tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47021637580883164722024-03-13T12:11:59.230-04:00Circus Berrycelebrating life's little gems...Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00199454291225105182noreply@blogger.comBlogger39125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4702163758088316472.post-4877139347155974292013-02-01T13:24:00.000-05:002013-02-01T14:30:21.201-05:00food with friends<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">I am back to posting on Circus Berry, again, and excited to share a whole new world of craziness with you. Starting with...food. Of course.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Every month, a group of lovely ladies I went to college with and I get together for dinner and drinks. This month's regular dinner/gathering happened in my new home. I was thrilled to have everyone see the new house, have a couple of laughs, and to indulge a bit. Among the dips, spreads, breads, sushi, and champagne, there was my feature for the evening:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Butternut Squash, Leek, and Gruyere Galette</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Inspired by a galette I made a couple of years ago and one posted on T<a href="http://threecleversisters.com/2012/10/15/butternut-squash-leek-galette/">hree Clever Sisters</a>, it turned out wonderfully. I love squash. LOVE squash. I also love the sweetness of sautéd leeks. And cheese. LOVE cheese.</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> My house smelled like heaven (in the form of pastry and fresh herbs, of course). </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The tricky part was the crust. I do not do well with crusts, unless it is of the pizza or graham cracker persuasion. I will work on that. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">To top it off, we had some yummy treats. I mean, how do you have friends and food without dessert...chocolate dessert at that? My answer is, you don't. At least you shouldn't. I am an advocate for dessert. Anyone else with me on that? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I purchased some brownies (Mokka, Razz-a-ma-tazz, and Turtle) and icebox cookies from <a href="http://www.ohlsonsbakery.com/contact.html">Ohlson's</a></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> in Clarence, NY. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The brownies were nothing short of amazing...chocolatey, chewy, and great the following day. The cookies were perfectly sized little bites of joy...yes, joy. Great texture, not to sweet, would kick butt with a cup of tea, and also good the day after. The local bakery and cafe also </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">features anything else your baked-good-craving little heart could desire. Cupcakes (that were HUGE), more gourmet brownies, cakes (including wedding cakes), pastry, load of cookies, local faves, and ethnic offerings. I have had their Kringles before--someone brought it to work or something like that--delicious. I myself had never actually purchased anything from them before. Can't say that anymore. I will surely go back. Probably for coffee and pastry.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And now the recipe. Try it. Enjoy it. We did!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Butternut Squash, Leek, and Gruyere Galette </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">adapted from <a href="http://threecleversisters.com/2012/10/15/butternut-squash-leek-galette/">Three Clever Sisters</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Pastry:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">1¼ cups all-purpose flour</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">1 stick cold unsalted butter, cut into ½-inch cubes</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh sage leaves</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">½ teaspoon fine sea salt</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">4 to 6 tablespoons ice-cold water</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Filling:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">1-2 pound or medium-sized butternut squash</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">, peeled, seeded, and sliced into 1/4" pieces (about 4 cups)</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> *I used 2 small squashes and saved the remaining slices for a different recipe</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">½ teaspoon fine sea salt</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">2 tablespoons olive oil, divided</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">2 cloves garlic, finely chopped</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">1 leek, white and pale green parts only, thinly sliced</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">½ teaspoon ground nutmeg</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">½ teaspoon allspice</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Kosher Salt and Fresh Ground Pepper</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">½cup shredded gruyere</span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1 egg white, beaten with a fork</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Dough:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Cut flour, butter, sage, and sea salt together with a pastry blender until the mixture resembles a coarse meal with a few small (pea-sized) clumps of butter. Work in ice water with your hands, starting with 4 tablespoons and adding more as needed, until the dough just forms a ball. Gently press dough into a disk and chill, wrapped in plastic wrap, until firm.</span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Filling:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Preheat oven to 475°F.</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Toss squash with sea salt and 1 Tbsp olive oil and arrange in 1 layer in a shallow baking pan. Roast, stirring once through roasting, until the squash is tender and golden brown, about 20 to 25 minutes. Remove squash from oven and allow to cool slightly. Reduce oven temperature to 375°F.</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4702163758088316472" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4702163758088316472" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4702163758088316472" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4702163758088316472" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4702163758088316472" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">While the squash is roasting, heat 1 Tbsp olive oil in large skillet over medium-low heat. Sauté garlic, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add sliced leeks to pan and cook until softened, stirring frequently, about 10 minutes. Add nutmeg and allspice and stir until coated. Season to taste with salt and pepper, remove from heat, and allow to cool. Gently stir the squash into the leek mixture. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Galette:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Lightly flour a surface, place the dough on top, and flour the top of the dough lightly. Roll the dough into a 13-inch round and transfer to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Arrange squash filling in the center of dough, leaving a 2- to 3-inch border around the outside. Sprinkle evenly with gruyere. Fold dough in on itself to cover the outer rim of filling, pleating dough as necessary. Brush pastry with beaten egg white. Bake until crust is golden on edges and cheese is melted, 35 to 45 minutes. Cool on baking sheet for about 10 minutes before serving. Slice and serve.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Smiling,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Anne</span></div>
Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00199454291225105182noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4702163758088316472.post-37613308706463087912013-01-23T14:39:00.000-05:002013-01-23T14:39:21.459-05:00it's on the horizonI'm comin' back<br />
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(cue dramatic music)Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00199454291225105182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4702163758088316472.post-20241544551851737502012-02-08T19:35:00.002-05:002012-02-08T19:35:34.549-05:00What Have I Been Up To...?Months have passed, but I am still here. Well, sorta. It is amazing how time flies when you're...<br />
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Mothering a 7 month old and a 3 year old...<br />
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Having regular dates with your hubby...<br />
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Tackling the everyday household...stuff...<br />
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Trying very hard to keep a budget while feeding your family natural, healthy meals...<br />
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Mixing up Green Smoothies everyday with a new Vitamix!...<br />
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Learning how to photograph using fancy new lenses and external flashes...<br />
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Baking the occasional indulgence...<br />
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Crafting when it is possible...<br />
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Preparing for yet another 1/2 marathon...<br />
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Then trying to rehabilitate the IT Band injury obtained from training for said 1/2 marathon too hard too early...<br />
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Gearing up to sell your current house and purchase a different one...<br />
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Making time for friends and family...<br />
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Feeding your Pinterest addiction...<br />
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Taking time to unplug every day and read...<br />
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Phew...that's a lot.<br />
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But here I am and I will be back soon.<br />
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:)<br />
Anne<br />
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<br />Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00199454291225105182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4702163758088316472.post-70464520617226686032011-09-13T13:36:00.000-04:002011-09-13T13:53:15.134-04:00(Enter Your Fruit Here) CasseroleLast year my family (finally) became part of a local CSA and started receiving a summer full of yummy fresh, locally grown fruits and veggies. I loved it so much we signed up for winter shares as well (unfortunatley because of nasty pregnancy-related nausea, it didn't seem so yummy to me then). Anyhow, one of the fruits we received a-plenty were plums. What can you do with pounds and pounds of plums, you ask? My friend Jen does some fantastic canning. I would love to do some fantastic canning but it just isn't something I have dived into yet. Soon! <br />
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But, this is what I did...and do over and over again...<br />
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<i>Cream of Wheat and Plum Casserole</i><br />
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I actually got the recipe from the <a href="http://nativeofferings.com/recipes/?p=1483">CSA website</a>, which called for semolina and cherries but stated any fruit can be used as well as cream of wheat and grits. I make mine with cream of wheat and plums.<br />
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Moira calls it plum casserole. I don't think I have ever seen her eat anything as fast as she eats this.<br />
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I call it plum-wonderful-yumminess. I find myself craving it. I can't wait for more fruit (and a free moment) so I can make more. It is just so good. I have made it a couple of times already this season.<br />
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We eat ours warm with a scoop of vanilla Greek yogurt for breakfast. I even drizzle mine with honey sometimes, not that it needs to be sweeter or anything. I would eat it every day.<br />
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And with plums and cream of wheat...it is packed with iron.<br />
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Enjoy!<br />
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<b><i>Cream of Wheat and Fruit Casserole</i></b><br />
<b><i><br /></i></b><br />
2 1/4 cup milk<br />
3 Tbsp butter<br />
1/4 cup sugar<br />
1/8 tsp salt<br />
3/4 cup cream of wheat<br />
3 eggs, separated<br />
1 tsp lemon zest<br />
2 cups diced fruit (we use plums-with the peels on, I have used peeled apples)<br />
2 Tbsp sugar for topping<br />
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Preaheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat an 8x8 baking dish or comparable casserole dish with cooking spray.<br />
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Bring milk, sugar, butter, and salt to a simmer, stirring to dissolve sugar. Add cream of wheat in a stream, whisking to avoid clumping. Bring back to a simmer and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and cool.<br />
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Beat egg whites until stiff. Stir yolks, lemon zest, and fruit into cooled cereal. Add 1/3 egg whites to lighten, then fold in the rest. Pour into prepared dish. Sprinkle with sugar.<br />
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Bake at 350 degrees for 50 minutes or until set and lightly browned.<br />
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:)<br />
Anne<br />
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<a href="http://todayscreativeblog.net/get-your-craft-on-link-party/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:%20todayscreativeblog%20(Todays%20Creative%20Blog)"><img alt="get your craft on button" src="http://todayscreativeblog.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/features3.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://allthingzrelated.blogspot.com/search/label/Anything%20Related" target="_blank"><img alt="Anything Related" border="0" src="http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/l525/all_thingz_related/anything-1.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://www.ladybug-blessings.com/" target="new"><img height="150" src="http://www.ladybug-blessings.com/pictures/handmadepact.gif" width="150" /></a> <a border="0" href="http://funkypolkadotgiraffe.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p12/mormishgirl/Funky%20PolkaDot%20Giraffe/TooCuteTuesday.jpg" /></a> <a border="0" href="http://www.sugarbeecrafts.com/" target="_blank"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKkn01lxd5aNtM-21iDoNfVLDHW6E0Sho1Xmv4bmYXirOQ-caiValQPaqC57LFwi5bfDc_tcaMqOh3TS8h0lRxrO-ZcM6PKk73Dyz9XvcL9kMDOj5EfjAa1t29n-ZyGa74f_BNP26y7iDE/s800/takealookbutton.png" /></a>Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00199454291225105182noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4702163758088316472.post-2109227716048582152011-09-07T14:53:00.000-04:002011-09-08T12:40:41.416-04:00New PlannerEven though it is not a new calendar year necessarily, I am no longer working in a school district, and my kids are not yet in school (although we refer to the daycare program as "school") I still feel like September is a good time to reorganize and get some fresh habits.<br />
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Maybe it is the cool weather coming in and the preparation for winter when I will be locked up in my house in snowy Buffalo. Maybe it is the end of the care-free days of summer. Maybe it is my OCD. Regardless, I have this feeling that it is time to take a look at life and figure out what I can do to make it a little less stressful.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkrtjsVd6-xqQZ_eVEeKbhs8Ngr0OIukXxtnTPG0KMT807VluP5ZF3Ulcw2lWppUKjQLDRv_ZN9p1TqE5t5OhSZ5mgm_67tLIX23XCuzh5xnj1OhPSPB3sOWFtwxA1H6c_-DRyXm53Wxs/s1600/IMG_3817.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkrtjsVd6-xqQZ_eVEeKbhs8Ngr0OIukXxtnTPG0KMT807VluP5ZF3Ulcw2lWppUKjQLDRv_ZN9p1TqE5t5OhSZ5mgm_67tLIX23XCuzh5xnj1OhPSPB3sOWFtwxA1H6c_-DRyXm53Wxs/s640/IMG_3817.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Back at the beginning of the year I started using a number of "planning" and "organizational" tools, all housed in a "Household Management Binder" of sorts. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7NqS0GFy6PqkWJWnHCPH57vBfv1D1hd6wgf176bDaQ8JwdhBExVCGAasoIEkvjqC6VP0Iec-1CfK2yXGG-XTOnkUxWeS_wRXXnTYqhdpabOsVs5D1CQWXIE-g_rJP-rcdS1wXSnGK6zk/s1600/IMG_3815.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7NqS0GFy6PqkWJWnHCPH57vBfv1D1hd6wgf176bDaQ8JwdhBExVCGAasoIEkvjqC6VP0Iec-1CfK2yXGG-XTOnkUxWeS_wRXXnTYqhdpabOsVs5D1CQWXIE-g_rJP-rcdS1wXSnGK6zk/s640/IMG_3815.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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I had a pre-printed grocery list I used weekly on which I checked off or jotted down the items we needed for the week. I had a pre-printed chore list, broken down by rooms in the house. At the start of each day I picked one, two, or as many chores I would have liked to get done. My goal was not for every surface to shine everyday, but for me to have a home I felt comfortable enough to have guests in at any given moment. In the past I found that assigning a chore to a specific day did not work for me...it was too rigid. I had a daily planner that outlined everything from appointments, to dos, menu, things to absolutely get done, notes, exercise, bla bla bla. That actually worked well for a while until I missed filling out a day. Then another. Then another. You get the idea. I planned my weekly menu on Google Calendar. Loved it because I could save the links to my recipes or ideas I would be using right there! We even sat down and did a weekly budget...Thank you SK2.<br />
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Then came the end of pregnancy when I was lucky to get a single task--napping and chasing a two-year-old not included--done.<br />
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Then came a baby and I was lucky to get a single task--napping, nursing, changing diapers, rocking an infant, chasing a two-year-old, and potty training not included--done.<br />
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A planner? Yeah right!<br />
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Well, now I am ready to be back on track with the intent to use everything as before...except the <i>Daily </i>planner. It is just too much to fill in all that stuff everyday when I am rushing around as soon as my feet hit the floor in the morning. But weekly? I can manage that.<br />
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So I spent a couple of nap times doing this...<br />
<a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/64181611/Weekly-Planner" style="-x-system-font: none; display: block; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 12px auto 6px auto; text-decoration: underline;" title="View Weekly Planner on Scribd">Weekly Planner</a><iframe class="scribd_iframe_embed" data-aspect-ratio="1.2938689217759" data-auto-height="true" frameborder="0" height="600" id="doc_23383" scrolling="no" src="http://www.scribd.com/embeds/64181611/content?start_page=1&view_mode=slideshow&access_key=key-y5ys0axdc9coohrxweo" width="100%"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">
(function() { var scribd = document.createElement("script"); scribd.type = "text/javascript"; scribd.async = true; scribd.src = "http://www.scribd.com/javascripts/embed_code/inject.js"; var s = document.getElementsByTagName("script")[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(scribd, s); })();
</script><br />
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I have my To Do (including workouts, work, or activities with Moira & Ronan); To Clean (where I can jot down what chores I will do from my weekly chore sheet); To Go (for appointments and errands); To Eat (dinner...and any other meals that need planning); and To Remember (any extra important stuff that week). I can fill out the majority at the start of the week and fill in the rest on that day or as it comes up.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1O845oHC0WX4AHwY9LbP7EDb9o0w38mrkrk678z63aTtIxT_MvLw5nhLmsZ3nQCFgpq7iH3N1sO3g3rgYRZKD1pADUlr1n22w6wiwlen-1QL4Qng9WoaTZpsk6A3qYv_gS9o_uw89LXY/s1600/IMG_3821.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1O845oHC0WX4AHwY9LbP7EDb9o0w38mrkrk678z63aTtIxT_MvLw5nhLmsZ3nQCFgpq7iH3N1sO3g3rgYRZKD1pADUlr1n22w6wiwlen-1QL4Qng9WoaTZpsk6A3qYv_gS9o_uw89LXY/s640/IMG_3821.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Less paper...less filling in. I have even thought about putting this in a frame for a dry-erase calendar. Not quite there yet.<br />
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Feel free to use for yourself. I am happy to have some organized chaos in my life again!!!<br />
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:)<br />
Anne<br />
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<center style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://southernlovely.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q37/schoenfelds/showandshare.jpg" /></a></center><center style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://organizeyourstuffnow.com/" mce_href="http://organizeyourstuffnow.com/ " target="_blank"><img alt="Organize and Decorate Everything" border="0" height="150" mce_src="http://organizeyourstuffnow.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/SS852700.jpg" src="http://organizeyourstuffnow.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/SS852700.jpg" width="150" /></a> <a href="http://somedaycrafts.blogspot.com/2011/09/whatever-goes-wednesday-82.html"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYam-LSKQMTwP5jisPbqIVU3gZ_87m63-qnY7dcmRRzm52j2KkfaQfzzizQJGRSPqsODcTelFLmqm163heiBACyD2FmiQLnXnN4w8p0HECPIKApSd_yrqR9HvB7hqFwxnMgLlYdgUsh-w/s320/wgw+button.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://letbirdzfly.blogspot.com/2011/09/exodus-35-creativity-party-2.html"><img alt="Let Birds Fly" src="http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l148/kha02a/bailey_exodus.jpg" /></a></center><center style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.bluecricketdesign.net/2011/09/show-and-tell-with-mixed-bag-designs.html"><img src="http://www.bluecricketdesign.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/BCD-round-button-show-and-tell-2-copy-300x300.jpg" /></a></center>Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00199454291225105182noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4702163758088316472.post-87687040116984602482011-08-10T09:51:00.000-04:002011-08-10T09:51:21.074-04:00Update and Stationery Card<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #f4f4e9; line-height: 19px;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7EH3V7XOC2WNB2JB9sNkjldGL7iMqxG3ojP6INGfklx6zjB5tIxqashz36LoKh90oZ-EuPcGuPIGTvsTnHHSjgrHRwqDB2Rr9OCXaLshlztAjac1pf4v7slbiZk5weW4461V3fKQDmzY/s1600/download.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7EH3V7XOC2WNB2JB9sNkjldGL7iMqxG3ojP6INGfklx6zjB5tIxqashz36LoKh90oZ-EuPcGuPIGTvsTnHHSjgrHRwqDB2Rr9OCXaLshlztAjac1pf4v7slbiZk5weW4461V3fKQDmzY/s640/download.jpg" width="640" /></a></div></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #f4f4e9; line-height: 19px;">Things have been a little busy here at the K household, understandably so. I have been pretty lax about posting here at CircusBerry. Not to say that I have not done any post-worthy activities, I just have not had the time to put anything up.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #f4f4e9; line-height: 19px;"><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">A phone call from my mother the other day lit a fire under my tush. She gently pointed out, "What the heck? Your description says 'Mama to Moira'...what about Ronan? You need to update that!" Thanks, Mom.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">So along with me updating my 'description' about myself, thought I would share the birth announcement that I created about a month ago but only ordered from Shutterfly today. See, I am not just lax about CircusBerry, I am lax about everything. Really, the truth is that I had about 6 different announcements and I did not know which one I liked more. I finally bit the bullet and picked one.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I am a big fan of Shutterfly for printed materials that I would not do at home. Last year for Christmas we gave the grandparents a photo book of Moira. It came out beautifully and was recieved well by all.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I also love the coupon codes and discounts. For example, an order that was over 150$ is now just over 90$. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I took the pictures for the announcement about a month ago. I spread out a white blanket on my bed and did a little photo shoot experiment with Moira and Ronan. Moira had a blast, Ronan was patient and good-tempered, and I got a TON of pictures. Here are some of my favorites.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEincgoog_Io4xPjRbuHW19tDDYau8luQ1szb8XvFEMcwmPXFLzRE6tOAVJlaUXZYq5KcfqLHSo5vNJhSwyW4t-_xw-nYQNBmbHU-dL9j05dIyoloCrXxgl0HJjAwYvTuUSBn6Jkf_1zla4/s1600/IMG_3289.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEincgoog_Io4xPjRbuHW19tDDYau8luQ1szb8XvFEMcwmPXFLzRE6tOAVJlaUXZYq5KcfqLHSo5vNJhSwyW4t-_xw-nYQNBmbHU-dL9j05dIyoloCrXxgl0HJjAwYvTuUSBn6Jkf_1zla4/s400/IMG_3289.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0rg6RwvYGa5Zr01rgUyuvnHnoSDSpAh4IEgiqHaa2naAu5_8ghdXLN4sgfwMQjgZUlqnK-5i_gc1Xb5wR2WDS2qT73WghLOxGRZ_3plRELOzsllKbitM7VsDP5YgzQeoIaoA9_z3Btks/s1600/IMG_3302.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0rg6RwvYGa5Zr01rgUyuvnHnoSDSpAh4IEgiqHaa2naAu5_8ghdXLN4sgfwMQjgZUlqnK-5i_gc1Xb5wR2WDS2qT73WghLOxGRZ_3plRELOzsllKbitM7VsDP5YgzQeoIaoA9_z3Btks/s400/IMG_3302.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPg2zs9vWT8OcD0FwbyX9F_BLiLflzucLNdsfpfeduxfjrrXEV_0Fk4_K2tJtgL-2l9Vj-U6mpcODcMPPfEfL5rL-YNT8jeihnHTetZ8EBBsLUq87t2n12h9hlFqmsNHR3oe2ExbRLgrg/s1600/IMG_3303.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPg2zs9vWT8OcD0FwbyX9F_BLiLflzucLNdsfpfeduxfjrrXEV_0Fk4_K2tJtgL-2l9Vj-U6mpcODcMPPfEfL5rL-YNT8jeihnHTetZ8EBBsLUq87t2n12h9hlFqmsNHR3oe2ExbRLgrg/s400/IMG_3303.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Doesn't this one look like he is gonna pop her in the nose?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpxq07yEsf0Trf-ELDYH9CvxnnsCcWVzdBhYfhvcZDEENIwzPr9rTA-wOP1IZmMi21MEyVi2MuH_MTgNYLlPjhScmP8lfy0JgY61kaLZ8Gl0DL_803-Q0Z8mkAAIkjrXiqrmoMyTf6Pzw/s1600/IMG_3305.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpxq07yEsf0Trf-ELDYH9CvxnnsCcWVzdBhYfhvcZDEENIwzPr9rTA-wOP1IZmMi21MEyVi2MuH_MTgNYLlPjhScmP8lfy0JgY61kaLZ8Gl0DL_803-Q0Z8mkAAIkjrXiqrmoMyTf6Pzw/s400/IMG_3305.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyXX9VJVtxJJ7DDjRGCwhe0nke0xOnnVMVhDZswhvxxObcbyGF1MCl8JRM9RFVa1Mx5Ny5cRq-xmrFiwKjvMQTOhU_o_b9aDOVrpRDJ4IpUOT2MigJwBCVLgsKwpU6bvu1QxEWx_Y950g/s1600/IMG_3397.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyXX9VJVtxJJ7DDjRGCwhe0nke0xOnnVMVhDZswhvxxObcbyGF1MCl8JRM9RFVa1Mx5Ny5cRq-xmrFiwKjvMQTOhU_o_b9aDOVrpRDJ4IpUOT2MigJwBCVLgsKwpU6bvu1QxEWx_Y950g/s400/IMG_3397.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">See how it would be so hard to decide? Once I figure out some of the Photoshop basics I intend to print many of these out...someday.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">:)</div><div style="text-align: left;">Anne</div></span>Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00199454291225105182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4702163758088316472.post-49304056611815615682011-08-10T09:10:00.004-04:002011-08-10T09:48:45.475-04:00Stationery card<div class="sflyProductPreviewWidget" style="height: 494px; width: 425px;"><div class="sflyProductPreviewWidgetTop" style="background-image: url(http://cdn.staticsfly.com/img_/share/preview/msc/widget/top.gif); height: 6px;"><br />
</div><div class="sflyProductPreviewWidgetCenter" style="background-image: url(http://cdn.staticsfly.com/img_/share/preview/msc/widget/bg.gif); background-repeat: repeat-y; height: 482px; padding: 0 6px 0 6px;"><div class="sflyProductPreviewLogo" style="height: 34px; padding: 14px 0 0 14px; width: 105px;"><img src="http://cdn.staticsfly.com/img_/share/preview/msc/widget/logo.gif" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; box-shadow: none; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></div><div class="sflyProductPreviewContainer" style="height: 350px; padding: 0; text-align: center;"><a href="http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0MZt2blsxZuOg&cid=SFLYOCWIDGET&eid=115"><img src="http://images-community.shutterfly.com/prs/v1/0MZt2blsxZ2/0MZt2blsxZ24s/p/67b0de21b3127d902548/JPEG/1312981805000/0/" style="background: #ffffff; border: none; box-shadow: none; padding: 0;" /></a></div><div class="sflyProductPreviewMessageContainer" style="background-color: #f4f4e9; height: 55px; line-height: 19px; padding: 15px 0 15px 0; text-align: center;"><div class="sflyProductPreviewTitle" style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-seris; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold;">Happy Baby Boy Birth Announcement</div><div class="sflyProductPreviewSEOText" style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-seris; font-size: 13px;">Customize your own unique <a href="http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/birth-announcements" style="color: #6666cc;">baby announcements</a> with Shutterfly.</div><div class="sflyProductPreviewViewCollection" style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-seris; font-size: 13px;">View the entire <a href="http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery" style="color: #6666cc;">collection</a> of cards.</div><img border="0" height="1" src="https://os.shutterfly.com/b/ss/sflyshareprod/1/H.15/111?pageName=sharekey&c1=msc&c2=blogger" style="background: #ffffff; border: none; box-shadow: none; padding: 0;" width="1" /><br />
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</div></div></div>Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00199454291225105182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4702163758088316472.post-87140596470285279732011-07-01T13:57:00.003-04:002011-07-01T14:58:31.018-04:00Grilled PizzaIf there is one thing I learned about cooking dinner when nursing a newborn and potty training a toddler, it is <i>don't do it! </i>At least don't try to attempt anything more than throwing a hot dog on the grill and some baked beans in a pan...which is great in the summer...just not every night for dinner...<br />
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However, with a new grill, warm weather, and a longing to be back to my culinary playtime, I just couldn't resist giving the whole meal preparation thing a shot.<br />
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Last night's meal:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhygNLoIEgdYOcM5f-r-c_odoPyGvH8-gqlucGcy7wkarGndwTnPe7HcdvGo1e7W9KMDRi27HeeHCS_pBTeSrTWQeRm7dVQouPekEdhkozcSRqQegceEcIqD-PNYVPI_jKEnyhZR_JYINY/s1600/IMG_3168.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhygNLoIEgdYOcM5f-r-c_odoPyGvH8-gqlucGcy7wkarGndwTnPe7HcdvGo1e7W9KMDRi27HeeHCS_pBTeSrTWQeRm7dVQouPekEdhkozcSRqQegceEcIqD-PNYVPI_jKEnyhZR_JYINY/s640/IMG_3168.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>Grilled Pizza<br />
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I checked out some tips online for grilling pizza. I am not going to lie, I was really nervous. I could just envision the pizza dough falling through the grates and baking itself onto the burners of Steve's brand spankin' new grill. With the help of <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qP5YyYPKOno">this little tutorial on YouTube</a> that I (mostly) followed, pizza on the grill was a breeze.<br />
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I topped the pizza dough with a balsamic-olive oil-garlic concoction, blue cheese, caramelized red onion, steak, "pizza" cheese (in that order), and when finished topped with some arugula and grated Parmesan cheese.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwZ4FH-VZIaj4lDUeWoya31Yg552GMJEfuFmNuDZAQ-yRI_7p9oVb_MB7shMxpOmfWeySP8HtRRDy52UUqeBugL9nDG5TN64gczw7N2_wcQBWjYdmXo4DpADKJ18A4gfUfmzUh-qiXKq0/s1600/IMG_3172.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwZ4FH-VZIaj4lDUeWoya31Yg552GMJEfuFmNuDZAQ-yRI_7p9oVb_MB7shMxpOmfWeySP8HtRRDy52UUqeBugL9nDG5TN64gczw7N2_wcQBWjYdmXo4DpADKJ18A4gfUfmzUh-qiXKq0/s400/IMG_3172.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB4-51Rf6Xv8u4QUafoZ0U-9jrsrySa714anArUjo8jcfY7qG1j2his-EYTvnducQabovee6pDvrIXvxFBs1ZiUzNUmXJ5jyRIIRLvdnORy2Od2pZfGW44mXWjwbvOOBlvzR8CT2EqYOQ/s1600/IMG_3173.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB4-51Rf6Xv8u4QUafoZ0U-9jrsrySa714anArUjo8jcfY7qG1j2his-EYTvnducQabovee6pDvrIXvxFBs1ZiUzNUmXJ5jyRIIRLvdnORy2Od2pZfGW44mXWjwbvOOBlvzR8CT2EqYOQ/s400/IMG_3173.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Doesn't it look yummy?<br />
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The husband loved it...I loved it...Moira loved what she ate of it before she got in trouble. There were no left-overs. <br />
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A couple of tips...<br />
-Have all of your ingredients ready to go and a clear work space near your grill. I took the dough off the grill, quickly assembled, and returned back to the grill. It worked very well.<br />
-Split one whole pizza dough in two. This made it easier to handle.<br />
-Make sure you flour (or use cornmeal) your parchment/wax paper when stretching your dough. Otherwise it will stick when you flip it over onto the grill and then your are risking burning your fingers as you try to pull dough off of paper.<br />
-Get a pizza peel. We don't have one. It is on my wish-list. It would make my life easier and I won't come dangerously close to frying my digits every time I take dough off of the grill. If you don't have a peel, tongs work...but watch those fingers!<br />
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No more 500 degree kitchen in July when I'm in the mood for pizza!<br />
<br />
Next on the grilled pizza menu:<br />
Prosciutto and fig. A local restaurant serves it and I don't think I ever go there and not order it. <br />
<br />
:)<br />
Anne<br />
<br />
<a href=" http://www.serenitynow4amanda.blogspot.com/ " target="_blank"><img src="http://i985.photobucket.com/albums/ae332/Amanda_SerenityNow/Blog%20Party%20Buttons/WeekendBloggyReading.png" border="0" alt="Weekend Bloggy Reading"></a> <a href="http://www.everycreativeendeavor.com/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" j6="true" src="http://i1182.photobucket.com/albums/x449/everycraftyendeavor/party-button-1.png" /></a>Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00199454291225105182noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4702163758088316472.post-33531155958581435242011-06-21T10:12:00.000-04:002011-06-21T10:12:05.639-04:00It's A Boy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">And now presenting:</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBxmNxXV6zjZOKlvzlq2IdBKE6KPqqrHW0L4-Am_FABUEyw7H3nWORP7rtr5CYcdGJferODFD5i7JEJdGk-jN5QnijKw4GBVLTWMDqKErhiK0adxcNzMU69pPKkrmeZF5Oa3Mo4irTJXM/s1600/IMG_3023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBxmNxXV6zjZOKlvzlq2IdBKE6KPqqrHW0L4-Am_FABUEyw7H3nWORP7rtr5CYcdGJferODFD5i7JEJdGk-jN5QnijKw4GBVLTWMDqKErhiK0adxcNzMU69pPKkrmeZF5Oa3Mo4irTJXM/s640/IMG_3023.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Ronan Michael</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Our little man was born at 2:21 am, June 11, 2011; 7 pounds, 15 ounces; 20 3/4 inches long.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic8FpQbFQvutXBpLNFhGhnvWDuqAanf6DhsvA6E-HfOkkLA-KpWxphyhkl3zJzA-C8sgiJEBF1IdM2wopzfFAUdij4j-nlFGk9WXbFmSAjJHEKuX5YDUNmxMB4mqxP_aGVYYvE7hGauWU/s1600/IMG_3013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic8FpQbFQvutXBpLNFhGhnvWDuqAanf6DhsvA6E-HfOkkLA-KpWxphyhkl3zJzA-C8sgiJEBF1IdM2wopzfFAUdij4j-nlFGk9WXbFmSAjJHEKuX5YDUNmxMB4mqxP_aGVYYvE7hGauWU/s400/IMG_3013.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Just look at how much Momma adores him already!<br />
<br />
I started labor early Friday morning, and after a lot of walking, waiting, counting, waiting, visiting with everyone else who had come to wait, sunshine, counting, visits to the playground with Moira, eating, waiting, counting...we headed to the hospital to arrive at 1:32 am and find out that I was 7 cm dilated. Guess I should have taken some of the "waiting" out of my day! Less than an hour later we finally got our little surprise...a baby boy--healthy, beautiful, and in the words of Mary Poppins, "practically perfect in every way."<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXKIE2pI5Ih_15UErPMWY_ei53r5R4TCWTH3S6ojSKLYWHcz7VvUCh8P3Dk4WZtCqYaWFdAn6Pzx20wAI9KJnE3sSHczJ2nAJvW9_25U8fBWEhMRD-T8erv95ghMI9wUBWL4kO8cYiBoc/s1600/IMG_3014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXKIE2pI5Ih_15UErPMWY_ei53r5R4TCWTH3S6ojSKLYWHcz7VvUCh8P3Dk4WZtCqYaWFdAn6Pzx20wAI9KJnE3sSHczJ2nAJvW9_25U8fBWEhMRD-T8erv95ghMI9wUBWL4kO8cYiBoc/s400/IMG_3014.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVsJibPQnx_Zx9EI8efc_FHhIcu0_OZHyVpSGD_O4fms6B_1DDG7g5pyx2Lj1WkNQ2wYRUS7EnRa_ZMgoQLht_ufSIb3q5-3q2fFlUALmCMPmT2cI5fepBxqxHlE4sPpn14fRg8G0Tf08/s1600/IMG_3038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVsJibPQnx_Zx9EI8efc_FHhIcu0_OZHyVpSGD_O4fms6B_1DDG7g5pyx2Lj1WkNQ2wYRUS7EnRa_ZMgoQLht_ufSIb3q5-3q2fFlUALmCMPmT2cI5fepBxqxHlE4sPpn14fRg8G0Tf08/s400/IMG_3038.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It took a couple of days and a couple of classic, quotable moments ("He stays at the hospital", "No, I do <i>not</i> like him", "I have my <i>own</i> baby"), but by the time we got home from the hospital, Ronan's big sister was smitten.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyYBeK4wsDXLsMKE2nk9vEYoD-H80w_pT-XKZJ21Ptil4I5-6IDKONqEPoFzQu32aGMk4f56yFeRh1ogfOycyt4auIzFgB1Aj-wuApjHpm16IIEdYLy3efVEcrw8TPtgnPIO6EbwAD0fA/s1600/DSC_0442.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyYBeK4wsDXLsMKE2nk9vEYoD-H80w_pT-XKZJ21Ptil4I5-6IDKONqEPoFzQu32aGMk4f56yFeRh1ogfOycyt4auIzFgB1Aj-wuApjHpm16IIEdYLy3efVEcrw8TPtgnPIO6EbwAD0fA/s400/DSC_0442.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5vdcEoFpLEhc-GAVxLMc0OdMyV_YHeJ1Eh_iVbLhcne6E_7iogKinhL0HDblY9ZJjLjT34IuE1X31W3Uy2kQM6I8ftvvg2aEx6rNikG-YcZ8VhDFNGsz0U5c9MqlXfje0YWTBaHmG0ng/s1600/IMG_3039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5vdcEoFpLEhc-GAVxLMc0OdMyV_YHeJ1Eh_iVbLhcne6E_7iogKinhL0HDblY9ZJjLjT34IuE1X31W3Uy2kQM6I8ftvvg2aEx6rNikG-YcZ8VhDFNGsz0U5c9MqlXfje0YWTBaHmG0ng/s400/IMG_3039.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2kHx4QAbCBHXD-8LOPTPx3WnQGIMmU9iRQoOYqKiZKG7nfpmb-Jm7mOwu26hG9bRQawAlZY8lGmkewCN9rG33crUEAcLPMliKvQcifIWzQI0y2iqAfIL36vq11xG7POlWZPRccJHQaR8/s1600/IMG_3041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2kHx4QAbCBHXD-8LOPTPx3WnQGIMmU9iRQoOYqKiZKG7nfpmb-Jm7mOwu26hG9bRQawAlZY8lGmkewCN9rG33crUEAcLPMliKvQcifIWzQI0y2iqAfIL36vq11xG7POlWZPRccJHQaR8/s400/IMG_3041.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Moira says things like, "He is delicate", "I wanna kiss his head", and "He is so tiny".<br />
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She also soothes him when he cries--"It's okay buddy"; does "This Little Piggy" on his toes; and repeats his name over and over again.<br />
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And she has started to take care of her own baby-dolls like Mommy and Daddy take care of Ronan...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvdyacHnTgvk7SrID_MtrQeVj2Clq1rj1F-PwQqofpba7PxjiDBa4htUr1qg1SKq4Qepko9n8LA9A754mHtjjeKvGzcvU45e3UfrJz3yqC3BcwflSN1ZG5MvTDNX6nDnfe2plB4EeDatw/s1600/IMG_3045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvdyacHnTgvk7SrID_MtrQeVj2Clq1rj1F-PwQqofpba7PxjiDBa4htUr1qg1SKq4Qepko9n8LA9A754mHtjjeKvGzcvU45e3UfrJz3yqC3BcwflSN1ZG5MvTDNX6nDnfe2plB4EeDatw/s400/IMG_3045.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEist41gtWC2tsgBtIHq_y5zn_gtzYzb_RVclkeYVQ6kwG1iVCOU2__psYiwZrtrg4Mct6dzvNbx08Hwl72WyQMtkPePtMXzvTx1MNYsOokklXqtBaQVzEWBks5zC2ziek8wl1iS5PVAVlQ/s1600/IMG_3046.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEist41gtWC2tsgBtIHq_y5zn_gtzYzb_RVclkeYVQ6kwG1iVCOU2__psYiwZrtrg4Mct6dzvNbx08Hwl72WyQMtkPePtMXzvTx1MNYsOokklXqtBaQVzEWBks5zC2ziek8wl1iS5PVAVlQ/s400/IMG_3046.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Complete with baby and apron...such a little Donna Reed!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBHkmdlapbMwJC0z3428x_IGVLwICECK5f83Gl9X78-ykfn1Vbs-vzB_xqtH94uMY-MDhGw-Q_6Vk4iCc3CEjEbXHxR-Stwc-lAKqnDLXMNaDuSN0ibI43lyyQFGYYURea2KPnbXVZkRA/s1600/DSC_0463.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBHkmdlapbMwJC0z3428x_IGVLwICECK5f83Gl9X78-ykfn1Vbs-vzB_xqtH94uMY-MDhGw-Q_6Vk4iCc3CEjEbXHxR-Stwc-lAKqnDLXMNaDuSN0ibI43lyyQFGYYURea2KPnbXVZkRA/s400/DSC_0463.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
He is a joy. We all love him so very much. It is amazing how much worry I had all during my pregnancy about finding the love and energy to care for another baby the way I do Moira, and now that he is here it all just comes naturally. We are so blessed!<br />
<br />
:)<br />
Anne<br />
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</div>Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00199454291225105182noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4702163758088316472.post-50663573705359933962011-06-04T18:35:00.001-04:002011-06-04T19:18:59.503-04:00Fun with OnsiesMonday I will be 39 weeks and once again, I have much baby on the brain. I am even dreaming about giving birth...or falling asleep during labor and waking up to a new baby. Could that ever even happen? It did in my dream last night! Needless to say, I am ready. Come on baby! Let's go!!!<br />
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For the second time, Steve and I don't know if we are having a boy or a girl. It is all very exciting. The mystery, the wonder, the predictions you hear from complete strangers and the reasons behind it--you're carrying low, you're carrying up front, you had heartburn, you had morning sickness, you have nice hair, you aren't breaking out, you crave chocolate, you don't eat your vegetables, you blah, blah, blah...<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">The downside? You have to have all "gender neutral" things. No bruiser blue or princess pink here. That will all come after. In the meantime, we have to rely on the yellows and greens that retailers offer. OR...</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">make our own fun baby onsies...</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKUSqLWQVPPHiLfIVKjoyT8eCFa67SQdxaElRDerPCNc-cIFRJCWMomCG6H57ny1FR0auf6KevWDkGkMbRdKKAO3yklTewkzTxDP1ubthgl4GERkxAnCBAda7-Mk1oMApZNddhJwn40CM/s1600/IMG_2986.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKUSqLWQVPPHiLfIVKjoyT8eCFa67SQdxaElRDerPCNc-cIFRJCWMomCG6H57ny1FR0auf6KevWDkGkMbRdKKAO3yklTewkzTxDP1ubthgl4GERkxAnCBAda7-Mk1oMApZNddhJwn40CM/s640/IMG_2986.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>which I did...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3hBcvX4lny0x_tWQTnyFZ0lGdo9TKyUn4-eUFFIlw_5z4WDNxGR7n_J59E0ZrVa-rv7r57-1Fjvpr2m6h-lKRQ9H7aEqCcaJTQViKiK1LAgmjpbvFnLsam-RqsenyOs44I6S0IjZiygk/s1600/IMG_2985.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3hBcvX4lny0x_tWQTnyFZ0lGdo9TKyUn4-eUFFIlw_5z4WDNxGR7n_J59E0ZrVa-rv7r57-1Fjvpr2m6h-lKRQ9H7aEqCcaJTQViKiK1LAgmjpbvFnLsam-RqsenyOs44I6S0IjZiygk/s640/IMG_2985.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><br />
With some colored felt and no-sew Heat n' Bond ironed together...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9q0AaWvPCaz2-LAwMpDQhyphenhyphennO-UfxQIVlYP2i5zCvVavkVi6dS9EC1PHO2Cyt9MsVDRNUoSW2GUeSfmr_cmpcKKZG57jpylHgzqCiIhH3gggU5fWSbv0kgu6gd2DuLEcdnn7WRbpwp9SM/s1600/IMG_2970.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9q0AaWvPCaz2-LAwMpDQhyphenhyphennO-UfxQIVlYP2i5zCvVavkVi6dS9EC1PHO2Cyt9MsVDRNUoSW2GUeSfmr_cmpcKKZG57jpylHgzqCiIhH3gggU5fWSbv0kgu6gd2DuLEcdnn7WRbpwp9SM/s400/IMG_2970.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I traced some fun pictures...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzDC3WQwqjDXS0K8ggikO6bJVIfbzHII41FpH4kZ4sw4CsRPxnQnVJnWV-Sx_HS_wMPZ8nmUv2-QtmiQnWxcQKNkN5GjzfcLtbVSKdpxtAVHQcfeqO3AADrCKoUvwDkZT8n529heZiif0/s1600/IMG_2975.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzDC3WQwqjDXS0K8ggikO6bJVIfbzHII41FpH4kZ4sw4CsRPxnQnVJnWV-Sx_HS_wMPZ8nmUv2-QtmiQnWxcQKNkN5GjzfcLtbVSKdpxtAVHQcfeqO3AADrCKoUvwDkZT8n529heZiif0/s400/IMG_2975.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Cut them out...<br />
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Ironed them on...<br />
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And finished some with Sharpie.<br />
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We are even prepared to be festive for Independence Day!<br />
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And what is a baseball season without...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQjdc3sz5crtv3wy8UGU6RI9wYahjBt_cL7QmN3Yrs8B8BmVlDftgu4R5MViYCqblHVsAezN4e6_u_A3fFEke6A4KGYfNWqYRg27jcmz2P_80BmRHSz2zB8xqqMybhwpTFeBZXJDHDgrI/s1600/IMG_2978.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQjdc3sz5crtv3wy8UGU6RI9wYahjBt_cL7QmN3Yrs8B8BmVlDftgu4R5MViYCqblHVsAezN4e6_u_A3fFEke6A4KGYfNWqYRg27jcmz2P_80BmRHSz2zB8xqqMybhwpTFeBZXJDHDgrI/s640/IMG_2978.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
You bet!<br />
<br />
Even though it feels like the end is not nearly near enough, soon we will meet this baby and see if there has been a little man or lady pummeling me these past months. The rest of me is ready to get this show on the road so, again, I can enjoy:<br />
<br />
<ul><li>A Sahlen's hot dog (I <i>love</i> these Buffalo-made hot dogs and my last one was in October);</li>
<li>A full cup of coffee (I end up dumping everything after the first 2 sips down the drain because it just <i>doesn't do it</i> for me);</li>
<li>A turkey sub (or any other deli meat...another thing taken for granted when you can eat it whenever you want);</li>
<li>Sushi (<i>love</i> my raw fish);</li>
<li>An ice cold beer (probably a Sam Adams Summer Ale, with my husband, on my back deck on a nice hot day);</li>
<li>A 5 mile run (I think I may already have my next half-marathon picked out...ichin' to get back in those running shoes);</li>
<li>Touching my toes (goes along with running, I can't wait to be able to stretch and bend like the good ol' days).</li>
</ul>:)<br />
<div>Anne</div><br />
<a border="0" href="http://tatertotsandjello.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://hadfield.smugmug.com/photos/978446890_7b2ZN-O.png" /></a> <a href=" http://www.serenitynow4amanda.blogspot.com/ " target="_blank"><img src="http://i985.photobucket.com/albums/ae332/Amanda_SerenityNow/Blog%20Party%20Buttons/WeekendBloggyReading.png" border="0" alt="Weekend Bloggy Reading"></a>Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00199454291225105182noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4702163758088316472.post-36250045274240007982011-05-29T21:28:00.001-04:002011-05-29T21:35:14.789-04:00Flower Tote BagIt's official...I can't think about much else other than this baby coming. Hence the last week off from Circus Berry. Now let's be clear, it doesn't mean I have stopped cleaning, baking, crafting, etc. I think I may have even gone overboard with some of the cleaning as if I was trying to induce labor or something. I just can't think of what to do with what I have cleaned, baked, crafted...etc...and with my mother being here for the week to help out with 'stuff', my hours were filled with fun Grandma, Mommy, Moira things to do. <br />
<br />
I finally decided to share my Flower Tote Bag I <i>whipped up</i> a couple of weeks ago, since I seem to get lots of compliments on it lately. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaxHGOH0YxLEskJIH8CWrf6w5az9V2w4TbqkJuroQCN_I-NK6h9lRPxZjeEyR4tlVSVRnhKgfswh2puYYRsRlUhaAlZ3lSlCX-7HQuAAYp1Zjnk5IP1VdeLhJUCHFebTMwJsqGLwgxrYA/s1600/IMG_2968.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaxHGOH0YxLEskJIH8CWrf6w5az9V2w4TbqkJuroQCN_I-NK6h9lRPxZjeEyR4tlVSVRnhKgfswh2puYYRsRlUhaAlZ3lSlCX-7HQuAAYp1Zjnk5IP1VdeLhJUCHFebTMwJsqGLwgxrYA/s640/IMG_2968.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><br />
It was super easy and cost very little to do. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMpv-W9042hyphenhyphenmAY1Vs_c24OekR1vNKENuvMiCHak2ZU3ZDIMyqTjwTkwSEwWFmz_hmxNwZfNmxRa5h-v8fOM1lYJRQBvnyOHwPAYVT-i0XbSiJDqRwLWe4Um8L-VpAsbCVkl6SSxa2hEE/s1600/IMG_2892.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMpv-W9042hyphenhyphenmAY1Vs_c24OekR1vNKENuvMiCHak2ZU3ZDIMyqTjwTkwSEwWFmz_hmxNwZfNmxRa5h-v8fOM1lYJRQBvnyOHwPAYVT-i0XbSiJDqRwLWe4Um8L-VpAsbCVkl6SSxa2hEE/s400/IMG_2892.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>Besides the straw tote from Target's dollar section I used (it cost me $2.50), I gathered some scrap fabrics, random beads, and my hot glue gun, of course.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw-SS4BKi7I5xEZ2LB9bpuXuKbW45NeNSo6wSqHyIS1RaGWU3uqw8LHW5Af0lGTEbM6ZWmW9NNenQ4x0yHEzX5i5x3CTgVlgJY1qd4RyhAze5lM7UBcnKZeHiOf6fBDFiCTF2vG5DU2JI/s1600/IMG_2886.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw-SS4BKi7I5xEZ2LB9bpuXuKbW45NeNSo6wSqHyIS1RaGWU3uqw8LHW5Af0lGTEbM6ZWmW9NNenQ4x0yHEzX5i5x3CTgVlgJY1qd4RyhAze5lM7UBcnKZeHiOf6fBDFiCTF2vG5DU2JI/s400/IMG_2886.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>A tutorial for the flowers can be found <a href="http://sew-blessed.blogspot.com/2008/04/fabric-flower-tutorial.html">here</a>, but any fabric flower should do.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-kyPMqZcv9J9H0iEnJXUWd1vi4_gZaXWXc7OytY6inO62hvX3DjSh8zJbP6UI2lrXDijelEGOpftc61QnprS75atHcB_z3idznVaKGQfTTof4e2DABVsfNEJKFLzI72eAQYtTPyile2A/s1600/IMG_2894.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-kyPMqZcv9J9H0iEnJXUWd1vi4_gZaXWXc7OytY6inO62hvX3DjSh8zJbP6UI2lrXDijelEGOpftc61QnprS75atHcB_z3idznVaKGQfTTof4e2DABVsfNEJKFLzI72eAQYtTPyile2A/s400/IMG_2894.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>I attached some beads to the center of the flowers, hot-glued, and ended up with a cuter-than-I-ever-realized straw tote for the summer. Now, don't you want one to coordinate with every outfit???<br />
<br />
:)<br />
Anne<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.bystephanielynn.com/search/label/Link%20Parties" target="_blank"><img alt="UndertheTableandDreaming" border="0" src="http://i693.photobucket.com/albums/vv298/theliebertfamily/party.png" /></a> <a href="http://www.craftskeepmesane.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"> <img alt="Keeping It Simple" border="0" src="http://i936.photobucket.com/albums/ad206/kaysinerwt/th_DSCF63832.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://iheartnaptime.net%20/" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i847.photobucket.com/albums/ab39/iheartnaptime/iheartnaptimebuttonsundayscoop.jpg" /></a> <span id="goog_1147222056"></span><span id="goog_1147222057"></span><a href="http://www.creatingreallyawesomefreethings.com/2011/05/making-monday-marvelous-57.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:%20blogspot/XZIo%20(C.R.A.F.T.)"><img src="http://i896.photobucket.com/albums/ac167/serendipity629/gray_zigzag-2.png" /></a>Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00199454291225105182noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4702163758088316472.post-15093099233345545732011-05-19T16:14:00.002-04:002011-05-21T08:48:58.284-04:00More Presents and Tissue Paper FlowersA couple weeks ago (or was it months? I can't remember), a good friend had her bridal shower. I made something special for her, was so excited for her to get it, then I got the stomach flu and didn't get to go to the shower. Wah, wah.<br />
<br />
She finally got her gift last week.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPptAfkkZrjWImmfxSnyUU5OxCootPLWqyqGXxbuKk8DRC83BlCSIBWHUuOTA2NREWBUW0ce3_jr_xDm6N576ZoeTHtlzJkEtrTX7KIk8IckxzYkbsoWbY8YD4hSCo162U7txzDVhJrDY/s1600/IMG_2118.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPptAfkkZrjWImmfxSnyUU5OxCootPLWqyqGXxbuKk8DRC83BlCSIBWHUuOTA2NREWBUW0ce3_jr_xDm6N576ZoeTHtlzJkEtrTX7KIk8IckxzYkbsoWbY8YD4hSCo162U7txzDVhJrDY/s640/IMG_2118.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>Complete with tissue-paper flowers...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYwtVywGYeZS-crVb6t2OZVn8bZBKvNC3rflYjrLMkO0PO4-BcOZbitpKsxjjrJp5XWjjnnni26pGfGAg7QN7iE1EHYfhBXACwHDT8zbmQpzu3YP78p03J-8LQhm1w6IOYTRqKGe38WyE/s1600/IMG_2127.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYwtVywGYeZS-crVb6t2OZVn8bZBKvNC3rflYjrLMkO0PO4-BcOZbitpKsxjjrJp5XWjjnnni26pGfGAg7QN7iE1EHYfhBXACwHDT8zbmQpzu3YP78p03J-8LQhm1w6IOYTRqKGe38WyE/s640/IMG_2127.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>And homemade tag with envelope! (I love these so much I may have to make them again!)<br />
<br />
I really wanted to make something for her to give in addition to her registry gift but was stumped for a bit on what to do. Her and her hubby-to-be are moving after the wedding and I didn't want to get into anything too bulky that would have to be transported. AND who knows what colors she will be decorating with since they don't know where they are living yet.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfkVTd9sznH_gFQyYyNG6glaRyjN5Gw5eGAo3lnHjL70RMmYFfPDm9eg_u0pUrCeYhEB2c6nDSNPnwN-lP-hpxdf8mM4XyV0lH-4OYm19n9s0clJghDOAxiKDaG9XlATI5CwlxZmMG3Xw/s1600/IMG_2113.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfkVTd9sznH_gFQyYyNG6glaRyjN5Gw5eGAo3lnHjL70RMmYFfPDm9eg_u0pUrCeYhEB2c6nDSNPnwN-lP-hpxdf8mM4XyV0lH-4OYm19n9s0clJghDOAxiKDaG9XlATI5CwlxZmMG3Xw/s640/IMG_2113.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>I ended up making these simple cloth napkins and reversible place mats. I was relieved to find out that they would match the dining room in their new apartment nicely. <br />
<div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Wpi8T7ihhQMLnrMXhvapuYEm7Rd3fAt-tgK0sC-1qaHpgQbSeZBuTpP6UNq0So0398AUShvVswqAB8RFNnYX1nioPTOO4sdCxxlgXd_FTx0hMGWqwFrAg8yvhAe0lCYR8jh6r40Ij0o/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Wpi8T7ihhQMLnrMXhvapuYEm7Rd3fAt-tgK0sC-1qaHpgQbSeZBuTpP6UNq0So0398AUShvVswqAB8RFNnYX1nioPTOO4sdCxxlgXd_FTx0hMGWqwFrAg8yvhAe0lCYR8jh6r40Ij0o/s400/images.jpg" width="327" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">from Macy's</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Her registry had this really pretty green and white vase by Lennox, so paired with that and the cute napkin rings to tie the whole thing together (in addition to the plates, silverware, etc that she will probably get off of her registry), this lady now has a table setting.<br />
<br />
<div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0z3N66MGUYfsydFKcjE7UvA7GHdx0PQJww7Tu7uXFqI-O5oyit5c40x136SOdWfZ793cic37xZX7ZHSc1HBXJDXoWbBEFVb1VWeQJq9_RR-rE1x0DcKe7MOlVLfPJi38EON-ZcHRfzso/s1600/IMG_2114.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0z3N66MGUYfsydFKcjE7UvA7GHdx0PQJww7Tu7uXFqI-O5oyit5c40x136SOdWfZ793cic37xZX7ZHSc1HBXJDXoWbBEFVb1VWeQJq9_RR-rE1x0DcKe7MOlVLfPJi38EON-ZcHRfzso/s640/IMG_2114.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div>It was so simple, and part of me was sad to see it go. I just love the way it all came together...and that harvest-gold-flowered fabric...*tear*</div><div><br />
</div><div>:)</div><div>Anne</div></div><br />
<a href="http://www.heckfridays.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c281/enjoime2/almostfridayflaunts-2.jpg" /></a><a href="http://somedaycrafts.blogspot.com/2011/05/whatever-goes-wednesday-66.html"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYam-LSKQMTwP5jisPbqIVU3gZ_87m63-qnY7dcmRRzm52j2KkfaQfzzizQJGRSPqsODcTelFLmqm163heiBACyD2FmiQLnXnN4w8p0HECPIKApSd_yrqR9HvB7hqFwxnMgLlYdgUsh-w/s320/wgw+button.jpg" /></a> <a
border="0" href="http://tatertotsandjello.blogspot.com"
target="_blank"><img
src="http://hadfield.smugmug.com/photos/825895175_xmTVA-O.jpg"
alt="Join us Saturdays at tatertotsandjello.com for the weekend wrap
up party!" /></a><br />Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00199454291225105182noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4702163758088316472.post-73605990604946863482011-05-16T11:10:00.006-04:002011-05-19T16:22:59.606-04:00Dining Room Dilemma and a New Center PieceOf all of the rooms in our house, one rarely gets as cluttered as our dining room. It is the room that we eat in, that Moira often plays in, and of course, the room that I do all of my crafting in. And since my crafting never ends, there is an endless trail of crafting supplies hanging out on my dining room table...paper, beads, fabric, glue, sewing machine, thread, etc...Needless to say, the table never really looks much like a dining room table but more like this:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcsNFm8XsbMXPpnIvYv4JD1O-KAsfp7hR6WMW9vyCW5Oqx9fza4JmHwVVnXj1CP2bRQGpEO3xfz_qjZVP9pAzcWqOHpNQ07EQNAIUi0VHJ86-jHBgouxSclVdAWcjGNPFFjgzmPQH0WTg/s1600/IMG_2835.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcsNFm8XsbMXPpnIvYv4JD1O-KAsfp7hR6WMW9vyCW5Oqx9fza4JmHwVVnXj1CP2bRQGpEO3xfz_qjZVP9pAzcWqOHpNQ07EQNAIUi0VHJ86-jHBgouxSclVdAWcjGNPFFjgzmPQH0WTg/s640/IMG_2835.JPG" width="425" /></a></div><br />
I have been trying to keep my dining room tidy (read: clutter free), but functional (read: able to be used for crafts and play) by not accumulating new things until I have wrapped up some of the started, anticipated, and lists of crafty things that I have accumulated over the winter months. It is like crafty-nesting. <br />
<br />
I have also tried thinking of simple accessories to decorate with that are, let's face it, easy to push aside when I need my work space or when it was time to eat. (Really, who wants to push aside 6 glass vases and votives and move them back into place every day, several times a day. I love looking at pictures of beautiful dining rooms, both casual and formal, and the clever, seasonal, pretty center pieces that go in them. There is just too much going on in ours for something elaborate to work.)<br />
<i><br />
</i><br />
<i>Now</i>, I don't know if it is the highs and lows of pregnancy or living with the same color for 5 years, but I am soooo tired of green. We are not, however, in a spot to repaint a dining room right now. Actually, I am not interested in painting. Although we are not in a spot to buy a new home right now, we are sort of "window shopping" and a baby is on the way, so I can't justify paining a room right now. I can, however, justify making things a little easier or simpler. <br />
<br />
In that spirit, I decided on a something that was a single piece; low; neutral and natural looking to work with our current green and the season; and able to be moved back and forth easily. Having seen these moss-and-rock-type center pieces online and in magazines, I gave it a go.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimcAZ8xkbvxuFk3HgysaBkF9yZhBVCILigZx02OQljZZpjPnaTKcuGMbs84yAQOC8jpyz41gU3ChBAYTMB7dcZpGvPV1AEM-sPrPYu7UtAUi-LMJwbgeAFWGj5CVAD3i3JMsZ1StlWFsw/s1600/IMG_2857.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimcAZ8xkbvxuFk3HgysaBkF9yZhBVCILigZx02OQljZZpjPnaTKcuGMbs84yAQOC8jpyz41gU3ChBAYTMB7dcZpGvPV1AEM-sPrPYu7UtAUi-LMJwbgeAFWGj5CVAD3i3JMsZ1StlWFsw/s640/IMG_2857.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Isn't that nice??? (And look! My table is clear!!!)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Grab a couple of supplies like:</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq89Adk65eEb7qYZu7sEEy2cFkkcMv46Ovt7dxD6xj_qPw5tirlje_hnq2KkwO2GqhWMzxaR68UJdEoIrUOhyphenhyphenu1NYJY0EHb3Tl_96FCCVVENtFHJ9ECd9WuzCrnFRxGr2t9VkpoSNkNCg/s1600/IMG_2836.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq89Adk65eEb7qYZu7sEEy2cFkkcMv46Ovt7dxD6xj_qPw5tirlje_hnq2KkwO2GqhWMzxaR68UJdEoIrUOhyphenhyphenu1NYJY0EHb3Tl_96FCCVVENtFHJ9ECd9WuzCrnFRxGr2t9VkpoSNkNCg/s400/IMG_2836.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>A container (I used a rectangular, flat saucer...found at JoAnn Fabrics), sheet moss, styrofoam to fit your container, some river rocks, hot glue, and your candles/votive holders.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ4wmi2Z9y9WomI6hD6RJdXdnybapY2t52lFslD8WSMR3qJNzR7sIhQ9ombsKc4QYbkqPISqgI9bFnQdId9z_NkGqSGUZ8DFNJaUmXBVqmCvCof2p3A-kHOYIJiECPWAj0SiRilhCwzk4/s1600/IMG_2837.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ4wmi2Z9y9WomI6hD6RJdXdnybapY2t52lFslD8WSMR3qJNzR7sIhQ9ombsKc4QYbkqPISqgI9bFnQdId9z_NkGqSGUZ8DFNJaUmXBVqmCvCof2p3A-kHOYIJiECPWAj0SiRilhCwzk4/s400/IMG_2837.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Shave off some of your styrofoam using a serrated knife. Let's face it, where can you find right angles and perfect rectangles in nature?<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFUrFyYz-WycJDjWFzHhwpdWNhA5OFaQPbjZbQxlt5HnigfzEDUctXWL9CBWQVQLtyLaLDhjFGqYjR0WXiEQtu5GAYXgpatY66A3FxlUY3vOBCwjJ0NF2diaqJFJiNkv4PAI8iAdjTICU/s1600/IMG_2838.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFUrFyYz-WycJDjWFzHhwpdWNhA5OFaQPbjZbQxlt5HnigfzEDUctXWL9CBWQVQLtyLaLDhjFGqYjR0WXiEQtu5GAYXgpatY66A3FxlUY3vOBCwjJ0NF2diaqJFJiNkv4PAI8iAdjTICU/s400/IMG_2838.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Start by hot-gluing some large sheets of sheet moss to your styrofoam.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7kkKmYcf5XurFyoqr9dfIMLzVzA2CCxadpmy4LMkZRgOPxTf7UwVGLApdGzEmlUKsq_p6X0A8JM-w7yTNUaaeeHonIiNhOuGgjQg0R6AXYD2Te6N6-kFOvHNAI6gg7VHvwuKxsCE50zg/s1600/IMG_2839.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7kkKmYcf5XurFyoqr9dfIMLzVzA2CCxadpmy4LMkZRgOPxTf7UwVGLApdGzEmlUKsq_p6X0A8JM-w7yTNUaaeeHonIiNhOuGgjQg0R6AXYD2Te6N6-kFOvHNAI6gg7VHvwuKxsCE50zg/s400/IMG_2839.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> Glue on some more moss in random places until you get the "natrual" look you want.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI341MRoZ8AlySBYyIlt35Cmea7papE2PDzt9YwsnzUJYfPBr5ElWIZgvS7McQdwEUfgpx-nijtpWg7MZGczfHC0JF5oEbWVF7_06P5N1eoU2A2yvChzxbrgui1oHKgEedQsbtAO562Y4/s1600/IMG_2841.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI341MRoZ8AlySBYyIlt35Cmea7papE2PDzt9YwsnzUJYfPBr5ElWIZgvS7McQdwEUfgpx-nijtpWg7MZGczfHC0JF5oEbWVF7_06P5N1eoU2A2yvChzxbrgui1oHKgEedQsbtAO562Y4/s400/IMG_2841.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> Place your candles where you want them. I shaped the moss around the base of the candle holders and pressed them into the styrofoam a little bit so they would stay in place.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWziSfQCmIUc5XatzBgSuCDS7RjT9PIk_lhvmFl0RI7T6LxcKIZEiFZ5-IUGVVpXzb9qLKWyqOqhwP-FLJAHjoxdPnecy90cie2KbDkjw8j5nWoWIX8UxVn2ZTOpeV2O6Wu0KBcXsysv8/s1600/IMG_2846.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWziSfQCmIUc5XatzBgSuCDS7RjT9PIk_lhvmFl0RI7T6LxcKIZEiFZ5-IUGVVpXzb9qLKWyqOqhwP-FLJAHjoxdPnecy90cie2KbDkjw8j5nWoWIX8UxVn2ZTOpeV2O6Wu0KBcXsysv8/s400/IMG_2846.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Hot-glue some rocks here and there for your finished look. I have also seen words and phrases written on the rocks before. Thinking of doing that too...just haven't don it yet!<br />
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I also cleaned up the dresser-turned-buffet in our dining room...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyWIkrfm_3ZDQw6grC62sTuDj5sv9rnTyuAQkXiHvHMg9DTIaBy5VJxZqBpOGwwk1ZzuJNhguC-Y0t-qFqXSN3rJFD4KIurQpxC_fCpoIWcPGM7_wrseMGet5dDw9xZnaLhGn5u_rrY2I/s1600/IMG_2824.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyWIkrfm_3ZDQw6grC62sTuDj5sv9rnTyuAQkXiHvHMg9DTIaBy5VJxZqBpOGwwk1ZzuJNhguC-Y0t-qFqXSN3rJFD4KIurQpxC_fCpoIWcPGM7_wrseMGet5dDw9xZnaLhGn5u_rrY2I/s400/IMG_2824.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyiONoNiRAUIgdI3ljO2mMEAgCGH8bHNRyxmitdfgpTWicLbhqEqTJBZ8EJVDnCu7hc0XqW1NTKZbEyB-HEPZ-WviN7NNfJW643cM0d9kjPu0awEwL6XNchpd_nMk3SDZSqNF35kNqn8k/s1600/IMG_2819.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyiONoNiRAUIgdI3ljO2mMEAgCGH8bHNRyxmitdfgpTWicLbhqEqTJBZ8EJVDnCu7hc0XqW1NTKZbEyB-HEPZ-WviN7NNfJW643cM0d9kjPu0awEwL6XNchpd_nMk3SDZSqNF35kNqn8k/s400/IMG_2819.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And fixed up a nice little vase...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Yqc1v9Jpbc0spTBVSoPPssD1N0zvMJ8cwGqZrWe_7B9abTyc0L8V4DXmD0LQLote_7U6nx2T-UL2kUh-gYqOxfR8qp1YL4mw7yHuTlx_MmVBVqzZVuAslrPUYoFoxbVZ_W7dCYN5CY4/s1600/IMG_2807.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Yqc1v9Jpbc0spTBVSoPPssD1N0zvMJ8cwGqZrWe_7B9abTyc0L8V4DXmD0LQLote_7U6nx2T-UL2kUh-gYqOxfR8qp1YL4mw7yHuTlx_MmVBVqzZVuAslrPUYoFoxbVZ_W7dCYN5CY4/s400/IMG_2807.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Using some rolled paper flowers...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhosUFvpjvpNYrpxR28hCXFKvkM9efqkT0O7Ujp_uCmky65mElAxfVAYVpbuFB2ld57GsfpRGw5jqi1quHeBlUsomG30yi9PE9XKnKCAGZOSjaoHU5SNmvVlg8kQ5XpcUkFdT6kuggFQNw/s1600/IMG_2832.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhosUFvpjvpNYrpxR28hCXFKvkM9efqkT0O7Ujp_uCmky65mElAxfVAYVpbuFB2ld57GsfpRGw5jqi1quHeBlUsomG30yi9PE9XKnKCAGZOSjaoHU5SNmvVlg8kQ5XpcUkFdT6kuggFQNw/s400/IMG_2832.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>And hot gluing them onto some branches.<br />
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A side note--my dining room table is currently (sort-of) clean with just a small pile of bead containers and small boxes of thread and buttons at the end of the table. Not tooooo bad, right?<br />
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:)<br />
Anne<br />
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<a href="http://www.bystephanielynn.com/search/label/Link%20Parties" target="_blank"><img alt="UndertheTableandDreaming" border="0" src="http://i693.photobucket.com/albums/vv298/theliebertfamily/party.png" /></a> <a href="http://creatingreallyawesomefreethings.com/"><img alt="craft" height="125" src="http://i896.photobucket.com/albums/ac167/serendipity629/gray_zigzag-2.png" width="150" /></a> <a href="http://www.iheartnaptime.net/2011/05/sundae-scoop-link-party-7.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Iheartnaptime1+%28I+heart+naptime+with+Chocolate+Sundaes%29&utm_content=Google+Feedfetcher"><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://i847.photobucket.com/albums/ab39/iheartnaptime/iheartnaptimebuttonsundayscoop.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://www.craftskeepmesane.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"> <img alt="Keeping It Simple" border="0" src="http://i936.photobucket.com/albums/ad206/kaysinerwt/th_DSCF63832.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://www.skiptomylou.org/"><img src="http://www.skiptomylou.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/button2.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://todayscreativeblog.net/link-party/"><img src="http://todayscreativeblog.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/features3.jpg" /></a><a href="http://www.heckfridays.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c281/enjoime2/almostfridayflaunts-2.jpg" /></a><a href="http://somedaycrafts.blogspot.com/2011/05/whatever-goes-wednesday-66.html"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYam-LSKQMTwP5jisPbqIVU3gZ_87m63-qnY7dcmRRzm52j2KkfaQfzzizQJGRSPqsODcTelFLmqm163heiBACyD2FmiQLnXnN4w8p0HECPIKApSd_yrqR9HvB7hqFwxnMgLlYdgUsh-w/s320/wgw+button.jpg" /></a>Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00199454291225105182noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4702163758088316472.post-10158330189647690272011-05-13T22:26:00.000-04:002011-05-13T22:26:43.666-04:00One Fine Chocolate Chip CookieCookies are one of the top items on my list of favorite treats...right after ice cream. And what can possibly be more delightful than an exceptional chocolate chip cookie? The answer is, not much.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdUOrylNiihaaOPYofv0Rt31y2ZzV2iudygP3uoepFxDYvsfCc9iC5bLi3PgAkKIh_zOl-nVGs2WZJVZSuo0Pj8svTtJExyhZJMDJiSea4wyL7YRU2I2jVuTkj5UcIP6XxAoAovXpp-Xw/s1600/IMG_2884.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdUOrylNiihaaOPYofv0Rt31y2ZzV2iudygP3uoepFxDYvsfCc9iC5bLi3PgAkKIh_zOl-nVGs2WZJVZSuo0Pj8svTtJExyhZJMDJiSea4wyL7YRU2I2jVuTkj5UcIP6XxAoAovXpp-Xw/s640/IMG_2884.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Recently I stumbled across the <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/09/dining/091crex.html">New York Times Chocolate Chip Cookies</a> over at <a href="http://www.mybakingaddiction.com/">My Baking Addiction</a>. I have tried a couple of chocolate chip cookie recipes before, all yummy but none exactly what I was looking for. They mostly turned out crunchy... <br />
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Now let's be clear...I personally love crunchy cookies. They are perfect for dipping; however, the Mr. prefers chewy cookies and I do like a chewy cookie as well (there is rarely a cookie I meet that I <i>don't</i> like). The description of these NY Times cookies were that they were big, dense, and...you got it...chewy.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc_R6GoRnrzzQwnRbFcIDQlhgPIvtO-fUZTr04Kd7yQzoICfnx8qAjOKij5d-NdChA_MCDeiLELQkbj0bhm1B3HIkW5uXKaHa8IhO4pIwCOW10GePwiwEDoJJaE1qWzCVm8PP7Cy0LFwo/s1600/IMG_2885.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc_R6GoRnrzzQwnRbFcIDQlhgPIvtO-fUZTr04Kd7yQzoICfnx8qAjOKij5d-NdChA_MCDeiLELQkbj0bhm1B3HIkW5uXKaHa8IhO4pIwCOW10GePwiwEDoJJaE1qWzCVm8PP7Cy0LFwo/s400/IMG_2885.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As if that wasn't enough, I peeked through the recipe and was really excited to see the addition of sea salt before baking. I grew up in Central NY state where you can find <a href="http://freihofers.com/">Freihofer's</a> products-a-plenty, including their bite-sized, wonderfully chewy-with-a-slightly-salty flavor, Chocolate Chip Cookies. They are just great. That's all I can say.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So, a cookie that was chewy and possibly had a subtle salty flavor? I had to see for myself.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Do I really need an excuse to bake cookies? Apparently.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">As written in the recipe, I let my cookie dough chill for at least 24 hours...more like 36 hours...before baking.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNW8szPQ5vPCGS9IvvIIUwTaNuKH_srBRRfk94d-k50u9fTxjd8mABiLDDL8XqgWKudiYA_2jC5yf8sgvKOvRGiqXysRR2E-FcQ_d21GjbXZf4maGIrjZ6ZMQySN3KeCZBCaPKa-3w3NA/s1600/IMG_2805.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNW8szPQ5vPCGS9IvvIIUwTaNuKH_srBRRfk94d-k50u9fTxjd8mABiLDDL8XqgWKudiYA_2jC5yf8sgvKOvRGiqXysRR2E-FcQ_d21GjbXZf4maGIrjZ6ZMQySN3KeCZBCaPKa-3w3NA/s400/IMG_2805.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I also splurged and used some fancy chocolate chips.<br />
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The grand unveiling of these so-called chewy chocolate chip cookies was today.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN4koAYYKSEVIeNX6LuEZgY6gTwvx86tyapow4gcWb0KCXGeJ_imGl9LoBbjTjYEuKGaKij168SKbBSB1y6yKyr3ZOJIs6UHAHW8ZHCZ8i5Z9_VOTbP8D7pQOrf7YEY9uw7ks_KxvYuhc/s1600/IMG_2881.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN4koAYYKSEVIeNX6LuEZgY6gTwvx86tyapow4gcWb0KCXGeJ_imGl9LoBbjTjYEuKGaKij168SKbBSB1y6yKyr3ZOJIs6UHAHW8ZHCZ8i5Z9_VOTbP8D7pQOrf7YEY9uw7ks_KxvYuhc/s400/IMG_2881.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
The consensus? <br />
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They were loved. They are in fact chewy and the bittersweet chocolate and the sea salt...I am speechless. As the Mr. said, "bet you can't eat just one". (Moira can...she still has not finished the <i>one</i> cookie I gave her this afternoon. A nibble here, a nibble there. Now, if only I could make a cookie last as long as she does...)<br />
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I even shared. Some were brought over to my in-laws' this evening. Some are in the freezer for when Mom comes to town in a couple of weeks. The rest...<br />
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well...<br />
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I'll have to get back to you on that...<br />
<br />
:)<br />
AnneAnnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00199454291225105182noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4702163758088316472.post-49539387734964990022011-05-10T21:51:00.002-04:002011-05-11T08:49:57.104-04:00A Coupla Shirt RefashionsI am getting into the home-stretch and running out of clothes to wear. <br />
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Home-stretch...that just rang funny to me, since I have 5 weeks to go until baby is due to arrive and my belly keeps <i>stretching</i>...and since my shirt refashions involve some nice, <i>stretchy</i>, long and lean tank tops from Target. <br />
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Love them...they cover my belly, I can wear them post-pregnancy, and they aren't as expensive as maternity wear, especially when you get them from the clearance section for a whopping 2 dollars each.<br />
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These were super easy to make, each one requiring 2 shirts that match.<br />
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Cut the bottom of one shirt into strips. I cut the bottom hem off plus 3 strips. (And I have a lot of the top left over after cutting...will do something with that another day.)<br />
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Create your crazy design, pin, and sew with a zig-zag stitch.<br />
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I really did make a sort of random design here...one strip twisted, folded, and turned for each side, plus one strip turned into a bow and sewn somewhere near the middle.<br />
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The second shirt was a little more "organized". Cut the bottom hem and then 3 strips off the bottom again. I made the strips thicker this time.<br />
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</div>Create pleats, pin, and sew with a zig-zag stitch.<br />
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Add a little fancy flower. I made this one by gathering a piece of the third strip of fabric, sewing the ends together to make a flower, tying a piece of the bottom hem I cut off into a knot, and stitching it to the middle.<br />
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Good thing you don't really need to be long and "lean" to wear these...they fit my growing baby bump just fine!<br />
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:)<br />
Anne<br />
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<a href="http://todayscreativeblog.net/get-your-craft-on-9/">Today's Creative Blog</a>Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00199454291225105182noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4702163758088316472.post-5183243445452020292011-05-08T22:32:00.000-04:002011-05-08T22:32:23.679-04:00Mother's Day LoveHappy Mother's Day to all of the Mommies and Mommy-figures out there!<br />
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Mine was a happy day filled with lots of love...started off with a nice hot shower, a chat with Mom on the phone, and then what may be my favorite breakfast of all, prepared by my loving and talented cook-of-a-husband...<br />
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</div>Coconut French Toast with Tropical Fruit Salad. <br />
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So wonderfully yummy! The sun was shining through our dining room doors making it feel all the more tropical, versus the feeling that we have been living in the frozen tundra or under a permanent black rain cloud. Even if I am uncomfortable with my large belly, back pain, hip pain, heartburn, and miss my running regimen, it definitely perks the mood to have sunshine.<br />
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I didn't have to do dishes (thank you again, loving husband) so I gave loving daughter, Moira, a little manicure and pedicure. I never saw a 2-year-old sit still for so long. <br />
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She is such a girly-girl sometimes. And then...<br />
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Went for a nice little walk together around the neighborhood while loving husband did some yard stuff, knowing how much I long for a nice outdoor setting to spend my late-spring and summer days...<br />
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Enjoyed our new patio furniture while I (barely) reached my own toes to paint them...<br />
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Watched the Yankees win and taught loving daughter how to cheer (and yell) at the television during sporting events (which is usually a job reserved for loving husband)...<br />
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Got to pick out a new tree for our backyard, as well as a new bird feeder and perennial...<br />
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Had a simple grilled dinner followed by my most favorite treat...ice cream...from my most favorite ice cream<br />
spot...<br />
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Ended the day with about one dozen repetitions of "Happy Mother's Day Mommy" from loving daughter as I put her to bed and the latest episode of Game of Thrones on HBO with loving husband.<br />
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*sigh of contentment*<br />
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And what for the loving Mothers and Grandmas?<br />
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Each one got their little love, captured, in an altered picture frame. Did I ever mention that I love fabric rosettes? Scrap fabric, beads, some hot glue and there-you-go.<br />
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Hope you all felt the love today!<br />
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:)<br />
AnneAnnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00199454291225105182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4702163758088316472.post-17846164990083822262011-05-06T14:47:00.000-04:002011-05-06T14:47:16.695-04:00Some Spring GardeningToday was a big day for Miss Moira. She learned how to plant seeds.<br />
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It all started because I thought she would enjoy having a little garden of her own. She loves to water plants and has a wonderful fixation on sticking her hands in the potted plants in my house and dumping dirt all over the floor. She also loves picking dandelions, as well as the little white flowers off of my shamrock plant. And she is a little bit of a nature girl. Between 17 and 18 months she would walk around my mother's gardens and sniff the flowers.<br />
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When we went camping last Labor Day, she did this...<br />
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Yeah, she hugged a tree. In the middle of the woods. In nothing but a diaper. <br />
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Hippie? Naturist? Arborist? Who knows.<br />
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What better way to foster Moira's green thumb than to help her grow her very own garden. Maybe she'll stop picking the house plants and dumping dirt on the floor...I doubt it.<br />
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Today, she planted sunflower seeds, cucumbers, and green beans. The sunflowers because I thought she would love to see how big they get; the cucumbers and beans because she <i>loves</i> them. Once the risk of frost is gone here in Buffalo (hopefully sometime before<i> July</i>), we will transfer her plants to some large pots to put along our sunny fence.<br />
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She was thrilled to be outside (finally after days of rain) and to use her new gardening tools from the Easter Bunny (she especially loves having her own watering can).<br />
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First, put on the garden gloves...<br />
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Open the soil...<br />
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Put the soil in the starter pots...<br />
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Repeat...<br />
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Get all of your seeds planted...<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj91a1pbWVqlILmNBE_-9Jw2o-NnPLSoy6vC6Z84VFGwXE6CJS_CXF9yW8DAMO2EZP14QcYItFuH2CLI_oITBnFNrfsM5JZIF4A7bG5v_et8ehLqaKtPvh5Z2UsDP_J2aaPwU9CIgbBe68/s1600/IMG_2707_edited-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj91a1pbWVqlILmNBE_-9Jw2o-NnPLSoy6vC6Z84VFGwXE6CJS_CXF9yW8DAMO2EZP14QcYItFuH2CLI_oITBnFNrfsM5JZIF4A7bG5v_et8ehLqaKtPvh5Z2UsDP_J2aaPwU9CIgbBe68/s400/IMG_2707_edited-1.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Cover the seeds with soil...<br />
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Put in your garden tags...<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAI3_VMUH72aSR8yjJjHVQynhpKY6bmmY6aM2xgXAqmPZt1dYmwKZzJsh1e5WJ0oQn6Y_EK-6hLqKdsooIB_B8SWvb8TDo5g7JTArjpeEaZtw1xV680J218YbJZb8-qJxbdyiMSCrYG_k/s1600/IMG_2731_edited-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAI3_VMUH72aSR8yjJjHVQynhpKY6bmmY6aM2xgXAqmPZt1dYmwKZzJsh1e5WJ0oQn6Y_EK-6hLqKdsooIB_B8SWvb8TDo5g7JTArjpeEaZtw1xV680J218YbJZb8-qJxbdyiMSCrYG_k/s400/IMG_2731_edited-1.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
The last and best part: water the seeds with your <i>cool new watering can!</i><br />
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Admire your work...<br />
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And wait for those sprouts to come up!<br />
<br />
:)<br />
AnneAnnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00199454291225105182noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4702163758088316472.post-70368780934526671932011-05-03T09:51:00.001-04:002011-05-04T09:42:54.230-04:00Teacher Appreciation #2 and Lessons Learned in the KitchenEver have one of those kitchen sessions in which you just seem to be completely off your game? I had one of those yesterday. Lucky for me, and my family, and Moira's teachers, everything worked out just fine, even if it did not work out smoothly (it doesn't help that I can an anxious, overly-dramatic, perfectionist).<br />
<br />
I decided to use the Oreos left over from my pregnancy cravings to make Chocolate-Covered Oreo Pops for Moira's teachers for Teacher Appreciation Week.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>They <i>look </i>good and a taste of non-pop-chocolate-covered-oreos tells me they taste good...but what a mess I made. The sticks were too thick; the cream filling not wide enough; the cookies broke; the broken cookies fell in the chocolate...by the time I was done I had covered my fingers in chocolate and washed it off 10 separate times.<br />
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<i>Lesson #1: Next time you have a pregnancy craving for Oreo cookies...buy Double Stuff!</i><br />
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On to dinner. <br />
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I tried a new recipe from my <u>Rachael Ray's Look and Cook</u> cookbook...Spinach and Artichoke Mac 'n' Cheese. (Definitely not a diet food but perfect for Meatless Monday.)<br />
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Moira and I were out of the house most of the day and I did not unload the dishwasher or wash any of the dishes left in the sink. This is something I am usually right on top of but I just didn't feel like doing it. Well, I started cooking and quickly ran out of room on my counter and in my sink. Plus I had those Oreo Pops setting on the counter. In the middle of preparing dinner, I decided I had to get my workspace cleared and started unloading the dishwasher and filled it back up, all the while trying to keep Moira from pulling out the dirty dishes from the washer...and laying in the middle of the kitchen floor as I cook...and dumping all of her play food and dishes all over the dining room floor...and taking a moment to get her set up on the potty (ahhh, potty training). Needless to say, I burned my butter and had to start over and my dinner could have used more seasoning. I was not fully into my cooking, that is for sure.<br />
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<i>Lesson #2: Take the (literally) 2 minutes it requires to clear off your counter and empty the sink. It is not like you are cooking in Kitchen Stadium here!</i><br />
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<i>Lesson #3: Turn down the damn heat when you are melting butter!</i><br />
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<i>Lesson #4: Stop trying to do everything at once!</i><br />
<br />
<i></i>When all was said and done, dinner was good (and not too unhealthy because I served smaller portions and we had salad with it...yay for green veggies). The treats came out just fine. The Teacher Appreciation Gifts were what I was hoping for and received with much gratitude.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWqV852uvltuuGek7BlOfSFk71-vrd4Bl8fGHqbMh89Mn7RGeZrK9kphXfXXCEeXyu9O-1xlXzKju90WKi1I6y1HR0IHHdx3t8JTtKfPKbFQLtydDs1XbP19Y_CTSo1HJUj-l7QXEFr5w/s1600/IMG_2589.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWqV852uvltuuGek7BlOfSFk71-vrd4Bl8fGHqbMh89Mn7RGeZrK9kphXfXXCEeXyu9O-1xlXzKju90WKi1I6y1HR0IHHdx3t8JTtKfPKbFQLtydDs1XbP19Y_CTSo1HJUj-l7QXEFr5w/s400/IMG_2589.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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I think I need to relax!<br />
<br />
:)<br />
Anne<br />
<br />
<a href="http://somedaycrafts.blogspot.com/2011/05/whatever-goes-wednesday-64.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:%20SomedayCrafts%20(Someday%20Crafts)&utm_content=Google%20Feedfetcher"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYam-LSKQMTwP5jisPbqIVU3gZ_87m63-qnY7dcmRRzm52j2KkfaQfzzizQJGRSPqsODcTelFLmqm163heiBACyD2FmiQLnXnN4w8p0HECPIKApSd_yrqR9HvB7hqFwxnMgLlYdgUsh-w/s320/wgw+button.jpg" /></a>Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00199454291225105182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4702163758088316472.post-10214765294032281102011-05-01T18:22:00.004-04:002011-05-01T19:55:09.172-04:00Teacher Appreciation WeekThis week is teacher appreciation week! Although Moira is not in "preschool" yet, she has been attending daycare since she was 3 months old. At that age the caregivers are not necessarily called "teachers", but I know that Moira is learning every time she is there...after all, our babies are little sponges! In that spirit, I have taken to acknowledging the hours my daughter spends in the care of someone other than myself or my husband and showing our appreciation for all that they do. (I know what it is like to spend hours with <i>one</i> two-year old...they have a room <i>full</i> of them!)<br />
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This year's small token of appreciation...cute little post-it note holders.<br />
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I made 8...one for each teacher in the room. <br />
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It was quite simple, with only a couple of supplies needed, and I am sure I will use this again down the road someday.<br />
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My post-its were 3"x3" and 100 sheets. I cut a piece of paper 3" wide. Moving along the length of the paper I scored at 3", 3 3/8", 6 3/8", 6 3/4", and cut at just a teensy-weensy bit over 8 inches (sorry, I didn't snap a photo of that part).<br />
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I glued the post-its to the back 3"x3" square. <br />
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To make the "enclosure", I put 3 dimensional stickers at where the top flap ended.<br />
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When I put my tag on top, it created a little notch-sort-of-thing to keep the holder closed.<br />
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Wrote a little note of thanks inside to finish it off.<br />
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Now, I am also in the custom of bringing some sort of "treat" to these fine ladies...I just haven't decided what it will be yet!<br />
<br />
:)<br />
Anne<br />
<br />
<a href="http://creatingreallyawesomefreethings.com/"><img alt="craft" height="125" src="http://i896.photobucket.com/albums/ac167/serendipity629/gray_zigzag-2.png" width="150" /></a> <a border="0" href="http://tatertotsandjello.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://hadfield.smugmug.com/photos/978446890_7b2ZN-O.png" /></a>Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00199454291225105182noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4702163758088316472.post-2595301607723607032011-04-29T21:57:00.001-04:002011-04-29T22:04:42.354-04:00Raspberry Oreo BrowniesIt has been a long time since I have had brownies. Considering the amount of sweets I have had in the past week (between birthdays and Easter) and taking into consideration the amount of candy I have left stashed in my cupboards, I really did not NEED to make brownies this afternoon...or did I?<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihKv6wMVjh-5YK5fBqfm8-bVIurQ4QxcnZXxocNhcWC6E4PdTlFvplf75UEHon96C2xnYtayZVNKpsM6BkObULR7hLs7sNckxGwfAH6UFIhUmR4RgFInZIDiLFArlV1rUiPEGIVd8rs6c/s1600/IMG_2530.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihKv6wMVjh-5YK5fBqfm8-bVIurQ4QxcnZXxocNhcWC6E4PdTlFvplf75UEHon96C2xnYtayZVNKpsM6BkObULR7hLs7sNckxGwfAH6UFIhUmR4RgFInZIDiLFArlV1rUiPEGIVd8rs6c/s640/IMG_2530.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>I was inspired by the Brownies with Oreos I saw on <a href="http://vanillakitchen.blogspot.com/2011/04/wordless-wednesday-brownies-w-oreos.html">Vanilla Sugar</a> and set into action by my pregnancy cravings (I really don't know what I will do when I can't use that as an excuse anymore). The result? Yum!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp_25FBnytoQUceR8ZJJuzKrDO9lAmzWuZ6ycGgz82MQtXFW7sx7CmuVVXNO1WzyTZFxXKkQuzLy2AT36XP2JLQ0SbDU5MzdJMWASdeShD5v0buZdpo7-uL3QNWiceBPhqOFMQMEJF3i8/s1600/IMG_2510.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp_25FBnytoQUceR8ZJJuzKrDO9lAmzWuZ6ycGgz82MQtXFW7sx7CmuVVXNO1WzyTZFxXKkQuzLy2AT36XP2JLQ0SbDU5MzdJMWASdeShD5v0buZdpo7-uL3QNWiceBPhqOFMQMEJF3i8/s400/IMG_2510.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I used a box of "family size" brownie mix, following the directions as they were on the box.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4GeAgZ15FiksNRF6CQbl1bxBQ1VgAjiWRGenKO_V0132FdQ68TqijADX7BwT1mKob2Qh_its3s50cjKmYGQeQ2FOpZz8EIMCxIk09xHuyLhIEYlOSCGFT-OIEudK34eaMjKtG86ExlVg/s1600/IMG_2509.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4GeAgZ15FiksNRF6CQbl1bxBQ1VgAjiWRGenKO_V0132FdQ68TqijADX7BwT1mKob2Qh_its3s50cjKmYGQeQ2FOpZz8EIMCxIk09xHuyLhIEYlOSCGFT-OIEudK34eaMjKtG86ExlVg/s400/IMG_2509.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Chopped up about 10 Oreo cookies (had a sampling of one with Moira).<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiesXSxNJyy3saoGj0Ws0kPvN6M1WZnEkxu1hlO6qMp4VYUyNYiE0O_txyQIPXiFyXeZKf6rLcgAHThSw4T7SyLsFaNM4PiABfBR12ys6Mr8XQkD3T1wWMLCmJk0GCNoFjYQxEAXeRus3g/s1600/IMG_2512.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiesXSxNJyy3saoGj0Ws0kPvN6M1WZnEkxu1hlO6qMp4VYUyNYiE0O_txyQIPXiFyXeZKf6rLcgAHThSw4T7SyLsFaNM4PiABfBR12ys6Mr8XQkD3T1wWMLCmJk0GCNoFjYQxEAXeRus3g/s400/IMG_2512.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Stirred the chopped cookies in to the batter.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzUD8j5S4fi3jhlO8mkpAWt6Ifi1kV270JnONtlnAbRtExAJn3JuTjMRQfYcr3XB0yZ53AhYcHi79DNKwAH5LI90Q9gAlgvDOXP2JwCMNtQi7CIXcgui59irrGf6VwW_Pnwq6BCwXuFBM/s1600/IMG_2508.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzUD8j5S4fi3jhlO8mkpAWt6Ifi1kV270JnONtlnAbRtExAJn3JuTjMRQfYcr3XB0yZ53AhYcHi79DNKwAH5LI90Q9gAlgvDOXP2JwCMNtQi7CIXcgui59irrGf6VwW_Pnwq6BCwXuFBM/s400/IMG_2508.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Thawed and mashed about 1 1/2 cups frozen raspberries.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIP6kQXwn26-f4zgpvx4M3SNdJAOQONhcMfWH-hJxmmnCqCDicIlWmoyeWyp_B3zUQvuQ93NpZk9Jxq7X08_xCVpipNDCts9ZTU3xSiiamomrkAFtUm4veeuhJmG483Ms7gZn6PMISDlU/s1600/IMG_2517.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIP6kQXwn26-f4zgpvx4M3SNdJAOQONhcMfWH-hJxmmnCqCDicIlWmoyeWyp_B3zUQvuQ93NpZk9Jxq7X08_xCVpipNDCts9ZTU3xSiiamomrkAFtUm4veeuhJmG483Ms7gZn6PMISDlU/s400/IMG_2517.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Poured the batter in the pan and swirled the raspberries through it. Baked for about 10 minutes longer than the instructions on the box recommended (about 38-40 minutes for a 9x13 pan).<br />
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In the words of Moira, "Ta-ta-da" (she likes to add syllables into her words lately...funny).<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKm4FfmWj7mjXrLPzFg0IU_8E8uVoSFYrOa4RL5X7dcRZSvjVJ1vGe9UR2KBRIWj3LqlMRLWm0cbngzlUlOTbDAjqrYXBItPml8gaJJStC5u2Zdt8KNnmeKcDlg0fwfqqgIqKo3D-buJ4/s1600/IMG_2548.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKm4FfmWj7mjXrLPzFg0IU_8E8uVoSFYrOa4RL5X7dcRZSvjVJ1vGe9UR2KBRIWj3LqlMRLWm0cbngzlUlOTbDAjqrYXBItPml8gaJJStC5u2Zdt8KNnmeKcDlg0fwfqqgIqKo3D-buJ4/s400/IMG_2548.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I like mine warm with a scoop of (less-fat slow-churned) vanilla ice cream.<br />
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Enjoy!<br />
:)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Anne<br />
<br />
<a border="0" href="http://tatertotsandjello.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://hadfield.smugmug.com/photos/978446890_7b2ZN-O.png" /></a>Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00199454291225105182noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4702163758088316472.post-50048963572876798752011-04-24T11:13:00.000-04:002011-04-24T11:13:39.134-04:00A Keeper!To Whom It May Concern:<br />
<br />
I am writing to you on behalf of Joy the Baker's <a href="http://www.joythebaker.com/blog/2010/04/big-berry-birthday-cake/">Big Berry Birthday Cake</a> and to give a shining recommendation for this home-baked treat.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJH6ZHB9o59c2TdJom6JoEmThosBKm9TkJTaL2a8TVwXMUDrdbV5mkYi4CWhYeE_dda7Wdk_vhok71hiBCgZ6oUMkQT5k3DdRj2frt8yOETLF25MdjbRcMvYD1eZOZ5KrcEgKWKcPUf50/s1600/IMG_2474.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426px" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJH6ZHB9o59c2TdJom6JoEmThosBKm9TkJTaL2a8TVwXMUDrdbV5mkYi4CWhYeE_dda7Wdk_vhok71hiBCgZ6oUMkQT5k3DdRj2frt8yOETLF25MdjbRcMvYD1eZOZ5KrcEgKWKcPUf50/s640/IMG_2474.JPG" width="640px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>I first heard of the Big Berry Birthday Cake while I was searching for a perfect scratch cake to make for my mother's birthday. The requirements I had for the position were that it had fruit and it was from scratch. After stumbling across this Cake, I knew it would be perfect for the job. I completely underestimated the Cake's ability to execute the task it was chosen for. Not only was it a breeze to make (no more difficult than a "box-cake" as we say in my household), the Cake had a perfect dense texture and wonderful vanilla flavor.<br />
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After reading other recommendations regarding the Cake, I decided I could not pass up the chance to also recruit its companion, Vanilla Whipped Buttercream Frosting with Rose Water, for the task at hand. Again, I was not disappointed. This Frosting proved to be so smooth, sweet but not-to-sugary, and had such a unique flavor of vanilla and rose water that no other candidate would have been able to live up to the job.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilWHpsYuMaDDsU95kzoAxrCCUXYQ6O7s98jZAWAtDKWTM9CsZ2o2WT0L8b5nv3TSfVQI8AEPR0YsWHCoDs2kZzBlLWeVZY5b47jcU2fJJdjhg1QBDG0xDCYWXll04yRcTVBPDxXxjeQwg/s1600/IMG_2491.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426px" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilWHpsYuMaDDsU95kzoAxrCCUXYQ6O7s98jZAWAtDKWTM9CsZ2o2WT0L8b5nv3TSfVQI8AEPR0YsWHCoDs2kZzBlLWeVZY5b47jcU2fJJdjhg1QBDG0xDCYWXll04yRcTVBPDxXxjeQwg/s640/IMG_2491.JPG" width="640px" /></a></div> <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>In conclusion, it is with great satisfaction and confidence that I recommend Big Berry Birthday Cake for any of your occasions in which an exceptional cake is desired.<br />
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Sincerely, <br />
Anne<br />
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Other praise for Big Berry Birthday Cake:<br />
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"This is probably the best cake I've ever had."<br />
-Justin, <em>The Sister's Boyfriend</em><br />
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"I woke up thinking about this cake."<br />
-Donna, <em>The Birthday Girl</em><br />
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"It has a very complex flavor...It was a delicate dance of flavors on my tastebuds."<br />
-Steve, <em>The Husband</em><br />
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"Mmm...mmmmmm.....mmmmmmmmmmm."<br />
-Stephanie, <em>The Sister</em>Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00199454291225105182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4702163758088316472.post-42897301367245083252011-04-22T10:26:00.000-04:002011-04-22T10:26:46.653-04:002 Pounds of Butter in 2 Days<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8-VycBmraV7x1AAJIVKrxoUwORy8GoQTOJi_L1RrWj9NenEj4GfekMHDty4TT8q-Gws3NCPaxdDj5GZNJT5Nc5Uw3VszL8WMUYbt_IOXnx1HNlzR45Txo1eRHMj9pSGe8SSo9nrCpMtw/s1600/IMG_2419.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8-VycBmraV7x1AAJIVKrxoUwORy8GoQTOJi_L1RrWj9NenEj4GfekMHDty4TT8q-Gws3NCPaxdDj5GZNJT5Nc5Uw3VszL8WMUYbt_IOXnx1HNlzR45Txo1eRHMj9pSGe8SSo9nrCpMtw/s640/IMG_2419.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><br />
I can go days, weeks, without baking. All of a sudden something will come up and I am baking like a crazy lady. This week: Easter; my mother's birthday; my father's birthday; and an 'early' Easter at my in-laws (really, a 'look what the Easter Bunny brought for Moira' dinner...too cute). What I did the past two days is absolutely crazy, considering I am 32 weeks pregnant. (I am feeling the aftermath of my craziness today...ouch!) Besides my aching back and feet, the end result was 4 wonderful treats, ready for the celebrations and lots of butter. Mmmmm, treats. Mmmmm, butter.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX1eOGgTt9WnjbogU67yV-rZ69iQ-OSXbfPgbgBJisVKjJ83snT0ZfGeX4bEGU2zNNb50VQ0F6zlG7pgvw8G1DorIH8CXPtHC75vwCXvZ8Fi65DgOULjj34fFaiURCebbeuNw1V_tM6b0/s1600/IMG_2415.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX1eOGgTt9WnjbogU67yV-rZ69iQ-OSXbfPgbgBJisVKjJ83snT0ZfGeX4bEGU2zNNb50VQ0F6zlG7pgvw8G1DorIH8CXPtHC75vwCXvZ8Fi65DgOULjj34fFaiURCebbeuNw1V_tM6b0/s400/IMG_2415.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>I saw these <span id="goog_1838911840"></span>Raspberry Lemonade Bars<span id="goog_1838911841"></span> from <a href="http://www.handletheheat.com/2011/04/raspberry-lemonade-bars.html">Handle the Heat</a> over at <a href="http://pinterest.com/">Pinterest</a> and could not resist the urge to try them out. It just sounded like summer, and God knows we could use some summer in Buffalo, NY right now. They are super-tangy and sweet, and chewy. Different...but I can't stop sneaking a bite or crumb here and there, so we will say addicting in their own little way.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghvuGsGBv41lNQ0g7Lqh5tlLKBtnTKp_b2_-bSSw3GJj-jfSxbMAklj4-Pn0hrZ1yjtD9JEfRBnyRdryBbyzPk_dJ7dkm8cE-ckgzymotDVDX9-xRtNws9SpjgdK0uDErHIIN6t26cDKc/s1600/IMG_2413.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghvuGsGBv41lNQ0g7Lqh5tlLKBtnTKp_b2_-bSSw3GJj-jfSxbMAklj4-Pn0hrZ1yjtD9JEfRBnyRdryBbyzPk_dJ7dkm8cE-ckgzymotDVDX9-xRtNws9SpjgdK0uDErHIIN6t26cDKc/s400/IMG_2413.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>My father's birthday was earlier this week. I made him peanut butter cookies, to be delivered during our visit.Nothing fancy, just classic, wonderful peanut butter crisscross cookies. I used the recipe from a <a href="http://achowlife.com/2009/03/peanut-butter-or-die.html">Chow Life</a> which is pretty much the recipe I remember from my youth...lots of peanut butter, lots of butter, lots of sugar! Who doesn't love dozens of cookies, all to themselves?<br />
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My mother is <b>celebrating a big one</b> this year (I won't disclose that information Mom, I promise). I really wanted to make something wonderfully special but to my mother's taste. She asked for something with fruit in it. (PERFECT!!! I have been craving fresh berries lately!) I love reading Joy the Baker's blog and found her recipe for a<a href="http://www.joythebaker.com/blog/2010/04/big-berry-birthday-cake/"> Big Berry Birthday Cake with Vanilla Whipped Buttercream Frosting with Rose Water</a>. OH MY GOD!!! The crumb of the cake I have tasted so far is amazing. I am waiting to frost the cake until celebration day tomorrow, so I will have to share the fabulousness of the dessert after that. Stay tuned!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiqUDzu2xlgmXfCK1hOCz0aqCZBCLx1d34X_dDSAQeXKMGeKW6EqqfOwK0VtHTyVzf-0h4bCqGakx-G9UCJVuX9fxAwUdJO0T5FMYNE_J3xRaET2InjgrhyphenhyphenHC24z071tb7feOyh2qMdLI/s1600/IMG_2417.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiqUDzu2xlgmXfCK1hOCz0aqCZBCLx1d34X_dDSAQeXKMGeKW6EqqfOwK0VtHTyVzf-0h4bCqGakx-G9UCJVuX9fxAwUdJO0T5FMYNE_J3xRaET2InjgrhyphenhyphenHC24z071tb7feOyh2qMdLI/s400/IMG_2417.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Moira and I made the sugar cookie cut-outs for Easter. She loves baking cookies and is super proud when she gets to tell people that she made the treats they are eating. This sugar cookie is THE sugar cookie recipe I have been using for all of my holidays, specifically Christmas, for years. I love it! However, I have been on the search for a frosting that satisfies me. I have settled for the past couple of years on a sugar frosting with just confectioners' sugar, vanilla, and milk....until yesterday when I decided for a change to try a plain old buttercream recipe. The verdict? This is it for us!<br />
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Here is our favorite <i><b>Sugar-Cookie Cut-Out</b></i> recipe. I added some lemon zest and lemon extract for the spring occasion.<br />
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1/3 cup butter, softened<br />
1/3 cup shortening<br />
3/4 cup sugar<br />
1 teaspoon baking powder<br />
1 egg<br />
1 teaspoon vanilla<br />
2 cups all-purpose flour<br />
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Beat butter and shortening in a medium mixing bowl on medium speed until creamed. Add sugar, baking powder and a dash of salt. Beat until combined, scraping the sides of the bowl. Beat in egg and vanilla until combined (I added 1 teaspoon lemon extract and 1 tablespoon lemon zest here). Add the flour and mix until fully combined, using a wooden spoon if needed. Cover dough and chill at least one hour until easy to handle.<br />
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Preheat oven to 375. Roll one portion of the dough out at a time on a lightly floured surface to about 1/4 inch thickness. Cut out your shapes and place on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes until edges are firm. Cool on the cookie sheet for 1 minute then remove to a wire rack to cool.<br />
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<i><b>Buttercream Frosting</b></i><br />
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1/3 cup butter, softened<br />
3 cups confectioners' sugar<br />
1 teaspoon vanilla<br />
(I also used 1/2 teaspoon lemon extract)<br />
4 Tablespoons milk<br />
<br />
Beat butter in a medium bowl with hand mixer until creamed. Add sugar and mix. Add vanilla (and lemon). Gradually add milk until desired consistency is reached.<br />
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Frost your cookies and let them set for a couple of hours before stacking. And, although it is tempting, try not to eat the frosting out of the bowl!<br />
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:)<br />
AnneAnnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00199454291225105182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4702163758088316472.post-75439824090507184582011-04-18T13:37:00.000-04:002011-04-18T13:37:24.554-04:00Maternity Shirt...sort of Last week was a busy one at the Circus Berry household, with hubby away on business then a visit from my mom (filled with lots of DIY talk and food). I did manage to do some refashions during Moira's bedtime...a little here and a little there. Here is one of the results...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoeczKW9NDk6RP9CqoA02zLhgHRV1PBLDpOHHdZv9JC0hJn-6NkWcoYyqr5gBBTHvljUv1RqOQYfJ_sACWqDacRs7s8f4IvIQtMCnnBApCvZh9UUKoyyIzhnct__YJPpF3JU7BNv-9vuQ/s1600/IMG_2362.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoeczKW9NDk6RP9CqoA02zLhgHRV1PBLDpOHHdZv9JC0hJn-6NkWcoYyqr5gBBTHvljUv1RqOQYfJ_sACWqDacRs7s8f4IvIQtMCnnBApCvZh9UUKoyyIzhnct__YJPpF3JU7BNv-9vuQ/s640/IMG_2362.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><br />
A little background first...couple of weeks ago I went through my wardrobe to get rid of some stuff and ended up with the crazy idea to refashion some things instead of giving them to Goodwill. The refashions have been going on since then, giving me 2 'new' articles of clothing so far (well, 3 but one is not included in this post). These are what I will call my (enter air quotes) "maternity shirts". I do intend on wearing them after baby arrives, hence the air quotes.<br />
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They are simply made from a top of one shirt, a bottom of another shirt (or nightgown, in the case of the other shirt I made in the same fashion...not pictured here). Here is what I did:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEithhuFVp4d-xfHD2UlWHwQ2GkJbJ-adkSmekulEVb7PBoN6HhqE36inP-9dfrxf7q8sR65aYsptrylpLHe10zBrrRQqtDp5M11cyBuohGa-N7ST0qZQ66Vygs7R_G2cAYVbVHy_VdkcYU/s1600/IMG_2266.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEithhuFVp4d-xfHD2UlWHwQ2GkJbJ-adkSmekulEVb7PBoN6HhqE36inP-9dfrxf7q8sR65aYsptrylpLHe10zBrrRQqtDp5M11cyBuohGa-N7ST0qZQ66Vygs7R_G2cAYVbVHy_VdkcYU/s400/IMG_2266.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Tried on my "top" and marked where I wanted it to end and cut across there. (I also ended up cutting of the sleeves and shaped the neckline a little differently). I cut the "bottom" right under the arms (maternity here people...I need that extra fabric to cover up the ever-growing bump).</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcXyn0wsJEM3GRfjplCVWEMrrHjQpwk0uzF4xx09xU2L_ikrilMSnlweAuI2PSxRD9EOuE-9NvoTfwy-Py9Q1-QgxDfTGEsMAPh37oYw8-qYChNT8dlRMiOh80BT1YpylZsfk_YdGoauk/s1600/IMG_2272.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcXyn0wsJEM3GRfjplCVWEMrrHjQpwk0uzF4xx09xU2L_ikrilMSnlweAuI2PSxRD9EOuE-9NvoTfwy-Py9Q1-QgxDfTGEsMAPh37oYw8-qYChNT8dlRMiOh80BT1YpylZsfk_YdGoauk/s400/IMG_2272.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Sewed a basting stitch around the top of the "bottom" fabric.</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizRs1tUMyLfzYXpF1O8Ij4DKd0EZG8OfPn8pfxiTNR3RwhCfL4dULFfcirpTrTjTQCL7ptjju5x9GmQ5pRBJWZCxsqtZo5ngEo5rq2UuW1Mo-Tldz4NwReKJ1be_ijlN64I1oG6monIMA/s1600/IMG_2274.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizRs1tUMyLfzYXpF1O8Ij4DKd0EZG8OfPn8pfxiTNR3RwhCfL4dULFfcirpTrTjTQCL7ptjju5x9GmQ5pRBJWZCxsqtZo5ngEo5rq2UuW1Mo-Tldz4NwReKJ1be_ijlN64I1oG6monIMA/s400/IMG_2274.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Gathered the top of the "bottom".</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhoKDkv5grAu28-677yRO1EjQ55HhmzTBubxRfrIoUYl8TPDZwyUcSi30VRGC9yX0xbW3BChYo2qi0jrTm0B4gjV0UGcAjogp_ZT0A5d2Vh5G9lsjLTANH0CxHxkG8MgTLxJHIVlUZxm4/s1600/IMG_2276.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhoKDkv5grAu28-677yRO1EjQ55HhmzTBubxRfrIoUYl8TPDZwyUcSi30VRGC9yX0xbW3BChYo2qi0jrTm0B4gjV0UGcAjogp_ZT0A5d2Vh5G9lsjLTANH0CxHxkG8MgTLxJHIVlUZxm4/s400/IMG_2276.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">With the right sides together, pinned the top to the bottom</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiur_zK2mQJNo2SNjUaC_LohvHer_L6RGVeR71zyrIpZrV73BDPXE_bGPvvza-g1Z9ChjRgEG1SBIB86x60JSJgzpqS1Wz-O4IcVKYlV2NkTIGreSQafi4Jc-iwrsK-dTf6MhQa9NQ8J4g/s1600/IMG_2277.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiur_zK2mQJNo2SNjUaC_LohvHer_L6RGVeR71zyrIpZrV73BDPXE_bGPvvza-g1Z9ChjRgEG1SBIB86x60JSJgzpqS1Wz-O4IcVKYlV2NkTIGreSQafi4Jc-iwrsK-dTf6MhQa9NQ8J4g/s400/IMG_2277.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Adjusted my gathers so the bottom side seam lined up with the top side seams and stitched the two together, 1/2 inch from the edge, using a zig-zag stitch.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7fByk9AKBh8Gsp9t-EGQIHYpcLf4ttGY9Xxc3xhuzoUNOPjIjRKuDWex0XvJvm7gDMeADFfLUl7pdG849UID9I6azkSp8cvrvsddc5kqbEAJOSMaI9QzckzgptQOJvt5xAsi_f3Gtg-c/s1600/IMG_2281.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7fByk9AKBh8Gsp9t-EGQIHYpcLf4ttGY9Xxc3xhuzoUNOPjIjRKuDWex0XvJvm7gDMeADFfLUl7pdG849UID9I6azkSp8cvrvsddc5kqbEAJOSMaI9QzckzgptQOJvt5xAsi_f3Gtg-c/s400/IMG_2281.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Tore out my basting/gathering stitch.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8XU3MbazvfcfZb4suuL2xMkdOaEH8zRf5p1yhQ70MxSseEBGBqdgdoWkRfYLKShomeOdb4aUi8iYoGVcHH0cu1azjwp7iwwIH7gocwacOflXZJxKjrMMWjxNKOkFLNa8egi-DxiqFhEw/s1600/IMG_2282.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8XU3MbazvfcfZb4suuL2xMkdOaEH8zRf5p1yhQ70MxSseEBGBqdgdoWkRfYLKShomeOdb4aUi8iYoGVcHH0cu1azjwp7iwwIH7gocwacOflXZJxKjrMMWjxNKOkFLNa8egi-DxiqFhEw/s400/IMG_2282.JPG" width="266" /></a></div> Suppose I could have stopped here, but noooooo.....<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5-9i9X-KFn82u8d2RGkWCVtTiFNFfZFZX3HBFnGCsrtY7yidrhFaa-VzVMwNmwDCG-xgviKVeOWfun_py_VK7e0Fs2jTzslBrcKFRKLfHn_PsrfEz3QYQg8RxPShgVmJ8gdMwM1Cln7Y/s1600/IMG_2283.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5-9i9X-KFn82u8d2RGkWCVtTiFNFfZFZX3HBFnGCsrtY7yidrhFaa-VzVMwNmwDCG-xgviKVeOWfun_py_VK7e0Fs2jTzslBrcKFRKLfHn_PsrfEz3QYQg8RxPShgVmJ8gdMwM1Cln7Y/s400/IMG_2283.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> Took the bottom remaining fabric of my "top".<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI7vIcbZKFUkgEcNFLzEb3QK2vsLJDyOfuRrbRdSz3-mlm52Wa5KUnc1HfluTi9FukvC0tZ1bX8zBIewzfclK8JHhwFmw105ZyVYYgTXgQwTIh6dlA-76mN0tJb1xskySgyMv7f2jPW2A/s1600/IMG_2290.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI7vIcbZKFUkgEcNFLzEb3QK2vsLJDyOfuRrbRdSz3-mlm52Wa5KUnc1HfluTi9FukvC0tZ1bX8zBIewzfclK8JHhwFmw105ZyVYYgTXgQwTIh6dlA-76mN0tJb1xskySgyMv7f2jPW2A/s400/IMG_2290.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Pinned the remaining fabric to my shirt, to cover up the seam and gathered/scrunched it up a bit.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB5_UnbAoXM9F_BPren-r1Df_k7uf48WBEgBOr4QYqbZ_yOMdbP04m5JG_HXLjkszwvchsnG3tH9-x26pgV-40CfvjD6HMyjdwJ9wYb9eVp5fMeA9I5rST6aDNgJXnvfOF3ByjiANr0Vs/s1600/IMG_2293.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB5_UnbAoXM9F_BPren-r1Df_k7uf48WBEgBOr4QYqbZ_yOMdbP04m5JG_HXLjkszwvchsnG3tH9-x26pgV-40CfvjD6HMyjdwJ9wYb9eVp5fMeA9I5rST6aDNgJXnvfOF3ByjiANr0Vs/s400/IMG_2293.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> Hand-stitched some of the gathers in place a the side seams.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga44PKeNlXLfHY5i7vhyKrf8tFQMx7guYHkHYaar139BoLauTkwGLjb0qiINUtzRiwCEZtQW2E_8dBFPkZKuXwRGqhsPYOhbUByXygWQXN66hawvWpRIK0iGnzq8D9up8yhHYHVyEF5nc/s1600/IMG_2294.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga44PKeNlXLfHY5i7vhyKrf8tFQMx7guYHkHYaar139BoLauTkwGLjb0qiINUtzRiwCEZtQW2E_8dBFPkZKuXwRGqhsPYOhbUByXygWQXN66hawvWpRIK0iGnzq8D9up8yhHYHVyEF5nc/s400/IMG_2294.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> Gotta keep those scrunches in place (very technical, I know)...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwstyP9NpMuN9d8o6QDqLbWUaNhyphenhyphen8aqzmLQpDRauThFU1CDdhyphenhyphenDVE4MjIp2o22UgUoD34SepzN2rIJVSgxTC7xk_cO1ZhxG1M7hLGRtbrI8qs6hbmIqeDbiO_eJ6zKjkshAOrtDxvUAo4/s1600/IMG_2296.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwstyP9NpMuN9d8o6QDqLbWUaNhyphenhyphen8aqzmLQpDRauThFU1CDdhyphenhyphenDVE4MjIp2o22UgUoD34SepzN2rIJVSgxTC7xk_cO1ZhxG1M7hLGRtbrI8qs6hbmIqeDbiO_eJ6zKjkshAOrtDxvUAo4/s400/IMG_2296.JPG" width="266" /></a></div> And here I have a finished shirt...but wait...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjczYWlB-hSq3UZ3d3fCqQR7Lo0-3TGC0LlhHP8fjUEq39bWTGtkypa-p-1eKsi1-XZljCOWpfdQDGrPB0JbVmu32JNUbv0AyYHHPKoqF-O4UTCTX2INMHrwawWg8-kw6B9qJHlRrwBcRo/s1600/IMG_2297.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjczYWlB-hSq3UZ3d3fCqQR7Lo0-3TGC0LlhHP8fjUEq39bWTGtkypa-p-1eKsi1-XZljCOWpfdQDGrPB0JbVmu32JNUbv0AyYHHPKoqF-O4UTCTX2INMHrwawWg8-kw6B9qJHlRrwBcRo/s400/IMG_2297.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Gathered the shoulders a bit...I love gathers.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXx3-IC1deXwYNA5WfbdcLBHieOVCG2o3WLml_P9ZSTLDobVBnhauCEF8hPAhtbceNGhsVM2u5WtsGgv7DZP0zEW_QjO1cwEB0ieAGNG91FuvoBwqT5SaqNZJUhtH6PwI2PCu4OZnRRoo/s1600/IMG_2287.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXx3-IC1deXwYNA5WfbdcLBHieOVCG2o3WLml_P9ZSTLDobVBnhauCEF8hPAhtbceNGhsVM2u5WtsGgv7DZP0zEW_QjO1cwEB0ieAGNG91FuvoBwqT5SaqNZJUhtH6PwI2PCu4OZnRRoo/s400/IMG_2287.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> Took some strips of the "bottom" fabric (not the sleeves though...saving those for another day).<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikVzocT7z9jcxF3JHJK5yruwFl02tO1nQ0GR93jz940GM-KdeeM3Gf5b4FCBpRvtDN7t0rXH3yMPvkNJIHpE45B5QvwwoEvL2TbCeSEWfmWeWl3Dqqe42eaN5UAh_Bo25f7jUzff4DQ5A/s1600/IMG_2327.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYqdYMsqj5ODssrr-qV1xw1DPPKl3_-NuIuoF7xOIKktZ09KFpcAov6XAYOGNUWsyTjGsu_yNUtYfylTXE4y_9dOyIS3b5_B1ZNzy50pJ_OouXhyphenhyphenPi3HkPMP-zrL-ObOtJ4p5xf-ZuXfg/s1600/IMG_2288.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYqdYMsqj5ODssrr-qV1xw1DPPKl3_-NuIuoF7xOIKktZ09KFpcAov6XAYOGNUWsyTjGsu_yNUtYfylTXE4y_9dOyIS3b5_B1ZNzy50pJ_OouXhyphenhyphenPi3HkPMP-zrL-ObOtJ4p5xf-ZuXfg/s400/IMG_2288.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Stitched the ends together to make long strips.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYqdYMsqj5ODssrr-qV1xw1DPPKl3_-NuIuoF7xOIKktZ09KFpcAov6XAYOGNUWsyTjGsu_yNUtYfylTXE4y_9dOyIS3b5_B1ZNzy50pJ_OouXhyphenhyphenPi3HkPMP-zrL-ObOtJ4p5xf-ZuXfg/s1600/IMG_2288.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikVzocT7z9jcxF3JHJK5yruwFl02tO1nQ0GR93jz940GM-KdeeM3Gf5b4FCBpRvtDN7t0rXH3yMPvkNJIHpE45B5QvwwoEvL2TbCeSEWfmWeWl3Dqqe42eaN5UAh_Bo25f7jUzff4DQ5A/s1600/IMG_2327.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikVzocT7z9jcxF3JHJK5yruwFl02tO1nQ0GR93jz940GM-KdeeM3Gf5b4FCBpRvtDN7t0rXH3yMPvkNJIHpE45B5QvwwoEvL2TbCeSEWfmWeWl3Dqqe42eaN5UAh_Bo25f7jUzff4DQ5A/s400/IMG_2327.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Made some rosettes. I also love rosettes. (GREAT rosette tutorial at <a href="http://littlebirdiesecrets.blogspot.com/2010/09/fabric-rosette-tutorial-extravaganza.html">Little Birdie Secrets</a> if you are not sure how to make these cutsies).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVaWrqc0w73fi8UbWVbB3CsvzOpO1jcl_gQWkuhu2LNEVp-aNAnlQTAuLyQYR8uFTstnNl9MpcEO-LFzkZ_lVnKahxDmaYDbmEOWkDB1IW_uHxc7l4QwbOisKIsqldDpsMZ-rLrMxk2yk/s1600/IMG_2363.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVaWrqc0w73fi8UbWVbB3CsvzOpO1jcl_gQWkuhu2LNEVp-aNAnlQTAuLyQYR8uFTstnNl9MpcEO-LFzkZ_lVnKahxDmaYDbmEOWkDB1IW_uHxc7l4QwbOisKIsqldDpsMZ-rLrMxk2yk/s400/IMG_2363.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Stitched the rosettes along the neckline...DONE!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxk-O9Ke_QSbIKRS7xXlYp3mAPkAOTNI1qnEVQZsEX8olF9wvNPTeoVUJHPW6T4J2j3FN-N3O9ZZ5T5JrGiBBkp8YknNtf03zP0UF_kmVjnigMuTv_ecahzKMN4dbu7s4uuISNtLscTVc/s1600/IMG_2364.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxk-O9Ke_QSbIKRS7xXlYp3mAPkAOTNI1qnEVQZsEX8olF9wvNPTeoVUJHPW6T4J2j3FN-N3O9ZZ5T5JrGiBBkp8YknNtf03zP0UF_kmVjnigMuTv_ecahzKMN4dbu7s4uuISNtLscTVc/s400/IMG_2364.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Thank you Momma for the photography! And for not making me stand and pose for too long!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">:)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Anne</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00199454291225105182noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4702163758088316472.post-72807556998942369832011-04-11T17:06:00.003-04:002011-04-22T10:28:58.973-04:00Bunny Pretzel Pops<div style="text-align: left;">Happy Monday. It finally feels like Spring these past couple of days and even though I am exhausted, it puts a little bit of pep into my step. It is a windy day today (I am reminded of "Pooh's Blustery Day"...we have seen that movie quite often), but we still went outside, walked a couple of blocks, and played on the slide. It was just good to be out of the house. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Also made these today with Moira. Salty & sweet...mmmm</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEI8GUlYWocIKkgT5xMRB4DdlSXwAXn_syTnLg9y76zIsE1U2JEO9Wu6wnxPqgOOnPk22fGtxQJUaXqGYHfV0rV74GsZ5nOnyKk403WtuBdHBqACwGJHfQeYS-1nVVazFGJsQyx2sRt_E/s1600/IMG_2352.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEI8GUlYWocIKkgT5xMRB4DdlSXwAXn_syTnLg9y76zIsE1U2JEO9Wu6wnxPqgOOnPk22fGtxQJUaXqGYHfV0rV74GsZ5nOnyKk403WtuBdHBqACwGJHfQeYS-1nVVazFGJsQyx2sRt_E/s640/IMG_2352.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">And they are covered in coconut...double mmmm</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Here is what you need:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6qQUYSW50s6VkPPIuVbAqqb0j8MU8wU1fQ3eNbBdS1Wx-60bPBt799kfPkhikkwQhh8XGTGSWmovHKC3DRRQcLg1D1CijE2OVJ4cvFpRrpCSVw3E11pD7gDdoUMov6bYanCCaqwqVzLk/s1600/IMG_2325.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6qQUYSW50s6VkPPIuVbAqqb0j8MU8wU1fQ3eNbBdS1Wx-60bPBt799kfPkhikkwQhh8XGTGSWmovHKC3DRRQcLg1D1CijE2OVJ4cvFpRrpCSVw3E11pD7gDdoUMov6bYanCCaqwqVzLk/s400/IMG_2325.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We used mini chocolate chips, white chips, pretzel rods, 'regular-sized' marshmallows, and flaked coconut. Most of it probably looks self-explanatory, but here is what to do:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuGuhj9UXxT1QoT8Pro0jQtXQHVEsatlz7MQQTeH5JeOQrcTAD_Ku4TI7Rvontn_08GvO5VDjoJUW_lCe-FD9Ol0uuSa_qRaxEFz9DH4BUNufBqgb-BfGsniP02l0asT09CtY-7Gnm9ME/s1600/IMG_2328.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuGuhj9UXxT1QoT8Pro0jQtXQHVEsatlz7MQQTeH5JeOQrcTAD_Ku4TI7Rvontn_08GvO5VDjoJUW_lCe-FD9Ol0uuSa_qRaxEFz9DH4BUNufBqgb-BfGsniP02l0asT09CtY-7Gnm9ME/s400/IMG_2328.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Get your little work station set up...white chocolate chips melted; mini-chips ready; coconut in a shallow dish; marshmallow ears (by the way, the marshmallows were cut down the long way, then each 'slice' was cut in the middle to make 2 half-circles); pretzel rods; and wax paper for the finished product.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoojXYLCSy2RxE_Fcc9RYciOpCNK1cPpRRfY9pgDjfwhNowUxCOpqecvWclT63Xbi_-Nt_SO3_LZBWOYNQoFEr8SPcTg4UtTzfwkh1-JsxzBdxs9l5Fd0BfKLaEp5Lo6LCY-JvkzKoVq4/s1600/IMG_2331.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoojXYLCSy2RxE_Fcc9RYciOpCNK1cPpRRfY9pgDjfwhNowUxCOpqecvWclT63Xbi_-Nt_SO3_LZBWOYNQoFEr8SPcTg4UtTzfwkh1-JsxzBdxs9l5Fd0BfKLaEp5Lo6LCY-JvkzKoVq4/s400/IMG_2331.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Dip the pretzel rod in the melted white chocolate chips.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA8efWhbqBQe9Mzhcb9gz_j3j7U88wNkfOmDavBKjcr4wzOvYBMgxBRPe0mu4MiNloW55liuU1HGZz4vy0CxIsh13beWvkQzkurp7CjQW9nFtP_41tpTiJe80ckfKyO_KEd0AhIpWbT9c/s1600/IMG_2332.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA8efWhbqBQe9Mzhcb9gz_j3j7U88wNkfOmDavBKjcr4wzOvYBMgxBRPe0mu4MiNloW55liuU1HGZz4vy0CxIsh13beWvkQzkurp7CjQW9nFtP_41tpTiJe80ckfKyO_KEd0AhIpWbT9c/s400/IMG_2332.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Immediately roll it in the coconut.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRYa0xovlQIpjHmVPdpoxVoolmOJr3laaw-mKexDcyq4u9OsfZlShpZh1yX2CS5zHWDtpE_Qwpz0mEGYLU7kK7mI0EIY67dmSp8KvA-UKUTQDQ6LsqAE5cNAwoigG3ewhaBQWeiuipORE/s1600/IMG_2333.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRYa0xovlQIpjHmVPdpoxVoolmOJr3laaw-mKexDcyq4u9OsfZlShpZh1yX2CS5zHWDtpE_Qwpz0mEGYLU7kK7mI0EIY67dmSp8KvA-UKUTQDQ6LsqAE5cNAwoigG3ewhaBQWeiuipORE/s400/IMG_2333.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Put the mini-chip eyes and nose on. Use some of the melted chocolate as glue if needed.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">(Moira is in the, "NO, I do it" phase so things got a little messy.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix2xP8YAidzYJuiM9E96gZcumhGXS4iihI10JTZop0gZcxxDv9snFDjoHG4hu1y_XLmQTETsSQNji0lLkR4LaxZCcOM_JGHdp032dERg3I_vfDB3YVZWQHktFgcMcjJ6EL7pa5H9UNhCY/s1600/IMG_2336.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix2xP8YAidzYJuiM9E96gZcumhGXS4iihI10JTZop0gZcxxDv9snFDjoHG4hu1y_XLmQTETsSQNji0lLkR4LaxZCcOM_JGHdp032dERg3I_vfDB3YVZWQHktFgcMcjJ6EL7pa5H9UNhCY/s400/IMG_2336.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgksKjkR25a7KLls5RhNckZw0PG5L6iGSYcGLd3zCGHnCuLe2qvqTKE7yt5oSBsARdjytG77BNJtP5YCipj5q2SrrcyFsYOGdG1rnStBDS6keRGFLacH8OM-hgzxPfP3XO8W-7YjI6iQY0/s1600/IMG_2338.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgksKjkR25a7KLls5RhNckZw0PG5L6iGSYcGLd3zCGHnCuLe2qvqTKE7yt5oSBsARdjytG77BNJtP5YCipj5q2SrrcyFsYOGdG1rnStBDS6keRGFLacH8OM-hgzxPfP3XO8W-7YjI6iQY0/s400/IMG_2338.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Use some of the melted chocolate to put on the bunny ears.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJhSH1qkkTHp-tA79ci8o2ivyh4yz2HJZvOWzyM8UtbVuiCCXeK0zHPf1uqfSekpdFNnU51EKea999AJB3rRHhFUkYhwkEuhmt1E9Dk0J9-JWcMcdWCtnU6okQPLAdCUMQ2K1Njoqof8I/s1600/IMG_2339.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJhSH1qkkTHp-tA79ci8o2ivyh4yz2HJZvOWzyM8UtbVuiCCXeK0zHPf1uqfSekpdFNnU51EKea999AJB3rRHhFUkYhwkEuhmt1E9Dk0J9-JWcMcdWCtnU6okQPLAdCUMQ2K1Njoqof8I/s400/IMG_2339.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinLFDjTacKJEKxjh9iMzNsVcOoV7u0RR8btKPrh3qDnDwVvmV8wt5nJafW6GZZPtIkbsEuTrcBsWwRSY4SSBTTSxuAji7NvqfEGT9j50S6gsCVm_Sa6WNmG169scfD4xIkaDRnuAoNPoo/s1600/IMG_2342.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinLFDjTacKJEKxjh9iMzNsVcOoV7u0RR8btKPrh3qDnDwVvmV8wt5nJafW6GZZPtIkbsEuTrcBsWwRSY4SSBTTSxuAji7NvqfEGT9j50S6gsCVm_Sa6WNmG169scfD4xIkaDRnuAoNPoo/s400/IMG_2342.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Sneak a pretzel rod, and when someone asks you what you are doing, tell them "I'm eating a pretzel!" in your best matter-of-fact voice.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEB1F9gbMnq3BwliqKHUvRS3EQiWxVncvn3Em92bboeTvBLSurj9nnido0AinUvo2N5YCXruIEc8l9dbJV7Tq7fqcwKC6ljeXYwrVVrq5iktXGvPl70YNZ1HqZMrwaZesL2M7hnNCU2Ks/s1600/IMG_2358.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEB1F9gbMnq3BwliqKHUvRS3EQiWxVncvn3Em92bboeTvBLSurj9nnido0AinUvo2N5YCXruIEc8l9dbJV7Tq7fqcwKC6ljeXYwrVVrq5iktXGvPl70YNZ1HqZMrwaZesL2M7hnNCU2Ks/s320/IMG_2358.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Enjoy your treat (after you eat your dinner, of course!)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivpenW_FzS7HGylYE1q8cv4LdGXw9Y03ypqKQsZsKaLGu4n7OrDydwCpDNpDMro_IyZLB0-UNyUV8WLsAMDImV2IsIahAevjb_I1mdbx-39fu-TpGh-YsuwGpU_Zw9oHDIcZrKvxDaHQU/s1600/IMG_2349.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivpenW_FzS7HGylYE1q8cv4LdGXw9Y03ypqKQsZsKaLGu4n7OrDydwCpDNpDMro_IyZLB0-UNyUV8WLsAMDImV2IsIahAevjb_I1mdbx-39fu-TpGh-YsuwGpU_Zw9oHDIcZrKvxDaHQU/s320/IMG_2349.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>And if you have left-over marshmallows and melted chocolate, make these little fellas...roll your marshmallow in melted white chocolate chips, roll it in coconut, and add some bunny, eyes, and nose (using some of that melted stuff for your glue).<br />
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:)<br />
Anne<br />
<br />
<a href="http://somedaycrafts.blogspot.com/2011/04/easter-party-link-up.html"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_yA_6K7ea4aE/S7P2ck_BACI/AAAAAAAABy0/B-VCpUbLYmE/s320/Categorically_Crafting.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://creatingreallyawesomefreethings.com/"><img alt="craft" height="125" src="http://i896.photobucket.com/albums/ac167/serendipity629/gray_zigzag-2.png" width="150" /></a> <a href="http://sunscholars.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm8LEbI1vrlrjuKQV26XZD2Dre2O9LNps8LhZPh_2ziZpQo-SD46vxnIWbQELimsgfpo36V55yF9lRMB_Fp-QBolGgqCgHZZzVXGqXgpr8-0a_wIk8PXwvxAN_0geJwXIm_ZqbHCRF4pRb/s250/apple-1.jpg"/></a>Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00199454291225105182noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4702163758088316472.post-72215994624911845462011-04-08T20:24:00.004-04:002011-04-08T21:25:16.027-04:00Easter Hand-Print PaintingIf I had to pick one of Moira's MOST favorite things to do, it would be painting. I say, "We are going to paint a picture" and she practically starts spinning in circles with excitement. <br />
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Today we made a hand-print painting of an Easter egg hunt. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD9QQ0GGCIdfa10nS37p65ENf-SXnvg8yOYhN6a4t7-OV3SgpiaPm0htd-Zi1otl83QzQC5bbjirgSys6Qq51-hfyONNB_esSoMpxMGiCBjzSW_j9T4E2N2RBbqMduOWXGe4ml59Gh3Wo/s1600/IMG_2301.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD9QQ0GGCIdfa10nS37p65ENf-SXnvg8yOYhN6a4t7-OV3SgpiaPm0htd-Zi1otl83QzQC5bbjirgSys6Qq51-hfyONNB_esSoMpxMGiCBjzSW_j9T4E2N2RBbqMduOWXGe4ml59Gh3Wo/s400/IMG_2301.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
With a little bit of green paint, a blank sheet of paper, and...wait, it gets better...<i>glitter egg stickers</i>...we have a real masterpiece.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji1j_Xe1mcVAFl8gkvIV6tOod3CfRQYFXTEBxeK_X5wqqZArWygcUxed1GMlyF8Zl7DMW8B16Qu_KuoMQpGvA0i-kt1YzPXOf8rIF_83CuGAaaXMJg5A4MyyMJMAzQqmwQeOB7ZNCaowI/s1600/IMG_2235.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji1j_Xe1mcVAFl8gkvIV6tOod3CfRQYFXTEBxeK_X5wqqZArWygcUxed1GMlyF8Zl7DMW8B16Qu_KuoMQpGvA0i-kt1YzPXOf8rIF_83CuGAaaXMJg5A4MyyMJMAzQqmwQeOB7ZNCaowI/s400/IMG_2235.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Moira's hand-prints made the grass. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQb43sSnGPTnpITG0MJDQLjXZcEZH2NEfW3CoCXa9QuUzaV7kcUlKxyXz3lF9_ZbMCBDsqFyz61J-XpYSmbvAZzXsp2hJcW_fML903FD451PVwRuYYFRWNuRLeUX8gH4I7dATT-o2m1hg/s1600/IMG_2209.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQb43sSnGPTnpITG0MJDQLjXZcEZH2NEfW3CoCXa9QuUzaV7kcUlKxyXz3lF9_ZbMCBDsqFyz61J-XpYSmbvAZzXsp2hJcW_fML903FD451PVwRuYYFRWNuRLeUX8gH4I7dATT-o2m1hg/s400/IMG_2209.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We have done finger paints before, but...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiOSnKu32e_xCXoE7t6L-PPJlvnajrdKN0CuY4LMqQynT2azsQedy3umw962J9HNEnUevLhnRt3DBXptjGWDWED25eIbMyUh5UIot-Z4ZZEl4_nImpC5N9lXmlOx22p7Nuy9mozEGTuRM/s1600/IMG_2210.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiOSnKu32e_xCXoE7t6L-PPJlvnajrdKN0CuY4LMqQynT2azsQedy3umw962J9HNEnUevLhnRt3DBXptjGWDWED25eIbMyUh5UIot-Z4ZZEl4_nImpC5N9lXmlOx22p7Nuy9mozEGTuRM/s400/IMG_2210.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">we are still a little unsure about the feeling of cold, slimy, green paint on the hands at first...</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7W9A_Y1EZchVk7byb76htpUakz6AXaENInY_7peQ9liGQWW7cx7DO8ZTncrUhWQZ4CdJkT8gHYDZmpK-WwmD8fUkXsK8p9q2Du7SWyZcAmlpP4qtXTQAyCMuCCsBprIJHTRv3cBOJbzE/s1600/IMG_2211.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7W9A_Y1EZchVk7byb76htpUakz6AXaENInY_7peQ9liGQWW7cx7DO8ZTncrUhWQZ4CdJkT8gHYDZmpK-WwmD8fUkXsK8p9q2Du7SWyZcAmlpP4qtXTQAyCMuCCsBprIJHTRv3cBOJbzE/s400/IMG_2211.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Oh boy.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9AUKXV3S-j9qE1zM-R0S45MzmwM8hgtw31gCsKPyfKu8r2ysG0rwhscCin1XL8URQPBJbBuWlmf2Ob24vGFK1aAgHm2oiXAXLxo8n4Vmi8dIOgfqentJBI0Pr1j8TZhhGXYPFnprIb88/s1600/IMG_2212.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9AUKXV3S-j9qE1zM-R0S45MzmwM8hgtw31gCsKPyfKu8r2ysG0rwhscCin1XL8URQPBJbBuWlmf2Ob24vGFK1aAgHm2oiXAXLxo8n4Vmi8dIOgfqentJBI0Pr1j8TZhhGXYPFnprIb88/s400/IMG_2212.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Now we're getting it...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI8SdqZVaUSNpc7UUHu5W_f2hsLmQAIQj5knqukf2Hz5AfxkK5jMpkwlyzQ7VcVEa-z4drJlwpP5ZOiA4fUSE5a_0e47KmwykdwI9SWPAcfara2cL7VnVIruvNY05lF4S_UyvoWjGqC3k/s1600/IMG_2227.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI8SdqZVaUSNpc7UUHu5W_f2hsLmQAIQj5knqukf2Hz5AfxkK5jMpkwlyzQ7VcVEa-z4drJlwpP5ZOiA4fUSE5a_0e47KmwykdwI9SWPAcfara2cL7VnVIruvNY05lF4S_UyvoWjGqC3k/s400/IMG_2227.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Oooo, green paint on the hands...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0VL8JwUthyEl5H7JZKUnk0DKGzJVy0HZU_NtA_uVIp4Qb-wYkvwe-mF-1cxHito8mBQNXmv-G7smJEHKPFBkDxK1jFF8SOjpYHNKtpvZVtrtJZayh6I7VosoOebJq5b-pvFt2yJW-8BM/s1600/IMG_2223.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0VL8JwUthyEl5H7JZKUnk0DKGzJVy0HZU_NtA_uVIp4Qb-wYkvwe-mF-1cxHito8mBQNXmv-G7smJEHKPFBkDxK1jFF8SOjpYHNKtpvZVtrtJZayh6I7VosoOebJq5b-pvFt2yJW-8BM/s400/IMG_2223.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Of course we did a couple of extra pages of fun!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMxmCiWGmUF3Dr4Dx1iIUPy3-tc_T0PN2Mh-L6SWNkF4Q-XfRomove6qJvJvnBSwktdP3ekiZYdRO1NvJVXt1OBWwFdofxCQE4U0wbkONzdBy_yz90ZklFLRDkd3VWrDwVLJme-bvrIZ0/s1600/IMG_2229.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMxmCiWGmUF3Dr4Dx1iIUPy3-tc_T0PN2Mh-L6SWNkF4Q-XfRomove6qJvJvnBSwktdP3ekiZYdRO1NvJVXt1OBWwFdofxCQE4U0wbkONzdBy_yz90ZklFLRDkd3VWrDwVLJme-bvrIZ0/s400/IMG_2229.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Once dry, we added the stickers. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkPsk2ZXFKcTGLdOStYgrLmIoF3ajimK1j-YtdBxhlzZn9Tbz1YYptnM4sruqgQYslTeNToOtfddBqnQqGrzfT387WcVfwR_ZHnmXMWSUsahyphenhypheneI4p3PEiTtN-qzv7nuG9j2QXnq00rtkg/s1600/IMG_2238.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkPsk2ZXFKcTGLdOStYgrLmIoF3ajimK1j-YtdBxhlzZn9Tbz1YYptnM4sruqgQYslTeNToOtfddBqnQqGrzfT387WcVfwR_ZHnmXMWSUsahyphenhypheneI4p3PEiTtN-qzv7nuG9j2QXnq00rtkg/s400/IMG_2238.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
And the SLP mommy could not resist the urge to enter some concept instruction in there.<br />
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</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">On top of the grass, on the bottom of the grass...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirahDSlgKD3RLdVOaSvaW8X6d3sbiPHVVsP9seTtt46jtF4_CtRJU0w87vYtckr7-ZGRFiXUXh3Jwq4c04qTRbNXxeyEQWUu4V0f4IVfkRoIYOHw4S31RyrVX8TTmMuOPPaPuUuqFoShc/s1600/IMG_2241.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirahDSlgKD3RLdVOaSvaW8X6d3sbiPHVVsP9seTtt46jtF4_CtRJU0w87vYtckr7-ZGRFiXUXh3Jwq4c04qTRbNXxeyEQWUu4V0f4IVfkRoIYOHw4S31RyrVX8TTmMuOPPaPuUuqFoShc/s400/IMG_2241.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Big egg, little egg...</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Blue, pink, yellow...you get the idea.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL1rNcrJCWvYqpn2SxxhvPMBkQyVKldATGjZRk-mqYWkLpoGO6ZbLNi_z3NFZ3ynjO6pNnVR-hBEN-rsBbeSah0MkxKaO2kr-z4I9keJiheMU2HLQ5ZqxdzhKAkTeVEOalqD49XnC2spA/s1600/IMG_2252.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL1rNcrJCWvYqpn2SxxhvPMBkQyVKldATGjZRk-mqYWkLpoGO6ZbLNi_z3NFZ3ynjO6pNnVR-hBEN-rsBbeSah0MkxKaO2kr-z4I9keJiheMU2HLQ5ZqxdzhKAkTeVEOalqD49XnC2spA/s640/IMG_2252.JPG" width="424" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL2n71yi0FM9UfUnvE3BVy01QGIyVc8RG4ZmC54v1Fef60SNtHH7jnDtuP7c0rFlsinwRRLMglHPt5KAIj-Sauo6O7dHf4wf1jEjeuKkpdVAlALeiOKkWs3gU3fxe15YqOTJuVtxX4JbA/s1600/IMG_2258.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL2n71yi0FM9UfUnvE3BVy01QGIyVc8RG4ZmC54v1Fef60SNtHH7jnDtuP7c0rFlsinwRRLMglHPt5KAIj-Sauo6O7dHf4wf1jEjeuKkpdVAlALeiOKkWs3gU3fxe15YqOTJuVtxX4JbA/s640/IMG_2258.JPG" width="424" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
And the best part...showing Daddy her art when he got home. If <i>only</i> I had the camera ready to capture the pride on this little girl's face at that very moment. Priceless.<br />
<br />
:)<br />
Anne<br />
<br />
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