tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18711488511302890182012-01-29T10:50:29.528-06:00Learning to appreciate the pretty scenery and a cool breeze on my face as well as the dirty rest stops and obscene gestures from random truckers. Enjoy the ride.Ajahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00442413435307915509noreply@blogger.comBlogger2301100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1871148851130289018.post-4865685081753394192012-01-27T14:37:00.000-06:002012-01-27T14:37:00.330-06:00Wednesday night we went out to a friends birthday dinner and so bedtime was a little late. Evie and I did an abbreviated bedtime routine and after I had nursed her in the dark and started to put her up on my shoulder to cuddle, I realized we hadn't said our bedtime prayers. So I whispered "Dear Jesus, thank you for this day. Thank you for my sweet baby girl.." I could feel Evie lift her head up at the sound of my voice and touch her cheek to mine. "Bless us while we sleep and watch over us. In Jesus name, amen."<br /><br />"Amin" a teeny voice whispered back in the dark.<br /><br />:) <br /><br />I don't ever want to forget that precious little moment.<br /><br />Amen.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6YTo5p7SqJs/TyLlgkDznHI/AAAAAAAACRk/DQ50b2H1jOw/s1600/IMG_1672.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6YTo5p7SqJs/TyLlgkDznHI/AAAAAAAACRk/DQ50b2H1jOw/s640/IMG_1672.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1871148851130289018-486568508175339419?l=strangeandlovelyride.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ajahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00442413435307915509noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1871148851130289018.post-66882316356065595992012-01-26T09:00:00.000-06:002012-01-26T09:00:10.228-06:00<script type="text/javascript"></script><br /><div style="color: #4c1130; font-family: &quot;Courier New&quot;,Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-size: x-small;">thankful for...</span></span></div><div style="color: #4c1130; font-family: &quot;Courier New&quot;,Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>health</b></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>&nbsp;</b> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oCDJuTcmGfU/TyBEqE0O__I/AAAAAAAACRc/Gkj-BMkpJTg/s1600/IMG_2474.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oCDJuTcmGfU/TyBEqE0O__I/AAAAAAAACRc/Gkj-BMkpJTg/s640/IMG_2474.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This past week has been rough around our house.<br />Our first bout of real sickness&nbsp;hit Evie first and then two nights later it was our turn. We were all pretty puny and pitiful, but thankful that it didn't stick around for long.<br /> <br />It's times like this that really remind me to be thankful for a healthy child. I can't really fathom what it must be like for parents and families with sweet babies who are sick or don't feel good most of their days. Thank you Jesus.<br /><br />We did make sure and enjoy all the extra cuddle time in our big, new bed. Evie has made herself right at home and all but taken it over. Fine by me. <br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">* * * * *</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Read more about my <a href="http://strangeandlovelyride.blogspot.com/2012/01/project-52-thankful-for-in-2012.html" target="_blank">Project 52</a>.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b style="color: #4c1130;">Linking my Project 52 with:</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://styleberryblog.com/" target="_blank">styleberry BLOG</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">&nbsp;<a href="http://www.lucasandmahina.com/" target="_blank">What We're Sayin'</a></span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://tmriggs.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Oh The Places We'll Go </a></span></div><script type="text/javascript">var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www.");document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='""google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E"));</script><script type="text/javascript">try {<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1jwP9vHGLyE/TJPKwfwB9UI/AAAAAAAAArc/j1GX_WofyNI/s1600/signature3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 100px;" src="var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-12360342-1");pageTracker._trackPageview();} catch(err) {}</script><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1871148851130289018-6688231635606559599?l=strangeandlovelyride.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ajahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00442413435307915509noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1871148851130289018.post-92159710435491065022012-01-20T11:30:00.000-06:002012-01-20T11:30:19.352-06:00<br /><br /><center><img border="0" height="320" src="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/12/01/20/s_1154.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="320" /></center><br /><br />My sweet little baby isn't feeling great today. Last night I hadn't been asleep long when I heard her soft cries for mama.. mama.. mama. :(&nbsp; I waited a bit, thinking she would resettle and go back to sleep, but it kept up, softer and a little more pitiful than usual. When I picked her up she grabbed on to me tight and I could feel something wet. After a quick, blind feel of her crib, I knew she had gotten sick. So I took her into daddy and went to clean up. My poor little baby. Throw up all over the mattress. Everywhere. I almost started to cry, thinking she had been sitting in there for any length of time while I lay in bed hoping she would go back to sleep.<br /><br />For the next three hours I held her and rocked her and tried to soothe her to sleep. Every 20 minutes or so she would start to squirm and start to cry mama, mama, mama, even while I held her. Then the heaving. We both smelled of vomit after long and I changed my shirt twice. And kept on holding her. My sweet little babe.<br /><br />This is our first experience with this kind of sickness. Not fun. Surprisingly, the gross factor really didn't faze me when my baby needed me. <i>Mama, mama, mama</i>.<br /><br />It's humbling that a little person can need you so much. That you are all they want, all they need.. the only thing or person that will do when they feel the worst. <br /><br />She woke up today feeling better and happy and is now taking a long, long nap. Praying the little bug is gone and her tummy feels much better from here on out. And if not, well, I don't think there's anything more important on my to-do list today than holding her, rocking her, soothing her. My baby.<br /><br /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1871148851130289018-9215971043549106502?l=strangeandlovelyride.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ajahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00442413435307915509noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1871148851130289018.post-45513489355286955132012-01-19T13:55:00.001-06:002012-01-19T13:55:58.894-06:00<script type="text/javascript"></script><br /><div style="color: #4c1130; font-family: &quot;Courier New&quot;,Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-size: x-small;">thankful for...</span></span></div><div style="color: #4c1130; font-family: &quot;Courier New&quot;,Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>reflection</b></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>&nbsp;</b> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xRnU32-HNsc/TxX35ZhrR6I/AAAAAAAACRI/9mBKSHuDoIw/s1600/IMG_2464.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xRnU32-HNsc/TxX35ZhrR6I/AAAAAAAACRI/9mBKSHuDoIw/s640/IMG_2464.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br />30 years. Three decades.<br />I've come a long way, baby.<br /><br />Looking back over this first third of my life, I am thankful, amazed and humbled. There is not much I regret, thankfully, and I can definitely look on the tough times for what they are- seasons of life. Opportunities to grow. Reasons to change. Chances to love more and be better.</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;">I hope in another 30 years I can look back with the same sense of accomplishment and the lingering desire to grow and stretch and see and experience all that God has offered us in this life. <br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">* * * * *</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Read more about my <a href="http://strangeandlovelyride.blogspot.com/2012/01/project-52-thankful-for-in-2012.html" target="_blank">Project 52</a>.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b style="color: #4c1130;">Linking my Project 52 with:</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://styleberryblog.com/" target="_blank">styleberry BLOG</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">&nbsp;<a href="http://www.lucasandmahina.com/" target="_blank">What We're Sayin'</a></span></div><script type="text/javascript">var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www.");document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='""google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E"));</script><script type="text/javascript">try {<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1jwP9vHGLyE/TJPKwfwB9UI/AAAAAAAAArc/j1GX_WofyNI/s1600/signature3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 100px;" src="var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-12360342-1");pageTracker._trackPageview();} catch(err) {}</script><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1871148851130289018-4551348935528695513?l=strangeandlovelyride.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ajahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00442413435307915509noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1871148851130289018.post-36075089487482658662012-01-18T08:20:00.001-06:002012-01-18T08:20:34.419-06:00<div style="text-align: left;">In honor of the big 3-0, I thought I would share 30 random things with you today.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">In no particular order.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">1. I was born with a head full of thick, black hair. My first real hair cut was at 8 months, complete with bangs. My uncle commented that I looked like a page boy. That's the only time short hair has ever looked good on me.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">2. I really think that hand sanitizer might be a myth.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">3. I seriously, deeply, madly want laser hair removal for about 85% of my body. Shaving blows. So much time wasted.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">4. In 3rd grade, I stood up at a school-wide assembly and recited the ABC's backwards. And won my little side bet with my classmate, Frank. This is still my best party trick.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">5. I am sort of hoping for twin boys.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">6. I am the only one who knows how to properly load our dishwasher. I have to rearrange it any time hubby puts something in there. I don't think he minds. Also? My dad is the exact same way.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">7. One of my legs is slightly longer than the other.</div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">8. My grandma and grandpa met on a blind date. Legend has it she was engaged (or at least pretty serious) to someone else at the time, and dropped him like a hot potato. :) They've been married for over 55 years.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">9. All of my child's toys are named with alliteration. For example, Hans Hippo, Estaban the Elephant, Cleo the Cat.. and on it goes. It's an unspoken agreement between hubby and I. What does that say about us?? I may do an entire post on this at some point. Hold on to your hats.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">10. Sometimes I like to online shop and fill up my cart, then just turn off the computer. Much easier than taking another lap around the store, putting everything back.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">11. Chips and salsa are my favorite food.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">12. Last week I walked into the laundry room to find Evie elbows deep into the dog food while our dog looked on helplessly in the dark. After 3 good finger sweeps, I got it all out and nearly puked myself. Can't wait to tell her first boyfriend about this little episode. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">13. At one point I lived in an apartment on the 3rd floor, and the stairs were outside. On the morning of a huge ice storm, I heard my neighbor, a loud, young, large guy in flight school, leave his apartment at about 4am for class. A minute after he shut the front door, I heard him gasp and slip on the icy stairs and bump and roll and grunt his way down the first flight. I felt horrible but could NOT stop laughing. Funniest thing I've ever heard.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">14. I really want to travel to Europe with my hubby. I'm thinking Italy and the Mediterranean. He's thinking Germany and beer.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">15. Sometimes when I meet or am talking to other people my age or a few years older, I feel a lot younger than them. Weird, huh?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">16. When I was about 8, I told my mom I wanted to quit taking ballet classes. Even as an eight year old, I knew I wasn't long and lanky like the older girls, and I knew that meant something. The story I told my mom was that I just didn't think I wanted to do this for the REST OF MY LIFE. She promptly signed me up for theater classes. Mama knows drama.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">17. In related news, when I was 3, I lamented to my dad that he never brought me flowers. A few eye rolls later and I got the goods. Sometimes a girl just needs some dang flowers.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">18. My hubby and I have the same middle name. Spelled differently. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">19. Growing up, I was always singing. School choir, church praise and worship, etc. My first solo was in Children's Church when I was 7 or 8. Pretty sure I sang an Amy Grant song. :) In high school I sang the national anthem at one of our city's hockey games. I had to stand on a washcloth on the ice so I wouldn't slip.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">20. I think the above washcloth/ice story is one of the reasons I found <a href="http://strangeandlovelyride.blogspot.com/2012/01/friday-morning-thoughts.html" target="_blank">last week's Parks and Rec</a> so hilarious.<br /><br />21. My dream job has always been to be a photographer for National Geographic.<br /><br />22. I hit a deer once, heading to Louisiana over Thanksgiving. Stupid thing didn't die. I no longer have any sympathetic feelings for Bambi. Or his mother.<br /><br />23. At our wedding, we had real, live paparazzi. Ok, ok, it wasn't exactly US Weekly, but this rouge photographer totally crashed the wedding and stood right next to our paid photog, snapping away until I had the hotel officials get rid of him.THEN, he found my hubby on MySpace (yes, we're old) and tried to sell him the pictures he took.<br /><br />24. Never in my wildest imaginings did I think I would have a blonde, blue-eyed baby. I ♥ her.<br /><br />25.&nbsp; I've only snow skied once, when I was 14. It was a ton of fun and I could hardly move for days afterward. I really want to go again.<br /><br />26. I am not really a fearful person, but being buried alive or floating out in the ocean overnight sound like the worst things EVER. <br /><br />27. Sometimes when I hold the door open for a stranger, and they just blow right through, without bothering to say Thank You, I'll say You're Welcome! to them anyway. :) I'm not above shaming manner-less strangers.<br /><br />28. I often eat just as much if not more than my husband at mealtime. Also, he always likes to leave a bite or two on his plate (no matter what) and I have a Clean Your Plate mentality. Riddle me that.<br /><br />29. I can't do a cartwheel. Or dive. How I made it this far in life is beyond me.<br /><br />30. I was born on my due date. <br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/12/01/18/s_851.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/12/01/18/s_851.jpg" style="margin-top: 5px;" width="320" /></a><img border="0" height="320" src="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/12/01/18/s_849.jpg" style="margin-top: 5px;" width="320" /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;</div></div><script type="text/javascript">var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www.");document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='""google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E"));</script><script type="text/javascript">try {<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1jwP9vHGLyE/TJPKwfwB9UI/AAAAAAAAArc/j1GX_WofyNI/s1600/signature3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 100px;" src="var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-12360342-1");pageTracker._trackPageview();} catch(err) {}</script><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1871148851130289018-3607508948748265866?l=strangeandlovelyride.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ajahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00442413435307915509noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1871148851130289018.post-87727522960295943992012-01-16T18:43:00.000-06:002012-01-17T08:42:36.611-06:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_SnmIU_nYiM/TxRDQnVIfNI/AAAAAAAACQg/JPaJFTv50jw/s1600/IMG_2359.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_SnmIU_nYiM/TxRDQnVIfNI/AAAAAAAACQg/JPaJFTv50jw/s640/IMG_2359.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />This weekend I broke out my crafty hat and got to work on a few Valentine's Day crafts. I know it's a little early, but these are headed to our booth to sell, so I wanted to be sure and make a few things before it was too late.<br /><br />First up is this cute-as-a-button (see what I did there????) little heart picture. Self-explanatory, I should think. Pull out some red buttons from your stash and hot glue them to something. In my case, a little square plaque I previously painted over. Cute, huh?<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J-hrVEGlG88/TxRDsPTYGTI/AAAAAAAACQo/PCWfXj4o1mY/s1600/IMG_2362.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J-hrVEGlG88/TxRDsPTYGTI/AAAAAAAACQo/PCWfXj4o1mY/s640/IMG_2362.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />I've been wanting to make <a href="http://jonesdesigncompany.com/tutorial/nonna-wreath-tutorial/" target="_blank">one of these wreaths</a> for a while. Now is the perfect time to buy fleece, fyi.. it's all on sale at fabric stores. So I snatched up a red remnant in honor of LOVE. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TQMaoiPfkVA/TxREEJCRMSI/AAAAAAAACQw/LJ6RNX-Ohv0/s1600/IMG_2348.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TQMaoiPfkVA/TxREEJCRMSI/AAAAAAAACQw/LJ6RNX-Ohv0/s640/IMG_2348.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This wreath was super easy to make and pretty quick. I've actually tried it before, with a linen fabric, but it took a lot longer. I think this works because the fleece is so thick, so it's much fuller and you don't burn your fingers with every stinking dab of glue.&nbsp; </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></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;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ltiojC11X_o/TxREdQJWVNI/AAAAAAAACQ4/IbX2Ugu2wAI/s640/IMG_2354.JPG" width="426" />&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Be sure to check out <a href="http://jonesdesigncompany.com/tutorial/nonna-wreath-tutorial/" target="_blank">Jones Design Company</a> for the full tutorial if you want to make one. I love her blog.&nbsp; And now I think I want one of these for myself! I just may have to make another one...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Have you started any V Day crafts yet? I'm getting the urge to string up hearts everywhere. :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div "="" class="separator" http:="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;" target="_blank" tipjunkie.com=""><img alt="Tip Junkie handmade projects" border="0" src="http://www.tipjunkie.com/images/TipMeTuesdayButton1.png" /> </div><script type="text/javascript">var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www.");document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='""google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E"));</script><script type="text/javascript">try {<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1jwP9vHGLyE/TJPKwfwB9UI/AAAAAAAAArc/j1GX_WofyNI/s1600/signature3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 100px;" src="var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-12360342-1");pageTracker._trackPageview();} catch(err) {}</script><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1871148851130289018-8772752296029594399?l=strangeandlovelyride.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ajahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00442413435307915509noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1871148851130289018.post-82808201567211737572012-01-15T20:17:00.000-06:002012-01-15T20:17:00.707-06:00Ok, question:<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Do you and your Loverboy** have a "song"???</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is serious, people!&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i><b>Edited to add:</b> YES, I am just shy of 30 (akkk) and possibly having a mid-something moment with this post subject matter.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">On the way to work the other day, <b>Wonderful Tonight</b> by Eric Clapton came on the radio, which immediately made me think of C, my oldest middle/high school friend and one of her teenage boyfriends. See, <b>Wonderful Tonight</b> was their "song". This fact stood out to me loud and clear and has remained in my consciousness for a number of reasons.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Yes, there's a list:&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div>1. She told me it was, with all certainty and absoluteness that made it clear that they had consulted on the matter. They <i>both </i>knew this was their song- not just her, romanticizing and telling her girlfriends. I fully imagined them getting dreamy eyes and possibly making out on the couch in her parents basement any time the tune came on the radio or by CD shuffle. <br /><br />2. It was a very grown-up song for people our age at the time, but not at all out of character.. our parents are all hippies/music junkies/band members/etc. We weren't exactly sitting around listening to NKOTB. Also, my name is AJA.<br /><br />And finally, the biggest reason of all.<br /><br />3. I have NEVER had a "song" with any boyfriend/husband/loverboy. EVER.<br /><br />So needless to say, every time ol Clapton starts crooning about how wonderful whatshername is looking tonight, I have a quick walk down memory lane and a mild panic attack that we need to get on the ball somehow. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So am I right?? Are we missing out? Will our children one day ask us to tell them about our love story and share our special song, only to be answered with blank stares and shared side-eyes from their wrinkly parents??&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I will say- I've brought this matter up to the hubs a few times, and I just don't think he's as concerned as I am. Shocker. It may have something to do with the fact that every time Roxette's <b>It Must Have Been Love</b> comes on, I declare it to be our song. Not that anything is Over Now.. Oh no no no no. I just like the song. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">So dish it up. What's your "song". And if you have any suggestions for what our <s>everlasting symbol of our relationship</s><s><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;;"></span></s> "song" should be, please let me know if the comments. Clearly, we can use all the help we can get.&nbsp;</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>**Sorry about the "Loverboy" reference. I'm in a mood.</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><script type="text/javascript">var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www.");document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='""google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E"));</script><script type="text/javascript">try {<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1jwP9vHGLyE/TJPKwfwB9UI/AAAAAAAAArc/j1GX_WofyNI/s1600/signature3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 100px;" src="var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-12360342-1");pageTracker._trackPageview();} catch(err) {}</script><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1871148851130289018-8280820156721173757?l=strangeandlovelyride.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ajahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00442413435307915509noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1871148851130289018.post-86212422121773693862012-01-13T10:15:00.000-06:002012-01-13T10:21:49.692-06:00<br />Well, it's Friday the 13th... does that mean anything to you? Nah, not me, either.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/12/01/12/s_2268.jpg" style="margin: 5px auto;" width="320" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sometimes we wake up a little... disheveled.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />Our new bed is being delivered today!!! I'm so flipping excited. The bed frame comes first, then the mattress, so fingers crossed that all goes smoothly, because delivery time frames basically mean nothing these days.<br /><br />Does anyone find it odd that the mattress saleslady rather flippantly used the term "miserable" when describing how our new bed might feel, for oh, the first 2 or 3 WEEKS??? This was right at the end, after we had handed over all our gold doubloons. I may have to invite you all over to jump on the bed and break it in a little faster than that. I'll keep you posted.<br /><br />Do you watch Parks and Recreation? Please tell me you do. I was seriously laughing out loud, multiple times last night while they were trying to baby step across the hockey arena and that Gloria Estafan song kept coming on. Then that 3 legged dog starts peeing on Ron Swanson.. <a href="http://www.hulu.com/parks-and-recreation" target="_blank">just watch it</a>. <br /><br />My friend Sarah <a href="http://tothemoonandback-sarah.blogspot.com/2012/01/youre-welcome.html" target="_blank">shared a great little tip</a> for cleaning those pesky glass shower doors. I tried it the other night and it worked!! One tip- make sure you can open the windows to ventilate or plan to be gone for a while after.. vinegar is stinky!<br /><br />Are you watching The Bachelor???? Yeah, me neither. We'll see if I rally a few weeks into it.<br /><br />Right about now I am dying to go on or start planning a beach vacation. Anyone with me? Sigh. If you have one planned, please leave me full details so I can live vicariously through you.<br /><br />And finally, I know this means nothing to you, but this week I gave up the pump and feel amazingly, gloriously free. I am so thankful for it, since breastfeeding is important to me, but boy howdy did it blow. Can't wait to pack that baby up and shove it under the bed.<br /><br />Have a great weekend!!<br /><br /><a href="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/12/01/12/s_1876.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/12/01/12/s_1876.jpg" style="margin-top: 5px;" width="200" /></a> <img border="0" height="200" src="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/12/01/12/s_2016.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="200" />&nbsp; <img border="0" height="200" src="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/12/01/12/s_2015.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="200" /><br /><br /><center></center><br /><br /><br /><br /><script type="text/javascript">kjg;klajsdfWell, it's Frriday the 13th.. var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www.");document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='""google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E"));</script><script type="text/javascript">try {<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1jwP9vHGLyE/TJPKwfwB9UI/AAAAAAAAArc/j1GX_WofyNI/s1600/signature3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 100px;" src="var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-12360342-1");pageTracker._trackPageview();} catch(err) {}</script><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1871148851130289018-8621242212177369386?l=strangeandlovelyride.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ajahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00442413435307915509noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1871148851130289018.post-7873150703517243792012-01-12T06:30:00.000-06:002012-01-15T13:53:23.693-06:00<script type="text/javascript"></script><br /><div style="color: #4c1130; font-family: &quot;Courier New&quot;,Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-size: x-small;">thankful for...</span></span></div><div style="color: #4c1130; font-family: &quot;Courier New&quot;,Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>unseasonably warm days</b></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>&nbsp;</b> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dPp-QAgMd-M/TwsU3Slr6MI/AAAAAAAACQA/yJmfNI4UkTs/s1600/IMG_2259.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dPp-QAgMd-M/TwsU3Slr6MI/AAAAAAAACQA/yJmfNI4UkTs/s640/IMG_2259.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div></div><div style="color: #4c1130; font-family: &quot;Courier New&quot;,Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">This winter has been so different from last year, when we felt cooped up and were literally snowed in at times. We are enjoying the nice weather with daily trips to the park and long walks.&nbsp; </span><br /><br />Daddy is especially enjoying the outdoor time with his girl.<br />I love watching you two explore and discover everything in sight.<br /><br />I am still amazed at my baby's confidence- hurriedly walking from one grassy patch to the next, toddling along, never bothering to glance back to see if we're staying close by. I'm praying she knows she doesn't have to check.. that she'll always know that Daddy will be two steps away, never letting her out of his sight.<br /><br />* * * * *<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Of course, there would be snow on the ground this morning, after I scheduled this post! Sheesh :)</i></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">* * * * *</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Read more about my <a href="http://strangeandlovelyride.blogspot.com/2012/01/project-52-thankful-for-in-2012.html" target="_blank">Project 52</a>.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b style="color: #4c1130;">Linking my Project 52 with:</b></span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://styleberryblog.com/" target="_blank">styleberry BLOG</a></span><br /><div align="center"></div><span style="font-size: x-small;">&nbsp;<a href="http://www.lucasandmahina.com/" target="_blank">What We're Sayin'</a></span><br /><b style="color: #4c1130;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></b> </div><script type="text/javascript">var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www.");document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='""google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E"));</script><script type="text/javascript">try {<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1jwP9vHGLyE/TJPKwfwB9UI/AAAAAAAAArc/j1GX_WofyNI/s1600/signature3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 100px;" src="var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-12360342-1");pageTracker._trackPageview();} catch(err) {}</script><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1871148851130289018-787315070351724379?l=strangeandlovelyride.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ajahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00442413435307915509noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1871148851130289018.post-23279368687079180462012-01-09T11:05:00.001-06:002012-01-09T11:05:09.406-06:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-R2zYe3ngynI/TwsZW0KzWxI/AAAAAAAACQQ/rtZoIU4r3SI/s640/IMG_2328.JPG" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">Please tell me I'm not the only one with a plethora of gift cards hanging out in my purse, wallet and junk drawer.&nbsp; Right after Christmas, my stash seems to double, with gifts and returns/exchanges. The frustrating and annoying part of this is that I can never seem to remember when I have a credit to a particular store, so I get out to my car after making a purchase and then it dawns on me.&nbsp;</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">Doh!&nbsp;</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">On top of that, a bunch of these have, like, $2.83 left on them, which somehow makes toting them around even more annoying. But I'll be d@mned if I'm going to throw away money! Hubby nearly tossed a Target card with 70 cents left on it and I about went bananas on him. Do you even KNOW how much money I spend at Target??? Blasphemy.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Oh great. While uploading this fantastic piece of photography you see above, I found Pier 1 and Sephora cards in my nightstand. Add it to the list.</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">So what are you inadvertently collecting in the bottom of your purse?? Gift cards, like moi? Random pieces of gum? Stolen restaurant matches?? (Thief). Please share so I don't feel so badly about myself. Also, if you want to go shopping, just let me know.</span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><script type="text/javascript">var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www.");document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='""google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E"));</script><script type="text/javascript">try {<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1jwP9vHGLyE/TJPKwfwB9UI/AAAAAAAAArc/j1GX_WofyNI/s1600/signature3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 100px;" src="var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-12360342-1");pageTracker._trackPageview();} catch(err) {}</script><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1871148851130289018-2327936868707918046?l=strangeandlovelyride.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ajahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00442413435307915509noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1871148851130289018.post-15691665419184956762012-01-05T15:24:00.000-06:002012-01-08T18:15:37.775-06:00On New Year's Day, I was able to sneak out alone to do a little shopping. It's a pure luxury to wander store aisles alone these days, and I'm happy to report a successful trip. We just ordered a brand spankin' new bed frame and fancy pants mattress (king!) which is wonderful, but that means all new linens, too.. which, let's be honest, means mama gets to do a total overhaul of the master bedroom. Double Score!<br /><br />Anyway, while out searching for the perfect duvet cover, I stopped in at Hancock Fabrics, where I like to sift around in their upholstery remnant section. Lo and behold, I found a stash of gorgeous fabric that looked <i>very </i>familiar. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mdpIQYkLZ9g/TwouB05adHI/AAAAAAAACP4/Jx3XFF4Bd4g/s1600/photo%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mdpIQYkLZ9g/TwouB05adHI/AAAAAAAACP4/Jx3XFF4Bd4g/s320/photo%25281%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />Robert Allen's Khanjali Peacock.<br /><br />I love LOVE the colors in this print and have had my eye on it for a while. Here are a few places I've come across it: <br /><br /><br /><script type="text/javascript"> var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www.");document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='""google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E"));</script><script type="text/javascript">try {<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1jwP9vHGLyE/TJPKwfwB9UI/AAAAAAAAArc/j1GX_WofyNI/s1600/signature3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 100px;" src="var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-12360342-1");pageTracker._trackPageview();} catch(err) {}</script><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="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-H7XrqJdoS64/TwYO02Fh2FI/AAAAAAAACPw/d6xYXVSIUgk/s1600/fabric+YHL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-H7XrqJdoS64/TwYO02Fh2FI/AAAAAAAACPw/d6xYXVSIUgk/s640/fabric+YHL.jpg" width="428" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">via <a href="http://www.younghouselove.com/2011/06/my-babies/" target="_blank">Young House Love</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i51NMXfDUd4/TwYNMKi5TtI/AAAAAAAACPk/rkUQa56jRT4/s640/fabric+Emily+A.+Clark.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="426" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">via <a href="http://emilyaclark.blogspot.com/2012/01/clients-master-bedroom-makeover.html" target="_blank">Emily A. Clark</a><br /><br /><div style="color: black; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="color: black; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">Now that I'm looking closer at Emily's pic, I'm not so sure she used the Robert Allen fabric.. though her picture looks much closer to what I have than the YHL pic. Their pic looks more saturated or something...</span></div><div style="color: black; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="color: black; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">ANYway!</span></div><div style="color: black; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="color: black; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">I worked this weekend on making curtain panels and they are finished and hung! What?? A picture? Well... no, sorry, no picture just yet. I'm still trying to convince hubby that we need to repaint the room to go with the new look. Wish me luck on that front. But I will show you pictures at some point, I promise! Sheesh, what kind of blogger am I??&nbsp;</span></div><div style="color: black; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: black; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">So what were you up to this weekend?</span></div><div style="color: black;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;</span> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1871148851130289018-1569166541918495676?l=strangeandlovelyride.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ajahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00442413435307915509noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1871148851130289018.post-17987010581887749072012-01-05T07:00:00.000-06:002012-01-06T11:18:28.953-06:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="color: #4c1130; font-family: &quot;Courier New&quot;,Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-size: x-small;">thankful for...</span></span></div><div style="color: #4c1130; font-family: &quot;Courier New&quot;,Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"></div><div style="color: #4c1130; font-family: &quot;Courier New&quot;,Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>a dance</b></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>&nbsp;</b> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp;<img border="0" height="424" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AZPg57cN1Cs/TwOn4X1r8KI/AAAAAAAACPQ/b0jWhyIyClM/s640/IMG_2178.JPG" width="640" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="color: #4c1130; font-family: &quot;Courier New&quot;,Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Oh, my Tiny Dancer.&nbsp;</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: small;">Every time I turn on the music, you reach up your arms and start to jabber, asking me to pick you up to "dance". </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Then I hold you up on my shoulder, like I did when you were a tiny newborn babe, and you rest your head and cuddle in while I sway and dance around the room to whatever tune happens to be playing. If I stop, you kick your legs for me to continue, just like you did in my belly. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I absolutely love to dance with you. I hope you never stop kicking and bouncing and asking me for a dance. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">* * * * *</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Read more about my <a href="http://strangeandlovelyride.blogspot.com/2012/01/project-52-thankful-for-in-2012.html" target="_blank">Project 52</a>.<br /><br /><b style="color: #4c1130;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Linking my Project 52 with</span></b><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://www.styleberryblog.com/" title="styleberryBLOG"><img alt="styleberryBLOG" src="http://styleberryblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/styleberryBLOG-buttonv2-125x125px.png" style="border: none;" /></a></div><b style="color: #4c1130;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">&nbsp;</span></b> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><script type="text/javascript">var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www.");document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='""google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E"));</script><script type="text/javascript">try {<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1jwP9vHGLyE/TJPKwfwB9UI/AAAAAAAAArc/j1GX_WofyNI/s1600/signature3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 100px;" src="var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-12360342-1");pageTracker._trackPageview();} catch(err) {}</script><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1871148851130289018-1798701058188774907?l=strangeandlovelyride.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ajahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00442413435307915509noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1871148851130289018.post-14766105944491814752012-01-02T16:13:00.000-06:002012-01-02T16:13:00.907-06:00<div style="text-align: center;">Interrupting your regularly scheduled blog programming to share this yum salad recipe with you.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We ordered lunch in at work a few weeks ago and all ended up with this salad. It was simple enough (even for me) and scrumptious, so I decided to make it for us at home. And share with you. You'll thank me later. </div><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/12/29/s_1124.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="320" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">iphone pic doesn't do it justice.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">spinach (I do bagged)<br />purple grapes<br />feta cheese crumbles<br />walnuts <br />raspberry vinaigrette</div><div style="text-align: center;">THE END.</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Oh! And I totally went for the chopped walnuts in the baking section. Mucho cheaper.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">Happy Eating. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1871148851130289018-1476610594449181475?l=strangeandlovelyride.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ajahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00442413435307915509noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1871148851130289018.post-19665793470965287282012-01-01T13:22:00.000-06:002012-01-01T13:22:00.464-06:00<script type="text/javascript">var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www.");document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='""google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E"));</script><script type="text/javascript">try {<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1jwP9vHGLyE/TJPKwfwB9UI/AAAAAAAAArc/j1GX_WofyNI/s1600/signature3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 100px;" src="var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-12360342-1");pageTracker._trackPageview();} catch(err) {}</script>Happy New Year! I hope everyone's NYE was festive and safe! We had a fun time at dinner with friends and were home at a reasonable hour. :) And I'm pretty sure I was in bed and lights out before midnight ever rolled around.. Fine by me! <br /><br />Okay, <b>Project 52</b>. This is a new project for the new year, and I'm so excited to get started with it here on my blog! I've never been big on resolutions (mine were always the same- get fit, start a new workout routine, etc), and they never lasted when I tried to start one. But this project is all about capturing what is going on in your life right now, really being present and also working on my photography skills, which appeals to me, since I'm always snapping pics of Evie! <br /><br />Basically you choose a theme or idea to frame your Project 52 and post one picture a week that captures whatever you are focusing on or experiencing or feeling that week. I first came across this idea at Shawna's blog, <a href="http://styleberryblog.com/" target="_blank">styleberry BLOG</a>.&nbsp; She's a professional photographer, so her images are all amazing, and I loved her theme for 2011, which was <b>Motherhood Is</b>.&nbsp; She had week's like Motherhood Is.. Messy, Happy, Limiting, Uncomfortable, Simple, Disciplined, What You Make of It, etc. You can read all about her project <a href="http://styleberryblog.com/project-5252-what-we-make-of-it" target="_blank">here.</a><br /><br />At the end of the year, she takes all 52 posts and makes a coffee table book, so her family can flip back through and see a glimpse of what life was like and what she was feeling and experiencing that year! I love that.<br /><br />I've also seen friends like <a href="http://www.lifesweetlifeblog.com/2011/12/project-365-options-week-51.html" target="_blank">Sarah do a Project 365</a>, which includes taking a picture every day, but that's just too much for me, personally. One per week seems much more manageable for me!<br /><br />So what do you think?? Are any of you doing any similar projects in 2012? I'd love to hear about them! I would also love for you guys to join me in doing a Project 52 (or 365!) if you want! I'll be linking up to Shawna's weekly posts, and would be happy to link to you as well if you want to participate!<br /><br />OH! And my theme for 2012 is <b>Thankful For</b>.&nbsp; I'm turning the big 3-0 in a few short weeks and I really want to focus on all that I have to be thankful for in my life. In the every day, little things as well as the big blessings. I can't wait. &nbsp;<br /><br />I've decided I'll be posting my weekly Project 52 on Thursdays, so this Thursday will kick things off! Get excited. :)<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1871148851130289018-1966579347096528728?l=strangeandlovelyride.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ajahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00442413435307915509noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1871148851130289018.post-25197762020150109622011-12-30T14:43:00.000-06:002011-12-30T14:49:29.643-06:00A quick rundown of our Christmas festivities this year.. I'm bummed because I hardly took any family or group pictures! Imagine that.<br /><br />We spread out the cheer this year by heading up to see my family the weekend before Christmas. Christmas on a Sunday really threw a loop in the planning! But it all worked out and my brother and sister-in-law were able to come from California for a full week and saved on flights. We had a blast all holed up at my Dad and Step-mom's new house and Evie loved seeing everyone! <br /><br />The weather was nice enough on Saturday that we decided to hit up the zoo! Great idea and as you can imagine, it was extremely unbusy!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qS5Tsyd43hc/TvztwjgoGMI/AAAAAAAACLQ/6UWx2PGvO_M/s1600/IMG_1737.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qS5Tsyd43hc/TvztwjgoGMI/AAAAAAAACLQ/6UWx2PGvO_M/s640/IMG_1737.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />My camera settings weren't great on a lot of these. Sorry! <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OkRbjXkVRIg/TvztS8MYLNI/AAAAAAAACLI/klNpvCT34ls/s1600/IMG_1754.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OkRbjXkVRIg/TvztS8MYLNI/AAAAAAAACLI/klNpvCT34ls/s640/IMG_1754.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eq7w-sekc6Q/TvztCdtAkFI/AAAAAAAACLA/I_kiO-YbVY4/s640/IMG_1758.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Evie showing off her sign language for "more"</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Our zoo has a great chimp and monkey habitat. I always remembered it from when I was little and it's even better now. And there were two or three babies to see while we were there, which was fun.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></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;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XxMK91gM04I/TvzuG0c12NI/AAAAAAAACLY/ERQMJslYGrE/s1600/IMG_1844.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XxMK91gM04I/TvzuG0c12NI/AAAAAAAACLY/ERQMJslYGrE/s640/IMG_1844.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp;<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-viKV-QHYxf0/Tv34B5KAGWI/AAAAAAAACMc/KJ3aWxj5e-Q/s1600/IMG_1773.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-viKV-QHYxf0/Tv34B5KAGWI/AAAAAAAACMc/KJ3aWxj5e-Q/s640/IMG_1773.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>Fun Fact:</b> this big guy above was laying on his belly, with his face near the glass when we came in. He then proceeded to THROW UP right in front of everyone and then EAT IT. Seriously. So gross.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp; </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W2UUZsPwx1o/Tvzsqsz6GAI/AAAAAAAACK4/KwN2SDr4G9I/s1600/IMG_1750.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W2UUZsPwx1o/Tvzsqsz6GAI/AAAAAAAACK4/KwN2SDr4G9I/s640/IMG_1750.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">&nbsp;* * * * *</span></div><br /><br />Evie wore her Christmas jammies for Sunday Christmas at my parents'.. there's just something about festive holiday pj's to me. I love it. And her, of course. And her faces.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Or07qyTe1MM/Tvz06WR5SgI/AAAAAAAACL4/p_gVMTsYC64/s1600/IMG_1893.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Or07qyTe1MM/Tvz06WR5SgI/AAAAAAAACL4/p_gVMTsYC64/s640/IMG_1893.JPG" width="426" /></a></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="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ib-wSwUWN4w/TvzztPb5hVI/AAAAAAAACLg/lq3348x1nn0/s1600/IMG_1860.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ib-wSwUWN4w/TvzztPb5hVI/AAAAAAAACLg/lq3348x1nn0/s640/IMG_1860.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is her Mad Scientist look. It's all in the hair, baby.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />As the only child, and arguably the cutest attendee, it's safe to say Evie got a lot of attention. Here she is sitting in the middle of the room, all eyes on her, opening her gaggle of gifts and basking in the attentive glow. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ssxm_2nx9RE/Tvz1KyxcM7I/AAAAAAAACMA/qdwxdeTr1WM/s1600/IMG_1945.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ssxm_2nx9RE/Tvz1KyxcM7I/AAAAAAAACMA/qdwxdeTr1WM/s640/IMG_1945.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><br />And this was just my favorite moment of the day:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2Iop377fBYM/Tvz1fcwdHUI/AAAAAAAACMI/ioZOVlgq6Qo/s1600/IMG_1956.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2Iop377fBYM/Tvz1fcwdHUI/AAAAAAAACMI/ioZOVlgq6Qo/s640/IMG_1956.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><br />Nothing like walking into the kitchen to discover your SIL, crouched down, digging around in the liquor cabinet and pouring herself a hot toddy right on the floor. :) I think she's feeling more and more comfortable around our family all the time! HA! <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">&nbsp;* * * * *</span></div><br />We spent Christmas Eve with my in-laws and my sister joined us for the craziness. All my pictures were of Evie and pretty reddish, so nothing to show for it here! Gah, must work on that. Add it to my Resolutions List, right??<br /><br />We did manage to get a family pic of the three of us. :) Our sweet little family. <br /><br />Hope your Christmas was merry and bright!! <br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Christmas Day 2011</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p3yU7lIw4Hk/Tvzr-sEgs8I/AAAAAAAACKw/8paMesDJ1oc/s1600/IMG_2139.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p3yU7lIw4Hk/Tvzr-sEgs8I/AAAAAAAACKw/8paMesDJ1oc/s640/IMG_2139.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><script type="text/javascript">var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www.");document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='""google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E"));</script><script type="text/javascript">try {<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1jwP9vHGLyE/TJPKwfwB9UI/AAAAAAAAArc/j1GX_WofyNI/s1600/signature3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 100px;" src="var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-12360342-1");pageTracker._trackPageview();} catch(err) {}</script><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1871148851130289018-2519776202015010962?l=strangeandlovelyride.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ajahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00442413435307915509noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1871148851130289018.post-9472890910753621382011-12-29T10:28:00.000-06:002011-12-29T10:38:20.636-06:00I love love Christmas, but boy the week after everything is over sure feels like a sucker punch. Like the wind is just knooooooocked out of you and you wake up on the kitchen floor with an annoying headache and that bloaty pms feeling, looking around your house, wondering who let in that dumb cartoon Tasmanian devil and what he's done with your dog. <br /><br />No? Just me?? <br /><br />Mmmkay.<br /><br />We had a Holly Jolly Christmas, to say the least. Festivities and cheer and goodness and OH MY the food! Santa and all his helpers were good to us, as we were very very nice this year. I scored my coveted <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0003WN0CA/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=itsastrandlov-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=B0003WN0CA">80's Glam Sharpies </a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=itsastrandlov-20&amp;l=as2&amp;o=1&amp;a=B0003WN0CA" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />and Evie can now play with her <i>own </i>potty and all is right with the world. <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;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/12/29/s_1268.jpg" style="margin: 5px auto;" width="320" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sharpies + Rock Star Planner = Happy Dance.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><br />I randomly found <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0024OWHEW/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=itsastrandlov-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=B0024OWHEW">these fun gifts</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=itsastrandlov-20&amp;l=as2&amp;o=1&amp;a=B0024OWHEW" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> for the girls in my office. Totally wish I had bought one for myself and waaay better than slaving away in the kitchen, making sub-par baked goods.<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;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/12/29/s_1271.jpg" style="margin: 5px auto;" width="320" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My mood of choice.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b style="color: #073763;">Peckish</b><span style="color: #073763;">. Somewhat hungry.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="color: black; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">Duh</span>.&nbsp;</div><div style="color: black; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="color: black; text-align: left;">Our office, by the way, is a complete ghost town this week. Seriously, NO ONE is here. Except me. And Pandora. And so we're making the best of it.</div><center></center><br /><br />This one got to wear her Christmas jammies two weekends in a row, thanks to our celebrations spanning the last two weeks. No complaints here, as she looks particularly fetching in red. Fat Santas not necessary, but welcomed.<br /><center>&nbsp;</center><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/12/29/s_1269.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/12/29/s_1269.jpg" style="margin-top: 5px;" width="320" /></a></div><center><br /></center><center>&nbsp;</center><div style="text-align: left;">And finally, as much as hubby and I are daily annoyed and frustrated with our dog, Evie seems to love him. She likes to sneak up and goose him and crack up when he jumps.. grab his bone and wander around with it while I yell "yuck yuck, put it down!"... and last night she wanted to get right in bed with him. He tolerates her and gets in a lick when I'm not looking. Yuck yuck. But this was undeniably adorable.</div><center>&nbsp;</center><center>&nbsp;</center><center></center><center></center><center></center><center></center><center><img border="0" height="320" src="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/12/29/s_1267.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="320" /></center><br /><br /><br />Hoping to post a few Christmas pictures before the New Year. Fingers crossed! <br /><br /><center></center><br /><br /><br /><br /><center></center><br /><br /><br />&nbsp;<script type="text/javascript">var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www.");document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='""google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E"));</script><script type="text/javascript">try {<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1jwP9vHGLyE/TJPKwfwB9UI/AAAAAAAAArc/j1GX_WofyNI/s1600/signature3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 100px;" src="var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-12360342-1");pageTracker._trackPageview();} catch(err) {}</script><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1871148851130289018-947289091075362138?l=strangeandlovelyride.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ajahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00442413435307915509noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1871148851130289018.post-20811189883307850072011-12-25T15:57:00.002-06:002011-12-25T15:57:57.801-06:00<div style="text-align: center;">This is beyond precious. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/kWq60oyrHVQ" width="560"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www.");document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='""google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E"));</script></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>Based on a true story. </em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Happy Birthday Jesus!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span><script type="text/javascript"><font size="5">try {<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1jwP9vHGLyE/TJPKwfwB9UI/AAAAAAAAArc/j1GX_WofyNI/s1600/signature3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 100px;" src="var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-12360342-1");pageTracker._trackPageview();} catch(err) {}</font></script></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1871148851130289018-2081118988330785007?l=strangeandlovelyride.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ajahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00442413435307915509noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1871148851130289018.post-37394220393392426042011-12-24T09:38:00.000-06:002011-12-24T09:38:00.538-06:00<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aIhxS_cF5DM/TvUAJ3XhOKI/AAAAAAAACKQ/tnh5bs49uHc/s1600/2011+Christmas+Card.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aIhxS_cF5DM/TvUAJ3XhOKI/AAAAAAAACKQ/tnh5bs49uHc/s640/2011+Christmas+Card.jpg" width="457" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vmHnyqBk1Bk/TvUAMMM-pVI/AAAAAAAACKY/2GVGA-UlB44/s1600/2011+Christmas+Card+back.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vmHnyqBk1Bk/TvUAMMM-pVI/AAAAAAAACKY/2GVGA-UlB44/s640/2011+Christmas+Card+back.jpg" width="456" /></a></div><br /><script type="text/javascript">Cvar gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www.");document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='""google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E"));</script><script type="text/javascript">try {<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1jwP9vHGLyE/TJPKwfwB9UI/AAAAAAAAArc/j1GX_WofyNI/s1600/signature3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 100px;" src="var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-12360342-1");pageTracker._trackPageview();} catch(err) {}</script><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1871148851130289018-3739422039339242604?l=strangeandlovelyride.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ajahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00442413435307915509noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1871148851130289018.post-87871111117147684042011-12-19T11:36:00.000-06:002011-12-19T11:47:33.555-06:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-J01QWAvCQjw/TuVNJZh0cfI/AAAAAAAACG0/h0Qv9jKn2E0/s400/IMG_1567.JPG" width="266" /> &nbsp; <img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jfLv1IksYNo/TuVNjilaKNI/AAAAAAAACG8/AKUBVh1REgQ/s400/IMG_1568.JPG" width="266" /> &nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></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;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AsadXdAyJ5o/TuVN_vdAVII/AAAAAAAACHE/0dCU2ThLFXE/s640/IMG_1589.JPG" width="640" /></div><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-16_jadq7xdc/TuVOcmwfBWI/AAAAAAAACHM/szZCNq411hI/s640/IMG_1590.JPG" width="640" /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VdBzhzN5QmQ/TuVO3wlY7SI/AAAAAAAACHU/gEzLtF4kT0Q/s640/IMG_1611.JPG" width="426" />&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Can't <i>wait </i>for Christmas morning. </div><script type="text/javascript">var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www.");document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='""google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E"));</script><script type="text/javascript">try {<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1jwP9vHGLyE/TJPKwfwB9UI/AAAAAAAAArc/j1GX_WofyNI/s1600/signature3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 100px;" src="var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-12360342-1");pageTracker._trackPageview();} catch(err) {}</script><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1871148851130289018-8787111111714768404?l=strangeandlovelyride.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ajahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00442413435307915509noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1871148851130289018.post-5069324897093604422011-12-14T12:36:00.000-06:002011-12-14T12:42:45.754-06:00Evie has 6 teeth. She's had these same six teeth for a while now.. She seems to be teething and chewing on her finger on the right side a lot lately, but I haven't seen any more pop through yet.&nbsp;<script type="text/javascript">var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www.");document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='""google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E"));</script><script type="text/javascript">try {<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1jwP9vHGLyE/TJPKwfwB9UI/AAAAAAAAArc/j1GX_WofyNI/s1600/signature3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 100px;" src="var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-12360342-1");pageTracker._trackPageview();} catch(err) {}</script><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9OpiFTcol4A/TuTk5eFRylI/AAAAAAAACGE/WoUHu3XLKLU/s1600/IMG_1528.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9OpiFTcol4A/TuTk5eFRylI/AAAAAAAACGE/WoUHu3XLKLU/s640/IMG_1528.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>I've given her a baby toothbrush to "brush" her teeth each night when we're getting ready for bed.. mainly to get her used to the feel of it and let her chew on it. But I haven't actually added real teeth brushing to our routine yet. At her 1 year appointment, our pediatrician asked about what we were doing and gave us a little packet from a local pediatric dentist with a toothbrush, toothpaste and a little info sheet. The toothpaste is Crest for Kids. With fluoride.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>That's bad, right?? Fluoride?</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm not all organic anything, really, but with Evie, I have tried to be conscious of what products we use. And I'm pretty sure fluoride is no bueno for the little ones. Am I right?? Someone help me out here.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>I did a quick little search for some fluoride-free toothpaste for her, and came across <a href="http://www.blogger.com/%3Ciframe%20src=%22http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&amp;bc1=000000&amp;IS2=1&amp;bg1=FFFFFF&amp;fc1=000000&amp;lc1=0000FF&amp;t=itsastrandlov-20&amp;o=1&amp;p=8&amp;l=as4&amp;m=amazon&amp;f=ifr&amp;ref=ss_til&amp;asins=B00497XCP0%22%20style=%22width:120px;height:240px;%22%20scrolling=%22no%22%20marginwidth=%220%22%20marginheight=%220%22%20frameborder=%220%22%3E%3C/iframe%3E" target="_blank">Tom's of Maine</a>. Anyone heard of it??<br /><br /><br /><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=itsastrandlov-20&amp;l=as2&amp;o=1&amp;a=B00497XCP0" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00497XCP0/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=itsastrandlov-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=B00497XCP0" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://ws.assoc-amazon.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&amp;Format=_SL160_&amp;ASIN=B00497XCP0&amp;MarketPlace=US&amp;ID=AsinImage&amp;WS=1&amp;tag=itsastrandlov-20&amp;ServiceVersion=20070822" /></a></div></div><div><br /><br />Okay, I recognize <a href="http://www.blogger.com/%3Ciframe%20src=%22http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&amp;bc1=000000&amp;IS2=1&amp;bg1=FFFFFF&amp;fc1=000000&amp;lc1=0000FF&amp;t=itsastrandlov-20&amp;o=1&amp;p=8&amp;l=as4&amp;m=amazon&amp;f=ifr&amp;ref=ss_til&amp;asins=B00099XKOU%22%20style=%22width:120px;height:240px;%22%20scrolling=%22no%22%20marginwidth=%220%22%20marginheight=%220%22%20frameborder=%220%22%3E%3C/iframe%3E" target="_blank">Orajel</a>...<br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00099XKOU/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=itsastrandlov-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=B00099XKOU" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://ws.assoc-amazon.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&amp;Format=_SL160_&amp;ASIN=B00099XKOU&amp;MarketPlace=US&amp;ID=AsinImage&amp;WS=1&amp;tag=itsastrandlov-20&amp;ServiceVersion=20070822" /></a></div><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=itsastrandlov-20&amp;l=as2&amp;o=1&amp;a=B00099XKOU" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />So if you have a little one, what kind of toothpaste do you use? We used the Crest once this weekend, and Evie got all excited and started sucking the toothbrush. I only put a tiny dab on there, and I knew she might do that, buuut not really what I was hoping for.<br /><br />Any suggestions? Sister has started to rock some morning breath, so I know it's time to get our oral health in order. :)<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1871148851130289018-506932489709360442?l=strangeandlovelyride.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ajahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00442413435307915509noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1871148851130289018.post-63472044337624279872011-12-12T14:36:00.000-06:002011-12-27T15:18:02.487-06:00Hubby and I only do stocking stuffers for each other for Christmas. We have a price limit on the gifts, too, and we both really like doing our gifts this way. As much as I love finding the perfect gift(s) for all my family and friends, things do add up! So this works out perfectly for us and we still have a few things to open up on Christmas morning.<br /><br />I thought I would share a few of the items on my <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;"><b>Stocking Stuffer Wish </b></span>List this year:<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0307886263/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=itsastrandlov-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=0307886263" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://ws.assoc-amazon.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&amp;Format=_SL160_&amp;ASIN=0307886263&amp;MarketPlace=US&amp;ID=AsinImage&amp;WS=1&amp;tag=itsastrandlov-20&amp;ServiceVersion=20070822" /></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20href=%22http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0307886263/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=itsastrandlov-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=0307886263%22%3EIs%20Everyone%20Hanging%20Out%20Without%20Me?%20%28And%20Other%20Concerns%29%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=itsastrandlov-20&amp;l=as2&amp;o=1&amp;a=0307886263%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20%21important;%20margin:0px%20%21important;%22%20/%3E" target="_blank"><b></b></a><b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0307886263/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=itsastrandlov-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=0307886263">Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns)</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=itsastrandlov-20&amp;l=as2&amp;o=1&amp;a=0307886263" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></b><br />by Mindy Kaling<br /><br />I think both <a href="http://tulsadetails.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Katie</a> and <a href="http://madisons-avenue.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Jenny</a> mentioned this book recently, and it looks like a funny, light read. I just finished <a href="http://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20href=%22http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0545265355/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=itsastrandlov-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=0545265355%22%3EName%20Your%20Link%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=itsastrandlov-20&amp;l=as2&amp;o=1&amp;a=0545265355%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20%21important;%20margin:0px%20%21important;%22%20/%3E" target="_blank">The Hunger Games</a> trilogy, so I'm due for a little comedy.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003NYQS8I/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=itsastrandlov-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=B003NYQS8I" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://ws.assoc-amazon.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&amp;Format=_SL160_&amp;ASIN=B003NYQS8I&amp;MarketPlace=US&amp;ID=AsinImage&amp;WS=1&amp;tag=itsastrandlov-20&amp;ServiceVersion=20070822" /></a><b>Penguin Classics Hardcover Books</b><span id="goog_1555649672"></span><br /><br />I frankly want every single book they've put out with these fun hardcovers. I LOVE them. But I requested we start with the Jane Austen books, since they're some of my all time favs.<br /><br /><br /><b><br /></b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><b>A </b><a href="http://www.loft.com/loft/product/product%3A188095/LOFT-gifts-under-%2450/Long-Multicolored-Stone-Necklace/188095?colorExplode=false&amp;skuId=10594384&amp;catid=catl000021&amp;productPageType=fullPriceProducts&amp;defaultColor=6090" target="_blank"><b>pretty necklace</b></a><b> from LOFT.&nbsp;</b><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(Sorry no pic. Too lazy to try harder than rightclicksaveimage at the moment).</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-v_Dw1ziEpCk/TuY4qf549kI/AAAAAAAACH8/rNkBgVvimU0/s1600/old+navy+fur+lined+hoodie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-v_Dw1ziEpCk/TuY4qf549kI/AAAAAAAACH8/rNkBgVvimU0/s200/old+navy+fur+lined+hoodie.jpg" width="150" /></a><a href="http://oldnavy.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=69876&amp;vid=1&amp;pid=865567&amp;scid=865567012" target="_blank"><b>Fur-Lined Hoodie</b></a><b> from Old Navy.</b><br /><br />Why scream "I'm so freakin cozy right now!" when this hoodie can do the talking for you? Am I right? Sign me up. And no, I'm not worried that this won't fit into my stocking. Ball that sucker up and stuff it in there! ;)<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jHCjTQe7J9U/TuY5oV0brVI/AAAAAAAACIE/gqPkpftK12g/s1600/Limited+necklace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jHCjTQe7J9U/TuY5oV0brVI/AAAAAAAACIE/gqPkpftK12g/s200/Limited+necklace.jpg" width="153" /></a></div><b><a href="http://www.thelimited.com/detail/rondell-necklace/1481046" target="_blank">Rondell Necklace</a></b><b> from The Limited.</b><br /><b><br /></b><br />What can I say, I'm a sucker for a long, delicate necklace. And it's on sale!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=itsastrandlov-20&amp;l=as2&amp;o=1&amp;a=B0003WN0CA" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0003WN0CA/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=itsastrandlov-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=B0003WN0CA" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://ws.assoc-amazon.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&amp;Format=_SL110_&amp;ASIN=B0003WN0CA&amp;MarketPlace=US&amp;ID=AsinImage&amp;WS=1&amp;tag=itsastrandlov-20&amp;ServiceVersion=20070822" /></a><b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0003WN0CA/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=itsastrandlov-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=B0003WN0CA">Sharpie Ultra-Fine-Point Markers {80's Glam}</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=itsastrandlov-20&amp;l=as2&amp;o=1&amp;a=B0003WN0CA" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></b><br /><br />Hello, Sharpie and I have had a long lasting love affair over the years and I'm not about to give that up. These fine point markers would be PERFECT to write all my lists in the new planner heading my way! GAH! So excited. And an 80's GLAM set??? Seriously, right up my alley.<br /><br /><br /><br />So what's on your list this year? Do you do stocking stuffers, too, or regular gifts? OR BOTH??? :)<br /><br /><br /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1871148851130289018-6347204433762427987?l=strangeandlovelyride.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ajahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00442413435307915509noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1871148851130289018.post-30129231410787887322011-12-11T18:48:00.001-06:002011-12-11T19:12:52.351-06:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1JXu3r7sL1M/TuVPyunWJ3I/AAAAAAAACHc/JtuNnypTynU/s1600/IMG_1648.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1JXu3r7sL1M/TuVPyunWJ3I/AAAAAAAACHc/JtuNnypTynU/s640/IMG_1648.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"><i>You're taking me where???...</i></span></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9MKQYIp8R6g/TuVQLyq0pWI/AAAAAAAACHk/M98VaS5aOgo/s1600/IMG_1645.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9MKQYIp8R6g/TuVQLyq0pWI/AAAAAAAACHk/M98VaS5aOgo/s640/IMG_1645.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"><i>I'm having second thoughts. Dada?&nbsp;</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"><i>Dadaaaaa!!!</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I should have listened to Santa when he said not to let her Evie see him until I was setting her in his lap.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Oh well. :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">Santa 2011</span></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eCwIwuMeQTg/TuVSkG1prqI/AAAAAAAACHs/EuBatjXOl7c/s1600/Santa+2011+c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eCwIwuMeQTg/TuVSkG1prqI/AAAAAAAACHs/EuBatjXOl7c/s640/Santa+2011+c.jpg" width="522" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-o0Q6XUqSGvw/TuVUD58p_pI/AAAAAAAACH0/XRKKZhilg1Q/s1600/dv762010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-o0Q6XUqSGvw/TuVUD58p_pI/AAAAAAAACH0/XRKKZhilg1Q/s640/dv762010.jpg" width="588" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">Merry Christmas!!</span></div><script type="text/javascript">var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www.");document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='""google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E"));</script><script type="text/javascript">try {<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1jwP9vHGLyE/TJPKwfwB9UI/AAAAAAAAArc/j1GX_WofyNI/s1600/signature3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 100px;" src="var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-12360342-1");pageTracker._trackPageview();} catch(err) {}</script><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1871148851130289018-3012923141078788732?l=strangeandlovelyride.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ajahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00442413435307915509noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1871148851130289018.post-69512315528485668662011-12-10T13:38:00.001-06:002011-12-10T13:39:14.168-06:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TawYv1g_t18/TuO1G9fosLI/AAAAAAAACF8/UvWful_jQuw/s1600/IMG_1717.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TawYv1g_t18/TuO1G9fosLI/AAAAAAAACF8/UvWful_jQuw/s640/IMG_1717.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Someone got to visit Santa today...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">More pictures to come!&nbsp;</div><script type="text/javascript">var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www.");document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='""google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E"));</script><script type="text/javascript">try {<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1jwP9vHGLyE/TJPKwfwB9UI/AAAAAAAAArc/j1GX_WofyNI/s1600/signature3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 100px;" src="var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-12360342-1");pageTracker._trackPageview();} catch(err) {}</script><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1871148851130289018-6951231552848566866?l=strangeandlovelyride.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ajahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00442413435307915509noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1871148851130289018.post-32568744595906494532011-12-09T09:07:00.001-06:002011-12-12T12:29:30.105-06:00Morning lovelies!<br /><br />1. Sorry I've been MIA this week on the blog.. I'm SO behind on my blog reading too! <i>I find it hilarious that this "problem" didn't even exist for me a few years ago. You know- falling behind on my blog reads! </i>We've been busy this week at Casa de Strange y Lovely.. and I'm trying to focus on doing things other than just sit in front of a computer and type at the interwebs. And yet... here I am. :)<br /><br />2. Sound the alarm, <a href="http://strangeandlovelyride.blogspot.com/2011/12/friday-morning-thoughts.html" target="_blank">SANTA reads my blog</a>!! We're now the proud owners of a Shark Steam Mop and life is grand.<br /><br />3. I finally ordered our Christmas cards! YESTERDAY. I really don't think it's in me to get on the hopper early or even on time with Christmas cards. Just can't do it. But supposedly they'll be here around Dec. 21, so we all know what I'll be doing that evening.<br /><br />4. Hubby got sick on Wednesday. Ate something questionable (that I also ate) and stayed home from work. :( On the upside, this bought me 2 precious hours to run out and start Christmas shopping while everyone else in the house napped!<br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">P.S. I took same said questionable food item for lunch yesterday and haven't wavered yet. Stomach of an ox. Only not really, so this is weird. </span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">5. Cooke Swap was a success!! I came, I baked and I conquered. I decided on <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/137430226098622353/" target="_blank">these S'mores Cookies</a> and they were a smash hit. I took my friend <a href="http://tothemoonandback-sarah.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Sarah </a>with me and it was so much fun! A little wine and a few wild card guests = a fun soiree in my book! :) Definitely on my annual to-do list!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/12/09/s_839.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="200" />&nbsp; <img border="0" height="200" src="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/12/09/s_840.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="200" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">My cookies as they baked &amp; some of the loot I came home with!</span></div><br /><br />6.My little smartie pants is now asking for "help" when she can't reach something or sees yet another stray toy under a chair, bookshelf or the tv cabinet. "Hepp, hepp" she says. Sister likes to pop her p's.<br /><br />7. I like to drink my coffee the old fashioned way. You know- from a regular old coffee maker at home, drowning in flavored creamer. And right now my favorite is Peppermint Mocha. I need to go snag a few before they stop putting them out for the season.<br /><br />8. I just watched my girl toddle down the hallway, heading for her room go read books. Makes my heart hurt just a little. <br /><br />9. Yes, I have Blog Header ADD. No promises that this one will stick around for any specific length of time.<br /><br />10. Don't miss the <a href="http://strangeandlovelyride.blogspot.com/2011/12/deals-erin-condren-target.html" target="_blank">Target coupon</a> going on now! Another $10 card when you spend $50, through tomorrow. Don't act like you don't need something at Target.<br /><br />Have a great weekend! We'll be wrapping presents and searching for some great Christmas light displays. <br /><br /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1871148851130289018-3256874459590649453?l=strangeandlovelyride.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ajahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00442413435307915509noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1871148851130289018.post-35871778253975040242011-12-08T16:15:00.001-06:002011-12-08T16:26:47.854-06:00I am nothing if not helpful. Ahem. :)<br /><br />I just wanted to pop in and let you guys know that Doodle Deals is having another promo with Erin Condren today..<br /><br />So if you want <a href="http://strangeandlovelyride.blogspot.com/2011/12/friday-morning-thoughts.html" target="_blank">a super cool planner like MOI</a>, hurry and snag <a href="https://doodledeals.com/new-york-city/deals/1443/erin-condren-ny" target="_blank">one of these $25 for $50 coupons</a>- the deal ends tonight!&nbsp;<script type="text/javascript">var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www.");document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='""google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E"));</script><script type="text/javascript">try {<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1jwP9vHGLyE/TJPKwfwB9UI/AAAAAAAAArc/j1GX_WofyNI/s1600/signature3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 100px;" src="var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-12360342-1");pageTracker._trackPageview();} catch(err) {}</script><br /><br />ALSO!<br /><br />Target put out another one of their coupons to <a href="http://coupons.target.com/target-holiday-elves-coupons?ref=tgt_email_RX112074&amp;emseq=355735" target="_blank">buy $50 worth of stuff and get a FREE $10 coupon</a>! Totally awesome sauce. We used two of those bad boys last weekend. This one is good through Saturday. If you're not on their email list, (a) I don't know what's wrong with you, and (b) sign up right now! You should be able to print through the link above. If not, let me know and I'll forward you the email.<br /><br />Happy Shopping!<br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1871148851130289018-3587177825397504024?l=strangeandlovelyride.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ajahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00442413435307915509noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1871148851130289018.post-71434381635810797662011-12-01T15:08:00.001-06:002011-12-02T10:54:03.037-06:001. Seriously, people. My baby is ONE.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hliKYD7ePDI/Ttj_5gY_XgI/AAAAAAAACFE/x9e2bosunXA/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hliKYD7ePDI/Ttj_5gY_XgI/AAAAAAAACFE/x9e2bosunXA/s320/photo.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />2. Yesterday I rashly ordered one of those <a href="http://www.erincondren.com/store/" target="_blank">Erin Condren</a> life planners everyone and their blogging bestie keeps talking about. Then around midnight I emailed them to see if it was too late to change the color that my name would be printed in. Yeah, you read that right. These things keep me up. But it's safe to say I'm super excited to start using it! I'm a total school supply geek. <span style="font-size: x-small;">There's a 1/2 off coupon <a href="http://doodledeals.com/r/772afc3c54/1408" target="_blank">HERE </a>if you're interested.</span><br /> <br />3. I found these fun <a href="http://www.target.com/p/target-com-Black-Touch-Glove/-/A-13720959#?lnk=sc_qi_detailbutton" target="_blank">smart phone compatible gloves</a> for my sister for her birthday at Target and then had to buy some for myself. (Story of my gift-giving life). Anyway, I don't know what sort of black magic they have going on in the tips of the pointer finger and thumb, but they TOTALLY WORK. They're nothing fancy in the looks department, but then I usually sport the $1 stretchy kind that you see kids wearing.<br /><br />4. I maybe should have started my list with this one, but folks, it's been confirmed that my child is pure genius. Yep, her pediatrician was MUY impressed with all the stuff this smart baby knew and comprehended and could do. We brought in all the nurses and had her run through her top 10 best tricks right then and there! Kidding, kidding. But it was seriously such a proud mama moment. :) In other news, she's still teeny and in the 3rd percentile for weight. I guess that's what all this "more" business in sign language is about come dinnertime. Sister wants to eat!<br /><br />5. Do you guys make Christmas lists? We used to, but now mostly do exchanges in my family and stocking stuffers at home. HOWEVER. This year I totally want a steam mop to wage the ongoing war with my hardwoods. Santa, take note. Wow. Am I old or what?? <br /><br />6. Our tree has been up for weeks, but folks, that is IT. No other decorations have been brought out of the attic. I totally get an F. It's on the to-do list for this weekend!<br /><br /><br />7. I was invited to a Cookie Swap next week by a girl in my bible study. She has one every year and it's the real deal. No store brought crap. I totally want to go, buuuuut there's the little issue of having to bring THREE DOZEN cookies. Yeah, I'm not that great of a baker. I kept hearing stories of everyone talking about the merits of different types of flour, oven temps and so on and how one girl got the stink eye for bringing regular old chocolate chips. So needless to say I'm super intimidated. But I totally want to go! I think it would be so fun and I love these girls, but OH THE BAKING PRESSURE. <br /><br /><script type="text/javascript">1In no particular order. Well, a little bit of order.</script><br />8. Baby Fever. There, I said it. I've totally got it, have had it for some time, and I think my hubby has had about enough of my casually (or not so casually) bringing it up each night. But we went to visit a friend's newborn baby girl at the hospital last night and ooohhhhhh my goodness. I need a tiny little baby. Another one, that is. Baby baby baby.<br /><br /><script type="text/javascript">1In no particular order. Well, a little bit of order.</script><br />9. It's been nearly a week since Evie's party and I'm thiiiiis close to finishing off the cake and cupcakes. I'll just go ahead and give myself a pat on the back for that one.<br /><br /><script type="text/javascript">1In no particular order. Well, a little bit of order.</script><br />10. Okay, don't judge, but we totally didn't get Evie anything for her birthday. Didn't see the point, really. I am planning to get her a book that has some sort of special meaning or write a sweet note in it or something. But that's about it. We figure she doesn't know the difference at this point and she's certainly not lacking in the gift department. Oh! Her sweet daddy did send her (and her mama) flowers on her birthday! So sweet.<br /><br /><script type="text/javascript">1In no particular order. Well, a little bit of order.</script><br />Okay, that's it for today! I hope you all have a great weekend!! <br /><script type="text/javascript">1In no particular order. Well, a little bit of order.</script><br /><script type="text/javascript"> </script><br /><script type="text/javascript">1.var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www.");document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='""google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E"));</script><script type="text/javascript">try {<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1jwP9vHGLyE/TJPKwfwB9UI/AAAAAAAAArc/j1GX_WofyNI/s1600/signature3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 100px;" src="var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-12360342-1");pageTracker._trackPageview();} catch(err) {}</script><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1871148851130289018-7143438163581079766?l=strangeandlovelyride.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ajahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00442413435307915509noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1871148851130289018.post-958492897531286322011-11-30T11:50:00.000-06:002011-11-30T11:50:00.273-06:00<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Happy Happy Birthday Evie!!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZVA4iAMUfWg/TtZO3ymT_0I/AAAAAAAACC4/exbfLbnJWgI/s1600/IMG_1391.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZVA4iAMUfWg/TtZO3ymT_0I/AAAAAAAACC4/exbfLbnJWgI/s640/IMG_1391.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Our sweet little munchkin is a YEAR OLD!&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This makes me both very happy and very sad that you're growing so fast.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YV8IsSvVl7E/TtZRvv6jhiI/AAAAAAAACDg/t4Ve60bQLJo/s1600/IMG_1351.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YV8IsSvVl7E/TtZRvv6jhiI/AAAAAAAACDg/t4Ve60bQLJo/s640/IMG_1351.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BczLHQTIjZM/TtZSFGBWVTI/AAAAAAAACDo/IM6rAVrlFnQ/s1600/IMG_1352.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BczLHQTIjZM/TtZSFGBWVTI/AAAAAAAACDo/IM6rAVrlFnQ/s640/IMG_1352.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We had a fun little birthday party for you this past Saturday, while your grandparents were in town for Thanksgiving. It was so much fun but definitely wore you out!&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A few things you've been up to lately...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Chatting it up. You love to talk, have lots to say and keep us very entertained. :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_R6pEeYRqM0/TtZQdntAPSI/AAAAAAAACDQ/bfiat4XvQIo/s1600/IMG_1522.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_R6pEeYRqM0/TtZQdntAPSI/AAAAAAAACDQ/bfiat4XvQIo/s640/IMG_1522.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">You made up your own sign language for the word "more"! Your Grandmommy has done it a few times with you, but she wasn't sure she had the right motion (she didn't, at first), and then you just started doing your own version! When you want more of something, &nbsp;you put your right pointer finger into the palm of your left hand repeatedly. My girl, you are SO SMART! And I'm perfectly fine with your own special sign language :)</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KvC9okoT_nA/TtZQ2ufxatI/AAAAAAAACDY/V2JqQ4zzR4I/s1600/IMG_1528.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KvC9okoT_nA/TtZQ2ufxatI/AAAAAAAACDY/V2JqQ4zzR4I/s640/IMG_1528.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">You continue to melt our hearts with how sweet and loving you are. I could not have imagined such a sweet baby! You got a little baby doll for your birthday, and you immediately held her and rocked her and tried to feed her a bottle. This simply amazes me, since you've never really seen anyone feed another baby.. !</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-drG_351mpQc/TtZSW3KZf_I/AAAAAAAACDw/E3VzfWnW0zU/s1600/IMG_1366.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-drG_351mpQc/TtZSW3KZf_I/AAAAAAAACDw/E3VzfWnW0zU/s640/IMG_1366.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">You've also been extra cuddly with us lately. I think you're growing and maybe having some teething pain, though we haven't seen any more teeth yet. But your daddy and I are not complaining when you want to snuggle with us.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DtnWHAP7yaU/TtZSujyWebI/AAAAAAAACD4/HPrRXFAovMU/s1600/IMG_1369.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DtnWHAP7yaU/TtZSujyWebI/AAAAAAAACD4/HPrRXFAovMU/s640/IMG_1369.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">You love to dance around the room with us and on your own.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">You still love books more than anything! &nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">When we ask you what a lion says you do this little growl that is just adorable.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">You know where your nose, eyes, lips, fingers, piggies (toes), head, hair and tummy are.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">You like to sneak up on Duke and grab or pet him so he jumps. This cracks you up hysterically. :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">You like for us to "get you" and come after you to tickle you. When you want to play this game, you'll turn and give us a certain look with a little gleam in you eye and then start speed crawling away.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QtdrBV2Z8Y0/TtZTGRgx3hI/AAAAAAAACEA/br1SU3AmL68/s1600/IMG_1419.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QtdrBV2Z8Y0/TtZTGRgx3hI/AAAAAAAACEA/br1SU3AmL68/s640/IMG_1419.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And finally...&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">You are WALKING!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp;<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HuP5PYu3Xs8/TtZTeF8SMZI/AAAAAAAACEI/oB2y6rn9FXI/s1600/IMG_1427.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HuP5PYu3Xs8/TtZTeF8SMZI/AAAAAAAACEI/oB2y6rn9FXI/s640/IMG_1427.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">You've taken a step or two in the past month, but you still liked to hold our hands or use your push toy or cruise around furniture. Well, on Sunday you were playing with your Grandpa and Grandma, and you walked FOUR STEPS to your Grandma!! I could not believe my eyes! Since then you've taken more steps more often and I think your timing is just perfect. You little stinker! :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Happy Birthday to the most precious daughter.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We love you so SO much and are thankful beyond words that you came into our world and arms one year ago today.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u1g3-jrYugs/TtZQE5z-1iI/AAAAAAAACDI/hShgQdoCui4/s1600/IMG_1504.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u1g3-jrYugs/TtZQE5z-1iI/AAAAAAAACDI/hShgQdoCui4/s640/IMG_1504.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We love you Evangeline!</div><script type="text/javascript">var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www.");document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='""google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E"));</script><script type="text/javascript">try {<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1jwP9vHGLyE/TJPKwfwB9UI/AAAAAAAAArc/j1GX_WofyNI/s1600/signature3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 100px;" src="var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-12360342-1");pageTracker._trackPageview();} catch(err) {}</script><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1871148851130289018-95849289753128632?l=strangeandlovelyride.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ajahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00442413435307915509noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1871148851130289018.post-31759972549080310612011-11-29T16:30:00.000-06:002011-12-01T14:37:05.402-06:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Jngbf8Tws-8/TtUOlFDw-bI/AAAAAAAACCc/t3D_bWrksUA/s1600/11.29.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Jngbf8Tws-8/TtUOlFDw-bI/AAAAAAAACCc/t3D_bWrksUA/s640/11.29.JPG" width="426" />&nbsp;</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">... we were getting ready to head to the hospital and <a href="http://strangeandlovelyride.blogspot.com/2010/12/tiny-dancer-debut.html" target="_blank">meet our sweet baby girl.</a>&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I can still remember it so clearly. Wandering around Target, crying on the phone to my friend Sarah and my mom, excited to finally meet her and scared about having to be induced. And finally, my hubby coming home from work to hold me and reassure me that everything would work out just right.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And it sure did.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nIa2mXfUZxI/TtflWgSCcYI/AAAAAAAACE8/1EpILKGbWiY/s1600/11.30.10+mama.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nIa2mXfUZxI/TtflWgSCcYI/AAAAAAAACE8/1EpILKGbWiY/s640/11.30.10+mama.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9jlqbD1FB24/TtUaoFMH4sI/AAAAAAAACCk/VABrEHT12MQ/s1600/11.30.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9jlqbD1FB24/TtUaoFMH4sI/AAAAAAAACCk/VABrEHT12MQ/s640/11.30.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><script type="text/javascript">WWafdafvar gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www.");document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='""google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E"));</script><script type="text/javascript">try {<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1jwP9vHGLyE/TJPKwfwB9UI/AAAAAAAAArc/j1GX_WofyNI/s1600/signature3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 100px;" src="var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-12360342-1");pageTracker._trackPageview();} catch(err) {}</script><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1871148851130289018-3175997254908031061?l=strangeandlovelyride.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ajahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00442413435307915509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1871148851130289018.post-60113996972473221522011-11-28T12:08:00.001-06:002011-11-28T13:10:02.847-06:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This weekend we celebrated Tiny Dancer's 1st Birthday with a little party!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iSWeAGTllBE/TtPQveIHklI/AAAAAAAACBM/v2wBzmH0JiE/s1600/IMG_1287.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iSWeAGTllBE/TtPQveIHklI/AAAAAAAACBM/v2wBzmH0JiE/s640/IMG_1287.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We just had family and some close friends and it was perfect!</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="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IgqCxvg28Fo/TtPUpb7cbiI/AAAAAAAACCM/CfodCZijS0c/s1600/IMG_0970.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IgqCxvg28Fo/TtPUpb7cbiI/AAAAAAAACCM/CfodCZijS0c/s640/IMG_0970.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table 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="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-POpMvhcrbjU/TtPU4mXvPuI/AAAAAAAACCU/gOHuQJIDJQg/s1600/IMG_0974.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-POpMvhcrbjU/TtPU4mXvPuI/AAAAAAAACCU/gOHuQJIDJQg/s640/IMG_0974.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Evie's "cake" :)</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Just a few festive decorations..</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Vg33aXlnv3g/TtPPxnabbmI/AAAAAAAACA0/HCdVL86mFGk/s1600/IMG_1330.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Vg33aXlnv3g/TtPPxnabbmI/AAAAAAAACA0/HCdVL86mFGk/s640/IMG_1330.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A monthly pics banner:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-S_kNueHvFDc/TtPQdiLdgoI/AAAAAAAACBE/BIEpAG93-Qk/s1600/IMG_1322.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-S_kNueHvFDc/TtPQdiLdgoI/AAAAAAAACBE/BIEpAG93-Qk/s640/IMG_1322.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TzpVowlU7Zc/TtPQEAAMqQI/AAAAAAAACA8/IZ5EOZnWpt0/s1600/IMG_1327.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="416" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TzpVowlU7Zc/TtPQEAAMqQI/AAAAAAAACA8/IZ5EOZnWpt0/s640/IMG_1327.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Some fun garland</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ttDt9yeIAa0/TtPPijpiFbI/AAAAAAAACAs/dHUlIt5uPTk/s1600/IMG_1344.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ttDt9yeIAa0/TtPPijpiFbI/AAAAAAAACAs/dHUlIt5uPTk/s640/IMG_1344.JPG" width="640" /></a></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;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HUBmihQkp9E/TtPO1HD6uFI/AAAAAAAACAc/RhR9jEAwkOI/s400/IMG_1340.JPG" width="266" /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TncLHRLE8SA/TtPPLuVvsLI/AAAAAAAACAk/IIRHO8S692I/s1600/IMG_1342.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TncLHRLE8SA/TtPPLuVvsLI/AAAAAAAACAk/IIRHO8S692I/s400/IMG_1342.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">In all the craziness I didn't manage to get a picture of the full table with cake and food! Oh well.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">Evie's first taste of sugar!&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SNQ9ZkhmNe8/TtPTVfkDoDI/AAAAAAAACB0/ahclBNAsHDQ/s1600/IMG_1145.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SNQ9ZkhmNe8/TtPTVfkDoDI/AAAAAAAACB0/ahclBNAsHDQ/s640/IMG_1145.JPG" width="640" /></a></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="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LXyso-pgQHk/TtPTgJVhmII/AAAAAAAACB8/3m1qhojcwJo/s1600/IMG_1149.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LXyso-pgQHk/TtPTgJVhmII/AAAAAAAACB8/3m1qhojcwJo/s640/IMG_1149.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">Not quite sure what to think at first...</span></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><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="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ECUP_cwHD9M/TtPS1LmfmGI/AAAAAAAACBs/SDSXiqpgmWM/s1600/IMG_1182.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ECUP_cwHD9M/TtPS1LmfmGI/AAAAAAAACBs/SDSXiqpgmWM/s640/IMG_1182.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That's more like it. Mmmmm!</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KEGw-SDiLSo/TtPRnB4ytZI/AAAAAAAACBc/9TTR9vB7fp8/s1600/IMG_1237.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KEGw-SDiLSo/TtPRnB4ytZI/AAAAAAAACBc/9TTR9vB7fp8/s640/IMG_1237.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Aw8wJaRBFA8/TtPSAYvD0bI/AAAAAAAACBk/qH8FDucEvXc/s1600/IMG_1195.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Aw8wJaRBFA8/TtPSAYvD0bI/AAAAAAAACBk/qH8FDucEvXc/s640/IMG_1195.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9LA1_dKtxjI/TtPRLRB2cJI/AAAAAAAACBU/jxifVqqbECM/s1600/IMG_1278.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9LA1_dKtxjI/TtPRLRB2cJI/AAAAAAAACBU/jxifVqqbECM/s640/IMG_1278.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Td2MpPbvZ3Q/TtPUCZAfXLI/AAAAAAAACCE/MuY-oEY-ULM/s1600/IMG_0994.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Td2MpPbvZ3Q/TtPUCZAfXLI/AAAAAAAACCE/MuY-oEY-ULM/s640/IMG_0994.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Happy Birthday baby girl!! We love you!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">xoxo</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><script type="text/javascript">var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www.");document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='""google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E"));</script><script type="text/javascript">try {<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1jwP9vHGLyE/TJPKwfwB9UI/AAAAAAAAArc/j1GX_WofyNI/s1600/signature3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 100px;" src="var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-12360342-1");pageTracker._trackPageview();} catch(err) {}</script><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1871148851130289018-6011399697247322152?l=strangeandlovelyride.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ajahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00442413435307915509noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1871148851130289018.post-34125469112428614232011-11-22T10:23:00.000-06:002011-11-22T10:59:52.956-06:00<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'm so excited for the first Christmas that Evie will (hopefully) remember. She's so much fun right now and I can't wait to start all sorts of fun traditions with her. An Advent Calendar was definitely on my list to make to kick things off.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After scouring Pinterest for ideas, here's the one I made:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dIiR7iXPDKE/Tsqnp2abMwI/AAAAAAAAB_0/IvkcmZ1xzaA/s1600/IMG_0870.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dIiR7iXPDKE/Tsqnp2abMwI/AAAAAAAAB_0/IvkcmZ1xzaA/s640/IMG_0870.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">What do you think? I kind of love it.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here are some quick and easy steps on how I did it. But it was so easy, I think it's pretty self-explanatory :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">First up, buy a canvas or repurpose an old one laying around your house, like I did. This one had the alphabet painted on it in a range of blue hues. A pre-pregnancy nursery project that never quite made the cut.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wPLGap4gIDA/TsrF_Y2KnNI/AAAAAAAACAE/7jaKySwin8k/s1600/IMG_0848.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wPLGap4gIDA/TsrF_Y2KnNI/AAAAAAAACAE/7jaKySwin8k/s640/IMG_0848.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Find some fabric or wrapping paper you like and attach it to your canvas. I snagged some metallic linen in the remnant bin at JoAnn's a while back that was perfect for this. I just stapled it to the wooden frame of the canvas. You probably wouldn't want to staple wrapping paper.. would you? I don't know. It might rip. But your trusty glue gun would probably do the trick.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mT9Aq4HajUM/TsqoH7hE6ZI/AAAAAAAAB_8/EuNKIomoOWc/s1600/IMG_0851.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mT9Aq4HajUM/TsqoH7hE6ZI/AAAAAAAAB_8/EuNKIomoOWc/s640/IMG_0851.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Make some little paper envelopes for each of the 25 days. I used some craft paper that I found underneath a roll of wrapping paper! But you could use card stock in any color you like. I used tacky glue to hold the envelope together.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">*Make sure you do a little measuring before you make these, to see how big they should be. Mine were around 2 x 2.5 inches, which worked with the size of my canvas.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GW2OHHrFwFs/TsqlcP7JxbI/AAAAAAAAB_M/_plPDNaJcXQ/s1600/IMG_0841.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GW2OHHrFwFs/TsqlcP7JxbI/AAAAAAAAB_M/_plPDNaJcXQ/s640/IMG_0841.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Next, grab a sharpie and get to numbering!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qZJA-QuI1Wo/TsqmW0JpR1I/AAAAAAAAB_c/LdPFExWlGGg/s1600/IMG_0856.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qZJA-QuI1Wo/TsqmW0JpR1I/AAAAAAAAB_c/LdPFExWlGGg/s640/IMG_0856.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-stK0YMAWr5k/TsqlDrm1L8I/AAAAAAAAB_E/LGj_dPEnHrQ/s1600/IMG_0840.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-stK0YMAWr5k/TsqlDrm1L8I/AAAAAAAAB_E/LGj_dPEnHrQ/s640/IMG_0840.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After I had all my envelopes numbered, I laid them out to see how they looked. Fan-flippin-tastic.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I like things to be lined up correctly, so I did some more measuring and used some painters tape as a guide when I started gluing these to my fabric (more tacky glue). I seriously would have had to throw this out or rip them off and start all over if they ended up crooked. But I'm weird like that.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4t_g7Xu8DAo/Tsql4QlOAzI/AAAAAAAAB_U/5to_4ecn6r4/s1600/IMG_0844.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4t_g7Xu8DAo/Tsql4QlOAzI/AAAAAAAAB_U/5to_4ecn6r4/s640/IMG_0844.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Put some heavy books on top while they're drying, then start on your activities!&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As I've mentioned before, I didn't want to do presents for each day. I really want to create memories with Evie, so I came up with things that we can do together and for others.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tP3gpK6nvqw/Tsqm0lGJigI/AAAAAAAAB_k/3MBkBY0L_Ik/s1600/IMG_0861.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tP3gpK6nvqw/Tsqm0lGJigI/AAAAAAAAB_k/3MBkBY0L_Ik/s640/IMG_0861.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />I used tags that we use to price items in our booth, so half my work was already done. These are tea or coffee stained (thanks Mom!), which gives them an aged look that I really like.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vzSsHQfzOLg/TsqnRTFjJjI/AAAAAAAAB_s/pJVa7iLiGQU/s1600/IMG_0862.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vzSsHQfzOLg/TsqnRTFjJjI/AAAAAAAAB_s/pJVa7iLiGQU/s640/IMG_0862.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And finally, I just tied some twine on each tag! Easy peasy. I wish I had some fun red bakers twine, so that may get switched out down the line..&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-14r6hYKZ8tA/TsrHOSliuEI/AAAAAAAACAU/VHV8Vzqzo9c/s1600/IMG_0874.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-14r6hYKZ8tA/TsrHOSliuEI/AAAAAAAACAU/VHV8Vzqzo9c/s640/IMG_0874.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">What do you think? I didn't do any extra embellishments or anything, because I want to use this for years, and don't want it to start looking dated (though I'm sure that's inevitable). Plus, I'm a simple kinda gal and this look really appeals to me. So there.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-m2aEvcLtls8/TsrGxqx3rNI/AAAAAAAACAM/DIh89fWzlHs/s1600/IMG_0869.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-m2aEvcLtls8/TsrGxqx3rNI/AAAAAAAACAM/DIh89fWzlHs/s640/IMG_0869.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dIiR7iXPDKE/Tsqnp2abMwI/AAAAAAAAB_0/IvkcmZ1xzaA/s1600/IMG_0870.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dIiR7iXPDKE/Tsqnp2abMwI/AAAAAAAAB_0/IvkcmZ1xzaA/s640/IMG_0870.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Will you be making an Advent Calendar this year??</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Linking up:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://thediyshowoff.blogspot.com/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="The DIY Show Off" border="0" src="http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac195/Roeshel/DIYShowOffbuttonsmall.jpg" /></a></div><br /><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: center;"><a href="http://thediyshowoff.blogspot.com/search/label/Christmas" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="The DIY Show Off" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Ydn4kd0aaEY/SvwJypPFGDI/AAAAAAAAB2A/7bQKzga8KMQ/S230/holidaybutton.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div align="center"><a href="http://www.homestoriesatoz.com/2011/11/tutorials-tips-link-party-37.html" target="_blank" title="Home Stories A2Z"><img alt="Home Stories A2Z" src="http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad2/bethcrabtree/tutorialsandtips.jpg" style="border: none;" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i>** I'll be sharing this project on a local morning show on December 1 for those of you that know me in real life! Mom- remind me and I'll send you a link to see it when it airs! :)&nbsp; </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><script type="text/javascript">var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www.");document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='""google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E"));</script><script type="text/javascript">try {<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1jwP9vHGLyE/TJPKwfwB9UI/AAAAAAAAArc/j1GX_WofyNI/s1600/signature3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 100px;" src="var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-12360342-1");pageTracker._trackPageview();} catch(err) {}</script><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1871148851130289018-3412546911242861423?l=strangeandlovelyride.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ajahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00442413435307915509noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1871148851130289018.post-75159109489052419512011-11-17T08:09:00.000-06:002011-11-17T08:09:00.611-06:00<i>No, I'm not pregnant...</i><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FQnbleRo8Fg/TsKLGssKEnI/AAAAAAAAB-8/QYKKb2UpVxE/s1600/11.9.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FQnbleRo8Fg/TsKLGssKEnI/AAAAAAAAB-8/QYKKb2UpVxE/s640/11.9.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />This is <a href="http://strangeandlovelyride.blogspot.com/2009/12/winter-song.html" target="_blank">my first baby</a>. My first little girl.<br /><br />I think about her a lot. Not every day, but nearly. This time of year especially. I'm not the type to dwell on days or specific dates.. but seasons of life get to me. Smells, the air, music, feelings. And all of these have been bringing her up in my mind and heart recently.<br /><br />I am so thankful to have carried her, even for such a short time. Her life has forever changed mine. And what I'm so excited for- what I <i>cannot wait</i> for- is to meet her and hold her in heaven. Because I know that I know that I will have that precious opportunity one day.<br /><br />Have you read <a href="http://heavenisforreal.net/" target="_blank"><u>Heaven is For Real</u></a>? I haven't, actually, but want to. I need to borrow it from one of the many people I know who have it! But I have heard more than a few stories from the book, one of which is how the little boy met his sister in heaven. The sister who had been miscarried.. the sister he had never heard about before. I want to cry just thinking about it.<br /><br />I know everyone grieves differently, and sadly, too many of us have to grieve for the loss of a child these days. For me, it's healing to think about her, to miss her, to long for her. I don't even need to talk about her- but just to hold those feelings inside of me and cry for her sometimes. My child. My baby.. who was not a mistake, not a misstep.. who was not flawed or broken. Who was stolen from my arms. She is perfect and beautiful and whole in heaven and I cannot wait to meet her. I am <i>so </i>thankful for her.&nbsp; <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ♥&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ♥&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ♥<br /><br />Today I am also thankful for this little one. <a href="http://strangeandlovelyride.blogspot.com/p/bumpdates.html" target="_blank">My girl</a>.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6zXlN0Pu6N8/TsGZU9rMDII/AAAAAAAAB-0/rs19UzYX-D4/s1600/IMG_0367.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6zXlN0Pu6N8/TsGZU9rMDII/AAAAAAAAB-0/rs19UzYX-D4/s640/IMG_0367.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />&nbsp;<br />She is the light of my life. &nbsp;<br /><br />This sweet baby has brought more joy, love and happiness than I've ever known. Our lives have been forever changed with the addition of hers and there's nothing I wouldn't do for her. It's hard to put into words how thankful I am for my Evie. How blessed I feel to be her mama. I'm so thankful to be able to hold her every day. To kiss her and snuggle her and love her. To breathe her in. It makes my heart ache thinking about how much I love her.<br /><br />Thank you Jesus for my precious girl. <br /><script type="text/javascript">var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www.");document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='""google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E"));</script><script type="text/javascript">try {<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1jwP9vHGLyE/TJPKwfwB9UI/AAAAAAAAArc/j1GX_WofyNI/s1600/signature3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 100px;" src="var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-12360342-1");pageTracker._trackPageview();} catch(err) {}</script><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1871148851130289018-7515910948905241951?l=strangeandlovelyride.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ajahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00442413435307915509noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1871148851130289018.post-58255677515420181102011-11-14T11:29:00.001-06:002011-11-14T13:38:19.305-06:00I know, I know- it's only mid-November, but I am SO ready for Christmas and all it's goodness! I love, LOVE Christmas time.. the lights, music, coziness.. the get-togethers and of course the food!&nbsp;<script type="text/javascript">var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www.");document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='""google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E"));</script><script type="text/javascript">try {<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1jwP9vHGLyE/TJPKwfwB9UI/AAAAAAAAArc/j1GX_WofyNI/s1600/signature3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 100px;" src="var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-12360342-1");pageTracker._trackPageview();} catch(err) {}</script><br /><div><br /></div><div>I confess- I've been playing Christmas music for about a week now. The Sarah McLachlan Holiday station on Pandora is my current fav. There's nothing like some melancholy holiday music playing while you're snuggled up to the fire!&nbsp;But Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby will need to make an appearance soon.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hjpMBHgoxFA/TsFcx9mnUBI/AAAAAAAAB-c/4o5YYy4ckYg/s1600/IMG_0792.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hjpMBHgoxFA/TsFcx9mnUBI/AAAAAAAAB-c/4o5YYy4ckYg/s640/IMG_0792.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>And yes, as you can clearly see from these pictures- our tree is up! We finally sprung for a larger, fake tree this year, since it's Evie's first (well, actually second) year to celebrate. I want her growing up with lots of great memories from this special time of year. We went with pre-lit, so those are the lights you see. I haven't decorated it yet! But since we bought it, we thought we may as well put it up and start enjoying! It makes me happy. :)</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-q6HjizG2Na8/TsFdHhW63oI/AAAAAAAAB-k/D7oOA-zG0zA/s1600/IMG_0804.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-q6HjizG2Na8/TsFdHhW63oI/AAAAAAAAB-k/D7oOA-zG0zA/s640/IMG_0804.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>We also put the lights up on our house this weekend. Hubby is thrilled and it looks fantastic! We'll likely wrap the tree by our front door at some point, too.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bpWxJexuKXw/TsFcaF2uDSI/AAAAAAAAB-U/-pPLwWTBLvY/s1600/IMG_0753.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bpWxJexuKXw/TsFcaF2uDSI/AAAAAAAAB-U/-pPLwWTBLvY/s640/IMG_0753.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I'm excited to start the tradition of an Advent Calendar with Evie this year. Does your family do one? We never did. If fact I had no idea what they were until I started reading blogs! But I think it will be such a fun tradition and I've started making ours, so I'll show it to you guys soon!&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qAfkrIuhTSE/TsFcC-QcCqI/AAAAAAAAB-M/b_j768n2pSM/s1600/IMG_0742.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qAfkrIuhTSE/TsFcC-QcCqI/AAAAAAAAB-M/b_j768n2pSM/s640/IMG_0742.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I've also been hard at work on planning out and getting ready for Evie's birthday party. I still feel like I have lots to do, so I better get back to work!&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Have you started decorating your house for Christmas yet?? Tell me I'm not the only one! :)</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1871148851130289018-5825567751542018110?l=strangeandlovelyride.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ajahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00442413435307915509noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1871148851130289018.post-46954205032228956822011-11-12T11:43:00.000-06:002011-11-12T11:43:21.228-06:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A few favorites.. Happy Saturday!&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-e7pwDB6_IUQ/Tr27CVMCnjI/AAAAAAAAB7o/Q46Mno6XhxQ/s1600/Howerton010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-e7pwDB6_IUQ/Tr27CVMCnjI/AAAAAAAAB7o/Q46Mno6XhxQ/s640/Howerton010.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VcGywZuJl9U/Tr3BV41pLQI/AAAAAAAAB8A/GY_9kXvSqzA/s1600/Howerton073.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VcGywZuJl9U/Tr3BV41pLQI/AAAAAAAAB8A/GY_9kXvSqzA/s640/Howerton073.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O19GM9mULf4/Tr6Otj6OXpI/AAAAAAAAB8Q/5Y4me8g9ztE/s1600/Howerton009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O19GM9mULf4/Tr6Otj6OXpI/AAAAAAAAB8Q/5Y4me8g9ztE/s640/Howerton009.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><s style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-airXTrSE3oc/Tr28Eu3ackI/AAAAAAAAB7w/razfrWByyf8/s640/Howerton014.jpg" width="640" /></s></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><u><b></b></u></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-airXTrSE3oc/Tr28Eu3ackI/AAAAAAAAB7w/razfrWByyf8/s1600/Howerton014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><b></b></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-klYHxbRTCiA/Tr6VLGuzJOI/AAAAAAAAB8Y/DXtBt50ehNc/s1600/Howerton124.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-klYHxbRTCiA/Tr6VLGuzJOI/AAAAAAAAB8Y/DXtBt50ehNc/s640/Howerton124.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LZ9FPz8jKRc/Tr3DV6nVWoI/AAAAAAAAB8I/WzmwCFdtPIk/s1600/Howerton082.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LZ9FPz8jKRc/Tr3DV6nVWoI/AAAAAAAAB8I/WzmwCFdtPIk/s640/Howerton082.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><script type="text/javascript">I am so excited taht we var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www.");document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='""google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E"));</script><script type="text/javascript">try {<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1jwP9vHGLyE/TJPKwfwB9UI/AAAAAAAAArc/j1GX_WofyNI/s1600/signature3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 100px;" src="var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-12360342-1");pageTracker._trackPageview();} catch(err) {}</script><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1871148851130289018-4695420503222895682?l=strangeandlovelyride.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ajahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00442413435307915509noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1871148851130289018.post-51805601741304315682011-11-10T10:04:00.000-06:002011-11-10T10:26:33.483-06:00<br />Have you seen the Thankful Trees people are making? I love <a href="http://dearlillieblog.blogspot.com/2011/11/thankful-tree-psalm-100-download-and.html" target="_blank">this one</a> and <a href="http://ashleyannphotography.com/blog/2011/11/04/12114/" target="_blank">this one</a>. In the back of my mind I was intending to make one this year, but time has gotten away from me. But next year we'll definitely put one up- or something like it! I think it's an awesome reminder to really think about what we're truly thankful for in our lives. And it's such a great example and tradition with the kiddos! Last night &nbsp;as I was getting Evie ready for bed, I started telling her about Thanksgiving and listing things we should be thankful for. :) Such a precious moment.<br /><div style="text-align: center;">_______________________________________</div><div><br /></div><div>Today I am beyond thankful for my husband.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0Efg2IIBK0U/TrqoVjiKlwI/AAAAAAAAB3M/GP2DgSAbyZg/s640/A%2526D+265_2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="425" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our wedding day</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>He is such a good provider, protector, friend. And goodness, isn't he handsome?! I can't really fathom life without him in it.. and thankfully I don't have to.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>We met nearly ten years ago (!) when we were both in college. We didn't start dating until we ran into each other a few years later on my 24th birthday.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>These days, my favorite thing about him is what a good daddy he is to our girl.. He takes fatherhood very seriously and I am forever grateful for that. It's such a joy to see Evie's face light up when she hears her daddy coming in the door.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5wPLeHff864/Trqqt_ONKbI/AAAAAAAAB3U/k6P2YIF5PMo/s640/IMG_1860.JPG" width="427" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KnxOCLxGKZc/TrqrlIAVBkI/AAAAAAAAB3c/Z6o9Xlwncnw/s1600/IMG_2848.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="427" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KnxOCLxGKZc/TrqrlIAVBkI/AAAAAAAAB3c/Z6o9Xlwncnw/s640/IMG_2848.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JmNk-uKpDEI/Trquh947TgI/AAAAAAAAB3k/tNyIoRg6R8A/s1600/IMG_7331.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><s style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="432" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JmNk-uKpDEI/Trquh947TgI/AAAAAAAAB3k/tNyIoRg6R8A/s640/IMG_7331.JPG" width="640" /></s></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ngv5-XmihNA/TrqxPSKJriI/AAAAAAAAB38/kRqR4UNPbWg/s1600/IMG_9127.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FU2XMBMzO1Q/Trqw-VX5igI/AAAAAAAAB30/3uanOW_4cJ4/s640/IMG_9087.JPG" width="424" />&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_DjcYqdX8Eo/Trqyzq247HI/AAAAAAAAB4E/3wKzUvuUuB8/s1600/IMG_0145.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_DjcYqdX8Eo/Trqyzq247HI/AAAAAAAAB4E/3wKzUvuUuB8/s640/IMG_0145.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MDVJjwTaNt0/TrqzXWMFDdI/AAAAAAAAB4M/Xpza-VrfF-Y/s640/IMG_0665.JPG" width="640" /></div><br /><div>Thank you, babe, for all that you do for Evie and I.. for all that you sacrifice, for all your hard work, for your concern, watchfulness and tenderness. We are SO blessed to have you. I love you.</div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1871148851130289018-5180560174130431568?l=strangeandlovelyride.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ajahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00442413435307915509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1871148851130289018.post-86155671913931543592011-11-07T09:23:00.000-06:002011-11-07T09:30:58.081-06:00Do you cook? I try.. sometimes.<br /><div><br /></div><div>I've always like the idea of cooking, but have found the whole follow-through part of it tough. :) Mostly I never thought it was worth it to spend hours cooking for myself (when I was single) when I was perfectly happy eating a sandwich or cheese and crackers or a bowl of cereal. Since I've been married, I've tried to cook more and more, but it still gets overwhelming for me at times. All those ingredients! Sheesh!&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Anyhoo, one thing I have utilized lately is my crock pot. &nbsp;I love that I can throw something in there in the morning and come home to a delicious smelling house and dinner basically just waiting for us. Here are a few crock pot recipes I've tried lately that I definitely recommend. Both were discovered on my virtual BFF, <a href="http://pinterest.com/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wKLIJnplMoE/TrVeP4QfnzI/AAAAAAAAB3E/6K_vCs6RApg/s1600/baked+potato+soup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wKLIJnplMoE/TrVeP4QfnzI/AAAAAAAAB3E/6K_vCs6RApg/s200/baked+potato+soup.jpg" width="175" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/274910296/" target="_blank"><b>Crock Pot Baked Potato Soup</b></a></div><div><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/274910296/" target="_blank"></a><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">I cut this whole recipe in half- we don't need 10-12 servings around here. Though you could probably freeze half of it... Hmmmm. Note to self.</span></i><br /><br />Ingredients:<br />- 5lbs Russet Potatoes, washed but NOT peeled. Diced into 1/2 inch(ish) cubes<br />- 1 large yellow onion, diced<br />- 10 cloves of garlic, whole<br />- 8 cups chicken stock<br />- 16 oz cream cheese (I used 8oz regular and 8oz lowfat)<br />- 1 TBS seasoned salt or all-purpose seasoning (I use Aunt Cora's Soulful Seasoning)<br /><br />Garnishes:<br />- Crumbled bacon<br />- Shredded cheddar cheese<br />- Green onions<br /><br />Directions:<br />- Add potatoes, onion, garlic, seasoning and chicken stock to slow cooker.<br />- Cook on high for 6 hours or low for 10 hours.<br />- Remove and puree the garlic cloves along with 1/2 to 1/3rd of the soup, and then reintroduce to the remainder in the crock pot.<br />- Stir in the cream cheese and allow to melt. Stir every 10-15 minutes until soup is well blended.<br />- Top with your choice of garnishes &amp; serve!<br /><br />Yields about 10-12 servings.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-axV3YDGIG2w/TrVeOxEOenI/AAAAAAAAB28/zSYQJD6bFvw/s1600/salsa+chicken.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="175" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-axV3YDGIG2w/TrVeOxEOenI/AAAAAAAAB28/zSYQJD6bFvw/s200/salsa+chicken.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><b><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/345573593/" target="_blank">Crock Pot Salsa Chicken&nbsp;</a></b></div><div>Ingredients:<br /><br />1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts (I only used 2 chicken breasts)<br />1 can cream of chicken soup<br />1 cup salsa<br />1 package taco seasoning<br />1 cup sour cream<br /><br />Directions:<br /><br />1. Mix soup, salsa and taco seasoning in the bottom of your crockpot. Sink chicken breasts into the mixture, covering completely. Cook on low for 5 – 6 hours depending on size of chicken breasts.</div><div><br /></div><div>2. Remove chicken, shred and return to the crockpot. Add sour cream and mix well. Heat until everything is warmed through. Enjoy.</div><div><br /></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">I served over tortilla chips. YUM!</span></i></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></i></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></i></div><div>You should definitely try these out. Perfect for a rainy, fall day like today. Let me know if you do and like them! Any great crock pot recipes up your sleeve that I should try? &nbsp;Please share- clearly I need help in the kitchen! :)</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1871148851130289018-8615567191393154359?l=strangeandlovelyride.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ajahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00442413435307915509noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1871148851130289018.post-43103385801285604892011-11-04T08:53:00.000-05:002011-11-04T15:08:46.429-05:00<i>That's a whole lotta Friday coming at ya.</i><br /><br />We'll start with what's currently running through my larger-than-one-size-fits-most head:<br /><div><br /></div><div>1. I've really been thinking about this, and I think it's high time QT gets on the hopper with a drive-thru.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Am I right??&nbsp;</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>I mean, the money I've NOT spent at QT since I've had a baby is seriously astounding. What I wouldn't give to be able to just run in (or <b>drive thru</b>!!!!) and grab a coffee, especially now that it's cooling down. Don't think I haven't considered leaving Evie in the car while I made a mad dash inside..&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Oh take it easy! I would <b>NEVER</b>!</div><div><br /></div><div>2. My <a href="http://strangeandlovelyride.blogspot.com/p/bumpdates.html">BABY</a> will be a year old in a few short weeks. Sniffle. Party planning is in full swing. Nothing huge or extraordinary- she is still a baby, after all- but I'm still looking forward to it! Sneak peek of the invites is below!</div><div><br /></div><div>3. ENTERTAINMENT NEWS FLASH: J Simpson is knocked up! One of those Kardashian girls is divorced! Shockers all around, and remember- you heard it here first, folks.</div><div><br /></div><div>4. Any day now I'll break out the Christmas music. It's my fav. I would have done it already, but every night my husband suggests hanging up the Christmas lights on our house (no, seriously) and I keep trying to hold him off. He's mildly pumped about our festive display this year. I think if I start cranking Jingle Bells it will push him over the edge.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>5. Did you like our little <a href="http://strangeandlovelyride.blogspot.com/2011/10/happy-halloween.html">Halloween Zebra</a>?? Every time I look at that picture of Evie, all I can think of is my mom singing <i>Bucky-la-beaver</i> when we were kids. It's safe to say I inherited my mom's predilection for making up and singing random songs to her children. It's not a normal day around here if one of us isn't humming the nail-clipping tune I made up, <i>Just a Little Clip Clip Clip.</i>&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>The chorus is especially catchy: <i>It's not a big deee-aaal. It's juuuust a little cliiiip-eey. Just a little snipp-ey. A tiny little clippy..&nbsp;</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>You get the idea. An iTunes hit in the making.</div><div><br /></div><div>6. We got our family pics in! I'll post some favorites soon. :)<br /><br />7. I am so OVER Google Reader doing all these updates that only delete half my reads and put me in a bad mood. Anyone with me?<br /><br />8. I came home from work yesterday and my MIL had Evie Girl in a little hat I knit her when I was pregnant (see picture below). SO CUTE! I will now be breaking out the knitting needles to make her more.<br /><br />That's it. Why try to force it to ten, you know? ;) <br /><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/11/03/s_2862.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/11/03/s_2862.jpg" style="margin-top: 5px;" width="200" /></a><a href="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/11/03/s_2866.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/11/03/s_2866.jpg" style="margin-top: 5px;" width="200" /></a><a href="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/11/03/s_2867.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/11/03/s_2867.jpg" style="margin-top: 5px;" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/11/03/s_2861.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/11/03/s_2861.jpg" style="margin-top: 5px;" width="200" /></a><a href="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/11/03/s_2864.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/11/03/s_2864.jpg" style="margin-top: 5px;" width="200" /></a><a href="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/11/03/s_2865.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/11/03/s_2865.jpg" style="margin-top: 5px;" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><br />Have a great weekend and Happy November!<br /><br /></div><br /><center></center><center></center><center></center><br /><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://liferearranged.com/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="life rearranged" border="0" height="120" src="http://liferearranged.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/instafridaybutton.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1871148851130289018-4310338580128560489?l=strangeandlovelyride.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ajahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00442413435307915509noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1871148851130289018.post-357445295120768952011-10-31T23:53:00.000-05:002011-10-31T23:53:00.148-05:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wi__9oQkM3M/Tq9TQgEDo2I/AAAAAAAAB1A/EUSmjBD0MIY/s1600/IMG_0602.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wi__9oQkM3M/Tq9TQgEDo2I/AAAAAAAAB1A/EUSmjBD0MIY/s640/IMG_0602.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><script type="text/javascript">var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www.");document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='""google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E"));</script><script type="text/javascript">try {<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1jwP9vHGLyE/TJPKwfwB9UI/AAAAAAAAArc/j1GX_WofyNI/s1600/signature3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 100px;" src="var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-12360342-1");pageTracker._trackPageview();} catch(err) {}</script><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1871148851130289018-35744529512076895?l=strangeandlovelyride.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ajahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00442413435307915509noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1871148851130289018.post-91793213088801849002011-10-30T22:52:00.000-05:002011-10-31T21:00:38.601-05:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vCckY2Qtp3c/Tq8NwVd1w0I/AAAAAAAAB0Q/LUCMTWnVmIE/s1600/IMG_0438.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vCckY2Qtp3c/Tq8NwVd1w0I/AAAAAAAAB0Q/LUCMTWnVmIE/s640/IMG_0438.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Our sweet girl is 11 Months already!&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Evie, you are talking up a storm lately. And not just talking- you like to do lots of screeching and yelling, too. :) Not always our favorite, but pretty funny at times.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Arp7S8Tm3DU/Tq8OJmlMP_I/AAAAAAAAB0g/pxHg_VP7mDE/s1600/IMG_0461.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Arp7S8Tm3DU/Tq8OJmlMP_I/AAAAAAAAB0g/pxHg_VP7mDE/s640/IMG_0461.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">You still love, love to read, and we finally figured out that you've been saying "book" for some time now! Only you say "gook" or "gwack". And you say it a lot! Our girl will be a reader and so smart.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Some other words you've added: hat, eye, walk and MAMA! Yes, you said that a long, long time ago, but after about a week you stopped saying it completely. Now you say it all the time! Especially in the middle of the night when your teeth hurt or when you're tired. My girl.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eheyqf_hgI4/Tq8NiaFuExI/AAAAAAAAB0I/3EMN6-wW_rA/s1600/IMG_0435.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eheyqf_hgI4/Tq8NiaFuExI/AAAAAAAAB0I/3EMN6-wW_rA/s640/IMG_0435.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">You're still not walking quite yet, but you do love to walk all over the place holding our fingers or with your little push car toy. I've actually seen you take a step on an occasion or two, but we're still waiting for you to surprise us and take off across the room.&nbsp;</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-apQ2qJwkKGE/Tq8N-mIpUAI/AAAAAAAAB0Y/iR6iC8RXIcQ/s1600/IMG_0447.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-apQ2qJwkKGE/Tq8N-mIpUAI/AAAAAAAAB0Y/iR6iC8RXIcQ/s640/IMG_0447.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;At the beginning of this month you started sleeping through the night! HUGE!</div><div style="text-align: center;">All was going swimmingly until we hit a rough teething patch a week or two ago. The past few days have been the worst. :( You've had a fever off and on have just not been feeling great. It makes me sad to see you not feeling well, but I admit, I do love the extra cuddles! Hopefully it will pass soon.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And I don't know if it's just because of the teething, but you have been taking looong morning naps for me! Today it was 3 hours! I think you might be having a little growth spurt, too.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CYK3eEkmsOc/Tq8OVmnsD3I/AAAAAAAAB0o/JQsCmG-MIQs/s1600/IMG_0472.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CYK3eEkmsOc/Tq8OVmnsD3I/AAAAAAAAB0o/JQsCmG-MIQs/s640/IMG_0472.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">You have always liked to laugh- fake and real- but recently you've taken it to a whole new level. It just cracks us up when you think something is funny and start laughing and laughing. Sometimes you'll just start laughing out of the blue and we have no idea why! You're a happy girl.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">You still love to cuddle and kiss all of your toys, books, pictures, etc. I hope you always stay so sweet and loving!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-k7LAmtgVVB0/Tq8YM0ifnII/AAAAAAAAB04/DMgaptXd39Q/s1600/IMG_0526.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-k7LAmtgVVB0/Tq8YM0ifnII/AAAAAAAAB04/DMgaptXd39Q/s640/IMG_0526.JPG" width="425" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I really can't believe you have been with us for nearly a year. Life has changed SO much, and I wouldn't change it for the world. Evie, you are such a light and joy in our lives and we thank Jesus for you every day!</div><script type="text/javascript">var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www.");document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='""google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E"));</script><script type="text/javascript">try {<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1jwP9vHGLyE/TJPKwfwB9UI/AAAAAAAAArc/j1GX_WofyNI/s1600/signature3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 100px;" src="var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-12360342-1");pageTracker._trackPageview();} catch(err) {}</script><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1871148851130289018-9179321308880184900?l=strangeandlovelyride.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ajahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00442413435307915509noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1871148851130289018.post-68438672429317432432011-10-29T12:04:00.000-05:002011-11-03T10:44:13.521-05:00<div style="text-align: center;">Sound the alarm, people, they're done!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-46vYR3CaYgc/Tqwq0Y0mLyI/AAAAAAAABzY/Qy2VQaaB1Zg/s1600/IMG_0345.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-46vYR3CaYgc/Tqwq0Y0mLyI/AAAAAAAABzY/Qy2VQaaB1Zg/s640/IMG_0345.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After much toil, tribulation... blood, sweat and tears, my <a href="http://strangeandlovelyride.blogspot.com/2011/08/twinkies.html">Twinkie Wingbacks </a>are finally finished and just waiting on you to come over and sit on them! They've actually been done for some time.. (story of my life, right?).. but I was hesitating on the nail head trim on the arms. Why, I don't really know. I think I was nervous that they wouldn't turn out right. But I love it! Perfect? No. But I challenge you to come to my house and find any project that I've taken on and call it perfect. :)&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A little Before &amp; After action for you:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763;"><b>BEFORE</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Mzwgjkb6aww/Tqwrtaqv83I/AAAAAAAABzo/CdxN-6BFiQ4/s1600/IMG_7528.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Mzwgjkb6aww/Tqwrtaqv83I/AAAAAAAABzo/CdxN-6BFiQ4/s640/IMG_7528.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763;">AFTER</span></b></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hIyaFisjedg/TqwrM_VJasI/AAAAAAAABzg/OoTGH9qb_vQ/s1600/IMG_0346.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hIyaFisjedg/TqwrM_VJasI/AAAAAAAABzg/OoTGH9qb_vQ/s640/IMG_0346.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;">What do you think??</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />How did I do it?? HA! See above blood, sweat and tears rant! If you're thinking of taking on a similar project, I HIGHLY recommend <a href="http://diffendwelling.blogspot.com/2011/01/wing-chair-part-i.html">this great tutorial</a>. And <a href="http://www.thecreativemaven.net/2010/03/how-to-reupholster-wingback-chair-part.html">this one</a>. I looked all around on Pinterest for ideas for these chairs. <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/85770189/">Here's one of my first pins, from the tutorial I used by Remodelaholic.com.</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">A few more action shots:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ucVx6NFByOg/TqwsF3QMfFI/AAAAAAAABzw/j1Lzr9eGiGI/s1600/IMG_0296.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ucVx6NFByOg/TqwsF3QMfFI/AAAAAAAABzw/j1Lzr9eGiGI/s640/IMG_0296.JPG" width="426" /></a></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="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OZbR2RPddWQ/TqwsdnkUA5I/AAAAAAAABz4/VBQ_FUvGmoA/s1600/IMG_0285.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OZbR2RPddWQ/TqwsdnkUA5I/AAAAAAAABz4/VBQ_FUvGmoA/s640/IMG_0285.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ooooh, shiny!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">I'm SO glad to have these crossed off my list!<br /><br /><br />Linking up:<br /><a href="http://thediyshowoff.blogspot.com/2011/10/diy-project-parade-refinishing.html"> DIY Showoff</a><br /><a href="http://www.homestoriesatoz.com/2011/10/tutorials-tips-link-party-33.html">Home Stories A2Z</a><br /><br /> <br /> I'm also linking up the super awesome <b>Pinterest Challenge </b>happening at these fun blogs:<br /><a href="http://www.bowerpowerblog.com/2011/11/pinterest-challenge-project-antiqued-window/">Bower Power</a><br /><a href="http://www.younghouselove.com/2011/11/fall-pinterest-challenge-ornaments-a-plenty/">Young House Love</a><br /><a href="http://www.houseofearnest.com/2011/11/02/a-little-gold-lining-for-your-wednesday/">House of Earnest</a><br /><a href="http://ana-white.com/2011/11/princess-pocket-bookshelf">Ana White</a><br /><br />Be sure to go check out all of the aMAZing things people are making/crafting/creating from Pinterest!</div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1871148851130289018-6843867242931743243?l=strangeandlovelyride.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ajahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00442413435307915509noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1871148851130289018.post-45518928768388932452011-10-24T10:07:00.000-05:002011-10-24T10:07:00.231-05:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This October we've hit up the pumpkin patch hard! Evie definitely knows what a pumpkin is now, and points out the three we have on our porch on a regular basis. She also likes to play the biggest one like &nbsp;a drum. :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A few pics:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_YxY6UCvdJ0/TqQ2NlUYd8I/AAAAAAAAByo/U3nCL05yPhs/s1600/IMG_9865.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_YxY6UCvdJ0/TqQ2NlUYd8I/AAAAAAAAByo/U3nCL05yPhs/s640/IMG_9865.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="" 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="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ethrQOzyjKA/TqQ0R6cudAI/AAAAAAAAByA/WCYImg3BorY/s1600/IMG_9876.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ethrQOzyjKA/TqQ0R6cudAI/AAAAAAAAByA/WCYImg3BorY/s640/IMG_9876.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>&nbsp;<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8BBQ6vraUKo/TqQ1CSpj0wI/AAAAAAAAByQ/mOvc4lB5v1I/s1600/IMG_9886.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8BBQ6vraUKo/TqQ1CSpj0wI/AAAAAAAAByQ/mOvc4lB5v1I/s640/IMG_9886.JPG" width="640" /></a></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="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nvmu9zCGVZA/TqQ1whQWw2I/AAAAAAAAByg/yeAtxBgEErs/s1600/IMG_9954.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nvmu9zCGVZA/TqQ1whQWw2I/AAAAAAAAByg/yeAtxBgEErs/s640/IMG_9954.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gourds!</td></tr></tbody></table><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="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_2gN9auqPJQ/TqQ31KpM0xI/AAAAAAAAByw/uQ5nZtejstc/s1600/IMG_0180.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_2gN9auqPJQ/TqQ31KpM0xI/AAAAAAAAByw/uQ5nZtejstc/s640/IMG_0180.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Twins, am I right??</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9FI8enrmfi4/TqQ4P82BauI/AAAAAAAABy4/lDXaOY7Lfr0/s1600/IMG_0188.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9FI8enrmfi4/TqQ4P82BauI/AAAAAAAABy4/lDXaOY7Lfr0/s640/IMG_0188.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nCfcjYgXLGM/TqQ4x7vj1oI/AAAAAAAABzA/Zp7SnV8wpSI/s1600/IMG_0197.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nCfcjYgXLGM/TqQ4x7vj1oI/AAAAAAAABzA/Zp7SnV8wpSI/s640/IMG_0197.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YiJzBjurzDw/TqQ5UtuFIMI/AAAAAAAABzI/WKdJoC6qheM/s1600/IMG_0205.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YiJzBjurzDw/TqQ5UtuFIMI/AAAAAAAABzI/WKdJoC6qheM/s640/IMG_0205.JPG" width="426" /></a></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="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xWFIeqvkpRw/TqQ5yC0ikmI/AAAAAAAABzQ/j9QlzV6uRSE/s1600/IMG_0245.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xWFIeqvkpRw/TqQ5yC0ikmI/AAAAAAAABzQ/j9QlzV6uRSE/s640/IMG_0245.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The best family pic we could muster.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Happy Fall!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><script type="text/javascript">var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www.");document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='""google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E"));</script><script type="text/javascript">try {<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1jwP9vHGLyE/TJPKwfwB9UI/AAAAAAAAArc/j1GX_WofyNI/s1600/signature3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 100px;" src="var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-12360342-1");pageTracker._trackPageview();} catch(err) {}</script><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1871148851130289018-4551892876838893245?l=strangeandlovelyride.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ajahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00442413435307915509noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1871148851130289018.post-3830659473408378832011-10-22T11:48:00.000-05:002011-10-22T11:50:15.716-05:00About stinking time, right??? I originally wrote this post back in MAY. You know FIVE MONTHS AGO when I first talked about our <a href="http://strangeandlovelyride.blogspot.com/2011/05/living-room-redesign.html">Living Room Redesign</a>.<br /><br />I'm nothing if not on top of things. Not sure why I didn't post this long ago.. I've since done a number of things in this room, that I WILL be showing you, in a some-what timely matter. :)<br /><br />So, here you go. Our "new" rug, along with pictures of my dark-haired (what happened?!), not-yet-crawling, not-quite-six-months baby girl.<br /><br /><br />Ooh, our new rug. I am so excited about this!<br /><div><br /><script type="text/javascript">var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www.");document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='""google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E"));</script><script type="text/javascript"></script><br /><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-l7KjJOSLvcA/TqLwjCihNPI/AAAAAAAABxg/JjyEIB5XxGI/s1600/IMG_6383.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-l7KjJOSLvcA/TqLwjCihNPI/AAAAAAAABxg/JjyEIB5XxGI/s640/IMG_6383.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">Where's <s>Waldo</s> Evie?</span></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div>We had a bunch of Pottery Barn gift cards and credits and rewards dollars racked up from having a baby (procreation totally pays off) and I knew I wanted to put it toward a big purchase. So a few months ago I started combing the PB website for area rugs. Honestly, I wasn't too thrilled with their selection. I missed some of the awesome geometric and modern styles they had a few seasons back. But oh well. I finally came across the Elham?? and thought we had a winner. It was only available online, so I couldn't see it in the store. Mmmeeehhh.</div><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="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WHVi7drYQBM/TqLw6_-GD-I/AAAAAAAABxo/LVFsh-H8lh0/s1600/IMG_6407.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="408" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WHVi7drYQBM/TqLw6_-GD-I/AAAAAAAABxo/LVFsh-H8lh0/s640/IMG_6407.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She came up with this model pose all on her own.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />A few days later it was on sale and PB had sent me a 10% off coupon code, so I knew I had to act fast. In the end, we only ended up paying $25 total out of pocket!! Sooo happy!</div><div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Mi2Wq2lX0oM/TqLxIDFeRXI/AAAAAAAABxw/Tq__2PPrYQM/s1600/IMG_6388.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Mi2Wq2lX0oM/TqLxIDFeRXI/AAAAAAAABxw/Tq__2PPrYQM/s640/IMG_6388.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Don't get used to this laying me down and walking away thing. I'm planning my crawling antics down here.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />The only drawback was that it wouldn't ship for about 6 weeks, which would be mid-May. But I knew that that would give me time to clear out the room and paint, which I luckily got done in the nick of time!</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></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="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ucftNar_Wes/TqLycnSgkeI/AAAAAAAABx4/-w-MFqL6Qco/s1600/IMG_6360.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ucftNar_Wes/TqLycnSgkeI/AAAAAAAABx4/-w-MFqL6Qco/s640/IMG_6360.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Any day now you'll wake up and I'll be a blonde!&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table><br />So there you have it! Our new-ish rug. More to come, I pinky swear. :)<br /><br />&nbsp;Happy Weekend!</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1871148851130289018-383065947340837883?l=strangeandlovelyride.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ajahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00442413435307915509noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1871148851130289018.post-3574944359561503442011-10-16T11:23:00.001-05:002011-10-16T11:23:50.026-05:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Yesterday was a big day..&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Evie staked her claim loud and clear on our buddy <a href="http://tothemoonandback-sarah.blogspot.com/">Rhett</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QP7xPKz2yI4/TpsCHYSbHVI/AAAAAAAABvA/GtEp4rWMd7M/s1600/IMG_0084.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QP7xPKz2yI4/TpsCHYSbHVI/AAAAAAAABvA/GtEp4rWMd7M/s640/IMG_0084.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r5zSib80Le8/TpsChlc3UzI/AAAAAAAABvI/xRD8E_fvOGY/s1600/IMG_0077.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r5zSib80Le8/TpsChlc3UzI/AAAAAAAABvI/xRD8E_fvOGY/s640/IMG_0077.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look, Mama, I got him!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZOqrJkBkXlE/TpsC2fzTPzI/AAAAAAAABvQ/7Ce9QoNZzzE/s1600/IMG_0083.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZOqrJkBkXlE/TpsC2fzTPzI/AAAAAAAABvQ/7Ce9QoNZzzE/s640/IMG_0083.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Poor Rhett didn't know what to think.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Don't worry. When we got home we had a long, long talk about not being forward, letting the boys do the chasing, etc. A little sooner than I thought we'd have this conversation, but I'm rolling with it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Dad? Not so much. :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But with a pretty baby girl like this, he's going to have his hands full, I'm sure.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZOqrJkBkXlE/TpsC2fzTPzI/AAAAAAAABvQ/7Ce9QoNZzzE/s1600/IMG_0083.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-E6BW5h7rgR8/TpsB96_LQXI/AAAAAAAABu4/GX680X_jRq4/s1600/IMG_0130.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-E6BW5h7rgR8/TpsB96_LQXI/AAAAAAAABu4/GX680X_jRq4/s640/IMG_0130.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><script type="text/javascript">var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www.");document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='""google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E"));</script><script type="text/javascript">try {<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1jwP9vHGLyE/TJPKwfwB9UI/AAAAAAAAArc/j1GX_WofyNI/s1600/signature3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 100px;" src="var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-12360342-1");pageTracker._trackPageview();} catch(err) {}</script><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1871148851130289018-357494435956150344?l=strangeandlovelyride.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ajahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00442413435307915509noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1871148851130289018.post-82188184358758818562011-10-11T11:26:00.000-05:002011-10-11T13:27:17.696-05:001 This weekend we celebrated by Grandpa's 80th Birthday! LOTS of family and fun for all, once Evie got over the initial shock of 50 or so extended family members swarming her at once. The only downside to the whole event was when we sang Happy Birthday, then someone said "In Spanish!".. everyone started singing and my sister and I, <i>I kid you not</i>, started singing Feliz Cumpleanos to the tune of Happy Birthday.<br />AHEM.<br />Apparently NOT the correct birthday song in Spanish. We just looked at each other in shock that we'd never heard the real song before. Then started moving our lips so we didn't lose all credibility.<br /><br />2. Is it just me, or has Instagram changed?? I installed an update a few weeks ago and now none of my pictures will save to my phone.. What the heck? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?<br /><br />3. We have family pictures coming up next week! I am SO excited. We'll finally have some pictures of the three of us. You know, for proof.<br /><br />4. In reference to #3, what do we wear?? All denim.. white shirts and jeans.. our Christmas jammies??? Decisions, decisions.<br /><br />5. It's possible I'm on the market for some new jeans. I've been informed that mine are looking a little saggy in the posterior. Never good. A part of me thinks I shouldn't bother, since I'll probably gain a few lbs back when I stop breastfeeding and/or eat an entire pecan pie at Thanksgiving. Also? Shopping for jeans is hard. <br /><br />6. My girl is talking more and more these days. No one is surprised by this development. Her new favorite thing is to point at any and every light fixture, lamp, ceiling fan, etc and say "Yight. Hi yight. Hi yight. Yight. Yight. Yight." :)<br /><br />7. Happy Belated Anniversary to my brother and sister-in-law and my bff <a href="http://tothemoonandback-sarah.blogspot.com/2011/10/my-best-friend.html">Sarah </a>and her hubby! Both celebrated their anniversary yesterday. <br /><br />8. I'm excited to say that I've finally gotten around to making a few things on my <a href="http://pinterest.com/ajah/">Pinterest </a>boards. Yesterday we had some yummy <a href="http://www.mamalovesfood.com/2009/06/baked-potato-soup-slow-cooker-style.html">baked potato soup</a> and I made a cute little <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/288778049/">Christmas tree decor</a> item to sell in our booth. OH! And I made some of these <a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/270813/twig-vase">twig vases</a> for my friend's baby shower a week ago! I love how they turned out. Buuuut.. no pics. Sorry!<br /><br />9. Tomorrow morning we're hitting up The Little Gym for Evie's first class! I'm super excited. I've wanted to take her there or somewhere for a Mommy and Me class forever, but the schedules never worked for us. I'll let you know how it goes!<br /><br /><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">10. A few favorite beach pics:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/10/06/2884.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/10/06/s_2884.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="400" /></a><a href="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/10/07/993.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/10/07/s_993.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="400" /></a></div><br /><center></center><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/10/06/2881.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/10/06/s_2881.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="400" /></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1871148851130289018-8218818435875881856?l=strangeandlovelyride.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ajahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00442413435307915509noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1871148851130289018.post-48758065643256018082011-10-04T10:45:00.000-05:002011-10-04T10:58:39.867-05:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I've been waiting to say anything, just to make sure this was the real deal.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HJKqhnrYz0g/Tosl8pmuSpI/AAAAAAAABuk/0IrEPFeohtQ/s1600/sleepy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HJKqhnrYz0g/Tosl8pmuSpI/AAAAAAAABuk/0IrEPFeohtQ/s640/sleepy.JPG" width="640" /></a><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Evie has been sleeping ALL.NIGHT.LONG the past 4 nights.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Praise Jesus, Hallelujah, cue the choir, people, this is HUGE!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And like the little stinker that she is, she decided to kick things off right on her <a href="http://strangeandlovelyride.blogspot.com/2011/09/tiny-dancer-ten-months.html">10 month birthday</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Please don't tell me that your child has been sleeping through the night since they were two months old and all that jazz. I'm happy for you, really, I am. But that's not quite how things went at Casa de Evie.</i> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Also? Since we've been back from California, she has been taking regular, looong naps every day- especially in the morning. Our cat napper has grown is no more! I am soo thankful for these new sleep developments and trying to use my nap time wisely, aka, finish up some of the 1,324 projects I have in the works. Stay tuned!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><script type="text/javascript">var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www.");document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='""google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E"));</script><script type="text/javascript">try {<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1jwP9vHGLyE/TJPKwfwB9UI/AAAAAAAAArc/j1GX_WofyNI/s1600/signature3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 100px;" src="var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-12360342-1");pageTracker._trackPageview();} catch(err) {}</script><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1871148851130289018-4875806564325601808?l=strangeandlovelyride.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ajahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00442413435307915509noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1871148851130289018.post-6824444227974231902011-09-30T16:01:00.000-05:002011-09-30T16:01:13.847-05:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2AtRnywIcx0/ToYl_4EWnFI/AAAAAAAABuI/dCOOhKyLPsg/s1600/IMG_9575.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2AtRnywIcx0/ToYl_4EWnFI/AAAAAAAABuI/dCOOhKyLPsg/s640/IMG_9575.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Happy 10 Month Birthday Baby Girl!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--Fqua__HsXM/ToYlSvZtcKI/AAAAAAAABuA/w3C-wpkGmkY/s1600/IMG_9594.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--Fqua__HsXM/ToYlSvZtcKI/AAAAAAAABuA/w3C-wpkGmkY/s640/IMG_9594.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">What an amazing and FUN month this has been!!&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Evie, you have grown so much I can hardly believe it!&nbsp;</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="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--tcn8h4AOAg/ToYlpjwoF6I/AAAAAAAABuE/UEM9JNsNZdw/s1600/IMG_9587.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--tcn8h4AOAg/ToYlpjwoF6I/AAAAAAAABuE/UEM9JNsNZdw/s640/IMG_9587.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I just love her little pony tail, but doesn't it make her look so big!? Where has my baby gone?</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">You are a smart and curious little girl. And so friendly! You'll let pretty much anyone hold you and squawk and say HI to everyone we pass!</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gE9W9VULigQ/ToYk88ifMmI/AAAAAAAABt8/zzjfIy1QWXQ/s1600/IMG_9604.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gE9W9VULigQ/ToYk88ifMmI/AAAAAAAABt8/zzjfIy1QWXQ/s640/IMG_9604.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I kinda think she looks like me in this pic! There may be hope for me! ;)</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This month we added two more teeth.. and I'm pretty sure at least two more are about to break through. I think she looks so different with teeth!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Jnng9hdXDSE/ToYmqJ6xGBI/AAAAAAAABuU/yVR96KJXBLM/s1600/IMG_9535.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Jnng9hdXDSE/ToYmqJ6xGBI/AAAAAAAABuU/yVR96KJXBLM/s640/IMG_9535.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">I trimmed up her bangs a few weeks ago.. meant to post pics! Agh!</div><div style="text-align: center;">Her hair was just looking a little scraggly in the front, since it's so stinkin long! We'll wait a while for a real haircut.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yjwfb0DPR-I/ToYm379aZQI/AAAAAAAABuY/q-FxYCw5s50/s1600/IMG_9537.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yjwfb0DPR-I/ToYm379aZQI/AAAAAAAABuY/q-FxYCw5s50/s640/IMG_9537.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This month she added blowing kisses to her repertoire of sweetness. I just love it. She is such a sweet, loving girl, it makes my heart so happy! She hasn't quite figured out how to "blow" the kiss, but she'll put her little hand up over her mouth. :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">She's also started kissing all her stuffed animals and pictures in her books!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It was so cute- on the plane ride to CA, I had her favorite book with us- a collection of nursery rhymes that my mom gave her. She was flipping through it on her own (I LOVE that she loves books!) and stopped on "One, Two, Buckle My Shoe" and kissed the little hen in the picture. Then she turned the page, turned back and kissed it again! We just looked at each other and melted.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Such a little lovey!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-306xnA_rOVM/ToYmefQd7VI/AAAAAAAABuQ/zWhaGf8t070/s1600/IMG_9561.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-306xnA_rOVM/ToYmefQd7VI/AAAAAAAABuQ/zWhaGf8t070/s640/IMG_9561.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Evie also loves to bounce and dance. If you ask her if she wants to go bouncing (meaning get into her exersaucer/bouncer/jumperoo thing), she'll immediately start bouncing or kicking her legs. She's also started doing the same thing when I sing to her or talk about dancing. She IS a Tiny Dancer, after all!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Owo3H9QMGWE/ToYmUsnjMOI/AAAAAAAABuM/p0IjTI8NLaQ/s1600/IMG_9563.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Owo3H9QMGWE/ToYmUsnjMOI/AAAAAAAABuM/p0IjTI8NLaQ/s640/IMG_9563.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">In case you couldn't tell, her Daddy was here to help entertain her while I took pictures this time. That's who she's grinning at! Evie loves her Dada and gets SO excited when he comes home. It's just precious.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XJKiB_W6a4Y/ToYkoMHhQPI/AAAAAAAABt4/U4DJsSmImUU/s1600/IMG_9678.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XJKiB_W6a4Y/ToYkoMHhQPI/AAAAAAAABt4/U4DJsSmImUU/s640/IMG_9678.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I love you sweet girl! I can hardly believe how fast this year is flying by! You make my heart so happy each and every day.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6VwKNPow6ao/ToYkRMGlL5I/AAAAAAAABt0/ghLzW-cuJM4/s1600/IMG_9684.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6VwKNPow6ao/ToYkRMGlL5I/AAAAAAAABt0/ghLzW-cuJM4/s640/IMG_9684.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My little blondie.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><script type="text/javascript">var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www.");document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='""google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E"));</script><script type="text/javascript">try {<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1jwP9vHGLyE/TJPKwfwB9UI/AAAAAAAAArc/j1GX_WofyNI/s1600/signature3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 100px;" src="var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-12360342-1");pageTracker._trackPageview();} catch(err) {}</script><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1871148851130289018-682444422797423190?l=strangeandlovelyride.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ajahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00442413435307915509noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1871148851130289018.post-36781053691237840292011-09-29T21:24:00.001-05:002011-09-29T21:26:18.175-05:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4RISO4pkKSE/ToPB5Ks_jOI/AAAAAAAABs4/SpHSpPVvh-0/s1600/IMG_9379.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4RISO4pkKSE/ToPB5Ks_jOI/AAAAAAAABs4/SpHSpPVvh-0/s640/IMG_9379.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">While we were in San Diego we had to get together with my Uncle Tommy!</div><div style="text-align: center;">He's lived there for years and it's not often that we see each other so it was really nice. And of course it was fun for Evie to meet her Great Uncle. :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We met up for some yummy Mexican food and he brought his friend Cindy, who happened to be visiting from.. Oklahoma City! Can you believe it? Small world!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6qrgFAdkrrs/ToPCOt9yHNI/AAAAAAAABs8/GVy_Xx1TAI8/s1600/IMG_9389.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6qrgFAdkrrs/ToPCOt9yHNI/AAAAAAAABs8/GVy_Xx1TAI8/s640/IMG_9389.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Tommy and Cindy were high school sweethearts back in the day. :)</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AjCj1BVNHAI/ToPMv9SOEkI/AAAAAAAABtQ/LWo6N2FmD6Q/s1600/IMG_9400.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AjCj1BVNHAI/ToPMv9SOEkI/AAAAAAAABtQ/LWo6N2FmD6Q/s640/IMG_9400.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wGJnqSux484/ToPDCUz7eCI/AAAAAAAABtE/nTIyxdNPBpo/s1600/IMG_9419.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wGJnqSux484/ToPDCUz7eCI/AAAAAAAABtE/nTIyxdNPBpo/s640/IMG_9419.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Our cottage at the Coronado was two stories. We don't have stairs at home, so that was Evie's first time to really explore the stairs and she climbed right up! With one of us behind her, of course.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dm4I2BqQAEc/ToPN6e91I4I/AAAAAAAABtc/8vkJ5lGW7uc/s1600/IMG_9491.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dm4I2BqQAEc/ToPN6e91I4I/AAAAAAAABtc/8vkJ5lGW7uc/s640/IMG_9491.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trying out her new skills outside.</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q6c9mK3gkvk/ToPNg_3VBqI/AAAAAAAABtY/HvNXzCyZ-NI/s1600/IMG_9451.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q6c9mK3gkvk/ToPNg_3VBqI/AAAAAAAABtY/HvNXzCyZ-NI/s640/IMG_9451.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Someone will be walking soon!</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We drove up to La Jolla one night for dinner.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And Evie kept her bow in for about 4 minutes. New record. :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-P1jfc6KtX6E/ToPOz72WWkI/AAAAAAAABtk/F-rsCyY5-9Y/s1600/IMG_9366.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-P1jfc6KtX6E/ToPOz72WWkI/AAAAAAAABtk/F-rsCyY5-9Y/s640/IMG_9366.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9RwBPE7md3E/ToPPUSFfceI/AAAAAAAABto/kIeuZO63fpA/s1600/IMG_9494.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9RwBPE7md3E/ToPPUSFfceI/AAAAAAAABto/kIeuZO63fpA/s640/IMG_9494.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Driving across the bridge to Coronado Island.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TLHebBbFvqg/ToPPngSOczI/AAAAAAAABts/EkmWjDQRT2E/s1600/IMG_9497.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TLHebBbFvqg/ToPPngSOczI/AAAAAAAABts/EkmWjDQRT2E/s640/IMG_9497.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So long San Diego!! We hope to come back and visit again soon!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d6wOnQXSuvo/ToPOVXgVyvI/AAAAAAAABtg/RAeiWfD978g/s1600/IMG_9498.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d6wOnQXSuvo/ToPOVXgVyvI/AAAAAAAABtg/RAeiWfD978g/s640/IMG_9498.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><script type="text/javascript">var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www.");document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='""google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E"));</script><script type="text/javascript">try {<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1jwP9vHGLyE/TJPKwfwB9UI/AAAAAAAAArc/j1GX_WofyNI/s1600/signature3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 100px;" src="var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-12360342-1");pageTracker._trackPageview();} catch(err) {}</script><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1871148851130289018-3678105369123784029?l=strangeandlovelyride.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ajahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00442413435307915509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1871148851130289018.post-23206983219867743322011-09-28T20:30:00.000-05:002011-09-28T20:30:00.360-05:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">While we were there we had to hit up the San Diego Zoo!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This was really the only place I really wanted to be sure and visit- it's one of the best!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Qhtmc_Whg0o/ToNCGwzaYQI/AAAAAAAABr8/hBBHIsCYpCU/s1600/IMG_9312.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Qhtmc_Whg0o/ToNCGwzaYQI/AAAAAAAABr8/hBBHIsCYpCU/s640/IMG_9312.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Evie and her Grandmommy</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We took one of the guided tours, aka, we were chauffeured around to the best spots rather than walk all day long!&nbsp;</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WksCFTiZInY/ToNCvui6WwI/AAAAAAAABsA/3O3k0BR5wsc/s1600/IMG_9315.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WksCFTiZInY/ToNCvui6WwI/AAAAAAAABsA/3O3k0BR5wsc/s640/IMG_9315.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tWJk-Pu0Sxc/ToNDSEPF6GI/AAAAAAAABsE/g_ckjNrMAx8/s1600/IMG_9316.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tWJk-Pu0Sxc/ToNDSEPF6GI/AAAAAAAABsE/g_ckjNrMAx8/s640/IMG_9316.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>&nbsp;<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dWUhzSBnwq8/ToND_8ER3TI/AAAAAAAABsM/FbX53HyvzZ8/s1600/IMG_9319.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dWUhzSBnwq8/ToND_8ER3TI/AAAAAAAABsM/FbX53HyvzZ8/s640/IMG_9319.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-o9oswgkLW4Y/ToNEhWZDMPI/AAAAAAAABsQ/ys-Chm1Ao3Q/s1600/IMG_9331.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-o9oswgkLW4Y/ToNEhWZDMPI/AAAAAAAABsQ/ys-Chm1Ao3Q/s640/IMG_9331.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TDRqFjRLYw4/ToNFLMDmAKI/AAAAAAAABsU/80xhKB2t0dg/s1600/IMG_9336.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TDRqFjRLYw4/ToNFLMDmAKI/AAAAAAAABsU/80xhKB2t0dg/s640/IMG_9336.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6r0N7LtP96w/ToNFtqsinvI/AAAAAAAABsY/uah6NJgaWoc/s1600/IMG_9338.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6r0N7LtP96w/ToNFtqsinvI/AAAAAAAABsY/uah6NJgaWoc/s640/IMG_9338.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EFpHMxEih6c/ToNIh2m0pJI/AAAAAAAABsg/c65vgHorUzQ/s1600/IMG_9349.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EFpHMxEih6c/ToNIh2m0pJI/AAAAAAAABsg/c65vgHorUzQ/s640/IMG_9349.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Evie loved it!&nbsp;</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kr3ok1zI8-U/ToNH7poerPI/AAAAAAAABsc/_zwFui4Hhao/s1600/IMG_9321.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kr3ok1zI8-U/ToNH7poerPI/AAAAAAAABsc/_zwFui4Hhao/s640/IMG_9321.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wtjnhNNKKg4/ToNI8AZkJzI/AAAAAAAABsk/lTIjslcBQYU/s1600/IMG_9353.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wtjnhNNKKg4/ToNI8AZkJzI/AAAAAAAABsk/lTIjslcBQYU/s640/IMG_9353.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eVxmQ7EK2kA/ToNJS_kET0I/AAAAAAAABso/G7Ims5Hyz-Q/s1600/IMG_9361.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eVxmQ7EK2kA/ToNJS_kET0I/AAAAAAAABso/G7Ims5Hyz-Q/s640/IMG_9361.JPG" width="640" /></a></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="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OZ5xcMqHg4I/ToNJ5BA7qMI/AAAAAAAABsw/WlkrZpeX1Ik/s1600/IMG_9344.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OZ5xcMqHg4I/ToNJ5BA7qMI/AAAAAAAABsw/WlkrZpeX1Ik/s640/IMG_9344.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This little one was also on our tour ride. So sweet.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;Aannnnd.. Miss Tired Pants finally dozed off.. for a few minutes anyway.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KW3fAYmOnN4/ToNJo2pnovI/AAAAAAAABss/sKBw25HPJ9E/s1600/IMG_9358.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KW3fAYmOnN4/ToNJo2pnovI/AAAAAAAABss/sKBw25HPJ9E/s640/IMG_9358.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EYKbFXvhzPM/ToNKUcWF08I/AAAAAAAABs0/0P4SYkeCefQ/s1600/IMG_9364.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EYKbFXvhzPM/ToNKUcWF08I/AAAAAAAABs0/0P4SYkeCefQ/s640/IMG_9364.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Can't wait to come back some time when Evie is bigger and can really enjoy all the animals!</div><script type="text/javascript">var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www.");document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='""google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E"));</script><script type="text/javascript">try {<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1jwP9vHGLyE/TJPKwfwB9UI/AAAAAAAAArc/j1GX_WofyNI/s1600/signature3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 100px;" src="var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-12360342-1");pageTracker._trackPageview();} catch(err) {}</script><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1871148851130289018-2320698321986774332?l=strangeandlovelyride.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ajahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00442413435307915509noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1871148851130289018.post-55447870945474860622011-09-28T10:44:00.001-05:002011-09-28T10:45:41.626-05:00<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OERHQayYwv4/ToJFig9IRJI/AAAAAAAABrc/wETpX5gJJOQ/s1600/IMG_9257.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OERHQayYwv4/ToJFig9IRJI/AAAAAAAABrc/wETpX5gJJOQ/s640/IMG_9257.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><script type="text/javascript">var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www.");document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='""google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E"));</script><script type="text/javascript">try {<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1jwP9vHGLyE/TJPKwfwB9UI/AAAAAAAAArc/j1GX_WofyNI/s1600/signature3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 100px;" src="var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-12360342-1");pageTracker._trackPageview();} catch(err) {}</script><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">San Diego was gorgeous. The last time I was there was 10 years ago when my brother graduated from bootcamp.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">USMC!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0QmhE626E-g/ToJFHN77L-I/AAAAAAAABrY/fOjlV3jyk7I/s1600/IMG_9252.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0QmhE626E-g/ToJFHN77L-I/AAAAAAAABrY/fOjlV3jyk7I/s640/IMG_9252.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This adorable little old Asian couple stopped when they saw Evie and asked if she was real. It was so cute! Then the Evie and the lady proceeded to say "HI!" to one another for about 5 minutes. Finally the man said "Ok, that's enough!" I almost died laughing. He was ready to hit the beach!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I just love old people :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We hit up Old Town..</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ejg9TeXsa2o/ToM5WrNFO0I/AAAAAAAABrg/qKcV1vQDPME/s1600/IMG_9277.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ejg9TeXsa2o/ToM5WrNFO0I/AAAAAAAABrg/qKcV1vQDPME/s640/IMG_9277.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">I must say, it wasn't as hopping and festive as I remember it.. but then again, we chose to go on a Wednesday morning. Still fun to walk around and see everything!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Nh9hK-n2ZU8/ToM53sSqd8I/AAAAAAAABrk/daFRgtzVD_k/s1600/IMG_9272.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Nh9hK-n2ZU8/ToM53sSqd8I/AAAAAAAABrk/daFRgtzVD_k/s640/IMG_9272.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rgZYxDhFRbk/ToM6XPufxXI/AAAAAAAABro/UIQVaPwVKus/s1600/IMG_9273.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rgZYxDhFRbk/ToM6XPufxXI/AAAAAAAABro/UIQVaPwVKus/s640/IMG_9273.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-B0P-qf4mr-A/ToM6tGPNo_I/AAAAAAAABrs/sR0b4V8FW88/s1600/IMG_9275.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-B0P-qf4mr-A/ToM6tGPNo_I/AAAAAAAABrs/sR0b4V8FW88/s640/IMG_9275.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zHoY-pajlFA/ToM_7-2vasI/AAAAAAAABr4/JaaSEgq5D1A/s1600/senorita.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zHoY-pajlFA/ToM_7-2vasI/AAAAAAAABr4/JaaSEgq5D1A/s640/senorita.jpg" width="476" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our little Senorita</td></tr></tbody></table><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; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">Sorry for the grainy iPhone pic. I actually took a ton of pictures with my phone and posted some on the personal blog while we were there. Oh that fandangled technology! :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">I'll have to post some of the good ones at the end of my little vacation series. Cause there just aren't enough pictures here, am I right??</div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HBLTpN8A1Hs/ToM7Se-EQHI/AAAAAAAABrw/RU7lR7Kfkq8/s1600/IMG_9280.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HBLTpN8A1Hs/ToM7Se-EQHI/AAAAAAAABrw/RU7lR7Kfkq8/s640/IMG_9280.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">We also visited the Seaport Village area the same day. So pretty!&nbsp;</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g4Nwxmj7kgI/ToM7p0Kgz8I/AAAAAAAABr0/I0dQ7lLkDJk/s1600/IMG_9281.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g4Nwxmj7kgI/ToM7p0Kgz8I/AAAAAAAABr0/I0dQ7lLkDJk/s640/IMG_9281.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1871148851130289018-5544787094547486062?l=strangeandlovelyride.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ajahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00442413435307915509noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1871148851130289018.post-34240501049737911872011-09-27T16:47:00.002-05:002011-09-27T16:47:40.803-05:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qD79KYzex4o/ToI_ZG-K2mI/AAAAAAAABrA/0hk7dYTj0sQ/s1600/IMG_9213.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="420" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qD79KYzex4o/ToI_ZG-K2mI/AAAAAAAABrA/0hk7dYTj0sQ/s640/IMG_9213.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;On Tuesday we left Laguna and drove down to sunny San Diego.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>"Discovered by the Germans in 1904, they named it San Diego, which of course in German means a whale's vagina.."</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Name that movie.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JsAqZqIpAKE/ToI_xnMdkcI/AAAAAAAABrE/aIFBIp7_5sU/s1600/IMG_9199.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JsAqZqIpAKE/ToI_xnMdkcI/AAAAAAAABrE/aIFBIp7_5sU/s640/IMG_9199.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We stayed at the amazing <a href="http://www.hoteldel.com/">Hotel Del Coronado</a> on Coronado Island. We ended up staying in the newer Beach Village Cottages, which were super nice. But the hotel is pretty cool- old, famous, and supposedly haunted!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Gk8GY6sCLMs/ToJEIx6TCCI/AAAAAAAABrU/BBqXUkFG9mA/s1600/IMG_9224.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Gk8GY6sCLMs/ToJEIx6TCCI/AAAAAAAABrU/BBqXUkFG9mA/s640/IMG_9224.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7MfHbm8AIQE/ToJAGt_5KPI/AAAAAAAABrI/K04UlDip7h0/s1600/IMG_9207.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7MfHbm8AIQE/ToJAGt_5KPI/AAAAAAAABrI/K04UlDip7h0/s640/IMG_9207.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">It's at this point in the vaca picture barrage that I'm realizing most of the pictures I took were of Evie Girl rather than our actual location and surroundings. Huh.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Oh well!</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QWlAfp48Ko4/ToJAV476dZI/AAAAAAAABrM/jq9FpUVKxmk/s1600/IMG_9246.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="422" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QWlAfp48Ko4/ToJAV476dZI/AAAAAAAABrM/jq9FpUVKxmk/s640/IMG_9246.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh look- I made it to San Diego, too!</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;">More to come!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><script type="text/javascript">var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www.");document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='""google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E"));</script><script type="text/javascript">try {<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1jwP9vHGLyE/TJPKwfwB9UI/AAAAAAAAArc/j1GX_WofyNI/s1600/signature3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 100px;" src="var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-12360342-1");pageTracker._trackPageview();} catch(err) {}</script><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1871148851130289018-3424050104973791187?l=strangeandlovelyride.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ajahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00442413435307915509noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1871148851130289018.post-44481338115781956812011-09-26T15:21:00.001-05:002011-09-26T15:39:22.997-05:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Bqe54_y9m6A/ToClopLDmMI/AAAAAAAABqQ/j02D1g3nL_Q/s1600/IMG_8874.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Bqe54_y9m6A/ToClopLDmMI/AAAAAAAABqQ/j02D1g3nL_Q/s640/IMG_8874.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This trip marked Evie's first time to the beach and ocean! She definitely dug right in to the sand :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We checked it out when we first arrived and I put her little toes in the sand and then we both got totally soaked when the wave coming in was bigger than I thought! VERY cold water. But still lots of fun!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Zn-lGER2OzU/ToCmH2taJ5I/AAAAAAAABqU/LvIvT-8xhk0/s1600/IMG_8903.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Zn-lGER2OzU/ToCmH2taJ5I/AAAAAAAABqU/LvIvT-8xhk0/s640/IMG_8903.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; color: #0000ee;"></span><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3DgYXM8sYFw/ToCn_WgLSGI/AAAAAAAABqc/hc6r4jd4ApQ/s1600/IMG_8925.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="display: inline !important; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3DgYXM8sYFw/ToCn_WgLSGI/AAAAAAAABqc/hc6r4jd4ApQ/s640/IMG_8925.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IsrbKz4ewG8/ToCmjmV0Z4I/AAAAAAAABqY/H9MlyCpjfaE/s1600/IMG_8910.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IsrbKz4ewG8/ToCmjmV0Z4I/AAAAAAAABqY/H9MlyCpjfaE/s640/IMG_8910.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pCCTP4Y9Kuc/ToCpC5m1YNI/AAAAAAAABqk/YOEa-ZbRJlo/s1600/IMG_8942.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pCCTP4Y9Kuc/ToCpC5m1YNI/AAAAAAAABqk/YOEa-ZbRJlo/s640/IMG_8942.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pCCTP4Y9Kuc/ToCpC5m1YNI/AAAAAAAABqk/YOEa-ZbRJlo/s1600/IMG_8942.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"></span></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-e4eBF0m3zc4/ToCohrbcJII/AAAAAAAABqg/UICngW9lIQU/s1600/IMG_8949.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-e4eBF0m3zc4/ToCohrbcJII/AAAAAAAABqg/UICngW9lIQU/s640/IMG_8949.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KtKPof62pjg/ToDcbg3cZsI/AAAAAAAABqo/2ONQq94uaSs/s1600/IMG_8953.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KtKPof62pjg/ToDcbg3cZsI/AAAAAAAABqo/2ONQq94uaSs/s640/IMG_8953.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Our last morning in Laguna was little bit chilly...<br />That's where the new outfit came in perfectly :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TJer3xbvQJc/ToDf7nS-LDI/AAAAAAAABqs/_bAYMzcQL0c/s1600/IMG_9127.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TJer3xbvQJc/ToDf7nS-LDI/AAAAAAAABqs/_bAYMzcQL0c/s640/IMG_9127.JPG" width="425" /></a></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="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nZfFekDZXlA/ToDgzYa1yqI/AAAAAAAABqw/XLZSN3hjxWc/s1600/IMG_9161.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nZfFekDZXlA/ToDgzYa1yqI/AAAAAAAABqw/XLZSN3hjxWc/s640/IMG_9161.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Picture evidence that I was, in fact, on this trip.</td></tr></tbody></table><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="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-J0UyODhvcu0/ToDhTGq4ySI/AAAAAAAABq0/8rypw8QuuCY/s1600/IMG_9168.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-J0UyODhvcu0/ToDhTGq4ySI/AAAAAAAABq0/8rypw8QuuCY/s640/IMG_9168.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I spot a whale!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JPXBvbITY3w/ToDhnhmuTNI/AAAAAAAABq4/vLjb-V0L_6o/s1600/IMG_9195.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JPXBvbITY3w/ToDhnhmuTNI/AAAAAAAABq4/vLjb-V0L_6o/s640/IMG_9195.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nObjX5atVXM/ToDh-u3kf5I/AAAAAAAABq8/LwKVKFDpmxs/s1600/IMG_9193.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nObjX5atVXM/ToDh-u3kf5I/AAAAAAAABq8/LwKVKFDpmxs/s640/IMG_9193.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Even though it was mild to cool while we were there, we still loved visiting the beach! Can't wait till we can visit again and play in the sand and water!</div><script type="text/javascript">var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www.");document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='""google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E"));</script><script type="text/javascript">try {<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1jwP9vHGLyE/TJPKwfwB9UI/AAAAAAAAArc/j1GX_WofyNI/s1600/signature3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 100px;" src="var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-12360342-1");pageTracker._trackPageview();} catch(err) {}</script><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1871148851130289018-4448133811578195681?l=strangeandlovelyride.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ajahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00442413435307915509noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1871148851130289018.post-43639710280339724802011-09-26T11:03:00.000-05:002011-09-26T11:15:34.223-05:00Well, 10 loads of laundry later and things are starting to look normal around here!<script type="text/javascript">var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www.");document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='""google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E"));</script><script type="text/javascript">try {<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1jwP9vHGLyE/TJPKwfwB9UI/AAAAAAAAArc/j1GX_WofyNI/s1600/signature3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 100px;" src="var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-12360342-1");pageTracker._trackPageview();} catch(err) {}</script><br /><div><br /></div><div>We had an <i>amazing</i> time on our vacation and made lots of great family memories. Evie was a little dream traveller. I'm SO thankful for that! I wasn't really sure what to expect with the flights, napping, time changes, busy days and all.. but she did great! The first night was rough with lots of awakenings and a 4:30am wake-up. But overall we could not be more proud of our little girl!</div><div><br /></div><div>On to the pictures! We spent the first 3 nights in Laguna Beach, at the <a href="http://www.surfandsandresort.com/">Surf &amp; Sand Resort</a>. HIGHLY recommend! We had an awesome suite with a huge balcony right above the beach. We slept with the door open every night and I could seriously get used to sleeping to the sound of waves crashing on the beach every night!&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cD_QGqBdPX0/ToCWJz2zRqI/AAAAAAAABpM/kpC2bmyjp90/s1600/IMG_8857.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cD_QGqBdPX0/ToCWJz2zRqI/AAAAAAAABpM/kpC2bmyjp90/s640/IMG_8857.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The only (horrible) picture I managed to get of our view. Just trust me- it was amazing.</td></tr></tbody></table><div>My brother and sister-in-law live in Orange, CA, so they drove down to see us the afternoon we got in! They haven't seen Evie since Christmas when she was about 3 weeks old, so I'm soo glad we were able to meet up! Evie and Darius played peek-a-boo and I don't know who had more fun.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K-wnNCFWFPc/ToCd9GOHY_I/AAAAAAAABpw/_e1PEvk-5AY/s1600/Peek+a+boo+Darius.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K-wnNCFWFPc/ToCd9GOHY_I/AAAAAAAABpw/_e1PEvk-5AY/s640/Peek+a+boo+Darius.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-K4ksfw20OfA/ToCfI3auMSI/AAAAAAAABp0/1nWMfSui4G0/s1600/Peek+a+boo+Darius+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="270" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-K4ksfw20OfA/ToCfI3auMSI/AAAAAAAABp0/1nWMfSui4G0/s640/Peek+a+boo+Darius+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />They also brought Evie a little gift- an adorable little velour, purple track suit that came in very handy on the chilly nights! Of course, Evie loved the gift tag best :)<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7ZDA2KM4Zk0/ToCgVyoFkJI/AAAAAAAABp8/MiCj3dtUXtU/s1600/IMG_8840.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7ZDA2KM4Zk0/ToCgVyoFkJI/AAAAAAAABp8/MiCj3dtUXtU/s640/IMG_8840.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7ZDA2KM4Zk0/ToCgVyoFkJI/AAAAAAAABp8/MiCj3dtUXtU/s1600/IMG_8840.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pKbYHQiAh5g/ToCgBP9ZZ1I/AAAAAAAABp4/ti2uxtJsGms/s1600/IMG_8841.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pKbYHQiAh5g/ToCgBP9ZZ1I/AAAAAAAABp4/ti2uxtJsGms/s640/IMG_8841.JPG" width="425" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>On Sunday we drove up to see their new house. It was beautiful! They have tons more space now and I'm so excited for them. Plenty of room for lots of little cousins for Evie! HA!<br /><br />Then they took us shopping.. I can't remember the name of the mall, but it's the largest one in California. At least I think that's what Aivy said!! We had a great time. I'm so glad we were able to spend some time together! I'm bummed that I didn't get any pictures of all five of us together, but I did get some with Evie. We definitely want to go back and visit them again soon!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YBGKWDJk1kA/ToCiZTMx2mI/AAAAAAAABqE/RXw4cspCv1g/s1600/IMG_8865.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YBGKWDJk1kA/ToCiZTMx2mI/AAAAAAAABqE/RXw4cspCv1g/s640/IMG_8865.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wogPLdwibO4/ToCisSscasI/AAAAAAAABqI/vMdi8gVJwqU/s1600/IMG_8870.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wogPLdwibO4/ToCisSscasI/AAAAAAAABqI/vMdi8gVJwqU/s640/IMG_8870.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LWui441eMNo/ToCi5QJGCtI/AAAAAAAABqM/FzNYwzdPKjE/s1600/IMG_8859.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LWui441eMNo/ToCi5QJGCtI/AAAAAAAABqM/FzNYwzdPKjE/s640/IMG_8859.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We miss you guys already!!</div><div><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1871148851130289018-4363971028033972480?l=strangeandlovelyride.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ajahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00442413435307915509noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1871148851130289018.post-89658707455217616722011-09-25T10:22:00.000-05:002011-09-25T10:22:34.089-05:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mhbmGDdNyOQ/Tn9GhFVGeqI/AAAAAAAABpI/ZQ3nMCbbdFU/s1600/IMG_9256.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mhbmGDdNyOQ/Tn9GhFVGeqI/AAAAAAAABpI/ZQ3nMCbbdFU/s640/IMG_9256.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Hi! We just got back last night from a great trip to Southern Californina, hence my bloggy absence :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This little one slept in until 9:45, which meant I was able to sleep in until 9! There is <i>nothing</i> like sleeping in your own bed.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Be back soon to share about our trip and some fun pictures! Happy Sunday!</div><script type="text/javascript">var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www.");document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='""google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E"));</script><script type="text/javascript">try {<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1jwP9vHGLyE/TJPKwfwB9UI/AAAAAAAAArc/j1GX_WofyNI/s1600/signature3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 100px;" src="var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-12360342-1");pageTracker._trackPageview();} catch(err) {}</script><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1871148851130289018-8965870745521761672?l=strangeandlovelyride.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ajahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00442413435307915509noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1871148851130289018.post-33002188441172214312011-09-11T21:30:00.000-05:002011-09-11T21:30:00.715-05:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Since this year marked the first Grandparents Day to celebrate for all of our parents, I decided to make them each a little gift from Evie.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Enter Pinterest and a few adorable foot/hand print ideas that hit just right note of sweet, sentimental and, well.. free! :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vOdXPFM7KJQ/Tmt-jZJzOpI/AAAAAAAABn4/wJhXyyQrZ7U/s1600/IMG_8612.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vOdXPFM7KJQ/Tmt-jZJzOpI/AAAAAAAABn4/wJhXyyQrZ7U/s640/IMG_8612.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I decided to go for it while she was eating and strapped down in her high chair. I loaded her tray up with puffs and went to town painting her little bitty feet!&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JC-zv3D60Z0/Tmt-0xkeJaI/AAAAAAAABn8/rmA5cw8uVT8/s1600/IMG_8611.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JC-zv3D60Z0/Tmt-0xkeJaI/AAAAAAAABn8/rmA5cw8uVT8/s640/IMG_8611.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><br />I love how they turned out! I did a few extras since I knew we might have some mess-ups. That way I could pick the best three (plus one for us!) to give out.<br /><br />I thought about writing Happy Grandparents Day or her age, but in the end decided to keep it simple with just her name and year.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ze4rh8L5fOs/Tmt_JyhmjnI/AAAAAAAABoA/7NuuCk_Cqc8/s1600/IMG_8608.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ze4rh8L5fOs/Tmt_JyhmjnI/AAAAAAAABoA/7NuuCk_Cqc8/s640/IMG_8608.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Thinking this would be an adorable yearly tradition!&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Happy Grandparents Day!!</div><script type="text/javascript">var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www.");document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='""google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E"));</script><script type="text/javascript">try {<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1jwP9vHGLyE/TJPKwfwB9UI/AAAAAAAAArc/j1GX_WofyNI/s1600/signature3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 100px;" src="var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-12360342-1");pageTracker._trackPageview();} catch(err) {}</script><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1871148851130289018-3300218844117221431?l=strangeandlovelyride.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ajahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00442413435307915509noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1871148851130289018.post-40070869913648866502011-09-08T11:03:00.000-05:002011-09-10T10:27:28.470-05:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eNXEMEik7qw/TmjmnG7uiEI/AAAAAAAABn0/X9mLg7jdasM/s1600/9mo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eNXEMEik7qw/TmjmnG7uiEI/AAAAAAAABn0/X9mLg7jdasM/s640/9mo.jpg" width="412" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><script type="text/javascript">var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www.");document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='""google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E"));</script><script type="text/javascript">try {<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1jwP9vHGLyE/TJPKwfwB9UI/AAAAAAAAArc/j1GX_WofyNI/s1600/signature3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 100px;" src="var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-12360342-1");pageTracker._trackPageview();} catch(err) {}</script><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1871148851130289018-4007086991364886650?l=strangeandlovelyride.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ajahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00442413435307915509noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1871148851130289018.post-55810952349807563772011-09-06T15:25:00.000-05:002011-09-10T10:27:52.539-05:00Hi friends! How was your weekend?<br /><br />Ahhh.. SO enjoyable once Sunday rolled around with that aMAZing cool front! It literally lifted my mood about 5 million points!<br /><br />My dad and step-mom came into town for a visit, so we had a lot of fun. We hit up the local aquarium on Saturday for some good old fashioned swampland fun. In case you weren't aware, I live in the middle of the country, so Flipper and his friends aren't exactly in the neighborhood. That means man-sized catfish, snapping turtles and a tank full of Nemos. Add in a heavy dose of locals on a holiday weekend and you have yourself a regular old state fair atmosphere, complete with SMELLS. And I'm not talking about the live bait.<br /><br />In all it was a fun time and I know my parents loved taking Evie around and showing her every little critter and sea urchin. She squawked and HI'd every kid in the place. Also? Sister loves her some people watching. Which is odd, because neither of her parents thinks sitting and staring and commenting on the varieties of outfits, hair-dos and couplings that walk by sounds like a perfectly fun Saturday afternoon activity. Nope. Neither one of us.<br /><br />With the dip in temps on Sunday, I decided to bust out the leggings. I had decided it would be a lazy Sunday for me, as sleep has been eluding us the past few nights. <i>Ahem</i>.<br /><br />(Teething = no bueno and somehow leggings = lazy.)<br /><br />Anyway, leggings sounded cozy and fall-ish and low maintenance when coupled with my dirty hair and hat combo.&nbsp; And it's not that I think you can't wear leggings in the summer, but I choose not to, mainly based on principle. That principle being that it's HOT and I have lived through a live version of the episode of Friends where Ross tries to pry on his leather pants with lotion one too many times. My lesson has been learned.<br /><br />So cozy clothes, dirty hair and and open window with a cool breeze while I napped sounded right up my alley. Discovering that I had been wearing my underwear inside out half the day only solidified my campaign for nap number two. <br /><br />By Sunday evening I was feeling refreshed enough to head to a friend's house for a cook out. Evie entertained the crowd and showed off her affinity for avocados. Then she showed mom a little tooth that's trying to break through. Cue me spiraling into some mommy guilt for getting frustrated after the 5th wake up the night before. My poor baby was in pain! So I dosed her up with some children's tylenol and she slept like a (toothless) baby that night. <br /><br />On Monday we decided to get outside for the last ball game of our town's minor league season. I have since decided that I will now only be attending outdoor sporting events when the temps are hovering at 79 degrees. Pure bliss I tell you! A nice lady handed us two free tickets as we were walking up to the ticket booth, so when it came time for treats I went a little crazy and ordered a Dip'n Dots with that teeny little baseball hat container. Remember those?? Yeah, apparently they're still around. <br /><br />It's worth noting that this was Evie's first real experience with.. wait for it... GRASS. Yep. We spread out the blanket, plopped her down and watched her scramble over to run her fingers through it. She was also pretty confounded by the shadow of her hand. I thought something might seriously be wrong when she kept awkwardly waiving her arm in the same way over and over while staring at the ground. :)<br /><br />We ended our long weekend with a second neighborhood walk that turned out to be one walk to many for our portly dog. He pretty much gave up at the halfway point. I won't even mention what a tight squeeze it is for him to fit through his doggy door. Wouldn't want to embarrass anyone.<br /><br />So that's how we celebrated and labored this weekend! How about you? See any non-native fish or touch grass for the first time??&nbsp; <br /><br /><br /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1871148851130289018-5581095234980756377?l=strangeandlovelyride.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ajahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00442413435307915509noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1871148851130289018.post-84284497155822949232011-08-30T21:52:00.000-05:002011-08-30T21:52:22.385-05:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Our big girl is 9 months old!&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Doesn't she look so grown up and serious??!! :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IUEqKkg_ngg/TlwvGJjuQmI/AAAAAAAABnA/pnuHhzqFz9s/s1600/IMG_7865.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IUEqKkg_ngg/TlwvGJjuQmI/AAAAAAAABnA/pnuHhzqFz9s/s640/IMG_7865.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Evie is the sweetest girl.. I am so so blessed every day by her sweet and happy nature. She wakes up as happy as a clam and just brings me such joy all day long!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dxG2iWIqcR0/Tlwvk2Ig3yI/AAAAAAAABnE/M4JgFLpFwz0/s1600/IMG_7866.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dxG2iWIqcR0/Tlwvk2Ig3yI/AAAAAAAABnE/M4JgFLpFwz0/s640/IMG_7866.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">My little munchkin loves to laugh and make others laugh. She is so quick to smile and be silly.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We don't know where she gets it, but she makes all sorts of noises. Humming, groaning, sniffing, huffing, fake coughing... and she does this sweet little whisper babble that I just love! And all of this is on top of her regular "talking." Sister is a talker. I just love it when she squawks and talks to anything and everything in the room.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7kRMXtO7qpk/TlwwAmuVDzI/AAAAAAAABnI/8UVJ335CTD0/s1600/IMG_7915.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7kRMXtO7qpk/TlwwAmuVDzI/AAAAAAAABnI/8UVJ335CTD0/s640/IMG_7915.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Evie's Word of the Month is definitely "Hi" :)<br />She will raise her arm, point her finger and say HI a million times a day. We love it.<br />She really does it when Dad comes home from work and any time she sees the dog. Yep. Dada and Duke the dog get major preference over Mama in this arena. Hmph! But it's pretty stinking cute to hear her say "Hi Doo" and wave to the dog.<br /><br />She'll also share the Hi love with any mirror we pass, random people out and about and babies on the side of diaper boxes. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6Tp6WVEi5_M/TlwwWnOdUMI/AAAAAAAABnM/DOe2_qKA-UY/s1600/IMG_8008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6Tp6WVEi5_M/TlwwWnOdUMI/AAAAAAAABnM/DOe2_qKA-UY/s640/IMG_8008.JPG" width="426" /></a> </div></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Evie has been pulling up on everything she can get her hands on. She's taken a step or two from one toy or table to another, but she's not quite cruising around things yet. It won't be long! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fwvPU2kb1fc/Tlwxs5lhzmI/AAAAAAAABnU/LKjROow1sUw/s1600/IMG_8024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fwvPU2kb1fc/Tlwxs5lhzmI/AAAAAAAABnU/LKjROow1sUw/s640/IMG_8024.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And this is something very new.. please take note that she is holding this little remote control toy up to her ear, ala a phone. As mom and dad are rarely on the phone, we blame Grandmommy for this one. ;)</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="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i0ybuWnb4Wo/TlwyCzTS8FI/AAAAAAAABnY/Lwp98xAtMbo/s1600/IMG_8044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i0ybuWnb4Wo/TlwyCzTS8FI/AAAAAAAABnY/Lwp98xAtMbo/s640/IMG_8044.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hi Dada! We want to go shopping! Where did you leave your credit cards???</td></tr> </tbody></table><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="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rNvnbAX15Q4/TlwyZ_YsbyI/AAAAAAAABnc/cUHP1pFnJH8/s1600/IMG_8046.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rNvnbAX15Q4/TlwyZ_YsbyI/AAAAAAAABnc/cUHP1pFnJH8/s640/IMG_8046.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Okay, okay. But I'm not breaking the news to Mama.</td></tr> </tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><i>*** This toy is actually our friend Jude's.. he left it at our house months ago and I keep forgetting to return it. Sarah- please don't tell him that Evie's been chewing on it or we might never be invited back to your house!! :)</i></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AvNs_thpaRA/TlwyzHiLWQI/AAAAAAAABng/M4XKQRGhgBE/s1600/IMG_8052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AvNs_thpaRA/TlwyzHiLWQI/AAAAAAAABng/M4XKQRGhgBE/s640/IMG_8052.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Busy should be her middle name this month. Into anything and everything!&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;">Whenever she starts to get into something she's not supposed to I say "Evie" in a certain tone so she'll look at me and tell her "No ma'am." She totally knows what I'm saying she'll usually look at me for a moment and then go back to what she was doing. So I say it again. What's hilarious is that sometimes when I tell her No ma'am or even just say her name in that tone, she'll turn around and look at me and point her finger and squawk. It's hard not to laugh! Such a smart little cookie!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2ji04Va9Oe0/TlwzJi7oV4I/AAAAAAAABnk/eDp3vdZByOI/s1600/IMG_8108.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2ji04Va9Oe0/TlwzJi7oV4I/AAAAAAAABnk/eDp3vdZByOI/s640/IMG_8108.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">This month has seen lots of big changes! A few other notable things about Evie Girl this month:</div><div style="text-align: center;">she's started feeding herself and feeding mama, sleeping better (longer, more consistent naps and down to only one night feeding! Hallelujah!), playing harder, loves to kick kick kick her legs (in the pool, when you're holding her, when she nurses), she loves to read books, and loves it when I sing to her.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">She toughed out the shot at her 9 month appointment like a champ. And at only 16lbs, our little love bug is still on the teeny side.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I just love it.</div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mnNZ98vDdO4/Tlwzhf56m3I/AAAAAAAABno/cESpoOg6zR0/s1600/IMG_8121.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mnNZ98vDdO4/Tlwzhf56m3I/AAAAAAAABno/cESpoOg6zR0/s640/IMG_8121.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><span id="goog_1280856473"></span><span id="goog_1280856474"></span><script type="text/javascript"> var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www."); document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='""google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E")); </script> <script type="text/javascript"> try { <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1jwP9vHGLyE/TJPKwfwB9UI/AAAAAAAAArc/j1GX_WofyNI/s1600/signature3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 100px;" src=" var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-12360342-1"); pageTracker._trackPageview(); } catch(err) {} </script><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1871148851130289018-8428449715582294923?l=strangeandlovelyride.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ajahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00442413435307915509noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1871148851130289018.post-18034814835661603242011-08-22T20:06:00.000-05:002011-08-22T20:06:48.308-05:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I thought I'd share a little sneak peak/update on my <a href="http://strangeandlovelyride.blogspot.com/2011/08/twinkies.html">twin chairs</a>:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Qm04Y_hbv_A/TlL7wcy3YRI/AAAAAAAABmQ/dhbo0hr1dBU/s1600/IMG_7861.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Qm04Y_hbv_A/TlL7wcy3YRI/AAAAAAAABmQ/dhbo0hr1dBU/s640/IMG_7861.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;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">What do you think???</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><script type="text/javascript"> var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www."); document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='""google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E")); </script> <script type="text/javascript"> try { <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1jwP9vHGLyE/TJPKwfwB9UI/AAAAAAAAArc/j1GX_WofyNI/s1600/signature3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 100px;" src=" var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-12360342-1"); pageTracker._trackPageview(); } catch(err) {} </script><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1871148851130289018-1803481483566160324?l=strangeandlovelyride.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ajahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00442413435307915509noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1871148851130289018.post-2551294623607603762011-08-16T12:54:00.002-05:002011-08-16T12:56:06.503-05:00<div style="text-align: center;">This sweet girl has learned a new word..&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;">Drop by our house and you're likely to get shrieked at by way of a greeting :)</div><br /><center><a href="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/08/16/2553.jpg"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/08/16/s_2553.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="320" /></a></center><br /><br />- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1871148851130289018-255129462360760376?l=strangeandlovelyride.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ajahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00442413435307915509noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1871148851130289018.post-33699822767591863182011-08-06T17:27:00.004-05:002011-08-17T21:52:55.325-05:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So my painfully advanced child has a little secret...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hLhJJ0b1-fA/Tj26htGNT3I/AAAAAAAABkg/Mpvt7glbCz0/s1600/IMG_7761.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="403" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hLhJJ0b1-fA/Tj26htGNT3I/AAAAAAAABkg/Mpvt7glbCz0/s640/IMG_7761.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Yes, she's been rolling over for months, sitting up on her own is old hat, she crawls like a champ and pulling up is now all the rage.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But my girl can't roll from her back to her tummy.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Can't. Do it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We heard a squack in her room this morning, and came in to find her like this. Playtime interrupted by a backwards flail that left her lounging on her back like a sad little turtle on the sidewalk.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table 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="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O8wUNX2RZT4/Tj27DliljrI/AAAAAAAABkk/OIuD5N11MzM/s1600/IMG_7774.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O8wUNX2RZT4/Tj27DliljrI/AAAAAAAABkk/OIuD5N11MzM/s640/IMG_7774.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">See? A sad little turtle on the sidewalk, aka Evie.</span></i></td></tr> </tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Sigh. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Is it wrong that I find this slightly hilarious??&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Truth be told, I haven't encouraged her to learn this skill very much. <i>Bad mommy.&nbsp;</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">She's always been a tummy sleeper, so she's usually only on her back when we're changing her diaper or if I want to lay her down and know she won't go anywhere. And I have CLUNG to that since she's become mobile.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Is that wrong of me? Eh. Maybe. But I don't think it will leave any lasting scars.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kajse5mUgDM/Tj27YkcmTvI/AAAAAAAABko/pw12h46uxt4/s1600/IMG_7783.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="406" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kajse5mUgDM/Tj27YkcmTvI/AAAAAAAABko/pw12h46uxt4/s640/IMG_7783.JPG" width="640" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">Seriously, mom, roll me over already.</span></span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And yes, I did in fact leave her lying on the floor, helpless, as I ran back out of the room to grab my camera and take these pictures.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And to get back at me, the little stinker decided that that was the moment she would ROLL OVER.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_AgA57FIG38/Tj273BfZqCI/AAAAAAAABks/X8b4vbdB-Uk/s1600/IMG_7804.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_AgA57FIG38/Tj273BfZqCI/AAAAAAAABks/X8b4vbdB-Uk/s640/IMG_7804.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I kid you not. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I nearly missed it! That stinker! I could hardly believe how perfect it was.</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;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2uq9HGgGcxM/Tj28QbqFEcI/AAAAAAAABkw/tsuH0sJBBTc/s1600/IMG_7813.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2uq9HGgGcxM/Tj28QbqFEcI/AAAAAAAABkw/tsuH0sJBBTc/s640/IMG_7813.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Like I said: <b>painfully advanced</b>. </div><script type="text/javascript"> var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www."); document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='""google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E")); </script> <script type="text/javascript"> try { <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1jwP9vHGLyE/TJPKwfwB9UI/AAAAAAAAArc/j1GX_WofyNI/s1600/signature3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 100px;" src=" var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-12360342-1"); pageTracker._trackPageview(); } catch(err) {} </script><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1871148851130289018-3369982276759186318?l=strangeandlovelyride.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ajahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00442413435307915509noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1871148851130289018.post-65604737698456844982011-08-03T11:12:00.005-05:002011-08-18T14:31:31.875-05:00<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;I'm working on these babies this week:</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HvARZI4nvY8/TjyYlenwI5I/AAAAAAAABkc/X2XdqYme86A/s1600/IMG_7528.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="420" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HvARZI4nvY8/TjyYlenwI5I/AAAAAAAABkc/X2XdqYme86A/s640/IMG_7528.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">Don't you just love their pinky gold goodness??</span></i></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;">I scored them on Craigslist last week after searching on and off for a pair of chairs all summer.&nbsp;</div></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">My grand master plan is to reupholster them using <a href="http://diffendwelling.blogspot.com/2011/01/wing-chair-part-i.html">this great tutoria</a>l. With some pointers from <a href="http://www.thecreativemaven.net/2010/03/how-to-reupholster-wingback-chair-part.html">this tutorial</a>.</div></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;">And a whole lot of my typical <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0c343d;">flybytheseatofmypantsandjustfigureitoutandDOIT.</span></i>&nbsp;</div></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/">Pinterest</a> (oh pinterest, how do I love thee) has been great for finding and storing my inspiration for these chairs. Here are a few I've pinned:</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ikFDCqBSUxw/TjyUU7Y-XjI/AAAAAAAABkQ/skSxRz3qIWY/s1600/teal+wingback.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ikFDCqBSUxw/TjyUU7Y-XjI/AAAAAAAABkQ/skSxRz3qIWY/s320/teal+wingback.png" width="247" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q4f1Ii0omJ4/TjyUnfK3hRI/AAAAAAAABkY/3pp6nqO5hgU/s1600/zebra+print+wingback.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q4f1Ii0omJ4/TjyUnfK3hRI/AAAAAAAABkY/3pp6nqO5hgU/s320/zebra+print+wingback.jpg" width="234" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AaRFn16-uLg/TjyUOhI65CI/AAAAAAAABkM/zGpfvOSxBrw/s1600/graphic+print+wingback.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AaRFn16-uLg/TjyUOhI65CI/AAAAAAAABkM/zGpfvOSxBrw/s320/graphic+print+wingback.jpg" width="229" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ljW_gO0QcO0/TjyUj8qdQ2I/AAAAAAAABkU/V6eEGhWGyr8/s1600/contrast+piping+wingback.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ljW_gO0QcO0/TjyUj8qdQ2I/AAAAAAAABkU/V6eEGhWGyr8/s320/contrast+piping+wingback.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div align="center"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kl0RwjELWxM/TjyUMOsISRI/AAAAAAAABkI/GSrqswjTmTY/s1600/white+wingbacks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kl0RwjELWxM/TjyUMOsISRI/AAAAAAAABkI/GSrqswjTmTY/s320/white+wingbacks.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/normal Helvetica; margin: 0px;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">All images via Pinterest&nbsp;</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I had a hard time trying to decide on a fabric.. I LOVE the fun prints some of these chairs have, and I'm also really drawn to the simple white upholstery. But after choosing a white slipcovered glider for Evie's room, I'm definitely NOT going that route again.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I'm a little more than halfway done taking apart the first chair, which means I've removed approximately 637 staples. Gah.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Hopefully I'll have some progress to show you soon! I can't wait!</div><script type="text/javascript"> var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www."); document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='""google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E")); </script> <script type="text/javascript"> try { <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1jwP9vHGLyE/TJPKwfwB9UI/AAAAAAAAArc/j1GX_WofyNI/s1600/signature3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 100px;" src=" var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-12360342-1"); pageTracker._trackPageview(); } catch(err) {} </script><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1871148851130289018-6560473769845684498?l=strangeandlovelyride.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ajahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00442413435307915509noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1871148851130289018.post-15206833332322616582011-07-30T22:30:00.004-05:002011-08-29T16:01:21.798-05:00Our girl is 8 months!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Sk_lq6e1UCE/TjR4fqLeeVI/AAAAAAAABjM/SGsORi8JHB4/s1600/IMG_7534.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Sk_lq6e1UCE/TjR4fqLeeVI/AAAAAAAABjM/SGsORi8JHB4/s640/IMG_7534.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />Whew! This has been a BIG month in Evie-town.<br /><br />She started crawling on July 3, just past her 7 month birthday, and never looked back. So dad and I have had to be on our toes. This girl is into everything! She's so curious and so, SO busy. :) Once she gets playing she will hardly sit still! Nursing has become a full-contact sport, as she jumps and looks around at any little sound and just doesn't want to miss a single thing.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1DV1r6B56Tk/TjR4zqf4ikI/AAAAAAAABjQ/W25z8--EZRE/s1600/IMG_7556.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="display: inline ! important; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="420" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1DV1r6B56Tk/TjR4zqf4ikI/AAAAAAAABjQ/W25z8--EZRE/s640/IMG_7556.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><i><br /></i><br />We've added lots of yummy fruits and veggies to her diet. Her favorites are bananas and avocados.&nbsp;<i>Take note- this is&nbsp;<b>exactly</b>&nbsp;like mom!</i><br /><br />Green beans didn't go over quite as well and she was on the fence on blueberries. She kept opening her mouth for a bite, but then would make a sourpuss face and even gagged a time or two. It was pretty funny. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tfGQfCXdOhA/TjR5p89ZT4I/AAAAAAAABjY/lj2NDbUqzRU/s1600/IMG_7580.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tfGQfCXdOhA/TjR5p89ZT4I/AAAAAAAABjY/lj2NDbUqzRU/s640/IMG_7580.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Our girl has been growing and growing, but she's still a petite little lady. Everyone who sees and holds her comments on how little she is. It amazes me to see her crawling around and doing all these big girl things in such a tiny package. But I'm glad she's still teeny!</div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jRDczrSK3K8/TjR57HYFFoI/AAAAAAAABjc/ZJHsQxN1K4M/s1600/IMG_7589.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="408" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jRDczrSK3K8/TjR57HYFFoI/AAAAAAAABjc/ZJHsQxN1K4M/s640/IMG_7589.JPG" width="640" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Last week Evie and I took a little road trip up to see my family. That was our first trip just the two of us, and she did great! I am so proud of her! She was a champ in the car and hardly fussed at all. That was a big relief, since I know she can get antsy after a while. Especially now that she wants to crawl everywhere.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ktDv-1A8XQk/TjR7MWo3qGI/AAAAAAAABjs/-TTWB1Yxgsc/s1600/IMG_7639.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ktDv-1A8XQk/TjR7MWo3qGI/AAAAAAAABjs/-TTWB1Yxgsc/s640/IMG_7639.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">It was such a nice visit. And she did great with seeing so many people and being passed around. She is just such a sweet and happy baby. It makes me so happy. I love seeing how much joy she brings to all her grandparents and family.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">While we were there, my mom saw that Evie was starting to want to pull up on a chair. Yeesh. So she helped her do it and stand up. And now? Well today I went in to get her up from a nap and she was STANDING in her crib! So I blame Grandy! I just can't believe how fast kids learn! She's a smart little cookie.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NHwmgXBszAw/TjR6OkPpbUI/AAAAAAAABjg/_J2eV2DDfyI/s1600/IMG_7614.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NHwmgXBszAw/TjR6OkPpbUI/AAAAAAAABjg/_J2eV2DDfyI/s640/IMG_7614.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-03RNVbThVSI/TjR6jUTuh-I/AAAAAAAABjk/CSuwkNMSQWo/s1600/IMG_7618.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-03RNVbThVSI/TjR6jUTuh-I/AAAAAAAABjk/CSuwkNMSQWo/s640/IMG_7618.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Oh! And about two weeks ago her first teeth broke through! No chance for pictures, but her bottom two are peeking out! I thought I would know when they were coming, because I expected some crankiness, but I didn't have a clue! In hindsight, she was drooling pretty heavily the few days right before. So big!</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">** About this time in the photo shoot, she was over the chair and wanted down on the floor to explore :)</span></i></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My little ham:</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qgVQPOkB9w0/TjR7nKQ8PzI/AAAAAAAABjw/wE-Ij1tQS0U/s1600/IMG_7655.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qgVQPOkB9w0/TjR7nKQ8PzI/AAAAAAAABjw/wE-Ij1tQS0U/s640/IMG_7655.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gN7ngra0c4Y/TjR8BhIPSwI/AAAAAAAABj0/8EFmHnU_TF0/s1600/IMG_7656.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gN7ngra0c4Y/TjR8BhIPSwI/AAAAAAAABj0/8EFmHnU_TF0/s640/IMG_7656.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Uc-9rjRQ75M/TjR8bnLUE0I/AAAAAAAABj4/mH6h_cO6zAQ/s1600/IMG_7657.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Uc-9rjRQ75M/TjR8bnLUE0I/AAAAAAAABj4/mH6h_cO6zAQ/s640/IMG_7657.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">One last sweet thing. I have always showered my girl with kisses, especially when she's laying on the changing table or on the floor. I'll tell her I want a kiss and then kiss all over her sweet little cheeks and face. Well recently we noticed that she would lean toward you sometimes with her mouth open! She did this to my parent's dog while we were visiting and it was hilarious! Now I know for sure what she's doing and it makes my heart so happy. Ask her for a kiss and (usually!) she'll lean right toward your face so you can kiss her on the mouth. My sweet, sweet little girl.</span></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ai6P01CLoUI/TjR83epZPhI/AAAAAAAABj8/BNtLwhaI9N8/s1600/IMG_7684.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ai6P01CLoUI/TjR83epZPhI/AAAAAAAABj8/BNtLwhaI9N8/s640/IMG_7684.JPG" width="640" /></a></div></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I love you so much Evie!!&nbsp;</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><script type="text/javascript"> var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www."); document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='""google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E")); </script> <script type="text/javascript"> try { <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1jwP9vHGLyE/TJPKwfwB9UI/AAAAAAAAArc/j1GX_WofyNI/s1600/signature3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 100px;" src=" var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-12360342-1"); pageTracker._trackPageview(); } catch(err) {} </script><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1871148851130289018-1520683333232261658?l=strangeandlovelyride.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ajahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00442413435307915509noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1871148851130289018.post-84778221547392811562011-07-26T20:59:00.003-05:002011-07-28T10:29:31.990-05:00Evie and I made a little trip home the past few days.. My grandparents were driving through town on their way back to Louisiana from Minnesota (yikes!) and we wanted to see them! It was the first time they got to meet Evie and was such a sweet time. They were smitten. <br /><br />Here are some pics from our visit:<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/07/26/5160.jpg"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/07/26/s_5160.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="400" /></a></center><br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/07/26/5114.jpg"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/07/26/s_5114.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="400" /></a></center><br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/07/26/5115.jpg"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/07/26/s_5115.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="400" /></a></center><br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/07/26/5116.jpg"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/07/26/s_5116.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="400" /></a></center><br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/07/26/5117.jpg"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/07/26/s_5117.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="400" /></a></center><br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/07/26/5119.jpg"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/07/26/s_5119.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="400" /></a></center><br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/07/26/5122.jpg"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/07/26/s_5122.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="400" /></a></center><br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/07/26/5123.jpg"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/07/26/s_5123.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="400" /></a></center><br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/07/26/5124.jpg"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/07/26/s_5124.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="400" /></a></center><br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/07/26/5125.jpg"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/07/26/s_5125.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="400" /></a></center><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Four Generations!</div><br /><br /><br />- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1871148851130289018-8477822154739281156?l=strangeandlovelyride.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ajahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00442413435307915509noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1871148851130289018.post-27592621953939463522011-07-20T09:59:00.001-05:002011-07-20T16:34:52.076-05:00So I saw this little workout plan on Pinterest yesterday:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">The 100 Workout</span></b></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">100 Jumping Jacks</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">90 Crunches</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">80 Squats</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">70 Leg Lifts</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">60 Jumping Jacks</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">50 Crunches</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">40 Squats</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">30 Leg Lifts</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">20 Jumping Jacks</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">Run for 10 Minutes</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div></div><div>I pinned it at first, but then when I clicked through to the source, it was some awful blog about eating disorders. And not how to overcome one. Not cool. So I unpinned it, but printed out the plan first because I thought it was something I could actually do.<br /><br /></div><div>And Lord knows I need to workout.<br /><br /></div><div></div><div>People. It's seriously been months since I've done any real exercise. That includes going for a walk around the neighborhood because we are currently in the middle of Heat Wave Twenty Eleven, not to be confused with our previous fun weather experience this year, Blizzard Twenty Eleven. What is UP this year, Al Gore???<br /><br />Anyway. I did it! And I'm still alive to tell about it.<br /><br />Follow along, won't you? A little play-by-play for your Hump Day. No need to worry- I thought pictures of me doing this might cross the line a bit and guarantee you would never be back. You're welcome.<br /><br /><b>100 Jumping Jacks.</b> <i>Ok, ok. I can do this. Not a problem. Right around jack 60 I decided it might be a good idea to throw on a sports bra. Duh. Also during this little break I noticed that my shorts were on backwards, so all around off to a winning start.&nbsp;</i><br /><br /><b>90 Crunches.</b> <i>Ahhhh, laying down! Good call, since I may or may not be hyperventilating after jumping around the living room. As a rule, I hate crunches, but these didn't bother me at all.</i><br /><br /><b>80 Squats.</b> <i>Easy peasy. All thanks to my semi-daily teeth brushing squat regimen. I'm rocking this workout.&nbsp;</i><br /><br /><b>70 Leg Lifts.</b> <i>Back to the floor! I now have an audience in Evie and Duke and you would think it was opening night on Broadway the way they're tracking my leg flying through the air.</i><br /><br /><b>60 Jumping Jacks.</b> <i>Not too bad.. starting to feel a slight clenching in my hiney on the right side..</i><br /><br /><b>50 Crunches.</b> <i>Evie's losing interest in the freak show and staring off into space and let's be honest- I'm doing more resting than crunching. Break to put her down for a nap.</i><br /><br /><b>40 Squats.</b> <i>al.most.done.</i><br /><br /><b>30 Leg Lifts.</b> <i>A little slower but still going.</i><br /><br /><b>20 Jumping Jacks</b>. <i>My jacks have definitely lost their pep. My body is basically out of my control as my arms fly around haphazardly. You can do it. You can do it.</i><br /><br /><s><b>Run for 10 minutes.</b></s> <i>Yeah, not happening.&nbsp;</i><br /><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;A. It's one billion degrees outside</i><br /><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;2. I don't have a treadmill and running in place lost it's shine for me around age 7.</i><br /><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;And d. I figure I got all the cardio I need today with those jumping jacks.</i><br /><br />So instead I did 10 push-ups. On my knees. No need to get crazy. I realized this plan left my arms completely out of the mix. Whoever came up with the workout must be a mom with a 35lb baby carrier and therefore, arms of steel. Like moi.<br /><br />So! To say I'm proud of myself for working out is putting it mildly. A reward in the form of something sweet is likely in the cards for me. I like to reward good behavior. For myself. Reward myself.<br />Don't you??<br /><br />So what are you doing to keep active this blasted hot summer? Anyone into yoga? I still want to try it consistently sometime. I figure those hot yogis are making a killing with all they're saving on their heating bill right now. Just send the poor people outside and call it a day!&nbsp;</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1871148851130289018-2759262195393946352?l=strangeandlovelyride.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ajahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00442413435307915509noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1871148851130289018.post-55786850664235403322011-07-12T20:35:00.000-05:002011-07-12T20:35:29.344-05:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Get a load of my cute kid. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><object width="320" height="266" class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://i.ytimg.com/vi/F4NqIrcWa6c/0.jpg"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/F4NqIrcWa6c?f=user_uploads&c=google-webdrive-0&app=youtube_gdata" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/F4NqIrcWa6c?f=user_uploads&c=google-webdrive-0&app=youtube_gdata" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Seven months in and this was our first "big" blowout. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We survived, but a few toys and a large floor pillow might never be the same..</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1871148851130289018-5578685066423540332?l=strangeandlovelyride.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ajahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00442413435307915509noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1871148851130289018.post-26960803316979296852011-07-08T11:17:00.004-05:002011-08-18T14:37:00.938-05:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Time for a little housekeeping, aka <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0c343d;">Operation Project Dump</span>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I've been up to all sorts of little projects and wanted to share a few with you here!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">First up, this $8 mirror that I scored at a church rummage sale a few weeks ago. I actually kind of liked the gold metallic finish, but it just doesn't go with anything in my house.&nbsp;</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="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z3EnZYRNStU/Thce5H3I2mI/AAAAAAAABio/sDp6Q8vxzwE/s1600/IMG_6849.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z3EnZYRNStU/Thce5H3I2mI/AAAAAAAABio/sDp6Q8vxzwE/s640/IMG_6849.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gratuitous leg shot is a gift from me to you. Enjoy.</td></tr> </tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After a little faux silver leafing, black stain and some distressing, she fits in much better with our decor.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Not that you can really tell by these stellar pictures. Mirrors are hard to photograph!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rt2F6qomr3Y/ThcfZnT5GEI/AAAAAAAABis/mN8jit6UbYk/s1600/IMG_6985.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rt2F6qomr3Y/ThcfZnT5GEI/AAAAAAAABis/mN8jit6UbYk/s640/IMG_6985.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Some of the gold peeks through because of the distressing I did, but I like it!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OGVwJ_p8uDM/Thcf3Y1r6JI/AAAAAAAABiw/U4nfRtxxvRE/s1600/IMG_6989.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OGVwJ_p8uDM/Thcf3Y1r6JI/AAAAAAAABiw/U4nfRtxxvRE/s640/IMG_6989.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Next up is this little tray I made over. I found it in Hobby Lobby's clearance section (along with a bunch of other great stuff!) and knew I could make it over to sell in our booth.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9asVIAJzj1s/ThceWwgiTQI/AAAAAAAABik/YV7DPNCZtsw/s1600/IMG_6984.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="396" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9asVIAJzj1s/ThceWwgiTQI/AAAAAAAABik/YV7DPNCZtsw/s640/IMG_6984.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After some white paint, a few painted stripes and distressing, I like this baby MUCH better!</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TXhjSV9vTrM/Thcg57hL_EI/AAAAAAAABi4/ELTgetdtGj8/s1600/IMG_7180.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pxCCKPcjWEk/ThcgoqeCpaI/AAAAAAAABi0/oPiBdfleyaw/s1600/IMG_7173.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pxCCKPcjWEk/ThcgoqeCpaI/AAAAAAAABi0/oPiBdfleyaw/s1600/IMG_7173.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TXhjSV9vTrM/Thcg57hL_EI/AAAAAAAABi4/ELTgetdtGj8/s1600/IMG_7180.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TXhjSV9vTrM/Thcg57hL_EI/AAAAAAAABi4/ELTgetdtGj8/s640/IMG_7180.JPG" width="640" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pxCCKPcjWEk/ThcgoqeCpaI/AAAAAAAABi0/oPiBdfleyaw/s1600/IMG_7173.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="420" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pxCCKPcjWEk/ThcgoqeCpaI/AAAAAAAABi0/oPiBdfleyaw/s640/IMG_7173.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LPfcWHVmH-A/ThchWMxqIUI/AAAAAAAABi8/BEpFc1lwGfk/s1600/IMG_7181.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="display: inline ! important; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LPfcWHVmH-A/ThchWMxqIUI/AAAAAAAABi8/BEpFc1lwGfk/s640/IMG_7181.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I don't have a Before picture of my last project.. but they were another Hobby Lobby clearance score. Originally these hooks had a fleur d'lis painted on the front. I just painted right over it and then attached these metal numbers.&nbsp;</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CJujsyboDt8/Thcrqu6x2hI/AAAAAAAABjE/5KEM9xgE9q4/s1600/IMG_7194.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CJujsyboDt8/Thcrqu6x2hI/AAAAAAAABjE/5KEM9xgE9q4/s640/IMG_7194.JPG" width="640" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;">The numbers stand for the ages my husband I are if you calculated it by how much water we drink daily, our sun exposure and how much sleep we get each day.&nbsp;</div><br /><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table 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="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hoKpZgEr0_c/ThcsCSsFVJI/AAAAAAAABjI/sumX5F8ubxo/s1600/IMG_7196.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="420" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hoKpZgEr0_c/ThcsCSsFVJI/AAAAAAAABjI/sumX5F8ubxo/s640/IMG_7196.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Can you guess which one of us is 41???</td></tr> </tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Total BS up there on the numbers. Just some random numbers I picked.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Wink Wink.</span></i></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">So what projects have you been doing? Do share!<br /><br /><br />Linking up: <br /><br /><img alt="" src="data:image/png;base64,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" /> </div><script type="text/javascript"> var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www."); document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='""google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E")); </script> <script type="text/javascript"> try { <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1jwP9vHGLyE/TJPKwfwB9UI/AAAAAAAAArc/j1GX_WofyNI/s1600/signature3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 100px;" src=" var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-12360342-1"); pageTracker._trackPageview(); } catch(err) {} </script><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1871148851130289018-2696080331697929685?l=strangeandlovelyride.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ajahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00442413435307915509noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1871148851130289018.post-61961754732899583532011-07-05T17:38:00.001-05:002011-08-18T14:36:11.055-05:00Don't let my post title mislead you.. there won't be a bunch of festive-ness displayed here. Sorry bout that. But I thought I'd share a little of our Independence Day Weekend with you- the good, the bad, and the shocking.<br /><br /><b style="color: #073763;">Swimming</b>. We did a lot of it. Pool time was on the agenda this weekend and we definitely crossed it off our list. Though you wouldn't necessarily know it by my tan, since Evie's swimming sessions have a shelf life that (mysteriously) corresponds with her nap time. As in, mommy only gets to stay poolside for a little while until a certain someone has had enough and wants to go inside to play/eat/sleep. But that's okay. It's fun while it lasts and I can't really argue with this cuteness.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gfclJHYEcK4/ThOMrybgKwI/AAAAAAAABiM/AlmpJoKPqS4/s1600/IMG_7066.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gfclJHYEcK4/ThOMrybgKwI/AAAAAAAABiM/AlmpJoKPqS4/s640/IMG_7066.JPG" width="424" /></a></div><br /><br /><b><span style="color: #073763;">Moblie</span></b>. Someone up and decided to CRAWL on Sunday night! What a way to celebrate your Independence, ay? Mom is sooo in for it.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FN1eHuj-EPI/ThONCMXVHuI/AAAAAAAABiQ/54-MhocpOFc/s1600/IMG_7083.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="417" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FN1eHuj-EPI/ThONCMXVHuI/AAAAAAAABiQ/54-MhocpOFc/s640/IMG_7083.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">See ya, suckers.</td></tr> </tbody></table><br /><b style="color: #073763;">Crafting and Shocking</b>. I'm happy to say I got a ton of stuff done for our booth this weekend! We named our booth Lilac Row, by the way. In case you were wondering. Anyway, I had some spray painting to do, and since it's 113* around here, I have to do it very early or very late in the day. So Saturday or Sunday night (can't remember which day, so take your pick) I'm minding my own business, watching a horrible movie on On Demand, eating oreos, painting inside and spray painting outside. (I like to multi-task). I step out the back door to sand down a little tray I've painted and decide to turn on the porch light this time. When I'm done, I turn around to come back inside and see a DEAD ANIMAL lying next to the step. I almost jumped out of my skin and I'm quite sure I woke up the neighbors.<br /><br />Reasons this is alarming (other than the obvious):<br /><ol><li>I am barefoot. I seriously could have STEPPED on the thing and would have literally been scarred for life.&nbsp;</li> <li>This was like my third trip out in the dark and I didn't bother to turn on the light previously. So that creepy thing was just hanging out there a foot and a half away from me. In the dark. While I'm barefoot. Gag.</li> <li> My dog's blue racquet ball is sitting right next to the animal. Basically his calling card. Awesome.</li> </ol>At this point I determined that it was probably a baby rabbit that Duke had nabbed and I'm firing off an excited text message to hubby that he has a fun little surprise in store for him. I couldn't care less that he killed a rabbit (They're rodents, people. And they're rampant around our neighborhood and eat my plants.) but I could do without him bringing it to the back door for us. Also? He tries to lick my baby with that mouth. Gag again.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ocX3QslbbW8/ThONZYfTppI/AAAAAAAABiU/OxNnSM6XgCA/s1600/IMG_7086.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ocX3QslbbW8/ThONZYfTppI/AAAAAAAABiU/OxNnSM6XgCA/s640/IMG_7086.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><b style="color: #073763;">Name Stealers</b>. I was getting lost in the blogging black hole last night when I came across something upsetting. Long story short- some lady in Oregon is pregnant with her third daughter and will be naming her Evangeline Rae!!! HHHMMMPHH. I couldn't believe my eyes and was NOT happy. I may or may not have stomped through the house to show hubby the upsetting evidence. That led to a downward spiral of googling my baby girl's name and it turns out it's not as original as I thought! There's some artist and a model (blah!) and some people on random baby name boards talking about the name. What the heck! It's not exactly common, especially first and middle names together. Or so I thought. Sigh. My only consolation here is that there is some other Aja Lea running around with my name out there, too. I randomly came across her blog when I first started blogging and it rocked.my.world. Since she's my same age, I can only assume that her family lived across the street from us when I was born, as one of our neighbors pestered my mom to tell her what she was naming me while she was pregnant. And when my mom finally gave in, the lady up and named her kid THE EXACT SAME THING when she delivered a few weeks before my mom. The nerve. This is why I keep baby names a secret! Take note, preggos!<br />So anyway, like mother, like daughter, I guess. {Trying to find the silver lining..}<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BYsKE6xJMW8/ThON1GSSvTI/AAAAAAAABiY/--wSja_C24c/s1600/IMG_7088.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BYsKE6xJMW8/ThON1GSSvTI/AAAAAAAABiY/--wSja_C24c/s640/IMG_7088.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />So how was your 4th? Find any dead animals in the backyard?? Do tell!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1871148851130289018-6196175473289958353?l=strangeandlovelyride.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ajahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00442413435307915509noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1871148851130289018.post-65235729481023138472011-07-03T12:51:00.003-05:002011-07-03T15:23:26.032-05:00<div style="text-align: center;">I posted this on Facebook the other day but had to share here on the ol blog cause it's just too cute! </div><br /><center><a href="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/07/03/2934.jpg"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/07/03/s_2934.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="298" /></a></center><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Mom shops and I snack</span></i></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1871148851130289018-6523572948102313847?l=strangeandlovelyride.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ajahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00442413435307915509noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1871148851130289018.post-52553403624402336222011-06-30T19:47:00.002-05:002011-08-18T14:37:54.734-05:00<div style="text-align: center;">Oh my baby girl! Seven months, I can seriously, hardly believe it!!&nbsp;</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ePF4Xs84puI/TgzUuj2v5OI/AAAAAAAABgg/PcNz_BRZK1I/s1600/IMG_6894.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ePF4Xs84puI/TgzUuj2v5OI/AAAAAAAABgg/PcNz_BRZK1I/s640/IMG_6894.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Seven Months sounds SO BIG to me.. I'm not sure I'm ready for her to be this big!</div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;Luckily she's a pretty little gal :) So she's still my teeny tiny baby!</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This month has been all about mobility. Evie has been soo active and is literally on the verge of crawling. Each day this past week I've expected to look over and see her crawling around. She is scooting and &nbsp;moving all the time. And actually, she has been doing some crawling, it's just in the wrong direction! She can go in reverse like nobody's business. :) She's up on all fours rocking and rocking. I'm going to need a baby gate!&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CliXGYgJRSc/TgzU9aPjO2I/AAAAAAAABgk/WJZOJkH-mnM/s1600/IMG_6925.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CliXGYgJRSc/TgzU9aPjO2I/AAAAAAAABgk/WJZOJkH-mnM/s640/IMG_6925.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Evie has also started to toss her toys when she's done with them. Oy. I thought only boys did that??? It's both maddening and hilarious when we're in the car and I hear her chuck a rattle or something into the seat next to her. Sassy girl.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ajxN287gKEQ/TgzT17Ez79I/AAAAAAAABgY/FgCTHg3R-_8/s1600/IMG_6862.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ajxN287gKEQ/TgzT17Ez79I/AAAAAAAABgY/FgCTHg3R-_8/s640/IMG_6862.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">She is still a very happy girl and has really started to cheese it up! She has a fake cough laugh that she does.. most often it's directed toward our dog, Duke, which is pretty funny. And she's been doing this exaggerated sniffing/inhaling thing. Almost like she's hyperventilating, only she has this huge cheeseball grin on her face. I'd like to know where she learns this stuff!&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9lCHi-4ujPs/TgzUTKytJkI/AAAAAAAABgc/HmXKVGyTqiI/s1600/IMG_6873.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="420" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9lCHi-4ujPs/TgzUTKytJkI/AAAAAAAABgc/HmXKVGyTqiI/s640/IMG_6873.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Naps and sleep have gotten a lot better lately. We did have to let her cry it out some :( Horrible. But at least it worked, so it wasn't all for nothing. I now no longer rock her to sleep and just put her down for naps wide awake. I actually really miss rocking her and wish she would let me rock her at least a little bit first, but it's better than having to rock/sway/walk/bounce her for 30 minutes or more. And this week she's had one or two hour long naps per day! For my 30 minute cat napper, that is HUGE! I pray it keeps up!&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pyrrZF3fPqo/TgzVTSy6rVI/AAAAAAAABgo/6OdD1cyylu0/s1600/IMG_6952.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pyrrZF3fPqo/TgzVTSy6rVI/AAAAAAAABgo/6OdD1cyylu0/s640/IMG_6952.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">My sweet Evie is so precious to me. Sometimes I just look down at her in complete awe that she's here.. and that she's mine! We are so blessed by this baby girl and don't want to take a minute of it for granted. Just don't grow up too fast, Little Miss!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i>p.s. Yay for Blogger and their updated post editor, aka bigger pictures! &nbsp;So far, this is their single, solitary point. ;)</i></span></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1871148851130289018-5255340362440233622?l=strangeandlovelyride.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ajahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00442413435307915509noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1871148851130289018.post-79238520796768239192011-06-27T15:00:00.001-05:002011-06-27T15:00:28.945-05:00Before..<br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/06/27/2976.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/06/27/s_2976.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />and After..<br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/06/27/2978.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/06/27/s_2978.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1871148851130289018-7923852079676823919?l=strangeandlovelyride.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ajahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00442413435307915509noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1871148851130289018.post-19920200871203981362011-06-21T17:36:00.001-05:002011-06-22T08:44:03.257-05:00<div style="text-align: left;">I know, I know. It's not Monday anymore. And really, yesterday wasn't so manic, but that's what I'm going with.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Miracle of miracles, my child slept until 8:45 yesterday morning. But instead of getting up early and showering, etc, I chose to lay in bed and sleep sleep sleep. I stand behind my decision wholeheartedly.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">So I decided I must get myself bathed and ready during her first nap of the day. And then- AND THEN- she proceeded to sleep for more than 2 glorious hours. (!!!!!) This is HUGELY uncommon at our house. My 30-minute napper likes to be awake and social so she doesn't miss one minute of the party.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nfxmQmblkfc/TgEY0sYj2mI/AAAAAAAABf8/eleHKmlV-iw/s400/IMG_6837.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620801103481526882" /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>I took full advantage of the long nap, expecting her to wake up at any second. I'm happy to say I got a lot done. I started dinner in the crockpot (total cooking maven right here) and nearly completed new pillows for our living room. Pat myself on the back, why don't I.<div><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">{Are you enjoying my Monday play-by-play? Exciting stuff, I tell you.}</span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>I wanted to add some more color in our living room (read: hubby has requested a color other than NEUTRAL or BLUE). So I grabbed the napkins off my dining room table and got to work.</div><div><br /> <div style="text-align: center;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-y1SDgOfpfvU/TgEdyz7ZkEI/AAAAAAAABgU/dlg8ocZW-V0/s400/IMG_6843.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620806568705101890" /></div><div>I've always loved these napkins from Pier 1. Lots of fun colors and a great print. Not easy to find. Twenty minutes later and my pillow covers are ironed and sewn. I was able to finish them up after Evie went to bed last night.</div><div><br /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gfl5xD9WY54/TgEY1Lx9aSI/AAAAAAAABgM/pCqgcPRBO1k/s400/IMG_6841.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620801111909558562" /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hPkA--8TI2g/TgEY0-djWOI/AAAAAAAABgE/96JrTovs7es/s400/IMG_6840.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620801108334303458" /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">{See, lots of neutral. And I might never quit my love affair with blue. Now I'd like a new couch to go with my pillows..}</span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">After Miss Sleepypants woke up from her nap, we headed to TJ Maxx to return a shirt I bought. If you must know, it was a pink tank top that they only had in a medium. I thought I could make it work, but once I got home and put it on, I realized the neon tent look just wasn't for me. But while we were there I scored these awesome nesting tables for Evie's nursery! I love them.</div><div><br /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 262px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CLiw9V4gcg8/TgEY0AAYDvI/AAAAAAAABfs/GHtN1mas9HM/s400/IMG_6809.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620801091568930546" /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 259px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TttWNLsTg90/TgEY0ZzrPxI/AAAAAAAABf0/OoAmxGOOINo/s400/IMG_6817.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620801098494983954" /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">{At this rate I'm planning to reveal Evie's room in all it's glory when she's about 16.}</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">So that was my Monday. I feel very productive. How was the start of your week? Was it as exciting as mine??? :)</span></div><script type="text/javascript">var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www.");document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='""google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E"));</script><script type="text/javascript"></script></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1871148851130289018-1992020087120398136?l=strangeandlovelyride.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ajahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00442413435307915509noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1871148851130289018.post-89781038872425298532011-06-15T20:36:00.001-05:002011-06-15T20:49:00.595-05:00<img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cu