894682011-01-17T00:21:00.006-07:002011-01-17T00:30:06.587-07:00Back? Maybe?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUvqE2NfjkuI1PTXYbVb4sjesHrSqvl6s5Cnbe7EqwJZWzXqZ7uhd53mf48mPs6Oj-z65Z0OrxlrZPd-a9SwWt8rhh6gPIUq0dRZWSrW8aBcU6QPXwbG8NypAIpaGKCzEufHqBBq1AXug/s1600/DSC06738.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/AVvXsEhUvqE2NfjkuI1PTXYbVb4sjesHrSqvl6s5Cnbe7EqwJZWzXqZ7uhd53mf48mPs6Oj-z65Z0OrxlrZPd-a9SwWt8rhh6gPIUq0dRZWSrW8aBcU6QPXwbG8NypAIpaGKCzEufHqBBq1AXug/s320/DSC06738.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563053808420932002" border="0" /></a><br />May? 2010? Really, it's been way too long! Here we are, smack dab in the middle of the first month of the new year. I am back to teaching full time, which explains my absence from my blog (and my hair stylist, but that's another conversation entirely). I am teaching 3rd grade again, same school. I was asked to come back 3 days before the school year began. 3 days. THREE DAYS. It took a little doing, a lot of coffee, and a lot of help, but I was ready in time to welcome 27 little darlings into my fold. They are a fantastic group of kids this year, and I consider myself blessed!<br /><br />On the home front, we are entirely consumed with the sporting events in our children's lives--football, wrestling, and basketball at the moment. I couldn't love it more! The bitter sweet of it all is that I know these busy days won't last forever, and I want to suck the joy out of every single one of them. Sometimes that's hard to do when all you really want is a nap, but I remind myself constantly that there will be plenty of time to sleep when I'm dead.<br /><br />I'm going to try to return here to blogland at least once a week, but don't hold me to it--papers to grade and all. I'm really missing the days when I was a "work at home mom", and could sneak a quick peek into the lives of all my cyber-friends. Now I have lots of real live people who call me friend, and I need to go plan some educational lessons for them!LORIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04314893632154039405noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7042173004078154921.post-24603258969297827472010-05-25T12:50:00.009-07:002010-05-25T13:06:06.560-07:00HELLO, LOVER<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQHw8fJNrpJMzv1mreoUFW9cA6eoj98ewsCGngP1YCZW7KncVvE8VeN7mx8wpYQKjEGe1l5pEvPytBD2vBulkYRJhqnNgnraWl17SuRJVLFSyq3mQebkrjgPhEskQr0VNuCfIL13S-wpw/s1600/1169041.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 113px; height: 170px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQHw8fJNrpJMzv1mreoUFW9cA6eoj98ewsCGngP1YCZW7KncVvE8VeN7mx8wpYQKjEGe1l5pEvPytBD2vBulkYRJhqnNgnraWl17SuRJVLFSyq3mQebkrjgPhEskQr0VNuCfIL13S-wpw/s320/1169041.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475301024889724882" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I thought I'd share a little virtual eye-candy with you today. I do love myself some coffee. In fact, I've written a poem about it. Not a good poem, but a poem nonetheless.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEife0MJezeJ5_vya3nzJxUQcGNnZmySFnT0nulNnFhB5aKvoEk2P92a_eDW7Ec-Dqg1CmZ2grJFUUXKUrVQcyGEmI_QzDASiGaxrux5-08uvltetLUxT_1nrUSllVDYKmJ73wUxj9jalWk/s1600/WINE+GLASS+WITH+COFFEE+BEANS+AND+CHOCOLATE.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 120px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEife0MJezeJ5_vya3nzJxUQcGNnZmySFnT0nulNnFhB5aKvoEk2P92a_eDW7Ec-Dqg1CmZ2grJFUUXKUrVQcyGEmI_QzDASiGaxrux5-08uvltetLUxT_1nrUSllVDYKmJ73wUxj9jalWk/s320/WINE+GLASS+WITH+COFFEE+BEANS+AND+CHOCOLATE.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475297827586451858" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Coffee hot<br />Coffee cold<br />I don't care if the coffee's old<br />Just as long as it hasn't any mold.<br />Coffee iced<br />Coffee thick<br />I can stir it with a stick<br />A little cream will do the trick.<br />Coffee cup<br />Coffee mug<br />Coffee is my morning drug<br />I thought I'd give it a little plug.<br /></div><br />Ahem. It's only the 2nd day out of the classroom and I'm writing odes to beverages. I wonder what other exciting adventures the summer will hold? Or wait, am I practicing cleaning avoidance? Could be. Anyway, I'll be back with some more earth-shattering revelations soon. After all, I did buy a pineapple at the grocery store yesterday--who knows what kind of art that might inspire? Until then, bottom's up!<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzVUgoNguIv5rzQCkTb4ZAUdg9nNO6pBNLEJ7jdbRnfL70QhrtEevTBEccAowwVoh3WcY6Vguyu9-hWLLr_io0z6EsSKCKPdle1jzqB_T4hSPKA7JGLPHIBCrdgS-lu4o1yKRiQoJB2bw/s1600/57658824.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 118px; height: 170px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzVUgoNguIv5rzQCkTb4ZAUdg9nNO6pBNLEJ7jdbRnfL70QhrtEevTBEccAowwVoh3WcY6Vguyu9-hWLLr_io0z6EsSKCKPdle1jzqB_T4hSPKA7JGLPHIBCrdgS-lu4o1yKRiQoJB2bw/s320/57658824.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475301334279894066" border="0" /></a>LORIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04314893632154039405noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7042173004078154921.post-19186709690412483302010-05-10T22:43:00.002-07:002010-05-10T22:46:30.935-07:00UM, WHAT'S THIS?<p><a href="http://www.girl-222.net/" rel="nofollow">自拍走光貼</a><a href="http://080.girl-222.net/" rel="nofollow">性自拍</a><a href="http://18baby.girl-222.net/" rel="nofollow">自拍貼</a><a href="http://dk.girl-222.net/" rel="nofollow">熟女自拍俱樂部</a><a href="http://dd.girl-222.net/" rel="nofollow">台灣美女自拍寫真圖片</a><a href="http://0804.meimei-adult.info/" rel="nofollow">免費av女優線上電影</a><a href="http://18baby4.meimei-adult.info/" rel="nofollow">免費av片上看</a><a href="http://18room4.meimei-adult.info/" rel="nofollow">免費av片線上觀看</a><a href="http://top3.meimei-adult.info/" rel="nofollow">免做愛影片</a><a href="http://talk3.meimei-adult.info/" rel="nofollow">免看色情片</a><a href="http://star3.meimei-adult.info/" rel="nofollow">免妹影片</a><a href="http://papa3.meimei-adult.info/" rel="nofollow">西洋成人色片</a><a href="http://play3.meimei-adult.info/" rel="nofollow">西洋辣妹做愛</a><a href="http://pretty3.meimei-adult.info/" rel="nofollow">西洋影片網</a><a href="http://pub3.meimei-adult.info/" rel="nofollow">西洋線上影片</a><a href="http://room3.meimei-adult.info/" rel="nofollow">免下載a片線上看</a><a href="http://sexy3.meimei-adult.info/" rel="nofollow">免下載成人片</a><a href="http://sg3.meimei-adult.info/" rel="nofollow">免下載做愛影片</a><a href="http://show3.meimei-adult.info/" rel="nofollow">免下載情色影片</a><a href="http://skylove3.meimei-adult.info/" rel="nofollow">免下載無碼短片</a><a href="http://song3.meimei-adult.info/" rel="nofollow">免卡通影片</a><a href="http://sos3.meimei-adult.info/" rel="nofollow">免免費成人影片</a><a href="http://spicy3.meimei-adult.info/" rel="nofollow">免妹成人影片</a><a href="http://spring3.meimei-adult.info/" rel="nofollow">免妹視訊</a><a href="http://18sex4.meimei-adult.info/" rel="nofollow">免費av成人情色電影</a><a href="http://1by14.meimei-adult.info/" rel="nofollow">免費av成人電影</a><a href="http://channel4.meimei-adult.info/" rel="nofollow">免費a片長片下載</a><a href="http://chat4.meimei-adult.info/" rel="nofollow">免費a片馬上看</a><a href="http://cool4.meimei-adult.info/" rel="nofollow">免費a片動漫下載</a><a href="http://cup4.meimei-adult.info/" rel="nofollow">免費a片照片</a><a href="http://ilove.nice666.info/" rel="nofollow">上班族聊天室 </a><a href="http://hot.nice666.info/" rel="nofollow">免費a片下載 </a><a href="http://may.jp999.info/" rel="nofollow">免費視訊</a><a href="http://loveu.jp999.info/" rel="nofollow">666成人</a></p><p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span>I sure hope I haven't just set a launch sequence in motion. I've been getting this <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">mumbo</span> jumbo in the comment section lately, and not sure what it is. Is it spam? Communication from far, far away? The winning lottery numbers mysteriously encoded Dan Brown-style? The "666" at then end is a little creepy, don't you think? I mean, really--did I do anything to deserve that???! If anyone has any idea what the heck this stuff is, please leave me a comment (that I can read) and help me! Thanks!<br /></p>LORIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04314893632154039405noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7042173004078154921.post-40181776437111473472010-04-26T18:53:00.005-07:002010-04-26T19:13:18.980-07:00I. AM. EXHAUSTED.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibNee9v35BYQHoV8RaCUVRRAR37S_ZTGeYAa3MwrzxzXco6KqYT2apJVrYohUhmR5neT22t-Hh5hFKsxBepDVRJWXy_mtFN4U1EsHHiMI2rbdzJi8Ts1mtRDAa68IavSXrSPxgvRtJzfs/s1600/books_on.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 160px; height: 164px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibNee9v35BYQHoV8RaCUVRRAR37S_ZTGeYAa3MwrzxzXco6KqYT2apJVrYohUhmR5neT22t-Hh5hFKsxBepDVRJWXy_mtFN4U1EsHHiMI2rbdzJi8Ts1mtRDAa68IavSXrSPxgvRtJzfs/s320/books_on.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464632449001034642" border="0" /></a><br />Third grade makes me really tired. 1st time around? Not so much. Now that I'm 40 and doing it again? Much. There are only 18 (17 and 1/2 if you're really counting...) days left, and so much I still want to squish into our days. Sometimes I also want to squish children...is that wrong? Also, I have discovered that there is not a potent enough room spray to delicately mask the scent of twenty-something "blooming" children after recess. Sometimes allergies are a blessing.<br /><br />Due to the crazy economy and the horrific state of affairs in education at the moment, I am not sure I'll have a job teaching next year, so that makes the next few weeks all the more bitter-sweet. Frankly, I can't believe the disservice we are hell-bent on doing to our children in this state. I've already informed my husband that if it gets much worse, I will be home-schooling our children and waiting tables at night (I'll be ultimately making more money that way...).<br /><br />Until then, the next few weeks will be spent growing plants, making Mother's Day gifts, reading, learning about our country (maybe THEY'LL have some ideas how to help us fix it?), and enjoying our time together before summer comes.<br /><br />On the home front, no cleaning has been done in awhile, and it smells a little bit like feet (kidding...sort of). I can't wait to work on some much-needed projects this summer!<br /><br />Have a great week!<br /><br /><br />p.s. just finished <a href="http://www.jodipicoult.com/">Jodi <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Picoult's</span></a> newest book, <span style="font-style: italic;">House Rules</span>. It was a great read for anyone who's a fan! One of her best!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjujRYcDaWxi3W3OMdIpuLQPcTfAV4GLnuN2PIbu_T-V8Fjpzvi8HOydg03VAJj37Ujfr5WCQrgX7OAZ3lNPh2fM-acrDtEMUxlzBZJl8uSfwCK4ooG3_VfF7onQ1ZTl5ZDr_6DXVv9frI/s1600/house-rules-157.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 157px; height: 238px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjujRYcDaWxi3W3OMdIpuLQPcTfAV4GLnuN2PIbu_T-V8Fjpzvi8HOydg03VAJj37Ujfr5WCQrgX7OAZ3lNPh2fM-acrDtEMUxlzBZJl8uSfwCK4ooG3_VfF7onQ1ZTl5ZDr_6DXVv9frI/s320/house-rules-157.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464633137376758610" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />p.p.s. i am now reading <span style="font-style: italic;">Such a Pretty Fat</span> by <a href="http://www.jennsylvania.com/">Jen Lancaster</a>, another favorite author of mine. So stinking funny! <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimT_pWDE0if8gJw_PzQtKoG7nh3A6QeTlwK1eXT-Eowic4VF6jz80PLXA5gIILJs-NBRnrVl5_nHH093VENXe2itK1DbEAVInayFNNNj1BStrrDtNmmEk-dYws0Zs_diTwWyShQC-bwJI/s1600/suchapretty_small.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 159px; height: 237px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimT_pWDE0if8gJw_PzQtKoG7nh3A6QeTlwK1eXT-Eowic4VF6jz80PLXA5gIILJs-NBRnrVl5_nHH093VENXe2itK1DbEAVInayFNNNj1BStrrDtNmmEk-dYws0Zs_diTwWyShQC-bwJI/s320/suchapretty_small.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464634362706632978" border="0" /></a>LORIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04314893632154039405noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7042173004078154921.post-29493527399627436932010-02-22T16:44:00.007-07:002010-02-22T17:01:11.154-07:00TEA BAGS AND DISCIPLINE<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj-aTe39jLQ3AJGGCwX35AtaGwJBhgq9Y-K0PHYWnG9DhN1qkKyDw8225XWgIDMlogigVp_sa0cajRWbuPtHIcAGL2Dr7oiysIbm1kcMIKjyk3ACmy-msKkbTpP-ZOzJn9kAN4oMe_o84/s1600-h/hot+water+dispenser.aspx"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 137px; height: 160px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj-aTe39jLQ3AJGGCwX35AtaGwJBhgq9Y-K0PHYWnG9DhN1qkKyDw8225XWgIDMlogigVp_sa0cajRWbuPtHIcAGL2Dr7oiysIbm1kcMIKjyk3ACmy-msKkbTpP-ZOzJn9kAN4oMe_o84/s320/hot+water+dispenser.aspx" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441221203424511858" border="0" /></a><br />I was blessed to spend last Thursday and today in an all-day video workshop by the one and only <a href="http://www.fredjones.com/">Dr. Fred Jones</a>. I tell ya, that man has really accounted for virtually every "what if" a teacher could throw his way. He uses the clever art of manipulation...er, behavior modification, to coerce, er, guide the student in the direction of appropriate behavior. We got to spend the days watching his videos and discussing situations with our colleagues. But, of course, the best part was getting to go to lunch, OFF CAMPUS, for AN ENTIRE HOUR!!!!! For those of you who don't teach, you could never imagine the thrill this is, and the possibilities it inspires! Unless, of course, you have 25 children of your own, then you probably have a pretty good idea. I got to eat SITTING DOWN! I know! <br />In other news, we got an exciting new toy here this weekend, and its name is AN INSTANT HOT WATER DISPENSER IN THE KITCHEN RIGHT ON THE KITCHEN SINK! I'm so excited! It's kind of dorky, I know, what with the invention of the microwave and all. But really, the idea that I can think, "Gee, a cup of hot tea sounds good", and make it happen RIGHT NOW is really, really cool. In fact, I've had so much tea since yesterday that I think I may have sprung a leak. Just kidding. I'm kind of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">glowy</span> inside just thinking of the possibilities of instant coffee (Starbucks has complied) and hot chocolate next winter. And my wishes to God's ears, apparently, because it's been cold and rainy here all day! Off to have some more tea, happy Monday!LORIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04314893632154039405noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7042173004078154921.post-39780537813936594462010-02-13T18:58:00.004-07:002010-02-13T19:03:54.328-07:00IT WAS ME<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFx97LOun21jBWaf5prTsEM1SwSepzvdB7Gk-4ZJ0jApC-YH0mf8_-OizMlJ7kji9IJDF7pZJjKuIBELGr5F0RckGKCFtHpSSEKqisbHx3qyiNun7fcCTLlAMhaQBrKri3v685GznxEWU/s1600-h/480340.rockstar-sugar-free.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 232px; height: 275px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFx97LOun21jBWaf5prTsEM1SwSepzvdB7Gk-4ZJ0jApC-YH0mf8_-OizMlJ7kji9IJDF7pZJjKuIBELGr5F0RckGKCFtHpSSEKqisbHx3qyiNun7fcCTLlAMhaQBrKri3v685GznxEWU/s320/480340.rockstar-sugar-free.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437913941840113458" border="0" /></a><br />If anyone happened to notice a ridiculous-looking lady driving down the road on Friday holding an ice-cold RockStar beverage to her forehead staring ahead at the road with really squinty eyes? That was me. It was conference week. And our school Valentine's Day party. Stick a fork in me, I'm done.LORIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04314893632154039405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7042173004078154921.post-54937466625658108692010-01-18T10:39:00.010-07:002010-01-18T11:00:33.710-07:00OH NUTS!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisdol6CLP_fCwPtjJ-9DeIbSR0NftXl_BRM1q5I7Wz34K8qSzyk1fx98uY2X3B2fW_KofEa5pWa79Mi_BVnmY01tJWxbDarY_WMmm61vozNjltUFC5Q7wpe-3pMCyCvtSzGNGMvXFmyPA/s1600-h/nuts4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 216px; height: 173px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisdol6CLP_fCwPtjJ-9DeIbSR0NftXl_BRM1q5I7Wz34K8qSzyk1fx98uY2X3B2fW_KofEa5pWa79Mi_BVnmY01tJWxbDarY_WMmm61vozNjltUFC5Q7wpe-3pMCyCvtSzGNGMvXFmyPA/s320/nuts4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428141228549895746" border="0" /></a><br />Well, 2010 started out with a bang (crash, bump, and I think I also heard a scream, but I can't be sure), but I think we're back on track and are in full anticipation of a fabulous year! Aren't we always?! The Christmas Break home with the kids was heaven. We got to bake, watch movies, play games, sleep in late (after staying up late), hang out with friends, and just have fun! In fact, we had so much fun that the Christmas decorations hung around for a whole extra week, and well into the new year! If you know me, you know this is in direct conflict with my OH-so OCD ways. I'm learning to chill. Age is definitely mellowing me!<br />Back to school has been a hoot--so much to do, so little time! I am once again entertained by the questions that keep me laughing and pondering. Here are some of my recent favorites:<br /><ul><li>How do they get marbles so round? (more importantly, who are THEY?)<br /></li><li>Can plants feel it when you pull off their leaves? (I think we should ask one...)<br /></li><li>How does milk come out of your nose when you laugh? (happened in the cafeteria at lunch, true story, it's now legendary)</li><li>Why did I come back after break? (heard this one in the teachers' copy room)</li><li>Teacher, do you want to see my nuts? (student produces a handful of walnut-looking nuts from pocket to show his wide-eyed, completely panic-stricken teacher)</li></ul>In other news, the house is getting cleaner and more organized (a constant quest), and this 3 day weekend is the reason why! I just love that freshly cleaned, new-house smell after everything has been dusted, wiped, folded, and reshelved--don't you?LORIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04314893632154039405noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7042173004078154921.post-48320526102500525052009-12-27T14:18:00.006-07:002009-12-27T14:51:17.898-07:00A TOUGH CROWD<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi00oMt803hgMTAKBX8EiRfvzURtJ3M5Y1JHYin_C87uzUS1uTG_ZZo7h_epMhueqU7G11y91-k31B6K9lknyLxFvh_Sh_41JA4soKquscHxjTSGVi29z1the6e2u-P5Up2JqxF1oRTwJo/s1600-h/christmas-cheer-grinch1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 247px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi00oMt803hgMTAKBX8EiRfvzURtJ3M5Y1JHYin_C87uzUS1uTG_ZZo7h_epMhueqU7G11y91-k31B6K9lknyLxFvh_Sh_41JA4soKquscHxjTSGVi29z1the6e2u-P5Up2JqxF1oRTwJo/s320/christmas-cheer-grinch1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420035869866486770" border="0" /></a><br />I'm not quite sure what happened between Christmas Day and the morning after, but BOY HOWDY! The Christmas Spirit got sucked right out of some people, I tell you. I did my usual "the day after Christmas" shopping routine...I rolled out of bed, still a little hung over from all the ham and fudge the day before, spot-combed my hair, brushed my teeth, threw on the clothes that were laying on the floor beside the bed, and headed out the door. My first stop is always Hallmark, because I almost always LOVE their Christmas stuff. This year, I arrived on their doorstep at 8:36 a.m., late by "morning after" standards, and found myself EARLY! They didn't open until 9:00! But good news for all of you worrying right now that I stood there and froze my fanny off for the next 24 minutes--<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">JoAnn's</span> Craft Store was right next door and OPEN! Since I had been to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">JoAnn's</span> approximately 4 times a week for the 3 weeks leading up to Christmas (craft supplies for class, etc.), their selection was not a surprise. I spent $3.00 to replace some used-up supplies, and headed back to Hallmark. I have found that there are 2 types of people (women) that go to Hallmark the day after Christmas. The people, who like me, want to replenish their bow and wrapping paper stashes, and THE OTHERS. These OTHERS that I speak of are the women who collect Hallmark ornaments. And most of them are CRAZY. Now, if you are a Hallmark-ornament-collecting-non-crazy woman, I WOULD LIKE TO OFFER AN APOLOGY FOR MY OVER-GENERALIZING COMMENT. THE WOMEN WHERE I WAS SHOPPING WERE NUTS. They had no problem knocking small children upside their heads with their shopping bags if it meant getting the coveted Star Wars Luke <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Skywalker</span> ornament, and more than one heavy sigh was uttered, suggesting the rest of us had better GET. OUT. OF. THEIR. WAY. Now, far be it from me to screw with people (um, yeah, right), but I'll admit that I may have stood a little longer than necessary and fondled one too many ornaments just to mess with 'em. Yeah, I don't even collect the ornaments. This year Hallmark decided to put all of the ornaments right next to all of the wrapping supplies, so THEY DID IT TO THEMSELVES.<br /><br />I made the usual rounds after that: Pier One, World Market, Target, and Barnes and Noble. Everywhere I went, people seemed to be <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">unusually</span> cranky. What had been DECK THE HALLS WITH BOUGHS OF HOLLY the day before became I'LL DECK YOU IN THE AISLES, AND IT'LL BE MY FOLLY the day after. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Sheesh</span>. So to you, lady, who tried to run over me in the Pier One parking lot and then stared at me with your CRAZY EYES while I shopped inside, I say STAY HOME NEXT YEAR. Or at least have a cup of eggnog in the parking lot.LORIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04314893632154039405noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7042173004078154921.post-35341121354258880912009-12-10T00:34:00.005-07:002009-12-10T00:42:23.505-07:00A JOKE, 3RD GRADE STYLE<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjotADCfzgs9wj7WFtSlgnRe5xoi2CSRjlAbhFhVGjGSWpA6sRKKBhl0qMqufZs4M4WwzT97wOARalCdtdhLiabZ61LyeIxjfyJXCSKPfNcc16ReAXgniXtIsGMIV-sw9vDIjOFyS5-AHc/s1600-h/joke+clip+art.aspx"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 148px; height: 160px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjotADCfzgs9wj7WFtSlgnRe5xoi2CSRjlAbhFhVGjGSWpA6sRKKBhl0qMqufZs4M4WwzT97wOARalCdtdhLiabZ61LyeIxjfyJXCSKPfNcc16ReAXgniXtIsGMIV-sw9vDIjOFyS5-AHc/s320/joke+clip+art.aspx" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413509638733908642" border="0" /></a><br />Student: Do you know the difference between roast beef and pea soup?<br /><br />Me: Um, yeah.<br /><br />Student: No, this is a joke.<br /><br />Me: I know, I'm just messin' with ya.<br /><br />Student: Do you want to hear the joke?<br /><br />Me: Um, yeah.<br /><br />Student: What's the difference between roast beef and pea soup?<br /><br />Me: I think I've heard that one before.<br /><br />Student: Really?<br /><br />Me: No.<br /><br />Student: Do you know?<br /><br />Me: No, what the difference between roast beef and pea soup?<br /><br />Student: Anybody can roast beef, but nobody can pea soup!<br /><br />Me: That's the funniest joke I've ever heard!<br /><br />Student: Yeah, me too.<br /><br />The best part was when he told me the same joke 5 more times the same day, and I had to pretend it was as funny each time as it was the 1st time he told me! Good times...LORIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04314893632154039405noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7042173004078154921.post-24702000045807816652009-12-01T16:53:00.007-07:002009-12-01T17:04:21.198-07:00WHERE ARE YOU, CHRISTMAS?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqPDCL1c2v8VLUcmG2eyAiP5AF-y8ZfFZfdLCn6CNM1cCgrKwknL9qXyhu1W6_tn_5s46ERpGht5Gpk3dd04WCrrAdfPaMOwkqlZrMJo7TrsGBVxbrQjKf0Oo1cv1OnItVz6RrvBK3MBI/s1600/picture+of+candy.aspx"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 128px; height: 85px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqPDCL1c2v8VLUcmG2eyAiP5AF-y8ZfFZfdLCn6CNM1cCgrKwknL9qXyhu1W6_tn_5s46ERpGht5Gpk3dd04WCrrAdfPaMOwkqlZrMJo7TrsGBVxbrQjKf0Oo1cv1OnItVz6RrvBK3MBI/s320/picture+of+candy.aspx" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410422323384328434" border="0" /></a><br />I think that there should be a date of expiration on all uneaten Halloween candy. I mean, what kid who's worth his weight in Snickers has any left come December 1st, anyway? Haven't their parents eaten what was left? (Ahem) I knew today was going to be rough when I was greeted at my classroom door by several of my students who had graciously accepted a classmate's offering of leftover Halloween candy. For breakfast... At 7:30 a.m... By 10:00 a.m., I had sent one to the nurse's office with a tummy ache, explained to Evan that little girls didn't like to be called "honey buns" by little boys, and tried to come up with an answer for why dogs and cats have thicker skin that humans (that was during math class). By afternoon recess, our boy's bathroom pass had been thrown up on the roof. Luckily for us, Jessie had said a prayer when she went out to use the restroom, and God had told "her heart and brain" that the culprit had been either Daniel, Joseph, Connor, or Michael. Well, at least that's one less problem for me to think about. Sigh. When's Christmas?LORIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04314893632154039405noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7042173004078154921.post-40236348501611103142009-11-29T21:53:00.004-07:002009-11-29T22:02:38.376-07:00I'M BACK???<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg83_yTq28UT-2S7BgRKaQrGjCnG5NtGqBX6NlQFBMUjCstToZfMN03XYK_1DMjX73Ifi1dHpIijyMKcpdz9cmQ8OaW4AKMwAlj2SvDTuSPKG98Ui5GbQOZITgJ8L5xGQCq7_IGy8TLDWU/s1600/mia+picture.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 96px; height: 94px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg83_yTq28UT-2S7BgRKaQrGjCnG5NtGqBX6NlQFBMUjCstToZfMN03XYK_1DMjX73Ifi1dHpIijyMKcpdz9cmQ8OaW4AKMwAlj2SvDTuSPKG98Ui5GbQOZITgJ8L5xGQCq7_IGy8TLDWU/s320/mia+picture.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409757492500953330" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I'm a little bit back. Here's a grocery list of what's been going on around here, and why I have been MIA lately!<br /><br />New job--check<br />Working 2 jobs now--check<br />Sinus Infection--check<br />Pneumonia (from working 2 jobs?)--check<br />Strep throat (from working with <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">germy</span> little people?)--check<br />Shuttle driver for kids in sports, etc.--check<br />Holidays upon us--check<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Soooooo</span>, I am going to try to incorporate blogging back into my crazy life, I miss it oh, so much! If anyone is still out there that I used to blog-stalk, I promise I'm really trying to come and read your posts...probably on the weekends! I'm so glad to be back in the classroom, and I know these precious little people that I am in charge of all day will provide me hours of funny blogging stories for you!LORIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04314893632154039405noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7042173004078154921.post-90437307512573939522009-09-13T23:21:00.004-07:002009-09-13T23:44:48.718-07:00WAS THAT THE WEEKEND I JUST SAW WHIZZING BY?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwqL0VesupFOo7p-LSJvl34rY9b5LynyVYG87lh8xNmdZWS8qjj-45jhCYyLxF3p60zCAHUuQhK0jCPZhX2U5XUXchVghDqIaF-KjucBlOgx2_0wxVEjHD6s85iPtlJPw9Rd59tT5Sx_k/s1600-h/calendar+1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 170px; height: 126px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwqL0VesupFOo7p-LSJvl34rY9b5LynyVYG87lh8xNmdZWS8qjj-45jhCYyLxF3p60zCAHUuQhK0jCPZhX2U5XUXchVghDqIaF-KjucBlOgx2_0wxVEjHD6s85iPtlJPw9Rd59tT5Sx_k/s320/calendar+1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381210357554275858" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Well, the weekend has come and all but gone. There's just not enough Saturday and Sunday to go around, what with all of the house-cleaning, neighbor-visiting, clothes-washing, kid-playing, and fun-having that happens! I am definitely voting in the next election to extend the weekends by a day. Just think of all the fun we could have! Holy cow! Why didn't someone think of this earlier? Why do we work 5 days and only have 2 days off, anyway (traditionally speaking, I mean...and schools, you know, the traditional ones)? What kind of raw deal was that? Clearly, 3 to 4 would've been a much happier ratio. Someone didn't have their thinking cap on when that one was decided.<br /><br />Well, off to bed to gear up for another 5 day work week! Only 5 days until next weekend!<br /><br /><br />p.s. Speaking of calendar type things, <a href="http://www.vertex42.com/calendars/photo-calendar.html">this site</a> has lots of cool calendar freebies for your computer, to print out, and even for your blog!LORIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04314893632154039405noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7042173004078154921.post-38171777852602344592009-09-07T11:22:00.005-07:002009-09-10T23:50:33.376-07:00BIG BIRD EXPLODED IN MY WASHER! (OR, "WHAT I'VE BEEN UP TO LATELY INSTEAD OF BLOGGING")<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTdjBm_TJzyaiSfSSMejSQR8n7hriVEn-gW8qsROCrQxRAUn6VsCUyw4hd5LL4WryiWuEL4DdikoRFKDKEwd1j4pzB1t-rSqoP9l8PXPgafvqLmPPy6rIKaYX9-pyFd3qFx-YXw5Retfg/s1600-h/DSC03555.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTdjBm_TJzyaiSfSSMejSQR8n7hriVEn-gW8qsROCrQxRAUn6VsCUyw4hd5LL4WryiWuEL4DdikoRFKDKEwd1j4pzB1t-rSqoP9l8PXPgafvqLmPPy6rIKaYX9-pyFd3qFx-YXw5Retfg/s320/DSC03555.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380097685282421874" border="0" /></a><br />I will be back over the weekend, God willing, but until then, this is what's been happening here...this used to be my favorite black tee shirt. It is covered in the dying efforts of a favorite yellow blanket (that has been washed about a thousand times without issue). I had to vacuum out my washing machine. 3 times. It was bad. Really bad. Have a super Friday, and I'll be back soon!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimuqIX4g-f6vPmxZESwe7Qe4Q2T60p0qMKfr4IHmmxcdDQBXYNaU_-xDp-EF0kRRle7hS89O8TrWTxibU7NqkahgALd3fT7kN8hUOCpF9ILma1HREvDLQjMxyJwrVxAuQekP0sTd9MZmo/s1600-h/DSC03557.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimuqIX4g-f6vPmxZESwe7Qe4Q2T60p0qMKfr4IHmmxcdDQBXYNaU_-xDp-EF0kRRle7hS89O8TrWTxibU7NqkahgALd3fT7kN8hUOCpF9ILma1HREvDLQjMxyJwrVxAuQekP0sTd9MZmo/s320/DSC03557.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380098405081996450" border="0" /></a><br />Oh look! My other favorite black tee shirt...LORIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04314893632154039405noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7042173004078154921.post-18027991268039073782009-08-16T12:26:00.009-07:002009-08-24T06:47:54.282-07:00JEN LANCASTER AND HER FUNNY BOOKS<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfpyFVWmw3ZvUoTCPyPV6RtBs5V1CvCAIH4U8-aPwwvUQUZMovOOoNjs2IfVkGzxNI7EpwGwVkeUUqkkcIK7RAnQF6TxU5ofqaUQyLUbO-ry89Oo5VTAvZyb9Rdma3aeeYaUN0i7PzZz0/s1600-h/bitter+is+the+new+black+picture+2.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 159px; height: 237px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfpyFVWmw3ZvUoTCPyPV6RtBs5V1CvCAIH4U8-aPwwvUQUZMovOOoNjs2IfVkGzxNI7EpwGwVkeUUqkkcIK7RAnQF6TxU5ofqaUQyLUbO-ry89Oo5VTAvZyb9Rdma3aeeYaUN0i7PzZz0/s320/bitter+is+the+new+black+picture+2.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370651904720347058" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I'd like to share a new author friend with you! She and I have never actually met, but I feel that we would totally be <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">BFF's</span> if she knew I existed. Not that I'd stalk her or anything, that would be wrong. <a style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);" href="http://youtube.com/watch?v=K8jnXfVPGfA&feature=player_embedded">Here's a video clip</a> she made discussing her new book, "Such a Pretty Fat". Her website is <a style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);" href="http://www.jennsylvania.com/">here</a>. The book that I just finished is called "Bitter is the New Black", and tells her story from dot.com money-making wench to unemployed, humbled lover of dogs. There were so many funny one-liners in this book, I found myself grabbing for a tissue to dab at the Diet Coke running from my nose on more than one occasion. Now with school starting, there will be less time for reading, but I'll definitely make time for these books!LORIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04314893632154039405noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7042173004078154921.post-69478735224095654352009-08-14T09:58:00.012-07:002009-08-14T11:50:11.241-07:00FROM JUNKY TO FUNKY!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Lx9zwz9Y1wU7UD48cV1eFuZCFayQ7H39z57NKLqTA93fjVdTzUeZ2a-cYX9Oz3kmzIInU-x65D6GEVbBDPJzkzCZg17IdjTvLlbq9RZzp2NGmTswEANXTMBbTodJdLjXiq6PBYpE15k/s1600-h/DSC02977.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Lx9zwz9Y1wU7UD48cV1eFuZCFayQ7H39z57NKLqTA93fjVdTzUeZ2a-cYX9Oz3kmzIInU-x65D6GEVbBDPJzkzCZg17IdjTvLlbq9RZzp2NGmTswEANXTMBbTodJdLjXiq6PBYpE15k/s320/DSC02977.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369878217125959634" border="0" /></a><br />For all of you who are really done looking at my dog's boy parts (I didn't even clear that photo that I used in my last post with him first, how rude), I thought I'd post something different. This table has been with us since my husband and I were married 14 years ago. It has seen many things: <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Cherrios</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">sippy</span> cups, craft projects, building blocks, and the occasional magazine. It was well loved by crayons, feet, and sometimes bottoms. It used to sport a fashionable (not) padded bumper around its perimeter to keep little heads from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">smooshing</span> when they ran into it. It had that weathered look without spending even one day in the sun. But still, I knew it had potential beyond what it had already given to us. So I give you the transformation: from COFFEE TABLE to GAME TABLE!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbg9EZyJfrlS4sgR-xw8-Lh9cjYrEZcbWd8KhbL52ryXGZ1hdW6e4WgDi5339uqI7aCW26WZnk4hSFcFVTjlzUWas_EJQiDPYTptZhUOYW5kLiY7CUNuXPBv5r_nWQKV_d6mPobe80T7w/s1600-h/DSC03464.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbg9EZyJfrlS4sgR-xw8-Lh9cjYrEZcbWd8KhbL52ryXGZ1hdW6e4WgDi5339uqI7aCW26WZnk4hSFcFVTjlzUWas_EJQiDPYTptZhUOYW5kLiY7CUNuXPBv5r_nWQKV_d6mPobe80T7w/s320/DSC03464.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369874154221466002" border="0" /></a><br />The kids and I sanded, painted, and then painted and sanded some more, and it was a fun family project! Hubby even got in on the action--he marked off the squares for us to paint The checkers and chess pieces will be stored in the drawer in the front, and my next project is to find (or make) comfy floor cushions for sitting on while playing. I'm going to check out some after-summer clearance sales on outdoor cushions at Pier One or World Market. Does anyone know when summer officially ends here in Arizona?!LORIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04314893632154039405noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7042173004078154921.post-47634950478164489692009-07-31T16:45:00.004-07:002009-07-31T16:54:24.961-07:00FOR THE LADIES OF THE 80'S!<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjldTUg7HcSexWfQAO0sLLsu1PSJaCnnM3qZ5dgzZbTYr04KmwvNd7PQqQBq20PTmBgqrfjIgkPsDf-11ExmTrf53rRwKgGUCfB2MUMbDQMUHAdCBg_guj0KcPSQUQtjz59C2CHLHxNmi4/s1600-h/DSC03441.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjldTUg7HcSexWfQAO0sLLsu1PSJaCnnM3qZ5dgzZbTYr04KmwvNd7PQqQBq20PTmBgqrfjIgkPsDf-11ExmTrf53rRwKgGUCfB2MUMbDQMUHAdCBg_guj0KcPSQUQtjz59C2CHLHxNmi4/s320/DSC03441.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364775037407891570" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:180%;">NOBODY PUTS BABY IN THE CORNER!</span><br /><br />If you don't get this, click here: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y97bWP33d8I">Dirty Dancing with Patrick Swayze</a><br />because you're really young.<br /></div>LORIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04314893632154039405noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7042173004078154921.post-41043873909310474292009-07-20T22:56:00.004-07:002009-07-20T23:07:50.073-07:00ONE OF THOSE DAYS...I've had one of those days. <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Do you know how sometimes you <span style="font-size:130%;">DRIVE</span> somewhere that you've been<br /><br />a <span style="font-size:130%;">MILLION</span> times,<br /><br />and when you arrive and get out of the car you<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">AREN'T QUITE SURE HOW YOU GOT THERE? <br /><br /></div>You don't remember anything significant about the drive? It's almost a little <span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">EERIE</span>. That was today for me. I did the usual stuff around the house, did some work, and ?? I can't even remember. It was an insignificant day. Now I know what you're thinking--there's no such thing. And you're right. I hate that today passed me by. I was here, alive and well in all the moments that today's 24 hours had to offer, and I feel like I blew it. But tomorrow's another day, and I resolve to be grateful, thankful, happy, and present in it. <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">I LOVE DO-OVERS!<br /></div>LORIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04314893632154039405noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7042173004078154921.post-88364486891116031432009-07-11T23:37:00.027-07:002009-07-12T00:42:46.732-07:00HOW TO MAKE A BUTTON<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_gOs9z3h__9opNlCvDf8SsZcsVKdQmMo93jzxKAZstBXBdbHOoS74t2HsHf56ATq97inCOVk9gyrRX-XC7IPuyLNreS8n5ur7EPzZkaRhL4iMx7VdPRpTIfqJox0YLB-Hp3c0VRNLEMY/s1600-h/225_Machine+button+maker.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 227px; height: 281px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_gOs9z3h__9opNlCvDf8SsZcsVKdQmMo93jzxKAZstBXBdbHOoS74t2HsHf56ATq97inCOVk9gyrRX-XC7IPuyLNreS8n5ur7EPzZkaRhL4iMx7VdPRpTIfqJox0YLB-Hp3c0VRNLEMY/s320/225_Machine+button+maker.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357475345420106162" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Thank you, <a href="http://beeandrose.blogspot.com/">Bee and Rose</a>, for passing on the info. from <a href="http://www.aprilshowersblogdesign.com/2009/07/tip-of-week-how-to-make-blog-button.html">April Showers</a> on how to make a blog button! I am much better with the old-fashioned kind of button maker, I'm afraid, and even though the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">instructions</span> were very simple to follow, I still had issues. Heavy sigh. I gave it my best shot, and at least there's something up there in the corner to show for it! It's been a good weekend so far; we've played some games, watched some movies, and spent some time with good friends. Isn't that what it's all about?! We had a yummy dinner tonight complete with a recipe for ribs from a friend, and lots of fresh veggies! Even the dog had his way with a few carrots and some spilled mashed potatoes! Besides a little work that needs to get done tomorrow, I have really high hopes of getting in that great room of mine called my CRAFT ROOM (or more commonly, the place where the kids go to watch t.v.) I'm thinking of attacking my scrapbooks from another direction--one I started a while back when I was feeling overwhelmed with the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">incompletion</span> of it all. I decided to do a book for each major "theme" in our lives, and expand from there. For example, I have a book entitled "HALLOWEEN". It certainly doesn't contain all the photos I take for that given holiday (hello, have we met?!), but just a sampling of a few pictures of the highlights. I also have a book called "BIRTHDAYS" with a 2-page spread for each birthday party for each child. Since my husband and I were married over the July 4<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">th</span> weekend, that holiday holds special <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">significance</span> not only as a national holiday of our great country, but as a celebration of our marriage. I have tried to take a family photo each 4<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">th</span> of July weekend, and these photos go into the "JULY 4TH" book. You get the picture (pardon the pun!). I also have a "YEAR IN REVIEW" book concept, and that one is a bit <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">overwhelming</span> because there are so many years that remain undone. With the 365 day photo challenge from <a href="http://www.beckyhiggins.com/blog/">BECKY HIGGINS</a>, future years may be easier. Especially if I actually remembered to take photos every day. Ugh. Anyway, here are a few photos of the books as they are right now, and some other projects. With any luck, I'll be working on them here and there throughout the rest of our (rapidly <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">disappearing</span>) summer! I think the temp. here is supposed to be 156 degrees or something like that tomorrow--I don't watch the weather reports anymore--really, what's the point? The only thing I know for sure is that I now need oven mitts to grasp the steering wheel of the car and open the doors from the outside, and tongs to remove the keys from the ignition once we get where we are going. It's the price we pay for our beautiful winters here in Arizona. And I can say that, although I've had 2<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">nd</span> degree sunburns before, I've never lost a digit due to frostbite. I figure I'm about even.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSLhx22Ma-ZncytSVGR28ogfNM5Rhz8qTkBe5PLPLr47Onx_RfeBA-HARsQbrBR90OnV9c0TAFcvGhwue2iT3n7nLdfAGONES291-xUZTPwbcirXPMKxIG_3cQUBkRoBs5rBfbAmhOWqQ/s1600-h/DSC03189.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSLhx22Ma-ZncytSVGR28ogfNM5Rhz8qTkBe5PLPLr47Onx_RfeBA-HARsQbrBR90OnV9c0TAFcvGhwue2iT3n7nLdfAGONES291-xUZTPwbcirXPMKxIG_3cQUBkRoBs5rBfbAmhOWqQ/s320/DSC03189.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357470380733277218" border="0" /></a>Photo tour of our home.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhenVt8xacmaP71gwlUR9zeNbmxe1q4VjTLvPUsMAbVYuZSjgtkbzDkB4O3IR9fWraltNdZIDjh2mk46prOMoCrr_gN_ZvYui6Abs1Zu_dckkO-TRT9QKkHOYs-jyY7tlEuUgJM3fuKA10/s1600-h/DSC03204.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhenVt8xacmaP71gwlUR9zeNbmxe1q4VjTLvPUsMAbVYuZSjgtkbzDkB4O3IR9fWraltNdZIDjh2mk46prOMoCrr_gN_ZvYui6Abs1Zu_dckkO-TRT9QKkHOYs-jyY7tlEuUgJM3fuKA10/s320/DSC03204.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357471231208532706" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbuhnKBqlPggHgLLamsW_sTgKDphudEFVCJ74gol0bn60RnhPM52X3dQtIkqFYsyhUVQkgmBSh6k4f3_oFdOjM0eBXXBQ4Zm8gzNuTN4fatMyl9MKhJNEYn30hAGUAyqPjLrKc13slHdI/s1600-h/DSC03202.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbuhnKBqlPggHgLLamsW_sTgKDphudEFVCJ74gol0bn60RnhPM52X3dQtIkqFYsyhUVQkgmBSh6k4f3_oFdOjM0eBXXBQ4Zm8gzNuTN4fatMyl9MKhJNEYn30hAGUAyqPjLrKc13slHdI/s320/DSC03202.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357471163280254034" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZUBcSBZx4gC6lk6YEfXyN4toTPbkg4Tz6SGEH5iEoLxx8FXNv-y89qQoq0Q1bqoWdp6zi36g3LZys35A8SCE79twZlNRjyEuappkBgZTzytiZPque0E2KpL9Ze2hwP02XpN_zJszqO0g/s1600-h/DSC03201.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZUBcSBZx4gC6lk6YEfXyN4toTPbkg4Tz6SGEH5iEoLxx8FXNv-y89qQoq0Q1bqoWdp6zi36g3LZys35A8SCE79twZlNRjyEuappkBgZTzytiZPque0E2KpL9Ze2hwP02XpN_zJszqO0g/s320/DSC03201.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357471102373742658" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicTG5OaWWKU5zz19Ha2l0kKMKiCrWTQrHtYHau8IlsbefPCNR8Dt3Tz3NfmVH7GAdk5Y5-VQ4eGmEnLlSUMWH0oQmFw9BbWfYZ8cm3vYtvkQjNrFrfEVG8x2KfDZYVKqRm33EgqvF8iwA/s1600-h/DSC03199.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicTG5OaWWKU5zz19Ha2l0kKMKiCrWTQrHtYHau8IlsbefPCNR8Dt3Tz3NfmVH7GAdk5Y5-VQ4eGmEnLlSUMWH0oQmFw9BbWfYZ8cm3vYtvkQjNrFrfEVG8x2KfDZYVKqRm33EgqvF8iwA/s320/DSC03199.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357470974203058482" border="0" /></a>Year in review book, no <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">journaling</span> yet, only notes.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiJet_OcNNoF4-LaIDI1_D9aQhpueiWXcta6ufcBz2W7ii1mNo3EPkyUR3Fq4AZ-i21NJGnS_ERjK2eDlBTv4glewhCCCeRhOrq6LsgtojpaBAEi1pp2brd6LX9iUphvqPB3b7cL5so4E/s1600-h/DSC03200.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiJet_OcNNoF4-LaIDI1_D9aQhpueiWXcta6ufcBz2W7ii1mNo3EPkyUR3Fq4AZ-i21NJGnS_ERjK2eDlBTv4glewhCCCeRhOrq6LsgtojpaBAEi1pp2brd6LX9iUphvqPB3b7cL5so4E/s320/DSC03200.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357471044882130674" border="0" /></a>Another page of the same book, ready for pictures.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM0pdjTuh5kr9H78i69_EYhuB3uHeQZvXE60cWci7J3hp3M9zG4VSZcy7Y6vak9ZUHkJyoNMg3KJ-lKMv83Z4yv0OHwnDQNwu0DMMU87ThLJjpoGS-bJL8LaYyWz8jDoM1JTX4JP-3vEM/s1600-h/DSC03198.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM0pdjTuh5kr9H78i69_EYhuB3uHeQZvXE60cWci7J3hp3M9zG4VSZcy7Y6vak9ZUHkJyoNMg3KJ-lKMv83Z4yv0OHwnDQNwu0DMMU87ThLJjpoGS-bJL8LaYyWz8jDoM1JTX4JP-3vEM/s320/DSC03198.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357470915550157042" border="0" /></a>Birthday book, year 2. Incomplete, naturally!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia19g2HZcE7AXeBblBRGi0nAjLf7oXPlk4XI7ZgC935ca-k90XsVKPkorp46DDW3rfeuG0BlXMAJ2e4THPB-0_ADJT7OkiiZOe7pMJ3HJmeKAE6hkBykao7On2wV3fxrVg1wBWGKsENvk/s1600-h/DSC03197.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia19g2HZcE7AXeBblBRGi0nAjLf7oXPlk4XI7ZgC935ca-k90XsVKPkorp46DDW3rfeuG0BlXMAJ2e4THPB-0_ADJT7OkiiZOe7pMJ3HJmeKAE6hkBykao7On2wV3fxrVg1wBWGKsENvk/s320/DSC03197.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357470848653313106" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheA-Zh48b28THJMQOsYDECiQJSpPrlpK3tOAEYODKfI1R15ruKQe8Yqj_yhdsdP5ZMayslSWPaLgD3UlxkTrMW_HheK2LeVYXReXGHdwTDGmztrRu3I-S_M-j0plQaTKTV9MB7B5r-QMs/s1600-h/DSC03195.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheA-Zh48b28THJMQOsYDECiQJSpPrlpK3tOAEYODKfI1R15ruKQe8Yqj_yhdsdP5ZMayslSWPaLgD3UlxkTrMW_HheK2LeVYXReXGHdwTDGmztrRu3I-S_M-j0plQaTKTV9MB7B5r-QMs/s320/DSC03195.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357470794491320194" border="0" /></a><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Thanksgiving</span> photos, recipes, traditions.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsrlA9w_z7s9v180UWuOLRkUkleJlW17DEmw2xGgpHMPVV7iyCt1PKKDxQbMQhy_OvSeA6hmYTy85XumlKoVbFmxK8rYYRv2WoX9nh-_tbzYAtl6M71GUn6KYB4SzrgSAC8p5_SA2405A/s1600-h/DSC03194.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsrlA9w_z7s9v180UWuOLRkUkleJlW17DEmw2xGgpHMPVV7iyCt1PKKDxQbMQhy_OvSeA6hmYTy85XumlKoVbFmxK8rYYRv2WoX9nh-_tbzYAtl6M71GUn6KYB4SzrgSAC8p5_SA2405A/s320/DSC03194.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357470729505875442" border="0" /></a>Book of Christmas cards from one season, not decorated yet.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuSvcrAA2_wCyG_DDmqC-A77Y-PEMlOaArT7VAWIlHVFC6uLxp7lCEdLUFonZAc6KCKdSd2ZZ2lvOSTfDRV_ArY8F9StkEGwxiLeeVbPHZi4p8FZRKN3jC4DLdILsfpweSCGyQ78EMnbA/s1600-h/DSC03193.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuSvcrAA2_wCyG_DDmqC-A77Y-PEMlOaArT7VAWIlHVFC6uLxp7lCEdLUFonZAc6KCKdSd2ZZ2lvOSTfDRV_ArY8F9StkEGwxiLeeVbPHZi4p8FZRKN3jC4DLdILsfpweSCGyQ78EMnbA/s320/DSC03193.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357470666314588914" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihBlwt0tpLDSkeMd2smY8wpzOlFjAzFbaxh_sMFEzIS_ZI6BYYpIwPaPAB2Jn_CC6RD0Ua9FdaELECGEbvyrnn4eJoeep6BSfZ3LXMe7cA43PcXXH9hSrrZ7GQWlI4D_JCKTwxWpgIbkI/s1600-h/DSC03192.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihBlwt0tpLDSkeMd2smY8wpzOlFjAzFbaxh_sMFEzIS_ZI6BYYpIwPaPAB2Jn_CC6RD0Ua9FdaELECGEbvyrnn4eJoeep6BSfZ3LXMe7cA43PcXXH9hSrrZ7GQWlI4D_JCKTwxWpgIbkI/s320/DSC03192.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357470602328248386" border="0" /></a>Just a fun school idea that the kids and I did here at home.<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzKRG3nVmwNTHALPUYBEEgHxsx09LV6tFEi3rcfgTs6uTI2axCm-mCZFHFfJEHjJGPFuhPFVPBmZAektWB2tZ3qzBQ4AV9rZSUB0ez3vErqgvHbLMxukY0xxcdS7pl-hKCFI4NH1gH1o8/s1600-h/DSC03191.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzKRG3nVmwNTHALPUYBEEgHxsx09LV6tFEi3rcfgTs6uTI2axCm-mCZFHFfJEHjJGPFuhPFVPBmZAektWB2tZ3qzBQ4AV9rZSUB0ez3vErqgvHbLMxukY0xxcdS7pl-hKCFI4NH1gH1o8/s320/DSC03191.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357470524984123730" border="0" /></a>ABC book of baby's first year, the first book project I had ever done.<br /></div><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGj9ESVWx8STrEX2LWfzy9DBhvkX2-XZgufBGs8PCIn5X40kEXXxg8zxKTsc7UdCXdpz445a6EuZBAfF7LWnmQbyOmH2bwtOTylzVVpdLx-gern8qt6yJkzA-wYTZxWppXSGlCw6qwwAY/s1600-h/DSC03190.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGj9ESVWx8STrEX2LWfzy9DBhvkX2-XZgufBGs8PCIn5X40kEXXxg8zxKTsc7UdCXdpz445a6EuZBAfF7LWnmQbyOmH2bwtOTylzVVpdLx-gern8qt6yJkzA-wYTZxWppXSGlCw6qwwAY/s320/DSC03190.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357474051624718562" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Another book of Christmas pictures and letters from family and friends. I put these out every year in a Christmas basket so that we can look through them and remember years gone by!<br /></div>LORIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04314893632154039405noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7042173004078154921.post-9262470883525106042009-07-02T14:56:00.035-07:002009-07-02T16:24:14.428-07:00IT'S SUMMERTIME AND THE LIVIN'S GOOD!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbRuNJHSl_ClA3f-OgXAvYU2zaYgsoVjMOxH4wKhUVA-tSc9-Dgm2Pcc6s6iKFpdfwJ2RgXPOS49JM8qtx3ymuSkTLR6JCql5D7FaW6lPpo025PfCRGjZC-2jV5D5rohLdLhuQ78X2Q74/s1600-h/summer_~k0323620.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 223px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbRuNJHSl_ClA3f-OgXAvYU2zaYgsoVjMOxH4wKhUVA-tSc9-Dgm2Pcc6s6iKFpdfwJ2RgXPOS49JM8qtx3ymuSkTLR6JCql5D7FaW6lPpo025PfCRGjZC-2jV5D5rohLdLhuQ78X2Q74/s320/summer_~k0323620.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354005790214244770" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXYFhf5JD45WZhwChxUylLp7UnxJD8qI-4CD4aD28j8c1s8uAXmXItedaN2Tcz7w-uOx9OZ-QQBL3MvlWpTvRrv9wOOCiUQ1QmjJmVfMH6Csu2pjrw_7qLcJ8L3tiHbpYZSxt-d0MF7Qo/s1600-h/summer-concept_~k0753915.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 219px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXYFhf5JD45WZhwChxUylLp7UnxJD8qI-4CD4aD28j8c1s8uAXmXItedaN2Tcz7w-uOx9OZ-QQBL3MvlWpTvRrv9wOOCiUQ1QmjJmVfMH6Csu2pjrw_7qLcJ8L3tiHbpYZSxt-d0MF7Qo/s320/summer-concept_~k0753915.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354005650406147490" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLqEDZNRZZMQOFLg5FBKVuGIhkb88fMLyVygX1pgKhvxrRrrGACIamFQdhwLDUGkM9roBvztN8ACtdz7ZFwGUBs2kT7V3RmUMuo1cqOP9G16bqMcOcFp6jSX4Ho54twu1QQm2Oe1n0d8U/s1600-h/summer-berries_~k1176874.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 245px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLqEDZNRZZMQOFLg5FBKVuGIhkb88fMLyVygX1pgKhvxrRrrGACIamFQdhwLDUGkM9roBvztN8ACtdz7ZFwGUBs2kT7V3RmUMuo1cqOP9G16bqMcOcFp6jSX4Ho54twu1QQm2Oe1n0d8U/s320/summer-berries_~k1176874.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354005487938469538" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Just an ode to summer today. Yes, we live where it's hot enough to fry an egg on the sidewalk in the summer (never been tested by me, just an urban legend we like to pass on). Yes, sometimes the car does smell like burning ass when you get in--especially if you have leather seats. And yes, I have gotten 2<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">nd</span> degree burns while wearing 50 SPF on an overcast day at the pool. But still, summer also means lazy days, not having to get dressed until noon--heck, not getting out of bed until noon most days--and catching up on all the projects that there's never any time for during the school year. So far, here's what we've <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">accomplished</span>:<ul><li>WE HAVE BASEBOARDS!!!!! We put wood flooring in a couple of years ago, and due to time and budget constraints, we weren't able to add the baseboards until now. YEA! <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqXPyIx6lpDLXktaa70jRGRQXnZyNttsbzORkKmJM7xDKZj_mMwFD0Sy0tgIA53ycc2eZ3_NsIaqIw52o4ri-VxH9AgKZukNXkidFcaRQ7rNbQ7a8sEHNk_xL960Pb5cP1ha-9xOPeMAQ/s1600-h/DSC02984.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqXPyIx6lpDLXktaa70jRGRQXnZyNttsbzORkKmJM7xDKZj_mMwFD0Sy0tgIA53ycc2eZ3_NsIaqIw52o4ri-VxH9AgKZukNXkidFcaRQ7rNbQ7a8sEHNk_xL960Pb5cP1ha-9xOPeMAQ/s320/DSC02984.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353990030881817474" border="0" /></a></li><li>We have recovered our dining room chairs. Okay, we used duct tape because the staples wouldn't go through the wood, but they're MOSTLY done.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7oaUEB5gK04zG6aGvGCzghpmk-AT0siXRVULBTHl-P_JL0LHMhfyyDU8RII81cHEiwny2XYApBF9l8-rUx8l_iRPL87bQOR2j3xOIUr2lNUzHJ7vOMgI8yI_tRxUnFvdB835GTtrqIhs/s1600-h/DSC02987.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7oaUEB5gK04zG6aGvGCzghpmk-AT0siXRVULBTHl-P_JL0LHMhfyyDU8RII81cHEiwny2XYApBF9l8-rUx8l_iRPL87bQOR2j3xOIUr2lNUzHJ7vOMgI8yI_tRxUnFvdB835GTtrqIhs/s320/DSC02987.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353990457755624626" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGPNd5JueZWfzrKPDbPB1UJ8fqpJVrM4gopbs4q_HmVWWKGJg1qeDRaGWlnm-8DYV1RnSo_o3L_Tmrpg_-f6X7v8-orXfajkRZ5Do9lxgAQEIlRr34zjC_HkfCyyhrRiqKDQe-dBaxJxY/s1600-h/DSC02988.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGPNd5JueZWfzrKPDbPB1UJ8fqpJVrM4gopbs4q_HmVWWKGJg1qeDRaGWlnm-8DYV1RnSo_o3L_Tmrpg_-f6X7v8-orXfajkRZ5Do9lxgAQEIlRr34zjC_HkfCyyhrRiqKDQe-dBaxJxY/s320/DSC02988.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353990538643484162" border="0" /></a></li><li>Rearranged furniture in the living room--just awaiting the addition of the game table and some floor cushions!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHnw2dA06GLKppUutL3WhkBhNfgw8p5N9BIw2kWZVhZMn4GbpkawPSN67RTrFVXGYSnF9CokjJXVVaNxrq-4gXh5ICiy01RohRNg-gjYEiQAQyDvMZT143K9IOEozl3h4YSaDx2QCu4O0/s1600-h/DSC03153.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHnw2dA06GLKppUutL3WhkBhNfgw8p5N9BIw2kWZVhZMn4GbpkawPSN67RTrFVXGYSnF9CokjJXVVaNxrq-4gXh5ICiy01RohRNg-gjYEiQAQyDvMZT143K9IOEozl3h4YSaDx2QCu4O0/s320/DSC03153.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354006214198016034" border="0" /></a></li><li>Sanded and partially painted the re-purposed coffee table to be a game table--waiting for a windless day to finish.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMl4ACTtpR9J2IX5aPSD-IwQmJJ0jIxfFWrXwHZm7nWDcuMBuaiJa41vibLuCDiaiPj9Fi-RRC7SyeHfT8RlDOxCRr7a3cqB1hKzJSiJHEfwgrbhakyYVvgar2XQw_5zeAk3aXziS1dNM/s1600-h/DSC02980.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMl4ACTtpR9J2IX5aPSD-IwQmJJ0jIxfFWrXwHZm7nWDcuMBuaiJa41vibLuCDiaiPj9Fi-RRC7SyeHfT8RlDOxCRr7a3cqB1hKzJSiJHEfwgrbhakyYVvgar2XQw_5zeAk3aXziS1dNM/s320/DSC02980.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354000849264827426" border="0" /></a></li><li>Pajama pants--lots and lots of pajama pants!</li><li>Reorganized pantry.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUQr8hD28bGYzUSjNFDZRVC1rrt6QkxU9YhRuAx5-EYfbP9njnbTh1tIN7COe66LlxQqo2Rl54sTb0SqIC_sLEYL-8xBxDx87ZbAkIDlNmnKR0p9zDHo5IXktqy-zKVXd3BnTt2j4ar_Y/s1600-h/DSC03144.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUQr8hD28bGYzUSjNFDZRVC1rrt6QkxU9YhRuAx5-EYfbP9njnbTh1tIN7COe66LlxQqo2Rl54sTb0SqIC_sLEYL-8xBxDx87ZbAkIDlNmnKR0p9zDHo5IXktqy-zKVXd3BnTt2j4ar_Y/s320/DSC03144.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353998666332975778" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaK_s_VOXWCYUZro7hXTzdkwKPOSWa-_uHVNcgvhILXkw7uOKaUFopSZ-0DRnDHzlk93JfsTAEa9CIJ3yMKjYC3VqABMP-Ce93rFW5shz-aBpWE0g3aXGb62BztNt4UcFpjIcxH4bRqHM/s1600-h/DSC03147.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaK_s_VOXWCYUZro7hXTzdkwKPOSWa-_uHVNcgvhILXkw7uOKaUFopSZ-0DRnDHzlk93JfsTAEa9CIJ3yMKjYC3VqABMP-Ce93rFW5shz-aBpWE0g3aXGb62BztNt4UcFpjIcxH4bRqHM/s320/DSC03147.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353999031169969138" border="0" /></a></li><li>Clean (but you have to look REALLY quickly) playroom (I wasn't quick enough to get a picture, darn it).<br /></li><li>Painted picture frames for ART GALLERY wall.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5f7d1d-14qbbdsqCnVEF1pzOYq4uUFyTWBBmhiuZXmn1Qi93nLSBeagjLL6wkIQlrZYEDGdYNrSmzB6y3nLcb8Nlc45fnhZMxT647My3JqgpfXkRxkBOhXE-7I2Cp4ssv_wiRoECppfY/s1600-h/DSC02772.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5f7d1d-14qbbdsqCnVEF1pzOYq4uUFyTWBBmhiuZXmn1Qi93nLSBeagjLL6wkIQlrZYEDGdYNrSmzB6y3nLcb8Nlc45fnhZMxT647My3JqgpfXkRxkBOhXE-7I2Cp4ssv_wiRoECppfY/s320/DSC02772.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354007317088385746" border="0" /></a></li><li>Organized and labeled files (just an <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">OCD</span> thing...)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6LhmHmPfvbudTVpOXLY3buPud1qtCcu01Tarc_SAMJFysDEJqm3lvzyf5oKQXWy1rpMtAGFpZPZoYkvFmdodXCr6lBFJRRjSgcvqseFuOTdmqK9PvVyIHjsyNSV-oKO8dT4t4FGOh0Fw/s1600-h/DSC03152.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6LhmHmPfvbudTVpOXLY3buPud1qtCcu01Tarc_SAMJFysDEJqm3lvzyf5oKQXWy1rpMtAGFpZPZoYkvFmdodXCr6lBFJRRjSgcvqseFuOTdmqK9PvVyIHjsyNSV-oKO8dT4t4FGOh0Fw/s320/DSC03152.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353998328308760370" border="0" /></a></li><li>New recipes tried.</li><li>Lots and lots of salsa made.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhapVXxJ_lg-EzduCd6zl5aOcw9ximieu1VnwI5mpRWt2aKiJgVtw9a1ozCb4ySKOPBfuYoOYePcVtIsjo9-JvG02xCpXLs7r5qqpEI5dxvQmwss2vn5ASZDb0_Kr5UGlKvo270f1gFyLs/s1600-h/DSC03033.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhapVXxJ_lg-EzduCd6zl5aOcw9ximieu1VnwI5mpRWt2aKiJgVtw9a1ozCb4ySKOPBfuYoOYePcVtIsjo9-JvG02xCpXLs7r5qqpEI5dxvQmwss2vn5ASZDb0_Kr5UGlKvo270f1gFyLs/s320/DSC03033.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353991615066161458" border="0" /></a></li><li>First-ever attempt at <a href="http://www.letterboxing.org/"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">LETTERBOXING</span></a> in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Sedona</span>.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdu4hWVbXFjb-UAq9K0a_XDRmvWr0pK-j6CgON6m5csSGPlRnF_NCbL427ztPIOmALZ24LN1J7_1HRhjtR4r5Bz2MbgV6HRhjPMhihpdX3arV_36CVImPp9gqXQIXCjrRkY9Rgu70dQVY/s1600-h/DSC03119.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdu4hWVbXFjb-UAq9K0a_XDRmvWr0pK-j6CgON6m5csSGPlRnF_NCbL427ztPIOmALZ24LN1J7_1HRhjtR4r5Bz2MbgV6HRhjPMhihpdX3arV_36CVImPp9gqXQIXCjrRkY9Rgu70dQVY/s320/DSC03119.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353991177907852258" border="0" /></a></li><li>Working out, rock climbing, and basketball at the Rec. Center.</li><li>Lots of movies, friends over, and wine-drinking (just the adults).</li><li>Standard-issue Super Dog Cape made for Super Dog (sometimes the "S" stands for Stupid, sometimes for Silly) by the daughter.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9moQ2dymMlMxuYKqbmppgyciUEohVUX9o_kRmuEwgmW9L8d6IsWxD1CU4OtYUfn5zmqN7kJgt2mhAAyLfPGMniKh3MwWx35EzZTEHbzEURIBSeoc3yBE3TLAiNoOS_aseoe2obCGUMkE/s1600-h/DSC03143.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9moQ2dymMlMxuYKqbmppgyciUEohVUX9o_kRmuEwgmW9L8d6IsWxD1CU4OtYUfn5zmqN7kJgt2mhAAyLfPGMniKh3MwWx35EzZTEHbzEURIBSeoc3yBE3TLAiNoOS_aseoe2obCGUMkE/s320/DSC03143.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353999509245898626" border="0" /></a></li></ul>I still plan to get a handle on my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">scrapbooking</span>--at least a start. I still plan to reread Stacey Julian's book to be re-inspired to take control!<br /><br />On a sadder note, the Something Lovely that I was going to make? Um, not so much. My journal ended up looking like a bit of a fabric-covered nightmare. Luckily, I googled journal covers, and found this <a href="http://kirinote.blogspot.com/2007/07/how-to-make-reversible-journal-cover.html">great tutorial</a> for any who are interested. Maybe one day I'll learn to read the directions first--but why ask for permission when you can ask for forgiveness?LORIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04314893632154039405noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7042173004078154921.post-27356227397982854292009-06-25T14:21:00.004-07:002009-06-25T14:34:22.047-07:00SOMETHING LOVELYI'm off to try to make something lovely today. Not sure what it's going to be--I made LOVELY salsa last night (a family favorite, I make a batch almost every week!), and cleaned all the LOVELY bathrooms, so now I'd like to go make a scrapbook, fabric, journal something-or-another. Vague enough?! I have a few hours before basketball games tonight, so thought I'd try my hand at a fabric-covered journal. I have a bit of a journal addiction--I've never met one I haven't liked (or purchased, perhaps). I love to buy the old style composition notebooks when they go on clearance after the back-to-school shopping is done and then cute them up with paper and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">doo</span>-dads. My daughter and I were on a PAJAMA PANTS binge a week or so ago; here are some of the fabrics we used.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrosrhyphenhyphen5_WfYR75CzNtwNOhI7waeCQ3lrl5iNPdArlZ1Q8tCQGGqO-vj-Q__zLeQe1GSTNyTlPh50HWFslhmTs9zB12_uxDzHkx-bH8-dqB7i4oISM8PASZTzPYl0G1ATtJjPV3Zu1vq4/s1600-h/DSC03034.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrosrhyphenhyphen5_WfYR75CzNtwNOhI7waeCQ3lrl5iNPdArlZ1Q8tCQGGqO-vj-Q__zLeQe1GSTNyTlPh50HWFslhmTs9zB12_uxDzHkx-bH8-dqB7i4oISM8PASZTzPYl0G1ATtJjPV3Zu1vq4/s320/DSC03034.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351381312827331618" border="0" /></a><br />Yes, that is CROSSWORD FABRIC you see--I'm a big fan--WORD NERD, I am. So off I go to CREATE. If the result is picture-worthy, I'll post it! Have a great day!LORIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04314893632154039405noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7042173004078154921.post-3441243090841128572009-06-13T20:54:00.003-07:002009-06-13T21:07:46.907-07:00THE KNEES OF SUMMER<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlAZq9JSF4mJf_sBL-LOv7tQE3BF4-UpeFU5hQejDio2owUOiWfvo-CRqxcR_8h02auc5W4ZB6ofn0Yud3SB3wb0J673SDkbIiHjG8QEa2JXgmxPOiXoNkszYLoGu4keI2Cw_GZO95od4/s1600-h/DSC02975.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlAZq9JSF4mJf_sBL-LOv7tQE3BF4-UpeFU5hQejDio2owUOiWfvo-CRqxcR_8h02auc5W4ZB6ofn0Yud3SB3wb0J673SDkbIiHjG8QEa2JXgmxPOiXoNkszYLoGu4keI2Cw_GZO95od4/s320/DSC02975.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347029731833313490" border="0" /></a><br />Do you remember having knees like this? It brings back some great summer memories for me. My knees still look a little like this, but that is another story, and it probably involves cleaning. Or being clumsy. Or stairs. If I close my eyes, I can still smell the fresh cut grass and hear the distant buzz of the lawnmowers all over our neighborhood. I can hear the voices of my friends as we played freeze tag for the zillionth time in our front side yard (the size of a regulation baseball field--I had it so rough). I can taste the carrots pulled directly out of the garden dirt, wiped off on my shorts, and maybe--if a parent happened to be watching--rinsed off with the garden hose. I have not, since my childhood, tasted a carrot, radish, or peas as delicious as those were. I can smell the hamburgers and hot dogs grilling on the barbecues, and picture all the dads out back (we had no fences) watching the kids play while they grilled. Here's to summer, to the all the great memories, and of course, to the knees of summer. Ah, to be a kid again.LORIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04314893632154039405noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7042173004078154921.post-5851162224141865682009-06-08T13:29:00.013-07:002009-06-08T14:12:35.342-07:00ORGANIZATIONAL EYE CANDY!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfRTfHsR9DjLwrDbLggqFZKtpJIw5vVOU1-lcTW587t937JcLs1Qbw4d9w2Y8IXfZIzy_WS-pZyRtAP-sbcPehlphpvJnsS7hfhCvQFGxzaSxKi73i8PBa-XOaoxUVC9aC7G5RKueRrvk/s1600-h/DSC03030.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfRTfHsR9DjLwrDbLggqFZKtpJIw5vVOU1-lcTW587t937JcLs1Qbw4d9w2Y8IXfZIzy_WS-pZyRtAP-sbcPehlphpvJnsS7hfhCvQFGxzaSxKi73i8PBa-XOaoxUVC9aC7G5RKueRrvk/s320/DSC03030.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345066498697270786" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Flaves</span> of the day: Pineapple-Mango and Strawberry from Bath and Body Works. Makes you want to eat a fruit salad.<br /></div><br /><br />In the spirit of getting myself ready to organize, I thought I'd pass on some pretty pictures to inspire! These images give me a sense of calm and happy--just like a picture of the ocean, or of a lovely dirt path down a clearing in the woods. Okay, maybe not JUST like that, but still...it works for me! Here's my little cleaning/organizing routine.<br /><ul><li>Fire up the fragrance burners with a combo. of invigorating, fruity scents--think clean house, here. (see above)<br /></li><li>Put on some favorite music--either dance music, 80's music, or something a little jazzy, like Nora Jones.</li><li>Put on the most comfortable, old, soft "cleaning uniform" you can find--my favorites are my circa 1990 Old Navy 4<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">th</span> of July tee shirt and yoga pants.</li></ul>You are now ready to begin any domestic task that awaits you! I am going to go create some labels for my files right now, and I'll post pictures later.<br />Now without further ado, courtesy of REAL SIMPLE, here are the promised pictures!<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLdtYS7Z_EvffmqFo8YRjmZYga1uGjkBcvgN5zRFj88guB5h0bwleVYXK0AfAQ8UT2zOHpCKs7qDcCJcVWE5Z5mI0RzkFXr4711yOObJfmtQRBuRBukquiVIL7zkbte0tA3IIcXFGZFX8/s1600-h/101-after-garage-3_300GARAGE.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 269px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLdtYS7Z_EvffmqFo8YRjmZYga1uGjkBcvgN5zRFj88guB5h0bwleVYXK0AfAQ8UT2zOHpCKs7qDcCJcVWE5Z5mI0RzkFXr4711yOObJfmtQRBuRBukquiVIL7zkbte0tA3IIcXFGZFX8/s320/101-after-garage-3_300GARAGE.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345064442366790354" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYK1f-a3I2euOZAbPVnJNcJPUcVawUOmK8Xcy6FPaZA-SvstdSqd07GwxkL5gLkgnw6SZ3QjV5fQQf9lxxvkh-cX4OkDkTigsO_6OKdSwU9HJmWWkkisND7it_pBKTTRWY8YpD60NYV18/s1600-h/mudroom_300MUD+ROOM.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 269px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYK1f-a3I2euOZAbPVnJNcJPUcVawUOmK8Xcy6FPaZA-SvstdSqd07GwxkL5gLkgnw6SZ3QjV5fQQf9lxxvkh-cX4OkDkTigsO_6OKdSwU9HJmWWkkisND7it_pBKTTRWY8YpD60NYV18/s320/mudroom_300MUD+ROOM.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345066019858649378" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2NLS3UYYfYpi9xcQjUqdhCGPh81RZqEo1-t0C337MzXY9AtsVvCwybw7pSx7d52frzusil_rGpmttV3k68f1rLAlgnMMv2O5IGDKdJpZYIaw2J4Qq-xdQwiIBTdkhrKn8wUyh4llBjQU/s1600-h/closet-hat_300CLOSET.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 269px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2NLS3UYYfYpi9xcQjUqdhCGPh81RZqEo1-t0C337MzXY9AtsVvCwybw7pSx7d52frzusil_rGpmttV3k68f1rLAlgnMMv2O5IGDKdJpZYIaw2J4Qq-xdQwiIBTdkhrKn8wUyh4llBjQU/s320/closet-hat_300CLOSET.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345064832609504242" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFyFbWqgLE4Hp_kqpZk7IWP_4tJMtZ_42Cn5XLkDfpQSvdzh0nTXPqoBEJKQEnai3HqGeZjavksGYaZkojvM1tWtlH06POWldIem23raHB3L96ytN2sFadHB_0F21_LuW9qvRN1BEIFAw/s1600-h/dresses-hangers_3007+SHIRTS.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 269px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFyFbWqgLE4Hp_kqpZk7IWP_4tJMtZ_42Cn5XLkDfpQSvdzh0nTXPqoBEJKQEnai3HqGeZjavksGYaZkojvM1tWtlH06POWldIem23raHB3L96ytN2sFadHB_0F21_LuW9qvRN1BEIFAw/s320/dresses-hangers_3007+SHIRTS.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345065624269652898" border="0" /></a>This is a good look for a closet...if you only have seven shirts.<br /></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGauqk3VLvy-kR1aKTPiLJDkVl0GyaAYx-3GjpI4XozfQ7MAARAtaeIC9I9NmrBpm2uSZtLAQq6wbFxdeo-XRnTdyIHXpyYvFY_qBR3V7CcTMfkT0Hvcnd3V52EIqZYN77qkBb23aE5tc/s1600-h/bookshelves-4_300+ORGANIZATION.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 269px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGauqk3VLvy-kR1aKTPiLJDkVl0GyaAYx-3GjpI4XozfQ7MAARAtaeIC9I9NmrBpm2uSZtLAQq6wbFxdeo-XRnTdyIHXpyYvFY_qBR3V7CcTMfkT0Hvcnd3V52EIqZYN77qkBb23aE5tc/s320/bookshelves-4_300+ORGANIZATION.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345064634456043762" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAWcOaJ0TjfhnKRARfv5_rDE02BxSa639issAIkCTykQnc4_j90cOmLZyisypbP6iGi3WBfjse8MeHul83kGApVub9m4koTCYyjH3ikCp6mPossySRZTttK12uC8_eT7IGJ59ZPJ2P8jg/s1600-h/closet-little-girls_300.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 269px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAWcOaJ0TjfhnKRARfv5_rDE02BxSa639issAIkCTykQnc4_j90cOmLZyisypbP6iGi3WBfjse8MeHul83kGApVub9m4koTCYyjH3ikCp6mPossySRZTttK12uC8_eT7IGJ59ZPJ2P8jg/s320/closet-little-girls_300.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345065139719410050" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEyizXA8C39iPwlVdetB73-6DX9vNig3WlR6HuP7Gre9YGrHuoXrXxjKmxL51JpadbpbWj9Ylj1DNu1MElrHzqOYyfcR_4Xs0cU7eEMBMYez8o6TuSseLZo8BsQYxPGjK1bQltsbhLC-M/s1600-h/closet-little-boys_300.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 269px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEyizXA8C39iPwlVdetB73-6DX9vNig3WlR6HuP7Gre9YGrHuoXrXxjKmxL51JpadbpbWj9Ylj1DNu1MElrHzqOYyfcR_4Xs0cU7eEMBMYez8o6TuSseLZo8BsQYxPGjK1bQltsbhLC-M/s320/closet-little-boys_300.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345064978135994290" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Disclaimer: The lovely "boy and girl closets" will only look this way up to the point<br />where the boy and girl enter the room.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Now, go forth and organize!<br /></div></div>LORIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04314893632154039405noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7042173004078154921.post-90170320107288307832009-06-03T03:02:00.016-07:002009-06-03T03:49:57.137-07:00I'M THE MOM OF A TEENAGER<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0pK8s6Tb5ipmbmEPguSnDGvO4w73lTi1qNF88SaKxmCuXZM6cRDDaHgFH3T_wpos6fexlh3i4p1KRpOB7uijS47rgt66RQBevdX4uugqZxOPscERQ3VVuqY22a4gvQigQmoT5D9aszYs/s1600-h/100_0309.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0pK8s6Tb5ipmbmEPguSnDGvO4w73lTi1qNF88SaKxmCuXZM6cRDDaHgFH3T_wpos6fexlh3i4p1KRpOB7uijS47rgt66RQBevdX4uugqZxOPscERQ3VVuqY22a4gvQigQmoT5D9aszYs/s320/100_0309.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343046895380048690" border="0" /></a>age 10<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">How did this happen? I'm still so young...and cute! Well, I am, aren't I?! Why are you laughing? How can I have a 13 year-old boy? It seems like just yesterday I was banging his car seat carrier against my legs while carting him around in it. Just yesterday that my left bicep was noticeably larger than my right one from carrying my chubby baby boy. Just yesterday that I was filling up snack sized bags with Cheerios and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">sippy</span> cups with apple juice and ice to take with us anytime we left the house. When I close my eyes and go back through the memories, I guess it's about right...we've had 13 great, crazy, wacky years with this boy, and I've loved every single one of them! Once when we were leaving his 1st grade classroom he said something that I found particularly funny. As I laughed, he said, "You just can't take the silly out of me, can you mom?!" No, I couldn't, but I would never try! This is the kid who will tell you a knock-knock joke while reprogramming your computer, manage to leave all his dirty socks out of his laundry basket and complain that he has no clean ones, kiss the dog on the lips but not his mother, and pole vault over the couch "just to see it he could". He will beg to stay on the computer or video game for just a few minutes more, hide around the corner to scare the heck out of me and laugh, give something to a friend in need without ever being asked, and fall asleep with all his lights and radio on every night. He puts a lot of stock in "fair", but is always the one to <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">concede</span> in an argument. He feels deeply, but says little. He is impatient with people sometimes, but never the dog. He once dubbed himself "The Baby Watcher" and is always kind to babies and loves to make them laugh. He has never said an unkind word about a friend. He has to be reminded constantly to cut his fingernails. He is a gifted writer with the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">handwriting</span> of a serial killer. He can be ridiculously messy, and heart-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">stoppingly</span> kind. He is gifted beyond measure at many things, but doesn't know it yet. He will be the most generous, kind, and loving husband and father some day, but for today, he's still my (teenage) boy. Sigh.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPB4XHtxxCtdoylfaHPBW11Dlgxu4XwiXuv0WS3544FV-jo_1ssRG_JqwJHBtMWEzod4QGOvRNZj4Ktcw2NuXJxYemQjfc1MHUwSdK-eDjUdgBmJXoG6F4DILa1kEtEY4dlRtxq3o8eck/s1600-h/100_0449.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPB4XHtxxCtdoylfaHPBW11Dlgxu4XwiXuv0WS3544FV-jo_1ssRG_JqwJHBtMWEzod4QGOvRNZj4Ktcw2NuXJxYemQjfc1MHUwSdK-eDjUdgBmJXoG6F4DILa1kEtEY4dlRtxq3o8eck/s320/100_0449.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343047232662052594" border="0" /></a>age 9<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOAHc1LreRu48KKL-RFtkoVPSLoLDwUQBx2U2hVZ1f5ryR2wkXkfyrkwqCW5ifkbli62sKOoC4VeTYJREN5_QPq4cP-NU2DXA-5v1qwmp9QuVqPCuODT-w7wcbD-Lc6FJHOUPX4M5D6Ww/s1600-h/100_5340BW.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOAHc1LreRu48KKL-RFtkoVPSLoLDwUQBx2U2hVZ1f5ryR2wkXkfyrkwqCW5ifkbli62sKOoC4VeTYJREN5_QPq4cP-NU2DXA-5v1qwmp9QuVqPCuODT-w7wcbD-Lc6FJHOUPX4M5D6Ww/s320/100_5340BW.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343050036396701218" border="0" /></a>age 11<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhYQjpWaKpXrm5HPk9SJtLe7fJAISynq3I-BHJWa22U1a9mSIY0KO2mKzk2Dq8-xfy6xmPGib6xc_LdenLxJW-XldQA8IMVP7CGbN7wgLx7txSkhwLT7QSGj0zXaxOZheX5xQ4iL0Nc9Y/s1600-h/100_5400.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhYQjpWaKpXrm5HPk9SJtLe7fJAISynq3I-BHJWa22U1a9mSIY0KO2mKzk2Dq8-xfy6xmPGib6xc_LdenLxJW-XldQA8IMVP7CGbN7wgLx7txSkhwLT7QSGj0zXaxOZheX5xQ4iL0Nc9Y/s320/100_5400.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343050241094436898" border="0" /></a><br />age 11--never met a dog he didn't love<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyj0YP0cmbQM_YiURwXt8glhlstEqvitQaG7S34rPDK-fCOyqZ8nnLc_m-MZxyzLu6CcYGWa6aHGNAnNUPkyhC7-WeJAoFaTbGjRuxjbDgCJz6ElnF91FilPA4kGUU0WdlYBdI9L05HtU/s1600-h/DSC01279.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyj0YP0cmbQM_YiURwXt8glhlstEqvitQaG7S34rPDK-fCOyqZ8nnLc_m-MZxyzLu6CcYGWa6aHGNAnNUPkyhC7-WeJAoFaTbGjRuxjbDgCJz6ElnF91FilPA4kGUU0WdlYBdI9L05HtU/s320/DSC01279.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343048764017431762" border="0" /></a>age 12<br /><br /></div>LORIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04314893632154039405noreply@blogger.com11